Chapter Text
How to Fall in Love... With your Parents Vice President?
By: Shin Sankai
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Prologue
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Jace Herondale-Lightwood was adopted by the Lightwood family when he was five years old. His parents had died in a tragic car accident. He'd also been in the car at the time, but his life had been spared and when he awoke from his two week coma he found his god parents, Uncle Robert and Aunt Maryse looking down at him, worry clearly evident within their gazes. He'd asked for his mummy and daddy that day but they never came to see him. Jace didn't know anything about dying or death back then, so it was up to his godparents to try and educate him on it at such a tender age and tell him that that was what had happened to his parents.
Jace had bawled his eyes out, hating everything and refused to eat or drink for over a day. The hospital staff were seriously worried about him, but an older boy, only by three years, with bright blue eyes and startling shiny jet black hair came running into the room and yelled at him for being selfish. All eyes focused on a young Alexander 'Alec' Lightwood who ripped into Jace saying everyone was trying their hardest to make him better so he could come home with them and he should stop being a baby and let them help him. That seemed to have worked for Jace as his puffy eyes asked Alec if that were true and whether he really was going to be his big brother.
'You bet I am.' Alec puffed out his chest and a massive adorable grin split across his face. 'You're also a big brother too, so you're not allowed to cry anymore Jace.'
'I am?'
'You're a big brother to Izzy now. She's four years old, a year younger then you.' Alec was proud of his maths skills at his young age. 'Mum and dad are giving us a new baby brother or sister soon too. I'll be nine when they are born. When that happens, we'll be one big happy family together.' Jace leapt out of the bed and right into Alec's arms that day.
“Oi Jace,” The said man jerked from his past thoughts as his mismatched eyes fixed on the man who had called out to him, which of course sent a grin to his lips.
Just across the road, waiting for the lights to change so he could walk safely across was his big brother Alec. Aside from the both of them growing into their bodies, puberty hitting them fast, Jace easing into it rather superbly while Alec fumbled through it all, not much had truly changed really. They both still looked them same, just now they were older.
Jace was nicknamed the 'golden boy' through school, almost looking angelic even if that was far from the truth when it came to his scheming ways and rather naughty thoughts about cute girls. Then there was Alec, who was known as 'shadow boy' which Jace had actually punched the first kid who had called him that. Later on he realised Alec kind of liked it, almost seeming ninja-ish in his young mind back then.
And even though their circle of friends were different, they were still there for each other no matter what. Jace was forever getting into fights, which definitely had to do with stealing some jocks girlfriend off of them and when Alec got wind of a punch up happening, he was out of the library, his closest friend in tow as they went running towards the said fight to protect his brother from harm. Alec was not the greatest of fighters back then, relying heavily on his friend for his fists, but sometimes they were not needed as Alec's glare in his startling blue eyes sent the jocks packing.
As they grew older and Alec realised just how much Jace got into fights, he'd decided to join some martial arts classes not only to defend himself, since Alec had been a victim of some bullying of his own, nothing too bad, but he took his role of big brother very seriously and would protect any of siblings to the death.
The day the both of the were surrounded by five jocks on their way home, man had that been an unfair fight but Alec and Jace had come out on top, limping home with their battle scars proudly showing, knowing the next day the fact the Lightwood boys had whooped the captain of the football team and his goons asses which meant they now ruled the school and were not to be trifled with.
And whilst the boys were ripped into by Robert and Maryse once they saw their bruised faces, cut lips and torn uniforms, they still couldn't keep the grins from their faces knowing high school was about to get a heck of a lot easier for them from now onwards.
Life in general became pretty easy for Jace, still was in fact since he was only 21 years old now, which was hardly what he could say for Alec. Being the eldest of the Lightwood family had to seriously suck in his books.
He knew how hard his brother works. He knows how committed Alec is to everything he does. Jace also knows it hasn't been easy for Alec to get his photography business up and running, but determination and stubbornness pulled through and now two years later and he was an established business and doing it without the backing of their parents wealth.
What Jace also admires about his brother is the fact that enough was enough for him. No more lies, no more hiding, which truthfully, at 24 years of age now, Alec had kind of been hiding since he were 18 years old. And what you may ask had he been hiding? In simple terms, but oh so complicated for his brother, was his sexual orientation.
