This chapter is all Malec and all fluff ;)

It was funny. After Alec had finally come out to himself, and his teacher of all people, it was like nothing had changed . . . and everything. It was such a big thing, such a huge secret. How could things not be different? He'd finally told the truth. He was finally free to be himself. Or at least he should be. On one hand, he'd done it. He'd acknowledged this part of himself that for so long he was desperately afraid of. It was like there had always been this darkness that surrounded his heart. A suffocating blackness that pulled on him, and when he'd said he was gay it felt like light suddenly poured in and he felt all the weightlessness of it. And a part of him knew the danger in that, a part of him knew that to think you can walk on water is to risk drowning. But he was too caught up in the light. And that's why it was funny, inside he felt so different and outside the world was much the same. His family didn't know (besides all-knowing Izzy, of course) and his friends didn't know. His city was still the same city it's always been: constantly moving and, somehow, unchanging. His world hadn't changed, but he felt like he had. And the only person who knew was Mr. Bane.

Alec didn't get close to a whole bunch of people, but it felt like Mr. Bane was one of the only person in the world who understood what he was going through. Who got it. And . . . who got him. Since, Mr. Bane first said his name Alec had felt something. But this was different. When he came out to him, he felt something shift not just within himself, but between him and Mr. Bane.

Tuesday. The day after coming out, Alec came to class early. He wanted to talk to Mr. Bane, ask him to keep his secret and explain somehow.

"Mr. Bane?" Alec asked from the doorway. The man in question looked up from grading papers.

"Alexander" Mr. Bane smiled at the sight of the blue eyed boy, "come in." Alec glided over to him with a rare grace. "How are you Alexander?" Alec looked down shyly, knowing what he was referring to.

"I'm fine." After a second, he cleared his throat. "Mr. Bane, about yesterday, I just- I wanted to say-" Alec was struggling with his words, "I just wanted to say that yesterday was a big deal for me" Magnus cracked a smile.

"I figured that" he said. But Alec hadn't really heard him.

"and I know that it's okay, I do, at least I think I do." He seemed to now be talking to himself and Mr. Bane was just a bystander to his inner monologue. "Anyway, even though I said it- to you and I suppose me too- I can't say it again, not out loud. Not to others. I can't tell people yet, I'm- I'm not ready. And I don't know when I'll be. My parents, they're, they just, they don't" Alec was getting frustrated as he searched for the words "they aren't exactly accepting people and I can't tell them because they won't get it and I just, I need you to not say anything to anyone." Mr. Bane took Alec's hand and wrapped his jewel encrusted fingers around Alec's pale ones, quieting his rambling. With a reassuring squeeze Mr. Bane was able to say it all. I won't say a thing. I understand, it's okay. Alec visibly relaxed under the touch.

"You have nothing to worry about Alexander." Alec looked down at his teacher, all glitter and gold.

"Okay" he breathed out, a small smile appearing on his lips. Mr. Bane returned the smile. Magnus's thumb was unconsciously rubbing small circles on the back of Alec's hand. Brilliant blue eyes bore into amber-green. The light and the chalk dust made everything seem a little hazy and all Alec could feel and think was Mr. Bane's hand on his. It had always felt like something was missing, empty and Alec could almost imagine himself whole with the quiet still air and the calming touch. Suddenly, the bell rang breaking them out of their reverie. Alec thought he heard Mr. Bane mutter something like saved by the bell as he pulled his hand back. Alec came back down to Earth realizing he now had class and had forgotten the book they were reading.

"Oh, Mr. Bane, I left To Kill A Mockingbird in my locker. Can I go grab it?" The question was like a sharp sting, a reminder that Alec was a student, a high schooler, and he was his teacher.

"Of course, Alexander." Alec gave a little nod that ended the conversation and headed to the door.

"And Alexander" Magnus called out just as Alec began to turn the doorknob. "I'm proud of you."

Thursday. Mr. Bane was speed walking through the hallway and trying to keep his coffee from spilling. He hadn't realized that there was a faculty meeting this morning until five minutes after it started because, admittedly, he wasn't great about checking his work email (I mean, no good can come of checking a work email so why bother?). And now, he was practically running there because he was still fairly new and he didn't want to make a bad impression, most of his co-workers already thought him pretty eccentric. As he rounded the corner he ran right into none other than Alexander. Coffee and all. Alec bit down on his lip to prevent a cry of shock and pain from coming out.

"Oh my gosh, Alexander! I am so sorry." Magnus exclaimed as he furiously pawed at Alec's coffee soaked shirt, only helping to rub the hot liquid in.

