Title: I loved your colours (before I loved you)
Artist: @calliartss
Rating: Explicit (Chapter 10 only)
Pairings: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood, Alec Lightwood & Clary Fray, Clary Fray/Isabelle Lightwood
Word Count: ~95k
Summary: Magnus Bane is a journalist who's always dreamed of modelling for Lightwood Fashions. When the CEO Alec Lightwood starts looking for new models for their spring collection, he jumps on the occasion.
In the meantime, Alec Lightwood is struggling with the idea of finally announcing his role as co-designer. When Magnus Bane strolls into his life, Alec is torn between keeping his secret or throwing all caution to the wind.
Author’s note: This fic has been in my mind for over a year, and I can’t believe I finally made it to the end. Thank you to the lovely Cor for beta’ing my fic, to gabes for the amazing art, and to Em for being there every step of the way. I hope you’ll all enjoy this as much as I loved writing it!
Link to AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26165713/chapters/63667411
This fic was created for the @malecdiscordserver Mini Bang 2020.
It’s my absolute pleasure to present the playlist I worked on and the accompanying fic that Hika @thelightofthebane (ColorfulWarlock on AO3) created for the Shadowhunters Reverse Bang 2022, presented by the @malecdiscordserver over on discord.
We're a little bit behind schedule but I promise you so much love and patience went into this proect! You can find the fic itself right here and I urge you all to give it a read. Hika's story completely fit the idea I had in mind when I first created my playlist, and she has done an absolutely fantastic job of worldbuilding and storytelling. She's an amazing writer, an even better person, and a wonderful person to talk to. Hope you all send her all the love <3
And here’s a quick summary of her story if you guys want a little teaser:
What if Magnus couldn’t forgive Alec for breaking his heart after the deal with Asmodeus? What if Magnus left New York and never looked back?
What if Clary never got her memories back? What if the parabatai duo was so broken for their lost loves, they couldn’t function anymore? What if broken hearts led to broken souls?
What if one left and the other disappeared? What if Magnus came back to a New York where Alec Lightwood vanished a century ago?
What if
What if
What if
Second chances might take longer. But they always seem to find their way back to each other.
The playlist is open to the public on spotify, right here! But for those of you who just want to take a look at the titles and see if anything is of interest to you, I’ll list the details of the song down below.
Break My Own by Taylor Bickett
champagne problems by Taylor Swift
I Lost a Friend by FINNEAS
Back to Friends by Lauren Spencer Smith
Small Talk by Katy Perry
my tears ricochet by Taylor Swift
Alright by Keaton Henson
As It Was by Harry Styles
Sick of Losing Soulmates by dodie
One by Sleeping At Last
Video Games by Lana del Rey
Runnin' Home to You by Grant Gustin
Heart by Sleeping At Last
Sweet Home by SYML
i hope ur miserable until ur dead by Nessa Barrett
It's my absolute pleasure to present the playlist I worked on and the accompanying fic that Katie (quill_and_ink on AO3) created for the Shadowhunters Reverse Bang 2022, presented by the @malecdiscordserver over on discord.
You can find the fic itself right here and I would highly recommend reading it. Katie is an amazing storyteller and deserves all the love and credit for this wonderful work of fiction. Working with her was such a pleasure and I'm so happy with the final result <3
And here's a quick summary of her story if you guys want a little teaser:
For Alexander Gideon Lightwood, he's not sure what grief might have been like under different circumstances. Unfortunately, the only type of grief he's allowed to experience is just nothingness, shoving it all down and hiding it behind the myriad locks and keys of his mind and pretending it didn't exist... because to the rest of the world, it didn't.
A story of love, loss, and finding your way back to a new normal - and how your whole world can change by sheer chance.
The playlist is open to the public on spotify, right here! But for those of you who just want to take a look at the titles and see if anything is of interest to you, I'll list the details of the song down below.
Freshly graduated photographer Clary Fray is miserable. Her job is tiring, mentally taxing, and not even the slightest bit rewarding. All she wants to do is take pictures of stunning sceneries and enjoy the beauty of the world around her.
Influencer Isabelle Lightwood is ready for the next step in her career: a tour of the United States to promote her love for her country and her fans. The only problem? She needs a photographer she can trust to travel with her and immortalise every moment of her trip.
Enter Magnus Bane, Clary's best friend and Isabelle's brother's fiancé, who is determined to give both women exactly what they need. Little does he know what they need isn't just a travel companion or a saviour from a life of boredom; it's also a person to talk to, someone to bring them warmth and maybe (just maybe) another soul to love.
Tag your artist: @thelightofthebane
Link to AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/41464017/chapters/103982316
This artwork was created for the Shadowhunters Reverse Bang 2022: Presented by the @malecdiscordserver.
Pairing: Aline/Maia
Rated: Gen
Summary: “You’re absolutely ridiculous,” Alec sighed. “That girl even lets you make those disgusting holiday drinks you love so much, and I assure you it’s not because she likes them.”
“Hey! There’s nothing wrong with my drinks!” Aline threw a dishtowel at her friend. “And I guarantee you that she likes them, since she always asks for more. You can even ask her when she stops by today, if it’ll make you happy.”
“Oh, it would make me very happy,” Alec grinned. “I can’t wait to see where that conversation leads us.”
Or: Aline loves making coffee during the winter season; Maia loves buying coffee from her.
For the @malecdiscordserver Advent Calendar
“Oh god, what atrocity have you made this time?”
At the sound of Alec’s voice, Aline’s gaze snapped away from the drink she’d been preparing only to land on her best friend’s tired form. She almost winced in sympathy but figured she didn’t look much better, so any attempt at asking after him would only end with Alec turning the situation against her.
“Good morning to you too,” she said as cheerfully as she could manage – which was to say not much, given how drained she was from finals season. “This is the delicious peppermint mocha with eggnog foam, covered in candy cane sprinkles and mini marshmallows.”
At her description, Alec mock-gagged and skirted around her like the drink in her hands was the plague. Aline rolled her eyes at his antics but didn’t comment on his inability to appreciate holiday drinks; he wasn’t the only one who made fun of her tastes and she would much rather roast a rude customer than her best friend.
“Your coffee is already on the counter,” she piped up instead, grinning internally when Alec’s eyes lit up. She had known the man ever since the two of them were too little to walk, and it hadn’t taken her long to realise that the best way to his heart was through his favourite foods – or in this case, coffee. “And yes, I know I’m the most amazing best friend in the world. I hope you appreciate the efforts I put into it, because that stuff is ridiculously difficult to make.”
“That’s just because you’re terrible with the foam,” Alec snorted, sighing contentedly as he took a sip of his drink. “You should really let me deal with that, but I suppose I owe you a thank you for having this ready for me. How early did you even get here?”
“Simon made me take his graveyard shift,” Aline admitted defeatedly. “I should know better than to let his wide eyes fool me, but he mentioned something about his sister and there was no way I was going to refuse his offer. Remember that Christmas shift we were going to do together? Well, I hope you’re going to have a nice time with Simon.”
“No,” Alec gaped. “How the hell did you get him to accept Christmas of all days? His sister better have been in need of serious help because I refuse to be stuck with him for anything less than a matter of the utmost importance.”
“Oh please, don’t lie to yourself,” Aline nudged her friend playfully. “I know you secretly love having shifts with Si. He makes your drink perfectly and he mans the register every time you look like you’re about to murder someone. And of course, there’s the fact that he lets you sneak a break in whenever Magnus stops by. That boy is gold and you know it.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Alec mumbled, but Aline could see the fond smile tugging at his lips as he tied his apron with a flourish he’d undoubtedly gotten from his boyfriend. “Do you know when Lyds is taking over for you?”
“I told her not to get here before ten,” Aline shrugged as nonchalantly as possible, hoping Alec wouldn’t comment on-
“Ten, huh?” Her best friend raised his eyebrows, and Aline cursed internally. The man was too observant for his own good, sometimes. “Is that random, or does it perhaps have something to do with the pretty girl from my marketing class you seem to like so much?”
“Completely random,” Aline huffed. “I would never put in extra work just to see someone who I don’t even know. Besides, I’m pretty sure she only comes here to see you, since her lectures are on the other side of campus.”
“How on earth do you know that?” Alec laughed loudly, sounding genuinely surprised at the amount of information Aline had somehow managed to gather about the beautiful girl with warm eyes and curls she wanted to run her fingers through. “Even I don’t know where all of her lectures are, and I’m in three of her courses.”
“I talked to her,” Aline lied through her teeth.
In reality, she’d gotten answers through a fair amount of snooping, dubiously ethical social media research, and questions she’d carefully asked various Econ students who visited the coffee shop regularly. All in all, she’d put in more effort to find out about the other woman than she’d put in any of her papers that semester. It had been worth it, of course, but Alec didn’t need to know any of that.
“Whatever you say,” he smirked at her. “My point is that Maia – in case you somehow missed her name while the two of you were… talking – never stops by later than ten, which means there’s a good chance you’re trying to see her before you have to leave. As for why she comes here, I think we both know it has nothing to do with me. That girl is as gay as I am and you know it.”
“She could be bi, you know,” Aline pointed out, although she couldn’t deny the way her heart skipped a beat at the confirmation of what she’d been thinking for the past two months. It wasn’t that the girl – Maia – looked gay, but the way she stared at Aline… Well, some things were hard to ignore. “I just don’t want to get my hopes up.”
“You’re absolutely ridiculous,” Alec sighed. “That girl even lets you make those disgusting holiday drinks you love so much, and I assure you it’s not because she likes them.”
“Hey! There’s nothing wrong with my drinks!” Aline threw a dishtowel at her friend. “And I guarantee you that she likes them, since she always asks for more. You can even ask her when she stops by today, if it’ll make you happy.”
“Oh, it would make me very happy,” Alec grinned. “I can’t wait to see where that conversation leads us.”
Aline opened her mouth to answer but before her smart retort could slip past her lips, a customer entered the shop and marked the beginning of the morning rush. Nevertheless, Aline sent her best friend a sharp glance as she smiled pleasantly at the customer to take his order.
There was no way her favourite customer – and hypothetical crush, according to Alec – didn’t like her drinks. No way on earth.
