Chapter Text
Magnus stares at him for a matter of a few seconds, before smiling, clearly pleased about the fortuitous encounter.
“Sure. I’d love to, Alec.”
Magnus says, gently taking his outstretched hand.
Then he turns toward the girls standing behind him. Magnus’ friends, Alec supposes.
“Cat, Tess, this is Alec.”
They blink in surprise.
“That Alec?” One of them asks. “Alec, Alec?” The other adds.
“Yes… Alec, Alec.”
“Oh, ok, hi Alec, Alec.” The first one says in a silly way.
The girls are clearly amused and start giggling, looking at each other eloquently. Alec is dying of embarrassment, but, apparently, Magnus had talked to his friends about him. Well, it’s a good sign, isn’t it?
They wave at him, smiling, and Alec waves back with a timid smile.
“Hey there, uhm… I am sorry, I didn’t want to intrude…”
Magnus grabs his arm and starts pulling him away.
“Don’t worry about that, let’s go a little further, I want you all for myself. Tonight, you’re particularly… dashing. And what is that? Eyeliner?”
Alec blushes, trying to accept the compliment without swooning, while being practically dragged away from Magnus’ friends, who are still staring at them, with a benevolent look.
When they reach a quieter area of the dance floor, they stand face to face.
“You look… incredible, Magnus…”
In response, Magnus throws his arms around his neck and presses against him, without hesitation.
“Alec, dance with me.”
They start dancing, moving their bodies unhurriedly and unable of averting their gazes from each other’s face as if they were enchanted and amazed to be there together. Alec puts his hands around Magnus’ waist to keep him as close as possible.
Now that they are out of curious sight and especially prying ears, Magnus repeats his question.
"So… How did you end up here at the Chandelier?"
"Oh, good question, there was a water leak at Pandemonium, and they canceled our reservation. My sister was beside herself, but eventually, a colleague of hers got us all in here. He managed to get a booth."
"Well, it's not easy to get an invitation to enter here, especially for a large group of people. This colleague… well, they must have the right contacts."
Alec shrugs, he didn't really care about which club they were going to have the party at. One place was as good as the other, for all that matters to Alec. But now he is happy they have come here, especially because he has Magnus in his arms now.
Alec bravely begins swaying the way Magnus taught him with a smirk on his lips. He is trying to tease him, with the impudent and tantalizing rocking of his hips.
Magnus looks delighted and lowers his hands, making them slide along Alec’s arms, eventually getting them to rest on Alec’s hips, getting a little closer. Nobody can see them where they are now; they have reached the most remote corner of the dance floor and are hidden behind a column among a waving sea of people.
Alec feels good, confident, almost bold. He raises one of his hands and brings it to the back of Magnus' neck, appreciating the feeling of the short hair there, tickling the palm of his hand. The music gets more sensual, one of those songs which make you want to shake your body shamelessly. They are getting closer and closer, Magnus never takes his gaze away from his eyes and finally, Alec understands why his siblings like to go dancing so much. This feeling of being untamed, free and easy, instinctive and unrepressed. Even more, if you are lucky enough to dance with someone like Magnus.
What a feeling… It’s new but it’s something he has been missing out on in some ways. Has he been repressing himself? Surely, he has not been able to get what he wanted. When he came out, he hoped to be finally able to live his sexuality more freely, but he has always been terrified of actually acting as free as he wished he would be able to.
Now? Now he is free falling. Alec feels practically trapped in an orbit around Magnus, he cannot move away, he doesn’t want to, he is inexorably attracted to him, and the distance is getting shorter and shorter. Magnus is a star and he is there, basking in his light. There is nothing left, no one, only Magnus's happy and relaxed face a few inches from his, his eyes burning and a little jaunty as if he knew exactly what effect dancing like this, almost glued together, is having on Alec. In a tumult of sensations and emotions, Alec is experiencing the conflict between the desire to stay there forever, frozen in time and rooted to the spot, and the irresistible urge to drag Magnus away from the club and take him to a more secluded place. But anything he is imagining or hoping that could happen between them could start with a simple kiss, right?
