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Chapter 5:
The Magic In The Mirror…
{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-* {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} Present Day...Ugh...damnit...May have overdid it...
Alec groaned, leaning more into the spray, hoping the heat and pressure from the shower would be enough to unkink the knots and soothe his aching, over exerted muscles. He hissed, flinching a bit as it caught yet another tender spot. He could feel the bruise already forming...one of many.
Uh...yeah...definitely overdid it.
Man he is SO getting a lecture from Simon later.
Guy told him not to do this when he came to check on him this morning. Poor kid tried practically everything he could think of to cheer Alec up. Trying to distract him with his cute, excited, animated Simon babble, going on about the club and Izzy and how awesome Magnus and Raphael were and how excited he was about his date with Raphael even asking him to help him figure out what to wear for it -a blatant trick if he ever saw one.
Coming to him for fashion advice was like going to Jace for advice on modesty. If he had any doubts it was a trick that synched it-(hell even HE wouldn't ask himself for fashion advice...) When the blatant distractory efforts didn't work he'd given up the ghost, dove into the reality of it. Told Alec he knew what he was thinking, what he was spinning on but it was okay- HE was okay, that he was a good person, one of the best people he's ever known and on and on...it was sweet but...It was Simon.
Of course he'd see his that way. He saw the good in everyone, even monsters.
Monsters like Alec...
It'd been a hell of an effort but he just was not in the headspace to hear it. Not then. He didn't need a pep-talk, he needed a distraction.
Alec finally managed to wave him off, saying he heard everything he said and he appreciated it but right now he just needed time. Simon'd reluctantly agreed to back off but made Alec promise he'd be careful, that he wouldn't push himself, wouldn't punish himself. Alec had assured him he wouldn't but...well...they both knew that was likely a lie. But again it was Simon...the guy's his best friend for a reason.
Simon knew him well enough to know when to push him on something and when he had to just sit back and let Alec spin- no matter how much it pained him to do so. It's one of the things he loves the most about the guy.
Still wasn't gonna stop the lecture (those he loved a fair bit less).
Even so Simon had been good enough to just leave him to his own devices for a while...though his 'devices' might have been a bit more than he'd bargained for.
Maybe when your mind is spinning and you're questioning every last thing you've ever known or believed in is a bad time to sub-in for the advanced hand to hand combat training. Especially all four sessions. He probably shouldn't have, most people would probably just chalk it up to his usual over achieving, perfectionist streak or maybe him just being tightly wound about something or other (hardly an anomaly there). Even so it'd most likely raise a few questions from some.
Questions he'd really like to avoid. With any luck he'll be able to talk his way out of it (or at the very least use his stealth to avoid any well-meaning concerned parties till they moved onto something else.)
He kinda knew he was being a bit too obvious but after the night he'd had he really needed it. Needed the exertion, the challenge. He'd tried to keep it to himself, just go for a run and a hike and a few rounds with the heavy bag but nothing was working. He'd went at the heavy bag for nearly two hours and all it did was make him spin more, make him get even more lost in his head.
He needed the opposite. Something that'd take him out of his head, give him something in the here and now to focus on. A challenge, a threat, a mission...something. He needed a job, an opponent, a target...something to give him a physical workout in order to give him a break from his unrelenting mental one. He needed something to attack besides himself for a few hours.
Usually when he felt like this he'd just pick up an extra shift or two on patrol...but...but now?
Knowing what he now knows?
He's never gonna be able to patrol again...
Oh yeah...THAT'S not gonna raise any red flags...
God...how many of those patrols ended with him taking an innocent life? How many have lost lives just because he was antsy or pissed about this or that or some stupid row with his parents? God he really was a monster.
S-he wasn't like some of the others. He didn't go out purposefully looking for a fight- see it as a game or just a fun way to spend a Saturday night or whatever. He'd never been that type. He saw it as a job, a calling. He didn't pick fights just to fight. He fought when he needed to fight...he fought when there was a real, legitimate threat...
At least that's what he's always thought. What he'd always told himself.
But was it?
Were they actual, legitimate threats? Or were they just startled innocents reacting because they were ambushed by a monster?
He saw threats. He saw fangs and claws and flashing powers and snarling, bared teeth- clear signs of menace and violence...b-but...where they really? Or were they just warnings...just fear responses?
How many innocent beings has he cut down just because they looked like they could be a threat?
He groaned again, reaching forward, turning off the now cold water. Taking a couple deep breaths, he shakes his head faintly in disgust. Pulling the door of the shower open he reaches for his towel, quickly drying off, tugging on his dark grey sleep pants, draping the towel around his shoulders, absently drying his hair, making his way out of the en-suite into his room still very much lost in his thoughts.
How many?
How much innocent blood is on his hands?
How will he ever know? Surely ALL of them weren't innocent. He isn't the kind that just goes out mowing down Supernaturals because they're there. He only goes after those he perceives as a legitimate threat. Surely ALL of them weren't just a misunderstanding...B-but...in near certainty at least some were. How many were legitimate threats and how many just LOOKED like legitimate threats? There's no way he can ever really know.
What does he do now?
How is he ever gonna b-
"Well hello gorgeous, fancy seeing you here."
Alec startles at the amused voice, whirling around, gaze darting around the room, seeing no one.
T-that sounded like Magnus...H-how...Has he lost it...is he halluc-
"Over here gorgeous."
Alec turns towards the voice, still seeing no one before his eyes flicker over the mirror hanging on the closet door. He does a double take, freezing, blinking in confusion.
W-what in the wor-
He swallows, blinking again in shock. W-what...h-how...Magnus's in his mirror. Literally IN the mirror. Not just like a faint image in the glass- it doesn't even look like the glass is there. He doesn't see his room reflected back, he sees an entirely different room. He can see a row of bookshelves overflowing with books, scrolls and tomes interspersed with random little statues, charms and talismans.
In one corner he sees what looks like a black tree like sculpture with branches that sprawl, twist and turn. The entire thing is draped in necklaces, rings and other random glittering jewelry like adornments. Beside the jewelry tree (he doesn't know what else to call it) is a huge, intricately designed fireplace decorated with carvings reminiscent of a gothic cathedral; silhouettes of creatures, gargoyles and demons, far too many to make out any one. There's a fire lit in it, the flames flickering the normal reds and oranges but tipped with brilliant violet and even brighter green.
It's really something else but the clear centerpiece of the room seems to be an elegant four poster canopy styled bed. The posts look to be the same black metal like material as the jewelry tree; fashioned to look like sinewy tree trunks, stretching upwards before branching out, weaving, spiraling, and intertwining together forming the canopy. Woven throughout the black branches is an iridescent, gauzy violet fabric. It drapes over the edges, catching and fluttering in the slight breeze from an open window, the firelight flickering and dancing against it. The walls are ornate, a soft golden color that seems to shimmer and flicker, catching the firelight.
And setting in the very middle, hands folded neatly on a smooth onyx black vanity table lined with various cosmetics, brushes, perfume and potion bottles is none other than Magnus Bane.
He looks just as stunning as ever. He's wearing a slinky, shimmery violet top that flows over him like water highlighting his nice shoulders, more than a few buttons undone leaving an enticing glimpse of his chest, the deep, shimmery violet contrasting beautifully with the soft, lightly iridescent spring green of his skintone. The tops capped off perfectly with an assortment of glittering necklaces draped around his long elegant neck. Rings shimmer on his fingers and that damn distracting dragon earcuff.
His glimmering black hair is in some delightfully complicated, kind of swoopy type style, the tips glimmering a deep rose pink. His bright violet eyes shimmer, highlighted with a dramatic kohl outline that pulls up into a perfect cat eye. His sharp, striking cheekbones and soft, full, prettily distracting lips shimmer softly in the light from the flames, casting the gorgeous man in a near ethereal glow.
Alec hesitantly moves closer, stopping just in front of the mirror. It doesn't really look like a reflection at all...doesn't look like a mirror...it looks like a doorway, like he could reach through and touch him.
