"Alexander. We don't have to do this if you're not ready for it."

"No, I do. I am."

Magnus, inside the training room with Alec, sighed as he was tossed a staff by the Shadowhunter. Alec was still recovering from his injuries (a broken hand and a stab wound to the chest) so training was the last thing he should be doing right now. But as stubborn as he was, Alec insisted.

"I have to be doing something," he told Magnus. "I need to get my mind off....off...."

Magnus placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I know what you're going through. You need a distraction and honestly? I don't blame you. You just went through a traumatic experience. A distraction is exactly what you need right now."

Alec chuckled as Magnus bumped his training staff against his. "Are those official doctor's orders or my boyfriend being bossy?"

"Bossy?" Magnus fake gasped. "Boy, I might not have my powers anymore but I can still kick your ass to the moon and back without them."

Taking his fighting stance, Alec grinned. "Is that a challenge?"

Magnus laughed. He then swung his staff around his body expertly before taking a stance himself. "Try me, Shadowhunter."

The sound of clashing echoes from the training room as well as laughter and breathlessness. It felt good to be back on his feet again Alec realized as he clashed with Magnus. Magnus was surprisingly good at this too; he moved so gracefully and elegantly that Alec almost wanted to stop and just watch him move but there was no way he was letting the warlock win this match-

Alec hissed in pain as his hand acted up again. He nearly dropped his staff as the pain shot through him again, so he pivoted to the side to avoid being seen by Magnus.

But Magnus noticed this and lowered his staff. "You okay? I thought I heard you gasp in pain."

Alec was rubbing his hand as he shook his head. "I'm fine. The Silent Brothers said I'd feel a twinge every now and then but it'll go away over time. Same with the wound on my chest."

Magnus came over and placed the gentlest of hands on Alec's chest, right above where the wound was recovering. "Do you still feel a pain there too?"

Alec met Magnus' eyes and nodded. "Sometimes. It's just a fading scar now but I still have....nightmares when I sleep. In those nightmares I'm fighting Jace and I live that moment where he stabs me over and over and I wake up with a burning pain in my chest-it's like I can't even breathe-"

"Shhh, shhh. It's okay. You're okay now. Jace is back to normal hopefully and no one is ever going to lay a hand on you ever again. Not while I'm around." Magnus kissed the wound and sighed. "I just wish I could heal you. But with my powers gone....I feel useless to help you."

Alec cupped a hand under his boyfriend's chin to tilt his head up. "You're not useless. Powers or no powers, I still love you all the same. You're magical regardless."

The expression on Alec's face made Magnus snicker. "You're being serious, right? Tell me you're being serious."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Alec cocked his head. "That thing broke my right hand. My good hand. I need that hand."

"I know you do. For training, writing, holding utensils-"

"No, Magnus. I need that hand."

It took a moment for Magnus to understand what he meant. "Oh. Oh. I see what you mean. So I'm magical....in that sense?"

Alec blushed. "Yeah. So you can see why-"

"Oh I can definitely understand why. You need me more than ever now!" Magnus laughed as Alec rolled his eyes. "Come on. Let's end training here for today. I may be a powerless warlock but I'm still a wizard in the kitchen. Let me cook you some breakfast. My treat."

Sighing, Alec put away his staff. His hand twinged again so he clutched it and rubbed out the pain. "You wouldn't happen to have any painkillers back home, do you?"

"I don't believe in modern medicine. Not that I don't believe in their properties because I do. A lot of lives are saved daily with modern medicine but I'm more a fan of old school. Herbs and such. I can whip you up a nice tea that helps dull the pain if you'd like?"

Smiling, Alec nodded. "Sure. I'd like that a lot."