Magnus and Alec are finally together and they can relax.
Or can they?
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Magnus opens his eyes and smiles. The sun is shining and he has Alexander Lightwood, safe and sound, in his arms. What more could he want?
Alec wakes with a sigh. He looks up at Magnus and smiles, "Morning."
Magnus leans over and kisses his nose, "Morning, Alexander. How are you feeling?"
"Better. My mind is still blank, but I feel more like myself."
Magnus nods, "Shower and breakfast, then a trip to Catarina's?"
"Okay."
Magnus knows that he has to take the first step. With a sigh, he untangles himself from Alec and gets out the bed. He laughs at Alec's pout and kisses him, "Time to get up and start the day."
Alec groans but nods, "Fine. But I'm not putting these clothes back on."
"Of course not." Magnus flicks his hand. A black tshirt, and a pair of black jeans appear on the bed. "Better?"
Alec smiles, "Much better. Thank you."
Magnus smiles and walks out the bedroom. He walks into the kitchen. He is about to open a portal to the bagel store when Alec screams his name. The loft and building are still in lockdown. Magnus doesn't understand how anybody could have gotten in. He creates a fireball as he runs to the bedroom.
Alec isn't there.
Magnus runs into the bathroom and sees Alec. Only Alec. He's staring at the mirror, fear in his eyes.
Magnus extinguishes the fireball and takes a deep breath, "Alec, what's the matter?"
Alec whispers, "My runes. Why don't I have them?"
Magnus was preoccupied yesterday with having Alec, finally, safe in his arms so he didn't notice that his deflect/block rune wasn't on his neck. Magnus assumes that Alec's rescuers also were focused on keeping him safe to notice his lack of runes. But in the harsh fluorescent light, his unruned skin is obvious.
Magnus walks over to him, "It's okay, Alexander."
"No, it's not okay, Magnus. My runes are gone and I don't remember why or how."
Magnus passes a hand over Alec's neck and nods. He gently kisses Alec's lips and takes a couple of steps back, "Do you trust me?"
Alec nods, the fear in his eyes has nothing to do with the warlock in front of him, "Of course."
Magnus smiles and creates an energy ball. He gently throws it at Alec. The ball encircles Alec, then disappears. Slowly Alec's runes start to reappear. Magnus nods towards the mirror, "Now look."
Alec turns to the mirror. He relaxes as he sees the reflect/block rune on his neck. He looks down at his arms and sees the soundless and angelic power runes. Without thinking, he takes off the white tshirt and sees that all his runes are back. He looks at Magnus and blushes.
Magnus quickly looks from Alec's naked chest to his eyes, "Lamar used magic to cover them."
Alec shyly walks over and kisses him, "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now let me go get breakfast."
Alec nods, "Okay."
Magnus walks out of the bathroom and through his bedroom. Walking into the kitchen, he takes a deep breath, Alec isn't aware of how much Magnus wants to get his hands on him. Magnus laughs at himself for being tempted by an angel. He creates a portal, time to get breakfast.
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Magnus returns and sets the bag on the table. He wasn't sure what bagels Alec liked, so he got a mix. He got cream cheese and butter to spread on them, and two large coffees.
Magnus wonders why Alec is still in the shower. He listens but he doesn't hear the water running. Worry makes him run into the bedroom. Alec is dressed in black and sitting on the bed, looking down at his hands.
Magnus slowly walks over and sits beside him, "Alexander?"
"A portal."
Magnus takes Alec's left hand in his, "What about a portal?"
"That's how they got me in that room."
Magnus closes his eyes, "You remember?"
Alec nods, "Everything just popped into my head as I was getting dressed."
"Tell me."
"Aldertree said that he needed my help on a mission and he wanted to explain his actions. At first I wasn't interested but he was persistent, so I agreed. We left the Institute and walked over to this guy. Lamar. He opened a portal and we walked into that room. I asked Aldertree, 'What's the mission?'. Aldertree laughed and said 'It depends on you'. I told him that I was done with his shit. He laughed again and told me that I had two choices."
Magnus rubs his thumb over Alec's knuckles and gently says, "Two choices? It's okay, Alec, I'm here and I won't let anybody hurt you."
