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#malec missing canon scenes

aletterinthenameofsanity · 1 year

Text

although I'll leave before the sunrise (I'll be bleeding, but don't you mind, I'll be fine)

Alec Lightwood x Magnus Bane. Malec. Missing scene pre-botched Lydia x Alec wedding. Title is from "Hold Me Closer" by Cornelia Jakobs, which I wrote this whole fic to and directly inspired this fic. Crossposted on ao3.

Alec knows he shouldn't have done this.

It isn't a hard conclusion to come to; it's the only conclusion to come to. This was never a good idea, not when he stepped into Pandemonium for once last glimpse at Magnus before the wedding, not when he let Magnus pull him into a slow, deep kiss, not when he and Magnus stumbled through Magnus' apartment with laughter and gentle teasing and earnest fingers making quick work of clothing and sensitive, erogenous zones.

The hard part is not the question, it's the answer. It's about how he allowed himself to get into this position knowing it would end with him summoning the strength to slip out from under the golden covers and return to his duties and the married life he will be living the moment the blessed union rune hits his skin.

Because the thing is- the bitter, horrible, honest thing is that Alec knew going into this that it was a bad idea. He was well aware of the millions upon millions of reasons why he shouldn't have sought out Magnus for one night together. He was well aware of how much it would hurt to do this, to touch and be touched, to like and be liked, to love and- (he bites back the responding word, because he doesn't think he could survive it being thought) and leave in the morning to marry Lydia Branwell and he still pulled Magnus in anyway. He still let Magnus guide him across the apartment and into the bed, nothing but trust and affection in those golden-brown eyes.

Because Alec is selfish.

Because he knows he needs this. If he is going to sacrifice his life to save his siblings from the ramifications of their stupidity, he wanted one night of happiness. He wanted one night where he doesn't just have to imagine and dream up what uncomplicated affection feels like. He wanted to have one glowing jewel of a memory to take with him the rest of his life, no matter it would hurt after the fact.

And now his eyes burn as he slowly unentangles his impossibly heavy limbs from around Magnus' waist and slides out from under the sheets without waking the man sleeping next to him. Every time he blinks he can see Magnus' smile behind his eyelids, the way his eyes had lit up when he laughed, the way his glamour dropped when Alec kissed him with a fervour he's only ever reserved for training in the past, but he can't let that stop him from getting dressed, from pulling back on his pants and shirt and lacing up his boots. He has to leave early so he can go back to the Institute and punch that training bag to fucking pieces in time to get ready for the wedding.

Alec is careful to be quiet as he pulls his stele from his back pocket, activates his Silence rune, and carefully moves toward the door. He can't wake Magnus before he escapes. He can't bear to look Magnus in the eye as he turns his back on the only good thing he's ever had in his own right, not shared with any of his siblings, not shared with the Institute. This has to be a clean cut. He cannot bear a jagged wound that will fester until the day it blows up in his face.

Alec's hand hits the handle to the exit and-

"You can't do this, Alexander," a voice rasps from behind Alec, and Alec nearly jumps because despite all of his runes, all of his Nephilim senses, he didn't hear the padding of Magnus' feet across the hardwood floor. His body could never register Magnus as a threat, no matter the fact that he owns Alec's bow and quiver, despite the fact that he has Alec's heart tucked in beneath his ribs, forever his.

(Because, some part of Alec's mind whispers, not despite. Because Magnus has his bow. Because he has Alec's heart. Because, because, because.)

"Can't do what?" Alec asks, and his own voice comes out cracking like he never let it during puberty, when all of these forbidden feelings started rising in his chest as he claimed himself a parabatai who would never, could never, know what the pressure Alec kept his feelings clamped tight to his chest meant.

"Leave without looking me in the eye," Magnus says, and Alec still hasn't turned to look at him. He can't bear to look at Magnus undone in the morning, a set of pajama pants slung perfectly low on his hips as he spits, "You've never pegged me as a coward, Lightwood," cruel like he has never been before. But then again, Alec has never been this cruel before, either. He has never hurt Magnus like he is about to hurt him.

"I'm not a coward," Alec says, despite the fact that he is. Of course he is. He has to be. He has to run away from this moment, this beautiful, brilliant, lovely man, if he wants to save his family.

"Then look me in the fucking eye, Alexander," Magnus says, and his voice is wet. Choked. On the verge of crying.

And Alec is the one doing that to him.

A sob is rising to Alec's lips. This is the choice he didn't want to have to make. This is the moment he was so scared of facing.

How can he give up the best man he has ever met? How can he sacrifice the greatest joy he has ever felt? How can he do this to someone who has never been anything but kind and flirty and affectionate toward him?

Why did Alec have to make the stupid decision of leaving Institute last night? Why did he have to meet the right one at the wrong time?

Why does it have to be him? Why does it have to be Alec giving things up, over and over again, sacrificing over and over again for people who he loves despite the fact that they don't always seem to love him back?

Alec has to leave before his sense of self-control slips from his fingers, before he takes off towards Magnus and not towards the door. He has to get out of here while he still has the right priorities in mind, while he can still hold up his siblings' and parents' futures up above his own fleeting happiness.

He swings open the door and runs, choking back everything that wants to rip itself loose.

---

Seven hours later, Magnus enters the Institute chapel, hair pulled up, makeup on, armor bedecked for war. Alec knows him without saying a word, knows what Magnus' lips feel like against his skin, knows what it feels like to shatter someone's heart between his shaking, aching fingers.

And he knows he cannot bear to do it again.

The click echoes across tile floors, not hardwood ones, as he takes a step forward. As he steps down and away from the destiny that has been laid out for him since he was a child laying his hand on his first bow and understanding how this weapon, considered so weak by his trainers, was meant to be his. How he was meant to protect and defend, not to be the hero saving the day with a flashy sword. As he understands that for once, for fucking once, he doesn't have to play the long game. He doesn't have to play the long-range weapon.

He strides forward and his mother puts out her hand and Alec says, "No."

No, I will not trade myself for you.

No, I will not give up golden sheets and golden eyes and a golden laugh.

No, I can't do this anymore, sacrificing everything for you, because it nearly tore me apart this morning and I don't think there will be anything left of me to give if I let you keep taking.

Alec's hands land on Magnus' lapels and pull him in for a desperate kiss. Magnus still smells like sandalwood and tastes of lemongrass and lipstick and if Magnus will let Alec keep doing this for the rest of his life, then Alec will gladly take any moment that Magnus will offer him.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/44650768

#malec #magnus bane #alec lightwood #ao3 #fanfic #cross posted on ao3 #missing scene #canon divergence #one night stand #impliedsexual content #self-sacrificing alec lightwood #my boy #angst with a happy ending #bc they both deserve it #alec lightwood deserves nice things #aletterinthenameofsanity

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khaleesiofalicante · 8 months

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And the ranting continues

Okay this os a long one, but the first time I read about David was on TLND ( I miss fetus Mavid) and then I read LBAF and then you started writing adult David and suddenly the character I had in my head kinda shifted and since then I've been curious: Would David be attracted and fall in love with someone who isn't Max but is similar to him like Magnus would (although Max like Alec always be someone special that no one can compare to) or would he not, like Max wouldn't fall in love with anyone who isn't David (at least I think he wouldn't). I mean, you have mentioned a lot of times that David craves love (like Magnus), but in TLND, he was waiting for Max and didn't date anyone else. Was it because he had already met him and therefore knew that nobody else was it for him? So like, in Never Settle, he didn't know him, so he kept searching for love?

I kept trying to figure out why Other Max being the first Max to time travel is kinda scary and then I finally pinned it down: If he wasn't the first, that meant that everything he has done has been done before and everyone survived and no great evil took place. But if he is the first one, then we have no idea how everything he's doing will affect the people around him, what kind of consequences his actions will have. First off all, if he's the first one how did they ley lines get fixed in Other Max's timeline? How did Mallory die in his timeline? How did Victoria get pregnant? Also, him being the first means another very scary thing. That him and Max don't go through the same things, so there's no guarantee that Max will grow up to be Other Max, because his David has all his memories but his David also dates someone that makes Max insecure about himself and he feels jelous, something he hasn't felt for David, ever. So that has to have some impact on him, shape him in a different way, right? I mean did David in this timeline cry for 11 days when Lance was born or not because Other Max reassured him that he'll be okay? Is his behaviour and the fact that he doesn't get angry because of Other Max or did Other David react like this too? When I tell you that is the scariest plot you've ever written I mean it, and I love it I can't wait to see how everything will play out

Speaking of Other Max the "I need someone older" trend fitting David kinda scares me too, because it kinda suggests that Other Max is what David needs, more than Max himself which is gonna hurt a lot and especially if David voices that to Max, I fear his insecurities will get the best of him. Or you meant it to be funny and I'm here freaking out over nothing, look what you've done to us😂

Are there no demons in New York because they smell David's and Lance's demon blood and therefore see no shadowhunter or no threat? Is it because of Other Max protecting them or even because of Lucifer? Do I really believe you'll answer? No because, spoilers, but I wanted to ask regardless

One thing I desperately hold on to is that Rafael and Max hugged and they joined the party at the LBAF IV epilogue, so whatever happened they find their way around it, the amount of comfort this thought gives me, I can't even describe. Because Max loves his family more than anything and he likes parties and now that he can't have it it must hurt a lot

I need to hear the conversation between Malec about whatever is happening since they dreamed about Rosewood/Mavid living close to each other and now they can't even visit each other, I mean the scenes with those four together have always been my favourites and seeing them now hurts a lot too and oh, sweet sweet angst

Last angsty thought: Is Mavid living away from everyone in France in every reality a canon event because they were exiled from Idris? Like they never have a big wedding because they're not allowed in LBAF?

Okay, that was every angsty thought I've had. Now, there are only fluffy things in my notes and I prefer it that way so I'll share them later! I would like to mention once again that reading your fics is the only time I'm excited to feel pain, your power is truly unmatched🌷

*snorts this ask in like cocaine*

FETUS MAVID OMG. Love it. I think David has a person is always searching for love. I never have and never will write him as someone who is 'looking for the perfect guy/max'. In some fics, Max is his first love and not in others. He will definitely date others before meeting max because he loves to give himself that chance to find that person. we do see that he has a type - which is basically max lol. but yes after he meets max, it's pretty much game over for him.

this point gave me an hernia (that's an easter egg for you btw). I'm very impressed by your observations and i wish i could tell you if you are right or not. i can't answer your questions either but i can tell you four things 1) all your questions will definitely be answered but you need to keep looking for them 2) mallory dies old and alone and waiting for max (in other max's timeline) 3) it was never said david cried for 11 days when lance was born. we don't actually know what other max was talking about there 4) i can confirm that it is the scariest plot line yes

i did not mean it in a funny way. we have a storm coming. can't wait for chapter 8

it's lance. he is keeping demons away because he is helping david manage the institute (but he doesn't know he is doing it because he is a baby - his powers are insane bro...)

max and rafe are in a bad place right now but they get to a good place by the time the lbaf iv epilogue happens then lbaf 5 happens and it's angst time again :))

we will see lots of malec content discussing children and trying to make peace between them and yes tis gonna be angst <3

that's correct. not bad, vicky, not bad.

I will await more angsty thoughts from you because i feed on it like a demon fdkvnkd.

#lbaf

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the-great-lightwood-bane · 2 years

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fic masterpost

Consul Alec Lightwood (soon to be Lightwood-Bane) Malec | G, no warnings | One-shot | Missing scene from QoAaD in which Alec tells Magnus that he was elected Consul | AO3

Whumptober 2021 (Series on AO3)

together Malec | G, tw canon-typical violence | ch 5/5 | Alec has been kidnapped. We're not sure by whom, though… | AO3

hunger Malec | G, no warnings | one-shot | Magnus is magically exhausted for the first time since the Owl incident. It brings back bad memories. | AO3

an eye for an eye (a son for a son) Malec | G, tw minor self-harm & vampirism | ch 4/4 | An alternate universe in which Imogen Herondale demanded justice for the death of her son when the Circle fell, and the Lightwoods didn't get off so scot-free | AO3

hope (and the lack of it) Malec | G, tw magical illness | one-shot | missing scenes from QoAaD when Magnus is sick with the blight | AO3

flightless angel Malec | G, tw violence, blood | two-shot | Canon divergence from CoHF in which Shadowhunters have wings, Raphael lives, and a different deal is made to escape Edom | AO3

by proxy Malec | G, tw canon-typical violence, torture | two-shot | Magnus’s voice was hoarse from screaming, and his wrists chafed from the magic-suppressing cuffs on his wrists, but he was otherwise unharmed. He wished he wasn’t: if he had been the one getting beat up, his husband wouldn’t be. | AO3

don't you die on me Malec | G, tw canon-typical violence, presumed character death | two-shot | And then, to Alec’s horror, the Alliance rune on his wrist flickered, and he looked to Magnus just in time to see him fall. | AO3

bleeding through the bandages Malec | G, tw canon-typical violence, blood & injury | one-shot | Magnus is stabbed with a seraph blade fighting Circle members. | AO3

immortality (and what a certain Shadowhunter will do to get it) Malec | G, tw blood | one-shot | Alec figures out how to become immortal. This is how it happens. | AO3

escape (getting home) Malec | T, tw implied/referenced torture | two-shot | Alec is kidnapped by Circle members. He escapes. | AO3

adrift Malec | G, tw dehydration | ch 3/3 | In a few days, Alec would be dead. His head ached dully, his mouth felt dry. He tried to stand up, and his head spun for a few moments before he steadied. He wished he could see Magnus one last time. | AO3

self-sacrifice Malec | G, tw self-sacrifice, suicide for saving others purposes (no MCD) | one-shot | that scene from Sherlock BBC (s4e3) where Sherlock has to choose between killing John and killing Mycroft, except with Shadowhunters | AO3

learning to love Malec | G, tw implied/referenced & internalised homophobia & aphobia | one-shot | Alec was sixteen when he realized that he was asexual. A story of self-discovery, of coming out (the first time, and then again, and again), and of acceptance. | AO3 | Tumblr

libertate bellantis Malec | T, tw canon-typical violence, implied/referenced torture | ch 17/17 | They met in a coffee shop. Alec, a member of the Resistance, Commander and Acting Head of New York. Magnus, known to the Shadowhunters only as Bane, one of the most powerful warlocks in the world. Both think the other is mundane. (Both are wrong.) Both will find out the truth. Plus, Valentine has been leading a worldwide Clave-sanctioned genocide of the Downworld for the last twenty-five years, and now Alec and Magnus have to work together to stop him... | AO3 | Series (sequel and extras)