Alec gathers all his courage and gently reels Magnus in by the back of his neck and in the meantime, he leans forward, his eyes fixed on Magnus' shiny lips. He is doing it; he is about to kiss the man. And Magnus is letting him do it. A second before their lips touch, however, the spell breaks. It shatters and it feels like a cold shower.
"Magnus? What the Hell are you doing here?"
Alec turns, horrified because he knows that voice. Raphael?
Magnus maintains his aplomb and looks at the newly arrived man, with a raised eyebrow and without separating from Alec.
"Hey Raphael, well… I should have known you were here, you're friends with Isabelle so you are at her party… of course…"
Magnus is ready to brush off the little interruption and resume their task, but Alec is a little more puzzled, he doesn't know whom Isabelle got the school recommendation from, nor that Raphael goes to the same school, so he looks alternatively at the two men, not understanding how they may know each other.
Magnus, perceiving Alec’s bewilderment lets go of him and takes a step back. Well, he realizes, Raphael didn’t know that Alec took a few lessons at his school, but why is he looking at them that way, seeming so stressed out?
Suddenly, another man materializes beside Raphael. Where the Hell did he come from?
"There you are, finally! Maia told me you were dancing together and then you disappeared into thin air. But I found you, come on babe, I got you a cocktail."
Babe?
Alec looks back over his own shoulder because it's obvious the man isn't talking to him, right?
Raphael grabs Magnus by the arm and drags him away.
"Come with me for a moment, I need to talk to you.”
They take just a few steps to the side of the dancefloor, but Alec looks at them, sad and disappointed as if he couldn’t bear to be separated from Magnus. Then he turns again and that other guy is there, dangerously close to him, smirking and boldly gazing at him, at his face and his body as well, with an appreciative look. Alec gulps. Who the Hell is this guy?
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All Raphael wants is to understand why Magnus is here, if he came with Alec, if they just met by chance, and what his intentions are. He knows Meliorn is aiming at hooking up with Alec. In the car, he sounded overly eager, almost annoying in fact with his hubris, but Raphael knows that Alec is not that kind of guy and decided to look out for him. And now Magnus? They were dancing unequivocally close. Were they about to kiss?
“What are you doing here? How do you know Alec?
"What? From the school… I met him at the school, his sister, Isabelle right? She bought a few lessons for him. And now… we met here by chance, I thought you were going to Pandemonium."
"Yes, but they had..."
"Yeah, I know a water leak. What's the problem? We were just dancing."
"Well... Not quite just dancing."
"Raphael! There you are! Where have you all ended up? I couldn't find the others anymore. I didn't even realize you had arrived."
A girl squeals too near to their ears, making Magnus jump, startled. Raphael looks at her and hugs her briefly.
"Hey Isabelle, Happy Birthday, my dear. Sorry, but I went to pick Meliorn up, and apparently, he takes longer than you to get ready."
"Ah, Meliorn is here too? Great, I hope he has his way with Alec tonight. My big brother is going to get laid, right?"
Raphael realizes that Isabelle is a little more than just tipsy, while Magnus turns pale at her explicit words.
“What?”
“Oh hi, sorry, who are you?”
“I… I'm Magnus.”
“Magnus? Magnus as Magnus Bane the dance teacher?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, but what a coincidence. It’s really a pleasure to meet you here. Next week I am coming to see you as promised, so we can talk about… Dancing! Is that alright?”
Magnus feels sick, but he manages to keep his behavior as professional as he can.
“Of course, whenever you want Isabelle. Give me a call a couple of days in advance ok? "
"Perfect!"
The girl turns her back on him as if Magnus wasn’t even there anymore.
She spots Alec a few steps away from them talking to Meliorn. Or rather, he is trying to rip Meliorn’s hands off him, while Meliorn keeps dancing all around him, touching him in a provocative and pushy way.
Paying attention it would be clear that Alec is completely uncomfortable and trying to escape the onslaught of this stranger, but Isabelle is too intoxicated by the alcoholic drinks she has been having, and Magnus… Well, Magnus has tears in his eyes, so he doesn't get the dynamic between them correctly. He just sees that Alec is dancing with another man now, and it's all too wrong.
