#userkj

He’s wearing a dark maroon suit, somewhere between sweet cherry and the shade of blood - the pants and the jacket are tailored perfectly, accentuating all the shapes of Alec’s body from his ungodly long legs to broad shoulders and chest. The suit is paired with a dark brown belt and shoes, as well as a black dress shirt, giving it a sleek, yet kind of casual appearance.

While Alec is certainly no stranger to suits, often donning fancy suit jackets as the Head of the Institute and full elegant outfits to either official events or their dates, they’ve often been in dark tones, usually kept to a range of black, navy and shades of grey. Red is definitely new, but Magnus can’t say a bad word about it. The opposite actually - his boyfriend looks stunningly attractive, even more than usual.

Picking his jaw up from the ground, Magnus blinks a couple of times to come back to the real world, just as Alec turns to face him, hip leaned against a cupboard and his jacket unbuttoned.

“Hey, hot stuff,” Magnus says half-jokingly and pushes away from the table, coming to stand in front of Alec. He drags his fingers down the edges of the lapels, just admiring the whole get-up, the colors and cut quite similar to what he would wear himself, but in Alec’s own spin on it. “You look quite dashing, Alexander.”

Alec’s entire face lights up at the compliment, his lips pressed together to stifle a coy grin, a hint of pink in the apples of his cheeks.

“Thank you, Magnus.” He sighs, hands cupping Magnus’ elbows as he rests his palms flat against Alec’s chest. The shadowhunter falters, offers an explanation, even though it's not needed. “I bought the suit impulsively last week. Felt like I needed something new, a breath of fresh air.”

Magnus smiles wider, Alec’s words confirming what he’s been thinking for a while already. Ever since Alec has come out, he’s been slowly getting more comfortable with himself, inching out into new territories with various things, from more adventurous food, through everyday things and the way he interacts with people, to style and fashion.

One time it was black eyeliner for a club night out, a different evening consisted of them learning salsa dancing in the living room, last Saturday it was an embroidered bomber jacket and some borrowed rings. Now, it’s a gorgeous suit and just the slightest hint of stubble.

Magnus is bursting with pride. He can see the shift happening inside Alec, the way he’s exploring his newfound and reassured identity, how he’s reshaping who he’s once been into someone he feels like now - someone confident, happy, at peace with his own heart. He’s finally able to flourish and Magnus wants nothing more than to experience this journey with him, glad to witness all of it first-hand.

After all, it’s an amazing feeling, to find oneself after a long time spent hidden away.

With a happy sigh, Magnus reaches up to fix Alec’s collar, shooting him a sly wink.

“Just don’t get eaten by demons, since you’re looking like a snack,” he quips and Alec rolls his eyes fondly, a chuckle rumbling deep in his chest and underneath Magnus’ palms.

“Now you’re just laying it on thick,” Alec admonishes, making Magnus laugh mirthfully. He leans in to kiss Magnus’ cheek first, then presses another peck to the beauty mark above his eyebrow. “Luke’s waiting in the car downstairs, we’re teaming up to investigate some Mundie murders down at the City Hall, look for the usual suspicious stuff.”

“Alright, detective Lightwood. Dinner at six?” Magnus reciprocates, cupping Alec’s jaw and smooching him right on the lips, the kiss tasting of sweet coffee and even sweeter mango.

When he tries to pull away, Magnus finds himself tugged back in by the hips, Alec’s soft mouth eager against Magnus’ as if he can’t get enough of them together before he leaves for the day.

“You got it, boss.” The words are staggered, each split up by a brush of lips. “I’ll buy dessert.”

“Not to be rude, but weren’t you late a couple of minutes ago?”

Alec’s eyes widen almost comically as he freezes and glances down at his watch with badly concealed terror. “Oh, fuck. Okay, I’m going, I’m going. Hope all your clients are nice, love you.”

Magnus grins at Alec’s unusually enthusiastic morning-self, finding it adorably endearing. “Love you too. Tell Luke hi from me while you’re at it.”

With a final kiss, Alec grabs a banana from the table and rushes out of the kitchen, the main door slamming shut after him promptly.

