Alec didn’t reply but stepped towards him, a small smile on his face.
He stretched out his hand, “may I have this dance?”
---
my interpretation of the dance scene we're getting in 3b
---
The loft was glowing, golden light pooling in through the windows, illuminating the drapes causing the atmosphere to appear hazy with the soft glow. It was completely silent, no noise from the street, not even the buzz of electricity from the lights. Everything seemed… empty. Like there was nothing else in the world apart from the room he was standing in and the golden light outside.
Magnus looked around, slightly dazed, taking in his surroundings. There was nothing, his usual furniture and belongings gone, leaving a vast empty space.
Magnus turned and walked slowly towards the windows, the light so bright he could see nothing beyond it. He paused taking it in for a moment, the light not hurting his eyes but instead making him feel warm, safe and secure. Just as he reached out a hand to draw back the drapes to try and see beyond, a warm, familiar voice, which always made his heart skip a beat when he heard it, suddenly broke the silence.
“Magnus.”
He turned around, startled. In what moments ago was an empty space, stood Alec. His Alexander. He seemed calm, yet confident, his posture relaxed and a contented look on his face. It certainly wasn’t a state he usually found Alec in, with the stress of dealing with his family and running the institute.
“Alexander,” he said softly, his voice sounding strange against the complete silence surrounding them both, “what’s happening?”
Alec didn’t reply but stepped towards him, a small smile on his face.
He stretched out his hand, “may I have this dance?” he asked, his voice calm and cool almost blending into the atmosphere of the loft.
Magnus’ breath hitched, “what?” he asked, surprise clear on his face.
Alec simply smiled again and stretched his hand out further.
“May I have this dance?” he repeated.
Magnus paused for a second, his gaze drifting down to Alec’s outstretched hand and then back to meet his gaze.
Alec’s hazel eyes were locked on his, not wavering for a second.
Magnus took a deep breath and took his lover’s hand.
Alec drew him closer, entwining their fingers together, his other arm circling around Magnus’ waist, their bodies pressed together.
Magnus wasn’t actually sure when they started moving, or when the music started playing, but it didn’t matter as he was in Alec’s arms moving gently around the loft together in time to the music, Alec’s gaze not breaking from Magnus’ once.
“What’s brought this on then Alexander?” he asked, “it’s not particularly something I would’ve thought you would ever suggest. You’re certainly more a warrior than a dancer.”
Alec smiled again and it sent a jolt of warmth and happiness through Magnus’ stomach and he couldn’t help but smile in response.
“You love dancing,” he replied simply, “and I love you.”
Magnus stopped, his smile turning into a look of contented disbelief. He leaned forward and captured Alec’s mouth with his, Alec responding gently.
“You never cease to amaze me,” Magnus whispered when they broke apart, just as he had done when Alec had kissed him for the first time what seemed like a lifetime ago.
Alec smiled once more before wordlessly stepping backwards pulling Magnus with him and beginning to move them both in time to the music again.
The music began to move faster and Alec and Magnus moved with it with ease, as if they had done this thousands of times before.
It seemed that Magnus had never felt as contented as he did in this moment, close and intimate, dancing in his loft with the love of his life, the only two people in the world. Him and Alexander. He never wanted this to end, the way they moved together in sync, their bodies moving as one, their lungs and heart beating together in time, as if they were bonded together for eternity.
Magnus spun round with the music, Alec pulling him in, passing him from one arm to the other before pulling him round into his arms and dipping him down, his grip firm but gentle.
He stopped then, holding Magnus in place and gazing down at him, as if catching his breath for a moment before pulling him back up and holding him close, their bodies pressed close together as if Alec never wanted to let him go.
“You’re beautiful,” he breathed out to him, ever sincere, “you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen Magnus.”
Before Magnus could reply, Alec pulled him in capturing his mouth with a gentle kiss.
They stayed like that for a few moments still swaying slightly with the music before breaking apart, Alec pressing his forehead against Magnus’.
“I love you more than anything Magnus.”
Magnus pressed their heads together further, squeezing his eyes shut, taking in the very essence of his boyfriend. “I love you too Alexander,” he responded, “more than anything.”
There was a beat of silence between them, just the soft sounds of the music flowing around them as they swayed together, broken then by Alec taking a deep breath.
“You have to come back to me,” he whispered as they swayed, “you have to come back I can’t lose you Magnus.”
Magnus lifted his head away and looked into Alec’s eyes confused.
“What do you mean? I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere.” He said gently.
Alec smiled at him again but this time, he had an unbelievable amount of pain and sadness in his eyes. He brought his hand up to Magnus’ cheek gently caressing it, before taking a deep breath.
