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Alec Lightwood didn't get sick. He was too busy for that. He could hold it together until he exploded. He could pull all the bad into himself, so it collapsed into itself like a black hole. He was strong, or maybe just that stubborn. Didn't really matter, because he never got sick all the same. Until he did.
He woke up freezing. His first thought had been that it was because there was no Magnus beside him. His teeth clattered as he hurried to close the window that he had forgotten about the night before. He had been tired, but certain that he’d feel completely normal in the morning.
The world spun as he stood, and he felt some acid rising in his throat. He swallowed repeatedly, bend with his hands on his knees, until he could feel both his mind and stomach settling. He shivered, wrapping his arms around himself.
He checked the time and found himself wondering what had woken him up at two o’clock at night. He did the first thing that came to mind and grabbed his phone to call Magnus. It only rang twice.
“Who dares to disturb the High Warlock’s sleep!?” Magnus’ voice was threatening but groggy. He had been asleep, dreaming of Alexander’s soft lips and fluttering touches. He had been too disgruntled about the interruption to check the caller ID.
“Heyy, Magnus…” Alec’s lips gained a goofy smile. He missed Magnus’ voice. The authority in it sent a not unwelcome shiver down his spine. He did not regret waking him. He laid down on the bed and pulled his blanket over his head.
“Alexander?” Magnus sat up in his bed at the loft. He was instantly overcome with worry, his mind throwing endless dangerous possibilities at him. “What’s wrong, darling?” If Alec called him at such a time it must be important.
“You’re warm. And you’re not here. And I’m gonna freeze to death without you.” Alec whined his slurred words. He wrapped his arms around himself, accidentally dropping his phone in the process, and imagined it was Magnus whose embrace he was in. There were faint sounds coming from the phone. He recognised them as Magnus’ voice and fell back to sleep, feeling warmer.
“What? Darling, what’s going on? What are you talking about? Are you alright?” Magnus rubbed his tired eyes as he waited for a response. When all he got was quiet, he repeated his words, louder this time. “Darling? Darling, are you there?” He stood and paced around the room. ‘To hell with it.’ he thought and conjured a portal to the Institute. It was warded, but he could portal right in, considering they were his wards. He did the spell with one hand, the other still holding his phone to his ear, in the hope Alec would respond.
He stepped through the portal directly into Alec’s room. He rushed to Alec’s bed, seeing a lump under the blanket on it. “Alexander?” He called to it. He pulled the blanket away, unsure of what to expect. He was met with the sight of his Alexander, curled up, phone still lit beside him, illuminating his face. His soft hair was sticking to his forehead, wet with sweat. His lips were parted to accommodate his heavy breathing, his cheeks flushed.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Magnus sighed softly, pushing Alec’s hair back and feeling his burning forehead. He stilled his movements when Alec stirred.
His eyes fluttered open slowly. The dopey smile came back as recognised Magnus by his silhouette. He moped his inability to see him clearly with a pout. “You’re heere.” He reached out and held Magnus’ face in his hand, marvelling at the chance to do so. When he felt Magnus’ smile, he removed his hand and pulled Magnus down by the shoulder.
Magnus yelped, falling onto the bed, losing his balance in his surprise. He was about to scold his boyfriend when he felt him snuggle further into him and murmur to himself. “What was that darling?” He asked instead, playing with the mop of hair that was laid on his shoulder.
“You’re warrrm. You’re so warm. Your body’s warm and your hands are warm and your voice and words are warm. You make my heart warm and then I feel like I won’t freeze anymore. I’m so happy you’re here.” He dozed off before he even finished the sentence, his lips staying in a satisfied smile.
Magnus couldn’t help his own smile. He wrapped himself around Alec to keep him as warm as he wanted and fell into a slight slumber himself, his tiredness and the comfort of Alec’s body pressed into his forcing his eyes closed.
Alec was always meticulous with everything he did, especially paperwork that could make situations into entirely different ones. Even in his sleep, his mind was wired enough to wake him on time for every event.
This time though, it was different. His fever was high, and he was exhausted. His face was pressed into Magnus’ chest, and there was nothing his mind would consider more important than keeping himself warm and in Magnus’ arms. He almost wished it wasn’t so, when he kept on sleeping passed the time he should have been already working and the important paperwork his mind had forgotten to wake him up for was his mother’s arrival from Idris.
It was around seven, when Maryse slammed the door to his room open, a reprimand on the tip of her tongue. She stopped dead in her tracks when her mind registered the sleeping warlock in her son’s bed.
