The moment the door of the Institute's elevator slid close, Magnus let out a shallow breath. His heart was racing, his soul, if he had one anyway, was yearning for Alexander. His mind was playing him the sad face of his beloved hunter when he tried to convince Magnus that they can work things out.

Sure, they probably could. They loved each other, no doubt here. But they were both on the opposites side of the upcoming war. Magnus needed to keep his head clear to make the right decisions for himself and his people.

Alec needed to do the same, especially now, when Jonathan targeted the young Max, almost killing him.

They couldn't be distracted by love in hard times of a war.

As soon as he stepped out of the Institute, Magnus portaled to his loft. There were so many things of Alexander here, reminding him constantly of the young man. His favorite white mug, still not cleaned after three days, when Alec was the last time here. One of his black long sleeved shirts was loosely laying in the corner of their...Magnus's bedroom, long forgotten when they were stumbling in here last week, kissing and undressing each other in the midway.

Bane bent and picked the clothing from the floor. He brought it to his nose and sniffed. It still smelled like Alexander, with slightly sweat, his cologne and the sandalwood body wash, Alec liked to steal from Magnus's bathroom. He didn't even know when precisely his boyfriend moved in with him for good. Yet, there were so many things of Alec's here. His second stele, his blades discarded around the whole apartment, since Alec loved to be the precaution of every possibility, ever since the Azazel incident.

Magnus took off his jacket and purple shirt and before he knew, he pulled Alec's shirt on himself, inhaling it. He walked out of his bedroom to the living room. Magnus poured himself a glass of scotch and sat down on his favorite turquoise chair. However, he did not drink. Instead, he looked down in the caramel colored drink, as if it had every answer he needed right now.

The rose from Seelie Queen was black already, Magnus knew he needed to hasten his thinking. He needed to make a valid decision. But he couldn't. His mind and heart were still running around Alexander Lightwood.

A soft knock shook him out of his thoughts.

"Magnus? I know you're in there, I can smell you." The familiar voice with a Spanish accent called out. "Open up."

The warlock waved his hand and magically opened the door. Raphael Santiago waltzed inside with a concerned look. He wore his best black designed suit with a deep blue silk shirt underneath it. As always, Raphael was lacking any tie. He didn't like them, just like Magnus didn't.

"I heard what happened in the Seelie Court today. Luke called me and told everything." The vampire came to sit down on the opposite chair. "We sho…" When he looked up at his friend's face with his red puffy eyes, Raphael cut his words. "What happened, Magnus?"

"I'm fine."

"You're not," he stated firmly. "I know you, Magnus. I can see something is wrong. Tell me."

"I need to make a hard decision and don't know what to do." The vampire nodded to that. "I really don't know."

"Did you talk to Alec about Seelie Queen's idea about standing against the Clave?" Magnus shook his head. "Did something happened between you and your shadowhunter?"

"He's no longer mine," Magnus added silently, fighting new tears coming to his eyes. At that, Raphael's eyes widened in a shock. "I need to do what's best for our people and Alec...I couldn't make a decision...he was holding me back from doing what's right."

"Let me understand it, mi amigo." Raphael leaned and grabbed Magnus's ringed right hand in his. "You broke up with Alec because you think it will help you protect our people?"

A curt nod was the only answer of the warlock.

"This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard from you, even stupider than your adventures in Peru that Ragnor told me about," Santiago commented, rolling his eyes. "Please explain, Magnus, how do you think you'll be protecting our people when you're in pain." Magnus opened his mouth to say something. "I can see it in your eyes. You're hurting, I'm sure he's hurting just as much. Magnus...I cannot believe I am defending a shadowhunter now. He loves you and you love him. I've never seen you so much in love in my entire lifetime. Maybe you did help the shadowhunters lately a bit too much, but that's how you are. You help those who need it, Magnus. You took me in, you practically raised me as a vampire, even though you didn't have to. You made me your family, your people. Same as you Alec, Isabelle, Jace and even Max, Clary, Simon...they all became your people as well. Look...I care for Isabelle, even though this care born out of the addiction to her blood. But I do care for her, I see her as a person to protect, same as you see all of that shadowhunters."

"But the Seelie Queen...she's the most powerful ally in the downworld. She wants to unite the downworlders to protect our people." Magnus explained, finally taking a sip of his scotch. "We need her, and she will never ally herself with the Clave."

