The Institute

a multi-chapter fan fic by ariviand

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.

A/N: I AM SO SORRY! Everyone who is still reading my fics, I deeply apologize for the eternity of time that has lapsed, in which ariviand was too busy, too lazy, or just too uninspired to write anything worth sharing. But I really have the will to try again! I can't speak for the quality, but while I was rereading some of my old stories, trying to decide which to update, this last chapter of The Institute really made me happy. So I decided to start here.

Be merciful!

Chapter 24: Insecure

The kiss was over too quickly.

Ten seconds, twenty seconds, Alec wasn't able to count the time, but he was aware of individual heartbeats, a bass pounding in his ears; stuttered breathing trapped between their clinging mouths; the sound of his fingers clenching and unclenching around the roots of Magnus Bane's styled hair; the rasping sound of his rough fingertips experimentally brushing against the glittery skin beneath it. Not that his mind was capable of thoughts that complex at the time, but later, Alec would wonder why the warlock's skin was so soft, and if it was unpleasant to be touched by calloused fingers, even though Alec tried for tender. But he wasn't even sure what shape his actions took while they were kissing, because kissing Magnus Bane this time was like a vortex. No, it was like possession, or how Alec imagined it could be. There wasn't much freedom of thought, much power of movement. His body was moving in instinctive reaction, not really under his own command, and the experience was sensory overload, so much feeling, there wasn't much room left for thought.

There was heat and pressure, warmth in his face and warmth beneath his fingers, and that humming, like a cat purring with satisfaction, but with a tone behind it, a low sound that rose from the warlock's throat and fluttered between them, teasing Alec's lips.

Alec felt the vibration of that sound against his teeth as his lips parted, but then he couldn't focus on the humming at all, because a tongue was invading his mouth and sliding over his.

He made a soft, surprised sound of his own when Magnus deepened the kiss, followed by a throaty chuckle in response that made the heat in Alec's face that much worse.

And then their seconds were up, because breathing was not optional.

It was probably for the best, because oxygen deprivation wasn't Alec's only concern in the moments after the kiss was over.

Morning breath! God, just chancing a swallow, Alec was horrified to think that he had just initiated a kiss without brushing his teeth. By the Angel, how disgusted Magnus must be to have pressed his soft mouth to chapped lips and tasted yesterday inside his mouth. And if that wasn't bad enough, there were probably undertones of blood, of the bitter tonic he'd taken. Not appealing at all.

And if that wasn't off-putting enough, Alec had no kissing prowess. The professor probably had... well, centuries! And kissing an inexperienced student who was suffering from mouth rot and clumsiness probably made the very bottom of a very long list.

It was the growing number of worries that accounted for the highly uncomfortable look on Alec's face as he stared up at Magnus Bane in the awkward silence that followed the kiss, shielding himself against the other man's disappointment.

Predictably, Magnus took an entirely different meaning from the shadowhunter's expression, his own closing up.

"No?" Magnus murmured, one glittery brow raised. His bright eyes were doing that intimidating thing, interrogating Alec without having to say anything. And the way he looked so closely at Alec's face, it felt like he was searching for a flaw. That made Alec twitch and look away, even before his mind could register the single word and question its meaning.

"I guess we'll leave the training wheels on then, shall we?" Magnus retorted. There was a soft rustling and Alec's chin lifted again, just as the professor was reaching for his coat and shrugging into it. He was going to leave.

"What?" Alec got out, eyes following the progress of Magnus's fingers, sliding casually over the buttons of his coat. They moved too fast, impatient and final, like the warlock was eager to walk out the Infirmary and head back to Brooklyn. Not that Alec could blame him; he'd missed out on his own party and a night's sleep for his sake. The warlock probably wanted to clean up and recharge.

But he couldn't go, not yet. There was still so much-

"Your eyes," Magnus said.

"What?" Alec repeated, his grasp of the English language clearly greatly depreciated in the wake of kissing.

"If this is some obliged sort of thank you, you really don't have to," the warlock elaborated, straightening an imagined wrinkle in his cuff.

"It's not like that..."

"No? You don't look so sure."

Frustrated by his own inability to communicate, Alec switched to his default, relying on emotion and not brainpower to get the right words out. "Are you psychic too? Because if you are, I'd expect better work of the High Warlock of Brooklyn!"

As soon as it was out, Alec realized how harsh that sounded. And to speak like that to a professor! He didn't talk to anyone quite like that, except maybe for Jace or Isabelle when they really made him mad.

And right after that kind of come-back, Alec could expect an equally explosive rebuttal or a fist flying at his face, followed up by an array of weapons.

He did not expect, however, to hear the ringing sound of the warlock's laughter.

Alec could feel his face going slack with surprise and just... a loss for what was going on.

And then those warm hands were at the sides of his face, cool rings pressing into his burning cheeks and making him shiver.

