Chapter Two

Magnus was already waiting for Alec by the time the two of them got back. He was on the phone in deep conversation with some woman named Francine. Alec thanked Simon and then sat next to Magnus, watched the spiky haired male coach the woman through asking her dream boy out to prom. His words were slow and reassuring, the very same voice he always used, and Alec found himself scoffing at the fact he had no friends. Magnus hung up the phone and twirled in his seat lazily, "So how was lunch?"

"Fine, I went for coffee with Simon."

"Ooohh Simon." Magnus's eyebrows quirked up and he smirked.

"Wha—no! Not like that!" Alec sputtered, turning red, "He was just being nice since you left me stranded!"

"Oh did I?" Magnus purred, all sweet innocence, "I could have sworn you were right behind me!"

"Liar." Alec muttered under his breath, and then rolled his eyes as Magnus's grin just got wider. The phone rang and Alec reached for it, "Hello, how may I help you?"

There was a pause on the other end and then a high pitch male voice sounded through, "Oh, hello…uh I thought this was Magnus Bane's number?"

"Oh it is, hang on let me get him." Alec said, and then pushed the phone at Magnus.

The other male gave him a look and then plucked it from Alec's fingers, "Hello? Oh hi darling! How did it go? Yeah? Really! That's fantastic! I'm so happy for you!"

As Magnus gushed on to the other person, Alec found himself watching him. Simon's words were ringing in his head; alone, alone, alone, and Alec found himself realizing that the smile was a little strained, and the laugh was a little too quick, and the encouragement a little too flat. The more he watched, the more he began to understand about Magnus Bane.

(Three weeks later)

"Lunchtime!" Magnus cheered, tossing the phone into the cradle and practically sprinting out the door. As usual, Alec properly replaced the phone and waited for Simon. Once his new friend arrived they walked to the café and took their usual drinks and usual spot.

"So, how's it going?" Simon asked, leaning comfortably against the back of the booth.

"Great actually, I think I've got the basic hang on things." Alec said, looking much more relaxed than the wide eyed boy he'd been when he'd first arrived. He was dressed similarly to Simon, jeans and a collared t-shirt, but some of Magnus's glitter must've rubbed off from sharing the same phone because one patch of his hair had some sparkle to it. Simon, thankfully, didn't comment.

"And Magnus?"

Alec shook his head, "I don't get it. He seems like a pretty cool guy one moment, and the next moment he's slapping my hand and scolding me like a four year old!"

Simon laughed, "I think he's made his first friend."

"Do you think so?" Alec asked, leaning forward eagerly. He caught Simon's eye and suddenly became embarrassed, "I mean, I'd like to be his friend…" He trailed off, feeling subconscious.

"Mhm." Simon said nonchalantly, sipping his coffee.

They drank in silence and then headed back a little early, Simon saying he had paper work to do, and so Alec found himself alone in his and Magnus's little office. It was cramped; one large desk, a pile of papers, and one phone. Alec walked over to the papers and began shifting through them, remembering about how Simon had said Magnus never did his work. And god damn he was right. There were papers here from last January! Alec snorted and shifted deeper, pausing when the corner of a collared piece of paper appeared. He pulled it out and stared. It was a picture of Magnus and some girl. They were leaning against each other, arms thrown around their shoulders, and making stupid faces at the camera. Alec stared, he'd seen Magnus smile before, but compared to this smile the others were lemon twisted grimaces.

"What are you doing." A quiet voice asked from the doorway.

Alec dropped the photo and it fluttered on the desk, landing face side up. Both he and Magnus stared at it for a second, "I…I didn't mean to…I was…paperwork…" Alec trailed off, quailing under the look Magnus was giving him.

"Get out."

"Magnus, I—"

"Out!"

Alec bolted past the man, rushing towards the computer part of the floor, nearly knocking over some poor woman with an arm full of papers. He sprinted down the rows of offices and stopped. He didn't even know where Simon's office was.

"Alec?"

The young man whipped around and saw Simon, glasses askew, poking his head out a nearby office, "Simon! Oh god Simon I screwed up."

