#Excellent Boyfriend Alec Lightwood

[arialerendeair]

I read a post about it so now I have feelings but: the first time Magnus initiates a kiss? It can be as emotional or smutty or hurt/comforty as you want (tho you might know I have a deep fondness for hurt/comfort and smut asdfghjkl;) Alec is the one seen to initiate kisses for a long stint of the relationship and I'd just love to see the feelings that might be involved during the first time Magnus takes the lead of a kiss

Have fun with your writing Aria!! Ilysm ❤❤❤

DID SOMEONE ORDER SOME HURT/COMFORT?  BECAUSE I AM HERE FOR THAT, SO HERE, HAVE THE FIRST PROMPT FILL OF THE MAGNUS BANE BIRTHDAY BASH BECAUSE WHAT COULD BE A MORE PERFECT START???? 

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He had always been too much.  

He'd known that.  From their very first date.  

No matter that Alec had turned around and decided to give them their chance.  No matter that Alec proved to him, each and every single day that he loved him without reservations.  

Magnus knew better.  He'd always known better.  

So he held back.  He didn't push, he didn't demand more.  He didn't pull Alec into every kiss that he ever wanted to give his boyfriend.  He waited, he let them go at Alec's pace.  And even now, with Alec spending almost every single night at the loft, Magnus holds himself back, because he can't bear to lose this now that he has it.  

"Magnus?" Alec called, sliding off his boots.  "Are you home?"  

Magnus closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.  Hearing Alec call the loft home would be something that he would never tire of, no matter how long they were together.  The knowledge that Alec was safe here, that he felt welcome here was an intoxicating one.  

"Yes!" Magnus called back, taking a deep breath, forcing himself to smile.  He stepped out of his bedroom, pausing in the middle of the room to watch Alec finish hanging up his bow before turning to him.  Then Alexander turned to him and paused, staring at him.  

Magnus blinked at the absolute arrested expression on Alec's face and took a hesitant step towards him.  "Alec?  Are you all right?"  

"You are beautiful," Alec breathed, smiling and shaking himself as he moved further into the loft.  "Angels, Magnus, you're so beautiful I can't believe that you're real some days."  

Magnus flushed and stared at Alec, at the pleased, the relaxed smile on Alec's face, his heart pounding.  He exhaled shakily, his fingers clenching with the urge to grab onto Alec and kiss him until neither of them had air left to breathe.  "You're getting better at your flattery," he teased instead, smiling up at Alec.  

Alec smirked.  "I learned from the best."  

Magnus laughed, even as Alec stepped in front of him, and tilted his head up, waiting for the expected kiss.  But when none came, he blinked up at Alec in surprise.  Alec who was watching him, his expression curious.  His heart sank and he shifted, bringing more attention to Alec.  "Alec?"  

"Magnus," Alec said, taking a deep breath, reaching out to touch Magnus at the waist, pulling him in carefully.  "May I ask you something?"  

Magnus smiled and nodded, pressing himself up against Alec.  "Anything you want, Alexander.  Is everything okay?"  

Alec frowned and nodded.  "Yeah.  I just... noticed something.  And I don't know if you do it on purpose, but."  He paused and kissed Magnus' forehead gently, exhaling hard.  "I need you to know that I'm not unhappy and even if you don't know the reason, I promise it's okay."  

An uncomfortable tightness started to gather in his chest and Magnus tensed.  "Wh, what's wrong?"  

"Nothing," Alec repeated, his hands going around Magnus' waist.  "Nothing is wrong, Magnus.  But I was wondering.  You always let me kiss you first."  

The uncomfortable feeling shifted to a rock in his stomach and Magnus closed his eyes against the fear that swamped him.  Alec had noticed. Alec had noticed and now was going to wonder why and think, think who knows what.  

"At first," Alec continued, even when Magnus' face twisted in pain.  "I thought it was because you didn't want to pressure me.  And I appreciated that.  But, now I wonder if it's... for another reason."  

"Alexander..." Magnus started, squaring his shoulders, trying to think of a way, any way to get himself out of this, to find an answer to the statement that would keep them together.  He couldn't lose Alec, not yet.  He wasn't ready.  

Alec took another deep breath.  "So I just wanted to make sure.  You, you want to kiss me, right?  When I kiss you?"  

Magnus blinked, all of his thoughts skidding to a halt.  

That was...

That was not what he expected.  

"Because if you don't-" Alec started, his eyes wide and frantic.  "Please, please tell me.  You, you told me how important consent is and I'm worried you don't want-"

Magnus pressed a finger to Alec's lips, silencing him as he took another slow, shuddering breath.  "Alexander?"  

Alec made a noise against Magnus' finger to show he was listening.  

"You always surprise me," Magnus said, shaking his head, smiling as he pulled his finger away.  He met Alec's eyes.  "Yes, Alec.  I want to kiss you."  

"Then why..." Alec frowned.  "Why do you always wait for me to initiate a kiss?"

Magnus gave a rueful chuckle and leaned in to press his forehead against the steady beat of Alec's heart, listening to it, glad when Alec kept him curled close against his chest.  Alec would never push him for an answer if he wasn't ready to give it, and he had never been more certain of that in his entire life.  

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Alec continued.  "I just, I want to make sure I'm not hurting or upsetting you."  

Magnus wanted to laugh at the absurd idea that Alec kissing him could in any way hurt or upset him when he wanted nothing more to be kissing his boyfriend every minute they were together.  And then a few extra, just for good measure.  

"You're not hurting or upsetting me," Magnus forced himself to say, pushing himself back just enough to look up at Alec.  "I promise you're not."  He took a deep breath and steeled himself.  "But in the past, I've..." he hesitated.  

Alec waited, watching Magnus carefully as he suddenly tried to hunch in on himself and he realized why Magnus hadn't been kissing him.  His heart skipped several painful beats, but he waited, his eyes on his boyfriend.  

"I've been called clingy.  And too much," Magnus said, closing his eyes as he exhaled hard.  "I know I've told you that.  But it's been true for everything, not just spending time together.  I don't, I didn't want to press you into something you weren't ready for."  

Alec nodded and kissed Magnus' forehead again.  "You've always let us go at my pace, Magnus.  But you shouldn't be denying yourself something that you want and need just because I'm new at this."  

Magnus chuckled.  "Pretty sure you've got some experience under your belt now."

"As you well know," Alec teased back, smiling.  "But Magnus," he cupped Magnus' cheeks in his palms and carefully ran his thumbs over the curve of his cheekbones.  "You're not too much for me.  I want to be with you every moment I'm not here.  I want to kiss you every minute of every day.  You can kiss me as often as you want.  I want that."  

Magnus' breath caught and he stared at Alec, at the sincerity shining in his eyes.  Alec was telling the truth, and the realization, the knowledge made his heart ache in the best ways.  He forced himself to nod and pressed his forehead against Alec's shoulder again.  "I'll keep that in mind," he whispered.  

When Alec didn't press for anything further and simply held onto him tighter, Magnus let himself relax.  This was exactly what he wanted and needed.  

~!~

The next morning, Magnus walked into the kitchen to find Alec glaring at the coffee machine.  It was his constant nemesis, and no matter how many times Magnus walked him through using a cup of coffee, the machine simply did not like behaving for Alexander.  "Coffee machine causing issues again?"  

"Yes," Alec grunted, glaring at it.  "Can you use your oh-so-magical touch to fix it?"

Magnus stopped by Alec and reached up, wrapping one hand around his neck to pull him down for a soft kiss, smiling up at him.  "Gladly, Alexander."  He turned to the coffeemaker, his heart pounding hard as he focused on pouring himself and Alexander a cup.  

When he turned back around, two mugs in hand, Alec was staring at him with the widest grin he'd ever seen on his shadowhunter.  Magnus stared at the smile for a long moment before he realized Alec was taking the cups of coffee away from him, to put on the counter behind him.  

"Alexander-"

"I love you," Alec blurted, pressing Magnus back against the counter with a hard kiss.  "I love you, so much," he breathed, kissing Magnus again, and then again.  

Magnus wrapped his arms around Alec's shoulders and grinned into the kiss, holding on tight.  He should have known that Alec would be different.  

He always was.  

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Feel free to send in more prompts for the Magnus Bane Birthday Bash! 

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[onetimetwotimesthreetimess]

you thought u can escape my live reaction you thought wrong haha

Magnus had always been surprised by how easily Alec could forgive people.

like every alec will forgive easily. even imim!alec after traumatizing his problems were like you go on with your life i with mine live love laugh

Clary shoved him gently and then nodded. "You weren't here to give us notes on how to deal with them."

alec's guide on how to deal with the lightwood siblings: bail them out of jail, provide the occasional cuddle, dont ignore brunch

"Hi, honey. I'm home." Alec joked with a smile on his face.

wouldnt it be iconic for magnus to replay "hi home im magnus" back

His boyfriend raised his head from his lap and pouted at him. "I want to talk to you some more."

me collecting pouting alec like crumb cuz of secret reasons magnus was folding here but i absolutely would lmaooo

He showed Magnus the tongue like a child and strolled towards their bedroom.

Magnus laid on the couch and put both his hands behind his head. He waited for a few minutes before he heard footsteps coming toward him and found Alec standing in front of the couch with an even bigger pout on his face.

they are insufferable

Alec was always very loud in bed, always screaming and moaning, letting Magnus know how he felt.

headcanon that magnus like to make alec scream oh wait thats actually canon i refuse otherwise

“You’re allowed to move on if something ever happens to me.” Alec said after an hour of silence.

this is the worst pillow talk ive read in history alec what are you doing also excellent foreshadowing

"Yes. Nothing I can't handle."

top ten moments before disaster

Alec took a deep breath. "Ragnor and everyone told me some things."

top five moments before disaster

Magnus exhaled loudly and threw his hands in the air. "Alec!!!!. Live a little. Stop being so boring."

top three moments before disaster. also i relate to alec cause too many call me boring but like im too bored out to care

Rachel frowned at him. “Magnus is not at the studio.”

its not even disaster its an apocalypse at this point its all crumbling down so bad

“I’m here baby. I’ve been here all this time.” Alec exhaled. “But you—you just don’t see me anymore.”

this sound like break-up talk but also the most dramatic break-up talk ever alec has to turn around to drop the mic hes a chaotic gay

Magnus let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah. It's not like a building fell on you."

if your ex boyfriend hasnt had a building dropped on his head when trying to save your fake fiance, are you really living?

It's not how Magnus would ever want their last words to be.

but isnt it funny if alec's dead and in heaven the angels look at him and what his final moments and like thats rough buddy

"Who are you?" Alec asked in his direction, and Magnus stopped breathing.

k-drama lead convenient amnesia serve lets gooooo

Alec's eyes crinkled at the corner, and suddenly the confusion was replaced by a grin—and he started laughing.

or not...little shit alec my beloved

"He can stay with me." His voice rang around the room.

i can hear the audience cheer and clap and collective sigh in the background. im sensing a sitcom. alec the impatient patient and magnus the tired of this bs. they communicate in stares and when they say something hurtful the audience put a censored sound over it

next on survive breaking your ex's heart while you're living with them (first alec, second magnus)

I missed your reactions so much lol. They give me so much serotonin lmao.

“Hi home. I’m Magnus.” PLSSSSS. This is so stupid and soft at the same time lol.

Also yes they are insufferable. And will continue to be so in every timeline.

Alec always was, and always will be a chaotic gay. You’re going to love him in the actual breakup scene lol. + little shit Alec supremacy.

The top ten/five/three moments before disaster made me laugh so hard bro.

[normal-thoughts-official]

look i want charlie's pov on malec more than anything. tall scary mobster(?) brother of cute gf is melted soft puddle for this weirdly hot dude with great eyeliner and also just generally charlie interacting with magnus actually. hey do u think if he ever found out about the shadowworld he might talk to magnus about it for someone not so close but still trustworthy and kind and safe? aaaaaaaAAAA

ok but you are right and you know what? FUCK IT. au with charlizzy endgame he can be part of the polycule lmaoo and we get to see all the dumb shenanigans that come with that

like LOOK i get why izzy would tell him that the lightwoods are jewelry makers, it's not THAT far from weapons forgery so she can probably pull that lie off, maryse probably knows a little something about it too, and besides there is her shop, but alec? Alexander Gideon Fucking Shit At Lying Lightwood? NO WAY

i mean look alec is smart and he is cunning and he actually can lie when a plan involves it (he was pretty convincing with "i will bring magnus to the clave myself") and he definitely knows how to navigate diplomacy and stuff like that, but when it comes to actually pretending to be something he's not? especially if it involves improvising? my man lightwood fucking sucks. it's the truth. the same man who convinced lorenzo he would arrest his own boyfriend went "TheSE CeiLInGS ARe spECtaCULaR" not a few moments later. do you think he knows JACK SHIT about jewelry other than what magnus and izzy like or don't like? do you think he even knows what mundanes use as means of transportation? this man doesn't know what bees are. i have to laugh

charlie is probably already half convinced that they're in the mob or some shit anyway, with the way Fucking Shit At Lying Lightwood went all "she told you we're jewelers pffft". also he saw izzy kick that vending machine. like he probably thought it was hot valid but come on now. a woman in stilettos KICKED a vending machine right in the middle without even flinching while she was in the hospital tired as shit with withdrawal sweats. charlie ain't stupid. but also he pretends that he buys it and is all ":) love jewels" just to see what they will come up with

alec gets desperate and asks magnus for help. magnus is just like why do you think i know shit about jewelry making?? alec is like "well you mix up stuff all the time. also you wear them. didn't you design our wedding ring?" and he's like "alec i used mAGIC for that. also do you think making POTIONS is the same as making JEWELS?" and alec is like "i'M DESPERATE"

cue the both of them having an intense research session. for like two whole weeks you can find the both of them at any given time watching boring as fuck documentaries about jewelers and taking notes and shit. they even get some tools so they can PRACTICE just in case charlie fucking? asks to see alec work or something? they are himbos. and of course it's all for nothing because that is NOT the part someone who's not in the field would focus on, so as soon as charlie goes "so, what's your specialty?" alec's like "what's a specialty"

bonus he looks up maryse and you know because shadowhunters are fucking dumbasses she probably just spawned into the mundane world without any documentation or backstory or ANYTHING so he finds out that maryse lightwood doesn't fUCKING EXIST and her shop just manifested fully formed one day. at this point the mob is the only possible explanation

charlie idly wonders if he should go to the police, if anything to ask about them, but he doesn't want to ruin the lightwood's lives, they are nice. then one day he walks by the police station and who does he see if not maryse's FUCKING boyfriend. "oh my god, they are infiltrated"

charlie probably thinks that alec buys magnus all his fancy stuff with like laundered money or something. he's all like "haha hey glad to see that they are so accepting of gay people in the mob- i mean jewelry making business :)"

and THEN he asks magnus and alec how they met and they are like "uh" and magnus is like "alec was. a frequent client" cuz you know not a LIE but what the hell was this mobster always going to Fancy Guy for? maybe alec doesn't buy him his stuff maybe magnus is ALSO in the mob. maybe he's a hitman or something. damn, they are really open minded in the mob

except magnus is too sweet and nice to be a hitman so either he's excellent at pretending or he also has nothing to do with any of this. maybe he's like, a tailor or something. mobsters also have to buy regular stuff right? they wear a lot of suits in the movies or whatever. maybe he's their lawyer. he's gotta be pretty good at what he does if he manages to save these guy's asses in court, because they kinda suck at blending in (bonus somehow izzy's trial comes up in conversation so he is like. oh my god magnus IS their lawyer. and his admiration for the guy just doubles cuz really, how)

so he decides, you know, if this guy is also unrelated to the mob he should probably talk to him or something. magnus is trustworthy, he figures. also, i mean, same situation, right? regular folks who just found themselves in love with weirdly sweet mobsters. maybe they can trade tips. if magnus is their lawyer, he probably knows how stuff works better than charlie anyway

so one day he shows up at magnus' and he's all like "i want to preface this by saying that i won't tell anyone" and magnus is sweating already because FUCK there's a potion simmering not two rooms away and alec's bow is rIGHT BEHIND CHARLIE HANGING IN THE DOOR. and charlie is all "do you know what the lightwoods actually do?" and magnus is like "uhhh, yes, they are jewelry makers" and he's like "come on magnus. did you really think i wouldn't figure it out? they aren't jewelry makers. did you know that maryse lightwood doesn't EXIST? hell, i bet none of them do"

cue dramatic "i know what they are" "say it. say it out loud" "mobsters" "what?" "what?" "uh"

and magnus is all like "haha charlie don't be silly of course they are not mobsters. excuse me" and shoos charlie away somehow

he probably has to EXPLAIN to the lightwoods what the mob even is cuz let's be real, there is no way they know. and everyone is like well this is very fucked up! and alec is like "hey actually we should just pretend to be mobsters, that would be easier. it's way closer to what we actually do. jewels, izzy? really?" and izzy is like "alec i'm not telling my boyfriend that we are MOBSTERS!!!" and alec is like "well of course not, that's what a mobster would say. but we can pretend that we are pretending to be jewelers but REALLY we are pretending to be mobsters who are pretending to be jewelers, leave some clues here and there, and actually convince him because he thinks he knows our secret" and izzy is like "no!!!" and alec is like ":("

