Chapter 6

The rest of the flight to Amsterdam was anything but comfortable for Alec. Izzy was asleep in her seat, her earphones still firmly lodged in her ears. Alec found himself lost in his thoughts, snuggled up with a sleeping, and loudly snoring, Jace in his arms. Though he was fairly tired himself, he just couldn't fall asleep. His mind was racked with thoughts of him and Jace, thoughts of what he was going to do once the plane landed.

Like, were he and Jace a thing now? He knew Jace wanted them to be a thing, maybe even already thought that they were now a thing. And who could blame the guy, considering what they had just done in the bathroom. But, Alec found that he was drawing a complete blank when it came to figuring out what he wanted. If he wanted them to be a thing.

On the one hand, he'd enjoyed what he had done with Jace in the bathroom, like really enjoyed it. But, on the other hand, his heart just wasn't into it. Would having a purely physical relationship with Jace cause problems for their friendship? Alec wondered. Could they even be together without getting emotionally attached?

Shit, now that he thought about it, they were already emotionally attached. Jace was in love with him, and though he wasn't in love with Jace, he certainly cared about him, he certainly loved him. Even if it was just in a brotherly way, which was even more complicated now, considering that people didn't exactly let their brothers give them blowjobs, and if they did, then they were seriously sick in the head or something.

"Shit." Alec sighed again, combing his fingers through his hair. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately, he thought. He really needed to figure out what he was going to do, and he needed to figure it out by the time the plane landed.

"Are you and Jace fighting?" Asked Izzy.

"What? No. Why, did he say something?" Asked Alec, moving quickly across the room from where he was standing at the window taking in the view of the city to join Izzy, who was laying on her stomach stretched out across his bed, her hands cupping her cheeks to prop her head up as she watched him, a confused look in her eyes.

"No," she said as Alec sat down next to her on the bed, looking equal parts guilty and annoyed. "It's just that you guys have been acting weird... Well, weirder than normal, since we landed. I mean, you could cut the tension between you two with a knife."

It had only been a day since their arrival into Amsterdam, and they were currently checked into Hotel TwentySeven. Alec found the place to be quite...decadent. The room he was staying in reminded him a little bit of some of the rooms back in the palace; all victorian era styled furniture, floor to ceiling arched windows, intricate designed ceilings, plush carpets and drapery. It wasn't a bad thing to be reminded of home, but for the fact that he was trying not to be reminded of home. Which was why he had already spoken to Jace and Izzy about finding them much simpler accommodations.

Alec slumped forward, resting his elbows on his knees, he really didn't want to talk about Jace with Izzy. That would be putting her in the middle, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. Plus she had an obvious bias. She loved Jace, and he knew that she wanted to see them together. So definately not the best person to turn to for advice in this situation.

"Honestly Iz, I don't know what to tell you," Alec started. "I think he's waiting for me to give him my answer, and...I can't say I have one for him at the moment. I'm still just trying to figure this whole thing out."

The two were quiet for a moment. Alec could see the wheels turning in his sister's head as she seemed to be thinking of how best to respond.

Finally, she said, "you need to figure it out soon and make a decision. Because the longer you wait, the more complicated things will get."

"Tell me something I don't know," Alec huffed.

"I mean, come on, Alec. How are you going to make decisions for the kingdom when you can't even make simple decisions concerning your own life." She wasn't trying to be cruel, really she wasn't, but she knew her brother. And sometimes he needed a good kick in the butt to get him moving.

Sometimes the very things she loved about him, were the very same things that annoyed her to no end. Alec would rip himself into shreds trying to make everyone around him happy, making sure no one got hurt. Even if that meant hurting himself. Someone had to be there to make sure he didn't make himself miserable trying to make everyone else happy. She knew that he was of the belief that she wanted him to be with Jace, and in all honesty, she did. She loved Jace. He was a great guy. And she knew given the chance, he would do anything in his power to make her brother happy.

But, at the end of the day, her brother's happiness was what was most important. Even if he didn't end up with Jace, she would be fine with it. As long as he found someone he loved, and who loved him equally in return. Not some arranged marriage bullshit. That was one of the main reasons why she'd been encouraging him to give Jace a chance. She knew that if Alec were to fall in love, truely fall in love with someone, then he would move heaven and earth to be with them. Their traditions be damned.

Alec wasn't the least bit offended. He knew that Izzy was right, and he told her as much. He needed to make a decision, and now, before things got more complicated. "You're right," he nodded. "Don't worry about me and Jace, ok." He patted Izzy's back, a determined look in his eyes. "We'll work ourselves out."

