Their theme for homecoming was black and white, and it was a huge hit. The archway of balloons was the first thing they saw after getting through the line of security at the front doors. Through it held fairy twinkling lights all over the gym and black drapes mostly covering the walls. The stage they were to play on was on one end with a large space for a dance floor and the other end held refreshments. A corner of the gym was set up for a photo booth that was crowded with people.
The scene was everything Magnus could have imagined for a dance, except for the fact that he never in a million years expected to walk into it holding Alec Lightwood's hand. The group was talking easily around him. Jem, Will, and Tessa had joined their group, though Will did so reluctantly. Simon seemed quiet and withdrawn, barely saying a hello to Jem at all. Whatever had happened with Isabelle was on his mind. Aline and Helen had disappeared two seconds after coming in the door to see their other friends. Magnus was trying to take everything in and yet still enjoy the moment.
"You okay?" Alec asked him, his breath tickling his ear making shivers run through him. Alec had shifted his hand to the small of his back to guide him through the very crowded gym. That simple action had his heart jumping every which way.
"I'm good, just taking everything in," Magnus smiled at him, trying not to let his eyes linger on Alec's lips. The problem since their first kiss was that Magnus wanted to do it again. Preferably this time with Alec happy and smiling with that adorable twinkle in his blue eyes that he had right now. "Everything looks great."
"Wait until prom, last year was impressive," Alec replied with a smile while squeezing his hand. He had seemed to imply that maybe they'd still be like this six months from now. That maybe Alec would like him that long, a concept that baffled him. He never dared to believe Alec was a long term thing.
"We gotta go set up," Will said to Alec and Simon. He kissed Tessa on the cheek as she held him close a second longer with a kiss to his lips. Will left without a second look to any of them. Alec sighed quietly and kissed Magnus's cheek lightly before heading off to the stage. Magnus felt his face heat up as his stomach exploded in the usual butterflies he got every time Alec was close to him.
"So, my date won't even talk to me, and neither will my boyfriend," Jem said glumly as he leaned on the wall next to Magnus. "I fucked this one up big time."
"Will is more upset than angry," Tessa said to him as she looped their arms. "You know how he gets when he gets insecure. He lashes out and makes everything worse."
"Simon had a blow up thing with his ex right before we got here," Magnus explained. "He'll snap out of it I'm sure. If he doesn't treat you decent WIll and I will beat his ass for you."
"No, you won't," Jem said, though a small smile appeared on his face anyways. "I deserve a dud date after hurting you like this. I should have just called it off. I could be home reading, or playing violin, or anything other than this."
"I never would have come without you," Tessa said earnestly. She took Jem's hand in hers and hid it behind her dress. Magnus smiled to himself and then focused on Alec setting up to play. He loved seeing Alec on stage, since it truly seemed to be where he belonged.
It wasn't long before the room went dark and Mortal Instruments began to play. It was the first time Will had grinned in weeks. The band was having a blast and the massive sea of dancing bodies made it evident the crowd was loving them. Magnus wished he could dance with Alec, and now knew just why Tessa had been so grumpy when Will had signed on to play. Tessa pulled him and Jem to dance either way. The three of them talked, danced, and laughed until the crowd pressed in too close for Magnus to be comfortable with.
Magnus slipped outside when his friends went back to the dance floor after a bit of a break. He hadn't been this happy since before his mom had died. His life since that moment had been one roller coaster after another. He had spent months torturing himself over how he felt about his body. He had felt unworthy of love or happiness. He had hated the fact that he couldn't be normal. It had been like he had been punishing himself for how he felt. Then he had had Ragnor help him and he had met Raphael who had saved him from himself. He had friends that had never truly left him, no matter how much he pushed them away. He could look in the mirror now without cringing most of the time. His life had gotten better than he ever could have imagined sitting in that dark room with his mother's body next to him, crying and feeling like he'd be alone forever. He could say he was happy now, which was a far cry from where he'd thought he'd be. He couldn't say the past didn't hurt, but it was fading just a bit. Alec Lightwood may have his own demons to deal with, but he was still brighter than anyone Magnus had ever met.
"Hey," An arm came around him from behind and Magnus felt himself stop breathing for a moment before he caught sight of messy black hair and knew it could only be Alec. "Was my show really that bad?"
"No," Magnus said with a smile as he faced Alec. "Your playing was fantastic, but it got way crowded in there. I just needed a second to breathe. Is Will behaving?"
