It eventually took both Magnus and Alec sitting with Madzie through a fourth bedtime story, this one made up by Magnus, before she stopped following Alec out of bed and slowly started dozing off. Alec left the door slightly ajar so they could hear her if she were to call for them. They moved back to the living room to sit side by side. The only call they had still to make was to Luke and Alec had something to talk about before that.
'Aren't you getting cold, Alexander?'
Alec shook his head: 'It's pretty warm for june and I don't get cold easily.' Magnus nodded in response. He had previously cleaned up the remains of dinner and spoken to Ragnor, Theo, Henry and Meliorn. His calls had been brief as he had not been fully in the mood to explain everything and most of them had been reassured with no more than the notion that he was fine and Alec not majorly injured. Ragnor had expressed mild concern, but was not one to dwell on things he couldn't do anything about, and Meliorn was mostly happy to know that Isabelle had already been informed of Alec's being okay.
'Magnus, do you have any idea who may have it out for you?'
Magnus let out a sigh: 'That is a very difficult question to answer, Alexander. I don't know of my having done anything that would warrant a death sentence. Yes, I have rivals and people I've pissed off, but I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill me.'
'What about Seelie? She seems to have it out for you.'
Magnus shook his head: 'She's a conniving bitch, but she wouldn't try to kill me. Couldn't it be someone who had it out for Madzie? Her former fosters or someone from before that even?'
'There is no logical reason for anyone to want to kill a six year old foster girl unless they want to send a message to the people close to her. That's us, Catarina and Will.'
'We're talking about murder, Alexander. There is nothing logical about that. I can't imagine any circumstance under which I would actually be prepared to kill someone.'
'That's because you try to see the good in everyone. You're too good of a person yourself to imagine anyone capable of worse.'
'And you're not?'
Alec turned to face Magnus with a serious expression: 'I can imagine several reasons to want to kill someone. I wouldn't act on most, but I know people who would.' He opened his mouth to continue, but quickly closed it again as if he was about to speak of something that he wasn't supposed to say.
'Alexander, this is not the time to be keeping secrets.'
'I know,' Alec let out a heavy sigh and instantly regretted it as his face contorted in pain, but did continue. 'I don't think it is relevant, but you should probably know… The car accident in which we lost our parents. It was no accident. Someone cut the breaklines. There was a rather steep slope from our house down with a tight curve at the bottom. They didn't stand a chance. The car rolled six times before hitting a tree.'
Magnus froze. Right now it was impossible to read Alec. Not just because his own thoughts and emotions were in such turmoil, but because Alec clearly didn't want to show how he felt about it. It had been many weeks since Magnus had been completely stumped by the mystery of Alec's stoicism, but clearly he could still put up the mask if he wanted to.
'Your parents…'
'Were murdered. My siblings don't know and I don't want them to. The police came to me with the question if there could have been foul play, but they weren't sure. There was no indication of the culprit, and the break line could have also snapped in the crash, so it was filed as an accident. For a while I was worried that they'd come after us too, but despite us being quite the easy target they never did.'
'You were just kids.'
Alec nodded: 'My parents had angered some people in their work. We were no target. But between that and the men who assaulted Izzy, I can think of several reasons of why you'd want to kill someone. And unless you have neglected to tell me you laid hands on anyone's sister, I tend to think towards your business associates. Although we might have to cover the complete list of your exes at some point.'
'Even so, I can't see any one of them… But maybe you do know better.'
'Luke might be able to provide some insight,' Alec said. 'But we can see about that tomorrow.'
'We should still call him tonight?' Alec nodded in response. 'Then let's do that and get to bed, because it's not even nine, but I feel like I could sleep for a week. Alec agreed with the sentiment and pulled up Jace's text from earlier in the evening so Magnus could type it in on his phone. It took only moment before the low, gruff voice picked up.
'Luke Garroway.'
'Hello Luke. This is Magnus Bane. I'm calling with Alec Lightwood. We got your number from Jace.'
Oh, yeah, Jace said you were going to call. He gave me the gist of it.'
