A Malec Story

Chapter 49: To be closer

A/N: trigger warning - explicit sexual content

Alec

It had been about a week and a half since Jace went missing from the rooftop. Ten days since Alec's mother came down with the elevator, confusion written across her face, "There's no one there."

Alec still couldn't understand it. He'd asked Clary again and again what had happened after they left. She said Jace had been fine and they talked and all was good. But the next moment he was gone. Clary was more than upset, one time she even shouted at Alec for questioning her again. He felt at a loss, more than once he found his fingers trailing down to his left inner forearm, brushing his parabatai rune, almost absentmindedly. As if he could feel Jace through the rune, but he couldn't.

Magnus had instantly started tracking Jace, but he never found him. It was as if he had disappeared from the face of the earth. Alec was unhinged. The uncertainty, the unanswered questions kept nagging him. What if Jace were dead, what if Jace were gone forever? He didn't think he could handle it. Being parabatai was more than just being friends. They had a strong and intimate connection, and Alec didn't know how to live without that.

Then the patrols began. Hours and hours of walking, running through the city. Isabelle at his side, both of them intent on finding Jace, knowing it was futile. A part of Alec knew Jace wasn't in New York anymore, he would've known, would've felt something. And Magnus would've been able to track him. He continued the sixteen hours of patrols a day anyway, knowing it was the only thing he could do. To do at least something, anything.

At the end of each shift he'd go to Brooklyn and collapse on Magnus's bed. Barely able to say a word before losing consciousness. He didn't know how long he was going to be able to handle this. The stress and anxiety were gnawing on him.

When he woke up that morning, the sun peeping through the curtains, he stared up at the ceiling, feeling empty and worn out. He should get out of bed, call Izzy and start another round of searching. But he just couldn't do it. He couldn't muster the strength. He turned to his side and fixed his eyes on Magnus, who was lying next to him, sleeping peacefully. His hair spread out over the pillow, his face looking young and relaxed in sleep. But Alec saw the circles under his eyes and knew this was taking its toll on Magnus, too.

He'd been looking for spells and other ways of tracking for hours on end. Trying to find anything else that might work. Alec felt a rush of affection for the warlock, knowing he did it for him, and he felt a sudden need to be closer to him. Carefully he reached out a hand and brushed a lock of hair from Magnus's forehead. Wanting to touch him but not wake him, he scooted a little closer. His finger trailed down over Magnus's jaw, down his bare shoulder and over his arm. He reveled in the softness and warmth of the caramel colored skin. Smooth and scarless, nothing like his own pale and blemished skin.

Magnus sighed and turned on his back, his head falling to the side. Alec moved a little closer and lay his head on Magnus's shoulder, breathing deep, inhaling his scent. He closed his eyes, feeling so vulnerable and emotional. All he wanted was to be held. But to wake Magnus, he couldn't do that. So he wrapped his arm around Magnus's bare torso and snuggled a little closer, pressing his lips against his neck. I love you, I'm so tired, Magnus.

Magnus stirred at Alec's touch and Alec felt his arm reach out and touch Alec's hand. He turned to his side and wrapped an arm around Alec, pulling him against him. Alec pressed into the contact, sliding his arm around Magnus, to be closer.

"Did I wake you?" he whispered in Magnus's neck.

"Hmmm," Magnus's voice was barely audible, but Alec felt him pressing his face in Alec's hair and gently tugging at him. "I don't mind," his voice was soft as a whisper.