#i know it's been forever and she's just been sitting in my lair untouched BUT

[mirrorlight-sundancer]

ermm. swags her out

it’s been a while but i have lore hatchlings up !! from a new pair this time :] they’re 25g/kt each !!

nadia / theros

[rwbyremnants]

WARNING: Mild sensuality.

NOTE: Ever blink and a month has gone by? Happens to me all the time. Sorry about the huge gap, I have been trying to get another fic ready to post and time just ran away from me. Hopefully I won't let that happen again anytime soon!

=Chapter 13

This time, Yang was the first one to the depot. Weiss felt incredibly relieved when she saw her motorcycle stashed in the back; after having hung around the chilly abandoned husk of a building for an hour last time to no avail, it was nice to walk into the situation knowing that her efforts would not be wasted.

“Hey,” Yang breathed, standing from the couch when she saw Weiss approaching. She had already taken her jacket off, and underneath was a yellow tank top that definitely would not have been allowed in school. She smoothed her palms on the thighs of her jeans, lips twitching into an awkward smile. Again, Weiss was struck by how odd it was to see such a confident woman turn into a bundle of nerves. “Um… good, you made it.”

“I did! I made it here before, too, while we weren’t talking; I know where it is.”

“You did?” Her smile slipped a little. “Wait… oh. You came by to see if I would show.”

“Yes. But it’s okay!” she told her hurriedly, skipping forward to her side and alighting a hand on her forearm. “Seriously, I just… didn’t know what else to do. Anyway, it’s in the past.”

The nervous Dragon relaxed somewhat. “God, I just feel really, really dumb. I mean, getting yelled at by the fuzz was no fun, having all the girls snapping at me for bringing you along so much when none of us knew you very well… but I knew down deep that you weren’t the problem. Just looked like you were, and… and I didn’t know what to do.”

“Well, well, well. Maybe the great Yang Xiao Long isn’t always in total control of the situation, hmm?” They both laughed, Yang distinctly embarrassed. “It’s alright. I feel stupid for not realising my stupid brother might be watching us like a Peeping Tom!”

“Yeah,” she sighed, shivering in a most un-Yang way. “Creepy. But that’s both our fault for not thinking; we’ll just have to… do better. That’s all.”

Weiss sank down on the couch, wincing in slight pain from sitting on her brand. “Now I’m really up to my neck, though. I’m a Dragon. Me! How am I supposed to maintain this without my father figuring out and my whole life being ruined?”

“You could just drop out of school,” Yang said in an easy tone as she sat down next to her, sliding an arm around her shoulders. Weiss leaned in instinctively. “Live with one of us; Kali would take you in for sure, as much as she wants a piece of your cute little peach pie.”

“Oh, stop.” When Yang laughed, she elbowed her very gently. “And I can’t do that. Not yet, at least.”

“You can’t? I mean, I didn’t expect you to, anyway, but why not?”

“Salem wants me to keep an eye on my father. That was part of the reason she even inducted me into your, um, ‘social club’ in the first place, I think. Otherwise… well, I really don’t know why.”

Yang sat there nodding for a minute or so. Then she began, “Salem… sees things the rest of us don’t. I mean, she really creeps me out sometimes, but she’s also real smart, and understands how the world works. So if you walked in and seemed like you’d make a decent Dragon, she’d make you a Dragon. What she saw in you that told her you would be… I have no idea.”

“Me, either. I'm not very tough.”

“Well… you are, but not the way I am.” Her lips pulled into a slight smile. “You're actually really strong in your own way. Ever since we started hanging out together, I’ve been pretty impressed.”

Biting her lower lip and leaning a little more into Yang’s warmth, she purred, “Dragon-strong?”

“Maybe, maybe not. Guess we’re gonna find out, Schnee.”

“Mmm. Maybe we can find out right no-OW.”

Yang drew back to look at the pain in her features. “Burn still hurts, huh?”

“Yeah. I mean, they told me it would for a couple weeks, but it’s just… intolerable! How did you all go through with this?”

“Well, for one thing, mine’s not on my butt,” she snickered, though she was at least petting along Weiss’s back to offer some comfort alongside the teasing. “Gotta admit, I’m a little mad that Salem got to claim your ass before I did.”

“Where is yours? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Against all odds, that made Yang’s petting falter, and she was silent for a moment. Then she whispered, “Not sure you’re ready to see that.”

