Malec Moments

Date

Magnus was bent over the table, staring at diagrams and symbols, perusing through books, as he had been for more than a week. He looked exhausted and frustrated, his black hair disheveled with none of the usual sparkles. He didn't even seem to be aware that Alec was watching him, concern written all over his face.

"Magnus?"

"Hmmm," Magnus replied distractedly. Alec wondered if he was even aware that he had spoken.

"Magnus, I want to go out to dinner."

"I can conjure whatever you want to eat," Magnus said, still not paying attention.

"No," Alec said forcefully. "I want to go out."

Magnus finally turned to Alec. "You want to go out?"

"Yes," Alec said. "I'm going crazy in this apartment. I'm worried about Jace, wherever he is, and whatever the hell Sebastian is doing to him."

"I'm trying to figure that out, you know," said Magnus, flatly, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"I know you are. And I'm worried about you too. You haven't left the house in ages. You're not eating right. You're up all hours of the night. Hell, we haven't even slept together in days." Alec felt his face flush at those words and hated himself for it.

Magnus narrowed his eye and said, "We sleep together every night."

"No, we don't. I sleep, you fret. And you know what I mean, anyway." Alec leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Of course I know what you mean. If it's the intimacy you want, you just have to ask."

"That's not what I'm saying, Magnus. I just want a night with you, just a few hours."

Magnus leaned against the table, still with his arms crossed, studying Alec. "I'm sorry I've neglected our relationship. I've been trying-"

Alec cut him off. "Don't. Don't say it like that. It makes me sound selfish, and that's not what I'm trying to do here. I'm scared to death about Jace, and Izzy. I don't know if she can handle it if something happens to him…not after Max." He broke off, dropping his head between his hands. He collected himself, ran his hands through his hair, and looked up at Magnus. "I'm worried about you, too. I know you are doing all of this for me, but you're working so hard. I don't want anything to happen to you in the process."

He rose and crossed the room until he was standing in front of Magnus. "Look," he said, placing a hand on Magnus's crossed arms, "it would be different if you were close to a break-through. I wouldn't bother you. But I know you are not. Just take a few hours off. You can dress up and look pretty. We'll go out to dinner and then you can resume doing whatever it is you are doing. Please?"

Magnus's lips twitched. "Well, I do like to look pretty."

Alec grinned, knowing he had broken through. The truth was he was concerned about all those things, but he was also concerned about their relationship. There had been a distance between them lately, and Alec had no idea how to bridge it. He missed the fun they had had on their trip around the world. He missed the closeness he used to feel with Magnus. He knew it was partly circumstances, with everything that was going on right now, but it was more than that.

Alec was jealous, jealous of Magnus's past that he refused to talk about, jealous of Camille and Will, and countless other unnamed former lovers of Magnus's. He also had a sinking feeling in his gut that one day Magnus would wake up and realize Alec was old and undesirable and would leave him for someone else. And, most of all, he hated that there was nothing he could do to change his current circumstance.

Yes, Alec told himself firmly, Magnus and I need this evening together. Just the two of us. A distraction from all the unknown and painful things going on in our lives. 

An hour and a half later, Alec was sprawled out on the bed with one arm tucked behind his head. He'd dressed in a pair of black jeans and a new blue sweater Magnus had gotten for him at one of their destinations, he couldn't remember which one. His favorite black leather jacket was tossed across the foot of the bed, waiting to be donned. He was dozing, mostly out of boredom, as he waited for Magnus to finish getting ready.

Suddenly, Magnus threw open the bedroom door and leaned casually against the frame. Alec's eyes raked over him from head to toe. Magnus was wearing tight black leather pants, black leather boots with heels that were easily a couple of inches tall, and a silvery shirt under a black leather jacket with ¾ sleeves. His hair was spiked, as usual. He had black eyeliner outlining his almond-shaped cat-like eyes and silver glitter on his upper lid which extended from the corner of his eyes to his hairline. His full lips were a deep red. The look on his face was almost predatory, and he, again, reminded Alec of a large wild cat.

"Do I look pretty?" he asked, a hint of seduction in his voice.

"Pretty? No," Alec said, sitting up straight. "You look…Oh, by the Angel…" Alec was hardly aware that he had pushed himself off the bed and crossed the room to Magnus. He fumbled for the right word to describe his boyfriend, then, realizing there were no words that could do justice to how good Magnus looked, said, slightly breathlessly, "Can I kiss you?"

Magnus smiled. "Of course you can."

Alec shook his head. "No, I mean, will that red stuff get on me if I kiss you?" He could feel his cheeks blush and angrily chastised himself.

"Oh," Magnus said. "Nope. It's a lip stain. It won't come off until I tell it to." He winked at Alec, a smile playing at his lips.

