I’ve decided to stop mourning the ones I couldn’t include and expand on that list instead, so here goes my top ?? favorite malec fics which could have been on the top 5 above any other day.
What’s It Gonna Be by @lemonoclefox
enemies to lovers, food, gorgeous writing, a seamless modern adaptation of p&p, extremely smart dialogue, great characterization, adorable side clace, a perfect climax… so, what’s not to like?
The scene at the resort where Alec confesses he’s “into Magnus” and he asks him out… just a magnificent mess, from Alec’s semi-confident eloquence to Magnus being completely dumbstruck. It’s perfect.
“You think I want to feel like this?” Alec moves in even closer. There’s more than just tension in him now; there’s frustration, anger, both at Magnus and himself, and something else Magnus can’t discern. His gaze is unwavering, his body a heavy presence in this somehow enclosed space. “That I wouldn’t just stop if I could? I can’t, okay? I’m not happy about all the things about you that make this a bad idea, but it is what it is, and I’m trying to deal with it.”
He does his best to not actually run out of the room and down the stairs to the lobby, abandoning his friends as well as the Lightwoods, but that’s really exactly what he’s doing. He’s running away from Alec, running away from the inevitable embarrassment that’s sure to follow if he doesn’t. He’s running away from how his heart is suddenly pounding against his ribs in a way that is somehow entirely separate from the current stress or physical exertion.
“I didn’t do it for them.” Alec’s voice is soft, and Magnus turns to him, confused. Alec is gazing at him warmly, but he seems to catch himself and clears his throat. “I mean, I― I did.” He looks down, runs his fingertips along the metal edge. “Jace is important to me, and Morgenstern is an asshole. Of course, that matters. But…” He swallows. “I didn’t like… seeing you like that.”
Magnus blinks, his heart stutters.
I already included another fic by Oumy in my top 5 but I had a long and difficult debate with myself on which one to include. In the end it was Blankets, jam & other metaphors for love on the day, it could have been 2C on another. Anyway, I love me some enemies to lovers, but I have a weakness for it when they’re not really enemies because one of them has been stupidly in love the whole time. This is just a beautiful love story, with a great friendship between Magnus and Maia on top. This fic truly, singlehandedly revived my love for Malec fics when I first read it.
The trio between Isabelle, Jace and Alec at the very beginning. It’s a beautiful scene, with Magnus being already a little bit too aware of Alec’s various facial expressions and the Lightwoods all in their own head and yet coming together seamlessly. Wow indeed.
Alec had fantasized about kissing Magnus so many times, thinking up all the different possible scenarios and locations, dreaming of angry biting kisses and tender romantic explorations, and yet somehow, the real thing managed to exceed his wildest expectations. Magnus’ kisses were a reckoning across his soul, little infinitesimal moments of pure happiness that were wreaking havoc upon his heart, clouding his thoughts and making him revert back to a primal state of want and need and lust.
Magnus reached him in seconds, and didn’t stop until his arms were around him, hugging him tightly across his back, face smooching into his shoulder as he was finally able to breathe again. Alec’s arms slowly went around him, hugging him back fiercely as he buried his nose in Magnus’ neck and spoke against him “Hi”
His voice was soft and so precious and Magnus wanted to cry. He didn’t know why Alec was here. He hoped and wanted, but he didn’t really know, and yet it didn’t matter, because this moment of soaking up his warmth had answered every question Magnus had about their entire situation. He wanted to remain in these arms forever. And if he couldn’t have them forever, then he wanted them for as long as he could have them. Nothing in his life had ever felt so right, and Magnus was more sure than ever that he’d been an utter idiot.
There are two things in life I know I’m good at: Music and loving you.
Appassionato by @chonideno
This fic has very little dialogue and minimal settings and yet it was gripping and had me anxiously going through each new word. It made me want to play the piano again, and it made me feel bad about my own writing in the best possible way. The words form a melody just as much as Alec and Magnus playing together and what a talent that is. This fic is a perfect work of art. That’s all.
“A vital request to the pianist: 4’33” Magnus requesting silence because he’s hungover? How deliciously in character. (it was a tie with Magnus gifting Alec the Steinway)
Way later that night, Magnus will hear Bach’s Ave Maria being played from a couple of stories below. The wind itself will carry its heartbreaking echo to his balcony and hug him like a thankful friend.
Relationships he never had catch Alec by the throat, heat blooms in his veins. Liszt is talking, his neighbor is feeling, his piano is singing and Alec lets himself unravel, one minute after the other. He understands now, he sees the genius of the composer. He’s always known but now it’s different. From performance to experience, there is only one step and Alec can already see himself take it.