“Maybe I am, maybe I’m not,” she breathed, echoing Yang’s words from before. “Guess we’re gonna find out.”

Yang turned to look at her properly. Then, in one fluid motion, she yanked the tank top up and over her head, displaying her chest entirely. She wasn’t wearing a brassiere! Though Weiss did instinctively yelp and cover her eyes, it was only for a brief second before she began to lower her hands.

Normally, the sight of another woman’s breasts would have been enough to hold her attention. She was not used to seeing anyone underdressed, despite the brief demonstration from Velvet. This time was different. In the center of Yang’s chest, between the two sizeable mounds, lay the little dragon brand that matched the one she now owned. It was almost flawlessly in the center, and slick and white instead of pink or red as her own would be for some time.

“Ohhh… but isn’t that- I mean, if you ever wore one of those new-fangled swimsuits… everyone would see…”

“Don’t care. I wanted it right over my heart. The Dragons are a part of me forever. Even if I left, they’d still be close to my heart, y’know?”

She noticed Yang tense when she raised a hand toward her chest. But she only ran a fingertip over the scar, feeling how slick it was compared to the other untouched skin. This was a lot closer than they had ever been before, and her own heart was rocketing into her throat. The abandoned depot grew quite silent and still as they remained in that moment, Weiss stunned by both her dedication to the Dragons and to her willingness to let another person get so close to her so easily.

Then she smirked. “Liar.”

“Huh?”

“That’s not why you had it put here. You just wanted an excuse to flash any girls you got to come visit your secret lair.”

Blinking down at her for a long few seconds of shock, Yang finally snorted and grinned. “Yeah, you sure got me. But you fell for it the same as all the others.”

“Guess so. I’m a sucker for a tall, strong, dangerous biker.” Her hand smoothed up and down between the soft mounts, and Yang’s eyes closed. “But really… I’ve never known anyone like you.”

“Mmm… and I’ve never known anyone like you. Most girls from Atlas Heights… they’re comfortable there. They’d rather pretend not to see me than try and… figure out if I’m worth talking to.”

“Well, I’m not like most girls anywhere, from anywhere.”

“Very true.” Her eyes slid open, and they were dark now, heavy-lidded and gazing straight down at Weiss as her hand came up to lift her chin. Locking their gaze. Connecting them. “You’re… the best one.”

“What?”

“The best girl there ever was. Anywhere, from anywhere. It’s you.”

That stole her breath completely, and she felt her stomach disappear. Her lips parted to reply, but no words came; what could she say to that? Her eyes flicked down to the hand pressing into Yang’s heart, then back up to the eyes so sure of themselves, not blinking or wavering from her in the slightest.

“I’m in love with a brute,” she admitted, voice barely a whisper.

Yang took her lips right then, desperate, needy where Yang was so usually so confident and reassuring. Weiss had to be the one to reassure her this time. Her other hand came up to rest on her neck, grazing up to tangle in her hair and then back down to her shoulder. This time, when a tongue poked at her bottom lip she opened willingly, and only let out a groan of need when it entered her mouth, found her own. It was glorious. It was too much, it was not enough - it was Yang.

They shifted again and Weiss let out a grunt of pain. Yang parted from her mouth to whisper, “You alright?”

“Golly, no,” she answered honestly. “But… it’s my brand.”

“Right, here.” Yang leaned back, pulling Weiss on top of her.

“OH! Yang, what do you- th-this position is so unseemly!”

Laughing softly, she gazed up at Weiss with a huge smile. The waves of blonde hair pooling all around her, soft breasts above hard abdomen, alluring eyes… they were so inviting in a way Weiss couldn’t resist. Or at least, she was having a very difficult time doing so.

“You gonna make me yours, Schnee?”

“N-not that easily! I’m not a trollop!”

“You keep saying that…” Her hands alighted on Weiss’s hips, clutching very slightly. “And you also said you didn’t want me to be your brute. Look how that changed.”

Weiss smirked a little, leaning down until their noses were touching. “I said I didn’t want you to be a brute to me. And I didn’t. This is the only Yang I want; one who doesn’t try to push me around.”

“I didn’t push. I nudged.” Weiss laughed out loud at that, and Yang giggled along with her as she took her lips again, only toying with them for a moment. “Mmm, yeah. But you were right; I’m not Cinder, and you’re not Velvet. Nobody owns nobody. What we got, babe? It’s… everything I’ve ever wanted.”

