Help Wanted
By: Shin Sankai
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Author's Notes: Right, so this came out of nowhere. I was just reading some Malec smut and then suddenly this popped into my head - go figure. Again, its not even the other two oneshots I should be working on, which I've been picking at for months and months now. Oops. This is just a 'snippet' as it's going to be turned into yet another AU multi-chapter story. I hope someone gives it a chance and tell me what you think.
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Chapter One: The Beginning
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"We are sorry Mr Lightwood, but your services are no longer needed. We'll need you to vacate the premise as soon as we finish up here." Alec blinked at his Manager as the words finally sunk in.
"Have I done something wrong?"
"We're experiencing some cut backs and..."
"Last in, first out, right?" Alec finished off for the Manager, not bothering to wait for a response as he stood from the seat. "Even if its only been six months, thank you for the opportunity here." Alec shook the man's hand even if he didn't mean it since the guy was an absolute dickhead who wouldn't even realise his own ass was on fire.
"Your final severance pay and any holidays owing to you will be paid out in the coming week." Alec gave a silent nod of the head and then swiftly headed out, moving his way to his cubicle and collected what little belongings he had, which was only a framed picture of his family and a coffee mug which read: I love spreadsheets. He'd gotten it as a present from his cubicle mate as he always helped her with creating calculations, graphs and forumlas in excel and it really was something that weirdly relaxed him and he was bloody good at it too.
"Alec, everything alright?' He shifted his gaze to the woman next to him, her dark eyes watching as he placed the mug and photo into his bag. "Where are you going?"
"My contract has been terminated early due to cut backs."
"Oh Alec, I'm so sorry!"
"Its not your fault Aline." Alec picked up his messenger bag and slung it over his shoulder. "Not like this was all that exciting." He tried to joke even though this was the longest temporary job he'd had since moving back to New York.
"You'll find something amazing, I'm sure of it Alec." Aline quickly pulled out today's paper and handed it to him. "Maybe something will catch your eye in the wanted ads."
"Thanks."
"Alec, if you ever need to talk, please give me a call alright?" He nodded his head at her offer and accepted the hug she gave him.
In the six months he'd been with the company, Aline and Lydia were the only ones who befriended him. He was never good at making friends, too busy worrying about so many other things on his mind to even care but now that he was in his late 20's and not a single friend to turn to, Alec vowed to make an effort with them.
"Tell Lydia for me?" Aline nodded her head, since Lydia was off sick today and with that, Alec gave her a slight wave and then he was heading to the lifts, riding it down to reception and exited the building. He stood out on the pavement looking up at the cloudy sky which suddenly opened up and rain fell heavily about the city, he watching pedestrians scurrying for shelter and others pulling out umbrellas hastily. Alec did neither. "Wonderful, just like my mood." Alec muttered as he headed off down the street, becoming drenched in seconds and after a couple blocks of aimlessly walking in the rain, he got stuck at some lights.
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"Papa?"
"Yes Madzie?"
The man had been scanning the 'help wanted' section in the paper and noticed his advert had finally been printed. It'd only taken like a million complaining phone calls,since he paid the ludicrous fees ages ago and finally after six weeks of waiting there his ad finally was! He had wisely decided not to place his number down in the advert and instead just requested applications to be sent to his postal address and needed background information on their experience, evidence of the necessary conviction check clearances and of course a photo from the applicants. People could sound as wonderful as they wanted on paper, but for him, a photo could speak a thousand words to him.
"Look at that man?" Brown-golden eyes finally lifted from the paper he'd been reading, shifting his gaze from the little girl across from him and out the window for a moment to where she was pointing to a man standing on the corner waiting for the lights to change so he could walk safely across the road.
"Oh, he's awfully wet."
"Is he going to get sick?"
"Maybe, if he doesn't find shelter soon."
"Can I give him one of our umbrellas?" The man sitting across from the little girl smiled sweetly at her.
