I've seen a thousand amnesia fics, one or the other forgetting who they are, but what about a dual-amnesia fic where something happens on a mission or because of a spell and the others come in to find Magnus and Alec both temporarily forgot who they are, but they're still flirting like crazy with one another
~!~!~!~!~
When Alec woke up, there were three problems immediately apparent.
Number one, he was chained to the wall.
Number two, he no longer had his stele, his bow, or seraph blades.
Number three, there was someone else across the cell and he looked like he was in even worse shape, if that was somehow even possible. Which meant that he was going to be rescuing not just himself, but someone else too.
"Hey," Alec hissed, glancing toward the ominous looking door. "Hey, open your eyes. I can't do this alone, and need your help."
No movement, which meant that the other man was truly unconscious. Alec frowned as he took the other man in properly - pants that, angels below, were they painted on? A shirt that was... less fabric than it was supposed to be based on the slashes he could see, and a faint sheen of glitter on his eyes and hair could only mean one thing. He was trapped in this cell with a warlock, for angels knew whatever reason.
Alec looked around the cell again and tugged at his chains. He had a little bit of give, which was more of a blessing than he would have expected, and his feet weren't chained to the ground. Another quick check confirmed that he still had his boots, and even though the small knife he kept in the holster was gone (dammit, Jace was going to pout about that for hours, that had been a present), what he actually needed was not.
Taking a second, Alec took a deep breath and focused - most of his runes had expired, but he could still hear the sound of guards much further down from their cell. The only breathing he could hear belonged to him and the warlock nearby. Which meant if he made a little bit of noise it wasn't going to bring anyone running. He looked down at his boots and took a deep breath, testing all of his weight on the chains for a long moment.
"Why do I get the feeling that you're about to do something devastatingly ridiculous that only shadowhunters know how to do?"
Alec looked up at the quiet voice and saw that the warlock was awake, relaxing. At least he wouldn't have to be running around with an unconscious body. That would have made things frustrating and unreasonably difficult. "You have a better idea? Magic, maybe?" he hissed back.
The warlock hummed and shook his head. "Unfortunately, however we ended up here and based on the..." he wrinkled his nose and licked his lips. "Memory loss drought I can still taste the after effects of, my magic has either been drained, or I spent all of it. I'm not without some skills, but nowhere near your own, I imagine."
"I'll stand for you being able to walk," Alec muttered, ignoring the way that sparkling gold nail polish on his fingers shone on the faint light of the cell. "You injured anywhere?"
"Thankfully no." A faint rustle. "I am, however, not standing on the ground, so all of my weight has been on my shoulders and arms."
Alec winced in sympathy. That was going to mean he'd be able to walk but not do much in the way of fighting while his arms got their feeling back. "I should be able to get us out of here," he reassured and looked up at his hands again. "This might take me a couple of tries."
He took a deep breath and lifted his legs carefully out in front of him. Breathe in deep, and then move. Shifting slowly with his grip against the chains, Alec brought his legs up further, bending himself almost in half to fumble with the secret latch on the side of his boots.
"Darling, yoga instructors would envy that flexibility," the warlock praised. "Not to mention that it does give one a wide variety of IDEAS, the nature of which is entirely inappropriate for our current predicament."
Alec fought down the urge to snort, his arms starting to burn before he'd worked the lock pick half out of his boot. He dropped his legs back down and breathed through the burning of his arms. "Fuck, I need at least one more round."
The warlock chuckled. "Please feel free to do that as many times as you like. I am quite enjoying the view. I might enjoy a more practical demonstration later."
Alec snorted. "Pretty sure this is not the place to be flirting."
"On the contrary, it's the perfect place to be flirting," the warlock correct. "My name is Magnus, and I will be happy to take you out to dinner after this is over."
"Your wife wouldn't like that," Alec said, his eyes drifting to the ring on Magnus' finger. He took another deep breath and forced himself to relax, waiting for the burning to subside.
Magnus looked at the ring on his finger, blinking in surprise. "I've never had a wife, or a husband, mind you I am as equal opportunity as it comes. Where did..." he flinched, his head aching. "Ah, memory loss potion, right."
Alec gave him a rueful grin. "If it's any consolation at all, I would have said yes if you weren't attached." He'd never met someone as beautiful as Magnus in all of his life. If he'd had the chance, he probably never would have let someone like the warlock go. "All right, let's try this again."
Alec swung his legs up in an easy, determined motion and waited, breathing hard, for his fingers to bump against the lock pick. It took three more tugs, but at last it was free in his fingertips and he could drop his feet again with a groan. His whole body was sore and he was going to pay for doing that without runes tomorrow, that was for sure. "All right, now to see if I remember how to do this..."
Magnus hummed. "Where did a shadowhunter learn the art of lockpicking, I might wonder," he said, watching as the shadowhunter bit his lip in concentration, his eyes drawn back to the delicious sight of those lips reddening.
"My siblings," Alec said, and that was enough explanation, apparently, for Magnus, who said nothing further as he finished getting himself completely unlocked, carefully resting the chains against the wall.
Alec rubbed at his wrists and rotated them, looking down at himself before nodding. He was pretty much unharmed, which was surprising, but he also suspected that whoever had given them both memory loss potions was going to be back soon. He made his way over to the warlock and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Listen, I love being chained up," Magnus said with a squirm, his features twisting in pain. "But I am going to be of no use to you if you don't get me on the ground soon."