This time, it was the princess who lost control, recklessly crashing their lips together as they breathed each other in, slid hands up and down sides. Once, Yang’s brushed her scar but she barely flinched and Yang was moving the hand again, keeping that one on her back from then on. Their hips began to shift back and forth, tongues sliding over each other more than Weiss would have dreamed herself capable of handling. It was all new, and insane, and wonderful.

Finally, Yang broke the kiss to whisper, “You like those?”

“I think so,” she admitted, squeezing her breast again, flicking her thumb over the nipple. Yang sucked in a breath and let it out shakily. “And you like that I like them.”

“Sure. When you’re not… twisting it like I’m a ham radio.” When Weiss pinched a little tighter, she hissed in through her teeth again before grinning up at the princess. “Mmm, feels good. Want me to show you?”

“What?” When a fingerless-gloved hand began sliding up her blouse, over the buttons, she pushed it away with her free hand. “Stop that, you cad.”

“Me? Cad?”

“Yes, you.” But the hand did fall to her waist instead, and she pouted. “Aww, you gave up so easily.”

“I did what my princess asked, okay? That’s what non-cads do.”

Grinning, she leaned down again to kiss her. “My favourite non-cad. And my favourite Dragon.”

“Funny, you’re my favourite Dragon, too.”

Being called that shot a weird thrill through Weiss that had nothing to do with their bodies being so close. The idea of being a gang member was still so fresh and raw that almost every time it was brought up, Weiss felt the fear all over again. An uncertainty about the future.

“It’s too new, huh?” When Weiss only blinked down at her, Yang nodded a little. “I get it. Seen that look in Ilia’s eyes. Emerald’s. Vernal’s. You’re allowed to be a little crazy from all this.”

“No, no,” she reassured Yang, kissing her lips gently again before laying down on top of her, head nestling next to hers. Instantly, both hands were on her back again. “Well… yes. But I don’t regret what I did.”

“You sure?”

“No.”

“That’s normal, too,” she said with a subdued chuckle. “But I’m gonna be here for you, okay?”

“Promise?”

“I promise, Schnee.” After a moment to think, she changed it. “I promise, Weiss.”

Her lips pushed into Yang’s neck. “Thank you, Yang. And… um…”

“What?”

“About what I said a few minutes ago. I’m sorry if it was too soon. Maybe we’re not ready for that yet. Everything’s going crazy, and it’s hard for me to keep track of all this, a-and here you are taking me back and kissing me when I only just barely convinced you that I didn’t rat on your whole-”

“I love you, too.”

“What? Really?”

Yang pushed her back just enough so they could look at each other. “Yeah. Sorry I didn’t say it back right away. Just… wanted to kiss you a lot more than I wanted to say it.”

Her shy smile was laced with a bright red blush. “Are we really in love? Us? This is kooky!”

“A little kooky, but in all the best ways,” she laughed.

“Look at us! We’re two girls, from completely different sides of town, playing back seat bingo - and we don’t even have a back seat!”

“Will you cool off, spaz? Everything’s fine! I mean it.” Her hands smoothed up and down her sides again, and Weiss scoffed, settling in. “It feels good. You feel good, and I like hanging out with you. That’s all that matters, isn’t it?”

Deflating on top of her, Weiss began to pet along her shoulder and upper arm. “I suppose… oh, you’re right. I promise, eventually I’ll stop flipping my lid over this. Someday.”

“And I’ll believe it when I see it, my squirmy little princess.” That earned her a hard poke to her side, and she yelped, “HEY!”

“RUDE! A rude brute! I can’t believe I like you!”

“You more than like me - you loooooove me!”

“I do not!”

“Too late, you said you did!”

“I take it back!”

“No takesies-backsies, Schnee! I’m yours forever!” But immediately after, Weiss was slapping both hands over Yang’s mouth, trying to get her to be quiet. It wasn’t working.

------------------------------------- 

The time came for Weiss to report downstairs and check if Pyrrha was waiting for her yet. Yang had pulled her tank top back on when she started to feel a little chilly, and they had been talking ever since. It was nice to just talk with her sometimes.

“And that’s how you got it? A table?”

“Yep,” she sighed, scratching at the thin ribbon of scar tissue below her eye. “Pretty boring story.”

