"As talented as you may be, you can't dodge into classrooms and behind lockers every time you see Val or Sebastian. It's been, like, three weeks. I have no doubt they know you're alive, anyways." Simon reasoned.

"I've been feeling better lately. If we execute the plan this weekend, I won't have to worry about that anymore." Alec adjusted his headset.

"This is all so fucking insane. I mean, for someone who is thought to be dead by a batshit crazy gang, you sure have a decent attendance record. At least, before the Big Bonk."

"Are you seriously calling my concussion the Big Bonk?"

"Jace started— what the fuck was that?"

"Ha. That's what you get for trying to push offense. In case you didn't realize, you're a support character. Oh, and that reminds me… I need healing."

"Arghhhhh!" Simon screamed. Alec calmly lowered his friend's mic volume. "Did that guy just—? THAT PIECE OF SHIT!"

"If you don't mind, I'm on the objective. I could use some help."

"…" Simon was so enraged he couldn't speak.

Alec's passive facade shattered in about five seconds flat. "WHERE THE FUCK IS THE REST OF THE TEAM? I'M ALONE OVER HERE GETTING MY ASS HANDED TO ME!"

"I DON'T KNOW, I'M STILL RESPAWNING!"

"Uh, Alec? Thanks for covering me. I can take it from here." Max poked his shoulder tentatively. Alec sighed in relief and passed the headset over.

"This is really stressful."

"Yeah. Simon sucks, so I have to carry all the time. I mean, you kind of suck too. Good thing this isn't ranked."

"Nothing makes me lose faith in humanity more than this game."

Max giggled, then singsonged mockingly. "Aw, are you mad?"

Alec opened his mouth, grasping for a clever retort, when the doorbell saved him the trouble (and embarrassment).

"It's Magnus!" Izzy called from upstairs, and he hurried to answer the door.

"Hey! How's your head?" His boyfriend asked carefully.

Alec smirked. "No hello?"

Magnus rolled his eyes and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "There you go."

"But you didn't say hello."

"Fuck you." The smirk widened into a shit-eating grin.

"Uh huh. So, why'd you come over?" Alec stepped aside to allow him in, then perched atop the kitchen counter and watched expectantly.

Magnus cocked a brow. "Depends on whether you're still concussed."

"It's been two weeks." Now it was Alec's turn to roll his eyes.

"One and a half weeks, actually."

"Whatever, potato tomato. Or whatever the fuck it is." Yeah, that really wasn't going to cut it if he wanted to convince people of his mental wellbeing.

"Where's Jace? Or Isabelle?"

"In their rooms. Seriously… I'm okay."

"Remember that time we were driving back from Brooklyn? What did we talk about?"

Alec sighed wearily. "That was a long time ago, and you know my memory's shit even without having a recent concussion. You kept asking what-ifs and then we talked about ice cream and star dust."

"I'll take your word for it." Under his boyfriend's stare, Magnus laughed lightly. "Just kidding, you nerd. Your favorite flavor was butter pecan."

"Good. I was about to divorce your ass." He threatened, breaking into a grin. They both laughed. Alec leaned forward and kissed Magnus... and the door opened.

Maryse and Robert saw them jump apart, shock glowing on their faces. It was obvious that they knew what had happened, but neither said a word.

"I'll see you later." Magnus whispered to Alec, and with a polite nod to his parents, he brushed past them and left. Alec knew that he was only trying to give them space to sort out family matters, but that didn't stop him from feeling distinctly abandoned.

"It's because of that boy, isn't it? That you're always disappearing and getting hurt." Robert began after an awkward pause.

"He's not to blame for any of that! I'm just… really unfortunate. Why are you home so early?" With no good defense, his only option was a counterattack.

"We were planning on a family outing… unless you'd already had lunch. A new sushi place opened up a few blocks away, and it has excellent reviews." Maryse answered stiffly. "Were you kissing that boy?"

"He's not 'that boy', Mom. His name is Magnus."

Robert pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yes, Bane's son. Your behavior has been erratic at best ever since they moved in. Usually, I'd advise you to avoid him, but you're too old and it's too late."

Alec wasn't sure if he'd heard him right. "You don't care that I'm gay?"

"We have our reservations… but if you're happy, it doesn't matter. You're an adult. It's your life." Maryse said smoothly, exchanging a glance with her husband.

It's okay. They aren't angry. The tight knot of fear that had held him in shackles for years dissipated amidst his disbelief. Then, a new thought rolled over him like a wave. When had his workaholic parents grown so tired? When had they become such strangers to him, even more so than when they'd been constantly absent? "Thanks." He managed simply.

Robert cleared his throat. "Can you tell your siblings to get down here?"

"Um, sure." Alec turned away and hurried to ascend the stairs. The brevity of the conversation had left him in some sort of shock. "Max! Izzy! Jace! We're going out with Mom and Dad!"

There was a weighty silence. Then, Max raised his voice. "What the fuck? Hey Simon, I gotta go, talk to you later."

"What brought this on?" Izzy crossed her arms, confusion and suspicion lurking in her eyes.

"People change. They've been trying to reach out to us for almost nine months now. It's time we take the proffered hand."

She lowered her voice to a mutter. "Hanging out with us more isn't going to give Max his childhood back. It isn't going to undo the damage they've done."

"They aren't trying to fix what they did, they're trying to do better. And they can only do that if you let them." Alec whispered back.

