EDITED 5/30/2020
Alec had somehow made it to his apartment. He honestly wasn't sure how he had done it; all he knew was that it had hurt like hell and still did. His arms and legs burned each time he moved them, even if he only flexed a muscle. The runes that were no longer there had taken up the appearance and feeling of third-degree burns. To put it frankly, Alec Lightwood-Bane was in complete and utter agony.
He had made it though, and he was proud of himself for it. It may have taken a few hours, or at least it felt that way, but Alec had made it home. So, he leaned against the wall next to the door and knocked as hard as he could on the double doors. He waited for a minute and then knocked again. He waited. He pounded on the door frantically for a moment and then waited once more. This time the door was wrenched open and a furious, heartbroken looking Magnus stood there.
Alec flinched back at the look in his eyes and watched as the fury drained from them, leaving shock. Magnus just stared at him for a long moment and so Alec did the same. He examined Magnus' new look.
His hair was not styled, in fact it was messy and standing up in every direction. His face was bare of any makeup, his cheeks were tear stained and moisture was collecting in his unglamoured, puffy eyes. He was wearing Alec's clothing, a plain black t-shirt with a blue button up open on top of it and a pair of well-loved sweatpants as well as a pair of plain black socks.
The Omamori charm that Alec had gifted Magnus so many months ago was gripped between shaking fingers.
"Magnus." Alec rasped. His throat was screaming, it needed water, as did his body. He had been deprived of it to the point that he would have died had Jia not taken mercy on him. He wouldn't have needed an execution.
"Alexander?" Magnus' voice wavered with emotion and was thick with tears. He moved forward and grabbed the hem of Alec's shirt, pulling it up to just above his heart, finding no wedded union rune. He didn't find any runes, only the ugly burns. "You aren't . . . dead?"
"No, Magnus." Alec shifted his weight slightly and let one of his hands fall to Magnus' shoulder. "I'm alive. I'm here with you. Everything is okay." He blinked and let the glamour on his eyes fall, showing Magnus his Warlock Mark. No one could fake or replicate a Warlock Mark,
Magnus' bottom lip quivered as the tears started to fall, streaming down his cheeks. Alec watched sadly as the man he loved fell apart right in front of him. Magnus seemed to be magnetically pulled right into Alec's arms.
Alec still had one hand braced against the wall and moved the other so that it was wrapped around Magnus' shoulders instead of resting on one of Magnus' shoulders. He carefully pulled Magnus into his chest trying not to cry out as Magnus settled against him with a sob.
Magnus shook with the force of his cries, wailing in Alec's neck, thankfully not on the side that his deflect rune used to be on. "I thought you were dead!" Magnus cried. "I thought you were gone!"
"I would be if it weren't for Jia." Alec whispered. "They left me in the cell for four days, they never came back. I never had food or water, I was dying of dehydration when she came down and deruned me."
"Alexander." Magnus sniffled. "Please, I can't lose you again. This is killing me inside; it's breaking me little by little. I cannot lose you."
Alec laid his head against Magnus'. "I'll do whatever you need me to."
"Let me wrap you in bubble wrap and never leave the apartment again?" Magnus suggested with a humorless laugh.
"If that would make you happy, I'd gladly do it, however impractical."
Magnus sighed and pulled back. "Come inside, darling. Our children and friends think you are dead, as well." He grabbed Alec by his wrist making the man hiss.
Magnus immediately moved his hand to a part of Alec's arm that was uninjured, looking down at his Husband's wrist. "Oh, my darling." He waved his hand and the injury disappeared, the skin soothing, it was as if there was never anything wrong with it. Magnus immediately turned to Alec's other wrist, pulling the man into his side, forcing him to lean on him and healing that wrist as well. "Come on," He whispered gently, starting to pull him towards the door to go inside.
"Wait," Alec protested weakly, starting to feel more lethargic. "Is Isabelle in there?"
"Yes." Magnus continued to pull him towards their apartment.
"No." Alec pulled away from Magnus, he stumbled, tripping over his own feet and his knees buckled. Magnus lunged for him, catching him under his arms and pulling him back up and leaning him against the wall. "Magnus, I need you to leave me here and go make Izzy leave. Tell her that I am alive, that I have been exiled and forbidden from seeing her or dad ever again. Tell her that I love her, and that I'm sorry."
"What?" Magnus gasped. "Alexander. . ."
"Magnus please." Alec breathed. "I can't stay out here much longer; I might pass out. Please, hurry."
Magnus disappeared into the apartment and came back out a few minutes later, fresh tears on his face. "Come, now, my darling." Magnus helped him lean on him and guided him inside, closing the door with a flick of his wrist.
