Chapter Ten: Dinner with the Lightwoods
"You took public transport here?" Robert asked both Magnus and Alec as they made their way to the parking lot. They had finished discussing Magnus' case and were headed for Alec's house. Magnus had called his mum telling her the good news and she was ecstatic! She wanted to meet Robert as soon as possible and they had arranged to meet the next day.
"Yeah," Alec replied. After the decision to ask his father for help, Alec and Magnus had decided to take a bus since Magnus' mum wasn't at home to drive them and Magnus said that his motorcycle wasn't ready to face the outside world after such a "traumatic experience." Magnus didn't listen when Alec commented on the fact that the motorcycle wasn't a living thing and therefore didn't have any emotion or opinion about being vandalised. Alec was very pleased at how easily his father and boyfriend communicated and was glad they got along. He hadn't expected his dad to be so accepting, not straight away anyway.
"I'll drive us all then," Robert said cheerfully as he opened his car, a complete contrast to his behaviour while discussing the case.
The car ride was filled with little chattering between Magnus and Robert about how they were going to approach the case and the paperwork needed to confirm Robert as Magnus' new lawyer. "I have the right paperwork so you don't need to worry about that. I will fill it in and send it before tomorrow noon," Robert said, keeping his eye on the road. Occasionally, the conversation would turn from business to personal and Magnus found that he didn't mind at all.
"We are here," Robert said as he parked into his space in the garage of his home. "You two boys go in, I'll be there in a moment." Robert suggested and Magnus and Alec obliged.
"Sooo?" Izzy asked in a singing tone once Alec was settled in a couch with Magnus sat by his side, hands interlocked. She saw her father drive into the house with both Magnus and Alec so she guessed that everything went well and her dad had agreed to take Magnus' case but she still needed confirmation.
"Soo... what?" Alec replied in the same tone Izzy used.
"Magnus' case you idiot! Did dad agree to do it?" She asked, her eyes moving between Magnus and Alec.
"What do you think Iz?" Alec replied.
"Oh my god! I told you he'd do it!" Izzy exclaimed just before engulfing both boys into a group hug.
"Izzy, you are suffocating me" Alec mumbled. "Now Magnus is definitely going to win that case. It's going to be awesome! You know what, Magnus? I think we should go shopping to celebrate! How about now?" Izzy said, placing herself in between Magnus and Alec, ignoring Alec's complaints.
"Nobody is going anywhere! Dinner is ready in ten." Maryse shouted from the kitchen. "Oh Magnus dear, are you staying for dinner?" She asked, this time from the doorway of the living room. Magnus looked at Alec as if asking if he wanted him to stay and Alec gave a warm and eager smile. Magnus had already met Alec's mum but he had yet to stay for dinner in Alec's home.
"Yes, if it's not a bother." Magnus replied and Maryse gave him a warm smile that was so much like her son's.
"I'll go get Max and Jace for dinner. Behave while I'm gone boys," Izzy said with a knowing look and left her seat between the two boys.
"What did you say to your dad for him to take on my case? He hasn't even asked how much we are able to pay," Magnus asked once they had the room to themselves.
"I don't know," Alec answered truthfully because he wasn't sure what it was he said that convinced his dad. He was sure it would take him more convincing than it actually did.
"Oh and don't worry about payment. He's doing this as a favour for me really" Alec said and Magnus started to shake his head vigorously.
"I told you, I don't want to take advantage of our relationship and most importantly, I don't want you feeling like you are being taken advantage of. Plus, I'm not a charity," Magnus stated.
"I know and I don't feel taken advantage off. Besides, it was my idea and no one said you were a charity. I just want to do something to help so just...let me like you said you would, okay?" Alec said, his voice turning soft at the last word.
"Okay," Magnus said and pulled Alec on top of himself, landing horizontally on the couch with Alec straddling Magnus. Their heads moved in sync and met halfway in a passionate kiss which left both boys panting. Alec's body moved by its own will as he lead further down to place his lips on Magnus' neck and biting softly at the skin there, causing Magnus to whimper.
Both boys broke apart simultaneously as they heard someone clear their throat. "Dad," Alec said and sat bolt upright with Magnus in tow.
"Dinner is ready," said Max who had just entered the room from the kitchen, oblivious to the slight tension in the room.
"Right," Robert said and made his way to the kitchen, leaving a blushing Alec and a nervous Magnus at his wake.
Within five minutes, everyone was at the table ready to eat. To Magnus' surprise, he wasn't the only guest in the Lightwood home. Clary was present as well. She had been in Jace's room studying, or so they said.