***
It took two hours of working tirelessly alongside Alec but finally, the woman they’d both been waiting for stepped through the shop’s front doors, looking as pretty and bright as she always did.
Aline couldn’t quite remember when she’d first seen Maia, but she remembered exactly how she’d felt. She remembered her mouth going dry, her heart clenching at the sight of such a beautiful woman, and all her thoughts disappearing from her mind. She remembered Lydia nudging her in the ribs and staring at her expectantly as the angel stepped up to the counter, and she remembered fumbling over her words as she tried to take the girl’s order.
She’d been a disaster and seeing the woman back again the next day had been the most pleasant surprise of her first month back at uni. Ever since then, Maia had stopped by the shop almost every day of the week, even weekends, and all of Aline’s co-workers seemed to think she was the reason behind the increasingly frequent visits.
She got their point, she really did, but she still struggled to understand why a woman as stunning and confident as Maia would be interested in her. And if she was, why not just ask Aline out? It wasn’t like she was subtle with her – hypothetical – crush on the other woman.
After all, after over two months of seeing Maia up to six times a week, nothing had occurred between them beyond the occasional greeting when they crossed paths on campus.
“Good morning Alec! Good morning Aline!” Maia’s voice cut through Aline’s thoughts, bringing her attention back to the very woman she’d been thinking about. God, she was gorgeous. “How are you doing today?”
“Tired,” Aline admitted, biting back a yawn as the thought of her bed flashed in her mind. She felt like she hadn’t slept in years. “Simon had me covering his shift last night and early this morning, so I honestly feel like a zombie.”
“Why are you even here?” Maia’s eyebrows flew up. “I would have left this goddamn place as soon as possible if my friend had gotten me to cover his shift. Isn’t Lydia usually here around this time?”
“She is,” Aline answered, wondering why the woman even knew about their shifts. It wasn’t exactly common knowledge. “I just thought I’d pick up a few extra hours; a little more cash can never hurt, you know?”
“She’s lying.”
Until then, Aline had never really understood why people wanted to strangle their friends sometimes. Sure, Alec teased her more than anyone else and Lydia occasionally got on her nerves with her endless sources of knowledge, but she’d never wanted to physically hurt them before.
Right then, however, she could easily picture her hands around Alec’s neck. Anything to make him shut up, really.
“Am I?” Aline asked through gritted teeth, shooting Alec the deadliest glare she could manage and preening slightly when he backed off with raised hands. “That’s what I thought.”
When she looked back at Maia, the brunette looked like she was holding back a laugh, although her eyes were sparkling with an emotion Aline couldn’t quite put her finger on. Honestly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to. She’d made a fool of herself in front of Maia countless times already, and she wasn’t exactly eager to add another situation to her tally.
“Anything I need to know?” Maia finally asked.
“Alec’s just being his usual foolish self,” Aline replied unconvincingly – she could hear her voice trembling, for goodness sake. “Now, what did you want? Because as much as I despise that man, I also have a bet to win and I would love for you to prove my point.”
“And your point will be proven depending on the coffee I choose?” She sounded doubtful, but Aline didn’t let that bother her. She might not have been the best at flirting or navigating social interactions, but she could brew the best coffee out of all the workers at the shop and she was determined to show Alec that her drinks were fantastic. “I guess I’ll have whatever you feel like making, then.”
“That’s-” Aline cut herself off as she felt her cheeks turn red. It was very sweet of Maia, if she was being completely honest, but it also wouldn’t do much to convince Alec that the woman actually enjoyed her drinks. She couldn’t just force the beverage on Maia and call it a win; she needed the other woman to admit that she wanted one of her ‘sugary nightmares’. “That’s very kind of you, but it’s also not what this is about. If you could have any drink right now, within our limits, what would it be? What would you get if it were anyone other than me here.”
“Oh, well that’s a completely different question,” Maia sighed as though she was truly considering Aline’s question. “See, if it were you, I would get that hot chocolate topped with peppermint foam that you made the other day. If it were someone else, I’d probably ask for a basic vanilla drink because – and don’t tell the others I said this – they’re terrible at making holiday drinks.”
The tell-tale sound of plastic cups toppling over rang out behind Aline and it took all of her willpower for her not to grin victoriously as she turned back to check on Alec. Her best friend stuck his tongue out at her childishly, gesturing for her to get back to her own business. Aline was more than willing to oblige.
“My drinks are the best, then?” She asked sweetly. “And you’re not forcing yourself to drink them because of some strange obligation you feel towards me?”
“Obligation is the last thing I feel for you, Aline.”
Maia’s words had Aline freezing in her tracks, her ears burning as she lifted her gaze to meet Maia’s. Instead of looking mortified or amused, as Aline had assumed she would, she stared at the barista unashamedly, the glint in her eyes back with a vengeance.
This time, Aline thought she might have an idea what that was all about.
She took a deep breath, willing the last of her anxiety away the same way she had when she was younger and her mother had taken her along on business trips. She knew how to handle stressful situations; she’d been raised to handle them, even. If she could somehow make it through conversations with foreign politics who couldn’t have cared less about a little girl, she could make it through a casual talk with her crush.
Her not-so-hypothetical crush.
“Are you saying you didn’t start buying these ridiculously sweet drinks because you wanted to make me happy?” She raised her eyebrows disbelievingly. Whether or not Maia liked her drinks now, there was no doubt in Aline’s mind that no sane person would order her special beverages without some sort of hidden motive.
“Making you happy and feeling like I have to buy the drinks are far from the same things, you know?” Maia pointed out, a lopsided smile tugging at her lips. “But you’re right, that is why I started buying them. Before you start crooning in victory, Alec, I’ll have you know that I do enjoy her drinks! I’m pretty sure I get a sugar high every time I take a sip, but it’s completely worth it.”
“You’re insane!” Alec called over, muttering an apology to the customer behind Maia as he fumbled with yet another cup.
“You really don’t mind them?” Aline asked again. She knew her questions were starting to get redundant, but a girl was allowed to check before getting her hopes up, right?
“Aline, they’re delicious,” Maia rolled her eyes exasperatedly. “Is that enough for you? Or do you also need me to tell you that even if they were terrible, I would still buy them and pretend to enjoy them just to see the way you light up every time I order one.”
“Oh my god,” Aline blushed brightly. “That’s- Um- Yeah, thank you? Did you want your drink now?”
“That and maybe a date?” Maia suggested calmly, and Aline couldn’t help but wonder how she had managed to get those words out without stuttering, because her heart was pounding wildly and she could feel her hands sweating profusely.
Maia had been coming to the shop for months; what on earth had made her decide to ask Aline now, of all times? And why was she so- Sure? Confident? Alec had told Aline that the other woman never hesitated and always spoke her mind, but this still seemed very sudden.
She wasn’t exactly complaining, but she also hadn’t been prepared in the slightest. She’d thought that maybe – maybe – after a few more weeks of fumbling her way through conversations and flirting through poor puns as well as overly sweet drinks, Maia might show interest. She hadn’t expected it to be so soon.
Who knew wooing could be so fast? So easy?
(It didn’t feel easy, but it also didn’t feel half as difficult as Aline’s past relationships, so she would take what she could get.)
“She would love to go on a date with you,” Alec’s voice broke through her rambling thoughts.
At any other time, Aline would have reprimanded her friend for speaking in her place, but she honestly couldn’t be angry about it when she noticed the way Maia’s features had started losing their brightness and eagerness.
“Yes! Absolutely! I would love nothing more than that,” she blurted out before Maia could start freaking out – one of them was more than enough, she thought. “I’m sorry, I just- That was- I didn’t consider this option when I wondered how you might react to my question. I thought it was rather innocuous.”
“It was,” Maia shrugged. “But you’ve been making me special holiday drinks all month long, Alec was clearly implying that you didn’t pick this shift up just to make money, and my gaydar has never been wrong before, so I thought I might as well take the leap.”
“That was a good idea,” Aline nodded rapidly, ignoring Alec and Maia’s matching laughter. “A great idea, even.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Maia chuckled. “I’ll stop by tomorrow so we can figure out the details? I have to talk to my boss about my shifts for the week but I’d love to get this planned out as soon as possible.”
“Definitely,” Aline agreed, hoping she didn’t sound as smitten as she thought she did. “Tomorrow works for me. I work all morning.”
“I know,” Maia winked. “Now, about that drink?”
Alec groaned, but Aline beamed at the reminder of her favourite part of her job at the coffee shop.
Five minutes later, Maia was leaving the shop with a sweet drink made with love – and terrible coffee art that made her smile anyways – as well as Aline’s phone number tucked in her jacket pocket.
Alec could complain as much as he wanted, but he couldn’t deny that Aline’s ridiculous things had earned her the most wonderful thing in the world: a date and, with that, a chance at love.
Pairing: Helen/Lydia
Rated: Gen
Summary: Helen laughed. “Have you ever heard of Faerie Lights? They're actually carefully crafted by various seelies and unseelies during the year, using what little natural magic and talent we have to create garlands made up of strands of moonlight and rays of sunshine. It’s actually one of the only things I can do as a half-faerie.”
“Must be because of how bright you are,” Lydia blurted out before she could think over her words. “I mean, it just- If you’d asked me what piece of nature you held within your heart, I would have guessed Light without a second thought. Oh my god, I’m just going to shut up and let you continue your story now.”
Or: Lydia has never seen anything quite as beautiful as faerie lights (or as the faerie who made them).
For the @malecdiscordserver Advent Calendar
For as long as she could remember, Lydia had loved learning about the world.
As a child, she’d dreamed of being an explorer who got to travel wherever she wanted to, visiting the most beautiful and forgotten of places. When her parents had tried to get her to learn how to fight, she’d snuck out of the manor’s library to wander around Idris – which had earned her more punishments than she could count.
Being a shadowhunter had never been her plan. It had been her duty, and it had been what was expected of her, but it had never been her dream. She still remembered hearing the other children talking about how great fighting was and thinking ‘why on earth would you want to hunt demons when you could discover the mysteries of the world?’
Becoming a Clave representative had been her way of trying to get away from the field and maybe get sent on missions all over the world.
