Chapter Text
“Come on, Magnus, wake up!”
Magnus groaned and cuddled into the chest of his alarm monster, who pulled him off the bed.
“I am not your alarm monster!” Something only an alarm monster would say.
Magnus felt a kiss pressed to his forehead as he was carefully deposited on the couch. He tried to open his eyes while pawing around at the couch looking for- There he is!
Magnus curled up against Blondie, who was always dragged to the couch before him.
“Jace! Don’t move your arms! They’ll hurt later!”
“Magnus! No! Get off his shoulder!”
Magnus whined when felt someone trying to disentangle him from Blondie.
“Jace! Leave him! Come on, you two! I can’t do this every morning!”
“Magnus! Stop mewling! Oh, God!”
The moment he was let go, Magnus hugged Blondie tightly and dozed off. The next thing he knew, he was being water-sprayed in the face.
“ WHO THE FU- ,” Magnus stopped when his eyes focused on the person standing in front of him, holding the spray bottle he keeps for the plants in his balcony, “Oh, Alexander?”
“What the fuck, Alec!” Blondie shouted.
“Now that you guys are awake,” Alec put down the spray bottle. He looked very much like a villain out of an animated movie standing tall, dressed in all black, and petting a purring Chairman in his arms. “Finish your breakfast and take your morning meds, so I can leave.” Blondie started to protest but Alexander shut him off without fanfare, “Right now!”
HOT!
Magnus picked up the glasses in front of him and handed one to Blondie, all while staring at his boyfriend in awe! All he can think about is climbing Alexander and kissing the heck- Damn! Magnus swiftly placed a cushion on his lap before either of the boys could notice, and diverted all his attention to the food in front of him.
“Jace! NO! Don’t stuff your face in one bite!”
Magnus was appalled when he saw Blondie wolfing down his breakfast and using the juice to wash it down. Alexander dropped Chairman and came over to help Blondie with the remaining piece of his French toast. He turned to his plate the whipped cream and fruits did look appetizing but he had just woken up and-
“Magnus! Quit playing with the strawberry and eat!”
Don’t have to tell me twice!
Magnus took his medicines, while Alec helped Blondie put on his slings. Alec then set a movie he thought they would be interested in, but neither he nor Blondie corrected Alec because his choices usually helped them get back to sleep. He felt a foot nudge his thigh, he was familiar with this cue by now and shifted back lifting his legs to make room for Blondie’s.
“Alright, you two, rest up,” Magnus stared up at Alec, who was fixing his shirt as he spoke, “Raphael will be over for lunch. And please, for my sake, do not get too excited over anything.”
It’s too early for him to recall why Alexander might be pleading as such, it’s not like he or Blondie could cause much trouble, with a total of one hand and three legs between them.
Alec ruffled Blondie’s hair and kissed Magnus’ cheek before walking over to Chairman, he pet the cat before picking up his jacket, shuffling it on as he waved them goodbye.
Magnus stared after his boyfriend for a minute before he yawned and turned towards the movie. Less than a quarter of an hour passed before he was sleeping on the couch with his head on Blondie’s shoulder.
"One of these days I'm afraid I'll find you two naked on this damn couch!"
Magnus and Blondie were startled away from the TV screen, where they were on the tenth climate crisis documentary of the week.
" Dios mio! You're both going to turn into zombies by the end of this month." Raphael shook his head as he came into the room.
"Hey!" Blondie and Magnus protested in unison as Raphael switched off the TV.
"C'mon, up! Both of you," Raphi said and then manhandled Magnus into a sitting position from where he had been lying comfortably, half atop Blondie. "Stop letting him use you as a pillow," Raphi grumbled as he helped Blondie up.
"You try telling him no," Blondie replied.
"You're worse than Papa! And he at least has the excuse of being this idiot's dad."
"You're no better!"
"At least I don't let him rest his head on my already hurting shoulder."
Magnus was staring at them slack-jawed. "I'm right here," he reminded them.
"It's not that bad," Blondie replied, as they carried on ignoring him.
"Yeah, you keep saying that and you'll be stuck in those slings for longer than a month."
"Don't jinx me!"
"You don't need to be jinxed, just keep being his pillow."