"Touche," Magnus replied, and this time his voice sounded just like a purr. Alec was unnerved by how much he was affected by that sound, especially when that glittering face was drawing closer to his face again, and all he could see without being able to turn his head were those green-gold eyes, that shimmering, lightly tanned skin, and a playful mouth - a mouth he'd just kissed.

"Enlighten me, then," Magnus added, waiting for him to speak.

The wait dragged on as Alec mulled over what he meant to say, finding it hard to think with those hands framing his face.

"Was it OK?"

"Hmm?"

"You know."

"Oh, I see. We're speaking in code. Forgive me, it's been over eight hundred years - give or take a decade, since I was an adolescent, so I'm a little rusty at this game..."

"The kiss!" Alec breathed. He didn't honestly think his face could grow any hotter. Maybe it was the heat of Magnus's palms absorbed into his skin. Whatever the case, Alec could feel the sweat dotting his brow and he hoped Magnus couldn't feel how clammy his skin had become, because that plus the blushing would be two more things to add to his list of very embarrassing things to happen in the past five minutes.

"Alec," Magnus spoke his name with what sounded like affection, but not like the rare tone he'd heard in his mother's voice. It was a warm, kind of rasping sound - like the humming, and it made Alec shiver against him, unconsciously leaning in.

One of those long-fingered hands slid back into his hair, the other just sliding down a few inches to rest against his marginally cooler throat, though Magnus's inhuman skin tickled the fading mark there, awakening it with new energy.

"It was sweet," Magnus replied, and when Alec could feel himself making a face at that description, Magnus smiled, adding new adjectives that might be more to the boy's liking. "Soft, warm, endearing, attractive, tempting-"

Here Alec made a sound. It was self-conscious, but not necessarily disapproving. Magnus look satisfied, before he added:

"I'm going to take that kiss, not as a thank you, but a promise."

"Of what...?" Alec asked in a hushed voice.

"Of a fine beginning," Magnus said. He leaned forward, his tall shadow passing across Alec's face. Alec closed his eyes before those lips pursed against his forehead.

Then the heat of Magnus's fingers and mouth were being lifted away.

But this time, Alec didn't feel the same sort of panic, like he'd made a complete ruin of everything, because the professor looked happy, and solidified that impression with a glittery wink.

Alec smiled tentatively in return, hip sinking against the side of the mattress as the warlock turned and headed for the door once more. He watched him go, only just relaxing into a more natural stance, evening out his breathing.

His entire body felt so heavy. Alec wasn't sure if it was a consequence of the healing or relief, or some trace reaction from the kiss.

It wasn't a minute after the double doors closed after the professor, that Isabelle was storming in, looking about as threatening as she could manage in the formal school uniform plus loafers, radiating pissed off so strongly Alec jolted back to attention, prepared to fight even though he had no idea what he had done to set her off in the hours he'd spent unconscious.

"Don't you ever do that to me again," she began, right hand fisted at her side, but thankfully no gold whip at her wrist.

Alec glared back at her, even though he realized her angst was just coming from a place of concern. But that still didn't give her the right to mother him - especially when he was the eldest sibling.

But then Isabelle's expression turned quickly to one of worry and the hand she wasn't holding in a fist shot out. Alec flinched away, still on the defensive, but her palm was already smacking against his forehead.

"What are you-"

"Alec! You're feverish," she said, then Isabelle was shoving him back into bed forcefully. He stumbled on his legs and half fell across the mattress.

"No, I'm not. I'm fine!"

Isabelle scoffed, searching her pocket for something. Alec blinked when he recognized her stele.

"Look, Iz. That's not necessary. I told you-"

"You're burning up!" she reiterated, and the reminder made Alec's flush grow impossibly darker, especially when he was forced to think of why he was wearing three shades of red to begin with. But relaying that much to his sister was out of the question, even more so when she started grumbling under her breath as she poised to draw the iratze.

"I knew it. I KNEW it. You shouldn't rely on a warlock to do the serious healing. Besides, he may be a respected professor - and have excellent taste in shoes, but that doesn't mean he should be trusted with running a hospital. How can that much glitter be sterile?"

Frowning, Alec felt the sting of the stele as she began to draw the unnecessary Mark. Wisely, he held still and let her continue. Sharp object in her hands - it seemed the wisest course.

"I'm surprised he pulled it off," Isabelle admitted in a softer tone, probably sobered by the fact that she was currently working on his newly repaired arm. So close, but not a loss thanks to Magnus.

"It looked so..." Isabelle trailed off, inhaling with care. Alec mirrored the gesture, distracting himself from her handiwork. What was taking so long?

"Did I tell you? The professor flew into the room and ordered everyone out. He wanted to be alone with you to 'work his magic.' " Isabelle giggled, the stele biting with the movement. Alec hissed. "If I wasn't in the room when Hodge called, I would have accused him of just wanting to get his hands on you."

Alec choked, diverting Isabelle's attention away from the rune she was outlining and her rant about Magnus Bane.