Alec looks at him with tears in his eyes, "My two choices were to never see you again or to stay in that room until I forgot you. I told him that was impossible. You were the High Warlock of Brooklyn and as a NY ShadowHunter, you and I would be seeing each other. He told me that he would approve my transfer to Jersey. I told him I wasn't leaving my family. He insisted and I told him to go fuck himself. I felt a needle in my arm and I passed out."
Magnus whispers, "This is my fault."
Alec shakes his head, "No, Magnus. This isn't. This is all on Aldertree. He can't dictate who I see or can't see."
Magnus nods, "Okay. Then what happened?" He rubs his thumb over Alec's knuckles.
"I woke up. I was still in my black clothes and I still had my runes. Aldertree was there. He asked me, 'What's your name?'. I told him, 'Alec LIghtwood'. He slapped me in the face and said 'No, you are Andrew Whitman.' I told him to go fuck himself, that was a mundane's name and I was a ShadowHunter. He laughed and said, 'Not anymore'. I felt a needle in my arm and passed out again."
Magnus feels the rage build inside of him and closes his eyes. He rubs his thumb over Alec's knuckles and whispers, "Go on."
"I woke up and I was in those clothes. Aldertree and a man were standing over me. I told Aldertree that enough was enough. He laughed at me. The man gave me another shot and I was knocked out again. Then I woke up and was alone in the room. That guy walked in and he insisted that I was 'Andrew' and that I was married to 'Loretta' and that I was a 'professor at Brooklyn College', but I knew who I was. Even though my runes were gone. My phone, my stele. I still knew I was Alec Lightwood."
Magnus is glad that Alec isn't looking at him, as his cat eyes flare. He never wanted to hurt somebody as much as he wants to kill Aldertree right now. He rubs his thumb over Alec's knuckles, not only for his own comfort, but to let Alec know that he's no longer in that room.
Alec continues, "I woke up and the door was unlocked. I know now, that was a test. But I foolishly thought at the time, that I would be able to escape. No, it just got me drugged again. The doctor, not even sure if he was a real doctor, but he kept trying to put those lies into my head and the more he kept pushing them, the more I kept fighting back. Then the doctor wanted to talk about you and something snapped inside of me. He had a clipboard in his hands and I used it as a weapon on him and the orderlies. I almost got away but Lamar and Aldertree stopped me."
Magnus keeps his eyes closed as he pictures Alec fighting for his sanity.
Alec continues, "I woke up and was chained to the floor. Without my stele, there was no way I was leaving that room. I knew who I was but that's all I knew. I was scared, Magnus. Scared that I'd never see you again. Scared that I'd never see Izzy or Jace again. Scared that nobody was looking for me or if they were looking for me, I wouldn't be found. Scared that I would die in that room."
Magnus moves closer to him, gently kisses his lips and wipes away his tears, "Aldertree will pay, I promise you."
Alec nods, "When I woke up and saw I had a visitor, I thought I was dreaming. But for the first time since I was in that room, I felt safe. I heard your voice and I heard my voice, and it felt even more like a dream. I heard the orderly's voice, that's when I knew it wasn't a dream, but I felt safe. Then we were here and you and Izzy were here and you were holding me."
Magnus holds him tight, "Yes, when you walked out of the portal, I wanted you in my arms and nothing and nobody was going to get in my way."
"That's when I really knew it was over. I was here in the loft with you."
Magnus nods, "Aldertree knew that telling me you were dead was the only way to keep me from looking for you. And telling Izzy that you were with me, kept her from asking questions about your disappearance. Jace was locked up and out of the loop. Anybody who would have worried about you was given a story and none of us thought to talk to each other."
Alec rests his forehead against Magnus', "Izzy would have texted you eventually."
Magnus nods, "And when she did, I would have ripped the city apart looking for you."
"Guess I don't have to see Catarina, after all."
Magnus kisses him gently, "Guess not. You ready for breakfast?"
Alec nods, "I'm starving." They stand and walk out the bedroom hand in hand.
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They are finishing breakfast when somebody knocks on the door.
Magnus glances at it, "I should have left the wards up."
Alec asks, "Maybe it's Izzy?"
"She would have texted first. Let's be on the safe side, bedroom." Alec nods and runs out of the kitchen.
Magnus waves a hand at the table, removing all traces that a second person was there. He walks to the door and opens it. Aldertree.
Magnus glares at him, "What do you want?"
