Happy malec anniversary! Keeping with the wedding theme, my prompt is this: It’s Alec’s bachelor party and he gets drunk and whines about Magnus not being there, but little does he know that Magnus would be making a surprise appearance at the end. Do with that what you will! Love your writing! 💕💕
OH GOD BUT I LOVE THIS SO MUCH OKAY? I LOVE IT TO PIECES AND IT’S WONDERFUL AND SO FUCKING IN CHARACTER AND I NEED ALL OF IT, THAT IS ALL.
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Alec sighed again, long and low, staring morosely into his drink. He knew that he was supposed to be having fun. It was his bachelor party after all, but the one person that he wanted there was the exact person who is not supposed to be there.
"Alec if you sigh again, I'm going to buy you a stripper!" Jace said, sliding into the seat next to him. "This is your bachelor party, enjoy it!"
Alec huffed and glared at his parabatai who had made himself comfy, sprawled across the seat as he sipped a bright drink. "But Magnus isn't here," he said with a pout, taking another sip of his drink. At least the alcohol was good. Maia knew what drinks he liked and always made sure that he had a tasty one.
Jace laughed. "Of course, he's not supposed to be here. It's your last night of freedom, after all!"
"Freedom," Alec scoffed, rolling his eyes. "That's the last thing I want, in any capacity, Jace! I want, I want Magnus. I want my life with Magnus."
"We know," Jace said, reaching out to ruffle Alec's hair, just to watch him glare in irritation. "All of us know precisely how much you want your fiance here and with you rather than wherever he is."
Alec turned his head to look at his parabatai and huffed, leaning against Jace. "It's not cause I don't love you all. It's cause it's Magnus, and I want my life with Magnus to start. I don't want to, to celebrate my life without him when all I want is my life with him."
Jace wrapped an arm around Alec's shoulders and gave him a squeeze. "I can understand that. Will kicking my ass in pool make you feel a bit better?"
Alec perked up and gave Jace a relieved grin. A game of pool he could do. "Maybe a little.'
Jace punched Alec in the shoulder and dragged him towards the pool table. "Come on then, time is a wasting."
Alec followed behind his parabatai, opening the bond between them so Jace could feel how grateful that he was for him.
~!~
Two hours later, Alec knew, he knew that he was drunk.
And it was great, and the only thing missing was Magnus.
"Listen," he said to Clary, sticking a finger in her face, even as he watched Jace cheat and reposition the balls on the table. He smacked Jace in the thigh with his pool cue, smirking when his parabatai dropped the ball and it rolled to a better position for him instead. "I'm not saying that I don't love this party or all of you-"
"But you miss Magnus," Clary said, rolling her eyes. "We know. You've been saying it since you got here."
Alec pouted at her. "You're supposed to be more sympathetic."
Clary raised both her eyebrows. "Considering I'm the one who actually called Magnus because none of us are dragging your drunk ass home, I'm probably the most sympathetic one of the bunch."
Alec lit up, his eyes bright with excitement. "Magnus is going to come here?"
Clary couldn't help bursting into giggles. "Magnus is, indeed, on his way here."
Alec wrapped his arms around Clary and spun her in a circle. "Fray, you're my favorite!"
"Hey!" Jace protested. "Stop manhandling my girlfriend, Alec!"
Alec stuck his tongue out at Jace and put Clary down on her feet, stumbling a little as the room spun around him. "Do you know when he'll-"
"Good thing that you rented out the place for the night isn't it? I don't think I've ever seen so many drunk shadowhunters in my life," Magnus mused, stepping past a swaying Izzy who was avoiding a drunk Raj.
"Magnus!" Alec said, giving Clary a not-so-subtle shove towards Jace, wrapping his arms around his waist. "Magnus, you're here, and you're perfect and beautiful and I love you."
Magnus grinned and reached up, combing his fingers through Alec's hair. "You are going to regret this tomorrow, my darling. Shall I get you home?"
Alec huffed and stared at him. "Only if you're coming home with me!"
"Alexander," Magnus teased, tugging his shadowhunter down and into a kiss. "You are my home. Wherever you are, is my home."
Alec sighed happily and wrapped Magnus up in his arms, holding him tight. "You're perfect and I love you," he repeated, the words muffled into Magnus' jacket as he pulled the other man close. "Can we go home to the loft now?"
"Yes," Magnus agreed. "And thank goodness I had the foresight to make sure your bachelor party wasn't the night before the wedding."
Alec hummed and tugged Magnus through the portal and into the loft and relaxed as the rest of the loud noise and laughter was suddenly gone. "Maaaaagnus," he drawled, pulling on his fiance. "I'm gonna marry you."
Magnus smiled at Alec and followed the gentle urging of his hands until they were pressed together. "Yes, Alexander. You're going to marry me, and I am going to marry you. I can't wait."
Alec nodded and gave Magnus a quick kiss, missing his mark and hitting Magnus' cheek, but that was okay because Magnus was still smiling at him. "I didn't want to have a bachelor party. Cause I didn't want to celebrate my old life. I didn't like that life. You weren't in it. You're in my life now, and that's the most important thing to celebrate."
Magnus' breath caught and he reached out, tugging Alec into a kiss. He shook his head. "I will never understand how you are so eloquent, even when drunk."
Alec reached out and wrapped his arms around Magnus, holding onto him tightly. "It's cause, cause, I am drunk on you," he admitted with a big yawn. "Can we go to bed now?"
"Of course," Magnus agreed, bringing Alec to the bedroom, getting him settled with water and under the covers. He reached out and combed his fingers through Alec's hair. "You know that I love you, Alexander?"
"You love me the mostest,” Alec announced a sappy grin on his face. "And you're gonna marry me, and I'm gonna marry you,”
Magnus grinned and slid into the bed next to Alexander, stealing another soft kiss from him. "You are. And I can't wait, Alexander."
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Still filling prompts from the Malec Anniversary Bash? More likely than you think...
Hello darling! I would love to ask you of a prompt where everyone comes over to the loft for dinner and hear Malec in a huge argument in the kitchen that has them afraid that their marriage is falling apart. So they go in ready to intervene only to realize that Magnus and Alec are fighting over what plates to set the dinner table with xD
OH GOD MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND SHENANIGANY ARGUMENTS ARE MY LIFE AND I AM ALL HERE FOR THIS. LET’S DO IT.
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Izzy winced at the sound of Magnus and Alec raising their voices again.
“Absolutely not Alexander, I cannot believe that you would consider that acceptable, do you want to insult your siblings-”
“They’re my fucking siblings so I think I’d know what they’d be insulted by-”
“You say that like you have any sense of taste!” Magnus snapped.
Jace winced with Izzy as sound of Alec’s hands hitting the counter filtered into the room a minute later, followed by more hissing and arguing that wasn’t as easy to make out.
“Should we...go interrupt?” Jace asked, wincing at the sound of plates rattling again.
“Absolutely not,” Simon breathed, his eyes wide, staring at the kitchen. “You do not get in the middle of a domestic.”
“Dammit, Magnus!”
Clary winced and glanced towards the kitchen at the shout from Alec. “But, I’ve never heard them argue like this.”
Plates rattling came again and all of them flinched together.
“I mean, they’re not actually angry with each other?” Jace said, frowning towards the kitchen. “It’s them. They never actually get angry at each other.”
“Alexander Gideon Lightwood-Bane, if you do not put those down right this fucking instant-”
“You are being irrational!” Alec snapped back.
“Irrational? You’re the one who-”
“Oh no, no, don’t pretend I started this!” Alec growled. “This was all you!”
Magnus scoffed. “Alexander, you need to learn the first thing about-”
“Don’t put on that pretentious attitude with me, just because I don’t want to spend hours cleaning-”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Jace said with a huff, standing up. “I’m not about to let them break up over whatever they’re arguing about. He ignored the warnings from both Izzy and Clary and strode towards the kitchen. “Guys-”
“Look, there’s Jace!” Alec cut himself off and gestured to his parabatai. “Jace, will you please tell Magnus you eat like a goddamn animal, so I am not going to let him use the nice china for dinner tonight?”
Jace blinked in surprise. “I...what?”
Magnus put both of his hands on his hips. “I am willing to sacrifice the loss of a single plate to make sure the rest know that we appreciate them and we aren’t using something gauche like paper fucking plates!”
Jace glanced between the two of them. “Wait. You’re...arguing over what plates to use?”
Magnus turned to look at Jace with a frown. “Yes, what did you think we were fighting over?”
“Something...way more serious....” Jace offered.
Alec snorted. “If you ask Magnus, this is a matter of true life and death,” he said, grabbing the paper plates and heading for the dinner table. “Dinner is served!” he called out.
With a vicious and echoing snap, Magnus changed all of the paper plates into the nice china on the table and smirked at Alec as he took his seat.
Alec glared at him. “You’re doing the dishes tonight,” he said, pointing a fork at Magnus.
Magnus blew him a kiss with a grin. “Worth it!”
Jace shook his head and took a seat. “You two are fucking weird.”
