Author's Note: I am soooooo sorry this update took so long! We had a serious plot issue to work out and had to make sure this was all still usable! Talk about panic! Anyways, updates should be pretty regular after this. Special Thanks to Clef, my beta/editor/co-author without whom we would not have this amazing story. As always thank you for reading and please please review!
~Chapter Eight~
Magnus was ecstatic to see Catarina. Her blue skin looked vibrant and healthy. The disconcerting blankness in her eyes from whatever drug they injecting her with had gone. Her long white hair gleamed behind her tied in a loose rope. Even her pink nurse scrubs and purse radiated with well being. It could've been the smiling sun, but Magnus wouldn't complain. Not with visions of her from two nights ago still vivid in his mind. Grinning ear to ear he swooped down to envelop her in a hug, picking her up. They laughed together as he spun her around the room.
"Dearest Catarina," He inhaled deeply. She smelled like honeysuckle. "You are well again."
"Aye, alive and well." She laid a kiss on his cheek and then slapped him on the arm, hard. "Thankfully I wasn't waiting on you to heal me." She turned her gaze from him to Kale, who stood suspiciously silent. Catarina affixed a foreboding glare, put her hands on her hips and Magnus knew they were in for it. Womanly wrath. Best to stare at the ground, apologize repeatedly and hope someone could duck out for chocolate and flowers. Maybe he could send Alec; he had a sister he must know how to placate them at least a little bit? They had saved her life, wasn't that worth something? "I suppose you are the mastermind behind that little fiasco of a rescue mission."
Kale did the wrong thing and grinned. "Recognize my handiwork, eh?"
She pulled a newspaper from her large purse and smacked him with it several times. Catarina was not a very strong woman when compared to the moose Kale normally wrestled with, but he winced and covered his head, whining while she berated him all the same. "Only—the—High—Warlock—of—Canada—could—cave—in—a—m etro—from—a—hiccup! You killed people! Hundreds! And hundreds more were hurt!" She threw the newspaper at him. "I don't want you to kill people for me!"
Magnus understood her anger now. Bad enough they had killed the Nephilim, but add in innocent Londoners? Catarina devoted her life to helping people. She was entirely grateful, just upset at the death toll. She had a greater conscience than Magnus ever had. All he could offer was an apologetic smile and shrug.
Kale's grin widened as he read over the paper, he waved it at Magnus with contemptuous glee. "We made the news!"
"Thankfully it was the middle of the night and most were off the streets." Catarina collapsed onto his couch with a deep sigh. "Asleep in their beds when the earthquake struck. And collapsed their homes."
"You'd think they never dealt with a natural disaster before." There was a brief moment where Magnus wondered if Kale's isolation in Canada had done irrevocable damage to his ability to care about other living things but then, he'd always been this way.
"There was nothing natural about it!" Catarina snapped. "What were you thinking? Throwing your power around like that?"
"I was thinking those filthy Nephilim thugs kidnapped a friend of mine and I was gonna make them pay!" A thread of anger wove through Kale's riposte. It brought surge of gravity that threatened to bring Magnus to his knees.
Snatching the paper, Magnus unfolded it and set fire to it with a whispered word. "Don't tell Alec about this."
A scoff made all three of their heads swivel to the kitchen doorway. Alec stood there, Chairman Meow peering curiously through his legs. He'd added his blue scarf to cover the hickey on his neck. And possibly warmth, the tank top was more a suggestion than an actual shirt. Not that Magnus hadn't planned that, being the only dark thing in the pile of offerings, he just wanted to stare at that beautiful skin as much as he could.
"Alec!" Magnus forced a smile. "Darling. How long have you been standing there?"
"Your apartment is not soundproof," he studied the three warlocks from the doorway. Magnus watched several disgruntled thoughts of varying strengths pass behind his eyes but none of them came out of his mouth.
"Alec? You are Alexander?" Catarina scrutinized him with such intensity it made the man flush. She smiled looking back at Magnus. "You've made up! How delightful."
