#ragnor planning vacations for catarina

[themimsyborogove]

I have no excuse for this. I wanted to write something silly and I was really entertained by the idea of Ragnor getting sunburned. And I like the fluffy G-rated first half enough to post as its own one shot. I’ll link the full, er, more-than-G-rated version in a separate post when I get it up on AO3 later.

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Catarina has always liked the beach more than Ragnor does. It’s not that he hates the beach, he just hates heat, and humidity, and distrusts any body of water large enough to hold a boat. Just watching the boats passing by on the ocean, rocking in the waves, is enough to make his stomach turn, which the fishy smell of the salt water doesn’t help.

Ragnor much prefers mountains, with their cool, crisp air and clear streams that he and Catarina can sit on the edge of and dip their feet into while they rest during a hike. Even in the summer, when the days are hot and sunny, it isn’t a humid heat. The water in the streams is usually cold and refreshing, and the nights are comfortably cool, which always makes Catarina lean into him as they sit together outside of their tent. Ragnor likes those peaceful nights, where he can wrap an arm around her waist while she rests her head on his shoulder, and they can listen to the crickets chirp and watch the fireflies flutter through the woods with their soft glowing lights and pretend that the world is a little less bright, and noisy, and fast-paced than it’s become.

Ragnor might prefer their mountain hikes, but he knows Catarina likes warm sandy beaches as much as she likes their usual trips, and Ragnor does like to see her stretched out on a beach towel in the sun, enjoying the heat and the sand, so that’s where he plans their next vacation.

There’s a small island in the Caribbean that’s glamoured entirely from mundanes, and the group of warlocks who run the hotels and maintain the wards make a fortune from Downworlders who want to relax on a tropical beach without having to worry about their own glamours.

Ragnor makes Catarina close her eyes before he leads her through the Portal. There’s only one place on the island that’s unwarded to allow Portals to open, and it was clearly carefully chosen so that the first view of the island visitors see is of lush greenery and a pristine white sand beach with crystal clear, turquoise water.

“You can open your eyes now,” he says, and grins as her eyes widen, her mouth making a small ‘o’, as she takes in the beautiful scenery.

“Wow,” she murmurs, staring at the water, and he can tell by her expression that she’s itching to shed her clothes and dive in. “This certainly is a surprise.”

“It’s been a long time since I took you to a beach,” he says.

“Because you hate the beach.”

“I don’t hate the beach.”

Catarina tears her eyes away from the shoreline and turns to raise a moon-pale eyebrow at him.

“Okay, I hate the beach,” he admits. “But I like you on the beach, and that’s enough for me to enjoy myself.”

Catarina laughs and stands on her toes to kiss him. “You’re ridiculous, and this is completely over the top,” she says, but she’s smiling warmly at him. Catarina, always the very definition of practical and minimalistic, has never been one for big romantic gestures, but she’ll occasionally indulge him, and it’s clear she’s pleased with this one.

They check into their hotel, which appears to have been designed to be as unobtrusive as possible so as not to disrupt the natural landscape, and Catarina disappears into the bathroom to change. Ragnor changes into his own swim trunks and digs the the bottle of sunscreen out of Catarina’s bag. He’s about to open it when Catarina comes back out of the bathroom wearing only an orangish-pink and yellow bikini, her white hair drawn up away from her face and off her neck in a bun with a matching flower tucked in it, the total effect against her blue skin making her look like a tropical sunset.

She winks at him, and he realizes he was staring. “Will you put some on my back?” she says, gesturing to the bottle of sunscreen still in his hands. It’s technically a potion, which Catarina always brews herself because she doesn’t trust anything sold in a store to be up to her high standards for sun protection, but it looks similar enough to mundane sunscreen to call it that.

She turns around and he spreads the lotion carefully over her body, making sure he doesn’t miss anywhere. It takes a lot of self control to keep his hands where they’re supposed to be, otherwise they would never make it out of the hotel room. And while he wouldn’t mind spending their whole vacation in the hotel bed, Catarina clearly wants to go swimming. He absentmindedly rubs the leftover sunscreen onto his hands as they make their way out the door and down to the beach.

Ragnor spends the entire afternoon completely distracted by her, and ignores how uncomfortable the heat of the sun feels. He’s always found the tropical sun unpleasant, and today is no different. It beats down on them relentlessly, and the humidity clings to his skin and makes him feel like he’s breathing water instead of air. Catarina nudges him with her shoulder and laughs at his expression as she pulls him into the water to splash him, soaking him in seawater. She’s still laughing when picks her up in retaliation and throws her deeper into the waves. She comes back up with a wicked look in her eyes, diving back under the water to knock his feet out from under him so that he gets dunked as a wave crashes over his head.

He sputters, mouth full of saltwater, as his head breaks the surface, and hears her bright laughter as she takes his hands and helps him stand back up. “You look like a half drowned cat,” she giggles. “I’ll have mercy and let you out of the water.

They return to their beach chairs, Catarina still laughing, with their arms around each other’s waists. Catarina sprawls out on her towel in the sun with her eyes closed to dry off, looking peaceful and relaxed, while Ragnor settles in his chair to read and watch the other visitors to the island, mostly warlocks and faeries, pass by.

As the sun starts to set, Catarina leans over his chair and plucks his book out of his hands, marking his page before she drops it back in the beach bag. “Come on, we’ll go be cheesy and romantic,” she says with a smile, brushing her lips against his before taking his hands and pulling him up out of his chair.

They walk down the beach as the evening gets darker around them, fingers twined together, letting the waves wash over their feet and erase their footprints in the sand. Catarina leans into his shoulder as they walk and refrains from making any more jokes about the cheesiness of sunset beach walks.

Neither of them notice anything unusual until they come back to the hotel and go from the dark beach to the bright lights of the hotel lobby. Catarina clamps her hand over her mouth to smother her laughter when she sees him in the light. “Ragnor, you’re teal,” she giggles, brushing her fingers lightly over his shoulder, which stings and makes him involuntarily jerk away from her. He looks down at his arms and chest in horror. Instead of the pale green he should be, his skin is an angry, burning teal. Only his hands are still the right color. He looks horrifically radioactive.

“How did you even manage this?” Catarina laughs, as she looks at the stark contrast between the back of his hand and the rest of his arm while she tugs him in the direction of their room. “I saw you put on sunscreen before we left. I know you burn more easily than I do, but I always make it strong enough for you.”

The realization dawns on him. “I didn’t put any on,” he says. “I was about to, but then you came out wearing this,” he plucks at the strap of the bikini tied around her neck, “and completely distracted me.”

Catarina laughs even harder as she opens the door to their room. “So you only managed to sunscreen your hands? Oh, Ragnor, you idiot,” she says fondly, carefully pulling his burning face down to inspect the damage before kissing him gently on the nose. “You didn’t notice yourself being cooked alive at all?”

“You are very distracting,” he mutters, pressing his fingers to the burned skin of one arm, watching it lighten under the pressure, then flush back to radioactive teal. He can’t believe he didn’t notice.

“I suppose I should take responsibility and fix it then,” she says, brushing another light kiss against his cheek. “Don’t try to do it yourself or you’ll leave tan lines and I’ll have to listen to you complain about them for the rest of the trip.”

Ragnor lets her maneuver him into the bathroom where the lights are the brightest so she can see what she’s doing. Because she’s Catarina, and teasing is her nature, which they’ve been doing to each other for centuries, she grins and snaps a picture of him scowling at her with her cellphone, probably to text to Magnus, before she starts.

It takes her a quarter of an hour to heal all of the sunburn, the soft blue glow of her magic cooling and soothing his skin while she works. He could have healed the burn himself, which would have stopped the pain, but he couldn’t do the kind of delicate work he knew Catarina was doing, carefully repairing each layer of damaged skin and restoring it completely. He sighs in relief as the burning fades under her gentle hands. She pays close attention to the lines where the burn stops around his wrists, and around his waist and thighs, where the edge of his swim trunks created the starkest contrast between pale green and burning teal, making sure the healed skin matches the unburned areas before moving on.

After she’s finished healing most of the damage, she makes him sit on the edge of the bathtub so she can tilt his face up to see better, her fingers brushing cool blue flames over his nose and cheeks. He closes his eyes and relaxes into her while she works, enjoying the feeling of her hands on him.

“All done,” she says after a few more minutes, leaning down to press a kiss between his horns. “You are now the correct color of green again. But if you do it again tomorrow, I’m going to make you live with the sunburn and the tan lines.”

Ragnor sighs deeply, leaning forward to rest his forehead against her stomach, careful to not let the points of his horns dig into her skin, which makes her laugh and card her fingers through his hair, despite the stern tone of her voice. He knows she means it though. Catarina generally refused to use her magic to heal minor injuries that she considered natural consequences of stupidity.

He’d have to be more careful if he didn’t want to end up teal again tomorrow.

[antisocial-af]

Title: The Dangers of Petting a Cat

Chapter: 2/3

Square Filled: Traveling (For @shadowhunterbingo​)

Raiting: T

Wordcount: 844

No Major Archive Warnings

SFW, Attempt at Humor, Married Magnus & Alec Lightwood-Bane, Vacation, Grumpy Alec.

Summary:

The Lightwood-Bane's travels are disturbed by a cat collar alert.

Read on Ao3

Story:

Magnus admired the view as his still wet husband made his way to the small stand on the beach. He could’ve easily summoned them something to drink, but no one could fault Magnus for wanting to see Alec strutting around in only swimming trunks. 

They both had been planning this getaway for months now. Their positions had made it hard to travel nowadays. Still, Alexander had promised him that this whole week would just be the two of them, and he delivered. Magnus had been beyond thrilled when he had found out Alexander had enlisted Catarina’s and Ragnor’s help in locating a secluded beach.

Alexander had told him Catarina was the one who suggested the small beach they were. It looked like a loading dock filled with large shipping containers to anyone passing by or tourists without the sight. In reality, the beach was filled with glamourless Downworlders enjoying the weather, all hidden behind a strong combination of wards. 

“Here, they were out of the little umbrellas, though,” Alexander stated as he handed Magnus a tall glass. 

“No need to worry, darling,” Magnus winked and snapped his fingers, producing a small toothpick umbrella for his drink. “Join me?” 

Magnus was rewarded with a bright smile as his husband reclaimed his spot on the oversized beach chair. Magnus rested his head on Alec’s shoulder as he felt the other’s arms wrap around him. A noise escaped his lips as the Shadowhunter hungrily nipped at his neck. He praised his past self for putting up the extra privacy wards around them. They didn’t need to fuel the gossip around them more.

Just as the heat between the two began to build, Magnus felt a particular pull on his magic, drawing a part of his focus away. His delicately painted nails uncurled from where they had dug into the archer’s back, leaving fading crescents behind.  

“Sayang,” Magnus gently muttered, placing a hand between the two. 

