Chapter Text
Being a Sunday, The Clocktower tables were filled with guests busily chattering and eating as the polite wait staff milled about catering to their every need. The noise was low and the tables were evenly spaced but Alec still felt uncomfortable sat in the second room where even the blue theme did nothing to soothe him.
“Alexander dear, you have to stop fidgeting.” Magnus tugged on one of Alec’s hands and clasped their fingers together. “Why don’t you have some more wine?”
“Getting me tipsy won’t help!”
Magnus bit his lip. “It might.”
“Don’t laugh!” Alec whined. He could clearly see the corners of his boyfriend’s lips twitching from underneath the press of perfectly-aligned teeth. “And no, it won’t.”
“I’m not laughing,” Magnus defended with what he probably thought was a straight face.
“Sure,” Alec glared half-heartedly. Then turned paler than he already was when he saw Catarina enter the restaurant with a pair of shadows behind her. “They’re,” He clutched harder onto Magnus’ hand and received a wince. “Here.”
“Are they?”
Alec stood up, shoulders tense and brows furrowed. He nearly fidgeted again but was barred by the hand still clutching his own. He managed a small smile when another hand landed on his shoulder to give him a supportive squeeze.
“Everything will be just fine, darling.” Magnus promised.
Even without looking, Alec knew his boyfriend sported that wide grin he loved. He took in a deep breath and in no time, was faced with the mixed expressions on the trio of friends. “Hello, it’s nice to formally meet you all.” His shoulders tensed further as he offered his free hand for any of the three to accept.
“Yes,” Catarina grabbed the hand with a firm hold, eyes dancing in mirth. “How nice to finally meet you… formally.”
Alec internally lamented the fact that she clearly recognised him.
“Catarina Loss. You can call me Cat.”
“I’m –,” Alec paused when he remembered that Magnus called him by his name even as a cat. He threw a panicked look over at his boyfriend who, unfortunately, didn’t understand his trail of thought but saved him nonetheless with a smooth kiss to the cheek and a smooth, “my boyfriend.”
“You’re not what I imagined,” Ragnor mused as the handshake mercifully finished. “But you’re somehow familiar.”
Alec fought back a cringe. He’d rather the other two males not remember him, thank you very much. “I’m not very distinctive.”
“What’s your name?” Raphael interrupted.
Alec paused then, resigned, met Raphael’s scrutinizing gaze straight-on. “Alexander Lightwood. You… can call me Alec.” He held his breath as he waited for their reactions and thought to himself that Magnus was right in that it was probably better to not have pretended to just be a cat for so long.
Catarina’s smile morphed into a Cheshire grin and she wagged her fingers at all of them. “Called it!” When no one responded, she rolled her eyes at the quiet duo beside her then motioned for them all to sit. “Come on, have some manners. Sit, sit!”
“Yes, let’s sit.” Magnus agreed and he, along with an immensely grateful Alec, sat down on their respective seats. “We haven’t ordered yet so while you two,” he motioned to the yet-to-have-spoken duo, “get your mouths to work again, look over the menu. Gerard will be by shortly to get the orders.”
Catarina put her hands primly on top of her menu. “I already know what I want so – Alec, hm? Tell me, what exactly did you and Magnus do during that trip to the Maldives?”
“Huh?” The utterance slipped out before Alec could help himself. He had expected many things; upset over his insistence to hide as a cat, teasing about the unfortunate first encounter which he knew Cat remembered even if the other two didn’t, questions about his relations to the Lightwood name or even grievance about his behaviour when he was a cat. “Uh, we… I don’t really like the beach,” He admitted.
“Mmhm,” Catarina urged.
Alec scratched at his nape. “Well, we mostly used the Jacuzzi and pool. Sometimes Magnus would book us a private dinner by the beach and we’d take a swim afterwards. I didn’t really do much there other than relax while you two did whatever it was you did and do my work when I could convince Magnus to leave me behind.”
“And how long have you two known each other?”
“Six months and sixteen days,” Magnus declared proudly.
Catarina tilted her head. “So that would make it two months or so when we went to Maldives.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes fondly. “If it were anyone else other than you, Magnus, I’d be offended but I know you. You’re probably still on your honeymoon period.”
“Right!” Ragnor snapped his menu shut, having finally found his voice again. “I’m not as forgiving as Cat. You both owe me a new wardrobe and I want the First Folio.” His eyes were gleaming and while Alec had absolutely no idea what on earth the First Folio was, he sure as hell wasn’t going to promise anything when anyone had that look.
Magnus snorted. “In your dreams, Rags. But if you’re that desperate for a new wardrobe, I will gladly snatch up this opportunity.”
“No –,” Ragnor looked horrified. “I meant I want my clothes replaced!”
“You said and I quote, ‘new wardrobe’,” Magnus reminded with a gloat.
Ragnor pointed at Magnus then Alec then Magnus again then settled on Alec. “I’ll forgive you for everything if you convince that magpie to leave me and my wardrobe alone!”
“Done,” Magnus cut-in swiftly.
