A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews! I truly appreciate them and look forward to reading more :). Let me know what you think of this chapter.

Disclaimer: The characters and universe belongs to Cassandra Clare.

Warnings: Overall, this story deals with very sensitive subject matters, including sexual abuse of a minor (not explicitly described), internalized homophobia, self-destructive behavior, language and adult sexual content.

Learning to Be

Chapter 8: Brooklyn Bridge

Alec concentrated on the rhythm of his movements as his running shoes pounded against the cement. He kept a steady pace as he followed the curve of the path situated between the cars racing down the FDR and the lazy current of the East River. Next to archery, running was something Alec excelled at; not that running was a very useful skill as a shadowhunter.

He could out run any of his siblings but both Jace and Isabelle did not care to build up the stamina and speed that Alec had developed over years of running along the FDR or occasionally the perimeter of Central Park. It was an outlet for Alec. When he was running, he could clear his mind and focus on the beat of his heart and feet as he raced down the east side of Manhattan.

Alec brushed some hair out of his face, tucking a strand behind his ear and frowned. He was finding it very hard to keep his focus on the mechanics of running. His thoughts quickly wandered into dangerous territory.

Alec sat in the library, trying to read the chapter Hodge had assigned him. He had been reading the same sentence over and over again and he had no idea what it said. Occasionally, he would lift his eyes and see Jace flipping through the pages quickly. He was sprawled out in an armchair a few feet away. His curls framed his face and he had his face scrunched in concentration. He felt the familiar flutter in his stomach and squeezed his eyes closed, feeling like he was going to puke. He just wanted it all to stop.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and his eyes flung open, his entire body jerking at the touch. He shifted away, his heart suddenly pounding, the familiar smell of cologne giving away the identity of the hand without looking at him.

"You really should concentrate on your studies, don't you think, Alexander?" Manson said in a hushed voice. He slid into the chair beside him and dropped his hand to Alec's knee.

Alec stared at the words on the page, trying to control his breathing.

"Let me help you."

Alec gripped the edge of the table tightly as the hand moved up his leg and the man started roughly massaging his thigh. Alec raised his eyes, keeping them hidden under his lashes and looked at Jace, hoping that he wouldn't notice.

Jace looked up and smiled at Alec. "This is riveting stuff, isn't it?" Jace said, sarcastically.

Alec managed to nod, before looking down and allowing his hair to cover his face.

"A necessary evil," Manson replied, jovially, squeezing tightly underneath the table.

Alec closed his eyes. This was his punishment for his treacherous feelings.

Alec stopped abruptly, bending down slightly, resting his hands on his knees. He sighed loudly before moving to lean against the fence that separated the pathway from the river. He looked out into Queens across the water. He knew why he had been drawn to that particular memory. It was the first time Alec had realized that he wasn't safe anywhere. The torture wasn't limited to his bedroom. Manson could get away with anything because Alec deserved it. Jace had sat across from him, an image of light and purity with his blonde hair, bright smile and carefree voice in stark contrast to Alec with the darkness and silence that consumed him.

The teenager moved away from the fence and started running again. He began reciting the names and characteristics of different demons in his head as he picked up the pace, pushing himself harder than before, wanting to feel the burn in his thighs and calves. He had covered five miles when he felt the buzz of his phone in his pocket. He stopped once more to dig out his phone.

It was too early to go demon hunting. He flipped open his phone and looked at it, surprised.

Magnus the Magnificent: How are you feeling, dear Nephilim?

Alec couldn't help the smile from forming. He knew the feelings that came up when he thought about the warlock terrified him but he found that the fear wasn't strong enough to deter him from seeking the comfort that he felt when he was around him.

All right. Just going for a run.

Magnus replied almost immediately.

Magnus the Magnificent: Whereabouts are you?

Alec glanced to his right, looking at the street signs.

About two miles from Brooklyn Bridge.

Magnus the Magnificent: Perfect. I'll meet you on the Manhattan side of the bridge.

Alec blinked, surprised at the impromptu invite to meet up. He bit his bottom lip, not knowing what to do. He had left the Institute to be alone but he wasn't opposed to spending time with the eccentric warlock.

