#malec server WINGO

[sugarandspace]

An Unexpected Meeting

Summary: Alec is part of the forest folk, Magnus is the idiot he needs to save (though Magnus will insist that Ragnor is the one to blame).

AO3

Magnus couldn’t wait to say I told you so when he would finally be reunited with Ragnor. That was if he would ever find his way back from the thick forest he was walking in.

His friend had been so confident that they would be fine in the magical forest, but not even ten minutes after they had arrived to search for the ingredient Ragnor had needed for his potion, they had been separated. While Magnus couldn't talk for Ragnor, he was most definitely lost himself.

It didn’t help that the forest was old and powerful, and Magnus couldn't access his magic there.

So no portaling out of there, no guiding spells, nothing. He had to do it the mundane way - pick a direction and walk, hoping that he was getting closer to the edge of the forest than the center of it. The forest was huge, and if Magnus picked the wrong direction he would be wandering for days until he came out on the other side.

He walked on a path and hoped for the best.

“It is not safe here,” came a voice behind Magnus.

Magnus turned immediately, trying to summon magic to his palms before he remembered that he was incapable of accessing it in the forest. About ten feet in front of him in the path stood a man who Magnus immediately recognised as one of the forest folk. The long iridescent wings in his back were impossible to miss. They looked beautiful, the sunlight shining through them making them shine with different colors. The wings looked fragile, but Magnus knew they were anything but. Those wings could cut like glass but held none of the same fragility.

“Are you going to hurt me?” Magnus asked carefully. He knew very little of the forest folk since they liked to stay hidden among the trees and there weren’t many books that talked about them. Magnus had met their kind twice before, and neither of them had spoken a word to him.

He felt like he was on uneven ground.

“I won’t,” the man said, looking Magnus with a look Magnus couldn’t quite place. It was like he was searching Magnus' soul with his hazel eyes. “But the others might.”

That made Magnus tense, the words bringing him back from admiring the man’s eyes. He needed to get a grip of himself, he was in a dangerous situation and it didn’t matter that the man in front of him looked breathtaking in his forest green clothing that was loose on his body, but that did nothing to distract from the obviously strong body under them.

“Follow me,” the man said and turned, starting to walk off the path.

Magnus didn’t know if it was foolish on his part, but he did as the man asked and started following him.

There was no path among the trees, the soft moss seemingly untouched. Yet the man in front of Magnus moved with familiarity, more sure of their direction in the middle of the trees than Magnus had been on the narrow path.

It was possible that the man was leading Magnus to his death, or at least to be captured by the forest folk. But something in him made Magnus trust him.

They passed fallen trees, ones standing tall, and ones that were just starting their journey towards the sky. Magnus tried to refrain from looking around himself too much in fear of losing the man and being lost once again, but he almost couldn’t help it when he saw all the green that grew undisturbed in the peace of the forest.

The man leading him looked over his shoulder every now and then to check that Magnus was still following him, and the soft smile that grazed his features made Magnus’ own lips turn to a careful smile. The man was beautiful and even though Magnus had learnt that looks were often deceiving, the man seemed kind. He had given Magnus no reason to doubt him, so Magnus kept following him.

After a while, they started to see more and more light come through the trees in front of them, and soon they were standing on the edge of a grassy field. The man did not cross the treeline when Magnus stepped out of the forest.

“At least tell me your name,” Magnus said as he turned to look at the man on the edge of the forest, blending in with his green clothes, the wings almost invisible when the light hit them right.

The man looked at him for a moment, his dark eyes calculating. Magnus knew the power in names and he started to regret asking it and was just about to tell him to forget about it when he spoke.

“Alexander.”

Beautiful name to fit a beautiful face, Magnus thought

“Thank you, Alexander,” Magnus said. “I am fairly certain you just saved my life.”

Alexander nodded, accepting the gratitude.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” Magnus asked, in part because he had learnt that it was best not to stay in debt, and in part because he didn't want the beautiful man to disappear in the woods just yet.

Alexander shook his head.

“I don’t need anything.”

Magnus thought for a moment, knowing that he wanted to give the man something in return for his help. He wouldn’t have use for riches in the forest, and Magnus knew too little of the life of the forest folk to know what would be useful for him.

So he went with what he did know, and summoned magic to his palm.

Being out of the woods, it worked perfectly, and blue fog clouded on his palm. He saw Alexander flinch but to Magnus’ relief, he didn’t run away. Magnus looked up and smiled lightly when he saw Alexander watching the magic with wonder in his eyes.

The forest folk were a secluded group of people, and the lack of information likely went both ways. Magnus realised that this was probably the first time Alexander had witnessed warlock-type of magic.

He knew that the forest folk had magic of their own, but the nature magic they had was more in kind of the seelie magic than warlock magic. They understood plants and animals in a way that went beyond Magnus’ understanding or expertise. Not even the strongest warlock could make a flower bloom as brightly as a young member of the forest folk could. Magnus didn’t know how old the man in front of him was. He looked to be in his twenties but Magnus knew not to trust it since the forest folk were immortal, just like warlocks.

He knew his skill wasn’t parallel to Alexander’s but he hoped the sentiment was enough. The fog on his palm went away and revealed a bellflower in its wake.

Magnus offered it towards Alec, and the other man reached forward to take it, holding the stem gently between his fingers. He looked at it for a moment before looking at Magnus, a question in his eyes.

“A small thank you for a big favor,” Magnus explained. He saw Alexander’s lips turn to another small smile and he hoped it meant that his gift was well received. He was just about to say something else when he heard someone yell his name.

Magnus turned to look at the field and saw the last bits of a portal disappear behind Ragnor. 

“I came here as soon as I was able to track you,” Ragnor explained. “Are you okay?”

“I am,” Magnus said and turned to look at Alexander again. Except when he looked at where the other man had been standing, he only saw trees and bushes. Alexander had fled back to the forest.

“Ragnor!” Magnus breathed out exasperatedly. When he looked at his friend again Ragnor looked affronted.

“Sorry for coming to your help?” He asked, not understanding Magnus' reaction. “What is going on?”

“Nothing,” Magnus said, turning his back to the forest. He knew Alexander wouldn’t appear there again.

He didn’t feel like telling his friend what had happened in the forest, preferring to keep it to himself. Weirdly, all the complaints about his friend dragging him to the forest had also died down.

Magnus couldn’t wait to be home so he could find his books and do some research.

-.-.-

“Where were you?”

He tried to ignore the accusing tone of his sister who had suddenly appeared in front of him from behind the large spruce tree. How she had managed to hide there with her wide wings, he didn’t know. Maybe he was more distracted than he had thought.

“It’s none of your business, Isabelle,” he replied while he kept walking to the direction he had been going on - deeper into the forest and further away from the handsome warlock.

“Fine,” Isabelle said as she walked by his side, her steps fast to keep up with his long strides. “Don’t tell me. But mother has been looking for you, we seem to have intruders in the forest. Warlocks, I heard.”

“Warlocks?” Alec asked, pretending to be surprised.

“Yes, so make sure you’re well-armed,” Isabelle said. In a blink of an eye, she was standing in front of him, stopping his movement, her eyes focused on the front pocket of his shirt. “What is that?”

“None of your concern, that’s what it is,” He said and walked past his sister, dodging her hand that tried to reach towards his pocket. He made sure to walk fast to get a small lead on Isabelle before he looked down.

The bellflower was still there and blooming as beautifully as it had when it first sprouted from the unfamiliar magic. Despite its unnatural origin, it spoke of gratitude in a language he knew as well as the ones he spoke.

He pressed at his chest where the stem was in the pocket, helping it grow little roots that weaved their way into the fabric of his shirt, making sure the flower wouldn’t fall.

He wasn’t quite ready to part with the flower like he'd had to part with its magical gardener.

-.-.-

(bellflowers symbolize gratitude)

[whatanexcitingfewdaysithasbeen]

Winged!Alec

Shout-out to you, @skylar102

[myulalie]

Wings are freedom, only when they are wide open in flight. On one’s back they are a heavy weight. — Marina Tsvetaeva

Once upon a time, Children of the Nephilim protected the world from demons. Now, their wings are in shackles.

Alec Lightwood knows little of the past, but when demons threaten to invade the world again, he cannot conceive the idea of just letting it happen.

Unable to fly, and forced to train in secret, there is only little Alec can do, and few people he can trust.

Enter Magnus Bane, who makes Alec feel like maybe, just maybe, shadowhunters could rise again and do what they were always meant to do: protect the world.

Find chapter 10 on AO3.

[skylar102]

The first fic of many for the Malec Server’s Wingo Fic Challenge!

Prompt: Plucking

Read on Ao3 here

Fic based on this writing prompt

Eleven days. It’s been eleven days and his captor has not heard back from his family. He’s not surprised by this, or not as surprised as he thought he would be. When the man kidnapped him while he was out on a hunt in the woods, he expected his family to at least worry. Alec shifts his shoulder causing his wings to move behind him. He hisses out at the movement. Looking down he sees the clumps of feathers on the floor. 

While his captor has been kind to him, the realization that no one was coming to rescue him hit harder than he expected. He lets out a shuddering sigh as he moves his left wing in front of him and plucks another feather out, wincing at the pain. He twirls it in his hand, the raven feather shimmers in the light from the fireplace, showing off its purple and navy hue. How a simple color could cause him such pain. 

People don’t take kindly to those with black wings. They consider them to be cursed, an ill omen, a monster. Pluck. When his wings first appeared as a child, Alec remembers looking in the mirror, excited that his had finally come in. He ran to show his parents, only for them to cry out in disgust and call him a freak. He was five at the time, but the look on his parents’ faces still haunts him to this day. Pluck. 

Jace and Izzy as they got older said there was nothing wrong with the color of his wings. They would never understand the struggle it was to walk through life with black wings. Jace’s beautiful cream colored wings were loved by all. Izzy’s light blue wings were the attention of all the men and women. Two people were not enough to stop their village and their awful words. 

“Freak!”

“Stay away from my family, you monster!”

“If you come any closer, I’ll kill you!”

“Why don’t you cut them off? Save the village from having to worry about a looming disaster, you bad omen!”

Pluck.

When he was able to, he made a harness that would hide his wings behind his back. It hurt, cramping his wings inside the contraption, but it had worked. The looks and the shouting subdued a bit by hiding his wings. The adults in the village still steered clear of him, but the children seemed to like him. 

He goes to grab another feather when a hand clamps his wrist before he can. He jumps back startled, he hadn’t even heard his captor enter the room let alone kneel in front of him. His captor releases his wrist and looks down at the pile of feathers on the ground. Alec doesn’t move and he watches his captor reach down and pick up a feather. 

Alec waits, his body tensing the longer the silence goes on; for the comments, the scathing remarks. He had hidden his wings from his captor, afraid that they would kill him once they found out his wings were black. His captor, Magnus, looks up at him with his brow wrinkled softly and a tinge of sadness etched across his face.

“I didn’t realize they wouldn't come for you,” Magnus admits, clutching a black feather in his hands. “I’m… I’m sorry.”

Alec nods at him but can’t bring himself to look Magnus in the eyes. He averts his eyes to look anywhere but Magnus. He focuses on the beautiful burgundy wings on Magnus’ back. “It’s… It’s okay,” he whispers out. It’s not okay, but he’s not about to show more weakness to his captor after he found him plucking out his wings. 

“Alexander,” Magnus says and the man reaches out a hand to touch his knee, but Alec moves back. He doesn’t know if he can handle being touched again right now. 

“If it’s alright, I want to go to sleep now,” Alec says, still avoiding Magnus’ gaze. He sees Magnus nod and stand up.

“There’s a tray of food over there.” Magnus points to the small table in the corner. “Make sure to eat something before you fall asleep.”

Alec nods but he knows he’s not going to eat anything. He hasn’t had an appetite since he hit day eight of his captivity. He hears Magnus let out a sigh and a door closing and he knows he’s been left alone. 

Alec doesn’t waste time pulling his legs up on the bed and laying on his side. His wings hurt from where he pulled out his feathers, but he doesn’t care. He just wants to fall asleep and not think about how his family abandoned him. He thought that at least Jace and Izzy would come for him and not hearing from them broke whatever was left whole inside him.

He lays on his side, staring into the flames of the fireplace. He watches at the logs crackle and burn in the heat. Eventually he finds himself falling into a fitful sleep with his wings curled around him.