“Is something wrong?” Alec questioned, releasing his grip slightly.

Magnus caressed the Shadowhunter’s cheek softly, placing a small kiss on Alec’s forehead. “Everything is fine with us, but I believe something has just set off the ward I’ve placed on Chairman Meow’s Collar.”  

“Isn’t Raphael watching him?” Alec reasoned with a pout. 

“Now, none of that, darling,” Magnus smiled, placing another kiss on Alec’s forehead. “I’m sure it was probably a false alarm, and a phone call will clear it all up.”

Magnus softly chuckled at his archer’s antics. He knew it was hard to get Alec to take a day off, but Magnus was also aware that his husband got even more grumpy if someone attempted to pull Magnus away from him on a day he was promised all of Magnus’ attention. He made a show of summoning his phone for Alec’s entertainment and awe. Magnus was confident that he could resolve the matter in minutes. 

At least he was till his phone calls kept getting sent to voicemail. The ward hadn’t pinged strong enough for it to warrant any panic, but Raphael’s neglect wasn’t helping Magnus believe that.

With each failed call, the dreams of returning to their well-earned vacation were slipping. Magnus knew Alec was not going to like the disturbance, but he would have to do a check-in.

“I don’t like that look,” Alec commented as he tried to burrow back into Magnus’ side. “It’s the I have to tell Alec something bad look.” 

“I can’t get anything past you, can I, darling?” Magnus complimented and kissed Alec’s cheek, hoping he could appease his husband enough to gain forgiveness. “I do have to go check on our son, though. Our oldest isn’t answering, and I’m afraid he roped Chairmain into something.” 

“I didn’t know cat sitting could be this troublesome,” Alec grumbled. “How long is it gonna take?” 

“I promise to be back before you finish your beer,” Magnus promised as he started to untangle himself from Alec’s grip. “I can even summon you something to read if you want.” 

“No, I’m a bit tired after our swim earlier, and I want to be awake for you when you get back,” Alec answered as he shifted and made himself comfortable in the spacious chair. “I’ll be here waiting, but don’t take too long.”

Magnus smiled and stretched out before snapping on some casual clothes and opening the portal into Chairman’s location. As he was about to step in, he felt a pull on his hand. 

“You’ll call me if you need me,” Alec stated in a non-negotiable way. 

“Don’t worry, your pretty little head off,” Magnus assured him and kissed Alec’s hand before stepping towards the portal. “If it is bad enough, I will come and get you, darling. Though it will take a lot to convince me into letting anyone see you like this.”

“Go see what the kids are up to,” Alec smiled and leaned back into the chair, relaxing. 

Magnus gave his husband one last look over before stepping into the portal with a sigh. 

Raphael better have a good reason for pausing his vacation. 

[faejilly]

i am for you (17/?)

We're back! And playing with the timeline a little... this goes back to before the fic itself starts, and then moves along a whole *six weeks* because this, my darlings, is a 5+1 chapter in the middle of everything else. (Because why not?) 5 Times Catarina Went to Brunch, and 1 Time Brunch was Brought to Catarina (ao3 / series tag)

*

1

Brunch is quiet this week.

No one's really got much to say.

Even Magnus just shrugs when Cat asks what he's been up to.

(Even Cat can't think up any fun Madzie stories; baby-girl's got a cold and this week has mostly been about tissues and soup and endless re-runs of Moana and Mulan and The Princess and The Frog. She even picked Tangled once, and Cat thought maybe they'd moved on... but then she went back to Moana. She always goes back to Moana. She once sang You're Welcome over and over again for the entirety of her bath.)

Ragnor drinks and Dot sighs and Raphael rolls his eyes at the lot of them. Tessa is looking forward to the ALA conference in two weeks, but she's quieter about her enthusiasms than the rest of them; her smile is warm, but it doesn't spark anyone else into anything.

Still, it's nice. Cat never thought a single one of them would ever be stable enough to fall into a rut, and the fact that they've settled into one together... there are worse things.

Besides, there are mimosas.

2

Magnus is... fluttering.

He's not upset, he sits and eats and passes the syrup when asked and talks about his classes, but there's definitely... something.

He pauses before he sips his drink, and he ducks Ragnor's half-assed question about his current research. (Ragnor just raises his eyebrows. He's not terribly interested in dramatic portrayals of the occult, but Magnus usually is, and the fact that he doesn't want to break-down everything he's read on the subject this week is a bit unusual.)

He zones out while Dot's talking about the idiot client she'd been fighting with the entirety of the past week, arguing with every suggestion as if he wasn't the one who'd hired her; Magnus doesn't even laugh at her petty revenge of charging her client an extra half-an-hour for "removing all those squiggly lines from under the words" in his word doc.

But there's a hint of a smile on his face as he looks out the window.

"What is going on with you?" Cat asks while everyone's gathering shoes and bags and saying their usual farewells.

"Nothing." Magnus shakes his head, and Cat frowns at him. "Really," he lifts his hands in defense. She waits. "Yet?"

He won't say more than that, no matter how much she gives him The Look, but that almost smile lingers, and she hopes whatever it almost is turns out as well as Magnus seems to hope.

3

Alec Lightwood is a revelation.

She's seen Magnus fall too hard and too fast before, but she's never seen him like this, never seen him look lighter for it rather than just more intense, never seen the person he'd fallen for look just as far gone just as fast. Alec's expression when he looks at Magnus is sublime, it's like he's smiling all the way to his fingertips, and she has to look away.

Which is admittedly a little easier once he gets his shirt on.

Magnus has excellent taste in arm-candy... even if it's blatantly obvious that this is more than that.

Already.

She wouldn't be completely surprised if they eloped to Vegas the first time they tried to take a vacation together.

She'll yell at Magnus for it forever, and hold his hand while he gets desperately drunk if it leads to an equally quickie divorce, but she won't be surprised.

Ragnor clearly likes and might even respect Alec, which is... weird. She's not quite sure what to do with that, and she keeps glancing sideways to share her what the fuck? face with Raphael, but he doesn't cooperate nearly as well as Dot or Tessa would have. He seems to be cautiously in favor of Alec too, which is... even weirder. There are days she's not sure Raphael likes anyone, except maybe Ragnor, despite eating brunch with the rest of them every week. But he's very over-protective of Magnus, usually, especially since Camille, but now... now he's just. Leaning back? Relaxed? Sipping his coffee?

Cat feels like maybe she fell through Alice's rabbit-hole and somehow didn't notice right away.

But then Alec snorts out a laugh at something Ragnor says in his usual bone-dry way, and Magnus sputters something that sounds like an honest to god giggle, and she gives up on understanding and goes to refill her drink.

Wonderland seems pretty nice, this time of year.

4

Cat gets to brunch a little early this week, before anyone else. Besides Alec, of course, who's cradling a mug she doesn't recognize in his hands, and she wonders how much of his own life this past week has been spent at Magnus' rather than his own place, wherever it is.

She ought to be worried about that, she knows, but he'd been so clearly smitten whenever she mentioned Magnus at their lunch, it's hard to hold onto any concern. He offers to pour her some coffee, and even remembers that she likes sugar but not cream, and she can't help but smile at him in thanks.

He smiles back, sort of, and she wonders if he's nervous about Dot and Tessa, or if it's something else that's bothering him, and if it would be terribly blunt of her to ask. Not that she's usually concerned about that, but he's new, and if she made him uncomfortable Magnus might murder her.

Or ban her from mimosas for awhile, at least.

Magnus comes fluttering in then, touching half the appliances in the kitchen as he wanders back and forth. She cuts her eyes back to Alec and is inordinately pleased by the way he ignores her entirely and instead reaches out to catch Magnus' hand when he tries to swan past him for the third time.

"Why are you nervous?" Alec asks, and Cat almost slips off the counter she's leaning against. So much for worrying about being blunt. "I'm worried your friends won't like me, but you don't have to worry about my parents until dinner time."

Magnus' mouth opens, then shuts, clearly slightly shell-shocked by the blunt as well, even though she suspects from how quickly he pouts that it isn't at all out of character for Alec. "I can't also be worried my friends won't like you?"

"You weren't this worried last week."

Cat blinks as she realizes he's right.

"You already knew Ragnor, and Cat will give anyone at least two chances to prove they're not an idiot, and Raphael hates everyone regardless, so there wasn't anything to worry about."

Alec tilts his head, half-considering and half-amused, and Cat can't hold in the laugh anymore, snickering over her coffee. "But you're worried about Dot and Tessa? Dot already feels bad about her accidental drama and won't make any more, and Tessa's the nicest person on the planet."

Magnus scoffs. "Tessa's all quiet and polite right up until you fail some internal judgement you didn't even realize she was making and then she very serenely ignores you so thoroughly you can feel it all the way back seven generations or so and you can never quite put the pieces of your self-esteem back together."

It's Cat's turn to tilt her head, because he's not wrong, though she hadn't ever quite thought about it that way.

Alec snickers that time though. "To be fair, the last seven generations of Lightwoods probably deserve that?"

Magnus rolls his eyes, and half-heartedly smacks Alec in the chest with the back of his free hand. "But you don't."

"Well if she's as smart as you all say, she'll know that, right?"

Magnus grunts, as if annoyed that he can't argue with that, and then the knocker hits the door, three quick hard raps, and Magnus slips his hand free, blowing a kiss in Alec's direction before he goes to answer it.

"At least you've got your shirt on, this time. Might help."

Alec chokes, almost spitting coffee all over his hands, and she's still laughing when Dot and Tessa make it into the kitchen to be introduced.

5

They make Magnus and Alec take them all out for brunch as punishment for getting engaged at first sight. (And also apparently moving in together, which Cat had strongly suspected the week before based on the mug, and the toothbrush and razor in the bathroom, and the boxes hiding in Magnus' office nook, but she makes them acknowledge it out loud before she'll sit down at the table with the rest of them. Ragnor snickers, and she wonders how long he'd known, and if he'd been planning on telling the rest of them if they hadn't figured it out.)

Tessa does, in fact, serenely ignore the both of them for about half an hour, while everyone else is ordering drinks and perusing the menu, and Magnus and Alec both visibly wilt a little.

They're also clearly holding hands beneath the table, which is unbearably sweet, and Cat kind of hates how un-surprised she is the more she thinks about it. They fit, and while Alec isn't anything like she would have pictured some ideal Magnus partner, she can't begrudge them for being happy to have found each other.

"You're idiots," she informs them after they've finally all ordered. "But you're adorable, and I'm very happy for you."

Alec ducks his head and looks perilously close to blushing again, but he's smiling.

Tessa's lips twitch before she lifts her glass. "A toast to the happy couple?"

There's a clink of glasses as everyone else agrees, and Cat's never ever in almost twenty years seen a smile like the one spreading across Magnus' face.

