Alec sat idly outside the infirmary door, twiddling his thumbs and casting nervous towards the door awaiting Magnus to update them on his sister's condition. In front of him he watched as Jace paced back and forth in front of him, with Clary whispering words of comfort to Simon nearby (talking to either Jace or Alec at the point was futile). Eventually, the sound of a door opening got all of their attention and Alec leapt to his feet, Jace stopped pacing and Clary and Simon's attention snapped to the warlock now joining them in the hallway.
"Is she alright?" Simon asked beating everyone else who was about to ask the same exact thing.
Magnus nodded, leaning against the door, his entire posture showing just how exhausted he must have felt. Though most of Alec's concern was for Isabelle, he felt a ping of the same thing for his former boyfriend.
Maybe it was more than a ping.
"She's fine, just waking up, which is why it took so long for me to update you all on her condition. She's exhausted right now, but awake if you would like to go in and see her," he looked directly at Simon, Clary, and Jace, "she was asking specifically for you three actually."
The hurt was visible on Alec's face and he saw Jace turn to him and give him a sympathetic look, which he waved off. He was going to go in there either way, she was his sister after all and he had every right to check on her. A tan hand on his wrist stopped him from entering behind his friends, however. Alec yanked his hand from the offender and turned to glare at the warlock.
"She's my sister," Alec insisted.
"Yes," Magnus conceded, "but she specifically requested to speak to you alone, after she spoke to them. She also asked if I could explain certain things to you while she speaks with them."
Alec studied the warlock a moment, contemplating his words. While there almost no one on Earth as excited for Magnus and Alec to be together than Izzy, he had no idea why she would put them talking in front of his checking up on her. It was his brotherly duty after all.
Magnus grabbed Alec's hand this time, his grip gentle, and he locked eyes with Alec, "It's important."
"Well, alright then, but can we be quick about it? I want to make sure Izzy's alright."
Magnus nodded, gesturing for Alec to lead the way, and with one last glance back at the infirmary and seeing a barely awake Isabelle whispering to Jace and the others, he did so, leading the way to his bedroom for privacy. He opened his door, allowing Magnus to enter first before following, catching gray eyes following his movement; he gave Jasper a nod of reassurance before he closed his bedroom door behind Magnus and himself.
Once inside the room, a nervousness he hadn't felt in a long time crept up inside his stomach. He realized that being in such a small enclosed space with a man who had the ability to turn his muscles to mush in mere seconds was likely the reason for it. In order to maintain some control over his own emotions, he leaned back against the door, getting as much distance between him and Magnus as he could. It wasn't very effective, but it was better than nothing.
"So, what was it you had to say?" Alec asked, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible.
Magnus glanced up, having had been looking at Alec's room, which was mostly bare of any indication that a person lived there, with the exception of clothing and toiletry items.
"Your sister was attacked by a Drabon demon," Magnus explained, still sounding exhausted.
Alec nodded, "Yes, Jasper explained that to me earlier. Is that all you had to say?"
At the mention of Jasper's name, Alec could have sworn he saw a flash of something like jealousy behind Magnus's eyes. But maybe that was just once again wishful thinking on his part.
Magnus Bane. Jealous? The thought alone would make Alec laugh out loud if it weren't for the seriousness of the current situation.
"They have been extinct since 1907, and yes I do know the exact date as I was there when the declaration was made."
Alec just nodded as Magnus's past experiences were no longer much of a surprise to him.
"This means that something no longer here attacked your sister. . ." Magnus continued, as if Alec wasn't catching on.
He rolled his eyes, "Yes, I also caught onto that, but why do we need to talk about that privately? I'm sure it would be much more productive to hold such a meeting in the library with everyone else so they can offer their insight. I for one am not one to go to in this situation, I only vaguely remember Hodge talking about them in History class and that was a long time ago and what we were taught wouldn't be the least bit helpful in this situation."
Magnus sighed whether it was from exhaustion or annoyance Alec couldn't quite tell.
"The point isn't the type of demon, Alec. It's that what attacked your sister is supposed to be extinct, it is extinct actually. This means there is something or someone very powerful behind all of this and they're after you."
"How do you know there is anything or anyone behind it? And- wait, what? After me? What in the hell are you getting at Magnus?" Alec asked, the last part of Magnus's statement catching up with him.
Magnus looked at Alec sadly, "This is what I have been wanting to tell you Alec, and I know I should have explained this to you as soon as I got here, years ago really, but I guess explain everything now will have to do."
Alec felt a lump in his throat and he had no idea why as he didn't feel the need to cry whatsoever, but he simply inclined his head for Magnus to continue. Magnus, thankfully, seemed to understand.
"I guess I should begin with where I was when you called. . ."
FLASHBACK
The buzzing of Magnus's alarm alerted him to a meeting he had with a certain vengeful warlock. He headed to where he knew Donavan would want to meet, despite the warlock's cryptic message; Magnus more than knew his type. The stench of dog, alcohol and other rather unpleasant smells alerted Magnus to the fact he was near to their meeting place.
Magnus leaned against the cleanest wall he could find, took a thin blue cigarette from his coat pocket and lighting it with a spark on the end of his fingers. The smoke drifted about, surrounding him, making the air as unclear as his thoughts were at the moment.
