#highwarlockofhell

[lunarsapphique]

highwarlockofhell replied to your photoset “new hair ft gay necklace”

you are soooo gorgeous whew

there are tears in my eyes ily

[bussanbaby]

With the sun setting over New York, Magnus and Alec stumble through the main door, letting it click shut behind them. With his arm around Magnus’ back, Alec leads him over to the couch, supporting a big part of the warlock’s tired weight. The loft is alight with golden rays of the sun, everything so seemingly peaceful compared to what they had gone through just a couple of hours earlier.

It’s almost like the stressful day had never happened, but the lines of exhaustion, both physical and mental, are obvious in the furrow of Magnus’ brow, in the way he slumps into the soft seat with a bone-deep sigh. With his elbows set on his knees, Magnus rubs at his face with his fingers, not even paying much attention to his eye makeup, with how distracted he is.

When they returned from the core maintenance room, a little bit ruffled and still coming off the high of adrenaline, the OPS centre had been a mess - Jace held Raj pinned down against the table and a couple of other lower-rank Shadowhunters were stood by the far wall, guarded by Izzy and Clary. Alec should’ve expected the opposition to his idea if he had to be honest, given what has been said about him in the recent weeks by some of the staff  - at least everything worked out despite Raj’s interference, they’re all alive, the plan worked, and the Institute is still standing where it should be.

At first, Magnus just seemed tired, out of breath and jittery with all the magic that had been running through his fingers just moments before, but as they made their way back home, the excitement wore off, swapped for heavy limbs and a sleepy smile.

Magnus leans against the couch, letting his head fall back against the cushions, looking up at Alec who’s standing in parade rest, hands clasped behind his back.

“I don’t think I’ve taken a cab since the New York Knicks won their first NBA championship back in the seventies,” Magnus muses, his lips quirked up and eyes twinkling with what has to be a mix between nostalgia and mirth.

Alec shrugs off his jacket and tosses it onto the blue armchair, rolling his shoulders. He can feel a headache coming on, a slight throbbing in his temples, probably as a result of Lorenzo going on and on about every portrait of him and all the various ways each artist has captured the essence of his smile; people bickering around him all day and questioning his authority perhaps had something to do with it as well.

“What about a martini, a hot bath, and a steak, medium rare?” Alec offers, coming up behind Magnus to set his palms on his shoulders, kneading the tense muscles there.

A noise akin to a moan wrings itself out of Magnus as he pushes into Alec’s touch, eyes dipping closed with bliss.

“You read my mind, darling. But the bath comes first, I feel like I got hit by a bus.”

“Pure angelic power can do that to you,” Alec chuckles, pushing his thumb into a very tight knot of muscle in the junction of Magnus’ neck. “You sit tight, I’m gonna go and start the water.”

Alec kicks off his shoes and heads to the bathroom, turning the knobs until steam starts rising from the water and then adds in the bath soaks and essential oils. The scents mingle together, creating a lovely aroma of flowers and herbs. When he turns back, Magnus is standing at the entrance, shoulder pressed against the doorjamb, his eyes half-lidded and a soft smile on his face.

“Go ahead, I’ll be right back,” Alec says and Magnus nods at him as he starts to shrug out of his suit jacket with a grimace.

Socked feet padding across the floor, Alec beelines for the apothecary and towards the second-top shelf in the corner of the room. He’s looking for a small, jade-glass bottle with a dropper on top - he finds it way in the back, still half full.

Magnus is already halfway through unbuttoning his shirt which halts Alec’s steps as he decides to just enjoy the moment. Hearing a noise, Magnus looks up with the hint of a smirk playing on his mouth.

“Enjoying the view, are we?” he quips, making quick work of the rest of the buttons and slipping out of the shirt to hand it over to Alec.

“Don’t mind me, go on,” Alec chuckles, folding the shirt haphazardly to deposit it on top of the laundry hamper. Unsurprisingly, his gaze drifts back to the expanses of Magnus’ chest, tempting Alec to run his fingertips against Magnus’ sternum and down his stomach.

“How about you join me? The bath’s big enough for two,” Magnus proposes with feigned innocence, shrugging one shoulder as he works on undoing his pants - it’s a bit more difficult to do without magic (and when the belt buckle is in the back).

Alec holds his breath for a moment, tempted by the suggestion. He should catch up on reports for the day, consult Izzy about the demonic possession footage, but Magnus is right there to hold and the water looks so deliciously warm that he can’t help himself; he breathes out.

“I could use some down time,” Alec aims for an unaffected tone, but Magnus sees right through the facade, raising one questioning eyebrow. Alec rolls his eyes fondly. “Oh, shut it.”

Magnus breathes out a laugh as Alec steps closer to him, deft hands helping to set the buckle free and tug the belt out of the loops. This close, Alec allows himself to look, to take in every line and curve of Magnus’ body, the way the late afternoon light makes his skin glow better than any highlighter he has on his vanity.

This is not about the sexual kind of closeness, not this time - it’s about the feeling of safety, winding down in the presence of the person you trust with your life, letting the walls down, figuratively and literally at once. It’s about taking care of each other.

