7
It took awhile for Magnus to get better, weeks. It was past Thanksgiving before they let him go home.
"Alec, darling, I'm fine," he assured, leaning on the care he'd have to use for awhile. "They're just stairs." But Alec stayed close behind him, waiting like he would shatter at any moment. He almost fell once. Alec caught him as he staggered back into his arms.
"Just stairs, huh?" He whispered, kissing his forehead.
"Well, there's quite a few. Were there more added while I was gone?" He smiled crookedly. Alec helped him up the rest, gently holding his back and whispering "almost there", over and over.
Magnus sighed when they got inside. This is where he'd wanted to be since he'd woke up in the Institute. Home.
Chairman Meow darted across the floor, looking more like a tiny cloud than a cat. He skidded to a stop in front of him, snaking in and out of his ankles, purring softly.
"Hello there," he smiled, kneeling laboriously. Alec helpfully guided him down, petting the cat as well.
"Clary's been coming by and feeding him. I don't think he likes her," Alec chortled.
"Why do you say that?"
"He scratches her every time."
Aww," he scratched behind his ears. He winced suddenly, inhaling sharply. Alec froze, holding his arm, waiting for his teeth to unclench. He relaxed after a moment, breathing shakily.
"Are you okay?" He whispered.
"I'll be alright," he assured softly. Alec gingerly helped him stand and guided him to his bedroom.
This was one of those times when Magnus wished he had a bed frame. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to get down onto his mattress. An angel came to his aid.
Alec took the cane and set it against the wall still holding his hand. He swiftly and almost painlessly lifted him up, kissing his cheek. He set him on the bed and started taking off his coat.
"Those painkillers aren't as strong as I'd like them to be," Magnus sighed, moving stiffly. Alec kissed his forehead and lied him down, moving to take off his shoes.
"I can't believe I was out in public in this," he groaned. Alec smiled a little, tossing his shoes aside. He looked at the sweat pants and black sweatshirt he was wearing and chuckled softly. He pushed his hair from his eyes, astounded that he'd gone this long without makeup.
"You're adorable," he smiled, kissing him gently. Magnus shook his head.
"Not in the slightest," he mumbled.
"You need to rest," Alec whispered, still rubbing his forehead. "You should sleep." Magnus stared at him with sorrowful eyes.
"Don't make me," he begged, his voice very soft. "Please don't make me sleep, Alexander."
"Shh, hey," he kissed him gently. "You don't have to sleep. I…I don't want to either." He took Alec's hand, squeezing softly.
"I'm going to kill those bastards," he whispered harshly. "I swear to God I will! I-" He broke into a coughing fit. Alec hastily sat him up, rubbing his back. He took a few shaky deep breaths, holding his ribs.
"You need to relax, baby," he said softly. Magnus looked up at him, pain in his eyes. He saw the thin line of tears welling in Alec's. He hugged him to the best of his ability, face turned into his neck. Alec held him back, wincing slightly when Magnus gripped him as tightly as he could, sniffing very softly. He felt tears of his own fall from his eyes. He hugged him closer, kissing his forehead. "Shh, shh, don't cry, don't cry. It's okay…I'm okay."
"Liar," he hissed. They held each other, sobbing so softly it only sounded like whispers to a normal person.
Chairman Meow, however, was not a normal person. He poked his head into the room, looking sadly at the scene before him. He trotted toward the bed, forwning and hopped up with some effort. He welded his way in between them, trying to offer as much comfort as a cat his size could.
Magnus smiled, laughing lightly and sniffing. He looked back down at the tiny cat, wiping his eyes and petting him. "You and you're indifference. You don't care at all do you?" He chuckled. Alec was laughing too, his wrists still linked around the former warlock's neck.
"I've got an idea," he said, smiling through his watery eyes. "How about I order Chinese and we sit and watch movies all day?"
"Do we get to make-out too?" Magnus asked hopefully. Alec laughed.
"Of course," he kissed him, unable to keep the raw need out of his lips. Magnus reciprocated, then proceeded to cradle the cat to his chest.
Chairman Meow understood that he was hurting, that he needed something to take him away from those memories, and Alec only made him angry. He wasn't mad at him, god no. No, he wanted to hug and kiss those awful memories away, hold him and tell him it was alright. He didn't even have the strength to do that. So weak…
He was angry because every time he looked in Alec's bleary eyes he felt that burning anger that made him want to rip the bastards that gave him this fear and loathing apart. He damned them to the lowest depths of Hell and prayed with all his might that they died slowly and painfully, as they had wished both of them to do.
