Malec Moments

The Magnificent Magnus Bane

"I've been thinking, Magnus," Alec began, looking across the couch at his boyfriend, who had his nose buried in a book. Alec was perusing Magnus's comic books, not paying attention to them when an idea struck him.

"Oh?" was Magnus's reply.

"Yeah. It's been a long time since the Magnificent Magnus Bane had a party in the loft," Alec said, turning to face Magnus full on.

Magnus lowered his book, studying Alec thoughtfully. "And why do you think that is?"

Alec shrugged. "Well, we were busy with Valentine and Sebastian at first. But everything has been relatively quiet for a while. I'm surprised you haven't already thrown one."

Magnus shook his head, a response Alec was familiar with, one that usually indicated Alec had said or done something stupid. Alec didn't know what it could be though. Magnus's parties were famous, he'd heard about them even before he'd met Magnus.

"Why do you think I had those parties, Alec?" Magnus said, still studying Alec, making him feel as if he were in school and his final grade depended on this answer.

"I don't know," Alec said hesitantly, "because you like to dress up and have fun?"

Magnus shook his head again. "No. I threw parties because I was bored…and lonely. Most of the time, it was an excuse to…well, you know…hook up with someone. I was looking for company, even if it wasn't real." He looked away, briefly, then smiled at Alec. "I'm not looking anymore."

"Oh," Alec said, suddenly feeling very warm. "I guess not."

Magnus's head tilted slightly as he gazed, contemplatively, at Alec. "Do you want to have a party?"

"Well, I thought, maybe…I mean, maybe it would help Simon with his training if he were introduced to some Downworlders."

Magnus snorted. "Simon didn't have much fun at the last party of mine. I distinctly remember him turning into a rat."

Alec chuckled. "Well, yes, but he needs to be exposed to other aspects of the Shadow World, don't you think? He can't go around thinking that all warlocks are like you and all werewolves are like Luke and Maia. He needs to be able to recognize others, and not just from a book. He needs to understand that, as a Shadowhunter, you can't always trust people."

Magnus's eyes narrowed. "You can't always trust Downworlders, you mean?" There was an edge to his voice that took Alec by surprise. He certainly hadn't meant to offend Magnus.

"No, well, yes, but-" Alec spluttered.

"Which is it? No, or yes, Alexander," Magnus said coldly.

Alec was shaking his head. "You don't understand what I mean. I'm just saying that if the only Downworlders Simon has experience with are you and Luke, he's going to think they can all be trusted, and someone will take advantage of him."

Magnus still looked angry. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, mutinously. Alec slide across the couch and laid his hand on Magnus's arm. Magnus didn't move away, he never moved away from Alec, no matter how mad Alec made him.

"I was thinking about Camille, and how she treated me. And of how Raphael wanted to kill Simon when he was a vampire. Downworlders don't like us Nephilim, we both know that. I wasn't trying to offend you, Magnus. I'm sorry if I did."

Magnus's anger ebbed, and a sheepish look overtook his face. "Oh," he said. "Well, if you want to have a party, for Simon, I guess we can."

A small grin played at Alec's lips. "As part of his training."

Unable to help himself, a grin spread across Magnus's face, too. He could never stay mad at Alec for long. "As part of his training," he agreed.

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Magnus had been adamant about selecting Alec's clothing for the party. As a result, Alec was dressed in tight, and uncomfortable, dark jeans, and a brilliant blue fitted shirt that Magnus had exclaimed, "Matches your eyes perfectly, Alec!" Alec had flat refused to let Magnus apply glitter to his hair and was defiantly wearing his favorite boots. He also had a small dagger tucked into a hidden pouch on his waistband. No matter how he had tried to placate Magnus, Alec didn't trust Downworlders outside of Magnus, and most of Luke's pack. He certainly didn't trust Faeries or vampires and was not about to have them in his home without being armed.

Magnus, disheartened by Alec's refusal of glitter, had used liberal amounts of the stuff on himself. It seemed to cover every inch of the warlock, his spiked hair, his stylishly tattered shirt and left a trail of sparkling dust in his wake as he crossed the room to let in their first guests.

