Work Text:
There’s a sinking feeling settled in the bottom of his stomach as he chewed into his bottom lip, eyes flicking between the clock hanging on the wall and the door to the loft he shared with his husband.
“Darling?” Comes his husband’s voice, Alec looking over to see Magnus standing in the doorway of their bedroom with a concerned expression on his handsome face; the younger of the two men forcing himself to his feet. With dragged steps, Alec makes his way to stand before his husband and pull him into a hug, hiding his face in the crook of the older man’s neck and just soak in the comfort and love that the man provides for him every day. Magnus doesn’t hesitate in wrapping his arms around his trembling husband, pressing a kiss to his temple as he rubs soothing circles on the man’s back.
Today was the day that he was finally going to reveal to his mother about the abuse he suffered from Robert, finally talk about the years he spent being nothing more than a punching bag instead of the son he was supposed to love. His heart is racing, a lump in his throat that has been there since he had sent Maryse a text asking if she could come over, that there was something that he needed to talk about. Maryse had answered straight away, saying that she’ll be there once she’s left the office.
And by now, Alec is aware that she’s going to be knocking on their door at any moment now.
“You’re shaking so much, Angel.” There’s sadness in Magnus’ voice, it’s more than clear for Alec to hear in amongst the words that had been said against his ear. Alec sniffs and clears his throat, pulling himself away from Magnus and instead messing with the collar on his husband’s shirt in a small attempt to distract himself and keep his fidgeting hands busy. He doesn’t respond to what Magnus had said, and instead he gives his loved one a shaky smile in attempt to tell his partner that he was doing as good as he could be; he wasn’t okay but he knew that he wasn’t alone right now.
He remembers Magnus’ reaction when Alec had admit the hell he had been put through because of his father, Magnus had been angrier than what Alec had ever seen of him before. But he hadn’t left Alec’s side once he broke down, holding his husband tight and whispering whatever soothing words had come to his mind. Of course he wanted to go out and make Robert pay for what he had done, but it was violence that had fucked up Alec’s childhood; that had taken away his childhood.
“What if she doesn’t believe me?” Comes the question that bad been plaguing Alec all morning, and Magnus sighs as he reaches up and brushes black hair away from his husband’s forehead; resting his hand against his loved one’s cheek in silent comfort and support. He watches with sad eyes as Alec allows his eyes to flutter shut and lean into the touch as if he had been starved of it his whole life, allowing his body to relax just that little bit. Right now, he can let go of any thoughts or worries because he knows that Magnus is by his side; that he can allow himself to flip because his husband will always be there to catch him.
“I know she’ll believe you, sayang.” Magnus begins softly, because if he knew anything about Maryse it was that she loved her children so much and would always take their words before anyone else; but that isn’t exactly what Alec needs to hear right now. “But if she doesn’t, then I’ll be here. Because I believe you, Angel.” Concludes the older man in a whisper, Alec nodding his head against the palm holding his cheek.
He wants to stay here like this, where he feels so damn cherished and loved.
But it’s the soft knock at the door that pulls them both from their little world, Alec’s body tensing because he is more than aware of who would be behind the door.
“You ready, kekasih?” And Alec isn’t, he doesn’t think he could ever be ready for the bomb shell that he’s about to dump on his unsuspecting mother; whose going to be drowning herself in self-blame by the end of the night. But he nods his head, doesn’t think about using words to answer because he doesn’t think he can right now; Alec is steeling himself for everything he’s about to reveal to Maryse.
Wordlessly, Alec trails behind Magnus as he follows the older man to answer the door; and despite the mood that he’s in he can’t help but smile when he sees his mother standing in the doorway; she’s happy. That smile falters, because she’s going to be beyond heartbroken by the time she’s leaving the loft tonight.
“Mis hijos!” The woman greets happily, slipping into the room and pulling her son into a hug, one that Alec is quick to return and completely melt into. No matter how dire the circumstances are he will always be glad to see Maryse, who has been nothing but supportive and loving his whole life. She had been one of the only things keeping him sane during the years he had spent being abused, along with Isabelle and Jace once he had been apart of the family. And then when Max had come along, there had been another person who loved Alec and kept him alive during the years he felt like he wanted to do anything but.
They’re all going to be heartbroken once they learnt what Robert had done.