He brought him into the living room where Catarina, Raphael, Clary, Tessa, Jem, Luke, Maia, Wesley, Simon, and a girl he'd never seen before were sitting on the couches. Catarina and Wesley who were sitting together, quickly stood up and helped Magnus lead Alec over to the couch they'd been on.
Alec collapsed heavily onto the couch but ended up arching his back and crying out when it touched the back of the couch.
Wesley and Cat helped Alec sit up, his back not touching the couch as Magnus banished Alec's shirt to their bedroom. Cat had one hand holding him up by his shoulder on one side, the other hand on the back of his head, rubbing her thumb against his hair soothingly. Wesley had one hand on his other shoulder and one hand cupping the back of his neck. Alec was eternally grateful that he had managed to make such good friends.
"I can't heal them, they're angelic wounds. I do have some salve that may sooth the burns. Is that okay?" He kneeled in front of Alec, looking up at him imploringly.
"Please." Alec begged weakly.
Magnus stood up and rushed to his work room, going to get the salve. Tessa came over to Alec, kneeling in front of him and touching his knee. "What can I do for you, brother?" She asked him gently.
Alec swallowed painfully, hating how weak he was sure he seemed but pushing the thought aside. "Water?" He rasped.
Tessa immediately conjured a glass of water with a straw in it and held the straw to his lips. He quickly drained the glass and she refilled it with a wave of her hand. He drained that glass as well and she set it aside. "If you drink too much, you may be sick. I'll get you more later." She promised. Alec allowed himself to lean into his friends' hands just a little more and he closed his eyes briefly, he just wanted a second to rest them.
However, he came to when he was being rolled over. He panicked for a moment, fighting against the hands. He struck out at someone; he wasn't sure who. He was pretty sure they were yelling, but he didn't want to be hurt. He didn't want them to take the runes.
"Alec!"
"Alexander!"
"It's okay."
"Dad! Dad!"
Alec calmed as cold hands gripped his upper arms and pulled him into an awkward embrace. "Calm down, dork." Raphael told him, the words were stern, but the tone was uneasy, frightened perhaps.
Alec went boneless in the embrace and the other hands on him left, allowing him to slump against his son. The hands returned however, but this time they were putting a cold cream on the parts of his skin that were burning so badly. He realized that his runes had already been taken from him, he'd already endured the pain. He was safe here, with these people.
The hands left his skin and then he was being lowered backwards against something cold and wet. His first instinct was to get away from whatever he was laying against, and he did try but multiple pairs of hands pushed him back down.
"It's just a cool towel, Alec." Magnus told him, running a hand through his husband's hair. "It's alright, you're safe."
Alec blinked rapidly, looking over at his husband. "We need to leave. We have to go." He told Magnus, not sure why he was telling him now, surely, they had time as long as Clary stayed put. "Clary." He gasped.
"I'm here, Dad." He looked towards her voice so quickly his neck popped. She was standing behind the couch tucked into Wesley's side.
Alec was breathing heavily, looking around at everyone with wide eyes. Magnus put a hand against Alec's forehead and hummed. "He's developed a fever." He pushed some magic into Alec's skin and Alec could feel his mind become clearer, he closed his eyes and felt himself become centered again. His breathing slowed and he opened his eyes once more.
"You okay?" Catarina asked.
"I'm fine." Alec told her. "Why's everyone here?" He asked.
"We wanted to help Magnus, Madzie, Raphael and Clary out." Maia answered. "Y'know, since we thought the Clave murdered you."
"Thank you," He told her. "Everyone, for being here for my family."
"What happened to you?" Jem asked.
"Why don't you all sit down?" Alec asked. "It's a bit . . . crowded like this." Everyone was standing around the couch he was laid across.
Magnus stayed where he was, sitting next to Alec's head on the floor. Wesley, Clary and Catarina moved around the couch, Wesley and Clary sat next to the fireplace and Catarina sat against Tessa's legs where she had sat on a couch next to Jem. Maia, Luke and Simon sat together on the ground between the couches. Raphael was pinned under Alec's legs and the girl that Alec didn't know sat on the arm of the couch next to Raphael.
"Well?" Maia asked.
"After I was arrested, I was taken to the guard and put in a cell across from Camille Belcourt. The men who arrested me, not the inquisitor but the other ones, told me that they were sorry, that they didn't want to arrest me. I ended up managing to convince them to go to the Consul and tell her what happened. She had never approved the arrest, Dearborn did it behind her back. They left me down there for four days. No one ever came to bring food or water or let us go to the bathroom. They'd hung me from the ceiling which is why my wrists were so bad."
"They were infected." Magnus said quietly.
"Camille and I argued whenever I wasn't sleeping." Alec continued. "Then Jia finally came down and told me what a difficult position I'd put her in. She let me drink some water and explained to me that it had been four days since I was arrested, she had been fighting to get me released unpunished, but that the rest of the Clave wasn't going to stand for it. She told me that the best she could do was have me deruned instead of executed. I didn't even care about that; all I was worried about was my wedded union rune."