+ 1

Baby-girl's best friend Lizzy, who she usually goes to play with on Sunday mornings, has chicken-pox and does not want visitors. (Cat reminds herself to have Madzie tested to see if her antibodies are still up to par from her vaccination or if she should get a booster.) Which means Cat isn't going to brunch.

Magnus scoffs at that when she calls to tell him on Friday, and insists that brunch will, instead, come to her.

She's not sure that's a good idea, but she can't seem to figure out why not, and it's not like Magnus listens when he's sure he's being brilliant anyways, so she makes sure to let Madzie know that a bunch of boring adults are coming over, and that she'll help her set up her tablet so she can watch cartoons in her room just this once if she'd like.

"Can I have breakfast while I watch?"

Cat really ought to say no to that, because she's probably going to find Madzie sneaking snacks into her room for at least the next month otherwise... but the last couple days have been a bit much at work and she is too tired for that conversation, so she says yes.

Madzie fist-pumps to celebrate her victory, which is, of course, unfairly adorable. Cat hopes she doesn't try to talk Uncle Magnus into having brunch at their house every week in order to make this a regular occurrence.

Then again, for all Madzie likes Uncle Magnus, especially when he brings presents (which is almost always, they're both very fond of brightly colored plush animals and Madzie's collection is now very impressive), none of Cat's friends have kids of their own, so their conversations with Madzie tend to be pretty brief.

It should be all right.

Hopefully Alec won't be too intimidating. He is ludicrously tall, with those scowly eyebrows, and Madzie is still usually shy with new people. Cat will have to remember to introduce them carefully.

(She wonders, later, how she'd forgotten the man had at least six younger siblings; even if half of them were metaphorical, that kind of thing tends to have an effect on a person.)

Magnus and Alec show up before anyone else, carrying four bags of what she assumes is going to be breakfast. Madzie peers around Cat's legs, clearly hoping for her usual squishy from Uncle Magnus, but uncertain about the very tall man next to him.

Alec sees her, and smiles, something small but friendly enough that it makes Cat blink, and then he's down on one knee so he's at a much more reasonable height for a child, and Cat blinks again.

"You must be Madzie." Alec doesn't have either that bright condescension or the slightly formal stilted tone that most people get when talking to little kids, and he's just loud enough that his voice carries without it being obvious he's keeping it a bit quieter than usual.

To Cat's utter shock, Madzie steps out from behind Cat's legs before she nods. "You must be Mr. Alec."

Alec nods back, and to Cat's continued surprise Madzie keeps talking. "Momma said you're going to marry Uncle Magnus but I don't have to call you Uncle Alec yet if I don't want to."

Cat doesn't know whether to be impressed that she's talking to a stranger or slightly embarrassed at what she chose to say, but Alec just grins, bright and delighted, and Cat rather forgets to breathe. Madzie smiles back and takes a step forward, as if she can't help herself.

Alec waits until she stops moving before he answers. "I am going to marry your Uncle Magnus, but you don't ever have to call me Uncle Alec if you don't want to, even after we're married."

Madzie nods very seriously, as if she's considering that.

"Are you having breakfast with us?" Alec asks, his voice leading up like he's going to add more, but he stops when Madzie shakes her head very fast.

"Momma said I could eat in my room while I watch Moana!"

"That does sound like a lot more fun than listening to us talk."

"Did you want to watch it with me?" Madzie offers, and Cat has to swallow something like a squawk before it bursts out of her, because Madzie is never this comfortable around new people.

Alec leans a little closer, his voice dropping. "I did promise Uncle Magnus and your Momma that I'd help make brunch."

Madzie turns her head up towards Cat and Magnus, going full on puppy-dog eyes and pouting lips. "Please, Momma?"

Cat nods, rather helplessly, and sees Magnus looking about as shell-shocked as she feels next to her. It took ages before Madzie was all right being alone with him, and she's known Alec five seconds. To be fair, she's much more trusting and relaxed now then she was when Cat first adopted her, but... five seconds.

Cat blames that ridiculous smile.

"See!" Madzie turns back to Alec, rocking up on her toes. "Momma says it's alright!"

"Well, I'm certainly not about to argue with your Momma." Alec shoots a glance up at the two of them. "Let me know if you need our help with anything, all right?"

"Of course," Magnus answers when it becomes clear that Cat's not going to manage more than a nod, her chest aching a little at how easily he'd said our, how easily he'd included her daughter in... everything.

Cat turns very slowly to watch as Madzie drags Alec down the hallway to her room, and equally slowly to turn back towards Magnus, whose eyes widen at the sound of Madzie laughing loudly enough they can hear it clearly where they are.

"What just happened?" Magnus asks.

Cat shakes her head. "He's your boyfriend. Fiancé. I thought you'd tell me."

Magnus looks down at the two bags Alec left by the door. "She didn't even ask for her toy."

Cat leans over enough to look into the bag, and sees a small glittery white stuffed unicorn with a rainbow mane and tail on top of a mesh bag of fruit. She covers her mouth to muffle a snort of laughter. "Apparently Alec's even prettier than unicorns?"

Magnus laughs. "Well, I can't argue with that."

[bytheangell]

Dreaming Wide Awake: Chapter 3

(Read on AO3) (Start from the beginning) 

“So, tell me the truth,” Alec says to Izzy over lunch the next day. “What did mom and dad say about Magnus coming on vacation?”

Izzy raises an eyebrow. “What makes you think they said anything? Or that I’d know about it if they did?”

Alec rolls his eyes. “Because you like to know everything . Plus, I checked your recent calls while you went to the bathroom. After I texted you that he was officially going you called mom ten minutes later.”

“How many times do I have to tell you not to touch my phone?!” Izzy demands, snatching the cell off the table in front of her as if it matters now.

“And how many times do I have to tell you to change your password? It’s your own fault.” Izzy’s password, ever since her fascination with all things science began, has been ‘992619’, the numbers of the periodic table elements which spell out ‘F U C K’. He knows better than to search through her messages or photos, or anything horribly invasive like that. She knows it, too, which is the only reason she isn’t actually mad at him for looking up her call history.

“They’re not thrilled about it,” she admits. “I think they’re mostly upset that you blindsided them with him. They couldn’t exactly say no after extending the offer to Meliorn first… but you know how they get about new people in our lives. This guy comes out of nowhere and suddenly you want to take him on the family vacation? It looks a little shady.”

Alec doesn’t have the heart to tell her that’s because it is a little shady. A part of him wants to tell Izzy the truth. He thinks she’d understand… but he doesn’t know if she’d be able to keep it to herself for the entire month. And that Alec can’t risk.

“I’m sure they’ll get over it the moment Magnus charms them into submission,” Alec says, unable to keep the slightly dopey smile off of his face. At least it plays into the lie he’s selling, instead of just being his own inability to play it cool.

Izzy smiles back. “I’m glad you have someone who makes you this happy. I can’t believe you never told me you two were dating, though!”

Alec shrugs, going over the bare-bones lie he and Magnus agreed to. No details, that way they wouldn’t trip up over something. “We just wanted to see if it would stick before telling anyone. We didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.”

Izzy met Magnus a few times this past year when she came to visit him on campus. They didn’t go to the same school but she was only an hour away, so weekend trips were pretty common between the two of them.

“If you like him enough to decide he’s worth subjecting to a family vacation, I’d say that’s a pretty big deal, hermano .” Izzy points out, finishing her coffee before standing up to leave.

Alec gets up to follow, knowing how right she is even though he’d never admit it out loud.

---

The next week flies by with impressive speed. Alec calls on Magnus a little more than usual, but Magnus doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, he returns the requests in kind, the pair of them leaning on one another as much needed distractions to make it through papers and exams and dealing with professors who make them want to walk away from college and never look back.

It isn’t until the night before Alec’s final presentation that he realizes just how close to slipping he is regarding his feelings for Magnus.

It all starts when Alec, in a moment of frustration, throws his pen across the room, followed shortly by the book he’s sourcing from, before picking up his phone and pulling Magnus’ contact info up without hesitation. Magnus answers on the second ring, clearly out of breath.

“Hey Alec, what’s up?” Magnus asks. Alec hears the sound of music in the background, the faint thump of footsteps repeating rhythmically in the background, and guesses that Magnus is at the gym.

“...did you answer your phone in the middle of a workout?” Alec asks, knowing that Magnus usually texts him that he’ll call later when Alec catches him mid-run.

“Don’t worry about it, I was done anyway,” Magnus reassures him, breath coming in rough ‘huffs’ throughout the short sentence. “What’s up?”

Alec considers calling back later anyway, but the pen mark on his white wall encourages him otherwise. “This final presentation for Starkweather. I’m just… I don’t even know anymore. I know the work is good, the research is flawless, but he hates me. What’s the point if he’s just going to pick apart every little thing until he can justify giving me the lowest grade possible out of spite?” Alec sighs. “Why bother?”

All his other classes are normal levels of stress: did I study hard enough, did I proofread this paper well enough, how many more times can I do the readings until I can’t absorb any more information? But this one, this one feels personal. And of course it’s required, and not offered under any other Professor. He doesn’t even know why Starkweather is so hard on him over everyone else, and after a full semester of it he’s reached his tipping point. If he has to retake this class again in the fall he might actually snap.

“Alec, we both know how hard you worked at that class. There's nothing he can do to take away from that now - just take a deep breath and use those words I know you're so skilled with.” There's a suggestive lilt to those last few words that has Alec smiling again already. “It's almost over and you gave him hell at every turn. I think he'll be as happy to get rid of you as you are off him. But you can't let him win by giving up now.”

Alec knows Magnus is right.

“One more. I can do this.” Alec repeats.”Thanks for the pep talk.”

“I can come over after l hit the showers.” Magnus says, the words an assumption at the nature of the call.

“I think I'm good. Just needed someone to talk me down.” He hardly realizes that just hearing from Magnus was all the reassurance he needed, or how strange it is for him to turn down the usual offer without a second thought. “Can I send this over later for you to proofread, though?”

There's a pause on the other end before Magnus replies. “Sure. Yeah, of course. Guess I'll see you tomorrow then.” there's some level of confusion behind the words, and it isn't until Alec hears it that he realizes what he did.

He didn't call Magnus for their usual distraction. He called him just  to hear his voice.

Fuck.

“Magnus, wait -” He tries to cover but it's too late, the line is already dead. All he can do is hope Magnus doesn't have the able revelation that he did.

---

Alec doesn't get a chance to see Magnus agsin until after the presentations.

“You killed it. Told you you would.” Magnus said without missing a beat. If anything struck him as odd after last night's call he isn't showing it now.

“Thanks. I'm just glad it's over, either way. Nothing but wine and and shopping and bike rides for the next month.” Alec looks eagerly over at Magnus at that.

“It's going to be amazing,” Magnus agrees.”But you're going to have to personally apologize to Ragnor for it about a million times, because he's still mad at me for abandoning him for an entire month.”

