#professor Malec au

[onetimetwotimesthreetimess]

“I will see you all during the panel at 5 sharp. Please be in attendance, the panelists have specially been called to further your interests in the topic,” Professor Lightwood states at the end of the class.

The quiet of the class gets disturbed, and students start chirping around in low voices but Alec hears it loud and clear.

“Professor Lightwood?” One of the students, Mira speaks.

“Yes.”

“Some of us from Professor Bane’s class have another commitment. Mr. Bane has called a huge climate activist for an informal session.”

Alec peers at her, “At the same time?”

“Yes.”

“And why was I not informed about this before?” Alec asks. “Did I not inform you about this three weeks back? Then why am I hearing this at the last minute.”

Mira hesitates, “It was a last minute thing.”

“How last minute?”

“He told us this morning during his class,” she replies.

Figures.

Fucking asshole.

Alec gathers his stuff and gets ready or leave, “You can attend his session.”

A collective sigh breaks through.

“But remember, whoever chooses informal last minute sessions over planned panels can drop my class anytime,” Alec points out. “I’ll see the rest of you at five.”

-a snippet from professor malec au one shot that is nothing but chaos, love, pettiness and oblivious students.

[lurafita]

Just had a Brooklyn 99 inspired thought about Holt coded (not as severe and a bit younger) police captain Alec taking over a new precinct. And the sqaud (clary, Simon, maia, jace,...) being completely bowled over when they meet their stoic captain's colorful sparkly husband for the first time 😂

[booksandmore]

alright i have a shit ton of fics going through my head but i’m going to post this one so i can make myself finish my outline of it or something anyway this is a ballet malec au with dancer!alec and patron!magnus

magnus bane is the famous fashion mogul and one of the elite of new york society, and the only person who dosen’t know who he is probably alec lightwood, soloist at The Angel’s Royal Ballet, one of the best ballet companies in New York (which magnus is the biggest patron of). alec is more curious about the mystery person who sends him roses after his shows

[lovexthexflash]

"You are my heart, my life, my one and only thought"

Malec fic by  bahnhofsblumen, iwillstayalive,  Chapters:2/2

Summary:

“Ohhhh Mr. Lightwood, you got a secret admirer? Or what’s the occasion?”

He tore his gaze away from the flower to his student, Lacey, who was grinning at him.

“It’s my birthday and it really isn’t a secret one.”

“Really? Care to share, Mr. Lightwood?”

Read the entire work here.

[echele-78]

Original Posting Date: October 13, 2019

Rating: G

Ship: Malec

Summary:  Alec and Magnus want the same office. Who will get it?

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21014879

[stupidnephilimlove]

Can I pleaaaaase request a second part of the uni au you wrote for Carla, I might die otherwise😭👌🏻 (If you don't want to/don't have time that's fine, of course, I'm just being overdramatic)

please don’t die here’s part 2. I erm.. I hope you like it and thanks for asking! 😄

Part one is here if anyone missed it

Alec’s hand is unsteady as he raises it to knock. His knuckles pause just before colliding with the door and Alec smooths his palm over the wood instead. His fingers ghost over the words inscribed in gold leaf. Professor M. Bane.

This is foolish, coming here like this. What is he going to achieve, other than making more of an idiot of himself? Alec’s heart is a little unsteady and he’s torn. Walk away or take a chance? He needs the help. Really needs the help. He barely scraped a pass on the last two tests. Professor Bane had gotten that new haircut for that first one, and then there’d been those trousers - they must have been painted on - for the second. It’s not really his fault.

The mental war Alec’s having consumes all his attention and he misses the movement of the door handle. The solid wood in front of him is suddenly replaced with a body. A man. Magnus. Shit. Professor Bane. Alec’s only thinking of him as Professor Bane, he promised himself. He really needs to create some boundaries in his brain.

“Alexander?”

Alec wants to melt, right there in the doorway. His knees go weak. It’s not a pleasant feeling because he’s not a damsel in some stupid romance novel, okay. He’s an adult. He’s a mature adult and he’s dealt with crushes before, he can deal with this one. Don’t ask him how he knows that romance novels have damsels that go weak at the knees. It was one book and it was a dare.

Still, he doesn’t look at Professor Bane when he speaks, “Were you serious about the office hours, Sir?”

Is that a chuckle? It is. It reminds Alec of taking that first bite of chocolate, that sweet, decadent rush followed by that instant craving for more.

“Magnus. You keep ageing me thirty years, and I’m not sure whether I should be offended.”

“Oh- I didn’t… That wasn’t-” The broad grin on Professor Bane’s face clues Alec in. That was a joke. Magnus made a joke and Alec like a klutz didn’t laugh. Alec does now, awkwardly, and it’s mostly at his own expense.

“Relax,” Magnus tells Alec, “I meant it. Come in and let’s see how I can help.”

They sit across from each other. Alec clutches the bag in his lap like a life raft.

“What are you struggling with most?”

Looking at you.

“Everything?”

Magnus leans back in his seat, eyes assessing. He twists a pencil between his fingers, presses it to his lips and Alec’s having a heart attack. His brain goes to places it really shouldn’t, to thoughts that aren’t all that acceptable when you’re sitting in your Professor’s office. He clutches the bag tighter in his lap.

“Why did you pick this class, Alec?”

Why did he pick this class? And why is Magnus asking him this?

“I needed the credits.”

Alec still needs the credits.

“But why these credits? History isn’t exactly the most interesting of subjects-”

“-you make it interesting though.”

Shit. Did that really just come out of his mouth?

Magnus takes it in good humour, when he says, “If I did, we wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

Alec feels like a shit. Magnus might be joking about it, but Alec’s making Magnus think he’s a terrible Professor.

“You do,” Alec assures, “I’m just having trouble concentrating in class sometimes.”

“Okay. We can work on that.”

Alec doesn’t allow his mind to linger on the word we. As much as it wants to.

“Back to the question though, why this class?”

Alec thinks about it for a moment, knows Magnus won’t be satisfied with a one-word answer and then he begins to talk. It starts with his love of learning, then shifts to his need to understand. He talks about how he could have taken an easy class, but what would the point have been if it doesn’t interest him and he’s always had this strange interest in the past and how things came to be the way they are.

Magnus lets him talk. He prompts but doesn’t lecture and Alec feels himself relax. He still feels that overwhelming rush of desire when he looks at Magnus but it isn’t consuming him anymore. When Magnus talks, he isn’t distracted by the movement of his lips because he’s riveted to the words, wants to hear everything Magnus has to say.

