3. A Very Chocolaty First Date

It was Tuesday afternoon, and like every other Tuesday Alec had target archery practice. He always enjoyed himself with an arrow and bow in hand – it was the only thing he was really good at, while all of his friends sucked at it. Otherwise, he wasn't used to being better than the rest of them at anything. Take Clary for example; Clary was an incredible artist, and though Alec didn't really like manga, he did like it when Clary was the one drawing it. Or Jace, who was good at everything he did, and just add his charms while doing everything. Alec didn't exactly have the charming personality on his side, like the rest of them. His friends just made it look so easy getting people to like them, while he didn't even like other people all that much.

But Alec had his quiet and peaceful moments, while at practice. He didn't really talk to anyone else in the class, only when they asked him for help. He wasn't rude.

Now he was controlling his breathing, while aiming for a bullseye. Some people did yoga; Alec did archery. It probably had a better effect on him than yoga would. Just as he was about to let go of an arrow and shoot, he noticed someone sneaking up behind him. Out of focus and as a reflex, the arrow shot through the air and landed in the circular board three rows to the left.

"Dammit!" he exclaimed, before turning around to see a smirking face behind him. "M-Magnus?"

"I thought you said you were good?" he grinned, but it was a beautiful sort of grin, and Alec couldn't be mad at him for distracting him from his aim.

"You surprised me. What are you doing here?" he asked. Magnus leaned closer as if about to share a secret.

"I was bored, and frankly, I missed you," the boy said. Alec's heart jumped and his stomach fluttered. He looked around nervously, and Magnus leaned back again a little disappointed. No one was paying attention to two of them. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be so bold."

"It's okay," Alec found himself trying to assure both of them that it was fine.

"You're not out, and I wanna respect that," Magnus whispered. Alec thought about what it would be like to be out to the entire school, and he pushed the thought away. Magnus was bi, it wasn't the same, he told himself, although he knew it was most likely a lie. "Carry on," he smiled as if he was trying to share some inside joke that Alec didn't know about. "Come on, I wanna see how good you are."

"Oh. Right."

"I won't distract you," Magnus said, and Alec shot him a look. "Not on purpose, at least."

Alec took a deep breath; his hands were suddenly shaking. He wanted to impress Magnus with the one thing he was good at, to show him that he had this talent. He took his aim, and despite the slight tremble of his hand, the arrow bored into the center of the board. When he looked back at Magnus, the boy was biting his lower lip, while smiling. Alec's heart was stuttering. He couldn't help but look at Magnus' lips, it was like they were trying to communicate to him even when they didn't form any words, and he had to remind himself that he was on school ground, surrounded by other students of the same school he went to. Alec grabbed another arrow, and aimed again. The new arrow almost caused the last one to fall out of the center, but they both stayed supporting each other at the center of the board. Magnus started clapping, people looked at him as if he was disturbing their practice, and he stopped immediately and held his hands up as if to say 'sorry'. Alec blushed.

"I guess you are alright at that," he remarked, while walking back up to Alec. "So I was thinking Friday? I'll text you the plans, unless you like surprises?" he whispered.

"I hate surprises," Alec shrugged apologetically.

"That's what I thought," Magnus seemed proud to have somehow noticed this about him. "Friday?" he repeated, and Alec offered him a quick nod.

…

Friday seemed so far away. Why did this boy have to be so damn beautiful, it was almost impossible for him to not think about his perfectly framed eyes, or the lips that seemed to share unspoken secrets with him, when he was looking at them or even just now thinking about them. He hadn't known quite how out of focus he was the next couple of days, until his friends had started asking him and he had quickly avoided answering them every time. Isabelle knew it had to do with Magnus, but for once she had kept her mouth shut.

It was finally Thursday, but Magnus still hadn't texted him any details on what they were doing Friday night. They had been texting, even flirted in these texts, and they had been sending each other looks in the halls of the school, and to be honest Alec was a bit freaked out. He had never liked anyone, especially not this quickly, before. They had only just started talking a week ago, three days later they had had their first kiss, on Tuesday Magnus had admitted to missing him already, and now they were texting saucy messages to each other. Alec knew he sucked at being saucy, but he just went with it, because texting wasn't as difficult as standing face to face with someone and trying to convince them that you were good at using your hands for other things than just arrows and bows, which was what the conversation was about, when Jace entered Alec's room without knocking. Alec was so startled he almost fell off his chair. Jace frowned at him. He had been a bit jumpy lately, and he was never jumpy before. Jace often stopped by unannounced; there was nothing surprising about that.

"What are you doing?" Jace wondered. Alec looked quickly at the cell phone in his hand.

"Nothing," he said a bit too quickly, and Jace snatched the phone from his grip, before he could prevent it. Jace was just a tiny bit bigger than him, and so he wasn't able to get the phone back, while Jace was walking around the room reading aloud the last text.

