angelic_archer | (no subject)

Entry tags:

vampire!au

(no subject)

Sometimes it was a pain not to live at the Institute. When the Clave wanted him right away or when he needed to keep an eye on the new recruits, it was a pain to have to commute from the apartment to the Institute. If he didn't have Jace waiting for him every night, he probably never would have considered the move. There would have been no reason to.

But now he couldn't imagine not making that trip back home, even after patrolling that left him tired and aching. It didn't matter that he had to deal with the subway or tourists. He'd be home with Jace.

Letting himself into the apartment, he was grateful that he'd taken the time to shower the ichor off and to change out of his gear. Setting down his things beside the door, he moved to the couch and stretched out, sighing when he was able to do so without having to prop his legs on the cushions and arm. Closing his eyes, he let himself relax, knowing that Jace would be around eventually to ask him about the latest mission. Boring. Routine. But still tiring.

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Alec had beautiful eyelashes. Jace loved to admire them when Alec was sleeping. He'd admire them not, too, if he hadn't already planned something nice for his exhausted Shadowhunter. Leaning over the back of the couch, very quietly, and then pressing a firm kiss to Alec's lips.

"Welcome home."

No matter how many times he said those words he couldn't get over the thrill of happiness it gave him knowing this was their home. Not just a place to live until he moved on. Home. And it wasn't about the apartment or the furniture. Alec made this home.

"How was hunting?"

He sensed when Jace entered the room, but didn't bother opening his eyes. He knew that they were safe. If there was someone dangerous in the apartment, there would have been some sign of a fight since Jace wouldn't let anyone in that might cause them harm. Smiling when he felt the cushion shift, he returned the kiss before slowly focusing on his boyfriend. "Thank you. It's good to be home."

Home where he could be himself and no one would watch them, judging the two of them for their relationship. Somewhere comfortable where they both could relax without having to accommodate the quirks that had made the Institute and the Hotel uncomfortable.

"Boring until a werewolf decided to try some fairy wine and wanted to start a brawl. I had to hog tie him to keep him from tearing up the bar." Which was easier than some of the training exercises he'd gone through but he'd pulled a few muscles while trying to be careful not to hurt the newbie wolf. "Do you know how hard it is to lasso a werewolf?"

"That is something I'd pay money to see. Maybe you should try it with me sometime." Jace slowly smiled, playful and flirtatious. "I have a surprise for you if you feel up for it tonight."

He'd even ordered some special bath soaps with various herbs and oils specifically designed for relaxation. Healthy for the skin, too. With a little tender loving care he planned to have melting.

"You can tell me exactly how hard it is to lasso a werewolf."

"Izzy got video of it. She's going to send you a copy." He still wasn't sure why he'd ended up being the one playing cowboy when she was the one who used weapons similar to ropes. At least no one had gotten hurt. "She said you'd want to see it."

It probably was entertaining but Alec was thinking of comfortable pillows and not having to go to the Institute until late morning. If nothing serious came up to ruin that plan.

Trying not to worry too much about that smile, he reached up and played with Jace's hair. At least he didn't wince as his back protested the movement. He really needed to draw an iratze to deal with the strained muscles. Later. When he wasn't so comfortable. "If the surprise means we have to leave the apartment, can we postpone it? We could just sit here and I'll tell you about the werewolf."

"She knows me very well." Jace grinned, propping himself up on the back of the couch so he could stare down at Alec without actually laying on top of him, which he was prone to doing. "The surprise is in the bathroom. No need to go anywhere except the few feet from here to there."

Alec didn't wince, but Jace noticed something was a little off in the way he moved.

"You'll need to be naked."

"Check your email later and you'll get to see the werewolf rodeo." Probably with Izzy's running commentary on Alec's misadventures. At least they'd both get a laugh over it.

"a naked surprise." Normally that would have had him starting to strip as soon as Jace offered, but right now he was comfortable and didn't really want to move. "Jace, if we're going to have that kind of fun, you're going to have to wait for the iratze to kick in or be the one doing most of the work." Not the most romantic thing to say but Jace had been a Shadowhunter. He understood how tired Alec could be after a mission.

"Not that kind of naked surprise, but I love that your mind went to sex with me first." Jace smiled, leaning down to give Alec a kiss. "Izzy texted me. Said you had a rough night. No need for an iratze. I have something better planned for you my love."

He rolled back off the couch and landed on his feet before moving around to crouch next to Alec's head. "Do you want me to carry you or do you think you can manage to move to the bathroom?"