The hour passes quickly. Quicker than Alec likes.

When he excuses himself to leave for his next lecture Magnus speaks.

“I’ll see you next week, Alexander.”

There’s no question, and there’s a smile on Magnus’ face that Alec wants to interpret as fondness, but he can’t let himself.

As the door closes behind him Alec wonders when he broke his promise to himself and started thinking of Professor Bane as Magnus.

If you want part 3 it’s here

[malecficlibrary]

What Happens in Dueling Club... by magicmagnus*

Part #2 of the Hogwarts Professor AU series

Chapters: One-Shot Genre: Crossover / Fusion Length: 5K - 10K Rating: General Audience Secondary Characters: Catarina Loss, Clary Fray, Izzy Lightwood, Ragnor Fell, Raphael Santiago, Simon Lewis Secondary Pairings: None Additional Relationships: None Themes: Alcohol, Alec POV, Angst, Cat-Eyed Magnus, Family, Flirting, Fluff, Gryffindor Alec, Hogwarts AU, Hurt & Comfort, Kids, Law Enforcement, Magic Use, Office, Pining, Slow Burn,Teacher

Summary:

...stays in dueling club.

Alec Lightwood has only been teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts for a few months, but already it's been one of the most exhausting challenges of his life. When a first year lets slip that a group of students have formed an underground dueling ring, Alec is frantic to break it up -- an ordeal that leads to an unexpected friendship with Magnus Bane, Postionsmaster extraordinaire.

Or, one of Alec and Magnus' first interactions at Hogwarts, and the beginning of a beautiful friendship (and a particularly intense case of pining...)

[magnus-the-maqnificent]

So. Here’s a lil story.

I participate in the Malec Secret Santa every year. And every year I’m a master procrastinator and sit down and write out my fic in the last 2-3 days, maybe a week if we’re being generous (and I never learn, but that’s not the point of this story)

This year, however, things were different. I’m in the middle of Pre-finals right now, and the week of the Secret Santa deadline I was swamped with college work and record submissions (cause apparently, my professors are all also Master Procrastinators who waited till the last minute to let us know what to write in those records).

Anyway, I was overworked, I was tired, and I had no idea what to write for the Secret Santa. I made a few false starts and decided to go for a fluffy strangers to lovers college au. It might’ve been 3k if I’d written it out completely.

I didn’t. It was a hard fic to write. I didn’t have any idea about the plot, just that I wanted it to be what I wrote above, and I knew it had to be Magnus POV and I had a certain characterisation for Alec in mind.

But uhm, anyways. Plot didn’t work. I didn’t vibe with the characterisations. Fic was supposed to be a fluffy wintery slow burn, with Malec meeting multiple times at college and slowly falling (while being oblivious dumbasses ofc) and finally somehow ending up together. 500 words in, I reread through it and I was like.

This is boring, uninspired crap.

No, really. There’s no conflict. All the tension is forced. Heck, the fic itself feels forced. One tiny part of me was like, hey, maybe that’s the point of this story, maybe some love stories are just… simple and boring. It’s realistic right? We can write a monologue about it in the end?

I hated that too.

I ended up ditching the fic, and got to studying, while the deadline still loomed over me. And then, I got this lil idea, of a coffee shop and rivals to lovers. It was a tiny idea, just two scenes long, but hey it was still better than what I’d been writing before and I don’t have the time anyway. I sat down and wrote it, and it came out about 1.5k long. I submitted it in, and well, here’s the comments on it so far

I… really don’t know what it means that every single comment mentions the word count (and none of them are negative!! It’s like. I made something that matters in a very small word count. That’s something)

Anyway, I think there’s a few lessons to be learnt here-

1. Word count doesn’t matter, the words do. It’s okay if your works lean towards shorter word counts, as long as you enjoyed writing these, as long as it meant something to you and to the readers.

2. If you’re not enjoying writing something - ditch it!! It’s completely okay.

Idk if I managed to articulate my thoughts properly. I’m probably rambling. But uhm yeah. Happy writing!!

P.S if you haven’t read my Secret Santa fic yet, you can do so here

[malectober]

Do you ever wish someone would just wrap you in a blanket and hold you close?

Well, join the party fam.

Anyway, we all know that we love putting malec through the wringer. But we also love getting to see them help each other through the aftermath

Whether it’s simple insecurities

Or grief or pain

Or heavy burdens

Here’s a few fic recs where malec help each other out through it all <3

Marred Beauty - by Cumberbatch Critter - Magnus discovers Alec’s self harm scars

If History Could Set You Free (From Who You We’re Supposed To Be) - by oceantears - BDSM + Arranged marriage AU about healing. (WIP, but the comfort scenes are *chef’s kiss*

Angel - by MoonlightBreeze - Alec prays to the Angel after Max dies

Let me help you - by Persephonesheart - Alec and Magnus are fellow professors at Hogwarts, and Alec has to deal with the ghosts of his past

A Scripture Stained Kiss - by orphan_account - Alec deals with religious guilt. Magnus helps him out.

my love, to take care of you would be a pleasure - by LittleMissCosmic - Magnus is used to taking care of Alec, but when he gets sick, has to learn to be the one taken care of for once.

The Little Things - by orphan_account - Trans!Alec AU - In which Alec faces a bout of dysphoria

bruised - by thesorrowoflizards - In which Magnus gets hurt, and Alec is ready to kill the guy who did it - but first, he has to give Magnus a little TLC

Something in the way he… - by @brightasstars - In which Magnus and Alec are both self-sacrificing shits

Mortality - by Orionours - Magnus has to confront Alec’s mortality when he’s late in returning home

Folklore - Taylor Swift (series) - by angelsmalec - A bunch of one shots based on Taylor Swift’s folklore, most of which are hurt/comfort (mind the tags!)

The story of a one eyed panda - by ArtFoxLife - Magnus has a few peculiar rules in his and Alec’s relationship

[onetimetwotimesthreetimess]

Profesor au please😭

He’s about to go home when he sees the lights to Magnus’s office on.

Alec frowns and crosses the distance and knocks on the door.

“Come in.”

He hesitates for a second but then decides to take the bullet and steps inside.

“Hey.”

Magnus looks up at him, arching his eyebrow. “Professor Lightwood? What brings you here at this time?”

“I just saw the lights on. It’s nine p.m.”

“And?”

Alec sighs.