Alec’s not surprised by the nightmares that come to him. He was expecting them. What he wasn’t expecting was to see his brother and sister next to his mother and father, telling him that he was a burden to the family. That they wish he was never born and that he should die already. The nightmare goes from bad to worse as he watches his family approach him with knives. He begs them not to do this but invisible hands hold him down and pull his wings back.

“It’s for the best,” his mother says. “Once they’re gone, we can go back to being a happy family again.”

“Please don’t do this,” he begs the nightmare. 

“We’re only doing what’s best for you,” his brother says. 

Alec screams as he feels the knives dig into his back right at the base of his wings. He screams and begs for them to stop. He doesn’t want this. They’re hurting him. The nightmare doesn’t listen, but why would it?

He wakes up when the knives slice through the bone. He cries out as he launches himself to a seated position. Not fully aware of his surroundings, he misses the body sitting next to him and jumps at the hands that wrap around his biceps. Shoving the hands away, he crawls backwards until he hits the bed frame, crying out again as his sensitive wings get crushed. He curls in on himself, ducking his head between his legs and wrapping his arms around his knees. 

“Shhh, shh, it’s okay, you’re okay,” a voice soothes next to him. “You need to breathe, Alexander. Listen to my breathing. Can you do that for me?” Alec tries to respond but his lungs won’t work. He jerks his head in what he hopes will come off as a nod. “Okay, that’s good. Now breathe in for me? Hold. Good. Now breathe out. Again.” Magnus’ voice washes over him as he repeats what the man instructs him to do. 

Eventually his breathing goes back to normal and he leans back against the headboard, closing his eyes.

“Are you alright now?” Magnus asks worriedly from where he sits. Alec peeks open an eye to stare at the man. The panic and worry shown clearly on the man’s face. 

“Yeah,” he breathes out. “I’m okay.”

“Good, that’s good,” Magnus sighs. The man fidgets where he sits and his eyes keep drifting up and down Alec’s body. “Do you want to talk about it?” Magnus winces as the words come out of his mouth. Alec huffs out a laugh.

“No, not really,” he replies. The man jerks a nod at that.

“Right, sorry. Of course you wouldn’t want to talk about it,” Magnus rushes out. The room goes quiet as they both sit there. The only sound coming from the fireplace which, Alec notes as he looks over, has fresh logs put on it. Magnus follows his movement. “I knew that the fire in here was going to die and I didn’t want you to freeze at night so I brought some fresh logs to put in.”

“Thank you,” Alec says. “You didn’t have to do that, I would’ve been fine. I’m used to sleeping in the cold.” Those words seem to anger Magnus, judging by the way his face closes off and his hands curl into fists where they rest on his lap. 

“What do you mean you’re used to it?” Magnus asks. “I saw your family’s house, you are well off enough that you most certainly own a fireplace or two to keep the place warm.” 

“If I lived in the house, yes, but I don't. My parents made me move out to our barn to keep the bad luck away from the house.” He doesn’t look up from Magnus’ hands as he watches his knuckles turn white. 

“They made you sleep in the barn?” Magnus grits out. “Surely someone in your town would have reported them for this?”

“If the town didn’t also hate my presence, maybe.” Alec half shrugs, hisses a bit as the movement jostles his wings. Magnus notices that and raises a hand to help before realizing what he was doing. His eyes widen and he quickly lowers his hand. Magnus stands up from the bed.

“I have some medical salves that should help your wings,” Magnus says, walking towards the door. “I’ll be right back.” Before he leaves, he nods to the tray of food still untouched by the table. “Maybe you should try and eat. It will make you feel a bit better.”

With that, Alec is once again left alone in the room. He sits on the bed in thought, confused as to how the atmosphere has changed. Before, his captor only checked in to give him food and to give him wood for the fire. He never once attempted a conversation. Was it because of his wings? Magnus had never asked him to show his wings before. Now that he’s seen them, is he going to kill him? 

Alec panics at the thought before he remembers how angry Magnus looked when he talked about his living conditions. Surprised at the barely kept in anger the spread across the man’s whole body. Was he upset that he discovered too late that the person he kidnapped had black wings? That no one was going to pay the ransom to get him back?

As questions fill his mind, his stomach lets out a loud grumble. He looks over to the table where the food from yesterday still sits. Deciding for the best, he slowly crawls out of bed, giving his body a long stretch that has him groaning at the needles that shoot along his spine. He walks over to the table and sits down. 

Fruits, nuts and veggies cover the platter in front of him. Magnus must have stopped trying to give him hot foods after he stopped eating a few days ago. His stomach’s persistent grumbling has him picking up a few nuts and tossing them into his mouth. It’s like a damn breaking, he starts to eat more and more, grabbing piece after piece of food. He grabs the glass of water on the table and downs the whole thing in one go.

“You know you can make yourself sick if you eat too quickly,” the voice by the door says. Alec looks up and sees Magnus leaning against the frame with a basket of vials in his hands. He looks back at the tray and sees that most of it is gone. He hadn’t even realized how much he ate. Magnus chuckles at the blush that crawls up Alec’s face, his wings doing nothing but admitting his embarrassment by curling around him.

Magnus pushes off the frame and sets the basket on the table, he grabs the other chair and moves it next to Alec’s. Sitting down, Magnus sifts through the basket and looks for what he needs. Alec takes the time to really look at the man. 

The first thought that comes into his mind is how beautiful Magnus' wings are. The burgundy wings attached to the man’s back are rich with the color. Alec’s not sure if the fire is playing tricks on his eyes, but Alec’s pretty sure there’s gold flecks spread throughout the feathers, making the wings glitter in the light. Looking away from the wings, his eyes scan the navy button up that accentuates his wings to the dark tan pants. 

“Aha!” Magnus exclaims, snapping him out of his trance. He looks at the man’s hand and sees a vial full of a mysterious green liquid. Magnus turns to him with a grin on his face. “This should help soothe the aches from where the feathers were pulled out earlier.” Alec eyes dart back and forth between Magnus’ face and the liquid causing the man to roll his eyes. “It’s not going to kill you, I promise.”

“You’re okay with touching my wings?” Alec asks instead, watching as the man’s face drops. 

“Of course I’m okay with that,” Magnus spoke softly. “There’s nothing wrong with your wings. They’re beautiful.” Alec can’t help the snort that leaves his body. “They truly are, Alexander,” Magnus persists. “The way they have a navy and purple tint in the light. They remind me of the night sky, when you can see the galaxy and the stars in it.”

“You can’t mean that, Magnus,” Alec whispers out. 

“But I do. They truly are gorgeous.” Magnus reaches out slowly towards his wings, pausing just before. Alec hesitates before nodding and Magnus gently touches his wings. A shiver runs through his whole body at the sensations. No one has ever touched his wings, not even his siblings. He wouldn’t let them. Didn’t want to risk them getting bad luck from touching them, but something about the way Magnus looked at him made him trust the man.

“Can I put the salve on?” Magnus asks as he continues to pet his wing.

“Yeah,” Alec says, his voice more hoarse than he expected. Magnus sends him a kind smile and goes about pouring the liquid on his hands.

“Spread your wing out for me, darling,” he says gently. Alec can’t help but comply and stretches his right wing out slowly. Looking at the wing, he can see a small patch where feathers used to be. It’s barely noticeable, but anyone who looks close enough will see that there are feathers missing.  A feeling of shame passes over him and he scolds himself for being so weak. 

Magnus touches the feathers around the area, moving them out of the way while his other hand rubs the salve on the sensitive skin. Alec can’t help the moan that leaves his mouth as the cool salve touches his skin. He already begins to feel the stinging pain fade away. Magnus chuckles at his sounds as he finishes up the spot moving back to appraise his work.

“There, all done.” Magnus smiles at him and he can’t help smiling back.

“Thank you, Magnus,” Alec says. He fidgets a bit while watching Magnus clean off his hand and put the vial back in the basket, wondering if he should ask the question that’s on the tip of his tongue. Magnus catches his movement and gives him an encouraging nod. 

“What’s going to happen now?” He blurts out before he can stop himself causing Magnus to give him a puzzling look. “I mean, you know that you’re not going to get a ransom from my family so are you going to let me go? Or are you going to kill me?”

A look of sheer horror passes over Magnus’ face at his words.

“No! I would never, never want to kill you,” Magnus says. Turning fully towards Alec, he grabs both of his hands and grips them tight. “Alexander, you deserve to see the world for what it’s truly like, not what your backwards town thinks the world is like. There are so many people with wings like yours in the world. There’s nothing wrong with you. If I have to spend the rest of my life proving that to you then so be it.”

Alec stares at the man in front of him, like he’s seeing the man who’s been his captor for the past eleven days for the first time. There’s determination set in the man’s eyes, that he’s not willing to let Alec go easily. But only one line is repeating in his head.

“The rest of your life?” Alec gets out, his mind racing. He clutches back at the hands still holding his. 

“Yes.” Magnus doubles down on the words. “I won’t let you go back to that hellscape of a village. I can’t. You deserve to be happy, Alexander. And I want to give that to you. If you’ll have me.”

Alec thinks over the words, the offer Magnus is giving him. He’s never left the village before, never wandered past its boundaries in the forest. Too afraid of what will attack him because of the color of his wings. This would be his chance to escape, to be free. He’s surprised at how quickly his answer comes to him.

“Okay,” he says. A smile slowly spread on his face. Magnus’ face lights up with joy and the man rushes to embrace him. Alec stiffens for a moment before melting into the hug.

“I promise you, Alexander,” Magnus whispers in his ear. “You won’t regret this.”

[thelightofthebane]

Chapters: 1/2 Fandom: Shadowhunters (TV), The Shadowhunter Chronicles - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood Characters: Magnus Bane, Alec Lightwood, Jace Wayland, Clary Fray, Jonathan Christopher Morgenstern | Sebastian Verlac, Isabelle Lightwood, Maryse Lightwood, Jocelyn Fairchild, Céline Herondale Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Wingfic, everyone has wings, Shadowhunters raised as mundanes, Happy Ending, Confident Alec Lightwood, Malec Discord Server WINGO, POV Magnus Bane Summary: “We will find each other again one day. Grow well and stay safe until then, Alexander.”

[effdragonkiller]

Wingo

- A fun morning on the Malec Discord server has resulted in a Wing!fic Bingo. Any fandom is welcome.

#Rules:  1. Don’t be a jerk. 2. Tag appropriately. Don’t be a jerk, the world is crappy enough right now. 3. Please tag: #Malec Server WINGO #Directions: 1. Create your bingo card. (We’ve used https://osric.com/bingo-card-generator/ ) Any size you want is fine, though 4x4 is standard. Don’t forget the Free Space. 2. Write and enjoy! There will eventually be an Ao3 collection, it’s just not up yet. 3. Bingo ends Sept 1st, 2020. #Prompts: Sudden wing growth/emergence, Born with wings, Down feathers, First flight, Mystery feathers, Grooming/Preening, Plucking, Secret wings, Magic wings, Broken wings, Wing Jewelry, Flirting with wings, Everyone has wings, Scaley wings, Wing cuddles, Wings as a Shield, wing removal, Mood wings, Wings as weapons, Wings as an umbrella, Intangible wings, Unusual Wings, Wing Patterns, Matching Wings, Types of Wings, Wing Games, Dirty Wings, Touching Wings, Wing-friendly infrastructure, Mating/Courting, Molting

@skylar102 @aria-lerendeair @to-the-stars-writing @aceon-ice

[to-the-stars-writing]

Stalking His Prey

Just a quiet night at home with the Head of the New York Institute, and the High Warlock of Brooklyn

For bingo square - Wing Games

Alec could feel him coming long before he saw or heard him. There was something just pinging at the edge of his senses that had his lips curling up at one corner in a faint smile. He didn’t move the rest of him, didn’t give a single sign that he sensed anything. He just kept looking through the book in front of him in hopes of finding a hint of anything that might help them identify the new demon sighted all over the city.

It wasn’t an immediately pressing matter; they were able to kill the demons just like any others, after all, and they weren’t coming in swarms. But Alec didn’t like not knowing what was happening in his city. He needed some kind of answers. What if someone got hurt and they weren’t prepared for whatever the demon could do?

That strange feeling got a little closer. Now Alec could hear it as well as feel it. The very faint, very soft footsteps. Something he might not have heard if some of his runes weren’t still winding down after his last hunt. Not that Alec needed to hear it to be able to sense it. He could feel the small little prickles of magic on his skin. That bit of instinct that Magnus liked to joke made him more bird than angel.