"Oh Raph, see? I'm so glad Alec finally found someone suitable for him. I think they're a nice couple right? And we have to thank Magnus here, that Alec can dance with him tonight.”
She turns again to look at him.
“Let me say this, Magnus Bane. You did miracles with my brother, I'm sure Meliorn will be completely conquered by his moves."
And she does an unequivocally lewd movement with her pelvis and then she giggles, stupidly and clearly pleased with herself. Raphael looks at her questioningly. It is all too evident that Alec is trying to saunter off. Raphael still thinks that Meliorn is weird, and he proves to be right, as always. He is pondering if he better go and rescue his poor friend, but Isabelle told him that Alec knew Meliorn was going to be there to meet him, so it’s better to ask.
"Isabelle, wait a sec. Was Alec happy to meet Meliorn?"
Isabelle looks at him and for a moment she doesn't understand, then she remembers the white lie she told him. She blushes, she has almost been caught and she can blame those Tequila shots she had. But she will stick to her gun, now.
"Of course! He was thrilled, he couldn't wait to meet him."
Magnus whines. So, it appears that Alec had a date with another man tonight and was shamelessly flirting with him at the same time.
Everything Magnus feels is a profound disappointment. He is hurt. He doesn't know why but Alec had made a different impression on him. He looked like an honest, genuine man. He had told him that there was no one in his life but his siblings and his friends. But maybe he meant that he wasn't looking for anything serious, that he preferred having only flings, that while flirting with him, he would also go out with others.
Magnus falls silent, totally puzzled by the absurdity of the situation. He knows he doesn't have the right to feel this letdown, on the other hand, they haven't even dated once, for real. Maybe Alec was just looking for something physical with the sexy dance instructor. Admittedly, not an uncommon cliché. He can’t stay here anymore.
"Sorry, I have to go find my friends. Raphael, I'll see you at school on Tuesday. Isabelle, it was a pleasure to meet you, and I'll wait for you to call me, ok? Ah... And Happy Birthday."
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“Who the Hell are you and let go of my arm, now!”
“Hey… cool off, I'm Meliorn, didn’t Isabelle tell you I was coming tonight?”
Meliorn keeps dancing, brushing his legs against him.
“No… should she have?”
“Well, according to Raphael you knew I was invited at this party, explicitly to meet you and get to know you… you know, Alec, I saw a picture of you and I must say, you are even better in person. Wow… Those eyes and this body… You look like a Greek God.”
Alec looks at him totally dumbfounded, holding tightly the cocktail this man has shoved into his hand and his mouth slightly parted. He is evaluating if he should pour the cocktail on his head. He is also thinking of, planning actually, the quickest way to kill his sister without being caught. Should he ask Jace to help him?
She has tried to set him up, again, with this weird guy, who is looking at him in a too bold way, who is touching him without his consent. He feels uncomfortable, and all he wants to do is go back to Magnus and resume from where they were interrupted.
“Look…”
“Meliorn, my name is Meliorn sweetheart.”
Alec cringes internally and he takes a deep breath.
“Look, Meliorn, I didn’t know about this and I was actually dancing with another man, who I am definitively interested in. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll go look for him, now.”
“Oh, really? I am sorry, I assumed you knew and agreed to, you know, me being your date tonight, otherwise, I wouldn’t…”
Meliorn seems to be really sorry and contrite.
“It’s ok… So… Have fun, ok?”
“Sure, you too Alec. This man you mentioned, he is lucky to have you.”
Meliorn states solemnly.
“Uhm… Thank you? I guess?” Wasn’t that too much? Definitely, considering he doesn’t even know this man. Meliorn shrugs and a second later he is already dancing among the crowd.
Alec shrugs too. The world is full of weird people, right? Now he needs to look for Magnus, though.
He goes back to the place where he met him earlier and the girls are still there, glaring at him, definitely unfriendly.
"Hey... Sorry to bother you. I'm looking for Magnus."
"Well, you're late, he's gone. What have you done?" One of them enquires angrily.
"Gone? Where did he go?