Febuwhump 2022 (Series on AO3 | Tumblr Masterpost)

Gospels Malec | T, tw swearing, mention of kidnapping and torture | one-shot | Magnus Bane has been taken. Alec Lightwood is not merciful in his quest to take him back. (Conversations during the in-betweens and the after from Revelations by ClinicalChaos.) | AO3

let your voice be heard Malec | G, no warnings | one-shot | Shadowhunters don’t sing. aka five times Alec remembered that he wasn’t supposed to sing, and five times he knew he could (because this 5+1 idea is totally unbalanced and the characters deserve better). | AO3 | Tumblr

Shadowhunters Pride Bingo 2022 (Series on AO3 | Tumblr Masterpost)

U — Understanding [Shadowhunters Ace ABC] Alec-centric, Malec | G, tw internalised & institutionalised homophobia | one-shot | Isabelle realised that her brother was not straight when she was fifteen and he was sixteen. Or: Izzy loves her brother, but some wounds go deeper than she can fix. (Ft. gratuitous light/dark metaphors, sibling antics, and angst with a happy ending.) | AO3 | Tumblr

N — Natural [Shadowhunters Ace ABC] Malec | G, tw internalized & external homophobia & aphobia | one-shot | Alec is ace and gay, Maryse is evil, Alec meets a certain Magnus Bane, and the road to self-acceptance is long and hard — but it's a bit easier when you have friends and family to support you. (Ft. pining idiots and Alec writing books.) | AO3 | Tumblr

G — Gaze [Shadowhunters Ace ABC] Magnus-centric, Malec | G, tw aphobia | one-shot | Magnus sometimes found the gazes of strangers unnerving. Or, Magnus is demisexual and sex-positive, people are not always understanding, Camille is a bitch, and Alec loves Magnus. | AO3 | Tumblr

pull me closer Jimon | G, tw mention of Jace's abusive childhood, panic attacks | one-shot | For most of Jace’s life, his assumption that he was straight went unchallenged. Jace is definitely not straight and in love with Clary. That doesn't change just because Simon's cute and funny and brave and— well, Jace is straight, so obviously he doesn't like Simon that way. (Right?) | AO3 | Tumblr

(beyond) this place of wrath and tears Malec | T, tw for mention (not graphic) of the following: biphobia, racism (anti-Downworlder and anti-POC), whatever it's called when people want men not to wear makeup, suicidal thoughts, and depression | one-shot | People tend to hate what they do not understand, and while Magnus can ignore most cruel words, he sometimes fears there might be a fragment of truth in them. Fortunately, he has Alec. | AO3 | Tumblr

Never Alone Malec | G, tw violence, reference to rape/non-con, and vampirism, all at canon levels | ch 21/21 | In a world where Shadowhunters’ dæmons never lose the ability to change shape, Clary spends her eighteenth birthday learning why Hunter can still shift. Or, a shameless fix-it featuring BAMF Magnus and Alec, logical problem-solving rather than the disaster that was Jace, Izzy, and Clary — and, of course, Malec falling in love (in a slightly less difficult situation). | AO3 | Tumblr

the implications of language Malec | G, tw minor reference to Magnus' mother's suicide | one-shot | Indonesian is Magnus' mother tongue — the language he slips into when he doesn't have the presence of mind for anything else. Alec wants to learn. | AO3 | Tumblr

bloody but unbowed Malec | G, tw implied/referenced torture, discrimination against Downworlders | one-shot | Twenty years ago, the Circle won. Six years ago, Alec Lightwood began freeing every Downworlder to enter the Institute’s cells. A week ago, he was caught. Nobody’s going to free him. | AO3 | Tumblr

Whumptober 2022 (Masterpost | Series on AO3)

Unscheduled Meetings Malec | G, tw canonical MCD for Thule Malec but not for other versions of Malec | one-shot | A (relatively) everyday trip to confront a warlock results in something decidedly not everyday. Who would’ve thought Alec’s magic held the key to unlocking the multiverse? | AO3 | Series on AO3 | Tumblr

of demons & protection spells Malec | G, tw canon-typical violence, self-harm | one-shot | Maryse Lightwood doesn't show up at Magnus' door, but instead helps Alec kill Jonathan. Magnus leaves New York, heartbroken, but refuses to join his father in Edom. Asmodeus isn't happy about that. | AO3 | Tumblr

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kittyisaddicted · 2 years

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Stages

Somewhere this year I just gave up. No, I gave in. Gave in to the irresistible sponge that is my endorphin and serotonin seeking bubbly thing of a brain. My return to tumblr was a hell ride from start to now, and I enjoyed every bit of a sick second of it.

Going through new and still ongoing shows with you all made me realise that my personal deal with media addiction comes in stages–just like grief, in a way. So bare with me for the 7 stages of (my) media addiction.

Stage 1

The encounter. Gifs, scenes, little snippets from fics. The inacurate quotes kind of thing that makes me go “This might be interesting”. Going into the tags, a short google search (because tumblr search, you know, … sucks), the like. Finally googling: Where to watch …. And maybe having the luck to not need another streaming service grave for my earnings or a VPN to enjoy another mind and heart soaking piece of fiction.

Stage 2

The beginning. Episode 1, the story unfolds. I’m chill. Watching episode 2. Seeing scenes I already know because of, you know, tumblr. All seems normal so far. Until I binge episode 3, 4 and 5 and stay up late for episode 6 and maybe get late to wor…

Stage 3

The pull. Or: the binge. If I’m lucky, there’s only one season so far. Or *only* 3 (though no one of us was lucky to have only 3 seasons of Malec Shadowhunters Malec). If there’s more, then welp, because life is now circling around watching episode after episode like earth circles the sky, no hostage taken, every spare second is dedicated to w a t c h i n g! Also, every second of the day is about thinking and every night is dreaming about it. I’m all in.

Stage 4

The high noon of addiction. Watching episodes alone is not enough anymore. I rewatch. I re-rewatch scenes on YouTube. I celebrate fan videos there also. My serotonin is up and running, i’m basically high all the time. I heavily search tumblr for meta, for gifs, for meta gifs. My brain and my heart are full, no space for anything else. Working is hard, living a normal life even harder. I’m constantly on my devices, consuming everything I can find, feeling both happy so many creators already did an amazing job and sad about possibly missing out something important, pure FOMO ensues. On the outside I try to seem normal, on the inside I’m craving MORE. MORE. MORE.

Stage 5

The crawling. Now. Comes the phase where I not only unconsciously know but fully realise that there are actors behind those amazing scenes. That there where a lot of people putting a lot of work into this so it turns out as amazing at it is. And because I never get enough, I dive into their accounts, the meta about them and their relationships, the conventions, the interview snippets, the behind the scenes, the bloopers, there is. so. much. to. see. and. read!!! I am living in an alternate universe basically, borders between reality and fiction fade, the soundtrack is on heavy rotation, I quote both the show and the actors without having any mutuals in real life who know what I am talking about.

Stage 6

The assimilation. I wake up from a fever dream. Life get’s easier again. As the whole show and cast live now rent free in my head, I can start to shift my interest from the original to the fan made bits and peaces, aka the fan fiction–canon, noncanon, doesn’t matter as long as the writing is in character and I get to know them better through the eyes of talented authors. The tags have a special place on the shelves of my well curated tumblr and ao3 lists (because you know, #The Serotonin is stored in the Ao3) and at least five of my brain cells have another content than my latest blorbo.

Stage 7

The retreat. My brain leaves me space for new things. I can concentrate again on other things beside them™, like, well, working, cooking, sleeping, you name it. My sweeties have a special place in my heart from now on, and I will always willingly come back to them for comfort. But right now, the urge to follow everything about them, to dedicate everything I have to them, is gone or, better, just a silent thought in the back of my head.

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malec-ao3feed · 6 months

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Stay with me

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/hnfqoXA by Malecfan09 Alec hasn’t recovered from nearly loosing Magnus. *** Flufftober 2023: Day 27 - nightmares ****** Words: 671, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Series: Part 22 of Malec Flufftober 2023, Part 26 of Being seen by the one you love Fandoms: Shadowhunters (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Alec Lightwood, Magnus Bane Relationships: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood Additional Tags: Canon Universe, Missing Scene, Episode: s03e16 Stay With Me, Alec Lightwood Loves Magnus Bane, Magnus Bane Loves Alec Lightwood, Nightmares, Blood, Canon-Typical Violence, Magnus Bane Has No Magic, Fluff and Angst, Fluff, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Flufftober 2023, Flufftober read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/hnfqoXA

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #shadowhunters #tmi #malec #magnus bane #alec lightwood #magnus x alec #malec fanfic #the mortal instruments

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likelovelikesuicide · 6 years

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Underhill - Malec Scenes

So, since the Shadowhunters fandom is stuck in what has to be the hottest mess of a cancellation ever, I decided to finish a fanfic idea that I’ve been working on to accompany the missing Malec scenes I’ve already written.

This is 5 Malec scenes written from the POV of Underhill - and includes 5 scenes of Underhill unintentionally eavesdropping on his favorite couple

Front Lines

Every Shadowhunter knew the name Alec Lightwood, and Shawn Underhill was no different. The Lightwoods had been head’s of the New York institute for many years and their family legacy was one of the longest in the Shadow World. So, when he’d heard that Alec had risked his position, for love no less, he couldn’t help be curious. He hadn’t been at the wedding himself, but if the rumors were true it meant that the eldest of the Lightwood sons and heir to their ancient legacy, was gay.

Just like Shawn Underhill himself, though in his case, no one knew.

Underhill was impressed that, despite being several years younger and openly dating a male warlock, Alec Lightwood had managed to maintain his reputation as one of the best archers the Clave had on record. And though Underhill had never met him, he had taken notice of Magnus Bane before. Any warlock being in the institute raised more than a few noses. An immortal being that the Shadowhunters had to chronicle to keep up with, because he outlives them all. But in the case of the High Warlock of Brooklyn, it was more than that. This man appeared to be eccentric, gorgeous, and impressive even by the Clave’s skewed standards in regards to downworlders.

The first time Underhill sees Alec Lightwood and Magnus Bane together is the morning after Valentine’s infiltration of the institute. He’s part of the team searching for stray circle members around the perimeter when they happen upon the Lightwood boy kissing the High Warlock of Brooklyn like his life depends on it. Despite the murmurs from the forming crowd, Underhill understands exactly why Alec had refused a marriage that would have made him Head of the Institute.

----

“Alexander, you cannot possibly think you're responsible for the Seelie’s opinion of your people.” Magnus stopped and turned to Alec in the hallway as they left the ops center. Izzy’s high heels clicking away in the other direction had caused Underhill to look up from his paper work and now he couldn’t seem to look away.

“Not responsible for it, no, but I perpetuated it. I was the one who brought Meliorn in for questioning that almost got him killed. I knew about the Clave using seelie scouts to spy on Valentine. I…” Alec’s insistent voice remained quiet, though Underhill could hear them from his station at the desk.

“Trust me darling, you are not the problem.” Magnus leaned forward, taking Alec’s downcast face in his hands before placing a featherlight kiss on his forehead. Even from a distance, Underhill could see the smile touch Alec’s lower lip. “I dare say what the Seelie Kalie did had more to do with your parabatai’s so called book club than anything else.”

At that, Alec let out a soft laugh. “Right,” He said with a shake of his head that was somehow both fond and annoyed. Alec turned, taking one of Magnus’ hands as they continued walking.

“Besides, in my experience the Seelie Queen is rarely less than hostile.” Magnus pointed out with a flourish as his voice trailed away. Underhill had to shake himself, realizing he’d been staring at the couple, mesmerized by their simple exchange. As he looked around he saw a few people glace towards them, some in distaste, however no one seemed to mind their small display of public affection.

It was an odd thing to see even married Shadowhunters engage in any form of PDA, but Magnus and Alec seemed completely unbothered by any prying eyes.

----

“Ugh, that warlocks here again,” Duncan says under his breath and Underhill follows his eye across the room to where Magnus Bane is striding towards the offices, looking like a million bucks as per usual. “He walks around here like he owns the place.”

“He probably could if he wanted to, and everyone knows that he’s the boss’ boyfriend.” Underhill shrugs, turning his attention back to his work.

“That’s my point,” Duncan says suddenly louder. “It’s bad enough he’s.. ya know, into other dudes like that! But slumming it with a downworlder? and one of his reputation...”

