Chapter Text
CHAPTER ONE
“Lydia Branwell, will you marry me, Alexander Lightwood?”
Alec hated those words the moment he said them.
“Oh, Alec,” Lydia’s eyes were bright, like she hadn’t expected this, even though it was the only reason he’d invited her to this fancy restaurant, on a ‘date’. It’s not like they’d been dating. It was more like old-fashioned courting. They’d kissed, sure, but they hadn’t had sex, and it had only been a year of this mild thing. Making sure they were seen together, photographed together, acting like they were in love. Everyone knew it was for show, but no-one questioned it, not really. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Alec sat at his desk in his New York apartment, staring out of the window and doing anything to avoid his work. He had to send a report in by…he glanced at the clock…half an hour ago. He tapped away at the keys impatiently for a few minutes before giving up, reading the messy start he’d written. He was meant to be writing up the case Jace had just been on for the sergeant but the words just weren’t flowing, stuck by a mental block in his mind. Normally he was good at this stuff, he liked paperwork and he liked his job, being surrounded by paperwork and rules and regulations, but Jace called him a paper-monkey.
He contemplated making dinner, calling Jace, texting Lydia, catching up on his favourite show maybe when his phone chimed with a text message. The sign of Lydia’s name made his thoughts sour even though he’d just been considering calling her. He liked her, of course he did. She was a good friend. But the thought of being her husband, of having to kiss her every day, of having to sleep with her in time made his skin crawl. He was gay. Very in the closet, incredibly far back in the closet, covered in mothballs and dust, but gay nonetheless.
From Lydia [6:37pm]: I’m swamped with work stuff. Can you call the wedding planner and arrange an appointment for tomorrow? Magnus Bane.
She’d left a number but Alec felt a need to reply to her message with one of his own. Isn’t that what loving couples did? Exchange cute funny messages, screenshot the best messages to look back on when lonely or tired or mad or sad? Instead he left it, dialling the number with a frown. The phone rang a few times before it was picked up. “Magnus Bane,” an incredibly smooth voice on the other end said, “how can I help you?”
“I, uh, I’m Alec, uh Alec Lightwood,” he stammered. He was never good on the phone, too awkward to have a decent conversation with someone without being face to face. Texting was much more his thing, where he could edit and think extensively about his responses.
“Of the Manhattan Lightwoods?” Magnus suddenly sounded more alert, being faced with Alec’s family’s prestigious name. “I heard about the scandal last year.” Not so prestigious name. Ever since Isabelle abandoned the family business of being a ‘valuable and esteemed part of society’ for being a self-defence teacher in Brooklyn, they’d been almost torn apart by the vultures of high society. The wedding was a way to stitch them back together again.
“Yeah, well, I’m the eldest son, and I’m, my fiancée, Lydia Branwell-” he paused, waiting for a crow of recognition but none came, just a steady silence. “Uh, Lydia asked me to call you and set up an appointment.” That was one sentence without much hesitation. “For tomorrow, if that’s okay?”
“Of course, anything for the Lightwoods,” Magnus said. “I knew your mother,” he added. “So, Alexander, I’m free tomorrow at two, if you’re okay for then?”
“I’ll have to ask my, uh, fiancée.” Great, he could barely say the word fiancée without getting nervous. “But I’m sure it’ll be okay.” There was a silence and Alec yearned to either fill it or hang up immediately. He wanted to end this conversation right now with the appointment being made but he knew he just couldn’t. “Magnus?”
“My apologies, I got distracted. Tomorrow is great. I’ll see you then, Alexander.”
The phone beeped and Magnus had hung up. Alec waited for a second before putting the phone down. He wasn’t sure why but he felt uneasy, like something big had happened. Maybe it was the fact that the wedding would be set in stone soon. He knew that it had to be in a month or two because some important ambassadors were only free then.
Alec looked at his computer, considering finishing the report, then stopped and looked out of the window again.
“Alec Lightwood,” he said to the girl at the desk. He was alone, self-consciously alone in the wedding planner’s office. “I have an appointment in about five minutes.”
The girl checked her computer and then smiled at him unnervingly brightly. “Mr Bane said to let you right in, that’s unusual. He normally keeps people waiting.” She laughs softly. “Anyway, it’s the second door on the right, just down that corridor.”
