#30days30aus

[loopyhoopywrites]

“So if I’m understanding you correctly,” Magnus says, dancing out the way of Alec’s attack before swinging at his now unprotected side, “Your father’s threatening to disown you and give Isabelle the throne unless you marry this Lady Badwall-”

“Branwell.” Alec corrects him, twisting to block Magnus’ sword with his own.

“-just so he can add a few more men to his army?”

“There’s more to an alliance with Idris than that.” Alec says, delivering a series of quick blows that drive Magnus backwards. “As you well know.”

“Can’t you just tell him you don’t want to?” Asks Magnus as he rolls to one side, forcing the small crowd of knights who’d gathered to watch the two princes fight to scurry out of the way.

“It isn’t about what I want.” Alec replies, bringing his sword up just in time as Magnus slices at his legs. “It’s about what my father wants.”

“So offer him something he wants more.” Says Magnus, locking his sword with Alec’s and then suddenly releasing, sending Alec stumbling backwards. Magnus quickly takes advantage, pretending to swipe at Alec’s chest before changing trajectory mid-swing.

“My father wants what’s best for our kingdom.” Alec says, ducking easily under Magnus’ sword and slicing at his unguarded torso. “The only thing that would benefit our people more than an alliance with Idris would be if we could ensure peace with Edom.”

Magnus leaps backwards, cursing the loss of a beautiful garment as the tip of Alec’s sword slices through his tunic. He quickly retaliates, catching Alec’s next blow with his own blade and pushing his arm aside.

“Sadly, Edom doesn’t have a princess my father can marry me off to.” Alec continues dryly, twisting out of Magnus’ reach as he prepares his next strike. “As you would know, being the King’s only heir and all.”

“Well it seems the solution is simple,” Says Magnus with a grin, dropping to one knee as he brings his sword up to block Alec’s downward swing, “You’ll just have to marry me instead.”

[loopyhoopywrites]

“What’s the most amount of caffeine I can get in one drink?”

“That depends.” Magnus says, eyeing the man in front of him. He wouldn’t have pegged him as one of the crazies, but appearances could be deceptive. “How much do you care about surviving afterwards?”

“Honestly, death would be preferable at this point.” The customer jokes. At least, Magnus thinks it’s a joke.

“I could fill a venti cup with espresso.” Magnus suggests, after a moment’s thought, “That would be twenty espresso shots. Although fair warning, it will get rather bitter-”

“I’ll take two.”

That has to be a joke, so Magnus laughs. The customer simply stares.

"Two venti cups. Of espresso.” Magnus repeats, needing to clarify. “You’re asking me for forty shots of espresso?”

"Yeah. How much?"

"I, um, if you'll give me one moment."

Magnus looks down at his till, but can't help sneaking glances at the clearly insane customer as he tries to figure out how to input the order. Despite the dark shadows under his eyes and hair that looks like it hasn’t seen a comb in a week, the man is the textbook definition of tall, dark and handsome.

In other words, he’s exactly Magnus’ type. The fact that he’s the most interesting order to cross his path all week only makes Magnus even more intrigued. Even if it is slightly terrifying.

Cost calculated, Magnus can’t help but gulp as he reads the total aloud. The customer doesn’t so much as flinch, just hands over the cash and stands silently as Magnus sorts out his change. With what could almost be considered reverence, Magnus places the printed order to one side, and takes two of their largest cups from the stack.

“May I take a name?”

“Alec.”

Magnus pulls out a pen, scrawling Alec’s name on both cups with an exaggerated flourish, but when he looks up Alec has already moved on to the end of the counter. Suddenly awash with an odd sort of excitement, and free of any waiting customers, Magnus heads over to the coffee machines. He places the two empty cups side by side, rolls up his sleeves, and gets to work.

Magnus works in silence, pouring shot after shot until both cups are full. He swears it’ll take him weeks to get the scent of bitter coffee from under his nails, but it’s done. Carefully, he places both cups on the countertop, and, despite how Alec is the only one waiting, shouts out the order.

Alec doesn’t even hesitate, and Magnus watches in half fascination, half horror, as he downs the first cup without so much as pausing for breath. He places the drained cup back on the counter, and Magnus is too shocked to even consider telling him off for not using the bin. Alec reaches for the second cup, but before Magnus even knows what he’s doing he’s grabbed it himself, leaving Alec staring at him in confusion.