Alec groans. “He already hates me and I can't figure out why, or do anything to make him like me more. I doubt a billion apologies is going to change anything.”

Alec can't remember doing anything to upset or offend Magnus’ roommate, but recently Alec's very existence seems to rub Ragnor the wrong way.

“He's like that with everyone, don't take it personally.” Magnus reassures Alec - not for the first time - and Alec makes a noncommittal noise in response. It sure feels  personal, especially when they're in a group hanging out, but he doesn't push it.

“The plan is still to meet at the airport, right?”

Alec nods. The plane leaves in three days so Magnus is spending some time home with friends before the trip, and meeting Alec and his family before the flight. “Yep. 9 am sharp on Tuesday.���

They linger, a mere foot away from each other, and Alec hesitates with every intention of leaning in for a hug when Magnus takes a step away with his gaze set somewhere behind Alec. Alec turns to see Catarina waiting off to the side for Magnus who waves before turning his attention distractedly  back to Alec. “Tuesday at 9. Got it. Text me if you think of something I might need between now and then!”

Magnus waves a goodbye that Alec half-heartedly returns, already counting down the minutes until Tuesday.

[takaraphoenix]

Malace and/or Hunter/Hayden/Jack. “The salad here is really good.” - “Do I look like a fucking rabbit?”

Advent Calendar: Day 17

It was the second day of Christmas and Magnus was comfortably sitting on the terrace of their ski resort, with a hot chocolate and a hot archer. Alec was relaxed as he leaned against Magnus, soaking in Magnus’ warmth as the two sat outside in the cold, watching the frozen lake behind the ski resort. Or, more precisely, watching their blonde lover dance over the ice.

“I didn’t know Jace could skate”, hummed Magnus, very pleased by the show.

“Him and Izzy used to go skating every winter”, replied Alec. “But I… uh… guess I was a bit of a klutz when it comes to that, so I just left that to them.”

“I’d love to see you be graceless for a change”, teased Magnus amused, kissing Alec.

“No, you will not”, grunted Alec rather firmly. “Enjoy Jace looking pretty and let me drink my hot chocolate in peace, I’m not keen on gathering bruises for your amusement.”

Magnus laughed at that, pulling Alec some closer. Alec sighed contently. This was potentially the best idea Magnus and Jace ever had in their lives. A two week vacation over Christmas and New Year’s, just the three of them. No responsibilities, no demons, only ski, snow and the two men he loved so very much. They had only arrived here yesterday, but had mainly just checked in and gotten settled in their room. It was a nice room, with a very large bed and a large tub. They had first enjoyed the large tub and then curled up on the bed together, just lazily making out and then falling asleep in each other’s arms. This morning was kicked off with a large breakfast buffet before the threesome headed out to ski half the day. When they returned, both Magnus and Alec were exhausted and decided to retreat to the terrace, while Jace decided he needed some more exercise so he went to skate on the frozen lake behind the ski resort. Right in view of the terrace.

“Mh? Where did our pretty puppy go?”, asked Magnus with a frown.

He had been a bit distracted by Alec and the thought of this morning. By the time he returned his attention to the lake, there were only one couple and three children on it. No pretty blonde.

“He—ello, boyfriends. I am both exhausted and hungry.”

Magnus blinked as Jace collapsed on his lap, sprawling out to lay over both his and Alec’s laps. He pulled his legs up and curled together, contently resting his head on Alec’s thigh. Smiling, Magnus reached a hand out to caress the back of Jace’s thighs gently, making Jace sigh.

“You were absolutely gorgeous, sweetheart”, smiled Magnus. “I didn’t know you were this talented. You should have told me. I feel robbed of a lot of aesthetically pleasing performances…”

Jace huffed amused and folded his arms beneath his cheek, while Alec started running his fingers through Jace’s golden-blonde hair. “You said something about hunger? Or do you just want to lay there and cuddle for now…? You look very content.”

“…Cuddles now, food later, more cuddles afterward?”, suggested Jace thoughtfully.

“Sounds like an absolutely perfect plan”, agreed Magnus pleased.

/break\

“So, what’s good here?”, asked Jace curiously when the three entered the restaurant at the resort.

“The salad here is really good”, offered Magnus casually.

“…Do I look like a fucking rabbit?”, asked Jace pointedly. “I want food. Proper human food. I need proteins, or where do you think all of that comes from?”

He placed Magnus’ hand on his stomach and the warlock made a hungry, pleased sound as he got to feel Jace’s six-pack beneath the thin shirt. Alec cleared his throat and pushed between his boyfriends, glaring at Jace, who just grinned smugly and shrugged.

“They have amazing rumpsteak”, offered Magnus now instead.

“Mh. Better”, purred Jace pleased and licked his lips.

“Yes. But you now gave me the perfect idea for… dessert”, purred Magnus.

“Both of you. Please behave yourselves”, sighed Alec exasperated.

“But you love us for it”, countered Jace with a cheeky, knowing grin.

“And we both know that you want dessert as much as I do”, tagged Magnus on.

Alec grumbled but did not argue. Of course he did. Jace was delicious. So was Magnus. He loved them both and he also loved their minds. As dirty as they were, because they were also very thoughtful and loving. The fact that those two had worked hard to make time for all three of them to go on a two week vacation together, with no one work to interrupt them. Something calm and relaxing, because Alec had overworked himself so much.

“I love you two”, whispered Alec softly. “I love you both very much.”

“And we love you, darling”, replied Magnus surprised.

“Of course we do”, huffed Jace. “And you don’t need to butter Mag up for him to pay dinner.”

Magnus snorted at that and smacked Jace’s ass in passing, making the blonde yelp. “You can pay for dinner afterward in our room, blondie.”

“With pleasure”, purred Jace and waggled his eyebrows.

/break\

“Oh by the Angel, how was this so good?”, groaned Jace.

“I don’t know. But I don’t think I will be able to move again any time soon”, gasped Alec.

“…I feel mildly offended that it was food making you sound like that and not me”, grunted Magnus.

The warlock raised both eyebrows as he watched bis boyfriends sprawl out on bed, both only wearing boxer-shorts and Alec’s shirts. Alec grinned up at him while wrapping his arms around Jace’s waist to pull the blonde closer. Jace gladly snuggled up to Alec, resting his head on Alec’s chest and sighing contently at the way Alec was caressing his stomach soothingly.

“Shut up and come join us, Mag”, grunted Jace, scooting closer to Alec to make room.

Admittedly, Magnus had also eaten too much. It was quite excellent food they had here. He hadn’t been at this resort in a while and had Imogen not reminded him of it, he might have forgotten about it entirely. The last time, he had been here with Catarina and Ragnor…

“Very well. A little rest sounds like a good plan”, admitted Magnus and shed his clothes.

He too went to grab one of Alec’s shirts – they were absolutely excellent for sleeping in – before he joined his lovers in the bed. He smiled as he laid down behind Jace and pressed up against the blonde, resting his chin on top of Jace’s head.

“Thank you”, whispered Alec softly after a moment. “You know, I feel rather cheap about my gift after you two organized a two week vacation at a fancy spa.”

“Eh. I only did the organizing and the whole Shadowhunters-side of it. Magnus is doing all the paying”, shrugged Jace casually before reaching beneath his shirt. “Besides, I love it.”

“So do I, darling”, assured Magnus, reaching for his own necklace beneath his shirt.

Arrow-years, covered in gold, with a tiger-eye set front and center. Meant to symbolize all three of them – the arrow for Alec, the gold for Jace’s golden-glowing eyes and runes (and his golden-blonde hair), the tiger-eye for Magnus’ warlock-mark. It was thoughtful and beautiful and both Magnus and Jace truly loved it. Smiling, Magnus leaned over to kiss Alec.

“What’s the plan for tomorrow?”, asked Jace with a sleepy yawn.

“More skiing, more cuddling, more good food?”, suggested Magnus. “More sex?”

“Oh, that sounds so good”, groaned Jace happily. “No work. No one stealing either of you.”

Alec smiled faintly, pressing a kiss to Jace’s forehead. Yes, it really did sound amazing.

Read this here on FFNet & here on AO3!

[lightalecwood]

HOGWARTS MALEC [Series | T | 16k | 2 Works | Complete] by Thealmostrhetoricalquestion  @thealmostrhetoricalquestion

something wicked this way comes:

Magnus Bane, the guy Alec's had an embarrassing crush on for about six years, is swearing at a book that sits just out of reach.

Magnus Bane, the guy who doesn't know that Alec exists.

Until now, apparently.

toil and trouble

“There’s a Hogsmeade weekend coming up,” Alec suggests quietly. “If you can cope with study dates and Quidditch practice until then, we could have our first real date in Hogsmeade.”

Magnus’ answering smile is so bright and so beautiful that Alec actually feels a little dazed, like someone whacked him over the head with a cauldron whilst he wasn't looking, or aimed a bludger at his face.

“Provided we don’t kiss in the middle of the village in front of everyone we know,” Alec adds.

Magnus fakes a sigh. “Well, that’s my plans scuppered."

KISS THE TEACHER  [T | 2.3k | 1 chapter | Complete] by Astoria Gracewell @arh581958

Rainy days makes for lazy mornings. Magnus tries, and fails, to bribe his boyfriend to take a day off work. Being the sweetheart that he is, he offers to make-up for lost time by giving a nearly-tardy Alec a ride to work.

(Or: This is what happens when Alec's students catch him kissing Magnus in the entryway.)

IN THE GOLDEN HOUR [Not Rated | 26.2k | 2 chapters | Complete] by aleclove @aleclove

"If I were there right now, what would you do?"

It’s a silly thing, really. The first few times it was said aloud Alec couldn’t fight the rush of heat to his cheeks; couldn’t keep himself from stuttering out a reply and trying to change the topic. Now, though, it’s become something else, taking on a life of its’ own until it became central to what he and Magnus share. Maybe the question is hypothetical in nature, but when Magnus is telling Alec how badly he wants to kiss him? It doesn’t feel that way. In fact, for a few precious minutes, Alec doesn’t feel the distance at all.

//

Or, the one where Magnus is in London, Alec is in Brooklyn, and Izzy hates the Atlantic Ocean more than both of them combined.

YOUTUBER!MAGNUS [Series | Not Rated | 3k | 3 works | Not Completed] by iwillstayalive @iknowesurefire

the boyfriend tag

Magnus is a youtuber who does the "boyfriend does my makeup" tag with Alec.

the actual boyfriend tag

youtuber magnus does the actual boyfriend tag with alec.

video: couples roast

no summary

PACKED MY BAGS PACKED YOU TOO [E | 53.3k | 18 chapters | Complete] by Quite_Magical  

When Alec Lightwood told his family he was gay, They tossed him onto the streets. In the midst of wanting to drink his sorrows, he met Ragnor, his girlfriend Catarina, and Magnus Bane.