Why are you so fucking insufferable?

“Why are you still here?” Magnus challenges.

Well. That’s a million dollar question.

“I had left my phone here so I came back to get that,” Alec lies.

“Sounds fake but okay,” Magnus huffs.

“Magnus—“

“Alec—“

“God. Why did I even come?” Alec groans.

Magnus hums. “My thoughts exactly. You should leave professor, lest anyone think you care about me.”

[lurafita]

Malec Sentinel AU

It's crossover tuesday thursday. Name another fandom, no matter how obscure, that you would like to mash together with the shadowhunter characters - and Malec in particular - in any way.

I will start: crossover series: The Sentinel. story would play in this universe: The Sentinel characters used for the story: Shadowhunter cast short plot synopsis?: Basically a retelling of the Sentinel series, but tailored to the shadowhunter characters. Alec emerging as a Sentinel, and having no idea what is happening to him. As his state deteriorates, his siblings finally find a reference to his symptoms in a thesis published by a Professor Fell some years back. Hoping that this professor can help Alec, they pack their nearly catatonic brother in a car and drive to Fell's home. Only to be greeted by a man who is clearly not a 56 year old professor, who tells them that Ragnor Fell is on an expedition in Borneo, and not expected to be back for the next six months. Luckily though, it turns out that Magnus, the anthropology student/TA, is familiar with Fell's studies, and has access to the research. He is then able to apply the information to help Alec out.

What follows then is the growing relationship between Alec and Magnus, as Alec learns to master his heightened senses, Magnus becomes his guide, and they clean up a lot of the criminal elements of New York.

[rai-knightshade]

I posted 19,561 times in 2022

10 posts created (0%)

19,551 posts reblogged (100%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@wanderingnightingale

@parttimetrickster

@nodesiretogrowup

@spacesapphist

@thepondstogether

I tagged 2,620 of my posts in 2022

#zelink - 375 posts

#shirbert - 317 posts

#self reblog - 61 posts

#malec - 42 posts

#usamamo - 39 posts

#goncharov - 30 posts

#🥺🥺🥺🥺 - 21 posts

#unreality - 18 posts

#yes - 17 posts

#skyward sword - 16 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#(i know he apologized in his acceptance speech but iirc the broadcast specifically mentioned he didnt apologize to chris rock specifically)

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I see you liking every single thing on my YJK blog and now I have to stan

Have a baby Jaina with her aunt Mara

THANK YOU 😂😂😂 i was reminded of my childhood love of the Young Jedi Knights via a crossover with a completely different fandom And i may have fell down the rabbit hole last night 😅 thank you for keeping this fandom alive i was almost certain i was the only person left who remembered/cared about the EU/Legends kids, especially the ones who weren't Solos and Skywalkers 😓 they are PRECIOUS and i LOVE THEM

1 note - Posted May 20, 2022

#4

crash

1 note - Posted April 1, 2022

#3

Hey! 👀+💕 for the asks!

Current ask game!

👀 Do you have any words/phrases you use habitually? 

I really like word "hence", I heard it once in like third grade and I basically made it a core part of my personality from then on. Not sure how often I use it in fic tho.... Other than that, I think I use a lot of -ly words as descriptors; wryly, ruefully, brightly, etc. A bit basic I'll admit but they get the point across and I don't have to dig out a thesaurus to understand what a character is expressing.

💕 What is the WIP that you are most excited about?

Well as mentioned in the tags of my og reblog, I've only got one WIP that I'm actually working on right now! The working title is "rest your head close to my heart, never to part (baby o'mine)", which will probably stay the title cause I always use song lyrics 😂 I'm usually inspired by music to write so it's only natural, I think. It's a fic for Anne of Green Gables, specifically the Sullivan tv movie continuity remixed into the original book continuity. Set 8 years after the third movie and with zero regard for any supposed "fourth" movies you may have heard of, it centers on the eldest Blythe child, Dominic, and how he comes to a sudden realization about himself in relation to the rest of his family, and how his question of "where did I come from?" Is answered.

Or, "so you forgot to mention to your firstborn that he's adopted and now he's asking Questions™ because he's realized he's the blonde sheep of your black-, brown- and red-haired family, what do you do?" But in fic form 😂😂😂.

I'm excited to see it finished cause I've been working on it for weeks, and because it's the first fic I've written in... A year, I think? So to get it written out will be an amazing achievement for me! I'm not sure how it'll be received cause it's a) the most self-indulgent fluffy-ass piece I've ever written--even more so than my Bradyverse, which I didn't think was possible--and is explicitly canon to the Anne movie that literally only me and like 5 other people like 😅😅 but who cares it's family fluff time!

Thank you for the ask Zelmo!!

1 note - Posted February 16, 2022

#2

⏰ What time of day do you prefer to write? 📌 If all your fics/WIPs fell off a ship and were drowning (go with it), and you could only save one, which would it be?

Time of day: whenever I've got a free moment tbh 😂😂 which currently tends to be the evenings as I work the morning shift 5 days a week. I've written or edited during my lunch times before tho so it's far from a hard and fast rule. When the inspiration strikes, it strikes!

Pick one WIP to save: well considering I only have one WIP that I'm currently working on (sorry professors!macdalton au, hopefully I'll get back to you one day), I'd say it's gonna have to be that one, titled "rest your head close to my heart, never to part (baby o'mine)". Even if it wasn't my only wip tho it'd probly be the one I save cause it's also one of the longest-taking wip I've ever had (the Brady verse doesn't count that was less one full wip and more a bunch of little snippets) and the fact that I'm still not done even tho it's been weeks is like. Torture. So I *will* finish this goddamn fic if it kills me. Wouldn't be the first death in the series at least (tho to be clear, nobody dies in this fic. It... Just happens to be about the mc finding out he's an adopted orphan, so. Clearly somebody had to die along the way. Multiple somebodies, even.)

Thanks for the ask!

1 note - Posted February 15, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

He didn't even punch him, he slapped him.

So I've seen now! (I didn't watch the Oscars this was entirely secondhand.) Honestly like. It smells like bullshit to me man idk talk to me when somebody like, fully assaults someone on stage in a full on brawl or some shit THEN maybe we can talk about losing Oscars. Not a (honestly very easily justified) slap.

3 notes - Posted March 29, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[malucy31]

Oceanic feelings

Read on ao3

Malec AU

Rated T

3878 words

Summary - Magnus Bane, scientist and professional merman is certain of two things: the president of the university has lost her mind and if professor Lightwood could stop sulking, he would see that they are on the same side. (If he could stop playing with his beanie, it would help too.)

