#maryinfandomland

[sometimesambroswrites]

Ehiiiiiii First of all: sup Italian pal (non sapevo lo fossi sto leggendo tutti i tuoi Tumblr prompt a vedo ora che sei italiana omg hype) Second of all: love your stories! Third: if u still take prompts could you do a fic where magnus works at lush or smth like that and Alec enters the first time to buy smth for izzy and then comes back every time for a lot of weeks and Magnus finally asks him on a date after he finds out izzy is not his girlfriend? Sorry if it's too complicated or anything!

Salve Italian pal!I’ll have you know I love this prompt to death and as soon as I read it I could just see Magnus working for Lush. Like, he would fit in perfectly. So thank you so much, I loved the prompt and I had a lot of fun writing this story (which is almost 3k long because I have no self control); I hope you like it!!Warning for pining and boys being embarrassing and the author being sleep deprivedAlso, I feel like Lush should sponsor me after this. Right? RIGHT?Since it’s 2 am and I have no fantasy, this fic shall be called

The Lush Fic

The place smells overwhelmingly good. In fact, it smells too good.Alec thinks he's probably going to be sick because of it and he canalready feel a headache blooming behind his eyes.

On top of that, everything is justso bright, soaps andpackagings and weird pudding-like thingies alike.

Alec is out of his depth. He shouldprobably go back home and give Izzy thirty dollars with a label thatsays sorry I'm a douche.

-Can I help you?

He turns suddenly and he realisestwo things at the same time: number one, he's been staring atsomething called Tender is the night fora couple of minutes now, and number two, the salesperson who's justapproached him is hot as hell. He's got glittery make up around hiseyes and green streaks in his hair, and he looks like he fitsperfectly into the extravagant shop.

He says: -Yes please,- and thenbites down on his tongue half hoping that it'll fall off.

The guy grins,a melt-your-soul kind ofgrin, and Alec is pretty sure the dizziness isn't all on thefragrances that keep washing over him. -You do look kind of lost,- heteases, his hands clasped in front of him; he's wearing nail polishthat's the same shade of green as his hair and he's wearing a coupleof rings on his index and middle finger.

-Yes, I'm – -, Alec would take adeep breath, be he's not sure that would help, -I'm looking for apresent.

The guy nods, patiently; Alec thinkshe probably has to deal with a lot of idiots in his line of work.He's probably not even the first one of the day.

-Did you have something specific inmind?

Alec scratches at the back of hisneck: -Uhm, not really?- he says, turning it into a half question, -Imean, I've never been here, so I – I wouldn't know. But maybesomething pink. And sweet. And – - he makes some sort ofunidentified gesture with his hands and he's about two seconds awayfrom walking out of the store, -glittery?

The guy nods like he knows exactlywhat Alec is talking about and he turns around, making a littlefollow me gesture withhis index and middle finger; he walks towards the other side of thestore, steps light as he avoids other customers and his colleagues;they stop in front of a series of wooden,square-shaped containers. Alec peeks inside and he spots dozens ofcolourful little balls.

-These,- the guy says, picking up ablue one, -are called Bath bombs.Here,- he moves closer to a little basin of water, -I'll show you.

He lets it fall and the Bathbomb hits the water with a smallsplash; it immediatelystarts dissolving, tainting the water around it a deep green-bluecolour, stripes of pink and yellow coming out here and there, andAlec has to admit it looks exceptionally pretty. The thin whitelather makes it look like a deep night sky.

-You use it in the bathtub,- the guysays, and then winks, he winks,and Alec swallows. -Looks pretty,- he says, and he's pretty sure he'sblushing.

The guy beams and gestures at theother Bath bombs ondisplay: -We actually have a Bath bomb calledPink that you mightlike,- he points at said Bath bomb,which is, indeed, deep pink and sheer and it kind of screams Izzy.

He nods: -That looks perfect.

The guy reaches for a yellow andblack paper bag and picks one of the Pink Bath Bombsup and holds it out in front of Alec's face: -Smells like vanilla.