Magnus’ wide shoulders are slumped slightly and he seems ready to fall asleep across any horizontal surface when Alec grabs his hands gently where they hang at his sides, aware of the sore spots magic has left behind. “Take some of my strength.”

Magnus pulls his eyebrows together and tilts his head in a half-aborted headshake.

“Alexander…”

“Come on, even a little bit, just so you can get your mojo back quicker,” Alec insists, running his thumbs over the blue veins on the insides of Magnus’ wrists.

With the first touch of magic, Alec shivers as it tugs on his core - it’s not uncomfortable, per se, but it’s a strange feeling nonetheless, like an incorporeal arm reaching up along his spine, careful fingers searching his body for angelic power. By now, it has become somewhat familiar to him, the sensation of Magnus’ magic being something Alec’s soul leaps toward without a second thought.

Magnus takes a deep breath, already seeming more awake than just moments before as the energy continues to trickle between them through their linked hands. It slows to a stop and Magnus tilts his chin up to brush his lips against Alec’s. “Thank you.”

“This, as well,” Alec murmurs after they kiss, pulling the little potion bottle from his pocket and holding it up for Magnus to see.

Magnus opens his eyes, then purses his lips when he recognizes his own concoction, clearly labeled with curled handwriting.

“My rejuvenation serum? How did you know where it was?” he asks, seeming positively surprised and almost impressed, even with a task as simple as this.

“Well, I listen to you, believe it or not. Also, I spend a lot of time in the apothecary with you.”

Alec hands it over, watches Magnus uncork it and deposit two drops of it on the back of his hand before licking it off. He scrunches up as his nose at the supposedly bitter taste and Alec can’t help but smile with fondness.

“I don’t doubt that, you do tend to stare at my lips quite often.” Magnus sets the bottle aside after sealing it up and gets back to taking off his clothes without a hitch in their conversation.

So, he has noticed.

“I don’t stare, I appreciate,” Alec balks at Magnus’ words, huffing as he pulls his henley over his head, dropping it onto the floor. “And you can’t blame me, really, since they’re so lovely.”

Alec is just telling the truth as it is - he’d kiss Magnus constantly if he ever had that option. And it’s not that he doesn’t pay attention, since he always values what Magnus has to say; sometimes his eyes just drift down to simply watch his boyfriend talk, to follow the curve of his lower lip as he pouts, lost in his own thoughts, or learn over and over again how they stretch into a smile, so tantalizingly close.

Magnus pauses, fingers hooked into the hem of his boxer briefs. “But are they more exquisite than Lorenzo’s fabrics?” he teases, his voice tinted with laughter.

“Magnus, I was winging it! He didn’t exactly give me much to work with,” Alec explains as he tugs his legs free from the confines of his jeans, having to take a step to the side to prevent himself from toppling over. “Well, until he started talking about himself being used as a baby model by an artist.”

At that point, Alec was just guessing his answers - apparently he had luck on his side, since that baby looked nothing like Lorenzo himself.

“El Greco?” “Yeah, how did you know?”

Magnus stops the water before the bath fills up too much and dips his fingers in, testing the temperature. His back is turned to Alec, but he can hear the disdain in Magnus’ scoff loud and clear. “Because he tells that story to anyone who has the patience to listen.”

He does seem like the type, Alec thinks. It took them maybe twenty minutes just to go through one room and he’s not even sure how many more there were. In some sort of way, Magnus making noise saved Alec from further extensive Lorenzo Rey history lessons.

“I thought he was going to talk my ear off about all of his antiquities! Your loft isn’t modest by any chance, but Rey’s just showing off with that mansion chock full of expensive crap.”

Almost simultaneously, they both tug their underwear down and step into the water, holding onto each other for balance.

The water feels blissfully hot against Alec’s skin, washing against his calves in little waves as Magnus sits down by the more rounded edge. He motions for Alec to come closer and moves them around until Alec ends up with his back pressed against Magnus’ chest, and with curious fingers tracing paths through the dark hair on his chest.

“Oh, I know! He’s always been like that, loving any attention coming his way. He thinks he’s the Jay Gatsby of warlocks.” Magnus’ voice resonates straight through Alec’s torso and he can already feel his own stress draining away - the problems with the Institute, the Greater Demon case - nothing exists in that very moment, just Magnus as a solid weight behind him and the water around them, tinted a faint purple with lavender.

Alec imagines Lorenzo in a Gatsby get-up, having read the book back in the days when he had free time, but then another, better fitting character comes to mind. Alec smiles to himself, a laugh bubbling up in his chest at the vision of the new High Warlock in a sparkly 20s’ dress.

“In reality, he is more of a Daisy, who also needs to hang back on the hair pomade. That ponytail is slicker than his attitude.” Alec tips his head back onto Magnus’ collarbone, as Magnus laughs shamelessly at the jab, making the water ripple around them with each breath; it’s Alec’s favorite sound.

He closes his eyes for a moment, tangling his fingers with Magnus’ and pulling their hands to rest on his stomach. Then, he adds, “He is so full of himself, he didn’t even realize I was just buying you time with the compliments.”