Maryse and Robert sat at opposite ends of their big dining table, which had many different types of food at the centre and plates in front of everyone. Magnus was sat next to Alec while Jace and Clary sat next to each other on the opposite side of the two boys. Izzy sat at Alec's side and Max was opposite Izzy, close to his mother. Magnus didn't particularly like his seat since he was quite close to Robert. The man kept eyeing him after walking in on them kissing. It was as if it was only then that it had fully registered in Robert's brain that Alec was really in a relationship with Magnus.
The main course of the dinner went by swiftly for everyone has they were all lost in conversation either with the people sat close to them or as a whole table. Maryse got up to take everyone's plates and Magnus offered to help but Maryse insisted that she was fine. Alec helped clear the now empty bowls that were full of many foods only moments ago. Alec and his mother came back in with chocolate cake, declaring that everyone had to have dessert.
"So Max, how is the manga I got you last week?" Clary asked when the last conversation died down.
"Great! I love it" Max exclaimed.
"What is it about?" Robert asked, intrigued.
"Well it's called Number 6 and its really awesome!" Max exclaimed. "I finished it in like two days! It's about this new world where a disease breaks out and these two friends...well, I think they were friends, they kiss like twice but then they don't stay together in the end-it was so sad!" He paused for a moment, giving Izzy a dirty look for giggling in between a very important explanation. "Anyway, they try to figure out what's causing this decease and how to stop it. It's really awesome! There is a big explosion in the end!" Max explained, making vague gestures with his hands.
"Yeah, seems so." Robert replied.
"I would love to do my own manga when I'm older. It would be totally awesome," Max said with wide animated eyes, his mouth full of cake.
Maryse chuckled and said, "I think it would be awesome too!"
"So, dad I heard that you are taking Magnus as a client" Izzy asked out of the blue. "Yeah, I am" Robert answered.
"That's good! So, do you know why his last one dropped the case?" Izzy asked strategically, gaining a 'don't you dare' look from Magnus.'
"No actually, I don't. He could have easily won the case. There are enough witnesses and the law is behind Magnus, even a lawyer with no experience would have won such a case." Robert thought out laud.
"Not if they were getting more money from losing the case," Izzy supplied helpfully. Robert thought for a moment before realisation crossed his face.
"You think he got bribed to drop the case?" Robert asked.
"I don't think, I know" Izzy said confidently.
"Izzy you said you wouldn't say anything!" Magnus exclaimed.
"Nope, I said I wouldn't say anything to your mum," Izzy replied.
Robert thought for a moment more before getting up from his seat to leave the room but before doing so he said, "I wouldn't put it past Starkweather to accept a bribe and Valentine to offer one. I will go look into this and see what I can do."
After everyone had finished their deserts, they all made their way to the living room to watch TV, excluding Maryse who went upstairs to join Robert. There was a heated argument between Izzy and Magnus in the living room with Magnus shouting about Izzy breaking a promise and Izzy replying that she didn't promise not to tell her father. It all ended when Alec stepped in then told Izzy to just go upstairs. Clary had left somewhere between the argument with an excuse that her mum was here to pick her up.
Alec calmed Magnus down and told him that even if he doesn't want the bribery to be reported for him, it is best they still reported to prevent it happening to other people too. Magnus agreed.
Magnus sat down with Alec for a couple of hours watching a TV show that Alec was very engrossed in, even though he didn't see any appeal in it. Magnus just sat there; legs entangled with Alec's, and looked between Alec and the TV and decided it would be best to let Alec be alone with the TV for a little while.
"I need the bathroom," Magnus said after a while and only got a muffled "okay" from Alec.
He left the room and made his way towards up stairs. He was halfway down the hall when he heard a distinct voice say his name. He turned around to see Alec's father making his way towards him. "Mr Lightwood," Magnus replied casually.
"Please, call me Robert" Robert said as he came to a stop in front of Magnus. His posture was very intimidating, with his back and shoulders straight and hands in pocket.
"I know that you mean well Magnus but I want to make something very clear. Alexander is-he's a very trusting boy, in fact too trusting for my liking. He can be very...gullible at times." Robert said, looking Magnus straight in the eye. Even though Magnus was a few inches taller than Robert, he couldn't help feel slightly intimidated, even though the man's words were harmless. Magnus knew that Robert was trying to hint at something but he wasn't sure what so he asked.
"Is there a point to this, Robert?" Magnus asked innocently.
"If you hurt him, in anyway whether physically, emotionally, in whatever way... I promise you, I will make you pay," Robert said with venom that shook Magnus where he stood but at least he now understood what this was about. He'd had similar conversations with the whole of the Lightwood family, excluding Max.