He gulps, blinking rapidly, expecting the vision to disappear.
I-it doesn't.
It's still there, still looks just as real. He can see the shimmering play of firelight on Magnus's skin, the sparkle as it catches on the jewelry. It seems so real, like he's right there in the room with him. He can hear the crackle of the fire, practically feel the pleasant warmth, smell the soft, exotic perfume like incense mixed with i-
W-wait...
He can...he literally can.
It's as if Magnus is THERE-In his room. In his room IN the Institute.
B-but...that...that's impossible...it must be a trick...Something...
Alec shifts forward, hesitantly lifting his hand, holding up a finger, reaching towards the glass, expecting to hear the tap of his nail on the glass, the resistance. Instead he startles as his nail clanks against one of the ornate perfume bottles, the bottle rocking, nearly tipping over. Magnus gasps softly, reaching up, giving a graceful little flick of his wrist, a shimmer of magic slipping from his fingers, encircling the bottle, steadying it before glancing back up, head tilting in that odd, animalistic type move, meeting Alec's eyes.
"Careful sweetheart-that's one of my favorites."
H-how is t-
Those pretty violet eyes glimmered, Magnus shifting forward, smirking, giving a twinkling little wave, the fluttering movement punctuated with a flicker of shimmering sparkles.
"Hello there gorgeous..."
Alec startles faintly, gasping, shifting back in surprise.
"I-u-w-wha- y-you're in my mirror?"
Magnus chuckled, giving a faintly conceding shrug.
"I am..."
Alec sputtered.
"How are you in my mirror?! How-"
"Shh darling! Don't think these rooms are quite soundproof. Last thing we want is someone coming to investigate and finding me here. Thinking that'd be rather unpleasant for all concerned."
Alec flailed slightly, looking over at the door, shifting closer, head shaking.
"How are you in my room?"
His perfect brow quirks near mischievously, those bright violet cat eyes glimmering with teasing humor. He smirks, leaning in conspiratorially, giving another elegant, theatrically fluttering wave, a bright shimmer of sparkles and fairie-dust dancing though the air.
"Magic!"
Alec couldn't help an exasperated little laugh from slipping out at the cheesy, theatrical line, shaking his head, quirking his eyebrow right back.
"Uh yeah...kinda got that part myself."
Magnus chuckled, flashing a prettily teasing smile and a faintly careless shrug.
"Well you asked-"
Alec snorted disbelievingly, folding his arms, giving a somewhat exasperatedly sarcastic look.
"You know what I mean. Yes. It's magic. It's magic IN the Institute. That's impossible. There are safeguards...safeguards built into safeguards built INTO safeguards. No magic can cross the barrier- not without incurring grievous personal injury, setting off the alarms and triggering a full on lockdown. It's impossible."
Magnus smirked, giving a fairly dismissive little wave.
"Eh I've never really seen 'impossible' as a rule...more a challenge." He shrugged, flashing a teasing little wink and smirk.
"I rather like challenges..."
Alec snorted, nodding in amusement.
"Yeah kinda got that one too."
Magnus chuckled, shrugging concedingly before trailing off, head tilting the other way, those bright violet eyes glittering, sparking distractingly in interest, flickering curiously over Alec. He gives a soft, purring kind of hum, absently biting at his lower lip, shifting forward faintly.
"Hmm...This is a somewhat different look..." the smirk picks up a tic, bright eyes shifting slowly over him before slipping back up, catching Alec's gaze, sparkling, glowing faintly.
"I like it."
Alec startled, flushing brilliantly, suddenly realizing he's standing there in just his worn, faded old sleep pants that sit a bit too low on his hips. He swallows, shifting awkwardly.
"Umm-"
Those pretty violet eyes flicker, expression softening, Magnus flashing a softly apologetic smile, glancing away near sheepishly.
"Sorry darling, that was rather rude. Especially with me just barging in on you like this. Just having a bit of fun; last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable. Didn't really peg you for the shy type..." He shrugged, tucking a few strands of soft rose tinged hair behind his ear, hesitantly gesturing over his shoulder.
"I'll just go a-"
Alec started faintly, shaking his head.
"N-no that's okay...I'm not shy-I'm good. Just a bit thrown-that's all. Not every day a door opens up in my mirror to a stranger's bedroom..." he gave a faintly disbelieving laugh, head shaking.
"And wow I don't know if that sounds sexy or disturbing..."
Magnus gave a surprised laugh, bright gaze flickering back over to Alec, shrugging, giving a bit of a wave.
"The first one. Definitely."
Alec laughed, rolling his eyes, relaxing somewhat.
"Of course you think that- it's your spell."
Magnus's head tilted concedingly.
"True...But it's a fairly complicated, very impressive spell. Most of the time I'd just use the reflexii spell- far easier. Well the easiest would be the Tablou-viu but that only works if you have a picture of me."
Alec blinked in surprise.
"Wait…T-the Tablou-viu spell? You mean the spell where a supernatural can use any photograph or image of themselves as not just their eyes and ears but as a way to actively communicate with someone?"
"That's the one."
Alec sputtered faintly, eyes widening.
"I-I thought that was one of the most difficult spells there is?"
Magnus shrugged.
"Eh...suppose it is for some..." He smirked, head tilting, giving a little flick of his wrist.
"For me it's a snap." He laughed softly before pausing, holding up a finger.
"Oh speaking of-" He trailed off, giving a little snap of his fingers, his phone levitating off the stand next to his bed, holding the device up, hitting a few buttons before setting it down with a bit of a smile.
Alec startled hearing his phone chime from his gym bag on the chair by the closet. He swallowed, holding up his finger.
"Umm was th-"
Magnus smirked, shrugging.
"Yup. Figured I'd send you a picture of me, just in case we ever need to use the simple version. Though it doesn't work nearly as well on a device. You should probably print it out. Just keep it in your wallet or something."
Alec chuckled, brow quirking.
"You think I'm gonna print out your picture and carry it around in my wallet? We've known each other just a little more than a week. Bit presumptuous don't you think?"
Magnus gasped, giving a falsely innocent look, hand going to his chest, clutching one of the glittering necklaces like an old matron clutching his pearls.
"Darling I'm sure I wasn't suggesting anything of the sort- it's just practical, that's all."
Alec outright snorted, nodding.
"Uh huh...yeah...sure it is."
"It is!" He pauses, shifting closer, leaning in conspiratorially, teasingly quirking his eyebrow.
"Though perhaps be careful where you print it. Some people are so uptight about those kinds of things."
Alec chuckled, rolling his eyes, reaching into his gym bag, retrieving the phone.
"Uh yeah printing photos of supernaturals might raise a few questions."
Magnus laughed, nodding.
"I would imagine - especially a shirtless one."
"Yeah espe-wait...what?" Alec trailed off, flushing, freezing as the screen unlocks, the incoming image popping up.
He blinked, eyes widening, swallowing, gesturing aimlessly.
"Y-you uh...you s-sent me a-"
"Yup..."
Alec sputtered, snapping out of it, face heating, tips of his ears burning, quickly locking the phone, setting it face down on the dresser.
"I-wh-why would you send me something like that?"
Magnus gave a careless shrug and a flippant little wave.
"Well I needed a picture to send you- it's one of my best. Besides I did kind of accidentally intrude on you in a similar state. Turnabout's fair play after all- figured it'd kind of level the playing field."
Alec gave a slightly delirious laugh, brow rising, gesturing towards the phone.
"That is you leveling the playing field?"
"Yes."
Alec snorted.
"Ha-yeah sure..."
"It's not?" Magnus's pretty eyes flickered in interest, head tilting.
Alec huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head. Magnus chuckled softly, brow quirking.
"So what would you call it?"
Alec quirked his eyebrow right back.
"Showing off?"
Magnus chuckled, rolling his eyes, giving a fluttering little wave.
"Hardly...Might seem that way but that's just how I tend to come off."