Resisting the urge to preen, he winked at Alec. "Darling, I'd like for you to meet Catarina Loss, my dear, dear friend. Catarina this is my… well, this is Alexander Lightwood." He said with such pride the blush Catarina had started filled his face. He extended his hand, hoping that Alec would take it and join them.
Alec only had eyes for the blue skinned warlock. He went to her and knelt before her. He reached to take her hands when she flinched so slightly that Magnus thought he'd imagined it, but the look of pained disgrace on Alec's face when he lowered his hands told him it had been very real. "I am deeply ashamed for what was done to you. If a lowly Nephilim thug's words mean anything, I apologize for your mistreatment." His face burned brightly red as he continued. "I am sorry. Please know that what happened in London will be addressed."
"Oh..." Catarina's face softened, bringing a hand to her cheek, she gazed at Alec for a long moment, unable to speak. Finally she looked at Magnus with shining eyes. "Keep him this time, will you?"
Magnus's face burned, an effect only Catarina was able to produce. "Ah, I intend to." Kale snorted but only shrugged when Magnus glared at him.
His friend gave him a blinding smile, one that promised she would be grilling him for details later. "I appreciate the assurance, Alexander." She said as polite and sweet as blueberry pie, which made Magnus tense. "You are very kind-hearted, I think. I hope it rubs off on your people."
Alec resembled a tomato, a very mortified and remorseful tomato, staring down at his hands folded over one knee. He did not move from where he knelt. "Is there anything I can do for you?" Magnus hadn't seen anything like this since honor was something humans lived by and died by.
"I would love to know why I was targeted in the first place." She lifted her gaze from the penitent Nephilim and directed her question at Kale.
"Why do you always assume things are my fault?" High Warlocks should not be allowed to whine. It was completely un-dignifying, not that it seemed to matter to him.
She rolled her eyes. "Because Magnus's idiocy is limited to his love affairs." She eyed Magnus, making him shrink back a bit. "Normally. And being as you are here in New York I can only assume it's for more than a social call. You hate cities."
"It's the Coven meeting, right?" Alec asked from his position on the floor.
Kale raised an eyebrow at Magnus. "You really did tell him everything. I'm impressed."
Shooting daggers at him, Magnus crossed his arms. He said too defensively for his own taste, "I told him that the Coven was meeting. It's not like I pay attention to these things."
"What meeting?" Catarina demanded from the two of them. "The warlocks are gathering? That would have been good information to have; as the Clave knew something was happening. They thought I was lying."
Alec took in a sharp hitch of breath. "So you don't meet every hundred years or …?"
Catarina balked. "Heavens no, could you imagine what an uproar that would create? All that demonic energy in one place? It would be a disaster. We didn't even a gather en masse for the Accords, just sent a few choice representatives."
A wounded look flashed across Alec's face. Magnus's heart leap into his throat, threatening to choke him. He would pay for that lie later. It wasn't like he meant to, he just didn't want to be involved at all. Nor have Alec involved. The justification sounded lame even to his own ears.
"So what does it mean?" He asked cautiously. Wheels turned behind those blue eyes and Magnus did not like the direction they were going in. "The gathering and hiding it?"
At that moment, Chairman decided he needed to supervise and ascended to the back of the couch where Catarina sat. He meowed at them all. The tiny cat sat in his regal chat noir posture and curled his tail around his feet. He meowed again.
Kale snickered. "Hiding? I hate to break it to you, angel cake, but the Clave's been turning a blind eye on warlock business for centuries. We don't need to hide things, we just don't broadcast them."
"Two out of the three warlocks in this room have no idea what's going on." Alec snapped.
"It's not that cut and dry." He replied, still calm. "Two out of the three warlocks in this room don't pay attention to politics. But that's what the meeting is for, to draft all able bodied warlocks to the ranks. Can't have a rebellion without soldiers."
Magnus closed his eyes as he heard Alec's sharp intake of breath. He mentally cursed himself for not throwing Kale out on his ear. Then he mentally cursed Kale.
Rolling her eyes, Catarina sighed. "Please tell me we aren't putting that back on the table. It didn't work the first three times and it's not going to work a fourth."
