It was decided: Brunch is Alec's favourite meal.
Alec had finally agreed to meet the Warlock for a meal, although neither could decide whether Breakfast or Lunch was better. So, they agreed to meet for brunch.
The day of the meal started surprisingly well. It got Alec's hopes up that the day may not be as bad as expecting, considering he is meeting a Downworlder. The day, Alec woke before his siblings, so did not have to go through Izzy's cooking. Somehow Izzy manages to destroy even breakfast food, which seems really difficult in Alec's eyes.
Alec had thrown on some clothes quickly, before running out of the Institute. Alec managed to make it out without too much attention was brought to him. Apparently everyone was either training or sleeping, although it was more likely that they were training. However, it was only 9 o'clock in the morning.
He left the institute in a hurry, turning down a side alley, taking him to a mundane part of New York. Hopefully, he would not bring much attention to himself around here. It was a few blocks over that he planned to meet Magnus – the warlock, and he was already quite early.
The streets were busy with cars blasting past. Despite it being relatively early, it was still busy in the city of New York. Alec found himself on the street of the small café he was to be at when he saw that there was a small manga and comic book store across the street. Seeing as he still as half an hour before he was to meet Magnus, Alec found himself hastily crossing the street to the shop.
The shop was petite in the inside, yet there still was a large range of different manga and comics lining the walls of the store. Alec wanted to pick something up for Max, seeing as Max only just got returned to the Institute after spending time at Idris.
Alec found himself staring at the manga collection, lost in thought. He had no idea how to pick one for his brother. He found himself scanning over the manga, looking for something that his brother may like. However, nothing jumped out at him. A worker of the store came over to see if he needed any help finding anything.
Alec shrugged. "I am looking for something that my 10 year old brother might like."
The shop worker smiled then pulled a book off the shell. "Do you think this would be suitable?"
Alec took the book from the worker and looked at it: 'Attack on Titan' the cover read. He flipped it over and read the blurb, before grinning. "I think my brother will love this, thank you."
He went over to the till and placed the money for the book on the counter. The shop worker placed the manga in a bag before handing it over to Alec.
Saying one last thank you, Alec left the store and headed back to the café, knowing he wouldn't have to wait long now.
Entering the café, Alec spotted an empty table at the back of the café so went to sit and wait for the warlock. He placed the bag on the seat next to where he was sat before he opened a menu and scanned through the breakfast items.
It was not much longer before Magnus arrived at the café. Alec spotted Magnus first and waved to get his attention. Magnus had walked over with a grin before sitting down, and greeting Alec. "Good morning, blue eyes."
"Hello."
"Come on, don't I get a better welcome than that!"
"Why, what a pleasure it is to see you on such a fine morning." Alec's comment was laced with sarcasm, and Magnus realised this.
They sat in silence as the both searched through the menu, trying to decide what was best to eat. Well, Alec was pretending to decide what to eat: he had decided before Magnus arrived.
Alec waited a couple of minutes before putting the menu down on the table. "Have you decided what you would like? I'll go order it."
Magnus let out a smile. "Sure, I'll just have a pumpkin spice latte and a bagel with strawberry jam."
He nodded then turned, walking over to the serving area, not noticing Magnus checking him out as he walked away.
Magnus watched as Alec talked to the barista, clearly ordering the food. Alec placed the money on the counter for the food, before receiving a tray of food.
Alec placed the tray on the table before removing the food from the tray and placing them on the table, instead of the tray. Alec placed the tray on a small rack of trays to the side. He sat back down and started sipping his straight black coffee.
Alec started on the pancakes that he ordered, the first piece of edible breakfast material in a while.
He learnt a long time ago to never look a gifted horse in the mouth. Or rather, to appreciate every chance he got to have good food. After all, Izzy had made breakfast most days before he got the chance to fully awaken and make a run for it. So, he suffered through the meal. Alec cannot remember the last time he had actual pancakes, not what Izzy claimed to be pancakes.
"What's in the bag?" Alec looked up, after realising Magnus was talking.
"It's just a book for my brother."
"You mean the blond with your sister in the infirmary the other day? He does not seem like the kind to read."
Alec found himself chuckling, stopping once he realised what he was doing. A frown replaced the small smile on his face. "No, it is for my little brother who just returned from Idris. He is obsessed with Manga and Comic Books so I stopped to buy a manga for him, before coming here."
Magnus nodded, before taking a sip of his coffee. "You seem to care for your siblings greatly."
"Yes, I have got to care for them. In the end, they are the only family I have."
That is how they found themselves in a deep conversation getting to know each other. They must have stayed there for over an hour, before being asked to leave by a waiter of the café.
That is how they found themselves walking through a park
"Maybe I could take you out to dinner another day?"
'That sounds awfully gay.'
Magnus continued talking, clearly trying to convince Alec to accept the meal.
'By the angel, do I want it to be gay? No, I am not gay.'
Alec found his thoughts getting carried away, especially after what Magnus just said. He realised that Magnus had stopped talking. Alec shrugged, having not known what Magnus had said.
Magnus sighed. "How about we go out for dinner at a Downworlder diner that I know about? It's quiet, and it is very rare for Shadowhunters to actually go there."
Alec decided to just accept because he did like having Magnus as a 'friend' – if they were even that yet.
It was not that much later that Alec was summoned back at the institute to go sort out a demon infestation with Jace and Izzy, cutting their meet-up (not date) short. (Really, it was not a date.)
Both Magnus and Alec agreed to text to arrange when they would go for a meal at the diner, and then they parted ways for now.
Alec found himself walking back to the institute, bag in hand, and deep in thought.
Alec found that he did like having a friend, who was not a shadowhunter, and that vampire did not count: he was Izzy's boyfriend. Therefore, they do not count as one of his friends. He can finally confirm that he does have a friend who is not his sibling or Parabatai, or friends with them first. For once, Alec found himself with a friend that neither Izzy nor Jace helped him befriend, and for some reason, that made him rather quite pleased.