Hello, readers! It has been far too long since I've written something. Here I go again. The first chapter is a little uneventful and doesn't have the greatest writing, but I plan on making it much, much better, so if you're interested please bear with me. This story will not have as many chapters as my other stories, but I hope it catches the eyes of many potential readers. Thanks for checking this out. Hope you come back for more! Please feel free to leave feedback :)

"Rise and shine, fellow offspring!"

The pillow collided with the back of Alec's head with a loud thump. He groaned and cracked one eye open, peeking through the morning haze at the alarm clock.

"It's seven-thirty in the morning," he growled.

"Yes it is!"

The reply was quickly followed by another swing of the pillow. Alec burrowed his face into his own pillow, holding his temper at bay.

"It's seven-thirty in the morning," he grumbled, his voice muffled. "And it's my day off."

"What's your point?"

"My point is that I'm going to kill you."

The mattress bounced as Alec's sister, Isabelle, plopped herself down beside him. He felt her finger prod him in the side as she asked giddily, "So how did it go last night?"

"How did what go?" he asked back, though he knew full well what she was referring to.

"Tell me you asked him out." The excitement in Isabelle's voice was now laced with skepticism.

Alec chose not to reply and let his silence answer the question rather than admit to wimping out. Isabelle let out a frustrated sigh and punched her brother in the leg, reveling in silent satisfaction when Alec sucked in a breath. Finally, he lifted his head and faced her, squinting through his morning grogginess.

"How'd you talk yourself out of it this time?"

"I panicked." Noticing Isabelle's expression, Alec added defensively, "He was looking right at me, Izzy."

His sister quirked an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Last I checked, that's how you're supposed to ask someone out."

"Have you seen his face?" Alec propped himself up onto one elbow and gazed wide-eyed into empty air. "It's a masterpiece of perfection and intimidation."

"How else are you going to ask him out? When he's bent over and you're staring at his ass?"

"I could text him."

"How old are you? Twelve?"

"I could just die alone," Alec said thoughtfully.

"I'm telling you," Izzy persisted, "just walk up to him and ask him out. Resistance is futile to that kind of confidence."

"Hey, not that I don't love discussing my pathetic love life with my snot-faced sister, but don't you have to be annoying somewhere else? Like at work?"

Ignoring Alec's sarcasm, Isabelle glanced at his alarm clock and jumped to her feet. She grabbed the backpack she'd deposited at the door and slung it over her shoulder. Hastily she gathered her long black hair into a ponytail at the nape of her neck and secured it with an elastic from around her wrist. She turned to face her brother before she left, her hand poised on the doorknob.

"I'll be home sometime after four."

Alec dropped onto his back and stretched. "I'll be here in my cozy bed, dreading your return."

Isabelle raised her middle finger and walked out, closing the door behind her. Grinning to himself, Alec stared up at the roof. His fingers idly toyed with the dog tags resting against his naked chest. He contemplated drifting back into sleep but opted for an early start to his day off. He disentangled himself from the sheets and shuffled down the hall. Surprised that Izzy had left some hot water, he took advantage of a long, steaming shower.

Teeth brushed and clad in a comfortable t-shirt and sweatpants, Alec meandered from the bathroom to the kitchen. He stared into the fridge for a long while, debating taking out the milk and stealing some of Izzy's sugar-packed cereal. As entertaining as it would be, he didn't want to get his ear screamed off by his territorial sibling. He grabbed a cold slice of pizza instead. As he chewed his breakfast, his hand mindlessly went to his pocket for his cell phone. Checking his messages during breakfast was a habit of his. When both pockets came up empty, he searched the counters and island in the kitchen. The hunt continued back to his bedroom where he checked the discarded jeans tossed on the floor, alongside his nightstand, bed, floor, and work bag. He cursed and scratched his head, wondering where he could have left it. His mind drifted back to the previous night, and he vaguely recalled setting his cell phone in his locker. He did not remember taking it out.

Alec swore again and snatched a hoodie from one of the hangers in his closet. He slid the zipper up to his throat and, mumbling to himself, grabbed his keys and iPod. He locked the apartment up and hurried down the stairwell. As he joined the throng of people in the street, he slipped his headphones into his ears and pulled up his hood. He hoped his attire and reserved demeanor would help him blend into the background, as he preferred. He sensed a pair of women watching him at a cross walk, but the headphones in his ears discouraged them from starting up a conversation.

Sirens rang through the brisk morning air as Alec crossed the street. He rarely turned his iPod on for such situations as this; he liked to be aware of his surroundings. His eyes scanned the surrounding area, and he wondered if one of his friends was riding in the unseen emergency vehicle. The sirens faded off into the distance, now no more than a memory of distress.

Forty minutes later, Alec entered a building through a large silver door. He nodded to the woman at the reception desk and continued cautiously down the hall. Voices, both soft and loud, drifted from the common area off to the left. Alec turned right after making sure the coast was clear. He peered into the room at the end of the hall and, seeing no one in the immediate area, hastily crossed the floor to his locker. His eyes were drawn to the bottom of the locker like magnets, and he smiled to see his cell phone sitting exactly where he'd left it. Clutching the device in his palm and closing his locker, Alec turned to leave.

