Disclaimer: I do not own TMI or the characters in this story… I only own the plot…
A/N: This is an AU fanfic. They are all human. And yes there is an age gap between our lovely boys, one is a student, the other is a teacher… And this fic is M rated… not for this chapter but soon enough it will become lemony fresh ;) Enjoy, my beautiful readers. Oh, and there is some slight homophobic content used in this chapter. It is not meant to offend anyone, it's just for the purposes of the story but I'm sorry if anyone's actually had people say stuff like that to them. Homophobes suck.
Alec kept his head down as he walked the halls on the first day of his senior year. Jace and Izzy had already peeled away when they were swarmed by their respective followers at the car. This left Alec alone to silently melt away into the shadows and continue his invisible existence.
He slipped through the doors, headphones blaring 30 seconds to Mars, as he made his way to his full length locker. As he ducked his head and stuffed his hands into his pockets, his headphones were ripped from his head and he was shoved up against the locker hard. His head smashed into the metal, the sound of the hit echoing through the emptying halls.
"Hey faggot. How's life treating ya?"
Johnathan Morgenstern. The biggest homophobe on the planet and Alecs personal tormenter.
"Fuck off Morgenstern."
Johnathan sighed, pressing against Alecs body, fist clenched in his oversized sweater. "You've got a sharp tongue Lightwood. But keep it to yourself or you know what I'll do."
Alec threw an elbow into Jonathan's side and kneed him in the groin. "Leave me alone Morgenstern. You can't hurt me anymore. I told Jace everything over the summer and you can out me to the entire school if you so desire and i honestly don't care."
Johnathan raised his eyebrows. "Why, Alexander. You've grown some balls. That's good. I'm sure all the other fags around here would appreciate that."
Alec felt himself blush despite his will to not let Morgenstern get to him. "Just go. You've got nothing on me anymore."
Johnathan sighed and took a step back. "Anything else you'd like to say with that pretty little mouth?"
Alec smirked in Johnathans face. "Yes actually. I. Am. Not. Your. Bitch."
Johnathan laughed a little and released Alec and shoved his headphones against his chest. "I like this new Alec. What happened to you over the summer? Although i did like the little submissive, spineless boy who was so terrified of the truth."
Alec glared at Johnathan hard and their breathing gasped in heavy, loud breaths. They were at a standoff until Johnathan turned away smirking.
"I'm outing you today bitch."
Alec stared after him until he slipped around the corner and out of sight. Alec let out a deep breath and hung his head, sliding his headphones around his neck and blinking hard, pushing away the years that threatened to fall. He clenched his fists and growled, swinging his foot into the metal of his locker door and yelling incoherent curses. With a sobbed gasp, he turned away, heading towards the back door of the English room.
Magnus Bane strode through the halls of the school. It was his first day and he planned to make a good impression. He'd moved to the city in search of a better life and found a new job as a literature teacher. It had been fun at his old school but he got bored there. In the suburbs. So city life it was and long story short: here he was.
As the small heels of his polished black shoes clicked lightly on the tiled floor, he heard the distinct sound of something smashing into a locker. He turned the corner and saw a boy with light blond hair, almost white, pressed against a dark haired boy. He raised an eyebrow at the sight. City schools. Boys making out against lockers when they should have been in class. He smirked to himself, remembering his own high school days, the respective time of 6 years ago.
He was about to carry on walking when he heard a loud, frustrated growl followed by a flow of yelled curses. He peered around the corner to see the dark haired boy sobbing and kicking the crap out of his locker. It was then that Magnus realised that the light haired boy was not thrusting against his sexy boyfriend, he was threatening this dark, brooding kid instead.
Magnus watched as the boy walked away. He noticed with appreciation that the boy was tall and built. His jeans hugged his legs nicely but his sweater was way too baggy. But he had messy hair of midnight black that fell carelessly down his neck and swept over his downcast eyes.
Magnus internally cried for the kid. He knew that look. Depressed, closeted loner guy. Magnus had been that guy once. And it was the worst time of his life. In that moment, Magnus swore vengeance for this boy. As a teacher, he should be passive and not choose favourites and not pick on students, but that light haired douche was going to get what was coming to him.
With a smirk, Magnus slipped down the hall to his classroom where all the students should already be seated and ready to learn some literature.
When Magnus swung through the classroom door, the class fell silent. They all stared as he walked to the table, swinging his briefcase onto the chair and jumping up to sit on the desk.
He looked out at them for a second scanning their faces. Some were confused, intrigued while others were bored and uninterested. Magnus tapped his rings on the edge of the desk and smiled, knowing that by the end of the semester, he would have them all smiling too.
"Hey there guys. I'm Mr Bane. I know, ironic name for a teacher as i am sure at some point i shall indeed become the bane of your existence." He said with a smile and a playful wink at a pair of girls who were openly gawking at him.
"Now," he said, jumping off the desk and clapping his hands once loudly. "I'm going to attempt to teach you about real, decent literature." He could tell the students were super excited about this by their dim eyes and dull faces. This was going very well.
"I know. You're all thinking: Great! More Shakespeare! More Jane Austen. More books from so far in the past that we can't understand the bloody old English gibberish!"
A few students laughed and Magnus smiled at them, walking around as he spoke.
"But no. This course will not be like that. This course will be the best of your life. If you are willing to put in the work, i can teach you how to entrap the mind and ensnare the senses, to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopped in death."
He abruptly stopped walking, stamping a foot loudly on the wooden floor. "Credit for anyone who can tell me what i just quoted."
Immediately, several hands darted up. He picked a nice looking kid with glasses and an awesome Lord of the Rings inspired shirt.
"Harry Potter, Sir."
