Chapter Text
/ The weather was mercilessly warm yet Alec trembled from cold as he lay on the ground, fighting with all his might to remain conscious. Nothing hurt anymore. He was just tired, more so than he’d ever been in his life.
Alec blinked slowly and barely managed to convince his eyes to open. It was getting harder and harder to come up with reasons to stay awake. His eyes barely even half-open, Alec watched dazedly as a beautiful bird flew across the sky above him. It felt poetic.
Maybe the bird was giving him a permission to let go.
“… ‘lec…” Was that voice real? “ALEC!” Jace, his brother and commander, appeared absolutely terrified. (Alec had never seen the blond in such a state.) “Stay awake, do you hear me? The helicopter is almost here, it’ll take you to a hospital. You need to stay awake.”
Alec wanted to. He’d never been good at refusing Jace anything. But he was so drained that he wasn’t really there at all anymore. Alec had never been scared of the idea that he might die, which was one of the things that made him a good soldier. But the thought of his life coming to an end with Jace beside him, pleading him to stay… A lone tear traveled down Alec’s cheek. “… so sorry …” He tried to touch Jace’s arm comfortingly but his hand refused to move. “… gonna be okay …”
Jace shook his head. “You’re not going anywhere and that’s an order, do you hear me? You have a million things ahead you to stay for…”
Jace continued to talk but Alec’s strength… It ran out entirely. He’d always been praised for being strong but even he had his limits. At least the unnatural cold vanished, too, as Alec’s eyes closed and he didn’t manage to open them again.
Lulled to sleep by Jace’s voice, Alec faded out entirely with a small sigh. /
/
Alec was yanked back to present time by the buzzing of his phone. It was one thirty in the morning and most people would’ve been asleep. Alec’s mind was having one of those nights when he was too restless to find any semblance of rest.
The memories… were a bit too much. Alec closed his eyes and breathed, just as he’d been instructed to do by a therapist who’d proved to be mostly useless. (Not that he would’ve given the doctor more than two sessions’ worth of time to prove herself.)
In… Out… Frustratingly slowly the infuriating tingling under Alec’s skin eased and the memories felt further away. He didn’t feel steady yet but managed to concentrate better. Enough so to remember that he just received a message. With a small, annoyed groan Alec checked his phone and found exactly what he’d expected to.
The words were barely comprehensible and full of spelling errors but Alec knew the sender well enough to be able to decode it. ‘I wanted to have fun but the club’s owner says that I’m too drunk and should go home. Can you pick me up? He won’t let me leave alone.’
Alec closed his eyes momentarily and breathed, this time needing the exercise for a different reason. What was he going to do with his sister? ‘Of course I’ll come and get you. Which club are you at? Are you alone?’
‘With the owner’s friend. Pandemonium.’ (Alec could only hope that Izzy’s short response didn’t mean that she was about to pass out.)
“Izzy again?” Jace groaned after Alec’s tense nod. “You really need to do something, she’s getting worse and worse.” Jace went on before Alec could interject. “You’re the only one she actually listens to.”
“I don’t know if I’d be any good, either.” Alec’s shoulders slumped as he Googled the club’s name and discovered that it was very close to where he and Jace lived. Had Izzy been on her way to them but decided on Pandemonium instead? To escape that question Alec focused on Jace. “I know why I’m still up but what are you doing awake?”
Jace shrugged. “You know that I don’t need a lot of sleep.” The blond gave him a sympathetic look. “Now go. Get Izzy home safely, wait for her to sober up, then yell at her for pulling off a stunt like this again.”
Alec planned to do exactly that. Sadly he and Izzy had been through the same exhausting dance enough times for him to suspect that his words wouldn’t make much of a difference. His shoulders sagged and stiffened simultaneously from how helpless he felt.
His family was in shambles. His life was a bad joke. With the year almost at its end, Alec could only hope that the worst wasn’t yet to come.
/
Saying that clubbing wasn’t Alec’s thing would’ve been an understatement. He never went to clubs, period, because they contained so many things he loathed. Painfully loud music. Alcohol. Entirely too many warm bodies pressed together. People.
Approaching the place’s bouncer, Alec could already feel a headache threatening to start as the beat from the inside hit him like a physical thing. The man by the door arched an eyebrow. “If you imagine that you can just…”
Alec wasn’t in the mood for debates. “I didn’t come here to party. I came to collect my sister, Isabelle Lightwood.”
