← Back to overview

tough love

A Warlock's Ultimatum

Magnus sat on the edge of the bed, his hand gently stroking Alec’s hair, the silence in the room heavy with unspoken emotions. Alec lay still, his eyes closed, his breathing shallow and uneven. The raw agony of the healing process had left him utterly drained, his body trembling with residual shock. Magnus watched him, a complex storm brewing behind his usually vibrant eyes – anger still simmered, but beneath it, a crushing wave of concern, regret, and a fierce, unwavering love.

He had never intended to cause Alec such pain. His magic, usually a source of comfort and healing for his husband, had been wielded as a weapon, a brutal instrument of necessity. But Alec’s recklessness, his stubborn insistence on self-neglect, had driven Magnus to an extreme he hadn’t thought himself capable of. He had needed Alec to understand, truly understand, the depth of his fear, the sheer terror of almost losing him.

After a long moment, Alec’s eyes fluttered open, dark and shadowed. He turned his head slowly, meeting Magnus’s gaze. There was no anger there, no recrimination, only a profound weariness and a flicker of something akin to shame.

– Magnus, – Alec whispered, his voice hoarse, barely audible. – I… I’m so sorry.

Magnus’s breath hitched. The apology, so quiet and sincere, pierced through the last vestiges of his fury. He took Alec’s hand, lacing their fingers together, his thumb gently stroking the back of Alec’s knuckles.

– You have nothing to be sorry for, Alexander, – Magnus said, his voice softer now, tinged with a sorrow he hadn’t allowed himself to feel until this moment. – Not for being hurt. But for hiding it. For making me worry. For putting yourself in such unnecessary danger.

Alec squeezed his hand, his eyes closing again. – I know. I just… I thought I could handle it. I thought your healing yesterday was enough. And the sacrifice… it was important, Magnus. A rogue Seelie had been preying on mundanes in the park. We had to stop it. And I was the only one who could perform the ritual properly at that moment.

– And your own well-being didn’t factor into your calculations? – Magnus asked, his voice still holding an edge of exasperation. – Your life, Alexander, is more important than any mission. More important than any rogue Seelie.

Alec opened his eyes again, looking directly at Magnus. – Not to me, sometimes. You know that. My duty… it’s everything.

– And what about your duty to me? – Magnus countered, his voice sharp with pain. – To our life together? Do you think I could function, could even *breathe*, if something happened to you? Do you think I could live with myself knowing you sacrificed your life for a mission, when I could have prevented it?

Alec’s gaze softened, a deep sadness entering his eyes. – I never thought of it that way. I just… I don’t want to be a burden. I don’t want you to constantly worry about me.

– You are never a burden, Alexander, – Magnus said, his voice firm, leaving no room for doubt. He leaned closer, pressing a kiss to Alec’s forehead. – You are my husband. My life. My soulmate. And my worry is not a burden; it is a manifestation of my love. It is what I do. It is who I am.

Alec reached up, his hand trembling slightly as he cupped Magnus’s cheek. – I understand now. Truly. That… that was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

A ghost of a smile touched Magnus’s lips. – I was rather hoping it would be memorable.

Alec chuckled, a weak, strained sound, but a chuckle nonetheless. – Memorable doesn’t even begin to cover it. I promise, Magnus, I will never, ever hide an injury from you again. Not a scratch, not a bruise, not even a paper cut. I swear it.

Magnus’s heart ached with relief. He knew Alec’s promises were ironclad. This experience, as brutal as it had been, had finally gotten through to him. He pulled Alec into a gentle hug, careful of his still-shaking body.

– Good, – Magnus murmured, burying his face in Alec’s hair, inhaling the familiar scent of him. – Because I don’t think I could go through that again. Not seeing you in such pain, knowing I was the cause.

– You did what you had to do, – Alec said, his voice muffled against Magnus’s shoulder. – And I deserved it. I was being an idiot.

– You were being Alec, – Magnus corrected softly. – Stubborn, self-sacrificing, and utterly infuriating. But I wouldn’t have you any other way. Well, maybe a little less self-sacrificing.

Alec pulled back slightly, a faint blush creeping up his neck. – So, does this mean… we’re okay?

Magnus looked into Alec’s eyes, seeing the lingering vulnerability, the exhaustion, but also a deep, understanding love. – We are always okay, Alexander. We may fight, we may argue, we may even resort to extreme magical measures to get our point across, – he added with a wry smile, – but we will always be okay. Because we love each other, and we always find our way back.

He reached out and gently brushed a stray tear from Alec’s cheek. – Now, you need rest. And perhaps a few more gentle healing spells, just to soothe away the lingering discomfort.

Alec nodded, a yawn escaping him. – I’m so tired.

– I know, my love, – Magnus said, his voice filled with tenderness. He snapped his fingers, and a fresh set of silk pajamas appeared on the bedside table. – Let’s get you properly comfortable.

He helped Alec into the soft pajamas, his movements gentle and caring. Once Alec was settled back under the covers, Magnus sat beside him, his hands glowing with a soft, warm golden light. This time, the magic was pure comfort, seeping into Alec’s body, easing the residual aches and calming his frayed nerves. Alec sighed, a deep, contented sound, his eyelids growing heavy.

– Magnus? – he mumbled, just before drifting off.

– Yes, my love?

– I still felt pretty humiliated when you stripped me.

Magnus chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. – I did say you looked magnificent. And I stand by that assessment.

Alec managed a small, sleepy smile. – Still… can we… still not bring that up again? The whole… magical stripping thing?

Magnus leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Alec’s lips. – Our little secret, Alexander. Though I reserve the right to use it as leverage in future arguments.

Alec groaned faintly, but it was swallowed by the soft embrace of sleep.

Magnus watched him for a long time, his hand resting on Alec’s chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. The fear, the anger, the pain – they slowly receded, replaced by an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love. He had almost lost Alec, not to a demon, but to Alec’s own ingrained self-neglect. But they had faced it, ugly as it had been, and they had come out stronger on the other side.

He knew this wouldn’t be the last time Alec got hurt. He was a Shadowhunter, after all, and danger was an inherent part of his life. But he also knew that Alec would no longer hide it from him. He would no longer suffer in silence. And that, to Magnus, was a victory worth any amount of temporary pain.

He eventually rose from the bed, moving silently to the living room. The remains of their dinner still sat on the table, a stark reminder of the tumultuous evening. He snapped his fingers, and the table instantly cleared, the dishes vanishing, the lingering scent of food replaced by the familiar, comforting aroma of his magic.

He went to the window, looking out over the glittering cityscape of Brooklyn. The night was peaceful, a stark contrast to the storm that had raged within their penthouse. He thought of Alec, sleeping soundly in their bed, safe and healed. And he made a silent vow. He would protect Alec, not just from the demons of the world, but from Alec himself, if necessary. He would be his shield, his healer, his anchor.

And sometimes, that meant being the stern, infuriated warlock who knew exactly what buttons to push, and exactly how much pain to inflict, to ensure his husband’s survival. It was a heavy burden, but one he bore willingly, fiercely, for the man he loved more than life itself.

He turned from the window, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. He might have been angry, he might have been harsh, but he had done it all out of love. And in the complex, often chaotic tapestry of their life, that was the one thread that would never, ever break. He would remind Alec of that, once he woke up. And perhaps, he'd make him a very large, very indulgent breakfast. After all, even the most stubborn Shadowhunter deserved a treat after a night like that.