Alec scoffed, waving animatedly.
"Oh please! It looks like an ad for some kind of fancy liquor I could never afford. And you think that puts us on a level playing field? You're practically glistening and have on leather pants with sexy little lace inset things! I'm in my most faded Sleep pants from like five years ago! You look like you're ready for a photo shoot, I look like I'm ready for bed."
Magnus smirked flirtatiously, faintly shrugging.
"Well if it'd make you feel better I could send you a picture of me in what I wear to bed. Kinda figured full on nudes would be a bit of an overstep at this point though."
Alec flushed clear to his ears, feeling light headed, nervously clearing his throat, leaning somewhat heavily against his desk to take the weight off his suddenly weak knees.
"Uh-y-yeah t-um...that-uh..."
Magnus chuckled softly.
"Bit much?"
Alec swallowed, brushing his hair back, nodding shakily, holding up his fingers.
"Little bit."
Magnus tried to muffle a laugh-it was hardly successful. Alec looked up, glaring ineffectually, near pouting. Magnus flashed a faintly guilty look, holding his hands up placatingly.
"Sorry darling, couldn't resist."
Alec scoffed, brow quirking sarcastically.
"Could you maybe at least try?"
Magnus gasped, giving a blatantly fake innocent look, hand again going to his chest dramatically.
"Darling I AM trying! But you know I only have so much willpower...And you're just so very pretty when you blush like that. What's a poor little Fuziolma to do?"
"A...what?"
"Fuziolma."
Alec paused at the odd term, head tilting in confusion.
"Is that a type of demon?"
He shrugged, giving a fluttering little wave, a flicker of sparkling, iridescent green tipped violet flames glimmering to life, dancing about his fingers, the glimmering flames reflecting in his brilliant violet cat eyes, head tilting concedingly.
"Could be..."
Alec blinked.
"A type of Fae?"
"Hmm...Again can be...but can also not be..." Magnus's head shifted the other way, an impishly teasing smile tugging at his lips, giving the same little wave, this one releasing a shower of iridescent fairie dust that flickers and dances in the light.
"Any more guesses?"
Alec huffed out a faint laugh, brow quirking, relaxing into his odd little game, finding it a welcome reprieve from his previous thoughts.
"Hmm...okay...so is it like polychromatic? Like another term or something?"
Magnus shrugged
"Not generally-that's actually far rarer. As we mentioned Raph and I have only ever encountered a handful of other Polychromatic beings. Fuziolma are surprisingly common. You've no doubt encountered dozens of them throughout your interactions with Supernaturals...though most are a fair bit less obvious than me."
Alec shifted faintly, neatly sidestepping the mention, moving past it, trying to come up with something.
"Is it a kind of were? I mean you don't really seem like a were but you do have the feline like eyes and your movements are kinda cat like...well...either a cat or a snake."
"Hey!"
Alec startled, holding his hands up placatingly.
"I meant that in a good way! L-like graceful, hypnotic, mesmerizing- that kind of snake like..."
Magnus shrugged, giving a faint little head tilt, smirking, brow quirking.
"Good save."
Alec huffed out a faint laugh, nodding quickly.
"I thought s-err...uh...I-I mean...what save?"
Magnus chuckled, shifting forward, flashing a teasing little smile, holding his finger up.
"Just so you know I wouldn't generally let most get away with that kind of slight...
Good thing you're so very pretty..."
Alec flushed faintly, glancing away, sheepishly scratching at his neck, head shaking lightly. Magnus groaned, Alec could practically hear the eye roll.
"Ugh damnit...the pretty and the blush and now the cute little bashfully modest thing too? You do not play fair. Besides your sister is one of my best friends and the dear can get so snippy when her fur is all ruffled about something. I mean maybe not quite as snippy as she was that week I dyed it cotton candy pink but even so."
Alec gave a startled laugh, blinking in surprise, looking up.
"Y-you dyed my wereleopard sister cotton candy pink?"
Magnus shrugged unconcerned, holding up a finger pointedly.
"Hey she started it...I just finished it. Almost as funny as the time I did the same thing with Raph's hair...poor dear. I do still feel rather bad it was the week of the Demonic summit when he had to meet with others from all over the world but...eh-he's always been a sport. Ended up playing it off as his idea- like a kind of warning or dare for someone to mess with him...which...well of course he did- It's Raph."
Alec shook his head laughing faintly, head tilting.
"Guessing Izzy did something similar?"
Magnus huffed, near pouting, waving animatedly, a shower of flickering shimmers dancing from the movement.
"No the brat! I'd of preferred that. She went and tattled to her girlfriend! Wasn't gone an hour and I had a pissed off Clary blowing through my door reading me the riot act...and good goddess- a pissed off lecture from a Banshee is something you have to hear to believe. Actually? You shouldn't- I did and my hearing was shot for nearly a week...though it did clear up right around the time I stopped doing the Pink Panther impression with Izzy.
Clary insists it was purely coincidental but I still think she spelled me...cheeky little sprite." He chuckled faintly, before mock sobering, waving that off, moving on.
"Okay fine; so you have the pretty blush and the pretty prettiness and the gorgeous smile and the sexy hazely green eyes and the whole sibling of a best friend thing going for you. Lot in your favor. Clearly you'll be able to get away with a hell of a lot more than most with me..." He paused, holding up a finger, head tilting, giving a totally false serious glare, pointing.
"Though call me a badger or a weasel and all bets are off. Pretty only gets you so far."
Alec blinked, head shaking.
"Uh why would I-"
"You won't- and we don't speak of those stories. Moving on: Yes a Fuziolma could be a Were or a shifter for that matter but again that's hardly a requirement. Next guess?"
Alec kind of blinked at the quick subject change but shrugged, deciding to continue with their little game.
"Hmm...Is it an especially powerful Supernatural?"
Magnus smirked, head tilting.
"That's usually true...though not what it specifically means. Does tend to apply though...especially with me." He smirked, flashing a flirty little wink.
"Uh yeah...again kinda got that part."
"Come now darling- I know how clever you are. I'm sure you can get it...especially with all the clues I'm giving you. Why I'm practically the poster boy for Fuziolma." Magnus smirked, giving another one of those fluttering waves the flickers of shimmery iridescent flames fluttering about him, dancing from his fingers down along his arms, eyes glittering bright, glowing with an inner fire and spark that kind of made Alec's breath catch and his heart rate pick up a few tics faster- half from excitement half from trepidation at the sheer power shimmering about the gorgeous man.
Alec swallowed, shifting faintly, thinking a moment, gaze flickering over Magnus trying to focus on the clues and the riddle like game and not the mind-numbingly gorgeous man smirking at h-
Wait...
Alec huffed out a faint laugh, head tilting curiously, holding up an unsure finger.
"Is it just a really hot supernatural?"
Magnus blinked in surprise, giving a bright, delighted laugh, smirking teasingly, fluttering his lashes, provocatively leaning forward.
"You think I'm hot?" He murmured, those pretty glimmering eyes shimmering brighter, glowing lightly.
Alec gave a slightly false bravado filled laugh, brow quirking in an attempt at a sarcastic look.
"Oh come on don't act like that's news. We both know I'm about as subtle with that as Simon is tight-lipped. And again: I saw the photo. Thinking it's pretty clear you know damn good and well how hot you are."
Magnus chuckled, shrugging concedingly.
"Fair point...Still like hearing you say it though."
Alec snorted, shaking his head faintly.
"As if you don't hear that from nearly every person you meet."
Magnus hummed concedingly, giving a flickering little wave, head tilting.
"And again fair...though as point of fact I always consider the source.
Compliments are like insults: the only ones that truly matter are the ones from those whose opinions actually hold value to you..." he trailed off, resting his head on his hand, those bright, mesmerizing eyes flickering over Alec a fair bit slower, giving a soft, dizzying little purr like growl, gaze shifting up meeting Alec's.
"As I said: I so enjoy hearing you say it..."
