Chapter Text
"This is going to sound weird... But can you give me a hug, like right now?"
Alec Lightwood just stared, wide-eyed, at the beautiful boy, Magnus Bane -- of the popular crowd -- suddenly hunching over next to the side of his open locker, as if trying to hide. He seemed to be glancing at him with a desperate look on his face.
"What?" Alec breathed, still a bit shellshocked at this development in front of him. He squinted at Magnus, adjusting his glasses, which had fallen slightly off the bridge of his nose.
"So, this guy has been wanting to go out with me, and he won’t take no for an answer. He just followed me around the corner. Please, just a hug -- just to get this guy off my butt," Magnus said kittenishly. "Please?"
Suddenly, huge soft brown eyes were gazing into his. Magenta highlighted dark bangs fell across his face. Alec was mesmerized.
Right, Magnus Bane, beautiful, popular, and openly bisexual, without a care in the world…
Alec's knees turned to mush. "Uh, okay..." he managed to say, the rest of his brain short circuiting.
Awkwardly, he looped both of his lanky arms – seriously he hated how stringy they seemed, so skinny with barely any definition – over the glimmering dark and magenta highlighted head of the boy – until they rested at the base of his neck.
Alec just stood there, stiffly, not knowing what to do next.
A soft laugh by his ear tickled his skin, and it made Alec blush.
“You’re so stiff,” Magnus tittered. “Here…” Suddenly the lithe body of the boy nestled in closer, sinking into their embrace. Arms of a wonderful weight wrapped themselves around Alec’s torso, and Magnus’s face, with his sharp nose and soft lips, buried deeply into Alec’s shoulder.
Alec took a deep breath, yielding to all the suddenly conflicting sensations.
He had never hugged anyone like this before. It was amazing.
Taking a chance, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. The pleasant aroma of a woodsy pine filled his nostrils.
His eyes then flew open, and suddenly he had locked gazes with whoever Magnus was talking about. This tall guy with sandy blond hair and green eyes.
Jonathan.
Alec’s mind was suddenly racing.
The star quarterback of the football team.
Who was now assessing Alec coolly while he was embracing Magnus.
They stared at one another for what seemed like an eternity. Normally, Alec would cower and back down. But today, he felt oddly protective. So he swallowed down whatever normal fear he would have felt and stared back.
Defiantly.
Slowly, a smile crept onto the guy’s face.
“Ah, so I see. You like to play, Magnus? “ he said in a soft voice that bordered on teasing. “Hmm true to what I’ve heard about you. Well, that’s cool. I like a challenge. You can’t get rid of me that easily…”
He didn’t even flinch at Alec’s direct stare.
The guy turned and walked on down the hallway, whistling.
Then he was out of sight.
Alec froze as the words echoed in his head.
What had he meant by that? It had sounded…okay. And yet, there was just that little edge he’d thought he detected…
But regardless…no one deserved to be hounded like that!
A flare of anger shot through his veins…
Then he felt Magnus sigh, his body settling against his, and the anger dissipated. Now his concern was solely on the boy in his arms again.
“Hey,” Alec said gruffly, his lips close to Magnus’s ear. “He’s gone. You don’t need to hide anymore…”
Alec could feel Magnus’s entire body relax as it slumped in his arms. It sent pleasant shivers through Alec – even more for him to realize that the other boy was seeking solace in his embrace.
Magnus suddenly threw back his head to gaze upwards at him with a joyous smile.
“Oh, thank god,” he breathed. “And I’m so, so, so very sorry I had to do that just now. I hope you don’t hate me –"
Alec frowned.
“That’s Jonathan, right?” Alec asked hesitantly. “The star quarterback?”
Magnus nodded.
“What he said to you…Um, does he say stuff like that to you every time? Should we report that to the principal or something? It sounded just the little bit…daunting,” he stated.
Magnus regarded him intensely for a moment, his soft brown eyes inspecting him carefully.
Alec’s breath caught.