Alec tentatively moves his facecloser to the Bath Bomb,the tips of his ears uncomfortably hot, but as he tries to smell ithe realizes he probably will never be able to smell anything else inhis life.

The guy grins: -You can'tdistinguish smells anymore, can you?

Alec feels his eyes crinkling withthe smile that curves his lips: -Not even remotely.

The guy chuckles, dropping the BathBomb into the paper bag: -Wellthen, you'll have to trust me.

-I guess I have no choice,- Alecsays, trying not to be visibly excited that he was actually able toflirt back. If that was actual flirting. Which he's not so sureabout.

The guy's smile turns deeper for asecond, and then he's pointing out other Bath Bombs –one called Sex Bomb thatapparently smells like jasmine and has a pretty rose on top of it,and one called Twilightwhich the guy assures him has nothing to do with the book and smellslike lavender. They are all rigorously pink.

-Anything else?- the guy asks, andAlec is pretty sure he'd buy the whole store if he tried to sell itto him.

-Uhm, well, it's – it's an apologypresent, so maybe something else that's pretty and pink?

The guy beams again as he walks afew steps over the shelves on the walls on the right of the BathBombs: -I'll show you myfavourite.

He points at one of the pudding-likethingies, a deep pink one: -These are Shower Jellies.You can use them as regular body wash,- he winks, -I promise itsmells like cinnamon.

-Looks perfect,- Alec says, and hethinks he could have gone without knowing it was the cute guy'sfavourite. He really could have.

-Great!- the guy takes one and putsit in a different paper bag. -Anything else?

Alec's wallet is screaming at himthat he needs to say no.

He shakes his head and he diesinside the tiniest bit: -No, thanks. I think she's going to forgiveme.

The guy smiles, warm, the cuff onhis ear catching the light: -I'm sure she will.

It's disappointingly anticlimacticafter that: the guy doesn't work the register so he simply sends Alecoff with another smile, and he's already busy with a new customerwhen Alec walks out of the store.

*

Needless to say,Izzy loves her present and she spends an unhealthy amount of timepoking at the Shower Jelly. Sheenjoys making him squirm for a couple of minutes before she says: -Iguess you're forgiven,- tongue in cheek as per usual, and Alecraffles her hair.

*

He makes it one week before he goesback.

Well, so what? Clary's birthdayisn't that far away. A couple of months. Whatever. Plus, the store ison his way back from work. If he takes a completely different routefrom his usual one. Whatever.

The guy beams at him the moment Alecsteps into the store, and Alec's mind just goes oh shit fora few seconds because he'd managed to convince himself the guy mightnot be on shift or he might not remember him, but there heis, with blue hair and blue nailpolish as he asks: -So, did she forgive you?

It takes Alec a moment to answersince he's uselessly trying to fight the huge smile that threatens tostretch his lips: -Yeah. Yes, she did. Thank you.

-You're very welcome,- the guy says,and he looks especially cute today; he's wearing an oversized, brightblue jumper with tight, black leggings, and black boots, and Aleccan't even blame the overwhelming smell of the shop since he's beeninside for maybe two minutes.

-Are you looking for something else?

-I – yes, yes I am. Uhm, abirthday present? For a friend. She really liked the BathBombs I bought the last time.

Which is not a lie, by the way.Clary loved those BathBombs, spent at least twentyminutes watching YouTube videos about them. She even picked out theones she liked best and wrote them on a list that was later hung onthe fridge. She probably hopes Jace will take the hint. Poor thing.

-So,- the guy asks, teasingly, -Areyou a Bath Bombs expertyet, or do you still need my help?

Alec feels himself blushing. What'snew. He digs his phone out of his pocket and unlocks it, says: -Iactually have a list of stuff she wants, if you could – ?

The guy holds out his hand, jokinglyserious and business-like: -Leave it to me.

Alec gives him his phone, a pictureof the list on the screen – because he's had a sister fortwenty-two years. He can take a hint.

He follows the guy around kind ofhelplessly for ten minutesbefore they're done, three paper bags in his hands as he walkstowards the register.

The guy waves him goodbye and Alecnearly trips over his own feet.

