Chapter Text
It was almost two years after Magnus’s mother had killed herself, leading to the events that had brought Magnus to the little town of Candlewick Cove And despite the terrible events which had led to his arrival in Candlewick Cove, he had quickly grown to like the small town, and his current guardian, and teacher, Ragnor Fell. After his mother’s death, the care of Magnus had fallen to his father who, from an early age had decided he had wanted nothing to do with Magnus, pushed him off onto Ragnor, under the excuse of training magnus to use his powers.
His father, being a prominent figure in the world of witches, chose to stay in the other realm, rarely checking in on Magnus. But once Magnus had gotten over the rejection of his father, he began to appreciate his situation. His mother, who had not had any powers, had forbid him from ever using his powers, even if he was sure that no one would see him, because she was afraid he would be discovered. After coming to live with Ragnor, the man began to train him in how to control his powers, with the help of Caterina, another local witch. Since Candlewick Cove was near the convergence of not just two, but three ley lines, it had a high population of witches and descendants of all kinds of supernatural creatures, which had crossed over from the other realm centuries ago. Most of these descendants had no idea what they were, their powers or mutations having disappeared generations back, leaving them with just a strong pull towards locations of power, such as Candlewick Cove.
Magnus had initially been scared, anxious, to start at a new school, but he needn’t have worried, he was Magnus Bane after all. Magnus had quickly become popular, and friendly, if not friends, with almost everyone at Candlewick High, although he has a tight-knit group of close friends now, including Alexander.
Alec and Magnus had been dating for almost a year now. When Magnus had first met Alec, he had actually thought that Alec had hated him, with all of the cold looks, and his refusal to talk to him. (Which Magnus later realized were actually Alec, unable to take his eyes off of Magnus, and becoming too nervous to speak around him.) After a lot of prodding from their friends, on both sides, the two had finally managed to admit their feelings for each other, and quickly became the ‘It” couple of Candlewick High.
“Magnus!” Izzy exclaimed as she opened the door. Magnus was a common guest at the Lightwood house, even before he had begun dating Alec. Magnus would often show up, unannounced, just to work on homework or binge watch his latest Netflix obsession with the Lightwoods. As he stepped into the house behind Izzy, he saw the Lightwood’s cat, jump off of the couch where it had been napping, curled into a tight, black ball, and scamper from the room.
“I don’t think your cat likes me,” Magnus remarked, “It always runs away whenever it sees me.”
“He probably likes you more than you think.” Izzy commented, smiling like she was laughing at some kind of inside joke Magnus wasn’t in on.
"I don't think so." Magnus said doubtfully, "I mean, I don't even know his name,"
“Alec,” Isabelle said, before noticing Magnus’s questioning look and elaborating. “Uh, Alec named him, he should tell you.” She said as the man in question entered the room, coming down the stairs the cat had just scampered up.
“What?” Alec asked, trying to catch up with their conversation.
“Magnus wanted to know the cat’s name.” Isabelle explained as Alec made his way over to Magnus, leaning in to place a kiss on his cheek.
“Oh, uh, Midnight.” Alec stuttered out, “I know, I know, but I was a kid!” He defended at Magnus’s look.
“Well, whatever his name, he definitely doesn’t like me.” Magnus said.
“Yes he does.” Alec quickly argued back, but before Magnus could reply with all of the times the cat has run from him, He was distracted by yet another Lightwood.
“Magnus!” Maryse greeted him. “I thought that was your car outside.” She was entering the house from the garage, little Max in tow, absolutely covered in mud, still wearing his soccer cleats. “Bathroom down here Max, I don’t want you tracking that mud across the house!” She warned the youngest Lightwood before turning back to Magnus, “Are you going to stay for dinner?” Magnus looked at the expectant looks coming from all three younger Lightwoods, before looking back at Maryse. It made him want to blow off the training he had scheduled with Ragnor that night, but he could have dinner with the Lightwoods any night, the spell they were planning on casting had to be done the night before the full moon.
“I can’t,” Magnus admitted, “I actually just stopped by to drop something off, another time?” He offered.
“Next Sunday?” Maryse suggested.
