Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare and some scenes belong to the movie Transamerica.

A/N: The next chapter will be the epilogue… And both POV on this chapter:) But I'm not that happy about this chapter, since I feel the ending is rushed. Anyway, hope you all enjoy this!

Chapter 13: Anchor

Magnus was lying on his side, listening to his own even heartbeats throughout the night, his eyes unable to close more than a few seconds. His mind had calmed down since the incident yet he constantly thought of the many possibilities of Alec's reaction if he dug out the ultimate fact – his parents were dead. Like beheaded dead. It would destroy the boy, as if he wasn't broken now.

After Alec tucked himself in Magnus had turned off the light for unknown purposes, since none of them were actually sleeping. He pulled the quilt over his waist and blankly staring at the ceiling. It was dark, his pupils slit as it supposed to be. Sometimes he would look at the lump on the other bed, the soft sobs and the suppressed trembling chilled his whole body in the mid-summer.

Magnus wanted to hold the boy close, tell him everything was going to be fine. But really, they both knew it was a lie; nothing was, and they wouldn't be in the future either.

The incident with Alec reminded him of how fragile a person could be. He didn't have the heart to see Alec like that, waking up and realized most of the things he lived with and relied on was actually bunch of bullshits. The boy had been though much, too much for people his age. It didn't differ from shadowhunters or downworlders. It simply was too much.

Magnus was ready to try and mend the fragments back together. Though there would be cracks and seams, and it would shattered again even with the softest stroke.

Sighed again, he listened to the coos outside. The sky was painted gold and orange. A sleepless night. Usually he was keen on his beauty sleep. But now beauty wasn't his priority.

Flipped to another side, Alec was still curling up and Magnus could hear nails scratching at the sheet. Small, but shockingly soothing. It halted to a stop when there was a knock on the door.

No one was speaking, the only sounds were the persistent knocks. Magnus rolled his eyes, cursing the person outside the door and got out of the bed.

A head popped out from a small opening of the quilt. The inky hairs were messy and struck out in different direction like a bird nest. Some strands fell over the calmed blues orbs.

Alec just stared at him, not uttering a sound. His eyes followed Magnus's walk to the door.

Before Magnus answered the door, he snapped his fingers.

Sebastian.

"Hey, Magnus. I was wondering if I could talk to Alec." The blonde rocked his body back and forth, looking nervous. Lips pressed into a line and he cocked his head, trying to peep over Magnus's tall frame.

"No."

With that, Magnus shut the door firmly. He never fond of blondes, most of the time they were more of a nuisance. Sebastian resembled Camille. Sly, and thought they outsmarted anyone else. He shuddered at the memory of Camille.

Bitch. Magnus spat.

Even the closing the door in Sebastian's face didn't cut off his determination. Magnus wondered what was so important that it couldn't wait.

"Let me see Alec! Come on, Magnus. You're not his father!" He yelled and yelled despite the silence inside the room.

Magnus threw his hands in the air annoyingly and returned to his nest, folded arms and landed on his right. Bare feet dangling over the edge, body relaxed with the smooth contact of the warm bed. The currently dark green eyes locked with Alec's.

It didn't contain anything, no sparkles, no fire. A life was behind those astonishing Carolina blue, he saw it, emptiness filled up the boy's eyes. Magnus held his breath when Alec opened his mouth.

"I'll answer it."

Two pale long legs shoved out from the pile of quilt and pillows, the slimly toned torso shook as the skin touched the cold morning air. Magnus rubbed his face on the pillow, watching Alec shuffled. Pink scars printed all over the young boy's body in different shapes. Strips, circles, splatters and dots. Most of them was a long time ago. It made a huge contrary to his bloodless skin, light brown and pinkish.

The line of muscles more obvious when Alec opened the door lazily by a small gap. Sebastian exclaimed as he attempted to grab Alec's shoulder, "Alec!" and which Alec stepped back and narrowed the gap an inch.

His small protest made Sebastian's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What's wrong? Did someone do something to you?" Magnus felt the eyes on him, and he stared right back sternly. Soon he averted his attention back to Alec.

"I waited for you last night. Why didn't you come?"

Snorted, Magnus thought, because he's with me. Sebastian was a substitute, he was sure. Alec wanted to upset him, and successfully he did. Magnus had this floods of envy when he saw the boys at the pool and later on, the show-off kissing in their room.

He used the boy to protest in a subtle way. It isn't a manipulative act. Magnus convinced himself. Alec was too innocent to play tricks, at least not complicated one.

Alec hunched and seemed uncomfortable with the intense attention on him, said hoarsely. "I'm sorry. There isn't any excuse."

