Chapter Text
Magnus picked up instantly, of course he did. “Are you okay?” is the first thing that came out of Magnus’ mouth. Alec realized how it must have seemed, him calling in the middle of the night when they had nothing planned, he must be giving Magnus a heart attack.
“I’m fine, Mags, but this isn’t about me,” Alec reassured.
“What is this about then?” Magnus asked with relief visible in his voice..
“Do you remember Luke, the werewolf? He’s injured, he was saving our lives, he needs a warlock to help him.”
“Okay. Are you coming with Luke?”
Alec sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “I don’t think so, my mom is back and I have to report to her, to her there will be no reason for me to come over.”
There was a beat of silence, then, “Okay, I love you.”
Alec flushed a deep red and stuttered out, “I love you too.”
Alec hung up, even though he didn’t really want to. Magnus took it well, well, as well as he can take it when your boyfriend calls you and asks if you can save the life on an injured werewolf. What even was Alec’s life?
“You two are so cute,” Izzy told him.
“Thanks, but we gotta go back to the institute, make sure mom doesn’t suspect anything.”
Izzy nodded in understanding, although she didn’t look happy about it.
Alec and Izzy caught a ride home, using something called Uler? Uber? Whatever it was, it was weird. Who just gets random strangers to come to them then get in their car.
They talked in the back, a rune on them so it appeared as if they were just sitting silently.
“You and Clary seem to be getting along much better,” Izzy murmured. Alec nodded tiredly then rested his head on Izzy’s shoulder.
“We talked it out, I guess, though in the beginning it was more yelling then talking.”
“Well I’m glad, I care about both of you, and Jace does too.”
Alec shook his head. “Can we not talk about Jace right now.”
“We’re going to have to eventually.”
Alec sighed and said, “I know.”
They spent the rest of the ride in silence, ignoring the mundane’s confusion of why he’s dropping off two people in front of an abandoned church. Izzy handed him a $20 and he shut up pretty quickly.
The moment they walked inside, Maryse was on them like a predator and it’s pray.
“Is it true the Seelies think Valentine killed their scouts?” she asked
Izzy nodded. “But, they’re considering switching sides; they think that Valentine can win.”
Maryse scoffed and walked away, leaving Alec and Izzy alone. Alec was about to say something, when Hodge called him over.
“What’s with you kid?” he asked.
Alec ran a hand through his hair, “Nothing, I’m just following Jace to keep him from accidentally messing everything up.”
Hodge nodded, “You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, I just want to make sure you don’t ruin your future. You’re a great kid.”
Alec thanked him and Hodge clapped him on the shoulder. Alec walked away before he could say anything else, fearing that he might just tell Hodge everything that has really been happening.
He went to his room and sat on the bed, hoping that Magnus could help Luke. He almost didn’t notice Izzy walking into his room.
“Mom has been especially weird today,” she said, announcing her presence.
“She wasn’t like this before Idris,” Alec replied.
“Yeah, same old judgmental mom with us, though.” Izzy sat next to Alec on his bed.
After a beat of silence, she asked, “Have you spoken to Jace yet?”
“He can talk to me once he’s done chasing after Clary, she can take care of herself.”
Izzy was about to respond to Alec’s weak excuse, when Robert stepped into the room.
“No welcome home for the old man?” he asked.
Izzy jumped and up and went to hug him, while Max ran in from behind him and went to hug Alec.
Alec pulled bag from his hug. “What are you doing back so soon?” he asked, ruffling Max’s hair.
“I got in trouble,” Max pouted.
Alec fake-gasped, “What’d you do?”
“Nothin-“
“He lit a fire with his stele during rune studies,” Robert explained.
Izzy laughed and ruffled Max’s hair, messing it up even more. “Max,” she chided.
“I told you I was hungry; I was trying to draw the nourishment rune.”
“Those two runes don’t look alike.”
“They do to me,” he protested
Robert sighed, “Max, go to your room, open the Grey Book, and look up the extinguish rune.”
Max nodded and ran out of the room, leaving Alec, Izzy, and Robert alone.
Alec smiled and stood up to greet his father, but Robert stopped him.
“Where is Clary Fairchild, your mother says she is missing?” interrogated Robert.
Alec’s smile faded. “She’s not missing, she’s with Jace.”
“We can’t have that girl out of institute control; the whole Shadow World is looking for her. It’s a security risk, have them both back now,” demanded Robert. He stalked out of the room while Alec stared at the door, dejected.
“Call Jace,” said Izzy as she left.
Alec got out his phone, but before he could press call, Jace’s name popped up on his screen.
“Jace,” he answered, “you need to get back to the institute.”
“You need to help me first,” Jace said
Alec shook his head, even though Jace couldn’t see it. “No I’m not messing around.”
“Neither am I. Trust me, this is in your best interest. It’s Magnus, he needs you; well, he wants you,” Jace amended.
That made Alec pay attention. “Is Magnus okay?”
Jace waited a beat, “He is for now, but Luke is really injured and he’s going to use a lot of his powers, he might need your help.”
Alec cursed, he wanted to help Magnus, he really wanted to help Magnus, but he also knew mom would get mad at him if he left the institute. He wished he never had to put Magnus in this position, and he knew Magnus was ultimately more important than whether his mom yelled at him.
“I’ll help, but you have to promise you’ll come back to the institute and check in with mom,” Alec said.
“Deal.”
Alec hung up and ran out of his room, slowing down when he passed his mom’s office, he heard slight sniffles coming from in there, and he knew he’d regret it if he went by without seeing if she was okay.
