Random OneShots

A tempting tought

By: AemiliaFawn on Ao3

Malec

~~~~~

Alec was getting sick.

He felt the first signs of it when he laid awake in bed at night at the Institute, sweating and aching everywhere and thinking to himself that he would actually prefer a few aching, bruised ribs over having to gasp for air whenever he did manage to fall asleep because he couldn't breathe through his runny nose, and he knew it wasn't just a common cold when he narrowly avoided throwing up all over Raj during a rather heated argument at a meeting. The Institute had been stretching him thin for days now and Alec wasn't sure if it had been plain stress, his poor eating habits (he simply hadn't had the time) or something in the air, but fact remained that his sight was blurry, he barely kept any food down and he couldn't focus on anything without making his persistent throbbing head ache worse.

You'd think his runes would help him out somewhat, and in a way you're right - they kept him going for as long as they were activated. As soon as they started wearing off, things seemed to get a lot worse all over again so Alec just stopped bothering with them altogether and decided to let his body recover the Mundane way. This might have been a bad idea.

The result of his inability to focus because of all this was the stack of paperwork in front of him – something he would have finished hours ago had he not had the mental capacity of a hamster at the moment. He'd overestimated his abilities severely when he had set the goal to himself to finish it all and had expected to be done in no less than two hours at most.

It's been four now. He kept re-reading the same words of the same reports and none of them really sunk into his skull. He might as well had been reading a strange scripture in a foreign language.

There was a curt buzz in his pocket and Alec sighed with apprehension, relaxing when he saw Magnus' name on his screen.

I know you're busy, but I miss you terribly, the text read, and the corner of Alec's mouth kicked up. He had been neglecting his boyfriend these past days – all their plans had had to be canceled because Alec had to focus on his job and taking care of the influx of demon activity in the city. Magnus had been understanding, as always, but it irked Alec that he couldn't spend more time with him. Magnus was a huge source of positivity in his life and Alec could definitely use a dose of optimism right now.

Not as much as I miss you, Alec replied. He set his phone down and rubbed at his eyes – it was no use, these reports weren't getting done today.

His phone started buzzing again and this time it was a phone call. Alec blindly picked it up.

"Hey," he greeted, already knowing who it was. He could practically feel Magnus smile and it warmed his heart a little. "What's up?"

"Not much, I just thought I'd check up on the most handsome Shadowhunter I've ever had the pleasure of meeting," Magnus stated airily. Alec turned his head to the side and coughed into the crook of his elbow, trying to stiffle the sound of it, but he knew Magnus heard it anyway when Magnus asked a soft, "Alexander?".

" 'M fine," Alec argued, voice hoarse and throat sore.

"You don't sound fine," Magnus pressed. Alec sighed again. Bad idea, picking up the phone. He couldn't hide anything from his boyfriend.

"I don't know. Just a cold – or something."

"Come outside for a little bit. Wear a jacket, for God's sake," Magnus added, as if in an afterthought.

"Magnus -"

Alec was a little miffed when Magnus just hung up, leaving him no choice but to leave his office and head outside for him. It was cold outside for this time of year – Alec wrapped his arms around his chest as he waited for the familiar crackle of a portal opening. It came about a 10 seconds later and there Magnus was, just a few feet away from him. Beautiful as ever.