"Hey! Right here!" Magnus shouted.
"You don't have to scream, dude," Blondie said, leaning away from him.
"Dios mio! How dare we forget?" Raphael snarked, simultaneously.
Magnus huffed at their antics, "Weren't we supposed to get lunch now?"
"You order me again and you can go get it yourself," Raphael said.
"I'm hungry," Magnus tried his luck, he deflated and added, "please, Raphi."
"Sure, amigo," Raphael smirked and went in the direction of the kitchen.
Today, Raphael joined them on the couch with his own plate of tacos. He asked between bites, "you guys watch this stuff every day?"
"Sometimes twice a day," Blondie replied, but it came out muffled as his mouth was full.
Magnus took a sip of his Armando Palmero. "What do you suggest we watch?"
"Something that's not gonna induce existential crisis in you dummies! You both are hard enough to deal with as it is!"
"You love us!" Blondie again answered with his mouth stuffed, making them pause and state at him. "What?"
"He's bearable." Raphael pointed at Magnus, who smacked him in the chest. "The jury's still out on you."
"You don't fool me," Blondie swallowed before continuing, "you wouldn't choose to sit between me and Pretty and eat, if the jury was still out on me." Blondie finished with an eye-roll in league with Alexander's.
Magnus grinned, "he got you there, Raphi."
"Shut up." Raphael changed their current documentary to an action flick. "Enough climate saving by watching the world's most awfully narrated documentary."
Magnus looked across at Blondie who was grinning back at him. They winked at each other, their altered version of a high five.
In retrospect, Magnus would blame Raphael for this.
Who lets two people, who are trained in combat, who are bored out of their minds, and who are basically bedridden watch an action flick and not expect them to end up doing something crazy? Apparently, Raphael.
Once Raphael left, Magnus and Blondie had decided to re-watch The Dark Knight.
This really shouldn't have happened. They were drowsy with their full bellies and Blondie had even had a pain medicine. Halfway through the movie, they were almost in their previous position with Magnus' head on Blondie's shoulder.
But then Batman was fighting against the joker to save people on the boats and they'd gotten excited. Magnus guiltily remembers Alec asking them to not do anything that was too exciting. Well, Batman is exciting to their bi and queer asses.
Somehow, and Magnus has no idea how, they had ended up challenging each other to kick the other in their face and whoever manages to do it gets to pick what they watch for the next two days.
Magnus got a little too spirited.
That's how they ended up here. Blondie is lying on the floor, unconscious, while Magnus is groaning in pain. He pulled on his leg wound.
Magnus, somehow, grabbed his phone from the coffee table, after five minutes of crying in pain, and called his father.
“Did you hear, the boss’s son has a new boyfriend?”
Alec looked up from his screen and was greeted by a grinning Lydia, who was leaning against the glass wall of his cabin, the door thrown wide open.
“Really? Office gossip?” he asked his best friend-cum-colleague, who kicked the door closed- Alec has no idea how Lydia and Izzy, or anyone, manages it in their 5-inch heels -as she came into his cabin.
“It’s what I’ve been reduced to, Alec,” she sounded aghast, though her smirk claimed otherwise. “There was a time when a boy would smile at Alec Lightwood and I would know, now he’s out getting boyfriends and I don’t even get a text update!”
Alec quirked an eyebrow as he stared down at his friend, who grinned undeterred.
"So, go on, tell me about this new guy? Is he hot?"
" Lydia! " Alec gasped. She dropped her smile and glared at him, so he quickly added, "yes, very!"
Lydia smiled again. "C'mon Alec, details!" She smacked the arm of the chair, thrice, to indicate her impatience.
"Alright," Alec groaned, closing his file. He wasn't getting any work done now. "He is cute and very hot and uh…," he paused, taking a deep inhale before finishing in a rush, " the most fucking gorgeous face I've ever fucking laid eyes on ."
"Now we're talking." Lydia cooed at him, so he threw a pencil at her, that she effortlessly dodged. "Tell me more! How did you two meet him?"
"Um...I met him 'cause of Jace, they're neighbors...and friends, and well, I went over to see Jace in his new place and ended up knocking at Magnus' door... you might have heard of him, I mean who hasn't, Magnus Bane." Alec is a little concerned about himself, given that just uttering his boyfriend's name has his face heating up.