His knuckles turned white as he tightly squeezed the knob. He sounded apologetic, weak in the volume. Magnus could only hear him because of his excellent sentience.

Sebastian wasn't happy about it. His chest rising up and down in a rapid rate, face twisted in anger. "You're sorry, Alec? I worried about you – "

"I know. I should have sent you a message, but last night… a lot of things had happened and I don't want to talk about it." Alec interrupted, tiredness in his tiny voice.

"Okay. Then would you come with me now? We can have breakfast."

The blonde suggested, but Alec sighed.

"Sebastian…"

"Is that a no?"

Even Magnus wasn't standing near them, he could feel the atmosphere changed as Sebastian said those words. It was a threat disguised in soft pleading. Panic rushed through his veins, scared that Alec would submit into the hinted authority.

Both of them were longing to hear his answer. Magnus sat up as Alec slurred.

"Please."

This submissive response however, provoked Sebastian even more; he stepped forward and his shoulder crushed the door wide opened, both hands clenched at Alec's biceps. Alec was pushed backward, now both inside the room. Magnus quickly stood up when Alec let out a strangled sound from his throat and shrunk like a child, frightened by the aggressive move.

"Oh last night you enjoyed it so much and you're going to put me aside? Alec why would you do that? I thought you of all people would understand me."

His eyes were flaming in fury, arteries jumping under his forehead. Magnus hurried to push off Sebastian, his grasps on Alec loosened.

"That's enough blondie boy. Leave now."

Magnus said assertively, presenting his dominant side which amplified by the demon blood. Sebastian unconsciously retreated outside the door.

Alec exhaled a deep breath when the clutching hands released him; Magnus noticed he wrapped his arms around the scarred body and leaned close to him. He shifted his posture uneasily and for a second Magnus thought he was going to hide from Sebastian. So Magnus took a step forward and perfectly blocked Sebastian's view on Alec.

He put his forearms against the doorframe, spreading like the wings of an eagle. Looking down on the blonde, said with a rather rancorous tone, "Don't overstay your welcome."

Sebastian glared at him viciously and turned his heels, ran up to the staircase in the middle of the hallway. As the rapid footsteps faded away, Magnus closed the door.

When Magnus turned around he nearly bumped into Alec; he was standing still, quivering. Alec braced himself tighter, stuttered.

"Thank you."

Really, it was nothing. But there was a warmth air spreading from his heart and travelling to his limps. Smiling, Magnus hesitated to put a hand slowly on Alec's upper arm, allowed Alec to move if he wanted to.

"It's okay." He assured.

Alec flinched at first, to his closeness. Yet soon he lowered the arms wrapped around himself and fidgeting, with his eyes fixed on his toes. Magnus was fondling with sweetest touch he could give. They were so near each other that Magnus could describe every detail of the once melted skins. The smooth surface turned into ugly fleshes.

"Magnus, I…" His mouth agape, unsure about his request. Magnus stopped the soothing and all he could see what the boy's crown.

"I'm going to take a shower."

Without waiting for Magnus's answer, Alec hobbled his bedside and searched his bag, pulled a shirt out and grabbed the already dry jeans from under the bed, rushed to the bathroom.

It clicked as Magnus yelled a response. "Okay!"

He felt terrific, even there was only a tiny progress. Alec didn't escape from his touch and that was worth a party.

Magnus walked to the glass sliding door and looked over himself by the unclear reflection. Touching his brows Magnus discovered the blue glows dancing on his fingertips. The good mood made his magic leaked. He cast a spell to further extend the durability, feeling secure that he wouldn't expose himself in front of everyone.

He didn't bring much things with him, so he finished packing easily. Alec's bag was thrown on the bed, its content scattered after its owner's brutal search. Tilted his head to another side, the sun was up now, making everything under its rays shiny.

Alec was out from the bathroom ten minutes later, a dark grey T-shirt with a radioactive sign in the center and the usual holey jeans. He rubbed his hands on the denim.

His hairs damp and tangled, slightly better than the way he woke up with. And the hot water painted his pale skin pinkish.

"Get your stuff, alright? We're leaving after breakfast."

Said cautiously, Magnus saw Alec nodded and went packing. The teenager simply shoved the things in and tied a knot.

They locked the door behind them and walked slowly downstairs to the small cafeteria on the bottom floor. Since it was still early, there weren't many people inside. Only a pair of cyclists and a group of four college students. An unoccupied table was at the deepest corner of the room.

Putting their belongings, Magnus asked. "What do you want to eat?"