Alec turned the page as casually as he could. His smile grew just a little bit bigger, and he curled in his wings, letting them flutter a little when he did, and then stretched them back out in what probably looked like a casual stretch, yet he knew would be far too great a temptation.

For one brief second, everything went still. Alec started to draw his wing back in before suddenly jerking it up – just in time for a small, furry bundle to come flying through the air.

He couldn’t help but laugh when the tiny little cat hit the couch hard enough to slam into the back cushion, causing it to roll a little before it skidded to a stop. It barely took a second to recover from that. With a push and a shake, it was up and moving again, taking another leap to try and reach Alec’s feathers.

Alec drew his wing up higher, just out of reach of those claws. “You know, I’m trying to do some work here,” he said.

The cat ignored him entirely and jumped again, twisting a little as it went. But Alec’s wing was still too high. The cat sat down, golden eyes glaring up at the wing above him like it’d personally offended him somehow, and Alec chuckled again. Though he was supposed to be working, he couldn’t help but lower his wing and flutter it just enough to brush against the cat before drawing away from those tiny little claws.

“You’re ridiculous,” Alec said, because it was the truth, and he felt it bore repeating now and again. He watched the cat leap again and again after his feathers, scrambling to chase them as Alec deliberately taunted him with them and then pulled it away. “If anyone could see you now. The High Warlock of Brooklyn, chasing after feathers.”

It wasn’t a commonly known fact that Magnus Bane, one of the most powerful warlocks in New York – and pretty much anywhere, in Alec’s opinion – also happened to be a shifter. That power wasn’t something that all warlocks possessed. According to Magnus, it was just a select few. According to Catarina, it was only the most powerful.

The first time Alec had seen Magnus shift into his small cat form, he hadn’t been able to stop the urge to reach out to him and make soft, cooing sounds. Sounds which Magnus delighted in drawing from him. He’d rubbed himself all over Alec with a purr that vibrated with little sparks of magic all along Alec’s bones.

They were an interesting pair. The Shadowhunter and the Downworlder. Nephilim and warlock. Bird and cat.

A faint tug to his feather drew Alec out of his thoughts and back to the game at hand. Magnus was a particularly playful cat most of the time. And they’d discovered pretty quickly how much he loved chasing after Alec’s wings. Or rolling himself through them like they were some type of catnip.

Alec gave his wings a quick shake just to knock Magnus off his feet once more. Only this time, the cat kept tumbling, rolling down off the edge of the couch and onto the floor. Even as Alec turned toward him, an apology already on his lips, Magnus let out a fierce yowl and launched back up, claws tearing into the couch cushion, and he was right back at it again, trying to leap up and grab hold of Alec’s feathers.

Laughing softly, Alec curled his wing in and scooped Magnus up with it. “Quit being a pest, Magnus. I really do need to figure this out,” he scolded without any real heat. Not that he thought Magnus would listen anyway. If he was in the mood to play, he was going to play, and Alec could either ignore it or give in to it.

Alec was far too used to the claws to really be that bothered by them when Magnus scrambled to try and get his footing. Those claws went a little higher. The next moment, they were on his shoulder, and Magnus pulled himself up to one of his favorite perches – right on Alec’s shoulder. He sat there and leaned forward a bit, peering down at the book right alongside Alec. The soft mewl he gave out had Alec sighing. “Yeah, I know. I’m not finding anything in here.”

“Mrow.”

“I know we’re handling them. I just want to be ready in case something goes wrong. Planning for those things is kind of my job.”

Magnus huffed and used his head to butt against Alec’s chin.

Rolling his eyes, Alec curled his wing in so he could use his feathers to flick at the small cat trying to scold him.

In a flash, Magnus was racing down Alec’s arm, those tiny claws scratching as they went, and making another mad leap for the feathers that were just so close. As he missed yet again, this time crashing into the arm of the couch as he went, Alec rolled his eyes. Still, there was a faint smile on his lips when he went back to reading while simultaneously keeping his wing just out of Magnus’ reach.

[ao3feed-malec]

Not Even All The Magic In The World Could Help With That

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2P1S15i

by slyvir

On some days the view of the dark water looked so appealing, so calm in contrast to the strident clashing world raging around him. Inside, outside the cacophony of voices never stopped and the water despite being so dark, or maybe because if that looked so calm, promising a moment of stillness.

But stillness was a trap made of honey and molasses, smelling and tasting so sweet, but so damn sticky that it could turn into a deadly trap.  Even more so for an immortal, decidedly so for a winged being. Some days plucking was one way to fight the sinking feeling, it wasn’t a conscious process, it was just the one way to remove the molasses from his wings, trying to get the feeling off himself.

Words: 1336, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 2 of Fills for the Malec Server WINGO, Part 1 of The house of Angst

Fandoms: Shadowhunters (TV), The Shadowhunter Chronicles - All Media Types, The Shadowhunter Chronicles - Cassandra Clare

Rating: Not Rated

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Magnus Bane, Ragnor Fell, Camille Belcourt, Raphael Santiago, Alec Lightwood

Relationships: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood

Additional Tags: Implied/Referenced Character Death, Minor Character Death, Angst, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Wingfic, everyone has wings, Hopeful Ending, Post-Canon, Character Study, Wings, Alternate Universe - Wings, Malec Discord Server WINGO, I can only do long sentences - sorry, no beta we die like men, Implied/References to Panic Attacks, References to Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, #Malec Server WINGO

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2P1S15i

[aceonice]

Chapters: 1/2 Fandom: Shadowhunters (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood Additional Tags: Angel Magnus Bane, ex shadowhunter Alec Lightwood, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Pre-Canon, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Mundane Alec Lightwood, But also, Shadowhunter Alec Lightwood, Canon-Typical Violence, Canonical Character Death, Malec Server WINGO, Shadowhunter Magnus Bane, wingo - Freeform, Happy Ending

Summary:

Alexander Lightwood was adjusting to mundane life well enough after being stripped of his runes- until he finds an angel who quickly recruits him into helping find and save his grace... Falling for the angel was never part of the plan.

Go check out my newest fic if you feel like it~

[half-bakedboy]

OOH, let me shamelessly promote this collection that has 20+ Malec Discord Server Wingo Fics!

i see you have a perchant for winged!fics 👀 do you have a rec list per chance because i think i might have read most of them & need more 😭

I confess I am not the best person with Rec Lists, but you know who is?  

@skylar102 is the deity of any and all rec lists.  

So I shall toss your request to them, and to my followers, who can make any rec they want! 

Also gonna low key rec my own fic - A Mutually Beneficial Arrangement, which is absolutely a wing fic, that is all.  

[sugarandspace]

First step after the fall

WARNING FOR SUICIDE ATTEMPT

Summary: Magnus sees Alec fall from the ledge and in a blink of an eye Magnus' wings are out and he's rushing to catch him. When Alec regains consciousness they need to have a conversation - both about how Alec reacted to the spell and about Magnus' warlock mark. 

Wingo square: secret wings

Also thank you @percygranger for reading it through!!

AO3

And then Alec leans back and starts falling.

Magnus doesn’t think, he just acts.

His heart is beating furiously and between one beat and the next, black wings are emerging from his back. He almost knocks a table over in his hurry to reach Alec. With one beat of his wings, he flies on top of the ledge where Alec stood a second ago and then he’s leaning down too - only his fall is calculated as he keeps his eyes on his falling boyfriend.

Magnus keeps his wings back, their position aiding him to fall faster. It’s a tall building but they are falling fast, and Magnus reaches Alec barely in time. He wraps his arms around Alec and spreads his wings. The added weight makes the wings struggle, but they manage to slow their fall, eventually halting it completely. 

Magnus takes it as a good sign that Alec is clinging to him as hard as he’s clinging to Alec, and he’s trying really hard not to think about the fact that this is the first time Alec sees his warlock mark. 

Magnus doesn’t look at Alec but focuses his eyes up on the roof as they are steadily flying towards it again. He can see Alec’s family there at the ledge, as well as Clary and Simon, and their heads are turned towards them. Magnus fights down the mixed emotions he feels.

This needed to be done. If saving Alec meant revealing his wings not only to Alec but to his family too - to Maryse Lightwood of all people - Magnus will deal with it. At least he has Alec safe and breathing.

They land on the roof softly and as soon as they do, Jace and Isabelle rush over to help. At some point, Alec had lost consciousness so they help him lay down on the sunbed Magnus has on the roof. He stands back and watches as the family gathers around Alec, and he’s hesitant to move closer.

Will they let him close to him, after they saw his true form? 

Magnus doesn’t think he can handle them being afraid of him. Maryse, yes, there’s a big part of Magnus that would enjoy seeing some fear in the woman’s eyes, but he doesn’t think he could handle it from Isabelle or Jace. Least of all from Alexander.

But as it looks like Alec isn’t waking up, Magnus knows he has to go over and see if he could help. What if the spell is still affecting Alec? What it if did some damage? What if something is seriously wrong?

So he pulls his wings back to hiding and walks closer, and to his relief, Jace and Izzy give him room.

Magnus kneels next to the sunbed and focuses really hard to only look at Alec and to ignore whatever looks he might be getting from the others. He scans Alec’s body with his magic and is relieved to see that there’s not a trace of magic in his system, and his body seems unharmed.

“He’s unconscious but there’s nothing wrong with him,” Magnus says. “My guess is that everything was too much for his body and that caused him to lose consciousness. He should be waking up soon.”

“We need to move him inside,” Isabelle says.

Before anyone else can act, Jace has activated his strength rune and is picking Alec up. Clary is moving to the door so she can hold it open, and as soon as she opens it they are reminded of the party still going on inside. Jace halts in his movements. 

“We can’t let people see,” he says. “He wouldn’t want that.”

“I’ll get rid of them,” Magnus says. He wants to do something to help and this is easy, this he can do.

“I need to find Max,” Maryse says and rushes inside. She seems even more tense than usual and she doesn’t look at Magnus as she walks past him.

Magnus takes a deep breath and follows her inside.

-.-.-

He announces everyone that the party is over and people start to leave. As he stands there in the living room, watching people leave, he remembers that they still don’t know what was messing with the guests’ minds. He concentrates and reaches out with his magic, trying to see if he can sense any unfamiliar sources of magic that could be causing this.

He finds small traces from some of the guests, slowly fading off. It seems like none of them are strongly under the spell anymore. Then he senses something else, something smaller and something that's a living thing but too small to be a human.

He starts walking to the direction where the foreign magic is coming from and spots an orange cat on the fire exit. The cat notices Magnus approaching and jumps down to the street below before Magnus has time to react. 

Magnus rushes to the balcony and looks down, just in time to see Iris Rouse disappear through a portal.

So she was the one causing havoc in his party. Magnus needs to find her and figure out why she did it.

Later.

Right now he has more pressing matters.

He goes back inside and all the guests seem to have left. He checks his wards and finds only seven people aside from himself still there.

 Alec, Jace, Isabelle, Maryse, Max, Clary and Simon, he counts.

While he’s at it, he strengthens his wards to make sure no one can enter. After that, he goes back to the roof where Alec is laying on the sunbed again, still unconscious. His family is around him while Clary and Simon are standing a bit further away, talking among themselves.

Magnus clears his throat, getting their attention.

“Everyone has left,” he tells them. “And I found out who was behind the spell. It was a warlock named Iris Rouse.”

Clary lets out a gasp.

“We need to find her and bring her to justice,” Maryse says strongly. Magnus agrees but he’s not sure if he trusts Maryse Lightwood’s idea of justice. Then again, the spell almost killed Alec and Magnus isn’t feeling particularly merciful either.

No one has time to say anything before Maryse continues.

“We need to go back to the Institute. Max has his ceremony early tomorrow morning. I’ll make sure to give an order to find this warlock,” she says. Her hard tone softens a little when she looks at Alec and for the first time, Magnus can see a hint of a mother in her. “Let me know when he wakes up.”

Isabelle and Jace nod from where they are kneeling next to Alec. Max gets up from where he’d been next to his sister and takes his mother’s hand.

“Thank you for the party,” he says to Magnus as they walk past. It sounds like a genuine thank you but Magnus can’t help but feel a stab in his chest. What a party it has been.

Unable to find his words, he nods at Max.

“We should probably leave too,” Clary says. “Let us know if there’s anything we can do.”

“We will,” Isabelle says and they say their goodbyes. Simon is being uncharacteristically quiet and Magnus thinks it says a lot about the seriousness of the situation.

