Chapter Text
The bell above the door chimed as Alec stepped inside the bookstore, the cold November breeze trying to follow him off the street. He glared at the source of the sound for a moment, before turning his attention to the small shop that he’d spotted the other day and hadn’t been able to get out of his mind ever since. Two days ago he’d been focused on finding a place to stay before the sun set (though, he’d slept on the streets plenty of times in his incredibly long life and hypothermia wasn’t a problem for someone who couldn’t die) and he hadn’t let himself stop and browse despite how desperately he wanted to. Now, however, he’d found somewhere dry and warm — an old theater that had closed a few months prior and was scheduled for some renovations into a nightclub once all the zoning and legalities were handled — so he finally had some time to explore the city.
New York City wasn’t new for Alec, not really, though the last time he’d stepped foot here horse-drawn carriages had still been the main method of transportation and a hot meal had cost only a handful of coins. Now, yellow cabs and Ubers had long since taken over and a good meal could cost hundreds of dollars depending on which celebrity chef’s name was on the front of the restaurant. It wasn’t often that Alec missed how things used to be — not when science and technology kept improving at an alarming yet fascinating rate — but it certainly had made his cursed existence much easier when life was far simpler.
The cashier looked up at the sound of his entrance, a grin spreading across the man’s face in a way that told Alec that he was about to have another horribly awkward conversation. The kid had to be in his early twenties — likely a student at a local college if Alec had to guess. He had curly brown hair and glasses and was wearing a pair of worn sneakers, jeans with a few holes, and t-hirt advertising a band that he had never heard of. He put his best fake smile on as the kid approached him. “Hi! I’m Simon. Welcome to Untold Stories. Is there something that I can help you find?”
‘I don’t suppose you have a book about breaking a deal you made with a devil back when you were a stupid young kid far too angry at his parents and the world?’ Alec thought to himself bitterly, instead choosing to shake his head. “No thanks, Simon, I’m good. I’m new to town and I like to stop in at least one bookstore at every new place I go. You never know what treasures you’ll stumble across. Besides, you can tell a lot about a place by its bookstores.”
The boy’s eyes widened. “Well, welcome to the Big Apple! Is this your first time in the city?”
“No,” Alec lied, though it really wasn’t a lie. He’d learned a long time ago that there was no point trying to describe his current situation to someone. They either never believed him or, as was his curse, they never remembered him as soon as they turned their backs. “But it’s changed a lot since I was last here. I’m spending my first few days here just trying to get my bearings.”
“Oh, yeah! New York’s like that! Something is different every day. There was a deli on the corner by my favorite comic book store and it closed a few months ago. Since then, it’s been half a dozen different things but nothing seems to stick. I’m sure when I go pick up my books next week it will have changed yet again. We’ve got some free city maps on the counter if you want to pick one up before you leave. Anyway, I’ll let you get to your browsing. Let me know if you have any questions or need help finding anything particular. The owner, Mr. Fell, has collected a ton of out-of-print and unique books. I don’t think you’ll find another place quite like this.”
The kid turned his back and Alec took an opportunity to slip between the darkened shelves, knowing that his presence in Untold Stories was already forgotten and wanting to avoid another awkward greeting with the cashier. Now that he was alone and was unlikely to be disturbed for some time, he could finally take a good look around.
Simon had said the owner had amassed quite the collection and now that Alec could focus, he certainly believed it. The walls were lined with floor to ceiling shelves filled to the brim with old leather books and what appeared to be actual scrolls. The center of the room didn’t fair much better with more shelves and actual stacks of books, leaving a path barely wide enough for a single person between them. He took a deep breath, taking in the scent of musty paper and antique ink.
These sort of places were Alec’s favorite, he’d come to realize. They were full of stories — memories that people long since gone had felt important to record for future generations. They came from different times and different places, each unique and special in their own way. There were cautionary tales once told to children that had long since faded from memory, scientific discoveries that had been surpassed by modern technology dozens of times over, and life stories of ordinary and extraordinary people who only wished to be remembered.