“Not boring enough,” Yang growled, grinding one fist into the opposite palm. “You bled, Schnee. I’d like to thump him on his stupid-”

“You’ll do no such thing. Don’t forget, Salem wants me to stay close, keep being Daddy’s Girl for a little while longer. You have to wait until after that mission is over before anyone thinks about any kind of ‘payback’, alright?”

Voice as helpless as could be while this angry, the Dragon snapped, “But he knocked you into a table! You had to get stitches! That’s not how a dad’s supposed to act!”

“Really? This coming from the woman who had bruises a week or so ago from her loving parent?”

“That’s different. I mean, everyone already knows Raven’s no prize mother.”

At that, Weiss deflated, curling a little tighter around Yang’s side. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought that up.”

“Nah…” Sighing to let out her lingering tension, she hugged her back. “It was fair. I’m all hot under the collar about your dad hitting you, when I was telling you to ignore Mom laying into me.”

“Very true. It is a double-standard. Still, I’m sorry.” They relaxed for a moment longer. Weiss didn’t want to go. She didn’t want to give up this one moment of respite from everything and everyone. “Is… there any way…”

“Hm?”

“Could I try meeting her again? On her terms, instead of… of how it happened last time. Just to see if we could be friends.”

Yang sucked in a breath through her teeth, sitting up a little straighter and encouraging Weiss to do the same. Seemed she had noticed her checking her watch so frequently, after all. “Not so hot of an idea, Schnee. Raven doesn’t want anything to do with my friends, or the Dragons, or anyone at all.”

“She’s the mother of my girlfriend. Shouldn’t I meet her at some point?”

They both gazed at each other in the same moment, realising what Weiss had said. Forgetting her train of thought, she smiled sheepishly and dipped her head lower.

“Maybe. For now, let me just get used to having a princess all to myself.”

“Stop,” Weiss murmured, smiling a little wider. The kiss on her forehead enlarged that.

In short order, she escorted Weiss out front to look for Pyrrha. Eventually, they saw the Studebaker idling around the corner, so she turned back to kiss her cheek.

“Same time tomorrow?”

“Well… is there any way your gal pal could drop you off near Shopkeep’s? Around the corner. She doesn’t have to come in with you again unless she wants to.”

Weiss shrugged non-committally. “Sure. I mean, as far as I know. But we’ll try for around the same time, okay?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Wonderful!” Another little kiss, and Yang hummed her gratitude before taking Weiss’s lips again. A thrill shot through her at the idea of anyone else seeing them, but she decided not to care in the moment. Then she reclaimed her voice enough to whisper, “See you then, brute.”

“Later, Princess.”

As she climbed into the passenger seat, Pyrrha was beaming widely at her, and Weiss felt distinctly bashful about the whole situation. However, even through that bashfulness shone her true gratitude and glee at having smoothed everything over. No dark shadow cast by her imposing father could truly outshine the Dragons.

[whydoyouwantmyname]

imagine dating Dean, yet hiding a HUGE secret...

Your hand entangled his as you looked upon his lifeless, battered body. Through your head swam all the images of what you imagined your life with him being, the screams of secrets never shared, the rhythm of a familiar heart that pulses no more still haunting your fingertips.

“I was wondering when you would show up.” Your voice filled the void in a cold tone, to anyone looking in, they would think you had finally gone mad, yet when you looked out of the four walls that contained the corpse of your lover, you knew exactly who was lerking in the hall.

“I came as soon as I heard the moose summoning me. He is in your little forbidden lair trying to bargain for Dean’s life.”

“But let me guess, you aren’t going to answer.”

“Why? We both know what happened to Cain when he took his own life with the blade.”

“Yes father, it is for that reason and far more I never would have told Dean of the mark, or given him the option to take it in the first place.”

“Your judgement is fogged over by love my dear, you and I both know that Dean was the only chance we had! Even now, you sit here with a corpse who you know....”

“I will not do that, I will not make him....” your words cut through the screams of your father as he looked at you in disbelief

“What? One of us? I get it,demon princess falls for the hunter, yet can’t tell, so she acts like a normal human, and denies her life, her status, her own kind. Yet given the chance to live free with the man she desires most and she...”

“He would never want to be a demon.”

“Ahhhh yes, the last wish of the deceased I am sure. But darling daughter, you are forgetting, the Mark is in the driver seat, and it will never let the wielder die.” He moved to the chair, and after sitting upon the cushion of it, he revealed from his coat a item you thought was gone forever, as you watched in horror.

“Where did you....”

“It was easy to retrieve, after you left with Dean, I simply just...”