"It's okay, Mr. Bane, really. I don't think you're helping it." Mr. Bane pulled back, realizing Alec was right. He stared at the soaked shirt. It was pretty worn out, and before Mr. Bane had sloshed his morning pick-me-up all over it, it was a faded gray-green. I don't think there was any way to help that shirt Magnus thought. "So, what's with running in the hallways? You know that's against school rules" Alec added, his lip twitching up a little at his own attempt at being funny. Magnus laughed but not because he thought Alexander was all that funny. He's just so damn awkward . . . and adorable.

"Oh, I have a faculty meeting. Well, at this point, I had a faculty meeting. Here, how about you come with me back to my office and I can lend you a shirt." Alec looked down at the huge stain.

"Uh, sure." Mr. Bane gave Alec a small sheepish smile and headed towards the stairs, his office was across from the Lit classroom. Alec followed in suit.

When they came into his office, it was small, no surprise there. Alec heard teachers complain all the time about the small work space they got. However, it was dressed up a little more than most offices. Glittery purple fabrics hung from the walls and bright colorful cushions were on his chair. However, there was no window and no pictures. Usually people had pictures of their family on their desk but Mr. Bane didn't. Mr. Bane rummaged through the messenger bag hanging off his chair and pulled out a silk pink shirt. He looked up at Alec's horrified face and quickly tossed the shirt back into his bag. He searched through it some more and finally pulled out a dark blue t shirt that Magnus knew to be well fitting. He handed it to Alexander who gave him a small smile and then flushed a little realizing that to put on a new shirt meant he had to take off the one he was currently wearing. He turned slightly away from Mr. Bane and pulled the coffee stained shirt over his head averting his eyes from his teacher's. Magnus, on the other hand, couldn't take his eyes off the shirtless boy. Wow, those abs. After Alec had pulled on the new (and very formfitting) shirt. He turned to Mr. Bane with a small, embarrassed smile, pink tinting his cheeks.

"Thank you, Mr. Bane" Alec said, holding his dirty shirt close to him.

"Alexander, I think we're past such formalities by now. You can call me Magnus."

Friday. Alec had finally finished The Picture of Dorian Gray. And Mr. Bane, sorry, Magnus had been right. Alec had loved it and he thought Oscar Wilde was a great writer. He had wanted to go up to talk to him about it during lunch but Magnus had been talking with some teacher so he had to wait until after class to speak with him. When the bell finally rang, Alec felt himself involuntary smile since he could now talk to Magnus alone. Once everyone had cleared out, he went over to Magnus who was sitting at his desk.

"I finished it" he said. Magnus eyebrows furrowed for a moment. But when Alexander held up the book, he smiled with understanding.

"And?"

"I loved it, I love Oscar Wilde" Alexander exclaimed. Magnus smiled at his excitement.

"He would have loved you too" Magnus mumbled. But Alec didn't hear him.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing. I am glad you enjoyed it. What did you think of Wilde's argument?" Magnus asked as he pulled a chair over next to him. Alec sat down in it and began talking excitedly about everything he thought Wilde was saying about beauty and art and its role in society. And as he spoke Magnus rested his head on his hand watching him. Watching the way his blue eyes shined and the gorgeous smile that lit up his whole face every time he talked about a quote he liked or a new idea formed in his mind. Magnus's calmer interjections were met with continued enthusiasm. It was beautiful to hear them speak, a mingling of the minds, so pure and enchanting. The way they fed off each other. How Magnus's thoughts were so new and untouched to Alec, and Alexander's opinions not only impressed but surprised Magnus at times. You could feel like you knew everything when teaching a bunch of high schoolers books that you've read and studied over and over but Alec made Magnus feel like he was seeing it for the first time. He cast a different light. He was silver and blue energy and Magnus yearned for it. So captivated by words they hardly noticed the small touches that would normally send shocks through them. Brushing fingers and cheeks as they huddled over the book together. Magnus's hand landing lightly on Alec's knee as he laughed at something the younger boy said. They were caught up in each other and the bell ringing took them both by surprise.

"I suppose that's all for today" Magnus said to Alec. Alec looked down at the hand that was still resting casually on his knee. He didn't want to leave. He had calculus now, which he'd never been a particular fan of but suddenly he hated it.

"Okay. Right, yeah, you probably have a class to teach."

"And I'm assuming you have one to go to." Alec let out a sigh before he stood up, slinging his backpack on.

"I do." Magnus didn't want this to be the last time he saw Alec until Monday. So, he suggested that Alec come after school and they could find him another book he might like. He lit up at the proposition.

"Yeah, okay, I'll see you after school" Alec agreed as he headed out the door. He paused for a moment, holding the door frame like he was about to turn around and say something but he didn't and, at last, he left. Magnus watched him, wishing he hadn't.