Magnus is used to being hired for the most incongruous parties and he has always made it a professional rule to never make a comment, always agreeing as long as the contract terms were respected. But this? This isn’t just incongruous and ridiculous, this is revolting.

“Mister Bane, please understand that this isn’t for pleasure that we organize this birthday party,” Imogen Herondale repeats, her face cold and closed in a way that would be funny under other circumstances. Magnus never thought he would have heard someone like her, the president of the most prominent university in the region utter words like merman and birthday party. It’s kind of ridiculous. “Victor Aldertree is our main source of donations, we’ll pay you more than what you usually ask for.”

A retort about his soul not being for sale sits heavily on the tip of his tongue, but once again, the man standing next to her inhales sharply, tilting his head and stretching his neck with a clear this is stupid attitude. He isn’t even trying to hide his annoyance and it’s increasingly becoming insulting.

At first, Magnus thought the man was on his side.

When the meeting started, Imogen Herondale introduced him as Professor Lightwood, saying that he was there because no contract could be signed between the university and Magnus’s company without his approval. Before President Herondale could explain why, the man cut her off with a sharp “I’m not doing this”, even refusing to take a seat. Between this and the fact that he is probably brilliant (no one gets the title of professor at such a young age, Magnus doesn’t know how old he is, but he can’t be much older than 30), Magnus thought he found an ally, which made him smile at Lightwood… who didn’t smile back.

As the meeting goes by, the stern and hostile expression on his face isn’t leaving. Magnus doesn’t get it. He is almost certain they are on the same page here, both reluctant to root out the rarest fishes they have in the university research aquarium to put them in a million dollars tank for an 11 years old birthday party.

And because it’s apparently not enough, they want to hire Magnus and his team of merfolk swimmers, as if those fishes wouldn’t be already traumatized by the sudden change of environment.

Magnus is pretty sure Lightwood is just as revolted as he is about this idea, but the more time goes by, the more it seems that the man is revolted, period.

President Herondale is talking, but Magnus has stopped listening. For some reason, he is wholly engrossed in whatever the man is doing, all the ways his features can express boredom, annoyance and slight disdain. It’s getting on Magnus’s nerves because really, what did he do to deserve such treatment? He is this close to snap and take the beanie out of the man’s hands. He hasn’t stopped playing with it, putting it on and off, ruffling his hair a bit more every time. Herondale glared at him a few times at the beginning, but eventually stopped. This must be usual behavior for the professor. Magnus would find it endearing and probably charming if Lightwood was helping him, but his anger seems to make him completely oblivious to the nuances of the situation, unable to see that they could help each other here. So no, Magnus isn’t endeared or charmed by the professor’s constant fidgeting. He feels helpless because after an hour of discussion, nothing Magnus said made an impression and Lightwood hasn’t been helpful.

After a last tentative of showing the professor that they are on the same side and only earning a frustrated silence, Magnus heaves a sigh. He isn’t accepting defeat yet, but even he has to face the fact that this battle has been lost.

“I’ll talk to my team, we’ll see what we can come up with.”

The man scoffs and Magnus glares at him. What’s his problem? He doesn’t strike Magnus as the kind of person who doesn’t speak his mind, why isn’t he being more helpful?

“Professor Lightwood,” the president calls him. “I’m gonna need your signature here so we can prepare a contract.”

“I’m not signing this.”

Herondale closes her eyes and sighs. “We’ve been over this already. If you want this university to keep giving you funds, we need to do this.”

“You know just as well as I do that Aldertree is only asking for this out of spite.”

For the first time since this meeting started, Magnus sees a flash of despair in the man’s eyes. It squeezes his chest. They are on the same side and Magnus wants to scream his frustration. At least the man is refusing any compromise. With a pang in his chest, Magnus realizes that maybe Lightwood was waiting for him to do the same, be as firm as he is, maybe they’ve both been waiting for the other one to join their own dance. Lightwood must have taken him for someone ready to compromise and he isn’t. He just thinks they’ll have more chance to win the war if they get to choose the battlefield next time

Magnus is about to open his mouth, say something to make the man understand that there willbe a next time, but Herondale is already ushering him out.

“We’ll let you know our terms of the contract once it’s ready,” she tells him.

When he closes the door behind him, Magnus meets the man’s gaze. There is a mix of anger and cry for help in those hazel eyes that makes him want to linger for a while in the empty corridors. He doesn’t know the man, didn’t even get more than his last name. He is a professor, but a professor of what? And why was he even here when he is clearly opposed to the request?

He shouldn’t wait for him… Should he? Why would he? He paces for a while, hesitating between walking down the stairs to leave and staying close to the President’s office. But somehow, something pulls at his chest and it’s becoming very important for Magnus to make the professor understand that they areon the same side. Not just because they’ll have to come up with a plan at some point, but because it physically hurts him to think that this beautiful man with his stupid beanie will go home thinking Magnus agrees with this ridiculous birthday party.

So, he waits.

He finds a window ledge at one end of the corridor and sits there, losing himself in the sight ahead of him to avoid thinking of what he is doing... and why.

The sight is a common one in a desolated region like this one, but Magnus never tires of it. The university sits on the highest cliff. Down below the waves crash against the shore, their sound barely audible through the howling of the wind. At least five seagulls are hovering over the same spot above the ocean, their insisting calls bringing Magnus immediate peace despite the stormy weather. He can almost smell the coming rain in the salty breeze that finds ways to funnel through the building. Many people would find this view depressing, Magnus doesn’t.

The ocean is hugged by the land and from his spot, he can see the lonely road following the outline of the cliffs. Not a single car in sight. A few years ago, Magnus would have opened wide eyes if anyone had told him this is where he would be today and that he would be happy here. Genuinely happy.

Not a lot of people come here. It’s far from everything, it’s always either windy or rainy except in the summer, which is when a few tourists come. But most importantly, this is a protected environment and mostly scientists live here. Most of them stay for a few months only, a couple of years maximum. Magnus has been here for six years already, conducting research on the local marine fauna. It’s a lonely work, but it’s what he needs.

The thoughts bring him back to his present predicament.