Magnus and Alec looked at him as one and frowned.
Jace glared at Alec. “Also, not an animal.”
Alec snorted. “Yeah, tell me that if you make it through tonight without breaking a plate.”
(Jace made it 95% of the way through dinner, but dropped his plate on the way to the kitchen, but that was entirely Alec and Magnus’ fault for making out in the kitchen while Magnus did the dishes.)
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Feel free to send me fluffy prompts for the Malec Anniversary Bash!!
I would love to read a fic with warlock!Alec who was born to his shadowhunter family but with magic- and of course falls hopelessly in love with the high warlock of brooklyn ;) maybe Alec has been trying to hide his magic? I just love your writing a lot and would love to read a fic like this in your style!
OH GOSH I WANNA WRITE THIS BUT IT WOULD BE LIKE A 100K FIC AND I WANNA WRITE SOME OF THE AMAZING OTHER PROMPTS I HAVE TOO!! So here’s a snip from what might be a fic like that if I was going to write one!!
So at this point - Alec has fallen head over heels for Magnus, but they’re not actually dating, he’s just crushing on Magnus from afar, but his magic wants Magnus and I decided the whole Lydia marriage plotline doesn’t exist because I said so and Alec and Lydia are running the institute together as BFFS.
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“Jace get down!” Alec shouted, sliding under the swipe of claws coming at him from the Ravener demon. The next arrow he fired had the dark swirl of gray snapping magic around it and the demon was incinerated an instant later and Alec had to pray that Magnus wasn’t paying enough attention to realize his magic wasn’t the only one being used in this fight.
Once he had an instant to breathe, Alec drew another two arrows and headed towards the flashes of blue and red magic he could see coming from where Magnus was fighting the demons coming out of the rift and trying to close it at the same time.
“Alec, we’re going to be overrun soon!” Izzy shouted, her whip snapping another Shax demon that goo close to him.
Alec panted and fired arrows into the two demons trying to crawl out of the rift. Then another, then another.
“Alexander!” Magnus snapped. “That isn’t working, and all it’s going to do is leave you unarmed in the very immediate future! We need another warlock!”
Alec cursed and looked back at Izzy and then to Jace and then to Magnus who was looking at him in confusion. His magic itched under his skin and he looked to Magnus helplessly. He didn’t have enough knowledge and control over his power to be able to do what Magnus needed.
“Alec!” Izzy shouted, her whip thrashing through another two demons. “Either now or never, or we need to retreat and call for backup!”
Alec bit down on his lip and stepped up next to Magnus, sheathing his bow and taking a deep breath. Focus. He had to focus and breathe. He could do this. Give the magic a task and put all of his focus into it. Just like firing an arrow.
“Alexander-”
“I’ll hold it, you close it,” Alec snapped. He didn’t look over at Magnus, but with another slow breath, magic, shades of silver and gray, sprang to his fingertips and he narrowed his eyes, staring at the portal. A net. A net to hold them back while Magnus closed the portal. He heard Magnus call his name again, but he threw his magic forward with a grunt, wrapping the net around it.
Magnus had trailed many young warlocks, and feeling Alec’s magic surrounding the rift, he could see just how young it was, how it was still growing, and had so much more room for him to improve. It wasn’t strong enough to do what he was attempting, but his magic was responding to the strength of Alec’s will and Magnus ached at the sight of it.
“Magnus!” Alec snapped, feeling a demon hit the net, grunting under the pressure of holding it back. “Hurry!”
Magnus turned all of his focus back to closing the rift, pouring magic into it, stitching it back together, piece by piece, even as he felt Alec pushing more magic at the net he’d built, draining himself down to the dregs to be able to keep the demons out. “Alexander!”
When Alec didn’t answer the the net around the rift started to flicker, Magnus stepped up to the rift and shoved a wave of power through it, destroying the demons and pushing them back before he closed it the rest of the way, falling back to the ground.
“Magnus! Get to Alec!” Jace shouted. “I can’t feel him!”
“Shit,” Magnus muttered, struggling to his feet, even as his legs felt like jelly, making his way over to the prone shadowhunter, scrambling to kneel next to Alec, reaching for his neck. His pulse was thin but thready, and he’d almost burned out his core of magic. “We’ve, I’ve got to get him back to my loft.”
The sound of demons being killed finally faded around him and Magnus got Alec sitting upright and cradled against him, carefully combing his fingers through his hair. His magic was already protective of Alec, curling around him even more so now that it could feel the seed of magic deep within him.
“Is, is he going to be okay?” Isabelle asked, her voice worried as she stared at Magnus. Alec was pale, his face drained of color.
“When,” Magnus panted, looking up at her, summoning a portal with effort. “When you don’t have control over your magic and can use it effectively, your only option is just to use the brute force strength of it.” He stood and with another grunt, picked up Alexander and carried him to the portal, stepping through and into his loft, feeling the two shadowhunters follow him.
He got Alec laid out on the couch and hurried to his apothecary, grabbing two bottles before hurrying back over to Alec.
“What are those?” Jace snapped. He watched Magnus pour one into Alec’s mouth and pinch his nose and lips shut to make him swallow.
“Are you really going to yell at me when I’m making sure that your brother isn’t in a coma?” Magnus snapped, yanking the stopper out of the second potion before repeating the process. Once he was done, he tossed the bottles away, glad that Jace and Isabelle were both quiet. He gathered magic into his hand, cursing under the strain before he shoved his hand against Alec’s chest, kickstarting the recovery of his magic.
Alec jack knifed upright and his eyes were wide as he stared at Magnus slumping in relief next to the couch, his chest and throat aching, Jace and Isabelle standing in the middle of the room. He sagged back against the couch with a groan. Now everyone knew. Fuck.
Magnus looked over at Jace and Isabelle. “Both of you go back - make some sort of excuse for Alexander. He’ll need to stay the night.”
Jace scowled. “What, why?”
Magnus sighed in frustration and turned to glare at the shadowhunters, his magic snapping angrily around him. “Because I am High Warlock and I’ve just discovered there is a shadowhunter warlock in my jurisdiction that I knew nothing about. Like it or not this is something I need to address with Alec, as well as his training - which he is welcome to share with you, after I discuss it with him.”
Alec watched Izzy and Jace step through the portal Magnus summoned for them, meeting both of their eyes, trying to reassure them with a nod, before he was alone with Magnus, who was looking at him with intent eyes.
“Your warlock mark?” Magnus asked with a raised eyebrow. “You are a warlock, I’m assuming? Which says things about Maryse Lightwood I certainly never needed to know.”
Alec swallowed and looked down at his hands and swallowed before spitting out a single word. “Valentine.”
Magnus froze and then pinched the bridge of his nose. “Of course. Monster. I’m sorry, please excuse my insensitivity. I’m exhausted, worried about you, and trying to figure out what the hell we do from here.”
“You don’t need to worry about me,” Alec said, trying to sit up before everything started to swim in his vision and he sank back down on the couch. “NNngh, fuck.”
“Yeah, magical depletion isn’t fun when you’ve learned to deal with it, let alone when you haven’t,” Magnus said, sitting next to the couch again. “We need to start training you. I’m amazed that you’ve been able to hide it so long. Even more so that you’re actually able to hold runes.”
Alec swallowed and nodded. “No one besides Jace, Izzy, and Mom know. If they did, you can imagine...”
Magnus nodded. “I can. I understand why you’ve kept it a secret. Do you glamour your mark? Or is it something easier to hide?”
“It’s not a glamour. It’s...a spell. It keeps them hidden. Sealed with a rune,” Alec said, shifting to take his shirt off.
Magnus raised his eyebrows. “Don’t feel like you have to strip for me, darling,” he teased.
Alec snorted and rolled his shoulders and looked behind him. “You’re going to want to add about ten feet of room behind me.”
Magnus’ eyes widened, but he shook his head. “I can’t do that right now. Magic is too low. Come on, to the middle of the room.” He helped Alec stand and brought him to the middle of the loft, even though now he could feel something gathering in Alec, his magic growing stronger by the second. “Here good? Or do you want to be outside?”
Alec shook his head. “Here’s fine.” He pulled his stele out and drew a rune on his arm and breathed out slowly, magic cackling around his back before he finally shifted, two large wings springing from his back.
Magnus stared in shock at the wings that must have been between ten and twelve feet each. “How...how large is your wingspan?”
“Almost twenty five feet from tip to tip,” Alec said, rolling his shoulders again, reaching up to press at his shoulders. It was always weird to feel his magic sinking into his muscles to augment the strength to actually carry and use the wings, but it only took a minute or two to get used to it. Thankfully the extra release of the spell also released the rest of his magic. “They’re spelled to be a tattoo on my back, and locked and glamoured with a rune.”
Magnus turned his attention back to Alec. “Can you use them?”
Alec’s eyes slid from Magnus’ to the doors by the balcony. “Open them,” he said, his voice soft.