“Do you need me to sign a disclaimer or something?” Alec asks.

“Not at all.” Magnus replies, quickly grabbing a marker pen and scribbling under Alec’s name on the side of the cup. “I’d just forgotten something.”

“What?” Alec takes the cup from Magnus’ outstretched hand, turning it to peer curiously at the addition.

“My number.” Says Magnus, flashing Alec his most flirtatious smile as he mentally high fives himself. “In case you ever fancy going out for shots of a different kind.”

For a long moment Alec just stares, eyes wide, although Magnus isn’t sure if that’s from surprise or if it’s the caffeine finally kicking in. Just when Magnus is starting to think he can’t bear the tension any longer, Alec suddenly smiles, and Magnus realises with a smug surprise that he’s blushing.

“You know what,” Alec says, raising his remaining cup in an imaginary toast just before he downs the whole thing, “If I survive this, I might actually take you up on that.”

[loopyhoopywrites]

(A follow up to THIS, in which Alec is a model and Magnus is a fashion designer.)

"I can't do this anymore, Iz.” Alec said, pacing back and forth across the tiny dressing room, hands tying and untying his tie without him even realising he was doing so.

“I thought you loved this job?” Izzy asked from her seat atop the vanity table, watching Alec with equal parts concern and amusement.

“It’s not the job.” Answered Alec, turning to start another length of the room before suddenly changing his mind, coming to an abrupt stop and burying his head in his hands. “It’s Magnus.”

“Oh, Alec.”

Izzy hopped down from the vanity, and before Alec could protest had swept him up into a hug.

“You’ll crease my suit.” Alec muttered, but he didn’t pull away. Izzy let him go eventually, straightening his jacket with practiced ease.

“I don’t know if I can work with him much longer.” Confessed Alec, staring at his feet as he let Izzy take the tie from his worrying hands.

“It’s only a few more weeks.” Izzy said sympathetically, tying the perfect knot and undoing Alec’s top button. “Surely it can’t be all that bad?”

Alec’s shoulders slumped, and when he looked up to meet Izzy’s gaze it was with a vulnerability she almost didn’t recognise.

“It’s torture.”

“And there I was thinking we had a lovely working relationship.”

Alec’s gaze whipped towards the doorway. Magnus was leaning against the doorframe, his face blank in the way only someone who knew him well would recognise. Sadly, Alec did know him well.

“Magnus-”

“If working with me is such torture, Alec, then I suggest you have your agent call my PA. I’m sure they can work something out.”

“Magnus, wait! It’s not-”

“Not what?” Magnus snapped, stopping half way out the room and spinning to face Alec. Izzy found herself trapped between the two, with nowhere to hide and not enough room to sneak out the door. Neither Magnus nor Alec seemed to notice.

“Not that you apparently hate working for me, despite the fact that I’ve bent over backwards trying to make you feel welcome and comfortable here? Not that you hate me so much that you couldn’t even tell me, you had to bitch about me to my own assistant? Not that you’re apparently just as two-faced as every other person is the goddamned business? Then WHAT, Alec? Why is working for me such torture?”

“BECAUSE I’M IN LOVE WITH YOU!”

Silence. Magnus stared at Alec in complete shock, whilst Alec stared back in utter horror at his own voice. Izzy’s eyes flickered rapidly between the two of them, biting her lip furiously as she waited for one of them to speak.

“Isabelle.” Magnus said eventually, voice significantly calmer than she’d expected.

“Yes?”

“I suggest you leave the room now.”

Izzy looked at Magnus properly, and grinned as she found what she was looking for. More than happy to leave them to it, she scooted around Magnus and managed to wiggle out the doorway, throwing a wink at her brother just before the door was slammed in her face. She waited for a moment, long enough to hear Alec’s surprised gasp and a loud clatter of what she assumed to be bottles being pushed off the vanity, before skipping gleefully away. Alec’s suit was definitely going to be more than just creased by the time he emerged, but somehow she didn’t think Magnus would mind.

[loopyhoopywrites]

“Magnus?”