Magnus was on his back, both his arms tightly around Alec, who was on his side against him, one arm over his torso, the other’s hand fisted in Magnus’ shirt, gripping it so his knuckles turned white. Under the covers, their legs were intertwined, keeping each other in place, grounded.
Maryse stood in the doorway for a solid two minutes, her left eye twitching. Jace was the one to get her out of her stupor. He stumbled out of his room, yawning. He greeted her while walking past and turned back on his heels when she didn’t even twitch.
“Are you alright? Maryse?” He strolled to her side and a smirk took over his face when he saw the position his brother and Magnus were in. He scrambled to find his phone in one of his pockets but stopped when Maryse registered his presence and glared at him. He chuckled at the ridiculous situation.
Maryse huffed and straightened her back then stomped into the room, determined. She pulled the covers off them. Alec only had his pants on while Magnus only had his shirt and boxers. She directed her eyes at the wall above her son’s bed when they stirred.
“Mom!” Alec yelped and sat up. In an instance of clarity, he straightened and looked for an excuse. It passed and as his eyes turned glassy again, he threw himself back onto his back and buried his face into Magnus’ stomach. “Go awaaay! I’m cuddling with my love!”
Jace couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into booming laughter as Maryse turned red from anger and Magnus cooed at his barely coherent boyfriend. Maryse gave him another glare, but he just continued laughing. She straightened her jacket stiffly and sniffed with her nose high in the air.
Magnus was now sitting up, his back against the headboard. He spoke before Maryse collected herself enough to. “Chop, chop, Maryse. You heard your son.” He sounded endlessly smug. He leant down to kiss his boyfriend’s forehead. Alec gave a sleepy, peaceful hum.
“Get out!” Maryse screeched. Alec’s head snapped up, his expression full of confusion. Magnus stroked his cheek and offered him a smile. It was enough for Alec to decide Magnus could handle himself against his mother. He laid his head back onto Magnus’ stomach, face first. “Get out of my Institute! Get away from my son! Jace!”
When she called him, Jace snapped to attention as he was trained to, his face going serious. As his eyes landed on the couple again, his smile came back. “What do you need Maryse?” He stepped forward, his voice cheerful.
“Get this warlock away from your brother please!” Magnus rolled his eyes and stood, feeling great regret when Alec whined.
“Shh, darling.” He shushed him quietly and pet his head. Alec calmed immediately. Magnus turned to Maryse when he was sure Alec was asleep, nose in the place Magnus’ smell and warmth were the densest. He found her arguing with Jace.
“But Alec seems sick, and you know how he is when sick! Why would you want to take Magnus from him if he’s this calm with him here?” Maryse didn’t seem to care for any arguments. Jace eyed Magnus apologetically.
Magnus nodded to him, grateful for his support. He thought Jace hadn’t really cared for him. In truth, there was very little Jace wouldn’t put up with if it meant his brother was happy. The warlock felt terrible about leaving his boyfriend when the latter was sick, but he couldn’t heal him, and he doubted Maryse would be any gladder about Magnus taking Alec to his loft. He just hoped Alec wouldn’t be too miserable without him.
Jace moved to the bed to check on his parabatai. Magnus took one last look at Alec and pressed his lips to the crown of his head. “Rest, my darling.” He whispered and closed his eyes to send the tiniest bit of magic to sweeten Alec’s dreams. As he moved to conjure a portal, Alec’s hand grabbed at his shirt once again.
“Don’t. Don’t go. What am I without you? I’ll freeze without your love, love.” Magnus scoffed to get rid of the lump that made its home in his throat.
“Without me, you are still Alec. A strong and witty shadowhunter. Besides, I’m not leaving you. I’m just going to my loft.” He avoided the word home, because Alec wouldn’t be there. “You’ll be alright Alexander. Sleep now.” Alec closed his eyes in the hope he’ll get to see Magnus soon.
The last words Magnus heard as he portaled back to his loft were of Maryse Lightwood ordering not to let Alec leave the Institute and not to let him back in. He looked around his Alec-less apartment, sighed and started to get ready for his clients.
It took only an hour filled with three clients for the front door to open without his permission. He never felt his wards being breeched. He thought someone very powerful must have removed them. He checked and they were still there. His fingers sparkled with magic in warning as he turned a corner and faced his intruder.
