AU: (I'm giving out candy for Halloween an you brought your little sibling trick or treating and I actually think that's really sweet) MALEC

"So," Max looked up as his big brother came in and threw himself on the end of Max's bed. "Jace and Izzy are at Halloween parties tonight and they've gone out to buy costumes." Alec went on. "So it's just you and me. Do you want to do something?"
Max closed his book, eyes lighting. Alec never had time to hang out; he was always busy with assignments, and keeping Isabelle and Jace under control and out of trouble. A whole day with his brother? Forget Halloween; this was more like Christmas and his birthday rolled into one!
"Yes! I definitely want to do something!" he exclaimed.
"Okay, what shall we do?"
"Can we go trick or treating?"
Their parents never let them go trick or treating. But their parents were away on business in Washington DC. So Alec, being the eldest, was calling the shots. Max saw a flicker of doubt in his brother's blue eyes before it cleared. Alec was as aware of the fact he was always too busy to hang out with his little brother as Max was. Dedicating this day solely to doing things, just the two of them, was equally important to both boys. If Max had asked if they could rob a bank, Alec was inclined to think he might have acquiesced to make his sibling happy. Luckily for him, Max wasn't really the criminal type.
"Tell you what, there's this amazing restaurant in Brooklyn. We can eat there, then scope out the apartment blocks nearby for candy and ingest sugar until we explode. Sound good?"
"Awesome." Max nodded. "But I don't have a costume."
"Then we shall make the coolest, most amazing costume New York has ever seen." Alec promised, and Max laughed.

"So, what do you want to be?" Alec asked.
The two of them were laid out on their stomachs amid Max's collections of comics and mangas.
"Something Dr Who themed." Max mused.
"Shall I transform you into a dalek?" Alec grinned, and Max shook his head firmly.
"Not a bad guy!" he protested, and Alec laughed.
"I have an idea. Do you have blue shirt and jeans?" Max nodded, and Alec continued. "Okay, I'll grab a few things. Then we'll start making the best costume ever."
The two brothers disappeared on their separate missions and reassembled fifteen minutes later. Max handed over the blue pile of clothes and Alec took out a stack of cardboard, markers, paper, glue, and a black beanie hat from his own closet.
"Whoa." Max gasped, and laid down beside Alec on the floor. "That's a lot of stuff."
"And in a little while it will be a brilliant costume. You'll look great."

Alec, much to his credit, put on immense amount of effort into making the best costume he could. Max sat beside him, cutting out card and following Alec's instructions. In a few hours' time, Max's blue shirt was adorned with white cardboard rectangles on the front and back, details picked out in black Sharpie pen. Alec's own beanie had a black paper strip around it, 'POLICE BOX' drawn on in white.
"Will Mom and Dad mind about the shirt?" Max asked, concerned.
"If they do, I'll buy you a new one." Alec promised. "I'll take the blame." He smiled. "Try it on."
Max nodded and changed into his bright blue jeans and newly modified shirt. Alec laughed and arranged his hat on top of his little brother's hair. Curls escaped over Max's forehead under the black woollen fabric.
"Check it out." Alec chuckled and Max turned, looking in the mirror on his wardrobe door ecstatically.
"I'm the TARDIS!" he giggled, nose wrinkling and causing his glasses to slip down. He pushed them back up, smiling.
"The best TARDIS ever." Alec assured him, pulling Max toward him in a one-armed hug.

That evening, the two of them sat at a table by the window in a thai restaurant in Brooklyn, picking out the apartments they'd hit trick or treating. Despite the effort he'd put into Max's costume, Alec wasn't quite so invested in his own. He'd hunted in Jace's room, found nothing, and eventually plucked a headband from the pile of potential costumes on Izzy's bed for her party tonight, a ring of fluffy white attached over the band on a wire, to form a halo. Alec supposed his costume was best defined as a 'half-assed angel'. Both ate dishes of som tam and sticky rice, talking in a way they hadn't for a long time. Alec smiled across the table at his brother, who rested his head against the cool window beside them. He grinned back.
"I like hanging out with you." Max said, sincere. "I really love you."
"I really love you too. Doing stuff with you is my favourite thing." Alec told him. "I'm sorry I'm not as fun as Izzy, or as cool as Jace. I'm sorry I'm boring sometimes, and I'm always busy. I'm sorry I'm not as good as Jace and Isabelle."
"Are you crazy?" Max said, genuinely confused by what Alec said. "Neither of them would have hung out with me all day. You're the best big brother ever."
Alec stared down into his drink, grateful and blushing. "Thanks."