Alec gave a faintly high pitched laugh (he refused to call it a giggle-Angelus do not giggle), shaking his head, glancing away, rubbing nervously at the back of his neck, feeling his cheeks warm. He hears Magnus shift faintly, another one of those soft, pretty growly type purr kind of sounds slipping out, voice going low and soft.
"So what do you think? Would you like to continue your guesses? You're actually getting a fair bit warmer gorgeous."
Alec snorted, shaking his head, brushing his hair back, glancing back up again catching those pretty violet eyes.
"Yeah, that's just the blushing coming back..."
Magnus laughed softly, the sound trailing off into a prettily distracting little sigh.
"Mmm...Lovely...can't see that enough."
Alec scoffed out a faintly amused laugh, animatedly nodding, pointing totally heatlessly.
"Oh yeah you can."
Magnus chuckled, shrugging unconcerned.
"Afraid we have to agree to disagree there gorgeous. So any more guesses? Or would you like a few more hints?"
Alec gave a flippant little wave, relaxing back against the desk.
"Sure, what the hell."
Magnus chuckled, shifting faintly, the glittering flames again flickering to life, dancing from his fingers up his arms and clear across his shoulders, giving the man a near hypnotic halo of iridescent violet and emerald flames lending him the appearance of some ethereal, elemental being.
Alec shifts, settling a bit more comfortably against the desk. He swallows, feeling his cheeks warm more, unsure if it's from the heat of nerves or the heat from the flames slipping onto his side of the doorway.
Magnus hummed, head tilting in that odd, animalistic type way, thinking for a moment before he stills, those pretty, soft looking iridescent lips tugging up into an impish little smirk.
"Hmm...okay...clues. Right here we go:
Can be a demon, can be a Fae; could be a shifter, a were or any number of supernaturals- take that as you may. Powers combined- distinct or muddled usually amounts to a higher powered individual. Strength comes from diversity but it's often a double edged sword; in every strength there's a weakness and more just means more. The beings in question are all at once the same and unique...and that's all the clues you're getting so now's the time to think...
Mainly because I'm abysmal at rhyming and that's all I got."
"Oh man-wha...oh..." Alec burst out laughing, head shaking in charmed disbelief, taking a couple deep breaths trying to steady himself, wiping his eyes, head shaking again, glancing back up at Magnus.
"What are you; part Sphinx?"
Magnus's scoffed in amusement, head shaking animatedly, giving yet another fluttery, shimmery, flamey wave.
"No...If I was I'd be able to come up with a halfway decent rhyme scheme..." He paused, head tilting, those pretty eyes sparking bright, holding up a finger, a knowing little smirk tugging at his lips.
"Though you are getting closer by the second. That was quite nearly spot on. And I actually do know someone who IS part Sphinx- Astrid. Lovely girl, great personality, cute as a button-throws the absolute worst dinner parties known to mankind. No one wants to have to solve a riddle to get to the next course- or every time they need a refill on their drink...which in turn makes you want to drink more which leads to still more riddles and...yeah...
Raph's actually had her fill in a few times as bartender down at the club. Girls cute enough to get people to come up and chat but the riddles are irritating enough to make them want to drink more.
She's a Fuziolma too by the way...which might actually be a better clue than the bad poetry attempt.
So again...any guesses?"
Alec chuckled, head shaking lightly at the idea of a demon club owner using a part Sphinx being to annoy their customers into drinking more...though gotta admit after meeting Raphael he'd likely expect nothing less. Really t-
Wait...
Alec paused, head tilting faintly, holding up a finger.
"You said she's part Sphinx?"
Magnus's eyes flicker, a coaxing little smirk tugging at his lips, nodding.
"Yes- technically half. Half Sphinx, half Ceirwolma."
And again with the blinking.
"Umm...kay- getting all kinds of new terms here. Think I might have it but I'll have to circle back. I've never actually heard of that kind of supernatural. What's a Ceirwolma?" Alec's eyes widened, holding his hand up placatingly.
"And please not another riddle- those really need to stay at like one at a time...and as enough of a rarity that they don't lose the appeal- so like REALLY rare."
Magnus laughed brightly, animatedly nodding, pointing.
"Oh most definitely...Less is more, no question...and again you saw how bad I am at the rhyming thing, not in any hurry to attempt that again."
Alec laughed, nodding in agreement, smiling, giving a bit of a shrug.
"Probably for the best- could strain something. So what is a Ceir-"
"A Ceirwolma is a type of shifter- a deer shifter to be precise. They're quite similar to weres but a completely different type of being. All shifters are born shifters. Most-Most not all- Weres are transformed beings.
Weres by the majority are transformed beings. Most weres started as something else and were bitten, scratched or stung and became what they are now. This is kind of murky as technically there are people who are born weres but this isn't strictly a purely natural occurrence. The transformation doesn't just alter that beings' body; it alters their very genetic makeup.
After someone is transformed being a werecreature actually becomes part of the persons genetic makeup- something that's near always passed on to any and all offspring. Even the bite of a born were can be transformative- though not every bite, scratch or sting is gonna result in this. It's actually extremely rare, only maybe ten percent of were-bites are in fact venomous. A were only produces venom when it's utterly terrified or under extreme duress. It's a natural adaption to produce empathy in another being by forcing them to see life from the perspective of the being they had been victimizing.
On the other hand a bite, scratch or sting from a shifter is the same as one from any normal animal.
Oh, also weres always have a predator type creature counterpart. Shifters can have either predator or traditionally prey type counterparts- Hence my Deer-sphinx friend Astrid." Magnus chuckled faintly at the cheesy pun, giving a theatrical little wave.
"See? Easy."
Alec blinked slightly wide eyes at the torrent of information, giving a slight whistle, faintly shaking his head.
"Uh no...No wonder so many supernaturals are immortal- it'd take an entire lifetime just to learn the proper terms and distinctions. How can you possibly keep all that straight? Seems like it'd be impossible."
Magnus tilted his head concedingly.
"It can be but once you get the hang of it it's not so bad. We grow up with it, it's just a part of our upbringing- something we learn from the first days of school. Same as language, mathematics or spell casting."
Alec snorted, brow quirking.
"Grammar school spell casting? You're putting me on..."
Magnus chuckled, shaking his head, giving a dismissive shrug and a flickering little wave.
"Actually I'm really not. I know it sounds odd but powers start at different times for different beings. It's kinda like puberty- you know the basic range of when it's gonna start but everyone's different. Most aren't gonna be able to fully cast till they're at least twelve or so but as I said everyone's different. You're always gonna have early bloomers and late bloomers and everything in-between. Best to know how to handle it before it happens than after the fact. Also with Fuziolma it tends to lean toward earlier and as this usually involves a mixed, at times completely unique set of powers and abilities the more prepared you are the better.
We begin learning pretty much as soon as we learn to walk and speak. It probably seems unreasonable from the outside but trust me the earlier you learn about powers and how to control said powers the better it is for everybody concerned.
We learn spell casting and magic- especially ways of harnessing, embracing and guiding our abilities. This way when they come we're not afraid of them, we're ready for them. We learn it right along the other core subjects- only our history and sociology classes are a fair bit more interesting.
Though you are right; it IS a lot to memorize. But it's not just dry facts, random dates and place names from some book- it's the terms for your friends, classmates, teachers and idols. Doesn't seem as much of a waste of time then.
Plus it's just good manners.
Mislabeling a being as the wrong type is basically the supernatural equivalent of misgendering someone. Doesn't matter if it was an intentional slight or an innocent slip of the tongue you're in the wrong and need to apologize and correct it as quickly and sincerely as you can. Though far as I know people who routinely get misgendered don't generally carry around key chains with flash drives filled with powerpoints explaining the differences, histories, their cultural heritage and why it's unacceptable.
Then again maybe they should. It's effective as hell. Sit through the lecture once you make damn sure you don't have to again."
Alec chuckled, nodding, pointing.