Alec giggled adorably as he saw the magic that would scare even the toughest of creatures when wrapped around Magnus’ hands. He simply leaned forward, pressed their lips together and said with a sweet voice. “You’re pretty when you sparkle.” He strolled passed the bewildered warlock.
Magnus looked into his hallway to find no one there. He closed his door and turned to Alec, who had already sprawled himself on Magnus’ couch. His head turned from side to side as he searched the room, his eyes lighting up as he found Magnus. He reached up his arms with hopeful eyes. “Cuddles?”
Magnus lips twitched up. “How could I say no when you ask me so sweetly.” He took Alec by his forearms to lift him up enough to sit under his upper half. He pressed his palm to Alec’s forehead as soon as they were settled. He clicked his tongue in displeasure.
“What’s wrong?” Alec’s eyes snapped open again and he frantically searched Magnus for something that might be wrong.
“Your fever seems to have worsened.” He conjured a thermometer. “Open up and lift your tongue, darling.” Alec let him place it into his mouth while looking up at him, relieved.
“That’s okay then. As long as your okay.” Magnus shushed him with a stern look. He quieted down but reached up a hand to marvel at the softness of Magnus’ hair.
When the thermometer beeped, it seemed too soon. They had gotten lost in each other’s eyes. Magnus took it and ignored the way Alec tried to grab for it. He chewed on his lip in worry. “103.8 F. Oh sweetheart. Are you cold?” He was already conjuring a blanket from his bed.
“Not really. You keep me warm.” He still burrowed in the blanket.
They stayed like that for some minutes before a thought occurred to Magnus. “Sweetheart.” He shook him a little to get him to pay attention. “How did you get here?”
Alec looked adorable with ruffled hair and a confused frown. “I walked! How else!” He giggled again, a drop of sweat running down his forehead.
“By yourself?” Sure, Alec was a shadowhunter but walking with a fever as high as he had, dressed only a thin shirt and plaid pants all the way from the Institute by himself seemed inherently dangerous. Alec didn’t seem to understand that in his state. Another thought made itself known in Magnus’ mind and his eyes widened in further worry. “Darling, does anyone know you’re here?”
Alec giggled conspiratorially and leaned up with difficulty to press another tender kiss to Magnus’ lips. He fell back as soon as their lips parted. “I’m not sharing you with anybody. Ever.” He pulled Magnus closer to him with each word, hands gently placed on his cheeks until he was close enough for another kiss. One soon turned to ten quick pecks. “You taste soooo sweet.” Another kiss. “I never want to stop kissing you.”
Suddenly, Alec seemed terribly worried. He let go of his face. “Wait! Can you get sick?” Before Magnus could deny, Alec continued, his eyes shining with tears, voice panicked. “Oh no! I got you sick! Magnus I’m so sorry.”
Magnus couldn’t help but huff out a short laugh. “No, darling. I can’t get sick.” He stroked Alec’s hair in adoration.
“Oh. Okay.” He pulled him into yet another kiss, this one deeper, longer.
“Darling! Alexander.” Magnus regretted stopping him both because the loss of Alec’s lips on his own and because of the longing look in Alec’s eyes that he knew reflected his own. “We need to tell one of your siblings that you’re here.”
“Whyyy?” Magnus hated when Alec felt bad, but he couldn’t deny that hearing him whine was quite amusing.
“They’ll be worried.” Alec thought about it and eventually nodded with a pout.
“Fine.” He said petulantly. “But – but. You’re still only mine. I’m not sharing you.” He was adamant in his words. Magnus couldn’t help but coo.
“Only yours, darling.” Alec’s nod was one of immense satisfaction. He grabbed his phone from the table in front of them, in the process having to come very close to Alec’s face with his chest, though by the smirk on his face, he didn’t really mind.
“Magnus!” He was greeted by Jace’s frantic voice. “Thank the Angel. Alec’s missing! No one can find him! And his fever was even higher when I checked on him half an hour ago!”
He interrupted the shadowhunter before he could talk himself into an even deeper panic. “He’s here, Jace.” He had one arm around Alec’s torso and let him grab it to fiddle with his rings.
“Here? You mean – he’s at your appartement?” Jace sounded as incredulous as Magnus felt. In the background he heard Izzy’s voice. “I don’t – let me ask – hey!”
“Magnus! Is big brother okay?” Izzy took over the phone. Back in the Institute, Jace rubbed the bruise forming over his ribs.