Magnus cracks open one eye, peering over the edge of his sunglasses at the small boy currently towering over him.

“Yes, littlest Lightwood?”

“Why aren’t you in the lake?”

“Sadly, one of your counsellors has to keep an eye on you terrors,” Magnus says with a dramatic sigh, “And since Alexander allowed himself to be cajoled in, I’m afraid that pleasure falls to me.”

“How can you watch us when you’re lying down?”

“Magic.” Magnus replies, and there’s a pause as Max considers the idea. Smirking, Magnus shuts his eyes and returns to his rudely interrupted sunbathing.

“Alec says it’s because you’re afraid to get your hair wet.”

This time Magnus opens both eyes, sitting up sharply to glare at Alec across the lake, only for his face to morph into an expression of fond amusement as he spots his boyfriend, looking more like a child than any of the kids under his care as he chases them around the lake.

“Your brother is a liar, Maximus.” Magnus says, dragging his gaze away from where Alec is hoisting one of the boys up onto his shoulders.

“You know that’s not my name!” Max protests, crossing his arms as Magnus chuckles. “Please join us Magnus.”

“Sorry Maximilian.” Says Magnus, receiving a rather magnificent eye roll in return. “Perhaps another time?”

“Fine.” Max sighs, turning to trudge back towards the shore. Congratulating himself on his masterful avoidance, Magnus once more closes his eyes and prepares to lay back down. The next moment, however, a pair of tiny hands plant themselves in between Magnus’ shoulder blades and push, just as a significantly larger hand wraps itself around his ankle and yanks him into the water. Magnus squeals, only to deeply regret it as he finds himself with a mouth full of lake water.

He eventually surfaces, spluttering, only to be hit by a small tidal wave as Max cannonballs off the end of the jetty, only narrowly missing Magnus as he hits the water. Magnus coughs, shaking out his now ruined hair and hardly daring to imagine the state of his make-up. A hearty chuckle reminds him how he ended up in this state, and he whirls round to face his assailant.

“Traitor!”

Alec just grins, raising his hand to high-five Max. Max eagerly slaps it, face flush with triumph, before sticking his tongue out at Magnus and swimming away. Magnus doesn’t bother with a retort, too busy glaring mock-angrily at Alec. Alec watches him with amusement for a moment before slowly, purposefully, sticking out his tongue.

“I’ll get you for this, Alexander!” Magnus promises, his intimidating scowl somewhat ruined as he blows his damp fringe out of his eyes.

“You’ll have to catch me first.”

Alec turns, and is suddenly swimming away from Magnus with long, powerful strokes. With a yell Magnus gives chase, and it isn’t long at all before their cabin of kids join in, taking sides in what quickly turns into an all-out splash war. Magnus does get Alec back eventually, ducking under the surface to catch him unawares, but as Alec takes advantage of the moment to steal a brief underwater kiss, Magus finds he can’t hold a grudge after all.

[loopyhoopywrites]

For @kindaresilient, who asked for Doctor!Magnus. Your tags make me so happy.

Also for @saenda, who requested Malec Sickfic. Thank you so much for all your little comments. This isn’t exatly sickfic, it kind of got away from me slightly because it was practically midnight, but I hope you like it anyway.

"You're so nice to me."

"Only the best for my favourite patient." Magnus said with a wink, placing the plate of toast on Alec's bedside table. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a bus." Alec slurred, looking remarkably pleased with himself. Magnus couldn't help but smile.

"Is the morphine helping?" He asked, casting an eye over Alec's chart.

"It makes everything... more." Alec said, waving his hands about haphazardly as if it would somehow help Magnus understand. It didn't, but Magnus couldn't deny that it was disarmingly adorable.

"Apart from you," Alec continued, melting Magnus' heart with a goofy smile, "You're already more."

"More what, Alexander?"

"Ev-er-y-thing." Alec said, drawing out the word as he stared at Magnus, still sporting the dopey grin. Magnus laughed, slotting the chart back onto the end of Alec's bed, satisfied with his stats.

"I'm delighted to hear." He said. "Now eat your toast Alexander. I'll be back to check on you soon."

A sad, drawn out 'nooooo' followed Magnus as he left the room, and he couldn't help but glance back at Alec, who was pouting as he watched Magnus leave. Cheekily, Magnus waved, and as he turned back around he only narrowly avoided a collision with the woman coming the other way.