Jace had promised to "hit him where it hurts" if Magnus was ever to do anything to make Alec unhappy. Maryse swore to "hit him ten times harder" if Magnus was ever to hurt her oldest son while Izzy told him that if he takes a wrong step around her brother, Magnus would wish he'd never been born.
Even though Magnus knew that those were the usual speech any family would give to anyone in a relationship with their family member, he was certain that the Lightwood family weren't giving the standard speech but actually meant what they said; Robert no different...Robert especially.
"Look, Jace and everyone else have made it very very clear that Alec is not to be messed with. And to be honest I don't ever plan to. I only have good intentions and nothing more. I would never intentionally hurt Alexander. He is the greatest person I've ever met and to hurt him would be no different to hurting myself. When I first came here everyone looked at me with judging eyes. They wouldn't even talk to me unless it was absolutely necessary but Alexander is-he's...you have an amazing son Mr Lightwood" Magnus finished when he realised he was rambling on.
"I know that. I just want to know that you don't plan to hurt my son, ever" Robert stated.
"I don't know how I can make it any clear that I will not hurt Alec in any way. I don't know what else you want me to say but if it's a declaration of love for your son you are expecting, you aren't going to get one because if there's anybody who needs to hear it, then it's Alexander himself." Magnus stated just before his phone went off. He took his phone out, aware of Robert watching his movement, and read the message-which was from his mum telling him to be outside in five minutes. "My mum, I've got to leave." Magnus said, waving his phone in mid air and turned to make his way down the stairs, leaving Robert behind to contemplate his words.
Robert watched as Magnus made his way down the stairs, shock placing him in his current spot as he contemplated what Magnus had just said, or implied. He turned around to go to his office a question brought itself to the forefront of his brain. Did he just imply he loves my son?
"Alexander darling, I've got to leave. My mum is here to pick me up," Magnus said when he got into the leaving room.
"What? So soon," Alec said with disappointment and walked towards Magnus.
"Its past eleven and I don't think you would have noticed if I left without telling you with the amount of concentration you are giving the show. I almost feel jealous of the TV," Magnus said and placed his arm around Alec's waist.
"I would have," Alec said as he leaned closer into Magnus.
"Well, this is where we part my dear Alexander" Magnus said dramatically as they reached the door. Alec chuckled at Magnus' drama, as Magnus opening the unlocked door, pretending to be offended by Alec's amusement.
As Magnus stepped through the door, he turned and looked at Alec, who was watching him bemusedly. Alec reached forward and took hold of the front of Magnus' shirt and dragged the older teen towards him. Magnus stumbled against him, and Alec kissed him, hard and fast and messy, but Magnus savoured each second of the kiss and kissed back just as passionately and with everything he had.
Alec pulled Magnus against him, his own hand between them, and felt Magnus' heart stutter in his chest. Alec smiled in the kiss, glad that the kiss was having as much effect on Magnus as it was having on him. Alec slid his hands down to rest on Magnus' waist as they kissed each other.
Magnus' phone buzzed in his pocket but the both ignored it as Alec slid his hands, which were already on Magnus' waist, under Magnus' shirt. Magnus gasped in the kiss with surprise, but relaxed, and deepened the kiss. They reluctantly pulled apart from the kiss for a breath of fresh air but their hands still on each other's waist.
Magnus' phone buzzed once again and he took it out of his pocket to read a message from his mum saying she was outside. "I've got to go now," Magnus said. "Okay," Alec whispered but instead of moving away, he stepped closer to Magnus and took his lips in his mouth, sucking it until Magnus opened his mouth to allow entrance. Magnus placed one of his hands behind Alec's head, playing with his hair while the other hand slid down Alec's waist, finding the belt loops on Alec's jeans and using them to pull him closer.
His mouth left Alec's and Alec felt the hot pressure of his lips on his throat, where the skin was so sensitive that it seemed directly connected to the bones in his legs, which were about to give out. Just before he slid to the floor, Magnus' phone buzzed yet again, causing Magnus to let him go.
"It's my mum again, I think I really need to go" Magnus said as he held Alec tighter.
"Mumhm," Alec muffled and looked up to meet Magnus' eyes which were staring at him as if trying to memorise all the features of Alec's face. Alec smiled a magnificent smile that lit up his face and made his blue eyes piercing. Magnus gave him a quick chaste kiss on the corner of his lips, afraid he might not let go of Alec if he was to initiate another open-mouth kiss.
"Call me when you get home, so I know you are safe?" Alec asked nervously.
"Of course," Magnus said with a small smile and with much effort and reluctance, pulled himself from Alec and made his way towards the gate, with only one thought flooding his mind.
I have truly fallen.
Indeed you have, Magnus. Indeed you have. Review guys!
~Sherry