"'Well, you worked that arrow expertly. I would love to see what else those hands of yours are good at'," Jace read.

"Stop it, you're being immature," Alec sighed. He could feel the heat in his cheeks.

"I'm being immature? Why are you sexting someone you just met?" Jace said, and Alec didn't want to answer him – mostly because he didn't think it really counted as sexting, yet. "Okay, how about this…" Jace said, before starting to type something into the phone. "'I'm sure I could think of ways to keep my hands busy if you were here right now'." He looked at Alec for a moment.

"Don't you dare," he warned his friend, but he saw that Jace pressed send. Alec reached to get his phone back to see if he had actually sent the text, and sure enough, that's what it said. "Why would you do that?!" Alec exclaimed with frustration and panic.

"Well, you were probably going to write something lame," he shrugged casually, as if it was no big deal. Alec buried his face in his palm, and the phone vibrated in his other hand. He looked at it frantically. I hope you can still think of ways to prove that tomorrow. He barely noticed how the text put a slight quirk to his lips, but Jace seemed to notice. "So it worked," he looked smug.

"Shut up."

"What did he say?" Jace had a way of asking in a tone of such casualness he almost seemed to not care.

"That's none of your business."

"I hope you're not keeping all the juicy stuff from me, Alec," Jace raised an eyebrow as a warning. Alec was nervous about tomorrow, especially since he still didn't know what they were doing, but maybe he needed to talk to someone about this stuff. Jace was experienced when it came to dating. He had had a few while he was trying to suppress his feelings for Clary. Besides, he was always confident, maybe he had some advice.

"We're going on a date tomorrow," the words rushed out of him.

"So my text did pay off," Jace grinned.

"No, we planned it on Tuesday."

"That somewhat explains why you're texting each other in a sexually suggestive manner," he noted.

"Right. We also kissed Monday night."

"I see you've been busy," Jace looked somewhat impressed.

"Do you think it's going too fast?"

"You know what I think about wasting time," he said with a wave of his hand. It wasn't really an answer at all. Jace sighed, probably by the look on Alec's face. "You're nervous?" he figured.

"He started sending me these texts and I just went with it. What if he expects something to happen? Do I just…" he stopped himself, because there was no way of knowing what he would feel about going any further than they had the last time, before actually being in the situation. It had seemed that he wanted more in the moment, when they had been kissing on the couch.

"If you're asking for the gay sex talk, I'm not sure I'm the right person, but sure, I'll try it out. When two handsome guys notice how…"

"Please stop talking," Alec begged.

"I guess I'm not very good at that. Maybe you should ask your dad?"

"Very funny," Alec snorted, although he was a bit shocked to hear Jace admit he wasn't good at something.

"Not to make any presumptions, but I'm pretty sure Magnus would know what to do if you found yourselves in a situation of… irresistible lust?" Jace said. "Does he know you're inexperienced?" he wondered. Alec found that the conversation had taken a turn in the wrong direction. No one liked to talk about their own inexperience.

"Yes, he knows."

"So am I right to say that if he doesn't respect that, then he doesn't deserve you?"

"I suppose you're right," Alec shrugged. "There's still one other thing – he promised he would tell me what we were doing on the date, but he hasn't told me yet. I told him I hate surprises." Jace suppressed a smile.

"He's playing you then. There are two things you could do. You could ask him if he's planned anything yet, or you could just not." It was so easy for Jace. He loved surprises, mainly because he never really cared about making plans himself, but also because Clary always made great surprises. Alec looked at his phone, and decided to text and find out what he had planned for tomorrow. It didn't take Magnus long to answer him. Alec read the text aloud.

"Tomorrow's plan includes chocolate, lots of chocolate. In case you don't like chocolate, I'll make you appreciate it as much as I do before the night ends. You'll see." Alec had just finished reading, when another text entered. "P.S. in case of allergies, please let me know beforehand." Alec looked up at Jace's expression – a mixture of amusement and approval.

"At least he's concerned about whether you have any allergies," he shrugged. Alec felt a lump form in his throat. "Relax, he's still just playing you. He's only making it sound like something sexual, because of your other recent texts. He's probably taking you out to try three different kinds of dessert," Jace tried, and it somewhat helped on his nerves.

"That's probably it," he nodded a bit absentmindedly, while texting back, No allergies.

…

As expected Izzy was bugging Alec about what he was going to wear to his date. He imagined that she was only reacting as his mother would've if she'd known, and if he'd been going on a date with a girl. Isabelle was different. She didn't care if he was going on a date with a girl or a guy, but she seemed to approve that he was going on a date with Magnus. It was pretty clear that she thought he was 'cool'.

