Malec Moments

After The War

Alec's posture stiffened.

"Relax," Magnus whispered, his hand gently pressing against the small of Alec's back. "They are your parents. They love you, remember that."

Robert and Maryse Lightwood were walking up the path toward the low stone wall around which Magnus, Alec, and the others were gathered, awaiting the firework display. Alec had not spoken to his parents since kissing Magnus in the Accords Hall prior to the battle on Brocelind Plains, and he was more than a little nervous by the prospect.

Magnus, to his credit, had tamed his wardrobe since the battle, in an attempt to not alienate Alec's parents. Alec had no idea how long that would last, or even what the warlock might say to his parents, but at least he was giving his best effort at the moment.

"Hello, Alexander," his father said in a deep voice. "Would you care to introduce us to your friend?" he said, with a nod toward Magnus.

"Umm, sure. Mom, Dad, this is Magnus Bane, High Warlock of Brooklyn."

"Magnus Bane?" Maryse said, looking taken aback. Her hand, which had leaped to cover her slightly gaping mouth, dropped gracefully to her side as she quickly recovered herself. "I hardly recognized you."

They had, of course, met on several occasions. The High Warlock of Brooklyn was called upon to open portals and do other jobs for the Clave from time to time, the last time being the portal to get them to Alicante several days previously. Magnus had the sense that the Lightwoods, having once been in league with Valentine and not being overly fond of Downworlders, had probably never looked closely enough at him to be able to recognize him. But they recognized his name and his title. He shrugged the thought aside for Alec's sake.

Magnus stretched out a hand toward Robert, which the elder man shook. He had a firm, slightly aggressive handshake, but Magnus was centuries old and up to the challenge. He then turned to Maryse, who was still staring at him.

"Alexander…The High Warlock of Brooklyn?" Maryse said, shaking Magnus's hand a little less aggressively than Robert had.

"Yes, ma'am," Magnus said, politely.

"I'm impressed, Alexander," Maryse said, making Alec flush scarlet. His mother didn't seem to notice. "So tell me, how do you two know each other?"

"We met a few months ago at-" Magnus was quelled by a look from Alec. Somehow, Alec didn't think his parents would be very happy about him, Izzy, and Jace attending a party at the loft of the High Warlock of Brooklyn.

"We met in Central Park," Alec finished, saying the first place that popped into his mind. "Jace and I were dealing with a bunch of Nixies playing pranks on some little kids and Magnus stepped in to help."

Maryse raised an eyebrow at this but said nothing to contradict him. Magnus was sure Alec's mother didn't believe that ridiculous story but wasn't about to say anything to him about it.

"So," Robert said, clearing his throat uncomfortably, "you two have been…dating, I presume?"

Alec averted his father's eyes and nodded.

"Well, you clearly seem to like each other," said Maryse, her voice stern but not unkind.

Alec's eyes darted to his mother's and his blush deepened. "We do," he acknowledged.

"Well," Maryse said, placing an arm around Alec's shoulder and giving him a light squeeze, "we won't take up any more of your time. We just wanted to say hello to you and Magnus. See you later, dear." She kissed Alec on the cheek, reached for Robert's hand, and led him back down the path.

Alec let out a loud sigh as his parents' figures were lost in the crowd. "Well," Magnus said brightly, "that was…"

"Awkward?" Alex supplied with a shaky laugh.

Magnus glanced at him. "I was going to say 'interesting' but your word works, too."

Magnus took Alec's hand, and with a nod of his head, led him toward a copse of trees just at the edge of the witchlight. Alec followed willingly. As soon as they were hidden from view within the tall, dense trees, Magnus pulled Alec into his embrace and kissed him.

"So," Magnus said, the corners of his mouth twitching as he attempted to contain a smile, "you told them, about us, I mean."

"I told you I would," Alec replied, with mock haughtiness. "You didn't believe me."

Magnus lost his battle and grinned broadly at Alec. "You picked a hell of a way to do it."

Alec simply shrugged in agreement.

"What made you do that?" Magnus asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity, awe, and incredulity. "You've been so careful about hiding our relationship. What made you kiss me in front of everyone like that?"

Alec smiled at him. "You stupid warlock," he said, in a parody of Magnus's previous words, "I'm in love with you. Why else am I here? Why else would I kiss you in front of everyone I've ever known? Why else would I subject myself to toxic amounts of glitter on a regular basis? Why else would I even consider letting you pick out clothes for me?"

Magnus's face lit up, his mouth hanging open in astonishment, his cat-eyes wide and shining. "You…?" And without another word, Magnus smashed his lips against Alec's, holding him tightly, running his hand up Alec's spine and into his hair.

He broke away briefly and looked into Alec's eyes. "You love me?"

"I love you," Alec confirmed, and Magnus was kissing him again.

Alec could vaguely hear the fireworks in the background. When he pulled away from Magnus at last, he could see the brilliant explosions casting flickering shadows on the warlock's face, and reflecting blue, green, and red lights in his pupils. He was reminded of the glitter that usually adorned Magnus, and smiled.

They turned to watch the fireworks, Alec resting his head on Magnus's shoulder. Magnus draped his arm around Alec, his free hand twining with Alec's.

"When did you realize that you love me?" Magnus asked softly in Alec's ear.

Alec turned to look at him. "When did you realize you love me?" he replied.

"I asked you first," said Magnus, with suppressed amusement, and Alec chuckled.

"Actually, it was when Jace asked me to kiss him," he said, enjoying the look of astonishment this statement elicited on Magnus's face.

"Jace did what?" he said, staring at Alec. "Why did he do that?"

"I don't know. I mean, he does love me," Alec said seriously. Magnus gaped at him. The look was so comical Alec could no longer keep up his serious demeanor and burst out laughing. "I'm only kidding. He asked me to kiss him in an effort to prove I didn't have those kinds of feelings for him."

"Did you? Kiss him, I mean," said Magnus, still staring at Alec.

"No, I didn't. It was so weird. I'd dreamed about that exact moment so many times, but when I came down to it, Jace was right. I only wanted him because he was safe. He's my parabatai, which means he's off-limits. Nothing could possibly happen between us because it's against our laws. Not to mention the fact that I happen to not be Clary. Anyway, as long as I had feelings for him, I didn't have to be in a real relationship, didn't have to take any chances or risks, and I didn't have to tell my family that I'm gay."

"You don't think your family would have noticed when you were forty and had never had a real girlfriend that maybe something was wrong?" asked Magnus, incredulously.

Alec shrugged. "I'm eighteen. I never thought that far ahead."

Magnus pulled him close again and kissed his forehead. "Teenagers," he said with a grin.

"After Jace left, I realized the reason I didn't kiss him is that I wanted to kiss you," Alec said into Magnus's collarbone, as Magnus held him. "It's always been you, Magnus. Ever since I met you, it's been you. I was just too dumb to see it."

The fireworks were ending now with a magnificent grand finale, and still, Magnus held him, gently pressing his lips to Alec's hair.

"Let's get out of here," Magnus said suddenly, pulling back to look into Alec's eyes, those beautiful blue eyes which were currently almost black in the dim light.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Paris," Magnus said the first place that popped into his mind. He didn't really care where they went, he just wanted to be alone with Alec. "Just you and me. No demons. No Shadowhunters. No clients wanted something from me. No wars. Just us. What do you say?" His eyes searched Alec's face for his reaction.

"I say yes. Let's go," said Alec, a grin spreading across his face. Then he was kissing Magnus again.