Chapter 8

Disclaimer: The Characters are not mine, I just make them do what I want

I haven't proof-read this chap or the last, so I'll probably go over and update them another time.

Temporary Paradise

"How many times can I break before I shatter"- O.A.R

As soon as the words left Alec's mouth, he wanted to take them back. "I killed my brother."

Why had he said that? Sure it was true, but why had he felt the need to entrust this burden that weighed so heavily on his heart to someone he barely knew. Plus what he had with Magnus, although very new, was good...and Alec had surely ruined his chances by confessing to manslaughter.

However Magnus surprised him. He didn't gasp, or back away or laugh. He just looked steadily into Alec's eyes and whispered, "tell me….tell me about him."

Alec's heart was thumping so hard he could barely breathe, but he found that he actually wanted to tell Magnus about what he had done. "Well," he started, his voice strangled, "Max was my baby brother. He was nine years younger than me and Isabelle and I adored him. My dad left when I was little and my Mum was constantly working, so we could pay for food and stuff. This meant that I looked after Max and Isabelle, I fed them, drove them to school and made sure Max was happy and Izzy didn't get pregnant. I was always the responsible one, always looking out for them" his words were gushing out now and he was gasping for breath.

A hand clasped his own and he saw Magnus staring back at him. He calmed down slightly, before continuing. "One day, Max was out a friends and Isabelle was trying to persuade me to go to a party with her. I didn't want to, but I was worried that if she went alone something would happen to her, so I went. I got horribly drunk, although I hadn't had that much experience with alcohol, so I don't think I fully realized just how drunk I was. The party went all through the night and the next morning, when I remembered I had to pick Max up. I was still pretty drunk, but I was absolutely adamant that I could handle something as simple as driving a car, so I ignored Isabelle and went."

He stopped, as memories of the night flooded his brain. The screeching brakes, the face of the diver in the other car, Max's scream. "Alec…." Magnus said, pulling him back to the present.

"I crashed the car. I fractured two ribs and suffered serious concussion. They said it was a miracle I was still alive….Max wasn't so lucky." He choked on the guilt and pain that the memory brought up. Magnus' soft finger stroked his cheek and Alec realized he was crying.

"It wasn't your fault," the man murmured, still caressing him, "people make mistakes Alec...I'm sure Max would have forgiven you." Alec sobbed, unable to hold his emotions in. He leaned into Magnus' muscled chest and the man's arms wrapped around him tight. Alec knew that Max would have forgiven him, but that didn't change the fact that his brother's death was his fault.

Neither of them spoke for a long time they just sat there, entwined around each other. Alec's fist clutching Magnus' shirt and the man's hand in Alec's hair. Then Alec leaned back, breaking the embrace and stared into golden green eyes. "Thank you," he whispered, "I-I'm glad we met."

Magnus smiled back, "so am I" and he leaned forward, pressing his lips against Alec's.

The kiss was soft and sweet and nothing like Alec had anticipated. He had though kisses to be wet and clumsy, a primal attempt to connect, but this…. Magnus' lips were feather-light on his, moving ever so slightly, sending tingles across Alec' skin. He felt a hand gently comb through his hair and he in turn ran his fingers down Magnus' side. He felt teeth nibble slightly on his bottom lip and he shivered with pleasure pressing closer to the other man.

That's when the kiss caught fire. It grew hotter and hotter, until Alec felt as if his entire body was on fire. He felt his lips being parted and something warm and wet slid into his mouth. Magnus clearly knew his stuff, as after a few minutes more Alec felt as he could fly. He ran shaking hands all over Magnus' toned body until his fingers settled on the buttons of Magnus' tight shirt.

"ALEC!"

A loud voice broke through Alec's paradise, shattering it to pieces and nearly causing him to fall from the window ledge.

Jace stood in the garden, looking around for the missing boy. Alec gulped, immensely glad, Jace hadn't seen his, but disappointed that his kiss had been cut short. He looked at Magnus, nervous. "um, I should probably go now," he said, once Jace had stormed back into the house.

Magnus nodded, looking out-of-it. Alec lowered himself onto the gnarled branch that grew just below Magnus' window. "Alec wait," Magnus said and Alec turned back immediately. The taller man lent down and, cupping Alec's face, gave him a chaste kiss. "here" he said, hastily scribbling a number onto Alec's hand, "call me."