“Such an ass. And you did so well, my dear. I’ve never heard you talk with such passion about ceilings!” Magnus nods exaggeratedly, poking fun at Alec’s ‘professional’ acting skills; for how long he’s been a Shadowhunter, anyone would think he’d get better at acting, but alas it’s never been Alec’s strong suit, leaving him slightly panicked and searching for topics to grab onto. Considering the sudden circumstances of their heist, Alec is still proud of keeping his cool long enough around that pompous buffoon.

“I had to improvise somehow, I couldn’t let him see you making faces from behind his fancy couch. But you would make an excellent spy.”

Magnus chuckles, dropping a kiss on top of Alec’s messy hair that probably still smells like sandalwood. “We should start our own detective agency - Bane & Lightwood, here at your service. For the right price, of course.”

It’s a nice thought - Alec and Magnus, working together, solving crimes and helping people in need; kind of like they do now. Maybe in the end, their lives wouldn’t turn out so differently.

“That’s our retirement plan, then.”

It’s both casual and monumental, hanging in the air between them. Magnus stills above Alec, his chin resting against Alec’s head, who can sense him tense up a bit, before relaxing back into the water.

“I’m already looking forward to it.” Magnus’ voice snags on one of the words, gaining confidence as he finishes his sentence, having made up his mind about whatever thoughts he chooses to keep private for now. “I appreciated your help today. I would rather have you safe and sound somewhere else, but you being there with me meant a lot.”

Alec is glad to see Magnus open up more about his thoughts and feelings, as it allows them to understand each other better. Sometimes it’s easier to leave certain things unspoken, but they’re trying to go against that, to keep themselves open instead, to allow themselves comfort, understanding, and honesty - the cornerstones of a relationship to outlast time itself.

“Of course. I told you, I go wherever you go and if it means into danger, then so be it. I’m not leaving your side, never again,” Alec confesses, squeezing Magnus’ fingers between his.

“Have I mentioned how much I love you?” Magnus chuckles, tightening his embrace around Alec and making something warm bloom in his chest. Alec laughs as well, closing his eyes.

“Once or twice.”

[bussanbaby]

I don’t want you to move to Idris.

Alec can’t stop thinking about this evening. It hasn’t finished yet - he and Magnus are just walking back from their date down at the Hunter’s Moon, a couple of hours (and drinks) later. They’re strolling hand in hand, tangled palms swinging between them as they make their way through night-time New York. With the rush of the bustling crowd around them, they’re both quiet, encapsulated in a bubble of calmness, a reprise in their troublesome everyday lives.

He didn’t- doesn’t want to go either, happy where he is.

Thumb running against the skin-warm metal of Magnus’ ring, Alec thinks about his younger self - it’s an image so savagely different from how he is now that it almost feels like a separate entity, a ghost of years past when it wasn’t even so long ago. That version of him dreamed of being successful, of taking his parents’ place - not for the glory of it, as there was none, but to fill up his time, to find a semblance of happiness and fulfillment that would lessen the bite of loneliness; it was either his career and his family or having a love life.

Younger Alec, sad and filled with anger, was committed to sacrifices. With every rule that was driven into his mind, with every sneering word said about his family, with every misplaced ideal he carried, he knew life was full of uncomfortable choices he martyred himself to make without realizing he didn’t have to.

The option of loving a man, being loved by a man, seemed impossible at the time - even thinking about it, Alec felt the weight of fear of being ostracized set over his shoulders. He couldn’t imagine a time when he’d be allowed to be himself, the person trapped inside a distant shell of a man shaped by a hateful society. While work was meant to be an outlet for everything Alec wouldn’t get to experience in a relationship, perhaps he could also do some good while holding a higher-rank title - make the world better, safer perhaps, a little more accepting.

And now he is the Head of the NY Institute, ready to put all those plans to action.

He is also in love with Magnus Bane, something Alec thought was only a dream.

Magnus’ shoulder bumps against Alec’s as they weave their way through towards the loft and he turns to give Alec a soft smile, his brown eyes glimmering with all of the surrounding lights from nearby shop windows; the red and green neons from the vinyl store reflect against the tall spikes of Magnus’ hair and in the buttons on his vest like the northern lights on polar nights. Alec can’t help but return the gesture, squeezing Magnus’ fingers between his own.

When he was offered the position of a Council Delegate, Alec’s first immediate reaction was excitement, immediately squashed down with dread by the realization he’d have to leave. Even then, he had known his answer already.

New York is his home - he grew up in the noisy city, carried out his first independent missions between the tall skyscrapers and in weird-smelling alleyways. His family lives here - his brothers and sister, his mom now as well. He works here, shows up every day to deal with a new end of the world. But just as importantly if not more so - Magnus lives here.

Magnus, who’s become the centre of Alec’s universe so quickly, who’s shown him what it feels to have his wishes come true, who has brought light and faith into Alec’s life. There isn’t a single alternate universe in the vast cosmos, where Alec could bring himself to abandon Magnus’ side, whether it would be for riches or fame or anything worthwhile in the world.