Alec replied quickly. "I'm not picky." His eyes concentrated on the white plastic table, drawing circles with index finger.

Raised an eyebrow, Magnus turned to see what was offered. There wasn't much, simple sandwiches with hams and eggs, bagels, cold pancakes and waffles. Also milks and juice boxes, next to a box of oranges. He didn't know what Alec preferred, so he got a small share of each.

Placing the full plates on the table, Alec volunteered to get them utensils and drinks. They sat opposite each other eating in silence, sometimes with a choking sound from Alec. The boy knew nothing about table manner, always dove into another bite before swallowing the chewing food. He would drink the apple juice in-between, hoping the food would slide down his throat with no resistance. He wasn't complaining though, it was the rare time of Alec showing his childish side. Alec had right to be.

There, he caught the glimpse directing at their table from the cyclists. The girls were whispering into ears and looked at them at time tentatively. Magnus returned the stare and one of them stood up, started to walk toward them.

The girl stopped next to him, hands at the back.

"You have a message from a guy, um, Sebastian?"

Magnus wondered what trick the blonde was pulling, but the girl standing in front of him seemed nervous. She was unaware of the situation, he could tell, and was only asked to deliver a message.

As he nodded, the girl had her palm up, revealed a small piece of folded paper. Blue inks on the pure white. Magnus expressed his gratitude before the girl went back to her own table, a grin on her face. It was then Alec aired his concern.

"Open it."

Within a few exchange of sentences Alec had already finished his breakfast, sucking on the straw of the juice box. And when Magnus unfolded it and read the elegant handwritten words, he groaned in frustration –

"Enjoy your trip."

It was never a simple goodbye. Magnus knew the type, they were all for applause, dramatic entrance and exit. They adored the spotlight. The paper was snatched by Alec, who was trying to lower the high volume of his burp by covering his mouth.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Alec asked and frowned, putting the paper back down.

"Who knows? But surely Sebastian has done something bad."

Tapping his fingers on the table, Magnus watched Alec rested his chin on the back of his hand, chewing the plastic straw inserted into the empty juice box. The ocean blues peaking behind the curtains of black threads. The eyelashes moving like butterflies.

His humming stopped when Alec set his back straight, wiggling the box in his hand.

"What are you going to do with me?"

He out of the blue had the urge of running a trip to the bathroom. His guts tangling to form a knot. Magnus had not thought about it, since everything happened too fast and unpredictable. On his way to Seattle the idea of putting him somewhere else had crossed his mind; but now it changed. There was no way Magnus letting the boy out of his sight. He had amendments to make.

"I'm not lying to you when I said I lived in New York. Brooklyn to be precise. Before you have a place to stay you can live with me, I'm going to help you settling in New York."

"Why, Magnus?" Alec bowed forward, the juice box got abandoned on the side. His palms under the thighs.

"Why, what?"

Magnus asked with his gentlest voice as there was nervousness in Alec's tone. The boy was combing the ebony hairs to the backs of his ears way too often.

"Why would you help me? I mean, you, a warlock."

The word was touched by the slightest strumming of chords, as if he was a child mumbling newly learnt vocabulary, as if he was saying it wrong.

It was in his anticipation that the truth of his parents was going to be revealed ever since their encounter, Magnus just didn't expect it to be this quick. He sucked in a breath, thinking, screw you Lightwoods. He was doing what was the best for Alec. Their lovely, invaluable son. Their promise of sealing his lips could be damned to hell.

"Alec, what I'm going – "

"Hey, anyone owns an old green car?"

A head popped out from the door, Magnus recognized she was the girl in the office. Old green car, it was definitely theirs. So Magnus raised his hand and said, "Us."

The girl announced worriedly, "Well, I hope you come out here soon because I saw from my office a blond guy was stealing it. I ran out – "

"WHAT?"

Magnus shouted, his eyes as big as tiger's. Shot up he dashed outside, shoved the girl away and the hideous green piece of scrap metal was indeed, disappeared from the parking spot. It was there when they went down to the cafeteria. But now it was gone.

"Are you fucking kidding me!"

That blond sprat Sebastian! They were not getting their car back for sure. And now they had to think of a way getting to New York. His hands grasping his hips.

Alec realized too it was Sebastian's revenge. He said as Magnus turned to face him. "Can't you do something? You're a warlock."

"Hon, I appreciate your high expectation of my ability. And you're right, I can do that but we're not to expose ourselves to mundanes. We belong to the shadow world, which preferably stays under the radar. There are rules and it is better not to break them. They exist for a reason."