Of course, no one had bothered to tell her that representatives spent most of their lives stuck in Idris, dealing with paperwork and following every order they were given without batting an eyelash. So much for travelling.
Needless to say, she’d been disappointed. She’d spent the first few years of her career wondering if she would have been better off marrying into another family and gaining leadership of an Institute. At least that way she would get to move freely and decide what she wanted to do with her life.
(As much as a shadowhunter could, at least.)
In the end, it took her two years to get sent on a visit to the Madrid Institute, and another year after that to get thrown into the madness of the New York Institute. The first trip had been educational and entertaining. The second? Not so much. In fact, it had almost been enough to get Lydia demoted – or to get her to quit, if she was being honest with herself.
Fortunately for her, things took a turn for the better once she hit her fifth year as a representative. She wasn’t sure what she’d done to deserve the sudden burst of confidence coming from the higher-ups, but she certainly wasn’t about to complain. In the span of three months, she’d been sent to deal with Downworld relation issues in Melbourne, to evaluate a couple for headship of the Saint-Petersburg Institute, and to resolve internal difficulties in Alexandria.
Finally, finally, her choices had paid off. After years of dealing with bureaucratic bullshit and being treated like she didn’t matter, she was being sent around the world to places she’d hoped to see for over a decade.
This new development in her career was how she found herself in Los Angeles just as November turned into December. The Institute had been going through some trouble as the Blackthorn family and the Lightwood patriarch fought for dominance, causing more problems with the Downworld than was usual for the very progressive city.
Lydia had been a little worried about her arrival, since her history with the Lightwood parents wasn’t exactly positive, but the Blackthorns had completely obscured Robert’s presence and had honestly turned Lydia’s trip to LA into the best one of her life.
There was just something about the set of siblings that made her heart melt and her mind feel lighter than it had in months.
“Lydia, you’re already up!”
Alright, so perhaps there was one sibling in particular who had caught Lydia’s eye, she thought as she turned around and came face to face with Helen Blackthorn, by far the prettiest woman Lydia had ever met.
“Good morning, Helen,” she said softly, hoping she didn’t sound half as flustered as she thought she did. “I thought I would get breakfast started for everyone, since you always seem to be the one left to shoulder that burden.”
“Oh, it’s hardly a burden,” Helen chuckled, sidling up to Lydia and stealing her breath away with another one of her blinding smiles. “It makes my siblings happy and keeping them happy is the only way I can make it through the day without going insane. Although I’ll never complain about someone doing my job for me. So, what are we having?”
“Nothing special,” Lydia shrugged. “Just some pancakes. Dru mentioned you all had family plans for the day, so I figured it would be good for the kids to have something that would fill them up with energy.”
“She told you about that?” Helen asked, sounding both surprised and slightly hesitant.
“I’m sorry,” Lydia winced. “Was she not supposed to? I didn’t think it was a secret since Livia also added her own two cents on the matter, but I can always pretend I didn’t hear anything if that would make you feel more comfortable.”
“It’s just not- It’s not exactly something I’d want getting back to the Clave,” Helen admitted quietly, glancing at Lydia as though she was about to run straight to the Clave and tell them the Blackthorns were hiding nefarious secrets. “We’re not doing anything illegal, I promise, but as tolerant as the Clave has prove to be in the last year or so, I don’t exactly…”
“Trust it?” Lydia completed for her, laughing lightly as Helen’s eyes filled with guilt. “Please don’t feel the need to lie about your feelings for the Clave just because I’m here. I may be a representative, but my only obligations to the institution as a whole is to follow my mission orders. I’m here to deal with the Blackthorn-Lightwood conflict, that’s all. Nothing else will get back to the Inquisitor.”
For a second, Helen didn’t say anything, only tilting her head to the side curiously, her fair hair falling to the side and revealing her pointy ears. Lydia tried her best not to stare at them, but they truly made Helen seem magical.
One thing the past two years had taught Lydia was that shadowhunters, for all their talks of righteousness and duty, weren’t half as amazing as they made themselves out to be. Faeries, on the other hand, never pretended to be something they weren’t. They were truthful and sometimes too cunning for their own good, but at least they didn’t lie about who they were.
It was a trait Helen had clearly gotten from her Seelie ancestors. She’d been honest with Lydia from the get-go, refusing to avoid the point of Lydia’s visit the same way Robert had and bluntly stating all the problems they’d had to handle ever since the Lightwood patriarch had arrived. It was something Lydia appreciated in a person, especially in one as stunning, bright, and kind as Helen.
So maybe she was a little smitten with the other woman; it wasn’t like anyone was going to notice.
“I believe you,” Helen finally answered. “I’m not sure why, but you don’t seem like the kind of person who would lie to expose a respectable family’s secrets. Although if you dig anything up on Lightwood, please don’t hesitate to send him packing. As much as I respect Alec and Isabelle, something about their father rubs me the wrong way.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Lydia snorted, biting at her bottom lip as her curiosity battled with her manners. At the end of the day, though, Lydia was far more curious than she was polite. “What is your family tradition, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Ah, it’s just something I got from my family in Seelie,” Helen shrugged sheepishly. “My parents never had the time to teach us about Blackthorn traditions, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to give my siblings something to look forward to in place of an Advent Calendar or a Christmas tree. Something a little more… magical?”
Before Lydia could ask what the other woman meant by that, the tell-tale sound of running footsteps caught her attention and had her twisting around towards the kitchen door.
Less than three seconds later, the entire gaggle of Blackthorn children barrelled into the room, eager smiles on their faces and far too much energy in their bodies for kids who couldn’t have been up for longer than fifteen minutes.
“It’s Today!” Tavvy exclaimed happily, throwing his little hands in the air from his place in Julian’s arms.
“Yes, Tavvy, it’s today,” Helen chuckled, fluffing the young boy’s hair lightly as Julian set him down into his chair. “I see you’re all very excited. I don’t think I’ve seen you up this early since the same day last year, Liv!”
“Very funny,” Livia rolled her eyes, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Lydia’s pancakes. “Oh god, can we keep you? Helen never makes pancakes. And we’re far more fun than the Clave, as I’m sure you’ve noticed by now.”
“You do realise she has a job in Idris, right?” Emma – the only non-Blackthorn of the bunch – said sarcastically, flicking the back of Livia’s head playfully and agilely dodging the younger girl’s elbow as it flew back to nudge her in the ribs. “But I agree that I could get used to pancakes for breakfast. Perhaps Miss Branwell could teach Helen how to cook properly.”
“Lydia, please.”
“I’m sure Lydia has enough on her plate already,” Helen shook her head amusedly, chuckling as she caught sight of the plate in Lydia’s hands. “No pun intended.”
“Oh god, have the puns already started?” Ty – Livia’s twin – groaned, burying his head in his hands.
“The puns never end, brother dear,” Helen grinned widely, pulling out a seat for Lydia before sitting right next to her. Lydia tried her very best not to blush but, if the look on Emma and Julian’s faces was anything to go by, she wasn’t quite as subtle as she wanted to be. “Now please devour your pancakes like the uncivilised shadowhunters you are so we can get outside before the sun comes up.”
Lydia was about to ask why they needed to be out before sunrise, but the sudden inhalation of food by the younger Blackthorns stopped her in her tracks. She wasn’t sure whether she was impressed or horrified by their speed; perhaps a little bit of both.
“Is Miss Branwell going to put the lights up with us?” Dru asked once the pancakes had been consumed and the other children had rushed away – presumably to get their shoes and jackets or whatever else they might need for this mysterious tradition.
“If she wants to,” Helen answered quietly, sending Lydia a look that was far too hopeful for her to ignore. “You don’t have t-”
“I would love to join you,” Lydia smiled. “I have to speak to Robert this afternoon, but as long as this only takes up our morning, I should be fine.”
“Oh, you can leave whenever you want to,” Helen assured her. “The main event will be over in less than a minute, but I like to let the kids have their fun for as long as they want to be there. It keeps them busy and gives me less to worry about, so I usually just sit back and enjoy the show.”
“You’ve got me more intrigued by the second,” Lydia admitted, standing up to follow Helen as the woman gestured for her to come along. “What was Dru saying about lights?”
“Right, we got interrupted before I could explain,” Helen laughed. “Have you ever heard of Faerie Lights? Stupid question, of course you have. Anyways, the common agreement in mundane society seems to be that once upon a time, the lights were made of actual fairies. Little do they know, the lights are actually carefully crafted by various seelies and unseelies during the year, using what little natural magic and talent we have to create garlands made up of strands of moonlight and rays of sunshine. I know it sounds very theoretical and a little silly but… I promise it works. It’s actually one of the only things I can do as a half-faerie.”
“Must be because of how bright you are,” Lydia blurted out before she could think over her words. “I mean, it just- If you’d asked me what piece of nature you held within your heart, I would have guessed Light without a second thought. Oh my god, I’m just going to shut up and let you continue your story now.”
“You’re fine,” Helen smiled, rendering Lydia speechless as she gently laced their fingers together and squeezed Lydia’s hand reassuringly. By some stroke of luck, she didn’t pull away even as the rest of the siblings joined them in the Institute’s front hall. “Alright everyone, time to get the show started!”
As one, their little group stepped out of the Institute only to be greeted by the harsh cold air of an early winter morning. LA might not have been as cold as Idris, but mornings had proved to be cruel in terms of temperature. Lydia had been fooled on her first day there, and she couldn’t help but regret not bringing anything other than lighter clothes on her trip.
Not that she thought about the cold for too long; not with Helen’s hand in hers and the rest of the Blackthorns bounding forward a few steps before coming to a halt and turning towards the Institute with wide eyes.
Lydia was about to ask what was going on but before the question could leave her lips, Helen was turning her around and giggling wildly as Lydia’s jaw dropped.
The lights weren’t on yet – she wasn’t sure how that worked exactly, since Helen had made it seem like she’d put pure moonlight into the garlands, but she was far too stunned to wonder about technicalities – however, the Institute was already the prettiest thing Lydia had ever seen.
