~ The idea of a Malec circus fic just came to me the other day and since I thought of it, I just had to write it. I hope you enjoy, dearies and drop a review? ~
~ I also need to thank Niknakz93 who wrote part of this chapter, and has helped me with the ideas. She's brilliant, and you should all go read some of her stories as well because her fanfic's are my favourites *_* ~
Magnus Bane just lounged back in his worn sofa at the back of his trailer, eyes closed and dozing lightly. It was hard to get a moments peace when you lived a life on the high wire. Quite literally at times.
Even now with all the doors and windows shut securely, he could hear the tell-tale sounds of a circus. The whinnies of horses, the shouts of men as they set the tent up. If they bent another pole, he was going to dock it from their pay. They'd lost a weeks worth of performing due to the big top being unusable. Some clotpole had fallen onto a main beam and snapped it clean. Never before had he shouted so much, gold-green eyes blazing in such anger.
It had been the cleaner. He was sure of it. Not only had the bastard ruined the tent and caused them to go hungry for the week because the animals came first, he'd caused Cirque de Bane's Ringleader to go hoarse from the yelling. Which was bad. Three whole days he'd been holed up in his trailer with nothing but lemon tea, and he was feeling thoroughly better. A little twinge when he yelled at full volume, but he wasn't planning on hitting such a loud pitch for a while at least.
Also, as soon as he'd been caught, the bastard in question had fled. Magnus didn't give a shit, but it was a problem when that was his primary cleaner. The one that personally attended to his trailer also.
With a light sigh, Magnus glanced at the time- almost showtime. He already had on his outfit that he wore with pride, the golden buttons on the front were tarnished, but they gave it an air of being unique and antique maybe. One more thing to do-
Magnus reached forwards to the desk and picked up the little see-through pot that held what he called his ''vibrant personality.' In the saline solution in their little holders were his contact lenses. He didn't strictly need them, his eyesight perfect. But they were simply… they were amazing to him. Magnus refused to leave the trailer unless he had them in. Both contacts were a mix of green and shimmering gold. A slit down the middle so they resembled a cats.
It amused him when the children who came to see the show avoided him, or stared at his eyes with great big eyes, gasping occasionally.
Like he was a freak.
"Oh but I am one" he told himself in a soft murmur, a slight smirk twitching upon his lips. Swiftly but carefully, he put the contacts in, blinking hard as they stung momentarily. But then it was over and a different person was staring at him in the mirror. It wasn't the old Magnus he'd hated. The one who had been shy until he finally escaped that dull, mundane life. It was the new Magnus Bane. The Ringleader that people looked up to. The man with confidence and flair. Overenthusiastic maybe, but he simply didn't care.
If people didn't like him, they could suck it.
As there was a knock on the trailer door, telling him it was five minuets until showtime, Magnus called that he'd be there in a moment, suddenly reminded that he was going to have to clear up himself or pay the others to do it. They wouldn't. They could be such lazy bastards at times.
I need a new cleaner. Before we move to the next place he thought with a light groan, running a hand through his wild and spiky hair, closing his eyes once more-
Who knew circus life could be so stressful at times?
"Do I have to come?" Alec groaned in annoyance at his family. They were trying to get him to attend the circus with them this evening. He hated circus' ever since the one he went to when he was little, around ten years old, where the lion they had used for part of the show had broken free and attacked three people. They all survived luckily, and they had caught the beast before it could do any further harm, but the memory of how afraid he was never left, leaving him despising circus'.
"Yes, you do." Jace, his best friend spoke up. Since his parents died, he had been living here with Alec's family. The only reason Jace wanted Alec to go was because the golden haired boy had invited over his girlfriend, Clary, in the hope to get lucky.
Jace's pleading eyes as well as those of his family led to Alec eliciting a heavy sigh, spitting out in a bitter tone, "Fine. But if there's a beast in this one, I'm leaving." He scowled at his family and shrugged his jacket on.
When the Lightwood's arrived at their destination, Alec huffed and slumped out of the car. Yes, he was acting like a sulking infant but he didn't care. He just wanted the night to be over.
The cool evening air kissed his bare skin, causing him to shiver lightly and pull his coat over his chest more. His sister, Isabelle, though she was only wearing shorts and a simple white t-shirt, didn't seem affected by the weather at all. She walked with grace and occasionally flashed a smile to a few groups of boys checking her out on the way into the circus tent which towered high over them, piercing the evening sky.
The tent was brightly lit, but it was a soft light that brought a kind of warmth to the place. It was bigger than the boy had expected, clearly able to house two hundred or more people.
