Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare and some scenes belong to the movie Transamerica.
A/N: As I don't live in USA, so I just google map the place and randomly pick a small town. If there is any mistake about the geography, please bare with me.
Chapter 1: Son of Lightwoods
When Magnus got the call, he was having his routine afternoon nap. Chairman Meow curled up into a furry ball besides him, white whiskers tickling the side of Magnus's naked upper body. In a half-awoken state, it took him some time to snatch the phone. "WHO DARE DISTURB MY REST!" Magnus admitted he got up on the wrong side of the bed, but who wasn't if their wonderful dreams full of unicorns were interrupted?
"Um, do you happen to know any Lightwoods?"
Magnus's feline eyes flied open, now his mind was calculating like a super computer. Lightwoods, of course he knew them. Robert and Maryse, the infamous Circle members that betrayed Valentine and helped the Clave winning the nasty battle, during which they sacrificed themselves for the greater cause. Magnus would never forget their determination when Valentine chopped their heads off.
"Who am I speaking to?"
The conversation didn't last longer than a minute, yet it shocked Magnus so greatly that he felt like he was going to throw up. One thing to be sure, was that Magnus didn't take the news quite good: Alexander, the son of the Lightwoods, was in jail.
Clary put the cup of tea on the glass table and sat next to Magnus. Something was up.
"Everything alright?" In the past years Clary had not seen Magnus so distracted and worried, not after the deaths of Lightwoods. They became close after Robert and Maryse fled from the Circle; 'best bud' would be the perfect phase for the description of their relationship.
Magnus let out a heavy sigh, emptied the cup. "When the Lightwoods came to my door and seek help, they were not alone."
Her eyebrows furrowed. Sure she knew the Lightwoods asked Magnus for protection, as Valentine would never tolerate any traitors but she didn't expect a twist like this. To be honest, she even felt a bit hurt because she and Magnus were close friends, and Magnus told her nothing other than the Lightwoods were joining their side from that moment onwards.
Magnus stopped and licked his lips. "Today I got a call from a boy in Seattle who claimed himself the son of Robert and Maryse Lightwood, and he needed someone to bail him out."
"What?" Surprised, Clary's emerald eyes stared at Magnus, observing his expression. Magnus was obviously not expect the call, if not he wouldn't rush to her house with no make-up or whatsoever. "Is it reliable? I mean, is he really…?"
Magnus gave a faint nod. "Well, does that mean you're going?"
Clary didn't hear the answer, but she knew Magnus well. He was a man that honored his promise and he wouldn't want a stain on his reputation.
The police station looked like shit. The wall was stained with non-known substances, most likely vomits as the smell was acid and unbearable. The officer behind the bulletproof counter waved him over, voice passed through the tiny holes left on the glass for sound transmitting purpose.
"You're here for Alexander Starkweather?"
"Yes. I'm a friend of his parents, officer." Magnus got side glance from people even when he was just wearing a plain green T-shirt with a pair of tight-ass jeans. It was common for someone like Magnus, confident and attractive. Irritated by the slow speed of process, his boots were knocking on the floor steadily.
The officer scrolled the mouse and looked concentrated on the screen. Finally he turned to the papers spread in front of him and wrote something down. "He was arrested because our officers caught him red-handed shop shifting alcohol, and he possessed a small amount of suspicious white powders but we cannot identify it as the evidence is destroyed."
"He's doing drugs?" For the son of Lightwoods, he couldn't believe the adorable baby held in his arms turned into a junkie and alcoholic.
"Most of them are," Busily writing, and then the officer dropped a bomb that would mark the end of the world.
"homeless teenage boy working as a prostitute." Okay, Magnus had not thought things would be this worse. Unconsciously he swallowed a huge gulp of saliva, took his wallet out from the jean's pocket. "How much is the bail?"
"One dollar."
His hand stopped running through the notes. "One dollar." Said Magnus.
"Yup. Wait on the bench after payment." He passed the note under the micro-slit.
Sitting on the filthy bench opposite the counter, Magnus thought how much his favorite combination – black and blue – had changed since the last time he laid eyes on the boy. The inky black hairs were soft and silky between his fingers, matched with a pair of ocean blue eyes. He spent a marvelous time with the young Alexander when he was planning his future. Magnus could imagine what a brave shadowhunter the little boy would be. However, the day would never come. Alexander was to be raised and lived like a mundane.
The door next to the counter quacked as it opened, two figures emerged. In the front was another officer in uniform, a dark haired boy followed behind. His head remained low even when he was brought to Magnus, seemed unable to make eye contact. A necklace was around his pale neck.
The teenager was handsome, Magnus would say. The only thing that annoyed him was the boring black clothing Alexander was wearing. It was a torture for his eyes.
"Alexander?"
"Alec." The emotionless tone made Magnus's heart stopped a moment. "Huh?"
"I prefer Alec, if that's okay with you. Who are you?"
"Fine, Alec. I'm Magnus form the – uh, church, you know, a missionary."
"What church?"
"The Institute." Oh boy, here we go.