Now that Alec's business, still relatively small, but was quite a popular photography company that was used by some big names but mainly smaller independent companies, but to Alec it didn't matter for he was proud of his efforts and his achievements no matter what. With the ever gaining popularity of his company, which was coming along in leaps and bounds, Jace had met Alec at a local hang out they used to sneak into when they were in high school, Alec to play pool and Jace to try and get free beers, it was that evening when Alec finally told him he was ready to come out to their parents.
Jace was so proud of him and that no matter what happened, he, Izzy and their baby brother Max would love him no matter what their parents said.
'So, when are you thinking of telling them?'
'At our family dinner.'
'Wow, so tomorrow night then?'
“Hey bro, how you doing?” Jace greeted Alec with a smile on his lips as his taller brother walked up to him with a slight grin on his face.
“Good, busy and tired, but good.”
“You ready for tonight?”
“As ready as I'll ever be.” Jace slapped him on the back and then the two of them headed for the subway to get them a few blocks from their parents place, which Jace still lived at most of the time if he wasn't sleeping over at his current girlfriend, Clary Fray's, place.
“Like I said to you last night, we'll support you no matter what.” Alec gave him a fist pump as they hoped on the train and headed for the burbs.
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With how hectic everyone's schedules had been, the usual family dinner affair that used to be weekly had turned into a monthly event now.
With dinner served and pretty much polished off, Maryse was about to clear the plates with Isabelle's help when Alec cleared his throat.
“I've a confession to make.” Izzy sat back done, her eyes shifting over to Jace who gave her a slight nod in indication that their big brother was finally about to 'come out of the closet' after six long years of refusing to leave it.
“Is everything alright Alec?” Maryse voiced in concern.
“Something wrong with the company?” His father interjected as well.
“No nothing like that, its more...personal I guess.”
“Well what is it?”
“I'm gay.” Max raised his eyes since at first he hadn't been paying attention as he was secretly playing a video game on his mobile under the table and shifted his brown eyes over to his eldest brother. Cutlery cluttered to half empty plates and the room went eerily quiet as Maryse and Robert gazed shocked over at Alec.
Max shifted his gaze from a fidgeting Alec to both Jace and Izzy who had massive smiles on their faces. Max knew Izzy and Jace were well aware of it, and truthfully he had suspected it, but now it was known and he couldn't be prouder of his big brother.
“YOU'RE WHAT?” Came the first raised voice. “I HOPE THIS IS A JOKE.”
“NO SON OF MINE IS GAY!” Came the shout from Robert.
The three unaffected Lightwood children frowned at their arguing and screaming parents, they now fighting amongst themselves, becoming downright rude to each other and putting the blame on each other for their son being gay. Once things died down a little, Maryse let out a sigh and brushed off Alec's confession like it were nothing.
“I'm sure this is some phase darling, you'll get over it soon.”
“This is not abloody phase, i'm gay!” Alec let rip, rising to his tall height and glaring across the table at his parents.
“Don't you dare be so disrespectful.” Robert shouted at his eldest.
“Then don't disrespect me! You've no idea how afraid I’ve been to tell the truth.” Alec's younger siblings watched their big brother visibly shake as his parents couldn't even look at him no. “I'm out of here.”
“Alec wait!” Izzy had protested, grabbing his hand and tugging him back down into his seat. “Please stay for dessert at least.” Her large brown eyes were big and dewy and begging him not to go.
Max decided enough was enough and shut off his game, pocketing his phone and then slammed his hands down on the table, plates and cutlery rattling and shocking everyone at the table.
“You know what, you guys suck.”
“Max...” There was the warning tone in their fathers voice which told them he better watch his language and the way he spoke or else he would be punished. And punishment generally came in the form of being grounded with no TV, gaming, phone or internet. For a millennial like Max that was torture enough.
“There's nothing wrong with Alec. He's a great big brother no matter who he likes.” Max's big brown eyes saw appreciation flicker in startling blue orbs, Alec having the same colouring as their mother, whilst he and Izzy had their father's eyes. The 15 year old decided he was not giving his parents a single chance to interrupt his the lecture he had for them, like he were the parent and they the children. “Discrimination these days is very much frowned upon. You can even be sued this day and age and if word got out at your prejudice, what would come of the company then?” All the Lightwood children watched their parents lips snap shut.
The Lightwood's were a top modelling agency, one that Izzy worked for and with her ever growing popularity she could literally work anywhere in the world but decided to stay with the family business. She also refused to work any shoots that didn't have her big brother as the photographer because he and his crew always got her in the right light, the right angel, the right everything.