Maryse and Robert, his parents, broke away from their children to purchase the tickets from a chubby old man sat inside a scarlet red booth and when it was time to take their seats, they filed through the crowds until they came to their front row seats.
After the last people were sat down, the lights began to dim down so the tent was filled with darkness.
Suddenly, loud and booming music came from speakers placed around the small arena of sorts. He didn't recognise the song, but he had to admit- it wasn't bad music at all.
A mans voice cut through the speakers now and the voice-over said in a smooth tone, "Ladies and gentlemen, we welcome you to the Cirque de Bane. Please, give applause to your ringleader.. Magnus Bane!"
With the voice's final words a spotlight flickered to life and fixated on an entrance into the large stage area. Double doors spread open and two slender girls came crawling out.
They were both very pale of skin and had painted faces to make them look like clowns. Where one had a pink afro of curls, the others was blue. Their hair colour matched that of their clothing which were simple jeweled corsets that sparkled in the spot light, frilly underwear, white thigh high stockings and short heels with little red fluffballs bobbing on the ends.
Jace would love this already. Alec thought almost absently as the girls crawled down the ramp in what could be considered a seductive manner, their pale blue eyes scanning the room. Obviously twins, the boy noted at their almost identical features.
A moment later, Alec finally realised that the girls had bright red jeweled collars coiled around their necks attached to leads of matching colour and at the other end of them, sauntering down the ramp in a manner of suaveness Alec had never before witnessed, behind the girls, was what could only be their ringleader.
His skin was tan and his dark slits of eyes were lined with glittery azure eyeliner that sparkled in the harsh light almost as much as the jewels on the clown girls' corsets. He wore a classic ringleader suit, though the usual red tailcoat was a dark mauve coloured velvet instead.
The two girls stopped at the end of the ramp and shifted onto their backs, propped up on elbows and glancing around the audience as the ringmaster came to a stop just behind them.
The mans lips were moving, but Alec couldn't hear what he was saying for the boy was too entranced by just how magnificent the ringleader was, and he fell into a completely dazed state once the man himself caught Alec's cerulean glance, a small smirk twitching his lips as he noticed the boys expression.
It wasn't until Alec felt a gentle nudge in his side that he was broken out of his reverie.
"Still don't like circus'?" The familiar voice of his sister purred into Alec's ear and he shot her a scowl, thankful nobody else could hear her words. She knew he had a preference for men, though he had never told her. He didn't want anyone to know.
Alec seemed to zone out most of the show. He quickly got bored with it. There were a few acts he liked; the Asian woman who could bend herself in completely inhuman ways was one, and the acrobats another.
The beguiling Magnus Bane returned to his spot in the ring now and Alec's gaze was once more fixated on the man as he spoke in somewhat a husky tone, as though his throat was sore. He mentioned about needing a volunteer for the next act, and before Alec knew what was happening, the man was pointing his cane directly at the boy.
"You." He said, "With the pretty blue eyes. Come up here and join me a moment."
Alec was taken aback, bewilderment and surprise claiming his features and his expression caused Magnus to smirk mischievously at him, and it wasn't until Isabelle kicked Alec's ankle that he realised he should move.
The boy worked his was over to the ring and guided to entrance by a worker dressed in all black. "Good luck." The man had whispered to him as he nudged Alec into the ring.
Hundreds of eyes burned into him from all around as he made his way to the center where Magnus stood, leaning on his cane and once the boy reached him, Magnus draped an arm over his shoulders and whispered into his ear, "Don't be afraid. I'll not let any harm come to you, understand? Just stay exactly where you are."
With his brows furrowing in confusion, Alec nodded in response an glanced around as tall fencing was hastily built up around the ring. What on Earth is going on?He thought to himself a moment as Magnus spoke to the audience, though Alec didn't bother to listen. He simply looked towards his sister, who looked nervously excited for what was about to happen.
Magnus struck the end of his cane against the floor once he'd returned to Alec's side, gesturing for his workers to do something. What, he didn't know, but he was overwhelmed with anxiety as to what it was.
After an all too long moment, the door to the ring slowly began to open and a lion came padding down the ramp into the securely fenced area. Alec looked at the beast with utter horror in his expression, images of the rogue lion from when he was only ten years old flashing through his mind.
He wanted to run, or scream, or both, but found his legs and mouth useless with his shock. The lion stopped it's movements at the bottom of the ramp and simply stared at the pair with its frightening yellow gaze.
Alec's knees buckled a moment later and his vision blurred into blackness as he fainted, the distant feeling of arms capturing him the last thing he remembered.