"Magnus, Magnus Bane?" Lydia asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. Alec nodded. "Isn't he Jace's boyfriend though?"
Alec groaned, slamming his head on his desk, gently. "No he's not, very much my boyfriend," he looked up to glare at her, "only mine!"
Lydia was still frowning, though he saw her trying to hold back a smile. "Okay! Although…"
"What?"
"Jace totally had me believing Magnus was his boyfriend given how much he gushes about how cute 'Pretty' is on his Instagram."
"He does...what now?"
"Instagram." Lydia rolled her eyes at him. Alec knows everyone thinks he had the best eye roll game, but according to him, it's Lydia.
"You know I don't use that, I only have an account because you and Izzy thought it would get me dates," Alec pointed an accusing finger at her, "which it did not! Only had me block a bunch of weirdos!"
Lydia chuckled as if he'd told some joke, which alright, it probably was to her. Alec, though, shuddered at the memory.
"Here," Lydia said, handing him her phone, "take a look."
Okay, Alec can see what she meant.
Jace's latest post was from just a few hours ago. No, it does not make Alec feel jealous at all. It was two photos, one was of the TV at Magnus' showing a desert scene, and the other...the other one had them lying on the couch, much like he'd left them in the morning, with Magnus' head on Jace's shoulder. Jace had his mouth open, Alec knew from experience that his brother had to be snoring.
The text under the pictures had him a little confused. "What's 'repost'?"
"Oh, Alec," Lydia sighed, exasperatedly.
"Tell me," he urged, handing the phone back to her.
"Okay, so, Magnus originally posted them with the text 'Bored with Blondie!', and then Jace posted that post with the text 'I thought we were having fun, Pretty!'," she said, making air quotes. Lydia put her phone down, and relaxed back in her chair, resting her folded hands on her stomach. "I'm guessing they have nicknames for each other."
Alec smiled, shaking his head at how ridiculous these two were, though he does admit, it's cute.
"Explain," Lydia said, gesturing for him to elaborate.
"There's not much to explain, Lyds. They are close friends who have stupid nicknames for each other, who do a lot of stuff together, including getting kidnapped and tortured." Alec chuckled, but his smile soon dropped when he noticed his friend fuming.
" Alec Lightwood !" Alec frowned, taken aback when Lydia suddenly stood up, towering over him from across the table. "It's one thing to not tell me you got a boyfriend but to not tell me Jace..your fucking brother got kidnapped!"
"Woah," Alec uttered in shock.
He stayed glued to his seat as Lydia left his cabin muttering something about their friendship being over, which he chose to believe was just a heat of the moment thing, and how he was a selfish ungrateful b- Okay, mean .
Alec sighed, resting his head on the table for a moment before he looked at the time.
Two more hours, Alec, and then you get to go home to see your brother and boyfriend.
Alec put a hand on the back of his neck, supporting it as he rolled his neck in a vain effort to release some of the tension of the day. He had picked up their dinner on his way back and all he wanted to do was to take a hot shower and relax.
The elevator dinged open and he sighed as he got out. Tired .
Taking care of Jace and Magnus meant sleeping at Jace's place, just to be close to them. There was no way he was sharing a bed with a snoring Jace, and well, he doesn't know if his relationship with Magnus was at a stage where they could share a bed. After spending a couple of days on the couch, he had done himself a favor and taken up sleeping in Jace's bed instead. He was close enough to rush over in a minute and comfortably spread out in a bed, at the same time. The fact that the two usually slept through the night comforted his brain's obsessive urge to be there.
There had been that awkward moment a couple of days ago. As Alec was leaving after tucking Magnus in, the guy had called his name and for a couple of minutes he had this constipated look on his face, but then he chose to just thank Alec before pulling the covers over his head. Alec had spent an hour tossing and turning on the bed overthinking what Magnus could have possibly wanted to tell him before he eventually fell asleep.
He gently closed the door of Magnus' apartment behind him. The layout of Magnus' apartment was such that he could see into the living room from the door. He smiled when he spotted his mother and Asmodeus. Though, a couple of steps into the apartment, he frowned when he realized it wasn't Friday, which was usually the day they showed up. His frown deepened when he sensed the cold atmosphere as he entered the room.