“I assume you’re referring to the Clave’s file on him?” Underhill asks, aware that anything the Clave recorded on the life of an immortal Downworlder should be taken with a grain of salt.

“Yeah, the guys like 400 years old and a total playboy.” Duncan scoffs.

“You do realize warlock’s are immortal right?” Underhill asks, absently turning the page in his report. “And he’s clearly in love with Lightwood, so what’s your problem?”

“Love? Come on, he’s probably like a spy or... or you think the Lightwoods keep him as an asset?” Duncan asked conspiratorially, with something akin to excitement in his voice. Underhill knew that tone because he’d heard it from several Shadowhunters in regards to Alec’s relationship with Magnus. It couldn’t be that they’d simply fallen in love, something fishy had to be going on and someone needed to prove it. Underhill was tired of hearing it.

“I don't think anyone keeps a warlock like Magnus Bane,” Underhill points out, voice turning harsh as he stood up to gather his things. “And by the way, I’m also ya know, into dudes that way. So maybe you should just keep your opinions to yourself.”

---

Underhill is listening intently to Isabelle Lightwood as she’s going over the institute’s updated security plans following the escape of Valentine. Everything would need to be overhauled after checks and scans were complete. Another team had been tasked with determining how Duncan had been compromised, his family slaughtered.

The moment Magnus Bane enters the ops center, the atmosphere changes around them. As usual, the warlock is dressed impeccably and Underhill supposes it’s perfectly natural to stare. The guy was like a walking piece of art, but the murmurs coming from the others at the table were not so agreeable.

They were quickly silenced by Isabelle loudly clearing her throat, her face reminded Underhill of the saying “if looks could kill.” She stared at the group in disgust until Magnus stopped beside her, wearing a contrastingly friendly smile.

“Ah, Isabelle,” Magnus started, rings glistening in the lights of the hologram. “Alexander said you were going over the security breach if I wanted in.”

“Absolutely,” Isabelle dropped her annoyed expression and turned to Magnus, immediately diving back into the plans.

It’s a few hours later and the ops center is relatively quiet when Alec Lightwood returns from a mission. Before discarding his bow, he be-lines for Magnus and is gifted with a sweet kiss that makes his cheeks flush. The only Shadowhunter at the table who doesn’t seem to notice is Isabelle and Underhill figures she must see this sort of thing all the time. Several of his colleagues are noticeably uncomfortable but none of them dare say anything.

----

Shifting through the pages of his report on a shax demon attack in lower midtown, Underhill turned a corner towards the Office of the Head of the Institute and froze. The newly appointed Head of the New York institute, Alec Lightwood, was giggling while sharing kisses with his infamous warlock boyfriend. The two of them had stopped in the doorway to the office with mere inches between them, oblivious to the world around them.

“Now, Mr. Lightwood, let's do keep things professional,” The warlock says as he brushes a hand down Alec’s lapels in a distinctly unprofessional manner.

“Of course, Mr. Bane.” Alec says as he moves them both into his office. “This meeting is to reinstate the institutes contracts with the High Warlock of Brooklyn under our new leadership.”

“Ah, and what lovely new leadership indeed, Mr. Lightwood. However,” Magnus teases, voice drifting from the open door as they stumble together towards privacy. “Some of my services require special attention from the Head of this Institution and I regret to inform you these needs have been neglected under your recent predecessors.”

“In that case, please allow me to assure you, Mr. Bane. You will receive any and all special attention you desire from the Head this Institute so long as I’m in charge…” Alec’s voice trails off as the door swings shut with a swish of blue magic. Smiling, Underhill walks past the office with his report still in hand, certain that his boss doesn’t want this particular meeting interrupted.

Thank you for reading!!! #saveshadowhunters

Previous Missing Scenes:

2.03 - Lost and Found

2.06 - Getaway

2.07/8 - A Place To Belong

2.08/9 - Choice

2.10 - The Outlook at Dawn + (Part #2)

2.12 - Console

2.13 - Amends

2.15 - Secured

2.20 - Recovered

#malec #magnus bane #alec lightwood #malec fanfic #shadowhunters #sh fanfic #underhill #malec missing canon scenes #by di

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ninwrites · 6 years

Text

A Collection of His Own

Pairing: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood

Words: 1783

Summary: There’s a very thin line between them, a tightrope string, and it’s Alec’s intention to tread it with the utmost care. // A missing scene for 3x05.

Read on AO3 or below the cut xx

“Are you staying tonight?”

Alec leans back against his desk, his stele flipping idly between the fingers of his left hand, almost of their own accord. “I don’t know.”

Magnus sighs across the line. The distance between them has never felt so palpable. Not even when they were apart had the Institute seemed so far from Brooklyn, and the loft he had begun to consider home.

It’s not. Not yet. It’s just Magnus’ home. Alec is a casual visitor, allowed to touch and exist within the walls and wards, but never to stay. Never permanent.

“I understand if you need space, Alexander, I wouldn’t take that from you. That isn’t why I’m asking.” Magnus pauses, the silence heavy and electric. Alec glances down, and only then realises that he’s still wearing Magnus’ shirt.

“Why are you asking?” Alec’s heart screams in protest, but then, he’s always had a bad habit of self-destruction.

“Because I love you.” Magnus states. Alec’s lungs deflate. “And because despite my fears I miss you when you’re not here, and I-” Magnus clears his throat. “Because everything is better when you’re around.”

Alec glances at the door, at the spot where Underhill had stood and thanked him , for being brave enough to come out in a world where it’s not even spoken off; where Underhill had almost gushed in praise of his ability to maintain a healthy, loving relationship.

It’s not much of a healthy relationship if they can’t even communicate openly with each other.

“I don’t have much left here to finish up.” Alec whispers, wishing his voice were stronger.

“I’ll whip up a portal.”

“You know, I could have walked. Manhattan isn’t that far, when you’ve got a speed rune.”

Magnus is standing by his drinks cart, although there’s nothing in his hand, but a small, red and gold charm. He smiles, and it’s a little strained, but it meets his eyes and that’s all Alec can hope for. “You Shadowhunters and your runes.” Magnus’ smile softens. “I don’t mind, Alexander. Actually, portalling you was rather selfish on my part.”

Alec raises a dark eyebrow, stepping forward as the last of the portal winks shut behind him.

“It decreases the time that I have to wait until I can see you again.”

Alec bites back comments that wouldn’t float well in the suffocating atmosphere, knowing it’s not him, not really; it’s the voice of fear inside of him, the part of him that’s always worried he’ll be forgotten, the part that can’t shake off the feeling he isn’t enough, and never will be.

“I’m here now.” He says, instead. “All yours.”

The words drift in the air between them, and it feels awkward, in the way that everything Alec said after he told Magnus he was going to marry Lydia had felt awkward . Alec shrugs his shoulders back, his leather jacket rustling with the movement.

“Would you like a drink?” Magnus asks, already turning to face the drinks cart. “Or are those earlier cocktails still leaving shockwaves?”

Alec curls his fingers against the nape of his neck. “I think I’m going to make a coffee, actually.”

Magnus nods. “Of course. Maybe we can have our respective drinks on the balcony, the fresh air might do us both some good.”

Alec smiles, but it doesn’t feel right, doesn’t sit in the places it should. “I’d love that.”

Magnus looks, for a moment, as though there’s something more he wants to say, but then he’s nodding again, spinning on his heel with more blue sparks than his magic usually requires, and Alec turns away too, because he knows when Magnus is trying to hide.

There’s a very thin line between them, a tightrope string, and it’s Alec’s intention to tread it with the utmost care.

“It’s a beautiful night.”

Alec exhales across the surface of his coffee, steam rising in coils before his face. “Surprisingly clear, for New York. I think I can almost see the moon.”

“That’s a jet plane.” There’s a smile to Magnus’ tone. “But there’s a few stars out, trying their best to show through the city fog.”

Alec sips his coffee, even knowing it’s too hot, knowing it will burn the edge of his tongue. A part of him welcomes the sting.

“Alexander-”

Alec sucks in a sharp breath. “Please, don’t.” His exhale doesn’t ease the weight on his lungs. “Don’t, pretend that nothing happened, that I didn’t snoop or that you didn’t yell or that there isn’t this, this gap between us. We can’t pretend it didn’t happen. That won’t fix anything.”

“I am not trying to pretend anything,” Magnus stares out across the New York city landscape, at the flickering lights and bustling cars and the people living their carefree lives. “I told you, I want to live in the now . Our world is at constant risk, there’s danger and death at every corner, Alexander, I just - want to appreciate the time I have to spend with you, while I have it.”

Alec’s heart breaks a little.

“I’m sorry.” He wonders if a cocktail might have been a better option. “I don’t want to, I mean, I never really…”

“This is very new, to us both.” Magnus reaches out, tentatively. Alec turns his hand, so that his palm is facing up, and Magnus interlaces their fingers. “But we can’t lose sight of what is important. I love you. That is all I want to think about tonight.”

Alec lifts their joined hands, brushing a tender, aching kiss across Magnus’ knuckles. “Then that is all that matters.”

The navy blue sheets are cold against Alec’s bare calves, the hairs on his forearms standing on end even as the bedroom warms with a slow heat. It’s a strange feeling, almost as though he’s teetering on a double-edged sword, stuck between knowing that he’s welcome here, and not entirely feeling it.

“I’m really glad you’re here.” Magnus says, leaning against the bathroom door frame. “I don’t think I say it enough, when you are.”

Alec licks his bottom lip, his throat dry. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Magnus smiles, and it’s tight but fond, and Alec thinks that not everything has to be easy for it to be good. “Flirt.” He says, though they both know he means something else.

Alec pulls the covers of Magnus’ side back, letting his heart settle as Magnus disrobes, something achingly familiar in the dip of the bed as Magnus slips in. He doesn’t sleep as well when Magnus isn’t there, and a selfish part of him hopes that it is the same for Magnus.

Most days he hates that part of himself, because it’s hardly ever quiet.

“Something, uh-” Alec curls his hand in the navy covers, his other hand resting flat on his chest. “Something interesting happened, at the Institute, today.”

Magnus rolls over onto his side, one hand flat beneath his cheek. “More interesting than someone tracking ichor into the entry? Did you finally replace that, frankly disgusting and lacklustre coffee? Did the Inquisitor turn up unannounced without her pole?”

Alec swats at Magnus’ shoulder, a laugh bubbling from his throat without his realising it. “Yes, more interesting than that. This is serious, Magnus.”

He doesn’t mention how good it feels, to laugh, even if it just for a second. Magnus leans forward, pressing a kiss to Alec’s bare shoulder, his smile bright enough to illuminate the entire room. “My apologies. Please, continue with your very serious story.”

Alec frowns, even as his smile persists. It’s a heavy thing to talk about, and things are far from perfect between them, but Magnus has this uncanny ability to make him feel calm and at ease, if not happy, and Alec is revelling in that.

“There’s a Shadowhunter, Underhill; he’s the new head of security.”

Magnus hums. “A VIP then.”

Alec shakes his head, then stops. “I suppose, yeah. He’s good at his job, really good. Doesn’t interfere or question much, always steps up to do whatever he can. My mom would say he’s the perfect soldier.”

Magnus freezes, then asks, his tone a careful whisper. “Would that be a compliment?”

Alec inclines his head. “I think so. I’d use it as such. Anyway, because he’s new, and because he’s so unassuming, I’ve never considered much about him past the glowing recommendations from Idris. Turns out, he’s been a perfect soldier for ten years, and - in all of that time, he never felt comfortable really being himself.”

Magnus makes a pointed noise, and Alec rolls over, until they’re facing each other, hands clasped between them, though not yet touching. “You mean?”

Alec nods, the answer there without question. “He’s gay. He said that, that I was inspiring and that my courage helped him come out, himself. I don’t know, if he has a partner or anything, although he spoke almost as though he did. I was a little too struck to ask.”

“You’re paving the way for people like you,” Magnus smiles, lifting his hand until it’s cupping Alec’s cheek. “It’s inspiring on its own, but you’re also running an Institute, and you’ve been more successful than the last two predecessors, if I’m honest.”

Alec purses his lips, cheek warm beneath Magnus’ palm. “I’m just doing my job.”

Magnus huffs out a fond laugh. “Don’t you see, Alexander? That is the point. You are the best for the job, you always have been, but you haven’t had to make compromises to get here. That is what inspires people.”

Magnus looks at Alec, then, like he is the world. “I should know. You inspire me every day.”

If Alec’s heart skips a beat, it’s only because he’s holding his breath, and not because Magnus’ words have danced their way between his ribs. If Alec feels a little part of himself breaking away, it’s only because that piece never belonged to him anyway.

If Alec’s hands shake when they wrap around Magnus’, it’s only because some days, he still can’t believe how lucky is, to be loved so deeply by Magnus Bane.

Things aren’t easy, their world is in turmoil and their relationship is sailing towards a rocky cliff, but Alec was always taught that most things took effort, and some were simply unexplainable. He and Magnus, they’re a rare combination of everything he ever thought he knew, and a thousand more things he never could have imagined.

He isn’t the first. He won’t be the last. But for now, he is the one whom Magnus loves, and Alec isn’t foolish enough to throw away the best thing that has ever happened to him.

He’ll take what he can get, each precious, fragile moment. A collection of his own.

