As we used to say in RadioShack, You got Questions, We got Answers.
Time for me to answer some questions and to stop torturing poor Max.
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Max sits on his fathers' bed. The loft is quiet.
So quiet that when his phone starts repeatedly beeping, he jumps and almost lands on the floor.
He looks at his phone. 25 text messages, all from...
POPPA
Max looks at the screen (he notices that it is 4:27A, way past his bedtime, way past his fathers' bedtime).
He kicks off his sneakers and moves up on the bed, his back against the pillows.
Comfortable, he starts reading the texts.
Max, something is happening at Institute. Going to check it out.
Max, there was an attack on Alec. He and Jace were badly hurt. Both are in surgery right now.
Max, you know how I am when he gets hurt.
Max, I could use you here with me now.
Max, I guess you can't get texts where you are.
I have Izzy and Clary here. Maryse is here too.
A warlock got into the Institute and attacked my angel. Jace was in the office and tried to keep him safe.
Alec was able to send me '911' and I portaled into the office and destroyed the son of a bitch before he could...
Alec is in bad shape. Broken bones, concussion, internal bleeding. I'm scared Max. Immortal or not, he isn't immune to massive injuries.
Warlock's name is Owen. Or I should say the fucker's name WAS Owen.
Never liked the asshole and now he is dead.
I'm sitting here with Izzy and Clary. Jace is out of surgery.
Every time a doctor walks past I think this is it, he's gone. I've lost him again.
I told Izzy and Clary to go to bed, it's getting late and even though I appreciate their company, I'd rather have you here.
Max, I'm scared.
Catarina just showed up. She heard that Owen was killed. Then she found out WHY the fuck was killed and she wants to bring him back so that SHE can kill him herself.
Alec just got out of surgery, but they won't let me see him yet. That scares me.
Catarina just saw him. She says that he is hooked up to machines and THAT is why they want me to wait. B/C it would be too upsetting. What's more upsetting is being kept from him but Catarina says it is best that I wait.
So I wait.
Max aren't you home yet?
They just said I can go see him. Catarina is still with me.
He looks very pale. I activated the love rune. I love the color blue for a lot of reasons. Hopefully his broken bones will heal faster and he can come home.
But he's warm and he opened his eyes for a minute and said my name. Catarina left.
I'm staying here for the night. I NEED to stay here with him.
I'll talk to you later. I love you Max.
The last message was at 2:49A.
Max reads through them a few times.
Daddy was attacked by 'Owen'? The same warlock that kept Poppa from saving 14 year old Daddy?
Max wonders if this was the same thing that happened when he had the nightmare about seven year old Daddy being killed in Central Park then GROWN UP Daddy was attacked.
Owen caused his death back when he was fourteen then tried to kill him NOW.
Max gets off the bed. He puts his phone in his pocket and his sneakers back on.
Poppa isn't the only one that needs to be with Daddy right now. Max feels like he hasn't seen his fathers in weeks.
He creates a portal and walks into the Institute.
He walks past armed ShadowHunters, who nod at him in recognition. He gets in an elevator and goes to the Infirmary. The doors open and two armed ShadowHunters are standing there. They also nod at him and let him pass.
Max is surprised that at this late time, not only are there ShadowHunters walking around but that they are armed. He recalls Poppa's text messages. The Head of the Institute was attacked in his office, that is a big fucking deal.
Max sees two more armed ShadowHunters by a room and assumes that is where Daddy and Poppa are.
He goes to walk into the room, when one of them grabs his arm, "Where are you going?"
Max looks at him, "I want to see my fathers."
"Nobody is allowed inside."
Max looks at him coldly, "Remove your hand."
"No."
The door opens and Magnus is standing there, "What's going on?"
The ShadowHunter stands at attention, "Mr. Bane, this individual was trying to enter the room."
Magnus looks at him with disgust, "This 'individual' is our son, take your hand off of him."
He lets Max go and goes back to standing by the door.
Magnus takes Max's hand and pulls him into the room. Max wants to slam the door but he sees Alec sleeping and gently closes it instead.
Magnus wasn't lying when he said Alec was pale. Max kisses his cheek, and he is warm. Alec's right arm is in a cast. He is shirtless, his chest completely wrapped in bandages.
Max blinks back tears, as he sees that Alec is attached to a heart monitor.
Magnus hugs him, "He is going to be okay."
Max sighs, "This has been a crappy night."
Magnus nods, "But you had a good visit?"
"It was okay."
Magnus hugs him, "It has been a rough night."
Max lays down on Alec's left, careful not to hinder the wires to the monitor. He rests his head against Alec's arm and holds his hand.
Magnus lays on his side, against Alec's right side. His head on the pillow. His thumb rubbing across the cast.
Alec's eyes flutter and slowly open.
He glances to his right, and whispers, "Magnus."
Magnus smiles and gently kisses him, "I'm here and so is Max."
Alec slowly moves his head to the left and sees Max, "Blueberry."