"Hi, guys. Hey mom," he greeted setting the food down on the table.
"Alexander," Asmodeus said instead of a greeting, while his mother just nodded.
Magnus and Jace were sitting, well more slumped than sitting, on the couch. Meanwhile, Maryse was sitting on the coffee table in front of the boys, with her legs crossed, and Asmodeus was standing, on the opposite side of the table as Alec, with his hands folded on his chest.
"Um… What happened here?" He asked, taking in the somber expression on everyone's faces. Alec felt something nudge his shin and looked down to find Chairman, "Hey, you," he softly greeted the cat before picking him up.
"Do you want to tell him?" His mom pointed the question at Jace who shook his head slightly.
"Mama?" he asked again, using a softer voice.
His mother sighed, but it was Asmodeus who answered, "Magnus knocked Jace out with a kick to the face and tore open his wound in the process. The doctor just left half-hour ago." Given how calm the man's voice was, you'd think he was discussing the weather.
" MAGNUS WHAT NOW?" Chairman jumped off his arms. Poor cat.
"It was an accident," Magnus pleaded.
At the same time as Jace spoke up in his defense, "He didn't do it intentionally, we got carried away."
"Carried away, Jace?" Alec growled at his brother, "You guys call this getting carried away !"
"They're okay, Alec," Maryse finally got up, and came over to Alec and laid a soothing hand on his arm, which did little to evaporate his already boiling anger.
"I told you, Magnus," Alec did notice the guilty look that came over his boyfriend's face, "I told you both, not to do anything that's too exciting! What alternate dimensions are you two living in where kicking another person is a relaxing activity?" Alec heard Asmodeus chuckle, but he was too focused glaring at the two idiots in front of him to glance at the man.
"I'm- I'm sorry, Alexander." Alec was sure as hell that Asmodeus wouldn't be smiling right now, given how small Magnus sounded, "I really did not want to hurt Jace." And now his brother was glaring at him.
Alec sighed, "I'm not blaming you, Magnus." Magnus looked up, Alec was taken aback by how close to tearing up he looked. Now, that face evaporated Alec's anger by a wide margin. "I'm sure Jace had a lot to do with how you both got to that point-"
"I did," his brother piped up.
"Really! Jace?" Alec glared daggers at his brother, "Did I ask for confirmation?" His brother quickly looked down. "If you guys are going to act like children, then we're going to have to treat you as such too! Now, do you both want to go back to the hospital so you can have 24-hour supervision? We can do that." He got two slightly shaking heads in response. "And if you guys are going to be irresponsible around each other, then you have a perfectly good apartment just next door, Jace, do you want to be recovering there alone?" His brother looked up with pleading eyes, shaking his head firmly. "Tell me, Magnus," the guy in question looked up- damn those eyes! -and Alec almost choked on his own words, "do you want me to take your Blondie away?"
Magnus shook his head and whispered his dissent.
"Alec, it's okay," his mother said calmly, "they're okay. And they realize their mistake," she looked pointedly at them and they both chimed 'we do' , "it's okay, honey, breathe."
Alec did as he was told, just now realizing his own shallow breathing.
"Why don't you go freshen up, and we'll set up dinner, hmm?" His mother offered, but he knew an order when he got one.
It was a few hours later when Alec closed the door behind him again, this time after seeing off his mother and his boyfriend's father. He is not willing to think too much about the suspicious amount of time those two are spending together. No, sir.
They had had a quiet dinner. After which they had spent some time talking business and work, meanwhile, Magnus and Jace had sat quietly on the opposite ends of the couch. Alec, maybe, felt a little bad as those two had remained unusually silent the remaining night. Asmodeus and his mom had put Magnus and Jace to bed, which was usually Alec's job. He could have left and been in bed already, he knows, but he had stayed back out of habit. The habit which brought him to check on his brother even when he is supposed to be mad at the said brother.
Alec was standing at the threshold of Jace's room, which was technically Magnus' guest bedroom, staring at his brother. Jace was reclining on the bed with his phone in his hands, surrounded by too many pillows, that he guessed was his mother's doing.
