Magnus l 006

[highwarlockmb]

Who: Magnus Bane, Alec Lightwood, and ugh Jace Wayland
Where: Alec's cottage
Style: Third
Status: Closed

Comments

[bottleblueyes]

Alec was okay with conflict when it involved keeping the peace between Downworlders, fighting a demon, or managing some complication that involved "work". He was not, however, good at dealing with conflict between the people he loved and cared for, especially when it involved two very different people with the most opposing personalities he could imagine.

But even the tension between Magnus and Jace seemed tame when he thought about the way Magnus hadn't really spoken to him since he came home with Jace. There had been no make out sessions, no petting, no talking late into the night. In fact, Alec hadn't even slept in his room for the past few days, taking to sleeping on the couch in the living room while Jace slept on his bed. He had tried sleeping in the same room as Jace the one night, but it had felt too much like a betrayal to Magnus, so the next night he had packed his blankets, said good night to Jace, and headed for the couch.

Of course, this led to many sleepless nights, detailed thinking of how he could rectify his situation, and wondering if he had made the right choice.

The thoughts had kept him awake last night, which had really been the final straw. Something needed to be done, and Alec could only think of one way to resolve the problem without kicking either of the men out of the house.

And so, he stood in front of Magnus's door, knocking several times with his hand all ready planted on the door knob as if anxious to enter the warlock's room.

[highwarlockmb]

Magnus's eyes narrowed.

He knew whose knock it was. Jace's knock would have been far more annoying and confidant, and when he didn't respond right way, he wouldn't be surprised if the shadowhunter would have kept at it or, better yet, found something to break down the door with.

On second thought, Jace would have probably skipped the formalities altogether and gone straight for the battering ram.

Turning his cheek away, not wanting to give anything away (or give up) when Alec walked in the room. It was easier to cast his moody stare at the wall and keep his cool. It's not as if he hadn't seen this moment coming.

But if Alec was inviting him downstairs for a friendly cup of tea with his parabatai, Magnus was going to have to regretfully, resolutely decline and shove two sugars up Jace's ass.

"You may enter," he replied stiffly, barely moving his wrist to release the lock and allow Alec to come inside.

[bottleblueyes]

Even though Magnus's voice was muffled by the door, Alec could still hear the cold tinge to it. It made him hesitate for a moment - maybe nothing he could say would change the situation - before opening the door and stepping into the room.

His eyes sought out the warlock immediately, but Magnus wouldn't look at him.

Alec closed the door a little before stuffing his hands in his pockets, standing awkwardly near the room's entrance as he continued to look at Magnus.

"Hi," he finally said, though he knew it did nothing to cut the tension. "How are you?"

[highwarlockmb]

"Peachy," Magnus replied, brows raised to accompany the sarcasm in his voice, as if to say what do you think? or what does it look like? Clearly, I'm ecstatic. Of course, Magnus was still staring at the wall, but the room was well-lit, and he wasn't diluting himself into thinking his face was at all in shadow or obscured by his loose hair.

Magnus's mouth was tight. He could feel the tension sucking at his cheeks, and he tried to consciously relax it. But his teeth wouldn't unclench. It would have to do.

"What can I do for you?" he asked formally, forcing himself to turn his cheek minutely until his eyes rested on Alec.

[bottleblueyes]

Alec sucked in a breath.

He hated it when Magnus was angry, particularly when it was directed at him. At times like this, he wasn't sure whether to go sit on the bed or stand near the door.

Slowly, he released the breath he was holding through his teeth, taking a step closer to Magnus.

"I, well, I wanted to ask you a question, but if this is a bad time, I can come back."

[highwarlockmb]

Magnus brows lifted a fraction once more. Why would the timing matter? Because he was clearly so busy checking out the cute factor of his stolen socks before Alec arrived. Very important stuff.

"What is that?" Magnus asked, arms still draped across his stomach, shoulders straightening out, making his posture look that much more rigid and as tall as he could manage sitting down.

[bottleblueyes]

He wanted to sigh. This wasn't going well at all. He'd never seen Magnus so angry before. Typically, he'd calm down or sigh and offer Alec a smile, but this was... this was something entirely different.

Alec took another deep breath.