"What? What happened?" Simon quickly ushered Alec in and closed the door. His office had a little more room, since the desk was smaller and there was only one chair, "What happened? Did you mess up with a customer?"

"I—what? No." Alec side tracked, slightly thrown, "No…no I was going through Magnus's paperwork, I thought I could do some of it…and…and I saw…"

"What did you see?" Simon asked, all serious now.

"A photo." Alec whispered, "Of him and some girl when he was young."

"…That's it?" Simon arched an eyebrow, "Were they both clothed?"

"Uh, yes?"

"Were they doing something illegal?"

"No?"

"Then what's the big deal about!" Simon exclaimed, his shoulders slumping, "God almighty Alec! I thought Magnus was going on a killing spree and we were next from the way you looked out there!"

"You…you didn't see the way he looked at me." Alec murmured, staring at his shoes, feeling horrible.

Simon quieted and stood awkwardly next to his desk, "Alec…look it's just a photo. And it was an accident. Why don't you stay here for a little bit and then go apologize? The day's almost over anyway."

"Thanks." Alec said quietly, and then said nothing else for the duration of the day. Just watched Simon answer calls and rattle off complicated instructions, sometimes twice, to his clients. When the day was over Alec went into the garage to find his car and go home. He fished around for his keys and cursed, where the hell were they? He walked to his car, hand still grouping around in his pocket, and then froze. Sitting next to the driver's seat were his keys. "Fuck! This is fucking perfect!" Alec spat, "First Magnus, now this shit! Does the universe hate me!"

"Probably. But then again it hates everybody; so don't feel special."

Alec whirled around to see Magnus sitting there on a sleek looking, black motorcycle; its engine purring quietly. "M-Magnus?"

His mentor arched an eyebrow in the perfect way he always did, and Alec couldn't help but notice he wasn't wearing a helmet. "So you're locked out. Sucks." There was no trace of the previous emotion on his face; he just looked coy and gorgeous, like always. "So, here's a predicament." Magnus purred, his voice like the engine, "I could be a friendly neighbor and help you out, or leave you stranded until tomorrow morning."

"Magnus—"

"Oh I don't know." Magnus continued, looking thoughtful, "It might be a good lesson. You might even get to work a little early!"

That must've been it for Alec. "You know what? Screw this. I don't need your help, or anybody else's! I'll fucking WALK!" And with that Alec strode off, fuming quietly to himself. He marched out of the garage and was about to head off down the street when the motorcycle pulled up.

"Hop on and tell me where the hell I'm going." Magnus called, grinning cheekily at him.

Alec considered telling him to get stuffed, but the walk would take him over an hour and the sky was getting dark. "Thanks." He mumbled and awkwardly swung his leg over the seat, not sure where to put his hands.

"You're gonna have to tell me where I'm going." Magnus teased, "And you're also gonna have to hold on to me unless you want to go flying off the back." When Alec didn't move Magnus snorted, "I don't have any diseases, Alec."

Alec blinked. That was the first time Magnus had ever said his name without that nasty sneer on his face from their first meeting. "I live in the apartment complex by the Institute." And then he wrapped his arms tentatively around Magnus. He heard the bike hum to life and then they were flying. He gasped in shock and squeezed tighter, peeking out from over Magnus's shoulders to watch the world fly by around them. Magnus didn't bother with trivial things such as stop signs and speed limits, preferring to just gun the engine and speed up. Alec laughed out loud as they zipped by, pressed tightly against Magnus's body, with the colorful hair waving in the corner of his eyes. He was very much aware of the vibrating machine between their legs, and the close proximity of them, and how Alec was holding on a little too tightly; but neither of them seemed to care.

And then it was over.

Magnus's bike was leaning slightly as Alec slid off, looking regretful, "That was…a lot of fun. Thanks Magnus."

The other man blinked and then smiled, his eyes twinkling, "Well you still need a way to work tomorrow, I'll swing by around 8:00 and pick you up." With that and a wink he sped off, leaving Alec alone with his thoughts.