Alec was spending his last day at home with Jace, Isabell, Simon and Clary. Clary and Simon both worked part time at Clave tech, Clary as an assistant in the graphic department and Simon worked in IT. They all met when Alec, Jace and Isabell had a summer internship in Clave tech two years ago, and since then it has been the five of them.
"I can't believe that you guys are actually leaving tomorrow, it's going to be so wired here without you" Clary utters while snapping up the last pizza. Simon who had been eying the last piece lets out a disappointed huff, "you snooze you lose, Simon" Clary smiles at Simon while she's eating.
Simon rolling his eyes says, "yeah I'm going to miss you guys, not a lot of Alphas would have me around as just a friend".
"We're still going to see etch other guys, our school is just a two-hour drive from here. And next year you guys will be there too" Alec tells them, trying to make it sound less like they are moving to another planet never to be seen again.
"Yeah and Izzy will be around to be your "friend"" Jace taunts with a suggestive tone in his voice, and Simon blushes.
"What are you guys talking about?" Izzy asks as she walks in with an armload of snacks, she gives Simon the BBQ one, and tosses the rest on the floor. Simon smiles at Iz as thanks. While the rest of them fight over the other bags.
"I was just telling Simon that you would be around to be his Alpha "friend", now that me and Alec are going to school" Jace says to Iz with the same teasing tone as before.
Izzy sits down next to Simon and puts a hand around him as she exclaims "Of course I'll be here Simon, you'll never get rid of me" While Iz is smiling a devious smile and Simon is blushing furiously, the rest of them laugh.
When its nearing midnight Clary and Simon gets picked up by Clays father Luke. After saying goodbye Alec, Jace and Isabell begin cleaning up after them self. When Isabell moves into the kitchen Jace whispers to Alec "You should talk to her, we're leaving tomorrow so this is your last chance to talk face to face in a while"
"I know" Alec whispers back " I just don't know how to start the conversation"
"What are you guys whispering about?" Izzy asks as she comes in to the living room again. Alec and Jace jumps a bit not having heard her come in again.
"Jeez Iz, you should come with a bell" Jace answers. "And Alec wants to talk to you"
Isabell looks at Alec expectantly, while Alec glares at Jace. Jace just rolls his shoulders in a shrug and walks in to the kitchen.
"So what was that about? Is this about whatever you guys have been whisper about the last week?" Iz asks Alec while taking a seat in the Sofa.
"Yeah, kind off" Alec starts "I just don't know how to start this conversation"
"Well you never have been the best talker, Alec. Just start somewhere, and we'll take it from there".
"Uh… yeah, well… I'm gay?"
Izzy raises her brow "Alec, are you telling me or asking?"
Alec sits down next to Isabell with a huff and answers "I'm telling you"
"Good, I'm happy for you" Iz smiles, bumping their shoulders together. "So why does mother believe you are courting Lydia? If you told her you're gay she would probably stop throwing female Omegas at you"
"I told her I thought I was gay when I was 14, Iz. And her response was that I was just confused, that it wasn't possible that her son was gay" Alec says with his eyes down "She may accept and support the gay community outside of our family, but it's not something that's acceptable for me"
Izzy is quiet trying to digest what she's hearing. Alec has always been closer to their mother while Isabell has been closer to their father, but she never believed that Maryse would say something like that to her son!
"I'm sorry, Alec. I didn't know she was treating you that way, you know that you are one of the best people I know, gay or straight doesn't change that" While Izzy took Alec into her arms, Alec speaks "Thanks Iz, it means a lot. It took me some years to stop believing what she was telling me, it feels good to tell you"
"So what about Lydia, she deserves to know that you aren't interested, it isn't fear to keep her in the dark, Alec"
"She knows I'm not interested. We're just friends, she actually has an Alpha she wants to mate." Alec saw the question in her eyes "Her parents don't approve, so we decided to tell our parents that we would keep in touch while I go to school, we just didn't tell them that we're just friends."
"Well that's good. And if you are interested I know a lot of male Omegas that would just love to go on a date with you" Isabell exclaims happily "I'll show you some pictures and tell you a bit about them, maybe one of them will catch you interest"
"Yeah that's another thing I wanted to talk to you about, I just don't want you to… to judge me" Alec utters, his voice starting to failing him because of his nerves.