"What do you want from me?" Now Alec's voice had become cold, eyes stared right at Magnus's yellow green irises. He swore those crystal blues could draw people's souls. "I'm doing good deeds for the name of God. So I want nothing, really, but to help you." Magnus said in his heart, my lying skills has reached another level.
Alec looked him up and down doubtfully, yet walked along with Magnus when he strode out of the station towards the crappy light brown car that stole with his magic.
"Hey, can we grab something to eat?" Magnus hauled to a stop as Alec was clutching on his elbow. Even Alec was just a few inches shorter than Magnus, he found it hard to follow Magnus's rapid pace.
Magnus looked up to the sky, seeing the sun was right above their heads. He guessed Alec didn't eat last night, being locked up and all. So they wandered around the streets and found themselves a table in a relatively decent-looking diner.
Looking at the menu tentatively, Magnus heard Alec ordered fried and salad. Not really hungry, he asked for a cup of coffee.
"Where are you from? I can drive you there." Magnus definitely wasn't taking him back to New York City.
"Shoshone."
"…" Magnus couldn't remember if it was exactly the name of that small town he dropped Alec off.
Glaring at him, Alec added. "As in Idaho. But New York is my destination." Pumping the bottle, his fries were drowning in Ketchup.
"I'm sure you have family in Shoshone, right?" alarmed, Magnus asked. If Alec decided to travel across the nation and go to New York City, it would take him a lot of time. Well, he couldn't just open a portal and reveal the world he belonged to.
"I have a stepfather." Alec stuffed the fries in his mouth, like a squirrel. Magnus shook his thought away. "I think you should pay him a visit, at least say goodbyes." After he said so, Alec's body stiffened and he shot an unreadable glance at him, but soon resumed eating and murmured a 'whatever'.
Magnus thought, the boy that once so small in his arms had now grown into a man. Like his father, Alec was well-built. Though he was not wearing any form-fitting clothes, Magnus's sharp eyes could see the toned muscle under those awful black shirt with white stains on it.
White stains.
Before Magnus put down his coffee and spoke, doe-eyed Alec asked. "Can I go back and grab my stuff?" Couldn't control himself, Magnus teased. "If your stuff means a piece of fabric like what you're wearing I would rather you're naked the whole ride."
Remarkably, Alec's cheeks reddened for his comment. He whispered, "I don't know a missionary can say things like this." A grin appeared on his always perfect face. Magnus didn't think the kid had the ability to blush, especially after the news that Alec used to provide special services…
Seeing Alec downed his cup of lemonade, Magnus slipped the ten dollar bill under the coffee cup and stood up from his seat. Noticed Alec showed no intention of following, he waved his hand. "Come on, show me the way."
Magnus couldn't count how many times he had sighed in the past hour. Alec led him to the shabby neighborhood far away from the heart of the city and they travelled through narrow and dark alleys, arrived at the place where Alec had resided for the past four years.
Junkies, junkies were everywhere. As long as Alec climbed the stairs (that building was way too ancient to be built after the invention of elevator), there was a guy with brown hairs and eyes greeted them. "Oh Alec, welcome back." He looked like a mess, fit perfectly into the surroundings. Everything in there was in a wrecked state. Alec was no exception. "Good day to you, Simon. Working late again?"
Just in time Simon yawned and stretched his muscle, nearly blending his body in half as his back ached forward. "Yeah. Didn't close my eyes for a whole 24 hours. I just returned from Starbucks to send those files."
"You have a computer?" Magnus inquired surprisingly. It was out of his anticipation that homeless boys would possess a high-tech product without being rubbed. Simon didn't notice him before, and turned to look Magnus in the eyes through his thick lenses.
"I know what you're thinking. I ran away from home with my baby – as I must reminder you I'm referring my laptop – and has been staying here since. Alec protects me every time some dudes want to steal my things. He is really good at fighting, a master of street fight club."
They reached the third floor, the long hallway was filled with rubbish. Magnus could see there was some needles with blood on it. Gross.
"I'm sorry though, Simon. I might not be here to help you anymore." Alec walked in the front, not stopping until he rested his hand on the handle of the door at the end. His worrying eyes scanning Simon, whom shifting uncomfortably and stuttered a response. "You're leaving?"
Alec nodded reluctantly. "I'm going to find my parents. Biological one. Remember those restaurants I told you earlier?" He opened the door, inside was nothing but a mattress on the floor, scattered around with some papers and tissues. Magnus followed them silently into the room, and almost cried out when he spotted some used condoms next to the unreasonably clean mattress. Some were tied up and white fluid content was trapped in it. Praise the Lord.
Alec searched under the dark quilt and when he showed up again, a blue sack in his hand. He talked to Simon while going through his stuff, deciding which one he should carry with. "I saw some of them posting recruitment notice on their doors; they will provide you food and a place to stay if you're working there, fulfilling social responsibility as I heard. You should give it try." Magnus just stood there, sometimes shifting his weight from one leg to another, waiting for Alec. Simon shrugged and pushed his nerdy glasses up on his nose further.
"If that's so I wouldn't have time for my programming. You know, I earn more writing a program than I work my ass off in those diners for a month." Alec stopped his work, gazed at the distressing expression that was on Simon's face.