'The gist pretty much says it all,' Alec spoke up. 'We know very little of motives, but that is something we can discuss later. Right now there's two things we need to take care of, though. And we were hoping you could help.'
'Fire away.'
'First of all, we just walked away from a crime scene as the police arrived. We had good reasons and I'm sure some of the bystanders will have identified us as the victims, but whoever is put on the case may not see it that way. We were hoping you could help smooth over some wrinkles,' Magnus said.
'Of course. If you tell me where it happened I can contact the precinct and give them your names. There was also a little girl involved?'
Magnus informed Luke of the location of the incident before continuing: 'Her name is Madzie and she is staying with us for the night. Her guardians will arrive tomorrow morning.'
'Okay, and the second thing?'
'We're pretty sure we're going to have to speak to some police tomorrow,' Alec took over again. 'But we have no idea who is behind the hit, and in combination with other threats and my injuries, I'm not up for taking Magnus anywhere, or risking bringing unknown people to the apartment.'
'You need someone to take you to the precinct?' asked Luke.
'No, absolutely not,' Alec replied firmly. 'Until we have a few more assurances, we're not leaving the building.'
'Then what do you need from me?'
'I need a way to confirm that any cop showing up is actually who they say they are. Names or badge numbers or anything.'
'How about, I contact the precinct and inform them of the situation. That if they want to talk to the two of you, it will be at your address and I'll tag along to confirm their validity to you?'
'That sounds perfect,' replied Magnus. Alec nodded in agreement, which Luke, of course, didn't see.
'Then I'll do that. You two must be exhausted, so I'll not keep you any longer. I can reach you on this number?'
'Yes, or you can get Alec's number from Jace probably.'
'Alright. I'll keep you posted.'
'Thanks, Luke.' And with that they were finally done. They sat in silence for a couple more moments, just letting the events of the day run through their heads.
Finally Magnus turned: 'Bed?'
'Bed,' Alec answered with a tired smile. He once again made a grimace in pain at the effort to get up, but clearly didn't want any help. He'd fortunately changed into some sweatpants already when he'd put Madzie to bed so he could just collapse on one side of the bed. Magnus flitted about for a moment, removing his makeup and changing to some sleepwear before stopping at the bedroom door.
'Should I leave it open? In case Madzie needs us.'
'Yeah,' Alec's voice sounded strained as he laid on his back. He was clearly having trouble breathing through the pain. Magnus left the door halfway open and joined Alec on the bed, similarly lying on his back. He could hear Alec's heavy breathing by his side. He wanted to reach out and reassure him, comfort him, hold him, but he couldn't. This was not the time to explore the boundaries of their relationship.
Instead they laid in silence, side by side, staring up at the ceiling. Magnus wondered how he was ever going to fall asleep. In his mind he kept on seeing Alec hitting the concrete. Splinters of glass and metal flying around. Screeching of tires ringing in his ears. Suddenly Alec spoke.
'When I thought of what today was going to be like, this was not what I pictured,' he groaned as he repositioned himself in bed.
'What did you picture?' Magnus turned his head to look at Alec.
The taller man laid looking at the ceiling for a moment longer before turning his head to look Magnus in the eye: 'I imagined a hostess being surprised at us bringing in such a young girl into a restaurant. They'd try to seat us in some corner to draw less attention, but you turn every head in the room so that is impossible. Madzie would insist on reading the menu by herself, but quickly find the words too difficult. Of course I'd have to pick out something she liked and just get her to confirm it.
'You'd do that thing you do where you close your eyes and hold the first sip of wine in your mouth for just a little longer. The waiter would be completely surprised to see Madzie this excited for "grownup food", but inevitably get this endeared look. Madzie would light up at the very first bite and we'd both get distracted with watching her. You'd get into one of your amazing anecdotes about someplace in the world and we'd just sit there, not realising the time until Catarina would text you to say she's on her way.
'We'd get home and when Catarina would come pick Madzie up, Madzie would whisper to someone if we could do that again. You would of course say yes, because you can't deny her anything and she'd hug us very tight before leaving. And we'd spend the rest of the night on the balcony. Just talking. Rosy from the wine. And you'd make plans for what to do next time.'
