AN: Sorry it took so long to bring this out. I got distracted while writing this, and ended up writing the fourth chapter instead. On a positive: you should not have to wait long for the next chapter since I only have a few hundred more words to write for it.

I have no beta reader so all mistake are my own.

I would love to hear people's opinion on this story.

Anyway, hope you enjoy reading this.

Throughout the next couple of weeks, Alec found himself frequently meeting with Magnus. Most of the time, it was to get some sort of beverage, or just to walk around New York when they both had free time. However, Alec still refused to call these sessions of 'hanging out' with Magnus 'dates'.

He needed to have caution: he could not trust a Downworlder. His parents taught him that growing up, and they were never wrong … were they? They couldn't be. If they were wrong about that, what else were they wrong about? Alec refuses to believe that his parents were wrong. He is the one who is wrong with his desire for a Downworlder, a male one at that.

It was the eighth time that Alec and Magnus hung out in two weeks that got him truly wondering whether his parents were truly right. Magnus was the complete opposite of how his parents described Downworlders. He was not: conniving, aggressive or uncaring. So, were his parents truly right?

During the eighth time that Alec and Magnus hung out, they had gone out to grab a bit to eat from the café they first hung out at. Alec and Magnus found themselves sitting and drinking what they did last time they were there (straight black coffee for Alec and pumpkin spice latte for Magnus). When Magnus brought up something that Alec thought that he would have forgotten, considering how unimportant it was.

Magnus looked up from his latte and started speaking. "So, did you give your brother the book?"

It felt like such a long time ago that Alec forgot what book he was even talking about, before remembering what he bought last time he was around here. "Yes, and he seemed to like it. I don't get why he likes it, but he did for some reason."

Alec found himself going deep into thought, thinking back to when he gave his brother the manga.

Alec was lying on his bed, exhausted from the hunting mission. It turned out that there was a lot more demons than initially anticipated. Nevertheless, the problem was solved. He shifted to lie on his side and noticed a small bag on his bedside table. Remembering the book, Alec swiftly pulled himself up and grabbed the bag.

Leaving his room, Alec knocked on his brother's door before entering, bag still in hand.

Max was sitting cross-legged on his bed, reading some kind of manga: 'naru'-something – Alec could not see what it actually was called. Max looked up from his book, and smiled at his brother. "Hi, Alec," Max chirped in his usual happy tone, which caused Alec to smile at his brother, even if it was only a small smile.

Alec steadily walked over and took a seat at the edge of Max's bed. He held out the bag, placing it next to Max. "I got this work you," Alec told Max, as he indicated to the bag. Max looked at him in a confused way, before reaching over and picking up the bag.

A gasp was heard as Max pulled the manga from the bag. "Is this really for me?" Max asked Alec in a hopeful tone, and Alec simply nodded in response. "Thank you so much!"

Alec ruffled Max's hair. Alec made a move to stand, before he found additional weight holding him down: Alec was being hugged by Max, and all he could do was to hug his brother bag.

When Max let go of Alec, he asked "Did you pick this out for me?"

Alec guiltily scratched his neck. "Not exactly, a worker at the store suggested it. Is it okay?"

"Yes, I have always wanted to read this."

Alec ruffled Max's hair again before going to stand again. This time, Alec actually could stand. "I should be going, Max," Alec said, as he made to leave Max's room.

Alec was pulled out of his daydreaming state by Magnus talking.

"It's cute how much you care for your siblings, darling," Magnus stated, and Alec found himself blushing at the use of 'darling', trying to banish all 'gay' thoughts from his head. Then, he nodded his head: his siblings were everything to him.

Alec knew with all his heart that he would have been lost with them: Izzy was his saviour, stopping himself into going through his life hating himself. However, Jace was his anchor. They may not be officially related by blood, but they were Parabatai and that meant so much more to Alec than relation by blood. Some days, Alec was so lost that he forgot who he truly was: he was more than a hunter. Izzy pulled him out of that mood, and Jace kept him out once he was done. And, Max was his little bro: it was his job to protect Max.

"Yeah, they're everything to me," Alec said with such confidence that nobody could think that he was exaggerating, he truly believed that his siblings were his everything. That was the proof of how loyal he truly was. However, it shows the kind of person he truly was: the loyal one.

"What about you?" Alec questioned Magnus. "Do you have any siblings?"

"I'm a warlock, Alexander. At most, I would have half siblings," Magnus said with a great deal of contempt towards the fact - or it could have been the question: Alec was not completely sure.

Magnus and Alec continued to talk about pointless things, trying to get to know the other.

It was when they were walking back to the institute that the conversation starting taking a dangerous route. "Now, how about we go for that dinner?"

Alec looked away, not sure the best way to answer. In truth, Alec may have wanted to go out for that dinner, be he could not. After all, what would his parents think? More importantly: what would his siblings think? His heart is telling him his siblings would not care, but his mind is telling him otherwise.

"How about you think about it and call me with your answer," Magnus suggested, still having his usual flirtatious smile on his face.

A little beeping noise sounded. Alec looked around, before Magnus pulled out the piece of technology making the irritating noise. The phone was flipped open, and Magnus was looking at it like it personally offended him. "I've got to go: some business thing came up. Call me with your answer, Blue-eyes," Magnus called out as he walked away.

Irritated, Alec made his trek back to the Institute, ignoring the world around him on the way. His mind was too far gone to truly think over whether it would be a good idea or not to go on a date with Magnus. Alec knew the right choice, but was not sure whether he was truly brave enough to make it.

When Alec got back to the institute, he locked himself in his room. He needed time to think. Nobody noticed that he had locked himself away. In fact, nobody had noticed that he had returned, but that was okay. It made it easier to think over what he needed to do.

That is how Alec found himself spending hours in his room that evening, just contemplating whether he was going to take the risk.

Alec wanted to take the risk, but he was going to proceed with caution. He wanted to try going on a date with Magnus, and he was going to be cautious about it. He needed to take the risk, or he would never truly live without fear.