Magnus knows this university plays a big part in preserving the whole region, so why would they agree to such an abomination? He knows firsthand how money is a crucial element when it comes to saving the planet and making sure there will be something left once the humankind goes extinct. He understands the need to be creative to find money, which is what lead him to build his merfolk entertainment company. But dislodging the rarest specimen of already vulnerable species for a few hours seems contra productive at best, plain evil at worst. There’s a reason why the aquarium of this university is known as the best sanctuary for threatened fish species in the whole country and the reason is that they are smart enough to refuse the kind of request that would put them in a hostile environment.

He can already picture the kids poking at the tank, scaring fishes that have only known the quiet of the undersea aquarium. Imogen Herondale talked about a few swimmers, but Magnus can only picture one person outside of himself who could be trusted with such a job, Catarina. If he accepts, he won’t allow anyone else and they will have to take turns to dive in. This isn’t even mentioning all the precautions that will have to be taken to transfer the fishes twice.

He hasn’t seen the ones this Aldertree requested, but he can guess which ones. The most colorful ones, the prettiest, maybe the most dangerous too. All of them in one aquarium with two humans dancing around with a fake fishtail like it’s a circus show.

Magnus loves his job. He loves the art and the skills that go with, the strength and grace it demands. There’s something about diving in apnea, about feeling his muscles try to find resources to work and slowly sinking into this state of blissful haze, realizing that his body knows what to do without having to use renewed oxygen.

When he dances underwater, he feels part of something bigger, it’s almost like dying and returning to the embrace of mother nature, being one with the whole universe in a land of darkness and quiet. Then life rushes back into his veins. This feeling is one he has never experienced in another context. It’s addictive and he knows it, but he doesn’t care. Some are addicted to work, cigarettes, alcohol, or sex.

He is addicted to the ocean.

But it doesn’t stop him from seeing that this is wrong.

The door to Herondale’s office opens and closes, a man swears. Magnus recognizes the professor and almost rolls his eyes when he sees that he has his beanie in his hand and is raking a hand through his hair. Again.

The man walks in his direction, visibly lost in his own thoughts, but he eventually catches sight of Magnus. It makes him falter for a few seconds before he resumes his walk only to stop right in front of him, beanie still in hand. With the greyish and cold light flooding the corridor from behind Magnus, he can see even more clearly the distress in the man’s eyes. It wrenches his heart again.

“I’m not an enemy here,” Magnus says because those words have been dying to finally take a shape on his tongue.

“I know,” the man sighs, putting his beanie back on. Magnus would tease him if the gesture didn’t infuse such vulnerability into the man’s aura. Back inside the office, it was annoying but now, it’s painful to watch.

When the silence goes on for too long and it’s clear he won’t get more thoughts out of the man, Magnus stretches his hand. “Let’s start over, I’m Magnus.”

“Alec,” he answers as he shakes his hand. Something makes his lips twitch in an almost half-smile, finally giving Magnus a glimpse of what was hiding behind the constant expressions of disapproval.

“I’m sure I wasn’t told all the details in here, would you care to explain what this is all about exactly? Because in case I wasn’t clear, I am not thrilled by the idea of this birthday party.”

Alec shakes his head, looking down and defeated before meeting Magnus’s gaze.

“Do you wanna see the aquarium?”

“Y – Yes, sure.” Magnus blinks, taken aback.

“Come on, then, we can talk more freely there and it’s nicer.”

Alec hasn’t finished his sentence that he is already walking down the stairs, looking more alive and eager than Magnus has seen him yet. The change in his attitude makes him smile as he follows him.

They have to go outside to find the elevator that will lead them underwater. Their steps echo through the university’s corridor, the lights flickering on as soon as it detects their presence. The more they approach the entrance gate, the louder the wind gets. Magnus can even hear the university flags snapping helplessly outside.

On the way, Alec explains that he is in charge of the whole marine biology department and that he has been recently promoted director of the aquarium.

“Though, if I’m being honest,” he adds, waiting for Magnus to put his scarf back on before he opens the gate, “I was the one who always did everything. So, this new position doesn’t change much for me.”

“Does it mean you’re the one we should be thanking for making this aquarium what it is today?”

Even through the loud wind, Magnus hears Alec chuckle lightly and when he turns to look at him, Magnus isn’t sure if the red on his cheeks is due to the sudden cold or a sudden blush. It’s endearing both ways.

Alec shrugs for all answer. “Aldertree wasn’t thrilled. He wanted the university to give the position to his older son, but it didn’t work out, so I’m guessing he is only doing this to piss me off.”

“What does he want exactly?”

Alec starts to answer as they walk down the stairs, but between the wind, the various birds and the waves, everything is too loud and he has to yell. When Magnus makes him repeat himself for the third time because he missed a few words, Alec laughs, his face free of scowl or anything that could weigh him down. Magnus loses his breath for a second, finally understanding what made him feel like he could be charmed by Alec. He is, he really is. A sudden gust of wind gives him an excuse to look like he is catching his breath.

They agree to continue their conversation once they’re safe from the elements. What should be a few minutes walk turns feeling much longer and much more exhausting than what it probably is.

The elevator is situated in a small cabin close to the edge of the cliff. It follows the curve down until it plunges underwater to a facility that was build a few decades ago. Magnus only visited a couple of times and excitement is making him almost jumps up and down as Alec opens the cabin door. It earns Magnus another smile that makes his heart follow the movement.

Alec opens the door, ushers him in and closes the door behind them. All the sudden, silence settles and Magnus opens wide eyes. He wasn’t expecting it to be so well sound-proofed. He can hear Alec panting after they had to walk against the wind and it’s oddly intimate. Alec pushes the elevator button, catching his breath quickly while removing his beanie and ruffling his hair.

“Aldertree’s daughter wanted a mermaid themed birthday, so he thought it would be a great idea to hire mermaids to swim in a gigantic tank. It would have been okay if he hadn’t requested my fishes too…” he says that word with such a protective edge to his voice that Magnus can’t hold back his smile.

“Yourfishes?”

“Well, they’re not mine, but I’ve been taking care of them and monitoring their evolution since I got here. I feel responsible.”

They enter the elevator and stay quiet as it goes down. They can see everything through the sides and once they reach the water level and dive deeper and deeper, Magnus is mesmerized. It’s mostly dark and unwelcoming, but he has always loved it, always felt calmer under water. It’s a battlefield between the elements on the surface, but here, it’s peaceful, like they just stepped through a portal to another world.

When he glances at Alec besides him, he sees that his features seem more relaxed too. It wouldn’t surprise him if the man’s thoughts took the same direction his did. Alec might be just as addicted to the ocean as he is.