#malec #malec fic #my writing #missing scene #shfanficnexus #canon compliant ish #coda fic #magnus bane #alec lightwood #shadowhunters #sh fic #my fic #fluff and angst #feels #bittersweet ending #post 3x05 #pre 3x06

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elettralightwood · 2 years

Text

If u had the chance to read a missing scene from the books or read a scene written differently, what would u want to read/read differently?👀 (mainly malec and tmi gang)

Also this definetely isn’t because i wanna write a compilation of missing scenes/canon divergent scenes

#shadowhunters #tsc #the shadowhunters chronicles #shadowhunters fic #malec #malec fic #the mortal instruments

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onetimetwotimesthreetimess · 2 years

Note

Okay time to read the preciousness that is your malec fic. Let's go. A list of bits and pieces I liked a loooooot (because why not???):

The title. Something so soft and malec about it.

Me reading your first fic which is almost 5k words - "stooormy you look like mommy baby"

Alec rubbing off (mundane habits!!) on Magnus is something that can be so personal.

His beautiful Alec >>>

I am once again emotion about malec letting Max's horns hurt them because they don't wanna stop cuddling

Even with his bedhead. Especially with the bedhead. - this coming from Magnus - I am Fashion - Bane. Wow.

Sometimes his husband said his name as if it was a sentence in itself. - I am once again telling you this was some good shit

"Really. And what was the plan?"" Fuck The Clave." - PLEASE

Every time Magnus uttered a curse word or was about to use one, the boy would somehow materialize out of thin air. - canon

Max being a ball of energy is SO canon idk why.

Children petting their parents' heads >>>

"I am not grumpy." Alec shot back. "Yes, you are," Rafael turned and retorted back. Always onboard to give shit to Alec. - I LOVE YOU KING

He had ended up remembering only a few words. The ones that mattered the most. In Spanish and Indonesian. For nights when Magnus and Rafael could only be comforted in their mother tongues. - beautiful.

Magnus being the crazy parent? *checks notes* yeah okay checks out

That Jace scene owns my soul just so you know ;)

While Max had clung to Alec that night, the shadowhunter boy had crawled in Magnus's arms and whispered to him that he would grow up and become the best shadowhunter one day to protect his dad. His husband had worried that maybe Rafael felt that way because Alec had saved him, and he felt the need to pay him back. But with time, they realized that their son felt that way because of the simple fact that he loved Alec. And well, Magnus could understand that. - I KNOW IT'S LONG BUT IT'S BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN SO LIKE SUE ME

impotent - LMAO MAX

"I'm also the father of my children, Magnus. You're not special." - sassy Alec I bow down before thee

Simon asking Alec for advice on how to be a good husband - PLEASE MY HEART (ps - headcanon that Jace finds out and gets offended. Simon: You are not even a husband yet! Jace: WOW WAY TO CHANGE THE TOPIC, LOVELACE!)

You don’t have to be the best. You just have to be better. - lovely advice <3

"You wouldn't be the person I fell in love with if you didn't drop everything to help other people." Alec grabbed his face and brought both their foreheads together. "I love all that you are, Magnus Bane. Never apologize for being you." - ALEC YOU STEALTH ROMANCE ATTACKER

"Let me look at you. I missed home." - LOVE ME A GOOD PARALLELS BRO

Okay. I only left a small comment on ao3 but as you can see, I loved this fic very much.

Side note: Since I have been writing a lot, I haven't really had the time to read fanfiction - which I really miss doing. I have forgotten what it felt like to read it. To be blown away by someone's words and wonder how tf it's not canon. To grin into my pillow. To fall in love with my faves a little bit more.

I missed it so much. Thank you for making me feel those things again. I feel blessed - and grateful <3

A gif to capture how I felt throughout this whole damn thing:

Dani my love I have actual tears reading this I shit you not.

I can't believe you made a list aaaagh my heart. This is the sweetest thing and not to sound dramatic but I will cherish this list with my life

Your reax to everything you mentioned aaaah uwu. It's honestly a little overwhelming to see that people read my words and noticed these small things I added gosh.

That Jace and Simon HC is top tier lmao I accept.

Also, the fact that you're not able to read ff these days and my fic was able to make you feel CAN YOU PLS NOT MA'AM. my mom is asking why I'm grinning and crying looking into my phone. I’m brown pls I’m not allowed to do that skskskks

Thank you so much. I have said it before and I will say it again. I am love you.

#mutuals #Dani <3 #my writing

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chibi-tsukiko · 3 years

Note

Another little question I forgot to ask :)

I am not really familiar with fanfictions and I want to read a damn good one but I have no idea how can I find one suitable for my tastes. I guess you may have some advices. The features I am looking for are:

I do not like romance at all (if there will be I prefer it not to be center and I can't stand so much straight love sorry)

It has to make sense (some are really illogical)

Not too long (I am having a really important exam so I don't have much time to read)

Which websites or apps?

I'd appreciate if you answered, thank youu

✨❤️🌈

Note: I do love Shadowhunters (especially magnus and alec lol)

I always knew this day would come, when someone would ask me for fic recommendations and I would be 100% unprepared! 😖😆

First off, I pretty much exclusively only read Malec fics. Archive of Our Own is my choice site (AO3).

I think my history is over 140 pages now 🙈

Based off of your features and the sheer amount of fics I have read I think the best thing to do would give you some of my favorite authors so that you can go browse their works and find something you like!

I’d also check back on this post because I’m sure people will add their own recommendations that may be more tailored to your specific features 😊

Idk if you prefer Show or Book Malec so I’ll try and give well-rounded recommendations 🥰

Here are some of my recommendations :

⭐️ @cuubism — is a magnificent talent and her works are unparalleled. She has longer fics like Dissolution and Cradling the Sun, as well as shorter one-shots like, Bundled Up, Dear Life, and Two Hands. She also has a couple of series going on as well! I know you said about the length, but I would definitely give Dissolution a shot!!

She writes Show! Malec and is a wiz at the hurt/comfort trope so those are things to consider when you check her out!

You can find her here on Tumblr or on AO3 under the same name. 💕

⭐️ @my-archerboy — writings focus on Book! Malec. She has incredible missing scenes/ continuation one-shots like Pillow! Fight and You should Always have Cake, as well as adorable and amazing AU series like Call Me Maybe and School Daze. She also wrote the Malec training session from the show in her own words which is always a great read!

You can follow her fic tumblr @my-archerboy-fics where she posts all the links to her works on AO3 ♥️

⭐️ @arialerendeair is a QUEEN! She’s written for every trope in existence I’m sure! Haha Her writings focus on Show! Malec and range from canon, canon-divergent, to AU; and fluff to more explicit reads. She’s well-known for her Birthday Bash & BAMF Alec/ BAMF Magnus series which show case our favorite boys being the badass babes that they are.

You can find her on AO3 under the same name Aria_Lerendeair ✨

⭐️ Liguam on AO3 has a fantastic series titled Post 3x10: Erchomai which focuses on Show! Malec, specifically Magnus dealing with the aftermaths of giving up his magic. They are just small 500-1,000 word one-shots and it’s an incredible series.

Some of my other favorite Authors who write Malec, but also other characters from the show and books are @lightwormsiblings (alistoney on A03) has amazing pieces focused on Shadowhunters the show! @khaleesiofalicante has incredible canon & AU fics! @silver-lily-louise, @bytheangell, @sfjessii are all incredibly talented and have amazing works worth checking out!

I’d also check out these works!

A Slight Variation by starkraving

The Right Kind of Love by Onyxmoon

The Eye of the Beholder by Ralf

My Light by dreamerbydawn

There are so many others, but I hope this gets you off to a good start! ☺️🥰

#i always feel bad when I dont tag everyone 😭#i’m surrounded by so much talent ahhhh #emsaskbox #malec #malec fic recs #malec fics

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we-are-all-flynn · 3 years

Text

yall know when you have an idea for an au and you just cant get it out of your head? anyways,

jatp tmi/shadowhunters au

(its a mix between the show and the books because yeah)

okay here we go

julie as clary - obviously. artistic? curly hair? can see people others cant? short? it just fits. moms dead/missing for most of the narrative. has a hardcore bestie who stays w/ them through everything.

flynn as simon - the iconic best friend. has always had a crush on bestie and even dated them for a bit? ngl i would love to see it with julynn. sort of hates besties s/o and discourages hanging out with them, but eventually has a good relationship. jace and simons relationship is everything and i would love to see it w/ flynn and luke. which brings me to our next point.

luke as jace - now, we are not doing the sibling bit. i simply will not include that because no. anyways, cocky, musical, main love interest, yeah. obviously hes not as narcissistic as jace because that would be mean. but hes still sometime ignorant to others feelings and can be self centered because thats canon anyways.

alex as alec - gay. alex is a stickler for the rules but just because hes anxious. was in love w/ best friend for a while, but got over it when he found his mans. also hes nicer to julie than alex is to clary at first because i said so. doesnt mean hes not still kinda stiff tho.

carrie as izzy - badass girl. falls in love w/ mains best friend. im sorry but i would love to see that one scene in idris with flarrie and alex it would be so funny

willie as magnus - rn im imagining willie in magnus' clothes and makeup and screaming inside. anyways willex as malec is something that can be so personal

rose as jocelyn - julie/clary's mom, absent for a while. idk id rather rose doesn't die like in jatp and shadowhunters so ig we're goin w/ book canon on this one. rose doesnt really hide her past from julie in jatp she just never mentions the boys (which she really had no reason to) but we can relate that to jocelyn hiding her life easily enough.

ray as luke - okay there is no way in hell that im having rose be calebs ex, so we're just gonna say that ray and rose were in the circle sorta like robert and maryse were, ray was one of calebs right hands, realized he was messed up, they planned to leave, ray got turned, rose fled pregnant w/ the cup, they found each other again, raised julie and had carlos, everything was good up until you know when.

OH MY GOD CARLOS AS MAX BUT NOT REALLY BECAUSE HE WONT DIE AND HES JULIES LIL BRO INSTEAD OF ALEX AND CARRIE'S. yes.

victoria as dot - victoria as a warlock is something that can just be so personal. dot was already sorta like a cool aunt to clary, so why not. worked at roses shop.

trevor as robert - carrie and alex's dad. was part of the circle w wifey (who should be maryse? should she be absent like carries mom?) and ray and rose. stayed longer but ultimately left, kept secret from kids. although i like trevor i dont want him to die so he can just be a good inquisitor who supports gays and retires at some point to jia(ms harrison ? 👀), who then retires to alex later on

caleb as valentine - honestly who else would it be. sure its not exact, and i feel like he shouldnt be adoptive dad to luke cause that seems weird, but hes the kind to kidnap someone for what he wants. totally charismatic enough to have a cult following, basically already does.

anyways. i have many more ideas. maybe ill add to this later. also i know i didnt include reggie i just have no idea who he'd be. maybe maya? idk.

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khaleesiofalicante · 2 years

Note

Oh, and also I was rereading chapter 8 of LBAF (bc I miss Mavid and its so healthy of me to reread their parts) and it was mentioned that Magnus and Alec taught Rafe and Max how to use the Alliance rune, right?

Now i cant stop imagining the Lightwood-Bane family on a weekend teaching Max rune control while Rafael learning magic control and them having a little hard time bc they are new and all and Malec being like: "Let's show them how we do it, babe" and then drawing the rune and fighting together (Magnus with runes and Alec with magic) and ending on a Malec-fighting-aka-making-out-season-3-kinda-parallel and Rafe and Max being so done 😂😂

THIS IS CANON.

Also yes! A mavid scene a day keeps the doctor away ;)

#lbaf #lightwood bane family

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the-great-lightwood-bane · 2 years

Text

Whumptober 2021 Completionist Post

All Malec. Links are to AO3. (my AO3)

Whumptober series

together - Alec has been captured. We're not sure by who, though... 4 chapters. Days 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, and 16.

hunger - Magnus is magically exhausted for the first time since the Owl incident. It brings back bad memories. One-shot. Day 6.

an eye for an eye (a son for a son) - An alternate universe in which Imogen Herondale demanded justice for the death of her son when the Circle fell, and the Lightwoods didn't get off so scot-free. 4 chapters. Days 7, 9, 30, and 31.

hope (and the lack of it) - Missing scenes from that time in QoAaD when Magnus was sick with the blight. One-shot. Day 8.

flightless angel - A canon divergence from CoHF in which Shadowhunters have wings, Sebastian doesn't kill Raphael, and a different deal is made to escape Edom. 2 chapters. Days 10 and 13.

by proxy - Magnus’s voice was hoarse from screaming, and his wrists chafed from the magic-suppressing cuffs on his wrists, but he was otherwise unharmed. He wished he wasn’t.

Because, if he had been the one getting beat up, his husband wouldn’t be. 2 chapters. Days 12, 14, and 15.

don't you die on me - And then, to Alec’s horror, the Alliance rune on his wrist flickered, and he looked to Magnus just in time to see him fall. 2 chapters. Days 18 and 28.

bleeding through the bandages - Magnus is stabbed with a seraph blade fighting Circle members. One-shot. Days 17, 19, and 21.

immortality (and what a certain shadowhunter will do to get it) - Alec figures out how to become immortal. This is how it happens. One-shot. Day 22.

escape (getting home) - Alec is kidnapped by Circle members. He escapes. One-shot. Days 20, 23, and 25.

adrift - In a few days, he’d be dead. His head ached dully, his mouth felt dry. He tried to stand up, and his head spun for a few moments before he steadied.

