Chapter Four: Battle

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare.

Author's Note: This takes place when Alec is left at Magnus's while the rest of the gang visits the Fair People.

Time: City of Ashes

Genre: Drama, Romance, and Angst

Rating: PG-13

Date Finished: May 29, 2012

Alec followed Magnus back to his apartment unsure as to what was going to happen. The warlock always made him wonder what was going to happen next. He did not know if he needed to be relaxed, concerned, or afraid for his life. Most of the time, it the third option. Magnus did not understand that Alec's body was fragile. He was not unbreakable like Magnus.

"Um, Magnus," Alec said as he cleared his throat.

Magnus looked over his shoulder at the Shadowhunter. "Yes, my darling Alexander?"

"Is whatever you have planned going to cause me a lot of pain?"

Magnus got a questioning look on his face as he thought about it. "Possibly."

Alec was getting concerned. "Is it going to possibly cost me my life?"

Magnus got an evil smile on his face. "Why, yes, Alexander it is," he said in a cheerful tone. He sounded very happy about Alec's upcoming pain.

Alec was very concerned. He did not like the tone of Magnus's voice. The warlock was up to something and whatever that something was it did not sound like it was going to be pleasant for Alec. Of course, it sounded like it was going to be pleasant for Magnus. Everything was pleasant for him.

They reached Magnus's apartment. Alec stood there thinking about what Magnus could have planned while the warlock unlocked the door. He did not really want to be healed by the warlock today. He wanted to keep his limbs.

Magnus pushed to door open and shoved Alec through. Alec shot him a look over his shoulder. He was perfectly capable of entering the apartment without aid. Magnus just flashed him an innocent smile. Next, Magnus shoved Alec over to a small card table set up in a corner of the living room. Alec knew that the card table had not been there when they left. He did not want to know where it had came from.

Magnus rushed out of the room. "Get ready for battle!" he called.

Alec did not know what Magnus meant by battle. He was kind of afraid to ask. He heard the High Warlock of Brooklyn rummaging around in a closet in the bedroom. He heard the occasional bangs and loud swearing emerging from the room. Every few minutes, Magnus would sneeze and the sneezes would be followed by the loud, honking of someone blowing their nose. Honestly, Alec did not know how Magnus did not get complainants from the neighbours about all of the noise he made. Like so many things about Magnus, he was not sure that he wanted to know.

There was a few more bangs and cursing before Magnus came out of the bedroom carrying a dusty box. He sneezed loudly as he blew the dust off, then he went over to Alec and proudly showed him the box.

Alec looked at it and groaned. There was no way he would sink to slow to play this, no way at all.

Magnus sat the game down on the card table. He really did not understand what the problem was. The game he had selected was well rounded and exciting. All you had to do was know your colours and count to three. If you were lucky, you got one of the cute, little fairy characters. The game was a battle of luck to win. It was thrilling.

Alec on the other hand did not look so thrilled. He looked, well there was no other to put it, disgusted. He was looked at the pink box with terror. "Are we ready going to play this?"

Magnus sat down and pulled out the stack of cards. He began to shuffle them. "What is wrong with it?"

Alec looked at the box and then back at Magnus. "Um, everything."

"Alexander, Alexander, Alexander," Magnus said with a smirk. He reached in the box and pulled the rest of the game out. He carefully unfolded the board, because it was old and he did not care to have to replace it. The board revealed more pink and other and other colours.

Next, Magnus pulled out four game pieces that resembled humans. "I call dibs on yellow," he said as he placed them on the table.

Alec was still looking disgusted. At least he had moved on to reading the box. "It says for children under age twelve."

Magnus placed his game piece at place on the game board labelled start. "What, aren't you close to twelve?"

Alec just glared.

Magnus chuckled softly under his breath. He did not understand what that the problem was. Alec was so tense; he just needed to relax. "What colour are you going to be?"

Alec reached forward and picked up the blue game piece. "I cannot believe that I am playing this game," he groaned.

"It is a battle," Magnus said as he drew a card. He always liked to go first and did not ask the Shadowhunter if he wanted to go first. He was not going to let Alec's foul mood spoil his favourite game.

"It is not a battle," Alec said sharply.

"Oh, yes it is, Alexander," Magnus said lightly as he moved two blue spaces. He looked up at Alec. "It is your turn."

Alec picked a card and moved his game piece three green spaces. "Do we seriously have to play this game?" he spat.

Magnus drew another card. He did not understand what Alec had against this game. There was nothing wrong it. Sometimes the game got quite intense. There was nothing more rewarding than beating your opponents to the kingdom. "I do not see what the problem is," he said as a moved a yellow space. "It is your turn."

Alec drew a card. "Um, Magnus," he started in, "what is this card?" He held it up. The card had a pink fairy on it.

Magnus could not believe it. Alec was going to get to move so far and would leave him in it dust. It was not fair! "That is Queen Frostine," he growled. He was so mad.

"What does that mean?" Alec asked his brows were drawn together. It was clear that he did not know what was going on.

Magnus pointed the snowflake like spot on the board. "You get to move there." He supposed that he could have told Alec that it meant that he had to start over, but could not bring himself to. He cursed those beautiful blue eyes.

"Oh." Alec moved his piece. He did not look satisfied.

"You are winning," Magnus muttered.

Alec looked at Magnus. "But, seriously, do we have to play this game?"

"What is wrong with it?" Magnus inquired.

"It's-it's Candy Land!" Alec exclaimed.

"And what is wrong with Candy Land?"

Alec thought about the question for a minute. Magnus thought that the Shadowhunter was not going to come up with a response. "Um, everything." His next card put him at the kingdom. "Does that mean I win?"

Magnus made a sour face. He had just lost to someone who had never played the game.

I do not were the idea for this chapter came along. What you would like to see the couple do next? Click the enlarged review button to submit your request.