"That is very thoughtful Sweet Pea. Make sure to place on your raincoat before doing just that." The little girl scooted out of her seat, placing on her clear raincoat over her dark purple and black dress with matching leggings. She picked up the umbrella that was perfectly dry and unused and trotted off out of the diner. Her shiny black gumboots splashed water on the pavement as the man watched his little girl from the window as she called out to the drenched man.
The man in the diner watched carefully, knowing this interaction could go several different ways and was suddenly awestruck when his little girl tugged on the man's pants as he hadn't heard her calling out to him. He watched on as the stranger swiftly turned to look down at her, eyes shifted about, pure instinct in him to look for her parents since she was a tiny little girl on the streets of New York and very much alone. However, his adorable Sweet Pea was currently waving her arms around, speaking animatedly to the man and then thrust out the umbrella towards him. It was then he watched on as the man squat down, brushing drenched black hair from his eyes to reveal the most wondrous pair of blue eyes he'd ever seen, and to think they were that bright even though it was such a grey day and he was many metres away and sitting in a diner behind a grubby glass window which seriously looked like it hadn't been cleaned in quite some time. He watched on as the man readjusted his little girl's hood on her raincoat and then graciously accepted the umbrella. His little girl waved at the stranger and then she was dashing back to the diner. The drenched man popped up the umbrella and continued on his way.
The diner door dinged and a couple just leaving the restaurant helped Madzie open the door as she rushed back inside. "I did it Papa!" He gave her a loving smile and helped her out of her coat which was dripping wet now and then lifted her up onto the seat once more. "That man had really pretty blue eyes."
"I noticed." Even from his seat in the cosy diner, the electric blue of his eyes were so vivid to him, having stolen his breath in seconds. He couldn't make out much else as the man had turned up the collar on his jacket to try and keep the chill from his already drenched body so he could really only make out his eyes and his messy drenched hair and the fact he was probably around the same height as himself which was over six foot.
"And he thanked me and called me Princess!" The father smiled before placing his paper away to give his little girl all his attention.
"He must be a nice man then." He watched his little girl nod her head before her tiny hand picked up her juice box as she took a big gulp of it through the straw. "So, what are your plans with your Mama when she gets here?"
"Well, I wanted to go to the zoo but she probably won't want to walk around in the rain."
"A lot of the animals might be inside because of the weather and she wouldn't want Madzie getting sick either." His little girl gave a nod, he frowning at the pout on her adorable face. "I know, lets share apple pie and ice cream."
"Papa, its not even lunchtime yet. And Mama will be here soon."
"Well, a treat once in awhile isn't a bad thing and its my present to you for being such a good girl. Your Mama can just wait a few minutes whilst we gobble it all down." He felt his shoulders loosen when his adorable daughter beamed him a smile.
"Do you promise to order an extra big piece and take back home to Max and Raph?"
"I will and I'll make sure your brothers know its from you." A vibrating and buzzing sound from his pocket made the father pull his phone free and he swiped right to read the message sent to him:
'Sorry Magnus, an emergency has come up and I can't get away.' It made him frown.
"Mama's not coming is she?" Brown-golden eyes darted up to his little girl as she'd seen his frown and he shook his head, knowing he could never make up an excuse since this had happened more times then he could count in his little girl's young life already.
"I'm really sorry Sweet Pea."
"I don't want to be here anymore." Each and every time his little girl was let down by her mother, Magnus' heart broke for his precious girl. He slid out of his seat, pulling her into his arms as she clutched at him.
"How about we go get your brothers from Uncle Raphael's place and we'll all cuddle near the fireplace and watch your favourite movies?" The appetite for pie and ice cream was long gone now.
"Ok..." Magnus placed his little girl down for a moment, leaving money on the table for his coffee and Madzie's juice, along with a tip and then placed Madzie in her raincoat, piked up his other umbrella and then headed for the door.
"Same time next month Mr Bane?" Maia, the waitress Magnus and Madzie had known for a good couple of years now, since this was the diner they frequented every month in order for Magnus to hand over his little girl to her mother for a 'mother-daughter weekend'. A weekend which hadn't happened for the past three months in a row now.