(magnus is like "that was a very good plan, honey" and alec's like "right?" and magnus is like "yes, very complex, i like it. you'd make a good mobster, you could use your Shadowhunter Mode" and izzy is like "can you guys PLEASE save this for later")

anyway they probably sit charlie down and have a "charlie we are totally not mobsters and here is why" talk but charlie is very clearly like "hmmm. doubt" so after some more sweating and shit they decide to just tell him the truth lmao

bonus points if charlie goes all "THAT'S your newest lie?" and then magnus starts floating or something and he goes "oh ok i see. can i lie down for a second". i mean realistically he would probably test them but once magnus straight up portals them to paris he kind of has to face that maybe he wasn't that right. maybe luke even turns in front of him and shit. or the lightwoods use the runes to become invisible. you know. but THEN he goes "oh ok i see. can i lie down for a second"

but hey at least his cute gf isn't killing people on the side! just demons. who exist. well he can just not think about that!

hey this is random but i was picturing someone mentions that the mob sells drugs and izzy is kinda upset because, you know, she's struggled with addiction lmao. and protective ass alec is like >:( but then later izzy talks about it with charlie and it's like, sweet? extra points if she's like "worst part is that you're not even that wrong. i dragged raphael in with me" and they talk about that you know

anyway yes you are RIGHT about him going to magnus to talk about the shadow world, like, at least it's not the mob! and he was ready to talk to him about that anyway. and magnus out of all of them is the one who best understands mundanes so he can help a lot because he kinda knows what charlie will be thinking, unlike the rest of them. hell, maryse is taking classes on being a mundane. like. come on

and just aaa honestly i would just really like to see that friendship? and see charlie being all excited cuz you know he's a DOCTOR so imagine all the shit he can learn from them! and eventually magnus mentions catarina and charlie gets to meet her and he becomes kind of her inside man helping her cover her tracks when she uses magic to cure a patient that wouldn't make it otherwise or something, and he is really happy with that. and it's just sweet you know? and just yeah generally give me charlie getting close to the downworlders, maybe even getting gifts from madzie because he's been helping her mom so much, like enchanted flowers or something, please and thank you daodhsaoijdsaoi

[stardustcreateda]

                      Magnus Bane was nothing if not ordinary. He was an excellent student, a hard worker at his part-time job and he did well at blending into a crowd. At least, this was his belief. He didn’t have many friends in school, aside from his brother, Ragnor, and Catarina and Raphael. He mostly kept to himself if he wasn’t with Ragnor. This worked especially well in the lunchroom because it meant that most people avoided their table so they could have one to themselves, especially seeing as Raphael would glare at anyone who dare approach them (he was the grumpiest person Magnus had ever met). 

                    Magnus was standing in line for lunch behind Ragnor when all of a sudden the scent of flowers filled the air and his spine stiffened, eyes going wide as his cheeks heated a precocious pink. Oh no. See, Magnus had been in love with Alec Lightwood for as long as he could remember--literally, like, back in elementary school when Magnus had braces and horrific frosted tips. Back when his mother was still around. His feelings had only grown since then, and now, every time he was near, Magnus felt like he was going to puke he was so nervous. Fuck, why now when he was holding a heavy tray? Ragnor elbowed his brother and chuckled evilly, “Smells like your boyfriend is here.” Which was, admittedly, an odd sentence, but it made Magnus blush more nonetheless. 

                       @avastuniverse​ WE DESERVE THIS. 

[consul-lightwood-bane]

Nightmare from Hell.

Partially inspired by this post by @katy-l-wood

..

~Magnus had fallen asleep singing to Max in the nursery on the rocking chair. The toddler was sleeping contently on his chest with a blue hand in his mouth sucking on a thumb.~

“Your soul is mine Magnus and only mine.”

“Your Shadowhunter will perish by my hand.”

“You’re my Eldest Curse. My greatest accomplishment.”

~ Magnus went rigid as the poisonous words of his father and the dark, bloodied images of Edom plagued Magnus’ mind. He was experiencing yet another nightmare about being back in the hell dimension he so loathed even thinking about. Beads of sweat tricked from the side of his head and he began breathing in and out fast, unable to catch his breath.~

~This woke the baby in his arms who too was rising and falling with the uneven rhythm of his fathers’ chest. The tiny two year old unable to make any sense of the disturbance, started crying and his tiny blue fist grasped the fabric of Magnus’ t-shirt.~

...

~A bony clawlike hand was clutching the front of Magnus’ silk shirt as he found himself dragged to the floor in the ruined throne room of Edom. His father’s dimension. The clawed hand had belonged to his father who had now moved to sit on the rust colored throne leaving Magnus on the floor. He looked exactly as Magnus’ remembered him in a distant time in Rome, with the barbed wire crown and the impeccably tailored white suit.~

“Father.”

“Hello Magnus.”

“I’m dreaming aren’t I ? I can’t imagine you’d missed me too much to summon me to Edom in the middle of the night.”

“Well it can be whatever you believe it to be. I’m disappointed in you.”

“Oh really? That’s wonderful, it means I’ve definitely done something right! Thank you for the compliment.”

“You don’t understand do you Magnus? You’re wasting away your powers on trivial pursuits.”

“No I don’t understand you. And I don’t want to. Now if we are done I’d like to go to bed. I need my beauty sleep.”

“You can try to mask your fear and insecurity behind that wit of yours. But you can’t fool everyone. I can see through that façade of yours. Stop denying your purpose Magnus. You were born to for greater things, to annihilate this land. The one that those stupid Nephilim strive to protect. You’re the son of a Prince of Hell!! A curse to this world. My eldest curse.”

“No thank you. The only thing I’m cursed with is amazing good looks and an excellent sense of fashion. Besides I’ve had enough curses for at least 3 centuries. I’m just content with being the High Warlock of Brooklyn and being with my family.”

“A family you say Magnus? You mean that shadowhunter and the blue horned warlock baby whose own mother tossed him aside? Stop kidding yourself son. I’m your only true family. It’s about time you came to accept that and if not I have other ways to make you do so.”

~Asmodeus waved his hand and suddenly Max appeared at the foot of his throne with a dinosaur plushie in one hand and the other holding on to a fuzzy orange blanket that he always took with him. As soon as he saw Magnus, his face broke into a toothy smile and he waved at him.~

“Papa! Papa!”

~Magnus tried to rush forward to take his son far from this place and shield him from the influence of his father but he found something blocking his path. An invisible wall had emerged, and it stood between him and the throne. He had tried to summon his magic to break through but came up empty-handed. As if his magic had disappeared, gone.~

“Your magic won’t work here. This is my realm. This is where your powers comes from and I can control them. I can give them back to you if you agree to swear your loyalty to me. They are mine, until you decide to embrace your true nature and make an oath to stand by me.”

“Dad no. How dare you try to bring Max here? He has nothing to do with this. Leave him alone. He’s just a kid. My kid.”

~Asmodeus bent down and picked Max up in his arms, the little warlock wriggling to get away from his hold.~

“Is this what has made you weak? Is this why you’ve gone so soft and mellow? Emotions are nothing but a distraction son. They make you pathetic. But let’s see how far you are willing to go because of them? How much you are willing to put at stake for this child of yours? Perhaps your soul even?”

~A shiver went down Magnus’s spine as he watched his father wave his hand, a red ball of fire-like magic appearing there. He then thrust it to Max’s chest causing the kid to cry out in pain.~

“No, no please don’t hurt him, please! I beg of you, do whatever you want to me but leave Max alone.”

~Max’s cries were getting louder and every cell of Magnus was screaming to hug his son and heal him.~

“Papa, it hurts Papa, make it stop, Papa!”

“Shhh my blueberry, it’s okay, it’ll be all okay. Papa will make it all better I promise. I’m sorry baby.”

~Magnus turned with pleading eyes to look at his father, feeling powerless and small.~

“I beg of you, stop it now and I’ll do everything you want me to. I’ll stay by you and be loyal to you. For Lilith’s sake just stop hurting my son.”

~Asmodeus drew back his hand and Magnus sighed in relief as he saw that Max was not in pain anymore.~

“Tsk tsk your humanity has always been the “Bane” of you Magnus. It’s always been your weakness. But I can’t let you get off so easily. You still have to pay the price for ignoring me and defying me all these centuries.”

~And with this the Prince of Hell’s magic grew even darker, more crimson. He snapped his fingers and Max suddenly went limp in his arms, his eyes going black.~

“MAAAAAXX!”

....

~Alec had had a long day of patrolling and wanted nothing more than to just get into bed with Magnus and sleep until it was noon. He had just crossed the threshold of their loft when the cries of his son and the heart wrenching shriek of his boyfriend calling out their son’s name, filled the otherwise quiet apartment. He quickly unsheathed his seraph blade, activating it and made a dash to the nursery, preparing for the worst.~

~What he found was his son wailing and wiggling around in the arms of Magnus. Magnus himself, though still asleep, was shaking badly ; with tears and sweat covering his entire face. He was breathing quite ruggedly and muttering “Max no, no, please, no, this can’t be happening” under his breath. The sight broke Alec’s heart. Magnus was having a nightmare.~

~Out of habit, he still scanned the two of them for any signs of injury and upon not finding any decided to calm Max down first. The poor kid was turning purple from crying too hard. He tried to delicately take Max from Magnus arms but found that Magnus only clutched him harder to his chest.~

“No please don’t take him away.”

“Magnus, it’s me Alec, open your eyes darling.”

~After a few more minutes of gentle coaxing, Magnus’s eyes finally fluttered upon and he tried to get up in a state of panic. He would’ve stumbled out of the chair along with Max had it not been for Alec’s strong grip on his shoulders.~

“Alexander, Alexander! My father he-he took Max ..and he tried, tried to hurt Max and then he did something to him and I didn’t have my magic and I couldn’t help him. We have to go Alexander, my father has Max. He has our son!”

“Calm down love. It was just a dream I swear. Max is okay and look he’s in your arms, safe. Though he’s cried himself hoarse and is probably scared.”

~Magnus peered down at the bundle in his arms where a pair of tear-filled blue eyes were blinking up at him and relief washed over him.~

“Oh baby, oh my Bluebell. I’m so glad you are safe. I’m so sorry I scared you baby. Papa is not going to let anything happen to you my love.”

~He picked Max from his chest holding his curly blue-haired head on his shoulders and rubbing soothing circles on his back. Max’s cries had now turned into sniffles and as exhaustion took over him he started to fall back to sleep.~

~After a while he was laying in his crib, cuddling with the Chairman while Alec had taken Magnus to their bedroom only after the warlock put up no less than 7 layers of powerful wards all around the nursery.~

“Magnus are you okay? I can imagine that must have been awful and you’ve not had one that bad in a while.”

“It was torture Alexander. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced so much pain and fear in my entire life. And it all felt so real.”

“Oh babe, I’m so sorry you had to go through that. But it was not real no matter how much it must have felt like. We will never let your father come anywhere near Max, ever. He’s will have to go through the entire Lightwood family and our friends if he even tries to do so. I promise.”

“You’re right. I won’t let my father poison our life anymore. If he even dares to touch a single hair on our son’s head I’m gonna kill him.”

~Alec embraced Magnus as he dropped a kiss on his head and held him closer. Magnus too put his arms around the shadowhunter, resting his hand on the lower part of his back, tracing a warlock protection rune. Neither of them went back to sleep that night, just staying like that. Alec lay awake filled with a mixture of rage at Magnus’ father, and a determination to do whatever it takes to protect his family. Magnus lay awake still reeling from that moment of helplessness, and a fear of what the future had in store for him and all that he held dear.~

.....

[banesapothecary]

my name is whatever you decide (I’m just gonna call you mine)

read on ao3

1

“Come on, pup. Time to rise and face the day.”

The room is far too bright, and the bed beside him far too cold. Alec sits up, squinting against the sunlight streaming in through the window.

“Pup?” he asks, raising a hand to block the sun but to no avail. He wants to bury deeper inside the covers and blot out all of the light in the known universe, but he suspects Magnus has other plans. Why can’t those plans include cuddling? he thinks to himself, grumbling even in his thoughts.

“Panda?” Magnus tries again.

“No.”

“Okay,” Magnus relents, turning away from the bed but not before Alec sees his tiny pout at the rejection of his pet names. Alec almost feels bad. Almost. He can’t really be blamed for being opposed to nicknames when he’s barely woken up and his boyfriend isn’t in bed with him. Alec may have angelic blood in his veins, but he is only human, after all.

“Why is it so early?” Alec groans, falling back into the bed, if only for a moment.

2

“The thing about moments,” Alec says, “is that you’ll miss them if you’re always running after the next one.”

Magnus doesn’t answer, his brow furrowed.

“When I’m ninety,” Alec tries again, looking away under the weight of the implication that he fully intends to be by Magnus’s side until the day he dies, regardless of when. “I’m not going to remember the trendy gallery, or...or the amazing Greek food we had if we don’t slow down.” Magnus’s gaze is more open, softer but still confused. “And savor moments like these,” Alec adds softly. “And I’m staring into the eyes of the man that I love.”

Magnus’s smile is small, but it’s real, and Alec thinks maybe he understands now. “Of course,” he says. “Everything I need is right here in front of me.” Alec returns his smile, searching his boyfriend’s eyes. The shift in his demeanor is sudden and minute, but Alec still catches it. “Amazing how a twenty-something year old pup can teach an old man new tricks,” Magnus says airly, his eyes teasing and mischievous.