"Isabelle." He said happily, stepping back. "My apologies."

"No worries, Doctor Bane." Izzy replied with a smile, before glancing towards Alec's room. "How's he doing?"

"Remarkably well, considering he just lost a fight with a bus." Magnus reassured her. "A fair few broken bones and a mild concussion, but nothing too serious. We're keeping him in overnight for observation, but it seems he should be more than ready to go home tomorrow."

"Thanks." Izzy said with a smile, giving Magnus a brief hug of gratitude before slipping past him and into Alec's room. Magnus fully intended to continue with his rounds, but instead found himself lingering in the doorway, watching the two siblings with amusement.

"Izzy!" Alec exclaimed as she entered. "Iz! Iz-a-belle. Hi."

"Hi Alec." Izzy replied, bemused. "How you feeling?"

"I think I can smell colours." Alec replied seriously, staring wide-eyed at a point just over Izzy's shoulder.

"Um, okay?"

"I probably should have warned you." Magnus said, stepping back into the room with an apologetic smile. "His painkillers are kicking in. It can make some patients go a little... loopy. Almost as if they were drunk."

"Alec never drinks." Izzy grinned, "This is great!"

"Izz-zzy!"

"I'm so taking advantage of this." Isabelle whispered, winking at Magnus before skipping over to Alec's bedside, perching daintily on the hard plastic chair as Alec grasped her hand tightly.

"I want ice cream." Alec announced, "Can we go home and get ice cream?"

"You can go home tomorrow." Isabelle said, only just managing to hide her laughter. "We can get ice cream then."

"I don't want to go home." Alec said, pulling his hand from Izzy's to fold his arms stubbornly across his chest. "Home doesn't have a Magnus."

"What?"

“What?” Magnus echoed in surprise.

"Magnus!"

Alec grinned, waving for Magnus to join them. Unable to resist, he wandered over, perching himself on the end of Alec's bed.

"I have an idea." Alec said decisively, "You,"-and here he pointed at Magnus-"Should go on a date. With me."

Ignoring Izzy's muffled sniggering  and the butterflies that had suddenly sprung to life inside his stomach, Magnus reached out and gently took Alec's hand.

"That sounds like an excellent idea, Alexander." He said softly, "Why don't you ask me again tomorrow, when you’re a little less..."

“Loopy?” Izzy provided. Magnus ignored her.

“Incoherent.” He said instead. “How does that sound, Alexander?”

The only answer was a quiet snore, and Magnus couldn't help but smile as he lowered Alec's hands. Gently, he pulled the blanket up over Alec’s sleeping form, refusing to blush as Izzy cooed teasingly. Unable to resist, he bent down and placed a feather-light kiss on Alec’s forehead, whispering softly in his ear before he left.

"Maybe tomorrow I'll say yes."

[loopyhoopywrites]

It was common knowledge within the Institute School of Dance that those who studied ballet hated the street dance students. It was equally as well known that the street dance students hated the ballet dancers right back. Wars were raged over rehearsal spaces, costumes and props were frequently known to go mysteriously missing, and the battle over which group could fill up the trophy cabinet fastest seemed never ending.

As rising stars in their respective fields, Alec Lightwood and Magnus Bane were no exception.

Or at least, that’s what everyone else thought.

“You do realise we’re going to get exiled for this?”

“Oh please, Alexander,” Magnus said with a dismissive wave, “Our friends are far to invested in this silly rivalry.”

“You’re saying we’ll help them see the error of their ways?” Alec teased, unable to hide his grin of pride as Magnus executed a perfect chassé.

“Goodness no.” Said Magnus, stopping mid-turn to stare incredulously at Alec. “I’m saying they’re far too serious about it all to simply exile us. They’re far more likely to attempt to sabotage our budding partnership. Clarissa especially can be particularly vindictive.”

“I reckon Izzy could give her a run for her money.” Alec muttered, shuddering in horror as he dared imagine what she’d do to Magnus if she ever found out. Actually, never mind what she’d do to Magnus.

It was what she’d do to him that was terrifying.