Apparently Pandemonium’s owner had notified the bouncer of Izzy, because the man moved to the side grudgingly to allow Alec an entrance. “Raphael is babysitting her”, the bouncer grumbled. “Go in, take the stairs upstairs. Second room on the left. Stay away from the other rooms at that floor.”
Nauseatingly aware of the people standing in line staring and glaring at him, some of them commenting loudly as alcohol worked its magic on their self-control, Alec marched inside, not looking around. The faster he’d find Izzy the faster he’d get to leave. He could only hope that his sister wasn’t in the mood for making a scene.
Alec found Izzy from exactly where he’d been told he would. She sat beside a man – the mentioned Raphael, no doubt – and leaned heavily on the stranger. A frown appeared to her face at the sight of him and she blinked slowly, her eyes bleary. “Alec?” Izzy slurred. “… doing here?”
Alec sighed. “I came to take you home.” Again. “I think you’ve had too much fun for one night.”
Izzy pouted. (It wasn’t until then Alec noticed that her makeup was slightly smudged and her eyes seemed bloodshot.) “I’m not having fun anymore. I started crying while dancing. That’s why they took me away from there.” Izzy wiped her eyes. “I hate being like this.” (Alec could imagine. The Izzy he knew was tough, stronger than she should have to be and never let anyone see her vulnerable.)
At least it seemed that he’d manage to coax her to come along more easily than he’d dreaded. Alec looked at Izzy with sorrow and sympathy. “I know. We’ll talk about that when you’re sober.” Alec’s attention shifted to Raphael, who watched him with an unreadable facial expression. “Thank you for keeping her company.”
Raphael shrugged, still unreadable. “Magnus was the one who made the call. Also the one who suggested that she needs a breather. I wanted to make sure that she’s safe.”
To Alec it was far from being the small matter Raphael tried to make it sound like, but he wasn’t going to pick up a fight. “I want to thank him, too. Where is he?”
“Two doors to the right.” By the time Raphael went on Alec was already out of earshot, eager to leave as quickly as he could and his head pounding from the too loud music. “I wouldn’t go there right now, though, he has company.”
Alec froze by the mentioned room’s doorway, which the man and woman inside had left ajar in their haste. The brunette was kneeling on the floor with her back towards him, naked, but he didn’t pay any attention to her. Alec’s gaze locked on the man in a sparkling shirt and tight black leather pants, angrily spiked up hair and flawless eye makeup. Magnus… was a vision and Alec’s poor mind and body had no idea how to handle it.
Alec couldn’t stop himself from taking in the room as well. Its warm, rich colors made it appear cozy, and the expensive furniture and decorations added an element of luxury. It was inviting, all of it. (Not only Magnus, Alec had to remind himself for some reason.) All of it only for carefully chosen ones. Alec’s gaze spied some curious items that were most definitely meant for… more exotic intimate purposes. Heat rose from his racing heart to his neck and to the tips of his ears. The desires awakening in him, the way his pants started to feel uncomfortably tight… It went against everything Alec had been taught all his life. It was wrong. Nauseating. Sick. Yet he couldn’t stop himself from wanting, from loathing the woman he didn’t even know for having something he…
Magnus watched him, let him… process. Seeing that no amount of time would clear Alec’s head, the man focused on his companion. “Fear not, we’ll continue soon. But it appears we have… a companion.”
“Does the companion wish to join us, Sir?” the woman inquired. She was curious and eager rather than appalled. (Alec couldn’t understand how she accepted such an idea so readily. If a stranger would’ve seen him naked…)
“I doubt that. Pity, really, this is a pretty one. But don’t worry, I won’t be going anywhere. Soon you will have my full, undivided attention again.”
“I’m looking forward to that.” An arched eyebrow made the woman continue. “Sir.”
Magnus nodded approvingly, then walked closer to Alec with surreally smooth, gliding steps. “Is everything alright? I hope you won’t be offended by this but… You seem a little lost.”
Alec fought back the urge to snort. Oh, he was extremely lost, but he wasn’t going to tell Magnus as much. “I, ah… came to thank you. For looking after my sister. I’ll take her home, now.”
Magnus’ eyes softened, made the man look like a different person. “You must be the famous Alexander. Isabelle talked about you a lot.”