"Precisely." Magnus hissed. "It's reckless and stupid. I do not want to spend my eternity patrolling the gateways to Hell because my brethren warlocks couldn't handle the Nephilim's attitude problem." Fucking Kale. This was not how he wanted Alec to find out about this. The young man still hasn't moved from where he knelt, quite motionless and white-faced.
"Rebellion." The Nephilim whispered, horror stricken. "But…" His voice sounded so small, so dismayed. "That would… the Accords…"
"You can make that case at the meeting." Kale shrugged as if this all was insignificant. Perhaps to someone as old and powerful as him, it was insignificant. He'd watched empires rise and fall, kings, queens, councils, continents, oligarchies, and anarchies come and go. Yet the warlocks stood in time, the only constant in the wheel of everlasting changes. Scientists said in a few billion, million years the sun would explode and engulf the earth. If the warlocks and Nephilim went to war, would anyone be around to see it? Probably Kale. That cockroach would survive anything.
Catarina put a hand on Alec's shoulder. "Not everyone is stupid as Kale, here."
"Hey!"
"Not everyone will want to go to war. I certainly don't. This happens every generation or two, some ornery misfits get all riled up over the state of things and start talking revolution." She sounded very calm and very reasonable. Catarina offered him a radiant smile. "They'll want to hear from me. I'll certainly speak out against. Given what happened it'll hold a bit more weight. Don't take all this so to heart. The warlocks can take care of their own."
Alec gave her a weak smile in return. Apprehension killing it before any dimples showed.
She patted him lightly on the cheek. "If you don't get up soon young man, I'm going to expect a ring." Catarina teased gently.
Color flooded back to his boyfriend's face. He floundered for a moment before coughing into a hand and rising.
"Well…" Catarina stood with him. "Thank you for staging such an elaborate rescue, I am disinclined to support this vocation of yours." She tossed her braid over her shoulder. "As much as I would love to stay and hear all about Kale's elaborate plans of world domination, some of us have jobs to get back to."
Magnus kept his eyes glued on Alec who still hadn't returned to normal pallor. "Thank you for stopping by." He said politely. He laid a kiss on her cheek and offered her a small smile. They said their goodbyes to each other. Chairman tried to follow her out. Magnus scooped him up to put him on the leather throne.
"See you at the meeting!" Kale called, "Tomorrow at nine!"
With a snort the white haired warlock stalked out, slamming the door in her wake.
The silence that followed her departure weighed on Magnus. A thick, foreboding silence like the primordial dark stretched between worlds, he had a hard time moving against. "Alec." He licked his lips tentatively. "I didn't know any of this until yesterday, you have to believe me." After another long moment of excruciating silence Magnus pleaded, "Alec say something."
Anxious blue eyes finally locked on Magnus. "We cannot allow this war to happen."
Magnus's heart broke. He watched that Nephilim encoded meddlesome, sanctimonious we-are-the-Law attitude take over his boyfriend. He knew Alec meant well. War with anyone else always took valuable time away from demon hunting, two fronts being harder to defend than one. If he took any of this to the Clave and they got involved now, it would be a catastrophe. "Leave it to us for a while, Alec. The Coven has not decided on anything. They are just meeting."
"If there is going to be a war…" Alec grimaced and shook his head slowly. His body coiled tense, ready for action. A weighty knell clanging in Magnus's heart with each word. When he spoke, his voice lay heavy with disquiet truths. "No one will be spared. From the oldest and most powerful warlocks to the youngest and weakest swaddled babes… Magnus, the Clave would hunt warlocks just the same as they hunt demons. They would burn this place down with you, me, and everyone else in it, just to kill you. The ifrit cooks at Taki's. Loki Dire—Izzy's favorite jeweler. The wardens of portals. Everyone, Magnus. No one would be safe. Angel—it would ripple into the relations with other Downworlders. It would be like—like the Accords were never signed."