Magnus’ breath caught and his eyes widened and in another instant they were blown open. He watched Alec move around him and break into a run halfway through the loft, jumping into the air, his wings spread. He raced out after Alec, only to watch Alec catch an updraft and soar up and past the building into the sky. He circled the apartment building, riding the thermals easily enough until he was landing on the balcony with a slight stumble.
In another quick motion, Alec was sealing his wings away with a swipe of his stele and Magnus was still staring at him in shock. “You can fly,” Magnus said, well-aware of how dumbfounded he sounded.
“Kinda,” Alec said, rolling his shoulders, unable to keep from grinning. Flying always put him in a good mood. “It’s harder here, there’s not as many thermals to catch. Much easier around Alicante.”
Magnus blinked once, then twice, and gestured Alec back into the loft. “We...have a lot to talk about.”
Alec flushed and walked back into the loft. “What did you give me? I don’t feel exhausted anymore.”
Magnus realized, far too late, that Alec was walking under his own power easily and didn’t seem to be carrying that same level of depleted magic he had only moments ago and he frowned. “Nothing that should have made you recover that quickly.” He blew out a hard breath. “We have a lot to talk about.”
Alec sank down onto the couch. “I hope...you’re not too angry?” he said, glancing up at Magnus.
Magnus shook his head. “Angry, no. I understand why you kept it a secret. Confounded, confused, surprised and wondering where the hell we go from here? Yes.”
Alec laughed and shook his head. “Sounds easy enough. So where do we start?”
Magnus summoned a drink for himself and sat down on the other end of the couch himself. That was a great fucking question, and hell if he knew the answer.
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Feel free to send me fluffy prompts for the Malec Anniversary Bash!!
OH HELL YES, ALEC WITH A HELLHOUND? OMG YAS! HERE HAVE SOME RANDOM DOMESTICITY AND SHENANIGANS.
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Alec dashed under the bridge, his bow in hand.
"Alec!" Isabelle shouted, diving under the swipe of claws coming towards her. "Alec, hurry up!"
Alec grunted in annoyance and didn't bother answering, taking a running leap the second he hit the crest of the hill, loosing two arrows into the demons surging towards Isabelle and Jace before he hit the ground hard, rolling to his feet a second later. "Wasn't going to risk hitting you!" he snapped, stepping in next to Jace, unsheathing his Seraph blade a moment later, swiping through the next demon that leaped for them both.
"We need to retreat!" Isabelle said. "Or we need backup immediately. We can't hold them back!"
"We also can't afford to let them run rampant through Central Park!" Alec snapped back at her, slicing another demon clean in half.
"Might be a good moment to call your friend, Alec!" Jace said, grunting as a demon shoved him back and he ducked under a slice of a poisonous tail, just barely.
Alec winced and looked at the battle. Jace was right. Fuck. He pulled back and lifted two fingers to his mouth, letting out a piercing whistle. "Come on, girl," he whispered. "We need your help."
It took several seconds longer than usual, but the sound of barking echoed behind the demon horde. Alec spared a few seconds to be terrified for her, but then the sound of snarling and demons exploding into ichor came. He watched her claws sink into another shax demon as she bit into a ravener, flames licking at the corners of her mouth.
"Good girl," Alec panted, swinging his blade up and through the ravener, until it was gone. "Such a good girl," he praised, even as she turned back to the rest of the demons. With her help, they made quick work of the rest of the demons, all three of them sinking into an exhausted pile next to a tree.
"Next time," Jace managed, clearing off his blades. "When someone says that there's probably nothing? Please send two patrols, Alec."
"You got it," Alec said, huffing out a small laugh. He reached out and pushed his fingers through Braeya’s fur and smiled down at her. "You saved us tonight. We owe you."
Isabelle lifted her head and scowled. "Still can't see her."
Jace hummed in agreement, watching as Alec continued to pet the invisible dog in front of him. "Still weird, too. How big is she now? She still growing?"
Alec looked to the hellhound that stood, at full height, her head in the middle of his chest and smiled. "Very much still growing."
"And you still have no idea why she shows up?" Isabelle asked, narrowing her eyes at her brother. "Somehow I figure that's not likely."
Alec didn't bother answering, leaning down to press his forehead against hers, breathing slowly, her fur warm with the fire that was inside her. "Thank you for coming. I know it's not as easy as it used to be." At least, that was his guess, considering it took her a few seconds longer each time.
Braeya gave a huff and settled properly on top of her human, closing her eyes and relaxing.
Alec continued to pet her, smiling. "The two of you head back and get your paperwork sorted."
"Alec, I think-"
"Come on, Izzy," Jace said, shaking his head at her before he started to force himself upright. "I don't think that there's anything we can do right now to convince him to head back with us."
Izzy bit down on her lip and stared at her brother. "Alec, you'll be careful, right?"
Alec smiled at her and looked down at Braeya. "I will. She'll keep an eye on me, promise."
Izzy frowned, but followed Jace out of the park.
Alec leaned back against the tree with a sigh. "They're getting more and more suspicious, now. Not sure there's anything we can do about it, but we need to be careful."
She whined and pushed at his leg.
"I know you want to follow me home, but it's not like you can step on hallowed ground. We tried that, remember?" When she gave another irritated huff, Alec closed his eyes and let him relax. "Don't worry, I'll stay here as long as you want, I promise."
It would have to be enough, for now.
~!~
Keeping Braeya a secret was a nightmare most of the time, especially as he got older, but Alec, between help from his siblings and being able to set his own schedule at the Institute, made due.
Unfortunately, now he had an additional complication, and that complication came in the form of a boyfriend. And while Braeya's glamour worked on other shadowhunters (though he wasn't sure why it didn't work on him, but it might have something to do with the bite mark on the back of his calf that he kept glamoured), it probably wouldn't work on someone like Magnus. Alec chewed on his lip as he settled against a tree and whistled for Braeya.
It was nice not to have to call her for battle all of the time, and he knew that she appreciated it, though she was more than strong enough to survive any demons they were fighting. It also helped, if he was right about his guess that certain poisons didn't affect her from the demons. He wasn't positive about that, but it made sense, in some twisted way.
Braeya huffed and settled next to him, a rumbling growl of approval escaping her as Alec started to pet her head.
"I'm not sure what to do," Alec admitted, looking down at her. "I love Magnus, so much, and I want him to meet you, but I'm also worried about what he might say." He closed his eyes. "Jace and Izzy didn't care, because you've proved that you want to keep me safe. Multiple times. That's all they worry about. But Magnus? I don't know what he'll think."
Braeya huffed.
Alec turned his attention to her with a raised eyebrow and watched as her form shimmered and shifted. In a blink, she was the size of a normal dog, rather than the size he'd gotten used to, the one almost as big as him in height. He rubbed the spot behind her ears and watched her sag in relief and relaxation. "Is that a hint that I should take you to visit Magnus?"
An echoing bark.
Alec laughed and pushed himself upright. "Okay. All right. Let's head there. I'm supposed to be spending the night tonight, so you need to be on your best behavior." He turned and headed for Brooklyn, smiling down at the sight of Braeya trotting beside him, weaving in and out of people on the street with an ease born of magic.
He stopped at the base of the building and frowned, looking at the buzzer. If he walked into the building with a hellhound, Magnus would likely not wait for him to explain. Alec took a deep breath and hit the buzzer.
"Who calls upon the High Warlock of Brooklyn?" Magnus drawled.
"Hey Magnus," Alec said. He kept his finger on the button and looked down at Braeya. "Could you come downstairs?" Alec heard a quick flurry of clothing over the intercom.
"Is everything all right, are you safe?"
Alec smiled. "I'm fine. I just...need to show you something. I couldn't just bring her up." He could feel the confusion from Magnus, but he lifted his finger off the button and turned to Braeya. "All right, now, we need to make a good impression with Magnus, because I really love him and I don't want him to get scared away, okay?"
Braeya huffed at him and Alec knelt down and hugged her tight.
"Alexander?" Magnus asked.
Alec stood up and smiled at Magnus. "Hey!" He stepped closer and kissed Magnus softly, before backing up a step and gesturing behind him. "I have someone I want you to meet."
Magnus' eyes dropped from Alec down to the hellhound standing behind him and blinked. "Alexander, you know that..."
"That Braeya is a hellhound? Yeah. I've known for years now. I didn't want to bring her in yet in case she set off your wards," Alec said. "But I promise she's of no danger to anyone. I just, uh, wanted her to meet you."
"How..." Magnus took a second and shook his head. "Alexander, why do you have a hellhound following you? Why have you named her?"
Alec shrugged. "The second or third time I saw her, she kept coming to my rescue, so I decided she needed a name. The other shadowhunters can't see her, not Jace, Izzy, or Clary."
Magnus nodded, even though that was impossible. "How, where does she live?"
"I don't quite know," Alec admitted, looking down at her. When Braeya looked up at him, he pushed his fingers into her rough fir and scratched gently. "She comes when I call, and she always walks me back to the Institute. She's never underfed, and is healthy as far as I can tell."
