Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare

A/N: Next chapter will be the family dinner and an appointment with Jeremiah, in which Alec's conditions will be discussed more.

Please leave a review, or questions if you're confused. It is highly appreciated and helps me to improve my writing:)!

Chapter 13: Coming Storms

Calum, where Vikram was built, was in the danger of being invaded.

Everything was fine at first – one to two hundred years ago the colonial planets remained a friendly relationship with each other. Yet time passed, some chose to improve their power in an evil way: they bred with alien creatures and became the transformed.

They were not mundanes, nor Aristos but something else. Snarky and barbaric, they killed for resources and pleasures. It was inherited, the Clave claimed. The thirst for bloods and killings.

The transformed fed on pains and sufferings. They despised mundanes; rumors had it that the Institute was working with them, acted as a spy in various planets. Since the six months of wars, three were completely wrecked, five currently under severe attacks.

The Clave had ordered each city to recruit excellent soldiers. Jace and Isabelle answered the call and trooped to the front line since the beginning.

Inside the training room Jace and Isabelle were sparring in tank tops and cargo pants, dirty boost thudded on the ground. Although the female Lightwood tended to use whip as her primary weapon, still it was a good exercise. Sweats flew across the air and bodies collided, bruises formed but no one cared.

The circle of soldiers was admiring their skills, cheering outside the fighting ring. They howled when Isabelle tackled Jace down on the ground, wrapping her arms around the fragile neck while legs pinned the hip under control.

The Lightwood children were famous for their brutality, even against their own people. Jace punched a back hook and attacked the ribs, earning a second of loosening grips and he caught the chance, bent the palms in different directions. Isabelle growled and surrendered before her wrists broke.

Applause brought down the house. Isabelle took the extended hand and pulled herself up from the dirty ground, rotating her hurting wrists to check for injuries. Luckily, nothing was broken.

"One more, Izzy." Jace held up a finger and waved in front of the dark-haired woman when he was sipping a bottle of water. They had descended from the ring and were resting in the corner. Another match began.

Sitting down and wiping the sweat, Isabelle asked. "You're inviting Alec to dinner this Wednesday?"

"Yes." Jace was still panting. "I think it would be fun."

Isabelle shot him a ridiculous look. "Fun? You know Alec doesn't like – people. And Clary is coming, Simon too if I haven't heard it wrong. What are you up to?"

"Well," He explained, "I understand Alec's situation. But I want him to be here when I make a big decision in my life. He is my brother, my best friend."

After a moment of guessing, Isabelle put down the towel. "Are you saying you're proposing?"

"Hum, I might." Jace straightened his legs and reached his hands up to the sky, stretching the muscles.

Of course he wasn't; Clary and he only dated for a year, far too early to discuss about building a family of their own. It was something else but he wanted to keep it a secret. A surprise. They would be so proud of him.

Isabelle nearly jumped with excitement. She was clapping and shouted, "Oh Yes! Finally! It's about time you settle down, player."

"What of you and Simon?"

His bones popped and he shrugged his shoulders in circles. Isabelle eyes cast down. "We don't think it's the time yet. I want to wait til the war is over."

Her voice was strong but at the same time weak. Jace knew her worries: death was just a hand away for people like them. Promises could be easily broken. Nudged her hunched shoulder lightly with his fist, they shared a glance then focused back to the current match.

His phone rang when a man slammed on the ground to signal the end of the fight. Jace jolly took the call.

"You finally call me back, brother."

The other end came a murmur. "Sorry but, hey, I'm calling you now."

Though Jace wanted to ask if he was alright, he stopped himself before speaking it out. Alec didn't like people constantly asking how he was and Jace could predict his answer already. So he went straight to business.

"Yeah, I just want to tell you the dinner starts at eight."

"Huh-um," Alec slurred. Jace literally could see him drowsing and fighting the sleepiness. Maybe he was in bed already. The pill he took was to help him sleep, therefore he wasn't surprised at all if Alec was resting at 7 p.m.

Finally after brief moment of silence Alec said, words blurred by his lazy tongue.

"7:30?"

He made a quick reply. "Perfect. You know Clary will be there too? And Simon. Just a heads up."

"Okay."

"Have you taken your pill?"

"Yes. I have. You can ask Ragnor." There was a slight annoyance in his voice. "Look, I…"

"Sure, sure. Good night, Alec."

His brother choked out an unrecognizable noise and the call was ended. Jace twiddled with the phone before he put it down, chewing the inside of his cheek. Isabelle looked at him pensively.

"What?" He frowned.

"Nothing," She turned away. "Nothing."

It must have been weeks or months for him to wake up in the pool of his sweats or sometimes piss. Alec had forgot what it was like to have a peaceful sleep.

The bliss was unimaginable. A warmth enveloped his hand. Alec felt a thumb circling on the back of his, and he abruptly realized it shouldn't be happening.

Opened his eyelids rapidly, Alec saw a close-up of Magnus's face. He was staring at Alec's pale hands, chin resting on the edge of mattress. The silly clothing seemed to intensify his charms in a weird way.

Magnus looked great in this angle; the nose bridge high and straight, tip a bit pointy but round in general. The eyelashes long and thick, fluttered like wings. Under those feathers the ambers were gleaming, pupils focused on the small soothing gesture.

