Here you go. Enjoy.
The café was not that far away from The Institute. It seemed to be directly in the between it and Magnus' loft in Brooklyn. The thought ordinarily would have made me smile if I wasn't freaking out on the inside.
We will be in public! Where everyone and anyone can see. I thought starting to panic. Yesterday, we were alone. No one had to know. And no one did. But now someone will know. Someone will see. And what if someone I know sees? Or even worse, someone who knows my parents? Hell, if someone who knows the mother of my parent's, friend's, cousin sees us my parents would know in a matter of just a few minutes considering how fast rumors and gossip spread throughout the Shadowhunter world.
I can't do this. I thought while stopping abruptly. I could see people around me complaining but didn't care. I was too lost in thought.
What was I thinking agreeing to this? I mean, I know what I was thinking but this definitely isn't a good idea. No it is not. I should just go back home and say I got caught up. But the thought of him waiting for me, only one block away, was too tempting.
I started walking again and it was like my legs were moving without my consent.
But what if somebody really does see us?! I thought again growing more and more worried. But I really want to see him. When I'm with him, I am happy. I haven't felt that way in a long time.
It will be fine. I tried to assure myself. As long as he doesn't try to kiss me and we just talk there is no harm in that.
I stopped in front of the right address. I almost missed it. It was so discreet, it blended in with the surrounding buildings. I was expecting flashy. Something like Starbucks. But this... I don't think anyone even notices it.
Am I in the wrong place? I thought for a second. Did I get the address wrong?
But no. The writing on my arm had disappeared which means that I hadn't.
I put my doubts aside and went inside.
The inside was also nothing special. Everything was just normal and plain. The flashiest thing in there was… Magnus?
He was sitting at the farthest corner of the café. If he wasn't dressed so loudly I wouldn't have even seen him. When he saw me he smiled, making my heartbeat quicken. I only hesitated for a moment before making my way towards him.
As I did, I scanned the room out of reflex. There were only two other people, aside from the waitress, and they seemed to not be paying attention to me at all. I relaxed a little. But only a little.
Is he worth it? I asked myself. Is he worth this risk?
"Hi." I greeted, sitting in the seat across from him.
"I was beginning to think you wouldn't show."
"Why?" I asked confused. Does he really think I am cowardly enough to do that to him? I did think about it but I don't believe I could actually do it.
"Well you seem like someone who is always punctual," He began. "Not liking to be late. Am I right?"
It was a little unsettling how well he can read me in the short amount of time we have known each other.
"I was only late because of the traffic." And turning around three times. I added in my head but left out of the conversation. There is no reason for him to know about that.
"I have to admit." He began after a short silence."I thought it would take a lot more to get you out in the public. "
I didn't say anything to that. Because he was right. I didn't think I would go out in public with him either.
"Even though you do look like you are ready to run if necessary." He observed with some amusement.
"I do not."
"Then why are you sitting at the edge of the chair and glancing towards the door every so often?" He asked, quirking an eyebrow.
I am?! I thought fully turning towards after Magnus catching myself in the act. I didn't even notice.
"Sorry. I didn't even notice." I apologized looking straight into his eyes.
"Don't worry about it." He smiled. "This is a big step for you. I am proud."
I smiled a little.
"This isn't the most popular place is it?" I said changing the subject. "I was expecting something more…" What did I expect? Neon signs and spotlights?
"Flashy?" He finished for me. "I didn't think you would be up to that. Baby steps."
That's when the waitress came over.
"What can I get you?" She asked, only looking at me, with a seductive smile on her face.
She was ok I guess. Blond and skinny, but not to skinny. To me she was no different than any other girl I've ever seen so I didn't give her much attention.
"Tea." Said Magnus without taking his eyes off me.
"And you handsome?" She said not even glancing at Magnus, which was probably for the best because his cat eyes narrowed at that.
"He will have tea also." He answered before I could.
She glanced at him which made me sigh in relief because the attention was finally off of me.
I saw Magnus's expression then. He looked at her in a way that said 'Back off! He is mine!'
She paled a little and looked at me questioningly, smile gone. I could see she was not asking about the tea.
I pretended I didn't see any of it though, not wanting to say anything I'll regret. "Tea would be nice." I said politely.
She left after that looking a little disappointed.
Because of me? That had never happened before. Maybe because I was never out without Jace. When girls see Jace they don't see the tall boy beside him but I'm not complaining, I like it that way. This was all new to me. First Magnus. Now her. It makes me want to stop going out alone.
"How do you know about this place anyway?" I asked needing something to talk about.
"I know every nook and cranny in all of New York. You don't become The High Warlock without knowing everything." He answered focusing on me again with a smile.
"You can't know everything." I argued.
"Oh, but I can." Seeing my disbelieving look he continued, "Ok, maybe not everything. But I do know a lot."
The waitress was back with our drinks. She put them down on the table and walked away without a word, avoiding both of our eyes.
In the silence that followed I started to play with the hem of my sweater.
"Seriously darling?" He said suddenly, eyeing it.
"What?" I asked confused.
"Don't you have anything else than that in that closet of yours? "
I blushed at the reference and looked down at it myself before asking, "What is wrong with it?"
"It has holes in it Alexander." He said, leaning over the table and poking a finger through one of them to emphasize his point.
I slapped his hand away.
"It's comfortable." I pointed out.
"You look like a homeless person."
"Maybe. But it's doing its job."
"And that is?" He looked curious now.
"Keeping me warm and making me invisible. Unnoticeable."
"I noticed you." He pointed out, sipping his tea.
"I still don't get why you did. There is nothing special about me." I said looking down at my hands.
"Everything about you is special." He insisted looking shocked that I could think anything different. I didn't try to argue because I knew it was a lost cause arguing with him about anything.