"All right," Alec said and stepped in closer before an idea occurred and he flushed, clearing his throat. There WAS a way that he could take Magnus' weight, so he could focus on the lock... "Don't stab me."
"If I'm stabbing you, it's only going to be in decidedly sexy ways," Magnus shot back and he raised his eyebrows as the shadowhunter blushed even darker. "While I am sure that my significant other does not approve, I can't help wanting to chase that blush with my tongue."
"If you want to get out of here without possibly dying, I need you to be quiet for a second and just... let me get you free," Alec growled, closing his eyes to take a fortifying breath. Magnus was married, nothing could happen between the two of them and he was just doing this to help. Reaching down, he grabbed Magnus' thighs and lifted him, easily.
Magnus' eyes widened and he gasped. "Uh, shadowhunter-"
"Alec," Alec muttered, getting Magnus' thighs situated around his waist, leaning in against him to keep him propped up against the wall to take his weight. He felt Magnus cross his ankles behind his back and bit down the noise that he wanted to make as he leaned in, reaching up towards Magnus' hands.
"If I didn't abhor infidelity with every fiber of my being..." Magnus breathed out, clenching his eyes shut as he had every inch of Alec, shadowhunter extraordinaire pressed against him from hips to arms. "You would tempt a saint to sin, Alec. Please hurry, or I'm going to embarrass us both."
Alec bit down a groan and focused on the lock pick. The first cuff, thankfully, was easy and he felt Magnus' relieved gasp, before his arm was flopped down, clearly numb. He shifted and had Magnus throw the arm over his shoulder and moved his attention to the other. "Don't worry, I'm not going to let you fall," he reassured as he worked at the lock.
When Magnus didn't answer, Alec frowned and glanced down at him, but Magnus was biting down on his lip, his eyes screwed shut. They were close enough that it would be so easy to...
"Alec," Magnus growled.
Alec snapped his attention fully back to the lock and finally heard the click that signaled it would let him free. He caught Magnus' other arm easily and slowly, with Magnus sliding down his body in a way that had the both of them groaning, low and desperate, until his feet were on the ground. He reached up and carefully massaged at Magnus' shoulder, helping to work his circulation back to normal, before he moved to the other arm.
Magnus was staring at him with unreadable eyes and Alec flushed, turning away from him. "Are you all right?"
Magnus nodded and tilted his head, studying Alec in confusion. He looked down at his fingertips, a small blue flame sparking around his fingertips and he sighed in relief at the feel of his magic starting to return. "Looks like I'll be back to fighting form soon."
Alec nodded. "We don't have too long, Magnus. We need to get out of here and do it quickly. If they were able to restrain the both of us - that means they caught us once and they could do it again."
Magnus frowned and looked out past the cell door. He closed his eyes and listened, a faint tendril of his magic reaching out. "Two guards at the end of the hallway. There's at least seven other prisoners. More guards further along."
"Do you know where we are?" Alec whispered, glancing out into the hallway. They were on borrowed time, they needed a plan.
Magnus opened his mouth to answer, but was nearly sent to his knees when pain hit his head, making him stumble. Thankfully, Alec, who was the most chivalrous shadowhunter he had ever met in his life, caught him, easily, as though he'd been born to do it. "Memory loss potion took that, which tells me we know where we are."
"Right," Alec said with another nod. "Do you know why they would have given me the potion too?"
Magnus shook his head. "I don't. Nor do I know why they put us together when it seems most of the other prisoners are alone."
"Well," Alec gave Magnus a shy smile. "I'm glad that I'm not alone."
Magnus swallowed, his heart giving a traitorous lurch. He was married, he needed to remember that he was married and pretty boy shadowhunters were... were not meant for him. "Me too, Alec. Me too."
Alec gave a nod and squared his shoulders. "If you..." he hesitated, then held out his hand. "If you were to take some of my energy, would it help recharge you?"
Magnus' eyes widened and he stared at the shadowhunter, who was looking at him calmly. "I... yes, it would, but..." But no nephilim would willingly give their energy to a warlock like that.
"We need each other," Alec said, his voice quiet but firm. "And you need your magic to help the both of us get out of here, right?"
"Right," Magnus agreed, his voice soft. He reached out and took Alec's hand. "I'll try to make sure it won't hurt." With such different energies, such different power, that was going to take more effort than he could maybe afford but he would try.
Alec smiled. "It's not going to hurt. I know that you won't hurt me."
Magnus swallowed, his thrice-cursed heart flipping in his chest again, and he reminded himself that he was married, that he could feel the power his partner had poured into the ring and took a second to blink away the tears before he closed his eyes and breathed in deep. He reached out to establish the connection and gasped, Alec's soul, all his power, completely laid bare for him.
His magic reached out greedily, drinking from the fountain of Alec's soul - but unlike any other session of sharing magic that he had ever done, there was no resistance, no hesitancy. Alec trusted him, and trusted him not to go too far, and not to take too much. Magnus wanted to sob that someone trusted him this easily, this much.
Alec held onto Magnus' hand as tight as he dared, keeping him carefully supported as he felt Magnus draw more out of him, until abruptly, it was over. Without thinking about it, Alec urged more of his power at Magnus, to take what he needed, because they were going to need it. He felt Magnus muffle a noise into his shirt, but he held on tighter, until he finally felt Magnus steady himself, ready for their break out.