*

Of course, it was just wishfulthinking that he'd be able to keep it a secret until Clary'sbirthday.

Izzy is immediately on him as soonas she spots the yellow and black bag with Lush's logo and she callsfor Clary as soon as she's dragged Alec into the kitchen and hasemptied the bag's contents on the table.

Clary's eyes literally sparklewhen she sees that Alec's boughtevery single thing she'd written on her list; she kisses him on thecheek: -I knew you'd take the hint.

Alec feels kind of manipulated.

Although, it iskind of nice watching his sister and Clary as they coo over soaps andshampoos and jelly stuff. Whatever.

He doesn't even realise Izzy hasapproached him with a dangerous glint in her eyes until she says:-So,- dragging out the o,-How come you went back so soon?

Alec feels like this would be a goodmoment to leave. He takes the smallest step back, hoping his sisterwon't notice. -It's on my way to work and Clary wanted that stuff.

Both Clary and Izzy say: -No, it'snot.

-I'll buy you two whatever you wantif you stop asking.

Izzy and Clary exchange looks. -Noway.

Alec sighs. -There's this cute guy …-

*

He goes back the next week, becausehe's weak and Izzy hasn't stopped asking about the Cute Guy– that's what they're calling him now, capital letters and all.

He almost hides, almost doesn't evengo inside, but Cute Guy waves at him as soon as he sees him and Alecis just. Gone. Fucked. He's got a crush but Cute Guy will probablyrequest a restraining order against him if he keeps this up.

-Here for another BathBomb?- Cute Guy asks, a teasingsmile on his lips. His hair is a deep pink today, and his nails, ofcourse, match.

Alec wants to dig a hole in theground and bury himself in it. Just a bit. -Yeah, my – my rommateis actually jealous that I didn't get him anything yet, so – - heshrugs.

Cute Guy nods like that's totallynormal: -Understandable.

Which, again, is not a lie, by theway. Simon genuinely pouted for ten minutes when he saw the bag ofstuff Clary got. But still. Simon isn't normal.

-Have you already thought ofsomething?

Alec shrugs. Again. -I though maybea Bath Bomb to makehim happy.

-So,- Cute Guy says, hesitantly, -Iguess you won't need my help?

Alec blinks, trying to figure out ifhe's just imagining the way Cute Guy sounded almost hopeful. -Well, Imean, I'm always pretty lost in here? But I have no problem lookingfor something by myself.

Cute Guy beams and Alec just givesup. -No way, I'll have to help you.

*

Simon honest to God jumps up anddown when Alec comes back home with two Bath Bombs calledDragon's Egg.

Alec had told Cute Guy that Simonwas into Game of Thrones and Cute Guy had nodded enthusiastically andhad gaped at Alec when he'd said he wasn't into TV shows at all.Actually, he'd shaken his head and he'd said: -What do you even dowith your life?- sounding shocked. Alec had been incredibly endeared.

Izzy and Clary stand at his sides asthey watch Simon coo at his Bath Bombs.-So,- Clary says, casually, -How's Cute Guy?

Alec sighs: -Always cute.

Jace frowns at him from the door,arms crossed over his chest: -How come you didn't get meanything?

*

So he goes back for Jace. Whatever.It's not like he has a dignity anymore.

Except that Cute Guy is workingregister today and Alec is stuck with a guy who introduces himself asRaphael in a monotone and leaves him to browse through the BubbleBars by himself.

They're fun and they look like thekind of thing Jace would secretly enjoy, so he gets one that smellslike chocolate – apparently – and he makes his way to theregister with his black and yellow paper bag.

And there Cute Guy is. With hissmile and his red streaks and red nail polish. -Let me guess,- hesays as he reaches for a bigger paper bag under the counter: -Anotherdisgruntled roommate?

-Best friend,- Alec corrects him,and that's when his eyes fall on Cute Guy's nametag. It reads Magnus.

Magnus.

It fits him perfectly.

