Grilled Cheese
I unlocked the door and the dead bolt then pocketed the key. Gripping the knob I turned it and pushed my way inside the flat with my heart racing and palms slick with sweat. I was so nervous that Magnus would throw a fit and send me out while he stayed home all alone. I breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn't in the living room where there had once been a horde of grinding bodies, and a broken lamp. Now it was empty and spotless. Light green carpeting and tan furniture decorated the room, while across the flat was the spacious kitchen and dinning room, also clean and spotless with stainless steel appliances and stone countertops. Without the pounding of music and the mass of partygoers I could see how stylish and up-to-date the place was. It definitely screamed Magnus.
I made my way into the flat dropping my backpack next to the large sectional before going off to find Magnus. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Yelling and cursing could be heard coming from down the hall that he had once pulled me through to get to a guest room. The memory tried to distract me from my current mission, I shook my head banishing such thoughts. I had to focus on taking care of Magnus, not wayward thoughts or actions. No matter how appealing they might appear I have morals.
Following the "Sialan kau Dasar pelacur. Bagaimana bisa Anda putus dengan dia? Dia mencintai Anda!" down the hall I came to the room that had been completely covered in candles the last time I was in it. But now it was dark, curtains pulled tightly closed, the only light coming from the massive plasma TV hanging on the wall next to the archway I stood in. Magnus was on an overstuffed sofa curled up in a thick quilt and was eating a tub of ice cream, the perfect image of a sick person nursing themselves. His eyes were firmly fixed on the television glaring like heated gemstones as the characters muttered something in another language. It sounded like one of those Korean dramas, but I didn't move. I was staring at Magnus in the faint light before I made myself known. He looked okay, except for the flush that covered his face that was nude of any makeup, and the dark rings under his eyes. He looked exhausted, but he wasn't sleeping, stubborn fool.
"Sialan wanita. Anda semua hanya berbohong dan menipu. Ungrateful bitches." Magnus grumbled around a spoonful of ice cream.
I have know idea what he said but it sounded like a hex on someone's head. Hate to be that person, I hope I'm not that person.
Behind me there was a sudden meow, that sounded like "Bitch move" and I yelped startled.
"Chairman?" Magnus said looking to the floor as a gray fuzz ball whizzed past me and into his lap. "Alexander?" He gapped looking away from the cuddling cat and to me where I stood embarrassed. Church loves doing that too, walking up behind me and scaring me. I think cats have it out for me.
"Umm, yeah. Hi." I stuttered with a small wave.
Magnus just stares at me, and I can't tell if he's mad, or pleased, or indifferent. The TV had gone to a dark commercial bathing the room in a shadowy blue that made everything look creepy and dangerous.
"What are you doing here? How'd you get in here I locked the door." He said jabbing his spoon into the ice cream and it stuck straight up. He sat the tub aside as he pulled the quilt tighter around him, burying the Chairman under the colorful fabric.
I pulled the key out of my pocket with a faint blush, thankfully he can't see it. "You need a better hiding spot." I said as it dangled from the tip of my finger. Magnus' eyes narrowed to almost pin points despite the dark. "Woolsey said I should check on you. He's pretty worried and freaking on everyone down at Warlock." I said before he could explode on me. Though I can understand why he would want to, I just let myself in and practically stalked him to get to this point. Way to go Alec. Moving up on the creep-o-meter.
"OF COURSE he did." Magnus groaned slumping on the sofa. "Woolsey, salaud." He growled pulling the blanket over his face. " Go away!" He yelled from under it.
"But-"
"I said GO AWAY. I don't need a babysitter." Magnus yelled. I quirked a smile. I had never heard him sound so much like a kid. He's always working and surrounded by adults I sometimes forget we're the same age; eighteen.
"I'm not here to babysit you." I said trying to get rid of my smile but can't. He's being way too cute. "I just wanted to make sure you were taking care of yourself properly, and you should be asleep." I stepped towards him and Chairman Meow croaked a groan. How old is that cat? He sounds ancient.
Magnus stayed under his quilt muttering something in I think it was French. He apparently likes to use French when he really wants to curse. I moved closer still smiling unable to stop as I stood in front of him. I could now see what ice cream he was eating -Panda Paws, my favorite- and the design of the quilt, it was made of hand painted patches each with their own pattern. It looked to be made for a child, it was cute. I wonder who made it, it wasn't over the top like everything else Magnus owned.
"Come on Magnus. You won't get better if you just stay up and watch," I looked over at the TV to see the credits of the show he was watching scroll by. "Whatever that is." I can't read Korean.
"It's called Volleyball Lover, and it's awesome." Magnus defended his program. "Go away now!" He ordered all from under his quilt like a cranky six-year-old. God he was being too cute.
"Is that all you've eaten today?" I asked ignoring his demands.
"Yeah, but it doesn't matter to you." He fought.
"Do you like grilled cheese?" I picked up the pint of ice cream.
"Who doesn't. Leave."
"With or without crust?"
"Without. Go away."
"Lemonade or orange juice?"
"OJ. Get out."