Alec grinned and nodded, trying his best not to fall out of the tree.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Hours later, when the music and lights of the party had faded to nothing, Magnus lay on his bed, daydreaming. Alexander Lightwood had surprised him. He had managed to get Magnus' heart racing with the smallest of smiles, then broke it with his sobs. Then there was the kiss. Magnus had given it some thought and he had decided that the kiss he had shared with Alec was the best one he'd ever had and he'd had many (many, many, many) kisses.

It had been so soft and sweet, full of tingles and promise. He loved the way that Alec touched him, as if Magnus was a fragile piece of art that he was honoured to be near. Then the kiss had ignited, shooting flames through Magnus' body and filling his mind with passion. He didn't think anyone had ever made him react as strongly as Alec did, and if the blond douche hadn't interrupted them, Magnus didn't know what would have happened.

He hoped that Alec had enjoyed the kiss as much as he had, although a part of his brain murmured that maybe Alec had only kissed him because he was upset. Thinking about the story Alec had told him it would've been understandable. Having lost someone himself, he understood the pain and guilt that Alec must feel every day. But he stood by what he said, that it was not Alec's fault. When Magnus thought about the many times he'd driven home drunk, he thanked the lords that he hadn't suffered the same fate as Max Lightwood.

Magnus was pulled abruptly out of his reverie by the front door slamming loudly. He frowned and checked his watch, it was four in the morning and Agatha had left hours ago. Who could it be? Then he heard a familiar deep voice and his heart sank, his father was home

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Anzo Bane was rich, handsome and a true businessman. He could charm ladies into his bed with a single look from his enticing blue eyes; he could bribe even the strictest of police officers into seeing things from his point of view and he could open businesses across the world in a single day. But if there was one thing he didn't have, it was patience.

Magnus remembered years ago, before his father's brand: Downworlders, had become so big. Anzo and Sarwendah (Magnus' mother) had been very much in love. They had met in Indonesia when he, fresh from university and undergoing a tour of the world, happened to run into local heart-throb: Sarwendah...and she was beautiful. Her hair was darker than ebony and fell to her waist in delicate curls, she wore dresses of silk (gifts from her many suitors) and her almond shaped eyes were a smooth, chocolate brown. It didn't matter that she spoke indonesian and he american. Or that his tanned skin was so different from her's. They were in love, and that was all that mattered.

Years later when they had moved to America and Anzo had started to form a company called, Downworlders, they had a baby boy. Magnus was loved by his parents and grew up happy and content. However as Anzo grew more and more successful, he began to change. He became arrogant, power driven and insatiable. Nearly everything made him angry and he became less interested in Sarwendah and Magnus, and more in his bank account.

Magnus remembered waking up one night to hear his parents screaming at each other. His mother was shouting that Anzo didn't care about anything but his work and that marrying him was a mistake, while his father agreed and claimed that his life would be easier without the burdens of family life holding him back. This had hurt Magnus, as neither of his parents seemed to really want him at all. The argument had gone on for hours and had ended with a loud crash and some quiet sobbing. After that it happened every night.

Then nearly a year ago Magnus had awoke one morning in hospital, his leg broken, his lungs bruised and with no memory of the night before. The doctors had told him that an armed robbery had taken place at his house and that his mother had been stabbed and had died on the way to the hospital. Magnus remembered crying and begging to see his father, only to be told he had left for work.

To this day Magnus was unable to remember what had happened that night. All he knew was that he was constantly plagued by nightmares, his father was barely there and his mother was never coming back.

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"Magnus," a drunken voice called loudly from downstairs. Magnus sat, frozen on his bed, his father wasn't meant to be back so soon he was in Italy. "Magnus!" the voice shouted again, louder this time, "get your ass down here, there's someone I want you to meet." Still in shock, Magnus slipped of his bed and made his way downstairs.

In the hallway stood Magnus' father, looking drunk and slightly insane. His golden hair was slicked back with copious amounts of grease, his shirt was untucked and he held a mostly empty bottle of booze in his hand. Clinging to his waist, was a giggling lady- who looked around 18- with large breasts and platinum hair. "Magnus," his father slurred, "this is my girlfriend, she's wonderful, the most beautiful lady I've ever met." He shot Magnus a spiteful look and curled his lip slightly.

Magnus felt blood boil in his veins, there was no way he was going to sit and watch as this man disrespected his mother's memory. "Oh" he cried, trying to look pleased, "Emma, I'm so glad to finally meet you. I heard you're an English teacher, that's great." The girl furrowed her brows, "My name isn't Emma"

Magnus put on an awkward expression, "oooh…..sorry….you must be Charlotte then" The girls mouth fell open and she looked distressed, "My name is Jessamine! Ben, are you seeing other women?" Magnus snorted, "my father's name is Anzo." Shooting one last heartbroken glance at the blond man, who stood there silent and shocked, the girl ran from the house, slamming the door.

