Just a short little chapter to set the feel and scene before we go delving into the main story ^-^ heehee. The next one shall be up tomorrow! Thanks so so much for the loveeeeeeeely reviews! Keep them up and I'll update ;) x

10 years later

"Okay. What is that."

"It's a house-warming gift to ourselves, Alexander."

Alec just stared at the kitten that was fast asleep, curled up upon their new black sofa in disgust- there was going to be hair all over it now, he was sure.

Life had changed so very much since they had been innocent eight year olds. They'd grown up, gone to High School, graduated and started a new life in New York. Yes, the apartment was a little on the small side with its just two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom and living room. Alec's family was rich, and Magnus' had given him a large sum of money to help him get started. Seeing as they were both the best of friends, they decided to pool their money and get an apartment together. The furniture was half hand-me-downs and brand new. The shining widescreen TV was the most expensive item in the whole place.

And now Magnus had returned with a wide, proud grin upon his face and the little ball of fluff in his arms. Alec groaned and ran a hand through his inky black hair, shaking his head a little as he muttered "Where did you get it from?"

Magnus snorted, seating himself down next to the kitten and picking it up with a single hand. It was that small that it very nearly was able to curl up comfortably in his wide hand. "It's a 'he.'" Magnus retorted, lifting the kitten to nuzzle its warm furry sides.

"He, she or it. He can't stay. Now tell me; where did you find him?" Alec asking in a grumpy voice, ignoring the young mans cooing. A moment later he replied "He was free to a good home, or he was going to be put down. Look at him! How could I let something so horrible happen so someone so cute?"

Alec gave up. Bloody cat. There was no way he could make Magnus get rid of it now.

"Make sure it stays out of my room." He warned Magnus, but found himself ignored as he carried on fussing over his new little friend. As soon as he started talking to it as if it was a baby, he gave up and walked out.

The smallest bedroom belonged to the Lightwood. A single bed was pushed up against the wall with a nightstand next to it, wardrobe on the opposite side of the room with a small TV set atop it. There wasn't much in there just yet. Most of his belongings were in the cardboard boxes still in the kitchen.

Magnus had the biggest room of course just to accommodate his monstrous king sized bed that was black leather at the base. If that cat scratched at his beloved bed, Alec was sure he'd throw it out of the window. And quite literally.

Magnus' room was an explosion of color. His was not.

Alec wandered into the kitchen now and over to the fridge, yanking it open with a sigh that stopped dead when he realized all the salad had been eaten. The wrapping was still in there. A yellow Post-It note with a simple smiley face upon it in black pen was stuck to it, causing the boy to yell-

"Magnus-!"

"Whatever it is, I didn't do it!"

"The salad?!"

"Oh that."

Alec rolled his eyes and slammed the fridge door shut. Great. They were out of food now. With a groan, he snagged some money from the food tin and pulled his boots on. Food run it was.

At the sound of the tin rattling upon the surface, Magnus just called from the living room "Alexander! Get me some green tea, a jar of Nutella and some bananas. Oh and condoms."

Alec ignored him- was he the maid now?

-OrdinaryWorld-

The nearest store was a seven minuet walk away. Down five sidewalks and across two roads. It wasn't very big, but it had the essentials. And Magnus' addiction to Nutella had started there.

Alec picked up a wire basket and started down the aisle, snagging a large loaf of bread as he passed the bakery section. He also picked up sultana scones. There was something about scones that he adored. Scones, jam and cream. Good god he was turning well and truly British. He shoved some tea bags into the basket, ignoring his thoughts that were taking on a British accent, going 'Jolly good show Alexander!'

Oh dear god.

Alec strolled right past the condom section. He wasn't going anywhere near it. Besides, which was he even supposed to get if he did? Was he supposed to imagine just how big his flat mate was under the skinny jeans?

Sure he walked around the apartment next to naked or naked at times, but that didn't mean he looked.

"Eurgh." Alec muttered to himself as he picked up two types of green tea, staring at each one in turn. Which one was the one Magnus usually had? Was it the one that supposedly cleared your pores and toxins from your body, or the plain one?

It was the fussy-fussy one. Had to be. He threw it into the basket.

After snagging some bananas, Alec reached for the pomegranates next to them, but before he could take one, his hand crashed into another. A quiet giggle sounded and Alec glanced to his right to see a pretty little blonde girl stood there. She looked flushed and embarrassed.

"Take it. You were there first." She told the young man with a wide smile. Alec returned it and took the pomegranate, dropping it into the basket just as the girl laughed out "Wow. Your girlfriend sent you on a shopping trip? She must be on a deep cleanse."

Alec blinked in surprise and blurted out before he could stop himself "I don't have a girlfriend."

She giggled at that and shook her head, cheeks bright red as she told him "Someone so cute should have one. You're obviously looking after yourself well with all this." Alec didn't think it possible that her cheeks could go even redder, but they did as he told her with a light laugh "That's a nice compliment but… uh… not for me."