Alec walked down the corridor, feet sinking into the plush red carpet. The whole floor was incredibly colourful and every last corner was decorated with flowers or paintings or ornaments that Alec didn’t even have names for. It should have looked cheap but it didn’t. It looked classy. Much like its owner. He’d done some research last night – mostly so he didn’t embarrass himself and mistake Magnus Bane for an intern or something – and he’d spent hours staring at photos he’d found online. Magnus Bane had dark styled hair, his golden-brown eyes always outlined in something, always wearing elaborate necklaces and many rings, colourful shirts, tight pants and everything else that made him, essentially, Magnus Bane. His phone chimed as he stopped outside the door.
From Isabelle [1:56pm]: have you met him yet?? tell him he’s my style icon.
To Isabelle [1:56pm]: no and no. going in now.
Alec knocked on the door, tentatively. “Come in,” the voice from last night called out and Alec stepped inside. Magnus was sat on an oak desk, legs crossed. It took a few seconds for Alec’s heart to adjust, for it to stop beating so much. He felt like…he felt like he couldn’t breathe. Magnus was wearing a red shirt, streaked with gold and black pants. His eyes were lined with red glitter and black eyeliner. “Alexander,” Magnus said, raising an eyebrow. “And where is the fiancée?”
“She got stuck at work but she’ll be here soon,” he said, hoping that was true. If she didn’t come in at least two minutes, Alec might explode from how stunning their wedding planner was. This man would be planning their wedding. “I’m, uh, oh you know who I am, I…sorry, should I sit down or something?”
“Yes, of course,” Magnus rested his foot on a red leather chair and Alec sat down it, avoiding sitting on the well-polished loafer. “How are you? I love that jacket. Is it Armani?”
Alec looked down at his blue blazer, blushing. “Um, I’m not sure,” he said. “My sister bought it for me for my birthday.” Tell him he’s my style icon, Isabelle’s voice echoed through his head and he smiled to himself. “She’s a huge fan,” he said, against his better judgement. “If that doesn’t sound too weird.”
“Not at all. I’m assuming that’s Isabelle Lightwood?” Magnus raised his eyebrow. “Tell her that I loved the dress she wore two years ago at the charity ball in Los Angeles.” Alec made a mental note. “So, Alexander.” The way he said his name made Alec’s skin tingle. He felt sick. “The wedding seems to be the height of the socialite calendar this year,” he said, “no pressure.” Alec smiled. “Are you looking forward to it?”
“I guess so, yeah,” he said, half-heartedly. Magnus raised his eyebrows and he felt the sudden need to act a bit more enthusiastic. “I mean, yeah, it’s my wedding. It marks the start of a new chapter. With Lydia.”
“And all that other Hallmark crap,” Magnus said. Alec stifled a smile. “You can relax, you know, Alexander.”
“And you can just call me Alec,” he replied.
“I prefer Alexander. It suits you much better. Much more elegant. It’s a gorgeous name, really.” Alec was about to say something, like and Magnus is unusual, when the wedding planner continued, “almost as gorgeous as its owner.”
Alec choked on his words, his cheeks heating up. “Uh, um, I, uh, Magnus…Lydia should be…I…”
“Drink?”
“What?”
“I’ve been a neglectful host so far. I was…distracted,” Magnus said. A small smile played on his lips. Alec didn’t answer. “Okay…” Magnus stood up and walked over to a table filled with various bottles of alcohol. A pink liquid was poured into a glass and Magnus swirled it around with a finger. Alec watched, unable to tear his eyes away. The glass was handed to him and Magnus sat on the desk with his own drink. Alec took a swig of the alcohol and winced as the burning hit the back of his throat. “What’s your favourite colour?”
“Uh, black, or…no, black, I think.”
“I think the colour scheme for the wedding should be blue and gold,” Magnus said. He leaned forward and stared at Alec. “Blue would look beautiful with your eyes.”
“You…uh, gold…you have gold eyes.”
“Yes.” Magnus winked. “But it isn’t my wedding. Not yet, anyway. I never thought Lydia would…I’m not sure. I just didn’t think you and Lydia were a likely match.”
“It’s a solid partnership,” Alec said, rattling off the phrase he’d told Jace, Izzy, Clary, even Simon when asked.
“That’s…hot,” Magnus said with a small laugh. He sounded sort of bitter. The phone rang and Magnus pressed the green call button. “Yes?”
“Miss Branwell is here.”
“Send her in, thanks.” Magnus hopped down from the desk and sat on the other side, facing Alec. Lydia walked in and Alec forced a smile.