Alec scowled. “Yeah. She gets… chatty when she’s drunk. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. It was all good, I promise.” Magnus smiled. “Thank you for your service. Give your sister my best once she’s sober enough.”
The spark, downright electric flame, Alec experienced the second their eyes met intensified. He loathed it, he wasn’t supposed to react like that to another man. The shame made Alec’s nod sharper than it was supposed to be and wiped all words from his mouth. He ran off the best as he could, to where Izzy waited with Raphael. Alec didn’t look back, the sight he hurried to leave behind was hazardously alluring.
Raphael obviously knew what Alec saw. Which made it even worse. “I tried to tell you…”
“Don’t.” Alec clenched his jaw agonizingly tightly. Why couldn’t anything right and normal make him want the way he did now? He did something properly, at least, and concentrated fully on Izzy. “Come on, let’s go home.”
Izzy said something but hard as he tried Alec couldn’t comprehend it. She was barely able to walk, which made leaving much slower than he would’ve wanted. Raphael led them discreetly out through the backdoor, and the fresh air more biting than caressing Alec’s face felt heavenly. The cold wrapping around him mercilessly made thinking clearly easier. And made the humiliating bulge in Alec’s pants go away, finally.
“… ‘re angry …” Izzy sniffled, or at least that’s how it sounded. “… like mom and dad …”
“I’m not.” And Alec wasn’t, at his sister, anyway. (He wasn’t angry, or anything like his parents or how they would’ve wanted him to be.) He was about a million things, most of them awful secrets.
It took torturously long for them to reach Izzy’s apartment. By some miracle she didn’t pass out or throw up during the taxi ride. His headache worse than before, Alec fought the heavy door open, dragged Izzy inside and reached out towards a light switch.
“Don’t bother”, Izzy slurred. “… forgot the bill … doesn’t work …”
Alec’s heart ached but with all his willpower he managed stay quiet. Getting Izzy to a bed and helping her out of her coat before she more fell than lay down there was a war. It broke Alec’s heart all over again to see how small, young and vulnerable the strongest person he knew appeared.
“Thanks”, Izzy mumbled, and with that she was out like a light.
Wanting to cry or scream but concluding that neither option would’ve been very beneficial, Alec looked around in the little light streaming into the room from the outside, desperate for a distraction. What he saw… didn’t really help. Dirty clothes… Empty bottles… Dust… Then his gaze locked on Izzy’s exposed arm and he wanted to throw up. There were needle marks, old and fresh ones, along with signs of an infection.
How far into a Rabbit Hole had Izzy – and they all – fallen into?
/
Alec didn’t mean for it to happen. But after the horrible night before he had, sleep found him much too easily as he lay down on Izzy’s couch. Did he send Jace a message before that, to let the blond know that their sister was safe? By the time a new morning began to dawn Alec had no idea. He woke up, startled, to Izzy talking with someone by the apartment’s doorway.
“… can’t just barge in here anymore!”
“… worried about you.” (Alec was grudgingly forced to admit that it said a lot about Simon Lewis’ level of devotion that he still cared so much although he and Izzy hadn’t been a couple for over a year.) “… looking out for you …”
Izzy sighed heavily. She sounded impossibly old for someone of her age. “Stop doing that already. My wellbeing isn’t your responsibility.”
“What if I want it to be?”
What was that sound coming from Izzy? “I care about you too much to let you do that.” Her voice was marginally closer to normal as she went on. “Bye.” That sounded suspiciously close to ‘goodbye’. Then the door closed, sealing Simon out of Izzy’s life once more.
Alec hesitated before coming to the conclusion that he had to be brave for them both. Izzy wiped her eyes, smudging the makeup she hadn’t managed to remove the night before some more, and scowled. “I’m not interested in lectures right now. Especially from someone who only shows up when I beg him to these days.”
“You won’t be getting one from me. I haven’t been much of a brother… for a while. I have no right to lecture you.” Alec sighed, his whole chest area tightening as he took in his sister’s appearance. “But Iz… Last night was a rock bottom. You do need help. The kind I can’t give you.”
Izzy tensed up, becoming visibly defensive. She folded her arms. “What help?”
“Whatever it takes to help you stay sober.” Alec shrugged, feeling helpless yet again. “NA meetings… Therapy…” Rehab would’ve been a good idea but how were they supposed to be able to afford that?
