Chapter Text
Alec stared in utter disbelief as Jace burst through the door, entwined with his red-headed girlfriend, lips locked together, both of them making obscene noises that should have been utterly illegal in the presence of anybody else.
And they were not in private.
Alec supposed that he was probably supposed to know the name of Jace's now-girlfriend. Clara, or something? He had to give it to her, she'd managed to keep Jace for more than four weeks, which beat any other girl he'd been interested in by about twenty-seven days. She was alright, really, but Alec didn't particularly want to listen to her blather on about artwork again.
He coughed pointedly from where he sat on his bed. No way would he let them make-out (or, god forbid, worse) when he was in the room.
"Jace," he snapped.
Jace removed a hand from where it was tangled in Clary's (that was it, Clary) hair, and flipped up his middle finger in Alec's general direction. He pulled his lips away a moment later, turned to Alec, and said, "Fuck off, Alec."
Alec narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me, Herondale, you just burst into the room which I am in. I'm not watching you two grope each other."
Clary, at least, had the decency to look embarrassed. Her cheeks turned a shade of red that would rival even Alec's most furious flush, but she didn't say anything. Maybe she was a little intimidated by Alec - he hadn't exactly been warm and welcoming to her - or maybe she just really, really wanted to get Jace on his own.
Jace, on the other hand, looked unconcerned. "If you don't want to watch, leave."
Alec opened his mouth to argue, but Jace was back at it, pushing Clary towards the bed now, fingers running along the hem of her tank top.
Gaping at the display, Alec leapt up off his bed, snatched his phone from the dresser, and stormed out of the room. He slammed the door behind him, strode out into the hallway, and huffed. He had nowhere to go. He could go to a coffee shop, but he didn't have his wallet with him. It was in his room. It was raining outside, so wandering around for a few hours didn't sound particularly appealing. And he'd left his headphones in his room, so had nothing to do while he stood aimlessly in the hallway, his fellow college students rushing around him.
Then Magnus Bane walked past him.
As per usual, Magnus was dressed in bright, sinful clothing: tight red skinny jeans, a shimmering golden tank-top, and a casual dark jacket that did good things for his shoulders. Alec totally didn't find the tastefully-applied make-up attractive, he had no interest in that gelled-up, glitter-covered hair, and he most definitely hadn't ever gazed at Magnus' ass.
At least, that was what he told himself.
Magnus walked past him without evening glancing in Alec's direction. He looked stressed, as though he had a hundred and one things to do and only five minutes to spare. Knowing the number of parties Magnus went to, that was probably true.
Alec watched Magnus as he walked down the corridor to his room, two down from Alec and Jace's room, and then smiled wryly. Magnus' roommate, Will, whom Alec knew vaguely through Jace, had some poor soul pressed up against the door, and in full view of the corridor was kissing the hell out of him.
"William," Magnus snapped. "Move. I've got a million things I need to do, and—"
"Oh, loosen up, Bane," Will said, not really looking at Magnus.
Magnus raised one eyebrow, his expression dangerous. If Alec were under that gaze, he'd have moved. Will, though, didn't seem to care.
"Will." Magnus jabbed a finger into Will's back. "Get out of my way, or I swear to god—"
"We're moving," Will said. He shot Magnus a sickly sweet smile, then yanked open the door and dragged himself and the other guy through, before shutting it with a bang in Magnus' face.
Magnus looked utterly astonished. Then his face morphed into a scowl, and he whirled round. His eyes rested on Alec, who was watching him with something between amusement and sympathy.
"Let me guess," Magnus said, "Blondie chucked you out, too."
"Possibly," Alec said, shrugging.
The next five minutes were spent in silence. They both stood there, neither looking at the other. Alec winced when he heard a shout come from inside his room that most certainly didn't come from Clary. God, why couldn't these people control themselves? It wasn't like Alec spent all his time in the room. Why couldn't they have gone somewhere else, or done this some other time, damn it?
He felt Magnus' eyes on him. After a few minutes of Magnus staring at Alec pretending not to notice, Alec glanced across at Magnus, and met his strange, yellow-green eyes. He reddened just a little at Magnus' pointed attention.
"Please," Magnus said, "can we get out of here? If I hear any more sounds coming from my room..."
He didn't need to finish his sentence. Alec understood. "Where do you want to go?"
Magnus didn't miss a beat. "Somewhere that sells coffee."
Alec smiled. "Late night?"
"Yeah. Studying." Magnus glared.
"I haven't got any money with me," Alec said, "but I'll go with you. I'm bored as hell."
Magnus beamed. Without further ado, they strode out of the building and Magnus lead the way across to what he deemed the best coffee shop in Brooklyn. It was a little place on the corner of a street called Taki's. Alec had never noticed it before, but Magnus rattled off some overly-complex order as though he'd been there a thousand times. He probably had.
"And a black coffee," Magnus added.
The barista blinked in what looked to Alec like surprise, then asked for the money. Magnus handed it over, then they waited to one side for Magnus' order. When Magnus collected the two cups, he handed one to Alec.
"Here," he said. "You look like you need it as much as I do."
Alec immediately protested. "You paid, and we barely know each other, and I don't have any money to pay you back. I can't take it."
"I insist," Magnus said, pushing the cup firmly into Alec's hands. "Besides, we can fix both those problems. We can get to know each other better on Friday, over coffee, in here. You can pay." Magnus' eyes sparkled as he looked at Alec, and Alec found himself rendered speechless.
He stuttered. "You- Are you- You just asked me out."
"Well spotted, Alexander," Magnus said, grinning. Alec didn't know why Magnus called him that, but he always had. "So, what do you say?"
Alec nodded, smiling. "Okay. Do you want my number?"
They exchanged numbers, then wandered around the city, drinks in hand, laughing and talking. Alec realised that he really didn't mind that he'd been kicked out of his room. In fact, if it meant that he could spend more time with Magnus, Jace was welcome to have sex with Clary in their room any time he liked.