Alec closed his eyes and inhaled sharply at that last thought, a flicker of anger and grief rolling through him even though he’d long since come to terms with the reality of his own situation. His fingers curved into a fist and he tried to push those unwelcome thoughts from his mind, knowing that the only way he’d escape the fate he’d signed up for was to find something, anything really useful in a book tucked away on a dusty shelf, forgotten by time. There had to be someone out there who had broken themselves free of a demon deal and had written about their experiences. He was determined to find any mention of something that could help him, even if he’d spent the last few hundred years coming up empty-handed.
He began to wander through the aisles, taking care to move slowly so he didn’t capture Simon’s attention, his eyes scanning the titles of the books as he passed. At first glance, there seemed to be no rhyme nor reason as to what book was filed on which shelf but a collection like this could only belong to an eclectic sort of person and he’d learned a long time ago that they often had their own way of doing things. If he looked hard enough, if he spent enough time here, he’d be able to make sense of it eventually, and from there, he could see if this place had anything that it could offer him on his self-appointed quest.
The bell at the front of the store chimed again and Alec heard Simon greet the newcomers. He took the opportunity to disappear further back into the endless shelves, prepared to spend the next few hours alone with his thoughts, hopes, and an endless supply of antique tomes.
By the time he’d started to get hungry hours later and a quick glance toward the front of the store told him that the sun was about to set, Alec realized that he was going to have to call it quits for the day. He’d made no major leaps and bounds in deciphering the filing system of the bookstore’s owner and it was only by sheer luck that he’d happened to stumble upon a book from the early 1900s that named a bunch of supposedly greater demons and their attributes. It was with this book tucked under his arm that he made his way to the front of the store, hoping he’d be able to disappear through the front door without too much of a fuss.
It seemed Simon had gone home sometime during the day because the man behind the counter was anything but the scrawny nerd that had first welcomed Alec into the shop. No, this new cashier stole his breath away with a single glance. He was dressed in a maroon shirt with gold threading running through it and a fitted black vest. His pants, equally tight, were adorned with small golden spikes in a way that couldn’t be comfortable or practical, at least not to Alec whose wardrobe consisted of worn jeans and henleys. There were more necklaces and rings on his person than Alec could count and his hair was styled with a red streak through it with a dusting of glitter.
He was leaning over the counter, casually flipping through a magazine as he tapped the fingers of his free hand on the counter next to him and hummed a tune that Alec didn’t recognize. He wasn’t sure how long he stood there before the man must have felt his eyes on him. He stood, his eyes scanning around the room curiously before they fell on Alec. The man blinked a few times, trying to process what he was seeing before he grinned. “Well, who are you? I didn’t realize I wasn’t alone. Simon forgot to tell me there was a Greek god shopping in Untold Stories before he left.”
Alec had been hoping to slip out the door without being noticed. He’d hoped Simon would still be here — engrossed in some game on his phone that he’d heard him playing earlier. He hadn’t expected to come face to face with someone who checked all of his boxes in every which way. “I…uh…” he stammered, unable to even form words in the face of the man of his dreams.
“What is it, pretty boy? Cat got your tongue?” The man asked with a raise of his eyebrow.
He forced himself to breathe, trying to steady his beating heart so that he could make it out of here in one piece. “I’m sorry. I got here a few hours ago and got a bit carried away looking through the shelves. Simon must have forgotten himself. I was in the back and I wasn’t making a lot of noise. My mind sort of goes one track when I’m around books.”
The man snorted. “You should meet Ragnor, then. He’s the owner of this fine establishment and let me tell you, he’s very much the same way. Sometimes we have to practically drag him out of here by his ear when it’s time to close. I’m Magnus, by the way. Magnus Bane…and you are?”