The garlands seemed to be made of both gold and silver strands, the colours visible even from afar thanks to the first few rays of sunshine peeking through the horizon. The strands themselves were covered in tiny buds of a flower Lydia couldn’t identify but could definitely appreciate. And the lights, or at least their containers, were made of what seemed to be delicate, glittery glass.
Honestly, Lydia wasn’t sure what was going on, but she wasn’t complaining in the slightest.
She was only startled out of her daze by Helen letting go of her hand with an apologetic smile. Lydia’s fingers suddenly felt more cold than they had in days, and she wondered if there was even a chance that she could get Helen back where she’d been seconds earlier once she was done doing… whatever she was doing with the lights.
“Are you ready?” Helen called over once she’d reached the Institute’s front door again – a door from which appeared to hang the very first garland.
As soon as the Blackthorn children answered with a chorus of ‘yes’s, Helen brought her hand up to the garland, closed her eyes tightly, pressed her fingers against one of the glass containers, and-
Lydia’s mind went blank.
She had no idea how long she stood there, staring at the faerie lights as they turned on one by one, but she figured it was far longer than most people would. She didn’t care, though, because she wasn’t sure she had ever seen anything as entrancing as the lights show happening in front of her.
By the time she came back to herself, all the lights were on and the children were gone, leaving Lydia alone with Helen. Helen, who had laced their fingers back together again.
Between the lights and Helen’s warm hand in hers, Lydia wasn’t sure she was going to make it through that morning in one piece. Her heart felt fuller than it ever had, and she could feel tears of awe stinging at her eyes.
She honestly wasn’t even sure how to describe what she was feeling at that moment. She wanted to tell Helen that the little bit of magic she had was the most beautiful thing Lydia had ever seen. She wanted to tell her that she’d never felt more content than she did right then, staring at an Institute she barely knew and holding hands with a woman she probably shouldn’t have liked so much. She wanted to burst into tears and grin like a loon and just sit there all day, staring at the constellation of bright stars adorning the Institute’s façade.
“Those are- Those are the most stunning Christmas lights I’ve ever laid eyes upon,” Lydia finally breathed out, frowning at how insufficient her words sounded. “No, that’s not right. That’s the most stunning thing I’ve seen ever, full stop. I just- How did you do that?”
“Not sure,” Helen shrugged, her cheeks redder than Lydia had ever seen them. “It’s really nothing much; just something to make my siblings smile.”
“Well you’ve achieved that and more,” Lydia nudged her gently. “There aren’t many things in this world that can make me speechless. Speaking of the kids though, where are they?”
“I leave coloured faerie lights hidden all around the Institute for them to find,” Helen smiled fondly. “Whoever can find the most gets exempted from shadowhunter duties for the entire month.”
“Oh wow, pretty high stakes,” Lydia whistled, impressed. “How many are there?”
“About a hundred,” Helen admitted with a smirk. “But they never find all of them, and most of them will be back within the next hour or so. They already know who’s going to win.”
“They do?” Lydia asked, more than happy to sit there and listen to Helen talk about her siblings lovingly while Lydia admired the lights.
“Emma wins ever year,” Helen explained. “That girl is far too competitive for her own good, and Tavvy always gives her the ones he finds since he’s too little to have duties.”
“Devious,” Lydia laughed loudly. “And what do you usually do?”
“Paperwork, patrolling, whatever needs to get done, really,” Helen answered with a sigh. “There’s always too little time to do everything, and not having my siblings around means I’m far more productive. However, I suppose- Well, I could be convinced to do something else, for once, even if it’s just staring at these lights for a few hours with a pretty girl next to me.”
“I- Really?” Lydia whispered, looking between the lights and Helen disbelievingly. She wasn’t sure what she’d done to deserve the attention of the most beautiful girl in the world, but she wasn’t about to complain. “I would love that.”
“Good,” Helen murmured, squeezing her fingers again. “Because there’s nothing I’d rather be doing right now.”
If Lydia had thought the lights had stolen her breath away, it was nothing compared to what she felt at the sound of those words. Her heart skipped a beat, her stomach fluttered, and she knew her cheeks were probably brighter than ever.
Lydia hadn’t thought she would ever understand wanting to stay in one place for the rest of her life but, staring at Helen and feeling the other woman’s warmth as they sat on the grass and glanced up at the myriads of faerie lights, she thought she might finally get where everyone was coming from.
There was nothing she wanted more than for the world to stop right then, with Helen’s hand in hers and a sea of stars gleaming before her very eyes.
Pairing: Clary Fray/Isabelle Lightwood
Rated: Gen
Summary: The paper snowflakes were decorated in rainbow colors - Sofia had never been good at choosing favorites - with no order to them, but Isabelle thought it was the most beautiful creation she had ever seen.
“Ms. Clary told me that I did the best in the class today,” Sofia whispered, “but she told me not to tell anyone or else they would get jealous.”
Pairing: Helen/Aline
Rated: Gen
Summary: “Faeries get a little bit of a boost in their own realm,” Helen explained with shrug. “I may only be half-Seelie, but it’s enough for the cold not to affect me. I have to say it’s quite nice; being able to enjoy all the snow without having to deal with frostbite.”
“God, you literally have sunshine in your veins,” Aline whispered, caught between amazement and jealousy. “I bet if it started snowing right now, the snowflakes would melt right off you.”
“You’re ridiculous,” Helen snorted.
Or: Winters in the Seelie realm are as beautiful as they are cold, but Aline can always count on her own sunshine to make her melt.
For the @malecdiscordserver Advent Calendar
The Seelie realm during winter was one of the most beautiful things Aline had ever seen in her life.
Aline had been to the Seelie Queen’s court plenty of times in her life since her mother had always insisted that maintaining good relations with the Seelies was as useful to a Clave representative as knowing how to fight demons. All in all, Aline had been pulled between dimensions more times than she could count – never mind that she’d never wanted to be a Clave representative in the first place.
However, she’d never really had a reason to go there during the wintertime. Her parents had preferred keeping her close during the colder months, stating that everyone got a little more defensive and a little harder to deal around Christmastime. Aline had never understood their logic, but she also hadn’t been bothered enough by the rule to try and sneak into the other realm unsupervised.
As soon as she’d started dating Helen, however, she’d known things would have to change. She was an adult now and, although her parents still had more influence in her life than she might have liked, she wasn’t about to let them keep her away from the woman she loved.
Helen and Aline had spent the previous Christmas in the shadowhunter world, splitting their time equally between Helen’s family in LA and her family in Idris. It had been a wonderful time, and Aline would be more than glad to repeat the experience at a later date.
This year, however, she refused to let her parents dictate what she was going to do with her time. Helen had expressed an interest in spending Yule in the Seelie realm with her aunt Nene, and Aline had immediately known her family wouldn’t be seeing her that Christmas.
Unfortunately for her, that meant having to deal with complaints every day leading up to the winter solstice. By the time the date of her departure rolled around, Aline was more than ready to get out of her house and away from her overbearing parents.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Her mother asked her one last time as Aline stopped in front of the portal separating Idris from the Seelie world. “We all know how Seelies are with their traditions, and I wouldn’t want them to get offended by your presence. Besides, the holidays won’t be the same without you around.”
“I’m 23, mom, I’m pretty sure you can handle me not being there for Christmas,” Aline sighed, tired of having to use the same arguments over and over again. “Alec told me you’d already planned a joined Christmas Eve with his parents and the other Lightwoods, so I’m sure you’ll have a perfectly nice time.”
“You’ll be here for-”
“Yes mom, I will be here for New Year’s,” Aline rubbed her eyes tiredly. “Do we really need to go over this again? You know how fickle these portals are and I wouldn’t want to miss Helen because you were acting like an overprotective mother hen again.”
“I’m just trying to keep you safe,” the older woman frowned. “Am I not allowed to worry about you?”
“Of course you are,” Aline said as calmly as she could manage. “And I appreciate your concern, really, but I need to get going. I love you, alright? I’ll see you next week, I promise!”
She barely got to hear her mother’s answering ‘I love you too’, already halfway through the portal and more than ready to see her girlfriend again. Helen had been spending the past two weeks with her faerie family and friends as well as Mark, her brother, and Aline had missed her more than she cared to admit.
Needless to say, stepping out of the portal and not immediately laying eyes on Helen made her heart sink for just a second.
Only a second, though, because Aline was instantly awestruck by the sheer beauty of the world around her. The Seelie realm had always had an otherworldly, magical feel to it, but this was…
This was something else.
The ground and trees were covered in sparkling snow, making the world seem brighter than Aline had ever seen it, and it took her a second to even focus on anything other than the overwhelming whiteness of the woods. Even more beautiful than the snow, however, were the fireflies flooding the air with their soft lights. It wasn’t even night time, but Aline figured the rules of nature rarely applied to the Seelie realm, and she was honestly too entranced by the flickering lights around her to think about the theoretical side of it all.
She had no idea how long she stayed there, gaping at the glittery world she’d found herself in with wide eyes, but she had a feeling it was an embarrassingly long time. Long enough for Helen to appear behind her and startle her with one of her adorable tinkly giggle.
“You look like my siblings on Christmas morning,” the blonde said with an amused smile, leaning in to peck Aline’s kiss and laughing again when Aline whined at the too-brief touch. “Someone’s feeling affectionate, huh?
“I haven’t seen you in two and a half weeks, sunshine,” Aline pouted. “I feel like I have a right to be as affectionate as I want to be. That’s the longest we’ve been apart outside of official Clave meetings, and I vote that we never go through this again. My parents were about to drive me insane and this time I didn’t even have you around to soothe my nerves.”
“I’m sorry,” Helen chuckled, not sounding the slightest bit apologetic. “I missed you too, if that makes you feel any better.”
“It does,” Aline smiled before tapping her bottom lip impatiently. “I’m pretty sure another kiss would help even more.”
“Is that so?” Helen raised her eyebrows, looking like she was biting back another laugh as she leaned in again and pressed a longer, sweeter kiss to Aline’s lips. The brunette sighed into it, sliding her hands around Helen’s waist and melting against her girlfriend, happily cuddling closer to the other woman’s warm body.
“You’re like my personal heater,” she mumbled against Helen’s lips as the blonde pulled away from the kiss. “Seriously, it’s freezing here. Gorgeous, but also cold as hell. How on earth have you been handling weather like this for the past two weeks?”