Magnus threw on an award-winning smile and opened the door wide. "Oh, it's just you," he said morosely at the sight of Jace, Clary, Simon, and Isabelle.

"Now, Magnus, you know it's not a party until I get here," said Jace cheerfully.

There was a loud, thumping bass beat in the background as the group made their way into the apartment. The apartment, itself, was dressed like a 1970's disco club, complete with shag carpet, a disco ball and strobe light that made everyone's movements look jerky. The brightly colored, fuzzy furniture added to the effect.

Magnus didn't even have time to shut the door before a large group of people pushed their way into the apartment. The group was a mixture of Fair Folk, faeries, pixies and the like, and was closely followed by numerous vampires. Several werewolves entered next, and Alec recognized Maia and her boyfriend, Bat, among the group.

Maia and Bat fought their way through the ever-increasing crowd to the table where Alec was standing with the others. Isabelle was advising Simon about the drink choices, reminding him that many of the drinks were spiked with something. Alec suppressed a laugh as he thought about Simon turning into a rat.

Magnus had been able to restore many of Simon's memories, but not all, as he was afraid Asmodeus would notice large chunks of Simon's memories missing. He had given Simon enough to remember who each of his friends was and some details about their adventures, but the group, itself, had been given the task of filling in the missing pieces.

"See this blue one, Simon," Isabelle was saying, holding up a glass of blue liquid. "Don't drink this. It turned you into a rat last time."

Simon looked ghastly. He absently touched his face and chest, as if making sure he wasn't currently a rat. Alec shook his head and looked away, grinning.

Jace sauntered up to them, holding what looked like a piece of a sickly green cookie and taking a generous bite of it. "This is faerie food. I wouldn't recommend eating it, you may not be able to handle the results," he said with a grin.

Alec hid a laugh. He knew whatever Jace was eating wasn't faerie food. Jace was laughing. Clary didn't seem to think it was funny though.

"Jace, we're supposed to be helping Simon learn, not teasing him!"

"I was helping Simon learn!" Jace said with mock indignation. "He needs to learn that faerie food can be dangerous!"

"But that's not faerie food," Clary scoffed. "It's a piece of an avocado!"

Everyone laughed at that. Jace shrugged, unabashed.

Isabelle was now pointing out various creatures to Simon in hushed tones. At least, that's what Alec thought she was doing. He moved closer to Jace and said, "Avocado? Really?"

"You said you wanted him to know he couldn't trust anyone," Jace said with a grin.

"I think he's already learned not to trust you," said Alec.

Izzy let out a high-pitched squeal. "I love this song!" she shouted as she grabbed Simon's arm and dragged him onto the makeshift dance floor. A melee of bodies was writhing and thrashing about under the disco lights. The strobe light gave their movements an almost robotic look.

"Isn't this the point where Izzy let Simon get turned into a rat last time?" said Alec.

"I believe it is," said Magnus. He had snuck up behind them without either of them realizing it, which was quite a feat with Shadowhunters, and was now wrapping his arms around Alec's waist. "Perhaps we should pay closer attention to him this time." Magnus inclined his head toward the dance floor.

Alec sighed and let Magnus lead him into the crowd of bodies. Alec and Magnus danced to a snappy disco beat, Alec throwing his head back and laughing, enjoying himself and the contact his body kept making with Magnus. He suddenly felt an odd sensation, his body freezing as his eyes narrowed toward the refreshment table.

"Spidey-senses tingling?" Magnus asked with a grin.

"Look," he replied, jerking his head toward the table.

Simon and Isabelle had returned to the refreshment table and had drinks in their hands. A group of four or five vampires had suddenly surrounded them. Izzy looked angry, but Simon's expression was fear.

"I think we better check this out," said Magnus, leading Alec away from the dancing.

As they approached the table, they overheard one of the vampires saying, "You sure are pretty, aren't you?"

"That's my sister you're talking to, vampire!" Alec growled, anger flaring up in him.

The vampire spun on his heel and faced Alec. He narrowed his eyes, sizing Alec up, taking in the runes visible on his arms and neck.