Magnus smiled softly: 'I like your version of events much better.' He shifted and turned on his side so he could more easily look at Alec. 'Though I'm pretty sure that your version of events would have never led to be having you halfway naked in my bed.' Alec wanted to laugh, but the initial motion already shot such a spark of pain through his body that it turned into a groan.
'Please don't be funny anymore. It's going to be a couple of days before I can laugh again.'
'Then can I be candid?'
'Are you ever not?' Alec grinned.
'Oh, so you get to be funny, but I am not?'
'You get to be funny on a daily basis. I'm just taking the opportunity.'
'Well, then can I take the opportunity to candidly ask about your tattoos?'
'Sure,' Alec turned his head back to face the ceiling. 'I'm too wired to sleep anyway.'
'Which was the first one?'
Alec was about to twist his torso so he could show his left arm more easily to Magnus, when his ribs protested and he instead decided to very carefully turn himself on his side. The pressure on his chest was also a little relieved in his new position and Magnus mattress was soft enough that he wasn't twisted into an uncomfortable position.
He released a sigh of relief before holding up his left forearm: 'Angelic power, I got it when I was sixteen.'
Magnus reached out and softly touched the black markings: 'Why did you get it?'
Alec put his arms down in front of him so that Magnus could still reach it: 'I got it a couple of weeks after I figured out I was gay. Jace got sick for the first time, my parents were getting on my case and Max was going to school for the first time. I was drowning in responsibilities. And then one day Max comes home from school and calls me a guardian angel. They had been talking about angels in class and somehow I just felt better. Max thought I was an angel, then I could do everything to be just that for him. For him, for Izzy and even Jace.'
'And your parents were okay with it?'
'No, by god no. They didn't find out until I got the last one,' Alec pointed at the one on his neck. 'I wore long sleeves through pretty much any season and activity and they weren't home much then anyway. It was a bit of an issue when Jace and I had the surgery. I talked to one of the nurses beforehand and she offered to wrap it up. I was glad to not have the attention diverted to me from Jace, so I took it.'
'You don't strike as a typical person to get tattoos.' Magnus reached out once again to touch the tattoo on his shoulder.
'Yeah, I get that,' Alec replied. 'Maybe it is because they are not for decoration for me.'
'They give you superpowers.'
'What did I say about you being funny,' Alec chided playfully, causing Magnus to laugh. 'But they really are for me. They remind me of things I have, help with things I need to portray. I don't even call them tattoos. I call them markings, which sounds much more appropriate for some reason.'
'I think I get that,' Magnus pulled his hand back. 'And though I know they are not for show, they look good on you. They suit you.'
A light blush was forming on Alec's cheeks: 'Thanks.'
'If they are not for show, why is the one on your neck so prominent?'
Alec reached up to run a finger along it himself: 'This my first and only ever act of rebellion against my parents. Did Izzy tell you about my coming out to them?'
'I'd think that'd be your story to tell,' Magnus replied.
'I sat down with them privately the day before my eighteenth birthday and told them I was pretty sure I was gay. The first thing my mother said was that I couldn't be gay, like a fact. It just devolved into a spiral of hurt and denial from her. Then my father got involved and got angry. They berated and threatened me. When I didn't fight them, they started to change tone. Making plans to fix my sexuality or hide it.
'I knew there was no fixing it. I'd looked into it and all signs pointed to no. Before that conversation I had sort of been resigned to never enter a relationship, because I knew it was not okay, but when they reacted like that… The moment they mentioned setting me up with an arranged marriage as soon as possible, something changed.
'I couldn't help but think that all my life I had done everything for them. I had done exactly what they asked. I had given everything they had asked. There were so many people out there who were gay and who were fine. This was not a choice they were guiding me in, they were directly telling me to not be who I was. They were going to have me change myself to fit their political agenda, knowing I'd be miserable with a woman.