“Do it.” You whispered, your father’s face contorting in confusion as he rounded the left side of the bed, your own eyes fixated on Dean’s peacefully, lifeless, paling face, which was littered in cuts, “I didn’t have the heart to do it myself, so just do it.”

“It is for the best dear, you know just as I that we never believed the rumor of Cain’s death, that’s why I never told him, and I know you didn’t either. I understand that you don’t want to blow your cover but...”

“I never told him cause I knew he wouldn’t be Dean anymore, he would stop at nothing to avoid dying. He wouldn’t be Dean anymore, he would be a husk. Also it was just speculation, none of us knew if he was really dead or not during that period.”

“Exactly and why set hearts a flutter at mere speculation.”

“That’s all it is, if you are really going to bring Dean back then we need to find Death and...”

“No, we have what we need, it isn’t rumor anymore. I didn’t realize it until Dean summoned me without you, and he left his cheeseburger untouched that I knew, the stories are all true Darling, and thankfully this story of the Mark is going to lead to your miracle.” As he spoke he placed the blade in Dean’s hand, and slowly moved his limp arm to cross over his chest. you slowly leaned forward and peppered his forehead with a kiss, before releasing his hand and walking to join your father.

“Listen to me, Dean Winchester, really listen to me. What you are feeling right now, is not death, but life. A new kind of life, one where you and [Y/N] can live forever, all you need to do is open your eyes Dean.” Crowley spoke with authority as your hand gently found his, as his voice rose slightly, “Arise Dean, see what we see, feel what we feel, let’s go take a howl at that moon, shall we?”

“Hey fellas, you look worried.” He gasped out as he looked at Sam and Cas, his eyes losing every trace of black they ever harbored. You stood in the shadows, arms crossed as you watched in horror, the only thought that could go through your head was the screams, “He Knows.”

Sam stepped forward and threw a whole cup of holy water in his face, his skin no longer sizzled at the contact, and the droplets just freely rolled of his tanned skin as he looked, “Deserved that.”

“Welcome back Dean.” Cas smiled as Sam sighed in relief.

“Now someone wanna tell me where my beautiful girl is.” Dean sighed after they released his bonds, and you could no longer contain yourself, your feet carried you into the trap and your arms collided into his chest as he engulfed your scent.

“I missed you.” Dean whispered

“I have been with you the whole time Dean.” You replied, his eyes showing confusion

“No you weren’t, I wished you were but I was with Ann Marie.However I kept dreaming that you were, but you were a demon too, and Crowley’s daughter.” He responded, he pulled back slightly and took your hand, trying to lead you away, yet you couldn’t leave, your path blocked by an invisible wall, and as Dean looked from your entangled hand, to your face you whispered with tears in your eyes, “You weren’t dreaming Dean.”

And with those words he stormed away, your hand feeling the emptiness, as your knees buckled beneath you.

Cas stood outside the door, his hand knocking lightly as he heard the bottle softly clink against the concrete floor.

“Yeah?” Dean’s voice sounded beneath the crack as Cas slowly opened the door, revealing the dim nightstand light, and the darkened silhouette of his friend.

“Oh, hey. What’d Sam say, he wants a divorce now?” Dean asked as Cas slowly closed the door behind himself.

“You know she is still in there, she hasn’t moved since you left.” 

“I don’t wanna talk about...”

“Dean, we have to. She is the person you love, the one you have always been bonded to. Hell before you slept with her, you two were best friends.”

“Yeah, and I don’t know how I never realized that her and Crowley came into our lives at the same time, how I missed the fact that she never talked about her family, or her childhood, how I missed that she told me once her mother was dead, and her father should be dead? How did I miss the fact that she could never touch the demon blade, or a bible, or the holy water, or that she stood as far away from Devil traps as she could? How did I miss the fact that the woman I wanted to marry was hiding a pair of black eyes!” Dean errupted, as he looked back down at the photograph on his lap

It was of the two of you. Sam had taken it one day at Bobby’s, your back was to Sam as Dean’s hand gently laid on your waist, your hand on his chest, eyes lost in each others just as you leaned forward to kiss, “How was I so blind?”

“I don’t think you were, she went to great lengths to hide her true form from you and Sam, and she threatened anyone who could have ruined her facade. She was blinded by her love for you and Sam to even think about how she would handle this if it ever arised. I think now she is just devastated, because she doesn’t know what to do if you stop loving her.”