"I'll do your hair," she said and placed him in her make-up chair (he called it a make-up chair, because it was placed in front of her mirror, and that's what she used it for).

"You don't think he'll notice that I've put a lot of effort into this?" he wondered.

"Of course he will. So?"

"Is that a good thing?" He felt like such a newbie.

"Yes! That'll show him that you like him. You do like him, right?"

"Of course I do. He's…" Alec trailed off once again thinking of Magnus' brown eyes and perfectly shaped lips, and his long lean body.

"Alright. So we also need to get you a bowtie for that shirt," she smiled at him, while putting some kind of product in his hair. He found that when she was done with him, he looked almost like an adult. His hair was standing in all the right directions as far as he knew, and the blue velvet bowtie that Izzy had lying around for some reason fit well with his navy blue blazer and gray shirt.

"Perfect!" she complimented her own work.

"Why do you have a bowtie?"

"I bought on sale two weeks ago, I was saving it for your birthday," she shrugged.

"Izzy…"

"I'll just give you something homemade for your birthday instead, so mom and dad won't notice. Or I'll rewrap it," she winked at him. He didn't know where the urge came from, but he leaned in to embrace his sister.

"Thank you."

"No problem?" She stood frozen in his embrace from the shock of it. They weren't the kind of siblings who hugged each other every day, or even in a teasing kind of way like Sebastian and Clary always did.

…

When Alec came to pick up Magnus at his house, his mother opened the door. She looked young for someone to have an eighteen-year-old son, younger than his mother, but he couldn't be sure. She welcomed him with a warm smile.

"You must be Alexander," she held out her hand and he shook it politely. "You look so handsome," she complimented. Alec would have to tell Izzy, when he got home, she would be thrilled to know that his date's mother thought her styling was 'handsome'. "Magnus is probably ready in a minute. I'm on my way out, but please just make yourself at home," she said and walked past him through the door. "Have fun!"

"You too, Mrs. Bane," he waved awkwardly after her, but she didn't turn to look at him.

About five minutes later Magnus came into the living, where Alec was waiting on the couch. He stood up as soon as he saw the other boy. He was wearing dark moss green skinny jeans with black prints like a zebras on them, and a white shirt. He made it look so effortless, Alec thought, while taking in the beautiful image. Magnus' eyeliner matched the green color of his pants and it was a great contrast to his brown eyes. He wasn't wearing any glitter, and Alec couldn't help but wonder if he had toned down his look for his benefits. Magnus seemed to notice that Alec himself had put some effort into his looks as well, and he looked pleased with it.

"Stunning," he breathed as he walked up to Alec and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, so light that Alec almost didn't know if they'd actually touched at all. He blushed at the compliment.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to a chocolate tasting party. It's like wine-tasting, but with chocolate instead of wine," Magnus explained.

"I didn't know that was a thing?"

"It's a club. It's my mom's club, but she was going on a date tonight, and he actually told her that he was allergic to chocolate. That's why I asked you about allergies. You never know," he said.

"Oh. Well, chocolate it is then," Alec smiled.

…

There was a small group of people at the chocolate tasting party. They had laid out different kinds of gourmet chocolate for people to try, after listening to a small presentation on how chocolate was made. They also gave instructions for which chocolates to taste first, explaining how it was best to taste the sweetest ones at last, which Magnus had whispered a sexual comment on into Alec's ear, almost making him choke on his water. There were even sheets for notes, so they could rate the chocolate and in the end explain which chocolate they liked the best and why. It all seemed very glamorous, which Alec wasn't used to. His parents weren't exactly poor, but they were never part of fancy clubs like this one. His parents seemed boring compared to Magnus and his mother's life.

Afterwards they decided to walk all the way home. It was a beautiful late summer's night. They had only been walking for two minutes, when Alec felt Magnus lace their fingers together. It didn't appear that Magnus was even aware that he was brushing Alec's knuckles while they walked down the streets holding hands, but Alec was very much aware of the soft gesture.

"I normally make fun of other rich kids and their pretentious hobbies, but as it turns out chocolate tasting isn't so bad after all," Magnus mused.

"No, I had fun. I can still feel the burn on my tongue from the one with chili though," Alec grimaced.

"Wimp," Magnus teased in a loving manner, drawing Alec closer to him, so he could put his arm around him. Alec turned his face against Magnus' shoulder, absentmindedly inhaling the smell of sandalwood and soap on Magnus' jacket as he pressed his lips against the shoulder. He felt Magnus kiss his hair in return. He looked up into the brown eyes. They stopped for a second, looking at each other.