“Faeries get a little bit of a boost in their own realm,” Helen explained with shrug. “I may only be half-Seelie, but it’s enough for the cold not to affect me. I have to say it’s quite nice; being able to enjoy all the snow without having to deal with frostbite.”
“God, you literally have sunshine in your veins,” Aline whispered, caught between amazement and jealousy. “I bet if it started snowing right now, the snowflakes would melt right off you.”
“You’re ridiculous,” Helen snorted, her ears twitching as she looked up at the sky. “But speaking of snow…”
“Seriously?” Aline groaned. “As if it wasn’t cold enough already. Please tell me there’s a warm spot nearby, because I feel like my fingers are about to fall off.”
“Your fingers are fine,” Helen flicked Aline’s nose gently, although the protective curl of Helen’s fingers around the brunette’s hands didn’t escape Aline’s notice. “But don’t worry, my aunt’s place is only a few minutes away. Just enough time to see what you look like covered in snowflakes. I bet you look stunning.”
“Stop that,” Aline blushed, blowing the first snowflake she spotted towards Helen and laughing when her girlfriend caught it on her tongue, not even shivering at the feeling. “You’re the one who looks beautiful no matter the weather and the place.”
“I think you’re biased,” Helen retorted, but the reddening of her pointy ears gave her away. It took all of Aline’s willpower for her not to kiss the tips of those ears fondly and even then, it was a close call. If it were up to her, she would never stop kissing Helen.
Aline opened her mouth again, words of praise on the tip of her tongue, but one look into Aline’s light eyes had her forgetting how to speak. Her eyes were brighter than ever, enhanced by the white snow around them, and her hair was somehow already covered in snowflakes.
Now Aline wasn’t one to believe in angels and miracles but right then, Helen looked like a physical representation of both those things. Her blond hair shone with flecks of white, and her eyes crinkled up happily as her gaze landed on Aline again.
God, she was beautiful.
“What?” Helen scrunched her nose up, crossing her eyes as though trying to look at herself and find whatever Aline was looking at. “I have snow everywhere on me, don’t I? You certainly do.”
“Yeah, you do,” Aline breathed out. “You look so pretty, sunshine.”
“I-” Helen started, cutting herself off before she could finish her sentence. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome,” Aline smiled, pressing a kiss to her girlfriend’s forehead before tightening her hold on Helen’s hand and letting the blonde guide her to her aunt’s house without further delay.
And if she intentionally slowed her pace down to admire Helen’s radiant figure for a while longer… Well, no one needed to know.
Pairing: Lydia/Catarina
Rated: Gen
Summary: “Oh god, never say that again,” Lydia mock-gagged. “And don’t mention kissing me when during half-time, you’re going to jinx us and then we’re going to have to-”
“And here’s our next lucky couple!” The announcement caught Lydia’s attention before she could finish her sentence and she felt herself pale dramatically as her eyes landed on the kiss-cam, perfectly zoomed onto Alec and her. “What do you say, love birds, fancy a kiss underneath the mistletoe?”
Or: A tale of bad luck, mistletoe, and Catarina as a knight in shining armour.
For the @malecdiscordserver Advent Calendar
If there was one thing Lydia loved about faking a relationship with Alec for their parents’ sake, it was the amazing dates they got out of the deal.
She wasn’t sure how the Lightwoods had obtained VIP tickets for a Yankees’ game, but she wasn’t about to complain. All Alec had had to do was mention how much Lydia loved baseball and his parents had handed the tickets over like they weren’t worth hundreds of dollars each.
So as much as she hated having to pretend to date Alec to cover his secret gay love affair and her own preference for women, she had to admit it wasn’t all bad. At least not when their parents decided to spoil them with ‘couple gifts’ in an attempt to strengthen their relationship and ensure a marriage between the two of them.
(Lydia would never admit it, but the increasingly extravagant presents were the main reason why she was still keeping up the charade.)
“You know, I’ve never actually been to a game before,” Alec said out of nowhere as half-time rolled around. “My parents always said I wouldn’t enjoy it and Izzy backed their statement, so I figured it was one of those things I just wouldn’t like.”
“And Magnus didn’t try to change your mind about that?” Lydia’s eyebrows flew up. She didn’t know Alec’s lover as much as she wanted to, but they’d had a few conversations about the Yankees and she found it hard to believe that he hadn’t already tried to plan a baseball game date with Alec.
“He did,” Alec shrugged sheepishly. “But I think he was also convinced I wouldn’t have a nice time, because he changed his mind pretty quickly. The only reason I’m even here is because of how excited you seemed to be about this game.”
“Of course I’m excited! The Yankees are my favourite team and these are VIP seats!” Lydia exclaimed, gesturing at the field in front of them emphatically. “Sometimes, I wonder how we’re even friends.”
“Pure obligation on my part,” Alec smirked, chuckling when Lydia slapped his arm playfully. “And the need for a fake girlfriend, of course.”
“Ah yes, now I remember,” Lydia hummed in agreement. “I certainly didn’t plan on keeping this friendship up after we dropped the charade. I hope you won’t be too heartbroken; I know you’ve always been a little more attached than me.”
“Very funny, Branwell,” Alec rolled his eyes, his face scrunching up in vague disgust as his eyes landed on something in the distance. “Oh god, they made the kiss-cam holiday themed.”
Intrigued, Lydia turned her gaze toward the game screens and felt an amused smile tug at her lips as she spotted the pictures of mistletoe framing the kiss-cam. She’s never been the biggest fan of the short romantic breaks during games, but she was a fan of Christmas, and anything related to it never failed to make her smile.
“You’re such a sap,” Alec groaned, jolting her out of her thoughts. “Seriously, all it takes is one mention of Christmas and you get the dopiest look on your face. I get that the holidays are magical, but there’s no need for that much enthusiasm.”
“On the contrary,” Lydia grinned. “That way I get rid of all my happiness during the winter season and can go right back to scaring the interns as soon as mid-January hits. It’s the best way to keep them on their toes. I make all of them believe I’ve changed and let the spirit of Christmas turn me into a bundle of joy, and then I remind them that all good moods are temporary and should never be trusted. Not in our field, at least.”
“Brutal,” Alec grimaced. “Thank god we were interns at the same time. You would have terrified the hell out of me.”
“That’s the goal, Lightwood,” Lydia pointed out, catching a glimpse of a happy couple making out a little too intensely from the corner of her eye. “Some people really need to get a room.”
“They’re just feeling very festive, I’m sure,” Alec teased, raising his eyebrows at her. “Here I thought you were all about the Christmas season. Does it really only take a kiss to change your mind? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous. Do you need me to kiss it better, darling?”
“Oh god, never say that again,” Lydia mock-gagged. “And don’t mention kissing me when during half-time, you’re going to jinx us and then we’re going to have to-”
“And here’s our next lucky couple!” The announcement caught Lydia’s attention before she could finish her sentence and she felt herself pale dramatically as her eyes landed on the kiss-cam, perfectly zoomed onto Alec and her. “What do you say, love birds, fancy a kiss underneath the mistletoe?”
Lydia gulped, hoping she didn’t look half as disgusted on camera as she felt on the inside. One of the many rules she and Alec had put in place when they’d started their fake relationship was a strict no-touching policy, and kisses definitely fit into that category. They barely even held hands in front of their parents, and that was already more than enough for Lydia.
“You fucking jinxed it,” she hissed under her breath, plastering a smile onto her face as the came stubbornly remained in place. “Now what are we going to do? Because unless your dashing beau comes to our rescue by appearing next to you and making out with you very publicly, I don’t really know how we’re supposed to get out of this with dignity.”
“Surely they move on if the pair doesn’t do anything,” Alec frowned. “What happens if the cam lands on siblings?”
“Doesn’t happen half as often as you might think,” Lydia answered. “And it does move on, but I don’t want the entire stadium to think I’m a coward.”
“Oh my god, you and your stupid pride,” Alec muttered, sending her a disbelieving glare. “I may have jinxed us, but I’m not so prideful as to ignore our perfectly crafted rules for the sake of a kiss-cam.”
“Come on now, doesn’t a kiss under the mistletoe sound romantic?” The announcer continued, earning cheers from what felt like the entire crowd.
Before Lydia could truly panic and ruin everything with Alec, she felt a gentle tapping on her shoulder and promptly lost her breath as she turned to stare at the neighbour to her left. She wasn’t even sure when the woman had gotten there, because she definitely hadn’t been around during the first half of the game.
Lydia would have remembered a face as beautiful as hers. Hell, she probably wouldn’t have followed a single minute of the match if she’d known there was an angel sitting right next to her.
“Feel free to refuse my offer, but you look like a deer caught in headlights and I could never forgive myself if I let you go through with something you’re clearly not comfortable doing,” the woman started, tilting her head in Alec’s direction. “Would a kiss from me be any better?”
“Absolutely,” Lydia blurted out, blushing brightly as the woman laughed delightedly. “I mean, it would be a shame not to take advantage of the mistletoe. Isn’t there some kind of curse that lands upon those who dare ignore mistletoe when it’s all but ordering them to kiss?”
“I certainly don’t want to test that theory,” the woman answered, her gaze softening as she cupped Lydia’s cheek and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, stealing Lydia’s breath away with a single touch.
Around them, the crowd cheered and clapped as the announcer said something - undoubtedly ridiculous - before letting the cam move onto someone else. Not that Lydia noticed when it happened, too caught up in her savior’s dark eyes to focus on anything else.
“Wow,” she whispered. “I mean, thanks. Thank you for that, for- For saving me from kissing my very gay best friend, I guess.”
“Anytime,” the woman chuckled. “It’s always a pleasure to help out fellow queers in need. Besides, my intentions were hardly selfless. I saw a pretty girl on the kiss-cam and thought it would be a shame to miss out on such a golden opportunity, especially given how discomfited you looked at the thought of kissing that lovely young man.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure his boyfriend would forgive me,” Lydia grimaced. “And I’m glad you decided to act on your selfish intentions.”
“So am I,” the woman replied. “I’m Catarina, by the way.”