Magnus sucked in a frantic breath. He wanted to say something, wanted to explain what it meant for them to be able to share energy, to share magic like this, because it was unheard of. It wasn't supposed to be this easy, and Alec's magic should have resisted him, but…
"Ready?" Alec asked, looking to the door. "I'm going to break down the door and we're going to race down the hallway. Grab what weapons we can and make our way towards an exit. Once we're there we can regroup."
Magnus shook himself and nodded, gathering magic around his palms. "That sounds like a plan. Try not to get yourself killed, shadowhunter."
Alec's lips quirked up. "Same to you, warlock." He winked at Magnus and turned back to the door. He took a deep breath and studied the door before he kicked at where the deadbolt was keeping the door shut, putting every ounce of his remaining strength rune into the blow.
The door burst open and he and Magnus were sprinting down the hallway.
By the time the Circle members, and Alec's had almost frozen at the sight of the scars on their necks, scars that he knew, that he recognized, that made his gut churn and fear choke his throat, turned to attack them, he'd grabbed a seraph blade off the table and skewered one of them while Magnus took care of the other. Relief surged through him at the sight of his stele and he grabbed it, activating runes as fast as he dared before he grabbed his bow. A quick survey of the room showed nothing else and he looked to Magnus, who was staring down at the shadowhunter in front of him in confusion.
"Magnus?" Alec hissed, keeping his voice down. "We have to keep moving, they're going to know we broke out soon?"
Magnus knelt down and touched the ring that was around the dead shadowhunter's neck. A jolt of familiarity went through him and he tugged it off, the chain breaking in an easy motion. He lifted it up and looked at the ring on his finger. They were clearly a matched pair. What was a circle member doing with it?
"What's that?" Alec asked, stepping closer. The sight of the ring had his head throbbing in pain and he nearly stumbled, frowning. "I, fuck, my head, Magnus what is that?"
Magnus' eyes widened and he looked over at Alec, then back to the ring. Alec's fingers were white-knuckled with his hold on the table, and on his ring finger was a very, very obvious tan line. A tan line that matched the ring in his palm. "Alec…" he trailed off and looked at the ring before handing it to him, his hand shaking. "You're… look at your hand. You're missing a ring."
Alec knew they needed to get the hell out of here, they didn't have time for this, but… there was no rune on his hand, which meant that he didn't have the wedded union rune on his chest either, so had he… worn a ring? His grit his teeth through the surging pain and took the ring from Magnus, locking his knees as he struggled to breathe through the pain. "This is part of what I forgot," he hissed, looking up at Magnus.
Magnus stepped in closer and grabbed the ring from Alec, shoving the ring onto his finger. "Sometimes you can trigger memories by putting something back into its proper-"
Alec didn't hear the rest of the words, it was like the world in front of him melted away. Magnus was smiling at him, his eyes bright and golden in a tuxedo with flowers all around them. Music was playing softly and Alec wanted, needed to kiss him with everything that he was. It was a perfect moment, Magnus' hands carefully cupping his as they traded rings and it was slid into place where it would always-
"Alec!" Magnus hissed.
Alec blinked himself back to where they were, captured, with more hostages and then down at his hand that was cupped in Magnus'. Their rings matched, and his eyes widened. He lifted his eyes to Magnus, wide and shocked. "Is that, Magnus, I…"
Magnus grinned, bright and excited. "Apparently I don't need to feel badly about flirting with you now, shadowhunter. My magic knows that ring, even if I do not, and it belongs right where it is."
Hope and joy surged through Alec and he yanked Magnus into his arms, squeezing him tightly, relief that he wasn't even sure he should be feeling making him weak. "We'll talk about this later," he promised, his eyes darting to the other cells. "First we have some cells to open and hostages to free."
Magnus' eyes were bright and angry. "And some circle members to take care of."
Alec nodded and Magnus turned towards the cells, but Alec grabbed his wrist, tugging him back. He dropped his eyes to Magnus' lips. He, he knew they'd kissed, he could almost see it in his mind's eye, but he couldn't remember what it felt like, how it felt to kiss Magnus. "I, Magnus…"
"Come here," Magnus ordered, yanking Alec down by the collar to seal their lips together. He didn't let himself get lost in how easily Alec responded to the kiss, nor did he pin the shadowhunter back against the wall. Instead he pulled back and grinned, winking again. "Now come on, we've got a job to do."
Alec swallowed and nodded, following Magnus back into the cells.
~!~
Hours later, Alec and Magnus were sitting side by side, holding hands tightly as they faced a barrage of questions from their friends and family.
"So let me get this straight," Jace said, rubbing at his temple. "You don't remember the fact that you're married?"
"Nope!" Alec said happily, even as he grinned at Magnus, who grinned right back at him. "Think we're both glad of it."
Catarina sighed. "You're sure it's an Agribar memory loss potion, Magnus?"
Magnus turned to her and smiled. "I am. I can taste it. Which means this particular brand of memory loss will wear off in about twenty-four to forty-eight hours."
"Why do you two look so happy about this?" Isabelle asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "I thought you woke up and didn't know who each other were."
"We did," Alec said, squeezing Magnus' hand again in apology. "But we uh, we figured it out as we were escaping. And now we're both exhausted and want to go home." He shrugged. "I can't go back to work until I can remember things again."
Magnus gave Catarina another winning smile. "And I certainly can't return to my High Warlock duties until I'm sure that I am operating at full strength."
Jace frowned and scowled at both of them. "Why do I get the feeling I'm missing something here?"
Isabelle's eyes widened and glanced between them and she started laughing. "Oh you two are unsubtle."