The girl frowned, but then her eyes widened as realization hit her and she clamped a hand over her mouth, gasping out through her fingers with wide eyes "Oh I am so sorry! Look at me… I've made a real fool of myself hitting on a gay guy."

Alec winced at that- it certainly wasn't common knowledge. No one knew. He could barely admit it himself that he was gay. It was when he was sixteen that he realized. Magnus was gay, it was commonly known by now. Just one glance at him and you would instantly think gay.

Magnus had Pirates of the Caribbean on DVD and they were both watching it. While Magnus was swooning over Captain Jack Sparrow, Alec found himself secretly drooling at Will Turner. I fancy Orlando Bloom he just realized as the film ended. He felt almost horrified at himself. And then sick and worried. That night, he had asked Magnus what it was like… being gay. The boy just told him it was the most natural thing in the world, and that he couldn't help who he was. Why should he be ashamed and hide his sexuality?

Alec wished at times he had his best friend's confidence. All these years later, he was still so deep in the figurative wardrobe he was quite sure he'd reach Narnia soon.

Two gay guys living together, but not together. Could you imagine everyone's faces and gossip? He had just thought when he realized they would be sharing an apartment. But Magnus was his best friend. There was nothing, utterly nothing between them.

"Don't worry about it." Alec told the girl awkwardly, lifting the basket up a little. "It's for my flat mate. He's-"

"Gay too? Awwh. So cute doing the shopping for him."

Alec was frozen on the spot at that and the poor girl realized she'd gotten it so terribly wrong again. "I'm so… oh god I am really, really sorry." She whined, baby blue eyes more than apologetic. "I just-"

"Two gay guys living together, so you thought they were together. Don't worry; I would think that too if I were in your shoes."

The girl swallowed hard, asking timidly "You're not brothers are you? Or… or something like that?"

Alec laughed at that, snagging some butter and milk from the refrigerated section, shaking his head. "He's my best friend. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Well I think it's sweet." She chirped, smiling out "I'm Chloe. Chloe Ashtower."

"Alec Lightwood."

It was as he reached the cashier that he realized he'd forgotten Magnus' Nutella and nipped back, grabbing a jar and set it down upon the conveyer belt along with coke and lettuce he'd also snagged. Chloe was still there waiting for him.

"Are you new around here?" she asked him, tilting her head in what Alec surmised was a cute way. "Yeah." He replied. "Up a few roads. The new apartments."

Chloe's eyes widened and she squealed "Get out-! I live at number five."

"We just moved into-"

"Number twenty? That was the last one to be filled."

Alec nodded, blinking in surprise- at least he'd made a friend. And one that lived in the same apartment area as him too. That was lucky. Magnus was going to adore her if they ever met. She was bubbly and bright.

"Well, I have work now, so…" Chloe waved an arm absentmindedly. "Pop by whenever for sugar and- Oh my god wait not that kind of sugar-!"

Alec found it adorable.

-OrdinaryWorld-

When Alec returned, Manus was lazing on the sofa with just his sparkly purple dressing gown on, splayed open across his chest and the little kitten asleep upon it. Upon waving the jar of Nutella before his eyes, they opened and Alec watched him come to and grab it along with the spoon he was offered.

"This is practically orgasmic." He groaned out, shoving the spoon that was covered in Nutella into his mouth. Alec watched with a raised eyebrow for a moment, but then went into the kitchen to unpack. Alec left all his things in the plastic bag and merely dropped them into his lap as he walked past the sofa, ignoring his… what could only be described as sensual moans as he ate the Nutella with a spoon. Alec opened his mouth to comment but merely let his mouth close again. No comment.

"Where are my condoms?" he then called to Alec who retorted with, cheeks burning red from how shamelessly he had said it. "I didn't buy them."

"What-! Alec-!" Magnus just whined, grabbing the kitten gently by the side to stop him from jumping down. "I had plans tonight."

"Tough. You want c- them, you go and buy them. I refuse to buy things like that for you."

"Say it with me Alec. They are a guys best friend- condoms." Magnus said the last word in a sing-song voice and Alec felt like headbutting the wall in sheer frustration. He was truly impossible at times. And now he was high on chocolate and curled up with a cat. Judging from what he was wearing, he didn't intend on leaving the apartment anytime soon.

"By the way, don't you want to know what I called our newest resident?" Magnus asked cheerfully and Alec stayed silent. Just because of that, the young man lying upon the sofa just called "Chairman Meow!"

Alec snorted at that, calling back as he stepped into his bedroom to grab a clean towel for after his shower. "That is the most ridiculous name I have ever heard."

"Do I detect a hint of jealously, Alexander? Changing your mind and sad that you don't have a kitty now?"

Alec was about to reply when he walked into the bathroom and trod on something soft, causing him to look down and exclaim in disgust whilst jumping backwards "Fucking hell-!"

"Are you okay? Alec?"

"Stop leaving your goddamn underwear on the floor where I can trip over them-!"

Alec stalked into the living room and Magnus was grinning up at him with not a smidge of guilt in his green-gold eyes as he simply retorted, cuddling the little cat into his bare chest-

"Sorry. They just don't like being on me."

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