"Uh yeah...that'd probably do it." he huffed out another faint laugh, head shaking before glancing back at Magnus.
He hummed, gaze flickering over the gorgeous man curiously, taking in the faint iridescent gleam when the light caught his skin just right, the shimmer of fairie dust when he got overly animated, gesturing excitedly, the ever so slight point at the tips of his ears...all inherently Fae type traits. And yet there was more. The violet flame like feline eyes, the dancing flames that flicker about his hands, the graceful, near hypnotic movements. All the traits were unique- most generally considered the soul territory of one type of supernatural being...one branch of supernaturality. Fae, demons, weres (or he now supposes apparently shifters). All thought to be totally distinct branches...yet he can see hints from all of them in the gorgeous man setting before him.
The man who said he's 'practically the poster boy for Fuziolma'...
Hmm...
Alec hummed softly, shifting forward, head tilting, holding up a finger, hesitantly pointing.
"Okay so circling back now. A Ceirwolma is a deer shifter and you said your friend is half Sphinx and half Ceirwolma...is that it? What a Fuziolma is? A being that's half one type of supernatural and half another? Or some kind of mixture of supernatural types?"
Magnus positively beamed, giving another one of those theatrical waves, a shimmer of iridescent fairie dust fluttering through the air, the bright, iridescent violet and emerald flames flickering to life, dancing about his arms.
"There you go! See? Knew you were clever enough to get it."
Alec huffed out a faintly disbelieving laugh, blinking, shaking his head slightly, shifting forward.
"I-but that's...I mean...I didn't think that was-how is that even possible?"
Magnus chuckled, brow quirking impishly.
"Um sweetheart? I know Angelus are generally somewhat sheltered but I'd kind of assume by now you'd of had that talk with your parents- or at the very least covered it in health class."
Alec sputtered, flushing, casting a totally heatless glare, animatedly waving him off, rolling his eyes.
"Oh f-I know HOW it happens- I just didn't realize it was a thing that like...d-did..." he trailed off, head tilting, hesitantly holding up a finger.
"T-though...gotta admit I don't know why it'd never occur to me. Or like near any other Angelus as I've never seen so much as a quick footnote on it and it'd actually explain a lot..." He shook his head, glancing back up at Magnus.
"Why has that never occurred to me?"
Magnus settled back in his chair, a bit of a hesitation flickering over his expression, shrugging slightly.
"Well...in truth it is something we've noticed. Somewhat amusing to be honest- I know several Fuziolma who get a real kick out of showing off their mixed, muddled abilities and traits, watching the Angelus spin and struggle with the confusion it causes in trying to identify the being they're facing- never seeming to fall on the what seems like blatantly obvious, fairly simple answer.
In general we just chalk it up to you guys being rather set in the whole black and white view of things. Seeing things in their most simplest terms- a or b, black or white, gay or straight, left or right, excreta.
No offense but you guys DO tend to want to distill things down to the simplest, least complicated answers. A process that tends to leave a lot of very pertinent information by the wayside..." he swallowed, shifting faintly, giving a bit of a half shrug, reaching up tucking a lock of rose tinted hair behind his ear, absently fiddling with the dragon earcuff, glancing back up, catching Alec's gaze, eyes kind of hesitant.
"W-we DO technically have a theory as to why this is...probably wouldn't make you feel very good though..."
Alec shifted faintly, figuring he was probably right but simply saying never mind and breezing past it seemed the cowards way out...whatever else he was a coward was not one of them.
He swallowed, setting up a bit straighter, taking a deep breath, giving a somewhat falsely casual shrug.
"Duly noted...so...what's the theory?"
Magnus's head tilted, giving a faint shrug.
"Okay so you guys know the different factions don't generally stay separated. We mingle, work together, form friendships, partnerships and so on. No one's shocked when they see a demon working with a Fae or a were mixed in with a group of goblins and sprites...and yet it never occurs to you that the groups might mingle in other ways."
Alec's head tilted concedingly, giving a bit of a wave.
"Okay that does sum it up but...what's the theory about why this is?"
Magnus shifted, giving a little half shrug.
"Well I mean- you guys know bears and wolves and mountain lions and snakes all can live in the same place- coexist even intermingle when it's necessary but the idea of any of them reproducing is a total impossibility outside of a cheesy scifi movie- or a lab experiment inspired by a cheesy scifi movie."
Alec blinked, head tilting curiously.
"I-well-yeah...but...that's animals we're talking about."
Magnus sighed, giving a slightly half-hearted little wave.
"Exactly."
Alec swallowed, head shaking faintly.
"I-w-we don't see y-"
Magnus smiled softly, head shaking, holding a finger up.
"You don't see us that way. Simon doesn't. But to many- likely to most Angelus that's about all we tend to boil down to. I mean they'll acknowledge that most of us 'look like' people but very few genuinely see us as that." He shrugged, giving a faintly dismissive wave.
"See the thing that most Angelus don't get is we may all look vastly different but all the factions? We're not nearly as far apart as you tend to think. The differences between a fae and a demon and so many others? They barely boil down to one or two percentage points in our genetic makeup.
Admittedly those points make us look and seem vastly different but...well...to use animals as an example-and yes I know the irony of using that as an example given the current conversation but it's the most comprehensive example I can think of.
If you looked at a Great Dane and a Pit Bull and a Datsun and a Greyhound and a Chihuahua all together they seem totally different- they ARE totally different...and yet they're the same. Technically they're all the same type of creature but if you didn't know they were all the same type of animal and someone told you you'd probably just laugh in their face.
It's pretty much the same with us. We seem very different, totally unique, totally removed from one another- and in many senses we are. But it's less like different species and more like different cultures, different heritages.
Angelus have never really seen it like this. They don't look at demons, fae, weres and the rest and see cultures and heritages - they see us simply as different species...just different creatures.
Sorry..." He trailed off with a faintly apologetic shrug.
Alec huffed out a totally mirthless laugh, giving a hapless wave.
"Why are you apologizing? You're not the one who's spent their entire life reducing entire cultures to the likes of animals...or hell-less than animals. The idea of hurting an animal just for the hell of it is absolutely appalling to most Angelus...can't say most would extend the same empathy to supernaturals..." He shook his head, swallowing, slumping faintly, rubbing at his eyes.
"God...I'm even more of a monster than I thought."
Magnus gasped softly.
"Sweetheart no! Don't say that."
Alec shook his head, looking back up, catching those bright, glittering eyes, shrugging helplessly.
"Why? It's just the truth."
Magnus shook his head, pretty violet eyes wide, filled with concern and compassion...
Compassion for the monster.
"Darling it's not. I know it's not. I do not use that word lightly- heard it directed towards me or my loved ones more times than I can count. Even so there are times- are beings, individual beings- who it most definitely fits. I know monsters- I've faced more than I can count... more than you could ever imagine. I know a monster when I see one. You sweetheart are nothing of the sort. You're a good person- you have a wonderful, beautiful soul."
Alec scoffed disbelievingly.
"It's sweet of you to say that b-"
Magnus shook his head, shifting forward, the flicker of flames dancing and shimmering up his arms and about his shoulders.
"I'm not just saying that- I'm not humoring you. I'm telling you the god's honest truth."
Alec huffed out a harsh, derisive laugh, reaching up, pushing his hair back, giving a sharp wave.
"Magnus? You don't know me, you've barely known me a week."
Magnus's head tilted, those bright violet eyes glowing softly, that inner fire sparking bright and determined, the iridescent violet and emerald flames rising, dancing and flickering.
"And I knew within the first two seconds the kind of person you are."
Alec huffed faintly, head shaking.
"There's no way you could possibly know that so quick."
Magnus smirked, brow quirking.
"No...There's no way YOU can...I can. I know in a blink..."
Alec scoffed, brow quirking.
"How?"
The smirk picked up a tic, accompanied by one of those theatrical, fairie dust emitting waves.
"Magic!"
Alec sighed, head shaking faintly.