Alec sighed. "She apologized, said Magnus and I are still legally married, we just don't have the rune anymore. She told me that after the procedure . . . I'm no longer the Clave's responsibility. Isabelle can get my things from the Institute, but I can never see her or my father ever again. She emphasized the fact that I am being exiled from the Nephilim so I asked her if I could still see my daughter, if I could still see Clary. Or I tried to, she interrupted me. She told me to get my husband, get my children and run. If Clary continues to go to the Institute, any Institute, the same policy will have to be implemented with her. I won't be allowed to see my own daughter. After she told me that, she made sure to tell me that it wasn't anything personal, that she cares about me and she's doing this for me and my family. So that Magnus would still have a husband, my children would still have their Dad."
Magnus reached a hand up and stroked Alec's cheek with the back of his hand before settling it in his hair.
"After that I don't remember much, she called the guards in, the same guys as before, they got me down from the ceiling and Jia told them to take the cuffs off so I could clean myself up and change my clothes. After that they took me to a little room down the hall. I could barely walk, my arms and legs hurt so bad. The men left after they laid me down on a little couch and I took my shirt off. Jia and I decided to my wedded union rune first to spare Magnus any pain that might have slipped through our bond. If I didn't remember the pain so well, I would have sworn that I had passed out. When it was over, she told me all the rules. I can't ever go into an institute again, I can't see Izzy or my Dad ever again, I can never go to Idris again, I can never hold a position on a Downworld or Clave Council, I am now under Magnus' jurisdiction as the High Warlock of Brooklyn since I'm a warlock. I was taken through a portal and dropped off in the middle of a street about forty-five minutes from here although I think it took me about three hours to make it here. I got lost a few times and had to take some breaks. Plus, I'm slow because of all the pain."
The loft was silent for a moment. "I'm going to go pack my apartment up. Wherever the five of you are going, I'm going with you." Wesley told the Lightwood-Bane's.
Magnus nodded. "I've got a property in Glen Head that we can use. A big house, eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms, Nine Thousand square feet of fabulous."
"Really?" Wesley asked. "You haven't taken me to that one."
"I bought it three years ago." Magnus told him. "Finished Basement, stocked bar, spiral staircase, sauna, office with a view, pool table, huge deck, huge pool."
"We have to go there." Wesley said.
"Anyone else planning on living with us?" Magnus asked. "Raphael are you coming?"
"Yes." Was all Raphael said.
"Jem and I will join you for a while, if that's alright." Tessa said.
"The basement is finished with space for an extra bedroom. It has a sitting room and full bathroom if you'd like." Magnus nodded. "Clary, Raphael, go start packing your things. Wesley go pack yours. Jem, Tessa get your things ready and bring them back here." Magnus waved a hand and the living room packed itself up. All the knick knacks, books, pictures, everything was put away.
"I can help." Alec started to push himself up.
"Don't you dare." Magnus told him. "I'm going to go tell Madzie you're here. I'll send her out to sit with you while I pack her room up. I've got this under control Alexander."
"You'll overexert yourself." Alec worried.
"I'll help him." Catarina promised. "Lily, Luke, Simon and Maia will stay out here too." She turned to them. "Let us know if something happens with him."
She and Magnus disappeared down the hall along with Clary and Raphael while Wesley, Tessa and Jem portaled out of the apartment. Alec turned to the girl on the arm of the couch.
"I'm going to assume you're Lily?" He asked.
"Lily Chen." She nodded. "I'm Raphael's second in command with the Clan."
"Nice to meet you, Lily." Alec said. "Wish it was under better circumstances."
"We've met before." Lily said. "Kinda. You saved my life a few months ago."
"Oh?" Alec asked.
Lily nodded. "I was being attacked by some disgusting demon with personal space issues and you killed it."
"Oh." Alec said.
"So, I guess like thank you for saving my unlife." Lily shrugged.
"You're welcome?" Alec asked.
Maia snorted. "That was the worst 'thank you' I've ever heard."
"I don't see you thanking him." Lily said hotly. She flipped her black hair back over her shoulder, flashing the pink underneath the first layer to where Alec could see it. She glared at Maia furiously. "Didn't he just risk everything for the Downworld? His life? I don't see you getting down on your knees and thanking him."
"You aren't on your knees." Maia said, but her tone had lost its bite.
"No," Lily said. "I won't give you the satisfaction of seeing that, dog."
The pissing contest seemed to go on longer than Alec could bear, with both Luke and Simon chiming in on both sides, defending each girl equally and trying to get them to see reason to no avail. Finally, he snapped.
