MALEC ONESHOTS!

The Bookshop Bar (AU)

A/N: I know it's been absolutely ages since I've updated this but as summer is rolling around soon, I'll have a lot of time on my hands so I can update to my hearts content. Anyway, there's some Malec above plus Now We Are Free from Gladiator

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Alec always liked the Javawocky Café. Not only because he understood the name of the place as a pun reference to Alice in Wonderland but because it was so peaceful. It was a coffee shop and a library! That was his wonderland.

He went in occasionally, not having much time on his hands because of work and Jace, to get a black coffee, no sugar, to go but today was one of those days where he had nothing to do so he decided to go there to stop in for a while.

Alec pushed open the familiar doors and was greeted by the woman at the bar as usual. "The usual, Alec?"

"Not today, Cat. I'm stopping in for a while." Alec grinned.

"Finally! He's sitting down in here! Hang on! I need to tell Ragnor!" she joked. Ragnor was the owner of the establishment and had become good friends with Alec in the same way Alec and Cat were close. Alec laughed and sat down in a comfortable armchair by the fireplace that had looked inviting since he'd first walked in around half a year ago. Cat appeared with his usual coffee and a large smile on her face.

"If you need anything to do with books, Magnus is your man. He's usually sat at the desk over there in the corner but sometimes he's out back." Cat explained. Alec nodded and glanced over at the corner. Sat over there was quite an attractive man, reading something that Alec couldn't tell from that distance. "He's nice so don't worry. Can I get you anything else?"

"No thanks, Cat."

"Alright, I see you later then."

With that, Cat disappeared from view and Alec was left looking at the man named Magnus in the corner. A few moments later, Ragnor exited the back room and headed for Magnus. They chatted quietly for a few seconds before Ragnor left out back again. Magnus glanced around and afraid that he'd be spotted, Alec glanced down at his coffee.

It was serene in there. Calm. So much so that Alec felt his eyes close as he relaxed into the armchair. Alec exhaled deeply and settled back in the armchair slightly, feeling drowsiness overtake him. He hadn't felt a calm like that in years. Not since he'd moved to New York around ten years prior.

"Excuse me, sir?" a voice interrupted his thoughts. Alec slowly opened his eyes and looked over at the man who'd spoken. It was Magnus perched on the arm of an adjacent armchair. "Did you want me to wake you up at a specific time."

"No no." Alec mumbled, sitting up a little straighter and stretching. He yawned widely and turned to Magnus again. "I wasn't planning on sleeping. I haven't had much time to myself, is all."

"Busy?"

"Too busy. I never thought it'd be so tiring babysitting all the time."

"How old are the children? The younger they are, the more tiring it is."

"This child is seventeen."

Magnus paused and broke into laughter. It was the kind of laughter that could make anyone, no matter how melancholy, laugh and it even pushed a smile onto Alec's own lips.

"I see what you mean." he chuckled. "You're welcome to have a nap. People sleep here all the time. I've come accustomed to waking them up at a specific time."

"What about you?" Alec found himself asking. He never meant to ask that out loud.

"I don't understand the question."