A/N: Yeah, this is a LOT longer than my usual chapters, but I couldn't find a good place to really end it. Enjoy!
13: Alec
Magnus doesn't look happy about being left alone. I've given him homework, which I'm hoping he does, to keep him busy.
There's no one else in the pet store when I walk in. The solitude is kind of nice.
That changes when I see who the manager is. It's Ragnor Fell.
"So you bought my little whore," he remarks, reaching to shake my hand.
"His name's Magnus. We're dating," I reply.
I'm very tempted to make him pay for hurting Magnus, but I really need the money.
"Oh, really? You break the little slut's jaw yet? I did," Ragnor says, smiling wickedly.
"I've never put my hands on him like you did because I'm not a psychopath," I retort.
"He bit me. He had it coming."
"I know he bit you, and I know why."
"He oughtta have his mouth wired shut. Or kept muzzled."
"He has scars from a muzzle. Not that you care, obviously."
"Have you taken him yet? Does he still fight you the entire time?"
I wanna puke. This entire conversation is sickening.
"No, because I love and respect him. And I'd appreciate it if you'd stop talking about him like he's an object," I tell him tensely.
"Oh, how sweet. How much do you want for him?" Ragnor replies.
Before I think it through, I've already punched him. I regret it—sorta—the moment I do. If he presses charges, I don't know what will happen to Magnus. The part of me that doesn't regret it wants to do it again.
"Forget the interview," I tell Ragnor, walking out.
Magnus is curled up on the couch with his homework when I get back.
"How'd it go?" he asks.
"I did something stupid. And illegal," I reply.
He looks up in surprise.
"Did you punch someone?" he asks.
"Ragnor Fell. In the face," I answer, going to the sink.
"He did your interview?"
"Not exactly. He talked crap about you, offered to take you back, and I snapped."
"Why'd you defend me?"
"Because I love you. I shouldn't have punched him, though. If I go to jail, we're past screwed."
"Thanks for defending me. I'm sorry you didn't get the interview."
"Stop apologizing. Why don't we go for a walk or something after our homework's done?"
He agrees happily.
Things are looking up when I get a phone call for an interview Monday at the bookstore I applied to. It's the same hours as the other job.
"Maybe that one will be better?" Magnus asks.
"I hope. It's the same one we went to," I reply, leading him outside the hotel.
It's nice to just follow him around the city. Once I start working, I don't know how many times we'll be able to do this. But I wanna spend all the time I can with him while I can.
The nice time's almost ruined by a sudden downpour. Until a grinning Magnus pulls me in for a playful kiss. He's so beautiful and perfect. I hope he knows just how much I really do love him. And, if he doesn't, I'll do whatever I need to for him to see it.
Still grinning like a madman, he races with me to an awning. The storm's getting much worse. Even though he's completely drenched, he looks extremely happy. He looks a little less happy when my phone rings. It's my mother.
"Alexander, I found a buyer for that thing," she tells me instead of 'hello.'
"Magnus is mine. I adopted him. I paid the fees. My name's on the papers, which means you can't make a decision like that," I retort.
"Ragnor has offered to pay an exorbitant amount for it."
"He can take the money and shove it. Better yet, I'll do the shoving. Magnus is not for adoption."
"He's offered almost twenty thousand."
"No. Tell him I'm not interested, nor will I ever be."
"You're gonna regret that."
"I swear if you lay a hand on him, you'll end up with Valentine."
"You wouldn't do that to your own mother."
"When it comes to him, I would. Bye."
I wish I'd done more than punch Ragnor now.
"Are you okay?" Magnus answers gently, touching my shoulder clumsily.
"No. We need to go back to the hotel. And I need to make a plan to keep you safe," I reply tensely.
"Ragnor went to your family?"
"Yes. He's not getting you. I promise."
"I'm glad you decided to keep me."
He offers me a broken half-smile. His golden eyes are heartbreakingly sad, though.
"I love you. I plan on keeping you for as long as you want me to," I tell him.
"Always. That's how long," he replies.
His words make me smile. I'll do whatever's in my power to do just that.
Unfortunately, the time until my interview passes quickly. I plan on taking Magnus with me to make him feel better. The time before the interview is spent cuddling and kissing him and letting him know he will be safe. I love him, no matter what anyone else thinks of it.
I'm more nervous about this interview than I was the last one. There's no way this one could go worse.
The manager happens to be Valentine's son, Jonathan. He resembles Valentine, except his eyes are the same green as his sister's. An inu is curled up asleep beside his desk chair.
"You're Jace's brother, aren't you?" he asks, smiling.
"Yeah. Um, you have an inu," I reply stupidly.
"Her name's Maia. I'm not my father."
"How old is she? I've got a neko. His name's Magnus."
"Seventeen. She's not mine; I'm babysitting her. You can let him in here. Maia won't hurt him."
"Who owns her? That would be great."
"A guy named Jordan. He used to work here, and he wants me to keep an eye on her while he's at his new job."
Magnus seems really happy to be allowed in the office. He doesn't even look at Jonathan or Maia. Instead, he sits in the chair beside mine. He looks as nervous as I feel.