The two Lightwoods found themselves several floors up a tall apartment block across the street from the Thai restaurant. The first few floors had proved successful, and their haul of candy was formidable, Max looked pleased. Alec leaned against the exposed brick wall by the next door on their list as Max stepped forward and rung the bell. The door did not open for a long time.
"Come on, Max. I don't think..."
Alec froze.
"Trick or treat!" Max beamed happily.
"What a choice." The apartment's inhabitant smiled. "But I think I'd rather relinquish some candy than have you and Halo over there ransack my not-so-humble abode."
"His name isn't Halo!" Max laughed. "It's Alec."
The man grinned, leaning against the doorframe, and waved his fingers towards the older boy.
"Hi, Alec."
"Hi." Alec squeaked his face get hot. He was Alec Lightwood; he did not squeak.

Magnus glanced at the boy, Alec, in amusement. He hadn't actually been planning on opening the door. He had a party across town to attend in thirty minutes and he was already seeing he'd be hopelessly late. But, then he'd seen the handsome angel through the peephole in his door, accompanied by the single cutest little kid he'd ever aid eyes on. The angel had bent down before the little boy, readjusting the too-big hat on his mop of curls. Well, Magnus had reasoned, maybe he could spare a couple of minutes...
"So, what are you?" Magnus asked the little kid.
"I'm the TARDIS." Max provided. "From Dr Who."
"And what are you?" Magnus asked Alec.
"I'm...um, I'm the bored older brother."
"You're really pulling that off." He said with a smile. "That probably deserves candy. And maybe my number?"
Alec stuttered, making Max laugh.
"I'll take the candy." He smiled. "Alec can have the number. I don't even have a phone."
Magnus laughed. "Hold on. Give me a second."

He re-emerged moments later and tossed Max a chocolate bar. Then he beckoned Alec, brandishing a pen.
"Give me your hand." He said, and Alec yielded wordlessly. The pen nib traced across his palm, then Magnus leaned back.
"Th-thanks." Alec replied, staring down at his ink-covered palm.
"So," Max said pointedly. "Tell him your costume."
Alec was fairly certain the man could figure it out on his own, but he obliged.
"I'm...um, an angel." He said, awkwardly indicating his crooked halo.
The man winked. "Are you though?"
Alec stared, floored. "I...I, urm..." he blurted the first thing that came to mind: "Who are you?"
Alec's wide blue eyes caught on the stranger's attire – or lack thereof. His legs were hugged by tight trousers with skeleton bones glowing faintly luminous white. His height was, well, heightened, by thick-soled crimson shoes. But other than that, glitter seemed to be the only thing covering him. Around his eyes were rings of navy with glitter sprinkled within. The stuff littered his cheekbones and tanned, bare chest, the curves and ridges of his muscles slicked in silver sparkling grains. Alec yanked his eyes to the man's face as he answered: "Magnus Bane."
Who on earth was that? No doubt some huge pop culture icon Alec was clueless about.
"Who's that?" he asked, feeling foolish.
The man's eyebrows knitted, puzzled. "Um...me?"
Alec's face flamed. You absolute idiot, Lightwood, he thought. Magnus merely looked amused.
"Oh, no, I'm sorry. I meant – like, your costume..."
It occurred to him suddenly maybe he wasn't in costume. The guy looked maybe a year or so older than Alec himself, who was only dressing up for Max's benefit. This Magnus guy probably thought he was the stupidest person he'd ever met, Alec thought glumly. But Magnus smiled, quirking an eyebrow.
"Still Magnus Bane, I guess." He said, then reached onto a table by the door, slipping a pair of red devil horns carefully atop his glitter-dusted peaks of hair. "Is that better?" his voice went flirty. "Though, I wouldn't want to corrupt the blue-eyed angel boy."

Alec almost choked. Max looked between the two of them curiously before he understood. That man, Magnus Bane, liked his brother. And, by the way Alec laughed and blushed, his brother liked Magnus too. Alec looked so happy; Max promised himself he'd make his brother call the number on his hand that night. Alec might be the one dressed as an angel, but Max was determined to play Cupid.
"We'd better go, Alec." He said firmly. The less time between receiving Magnus's invitation to call him and Alec actually having the opportunity to do so the better. Alec was likely to talk himself out of it if left to his thoughts. Max tugged at his hand.
"Oh...yeah, right." The older boy nodded.
"Hey, do you mind if I walk with you? I have to go to this party in Queens, and I was just on my way out." Magnus explained.
"Sure," Max agreed, before Alec could get all blushy and stammery. The trio set off downstairs and Max fell into step beside Magnus. "So," he asked. "Do you like my brother then? Like like him?"
Alec squealed. Again. He had to stop doing that, his brain hissed.
"Max!" he squawked. "Shut up!"
Magnus threw his head back, laughing.
"I like your brother just fine." He smiled to Max. "He makes a very good angel."
"That's what I told him." Max nodded seriously. "But he didn't believe me. He'd probably believe you, 'cos he likes you, I think."
"Max!" Alec cried, face flaming. He tugged his little brother back as they emerged onto the street. Magnus hailed a cab.
"Call me , as cliché as it sounds?" he called and Alec nodded, smiling, blue eyes like a beacon. Magnus would never know Alec as anything less than the illuminated being the boy was in his presence, would never know the light he had lit inside the Lightwood boy.
"I will." Alec said quietly as the taxi pulled away, leaving the two Lightwood brothers staring after it until the vehicle rounded a corner and disappeared.