Izzy seemed ready to object. Heatedly. Until something on his face made her change her mind. “I’ll try NA and therapy on one condition. You’ll go back to therapy, too. Because we both need help.” Izzy looked at him with eyes no one would’ve been able to say ‘no’ to. “I… I want my brother back. Before I lose you, too. Please.”
How was Alec supposed to refuse? Hoping that he wouldn’t end up regretting his decision, he nodded stiffly. Then, for the first time in far too long, they embraced each other. Izzy clung to him with all her might, trembling slightly.
They were like two drowning people clinging to the last things keeping them afloat on a stormy sea.
/
Izzy had never been one to give up easily and after making the deal with Alec she was determined to uphold her end of it. So, a couple of days later on December 29th, she gathered absolutely all her strength. Then put on some makeup, clothes that would’ve made her feel confident on most days and headed to a NA meeting, hoping desperately that it wouldn’t be as humiliating as she feared it would be.
Settling to a circle with the others, Izzy immediately felt ridiculous. Then she turned her gaze and a jolt crossed her body. Raphael, whom she remembered miraculously, sat a few seats away and appeared as stunned to see her as she was to see him.
It seemed everyone had secrets.
“I see that we have a new face around.” The man leading the session, Jem, gave her a small encouraging smile. “Why don’t you tell us a little something about yourself?”
Izzy stood up, stiff and her stomach squirming. At least she managed to look like she wasn’t about to throw up. “I’m Izzy and my… problems started a year and seven months ago…”
/
“I would’ve wanted to go along to her first meeting but Izzy was adamant that she wanted to do it by herself.” Alec huffed. “That’s how she’s always been, she wants to face things alone when she feels vulnerable.”
“Sounds like someone else I know.” The therapist, Tessa, tilted her head. “As glad as I am to hear about your sister’s decision, let’s concentrate on you. Because honestly, I was stunned when you booked an appointment. What made you decide to come back, after all?”
Alec tensed up. As little as he wanted to share the whole story, he’d come too far to back down. So, his eyes on the floor, he told her about the deal he made with Izzy. And about Pandemonium. “The things I started to fantasize about… I have no idea what came over me. I didn’t even recognize myself.”
“Sometimes people surprise themselves. There’s nothing wrong with being curious about dom/sub games and dynamics. When pulled off properly, they can be incredibly healthy and satisfying.”
Alec scowled. “Well I’m not supposed to want such things. I’m…”
Tessa lifted a hand. “I’m going to stop you right there because I can see that you’re starting to spiral. Answer just one question. Do you judge Magnus for such behavior?”
Alec stared at her. “What? Of course not.”
“Then why do you judge yourself?” Tessa barreled on before Alec could start ranting about the expectations laid upon him. “You’re a human being with needs and desires. Such that are a little unusual, but healthy and normal. There’s no need to deny them from yourself.” Tessa’s eyes softened. “You can’t ever reach your full potential by hiding and repressing yourself. You can never be happy if you don’t allow yourself to be you.” She leaned closer. “And Alec? I will only say these true words one more time, so listen to me carefully. You deserve to be happy.”
/
Alec thought – and possibly overthought – about the therapist’s words a lot for a couple of days. And whether he wanted to admit it to himself or not, he thought about Magnus, too. Absence and avoidance only made the want and hunger grow stronger. Until they were unbearable.
By the time Alec realized that there was no escaping the inevitable it was New Year’s Eve. He’d never enjoyed partying but to someone as… social as Magnus it had to be a big deal. Alec was convinced that the man had company, or at least something much more fascinating to do than deal with someone who didn’t have the faintest idea what he even really wanted. The knowledge that what he desired was out of reach made taking the first step easier.
Telling himself that he was a moron, Alec called Pandemonium. He nearly ended the call the second it was accepted and a much too familiar voice spoke. “Pandemonium, Magnus speaking. How may I help fulfil your desires?”
Alec blushed. Hard. Forming coherent words was next to impossible. “I, uh… You probably don’t remember me but… It’s Alec.”
“Now how could I ever forget a pretty face like yours, Soldier? You think too little of yourself.” Magnus practically purred, which made Alec struggle even more with maintaining his composure. “What can I do for you?”