"Don't say that." Magnus went to him, lightly holding his arms. The Nephilim's skin felt hot under his hands, feverishly warm. "Alec, sweetheart, we're not at war. It won't happen. Like Catarina said, this comes and goes every few centuries. Hasn't been attempted since the fall of Rome. It'll be fine." He tried for assuring.
Alec gazed back at him steadily, face closed off and empty as white paint. It was the face he had worn when killing demons on Valentine's ship. His lovely, sweet, kind Alec had gone away while the Shadowhunter in him took over.
"Loki Dire of Dire Desires," Kale draped himself across the couch. "I'm surprised you know the name. Or that Taki's had ifrit cooks."
"I know all the names of all the Downworlders under the protection and rule of the New York Institute as they have been given to us. Registry is not required, just recommended. We cannot be responsible for you if we do not know you exist." The lack of inflection in his tone was most disturbing.
"Didn't think you cared that much. Must be a hell of a lot of names." The warlock whistled. "How do ya remember 'em all?"
Alec lifted the hem of the tiny tank top. Magnus knew the memory rune tattooed permanently on his right side. Neither bothered to explain the rune. If Kale hadn't known it, he wouldn't be worth his status as High Warlock. Just having power to throw around didn't qualify him for the job alone.
Magnus opened his mouth to ask Alec to please not flash Kale, it only encouraged him, but a loud bang on the door interrupted.
"Catarina back to give us more grief?" Kale smirked. "You'd think she'd be more appreciative, after all we could've died."
"One could only be so lucky." Magnus muttered, dryly. He opened the door. A flash of black and red and weapons skyrocketed by him. If he'd been in a more amused mood, he'd have created a cartoonish puff of smoke in its wake.
"Alec!" Isabelle exclaimed, throwing herself into her brother's startled arms.
Before Magnus could shut the door, Jace shoved past him as well. "Don't ask for my permission." he growled. Mood deteriorating further, he slammed the door shut.
"Hey look!" Kale sat up, interest piqued. "More angel cakes! How you doin'?"
"Izzy." Alec breathed, hugging his sister before holding her back at arm's length. "You can't be here." He cast an accusing glare at Jace. "What were you thinking bringing her here?"
The blond dropped a black bag that clanked. The noise sent Chairman fleeing into the office down the hall by the guest rooms. Jace crossed his arms looking defiant. "Well if you hadn't gone storming off like a hormonal teenage girl we wouldn't have had to come skulking around in Brooklyn."
"Oh." Kale brightened. "Feel free to come skulking around here anytime you want goldilocks, I've got a bed just your size."
Jace turned his hard golden eyes toward the grinning warlock on the couch. "And who does that make you? Baby bear?"
Kale grinned, enjoying the game immensely. "Oh, I'll be your baby bear."
"How did you two get in, anyways?" Magnus didn't think they could beat the wards on his door. Or pick locks.
"The blue nurse." Jace shrugged. He looked Alec over and clenched his jaw. "We brought you some weapons and clothes. Unless you've given up hunting to be the warlock boytoy."
That struck a nerve in Alec, but Magnus quipped back, "You're just jealous that he looks better than you."
"Alec!" Izzy huffed, hands on her hips. "You can't just expect that we wouldn't follow you. You're our brother! Jace is your parabatai!"
"Siblings…" Of course Kale wouldn't leave it unremarked upon. "I dig it. Five makes an orgy, right? Or Magnus and I can just watch; we have plenty of whipped cream."
Isabelle frowned, registering the man. She swiveled to give the Canadian a scathing look. "Have we met?"
"Only in my dreams, doll face." He replied, wiggling his eyebrows at her. "How's about you and I go get to know each other and let the boys talk?"
It happened too fast for Magnus to stop it. There was a charger plate under an array of candles. A red metal charger plate he'd found wandering some awful kitschy store on the southeast side. It had Dali-esque elephants painted in gold along the rim.
Alec dumped the candles from a platter and hurled it like a shakram at Kale. It embedded into the wooden frame of the couch with a fluffy explosion. Kale slid to the floor and remained unfortunately, unharmed.
