A/N: First update of the new year! Also my fastest update in awhile. Let me know what y'all think :D
29: Alec
I watch anxiously through the window in the door as Magnus talks to Kadir. Other than the way Kadir's silky ears flatten and the tapping of his long, silky-looking tail when Magnus first walks in, there's no noticeable hostility. Magnus doesn't look that nervous now, which makes me feel better.
Magnus isn't in the room even fifteen minutes before coming back out to the hall.
"So I had good-ish news. Kadir supposedly belongs to Helen Blackthorn. He didn't tell Catarina until I was in there just now," Magnus tells me.
"He does? How'd he end up with the Psychos?" I ask.
"He was supposedly kidnapped by Raphael—Ugh, just saying his name makes me wanna puke—because Raphael wanted to get the demon spawn another neko and Kadir was simply walking down the street. Easy catch, saves money, and no one's gonna question a neko being kidnapped. They shredded Kadir's Emancipation ID and he doesn't remember Helen's phone number. She's had him since the beginning of last month. I don't know how true it is."
"I'll call her and find out."
Helen picks up after just two rings.
"What's up, Alec? Did you want to talk to Aline?" she asks.
"Not much. No, you're the one I wanted to talk to. Are you missing a neko named Kadir Safar?"I reply.
"Yes! You found him?! Where is he? Is my baby okay?"
"He's at Catarina Loss's office. That she can tell you. He was kidnapped by the boyfriend of Magnus's former owner. How long was he missing?"
"Two weeks. I called all of the pounds daily. Aline and I looked everywhere for him, but we never thought of him being at a vet office. I'm on my way to see him."
Ten minutes later, Helen rushes in the door.
"Can I see him?" she asks worriedly.
"Of course. He'll probably be very glad to see you," Catarina replies, ushering her inside Kadir's room.
Magnus and I watch from the window as the pair's reunited. They both look ecstatic to see each other again.
"I'd feel the same way if you were ever kidnapped," I murmur, squeezing his hand gently.
"I know. If anything like that happened to either of us, I'd be really glad to see you again," he replies, smiling.
"Did you enjoy Christmas?" I ask.
"Last night was my favorite part. Can we get lunch before I get inked? And maybe do something tonight? We haven't been out in a while, and I miss it."
"Sure. You pick the place. What would you like to do? I miss it too."
"Taki's? Could we go to a movie?"
"Sure. I can see what's playing while you're getting inked."
He swallows nervously.
"I don't know how bad it's gonna hurt," he mumbles.
"I'll be right there. If you need to squeeze my hand while they're doing it, you can," I reply.
"How is hurting your hand supposed to make me feel better?"
"It helps. Trust me."
While we wait for our order, I bring up the list of movies playing.
"This sounds good. It's scary, right?" he says, pointing to the Poltergeist remake.
"It's supposed to be. That works for me," I reply.
"How many more days until the trial?"
"Eight days. If you don't wanna go, I won't make you."
"I have to. For me."
Smiling, I caress his face gently. His stubble scratches lightly at my palm.
"No matter what happens at the trial, I'll still love you," I promise him.
I'm worried about what will happen to Magnus at the trial. I'm scared he'll have a nervous breakdown.
It's a short walk from Taki's to the tattoo parlor. The receptionist smiles warmly at us when we walk in.
"You're Magnus, right? Go ahead and take seat and he'll be with you shortly," she tells him.
"Can Alec go back with me?" he asks.
"Of course he can."
Magnus sits beside me in the waiting area. He looks incredibly nervous.
"I'll be right there," I tell him.
We've been waiting maybe ten minutes when the tattoo artist comes to get us.
"Ready to get your first tattoos?" he asks, smiling.
"Nervous, but I guess I'm ready," Magnus replies.
"I tried seeing if there were any designs similar to yours, but I couldn't find anything."
"So my tattoos are unique?"
"Far as I know, yeah. Still want the same design we talked about?"
The design is for 'breakable' to be on the inside of his wrist, connected by the first and last letter to 'unbreakable' on the outside of his wrist. 'Shakeable' and 'unshakeable' are gonna be done the same way on the opposite hand. He wanted it done in my cursive.
"I do," Magnus replies, sitting in the chair.
He winces when the tattoo first starts, but he's perfectly still otherwise for each one.
"What's your mother's number?" Magnus asks as we leave the tattoo parlor.
"Magnus, she tried to kill you. Why do you want her number?" I reply.
"A sorta serenade. Only I'm informing her that I love you and we're gonna be together no matter what."
"You're gonna be the death of me."
"But I'm adorable and you love me."
"Yes, I do. What's the song?"
"Rude. I thought it fit perfectly. I wanna record it and send it to her. Not actually call her."
"It does fit."
"Can we put the wedding off until after the trial? Maybe on your birthday?"
"I think that would be best. Or Valentine's Day?"
"That would be perfect! The only weddings I know anything about are from books and TV."
"We can read up on gay weddings tonight if you want. I'm not really sure how they do it for couples like us."
The movie scares the crap outta both of us. I really wish I'd remembered the clown doll. Magnus was really sweet when I started freaking out over it, though, and kept me from hyperventilating.
"Is there anything you'd like to do?" I ask outside the theater.
"Someone, but not anything," he grins.
"You're not gonna turn into a hormone-driven sex fiend, are you?"
"No, I just really happen to like it with you."
"It's different, isn't it?"
"A lot different."
"What do you do while I'm at work now that you can do whatever you want?"
"I go to the park and read sometimes. Jace went with me a couple days ago and got attacked by a duck. I like going to the cosmetology school and watching the students. And visiting you at work, of course."
"Did you help him when he got attacked? Is cosmetology something you wanna do? I love it when you come see me."
"Does recording it count? I've thought about it, but I still wanna help hybrids."
"Can I watch it?"
Jace hadn't even done anything to the duck. He'd been feeding a squirrel peanuts when the duck, quacking angrily, started chasing him. Magnus was laughing in the background, while Jace was yelling and swearing at the duck.
"You're awful. It's funny, but you're awful," I tell him.
"I did apologize later. He made me promise not to put it on YouTube or show Clary if I see her," he replies.
I like the mischievous glint in his gold eyes. I like seeing him so happy. I don't want the trial to ruin his mental stability or his happiness because I don't wanna see Ragnor ruin Magnus's life again.