Alec shrugged. "Seems like a good opportunity."
"A good opportunity for what?" Jace pressed. "Are you both going to be okay?"
Alec cleared his throat. "I'll be back in two days, but I'm going to spend that time recovering with Magnus. I have a lot to remember." He gave Magnus a look and hoped that his blush wasn't showing too badly.
Jace's eyes widened and he groaned. "Oh fucking, fuck you. This is payback for Book Club, isn't it?"
Alec raised both of his eyebrows at Jace. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I am going to kick your ass in training so hard when you're back," Jace threatened, narrowing his eyes at Alec. "Enjoy your days off while you have them."
Catarina watched the shadowhunters stalk off, amused, before turning back to Magnus and Alec, who were still holding hands. "Can I make you a portal home?"
"That would be lovely, Catarina," Magnus agreed, his shoulders relaxing.
With a twist of her fingers, it was there, and Magnus wasted no time tugging both he and Alec through the portal, looking up at his shadowhunter. "We seem to have a unique opportunity in front of us, Alexander."
Alec raised his eyebrows, biting down a smirk. “Oh?”
Magnus licked his lips and started to gently urge Alec back to the bedroom. “Unless you are too tired, of course, but I have no doubt had the chance to explore every inch of you thoroughly as is my right as your loving husband…”
Alec snorted and rolled his eyes. “I’m sure… where is this leading.”
“Well, now I have the chance to explore you again for the first time ever. If you would be interested in indulging me?” Magnus paused, waiting.
Alec reached out to grab Magnus by the belt and tumbled the both of them to the bed, tugging Magnus in for another deep kiss, groaning against his lips.
“That was graceful,” Magnus whispered.
“Shadowhunter,” Alec said, smirking as he pulled Magnus down for another kiss.
And later, when Alec woke curled in Magnus’ arms, all of his memories exactly where they should be, he sighed in relief and pressed in even closer, humming happily as Magnus’ fingers sank into his hair. “Love you,” he mumbled.
“I love you too, my Alexander,” Magnus breathed. “Even when I have no memory of you, you are my everything.”
Alec grinned and rolled Magnus back into the sheets again. “Someone is angling to start our mutual day off right.”
“Of course,” Magnus said with a challenging smirk. “Now, why don’t you show me what you know how to do with all of those memories and experience of yours you have back now, hm?”
Magnus and Alec use the Alliance rune during a fight or something,b ut then it won’t fade because Magnus’ magic got too excited in the process and got mixed with the angelic runic magic/energy
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The first time Alec wore the Alliance Rune - he didn't hate it, but he didn't like it either. Lorenzo's magic felt wrong, and like sand running through his veins. (Later, finding out Magnus felt the same about his magic was an unexpected moment of camaraderie and love in the aftermath of Edom and everything else.)
The second time Alec wore the Alliance Rune… he never wanted to take it off.
Magnus' magic surged through him and Alec had to gasp under the loving touch of it. It was a combination of the magic he knew better than any other that kept him safe, that healed him, and that he felt faint touches of around Magnus all of the time, and that it was Magnus. He could feel Magnus through his magic, could feel how he felt and he had to hope that at the very least, the runic magic wasn't hurting Magnus.
"Everything okay, Alexander?" Magnus asked, smiling at him.
Alec reached out and pulled him into a kiss and felt sparks escaping from his fingertips. Magnus chuckled against his lips, and there was a soothing press of his magic in return, helping him to control the surge of power. "My, the runes, they aren't hurting you?"
Magnus shook his head. "As when we shared energy for the first time, there's no harm done to me at all. In fact, I think they are working the same way they are for you. I feel like I could run a marathon, even in heels." He gave Alec a cheeky grin and kissed him. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah, quit the makeouts, we have a mission!" Clary called, laughing. She zoomed across the room at vampire speed and flicked at Alec's shoulder before dashing back.
Alec rolled his eyes and took a deep breath, centering himself and the magic that he could feel surging through him. "All right everyone, time to get ready. No heroics, and Fray, no last minute rune creating without request, got it?"
Clary saluted Alec and grinned. "Sir, yes sir."
Alec gave her a nod and waited for Magnus to summon the portal. Like this, waiting for what they were about to go into, he could feel Magnus' magic settling into him, sinking through all of him, not just his chest, down to every inch of him, like it was exploring. Alec kept that thought firmly to himself, but Magnus' magic seemed determined to touch every part of him, all over and that was a thought Alec was going to make sure that they shared in the bedroom later.
Right now, they had a mission, and they needed to focus.
~!~
Luckily - that focus came far more in handy than he expected.
Alec cursed when the Duke of Hell that they had come to have a chat with (Magnus called it strong-arming, but was that really the case when he wouldn't do anything asked or agree to any of their terms?), summoned several demons for them to deal with before disappearing. Alec heard Jace swear, and as Jace, Clary, Isabelle, Simon and others stepped up to meet the demons with a shout, he turned to look out at the window.
Magnus' magic was tugging at him, pulling him toward the window, ordering him to be alert. With a quick glance to make sure his siblings and Magnus were all right, Alec darted over to the window, loosing several arrows to help drive the demons back and create opportunities for the others. Magic was gathering around his fingertips, but it didn't feel out of control, or ready to burst out of him. It was simply readying itself for him to use it.
Alec looked out the window, and at the demon hordes that were approaching and surging up and over the castle. While they wasted time here, they were about to get swarmed. "Magnus!" he shouted. "It's a trap. We have to get out!"
