Disclaimer: still nah bro.


Chapter 15: Sketchbook

"Seriously, Jace?" Alec scrutinized the positive flu test as his brother shivered under his comforter. "Of everything in this city that could've gotten you sick, you catch the flu? I reminded you to get your flu shot like ten times."

"I did get it," Jace all but croaked, his sore throat adding to the effect. "Blame Max and his teenage germs. All sorts of diseases run around those high schools, and I've lost my immunity since graduating." He took the tissue Alec offered and blew his nose messily.

Alec just sighed and slid the thermometer into Jace's mouth. 100.7 degrees. A bit higher than it had been that morning, but not enough for Alec to justify missing his Monday afternoon classes to keep an eye on him. He'd already called out of work when Jace had thrown up into his cereal.

"Alright, I've gotta leave for class. The soup and meds I gave you should hold you over until I get back, okay? If you start puking again, call Mom."

"Yeah, puke on Mom, got it."

Even the flu wouldn't stop his brother's cocky humor. Alec grabbed the empty soup bowl from the nightstand. "Do you need anything else before I go? Hot water bottle, lozenge, cold cloth?"

"Foot rub?"

"Hardy-har." Alec raised an eyebrow. "Final offer."

"Wait, wait. Clary texted…can you check? Hurts to read." Jace buried his face under his pillow dramatically as he said this.

"Fine. Unlock your phone."

Jace blindly reached for his phone from under the pillow and opened it with his fingerprint before holding it out to Alec.

"'Hi hot stuff,'" Alec read in a deadpan voice. "'Think I left my sketchbook. It's got notes for the boss - would you bring to lunch so I can take to internship after?'"

Jace just groaned, knowing fully well he was in no condition to do that.

"I'll take care of it," Alec reassured him as he put the phone back down. "You just lie there and die slowly, okay? See you later."

Taking Jace's muffled grunts to be a farewell, Alec exited the room and pulled out his own phone to text Clary.

Hey, Jace is down with the flu and just saw your text. I have to go to class right now, but if you really need the sketchbook I can bring it to your campus in a couple hours?

Oh no :((( How bad is it? I rlly need the sketchbook but will be at work soon, can u pls bring to Seasons office instead? I'll make it up to u!

He'll live, he puked a little at breakfast but has just had a fever since. Tell me where the sketchbook is and the office address, I'll bring it.

Ok ok I'll come by tn with some meds + soup! Sketchbook is in living room I think, has a green cover, and office address is at this link. TYSM :D

The sketchbook was indeed lying next to the couch. Alec tucked it into his bag and noted with a face that his phone showed the Seasons office was all the way in Times Square. The NYU campus was an annoying enough detour, but he did care about Clary enough to make sure she didn't fall behind in her competitive internship. Still, she would really owe him after this one - Jace still hadn't coughed up the money for dry cleaning Max's homecoming suit.


Class had been exhausting. Finding his way to the Seasons office building in tourist-filled Times Square had been worse. This argument with a building security guard was the cherry on top of his puke filled Monday.

"I know I don't have an ID, but can't you just accompany me up there and watch me give it to her? Or take it to her yourself? She needs it and I'm in a hurry," Alec pleaded.

"There's a thousand people 'in a hurry' trying to sneak stuff in here." The guard scowled, his impressive mustache bristling. "If it's that important, she can come down here and get it. Otherwise, beat it."

Alec groaned but obediently backed off into the waiting area to text Clary. Looked like he was going to be spending even more time in the hell known as Times Square and not tending to his sick brother.

Hey, I'm in Seasons lobby - guard won't let me up.

The minutes ticked on without a response, and Alec debated calling her. Then again, if she wasn't checking texts, she could be busy in a meeting or something. Alec didn't want to get her in trouble by interrupting something like that. He promised himself that if fifteen minutes passed without any response, he'd call her and go home if she didn't pick up.

Around the ten minute mark, a tall Asian man with tan skin walked out of the elevators behind the security guards. Alec couldn't stop his eyes from automatically being drawn to him - the man was the definition of dress to impress. His chin-length hair was carefully curled and streaked with purple and gold. He seemed to be wearing a matching gold eyeshadow that made his eyes look practically ethereal, and his body was cloaked in a baby pink sleeveless jumpsuit complete with a gold belt and loafers. Alec hadn't known jumpsuits came in that color, or that they could look so good on men. He felt his gaze involuntarily linger on the man's biceps a little longer than necessary.