Max smiles and kisses his cheek, "Hi Daddy."
"Jace?"
Magnus smiles, "He's okay. Rest, we'll talk later."
"Okay." His eyes close.
Magnus sighs, "Get some sleep, Max." He waves a hand at the door, securing it better than the armed ShadowHunters outside.
"I'll try, Poppa."
Max holds Alec's hand tight and closes his eyes.
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Magnus opens his eyes and looks into the most beautiful hazel eyes he has ever seen. He smiles and leans up to kiss Alec, "Morning, Alexander."
"Morning Magnus."
Magnus rests his head on Alec's chest and relaxes. He sees that Max's head is also resting on Alec's chest. He assumes Alec woke up and wrapped his arms around his favorite warlocks. Alec must have removed the wires from his chest.
"How are you feeling?"
"Pretty good, considering I got knocked around my office by a warlock. How's Jace?"
"Jace was in bad shape as well, but he will recover."
"Jace distracted Owen enough for me to text you. I assume you got it."
"Yes. Owen is no longer a problem."
"It's bad enough I have rogue ShadowHunters attacking me, now warlocks have me on their hit list."
"Rogue warlocks that will be on Catarina's hit list."
Alec smiles, "Only Catarina's?"
Magnus sniffs, "I don't have a hit list, I have a dead list."
Alec laughs.
"Daddy?"
Alec smiles at Max, "Good morning, blueberry." He leans over and kisses Max's nose.
Max smiles at his father and feels all his fears disappear.
Max wonders, not for the first time, why anybody would want to hurt his father. Max isn't an idiot, he knows 'why'. His Daddy is not only a powerful man, but he is married to a powerful man. Max just doesn't see that as good reason to hurt him.
Max rests his head on Alec's chest and listens to his heart beating.
Magnus strokes his hair, "Did you sleep?"
Max nods.
Alec sighs, "Guess you didn't expect to come home to this drama, did you Max?"
Max holds Alec tight, "It's better than coming home and finding you dead."
Alec looks at him, "What? When?'
Max shakes his head, "I don't want to talk about it now. I just want to hold you."
Alec nods and holds Max close.
Magnus holds Alec, "I think I'm going to petition that there should be a rule in the Accords that the words 'Alec Lightwood' and 'dead' shouldn't be allowed in the same sentence.
Max nods, "I'll sign that petition."
Alec quickly changes the subject, "How about we go visit Jace and then head home?"
Magnus looks at him, "Home? You feel well enough to leave?"
Alec nods.
Magnus gets off the bed and looks at his husband.
Alec looks perfect, as if he never was attacked. Magnus snaps his fingers and the cast disappears from Alec's arm. Magnus gently touches his arm. Alec looks at him calmly. The arm is healed.
Alec had both of them resting their heads on his chest with no discomfort.
Max sits up. Magnus snaps his fingers and the bandages disappear. Magnus gently touches his side. Alec is still looking at him calmly. His broken ribs are healed. He snaps his fingers and Alec is wearing a shirt.
Magnus gently kisses the love rune, then kisses Alec's lips, "I love you."
"I will always love you."
Max giggles.
Magnus smiles. With a flick of his hand, he removes the barrier from the door and puts his hand in Alec's, "Let's go visit Jace."
Alec gets off the bed and stands up. Magnus waits but Alec walks away from the bed with no problem. Max gets off the bed.
Max opens the door and notices that two different ShadowHunters are outside.
Alec asks, "Why do I have guards?"
Magnus smiles, "Your mother thought that would be a good idea even though I told her that I would secure the room."
Alec nods.
One guard says, "Mr. Lightwood, we are to stay with you."
Magnus says, "Nah, you are relieved of duty. Max and I will keep him safe."
Max coldly says, "That other idiot kept me from getting in the room."
Alec looks at him shocked, "What?"
Magnus sighs, "Idris ShadowHunters who obviously don't know who Max is. I handled it."
Alec shakes his head. He tells the guards, "Mr. Bane is correct. Go back to Idris, you aren't needed here."
"But sir."
Alec shakes his head and walks away. They try to follow, but Magnus and Max stand in their way. Magnus coldly says "He told you to go back. I can provide a portal for you. Now either you go through it on your own or our son will help you."
Magnus creates a portal. Max rubs his fingers together and waits.
They look from Magnus to Max, slowly back away from the two warlocks and walk through the portal.
Magnus nods, "Good choice." He smiles at Max as they turn around and walk to Jace's room.
Jace is sitting up in bed. He gives Magnus and Max a big smile as they walk in.
Alec is holding Izzy and Clary.
Max giggles, "Group hug." He wraps his arms around his father and aunts.
Magnus laughs, "Jace, how are you feeling?"
"Fantastic, Magnus."
"Oh? I can understand why Alec healed so quickly, but you?"
"Magnus, be honest with me. Did you give Alec's rune a booster shot of magic when you healed him?"
Magnus nods, his thumb rubbing against his fingers as he remembers how pale and near death his husband looked when the doctors finally allowed him into the room.