“He’s fine, my dear. Simply feverish. He can stay here, you do know? I would prefer it, actually.” He saw Alec light up and giggle happily in his haze.
“I’m sorry Magnus, but mother wants him back at the institute. How did he even get there?” Izzy sounded frazzled and done with Maryse. Magnus could relate.
“He walked.” He sighed at the thought of his Alexander leaving once again. Alec frown at it and lifted his hand to turned Magnus’ mouth into a smile with his fingers. “I’ll make you a portal then, shall I? Where are you?”
“Alec’s office. We thought maybe he’s gone back to work.” Magnus thought that was a reasonable thing to think about Alec.
It was Jace that stepped through the portal. As soon as it closed behind him, Alec whined under his breath and turned onto his side. He pulled Magnus’ blanket over his head and buried his face into his stomach once again. It couldn’t have been comfortable what with the rough material of Magnus’ jacket, but Alec didn’t seem to mind it.
“Come on buddy. We need to get you home.” He waited for Alec to get up so they could leave, but the latter didn’t move. “Alec. Come ooon! Maryse is already pissed.” He whined his words, but his lips kept twitching into an amused smile.
“Nooo! Let her be pissed! I don’t care! I don’t wanna go! Not without Magnus!” As much as Magnus appreciated the sentiment, he would rather not have Maryse on all their cases. He exchanged a look with Jace and nodded to the silent question.
He unwrapped his hands from Alec, wincing at the wounded sound the latter let out. Jace stepped forward and slipped one of his hands behind Alec’s back and the other behind his knees. He lifted him into his arms, the blanket slipping off. He hoisted him up to hold him easier, frowning at the heat he gave off. “He’s burning up.” He said to Magnus. “Thank you. For taking care of him.” ‘For caring about him.’
“It isn’t a choice.” ‘There is nothing that could make me stop caring.’ Magnus stood from the couch and kissed Alec’s forehead in goodbye.
Jace stepped towards the portal. “Wait!” Alec’s call made him pause. When Jace had lifted him, he had quieted down to get his dizziness under control. With his focus on the black dots in his vision, he never registered the blanket falling. “My blanket! It smells of love!” He leaned down to pick it up, almost unbalancing Jace in the process. Seeing his troubles, Magnus bent down and handed it to him. He snuggled into it happily. Magnus missed him the second the portal closed behind them.
When they got back to the Institute, Jace stayed with him in his room. He kept complaining that he was cold and Jace kept trying to convince him it was because of the fever. He went to the bathroom to get him a cold clot to put on his forehead. Alec stood, but before he could even take a step, his slight dizziness became nausea. He tried to make it to the bathroom, but in his haste tripped over the blanket hanging from around his shoulders. He fell to the floor, his hands pressing against his stomach. His stomach cramped and he threw up just as Jace entered the room again.
“Oh, buddy.” He said with sympathy in his voice. It only made Alec heave harder. “Come on. Up you go.” He lifted his onto the bed under his arms. He winced when he saw Magnus’ blanket got dirty. “Let’s just put this in the wash.” He tried to pull it from him, but Alec held it too tightly. “Buddy. It’s got your puke on it. You don’t want to sleep with it.” Alec still shook his head.
After some minutes of arguing, Alec finally released the blanket in the middle of Jace’s sentence. Jace looked at him in suspicion but gave in to get the dirty blanket to the laundry room. When he got back, Alec was already gone.
“Thank you, Warlock Bane. Truly.” Nel looked at him gratefully clutching two mirrors against her chest. She was a long-lasting client of his and if she’d drop the title he wouldn’t hesitate to call her a friend. She was a vampire whose mate was leaving to help a descendent of his, but she couldn’t go with him. Nel hadn’t revealed any details but had informed him that where her mate’s descendent lived, there was no signal in a hundred-mile radius. Magnus had spelled the mirrors for them to be able to talk.
“Of course, child. Go now. Alam must be waiting for you. I know how young love is.” He made his voice gruff at the end and was rewarded with a chuckle.
“I’m over two hundred years old and we’ve been together for more than half of that. I hardly think I’m a child or that our love is young.” She followed him to his door and bowed her head in thanks when he opened it for her and held out a hand.
Both her exit and their conversation were cut off, when Alec stumbled into the loft. Nel hissed at him, stepping in front of Magnus, her fangs out and shining. Magnus put on hand on her shoulder and side-stepped her. Alec grinned and threw himself forward. Magnus barely had time to open his arms before Alec was slamming into him with all his weight. If Nel hadn’t been standing behind him and supporting him with a hand on his back, they would have fallen over.