The delegate position, the comfortable spot in Alicante - it’s all nothing compared to what he has already. This little outing is the first time they’ve gone somewhere together since they’ve gotten back together and Alec doesn’t want to sleep another night alone without Magnus ever again. He’s had a taste of what romantic, reciprocated love feels like and he never wants to let that feeling go.

How much does a nice office mean when you have to come back to a lifeless home that doesn’t smell like magic? How much does his voice truly matter when he is giving up on the part of himself he’s fought so valiantly for?

For once in his life, Alec wants to be selfish. He wants to choose his own happiness, put himself first, something he was never allowed to do - he wants to stay with the man of his dreams and if it costs him a work opportunity, then so be it; Alec’s sure Consul Penhallow can do just as well without him.

A year or so ago, it’d be the best news of his life, but now he’s finally got his priorities right.

A gust of wind blows past them and Alec shivers in his thin shirt and a light jacket, almost unconsciously huddling closer to Magnus. The moment reminds him of their first date ever, but then they were still unsure how to find a balance that works for both of them, how to work with their differences and similarities alike. Honest words were all it took, spoken straight from the heart without any abandon right in the middle of the loft’s living room.

Magnus has lived for so long, has been hurt so many times that now it’s scary to open up, to speak freely - Alec can understand how letting someone else see you vulnerable and at your truest only for them to end up turning on you can hurt. It was terrifying enough for Alec to break out of his shell, he can’t even imagine what Magnus must feel like after facing rejection so many times.

When he finally surfaces from his thoughts, Alec notices they’re a lot closer to home than he’d thought, already coming up to the building and up the small set of stairs. His step faltering for a second, Alec’s overcome with a rush of fondness for Magnus, a need to let him know how much he means to Alec. Whenever push comes to shove, Magnus always seems surprised Alec doesn’t leave, doesn’t pick the easier way out.

Alec wants to show him the sea of adoration he harbors in his chest, wants to eradicate the idea he could ever give Magnus up, wants to prove to him he can stop waiting for the other shoe to drop - Alec’s not going anywhere, not when he’s found his place on Earth, right by Magnus’ side.

He may be young, but his heart is already set in stone - Magnus is his person, his one and only love, his future.

There’s nothing you should be scared of, Alec thinks.

When they cross the loft’s threshold, he stops in his tracks, heart bared on his sleeve.

“I love you,” he says, halfway to breathless. “I love all of you.”

Magnus takes another step before their hands stretch between them, tugging him back, since neither of them wants to let go, even to take off their respective jackets. Neither of them also bothered to turn on any lights, so right now they’re standing in darkness but with the lamplights outside, Alec can see Magnus’ face well enough to notice that look again - awe and affection mixed in with surprise on Magnus’ face as he raises his free palm to press it flat against Alec’s chest; his fingers are cold, the chill seeping through the light cotton.

“Alexander,” Magnus says his name like a confession, his controlled demeanor cracking at the edges. It sounds louder in the darkness.

He’s hurting, grieving the loss of his title and every mistake he blames himself for; Alec hopes he can help ease the pain, in whatever way possible.

“I just want you to know I’m here for you.” Alec lifts his hand to fit it against Magnus’ cheek, the pads of his fingers brushing against the short hair on the sides of his head. Whether he’s meant to just sit by Magnus’ side while he works out his issues, or be the shoulder to lean on, he’ll do anything he can to support Magnus.

Magnus holds Alec’s gaze for a moment, sighing as he smiles gently, yet not without sadness. His eyes start roaming Alec’s face, as if Magnus is regarding him, lost deep in thought.

“I’ve always wished to be someone’s first choice.” The words are rushed in the quiet around them, stuck together as if a moment of hesitation would allow them to fall apart on Magnus’ tongue; the weight of them in the air wears the signs of decades-old insecurities, stuck like thorns in Magnus’ mind.

“When I was offered the job, I had already decided I couldn’t leave without you. You’re one of the most important people in my life and nothing compares to how much you mean to me,” Alec explains, feeling Magnus’ fingers slip down his torso to rest against his side, holding him close.

Alec appreciates Magnus letting him make his own decisions, trying not to influence his choices, because he’s known from the very beginning what Alec wanted to achieve, but Alec wants him to be selfish as well, to speak what he thinks, to put himself first when he’s already given so much to the world.

Magnus’ face smooths out and he seems to mull over Alec’s words, trying to commit them to his heart despite his mind saying otherwise. For a moment, the mask is gone and it’s just Magnus in his very essence, a man that stayed kind when the world wanted him to turn cold, a man with a loving smile and a contemplative gaze turning him into a saint without a halo over his hair.

“Where have you been all my life?”

It’s meant to be a quip to dissolve some of the seriousness of the situation, but Alec can sense the sincere question beneath Magnus’ teasing tone, his eyes searching Alec’s face like he can’t believe any of it is real.

“In the closet, I guess,” Alec shrugs with a smile.

He doesn’t expect the joke to catch Magnus so off-guard, enough to push him into full-body laughter, make him hold onto Alec as he tilts his head towards the ceiling, face scrunched up with pure joy. It breaks the last strands of gravity and Alec chuckles as well, happy to see Magnus without any worries if just for a moment.