“Wow,” Magnus said. “You are actually concerned for me, even though I just put you in an awkward position! Who are you?”
His voice held such wonder and his eyes such gratitude.
Alec's cheeks grew warm.
Even though the question was probably rhetorical, and not requiring any answer whatsoever, Alec suddenly felt compelled to answer.
“I’m Alec. Alec Lightwood,” he answered, almost in a mumble.
He wasn’t very good at talking to people, especially not gorgeous people like Magnus. Even though he had just done him a favor and just shared a hug with him…
The thought of that alone made him feel warm -- again.
Magnus’s eyes brightened, and he tittered again.
“You blush so much! It’s really cute,” he said happily. “Don’t be nervous. You just saved me, seriously. I don’t even know how I could ever repay you. He’s been bothering me for the last 3 weeks. I really just wish he would go away!”
He pouted, and Alec couldn’t help but think that was the most adorable pout he had ever seen.
Not to mention those bee stung lips -- however, it was probably best that Alec put those thoughts away for another day –
Or just put them away permanently…
“Well, Alec – I’m Magnus. Magnus Bane,” the boy said confidently. “I’m usually pretty formal and it would just be a handshake between acquaintances. But I guess we are too far along for that, now, aren’t we? So I guess we can hug on it, eh?”
And before Alec could respond back, Magnus had embraced Alec again, the smell of sandalwood overcoming Alec’s senses.
Multiple hugs from a gorgeous guy in less than half an hour? Now this was too much!
Eventually the pretty boy pulled away, gazing at him affectionately. Alec fought to catch his breath.
Alec looked at Magnus, wide-eyed. “I know who you are. You’re kinda hard to miss. You’re involved with everything in school,” he said slowly. “But wait, you thought I didn’t know? And you still came up to me to ask for a hug?”
Magnus shrugged. “You were the best option at the time – closest, if I were to be exact. But you also seemed really kind, so I didn’t think it would hurt to ask,” he said honestly.
Alec thought about that reasoning for a moment.
“Eh, works for me,” he said, giving Magnus a small smile.
Regarding the statement about school involvement, Magnus Bane was definitely all of the above.
He was the type that knew anyone and everyone in school. He held a high profile. Meanwhile, Alec kept mostly to himself, except for his best friend Jace, who had an in with the popular crowd, and his sister Isabelle, who was also popular but still made sure that no one messed with Alec.
But other than that, Alec wasn’t really worth anything –
“Wait…” Magnus appeared to hesitate as his face scrunched up adorably.
He was still standing very close to Alec, despite the fact that the blond, green eyed threat had gone. Alec nearly flinched at the proximity – he could have sworn that he could feel the gentle flickering of Magnus’s long lashes against his cheek, as soft as butterfly wings. “I know of you too. I think you were in some of my classes. Even afterschool – wait…are you Alexander Lightwood from the Archery Club?” he asked in wonder.
Wow, Magnus knew of that. “Uh, I am,” he said.
“You’re Isabelle’s brother!” Magnus said in wonder. “She and I came by the auditorium during the orientation week to hear about it and to try it out at the booth in front. Unfortunately, archery didn’t agree with me –”
Magnus shook his head as if expressing deep regret.
Alec however just stared at the boy, as he was still being ridiculously cute beyond compare.
“But you were the one demonstrating on stage, right? You must need to be so strong to wield that bow and arrow. It was so tough for me!” he protested.
“Um, I manage alright. I’ve been doing it for years; it’s like nothing, “Alec said modestly, now flushing again but for a different reason.
Wow, Magnus actually thought this was a good thing? He wouldn’t have believed it.
“Well,” Alec ventured hesitantly, “Maybe I can show you sometime.”
“You mean, like private lessons?” Magnus said, his eyes growing wide.
“Private?” Alec’s brain short-circuited at that very moment, as very inappropriate thoughts, now filled with sandalwood-scented moments, soft brown eyes, and that perfect face threatened to overtake his imagination.