"Is everything alright?" Alec asked, still trying to smile. Magnus kissed his cheek.
"Yes, darling," he assured. "Go ahead and order. I can get out of here." He hoped. Alec looked at him doubtfully.
"Alright." He left the room. Magnus sighed, glad for once that he wasn't in the room.
Why can't things be the way they were?
Maryse stalked into the building, her eyes icy, gaze hard and unyielding, steps ringing through the hollow hallway like cracks of a whip. Maryse Lightwood was out for blood.
She burst into the room, looking like a bird of prey as she stood, rigid, fuming.
A group of Shadowhunters sat around a table, some looking curious, others skeptical, and some even furious.
She walked to the end of the table, well aware that all eyes were on her. Robert walked in quietly, looking equally as angry, but much sadder and weary.
"Why are we here, Maryse?" A man, Jerome, asked. She stared at him with her cold and unforgiving eyes, knuckles white on the back of the chair.
"My son, Alec," as soon as she said his name there was a mild murmur throughout. "YES, I know. The last thing you want to hear about is what you consider a disgrace and foul of my son to do. Most of you think I should disown him and have his Marks taken." She paused, staring at the floor, taking a shaky breath. "Could you do that to your child?"
"If mine was what he was-"
"What does it matter?" The woman sitting opposite Maryse asked. "He performs his duties as a Shadowhunter accordingly. There is no difference in his outstanding performance in the field!"
"Ilene, the boy has only killed one demon," Aiden scoffed.
"A Greater demon," she corrected. "He nearly died, if you recall."
"Yes, and thanks to the High Warlock, he lived."
"How convenient," Jerome snorted.
"So you're telling me that you would disown Jeremy and condemn him to a mundane life he were a homosexual?" Ilene challenged. The other women remained silent. Jerome stared at her.
"Jeremy would never," he said simply, crossing his arms. "He is a proud Nephilim-"
"And Alec is not?" The oldest man there, Malcolm, said softly. "It is not against our laws to be what he is. And it is not a crime to be involved with a Downworlder, either."
"It might as well be," Ilene scoffed. "The way they talk they'd be right behind Valentine in the Uprising."
An instant uproar occurred. Shouts of loyalty and traitor went back and forth. Maryse stood amongst them, stony and silent. Robert stared at his arms, tired.
"MY SON IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN!" Jerome bellowed. "HE IS PROUD, HONORED-"
"Does that give your son the right to try and murder mine?" Maryse hissed, cheeks flushing.
Silence. Utter silence. Jerome fell to his seat. "That's why we're here," she said. "Not because I give a damn about what you think of Alec. Because your children tried to murder my son and the High Warlock. They've broken the Accords and several other laws in the process."
"What are you saying?" Jerome croaked. Maryse threw the amulet onto the table. The others stared as if it were poisonous.
"You all know what it does," she whispered. "Magnus Bane has had to be admitted to a mundane hospital because of it. He's nearly died twice. They meant for Alec to die with him."
"How do you know our children did this?" Malcolm said. She stared at him.
"Few families have access to these amulets," she answered softly. "Very few." She looked at Jerome.
"It's been missing from your cabinet, hasn't it?" She challenged. He didn't answer. "HASN'T IT?"
"YES!" He barked. "Yes, alright, it's been missing for weeks. But Jeremy would never-"
"What?" Robert scoffed. "What? He would never hurt someone for 'tainting' the Shadowhunter name? He's so proud isn't he? He shares those ideals, just as a younger more reckless version of you. And your little bastard almost murdered my son."
"What proof do you have?" Ilene demanded.
"The Silent Brothers are more than willing to look and find out," Maryse said coldly.
"Why-"
"Unless you would like them to look guilty," Robert said, just as unforgiving.
"YOU CAN"T DO THIS!" Jerome bellowed. "WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO-?"
"He did it, Jerome," Marian said very quietly, staring at her hands.
"What?" He blanched.
"She's insane," Aiden shook his head.
"I know he did it. He came home covered in blood, laughing. I asked him what he'd done and he…he said he put a couple of animals out of their misery. God, I never thought…" She put her face in her hands.
Maryse was still angry, irate. She only felt satisfaction when she saw Jerome's horrified gaze.
"They'll be tried," Ilene breathed. "M-my Nathaniel…"
"Your boys almost committed murder. If I had it my way, I'd be the one punishing them. If you saw what they did to Alec, what they did to Magnus, even, you might just…" she looked around at all of them, demanding all of their attention. "disown them."
-Lemon next chap!-