Magnus smirked triumphantly, but the smile faded when he saw the anger in his father's face. "How dare you" he growled, stepping closer to Magnus. Magnus felt his throat tighten in fear, but tried not to show it. "Don't pretend like you cared about that wannabe Barbie girl" he retorted, turning to go back upstairs.

However before he could retreat to safety, slender fingers closed around his wrist and pulled him back. "That doesn't matter," his father spat, "I wanted her and you got in the way. Not that I'm surprised, you always get in the way you good-for-nothing piece of faggoty shit." He slapped Magnus hard round the face, pushing him back into the mahogany bookshelves. Magnus winced as the wood slammed into his back, but didn't make a noise.

He was so terrified he couldn't speak, move or even breathe. It was ridiculous. He knew that he could easily take on Anzo Bane, but...he just couldn't.

"I should've left when you were born, god….I just never knew you'd turn out like this" He snarled and left the room.

After a few more minutes Magnus clambered to his feet and made his way to his bedroom. He felt sick. With his father and himself. Although Magnus was usually a very self-confident person, hearing his father call him, weak and unwanted and disgusting….it made him hate himself. Magnus curled up on his massive empty bed and tried to hold himself together, as bolts of pain shot through his skull. The headache was back.

A/N
So overall a pretty traumatic chapter, despite the hot malec make-out. If you're wondering about why I decided to call Magnus' father Anzo (I know it's a weird name) it's because Magnus means great and Anzo means giant. I wanted to show that even at birth Magnus' father was saying that Magnus was like him, but still inferior. And Sarwendah is a traditional Indonesian name that means "wholly Beautiful" as I feel Magnus sees his mother as beautiful inside and out. So if you don't like the names then sorry, I tried.

Another short chapter, but actually this chap and the previous where originally meant to be one chapter, so that's why they're short.

So I finished COHF...I cried and squealed and then sat for an hour thinking before starting again.

Reviews:

Sharkprotector- HA! another one falls for my little trick :P thanks for reviewing x

Anairafuji- Hi, Sorry if this goes horribly wrong: Gracias por revisar usted. Si hay alguien que puede sanar el corazón de Magnus es Alec :) mucho amor xx

Bloodyravenheart13- Yer I gave away a few too many hints, you should defiantly try writing that fic your talking about, sounds like a great idea. I would have made Robert a cruel, overly religious father, but I did that in my last fic. Plus Maggies dad is enough. Wow 50 stories, I am extremly impressed, I'll give some a read :) x

adelsaro- I like that part too, Alec is so adorable. I love cliffhangers, but only when I'm writing them so I'll understand if you murder me in my sleep. Naff is an english word that means "a bit rubbish". Mostly only grannies use it but i tossed it in there.

dancing slowly- Good thing I updated today or I would have had a dead body on my hands. I love it when readers pick up on little things I've added to the malec relationship. You can never be too fabulous ;)

Guest- hehehe, cliffies are my speciality.

RangerofFiction- It was meant to be long but I just saw the opportunity to build suspense and I took it!

D- what an enigmatic name, but I like it. (I've always liked the D) sorry, inappropriate but I couldn't resist. This story is getting more complex every chapter, i really hope I can remember what happened.

Guest (the other one)- now you know...hope it wasn't an anticlimax.

Phantom of the Claw- awww, I'm glad I made you happy. I genuinly love your fic and I hope you update it one day, and thaks for the granny my cooking is terrible so she will most definatly come in handy. Dw worry bout the rant thing, practically everything I say is a rant :) xx

AngelWithASeraphBlade- IKR, and after this chap I bet you hate Magnus' dad even more. Here is the update, I'm posting it in my PJ's whilst I wait for my friend to come round.

Reader7264- Alec blames himself for everything, but at least Magnus is there to try and help. I hope you lliked the convo and no problem for the shout out, anytime.

Pip- TOMORROW IS HERE! thanks dollface ;)

Ana-DaughterofHades- I have a degree in evil ;)

RedCoral- They are very mysterious boys, it just dawned on me that there will be no more TMI books...:'(

bessie-loves-malec- I was atchually hesitant to do this kind of depressing high school story as it's very cliche, but I'm glad I'm surprising you. COHF was amazing, I cried, so much. love and hugs right back at ya xxx

Thanks for all the reviews, you guys are beyond awesome
lots of virtual love
Amy
xxx