“This isn’t real Magnus, you’re dying.”
Magnus blinked in surprise.
“What? Alec I’m not dying, look at me I’m fine.” He said, grasping Alec’s hand with his own in reassurance as a tear started to fall down Alec’s face.
“No Magnus,” he whispered “look around you, can’t you feel it? None of this is real.”
Magnus took a step back, “No” he said.
“You’re dying Magnus, you have to realise that, to feel it.”
Magnus stepped back again looking frantically around the loft, the light starting feel suffocating.
“You have to fight it. You have to help us save you.”
Magnus brought his hand to his face, his hand coming away with blood.
“But…” he whispered as blood continued to trickle down from his nose, “I don’t…”
“You have to fight it Magnus,” Alec urged stepping forward and gripping Magnus’ arms. “Please, I’m begging you have to fight this, you have to wake up. I’m not losing you. I won’t.”
Magnus stumbled backwards. His vision blurring, the golden glow of the loft becoming more and more intense, swallowing up its surroundings. High pitched ringing and distorted sounds suddenly pierced through the silence, causing Magnus to grip his hands to his head in pain.
“Alexander…”
“You have to fight it!”
“Come on Magnus, I know you can do this…”
“Fight it Magnus!”
“…whose voice is that?”
“I can’t lose you.”
“Is it working? Please….”
“Catarina…”
The golden glow was turning to a deep blue. It felt like it was burning him from the inside out, hurting him, destroying him and at the same time soothing him, making him feel complete. Magnus turned his gaze back to Alec, horrified to him fading away into the blue.
“No…” he said weakly, the rest of the loft dissolving around him until there was nothing but this burning blue light, the last words of his vision of Alec ringing out once more, “I love you Magnus, you have to fight this.”
“It’s working!”
The blue turned to darkness.
“Magnus!”
A gasp and a jolt of pain, Catarina exhaling a breath she didn’t seem to know she was holding before slumping down in relief. His vision suddenly filled with Alec’s face, worried, scared and tearstained. Alec clasping his face between his hands, saying something he could quite hear, sounds fading in and out, but still detecting the pain Alexander was feeling.
“…you’re okay…”
“…we need to get him to the infirmary…”
Everything hurt, his vision becoming distorted once more. He felt strong, familiar hands gripping him and pulling him upwards.
Alec slows his pace, shortens his stride and tries to make the evening last just a little longer. On impulse he reaches for Magnus' hand stalling them beside a bench.
"Can we just... sit for a while?" Alec hears himself ask. They're only a few blocks from Magnus' loft and Alec knows once they get there the date and this moment will be over.
Magnus tilts his head slightly, his free hand lifting to rest on Alec's arm and a smile, just the playful side of smug, teases his lips. Alec has a moment to think about darting forward to taste those lips.
"Of course, Alexander." Warmth spreads through Magnus' chest at Alec's request.
When Jace had interrupted their second date, Magnus had declared that he was taking Alec out before the clave had to come and arrest him for killing Alec's brother and though the date had been borne of frustration, it had blossomed into something entirely unique and surprisingly splendid.
They'd eaten, drawing out their deserts and final drinks until the waiter had begun to hover, clearly ready to close up for the night. Alec had suggested it was a nice evening for a walk and Magnus had agreed, neither ready to say goodnight just yet.
The air is crisp as they sit, Magnus' shoulder pressed up against Alec's, the conversation somehow sliding into a lull. Dusk is beginning to settle in and the usual quiet that accompanies it is broken, filled with laughter as Alec notices a group of kids on the playground across the way. They seem to be challenging each other to swing higher and higher before daring each other to jump.
"That looks like fun." Alec observes, partially to break the hush that has fallen between them, the rest in honest wonder.
"Ah, yes." Magnus' hand lies on Alec's thigh, thumb stroking subconsciously against the fabric there and it sends little shocks of pleasure through Alec's body. "Swings were my favourite as child. Though, mine was merely made of rope and wood. They've built them much sturdier in your day."
Alec can't help the frown that etches into his brow as Magnus talks, doesn't even really notice it until Magnus continues to speak, body shifting subtly towards Alec.
"We discussed this." Magnus starts, beginning to feel unsure of the way Alec is reacting to him talking about his past. Worried that it may remind Alec that not so long ago he thought that maybe they were too different. "That we both are who we are. That we were-"
"It's not that." Alec cuts in, remembering their disaster of a first date. He sighs before turning to face Magnus and admitting. "I've never been on the swings."
Shock spreads across Magnus' face, he opens his mouth to speak but Alec carries on before he can begin.
"Growing up as a shadowhunter is-" he pauses searching for the right word to explain this "-different." That's not it.