"I can't believe you've befriended a Hellhound," Magnus muttered, pressing a hand to his face. "How can you even see her?"
Alec shrugged again. "I'm not entirely sure about that, either. But she bit me, at one point, early on. I've been able to see her ever since, so maybe it has something to do with that?"
Magnus took a few steps closer and knelt down in front of the Hellhound when she started to growl and held out his hand for her. "She's not normally this size, is she?"
Alec laughed. "No, she's normally much, much larger. This is small for her," he admitted. "I didn't...want to have to keep her a secret from you. I have to keep her a secret from everyone else."
Magnus looked up at Alec and then back down to the Hellhound who was licking at his hand eagerly. He could see she enjoyed the taste of his magic and smiled, letting a few sparks escape from his fingertips for her to chase the taste of. "Thank you for telling me." He looked down at her again. "Would you both like to come up?"
Braeya let out a bark, her tail wagging eagerly.
Magnus laughed and stood up. "Just make sure she doesn't eat any of the cats," he cautioned. "And then we'll have to see if we can unwravel some of her mystery because she certainly is fascinating!"
Alec bit down on his lip. "You don't mind?"
"Alexander," Magnus said, reaching out to take Alec's hand, giving it a slow squeeze. "I am nothing but glad that you have had someone out there keeping an eye on you and protecting you when you needed it most. I admit I do want to hear more about the story of how you found her, but she will always be welcome in my home."
Braeya gave a pleased bark and trotted closer to Magnus, nuzzling against him.
"Looks like you made a good first impression," Alec said, glancing up at Magnus with a smile.
"I tend to be good at those. Now, come on. Dinner for all of us, then we can have that story," Magnus said, opening the door to the apartment.
Aria, I would like to prompt you for an Accidentally Married!AU I read one this morning and it was great, but now I need more! And I think you're the best, so of course I'm going to hand you the prompt. I can't wait to find out what you've developed for the bash!
I HAVE SUCH A THING FOR ACCIDENTAL MARRIAGE I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU OH MY GOD SO HERE WE GO. THIS IDEA GOT A WEE BIT LONG BUT OMG I THINK YOU’RE GONNA LOVE IT!!!
YES I MESSED WITH THE TIMELINE A SMOL BIT, CAN YOU BLAME ME?
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
All the races of the downworld have their courting rituals and procedures. Vampires have an intricate dance of heat filled looks, softer whispers and a slow orbit that becomes closer and closer. Seelies court each other through spoken words, hidden compliments and the faintest hints of smiles, couched and hidden in the language of nature itself.
And warlocks...
Magnus sighed and looked at the slim volume in his hands that used to be Ragnor’s. His friend had gifted it to him, years and years ago, when he’d been taught that the small zing he felt under his skin at a new introduction and pleasing smile was more than just his magic being attracted. It was his magic checking off a list.
Because warlocks didn’t have intricate dances, or pretty words. Warlocks had lists and the more boxes your magic checked, the more likely you had found the soul your magic was most compatible with. The more compatible, the more likely of a permanent attachment.
Magnus sighed and looked down at the book. Not like it mattered. He’d never felt more than a dozen connections with someone, and even then, they had all felt forced, like his magic didn’t feel quite at home with what he felt.
Then, of course. Alexander Gideon Lightwood had crash landed into his life. Literally.
Warlock Courting Ritual #1: Introduction & Warlock Courting Ritual #37: Fighting Side by Side
Magnus felt his breath catch as he realized the archer from earlier, who had saved his life twice now with a very properly timed arrow, was standing behind him and waiting for him to say something.
His magic was singing with the sense of potential, of something between them, but Magnus was well-versed in ignoring it. Instead he stepped forward and introduced himself to the shadowhunter. The same shadowhunter who smiled at him, and it was like watching the moon come out from behind the clouds. It took his breath away and Magnus felt his magic reach out to pull him closer to the shadowhunter before he was even aware of it.
Alec.
He had a name, and his magic rejoiced, another piece clicking into place so much easier than it ever had before.
Alec. Alec. Alec.
His magic was a drum beat under his skin, excited and wondering when he was going to see Alec again. That smile on his face that Alec might feel the exact same pull, the exact same gut-wrenching attraction that he didn’t want to run from for the first time in centuries.
Warlock Courting Ritual #4: Establishing Attraction & Warlock Courting Ritual #27: Meeting the Family
“Michelangelo, who was excellent in bed I might add!” Magnus drawled, and his magic leapt at the way Alec’s eyes caught on his. He watched the way his pupil flared, just the smallest bit. His magic coiled, tense and excited deep in his gut, as Alec introduced the rest of the shadowhunters, his family.
Another ‘snnnck’ of his magic snapping into place had Magnus blinking almost in surprise. Meeting the family. He’d met the family of this shadowhunter his magic was almost inexplicably drawn to.
But he had a summoning to get to, and he needed to focus on it.
However, the second that Alec’s hand slid into his, a jolt went through him, his magic leaping from his palm into Alec’s. Magnus’ mouth went dry and he their eyes met, the heart-stopping fall of instant attraction rocketed through him and he barely managed to continue with the summoning.
Even after the disastrous summoning that fell apart, Clary’s memories lost forever, all Magnus could remember was the weight of Alec’s eyes on his lips and Alec’s hand in his. He might... might be in trouble.
Warlock Courting Ritual #68: Sharing Energies for a Common Goal & Warlock Courting Ritual #42: Working Together
Summoning Alec to help through his parabatai had been half joke and half seriousness. He did need his help to keep Luke alive and to get the rest of the potion pulled together. If, in a deeper place that no one else could see, he was also wanting to see Alec again, well.
It wasn’t every day he met pretty boy archers who smiled like they’d forgotten to hide behind the mask they wore. Some indulgences had to be forgiven, after all.
Except, then Luke took a turn for the worse.
And the shadowhunters were taking too long to get back with the missing potion ingredients. Now, he desperately needed Alec’s help to not just heal Luke, but to even survive the healing of him.
By the time Alec walked through the door, frantic energy and concern, Magnus was reaching for the very dregs of his power, struggling to hold the poison back. He barely felt the acknowledgement of his magic that Alec had come to help, that they were going to work together, before he was holding out his hand and begging for help.
Sharing magic, sharing energies, was one of the most intimate acts you could do with another person, and Magnus didn’t have time to think about it, to think about how his magic would feel, connecting with Alec in that way.
Alec not only offered up his magic, his soul, his very essence, every single bit of angelic power he had, he did it without fear and without remorse. He trusted Magnus not to to take too much, and welcomed him in. Magnus gasped, and this time his magic sank into Alec and when he was done and Luke was healed, and Magnus pulled back, his magic didn’t let go.
One of the most powerful courting rituals a warlock could perform with a downworlder had been completed and all Magnus could think as he sagged against Alec was how good those arms felt wrapped around him.
Warlock Courting Ritual #17: Getting to Know each other
“I know you feel what I feel, Alec,” he said, narrowing his eyes at the shadowhunter. He knew it, his magic knew it, and every part of him was singing with it. Everything he got to know, the more he (and his magic) wanted.
The connection wasn’t quick or fleeting. It felt deeper, it felt real. And every interaction with Alec, hearing Alec trust him, talking to his family, working together with him, day after day. All of it only made him want more.
And in turn, he shared pieces of himself with Alec, the soft noise of his magic connecting again scaring him. It was too much, too soon, but he couldn’t stay away. He was drawn in, even as Alec pulled away, even as Alec tried to run, Magnus pushed closer.
He wanted to know more, he wanted to know Alec’s hopes and dreams, beyond being a brother and a shadowhunter. Magnus wanted to know what he craved to do with his life. To be a part of that, to show him that.
But with the magic singing between them with every look and every step away that Alec took, Magnus couldn’t hold himself back. He wanted more, and he wanted Alec to know that he wasn’t alone. That he had never been alone, not in this. Not ever.
But then Alec walked away.
And his magic ached.
Warlock Courting Ritual #67: Public Announcement of Permeance
Standing opposite Alexander at the end of an aisle, his heart and magic pounding with promise and potential, Magnus lifted his chin, the faintest of challenges.
His magic was still aching from the rejection of earlier, but the hope that shone through when Alec took his first steps off the dias left him nearly gasping for breath. This was it. Alec would reject him and the start of what had been perhaps a true bond would be shattered or...
Or maybe they would find some way forward that he couldn’t see.
So he waited, standing tall and defiant, Maryse Lightwood furious off to the side. Magnus felt every beat of his heart, slow and steady, but tugging at the growing bond between them. They had a chance. They had something.
The first step down the stairs made Magnus freeze, because Alec hadn’t looked away from him, and then Alec was striding towards him, quick and purposeful. His heart pounded in his chest, loud and desperate and it was almost too loud to hear.
But then Alexander’s hands were tangled in his jacket, and then their lips were slammed together and Magnus was melting, because Alec had picked him, Alec had announced to the world that they were them.
And just like that, another of the strongest and deepest ties was solidified between them. Kissing Alec was far more important though, he could worry about it later.
