Sorry guys, I was dealing with a really horrible writers block for this story (Hence the reason I started a new one.). I really have to give credit to RedMind05, who you can find their account on archive of our own. Please check them, they're the ones who came up with this stunning plot for this next chapter! Which I hope you guys really enjoy it, I know I was pumped to write this! The coffee shop Magnus and Alec visit is 100% fiction, it doesn't actually exist. There's a lot of foul language at the end of this, as well as some homophobic language. I'm going to continue this incident in the next chapter from Alec's point of view. I know this chapter's a little on the short side, but the next one should be out sooner as I'm off school now!
:) Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, all to Cassandra Clare, and the song "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor, definitely not mine.
Enjoy!
Magnus was thrilled to finally be able to spend some quality time with Alec. His darling boyfriend (Bless his soul), had been visibly down for a reason Magnus could not, no matter how many times he asked, could get out of him. After the painful few days of watching Alec wallow and drown in his own thoughts, Magnus suggested a date night. Well, not quite the most optimal choice for a date night, Alec had complained when he mentioned it to him while he'd been moping on the couch, Chairman Meow pressed to his chest.
Magnus had had enough of his boyfriend moping in his flat, while he enjoyed Alec's company more than anyone else's, he did not like to think that Alec was hiding in his flat, using it as a shield of sorts. It would do him no good to hide away at Magnus' place. That is why Magnus took the hard decision of interrupting Alec during his petting session with the Chairman.
"I think we should go shopping," He suggested, peering over the top of the magazine he was reading at the bundle of grey lying on the couch. Silver crutches were laying on the floor next to the couch, taking up enough space that Magnus felt he could not make his way to sit near his boyfriend without stepping on them or having to move them.
"Hm..." Came the reply, non-committal and dreary.
"Alexander?" Magnus questioned.
"Yeah?"
"Oh good, you did hear me," Magnus flapped a dismissive hand in the air, eyes darting back to the magazine in his hands. "I was worried for a second that Chairman Meow had suffocated you."
No response.
Magnus sighed through his nose. "So you're good to go shopping then? I was thinking of heading to Time Square, spend some of the ridiculous amounts of money that I have on new clothes. I haven't indulged in forever." He complained, flinging the magazine down onto the coffee table and stretching his arms over his head.
"Shopping?" Alec inquired.
"Yes, shopping my dear," Magnus confirmed. "Something I do very well, thank you very much."
Magnus watched as Alec rolled on the couch, Chairman hopped off his chest, stalking along the back of the couch and sitting atop one of the arm rests where Alec's one foot hung over the edge. Blue eyes stared at Magnus, dark bruises surrounding each lovely eyes, making their colour stand out all the more.
"Have fun then..." Alec mumbled, throwing an arm over his face.
"Oh heavens..." Magnus grumbled, rising from his place in his seat. "I was hoping to have to avoid pulling this card but you've left me no choice."
Stalking over, only pausing to kick Alec's crutches to the side and out of his way, Magnus promptly crawled over Alec, straddling the man's waist.
Alec didn't move, which only further concerned Magnus. He had been expecting some sort of reaction, not just nothing.
Reaching out, he tugged Alexander's arm away from his face, his hand catching Alec's and intertwining their fingers together. Alec's pale skin standing out against Magnus' dark.
Magnus narrowed his eyes on his boyfriend. "You're coming shopping with me. You're my boyfriend, you need to let me show you're killer cheekbones off, and have you carry my bags. If you don't..." Magnus trailed off, cocking a defiant eyebrow in Alec's direction.
"If I don't?" Alec challenged, and a ghost of a smile appeared on his face, instantly exciting Magnus.
Seizing his opportunity Magnus grinned, flashing a set of straight white teeth.
"Then I'll be forced to tickle you." Magnus settled his hands on Alec's sides, already he could feel Alec's muscles tense under his hands. His grin grew wider.
"You wouldn't dare..." Alec said.
