Chapter Text
The week passes by in a flurry of lessons, days of practicing and nights of being wrapped up in Alexander.
Magnus was a little more then afraid to admit it but he was really happy right now.
Not just because of Alec- though he was a big factor, but because he was having an amazing time honing his piano skills even further here at Idriss.
Lucian seemed to understand Magnus as a musician and gave the best suggestions in order to perfect his sound. So far his first week was a success which is why he was so excited to go to the pool party this afternoon.
“I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself Magnus but be careful ok? Those rich kids are crazy competitive and they don’t like newcomers” Dot said, the worry in her tone obvious even through the phone.
Magnus exhaled and his shoulders slumped, “I know” he said with a nod, “But so far everyone I’ve met has been surprisingly.. normal?”
Dot hummed noncommittally before they both settled into a comfortable silence.
Magnus had chosen to FaceTime his old piano teacher because he had been having a bit of a fashion crisis- which she quickly resolved- but also because he missed her like crazy. She had been the one constant in his life for so long now that sometimes he found himself feeling a little lost without her motherly presence near by. Magnus had just finished working out all the knots in his hair and was sweeping it up into a bun when Dot spoke up again.
“Soo” she started, “I was talking to Tessa the other day-“
“Oh gosh” Magnus groaned
But Dot just pushed on as if he hadn’t said anything at all, “And you’ll never guess what she told me” Dot said, mock surprise in her voice
“Dot-“
“She told me that there’s a boy, whose caught your affection” Dot finally finished with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smile
Magnus sighed and dropped his head into his hands because, while Magnus loved Dot to bits, it was always embarrassing to talk about his love life with her because of how terrible his track record was.
A soft tut came from where his phone was propped against his dresser, “Now none of that Magnus, what’s his name?”
Magnus raised his head and looked back towards his screen where Dot was giving him an expectant look
Magnus blew out a breath before he answered hesitantly, “Alexander”
All Dot had to do was raise a eyebrow and Magnus was adding a meek, “Lightwood”
Magnus held back his wince as he watched Dot’s playful expression straighten out to a serious one
“Oh. A Lightwood?”
Magnus dropped his gaze a nodded, “Yeah and I know what you might be thinking but he’s actually really great, he’s nothing like his father” Magnus said, “He’s really sweet, he never looks at me like I’m less then him and he treats everyone around him with such kindness-“
“Oh anakku yang manis you really like this boy” Dot said, her features softening as she looked at Magnus
Magnus nervously reached up to fiddle with his ear cuff, “Yeah” he sighed, “Is it that obvious?” Magnus he added nervously.
Dot cooed softly and shook her head, “Only to those who know you well”
Magnus let out a breath and nodded
Dot gave him a smile, “Listen Magnus, as long as he treats you right and you’re happy, I could care less what his last name is” Dot said with a shrug before looking at something off screen, “Listen, Chairman Meow looks he’s about to scratch me if I don’t get up and feed him so I gotta go but, I’m so glad to hear you’re enjoying yourself” Dot said before continuing, “And remember, be safe tonight, I know how you are about water so just, take care of yourself ok? And call me if you need anything”
Magnus gave Dot a smile and waved, “I will don’t worry and tell the Chairman I love him” Magnus said before hanging up the call.
Almost if on cue a knock sounded on Magnus’ door. Checking himself in the mirror one more time Magnus gave himself a nod. He decided on his black floral board shorts with a thin cotton shirt that had a floral design embroidered across the shoulders. Since he did plan to get in the water at some point he had his hair out of his face and up in a bun of sorts. As for makeup he let Dot convince him to leave his face bare.
When he opened the door he found Alec standing on the other side, his face immediately lighting up at the sight of Magnus.
“Wow you look beautiful” Alec said in an awed voice
“Thank you Alexander” Magnus said, “You look amazing as well”
Alec smiled at the compliment, before pulling Magnus in for a kiss. The kiss was soft and chaste but none the less enjoyable.