Looking at him ashamedly, Alec apologized as if it was his fault.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know."

Magnus exhaled a heavy sigh, aware that his words came out more like a reproach. There was nothing for Alec to say sorry; he shouldn't for things he had no knowledge over.

"No. Alec, I'm the one who should. You can't be blamed for some stupid head's actions."

"If you say so." Though Alec said it, but Magnus was certain that the boy was in guilt.

They stood there for few wordless moments. Magnus was thinking about how they were getting back while Alec, playing with the hem of his shirt and head lowered. The swirl on his crown was presented clearly.

If it was before, Magnus wouldn't come up with such a plan; yet now Alec already knew his identity of a warlock who could do magic, there wasn't much to worry about.

"Alec, come with me."

He said striding back to the cafeteria, passing Alec with their shoulders brushed.

"What?" Alec questioned behind him, catching up to his pace. Magnus simply replied.

"Just come. Trust me this time."

For Alec traveling through portal could top the list of worst experience of his life. He was thrown on the carpeted floor so heavily that instantly his knees and palms reddened as he hissed, not to mention he felt like standing on a boat in an outrage storm. The dizziness made him stumbled, head spinning as if he was drunk. It couldn't get any better, when he was notified his bag was lost between the dimensions because of his loose grip.

Alec eyed the closing portal, watching it vanished.

As he was still struggling to get up, Magnus crouched down next to him and lazily waved his fingers, the scent of sandalwood immediately filled up the apartment. An arm wrapped around his back, pulling him up.

"Meow."

Find his feet, Alec heard a cry of feline and something rubbing his shin. Looking down despite of the giddiness, a cat similar to the size of a rat digging its claws on the denim, demanding attention. Magnus quickly spooned the cat up with one hand, another still holding Alec in place and buried his face into the fur.

"I miss you too Chairman."

However, the cat protested by pushing the zooming face away from itself. It turned its head around, and again mewed at Alec.

"Chairman Meow?" Alec asked. He wasn't as lightheaded as the beginning, so he extracted himself from Magnus. Magnus saw his action, dropped the cat and scooted the cat out of the living room. There was no candles or drawings on the floors, Alec noticed.

The kitten grumbled, showed its tiny canines before running off. Magnus sat down on the fluffy white couch and patted the space next to him.

"Sit down, don't just stand there like a statue."

He was always obedient to orders and this time there was no exception. Keeping a distance Alec sat on the soft furniture, unsure of what to do. It was his first time took part in a magic spell, and to be honest, he didn't like it for a bit.

Feeling the heat from his side he snuggled an itch to his right toward the arm of the couch. Now knowing Magnus was a warlock, Alec found that the taller man had a relatively high body temperature, which would be a great heating machine when winter came.

Alec wrinkled his nose; he shouldn't have thoughts like that. And he was angry with himself having wishful thinking and fantasy like a teenage girl.

"Better?"

The silky voice said from his left, Alec cocked his head to Magnus who was staring at him the whole time. The smell of burning sandalwood somehow calmed him down and warmed him up, Alec admitted. He was never a fan of scent candles or perfumes but this one, it smelled right.

Didn't trust his voice he cleared his throat and nodded.

Magnus sighed out his exhaustion, nipping the bridge of his nose. Elbows rested on his knees. "Remember our unfinished conversation at the cafeteria?"

"Of course."

"I have something to show you."

The taller man stood up from the comfortable couch, walking to a room. Skeptically Alec remained sitting, even when Magnus opened the plain door and entered the room. What was Magnus going to do to him? He could have set up a trap, one that Alec wasn't willing to fall in.

His dubious look must have been taken into Magnus's eyes as the catlike-eyed warlock glanced back and held the door, spoke. "Alec, can you have a little faith in me?"

He was leaning against the doorframe, arms folded. It wasn't Alec didn't want to trust him, he just couldn't think; his heart told him to stand besides Magnus while his brain told him not to be controlled by emotions. This warlock can hurt you, and he's already doing it.

Escaping from potential dangers was a human instinct, but it was also one of them that they were attracted to self-destruction like moth to the flame. Magnus was out there, giving him warmth and direction; but at the same time he created an illusion of loving, leading Alec on.

Swallowed a gulp of saliva Alec stood up and shuffled to the opening door. Magnus smiled and stepped back into the room further, let Alec observe before entering.

Took a small peek Alec found it was a bedroom, which matched with Magnus's shirt. The very first thing he noticed, was the wall opposite the tidy bed; it was full of pictures, mostly Polaroids. Magnus pointed his chin toward the wall, encouraged Alec to go there.

"Are you going to tell me what this is about?"