It was a sincere question, not a tease. He would carry Alec if he needed or wanted.

"If the word naked is involved, don't I usually think of that first?" That had been a surprise when they'd started dating. Alec hadn't really been interested in relationships or sex before meeting Jace. He looked. He appreciated. Occasionally he fantasized about someone who caught his eye but he'd been so focused on trying to be the Head of the Institute that he hadn't seriously thought about dating or sex. Until Jace.

Returning the kiss, he arched one eyebrow upward at the idea of not using a rune tonight. "Jace, unless you smuggled a warlock into our bathroom, I doubt I'm going to avoid the iratze."

Tipping his head back to look at Jace, he frowned when his boyfriend offered to carry him. Jace could do it easily but Alec's pride didn't want that solution. He could walk. He wasn't that injured. Just tired and aching. He'd be sore in the morning but he wasn't hurt. "I can get there on my own. I may need help with my shirt." He'd managed at the Institute but he knew it'd be painful if he had to twist around too much while taking it off again. "And may need help with my boots."

"If you still need an iratze after I'm finished with you I'll bring you your stele." Jace pressed a kiss to Alec's nose. "I can definitely help you out of your clothes."

He was good at that and had lots of practice, but tonight was for Alec so he'd behave.

"I'll meet you in the bathroom. Give me a minute or two to finish setting things up."

This kiss was pressed to Alec's lips, lingering and an 'I love you' kind of kiss before he headed off to the bathroom to start the water, add the special calming bath soap. He lit the candles he'd set up and put on some of their favorite classical music, volume on low just for background noise so they could still talk. He made sure the water was hot enough to soothe aching muscles, but not too hot it would be uncomfortable after a short time. And then he turned off the lights and smiled at his work.

"Thank you." His eyes crossed when Jace kissed his nose. Whatever his boyfriend had planned might make it so he didn't need runes, but Alec was still planning to use them. Jace was in too good a mood and was promising to help him get naked... He wanted to enjoy that later without worrying about a simple strain becoming something worse.

"What are you up to?" He didn't expect an answer. Jace could be cryptic when he wanted to be. Alec wasn't sure if it was a vampire thing or a Jace thing but he knew not to push Jace into answering when he was playing this type of game.

Humming softly at the next kiss, he watched Jace, then closed his eyes. Relaxing again, he had to remind himself not to drift off on the very comfortable couch. Jace would be disappointed if he fell asleep even if he understood why Alec appreciated their couch and bed so much. Alec still didn't understand why nothing in the Institute was the right size for someone taller than Izzy when most Shadowhunters weren't short.

When a few minutes had passed, he stood up, letting himself wince before he carefully hid his reactions. Moving slowly to the bathroom, he waited in the bedroom. "Can I come in?"

Jace stripped down to his underwear and sat down on the edge of the tub. It was a nice big sized old fashioned clawed footed tub and he was glad he hadn't updated the bathroom the way he'd considered. Other things he would update later. The tub stayed. Alec liked the tub.

"You can come in." He smiled and waited, hoping Alec enjoyed it as much as he imagined he would. He'd even ordered a new rug, super thick and soft, to place next to the tub.

Moving slower than normal, Alec paused in the doorway, leaning on the jam as he took in the setting that Jace had created for them. Music, candles... something that smelled good but Alec couldn't exactly name what it was. It was romantic and thoughtful.

"Jace..." He wasn't sure what to say. He knew all of this was meant to both be sweet and helpful, a combination most beings wouldn't have thought of. A Shadowhunter would have assumed that Alec would just ignore the aches and a Downworlder probably wouldn't realize how strenuous the fight had been. Jace was both so he understood why Alec was so tired. All his training, it didn't make strains and nearly dislocated joints easier to live with.

Pushing away from the door jam, he moved to his boyfriend and kissed him softly. "Thank you. For all this and for wanting to take care of me."

Jace reached up and slid his fingers up into Alec's hair, gently massaging his scalp as he pressed several kisses to his lips and face. He wanted him to feel loved and cared for in so many ways.

"Tonight is for you. Relax and let me take care of you." He pushed Alec back a little so he could have room to help him get undressed and turned the water off. "You can tell me about your rodeo with the werewolf."

Jace snagged the first of Alec's shirt and started pulling it up, being careful not to move too quickly so Alec could take his time lifting his arms. He helped, pushing his hands under the shirt, up along his sides and supporting Alec's arms with his hands as he guided the shirt higher.