"Jesus Christ!" The phone slipped from Alec's hand as he jumped.

The young man now standing in front of Alec had been startled by his reaction, but he was grinning. He held up his hands and took a step back, letting out a laugh as Alec bent to pick up his phone.

"Scared you a bit, did I?"

Alec kept his head bent and pretended to inspect his phone for damage to hide the blush in his cheeks. He wiped the screen with his thumb and cleared his throat, regaining his composure.

"You scared the shit out of me, Jace."

"I was around the corner." Jace pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "I thought I heard someone sneak in. Trying to avoid someone?"

Just you. Alec forced a smile. "I forgot my phone, and I wanted to get in and out without being stopped by anyone. You know how some of the guys are."

Jace nodded. "It's the old-timers. Once they get talking..." He touched his fingers and thumb together in a talking motion.

Alec's eyes flitted towards the door, which seemed a million miles away. He tried to keep his eyes focused on anywhere other than Jace's face. The strong jaw, golden hair, and matching autumn gold eyes were enough to turn him into a bumbling idiot.

"You back tomorrow?" Jace asked, his teeth gleaming in a stomach-fluttering smile.

"Y-yeah."

Jace opened his mouth to say something more, but a loud alarm cut off his reply. He smiled, almost regretfully, and clapped Alec on the shoulder.

"Duty calls," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Jace gave Alec a wink before turning and racing out the door. Alec slumped back against the lockers and waited for the alarm's cry to slip back into quiet. Even after it stopped he remained in the locker room, wanting to make sure there wouldn't be anyone to hinder his attempt to leave. When his stomach and heart had finally settled, he made his way back out into the hall and towards the exit.

As he rounded the corner, he bumped into someone and lost his balance. Before he could hit the floor, the figure reached out and grabbed Alec's arm. He righted Alec on his feet and took a step back.

"Sorry, man. I didn't hear you coming."

Alec's hood had slipped when he stumbled, so he reached up and pulled it off completely. "No worries."

"Alec?"

His name drew his eyes upward and he found himself looking at the department's newest recruit, his newest friend.

"Hey, B!" Alec smiled and pulled the headphones from his ears, feeling more at ease. "Shouldn't you be out with the guys?"

The other man shook his head and adjusted the backpack on his shoulder. "I just finished my shift. Was just on my way outta' here when I remembered I left something in my locker."

Alec stepped out of the way. "Sorry, man. Didn't mean to stop you."

When the man smiled, Alec felt himself being captivated in the same way that Jace entranced him. He was envious of the man's tanned skin, and his friend's unique yellow-green eyes were mesmerizing. Not only did he possess stunningly good looks, but he also had a charming, outgoing personality. In the few months that he had been there, Magnus Bane had befriended almost everyone at the station. Almost.

Magnus waved his hand dismissively. "It's not important. I can just grab it when I come in tomorrow."

Alec smiled and dropped his gaze as he felt a flush creeping into his cheeks. His feelings for Jace were very clear, but what he felt for Magnus was hidden in smoke. It seemed that as he spent more time with Magnus, the line between friendship and passion grew more and more blurry. He was not even sure of Magnus's preference, and it seemed too early in the friendship to ask.

The two exited the station and joined the bustling street life. Alec concentrated on manoeuvring around other pedestrians. He looked up at the cloudy sky and wished it would rain so he'd have an excuse to run home.

"You live down this way, too?" Magnus asked.

"Yeah. About forty minutes away."

Magnus whistled. "You poor bastard. You should invest in a car."

Alec shrugged. "It's good exercise. I like the fresh air."

Magnus grinned and gave Alec a knowing smile. "We like that fresh air when we can get it, don't we?"

Alec laughed nervously. He never spent much time alone with anyone from work. He'd only spent five minutes alone with Magnus, and he was painfully conscious of everything from how he was dressed to how his voice quavered. Considering the dangers he faced day-to-day at his job, a little one-on-one time with a colleague should have been as easy as breathing.

Magnus stopped suddenly before they reached the street corner. Alec halted at his side, wondering if his friend had sensed his growing unease. Magnus smiled down at him, his eyes not betraying anything.

"That's me just over there."

Alec followed to where Magnus was pointing and felt his jaw drop. He'd looked at one of the apartments in the upscale building once, but the renting price had nearly given him an aneurism.

"You're shitting me! You live there? On your income?"

Magnus relished in Alec's incredulousness. "Let's just say I know my way around the stock market."

"Lucky SOB."

"Hey, there's some things money can't buy."

Alec caught Magnus's eye at the odd statement, but before he could say more Magnus clapped him on the shoulder and crossed the street without so much as a farewell. Alec started on his own way home mechanically. He shoved the headphones back in his ears and turned his music on full blast, trying to drown the thoughts in his head.

When he arrived back at his apartment, he collapsed onto his bed and stared at the roof again. He'd woken up thinking about Jace, but now he was thinking about Jace and Magnus. Today was his day off, and the only person he wanted to be thinking about was himself. Yet, both men were too alluring to allow his mind to be tempted into thinking about anything else.

Alec sighed, feeling like a pathetic, love-struck teenage girl. "Fucking firefighters."