“Uh, no, no, no,” he said hastily, feeling the warmth creep up his neck yet again. Oh god, could he just stop flushing? This was getting ridiculous. “I just meant I could show you at the next Archers meeting.”
“Ah,” Magnus said, nodding as if completely understanding now. “Most definitely. I’ll mention it to Isabelle, and I will head over with her the next time.” He then flashed Alec a big smile, making his heart thump erratically.
Just then the bell rang.
“Oh, it’s time for dance class! I gotta go,” Magnus said. He looked at Alec intensely for a moment, and Alec’s breath hitched. “Maybe I’ll see you in Archery tomorrow?” he asked.
“Sure, come on by. I’ll be there,” Alec said. Then he kicked himself inwardly for saying something that silly. Of course he would be there. He was President of the damn club, after all! Sheesh. Stop it, stupid brain, he thought, irritated.
“Oh, you’re cute,” Magnus laughed.
Leaning in, he pressed his lips lightly to Alec’s cheek. “Thanks again, you’re my hero. Never forget that!” he whispered in Alec’s ear.
Then he was gone in a flash.
Alec just stayed rooted to the spot by his locker.
It wasn’t even a real kiss, just a press of lips to cheek. But it was still a kiss - -and Alec was freaking out.
Fuck, he thought. He couldn’t breathe.
And, oh god. He now had a crush.
On Magnus Bane.
……..
“Heeeey.” Alec nearly jumped at the sound of the lovely voice as he stood by his locker.
Magnus. Pretty boy.
Holy hell, he came out of nowhere….
Alec took one second to gather his bearings – or whatever was left of them – as he looked, wide-eyed, into the now slightly more familiar soft brown eyes of Magnus Bane. Whom he had only started talking to – if you could even call it talking -- just a few days ago…
“Sorry if I scared you,” the ethereal boy said, smiling shyly. “Although I might just make it more of a practice, especially if it brings out this super cute reaction in you.”
Man he had no idea what reaction it caused … Uh, focus, Alec! he reprimanded himself. No inappropriate thoughts right now, and especially for someone you could never have…
Then Magnus seemed to lean in to peer at him more closely. “Wait, I just figured out why you look different today. You aren’t wearing your glasses!” he said, surprised.
“Uh, yea,” Alec said, feeling a bit awkward. “I do wear my contacts from time to time, but they do get to be a pain to put in at times…”
Magnus was still looking at him.
“I never knew you had hazel eyes,” he said in wonder. “Behind the glasses, they looked brown. Such long lashes too…”
The way Magnus was scrutinizing him was threatening to unnerve Alec right then and there…
“Uhh,” Alec said, inhaling sharply to compose himself. “What’s up, Magnus?” Then he frowned. “What are you doing here? Isn’t it dance class for you right now?” He recalled the encounter from the other day had been a bit earlier than this time.
Magnus looked askance and then back at him under lowered lashes. Alec’s breath caught.
“Yea, well, about that…” Magnus said. “I saw Jonathan again, so I didn’t want to go. So I kinda skipped out.”
“What?” Alec said, astonished. That shouldn’t be a reason to skip class! Annoyance flared up within him.
“Oh, it’s not really a big deal,” Magnus said indifferently. “It’s senior year, anyway, and I usually do attend class. I just didn’t feel like seeing him around, and to know he’s in the same class with me that’s all. Anyway, I think I can afford to skip just this one time.”
He leaned his lithe body against the side of the lockers, and Alec couldn’t help but notice how good he had pulled together his outfit of body hugging black mid-sleeve tee with splashes of silver glitter on the front, dark wash jeans that flared out slightly at the bottom, and silver leather shoes.
Also, there appeared to be silver glitter along his cheekbone! To match the shirt? Oh god, the whole look was so pulled together – with an expertise that Alec couldn’t even fathom…
How did this boy always look like such a knockout?
“Anyway,” Magnus suddenly said, tilting his head, as if an idea had just come to him, “What are you doing now?”
“Me?” Alec all but squeaked.
He needed to stop reacting like this. What was wrong with him? “Uh, nothing? I’m actually free this period?” he managed to get out.