“I just wanted to do that while it’s still just us” Alec said with a small smile before continue, “Cat and Ragnor are waiting for us downstairs, come on”
Magnus happily obliged, following Alec through the large house to where their friends were waiting
“You guys ready to go?” Ragnor said
“Yeah all set” Alec said
They all made their way out of the house, locking up before setting on their short walk down to the junior house. Once they got there it was Izzy who opened the door.
“Hey guys! You’re just in time, we were about to start a game of water volley ball”
Alec looked up towards him, “Are you down to play?”
Magnus smiled a nodded. Volleyball was one of the sports that had come easy to him, more so because of his height and competitive streak then anything else.
Izzy squealed and clapped her hands, “Great! Magnus, you’re definitely on my team”
With that is he turned and walked into the house leaving the door open for the rest of follow. The pool is located in the back of the house but as the walk-through man is noticed that did your house, while smaller looked almost exactly like the seniors house in its layout.
Once they made it out to the back Izzy introduced them to everyone. There was Emma, Aline, Helen, Sebastian, and a couple other sophomore students.
After introductions were done Izzy quickly divided everyone into teams. It was Izzy, Simon, Cat, Magnus, Helen and Sebastian on one team, then Ragnor, Emma, Aline, Alec, Clary and Jace on another.
They all climbed into the pool and stood on their respective sides. Much like the pool Magnus had stumbled upon during the other party, the pool wasn’t terribly deep, the shallow end coming up to his knees and the deep end coming up to just under his armpits.
“Hey, you any good?”
Magnus looked up and noticed it was Sebastian who had spoken
Magnus shrugs a little, “I’m not too bad”
Sebastian hums noncommittally, looking Magnus up and down with a barley disguised disgust, “Yeah ok, just don’t make us lose” was all he said before turning away and wading towards the net
Magnus stood bewildered for a second before another voice spoke up at his side
“Don’t mind Sebastian, he’s mentally stuck at the age of 13”
Magnus turns his gaze to find a short girl at his side, her long blonde hair back in a secure ponytail.
Magnus let’s put a breath and smiles in gratitude, “Thanks, it’s Helen right?” Magnus asks
The blonde- Helen, nods with a kind smile, “Yeah, I’m a junior like Izzy” she says while motioning to where Magnus assume Izzy is, “I play the violin what about you?”
“Piano” Magnus answers
“Ah” Helen says with a knowing look, “I hear Lucian is an excellent teacher”
Magnus nods earnestly, “He really is, honestly I’m so glad to find another teacher that can help me really push myself as a musician”
Helen hums in understanding, “I know exactly what you mean, the teachers here are some of the best in the world and you can really tell why” Helen says, “Anyways, I’m so glad to have a new person at the camp, as you can imagine we rarely get anyone that’s not already a legacy of a previous alumni”
Magnus smiles in gratitude, but before he can answer back Izzy is speaking again.
“Ok so here’s how the game is gonna work” she says from her spot by the net, “My team will be team 1 and Alec’s team will be team 2, Jennie here” Izzy says, pausing to motion to a petite brunette standing by the edge of the pool, “Will serve as our point keeper”
Jennie waves with a timid smile from her post by the whiteboard.
Izzy claps her hands together with a big grin, “Now, are we ready to start?”
A chorus of affirmations come from each team and the game starts.
Emma serves the ball across the net and Helen immediately gets under it, setting it over her head before Magnus comes up hits it back over the net. Aline attempts to get the ball out it touches the water before she can reach it.
“Yeah!” Shouts Helen, turning and giving Magnus a high five
Jennie uncaps the marker and adds on point.
With the point recorded the game resumes, Izzy serving the ball over the net and onto the other side of the net where Alec quickly bumps it back over and damn is it hard to focus on the ball when Alec’s muscles chest and arms are on display like that.
Magnus is brought back into the game when he watches the ball fly past him, back towards the other team after being him by Cat.
Jace sets Cats hit over to Clary who comes up and spikes the ball.
As the ball hits the water, Alec’s teams cheers.
Oh, now the fun begins.