"Mags? That was cute at first but really- Time and place."
Magnus gave a soft, comforting, surprisingly gentle chuckle, expression softening, head shaking.
"Apologies darling; I wasn't making light...well I was a little- wanted to lighten the mood a bit but it wasn't just that. What I meant was I AM a magic. Near every magic being- demon, fae or whatever else- has the ability to see a beings soul, into their heart of heart- past all the rest to the person they truly are." He sighed, looking up meeting Alec's eyes.
"Darling I know after the other day your head's a mess. I know you've been spinning and questioning and beating yourself up- second guessing every last move, every last decision. That's more than understandable. Questioning is good- looking at past events through a new lens can be beneficial. But what you're thinking? What you're thinking about yourself? It's not the truth. It's not your truth."
Alec swallowed, feeling the faintest glimmer of hope shimmering inside before pressing it down, shaking his head defeatedly.
"But Mags? The things I've done-"
"Were done in good faith. Were done for the good of humanity. You have never been anything less than a protector- a literal guardian angel."
Alec huffed out a faint almost laugh, shaking his head.
"I'm n-"
"Yes sweetheart you are. You protect, you care, you empathize. You've never wanted anything more than to shield others- to make the world safe for them and to ensure that those who cannot protect themselves have someone looking out for them that can.
You don't do it for malice or hate or accolades or status or any other petty or superficial reason. You do it because you think it's the right thing to do...your calling in life. Your duty.
Sweetheart you are the very epitome of everything being a descendant of angels SHOULD stand for.
You're not a monster. You're not evil. You have one of the most beautiful, pure souls I've ever seen. There's not one part of you that's evil." He smiled softly, those pretty violet eyes shimmering bright and warm, glowing softly like firelight.
Alec shifted hesitantly, reaching up, tucking a lock of dark hair behind his ear, looking up uncertainly.
"Y-you really think that?"
Magnus's brow quirked, head tilting.
"I don't 'think' it darling. I know it- with every fiber of my being. I see it plain as day. I always can see it...in everyone..." he huffed faintly, giving a flippant little wave sending a wisp of shimmers dancing through the air.
"In truth it's one of the most irritating parts of being a magic."
Alec gave a slightly dim laugh, brow quirking, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
"How's that?"
Magnus huffed irritatedly, exasperatedly waving sending another flurry of shimmering fairie dust flying.
"Oh it's just so unbelievably inconvenient. It's not something we choose to see- not something we have to look for...it's just...like THERE. We see it as clearly as we see a person's hair or eye color or height or whatever else. We can never just turn it off, just see the person without seeing all the soul crap that goes along with it."
Alec laughed, brow quirking higher.
"Lovely way of putting it."
Magnus huffed.
"Yeah well it gets old real fast. Sometimes it's good or useful or whatever but there is not a magic alive that wouldn't leap at an off switch for the damn thing."
Alec smiled softly, settling more comfortably against the desk, head tilting curiously.
"Why? How bad could that be?"
Magnus huffed, brow quirking right back.
"Because you see it ALL the time. Just walking down the street, at the club, at the bar, when you're trying to just simply find a hook up or whatever. Like if you're looking for a real romance then yeah it's useful but if you're just looking for a casual hook up the only info you really need is 'you're hot, you think I'm hot'. Easy. Done...Only when you can see all this other crap about them you have to sift through all of it to get to what to most anyone else is the first impression. Ugh..." He shook his head exasperatedly.
Alec laughed, giving a faint shrug, nodding faintly.
"Never really was my thing but I can see how that could kinda get in the way."
Magnus smiled, giving a faint head tilt.
"Not really mine either anymore but even so it really does get in the way. And as bad as that is it's even worse in a fight."
Alec's head in faint amusement.
"Worse?"
Magnus groaned, rolling his eyes, animatedly nodding.
"Oh good goddess SO much worse! We don't hurt innocents. It's seen as something you avoid at near all costs. I mean yeah technically you can defend yourself and people define things on their own terms but in general the more innocent a soul is the more you're expected to avoid harming them. And the more powerful you are the higher standard you are to keep in this regard. We don't hurt innocents but what the hell do you do when an innocent is trying to hurt YOU?
You have no idea how infuriating it is to have someone come at you in a full on attack and you see that they're this sweet, selfless innocent who like volunteers in soup kitchens and animal shelters or whatever.
Like...what the hell do you do? There's no winning. You can't fight back- not in any significant way. You can't really run away...running just means they're likely to come across a less powerful supernatural-which would likely end in one or both of them being hurt or worse. You can try to reason with them, to explain that you're not evil but usually that's about as effective as trying to reason with a brick wall. What's the word of one monster held up against everything you've ever been taught?
Telling you there is no winning."
Alec shifted, swallowing, glancing away kind of picking at a thread on his sleep pants before glancing back up.
"That happen a lot?"
Magnus sighed faintly, nodding.
"Far more than you can possibly imagine." He settled forward a bit, shifting, looking Alec over, flashing a soft, surprisingly gentle smile, catching his gaze, holding it pointedly.
"Sweetheart I know yesterday kind of pulled the rug out from under you. In the span of an evening you wandered into a supernatural den and came face to face with your supposedly deceased twin who basically told you that everything you ever thought you knew was a lie.
It's terrifying...sickening...near maddening. I cannot imagine how hard it is to wrap your head around this...but darling?
All of that? It's not you."
Alec huffed faintly, brow raising, giving a helpless little wave.
"So what? I was just following orders?"
Magnus shook his head.
"You were following data. Data you were getting from multiple trusted sources...and not just sources. Family, friends, loved ones, mentors. From literally everyone you've ever known, loved or trusted. You were following the data you had. What turns out was faulty data. Flawed, biased data. That's not your fault."
Alec shook his head.
"You're letting me off way too easy."
Magnus scoffed lightly, brow quirking.
"No I'm not...you're being too hard on yourself."
Alec's eyes widened, shrugging helplessly.
"Mags how can you just let me off the hook after ever-"
He sighed, giving a slight shrug, waving faintly.
"Darling I'm not letting you off the hook. I'm not saying you're completely blameless. I wouldn't lie to you like that and I know you're smart enough to see right through such a thin veneer. We're not the ones who over-simplify things into obscurity. That's all you guys." He huffed faintly, setting up a bit straighter, head tilting in that odd, animalistic type way, feline eyes flaring bright, locking with Alec's, holding his gaze.
"You want the truth?
Have you needlessly taken lives? Yes. Innocent lives? Again in all likelihood yes...probably many times. I'm not gonna set here and tell you that's okay...it's not. I'm not saying you should just magically be fine with everything in your past because you simply didn't know any better.
You did what you did and nothing is gonna change that. There's no redo, no mulligan in real life. Ultimately they are your actions and you are the one who has to live with them- and speaking from centuries of experience that can be a real bitch. It can take a long time to totally come to terms with your past actions. Nothing I or Simon or Izzy or anyone else can say is going to just magically fix it for you.
I'm not saying you should just brush it off as nothing. I'm not trying to totally absolve you of any and all guilt. No one can do that. It's hard looking back sometimes. It hurts, even years, decades, centuries later it can still hurt to think about some things. But the thing of it is looking back at things after the fact, when we have all the data, when we have time and a clear head and all the information possible it seems a lot clearer. Can make what seemed like perfectly fine decisions- even things we saw at the time as accomplishments- look like some of the biggest mistakes of our lives.
I'm not saying you should just shrug at it, say 'oh well' and move on. No one with a soul as bright and deep as yours could ever do that. I'm just saying in any given moment we can only work with the knowledge we have at that specific time. We can only see things through the lens we have then.
It's easy to set back and judge after the fact but passing judgment on something and actually living through it are two very different things." Magnus smiled softly, giving a faint shrug, looking up, again catching Alec's eyes, this time the gaze is different...Warmer...softer...it almost feels like an embrace, like a comforting hand or a warm drink.