"But surely." Magnus adds, genuine disbelief in his voice.
"I was never really one for breaking the rules, I was always doing what was needed, expected." The nothing for myself hangs unspoken between them. "Until recently." Until you Alec almost admits but it gets lodged somewhere in his throat. These feelings, this idea that he can have this is all too big and too new.
Then Magnus is shifting, standing, holding out a hand for Alec in a silent gesture and Alec takes it without hesitation.
Alec notices the kids have left, that the park is quiet and empty as they move through the gate. When they reach the swings, Magnus gestures for Alec to sit, before walking around him, their hands clasped together on the chains.
"Do you trust me, Alexander?" Magnus' breath is a whisper at his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Yes." It's such a simple truth given so easily.
"Better hold on." and then Magnus is pulling the swing slowly backwards, Alec's feet lifting off the ground, his hands clenched around the chains.
Without warning Alec feels himself falling forward, remembers to lift his legs out in front of himself the way he saw the kids do earlier. As the forward momentum slows he curls his legs beneath him pushing himself just a little higher before the direction changes and he swings backwards. Magnus pushes him forward once more, then, satisfied Alec has grasped the idea, he takes his own swing.
Alec kicks his legs more forcefully as Magnus joins him, feels the air brushing past his face as he rushes forward, higher, higher, before hanging there just for a moment, time itself feeling like it's halted and then his weight shifts and he's falling. He feels a lightness building inside of him, a kind of giddy glee bubbling out in laughter as he turns his head to look at Magnus.
That sound. It's so pure and innocent. Almost like a child's and it lights something inside of Magnus. He'd called Alec that before, innocent, and he realises he wants all of this, wants to witness Alec see the world for the first time. Wants to show him all the simple wonders, like the freedom of swinging in a playground in the dark.
"Bet I can go higher." Alec challenges.
"Okay?" Magnus raises an eyebrow, his own laughter ringing out. It's years since he did this, possibly a decade or two.
Alec Appreciation Weeks: Week Three (Missing Scene)
Inspired by this amazing fan art by @phildrawsfanart. It made me feel all the feels, so I had to write them down. Missing scene from 2x20.
“I … I can’t feel him …
… .
He’s dead.”
With that last devastating word, Alec felt his weight bear down on his legs. He fought through the buckling sensation radiating through his knees. He turned around to face the door. He began to stumble out of the room to drown in his grief alone. Magnus’ arms reached around from behind and pulled Alec tight against him. Alec leaned into Magnus’ embrace, abandoning his quest to flee; his legs gave out and he slumped.
Magnus went down to the floor with him, settling with Magnus holding Alec’s upper body tight against his. Magnus’ knees pulled in toward him and his thighs hugged either side of Alec’s outstretched legs providing support .
Alec’s body shook. “We have to go to him,” Alec managed to get out. “We must recover his …” A sob cut off his sentence.
“Shhhhh, Alexander, "Magnus whispered. "We will. We will go to him. But not yet. You cannot go around or ignore this grief. You must face it. Confront it here and now. Then, when you’re ready, we will get up and walk through it together.” Magnus began to rock gently still holding Alec tight.
Magnus hummed soothingly in his ear. Alec stilled, his heartbeat began to slow, and his body stopped shaking.
With steady words, Alec confidently declared, “I’m ready.”
Magnus slide his arms from around Alec giving his grieving love the space to rise to his feet on his own.
Alec extended a hand down to Magnus. “Thank you,” Alec said.
“You’re welcome,” replied Magnus, taking Alec’s hand and letting him pull him up. “Now, let’s go get your parabatai.”
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Alec Appreciation Weeks: Week Two (Malec)
Summary: Magnus has a serious flower emergency. Or is it about the flowers? What is the real reason Magnus is so worked up? Hint: Not the flowers.
Words: 942
“Alexander!” Magnus’ voice carried from the other room. “Get in here. I need your help!"
Alec ran into the living room. He scanned the scene searching for the threat. Searching for the cause of Magnus’ panicked cry. All he saw was Magnus facing away from him, shifting his weight back and forth, arms gesturing wildly. Magnus was clearly distressed. Alec cautiously moved closer to see what Magnus was looking at. As he moved next to Magnus he saw the source of Magnus’ focus and frustration.
Strewn about a small oval topped table was a multitude of flowers of various kinds and colors. In the center of the table sat a blue vase. Magnus was putting flowers in the vase and taking them out again with frantic movements. "Alexander!” Magnus yelled, tilting his head up and back so his voice would carry farther behind him. Magnus abruptly stilled when he saw Alec standing next to him.
