Malec One Shots

59. Perform

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Song ~ Franz Liszt - Un Sospiro
(I really like Franz Liszt okay)
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Alec sighed. That seemed to be all he did lately. Being the head of the New York institute had its perks, but with the perks came regrets. Just like you can't have the pros without the cons. Sat atop the railing on his office balcony, he reviewed papers both from the clave and the Shadowhunters taking refuge in the institute. They documented their weekly progress and Alec had to match it up to the clave's new system. The system made sure that each nephilim in each of the major institutes around the world was doing their part. The constitution didn't apply to the smaller institutes. Alec desperately wanted to throw the papers off the balcony and watch them sail down in confetti like flutters of awkward handwriting and scribbled names. He looked down at the training session going on just outside the back doors of the institute, watching as his sister gave her lecture on Kindjal and the strengths of double daggers as a signature weapon. Clary was with her, presenting her two Morgenstern blades as an example with her usual flare, her two daggers being showcased as if she was on an infomercial that played on repeat from midnight to 3am. Alec would know, he and Magnus had fallen asleep to wake up at ungodly hours to see a new vacuum or juicer being advertised repeatedly.

He heard his office door open, and didn't even move. If he was needed that much, the person would come get him. Simple. He heard the door click shut again and relaxed, feeling the cool New York breeze against his stubbled cheeks. He felt two firm arms snake through his own and around his waist and knew who was there by scent and feel only. His back that was ramrod straight surrendered as he relaxed against the one and only Magnus Bane. His arms pulled from around Alec's waist to trail to his shoulders, kneading at the muscle. "Tense, shadowhunter?" Magnus smiled, kissing the crown of Alec's head. Alec chuckled. "Always, Mr.Bane."

Once Magnus convinced Alec to have a break, he portalled the two of them home and into the bedroom. "You've planned this haven't you?" Alec sighed with a smile as he eyed the clothes flung on the floors and every surface. Magnus faked offence. "I would never!" He gaped dramatically, placing the back of one hand against his forehead as if he was going to faint. Alec shook his head. "I'll bite. What have you got planned?" He asked. Magnus' eyes lit up. "There's an old bar down Brooklyn, and they play live music all the time. I wanted to try it out." Magnus requested, picking a few things strewn on the floor and bed to change into. Alec pulled out a new deep maroon button up shirt and his trusty black bomber jacket, and changed immediately. He was wearing his 'good' pair of black jeans already, he was more or less set up. By 'good' pair it meant that those jeans weren't bleached by demon ichor or had holes from awkward stretching exercises. They were surprisingly durable for the other pairs he'd failed with so far.

Once the two were ready Magnus confiscated Alec's bow and seraph blade from him, taking his time on unbuckling and removing that thigh holster that was a godsend. Where they was going was a downworlder place, yet the odd mundane hung out there to listen to the music. They'd never be seen again. Damn sirens. Once the weapon removal was done and Alec was secure in the knowledge that his two daggers rested safely in his boots, the two were ready to go. They left through a portal and arrived in an alleyway, yet as they made their way out they saw a neon sign labelling a music bar.

They entered.

The bar, which was more or less a lounge, had comfortable leather seating and tables of mahogany. There was a bar off to one side, and opposite past all the tables and seating was a stage. On the stage stood a woman in a long black dress and she was singing. Her voice floated around the venue, wispy pink haze settling around the feet of the overly intent listeners. Alec shook his head in disbelief. Siren. Magnus squeezed Alec's hand, tugging him over to the bar where they ordered two red wines and a bowl of pistachios. Finding their seat in the audience, Alec watched as a grand piano was wheeled out out onto the stage and the siren singer left. The pink haze dissolved into nothing. Alec watched the sleek black piano being set up, his eyes resting on someone who had readjusted the seat and was sitting and testing the tuning. Alec knew piano. Robert had taught him, and kept Jace up to scratch as they were growing up. Every Lightwood kid knew how to play the piano, and every Lightwood kid had heir own signature instrument they just 'clicked' with. Jace did the piano, Isabelle did guitar, Max did flute, and Alec did violin.

The person who'd sat on the stage started to play. Alec refrained from shaking his head. Magnus caught on, and chuckled as quietly as his voice would let him. Alec turned and glared playfully. The male at the piano was playing a rendition of Happy by Pharell, a song Alec had grown to hate since the stupid idiot vampire Simon had made it his ringtone. Why did one vampire get so many calls?

