Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare and some scenes belong to the movie Transamerica.
A/N: A relatively short update. Next few chapters will be a flashback about Alec's life in Seattle and his POV about Magnus.
About the question why Magnus doesn't use magic to change his eyes in the first place, my bad… because I want there to be a slip up and the first idea popped in my head was the eyes of Magnus and I didn't give much second thought on this matter. Sorry if this doesn't make sense to you since it is indeed an impulse decision. Sorry! L I hope you can still enjoy the story regardless of the mistake (and this long ass A/N). Thanks!
Chapter 8: Revelation of Reality
Magnus groaned in irritation, knowing that the dryer had stopped five minutes ago. Didn't bother to get a basket, he held his clothing in his arms. 45 minutes, he had stood there 45 minutes and yet he hadn't even started his opening sentence. The perfect speech he dreamed about stayed as a dream.
Procrastination would only bring more suffering. Magnus told himself. He breathed slowly and deeply, learning from a television that it helped relieve your level of nervousness. His sat on the dryer hugging his warm clothes, buried his face into the pile to smell the fresh scent of chemicals. Immediately wrinkled his nose, Magnus pushed himself up from the machine and began his journey of truth.
On his way back he made numerous of metal notes, reminding him don't be too direct. Stories of mundanes fainting after the acknowledgement of their world was not uncommon and some turned lunatic, living in their own dimensions as Catarina said a defensive mechanism. Magnus had to be careful with Alec.
He couldn't think of the scenario of Alec's deadly eyes staring into his, the once cherubic dark blues lost their twinkles. Alec had stayed in Seattle for four years and the beam remained blazing, back straighter than anyone else. He believed Alec was strong enough to brace it. The blood of Lightwood was tough.
Facing the nicely painted door, Magnus took the handle in his hand and cheered himself on. You can do this. Believe in yourself, Bane.
Inside the room no one was expecting him. Or to be precise, not a single organism was there except Magnus. He instantly chucked his clothes to his bed and went for the bathroom, still no sign of Alec. This recalled the memory of their stay in the last motel. No, this isn't happening. Magnus cursed. He allowed him space, but this missing matter was out of line.
He went through Alec's stuff to search for clues. The digest was placed at the end of the bed, the pack of cigarette was gone and the bag seemed unmoved. Magnus guessed Alec went some places to smoke.
His ears picked up laughter outside. It came from the pool, small but audible for a warlock. Marched to the balcony, he scanned down to find Alec's familiar form.
And there he was. Alec was sitting at the edge of the pool, talking to a blonde boy around the same age. Magnus sighed, in his long lasting life blondes had always meant troubles and this one would be no exception, he could tell.
Alec had his jeans rolled up to his knees, two pale feet kicking under the crystal clean water. The blonde propped his elbows on the edge next to Alec, half of his body immersed. None of them noticed a pair of cat eyes was observing as Alec was staring at the pool while the blonde rested his eyes on Alec.
Magnus was relieved when he saw Alec was alright, he even seemed delighted talking with the boy. Probably he missed the company of Simon who looked and acted like a teenager. Magnus's appearance might be too but he couldn't say the same for his heart and behaviors.
Alec lighted up a cigarette and chortled after the other teen spoke, something funny Magnus suspected. Sometimes they would lock their eyes and the blonde would pull his collar to whisper into Alec's ear, getting another laugh. The good mood would help taking what Magnus had prepared for him, Magnus hoped.
As Magnus was about to retreat, the blonde did something that jolted him back to the spot.
They were chatting normally, when Alec took a drag on the cigarette the blonde said a few words, and then Alec held out his smoke. But he didn't take it; instead he hopped forward and encircled Alec's neck, pulling the black haired boy down to meet his lips on the way. Alec jerked a bit and moved his hands outwards, didn't want to burn the blonde. Alec must have responded to the kiss because without protest he let the teen dragged him into the water. Once Alec was in, the blonde cupped his face and pushed him to the edge, crushing Alec's back to it.