"Indeed Maia." Magnus gave her a wave.
"Bye, bye Madzie." His little girl suddenly turned shy, ducking her head into his pant leg and refused to acknowledge Maia. Magnus gave her a shrug as his little girl was never good at talking to adult strangers, even if Maia had known her since she was 4 years old, but then he did have to remember what happened merely moments earlier when she'd offered their spare umbrella to the stranger on the street.
"Sweet Pea, why did you want to give our umbrella to that man?" Innocent brown-golden eyes lifted up to look at him, just as he took his little girls' hand in his.
"He just looked sad." Magnus arched his eyebrow at that, unsure how his little girl could feel that when the man wasn't anywhere near them. "Papa, you always say its nice to do things that will hopefully make someone feel better."
"Well..."
"When he thanked me and smiled at me, I was really happy." He watched a cute blush grace his little girl's cheeks. "He looked really pretty up close too. Papa would of liked him instantly."
"Cheeky." Magnus murmured as his little girl had actually caught him on more then one occasion kissing both guys and girls at the front door,shooing them out of the apartment. She'd given him a funny look and he'd sat her down to tell her that its alright to like whoever as long as they make you happy.
'But Papa, you don't look happy with them at all. You always look sad.' That had shocked Magnus and he didn't want to think about that at all and gave his darling daughter a tickle torture that early morning and then carted her off to his bed and cuddled with her for the rest of the early morning.
Father and daughter headed towards the nearest subway station and sat down as they waited for their train. "Want to call Raphael and let him know we are coming to get your brothers?" Magnus speed dialled the number and handed his phone to his little girl.
"Uncle Raphy, Papa and I are heading your way." There was a pause as Raphael was clearly speaking softly to Madzie. "Yeah, Mama was busy again." Magnus watched her eyes shift to look up at him. "Papa's alright. Want to speak to him?" Madzie handed his phone over.
"Sorry to hear about Catarina standing the two of you up again."
"Thanks. I'm sorry to mess you around as well."
"My weekend is pretty free so no dramas there. Listen, why don't you lot just spend the day at my place? The boys have already messed up my lounge, they built a fortress while I was getting them drinks." Magnus chuckled at his devious sons. "It took them less then ten minutes this time."
"They are getting faster."
"Does Madz look like she's going to cry?"
"Yeah..." Magnus shifted his gaze to his quiet little girl, something very rare, as she was aimlessly swinging her legs next to him.
"I'll get her out of it."
"Well, you are her favourite Uncle so..." Magnus got up, shuffling his daughter towards the train as it had just pulled up. "We'll see you soon."
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(Uncle Raphael's Apartment)
Magnus only had to knock once before his dear friend, who he seriously thought of as a younger brother opened the door and even before anything could be voiced, he watched his adorable sons launch themselves at their sister, she giggling up a storm as they nearly knocked her to the ground with their overzealous affections.
"Come see our fortress." They each latched onto her hands and dragged their happily smiling sister to the lounge room to see it turned upside down with seat cushions and a blanket or two cast and draped all over the place. "Princess Madz must be protected in the fortress from the bad witch!" Magnus turned his slightly narrowed gaze to his friend.
"I didn't say anything about her mother standing her up. All I said is Madz was upset and only her little brothers, her protective and brave princes could save the day by making her smile again."
"Uh huh..." Magnus accepted the cup of coffee and then sat at the dining table watching as his twin boys fussed over their big sister. "What do I do Raph? This is the third month in a row that Cat has broken her promise to Sweet Pea. I fear if she continuously does it, she's going to start hating her own mother. I don't want her to experience those types of feelings."
"Like your feelings towards your father?" Magnus gazed into his coffee.
"I always try and tell myself that I don't hate him, he is my father after all, and once upon a time I'm certain he loved me. My feelings for him always waver and just when I think I can seriously love him again, he does something like this..."