“Mum, you are generally very observant with your surroundings, so I'm sure you would realise that your own Vice President, Magnus Bane, and who has been to some of our Christmas dinners and is friends with Izzy and Jace and by association sort of Alec's friend too, is in actual fact openly bisexual.” Everyone had turned to stare at Max, eyes wide as he shoved the last of his dinner into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully when he realised everyone was gazing quietly at him. “What? I saw him fixing eye-liner on and asked what he was doing.” The 15 year old explained.
Max had grown out of his awkward teenager phase and was now not afraid to ask questions left, right and centre these days. Perhaps he'd been hanging out with Jace too much as he had lost some of his conservative ways, which he had taken from Alec. “He said he was placing on his armour since he said he looks terrible without it, which I highly doubt since Magnus is very attractive.” Eyes focused on him once more. “Just because I said he was attractive doesn't mean I like him.” Max rolled his eyes as he saw the look in his parents eyes. “And even if I did, there isn't much you can do about it.”
“Max...” He shifted his brown orbs to a worried Alec.
“Relax Alec, I'm not saying anything is wrong about liking a guy.”
“I know.”
“Mum, dad, you can relax, I like a girl at school so quit with the looks.”
“Since when?” Izzy and Jace blurted out and Alec was secretly pleased the mood had shifted away from him.
“Since awhile now.”
“Its Madzie isn't it?” Alec grinned as he watched his little brother blush. He remembered Max calling him up saying he met Magnus at school as he was picking up his best friends daughter since she was away on business and her stepfather was also out of town as well, so Madzie had been staying with him for the past week.
Catarina, Madzie's mother had had her when she was 15 and the father had taken off. Magnus, being the best friend had been there every step of the way, just like his other two friends were, Ragnor Fell (from afar since he was in England) and Raphael Santiago. When Catarina had given birth she gave the honours of naming her little girl to Magnus who was near tears as he decided on the adorable name Madzie, and said she was his lovely little Sweet Pea, which to this day Magnus still called the blossoming teenager.
When Max had seen Magnus that day, he'd gone over to talk to the older man, who always beamed him a friendly smile. That was what he liked about Magnus. He didn't care if you were 5, 15 or 50, he treated you with utmost respect no matter what.
'Uncle Magnus, I could of walked to your place on my own.' Max had watched Magnus give Madzie a massive grin, arms out as he always expected hugs first and foremost. He'd been doing it since she were a baby and it was unlikely to change even as she grew into a beautiful woman like her mother.
'Let's eat out tonight Sweet Pea.'
'Taki's?' She had questioned with a grin on her face that fateful day with Max looking on in wonder at her pretty smile, her dark skin and her frizzy untamed hair.
'If that is your wish my dear.'
'Do you want to come with us Max?' Magnus had watched the shock rush across the boys face, turning his cheeks a little pink.
'Ah, um, well, I'm meant to be meeting Alec and...'
'So bring that dear brother of yours along as well. We'll call it a double date.'
'Uncle Magnus...' Madzie growled out a little, eyes rolling at how embarrassing he could be. 'Sorry Max...' She gave the boy a sheepish grin and he shook his head, phone to his ear as he was telling Alec to meet him at Taki's. Max had decided not to advise his brother of who was also going to be there and when he watched Alec arrive, his pretty blue eyes widening slightly as Magnus waved him over, he couldn't help the grin on his face at the pink tinge gracing his big brother's cheeks.
One look from Alec meant he was going to get it later on, but Max liked Magnus and maybe...maybe this was his chance to help his big brother in some small way...
“We're not talking about me.” Max snapped from his past thoughts, trying not to blush as Alec grinned over at him. Max felt stubbornness build within him as he too could play this game.
“Anyway, people would have to be blind not to realise how attractive Magnus is, and Alec can attest to this since he is always looking at him so...” He watched eyes shift back to his now wide eyed brother. “As I saw Magnus applying the make-up I just asked him outright if he'd dated guys before and he said yes, but he hadn't done so in like five years or something since just over a year ago he'd ended a three year relationship with...with...”
“Camille?” Izzy offered up.
“Yeah, that slimy lizard of a model.” Izzy snickered at her baby brother's comment.