"Have you taken your medicine?" Alec asked. He knew he sounded more pissed off than he felt at the moment, but his brother deserves it.
Jace gave a dismissive hum. Alec frowned. 'Where's the apology, idiot? ' He wanted to ask. "Do you need anything before I leave?" He ended up asking, instead.
Jace let the phone drop on his chest before he replied, "I need you to drop the act."
"Act?" Alec snarled, now feeling exactly as pissed off as he sounded.
"Okay," Jace replied, rolling his eyes, "then stop being angry."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because Lydia just called, apparently you're a shit friend."
Alec frowned, in confusion this time, "what has that got to do with anything?"
"Trade-off."
Alec stared at his brother for a minute, eyebrows raising higher the longer Jace took to continue, realizing his brother thought those two words explained it all, he asked, "And that's supposed to mean?"
"I can talk to Lydia and tell her what an amazing brother you've been and tell her all about Magnus, something you've failed to do so far." Alec can see how that would be useful. "But in return, you don't stay mad at me."
The two brothers were engaged in an intense stare-off. Alec clenched his teeth as he considered the offer. He remembered how Lydia had instructed her assistant to not let him enter. Jace, on the other hand, wondered if this would work.
In the end, Alec's shoulders drooped. Giving in, he sighed, "Alright fine."
"Awesome!" Jace grinned.
Alec rolled his eyes, "You're an idiot, you know that?" Jace nodded, grin in place. "But really, Jace, we all worry about you guys. You can't be here beating each other up while Raphael and I, and everyone else, are running circles so that you guys can be comfortable."
Jace had an apologetic look on his face, "I'm sorry, Alec, but honestly, it was an accident, I was supposed to dodge but I was too fucking slow."
"No!" Alec snapped, "do not even think about training right now, not for three more weeks! Or I swear I'll chain you to the bed!"
"Geez, Alec, go be kinky with the guy in the other room," Jace said feigning disgust.
"Shut up!" Alec could feel his face heating, a second time that day, at just the mention of his boyfriend.
"Go apologize to him," that trapped Alec's attention, "he's probably blaming himself and you weren't kind about it at all."
Shit!
"Yep," Jace replied as if he heard Alec's inner cussing, which seeing as how close they were, Jace probably saw it written on his face.
But Alec wasn't willing to admit Jace was right, not today, "just...go to sleep, good night!"
Alec could still hear Jace's giggles from where he stood outside Magnus' room, away from the door, gathering the courage to actually go inside and see the man.
He took a deep breath before stepping into the doorway. He knocked softly, making his presence known. Magnus looked up from the book he had been reading. "Alexander?"
"Hi," Alec managed to get out, after way too much effort.
Magnus looked so soft in the warm light of the lamp. The guy had given up on t-shirts or shirts and his robe, which he usually wore, was already folded on the chair near the balcony. So, yeah, his shoulders, arms, and collar-bone were on full display for Alec to admire. It's not a unique sight for Alec, but usually, when he comes over in the morning, he is in a rush which doesn't leave much time for just looking at how beautiful the man in front of him really is. He vows, if he's allowed, he would appreciate the sight in the morning a little more... a lot more.
"I didn't think you'd want to see me tonight," Magnus admitted, fiddling with the cover of the book.
"Um...sorry about that," Alec apologized, rubbing the back of his neck as he took a couple of steps into the room.
"No, it's...I'm sorry, Alexander, I didn't mean to hurt Jace," Magnus glanced at him for a second before looking down at the book again. "You were right, we should have been more careful-"
"Magnus, please stop," Alec interrupted the guy, quickly walking up to the bed, he sat down, with one of his legs folded under him. "I know you didn't want to hurt Jace, I know it was an accident, I don't blame you." The crushed look in Magnus' eyes made his heart clench. "I'm sorry if I made you feel like I was blaming you for Jace getting hurt, he can manage it on his own even on a normal day," that made Magnus giggle, "I just...I was worried about you guys."
He took Magnus's hand in his own when the guy reached out. "I'm still sorry, Alexander." Magnus shook his head when Alec made to interrupt. "I'm sorry that we made you feel like we took what you guys do for us for granted. We can't wait to be well, so we can return the favor."