“Magnus?” She questioned, worried, but willing to give the shadowhunter the benefit of the doubt if Magnus trusted him. She kept her fangs at the ready if her acquaintance decided he didn’t want him near him.
“It’s alright, child. This is Alec.” He knew she was aware who that was by name alone. The High Warlock of Brooklyn’s shadowhunter boyfriend had been all the major talk happening in the Downworld gossip community. It was mostly good truths and bad theories, so Magnus let them talk.
“Ah.” Nel’s fangs hid into her mouth, her eyes lit with mischief. “And you tell me of young love. Take care of your boy Magnus. It’s never pleasant when a fever gets high enough to warrant a cold bath.” She gripped the mirrors tightly and took her leave with one last glance and smile at them.
Magnus watched her go, feeling her pass his wards. Something that had failed to happen yet again with Alec. He turned to the lightly swaying shadowhunter that had to bent quite impressively to rest his forehead on his shoulder. He rubbed his back and pulled him to one side when he swayed too far on the other.
“I do believe you should be in the Institute, resting.” Alec lifted his head enough to look at him and stared, enchanted, unaware Magnus had even said something. He registered his voice, but not his words. “And no one knows you’re here, do they?”
“Nope! They won’t take me again Magnus! You can’t let them. I don’t want to be where you’re not!” He sounded pleading and paired with his big eyes, it made Magnus want to create a pocket dimension and take Alec somewhere no one would disturb them.
“I suppose they’ll figure out where you are at one time, won’t they.” He made the compromise with himself, but he could see how happy Alec was with ignoring that he’d have to leave.
Alec pressed his lips to Magnus’ forehead in thanks when he failed to think of coherent enough words. Magnus frowned at the heat. He pushed Alec up, so he stood by himself. His forehead burned under his palm, his own brow furrowing in worry. Alec’s eyes bulged and before Magnus could get any sound out, Alec was falling into him.
“Alright, alright. You’re okay, darling.” He walked them to his bedroom, letting him lean against him as much as he needed. When he got him under the covers, he conjured the thermometer again and slipped it into Alec’s mouth without his notice. ‘104.6 F.’ it read. Magnus inhaled sharply and jumped into action.
“Alexander.” He tapped his cheek and waited a second for Alec to open his glassy eyes. They rolled around in his head before focusing. “You’re too hot, we need to get your clothes off, okay?” He never got a response beyond a grunt. “Can you sit up?” Magnus asked with little hope.
He had to hold Alec in a sitting position with one hand and pull his shirt off with the other. When he did, he conjured a cold cloth and wiped down his torso. He didn’t want to shock him too much. When the cloth warmed up, Alec could sit up by himself.
He looked Magnus over with critical eyes than grabbed the hem of his shirt, dragging it up with sluggish movement. “Darling – darling! What are you doing?” Magnus laughed, stopping his hand.
Alec looked confused, tilting his head to the left. “You said you have to take my clothes off because I’m too hot.” He tugged on Magnus’ shirt again.
“But why are you taking off my clothes?” Despite his incomprehension, Magnus couldn’t help but find the situation amusing.
“Because you’re hotter!” Alec looked genuinely baffled. Magnus brought his hand up in front of his mouth, his shoulders shaking slightly.
“Alexander.” Alec looked at him, serious. “I meant that you are feverish.” He gently swept some hair from his forehead, waiting for him to understand the words.
He relaxed in realisation. “Ah. Yeah, that – yeah. Makes sense.” He stilled, looking deep in consideration of something. “You’re still hotter.” He grumbled at last. Magnus smiled at him gently. He wished Alec was this open when his brain wasn’t melting.
He felt his wards being breached and stood, holding out a hand for Alec. He took it and held it against his chest and with a sigh and absolutely zero intention to ever move. “Your sister is here for you.”
Alec observed the door opening with sad eyes. He didn’t want to leave the one person he felt safe with no matter where. His family were warriors, but Magnus was the one that protected him just like Alec protected him. No matter how powerful the other, they would always stand between the danger and the one they loved.
“Up. Now.” Izzy told him as Margus let her in. Alec stood with a pout and stole one last kiss from Magnus, almost messing up his portal with the distraction. Alec let Izzy lead him by the hand.
