Sweater

Warnings: None

A/N: *Waves vaguely at Will the ghost and the one tumbleweed who happens to still be around after a certain someone (coughcoughmecough) didn't update one of her fics for six months.* But anyways, hello, I'm back! I wish I could tell some interesting story about why I was absent for so long, but I've mostly been drowning in schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Also, I know most people were expecting me to write more Clace, but I felt like writing Malec.

Cassandra Clare answered an ask on her tumblr discussing Magnus's thoughts on Alec's wardrobe that fits nicely with this fic, and I put an excerpt of it at the end. FFN doesn't allow links in stories, but if you're interested, you can search it up or send me a PM & I'll link you. Enjoy, and happy holidays!

Magnus has a love-hate relationship with Alec's sweaters.

On one hand, they're old, with pulls in the sleeves from Church and more recent ones from Chairman Meow. They've been washed so many times they've faded from black to shades of grey, but Magnus's efforts to convince Alec to get rid of them have all been in vain. He's tried everything, from dragging Alec to the shops for more fashion-forward clothing choices, hiding them, and even giving them to Chairman Meow once. Alec refused to talk to him for two hours after what they will only refer to as The Unfortunate Sweater Incident.

But sometimes Alec pulls the sleeves over his knuckles or absentmindedly twists the fabric at the hem together when he's nervous, and Magnus finds it absolutely adorable. He's been caught one too many times admiring Alec in his sweaters, a smile on his face, the smile of someone trying too hard not to smile.

Okay, and maybe sometimes Magnus wears Alec's sweaters too. It usually happens on nights when Alec's been out Shadowhunting until 4 AM. No matter how many times Alec tells him not to worry, he will anyway. Alec's sweaters are a source of comfort, worn soft and smelling familiarly of soap, sandalwood, and just Alec. Alec often comes home to a sweater-clad Magnus, curled up on the couch and asleep from waiting up for him. During the summer, when it's entirely too hot for long sleeved t-shirts, let alone sweaters, Alec usually finds that the air conditioning in the apartment has been turned up.

All he can do is grin.

No matter how many times Magnus makes a poor attempt to get rid of Alec's sweaters, they always end up staying, ratty, holey sleeves and all. Maybe Magnus doesn't mind them so much after all.

I wrote this the day before winter break in science class, by the way. It was interesting because my teacher/classmates could technically lean over at any time and ask what I was writing. Also because can you imagine everyone else working studiously on their photosynthesis/cellular respiration essays and me hunched over writing fanfiction?

From Cassandra Clare's tumblr: "Okay, look, here's the thing, Magnus likes Alec's ratty wardrobe. It's a part of Alec. It's part of his charm and cuteness. Not that Magnus wouldn't, you know, NOT MIND seeing Alec in a beautifully tailored Dolce and Gabbana tux (Magnus is no fool) but mostly he likes Alec to just be Alec even if Alec's sweater looks like a bathroom rug."