Camille had originally worked for her parents company, until they found out she was selling off some of their secrets from their modelling shoots by showing their rivals their designs and getting a pretty penny for it too. When Robert and Maryse had found out, they had instantly fired her ass, security escorting her from the premise. Max had been hanging around and had seen her snooping about and had told Izzy about it. She'd found it out, located the evidence required and then took it straight to her dad who literally had flames coming out of his ears and eyes.
“Slimy lizard?” Jace arched an eyebrow at that.
“I'm not calling her a dragon.” Max huffed.
“Dragons are cool.” Izzy giggled as Alec and Max said that at the same time, they fist pumping as Alec gave his baby brother a small grin. He did always used to read fantasy books to Max when he was smaller and they had the best illustrations too. They had been the books Alec had read when he was younger and so had passed his prized possessions down to his little brother who loved it when he read to him.
“He is attractive, right Alec?” Max shifted his eyes back to Alec.
He had spent several afternoons getting to know Madzie better, finding out how gifted she was in taking pictures, drawing and painting and he found out just how proud her Uncle Magnus was that he'd given up one of his spare rooms in his apartment so she could have her very own studio there. As Madzie shyly showed him her artwork, which Max was instantly impressed with, he had thought it best to repay her sweetness by inviting her along to one of his archery club sessions. He always made sure that she brought Magnus along and specifically on the days that Alec was doing the training since he'd followed his brother in his footsteps of taking up the bow for a bit of sport. Their dad had always wanted them to do some form of sport and whilst Jace went for baseball, he and Alec had gone for archery.
At Max's blatant question about Magnus' attractiveness, all eyes refocused back on him and he squirmed a little in his seat. “Max, I don't think...”
“You do look at him Alec.” Oh how the eldest hated the conversation now focusing on him, even if he had been the first one to open the conversation by finally coming out of the closet. “If you're working on the same project, which these days is Izzy modelling whatever is in season for the magazine shoots and she refuses her photos being done by anyone but you or Raphael, when you see Magnus enter the studio, you do go 'goo-goo eyed' at him.
“No I don't.” Alec shovelled food into his mouth and got a reprieve as Izzy stole the focus about the latest upcoming shoot and how she wasn't sure the theme was currently working out and whether there was room for slight adjustment.
Alec sighed in relief as the night finally drew to a close and it was time for him to head on home. He'd received half-assed 'good nights' from his parents who again couldn't look at him and figured so far this wasn't as bad as if he'd been disowned. He'd read about that happening, since he googled “how to come out to your parents” and all the good stories that came from it, plus the bad ones and the parents that sat on the fence still unsure what to think on the matter. Right now Alec didn't know where his parents were in mix of things. Only time would tell he guessed.
“You know what,” Alec shifted his gaze to Jace who was currently walking him out to his car. Alec lived above his company in a two bedroom apartment. It wasn't the most modern place, but it was rather convenient living above your business.
“What?”
“I’m going to become your coach.”
“My what?”
“Come on Alec, you need to get out there.”
“Out there?” Jace rolled his eyes, forgetting just how 'green' his big brother was in the relationship department, which he knew was like a fawn.
“Yeah, you know, dating? Putting yourself out there to find a nice guy to take care of you?”
“Jace...”
“Come on, you've always helped me so let me do this for you.”
“I don't know...”
“What's with the sceptical look?”
“Your dating history is a bit...”
“Come on man, I’m steady now. I've got Clary.”
“True, but...”
“I'll ask her for tips.”
“I don't think I like the idea of you spreading around my non-dating history to just anyone.”
“Clary is practically family these days. And I do talk about you to her.”
“You do?”
“I worry about you Alec.”
“Jace...”
“I want you to be happy.”
“I'm fine.” Alec watched Jace's eyes narrow at him. “Truthfully, sometimes it would be nice to have someone, but its me Jace. I'm not exactly...easy to get along with.”
“Sure you are, you just haven't met a good guy to have a lengthy conversation with and get to know you better.”
“Well...” Alec stopped himself there as perhaps it wasn't a good idea to mention how frequent he and Magnus had been talking these days. Alec quite liked this friendship that was starting to build between him and Magnus and didn't want his nosy brother messing it up.
“You know what, let me go do some research on how to fall in love this weekend and when I'm happy with it all I'll put some lessons together for you to work your way through.”
“Seriously Jace, I'm fine.”
“I'm not taking no for an answer. I’ll see you next week!” Jace shouted before dashing back into their family home.
On his way back to his studio, Alec felt dread build within him at the possible ideas that Jace could come up with.
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To be continued...