"Just look, Alec." Magnus proceeded to sit on his bed, watching Alec's every move to the fully covered wall.

Assuming that Magnus wasn't planning to attack him from behind, Alec took a closer look on the photos. Not everyone had Magnus in them, but when he did, he would have this smile that could brighten the whole world. There was not once a repeated background, the only reoccurring was the people.

He saw a guy looked similar to him, black hairs and blue eyes. But he made out the combination difficultly as the colors of those pictures were fading. The guy always appeared with another male, pale and grey. They wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders in front of a giant field, grinning at the camera.

And there was three of them, Magnus and two warlocks, Alec deduced. A man with skin in green and two horns and a woman in blue. It looked like they were in a pub, drinks on the table. The green-skinned man stared at Alec grumpily, while Magnus holding the woman close.

Alec walked to the right, where freshly taken pictures pinned to the wall. Photos of a red-head lined up two rolls, a documentary of growing up. She was in the arms of a woman, then in the next one a brush in her hand, doodling on a plain white wall. She was drawing a symbol.

As he moved on, one caught his attention enigmatically.

A couple both with black hairs, looking into their partners' eyes. They were sitting behind a round table which had a cluster of blades and knifes, all kinds of weapons that Alec couldn't name. He couldn't see their hands, yet he had a feeling that their fingers entwined in an unseparated way.

He traced his finger on the picture, on the black symbols curling around their bodies. On their hairs, noses and necks.

"It's your parents."

Alec instantly turned to Magnus, who was approaching. His parents. Magnus knew them and they were close enough to have a place in the wall.

They were friends.

"Where are they, Magnus? Take me to them."

He asked eagerly, hands clutched on Magnus's shirt to beg. Alec could do anything to see his parents, anything. Meeting his parents should be a joyful idea, but Magnus seemed troubled by his enthusiasm. His slit pupils wavering, there was something unreadable in the warlock's glare. Alec started to doubt if Magnus was going to say anything.

"I can't, Alec. I can't."

"Why not?"

Alec took a step back and let go of the grips, staring at Magnus's weird gesture. He was hunching and looking at Alec funny, appeared to lose his strength. This isn't happening. It can't be…

"Why not?!" He said again, hoping it wasn't what he was thinking –

"They are dead."

It was a whisper that held the power to ruin; Alec stumbled back until he hit the wall, feeling dizzy all over. At the moment he couldn't care how many photos he wrinkled or smashed down, he just needed something to lean on.

As if it wasn't cruel enough, Magnus continued.

"They were shadowhunters. There was… a battle times ago within our world, the shadow world. And they lost their lives for the great cause. Alec, don't doubt their devotion for you. Your parents loved you more than anything in the world."

"Why did they leave me? If you said they loved me why did they give me up?"

He could feel the tears welling up, threatening to pour down like summer rain. Closing his eyes, Alec tried his hardest to repress.

"It's complicated, and I can assure you they had no choice but giving you away. Everything they did was to protect you, shelter you from harms –"

"Try me."

The next second he was in Magnus's arms, Alec was pulled into a hug as if the warlock was trying to melt him into his chest, so tight that he could feel the vibrations of the pounding heart.

Went with the flow Alec buried his face into Magnus's shoulder, hiding in the white shirt and bit his lips, repeated. "Tell me everything."

Magnus sighed, and started soothing his right hand up and down on his back, the other caressing Alec's neck. And soon he started telling the story of the infamous battle, the two soldiers fighting with allies against the dark shadowhunters. Alec listened carefully to his every word, trying to brand them permanently within inside. Because he could never meet them, never feel their embraces and those affectionate stare physically. And this was the only way he could reach them, having their touches on his skin.

"They asked me to send you away, so you wouldn't be involved in the mess and be on the list of wanted. They did so to protect you, Alec. You are the most precious thing to them and believe me, it tore their hearts to leave your side."

Magnus said nasally with the hints of remorse. "I promised them to watch over you; and I failed miserably. I betrayed their trust and yours, I failed all of you…"

Alec's arms wrapped around Magnus's torso, hiding into the warmth deeper. His tears choked his voice and wetted the shirt. He was being held closer when he was whining, shaking from the shock and sorrow. The patting never stopped.

"Don't say that."

Hearing Magnus's speech Alec simply held the man tighter. He did not know it was for himself or for Magnus, but it was the same thing they needed. The two of them leaning into each other as if their lives depended on it. They supported and sought warmth from the tired bodies, standing still and swaying like they were dancing slowly.

From that moment, Ale felt like he had discovered his anchor.