"I think he's finding too much pleasure in the fact that Jem and Simon are having one of the worst dates in history," Alec huffed, but he smiled like he couldn't keep it off his face. Magnus leaned in and kissed Alec purely on impulse. He couldn't hold himself back anymore with Alec smiling like that under the stars and the night being so perfect. Alec made a quiet noise of surprise before instinct took over and he pulled Magnus closer. Magnus could feel the muscles in his arms tightening as they held him securely. Their lips pressed together with more heat than the other night. Magnus felt the butterflies explode to make a million more as he brought a hand to the back of Alec's head, tangling in the hair at the nape of his neck. His other hand was pressed to Alec's cheek, nearly caressing it as the kiss went on. Alec's mouth was soft against his, and the kiss was gentle even as the heat between them rose in leaps and bounds. Magnus heard himself whimper softly as he pressed closer to the warmth and safety Alec offered with his presence.
Alec broke the kiss gently, but kept Magnus close in his arms and pressed their foreheads together. "We're getting better at this."
Magnus could only laugh softly with his head still spinning pleasantly. "Are you free to dance now?"
"We have one more set to play, but we have a break for about a half hour," Alec grinned at him again and Magnus was afraid his heart was about to burst. "I'm torn between staying out here with you in this perfect moment or dragging you back into that gym to dance. You can't say you've been to homecoming if you don't dance with your date at least once."
"We could always dance out here," Magnus said, his own words surprising him. "After all, you do sing perfectly anyways."
"You think I should serenade you on our second date?" Alec asked as he settled one arm around Magnus's waist and gently lifted the other one. "You are so bold, Magnus Bane."
Magnus laughed since that statement was beyond ridiculous. Alec started to sway softly, bringing Magnus with him. Alec was quiet for a moment before picking up a soft and quiet tune. "When I look into your eyes, it's like watching the night sky, or a beautiful sunrise, there's so much they hold." Magnus melted inside at this new view of Alec's voice, soft and melodic in the quiet night air. "And just like them old stars, I see that you've come so far. To be right where you are, how old is your soul?" A gentle breeze kicked up to make Magnus shiver and Alec to pull him close again, both arms snug around his waist. Magnus tentatively wrapped his arms around Alec's neck. Alec nuzzled his neck softly with his nose before looking back at Magnus intently. "Well I won't give up on us, even if the skies get rough. I'm giving you all my love. I'm still looking up."
Magnus could die happy, right here and now in this moment.
The shot echoed through the air and made Magnus stop completely and his mind clear. They stood frozen tangled together on the side of the school. Screams echoed out the open front doors of the school, security having abandoned it after the student body was inside. Had they left the doors open? Alec took off sprinting towards the doors without a second thought. Magnus was trying to tell himself that the sound could have been anything, not necessarily what it sounded like.
"Alec," Magnus hissed desperately as they froze for a moment in the entryway, determining which way to go. "Alec, that sounded like a gunshot."
"Call 911 and get the hell out of here," Alec said fiercely. "I have to go see if my brother and our friends are okay."
"I'm not leaving without you," Magnus said just as fiercely. "My friends are in there too. I bet ten people have already called."
Four more shots rang out in the still air and screams filled the air more intensely and the music cut out completely now. Magnus could hear the thunder of feet moving as the shots kept coming. He could feel himself shaking as he ran behind Alec towards the chaos. He knew every logical part of his brain was telling him to get out now and stay safe, but he couldn't leave everyone he loved behind in a building that was turning into a death trap.
Alec tugged him suddenly into a doorway, pressing them together. The screams were still echoing through the halls and Magnus had never been this scared in his entire life. He clung to Alec while he could for this moment. Alec was shaking as badly as he was now that they were standing still. Were they going to make it out of this alive?
MBALMBALMBALMBAL
Alec didn't worry about Magnus's touching issues as he pressed him as close as possible. Every part of him wanted to get to the gym as quickly as possible, but logic told him that the shooter wasn't about to stay in the gym that long. People were scattered all over the school now hiding and trying to escape, though the only exit open was the front doors.
He really tried to ignore the guilt he felt that he was the one that had left the side door open.
After a few moments he heard lone, steady footsteps coming down the suddenly silent hall. The steps clicked evenly against the linoleum, completely unnerving when his mind was in chaos. He never should have brought Magnus back into this building, but then again how was he about to leave? Magnus had obviously come to the same conclusion that he had about who was about to walk past the very doorway they were hiding in. He was silently crying, the tears smearing his perfectly placed makeup. Alec wanted to assure him, but all he could do was to press a hand over Magnus's mouth and nose to keep him silent.