Alec winds his arm around Magnus' neck to tug him closer, into a hug that feels like the perfect end to their date, when Magnus links his arms together behind Alec’s back. While Magnus is coming down from his fit of giggles, Alec presses a soft kiss to his temple, unable to help himself with how full his heart feels.

“You continue to surprise me,” Magnus quotes back his own words from before, mirth obvious in his voice. It’s become their thing, to recall conversations and reference them to each other like a secret code only they know; Alec loves it.

“In good ways, I hope.”

“The best ones,” Magnus whispers as he tilts his head up to catch Alec’s mouth in a kiss.

Right now, things may seem bleak, but as long as they have each other, they’ll make it through anything.

[alecsimon]

just here to say i love u!! <3

I LOVE U MORE MISS BEAUTIFUL JULE

[bi-magic]

👀

send me 👀 and ill make a ‘callout’ for you!!

uh i hate myself for doing this right now its been 84 years bu t,,,,

guess what??? jules is a fuC K ing sweetheart who is super nice and kind and i hope still likes me even tho i disappeared for like an entire lifetime um. honestly how can one person be this cute ? idk but yall should ask jule bc. she is

[bussanbaby]

It’s barely past eight in the morning when Izzy unlocks the door to her own little corner of the Institute, a hybrid of a workshop and an office. It’s a recent development, entirely of Alec’s doing after she mentioned wanting to get back into weapon engineering. So far the immersive work has been a great source of joy and pride for Isabelle, allowing her to focus, reinvigorate despite the difficult tasks, grow even stronger in her recovery.

She loves the space he’d put together for her under her guidance - one part of it includes a large desk, a loveseat in the corner and a couple of shelves with all the books she could list. The other half is comprised of a work bench currently cluttered with misshapen pieces of metal that in the end will come together as her double-arrow crossbow, as well as her tools and materials, most of those safely stored away in large cupboards tucked against the stone walls.

Hanging her jacket over the back of the swivel chair, Izzy sets her hands on her hips, mentally compartmentalizing everything that begs for her attention - finishing all the budget amendments for the Head to include in this month’s report, finally getting done with that stubborn blueprint for tracking arrows, and if she’s feeling extremely productive - kicking Clary’s ass in double-handed staffs training.

She sets to work after putting her hair up into a messy bun, but she barely gets a few sentences into the report, when there’s a knock on her door - three quick raps, easily recognizable as her older brother.

“Come in,” she answers, a subtle sort of excitement blooming through her chest. She hasn’t had the chance to see him properly lately, as they’ve both been busy with respective work; it would be a lie to say she doesn’t miss him.

The door creaks open and Alec pokes his head into the office, cell phone trapped against his ear, his other hand busy with a tray holding two coffee cups to go. He hums to let the person on the other side of the call know he’s listening, eyebrows drawn together in focus.

“Are you busy?” he mouths to Izzy and she shakes her head ‘no’ vigorously, causing a couple of rebel curls to slip out, messily framing her face. There’s an almost imperceptible quirk of his mouth, a smile anyone not aware of Alec’s habits would miss entirely.

He shoulders the door closed and wraps up the conversation after everything seems to be confirmed, perching on the edge of her desk as he does so. Izzy rounds the piece of furniture, also choosing to lean against the sharp edge, since it feels less professional and just more like the two of them talking.

It’s when she notices the outfit in its full glory - dress pants patterned with dark green plaid, cropped above his ankles and tapered at the bottom - a definite statement piece if Izzy knows anything about fashion (and she does). The rest of the outfit is black - polished wingtip oxfords, a dress shirt buttoned to the top and a long coat thrown over his shoulders.

While it’s still elegant in a way that fits Alec’s personal style of comfort and practicality, it makes her brother seem like he stepped off the runway no more than two minutes ago. There’s a presence to him, the confidence of a leader, quiet control alongside his usual sternness and the watchful way he holds himself; all of it is softened by his ruffled hair and the subtle silver glitter of jewelry.

“Look at you! You’re giving me a run for my money as the best-dressed Shadowhunter in NY, big bro,” she greets him with a quip, oxblood-colored lips stretching into a cheeky grin. “Note that I graciously said ‘Shadowhunter’.”

A full smile blooms on Alec’s face as he casts down his eyes in almost unconscious modesty, but she can feel him settle comfortably against the words. Just a while ago, at any personal comment she would make, he’d curl in on himself and bristle the spikes stuck in his armor; he’d snap and huff and roll his eyes, anxiety moving through him in jagged ways. The ever-famous eye roll is still a popular classic, but now it’s usually directed at Jace or Clary after some sort of reckless shenanigans, at Izzy when she gets into trouble, and often at all the Shadowhunters he’s got to keep in check.

He’s different these days, yet somehow the same.

“Oh, I know, nobody’s taking Magnus’ crown on that front,” Alec answers with a quiet chuckle, then stretches the arm holding the coffee towards her. “Got you your favorite one.”