So much more than I can handle despite my fantasies, Alec came dangerously close to blurting out. And you wouldn’t like what’s under my clothes. “You probably have plans but… Do you think we could meet today? Or some other day?” Alec could only hope that Magnus didn’t imagine he was asking the man out. He wasn’t…
“I have no plans that wouldn’t be easy to cancel for a good cause.” (Magnus went on faster than Alec could start overthinking. Again.) “Why don’t you come to the club at eight? It’s not open and at that hour only I’m here. It wouldn’t be quite so overwhelming.”
Alec nodded. Then came to think that Magnus couldn’t see it. “See you then.”
What in the world was he getting himself into?
/
At least Alec didn’t have to explain his departure to his siblings. By four o’clock Jace had vanished, to do things the older brother was happier not knowing too much about. To his surprise Izzy had rented a cabin quite far from the buzz of New York and announced that she’d spent the New Year there. Far away from temptations as she battled cravings and withdrawal. As desperately as Alec would’ve wanted to be there for her, he had to respect her decision. At least he was about to have a distraction to not think about Izzy’s struggles too much.
This time there was no judgmental bouncer by the door as Alec arrived to Pandemonium. The door had been left open for him but it clicked locked upon closing after him. For a few moments Alec stood frozen still at the club that felt bafflingly different while so quiet, empty and with no flashing lights on. No matter how hard he tried to convince himself to walk away he started marching forward instead. Towards another battle.
It was that room again, the door having been left open as an invitation. Drawn to it like a moth to a flame, Alec entered. Magnus stood by the window with his back to him, sipping a bloodred drink, but sensed his entrance the second it happened.
“I’m impressed that you were bold enough to make it this far.” Magnus sat down to a luxurious armchair purposefully slowly and stirred the drink with his finger, every move seemingly designed to make Alec’s heart beat faster. Maddening, all of it. “I was under the impression that what you saw repulsed or startled you.”
“It didn’t.” Alec swallowed with great difficulty. “I… liked it. Too much. I didn’t expect that.”
One corner of Magnus’ lips twitched. The man sucked at the finger which stirred the drink, his eyes never leaving Alec’s slightly widened ones. (How huge had arousal made his pupils? And the swelling in his pants… Alec loathed himself but couldn’t walk away. Had he been bewitched?) “Would you like to have a similar arrangement with me?”
“No!” A breath later Alec’s tongue betrayed him. “I… don’t know.”
Magnus watched him, obviously seeing too much, before starting to speak. “What, exactly, are you doing here? What made you come back?”
Alec opened his mouth, then closed it. Twice. “I don’t know.” He didn’t really know much of anything these days, did he? Alec groaned and ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “I have no idea what I am, want or what I’m… ready for. All I know is that I have to try… something, so I can get that craving out of my system before it gets worse.”
Magnus watched him and pursed his lips. “We can try. But on several conditions. I don’t want you to end up doing something you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”
Alec’s brows furrowed. “What conditions?” Didn’t he usually love rules, to a point where his siblings mocked him?
Magnus lifted five fingers while taking a sip of his drink. “You must always be honest with me about your needs, desires and limits. Even a vanilla relationship between a dom and a sub requires complete, utter trust, and that is built on honesty. Your safety, happiness and health are important to me, and always come before my own urges.” One finger went down. “We won’t be trying anything until I can be fully certain that you’re ready. When I say ‘no’ or ‘not yet’, I mean it and I expect you to respect my judgement like a good sub.” That was… curiously important to Magnus. Another finger and another gulp of a drink went down. “As I said before, safety is important. And I don’t mean only practicing safe sex, should that happen between us.” (Oh no, Alec’s blush deepened. It seemed to delight Magnus.) “With all types of intimacy, we use safe words. I will ask for a color. Green means ‘continue’, yellow means ‘give me a moment’, red means ‘stop’. When a sub says ‘red’, a dom listens.” That was three fingers down. Magnus’ visibly expensive glass was almost empty. “You will call me Sir.”
The thought of calling Magnus that… did things to Alec. “Because it’s what a sub does?” Why did the knowledge that other people called Magnus that, too, bother Alec? It wasn’t as though…
Magnus chuckled and grinned. Appearing years younger momentarily. “No, Soldier. Because it strokes my silly little ego.”
Little? Alec bit back a laugh at the word. He did smile, briefly. “And the fifth condition?”
Magnus sobered. Only slightly but visibly. “You’re not allowed to kiss my lips.”
