Heavy is the Head that Wears the Crown

[angelic_archer]

Alec had known that after the wedding disaster, he wouldn't be in his parents good graces. Robert had stuttered some attempts at either trying to be supportive or questions about how Alec had suddenly become gay. Those encounters were awkward, but they were tolerable most of the time. He hated how relieved Robert seemed now that Magnus was gone. He probably thought without the 'corrupting influence' of Magnus, Alec would become the good son again.

Maryse was more difficult to deal with. There was no attempts at understanding. She was furious at him for humiliating the family in front of the most important Shadowhunters. The ones that she was trying to manipulate for favors. As usual, her anger spilled out in harsh critiques of her older children. Whenever he could, Alec took the worst of it to save Izzy. This time the lecture covered a wide range of subjects.
His inability to control his siblings or Clary. The wedding. Magnus. He took it all silently, letting her question all of his decisions, his talents, his ability to lead. It was all things Alec had heard before but they still cut deeply.

Standing at parade rest, he silently waited for the lecture to end, clenching his jaw to keep himself from arguing with her or trying to defend himself. It wasn't until she mentioned being assigned to Adam that he finally spoke. "The Clave thinks that I'm capable of protecting him and so does he."

"What does a Mundane know?" she snapped. "You couldn't even keep the Fairchild girl safe. You did your best and it almost got her killed, Alexander. Do you believe we should take that risk with someone who can restore the Institute to its proper glory?" He continued arguing, but he knew it was a losing battle. Mayrse was planning on having him replaced. Probably with Jace and there was nothing he could say to prevent her from going to the Clave to request someone else be Adam's bodyguard.

Comments

[angelic_archer]

He knew that he should focus on Adam, ask his boyfriend what he wanted, but it was easy to be distracted by the kiss and having Adam so close. When one kiss ended, he smiled against Adam's lips before nuzzling his boyfriend's neck.

His hands moved over Adam's back, along his sides. Alec was careful not to tickle Adam again or draw rune patterns since he might forget that he couldn't complete them. He pressed a soft kiss to one of the marks he left. When his fingers brushed over the waistband of Adam's jeans, he pulled away slightly. "Do you want me to...?" Alec wanted Adam to feel what he had or something like it, but he wasn't going to make assumptions about what Adam was comfortable with.

[hondoyota]

Adam nodded, a little bit shy but wanting Alec. It was only fair that he strip down, after Alec had, and Adam was ready to trust him enough to let Alec see him naked. Sitting up and looking away shyly, Adam popped the button on his jeans and wiggled them down along with his underwear. He pushed his clothes down to his ankles and off, cheeks red as he turned back, fully exposed. He kept his eyes down, too scared of seeing disappointment or disgust in Alec's eyes, but he stayed close, wanting the warmth and comfort of Alec's skin.

[angelic_archer]

If Adam had said no, Alec would have been disappointed, but he would have understood. They were still learning each other's boundaries and he knew that Adam would need time to get used to certain aspects of dating. The hug had proven that.

When Adam began to undress, he sat up to watch, but didn't touch his boyfriend even though he wanted to until they were both naked. He had to force himself to keep his hands still, wanting to pull Adam close, but he had the feeling that it was more than just shyness that was causing the blush.

Taking Adam's hand, he kissed his knuckles, the palm of his hand, hoping that the gesture would cause Adam to look at him. "How did I get the hot magician boyfriend when I'm the grumpy cat of the Institute?"

[hondoyota]

"Who's this hot magician boyfriend?" Adam murmured, but he curled toward Alec, resting his head on Alec's shoulder and nuzzling at his throat. He felt shy and tentative, but he wanted contact and affection, and wanted Alec to keep talking to him. His cock felt acutely hypersensitive, so that Adam felt like any touch would hurt, and he needed to come so badly that he felt dizzy. "Alec," he whispered, extending the fingers of the hand that Alec was holding to brush against his cheek.

[angelic_archer]

"The guy who dragged me into his bed," he teased, tipping his head back against the pillows so that Adam could keep nuzzling his throat. "The one who's fixated with my deflect rune."

Alec wasn't sure of all the rules related to sex, but he had assumed that cuddling happened after they both had come. Adam seemed content to be held, but Alec couldn't stop himself from feeling guilty that after Adam had made him feel amazing he wasn't trying to do the same for his boyfriend. Maybe Adam was nervous about letting someone touch him so intimately? Maybe he was too shy to ask Alec to do anything more than hold or kiss him?

Sliding a hand between them, he lightly ran his fingers along Adam's hip, barely touching, waiting to see if Adam would ask him to stop. "Is this okay?" No matter how shy Adam might be, he trusted him to tell him if he was going to cross a line.