Magic, Memories, and Malec

Valentine

"At first, we had ways of talking

That filled up the evening

Until some things could be said. It was a made-up

Situation in which lives could be lost...

All I ask

Is to take me away from this place,

To another place, very much like

This place, where we can meet"

-          Valentine, Donald Britton

"Thanks." He laughed, and felt his heart thud and rip in two. The card dangled in his hand and he shoved Jace in the shoulder with the other, keeping up the laugh longer than he should have.

"They didn't have one that said 'Entreat me not to leave thee'." Jace grinned.

"Mundane amateurs." Alec nodded, shoving the card in his training bag.

"No card for me?" Jace asked. Before Alec could reply, a smirk pulled at one corner of his mouth. "Or is Magnus Bane your valentine?"

Alec pushed his fringe back, laughing uncomfortably. "I barely know, Magnus Bane. I'm certainly not...I don't even know him."

"I'm kidding, Alec. Lighten up." Jace joked. "I'm going out drinking with Izzy to look for valentines. You coming?"

Alec shook his head. "No, I'm staying in. I'll look after Max, hang out with him before he gets shipped back to Idris."

"See you later. Have fun with your warlock."

"I don't even..." he sighed. The door had shut before he could even finish his fake protestation.

It was dating without dating. It had been two months. He still couldn't tell him. Alec wasn't sure how the word 'boyfriend' could simultaneously sound so amazing and so terrifying. He and Magnus had spent a while thinking of places to go for Valentine's Day in New York, but Magnus had proposed his apartment when it came down to it. Alec knew that this decision was for him, that Magnus would probably love to go to a bar, that he could get the best table in the house in any restaurant with the drop of his name, would adore to go dancing. But, Alec also knew how much better that first date had gone once they were out of the public eye.

Why in the name of the Angel was his mom home for Valentine's Day? It was only sadder still that his dad was staying in Idris anyway, Alec thought, trying to be as quiet as possible as he walked to the door. Maryse had said she'd brought Max home so they could spend some time together as a family, but who was she kidding? Robert hadn't even bothered coming – not that Alec was complaining about that –, Maryse was shut away working in her study, and Izzy and Jace were out tonight anyway. Which, Alec thought with a start, could cause problems.

"Alec?" a small voice said.

He turned and smiled at Max, who was sat outside his room with a sketchbook on his lap, glasses having slipped down his nose to the button-tip.

"Oh, hey, Max. Why are you sat in the hall?" he said, bending down in front of his little brother.

"Jace and Izzy left." He said, and Alec ignored the fact that Max's response had not at all answered his question. "Are they going out for Valentine's Day with Clary and Simon?"

Alec sat down on the floor, surprised. "What do you mean?"

"Isn't Jace going out with Clary? And Izzy likes Simon?"

"Clary is Jace's sister." Alec replied, a little taken aback by how perceptive his little brother was. "And I think Simon might like Clary as well as Isabelle."