"Oh I would," Magnus said as he gave one good poke to Alec's side, watching with satisfaction when his boyfriend squirmed underneath him. "Unless you say you'll come shopping with me."
"Magnus~" Alec whined, sounding rather childish and petulant for a grown man, and Magnus found it absolutely endearing.
"No buts," Magnus said. "You have three seconds," He wiggled his fingers. "One..."
"Magnus come on your being ridiculous-"
"Two..."
"Magnus-"
"Three-"
"Okay! Okay!" Alec laughed, holding his hands up to ward off the impending fingers. "I'll come! Just please, no tickling."
Magnus regarded his boyfriend suspiciously, fingers stilled poised for attack. "Promise?"
Alec nodded vigorously, "Yes. Yes, by the Angel I promise!"
Magnus smiled and jumped up off his boyfriend.
"Perfect!" He exclaimed, hands clapping together. "Let me get changed and I'll be right with you."
Alec regarded him from his place on the couch, and Magnus shot him a brilliantly smile. Leaning over Magnus bent to place a chaste kiss on Alec's lips.
"Don't look so sad, we're going shopping." He put extra emphasis on the word, hoping to brighten his boyfriend up further. He suspected the kiss had done most of the work, as Alec's hand caught his shirt collar and tugged him down for another one. This one was slower and longer than the first one, not that Magnus minded all too much. Kisses from Alec were the best things beside glitter.
"You don't need to change," Alec murmured, he had pulled away from the kiss but was still close enough that Magnus could feel his breaths across his own skin. "You look fine."
"Oh darling," Magnus said with mock concern. "You have a lot to learn."
Grinning at Alec's confused expression Magnus pressed another quick, feather light kiss to Alec's lips. "Thank you very much, but I need to look fabulous for our date."
"Date?" Alec repeated, dumbfounded.
"Yes dear, a date." Magnus poked Alec's nose, watching with a smitten expression as it scrunched adorably. "We're dating remember?"
Pulling away Magnus sashayed to his room, leaving a muttering Alec on the couch in his wake.
About thirty minutes later, three wardrobe changes, and two attempts at the perfect eyeliner, Magnus was ready to leave. When he emerged from his room decked out in his new clothes (they were in fact all brand new), Alec was back on the couch again. It was another thirty minutes of coaxing with kisses and sweet promises that Magnus managed to get Alec into the car. There was much grumbling and a small snogging session in the car before Magnus even started driving.
"That took too long."
"Hm?" Magnus asked, eyes never leaving the road. New York traffic was crazy no matter what time of the day, and taxis were ruthless suckers. "What's that darling?"
"I mean," Alec said, fiddling with the radio. "We took an hour and half to get out of the house."
"And only a third of it was me getting ready." Magnus declared proudly.
Alec sighed from the passenger seat, Magnus risked a glance from the corner of his eye, trying not to smile too broadly when he noticed a shimmer of lip gloss smudged on the corner of his lips. Licking his lips and tasting his own cherry flavoured gloss, he was satisfied to know it was the flavour Alec would have tasted as well.
Alec's fiddling with the radio came to an abrupt end, Magnus brightening as soon as he heard the song.
"Oh~!" He purred. "Don't change it, I love this song!"
Alec glanced over at him, eyebrows raised. "Really?"
"What? Don't believe me?" Magnus challenged.
"Well... I always thought you'd be more of the Top 40's kind of person..." Alec ventured and Magnus snorted.
"Oh Alexander, darling, you have a lot to learn. I might be in style, but my music is far more refined taste than that. Not," He added. "That there's anything wrong with being a Top 40's kind of person but- oh, here comes the good part." Pausing as he waited for the driving music to pick up, Magnus tapped his fingers to the steering wheel.
"They stack the odds 'till we take to the street, for we kill with the skill to survive~"
"Oh Magnus... No..." Alec groaned, his forehead hitting the dashboard. "Please-"
Sadly, for Alec, this only made Magnus more determined to belt out the chorus at the top of his lungs.
"It's the, Eye of the Tiger, it's the cream of the fight, rising up to the challenge of our rival~!"