Magnus grinned widely, and it seemed like his entire being grinned. It was beautiful.
“Should we go grab something to eat? I don’t know about you, but I didn’t have breakfast this morning and I’m famished. Maybe we can get an early lunch?” Magnus said casually.
What? “Lunch? With me?” Alec asked. “You…are asking me to go get lunch with you?”
You are alright with…being seen with me? Alec thought. Shit, now he knew he must have hit his head on something this morning upon waking up. There was no way this was happening. One of the popular boys, and not just any popular boy, this beautiful crazy one was not asking him to go get lunch with him…
Magnus inched his neck out dramatically into the hallway, looking left, then right.
“Uh, I don’t see anyone else that I’m asking,” Magnus said. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost…”
He reached out to touch Alec’s forearm. And his hand lingered.
Alec’s eyes went straight to Magnus’s hand on his arm as he froze. Oh my god, now his arm was tingling madly.
He gulped, taking deep breaths, but trying to remain composed in front of Magnus.
“Lunch? Ah, sure. I brought my lunch, but I’m open to going to the cafeteria with you, I mean, if that’s where you are going,” he said slowly.
“How about the bleachers in the Courtyard outside?” Magnus suggested. “I usually just grab things to go. It’s nice weather –”
“If…that’s what you want to do,” Alec said. Inside, his mind was racing. The courtyard – that was where all the popular kids usually sat during lunch. Chatting, flirting, horsing around – everyone knew where they hung out.
And now Magnus was asking him to hang out there with him today…
Well, Alec reasoned. It was relatively early, so probably no one was around. Thus it would be “safe” for Magnus and Alec to hang out there .
He didn’t think he would be invited, otherwise…
But then again, his thoughts about Magnus and his status in school were already changing.
Magnus was actually pretty nice and polite, and he had never said any disparaging words to him, or said stuff like “Ugh, so why are you into this and this? That's so boring or not interesting” – like some other popular kids had acted toward him in the past.
No, Magnus had not been that way at all.
“Maybe you can talk to me a bit more about archery,” Magnus said, smiling genuinely.
“You don’t really want to hear about that, do you?” Alec asked, incredulously, forgetting for a minute that everything about Magnus left him tongue-tied. If there was something he could talk about, it was archery.
Magnus shrugged. “Why not? I’m just making conversation. And I know absolutely nothing about it,” he said, his eyes focusing intently upon Alec. “While you are the president of the club. Oops, that means that I probably wasn’t listening during orientation. Sorry about that…”
He looked really contrite.
Alec shrugged. “It’s only a club. It’s no big deal,” he said diffidently. “Anyway, the speech that I made on stage that day, I don’t’ even recall it being all that grandiose. I just wanted to introduce it to others who might have the same interest so we can get to know one another better. And also introduce it to new students who might have an interest but who never had a chance to explore it.”
“Exactly!” Magnus said happily, clapping his hands together. “I’m like one of those new students with an interest. But since we are going out to lunch together, maybe you can take that time to convince me why archery is so awesome.”
Magnus’s voice had lowered slightly at the end, and his hand was still lingering on Alec’s arm, his pretty brown eyes on his.
Alec swallowed hard. How was this even remotely fair, he thought, unable to look away. Did Magnus know the absolute effect this combination of words, voice, and actions had on him – or on anyone? It was completely impossible that Magnus didn’t know.
The combination was devastating. At this point, Alec would probably just end up doing whatever Magnus was asking, no matter what came out of his mouth.
Alec was so gone…and he knew it.
“So,” Magnus said brightly, still gazing at Alec. “Shall we? Lunch?” He gestured toward the hallway.
Alec blinked, coming back to reality. “Uh, yea,” he said, mustering up a smile, looking at Magnus’s smiling face. “Lunch.”
He grabbed his brown bag from his locker, closed it, and turned to face Magnus.
Magnus grinned. They started walking together down the hall toward the cafeteria and Courtyard.