"Home, he said he was going to take a taxi and didn't want us to go with him. He looked… upset."
"Oh, fuck, I gotta go, sorry."
Without even saying goodbye Alec rushes to the main door of the club, he doesn't warn anyone, much less Isabelle, he's so angry with her that it's better if he doesn't see her right now.
As soon as he stumbles out of the club, the bouncer gives him another unimpressed glare that Alec totally ignores.
"If you go away, then you can't go back inside." The man says with a flat voice.
"I don't care..."
He looks to his right and then to his left, and finally, he sees him. Magnus is walking down the sidewalk, trying to hail a cab.
"Magnus! Magnus, wait!!!"
Magnus stops, lowers his arm, and turns around.
Alec starts running towards him until he is right in front of him, panting slightly. Magnus is staring at him with a look that is a bit of a mix of anger, disappointment, hope, and curiosity.
"What do you want? Don't keep your date waiting for you." His voice is cold, and Alec sees the hurt in his eyes.
"Magnus, fuck, I didn't even know he was going to be here. I don’t even know who he is. Isabelle... She invited him without telling me, I swear. I have never seen that guy before, and to be honest, I don't want to have anything to do with him... "
"Well, Isabelle told me you knew about him coming for you... That you were happy to date him, and even that… Oh no, I won’t repeat that, it was so awkward. Anyway, spare me your bullshit. What was that? Were you trying to have it both ways? Well, I am not interested, I am not used to sharing, so hurry up, you are probably still in time to save your night."
"Oh God, she has been totally out of line this time... I can't believe it. She lied, Magnus, I didn’t know, she didn’t tell me, because she knew I would have gotten mad at her."
Alec groans. It’s so fucking frustrating. Magnus is looking at him, unsure.
“I swear, Magnus, I am going to strangle Isabelle for this. Or at least, I won't talk to her for a few months. Two at least. Let’s say three and she needs to apologize, meaning it and promising she won’t do this again or I won’t forgive her, oh no, not this time. This is the fucking last straw. How could she be so reckless? And with that man? So fucking rude.”
He must be sounding really desperate to get Magnus to believe him and so pissed off with Isabelle, that Magnus’ wrath and certainties begin to crumble.
“You didn’t know? Well, he was kinda hot, I guess.”
“No, he was overbearing and I just wanted to flee. Jesus, I promise I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have… danced with you like that, I… was going to kiss you, Magnus. I am dying for a kiss from you. You are beautiful and… hot. He wasn’t, not in the slightest. Please, believe me. Just please?”
“Well, you are here now, that must mean something, I…”
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, let alone in there without you."
"I don't want to go back, though." Magnus says, lowering his gaze.
"Neither do I and in any case, they wouldn't let us back inside now that we got out of there."
"But it's your sister's party."
"Don’t worry, I’ll text her, and Jace and even Raphael, and I’ll talk to my sister tomorrow. Look, can I walk you home, now?"
“I live on the other side of the city. Cat and I took an Uber to get here."
"Well, then we could go to my place, and I could fix you a drink?"
"Uhm, I like this plan better, but first, weren't you dying for a kiss?"
"I still am."
"I could save your life, then."
"So honorable of you."
Alec takes a couple of steps and enters Magnus' personal space, and Magnus smiles at him, a glint of smugness in his eyes. He throws his arms around Alec’s neck again, as he did on the dancefloor, and Alec holds him just as tightly.
This is how things were meant to go from the beginning. Their lips clash together and Alec knows right away that this thing between them, whatever it is going to be, is going to be great and all-encompassing and fun. And most importantly, it already feels so real. He is not going to hide or hold back. They kiss and Alec feels like he has come home. Kissing Magnus is weirdly familiar but in a good way. Ok, he is still pissed off at Isabelle, but it's because of her that he met Magnus in the first place, so he'll forgive her eventually, sooner than expected. Well… Possibly.
When they finally start walking to Alec's place, Alec can't avoid spotting his brother Jace and that Meliorn guy, kissing ardently against the wall, outside the club. He facepalms, but then Magnus is kissing him again and he thinks that, in the end, all's well that ends well, right?