"Magnus, my eardrums, please stop." Alec moaned, his hands covering his ears.
"As the last known survivor stalks the prey in the night, and he's watching us all in the EYE of the tiger."
"By the Angels stop!" Alec pleaded and Magnus dissolved from his singing to a pout.
"What? You don't like my singing?" Magnus asked, looking horrified.
Alec visibly winced. "Magnus, for all of your good qualities-"
"Which I have plenty of them." Magnus interjected.
"-Music isn't one of them. I still think Chairman lost a life when you tried to play the guitar." Alec continued.
Magnus went quiet, sulking to himself behind the wheel of his car. Dejectedly he pulled into a parking spot and, sniffing loudly, he turned away from Alec staring out at the busy streets of New York City.
"Fine," He grumbled. "But that doesn't mean I'm not singing if any of my songs come on the radio."
He heard a relieved huff from Alec, and a warm hand slunk over to rest on his shoulder, gentle and steadying. "Magnus..."
How on earth was he supposed to sulk properly when Alexander said his name like that? It was impossible, that's what. With any of his other boyfriends the sulking card was easy to play. One word from Alec, even one touch was enough to set Magnus off.
Turning in his seat to look at his boyfriend, he was surprised when soft lips met his own. On instinct he relaxed under the pressure, his mouth opening slightly as Alec's hand slid to the back of his neck, holding Magnus in place, gently. Much of what Alexander did was gentle, it was something Magnus was growing more and more aware of as Alec's kisses and public displays of affection became more and more frequent. Minus their first passionate make out session on the couch and on the floor, Alec always started out gentle. Something that was wildly different from the hard, insistent kisses he was used to. It was a nice change of pace.
Pressing back, Magnus had just moved his hand to cup Alec's cheek when the pressure disappeared, leaving Magnus blinking and craving more of Alexander.
He whimpered.
Alec grinned sheepishly from under his black bangs, the motion setting Magnus' heart into a frantic stutter.
"Am I forgiven?" Alec asked, and there was something behind the playful tone that sounded more sincere, almost like Alec expected him to be mad for his actions.
"Kiss me like that and you'll get whatever you want, when you want it dear." Magnus replied, eyelids dropping to watch Alec's Adam's apple bob up and down along the long pale column of his throat.
"Ri-Right." Alec stammered. "Shopping?"
"Shopping." Magnus agreed, opening his door he wandered around his car to Alec's side, where his boyfriend was struggling onto his crutches.
Magnus hesitated to go and help him, fearing that Alec would think he was taking pity on him, or worse, thought he was weak. Swallowing the instinctive urge to help Magnus patiently waited for Alexander to put himself together before falling into an easy step next to his boyfriend. He spared a glance down to their feet, watching as his two hit the sidewalk at an even pace with Alec's one, plus two metal ends. While he wasn't bothered by the crutches, didn't mind taking the elevator instead of the stairs with Alec, the most annoying thing about the crutches was that he couldn't hold Alexander's hand. Turning his gaze upward, Magnus took the time to admire the giant billboards, the people, those dressed in costumes and those with bags loaded in their arms.
Magnus paused, stopping to take it all in, the sight of the hundreds of people, and the noise. Cars honking, people chattering, some yelling, others laughing...
"Magnus?"
Magnus blinked, his gaze focusing on Alec's inquisitive blue eyes.
"Sorry, I can never get enough of the city." Magnus said, moving to catch up to Alec. He took another survey around them as they walked, "No paparazzi yet?" He asked, trusting Alec to spot the pesky media faster than he could.
Alec shook his head, "Not yet, but you did have a few girls who noticed you when you stopped back there." He said.
Magnus gave a rueful grin. "I did?" He mused. "I still get shocked when people recognize me on the streets sometimes, you know?"
Alec pursed his lips. "I wouldn't," He said, his tone sharp. "If you want to ask anyone you should ask Jace."
Magnus blinked, a little shocked as from where the suddenly bitter tone came from.