Magnus nodded and smiled, clapping, which was soon copied by almost everyone else. "Indeed kid, well done. But please, no 'Sir'. That makes me sound like a boring old guy." He physically shivered and laughed with the kids.
"Now. I quoted Harry Potter because we're going to study it this semester. Along with The Hobbit and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Our topic is the supernatural, the mythic, magic and fantasy. And truth be told, i just really love those books." He said with 'what you gonna do?' kind of shrug.
Most of the students were smiling by now. Laughing and talking, about the books, which was a good sign. Although there was a group of guys sat to the side that were glaring and whispering between themselves, every now and then casting dirty looks at Magnus.
Magnus swung his chair around and slipped down into it, placing his crossed ankles on the desk.
"Right kids, that's what we're doing this semester. We won't start today. Ill give you the books but we'll start fresh tomorrow. For now, i want to know a bit about you all. And I'll tell you something about me. It's good to know the people you work with in Literature, it helps to see other peoples perspectives. Which can give you some vital evaluation points in your analysis essays."
He smiled as their faces fell, laughing kindly. "Yes. Despite my apparent laid back demeanour, there will still be tests and essays set. That's unavoidable unfortunately. If i could change that, i would." He said with a wink.
The class 'awwwed' and laughed, as Magnus held up a hand. To his surprise, they fell silent with ease.
"Ok so: ill start. My name is Magnus Bane. But you can call me Mr Bane, or just Bane. Anything but Magnus really, that wouldn't be appropriate. I'm from Indonesia. I've taught in schools in London, Paris, Indonesia, California, Florida, Italy and here now. I like to travel. I love literature. I have a pet cat. And I know I'm a little unconventional but i really hope that you guys will put in as much effort as i will and we can kick literatures ass this year." He ended with a smirk, as he gestured to a girl in the front row. She sat up straighter and smiled.
"I'm Izzy, as most of you know. I like fashion and parties and I have two superhot brothers."
The class clapped for Izzy and Magnus looked at her. She looked familiar. She had dark hair and dark eyes, flawless complexion and a subtle strength to her structure. She looked a bit like the boy Magnus had seen beating up a locker.
The class went round shooting through Magnus' minions for the year. The boy with the glasses and the cool shirt was Simon, the footballer beside him was Jordan, the girl sat with Izzy was Clary. Then there was a Sebastian and the light haired boy who had tormented the other boy earlier, his name was Johnathan. As the intros finished, Magnus was about to get up and move on when he realised that a kid in the back had not spoken.
Magnus pointed this out and the boy looked up and Magnus' heart stopped. His eyes were bright, shimmering blue, swirling all shades and piercing Magnus to the core. And what was more, was that he was the boy from the locker incident. Magnus sighed, knowing that the boy didn't want the attention and he sent him a silent apology. But the boys eyes sharpened, he sat up straight and licked his lips.
"I'm Alec. I'm one of Izzy's brothers. I like to read. I like rock music. And I'm -"
"GAY AND IN LOVE WITH MY BROTHER!"
The guy with the pale hair and cruel eyes stood up, glaring at Alec with an evil smirk. Everyone turned to Alec in shock. Izzy stood up, along with a blonde guy who had earlier introduced himself as Jace, Izzy and Alecs brother.
Johnathan cocked an eyebrow at Alec, who was breathing hard with blazing blue eyes.
"I'm not in love with my brother but i won't deny that I'm gay. Not anymore. I can't be asked with closet any longer." He said in an unamused voice.
A few people started laughing, while Jace climbed through the desks, standing beside Alec. They stared hard at Johnathan, who openly laughed as the whispers and messages started firing around.
Magnus stood up as Johnathan slid from his desk, gazing menacingly at Alec.
"Awww look, the love of your life has come to save you. How sweet. Maybe the two of you can run off into the gay sunset and live out your lives as filthy faggots far away from us normal, uninfected people."
He spoke with malice and ice and his words cut Magnus like a dagger. He moved with the speed and agility of a cat, crossing the space and stopping a foot from Johnathans predatory stance.
"Mr Morgenstern i am a tolerant man and quite an easy going teacher but i will not tolerate the use of such crass and offensive language in my classroom. I'm afraid that this will not go unpunished.
You can either go down to the principal's office and spend the day in isolation or i can cut you from this course right here right now. If you wish to avoid either of those, apologise to Mr Lightwood and return silently to your seat and hold your tongue for the rest of this academic year. Your choice, kid."
Magnus spoke with deathly calm, his anger showing in the ice of his bitter words. He stared into the soulless black holes of Johnathans eyes and waited, steely calm, for the boy to make his choice.
Magnus could feel Alec and Jace buzzing with rage behind him, as he clenched his fists while his mind took him back to his own high school days of bullying and torment.
Eventually, Johnathan subsided, walking away and picking up his bag, heading to the door. Magnus shrugged at him and spoke still in his angered voice.
"Ill send a message to the principal telling her to expect you today. If you don't turn up there, ill cut you from this class and you'll fail, meaning you won't be able to graduate at the end of the year."
Magnus nodded in Johnathans direction as the boy glared at him. Magnus smiled as the boy swung out the door, slamming it behind him after leaving in dead silence. Magnus turned to the rest of the class and let out a deep breath.
"Well that was dramatic." He said sarcastically, causing a wave of laughter erupt, as he made his way back his desk. Jace and Alec subsided and the class fell back into its normal state. As Magnus sat back down, his eyes locked on Alecs perfect cerulean jewels and he smiled encouragingly. Alec blushed and smiled a little back before hastily turning away and ducking his head, his cheeks burning. Magnus smiled to himself, internally wondering if he had a new admirer.