"I don't want to ally with the Clave either. They're bunch of liars. But I am not stupid enough to go and break the accords for a union." Raphael expressed, taking the glass out of Magnus's hand. "And you're not either. Think Magnus, do you want an alliance with the Seelie Queen who will always choose the winning side? Just think, if by any chance Valentine and his son would be winning in this war, do you think that the Seelie Court will stand by the side of downworlders who will try to fight for their survival? Her realm is magical, it protects its people. Plus, even if somehow the mortal instruments will be working like it should meaning it could wipe those who has the demon blood… the seelies will hide in the Court and use their angels' blood to save themselves. What do we have?"

Magnus shrugged his arms in a response.

"She won't hide all of us in her Court."

"So you think that I should not ally with her?" Magnus asked unsurely. "Then how should we protect our people? Ally with the Clave? Let me remind you, they hid the truth about the Soul Sword from us."

"Yes they did, and it's bad, since your boy...Alec promised full transparency between shadowhunters and downworlders, but...I think I understand Alec…" Magnus gave him a confused look. "It's not that I'm on his side here. I'm always on yours, but, as Luke told me what had happened and the look on your face tells me everything. I think that Alec kept it from you, for your own good. Just listen. Alec is in love with you and he didn't want you to be in danger, so he maybe tried to find the best way to tell you. But Luke's sister beat him in this. I know those instruments are dangerous and sacred to the Shadowhunters. Imagine, if the whole downworld would know about it and figured out you knew all along because you used to sleep with the Head of the Institute? They could rebel against you, Magnus."

"I can protect myself from the downworlders. I'm centuries old, Rapha."

"Yes, but for Alec, you are his beloved boyfriend and he needs to protect you." Magnus let Raphael's words sag in his mind. He was right, but still, Alec's lie hurt him. "Do you remember, how Valentine attacked the Institute and our people died? Isabelle was with me then. Alec kept calling her for help, but I couldn't let her go and possibly die. I care about her and that's why I decided to go instead and hid her phone so she could be safe. Alec wanted the same for you and you want the same for him."

"What should I do then, huh? Throw away the offer she made and go back running to be a pet warlock for the Clave?"

"No," Raphael answered firmly. "You don't have to be the Clave's pet. And you don't have to be her ally in her stand against the Clave. Look, you have my support and Luke's too. You have my clan, Luke's pack and I'm sure warlocks living in here will ally with you, not her. She's manipulative wench, caring just for her own self. She will betray all of us when she'll figure out that it is not as easy as she thought. She may be ancient, but even she cannot predict how this will end."

"When did you become so wise, my boy?"

"Years of friendship with Ragnor." Magnus laughed at this reply. "Magnus you don't have to shut your heart to protect our people. I think that love is making you stronger. Don't close your heart again. You deserve to be happy."

"What about you, huh?" The warlock asked, wiping the tears away from his cheeks.

"If you are asking about me and Isabelle than we were never meant to be together. I do care for her, but I cannot give her what she desires and what she deserves." Raphael explained, patting Magnus's knee in encouragement. "Now go, and mend things with your shadowhunter. Use your time with him while you still can. The war is coming, let yourself have at least joy in your heart, mi amigo."

Magnus's cat eyes shined as he got up from the couch. He snapped his fingers and conjured himself a wonderful outfit to woo his hunter again. Magnus sent a short message to the Seelie Court and stepped into the portal that appeared next to him. He knew he has to inform the Seelie Queen of his decision first then he will talk to Alexander.

"I am utmost sad, you did not decide to ally with me, Magnus Bane. You're choosing the losing side."

"I am not choosing either side. I will be joined by Raphael Santiago's clan and Luke Graymark's pack." Magnus stated his decision. "I won't join the Clave, but I refuse to start the feud between the downworld and shadowhunters when we are at the war with Valentine and his son. This isn't a time to start another war. We all have the same purpose, killing the common enemy. I won't follow the Clave's rules, but I won't break the accords for your liking, my Lady. We need to unite against Valentine and Jonathan, not the Clave. If your grace will join us, we will stand more chances against the Morgensterns. Make your decision my Queen, for all, we won't break the accords. We will fight for our survival but without the pointless deaths."

She nodded to that and waved Magnus off. As soon as he left her realm, Magnus felt relieved. His heart was light and beating in the proper rhythm again. He knew he did the right thing, he chose well. Now all he needed to do was follow his friend advice and mend things with his beloved hunter.

Who knows, maybe he could have both? Maybe he could protect his people and be happy in love with a shadowhunter. With a smile on his face, Magnus opened the portal to the Institute.

He can be in love and be a good leader to his people.

A/N: Did you like it?

I'd like Magnus's friends, either Raph or Cate to meddle in Magnus's love life.
I do hope that Malec will resolve their problems soon and we'll have their sweetness again.

Review if you feel like to,

Intoxic