Magnus' eyes swung to him, wide, wild, and golden before he cursed and a wave of blue escaped from his hands, pushing the demons back far enough that he could be much more concentrated in his attacks. "We'll hurry, keep them off!"
Alec took another deep breath and drew an arrow. Magic was about forming it to your will, and right now, he wanted to fire an arrow that would push the demons back. He waited until a large knot of Magnus' magic had formed around the tip of the arrow before he fired it, watching as it hit the front line and exploded, knocking wave after wave off the building.
"Alexander, was that you?" Magnus called, looking over at his husband in surprise. He'd felt a large eruption of magic, but there hadn't been any concern through the rune, or a shout for help. "Do you need help?"
Alec drew another arrow, this time at the wraiths that were descending. "I got it, but we need those things taken care of in the immediate future, Magnus! There must be thousands of demons descending on the castle."
Magnus growled in irritation and dashed towards Alexander, picking up the seraph blade from his belt, before jumping into the fray next to the other shadowhunters. His magic, here, was too edomite in nature and the demons weren't being dispatched as quickly as he would like. The blade glowed bright in his hand, and thankfully that made quick work of the rest of the demons - right as another concussive blast of his magic hit the air.
"Alec!" Magnus hurried forward, magic gathering around his fingertips, but Alec was calm and there was no explosion, but there was concentrated power gathering around the next arrow that he was holding and ready to let loose. "What are you…"
"I don't know, your magic is doing most of it, we need to get out of here. Can you summon a portal?"
Magnus frowned and pulled more magic to his fingertips, focusing on the wall, trying to summon a portal, but the realm (and the Duke) were resisting him, blocking him from being able to punch a hole out of there. With a grunt, he faced it and threw more power at it, but the portal fluctuated and warped, showing just how unstable it was and Magnus could feel sweat gathering at his temples as he tried to stabilize it. If he couldn't get them out of here, they were going to die, he just needed to focus and-
"Let me help," Alec coaxed, stepping up behind Magnus. He could feel the others staring at Magnus, waiting for him to save the day like usual, and the pressure was making Magnus' ability to concentrate almost impossible. He stepped up and wrapped his arms around Magnus' waist and pressed his face to his neck. "Breathe in, breathe out, Magnus." Alec repeated the mantra until Magnus was breathing with him. He felt Magnus draw on his magic, just like he intended, and the added angelic elements solidified the portal seconds later.
Magnus' eyes snapped open. "Go!" he ordered, waving everyone through the portal. Once the rest were through, he felt Alec grab his hand and yank him through, just as the demons burst through the window and into what had been the throne room, as they all collapsed on the floor of his loft. He sagged in relief and dropped down to one of the couches.
"All right, Jace, Isabelle, you're in charge of doing the write up on this. Simon, get some sleep and wash your mouth out. I'm going to handle getting in touch with the Clave, so I expect the report to be thorough, and Jace, I swear if you try to slip swears through it I will put you on ichor duty with the grumpiest teenagers you have ever seen in your life," Alec threatened, looking at him. He pushed a hand through his hair and looked at Clary. "Fray, I need you to document those demons we were just fighting. They're not in the encyclopedia, and you've got the eye so you can draw them - if those are going to come through the veil, we need to be ready."
With orders given, Alec let his shoulders relax. Now he just had one more order of business before he could relax properly. He turned his attention to Clary and raised his eyebrows. "How long does the bonding on the Alliance Rune last? I wasn't paying attention last time?"
Clary looked at the rune on her arm that was already starting to fade. "Give it another two hours and it should be completely gone. Take it easy, Alec, we've got things." She saluted him and led the others out of the loft.
Alec let his shoulders sag and took a deep breath, looking down at the rune on his arm. At least his was still bright black. He traced it, smiling at the sparks that were bleeding out of his fingertips. "I know," he said softly, talking to Magnus' magic. "I don't want you to go either, but you belong to Magnus, just like I do. You need to be with him." He stroked over the rune again and turned back to Magnus, giving him a rueful smile.
"Give me about an hour to get the report to the Inquisitor so she knows about the new demons and I'll be free for the evening?" Alec offered, looking at Magnus.
Magnus nodded and took a hesitant step forward, reaching out to Alec before pulling his hand back. "Alec, my magic, it isn't… hurting you, right?"
Alec blinked and his eyes widened. "Angels no, Magnus, your magic would never hurt me. We have an understanding about keeping you safe. Don't worry, I'm fine." When Magnus only nodded at him, slowly, his eyes still concerned, his raised his eyebrows. "Is there something that I should be worried about, Magnus?"
Magnus shook his head. "No, no, of course not, Alexander. I just…" he took a step forward, resting his hand on top of the alliance rune, leaning into Alec's space, his magic surging happily through the connection and he smiled. "My magic likes being able to take care of you like this. I think it's going to be very cross when it can't any longer."
"Your magic always takes care of me, Magnus. Whether I'm able to wield it is a different manner, but. I can feel it in me, like this. It's protecting me, just like you do." Alec leaned in and stole a soft kiss, then another. "An hour," he promised. "Summon something you want for dinner?"
Magnus nodded readily enough. "Of course, Alexander, I'll have things ready as soon as you're finished."
Alec relaxed and went to go deal with the Clave.