Izzy takes the cup with her name messily scribbled on it in black marker, recognizing the logo from a small hole-in-the-wall café that makes the best lattes. Just one sip warms her from the inside, all of the rich flavors making her eyes dip closed for just a moment.

Alec’s watching her already when she opens them again - there’s a pleasant expression on his face that she can’t fully interpret, the edges of all the emotions blurring together. She raises her eyebrows in a silent question, but Alec just takes a gulp of his own coffee, eyes drifting towards the work table across from him.

“So, how is my favorite sibling doing?” Alec asks nonchalantly as he crosses his ankles with a sly smile, clearly in no rush to leave; Izzy doesn’t want him to anyway.

She laughs into the lip of her cup and leans over to lightly smack him on the shoulder.

“Better not tell that to Jace, huh?” she teases, taking another sip of her coffee.

Alec pulls his shoulders into a shrug, one corner of his mouth curved up. “What the ears don’t hear, the heart doesn’t grieve over.”

“Mister Lightwood, that’s mean!” Izzy feigns offense in the name of her other brother, hand poised over her lips in mock-shock.

Alec laughs at that, throwing his head back, eyes crinkling into adorable crow’s feet at the corners.

“‘Mean’ is my middle name, according to some people around here.”

“No, that’s Gideon.”

The joke earns Isabelle a slow look of disapproval, then Alec sighs theatrically and reaches for her drink as if he has no other choice. “I got you coffee because I love you, but now I need to rethink that decision.”

“No!” Izzy slips out under Alec’s arm in fits of laughter and he gives another half-hearted attempt at pulling her back, fingers snagging in the collar of her shirt. She lets herself be drawn closer until she’s able to wrap her arms around Alec beneath his coat, careful of her drink she’s still holding onto.

She tucks herself up against her brother’s side, just the perfect size to rest her head on his shoulder. Alec’s arms come up around Isabelle and she feels the safest she could ever be, in the embrace of the person that was always stood by her, even in her darkest moments when all she could think about was yin fen and the pain it caused. He never judged her for anything, instead took care of her and loved her all the same. Truthfully, she probably wouldn’t even be here without him.

It’s nothing she didn’t know already, but the realization makes her chest hurt with all that she feels - love, gratitude, faith, so much more than that. She’s always looked up to him; from the very first day she remembers, Alec was right by her side, holding her little chubby toddler hand, training with her when they were big enough to do so, always listening to her even when he was worn down himself. She knows he would do anything for her - give up all that he has to keep her smiling.

She’d do the same for him without hesitation.

Alec’s been miserable until Magnus came into his life - frustrated, terrified, stuck inside the cage this society built around him. And perhaps she wasn’t able to be the one to pull him out of that, to help him realize he’s so much more than a soldier and a son - someone who deserves his own happiness and the space to spread his wings; she’s still glad to be there for him, watch him flourish and grow into the person he was always meant to be.

He may seem different, but he’s the same Alec she’s known forever, just happy.

Of course, they’ve had good moments where they laughed together and sassed each other, and had days where everything seemed alright, but there was always an underlying current of something missing. Alec would never mention it, but she could see it in the slouched angle of his shoulders, in the way he stood rigidly with his eyes trained on the floor each time their parents spoke to him, in the way he’d come from training with bruised skin and reddened eyes.

Now, he talks to Izzy more - about his life, about himself and the way he feels, even if some details stay forever a secret, huddled close to his heart. She’s completely okay with that - she’s just glad he knows he can confide in her whenever he needs to. 

He tells her about his dates and life with Magnus, promises to take her sightseeing in Rome with them the next time they go, gossips about Clave executives and all the dumb laws he has to try and fix with the Council’s help; he mentions his better contact with mom and laughs about somehow lucking out again to find himself friends with people like Luke, Cat, Maia, and Simon.

Izzy talks too - she mentions the mundane meetings and how sometimes it gets hard, but she pulls through, for herself and for others. She talks about hanging out with Maia and Simon as well, about training Max to be the best he can. Once she confesses how strange it is to be back in the swing of things, yet how ecstatic that makes her.

She tightens her grip around Alec’s chest, swallowing around the cluster of emotions stuck in her throat, just as he drops a kiss on top of her head.

“What are you thinking, Iz?” he asks, affection and genuine curiosity easy to spot in his tone, low and rumbling beneath her ear.

She glances up at him, smiles wide and honest, considering all the words wanting to be said, all the ‘thank you’s and ‘I’m sorry’s and all the secrets he doesn’t know yet, but someday will.

“I’m glad to have you by my side, big brother.”

His expression softens, becomes vulnerable in the way he allows himself to be only around those who mean the world to him. Setting his cup on the edge of her desk, Alec kisses her forehead, his hands warm against the sides of her face.

“It’s always been us against the world, hasn’t it?” he hums after a moment of quiet.

And he’s right; it’s always been them, Alec and Izzy, a brother and a sister who disagree on everything, except how much they love each other.

[bussanbaby]

Go on, tell me. Tell me you don’t love me. // prompted by @alecsimon

“Alexander, look at this. I want to get it for you as an anniversary gift,” Magnus prompts, fingers of his palm gently wrapping around Alec’s bicep to get his attention.