Then, just like in Alicante, Alec threw his arms around Magnus and kissed him. Careful to avoid Magnus's hair, which Alec suspected was the main reason he'd taken so long to get ready, Alec trailed his hands down Magnus's spine and up under the leather jacket. The silvery shirt was surprisingly soft against his fingers. It felt good to kiss Magnus, sweet and familiar and happy. Magnus's hands slid down Alec's body and hooked into the waistband of his jeans. Where Magnus's fingers made contact with Alec's skin, his nerve endings tingled.

"We could just stay in," Alec whispered against Magnus's lips.

Magnus pulled away. "Oh, no you don't. I didn't spend all this time getting ready to stay home!"

Alec laughed and let Magnus lead him from the apartment, stopping to grab Alec's leather jacket and Magnus's long black trench coat on the way.

Magnus hailed a cab, rather easier than most people in New York. Alec wondered, not for the first time if Magnus used magic in ways that no one ever knew. They climbed into the cab and Magnus said to the cabbie, "We're going to…" He broke off and turned to Alec. "Where are we going?"

"I want pizza," Alec said decisively.

"Pizza?" said Magnus incredulously. "I got dressed up for pizza?"

Alec laughed. "Just trust me okay?" he said and gave the cabbie an address. Magnus sat back in the seat huffily.

All of Magnus's doubts evaporated when he saw the place Alec had chosen. The restaurant was not a chain, as Magnus had feared, but a small quaint building with exposed brick walls. The kitchen was open and the large brick ovens that baked the pizzas were glowing brightly, flames licking up the insides of the oven at intervals. They were seated at a solid wooden table in the corner, a single red pendant light softly illuminating the area, and when added to the soft murmur of conversations, creating a tranquil ambiance.

Magnus almost absently held Alec's hand across the table as he perused the menu. Again, Alec felt like his nerves were tingling as Magnus's thumb traces circles and figure-eights on the back of his hand. Alec was mesmerized by the progression of these movements. He had been missing Magnus's gentle contact.

Magnus looked up and caught Alec staring at their hands on the table. "Does this bother you?" he asked, pausing his movements momentarily.

Snapping back to reality, Alec said, "What? Oh. No, I like it." Magnus sighed with relief and resumed tracing invisible shapes on Alec's skin.

Everything on the menu was specialty pizzas. They enjoyed a large, soft, thin-crust pizza with spinach, artichokes, ricotta cheese, and Italian sausage. It was an easy, comfortable meal. The kind that makes the heart sing and strengthens the bond of love. In the end, Magnus paid the bill and they found themselves on the sidewalk, buttoning their coats against the cold November breeze coming off the East River.

Alec quirked a smile at Magnus. "Did I just see Magnus Bane pay for food?"

Magnus punched him lightly in the arm and said, "Shut up."

They took in their surroundings for a moment, not quite sure what to do next. They had said they would only be gone for a few hours, but now that they were out of the apartment, neither were ready for the night to end. Magnus caught Alec's hand and they started walking down the sidewalk toward a street known for having numerous night clubs.

"Let's go dancing!" Magnus said suddenly.

Alec was apprehensive. He was not a dancer, by any stretch of the imagination. He had danced on several occasions with Magnus but was not comfortable with it at all. Magnus had taught him several hip-hop dance moves and even a few dances like the Waltz, but mostly they slow danced, in their living room. And mostly their dance sessions were nothing more than foreplay.

Magnus sensed Alec's hesitation as they continued down the street, passing several clubs on the way. As the doors opened to admit new people, they caught snatches of music: country from one, reggae from another. But the one that caught Magnus's attention was emitting a loud thumping bass beat. Red, green, and blue lights made star-shaped patterns on the pavement outside. Magnus practically dragged Alec to the door.

"I want to go to this one!" Magnus said excitedly. "This place will go excellently with my attire and the colors in my hair!"

Alec's eyebrows furrowed. "What colors in your hair?" he said, eyeing Magnus.

Magnus wiggled his eyebrows and ran his hands through both sides of his hair. In their wake was a strip of green, blue, yellow, and red. He winked at Alec and said, "Those colors. Come on!"

Alec finally consented and let Magnus lead him into the club. Magnus's finger twitched slightly as they passed the bouncer. The bouncer's eyes were glazed for a moment, and he didn't question their ages.

Inside, the club was alive with electricity. One wall was lined with a metallic bar, the colored star lights bouncing off the reflective surface. The other walls were lined with tables and chairs full of people. The dance floor was jammed with bodies flailing around wildly. Several large star-shaped lights hung from the ceiling, the source of the vibrant colors.

