Chapter 4 – Ragnor

(Magnus talks to an old friend about his Alec crush. Magnus asks Alec out on a date.)

Magnus stood in his kitchen trying to keep his jealous at bay as Ragnor stole his son's love from him right out from underneath him. He was standing there, he repeated to himself. He just eyed the pair. Ragnor said he came to visit him but he wasn't a stupid man, he began to steal his son. He was forced to arch an eyebrow at the pair when they both giggled, it was like they were teenage girls telling secrets about their crushes.

"Hello, Magnus it's so lovely to see you. Thank you for inviting me to come visit." Magnus spoke under his breath but loud enough for Ragnor to hear. He ignored him and continued on with stealing his son's love. He rolled his eyes and grabbed the bag of trash to take out.

"Magnus."

He looked up at the tiny voice; it was Max who was standing with Clary holding her hand.

"Morning." The bonfire had been the night before and he forgot Ragnor was coming for Saturday and Sunday until he showed up at his door at six that morning. Magnus never hated him more than that wake-up call when he only had a few hours of sleep. He would wake up tossing and turning a few times in the night.

"I'm going to the zoo."

"Oh yeah," Magnus knelt down on one knee, "What's your favorite animal?"

"Red pandas. They are tiny and cute. Fluffy."

"That they are." Magnus stood up then, to nod to Clary. "It's so early."

"It's the best time to go. Jace and I are taking Max to my step-dads farm tonight; we won't be back with him until tomorrow."

"Alec not going?"

"Nope, it's an Auntie and Uncle sleepover. Right, little man?" Clary picked him up into her arms. Then, she gave him a tight hug when Alec came out with his little book bag.

"He's got books and toys in this bag," He handed it to Clary without a word to anyone else. "And he's got night clothes and an outfit for tomorrow plus a spare. That's in the bag I gave Jace earlier." Clary nodded and handed Max over to Alec. "Hey, buddy. Have a good time with Uncle Jace and Aunt Clary. Have them call me if you need anything." He kissed his forehead and pulled him in close, wrapping his free arm around his son's back.

Magnus was reminded of a time when he had to let Raphael go to his mother's house for the first time, saying goodbye was the hardest even if it was just for a day.

"Bye, daddy."

Alec handed him to Clary as Jace walked by. They all said their goodbyes but Alec only had eyes for Max, "Love you." The little boy waved him away.

"I'm kid free myself tonight. Let's do something." Magnus finally spoke up when Jace and Clary drove away, Alec looked at him, shocked to even notice him there. Causing Magnus to laugh at him. "Yes, I've been here the whole time."

Alec laughed, "Sorry. Max doesn't leave me often. I get carried away." He looked around to make sure that wasn't something else he was missing.

"My friend is in town and taking Raphael for the evening." Magnus pointed back to the house, "He's currently inside stealing my son's love as we speak but they are leaving around 3, so, we should do something."

"Uhm," Alec looked back to the way Max just left then back to Magnus. "I don't really go out much."

"Well, I'm new to town so why don't you just take me to your favorite restaurant, my treat." Magnus smiled at him, "I'll be over around five." He left them, picking up his trash bag to put it where it needed to be, then he needed to talk to Ragnor.

Alec watched him go with a frown, he wasn't sure but in his limited experience that's how dates started. There was no way this was a date, Magnus had been married there was no way he was gay. He knew that was archaic thinking but it was the first thought that crossed his mind.

Magnus came back into the house with a dazed look on his face, Ragnor and Raphael were in the same position he left them.

"Alright, Raphael, go play. I need to speak to Uncle Ragnor." Magnus gave him a strong look when Raphael looked like he was going to fight back on him. Ragnor also gave him a look but he glared back at him. "Go." Magnus waited for Raph to be out of the room before stealing his son's seat at the table. "I think I did something stupid."

"What now?"

Magnus sighed, he didn't know how much he should tell Ragnor so he thought he would start with the beginning, and he needed him to understand the entire situation. "So when I moved in, I noticed my neighbor was really hot, but he had a son and a wife so I ignored it. Giving in that it would just be a fantasy. Well turns out the girl I thought was his wife, is actually his sister-in-law. He's a single dad like me so we would just hang out, our kids play together, and his son is three. They go to the same daycare because Alec told me about it. Well last night at a bonfire, his brother accidentally announced that Alec's gay. He's gay!" Magnus threw his hands up in the air like it was the best news on the planet, which for him was the best news. He had been dreaming about Alec since their first meeting and now it could be more than a dream.

"Well, that's good news. You going to go after him, now?" Ragnor leaned back. He wanted to point out all the reasons this was a bad idea but he knew that look. Magnus had his heart set on him and there was no changing it now. He was like a dog with a bone; he had been that way his entire life. That was the reason he ended up in a horrible situation named: Camille. He couldn't really fault Magnus, he did get his son and that boy was his life. Raphael also happened to be his life. Ragnor and Magnus had a close friend who was murdered in a drive-by shooting in high school, a random act of violence was all it took. Magnus named his son after him without question. Camille tried to fight him but once again Magnus was like a dog with a bone, he traded with her, he got to name their son and Camille got her wedding. It was a nightmare from day one but Magnus had to lay in the bed he had made. It only took him two years to get out of it.

"When I was taking out the trash I stopped to speak to Alec who was outside with Max and his sister-in-law, Clary. She's taking Max for the night so Alec is childless tonight and I'm childless tonight so I asked him out."

"What?"

"I asked him out but I didn't call it a date, I just said dinner since I'm new to town and told him to take me to his favorite restaurant." Magnus groaned, "Why did I do that?"