The man flashed his ID to the security guard as he exited the gated area and glanced at Alec with a curious expression. Alec mentally scolded himself for staring so openly and looked at the floor between his shoes instead, praying there wouldn't be a confrontation. The other man was likely some flavor of queer with an outfit like that, but that didn't mean much if he decided he had an issue with Alec.

"Pardon me, but are you Alec Lightwood?"

His voice was rich, deeper than Alec had expected it to be, with a slight lilt. Alec looked up in surprise at hearing his name. The man was standing in front of him, and it was clear now that he had an inch or two on Alec's already impressive height even in his flat shoes. His gold-framed almond eyes were themselves an interesting mix of green and gold accentuated by long lashes. Alec willed himself to respond normally while he tried to figure out if he was supposed to know this person. Something about him seemed familiar.

"Yeah. Sorry, who are you?"

"My apologies, I'm Magnus Bane. Clary's 'boss,' technically speaking. I don't know if she discusses me much." Magnus extended a hand.

"She's mentioned you a couple times," Alec said as he shook the offered hand, annoyed at how he immediately noticed how warm and smooth it was. Magnus' clearly well-maintained fingers were slightly callused, and Alec recognized the pattern as writer's calluses. Clary complained about hers often thanks to her constant sketching.

"Only good things, I hope?" Magnus gave Alec an easy grin, displaying a dimple in his right cheek that suddenly made his made up face seem younger. Alec felt some of his usual stranger-danger anxiety loosen.

"She sings your praises. Definitely deserves a raise." Simon had mentioned Magnus was something of a party animal, but Clary herself had only ever noted her boss's bold style and love of Starbucks' sugary drinks. Maybe that was why he had immediately seemed familiar. How many men had Alec heard of who dressed like this in an office?

"Well, when an intern does good work, it's the supervisor who gets the raise." Magnus gestured at himself dramatically, and Alec couldn't help but let out a small laugh. On anyone else, that type of swagger on top of those clothes would be ridiculous, but something about Magnus Bane made it all click. More than just click, in fact. The man was like a walking firework, the kind that spread out into gentle circles rather than bursting into sharp angles. "How do you know Clary?" Magnus asked, and Alec took a moment to remember how to form words with his mouth properly.

"Oh, uh, she's my brother's girlfriend. He's sick, somehow got the flu even though he claims he got the flu shot which I'm pretty sure he didn't since he doesn't listen to me, so I came down here to give her her sketchbook since he can't." Alec was definitely babbling now, and he latched onto his initial goal of delivering the sketchbook to steady himself. "She says it has notes for her boss - well, for you, I guess."

"That would indeed be me," Magnus said smoothly. "She asked me to fetch it from her friend in the lobby since she's swamped at the moment. I'm just a bit nosy about people with stunning blue eyes like you."

Any man who looked like Magnus was probably charming with everyone, Alec told himself. It didn't stop the blood from rushing to his cheeks as he squeaked out a 'thanks' and held out the sketchbook. He could have sworn he felt their fingers unnecessarily brush together as Magnus took it.

"Nice meeting you, Alec Lightwood. You should come by more often." He winked and walked off, displaying his ID to get back past the security guards.

"Nice - nice to meet you too!" Alec stammered out a little too loudly, blushing again as he noticed how other people in the lobby turned to look at him. Magnus simply laughed and waved before disappearing back into an elevator.

Alec promptly speed walked out of the building, welcoming the cool September air on his warm face. Magnus was clearly just a flirty person. Clary would probably confirm it later. Yes, he was undeniably hot, and he clearly got to Alec in some strange way, but he was so bold. Jonah had been plenty bold too, and while it had initially been attractive, it had quickly evolved into a source of friction in their relationship because Alec was decidedly anything but bold.

Besides, there was no reason for Alec to be arguing with himself over his brother's girlfriend's supervisor playfully flirting with him for like two minutes. Alec would be seeing Ragnor again soon. Probably. Even though he couldn't imagine Ragnor leaving him tongue-tied and blushing with just a touch like that. The memory of Magnus' hand in his caused his face to warm up again. Damn it all, he needed a distraction. He needed to talk to someone who wouldn't make fun of him for this.

It was practically muscle memory for his hands to pull up his text conversation with Dapper at this point.