"Have I told you that you have very sexy eyes, Alexander Lightwood?" Magnus whispered, and Alec kissed him almost reflexively, pulling the other boy against him. Magnus turned his body to Alec and held him close, while kissing him back, parting his lips with his tongue. Alec had only just opened his mouth slightly, gasping for air, when a car drove past them and Alec was reminded that he was kissing a boy in the streets, where anyone could pass by them. He sucked in his breath, not wanting to stop kissing Magnus, not wanting to continue kissing in the street and definitely not wanting to hurt Magnus' feelings. His mind had turned into a hot mess within seconds. Magnus brushed his cheek, trying to get his attention back.

"It's okay, Alec. We don't have to kiss right here," Magnus assured him. "Let's just go back to my house."

…

Lights were on inside the house, when they arrived at Magnus' place. Magnus took a deep breath.

"My mom is home," he sighed. "That either means it was a bad date, or a really good one."

"How so?" Alec didn't understand.

"If it was a good date, she brought him home," he explained, and Alec's lips quirked up. Magnus noticed. "Like you," he added and kissed Alec quickly on the nose, before entering the house. He gestured for Alec to be quiet, and then it appeared he was listening for something. Alec heard someone talking. "She brought him home," Magnus frowned. "You don't have to stay, if you don't want to."

"Oh. Do you want me to go?" Alec felt the disappointment rush over him.

"No. I don't want you to go." His expression was soft, and he wasn't giving much away. Maybe he didn't want his mother to see them, although Alec didn't understand why, she seemed perfectly fine with him taking her son to chocolate tasting parties when she'd greeted him earlier.

"Okay," Alec said and took off his shoes. Magnus' smile was brilliant.

His mother and a gray-haired man in an expensive suit were sitting in the living room talking and drinking wine, when the two boys made their entrance.

"Magnus!" the woman cheered, when she saw the two of them. She seemed slightly tipsy, but it didn't seem to bother Magnus. "Did you boys have fun?"

"Yes. It was very delicious, mom," Magnus sighed as if this was common procedure.

"Do you boys want a glass of wine?" she offered.

"Aren't they a little too young?" the man asked with curiosity, obviously trying not to interfere, but also not being able to stop himself.

"Certainly no law should prevent me from giving my almost eighteen-year-old son a glass of wine while under the protection of my own roof, Clive?" she said in a warning tone.

"We would love a glass, please," Magnus looked smug.

They took their glasses upstairs. Alec sipped at his wine, a taste too bitter for Alec to enjoy, but he managed to drink some of it despite the bitterness. Magnus gulped down half his wine practically in one sip, before taking the glass from Alec's hand and putting down the glasses on a small table. His room was painted in a deep purple color, leaving the room extra dark at this hour, but Magnus turned on a small lamp hanging on the side of the wall, providing them with a bit of light. And then he was standing in front of Alec, looking down into his eyes. He lifted Alec's chin up and slowly pecked him on the lips. Alec would probably never cease to be surprised by the effect Magnus' touch had on him; from the first moment Magnus had brushed his arm ever so gently, and he'd felt his stomach flutter and his heart jump. He loved the tenderness that the other boy showed him, but Alec wanted more. He wasn't going to break, to be honest he would probably prove to be stronger than Magnus. He knew that wasn't what was holding Magnus back; he didn't want to pressure Alec. So Alec took hold of Magnus' neck and drew him closer, kissing him with all of his inexperience. Magnus reached around to remove the hands from his neck. For a moment Alec was afraid that he'd done something wrong, but then Magnus' hands around Alec's wrists forced them up against the wall on each side of his head.

"I need you not to touch me," Magnus breathed. "I would rather this didn't go further than first base, while my mother is in the living room. She's very understanding, but I would rather wait for their second or third date to scare away Clive." Magnus was joking. Alec could feel Magnus' breath against his ear as he whispered. Alec had no idea how far first base was, but he gave Magnus a short nod. Their mouths collided in sweet and bitter pleasure, the taste of chocolate and wine in a perfect mix, as Alec's tongue explored Magnus' mouth. Alec wanted to touch Magnus badly, but his arms were pinned against the wall in Magnus' iron grip. He didn't know what happened, but it was sometime after Magnus had nibbled Alec's jaw line and started to peck Alec at the base of his neck – the place where Magnus' kisses made him weak in his knees – that his legs gave way under him, he collapsed, dragging Magnus with him in the fall. Magnus' hushes were drowned by chuckles. They lay frozen on the floor for a while, catching their breaths and not really being able to take their eyes off each other.

"What do we do now?" Alec whispered.

"I told you, I always enjoy a good staring contest," Magnus smirked. Alec had almost forgotten their first encounter, in which he had been staring at Magnus. He sat up and offered Alec his hand to help him up, as he was flat against the floor on his back. "I'm going to read you," Magnus said, holding on to Alec's hand and brushing it softly to spread out his fingers.

"What are you going to read me?" Alec wondered.

"I'm going to read your palms," Magnus smirked.

"No."

"Yes."