5 Times Alec Tried to Make Magnus Titter, & the 1 Time He Did That and More

1: The Sound

"This is ridiculous," Clary said, leaning back in her chair. "I don't remember being this bored since I graduated high school."

Simon snickered. "At least you can take your classes during the day. All my classes are either online, have no attendence policy, or have the important stuff at night. You know, when I can actually attend."

Clary tossed her best friend a look and Simon bit back a smile. "I could help you pull an all-nighter, if you want," he offered.

Clary sighed heavily and let her head drop back down so it hung limply over the back of the chair. "You may just have to," she said.

"I don't get it," Jace said, watching the two friends in confusion. He stared down at the mass of books and papers covered in colorful notes laying on the coffee table in Magnus's loft. Was that glittery ink on those notecards? "What's all this suppose to be?"

Clary just groaned so Magnus answered. "Our dear Clary has to face the worst enemy she's ever had to face," he said seriously. "And she's not handling the stress very well."

"An enemy?" Jace gasped, straightening his stance. He stared at Clary, the faintest hint of hurt in his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me? I can help."

"Oh, no, I'm so sorry," Magnus interrupted smoothly. "This particular enemy must be vanquished by Clary and Clary alone. She must give it her most valient effort."

Simon had to duck his head and bite his lip hard to prevent any tell-tale sounds from escaping him. Alec noticed the movement and lifted an eyebrow suspiciously. Something wasn't right here.

"I can help," Jace insisted. "Clary-"

"No Jace," Clary said, lifting her head and sitting up from her slumped position. "This is something I have to do. I signed up for it. I knew what I was getting into." She smiled sadly. "Don't worry about it," she said. "I'll be okay. Once I defeat this enemy, I'll face the top boss." Her eyes glittered with sorrow and fear. "I may not survive that fight," she said, dropping her gaze and sniffing pathetically.

Alec was certain he was missing something because Simon's shoulders were quite literally shaking. The Shadowhunter opened his mouth to ask what was going on when he heard the strangest noise he had ever heard before. He blinked.

Clary, Simon, and Jace all looked directly at Magnus as if they'd only just seen him. Alec followed their gaze just in time to see Magnus blush bright red and deliberately avoid eye contact with anyone. His lips were pressed together so hard there was the faintest hint of white along the seam. Despite his obvious efforts to fight the urge, Magnus's mouth continued to twitch upwards at the corners.

"Was that...?" Alec started. "Was that you?"

Magnus's blush darkened and he even brought a hand up to cover his mouth with his long fingers.

"Wait," Jace said slowly, narrowing his eyes. "The last time you made that sound, Clary made a joke." The blond Shadowhunter turned to stare at Clary suspiciously.

That's when Simon lost it. He fell forward in his chair, almost bending in half, and just laughed. Clary wasn't too far behind, although she at least had the decency to try to fight back for a couple seconds.

"You tricked me?" Jace said, eyes wide. "Wha- How much of that was a lie?" he demanded.

"None of it," Clary said, her bright smile making her face glow. "We were just being a bit melodramatic, is all." She cleared her throat and continued. "It's a midterm. It's a big test that happens near the middle of the semester in college. It's usually weighted heavily as far as the other class grades are concerned. But the final exam at the end of the semester is the one that is usually weighted the most."

"Whoever decided tests should decide your grade in an entire class should be strung up by their toenails," Simon groaned earning a horrified look from Jace.

"What kind of torture is that?" Jace said.

Meanwhile, Alec was too busy staring at Magnus dumbstruck to pay attention to the conversation. Magnus eventually noticed his boyfriend staring at him and looked down at himself cautiously.

"What?" Magnus asked, studying his shirt and paints. "Did I spill something? Oh god, don't tell me my makeup's smudged."

He uncrossed his legs and stood from his armchair and would have run straight to the bathroom had Alec remained silent.

"Did you just-"

Magnus paused watching Alec flounder for the right word. The poor Shadowhunter's hands waved in an effort to try to describe the word he was looking for to no avail. By now, Alec's awkward struggle had attracted the attention of the others in the room and he flushed.

"You know, um," he continued. He took a deep breath and just spit out the first word that popped into his head. "Did you just titter?"

Magnus's eyes grew huge and the magnificent flush returned to his cheeks. His mouth dropped open and he lifted his glass of lips to give him a second to compose himself. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. "Besides, Clary and Simon have to study so off with you two," he said, waving Jace and Alec towards the door. "They need silence, not distractions."

"Yeah but-" Alec blinked when a tan, long fingered hand covered his mouth cutting him off.

Jace staggered when he suddenly found Alec's weight pushed against him courtesy of Magnus. His back thunked against the doorjam -that would ache tomorrow- then Alec was gone and a very solid wood door was headed straight for him face. He had just enough time to wince before Alec snatched his shirt sleeve and yanked him out of the way. A split second later, the door shut with a dull thud followed by the soft snick of the lock sliding into place.

"Did he just kick us out?" Jace said incredulously from his spot on the floor. He got to his feet and planted his hands on his sides a cheeky grin on his face. "I think he did. I guess you'll be sleepin' at the Institute tonight, buddy," he said, giving Alec a friendly bro slap on the shoulder.

Alec, however, wasn't even remotely listening to him. Jace watched in amusement as a huge, goofy grin stretched across his parabatai's face. It was smile Jace couldn't remember ever seeing on Alec's face before. It was so dorky Jace found himself smiling.

"What?" he asked.

Alec looked right at Jace and said, "Magnus tittered."

Jace almost laughed. "What? What kind of word is that?"

"He tittered," Alec repeated, a light-hearted chuckle escaping. "Jace," he said, placing both hands on his parabatai's shoulders, the force of his excitement spilling over onto his face. "I have to make him do that again."

"Do what?" Jace asked. He couldn't help but smile at Alec's enthusiasm but he honestly had no idea why his brother was so excited in the first place.

"Titter!" Alec exclaimed.

Jace shook his head. "Alec, bro, I have no idea what that is."

"That- That thing he did," Alec stammered, trying to find the right word. "That laugh he-"

"What, you mean that high pitched 'hmhm' thing?" Jace asked, mimicking the sound Magnus made to the best of his ability.

Alec nodded so fast Jace actually laughed. Jace's smile darkened, so many possibilities dancing through his mind. He gripped both of Alec's wrists with his own and his eyes darkened. "Then how 'bout you and I team up, yeah?"

Jace watched Alec's eyes as they caught on to what his parabatai was implying, his smile darkening to a mischievous smirk. This was the Alec Jace remembered as a kid. Oh the pranks they would pull.

"Hey, you can finally have some blackmail material to use against him. We'll make Magnus die of embarrassment," Jace said.

That got Alec's full attention. Magnus was always going out of his way to make him blush and stutter. This was his chance to do the same to Magnus. Finally, some revenge. He grinned and Jace knew they would be having some fun for the next few weeks.