"My COUCH!" Magnus cried.
"You will leave her alone!" Having seen many death glares in his long life, Kale held his hands up in placid surrender. Alec seethed. He stood between Kale and his little sister. His hands bare and body vibrating with the need to strangle the warlock. It was entirely possible that some of his anger was from Jace's comment, but the Canadian would be on the receiving end of it.
"I warned you, Kale." Magnus was not going save him.
If only Izzy could keep her mouth shut. "What? I can take him!"
Kale grinned. "I would love that, thank you. Dinner and a drive-in right? I like romantic comedies."
Alec whirled around to yell at her, "You can't even beat me; you'll never take him out."
"But I can." Jace answered coolly, eyeing Kale with interest. He fingered the hilt of his angelic blade.
Magnus rubbed his hands together, finally seeing an end to this afternoon he would enjoy. "Oh yes. Please, fight." He shouldn't have sounded so giddy. "It would make my life so much easier if you were dead, brat." It almost didn't matter which one won. Kale. Jace. Thinking about it now, Magnus could see how alike the two of them were. But in this instance, he meant Jace.
"Magnus!" Alec sounded offended.
Shrugging he replied blithely. "Your parabatai leaves much to be desired, darling. Really, I thought the two of you were supposed to take care of each other's weaknesses. Guard each other's backs. Jace never seems to have gotten the memo." He'd known parabatai before. Known enough pairs to know that you protected faults, not exploited them.
Jace whirled on him. "I stopped him from calling you five times a day every fucking day for five months, didn't I?"
Scandalized, Alec turned beet red. "Jace!" He looked to Izzy for help but her attention was still on Kale who made kissy faces at her from the floor.
"This is so much better than telemundo." The warlock got back up and tried to pull the metal plate from the back of the couch. Alec had lodged it into the wood deeply and after a few tugs Kale gave up. He made himself comfortable and watched the fireworks.
Magnus and Jace continued to argue without regard for anyone else in the room. That infuriating blond boy had made his life a living hell for longer than was acceptable. "No, you didn't. You just broke his phone with all the photos and memories stored in it of the last year of his life. And you made him feel guilty for wanting to keep them!"
"For the love of the Angel…." Alec gave up, collapsing onto the couch with a sigh.
Smug, Kale made himself comfortable, spreading out so his knee touched Alec's. He winked at Isabelle. "Want to join us sweet cheeks? I'll make popcorn."
An angry blue spark lit Kale's jeans on fire where their knees touched.
"Hey-ow!" He hollered, he batted at the flames with his hands putting it out. Kale always was one for theatrics. He rubbed his hands together, over the new hole and burn. "Kiss it and make it better?" He waggled his eyebrows at Alec.
The blue eyed Nephilim stared at him, horrified by the suggestion.
"Would you all stop it!" Isabelle demanded. She crossed her arms scowling, looking just like her mother. Determined, hard, and unmoving. Or maybe it was just like her father, Magnus thought uncharitably. "We came here for a reason, Jace."
Jace tore his glare from Magnus. "Is there somewhere we talk?" He directed the question at Alec would was reaching for the bag to find a weapon.
"You will talk here." Magnus answered, almost hoping Jace would rise to the bait so he could justify slamming that pretty face of his into the wall, repeatedly. "My house, my rules." His lips tugged into a self-satisfied smirk as he remembered the day before and how easily he could snap the Shadowhunters neck. He really should devise a better curse to inflict on his lover's trainwreck of a parabatai. One that wouldn't cause undue harm to Alec. Maybe a bird feeder.
"I am not going back, if that's why you're here." Alec said, surprising Magnus. "What they planned to do is against the Law. " He opened his mouth to say more, but stopped.
Isabelle dropped to her knees in front of her brother. "Alec." She spoke softly. "The investigation into London is complete. There is no evidence that implicates Magnus."
"Not anymore." Jace muttered, crossing his arms and deciding to shore up the wall. "Next time you entertain a fugitive in your room make sure to dispose of the bloody armor."