“I get it,” Magnus simply says. It’s both an answer and an acknowledgment that Alec can take the way he wants. The young professor lifts the corner of him mouth in something that looks like gratitude and Magnus basks in this mutual understanding.

It’s late in the afternoon already, so when they get to the aquarium, there is no one but them and a few students they can hear discussing in one of the conference rooms. They leave their coats and scarfs in a locker at the entrance, but Alec keeps his beanie on. Magnus has officially reached the stage where he finds it a hundred percent endearing.

It’s quiet and neither of them dares disrupting the silence as they make their way through the different rooms. Some of them only consist of two gigantic windows on each side that allow them to look outside, some others display tanks. Magnus doesn’t think he has even seen tanks that were so well tended. They don’t see a lot of fishes, but it doesn’t matter. Strangely, it has never been what drew Magnus to aquariums. He likes the general atmosphere, the feeling of being between two worlds. The lights are dim to avoid disturbing the flora and fauna too much. Some tanks are in complete darkness when others have a specific lightning. Magnus is dying to know more, know the reasons behind every decision and Alec looks more than happy to answer every question he has.

His eager professor stops in front of the biggest tank. It’s slightly curved and continues above their head. The faint blue and pink lights wash over Alec’s face, making him look just as mesmerizing as everything Magnus has seen so far.

“They’re a little shy,” Alec says as he smiles at a fish Magnus couldn’t even name. It’s very colorful with a long nose and fins that undulate like they are made of silk. The fish keeps catching sand before spitting it out. Alec chuckles. “This one’s not.”

They watch the tank for a moment, Alec nudging Magnus’s arm with a soft brush of his fingers every time he catches sight of a fish, showing the direction to Magnus and whispering explanations as if speaking too loudly would scare the fishes away. Maybe it would. Magnus doesn’t mind playing along anyway, it only brings Alec closer to him. He smells of the ocean and of the marine breeze, salty, wide and wild. Infinite and generous. A bit of mystery and darkness too. Magnus almost feels dizzy with the intensity of the emotions going through him and he is sure he can locate the exact spot in his heart where Cupid’s arrow landed during the last hour.

Then Alec starts asking him questions about the kind of research he does and how his job as a merman works. Magnus doesn’t think he imagines the way Alec’s eyes light up, the way the young man seems to relax more and more around him. There’s a hint of interest in the way Alec looks at him, something that edges on flirtatious and that makes Magnus’s heart flutter.

Later, when they resurface and agree to meet downtown to have a burger in one of the few restaurants, Magnus discovers how delightful Alec’s laugh sounds when it’s shared with him.

“I haven’t dived in too long,” Alec tells him, looking out of the window, probably searching for the ocean that is too far away for him to see. “I miss it.”

“Maybe you could come with me next time I have to scuba dive. I can easily find an excuse to bring someone down with me, especially since you’re in the field too.”

When Alec looks at him, it’s with the eagerness of a young boy. Magnus swears he would melt on his chair. Instead, he takes a few fries, trying to look more composed than he feels.

“Really?”

“Sure, give me your number, I’ll call you.” Magnus takes his phone out of his coat before he finishes his sentence, feeling a bit ashamed of having to find an excuse to get his number. But if Alec’s blush is anything to go by, Magnus guesses that he just saved Alec from finding his own excuse to exchange numbers.

They talk a little more and Magnus can’t help the disappointment from creeping in when the waiter brings them the check.

Outside, the wind has died down, leaving the small town almost too quiet, the sound of the faraway waves lulling it and its hundreds of inhabitants to sleep.

Magnus walks Alec to his car and he laughs when he sees Alec putting his beanie back on.

“You should stop doing this, you know?”

“Doing what?”

Mischief runs through his veins and Magnus takes the beanie off Alec’s head, finally ruffling his hair to try to style it. His curls are thick and soft, just like he imagined. “There, it’s better.”

Alec is biting his lips when Magnus looks at him, handing him his beanie back with a smirk that is supposed to hide his nervousness. He isn’t sure it’s working.

“Are you free for lunch tomorrow?” Alec asks and Magnus nods. It’s probably too eager for being socially acceptable, but who cares? Not him, not anymore. “I have three lectures in the morning,” Alec continues. “But I’m free afterwards. We should meet, we could come up with a strategy for the birthday party amongst other things.”

“Gladly.” Magnus smiles as Alec gets into his car, opening his window as soon as he closes the door. Magnus takes the opportunity to lean his hands against the opening to lower himself a bit. “I’ll be around campus anyway, there’s a lecture I’ve been dying to attend.”

“Oh, which one?”

“What lectures are you giving tomorrow?”

Alec chuckles but doesn’t break eye contact. “There’s an oceanography introduction, then an advanced lecture about ocean pollution and the last one is about the marine mammals of the Salish sea.”

“That one! I’ve been dying to know more about the Salish sea, my favorite sea.”

“It is a fascinating sea, I agree. I wrote a couple of papers about it.” Alec shakes his head, smiling in a way that illuminates his whole face. “I guess I’ll see you there, then?”

“I guess you will, text me the time and place of the lecture, will you?”

“I will.”

Reluctantly, Magnus lets go of the car and waves at Alec as he starts the engine.

[lovexthexflash]

Music To My Ears

Malec AU fic by alistoney, Chapters:1/1

Summary:

Emma,” Alec says startled, but he’s smiling, “do you need something?”

Emma grins as she looks between Magnus and Alec and her eyes turn mischievous.

“I did come to ask whether you’d found out about the all-state audition music, but I can see that you’re quite busy so I’ll come back another time.” She winks and turns to Ty and indicates that they’re leaving.

Or the one where band teacher Alec and drama teacher Magnus have a special connection and their students make it their goal to get them together.

Read it here.

[salute-the-dead]

A List of My OTPs

because it's 11 and I can't sleep.

Enjolras x Grantaire a.k.a. Enjoltaire a.k.a. ExR- Les Mis

How I fell into this I don't remember now. I vaguely remember reading a crackfic of this and then everything just went sideways.

This was also the fandom that helped me realize that I wasn't exactly straight and that it's okay to not be loud about my sexuality, that I can just be.

I think that explains my attachment to this ship, not to mention just the movie's Grantaire (played by George Blagden) also shipped the characters and played his character like how he thought it should be, Grantaire loving and pining after Enjolras without the revolutionary knowing it.