"Sweetheart you're a descendant of angels but you're hardly omniscient. You didn't just get a wild reckless streak that made you want to go out and hunt monsters. You were born into it, raised for it. Grew up living and breathing it, knowing nothing else. Everything you've ever encountered, everyone you've ever known, loved or trusted has reinforced this, encouraged it- told you it was your path- your only path.
It's literally all you've ever known.
If someone grew up in a cult- if it was all they ever knew and they're suddenly just tossed out into the real world you don't expect them to just get over it with a snap. You don't just tell them to shake it off. It takes time and work and compassion and understanding...it's the same thing with you guys."
Alec huffed out a faint not quite laugh, brow quirking.
"It's not a cult..."
Magnus quirked his brow right back, giving a fluttering little gesture.
"Said every cult member ever..."
Alec shook his head, faintly rolling his eyes.
"It's n-"
Magnus scoffed faintly.
"Darling what else do you call a highly closed off, strictly regimented group that holds themselves above all others, sees themselves as the true saviors of humanity? Who train their children from near birth to be soldiers in a righteous army against the evils of the world...who train their children NOT to question, not to think for themselves...to just obey...just follow orders. Who expect total, unwavering, unquestioning fealty above all else?"
He took a deep breath, head tilting, looking Alec over, gaze full of concern, totally devoid of judgment or resentment. Magnus shook his head, a soft gentle sigh escaping.
"Sweetheart I don't mean to attack you- heaven knows for the last day you've been doing that enough for the both of us...hell probably even more. I'm not saying this to be cruel, I'm just trying to get you to see what we see when we look at you.
The majority of you we don't see as enemies, as monsters...we see you as good, righteous people who are being lied to, manipulated- treated as little more than pawns and cannon fodder. We don't hate you...we hate what's been done to you...what you've been misled into becoming.
I know you've been going round and round, wondering why you've never thought about it, why you've never questioned, why it's never even occurred to you.
It's not your fault you didn't...your entire life you've been groomed, conditioned and trained not to."
Alec swallowed, nodding, giving a helpless shrug.
"I-I just don't get it...I don't know how I could be so stupid."
"You weren't s-"
"Yes I was! Mags? I'm thirty freaking years old. I've been doing this for nearly half my life. How the hell do I get this far into life and never think, never question? Never? Not even once?"
Magnus sighed.
"Yes you've been doing this nearly half your life...and from the moment you learned to walk and talk you've been trained NOT to question it. You're taught this is your destiny, that it's the way it has to be, the way it's always been, how it always will be. You're taught what you're doing is right, noble and righteous. That it's the true path for all descendants of angels. Your sacred duty to your people, your family, to humanity itself.
You're taught Supernaturals are evil: of course you are. We're demons, vampires, goblins, ogres, magics and werecreatures...to Angelus and humans alike we're the literal stuff of nightmares. We're the things lurking in the dark out to get you.
You've been taught your entire life that we're basically evil personified...little more than human disguised horrors. That's not just what you're hearing from one source. It's what you hear from every trusted source you have. Family, friends, mentors, everyone you've ever believed in, loved or had any amount of faith in.
Questioning that is questioning everything and everyone you've ever known...Very few think to do that."
Alec shrugged, brow quirking.
"Simon did..."
Magnus smirked, shrugging, brow quirking right back.
"Sweetheart? Simon's a scifi nerd ancillary who spends his free time going to comic-con, studying Latin and forbidden demonic languages and geeking out over the most random, obscure supernatural facts he can find. A Scifi nerd ancillary who called the freaking demon king 'cute'.
Simon's an anomaly." He paused, flashing a warm smile at the protest he could already see forming from Alec, holding his hand up placatingly.
"An adorable, endearing, totally delightful anomaly but an anomaly none the less. Yes it's true he thought to question but he also told me he spent an entire month wondering if whale songs had different genres.
Pretty sure if you try to apply Simon logic it can get really complicated REALLY quickly."
Alec chuckled, nodding concedingly.
"Uh yeah...good point. I remember that month- every time I'd go in his room he'd have whale songs blasting...he had a little data chart and a white board and the whole nine yards. It was r-
Wait..." He trailed off, head tilting, holding up a finger.
"When did he tell you about that? I don't remember that coming up the other day. I know I tuned out a few times but it's a pretty long story, I'd of caught some part of it."
Magnus froze for a moment, giving a slight shrug.
"I-um..."
Alec froze, blinking, squinting suspiciously.
"So...I never did ask...well...I did and then we...wandered...like a lot. Actually I don't know if we randomly wandered or you purposefully distracted me.
Why exactly are you currently in my mirror?"
He swallowed, head tilting, giving a little fluttery wave.
"Umm...M-Magic?"
Alec gave a faint laugh, folding his arms, brow quirking.
"Uh yeah...that's the 'how'...not the why…" he huffed faintly in disbelief, shaking his head.
"That little sneak! After he told me he'd let me deal wi-"
Magnus held up a finger.
"What he actually said was HE would leave you alone about it...and technically he did."
Alec scoffed, head shaking.
"No he didn't! He just brought in a ringer!"
"Thank you darli-"
Alec scoffed, waving him off.
"Not a compliment."
Magnus smirked, head tilting.
"Sounds like a compliment."
Alec huffed, unable to fight off a somewhat amused smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Wasn't intended as one."
Magnus's smirk picked up a tic, flashing a flirty little wink.
"But that's how it's being taken."
Alec shook his head, rolling his eyes.
"That's not really how it works."
"Yes it is."
"No it's not."
"Yes i-"
Alec couldn't help a laugh slipping out, holding his hand up.
"Okay no...I'm too old for that...and going by your 'centuries' comment you're WAY too old for it."
Magnus chuckled, gasping playfully.
"Hey you're on-"
Alec again waved him off.
"Mags seriously...did he actually call you to come check up on me?"
He sighed, shrugging, head tilting concedingly.
"O-okay...yes...he did."
Alec scoffed disbelievingly, head shaking.
"That little-"
"BUT she only beat me to the punch. I had every intention of checking in on you today. I know what a shock yesterday was for you. I saw you when you left...saw how much you were spinning...the dark tint around the edge of your soul. I knew you were too raw then to deal with it right then. There was just too much for you to process but no way I was just going to leave it.
He may have asked me to look in on you but he did nothing but perhaps push up the timetable a couple hours...meaning I get to see you like this..." Magnus trailed off, head tilting, those bright eyes sliding pointedly over Alec, giving one of those soft, pretty growly type purrs, flashing a faint little wink.
"Something I may have to send him a thank you gift for."
Alec chuckled softly, exasperatedly rolling his eyes.
"Mags don't think you can distract me."
Magnus shrugged.
"I'm not distracting you- I'm flirting with you."
Alec scoffed.
"To distract me."
Magnus shook his head.
"No I'm not."
Alec snorted, brow quirking.
"Oh really?"
"Really."
"Then why are you?"
Magnus chuckled softly, giving a fluttering little wave, brow quirking right back, an impish little smirk tugging at his pretty lips.
"Because I was bored and you are hot."
Alec couldn't help a surprised laugh at the little callback line to their first meeting. God that seemed like it was so long ago. How is it that was just over a week?
He shook his head slightly, giving a faintly helpless shrug.
"I-Mags? I really don't know what to do here. I appreciate your help...I appreciate the talk and i-it probably helped more than I even know right now...but...I just...This is just so much...I just have no idea how I move past this. I really don't."
Magnus sighed, shrugging, glancing up, catching his eye.
"How did you 'move past it' when Izzy died?"
Alec startled, blinking.
"I-wha-Izzy didn't-"
"No she didn't...but you thought she did. It was no doubt one of the worst times of your life...something you never thought you'd get past...right?"
Alec swallowed, giving a kind of half shrug and a helpless little wave.
"I-well...yeah...but it's not the same th-"
Magnus nodded.
"Yes sweetheart it is. It's exactly like that."
Alec shook his head faintly.