"Magnus, what are you talking about?" It was then he realised he hadn't told his dear friend what had been going on for the past couple of months.
"He wants to take them from me Raph." Magnus watched brown eyes widen as his gaze drifted to the three giggling children messing up his lounge room even more. "My father says he's been keeping an eye on us and believes my unstable life isn't for them anymore. He's says I'm doing more harm then good."
"But, you've been doing well haven't you? Ever since Madz had that illness scare, a couple years back, you stopped drinking right?"
"I have. I mean, not fully. I do have a cocktail every now and then, and I rarely go out anymore too. I don't get plastered in clubs and end up in some unknown hotel room with a stranger in bed with me or am kicking them out of my own place before the kids wake up so..."
"Magnus..."
"If I lose them Raph, I have nothing...am nothing. I can't..."
"Hey, its going to be alright. Pull yourself together before the kids see you." Magnus gave a nod and quickly got his high strung emotions under control and accepted the tissue to ensure his eye-liner wasn't smudged. "Tell me you're working on a plan?"
"I placed an ad in the paper."
"For what? A knight in shining armour to slay the evil father?" Magnus chuckled at his friends sarcasm. He pulled his phone out, sifted it to his notes where he'd saved a copy of the ad and then handed his phone over to Raphael so he could read the ad that was finally published in the newspaper.
"Once I dwindle down the applicants I'll interview them to get a vibe for them. If I find one that might be able to help I'll let them know my true intentions of why I need them."
"And that is...?"
"A fake relationship." Magnus shifted in his seat at the hard stare from his long time friend. Raphael may be five years his junior but they'd become inseparable when he was ten and Raphael was five. They had lived in the same neighbourhood growing up and were inseparable, even with it now being twenty years. "I have to build a stable home and family as per father's threat or else I'll never see my kids again. If that happens, I truly will spiral downhill and I know I won't ever recover."
"Magnus..." Raphael let out a sigh as he re-read the advert. "That's not how this reads at all. You're asking for someone to look after you and your three children, pretty much like a live in nanny and not a tutor as mentioned here."
"What did you expect me to write? 'Hello potential applicant! Are you looking for a career change? Have you possibly thought of becoming a live in nanny/tutor/lover? Oh yes, you read that correctly. Not only am I, a single father of three children who is looking for assistance in taking care of them in my busy life of trying to get my own business up and running again, but I'm also needing you to jump into a fake relationship with me and pretend to be my partner because I'm desperate to keep my children from being taken away from me by my rather rich and powerful evil father.' Who the hell would answer an advert like that?"
"Well, you got me there."
"I know what I'm doing Raph." The younger man wasn't so sure about that but nothing more could be said as they were called towards the fortress to help rescue Princess Madzie from the invisible evil witch.
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(Elsewhere in Brooklyn)
Alec had just stepped into the lobby area of his apartment building and the last person he wanted to see was the landlord.
"Lightwood! You're late on the rent again!"
"I'm..."
"And tell that brother of yours to knock off with all the racket. Mrs Miller next door can hear him banging on the wall."
"I apologise for his behaviour and will speak to him. As for the rent, I have some money coming in next week and will ensure to hand the rent over for last month and the next two months when I get it." The man grumbled but seem to accept that and headed on his way.
Alec trudged up the stairs, the lift out of order, nothing new there, and headed for the sixth floor. He unlocked the door of 6C and then closed it behind him, eyes shifting to the blonde who was just coming from the kitchen with a coke in hand.
"Can you stop having such loud sex." That was Alec's greeting as he watched the blonde slouch on the couch, feet up on the coffee table and cable on a sports channel. "You and whoever the hell you are doing it with are annoying the old lady next door."
"She'd probably be more annoyed if she realised it was her own granddaughter." Alec's eyes went wide at this news.
"Jace,"
"Alright, alright, we'll quieten down." The blonde placed up his hands in defeat at the stern look he was currently receiving. "Although she's off the list anyway since she was pretty crap at it."