Warlock Courting Ritual #64: Declaration of Intent
Now that the true potential between them was unlocked, watching Alec walk away after declaring them too different, him to be too much, to have too much past, Magnus felt the heartbreak magic-deep.
No connection in his life had ever been so quick or so easy. No connection ever would be again, he could feel that. Feel it in his magic as he watched Alexander’s footsteps carry him away.
But then Alec was in front of him again, his whole face twisted in determination and Magnus stared at him, well-aware that his hope was written all over his face. Alec hadn’t left, Alec hadn’t left him yet, he was still here.
Admitting that he didn’t care how many people Alec had never been with seemed to be enough, somehow, because then Alec was stepping closer and kissing him again, and this time was so different from the first. It was achingly hesitant and gentle and ended far, far too soon.
But then Alec pulled back and met his eyes, before whispering.
“I hear, um. Relationships. They take effort.”
Magnus managed a response, only barely, because his magic surged through the bond. This was no indication that they would have another date, this was indication that there was more - that they were a relationship. That they were no longer Magnus and Alec as separate entities, but one together, Magnus & Alec.
Their date to Tokyo had been perfect, and Alexander had loved every moment of it. Magnus had been so happily caught up in having Alexander to himself, at last, for several uninterrupted hours, he’d barely noticed the connection that formed the instant they’d stepped through the portal and Alec had shyly taken his hand.
After that, the whirlwind around Tokyo, the photobooth, the sushi, the laughter and slow kisses they shared, it had been perfect and easy in a way Magnus had forgotten dates could even be. The strangest thing was the ease with which the bond continued to grow and flux around the both of them. It was so easy to sink into and Magnus was about to summon a glass of wine when Alec spun around a small bag in his hands.
When it was offered to him, Magnus stared down at it, before being ordered to open it. His heart and magic were pounding in sequence as he carefully lifted out the small, hand-stitched charm. His breath was frozen in his chest as his eyes darted up to see the pleased grin on Alexander’s face. “It’s supposed to bring you luck and protection!” Alec announced with a grin. “It’ll be there to take care of you when I can’t be,” he added, smiling.
A gift with true meaning. Another tie slid into place like it had just been waiting for the right moment and Magnus looked up at his shadowhunter, tilting his face up for a kiss. “I can take care of myself,” he whispered against Alec’s lips, even as he tucked the charm into his inner jacket pocket.
“I know!” Alec said with a grin, stepping in close. “But sometimes a little extra never hurts.”
Magnus kissed the grin off his face and did his best not to think about what number they were up to and how steadily it had been growing between them.
A true mark of a relationship was their first fight.
Magnus had seen many relationships, his and others, shatter under the weight of a fight. And this had been a bad one, the both of them furious, Alexander worried and nervous for his parabatai and Magnus pushed to his absolute limits, while maintaining the dark and heavy rock of concern in his chest.
So, of course, they had fought. Low, growled words had been thrown, coupled with the sore insecurity that stripped them both deep and bare.
But now they standing in the balcony together, Alec apologizing softly, his concern in every whisper, in every hopeful and truly earnest look. Magnus couldn’t look away from the sight. Didn’t want to.
Forgiveness was tentative that night, but it was there. It was there in the faint hint of the blush on Alexander’s cheeks as he adjusted that erstwhile collar, the way neither of them truly wanted to run.
It was there in the gentle admission of fault, of blame, another piece of the puzzle that was their relationship sliding into place with the bond. Magnus knew he should be afraid, perhaps, of how much was built between the both of them, but here, like this, forgiveness singing sweet and fresh between them, Magnus couldn’t regret.
They were building something powerful. Something meant to last.
Something Magnus had never had before in all his long centuries. He leaned his head against Alex and breathed through the weight of a bond that felt strong, solid and real.
More real than any relationship he’d ever had. More than Camille, than Imasu, than the dozen, hundred names he could forget. But he would never forget this. Would never forget Alexander,
Magnus woke slowly, stretching deliciously in truly decadent sheets before he settled back against the pillows, opening his eyes to stare at Alexander, who was still asleep and snoring softly into golden pillows.
He reached out and tucked a lock of precious hair behind his ears, thinking about how beautiful Alexander was in the morning sunlight. Another tie slid into place like it was made to be there between them. They weren’t just compatible in terms of rank and how they inspired each other and loved their minds. It was more, physical too, a visceral attraction made magnetic by the pull between them.
Passion had bloomed, quick and heady, again and again, until they had both collapsed, sated, warm and wrapped in each other.
“Why are you up so early?” Alec mumbled, his eyes drifting open. “Go back to sleep, Magnus.”
The teased, gentle words made Magnus’ heart tighten and he grinned. “Make me.” This time, Alec’s eyes snapped open and narrowed and in a flurry of golden sheets, Magnus was being pressed into the pillows by a warm body, and his mouth being claimed by his boyfriend.
Physical compatibility would never be an issue between the two of them. He would make certain of it as he wrapped his arms around Alexander’s shoulders and let him deepen the kiss until they were gasping and moving together in the slow, lazy way that morning sex often entailed.
Warlock Courting Ritual #62: Establishing Mutual Living Space
Magnus blinked at the sight of a rack of some sort leaning against Alec’s leg and raised both his eyebrows at him, watching as his boyfriend started to flush, looking down at it.
“I’m uh, I’m off, this weekend. And you’d said I could stay, right? So, I took this from my room. I thought maybe I could find a corner for it?” Alec said, gesturing to it.
“Happily,” Magnus agreed. “What is it?”
“Oh!” Alec reached down and adjusted it, placing it beside the door to illustrate. “A uh, weapons rack. Somewhere to hang my bow and quiver and my blades.”
Magnus tilted his head and hummed, and in another second, there was room next to the door for the rack, and it was hanging on the wall like it had been a part of the room decor all along. “Will this do?”
Alec stared at the weapons rack and carefully hung up his bow, and then his arrows, followed by his blades. He turned to look at Magnus and swallowed before asking hesitantly, if it was now to remain here.
Magnus smiled at him. “If you want it to.” When Alec stalked forward and kissed him, hard and desperate, Magnus melted into it, and another part of the bond, another of the strongest ties between them, settled into place like it had always been there, just like the weapon’s rack.
Warlock Courting Ritual #69: Exchanging I Love You’s
In order to finish the courting ritual, at least 37 out of 69 Warlock Courting Rituals needed to be met. By the time they exchange I Love You’s outside the New York Institute, Magnus hadn’t realized that they were, had been, on the final step, and the second he whispered the words back to Alexander, their bond clicked into place, like it had always been meant to be there, his magic happy, satisfied, and excited.
He stared at Alec in shock, his eyes wide, his heart pounding, next to a heartbeat he could feel as an echo of his. Alec was smiling at him, grinning, even as he was held close.
Magnus realized what had happened too late. They were married. In every way that mattered to other warlocks, that other downworlders would see, plain as day, obvious as can be, he and Alexander had just sealed their relationship into a permanent bond. His heart leapt into his throat and he stared up at Alec, even as he was kissed again and held close.
“Alec,” Magnus started. He had to try to explain. He had to, he had to tell him, had to-
“Was that thirty-seven?” Alec asked, tilting his head as he smiled at Magnus. “I figured we had to be getting close. I could feel you more than usual,” he added, pressing a hand to his heart.
Magnus blinked and stared at him in shock. “You, you know...”
“I did some research,” Alec admitted. “After, uh, after I started to feel the bond, I guess you call it?”
“Why aren’t you more concerned and freaked out?” Magnus snapped, his magic roiling in him hard, suddenly afraid that it’d made a mistake, that this wasn’t right, wasn’t what he wanted, despite it being so much, too much, too soon.
Alec tilted his head and stared at Magnus. “Vampires have their dance. Seelies have their words. Wolves have their runs. Warlocks have their list.” He smiled and leaned in close to rub his nose against Magnus’. “Did you really think Nephilim didn’t have their thing, too?”
Magnus’ breath caught and he stared at Alec with wide eyes, his glamour down and his heart pounding, his magic surging in him now, at whatever it was that Alexander was about to offer. “They do?”
“Mmmhmm,” Alec confirmed with a hum, reaching up to cup Magnus’ face in his hands, pulling him in for another kiss. “Do you know what the angels were created for at the dawn of time?”
Magnus shook his head, the weight of Alec’s words sitting heavy on their bond, but he wasn’t about to move for anything.
“Love,” Alec whispered. “They were built to love. That was their sole and divine purpose. To love.”
Time seemed to settle and slow around them and Magnus stared up at Alec in shock. All of the sudden, pieces seemed to be falling into place. Alec never being afraid of the pace of their relationship. Always always moving forward, certain of his steps, certain of one thing, and one thing only. How he felt.
“Nephilim,” Alec continued, sweeping his thumbs over Magnus’ cheekbones. “Have one love. A defining love. A love that they were built for, that they exist for.” He gave Magnus a smile and leaned in to steal the softest of kisses. “I’ve known since the first time I kissed you that you’re my one, Magnus.”