As the steps grew closer, only feet away, Alec realized there was no way they could be missed. The doorjamb wasn't deep enough to hide both of them. Alec worked a hand between the door and Magnus to get the handle to click open. His eyes met wide, green ones and Alec had no idea how this was about to go. He had no idea if he was about to leave Magnus alone in this moment. He had no clue if the kiss they had just shared under a starlit sky was his last. He had no idea if this would even work, or if what he was about to do would be for no reason at all. He had to try and save this beautiful boy he had met, the one that had brightened his life in so many ways. He shoved Magnus hard enough to make him stumble back into the shadows of the classroom where he couldn't be seen.
The momentum of the push sent Alec stumbling out into the hall, feet from the shooter that held a semi-automatic in his hand. He was dressed in black from his neck down to his feet. HIs pale skin looking sickly in the florescent lighting of the school. Alec saw he had platinum blonde hair and steady hands as he raised the gun. Alec's throat was stuck closed even as he wanted to try and plead for his life. He wanted to ask why this man would ever do this. Why he would come into a school teeming with potential life and end so many. He would end their innocence and their happiness. Alec knew that even if he did make it through this alive that he would never be the same. He could never go back to being fine after this. He wanted to look at Magnus one last time, but didn't dare in case it tipped this maniac off.
He felt the pain before he realized what must have happened. He heard himself scream, though he couldn't really register it happening. The pain was unlike anything he had ever felt, tearing at him from the inside. He was on the floor as the man carelessly stepped on his fingers, leaning over him as if to see if enough damage was done. He dug his heel in as he turned and Alec heard at least one finger break. He didn't have enough breath in him left to scream so he could only faintly whimper as he struggled to keep breathing. The pain overwhelmed every sense and every thought as he laid there on the cold linoleum, staring up at his own poster for one of their shows. He didn't want to die here, not like this. He wanted to do so much, and he wanted to see what life was like without his dad oppressively over him at every opportunity. He wanted to be there for his siblings to love and protect them. He wanted to see where things could go with Magnus, or with anyone. He wanted to fall in love and see what that was really like.
He couldn't help when his head lolled to the side and he lost to the darkness wanting to consume him.
MBALMBALMBAL
Magnus couldn't breathe he was crying so hard. He heard the shot and the slump of Alec's body and felt like he was dying. He was biting his lip hard enough to make it bleed to keep from making any sound. He forced himself to wait long enough for the shooter to leave before he went to Alec. Alec had saved him. The boy who he had barely let in until just now had saved his life.
He opened the door slowly, wincing at the slight screech the hinges made. His hands shook as he gripped the doorframe to make himself stand. He saw that the hall was empty and heard that all was quiet before he made his gaze travel down to Alec on the floor. The blood pool was spreading underneath him at an alarming rate. Magnus didn't hesitate to tear off his jacket and press it to where the bleeding seemed to be coming from.
"Alec," Magnus whispered, even though he knew Alec couldn't hear him. He let out a sob and wanted to just curl up here and not move. "Alec, you're an idiot. You never should have done that. Oh my God, Alec." The quiet was unnerving him and now that he saw for himself that people were truly dying he was aching to find Will, Jem, and Tessa. Those three were his family, the only one that he had. The blood seemed to stop flowing so strongly after a long time of pressing on it as hard as he could. Alec didn't wake and his skin was paler than Magnus had ever seen it, even under stage lights. He didn't want to leave Alec, but what else could he do? If Alec was dead there was nothing Magnus could do. What if the shooter came back? Then all Alec did would be for nothing, and plus Alec would want him to see if the others were okay. That's all that was on his mind as they ran in here. He pressed a kiss to Alec's temple with shaking lips. He draped his jacket over him and forced himself to stand. It took a few tries for his knees to support him but he finally managed leaning heavily on one wall. His knees didn't want to support him as he made himself move towards the main part of his school. He stumbled through the halls, finding too many people sprawled on the floor like Alec, blood coating the halls.
He made it to the gym to find it deserted besides bodies littering the floor here and there. Magnus counted seven in here alone. He gagged at the stench of blood in the room. He wasn't sure if he could move any further. This was too much for him to take in. Just as he was about to slide down to the floor the sound of crying caught his attention. His head snapped up to see Aline across the gym in the corner. She was openly crying as she looked down at something in her lap. Magnus was relieved to see someone he knew alive and well instead of being alone in this tomb. He quickly walked towards her, but his stomach rolled again upon reaching her and he wished he had never seen this.
Helen was laid in Aline's lap, covered in blood and obviously no longer alive. Her face was bruised and she had two gunshot wounds on her torso. Her blonde hair fanned out over the floor, blood coating part of it. A crown laid on its side a few feet away with a matching one sitting by Aline's hip. He guessed it was them that won homecoming queens, just like Aline had wanted.