“What are we even doing?” Alec couldn’t help but ask, slumping against the low wall as it suddenly hit him just how crazy this all was. His parents thought he was practising with Lydia, Lydia thought he was having lunch with Izzy, and Izzy thought he was out getting his ballet shoes fixed. Instead, he was hiding on the roof, committing the cardinal sin of dance.

“We’re having fun, Alexander.” Magnus said softly, abandoning his dance for the moment to stand by Alec’s side. Alec couldn’t help but smile.

“And attempting to overthrow decades of intense rivalry by breaking every unwritten rule in the book.” Magnus added, and although Alec glared, he couldn’t help but laugh.

“Not helping.” He protested, but Magnus just grinned, grabbing him by the hands and dragging him back to the middle of the abandoned rooftop.

“People aren’t going to approve,” Magnus stated bluntly, but there was fire in his eyes, “But combining ballet and street could revolutionise the Institute. This dance is good, Alexander, more than good. We have something amazing here, we just have to be brave enough to reach out and take it.”

Magnus was talking about the dance, but he could just as easily be talking about something else.

“My parents are going to be scandalised.” Alec said, and he didn’t just mean about their dance either. Magnus scoffed, holding little fear for the Institute’s founders.

“Then let’s give them something to be scandalised about.” He said with a wink, and although he definitely meant their dance that time, Alec decided to offer an alternative interpretation.

“Alright.” He said, and, grasping Magnus by the lapels, pulled him in for a kiss.

[loopyhoopywrites]

“I would have thought you’d be packing by now.”

It’s a testament to Alec’s state of mind that he hadn’t heard Magnus approach, and the distraction is enough for his fingers to twitch, sending the arrow streaking through the air with a low whistle. It embeds itself firmly in the red, a lone outlier amongst the rest, which cluster together in the golden centre. Alec doesn’t react beyond a slight clenching of his jaw.

It tells Magnus everything.

“Decided to stay.” Alec says without turning. His gaze remains firmly fixed on the target as he reaches for another arrow, slotting it into his bow with a fluidity he can never find elsewhere even as he pulls back the string.

“And miss a chance to see your delightful siblings?” Magnus asks, settling himself stubbornly on the low wall surrounding the archery field. “That doesn’t sound like the Alexander I know.”

“Well maybe you don’t know me that well.” Alec snaps, releasing the arrow. This one lands in the gold.

For a moment, Magnus considers leaving. The archery field is Alec’s safe place, and this is far from the first time he’s retreated here, firing frustration after frustration into the helpless target until the repetition slowly lulls him into peace. But then he looks at Alec, really looks, and he sees the tenseness in his shoulders, the way his fingers clench abrasively around the bow, how he holds his arm perfectly straight and allows the bowstring to snag against the skin of his forearm as he releases. It’s a far cry from the confident, fluid archer Magnus knows Alec to be, and he knows he needs to stay.

“is it because of Max?”

Alec lets go of the string, and this time his arrows hits the exact centre of the bullseye, embedding itself almost up to the fletching. He reaches for another.

“You can’t avoid talking about it forever, Alexander.” Magnus says, careful to tread the fine line between the gentleness he wants to extend and the firmness he knows is needed. Alec releases, and has another arrow notched before his first even hits the target.

“Alexander.” Magnus repeats, firmer this time, but Alec continues to ignore him. Each arrow seems to land faster and harder than its predecessor, as if the repetition of dull thuds could drown Magnus out.

“Alexander,” Magnus says for a final time, raising his hand, “Stop!”

Alec’s arrow obeys. Slowly, Alec lowers his bow, the weapon almost falling from his hands as he stares at the blue glow that encases his arrow, holding it steadily in an impossible position. Alec stares, and slowly the anger and rage that had encompassed his world fade, leaving him with nothing but an acute awareness of the weight of the bow in his trembling hand. Inhaling slowly, he turns to Magnus.

“How?”

“I got claimed last night.” Magnus says with a casual shrug, as if it’s no big deal. “Turns out having the goddess of magic as your mother comes with some rather intriguing side effects.”

“Shit.”

Alec breathes out, the tenseness he’d been so desperately clinging to draining out of him as he looks away, and in that moment Magnus recognises the emotion that had been hiding itself under an outpouring of anger.

Guilt.