"Sister? Sorry, little Nephilim, I was talking to the boy," the vampire said lazily as if he weren't at all distressed about angering a Shadowhunter.

"The boy? Simon? You were talking to Simon?" Alec said.

The vampire's eyes drifted to Magnus, who was standing slightly behind Alec with his hand on Alec's back. "How thoughtful of you to bring us a mundane, Magnus. You know how we vampires love them."

Magnus's eyes darkened, and he suddenly looked very menacing. "That mundane is going to be a Shadowhunter. Touch a hair on his head and you'll answer to me," he said in a low, deadly voice.

"And me," said Jace, who had just joined the group, his posture stiff and his hands balled into fists by his sides.

All the Shadowhunters now had the same looks on their faces, their bodies radiating the same anger. Alec and Jace had a hand resting on their weapons belts. Izzy's hand slid to the electrum whip encircling her wrist. The vampire turned in a slow circle, taking in the site of the Shadowhunters' and Magnus's anger, realizing he was surrounded and outnumbered. His vampire friends had backed away when Magnus had threatened the vampire, and he seemed to realize he had no chance against this formidable group.

"My apologies," the vampire said. "I didn't realize this one was a pet."

"I think it's time for you to leave," said Magnus coldly. He raised his hands, fingers spread wide and pushed them forward ever so slightly. The vampire looked as if a giant, invisible hand was roughly carrying him toward the door, his feet dangling and running in place, trying for traction that was not there. His friends followed closely behind him and, as they exited, the door slammed shut behind them, seemingly of its own accord.

Simon, let out a sharp breath of relief. "Was that vampire going to eat me?"

"No. You've been a vampire once, and you were annoyed with all your 'I'm going to live forever' talk. That is not going to happen again," said Jace, a wry grin on his face.

Alec laughed and picked up a glass of white wine. He knew to avoid the red wine; in the presence of vampires, one could never tell if it was wine or blood in the glass. He took a long draft of the wine and threw his head back, swallowing. He was hot from the dancing and his mouth was dry. He finished the glass with another deep swig.

His eyes met Magnus's across the table. Something on his face must have surprised Magnus, for Magnus returned the gaze with a musing expression. Before Alec knew what he was doing, he had crossed the room, taken Magnus in his arms, and kissed him.

Magnus, not being one to worry much about social conventions, responded to Alec's kiss. He wrapped his arms around Alec, pulling him close and kissing him breathless. Their hands tangled in each other's hair and gripping each other almost desperately. Alec disentangled his hands and reached for the buttons on Magnus's shirt.

Behind them, Jace cleared his throat. "I beg you not to do that here," he said, amusement touching his voice.

Alec and Magnus broke apart, their faces flushed. Magnus could taste the wine on Alec's lips, and something else as well. "What did you drink?" he whispered to Alec.

"Just the wine," Alec said, turning toward the Shadowhunters, who were all staring at them with similar expressions of surprise, amusement, and exasperation.

"The white wine?" Magnus said. "Oh Alec, it's laced with a warlock aphrodisiac!"

Jace laughed. Clary covered her smile with her hand.

Izzy, her hand on her hip, said to Alec, "What was it you said to Simon and me in the cave in Edom?"

"Straight people, why can't they control themselves," said Simon automatically. His hand shot up to his mouth, shocked by the words that had just tumbled from him.

Everyone turned to Simon, five mouths opened in perfect "O's," even Alec, who was still pawing at Magnus, an effect of the drug he had inadvertently taken.

"Did you just remember that, Simon?" Izzy said, in awe. Simon nodded, just as surprised as everyone else. Izzy looked thrilled, a broad grin spreading across her face.

"In this case, however, I think we should amend the s****l orientation of the group cited in that statement," Jace said with a smirk.

Alec blushed, though he still clung to Magnus, trying to unfasten Magnus's shirt buttons.

Magnus threw up his hands in exasperation. "That's it! No more parties in my loft! Now everyone out before you witness something you may not want to see!" he said, ushering his guests out the door, as Alec finally succeeded in unbuttoning his shirt, and started to work on his pants.