"I understand that, okay? I'm not an idiot. Doesn't mean I have to take it to heart."

"Just think about what he's saying, at least." They spun around, taken by surprise, and saw Jace leaning against the wall with an unusually serious look on his face. "There's no denying that they aren't the best parents ever, but we need to rehash this argument as much as we need you to continue to be a salty bitch. That is to say, we don't."

"Did you just call me a salty bitch? I'll kick your ass, you prissy looking motherfu—"

Alec interjected, pinning them both with a stern glare. "Guys, chill the hell out. We're leaving. Let's go. Chop chop. Max is probably already in the car while we're wasting time." Jace and Izzy simultaneously glanced around, as if just noticing that their youngest brother was no longer firmly planted in front of his computer.

"To be continued." Isabelle muttered, storming downstairs in a huff. "You guys can ride together. I'm sticking with Max."

The brothers shared a knowing glance. It wasn't the first time that their sister had been angry at them, and it definitely wouldn't be the last.

After asking their parents for directions to the restaurant, Alec and Jace tailed the rest of their family in Alec's Mustang. They were silent for several minutes, aside from Jace rummaging in the glove compartment.

"The fuck are you looking for?"

"I dunno, maybe you had something interesting."

"I didn't know that she was still so pissed at them. She's… far more bitter than I could've anticipated."

"Iz has her ups and downs. Take today's events with a grain of salt." His brother's eyes gleamed mischievously. "I mean, if you want, I do have some of that red hair dye left. If we mixed it in her shampoo—"

Alec snorted derisively. "She'd actually murder us, and her hair's too dark for it to work well anyways."

"I could steal her keys indefinitely…"

"I'm not trying to get revenge or whatever, dude. If you want to be petty, you're doing it without me. And I can't promise that I won't snitch."

"You're such a killjoy." The words were accusatory, but lacked vitriol.

He snickered. "Maybe you just need to grow up."

"Damn, that one hurt."

Unfortunately, Alec didn't have a good comeback for that one. "Go suck shit."

Jace laughed openly at the weak bluster. "You just missed a left turn."

"Goddammit!"

It wasn't until dusk that he saw Magnus again. They were in his boyfriend's bedroom, perched precariously on the edge of his bed. "So what were you gonna tell me? Before we got interrupted?"

"We're doing it. This weekend."

"The plan?"

"Yeah. Saturday night."

Alec's chest felt like it was full of ice. "Why wasn't I contacted when this was decided?"

"You already knew that there was a fair chance of it happening soon. We have to do it before the state starts beefing up the police forces and establishing night patrols." Magnus ran a hand through his hair, mussing it up substantially.

"But it's in two days! I'm just… I'm not…"

"Everyone's going to be at the Dumort tomorrow. Five o'clock in the evening. Some of us are staying overnight. If anyone wants to be involved, they've gotta be there."

"I sort of thought you were going to try and stop me from going." He admitted softly, stomach still churning.

Magnus turned away from him, resolutely facing the window, and only then he responded. "Mhm."

Alec tensed, alarmed by the sudden, frigid distance between them. "I'm sorry."

"No, I am."

Confusion gave way to anxiety. "What? I don't understand what's—"

"It's okay. You're okay." Magnus turned back to face him and hugged him tight. All the tension that had been lining their words melted away.

"Are you afraid? I'm afraid." Alec whispered.

"I… yeah, I'm afraid."

"That's not the full story, though, is it?"

Magnus wanted to tell him something, he could see it in his eyes. But for the second time that day, the door opened. Asmodeus Bane eyed them uninterestedly and Alec recoiled, cheeks setting alight.

"Hey, Dad, mind knocking next time?" Magnus asked dryly. "I'm basically a grown-ass man at this point. I deserve a warning before you come barging in. You could catch me making meth or something."

"Which means it's time to get a job," Asmodeus fired back.

"Touché. What the fuck do you wanna tell me?"

"Stop leaving the kitchen light on overnight."

"Just text me for that shit!"

"Why should I convenience you when you inconvenience me?"

"Fair enough."

Asmodeus shook his head and left.

"Damn, I really need to lock my door." Magnus flopped onto his back, pulling Alec down with them.

"No shit, Sherlock."

"I'm happy for you."

Alec sat back up, perplexed. "What are you talking about? When do you plan on making sense? You're confusing the hell out of me and I don't know how to feel."

He laughed in response. "I'm referring to your relationship with your parents. I'm glad that they accept you as you are."

"Well, you need to give some context before you start saying stuff like that. My brain can't handle it."

"Whatever you say, Blue."

"Well, I think it's time to go home. I told Maryse I'd help with dinner."

Magnus raised his arms. "Help me up. Please."

"No!"

"Please… I can't get up…"

"By the Angel, you're such a baby." Alec grudgingly took his hands and dragged him to his feet, straining with the effort for a moment. His boyfriend did nothing to help the process, laying limply like a sack of potatoes.

"Fine, fine. May I escort you to your door?"

"Oh my gosh, Mags."

"Aw, you know you love it."

"I know I love you."

"And I love you too."

"This is nice and all, but I actually have to leave. You're really going to escort me?" Alec beamed, grin widening when Magnus offered his arm.

"Right this way, Mister Lightwood."


A/N: JESUS CHRIST IT'S BEEN NEARLY SIX MONTHS I THOUGHT I ALREADY POSTED THIS IM SO SORRY