It's been waaaaaay too long since I last updated.

I hope you all have had a good start to the new year. Here's this chapter that I was supposed to write during Christmas break but then never actually got around to writing it. So before the new semester starts (for me at least) here it is XD.

Its split into small parts over the course of Magnus' day, and because I'm a wimp so Sebastian's homophobic slurs they are slightly "cut" out. (I hope no one minds, I found it hard to write for Sebastian and Camille.)

I have a really sketchy plan for what's going to happen to Magnus and Alec in my fic, and I'm also planning on writing another, longer, slow-build fic at some point in time (Probably over the summer.)

Thank you to everyone who followed, commented and reviewed, and for those of you who still might want to follow this fan fiction. :)

Enjoy~

Chapter 8

Shitty days were common, Magnus knew this. Even he had them frequently and often, but if he had to rank his shitty days on a scale, he knew today would've been the worst.

Magnus had always assumed shitty days started off shitty and ended shitty, but the day he had met Alexander - which had started off shitty - had changed that. His day had already been a bad day in his books; it was the anniversary of his Mother's suicide.

The worst part was the work load, normally he tried to take this specific day off for his own personal reasons, but he hadn't had the chance to do it. There was too much to be done.

Camille, his ever present assistant, had hired a new model the other day. Stunningly attractive, a few weeks Magnus wouldn't have minded a few moments of mindless flirting, but all of his opinions of Sebastian the model had fled as soon as the prick had opened his mouth.

Repulsing was a word that came to mind when he thought about Sebastian.

And to top it all off, Camille was dating the arrogant homophobic prick.

Camille.

Magnus set his head down on his desk. The cool surface of the wood did little ease the growing headache behind his eyes. He squeezed them shut, trying to block out the distant sound of Camille prattling on and on about something he truly he did not care about. It was probably something about something that Sebastian had said.

"Magnus are you listening to me?"

Magnus didn't raise his head from his desk. Maybe if he didn't answer it would an answer in itself? Truly, shouldn't Camille know at this point that this specific day wasn't a good day to go on bothering him? Maybe he just wanted to spend his time moping in his room looking at old pictures and-

"Magnus Bane, listen to me!"

Camille's voice was accented by her hands compacting against the desk - loudly.

Magnus winced and gingerly lifted his head from the surface.

"Camille darling, I do hear what you're saying." Magnus said, his fingers coming to pinch at the bridge of his nose. "But I'm telling you that there is simply not enough time for me to give Sebastian his own spread in the magazine! I cannot simply go and ask, we're supposed to have the final draft ready to print by Monday." Magnus scowled. "May I remind you that in all technicalities it is not my magazine?"

Camille narrowed her eyes, red nails digging in to the edge of the desk. "Couldn't you simply switch those pictures of the cripple with Sebastian's? I'm sure no one would mind in the slightest."

Even with the sickly sweet tone to her voice Magnus felt his entire being prickle at her words.

"That cripple is my boyfriend," Magnus spat. "And no, I couldn't. I promised the charity I would do a photo shoot and I did." Magnus sat back in his chair, eyes drifting shut. "The photos are not all of Alexander anyways, if you took your time to look at them you would've noticed that there were pictures of that other lovely lady too," Magnus waved his hand in dismissal.

How he wanted to call it a day and head home. But there were photo shoots to do, people to deal with, paychecks to organise, paperwork to finish, and Camille to deal with. Magnus opened his eyes once he had noticed that Camille had been strangely silent for a good moment or two.

She seemed to have retreated into her mind, which was never a good thing when it came to Camille.

Magnus swallowed, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. "Look, Camille, how about we feature Sebastian in next month's issue?" He offered.

She seemed to snap out of her reverie for a moment. "Hm?"

A sardonic smile twisted her rouge lips; one that made Magnus' gut twist in unease.

"Oh no, it's perfectly fine Magnus,"

He did not like the way she said his name.

"I understand completely, but you still have a photo shoot to make it to, ready?"

Almost like that Camille went from vengeful raging wraith to a stoic, collected assistant. Her manicured hand went to fluff at her blonde curls, and Magnus tried not to watch as they bounced all in sync.

Unnerving.

"I suppose you're right. Let me grab an Advil for the pain and I'll be right with you." Magnus said.

Camille smiled, "I'll get Sebastian ready."

Magnus listened to the click of her heels snap against the floor as she left the room, the sound of the door shutting softly as the only indication that she had gone.

He let out an exhausted breath, hands dragging through his hair.

Why did he feel like he had just sold his soul to the devil?

Photo shoots with Sebastian were aggravating to say the least. It was impossible to grab hold of the attention of any of the other models when they were all fawning over the aloof and fetching platinum blond.