He wished he could see Magnus one last time. 2 chapters. Days 11, 24, 26, and 27.

self-sacrifice - That scene from Sherlock BBC (s4e3) where Sherlock has to choose between killing John and killing Mycroft, except with Shadowhunters. One-shot. Day 29.

#whumptober2021 #completionist #tsc #tmi #fic #my fic #suicide mention #blood #gore #canon-typical violence #self-harm

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intangibel · 3 years

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First Lines Of Your Last 20 Fics!

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favourite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favourite authors!

Tagged by the incredible @ladymatt ❤️ my personal hero and one of my parabatri.

Most of mine are *old* but I just finished the WIP i had been hanging over my head for 6 years so I am determined I can get back to all of these.

1) Eyes of the Beholder (E, Malec: All Human AU/Nude Model AU)

Magnus spots the sketchbook as he ducks out from behind the decorative screen that doubles as a change room.

2). Someone to Believe In (T, Nell Jones/Eric Beale NCISLA: Undercover Mission, Kid fic)

"Didn't you ever wish that there'd been an error? That someone would walk into your classroom and say ‘Sorry, there'd been a mistake! Nell’s not meant to be in this grade but the one down the hall, with the kids two or three grades up’ that you belonged, not with the people who were technically your own age but with all the other kids who were doing the same work as you…”

3). Yours, Mine (M, Alternate Malec: This World Is Inverted AU)

”Kidnapping someone is a lot of effort, a lot of planning and resources,” Alec said almost lazily as he propped himself up against the cold wall.

4). My Last and Only Hope (T Malec: The Martian AU)

Alec knew he was taking a risk just turning up at Bane Industries and demanding an interview with Magnus Bane himself.

5). You Want Me To Teach What?! (T, Malec: Teachers AU)

Alec was sitting in his office eating lunch and chatting to Izzy about what they had planned for the Christmas break when they were interrupted by a timid knock at the door.

6) This Christmas (T, Malec: Human AU, Christmas Fic)

“Are you sure Alec won’t mind?” Magnus asked for what had to be the fourth time that morning as he followed Izzy inside the apartment she and Alec shared.

7). With The World Watching (G, Malec: Human AU, Wedding Dances)

Alec isn’t really paying attention when Lydia throws the bouquet.

8). Dutch Courage (T, Jimon: Human AU, Mutual Pining)

When Simon gets back to his apartment after what is possibly the longest day of his entire life, he’s focused on just one thing.

9). Hold and Release (T, Malec: Human AU, Yoga AU)

Maybe his mother was right, Alec mused as he matched his breath to his movements, maybe this is exactly what he needs to get his priorities sorted.

10). Stand By You (G, Malec: Missing Scene, Parabatai feels)

When Alec walked into the living room he was surprised to see Magnus standing at the drink cart tossing back a glass of whisky.

11), I found God but it wasn't supposed to be (T, Malec: Soulmate AU, Winged!Alec)

“It remains our primary mission, above all else, to locate God. Remember, this incarnation may take any human form - irrespective of race, age, and gender.”

12). Melt My Heart with Snow (T, Malec: Canon Compliant, Snow Play)

“Really?! Already?! Surely it’s too early,” Alec groaned.

13). I want to show you the world (T, Clizzy: snow joy/Christmas)

Clary had gotten up early so that she was already in the training room when Alec walked in.

14). Play Me Like a Choir (M, Malec: Magnus & Simon Friendship, Learning a musical instrument)

Sleeping during the day was still a work in progress.

15). Orphans & Bassinets (G, Malec: Kid fic)

It’d been a really long day, so when Magnus’ phone rang he really wanted to banish it to some alternate universe where no clingy and obsessive clients would ever be able to find it.

16). I’ll Wear My Heart On my Sleeve Tonight (T, Malec: Pride, Spirit Day)

[from: Alexander 3:04PM] I have something I really want to do tonight and I’m really hoping you’re free because I want to do it with you.

17). Malphabet (G-M, Malec: A-Z ficlets)

That was all it took. A single arrow fired by an incredibly hot archer and Magnus was hooked.

18). My Precious Cinnamon Roll (T, Malec: Alec Bakes)

Trudging up the stairs to his loft at 3am was definitely not part of his plan for a relaxing night curled up on the couch with Alec after his late patrol ended at midnight.

19). Heirlooms & Rattles (G, Malec: Magnus babysat Alec as a Child)

“Magnus are you sure the amethyst scarab of that Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh -” Alec began.

20). The Tie that Binds and Breaks Us (G, Alec Introspection, Clizzy, one-sided Jace/Alec, future potential Malec)

“Jace, listen to me!”

Clary. Why was it always Clary who was one step ahead of him?

Patterns:

I start stories in the middle of conversations about 40% of the time.

I have a *thing* for improving the outcome of characters who’ve had long days.

Tagging (should you want to) @magnusbae, @aceon-ice , @apathyinreverie , @arialerendeair , @to-the-stars-writing

#writing things #malec fanfic #jimon fanfic #clizzy fanfic #malec #my writing #I write occasionally #so many wips

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echo-bleu · 3 years

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jump and hope it’s not a cliff

Summary: Five times Alec and Magnus come out, and one time they come home.

“I’m gay,” he blurts out.

Some part of him still expects it to be earth-shattering, but it’s not. It’s almost nothing, just a word, a single syllable that falls out of his lips easily. It doesn’t suddenly make everything click into place, or scramble his whole being.

It’s just a fact.

Malec, about coming out and pride and supporting each other.

A/N: This is set in the same universe as map out a world and there are a few callbacks, but this should easily stand on its own. Alec is autistic, and everything else is mostly like canon, except that I stretched out the timeline. Part 1 to 3 are set somewhere during season 2, 4 during season 3 and the last two at some point in the future. The title is a quote from Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (thank you Cor for the suggestion).

A huge thank you to the amazing @moonlight-breeze-44 who did a great job betaing this and cheering me on, as well as all the wonderful people in the Malec Discord Server for helping me come up with some of these scenes and being super supportive. This fic was truly a work of love and it's very close to my heart, so it's a little daunting to finally post it!

Warnings: part 5 contains a transphobic character who says very transphobic things. You might want to skip that part if it's a sensitive subject. The rest contains mentions of (mostly past) queerphobia and ableism, but it's all fairly light.

Read on AO3.

Alec can’t remember a specific moment when they came out to each other. He remembers Magnus openly flirting with him — right in front of his siblings, too, and Alec is just embarrassed by how utterly clueless he was, though Magnus seems to think it was adorable — and his own clumsy attempts at flirting back, once he got over his confusion. But he doesn’t remember ever saying “I’m gay.”

He’s not sure he’s ever said it out loud, to anyone, like the word is heavy and draining and it’s something best left half-implied, a whisper of a suspicion rather than a hard fact; despite the evidence. Alec is attracted to men — is attracted to Magnus, really, because besides his mistaken infatuation with Jace, he’s never felt that pull for anyone else — but he doesn’t speak of it. Magnus just seemed to know, just like Izzy did, just like Jace did, or maybe he took a leap of faith and he’s really good at appearing more confident than he actually is.

What he does remember is skimming through Magnus’ Clave file, that day before they went to meet him at his club, and the leap his heart made when he read about Magnus’ well known “proclivities” towards lovers of all genders. It was followed by fear and disgust, because of course the Clave would write this down as proof of Magnus’ untrustworthiness and dangerous behavior. Alec was dangerously close to thinking that way, back then, too terrified of people finding out about him to fully question what he’d been taught to believe. He tucked the information into a corner of his mind, and he’d be hard-pressed to tell if it influenced his first impression of Magnus and how.

They’ve been dating for over two months now, and they’ve never spoken about it. They’ve never spoken about Alec’s very public coming out to the Clave beyond agreeing to a date. They’ve discussed past relationships — or lack thereof — and the political issues that come with a Shadowhunter dating a Downworlder, especially as they’re both prominent figures in the city, but they’ve never spoken of themselves or the couple they form in terms of queerness.

And now, staring at the rainbow cover of the new book in Magnus’ hands, Alec wonders why.

He shakes himself out of his thoughts and finishes hanging his jacket on the coat rack as Magnus puts down the book and stands up with a wide smile. They’ve decided on a quiet night in tonight — dinner and a movie — after a week that has been horrendously long for both of them. Unresolved issues are piling up at the Institute, but right now Alec just wants to relax and enjoy his boyfriend.

Boyfriend. He’s still getting used to that. He thought for so long that he could never have any of the things that so many people take for granted, and feeling for someone what he feels for Magnus, having it reciprocated, seemed the most unattainable of them all.

“You seem distracted,” Magnus remarks after a moment of silence in their dinner.

Alec looks up guiltily and stills his fingers, which have been tapping a discreet rhythm on his thigh. “Sorry,” he says, sheepish. “I didn’t mean to zone out.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“You,” Alec admits — it’s not a hardship to admit it at all. He spends most of the time that isn’t directly taken up by Institute business thinking about Magnus, in one form or another. He worries, often, that maybe it’s too much, that Magnus is going to find him too intense, but so far Magnus just preens at the attention.

“I’m flattered,” Magnus quips. “Anything specific?”

Alec’s eyes fall on the rainbow book on the coffee table again, across the room. It’s a book about queer history or something similar, something he hasn’t seen Magnus read about before. It’s flashy and mundane and distracting. There’s a strange tug in Alec’s stomach at just seeing a rainbow here, in Magnus’ living space, a fear that shouldn’t be there anymore.

“I’m gay,” he blurts out.

It’s just a fact.

“Okay,” Magnus says slowly, frowning a little like he can tell he’s missing something. “I already knew that, Alexander.”

Alec runs his thumb down the fabric of his jeans and works his jaw. “Yeah,” he says. “I’m not sure I did.”

Magnus frowns further, uncomprehending, then his face lights up. “You’ve never actually said it, have you? If you came out at the wedding—” he waves a hand.

“That wasn’t planned, and my parents aren’t exactly interested in talking about it,” Alec says. “I kinda feel like I used you, actually. We weren’t even dating or anything, and there’s a gap between flirting with me and kissing me in front of the entire Institute.”

Magnus shakes his head. “I was surprised, but I’ve never been shy or particularly closeted, if that’s what you mean. And I was definitely hoping that you’d call off the wedding. It was a hell of a way to come out, though.”

“It sure didn’t help my standing with the Clave,” Alec mutters. “Or my relationship with my parents. But I don’t regret it. I regret not really giving you a choice, though. Even if you’re not in the closet, I know the Institute doesn’t represent something positive for you, and publicly being with a Shadowhunter can’t be good for your reputation.”

“My reputation has been through much worse than this,” Magnus reassures him. “But I appreciate your concern. And I promise you I was a willing participant.”

Alec nods in acceptance and eats a few more bites of his risotto. Like everything Magnus conjures, it’s delicious. They eat in silence for a moment, but Alec feels Magnus’ gaze on him, intense but somehow not heavy.

“I’m bisexual,” Magnus finally says. “I’ve used many labels over the years, some whose meaning is very different now, and often no labels at all, but that’s the one I like best.”

Alec carefully commits the information to memory and looks up to meet his eyes, to show that he’s listening.

“Did you always know?” he asks. “Even when you had no words for it?”

Magnus takes a moment to think about it. “I think so,” he answers. “It was always a part of me, like my magic or my eyes. I didn’t always accept it, but I knew.”

Alec nods, feeling like he can’t relate to that certainty. Clarity isn’t something he’s ever had about himself, about anything. Whether it’s about his sexuality, or his aspirations, or even who he is as a person, it’s always been muddled. The identities his parents and the Clave tried to impose on him, Shadowhunter and Lightwood and soldier, have never felt quite right, like he doesn’t fit into the boxes he desperately tries to hide in, but neither have the labels he’s come across since, not really.

“I’m gay,” he murmurs to himself again. He’s not sure it feels right. Maybe he just needs to get used to it, after years of not daring to apply the word to himself. Maybe it’s really just a word, and its power drained out with the need to hide. Alec shakes his head. It’s better than anything else. It’s enough. It has to be, right?

Magnus claps his hands once, making a bowl of popcorn appear on his knees. “Here,” he says. “The real movie night experience.”

He had been horrified to learn that Alec has never done that before. His siblings have sneaked out to go to the movies with their teenage dates, but Alec was always the good son, and the Institute only has one TV in the break room that is certainly not casually watched by the Head of the Institute, which Alec has functionally been since he was sixteen.

Magnus doesn’t count the few classic movies Alec watched on his own on his laptop in the safety of his room as a real movie night experience. Movie night is, by definition, something you do with others.

He passes the bowl of popcorn to Alec, taking a few pieces with his other hand and popping them into his mouth. They’re sitting side by side on the couch in his living room, rearranged for the occasion. Magnus has pushed aside the two armchairs that usually occupy the other side of the coffee table in favor of a huge wide screen TV, which is currently displaying the opening scene of The Fellowship of the Ring.

“Why does it include popcorn?” Alec frowns, taking a few from the bowl and passing it back. He’s sitting cross-legged on the couch, a fluffy pillow on his lap and his new tangle toy in his hand. He’s very recently started to loosen up around the loft and actually make himself comfortable, rather than constantly staying straight-backed and tense, and Magnus never tires of watching him stim and relax.

Magnus puts his feet up on the coffee table. “It’s tradition, Alexander!”

“Aren’t you way older than the invention of the cinema?”

“Come on, movie night is something you’re supposed to enjoy, not question,” Magnus says. “Shh, I love this bit,” he adds when Gandalf makes his entrance.