Alec stifled a laugh at Ragnor’s betrayed look. He was heaps more at ease now than he was when the day started and he couldn’t believe he was so scared of meeting these people when, really, they were quite harmless. His relief was such that he had a slight urge to shift and show his thanks in a feline way – though only to Catarina. He’d rather not be affectionate with the odd-smelling Ragnor and puppy-scented Raphael.
Oh wait. Raphael.
In tune as they were, Magnus turned his focus to the last of the trio at the same time. “Raph?”
“Told you not to call me that.” Raphael muttered. He lowered his menu to glance at the lovers then put it back up. “I want my money back for the seafood takeout you stole from me.”
“Isn’t it great then that I’m paying for this meal?” Magnus grinned.
Raphael’s scoff was audible to all of them.
*~*~*~*
The open book’s page ruffled slightly as the wind drifted inside the bedroom through the open balcony doors. Alec was in his cat form again, eyes closed and resting peacefully, his head on top of one side of the book he had been reading. His ears flicked when the bed dipped and jostled his small body before a warm hand curled possessively around his belly to move him to a warm lap.
“Today went well, didn’t it?”
Alec purred contentedly in response and burrowed deeper into his lover’s body.
“I told you not to worry,” Magnus murmured.
Meow. Alec butted his head against Magnus’ hand in an affectionate gesture and resumed purring happily, utterly content. The morning had gone well despite his doomsday predictions and he felt as if he should be awaiting for the other shoe to drop. But then perhaps being as optimistic as Magnus had its merits…
Alec pondered upon under the gentle rubbing he was receiving when the doorbell rang to disrupt their peace and, more importantly, his thoughts on optimism. Alec huffed and rolled over in his comfortable position on Magnus’ lap to stare up defiantly, unwilling for either of them to answer the door.
His ears twitched when the doorbell rang again and he grumpily jumped down from the couch to follow his lover to the door. It was just as well that the other shoe drop sooner rather than later. Still, whoever was on the other side would deserve every bit of clothes shredding he deemed necessary
Alec sat down beside sparkly leather boots as Magnus swung the door open to reveal their surprise guest and thought he should have expected this after all.
“Raphael! What a surprise… you brought a dog.” Magnus ended dryly.
The sullen-faced Latino had indeed brought along a dog. A corgi. No, a corgi shifter, to be exact, and one that Alec recognised. Alec perked up in vindictive glee at this then pawed his lover’s leg to indicate his want to be picked up so he could be on eye-level with them.
Magnus bent down and he happily walked along those bulging muscles to drape himself along strong shoulders. He smirked at Raphael as their guests were welcomed into their home with a, “come in, come in,” and received a sly calculating glance for his trouble.
Meanwhile, the corgi trotted along obediently, panting, as they all settled on the couch.
Alec eyed Raphael who was glancing at him occasionally with a strangely proud expression whilst chatting. It was as if the man believed him to be scared of the dog since he was on Magnus which was hardly true. So, he lifted himself up to a stand from around Magnus’ shoulders ready to pounce when a golden-tan hand blocked his path.
Meow?
Alec purred when he felt his lover smooth his fur down and wiggled forward to affectionately rub his head against the soft palm. He melted on his lover’s right shoulder as a strong sense of contentment relaxed him. Eyes closed and his legs stretched out on Magnus’ shoulder, his body rumbled with the force of his purring as Alec forgot his plan momentarily and promptly fell into a nap.
Moments later he was jostled from his sleep as he felt long fingers wrap around his belly to lower him onto the couch beside the lounging corgi. He blearily blinked his eyes open and glared sleepily at his lover for disturbing him but saw that Magnus was preoccupied with showing off the magazine his lover had featured on most recently.
He yawned and stretched out his body, paws out front, then blinked a few more times to shake away the drowsiness. His eyes were still heavy-lidded when he looked back at Magnus, mouth open to call for attention, but instead, he found himself being watched by a very smug Raphael with his lover nowhere in sight.
Alec tilted his head.
“Go.” Raphael ordered softly.
Indignant and confused, Alec raised himself up to his full height and hissed but realised his mistake once he saw that Raphael’s line of sight was above his head. He turned around and saw the corgi’s wide eyes staring at him. He smirked as he cocked his head and gave the shifter a challenging glare.
The corgi took a few steps forward and stretched a paw out which may have looked like a threat to Raphael as the man let out a pleased hum but to Alec and his view of the shifter’s terrified eyes, was an offer of peace. He huffed and turned his nose at the offering. Then, without warning, he pounced at the corgi and sank his claws into the shifter’s neck.
Almost immediately, the corgi started whining with his ears flat on its head. Alec moved to sit atop its body looking proud and regal by the time Magnus arrived back into the living room with a magazine. His lover regarded him with an amused smile which he returned with a self-satisfied purr that only increased in volume by the sight of Raphael’s face bright with disbelief.
Happy with the effect he had on Raphael and the proud glint in Magnus’ eyes, he put his paw on top of the corgi’s head and started patting. Good Simon, he meowed and he revelled in the whine he received in response as well as Magnus’ precious peals of laughter.