They play like that for about two more games. Magnus’ team winning both, but not by much. It was in the third game that the fatigue started hitting Magnus. The sun had risen more and was now beaming directly over all of them and while the pool water helped, Magnus found himself working up a sweat as he moved back and forth across the pool to hit the ball.
If he knew nothing else about himself, Magnus knew he was competitive.
Thankfully, Helen seemed to have an equally strong competitive streak and they had found themselves playing effortlessly together, Helen often passing to Magnus to hit over the net- most likely due to his height.
Magnus snapped out of his thoughts when he saw Helen set the ball to him again. The angle was a little off so Magnus moved quickly to get under the ball, eyes never moving from it. He had just moved into position, bending his knees slightly as he prepared to spring up and hit the ball in a spike when suddenly- a force was pushing down on his shoulders and he was under water.
Fuck
Magnus body froze a split second up as the pressure held him down before his brain processes that he was underwater and he was quickly running out of air. At this thought Magnus thrashed, pushing the hand that held his shoulders off before rushing towards the surface.
As soon as his head was above water he was gasping in breaths, spluttering a coughing slightly as his lungs worked to dispel the water he took in.
He blinks his eyes open, looking around him a bit frantically as he searches for the thing responsible for his unexpected plunge and- oh
Sebastian is standing next to him with his hands up, a insincere look of concern on his face, “Sorry, I went to go hit the ball and I guess I didn’t see you there” he says with a shrug that looked far from apologetic
Magnus though, forces out a chuckle anyways and nods, “It’s ok, don’t worry about it” he says before glancing around the pool, immediately finding Alec who’s gaze is already trained on him. His brows furrowed in what looked like fear and concern.
Magnus feels the tips of his ears burn with the sheer embarrassment of the situation because it was seriously starting to look like parties at The Institute were not for him
“How about we take a quick snack break” Izzy says, pulling Magnus from his inner meltdown, “The sun is getting a bit much now” she says before dramatically fanning herself
Thank Lilith for Isabelle
“Ugh I couldn’t agree more” Helen said before swimming to the edge of the pool and climbing out.
At this everyone murmured agreement and followed Helens lead, making their way out of the pool. After Magnus himself got out of the water Alec appeared at his side.
“Hey, are you ok?” He said, the concern in his gaze heavy on Magnus, “Sebastian’s honestly an asshole, I don’t know who let him come” Alec says letting out a sigh of frustration
Magnus shrugs a bit, “It’s ok, I expected to encounter my fair share of stuck up rich kids on my stay here” Magnus says with a forced smile before adding, “But yeah, I’m ok”
Alec glances over him again, his lips Turing down slightly in a frown, “Are you sure? You’re shaking”
At this Magnus blinks a bit dazedly before looking down at himself and noticed the tremors that went through his whole body.
Magnus clenched his hands closed in an attempt to stop his incessant shaking before he shrugged, “Yeah, I’m fine just a bit cold maybe” Magnus said
Alec didn’t look convinced but he nodded anyways, grabbing Magnus’ arm as he lead him inside the Junior house, along with the others.
While the rest of the group headed towards what Magnus could assume was the kitchen, Alec lead Magnus further inside the house to where the rooms are, walking until they reached one at the furthest end.
Without preamble, Alec opened the door and lead Magnus inside
“Alexander are we allowed-“
Alec waved away Magnus’ concern, “It’s Izzy’s room” was all he said before turning to Magnus, “Stay here”
Magnus nodded and watched as Alec disappeared into what appeared to be Izzy’s closet.
While momentarily left alone, Magnus couldn’t help as his mind wandered back to the pool. Being surrounded by the water so unexpectedly, the way his lungs burned when he incidentally inhaled the chlorine filled pool water, the force of Sebastian’s hands holding him down- hands that could have been easily swapped with his fathers.
White noise began to rush in as Magnus remembered that day at the lake. The unyielding force of his fathers’ hands holding his tiny body underwater, Magnus unable to fight-
“ -angus? Hey, are you with me?”