Alec untangles himself from the group hug, walks over to Magnus and holds him. Magnus wraps his arms around him and holds his shirt tight.
Jace nods, "As I was lying here last night, I thought I saw a blue glow from my side, where my parabatai rune is. I thought I was dreaming but I woke up and felt great. No pain. Thank you Magnus."
Magnus smiles at him from the security of Alec's arms, "No thank you. You kept that monster away from Alec."
"I tried. We were no match for an insane warlock who tossed us around as if we were paper airplanes."
Alec kisses Magnus' forehead, "Jace gave me enough time to text you."
Jace nods, "Before I passed out, I saw a portal open and hoped to the angel that it was Magnus."
Magnus holds Alec's shirt tighter as he remembers walking into Alec's office, seeing Jace unconscious and bleeding against a wall and seeing his angel bleeding from the mouth, his arm at a unnatural angle and barely alive. Owen was standing over him, a dagger in his hand. Owen made the mistake of glancing up and that was all the time Magnus needed to create a fireball and toss it at him. A fireball powerful enough to incinerate Owen where he stood.
Magnus whispers, "It was."
Max walks over to his fathers and holds them.
Clary says, "Zachary, Owen can we assume there are other warlocks who are insane?"
Magnus pulls away from Alec, "Max and I will ward Alexander's office so that no warlocks are allowed in."
Izzy smiles, "Except for yourselves."
Magnus nods.
Max smiles, "And Catarina."
Alec laughs, "Yes, Magnus, she will be pissed if you lock her out."
Magnus smiles, "Yes, other than us, no warlocks will be able to get in there."
Alec nods, "That sounds like a good idea since any meetings I have with warlocks are usually in the main rooms. There would be no reason for a warlock to be in my office."
Max smiles, "Unless his last name is 'Bane'."
Alec smiles, "Exactly."
Jace says, "Maryse put guards on your room last night."
Izzy rolls her eyes, "Idiot wouldn't let me in this morning. I told him, "I'm his sister." Fucker refused to let me in."
Magnus shakes his head, "It wouldn't have made a difference I warded the door, so it wouldn't have opened. The two guards last night stopped Max."
Clary looks at Max, "Really?"
Max nods, "He told Poppa that I was an 'individual'."
Izzy shakes her head, "Asshole."
Magnus nods, "I heard Max's voice and opened the door."
Max says coldly, "I was getting ready to portal his ass to Staten Island until Poppa saved him."
Alec laughs, "Mom must have thought it was a good idea at the time."
Clary nods, "She had armed ShadowHunters walking the Institute all last night. They are still walking around."
Max nods, "But they didn't stop me when I portalled here."
Izzy smiles, "Some of them did their homework and knew who you were." She kisses his cheek and gives him a hug.
Alec nods, "They can all go back to Idris now. Once my office is warded than the Institute doesn't need to be under guard."
Clary nods, "Maryse at least didn't put the Institute on lockdown like Aldertree did."
Alec notices Max's face quickly lose color and grabs his hand, "Blueberry, you okay?"
Max holds his father's hand tight, "I'm just hungry."
Alec gently kisses his forehead, "Me too. Jace, do me a favor and tell the guards their services are no longer needed and they can return to Idris. I'll send Mom a fire message and bring her up to date."
Magnus looks at Max, "Are you okay to ward Daddy's office or do you want to eat first?"
Max smiles, "Daddy than me."
Alec kisses his forehead, "Office than the loft."
Max nods.
Jace gets out of the bed. They walk to the elevator bank and share an elevator. Alec, Magnus and Max get off first and walk to Alec's office.
Magnus takes a deep breath and turns to Max, "Max, don't be upset when you see the condition of the office, remember Daddy is right here and he is fine."
Max nods and braces himself as they walk in.
The desk is in pieces. It is covered in blood.
All the furniture has been tossed around and most of it is covered in blood.
The wall, opposite where the desk was, is covered in blood, as is the carpet.
Magnus holds Alec's hand tight in his left hand and flicks a trembling right hand at the mess.
The desk and room are pristine once again.
Max relaxes.
Magnus kisses Alec and lets go of his hand, "Okay Max, let's get to work.
He and Max go around the room, warding it. Alec sits on his desk keeping out of their way. Once they are done, he stands. Magnus creates a portal and they finally walk into the loft.
Magnus takes out his phone, "It's almost three o'clock? Where did the day go?"
Max smiles weakly, "I didn't get home until 4:30 this morning."
"Your visit took THAT long?"
Max shakes his head, "My visit was fun and quick but I got home and the loft was empty. Daddy was dead and you were no longer the High Warlock."
Alec shakes his head, "No more until after we eat."
Max nods. They walk into the kitchen and together prepare an early dinner of pasta with mushroom sauce.
tbc
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This seems to be a good time for everybody (especially the Lightwood-Bane family) to take a breath and relax after all that stress.
aka this chapter is already long enough. :D