“Sounds perfect.” Magnus smiled before turning to Alec, “Can we,” Magnus made a jerk with his head, the message obvious, he wanted to speak to Alec alone.
"Ooooh,” Isabelle cooed, while Maryse just shouted for them to keep the door open. Magnus was lucky he got along so well with Alec’s family, aside from some tension between him and the adopted member, Jace, who was thankfully out on a date tonight. Alec led him upstairs to his room, Magnus had been here so often, working on homework, studying, or sometimes even just napping after a long day, it was unusual for him that instead of flopping down on the bed, he remained standing.
“Is something wrong?” Alec asked, and Magnus immediately regretted anything he had done to make Alec worry.
“No, nothing.” Magnus said, “I just wanted to tell you this in person.” Magnus could see Alec visibly relax. He loved his Alexander, but the boy was so anxious, the slightest deviation from what was normal could send him into a downward spiral of overthinking and worst-case scenarios. “I’m leaving for the week. Ragnor has a work conference, and he apparently doesn’t trust me alone, so he’s bringing me with him.”
“Oh,” Alec said, his face fell a little at the news, and while Magnus hates the idea of leaving Alec for a week, he feels some comfort that Alec hates the thought almost as much as him.
“And, Since I’m going to be gone for our anniversary, I brought you this.” Magnus said, pulling the neatly wrapped box from his pocket. Alec took the box gingerly, looking at it for a few seconds before looking up at Magnus.
“I didn’t get you anything.” He said, heartbroken, “I should ha-“ Magnus cut him off.
“Hey, you didn’t know I’d be gone this week,” He said, leaning in to place a quick peck on Alec’s lips, “You can make it up to me when I get back.” He said, still only inches from Alec’s lips, “Now open it.” Magnus said, leaning back to give Alec room. After carefully unwrapping the paper, Alec opened the small box inside. It was a necklace, and although simple in design, was something more likely to be seen on Magnus than Alec, but Magnus hoped that Alec would still wear it; he had infused the necklace with every protection charm he could cast, although he couldn’t tell Alec that.
“I love it.” Alec said, looking up at him, his eyes sparkling with genuine affection. Anyone else, Magnus might be afraid that they were lying, trying to cover up their dislike of the gift, but Alec was the most genuine person he knew, he’d never lie about anything to him. “Thank you,” Alec said, sneaking a hand around to cup the back of Magnus’s neck, pulling him into a kiss.
When they finally broke apart, Magnus noticed that the sun was beginning to set outside the windows of Alec’s room.
“I should go,” He said, although making no move to leave.
“Do you have to?” Alec asked, “Are you sure you can’t stay for dinner?”
“We’re leaving tonight.” Magnus answered, “And I still have to pack.”
“I’m going to miss you.” Alec told him bluntly.
“I’ll miss you too.” Magnus said, “Walk me to the door?”
“Sure.” Alec said, leading Magnus back downstairs. He walked Magnus back out to his car, kissing one last time before he let Magnus drive away.
Isabelle was waiting for Alec when he returned to the house.
“You need to be more careful.” She told him. “Magnus isn’t stupid. He’s already figured out that he’s never seen you and our ‘cat’ in the same room together.” Isabelle used her fingers to emphasize the word cat.
Alec had known he was a shapeshifter from an early age, in fact it had been the night before his first birthday that, upon hearing cries from the nursery, Maryse had entered to find a little black kitten in the crib rather than her son. The Truebloods were shapeshifters as far back as their lineage could be traced, so she wasn’t too concerned about her missing child, but while most learned to shapeshift before they hit puberty, shifting as an infant was nearly unheard of. Alec always felt more tied to his animal self than the rest of his family, which might have had something to do with it. When he had time, he’d rather lay around in his cat form, than as a human, unlike Izzy who usually only shifted if she was trying to sneak out. This had never been a problem until he had started dating Magnus, who would now stop by at any time of day, often unannounced, catching Alec still in his animal form. Of course unless he actually saw Alec shift, he wouldn’t find out the truth about the Truebloods, but the disappearing cat was enough to make him suspicious. Alec had to admit, Izzy was right, but he didn’t want to give up his favorite pastime, long naps in the sun spot on the living room couch.