"I know. But at least you're far away from the gangs. Don't tell me you can fight them." Magnus understood that Alec was trying to be reassuring, to convince Simon that he had the need to find a shelter. It didn't work quite well, Magnus could tell from the fear in Simon eyes. In fact, in some degree Magnus would say Alec's words just scared Simon more.
"Yeah, no shit." Simon stormed out the room. He was fast; Magnus only caught a glance of his back running into another room down the hallway. Alec slumped on the mattress right after Simon's exit, bag dropped on the floor. Magnus thought he should say something to lighten the mood. "Are you two together?"
"What's your problem?" Alec hissed.
Applause for the nice try. Magnus continued talking as he examined the wall to find a clear spot to lean against. "So sensitive."
"He is straight."
"If he's not, would you guys be an item?"
"Shut up and let me pack then we can get out of here." Alec ran his fingers through his disheveled hairs, eyebrows furrowed in worriment. Suddenly Magnus wanted to see if those inky lines would ignite the same sensation as they were years ago.
Alec just threw random things into his bag – a box of candy, cigarettes, holey socks and jeans – and Magnus might have caught a sight of boxes of unused condom being tossed into. He tied a knot, threw the beg over his broad shoulder and without saying a word, strode out of the room that he had been living for the past years he spent in Seattle.
Before Alec could go down the stairs, Magnus gripped at his waist. "Not going to say goodbyes?" He seemed to be thinking, bangs covering his pair of lively blue eyes like a curtain. Magnus believed eyes were the soul of human being, it didn't differ from downworlders, shadowhunters or mundanes – the emotions hidden in those gleaming irises, a window to peak into a man's inside. The curtain was preventing him from knowing Alec's real emotions.
Alec chose not to have one more conversation with Simon. The history between Alec and Simon was none of his business, he just needed to focus on the fact that with his new identity, his mission was to drive Alec safely to New York.
The rest of the plan would come to mind, Magnus thought.
Magnus wished they could roll on and use least time as possible to end this farce. Alec's life needed to get back on track, back to whatever shit he was doing. He couldn't care less Alec was a prostitute. It was harsh to say it, but he was just here to assure that Alec didn't get in touch with any mysterious creature that a mundane shouldn't have known in the first place. Alec was a mundane, not a shadowhunter. He might bear the blood of one; yet his fate was determined by many factors.
They walked in silence. Alec was fallen behind, as Magnus made the best use of his slender legs. The streets in the poor neighborhood was quiet and sometimes only a group of children he could see. Compared with the center of the city, this corner of the busy Seattle was a coffin for the dead. People living there might not be dead, but they survived like one. Rarely an adult would appear by their sides, asking if Magnus wanted to have fun. Those aimless eyes sent shivers from the bottom of his spine and he fastened his pace.
"Oh Alexander, here you are." A low voice sang in the back, Magnus swung his body around to find Alec was enveloped by two men, one blonde and one dark, both huge in size. Alec tried to bypass them, however, the blonde caught his waist and threw him against the wall while the other stepped in between Magnus and Alec with his eyes shining like a lion.
"We need some time with our sweetie, just a moment okay?" He threatened, using those polite phases to brush Magnus off. Magnus looked to Alec's direction, only saw him begging. "Don't… I don't do things like that anymore." The blonde's hand was sneaking under his shirt, and out of nowhere Alec yelped in pain and let his bag fell, both of his hands clenching at the man's biceps.
"Tsk, you're being a naughty boy. What should we do to punish you? Or your Simon?" While Alec lowered his head, bearing the pain from his side, Magnus spoke instead of the dark-haired man. "He's with me. And I suggest you not to touch him, as the consequence would be an extreme that neither of you could take."
The man in front of him cocked his head, examining the physique of Magnus. Snorted, he ordered. "Keep walking and we won't kick your sore ass." The blonde chuckled, while his hand was traveling down in Alec's jeans, the other pressed the boy to himself. The buckle undid, fly opened and revealed his bare skin. "Kinky." Then he bit the exposed side of Alec's neck, earning a tighter grips at his arms.
Magnus felt anger was swollen up in his body – Alec was like a doll being toyed with. The thought pained him as if Alec was his and people were violating his possession. He knew, the feeling was just the same like those two man, viewing Alec as one of his thing. But he would never do such to his lovers or partners. Even if he was rough, there was affection and pleasure. From his point of view, Alec got none of the above.
The dark haired man crossed his arms in front of his chest, waiting for Magnus to leave them at peace. What they thought wrong was that Magnus was a mundane. He was able to knock them out within a second, and indeed he did so. Just a snap behind his back, the two meatheads fell on the ground unconsciously.
Alec twitched his body, not letting the blonde bring him down while his face banged on the cold pavement. His eyes widened in awe, couldn't make sense of what just happened. Magnus could see the fear, like his parents –
"Stay close to me." He commanded.
Woken, Alec did his jeans and picked up the bag, ran next to Magnus. He rounded his arm on Alec's shoulder, holding him in place. During the walk back to his crappy car, Alec leaned in, tugged himself closer to Magnus, he even locked his arm around Magnus's waist, not willing to let out until he had to get on the shotgun seat.