Just had a weird experience in Times Square.

The response arrived as he boarded the subway back to his neighborhood.

I'm afraid that may be your fault for going to Times Square. What happened?

So my brother's down with the flu which means I end up stuck doing his errands right? His gf apparently left her sketchbook for her internship at our apartment, and she works in Times Square so I have to make the journey all the way over there to give it to her.

Sorry, this is the same girlfriend who wrecked a new homecoming suit?

Yes! Alec was relieved he wasn't the only one who had been keeping track of that. The audacity to ask for more favors, right? Anyway, I bring the sketchbook to her office but the stupid guard won't let me up so I text her to meet me in the lobby, and she sends her BOSS instead.

Do you know her boss?

Not at all. She mentioned he's a little eccentric but I think she really undersold it.

Oh? How so? Alec could somehow hear the amusement in that text, even though he realistically had no clue what Dapper's voice sounded like.

Well for one thing, the guy definitely knows he's hot. Dressed like he's about to walk the red carpet. And he goes on about my eyes and tells me I should come around more often. It was wild.

I wish I could see these eyes of yours. They seem to be ensnaring a lot of men. Makes me feel less special.

Alec snorted. It was funny, wasn't it, that Dapper had also stumbled into his life through a flirty comment about his blue eyes.

I really don't think you're missing out. He didn't particularly understand why his eyes were generally regarded as his most alluring feature, by his family and by several men on dating apps. Maybe it was because he'd grown looking at them in the mirror every day, but in his opinion, they were just eyes.

Magnus had unique eyes. They were probably contacts, but if there was anyone who deserved so many compliments about their eyes, it was Magnus. Paired with his almost musical voice, it was a winning combination.

Well, how would I know? What was this guy wearing anyway - you cannot just mention a fashionable character and not give me an outfit description.

My bad. He had a pink jumpsuit with a gold belt and loafers. He had some makeup and hair dye as well. Does everyone who works in fashion dress like that?

This was a fashion office? You wait until now to tell me that you have another friend who works in fashion?

Technically, Clary did work in fashion for the time being, and Dapper would certainly care about something like that.

She's a pretty new intern. Besides, remember this whole "no personal info" deal we made?

Come on, I'd tell you if I knew someone who worked in publishing. Which office was this? It must have been one of the big ones if it's in Times Square.

I'm not telling.

Will you tell me if I guess it?

Alec rolled his eyes. Fine.

Dapper proceeded to rattle off a number of fashion brands that Alec had frankly never heard of. Who on Earth was Ann Taylor? Eventually, though, Dapper found his way to the winning ticket.

Is it Seasons?

Yeah, that only took you forever.

They're technically a fashion magazine, not really a fashion company themselves, you know.

Same thing as far as I'm concerned. My sister loves them, idk.

Don't get me wrong, your sister has good taste. But they're not the same thing.

And what, you work in real fashion? What's your specialty?

I'll have you know you're speaking with a leading expert on peep-toe shoes.

Alec couldn't help himself. He laughed at that.

Don't laugh!

I haven't even said anything!

I can tell you're laughing. I can feel it through the phone. It's insulting.

Oh really?

Yes. I just know you that well.

He really did. It was strange - it had only been a couple of weeks, but Alec somehow felt like he and Dapper had been getting to know each other for much longer. He felt that strange lurch in his chest again.

If you know me so well, what should I have for dinner tonight?

You should get your brother's girlfriend to buy you takeout from your favorite Chinese place. With fried rice instead of white rice on the side. It's only fair.

Now, that wasn't a half bad idea. Alec decided he would ask Clary to do just that when she came over to check on Jace that night. He looked up and noted his stop was next. The commute had certainly flown by.

I'll consider it. Have to go check on my brother now and make sure he didn't drown in his own puke while I was gone. Talk later.

Ugh, I'll pray for both of you. Farewell.

Alec decided, as he stepped off the train, that Magnus Bane's voice actually sounded like it would suit Dapper quite nicely.


A/N: The last couple Alec chapters have been pretty short compared to the Magnus ones, and I have no idea why? Like, this is a full thousand words shorter than the previous Magnus chapter. I feel like I just get to the point faster when writing through Alec while Magnus insists on taking like 3 different dramatic side quests before hitting all the important plot points. Oh well.

~Bobbi