The door closes behind Clary and Simon and then it’s just Magnus, Alec, Jace, and Isabelle there.

“We should move him now,” Isabelle says after they’ve been quiet for a while.

“Yeah,” Jace agrees and picks him up again.

“I can use magic,” Magnus suggests, knowing that Alec must be quite heavy to carry.

“It’s okay,” Jace says. “I got him.”

Magnus doesn’t argue, just nods and moves to open the door.

Jace doesn’t hesitate in his steps that take them straight towards Magnus’ bedroom. Magnus opens the door and watches as Jace carefully maneuvers Alec inside so that his head or his long legs don’t hit the doorframe. He’s being very gentle with Alec as he lays him on top of the covers and Magnus remembers that they are parabatai which means that Jace felt an echo of the feelings Alec felt tonight, and that he came very close to feeling him die. 

Magnus doesn’t think he could handle those feelings, couldn’t handle knowing exactly how Alec was feeling there on the roof.

Isabelle takes Alec’s shoes off and covers him with a blanket that Magnus has at the bottom of the bed. Like this, it almost looks like Alec is sleeping.

None of them seems to know what to do next. Jace is kneeling next to Alec, holding his hand, while Isabelle sits on the bed next to his legs, her hand moving up and down his shin soothingly. Magnus stays back, at the end of the bed, giving the siblings some room.

He aches to be closer, to touch Alec, to make sure he’s okay, but he knows his siblings share those feelings as well. So he settles for watching the steady rise and fall of Alec’s chest.

“Magnus?” Jace asks suddenly.

“Hmm?” Magnus turns his attention to Jace who’s now looking at him.

“What he did today,” Jace starts and looks at Alec again. “How much of it was because of the spell?”

Isabelle lets out a gasp and looks at Magnus as well, before looking at Alec, her expression clearly shocked. It is obvious she thought the spell was the only thing to blame for what happened today.

Jace looks at Magnus again, and it looks like he has a guess and that he doesn’t want to be right. 

“From what I understand,” Magnus starts slowly. “The spell was targeting people’s insecurities. It brought them up and made people see things that ‘proved’ their thoughts right.”

Magnus wants to leave it at that but at the same time, he knows this is something the siblings should be aware of. He takes in a deep breath before he continues.

“It didn’t have a say in how the victim reacts to those thoughts and hallucinations.”

Jace nods solemnly and reaches his other hand towards Isabelle when she sniffles and wipes at her face.

“He hides so much from us,” Isabelle says quietly, still looking at Alec. Her voice wobbles a little when she continues. “We are adults, you could think that he wouldn’t need to act so protectively anymore. He doesn’t need to shield us from things.”

“That’s just how he is,” Jace says as he looks at Alec. “He’s not used to leaning on others. He doesn’t want to seem weak or bother us with his problems. I have a feeling that no matter how old we get, he’s always going to be our big brother and he’s going to act like that.”

“You’re probably right,” Isabelle says quietly. “I’m happy he finally has someone in his life he can be vulnerable with.”

Isabelle turns her teary eyes towards Magnus and Magnus freezes. Then she talks again.

“I trust you to be there when he needs someone to lean on,” she tells Magnus seriously.

“Of course,” Magnus says. His mind flashes to a moment at the fire exit a couple of nights ago when they had discussed what happened to Jocelyn. Alec had sought him out when he was distressed - or at least he’d come to his loft, Magnus isn’t sure if he planned to be found - and Magnus takes it as a good sign. It also hurts a little to realize that Alec probably hasn’t felt like that before. Like he could go to someone for kind words and comfort.

They fall to silence after that, everyone focused on Alec who’s laying unmoving on the bed, save from the up and down of his chest.

“Alec is not going to like it if he wakes up and we’re all here staring at him,” Jace says after a while. 

“You’re right,” Isabelle agrees. “As much as I’d like to stay, what we just talked about fits this situation too. He would get uncomfortable if he woke up to find us all here.”

She gets up and walks closer to the headboard and brushes some of Alec’s hair from his forehead and leans down to leave a kiss there. When she straightens herself up she looks at Magnus.

“You should stay,” Isabelle tells him. “Someone needs to, and I feel like at the moment you’re the best option.”

“I agree,” Jace says. 

Magnus is speechless. Just a little over an hour ago he was terrified of their reactions, but this is the ultimate proof of trust. These Nephilim are willing to leave their brother alone with him. They are acting like it’s no big deal that Magnus is hiding a pair of large black wings. They were reminded of how different Magnus is but they are not afraid. Magnus swallows thickly and nods.

“I’ll make sure nothing happens to him,” he tells the siblings seriously. “And that he’s as comfortable as possible when he wakes up.”

Both of them nod and start leaving the room. Jace squeezes Magnus’ shoulder on his way past and Isabelle hugs him tightly, whispering in his ear.

“Thank you for saving him.”

Magnus returns the hug tightly.

Eventually, she pulls back and walks to where Jace is waiting for her at the door. He wraps his arm around Isabelle’s shoulders and Isabelle leans to him.

“Come on Izzy,” he says. “You can stay with me tonight.”

“I will portal you to the Institute tomorrow morning,” Magnus promises. Despite everything that happened tonight, their little brother will have his rune ceremony at sunrise. They will all be tired but Magnus knows they wouldn’t miss it for the world.

“Thanks, Magnus,” Jace says and then they leave the room, closing the door behind them.

Magnus turns his attention back to Alec. He walks closer to him, his steps slow. He uses his magic to bring an armchair from the corner of the room closer until it’s right next to the bed and sits down in it.

He doesn’t really know where their relationship stands right now. When he saw Alec fall tonight, he’d been terrified. They haven’t been dating for long but already the idea of losing Alec feels unbearable. He had known that Alec has some issues but tonight has shone more light to how deep they might go.

When Magnus had let his wings out, it had been pure instinct. He doesn’t regret it, could never regret something that saved Alec’s life. But at the same time he can’t help but think that this isn’t how Alec was supposed to find out. 

Alec has been accepting and obviously doesn’t care that Magnus is a Downworlder. Magnus likes to think that Alec wouldn’t think any differently about him because of his wings. But at the same time in his many years of living, he’s witnessed a lot of reactions, both good and bad. There have been people who he’s trusted that have looked at him with horror in their eyes as he’s revealed his mark to them. Some because they’ve known and have been able to make the connection between Magnus’ wings and the wings on his father’s back, some purely because it’s a clear proof of Magnus’ demonic heritage. Alec obviously knows that Magnus has a demonic parent, but nothing quite makes it more clear than two big wings in his back.

He hadn’t even realized that he’d stood up and started pacing until he hears rustling from the bed behind him. He turns around and sees that Alec is slowly opening his eyes, looking around himself with confusion. 

Magnus rushes back to him and sits down on the armchair, staying on the edge of the seat, ready to act if Alec needs help. Alec’s eyes find him and a slow smile rises to his lips.

“Hey.”

“Hey to yourself,” Magnus replies gently. He returns the smile although he knows Alec’s will fade in a second as he remembers what happened.

Magnus is right. Alec moves so that instead of laying down he’s resting against the headboard and as he takes a look at the nice clothes he’s still wearing, it seems to click that he’s not just waking up from Magnus’ bed after a lovely nap or a full night’s sleep. His eyes widen and then he’s looking at Magnus, looking like he has so many things to say and so many questions to ask but he doesn't know where to start.

Magnus feels sorry for the man so he decides to start.

“Iris Rouse crashed the party,” he explains, cautiously taking Alec’s hand to his, hoping to provide some comfort. The relief he feels when Alec doesn’t pull away is near physical thing. “She used a spell that made some of the guests see things and hear things that weren’t true. For example, Clary saw Simon flirting with Maia.”

Magnus deliberately doesn’t mention what Alec saw. He doesn’t need to, because Alec continues from where he left off.

“And I saw Clary,” he says quietly. He’s no longer looking at Magnus, but rather at their hands.

“And you saw Clary,” Magnus confirms.

It’s quiet in the room for a while after that.

“Alec-”

“I don’t want to die,” Alec rushes out, looking at Magnus with desperation in his eyes. “I don’t.”

Magnus wants to accept that answer and let Alec change the topic of the conversation, but he knows it’s not true. It might be easier but it’s not the right route to take. So he repeats the same thing he told Alec’s siblings.

“The spell brought out everyone’s insecurities,” he says. “Everyone chose how to act on them completely on their own.”

Alec is shaking his head now, properly looking at Magnus. “No.”

Magnus is struck with a realization that this is probably the most vulnerable Alec has ever been, and that he has no experience of situations like this. He knows he needs to be careful, to have the right balance of push and support.

“I believe you,” Magnus says. And he does. He believes that this Alec right in front of him does not want to die. He has no doubt that the spell that targeted his insecurities hit them hard, amping up the already high levels of guilt Alec was feeling after what happened with the demon. It pushed Alec hard. The reason Magnus is worried is because Alec’s reaction wasn’t to defend himself, not even simply escape the situation by going to another room. No, Alec’s reaction was to punish himself, to give a life as if as a payment for the one he took. And it terrifies Magnus that this might happen again.

Alec looks slightly relieved at Magnus' words, but Magnus isn’t done.

“But if things ever get that bad,” he says, making sure that Alec is looking at him. He’s holding both of his hands now, not letting them fidget. “Promise me. Alexander, I need you to promise me you will talk to me. Or anyone else. Don’t push us away.”

Alec nods, keeping the eye contact even though Magnus can see he’d like to look away, to at least on some level escape the intensity of this conversation.

“You mean a lot to us,” Magnus says. He wants to say something else, a certain four-letter word strong on his tongue, but he holds it back, knowing this day has already been a lot. He can wait a few more days. “It would kill us to lose you.”

Alec closes his eyes tightly and nods, swallowing thickly.

“I know.”

“So will you promise me?” Magnus asks gently.

“I promise,” Alec says, and he looks Magnus in the eyes. Then it looks like he remembers something, and Magnus can guess what it is from the way Alec’s eyes move over Magnus’ shoulder, trying to focus on something that’s not there.

“You saved me,” Alec says. He looks at Magnus for confirmation, like he’s not sure if he remembers correctly. Like his mind might have made up the large black wings and his boyfriend flying to save him as he kept falling.

Alec has been vulnerable, now it’s Magnus’ turn.

Magnus takes a deep breath before he speaks, “I did.”

Alec’s eyes widen slightly. It’s such a small reaction Magnus would have missed it if he weren’t looking at Alec’s face so closely.

“Can I see?” Alec asks quietly. 

Magnus thinks about it for a moment but knows there’s only one answer. He braces himself for whatever reaction he might get before he nods and slowly lets his wings out.

He’s careful with them, making sure he doesn’t knock anything down as his large wings stretch out on his sides. Alec turns his head to take in the entirety of them and it’s killing Magnus not to be able to read Alec’s expression. He’s still letting Magnus hold his hands, and Magnus allows it to light a spark of hope.

“Magnus,” Alec breathes out. “They are beautiful.”

The sentence takes Magnus so strongly by surprise he doesn’t even register that Alec is letting go of his hands and is reaching one hesitant hand towards Magnus’ wing. He stops before his fingers reach the feathers though and looks at Magnus, asking for permission.

“Can I?”

Magnus nods, still recovering from the small shock. His wings have been called many things but very rarely has anyone described them as beautiful. 

“Yes, of course,” Magnus says quickly and moves closer, sitting on the edge of the bed now instead of the armchair.

Alec starts from the top of his wing, his fingers gliding over smooth feathers. He’s looking at them as he brushes his hand down, reaching the softer feathers in the middle of the wing.

Magnus is helpless to do anything else but look at Alec’s awed expression.

Alec’s fingers are gentle, careful not to hurt Magnus or push the feathers askew. The touch makes Magnus shiver.

“This is your warlock mark?” Alec asks, looking at Magnus.

“Yes,” Magnus says.

“Thank you for showing me,” Alec says genuinely.

Magnus lets out a little laugh that’s a lot more genuine than he would have been capable of just a few minutes ago. 

“Your whole family saw them earlier,” he reminds Alec. “There’s really no point for me to hide them from you any longer.”

Alec pulls his hand away and Magnus already misses the touch.

“Just because you were forced to show them earlier - about which I’m sorry, you never should have needed to do that,” Alec says and Magnus has to stop him there.

“Don’t apologize,” Magnus says quickly. “Not about that.”