Magnus stands still for a moment, drums his knuckles on the cupboard as he smiles to nobody in particular.

Max almost immediately relaxes in his father’s arms, but he’s still whimpering softly. Magnus smiles warmly, pressing a kiss to his forehead, right between his two tiny horns.

“I’m here, my love, I’ve got you,” Magnus whispers, looking down at Max who is watching him with wide eyes. The thunder is still booming outside, and every time it does Max starts pouting, getting ready for the waterworks.

With a small flourish of his hand, Magnus makes a small invisible layer of magic between the window and Max’s room, making the noise from the outside a lot more subdued and easier for his little 8 month old to handle.

“That’s better, right?” Magnus asks, smiling as Max just stares back. He doesn’t look like he’s going to be falling asleep anytime soon, so Magnus points a finger up and watches as purple and blue magic curls out of it, making different images in the air around them.

Max watches with curious eyes as Magnus’ magic takes the form of multiple birds, before melting into two small tigers racing in a circle above their heads. Then the magic becomes a night sky, the stars twinkling dramatically. Max makes a small noise of pleasure in his arms, and Magnus watches him fondly.

He never really knew it was possible to love someone so much. Looking at Max now, so small in his arms, with genuine enthusiasm and tiny hands that rest on Magnus’ chest, he knows he’d do anything to protect his son.

Within a few minutes of Magnus’ magic around them in multicolored swirls, Max’s eyes start to droop and his head falls to Magnus’ chest. He watches as little Max breathes, sound asleep.

Magnus carefully settles Max back into his crib and then leans against it, watching the lightning crackle and boom in the sky, casting shadows into the room.

There was a time when Magnus connected rain and thunder to bad memories, ones he always wanted to forget. Looking at the sky now, he feels like all his memories of rain are good.

He slowly makes his way through the loft, and ends up on the entrance to the balcony. With one swift movement, he opens the screen door and steps outside, not far enough to get wet, but just enough to take a giant lungful of the rain.

Now, all Magnus can remember is his and Alec’s fourth date, when it started pouring during their trip to Italy, and they had to hideout in a random tiny diner off the side of the road that made the best espresso Magnus has ever had.

Magnus remembers when Alec and him were babysitting Madzie, and when the rain seemingly ruined their plans, all Madzie wanted to do was go and splash around. It was the summertime, and Magnus couldn’t think of a reason not to, so they did. The three of them spent two hours playing tag in the rain and getting soaked, and even though Cat wasn’t happy about it later, Magnus wouldn’t forget the huge smile Madzie sported for the rest of the day.

Magnus remembers his honeymoon with Alec, and how it rained one day in Fiji, and Alec took his hand and dragged him outside while they were both still in their pajamas, and Alec kissed Magnus stupid, till all he could think about was the taste of Alec’s lips and the smell of the earth from the rain.

It’s not like the more painful memories are gone, but they aren’t the ones Magnus chooses to remember. The rain is something that now soothes him and brings him peace, rather than haunts him. It’s powerful and frightening, but also so alive.

“Babe?”

Magnus turns slightly when he feels two hands snake around his waist from behind and a very familiar chest pressing against his back.

“Are you okay?” Alec asks, his voice low from sleep.

“Yes, love,” Magnus replies, putting his hands over Alec’s. “Just admiring the rain.”

Alec hums, kissing Magnus’ shoulder.

“Is Max okay?” Alec asks.

“Yes, he’s alright. Fast asleep,” Magnus says, running his hands up and down Alec’s forearms. “Let’s go back to bed, shall we?”

“Uh huh,” Alec says sleepily, and Magnus laughs softly, turning around in his arms and pressing a kiss to Alec’s temple. He pulls back and takes a moment to admire just how stunning his husband is, even if he’s so tired he can hardly stand. His hair is a mess, his eyes are half lidded, and his runes are a sharp contrast on his skin.

But he’s so unbelievably beautiful.

Alec leans against Magnus, already halfway asleep, and Magnus laughs again, softly tugging Alec towards their bedroom.