Magnus stared at Alec, tears gathering in his eyes, even as he clung to Alec, because he was going to shake apart under the weight of it all. Alec didn’t mind their bond, their warlock marriage, because he’d expected it eventually. “Alexander...”
“Magnus,” Alec whispered back. “I love you. I will always love you, because it was what I was made for, what I exist for.” His lips quirked in a grin. “If you’re telling me that we need to wait a little while to announce to the world that we’re warlock married, that’s fine.”
Magnus couldn’t help laughing a little under the quiet proclamation, leaning into another kiss, loosing himself in the slow exhale of breath against him until he managed to draw his attention back to Alec again.
“But don’t think for a single second that this is not exactly what I want. All right?” Alec pressed, pulling back to stare him down.
Magnus nodded, wrapping his arms around Alec’s shoulders, pulling him into another kiss. “All right,” he agreed. “But don’t think this gets you out of a proper wedding, Alexander.”
Alec’s grin was bright and just a little wicked. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I have plans for my proposal after all.”
Magnus hummed happily. “Good!” And when Alec kissed him again, his lips tingling with magic and the sense of home that he’d needed, that he’d wanted for so long. Maybe...maybe he could have this.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Feel free to send me fluffy prompts for the Malec Anniversary Bash!!
A prompt for the anniversary! During a trip to the Shadow Market, Alec finds a lock very similar to the one he had with Magnus and was destroyed (but they never replaced it). He asks to engrave their names without noticing the hidden sigils in it. The lock is a magical one that, when closed, bond the souls of the names on it, and Alec becomes immortal by accident.
THIS IDEA IS PERFECTION AND IS GETTING ADDED TO MY LIST OF REASONS THAT ALEC HAS BECOME IMMORTAL AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH SO THANK YOU FOR THE PROMPT DARLING.
~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~
Though he knew they existed, Alec had never been to a shadowmarket, a real one, until he started dating Magnus. They were closely guarded secrets of the Downworld and the Shadowhunters had tried, more than once, to infiltrate them, only to be firmly rebuffed and run off.
It’s only when they’re standing hand in hand and Magnus lead him down an alley that ended in a large stone wall that Alec’s eyes widened and he realized where Magnus was about to take him. He froze and stopped them a few feet from the wall, his whole body tense.
“Alexander?” Magnus frowned and looked back at him, at the clear concern and borderline panic on Alec’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re taking me to the Shadow Market, aren’t you?” Alec blurted, his eyes wide.
Magnus raised his eyebrows. “I had planned on it, but since you look like you’re about to have a panic attack, I’m reconsidering it. What’s wrong?”
Alec took a deep breath and looked down at him. “I have six different weapons on me, Magnus. I can’t go into what your people consider a sanctuary of the downworld - a place Nephilim are unwelcome and unwanted armed like this, I’d confirm every single impression of shadowhunters they have and-”
Magnus blinked in bemusement at Alexander and the rising agitation on his face. “That’s what you’re worried about?”
Alec frowned at Magnus. “Of course!”
Reaching up, Magnus pulled Alexander down and into a kiss, waiting until Alec relaxed into it before he moved back and summoned a portal, gesturing to it. “This’ll take you home. You can put your stuff back.”
Alec lit up and dashed through the portal excitedly. He quickly deposited his weapons and holsters on the weapons rack he kept for them and pocketed his stele before dashing back through the portal. He looked at Magnus with a grin. “My stele is all right, right?”
Magnus gave a smile. “Your stele is fine, Alexander. Long as you don’t go around activating runes, I don’t think anyone will even notice.”
Alec relaxed and nodded, reaching out to take Magnus’ hand as he summoned another portal, this one looking different than usual, the circle edged in a rainbow of colors. He took Magnus’ hand and took a deep breath, ordering himself to settle and to calm down. When Magnus stepped through the portal with him, Alec’s eyes widened at the sight of all the COLOR.
Magic sparked in the air, bright, wild and carefree, dashing amongst the banners and bright fabric hanging above them, protecting them from the harsh light of the sun. Dozens of languages were being spoken at the same time, a chatter rising above the sound of the crowd as stalls shouted their wares to passerby.
“What do you think?” Magnus asked, watching the open and honest awe on Alec’s face as he took everything in. His heart swelled at the growing grin from his husband as his eyes darted everywhere before coming back to him. “Like it?”
“It’s incredible,” Alec breathed, turning his attention around them again. He inhaled slowly and the scent of food made him grin again before he looked to Magnus. “Where to first?”
Magnus laughed in delight. “I have ingredients I need to pick up from an apothecary, but until then, I thought we could maybe explore and see what catches your eye?”
“Other than all of it?” Alec asked, looking around them again. “Magnus I don’t even know where to begin!”
“A step forward,” Magnus teased, giving Alec’s hand a small tug towards a cluster of booths. Alec’s presence was drawing dozens of curious stares, but his obvious joy and excitement was keeping the suspicion to a minimum, exactly as he had hoped. Their joined hands, he suspected, also reminded everyone that this was Magnus’ husband, and he was of no danger to them here.
Alec’s eyes lit up and he started asking questions about the different potion ingredients that were available on the table, engaging the warlock unwillingly into conversation. Magnus watched in amusement as Alec absorbed any of the knowledge eagerly and hesitantly asked about combining the properties with adamas and what the potentials of it were. Unsurprisingly, the seller didn’t have much experience with it, but Magnus watched as Alec promised to document and bring information back and purchased several ingredients.
Once Alec had taken his hand again, Magnus chuckled. “Here, I thought I’d have to hold your hand through all of this.”
Alec shook his head. “This is just like Tokyo. I didn’t know anything there, be open and honest and questions do the rest.”
Magnus smiled in bemusement and let Alec lead them to the next booth further down the line.
~!~
Alec lost track of how many booths they had passed, but when he came across another, the sight of a lock caught his eye and he froze. He’d wandered a bit away from Magnus and now at the booth, he couldn’t help staring at the lock that looked almost identical to the one that they no longer had. He looked up at the seller and swallowed. “How much?”
“Not for sale, shadowhunter,” the seller said with a shake of his head. “Not even one as kind as yourself.”
Alec’s face fell and he stared at the lock. “May I touch it briefly? I have memories of a very similar lock.”
The warlock raised an eyebrow, but nodded readily enough. “No harm in that.”
Alec picked up the lock and traced his fingers along the edge and smiled at it. It was almost identical. “It’s beautiful craftsmanship. Thank you,” he added, putting the lock back down on the table, giving it one last glance before moving back towards Magnus.
He accepted a bag with a bottle of wine and took Magnus’ hand and started to stroll down the street again, looking around for whatever could catch his attention next.
The sound of skittering, one that Alec knew better than any other, caught his attention and he froze at Magnus’ side. His eyes flew to the alley on the other side of a group of children who were dancing and playing with ribbons and sparks of magic, and the Shax demon on the wall behind them.
Alec cursed his decision to abandon every single weapon he had and grabbed the wine bottle in the bag he was carrying that Magnus had decided to impulse buy. “Magnus, get the kids!”
He shoved past a warlock and a seelie who scowled at him, and swung the bottle, shattering the end of it against a booth, making a mess, before he threw the broken bottle at the Shax demon, watching it fall twitching to the ground as people started to shout.
Alec pushed two of the kids past him and towards Magnus and other adults and grabbed the still squirming Shax demon and ripped its stinger off, before stabbing it, watching it dissolve into ichor. He stood up and stepped into the alley. The sound of more skittering came and he narrowed his eyes, grabbing his stele with his free hand, quickly tracing as many runes as he could before four more Shax demons stepped out of the shadows.
“Alexander!” Magnus shouted, helping the teacher gather the kids and get them out of the way.
Alec looked over his shoulder at Magnus and shook his head, turning to face the demons again. The first Shax demon jumped at him and Alec ripped it in half with his bare hands, snarling at the others. The next two were dispatched with the stinger still clutched in his hand, but he’d lost sight of the fourth. Behind him, he heard a child scream and spun, the Shax demon ready to jump.
Alec leapt for it, grabbing it by the tail, shouting when the stinger sank into his arm, before he threw it back into the alley, dispatching it with the stinger he held a moment later. It looked like that was all of them, and he dropped the stinger he was holding, his hand that had been stung aching. He took a deep breath, trying to stay focused, and he shifted, turning to look at the crowd at the entrance to the alley, cradling his arm against his chest.
“Are,” he cleared his throat, hating how hoarse he sounded. “Are you all okay?”
“I believe that is the question we should be asking you, shadowhunter.”
Alec blinked, trying to focus on the woman in front of him. He hated how fast Shax venom could make you woozy. It was never enough to kill you, unless you were stung multiple times, but it was making it impossible to focus. “Magnus,” he managed, trying to tell her that he needed his husband.
“I’m here,” Magnus said a second later, reaching out for Alec’s hand. “I’m here, darling, let me.”
