"So tell me," Magnus said as he and the Birthday Boy prince sat on a wide stone balcony staring up at the stars. "Why is a prince hiding from his own birthday party?"

Alexander sort of flinched.

"Oh... um... I actually hate parties."

"Hate them?" Magnus pouted, "How could anyone hate parties?"

He laughed. "I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand."

Magnus raised an eyebrow at him. "Someone like me?"

Alexander's blue eyes drifted over to him, looking him up and down. Then he smiled, shy and embarrassed. "You know..." He waved a hand at Magnus as if that was all the evidence he needed.

Magnus chuckled. "I think there was a compliment in there somewhere, so I'll take it."

The prince blushed. "Of course it was a compliment."

Magnus smiled.

"So you hate parties..." He continued. "Why even have one?"

"It's not really up to me," the prince confessed with a sigh. "There are expectations..." His expression darkened at his own words.

Alec tried to stand up.

"Where are you going?" Magnus asked in surprise, suspicious of the prince's determined expression.

"I need another drink," he said, looking troubled.

"Oh, is that all?" Magnus asked, and then he snapped his fingers.

A bottle of champagne materialized between them, along with two glasses.

The prince jumped.

"What-,"

"I don't believe I properly introduced myself," Said Magnus with a grin. "I'm the High Warlock Magnus Bane."

Alexander's eyes were wide and very blue as he stared at him. "Oh..."

Magnus snorted, "You look surprised."

The prince sat back down slowly. "You just seem so young..."

"I'm not." The warlock admitted. "But it's not polite to ask about an immortal's age."

Alexander smiled. "Right, sorry."

Magnus poured them drinks and handed one to Alec. "So... it must be hard. Being a prince, and having to attend parties you down like."

Alexander sighed. "If only it were just the parties..."

"There's more?" Magnus inquired. "I mean I assume you probably hate all the political meetings as well..."

"No." the prince murmured. "I actually don't mind those. It's more the other stuff..." He frowned.

"Other stuff?" Magnus repeated.

Alexander swallowed his champagne in one gulp.

"Why are you talking to me?" Alexander demanded suddenly, his eyes bright and fiery. Magnus actually shifted back a little.

"Well I..." Magnus tried to consider the question seriously. "I was rather enjoying it, is all..."

The prince pressed his lips together. "Right..." He let it breath out and it was like the energy went out of him with it. "Right..."

Magnus poured him more champagne. "Why? Are you worried I'm only doing this for political gain? Is that the other stuff you don't like?" He asked, handing him the glass which he took with a grateful smile.

"No, no, that's not it." Alexander promised with a shake of his head. "I know about you. I know you don't need me for something like that."

Magnus had to agree with that. "Then what?"

Alexander swallowed more of his drink, reaching up to run his hand through his hair, making it messy. It was sort of comical... and sort of sexy...

Magnus kept a poker face to give away nothing.

The younger boy groaned heavily. "I'm such a coward."

"What?" Magnus was a little jeered by the random subject change. Alexander was just shaking his head.

"Why do you think that?" Magnus tried agin, pouring the prince another glass. The drinks seemed to keep him talking. They also seemed to relax that tense line in his shoulders.

"Because it's true," the prince took the glass almost like he wasn't thinking about it and brought it to his lips. "I promised myself that tonight I would do it and I couldn't. And now..." He groaned again. "God, my father will never take me seriously now."

"You wanted to ask your father for something tonight?" Magnus asked in surprise. "It's your birthday, wouldn't he give you anything you want?"

Alexander shook his head.

"I wasn't asking for anything, really." he sighed, taking another drink. "There was just something..."

He gripped his hair in a fist now, ducking his head. "Oh god... this is a mess."

Magnus blinked.

"I'm not following you," he admitted, trying to be gentle. He reached out a hand and placed it lightly on the prince's shoulder. "Hey..."

Thy boy nearly jumped out of his skin.

"W-what- s-sorry.." the prince stammered. When Magnus had touched him he and nearly jumped to his feet.

He quickly settled back down again, and reached out to snatch up Magnus' hand from where he had knocked it away.

"Really, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." he said feverishly, gripping Magnus' hand in both of his own, like he was trying to use it hold Magnus to the spot. Magnus wanted to point out that it wasn't him who had moved.

"It's all right..." Magnus tired to sooth him, but the boy shook his head.

"No, I'm sorry please, um..." he shifted back into his original position and placed Magnus' hand back on his shoulder. "I didn't mean it, really..." He shook his head wildly again. "I'm screwing this up..."

"Screwing what up?" Magnus wondered, staring at his own hand on the boy's shoulder. He hadn't meant anything grand by the gesture, but it seemed to carry a lot of weight now.

Alexander swallowed his drink again, folding in on himself. "I don't know... talking to you I guess..." he let out a breath. "I thought... but I guess that doesn't make sense either." he buried his face in his arms.

Magnus' eyebrows pulled together. Be felt oddly worried for this boy... he seemed to have all of these strong emotions that he wore on his sleeve, and yet he had to be one of the most insecure people Magnus had met.

Magnus winced and revised, Alec wasn't insecure the way most people Magnus met were insecure. Not in the demanding way, where he always seemed to ask for reinforcement. Alec was something closer to uncertain that insecure. Like he just wasn't confident in his actions at all.

"Alexander..." Magnus started to say.

"Oh!" The prince's head popped up. "Alec. I should have said that. You can call me Alec. That's what other people call me." he shook his head again. "I mean... not that other people- I mean... I just usually go by Alec."