Neither of them speak as Alec carefully places his bow in the stand, hand lingering on the curved limbs before he crosses the field, bracing the target with the palm of his hand as he systematically removes the arrows one by one from where he’d buried them. He keeps his head bowed as he returns, eyes trained on the floor, and Magnus pretends not to notice the shaking of his hands as he slots the arrows carefully back into the quiver. Again he lingers, but eventually he straightens, crossing the field with hesitant strides until he’s perched next to Magnus on the low wall.

“I’m so sorry Magnus.” He says, staring at his hands as they play with the fabric of his jeans, before realising that Magnus deserves better. “I should have been there.”

“It’s alright-” Magnus begins, but Alec interrupts, affixing him with a gaze that is almost unbearably Alec.

“No, it’s not.” He says, and Magnus’ heart aches at how easily Alec pushes aside his own problems. His focus is always on others; on his siblings, on his friends, on Magnus, and Magnus hates him for it almost as much as he loves him for the exact same reason.

“You’re my friend, Magnus,” Alec says, hands still pulling and pushing at the denim of his jeans as if it will keep them from grasping at what they want to be holding, “And I wasn’t there for you.”

“It’s alright.” Magnus repeats, and he takes the initiative, placing his own hand over Alec’s. Alec’s repetitive fidgeting immediately comes to a halt, and any remaining tension leeches from his body as he flips his palm to lace his fingers through Magnus’ before he can think himself out of it. Alec keeps the hold loose, allowing Magnus every chance to pull away, but Magnus only squeezes tighter.

“You’re allowed to put yourself first, Alexander.” Magnus says softly, rubbing his thumb in soft circles on Alec’s skin as Alec once again looks away from him.

“Talk to me.” He whispers.

And Alec does.

(Part two coming soon.)

[loopyhoopywrites]

(A follow up to THIS, in which Magnus is a fashion designer, and Alec is a cop on his first undercover assignment.)

"Detective Lightwood."

"Captain?" Alec struggled to sit up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with his free hand. A quick glance at his alarm clock told him this wasn't a social call.

"Is Magnus with you?"

There was a pause as Alec looked down at the sleeping form next to him.

"He's-" Alec started, only for Magnus to suddenly answer for him as he snored, loud enough for Garroway to hear even down the phone.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Is he in danger?" Alec asked quietly, suppressing his urge to panic as he carefully extracted himself from Magnus' arms and slid out of the bed. As silently as possible, he padded across the room.

"Not from our suspect." Garroway said cryptically, and if Alec didn't know better he would have sworn he heard him laugh.

"Then what's the problem?" Alec asked, closing the bedroom door softly behind him and leaning against the hallway wall, hand instinctively falling to the empty space where his gun usually rested.

"It's nothing too serious, but when he wakes up, tell him we need to talk about the billboard in Times Square."

"What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing, it's just-. Listen, just ask him to call me. Goodnight, Detective."

"Captain." Alec muttered, resisting the urge to correct him. At 2am, it was technically already morning.

The call ended, and Alec immediately opened google. Putting his detective skills to good use, Alec typed 'times square billboard bane fashion' into the search bar and pressed enter. The problem immediately became obvious.

"MAGNUS!"

The door slammed against the wall as Alec stormed into the room, startling Magnus awake. Groggily, he sat up, blinking at Alec through half-closed eyes.

"What happened?" He managed to croak out, mind immediately jumping to the crazed maniac out to get him.

"What the hell is this?!"

Magnus blinked as a phone screen was suddenly shoved in his face, and it took his eyes a few seconds to adjust.

"It's a billboard?" He said eventually, not quite awake enough to understand what was going on.

"Clearly!" Alec shouted, fixing Magnus with a furious glare. "You do know I'm not actually a model?!"

"Yes?" Magnus replied, still failing to understand.

"I'm a cop, Magnus!"

"Yes?"

"This is an undercover assignment! I'm supposed to be being discrete!"

"Yes?"

"There is nothing discrete about this!"

Alec thrust the phone in his face again, and Magnus took another look at the billboard. His billboard. Oh.

"Look on the bright side, Alexander," He said, looking up from the photograph of a half-naked Alec that was currently dominating Times Square, "No one's going to doubt your cover story now."