'I didn't say anything that night, but I couldn't get it out of my head. All the things I told Izzy and Jace, about them being enough by being exactly who they were. They were true for me too. I made an appointment the next day. The rune was to remind me that what they said was just words. They couldn't get to me if I wouldn't let them. My being gay and the markings, the parts of me they would never accept, were part of me too.
'The day I came home with the new tattoo was the last time I lived in that house. They were livid, my father even more than my mother. I don't believe I've ever seen either of them so desperately angry. Eventually I told them that if my being gay was such a problem, then I would deal with it, but on my own terms. I'd never accept an arranged marriage. They didn't agree. After that I went to stay with an acquaintance of mine, Andrew Underhill. He had come out years ago and I knew his parents would understand. I didn't get the chance to talk to my parents again before the accident.'
'I'm sorry, Alexander,' Magnus spoke softly.
Alec raised up a confused eyebrow: 'Whatever for? It's not your fault my parents couldn't accept me.' He was about to say more, but the slightest bit of movement by the open bedroom door diverted his attention. 'Madzie.'
Magnus immediately sat up to meet her eyes. The little girl was holding her worn stuffed rabbit and looking even smaller than usual as she peered around the doorframe in her nightgown.
'What is it, Sweet Pea?' Magnus asked. 'Did you have a nightmare?' Madzie didn't respond but kept on looking at them with big eyes. Alec couldn't turn to look at her without painfully twisting his torso, but he did meet Magnus eyes when they flicked over to him.
'Did you want to sleep with us?' Almost immediately he could hear her padding over to the bed. It dipped slightly when she climbed on and crawled over to what little space Magnus and Alec had left between them. Magnus laid back down and wrapped an arm around her middle as she curled her back against his chest. Her head rested on Alec's elbow and her hands, clutching the bunny doll, rested against Alec's chest.
She looked up at Alec for a moment before touching one of the tattoos on Alec's chest, which Magnus recognised as a healing rune. Her finger very carefully traced the shape.
Alec softly brushed her hair back: 'I'll be better very soon.' His words were like an answer to an unspoken question. She reached out once more and pointed to a more complicated rune, located right over his cracked ribs. Alec took her hand and gently guided her through the motion of the shape.
'Now that you know I'll get better and we'll be protected. Do you think you can sleep?' She nodded and nestled herself further into her cosy position between the two men before closing her eyes. Alec and Magnus looked at each other and neither of them could help the soft smiles pulling at their mouths. Magnus opened his mouth to say something, but Alec silenced him with a slight shake of his head. Another look at Madzie told him that she, like Alec, had the ability to fall asleep almost instantly.
Once again meeting Alec's eyes Magnus marveled at the similarities between Alec and this little girl. While their outward appearance couldn't have been more different, their quiet and honest nature, the silent protectiveness of those around them, and the diligent and attentive way they approached tasks. Madzie was young, but she had a matureness about her that shone through in all these traits she shared with Alec.
Really, if Magnus hadn't known better he would have thought Alec to at the very least have been Madzie's guardian from birth. In the eyes of court and law he was nothing to Madzie, which was why they ripped the two apart upon Iris' death. But anyone seeing the two of them together could have no doubt of the simple fact that, though neither of them ever spoke the words, Alec was very much Madzie's father in everything but blood. His eye fell on the bracelet on Alec's wrist, which he hadn't taken off since Madzie had given it to him.
Magnus own bracelet was lying on the nightstand, as he had taken it off with most of his other jewelry when he went to bed. These days he didn't feel complete without wearing it. The simple bracelet was like a token of proof of his own little family, now collected in his bed.
Alec still held his eyes, but was blinking sleepily, clearly about to doze off as well. A small smile tugged at Magnus mouth as he soundlessly mouthed: "Sleep." Almost as if Alec had been waiting for permission he shifted slightly before wrapping his free arm around Madzie as well and closing his eyes. Only moments later Magnus could hear his breathing even out. Alec's arm was resting against his own, his fingers touching Magnus side. Alec's face was close enough to feel his breath.
A gentle warmth filled Magnus. This was home.