Alec hailed a cab and the two brothers ducked into the car.
"So?" Max prompted, tugging off Alec's hat and fiddling with the paper band wrapped around it.
"You kind of just ruined my life." Alec replied.
"But...?"
"But thanks." He added. "There are worse ways to have had my life ruined."
When the taxi deposited them on the sidewalk, and Alec pulled the key from his jacket pocket, his eyes caught on the scrawl across the pale skin of his palm. He smiled, feeling sparks erupt into fireworks in his stomach and pushed the door open. Max laid down on the living room sofa, his feet in Alec's lap and stared up at his big brother behind his too-big glasses.
"So, are you going to?"
"Going to what?"
"Call him!" Max exclaimed.
"I...um. I don't know." Alec admitted.
"Do you want to?" the younger boy prompted.
"I'm...not sure. He could be a serial killer!" Alec pointed out.
"Nah." Max shook his head. "I think serial killers are less glittery."
Alec smiled. "Fair enough." His expression fell serious, sad, guilty. He stroked Max's sock-covered feet. "We don't talk enough. Not properly. Not like this. I'm sorry."
Max nodded, smiling sadly. "It's okay. Today has been awesome. Thanks." He looked up. "I have a recital at school next week. Come and see it?"
Alec nodded firmly. "Get me front row seats."
"Alec!" Max giggled, rolling his eyes at his brother. "Front row seats are for the teachers!"
Alec grinned and leaned over, sliding the glasses from his little brother's face. He could tell in his voice he'd be asleep soon, and he didn't want him to hurt himself or break his glasses. "Well then, get me second row seats." He told the boy quietly.

Max went quiet, feet slack in Alec's lap. The older boy thought the child was asleep, before he spoke.
"Alec," he said, in a sleep-slurred voice. "Call that guy. He seemed cool. He gave out full-size candy bars. I like him."
Alec froze. Suddenly, it didn't seem fun anymore. The number on his hand made his stomach flip again – this time in fear. But there was something else too. Excitement? Curiosity? Attraction? He glanced down at Max, eyes closed, dark curls littering his forehead. If it mattered to Max whether Alec took this dazzling guy up on his challenge to call him, he would've said. He wouldn't have convinced Alec to pick up the phone. Alec's hand hovered, then stroked Max's hair, making the boy's mouth turn up in a lazy smile.
"That's a pretty compelling case." Alec agreed. "Perhaps I will call him. Maybe ask if he wants to get coffee."
"Coffee is gross." Max mumbled. "You should ask him to get ice cream, or milkshakes."
Alec laughed quietly. "Thanks for the advice. Satisfied?"
Max nodded against Alec's careful hand.
"Yes." He answered. "Are you?"
"Yeah." Alec's mind ticked. He was never going to be able to meet that Magnus guy if his whole family knew about this. It had to stay with Max. "Can you keep this a secret? Just for now? I just..."
"I will. I promise. Lightwood pinky swear."
Alec smiled. That was an old, old childhood tradition that Alec had almost forgotten about. Max, evidently, hadn't. Alec held up his thumb and forefinger in an L, and Max did likewise, then they linked their pinkies, thumb and forefinger tips resting against the other person's in a triangle.
"Lightwood pinky swear." Alec said quietly. "Thanks, buddy."
"You could tell the others, you know. Jace and Isabelle wouldn't care." Max told him. "You're the same person, I just found something out about you. Like if you found out I played piano like Jace or I didn't like peanut butter."
"Thanks, Max."
"I do like peanut butter though." Max told Alec seriously.
Alec nodded equally sombrely. "Of course."
"I love you the most." Max mumbled, sliding into sleep.
"I love you even more." Alec whispered, and picked him up, carrying him up to his room and laying him gently atop his bedsheets.