"Seriously, what the hell did I do wrong in raising you?" Alec rubbed at his temples, a massive migraine forming. "How'd you become such a playboy?"
"Well someone's got to make up for the lack of sex you seem to be having." Alec frowned at that low blow from his brother. He watched Jace cross his arms over his chest. "What are you doing home so early?"
"I got fired."
"Oh..." Jace shifted his gaze to the TV to see a touchdown before moving them back to his older brother. "So, rent money?"
"How about you lift a god damn finger around here for once?" Alec suddenly blew his top, watching as Jace's mismatched eyes widened. "I've been looking after you and sacrificing for you since you were 14 years old. I'm not the only adult in this bloody family now! Even Izzy has at least gone out and gotten a part time job since we moved back here and she's also doing that whilst finishing off her Masters in Anatomical Pathology. What have you done since we got back from California huh?"
"I..."
"All you've done is bitch and moan about how run down and cold this place is and where's the food Alec. Where out of toilet paper Alec. I don't have a clean shirt to wear Alec. The landlord caught me on the stairs Alec and he's demanding rent money. Well guess what Jace, money doesn't grow on bloody trees! You've no idea the amount of debt we have and I'm trying my god damn best here. The least you could do is stop fooling around and chasing every girl or the neighbours granddaughter with your dick and start acting like a responsible adult. If you are thinking you're being a good example as an adult for Max, think again!"
A door closed behind the two men and Alec jerked on the spot, shifting his gaze over his shoulder to see his little brother standing there.
"So, what did I miss?" The bespectacled teen casually asked.
"What are you doing home?" Alec swallowed the lump in his throat, it having gone dry all of a sudden as he'd probably not spoken that much in a very long time. Nor had he ever raised his voice like that to any one of his siblings.
"It was only a half day today." Max shifted his brown eyes between his older brothers.
"I'm...not feeling well. I'm going to go lie down." Alec trudged his drenched self down the hallway and went into the bedroom he actually shared with Max. They could only afford a three bedroom apartment, barely though since he'd been lagging in paying the rent once again.
When Alec had found this place, he sacrificed having any privacy of his own and asked if Max wouldn't mind sharing a room with him, his little brother not minding at all. Alec made sure Izzy got a room to herself, obviously, since she was the only girl in the family and Jace got the other room by default and because of how sexually active he was these days. No one wanted to be in the bed next to him when that shit was going on. Alec didn't even like being in the room next door!
Alec dumped his bag on the floor in the small room and then striped off his clothing, shoving them into the laundry hamper which was overflowing. He would have to remember to go down to the basement and do several loads of washing soon. He dressed in some clean plain black boxer briefs and a pair of sweatpants and then fell face first into the single bed that was his. He didn't know how long he breathed in deeply, trying to get his migraine to go away when he listened to the door creak open and someone shift inside.
"If that's you Jace, I don't want to talk right now."
"Its just me." Alec turned onto his side as Max shuffled awkwardly by the door.
"This is your room Max, you don't need to fill like you can't come in here, even if I am in a bad mood." Alec watched the door close and Max dumped his school bag on his bed and he quietly sat down, hands in his lap.
"You know, I've never looked up to Jace as a role model right?" Alec grinned lightly at that. "He's a terrible example without you pointing it out."
"Yeah..."
"You're my role model Alec." Blue eyes shifted up to look at his baby brother across the room. He watched Max fidget on his bed a little unsure of what he was about to say would upset him or not. Alec knew his siblings well after all. "I've...never seen you blow up like that before."
"I'm sorry buddy. I never wanted you to see me like that either." Alec sat up on his bed, leaning against the wall as he raked his hand through his damp hair, messing it up, though he never brushed it anyway. "Its just been a bad day. I lost my job and I haven't a clue in regards to where to from here and with the landlord breathing down my neck, things just boiled over and Jace copped the lot."
"Jace is pretty upset too."