“Hi, mama.” Alec whispers against the top of her head before he’s letting her go, a moment later Magnus finds himself being pulled into a hug just as loving and warm. Maryse has loved Magnus since day one, having been able to tell that this man had been the soulmate her son deserved; that these two belonged with each other.
She had defended them both when Robert made his backwards views clear, which had been the second to last nail in the coffin for Maryse finally divorcing the man. The final nail was Maryse learning that her husband had been cheating on him with a woman from his work, something she had always dreaded had been coming. She had noticed when Robert started coming home later than usual, smelling like perfume that she has never once bought.
It had been Alec that convinced her to leave him.
It was also Alec that convinced her to take a chance on Luke, someone who has made her happier than what she has been in years.
Pulling herself from her thoughts she releases her son-in-law and then turns her attention back to her son, a frown instantly on her face when she noticed how nervous he seemed. Instantly she’s turning her body to face him and placing a hand on his forearm, watching as he seems to be jolted out of whatever was going through his head; having zoned out while Magnus and her had been greeting each other.
“Alec? What’s the matter, hijo?” She inquires with nothing but pure concern and love lacing her tone, and all Alec can do is sigh as he lifts a hand to rub at the back of his neck. “I was hoping to wait, but I need to tell you something.” Alec admits, and Maryse doesn’t miss that slight tremble in his voice when he had spoken; he’s nervous and scared about whatever it is he has to say. In the moment of silence, Magnus allows himself to take charge of leading his family over to the living room, more than aware that this was a sitting down conversation. Not one to have in the open doorway of their home.
“You know you can tell me anything, sweetheart.” Maryse prompts, because despite her own worries about whatever is going on her heart breaks to see her son looking so unsure of himself, something that she isn’t used to. Her son is a natural born leader, and as a Lawyer he has nothing but power laced into the words that he speaks. But right now, he sounds so small.
“Okay, uh….” Alec is clearly struggling, unsure of how to even start a conversation like the one that he has been steeling himself to have; and no that it’s happening he has no idea what to even say anymore. He swallows when he feels a hand slide into his own, and he sees that he man sitting beside him as taken his hand into his and given it a reassuring squeeze. The husbands sit on the leather couch together, sitting so close that one couldn’t tell when Alec started and Magnus ended; Maryse sitting on one of the recliners across from them on the other side of the coffee table. She’s leaning forward in her seat, elbow resting on top of her knee and chin resting across the top of her knuckles.
There isn’t any annoyance, there isn’t anything other than patients as she waits for Alec to begin with whatever it is that he was working himself up over; she’s going to allow him to take this at his own pace. Her son is obviously already struggling so she isn’t going to demand answers right away. Instead she watches as Magnus and Alec interact, having a silent conversation with their eyes alone; Magnus’ gaze showing nothing but the support he’s gifting his husband freely.
“I’m going to come right out and say it, I guess.” Alec whispers to himself, taking a deep breath before he’s turning his attention from his husband back to his mother.
“Robert- dios mio. Robert abused me.”
There. He had finally said it, and now it was out in the open.
During his admission he had quickly shifted his gaze to the coffee table instead of his mother, not able to bare the idea of watching her expression when the words had left his mouth. Okay, so maybe he should have worded it a little better but he needed to get it out right then and there otherwise he would have never said it; would have changed the conversation into something else entirely.
For a moment, no one speaks following what Alec had said.
The hand holding his tightens reassuringly, and that is what prompts Alec into taking a breath and finally lifting his head to look at Maryse. Scared of what he’s going to see.
The woman had paled, mouth slightly gaped open as she stared at her son with wide eyes that Alec can’t help but shift uncomfortably under; but he doesn’t say anything against it. His mother is obviously processing what it was that he had actually said, and he doesn’t think he can bare to force her to speak right now; so he gives her some time.
“Dios mio, Alexander. I am so sorry.” The older woman finally whispers, hand moving to cover her mouth as tears already burned in her eyes; causing them to shine bright. Alec can practically feel the self-blame orbiting from his mother, and that is what prompts him to push himself out of his seat and walk about the coffee table. He stops when he stands before his mother, sinking to the ground to squat and placing a hand on her knee in comfort.
Alec doesn’t blame her and he doesn’t want her to place the blame onto her own shoulders, the only one at fault was Robert himself.
“No, no. Don’t you apologise, mama.” Alec’s voice has the confidence and strength that he had been lacking this whole day, but even then there are tears stinging the corners of his eyes that he blinks back. Maryse is already shaking her head, moving the hand covering her mouth to lay over the hand that’s on the top of her knee; looking down at her eldest son with clear guilt in her eyes.