Magnus the Magnificent: Start running Shadowhunter. I'll be there in 15 minutes. If I get there first, I'll make you wear a scarf of my choosing.

Alec stared at the text, slightly mortified. He couldn't make him wear one of his ridiculous accessories, could he? He could just turn around and return home but instead he raced along the East River, deciding he did want to meet up with Magnus.

By the time he made it to the pedestrian entrance to Brooklyn Bridge, Alec was totally out of breath, perspiration running down the side of his face in beads. He wiped away the sweat as he scanned the busy intersection. Leaning against the gate by City Hall, was the tall Warlock, dressed in tight burgundy pants, combat boots and a bedazzled top. He caught Alec's eyes and grinned, waving a bright purple scarf in his hand.

Alec groaned and jogged across the street to the older man. "You said 15 minutes. It's only been 12!" Alec said as he steadied his breathing.

Magnus pushed away from the gate and sighed, wrapping the scarf around his own neck. "You, my dear, are splitting hairs but I concede. I'm impressed." He looked him up and down before continuing. "At the time and what all this sweat is doing to your clothes."

Alec looked down and noticed his damp t-shirt clinging to his chest and blushed. "I don't have a change of clothes."

Magnus just grinned. "You'll air dry."

Alec tried to smile but ended up tilting his lips awkwardly. He shifted his feet. "So, were you in the area?"

"I don't live too far by subway. But you know, I thought it would be nice for us to meet in the light of day like normal friends."

Alec's face reddened some more. "Yeah, about that...I'm really grateful."

Magnus lifted a hand. "I know you're grateful, Alec. Come on, let's cross this lovely bridge."

Alec nodded mutely before falling into step beside the warlock. The bridge was crowded, the majority of the pedestrians avoiding the bike lane while other spilled over into the less occupied lane, including Alec. Alec didn't like crowds and felt slightly overwhelmed by the hordes of tourists.

There was a loud honking sound coming from behind him. "Get out of the way!" yelled a biker.

Before he could react, Magnus grabbed a hold of his waist and pulled him out of the bike lane. Alec's immediate reaction was to jerk away but Magnus's hand held him tightly, pulling him further into the walk lane before letting go.

"Are you all right?"

Alec looked away, embarrassed. "I'm fine." His heart was racing and he didn't think it was because of the near collision with the angry biker.

"I could give him a flat tire," he said, mischievously.

"Magnus!"

"I jest. Though let me tell you about this one time. It was a few decades back when I was in Paris..." Alec listened to Magnus's elaborate story that seemed to be too surreal to be all true but he found himself laughing more than he had in a very long time.

"And then he blamed me for his flat tire! Can you believe it?"

Alec laughed lightly, his eyes dancing with amusement. "I don't know what parts to believe."

"I never lie, dear Shadowhunter."

"Does embellishing constitute as lying?"

"Not in my books."

Alec smiled. "Of course."

Magnus looked at him carefully.

"What?" Alec asked, shifting his feet.

Magnus smiled softly. "Nothing." He stopped walking and gestured Alec to the side. They were at the Brooklyn tower of the bridge. "Turn around."

Alec turned around to face Manhattan and found himself sucking his some air. The sun had started setting over the city, draping the skyline in vibrant yellows, oranges and purples that framed the city landscape like an artist expertly painting strokes with a brush.

"Sometimes we forget the beauty that was there all along."

Alec leaned against the ledge, soaking in the sight and nodding absently. Whenever he was out during the sunset, they were usually hunting demons in one of the more remote corners of the city.

xxxxxx

Magnus leaned against the ledge beside the teenager, watching him carefully. The lights of the setting sun framed the beautiful but melancholy boy. Alec was mesmerized by the sunset and it gave Magnus the chance to just watch the boy without him feeling self-conscious. Magnus wanted so badly to drape his arm around Alec but he refrained from any unexpected touches. Even when he had pulled the teenager away from the biker's path, he had immediately tensed at the touch.

