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You are Alexandar Gideon Lightwood, head of the most successful institute. You are respected by your fellow shadowhunters and feared by your enemies. You. Will. Not. Let a beautiful man cause you to stutter and fumble in front of those you are meant to lead. You are a leader and a damn good one at that! Now stop staring and shake the man's hand before he thinks you a bigoted fool and not just the panicked gay man you actually are.
" Hello Mr. Bane and welcome to my Institute. I appreciate you taking the time today to check on the wards." Alec managed to succesfully say. He's desperately trying not to come across rude and is looking just slightly past the gorgeous man in front of him, afraid eye contact might just turn him to into a puddle at the older man's feet.
"While it is certainly a pleasure, Alexander. I must admit I only learned recently of the change in leadership as I've been on a bit of a holiday."
Alexander.
Alexander.
Well Fuck, who knew his name sounded so damn good. Keep it together!.. But the clothes, by the angel the necklaces dangling, teasing a tanned toned chest. And the glitter, when did glitter become so appetizing. Fuck, okay. You got this, you just need to properly escort him and then you can breath, or spontaneously combust but first do your job. You're a shadowhunter, act like it.
"Ahh, yes it's been a couple of years now since the change. Shall we .." Alec tried gesturing them ahead but then, the necklaces moved revealing a greater expanse of gloriously glittered chest...
ABORT!! Fuck I can't do this, okay stay calm, do not lick your lips and for fucks sake stop staring. Okay new plan, he thought as he took out his phone, hopefully frowning convincingly at it.
"I actually, do apologize. I was hoping to go with you myself but something has come up. Do you mind if I send Underhill with you? I'll try to catch up with you soon." Alec feigned concerned, hoping running away before he did something stupid was the right choice.
"Of course, duty calls." Magnus smiled but it looked disappointed and Alec was about to try and convince himself to just go with Magnus anyway but then.. "I do hope to see you before I leave though Alexander. "
The genuine smile, the twinkle in his eyes, Alec's full name on his lips.. yes running away was defintely the answer.
Alec motioned for Underhill to come over and politely excused himself. He quickly moved towards to the laboratory and gave a courteous knock on the familiar door before barging in.
"Did you know?" Alec but demanded looking into his sister's slightly surprised yet still mischievous eyes, as the lab assistant quickly excused herself.
"So I take it you met Magnus?" His sister smirked, "Why are in here, is he done so soon? I was hoping to catch him before he left"
"By the angel, you did know. " Alec ran a hand through his hair before covering his face. "Here's still here."
"Then why are you in here?" Izzy asked slightly alarmed.
"Because Isabelle, it seems you failed to warn me just how attractive the High Warlock of Brooklyn is! I could hardly function, he probably thinks I'm just another old fashioned ass of a shadowhunter now. "
"I highly doubt that Alec, what was he wearing"
"So many necklaces and glitter, I've honestly never had the urge to just lick somebody before and those necklaces! How easy it would have been to just pull him closer. I'd be the laughing stock of Idris! I can see it now, highlight of the Idris Press.. Promising head of the institute forgets how to act appropriately, downworld relations at risk" At this point Izzy dissolved into a puddle of laughter at Alec's rather long rambling as he runs his hand through his hair.
"I just meant his outfit Alec." His sister managed to say between her fits of laughter.
"Oh, I don't know. Clothes?"
"By the angel, you're a mess. Come on let's go find him." His sister removed her gloves and lab coat before heading towards the open door.
"What?! No, I'm not ready. What if I forget how to talk, or say something embarrassing or just drop to my knees because the urge to worship him is too great?!" Alec panicked and pulled his sister away, his back now to the door.
"Alec calm down, you've been around attractive men. It'll be fine!"
"One, I'm only ever really around shadowhunters and if you're dating history is anything to go by.. I think we can agree some may be nice to look at but they're just not dateable. Two! Are we forgetting the time I damn nearly walked into a light pole because that hot mundane winked at me?"
"Alec, you're fine. That mundane thing happened years before you were comfortable with yourself. Why are you panicking like this?" His sister looks torn between wanting to laugh again and being supportive.
"I don't, I don't know. I can't freaking breath in here, could you open a window?" Alec collapses in the closest chair.
"This is why you should have let me set you up on dates, get the flustered phase out of your system. " Izzy says as she turns to open a window.
"No, this is why I didn't let you set me up on dates. I'll be a flustered hot mess no matter what but could you imagine if I did let you set me up and what if I lost my virginity to some rando when it could have been Magnus. Have you seen him! Angels Iz, he's quite honestly the most beautiful man I've ever met."
"Alec you hardly know.." A throat clearing in the door interrupted his sister and he quickly stood up and looked behind him to see a slightly hesitant Underhill standing there.
"I'm sorry sir, Magnus wanted to see Izzy before he left. I didn't think you were in here. " Underhill looked apologetic but why would he be sorry unless... oh angels, no. No, no, no, no.
"Magnus!" Izzy squeals as the other man makes his presence known and Alec watches with only mild jealousy and a whole lot of mortification as his sister pulls Magnus in for a quick hug.
"Hello, my dear. I just wanted to stop in and say hi. I do apologise for intruding on your sibling time. " Magnus chanced a quick glance at Alec but he was too busy making Underhill uncomfortable with his glaring to notice.
"Oh that's no problem at all, I was just about to head out anyway and you can finish up with Alec." Izzy smiled sweetly as Alec turned his glaring to her instead. "Andrew I've been meaning to ask your help with something. Could you walk with me?" And with that, Alec watched two people leave the room, leaving just himself and Magnus as the door shut.
"Fuck, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I don't how much.. well how much you heard. I swear I wouldn't actually pull your necklaces, not without, without your permission and no matter how glittery your, your" Alec started to ramble, gesturing with his hands until Magnus stepped right in front of him effectively ending Alec's spiraling apology.
"You Alexander, have nothing to apologize for. Being called beautiful by someone as gorgeous as yourself is quite the compliment. "
"I said other stuff though, it was inappropriate. I, I'm so sorry." Alec said looking down before meeting the other man's eyes hoping to convey how sorry he was.
"As I said it's quite alright Alexander. Perhaps you'd like to go out sometime? Maybe I'll grant you permission to pull on my necklaces and if, well if you're ever comfortable enough to tell me just what you said about my glittery chest I might grant that fantasy as well." Magnus said coyly but with a hint of hesitancy.
Almost as a reflex, Alec looked down to Magnus' chest, licking his lips before looking back to waiting eyes. "I'd, uh, I'd that. Yes please. " And answered and let out a breath of relief as they smiled at one another.