Behind them, Magnus has pulled out his phone to shoot off a quick text before pocketing it once again; turning his attention back to the mother and son duo before him. He thinks about getting up and giving them the space, but he remembers that his husband has asked for him to be there the entire time.
“I should have noticed, Alec. I should have seen something was wrong. Soy una mala madre.” Maryse mutters the rest of her sentence under her breath as she rests her forehead against the palm of her hand; tears sliding freely down her cheeks. Alec shakes his head as he leans up and grabs his mother’s wrist and lowers it, prompting the older woman into looking at him once again.
“No digas eso por favor. I didn’t want you to notice, you’re not at fault here, mama. Please, please, do not blame yourself.” There’s a pleading tone in Alec’s words now, his heart clenching painfully in his chest to see his mother believe that she was at fault for what had happened. Maryse bites into her lower lip, looking at Alec so sadly as she moves her hand to brush hair from her son forehead with fingers so gentle and loving; the smile Alec gives her is just as soft.
“I’m okay, mama.” He promises, because for a while things had been so hard for him but he’s made a life for himself now. He is no longer the scared child, but instead he’s grown into the man he wanted to be, he has a job that he loves and a husband that is so supportive and loving. He’s got the life he never once thought he could have, the life he’s had only ever been able to dream about growing up.
“Oh, my baby.” Maryse speaks in a hushed tone, mostly saying the words to herself as she looks down at the son that life had treated so harshly, who despite everything he has been through, is someone she is so proud of. Maryse unknowingly copies the action that Magnus had before, placing her hand so delicately on the side of her son’s face, her smile sad when he leans into the touch and looks up at her. “I don’t blame you.” Alec utters, his words hold nothing but truth because he believes what he is saying, that he never once blamed her for not knowing what Robert had done. He is more than aware of the fact she would have done something had she known what her then husband had been doing, she never would have kept him in a house that he wasn’t safe in.
“Why don’t you go freshen up, hijo?” Maryse says, but she’s saying more as a way so that she can speak to Magnus alone, and that’s something that her son seems to pick up on. It’s only after a moment of hesitation, eyes closed and leaning into his mother’s touch, before he’s nodding his head and pushing himself up to his full height. Taking one more moment to look between his husband and his mother, he’s nodding to himself before he makes his way towards the bathroom to wash his face, rid himself of the tears that had since fallen from his eyes; leaving shy trails in their wake as they slide down his face.
Once he’s out of sight, Maryse is looking away from where he had walked off towards and instead shifts her attention to Magnus; who returns her gaze just as strongly.
“I never thanked you.” Maryse begins, and her words have Magnus cocking his head to the side with a confused expression clear on his features, unsure of what she feels the need to thank him for. He doesn’t say anything yet, doesn’t want to interrupt his mother-in-law’s train of thought. “Thank you for loving my boy, hijo. You’ve given him the love he deserves.” The woman explained, a soft smile on her face despite the clear sadness and heartbreak that was still in her eyes from the confession she had been told. She doesn’t forgive herself for not noticing, for not stopping Robert from hurting her son but it’s helps knowing that Alec doesn’t blame her for it.
“You don’t need to thank me, Maryse. Loving your son has been the easiest thing I ever done.” Magnus replied lovingly, looking over his shoulder in the bathroom that held his husband; his heart warm with the love he feels for the younger man. Maryse can’t help but feel that warmth of happiness fill her, because her son has found someone who loves him so dearly and so fiercely; someone who loves him exactly like he deserves.
“I need you to know, Maryse, that Alexander is safe with me. I would never hurt him.” Magnus knows that he doesn’t need to tell Maryse this, more than aware that the woman knows he would never hurt her son. But it’s something that he says anyway, even if just to give her the peace of mind that Alec will always be safe with him. Just like Magnus knows that he’s safe with his husband.
“I know, Querido.” Replies Maryse, both of them looking up when they hear Alec’s footsteps as he re-enters the living room to join two of the most important people in his life; taking his seat beside his husband and grabbing his hand.
- - -
They don’t need to sit in silence with each for long, mindless chatter filling the room before there is a knock on the door breaking their thoughts. Alec looks at the older man with a confused frown, because as far as he was aware the only guest they had been expecting had been Maryse.