"Alexander? Are you alright?" He asked, worry and concern laced in his voice. He reached out a hand, resting it gently on Alec's shoulder. "What's eating at you?"
Alec shook his hand off, a simple, harsh gesture, one that punched Magnus in the gut and made him feel breathless, made his chest feel tight inside. One that told him just how dangerously fast and hard he'd fallen - just how vulnerable he was.
"It's nothing really, just something stupid." Alec said, he'd moved ahead in pace, now a few steps in front of Magnus.
He dropped his hand to his side, watching the tense line of Alexander's underneath his sweater.
"Nothing's stupid when it comes to you." Magnus murmured, and was disappointed when Alec said nothing but only kept walking. Reasoning that Alec simply hadn't heard him, Magnus hurried after him watching as shops passed by.
"Alexander! Let's grab a coffee before we get into our shopping, you're going to need to caffeine darling." Magnus said. Pausing in front of a coffee shop, without even glancing at the name he opened the door, holding it open with his most charming smile for Alec, who murmured a soft thank you before entering.
Heading in after Alec, Magnus headed straight for the counter, already glancing at the menu and trying to decide what he should indulge himself with. Oblivious to what was happening around him, it wasn't until Alec's panicked, "Magnus-!" did he realise that something was amiss at all.
Turning his head towards Alec, a question on his lips, it died almost immediately as he saw the veteran entering the coffee shop. The man was old, much older than Alec with greying hair around his temples. He was missing most of his right arm, and his appearance was rather unkempt. He wasn't sure what had set Alec into a panic, but he felt an uneasiness in his stomach as well.
Something was off.
Magnus turned again, looking at his boyfriend beside him. Alec's lips were pressed into a thin line and wrinkles creased his brow. He spoke without looking at Magnus, eyes fixed on the man stumbling in the coffee shop.
"Something's not right," Alec said. "Magnus let's leave."
Not questioning Alec's decision, Magnus allowed for Alec to lead the way with him trailing in his wake. He kept his eyes on the back of Alec's head, not really daring to look at anyone else. He didn't even realise he'd been holding his breath until Alexander passed by the man. He was only a few steps behind, dutifully following right after when he heard the eruption of giggles from a nearby table.
The events that followed happened in rapid succession. A little too quickly for Magnus quite to process. One second he'd been following Alec out of the shop the next the old veteran standing next to him was shouting, a gun pressed to the head of a young women.
"Don't laugh at me! Don't you fucking laugh at me?!"
Magnus was close enough to see the spittle flying from the man's mouth. Close enough to see the pure rage etched across the man's features. He thrust the gun towards the table of young girls, the one he was pointing was frozen, slacked jawed with terror.
Everyone else wasn't.
Someone screamed behind him, and the Magnus found himself staring down the barrel of a pistol.
"Everyone get the fuck down!" The man screamed, and people around him began dropping to floor like flies. Those who hadn't managed to flee out the shop were hiding under tables. Magnus was left standing, still in shock from the events unfolding around him.
"Everyone get down or I blow his brains out!"
Who's brains out? Magnus thought. It took a moment or two to process that the man was talking about him, namely because the barrel of the gun was now firmly pressed to his head. Dimly Magnus wondered why he had been the one chosen and not the girl who had laughed at him...
Ah, it was probably the clothes.
"No one fucking move a muscle or I'll blow the faggots brains out!"
It was the clothes. Magnus concluded. Maybe he should start dressing down, that was homophobes wouldn't be able to pick him out in a crowd so easily.
Magnus was aware of the collar of his jacket being grabbed, and he was aware of the sudden fact the floor was rushing up to meet him.
Pain sliced through his body, his knees were jarred against the hardwood floor and he was temporarily set out of balance. His world spun for second before a heavy foot landed on his back, crushing the air out of his lungs.
"Fuck," He wheezed, what a perfect date this was turning out to be. At least he could check one more thing off his bucket list; be held at gunpoint by a psycho. But more importantly…
Where was Alec?