Alec nods and then continues.

“Just because you were forced to show them earlier doesn’t mean you have to show them again,” he says. “They are an important part of you and I understand if you don’t want to show them.”

“I don’t mind,” Magnus finds himself saying and meaning the words. “Not when it’s you.”

The smile he gets as a reply is so soft Magnus has trouble breathing for a second. He fears that he might be dreaming, but even in his dreams, he wasn’t able to expect a reaction like this. This level of acceptance and even admiration. 

“They are so big,” Alec comments as he keeps looking at the wings. Magnus tears his eyes away from Alec to look at his wing, at the way the black feathers shine with shades of blue under the bedroom lights. He looks back at Alec and sees that his hands are moving restlessly, itching to touch but mindful of any boundaries Magnus might have. 

“I already told you, you can touch them,” Magnus says and finds himself smiling when Alec immediately does so, burying his fingers into the softer feathers.

“Tell me if I hurt you,” Alec says and glances from the wing to Magnus’ face long enough to see Magnus nod.

“As long as you don’t pull the feathers it should be fine,” Magnus tells him.

It encourages Alec to push his fingers deeper into the feathers, far enough to touch the wing under them. His fingers follow one of the larger bones that helps Magnus expand the wing. He might not let them out often, but he makes sure to go to a secluded place every now and then, somewhere where he won’t be seen, and where he can fly and flex his wings. The muscles are strong, but they are aching a little from the extra weight they had to carry tonight.

Alec’s touch is soothing, not different from when he cards his fingers through Magnus’ hair.

“Does it hurt you to keep them hidden?” Alec asks as he keeps tracing the bones and the muscles. “How does that work?”

“Magic,” Magnus explains simply. “It doesn’t hurt, I can’t really even feel them normally. However, if I have to keep them hidden for a long time - say for example for weeks - they do start to ache. I need to stretch them every now and then.”

Alec nods, listening carefully.

Magnus is still finding it difficult that Alec is here, touching his wings, and being interested in what Magnus can tell about them. Alec is looking at his wings with a certain level of awe in his eyes and Magnus can only imagine that his own expression is similar as he’s watching Alec.

“You can fly,” he says as if it’s a thought that he didn’t mean to voice. Magnus answers anyway.

“I can,” he says. “I don’t do it often and therefore I’m not the most skilled at it but I can fly.”

“Like you did tonight.”

“Like I did tonight,” he agrees.

“Thank you,” Alec says, looking Magnus in the eyes again. “I never thanked you for what you did. So thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” Magnus replies. 

“I want to,” Alec says. “You didn’t need to do that, you didn’t need to reveal your mark to my whole family but you did. And I want you to know that I appreciate it so much.”

“Letting you fall was never an option,” Magnus replies. He sees that Alec wants to say something more, probably stop Magnus from downplaying what he did, but he speaks before Alec has the chance. They’ve already been through this, and Magnus has no hard feelings towards what he had to do. He’s still a little unsure about how the others truly feel about him now and he dislikes the idea that Maryse now has something more to use against him but in the grand scheme of things, those things don't matter. Deep down Magnus doesn’t care what they think about his mark. There was only one person in the party whose opinion matters, and that person is sitting in front of him openly admiring the wings. He wants Alec to understand that.

“Would I have shown them to your family if it didn’t come up to saving your life? No. But do I regret it? That is also a no,” he tells Alec calmly. “It doesn’t matter that they saw them, or that it might have made them think of me differently. It matters that you aren’t afraid.”

“You were scared I would be afraid of them?” Alec asks, his tone surprised.

Afraid, disgusted, weirded out… Magnus doesn’t elaborate.

“Many people have been,” he simply says. He wants to look down but he stays strong and keeps looking at Alec, whose eyebrows have furrowed in what Magnus doesn’t know is sadness or confusion.

“Idiots,” he replies simply. It’s so sudden it makes Magnus laugh a little, the mood lifting from the somber atmosphere it had started to fall into. “I’m not afraid, I’m amazed that my boyfriend is even more beautiful than I originally thought.”

“Alexander Lightwood,” Magnus says in a mock shocked voice. “Are you trying to flirt?”

“Don’t sound so surprised,” Alec says and gently whacks Magnus on the chest. It looks like he’s about to say something more but he’s interrupted by a yawn.

“Come on,” Magnus says, sobering a little but keeping a light smile on his face. “It’s late and you have to be up early. We should sleep.”

Alec nods his reply and starts to get up. Magnus halts his movement with a hand on his chest.

“Where do you think you're going?” He asks.

“I can’t exactly sleep in these,” Alec says and gestures to the formal wear he’s still wearing. 

“Ah,” Magnus brightens when he realizes. “No need to get up. Can I?”

He gestures with his hand in what is a clear imitation of magic and Alec nods. With a snap of Magnus’ fingers and a light blue glow, Alec’s clothes turn to a much more comfortable outfit of sweatpants and a t-shirt. Magnus glamours his wings to hiding and snaps his fingers a second time to get himself into his soft silk pyjamas, the make-up gone from his face.

He tries to hide the small smile that rises to his lips as he sees Alec’s slightly disappointed reaction to the wings disappearing.

“Come on,” he says as he gets up and walks to the other side of the bed, one that is quickly turning to his side. “Under the covers.”

Alec does as he’s told, moving so he’s under the covers with his head resting on a pillow. Magnus follows his lead and climbs in as well, settling comfortably against the soft sheets. It’s been a long day, and as he’s finally laying down it starts to catch up with him how tired he is. He snaps his fingers to turn the lights off and then turns to his side, trying to make up Alec’s silhouette in the dim light the moonlight provides as it sneaks into the room through a gap in the curtains.

Alec is laying on his side as well, facing Magnus.

Magnus breathes in deeply and feels his body relax to the mattress, even more so when Alec hesitantly moves closer and cuddles in so that his head is tucked under Magnus’ chin. They haven’t had the chance to sleep in the same bed many times yet, but Magnus has quickly learned that Alec likes to cuddle. And he has absolutely no complaints about that.

Magnus has one of his hands under his pillow while the other holds Alec close. 

Alec brings one of his arms over Magnus’ waist, and Magnus knows what he’s looking for when his hand moves slowly to rest over Magnus’ shoulder blade.

“Go to sleep,” he chides, his tone gentle.

“Right,” Alec says, moving his hand so it’s resting a bit lower. “Sorry.”

“No worries, darling,” Magnus says and leans down to leave a kiss to the top of Alec’s head. “You've had a long day, get some rest before we have to get up.”

The only reply he gets is another yawn Alec tries to stifle against Magnus’ chest.

Magnus falls asleep quickly, pulled in by Alec’s calm breaths that he can both hear and feel as his arm rests over Alec’s ribs. 

-.-.-

The next morning when Alec and Magnus walk out of the bedroom with their hands clasped together, Jace and Isabelle are already awake. Magnus smiles as he watches both of the siblings greet Alec with hugs that last for a long time and that even Magnus can see are very tight - the type of hugs that try to convey through touch all the things a person can’t say with words.

Alec hugs them back just as tightly and gives them both bright smiles when they step away. 

Magnus gets his own smile too, and it’s from Isabelle. It’s when Jace is taking Alec to the kitchen, asking him to make them all his famous french toast that he used to make them when they were kids. Isabelle locks eyes with Magnus and smiles at him, a smile that speaks of great gratitude.

Magnus smiles back and gives Isabelle a sideways hug as they follow Alec and Jace into the kitchen.

The atmosphere is very different from last night, full of easy laughter and smiles and joy. 

Last night is not forgotten, something like that can never be, but it’s not the focus of today. It’s a new day and the support and love are clear in their words and actions. 

They learnt a lot last night when the spell brought out more things that Iris probably intended. They still don’t know what she was trying to accomplish with the spell but Magnus knows that while it almost caused great damage, in the end they ended up stronger because of it.

But even if that is the case, he knows that when they eventually do find her, she’ll get what she deserves and it will not be a thank you.

[sugarandspace]

A Gift of Gratitude

Summary:  While searching for a powerful flower from one of the Shadow World's most dangerous forests, Alec and Magnus come across a winged creature.

For wingo square: touching wings

AO3

Magnus could hear Alec shiver next to him.

“Are you cold?” He asked, looking at his husband while they continued to walk further into the forest.

“A little,” Alec said, even though judging by the way his body was subtly shivering, Magnus guessed it was a tad more than a little. Magnus waved his hand and the jacket Alec had been wearing was switched to a warmer one.

“I told you you didn’t need to come,” Magnus reminded him.

Alec scoffed. “As if I’d let you go alone when you told me you were going to this forest.”

“This is not the first time I’ve been here,” Magnus said. He wasn’t offended, he knew that Alec’s worrying didn’t come from not trusting Magnus to handle himself and it was just his protective nature shining through.

This forest was dangerous and you never knew how close you were to a magical beast that was going to try to attack you, but Magnus needed a specific flower for his potion and that flower only grew here.

“Doesn’t matter,” Alec said. “I’m not letting you go alone if I have the opportunity to come with you.”

Magnus had to admit that he quite enjoyed having Alec with him. They had been busy lately and if they would be able to spend time together while Magnus was working, well, Magnus wasn’t going to complain. That, and he had almost forgotten how good Alec looked in his Shadowhunter mode, dressed in tactical gear with a blade strapped to his thigh and a bow ready in his hand.

“I’m not complaining,” Magnus said honestly. “Not everyone can get the Inquisitor as their bodyguard.”

“I’m not here as the Inquisitor,” Alec argued good-naturedly. “I’m here as your husband. What kind of husband would I be if I watched you go to danger by yourself while I stayed home and read a book on the couch?”

“Not the one I know,” Magnus agreed and leaned over to leave a quick peck to Alec’s cheek. “Thank you, for keeping me company.”

Alec didn’t reply but Magnus could see the small smile that rose to his lips as they continued to walk further into the forest.

The sun was starting to set, casting its last rays through the trees. The forest was old, even older than Magnus, so the majority of the trees were tall and thick, their leafy tops high up, and the lower parts of their trunks free of branches. There were smaller trees as well, effectively blocking the view of any potential threats.

They were walking on a path, created over time by different beings, be it visitors or those who lived in the forest. They needed to be quick to get the flower, so they would be able to leave the forest before it got dark. Magnus didn't particularly feel like tripping over one of the numerous roots they could see snaking on the ground.

“Everything is so green,” Alec observed after they had been quiet for a while, the bird sounds and the occasional falling pine cone the only sounds in the forest, save from the sound of their boots as they stepped over twigs and dry leaves. It would have almost been calming if they weren’t constantly waiting for someone to attack them.

“It is,” Magnus agreed. He stepped out of the path as he spotted a familiar blue flower a little to their right. “I suppose you haven’t spent a lot of your time in forests?”

“I haven’t,” Alec said. He stayed on the path, keeping watch with his bow ready as Magnus bent down and carefully took one of the flowers. He looked at it closely, confirming it was the right one before he put it in his pocket. The flower only had magic properties when it was fresh and Magnus only needed one for his potion, so he left the other flowers to bloom where they were. He was just about to get up when he heard rustling from the trees about twenty feet in front of him.

“Magnus,” Alec whispered, letting Magnus know that he had heard the noise as well. Magnus could hear a bowstring being pulled and he readied his own magic, ready to attack once they could see what was slowly coming towards them.

However, when Magnus recognized what it was, his first instinct wasn’t to attack.

“Don’t,” he said to Alec, putting his arm between the creature and Alec’s arrow, stopping his husband from firing towards it.

“What?” Alec asked.

“It’s not dangerous,” Magnus said. When he watched the winged horse approach them, he noticed something. “It’s hurt.”

The horse was white, its wings a light shade of gray. The bloody wound on its side near the back was impossible to miss, the arrow that caused it still in the wound. The creature looked to be in pain, and it stayed in place, too afraid of them to get closer but also aware that it could not outrun them in its current state.

Alec walked to stand next to Magnus, his steps slow and careful not to scare the creature. He was still holding his bow but it was lowered.

“Put your bow away,” Magnus told him. He didn’t want the creature to get scared and try to run away, aggravating the wound further. “It won’t hurt us.”

“Are you sure?” Alec asked. Nevertheless, he put his bow back to his back, trusting Magnus’ word.

“I am,” Magnus said. “They aren’t dangerous. They are herbivorous and they don’t mean any harm to anyone. It’s widely believed that hurting one causes bad luck. It’s rare to see them, they like to stay hidden.”