“Please don't,” Alec says, shaking his head. “Don't try to make ‘pup’ a thing.”

“No?” Magnus asks, stepping closer.

“No,” Alec breathes, their lips inches from each other. They meet and the kiss is slow and innocent, yet still all the intimacy Alec had been craving from his boyfriend all day despite its simplicity.

 3

“Pup?” Clary asks with a raised brow and a smirk on her lips. It’s good to see her smile, Alec thinks, after everything. She looks exhausted, her eyes full of a dread Alec is sure won’t go away until the rune on her collarbone connecting her to Jonathan is gone. A patch of dried blood is just visible on her dark jeans, surrounding the tear where she’d stabbed her own leg.

Alec gestures vaguely with his hand, trying--and failing--not to roll his eyes. “He’s trying to make it a thing,” he says.

Her smile grows, and Alec is really, really glad to see it. Magnus shifts beside him, and he doesn’t have to turn and look to know that Magnus feels the same. “It’s cute,” she says. Her voice is light and teasing, a sharp contrast to what is was moments ago while informing everyone at the Institute about her new rune, her new reality. For now, Alec reminds himself. Clary might not be a Lightwood, and Alec might not use a word as strong as friend for the redhead who’d turned his world on its head a few months ago, but he did care about her. Probably more than he’d ever admit, lest he ruin his grumpy and brooding persona.

“I’m a Shadowhunter,” Alec scoffs. “I don’t do ‘cute.’”

“But, pup, you did me last night,” Magnus chimes in, smiling and blinking up at him innocently, much to Clary’s delight. Her laugh echoes around the mostly empty Ops Center.

Alec knows he’s blushing, feels the heat pooling in his cheeks and his neck. He wonders if the blue light cast off by the monitors are blending with the red to make him a shade of purple, like the girl who turned into a blueberry in that children’s movie Magnus had made him watch a few weeks before. Alec didn’t think he’d like to be a blueberry very much, but the happy and almost carefree looks on both Clary and Magnus’s faces are enough that he decides there are far worse fates.

4

Alec enters the loft quietly, the relief of finally being home not quite enough to shed the weight of the day from his shoulders. It doesn’t help, of course, that he’s 99% sure someone is drilling into his skull, if the gnawing pain behind his forehead is anything to go by.

Magnus hears him anyways, or maybe he just felt him slip into the wards. “Alexander?” he calls, his voice carrying from the apothecary.

Alec hums in response, too tired to speak. He heads straight for their bedroom, stripping off his jeans and jacket. He lets himself fall face first into the bed, burying his face into the pillow. It feels good to be off his feet, and he’s more than content to fall asleep right then and there.

The sound of footsteps coming down the hall have other plans, it seems. “Alexander?” Magnus asks softly as Alec hears him enter the room. He feels the bed dip beside him, but he still can’t bring himself to turn and open his eyes. He just wants to sleep for a trillion years and forget that today ever existed.

“What’s wrong, pup?” Magnus says, and Alec would never admit this to his boyfriend, but he couldn’t stop his lips from upturning just slightly at the pet name. For the first time all day, he felt warm, even if the construction crew inside his head was still pounding away at his skull.

Alec turns, but not before schooling his expression into a scowl. “Not a pup,” he mumbles, squinting up at Magnus against the afternoon light.

Magnus sighs, threading his fingers through Alec’s hair. It doesn’t ease the headache, but by the angel does it feel good. “What’s wrong, darling?” Magnus tries again, his voice concerned underneath the teasing lilt.

“Bad, terrible, long, miserable day,” Alec grumbles, his squint morphing into a glare at Magnus’s low chuckle. “My head hurts, I’m exhausted, the Clave sucks, and my parabatai is so annoying.”

“Your head hurts?” Magnus asks, ignoring the rest. “How badly?”

“You know those things they use in TV to tear up roads and stuff?” Alec asks.

He raises an eyebrow. “You mean a jackhammer?”

Alec nods, the side of his face smooshed against the pillow. “That’s in my head.”

Magnus frowns, his fingers still carding through Alec’s hair. The motion already felt heavenly to Alec, but now a warmth emanates from his fingers and spreads through Alec’s head, easing the pain. Alec sighs in relief, scooting closer to press a kiss to Magnus’s side.

“Thank you,” he murmurs, suddenly on the edge of sleep once again.

“Of course, pup,” Magnus answers.

Alec closes his eyes, shaking his head slightly. “Not a pup,” he argues, but he’s already fast asleep when Magnus laughs and presses a kiss to his forehead.

 5

“Magnus, what is all this?” Alec asks, stopping short just inside the loft. He almost doesn’t recognize it for all of the pink and red decorations everywhere. It looks like Cupid threw up, he thinks. Or exploded.

“It’s our first Valentine’s day together, darling. I wanted to celebrate properly,” Magnus says proudly. His arms are behind his back, hiding something, but that’s not why Alec’s staring at them. Magnus is wearing a shirt of deep burgundy, and the fabric clings to his shoulders and biceps in a way that Alec is sure is going to kill him.

“You know,” Alec says, his mouth suddenly very dry. “I don’t need heart decorations everywhere to celebrate with you.” He can’t stop his gaze from drifting up and down his boyfriend’s body appreciatively. He’s not sure he even wants to.

Magnus smirks, clearly pleased with the reaction he’s elicited. “I know, darling,” he drawls, “but, humor me?” His eyes are wide and how could Alec ever deny this man anything?

Alec nods, acquiescing to whatever Magnus has planned for the evening. His agreement is immediately worth it, he knows, watching Magnus’s eyes brighten and his smile grow.

“Excellent,” Magnus purs.

By the angel, Alec thinks. I’m fucked.

“I have something for you,” Magnus says, stepping closer. He moves his arms, holding up a stuffed animal for Alec to see. Alec frowns, eyebrow raised in confusion. “A pup for my pup,” Magnus explains.

“That is incredibly sweet,” Alec whispers, taking a small step so their lips were inches apart. “But I thought we agreed not to make ‘pup’ a thing.”

“You agreed, darling. I’ve made no such commitment,” Magnus winks. Alec’s groan is lost to the press of Magnus’s lips against his.

 +1

“Don’t go,” Alec mumbles, eyes still closed.

He doesn’t even know what time it is. All he knows is that it is his day off and he fully intends to spend the day in bed doing absolutely nothing but curling up with his boyfriend, even though the shift of the mattress as Magnus moves to pull himself out of bed means his boyfriend clearly has other plans.

That simply won’t do.

He reaches out a hand, wrapping his arm around Magnus’s torso to hold him in place. Magnus laughs in surprise, the sound breathy in the morning and music to Alec’s ears. He scoots himself closer, lying his head half on Magnus’s should and half on his chest.

“I have a client this morning, Alexander,” Magnus whispers, but he doesn’t try to extricate himself from Alec’s hold on him.

“So cancel,” Alec murmurs. He opens his eyes, glancing up to meet Magnus’s eyes. “It’s my day off, and I just want to spend it relaxing with you.”

Magnus’s chuckle vibrates through him like the best kind of earthquake, each tremble sending a new wave of warmth through Alec. “You can spend the rest of the day relaxing with me after I meet with my client.”

“Hm mm,” Alec hums, shaking his head. “I want to spend the entire day with you.”

“It would take an hour at most, darling,” Magnus whispers, but he slips an arm around Alec’s waist.

I’ve almost got him, he thinks.

“What would it take to convince you not to go?” Alec asks.

“Hmmm…” Magnus hums, running his fingers through his goatee in ponderance. Alec rolls his eyes at the theatrics, but he can’t help but smile. “Oh, I know,” he says after a moment, his voice pleased. “Let ‘pup’ be a thing.”

Alec exhales, the sound coming out in a surprised laugh. “I really should’ve seen that coming,” he says.

“Do we have a deal, Alexander?” Magnus asks, his eyes challenging as they are affectionate.

“Fine,” Alec grumbles, but in truth he doesn’t mind at all. He’d grown used to Magnus’s tendency to call him by various terms of endearment, not that he would ever admit this to his boyfriend. “But no using it around our friends,” he adds, not wanting to repeat the teasing looks he’d gotten from Izzy and Jace the first time they’d overheard Magnus call him ‘darling.’

“On my honor,” Magnus says in mock seriousness. Alec watches as he picks up his phone from the nightstand and send a message to his client. “There,” he says as he powers the phone off. “I’m all yours, pup.”

“Good,” Alec whispers, pressing a kiss to Magnus’s chest.

[karaell]

How to save a heart

Alec was walking back from his meeting with Asmodeus on shaky legs. The adrenaline was wearing off and the reality of the situation was becoming clearer with every step.

He agreed to break up with Magnus, he agreed to an impossible deal and now he didn't know if he can go through with it.

Is he strong enough to put his own feelings aside and save his boyfriend, the love of his life from this suffering? A small part of his brain, the one which was usually right and which he often ignored was telling him that breaking Magnus' heart was the worst possible way out of this situation, that his boyfriend already lost too much because of Alec himself. But the part that was being consumed by guilt was quickly winning the battle. Because Alec felt guilt more than anything else. It was his fault that Magnus was without magic, his fault that he almost died, his fault that Magnus was sinking deeper and deeper into depression, because Alec was selfish and to cought up in his own wishes and desires to actually see his boyfriend see his pain and sacrifice.

That's over now. Gaining more steadiness in his step Alec makes a decision, he will sacrifice his heart, he will make sure that Magnus is happy again, that he feels like himself again. And despite the pain at the admission Alec is also sure Magnus will recover their relationship ending. He knows Magnus loves him, probably more than he loved his other lovers, he also knows that for the duration of their relationship Magnus had time to get used to the fact that he will lose Alec sooner or later, and if it's sooner but brings his magic back than who is Alec to argue with that logic.

****

He finds Magnus in the library, using one of the computers, his boyfriend for the time being looks haggard and bleak, words that no one would ever use to describe the great Magnus Bane, yet here they are. Alec waits for a beat, stopping in the doorway to drink in the sight of Magnus, of the most precious thing that ever happened to him, before bracing his heart for the impact. He clears his throat and slides on a mask of indifference. Magnus whippes his head around a tired and reserved smile on his face.

'Hello Alexander, I haven't seen you all day. I have news'

'Hello Magnus' he says, voice as steady as he can muster. 'What kind of news?'

Magnus tilt's his head to the side, studying his boyfriend for a second before continuing.

'I found an apartment, not far from here, so close enough for you to walk to work, hitting all of our criteria, I already went over whilst you where gone, as there was a chance to see it in person. And of course if you don't like it we can back out but I've placed an offer and we can start moving in even tomorrow!'

Magnus was mastering as much excitement as possible at this time, after his breakdown yesterday he felt enough shame at showing his weakness, but it was harder and harder to keep his walls up around Alexander who proved to be excellent at getting him to open up, almost against his will. But now gazing at his boyfriends stormy face he couldn't help but recoil, did he make a mistake and Alec wasn't willing to live with him anymore, did he push him away to far to the point of no return?

' That's great. I would say just in time, because you can't stay here any longer'

'Why? Has someone said anything?'

'Nothing like that, it's just.... Magnus I don't think us being together is right at the minute.... I think it's best if we don't see each other anymore.'

'What? I don't... Alexander what are you saying?' Magnus was lost for words, how come this man, who just 24 hours ago was cradling him in his arms whispering reassurance of love suddenly decided that he is not worth it?

Stumbling backwards Magnus kept an eye on Alec, on his stormy face and clenched fists, on his angry posture. Was this his doing? Has he been such a disappointing partner, it wouldn't be the first time, he thought bitterly.

'I think we should break up, without your magic, and with you being so... different. We just don't work anymore.' Alec was speaking through gritted teeth, each word that left his mouth was like a stabbing wound. All he was aching to do was to grab Magnus and never let him go. But that's not what Magnus deserves, he deserves his power, his magic, to live forever, not some pathetic excuse of a boyfriend who can't even bring him happiness.

Magnus was breathing hard, not fully comprehending the fact that after all of what happened in the last weeks he's now also loosing Alec, a reason for his sacrifice. He lost his magic to save his boyfriend from a tragic loss. He took that burden away from him and that's how this ends for him. Without a support he needs so desperately at this awful time. No one treats Magnus Bane this way, not even a person he loves.

Alec can see the exact moment Magnus is hit with the realisation of what is happening. He can see the walls going up, he can almost feel how betrayed Magnus feels. So he's bracing himself cause he knows how good his boyfriend is with words and how much he can hurt him.

'You, you made me believe that I can have love after so many centuries, you took away a part of me, you made me sacrifice myself time and again! You're a pathetic little boy who thinks he can play with people, you're no leader. I wish I never loved you, I wish I left you a long time ago when the chance presented itself! Goodbye Alec'

With that he was gone. Izzy found Alec on the floor of the library an hour later. Her brother in nearly catatonic state, clutching Lightwoods family ring.

****

Magnus was running, running away from that toxic place, form Alec, from this reality. He didn't know where he was going but when he finally looked up he was just a block away from Catarina's apartment. Apparently his brain still worked, in the contrary to his broken heart.

But before he could take another step, he felt a pull of power, some kind of electricity buzzing around him. Looking around he saw a twirling blue and red energy appearing right in front of him. Magnus had no time to react when the energy suddenly started entering his body.

Someone was slapping his cheek, it felt cold and strange against his face. He blinked his eyes open to see a young girl with a skateboard under her pit.

'Are you ok?' She asked.

Magnus blinked a few times after remembering the weird energy, he must've passed out after it entered his body. He was suddenly glad he somehow found himself near Catarina's apartment.

'Yes, yes I'm ok thank you. Must be low on sugar or something' with a quick wave he disappeared as fast as he could.

****

'Your magic is back! When? How did this happen?' were the first words that left Cat's mouth as soon as she opened her door.

'What?'

Can you not feel it?'

'I...' in all his distress Magnus didn't even question the way his body felt. He wasn't expecting his magic to return henceforth he hasn't tried to channel it in any way. But now he could feel it pulsing through him, like a roaring beast it was ready to be unleashed at any time, ready to be wielded. And it was his. It was familiar, felt like coming home after years of separation, it didn't not compare with Lorenzo's magic which did the trick but never felt like his own.

He got rid of his glamour and with glossy eyes looked at Cat, she stood before him tears streaming down her face.

How?' he asked.

'Wait, you don't know?' When did this happen?' she asked suspicion in her voice.

'Literally just now, I was coming to you, I had to leave the Institute, and suddenly this power entered me and bam here I am' he explained not being able to hide his hurt when talking about the Institute.

'What happened at the Institute?' Cat pressed gently, knowing the fragile state her friend has been in the last weeks.

'He, Alec... Alexander broke up with me'

'That's impossible! I know I had my doubts but that boy loves you, he was devastated when you got sick he wouldn't just toss you aside just a few days later'

'Well he did, he said we don't work anymore because I don't have my magic and I'm not myself anymore'

Cat was still looking at him sceptically, she got to know Alec a lot better recently and what Magnus was saying seemed very far away from the Shadowhunters character, but there were more pressing matters at hand.

'So what do you think happened? Asmodeus got bored and decided to just give you your magic back?'