He laid a blanket over his little brother and tidied away the remnants of their earlier costume-creating. Then he turned out Max's light, shutting the door. Max. He was...awesome. He just wanted Alec to be happy. Alec's heart turned over. The least he could do was be brave enough to call the number that was already starting to fade a little in places. He went to his room, retrieved his phone, and debated staying sat on his bed. But Max slept nearby. The older boy didn't want to disturb his little brother. He went down to the living room and cradled his phone in his lap, crossed-legged on the sofa. He read the number, stumbled with typing the digits in. Once. Twice. Three times. He breathed out between pursed lips, dialled again, and hit call. It rang six times, each trill spiking Alec's anxiety higher. His eyes were trained on the door, ears pricked, alert for any sign that anyone would arrive and interrupt him. Then, the ringing stopped. So did Alec's heart.
"Hello? Who is this?"
On the other end of the line, there was a mess of noise. Whooping and yelling, chanting, the pounding thrum of music, talking, singing. Alec wondered if that was what it sounded like whatever parties his siblings were at. There was a mumble on the end of the phone, then Magnus reappeared on the line.
"Sorry, who is this?"
He doesn't even know who I am, Alec thought, heart sinking. But how would he? Alec hadn't spoken yet – so the man sure couldn't recognise Alec by his voice. And Magnus hadn't taken down Alec's number. A small surge of confidence made him speak.
"H-Hi." He said, hoping the unrelenting noise on Magnus's end would muffle the nerves in his voice. "It's, um, I'm Alec."
Magnus's voice brightened immeasurably, almost surprised. It was like he hadn't expected Alec to call, but was glad he had. Alec fought the urge to melt to the floor in flustery heap. God, he thought, this whole thing was making him stupid. This is why he'd always said it was better to ignore a crush.
"Halo! Hi!" Magnus replied, and Alec smiled, lines crinkling the corners of his mouth and nose. Halo. Magnus actually remembered him. No way.
"Are you busy?" Alec asked, the background noise and Magnus's earlier words registering. Alec was kind of interrupting him in the middle of a party. "I can call back or..."
"No, no. Stay there. Give me a minute."
"Okay." Alec said into the silence on the other end of the line, where talking has ceased. Alec squeezed his hand into a fist and tapped it gently against his leg, excitement and nerves running riot through his body and mind. Get a grip, his mind whispered, as if worried Magnus would hear his inner monologue down the phone. You're eighteen, and being childishly overexcited. You're the person who said emotions rule us and make us careless. Don't give into it!

"Okay, I'm back. Talk away, Alec."
Alec jumped to his feet like he'd been shot and started pacing with insuppressible excitement. He smiled, adoring the way his name sounded when moulded in Magnus's mouth. Then he steeled himself, and blurted:
"Hi, yeah, so I, like, just wondered if you would maybe sort of like to go out some time or something and stuff?"
Magnus laughed, and the sound rolled like a wave into Alec's ear, making him laugh too. He wondered if Magnus's skin got goosebumps at the sound like Alec's did when he laughed.
"I would absolutely like to maybe sort of go out sometime or something and stuff."
Alec melted. "Okay, aw-awesome. We could, um," he laughed. "I was going to ask you to get coffee, but my little brother said to ask you to get milkshakes and ice cream."
"Was he the one you were with earlier?"
Alec nodded, then realised that was stupid "Yeah, yeah."
"Max, right?"
Magnus remembered Max's name. Alec beamed.
"Yeah, Max. Anyway – um. What do you think?" he held his breath.
"Perfect. You free Sunday?"
"Yes!" Alec exclaimed, then coughed subduingly. "Um, I mean, yeah. Sure."
His parents were home Wednesday, and Jace and Izzy could stay home with Max. Alec would tell them he needed to visit the library, or had an evening lecture or whatever.
"I gotta admit," Magnus said contemplatively. "I didn't think you'd actually call."
"Y-You didn't?" Alec asked worriedly.
"Not really. You seemed kind of...scared?"
"Not of you." Alec said quietly. "I'm really sorry."
"Don't be." Magnus told him, voice soft. "Don't be sorry. It was a great surprise."

Alec could have stayed on the phone talking to Magnus forever, died happily clutching his phone to his ear, a smile plastered on his face. He'd probably die of happiness. But then the noise swelled again on Magnus's end of the line, and Alec remembered the guy was busy, and was suddenly and intensely aware Isabelle and Jace could be home any second.
"I...I should let you go." Alec said reluctantly. "But, I'll, um, see you on Sunday?"
"Perfect. Text me details. Happy Halloween, Halo."
Alec heard the line drop and sunk onto the sofa. He saved the number in his phone and began texting. The message sent with a whoosh:
'Happy Halloween, Magnus Bane.'