"Aline," Magnus whispered brokenly. He didn't know what he could possibly say to her in this moment. He had only met her a couple of times, and now she was going through the worst moment of her life. "Aline, I'm so sorry."
"They trampled her," Aline said brokenly, words barely decipherable through her tears. "After he shot her they just trampled her like she meant nothing. People were running everywhere and screaming and now Helen is dead. He killed Helen." She went silent again, as if those words were the last ones she'd ever speak. Magnus sat on the floor next to her, knowing he could do nothing but not able to leave her either. Aline was like a sister to Alexander, they were that close. At the thought of Alec his tears came again as his heart broke further. He took Aline in his arms, careful not to touch Helen. He knew that Aline didn't want a single person touching her girlfriend besides her.
The minutes ticked by with the silence only broken by a shot here and there and a scream. It had been less than an hour since Magnus had gone outside for some air. In less than an hour his world had changed forever and he'd cried more than he ever had. Sirens sounded outside and while that should have given Magnus hope that this nightmare would be over soon, he felt empty inside at the fact that they were too late. Alec was gone, and so was so many others. The guy was a dead on shot and had killed so many people in so little time. Aline looked ready to pass out as she absently pet Helen's hair, the tears gone now. The silence was killing Magnus and he needed something to fill it before it suffocated him.
"Magnus!" His heart seemed like it started to beat again in a way he could feel it as Tessa ran over to him. She collapsed on top of him practically as he hugged him so tightly he could hardly breathe. He held her to him and tried not to let her feel him shaking.
"No!" The cry came from Simon, who had been at the back of the group. His face lost all color as he ran to his two best friends. Magnus couldn't take any more grief, not right now. He got to his feet with Tessa and felt himself sway before Will was at his side. Magnus didn't know what to feel anymore. He didn't know how much more sadness he could handle, and how much more grief. He was covered in Alec's blood and he wanted to go home.
"Why did you guys come out here?" Magnus asked frantically. Distantly doors were opening and he heard officials moving in, their footfalls loud and heavy in the deathly silence. "He could come back out here! I bet he's heard us by now and-"
"Shh Magnus," Jem said softly with a hand to his neck gently. Magnus jumped, not realizing he had come on his other side to support him. "Magnus, the shooter is dead. He killed himself when the sirens started."
"What?" Magnus choked out, shock careening through his system yet again. "He did all of this, caused all of this, and then he went and killed himself? This didn't even have a goddamn purpose?" The tears were back yet again and if it wasn't for Will having his back he'd be right back down on the floor again. Even with his three best friends in the world hugging him all Magnus could see was Simon and Aline grieving over their dead friend and all he could feel was the horror and pain that came with seeing Alec fall to the floor.
"We need to get out of here," Tessa said after a moment. "I really need to get out of here, right now."
"Let's go Magnus," Will said, his voice low and tight. Magnus saw him cling to Jem's hand and felt distantly glad that at least those two had come to their senses. He let his friends lead him out of the school slowly. He was glad to see Alec's body was gone now, and at the same time he felt like he had lost everything all over again. There was no strength in him left to cry though so he stayed silent until they got outside to the mass of people. There were five ambulances with their lights blaring along with a dozen police cars covering the lot and part of the street. There was a firetruck at one end of the lot and press vans here and there as well. Parents screamed the names of their kids as they tried to fight past the officials. It was complete chaos everywhere Magnus looked. He had no idea how they were about to get out of here since their limo wasn't due to come back for hours yet.
The people closing in was making it hard for Magnus to breathe. He hated crowds under ordinary circumstances, but after all he had went through tonight he couldn't handle this too. He was close to having a panic attack right now, and he was honestly surprised it hadn't come before now. The adrenaline was leaving his system leaving him feeling weak and faintly sick. He broke Will's hold and tried to get away for just a second, but no matter which way he looked people were covering the lawn and the huge lot. He couldn't escape any which way and he sank down to the lawn trying desperately to catch his breath. The tears were back in his fear and panic which didn't help his current problem. He wanted Alec, and he couldn't have him, and would possibly never again have him.
The force of his crying made him start to gag and retch on the pavement. People started to stop and press in to see if he was alright, unknowingly making it worse.
"Give him room!" A voice hollered and Magnus felt slightly better when the people backed up. "Back the fuck up!"
"Help," Magnus whimpered, wanting his body to stop freaking out right now when he was already so, so tired. He felt hands touch his back and he nearly fell over in his attempt to get the hell away.