Iz takes Alec's hand in her's "Alec, no matter what you have to tell me, I will support you. As long you aren't about to tell me that you are dating Simon, then I will fuck you up" Izzy's hands were now squeezing Alec's so hard it was starting to hurt. Alec started to laugh at the idea of Simon and him dating, when Izzy didn't let up he began to explain "Relax Iz, I'm not dating your hopefully future Omega. Jeez Iz, relax, please"
Iz seem to snap out of here own head, and looked sheepishly at Alec "Sorry, I don't know where that came from"
"We all know where that came from, Iz" Alec laughs.
"Yeah, yeah. We aren't taking about my attempts at wooing right know, tell me what's going on with you"
"I guess, best to get it over with huh?" Izzy nods at Alec to continue. "You remember that book Simon brought over one time? The "fluidity of genders" book? He said he got it from an Omega friend"
"Yeah, I remember. Dad found it and yelled at us for hiding "propaganda" books in our home, he threw it out if I remember correctly."
"I got it back, and I still have it." Alec answers carefully while contemplation on how to proceed, looking at Isabell he decided to just get it off his chest "The reason I got it back is because it was the first book about the Alpha and Omega Genders that I could relate to"
"I don't understand, Alec"
Alec lets out a huff, and just forces the words out of his moth "I'm not attracted to Omegas, Iz. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Their scent doesn't appeal to me"
"Oh" Izzy takes some time to digest this, "What do you mean their scent don't appeal to you? Omegas scents are so different, maybe you just haven't met an Omega with the right kind of smell yet?"
Alec rolled his eyes and contemplated how to proceed "Izzy, out of all the Omegas you have met how many of them do you find have an alluring smell?"
"I don't know, most of them I think"
"Exactly, I haven't met one Omega I think smells alluring. They smell nice yes, but I don't find it appealing." Alec takes a deep breath "I've had three big crushes growing up, all of them Alphas. Their powerful Alpha smell and the presence they display draws me in. Of course, sometimes their personality is a total turn off. I've also had some crushes on Betas"
"Ok, right. I think I understand now" Isabell laughs "So tell me about these Alpha crushes of yours, someone I know?" At Alec's blush Isabell starts laugh louder, and that lures Jace back into the living room, wondering what is going on.
"What's so damn funny? Is she alright?" Jace asks Alec, as Isabell is trying to reign in her laughter so she can speak again. Alec just rolls his eyes and huffs out "Ignore her, she's mental."
"I was just wondering if I knew any of Alec's crushes, and by the look on his face I definitely do, now I just have to find out who". Izzy exclaimed with excitement. Alec is trying to disappear into the sofa while sending a death glare at Jace trying to get him to stay quiet. Obviously Jace is only too happy to fill in some of Isabell's blanks.
"Who do you think he had a crush on? Me obviously" Jace takes a slow turn as to show off his physique. "I'm surprised you never noticed how Alec was always staring at me with a dreamy look on his face"
"Shut up Jace" Alec scowls at him, and turns to Isabell "Yes he was my first crush, but only because I saw him as safe. I grew out of it, being around him and his ego certainly killed that crush"
"Hey, I'm still here" Jace cried indignantly.
Isabell just looked amused "You really had a crush on Jace, Alec? And how the hell did you of all people find out Jace?" Jace sat down between Alec and Isabell on the sofa and replies "Nothing gets past me"
Alec groans while standing up and uttering "Well this was all nice, I think I'm going to bed. Long day tomorrow. I've made up a bed for you in the guest room upstairs Jace"
Jace nods "Thanks, I think I will head to bed soon too"
Isabell stands up and hugs Alec before he can leave "I love you big brother"
"Love you too Iz"
Magnus was exhausted, between getting ready to the opening of his and Raphael's new club and leading the "jade wolfs" into an investigation that was highly dangerous, he was on his last leg.
As if that wasn't enough to deal with, Raphael was pissed off and has denied talking directly to him these last few days, always having their staff talk to Magnus for him.
Raphael blamed Magnus for getting the rest of the members in the Jade Wolfs to veto his suggestion to go undercover in Circle pharmaceuticals. It's not like Magnus needed to tell them that it was a bad idea to let Raphael go undercover in that trail, the risks of him getting hurt was too big. They needed another way in.
