Malec: A Fanfic Romance

Chapter 22

Magnus slowly intertwined his fingers with Alec’s as they traveled down the streets of New York. They were both cloaked and as far as Alec could tell there wasn’t another shadowhunter for miles, so he didn’t mind.

It was like they were in their own little world where no one else existed but them and they could just be together without any outside pressure or fear. Alec was used to only having that in the security of Magnus’ apartment. Being outside almost felt as if they were a normal couple.

Alec paused in the middle of the street, trying to remember the map Simon had laid out for him in his head. His eyes flew around the area and landed in an alleyway. He immediately followed the path he had created mentally, dragging Magnus along with him.

Alec inspected the ground for any storm drains or hidden entrances. When he found one he let go of Magnus’ hand and crouched down,lifting the cap of the drain. There was a ladder inside so Alec decided to work his way into the hole in the ground, his foot slipping a little on the wet ladder steps.

Once he found his bearings he began to make his way down. The darkness had almost consumed him when he remembered that he brought Magnus with him. Alec climbed back up a few feet and stuck his head out of the hole.

“I’m just gonna look around and see what’s down there, I won't be long” He assured, to which Magnus shot him a confused look.

“I’m coming with you” Magnus stated plainly.

“No, this is where you stop. I don’t know what I’m going to find down there”

“Alexander, I think you’re forgetting that I’ve been through a lot worse than this. Now move.”

Alec knew that Magnus wasn’t going to give him a choice so he just began the climb back down. He felt his foot hit the hard ground and assumed that he had made it. The air down there was thick and humid. While he heard the endless dripping noises around him, he saw nothing. That was until Magnus appeared with a bright lantern in his hands that he created out of nowhere.

“What were you going to do without me?” Magnus teased, smirking at Alec.

Alec snatched the lantern out of Magnus’ hands while rolling his eyes. He used the light to begin walking down the empty tunnel as Magnus followed behind him.

“It’s okay, I wasn’t expecting a thank you or anything” He sighed sarcastically.

Alec was too distracted studying the twists and turns of the tunnel system to pay attention to Magnus’ rambling. After walking for a while they realized they were reaching the end. A dead end covered in graffiti was in their line of sight.

It makes no sense, Alec thought. Why would there be a dead end right at the start of a tunnel. These systems are supposed to intertwine with one another, not just stop. Unless.

Magnus expected Alec, who was walking in front of him to stop, or maybe even turn around at the sight of the dead end. But he didn’t. He kept trekking until he reached the back wall and set the lantern down on the ground. Alec raised both his hands, placing them against the wall. The side of his face followed. Magnus watched Alec intently but didn’t say a word so as to not disrupt his train of thought.

While keeping his ear pressed to the wall Alec knocked on it a few times with his fist before stepping back and doing the same to the wall that was directly left of him. Magnus guessed that maybe Alec’s shadowhunting process included figuring everything out by himself, but decided to speak anyway as it wasn’t helping their situation.

“Are you planning on telling me what you’re doing?'' Magnus pressed, taking a step forwards and surprising Alec when he turned around to meet his voice.