“Mom?” Alec ducked into the room and there Maryse was, sitting at her desk with a red face and tissues around her. “Mom are you okay?”
Maryse nodded wearily, “I’m fine.”
Alec sat in one of the chairs in front of Maryse’s desk and grabbed one of her hands, rubbing it lightly. Alec hadn’t seen his mom since he was very young, he’d started seeing her as if she was invincible.
“Remember when I was 10 and I broke that kid’s nose in training?” Alec asked, trying to cheer his mom up.
Maryse smiled and wiped her face with her free hand. “Yes, I was so proud of you.”
Alec nodded and smiled, “Until his mom freaked out and demanded I be punished for insubordination.”
Maryse gripped Alec’s hand tight. “That just made me prouder, the way you sat there and took it.”
Alec nodded again, but panic started to claw it’s way up his throat. He wanted to cheer his mom up but he also had to make sure Magnus was alright.
“Why are you so different now,” Maryse said, interrupting the silence. “I miss the old Alec, the one from before I left.”
“It’s been almost 8 months mom, people change,” Alec said gently. His mom was quiet, but she looked happier now, so he got up and made his way to the door.
“You know you can tell me anything Alec, anything at all, you’ll still be my son,” Maryse said. Alec paused and tensed.
“Thanks, mom.”
He was about to leave when Maryse said, “I love you so much.”
Alec turned towards his mom, surprised. She hadn’t said that to him many times in the past couple years, he didn’t realize how much he missed it. “I love you too,” he said earnestly.
Maryse smiled, and Alec ran out. He sprinted past everyone, determined to get out. As he ran he activated his speed rune, trying to run as fast and efficiently as possible so he could get to his boyfriend.
Alec bounded up the stairs to the apartment, and came in just as Magnus looked like he was going to topple over. Alec grabbed him and pulled him to his chest, cradling him with his arms and leaning Magnus against his knee.
“Help me, I need your strength,” Magnus whispered.
Alec clasped his hand and said, “Take what you need.”
Magnus started siphoning his energy to continue to heal Luke, and Alec could barely focus on anything. He faintly registered the door opening, and he heard the voices of Clary and Jace. Clary ran up next to them and poured something in Luke’s mouth, which caused him to stop convulsing. Alec did register whatever happened next, too focused on keeping his boyfriend who just passed out on him upright.
Alec picked Magnus up bridal-style and carried him to his room, nodding at Clary and Jace along the way. He set Magnus down as gently as he could, lying his head on the mountain of pillows that covered Magnus’ bed. He spends a moment just watching him sleep, then forces himself to leave to help clean up.
To Alec’s surprise, Clary was already cleaning up. He saw her putting all the potion ingredients in one neat pile as she obviously knew where nothing went, Alec barely knew too.
Alec scrubbed a bit at the table, trying to get those blood stains off first, when he saw Jace walk into the room.
Alec stood up and went over to say something, when Jace just pulled him in for a hug.
“I’m sorry,” Jace whispered.
“It’s okay,” Alec said back, “but you know we’re going to have to talk about this eventually.”
“I know.” Jace pulled back from the hug and smiled, Alec smiled too, glad to have his parabatai back.
“I think Clary and I should go back to the institute, I’ll cover for you.” Alec nods and waves bye to Clary when they leave.
Alec wonders back to Magnus’ bedroom and lies on the bed next to him, breathing deep, trying to keep from falling asleep. He didn’t have to try much longer, when he heard a started yelp and turned just in time to see the High Warlock of Brooklyn fall out of bed.
Alec started snorting he was laughing so hard, although Magnus was a bit indignant. Magnus mumbled something about needing to check on Luke and he stumbled out of the room, leaving Alec there, cracking up.
Alec decided to be productive and got out of bed to clean some more, where Magnus eventually found him scrubbing at the blood on the couch.
“You know I could just clean that with magic,” he said.
Alec looked up. “You could, but if you use magic one more time tonight I won’t kiss you for a week.”
Magnus grimaced at the thought of that and Alec laughed and got up to stand in front of him. He kissed Magnus, glad that he was fine and he was able to heal Luke without seriously hurting himself, though he got very close.
They could have gone on forever until Magnus snapped two flaming drinks on the table next to them, at which Alec immediately pulled back.
Magnus whined and Alec quipped, “Well now you have to wait a week.”
Magnus grabbed his drink and took a sip of it, then looked at Alec with a soft look of adoration in his eyes, something akin to love.
“Alec,” Magnus began very seriously, “for almost a century I closed myself off from feeling anything for anyone, man or women or anything else, but you, you have unlocked something in me; something I thought was long gone. I want you to know that every time I saw I love you I really and truly mean it.”
Alec stared at Magnus in shock, unsure of what to say. Tears stung his eyes as he struggled to think, when he managed to choke out, “It’s a shame you made these drinks cause I really want to kiss you right now.”
Magnus laughed and Alec was about to say I love you when his phone rang.
Alec awkwardly got it out while Magnus stared at him happily.
“Mother, hey,” Alec answered.
“Alec I need you at the institute right now, it’s very important.”
“Of course.”
Alec hung up and turned to Magnus, “it was my mother.” Magnus opened his mouth sadly but before Alec could say anything Alec said, “Don’t talk, I’m not going, just let me text Izzy.”
Alec’s mom never would have to find out what her oldest son did that night, not if Izzy kept her promise of keeping her off his back, Alec would be very busy with Magnus.