Magnus led Alec to the coat check area and placed a slip of numbered paper into his pocket in exchange for their outerwear. Alec felt exposed without his leather jacket but didn't say anything. Magnus then led him onto the dance floor.

Alec was self-conscious at first, completely uncomfortable slamming against unknown sweaty, writhing bodies. But Magnus was an excellent dancer, so Alec let him lead, and before long, he let the beat of the music consume him and started enjoying himself. He knew it didn't matter how stupid he looked or felt, no one was paying attention to him except Magnus, and Magnus already knew he wasn't a good dancer. Besides, dancing was an excellent release of all the pent up energy and worry that had accumulated within him in the last few weeks.

After over an hour of loud music and gyrating bodies, they were covered in a thin sheen of sweat. Alec grabbed Magnus's hand and dragged him off the dance floor. They burst through the door, panting and laughing.

"Sorry, Magnus," Alec said, as he caught his breath. The hair framing his face was plastered to his head with sweat and his blue eyes were shining with excitement. "I just need a break. It's so hot in there, and I'm thirsty."

Before he finished the sentence, a Styrofoam cup, complete with lid and straw appeared in his hand. Alec eyed it warily. "Oh, relax. It's just tea," said Magnus, waving an impatient hand toward the cup.

The cold breeze was soothing to their hot skin. "Let's go for a walk and cool down," suggested Magnus. He was hot and sweaty as well, but, amazingly, his hair was still perfect. Alec felt a twang of jealousy at this. His boyfriend always looked perfect, no matter what he was doing or wearing. He loved the causal way Magnus leaned against a wall or slunk toward him with desire in his eyes. He looked amazing, whether his hair was meticulously styled or disheveled from sleep. Alec knew he could never compare with his boyfriend, but maybe that's why they were so attracted to each other. They were so different, yet they complimented each other so well.

Magnus snapped his fingers and their coats appeared. They were still too hot to don them yet, so they casually draped them over their arms as Magnus recaptured Alec's hand and led him down the sidewalk. They crossed through an alleyway and emerged on a quiet street overlooking the East River. The wind was much stronger here, so they hurriedly slipped into their coats to lessen the chill.

From their vantage point, they had an excellent view of one of the bridges stretching across the East River. A man sat in front of an easel painting the bridge onto a canvas, using the Manhattan lights as the backdrop. Several other paintings were surrounding the painter, various angles of the bridge and skyline, nearly all of them drawn with a night perspective. Alec admired the paintings. He had always been captivated by the New York City lights.

They strolled along the boulevard winding its way beside the river. They passed several embracing couples. The street was practically empty, which was very unusual for New York. Alec wondered if Magnus had again used his magic to his advantage, giving them the illusion of seclusion.

In the shadow of a large oak tree, Magnus stopped and released Alec's hand. He placed his left palm up as if holding something, and waved his right hand over it. Blue flames appeared between his hands and were replaced by a large pile of a round, flat stones about the size of a fist. He glanced sidelong at Alec.

"Have you ever skipped stones?" he asked.

Alec shook his head. Magnus took a stone from the pile, positioned it between his thumb and index finger, drew back his arm, and let the stonefly. It hit the surface of the river and skipped six or seven times before disappearing into the water. Alec looked at him with awe.

"Did you use magic to do that?"

Magnus chuckled. "No. Mundanes do this all the time." He handed Alec a stone. "Here, you try it. Just like I did it."

Alec tried to imitate Magnus's motions, but when he let the rock fly, it hit the water with a "plunk" and vanished. Magnus burst with laughter and Alec scowled at him. Magnus handed him another stone, and, leaving the rest of the pile floating unsupported, stepped to Alec's side, cupping his hand over Alec's throwing hand and showed him the proper way to throw it. This time, the stone hit the surface and skipped twice before succumbing to the pull of the tide. Alec's face lit up, but he still wasn't convinced Magnus hadn't used magic.

"See, that was much better," said Magnus, a grin still splitting his face.

"Do you think we should just let those rocks float like that, Magnus? We are in a public place, you know," said Alec with slight trepidation.

Magnus glanced at the stones without concern. "Don't worry. We're glamoured," he said dismissively.

"Oh? What are our glamour-selves doing?" Alec asked curiously.

Magnus said with a wink, "Kissing."

Alec turned to face Magnus and, hooking his fingers in Magnus's belt loops, drew Magnus to him. His arms slipped around Magnus's waist as he pressed his body against him. "Like this?" Alec said, and brushed his lips against Magnus's, enjoying the tingling sensation that spread through his body with the contact.

Magnus reacted instantly. His arms encircling Alec, holding him close, hands tangling in his dark hair. Magnus's eyes fluttered closed as they kissed. Alec's hands slid under Magnus's silky silver shirt and slid up his spine. The warlock shuddered at the warm touch.