Magnus grimaced, he wouldn't deny the fact that even he had been a little taken aback by Sebastian's looks. The model was stunning- more so than normal - with short white-blond hair that looked perfect slicked back and out of the way, not to mention with a pair of hard-set sloe-eyes. Sebastian emanated dominance and control from every inch of his toned body. It was enough to make Magnus' knees weak. Of course he had his own darling blue eyes back at home, so he was considerably less tempted than he previously would've been.

The only problem with Sebastian was the constant remarks he made, and his necessity to be rude to Magnus.

It irked and rubbed Magnus all the wrongs ways. He had the developed a thick skin over the years to homophobic slurs and rude gestures, but there was always something terribly irritating about that word.

Today was a shitty day, had he mentioned that yet?

"Megan, please, pay attention-" Magnus pleaded, his head poking back up from behind the camera. They were shooting for a new line of lingerie, which happened to leave Sebastian next to two nearly nude models. Camille had managed to convince Magnus to let her model today - she usually only worked as a model during the fashion shows - but had decided she had wanted to model with her boyfriend.

Megan giggled something out intangible as Sebastian pulled both her and Camille closer.

Magnus sighed and bent back to take pictures. He was studiously trying to ignore the way Sebastian's hand always seemed to be on some inappropriate part of both girls' bodies, but many of his shots were becoming unusable because of it.

"Sebastian, please stop groping your companions, I need to get a few shots without your hands all over their asses."

Sebastian sneered and murmured something to Camille under his breath. She responded by giggling and slapping at his chest in a flirty manner.

Magnus grimaced, but stayed silent.

Through the viewfinder of his camera he saw Sebastian's head turn his direction, lips turning down in disgust.

A subtle fire had been building in Magnus' gut since the beginning of the shoot. He didn't like the way Sebastian looked at him like that, every time he felt like he could see his father staring right back at him. The memory of his father brought with him a jumble of horrific images and memories Magnus had tried so hard to fix. But how could he so easily forget hard hands holding his throat, hard hands gripping his wrists, hard hands holding him down.

Magnus had zoned out on Sebastian, his hand was trembling to the point where he couldn't take a decent picture. He needed space, he needed to breathe.

Air; air would be good.

"Stop staring at me, I do not like feeling eyes of a-"

Magnus resolutely tuned out the rest of the phrase to spare his own ears. He had paused in taking pictures and was watching Megan's horrified face instead.

Maybe he could tune back in now?

"Or perhaps you are just jealous? Missing women are you? Serves you right for being such a-"

Magnus let out a steadying breath. "Another word and I'm firing you Sebastian." He growled. "One more word and I swear it."

Sebastian opened his mouth to speak. "You-"

"Fired," Magnus said, coming to his full height. "Out; I want you out right now."

Camille was the one who spoke up. "Come now Magnus, Sebastian was just joking."

Magnus' gaze darkened, anger seeping into his words.

"Just joking?" He said. "Camille, I don't tolerate comments like that from anyone."

His gaze swung got Sebastian who was still standing where he was, a dark look in his eyes.

"Out; I gave you a chance because Camille is my friend, but I want you out." Magnus said.

"If you fire him I'm quitting too."

Magnus gaze swung to Camille's. This was not a good day-

"Fine." Magnus said, hardly hearing himself over the angry roaring in his ears. "Both of you out then, I want you gone." He paused, and then added, "Today."

"Magnus-" Camille started.

"Unless I get a formal apology on my desk by tonight both of you are fired."

Awkward silence stretched through the room.

Camille's eyes were wide and filled with tears, she obviously hadn't expected him to fire both of them; she had thought he wouldn't have through with it. Magnus smiled bitterly, on a day like today bad things were meant to happen.

He barely heard it as Camille and Sebastian left the studio. Instead he stood there, silent, mulling through his own thoughts.

Hard hands.

"Sir?"

It was Megan's quite voice that brought him back to reality.

He smiled thinly; he could feel the headache coming back.

"Sorry Megan, where were we? Can you pose for me darling? Thank you..."

There was no letters on his desk at the end of the day.

Magnus felt his heart constrict. Camille might not have been his best friend, but they had been through a lot together. They had a bond, or at least, he thought they had had a bond.

He set his hands on his desk, a shaky sigh slipping past his lips.

Camille was gone.

He realised that what he had done had been rash, she knew exactly what he had been planning to release and when, what kind of style he was handing out to the public and what would be in his stores the next few weeks. There hadn't been much trust between them since the beginning, and Magnus had no doubt that she was probably selling his ideas to her next employer right now.

For the first time in many years Magnus felt a certain emotion; defeat. He was defeated. Or he felt that way. Was it unreasonable of him to feel like in one single day most of his world had somehow managed to collapse on him? Everything had been going so well... Where had it all gone wrong?