The rain is pattering rhythmically against the window as they lie in bed, ready to go to sleep, but not quite there yet. Instead, Magnus has been browsing through various sites - catching up on news before relaying some of them to Alec, reading recipes on warlock blogs or just listening to his favorite albums, the sound turned low enough to not disturb the peaceful mood around them.

Alec closes the book he’s been reading in quiet focus for the last hour, shifts on the mattress to get a better look at what Magnus is showing him on the laptop screen, one manicured finger pointing towards something silvery. Resting his cheek on Magnus’ shoulder, Alec uses this as an excuse to get closer under the covers and sneak an arm across that muscular stomach to let it settle against the soft jut of Magnus’ hipbone.

Finally, he pulls his focus from the feel of his husband’s skin underneath his fingertips and the warmth emanating from him like summer’s sunshine, but not without a brief kiss pressed against Magnus’ shoulder. The site open is some sort of bougie online shop, Alec can see different tabs for different items, but the picture in front of him is a muted gold watch, showing even the moon phases on top of the usual things; it would definitely fit Alec’s general dress style, especially on days when he has to be more elegant.

He’s about to say it looks good, when his eyes find the price; he reads it once, then twice, then a couple times more, carefully counting the zeroes.

2.5 million dollars.

With the Lightwood family being somewhat an old money clan, his parents before and now Alec having the cushy Head of the Institute pay, money has never been an issue for him - if needed and justified, he could spend larger sums; now, with his sense of self growth, his style changing and a wonderful life partner to give things to, he’s more prone to spend cash, but two and a half million dollars is a cosmic number even to him. That’s an average price of a New York apartment in a decent part of the city.

“Magnus, no,” Alec chastises, propping himself on up his arm to catch Magnus’ eyes. The warlock is looking back with an unimpressed raised eyebrow, seemingly not seeing anything wrong with the price. Alec shakes his head for emphasis, a smile threatening to come up and blow his act, “It’s way too expensive, come on.”

Magnus glances at the watch again, then back at Alec, his free hand brushing away a couple loose strands of hair from Alec’s forehead.

“I have the money, and it’s something for you, so even if it was ten times more expensive I’d get it if only you told me you liked it.” He shrugs nonchalantly.

This time Alec doesn’t fight the smile, lets it settle comfortably on his face. To hear such a thing, even after being with each other for as long as they’ve been, still makes Alec so happy to know how much he means to Magnus; it never gets old.

“I know. But you can use that money so much better than spending it on a shiny thing for me,” Alec explains in a low voice; he appreciates the gesture and the thought behind it, but it seems too extravagant, something he’d feel guilty about later on. What do you even do with an item that pricy?

Magnus sighs from the bottom of his chest, closes his laptop and sets it aside on the nightstand before sliding down on the pillows. He throws an arm over his eyes in the most dramatic way possible that makes Alec stifle an endeared laugh.

“Why aren’t you letting me shower you with expensive gifts to express my undying love for you? Go on, tell me. Tell me you don’t love me,” Magnus feigns a hurt tone to complete his role, but a smile is already curling up the corners of his mouth, letting Alec see right through the facade; they both know Alec would never lie like that.

By now, Alec feels like he knows his husband inside and out; there are probably stories he hasn’t heard yet, as there’s so many of them, but every habit and every word that comes in Magnus’ voice is familiar in a way like a deja vu is - he can almost predict the movement of Magnus’ fingers and imagine the way his laughter will ring out in a moment.

Alec leans further over Magnus’ body, now almost hovering over him, fondness and simple adoration brimming in his heart; it’s tempting to give in because Alec always wants to give Magnus whatever his heart desires, but he wouldn’t know what to do with such a gift.

They’re not strangers to gift-giving, anyway - whether it’s small trinkets or things that remind them of each other, they’re given often and freely, without a second thought and simply as a gesture to make each other smile after a difficult day. They give anniversary gifts, birthday presents, buy flowers, chocolate, and wine because they can; because they’re in love and nobody’s stopping them.

It’s not about proving anything or keeping up traditions - both Alec and Magnus know that their love has a foundation that’s unshakeable, as proven by life trying to bring them down on multiple occasions. They don’t need gifts to know that it’s forever.

With his free hand, Alec cups Magnus’ jaw, running this thumb gently over the bristly hairs at the edge of the goatee. This time, Magnus doesn’t stop the smile and instead lets it take over, bright and beautiful. Alec leans down, presses little kisses against every available inch of skin on Magnus’ face until he moves his arm to properly look up at Alec, his eyes bright with levity.

Without a word, they fold into place - Alec settles into a space between Magnus’ thighs, leaning on his other arm and Magnus’ hands run along his skin, mark paths over Alec’s shoulders and up his neck, onto his face. The gentle touch sends shivers running down Alec’s spine and he’s warm, basking in their tenderness.

“All I need is you. I could have no roof over my head, nothing to my name and I would still be the happiest man on this earth because of you,” Alec says, letting his voice peter off into a hum as he plants more lazy kisses down Magnus’ neck. He smells like his favourite sandalwood shower gel and pure magic, soothing in its familiarity.

