Fading Scars: A Series of Malec One Shots

White Lines and Red Lights

Magnus was teaching Alec how to drive and to be brutally honest, it wasn't going as smoothly as Magnus hoped it would. Green lights suddenly became red ones. Red lights suddenly became green ones. Stop signs no longer existed. Neither did the brakes.

"Alec please-" Brakes. "Pay attention-" Gas. "Alexander just stop-" Brakes again.

"Magnus, I'm trying. I really am. But I'm so used to be driven around that I didn't even bother learning to-" Alec slammed on the brakes as a car zoomed past him. "This is crazy. I'm going to get us killed."

"Oh, I believe you. Pull over before we get run over by a bus. Slowly, for the love of god." Magnus gripped the seat as Alec slowly pulled over into a vacant parking lot. Even then Alec managed to find every bump on the road and drive over it.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. I'm terrible at this," Alec shifted the gear into park.

"I can't say that I agree, but I disagree with you. It just takes practice. Practice makes perfect," Magnus pointed to the keys. "Start the car. Try again."

"No. Absolutely not. Says the man who can snap his fingers and make the car drive on its own. It's so much more convenient your way. My way will get us both killed for sure."

Magnus rolled his eyes. "How are you ever going to pick me up for date night? Pick up our future kids for school? Drive to the McDonald's drive thru?"

"I don't even like McDonald's."

"Out of all that, that's all you heard? Typical," Magnus scoffed. "Just try again. For me?"

Alec grunted and sighed. "If I die, that's your fault. It's on you."

"You're not going to die. However, keep ignoring red lights like you do and death is inevitable. I won't take the fall with you. I'm supposed to be immortal here. I refuse to die in a car accident. I'll be laughed at by my kind for the rest of eternity."

"Oh, I'm so glad my safety isn't a cause of concern for you. Must be hard, worrying that I might die and you'll survive. At least you won't be a laughingstock, right?" Alec said, his voice dripping with thick sarcasm.

Magnus rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. "I didn't mean it like that, Alec. I'm sorry if it came out that way, but I didn't mean it. Of course I'm concerned for your safety. I always am."

"Are you? Or are you just saying that so I don't feel bad?" Alec took off his seatbelt and got out of the car, slamming the door behind him.

"Alec-Alexander! Wait!" Magnus got out and followed Alec as the Shadowhunter trudged off, away from the vehicle. "Listen. I know you're frustrated. I get it. You want to learn how to drive and do it right the first time, but to be completely honest with you, this takes time. It's like riding a bike."

Alec scoffed and chuckled. "I don't know how to ride a bike."

Magnus choked back a laugh. "Oh. What a sad, sheltered childhood you must've had."

"I'm a Shadowhunter, Magnus. Fun for us was practicing with our weapons. Learning new runes. Killing demons. That was fun."

Alec sighed heavily. Magnus knew that he likes doing things right the first time, but that was very unrealistic. "Alec. Look. Just stick with this for a while, okay? Practice makes perfect. You didn't know how to use your bow when you first tried it, right?"

Magnus could almost see the gears in Alec's head work as the mention of his favorite weapon worked through his angry thoughts. "No. Of course not. It took years of practice before I perfected it."

Magnus raised an eyebrow. "So you see what I'm getting at here? You need to practice driving like you practiced your aim with your bow. Now. Do you think you can drive us back to the institute without causing a city wide accident?"

Alec grinned. "I can't guarantee a city wide accident, but I might cause just a regular accident."

"That's not comforting at all, but it does reassure me somewhat. Get in the car, gorgeous. We're going home-" He paused as Alec stared down at the driver's seat. "What? What's wrong?"

Alec shrugged. "I locked us out of the car."

Magnus peered in, and sure enough the keys were still in the ignition and the door was locked. He sighed. "Of course you did. You're lucky I'm a warlock. We'd need a locksmith if we were mundanes."

Alec frowned. "Sorry. It won't happen again. I promise."

"So does this mean you'll stick with your practicing?"

"Who else is going to drive you to Pandemonium and then pick you up when you're drunk?" Alec laughed as Magnus glared at him through slitted cat eyes. "I'm kidding! I'll keep practicing. I promise."

Magnus grumbled something under his breath. "Good. Now let's go home. I'm starving."

"Isabelle's cooking tonight."

Both men glanced at each other.

"In that case," Magnus forced a smile. "We were out late practicing. We ate on the way back."

"That's the cover story?"

"That's the cover story."

Alec shrugged. "Works for me," he said as he put the car in drive but drove backwards instead.