Alec seemed to enjoy it too, palms resting on the blonde's shoulders. Even the ashes fell on his bare skin, the teen didn't move an inch. Magnus could see the kiss was heating up as the blonde moved his hands down and the image blurred under the water, but Magnus deduced he was getting under Alec's shirt. Somehow his blood was boiling; although the sight of Alec was pleasing, the fact that another man touching him provoked his anger.
Magnus wished it was him that gave Alec so much pleasures.
So, he yelled at the two. "Alec!"
Heard the call, the teenagers looked up to Magnus who kept yelling at the balcony. "I need to talk to you!" After his words, Alec untangled himself from the blonde, who Magnus could see pouted but still stepped back and took the cigarette from Alec.
Alec went back up to the land and glanced at Magnus once he gained his balance, soon he lowered his head and walked to the building, his smile long gone. The blonde finished the smoke and left it floating on the water, caught up Alec with his struts.
Got back in the room, Magnus waited impatiently sitting on his bed, chin rested on his palm and fingers massaging his temple. He felt betrayed by Alec, yet they weren't even a couple. Dull pains were spread to his limbs as the heart pumping.
The door opened quietly and revealed two young men. Magnus furrowed at the blonde. He was tall and muscles packed gracefully, a tower wrapped around his torso and a pair of gray boardshorts. Hairs pale blonde with olive green irises, peeped behind Alec's broad frame. Alec was sinking wet, jeans and the black T shirt dripping droplets. His hair disheveled, unlike the blonde's.
Alec walked to his bed and sat down, leaving the two staring at each other. The blonde waved his hand, introduced. "I'm Sebastian. You're Alec's friend?"
"Magnus." He replied then turned his attention to Alec, who was pulling his shirt over his head and revealed the thick chest and abs. He kept on undressing while asked, "What is it?" At times he would look at Magnus like he was a stranger, cold and guarded.
"Can we talk in private?" Directing the question to Sebastian, the teen responded. "I'll leave you to it." But before Sebastian could open the door, Alec stopped him.
"No, he'll stay." Said sternly, Alec let his jeans fell on the ground. Magnus ignored his nearly complete naked form and looked at him in surprise. Sebastian, being stuck in the crooked argument seemed to be at a loss. His eyes darted between Alec and Magnus when Alec motioned him to come hither.
"What is it that he can't hear?" Alec interrogated, aggressively stood in front of Magnus. Their glares locked and behind the stormy blues Magnus discovered uncertainty and dismay.
Feeling the unspeakable tension Sebastian stepped in, holding Alec's arm. "You know where to find me." Alec nodded reluctantly and peaked him a kiss before letting him go. Sebastian closed the door behind him.
"What's going on?" Magnus questioned. He wasn't by his side for 45 minutes and Alec already hooked up with someone else? He tried to ask nicely like a friend, but it came out exasperated. Alec sat down again, hands crossed in front of his chest. "What is it?" Said Alec.
"Now you're using a question to answer my question? Alec I need you to be honest with me." His voice raised and his eyes fixed on the teen opposite him.
"You want me to be honest." Alec repeated, and let out a ridicule. "It's funny, Magnus, because you are a fucking liar!" With his shouts Alec stood up again, walked to the end of his bed. Ha ran his fingers into the tangled hairs, chest raising up and down markedly.
Magnus froze. A fucking liar.
Alec was biting his lips, pacing around the room aimlessly. "Say something Magnus!" Alec exclaimed desperately. Magnus didn't know what to say.
Blinked a few times, Magnus said, the words nearly choked by his tightened throat. "I lied to you, Alec. I'm not a missionary from any church, I don't believe in God and – "
"I already figured that out. There is something else. Tell me," Alec interjected and put his hands on his waist, "are you a human?"
Immediately Magnus lifted his head and looked at Alec with consternation. Just then Alec had his answer, his shoulders shrunk inwards and slumped on the bed, back facing Magnus.
Magnus wanted to speak, to explain himself but his voice was dead within his body. The reality was always cruel. How wrong he was thinking Alec was oblivious – Alec even knew he was not a human. He shut his eyes tight; demoralized, frustration and mostly anguish. There was lights shining, being brighter and closer but only to find out it was a bloody train and slayed him in half. Why did he deserve this?