Of course, it wasn't until he was waking up the following morning (after he and Magnus had gotten decidedly distracted debating optimal pizza toppings for what felt like the hundredth time), that Alec looked at the rune on his arm and blinked in surprise. The Alliance Rune was still there, still as stark black as it had been the moment he'd drawn it. It hadn't faded, it hadn't gone away, and if he focused, he could feel the faint touch of Magnus on the other side of the bond.
Shifting just a little, Alec took in the sight of the rune still on Magnus' arm as well. His breath caught and he flopped back against the pillows again, pulling Magnus in tighter. He lifted his fingertips and watched as a spark of bright blue magic chased around his fingertips. "I guess that's one way to make sure to keep an eye on me," Alec said, his voice soft. If he wasn't mistaken, Magnus' magic brightened further and danced even more eagerly, confirming his suspicion and making him chuckle. Absolutely ridiculous and he loved it, so much.
"Alexander?" Magnus muttered, yawning and stretching against him. "Who're you talking to?"
"Your magic," Alec said simply, looking at his fingers again. "The alliance rune hasn't faded from either of us yet." And in an instant, Alec felt Magnus go from sleepily content to wide away and worried. He groaned when Magnus sat up and began poking at the rune, frowning at it. He turned just enough and raised his eyebrows. "There's nothing wrong, it doesn't hurt, it just… hasn't faded away like it's supposed to."
"But there has to be a reason for that," Magnus said with a frown. He turned his attention to Alec and narrowed his eyes. "I know your penchant for dismissing your own health, but are you sure there is-"
"I wouldn't hide something this important," Alec said, his voice soft as he reassured Magnus. "I can feel your magic in me, and it's protective, just like you are, but I promise, there's nothing that feels anywhere in the remote vicinity of wrong."
Magnus let out a small breath of relief. "Well that's good. And we know that the bonds do fade, because yours with Lorenzo's faded almost instantly." He nodded and traced the rune on Alec's arm again, watching it, curious. "But why wouldn't this one…" he whispered.
Alec flopped back into the pillows and gave Magnus a sly look. "I bet that it's because your magic wants to hang with me and make sure it can protect me. It's just as possessive as you are. And I love it."
"You do talk to it all of the time," Magnus agreed, giving Alec an indulgent smile. He reached out to touch his magic that was settled around the rune on Alexander's arm and tilted his head as he studied it, stroking slowly.
Alec let his eyes fall to halfway shut as Magnus ran a handful of magical diagnostics on him, until his frown was very pronounced and Alec had to sigh, because he refused to say a word about why he was frowning. "All right, out with it. What's wrong? Do we have to get Clary to remove them?"
Magnus looked up at Alec and hesitated, before looking back down at the rune. "I don't think that biscuit would be able to do anything in this instance, Alexander. The fault here, I believe, lies entirely with me, and I didn't do this on purpose."
Alec raised both of his eyebrows and stared at Magnus. Magnus, who, looked approximately thirty seconds away from fidgeting like he was a child. Whose magic was clearly uncomfortable and making it known by the sparks that were leaking out of him. "Magnus?" He drew the word out, settling in closer, reaching out to touch Magnus on the thigh, stroking in reassurance. "Tell me what's wrong."
"I…" Magnus covered his face with a groan and shook his head. "You're never going to let me live this down and while I might be fine with that, even still."
Concerned, now, Alec sat up properly and turned to face Magnus. "Magnus, tell me what's wrong." When Magnus gave him a nervous look, Alec blinked in surprise. Magnus… was nervous? Magnus "I've done things that would make courtesans blush" Lightwood-Bane didn't get nervous. That was entirely in Alec's purview.
Magnus took a deep breath. "My magic… didn't want to leave."
"Okay," Alec said with a nod. "I can feel as much, it's still in me. What does that have to do-"
"The alliance rune, it builds a bridge between our magics. So we each get a little bit of each. Enough so Nephilim can go to hell, and enough so I can use your runes in some ways," Magnus said, clearing his throat. "But that bridge is meant to be temporary, to wear down after enough time has passed."
Magnus bit down on his lip and sighed. "My magic ensured that it was not. It took what was temporary and… made far more permanent. It was partially acting out of my own desire to keep you safe, and it's attachment to you in general."
Alec blinked and looked down at his arm. "What does that mean?"
Magnus let out another hard breath and looked at the sheets between them. "Before I answer that, know that I can reverse it and take this back, you're not stuck with it, with-"
"Magnus," Alec interrupted, frowning. "I'm already very happily stuck with you, as you well know. You don't… what's going on? Is it hurting me?"
"No," Magnus said, smiling faintly. "It means that we'd… we'd share lifespans. You'd share my magic permanently, that we'd be tied in a way that only soul-bonded creatures can manage, which is the rarest type of magic that exists."
"So your magic…" Alec started. "Took an alliance rune, and turned it into a soulbond between the two of us?"
Magnus took a deep breath, his shoulders lifting and then dropping at the question. "Yes."
Alec swallowed and scooted closer to Magnus. "Magnus, look at me?" He waited until Magnus had tilted his head up and golden eyes were meeting his. "Do you not want this?"
"Alec-"
"No," Alec interrupted, shaking his head. "Tell me, if you want this. Because if there's even a chance you do…" he swallowed and stared at the rune. "I'm not letting you reverse this. But I don't force you-" Alec barely managed to wrap his arms around Magnus when he was tackled back to the bed.
“If you think,” Magnus said, his eyes desperate. “That I don’t want - Alexander, my magic did this bond without us even talking about it.”