Magnus will bend over and kiss him after they complete the fourth measure; Alec will stand up, cup his face in his hands and kiss him back with the fervor of a teenager. When they lean against the Steinway, the piano will roll away under their combined weight; they’ll laugh about it but won’t actually mind making out on the carpet.
it’s a kind of magic by @thealmostrhetoricalquestion
Magic realism + modern witchcraft + beautiful writing + figmund + magnus’ apartment being the best wingman? wingsentientobject? + ragnor being a lovable asshole + alec being hilariously confused about magnus’ multi-colored friends + soft, SOFT malec. Yes please. This is absolutely amazing. 17/10 would recommend to everyone.
Magnus being sick, Alec coming over and taking care of him and, of course, Figmund waving at him in greeting, which leads to Magnus telling him the truth. This scene is just pure gold.
The door to Magnus’ apartment chooses this moment to swing open with an ominous creak, as though beckoning them inside. They both stare at it for a split second, and Magnus scoffs because honestly, his apartment is hardly subtle.
Magnus shrugs delicately. “You know magic doesn’t work like that. But if it did, I’d have some in reserve. I just may have gone a little overboard when I moved in, that’s all.”
There’s a very judgemental silence from the floor.
“That explains so much! The crystal ball, the first time I saw you, and all the times I thought I saw something or heard something. I could have sworn I heard your books muttering about how they’d like to bookmark my ass and come back to it later!”
Up In The Sky by @ketzwrites
My political junkie ass just thrived from start to finish. The dialogues are extraordinary and they flow seamlessly along with the rest of the writing (those transitions, my dudes… A+). And as always with Ketz’s writing, incredible plot and ridiculously great world-building. This is just a glorious piece of art.
Alec’s speech to introduce Magnus and his spontaneous last-minute change. Alec being a stubborn rebel is what I live for.
Blue was everything Alec saw. Around him, there was only sky and clouds. It was a beautiful day, warm and clear. Flying high above any mundane concerns, the world seemed like a different reality. Up in the sky, the imminent war against the Seelies didn’t matter. President Malachi’s weak position wasn’t an issue to worry about. The Circle wasn’t hovering over them, to the delight of Alec’s parents.
“I need the number of a pretty boy. The next President of Alicante should have some eye candy on his arms during his acceptance speech. I know it gets people voting more.” Magnus smiled wickedly. “Besides, this particular pretty boy might just be playing hard to get and I love a challenge.”
“Everyone,” the Senator said, drawing the attention of the room, “this is Major Alec Lightwood, from the Shadowhunter Air Forces.”
“Yes, my friend,” Ragnor said, his eyes never leaving the cards, “I believe we all own TVs and have read the papers at least once in the last decade.”
Magnus ignored his mentor. “He’s here to say hello, so be nice. Alec just looks like he could kill you, but he’s actually quite fluffy on the inside. Unless you give him a heavily-armored plane. Then he can actually kill you.”
The Final Deduction by @otppurefuckingmagic
It’s a Sherlock AU and it’s written by Sam. Need I say more? Here’s more: the writing is gorgeous, the characterization is amazing, the conflict resolution is extraordinary, this is brilliant.
Magnus drawing all the wrong conclusions when Alec is involved. Ah, the sweet, devastating jab at my poor, unsuspecting heart.
“This room wasn’t an accident on her part, Alec,” Magnus continued ranting. “She brought us here under false pretenses, tearing us away from the citizens who need us, and placed us into one room on purpose. And the only reason she would do so is because she thinks we’re a couple or she’s trying to make us a couple.”
Alec rolled his eyes even as his cheeks heated. This is what Magnus did best, throwing out wild statements to deflect from what he was really thinking. Diversionary tactics of epic proportions that didn’t allow anyone around him to get close.
“Don’t do that.” Alec stifled the overwhelming urge to disappear on his own this time. That was exactly what Magnus wanted, he just didn’t know why. He stepped into Magnus’ personal space and peered down at him. “My name is Alexander, Magnus. Say it.”
Truths Like Beautiful Flowers by nhixxie
Well, who doesn’t love a bodyguard AU? And who doesn’t love a bodyguard AU when the writing is incredible, the plot gripping and the romantic tension is ridiculously intense? Add to this the development of Magnus and Alec’s relationship, slow and beautiful (not an easy feat for a one shot), and I’m sold. I just loved every single word of this.
