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Alec knows that Magnus will be at his side as soon as he asks, but Alec also finds value in observing, no matter how much he aches for Magnus presence.
So by the time Magnus rejoins him, laughter in his eyes but a tighter smile than what he’d left with, Alec sighs and leans against him.
“You should stop spoiling them.” He finally says, once Magnus catches his breathe. Alec looks at his hands and tries not to meet what he knows will be Magnus’ judgemental gaze.
“Alexander.” Magnus laughs out loud, “you are hardly one to talk—“
“And look where that got me, Magnus.” Alec interrupts him harshly. “How much Ive cost us both, with always prioritizing them. Why can’t it ever be about just us? Why can’t I prioritize you, and you me? Why do they even matter when it should be us against them, not them constantly tearing us apart.”
“I thought, no—“ Magnus pauses, “I assumed. I watched your behavior and instead of thinking if you’d been trained into it, I assumed you preferred it. And so I focused on them, to win you over.”
Alec shakes his head. “Its not your fault I was too weak to protect us. I have their backs, I always have. But now, so many people have their backs. And you and I will always be fighting. So who can I trust with mine? Magnus, you’re the only one I can.”
—
Magnus blinks, because Alexander isn’t wrong. And also it’s something that has always annoyed him, but a price he never minded paying to keep Alexander.
“So you’re saying,” Magnus asks, voice low and hungry. “That the next time your siblings interrupt one of our date nights for some trouble they’ve caused, I can portal them away? And that the next time they beg my attention at a diplomatic function I can ignore them for the beautiful man in my arms?”
Alexander scoffs and wraps his arms around Magnus waist, chin pressing into Magnus shoulder. “I’d rather you just ban them from even finding the loft without permission. And I don’t mind it when you have fun, but it always seems to cost you.”
Magnus is surprised but pleased, and he wonders just how much of what they both want has been hidden by expectations.
“And in an emergency?” He asks, wondering how far Alexander is going with this.
“They can call us. Or use the emergency fire message flare. Like is protocol. Also Shadowhunters are supposed to regroup at the Institute for a reason, you’re not a necessary stop, just an express stop.” Alexander scowls against Magnus’ jacket and Magnus has to hide a delighted grin at Alec’s possessive charms.
“They don’t even pay you and you don’t ask them too. You’re supposed to be setting an example, not letting yourself be taken advantage of.” Alexander bites his shoulder and Magnus doesn’t even care that the spit has probably ruined the silk embroidery on his suit. The tiny little sting of pain ignites his blood and he leans down to kiss Alexander’s jaw.
“Sweetheart, are you to telling me to be heartless, to every shadowhunter but you?”
“You're never heartless, Magnus.” Alexander tells him and it’s so sincere that Magnus feels his brittle heart crack in response. “You have the gentlest heart I’ve ever met, so you should protect it. From my people, my Institute, my family.” And Alexander takes a shaky breath and presses a kiss to Magnus’ neck. “Magnus, I can’t ever lose you again. So protect yourself, even from me, if you need to.”
Magnus hushes his sweet, pretty boy with a soft kiss and sways with him to the music.
Alexander’s grip is greedy around his waist, his entire body pressed flush against Magnus, as if he is trying to claim as much as he can. It’s not the right dance for the song that is playing, but Magnus hums and rocks with Alexander to the music and delights in this uninterrupted moment.
It’s charming and some dark, deeply suppressed part of Magnus coos over it. Because Magnus loves to be wanted, and Alexander wants him so very much. Alexander craves him and wants to be devoured, so that he fills up all the spaces Magnus has empty. So that no one else can intrude.
And somehow, after months and months of Magnus tolerating what he thought would be an eternity of shadowhunter after shadowhunter at his door, Alexander has drawn a line.
Ang Magnus is very pleased with where it was drawn.