"Magnus, it's Raphael," A voice said close to his face. Magnus only had to look up slightly to verify the truth of his words. He wasted no time in launching himself into the only arms he had learned to trust. He silently clung to his mentor and tried to block out the horror for just a minute. He heard Raphael trying to calm him down into his ear softly, but it was only doing so much.
"I've got blood on you," Magnus said after a few moments of getting himself together just a bit. "I...I was covered in it. F-from A-Alec."
"Magnus, you are going into shock very quickly," Raphael pointed out to him calmly as he could. He took off the jacket he had brought to wrap it around Magnus tightly as well as his arms. "It's okay now. You're safe. I need you to keep repeating that to yourself while we get out of here. I've got you."
Magnus nodded and silently surveyed the scene, not freaking out with Raphael with him. He had no idea why his therapist was here, or how he'd even known about all of this, but he was so glad he was. They stood together watching the school clear out and people being loaded into ambulances or finding their loved ones. He saw Aline being led out by a police officer, walking beside a gourney that undoubtedly carried Helen. Simon trailed behind them looking completely lost and alone. Magnus turned to bury his face in Raphael's chest to avoid looking at any more of it. He couldn't take any more grief or pain. Raphael cupped the back of his head gently and stroked his hair softly.
"Dear God, this place is madness," A new voice said next to them. Raphael shifted, but Magnus clung to keep him close. Raphael stroked his back to assure him even as one arm dropped its hold.
"Did you find Max and Alec?" Raphael demanded. Magnus had to lift his head at hearing Alec's name. He saw a tall man with blonde hair with a wide build towering above them both. His jaw was tight with tension, and then Magnus spotted Raphael gripping his hand. This must be the boyfriend he'd heard about countless times before. How did he know Alec? He knew it wasn't Alec's dad, so who was he?
"Alec got shot, but he's alive," The man's voice was a bit shaky and weak with relief. "Max went in an ambulance with him. I want him looked over and probably treated for shock."
"Alec is alive?" Magnus asked, hope filling him and making his knees feel a bit weak yet again. "Did you say Alec is alive?"
"Oh shit," Raphael swore, seeming to piece together they were talking about the same Alec Magnus was absolutely crazy about. "I'm sorry Magnus, you shouldn't have had to find out like-"
"I already knew," Magnus interrupted him. "I-I was right there," He swallowed hard and tried not to let his mind go into too much detail with that.
"He's alive," The tall man confirmed, seemingly glad to give him good news. "The paramedics said he was stable when they took him."
"Oh thank God," Magnus said as he sank back into Raphael in relief. "I need to see him." There was no question in his mind where Magnus had to be. "We have to go see him and we have to bring Simon with us." He knew that right now Simon really needed some good news.
"Uncle Mike," The call came barely heard above the din of the crowd. Over Raphael's shoulder Magnus could see a head of blonde hair, Alec's best friend Jace. Magnus had never had a conversation with the guy, but the lost look on his face made him start to feel faintly sick again.
"Jace, oh I'm so glad you're alright," Mike said, some of the tension in his jaw easing. Magnus's chest ached with the lingering anxiety from the crowd still around them. He really wanted to go see Alec, and then he might just feel a tiny bit better. He needed to kiss him stupid, and then slap him for being a heroic idiot. He was damn lucky that he wasn't killed by that maniac.
"Clary got shot," Jace looked more unstable the more you looked at him. HIs eyes couldn't focus on anything and his hands were shaking. "Alec and Clary both got shot and-and so many people are dead."
"Let's get to the hospital," Mike said as he put an arm to guide Jace forwards. He glanced towards Raphael. "I know you're about to say we should take them home, but I think it'll help to let them see Alec alive. Jace won't sleep until he knows about Clary anyways."
"Alright," Raphael conceded, though he looked unhappy about it. "We need to keep them all warm at least so they don't go into shock." Magnus saw that Simon was holding Aline as they leaned against the side of the schoo. He was reluctant to leave Raphael, but he knew he had to bring those two with them. They had to see Alec alive for themselves, especially after losing Helen tonight. Magnus had only met Helen once, but she had seemed like a wonderful person. She was happy and in love with her girlfriend. He remembered seeing her laughing and dancing with Aline as the band played. She had always been the mediator between everyone when bickering broke out. Her life never should have been lost so soon, and not like this.
"Hey," Magnus said quietly as he approached the two. "We're heading up to the hospital to see Alec. He's pulling through. You want to come?"
Neither of them seemed able to say anything, but they followed Magnus silently over to the SUV Mike apparently drove. They all piled in and made their way out of the parking lot. Magnus glanced back at the school as they drove away and wondered how he could ever go back there, how any of them ever could.