When a proposition from Alec's late uncle came into his life, Alec must decide if he wants to play and find a husband quickly, or let all his uncles money go to his unforgiving father, Robert.

Magnus, the well-known owner of a food centric YouTube channel, worked at his friends bar. He didn't have enough money to travel the world to learn and taste different foods like he wanted, and he certainly didn't have enough money to build his own restaurant.

When Magnus wins a trip around Europe for 6 months, he'll finally be able to live out most of his dreams. Now, he just had to decide if he wanted to take Alec as a friend... or his husband.

PARDON THE INTERRUPTION [T | 6.3k | 1 chapter | Complete] by Obsessivecompulsivereadr

But one thing they could never seem to fix was how often they got interrupted whenever they did have time to spend together. It seemed as if no one in the entire shadow world could function without dragging Magnus and Alec into their problems.

So that’s what this vacation had been about, three weeks away, just the two of them.

IT STARTED WITH A WEDDING [Series | E | 21k | 5 works | Not Completed] by k_lynn

In Another Life:

Alec is an ex-Marine Captain, recently returned from overseas to take over his parent's company, struggling to adjust to life as a civilian once more. Magnus is a fashion designer who has many better things he could do with his weekend. They both attend the same wedding, and they're both very pleased about it later.

Odd Hours

Magnus sighs, “Drill sergeant,” he complains. Alec laughs. “That’s Army. It’s drill instructor in the Marines and I never was one.” “You should have been.”

Magnus has a late night at work and Alec worries.

A United Front

“We can start a club,” Simon says brightly. "We’ll call it the ‘People Who Aren’t Good Enough for Maryse Lightwood’s Children’ Club. Magnus can be President.”

A Lightwood family dinner. It’s going to be interesting.

It Started With a Wedding 1.5

A collection of short one shots from my It Started With a Wedding AU series that didn't make it into any of the other parts.

In the Spirit of Competition

Alec stares pensively into his beer. “You don't think it's too soon?”

Jace scoffs, “Are you kidding me? Alec, bro, you went from zero to ‘I want his adopted babies’ after like a month. Honestly I'm surprised it's taken you this long.”

Magnus and Alec finally manage to find the time to take a whole five days for a vacation. A question gets asked. I think you can guess which one.

SET ME IN MOTION [M | 11k | 17/20 chapters | Not Completed] by lemonoclefox @lemonoclefox

“Is that your way of asking me to cook for you sometime?” Alec says. “'Cause I will.” The moment the words escape his mouth, Alec finds himself slightly panicking. Because he does not talk like that, ever―in a way that might even be considered flirting―and he still doesn’t understand what it is about Magnus that brings stuff like that out of him. More importantly, he has a boyfriend. Magnus, however, just looks mildly surprised as their eyes meet. “My, my. Master chef, good family name, and charming?” Magnus tilts his head ever so slightly. “Careful, Mr. Lightwood,” he says in a low, teasing voice, mouth curving up in a smile. “You’re gonna make me swoon.” ---

One night, Magnus spots a handsome stranger in the elevator of his apartment building – which wouldn’t be a big deal if said stranger didn’t turn out to be dating Magnus’s neighbor. The stranger soon becomes Alec, and their paths end up crossing more than once. A tentative friendship develops as they slowly get to know each other, and they both find that it’s effortless in a way neither of them has ever known. It's only when other kinds of feelings start getting involved that things become a bit more complicated.

EARLIER HEAVEN [T | 6.3k | 1 chapter | Complete] by coziness @alecfancywood

He sat and watched his family, the ones who owned his heart, and the ones that he would protect and be there for forever.

or. Immortal dads and the happenstances of their growing Warlock daughter.

PICKING UP THE PIECES [T | 5.8k | 1 chapter | Complete] by lilyhearted

Malec zombie AU for alineppenhallow!

They've made a life for themselves, after the world fell apart.

Contains: Malec being an awesome battle couple but also managing to be domestic as hell.

[themimsyborogove]

When I Wanted Sunshine, I Got Rain (Complete)

A few canon facts about Ragnor Fell: He’s grouchy and he complains about everything, but he’s kind underneath the gruffness.

He’s the only person who can convince Catarina Loss to take a vacation, and they go hiking and to hot springs together.

He doesn’t like to wear glamours, finding he has better luck with women with his green skin and horns. And you don’t earn endearments like “sweet peapod of love” without being at least a very good flirt.

He teaches Showdowhunters for almost a century without killing any of them, and is the only teacher at the Academy (grouchily) patient enough to put up with Matthew Fairchild at his worst. And he never gives up the hope that the Nephilim as a whole can change for the better.

This is a collection of Ragnor centric stories, spanning roughly two centuries of his long life. Set entirely to songs from the Shrek soundtracks, because Magnus would find that hilarious and Ragnor would not.

Stay Home

Accidentally In Love

Royal Pain

Holding Out For a Hero

Right Back Where We Started From

Little Drop of Poison

Bad Reputation

I’m On My Way

Changes

My Beloved Monster

Funkytown

Hello

People They Ain’t No Good

I Need Sleep (character death warning)

Live and Let Die

Darling I Do

Top of The World

Cat’s in the Cradle

Hallelujah

Best Days (adult content warning)

Losing Streak

As Lovers Go

Best Years of Our Lives

It Is You I Have Loved (adult content warning)

Like, Wow

You’re So True

Bonus: The World Is Gonna Roll Me

[themimsyborogove]

are you still taking prompts/ideas for your little ficlets?? I may or may not have binged all of your shadowhunter fics in under a day, and I may or may not be slightly obsessed with them 💃

if you're willing, do you think you could do one for Ragnor and Jocelyn?? I remember their relationship being briefly mentioned in the books, and then you emphasizing that a bit within your Ragnor-centric series and I'd honestly love to see how you'd write them. Like maybe after he's officially renounced himself as living, Jocelyn comes along and wants to talk and catch up. I could see him being her favourite teacher while she attended the academy, and we already know that Ragnor's fond of her as well. Or maybe the Frays are celebrating Christmas, and she invites Ragnor as well as some other close friend (Magnus, his boys, the main gang, Tessa and Cat, etc).

oooorrr what if While Ragnor teaches at the academy, he notices something off with Jocelyn, and invites her into his office for tea — a nice chat between friends.

There are so many ways this friendship could go — I absolutely know Jocelyn has an unhinged side (her daughter's Clary for crying out loud 😭) and I could see her and Ragnor working together to prank Magnus for some special occasion. (They'd probably be the last 2 people Magnus would expect to get pranked from)

Thank you, I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying them ❤️

Ragnor and Jocelyn is an interesting dynamic I had some headcanons for but never really got a chance to write.

——

“If we want students to graduate prepared to enter the Scholomance, we need to keep the units on the history of High Warlocks and the hierarchy of the Seelie and Unseelie courts,” Ragnor said, shifting through the pile of lesson plans littering Catarina’s desk in her new office at the soon-to-be-opened Shadowhunter Academy.

“Most of them won’t be on track for the Scholomance,” Catarina reminded him. “Most of them will go straight to hitting demons with sharp objects, and won’t need to know more than that High Warlocks exist and that anything involving faerie politics should be handled by calling the Alliance.“

“They could at least be educated while they hit things with swords and seraph blades,” Ragnor grumbled.

“The time those units would take up would be better spent on reinforcing deescalating strategies when talking to Downworlders,” Catarina argued. “The students who care about the deeper politics can research them as part of their Scholomance entry essays.”

A flash of red ponytail outside of the office door caught his attention. “Clarissa, would you care to weigh in on the debate instead of lurking in the hall?”

The woman stepped hesitantly into view, and Ragnor realized he had been mistaken. “Jocelyn, my apologies,” he said. “Your daughter looks very much like you.”

“I’ve just remembered, I have to check the stock of bandages in the infirmary,” Catarina said suddenly, giving Ragnor a sharp look that told him she expected him to apologize for something, he just had no idea what. “You know how baby Shadowhunters are. Can’t be too prepared for increasingly stupid injuries acquired by showing off.”

Ragnor watched her vanish down the hall, baffled.

“Catarina told me you would be coming to help with the Academy curriculum today,” Jocelyn said, still standing awkwardly in the doorway, fidgeting with the fraying hem of her paint-stained sweater like a schoolgirl.

It had been a long time since Jocelyn Fairchild had been his student, but he still recognized the signs that something was weighing on her, though he suspected it wasn’t about homework assignments this time.

“Come and sit,” he said, a sweep of one hand making the scattered lesson plans march to the end of the desk and neatly stack themselves, and a flick of the other wrist causing two cups of tea to materialize.

Jocelyn sank down in the chair that Catarina had vacated. “You look well, Ragnor,” she started.

“You didn’t come for small talk, Jocelyn,” Ragnor said, eyeing her over the rim of his tea cup. “Out with it then.”

Jocelyn held her own cup, turning it around in her hands like she needed the warmth, but she didn’t drink it. “Clary told me that you were alive,” she said finally. “A couple of years ago, after she got back from Shanghai. I know it was supposed to be a secret, but we both blamed ourselves for what we thought happened to you.”

“What?” Ragnor said, thrown even farther off balance. Whatever he had expected her to say, it hadn’t been that.

“Did Valentine really have nothing to do with your deat– disappearance?”

The pieces finally clicked into place. The spell he had made for Jocelyn, and Magnus’s reason for asking for the Book of the White when Ragnor had been in the middle of faking his death. Ragnor had trusted Magnus to handle the matter, and hadn’t thought of it again after the chaos his life had turned into. He had nearly forgotten about it entirely.

“No, nothing,” Ragnor said. “Valentine was a convenient cover for my escape, but I was well away before anyone associated with him turned up on my doorstep. All of my troubles came from elsewhere.”

Some of the tension went out of Jocelyn and she finally took a sip of tea.

“Catarina was the one who took care of me in the hospital, when I was under the spell,” she said after a moment. “She hid it well, but I could tell she was furious about something when she and Magnus woke me up. I thought it was because she blamed me and Clary for leading Valentine to you.”

Ragnor shook his head. “No, I’m sure Magnus told her the truth about what I had done before they reversed the spell on you. She was probably angry with me.”

Angry wasn’t a strong enough word. The first time he had seen Catarina after Magnus had rescued him, she had slapped him and shouted at him before finally throwing her arms around him and telling him she was glad to see him.

“Your spell saved me from torture I can’t even begin to imagine,” Jocelyn said. “It probably saved my life too. It’s a relief to know that it didn’t cost you yours.”

Ragnor had learned an unfortunate amount about being tortured recently, the memories of Shinyun still uncomfortably fresh. He was glad to have helped spare Jocelyn from a having a similar experience.