The problem is that the Morgenstern's, the father and son duo, that owned Circle Pharm. knew of most of the members in their group. Which means that they needed to recruit new members, and finding someone they could trust is not easy, especially after it turned out Camille was involved with the Morgenstern's, since that discovery their group had almost been disbanded. Thankfully they managed to stay in touch, and decided that after staying low for a while they would revive the group again.
Now two weeks after our first meeting, we have come no further, and that fact frustrated Magnus to no end. Magnus went to the bar to get a drink from the practicing bartenders, while he drank he decided to concentrate on the opening of the club and to get that over with, before dealing with the Jade Wolfs.
The first order of business would be to get Raphael to talk again.
"Hello, Raphael. Feel like talking to me again?" Magnus were standing in Raphael's office door, obviously being ignored by the angry Omega.
"Raphael, I know you are angry with me. Please understand that I believe you are capable to go undercover just as well as any of the other members of our little group, but can't you see that your plan involved you going through a trial of an unknown medication, that could hurt you maybe even kill you!"
Raphael finally decided to stop the silent treatment, but what he had to say was not comforting to Magnus "I don't care what happens to me, I just want Circle Pharm. to go down"
"We all want them to face the consequences of their actions, but I am not willing to sacrifice you to get there. We need you with us for the long run, your knowledge of the social system and the connections you have through your stay at the Omega disciplinary house is invaluable. Most of the outside contacts we have is through you, and they won't trust anyone else"
Raphael sighed and lay his head in his arms "I know you all were right, my plan was short sighted and not as thought out as it should have been. I'm just frustrated, we are making no progress, and all the ideas that we have are too disastrous to go through with"
Happy that Raphael is no longer angry and talking to him again, Magnus takes a deeper look at his friend. Raphael who he sees as more of a little brother, looks troubled and by the looks of him it has nothing to do with Magnus or Circle Pharm.
"What's troubling you Raphael? Your eyes are so sad, and your smell is so gloomy."
"What have I told you about smelling my moods, nobody likes a show off Magnus" Raphael seems to be building up more anger towards Magnus again, not liking that he can read his moods so easily.
Magnus ignoring the warning in Raphael's tone starts with the questions "Is this about Salamon, your little Omega friend? I heard you talking with him on the phone earlier"
Raphael sniffs, as if offended "His name is Simon, and he's not my little Omega" Not satisfied with the answer Magnus stares down Raphael until he continues talking. "Simon was wondering if he and a couple of his friends could stay over at my place in a couple of weeks. Apparently one of his friends that are starting school here this fall has a birthday coming up and the birthday boy's sister wanted to surprise him whit a visit"
"But that's great news, you have been wanting to see him again for ages. Why are you acting like this is bad news?" When Magnus sees Raphael starting to curl into himself, Magnus is quick to drag him up in a hug "Raphael, what's wrong?"
Whit a broken voice Raphael answers "I think he likes Isabell, as a mate" Magnus confused over who Isabell is asks Raphael to explain. "She's the birthday boy's sister, one of his best friends from home. The way he talks about here makes it obvious" Magnus squeezes Raphael tighter, ignoring the annoying huff coming from Raphael.
"I thought he liked you, didn't you say he kissed you last year when you visited the Garroway's? You've been keeping contact since then, right?"
Raphael nods "Yeah, we've been talking. But there is no way I can compete against her. She's an Alpha from a rich and powerful family and their mating will be accepted, I'm just an unfit to be mated Omega with nothing to offer and our mating would never be recognised" Raphael's voice was starting to break during the end, and Magnus could feel Raphael leaning into his hug. Magnus sensing Raphael's need for quiet, tightened his arms.
When Magnus felt Raphael trying to get out of the hug, Magnus put his arms on Raphael's shoulders waiting for eye contact before speaking "You are great just the way you are, just because society deemed you "unfit to be mated" doesn't mean that you won't be a great mate for someone. Even though our society won't accept you mating another Omega, your friends and family will and that's all that should matter. You deserve the best, and if Simon can't see how wonderful you are, that's his loss."
"Thank you, Magnus. I appreciate your support, but this is getting too sappy for me. Please leave my office so I can continue to schedule the staff shifts, that you wanted done today. You probably have something you should be doing anyway, seeing as it's only five days till the opening day"
"Of course, Raphael" Taking leave of Raphael's office Magnus is happy that they are at least taking again.