Alec started to grin. “So what you’re saying is that your magic makes your feelings on the subject very obvious.”
Magnus took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes, I did.”
Alec reached up and brushed some of Magnus’ hair off of his forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Magnus breathed out the words, soft and honest, into the air around them. “More than I have ever loved anyone in my life.” He leaned into Alec’s hand now cupping his cheek. “And for the first time in my life, there is someone my magic loves just as much.”
Alec sucked in a breath, that declaration and the truth ringing behind it enough to have him ready to fall apart and into Magnus’ arms all over again. “So it’s staying?”
Magnus paused before whispering, stroking over Alec’s cheek once again. “If that is what you want, Alexander.”
Alec reached out and pressed his fingertips to Magnus’ heart, breathing in deep as he reached for the bond between them. Magnus’ magic responded under the touch, lighting up and like this, Alec could see the faint bridge that had been built between them, that tied them together, and just how strong the ties were. He grinned, leaning in to press their foreheads together.
“I think we’ll cross that bridge together.”
Magnus’ answering groan that trickled into a laugh meant everything.
Dragon!Magnus? Soulmates? Winged Nephilim? All of them? 💜💜💜💜
OKAY WE WENT WITH 2/3 BECAUSE I HAVE SOME LIMITS AND I NEED MORE DRAGON!MAGNUS IN MY LIFE THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH OF IT.
~!~!~!~
Alec cursed as the demon knocked away another arrow and then another, advancing on them. "Isabelle!" Jace was still more than fifteen feet to his left, fighting off two of the same demon, and if this one got any closer, they were going to end up flanked.
"Little busy at the moment!" Izzy shouted back, shoving the end of her staff through a Shax demon until it exploded into ichor. "Only so much I can do big bro!"
Not for the first time, Alec wished that he was one of the lucky shadowhunters to have bonded with a dragon. But no, he'd never been that lucky, and if he was going to keep this demon away from Isabelle and Jace, he was going to need to do something stupid. Stupid even by their standards, and he was well aware that was saying something.
"Alec!"
Alec ignored the shout from Isabelle and focused on the demon in front of him, breathing slow before he pulled out his Seraph blade, his bow going over his shoulder. There was at least one, if not two more demons coming up behind that one, and Jace and Izzy were busy with their own problems. But he would protect their back, he would. He wasn't going to let anything happen to them.
Stepping under a swinging tentacle, Alec slashed his way into the mass, chopping and slashing until he was making some sort of progress. His name was screamed again, but reaching the glowing eye in front of him was his goal and he stabbed his blade into it with a grunt and smirked viciously when the demon screamed and began to thrash. He dodged the first desperate swipe at him, but the second one hit him and sent him careening into a nearby wall that was crawling with Shax demons.
"Alec!" Isabelle's voice was a warning and Alec barely managed to get the blade up and in front of his face before the stinger struck his neck fatally. There were worrying black spots in his vision and everything was blurry. Alec shoved it away from him and felt the stinger sink into his arm instead, crying out. Another Shax demon was there to replace the first and Alec couldn't move fast enough to dodge the blow of the stinger.
Alec grit his teeth together and ordered his body to obey, but the ground beneath him was slick with ichor and he couldn't find his feet and the Shax demons were all turning towards him and he felt the lance of panic through the bond from Jace. Alec tightened his hand on his blade, trying to focus on whichever was going to jump first.
"Now that's just rude," a lilting voice said from deeper into the alley. "Throwing a man into a wall to take advantage." A tsk, before the alley lit up, bright blue.
Alec reached out a hand to Isabelle and Jace, wanting to warn them back, when magic exploded out of the warlock, fuck, had to be a warlock, beside him. He forced himself onto his side, panting hard, his ribs creaking in a way they were not supposed to.
"Hold still darling, you've got several broken ribs and until I can take a better look at you, it's best if you don't move," the voice purred.
Alec felt a hand stroke over his shoulder, and then the sound of heels walking past him. He squinted at the leather pants and sucked in another pained breath, but the warlock was approaching the demons that Isabelle and Jace were still trying to fight off, their backs to each other. "Please…" he gasped, trying to crawl towards his siblings. "Please, I-"
"Let's see here. A mid-range should work perfectly fine, I think."
Alec didn't have more than a second to think about what that might mean before the warlock was gone and in its place was a magnificent dragon, a shining mix of midnight black and gold belly with wings that were easily as large as any dragon he'd seen at the Institute. Something in him, deep, tugged in recognition and he watched as the dragon, gathering bright blue flames the same color as his magic, into his mouth before destroying the demons as though they were nothing more than a nuisance.
Once he was sure that his siblings were safe, Alec let himself slump to the ground, his chest aching with every single breath and he let out a quiet noise of pain. As long as they were safe, that was what mattered, that was all that-
"Don't worry, my darling rider, I'm here," that same voice soothed. "I'm sorry it took me so long. I think we've both had quite the journey, haven't we?"
Alec blinked slow, lazily, because he wasn't a rider, he didn't have a dragon, and certainly not one as beautiful as the dragon that had just saved them all. But then the blue magic was back again, and the pain in his chest and his head was easing, and it was too easy to be able to fall into the waiting blackness.
~!~
When Alec woke up, it was to the sight and smell of the infirmary, but in a bed that was comfier than any he had ever laid in. He blinked slowly and looked around, frowning. He felt good, energized, which meant expensive warlock healing, and his Mom would be furious about the cost to her budget for that. He lifted up his hand and blinked at the sight of a tattoo spiraling up his forearm on the right side.