Humming softly when Jace began rubbing his scalp, he almost forgot that they were planning on taking a bath. He would have been happy if they'd went to bed instead and Jace played with his hair, but Alec knew if he did that, he'd be almost too sore to move in the morning.

Moving backward, he smiled at his boyfriend. "You know that you don't have to." Alec appreciated it and how thoughtful Jace had been but having someone want to care for him was still new. It would take time to get used to that.

As Jace began removing his shirt, Alec hunched down to help, hissing softly as he slowly lifted up his arms. It hadn't hurt when he put it on but it was becoming obvious that being thrown into a wall had left a few more bruises than he anticipated. When the fabric was past the point Jace could reach, Alec pulled it the rest of the way off, tossing it in the corner. Eventually they'd be neater, but he wasn't going to bend down and put it away when he had Jace and a warm bath waiting for him.

"I don't have to. I want to."

Once the shirt was off Jace spent a few moments just touching Alec, sliding his hands over his skin, pressing kisses to his shoulder and chest. This wasn't like when they were getting ready for bed and getting each other worked up and horny. Sometimes it was important to slow down and just be together.

He moved around behind Alec and pressed more kisses while gently massaging Alec's muscles and then pushed up onto his toes so he could brush his lips against the nape of his neck.

"I want to take care of you, make you feel loved and wanted. You've given me so much, Alec. Things I never imagined I could have. And you deserve to be pampered."

He found Alec's belt buckle and began helping him out of his pants.

Alec knew that this wasn't about desire. At least not in the usual way. The kisses caused him to shiver and he was interested in more than just a bath, but he knew that this was comfort and love. This was intimacy and affection that didn't have to lead to anything more than a warm bath and an evening spent kissing until they both fell asleep.

Biting his lip, he made sure not to make a sound when Jace began rubbing his back. The feeling of Jace's lips against his neck caused him to shiver. "You gave me those things too. I never thought I'd have any of this." He'd never thought he could be happy with someone that he'd chosen. Someone who wasn't chosen by his parents or even someone who he was actually attracted to let alone someone he loved. "You always take care of me."

Helping Jace with the belt buckle, he started to push down his jeans then froze as his back twinged in protest. Flushing slightly, he looked over his shoulder at Jace. "Um, help with the pants and the boots?"

Jace kissed the middle of Alec's back and then moved around to help. "I've got this, just lift your legs when we get there. Use me for balance." He knelt down and started untying Alec's boots before working his pants the rest of the way down his hips and legs. He touched, caressed, rubbing his hands over Alec's skin and kissing his hips and the inside of his thighs. There was no rush, just him and Alec and a hot bath.

"Do you like the candles? Apple-cinnamon and the bath has some herb mix including jasmine and sea salt for relaxation."

He pulled one boot off and then the other, smiling up at Alec. "I tried to find chai scented candles, but the reviews said they smelled horrible."

Shivering at the kiss, he flushed slightly at how much Jace was helping him. Alec could get undressed on his own, but part of him wanted to be fussed over and cared for. For years he'd taken care of his siblings and whichever Shadowhunter hunters were on his team but no one really took care of him. Having Jace with him, wanting to help him relax after a tiring mission, was something he appreciated even when he didn't know how to tell his boyfriend that.

Alec had assumed that Jace would keep the touches brief, more for comfort than to be erotic... at least he'd assumed that until Jace started kissing his hips and thighs. Biting his lip to stop from making an embarrassing sound, he wondered if the bath would soothe the sore muscles and then he'd end up sore again once they were in the bedroom. "I - uh - " Candles? Jace was kissing him while stripping him and he was supposed to focus on candles?

Automatically, he helped Jace with the boots, finally remembering what he should say. "I like them. I wouldn't have thought of cinnamon." Or the bath but he grateful that Jace had.

Once Alec's boots were off Jace worked on his socks and then his pants. He busied himself with the task so Alec could enjoy the hot water before it cooled too much, but as soon as he had him mostly naked he couldn't resist teasing just a bit. Standing up to face him and slipping his fingers into his underwear.

He was just going to help him out of them, not actually start anything when he'd planned to help Alec relax. Maybe after the bath, if Alec wanted, they could explore something a bit more erotic.

"I like the sharp spiciness of the cinnamon mixed with sweet apple. It actually works well with the herbal bath." He smiled and then pushed Alec's underwear down his legs, crouching and sliding his hands down the back of Alec's legs. "Tell me how you ended up lassoing a werewolf when Izzy is the one with the whip."

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