"You better. And I don't mean in the sack," she smirked up at him, a sly grin spreading across her face. "You think I didn't hear you guys yesterday on the plane."

Alec felt his face instantly heat up, turning bright red as she spoke.

"You're very loud you know, big bro... Oww!" Izzy exclaimed, unable to finish her sentence as Alec smacked her on her butt. Before she could move to retaliate though, he was already running towards the bathroom, laughing as he went. The door slammed shut in her face just as she reached it. "This isn't over you know. I'm gonna get you back," Izzy called, still rubbing her aching butt.

"Yeah? Well you'll have to catch me first," Alec called back. Izzy could practically see him smirking as she listened to him laughing through the door.

"I think it's safe to say that I've had enough. Officially." Alec, Izzy and Jace had just gotten back from their dinner with the Dutch royal family. The whole thing had been one big elaborate scheme by his parents and king Williem-Alexander. He had no idea what he had expected. A part of him had hoped that it was indeed a 'political' meeting as his father had convinced him that it was. That they would have had dinner, discussed trade deals and other things that would be mutually beneficial to both kingdoms. But no, the whole thing was just a setup to have him meet princess Catharina.

Not once, after his father had called to inform him about the supposed political dinner, had he allowed himself to think it to be ploy. God, could he have been any more gullible?
Alec sighed. "My first week in the country and they're already trying to ruin my stay," he groused as he began pacing his hotel room.

"It's ok Alec, just calm down," Jace advised. Trying to temper him. Jace took ahold of his hand to stop his pacing, moving to block his way.

"I mean, what were they thinking, Jace. She's just a freaking kid for God's sake."

"Oh come on, she's not that much younger than you. Isn't she like seventeen or something?" Jace asked.

"How the hell should I know?" Alec rolled his eyes. "And why are you sounding like this? Aren't you suppose to be on my side?"

"Of course I'm on your side," Jace affirmed, placing his hands on Alec's shoulders in a comforting gesture, trying, but failing to hide his smile from the pouting prince. "Is there even another side?" He asked, causing Alec to let out sarcastic little chuckle.

"Honestly, I don't even know why you're getting so worked up about this," Izzy added. She had already thrown off her heels and had made herself comfortable on Alec's bed. "It's not like you're not going to do things your way anyway. So why let our parents' medling bother you?"

"I know but..." Alec started, moving away from Jace to join Izzy on the bed. "I can't help it. I want them on my side, Iz. I don't want to be fighting with them all the time. It's really tiring you know."

Izzy sat up next to him, leaning her head against his shoulder before straightening back up. "You wanna know what I think?" She asked. "I think we shouldn't bother anymore with this whole..." she scrunched up her face, gesturing with her hands, "...playing diplomats crap. Let's just go straight to the fun part of this vacation. Yes?"

Alec furrowed his brows. "What?"

"Yeah. Let's move up our plans. I say we get the hell out of this hotel and move somewhere where no one would ever think to look for us," Izzy continued.

Jace was grinning from ear to ear, showing his agreement. Alec was looking at them as if they'd both gone crazy. Could he really do that? He wondered.

In the end, Alec had agreed, and the trio spent the next few hours making plans for their great escape from the life luxury. The whole thing had been quite ridiculous, really. From searching for an apartment to rent online, to figuring out just how they were going ditch whatever spies Alec knew his parents must have hired to follow them around. Alec was under no illusion that his parents would have actually allowed him to travel alone with Izzy and only Jace as their body gaurd to another country. Not when they'd never even allowed it back in Idris.

"Pretending to be mundanes is going to be so much fun," Izzy squealed before kissing Alec goodnight, leaving for her own room. The plan was to leave first thing in the morning.

"So..." Jace started as soon as Izzy left the room. Alec could sense his nervousness and he hated it. He really missed his confident, downright cocky bestfriend. He hated that Jace was now on egg shells around him. "Can we talk?" He asked.

"Of course," replied Alec, who was still seated on his bed, Jace standing in front of him.

"I feel like you've been avoiding being alone with me ever since we arrived, and I don't really know why. I mean, I know why, but..."

"I haven't been avoiding being alone with you," Alec said, cutting him off. Jace gave him a pointed look.

"Well, okay maybe I have been...a little. But it's just because I needed time alone to think."

"And?" Jace asked, raising a brow in question.