Except in the fan fics, Enjolras returns his feelings and they work it out, even though it's not easy because they're both stubborn as mules. Ah, ultimate fantasy I guess. And the number of great fics here, *whistle*

Also, the Les Amis? Is amazing? Especially in the modern AUs? Like they're great friends? I love this fandom so much! Permets-tu!

Shen Wei x Zhao Yunlan - Guardian / Zhen Hun

C'mon, Zhu Yilong & Bai Yu's performance and emotions? Plus just the fact the fanfic writers of this ship are absolutely amazing? Please, escape from this pairing is impossible!

Best opposites attract trope for me. An academic by day, superhero by night in love with a roguish police chief who has no powers but whose charisma, wit, and heart can get him to toe to toe with the legends.

Also, Professor Shen Wei constantly acting like an innocent civilian and lying badly? Gold!

Loki x Tony Stark a.k.a. FrostIron - Avengers

How did I honestly get to this ship? I really can't remember what started it all. I think it must have been a Loki redemption fic where Tony Stark and Pepper broke up and something something happened. Let me tell you, the writers of this ship have written sagas and ballads of epic and sometimes confusing proportions, and that is why I fell deeper into the pit. I mean, they gotta give justice to two brilliant but chaotic characters, right? Angst. This ship has sooooooooo much angst.

Eiji x Ash - Banana Fish

My god, if you want to keep your heart intact and not be reminded of all that's ugly in the world, DON'T WATCH OR READ BANANA FISH. YOUR HEART WILL NEVER HEAL!

If you're gonna watch/read it anyway, make sure to watch something fluffy and sweet after. There's a reason that people from this fandom go, "If you've seen Banana Fish's ending, then you can handle whatever angsty show you're watching now." ~ or something to that effect. Another thing we like to say in this fandom is, "Other fandoms: Let's write a Mafia AU! Banana Fish fandom: We are the Mafia AU." Yes, all of us in this fandom is dramatic af.

Yuuri x Viktor - Yuuri!!! on Ice

Uh, does this really need an explanation? Aside from the fact that you will surprisingly find a lot of Mafia AUs here because we all know that hiding behind that beautiful face of Viktor Nikiforov is a devil capable of... tearing down your self-confidence, like WTF Viktor, don't make Yuuri cry! Also, their dance together at the end, such beautiful love.

Magnus Bane x Alec Lightwood aka Malec - Shadowhunters

I never read the books and have no plans to in the near future. I just saw a video on Youtube about why Malec is life and now here I am, still reading some Malec fics from time to time.

Some stuff on the show were WTF but overall they were a really good couple who supported each other. Plus, they're a Power Couple.

Erwin x Levi aka Eruri - Attack on Titan / Shingeki no Kyojin

Not to be confused with Ereri, which is Eren x Levi, which I don't generally ship except for that one time when a writer wrote an epic fanfic series with Eren in his mid 20s and Levi in his late 20s/early 30s, reincarnation AU. Boy was that one a surprise. I did not expect that.

Anyway, I'm an Eruri fan through and through. Especially with that promise that Levi made to Erwin. And the reason he gave the serum to Armin. HE DIDN'T DO IT FOR THE KIDS YKNOW. HE DID IT FOR ERWIN. Plus, Levi, Erwin, and Hange are my special trio. Erwin's batch was really amazing.

Also, I really like the fact that the shorter and slighter person is the more badass fighter while the taller, bigger one is the more calculating and strategic one. Rocks the boat of stereotypes and all that. Bonus: how these two met. My god, what a meet-cute! 😂

Dani x Jamie aka The Au Pair and the Gardener - The Haunting of Bly Manor

It really is more of a love story than a ghost story. I dunno how to feel about this. I loved these two characters so much and I wished they had a better ending but I wasn't SO surprised because it was a horror series (Like, I was still hoping at the end that they'd be together forever but yknow...). In any case, Jamie was just awesome. And her nickname for Dani? Poppins?! God, what a lover and fighter. She was not afraid to cock a gun in a ghost's face.

... and now for my flexible BROTPs

Merlin x Arthur aka Merthur - BBC Merlin

Yeah, my brain is so chaotic multiple OTPs and BROTPs of the same pairing exist at the same time without clashing with one another or having major identity crises.

I actually really like BROTP Merlin and Arthur and also like reading OTP Merthur.

And when Merlin is paired with Morgana or Freya or sometimes even Gwaine, that's fine with me too. As long as his bromance with Arthur stays intact, because that's what drew me to the show in the first place. Personal preference. I see them as platonic soulmates.

*Shout-out to the Merthur writers though, you kept me sane during my "Post-Merlin Depression," which is actually a term thrown around in the fandom because of that horrid final season (not saying it's a good term but it's what it was called). A lot of amazing fics here, too, both Magic Reveal and Modern AU ones. Full of action and adventure too! I mean, there are boy-band-looking Knights and magic-wielding badasses!

Tim Drake x Conner Kent/Kon-El aka Red Robin x Super Boy - DC Comics

More like flexible otp. I dig Stephanie Brown and Tim Drake BUT I really really also dig Tim Drake and Conner Kent. When they're TimKon, it's like an entirely different entity from TimSteph. Ugh, hard to explain.

I mean, Kon telling Tim, "You'll always be my Robin" and Tim telling Kon, "And you'll always be my clone boy" is the shit. Also when Kon could pick out/recognize Tim's heartbeat. And when Tim nearly went mad scientist trying to bring his bestie back. Like, dudes, wtf. And at the same time, hell yeah.

Liu Kang x Kung Lao aka LiuLao - Mortal Kombat

- I see these two as more like ride or die best friends connected by fate/platonic soulmates. But also like their dynamic is so awesome, cute, sweet, badass, can't-live-without-you vibes.

Basically the same way I feel about Merthur. I like reading both romantic and platonic relationships between these two characters. Like, the LiuLao fan creators peeling off the layers of this relationship and exposing every raw nerve is beautiful.

They love diving into the characters' psyche, emotions, motivations, fears, and doubts and you get really amazed because... Aren't they just characters from a video game, you ask? Well yeah, but MK video game has several interesting storylines and the Mortal Kombat 2021 movie was just the perfect jumpstarter to this beautiful blaze.

I mean, "We swore that if we were to die, it would be together"? Hell no, you're not dropping that on us and not expecting us to create our very own spin-offs and 12-page essays on that shit. That's what we fans do, baby. And also, really, we need a shaolin monks/white lotus spin-off/prequel. We're starving here.