'I doubt that, nothing comes free with my father, but how? I can think of only one way he would agree to giving my magic back to me and that's getting something in return. But I can't think of anyone that would willingly deal with my father... No person other than maybe you or Alexander......oh god.'

'Magnus what is it? Didn't you say he just broke up with you out of nowhere...ohhh'

They shared a look of understanding, a look full of dread.

'No he wouldn't. Why would he do that? Didn't he know I rather die with him than live for eternity without him.?'

'I guess he loves you enough to sacrifice his happiness'

'I told him I'm not happy, I told him there might never be a time when I'm happy again but I didn't tell him that he's the only reason I'm still here, still holding on. What if breaking up with me is not everything he had to offer to my father I have to see him now.'

'Go but don't do anything stupid. Asmodeus can still take your magic back.'

'I ..' he almost said he doesn't care but the words wouldn't leave his mouth because no matter what, Magnus is not being striped of his magic ever again. With the last nod towards Catarina he lets his magic wash over him, his hands start to dance in a manner that could be described as excessive but he doesn't care. He hasn't felt this alive in what feels like years. Soon enough he's walking through a portal straight into Alec's office.

****

He's not surprised to see it empty. If he wasn't trying to fix this mess he would probably be sitting on Cat's couch sobbing right now, so he understands. He spend the last week living in Alec's room at the Institute but nevertheless he decided to knock on the door, when he gets there. His heart nearly breaks at Alec's rough and sad voice coming from inside. 'Izzy please, leave me alone!'

The newly recharged Warlock hesitates only for a second before softly slipping into the room.

'I'm not going anywhere you silly silly Nephilim' he says quietly, but not without passion, it's almost like his voice send electricity towards Alec's body. Next second the Shadowhunter is up on his feet, hands wiping down his face of any fluids.

'Magnus what are you doing here? Haven't I made myself clear that I don't want to see you anymore?' he says and it would be much more convincing if Alec didn't look ready to be sick at having to repeat those words.

'What is clear to me, is that I have my magic back and that my boyfriend decided to make a deal with my father behind my back.'

Alec's eyes widen just for a second before he's moving, stepping closer to Magnus. Magnus who doesn't expect to be manhandled towards the door.

'I don't know what you're talking about. Please just leave I can't ..we can't'.'

'Yes we can, Alexander we will figure this out, please'

'Magnus no, he only agreed to this if we're not together anymore, he will take it back otherwise, you can't ...I just want you to be happy, please let me help you be happy'

'I am happy, when I wake next you, when I see your smile, when you speak sweet nothings into my ear, when I hold your hand, when I know that I have the love of my life by my side, that's when I'm happy.'

' But you said, that without your magic...I wanted you to be whole again, to fix my mistakes.'

'First of all it was my choice and second of all I said I wasn't happy, and that was true, my magic means the world to me but you darling you are my world. I can survive loosing my magic it would take time, but loosing you, the pain I was in was unimaginable. I love you Alexander Lightwood, and I'm not letting you go, even if it means I have to face my father again.'

'I love you too Magnus Bane and I'm so so sorry.'

And they cried softly together until they both felt like they are strong enough to face the world after this turmoil of emotions

[enkelimagnus]

Alec Lightwood & Maia Roberts - Malec & Saia - 1043 words - Rated G

Alec comes to have a drink at the Hunter's moon, and have a chat with the new Alpha of the New York Pack. Alec and Maia are two people in love. 

Read on AO3

Written for @izzymalec

"Are you here as Head of Institute?"

Alec raised an eyebrow, as he slid onto the stool he’d chosen to sit at at the bar of the Hunter’s Moon. The woman in front of him was looking at him with something in her eyes that read as both teasing and serious.

"Depends. Are you here as Alpha of the New York pack?" He replied, and there was half of smile on his face. Of course he wasn’t here as HOI. He just wanted a drink, and to congratulate her.

"So you’ve heard," Maia grabbed a glass and started to feel it with alcohol.

"Gossip travel fast. It’s not often an Alpha willingly initiates a challenge." Alec replied, and slid a bill towards her in exchange for the glass.

Maia nodded. "Pack politics demand a hint of blood. Unfortunately." She shrugged. "I got out pretty okay. And with a whole new title."

Alec hummed appreciatively. He didn’t really understand the specifics of alpha challenging, and the requirements for the position of alpha in a pack. He knew too little about werewolves, and what he knew… these last few months, he’d spent half his time checking for racial bias in his knowledge of the Downworl-  Shadow Kinds.

"Are you going to congratulate me, or are you just here to sit with that brooding air of yours?"

Alec actually laughed at that. "Congratulations, Maia Roberts," he held his glass up in cheers. "I mean it." He said. "I’m glad to count you amongst us on the Shadow World Council."

“You changed the name?” Maia asked, as she started chopping some fruit that seemed to be lime behind the counter.

“I’ve been learning things. From… Magnus, from Raphael…” Raphael and him didn’t have a good relationship, far from it, but they were starting to work through their differents. The man knew what Alec would do for Magnus, and he respected that. And Alec… he realized that whatever had happened between Izzy and Raphael had been brought on by circumstances outside of Raphael’s control… and outside of Izzy’s. “Downworld… seems to be a name chosen by our people. And knowing our amazing history with your kinds, it is no wonder it has such a connotation.”

Maia sighed. “It’s nice. You’re not forgiven yet, you or Shadowhunters, but at least you’re trying. That’s better than we could have asked for, as recently as two years ago.”

“Hopefully, we’ll keep trying. I never want Magnus to give up on keeping me in check, Angel knows I need it.”

The woman grabbed a bottle of water from behind the bar and took a sip. “Where’s Magnus, by the way? Usually, you two come here together.”

“He’s on a work trip. Warlock-Seelie magic conference. This time it’s in Gabon.” Alec explained. “There’s a big community of Seelies living in these forests, and some excellent warlocks. They have a solidarity that is rarely ever seen within the Shadow World.”

He couldn’t help but repeat Magnus’ excited words from the morning. Despite how early he’d left, he’d been full of energy and joy, and delight to be going to the conference. They’d woken up together, and Alec had made Magnus breakfast while the man took a shower and finished gathering his things from the apothecary. After this departure, he’d had a couple of hours before having to be at the Institute, and he’d spent it researching the conference from the warmth of his home, rather than get to the office.

“Magnus likes talking about it, doesn’t he?” Maia chuckled. “I have the same at home. Get Simon something he’s excited about, and there’s rambling from dawn to dusk.” Her smile was fond as she talked about him.

“How did we, sarcastic people of little words, bag ourselves such excited boyfriends?” Alec mused, taking another sip of the cocktail. Somehow, it didn’t taste the same as the ones Magnus made. Was it the magic?

“I like to believe the Universe saw us in need of human-shaped balls of hopefulness, and provided us with Magnus Bane and Simon Lewis.”

“Seems like a pretty good guess to me,” Alec laughed. He fell silent for a while, as Maia was busy serving another customer.

They were a lot alike, the two of them, he realized. Closed off and sarcastic. Those traits stemmed from completely different things, but… still. Alec kinda felt relaxed here, at the bar, talking with this werewolf woman. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was just… he felt better lately, more comfortable in his life, and in his skin. He’d noticed how it impacted the way he saw the world, how he interacted with others.

“I know we’ve never really been on the same side, you and I,” Alec said once Maia was free again, and had turned her attention back to him.

“An understatement, Shadowhunter,” she replied, but there was no real bite to her words. Sarcasm, maybe, but her smile told him she understood what he meant.

“I’m not going to ask for friendship, because that might probably be a little too much to ask,” Alec continued. “But I hope we can be on good terms. And not only around the Council table; not only when diplomatic rules apply, but outside of that.”

Maia grabbed a cloth and a wet glass and started drying it. “I can manage that, I think.” She nodded. “Besides, I’m friends with your man, so the least we could do is get to know each other. I’m pretty sure you will both be on the list when we get married.”

Alec chuckled. “Hmm ‘when’? Have you guys thought about a date?”

“Well, I ain’t even engaged yet, so I’ll keep you updated, when Simon finally gets courage to propose.” Maia laughed. “But it’s gonna happen at some point. We’ve talked about it, and I’m pretty sure he smuggled in a ring at some point last week, so it shouldn’t really be for much longer.”

Alec smiled at her. “It will be a pleasure.”

“In any case, just block your weekends in what… April? May? June at most. I’m thinking late spring.”

“Will do,” Alec winked, and in a last sip, finished his cocktail. “And I’ll be sure to send you and Simon our own save the date.”

[lightwoodsmagic]

Hiya darling, I am the anon looking for good malec fics. What are your fav explicit canon malec fics? Wanna start by reading the ones that follow the story, then move onto the aus. Thanks a lot!

Hi love! Thank you so much for the ask! I have so so many, so here we go! There’s episode adjacent and canon compliant fics in here!

🏹 Mr Lightwood...Mr Bane by TruePlainHearts (2k, E, episode adjacent)

"Lovely to see you, Mr Lightwood."

"And you, Mr Bane. Thank you for taking the time."

*****

The kinky, shameless smut that occurs right after the rest of the clan leaders leave. Magnus and Alec make excellent and creative use of Alec's new office and its expansive mahogany desk... and its sturdy door.

🏹 Three’s A Crowd by GoldenDaydreams (20k, E, canon compliant)

“Two can play at this game.” Alec had the pleasure of watching Magnus go from confused, to a slow smirk, and understanding coming to his eyes. “I might not be able to kick him out, but I can make him want to leave.”

A.K.A The story where Jace keeps interrupting Alec and Magnus's 'alone time,' and they're both super fed up.

🏹 To The Victor The Spoils by Tiger_Tiger_Burning_Bright (5k, E, canon compliant)

Alec surprises Magnus at the loft and finds him practicing his t'ai Chi routine. This time he can enjoy the show rather than worrying about apologising.

🏹 Capture My Fragile Heart, Keep It Safe by alittlebriton (7k, E, episode adjacent)

"We're not showering together in the Institute. But if you want to shower and then portal us home, the quicker you wash, the quicker we'll be alone."

Magnus made a noise and forced himself up into a sitting position.

"Fine, fine. Be logical." He squinted up at Alec who looked like he was trying not to laugh. "What?"

"Your hair is rivalling mine right now."

Magnus groaned and pulled the bedspread over him. He could hear Alec snickering.

"And now you're missing me naked."

Alec and Magnus clean up at the Institute after the events of By the Light of Dawn, Alec has another brief chat with Jace and then Magnus and Alec head home. There's banter and flirting and conversations, including about what happened with Raphael, and another first for Alec.

🏹 But In The Morning We Rise by alittlebriton (2k, E, episode adjacent)

"Mmmkay," Magnus sighs without opening his eyes and shifts to allow Alec more access. "You can wake up the rest of me if you want."

Alec knows he doesn't mean it quite the way his brain interprets it - he just means he can keep up the kissing - but his brain leaps ahead and makes him flush, his body getting warmer. But why shouldn't he? Magnus was his boyfriend; he was naked in bed with him. He could definitely wake up the whole of Magnus if he wanted. Just because he hasn't done it before didn't mean it wasn't a good idea.

Set before Episode 9 Bound By Blood - Alec wakes Magnus up in new ways.

🏹 If You Love Me (Say So) by Anonymously (3k, E, episode adjacent)

Basically set after Magnus and Alec have confessed their love for each other in 2x10.

🏹 Just Alec and Just Magnus by Therealdeo (2k, E, episode adjacent)

After the events of 2x10, Magnus and Alec need to reconnect and just be them. More importantly Alec needs Magnus. And maybe Magnus might just need Alec too.

🏹 Dreams of You and Me by GoldenDaydreams (7k, E, canon compliant)

Alec has a reoccurring dream about Magnus, and he can't get it off of his mind... not until he finally confesses every dirty detail to his boyfriend.

🏹 wrong in the dark by sarcasticfluentry (6k, E, episode adjacent)

After Magnus crashes Alec's wedding and Lydia is attacked, the Institute goes on lockdown. Magnus stays the night in Alec's room.

🏹 think of me when you shoot your arrows by deepbutdazzlingdarkness (12k, E, episode adjacent)

Five times Alec gets off thinking about Magnus and one time he doesn’t have to.

AKA a character study of Alec and his thirst throughout season 1.

🏹 With Just One Breath, I’m Locked In by heartsdesire456 (4k, E, episode adjacent)

After the events of the wedding and the debacle with Camille and Jace going off with Valentine, Magnus was exhausted. The last thing he expected after finally getting to bed that night was for Alec, who he was pretty sure a few hours ago had made up his mind to back out of anything with Magnus, to show up at his door with a clear intention to do nothing of the sort.

🏹 About That by Sairyn (4k, E, episode adjacent)

The wedding is over and new revelations come to light. All may not be as it seems. My take on what happened after episode "Malec"

🏹 pro bono by sarcasticfluentry (7k, E, episode adjacent) 

After the Clave drops the charges against Isabelle and declares her free, Magnus decides he doesn't want Alec's bow and quiver after all. He gets something even better.

🏹 Mine by PrincessOfMalec (Treasure7) (4k, E, canon compliant)

There's a new shadowhunter at the institute, one that is a bit too comfortable with touching Alec. Magnus doesn't like it.

Or The one where I needed some "possessive and protective-Magnus" and this happened!

🏹 Firsts by Miasunrise (5k, E, canon compliant)

Everything with Magnus is so new, there’s just first after first, so many things Alec never thought he would think or feel.

(Or: Alec really wants to give his first blowjob).

🏹 until we go down by Leraiel (10k, E, canon compliant)

“Alec’s been taken -”

Magnus stands, hearing only those three words, frozen - trying to process. He attempts to compose himself; he is centuries old - the most powerful warlock in Brooklyn and perhaps even further. The wine glass, held usually with such a sure elegant grip, smashes to the ground. It cuts through the roaring sea of shock.

“How did this happen?” He struggles not to lash out in blame at dear Clary. She was innocent - save it, he warns himself.

🏹 The first time by theonetruenorth (6k, E, canon compliant)

“Alexander, my darling,” Magnus whispered, leaning over Alec once more to tenderly stroke his thumb over Alec’s lips, red and sensitive from kissing. “You take my breath away.”

🏹 The Five Times Magnus Left Alec With Something and the One Time Alec Left Magnus With Something by transteverogers (5k, E, canon compliant)

The five times Magnus left Alec with something and someone saw and the one time Alec left Magnus with something

🏹 All Will Be Well Alexander by Wuffbert (6k, E, episode adjacent)

Alexander Lightwood has spent six months loving and reassuring the people around him however on the night of his Parabatai return it's Alec who is in need of some love.

Jace is brought home and Alec comes home to Magnus and decides it time that they should take their relationship to the next level.