“Why do you think it's allowing us to see it now?”

“I don’t think it has a choice,” Magnus said sadly. He started taking careful steps towards the creature, hearing Alec stay just a step behind him, no doubt ready to act if the creature decided to attack after all.

The creature was shaking slightly and Magnus didn’t know if it was from fear or pain. Maybe a bit of both. But at least it wasn’t trying to move away.

Little by little Magnus got close enough to touch it, laying his hand soothingly on its neck, brushing its silky coat.

“Hey there,” Magnus said in a gentle voice. “Do you need help?”

As if the creature understood him, it bent its legs to lay down on the ground. Its wings were tucked close to its body in a way that left the arrow and the mark visible.

Magnus knelt down next to the leg, while Alec continued to stand next to him, eyeing the creature warily.

Magnus brushed the creature’s back with his hand while he examined the wound.

“I’m going to need your help,” he told Alec after a moment.

“Yeah?” Alec asked.

“Come here,” Magnus instructed, giving Alec room so he could kneel next to him. “Be careful not to touch its wings, the feathers have magical abilities and they are very protective over them.”

Alec nodded, settling himself next to Magnus.

“I’m going to push magic to the wound to heal it, but I need you to pull the arrow out,” he told Alec. “Wait until my mark.”

“Okay,” Alec said, his hands hovering in the air around the arrow while Magnus laid his hands to the creature's side, right next to the bloody wound.

“Will this hurt it?” Alec asked as he watched the blue magic glow in Magnus’ fingers before it sunk into the injury.

“It shouldn’t hurt much,” Magnus said. “But it will feel it.”

Alec nodded, waiting for Magnus' mark.

“Now.”

Alec took hold of the arrow and carefully pulled it out while Magnus continued to push magic to the wound. The creature let out a hurt whine but it stayed still, as if it knew that it had to.

When the arrow was out, Magnus’ magic was able to seal the wound completely. With a final wave of his hands, the blood was gone from the creature’s pure white coat and from both of their hands. As soon as it was able, the creature stood up.

Both Alec and Magnus stood up as well, watching the creature turn so it was facing them.

“You’re okay now,” Magnus said as he petted the creature. Then it walked forward so suddenly that before Magnus had the chance to react, his hand was in the feathers of its wing.

As soon as he realized it, he retreated his hand back a few inches, carefully looking at the creature. When the creature followed his hand so it was once again resting over the feathers, Magnus raised a questioning eyebrow.

“It’s letting you touch its wings,” Alec said quietly. “Didn’t you say-”

“That the feathers are sacred to them?” Magnus continued. “Yes, I did.”

“Then why?” Alec asked. “Did you earn its trust?”

“I think I did,” Magnus said, knowing that the creature wouldn’t allow him to touch its wings if it were even a little bit suspicious of him. Cautiously, Magnus petted the creature’s wing, like he had brushed his hand across its coat earlier.

It startled Magnus when two of the feathers fell off from where his fingers had just been. For a moment he was afraid of the creature’s reaction, but then it shook its wing a little and three more feathers fell off.

Magnus looked down at the five feathers on the ground, and then at the creature. It bowed its head a little before turning and starting to walk deeper into the forest.

They continued to watch after it until they could no longer see it.

Magnus bent down to pick up the feathers.

“It’s a thank you gift,” he told Alec, having figured out why the creature had done what it did. “It recognized me as a Warlock and gave me some of its feathers. Their feathers are powerful magic items, but only when they are voluntarily given.”

“You did just save its life,” Alec reminded Magnus when he kept looking at the feathers in his hand, awe in his expression.

Magnus hummed in reply, placing the feathers into his pocket, right where the flower was already hidden. They were one of the most rarest and priceless ingredients he’d ever had and he was going to take good care of them.

“Let’s go home, shall we?” He told Alec and offered him his hand, the other waving in front of him to create a portal. “Before something does try to attack us.”

Alec took his hand and they stepped through the portal, having got what they went to get from the forest.

That, and a lot more.

[myulalie]

Wings are freedom, only when they are wide open in flight. On one’s back they are a heavy weight. — Marina Tsvetaeva

Once upon a time, Children of the Nephilim protected the world from demons. Now, their wings are in shackles.

Alec Lightwood knows little of the past, but when demons threaten to invade the world again, he cannot conceive the idea of just letting it happen.

Unable to fly, and forced to train in secret, there is only little Alec can do, and few people he can trust.

Enter Magnus Bane, who makes Alec feel like maybe, just maybe, shadowhunters could rise again and do what they were always meant to do: protect the world.

Find chapter 21 on AO3.

[skylar102]

Prompt: Broken Wings Summary: Alec takes Max to get ice cream and discovers that his past has caught up to him

Read on Ao3

“Come on Alec! We’re going to miss it!” Max said impatiently, tugging at Alec’s hand to move faster.

“Alright, alright,” Alec laughs as he picks up the pace. “The ice cream shop isn’t going to go anywhere. Why the rush?”

“Because they have new flavors!” Max rolls his eyes as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “You know how fast their new flavors go and I will not miss them because you are a slowpoke!” 

“Just because you turned seven last week doesn’t give you the right to be bossy,” Alec comments as he picks up Max. The child screams out in delight causing a few heads to turn their way as he hoists Max up onto his shoulders. 

“I’m the tallest kid in Edom!” Max declares and he pumps two fists in the air.

“Hold on tight, Max,” Alec laughs looking up at him with a smile. Max’s bushy, curly hair bounces with every step he takes.

Max’s laughs echo along the sidewalk as Alec power walks to the ice cream shop. Above him, Max makes whooshing sounds with his black wings spread out behind him, pretending like he’s flying. Alec can’t wait to see Max’s first flight. His wings are not strong enough to carry him yet, but once he turns eight, Alec knows that Max is going to drag everyone out to see him fly. He has stated so, multiple times, to anyone who will listen. 

They make it to the shop in record time. Alec almost drops Max as the boy tries to climb down his six-foot-tall body by himself. The second his feet touch the ground, Max makes a dash for the door and is inside before Alec can even blink. Alec chuckles at the boy’s excitement and heads in after him. He doesn’t understand why they need to rush, there’s barely a line to the counter. 

“Alec!” Max waves a hand and flaps his wings to get Alec’s attention as if Alec couldn’t already easily spot him in a crowd.

Since living in Edom, he and Max are the only two that he knows of that have black wings. There was a merchant who came to town a few months ago that had black wings, but the woman was only in for the week before she moved onto the next town to sell her goods. 

She had told Alec that he was the second person she had met with black wings, but warned him to be careful should he leave such a welcoming city. The words didn’t come as a surprise to Alec because of his upbringing. He’s well aware that there are places where he would not be welcome. 

They approach the counter and Alec sees a plethora of flavors that he can’t decide which one to pick. Max, on the other hand, knows exactly which ones he wants to get. He points out to the confectioner which ones he wants and asks the man about their new flavors. Alec stands back and allows Max to get what he wants. He’ll have to send an apology message to his parents for the sugar rush Max is going to have for the next few hours. Maybe he can take the soon to be hyper kid to the park for a while before taking him back home.

“Alec!” Max calls, he already has his bowl of four flavors. “You still have to pick!” 

“Right.” Alec turns to the confectioner. “I’ll just have the chocolate and vanilla twist.”

“Boring,” Max drawls, stomping his feet on the ground in protest at Alec’s choice. “Come on, Alec! Pick something fun!”

“Chocolate and vanilla are fun,” Alec defends with a huff, his feathers mock ruffling behind him.

“But there are so many flavors to try!” Max insists as Alec takes his cone from the worker.

“Guess we’ll have to come back another time then.”

Max perks up at that and begins to bounce on his heels. His black wings almost knock over a stanchion in his excitement. Alec finishes paying for their ice cream and they make their way outside. The weather is nice enough that it won’t melt their frozen treats too quickly. They sit down at an open bench right outside the shop.

Max’s legs are swinging back and forth underneath the table as he greedily eats his ice cream. Alec has to tell him a few times to slow down or he’s going to get a brain freeze. Which of course Max ignores and proceeds to get brain freeze. Alec feels bad for laughing at a seven year old’s pain, but he did warn him. He at least tries to hide the laugh by covering it with his hand and looking away from Max. 

He makes eye contact with the two men sitting at the bench across from them. He remembers passing them on their way to the shop. Something is off about the way they’re looking at him and Max, but he doesn’t have time to decipher what it is when Max is shoving a spoon in his face to try one of the new flavors.

Once they are finished with their ice cream, he leads Max to a trash bin to toss out his spoon and bowl. 

“What do you say we spend some time at the park before heading home?” Alec asks. “We got a few more hours before your parents are done with work.”

Max nods his head rapidly, jumping giddily in place. “I want to go on the monkey bars!”

“One set of monkey bars coming up,” Alec grunts as he once again lifts Max to his shoulders. 

He thanks his job every day for allowing him to lift Max with such ease. The heavy sacks of goods that he’s had to carry these past two years is enough to give any man back problems. Having a boyfriend who not only grooms wings but gives the best back massages has its perks. Especially when the back massages are boyfriend exclusive only. 

Max is singing some tune above him as they make their way to the park. They are a few blocks down the street when he feels eyes on them again. He uses the excuse that his back is starting to hurt to lower a dissatisfied Max to the ground and looks behind him. 

He sees the two men from before and something in Alec’s stomach drops. He puts on a fake smile for Max so he doesn’t freak out and continues their walk to the park, every once in awhile looking behind them. They have four more blocks to go. He subtly glances around at anything that can be used to get away but with it being the weekday, most of the shops are closed. Alec curses under his breath and slowly picks up his pace.

Max doesn’t seem to notice the change of speed as he asks Alec how many bars he thinks he can skip this time going across. Alec tries to pay attention to Max’s words to make it seem like he hasn’t noticed the two men. They have two more blocks to go before they make it to the park and Alec sighs in relief that they’re almost there, but as he turns the corner there’s a man on the sidewalk front of him, wearing similar clothes to the two men behind them. Alec halts his steps, pulling Max into his side.

“Alec?” Max says uneasy, looking from Alec to the man. 

“Hello Mr. Lightwood,” the man says. “We’ve been looking for you.”

“Well, you found me,” Alec grits, his wings bristle behind him in a threatening manner. His instinct to protect Max outweighs his own safety. “You can leave now.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” the man chuckles, pulling out a knife from his holster. “You see, there is a nice price on your head and I intend to cash that in.” Max whimpers and Alec pulls him underneath his wing. The man laughs at the movement as he fiddles with the sharp object. “Apparently mommy and daddy aren’t too happy to find out their mistake is still alive.”

Dread washes over him like a bucket full of ice cold water at the words. The mention of his parents makes his skin crawl and alarms go off in his head. He should have known that Robert and Maryse would assume he was dead when they didn’t pay the ransom. That his captor would have killed him when he found him no longer useful. Guess they didn’t factor in Magnus being his captor.

“Well they’re going to have to stay unhappy,” Alec spits at the man. “Because I’m not going with you.”

“Oh, you don’t have to come with us. We just need evidence that the problem is taken care of,” the man cackles. “And your wings look like a pretty nice trophy. ”

“Max,” Alec says as calm as he can. He glances down and sees that the boy’s hands are shaking where they clutch at his shirt, his wings curled around himself and Alec’s thigh. “Max.” The boy looks up. “When I say run, I want you to head for the nearest open shop and call for help.” Max shakes his head and plasters himself to Alec’s side. “You have to, buddy.”

“But Alec-”

“Hey.” He gives Max his most reassuring smile, before looking back at the man. “It’s going to be okay, but I need you to go get help.”

He waits until he feels Max nod against his side. He looks behind him and sees that the two men have gotten closer. Just a few steps more and they’ll be within striking distance. It’s been a while since he’s been in a full out fight. He mainly settles small disputes between vendors, rarely do fists fly. 

As soon as the two men are within range, Alec spreads his wings out and twists, hitting the men hard. One man flies into a wall and gets knocked out. The other falls on the sidewalk with a loud grunt.

“Max, run!” Alec shoves Max in the opposite direction and the boy takes off. Max looks behind him as he runs, fear prevalent in his eyes. Alec is going to make these bastards pay for that look.