"H-how is i-"
"Sweetheart? In the last day your entire world has been upended. You found out your sister is alive, your own people actively tried to kill her, wrote her off as a traitor, a monster, as nothing and that near everything you've ever known or believed in is a lie. That's a paradigm shifting, world shattering kind of event. It's not like processing a bit of new information...it's like processing a death. The death of someone you've had your entire life- who you thought you WOULD have your entire life.
Exactly how it was when you lost Izzy. I bet in the first week you felt exactly how you feel right now. You're a mess of guilt and anger and fear and sadness at the loss. Wondering what you could have done differently, how you should have known, you should have been able to see it, to fix it, how it should have been, who it should have been.
It was horrible, probably seemed totally unbearable...like you were never gonna get through it- as if nothing would ever be okay again. Right?"
Alec swallowed, giving a hesitant little nod.
"I-yeah...yeah that's exactly how it felt. I couldn't possibly see ever getting through it."
Magnus gave a soft, gentle expression, nodding faintly.
"And yet you did. And you will make it through this as well. I know how it feels right now but you will get through this. Will it change everything? Yes. Will you have setbacks? Yes. Will you have times when it feels like you're never gonna make it through? Yes.
But I have no doubt in my mind you will. And I don't know what help you had when you lost Izzy but this time you will have help and support every step of the way. You're not facing this alone. You have your siblings- ALL your siblings. You have Izzy back. That is huge. Good huge. You have your twin back...whatever else comes of this you have Izzy back. Girl isn't going anywhere- and I know I don't have to tell you the Girl is like a freaking pitbull with a bone when she wants something.
You're not the only one who got a sibling back. She has missed you every day...worried about you every day. She has you back and you know as well as I do that girl will drag you through this herself if she has to."
Alec sniffed faintly, nodding, blinking, unable to stop a soft almost laugh.
"That is definitely true."
Magnus smiled softly, nodding.
"It really, really is. And she's not the only help you have in your corner. Simon would walk through hell and back for you and you know it damn good and well. The boy will fight for you- even against you." He laughed softly, giving a faint wave.
"Do you know what he did? He didn't just call me and ask me to check in on you. He called Raph and got my address- Address NOT Number- and marched his ass all the way over to my lair- barged in and demanded I talk to you as I technically was the one who started all of this."
Alec gave a surprised laugh, head shaking, eyes wide.
"You're kidding."
Magnus scoffed, shaking his head right back.
"I'm not- burst right into my meeting mediating a disagreement between two Fire demons and a VERY irritated ogre king to do it!"
Alec chuckled softly, unable to help an affectionate smile, nodding.
"Yup...that's Simon alright. Really love that guy."
Magnus chuckled, nodding back.
"I'd think it'd be rather impossible not to." He sighed softly, giving a warm soft smile.
"So see sweetheart? I know it's gonna be hard- I know right now it seems like an impossible undertaking but a lot of things do at the beginning. You are strong, and brave and righteous and the very epitome of everything the descendants of Angels are supposed to be.
I know it's gonna be hard but I ALSO know- with every fiber of my being- that you WILL make it through. And you won't do it alone. Far from it...
You have Izzy and Simon and me."
Alec smiled, head tilting, gaze flickering somewhat slowly over Magnus, brow quirking.
"I have you hmm?"
Those pretty shimmering Violet eyes glow softly, that inner fire kicking back up, dancing and flickering, head tilting in that somewhat animalistic, completely predatory thoroughly distracting kind of way, biting softly at his lower lip, giving one of those dizzying, thrilling little growl like purrs.
"Mmm...Oh most definitely gorgeous..."
Alec swallowed, an excited little thrill slipping down his spine at that look. He shifted faintly feeling a giddy little buzz before kind of getting ahold of himself, pushing it down.
Alright Alec- like you told Mags: Time and place.
There'll be time for that later...later when you're not still spinning...when you're not so twisted up...when you're not so raw. When you have more than a day to process the fact that everything you've ever known or thought you knew was a lie.
There'll be moments for flirting...for pretty shimmery Fuziolmas and gorgeous smiles and those teasing, tempting looks and dizzyingly distracting growly purrs...There will...
Just not this moment.
Alec took a deep breath, settling back a bit, looking up meeting those soft, pretty flickering eyes, nodding faintly.
"Thank you Mags...I-I really think I'm gonna need your help with this."
Magnus smiles, the look shifting, turning soft and warm, giving a slight, gentle nod back.
"Of course darling. Anything you need."
Alec let out the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, nodding again, feeling a small bit of something inside him unknot- just the tiniest bit. It's small...barely anything...but it IS something.
He takes another deep breath, relaxing more against the desk, smiling gratefully.
"Thank you again. Actually before we got into all the-m-my randomness you'd been talking about the different supernaturals? I'd kinda like to know more abou...oh uh..."he trailed off, glancing at the clock, startling as he realizes they've been talking for over three hours, glancing back at the other man, giving a sheepish smile, nervously scratching at the back of his neck.
"Um...wow...we've been talking a really long time. I appreciate your help but I don't want to keep you from anyt-"
"You're not."
Alec starts faintly at the rather quick response, brow quirking.
"A-are you sure? it's getting pretty late."
Magnus laughed, brow quirking, wave him off.
"Sweetheart I'm a creature of the night we're good.
So what else did you want to know?"
Alec laughed softly, nodding. He hums, thinking for a moment trying to pick where to start.
Fuziolma? Fae? Shifters? Weres? Supernatural school? Magnus himself?
Hmm...so many options...where to begin, where to beg-
Hmm...
He paused, landing on the perfect starting point. He shifts, settling comfortably on the desk, glancing up, head tilting glancing up, catching those pretty violet eyes, unable to stop an already amused smirk.
"Okay so I gotta know...
Why did you turn Izzy Pink?"
{*_**_**_**_**_**_**_**_*}
*****EndOfChapterNotes*****
{*_**_**_**_**_**_**_**_*}
Fuziolma = Fusion-being (A play on human being just because) Fuziune Fusion in Romanian + Olma= Being in Turkish...seemed appropriate when coming up with a new term for Hybrids blending two languages lol- kinda like this might do it more often to mix it up a bit.
Ceirwolma= Deer-being (this verses version of a Ceirw-dyn- what Kevin is in V2...thinking in this verse for shifters- beings born as supernaturals rather than turned- I'm gonna us the Welsh term for the 1st part of the type and the Olma as a Suffix, I like how they sound- they look like words I'd be able to pronounce and with using the Welsh 1st part it should make it easier to find the equivalent in V2.)
I cannot believe I ended up with ANOTHER over 12k chapter (that's 3 in a row! What the hell?!) Even so I really like how this turned out. I know it kind of meandered and the tone kind of jumped around but...well...I think it was kind of needed to really get through to Alec.
So my update list is gonna be a bit different- I'm kinda going in order of the list but I'm basically gonna be going to one verse then jumping back to V5 then moving to the next one (I know it's kind of off but we only have 4 chapters left for that story so I'd really like to press ahead...plus if I finish one story that's one less for in the rotation-meaning all the rest will pick up faster...at least that's what I'm telling myself as I really want to finish that one lol)
Anyways here's the List:
This Is Why You Don't Wander Away From The Group (Verse 5)
A Start Of Something New (Verse 7)
This Is Why You Don't Wander Away From The Group (Verse 5)
The Girl In The Mirror (Verse 4)
This Is Why You Don't Wander Away From The Group (Verse 5)
Nosey Neighbors (Verse 9)
This Is Why You Don't Wander Away From The Group (Verse 5) (LAST CHAPTER! STORY COMPLETE!)
Love Bug (Verse 2)
Picture Perfect (Verse 8)
You Can't Go Home Again (Verse 1)
A Study In Chaos (Verse 6)
Death Was Just The Beginning (Verse 3)
I'm really glad we got some Magnus/Alec time I know it's been pretty lacking this round.
So what do you guys think so far?
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