There you go, love! Let me know what you think, and if you ever decide to read au stuff, I’ve got some brilliant fics for that too xx

[axelsagewrites]

Welcome Home*Shadowhunters

Masterlist HERE

Wattpad HERE Alec, Isabelle, Magnus, Jace, Clary X Platonic!Lightwood!Reader

"uh," I groan and squeeze my eyes shut as sunlight blinds me in my bed. The shrill ringing of my phone is still going on. I roll over and lazily feel around for it before turning the alarm and prying my eyes open to see the time. 4:23 am. Uhh. I fling my phone somewhere and curl back up. Why am I getting up at 4 anyway? Wait, "Is it..?" this time I actually sit up and grab my phone, "It is. I'm late!" flying the covers off, I run to my wardrobe and stuff on jeans and a jumper over my pajama top. Grabbing the first suitcase, I begin cramming all my clothes inside, flinging my shoes in as well with some non-breakables. Suitcase 2. I sweep everything off my shelves and out of my drawers into my suitcase. mi not stupid so I save all my souvenirs and breakables for my backpack. Glancing over at my desk I sigh. I don't even pay attention to what papers I'm gathering as I try to make them neat enough to fit in a folder then in my bag. Finally done. The clock reads 4:56 here. Okay, this is fine. I double check for loose ends and when I'm sure I stand in the doorway and look over the room. This was-had been my room for the past year. I'd grown accustomed to it, loved it even. Despite its faults and culture shocks. As I walk along the hallways for the last time I nod to the few awake at 5 am. Most people awake were night shift desperate for a bed. They give me smiles and nods in returns, even a few goodbyes. I quickly duck into the kitchen. Hayato was hunched over the coffee maker. An older man with greying hair and wrinkles deep in his forehead and in his smile lines. He was always smiling, a good thing really as he was my mentor, "Morning," I said. He rolled his eyes and scrunched his lip up to his nose, "Or evening," I laugh. "I'm 58, I shouldn't still do the night shift," Despite his grumbles, he pours me a mug as well, "Here," "I should really be going; I only came for..." I trailed off knowing id sound stupid. He raised an eyebrow, "Your mug? It's in the cupboard," he smirks at my red face, "Nothing wrong with being a little sentimental," I shrug as I grab the 'I heart NY' mug my friends had given me before leaving. "See you later," Hayato didn't say goodbyes. He nodded, grabbing something from the cupboard, "For your collection,"  he added as I took the box. "Open it later." I nodded and left. I don't bump into anyone else as I head to the portal. We said goodbye last night. When I get their Kaori was waiting, "It was good to have you," I smile, "Good to be here." Normally her hair was pinned back but she left it down for once, a waterfall of ink down her back, "if you ever need anything just send word," "Same goes," She grins, "Okay go. You're missing them after all," I take a quick breath before stepping through the portal. I hate portalling. You feel weightless and there's always the chance of getting stuck. My eyes open to a sight and a half. All the stations were filled with people silently doing their work, like a perfect machine. Frightening. But New York had always been like this. When I didn't see any of them I began to retrace the hallways. Sure, it was a little different but also the same. It was dinner time here and it smelled like takeaway. The dining room was filled with quiet chatter. It used to be before I was even alive, that a cook would make the food for everyone and the dining room would always be filled. It's different though. Maybe 10 to 20 people are in here. Tony and David, two older men sit up at the top of the table playing cards like always and drinking a pint. Tony had been my teacher so when he saw me he nodded but cards were important. A group of pencil-pushing 30-year olds sat at one table, no one attempting to talk to them, eating their food while talking about work. About halfway down the middle table was a group of 4 teens. I leave my suitcases at the door and walk over. I drop my bag into the crook of my right elbow, silently. Moving silently without notice is one area of being a shadowhunter I always excelled at. I dropped the bag next to a chair, grabbed a chip off someone's plate, and sat down, "So what's the gossip?" I ask. They all turn to me, "(Y/N)!" Alec smiles, arms pulling me into a hug, "I didn't think you were back today," "It was a secret," I laugh as he finally realizes me. "Stop hogging (Y/N)," Izzy whines, forcing me to sit in between her and Alec and across from Jace. "I missed you," she says, hugging me as well. I let out a breath and look at Jace, "hey," "Hey," He said plainly before we both burst out laughing. He stands up gesturing me to do the same. Despite the table making it awkward we sort of hug over the table. I plonk back down, sliding Alec's plate my way, "Ah breakfast," I grin.  Alec rolls his eyes and moves his plate in-between us so we can share. "And this is..?" "Clary, (Y/N). (Y/N), Clary," Jace introduces us. Holding my hand out to her, "Hello. I'm the loveable one of the groups," she laughs, and I grin and shake her hand. "I'm lovable," Isabelle says. "Same here," Jace joins in. Rolling my eyes, "Isabelle, I may love you but your lustable, not lovable," She smirks as Alec chokes on his food. "And as for Jace," he grins, "you're a prick." The table laughs. Before Jace starts a fight Alec cuts in, "How was Japan?" And so, I began recounting my tale. Obviously making it more interesting. "But that's boring," I say after telling the tale of Hayoto and I fighting this rare Japanese demon. My friends roll their eyes but clary's impressed. This would be fun, "What's happened here?" By the end of it I'm staring at clary, mouth gaping, "So you've been here for two months got your friend turned into a vampire, starting going with Jace-" She went to protest but I continued due to his arm being around her shoulder, "brought valentine back, and became a shadowhunter? No offense but please don't plan my return party. I don't think I could handle that," "Technically she didn't bring Valentine back," Jace said. "Is now really time for technically?" I ask, "And besides I think the biggest issue is I wasn't informed of Alec's boy toy," "Magnus isn't a boy toy," he argued with red checks. I give him a look, "Boyfriend then," "He's not," he mumbles. "What are you then?" He shrugs and looks down, "Dunno," I give him my best-shocked look before turning to Izzy, "And you allowed this? If Alec is dating someone it needs to be official so we can spill the tea," I get up from my seat, "Come skyscraper," he rolls his eyes at his nickname, "This cannot last," "What?" Rolling my eyes, I drag him up, "We are going to Magnus' to make this official," his face went pale, "And I need to meet this man," "No," "You act like this is optional,"So, there we are standing outside of the high warlock of Brooklyn's apartment at 8 in the evening for 'no reason'. The rest of the group had joined for 'moral support'. Alec didn't press the button fast enough, so I pressed it. "Who dares disturb the high warlock of Brooklyn?!" a voice boom. When Alec makes no move I step forward, "Hi it's (Y/N), Alec's sibling. We're going out for drinks and Alec wanted to see if you wanted to come," Alec tried to pull me away, but I managed to finish. He held his head in his hands while we waited for a response, "Give me 5 minutes," The door buzzed, and we all looked at Alec. "I'm going to kill you, slowly and painfully," I roll my eyes as did my sister. "Alec, calm down. You'll be thanking (Y/N)," Isabelle said, linking arms with me. 5 minutes isn't as long when you are taking the rise out of your blushing friend. Magnus walks out and I have to take a moment. I get he's not straight, but I thought this was a stereotype; skin tight blue glitter trousers, a black button-up shirt (clearly expensive), smoky eye, and the best highlight I've ever seen.  Why does he look so good? Alec one this battle. Magnus grins at Alec and looks over the group, "You," he points at me, "Must be (Y/N)," "Yes, I am that lucky," I say. Jace rolls his eyes. "And you say I'm cocky," "But the difference is I have a right to be cocky. I'm amazing," I say in a 'duh' tone. Magnus cuts us off, "Well who's leading the way?" I look at Jace. "Why me?" "You'll know the way," I grin. He rolls his eyes, "Twas a compliment. Now onwards." As we're walking I hear Magnus ask Alec, "Has (Y/N) been drinking already?" My brother chuckles, "(Y/N) may be weird," understatement, "but it's never boring," "I can tell," I grin and turn, "Thank you," I fake curtsey before linking arms again with Izzy. I couldn't help but notice Alec holding Magnus' hand. The bar wasn't packed, so we were able to have space and play a couple games of pool. Clary had called Simon to join, (who was kinda cute and not as irritating as Jace said) and I bumped into Raphael. We weren't friends but we were? It was strange. We swapped insults, wit, and good gestures. Going back up to the bar I order a coke (pretending it was vodka coke) and sit down. I glance over the bar. Alec was playing pool with Jace, taking it too seriously, clary was watching and rooting for Jace making him smile for real. Isabelle was talking to Simon, making him uncomfortable and giggling at his mundane jokes. Giggling? Really? I smiled at the sight, taking my drink from Maia. "I'll have a Cosmo," Magnus said sitting beside me, "Thanks," he turned to me, smirking, "Do you drink? You can't pretend that's vodka coke with me," I shrug, "I don't need to be drunk to enjoy a night with the family. Someone's got to make sure they end up home in one piece," Magnus chuckled as he got his drink from Maia, "I never thought I'd get on with this many lightwoods," "We're a confusing bunch," He nodded, "Alec has defiantly proven that," "Your...?" He rolled his eyes with a smile. "Boyfriend, official if you must know," he said. I grinned, "Though I suspect you were the one that got him to talk," I shrugged, "Prove it," Magnus chuckled and held up his glass to me. We clinked glasses, "Welcome home,"

[arialerendeair]

Magnus Bane with Everyone Else: Hyper-competent High Warlock, Sage Advice, Excellent Father Figure, Fierce Protector of his People, and Son of a Prince of Hell

Magnus Bane with Alec Lightwood: Fashionista Disaster Freewheeling Bisexual, User of horrible puns, worse pickup lines, adorable warlock boyfriend, and insecure ball of fluff

[themusechronicles]

Family Day II || A TMC Fanfic

Fandom: Shadowhunter Chronicles Ship: Malec Plot:  Dinner with a homophobic father while pretending to be dating [but also madly in love] should be easy, right? Alec and Magnus are about to find out.

Part of the Dorm Life Drabble series [ AKA: My gifts to @ofdemonicmagic ]

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Isabelle had left just over an hour prior and with each minute she was gone; likely spending time with their parents, the more tense Alec got. Magnus checked on the enchiladas they’d decided to make and sighed when he found Alec tapping his fingers nervously on the counter of the breakfast bar. “Alexander, relax. Everything will be fine.”

“Will it?” Alec asked. “My dad is so convinced that me being gay is just some phase that he is going to be extra, extra attentive once they get here and if he doesn’t think we’re legit, he’ll just blow up and of all the things in my life I could not handle, it would be my father losing his mind on you over some stupid slip up, and-” he was cut off as Magnus placed a finger on his lips, blue eyes looking down at the hand, and then following it as Magnus pulled it away. “Magnus, I-”

“Shh,” Magnus quieted him, turning the seat so that Alec’s body was facing him. “We are going to get through this. You are strong, talented, and beautiful and if your father can’t see that, then he and I will have some serious words because you deserve happiness and he should not try to control you like that.” His tone was fierce and he reached up to lay a hand on Alec’s cheek. “You’re so stressed out over this. Are you sure you want to go through with it?”

Alec blinked, fighting the urge to lean into the warm hand on his cheek. “I’ll be fine, Magnus. I just didn’t want you to meet them like this.” he admitted, smiling sadly. “I know how my dad is and he really doesn’t like who I am and I don’t want him to take it out on you and I-” He was cut off once again, but this time by warm lips taking his into a kiss. He gave a startled noise before he relaxed and kissed back, one hand moving to Magnus’ hip and drawing him in. It was warm and gentle, nothing like what he’d experienced in the past, and he tilted his head to deepen it, humming as he felt arms around his neck. As with everything that came with Magnus, it was careful and caring and he fell into it as he pulled Magnus closer still, letting himself forget about the stress of seeing his father again. Content and wonderfully blissed out, he didn’t hear the knock or the door open until the sound of a throat clearing startled him. The two pulled away and looked over, Alec’s face flushed with pink as he looked over at where his parents stood with Isabelle. “Mom, Dad, hi…” he started.

“Mr. and Mrs. Lightwood.” Magnus said, reaching to lay a hand on Alec’s knee and squeeze reassuringly before walking over. “I didn’t realize Izzy would be bringing you so soon. I’m Magnus, Alexander’s boyfriend.” he held out his hand, smiling as the woman with long hair tied back at the base of her neck took it with a warm smile and a nod.

“A pleasure, Magnus. I’m Maryse, and this is my husband, Robert.” she introduced. “Isabelle tells me you two haven’t been together very long.”

“Not very long at all,” Magnus agreed, nodding.

“And by that, don’t you mean as of today?” the man asked in a tone full of disdain, but before Magnus could answer, there was an arm at his back.

“Watch the way you talk to Magnus in our home, dad.” Alec said, anger hidden beneath the casual words. “We’ve been together just over a month.” he said, blue eyes unwavering a he stared at his father. HE then turned to Maryse and his entire demeanor softened. “Mom, hi.”

“Oh, Alec, how are you, darling?” Maryse asked, hugging her son. Magnus didn’t miss the way Alec happily hugged back.

“I’m doing good, mom. Really good.” Alec answered. “Magnus and I made enchiladas.” he offered, moving to motion at the table.

“You cook together?” Robert sounded doubtful, and Magnus felt his body tense up angrily. “And who pays for the food?”

“We both do.” Magnus answered this time. “So before you start thinking that my being with your son has anything to do with your failed status as a senator, you’re sadly mistaken. Alexander is an amazing person, and if you have a problem with me - or with us - then I will happily let everyone on campus know how you stand on our rights.” He wasn’t trying to scare Robert, he was just making his point known, but he saw the fear brush through the man’s features as he stood up to him. “Now, we’ve worked very hard to make a wonderful dinner to share with you and Isabelle, but if there’s a problem, I’ll have to ask you to kindly leave and your wife will meet up with you later.” He reached to take Alec’s hand, anger subsiding a little as Alec’s fingers laced with his own and squeezed gently. “So are we going to have a problem, Mr. Lightwood?”

There was a tense moment between the men as Robert stared Magnus down and Magnus stared right back without faltering until, at last, Robert broke and put on a fake smile. “Not at all.”

Magnus cocked his head as he nodded, letting Alec’s hand go to hug Isabelle. “Hello, beautiful girl. Thank you for bringing them to dinner.”

Isabelle had stood watching the exchange, proud of her brother and of Magnus, and as she hugged Magnus, she smiled and whispered in his ear. “You two are perfect.” She then moved to get some tea, sitting at the table as Magnus and Alec plated food and brought the plates over. “Oh, it smells wonderful, guys.” she praised, grinning.

“Alexander said you guys enjoy Mexican food, and my mother had an amazing recipe, so we made it. Enjoy.” Magnus replied, sitting down next to Alec. He looked at Alec and when he saw the smile on the other’s lips, he smiled back. He turned to look when Maryse made a pleased sound, proud of the response.

“This is fabulous, you two!” Maryse praised, dabbing her mouth with the napkin. “Your mother is a talented cook, indeed.” She paused as Magnus looked down, her smile fading. “What is it?”

“Magnus’ mom died when he was young.” Alec said, reaching to grab Magnus’ hand and squeeze gently.

“Oh. Oh, my. I’m so sorry, dear.” Maryse apologized.

“How did she die?” Robert asked, looking up at Magnus.

The look wasn’t missed, and Alec squeezed Magnus’ hand in apology, knowing how much Magnus hated talking about his mother’s death. “Dad, that’s not an appropriate-”

“It’s okay, darling.” Magnus said, squeezing his hand back and lifting their hands to kiss Alec’s knuckles. He took a deep breath, then looked up and leveled Robert with a stare. “My father wasn’t a nice man. He found out my mother was becoming close with another man and killed her.” he explained. “He stabbed her numerous times while I hid in a hall closet.” He was quiet for a long moment. “The family of my best friend were there for me through the trial and adopted me after it was all done. I grew up with them.”