Alec sagged in relief, leaning into Magnus, pressing his face against his neck with a sigh, offering his hand up for healing. “Sorry ‘bout the wine...” he mumbled.
Magnus snorted and shook his head. “The wine is the least of my worries right now, Alexander.” He carefully pulled the venom out of Alec, piece by piece, and watched clarity return to Alec’s hazel eyes. “Are you injured anywhere else?”
Alec shook his head. “S’just Shax demons.”
“Shax demons that could have caused a lot more trouble had you not acted as quickly as you did, Lightwood,” a calm voice spoke. “Magnus, let me see this shadowhunter of yours.”
Alec blinked, bringing the older, regal woman into proper focus as Magnus healed him. He offered her a smile. “Couldn’t let the kids be hurt.”
“Not all of your kind would have acted in such a way,” she said.
Alec sighed and pushed his fingers through his hair. “I know. I’m working on it.”
She hummed and held out her hand, a small key shimmering to life. “A gift, and a thank you, for thinking of the children first, and your own safety last.” Watching him take it, she smiled widely and watched it disappear. “You will always find friends in the Shadow Markets across the world, Alec Lightwood.”
Alec watched her go and looked back to Magnus. “I get the feeling that I just impressed someone.”
“You did,” Magnus agreed. “She’s on the High Warlock Council.”
Alec blinked once and digested that. “The one that sits in the Spiral Labyrinth?”
“The very same,” Magnus agreed, turning to another warlock who had approached them with a raised eyebrow. “Everything all right Isaiah?”
“Here,” Isaiah said, thrusting the lock towards Alec.
Alec took it and blinked down at the sight of his and Magnus’ names on the back of it, running his thumbs over it carefully before up at the warlock. “Are you sure?”
“It belongs with you,” Isaiah said, nodding to Magnus before he turned and made his way back to his booth.
“What’s that?” Magnus asked, leaning closer to Alec. His eyes widened at the sight of the lock and his breath caught. “Alec...?”
Alec cleared his throat, glad that the crowd was starting to disperse from around them now that the excitement had died down and he showed Magnus the lock. “I thought...” he said, biting his lip. “You might like to put one back? New start as husbands?”
“I’d like that,” Magnus said, his voice soft, looking down at the lock. He stared up at Alec. “Shall we stop there before we head home for the day?”
Alec nodded and pocketed the lock, reaching out for Magnus’ hand, before he belated realized he was still covered in ichor. “Uh, little help?”
Magnus snorted. “Ah yes, we need to erase the evidence.” He winked at Alec and cleaned him with a wave of his fingers before taking his hand and giving it a squeeze. “Shall we head there now?”
“Yeah,” Alec said, rolling his shoulders and stretching before he followed Magnus through the portal that he summoned a second later. The sight of the LOVE sign made him grin and he stepped up next to Magnus, bumping their shoulders together. “At least you don’t need to be worried about the surprise this time.”
Magnus huffed and gave him a look. “You going to insist on putting the lock on again?”
“Of course!” Alec shot back, reaching out to take Magnus’ hand, bringing him closer to the LOVE sign, stealing a quick kiss. He surveyed it and raised his eyebrow at Magnus.
“Here,” Magnus said, pointing to an opening. “Right here, Alexander?”
“Looks great,” Alec agreed, hooking the lock and rubbing his fingers over their names before he clicked it shut.
A rush of wild, golden magic exploded from the lock, wrapping around the both of them.
Alec grabbed for Magnus’ hand, shouting for him, only to have his voice lost to the whirlwind around the both of them before it was abruptly sucked into both of their chests, leaving silence around them. He stared at Magnus in shock. “What, what was that, Magnus?”
Magnus stared in shock at Alec, at the golden thread he could see between the both of them. He could feel it now, Alec’s heartbeat beating next to his, their life force bound together. “It’s a soul bond,” he whispered, his eyes wide.
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Written for the Malec Anniversary Bash!! (Lots of prompts to fill still - bear with me!)
"Look at him. I'll die for him. I'll kill for him. Either way, what bliss."
HEY LOOK IT’S A RANDOM ASSASSINS/MURDER HUSBANDS AU. WHO WANTS IT?
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Magnus laughed, even as the gun against his temple pressed a little tighter. Watching Alec as he spun and ducked behind a table he'd kicked over only moments earlier, only to fire two shots and take down both of his assailants, it was beautiful. He was poetry in motion, every single fiber of his body, focused on one thing and one thing only.
"Careful, or you'll be dead before he gets anywhere near you," Jonathan growled into his ear.
Magnus smiled and leaned back to watch as Alexander picked up another gun and tucked it and extra magazines away into the hidden pockets of his suit. "Look at him. I'd happily die for him."
Jonathan snorted and pressed the gun tighter to Magnus' head. "You might get your wish unless he's brought me what I've asked for."
"That's your mistake," Magnus said with another grin. "Not only would I die for him, I'd kill for him. What bliss to be with a man like that."
Jonathan frowned and looked down at the way Magnus' hands were tied in front of him. "You're not going to be killing anyone."
Magnus hummed and waited for Alec to storm through the door, gun pointed directly at Jonathan and smiled. "Are you sure about that?"
"Of course I-"
Magnus didn't wait for him to finish, dropping his full weight onto Jonathan's arms, sending him pitching forward, his whole body swinging. He snapped the zip tie over his knees in a quick motion, ignoring the flare of pain and picked up the gun that had gone flying, giving Alec a sunny smile. "You put on a marvelous show, darling!"
Alec snorted and rolled his eyes. "You could have freed yourself hours ago. What, do you have a fantasy about me playing your white knight?"
"If I do, you're certainly ruining it," Magnus said with a huff, twirling the gun around his finger before clicking the safety off. He pointed it at Jonathan, who was staring at them in shock. "You think we didn't figure it out?"
"You kill me and you'll both have-"
"Oh we know," Alec interrupted, rolling his eyes. "You put the bounties on both of our heads, tried to turn us against each other, because you figured we were the only ones who could get close enough to each other."
Magnus laughed. "Well, he was right about that, darling. You certainly got closer than I was intending."
Alec's eyes glittered as he glanced towards Magnus. "Not my fault you have a danger kink."
"I don't think you're one to talk, mister I gave a blowjob with a knife at my throat," Magnus said, his pupils blown as he watched Alec's eyes go dark. "Now, what do you say we take care of things here?"
"Read my mind," Alec purred, shifting and firing a shot through Jonathan's knee, listening to him shout in pain, a smirk curled on his lips. He held out his phone. "Confess. Everything. Now. Or I'll show you the next seven places I can shoot you without you bleeding out, one by one."
Magnus shivered and grinned, waltzing towards Alec with his hips swaying. "I do love it when you use your gritty assassin voice, Alexander." When Alec gave him a look, Magnus zipped his lips and turned to face the scumbag son of the Morgenstern organization and raised his eyebrows.
"Go to hell," Jonathan spat, his hands pressed to the wound in his leg.
Magnus grinned and leaned up to steal a kiss from Alec, even as he pointed the gun downward and fired another shot through Jonathan's other kneecap. "We can keep ourselves very entertained while we wait," he teased, pressing in close to Alec, leaning in to lick a stripe up the tattoo not hidden by the collar of his suit.
Alec waited and watched Jonathan's face start to go pale. Good. He was realizing that there truly was no one coming to help him. "Notice a certain absence? I thought you might. You did make a mistake coming after both of us. I think you're realizing just how much."
Magnus groaned against Alec's neck, wrapping both of his arms around Alec's waist, shuddering against him. "That voice of yours does things to me," he breathed against Alec's neck, sucking a mark into the pale skin beside the tattoo, then another. The sound another bullet going off was accompanied by a groan of pain, and the quiet babble of a confession that would lead to their freedom.
While Alec secured the last needed piece of their plan for freedom, Magnus trailed his fingers along the belt Alec was wearing, shivering as he counted the knives Alec had strapped to him. He slowly slid one from its sheath and tucked it into his boot. "I'm going to use that knife to strip you bear as soon as we are home," he promised.
"We're done here," Alec growled. He tossed Jonathan's phone into the range of his hands and knelt down in front of him. "If you try to run, or do anything other than call an ambulance? You'll be dead before you see your next sunrise."
Magnus grinned and blew Jonathan a kiss, tucking the gun into his waistband before he skipped after Alec, twirling the knife between his fingers. “You did leave us some fun on the way out didn’t you?”
“You’ll see,” Alec said, pulling Magnus to him once the elevator doors closed behind him. He pressed the other man against the wall, dragging his eyes down the bloodstains on his shirt. “You’re all right?”
Magnus gasped and slowly wound his arms around Alec’s shoulders. “Alexander, are you worried about me?” He leaned up and teased his lips against Alec’s, grinning as he rolled his hips, showing Alec just how much he’d enjoyed that display of strength earlier.
“Tease,” Alec growled, stepping back as soon as the elevator hit the bottom floor, ignoring the pout from Magnus. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
Magnus pouted again and sauntered past Alec, tossing the knife in his hand. “I do hope you left me some of the fun, or maybe I’ll have to forgo the knife this evening.”