Alec huffs and sits back, but there’s a smile on his face, and he’s almost close enough that their thighs touch. Magnus lets him take the first step, knowing that Alec doesn’t always handle touch well, but by the time Frodo sets out of the Shire, Alec has sought out Magnus’ free hand and interlaced it with his own.

He listens amusedly to Magnus commenting on every moment of the movie, marveling at the landscapes and critiquing the largest departures from the books, which Alec hasn’t even read. He doesn’t say anything beyond making some noises at the right places, up until the first sword fights.

“But you can’t hold a sword that way!” he protests. “His posture is all wrong!”

Magnus holds back a laugh. “It’s a movie, darling. Cinematic aestheticism is more important than realism.”

“But this is wrong! How can anyone not see it?”

Magnus keeps it to himself that he definitely didn’t, in spite of his rather extensive training. His martial arts knowledge is very different from Alec’s sword-fighting techniques. “Just relax and let yourself enjoy it,” he says, squeezing Alec’s hand.

By the time they get to the Moria fight, Alec is leaning forward to watch more closely and sputtering. “That’s not how you hold a bow!”

Magnus shrugs. “He looks rather dashing while doing it, so who cares?”

“Who cares? I care! This doesn’t make any sense! Don’t these actors have a modicum of training?”

“I’m sure they do,” Magnus says. Alec’s indignation is rather hilarious, even if it doesn’t let him truly enjoy the movie. His purpose was to show it to Alec, anyway, not to watch it himself. Watching Alec’s reactions is endearing and more fun than the movie itself. “But they’re thinking more about making it look good than realistic. And they’re all really hot doing it, which doesn’t hurt.”

Alec blinks at that and tilts his head. “You think they’re hot?”

Magnus turns his head toward him in surprise. “Don’t you?”

Is Alec jealous? It doesn’t seem to fit with his character, not over such a small thing, but Magnus doesn’t know everything about him yet.

“I don’t know, I guess?” Alec shrugs. “I haven’t really thought about it.”

Magnus opens his mouth and closes it. He pauses the movie, and Alec frowns in surprise. “Alec, do you...who do you think is hot?”

“I, uh,” Alec hesitates. “I don’t know. Why is that important?”

“It’s not, necessarily, but most people don’t say ‘I guess’ when asked if someone is hot or sexy. You can have a type, but—” Magnus gestures in frustration, struggling to explain. “It’s something you see right away.”

Alec stares at him for a moment, lost. “I don’t… I’m not sure I understand. I mean, you’re beautiful. You’re hot, I suppose. Them—” he gestures at the TV. “I don’t know them.”

Magnus carefully doesn’t let the ‘I suppose’ hurt — he knows Alec doesn’t mean it the way it sounds. He smiles at the compliment, instead. “So you need to know someone to appreciate their sexiness?” he asks.

Alec takes a moment to think about it. “You’re the only one I’ve really thought of as sexy,” he says slowly. “And even then...it’s not something I’d think unprompted? It’s just not important to me, I suppose.”

“Alexander, are you asexual?” Magnus asks slowly.

For a moment, Alec looks like a fish out of water. He opens his mouth and closes it several times, searching for his words. He’s twisting his stim toy more and more nervously, so Magnus releases his hand to let him stim freely, putting his own hand on Alec’s thigh instead. Alec flinches away, though, so he lets him go.

“I don’t know,” Alec finally says. “Maybe? What if I am?”

“There’s a bunch of different identities under the asexual umbrella,” Magnus says. “It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.”

Alec freezes for a second, then squeezes his tangle toy hard in his hand. “Is it a problem? If I’m completely asexual?”

“No, of course not,” Magnus says hurriedly. “You’re wonderful the way you are.”

“Then why is it important?”

“For us?” Magnus checks. Alec nods without looking in his direction. “It just means that we need to talk about boundaries a little more than I’m used to. I want to do that with you, anyway, but maybe we should dig deeper than I anticipated.”

Alec nods tightly. “Okay.” He doesn’t sound like he really believes it.

“Alexander, I don’t know what you’ve been told, but it doesn’t make you lesser, or broken, if you don’t feel attraction to people. It’s just different. Some people are straight, some are gay, or bi, or something else. Some are ace.”

“But I’m gay,” Alec says.

It dawns on Magnus then. Of course, in the homophobic environment Alec grew up in, he would have defined a large part of his identity through his gayness, even before he was fully aware of it. Now that he’s come out, there are likely people at the Institute or even the Clave who only think of him as “the gay one”. Or “the gay one who is shagging a Downworlder,” probably, but Magnus doesn’t want to open that particular can of worms tonight.

“It doesn’t make you any less gay,” he says. “You can be asexual and homoromantic. Or gray-asexual or demisexual and still sexually attracted to men.”

“I think I’m attracted to you,” Alec says quietly. “I mean, sexually. I know I want to kiss you and date you, but I think I also want to have sex with you.” He’s red as a brick wall by the end of his sentence, but he bravely plows through, his voice even quieter. “I don’t think I was sexually attracted to Jace.”

Magnus nods as neutrally as he can. “And other people?”

Alec just shakes his head.

“Even romantically?”

He shakes his head again, his cheeks even redder. He’s started stimming again, so fast that his hands are a blur.

Magnus refrains from telling him that he feels giddy about being so special for Alec, because this isn’t something Alec chose. He doesn’t try to touch him, even though he wants to reach out. “So you’ve only been romantically attracted to people you already knew?”

“I don’t know,” Alec shrugs. “I didn’t really know you?”

“When did you start feeling attraction for me?”

Alec bites his lip, thinking. “I liked that you paid attention to me. No one gives me a second look, usually, unless I’m giving out orders. Jace and Izzy are easier to...approach, I guess. But I didn’t feel like...like you said, losing my breath and all that, until later. The day you said that, actually.”

“So you did know me by then,” Magnus says, trying to keep his voice neutral.

“Were you attracted to me from the beginning?” Alec asks hesitantly, like he’s not sure he wants to know the answer.

“Yes,” Magnus admits easily. “But attraction isn’t something you have to act on. I liked what I saw as soon as I laid eyes on you, but then I learned to appreciate you. Your personality, your sense of humor, your loyalty to your siblings. That’s not just attraction. That’s falling in love.”

“And asexuals can do that?”

“Some of them can, some of them can’t. Some want to and some don’t. There’s no one-size-fits-all with this.”

“So what am I?”

Magnus takes a breath, trying to figure out what Alec really needs to hear. Does he need a label? Or just reassurance? He decides to go for the option that feels the least patronizing and tries to answer his actual question. “You can correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that what you’re describing is demisexuality, and maybe also demi-romanticism. It means you need to know someone, to have an emotional connection to them, before you feel attraction. But you could also say that you’re gray-ace and gray-romantic, since you don’t experience attraction often or in the same way as most people, but you do have some attraction.”

Alec nods throughout, his eyes boring a hole into the TV he’s staring at with intense focus. Magnus can even see him mouth some of the words, trying them out. “I think that sounds right,” he says slowly. “I don’t know, I need to think about it more, but it’s a start.”

“You don’t need to settle on a label tonight,” Magnus tells him.

Alec swallows. “No, I know, but...you deserve to know. Even if you’re amazingly tolerant, you deserve to know what you’re getting into.”

Magnus closes his eyes briefly. “No, Alexander,” he says, pained. “Your identities are yours and yours alone, and you don’t need to put words on them for me. I’m not being tolerant; I love you for who you are, and anyone who can’t accept you, all of you, doesn’t deserve the time of the day. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Alec breathes out through his nose and stills his hands for long enough to look in Magnus’ direction. “Okay,” he murmurs with a tiny smile. He reaches out and takes Magnus’ hand in his. “I love you too.”

“Mister Bane, please refrain from interrupting me in the future.”

Magnus sighs. The meeting has been going on forever, and the President of the Spiral Council, a warlock older than himself but disliked by nearly the entire community, is being downright insulting by refusing to call him by his rightful title of High Warlock. He feels the usual prickle of his skin at the address, at the way she insists on the Mister.

“My apologies,” he relents, all energy to argue drained out of him. He’s been fighting her on this matter — a change in the interrogation protocols for the warlocks captured by Valentine, ultimately a waste of resources — for three hours, and he’s done. He glares at the assembled warlocks around the table, who all agree with him but don’t have the guts to speak up. Why does he always have to do all the work?

He sits through the rest of the meeting without saying a word, resolutely ignoring the constant taunts from the President. She’s not worth his time. Not if no one will back him up.

Magnus is tired and more than a little upset when he makes it back to his loft. Minor inconveniences are piling up to make today one of the worst days of work he’s had in awhile. At least Alec will be here tonight, on his night off from patrol.

Magnus magically summons the few bills that have been left in his mundane mailbox downstairs at the same time as he takes off his jacket and haphazardly throws it on the floor of his bedroom. His heart constricts a little more at the sight of the address, Mister Magnus Bane. He doesn’t want to deal with this today, but he can’t seem to escape it.

He banishes the bills and changes his outfit to a silk robe with a snap of his fingers. There, better. At least now he’s comfortable.

Sighing, he sits down at his makeup console. He looks at himself critically for a moment. He went overboard with the makeup this morning, and the heavy, dark eyeshadow that he thought made him look mysterious now just seems to carve in his eye sockets, and he looks gaunt instead. He makes it disappear, leaving only the light eyeliner lines.

He woke up with a strong need to shave off his goatee, along with most of the hair on his body. He goes through one of these phases every now and then. He would usually do it straight away, but this time, he hesitated. What will Alec think, if he comes over tonight and finds Magnus smooth-skinned, not only his face but also his chest and legs?

Sure, Magnus could technically magic back the hair as soon as Alec gets here, but it doesn’t feel right.

“Everything okay?”

Magnus starts and almost falls off of his chair in surprise. Alec is standing at the door of his bedroom, in his socks. In his distraction, Magnus somehow missed him passing his wards, coming through the front door and removing his shoes.

“Fine,” he says. “Just a frustrating day. But you’re here now.”

Alec smiles. “I am. We can just chill out in bed, if you’re tired.”

“What about dinner?”

“I could do dinner in bed,” Alec shrugs. “I’ve been on my feet all day and most of last night. If I had my way, I wouldn’t move from bed for at least two days.”

“I could arrange that,” Magnus quips. He knows Alec would never go for it — for all that he says that, he’ll still be up at six on the dot tomorrow and unable to go back to bed. So Magnus has to take advantage of him while he’s here.

Snapping his fingers, he conjures a tray filled with Chinese food from a take-out place he knows Alec likes. “Dinner in bed it is,” he says.

“See, that’s why you’re my favorite man,” Alec smiles.

Magnus flinches. An actual, full-body flinch. He tries to cover it up by standing up, but Alec immediately spreads his arms to show his harmlessness, hunching over like he’s trying to make himself shorter. “I said something wrong,” he says.

“No, it’s fine, Alexander,” Magnus waves his hand, annoyed at himself.

“Please, Magnus. I can see it. You don’t have to tell me, but it would be better so I don’t do it again.”

“It’s just…” Magnus trails off, hesitating. He’s been putting off coming out to Alec, and he doesn’t know why. Or rather, he does know, but his fears are barely rational. Alec has taken him in stride so far, barely batting an eye, even at Magnus’ more extravagant habits. He had a truly amazing reaction to seeing Magnus’ warlock mark. So why would this be any different?

No, Alec won’t react badly. But if Magnus comes out now, it will become a thing. They’ll have to talk about it, explain, like every time he tells someone, and it will be weird for days. Magnus is tired. Tired of not being able to be who he is without everyone else forcing him into boxes he doesn’t fit in.

He’s tired and he doesn’t want to explain, but he also wants Alec to know. He wants him to know why words that seem perfectly normal and safe to Alec sometimes feel like a knife to Magnus’ back. He wants to be able to make jokes about his gender and have them understood. He wants to wake up next to Alec and know that his partner knows and respects him for who he is, fully.

He takes a deep breath. “I’m not a man. I’m nonbinary.”

Alec doesn’t move. His eyes widen a little, but he doesn’t turn away from Magnus, keeping his gaze somewhere around Magnus’ mouth as usual. Magnus can almost see the wheels turning in his head as he tries to decide what to answer with.

“Okay,” he says slowly. “I don’t...I think I know what the word means, but I don’t know a lot about it. Do you want to tell me what it means to you or do you want me to research it first?” His gaze trails toward the bookshelf Magnus has put together of books on queer theory.

Magnus gapes, because this is so far from any reaction he expected that it didn’t even come to his mind as an option. “I—” he stammers. “I will tell you, but I’m too tired tonight. And maybe you could...read a couple things first? Would that be okay?”

“That’s why I offered,” Alec says, with a relieved smile.

“You’re amazing, Alexander. You know that?”

Alec grins, with that tiny frown that says he wants to refute it but knows Magnus won’t hear of it if he does. He still can’t take a compliment — he can’t, Magnus has come to learn, think of himself positively without remembering every time he’s been put down and belittled by the people who should have lifted him up. Magnus just pats his shoulder. “How about we go to bed? Tomorrow, we can talk.”

Alec nods, and Magnus realizes that he’s looking forward to it, to telling Alec about himself.

When Magnus wakes up the next morning, which is their day off — Magnus has adapted his own schedule to match Alec’s whenever possible — Alec isn’t in bed next to him. Magnus finds him in the main room, sitting crossed-legged in an armchair with his laptop on his lap, a full breakfast ready on the table. He’s obviously been up for a while, if he’s had time to prepare all that on top of his morning run and stretching routine.