"Well, it's not like he thinks it's a date. You guys are childless for a rare night and you're going out as friends. Nothing wrong with that." Ragnor knew that was not going to be good enough.

"I want it to be a date."

"Does he know you're not just into the women?"

"No." Magnus frowned, "He also doesn't know that I know about him. How do I bring this up?" Magnus was so confused. He should just drop it but he couldn't. He didn't want to; he wanted to talk to Alec. He hated secrets, everything about Camille was her keeping secrets and cheating, and he hated it. He didn't want to do that to Alec.

Ragnor watched the wheels in Magnus' head, his issue with secrets was well known. It was never a problem until Camille; then it was a huge problem. Usually, those secrets ended with a new lover and it slowly killed Magnus over time. He had turned into a shell of the man he knew. Raphael was his only savior. "I would wait until the dinner is over when you get back here and ask him in case it doesn't go well you're not stuck at an awkward dinner. Unless of course if you get a good vibe from him. But wait until you are sure it's right."

Magnus sighed, "I know I'm reading way too much into this but he has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen in my life. I get so lost in them. The last time that happened was with Raphael." Magnus knew Ragnor would know which was he was talking about. The namesake of his son. He had been in love with him and when he died, it killed him. He had years to deal with it but it still hurt, and he knew it would always hurt. He didn't talk about Raphael a lot, but he was the last man he had been with, he spent his high school career with him. Magnus could have easily spent his entire life with him, had he not been murdered. Ragnor was also profoundly affected by the situation.

"I know." Ragnor looked away from his friend; he couldn't see him right now. The sadness was going to hurt him and he couldn't deal with that. "Listen, if you feel that strongly about then you have to be honest with him. It's not going to be fair to either of you if you keep this a secret. Yeah, calling it a date might change the dynamic of the night but you have to be honest."

"I know. Maybe I should say something before dinner, in case he doesn't want to go."

"No, I still say wait until the end. You have to get a feel for the situation and then you would know for all future dinners it's just friends or adult play dates."

Raphael came back into the room at that point, carrying a very large book and his favorite stuffed bear, "Can I come back?"

"Of course." Magnus lifted his son up and dropped him in Ragnor's lap; he wasn't a stupid man; he knew what his child wanted. "What do we want for lunch?" Magnus went to his fridge, "We've got leftover pasta, or I can make sandwiches."

"Pasta!" Ragnor and Raphael said at the same time.

Magnus looked over the fridge to eye them; one would think Ragnor was Raphael's father.

"Hey, Clary." Alec held the phone between his ear and shoulder. "No, I am not calling for Max already. I need help." He waited for her response to some remark Jace said, "Yeah, I'm ignoring him. What's your favorite restaurant?"

"Jace says, no. We aren't telling you. You wouldn't go anyway."

Alec rolled his eyes at her, "Listen, it's not for me per say. Magnus doesn't have Raphael tonight, something about his friend being in town. He asked me if I would take him to my favorite place, and show him around, I think. But all the places I go to is for Max; he's too picky of an eater for anything else."

"Awe, that's cute. A man date."

"It is not a date." Alec threw his best jeans on his bed, "Just dinner with my neighbor."

"Listen, that man is a walking god."

"Are you going to tell me a restaurant or not?"

"You should wear that blue button down shirt Iz got you for Christmas, it really brings out your eyes." She giggled into the phone.

"Alright, I'm hanging up now."

"Wait, Jace and I love that Sapporo Sushi place or Carrabba's is always a good choice."

Alec could hear Jace talking in the background again; he was hundred percent sure he didn't want to know. "This isn't a date, Clary. He had a wife and a child with that woman."

"How else do you make babies? Besides, he must think the same about you. Unless you told him the truth?"

Alec heard the softness of her tone; she was the only one who accepted Max from day one, no questions asked. He told her the truth but it wasn't talked about unless Alec brought it up, and he never spoke about it. "No, I did not tell him anything."

"Well, I'll tell you this. It might have been brought up last night that you don't date often and you might be 'batting for the other team'." Clary spoke in a clear tone to make herself known.

Alec froze mid-movement. He was in the middle of pulling out the blue shirt Clary told him to wear. "What?" He felt himself stop, his entire being including his brain stopped. "I'm going to kill Jace." He didn't need to think any further than that, he put his blue shirt back and pulled out some t-shirt with a random band on it. His entire mood for the day shifted, he was instantly regretting this dinner. He had to find a way out of it.

"Jace spoke out of turn but I kind of said something first. I just said we need to get you laid. Jace brought up Ferndale, which we then had to explain and it became self-apparent that you're gay."

Alec swore, "Goddamnit. I have to go." He cut her off during her apology and threw the phone on his bed. He was fuming, how was it that Jace always managed to 'out' him more than he's ever told anyone. He heard his phone go off; he didn't need to look to know it was Clary so he walked out of his room. He had to tell Magnus today was a bad day. His phone beeped again this time signaling a text message. He could hear it from his stairs so he turned around to go get it.

"Sorry, Alec. You should still go out for dinner. Don't stay home."

He sighed, he needed to get some yard work done. He would see how he felt about the situation later. He knew he was more annoyed with Jace then anything. Magnus was most likely just wanted to hang out but he was still annoyed now. He was never without Max and dinner did sound like a good idea but for a moment he got ahead of himself. He was excited to go out and be free for a night now he just didn't feel up to it. He was being childish with Clary and Jace but why is it they always felt the need to do things for him. His neighbor didn't need to know these things about him; he hadn't even known him a month. Nothing was secret in his world if Jace knew about it. His stupid jokes and lack of thought was always an annoyance to him.