“And how am I supposed to react, she lied to me, she is one of those things that we are supposed to kill and she knew it, and still let it happen.”

“Don’t forget Dean, just a couple hours ago, you were one of those things too.” Cas responded, before exiting back out the door, leaving Dean alone.

The doors slightly drug against the concrete as Dean pulled them open, revealing the dimmly lit room he was previously locked in, his heart breaking at the sight before him.

Your head was down against your knees, which were pulled safely up to your chest, and engulfed in your arms. You barely reacted to the sound of the door, however Dean reacted greatly to the sounds of soft sniffles that filled the empty space. Upon investigation as well, he saw that someone broke the trap, yet you still sat there. 

“Why?” Dean asked, your whole body jolting in surprise at the sound as you lifted your head slowly, revealing to him the darkness of your eyes.

“Because I am no fool. I was born into this life Dean Winchester, I never asked for it, it is not my fault that Crowley killed my mortal mother when I was 9, and made me into this creature who never ages, who never dies when I turned 21. I loved being a real human girl, who had dreams, and a life, and friends. With you and Sam I felt that again, and I didn’t want to lose it. I lied to protect my own selfish gains, and I never meant to fall in love with you, but I did. I can’t stop loving you Dean Winchester! I wanted to so badly, because I knew one day we would end up here, and you would leave me forever, but I didn’t care. And now here we are, and I don’t know how to even say sorry because I know what I did was wrong.”

“I don’t want you to say sorry.” He exhaled into the silence.

“Let me guess, you want me to get out then?” Your tone was harsh, however Dean just looked at you.

“I want to know why you didn’t just stay here after I disappeared, I want to know why you followed me, knowing that this was where we were going to end up?”

you were quiet for a while before you answered, his own form moving to the sitting position on the ground as he waited for a reply, “Because I was tired of hiding, and I thought if I went with you, I could protect you from whatever sick plan my father had for you. When my father came that night that you were laying in our bed, I knew I could have asked you to come back, because of that thing, but I couldn’t do it, because I didn’t want that for you. And then...”

“He woke me up, and we all went on vacation, yeah I remember that part.” He whispered, and then you both just stared at one another in silence.

“So I can go get my stuff, I will be out before the hour.” You finally broke the silence as Dean looked at you, “No.”

“What?” 

“I want you to stay, I want you to still make me blueberry pancakes, and bake me apple pies, I still want to wake up to your kisses, and I still want to steal some of your body wash when I shower, I want to smile when I see you research, and feel jealous when you hang out with Sam too much, I still want to hug you and feel safe, and beat up any guy who tries to call you a babe. I know I shouldn’t, and that I made judgement on Sam for what he did with Ruby, but I get it now, and I don’t want you to leave, because Demon or not, I still am in love with you, and I don’t think that will ever change.” 

“Dean.” You whispered

“However I have to ask that you explain one thing why we are in bed.”

“What’s that?” you asked as you slowly stood up and joined him outside the trap.

“How is it knowing your father is also in love with his daughter’s boyfriend?” To which you both erupted into laughter.

[fraysbanes]

Family Matters

part 1 // part 2

There is something about being wrapped up in Alexander’s arms that makes the rest of the world seem pale and muffled in comparison. The death and destruction around them doesn’t matter anymore. Only Alec matters.

Alec and his breath against Magnus’ neck, the blood dripping from the cut on his forehead, the scent of ichor on his clothes, the way his body trembles as he presses Magnus against him.

Magnus pulls back, though Alec is holding him so tightly it's almost impossible to, and looks at Alec for a long moment. He slides his hands along Alec's shoulders and cups his face, focusing on the heat of his skin, the lines of his jaw, the intensity of his eyes, the dirt and the blood and everything else that proves that this isn’t another trick. Alec doesn't say anything, doesn't protest. Maybe a part of him knows that Magnus needs to make sure. Maybe he's just patient. Maybe he’s too close to tears to be able to say anything, even if he wanted to.

That’s how Magnus knows it’s him - he doesn’t have the untouchable perfection of the dreams. He’s equal parts scared and relieved and desperate. His breaths come in pants and his grip on Magnus is starting to hurt. He may look like an angel to Magnus, but underneath it all he’s just Alec.

"You…" Magnus takes a deep, shaky breath. "You're real."

"Yeah," Alec says. "And so are you."

Magnus nods.