Aldretree tries to look into the loft, but Magnus blocks his view, "Morning, Magnus, have you seen Alec?"
Magnus narrows his eyes, "I'm a warlock, not a ghost whisperer. How could I have seen him, considering he's dead?"
"Right. But we both know that isn't true, don't we?"
"You told me he's dead. You took great pleasure in telling me that. Now what do you want?"
"May I come in?"
"No, in fact I would appreciate it, if you got off my property." Magnus goes to close the door, but a burst of magic pushes it wide open and sends Magnus into the living room.
Magnus quickly gets to his feet and glares at Lamar, "Neither of you are welcome here, so leave."
Lamar smiles, "How did you do it, Magnus?"
Magnus looks at him with cat eyes, "Do what?"
"Find the safe house and glamour somebody to look like Alec. Oh and the blue guy was a nice touch."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Aldertree walks through the living room and looks in the kitchen, "Where is he, Magnus?"
"Who?"
Aldertree glances at Magnus, "Alec. We know you got him and we want him back."
"Fuck you."
Aldertree nods and walks to the bedroom. Magnus gets ready to attack him, but Lamar hits Magnus with an energy ball that knocks him down. Magnus quickly gets to his feet, glaring at Lamar. He takes two steps and hits a wall. He anxiously watches Aldertree walk into his bedroom.
Magnus narrows his eyes at Lamar, "Lower this barrier."
Lamar smiles, "No."
Magnus rubs his thumb across his fingers as he sees Aldertree walk out of his bedroom. Aldertree walks through the living room and steps out to the balcony. He walks back into the loft and looks at Magnus, "Where is he?"
Magnus' eyes are cold, "He's dead. Get the fuck out of my loft, both of you."
Aldertree smiles, "This is your last chance, Bane. We will find him, either with your help or without it. The question is, are you willing to die to protect him?"
Magnus glares at him, "Yes, I am."
"So be it." He glances at Lamar, "KIll him."
Lamar smiles, "It would be my pleasure." He flicks his hand and handcuffs appear on Magnus' wrists. Magnus narrows his eyes. Lamar sends a fireball at Magnus. Magnus stares at him awaiting his death.
The fireball is destroyed. Lamar and Aldertree turn around and see a second Magnus. This Magnus creates a fireball of his own and throws it at Lamar. Lamar tries to move but can't. The fireball hits him in the chest, he screams in pain and dies.
Max drops his invisibility glamour and appears by the front door. Aldertree pulls a firearm from his belt and points it at the second Magnus.
"Put the firearm down."
Aldertree glances towards the bedroom and sees Alec standing there, an arrow loaded into his bow and pointing at him. Aldertree notices a love rune on this Alec's neck. He pulls the trigger. Alec lets the arrow go and it goes through Aldertree's left eye. The bullet hits a barrier in front of Magnus and is destroyed. Max runs to Magnus3. He snaps his fingers and the cuffs are gone.
Magnus3 grabs Max's arm, "Where's my Alexander?"
Max smiles, "He's fine."
Magnus nods as he walks over to them, "He's in the Institute with Izzy."
Magnus3 closes his eyes, "In the Institute? How did he get there?"
Magnus smiles, "Like this." He opens a portal and Alec3 walks in. Magnus3 runs over to him and they hold each other.
Alec smiles, "Magnus, what about the trash?"
Max giggles, "I got this, Daddy." He goes over to Lamar and opens a portal. With a flick of his hand, the body is gone, "Really, Lamar, you should give it up." He walks over to Aldertree and sends his dead body through a portal as well. He smiles at Alec, "Trash is gone, Daddy."
Alec laughs, "Thank you. I'm sure Magnus appreciates us not leaving a mess in his loft."
Magnus3 kisses Alec3, then looks at Magnus, "Not that I'm ungrateful but how did you know?"
Magnus coldly says, "Max saw both of you dead."
"Dead?"
Max nods, "You might want a martini."
Magnus walks away from the bar and hands Magnus 3 a glass. Max hands Alec3 a Dunkin Dounts cup and smiles at Magnus3, "You should buy a Keurig machine."
Everybody walks into the living room. Magnus3 and Alec3 sit on the sofa. Magnus, Alec and Max sit in chairs.
Magnus3 takes a sip, "Okay, tell us." Alec3 nods as he drinks his coffee.