"Gideon," Alec manages to stutter, the lie feeling thick and heavy on his tongue. He hadn't been Gideon since the early 1900s. He wasn't sure why he chose to give Magnus that name out of the hundreds he had used before but he couldn't give the man his real name (he'd quickly realized that his curse prevented him from even speaking or writing his true name in the presence of others) so this was the closest to his true self that he could manage given that Gideon was an old family name. This persona was something special to him and one he usually reserved for special occasions. Some instinct in his head was telling this was one of those times. "Gideon Trueblood."
Trueblood had been his mother's maiden name. It didn't seem affected by the curse like his father's family name. Still, though, it wasn't something he wanted to abuse so he tried to keep it close to his chest. He licked his lips before he forced a small smile to his face. "I'm new in town."
Magnus grinned at Alec's admission. "And you've chosen to spend one of your first days in the city at our humble establishment instead of exploring the wonders that New York has to offer?"
He felt his cheeks redden and he dipped his head, hoping that Magnus hadn't noticed. "I uh…I like books. I've moved around a lot in my life," Alec explained, though he knew that that was a bit of an understatement. "Sometimes it takes a lot to get used to a new place, new people, hell, a new language…but books, well, I've learned you can always rely on books when you're feeling out of sorts and lonely."
The other man’s face softened. “Yes, of that we’re both in agreement. Books have gotten me through some of the toughest times in my life but they’re also how I met some of my best friends. It was during those dark days that I found this place,” he explained, gesturing to the shop around him. “Ragnor took me in and gave me a purpose again.” He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation had taken. Instead, turning his attention to the book under Alec’s arm. “And what tale is keeping you company today?”
Alec tried not to wince as he took the book out from under his arm and handed it to Magnus. "Uh…not so much a tale, I suppose, and not really something comforting either. Call it morbid curiosity and a healthy dose of research, I suppose."
Magnus raised his eyebrows in surprise as he glanced at the title. "A book about demons? Well now, aren't you interesting? You aren't trying to summon one, are you? I have it on fairly good authority that nothing good ever comes of that."
No shit, Alec thought to himself though he tried to keep the disgust from his face. I've only had a few hundred years to live with the repercussions of that decision.
"I would never," Alec said instead, "Like I said, it's research. I've been studying how different cultures and religions manifest human cruelty and vices for a while now. It's not often I stumble across a book I haven't seen so this one peaked my interest," he explained, the lie well practiced.
Magnus hummed, tapping a finger against his chin in thought. "Well, I suppose we all have our weird niche interests. I went through a period where I got pretty into trying to recreate Greek Fire. Of course, I was sixteen at the time and it's probably for the benefit of the world that I wasn't successful. I'll tell you what since you're new in town, why don't you take that as a 'Welcome to the City' gift on behalf of Untold Stories. I guarantee Ragnor would agree and he certainly won't miss it. The old bat probably doesn't even realize half of what he has back there."
Alec's eyes widened as he glanced down at the antique book in his hand. Sure, he hadn't been planning on paying for it — he'd long since learned that money wasn't really an issue or an option when no one could remember that you'd be there — but it had been a long time since someone had been this kind to him. He knew the book was old and probably worth a good bit of money to the right buyer. "Are you sure? I mean, this is really old and it's probably sort of rare…"
The man gave him a warm smile. "Ragnor likes to say that sometimes a book chooses who it needs to belong to. I think that one chose you if it managed to capture your attention all afternoon."
Alec couldn't help the blush that rose to his cheeks and Magnus laughed. "Maybe you'll finish it and come looking for more and I'll get a chance to see your gorgeous face again. If we have one rare book about demons what's to say that we wouldn't have more, Pretty Boy?"
Alec wasn't shy about the fact that he preferred men over women. It was what had gotten him into this whole mess to begin with — his parents had found him a bride and planned his entire life out for him and in a moment of strength (or weakness depending on which way he was looking at it) he'd stood up to them…at his own wedding nonetheless. He wouldn't follow the path that they had chosen for him. He wanted to make his own way, his own decisions, and marry the man who he fell in love with. His parents had disowned him and when he'd fled to share his newfound freedom with the man who held his heart, he found Vincent in bed with another, having moved on in the face of Alec's near wedding.
