Final chapter!
I don't own TMI
"Are you attached to this place?" Magnus asked, rather hesitantly, as he walked up and held me loosely from behind.
I had been standing in the kitchen, drinking my coffee over the sink, and in deep concentration.
"No. Not particularly. Why?"
"You seem sad. Or moody. Or something."
I finished my coffee and rinsed it, sitting the cup down. "I'm just thinking about everything." I turned around to face my boyfriend. "I feel like we're taking a huge step today."
"We've been living together for over a month now. It won't make such a big difference just because we're moving in to my apartment, will it?"
"Yes. You living here was out of necessity. It's not necessary for me to come live with you. In my eyes, that makes it a big deal." I shrugged. I felt like I wasn't making much sense.
"I understand that, Alec, I do." He paused and gently lifted my chin with his finger. "You still want to do this, right?"
"Raziel, yes. More than anything. I think I'm just worried that something will go wrong. I just want us to be together. Stay together. You know?" I sighed and rested my forehead on Magnus' shoulder.
"Don't worry so much, my darling. What will be will be. And we will be together. I won't let anyone or anything take you away from me this time. Not my own stubbornness, nor my pride, nor my stupidity. That is my promise, Alexander. " Magnus' eyes were soft in the early morning light.
I couldn't really think of anything better to say, so I just nodded at him. "Me too."
Magnus grinned at me and rubbed his nose against mine. "Well, I didn't wake up this early just to stare at your beautiful self. There will be time for that later. Let's get all this stuff to our apartment."
The next couple of hours were spent moving into Magnus' (our) loft. It would have taken less time, but Magnus kept trying to insist on doing it without magic (although he was not above 'borrowing' a truck from some poor mundane). I went along with it knowing that he would cave eventually.
And cave he did when, on the first trip up the stairs with a bulky suitcase, he broke a nail.
I couldn't hold back my snorts as I stood in witness to his impressive kaleidoscope of expressions. It went from concentrated determination (Magnus trying to wield my old hand-me-down rolling duffle with two busted wheels up the narrow stairwell), to mild annoyance (Magnus finding out that the bag's wheels were conspiring against him), to surprise (Magnus losing his grip and having to reach out and grab the duffle awkwardly to keep it from falling), to horror (Magnus discovering the dreaded broken nail), before settling on unbridled outrage.
Once Magnus shoved the bag away in disgust and kicked it back down the stairs with his ridiculously expensive looking shiny black dress shoe, I just about lost it.
"Shit!" He hollered. "That fucking hurt!" Magnus hopped up and down on one foot, while trying to maintain his balance and dignity.
I had been trying to keep my laughter down as I stood at the apartment door waiting for him, but I guess he heard me because his head snapped up.
"And you've just been watching me this whole time?"
"…Yes?"
"I'm glad I can provide you with entertainment."
"I'm sorry, but that was funny." I said, trying desperately not to laugh again. I didn't quite make it.
Magnus finally smiled at me. "Screw it. I'll just use magic."
I took his hands and pulled him up the stairs and through the front door.
"There's nothing wrong with using magic. You are a warlock, after all."
"I know, I know." Magnus groaned at me, pouting. "I just thought we could do this together."
"There are still plenty we can do together. We can unpack together and you wanted to redecorate, remember."
He smiled at me with shining eyes. "That's right. You always know how to make me feel better, sweetie."
I didn't mention how putting up with two temperamental siblings for most of my life trained me up for dealing with Magnus' mood swings, but I'm pretty sure that it was implied.
Once Magnus got done moving us in, I made him some lunch, gave him a back massage, and sent him off for a nap. He did wake up early and did most of the work, after all.
Having the afternoon to myself, I decided to go to the Instituted to see what Jace and Izzy were up to.
I was on the subway by the time I realized I had left my phone on the kitchen counter back home. Of course, when I got to the Institute Jace and Izzy were nowhere to be found.
I was about to leave, when I decided to check my mother's office. I could never keep up on her schedule since she was in Idris much more than New York.
The light was on and the door was half opened, so I just walked right in.
Right in on a meeting my mother was having with some vaguely familiar looking guy.
They stopped talking when I barged in, but not before I had heard my mother saying Magnus' name.
"Alec. What are you doing here?" My mother asked. For some reason, she looked guilty.