“Hey,” he gives Magnus a wide smile.

“Did I oversleep?” Magnus asks. He’s definitely less of an early-riser than Alec, who tends to wake up with the sun whenever he hasn’t been on the night shift, but he’s usually awake by the time Alec comes back from his run.

“There’s no such thing on a day off, but I think you were tired,” Alec answers. “I’ve been up for three hours.”

“Oh my,” Magnus murmurs, checking the time with a wave of his hand. To his relief — and amusement — it’s only eight-thirty, definitely not that late by his standards. “What have you done with all this time?”

“Research,” Alec waves to the books on the coffee table in front of him, which Magnus only now notices. They’re from his LGBT+ book collection, and definitely his top choices for learning about gender identities. “I’m learning a lot.”

“Let me shower and we can talk about it,” Magnus decides, his body tensing with excitement and a touch of apprehension.

“Breakfast is ready when you are,” Alec smiles reassuringly.

He’s just serving coffee when Magnus comes out of the shower. Magnus hasn’t bothered to get dressed or do his makeup yet, avoiding his mirrors — which isn’t the easiest feat in his bathroom, which has no less than two full-length mirrors beside the one above the sink — because he’s not sure what he wants to look like today. His goatee still itches on his chin, but he needs to get a feel for Alec’s reaction before he goes ahead and shaves it.

He forbids himself from pulling at his facial hair and grabs his mug of coffee instead, hissing when it nearly burns his hand. “Hey, you okay?” Alec asks, his voice quiet and concerned.

“I’m fine, Alexander,” Magnus makes himself smile. There’s no reason for this to go badly. Last night, even though Alec didn’t know much, was already affirming and relieving.

The concern is always there, especially given the culture Alec comes from, but Magnus has seen Alec fight hard against his own racism and internalized homophobia, and more recently his internalized ableism — and Alec is someone who doesn’t relent until he makes things right. Especially when he’s the one who made mistakes. It’s going to be okay.

“Tell me what you need,” Alec says, meeting his eyes — something he only does when he wants to show Magnus his support, explicitly and deliberately.

“Ask me?” Magnus tries. He hates feeling this vulnerable. “Ask me whatever questions you have, without beating around the bush.” Don’t make it awkward and painful, please.

“Alright, I can do that,” Alec smiles softly, and Magnus melts a little, like every time Alec looks at him like that. He takes a sip of his coffee. “So, I’ve read that there are a lot of different nonbinary identities. Do you use any of those labels for yourself? If you want to tell me.”

Magnus swallows in gratefulness. “I don’t, not really,” he replies. “Most of those labels are very recent, and they don’t really match with how I’ve learned to think about myself. Even nonbinary doesn’t feel exactly right, even if I fit the definition. But I use it because it’s rare for me to feel part of a community, of a group of people who share that with me.”

Alec nods thoughtfully. “I think I can relate with that,” he says. “The community thing, I mean. I’ve never actually thought about my gender, not beyond where it relates to my sexuality, but I guess not needing to think about it is a good sign that I’m cis.”

“Probably,” Magnus shrugs. “Does it feel strange for you? Realizing that you’re not really dating a man?”

Alec takes the time to think about it, though he never completely looks away. “No,” he says finally. “I won’t lie, maybe a few months ago it would have, because...I fought against my own gayness so much that when I finally accepted it, I needed it to be clear-cut. But I don’t feel like that anymore. If I learned something about identities and labels, it’s that they shouldn’t be boxes where you have to cut off parts of yourself to fit inside. I love you. I’m gay. You’re nonbinary. Those don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”

Magnus needs a few long seconds before he remembers how to breathe. “They don’t,” he murmurs when he can finally speak again. Alec isn’t usually eloquent, but he has a knack for finding exactly the right words sometimes. And surprising Magnus, every day.

“Yesterday, you reacted when I called you a man,” Alec says slowly. “I’m probably going to slip up a few times until I get used to it, but can you tell me how you want me to speak of you? What words I should use?”

“Yesterday I was irritated and dysphoric,” Magnus replies. “It usually isn’t a problem. I don’t love those words and I’d prefer to avoid them when it’s just us, but socially, I’ve been taken for a man for so long… I can’t say it doesn’t bother me, but I’m not sure I can really imagine anything else. Sure, I’ve had fun glamouring myself into something more feminine, or cultivating an androgynous style at different times, but I’m still...I’m more comfortable being seen as a man than as a woman. Warlocks are sometimes seen as sexless by mortals, like Seelies, because our customs are so different, and I’ve always played with those perceptions.”

“Your name is masculine, right?”

Magnus shrugs. “Yes and no. It uses the masculine marker in Latin, but Latin was a language with grammatical gender. There are masculine words referencing females, and the other way around. And it’s a dead language, anyway. It was dead before I was born. I don’t think of my name as masculine.”

“Then, that’s what’s important,” Alec says. “What about pronouns?”

“I’ve used many different pronouns in many different languages,” Magnus answers. “I’ve always been partial to languages with no gendered pronouns like Turkish, but I really don’t care. He/him pronouns don’t make me feel bad, and I’m used to them.”

“There are languages with no gendered pronouns?” Alec asks, fascinated.

“A number of them,” Magnus says. “We really need to travel more. But to go back to your question, maybe in a few years or decades, I’ll be more comfortable with the new gender-neutral pronouns in English like they/them, but it takes me a while to get used to new things. So he/him is fine for now.”

“Okay,” Alec nods. “What about...we’ve been calling each other boyfriends. Would you rather I use something else?”

Magnus laughs, relief finally washing over him. He was tenser than he realized, and it makes him feel like jelly, suddenly. “No, Alexander. Hearing you calling me your boyfriend is far too endearing to change that. Please keep doing it.”

Alec’s face illuminates with a wide smile. “My nonbinary boyfriend,” he says playfully. “I know we’ve only barely scratched the surface, but is there something else I should know right now?”

Magnus runs a few things through his head, deciding to keep them for later — he’s very curious, and not all that apprehensive anymore, of what Alec’s reaction to him in feminine lingerie might be — and strokes his chin. “Oh,” comes the illumination. “I really want to shave my face right now. It’s been too long since I last did that.”

“Okay,” Alec says. “That’s a gender thing?”

“Sometimes facial hair feels dysphoric,” Magnus replies. “Like today. Sometimes I just want to look different.”

“I love both looks,” Alec says. “I love all of your looks. I love how I never know what you’re going to go for in the morning.”

Magnus starts eating his pancakes, but he decides that he doesn’t want to wait. He conjures a hand mirror in front of his plate and runs his glowing hand over his chin carefully, leaving smooth skin behind. Alec smiles at him over his coffee mug and Magnus smiles back, glancing at his now hairless face in the mirror. That feels better. Maybe he’ll go ahead and wax his legs and his chest as well.

“Of all the days to be called out on patrol—”

“I know, I’m sorry,” Alec sighs, trying to appease Magnus’ annoyance by squeezing his hand. It’s Sunday, it’s the middle of the day, he wasn’t expecting a call from the Institute at all. “But the nest is in a busy metro tunnel just below the end of the parade. In a few hours, there’s going to be thousands of people down there, and who knows when the demons might try to attack the trains. And they’re bat demons, so they need my bow.”

The curse—and occasional blessing, if Alec is honest with himself—of being the only archer worth his salt in the New York Institute, is that despite now being the official Head, he’s still needed on the patrol roster. Most Institute Heads retire from the field, the administrative and political work being a full time job, but Alec still goes out with his siblings several times a week, and he usually leads the special teams called to handle demon surges.

Today, he curses that necessity with everything he has. Magnus has been excited about their first Pride together for weeks, and Alec was truly happy to do this with him.

“We were supposed to go to the parade,” Magnus sulks.

“I’m really sorry,” Alec repeats. “Maybe if we handle this fast enough, I can join you part-way through? I’ll do my best.”

Magnus looks at him critically. “No. I’m coming with you.”

“I know the parade is important to you—”

“It’s only important if we go together,” Magnus answers. “If I come with you, it will be faster, and then I can portal us into the procession directly, if there’s still time.”

“Alright,” Alec nods.

The team, larger than usual patrols because of the size of the demon nest, is almost ready when Alec and Magnus make it to the ops center. Alec quickly gets his bow and quiver and straps on his thigh holsters, and moves to signal the go ahead.

“Wait,” Magnus holds him up. “If we’re going to do this, we’ll do it in style.”

Alec frowns as he waves his hand, releasing a cloud of blue magic onto the two of them. Alec looks down at himself, his eyes gliding over his outfit before he clocks the changes. The lapel of his leather jacket now holds two prominent flag pins, a rainbow one and one with the black, gray, white and purple of the asexual flag. He sees matching pins, significantly larger, on Magnus’ vest, with his own flags. It’s the first time, as far as Alec knows, that Magnus has outwardly worn his nonbinary identity in the Institute, and he feels a swell of pride at the shine in Magnus’ eyes.

“Look at your arrows, sir,” Underhill’s voice comes from over his shoulder.

Alec twists his head to see the fletching of his arrows, usually red, is now brightly colored. Each fletch bears the colors of a different pride flag.

“So we can defeat the demons with pride,” Magnus smirks when Alec looks back at him.

“I like it,” Alec smiles. The mass of bright colors hurts his eyes a little, but the gazes of his teammates on them aren’t full of judgment but of amusement, and that’s a victory in its own right. He runs a hand over the little pins on his lapel.

“Um, sir?” Underhill asks, clearing his throat.

“Yes?” Alec turns to him, but he realizes that Underhill is looking at Magnus and not at him.

He gestures at the pins Magnus is wearing, and Alec can feel Magnus brace himself for a comment. “Could I, uh, have one too?”

Magnus blinks. “Of course,” he recovers quickly. “Rainbow flag?”

“Yeah,” Underhill nods.

Magnus snaps his fingers, and a pin as large as his own appears on Underhill’s chest.

“Thank you!”

Alec is certain he can see his subordinate’s eyes shine.

“Anyone else?” Magnus asks, full of mirth. A few people grumble, including Jace, until a young Shadowhunter takes a step forward.

“Can I have a trans pin?” she asks, her voice only wavering a little.

Alec feels a swell of pride. Kara is one of the youngest recruits, a sixteen year old who’s mostly kept to herself since she transferred to the Institute last winter, because he was the only Head willing to accept her chosen name and pronouns. Her face is set in stubborn determination as she fields her teammates' stares and stands in front of Magnus. Magnus beams at her. “Here you go, darling,” he snaps his fingers again. Kara looks down at the shiny pastel colored pin in reverence, and flashes him a smile.

“Are we ready to go?” Alec asks. He doesn’t want to break the moment, but they really need to move.

Magnus takes a step back and throws out a portal in front of them. “Let’s go kill some demons,” he says.

Alec grabs an aromantic-themed arrow from his quiver, smiling internally at the pun, and nocks it onto his bow string before stepping through the portal.

Alec does his best to pay attention to what Jia is telling him, but he’s not having the best time of it. He’s had a full glass of champagne already and it’s getting to his head a little, and the ambient noise isn’t helping his concentration — in fact, it’s loud enough that his head is pounding and he’s losing track of what’s going on.

And then, there’s Magnus. Alec keeps stealing concerned glances at him, standing across the room in conversation with an older Shadowhunter from the Prague Institute. It’s been at least ten minutes, and every time Alec looks, Magnus is wearing a new accessory.

Alec knows why Magnus elected for a plain look today, for their very first reception since they moved to Alicante. He wanted to avoid dragging attention to him, knowing that many people in attendance are doubtful toward the new High Warlock of Alicante. Tonight marks Alec’s official nomination as Inquisitor, and he wanted to spare Alec a scene.

Alec is starting to suspect that a scene may be unavoidable, and if the reason is what he suspects, then he will wholeheartedly defend Magnus. It started with earrings. Magnus went for a simple dark suit with almost no jewelry beside his wedding ring, but he’s now sporting a very shiny pair of diamond earrings. And a necklace. And a butterfly hair clip that probably costs more than a year of Alec’s now sizable salary.

And now, lipstick. Very obvious, bright red lipstick.

“I’m so sorry,” Alec turns back to Jia, “but I believe my husband needs my help.”

Even though she’s now his direct superior, he doesn’t wait to be dismissed and he strides through the room, his height and his new status meaning that everyone gets out of his way. Izzy catches his eyes briefly, and Alec signals at her to stand by.

By the time he’s made it to his husband’s side, Magnus’ hair has turned into a vibrant rendition of the nonbinary flag, and that’s not a good sign. Alec steps into his field of vision before putting a hand on his arm.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

“Peachy,” Magnus says through his teeth. “This gentleman right here was just telling me about a very strange sort of demon that possesses young Nephilim men and makes them pretend to be women in order to assault actual women.”

Alec blinks as he takes that in, as well as the poison in Magnus’ tone. He tightens his grip on Magnus’ arm, feeling the stares on them — Magnus’ new hair color is hard to miss.

“Really?” he asks innocently, tilting his head. “I’ve never heard of those demons. I should read up on them, so I can make sure every Institute is fully ready for an invasion. What did you say their classification was, Mr. Svec?”

The man gapes at him. “They’re...uh...I don’t…”

“That’s what I thought,” Alec says icily. “There’s no such thing. You’re Kara’s father, aren’t you?”

“That monster isn’t my son,” Svec spits out.