Alec lifted his arm and pointed just beyond Magnus, firing a single shot when a man came running around the corner. “I think I know you better than that, love.”
Magnus sighed happily, spinning around, Jonathan’s gun in his palm, aiming towards the guards coming for them. “I do love you, Alexander.”
For the Malec Anniversary bash (if ur still taking prompts) Alec is out running, passes by Magnus doing yoga/working out in front of his house, and promptly collides with a tree.
OH GOD I NEED THIS SO BADLY BECAUSE I AM SO HERE FOR BENDY MAGNUS AND ALEC BEING THE TALL RUNNING GOD MAGNUS LUSTS OVER PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
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Magnus was far from immune to the occasional ogling of handsome men when they decided to make a habit of running in front of his apartment. Mostly it was a passing fantasy, nothing more than an admiration for toned calves, or other body parts that he could catch glimpses of.
Except this one kept coming by. This one, with the dark black tattoos decorating his arms, chest, and back, kept coming by the building.
So, Magnus decided that it wouldn't be a horrible idea to move his workout to a similar time in the morning and take advantage of the grassy area in front of the building to do it. If only so he could get a better view.
Starting his yoga routine in the morning was exhausting, but he always made sure to reward himself with a coffee from across the street afterward. Magnus knew exactly how good he looked in his workout clothes, and he wasn't afraid to tip well so the baristas didn't take his flirting too seriously. (He was rather infatuated with Mr. Running Man, but he wasn't about to admit that to anyone else.)
The first day Magnus managed to be out, on time, and mid-routine before the man started to run by, he was in the middle of a pose, breathing out slowly, his eyes half-shut. He didn't realize he'd missed his favorite view until he caught sight of a sculpted back in nothing more than a tank top and running shorts, heading past the grass. He sighed longingly and decided there was no harm in staring at the way his ass flexed in those shorts if there was no one else around to judge him for it.
He glanced at his watch and made note of the time. 6:18am. Maybe Running Man was more consistent than he'd realized.
Magnus turned his attention back to his stretches and flowed into the next pose, exhaling slowly. Maybe if he got really good at the timing, he could make sure that he was in certain poses by the time Running Man came by. Couple that with the perfect outfit, well, he had no doubt that maybe he could at least garner a few additional moments of attention for himself.
The next morning was more of the same, though this time, Magnus saw Running Man coming by and took several extra seconds longer in a pose to let his eyes linger. Fuck. He was gorgeous, and he wanted to trace every single one of those tattoos with his mouth. How low did they go? The loose shorts today were a tease and Magnus let himself entertain the fantasy of pinning Running Man to a tree before dropping to his knees for the remainder of his work out.
No one had ever said he wasn't good at multitasking, after all.
On the third morning, Magnus was confident that he was going to pull this off. He'd managed to be outside a few minutes early, which meant he would be in the exact pose he wanted to be, he was wearing skin-tight leggings and a shirt that barely counted as one. Of course, in that exact moment that he was about to shift into downward-facing dog, Running Man turned the corner. Magnus froze, his eyes locked on him.
He was shirtless.
He was shirtless, his chest was sculpted by the gods, and fuck that chest hair had no right to look that goddamn attractive, and those abs-
Magnus' body made it known that he was not supposed to be lingering in this specific pose for as long as he was in a very abrupt second. A yelp escaped him and he fell down to his knees, his thigh cramping rather painfully as he curled up on the grass, hurriedly massaging the muscle in pain. "Ow, ow, ow, ow, fuck," he muttered to himself.
He looked up, hoping to catch one last glimpse of Running Man before he turned the corner, only to find the man standing a few feet away, a concerned look on his face. Magnus blinked, his eyes tracing a bead of sweat as it trailed down Running Man's abs before he yanked his eyes up to meet the amused expression of the other man. "Uh, I'm fine?" he croaked, his voice hoarse.
Running Man gave him a nod and a bright smile before turning to head down his path. Magnus waited until he was positive the bastard was out of earshot before flopping dramatically back on the grass. "Fuck," he swore, groaning as he pressed his hands to his face. On one hand, though, it didn't seem like Running Man had minded him staring a fucking hole in him.
Magnus let his hands flop to the ground and hummed. "Huh," he whispered. "Well, I think I can work with that. Fourth time's the charm, right? Right."
The next morning, it rained. Magnus groaned and huddled on his porch under an umbrella. He wasn't going to risk getting sick, even with a chance to seduce Running Man, so here he was, standing, hoping for a glimpse because he knew that Running Man didn't care about the weather.
Soon enough, like clockwork, Running Man turned the corner, jogging towards the grass patch. Magnus sighed and leaned against his banister, uncaring of how wet his sweatpants and shirt were getting. Except then Running Man was stopping in front of the grass, staring at it, and if Magnus wasn't entirely mistaken, it looked like he was frowning. Then he was looking up, and Magnus froze as he realized Running Man had spotted him and was waving.
A whimper escaped him as he waved back, and he watched Running Man resume his jog down the sidewalk. His heart was pounding as he chewed on his lip. Had Running Man been looking for him, just as much? Magnus groaned and pushed his fingers through his hair before nodding. Okay, maybe that was the case. Which meant he had to be ready for tomorrow.
Day five of operation 'Ogle the fuck and maybe seduce the Running Man' dawned bright and sunny. Magnus grinned at the first hints of light, not a cloud in the sky. His stomach twisted in anticipation and he had to keep himself from running downstairs too early. Once the timing was right, he got himself settled on his mat and moving through the different yoga exercises. When the time got close, Magnus took off his shirt, the heat of the sun already starting to make him sweat.
Between the lack of shirt and the short gym shorts, he was wearing, well. Not much, by definition. Magnus was well-aware he wasn't playing fair, but he wasn't about to lose whatever game they were playing. Once he caught sight of a brief flash of familiar chest hair on display, Magnus shifted into downward-facing dog, spreading his legs just a little bit more than he usually needed to. He forced himself to breathe through the stretch, right at the same time that he heard a 'THUD' followed by loud cursing.
Magnus moved out of the pose and stood up, turning around, only to see Running Man on the ground, a tree in front of him. He blinked and put two and two together, taking a few steps towards him before he started laughing. "Did you just..."
The glower he got in response only made him start laughing harder and Magnus was bent over nearly in half before he managed to offer a hand to Running Man, to help him stand up.
"That was your fault, I refuse to take any blame for it."
Magnus raised his eyebrows and let his eyes drift down the pale skin and dark tattoos on that bare chest before meeting the eyes of Running Man again. "Uh-huh. Just like you running shirtless was entirely unplanned, right?"
Running Man gave an innocent smile. "You didn't pull anything, did you?"
Magnus narrowed his eyes. "Just like you didn't break anything, I'm sure?"
Running Man snorted. "Nothing other than my pride." He held out his hand and offered a smile. "Alexander, uh, Alec, Lightwood."
Magnus took his hand and shook it, doing his best not to shiver and dream of those long fingers and exactly what they could be used for. "Magnus Bane, and it's a pleasure, Alexander." He grinned and winked at Alec. "I'm a big fan of the early morning scenery, as one might say, and I daresay you are as well?"
Alec rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Is that what you're calling it?"
Magnus simply raised his eyebrows. "I'm not the one who just ran into a tree because they were...distracted, darling."
Alec sputtered. "You're, you're barely wearing anything! I couldn't, I mean, fuck, you were-"
"Attempting to tease you and pay you back for running around with that tantalizing chest of yours on display?" Magnus asked, keeping his voice innocent. "Maybe, yes."
Alec's eyes narrowed and he raised a challenging eyebrow. "Oh really? And what were you planning to do if I fell for said teasing and payback?"
"I'd tell you that you could see me wearing nothing and that my shower is more than big enough for the both of us," Magnus teased, winking at Alec. He turned and headed towards where he'd left his yoga mat, bending over to put his ass on display for Alec again before he stood up, the mat under his arm. Alec was still staring, a glazed look in his eyes and Magnus grinned, pleased. "If you want, of course."
"Fuck," Alec whispered, walking towards Magnus. "Uh, I'm not small? You sure your shower can fit me?"
Magnus let his eyes trail down Alexander's body slowly, deliberately, before he licked his lips and watched those eyes darken. "Believe me, I have noticed. And I look forward to seeing just how well you fit into my shower."
Alec stopped in front of Magnus and stared down at him, his eyes tracing that plump lower lip before he reached up and pressed his thumb to it. "Might have to borrow a change of clothes," he whispered. "I'm sure you wouldn't mind, would you? Me parading around in your clothes?"
Magnus gave a shaky inhale, groaning against the thumb pressing into his lip. "Well, someone's giving as good as they get."
"We'll see, won't we?" Alec teased, grinning. "Wanna lead the way to your apartment?"
Magnus grabbed Alec's hand and started to tug him inside. "Don't worry, I have to make sure you finish your work out, after all."