“Where was this, exactly?” Robert asked.

“Robert!” Maryse’s voice was offended. “That is most certainly inappropriate.”

“Maryse, it concerns me that this man is the son of a murderer. Did it not occur to you that it could be a rouse-” Everything went silent as Alec pounded his hand onto the table and stood up so fast the chair fell over.

“Get. Out.” he snapped.

“Alec…” Izzy whispered, stunned by the anger in her brother’s eyes.

“Sit down, Alexander.” Robert said simply. “Quit making a scene.”

“A scene?” Alec asked, a sarcastic laugh escaping him as he ran a hand through his hair. “A scene? This? This is not a scene, Robert . This is you trying to guilt Magnus into whatever it is you want. My guess is money. Lots of money to leave me and never look back, right? Just like with Sebastian?”

“Alec, Sebastian was different.” Izzy said calmly, though there was a quiet fear in hr,

“I know that was different, Izzy. Honestly, I’m glad he took that money and ran. But this is ridiculous and I am done letting him try and mold us into the perfect children he wants.” Alec answered, turning back to Robert with a dangerous glare. “You think I don’t remember your little mind games?” he asked, voice harsh but hardly raised. “You don’t fool me. You came here to try and win votes for a re-election after your failure when you publicly made an actual scene of disowning me last year. You think you can just come to the school where Izzy and I are excelling and happy then you dare to imply that Magnus would hurt me - kill me - to get at you. Do you hear yourself? The abuse and control you have to have over us? I’m done. Get out, and I swear to whatever gods you’re faking belief in this time, you better not ever show your face in my life again. Do you understand?”

Robert had been staring in stunned silence as his children spoke, but his eyes never left Alec. “Alexander.”

“It’s Alec to you.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s Alec to you. Now get out, or I will call security and have you escorted out.” Alec snapped. He watched as Robert wiped his mouth, slowly stood and looked at his mother.

“Maryse, let’s go.” Robert demanded. When she didn’t immediately stand, he looked at her harshly. “Maryse, now!”

“No, Robert.” Maryse snapped, looking up at him from where she sat next to her daughter. “You can go, and I will meet you at the hotel. Just because you have an image in your head of what our children should be does not - by any extension of our marriage - mean that I must cut my children from my life.” She stared at her husband, back straight and gaze fierce. “I am proud of our children. Of Alec for having the courage to come out. Of Isabelle for having the determination to make a company all her own. Of Max, for studying so hard to be a lawyer despite his young age. Our children have done nothing wrong, and I am tired of you treating them as slaves and scapegoats for your failure as a father and husband.” She looked back down, her gaze going from Izzy, to Alec and then Magnus, smiling. “I am going to enjoy dinner with our children and Alec’s wonderful boyfriend and that’s the end of this discussion.” Robert seemed as if he’d been slapped in the face, and for a moment he just stood. Then his fist collided with the table - causing Maryse and Izzy to both jump, before he stormed out.

The door slammed and Magnus was stunned at the way Alec and Maryse visibly relaxed. He was quiet before he squeezed Alec’s hand, looking at him in concern. “Alexander?” The name seemed to break whatever was going on in Alec’s head and he looked up, sighing and smiling at Magnus in a way that made Magnus’ heart ache.

“Thanks, Magnus. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without you.” Alec answered, lifting their hands to kiss Magnus’ knuckles.

“I’m proud of you, big brother.” Izzy said, smiling. “And you, mom.”

“Thank you. All of you.” Maryse said. “I doubt your father will let me do anything, so I believe I will be staying the night, if that’s okay, boys? Tomorrow I have things I need to do.”

“Things to do?” Izzy began.

“Starting with a divorce lawyer. And then I will be making an announcement that I plan to run for Senate.” Maryse replied. “It would honor me if the three of you would come and stand with me when I make the announcement publicly.”

[carmenlire]

With this Ring

Inspired by this tweet by @prayformalec!

read on ao3

Alec looks down at the box in his hands. He feels the weight of it, almost overwhelming but so damned good.

It’s the weight of expectation, anticipation.

The rings shines dully in the late evening light. Alec’s in his office and it’s a rare quiet moment. Most of his shadowhunters are out on patrol and Alec had been working through an extensive Excel spreadsheet when his thoughts had snagged on the box hiding in his middle desk drawer.

The Lightwood family ring was always dangled over Alec’s head like a particularly tasty carrot. He remembers his grandfather wearing it on his middle finger like the most prized jewel. He’d died when Alec was fourteen but Alec had always remembered spending a few weeks in the summer languishing in his family’s home in Alicante.

Even so young, that summer reprieve had been chock full of lessons. His grandfather had been an imposing man, a stalwart shadowhunter to his core with little patience for frivolity. Still, he’d had a special fondness for Alec and Alec still holds a few good memories from his summers in Idris.

Mornings had been reserved for humanities lessons. While the Academy had touched on Machiavelli's The Prince-- in its original Italian-- and Sun Tzu’s Art of War, their curriculum had focused on works that were directly applicable to being a shadowhunter and Head of the Institute one day. One of his grandfather’s only pleasures had been reading. He’d loved the classics just as much as paperback romances and he’d made sure to have a reading list ready for Alec as soon as he arrived on the estate every summer.

Alec remembers cool mornings spent the library whose shelves were fit to bursting with books ranging from antique weapons catalogs to Jane Austen’s entire collection to old, leather-bound family journals.

After a quick lunch in town or in the kitchen, Alec would spend his afternoons training. While his grandfather wasn’t quite the soldier he’d been a few decades ago, he’d been one of the best in his class and was still a master instructor. When Alec had first been debating on his weapon of choice, his grandfather had ran the gambit but after trying dozens of different weapons, Alec had finally decided on the bow.

It was pure coincidence that his grandfather had also favored archery.

Spending several hours training, Alec had then gone upstairs to his room, showered, and come down to dinner at seven sharp every evening. There, he’d been taught the proper way to eat soup, which fork was used for which course, and how to converse with a Clave official on any topic of their choosing.

It had been daunting and exhausting but a part of Alec had thrived. He’d been sent off to the parlor while his grandfather enjoyed his after-dinner glass of scotch and Alec had used that time to wander around the room, looking at family pictures and heirlooms that had been passed down through the generations.

Sometimes, he’d just go over to the open french doors that overlooked the balcony and stand at the edge of the room, letting the warm summer breeze wash over him.

He’d think about how fast summer always seemed to pass and how he only had a month until he’d be back at the Academy. The summer he turned twelve, his thoughts had been preoccupied with a boy in his class and the way that when he laughed, it was like the whole damn sun was hidden in his smile.

Alec hadn’t let his thoughts go much further. Even in his own mind, he shied away from the truth, that inevitable truth that he knew-- deep down, instinctively-- would go over about as well as a grenade.

In Idris for the summer, alone with just his grandfather and housekeeping staff, Alec was as free as he could be. While his grandfather was strict and had very definite ideas of how a Lightwood should behave, Alec loved it there. Alec had learned a lot from the gruff, brusque man including just how important family was and the importance of heirlooms that signaled just how high the Lightwood's pedestal was. Alec doesn't remember ever seeing his grandfather without the sturdy family ring on his hand, a symbol to everyone of his place in the world.

Those summer nights, after twenty minutes or so, his grandfather would come into the room with a maid and teach Alec different dances. There was the waltz, the quadrille, and a few country dances specific to Idris that Alec painstakingly learned. The maid, just a few years older than him, was an unwitting friend of Alec’s and distantly he wonders what she’s doing now.

The house had been shuttered when his grandfather had died and the staff let go, Robert’s mother having passed on almost fifteen years prior. He can still see the way pristine white cloths had covered the furniture, the house staff hurrying around making arrangements.

Robert and Maryse had been in the middle of things, barking orders. Robert had been given the ring after the funeral ceremony and Alec remembers the way his father had clutched at the ring like it was a living thing.

Catching Alec studying him, Robert had said, This ring will be yours someday, Alec.

He’d winked. I won’t make you wait until I’m dead and buried in the City of Bones, though. This will be yours when you find your perfect wife. Any girl would be love to have the Lightwood family ring in her possession. She’ll know just what an honor it is that you’re bestowing upon her.

Alec had stared at the ring and all of a sudden, it wasn’t a warm memory of his grandfather twisting it around his finger in thought. No, as Alec looked at the ring, it felt like a noose was tightening over his neck.

He remembers thinking that he’d never want the damned ring, that he’d rather throw it into the fucking ocean that give it to some girl that he could never love, not really and not in the way either of them deserved. The truth is, by the time Lydia had come around and Alec had proposed, they very thought of the ring had been too much for him and he'd resolved to buy her a ring whenever he had the change. Now that he thinks about it, he never did give Lydia a ring, which he supposed is all well and good for how that engagement turned out.

What a difference a decade makes, Alec thinks.

As he looks down at the ring now, Alec doesn’t feel that crushing shame and guilt choking him. No, instead he sees possibility and a future so bright he can hardly stand it.

Things might be shit now but Alec swore ages ago that he’d never leave Magnus’s side and he can’t think of another way to show his boyfriend that than to become his husband.

Husband.

Just the word makes Alec catch his breath, nerves and hope wrapping around each other tight enough to make him dizzy.

He wasn’t lying to Lorenzo, wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest. It’s an old shadowhunter wive’s tale for a reason. Their kind loves once and loves fiercely and Alec had known the minute he’d started striding down the aisle at his disastrous wedding-to-be with Lydia that he’d found his person, the one man he would love above all others and for eternity.

He hopes to hell Magnus feels the same, that he sees a future with Alec in twisting shades of gold and blue.

With this ring, Alec wants Magnus to know the love and pride that’s become a constant hum under his skin. He wants everyone to know Magnus owns his heart and that he’s proud to stand next to the love of his life, for the rest of his life.

Still though, as Alec starts to think about, something starts to niggle in the back of his brain.

Alec would have to be a fool not to realize-- belated but eventually all the same-- that maybe Magnus wouldn’t want his ring-- this ring. He’s heard Magnus talk before, about the way shadowhunters sneered at him and his friends, the way they broke plates and hid their prized possessions in their prejudice and ignorance.

Maybe, Alec wonders, his family ring would be another ugly reminder to Magnus of shadowhunters and their hateful, ignorant behavior. Too traditional, too possessive.

With that thought in mind, a piece of Alec-- a very small, tiny piece-- is disappointed. While he now sees nothing but pride and security in the metal, he realizes that he’s fortunate in that regard.

Angel knows he doesn’t want to give Magnus any reason to say no. If Magnus didn’t like the ring-- if there was a piece, no matter how minuscule, that was wary to accept-- Alec didn't want to taint the start of their forever with an archaic, admittedly one-sided display of his love.

He sighs a little, sweeping a thumb over the ornate ring before closing the box with a snap that rings with finality.

Tossing the box back into his drawer, Alec turns towards his computer and starts looking up New York jewelers.

It’s an exhaustive mission but Alec’s never been one to back away from a challenge. He goes to a dozen jewelers in the city looking for the perfect ring. While his wealth can’t quite measure up to Magnus’s, the Lightwoods have always been affluent and money’s practically no object.

Alec visits a few places by himself, wary of inviting anyone else to join him lest they try to steer him in a different direction.

He has a vision in his head. He’ll know it when he sees it.

Still, it takes longer than he’d thought to find it. He finally brings in Jace and Izzy when he finds himself studying yet another glass display hopelessly. Texting his siblings the next address on his list for the afternoon, he’s a little surprised to see them standing about on the sidewalk outside the jeweler’s when he arrives.

“What are you doing here,” he asks, approaching them.

Izzy rolls her eyes, glaring at him. “You text us an address with no message? We thought you’d run into a group of demons and needed help. We ran over here.”

“Speed runes activated and everything,” Jace adds, looking a little miffed that there are no demons to kill.

Shaking his head impatiently, Alec brushes past them, towards the door of the jeweler’s in Midtown. By the looks of their website, it’s a small, family run business that was established over a century ago. While Alec’s hopes have severely dampened over the past weeks of fruitless searching, there’s something about this place that makes him think that his luck might just be turning.

“There are no demons here. I just need your opinion.”

“On what,” Jace asks absently as they walk into the jeweler’s, a cheery little bell signalling their entrance.

“Oh, Alec,” Izzy breathes as soon as she steps inside, turning to face him. “We’re at a jewelry store.”

She blinks rapidly, and Alec sees the sheen of tears just forming as Isabelle realizes why they’re here.

“Don’t you start,” he warns, though he can’t stop a grin from stealing over his face. “Or I’ll start too and Jace will have to dry both of us out.”

Alec’s barely finished speaking when Izzy steps closer, wrapping tight arms around him, hugging him so hard that Alec’s lungs constrict.

“I’m so happy for you, mi hermano, and I can’t wait to hear how Magnus reacts.”

“Wait,” Jace asks incredulously. “You’re proposing?”

Rolling her eyes, Isabelle pulls way from Alec to punch Jace in the shoulder. “Of course he’s proposing. Why else would Alec ask us to meet him at a jeweler’s?”

Alec watches as the light bulb flares over Jace’s head before he starts grinning and pulls Alec over to him for a hard hug and rough pat on the back. “Congratulations, Alec. This is huge!”

Standing back, Alec rubs the back of his neck in a nervous gesture that’s betrayed him since he was little. “Thanks, man. Do you guys think he’ll say yes?”

Resting his hands on Alec’s shoulders, Jace’s fingers press into Alec’s skin, grounding him as he makes an effort to glare right into his skull. “There is no world where Magnus Bane doesn’t want to marry you, Alec. The entire shadow world knows just how gone he is over you.”

“Jace is right for once,” Isabelle says, voice certain. “Magnus loves you, Alec. He’s going to say yes.”

“Let’s hope so,” he mutters under his breath. Taking a deep breath, Alec shakes the nerves out as best he can before looking up at his siblings who are staring at him with a mix of joy and pride.

“Okay, I’ve been searching all over the city for a ring and you two are here for moral support.”

“Got it,” Jace says easily before wandering over to one of the nearest display cases. “Anything we should be on the lookout for?”

Alec’s voice is distracted as he replies, “No, not really. I’ll know it when I see it.”

That might be getting old but Alec clings onto the hope stubbornly.

The three of them spend the next hour looking over the jeweler’s selection. Alec looks at rings, talking with a sales associate about what he’s looking for.

No matter that this is the twenty-third place he’s been to this month, Alec still feels indescribably happy to explain that he’s looking for an engagement ring.

He’s just about given up hope when he comes to the last section of the rings display. Jace and Izzy are across the store bickering as his sister tries on a bracelet but Alec barely pays them any mind as his eyes sweep over the last half dozen rings.

His eyes sweep over one before jumping back. Studying it, Alec tries to move on again but something won’t let him go.

With a sharp nod towards the ring in question, Alec straightens as the jeweler carefully takes it out of the case, placing the display on top of the glass counter.

Reaching for it, Alec feels something restless climb up his spine as he picks it up, shifting it so that the light bounces over the white gold band. His eyes narrow as he considers the design before a thought pops into his head.

Isabelle and Jace, seeing Alec carefully studying the ring, wonder back over and as he explains what he’s thinking, Isabelle’s eyes widen before she starts nodding enthusiastically.