So with nothing else left in Alicante for him, Alec left. That first night was when Valentine found him, making promises that sounded sweet but would haunt Alec for the rest of his days.
Learning about the specifics of his curse had taken more years than he'd like to admit. At first, he believed that he was going to spend the rest of his apparently immortal existence alone, and in those first years he’d chosen to isolate himself to protect the last pieces of his shattered heart. Introducing yourself to someone time and time and time again only to know that you’d have to keep doing it, wreaked havoc on Alec’s sense of self. He’d tried a few times in that first decade to bring an end to his pain and suffering. No matter which method he tried, he found himself unable to take his own life. He’d try to drown himself only to wake up moments later with Valentine sitting next to him, watching with a sly grin on his face. Alec had wanted to live his own life — he’d walked away from his own wedding, he’d broken from his family, and he’d made the deal with a demon to do it. Valentine did whatever it took to make sure Alec just did that — he kept living and living and living.
Eventually, he realized that he didn’t necessarily need to live his life in isolation as long as he went into an interaction knowing that whatever may happen, he would be forgotten the second that someone looked away. He started to actually live his apparently eternal and sort of cursed life and it was once he did that he started to realize that yes, while never being remembered and no longer being able to have any sort of companionship did sort of suck, in the grand scheme of things…it could be worse.
Magnus was waiting for his response with a raised eyebrow. Alec gave him a small smile. “I’ll make sure to come back and let you know what I thought of it,” he lied easily, knowing that the minute Magnus turned his back their conversation would be forgotten and he would be alone once more. “Thank you for the gift. I feel welcome in this city already.”
“Be seeing you, Pretty Boy.”
“See you around, Magnus. Thanks again,” Alec said, turning to leave. Once he was on the other side of the door, he glanced back in the window. Magnus had turned his back to organize some books behind the register.
Alec knew that he was a ghost once more.
***********
All in all, it had taken Alec a little over two weeks to get through the book. Portions of the book were written in languages Alec had learned years ago but had long since forgotten. The translations had taken him far longer than he had expected and more often than not, he’d gone to bed frustrated…in more ways than one. Ever since that encounter with Magnus at the book store, he’d been unable to get the other man out of his mind and since then it had been warm golden brown eyes instead of the solid black that had haunted his dreams night after night.
Alec had tried to stay away, he really had. He knew that when his heart was instantly this enamored with someone repeat introductions would only hurt his soul but despite his best efforts, he knew that ultimately he wasn’t strong enough to withstand his heart’s desire. It was on a rainy Thursday afternoon that Alec passed through the doors of Untold Stories once more.
His heart fell a little when he saw it was Simon behind the counter once again. The boy looked up at the sound of the bell. “Hi, I’m Simon! Welcome to Untold Stories. Is there something I can help you find?” He asked, gesturing towards the shelves of books further inside.
Alec gave him a small smile. “No thanks, Simon. I’m just here to look. I’m new in town and wanted to pick up a new book of two to occupy my time,” he explained once again. “
“Oh! Well, Welcome to New York! We’ve got some maps of the city here if you’d like to take one. It’s mostly the touristy stuff though and that can get tedious after a while. If you’re looking for something a little off the beaten path, Magnus can probably suggest a few places to check out and he’s much better at giving directions than I am.” Before Alec could say anything in response, Simon had poked his head in a door behind the counter and hollered for someone inside. When Magnus stepped out a moment later, Alec found that he couldn’t breathe.
Magnus Bane was just as ethereal as Alec remembered. Today, he was dressed in blue and silver today — his jacket a deep navy with metallic threads that matched the streak of grey in his hair and the glitter around his eyes. His pants were tight black leather and Alec was doing his best not to let his eyes wander. The grin he gave Alec upon seeing him sent shivers down his spine. Surely, Magnus flirted with everyone , he tried to tell himself.
“Well now, if it isn’t Pretty Boy. I was starting to believe that you were nothing more than a figment of my imagination.”