Alec frowned. Why did that bother him? He didn’t even want to… “Why?” He knew what Magnus would say as soon as the word left his mouth. “Because it’s an order.”
“Clever boy. I also appreciate you not making a ‘Pretty Woman’ joke.” (What was ‘Pretty Woman’?) Magnus tilted his head before getting up with the elegance of a dancer and circling around Alec. “You seem like the type that is good at taking orders. Are you?”
Something inside him burning, Alec nodded. “Yes.” On the last second, his mind spinning and swimming all of a sudden from Magnus’ close proximity, he remembered to add. “Sir.”
“You’re a fast learner, too.” Magnus seemed tempted to comment or ask something but changed his mind. “Do you have any questions?”
A million of them. Alec felt ashamed of himself (which definitely wasn’t anything new) as he pushed out one of the questions. “These… meetings with you… How much do they cost?” He had so little money and…
“I’m not a prostitute.” (Great, he went and insulted Magnus…) The older man’s eyes blazed. “I don’t do what I do for money. If you imagine that I’m some…”
“I don’t! Magnus…” Alec fumbled and ached to reach out but didn’t. Not because touching a man he desired in a way he shouldn’t have would’ve been wrong, but because he didn’t think he had a right to touch. “Sir, I’m sorry.”
Magnus’ eyes softened and all rage vanished. (How could someone forgive so easily? How many people had taken advantage of it?) “You’re forgiven. I can understand that this is all new and… confusing to you. You simply happened to hit a sore spot.” Magnus continued faster than Alec could think about making further questions. “I won’t touch you at all today. You’re not ready for it and that’s perfectly alright. But I want to give you a little taster of what to expect.” Magnus lifted his chin. “Get down on your knees and close your eyes.”
Alec was alarmed. But far more than that intrigued and eager, no matter how much a part of him fought it. He complied, then waited silently, his heart thundering inside his chest but his face stoic.
He’d been to a war. He’d lost and suffered a lot. Whatever Magnus had in mind, it couldn’t be more terrifying.
“You’re in company where there’s no judgement. You are perfect, just the way you are. With all your thoughts and desires.” (How did Magnus know exactly what Alec needed to hear? Why did the words actually get to him?) “I want to know your wildest fantasy. When you saw me for the first time that day… Show me where you wanted me to touch you. And how.”
Alec’s face had to be scarlet and a part of him was absolutely mortified. But he found himself complying, as though he’d been possessed. Having his eyes closed made pretending that he was alone easier, made the shame lessen. It wasn’t like Alec had never touched himself before.
Alec’s hand worked swiftly and efficiently. In his mind all he saw was Magnus, the man’s face, the idea he had of the other’s body by then. Alec didn’t even realize that his hand was moving faster until he felt so much that he couldn’t think at all anymore. And moments later he achieved something that’d never happened before. (He’d always been too terrified that someone might walk in or guess what he’d been up to, and ridicule him. Or in his parents’ case worse.)
With mighty roar that sounded like that of a lion and his entire body spasming from mind-blowing satisfaction, Alec had the first orgasm of his life – then everything went dark.
/
The next thing Alec became aware of was a frantic voice calling out his name. “… finally coming back to me?” Magnus? “Catarina, my friend, checked up on you. She’s a nurse. Don’t worry, she has no idea what we were up to, and even if she did, she wouldn’t judge. According to her you’ll be fine but I’d really like to see those eyes of yours open.” Why was Magnus babbling?
Slowly Alec blinked his eyes open, dimly aware of something soft under his head and a quilt draped around him. He frowned at Magnus’ worried facial expression. “Huh?”
Magnus relaxed, but only marginally. “You should sit up and drink something. Carefully.” The other didn’t go on until he’d complied. (Alec was pleased to discover that he didn’t feel dizzy.) “You had an orgasm intense enough to make you black out just thinking about my touch. Which would be flattering if you didn’t scare me so badly.”
Alec gave Magnus a sheepish look from underneath his lashes. “Sorry. Sir.”
Magnus chuckled breathlessly. “I think we can forget the Sir for a moment. Or you will be the one trying to revive me next.”
Alec couldn’t help it. Despite the… circumstances he started to giggle. Magnus joined him, and their laughs sounded like music together.
“Alexander?” Magnus’ voice was soft. (Dangerously alluring to Alec.) From downstairs music and louder still cheers reached their ears. “Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year, Magnus”, Alec murmured equally softly.