"I believe I should have introduced myself before you passed out, but healing you was a touch more expedient than niceties. How are you feeling?"
Alec turned to look at the man who had walked into the room and his breath caught, his eyes widening as the most beautiful man he'd ever seen was walking closer to him and he was holding what smelled like coffee. "Is that coffee?" he asked hoarsely.
"It is indeed, Alexander. Your siblings said you would appreciate that far more than trying to force you to drink water." He gave a small bow. "My name is Magnus Bane, Alpha Dragon of the North American territories."
Alec's eyes widened and he froze, staring in surprise at the most powerful dragon on the continent who was smiling at him as he sipped his coffee. He shook himself and tried to remember his diplomacy in the face of Magnus' leather pants and disarming smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bane." He held out his hand, the one with the shining fresh tattoo.
"Trust me when I say, Alexander," Magnus purred, soft and easy. "The pleasure is entirely mine." He pulled up his sleeve a fraction so the runic tattoo was easily visible and shook Alec's hand.
Alec's breath caught and he stared at the runes on Magnus' hand, including the deflect rune that was prominently featured on the back of his hand. He reached up to touch the side of his neck, staring at Magnus. It was a fact that Magnus had never met his rider, had waited hundreds of years and had flown with dozens of riders - but he'd never met his bonded rider, his soulmate.
Magnus smiled faintly and looked down at his hand. "When I imagined my Marks, hundreds of thousands of times, I never imagined that I would have runes, of all things."
Alec stared at the scales on his hand, that wrapped around his wrist like a glove, all of it glowing with the faint blue sheen of Magnus' magic. He cleared his throat, his mind swimming at the implication of their tattoos. "We're…"
"We are," Magnus said with a nod. "I heard you call out. I was in New York on business - but that was the first time I felt you call out for me." He shivered and took another sip of his coffee. "A lifetime of hearing people describe the experience didn't prepare me for it. But, more importantly, how are you feeling?"
Alec blinked and shook himself. "I, I'm fine. You clearly healed me, since I don't feel a thing. But, how are YOU feeling, Magnus?"
Magnus paused in his next sip and tilting his head. "Me?"
"Yeah, I mean," Alec shifted and pushed himself upright to meet Magnus' eyes more easily. "You're, we're, I mean. I'm your Rider." He looked down at the tattoo on his arm and traced his fingertips over the scales, unable to keep from grinning. "This changes things for you, doesn't it?"
"Far less than you might think," Magnus said, watching as Alexander continued to stroke over the scales on his arm, wondering what they would look like on his scales. "We will certainly have fun wtih the Clave paperwork-" he laughed at Alexander's wince and determined look. "But outside of that, I am perfectly fine."
"You're not-" Alec frowned and looked down at the bed.
Magnus raised an eyebrow. "I'm not what?"
Alec dropped his hands to the blankets in his bed and forced himself to take a deep breath. "If you'd had the choice, you, you never would have picked a-"
"Alexander," Magnus interrupted softly. He stepped closer to the edge of the bed and reached out to stroke his fingertips along the deflect rune on Alec's neck. "I have had several lifetimes worth of my own chocies and my own picks. Nothing has ever fit, or felt as right as it feels to be standing here with you, right now."
Alec's breath caught and he stared at Magnus with wide eyes. "I, it, really?"
Magnus grinned and leaned in to rub their noses together, keeping his fingers against Alec's neck to feel him shiver. "Yes, darling rider. Now, will you fly with me?"
"Yes." Alec didn't spare a second thought for his duties at the Institute when Magnus lit up, grinning broadly at him. Someone (Isabelle, he suspected) had brought his riding leathers to the Infirmary and Alec changed as quickly as he could, before standing in front of Magnus.
"Don't you make a magnificent picture," Magnus purred, reaching out to take Alec's hand, lifting it to his lips to kiss the tattoos of sclaes there. "Take me to the courtyard, Alexander, and let's fly."
Alec kept his fingers threaded with Magnus as he pulled him through the Institute, ignoring calls of his name. His heart was pounding, and he could feel the preliminary bond between them lighting up with eagerness. Pushing the double doors open, they stepped out into the wide courtyard. His mother was there with her dragon, the two of them speaking quietly together.
Maryse stood up and frowned. "What's that warlock doing here?" Her eyes dropped to their held hands and her frown grew more pinched. "Alec."
It was easy to ignore her when Magnus was smiling at him, his whole body almost wreathed in magic. Alec stared at him and his breath caught.
"Do you trust me, Alexander?" Magnus whispered.
Alec swallowed and nodded. "I do. I trust you, Magnus." Following the nudge of magic that felt like Magnus, Alec stepped up and into the air and raced up the shimmering steps that led into the air. He didn't know why Magnus was having him climb these until a roar that shook the Institute trembled below him and Alec caught sight of wings almost twice the size as the ones from the night before.
Waiting until Magnus had risen far enough, Alec leaped, landing on his back, his fingers curling against the scales. Magic gathered around his hands, and like that, he was resting in a saddle, and their bond snapped into place. With a flap of his wings that sent everyone below scattering, Magnus launched them into the air.
The air was cold and biting, but the heat of Magnus' scales, and the comforting weight of the bond between them made sure he didn't feel it for a second. Alec closed his eyes and leaned forward, his hands tight on the reigns.
"Fly, Magnus!"
Magnus' answering roar made his heart soar.
~!~
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