Now he had to find a new assistant, and if he didn't he was going to have twice the amount of work to do... His collection for next month was probably ruined, there was no way Camille wouldn't leak the designs, which meant everyone would assume he had copied them.

With a heavy sigh Magnus heaved his messenger bag over his shoulder and headed out of his office.

"Camille?"

The familiar mop of curls looked up at him, and he was shocked to see she had his cellphone up to her ear.

Had he left it on Catarina's desk? He must have if she was using it.

For moment hope flared in him that she was here to hand in her letter of apology, but was dismayed to notice seconds later that she had simply been clearing her own desk.

"Why do you have my phone?" He demanded, suddenly angry.

Camille lowered it from her face, the same smile on her lips. "Oh, I heard it ringing, figured I should answer, your boyfriend is very nervous by the way."

Magnus scowl darkened. "You're talking to Alexander? Give me that..." He crossed the remainder of the room in a few strides, his hand extended towards her.

She handed him the phone wordlessly.

"Out." He snapped, and she obeyed.

He waited until he was sure she was gone before lifting the phone to his ear.

"Alexander?" Magnus said a hopeful edge in his voice.

"Magnus."

Magnus flinched. The voice on the other end was definitely his Alec, but it sounded colder than normal. His heart gave that painful squeeze again, and he rubbed at his eyes. Shifting he fell into Catarina's chair.

"Having fun with the models are you?"

Ah, he was mad. It was something Camille had said then.

"Alexander please..."

Not today. Not today please. Any other day but today.

"I..." Magnus swallowed thickly. "Today was not enjoyable, I do not know what Camille told you, but please, can we not have this discussion."

Magnus knew he was simply avoiding the topic. He knew Alec had issues with his self-confidence and that his own reputation with men was not likely to simply be swept under the rug so easily but...

"Alright," Alec mumbled, and Magnus instantly regretted what he had said. "I can call back later if you're busy."

He said it in such a simple way, with such a simple tone, without guile or malice, simply assuming and accepting that he was not a priority for Magnus that Magnus felt the need to reassure him otherwise.

"No!"

Magnus' own reply made him flinch at how desperate he sounded. He couldn't let Alec go, not now that the only good thing so far in his day had been to hear Alexander's voice.

"Magnus? Are you alright?"

It was instinct to avoid the question. He didn't need to plague Alexander with his own problems, and although he wanted to desperately unburden himself and throw it all onto someone else . . . he couldn't.

Not to Alexander.

"I'm..." He started. "Just work darling. Stress." That was a good way to sum it up.

Stress; sounded uncomplicated, simple. '"How was your day?" He redirected.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Such a simple question and yet so many different ways to answer, Magnus almost didn't notice how easily Alexander had ignored his diversion.

Magnus closed his eyes.

Hard hands. No air.

He took a deep breath.

"I don't know." Magnus' voice cracked a little at the end. His chest squeezed painfully in on itself.

"I'm taking the bus over; I'll be there in ten, not even."

"Alexander?"

"Yes Magnus?"

He wasn't even sure what he was asking. He was glad Alexander was coming, but at the same time he realised he was going to have to head to his place to meet Alec, and the car drive without a comforting voice in his ear felt... impossible.

He knew it was irrational, but the enormity of the simple task seemed like too much. Alone it seemed insurmountable, but with Alexander it was infinitely possible.

"Can you stay on the phone?"

"Of course Magnus," Alec replied. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Anything, tell me anything, everything." Pathetic. That's how he sounded. "Oh, I don't know..."

Magnus heard Alec shift, "Well, I went out with Max today, and we went to this pet store..."

Magnus listened; he clung to every word and phrase as he made his way home. He drunk in each word like they could be the last he ever heard. Magnus moved through the motions, driving down streets and heading upstairs without even really registering what he was doing.

He couldn't even bring himself to take off his coat.

Alec's words of mumbles, cute laughs, shy remarks and worried questions floated over him.

Magnus lay on his couch, he hadn't bothered to turn on lights or undress out of his coat. He concentrated on Alexander's voice. Filling himself with the words spoken in a desperate attempt to drown out the crowding thoughts and the worries all thundering over him.

If he ignored them and listened to Alec, would they go away?

Would they disappear?

Would his failing career and the ghost of hard hands and harsh words disappear?

There was no telling.

But when the line suddenly cut off Magnus couldn't even bring himself to look up. Not even when he heard the awkward fumble at the door and it swing open.

"Magnus?"

Magnus didn't move his arm was thrown over his eyes.

"Alexander." He replied. His voice was steady enough, but he was afraid of what Alexander would see when he moved his arm.

Magnus stayed in his darkness as Alec made his way over to the couch.

The sound of a door shutting and the telltale sound of crutches did nothing to ease the painful squeezing in his chest.

Magnus wondered if it would go away in time. He was well familiar with the sensation - it was like not being able to breathe.