"Oh Angel." Alec covered his mouth, "I forgot all about that." He turned his wide eyes to Magnus who regarded his siblings coolly.
Isabelle put a hand on his leg. "We couldn't get rid of the armor, but we did clean off the blood." Her large, dark eyes studied her eldest brother, pleading with him to understand. "They can't prove Magnus was in London. I mean, Mother and Father can't. He's safe."
Kale leaned forward, elbows on his thighs. "You knowingly destroyed evidence? Why?"
"Indeed. What's the catch?" Magnus straightened, keeping his gaze on Jace. He knew full well the Clave never did things out of the goodness of their hearts. Everything had a price. The younger generation always learned that lesson early. Except Alec. Alec still seemed to operate on the altruistic concept of try not to die while saving everyone you can. He was noble and wonderful and unfortunately easy to manipulate.
Currently, Alec hid his face behind his hands. Hiding from what Magnus didn't know, but he very much wanted to find out.
Ignoring the warlocks completely, Jace pushed off the wall. "Our point is: they haven't told the Clave you left or that they suspect Magnus."
Alec nodded as he digested this information. "Why did they cover it up?"
Jace looked bored as he said, "Because you are more use to us behind enemy lines than stripped of your marks and tossed out on the street." Alec stared at Jace like the boy had slapped him.
"Jace!" Isabelle gasped, horrified. She flailed her hands. "It's not as bad as that. Of course we want to know what's going on with the Warlocks... And you are our Reparations Officer, so they want you to be our voice, and eyes and ears." She tried to lessen the blow, but the damage had been done. From her pants pocket, she handed Alec a sealed envelope with the Lightwood family crest on it.
Anger started to boil inside Magnus. "Blackmail?" He hissed.
"Word is getting out about a gathering of warlocks." Jace replied emptily. "Our best defense is having someone there and since we can't trust a warlock," he gestured to Magnus. "We can trust you. At least, I hope we can."
Alec read through the letter. "I understand." He sighed, slumping back into the couch, closing his eyes. "I should have thought ahead and expected them to use my relationship with Magnus to their advantage."
"Nephilim politics at its finest!" Kale cheered.
"Are you still mad at me?" Alec asked, poking his head into the doorway.
Magnus glanced up from where he sat hunched on his bed. "I was never mad at you." He sighed. He'd thrown the other two Nephilim out after Jace started spouting garbage about what was best for the Clave and duty. Isabelle tried to be more gentle, but not even her feminine touch could cushion the blow. He'd dismissed Kale with a furious growl and a shower of blue sparks. He stormed around the apartment, cleaning the mess in the bedroom and picking new lamps, a new couch, a new everything. None of it matched, yet, somehow it suited Magnus and his mood just fine. A 60's mod egg pod chair in all plaid that looked very small next to the oversized, overstuffed, royal purple, velvet sectional. He picked a circular glass coffee table with a small fire flickering in a partitioned flue, because somehow that wouldn't be even more dangerous with Kale around. He got rid of the television.
The new bedroom had a pair of tall, paper-lantern lamps that flanked a California king sized bed. The carved oak headboard had a convex curve echoed in the foot board's concave curve and posts decorated with cherry blossom trees. The bedspread no longer matched the exact color of Alec's eyes. A black silk background decorated with gold and pink petals looked Asian and modern and inviting. After his angry fit of redecorating, Magnus claimed a headache and went to lay down.
Alec had quietly watched from the kitchen, holding Chairman safe in his arms. He had snagged the duffel bag of gear before Magnus could get rid of it too. He changed into a real shirt. A simple v-neck t-shirt that Magnus kept calling an undershirt. He kept the leather pants, though. Every time his eyes slid over that body, they lingered on his butt and thighs. It made the younger man blush a bit, but he didn't change.
Closing the door softly behind him, Alec padded over to the bed. He slid behind the warlock, wrapping his arms around him in a loose hug, resting his chin on his shoulder.
"This is good news, Magnus." The younger man pressed a kiss to the side of his neck. They sat in silence for a few moments. Magnus rubbing absent-minded circles on the scarred flesh of his boyfriend's hand with a thumb.