"How?" He managed to slur the word, knowing there was no use denying. Both of their breathings erratic, lungs gasping for air as much as possible.
Distantly Alec explicated. "I saw it from the rearview mirror. Your eyes. They are like cats, I know a human wouldn't have ones like that, do they? But then you came back like nothing happened, I looked at you and the pupils weren't right… not for you anyway."
It was just seconds matter. Alec saw his slit pupils, the trait of a warlock. He didn't know what he was but a creature categorized as non-human. He did take the news good, just not the reasons why Magnus had imagined. He lost his tongue. Everything he thought he had handled properly turned out to be a chaos, an evidence mocking his cockiness.
"Do you have anything to say?" Alec whispered.
It never happened before. Magnus carried out his calculations perfectly; the spells and potions he produced were flawless. 800 years on earth and the knowledge he absorbed offered him a wealthy life, because he never went wrong. Things were on their tracks, running towards the way Magnus wanted them to be.
Now with Alec, everything was wrong.
"I'm a warlock." Magnus confessed.
Alec strode to Magnus's side, staring at his crown. "What do you want from me?" This time his voice was stripped of accusations, more like pleading. Magnus turned his head to find tears accumulating around the blues, so much that some were pouring down. Alec wiped them out quickly, leaving traces of water on his pale face.
Alec looked so fragile, easily breakable at the moment. His tears uncontrollably falling, Alec simply buried his face in his hands. Magnus reached out – and pulled Alec into his arms. Alec blocked him away.
Magnus quaked, "Nothing. I told you."
"Then what, you just went to a jail and ask someone who needed help? You think you bailed me out and I'll let you fuck me?" He was wailing, "Is that what you think of me?" Alec grabbed his slender shoulders, shook Magnus with his feeble hands, demanding the truth.
Magnus gripped at his wrists and plumped him down on the bed, soothed. "No no no. Of course not, Alec." His thumbs drawing circles on the wrists, a comforting gesture.
The way Alec said those words like it was normal for someone to take advantage of him bombed a big hole on Magnus's chest. The only thing that happened like he had thought, was the wounded soul yelping in those astonishing eyes.
"You're not like that. It's not my intention to use you." Said with his voice turned hoarse, Magnus's throat was burning when each word slipped through.
The son of Lightwoods sitting in front of Magnus, a boy whose fate was once in his hand. Alec suppressed his cries to small sobs and shoulders wavering like branches under the storm. Magnus was so helpless that he couldn't pull the usual tricks he did to Clary when she was upset about Jace.
The sassy Magnus Bane was currently in a passive position. If you told people Magnus Bane the powerful warlock was speechless under conditions like this, they would raise their eyebrows and look at you like you were a runaway from an asylum. Because Magnus Bane always had his comeback, always had the last laugh, and always the winner.
Through Alec had settled down a little, his tears still found their ways running down the flushed cheeks. Messily Alec rubbed his face, eyes cast down on the mattress. They sat there for what seemed like an hour which in reality, only five minutes. Despite of his harsh voice, Alec muttered. "Your eyes."
Alec withdrew himself from Magnus's grips and fingers trailed along his temple. He stared right back at Magnus, whispered. "They are flashing green and yellow."
The magic was wearing off quicker than he thought, possibly because of his unstable emotions. Magnus hastily tried to cast a spell to hide it, but Alec opposed.
"Promise me, Magnus. No more lies." He was observing his cat-like eyes, tilting his head. There was something else apart from the curiosity from Alec's expression. Suddenly Magnus felt embarrassed with Alec staring at him so intensely focused.
Magnus swallowed and asked charily. "I promise. Do you want to talk?" Alec lowered his head, hands fell back on his laps. "Tomorrow. I'm tired."
There was nothing for Magnus to do except nodding. The blue-eyed teen simply rolled off to the other side and slid into his bed, and like the first night he pulled the comforter over his head, curling into a ball like Chairman Meow. The dead silence was buzzing Magnus's super-sensitive ears.
Magnus knew none of them would get any sleep that night. Helpless like a little boy lost his parents at a crowded hall, that was what he was then.