Alec’s eyes went wide, and his lips pursed. “What is happening here?"
"The arrangement is all wrong! I have tried every combination possible. None of them were right.” Magnus said with a pleading look in his eyes.
“Not every combination. There’s like a hundred flowers here. A bouquet is, what, 30 flowers?” Alec pointed out hoping a reduction in hyperbole could help diffuse Magnus’ distress.
“I know! And yes, all of them! And, no, 18 to 20.” Magnus turned his frantic attention on the flowers he gripped tightly in his hands. He held up the yellow tulip in his left hand. Then the red rose in his right. Then left. Then right. Then left. Then …
Alec calmly placed a hand on Magnus’ arm. Magnus stilled. Alec smiled and gently took the rose from Magnus and carefully placed it front and center in the arrangement. Magnus watched him intently. Alec fluffed the arrangement. He then pulled the center flower up slightly. Alec took a step back.
Magnus looked between the flowers ad Alec and back again. Alec waited patiently, but also a bit anxiously.
“It’s perfect.” Magnus said as he spun toward Alec and embraced him in a tight hug.
Alec released his breath and his shoulders relaxed. Crisis handled. “So what was this all about? What do you need perfect flowers for?”
Magnus smiled, his demeanor calmer now, and placed a hand on the small of Alec’s back. “Don’t you worry about that. Now let me finish up in here. You go back to whatever you were doing.” Magnus charismatically directed as he led Alec into the next room.
“I…um..what…why…ok…” Alec was still trying to work out what exactly was happening when the door to the study closed with him inside and Magnus still outside. Alec busied himself with a stack of backlogged reports he had brought home to work on. He was occasionally distracted by the clanging of pots and pans, or the sound of utensils hitting the floor. Each time he pushed his curiosity aside and refocused on his work.
An hour and a half later, Alec looked up when he heard the door open. Magnus stood in the doorway. “Alexander, dinner is served my love.”
Alec looked at Magnus. “I recognize that outfit.”
“That’s impressive. I’ve only worn it once,” Magnus said.
“Yes but you wore it when you crashed my wedding. I remember,” Alec said as he walked toward Magnus.
“I like to think of it as my, our-first-kiss outfit. But you know, open to interpretation I guess.” Magnus smirked at Alec as he ushered him out into the living room.
The perfect flower arrangement sat in the middle of the dining room table surrounded by an elegant candle lit diner. Loose petals matching the flowers in the arrangement spiraled in the air above the table.
Alec took in the sight, and a thought clicked. “You did this. I mean, you did by hand. Not magic.”
“Well the floating flower petals are magic.” Magnus pointed out.
“Magnus. This. This is amazing.”
“Alexander. You are amazing.” Magnus got out shakily. Alec’s gaze locked on Magnus, his curiosity piqued by Magnus’ uncharacteristic difficulty with words. Magnus continued, “Alexander, I know this is a lot. This is big. I don’t expect an answer right away. I have detailed everything in writing . Here.” He produced a scroll from behind his back and presented it to Alec to take.
Alec stared at him, unmoving. His instincts turning his confusion into wariness.
“Alexander, take it, please.”
Alec took the parchment. “What is this?”
“It is a contract. It is my understanding that for Shadowhunters this kind of union is contractual in nature. And while we obviously buck all Shadowhunter traditions with our pairing, I thought I could honor as much as I could. So I have articulated what I thought our union would look like, in writing.”
Alec waited for the long winded, slightly meandering, speech to conclude before whispering his question. “Union?”
“Yes.” Magnus took a deep breath, and then gently took a hold of Alec’s hand. “Alexander Lightwood, will you marry me?”
“Yup. Yes. Absolutely. That. I want that. Married. To you. I want that.” Alec’s babbling was silenced by Magnus’ lips crashing down on his.
Magnus pulled away slowly with a huge smile on his face. “I am open to negotiating the contract once you’ve had a chance to read it.”
Alec was delighted by Magnus’ gesture of respect for his culture. Alec threw the parchment over his shoulder. “I’m sure it’s quit the textual accomplishment, but I say we wing it. That’s your tradition, isn’t it?” Alec interrupted Magnus’ adoring look by pulling Magnus to him and kissing his fiancé deeply.
Alec woke up gently remembering his surroundings to be Magnus' loft as consciousness came back to him. He flopped his arm behind him seeking to playfully tap Magnus. When his arm hit empty bed, his eyes flew open and he sat up searching the room. As quickly as the fear and confusion came it dispersed as he heard the music paying low in the next room.
Alec took the top sheet with him as he slid out of bed. The sheet trailed behind him as he followed the music into the living room. He had expected to see Magnus meditating or practicing his magic. Instead he saw Magnus sprawled out along the length of a dozen colorful decorative pillows. Magnus' eyes were glinting playful and inviting.