Alec blushed, averting Magnus' gaze, he said, "You don't have to, I don't expect anything in return. I just….I care...for you guys...both of you."
Magnus was grinning when Alec looked at him again. He gently squeezed Alec's hand, "I know," he said with a smug air, "kinda what makes you so special, Alexander."
"I... I'm not-"
"You're not what? Special?" Magnus quirked an eyebrow and Alec shook his head in response. "You're very special, Alexander," he paused, "to us... both of us."
Alec chuckled, "you're both terrible."
Magnus laughed, and Alec treasured the sight. The laugh turned into a yawn. "I should really leave you to rest."
Alec moved to get up but paused when Magnus tugged at his hand. "No, stay!" Magnus cried.
"Magnus, you need to sleep," he said, as he slowly got up still leaning over Magnus. He moved their joined hands to Magnus' chest, hoping to gently remove his hand but his boyfriend held on.
"Stay with me?" Magnus almost whispered the question.
The air between them suddenly felt electric.
"Magnus…," Alec gulped, thinking of how best to put it, "I don't…we shouldn't...I mean we haven't even had our first date yet."
Magnus' eyes widened, "No, no, no, no!"
Alec leaned away, "Uh...ok-"
Magnus tugged Alec harder this time, forcing him to sit on the bed again, closer. "Alexander, I'm not saying no to our first date. Definitely want that. But I was asking you to just sleep with me. Not 'sleep' sleep. I meant cuddling. You know I'm a sucker for cuddling, I mean all Blondie and I do all day is snuggling on the couch-"
"When you're not fighting," he interrupted.
"When we're not fighting," Magnus gave a light-hearted glare.
Alec grinned at his boyfriend, who grinned back. He brought his hand up to cup Magnus' neck. He caressed his cheek before leaning in kissing his boyfriend's soft lips. There was nothing passionate about the kiss, just a simple press of his lips against Magnus, but it felt like coming home. Though it ended a little too soon for Alec, they stayed close, foreheads leaning together.
"So…," Magnus trailed off, shifting away slightly to look into Alec's eyes.
He nodded, not needing his boyfriend to repeat the question.
Alec started to get into bed, but Magnus stopped him, "No."
Alec gave him a questioning glance, standing half off the bed with one hand on Magnus' arm while the other was halted mid-air holding one corner of the covers.
"I meant to get in through this side," Magnus said gesturing towards his left, "I can't sleep on this side, and I want," he paused, continuing softly, "I want you to hold me."
Alec couldn't stop the pure glee that spread on his face when his brain finally processed his boyfriend's words. Grinning from ear to ear, he quickly moved around the bed, picking up the covers on Magnus' left, he got into the bed, shifting closer to his boyfriend.
There was a nervous tension between them, as this was uncharted territory for them. It shouldn't be so, because cuddling was a commonplace thing between Magnus and Jace, but to Alec, it felt like a huge step in their relationship.
Magnus turned away from him, he grabbed Alec's and slowly- not because of apprehension but as it was his injured hand -moved it across his middle. Alec shifted close, spooning him from behind, he tentatively placed his hand on Magnus' bare stomach. Magnus closed the lamp on the bedside table and placed his hand over Alec's.
"Alexander," Magnus said a couple of minutes later. He hummed. "You left the lights on in the living room." Alec groaned and pressed closer into his warm giggling boyfriend. "C'mon now," Magnus insisted.
"Shhhhh," Alec shushed his boyfriend, clenching his eyes shut, not willing to leave.
"You know you won't be able to sleep if you don't."
Alec groaned louder, he moved away from his boyfriend- 'cause fuck if Magnus wasn't right and the voice at the back of his head was already starting up -shoving the covers back he jumped out of the bed.
It took Alec less than a minute to run around the apartment and complete his nightly checklist. With no hesitation this time around, he put his arm around Magnus and pulled him close, pressing his forehead to the back of his boyfriend's neck. He breathed in the comforting scent of his boyfriend. What exactly is this smell? It's on the tip of his tongue yet he can't recall!
The soft caress of Magnus' fingers drawing patterns on the back of his hand comforted his usually agitated brain and he was drowsy before he could work himself into a frenzy. He pressed a kiss to his boyfriend's shoulder as he was pulled under.