As this ship is the newest one on my list, it's the one I'm looking forward to the most. Not enough fan content, I tell you. Not enough. One of these days, I just might add my own.

But right now, it's past 1 and so I shall attempt to sleep.

***No images for TimKon and LiuLao coz apparently I've gone past my 10-images allowance 😤

[stupidnephilimlove]

And now we have part 5. @iknowesurefire @ifthingsgetcrazy & @irisphryneadler this has gotten out of hand.

part 1 - if you missed it

Alec hates the universe. It’s taken a personal interest in making his life a living hell. It must have. Why else would his lecture get rescheduled to the same day as Magnus’ office hours? Not only that, but in the only slot he has free that day. Alec has a choice. He can miss his weekly opportunity to learn more about the intriguing Professor Bane or he can miss lunch. It’s not a difficult choice. It’s not really a choice at all.

“Your mid-term was great,” Magnus tells Alec. Alec can still see a lot of red pen. How can anything that is covered in that much red be great? How can it even be good? Maybe Magnus could start using a nice turquoise coloured pen, so Alec doesn’t feel like he’s getting shouted at when he reads the comments. Though, Alec passed, and his grade is a lot higher than he anticipated. He might actually get credit for this class after all.

“It’s all down to you, you worked your magic.”

Alec’s never sure if he should say things like that. Does it make Magnus uncomfortable? He’s trying really hard to hide this attraction, but he’s drawn to Magnus in a way he can’t explain. Sometimes he can’t stop himself, and words just sort of tumble out. But if Magnus knows about Alec’s crush — or the more-than-crush as Alec has decreed it — he mustn’t mind, because he just indulges Alec. So often, he tilts his head, shifts one leg over the other and focuses his entire self on what Alec’s saying. Just like he is now.

Magnus shakes his head and says, “I didn’t take the test for you. It was all you.”

Alec wants to disagree, but he knows they’ll get stuck in a strange loop of praising each other. And Alec might be adding praise to the list of kinks he’s developed since he met Magnus. He’s begun to crave the warmth that spreads through his chest every time Magnus tells him that was really good or well done. It’s addictive and a slippery slope that Alec’s already tripped and fallen down. He might as well enjoy it.

Alec’s had crushes before, but he’s never been so consumed by one. He’s dated. He’s found guys attractive, but this level of want is usually reserved for men that he’s formed a connection with. It’s disconcerting to be unable to act on it. To find out what the other person is thinking. Perhaps, that’s what makes the need stronger, the knowledge that nothing can ever happen with Magnus. There’s that saying about wanting what you can never have. And that’s what Magnus is, unattainable, just a fantasy. A fantasy that Alec worries has ruined him for the rest of his life.

They’re sitting close again, both on the same side of the desk. Alec conjures the courage to look Magnus square in the face, without being distracted, and speaks.

“Thank you. For helping me, though.”

Alec is truly grateful, and he hopes the words hold the sincerity he feels.

Their eyes lock on each other as Alec says the last word and Alec recognises the surprise in Magnus’. Alec should look away, they’ve reached the allotted amount of time that is socially acceptable for looking into each other's eyes. He doesn’t. He can’t. Magnus isn’t either. Magnus is the first to break the contact though, his eyes flicking down to Alec’s lips. Alec has to grip the arm of his chair to keep from launching himself at Magnus. He’s not sure where he finds the restraint.

Magnus’s eyes settle somewhere behind Alec’s head, and his face has become completely emotionless.

“It’s what I get paid to do, Alec.”

The words are as effective as throwing a bucket of cold water over him. Alec’s reminded that this is just a job to Magnus. Sometimes he gets so caught up in his imagination that he forgets they're not friends, this isn’t a social visit.

“Do you like it?” Alec can’t help his curiosity around Magnus, and he’s searching for a way to rid Magnus’ face of the guard he’s put up.

“Teaching? Yeah, a lot more than I thought I would. I lectured a lot through my PhD, but I’m really enjoying having a course that’s mine. Still, it’s only the first semester. Ask me at the end of the year.”

The end of the year. How is Alec supposed to maintain a distance when Magnus says things like that, as if, after the course is over they’ll still see each other, still talk to each other. Or maybe it’s just a figure of speech. Alec much prefers option one.

“I was surprised you chose Baucis and Philemon for the paper.”

“You mentioned it was an often overlooked favourite of yours,” Alec hadn’t meant to say that. Why does his brain have no filter around Magnus? 

Those were Magnus’ exact words. In week six, when Magnus had been lecturing about the proliferation of romantic themes in Greek mythology. Magnus had talked about how most were tragic, but that ‘an often overlooked favourite of mine — Baucis and Philemon — is an example of everlasting love, even beyond death’.

Alec, being Alec, might have read up extensively on the subject.

Alec’s stomach chooses that moment to make its protest at having missed lunch. Alec’s thankful for the interruption. When it does it a second time, he’s a little embarrassed.

“Hungry?” Magnus asks, face filled with humour.

“Didn’t have time for lunch.”

Magnus’ face shifts to concern, and he throws the paper in his hands onto the desk twisting in his chair so that they’re facing. Magnus’ eyes are captivating, an expressive deep brown.

“This session isn’t compulsory, Alec. Go eat.”

Alec misses Magnus’ full use of his name. Nonetheless, he enjoys the sound of his name on Magnus’ lips in any form. Would Magnus call out Alec or Alexander in pleasure? 

Alec doesn’t want to go. He doesn’t want to give up this short slot of time he has to get to know the leading man of his dreams. He can eat at any time.

“It’s fine. I’ll grab something later.”

Magnus shakes his head and sighs. He stands and leans across his desk to open a draw and Alec just blanks out for a second. This is just like one of Alec’s fantasies. Only in that one, it's Alec’s body that is draped over the desk and Magnus is pressing him down into the hard unforgiving wood. Alec’s shirt is hanging from one shoulder and Magnus presses bruising kisses into the tender skin there.

“Here.” Magnus throws an apple at Alec. He obviously intends for Alec to catch it, but Alec’s still bent across the desk in his mind and the apple hits him in the chest before falling into his lap. Alec just lets it sit there; his brain can’t seem to function.

“Eat that at least,” Magnus pleads.

Oh, yeah, that’s what he’s supposed to do with that. Alec picks the apple up, takes a bite and he curses the universe once more. Why is he always in this perpetual state of sexual frustration and mortification? Those two emotions, linked together like this, are going to scar him for life.

and this continues with part 6