And then it all hits him - everything that's happened in the past few hours. He glances over to the gruesome sight at their left. His father’s… body, if it can be called that.

The pain and fatigue and relief catch up to him suddenly and wash over him like a tsunami, making him collapse back into Alec’s arms. Alec lets Magnus lean against him, though he must be exhausted too.

"Do you need my strength?" Alec asks, already offering his hand.

Magnus shakes his head. He doesn't know how much Alec has left to spare - if any - and he doesn't want to waste it. He's content just lying against Alec's shoulder for now, letting the dust settle around them. Alec kisses the top of his head and holds him close. They stand like that for a long time. Longer than would be safe if he were anybody but the new Prince of Edom. Alec sniffs, and Magnus feels a tear drop into his hair. If he had any energy, he would make a joke about it, or pull back and wipe Alec's tears away. Instead he just wraps his arms as tightly around Alec as he can manage and whispers, "I love you."

Alec sobs out a laugh. Magnus knows it’s because it’s been too long since he’s heard those words. “I love you, too,” Alec says. “God, I love you so much.”

*

Magnus can’t recall exactly what happens next. They must make it back to their realm somehow, and then to their apartment. All he knows is that he somehow ends up lying on his couch, vision blurry, listening to muffled voices in the background and feeling someone’s - probably Alec’s - fingers in his hair. He feels Catarina’s magic and her hand in his. She tells him to get some sleep to recharge. And who is he to say no to Catarina Loss?

*

When Magnus wakes up, he wonders for a moment if his father performed the curse wrong this time, because though the sheets and the arm around his waist are warm, he wakes up anxious and still remembering Edom.

He turns over on the bed and finds himself face-to-face with his sleeping Shadowhunter boyfriend. There is a faint scar on Alec’s forehead and one on his bottom lip that Magnus can’t remember being there before. He remembers what it felt like to see Alec storming Asmodeus’ lair, not willing to believe it was real until Alec had been too distracted by him to watch his back, resulting in a demon’s talons just barely getting to him.

He remembers seeing the thin trail of blood and instinctively blasting the demon to bits with dark red magic. He remembers thinking the small cut on Alec’s forehead was going to need more than an iratze.

Okay, Magnus thinks, focusing on the details and the linear sequence of events. So it really was real.

He lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding before reaching out from under the covers and shaking Alec by the shoulders.

One of Alec’s snores get cut off as he blinks awake, confused and frowning for a moment before his eyes fall on Magnus and he immediately softens.

“Sorry,” Magnus says innocently. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”

Alec smiles fondly at the blatant lie and wraps his arms tighter around Magnus. “How are you feeling?”

“I don’t know.”

Alec nods as if he understands perfectly. “You know,” he says after a brief moment. “Catarina said you’d be out longer.”

“I do enjoy exceeding expectations. Is she here?”

“No, she had to go home to Madzie. But she said she’d come back to check on you tomorrow and bring Madzie. They’ve both missed you.”

Magnus tries to hide his disappointment - he’s missed them too. He wants to see them. Alec catches the sad look in his eyes and tries to cheer him up with a gentle kiss to his cheek. It sort of works. Or at least, it makes Magnus smile, which is good enough for both of them at the moment.

“Do you want something to eat?” Alec asks.

Magnus shakes his head. He can’t remember the last time he ate, though he’s not hungry, and a hot meal with Alec does sound nice. But he doesn’t want this moment to end.

“Can you just hold me?”

Alec smiles softly. “Yeah,” he whispers. “Yeah, I can do that.”

*

Magnus doesn’t know how long they lie there together - only that he suddenly realizes he doesn’t know how long they’ve been lying there, and feels an urgent need to look at a clock or a book or out the window or at anything else that can’t be perfectly replicated in a dream. Just to make sure it’s still real.

“Babe?” Alec calls, concerned, when Magnus drags himself out of bed and checks the time (a quarter past midnight) before pushing the curtains apart and taking in the view he’s grown to love, listening to the sounds of muffled chatter on the streets and watching headlights pass by to assure himself that this is really happening. “What’s wrong?”

Magnus turns to smile at him. “Nothing,” he says, and strangely enough, means it. “How about that meal I was promised?”

*

After lunch and a nice hot shower, they curl up on the couch with jazz music and a bottle of wine. “To us,” Alec says, and they clink their glasses together. Magnus doesn’t drink. He’s thinking of kisses that feel like dreams and happiness that feels like lies.