Alec doesn’t watch to see if Max gets to safety when he hears the footsteps running towards him. He twists out of the way but not in fast enough as he feels the knife plunge into his left wing. He cries out at the pain but doesn’t let it stop him. The bastard has a sick grin on his face as he pulls the knife out. Alec quickly tests the wing, stretching it out to its full span. The knife didn’t hit anything critical so he’s still able to use it. It’s only then, does he start to feel a numbness spread throughout it.

He looks down at the knife coated in his blood and sees a strange substance on it. The numbness reaches the base of his wing and he sees more than feels his wing drop. Alec tries to move it but it stays fallen. 

“Amazing, ain’t it?” The man boasts. “Made it myself to help with taking those nasty wings off people’s backs. Of course, I keep the person alive. After all, I am saving them from a life of pain.”

“You’re cutting off their wings!” Alec growls, his hand goes up to his numb wing to make sure that it’s still there. “How is that saving them?”

“Having black wings is a curse,” the man casually explains. “A bad omen. It’s surprising that this town hasn’t crumbled from your presence.”

“Black wings are a blessing,” Alec states. It had taken him a long time to accept that, but thanks to Magnus and the friends he’s made in this city he can proudly wear his wings out for everyone to see. He’s going to do anything to make sure Max never has to hear the vitriol this man is spewing.

“Seems you need to relearn some things,” the man barks.

Alec gets tackled from behind and falls to the ground. He tries to use his right wing to get the crook off his back, but the man takes the wing in his hands and presses his knee against it. Alec realizes what the man is going to do and doubles his efforts to shake the man off. He begs for his left wing to move but it lays motionless at his side.

He lets out a gut wrenching scream as he feels the bone snap.

“Should have let us do our job,” the leader tuts as he crouches down in front of Alec. The man behind him presses a knee to his back so he can’t move. Not like he could anyway. The pain from his right wing is overwhelming his body. “Maybe this wouldn’t hurt as much.” The man pulls Alec by his hair to make sure he’s looking at him. “Don’t worry though, we’ll make sure that little disease that was with you gets the luxury treatment.”

Alec spits at the man which gets him punched in the face. One particular hit to the temple makes his world tilt more than it already was. The man lets out a wicked laugh as his head hits the ground. 

He should move, he has to move. He has to make sure these bastards don’t lay a single finger on Max. He won’t let them, he can’t. Alec tries to push himself up but the man on top of him slams his knee down on his back right between the base of his wings, jostling his broken one. He lets out a whimper.

“Not so tough now are we?” The goon above him cackles. “Why don’t we start with the right one, boss?”

Alec cries out as pain shoots up his wing when the men grab it. He doubles his effort to break free and get the man off his back. The two men laugh at his poor attempt and Alec receives a kick to the face. 

“Now be a good boy and let us do our job,” one of them says. He can’t focus on anything anymore, the pain is too much and his head has been hit too many times. Alec closes his eyes and accepts his fate. 

He feels the knife begin to slice through his wing when suddenly the weight on his back disappears and the knife is gone from his wing. He hears shouting and the sound of fists being thrown. He should help whoever is there but any movement hurts. 

“Don’t move,” a voice soothes. They brush the hair out of his face and Alec sees long red hair fill his vision before he sees a young woman come into view. Alec wants to ask about Max, if he’s okay, if he got away. Whatever expression is on his face makes the woman curse. “I need some help!”

“Oh my god... is he gonna be okay?”

“You have the right to remain silent.”

“He’s a freak! You should be helping me get rid of monsters like him.”

“Get them out of here.”

“Alec! Alec!” 

Alec lets out a sob as he hears Max’s voice although it’s tinged with fear and worry. He’s glad that one good thing came out of this and it was Max’s safety. He would have never forgiven himself if Max had gotten hurt or worse, gotten his wings cut off. 

He wants to stay awake to see Max with his own eyes to be sure he is unharmed, but the pain is becoming too much. The woman must see it and pats his hair again.

“It’s alright,” she reassures. “You’re safe now.”

~~~~

Alec wakes up to the sound of sniffling. It takes him a moment to register his surroundings but he finds himself on his stomach on a bed. Judging by the familiar smells, it’s his and Magnus’ bed. There’s a hand in his, clutching so tightly that Alec is worried that his hand might break. He gives the hand a light squeeze.

The body attached to it freezes as gasps and sobs leave their mouth. The hand in his squeezes back even tighter than before. A chair crashes to the ground and a thump echoes through their room. There’s a dip in the bed next to him as Magnus moves closer to his body. 

“Alexander?” Magnus says, voice hoarse. There’s a gentle hand brushing hair out of his face. “Darling, open your eyes for me? Please.”

How could Alec ever say no to his boyfriend? Opening his eyes takes effort, his right eye is a bit swollen. His pupils adjust to the low light and directly in his line of sight is Magnus, bathed in a golden halo of the fireplace behind him. He looks beautiful, he thinks. A wide but wobbly smile is on his boyfriend’s face. His eyes are red and puffy and his makeup has left streaks down his cheeks.

“Hi,” Alec whispers. Magnus doesn’t even try to hold back a sob and he lifts their joined hands to his lips.

“Hello, darling,” Magnus says. “You gave me quite the scare.”

“I’m sorry to have worried you,” he mumbles into the pillow. The hand on the back of his head feels wonderful as it pets through his hair. He almost falls asleep again when he remembers the day’s events. 

“Max,” Alec gasps. His body tenses at the memories, causing him to whimper as his right wing is jostled by the sudden movement. 

“Hey hey, relax.” Magnus rushes onto the bed to stop his wings from moving too much. Magnus gently moves his hands across the top of his wings. “Max is okay. Terrified, but okay. He’s with his family right now. Let’s focus on you getting better, okay?”

He relaxes back into the pillows knowing that Max is okay. Magnus’ hands on his wings feel delicate like he’s afraid to break them more than they already are. It’s his turn to let out a shaky breath as he feels Magnus’ hand touch his left wing and Alec can feel it, relieved to have known that the paralyzing toxin was only temporary. Now that Alec has calmed down, he realizes that Magnus’ hands are shaking.

“Come here,” Alec says, bringing his arm around to tug at Magnus’ hands. 

“Alexander, we shouldn’t,” Magnus advises.

“You won’t hurt me, come under my left wing. That one’s not broken,” he chuckles darkly. He probably shouldn’t be joking about it so soon, but it’s better than talking about it.

“That’s not funny,” Magnus scolds as he slides underneath the wing. “You could have- you almost-.”

“Hey,” Alec whispers as he pulls Magnus to his side. “I’m here.”

“But you almost weren’t,” Magnus sniffs, snuggling into Alec’s side. “God, when Max’s mother rushed into the shop with fear on her face, I thought the worst. Then I got to the house and saw the doctor tending to your wing and the broken angle it was at. The officer explained what happened and it was like all of my nightmares had come true.” Magnus’ wings are tucked tightly behind him as he and Alec try to get comfortable with as little movement as possible.

“After everything you told me about your childhood and of that hell town, to hear that hunters came after you,” Magnus’ breath shakes, “I couldn’t breathe properly until I saw you with my own two eyes. Then to see your wings…” Magnus reaches out to brush feathers on his left wing. “The wave of relief I felt to see them still on your back. I was so terrified that you had lost them to those monsters.”

“What happened?” Alec reaches for the hand on his wing and twines it with his own. He stares at their joined hands as he rubs the back of Magnus’. “Last thing I remember was someone with red hair leaning over me.”

“Those bastards got arrested,” Magnus growls. “Max was able to find a family walking down the street and luckily the father was an officer and the mother was a nurse. They were able to arrest the hunters and tend to your wings. Their daughter, Clary, was the one who stayed by your side until I could get here.”

Alec kisses the back of Magnus’ hands in silent apology. He can still see tension throughout his boyfriend’s body and shuffles the short distance to kiss him. His heart breaks as Magnus lets out a sob during the kiss. 

He knew that this might happen one day, his parents threatened him with the idea of hunters enough times that he knew to hide his wings was the best option for him if he wanted to still have them. If he still wanted to live. It’s one of the many reasons he wore a harness all the time. 

Alec will never go back to that life. He’s glad that it’s behind him and that he has the life he has now.

“I love you so much, Alexander,” Magnus whispers into his lips. 

“I love you too, Magnus,” Alec whispers back. 

Magnus tucks himself under Alec’s chin and settles in for the night. Alec feels a hand rest over his heart and the other wraps around his back.

~~~~

They’re taken out of their peaceful rest by an incessant knock on their door. Alec groans into Magnus’ hair, burrowing into it. 

“It’s late,” he whines. “Who knocks at this time?”

“It might be the officers from earlier,” Magus says as he scoots from under Alec’s wing carefully. He leans down to press a kiss to Alec’s head. “I’ll only be a moment.”

“You better, or I will get up and kick them out myself,” Alec grumbles, already missing Magnus’ presence from the bed.

“You will not move from this bed or I will tie you to it,” Magnus warns, before leaving the room. Magnus hears a faint laugh from the bed before making his way to the front door. 

He checks himself in the hallway mirror to fix up his face and get rid of any more noticeable makeup smudges. It’s not the best but he doesn’t look like he just dunked his face in water. Magnus hopes that this will be quick, he doesn’t want to spend one more second away from Alec’s side even if it’s to give another statement for the case. The knocking starts again, louder this time.

“Impatient much?” He complains as he unlocks the door. “Hello, officer, how can I-” His words stop in his throat as he takes in the couple in front of him. He leans against the doorframe, annoyance already leaking out. “You realize it’s nine o’clock at night. Normally the people who want to sell us things show up in the morning.”

The blonde-haired man shoots a glare at him, his golden wings bristling behind him. The dark-haired woman with him puts a hand on his arm, her light blue wings reaching out to relax the man.

“I’m sorry,” the woman says. “I know it’s late but we were wondering if Alec Lightwood lives here?”

Immediately his hackles rise, wings puffing out, ready to defend his home. He keeps his face neutral as he takes in the two who notice the change. The woman is smart enough to take a step back, but she has to pull the blonde man with her. 

“What does it matter to you?” He asks, biting back the anger.

The duo share a hesitant glance before gathering strength to answer his question. 

“I’m Isabelle Lightwood, this is my brother, Jace Lightwood,” Isabelle says. “We’re Alec’s younger siblings and we want to see him.”

[myulalie]

Wings are freedom, only when they are wide open in flight. On one’s back they are a heavy weight. — Marina Tsvetaeva

Once upon a time, Children of the Nephilim protected the world from demons. Now, their wings are in shackles.

Alec Lightwood knows little of the past, but when demons threaten to invade the world again, he cannot conceive the idea of just letting it happen.

Unable to fly, and forced to train in secret, there is only little Alec can do, and few people he can trust.

Enter Magnus Bane, who makes Alec feel like maybe, just maybe, shadowhunters could rise again and do what they were always meant to do: protect the world.

Find chapter 24 on AO3.

[skylar102]

Prompt: Wing Cuddles Summary: It’s the one year anniversary of when Alec left his old life behind him.

Read it on Ao3

It’s the one year anniversary of when Alec left his old life behind him. He doesn’t regret leaving. He misses his siblings, but the fact that they did not try to pay the ransom doesn’t make him miss them as much as he wants to. Izzy and Jace always made sure to include him in anything they could until someone saw them all together. The number of times Alec had to walk home alone because he was unwanted was too many to count.

He sits in his room, leaning against the headboard of his bed. He thinks back to his old life and realizes it doesn’t make him as sad as it first did. The memories from a year ago don’t send an ache through his heart. 

The life he has with Magnus, he wouldn’t trade it for the world. The amazing people he’s met in this city of Edom; Helen and Aline are now close friends of him and Magnus’. Friday’s just aren’t right if those two are not over for a night of food and drinks. His neighbors know his name and greet him with a smile when he leaves for work in the morning. 

The kid with the black wings he saw the first few weeks he and Magnus moved to the city asks him to play all the time. And also to brag about how he and Aec are twins because they share the same color wings. Max is his name, Alec comes to learn. 

The people of the market pull him left and right asking for his assistance. There’s never a dull day. People ask how he’s doing, offering him goods from their stalls without him having to ask or pay them. 

He finally feels wanted.

Alec pulls out the feather he’s kept hidden in his nightstand for 5 months now. He’s made sure to keep it in pristine condition but even after being careful, the vanes of the feather have become a bit frayed. The burgundy and gold still shine in the light of his room. He knows it’s weird that he’s kept a feather of Magnus’ after their first grooming together, but it was the first time someone trusted him with their wings and vice versa. His heart still swells at the trust Magnus has for him. 