"Careful with those things Bane, they may send you to an early grave."
Magnus turned to glare in the direction in which the voice had come from, putting out said cigarette as he did so.
"Been smoking for the one hundred and fifty years, I'm not worried."
A dark laugh followed, "If only the mundanes knew a demonic heritage could actually be a good thing."
"If only." Magnus replied, wanting to keep the banter short.
"So, I see you deciphered my message, I wondered if you would."
Magnus rolled his eyes, "Not very original if you ask me and all too predictable coming from the likes of you."
Donavan sneered, his dark eyes shadowed by the shade of the alleyway in which they were standing.
"I apologize for that then, you see being held captive in this . . . other dimension has made me a bit rusty. I do however trust that the predictability of our meeting location hasn't made it any less . . . enigmatic? I believe I can see your Nephilim's blood stains from where we're standing."
Magnus felt his chest tighten and his breath caught in his throat, "I warned you to leave him out of this."
"And I didn't listen, as you knew I wouldn't. That's why you're here is it not? To protect your boy toy, even while he frolics with his own kind?"
Blue sparks danced across Magnus's fingertips, "What he does is none of your business, and of course I'm here, I knew what you were planning the moment I saw you at the institute in New York, Donavan. If you have a problem, take it out with me, not on Alexander or any of his family or friends."
Donavan chuckled, "But that's what I'm doing Magnus, isn't it? Let's face it, death is far from the worst thing that can happen to us, it's inevitable after all. The suffering of a loved one though? That's nearly unbearable. I should know, I saw it with my own eyes and was helpless to do a thing, something you may know a thing or two about, I bet watching your former boy toy writhe in pain damn near killed you."
Magnus just stared at the man who had once been his friend, mentor even, unsure of what to say, knowing anything he said could be used against him or even further angry this already deranged man. The buzzing of his cell phone got both of their attentions, and Donavan's face lit up with a sneer as Magnus ignored the call.
"You shouldn't ignore calls like that, some people consider it rude."
"Some would consider it rude to answer the phone during such a stimulating conversation."
A soft laugh, as his phone buzzed again a few minutes later, "Answer that Bane, I insist."
Magnus stared at the man, before deciding to do so, "Hello? Alec?"
His heartbeat sped up and the cracking of Alec's voice broke Magnus's heart more than he thought possible.
"I'll be there shortly." Magnus promised, hanging up and staring at the warlock in front of him in disbelief.
"You messed with his sister?"
Another spine chilling laugh, "Yes, and you should be getting to her, a warlock's magic is impertinent in situations such as this one, a second too late . . . and you never know the consequences."
A poof and then Donavan was gone, leaving Magnus little time to wonder what he meant as he took off to the institute.
END FLASHBACK
Alec blinked in disbelief and confusion as the story came to an end.
"So this. . . Donavan guy attacked Izzy to get to me to get back at you?"
Magnus nodded, wanting so badly to grab hold of Alec's hand and give him some measure of comfort as the Shadowhunter absorbed the information. He knew that that was probably the last thing Alec wanted though, and if it were possible to make any more distance between them than Alec would.
Alec just nodded slowly, gnawing on his lower lip, surprising Magnus as he stepped closer to him and away from the door he had been leaning against.
"So, what did you mean when you said you should have told me this years ago?" Alec slowly asked, once again surprising Magnus.
Of course, this was Alec the boy who wanted to know why Magnus hadn't called as a battle was going on around them. Alec always surprised him, which was saying a lot for a warlock of his age.
"Donavan visited me years ago, it's why I did what I did Alexander, I did it to protect you."
"You broke up with me in order to protect me?" Alec whispered, voice disbelieving.
Magnus nodded, wanting to explain more but a knock on Alec's door interrupted his chance. Alec turned and opened the door, an annoyed expression on his face. The expression dissipated however when Alec saw who was on the other side of the door. The curly brown hair set off a spark of something Magnus hadn't felt since he first started seeing Alec, and that was jealousy. Seeing the way Alec softened when the boy entered made him think, and not for the first time, if there was something more than just hooking up going on between the two. He would still protect Alec, even if he would never call him his again, but that wouldn't mean it wouldn't hurt like hell to see Alec truly move on.
"Your sister was asking for you, and she used some rather . . . colorful words to say what would happen if you weren't there in the next five minutes."
Alec chuckled, a soft laugh that didn't sound truly happy, "Tell her I'll be there in just a moment."
Jasper nodded, "Of course."
"Thanks Jasper."
Jasper smiled and left the room, closing the door softly behind him. Alec turned and ran a hand through his hair, "Do you mind if we finish this conversation later?"
"Of course not, whenever you're ready, I'll be here." Magnus replied, hoping Alec knew his statement applied to more than just the situation they were in.
The corner of Alec's mouth twitched and he nodded, "Alright then."
Magnus returned the nod and watched as Alec left, and he leaned back against Alec's bed, where he had been sitting since he began his story. He inhaled the scent of his former lover and knew that he never would feel quite as content as he did when he had Alec around him, safe and sound.