"Ah, yes." He replied, flippantly. "The Clave wants to use us as informants. The warlocks aren't stupid; they're going to figure it out."
"You aren't an informant, I am."
"That is not better." He was too tired to keep up the hot rage that spilled through him at the thought. He could believe the Clave would use whomever and whatever was at their disposal however they wanted, but his in-laws? The lives of loved ones were not replaceable! "How dare they hold your life so cheap."
"Magnus." Alec sighed.
It warranted repeating, so Magnus told him again. "I have absolutely no interest in Kale's uprising. I am only interested in self-preservation." He turned to look him in the eyes, hand clasped over the one on his chest.
"You and I both know that if this war happens neutrality will not exist. It is the Clave's way. Besides, even if you could stand on the sidelines as a warlock, you are still a member of the Clave Council." Alec said, exhaustion leaking into his voice. "That binds you to upholding the Laws of Heaven."
"I have no interest in upholding the laws of heaven. Don't you understand?" Magnus ran his hands through his hair. "This is about your safety."
"My safety?"
Magnus threw his hands up. "I didn't join that stupid little council because I believed in honor or heaven or-whatever-ridiculous notions the Nephilim think they stand for. I joined it to be with you. I fought in the wars to keep you safe. So I could be with you." He sighed. As an afterthought, he added, "All I care about is you and keeping you safe. I want to take you to a private island and be together without any of ...this." He waved his hand emptily, as if to indicate the world at large and the impending doom.
"Magnus…" Alec breathed the name like a prayer.
The warlock stood and walked to the window. He let out a ragged sigh, "Don't pretend you didn't know any of that. You are anything but stupid, Alexander." He closed his eyes. Damn Jace. Damn Isabelle. Damn the Lightwoods. And damn the Clave. He almost wished they would take Alec's marks. It was selfish, but at least then there wouldn't be any enslaved to the will of the Clave bullshit that came with being a Shadowhunter. There always seemed to be something in the way, a third member of their relationship. Politics. God damn the devil and outer dimensions, he hated politics.
"I don't want to fight with you," Alec's voice stayed hushed and low. It almost didn't reach him by the window. He stayed on the bed and seriously considered the offer. "Alright." Alec finally whispered. "But, if we let the world go to hell, where would we live?"
Magnus stared into his reflection in the glass. He pressed his lips so tightly together they turned white. The headache threatened to return. They could hide. Time passed differently in pocket dimensions. Or in other dimensions. He could easily teleport them anything they needed.
It wasn't that Magnus didn't want to fight. He'd fought in many battles, taken many lives, fought for a cause or two. When you lived forever, battles over a throne didn't mean anything. Not when there would always be another tyrant, another dictator, another person who wanted to save the world. He didn't care anymore. He was tired of all the needless bloodshed. After the first three centuries, Magnus gave that up. His goal was to love and be loved back. This goal had coalesced into Alec. He'd never experienced anything like it, which was saying something considering how many times he'd fallen in love. One was never the same after losing half your heart, until Alec came along and he found a home of quiet. The stillness he used to fear, he found in moments with Alec where he belonged. Each moment a drop of contentment he had no idea how he'd earned. He wouldn't lose it again without a fight.
Magnus knew he was holding on too tightly. Knew the offer of running away would never work. It wasn't in Alec's nature. It was wholly selfish and disrespectful to Alec, it was not just his job to walk into danger and protect people, but who he was. He had to help. But Magnus wanted to keep him for himself. He would have offered to take Alec anywhere he wanted to go. Except into danger. "In an undisclosed location until this whole sordid mess is over?"
"I can't." Alec exhaled, "You know I can't."
"Of course you can't." He would not lead him to the slaughter. That would be exactly what the warlocks would do to him if he went to the Coven meeting. "You might be willing to walk into the dragon's den but I cannot take you there."
Alec took a breath. "Alright." He waited until Magnus turned to blink questioningly at him. "Kale will take me."
Magnus went back to redecorating his apartment.