"I know. Once I cool down, I'll go and apologise to him."
"Anything I can do to help?"
"Can I have a hug?" Max grinned as he got off his bed and walked the short distance to Alec's bed and climbed on it and fell right into his brother's arms. Sometimes a warm hug from your family was the best cure one could ever ask for. "How's school going buddy?"
"Pretty good. I've a few final assignments for some classes and then we'll be doing half days mostly to just revise for exams happening near the end of the year."
"If you need any help, you let me know."
"Thanks, but I got it this time."
"Of course you do. You're the smartest one in the family." Max lightly grinned at that.
"What are you going to do about work?"
"Not sure yet. A friend of mine gave me the paper so I can check the help wanted ads. I was going to do that and then got distracted as I blew up at Jace instead."
"Is it in your bag?" Alec gave a nod and Max escaped his embrace, which he did frown at.
From first impressions, Alec probably looked like the most standoffish guy on the entire planet, but he really was someone that could be depended on. Underneath his hard exterior, there was an awkward shy guy who was pretty much a loveable marshmallow. Or so that is what his sister always teased. Alec shrugged at such thoughts as he knew he was a protector and would truly do anything for his family no matter how much stress any of them put him under or how much stress he had to deal with financially to try and keep them above water.
Alec watched as his kid brother snoop through his messenger bag and pulled the slightly damp paper from within and then came back to sit on his bed, resting against the wall next to him, but his head was on his shoulder as he opened the paper on their legs and scanned the 'help wanted' section.
"What about this one?" Alec drifted his eyes down to the advert that Max was pointing at.
'Help Wanted: Single father of three looking for assistance to tutor his children. Applicants must apply in writing and provide their experience, evidence of conviction check clearances and a photo...'
"You've been a private tutor before Alec."
"Well..."
"I can help you with your application since I've been applying to various art schools lately and we'll also need to take a good picture of you too." Alec watched as Max pulled his phone from his pocket and then stood in front of him.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking your picture."
"Max I'm..." Alec never did get any further as he heard the click of the camera and then Max was viewing his image and giving it a satisfactory nod of the head. "Max, I'm half naked and my tattoo is on full view."
"So what? Its part of who you are Alec, you can't hide them forever." Max's brown eyes scaled down his brother's fit body, of what he could see since he was wearing sweatpants but he knew more tattoos were under the clothing on his legs and evenone on his hipbone. "If you were going to be self conscious about them, then maybe you shouldn't' have gotten, what, is it around twenty now?"
"Cheeky."
"Besides, I only took from the shoulders up as well so they'll only see the one on your neck. People shouldn't discriminate just because you have a tattoo and besides they suit you anyway. And you might not be smiling, but its a nice photo." Alec shrugged his shoulders at that since he didn't think he looked good in any photos whether they were taken with his knowledge or not.
Alec watched his kid brother fire up the laptop and he sat on the chair, knees raised to his chest as he clacked away. Alec couldn't help but smile as Max was his little computer and art nerd and Alec wouldn't have it any other way. He shifted his blue eyes back to the newspaper and decided to re-read the advert. After a few minutes of deliberation, he thought 'what the hell' as the worst that could happen is his application gets rejected and then he'll have to go to the local job agency in the neighbourhood to look for temporary work again. He'd not taken a single day off in his six months so he knew he was going to get a bit of money owing to him, plus the hours he'd yet to be paid for too and granted he would use most of it for the rent, but with some serious budgeting and only buying groceries when stuff was on special, he'd make it through, even if he had to skip a meal or two to ensure his siblings had a roof over their heads and were fed then so be it.
Alec had done it before, he could do it again.
"Hey buddy," Max turned to look back at his brother. "Can you help me with my application?" Max beamed him a smile in answer.
With that sorted, Alec laid back on his bed, gazing up at the ceiling and listened to Max's fingers rush across the keyboard. He didn't know when it began to lull him to sleep, but Alec couldn't fight the exhaustion any longer.
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To be Continued...