In the Institute, Jace awaited them with his arms crossed. He seemed jealous Izzy only had to tell Alec to go, and he had had to carry him. “Why’d you run man?” He complained. “I’m not good enough company for you?” He was petulant and really only wanted to be put out for a moment.
“It’s not that you’re not good company. It’s just that – you’re not Magnus. Would you settle on my company if you could be with Clary?” He threw himself onto his bed and closed his eyes, battling the dizziness and fever, now that Magnus had finally gotten him into a lucid mindset.
He slept straight through three hours. The slam of his door woke him. He jumped into a defensive stance beside his bed and stiffened further when he saw that it was his mother that had entered. She nodded in satisfaction. “Good. You’re healthy enough to defend yourself. We need to go over some of your missions and most of your paperwork.”
A large stack of papers landed on his bed and with the tiniest of sighs he had learned specifically to hide it from his parents, he started going through it, hoping to find the mistakes Maryse though she did.
Maryse’s foot tapped the floor rapidly and she had no reason to cover her long-suffering sigh. Only when he looked up at her with question in his eyes did she speak. “You are, of course, not expecting us to go over your failure in your bedroom.” She pinched her nose. “Really, Alec. Get yourself together! I will be in my office. At least try to be presentable when you get there.” She eyes his bare chest, still sweaty from his still ongoing fever. Her heels echoed through the halls like a death knell.
He hurried to the bathroom and washed his face with cool water, shivering momentarily from the shock to his over-heated system. He wet his hand and dragged it across his chest, unwilling to cool it more than that. He pulled on some jeans and a sweater. He was still cold. He was always colder when his mother was in the Institute. He went through the halls with rushed steps, his mother’s disappointment like fire beneath his feet.
“Alec!” Jace called when he saw him up and about. He ran to his side and held onto his shoulder to stop him. He looked somewhat angry but more worried. “Come on buddy.” He murmured more for his own benefit than Alec’s and tried to turn him around and lead him back to his room.
Alec didn’t allow himself to be moved. “Yes, Jace? What do you need?” He asked annoyed. He stood at attention, his fingers fiddling with a ring that belonged to Magnus. He was uncertain as to when he had inquired it.
Jace’s eyes widened as he saw Alec’s eyes were focused, if a bit red. They were underlined with dark bags. He pulled him down slightly to press a wrist to his forehead. Alec rolled his eyes and waited for him to finish his examination. “How are you feeling?” He said at last.
“Better. Thank you.” He leaned against the wall to cover his dizziness but didn’t succeed in making the move as sneaky as he had wanted.
“But still not okay.” Jace concluded for him and tugged on his bicep, this time making him stumble. “Buddy, you shouldn’t be up yet. It hasn’t even been a full day. You need to be in bed. Resting!” He was trying to be firm in his words but only managed to sound pleading.
“I can’t.” Alec responded. He could see Jace was about to protest and fiercely, judging by the fire in his eyes. “Mother wants to see me. She wants to go over some of my mistakes that I made in her absence.”
“Mistakes?” Jace laughed. “You barely make any and I can say completely sure that they aren’t as big as Maryse’s. And in her absence? Dude, you basically are the Head already. You’re surely the best for it. Maryse is stupid not to see it.”
Alec gave him a hard look. “Don’t call mother stupid. And basically being is not the same as actually being, therefore I must refer to my superior. That also means reporting to her office when she calls for me.”
“You’re not well!” Jace protested, his voice going shrill. They all knew Alec had overworked himself to the point where he would get sick sooner or later. Nobody wanted to guess what it would do to him to not heal from the sickness and not get any rest for his exhaustion.
“I’m well enough.” Alec yelled, the world blurring for a moment again. “Please Jace.” He pleaded; his eyes closed to hide their stinging. “I can’t disappoint mother any further. I can’t.”
Jace knew nothing Alec could do would satisfy Maryse. In her eyes he could aways do better, be better. But there was also no convincing Alec not to try. He stepped out of Alec’s path and let him past. He followed him to his office.
“Seriously?” Alec said, unimpressed. “What, are you going to sit here till she’s done with me, just so you could escort me back to bed?”
“Yep. When you start working, you don’t stop. So, I have to make sure you get back to your room once the only work you need to get done is finished. “ He didn’t seem very likely to change his mind, so Alec simply rolled his eyes and continued into the office.