Alec was normally more opposed to public displays of affection, at least displays that were this heated. But since they were glamoured at the moment, he melted into the kiss under Magnus's capable hands. He kissed his boyfriend until, when they finally broke apart, they were panting breathlessly.

Alec was barely aware of Magnus placing another stone in his hand as he drew away from him. Alec looked at the stone in surprise, as if he wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do with it. Magnus kissed him lightly on the cheek and whispered, "Throw it."

He did. This time the rock bounced off the surface of the water and skipped four or five times. Magnus threw his head back, laughing, and clapped his hands. After that, they took turns trying to see who could get the most skips from their rocks. Magnus won, of course, since he had infinitely more experience than Alec, and Alec was still not convinced Magnus wasn't cheating and using magic. Alec wasn't about to say anything though, as he was thoroughly enjoying himself, cheating magic or not.

When the pile of rocks was depleted, at last, Magnus released the glamour and they followed the sidewalk toward the sound of music. Under a bright street light sat a small group of men playing jazz music. A saxophone, trumpet, and trombone sang a dulcet tune into the quiet night air. Magnus pulled Alec to him by his hand, then spun him away until their arms were both outstretched. Alec caught off guard by the action, laughed out loud. Magnus drew him back and caught his other hand, dipping and swaying to the music, right there on the sidewalk. Whether Magnus was familiar with the song Alec didn't know, but right as the song ended, Magnus caught Alec in his arms and dipped him backward.

Alec's face was red with exertion and maybe slightly from a blush, as Magnus returned him to an upright position. Magnus kissed him lightly on the end of his nose, then turning toward the musicians, tossed some money into the open saxophone case.

They crossed the street to a more populated area, looking for a cab. Alec had not had this much fun since they had left Venice, but it was getting late and time to go home. Alec's hand was in Magnus's again as he hailed a cab. Magnus's thumb was tracing shapes onto Alec's hand again, and Alec was having difficulty concentrating on climbing into the cab. As a result, Alec lost his balance and fell onto Magnus's lap.

And Alec lost control. His lips captured Magnus's in a passionate kiss. But before they could get too lost in the kiss, Magnus noticed the cabbie impatiently waiting for instructions. He gave the cabbie the address to the loft, pulled the door closed behind Alec and leaned in close, his lips hovering over Alec's, but not yet touching.

"I love you, Magnus Bane," Alec whispered, not caring who overheard him.

Magnus traced the outlines of Alec's face with the backs of his fingers. Alec closed his eyes at the touch. Then Magnus's lips finally stopped their teasing and brushed against Alec's, gently at first, then with increasingly more pressure. The cab ride home seemed to end as soon as it began, as they lost themselves in each other's kiss, touch, and love.

Magnus didn't bother with the pretense of normalcy as he neglected the key to the door and opened it with magic instead. He closed the door behind him and engulfed Alec in his embrace again. Alec's eyes drifted toward the table that had claimed the majority of Magnus's attention recently, a forlorn expression on his face. Their evening together was over, and Magnus would be returning to his investigation and search for Jace.

"I had a wonderful time tonight, Magnus," he said, locking eyes with Magnus, blue on green-gold. "Thank you," he added, kissing him softly on the lips.

Magnus glance over at the table, at the drawings and symbols that had fascinated him over the last week or so. Part of him longed to uncover their secrets, but right now, a bigger part of him needed to be with Alec.

"It's not over yet," Magnus replied.

Alec looked at him, a little surprised by these words. He had been sure Magnus would be up until the wee hours of the morning studying his papers, as he had been every other night. "It's not?"

Magnus shook his head and Alec smiled. "What else do you have planned?" he asked.

Magnus trained his eyes on Alec's, his gaze steady, his hands on his Nephilim's waist, his fingers dipping below the waistband, and caressing the smooth skin over his hips. "I want to make love," he said in a heady whisper.

He knew the effect those two words would have on Alec. Magnus rarely used them, oftentimes choosing more crude ways to make his desires known. But, for reasons unknown to Alec, those two words, make love, made Alec go weak. Perhaps it had something to do with the connotations, the expectations they elicited in Alec's mind. For him, those words meant more than just s*x and pleasure and the result meant an expression of their love and a closeness that can only come from the act of making love.

Alec's arms were around Magnus's neck, hands running through his spiky hair, which was surprisingly soft to the touch. Their lips met again, mouths parting, tongues exploring. Alec slid Magnus's trench coat from his shoulders, and Magnus barely had enough control to magic it into the closet so Chairman Meow couldn't damage his favorite coat. They left a trail of clothing, like bread crumbs, down the hall, and into the bedroom, all the while kissing and running their hands over every part of the other's body.