"What were you just talking about?" I asked, ignoring her question. My defenses were up.
I looked at the other guy in the room and finally placed him. He was the shadowhunter in charge of downworlders who broke the accords. Ronald something, I thought.
"Alexander. Please give us a moment to finish up here. I will speak with you in 15 minutes."
With that icily formal tone, she practically pushed me out of the office and closed the door in my face.
I paced around the hallway as I waited for them to finish up. I didn't really know what to expect, but I had a feeling it wouldn't be good. The intense looks on their faces and my mother's voice indicated that well enough.
"Alec. Please come in." Maryse stood at the door with her arms folded.
The guy's whose name might be Ronald brushed past me with narrowed eyes and a pissed expression.
"What is this about?" I followed my mother into the room.
She got right to the point. "There is a problem with Magnus' testimony."
"You mean inconsistencies, or something? They made him retell his story over and over all while he was still recovering and while the Silent Brothers were foaming at the mouth to study him like some dissected frog."
The Silent Brothers made it no secret that they studied the effects of the fairy smoke and the drug Elijah had invented from all of the victims, especially Magnus. They had been almost giddy with the discoveries they had made.
"You should have waited until he felt better an-"
She cut over my tirade.
"His testimony is not inconsistent. There are some who just don't believe everything he said. Or they think he's withholding information."
My first instinct was to yell at her. To deny that Magnus would do such a thing. I really couldn't, though. I knew from experience that he could and often did withhold information if he felt it was necessary.
He'd done it to me, although now, it was like I couldn't get him to stop telling me stories about his past.
Even in Magnus' notebooks that he was continuing to write for me, I'd noticed a theme that occurred time and again was issues with trust. Usually for good reason, too. So many people gotten close to him and broken his trust that Magnus probably felt that he had to protect himself.
He had done so, many times, in the form of keeping people at arm's length, and never giving away all of his secrets.
To tell the truth, I had also felt that something was missing when I'd heard Magnus' story, though. I still don't know why they chose to flee without him and spare his life. I didn't want to push the issue, though, hoping that he would tell me when he was ready.
"What do you think?" I asked her.
"I really don't know, but if he is not telling the whole truth, its probably because he's protecting someone."
I frowned at her. "He hates the Seelie Queen and Elijah. Why would he protect them?"
My mother sighed and rubbed her fingertips along her brow as if she was warding off the beginnings of a killer headache. "I don't know, but now is the time to come clean if you know anything about this. Anything at all."
I knew for a fact Magnus would not protect them, so I told her that.
"Alright, Alexander. If you say there is nothing to pursue, then I will relay the information to the Clave. Tell Magnus to confirm that with the person who will contact him shortly."
She looked at me closely before continuing. "We'd just better hope the Seelie Queen stays hidden and doesn't start causing trouble again."
I left in a daze. I had no choice but to go home and try to get Magnus to talk to me (once again) about his ordeal while being held captive.
I didn't look forward to it, by any means, but I was determined to just mention it and let him tell me if and when he was ready. If there was anything to tell.
If there was, then Magnus and I would work together to get through whatever lied ahead of us.
The End?
(For Now)
Thanks for reading guys!
That's the end, but there is a sequel on the way! I have no idea what it will be called yet, but I have already started to outline it and everything. Here's a spoiler (in case you were wondering) they will not break up in the sequel. The story will be about how Magnus' and Alec's bond is stronger than ever and they will bring the Seelie Queen and Elijah to justice. This one will most likely be 3rd person cuz I want to explore the characters from a different perspective.
(CORNY ALERT! SAPPY ALERT!) I am so happy with the response that I got to this story! This is the first thing that I have written and actually finished in almost 10 years! (Seriously, around the 9th chapter I was in tears thinking I wouldn't be able to put this all together.) It makes me sooo very happy that some people actually like this story because I have a hard time sharing things with others, so thank you for giving me a place to express myself.
Feel free to let me know if you have any questions about this story although some things were left unresolved purposely and will be addressed in the sequel. Just write a review or, as always, send me a pm. :)
Until then, read my other fic (please). It's called Welcome to The Downworld (m-rated malec, soon to be updated), and look out for my new AH AU malec fic that I plan on starting next week!
xoxoxoxoxox
-Jonnitta (cinkie68)