In his mother’s absence Alec had completed 298 pages of paperwork. She had only been gone for a month. She found five typos which he wasn’t the one to type and four to her standards wrongly or superficially filled reports, which were all in the right parameters by the Clave law. He had tried to explain to her but only got an instruction to keep quiet and stop with his childish excuses. She then moved on to his missions that have gone wrong. Either the ones he okayed or the ones he himself went on. She criticized his work and plans but never once gave him any suggestions or solutions but the words ‘be better’.
It was then that his fever had begun to steadily climb again. He trembled slightly, though he knew she hadn’t noticed, too wrapped up in pacing and ranting. He cut her voice out of his thoughts to collect them. It was about twenty minutes after that he checked back in.
“– warlock! How can you stand to be associated with such an abomination I will never understand –“ As his fever climbed so did his nausea. He doubled over so suddenly it made even Maryse pause in her words. “Alec?” She asked, unsure but stern. “Alec! What are y–“ She never got to finish her sentence. At least she seemed more upset about her son being sick now that he’d ruined her shoes.
“Jace is outside.” Alec informed her as he caught his breath. She nodded, the relief in her eyes unmistakable. As soon as she opened the door, Jace was in the room.
“I told you. I told you that you’re still too sick to be working!” He pushed his hair upwards from his forehead and hissed at the heat. “I just knew it!” He took a deep breath to calm himself. Him being panicky or angry wouldn’t help Alec in any way. “Okay, now. Think you’re going to be sick again?” Alec shook his head and Jace took him in his arms in a reflection of some hours earlier after deciding that Alec was being truthful.
He carried him, Maryse looking wide-eyed as he glared at her. Alec hid his face into Jace’s neck. It burned with both fever and embarrassment. Deep in Maryse’s chest, she felt a pang of guilt. In the shallowness, that guilt disintegrated. She couldn’t afford to be soft. She didn’t want to be. Her son was strong enough to take care of himself. She closed the door behind Jace and sat at the desk. She straightened the things on it and got to work.
Jace never put Alec down when he came into his room. Instead, he pulled out his phone and dialled someone. Alec tuned the conversation out until Jace hung up. “It’s alright, buddy. You’ll feel better soon.” Jace tried to comfort him.
“I’m freezing.” Alec whimpered, ignoring him. “I want Magnus. He keeps me warm. Always.” He felt his cheeks grow hotter and blatantly realised it was his tears that made them so. He would usually try to hide it in front of Jace, but there was no hiding the emptiness in his chest and pressure in his head.
The sound of a portal opening drew Alec’s attention. He was soon passed from Jace’s arms. He looked up and threw himself even more onto Magnus. He rubbed his nose along his jaw. He could feel Jace’s happiness and approval through their bond.
Alec thought he might not mind being carried as much as he would have before. He was laid onto Magnus’ bed once again. He didn’t protest when a thermometer was forced through his lips. He vaguely heard the number Magnus said out loud. He wasn’t certain what it was, but it made Magnus curse. He didn’t usually find that necessary.
Alec was stripped and moved to the bath. He got little warning before he was drowning in ice water. Magnus had placed him into a cool bath. It bordered on lukewarm, but he was afraid what anything else would do to Alec. He held his arms and legs under the water as he trashed around.
“Magnus? Magnus? Wha – what?” Alec kept asking for him and to tell him what was happening. Magnus swallowed compulsively not to be sick himself. He felt crueller than he ever had.
It took ten minutes for Alec to calm. He sat in the water and dragged his hand through it sluggishly. “You know.” He hesitated, but his feverish brain forgot all his shyness. “I’m now fully naked. You, on the other hand, aren’t even shirtless.” He turned wide innocent eyes on the warlock.
Magnus chuckled. “My apologies darling. It wasn’t my highest concern while I was trying to put out the fire you were on.” He smiled at the shadowhunter’s pout, then kissed it to make it disappear.
Alec sighed and rested his head against the wall behind him. “How much longer?”
“Just a bit more, sweetheart.” He stroked his hand through Alec’s hair, occasionally cupping some water and spilling it over his neck and the parts of his shoulders that peeked out.
“You’re very pretty, you know?” Alec said, his rolled lolling to the side. He lifted his hand and pointed his index finger at Magnus. “But you could be prettier. You know how?”
Magnus sat back on his heels, an amused smirk on his lips. “I don’t know, sweetheart. Better makeup, perhaps?” He waved a hand vaguely in the direction of his face. Such a thing was impossible, of course. Magnus’ makeup was always flawless.