“Even if it had,” he said, meeting Jocelyn’s green eyes, finally realizing what it was that she needed to hear, “it wouldn’t have been your fault. I would not have blamed you. You made your own mistakes in the past, but you’ve done what you can to make up for those sins. Valentine’s sins rest entirely on Valentine.”

Jocelyn closed her eyes and took a breath. Ragnor suspected she wouldn’t ever stop blaming herself for Valentine entirely, but lightening the burden a little at a time would help. “I’m grateful you gave me that second chance, all those years ago,” she said.

“If we stop giving people chances to change, the world will become a truly bleak place,” Ragnor said with a wry smile. Jocelyn wasn’t the only one in the room living by the grace of being given a second chance. “I owe you an apology as well,” he added. “I’m sorry for the pain my disappearance put you through. I didn’t consider how pinning my fake murder on Valentine would look to you when you woke up.”

Jocelyn smiled at him at last, and he caught a glimpse of the little girl she had been, before Valentine, when Ragnor had still been close to the Fairchild family. “I’m glad you’re back. I know you’ll be at the Scholomance more, but I hope we see you around here too.”

Ragnor flicked his wrist again, refilling both of their tea cups. “I’ll see what I can do.”

[themimsyborogove]

Who knew Ragnor was alive?

(Spoilers for QoAaD)

So, as anyone who follows me has probably figured out, I was really looking forward to a warlock reunion in QoAaD, and was super disappointed to not only not get one, but to also get zero explanation for why Ragnor faked his death, and very little interaction between the warlock squad at all.

But I think I have an idea about why we didn’t get a reunion scene. I think the whole TMI gang (plus Jem and Tessa) already knew Ragnor was alive before the start of TDA.

“Is that Ragnor Fell in a ‘Ragnor Lives’ T-shirt?” said Clary in amazement. Ragnor was one of Magnus’s oldest friends and had spent several years pretending to be dead and then several more pretending to be a warlock called Shade. Jace and Clary had good cause to know him well.

Why would Jace and Clary know Ragnor well? He was ‘dead’ by the time Clary made it to his house in TMI. She never even saw him.

And Magnus and Catarina definitely think Ragnor is dead in Born to Endless Night. Their conversation in Ragnor’s room, and Magnus’s thoughts about Ragnor and Raphael and immortality, wouldn’t make sense if either of them knew he was still alive.

Ragnor and Raphael. They were both supposed to be immortal. Magnus had thought they would last forever, as he did, down the centuries, that there would always be another meeting and another chance. But they were gone, and the mortals Magnus loved lived on. It was a lesson, Magnus thought, to love while you could, love what was fragile and beautiful and imperiled. Nobody was guaranteed forever.

But Jem and Tessa knew Ragnor was alive before QoAaD. They’re the ones who asked him to keep an eye on Kit before the start of the book.

“Yes, you. Did you really think I was sticking around and helping you with your dumb necromancy just as a favor to Hypatia? We’re not that close. Jem’s the one who asked me to look out for you. The whole Carstairs owe the Herondales business. You know.”

And

“I don’t know.” A line of worry had appeared between Tessa’s brows. “We felt nervous enough before, leaving you, even with you in the Institute and Ragnor nearby to protect you. He even followed you when you went to the Shadow Market.”

So Ragnor “spent several years pretending to be dead and then several more pretending to be a warlock called Shade.” What if the shift between pretending to be dead and pretending to be Shade happened about two years before QoAaD, right after Born to Endless Night?

Here’s a brief summary of the second TEC book, The Lost Book of the White, from CC’s book release schedule, which we know is set right after they adopt Max:

Magnus and Alec thought the adventures of their far-too-eventful vacation were long past. But old friends and old enemies linger, and the story continues…

Old friends, huh?

The Red Scrolls of Magic sampler involves a cult trying to summon a Greater Demon. And it may not be connected, but Ragnor was investigating Greater Demons for Jem in the first few GotSM stories when he was trying to figure out who Tessa’s demon father was.

“I went to several sources about the information you asked for,” said Ragnor. “I have a lead, but I have to tell you—I was warned that this quest might prove fatal: that it has already proved fatal to more than one person. Do you truly want me to follow up on the lead?”

There’s also the fact that Ragnor can do dimensional magic, and he knows about other AU worlds.

Shade stared at the letter, the color draining from his face, leaving it the sickly hue of lettuce. “Thule?”

“You know that world?” Ty said.

“Yes.” Shade’s voice was toneless. “I know many other worlds. It is one of the worst.”

Could he have faked his death by dimension hopping, and lost a couple of years when he came back?

Whatever reason he faked his death, I think Magnus and the others are going to run into Ragnor and find out he’s alive in The Lost Book of the White. That’s why Jem and Tessa already knew he was alive, and why Jace and Clary already know him well, and why in QoAaD, we didn’t actually see him interact with any of the other warlocks, except from a distance, because hearing their conversations would give away that it wasn’t a surprise to them that he’s alive.

There’s this quote, which does sound like Magnus doesn’t know Ragnor is alive in QoAaD, but with other characters knowing that he is, I think it could also just indicate that they couldn’t communicate while Ragnor was in hiding, and this is a message letting Magnus know that Ragnor is officially coming out of hiding now.

“Magnus will be the first to get it, don’t worry,” said Kit. “He’s at the Institute now.”

At that Shade spun back around. “Magnus is here?” He glanced up at the Institute where it gleamed like a legendary castle on a hill. “When he’s well, tell him I’m in the Staircase Beach cave,” he said. “Tell him Ragnor says hello.”

I’m not sure why he spent years letting his friends think he was dead, or why he disguised himself as Shade after, other than maybe it has to do with the Shadow Market stuff he was investigating for Jem, but hopefully these pieces not adding up means there’s plans for an explanation in a future book, not that it’s just going to be left a huge plot hole.

And as a bonus, I’m pretty sure Magnus made Ragnor wear that “Ragnor Lives” shirt as punishment for putting them through thinking he was dead.

[bytheangell]

Dreaming Wide Awake - Ch 4

(read on AO3) (read from the start)

The weekend home before his trip with Alec is a whirlwind of events. With so little time to spend with his friends and family there he’s out from dawn until well beyond dusk, grabbing coffees or dinners or hitting up the local bars… even making time for the bowling alley with Cat, Ragor, and the rest of their friends from home who are all equal parts disappointed to wait an extra month to have him back properly and eager to hear all about his vacation with his new boyfriend when he does get back. 

For the sake of avoiding awkward (and potentially incriminating towards their story) comments on any social media posts he might make, Magnus decides it’s easiest to just tell everyone he and Alec recently started dating. Only Ragnor and Catarina know the truth. He figures he owes that much to them, as they’ve put up with much of his lamenting over dating not being the case ever since he developed feelings for Alec. 

“You’re positive you want to do this?” Ragnor asks one last time as they have a parting drink the night before Magnus leaves. 

“Am I positive I want to spend a month in Italy with the gorgeous guy I like?” Magnus turns the question around on him, eyebrow arched. 

Ragnor rolls his eyes. “You know that isn’t the part I meant. And, for the record, I still think this is a terrible idea.” 

“Yes, I’m aware. You’ve managed to say it about a dozen times a day since it happened. And for the dozenth time in today’s batch: yes, I’m positive I want to do this. I’ll be fine.” Even as he says the words out loud he feels the swell of doubt rise up around them. 

“We’re just a skype call away if you end up being wrong,” Cat reminds him reassuringly. 

“You mean when he ends up being-” Ragnor starts, much less reassuringly, before Magnus cuts him off. 

“Thanks. Both of you, I suppose, but mostly Cat who is my only true friend here it seems.” He sniffs dramatically in feigned affront. 

They finish their drinks and turn in early so Magnus isn’t a walking zombie while meeting Alec’s parents for the first time the following morning. As his 4 am alarm goes off he hits it without even opening his eyes, cursing the Lightwoods for having such an early flight. He has enough bags to carry without worrying about the ones under his eyes, which he does his best to mask with concealer on the cab ride to the airport. 

The only good thing about this hour is the general lack of traffic. He gets to the airport early, which means he gets there extra early, as he already planned on making sure to beat the Lightwoods to make a good first impression. He winds up falling asleep in a chair that should, realistically, be too uncomfortable to actually nap in, only to snap awake at the sound of his name. 

“Magnus!” 

His eyes open to the sight of Alec, a coffee the size of his head held tightly in one hand while the other wheels luggage behind him in addition to a duffle over his shoulder. Next is Isabelle who - like Magnus - clearly gave herself some extra time to get ready this morning, looking a vision in strappy heels and a red dress. Bringing up the rear are who Magnus can only assume are Maryse, Robert, and Max. 

“Alec!” Magnus greets, forcing the enthusiasm through his hazy sleepiness as he stands up and takes a few steps toward Alec to meet him. Once they reach one another, though, they both freeze. They didn’t consider this part of things, which in retrospect is a terrible mistake. Do they hug? Kiss? Continue to stand there staring at one another like they never met before in their entire lives? 

Magnus knows what he’d like to do. That much is easy enough: he wants to use this as an excuse to greet Alec with the sort of soft, lingering kiss he never gets to during their hookups. And if he knew Alec would be okay with it right off the bat he’d have no trouble doing it now. The problem is that he doesn’t want to overstep - how much of a show is he supposed to put on before Alec might grow uncomfortable with how eager Magnus is to play this role? How many not-strictly-necessary kisses would it take before Alec would realize--

“You don’t have to not kiss on our behalf,” Maryse says, coming up behind Alec (who turns rather red at the comment and suddenly grows extremely interested in his shoes). It’s difficult to read her tone - she seems like the sort of person who is curt and to-the-point more often than not, but her words feel almost dismissive. 

Of course, he could just be reading too much into it. It’s early. Everyone’s tired, and he’s a stranger among their family. Of course she’s going to sound a little distant… right? 

“Duly noted, Mrs. Lightwood,” Magnus says with a small, nervous laugh. He’s glad that any nerves will be chalked up to meeting the parents for the first time - which they are not about - and not the fact that he has no idea how to comfortably act like Alec’s boyfriend - which they are 100% about. 

“How do you look so perfect for 7 am in an airport?” Alec asks, and Magnus laughs genuinely this time, dispelling any awkwardness from a moment ago. 

“A cab ride full of concealer and eye cream,” Magnus admits. 

At that Maryse turns back to properly take in his appearance, lingering on his eyes which are done up with liner and a touch of shadow. For a moment Magnus is afraid she’s about to make some comment about boys and makeup. 

She looks him up and down, considering, and then says, “I don’t suppose you have any to spare? As the driver this morning, I didn’t get that extra hour some of us did for makeup.” The last bit is added very pointedly in Isabelle’s direction. 

“I offered to drive-” Isabelle starts, but is quickly cut off by a chorus of frantic, “No!”s from the rest of her family, Max included, leaving her to drop her bag next to a chair and sit down with a pout. 