“Lydia,” the blonde breathed out.
“Any chance this seat is free?” Catarina asked, gesturing at the chair she’d already claimed for herself.
“For you? Absolutely,” Lydia answered without hesitation, subtly kicking Alec in the shins as he burst into laughter before smiling back at Catarina.
When he excused himself ten minutes after the cam incident, however, Lydia told herself she’d have to apologise later and thank him for his sudden disappearance. No matter how good a fake boyfriend he was, Lydia had to admit that having a real date - or something of the sort - by her side was far better.
Pairing: Clary/Izzy
Rated: Gen
Summary: “Is it just me, or have you been eyeing the elf from the mall entrance?” Alec smirked, glancing between the girl and Isabelle a few times with raised eyebrows. “You know I’m not one to judge but… really? She’s an elf, Isabelle.”
“I highly doubt that those ears are real, Alexander,” Izzy rolled her eyes. “And I haven’t been eyeing anyone. I just find it curious that we’ve already crossed paths with her three times. We’ve only been here for a little over an hour, and this mall is very big.”
Or: Isabelle might have a thing for the Christmas elf at the mall (just maybe).
For the @malecdiscordserver Advent Calendar
The girl had been there all afternoon.
Isabelle had first spotted her when she and Alec had walked into the mall, intent on finding gifts for their parents; she’d been standing right in front of the doors, a bright smile on her flushed face and adorable elf ears framing her face.
Alec had mentioned how grateful he was that they’d never had to take a job as Christmas workers at a shopping mall, but Isabelle had been far too distracted by how pretty the elf was. Not that she’d told her brother that. He had enough reason to tease her as it was; the last thing she wanted was for him to realise that redheads with cute eyes and freckles were exactly her type. He’d try to set her up at every occasion, and she did not need that kind of constant embarrassment.
However, she’d found it increasingly harder not to let her gaze stray to the red-haired girl as they’d passed her once, then twice, then thrice as they shopped. Alec hadn’t commented on it yet, but Izzy knew it was only a matter of time. He’d been too focused on Magnus’ gift to pay attention to his surroundings, but now that his boyfriend’s Christmas present had been found, Izzy knew she was in trouble.
She gave him thirty seconds to-
“Is it just me, or have you been eyeing the elf from the mall entrance?” Alec smirked, glancing between the girl and Isabelle a few times with raised eyebrows. “You know I’m not one to judge but… really? She’s an elf, Isabelle.”
“I highly doubt that those ears are real, Alexander,” Izzy rolled her eyes. “And I haven’t been eyeing anyone. I just find it curious that we’ve already crossed paths with her three times. We’ve only been here for a little over an hour, and this mall is very big.”
“Are you implying that we have a stalker?” Alec mock-whispered, chuckling when Isabelle nudged his ribs hard. “I’m kidding! But just so we’re clear, I don’t buy your excuse at all. You think she’s pretty, don’t you?”
“Only a fool would say no to that,” Izzy pointed out. “Well, fools and gay men, maybe. Although even you should be able to see how beautiful she is, elf ears and all.”
“So you do have a thing for elves,” Alec cackled, dodging Izzy’s second nudge expertly. “Seriously, if you think she’s that cute, maybe you should just go talk to her. I’m sure she’s dying for a break from whatever tedious job she has today. I know I would be if I had to deal with so many people in so little time.”
“That’s because you don’t know how to act around people,” Izzy piped up with a grin, ignoring her brother’s responding glare. “And as great as your plan sounds, I’m not sure she’d be half as happy as you seem to think she would be. The last thing I would want after trying to sell candy canes for hours is for someone to accost me and distract me from my job.”
“She’s selling candy canes?” Alec’s eyes lit up. “Izzy, you’ve got to talk to her. Maybe if you flirt enough, you can get a few free treats. I promise I’ll come save you if she looks like she’s about to kill you.”
“I don’t even like candy canes,” Izzy frowned. “They taste terrible.”
“First of all, that’s a bold statement to make around me and you know it,” Alec raised his eyebrows, looking distinctly unimpressed. Izzy had to bite back a laugh at how serious he looked, wishing she had a camera at hand to take a picture for Magnus. “Secondly, the candy canes won’t be for you. Lastly and most importantly, you don’t need to like candy canes; you already like the girl who’s selling them.”
“I don’t-” Isabelle cut herself off as Alec levelled her with the most disbelieving look she’d ever seen.
So maybe he had a point. The redhead was prettier than any woman Izzy had ever met, and she seemed too sweet and happy not to be kind, and she was just right there, looking like she was trying her best not to let the smile drop from her face. Isabelle was a strong woman most of the time, but when it came to adorable girls? Yeah, she’d been screwed from the start.
“I’m not getting you any candy canes,” she announced loudly as she strode away from Alec and headed straight for the mall worker.
The ginger girl had stepped away from the sea of people, propping herself against a shop wall and half heartedly twirling a candy cane between her fingers. The smile hadn’t vanished from her features, but it looked far softer and tired than it had a few moments earlier; not that Izzy could blame her, given how exhausting her job had to be.
Steeling herself for rejection, Izzy took a deep breath and closed the last few feet that separated her from the woman.
“Hi!” She announced as cheerfully and confidently as she could manage. The other woman startled slightly, her gaze snapping to Isabelle and her jaw dropping slightly as she finally spotted her. Izzy would be lying if she said she didn’t preen a little at the obvious awe in the redhead’s eyes.
“Um, hi?” The girl said after a moment of silence and a slightly awkward clearing of her throat. “I’m sorry, did you want a candy cane? I’m kind of on a break, not that my manager knows that, and I hardly get any of those on busy days, and I’m not exactly in character at the moment…”
“That’s fine,” Izzy assured her quickly, sending her what she hoped was a soothing smile. “I’m not here to buy anything. I just- Well, I noticed you when my brother and I first came in, and then you kept popping up near the shops we stopped at and it felt like too much of a pattern for it to be a coincidence. Besides, you’re very pretty.”
She blurted out the last words before her brain could catch up with her mouth, and she cursed internally at the stricken look on the girl’s face. Sometimes, she wished she could be a little smoother when it mattered. Sure, she could charm the pants off her parents’ clients, but what was that worth if she couldn’t even keep it together while introducing herself to a woman? No wonder she was still single.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to- That was completely inappropriate,” she added when the other girl didn’t say anything. “You must get hit on all the time by strangers and here I am doing the exact same thing, even though you told me you hardly got any breaks. I’m sorry, I’ll just...”
“I don’t mind,” the girl blushed brightly, glancing up at Izzy through her lashes. A sheepish smile tugged at her lips, and Isabelle almost melted on the spot. “I’m mostly approached by parents and kids, so I don’t get hit on even half as much as you seem to think I do. Besides, us elves have a signal in case we’re getting harassed.”
“You do?” Isabelle asked, impressed by the thought the mall had put into the wellbeing of their workers.
“Absolutely not,” the girl burst out laughing. “But my best friend works here too and I have him on speed dial. He also checks on me once in a while to make sure I haven’t gotten kidnapped or murdered or anything of the sort. I promise you I would be more than capable of sending you packing if I minded your presence.”
“Oh,” Izzy said softly. “So you mean to say that-”
“That I don’t mind your presence, yes,” the redhead snorted. “It’s not every day I get to talk to someone as beautiful as you. Do you happen to have a name, or am I going to have to refer to you as the ‘pretty brunette shopper I met at work one time’ for the rest of my life?”
“I don’t know, I think that title suits me quite well,” Isabelle grinned, holding her hand out for the other woman to shake. “I’m Isabelle, Izzy for short.”
“Clary,” the redhead answered, holding onto Izzy’s hand for a little longer than was probably appropriate. Not that Isabelle minded in the slightest. “Do you have anything to do with the man who’s been staring at us intensely for the last three minutes, or am I going to have to call security on a stalker?”
“Who are you- oh, yeah, that’s my brother,” Izzy rolled her eyes, waving at Alec briefly before turning back towards Clary. “I should probably get back to him actually, but is there any way I could get your number, maybe?”
Before she could even finish her question, Clary was slipping a sketchpad and pencil out of her shoulder bag, scribbling what Isabelle assumed was a number on a ripped up piece of paper before tying it to the candy cane she’d been playing with.
“Does this work?” She asked with a shy smile as she handed the candy cane to Izzy.
“Perfectly,” Isabelle breathed out. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Clary.”
“And you too, Izzy,” the redhead beamed. “Have a lovely afternoon!”
After such a wonderful interaction, Izzy didn’t doubt that her afternoon would be very lovely indeed. Maybe she would even force herself to enjoy the candy cane Clary had gifted her, if only out of respect. After all, she wouldn’t want to disappoint Clary by offering her present to someone else, no matter how excited Alec looked at the prospect of a candy cane.
I want to work on my chibi/cute cartoon style and the @malecdiscordserver is doing a prompt Advent calendar (here) so I thought this was a good way to do it! I’m going to try to do at least a few drawings when the prompts strike inspiration (I will open them each day and try to draw during the day).
Day 1: Candy Cane
Inspired by @aceon-ice because apparently we’re bouncing off each other :D
[ID (for some reason Tumblr won’t let me add it to the picture): Digital drawing of chibi style Magnus sitting on Alec’s shoulders grabbing a candy cane that’s hanging from another, giant candy cane]
Pairing: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood
Rated: Gen
Summary: Alec wasn’t jealous that Magnus didn’t bring him any cookies as he had his own secret stash of Christmas treats nestled between the wall and the back of the tree.
He reached for a candy cane placed where he was sure Magnus hadn’t noticed he’d stored them, but his hand was slapped away before he could so much as smell the peppermint.
Hello! I would love to request a Shadowhunters Malec ficlet that’s AU - Human that somehow incorporates a first meeting with instant attraction in an unexpected place/environment/circumstances. Thank you!
The Main Character
(read on ao3)
Pairing: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood
Rated: General
Summary: “You know in those dumb romantic comedies where the main character’s ex-boyfriend arrives at the most inopportune time when the main character looks like a trainwreck and has still not gotten over their feelings for said ex?” Alec said frantically, trying to ignore the eyes he felt burning into his back.