Alec scoffed and rolled his eyes, head turning forward. “No. By removing your glamour.” Magnus’ eyebrows rose in surprise, his eyes widening in bemusement. Alec ignored it and continued. “Right now, you’re Magnus with glamoured eyes, but then you’d be just Magnus and there’s nothing better than Magnus.” Magnus’ eyes softened and he had to bite his lip not to coo out loud.
Alec looked like he was thinking hard about something and before Magnus could ask him about it, he spoke again. “You’re also now clothed Magnus. Maybe you should take them off and then you’d really be just Magnus.” His eyes travelled over Magnus’ torso. “Scratch that maybe. Definitely.”
Magnus gave him a stern look, but when he lowered his eyes, he pulled his shirt over his head. He tossed it to the ground and unglamoured his eyes as he rolled them. “Come on then.” He helped Alec stand and step out of the bath.
The taste in Alec’s mouth was still bitter from the bile and it bothered him now, that he was aware enough to recognise it. Magnus took a fluffy blue towel from a cabinet and meticulously wrapped him in it. Before he could lead him to the bedroom, Alec stopped him and asked to brush his teeth. It wasn’t a problem, since he already had his own toothbrush beside Magnus’.
When he finished, he considered his options and instead of walking decided to simply get his strong warlock boyfriend to carry him. He lifted his arm up in demand. Magnus raised an eyebrow at him. “Really?” Though he sounded quite happy about it.
“Taking advantage of a chance to be pressed against your bare chest. Yeah. Anytime.” Seeing as Alec wasn’t about to back down and the fact that they both wanted it equally, Magnus complied and took him in his arms.
He carried him to his bed and laid him down with such gentleness Alec only registered it when he could no longer feel him against himself. He glared at him in betrayal. “I’m just getting you some clothes.” Magnus chuckled.
He unwrapped Alec from the towel, hurrying his movements when he saw him shiver. He pulled some boxers on him, kneeling on the edge of the bed. When they were on, he leant down and pressed a kiss to Alec’s hip bone.
“Want a shirt? It’ll keep you warm.” He stood at his closet already looking for something soft and long enough to fit Alec.
“Yours is the only warmth I need.” Alec repeated the sentiment for what seemed like a hundredth time in one day. He didn’t really care, since it was never any less truthful.
Magnus rolled his eyes but complied. He threw himself onto the bed and turned to his side. One of his hands was under his head, the other stroking Alec’s hair. His fever had finally lowered enough that it wasn’t glued to his forehead with sweat. He threw a leg over both of Alec’s. Alec’s arm was stretched out, fingers grazing over Magnus’ stomach. Alec fell asleep to a pair of cat eyes he had never thought of as anything but beautiful.
It was late in the evening that Maryse knocked on the door to Magnus’ loft. She had finally and reluctantly gone to check on her son, only to find his room empty. It hadn’t been hard to guess where he went. The challenge came when she had to swallow her pride and go look for him in a warlock’s home.
The intrusion to his wards woke Magnus. It had taken him a few minutes to entangle himself from Alec. The shadowhunter hadn’t even stirred until he was no longer touching him. He pulled on one of Magnus’ larger shirts and followed him though the loft sluggishly. He hadn’t wanted to get up yet.
“Alec! Home, now.” Maryse said as soon as Magnus opened the door. She never even glanced at the warlock.
Alec tilted his head in confusion. “I am home.” He intertwined his fingers with Magnus’.
Maryse took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her voice was strained as she spoke. “The Institute.”
“Oh. Why didn’t you just say that then?” He looked pointedly down to his bare legs, then turned to his boyfriend with pleading eyes. Magnus seemed to consider his ask, using the time to ogle him thoroughly. He eventually gave a tiny agreeing nod and magicked some pants onto Alec.
Maryse looked very close to an aneurysm. While Magnus would have conjured a portal for anyone else, for Maryse he would do so only if she’d ask it of him politely. Considering Alec’s fever had broken for good, he didn’t find it necessary. Maryse turned on her heels and stoked out of the loft.
Alec pressed a kiss first to Magnus’ temple then to his lips when he turned to face him. He sighed in regret of losing both sight of and the ability to touch Magnus. They kissed one last time in goodbye, their tongues giving them a taste to hold them over until they see each other again. Soon.
Curious, Magnus focused on his wards as he felt Maryse pass them. Finally, he understood why he had never felt Alec enter them. Why they just let him through, forgoing their function and never even waring him of a visitor.
His magic recognised Alec as a part of himself.