Wait…what?
If Alec hadn’t been able to breathe before, he felt like he was drowning now. Magnus had seen him…and Magnus, by some miracle, had remembered.
Magnus shooed Simon out of the room (ignoring his protests in the process) before leaning over the counter with a smirk. “Cat got your tongue again, Gideon?”
“It’s Alec, actually,” he found himself saying before his mind had a chance to stop himself. His curse prevented people from knowing him — he hadn’t been able to say his own name since he’d accepted the deal. His eyes widened as he realized what he said and he suddenly found himself feeling rather lightheaded. How had he spoken his name? How had Magnus remembered? It shouldn’t be possible.
Alec felt his knees start to give way and Magnus rushed from behind the counter to catch him before he hit the ground. “Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He slipped his arm around Alec and helped him into the backroom. Simon was nowhere in sight, he noticed, though there was a staircase leading to the basement so he supposed the boy could have disappeared in that direction. “Sit down, take a couple of deep breaths. Let me make you some tea. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“You didn’t,” Alec responded, wiping his palms on his jeans nervously. “Startle me, that is. Well, you did I guess. But not in the way that you think.” He bit his lip, watching as Magnus put a kettle on the small stovetop. “You remembered me.”
Magnus turned to him with a bemused expression on his face. “How could I forget you? It’s not every day Adonis walks into the shop.”
Alec felt his cheeks turn red and he ducked his head before Magnus could see. “No, you…you don’t understand. People don’t remember me. I could tell you my name. That…that’s never happened before. Not since…”
“Gideon,” Magnus started, though he stopped when he noticed the slight frown on Alec’s face. “Alec…whatever your real name is. You’re not making much sense. Perhaps a bit of context? All I know is that you walked in and nearly passed out in the middle of the shop.”
Alec closed his eyes tightly and tried to slow his rapidly beating heart. A hundred times over he’d pictured having this conversation. He imagined his curse finally being broken one day and finally being able to tell someone, anyone, his story. Never in his mind did he imagine it would come so soon and never… never like this.
Now that he found himself in this situation — with Magnus’ concerned and confused face looking down at him as he held out the steaming mug of tea — all the words he’d recited in his head time and time and time again seemed to be lost to him. He licked his lips nervously, knowing that the other man was waiting for some sort of explanation even if it would sound truly crazy. “You won’t believe me if I tell you. It sounds… I’m not lying, I’m not. I swear to you. Lying about my name was the last time… and that wasn’t as much of a lie as it was part of my cur — my story. Please, Magnus, please listen to me even though what I’m about to say is going to sound truly farfetched.”
He could feel the tears stinging his eyes and he could only imagine what he looked like to Magnus right now — pale, crying, his hands trembling as he gripped the tea cup.
“Gideon…Alec…,” The man started, gently tipping his chin up with two manicured fingers. “It’s alright. I’ve heard some pretty crazy things in my life. Hell, I’ve lived them. I’ll listen. Just say what it is that you want to say.”
Alec took a deep breath, focusing his attention on the steam from his tea before he glanced up cautiously to look at Magnus. “My name is Alexander Gideon Lightwood. I was born in 1412 and I made a deal with the devil and now I’m cursed.”
He was waiting for Magnus to start laughing at him or tell him he was crazy and that he needed to leave immediately. What he hadn’t expected was for the other man to purse his lips and seemingly study him. “A devil…” Magnus replied slowly and Alec could practically see him processing his words.
“I know…I know it sounds crazy but it’s true. He came to me during one of the darkest moments of my life. He offered me everything I had ever wanted — the ability to choose my own path, to not be shackled by names and titles for once but it came at a cost…I didn’t realize what that cost was until it was far too late.”
“And that was?” Magnus asked, though there was no hint of disbelief in his voice this time. “He obviously didn’t give you a ticking countdown to your final days if you’re a few hundred years old.”