The interview actually goes really well. Jonathan and Magnus seem to be okay with each other, which makes me feel a lot better. The only problem is I can't bring Magnus to work with me; Jonathan can bring Maia because she stays in his office and away from everyone. If I brought Magnus, he would be around people who might be of the opinion hybrids carry disease or are abominations. If I've forgotten something, he can come to bring it, but he has to be escorted by an employee. He can shop without me if he has a note or voicemail or text with my permission and stating what he's in there for. My first day is Wednesday.
"Believe it or not, I had no idea things worked like that for pets. What's the reason for the leash being clipped to the cart at grocery stores?" I say outside the bookstore.
"They think we'll steal food. Some places are worse than others," he explains.
"Oh. I'm sorry it's like that."
"Not your fault. I'm glad neither of you are like your parents."
"So am I. If he hadn't been nice to you, I wouldn't have taken the job."
Magnus seems surprised by that. I don't wanna work for someone who isn't good to the one I love.
"We have one more stop to make before we go to the hotel," I tell him.
"Okay. Where're we goin'?" he replies, taking my hand.
"To get you a cellphone. And maybe something else."
"I don't know how to use a cellphone."
"I'll show you. As smart as you are, you'll be fine."
He's not allowed into the electronics store. The employees act like they're sure he'll steal something. Or get germs on it.
"Look, I'm buying something for him. Can I bring him in long enough to get it? He won't touch anything. I swear it," I tell the employee.
"He touches anything and I'll break every single finger. Am I clear?" the short girl retorts.
Magnus is glancing worriedly from me to the girl. His ears are flattened unhappily.
"Magnus, do you wanna go inside or do you wanna wait out here?" I ask.
"I wanna be with you, but it's okay if I'm not," he murmurs.
"Do you wanna go to a different store?"
"They all have this policy. I went with Ragnor once. One of his friends dropped his phone in the toilet and blamed me. He made me go with him and let them break my fingers as punishment."
"That won't happen this time."
I keep a tight hold on his leash. Not because I'm afraid he'll run away but because I don't trust the employees not to hurt him.
"What do you think of this one?" I ask, showing him a small smartphone.
"I don't know. How much is it?" he replies.
"Thirty. The card's forty-five."
"Is it the cheapest one?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry she was so rude to you."
"I'm used to it."
"Do you want this phone?"
"I guess."
"You really want out of here."
It takes very little time for us to get checked out. I don't think the employees want him here any more than he wants to be here.
I really wanna make it up to him for the employee's rudeness. But I'm also pretty much broke. Buying his phone wasn't really something I could afford, but it was something he needed.
"I don't have any money, but is there any way I can make up to you for the store sucking?" I ask.
"You don't have to," he tells me.
"I know. I just feel bad for accidentally making you miserable twice."
"Being with you makes up for it."
He kisses me softly. He's so sweet. And cute. And I don't know how Ragnor could be so mean to him.
He fiddles with his new phone once I show him how to use it. It's cute watching how the small device has captured his attention.
"It has a camera too. You can take pictures. Or record video," I tell him, opening my laptop.
"I've never used a camera. Or texted. Can I put a movie in?" he replies.
"You can use the one on your phone. You can text whoever you want. You've got my number and Izzy's. Of course you can."
He reaches for my hand after he puts a movie in.
"You're like a teddy bear," I tell him.
"How's that? I used to have one at my breeder," he replies.
"I just wanna cuddle you all the time. You did? What happened to it?"
"They gave me one when I was really little. I slept with it all the time. Cried on it when things were worse than normal."
"Aww! I bet you were really adorable when you were little."
"I had huge ears. Not cute."
"Would your breeders have pictures?"
"I don't know. I'm pretty sure yesterday's the only picture of me. They might on their website, though, if they have one."
"Cool. I'm gonna look."
He's typing something on his phone while I look at his breeder's website. There's pictures of nekos they have up for breeding and for adoption. The kids are so cute!
"I've only seen young nekos a couple times," I murmur, going to their past adoptions.
There aren't any pictures of Magnus as a baby. I wish there had been; I know he would've been the cutest one ever.
Magnus sits on the counter and talks while I cook. It's nice. It feels normal.
"Is your dad like your mom?" he asks.
"He doesn't know I'm gay. He doesn't like nekos much either," I reply.
"Why do they care so much about whether or not you're straight?"
"Because being gay means I'm not the perfect child like Jace and Izzy."
"That's dumb."
His words make me smile. My parents always made it clear they preferred Jace and Izzy. Magnus frowns when I tell him so.
"They have no idea what they're missing out on," he informs me, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my cheek.
"Glad you think so," I reply.
"I know so."
He eats two helpings of spaghetti, which really surprises me. I'm not sure if he was super hungry or if it just tasted really good.
I wish I had known about him eight years ago, but I was too young to adopt him—You have to be at least fifteen to adopt a hybrid—and it wouldn't have been safe for him with my parents being what they were. I know it won't help anything, but I wish I could've loved him sooner.