What follows is a long, arduous consultation as Alec commissions a ring to fit his specifications. While the jeweler didn’t have anything like it in stock, they’d prided their family’s business on being willing to provide custom orders.

Alec watches as the jeweler sketches a design, pointing to a dozen areas he wants changed. There’s back and forth but finally, finally Alec pulls the sketch closer and takes in every detail.

It’s perfect.

He places his order and Jace claps him on the back as they all stand up from the meeting, declaring that this special occasion called for a special dinner.

They all go to their favorite steakhouse on the Upper West Side. Alec can’t quite remember the last time he’d spent such a pleasant evening with his parabatai and sister. The drinks had just kept on coming and the food had been delicious. As Alec walks into his apartment, the home he shares with Magnus-- the love of his life, the very beat of his heart-- a little unsteadily with flushed cheeks and bright eyes, Alec can’t quite believe his good fortune.

It’s late when he gets back and Magnus is already in bed, ancient text that he must’ve been translating for a client sprawled over his chest, moving in time to steady, deep breaths.

Carefully, Alec lifts the book and marks his boyfriend’s place before setting the book down on their bedside table. Crawling in on his side of the bed, Alec shifts closer to the warmth radiating from Magnus, laying his head over his heart.

Distantly, Alec thinks that there’s no better place in the world than right here, as close as he can get to his boyfriend-- and if he has anything to say about it, his soon to be husband.

A couple of months later, Alec gets a phone call from the jeweler’s letting him know that his ring is ready for pickup. He tries to focus on work but within the hour, he’s heading over to the jeweler’s.

He’s greeted by the same salesperson who’d helped him earlier and as he sees her set the blue satin box onto the counter, something in Alec rises, the sheer emotion in him staggering as it squeezes his heart in a vise grip.

Slowly, he reaches out and thumbs the box open, the breath stilling in his chest as he sees the finished product.

By the Angel, he thinks. It’s perfect.

The white gold band reflects the overhead lights. Along the length, there are a dozen miniature sapphires circling around the band in alternating tones of blue and gold. Their color is warm, deep, and Alec can’t stop shifting the ring so that the light catches deep inside the gems.

It’s a mix of them and Alec hopes the sentiment comes across. Blue for warlocks, gold for shadowhunters, winding shades of love and marriage and a happily ever after that Alec never could’ve dreamt up.

He doesn’t bat an eye at the final bill, at the several zeroes rounding out the total, instead swiping his credit card with an almost jittery sense of satisfaction.

He’d pay that price a hundred times over if it meant the finished product would give him the same happiness and anticipation.

Alec’s ready for this. Half of him thinks that he’s never been ready for anything else as much as he’s ready to be the other half of Mr. Lightwood-Bane.

Just the thought of the name makes him shudder, an almost overwhelming weight settling over his shoulders.

It’s a welcome weight though because it means that this matters. This is the biggest gesture of Alec’s life but he’s so, so ready for that next step.

As Alec walks out of the jeweler’s, box secured in his pocket, his mind spins with plans.

He’s been brainstorming proposals for ages and now that he has the ring, there’s nothing else holding him back from asking Magnus the biggest question of his life.

Once, ages ago, Magnus had said in a cold, bitter voice, Marriage is a wonderful institution, not that I should know.

As Alec walks home, ring a heavy presence in his pocket, he vows to show Magnus just how wonderful marriage can be.

Please say yes, Alec prays to every angel he can name and a few more besides. He continues on his way, lost in thought and so damn happy he wonders how a body's supposed to contain it all.

[themusechronicles-archive-blog]

TMC Fanfic - Family Day II

Fandom: Shadowhunter Chronicles Ship: Malec Plot:  Dinner with a homophobic father while pretending to be dating [but also madly in love] should be easy, right? Alec and Magnus are about to find out.

Part of the Dorm Life Drabble series [ AKA: My gifts to @ofdemonicmagic ]

Isabelle had left just over an hour prior and with each minute she was gone; likely spending time with their parents, the more tense Alec got. Magnus checked on the enchiladas they’d decided to make and sighed when he found Alec tapping his fingers nervously on the counter of the breakfast bar. “Alexander, relax. Everything will be fine.”

“Will it?” Alec asked. “My dad is so convinced that me being gay is just some phase that he is going to be extra, extra attentive once they get here and if he doesn’t think we’re legit, he’ll just blow up and of all the things in my life I could not handle, it would be my father losing his mind on you over some stupid slip up, and-” he was cut off as Magnus placed a finger on his lips, blue eyes looking down at the hand, and then following it as Magnus pulled it away. “Magnus, I-”

“Shh,” Magnus quieted him, turning the seat so that Alec’s body was facing him. “We are going to get through this. You are strong, talented, and beautiful and if your father can’t see that, then he and I will have some serious words because you deserve happiness and he should not try to control you like that.” His tone was fierce and he reached up to lay a hand on Alec’s cheek. “You’re so stressed out over this. Are you sure you want to go through with it?”

Alec blinked, fighting the urge to lean into the warm hand on his cheek. “I’ll be fine, Magnus. I just didn’t want you to meet them like this.” he admitted, smiling sadly. “I know how my dad is and he really doesn’t like who I am and I don’t want him to take it out on you and I-” He was cut off once again, but this time by warm lips taking his into a kiss. He gave a startled noise before he relaxed and kissed back, one hand moving to Magnus’ hip and drawing him in. It was warm and gentle, nothing like what he’d experienced in the past, and he tilted his head to deepen it, humming as he felt arms around his neck. As with everything that came with Magnus, it was careful and caring and he fell into it as he pulled Magnus closer still, letting himself forget about the stress of seeing his father again. Content and wonderfully blissed out, he didn’t hear the knock or the door open until the sound of a throat clearing startled him. The two pulled away and looked over, Alec’s face flushed with pink as he looked over at where his parents stood with Isabelle. “Mom, Dad, hi…” he started.

“Mr. and Mrs. Lightwood.” Magnus said, reaching to lay a hand on Alec’s knee and squeeze reassuringly before walking over. “I didn’t realize Izzy would be bringing you so soon. I’m Magnus, Alexander’s boyfriend.” he held out his hand, smiling as the woman with long hair tied back at the base of her neck took it with a warm smile and a nod.

“A pleasure, Magnus. I’m Maryse, and this is my husband, Robert.” she introduced. “Isabelle tells me you two haven’t been together very long.”

“Not very long at all,” Magnus agreed, nodding.

“And by that, don’t you mean as of today?” the man asked in a tone full of disdain, but before Magnus could answer, there was an arm at his back.

“Watch the way you talk to Magnus in our home, dad.” Alec said, anger hidden beneath the casual words. “We’ve been together just over a month.” he said, blue eyes unwavering a he stared at his father. HE then turned to Maryse and his entire demeanor softened. “Mom, hi.”

“Oh, Alec, how are you, darling?” Maryse asked, hugging her son. Magnus didn’t miss the way Alec happily hugged back.

“I’m doing good, mom. Really good.” Alec answered. “Magnus and I made enchiladas.” he offered, moving to motion at the table.

“You cook together?” Robert sounded doubtful, and Magnus felt his body tense up angrily. “And who pays for the food?”

“We both do.” Magnus answered this time. “So before you start thinking that my being with your son has anything to do with your failed status as a senator, you’re sadly mistaken. Alexander is an amazing person, and if you have a problem with me - or with us - then I will happily let everyone on campus know how you stand on our rights.” He wasn’t trying to scare Robert, he was just making his point known, but he saw the fear brush through the man’s features as he stood up to him. “Now, we’ve worked very hard to make a wonderful dinner to share with you and Isabelle, but if there’s a problem, I’ll have to ask you to kindly leave and your wife will meet up with you later.” He reached to take Alec’s hand, anger subsiding a little as Alec’s fingers laced with his own and squeezed gently. “So are we going to have a problem, Mr. Lightwood?”

There was a tense moment between the men as Robert stared Magnus down and Magnus stared right back without faltering until, at last, Robert broke and put on a fake smile. “Not at all.”

Magnus cocked his head as he nodded, letting Alec’s hand go to hug Isabelle. “Hello, beautiful girl. Thank you for bringing them to dinner.”

Isabelle had stood watching the exchange, proud of her brother and of Magnus, and as she hugged Magnus, she smiled and whispered in his ear. “You two are perfect.” She then moved to get some tea, sitting at the table as Magnus and Alec plated food and brought the plates over. “Oh, it smells wonderful, guys.” she praised, grinning.

“Alexander said you guys enjoy Mexican food, and my mother had an amazing recipe, so we made it. Enjoy.” Magnus replied, sitting down next to Alec. He looked at Alec and when he saw the smile on the other’s lips, he smiled back. He turned to look when Maryse made a pleased sound, proud of the response.

“This is fabulous, you two!” Maryse praised, dabbing her mouth with the napkin. “Your mother is a talented cook, indeed.” She paused as Magnus looked down, her smile fading. “What is it?”

“Magnus’ mom died when he was young.” Alec said, reaching to grab Magnus’ hand and squeeze gently.

“Oh. Oh, my. I’m so sorry, dear.” Maryse apologized.

“How did she die?” Robert asked, looking up at Magnus.

The look wasn’t missed, and Alec squeezed Magnus’ hand in apology, knowing how much Magnus hated talking about his mother’s death. “Dad, that’s not an appropriate-”

“It’s okay, darling.” Magnus said, squeezing his hand back and lifting their hands to kiss Alec’s knuckles. He took a deep breath, then looked up and leveled Robert with a stare. “My father wasn’t a nice man. He found out my mother was becoming close with another man and killed her.” he explained. “He stabbed her numerous times while I hid in a hall closet.” He was quiet for a long moment. “The family of my best friend were there for me through the trial and adopted me after it was all done. I grew up with them.”

“Where was this, exactly?” Robert asked.

“Robert!” Maryse’s voice was offended. “That is most certainly inappropriate.”

“Maryse, it concerns me that this man is the son of a murderer. Did it not occur to you that it could be a rouse-” Everything went silent as Alec pounded his hand onto the table and stood up so fast the chair fell over.

“Get. Out.” he snapped.

“Alec…” Izzy whispered, stunned by the anger in her brother’s eyes.

“Sit down, Alexander.” Robert said simply. “Quit making a scene.”

“A scene?” Alec asked, a sarcastic laugh escaping him as he ran a hand through his hair. “A scene? This? This is not a scene, Robert . This is you trying to guilt Magnus into whatever it is you want. My guess is money. Lots of money to leave me and never look back, right? Just like with Sebastian?”

“Alec, Sebastian was different.” Izzy said calmly, though there was a quiet fear in hr,

“I know that was different, Izzy. Honestly, I’m glad he took that money and ran. But this is ridiculous and I am done letting him try and mold us into the perfect children he wants.” Alec answered, turning back to Robert with a dangerous glare. “You think I don’t remember your little mind games?” he asked, voice harsh but hardly raised. “You don’t fool me. You came here to try and win votes for a re-election after your failure when you publicly made an actual scene of disowning me last year. You think you can just come to the school where Izzy and I are excelling and happy then you dare to imply that Magnus would hurt me - kill me - to get at you. Do you hear yourself? The abuse and control you have to have over us? I’m done. Get out, and I swear to whatever gods you’re faking belief in this time, you better not ever show your face in my life again. Do you understand?”

Robert had been staring in stunned silence as his children spoke, but his eyes never left Alec. “Alexander.”

“It’s Alec to you.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s Alec to you. Now get out, or I will call security and have you escorted out.” Alec snapped. He watched as Robert wiped his mouth, slowly stood and looked at his mother.

“Maryse, let’s go.” Robert demanded. When she didn’t immediately stand, he looked at her harshly. “Maryse, now!”

“No, Robert.” Maryse snapped, looking up at him from where she sat next to her daughter. “You can go, and I will meet you at the hotel. Just because you have an image in your head of what our children should be does not - by any extension of our marriage - mean that I must cut my children from my life.” She stared at her husband, back straight and gaze fierce. “I am proud of our children. Of Alec for having the courage to come out. Of Isabelle for having the determination to make a company all her own. Of Max, for studying so hard to be a lawyer despite his young age. Our children have done nothing wrong, and I am tired of you treating them as slaves and scapegoats for your failure as a father and husband.” She looked back down, her gaze going from Izzy, to Alec and then Magnus, smiling. “I am going to enjoy dinner with our children and Alec’s wonderful boyfriend and that’s the end of this discussion.” Robert seemed as if he’d been slapped in the face, and for a moment he just stood. Then his fist collided with the table - causing Maryse and Izzy to both jump, before he stormed out.

The door slammed and Magnus was stunned at the way Alec and Maryse visibly relaxed. He was quiet before he squeezed Alec’s hand, looking at him in concern. “Alexander?” The name seemed to break whatever was going on in Alec’s head and he looked up, sighing and smiling at Magnus in a way that made Magnus’ heart ache.

“Thanks, Magnus. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without you.” Alec answered, lifting their hands to kiss Magnus’ knuckles.

“I’m proud of you, big brother.” Izzy said, smiling. “And you, mom.”

“Thank you. All of you.” Maryse said. “I doubt your father will let me do anything, so I believe I will be staying the night, if that’s okay, boys? Tomorrow I have things I need to do.”

“Things to do?” Izzy began.

“Starting with a divorce lawyer. And then I will be making an announcement that I plan to run for Senate.” Maryse replied. “It would honor me if the three of you would come and stand with me when I make the announcement publicly.”

[snippets-of-imagination]

So I went to an animal shelter today and I had an idea, maybe because he doesn't have magic Magnus goes to an animal shelter while Alec is Shadowhunting and he sees two kind of old high maintenance dogs that aren't doing very well and since he has a big heart he takes both of them home after doing a shopping trip for both of them and when he gets home Alec is there and is just so in love with him when he sees these two dogs waddling beside Magnus into the loft while his boyfriend looks so happy

A/N: Okay, the usual apology for being so late but I like to take my time with asks so I can do a good job at it. So just keep that in mind when you drop me prompts :) I love prompts but I take my time refining them a lot so please be patient with me! I hope you like this one anon! I’ve never written about pets before so this was a first for me!

If Alec Lightwood was a dog, he would look exactly like that. With big hazel eyes and fluffy black fur.

Magnus was enraptured by the dog, looking up at him with its puppy dog eyes. It was far from being a puppy, the shelter’s volunteers had told him that it was probably about nine to ten years old.

But it looked so soft and gentle that Magnus could not resist stopping to pet it.

“Does it have a name?” He asked as he stroked the spaniel on its fluffy black head. The dog cocked its head at his voice, sniffing at his hand curiously before giving it a gentle lick.

It seemed incredibly lethargic for a dog that was only on the brink of being called elderly.

“Oliver,” the volunteer said kindly, reaching over the gate to scratch at its head.

Oliver lifted its head up at its name, sniffing the air before dropping its head back down, content to let Magnus keep petting it.

“Can I sit with him?” Magnus asked. He was very taken by the old dog, rubbing gently at its long ears.

The volunteer nodded her consent and unlocked the gate, Oliver shuffling back slightly before lying back down again.

“Hello, old man,” Magnus crooned, settling himself down beside the dog.

Oliver looked at him with one curious eye before stepping carefully into his lap and curling up.