Alexander
Magnus blinked as he finally focused in on the present again, forcefully yanking himself out of those memories as he looked down at Alec who was standing in front of him once more, close enough to touch but enough space left between them incase Magnus decided that touch wasn’t what he wanted.
“Yeah- sorry I.. got a bit lost there” Magnus said with a forced huff of laughter, trying not to sound as effected as he felt
Alec’s gaze flitted around his face for a moment but he didn’t say anything before motioning down at the towel in his hand that Magnus hadn’t noticed until now, “Can I?”
Magnus swallows and nodded
Carefully, Alec dried the remaining pool water off of Magnus’ torso and his arms with soft rubbing motions that had Magnus fighting off a fully body shiver. The repetition of the soft careful movements working the tension from Magnus’ body.
After Magnus was as dry as possible, he put the towel on the desk next to them before picking up a sweatshirt that looked way to big to be Izzy’s
Alec must have saw the confusion on his face because he went to explain, “I always have a few clothes here at Izzy’s just incase I fall asleep here and have an early lesson in the morning” Alec says with a slight shrug
Magnus nods in understanding before accepting the sweater and slipping it over his head.
Warmth and the smell of Alexander immediately surround him and he immediately feels a bit calmer.
The sweater is a bit big for Magnus, given his lithe shape, but besides that it fits quite well.
Magnus looks back at Alec, only to find him already staring, with a soft smile on his face
Magnus can’t help but raise an eyebrow, “Whats wrong?”
“Nothing” Alec says before stepping closer to Magnus, their faces on inches apart, “I just really like seeing you in my clothes” Alec says, his voice dropping to a whisper, “You’re adorable”
Magnus huffs out a laugh and shakes his head, unable to hide the smile growing on his own face as Alec finally pulls him into a kiss.
The kiss is soft and comforting, just a slow slide of their lips but Magnus loves it all the same.
Alec’s hands come up to brush against the hairs that had fallen out of his bun at the nape of his neck and Magnus feels the uneasiness in him settle further.
Slowly, Alec pulls back and looks into Magnus’ eyes, his own blue irises dark with a seriousness that has Magnus pull back a bit further so he could see Alec properly.
“Magnus, I know we haven’t been together for long and you have secrets you might rather keep to yourself but,” Alec pauses and takes a deep breath, “I just want you to know that if you ever want to talk, or if you’re ever going through a hard time, I’m always here to listen” Alec says, looking into Magnus’ eyes with just genuine integrity that Magnus feels himself fall a little more.
Magnus let’s out a silent breath, “Thank you, I will try and remember to take you up on that offer” he says with a small smile.
At this Alec mirrors his smile before pulling him into a hug. Magnus responds immediately, wrapping his own arms around the shorter boy and tucking his face in his neck.
Magnus doesn’t know how long they stand there wrapped up in each other before a soft but deliberate cough makes them break their hold on each other.
Magnus steps back from Alec and they both turn to the door where Izzy stands leaning against the door jam with a knowing look in her eye
“Sorry to interrupt” Izzy starts with a pointed look at Alec, a smug smile playing on her lips, “But I just wanted to let you guys know that we’re going back out for more pool games if you guys want to join?” Izzy says
Alec nods beside him, “Yeah we’ll be down in a bit”
Izzy snorts slightly, “Don’t worry, take your time finishing up in here” she says with a shit eating grin before turning on her heal and disappeared back down the hallway.
There’s a beat of silence where Alec and Magnus share a look before the burst out into laughter
“Well” Magnus says between bouts of laughter, “I guess our cover is blown”
Alec groans before dropping his forehead against Magnus’ shoulder, “It was only a matter of time” he says with an overdramatic sigh before he straightens back up, looking at Magnus with a mischievous glint in his eye
“But you know what that means right?”
Magnus gives Alec a withering look, although the effect is a bit lost with the smile playing on his lips, “What?”
Alec leans close to Magnus, their lips brushing as he whispers happily, “Now, I get to show you off”