"Your eyes." He said suddenly.
My head snapped up. "What?" I looked at him confused.
"The first thing I noticed about you." He explained like it is the most obvious thing in the world. "It wasn't your clothes, or those ratty thing you call clothes anyway, but your beautiful blue eyes."
"Why?" I asked. "They are nothing special."
"Your eyes are special." He said patiently. "They are the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen."
I blushed.
"Why did you want to meet here so soon?" After realizing how that must have sounded I quickly backtracked, "I am not complaining. Just wondering."
He smiled at me widely. "I had an opening between clients and wanted to see you. My schedule is usually pretty packed so an opportunity to go out was too tempting."
"What does the job of a High Warlock actually consist of?" I asked curious.
"Whatever my clients need. Spells. Curses. Potions. I do it all. For the right price of course. It also depends on what mood I am in and whether or not I like him/her. If they are annoying me, I refuse my services and if they still won't go away I just turn them into toads. It's an easy deal. " He grinned. "I must admit, I can't imagine you killing demons. You look too… Innocent for that."
"I am not!" I argued blushing. No one has ever called me that.
"Alexander, you spend three quarters of your time blushing." He looked very amused by this.
"It is not my fault." I bowed my head so he couldn't see my blush anymore.
After that, I drank my tea in silence for a minute, debating whether or not I should tell him.
"I've never actually done it." I admitted ashamed.
"Did what?"
"Killed a demon." It felt good to finally say it out loud. "That is Jace's job. He is great at hand to hand combat. I am better with a bow."
He eyed me in silence before he spoke, "I can't figure you out."
"What do you mean?" I was confused.
"You are a eighteen year old, gay, Shadowhunter who has never even killed a demon. " He said and I winced even though I knew he hadn't meant it as an insult.
"I don't get it." He continued, looking troubled. "I have met a lot of Shadowhunters in my life. But you...You are so much different from any of them."
"I am not that different." I mumbled.
"Yes you are. In all my years I have seen a lot and I had begun to think that nothing could surprise me at this point. But you do. Everything about you is so different from any of the other Shadowhunters I have met in the past. There is no arrogance, overconfidence or cockiness. Just you. And I love that, don't get me wrong. The fact that you are so different is one of the things I like about you. It makes me rethink everything."
At the end of his speech I was blushing under his gaze and desperate for a change of subject. There was too much attention solely focused on me. Something he had said stood out to me though.
"How old are you anyway?" I asked after some consideration. He can't be that old, can he?!
"Three hundred." He said nonchalantly. He sounded like he was talking about his favorite color instead of living for three centuries.
Thankfully I had already finished my tea so I wasn't able to spill it. But still…I had been expecting more.
"Really? High Warlock at three hundred? No offense, but I don't believe you."
He laughed at that. "Ok. Maybe a little more."
"How much more?"
"Seven, eight hundred. I stopped counting after a while."
"You are eight hundred years old?!" I didn't expect that.
"Yes. But I don't look it." He seemed a little self conscious about his age. It made me smile a little, at least I'm not the only one self conscious here.
He looked at me a bit worried now.
"Does it bother you? The age difference?" He asked after a minute.
Is that what he's worried about? That this will change how I feel about him-whatever that is. That this fact will chase me away?
"No. It's just a lot to take in is all."
He smiled again. His rare moment of vulnerability gone as fast as it came. I returned the smile.
After that, we continued talking for a little while longer. Nothing important or too personal. Just talking.
All too soon it was time to part. I had training and he had a client waiting for him.
He paid the bill-while I blushed and stuttered that it wasn't necessary and we left.
I became a little more relaxed while we were in the café-probably because of the lack of people and therefore witnesses-that I almost forgot we were in public. Almost. But we still didn't touch. He seemed to get that I wouldn't be comfortable with it so he kept his distance. We didn't talk about it, but it looked like he saw all my fears and did everything he could to make sure I was comfortable. That, however didn't stop him from making inappropriate comments, a lot of them, that made me blush.
One time he reminded me of Jace when he did. It was just for a second but the thought made me extremely uncomfortable. Luckily it went away when I saw a spark in the golden green cat eyes in front of me. The same spark that I always want to see in Jace when he looks at me-but never does. The same one he has when he looks at Clary instead. Seeing it in Magnus's eyes made me forget about Jace all together. It was nice to have someone look at me with such fondness. It was a new feeling but Magnus had been awakening a lot of new and foreign feelings inside me. It was all so new.
When we walked outside he looked at me thoughtfully before taking my hand in his.
I looked around at the people on the streets. Starting to panic. "Magnus…"
"Don't worry." He said, tightening his grip on my hand so I can't pull away."I glamoured us. No one can see." He leaned in and kissed me softly.
"I had fun." He whispered after we broke away. "We should do this more often."
I just nodded, fighting with everything inside of me to not jerk away from his touch while mundies walked past us not even noticing.
"Maybe we could upgrade to somewhere more public after a while." He said but after seeing me tense added, "I won't make you come out. I have no intention of doing anything that you are not comfortable with. You can trust me."
I nodded again and he placed a sweet kiss on the cheek.
"Goodbye darling." He whispered into my ear before stepping back and letting me go.
I instantly missed his touch just like with every other time. He was becoming like a drug to me and I was not yet sure if it was good or bad thing.
"Goodbye Magnus."
He flashed me one last soft smile before we went our separate ways.
As I ran back to The Institute I couldn't help but think that yes, he is worth the risk.
Did you like it? Is it good or bad?
This is the last chapter of the day to day plot. There will surely be more in the future but not all the time. Also I was thinking of leaving the main plot points of the first three books but changing them completely. Like the greater demon attack and Valentine and of course the battle. So on and so forth. The main focus would still be Malec but this would make it more interesting and fun. What do you think? Should I?