"What is this?" Alec asked.
"Breakfast." Magnus answered simply, and waved his hand to reveal a tray with two plates--one with a tall stack of blueberry pancakes and the other piled high with bacon--and a multitude of glasses and mugs covering a variety of beverages from orange juice to coffee.
Alec smiled and his perfect posture relaxed just a bit. Alec let go of the sheet and let it pool around his feet. He stepped out from the center of the pile and crawled over the sea of pillows until he was laying next to Magnus, propped up on one elbow facing his boyfriend. He used his free hand to grab a piece of bacon, enjoying his breakfast with his head lazily resting on Magnus' shoulder.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 4/?
Fandom: 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys | BTS, Shadowhunters (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jeon Jungkook/Park Jimin, Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood, Clary Fray/Jace Wayland, Simon Lewis/Isabelle Lightwood
Characters: Jeon Jungkook, Park Jimin, Magnus Bane, Alec Lightwood, Jace Wayland, Clary Fray, Isabelle Lightwood, Simon Lewis, possibly others - Character, Catarina Loss
Additional Tags: Crossover, I have to keep the cast small, shadowhunter Jungkook, Warlock Jimin, High Warlock of Brooklyn Magnus Bane, Highly Experimental, Not sure where things are going quite yet, Only my second BTS fic and my first AU, pink hair jimin, Magnus the Mentor, JK the Smartass, Might See Other BTS Members In Various Roles, #Malec, #jikook, #kookmin, #Clace, #Sizzy, Canon What Canon, AU Where Only Stuff I Like Happens
Summary:
Sometime in the uncertain near future, New York, New York:
Park Jimin is a warlock -- one of the most powerful seen in many years (except Magnus, of course). When Jimin's magic gets out of control with some embarrassing results for the Seoul Institute, he is exiled to New York to be "fixed" by the reinstated High Warlock of Brooklyn.
Naturally, Magnus doesn't mind. He likes to mentor lost Downworlders, especially softhearted, lost warlocks like Park Jimin.
Meanwhile, poor Alec, who is already in a tizzy about Jimin's "dangerous" presence at Magnus' place, has an unwanted Korean import of his own: a cocky, super-talented Shadowhunter named Jeon Jungkook. When Alec is forced by his mocking family to take the jerk to see Magnus for a magical matter, it's a double nightmare for the Head of the New York Institute and sets events in motion that none of them could have foreseen.
But not for Jungkook and Jimin. Will Malec history be repeated with the pink-haired Warlock and the arrogant Shadowhunter? Or will something happen with Jimin's magic that destroys them all?
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 3/?
Fandom: 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys | BTS, Shadowhunters (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jeon Jungkook/Park Jimin, Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood, Clary Fray/Jace Wayland, Simon Lewis/Isabelle Lightwood
Characters: Jeon Jungkook, Park Jimin, Magnus Bane, Alec Lightwood, Jace Wayland, Clary Fray, Isabelle Lightwood, Simon Lewis, possibly others - Character, Catarina Loss
Additional Tags: Crossover, I have to keep the cast small, shadowhunter Jungkook, Warlock Jimin, High Warlock of Brooklyn Magnus Bane, Highly Experimental, Not sure where things are going quite yet, Only my second BTS fic and my first AU, pink hair jimin, Magnus the Mentor, JK the Smartass, Might See Other BTS Members In Various Roles, #Malec, #jikook, #kookmin, #Clace, #Sizzy, Canon What Canon, AU Where Only Stuff I Like Happens
Summary:
Sometime in the uncertain near future, New York, New York:
Park Jimin is a warlock -- one of the most powerful seen in many years (except Magnus, of course). When Jimin's magic gets out of control with some embarrassing results for the Seoul Institute, he is exiled to New York to be "fixed" by the reinstated High Warlock of Brooklyn.
Naturally, Magnus doesn't mind. He likes to mentor lost Downworlders, especially softhearted, lost warlocks like Park Jimin.
Meanwhile, poor Alec, who is already in a tizzy about Jimin's "dangerous" presence at Magnus' place, has an unwanted Korean import of his own: a cocky, super-talented Shadowhunter named Jeon Jungkook. When Alec is forced by his mocking family to take the jerk to see Magnus for a magical matter, it's a double nightmare for the Head of the New York Institute and sets events in motion that none of them could have foreseen.
But not for Jungkook and Jimin. Will Malec history be repeated with the pink-haired Warlock and the arrogant Shadowhunter? Or will something happen with Jimin's magic that destroys them all?