Magnus couldn't help but smile.

"Alec, then." He agreed, and continued. "What was it you wanted to talk to your father about tonight?"

Alec seemed to close up on himself again, and Magnus quickly poured him another drink.

"I'm good at keeping secrets." Magnus encouraged. "I won't tell anyone."

Alec sighed.

"I guess... maybe telling someone is a step in the right direction." he admitted, looking at the ground. He drank more and took a deep breath.

"I wanted to tell him..." Alec cleared his throat, like his body was resisting letting the words out. "I wanted to tell him..."

Alec's cheeks were very red, and he seemed a little unsteady, like he might be shaking.

"Oh hell," he grumbled, rubbing a hand over his face. "I wanted to tell him-,"

Alec suddenly shifted, pushing himself toward Magnus.

The warlock was so surprised by the sudden movement that he didn't react when he suddenly felt Alec's lips land against his own, before quickly fluttering away again.

"I wanted to tell him about that." Alec sort of coughed out the words.

Magnus blinked.

He wanted to tell him... oh... suddenly the pieces clicked together for Magnus.

A gay first prince.

Magnus could suddenly see why Alec has been so nervous. Idris was not that tolerant of a country. Not if things were out in the open. A royal heir who likes men... that would probably not end well. Not if Alec wanted to be honest about it, which it seemed like he did.

Magnus suddenly felt a wealth of sadness.

How unfair the world really is...

Magnus open his eyes.

The room swam for a minute before it settled, and Magnus groaned.

He was oddly cold.

Magnus shifted, closing his eyes again and resisting the pull to wake up. That is... until his memories of the night before came rushing back to him.

Magnus sat up looking around.

His bed was empty aside from him. No sign that Alec had been there at all.

Magnus felt a cold dread fill his stomach. Was Alexander angry? Was he scared of Magnus now?

That when Magnus smell something in the air...

"Is that coffee?" He wondered in surprise. Magnus snapped his fingers and in a spark of magic his bed was made and Magnus was dressed and striding towards the door, following the smell.

It lead him downstairs.

"Magnus,"

The warlock almost jumped in surprise at the bright cheerful greeting as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

Magnus looked over and found Alec standing in the door to the dining room.

"You're awake," said the new shadowhunter warmly. A daylight, bright smile on his features.

Magnus was a little stunned.

"Alexander?"

"I made breakfast," Said the boy quickly, gesturing behind him. "I kept it simple because I didn't want to screw it up."

Magnus smiled patiently. "You should have a little more faith in yourself.

Alec just shrugged, and that's when Magnus noticed what he was wearing.

"Are those some of the clothes I made for you?" the warlock asked and Alec looked down like he had forgotten.

"Oh yeah. You told me they were for me so..."

"They look fantastic." Magnus grinned. "But I rather thought you didn't like them."

"I'm adjusting." Alec said with shy blush.

There was something different about Alec today, Magnus decided. He could see it in the determined energy that seemed to glow from inside of him.

Magnus didn't know what had caused it, but he was grateful, and decided it was best if he just went along with it.

"So where's this breakfast I've heard so much about?"

Alec laughed, and it made Magnus smile.

"It's this way."

Alec showed Magnus into the dining room. He even pulled out a chair for him and served him his coffee.

Magnus felt unexplainably flattered.

"If you're trying to butter me up so I won't be mad at you for drinking from the cup," Magnus warned, "Then it's not going to work."

Alec stopped moving his expression falling.

"I wouldn't try to do that," Alec said carefully. "Mostly because I don't regret what I did, so if you want to be mad you should be." he sighed. "But I am sorry I had to do something that upset you."

Magnus narrowed his eyes. "Well that's straightforward of you."

Alec shrugged.

Magnus relented with a sigh. "I suppose I'm not really that mad anymore." He confessed. "It's not like I don't understand why you did it."

Alec looked at him with hopeful eyes. "Really?"

"Yes." Magnus agreed. "But don't think I'll be as forgiving if you do something stupidly risky like that that again."

Alec smiled. "Of course."

The rest of the morning passed pleasantly. Alec actually talked to Magnus, much more than usual, and Magnus insisted that Alec eat with him so he did.

It wasn't until mid-afternoon that the peaceful bubble Magnus felt they had created around the two of them was shattered.

There was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it," Alec offered and stood up. Magnus walked him fondly, if a little disappointed. He felt like the gap between he and Alec had been shrinking, and he wasn't happy to see it interrupted.

He could hear Alec open the door from the other room.

"Oh," He heard Alec say. "Jace?"

Magnus was standing in an instant.

He strode to the doorway and saw with his own eyes the tall blond boy standing beyond it.

The boy looked at Magnus distrustfully.

"We're all gathering for training today," Jace was in the process of explaining to Alec. "I was hoping you would want to come."

"Oh," Alec looked a little hesitant but he glanced at Magnus. "Would that be all right?"

Magnus scowled.

"It's a bit inevitable." He admitted. "So fine. But be back in time to make dinner."

Alec smiled. "Of course."

Jace glared furiously but knew better than to speak.

Alec turned to Magnus and bowed. "Thank you, I'll be back soon." He said and then looked up to smile sincerely into Magnus eyes.

Magnus softened a little. "Give them hell, Alexander. I want to be able to brag about you."

Alec grinned. "Count on it."

And with that he walked through the door after Jace, and Magnus watched their steps fall into sync as they walked away.