"And." Alec stood up, wanting to be on the same level as him. "I honestly don't thinkthat it's a good idea for us to be together. We shouldn't complicate things between us. I feel it would be for the best if we remain friends. Only."

There was a long silence that stretched on. Alec held Jace's intense gaze, watching as pain flashed across his face, marring his normally stoic features. It shoned in eyes, then suddenly disappeared as he once again schooled his features, and placed an indecipherable mask in its place. "Ok then," he said, not once breaking their eye contact. "No problem. If that's what you want? Then... I guess...that's it."

"So...are we ok then?" Asked Alec, doing his best to smile when Jace gave him a nod. "I'll always be here for you, you know that right? No matter what." Alec added. The tension was killing him and he didn't really know what to else say or do next, especially with the way Jace was staring at him now. It felt like he was about to melt into a puddle under the heat of Jace's gaze.

After what felt like hours, but in fact was probably only about a minute, of them just staring at each other, "Yeah" Jace agreed finally.

"Well, um, goodnight then."

"Goodnight Alec."

Jace moved to kiss him, and Alec turned his head thinking that he was going for his cheek, but was caught off gaurd when Jace cupped his cheeks in his hand and kissed him on the lips instead. Hard. Alec was too surprised to move. The kiss was forceful, almost painful, Jace biting his bottom lip before pulling away. Jace then smirked at, what Alec expected was his shocked reaction, smiling as he turned to leave the room.

Alec was still standing there, frozen in place long after Jace had gone, the image of the determined look in Jace's eyes just before he closed the door behind him, stuck in his mind.

This wasn't over by a long shot, he thought with a long groan, running a hand through his hair.

Shit.

Its's been over a week now since they moved to Amsterdam, and things were going pretty well for the group of friends. They were busy decorating their new apartment, and job hunting. Magnus was hoping to get a job doing something he liked, like dancing, or bar tending. He had always loved the night life. It probably had a lot to do with how he grew up. In Edom nights were usually the only time people like him could show-out, be their true selves. And even then they had to be careful. He also loved socializing and entertaining people. Plus, he'd been a dancer back in Edom, so what would be better than to do something that he loved, and was actually good at. His friends on the other hand, had submitted job applications with the local job agencies, or as they were called in the Netherlands, uitzendbureaus, and were waiting patiently to get some feed back.

"You're gonna get fat, you know that right? Don't say I didn't warn you." Ragnor chided as he watched Magnus stuff his face full of potat; fries with dips like mayonaise or sate sauce. Magnus never knew anything could be so addictive. He'd had fries with ketchup before, but who knew that the fried salted potato treat would taste so good with mayonaise or even peanut sauce. And to make matters worse, there were one of these fries shop on every corner on every street. The whole thing was ridiculous.

"I can assure you that I'm not gonna get fat. Not only do I work out, unlike the rest of you pigs," Magnus scowled, pointing a mayonaised covered fry at his friends. "But I've got some pretty awesome genes. I could eat this every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and not gain a single pound. So don't be jealous." He then stuck his tongue out at Ragor before shoving the fry in his mouth, moaning dramatically at the taste.

"You two act like such children sometimes. So annoying," Raphael grumbled. For some reason he was always left playing the adult in the room, even though he was the youngest of the four of them.

"Whatever," Magnus drawled. "Got anything planned for later?" He asked no one in particular. They had been doing alot of sight seeing, exploring the neighbourhood and whatnot. They even took the metro into the city a few times. They had also gone shopping, though they hadn't really gotten much in the way of personal items, only sticking to the necessities, due to their tight budget. Things were well priced though, Magnus had to admit. And the upcoming summer fashion that were showcased in the stores, looked really nice. Magnus found it especially funny that it was spring, and though he and his friends were still feezing their asses off, the local populous were already dressed for the summer. Everyone was wearing barely there outfits. He could definately get use to life here.

"I was thinking about going into the city, doing some more sight seeing, maybe check out a few museums this time," said Caterina. "I wanna do as much touristy things now, while I'm still new, you know? You guys are welcome to join me if you want."

"Thanks, but I think I'm gonna have to pass," said Magnus. "I wanna check out a few clubs later tonight, so I'll be needing my beauty sleep."

"How about the rest of you then?" Asked Cat, putting a few fries in her mouth as she looked between Ragnor and Raphael.

"Sure. Why not?" Agreed Ragnor. Raphael noddedhis head in agreement as well.

After lunch, and some more ridiculous bantering, Ragnor and Raphael joined Cat heading into the city, while Magnus made his way back home.