Chapter Fourteen: Burned
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare.
Author's Note: This takes place when Alec is left at Magnus's while the rest of the gang visits the Fair People.
Time: City of Ashes
Genre: Drama, Romance, and Angst
Rating: PG-13
Date Finished: August 8, 2012
Alec broke the kiss with a smile. "Whatever you do, do not discuss that awful novel around me anymore. I had to read that once and do not want to hear about it anymore."
Magnus grinned. "But it did get your attention," he objected.
Alec scowled. He did not want to admit that that much was very true. "Can we just pretend that none of that ever happen?" he asked bashfully.
Magnus nodded, his cat like eyes were tinkling. Alec knew that the warlock did not want to drop the issue, but would for Alec's sake. The Shadowhunter enjoyed having the upper hand in this relationship. He saw no need to change anything about it.
"So, where does this leave us?" Magnus inquired.
Alec smiled up at the warlock. "You tell me."
Magnus stared out into space. "I wonder how much longer we have of this."
Alec was confused. "Have of what?"
"You and me together alone like this."
Alec sighed. Magnus thought that Alec was going to abandon him. This would not happen if Alec could prevent it. However, he still did not want the others to know about his homosexuality. It was something that he was just coming to terms with and was not ready to take on the rest of the world. "I will try not to let this end," Alec said speaking slowly.
"But if the others find out," Magnus started to object.
"I will do my best." Alec knew that this was the truth. He knew that he could not grantee the next month or even tomorrow, but he could grantee this moment. This moment was all that mattered. The future was so far away and so uncertain. The present was now and safe. The present was what would keep them together.
Magnus nodded and hugged Alec. Alec took this as a sign that Magnus was somewhat happy with the arrangement.
"So, now what do we do?" Alec inquired. He hoped that Magnus had some kind of idea.
Magnus's eyes lite up. "We could tell fortunes!"
Alec was not too sure about the idea. As far as he was concerned, fortune telling was a waste of time. Plus, it made good people paranoid. He knew that mundanes took it as fun and games. In his world, it was witchcraft. In his world, you did not dabble in predicting the future.
"What?" Magnus asked. His face had somewhat fallen. "Alexander, is there a problem."
"No, no problem," Alec said. He heard his voice raise.
Magnus nodded, not paying attention to the change in Alec's voice. "Good. Let me go get my hat and tarot cards."
Alec watched as Magnus disappeared into his room. He wondered what all the warlock could possibly have stored in there. After a few minutes, he realized that he really did not want to know.
Magnus rummaged around in his room. He was not entirely sure where his fortune telling stuff was. He knew that he could not take all day. Jace and the others were bound to return soon. He went over to yet another trunk and opened it. Inside there was his tarot cards and a pink, sparkly turban. Life was not complete without a little sparkle. He placed the turban on his head, careful not to smash any of his carefully, styled spikes. Picking up the tarot cards, he left the room.
Alec had not moved one bit. Magnus was happy to see this.
The warlock slammed the deck of tarot cards down on the coffee table.
Alec jumped slightly and then looked up at Magnus. His jaw dropped.
"Yeah, I know that I am gorgeous," Magnus replied as he sat down cross legged on one side of the coffee table. He began to shuffle the cards.
"What are you wearing?" Alec demanded pointing to the warlock's head.
"It is a turban." Magnus was still shuffling cards.
"I know that, but why are you wearing it?"
"I think it makes me look hot." Magnus placed the cards on the table.
Alec snorted, but did not say a word.
Magnus pointed across the coffee table. "Sit." He stared at the Shadowhunter. "Life is not complete without sparkles."
Alec came over and sat across from the warlock. "Personally, I am not a fan of sparkles."
Magnus flipped over some cards, not looking at what was on them. "I am one of the few people who can pull off sparkles."
Alec snorted. "Whatever you say."
"That is right because what I say is always right."
Alec did not respond.
Magnus held up his hand. "Now enough chitty chat. I need to focus."
The warlock stared down at the cards. His cards were different. They provided entire fortunes instead of pictures that were just left open for interpretation. "A secret love is on like no other. It sends a rush through you, making you feel like you have the world's biggest secret. When you see your secret lover, you heart races and you wonder if your lover's going to come to you. Then, you remember that your family is with you and you hid your face. Afterwards, you go to your lover's apartment and get friendly. Before you leave, you get a lover's kiss. Your heart races and you fall in love. Expect, you do not love each other. The vampire tries to make you go back to your lover. Expect you can't, for there is no love. You go back and home and see him. He is your friend. You can't love him! He is hurt. You hold out your hand to offer comfort. He walks away leaving you with your arm outstretched. Leaving you with lover's burn."
Alec had a confused look on his face. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Magnus hid his expression. These cards did not lie. Alec was going to burn Magnus. "It is just a game."
Alec nodded. "It is just a game."
Magnus stood up and went over to the window.
Alec followed him and put his hand on the warlock's shoulder. "What is wrong?"
Magnus turned and smiled at the boy. "Nothing. I was just thinking about what we could do next."
Alec stood tall and kissed Magnus gently on the lips. "We could do this."
Magnus returned the kiss. "Yes, we could."
Alec kissed the warlock harder.
Behind them, the apartment door banged open. Jace, Clary, and Izzy stepped in. Alec jumped away from Magnus. His cheeks were burning.
"Are we interrupting something?" Jace inquired.
Alec looked at Magnus, then at the others. "No, nothing at all."