#alec replies

“What are you doing here, Magnus?” Alec’s tone was almost accusatory but in his defense he hadn’t expected the Warlock to show up during the middle of a training session. Though it seemed like they were crossing paths more and more often lately. The Shadowhunter held Magnus’ eyes for just a few seconds before he turned his gaze downward and passing it off as needing to notch another arrow despite the fact he could do so with his eyes closed. 

His hands were balled into loose fists, grasped in the warlocks as Alec’s tension kept his shoulders tight and his jaw clenched. His hands had been straight fists at his sides until Magnus stepped in to calm him down? Have him relax? Distract him a bit with this. Hazel eyes flickered down to his hands wrapped up in the Warlock’s before finding his eyes briefly. “Are you trying to distract me?”

The new weight in his lap was a surprise and Alec suddenly did not know what to do with his hands. Both the one holding his half finished martini and the other just held up a few inches above the arm of the coach. Heart was racing. Music played in the background and he’d watched Magnus move about the loft almost as if his very movements were like dancing. Hazel eyes lifted to the warlock’s face, lips quirking briefly before he brought his glass to his lips to take a hearty sip. Alec’s face scrunched a bit at the taste of alcohol before he leaned forward, arm curling around the warlock’s waist to set the glass down and kiss the man at the same time. It was a little too eager. Not aggressive but perhaps a bit rushed. 

Lips quirked into an awkward smile as he looked up, hands sliding around Magnus’ waist comfortably. “I didn’t forget about special dinner plans or anything, did I?” Not that he really forgot about such things. Getting distracted by work? Yeah, that was a different story. Smile softened and he leaned in to press a soft kiss against the warlock’s lips. “Or are you just trying to tell me something?” He added with a light smirk as warm eyes shifted over the other’s face.

“Don’t move,” ordered Alec, despite the fact this mundane shouldn’t have even been able to see him and for a moment it seemed like he was about to fire upon this woman. Which of course, was not the case. He loosed the arrow which zipped right past her head and stuck into the chest of the black, twisting, oozing torso of the demon that had turned onto her. The creature lit up, sparking like fire and snarling violently before it burst into nothing but a wisp of dark smoke. Lowering his bow, Alec’s brow furrowed in focus. This woman didn’t have any obvious signs she was a Downworlder nor did she have any runes. “Are you okay?”

Finally it was his turn at the head of the line and he stared ahead at the barista for several seconds without actually saying anything before his eyes dropped. He felt that familiar twist in his stomach. Slight guilt from feeling like he was staring in a way he shouldn’t when he saw an attractive guy. That and he just felt a bit foolish for not saying anything right away. When he did speak, his words were chosen carefully and came out calmly and to the point. Not even so much as a good morning. “Uh -- One black coffee.” Not how he really took his coffee but he quickly decided it would get him out of there the fastest. “T-to go,” he added quickly, already fishing out his wallet.

Hands caught the bag before it could swing back into him. The Warlock’s surprise visits were becoming more of a thing and damn if it wasn’t making everything more difficult for him. Alec cleared the sweat from his brow before he shifted to wrap his arms around the bag and rest his chin atop. He didn’t know what else to do with his hands. “Magnus,” he greeted politely, deciding he looked ridiculous clutching to leather and let his arms drop awkwardly before bending to swipe up the towel on the bench a few steps away.

Arms crossed over his chest, a simple display of how little he wanted to be here. Yet here was an assignment and he was ever the good little solider. As one of the New York Institute’s finest and certainly more diplomatic than Jace, he was the obvious choice to assist a god. “I think there’s been a mix up on what it is Shadowhunters actually do.” He sound displeased, bored even, like this was an inconvenience to him. Meeting Hades wasn’t something that was going to render him star struck. “I’m not an errand boy.”