Chapter Text
“Oh, God! Sorry! I’m so sorry, here; let me get that!” Alec hadn’t been looking where he’d been going and had collided with another man in the middle of the thankfully otherwise empty sidewalk. He had been totally engrossed in his phone and had crashed into the other man, sending his papers flying everywhere, folders crashing to the ground and a messenger bag hitting the sidewalk with a loud noise. Alec’s head had shot up at the impact and he fell to a squat quickly, apologies falling from his lips as his hands darted out to grab the other man’s belongings before the wind could catch the loose papers or the folders could get any dirtier. His hands brushed against someone else’s and he looked up, more apologies dying in his throat when he saw his companion for the first time.
“It’s quite alright,” the other man assured with a soft smile. “I wasn’t looking where I was going either. My meeting overran and I had to change my next appointment time, so my head was quite literally somewhere else.”
Alec faltered, his cheeks flaming as his eyes darted away back down to the ground. He gathered up the last bits still on the ground and stood up quickly, pushing the other man’s folders back at him with yet another stuttered apology.
“Magnus Bane,” the man said, accepting the folders and shuffling them into one arm so that he could hold out a carefully-manicured hand. Alec stared at it for a moment before jolting and taking it in his own.
“Alec Lightwood.”
“Well, thank you for helping me pick these up.” The tone Magnus used was far too flirty and did absolutely nothing to help the red flush on Alec’s cheeks.
“It was my fault they ended up on the ground anyway,” Alec muttered, finally releasing Magnus’ hand and moving his own behind his back before he did anything stupid like try and pull the other man into a tight hug and never let him go.
Magnus grinned at him and took a step forward, his voice dropping into a decidedly flirty octave. “I suppose it was, Alexander.”
“I really hope nothing was ruined,” Alec said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, “those papers looked pretty important.”
“Oh, nonsense. They’re for a layout for my magazine but it’s fine--no harm done,” Magnus waved him off with another disarming smile which had Alec stumbling and spluttering. When Alec said nothing else and only looked more awkward, the older man took pity on him and turned on his heel with another grateful smile. Magnus sighed inwardly as he walked away, but it hadn’t looked like Alec had been interested in anything further. Maybe he wasn’t even gay. His blushing probably had more to do with Magnus’s flirting than actual attraction. He resolved to push the other man from his mind, as hard as that task would be. Despite only having met him a matter of moments ago, there was something about Alec that Magnus thought was going to stick in his mind. Magnus looked down at the papers in his hand with a heavy sigh. Damn, that layout really was ruined now – he knew he should have stuck it down before leaving the office.
Alec stood frozen in the middle of the sidewalk for a few moments as he stared after the beautiful man, watching as he walked away from him. He knew right then that he couldn’t let this man go. He was suddenly off before his brain could catch up, running down the sidewalk until he caught up with Magnus. He reached out a hand and pulled the other man gently to a stop.
“I’m sorry,” Alec stammered as Magnus turned to look at him in shock. “This is very forward of me, but I couldn’t just let you go.”
Magnus didn’t say anything as Alec continued, talking himself into a right state. “I know we just met and I made a terrible first impression what with walking right into you and knocking your things everywhere, but I was just wondering if you’d like to go for a coffee or something. Um, with me?” He suddenly pulled his hand away from Magnus like he had been burnt and slapped it over his eyes as another thought hit him.
“Oh God, you’re probably not even gay, are you? It’s just, you know… The make-up and the necklaces; oh shit, that’s so stereotypical. I’m so sorry. Eugh, Izzy’s gonna kill me.” He dropped his head back and groaned loudly, turning on his heel with every intention of running a mile in the opposite direction when Magnus’s voice stopped him in his tracks.
“I’m bisexual actually.”
Alec turned around again slowly and took in Magnus’s smirk as the man continued talking.
“And you’re cute, especially when you blush like that.” Magnus lifted a hand and waved it close to Alec’s face, enjoying as the colour grew even more pronounced when attention was drawn to it. He pretended to ponder for another moment before winking mischievously; “I think I’d rather enjoy that date. With you, I mean.”
“You’re so beautiful,” Alec breathed out before blanching when he realised he had said that aloud. He closed his eyes and cursed himself. “Sorry! I am coming on way too strong. If you want to cancel the date then go ahead. Actually, I think I’d judge you if you didn’t cancel the date.”
“I’m not going to cancel,” Magnus said, a playful smile dancing around his lips.
“Really?” Alec had disbelief written all over his face as he scoffed a self-depreciating laugh. “I’m definitely judging you, then.”
Magnus let out a chuckle and reached out his hand, letting it trail down Alec’s arm teasingly. “But what if I said that I wanted to date you?”
Alec shrugged his shoulders lightly. “It’s your funeral.” He suddenly froze and his eyes opened comically wide. “Oh my God. It wouldn’t actually be your funeral--I’m not going to murder you! Oh shit!” He covered his face with his hands and moaned noisily. “Please feel free to stop me at any time.”
Alec pulled his hands incredulously away from his face when he heard boisterous laughter coming from the other man instead of the hasty retreat that Alec had been expecting. Magnus wiped his eyes delicately and pointed a finger at Alec.
“I think I’m going to like you, Alexander Lightwood.”