Magnus barely hides the look of pleasant surprise from his face, but manages to only allow Alec to catch the brief flicker of it before he turns back to Alec’s mother. 

“Of course! Let me find it…” Magnus doesn’t have to do much digging in his bag, as it was recently used and still at the top, before pulling out the product and hanging it over to Mrs. Lightwood with a smile. “Here you go, have at it.” 

“Thank you, Magnus. You’re a lifesaver. All of mine is buried in the very bottom of my luggage, it would be a disaster to try and get to it without ruining the entire suitcase.” 

“Which I barely managed to close as it is,” Robert points out. 

Maryse rolls her eyes before wandering off towards the nearest restroom to use the mirror, and Magnus looks down to see the practically bulging bag in question. It looks one wrong move away from exploding the contents out of it cartoon-style. 

As far as first impressions go, Magnus thinks to himself that this one is probably one of his better experiences with someone’s parents. Alec sidles up to him, arms now free of luggage and coffee, to wrap one of said free arms around Magnus’ waist; Magnus tenses instinctively before allowing himself to ease into it. 

 He questions whether he’ll ever get used to such casual moments with Alec, only to find he’s more afraid that he will, and that’d be an even bigger problem when their month is up and it’s back to the way things were before. 

“She likes you already,” Alec says, grinning. 

“She loves that my makeup was at the top of my bag,” Magnus corrects, but secretly hopes Alec is right. “Your father’s been suspiciously quiet, though,” he adds, glancing in Robert’s direction. 

“...that’s probably for the best. He doesn’t have much good to say when he does speak around me these days…” Alec mutters, and Magnus feels an immediate pang of sympathy. 

Alec doesn’t talk about his family too often, and when he does it’s usually to vent. Which makes sense, given their usual turn of events from venting angry frustrations to relieving that stress via spectacular sex.  So of course Magnus knows when Alec is stressed out about his family or having a fight with his parents, but everyone has those days. He didn’t realize it was as constant of a tension as Alec hints. 

Before Magnus has a chance to say anything about it Alec’s younger brother is standing in front of him, eyeing him curiously. 

  “You’re wearing girl makeup.” Max states simply. Magnus cringes internally but manages to keep a diplomatic smile on his face all the while. 

“Max!” Alec hisses, not quite as patient while his face betrays his instant mortification. 

“Actually, Max, it’s just makeup. It doesn’t have to be for girls, boys can wear it, too.” He gives the correction gently, doing his best to make this a teachable moment. After all, one is never too young to learn the importance of-

“Max, why don’t you come over here? I need help with something.” Robert calls over suddenly, and though Max sees nothing suspicious about the sudden and vague request that draws his attention away from Magnus it’s very clear to the rest of them why Robert called him away. 

“Sorry about him,” Alec says, and if Magnus isn’t mistaken he thinks he can hear a slight shake to his words. “I didn’t think he’d be this much of an ass right away.” 

“No apologies necessary, really,” Magnus reassures him. “It isn’t your fault. And a little avoidance is hardly the worst I’ve had to suffer in my life.” It’s sad, but true, that situations such as this one hardly phase him anymore. The only reason he cares at all is because he really wants Alec’s parents to like him… and so far that judgment seems to be very up for debate. 

The time before boarding passes quickly with Alec and Izzy talking to him for most of it, as well as some generic (and slightly forced) get-to-know-you lines of questioning from Alec’s parents (mostly Maryse). 

It’s a relief when they board and he gets a row with Izzy and Alec, leaving the others behind them where he doesn’t have to talk to them for the next 8 hours. 

“Want to share?” Alec asks, holding out one of his wireless headphones for Magnus to take. Magnus doesn’t even question what music Alec is listening to - over their year and a half of friendship the pair of them often traded music and movie recs, to the point that for the most part each has a good enough idea of what the other does and doesn’t like without having to ask. There isn’t a doubt in Magnus’ mind that he’ll enjoy whatever is playing - Alec wouldn’t hand it to him otherwise. 

He wonders briefly when he started trusting Alec so implicitly.

He wonders if it wouldn’t be wiser to try and stop that instinct while he’s ahead, before he’s entrusting Alec with more than he means to. 

Taking the headphone, the sound that reaches his ears startles a laugh out of him. 

“You’re really listening to Simon’s band on your phone?” Magnus questions, giving Alec an incredulous look. 

“Oh, but not just any of Simon’s music; what’s gracing your eardrums right now is one of six previously unheard, unreleased tracks from his upcoming project. He wants my - which by association is now our - quote: ‘honest, unforgiving feedback’.” 

“...we’re going to tell him we love it no matter what, aren’t we?” Magnus asks, and Alec nods emphatically. 

“Oh, absolutely.” They share a knowing grin before both fall silent, listening to over 30 minutes of what ends up being a surprisingly promising sample of new tracks. When they’re finished Magnus tries to stay awake to talk with Alec a little longer, but despite his best efforts that early morning wake-up finally gets to him and he falls asleep. 

Alec shakes him awake for lunch and they make it through part of a movie before it’s Alec’s turn to give in to sleep, eyes drooping once, and then twice, before his head drops to the side and falls onto Magnus’ shoulder. Magnus shifts slightly so that Alec’s head can rest more comfortably for both of them and catches Izzy’s gaze in the process. She smiles at him, something soft and appreciative over the sight of Alec curled up against him. He should feel reassured that she seems to approve but all he can feel is a twinge of guilt. He doesn’t deserve that look - he isn’t taking care of Alec, not the way she thinks he is. 

Not the way he wants to. 

 He isn’t tired anymore but he also isn’t up for the ‘so, you and alec…’ line of questioning he can see on the tip of Izzy’s tongue, so he closes his eyes before she can start and leans his head over to rest against Alec’s. Out of sheer force of will he manages to fall asleep on and off again the rest of the flight. 

The plane lands on time and they grab their bags out of the overhead compartments before shuffling down the aisle and out of the plane. 

“Holy shit, even the airport is gorgeous,” Magnus says, eyeing the impressive arched ceiling of the airport which is a far cry from the ones he’s used to in New York and Jersey. The black and off-white sleek design is strikingly modern, with the second floor visible from the first through curved walkways and carved out flooring, giving the building an open feel not normally associated with the rushed, cramped image of an airport full of people and lines and chairs crammed together for efficiency, not style. 

Alec laughs. “If you’re that impressed already I won’t even have to try the rest of the trip.” 

Magnus knows Alec’s only joking, but it’s enough to make him rethink the way he’s reacting to the things around them. He wants to make a good first impression, after all, not highlight how entirely uncultured he is every time he opens his mouth. The difference between him and the Lightwoods is… well, it’s a lot. His family never hurt for money but they weren’t particularly well off, either. Magnus lived a comfortable life growing up, traveling abroad once for a school trip and once on a ‘vacation’ to Indonesia to visit family there. 

His comfort ran out his senior year in high school, unfortunately, when Magnus didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps by joining the Army like his father, and his father before him. They were a proud line of military commanders and Magnus wanted no part of it. The only reason he’s in the same college as Alec is because of his scholarship - his father made it very clear if Magnus wanted to ‘waste his studies’ focusing on human rights law then he could support himself. 

So he did. 

He imagines he will be for the rest of his life now, estranged from the only father he ever knew over something as petty as not wanting to go into what had become somewhat of a family tradition… and that’s a train of thought Magnus is quick to cut off, knowing that Alec is very likely going to enter into his own family’s firm after graduation next year. It’d make sense - the money and status right off the bat would be impossible to beat anywhere else. 

“Magnus? You alright?” Alec asks, and Magnus realizes he’s been lost in his thoughts long enough that he blindly followed Izzy to the baggage claim without even noticing he was walking. 

“Yeah, sorry. Just thinking.” Magnus says, and the answer is so pointedly vague that Alec just makes a noncommittal noise of understanding but doesn’t pry. 

“Come on everyone! The car is waiting!” Maryse calls out to get everyone’s attention, and Magnus is thankful for the immediate distraction from his drifting thoughts. It’ll be another few hours of travel to Sperlonga, where the villa they’re staying in is located. 

Magnus grabs his bag and turns to follow Maryse with Alec right beside him, heading towards a six-seater van that takes them to the house on the coast. It’s evening in Italy already so the drive isn’t much for sight-seeing. Magnus mostly regrets falling asleep on the plane for as long as he did because now he knows he’ll be awake most of the night and half-asleep tomorrow for their first proper day here. 

Then again, with the whole month in front of them, maybe he can just sleep in and not do anything tomorrow. He realizes that he hadn’t spoken with Alec much about plans for the trip - are the Lightwoods the sort to have every moment already scheduled to a T, or could he spend every single day inside of the villa if he wanted to (not that he ever would, but hypothetically)? 

“So what’s on the agenda for tomorrow?” he asks casually. 

“Whatever you want,” Alec replies almost immediately.

“And if I want to sleep in and get breakfast at noon?” Magnus offers as a test. 

“Then mid-day mimosas it is,” Alec agrees without missing a beat. “We usually take the first few days to adjust to the time change anyway - unless you want to do something right away, which we totally can. It’s all pretty relaxed, I think my mom booked a vineyard visit one day next week, maybe? But there isn’t an itinerary or anything like that. And we don’t all have to do the same thing - if you want to skip out on something at any point just say the word. I want you to have fun this month, not just feel like you’re tagging along.” 

It’s a nice sentiment and all, but Magnus can’t imagine a scenario of this where he doesn’t feel exactly like that. It isn’t as if Alec’s family knows him at all so of course he’s mostly going to feel like an outsider... which he knew going into this, of course. In fact, Magnus is counting on it to work in his favor - the more he can remind himself of that, the less likely he is to grow too comfortable in a role that isn’t really his. 

“Of course,” he says out loud, with a forced smile Alec can’t see in the dark anyway. 

“If you think I’m going anywhere besides the pool tomorrow, you’re sorely mistaken,” Isabelle chimes up from the seat in front of them, and they chat a bit amongst themselves the rest of the ride over places they might want to go throughout the month. There are quite a few places he rattles off, some he’s mentioned to Alexander before like Matera, and others he’s sure the Lightwoods have seen a million times over like Siena and Cinque Terre. 

Despite his previous concerns over sleep Magnus finds himself surprisingly travel-worn by the time they arrive. Even in the dark he can tell that the place is impressive; and when Alec said coastal he meant coastal - Magnus can hear the crashing waves close by even if he can’t see them and can only imagine the view the morning will bring. 

Magnus does his best not to gape when they step into the house itself. It has more than enough space for the six of them and the kitchen and dining area is the size of Magnus’ entire apartment back home. 

The Lightwoods are immediately at home the moment they walk in the door, with Max making a bee-line for the kitchen and Robert heading off towards what Magnus assumes is his and Maryse’s bedroom with their luggage in tow. Isabelle looks about to do the same when Maryse stops her. 