I smiled to myself as I left the room with the ice cream and made my way to Magnus' kitchen. He might want me to leave but he likes to be babied, nut who doesn't like to be spoiled on occasion. As I began cooking in the well stocked and fancy kitchen I could hear Magnus yelling at the TV as he started watching something else. It wasn't in English and I couldn't even begin to guess what was going on that had Magnus in a pickle. When the food was done I went back to the den and handed the plate to Magnus who had pull the quilt over his face hiding from me. I sat the orange juice on the side table while he began eating. Chairman Meow was curled around Magnus' side furry face buried into the boy's thigh.
"This is good." Magnus muttered with half his sandwich gone.
"Thanks." I said hovering by the archway.
"You can leave now." He said around a mouth full.
"Are you going to go to sleep?" I challenged.
"What's it matter to you if I do or don't sleep?" He said in a low tone.
"You can't get better unless you sleep. Everyone is worried about you. They want you to get better." I said staring at the bobbing blanketed head.
Magnus scoffed. "They only want me back to work so they can get their paychecks."
"That's not why I want you better, or what Woolsey wants." I stated and I blushed. I can't believe I just said that out loud. I'm must have caught Magnus' cold and I'm delirious.
"Oh and what pray tell do you mean by that, Alexander?" He asked lifting his head so I could see his eyes under the edge of his quilt. Black hair hung around his face and was beginning to frizz from the static.
I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat from the way he said my whole name. He was still mad about when I snapped at him at my house. I shouldn't have said he couldn't call me Alec, but yesterday I thought I fixed that. Maybe I did something else to make him so mad.
"Well," I wetted my dry lips trying to gather the words I wanted to say. "I'm your friend. . . At least that's what I want to be. You can call me Alec, I'm sorry about what I said at my house. I was just upset and didn't mean most of what I said." My face burned more. That was so embarrassing.
Magnus was quiet for a while nibbling away on the last of his grilled cheese. His green eyes on my face, which only made me more flustered and embarrassed.
"You confuse me, Alec." He said finished with his food. My heart leapt for joy that he used my nickname. He made a face and added, "No I think I'll stick with Alexander. Everyone calls you Alec, how dull and boring." He petted the Chairman and the cat purred happily.
My eyes widened. "So does this mean-?"
"Welcome to the Bane circle of friends. It's a very exclusive club, count yourself lucky you made the cut." He smirked and my heart raced in my chest.
I was happy. Really happy. I thought for sure he would continue to hate me or push me away after what I yelled at him. Magnus waved me over to the couch and I joined him with a spring in my step. He pushed his cat over to make room and we sat there watching foreign dramas. Magnus had nearly hit me with his cat when I said i don't speak Korean. "I don't speak Korean either. It's Chinese you dope." He had said then muttered something that sounded like a lot of breathy vowels. "Nǐ shì xìngyùn de, nǐ hěn kě'ài."
"What does that mean?" I asked raising a brow.
"Means you're a moron." He murmured pulling the quilt so it covered the side of his face that I could see.
"Oh." Was all I said looking back to the TV. There were subtitles at the bottom of the screen now. Magnus must have down it with the remote he held in his hands. Though it was a small gesture it still meant a lot to me. We were friends, and he was being nice, teasing and calling me names, but nice nevertheless.
When the drama ended I was at a complete lost. I didn't know what was going on or who was what, but Magnus seemed to be pleased with how it ended. He clicked off the TV and stood up knocking the Chairman to the ground with an unpleasant yowl. Then the cat trotted off while Magnus turned to look at me. "I'm going to bed." He stated still hold the blanket around him.
"Good, you look exhausted." I said also getting to my feet.
"Thanks for coming over, and cooking for me, and checking on me, and . . . " He trailed off as we made our wa down the small hall. He stopped at a white door his back to me.
"It's not a problem. It's what friends do." I said happily.
"And for being my friend." He said opening the door. Inside the room was a burst of color and sparkles and piles of clothes everywhere. Without a doubt this was Magnus' room.
"Yeah." I said feeling really happy. My heart was racing and I could feel the blood rise in my cheeks. Today went better than I thought. Congratz Alec! I cheered for myself.
Magnus stepped into his room still not looking at me. "You can keep that key." He said and I had completely forgotten I still had his house key in my pocket. "I'm staying home tomorrow too, I want chicken soup tomorrow from the local deli."
"Umm, okay." I said in shock.
"Okay then, bye Alexander." He smirked over his shoulder before closing his door behind him. I'm not sure but I think his face was redder than earlier, maybe his fever rose. I hope not.
As I walk down the small hall I can't help but smile like an idiot. The key in my hand and it shined dully in the sunlight filtering through the giant windows in Magnus' home. He wanted me to come back tomorrow. He was expecting me to, and by my Guardian Angel that keeps smiling down at me I will be coming over tomorrow. My life finally seemed to be going down the right track, less complications and more happiness. I was approaching a tunnel and I could see the bright beautiful welcoming light at the end of it.
Hope you enjoyed Nursemaid Alec and nervous Magnus. :) Also a side note that Chinese Magnus says doesn't translate on google so I'll just tell you what it says
"Nǐ shì xìngyùn de, nǐ hěn kě'ài." = "You're lucky you're cute."
Another side note, Volleyball Lover is an actual thing. I've never watched it, but I thought it funny to make Magnus watch one of Godfrey Gao's dramas so I did.
Tomorrow I announce the winner of my small contest and post a special Magnus Bane chapter. Just so you guys know it is a flashback chapter not continuing from from where this chapter left off.
Thank you for reading and remember to leave reviews ^^