Alec notices, and takes a long sip of his own wine before turning to look at Magnus. “You wanna talk about it?”

How does one bring up their heart’s most earnest desire and most paralyzing fear when everything should be perfect? How does he explain that every time he opened his eyes in Edom, he was losing something he'd never had? How does he tell Alec he wants to be with him forever, start a family with him, when the bottle of wine is still full?

“I miss Raphael,” Magnus says finally, hoping to change the subject and distract himself - but it doesn’t work.

“He’s coming over later tonight,” Alec tells him. “After dark. Will you talk to him ?”

“Nope.” Magnus snaps his fingers and the music grows louder. He puts down his wine glass and grabs Alec’s hand instead. “Dance with me, darling.”

Alec doesn’t resist as Magnus pulls him to his feet and wraps his arms around his neck, hugging him close and burying his face in Alec’s neck. It’s not so much dancing as it is standing together, rocking, getting lost in the rhythm of the music and each other’s heartbeats.

“I can’t believe you’re really here,” Alec whispers a few minutes into their swaying.

“Neither can I,” Magnus admits.

Alec’s arms tighten around him like they did in the aftermath of the battle in Edom. He doesn’t say anything else, just keeps on breathing shakily with his face pressed against Magnus’. Seconds tick by. Minutes. The song ends and a new one starts. Alec pulls away first and only to kiss Magnus senseless. The doorbell rings - Raphael and Catarina, Madzie in between them. They all have dinner together and Madzie refuses to leave Magnus' side until she falls asleep on the couch and Raphael helps Cat carry her home.

*

The first thing Magnus does when he jolts awake from the nightmare later that night is reach out for Alec.

He intends to lace their fingers together to ground himself, or at least grab his arm or shoulder or hip, but what happens instead is he unintentionally smacks Alec right in the face.

So the first thing Alec says when he wakes up is, “Ow.”

“Sorry!” Magnus says, breathless because of the hammering of his heart, disoriented because of the dream. “I really didn’t mean to wake you this time.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Alec says groggily. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Magnus sits up, rubbing his eyes. He doesn’t even remember what the nightmare was about anymore, but it still unsettled him. “Nothing, I just…”

“Come here,” Alec says, sitting up next to him and spreading his arms invitingly. Magnus crawls into his embrace and Alec places a gentle kiss to his forehead. It’s sickeningly familiar again. Magnus grabs Alec’s hand to ground himself.

After a few quiet minutes, Alec shifts so they’re face-to-face and runs a gentle finger down Magnus’ cheek. He looks and sounds heartbroken when he whispers, “What did he do to you?”

“He didn’t do anything,” Magnus says with a sad smile. “Only reminded me of what I can never have.”

“What?”

Magnus hesitates. “Children.”

Eight-hundred years and it still hurts to say it out loud.

Alec frowns, confusion all over his sleepy face. “Why can’t we have kids?”

“Oh,” is all Magnus says. It’s all he can say. Alec doesn’t look like he’s joking, or just saying things to make Magnus happy. He looks genuinely confused. It makes Magnus feel a little stupid for not entertaining the possibility or approaching the subject sooner. Or for not considering the possibility that this might be something Alec would want too, with him or not.

“This is the part…” Alec starts, then cuts himself off with a yawn before continuing, “…where you say, ‘Alexander, let’s have kids’.”

“But I don’t want to do it alone,” Magnus protests sharply.

“You won’t be alone.”

“But I will. One day, I will. I’m sorry, but you’ve said as much yourself-”

“Magnus,” Alec says so forcefully that it almost makes Magnus jump. “I’m not leaving you. Ever.”

“How-”

“I don’t know,” Alec admits with a shake of his head. “But I know we’ll figure it out.”

Magnus thinks he might cry. Alec is looking at him the way he always does: soft and sincere and ready to burn the world down for him. Even half-asleep, even talking about something nearly impossible, every word he says makes Magnus’ heart feel like it might burst with all the love he’s trying to hold in it.

“Alexander,” he says. “Let’s have kids.”

“Okay,” Alec smiles dopily at him. “But not yet. I’m old-fashioned.”

Magnus raises an eyebrow at him, wondering what the fuck that’s supposed to mean, but then Alec winks and Magnus realizes what’s going on.

“Oh,” he says again, and it’s a miracle his heart hasn’t actually burst open yet.

“Yeah,” Alec says. “You’re gonna have to marry me first.”