"That's enough!" Alec said as loudly as he could manage, making all four of the other people in the room snap their heads towards him. "Do you know Lily, that you spend more than half the time you are speaking baiting Maia, Luke and Simon instead of offering suggestions? And you make them spend about the same amount of arguing you down. So, you are making the entire thing last twice as long. Which means you're wasting everyone's time. That's not really an efficient way for my son's second in command to behave."
Lily seemed startled and looked very young in the moment that it took for her to collect herself. "Nobody asked you, Shadow -" She cut herself off and looked truly remorseful. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to . . . I'm sorry. I meant Warlock."
"Yes, I used to be a Shadowhunter. Yes. I am a Warlock. And yes, in past lives I have been a mundane, a werewolf and Warlock. But the issue that the two of you have with each other, needs to be resolved. We are in the middle of a war; we cannot afford to be divided. If you would like, in a few days you can come by the house and we can talk this out. Or, you two can continue having this pissing contest and in the midst of battle you will end up doubting each other and someone will end up dead and when that happens you'll have a little voice in the back of your mind saying 'wow, I wish I had listened to Alec Lightwood-Bane when I had the chance.'"
"I think I can manage coming to visit in a few days." Lily grumbled. When Alec looked over at Maia she nodded begrudgingly.
"Damn it." Lily muttered.
Alec raised an eyebrow at her. "I think I like you." She whined as if it were the worst thing in the world.
"Daddy!" Madzie ran out into the living room, going to Alec's side immediately. "You're okay!"
Alec allowed her to crawl onto his chest and snuggle up. It hurt quite a bit, but not as bad as it had been before when Magnus had leaned against him in the hallway.
"I'm okay, princess." Alec whispered to her. "I'm here."
Madzie wrapped her arms around his neck and proceeded to tell her father how Auntie Izzy, Auntie Tessa, Clary and Simon had all played dolls with her and how funny Mister Luke had looked with a tiara on his head during the Tea Parties.
Madzie quiets for a moment before speaking again. "Daddy." She said. "Are you hurt?"
Alec smiles against the top of her head. "I am." He murmured. "But you know what?"
"What?" Madzie asked.
"Cuddles are the best medicine." He told her in a whisper, like it was a big secret.
"Oh!" She said delighted, "I'll give you lots of cuddles, Daddy!"
"Good." Alec wrapped his arms around her tightly and they laid there together until Magnus, Raphael and Clary returned. Magnus waved a hand and the boxes in the living room vanished.
At the questioning glances Magnus explained. "I sent them to the house." He turned to Alec. "Every room has been packed up and all the boxes sent to the proper rooms in the new house. Once Wesley, Tessa and Jem return I'll send their boxes there and we will go to our new home."
Alec smiled tiredly. "That's good." Magnus knelt beside Alec and Madzie and placed a hand on their daughter's back.
"Are you feeling alright, Sayang?" Magnus whispered.
"I'm as okay as I can be, I think." Alec answered. "What does that mean? Sayang?"
Magnus brushed Alec's bangs away from his eyes. "It's a term of endearment. It doesn't necessarily have a concrete definition, but it's along the lines of dear, honey, love, darling, sugar, beloved or sweetheart."
Alec smiled again and watched the way Magnus' eyes softened as he gazed at him. "I promise you," Magnus leaned down and whispered in Alec's ear. "I'm going to keep you and our children safe. I won't let anyone hurt you again."
Alec turned his head slightly to press his lips to Magnus' cheek. "Aku Cinta Kamu." He whispered. "I love you."
"Aku Cinta Kamu." Magnus pressed his lips to Alec's forehead before pulling back. He stood up and looked at Clary before going over to speak with Luke with a reluctant look on his face. Magnus was not Luke's biggest fan.
Clary went and knelt beside Alec, avoiding eye contact with him. "Clary?" He whispered.
She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "You don't get to become my dad only to be presumed dead a few days later." She told him as a tear slipped out of her eye. "I've lost too many people to lose the Dad that I was supposed to have eternity with."
"Oh, honey." Alec lifted a hand off Madzie to place it on the back of her head and pull her head to his chest, next to her sister. He leaned down to place a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm sorry I scared you."
He felt the tears soak through his shirt as she gripped it.
Alec laid there for a while, both of his daughters in his arms before his eyelids became too heavy and he fell asleep to the low buzz of Magnus' voice across the room.
Hey everyone!
Alec is no longer a Shadowhunter! Do you think the Clave will end up regretting their decision to derune him? What lengths will Magnus go to to protect his family and what will force his hand? What about Jem? How does he feel right now? Will Isabelle break the rules and go see Alec? Or will she abandon Shadowhunter society as well?
Also! What did we think about Meliorn last chapter? Unexpected Ally? Or ulterior motive? Hmm
Comment with your guesses, if you get it right you get a dedicated chapter or your name gets thrown in a chapter somehow!
Feedback makes the author happy!
Love you all.