Magnus shrugs his shoulder, but there is a small smile playing at his lips; a clear sign to let Alec know that his partner very well knew who was on the other side of that door. Sighing, Alec moves from his spot beside Magnus and makes his way towards the door when a knock rings out once more. His confusion is wiped away and instead a beaming smile is replaced in it’s wake when he is greeted with the sight of his sister standing in the doorway; her daughter on her hip.
“Tío!” Amelia happily cries out when the toddler looks up to see who had answered the door, instantly reaching out for her uncle to doesn’t hesitate to take her girl into his arms. “Hi, mi vida!” He happily responds as he spins the toddler around a few times before settling her on his hips; where she instantly wraps her arms around his neck and hides her face in his shoulder.
“What are you doing here?” Alec can’t help but question, because Isabelle is someone who will always message him to let her know that she was on her way over to spend some time with her brother, most times she’s accompanied with Amelia. Who adores spending as much time as she could with her favourite uncle, a fact that everyone in the family was more than aware of at this point. Even Clary and Jace’s kids have taken a huge liking to Alec, always preferring to spend time with him over any of their other uncles and aunts.
“I need an excuse to see my big brother, huh?” Isabelle says with a laugh as she lets herself into the loft, closing the door behind her, placing her hands on her hips as she gives her brother a pointed look.
Alec returns the look just as easily, eyebrow raised high.
“Magnus told you to come over, didn’t he?” The eldest Lightwood sibling guesses easily, and Magnus sighs in relief that their isn’t any annoyance or anger in his tone as he speaks, in fact he sounds pleased.
“Yeah.” Comes the quick and easy response, and all Alec can do is shake his head with a fond expression on his face, chuckling as he moves to embrace his sister with his free arm; an embrace that Isabelle easily melts into. Magnus hadn’t told her what had happened, just that Alec was having a bad day and would benefit from seeing her and Amelia; and who was she to deny a request so simple?
“Tio! Tio!” The toddler uses her grubby hands to grab at Alec’s face, forcing his head to look at her instead of her mother; both of the adults laughing at the action.
Behind them, Maryse had moves so that she was sitting on the arm of the couch beside her son-in-law, face free of any evidence that she had been crying. There’s a smile on her face as she watches her loved ones interact, and when she looks at Magnus she sees nothing but pure happiness in his eyes and in his smile. He looks at Alec with what Clary had said had been ‘absolute heart eyes’ and when Maryse looks at the younger man, she can now see why that was the case. Magnus looks at her son like Alec is hung from the moon, like he had been crafted from the stars and was a blessing to be around.
The eyes of a man absolutely in love.
“He’s going to be an amazing father.” Magnus whispers so that only the woman beside him could hear what had been said, and Maryse is quick to agree with the statement. Alec was someone who was born to be a father, something Maryse had noticed in the ways that he looked after his siblings while growing up, never complaining about helping out where ever and when ever he could. Even as a toddler himself, he had always been asking to feed Isabelle her bottles and hold her whenever he could. He once took Maryse aside and promised her, so much seriousness in his eyes for an eight year old, and promised that he would always protect her.
At the time, Maryse thought that it was cute and just Alec being a wonderful big brother. But now, which the knowledge that she has, Maryse wondered if that also meant keeping his baby sister safe from their own father.
The thought has her smile slipping, a frown overtaking her features as she thought about it once more, Alec would have done whatever he had to to make sure that Robert never hurt his siblings. It’s something that Maryse knows, because Jace, Isabelle and Max had done nothing but talk highly of Robert, about how he had been a loving parent to them. Sure, ever since Robert had insulted and rejected Alec as his son after the man had come out to them they aren’t as close to him anymore, but they talk about having a loving and happy childhood.
Maryse begins to tear up again, unable to get the image of her baby boy crying and hurt while Jace, Isabelle and Max flourished under Robert’s love, her heart breaking for the little boy who never stood a chance.
“He’s okay, Maryse. He’s healing now.” Maryse is pulled from her spiralling thoughts by Magnus speaking, words going unnoticed by Alec and Isabelle whose sole attention on the toddler in his husband’s arms. Magnus reaches up to hold one of her shaking hands in both of his own, offering up as much comfort as he can as they both watch Alec smile and laugh. She nods her head, her son will be alright because he has a whole network behind him that will always love, support and protect him like he does them. Alec has done nothing but put other people first, and it’s their turn to look after him now.