The anniversary of Magnus’ mother’s death. Beautiful and heartbreaking. (a tie with the texts about baby octopi and baby jellyfish)
It’s on one of their many drives back from Young Center that Alec hears Magnus murmur, can I borrow a shoulder, and without waiting for an answer, lays his head onto the bulk of his arm. Eyes closed momentarily, at rest. Alec is no fool; he knows the chips he’s been throwing across the table with every risky split-second he selfishly allows his hands to linger. And as expected, Magnus plays only with high stakes, and raises his call three-folds. Breathing becomes a conscious process, and Alec is aware of every rise and fall of his own lungs. The weight of Magnus’ head against his arm is warm and very much so welcomed by every synapse of his body.
27 Nov 2019 09:48
Did you just say dumb butt?
“You said type unsend!” Alec shouts, flustered, and Jace looks at him, indignant.
“I said tap unsend!” Jace bellows from the living room.
Alec, secret service agent Alec, ex-military and uniformed division officer Alec, positively blushes at the words, like he can withstand whole-day army drills, but not gently dispensed, innocent flirtations. Magnus knows this and blissfully revels at the ease of it all, and as if on cue an adoring laugh tumbles out of his lips at the sight of Alec’s flushed cheeks.
One Year and a Bottle of Whiskey by CryptidBane (Impetus)
Profoommates!!! The way Magnus and Alec care for each other as both friends and lovers in this is portrayed beautifully, and it’s soft and gentle and it wraps you in a warm blanket. Simon in this fic is an absolute delight and Alec cleaning up after Magnus is just a treat. The writing is elegant and lovely and just arghhhhhh I love it!!!
Magnus’ birthday gift to Alec. Ragnor’s line “Dear friend, you do know that this is essentially a love letter?” ruined my life.
First are the books. Alec works his way through them, shelving them in alphabetical order with a practiced hand. Magnus has a habit of buying new books, spanning every field of academia, and then forgetting to put them away once they’ve been wrung dry of information.
Everything smells like ink and paper and teakwood. Alec has an ongoing system in which he takes the dustiest volumes to the library and donates them once the shelf hits capacity. Magnus’ habits used to drive Alec mad, but now, cleaning up after Magnus gives him a sense of calm. He cycles through the usual: organizing pens, straightening piles of paper, folding the errant piece of clothing Magnus forgot.
Magnus soaks in the heady sensation of knowing that Alec is so close to him, familiar with him, and yet out of reach. Catarina calls him a masochist. He can’t refute it, so he ignores it instead. They descend into the train station to the cacophony of screeching metal and foot-traffic.
Their first kiss tastes like toothpaste with a tiny hint of liquor. It’s not the best tasting kiss in the world; their teeth clack, and they get tangled in bedsheets—but it’s their first kiss, and Magnus thinks it suits them just fine.
Stupid Cupid by @unrestrainedlyexcessive
It shredded my heart and then pieced it back together. Several times. The humor is great (as it always is in jet’s writing) and the writing is genuine and raw and just spectacular. This is one of my favorite versions of Magnus I’ve ever read, even though he broke my heart a little. It’s just an amazing story overall, and beautifully hopeful.
The last one. I can’t elaborate without spoiling it, but it made my tiny leetle heart warm.
“Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just happy to see me,” Magnus asks weakly. He makes stupid jokes and awful innuendos when he’s terrified of the answer. It means he’s always a little smarmy and nearly always terrified.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Alec says cheerfully, rolling over. He reaches down beneath the sheets and pulls out a banana. Magnus watches in silent horror as Alec carefully peels his banana and takes a bite.
.
He doesn’t really; he’s just so eager to get home. There was a time not so long ago that Magnus would have gone out, drank too much, gone home with someone inadvisable. Now, he’s stone cold sober and hurrying home to someone equally inadvisable. He can’t say he likes it, but his feet inevitably lead him back to Alec. He didn’t even seriously entertain going anywhere else.
The love he felt for Alec was beautiful and passionate and all-consuming, but it wasn’t perfect. He loved Alec most of all because he saved him when all Alec really wanted was for Magnus to learn how to save himself.
While he’s maybe not totally saved, still feels like a clueless idiot, an imposter in his own life, he’s trying, navigating the choppy waters as best as he can. At least he’s not stagnant. He’s trying. It’s all he can do.
two halves of the end of the world by @la-muerta
I’ve already put one of la_muerta’s fics in my top 5 but hey, who can stop me? I hesitated with Love is a Gamble but in the end, this one won . First, because I love historical AUs and this one is masterful. Second, the level of detail in this is stunning (someone must have had fun with the research!!). Third, this story wrecked me. Like, W R E C K E D me (I loved it). Fourth, the way Magnus and Asmodeus’ relationship is portrayed is spectacular. Fifth, just all the Lightwoods in this (sweet, sweet Alec and good parent Maryse <3). Anyway, I could go with a sixth, seventh, etc. but you get the idea. It’s just a gorgeous piece of work.