“Isabelle, Alec, the two of you should switch rooms this time,” she says, a suggestion which garners immediate disapproval from both siblings. 

“What?” “Why?!” 

“I know Alec doesn’t mind the smaller space for himself, but considering he has a guest this time I think it’s only fair to give the two of them the larger room. Don’t you?” Maryse points out, and though she words it like an option the tone behind her words makes it very clear that this is happening, one way or another. 

“Oh, I’m sure it’s fine, Alexander and I can make do with-” Magnus begins, not wanting to be the reason for a family spat this early in the trip, but Izzy is already relaxed beside him from her original outburst. 

“No, it’s fine! I didn’t even think about that. Alec always gives me the room with the bigger bed because he knows I’m the spoiled little sister. But you two need it much more than I do.” Izzy adds that last part lower so Maryse doesn’t hear, coupling it with a suggestive wink as she passes by the two of them. “Enjoy!” 

Well, she might not know the true nature of their relationship but she isn’t wrong about every aspect of it. Magnus does his best not to laugh at the look of pure mortification on Alec’s face.

“Something wrong?” Maryse asks, but the strange look on Alec’s face passes just as quickly behind a flash of a smile. 

“No, nothing- come on, Magnus, I’ll show you to our room.” Alec says quickly, turning away from his mom and starting off in the same direction Isabelle just went. 

Our room , Magnus thinks, thankful Alec can’t see the small smile that tugs involuntarily at the corners of his lips before he can hide it. 

Magnus doesn’t know why he didn’t consider it before. Of course Alec’s parents would expect them to stay in the same room - they aren’t high schoolers who need to be separated and checked in on before bed, after all. 

It’s a nice sized room, with more than enough closet and dresser space for the two of them and a television mounted to the wall in front of the king-sized bed. Alec is already looking from the bed to Magnus, biting down on his lip for a moment in thought. Instead of asking what he’s thinking Magnus simply waits for Alec to say whatever’s on his mind. 

“You can take the bed,” Alec says finally. 

Magnus furrows his brow and looks at Alec like he has seven heads. “What?” 

“I just - I was going to offer to stay in the spare room but that’s weird, if we’re dating. So I’ll just crash on the floor.” 

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Magnus says, very aware of the effort it takes for him to keep the conflicting emotion he feels out of his tone.  “We can share the bed.” 

“Are you sure?” Alec asks, eyeing Magnus carefully. Of course Magnus isn’t sure. Magnus is the one who makes it a point to practically jump out of bed the moment they’re done having sex because the idea of lingering where he wants to stay, but knows he isn’t wanted, is too painful. For him to be the one to insist is a strange turn of events, one that clearly catches Alec off guard. 

“I’m certainly not about to let you sleep on the floor all vacation in your own house ,” Magnus points out, rolling his eyes. “What kind of a friend do you take me for?” 

Even saying the word friend hurts, but Magnus hides it well behind a laugh. 

Alec still hesitates and Magnus does his best to keep the smile on his face despite the fact that he can actively feel his spirit being crushed with every second Alec remains silent. Is the idea of sharing a bed with him for more than just sex truly that unappealing of a concept? 

“Alright,” Alec says, dropping his bag next to the bed and sitting along the edge of the mattress. 

“Great. Now that that’s settled, I’m going to hop in the shower and get a day’s worth of travel makeup off me before I break out. Care to point me in the right direction?” Magnus asks, and doesn’t know why he’s surprised when Alec points to a door to his right. Of course they have their own ensuite. 

He showers quickly so Alec has time to do the same before bed but by the time he’s done he finds Alec already passed out on top of the covers, still wearing the clothes they traveled in and sprawled haphazardly across three-fourths of the bed. 

Magnus considers waking him up so he can change - and also so Magnus can squeeze into his side of the bed properly - but a moment later Alec is snoring and it’s the most adorable noise Magnus has ever heard. Since they never spent the night together he’s never actually seen Alec sleep before. 

Thankfully Alec is a pretty deep sleeper, because Magnus stands there and watches him for a bit longer than he’d be comfortable admitting, even to himself after he realizes what he’s doing. 

Instead of waking Alec up Magnus just quietly walks to the edge of the bed to slide Alec’s shoes off before moving as gently as he can onto the bed beside Alec. Alec might be spread out but there’s enough room for Magnus to comfortably fit next to him, so long as he sleeps on top of the covers too, despite the slight chill to the night air and the fact that he always runs cold. Alec would almost positively wake up if Magnus attempted to pull enough cover free to slide himself under.  Magnus tries to convince himself he’d sacrifice the warmth of covers to not wake up any sleeping friend, though he knows for a fact he’d show zero hesitation in shoving Ragnor awake  to claim his half of the bed and the warmth of the plush comforter. But for Alexander? Laying on top of the sheets and falling asleep to the sound of Alec’s quiet snores, Magnus is surprised to find this is a compromise he’s more than willing to make.

[themimsyborogove]

Ragnor/Catarina and #56 for the 101 Drabble prompts? 😂

I changed the quote just a little to work better with magic. 😆

56 “The sign said not to push the button, so naturally I had to push it!”

——

Usually Ragnor just showed up at Catarina’s apartment or at the hospital at the end of her shift when he deemed it too long since she had taken a vacation, but this trip had actually been planned for a few months. Even warlocks couldn’t just climb Mt. Everest on a whim.

She’s giving her heavy hiking backpack one final check to make sure she didn’t forget to pack anything when her phone rings, Ragnor apologetically telling her the spell he was working on was taking longer than anticipated, and asking if she could meet him at his flat instead of him coming to pick her up.

Catarina smiles and shakes her head as she hangs up the phone. Ragnor always got onto her about overworking, but he could be just as bad sometimes. She makes a Portal to London, where he’s been for the past week instead of his house in Idris, and lets herself in to his flat, dropping her backpack by the door with a loud thump.

She’s just about to sit down on the sofa to wait for Ragnor to finish whatever he’s working on when she hears what sounds like an explosion from the direction of Ragnor’s study, following by a loud string of swearing.

Catarina rushes down the hall and throws open the door to find Ragnor standing in the middle of the room, a huge gash covering one arm all the way from his shoulder to his wrist, blood dripping onto the floor, and half of his desk completely missing, the remaining contents of it spilled all over the floor.

“Ragnor, what happened?” she exclaims, pulling him away from the wreckage to check the wound on his arm, pushing the ruins of his sleeve away from it and knitting his skin back together with her magic.

Ragnor gives her a sheepish look. “The book said to not attempt the spell without saying what exactly it did, so naturally I had to try it and find out how it worked,” he mutters.

“Ragnor,” she sighs in exasperation. “That is the stupidest thing I’ve heard you say. I’d expect that from Magnus, but not from you. What the hell were you even trying to do?”

He flushes a little, the darker emerald color high on his green cheeks. “I thought I had found a way to create a small pocket dimension inside a container. I was going to surprise you with it since it would lighten our bags for the trip considerably, but it… Didn’t quite work as planned. The pocket dimension expanded suddenly, then snapped closed, taking my entire backpack and half of my desk with it.”

Catarina thwaps him on his freshly healed arm, and he winces, hissing in pain. “You dumbass, that could have taken off your entire arm. You’re lucky you just ended up with a scratch.” It had been much worse than a scratch, but compared to what it could have been… Catarina was a good healer, but she couldn’t regrow limbs.

She loops her arms around his waist and leans her cheek against his chest, breathing in the faint citrus scent of his cologne and feeling the warm weight of both his arms as they wrap around her to return the hug. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she murmurs. “Please stop trying dangerous experimental spells and let’s just go climb the giant mountain.”

Ragnor chuckles weakly, patting her back and brushing a kiss against the top of her head. “Alright. Let me go pack another bag since my spell ate the first one.”

Catarina laughs and pushes him away and toward his bedroom to change his blood spattered clothes and repack so they can finally leave.

[themimsyborogove]

This was supposed to be hiking fluff, but then some characterization and smut snuck in.

I’ll Run to Your Side When Your Heart is Bleeding

Catarina’s shift is technically over, but she’s still at the nurses’ station jotting down a few more notes in her patients’ files for the nurses in the next shift.

She feels someone approach the desk and looks up to see Ragnor’s familiar features under a glamour to hide his green skin and horns, but with his hair still snow white, wearing cargo shorts and two deceptively normal-sized backpacks slung over his shoulder.

“Are you ready to go?” he asks.

“You know we live together,” she replies, raising her eyebrows at him. “You could have waited until I got home.”

The nurse at the station with Catarina, Sarah, who is technically the supervisor, giggles as she elbows Catarina. “His way is more romantic. I knew you had a boyfriend, but you never told me how hot he was,” she stage whispers to Catarina, winking at Ragnor.

“He’s arrogant enough, don’t encourage him,” Catarina says, but gives Ragnor a fond smile, despite the smug look on his face. She checks the schedule book to find she’s mysteriously disappeared from every shift for the next week, and her eyes narrow. “Ragnor, what did you do?”

Read on AO3 (adult content warning)

[themimsyborogove]

I decided to go back to a mostly finished wip that I kind of gave up on last month. It was supposed to be solid fluff, and now it’s smut. Whoops.

[themimsyborogove]

And the link to the excessively smutty version:

Give Me a Tropical Contact High (Adult content warning)

I have no excuse for this. I wanted to write something silly and I was really entertained by the idea of Ragnor getting sunburned. And I like the fluffy G-rated first half enough to post as its own one shot. I’ll link the full, er, more-than-G-rated version in a separate post when I get it up on AO3 later.

—–

Catarina has always liked the beach more than Ragnor does. It’s not that he hates the beach, he just hates heat, and humidity, and distrusts any body of water large enough to hold a boat. Just watching the boats passing by on the ocean, rocking in the waves, is enough to make his stomach turn, which the fishy smell of the salt water doesn’t help.

Ragnor much prefers mountains, with their cool, crisp air and clear streams that he and Catarina can sit on the edge of and dip their feet into while they rest during a hike. Even in the summer, when the days are hot and sunny, it isn’t a humid heat. The water in the streams is usually cold and refreshing, and the nights are comfortably cool, which always makes Catarina lean into him as they sit together outside of their tent. Ragnor likes those peaceful nights, where he can wrap an arm around her waist while she rests her head on his shoulder, and they can listen to the crickets chirp and watch the fireflies flutter through the woods with their soft glowing lights and pretend that the world is a little less bright, and noisy, and fast-paced than it’s become.

Ragnor might prefer their mountain hikes, but he knows Catarina likes warm sandy beaches as much as she likes their usual trips, and Ragnor does like to see her stretched out on a beach towel in the sun, enjoying the heat and the sand, so that’s where he plans their next vacation.

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