Looking at him now, he looked almost peaceful, a soft smile gracing his stunning features and his blue eyes gazing into the distance. They stood in surprisingly comfortable silence for a few minutes before Magnus finally spoke.

"How do you feel about pizza for dinner?"

"Pizza sounds good."

"Have you heard of Grimaldi's?"

Alec shook his head.

"For a New Yorker, you know very little about the city."

Alec frowned. "Is it a mundane's pizza?"

Magnus chuckled. "Yes it is. It's become quite a tourist trap but it's close by and half decent. Maybe if we're in East Harlem sometime, I'll take you to get some truly astounding pizza. It's this little hole in the wall but the cook is an old warlock from Italy."

The unlikely pair continued to walk the remainder of the bridge before settling in a secluded part of the park right off the bridge.

"What about the pizza?" Alec asked.

Magnus smiled as Alec jumped slightly as a warm box appeared in the grass. Magnus opened the box and the smell of sizzling hot pizza wafted into the air.

Alec looked at it suspiciously. "Did you steal it? Wouldn't they notice it missing?"

Magnus dismissed the concern, pulling a slice away from the pie and handing it to Alec. "I left enough cash for the cost of the pie and a very nice tip. Don't worry."

Alec gave the warlock a skeptical look before biting into the pizza. Magnus raised an eyebrow. Even the way he bit into the pizza was sexy.

"Well?"

"It's delicious," he finally concluded.

Magnus smiled and grabbed a slice for himself.

"So how goes the sleeping arrangements for tonight? Is whatever prevented you from sleeping at home resolved?"

Magnus watched as the boy's entire demeanor shifted, his body tensing immediately. Magnus frowned. What was going on at that Institute?

Alec's eyes dropped to his lap and he frowned. "I..."

"You are welcome to spend the night at my place again," Magnus quickly interjected, feeling the boy growing more and more uncomfortable and distraught.

Alec closed his eyes and tilted his face away from Magnus. "I..." He drew in some air and placed the half eaten slice back in the box. "I would really appreciate it Magnus."

Magnus didn't know why he was willing to offer up his place so readily but he was inexplicably drawn to the Nephilim. "You can stay as long as you need."

Alec nodded slowly, still unable to make eye contact with the older man. "I don't know how I can ever repay you."

"Alec, look at me, please."

It was almost like it was painful for him to lock eyes with him. When he finally looked at him, Magnus held back a gasp. All the lightness that he saw for the last hour was gone, leaving behind stormy and anguished blue eyes.

"Hey, you don't have to repay me. This is how friendship works, all right?"

"Somehow I doubt friends of just a couple of days offer up their place as a crash pad."

"Well, I guess you're just special, then."

Alec shook his head, as if he was denying it. He was about to respond when his phone buzzed loudly. He fumbled through his pocket for the flip phone and quickly read the message.

"It's Jace."

"The annoying blonde one?"

Alec nodded absently. "There's some demon activity somewhere in Tribeca. They're headed down there now." He bit his lip. "It might be late by the time I'm done." He sounded so vulnerable when he said it, as if Magnus was about to take away his invitation.

"Just buzz when you get to my apartment and I'll let you in."

"But what if you're sleeping."

"Don't worry about it. You go do what you shadowhunters do best."

Both boys got up at the same time. "Thank you for this. It was really nice," Alec said shyly.

Magnus smiled broadly even though his thoughts were far from happy, watching the way Alec's mood had spiraled downwards once he brought up sleeping arrangements.

"I'll see you soon, Alec."

Alec stood awkwardly for a moment as if he was deciding whether or not to hug Magnus. Seeming to decide against it, he nodded and turned around, jogging back towards the bridge.

Magnus watched as the shadowhunter disappeared into the distance, feeling oddly helpless and lost. He closed his eyes, hating that the teenager was eliciting these emotions.

A/N: There you have it. Some running, a snapshot of the city and a little Malec time. More to come in the next chapter. And Alec is going to have a hard time figuring out how to get to Magnus's without his siblings asking too many questions...

Again, definitely a slower paced chapter but I will pick up the pace when the time is ready!

And finally, I know this may not be the place, but I recently posted a new Malec story here if anyone is interested.