"Well, I thought, since Jace is kind of taking over my room now... I was wondering if you had any interest in... uh... rooming together?"

[highwarlockmb]

Magnus stared at the shadowhunter.

He pressed his lips together. He parted his lips. He narrowed his eyes. And then he closed his mouth again, the frown back in his eyes.

"Bunking together wasn't all you imagined it would be?" Magnus asked. He wasn't going to bring it up, but he knew when Alec slept on the couch as opposed to in his room. Ever since the first night, he'd heard his restless shifting and sighing, and pillow punching, whereas the first night, his imagination had run wild and he'd been filled with so much...negative emotion, he could barely contain it. He'd burned through the sheets when he dreamed - apparently the latest nightmare had probably made his hands spark, and so he woke up to the smell of burnt cotton, clutching the tattered pieces.

The sheets had been replaced, of course. But that experience was still fresh in his mind. Not easy to let go.

[bottleblueyes]

"No, because I slept on the floor," Alec replied, his voice flat and frustrated. He was trying to make things right, to get rid of some of the tension. Couldn't Magnus understand that Alec couldn't just leave Jace on his own in this world? Jace was his family, not to mention he'd probably get himself killed with his reckless personality in this place. He knew Magnus hated Jace; most people did, but that didn't mean Alec could just throw him out. But he didn't want Magnus to leave either.

Of course, it didn't help that the warlock was being particularly stubborn.

He sighed. "I'll just go, then," he finally said, turning on his heel and taking a step towards the door. He wasn't in the mood to fight.

[highwarlockmb]

"Why did he come?" Magnus asked Alec as he prepared to walk away. His brows were drawn, and he leaned forward, folding his arms across his knees.

"Why now?" His voice grew softer, as if he was musing aloud towards the end, asking himself the question rather than Alec as he frowned and considered it.

"I still don't understand this place, why or how we all end up here, but it seems like some evil stroke of karma that right now, just when we're getting so comfy/cosy, Jace should be thrust between us. Jace, of all people." Magnus shook his head.

"It's bittersweet, isn't it?"

ok, so crash whenever you want, jace ^^;;;

[bottleblueyes]

Alec's hand was reaching for the doorknob when Magnus spoke. He paused.

"I don't know," he said quietly. "But I care about both of you. He's my brother. You're my... boyfriend." There was a blush creeping onto his cheek as he said the word. He moved to turn the knob on the door, saying, "Besides, it's not like he's the one I fantasize about anymore anyway... Crap." The words had been in his head, but he had spoken them aloud, only realizing it at the last second. More heat crept onto this cheeks. Magnus was not supposed to know that he had fantasies. Oh God.

[highwarlockmb]

"That's reassuring," Magnus answered, keeping his tone serious as he stared at he shadowhunter's back. But his lip twitched.

"You'll have to tell me about them some time. Maybe it will lighten my dreams." Magnus was thinking of all the intense dreams about his past he had been having lately, or the nightmare-turn-premonition he'd had twice before Jace arrived. A hot Alec-fantasy dream would be a welcome change.

[bottleblueyes]

"No," he said, his voice shaky as he looked at Magnus over his shoulder. "I'm pretty sure you don't want to know." Especially since just thinking about those dreams made his face heat up and brought other parts of his body to life. Damn it. Today was just not his day.

[highwarlockmb]

"Why is that?" Magnus asked, brows raised.

"Do you think I would possibly find it unpleasant? Embarrassing? Since when am I the embarrassed-type?" he teased.

"I want to know everything you think and feel, even if it is unpleasant -- but especially if it's something I might like." Magnus ended the admission with brief smile, then glanced down, panning Alec's form.

[by_theangel]

And that was when another knock interrupted. And yes, he did knock.

Mostly because after that dream, Jace needed a moment to compose himself.

alec, magnus, jace <---is that order ok?

[bottleblueyes]

"You'd probably like it too--" Alec was cut off by the knock, which meant that the only other person in his house was standing on the other side, listening to their whole conversation - Jace.

Yep, reeeeeally not his day. Alec stepped away from the door as if it burned and looked at Magnus. It wasn't his room, after all, and after their conversation, he didn't think it was a good idea for him to be the one to invite Jace into the warlock's bedroom.