Magnus sits back in the chair, "That night after we left here, Max checked to see how you were doing and you were both dead. Of course, we had to return."
Magnus3 holds Alec3's hand, "Dead how?"
Max takes a deep breath, "Aldertree found Alec in your bedroom and pulled him out here. Lamar had you behind a barrier so you couldn't do anything to stop that bastard from slitting Alec's neck."
Magnus3 gasps and holds Alec3's hand tight in both of his. Magnus unconsciously moves his chair closer to Alec and rubs his thumb across his husband's knuckles.
Max continues, "That bastard stood over Alec's body and laughed as you cried. Lamar dropped the barrier and you let him kill you."
Alec3 squeezes Magnus3 hand, "You got me out of the bedroom."
Magnus nods, "We knew what they were going to do before they did it, so we were prepared for everything. They showed up and I was in the bedroom with a portal to take us to the Institute. Once you were safe, the rest was easy. Max was invisible and ready to protect Magnus. I figured a few bumps wouldn't deter ME from protecting the man that I love, so Max was instructed only to step in if it looked deadly. We didn't want them to know too soon that you had back up."
Magnus3 kisses Alec3's hand, "I think my heart stopped when he walked into the bedroom. I was waiting for Alec to cry out but I wasn't expecting Aldertree to walk out alone."
Magnus nods, "Yes, sorry about that. But like I said, we wanted the element of surprise on our side. Once Aldertree was finished with his tour of the loft, I portaled my Alec to the bedroom. When Lamar handcuffed you and dropped HIS barrier, Max put up one of his own. You were never in danger. I portaled onto the balcony and you saw me walk into the loft."
Magnus3 nods, "I hoped you were the reason why Alec wasn't in the bedroom, but until you walked in, I wasn't sure."
"We had planned on returning to take care of them anyway, but we didn't realize that they would come after you so soon."
Max nods, "They saw us rescue Alec and figured it was Magnus himself."
Alec sniffs, "Aldertree never was smart."
Max giggles, "Neither was Lamar."
"True."
Magnus smiles, "Our work here is done." He, Alec and Max stand up.
Magnus3 and Alec3 also stand up. Magnus3 holds Magnus' arm, "The words 'thank you' don't seem to be strong enough."
Magnus smiles, "Just make each other happy."
Alec3 nods, "We'll try."
"Good."
Max creates a portal back to their world, he and his fathers leave.
Alec3 holds Magnus3 tight, "Izzy says 'hi'."
Magnus3 rests his forehead against Alec3's and holds him around the waist, "To almost lose you AGAIN..."
"But you didn't."
"No I didn't."
"Max found my stuff."
"Good."
"I wonder who the Head will be now."
"Not caring."
"But..."
"Alexander, shh. I want to listen to you breathe."
Alec3 giggles, "Okay."
Magnus3 closes his eyes and shuts out everything but the sound of Alec3's breathing. Alec3 closes his eyes with a sigh. They stand in silence, holding each other for a few minutes.
Alec3 bites his lip, "Magnus?"
Magnus3 sighs, "What?"
"All we're going to do is stand here?"
"Why, do you have something to do?"
"I've been away from the Institute for two days."
"And?"
"And I should go back."
"Why?"
"Because, I'm a ShadowHunter and that's where I belong."
Magnus3 pulls away from him, and holds Alec3's face in his hands, "You also belong with me. I thought you were dead, Alexander. As far as the Institute was concerned you were with ME. I would like you to spend the rest of the day with me. The Institute can wait until tomorrow."
Alec3 bites his lip, "I didn't know I belong with you."
Magnus3 is momentarily distracted by Alec3's lip biting. He nods and gently kisses Alec, "Yes you do."
"Oh, then I guess we can stand here and do nothing for a little while longer."
Magnus3 smiles, "Thank you." He pulls Alec3 close to him again and closes his eyes. Alec3 giggles and closes his eyes.
A few minutes later, Alec3 says, "He does the same thing you do."
Magnus3 sighs, "Who does what?"
"The other Magnus. He rubs his thumb over his Alec's hand, just like you do to me. Is that a warlock thing?"
Magnus3 kisses him, "No, I'm pretty sure, it's only a Magnus Bane thing. Now shhh."
Alec3 giggles, "Oh."
-tbc-
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Anybody crying over Aldertree and Lamar? Nah, didn't think so. :D