“No, you’re right. She’s not. She’s your daughter. And she’s absolutely thriving at the New York Institute, by the way. She’s the best fighter in her class. That’s what happens when people accept you for who you are.” Alec deliberately turns his back to the sputtering man and looks at Magnus. “Honey, it’s getting late, we should probably head home,” he says, purposefully speaking louder than he needs to. Magnus is trembling with rage, fighting to rein himself in. “Let me just tell Jia, okay?” he adds in a murmur, just for Magnus.

Magnus closes his eyes and nods. “Get me away from him,” he says.

Alec gently guides him over to Izzy, who immediately takes Magnus’ hand. “Let’s stay out of the crowd,” she says, nodding at Alec that she’ll take care of him.

Alec finds Jia with Aline by the buffet. “I can’t condone this kind of bigotry coming from the Head of an Institute,” he says through his teeth.

“I don’t think he’ll try that twice around you,” Aline chuckles, nodding toward Svec, who is now glaring at them from across the room, clearly ostracized. “He didn’t make any friends tonight.”

“What happened tonight isn’t enough to remove him, but as Inquisitor, you’ll be able to push for someone else to take his place when his contract is up in six months,” Jia says. “I understand your anger, Alec. But we can’t change people in a day.”

Alec remembers, not for the first time since she offered him the job of Inquisitor, that she’s not just the progressivist Consul that the most conservative Nephilim frown at, or the mother of one of his best friends. She’s also the person who once sentenced Clary to death without a second thought. If he wants change, he’ll have to bring it on himself.

He exchanges a look with Aline, thinking of the folder on his new desk, the proposal they might have a chance at getting through now that he’s the Inquisitor. Jia’s right, it won’t be done in a day. But it will happen. Alec will make it happen.

And if at some point in the meantime, he has the opportunity to get rid of a few bigots like Svec, he won’t turn his nose up at it.

“Magnus and I are going home,” he says. “Thank you for tonight.”

“Congratulations on the promotion again,” Jia nods. “I’ll expect you in my office at eight tomorrow.”

“Good night.” Alec has to unclench his fist to shake Jia’s hand, and he realizes just how angry he is. Aline clasps him on the shoulder with an understanding look.

He finds Magnus and Izzy at the door, ready to go. “Can you portal us home?” he asks Magnus as they step outside.

Magnus wordlessly opens a portal and steps through without checking that Alec is following him, a testimony of how unsettled he still is. Alec takes the time to hug Izzy before he goes through. “You were amazing,” she slips him, kissing him on the cheek.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he answers. “Thanks for your help.”

Alec comes behind Magnus and embraces him as soon as he’s out of the portal. Magnus took them straight to their bedroom, but he hasn’t moved since, standing there trembling in rage — or in something else.

“I love you,” Alec murmurs over and over in his ear. “All of you.”

After a minute, the shaking subsides, and Alec feels his own anger drain with it. It leaves him tired and out of sorts, his head still ringing with the noise of the reception. He loosens his hold on Magnus and takes one hand off of him to pull off his tie.

“I’m sorry,” Magnus murmurs. “I really wanted to avoid making a scene.”

Alec moves to face him. “Don’t ever apologize for something a bigot caused. It wasn’t you.”

“I tried to just ignore him, but—”

“He was awful,” Alec finishes. “I know.”

“I don’t know why I let him get to me so much,” Magnus sighs.

Alec guides them both to sit down on the bed.

“You love Kara,” he says. “He was saying horrible things.”

Magnus shakes his head. “I didn’t even know that was her father.”

Alec shrugs. “We all get triggered sometimes. He just pushed the wrong buttons.”

Magnus curls up and buries his hands in his still colored hair. “I usually have better control than that,” he says.

“I think I know what happened,” Alec sighs. “You were feeling insecure because you toned down your whole identity for me, in a place where you don’t feel safe. You were already on edge, and probably dysphoric, am I wrong?”

“No,” Magnus mutters. “I hate slacks.”

“Magnus, I don’t want you to change yourself for me, ever,” Alec says. He puts a hand on Magnus’ shoulder, to make sure that he’s really listening. Magnus looks up at him. “I don’t want you to make yourself smaller or more acceptable because you think it will be better for me.”

“I just—” Magnus sighs. “It was your day.”

“We’re not, ever, going to be normal. Not for the Downworld, and definitely not for the Clave. And I don’t want us to be, Magnus. I’ve spent enough time trying to make myself fit into a mold that didn’t fit me. I don’t ever want you to tone yourself done for them.”

“Okay,” Magnus murmurs, his voice fragile. Alec feels a strong pulse of anger at Svec course through him again, seeing Magnus so vulnerable. Magnus isn’t supposed to be vulnerable. Not about this.

Or maybe he’s more insecure about it than Alec realized.

Alec holds him for a while in silence, feeling Magnus’ need to recoup. “How did you know I was feeling dysphoric?” Magnus asks suddenly, after a few minutes.

“I’m starting to recognize it,” Alec shrugs. “Also, you might want to look at a mirror.”

Before he can realize it, Magnus is out of his embrace, staring at a hastily conjured hand mirror. “Fuck,” he mutters, showing Alec that his suspicion was right. Magnus didn’t realize the way his magic responded to his discomfort.

“Did I just come out to the entire Council because I was angry?”

“Uh,” Alec hesitates. “I doubt that many of them know what the colors mean. They’ll just put it down as one of your...eccentricities. Izzy might know, though.”

“That’s why she kept saying she loved me,” Magnus breathes out, running a hand through his colorful hair.

“Should I be jealous?” Alec raises an eyebrow.

“I don’t know, Alexander. I’ve been thinking of leaving you for Isabelle’s legendary cooking skills.”

Alec makes a face at him, then he reaches out and touches the tip of Magnus’ artfully styled hair where it’s dyed bright yellow. “I like this look on you,” he says. “I mean, I don’t like that you felt so threatened that your magic reacted this way, but I like to see you proud and loud. You’re beautiful.”

Magnus beams at him and relaxes back against Alec’s chest, holding up the mirror to look at the both of them, Alec straight-backed in his serious black suit and Magnus boneless against him, a flurry of colors. Alec wonders, often — especially on days like today — if they could make a more disparate couple, at least in the eyes of the world.

And yet the ways in which they fit together outweigh their differences, every day.

+1.

“I asked you here because I want to show you something,” Alec says when Magnus walks into his office on a Friday afternoon, holding his phone in his hand and looking confused.

Magnus stills at his seriousness. “Is something wrong?”

“No, not at all. The opposite, actually. But it’s important to me, and I thought you’d want to see it.”

Alec takes a thin blue folder from his desk and hands it over to Magnus, a small smile on his lips. Magnus opens it with a frown.

“What is this?” he asks.

“The ruling from the latest Council meeting,” Alec answers. “It came in just this afternoon.”

“The one they asked you to testify in?”

Alec confirms with a nod. He didn’t tell Magnus exactly why he needed to talk at the Council assembly, but it’s a common enough occurrence that Magnus didn’t think much of it. To Alec, though, it was a moment he’s waited for for a long time.

He watches Magnus skim the first lines of the ruling, his eyebrows shooting up. “Is that what I think it is?” Magnus asks, glancing up at him.

Alec’s fingers find his wedding ring and start spinning it. “Depends what you’re thinking,” he shrugs, trying to look unconcerned. He probably shouldn’t be anxious about Magnus’ reaction, but he is. “It’s the first part of a set of amendments to Clave law that I’ve been pushing for since before I was named Inquisitor. Aline and I presented them to the Council last month, and they’ve just been voted.”

“You and Aline,” Magnus says pensively. “‘Amendments concerning the inclusion of members of the LGBTQUIA+ community,’” he reads out loud. “You did this?”

“Full marriage equality regardless of gender, including for mixed-species couples,” Alec recites. “Automatic acceptance of name and gender change requests if related to transition. Recognition of the existence of genders outside the binary.”

Magnus gasps in surprise. Alec nods to confirm the truth of it. It’s one of the things the Council fought back the most on, and he pushed hard to get it to pass. It goes beyond even mundane progress in every country he’s looked up, but it was too important to let go.

“Anti-discrimination policies,” he continues. “And this one might affect us directly someday: equal rights to adoption and the use of surrogates.”

Magnus’ eyes light up briefly, though he doesn’t immediately comment. Alec wrings his hands and rambles on nervously. “We didn’t manage to get the legalization of polyamorous marriages, but we’ll keep working on it. We’re preparing a second proposal on Downworlder inclusion, but that one will probably make amendments to the Accords necessary, and that will take a lot more time.”

“Alexander,” Magnus says in a low voice. Alec almost keeps going, too nervous to stop, but there’s something almost dangerous in Magnus’ gaze.

“Yes?”

“You did all this?”

“Not on my own,” Alec shakes his head. “Aline wrote up most of the proposal, and we got as many queer Shadowhunters to come testify as possible. There aren’t a lot of trans Nephilim who are out, but it was important, especially since most of the people on the Council have little knowledge of these issues. Aline being Jia’s daughter probably helped a lot, and our wedding made a lot of noise around here.”

“No,” Magnus catches his wrist. “You did all this and you didn’t tell me anything? Not once?”

Alec deflates. “I, uh… I wasn’t sure it would go anywhere at first, and I know Clave politics can be a touchy subject for you. And then when we finally got the hearing, I kind of wanted to keep it a surprise? I didn’t want you to be disappointed if it didn’t work.”

He doesn’t understand Magnus’ reaction, or rather his lack of reaction. He’s been absurdly happy ever since Aline came by his office earlier this afternoon to bring him the ruling, and he thought Magnus would share his mood once he found out. But he seems pensive instead, like this doesn’t interest him all that much.

“What about you, Alexander?” he asks. “What if it hadn’t worked?”

“We would have kept trying,” Alec shrugs. “Like the last four times we submitted the proposal.”

Magnus blinks. “Four times?”

“The first time, it didn’t even make it past Jia’s office. She’s supportive, but it was shortly after she was elected, and she couldn’t afford the waves it would make when there were still so many Circle supporters around.” Alec consciously stops himself from talking and stills his hands, clasping them behind his back. “Magnus—”

“Yes?” Magnus prompts him.

“Are you angry I didn’t tell you?”

Magnus’ eyes widen in surprise. “No, Alexander, of course not. I’m just—overwhelmed, I suppose. I’m sorry I made you think that.”

“Then what is it? I thought you’d like it.”

Magnus looks away, biting his lip. “I do,” he says. “I—what you’ve accomplished is incredible. It’s going to change—everything—for some people, and that’s amazing. And I know that you didn’t do it for me, but—”

“You’ll be able to get the gender mentioned on your Idris ID changed or removed,” Alec finishes for him. “And anything else you want. I did do it for you, Magnus. Not just you, but for you, too.”

“I’m not a Shadowhunter,” Magnus says.

“You live here, now. This will apply to every Downworlder in Idris, too.”

Magnus works his jaw. “I’m having a hard time processing it,” he admits. “It’s been so long that—to be able to have my whole identity recognized, in Idris of all places—it’s almost impossible to believe.”

Alec’s tension relaxes almost on its own. “You can take your time,” he smiles. “It will still be here tomorrow, and the day after. Are you...mad that I didn’t include you in the process?”

“Why didn’t you?” Magnus frowns.

“I figured you had other things on your mind, with all the work you’re doing to get more Downworlders to move here. And it felt like...like something we should achieve on our own, somehow? I don’t know if that makes sense. Aline and I discussed asking you for advice several times, but we felt like it should be our project.”

“It does make sense,” Magnus nods. “This isn’t just about changing the law. You’re trying to change the culture, your culture, and I’ll never be a part of that. I understand.”

“I don’t want you to feel excluded,” Alec says immediately.

“I don’t. I’m amazed at what you’ve achieved. And if the next step is a rewrite of the Accords, then I’ll back you every step of the way, and push for those changes in the Downworld communities too.” He reaches out to stroke Alec’s cheek tenderly. “I love you, Alexander. You still surprise me every day, and I love you so much for it.”

Alec feels his heart speed up at the declaration, a wave of warmth and love coursing through him, reaching for Magnus. He opens his arms, and Magnus comes to nestle his face in Alec’s neck, hugging him tightly. “I love you too,” Alec says. “It would mean everything to me if we can take this next step in tandem. Change the world together.”

Magnus moves to beam up at him. “You’re incredible, Alexander. You know that?”

“You keep telling me,” Alec smiles, leaning in to kiss him.

As they pull apart again, he can’t help admiring the way the light hits Magnus’ face just right, highlighting the golden sparkles in his blue eyeshadow. Magnus has made it a point to wear warlock blue everyday since they moved to Alicante, but today it’s subdued, down to just his makeup and a discreet sapphire bracelet. He tilts his head, and the light makes his eyes glow.

“When you said the amendment about adoption could affect us, did you mean it?” he asks.

Alec bites his lip. “I know we’ve only talked about children in a very abstract way, but—is that something you’d want?” he asks in a smaller voice than he’d like.

“I’ve never truly wanted it before I met you, but yes, I think I would,” Magnus answers, looking a little awestruck by his own realization.

“It’s not something we need to commit to right now,” Alec reassures him. “But now, if we want to, the Clave will fully recognize any child we adopt as ours, and as a legal resident of Idris.”

“All thanks to you,” Magnus murmurs, tears in his eyes. “Yes, Alexander, I want children with you.”

“Then we’ll start thinking about that,” Alec says with a wide smile. “For now, let’s go home and celebrate properly.”

Magnus laughs wetly and twists his hand to make a portal. “After you,” he says.

Alec grabs his hand and pulls them through together.

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