His legs were lifted off the couch and then the sofa dipped under new weight before his legs were deposited over a warm lap.

A steadying hand drifted over his leg, touching the bare skin around his ankle tenderly - as if he was thing that would shatter in to a million tiny pieces.

Magnus tightened his jaw. He would not break. He hadn't and he never would.

The hand persisted, drawing aimless patterns onto his skin. In the silence Magnus could feel the pain his chest tighten, it welled up until there was a strange misting sensation behind his eyes. The mist stayed there, behind his eyes, held back by his own determination and willpower - until he realised the aimless pattern wasn't so aimless.

Alec was tracing small hearts onto his leg.

He concentrated on the pattern, realising that there were words to, not just hearts.

Alexander was tracing his name.

Magnus didn't know how a finger on the bare skin of his ankle could cause such chaos in his mind, in his chest, but it did.

"Alexander," He murmured. "What are you doing?"

He felt the hands slip off his shoes, and they began to massage at his feet instead.

"Giving you a massage."

"A massage?" The fingers pressed into the bottoms of his feet, gently working out kinks he hadn't known had existed.

Magnus could feel Alec smile.

"Isabelle does them for me all the time, especially when I came home for the first time in years."

Magnus wasn't an idiot; he knew Alec was referring to his time at war.

He hummed. "I see, not that I'm complaining but -" The hands slid up from his feet, working on the sides of his calf muscles. "Why?"

"I don't know," Alexander replied, and Magnus felt his own mouth twist into a bitter smile.

Always so honest.

"You sounded . . upset over the phone, so I figured there must be something I could do to make you feel better."

Magnus stayed silent after that, mulling over the things and the problems swirling and circling in his head. There were so many...

"Do you want to talk about it?" Alexander asked.

Magnus wondered, what could he tell Alec about?

He could tell him about his mother, about his father, and why today was such a shitty day.

He could tell Alec about his problems at work too.

Magnus mulled.

And then he told. He told Alexander about his day, he told him about Sebastian, about Camille, about the fashion line, about the magazine, about the missing letters of apology. He didn't tell Alec about his parents or his past, he didn't tell Alec why he had woken up knowing that it was a shitty day.

". . . So you see," Magnus concluded. "My company, it's going to fall apart, and there's nothing I can do." The painful squeezing in his chest came back, only to be worked away by the tender hands on his feet.

"Well, there's not nothing."

For the first time that evening, Magnus lifted his arm away from his eyes to stare at his boyfriend.

Alec had a thoughtful frown on his face, eyebrows furrowed in an adorable manner, Magnus patiently waited for Alexander to go on.

"I mean, there's always something you can do Magnus. Nothing is a big word to use." Alec continued. "I don't think it's going to be easy, but knowing you, you'll probably spring right back up onto your feet."

Magnus snorted. "So you say,"

"So I know." Alec said.

Magnus let his arm fall back over his eyes.

"Let's not worry about Camille, what is the first thing you need to do Magnus?"

Magnus pursed his lips. "Die."

"Magnus..." Alec's voice sounded strained and Magnus felt immediate guilt. He knew Alexander was trying to help, but it was hard when the situation seemed so hopeless.

"I'm sorry Alexander, I just don't see..."

"Try."

Magnus sighed, it was the least he could do. "I need a new assistant; someone who has good fashion sense, someone who is willing to be a model now and then, and is able to put up with me. I need them to be ready to work in a day or two, not even."

Magnus wasn't terribly surprised when he was met by silence from Alec. For all his efforts he knew Alexander would be as stumped as he was.

"Would you hire someone still in university?"

Magnus lifted his arm again, this time puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Alexander shifted, still looking down at Magnus' feet. He'd been massaging the same few areas for the past few minutes.

"How about Isabelle?" Alexander suggested.

"Isabelle? Your sister?"

Alexander shrugged. "I mean, I suppose she might be busy here and there, but if you give her the job I'm pretty sure she'd drop everything to work for you."

Magnus stared, his mind racing a million miles per hour.

Isabelle Lightwood. She might just be his saving grace.

Magnus sprang up from his position on the couch, his hands clasping on either side of Alec's face he leaned down and kissed him.

"Alexander Lightwood you are a genius." Magnus was grinning; he kept showering small light kisses all over Alec's face - His eyelids, his nose, his cheeks and most of all his lips. Magnus kissed Alexander with as much passion and energy he could summon, hoping and wishing he could let his boyfriend know just how much he loved him through a simple kiss.

Love.

Just like the hearts that had been drawn on his ankles.

His pulled away, staring down at Alec's shocked face. Beautiful blue eyes stared back up at him in surprise.

Magnus grinned, he suddenly had the feeling that everything might just turn out alright, because no matter how much he lost, or how low in the dumps he got, as long as he had Alexander he always had somewhere to return to.