“And the other, clearly more likable, main character comes to the rescue as the more attractive stranger who helps the other main character get through the disaster that his life has turned into?” Magnus responded easily as he glanced over Alec’s shoulder. Alec glowered at him but quickly ducked his head as a familiar voice muttered his name.
When Alec woke up on Saturday morning, a very large part of him - possibly all, if he was being honest with himself - had wanted to snooze his alarm clock and pretend that it was just another day in his quiet apartment. There would be no one to be seen or heard except for the small snores from the mangy cat he had rescued a few months earlier, and he would be surrounded by peace.
When he peered open one eye to glance at the time, he saw Church sitting on his bedside table with one paw up, ready to swat, and he decided that the day would have to happen whether he left his bed or not. He wasn’t about to deal with his sister’s disappointment if he didn’t arrive at the shop on time and figured he was better off pulling on a tattered sweater and jeans than feeling the wrath of Izzy.
It wasn’t that Alec didn’t like accompanying his sister on her shopping adventures, far from it. He had never cared for sprees, especially when it meant spending time with his family, but the planned outing of the day was just another reminder that his little sister was about to get married. His twenty-something baby sister was about to make their parents proud, and Alec? He was in his mid-thirties, with a mediocre office job, and spent most of his mornings attempting to figure out how to effectively press his coffee with the fancy machine his mother had gifted him when he moved out of Andrew’s home.
And, of course, Alec had to make himself even sadder by sending his thoughts into a spiral as he remembered his ex-boyfriend who had shattered his heart into a million pieces mere months ago.
He shook his head to rid his mind of hurt when Izzy’s bright voice shouted, “Alec!” She nudged at their mother’s arm and bragged, “See, I told you he would be here, looking…” Izzy’s voice trailed off and Alec couldn’t blame her. Maryse had booked them a meeting with one of the most prestigious wedding planners in New York and Alec had barely bothered to put on a clean shirt, let alone match the put-together outfits his family wore.
“I don’t know why you need me here,” Alec grumbled as he sat beside Izzy, shrugging off the comforting hand she rested on his shoulder. Maryse sighed heavily but it was enough of a response to know he had, once again, not met her standards. Izzy rolled her eyes but the smile never left her face. Alec had always admired that about his sister though, so he was grateful his presence hadn’t ruined the moment for her.
“You’re here because you’re my best man--” Before Alec could interrupt and mention how ridiculous it was that Izzy didn’t just have a maid of honor like most other brides, Izzy pressed a hand over his mouth and said, “And you’re the only person I know that will make sure this wedding planner doesn’t take advantage of me.”
“Oh, Isabelle,” Maryse scoffed, “Mr. Rey would never do anything of the sort. He’s the one who requested your father and I bring his name up to you. He may be the best in his field, but we’re the best in ours and he wouldn’t dare take advantage of my daughter like that.” She nodded in finality as the man who Alec assumed was the prestigious Mr. Rey appeared from a back office, an annoyingly wide smile on his face.
He cradled Maryse’s outstretched hand in his, placing a soft kiss to the back of it, before he said, “Mrs. Lightwood, as beautiful as ever.” Alec held back the urge to vomit at the nicety and shared an almost telepathic look with his sister that clearly stated their instant dislike for the man. “And you must be the blushing bride!” He exclaimed, gathering her hand in his to give her the same royal treatment. Alec hoped he would bypass the kissing when it was his turn.
“Isabelle Lightwood,” she introduced herself proudly as she stood. “And you’re Mr. Rey, I presume?”
The man waved a dismissive hand and scoffed as he responded, “Lorenzo, please. Mr. Rey is reserved for my soon-to-be husband.” Alec rolled his eyes but stopped abruptly when Lorenzo turned toward him. “And you must be the gorgeous partner I’ve heard so little about,” he praised as he eyed Alec up and down. Husband material, Alec thought bitterly as he smiled through gritted teeth.
“Brother,” he corrected easily. It wasn’t unusual for strangers to assume his sister was his significant other, so he didn’t overreact at the insinuation, opting instead to raise his eyebrows at Lorenzo like an unspoken threat - of what kind, Alec would let Lorenzo figure out himself.
“Well, Maryse, you didn’t warn me your entire family was this stunning or I would have worn my good suit,” Lorenzo teased as he took a seat on the other side of the table. Alec should have known the day would be a test to see how long he could go without rolling his eyes and sighed as he sagged back into his chair.
As the girls and Lorenzo chattered about Izzy’s “vision” for her special day, Alec decided the metal chair was entirely too uncomfortable, so he stood to explore the office and get a better read on the man they were dealing with. Alec would have immediately pegged the man down to be a psychopath based on the sparse decorations around the room, but he saw a framed photo of him with a dog squished between his knees and figured he had to have some feelings to take care of a pet.
Beside that frame was another of an equally decorated man, both of them clutching awards for something Alec hadn’t taken the effort to squint at. The man was quite possibly the most beautiful person Alec had ever seen. His suit fit him like a perfectly crafted glove, the lapels sparkling with what looked like silver glitter, and his face was adorned with bold makeup to match. Alec’s breath caught in his throat as he leaned down to get a better look at the man’s sharp features and impeccably styled hair when a throat cleared behind him.
“You know,” a smooth voice said as Alec straightened, “it’s really a shame that only engaged men come into this office.” When Alec turned, he saw the man in the photo dressed slightly less formally - but no less extravagantly, somehow - with his hands propped on his hips in defeat. “They say that 15% of people meet their spouses at work, but I just don’t have that luxury,” he commented with a shrug of his shoulders as if rolling the disappointment off of them. He offered up his manicured hand and Alec could do nothing but stare blankly down at it.
“My sister is engaged,” Alec said without much thought. His stupidity showed in the way the man’s eyebrows rose and a teasing smirk replaced the pout on his lips.
“That’s very exciting for her,” he responded, pushing his hand just a little closer to Alec. “I’m Magnus Bane, and you are?” Alec let Magnus’ smooth skin connect with his as their hands clasped together. If his entire body erupted in goosebumps, he was the only one who had to know.
“Alexander Lightwood-- Alec--” He corrected with a furrow of his eyebrows and a rapid shake of his head. Focus, Lightwood, don’t be an idiot, Alec chastised himself as he stared into Magnus’ eyes. He hadn’t thought it was possible for a human to have such golden eyes but there Magnus was, standing in front of him in all of his flawless glory, and Alec couldn’t be too sure he wasn’t meeting an angel on earth.
“Well, Alexander, I’m assuming that lovely raven-haired goddess over there is your sister,” Magnus commented as he gestured toward Izzy.
Alec cursed to himself and muttered, “Straight,” trying to hide his disappointment behind his closed lips.
“Not quite, darling. Bendy in all of the ways that count, really,” Magnus teased as he pulled his hand away from Alec’s increasingly clammy one. He hadn’t realized their hands had still been latched together and pushed back his embarrassment at the lingering shake.
Magnus started to say something else, presumably about his sister’s wedding, but when Alec glanced back over at the table, he felt ice shoot down his spine. Kissing Lorenzo, who was probably going to be the most consistent person in Izzy’s life for the next few months, was none other than the man responsible for Alec’s current loneliness. Panic surged through him as the men pulled away from each other, the fondest of smiles on their faces as they stared longingly at one another.
As if sensing his discomfort, Magnus rested a gentle hand on Alec’s shoulder and said, “Are you alright?” Alec jumped backward, his hip knocking into the table the frames adorned and sending them crashing to the ground. He had known the others’ attention would have been grabbed so he maneuvered himself in front of Magnus, hoping all they could see was his back.
“You know in those dumb romantic comedies where the main character’s ex-boyfriend arrives at the most inopportune time when the main character looks like a trainwreck and has still not gotten over their feelings for said ex?” Alec said frantically, trying to ignore the eyes he felt burning into his back.
“And the other, clearly more likable, main character comes to the rescue as the more attractive stranger who helps the other main character get through the disaster that his life has turned into?” Magnus responded easily as he glanced over Alec’s shoulder. Alec glowered at him but quickly ducked his head as a familiar voice muttered his name. He had heard Andrew speaking with Izzy and Maryse and had known it wouldn’t be long before his cover was blown, so he took a deep breath to prepare himself.
“You gonna help me out or are you gonna secure my place as a side character for the rest of my life?” Alec asked as he met Magnus’ shimmering eyes. Magnus seemed to consider him for a moment, tilting his head as he stroked his trimmed goatee with his fingertips. Alec hoped his gaze portrayed just how desperate he was to prove to Andrew he had moved on, even if it was the farthest thing from the truth.
“That’s your family over there, yeah?” Alec nodded before his eyes widened in panic. There was no way they could pull this off with Izzy and Maryse lurking in the background. Before he could call his ridiculous plan off, Magnus rested a gentle hand on his arm and threw his head back in laughter. Alec leveled him with a confused glance that earned him an eye roll from Magnus. It was unfair how attractive Magnus was even when his eyes were full of judgment. “We’ve been on two dates and I’m very infatuated with you, just as you are with me. Nothing committal enough that you would have spoken about me with your mother, but enough to show blondie over there you’ve begun to move on.”
Alec was about to argue with him before Magnus’ words seemed to spark something inside of him. “You’re gonna do it?” Alec asked as he pressed his palm against the back of Magnus’ hand that lingered on his bicep.
Magnus nodded before he said, “Absolutely.” There was no doubt in his tone and in the way he glared over Alec’s shoulder with unabashed heat in his gaze. “Lorenzo has been driving me insane, reminding me that I’m single while he is going to marry his prince charming,” Magnus spat. Alec flinched at the mention of marriage and Magnus’ eyes darted back to his, a softness in them that Alec hadn’t expected.
“Sorry, I just--” Alec took a deep breath and closed his eyes before glancing back over at the prying eyes of his family and the man whom he’d thought was the love of his life. “Somehow, Andrew has found a husband in the last few months while I’ve learned the names of the entire staff at my local ice cream shop,” Alec sighed with a shake of his head. Magnus chuckled sadly and slid his hand up to Alec’s shoulder, squeezing reassuringly but seemingly with enough intimacy that a throat cleared behind them.