-Well, tell you what,- Cute Guy, Magnus says, almostconspiratorially as he lowers his voice, -Since you're always buyingpresents I'll give you one of the good samples. For personaluse,- and then he stops, blushes, and Alec with him, although hedoesn't know why.

Magnus throws a small, black container in the bag and he rings himup, blush still sitting on his cheeks, and Alec doesn't really knowwhat to say, hell, he doesn't know what happened, he justknows that Magnus doesn't quite look him in the eyes when he saysgoodbye.

*

The sample, it turns out, is a Massage Bar called Hottie.It's warming and stimulating.

Izzy blinks at Alec for twenty seconds: -We're going there tomorrowand you're asking Cute Guy out.

-What?- Alec takes back the sample, -No, no, no way,what do you –

-Well, I'm going,- Izzy says, -You can do what you want.

*

-Shit,- Alec mutters under his breath when he sees his sister insidethe shop, -Shit, shit, shit.

Izzy smiles at him, her very satisfied smile, Magnus standingright next to her, and Alec considers leaving, he really does,but then Magnus says: -Alec.-, and he feels like he could stay rightthere for the rest of his life.

He swallows. -Hey.

Magnus smiles, anticipation running through his fingers as he keepstwisting them: -Your sister was telling me that she's the oneyou bought that stuff for the first time.

Alec blinks. That's not what he expected. -Yes?- he says, confusionturning it into a question.

Izzy rolls her eyes: -Why don't you two go talk outside?

Magnus looks away, bashful, a small smile on his lips: -Of course,I'll take my break if it's – - he glances at Alec, -okay with you.

-Yeah, no, of course, I mean –

Izzy glares at them both.

Which is how Alec finds himself on the sidewalk at the back entranceof the shop with Magnus, Cute Guy Magnus.

-I thought you were buying stuff for your girlfriend,- Magnus says,in one breath, without looking at him.

Alec blinks in confusion: -My what?

-Yeah, I – I mean, after that first time I thought maybe you – Idon't know, maybe you were a serial cheater and you had to beforgiven a lot so you kept coming up with excuses and that'swhy – I mean, if I'd known that she was your sister Iwould've –

Alec blurts out: -I'm really gay.

Smooth.

Magnus looks at him, eyes wide,barely holding back a smile, and Alec grunts, says: -Oh God.-,rubbing his face with his hands as Magnus chuckles.

-Not funny,-he whines, -I've already embarrassed myself enough my coming here fora month. And youthought I was cheating–

-I'm sorry,- Magnus says, stillchuckling, and Alec peers at him through his fingers; he doesn't looksorry at all. Gorgeous, yes. Sorry, not so much. He lowers his hands.

-What would have you done?- Alecasks, holding his breath, -If you'd known it was for my sister.

Magnus looks back and forth betweenhis eyes for a second: -I'll have you know I had it all planned out.I would have run after you as soon as you'd left the shop. To keep itprofessional, you know.

Alec nods, pressing his lipstogether. It's useless. He's smiling anyway. -Of course.

-And then I would have asked youout.

-Well, it does sound pretty nice.

-Right? I know. I'm a master atdaydreaming.

Jesus, Alec is half in love already.He can hear himselfsmile as he asks: -You know what would sound even nicer?

Magnus grins. -Few things, I'msure,- he teases.

Alec chuckles, shaking his head; hetakes a deep breath: -Would you like to go out with me?

[lau29]

Things I'm currently in love with

tagged by: @probablymuse one song: Look Up - Daley two movies: Disney’s "Hercules", Tim Burton’s "Big Eyes" three series: Stranger Things, Steven Universe, Adventure Time four people: my friends nayru, angie, michi and ari (+ mary, meggo and mili y is it only four ppl f*** this post ) five foods: pasta omelette, horse meat, carrots, ice cream, strawberries I tag: @annwacwala, @yallneedcheesus, @my-ships-have-canons, @maryinfandomland, @killlmymind

[sometimesambroswrites]

@maryinfandomland i'm not writing prompts right now because I need to work on a birthday fic but I'll get on them as soon as I'm done if you don't mind waiting! (Italian fans aka la sanità dei fandom 💪🏻)