Alec frowned. There was something about Magnus’ words that sounded oddly specific. “You remembered me, Magnus. That was my price…that I would be forgotten. No one would remember me if they weren’t looking at me. I couldn’t speak my own name to people. I was a ghost and yes, while I did have what amounts to immortality, I was entirely alone.”
He hadn’t realized it but tears had begun to stream down his face. Magnus knelt down and took the tea from his hands, setting it to the side before it spilled all over the floor. “I know it sounds crazy, I know… but when you recognized me this morning…when I didn’t have to introduce myself all over again like I had to do with Simon…you have no idea what that means to me. You're the first person I’ve been able to actually be myself with since I made my deal.”
Magnus said nothing for a few moments. Alec waited…waited for any hint of reaction. Eventually, Magnus pulled the other chair closer and took a seat next to him. “Can I tell you a story?” He asked, the sudden apparent change of topic leaving Alec reeling. He merely nodded his response. He didn’t know what he could do or say.
“Once upon a time there lived a young man and one day he fell in love with a beautiful woman. They were happy, or at least he thought they were, and he decided that nothing would be better than spending the rest of their life together.”
Alec furrowed his brow, confused as to where this conversation was going. “Magnus —”
The other man held a finger to Alec’s list. “Shh…let me finish. Now, this man had a flair for dramatics and he knew that he wanted to make this proposal something special for her. He spent a few months planning, keeping his secret between himself and a few close friends. Finally, the day came. He made sure everything was perfect. They spent a lovely day together and then that night after dinner surrounded by both of their friends and family, he dropped to one knee and asked her to make him the happiest man alive.”
Magnus closed his eyes tightly and turned his head away from Alec. “Instead of making his dream come true, she laughed in his face. She asked him why he thought that she would want to shackle herself to him. He was not worthy of her love or affection — he was too much for her — too needy, too bright, too loud, he loved her with his entire being but she did not love him the same way. She left him there and in his shock and hurt, he pushed everyone away. If he wasn’t what she needed, he wasn’t what anyone needed. He wanted to be alone…and that’s how he ended up walking across the Brooklyn Bridge in the rain ready to end it all.”
It was then that he glanced over, and Alec could see the pain clear as day in his eyes. “As he was staring out over the water, a man with cat eyes appeared next to him. He could take away his pain — make him perfect in everyone else’s eyes. He would be exactly what everyone needed when they met him. In exchange, he’d live the remainder of his life with a ticking timer over his head. Love and affection in exchange for his soul. He would get ten years to experience what it was his heart desired and after, he would be dragged to hell.”
He gave Alec a sad smile and he felt a chill run over him. “What was the rest of his life when he had already been ready to end it all that night?”
Alec inhaled sharply, trying to process the story that Magnus had just told him. “You…that story is about you, isn’t it? You made a deal with the devil too?”
Magnus nodded. “It would seem that both of our deals are working with each other…or against each other. I’m what you need… someone to know you for who you truly are and I won’t remember you because my soul is already doomed to hell.”
Alec was moving before he could even stop himself. He pulled Magnus into a hug. The other man tensed before he relaxed in Alec’s hold. “I’m sorry…Magnus, I’m so sorry. Whoever it was that turned down your proposal didn’t deserve you anyway.”
“That’s kind of you to say, Alec…but I made my peace with it a few years ago.”
A door slammed open revealing Simon. He looked shocked to see them both sitting so close. “Uh…sorry, Magnus. Didn’t mean to walk in on you and your new…boyfriend? Hi, I’m Simon. Magnus probably should have introduced us first so this was a little less awkward.”
Alec gave the boy a grim smile. “I’m Gideon, it’s nice to meet you, Simon.” He turned his attention to Magnus instead. “What do you say we take this somewhere a little more private? I can’t… you know my situation.” He wouldn’t be able to speak freely with Simon around.
“How about my loft?” Magnus offered, pushing himself to his feet and offering a hand. “This sounds like a conversation best had over a nice glass of wine.”
Alec let Magnus pull him to his feet. “Sounds perfect. Lead the way.”