He wants to cherish that first grooming for the rest of his life. Magnus and Alec have groomed each other’s wings plenty of times since that day, but Alec will never forget the intimacy of their first grooming for as long as he lives. They made it fun. The sounds that leave their mouths end with a laugh rather than awkward silence. Alec never feels like a bumbling fool because Magnus makes him feel comfortable. 

If only he had the courage to tell Magnus how he feels about the man.

A knock on the door has him hiding the feather under his pillow. He grabs the book on his nightstand to make it look like he’d been reading and not fawning over a feather.

“Come in!” he says, playing it cool before Magnus enters.

“Hey,” Magnus smiles at him, opening the door. “I was just wondering if you wanted to go out for dinner tonight.”

“Sure. What did you have in mind?”

“Well...” he trails off and plays with his ear cuff, a sign that Magnus is nervous. “You remember that restaurant that we went to the first month we came here?” 

“Yeah, the Italian place?” Alec nods, moving so that his legs and hanging off the bed. “Didn’t they close down for maintenance?”

“They did, but they just reopened last week and I thought… Well, I thought we could see if their pasta is still as good as it was all those months ago.”

“That sounds great, Magnus.”

“Excellent,” Magnus cheers, clapping his hands together before turning to leave. As he gets to the door frame he turns around. “Oh, make sure to dress nice. Apparently this place is now deemed as fine dining and doesn’t allow people in street clothes to enter anymore. Guess our street look made them reevaluate.”

Alec laughs as Magnus closes the door behind him. He grabs the feather and puts it back in his nightstand before standing up from the bed and making his way to the closet. Alec only has a few nice dress outfits from the times that his neighbors have invited them over for their monthly cocktail parties. It should worry him how many times they have the parties but after the first few, Alec has found that he enjoys the small gatherings.

Alec picks out his outfit, a black suit with matching black shoes. He lays out the suit on his bed, eyeing it to decide what tie he should wear when he remembers the gift that Aline had given him for his birthday. He goes to his dresser, pulls open the top drawer, and grabs the small box that has kept the tie in pristine condition until he found the courage to wear it. Opening the box he looks at the tie and smiles. 

Guess tonight is the night.

---

Alec makes his way downstairs to the living room. It had taken him longer than he had thought to get ready, but he wanted to make sure he looked his best. When he looked at himself in the mirror and the only color he had on him was the tie, he knew he made the right choice. He looks down at the burgundy tie and the gold swirls that twist around it and adjusts it for the twentieth time that night. He’s gelled up his hair so that it’s not the normal poofy mess he has to deal with.

He looks around and doesn’t see Magnus yet, which means the man is probably still getting ready. He shakes his head. He thought he was running late, but he forgot that Magnus wears makeup and won’t settle for anything less than perfect. 

Alec wanders around the living room, not wanting to sit so he doesn’t crinkle the suit. His mind drifts again to the past year and his time with Magnus. The house is now filled with memories of them. A small statue of a raven on the fireplace mantle that Magnus had brought home one day saying that it reminded him of Alec. Alec had been a sputtering fool only able to choke out a thanks before placing it in the spot it rests now.

There’s a guitar on the ground in the corner next to a record player that Alec had gifted Magnus after he witnessed Magnus help fix a street performer’s guitar on his lunch break. Watching Magnus strum a tune while making it sound right, Alec could tell that he could easily play a song. When he passed the music store one day and saw the acoustic guitar sitting in the window, he just knew he had to get it. He’s glad he stuck to his gut because the look on Magnus’ face when he saw the guitar sitting in the corner was everything to him.

His weekends were now filled with soft strums of guitar and a silky voice singing the sweetest of tunes. 

Alec turns his gaze to the wall and all the framed photos that hang. He steps up to the wall and takes in each photo. The one of him and Max showing off their wings in the park. Max had insisted on a hero pose and how could Alec say no to the little guy. He could hear Magnus laughing with Max’s parents, but he couldn’t feel embarrassed when Max was looking at him like he was the coolest person on the planet. 

The next photo was of Magnus and Aline both laying in chairs soaking up the sun’s rays in the back yard. Their wings spread out behind them, not caring that they were in the way of everyone else. What the photo doesn’t show is Helen sneaking up behind them with a bucket of water. Alec doesn’t think he’s laughed that hard before in his life, watching Aline chase her wife around the yard yelling profanities. He remembers looking over to where Magnus had sat up in the sun chair looking like a drowned rat and seeing the softest smile on his face instead of anger. 

Alec goes to the next photo. This one is probably his favorite of them all. It was later in the evening with Aline and Helen that they decided to have a bonfire in the back yard. They had invited their neighbors and Max and his parents over for smores. Aline had Max sit between her and Helen as a way to punish her wife for her earlier antics. There’s a visible pout on her face as she watches Aline help Max get his marshmallow on his stick. 

Their neighbors are chatting it up with Max’s parents. It was the first time they had met and they had hit it off immediately which meant they had added three more guests to their monthly get togethers. This also made Magnus sad because it meant less alcohol at the party, but Magnus got over it quickly once he saw how happy Max was to be hanging out with Alec more. 

In the two-person wicker chair sat him and Magnus. He hadn’t even realized they had practically snuggled against each other until their neighbor had given them the photo a few days later. He may have drunk too many sangrias that day, but Magnus had felt so nice next to him. His wing decided to make the decision for him and curl around Magnus, pulling the man into his side.

He remembers Magnus relaxing into his side, his own wings pulled behind him so that Alec’s could curl around him. The photo shows them looking at each other with smiles on their faces. He forgets what was said to cause them to look at each other with such tenderness.

That was the moment he fell in love with Magnus.

Alec is taken out of his trip down memory lane when he hears footsteps coming down the stairs. Turning to ask Magnus what took so long, his words die before they even reach his lips. 

Magnus was wearing a burgundy suit that matches his wings, gold seams around the edges of the blazer that shine. Golden cufflinks at the ends of the sleeves also glint in the light. His makeup flawless as always, eyeshadow the perfect match to the rest of his look. As Alec’s eyes look him over, they pause on the black tie around Magnus’ neck. When it hits the light just right, the colors of purple and blue shine through, just like his feathers. Alec’s throat dries up. 

He finally looks at Magnus and sees the man is also checking him out. When his eyes reach his tie, there’s a glow to them that wasn’t there before.

“Alexander,” Magnus whispers, finally looking at his face. “You look stunning.”

“As do you,” he whispers back, voice a bit more hoarse than he wishes.

They stare at each other for a moment more. Snapping out of it with an awkward cough, they make their way to the front door. Alec locks up the house behind them before meeting Magnus on the sidewalk. The two begin the slow journey to the restaurant on the other side of town. Walking side by side, Alec has to put his hands in his pockets to stop himself from grabbing Magnus’. His wings, on the other hand, have no problem with showing his true emotions and his left wing is slightly extended behind Magnus. If the other man notices, he’s kind enough to not mention it. 

“It’s a beautiful night out,” Magnus comments. 

“Yeah,” he says. Not as beautiful as you, he thinks.

They walk in comfortable silence until they reach their destination. Nuovi Inizi is lit up in a soft glow. New Beginnings, Alec muses, how fitting. The owners really outdid themselves with the remodel as they step inside the restaurant. The ceiling lights are dim as candles fill the room in a soft glow that truly sets the mood. Magnus approaches the hostess, saying they have a reservation as Alec takes in the place. 

“Follow me this way, Mr. Bane,” the hostess says. Magnus grabs his elbow and they follow the woman through the restaurant. They pass by a few couples that are also enjoying a night out, but they pass by them all and make their way through a set of french doors to the patio next to the ocean. Alec freezes at the sight causing Magnus to come to a halt as well. Magnus looks at him nervously and he understands why.

The patio has been cleared of all tables except for one in the middle. Fairy lights hang from the trees scattered around the area, illuminating the patio in a soft glow. 

“Magnus…”

“Is it too much?” Magnus asks anxiously.

“I don’t,” he stutters finally looking at the man. “What is all of this?”

Magnus gets even more nervous if possible. He rubs his hands together, biting his lip before speaking.

“It’s the one year anniversary from when you decided to join me,” he says. “I wanted to celebrate the moment in a special way because it means a lot to me that you chose to come with me.” Magnus’ wings get smaller behind him and Alec realizes that whatever his face is doing is scaring Magnus. “We can go somewhere else if it’s too much-”

“No,” Alec blurts out. “It’s- You did all of this,” he gestures at the table, “for me?”

“Of course I did, Alexander,” Magnus admits, his wings losing their tension. “There’s no one else in the world who deserves this more than you.”

If Alec wasn’t sure he was in love with Magnus, he is now. He closes the small space between then and grabs Magnus’ hands, holding tight.

“Thank you,” he whispers. “It’s beautiful.”

Whatever tension Magnus had in his body leaves and he pulls Alec towards the setup. The hostess left their menus on the table before disappearing back inside. Alec pulls out Magnus’ chair before sitting down in his own. He grabs the menu and everything is new. None of the foods they had last time are on the menu. 

“Wow,” Alec laughs, peering over his menu. “It’s like they completely threw out the old place.”

“That is for sure,” Magnus agrees with a laugh of his own. “You think they would at least keep the ravioli I had last time, don’t think I ever had it that good before in my life.”

The waitress comes back with a bottle of red wine and takes their orders. They fill the night with talk of work and life. Just like any night before this, words fall easily from their lips. Their laughter echoes on the empty patio and they have to stop themselves from getting too loud lest they annoy the patrons inside. When their dinner arrives, they’ve almost finished the whole bottle of wine and Alec feels warm inside. He’s pretty sure it’s mostly the wine but with Magnus sitting across from him, he can’t tell. Magnus always had a way of making him feel warm inside by just being in his presence. 

Small talk continues during dinner and after. Alec’s pretty sure they’ve stayed past their welcome but their waitress has not said anything so Alec isn’t going to either. Alec sits back and closes his eyes. He lets the sound of the ocean wash over him and that’s when he hears it; music drifting from inside the restaurant and reaching the patio.

Decision made, Alec sits up from his chair and holds out his hand.

“Care to dance, Mr. Bane?” Magnus stares at the hand and back up at him. Alec raises an eyebrow. So he may be feeling a bit more confident due to the wine, sue him. It’s not like he’d have this courage if he was sober. 

“Lead the way, Mr. Lightwood.” Magnus grabs his hand and Alec leads him to an open space. 

He holds Magnus’s right hand in his left and wraps his other around Magnus’ waist. Magnus’ other hand wraps around his neck and brushes at the hairs on the back of it.

In this world of ordinary people Extraordinary people I'm glad there is you

They sway back and forth, barely moving as they stare into each other’s eye. Alec has never been happier for Helen, that she taught him how to dance one drunken night.

In this world of overrated pleasures And underrated treasures I'm glad there is you

Alec leans his head forward to rest against Magnus’ and it feels like he’s truly found his place in the world. 

I live to love, I love to live With you beside me This role so new I'll muddle through With you to guide me

Alec doesn’t know what he would do without Magnus. What he would be. Who he would be. He shivers just thinking about it. Magnus must feel the shiver because the grip tightens before the fingers start stroking the back of his neck.

In this world where many many play at love But hardly any stay in love I'm glad there is you More than ever I'm glad there is you

“I love you,” Alec whispers in the small space between them. Magnus’s eyes shimmer in the soft glow of lights at the confession, a soft smile on his face. He looks even more beautiful than he has all night. 

“I love you, too,” Magnus whispers back. They stare at each other for a moment before he closes the space between them. 

The kiss is everything he imagined it to be. It’s not rushed or hurried. It’s gentle and soft, like they’re something fragile that needs to be handled with care. He tightens the hand he has on Magnus’ waist and feels the hand on the back of his neck drift into his hair. It never becomes heated even if he wants nothing more. Right now is not about that. It’s about the man in his arms and the fact that he loves him back.

He pulls back, laughing as Magnus follows his lips. He gives a small peck and leans his head next to Magnus’. Magnus tucks his face into the crook of his neck. Alec hums the lyrics of the song as they sway back and forth on the patio. The arm Magnus has around his neck drops to his shoulders and holds on tight. Once again his wings have a mind of their own and curl around Magnus’ wings. Their own little cocoon, tucked away from the rest of the world. He knows the wait staff will come to kick them out eventually, but right now? 

Right now, Alec wants nothing more than to dance with the man he loves.