The man wasn't a bad player necessarily, he just did the chords bad, and was off key, and was out of tempo. It wasn't his fault.

Okay it was his fault... And with every press of every key Alec wanted to retreat inside himself even more. Manus seemed to relish in the cringe Alec was feeling, laughing every second. After a particularly quiet chord, Magnus' laugh was loud and clear, and the piano music just stopped. Every head in the audience turned to look at Magnus and Alec, and Alec went red. The pianist stood up. "What is you two's problem?" He asked, hands on his hips. Magnus calmed himself down, a smile still playing on his lips, and turned to look at the player. Alec's expression was pleading him to not say anything. "My boyfriend here-" Magnus laughed again. "My boyfriend doesn't think you play well." He bit his lip. Alec elbowed Magnus in the ribs. "He's lying. I just think.. I think your method could be worked on, and timing, and key location." Alec rattled off, making Magnus laugh even more. "Why don't you come up and show everyone how it's done then, pretty boy?" The piano player snarled more angrily than Alec thought possible, making Alec smirk at the idea of schooling him. "Yeah, go on pretty boy. Prove the mundane wrong." Magnus whispered in Alec's ear, pressing a kiss to his temple before nudging Alec to get up.

Alec got up, shedding his bomber jacket to roll the sleeves of his black shirt to his elbows and make his way to the stage. He didn't bother with the stairs, he just leapt up and into the piano seat. Wincing at the awkward tilt, he adjusted the angle he was sat in, and experimentally placed his fingers on the keys. After testing a few to check the pitch, he settled one foot on a pedal, and started to play.

Magnus leaned back in his seat, watching Alec start a piece he'd heard so many times in his life. Un Sospiro, a sigh, a composition by Franz Liszt that got Magnus' heart racing and the hair on his arms standing on end with each soft tone. It truly was a beautiful piece and Alec was playing it perfectly so far, only a few seconds in.

The first keys were slow and deep, played in quick succession yet with so much effort. They were soft and gentle and Alec seemed to put everything into playing. In that moment, everyone in the room was enthralled. He played and played and his playing got less soft as he went on and more strong as he changed chords and elevated the piece into something more- something everyone was entranced with. It was like the siren, and just as magical. Alec put the pianist from previously to shame as he carried on playing, picking up the pace and carrying the piece on, hands drifting and moving up and down the keyboard as he went down the scale and back again, slowing to a stop at the usual 3:45 mark of the piece. His playing became slow and deliberate once more, fingers resting on certain keys to bring them up and down and back again and again to do the piece more justice than it was worth. He started up once more, that delicate dance of playing a piece you knew so well that it basically was a part of you. Each Lightwood child had their favourite piece, but this wasn't just Alec's favourite. It was his piece. It might as well have belonged to him in the first place. He slowed his playing, the audience tending as they felt the piece slow along with their breathing, and he kept playing at a slow tempo until he'd finished. The audience let out a collection of sighs, and Alec sat there on the piano bench with his fingers on the last keys he'd pressed, half feeling guilty for schooling the man who'd challenged him and half feeling totally awesome for schooling the man who'd challenged him. He blushed.

He blushed at the applause that came seconds after he'd stopped, at the sincere clapping of none other than Magnus Bane who'd stood from his seat and was enthusiastically praising him. Alec got up and hopped off the stage to sit back with Magnus and the pianist from before was red with something other than anger, but he shook Alec's hand with dignity and a smile. "What's your name?" He asked, looking like he was about to turn and walk off. "Alec Lightwood." Came Alec's reply as he smiled at the feeling of Magnus wrapping an arm around his waist and planting a kiss on his cheek. "I'm Christian Rutledge. It was nice meeting you." He smiled back. Alec nodded. "You too." He said.

"I've seen that live by Liszt himself and I must say you put him to shame my dear." Magnus sung as Christian walked off. "Do I? That piece needed work, I haven't played in months." Alec pouted. Magnus gaped. "Needed work? Goodness Alexander it was beautiful." He chastised, pulling Alec up and out of the bar to go to an alley and summon up a portal back home. When the two got in they simply collapsed into bed. "If I get you a piano will you play for me?" Magnus asked, pulling Alec on top of him. Alec grinned. "Every night." He said, leaning down to kiss Magnus square on the mouth.