Magnus sighs, his body solid yet pliant underneath Alec; the wandering hands settle at Alec’s sides for a moment, before resuming the mindless movement down his back, curious fingertips tracing every rune almost from memory.

“Oh, Alexander. I would steal the stars from the sky for you.”

And as otherworldly and impossible that sounds, Alec is sure Magnus means it.

“I feel like NASA would sue you for that,” he quips.

Magnus laughs at that, pressing his head back into the pillow, as Alec revels in the sound, mouthing along Magnus’ collarbone. Even though they spend almost all of their free time together, Alec can never get enough of being close to Magnus - kissing him still sometimes feels like a privilege.

“Fuck NASA, I’m the High Warlock of Brooklyn.”

Alec chuckles and lifts his head to give Magnus a mock-doubtful look that’s answered with an impressive eye roll. There’s something so beautiful about Magnus like this - the most comfortable, with his guard down, his hair a mess and sleepy eyes that crinkle at the corners when he grins.

Reverence, veneration, awe - call it whatever you want, because no word will ever measure up to what Alec holds in his heart for Magnus, like the entire universe could fit in the palm of his hand when Magnus holds it. Every so often, Alec is overcome with this intrinsic, bone-deep want to show Magnus the piety he feels - it happens in the simplest of moments and the most important ones; they all make Alec want to kneel before Magnus or hold his hand, feel the last sparks of magic jump to his skin.

To be loved like this, fully, wholesomely, endlessly, is something wonderful.

Alec used to be so scared of opening up, of letting himself feel; he was terrified that someone would come too close, find all the cracks in Alec’s skin and push until everything poured out in a vicious way - the bitter anger, the freezing fear, the longing for someone who understands.

Sighing, Alec leans down to capture Magnus’ mouth in a slow kiss, wanting as little space between them as possible. With their chests aligned, Alec can almost feel Magnus’ heartbeat against his own as their breathing aligns into a sinuous rhythm.

Outside, far away thunder growls threateningly, but the sound of it is lost to shifting silk sheets, to skin-against-skin and slow breaths as they share kiss after kiss, each one sweeter than the last. Magnus’ hands bracket Alec’s face as their noses brush together; Alec pulls back and a whine dies halfway in Magnus’ throat at the space between them.

“You gave me the most important and cherished gift of all a while ago - your heart.”

Magnus swallows and Alec watches his Adam’s apple bob with the motion. His lips are shiny under the muted light of their bedroom as they part around the words that don’t come right away.

“It’s yours, as long as you want it,” Magnus whispers, his eyes dipping closed in a slow blink. His voice, low and soothing, doesn’t hold any trepidation; it’s not a question, not a confession, but a statement of fact Magnus seems to be entirely okay with.

“Forever,” Alec answers, just as quiet, and holds Magnus’ gaze - there are stars in his eyes, the entire cosmos trapped beneath the warmth of his brown irises. “I’m yours, too. Until we turn to dust.”

“Come here.” Magnus pulls Alec closer until he can wrap his arms around Alec’s back. Their legs tangle together as Alec sneaks his hands between the mattress and Magnus’ body, his face smushed into the junction of Magnus’ neck and shoulder. He could stay just like this, safe and sound in his husband’s arms as they cuddle.

He drifts in and out of consciousness, lulled into sleep by the sound of the rain and Magnus’ hands running steadily through his hair. At one point, he sees a garden with peach trees and a swinging bench. A record is playing softly and people are chattering in the background; Alec can’t see himself or Magnus but the vision feels homely, like where he is supposed to be. He can feel sunlight on his skin, can smell food cooking when a child laughs, the sound like windchimes.

Alec opens his eyes, blinking against Magnus’ skin. The room has gone dark - he supposes Magnus has turned off the lights, but he seems to still be awake, judging by the still-moving fingers.

“Magnus?”

“Mm?”

The dream feels heavy with premonition, almost calling Alec’s name. He thinks of the watch again, of their upcoming anniversary of marriage, of their life together.

“Let’s buy a house with that money instead,” Alec offers as Magnus pulls the covers tighter around them. The rain sounds louder somehow, like it’s coming from all around. “A forever home for us and our future kids, for our entire family. A place where we can throw garden parties for friends, where we can practice magic and archery, where you’ll have a place to keep all your books and treasures.”

Alec pauses as Magnus chuckles softly, careful not to disturb the peaceful quiet around them.

“I don’t need a watch anyway, since I don’t count time when I’m with you. And it can’t measure the infinity we have before us,” he adds, almost like an afterthought.

Magnus’ lips brush against his forehead, curved into a happy smile.

“I love you so much, Alexander Lightwood-Bane,” Magnus sighs, sounding just on the verge of choked up.

“I love you, too, Magnus Lightwood-Bane,” Alec answers almost without thinking, the words coming as natural as breathing.

He drifts back asleep soon after; they start house-hunting the next day.

[oikyskau]

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highwarlockofhell replied to your post: ❁ �� ☾ ★

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