Magnus? being? a self-sacrificing idiot??? and Alec?? not pawning?? the necklace??? My heart??? in shambles??????
They are not friends. Friends should be equals, which they are clearly not. Magnus is supposed to be his employer, but what is he paying Alec for? To buy him food with his own money, and wear the fancy clothes he had made for Alec in the first place? To buy presents for Alec’s family and hire tutors for his siblings? Magnus just keeps giving, even when he’s already got too many of his own problems that Alec can’t help him with, and it makes Alec unreasonably furious with him.
On sleepless nights, he holds the jade pendant Alec kept safe for him like a talisman, tracing the shape of it in the darkness. It was a good luck charm from his mother, and he’s been wearing it since he was an infant, probably even used to chew it when he was teething. For the longest time, he wore it in memory of her and as a reminder that there had been someone in his life once who had loved him unconditionally. Now, perhaps there are are two, he thinks, smiling slightly as Alec snores gently in the same room.
He should move, but he can’t. When Magnus comes back to bed from cleaning them up, Alec can’t find the will to move away from Magnus, so they curl up in the bed that is too small for both of them, watching the black sky gradually lighten into blue. Today is the day he leaves.
“Magnus, I can’t sleep,” Alec finally chokes out.
“Shhh,” Magnus murmurs, and starts singing softly. “Cep menenga, aja pijer nangis. Tresnoku sing ayu rupane…”
As the sun rises, Alec falls asleep to Magnus singing him a lullaby in a language he doesn’t understand.
Everything Of Me by gingergenower
This is bittersweet at first, and then it’s just sweet, period. The writing style in incredible, beautiful and intimate, and it feels exactly like falling in love. How fitting. Magnus and Alec are idiots, and I love them for it. Overall just a gorgeous piece of writing that comforts you on bad days and has you grinning like a doofus on the good ones.
Magnus trying to send Alec away and Alec refusing to go. It ripped my heart out and immediately put it back together with a comfort bandaid on top. It’s a beautiful scene.
Both of them feeling every tiny step towards release, holding each other close, Magnus kisses Alec’s shoulder and mouths the words he can’t risk saying.
Inexplicably, Magnus laughs, feels it burst out of him, raw and painful in his chest. “I know you do; every time you speak you say ‘I love you’, Alexander.”
And Magnus can’t take it back.
Reaching out and taking Alec’s hand, their eyes meeting as he holds it between both of his, Magnus presses his lips to it.
“I didn’t have faith until I met you, Alexander.”
A Royal Affair by j__writes
It’s the kind of modern royal AU I truly didn’t know I needed until Jackie graced us with it. There are so many great things about this that I don’t know where to start but here are a few: Magnus' relationship with his father + all the side characters (special love for Izzy and Bat) + Maryse and Luke + professor Alec + professor Alec being rightfully mad but still a smitten babie + the magazine covers!!! + the gorgeous writing + the great characterization + everything else
Magnus!!! and!!! Alec!!! blind!!! date!!! these!!! idiots!!! are!!! in!!! love!!! from!!! the!!! start!!! and!!! I’m!!! emo!!!
(also Magnus ripping Lorenzo apart)
Magnus can say with certainty that his breath has only ever been taken away twice by the sight of something beautiful. Those two things were: The Salar de Uyuni during the wet season on a particularly cloudy day when it looked as if he were walking in the clouds and the turquoise waters of the Plitvice Lakes. But here, in Ragnor’s boring office party, his breath has been stolen from him for the third time in his life by the tall man standing by the fireplace. The blond woman he is speaking to must have said something particularly funny because his laughter was what caused Magnus to look up in the first place. His smile is wide and the happiness it emits takes over his face. It rounds his cheeks and creases at the corner of his eyes. It shakes his shoulders and the ball of his Adam’s apple moves up and down with the sound. He’s exquisite.
And Magnus can’t deny that that’s exactly what is going on in his heart at this very moment. He knows he should be more careful, that it’s ridiculous to even humor the notion of falling in love with someone he’s been dating for a week. And he knows there’s a high possibility that Alec is not making the same rushing mistake as he is but there’s something in Alec’s brown-green gaze that tells Magnus that he’s right there with him—inexplicably and against all better judgement—falling in love.
No matter how many times or how many people he’s had bow to him, Magnus has never felt this type of reverence. Like he’s the object of someone’s worship.
Alec has never considered himself a man who believes in fate or in destinies written in the stars that could bring two people together, but when he feels Magnus’ breath delicately gust against his lips, he finds himself converted.
kianamaiart
vaporwave
titsay
prguitarman
theartofmadeline
snowghoul