“Well,” Magnus said with conviction, “now you’ve got a person you’re dating who is very much looking for a new ice cream shop to enjoy. So,” Magnus dragged his hand down Alec’s arm before tapping at his hand. Alec flipped his over and gladly accepted Magnus’ warm hold as he smiled down at the very surprising man.
“Alexander, are you going to say hello to Andrew or continue to ignore him in favor of…” Maryse’s voice trailed off as she raised her thin eyebrow in Magnus’ direction.
“Hey, Andrew,” Alec said and to his embarrassment, his voice cracked with what was probably leftover emotion. Magnus gripped the back of his sweater where no one could see, and Alec felt immediately calm at the touch.
“Alec! I, uh, didn’t expect to see you here. Izzy was just telling me about her engagement, you must be so happy,” Andrew said as he smiled at Izzy. He was grateful for the glare Izzy was sending Andrew’s way and just a little off put by the way Lorenzo clung to Andrew as if he couldn’t read the clear tension that had risen in the room.
“I am very happy, for many reasons,” Alec responded as Magnus wrapped himself around Alec’s arm and beamed over at the group.
“He’s such a flatterer,” Magnus cooed, slapping Alec on the chest dramatically, causing them both to burst out into laughter at the ridiculousness of the situation they had found themselves in. Alec thought it might have been the most authentic laugh he’d had in months and he shook his head to clear that thought as Magnus started speaking again. “I’m Magnus Bane; Lorenzo’s associate and a friend of Alexander, here,” Magnus said as he held out his hand to Andrew.
Andrew’s eyes widened as he stared down at the offered shake, accepting it tentatively. “I didn’t realize you were dating someone, either of you,” Andrew said before he turned back to Lorenzo. “You never mentioned Magnus had a boyfriend,” Andrew said with an almost accusing tone in his voice that Alec couldn’t quite decode.
“My associate has never mentioned a boyfriend,” Lorenzo said with his usual grin on his face. “And a Lightwood, no less.” His tone was clearly impressed and Alec was just a little happy at the way Andrew glared down at his fiance.
“We’ve only been on a few dates and you know my affinity toward labels, Ren,” Magnus said sweetly. Alec wasn’t sure what he had gotten himself into, but judging by the way Andrew averted eye contact with everyone in favor of staring at his shoes, he figured he was suddenly in the middle of a rivalry he had known nothing about.
“Alec, you didn’t tell me your new date was a wedding planner!” Izzy said excitedly, the glint in her eyes showing Alec that she had figured out exactly what was happening. He sighed in relief and relaxed a little under Magnus’ hold. “Magnus, I’m Isabelle. What do you think about planning my wedding?” Alec gaped at her, his eyes widening almost wider than Maryse’s as Lorenzo sputtered from his spot beside Andrew. Alec saw Andrew wince as Lorenzo’s nails dug into his arm and a small sense of satisfaction rushed through him over his shock.
“Isabelle, we’re here to meet with Mr. Rey--” Izzy glared at her mother before gesturing to where Magnus and Alec were still pressed together. Neither of them made a move to separate.
“It would make far more sense for Alec’s plus one to plan the day of my dreams, don’t you think, mother?” Maryse didn’t say anything in response which Alec was grateful for but, when he glanced down at Magnus, a mischievous smirk was in place of what Alec had assumed would be a look of rejection.
“Ms. Lightwood, I would love to discuss that offer at a later time, but I think I’ve got a more promising date in my near future,” Magnus said before turning toward Lorenzo and Andrew. “If you don’t mind, I’m gonna take an early lunch break with Alexander here, yeah?” Before Lorenzo could deny him, Magnus tugged both of them out of the front door, laughter echoing through the air as they made their way down the street.
“What just happened?” Alec said as he inhaled the crisp New York air deeply, a sense of happiness he hadn’t felt in a long time overwhelming him.
“You have gained a date to your sister’s wedding and I have snagged an upscale event that may finally get me out of Lorenzo Rey hell,” Magnus responded easily before he turned toward Alec. “On a scale of one to ten, how surprising was this morning?”
Alec thought for a moment as he pushed his hands into his pockets and faced Magnus. “I ran into my ex-boyfriend while my baby sister met with a wedding planner and now…” Alec trailed off as he met Magnus’ gaze, “I’m hoping to buy my knight in shining armor some ice cream.” Magnus grinned up at him but tilted his head with a quirk of his eyebrow as if reminding Alec he hadn’t answered his question. “Ten out of ten in the best of ways,” Alec responded as he held out his hand.
Magnus fit his into Alec’s and somehow, his smile widened as he said, “I usually score off the charts, but ten out of ten ain’t bad.” Alec threw his head back in laughter and wondered just what he had gotten himself into.
Be sure to disturb the entire class, stopping the teaching, wasting all that time instead of grabbing the charger sitting right behind you taking you 2.5secs. get that boot out of your throat and try to breathe, hunny
Stiles was always loud; vibrant, talkative and a little bit hyperactive thanks to his ADHD diagnosis. He was never one to keep his mouth shut, no matter who he was talking to or how many times friends told him to keep quiet. He had learned early that what he had to say may not be important to everyone, but it was important to someone and that was all that mattered.
He liked Lydia because she was social. She went out of her way to talk to everyone around her, profiling her classmates to see if they fit with her expectations of popularity. With the exception of Stiles, she gave everyone an equal opportunity to get on his good side and she did that with her loquacious personality.
He liked Malia because she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Some would call her blunt, rude, maybe even a bit abrasive, but Stiles never saw it that way. He envied her outlook on life where telling the truth trumped any societal norms that told her to lie. It was one of the first things that attracted him to her.
The thing Stiles liked most, apparently, was that neither of them really wanted him. That seemed to be his type, really. The women that were too beautiful, too desirable, for someone like Stiles. The women that settled and then realized their true potential.
Enter Derek Hale; Beacon Hills’ most desirable bachelor who kept himself far, far away from the spotlight but for some reason, stayed around the makeshift family Scott had created. He never thought much of Derek--
Who was he kidding? Derek would never be attracted to him so Stiles was immediately enamored. He tried his hardest to be normal around Derek and what that meant was his voice was the loudest, his comments the most sarcastic, and his game… lacking.
But Derek wasn’t like Lydia or Malia. His voice was barely audible; he spoke with his glares, his furrowed eyebrows, and his tense body language that seemed to always be directed at Stiles - not that he really minded. During those rare moments Derek did speak, Stiles had to strain his ears to hear him. He already had a hard enough time focusing on the annoying number of things happening around him, but attempting to listen to Derek became his highest priority.
He didn’t really mind it, though, when Derek would mutter something only he was paying attention to. It was usually full of sass and humor and Stiles would always laugh. He liked how it almost always caught Derek by surprise. Sometimes, it was full of self doubt and concern that Stiles thought must have been some heavy, deep-seated trust issues. Stiles was all too familiar with those.
Sometimes, Stiles wouldn’t hear him. His mind too focused on the plans being formed, the arguments being yelled, the shouts that weren’t so easily discernible through the background noise of growls and huffs. He’d look around at the pack, trying to focus on one voice, figure out what their next move was, and somehow his eyes always landed on Derek.
His lips would move and Stiles cursed himself for not being better at reading them. There were times where he would imagine it was Stiles’ name pouring from those lips, followed closely by breathless moans and beautiful confessions. He would stare at Derek, only Derek, in the chaos of it all and it would calm him more than he thought was possible.
“Stiles,” Derek’s voice would say in that deep sultry tone that drove Stiles crazy.
“Stiles.” He could practically see Derek’s lips forming his name, whispering the sweet nothings that Stiles craved to hear.
“Stiles!” Derek’s voice was clearer this time, enough to snap Stiles out of whatever stupor he was caught in, and he jumped out of his seat. He hit the ground hard and felt the bruise forming on his skin as Derek shuffled over to him.
Stiles looked around and noticed they were alone. “Where is everyone?” He asked, rubbing the back of his neck and doing his best not to stare at the bulging muscles on the arms Derek had crossed in front of his chest. Derek eyed him curiously.
“They left a few minutes ago,” he said softly, eyes like stone on Stiles’. Stiles could only nod in response as he leaped to his feet and stared back at Derek. He hoped his gulp wasn’t too audible from where he stood. “While you were…” Derek waved his hands in Stiles’ general direction and Stiles thought he saw a smirk on Derek’s lips.
“Completely spaced out,” Stiles finished for him. “I didn't mean to overstay my welcome,” he said softly, biting the inside of his cheek as he finally willed himself to meet Derek’s eyes.
“You don’t.-- Ever,” Derek said slowly. Derek might not have wanted him to hear the last word that was muttered but Stiles figured he didn’t realize how closely he paid attention.
“Why do you always do that?” Stiles asked, because he always had a hard time keeping his innermost thoughts to his brain. Derek raised an eyebrow and shrugged as though that was enough to satisfy Stiles’ curiosity. Stiles rolled his eyes. “That. Why do you never talk?”
Derek huffed out a laugh. “I talk,” Derek argued. Stiles laughed right back at him.
“Sure, sure. And I’m the strongest out of the two of us,” Stiles sassed as he flexed his almost nonexistent biceps. When Derek laughed, Stiles’ stomach clenched. He had an amazing laugh. “Seriously, Derek, name one thing that wasn’t sarcastic that you’ve ever said to me,” Stiles challenged. He wasn’t expecting Derek’s face to soften or for him to take a step forward so that Stiles could feel the heat from his body.
“You’re beautiful,” was about the last thing Stiles expected to hear from Derek’s lips. It took him a moment to catch his breath as Derek gazed into his eyes as if he was waiting for Stiles to run.
“I said not sarcastic,” Stiles reiterated, believing that the words must have been a joke; some cosmic hilarity that would haunt him for years to come.
Derek blinked and shook his head. “I’m not being sarcastic,” he said softly. Stiles gaped at him, trying to find any malice or humor in his eyes, but he found none and it knocked the wind right back out of him.
“Why haven’t you said that before?” Stiles said as he wasn’t quite sure how to react.
Derek blushed and rested a gentle hand on Stiles’ face before whispering, “I’ve said it a million times, you just haven’t heard me.”