Magnus stroked him gently, long broad strokes along the dog’s flank. The volunteer smiled at the sight of the content dog, bending to pet his head.

“Do you have a dog?” She asked and Magnus laughed, shaking his head.

“No, not really. I just have a very bossy cat, Chairman Meow,” he replied.

The volunteer laughed with him and then left him alone, telling him to look for her when he was done. She had a conspiratorial spark in her eyes when Magnus hurried to explain that he was only there to look.

So he sat there, petting the old dog who was very content to lie in his lap, snoozing away.

By the time the volunteer returned, Magnus had already made up his mind. But his eyes caught on the German Shepard limping behind the volunteer.

“I thought you would like to have a look at this old girl,” she explained hurriedly when Magnus looked up at her with questions in his eyes. “Her name is Angel.”

At that, a smile tugged at Magnus’ lips. Gently, he coaxed Oliver off his lap and watched as the dog limped over to him, sniffing curiously.

Her eyes were cloudy and unfocused when he held out a hand, remaining still for the old dog investigate.

“She’s blind,” he stated, and the volunteer nodded, looking incredibly sad.

“She has cataracts and at her age, it’s too risky to put her under,” she explained, bending to let Angel sniff her hand.

Magnus hummed softly, the cogs in his mind turning.

He had the means and the space to house them and they would be excellent company. They were both high maintenance dogs and he could devote time to them both.

“What’s the adoption process like?”

-

The smell of food cooking wafted through the air when Alec opened the door. He could smell the dinner cooking the moment he came down the hallway towards Magnus’ loft and his mouth was already watering.

“Magnus! I’m home,” he called as he toed off his boots, setting his bow and quiver down on the rack Magnus had specially constructed for him. A tiny grey ball of fluff padded out to him, mewling as it twined around his ankles.

Alec smiled, bending to pick up the cat.

“Hey, Chairman,” he mumbled, dropping a kiss on the feline’s head. Chairman Meow squirmed in his arms, sharp little claws pricking through his clothes before settling, meowing as he petted him.

He wandered towards the kitchen, wondering what Magnus had cooked up for dinner. A soft bark echoed through the sizzling of the pan and he froze, Chairman tensing in his arms.

“Magnus?” Magnus looked up from where he was cutting up chicken liver, a pan sizzling away merrily beside him, smiling when he saw Alec peek around the doorway. Alec stared at him, then at the two dogs curled up at his feet.

“Welcome home, Alexander,” Magnus shifted, nudging Oliver gently with a foot. The Cocker Spaniel rose to his feet, waddling over to Alec as he stepped into the kitchen, the Chairman still hugged to his chest. Alec looked down at the dog, his eyes going wide with surprise and then glee.

He plopped Chairman onto the counter, much to the dismay of the cat and Magnus, and dropped onto his knees to pet the dog. Oliver responded just as enthusiastically, nuzzling into his hand and lolling out his tongue. He licked his face and Alec laughed, a sound of pure delight.

“So you’re more of a dog person,” Magnus commented dryly, though there was a smile curving on his face. Alec looked up, grinning widely as he wrapped his arms around the dog, falling onto his back in delight.

Oliver was panting, licking at his face and wriggling on his chest, infected by his enthusiasm. Magnus shook his head fondly, reaching out a hand to pet the Chairman who was watching the proceedings from his perch with a look of horror on his feline face.

“Don’t worry Chairman, I still love you,” he soothed even as he turned on the tap, rinsed his hand and went right back to chopping up the chicken liver. Alec was holding Oliver to him, cooing at the dog.

Angel seemed to be drawn to him too, limping slowly over to the Shadowhunter, sniffing curiously. Alec looked up and his eyes widened a second time.

“You got two?” He blurted and Magnus laughed. He had gotten the dogs for himself, for something to do, to devote his attention to but having Alec love them so much was always a bonus.

“Yes but they’re not for you, love. They are for me.” He gestured to the pans sitting on the stove, emitting delicious smells. Alec cocked his head curiously as he moved into a sitting position, setting Oliver into his lap.

“Pet therapy,” he explained, and Alec flinched, guilt flashing across his face before it was gone, his fingers threading into Oliver’s fur. He nudged the dog off his lap gently and rose to his feet, moving to kiss his boyfriend.

Magnus melted into him, putting the knife down. Alec’s arm slid around his waist as he pulled him closer, inhaling his familiar scent of Indian sandalwood. He loved that the Shadowhunter was using his shampoo now.

“Are you okay?” Alec asked when they pulled away, a hand moving to cup the warlock’s cheek. His eyes were full of concern as he stroked his cheek and Magnus nodded, leaning up to kiss him again.

‘I will be,” he murmured against Alec’s lips. He hoped that was true. Alec was watching him, thumb still stroking idly over his cheekbone.

“I’m here for you, Magnus. No matter what. I know you say you’re fine, you always say you’re fine. But it’s okay not to be fine,” Magnus’ heart stuttered and Alec must have caught the expression flitting across his face because he reached out, gripping his hand.

“I won’t rush you, but please don’t push me away,” he said softly and Magnus pressed himself harshly against his boyfriend’s chest, barely able to stop the tears from falling.

“Yeah,” he murmured and Alec reached over to turn off the stove, wrapping him into a tight hug that lasts for several long moments, enough for the animals at their feet to start getting antsy, nudging at the back of Alec’s knees and barking.

“I love you,” Alec said as they pulled back, smiling softly and Magnus’ heart constricted.

“I love you too,” he replied, turning back to his liver. He could still feel Alec’s eyes on him, the concern burning into his skin. Ever since he had come back from Edom, his magic given to his father, Alec had been guilty. He had shown his guilt until Magnus, brimming with grief and sorrow, yelled at him.

Alec slept on the Institute for several nights after, until Magnus called him back when he was ready. It was not about him after all. It was about Magnus being okay. And Magnus knew now, that Alec would do anything for him to be okay.

“Off you go to shower. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready,” he said and Alec nodded, moving to press a final kiss on the top of his head.

-

“No, Ollie, stop, stop!” Alec stopped for a moment in the entryway, smiling as he took in the sight in front of him. It had been a few days since Magnus had adopted the two dogs and they had taken to the loft fairly well.

Magnus was lying on the couch, the black cocker spaniel on his chest. He was smiling so brightly, his head thrown back in laughter as the dog licked at his face, yapping happily. Angel limped over to Alec, head cocked curiously as she sniffed at his boots.

Alec was mesmerised. He had not seen Magnus laugh like this ever since his confrontation with his father. And the dogs had made it possible.

“Hi,” he grinned, “cheating on me with the doggie?”

Magnus gasped, sitting bolt upright as he wrapped his hands around the dog on his chest. His eyes were widened dramatically as he fell back onto the couch, holding Oliver to his chest.

“Oh no, you caught me!” He exclaimed and Alec laughed with him, scooping Angel into his arms before falling onto the couch with her.

“As long as you’re happy,” he quipped and as Magnus looked at him with his golden eyes shining, he knew he was.

PS: Send me prompts! Unless your prompt is something I’m uncomfortable with writing, I will write them!

[ketzwrites]

Rewatch 108: Bad Blood

The plot thickens. Both Clary and Alec have to make their minds over decisions that will influence people they love: only Alec’s involves himself and Clary’s is over someone else’s fate. Unrelated, Izzy looks really good in a lab coat.

Teaser

The first rule of shadowhunting has three parts and they all amount to “be irresponsible but look cool.”

For posterity, Izzy agrees that they need to give the Mortal Cup back to the Clave. But Clary and Jace want to use the MC to, I guess, lure Valentine into a trap but not give it to him. They still think they can outsmart him.

Lucky there is never other shadowhunters on patrol. Imagine if it wasn’t the core four who found Raphael with Simon’s corpse, hm? Awkward.

Act One

Izzy justifies a war against an entire race because of the actions of one person. Jace is ready to fight that war. I’m having flashbacks of 103.

Oh, the irony of Raphael belittling Simon for coming back for blood “like an addict”.

There’s a discussion to have about Raphael’s role in Simon’s death. He is responsible for choosing to follow Camille’s orders, but he is also the person that essentially saved Simon and warned Simon to stay away. He is also the person that ensured Simon would have a chance to come back as a vampire after Camille killed Simon. No deed cancels the other, but I particularly blame Camille for Simon’s death and only then I blame Raphael and Clary for Simon becoming a vampire.

“Not the sexed up, romantic kind. The ugly, blood-sucking, coffin dwelling kind.” Raphael is right there, proving that wrong. Camille proves it wrong. In fact, every single vampire we’ve seen so far is sexed up and romanticized.

Jocelyn still wears a wedding ring? Really? Well, at least Valentine puts two and two together and realizes Clary is his kid.

It’s interesting how Robert is painted as the down-to-Earth, good parent while Maryse is the suck-up, bad parent. How things will change in time.

The last straw for the Lightwoods to lose the Institute is their meddling in Downworlder affairs. I wish the writers of the show remembered this piece of world-building down the line.

It’s not your fault that bad people exist, Clary.

Lydia’s entrance is incredibly badass and well-written. She’s supposed to be all business and testing the Institute, so she masks herself as their so-called greatest enemy and walks in. She’s able to evaluate the Institute’s defense mechanisms and reaction time. It also shows her confidence in her own abilities and that said confidence is justified: Alec’s aim has been shown to be lethal and she is the first person able to defend against him. Truly well-done.

Act Two

Lydia is also shown to be competent and tough, but in the most unlikable way possible. We’re not supposed to like her, but we are supposed to respect her. Like Izzy does.

There are no women in the NY pack, are there? Too bad they didn’t introduce Maia’s character already in the first season. She could’ve been just a background character, much like Alaric, and then get a bigger role in season 2.

Even suspension of disbelief isn’t enough to accept that Elaine wouldn’t have heard Jace and Clary talking in this silent room she is also in.

Lydia is supposed to be inquisitive of everything, but it is not suspicious that the Acting HotI has the contact of the closest Alpha. I’d think it would be expected of Alec to receive word when the Downworlders of NY are attacked.

I deeply appreciate the explicit references to Simon’s Jewishness in this episode. I also like that Clary knows where he keeps his religious stuff in his room. It creates great normalcy for all of it and it proves how integral to Simon’s life his religion is. So much so, his non-Jewish best friend can gather the important stuff while discussing how distressed she is with her sort-of-boyfriend.

This exchange between Clary and Jace is absolutely amazing and it should’ve been the foundation of their relationship. But, more importantly, it should’ve been Clary’s brand of shadowhunting: being compassionate and showing mercy makes her different than the others. It makes her better than the others.

And now, Lydia’s mini “redemption” arc starts. Her harshness gets softened and she is kind to Alec, showing that she is not just a bitch trying to pry the Institute away from the Lightwoods. Once, she followed her heart, but only got sorrow for it. So, she masks that side of her and, instead, portrays herself as the soldier she is meant to be. The perfect shadowhunter in the eyes of the Clave.

In sum, Lydia is a cautionary tale for Alec. And, at first glance, we could think Lydia’s story is supposed to tell Alec to suck up his feelings and follow his orders. That, by doing so, he too can become an envoy personally mentored by the Inquisitor. He too can get his own Institute to lead one day. But that would be the wrong read. Because Lydia is a cautionary tale, but of what Alec shouldn’t do. He shouldn’t suck up his feelings and follow corrupted and elitist people like Imogen Herondale. He shouldn’t stop following his heart, even when it leads to sorrow and complications. So much so that, in the end, it will be Alec who will inspire Lydia to change; to defy Imogen by rescinding her accusations against Izzy and to accept the dissolution of a mutually beneficial marriage. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

It’s still funny to me how Lydia has no social skills whatsoever. She is literally the only other character that could play bad cop to Alec’s good cop.

Act Three

The whole scene with Lydia and Alec at the morgue is perfect. Perfect. Not in small part for Lydia trying to justify being Circle Member as a forgivable “mistake” and the contrast with Alec’s absolute disgust. He knows it isn’t a mistake to be a part of a violent blood supremacist group: it’s a choice. His unwillingness to excuse his parents is what sets Alec apart from the other shadowhunters.

Ps: Magnus invented the Portal. Lydia’s ancestral was there. Just to make it clear.

Clary going to Luke for solace about Simon’s death is much more emotional to me now than it was back when I first watched this scene.

This scene with Magnus and Izzy is such a classic. Too bad they don’t get to interact much.

The internalized racism that Luke deals with is an amazing plotline. We barely scratch the surface here but it’s a very poignant arc that could’ve been underline his whole character development. Luke clearly still hurts to talk about his transformation: him finding pride in being a werewolf is something I’d be interested in seeing.

Act Four

Alec feels comfortable enough with Magnus to just pour down his deepest and most urgent issues about his life. To Magnus’ credit, he listens and takes Alec’s doubts seriously. Also, shirtless scene.

Raphael’s coup d’état is done so unceremoniously, it’s a shame. The ideologies in conflict here are just what I like to see: morally gray and still compelling. Camille killed Simon because she wanted to, simple as that. Camille was ready to just get rid of Simon’s corpse and keep on as if nothing had happened. She gives no damns about the Accords. Which is awful when it hurts mundanes, but the Accords are the shadowhunters’ rules. Why should Camille follow them?

Raphael, on the other side, wants to follow the Accords. Although, it’s not because he cares about the mundanes: he just doesn’t want problems with the shadowhunters. It’s an interesting conflict and it’s a waste that the Downworlder politics existed in the season but were reduced to the background of Simon’s arc.

BUT Clary straight up punches Camille on the face and I am here for that.

First instance of hearing “the Law is hard, but it is the Law.” And, as always, the Clave focus on palliative measures instead of doing its job and actually protecting the Shadow World. If the Clave really believed the Lightwoods could be working with Valentine, it would’ve removed the whole family from the city, not just the command of the Institute. This is a political maneuver for show only.

Excellent use of camera angle to show which piece of wood Clary chooses while keeping the suspense to the maximum.

Act Five

Shadowhunters does great work with songs and emotional scenes. Simon’s burial is incredibly well crafted.

Alec is now on the point in his arc where he makes his first attempt to correct the consequences of his wrong-doings. His proposal to Lydia is not the ultimate right move, but it is a move in which Alec is ceasing a little control of his destiny by at least choosing his bride. He understood the concept of shaping his own destiny, but he’s not thinking big enough. Alec still has to learn not to accept his punishment (the arranged marriage) at all. Halfway there.

Jace is very sweet here, listing all the things Simon’s survived.

Act Six

This whole blood thing confuses me. Valentine used seelie blood - which is half angel and half demon blood – on the mundanes before drawing the runes that turned them into Forsakens. But Izzy identified the angelic and mundane blood – she mentions “Nephilim” while studying the corpse. Not the demon blood. Why?

Valentine using angel blood on the Forsakens to get them inside the Institute was a smart plan and I applaud the writers for coming up with it. I just wonder what Valentine’s goal was. Where the Forsakens supposed to take the Mortal Cup? In which case, they are not smart enough. Where they supposed to kill all the shadowhunters in the Institute? In that case, just one of them is too few.

As well acted as this scene of Simon waking up as a vampire is, I don’t understand why Simon would say he is repulsive. He was more than happy to talk about how hot Camille was, Jace has mentioned how mundanes romanticize vampires, and Simon is established as a fan of geek stuff. I’d think he’d be more traumatized for having died.