Those lips. They were thin but kissable. Pink and lightly parted.

I must have lost my mind. Alec thought when the idea of kissing Magnus crossed.

It was undeniable that he wanted to be kissed, longed even. Yet something prevented him from doing so and he couldn't name it. He just thought it was prohibited to kiss someone, or to be exact, someone else. Terrible things would happen to him if he did – this concept ambuscading inside his brain.

Alec didn't fight it. It was planted so deeply that when he tried to recall where it came from, his head wanted to explode. The headache nearly killed him once. He fainted as it started smashing his temples and he fell over the bathtub, cracked his forehead. Fortunately Aline heard the huge bang and tended him before too much bloods were lost.

So he simply accepted it as a part of himself.

A pair of cat eyes looked into his. Alec tried to blink away the murkiness.

Those lips moved lithely and when they touched and parted, a small sound emitted. It was so inviting that Alec couldn't hear Magnus's questions until the soothing on his hand stopped.

"Alec dear, do you want to sit up?"

Threw those filthy thoughts away Alec nodded and extracted his hand from Magnus, pushed himself up and rested against the headboard. He let out a sigh as the position changed.

"You haven't eaten since last night. Dinner?"

Alec wasn't hungry so he shook his head. However, Magnus scowled and spoke with tenderness. "But you should. It's been 20 hours since your last meal and you can't take your meds with an empty stomach."

Hearing his words Alec groaned: he knew they were trying to help him, but sometimes it was too much. He thought he had hired three babysitters.

Rubbed his face with palms, Alec sucked in a deep breath and agreed with utter reluctance. Magnus had the most brilliant smile and stood up, said before leaving the room.

"I will go and tell Aline to prepare. You want to eat here or in the kitchen?"

"Kitchen."

Alec could use some walk. It did him no good staying in bed all day. He had already skipped daily exercise since last month, as the new drug always had him lightheaded. Five minutes on the treadmill already had his world spun.

Magnus nodded and went outside, left the door open. Glanced at the clock above the doorframe, he had slept for six hours straight without nightmare, the longest record for the past months.

It was marvelous. Maybe the impulsive decision was a good one after all.

Hissed as his feet touched the cold tiles, Alec shambled to the kitchen at the end of the hallway. Hands on the wall to support himself, he suddenly slouched in the middle of his way, right before he reached the bathroom. He could hear them in the kitchen steps away: Magnus's magnetic voice, Ragnor's baritone and Aline's melodic laughs.

"It looks and smells excellent!" Magnus exclaimed.

"Practice makes perfect." Aline said, "I am sure you can too."

Ragnor laughed. "Yeah, in two thousand years, minimum. I won't let you be anywhere near the stove as long as I am still alive."

"I have no objection, actually. Cooking is more of a nuisance to me; not that I don't like it, just too much trouble. Anyway, why don't you use the molecule machine?"

Aline replied, professional like a nutritionist. "Those food are not easy to digest and absorb by mundane, just like the supplements. Besides, I enjoy cooking and I am thankful that Alec let me do his meals."

"Can I have a spoon?" Magnus asked but it soon followed by a whine. "AW! Why would you do that?!"

"Don't touch Alec's food! You're a robot, eat batteries." Ragnor said. He must have snapped Magnus's wrist.

Aline giggled. "Maybe next time."

They sounded so happy and yet Alec was no part of any of it.

Because of his selfishness others had to suffer with him. Like Ragnor and Aline – they should be out there in the cities enjoying their life, not staying here watching over a worthless mundane. A good-for-naught.

Clenched into fists, Alec scolded. You have no rights to cry. They should be the ones crying, not you.

Wiping the forming tears with the sleeves of his black shirt, Alec calmed himself down by breathing deeply. It wasn't time to be despondent. Alec was sure the look of his face would only destroy the light mood inside the kitchen and he didn't want that. It was the only helpful thing he could do.

A tall frame appeared at the kitchen door, the greenness shockingly matched with the horns. The butler approached.

"Alec?"

Thanked the Angels Ragnor didn't touch him. Alec couldn't picture what would happen if he did. Perhaps he would collapse and cry like a baby, yelping over his uselessness. And perhaps he would push Ragnor away and shout at the innocents, blaming them for everything. But he knew none was going to occur.

So he smiled, lifted one leg and another stiffly, moving to the kitchen. Alec mocked himself, now who is the robot? He hoped his red-rimmed eyes escaped the hawk eyes of Ragnor.

The robot said nothing, simply walked besides him with the slowest pace he could manage. Alec once again suppressed those facts and carried on, head low like a street rat that everyone would like to kill.

He did it on purpose, walking so slow like an elder in his eighties. By the end of the hallway, Alec prayed, the redness of his eyes would fade so that he could play his part well.

And Angels were on his side. Aline greeted him with a small grin, placed the white bowl of porridge on the island and a plate of baked chicken meatball topped with tomato sauce. His stomach protested.

Swallowing the dull pain in his belly Alec returned a smile and with difficulty sat on the barstool, came up with a compliment for the cooking.

"They smell nice." Indeed they did. Yet he had no desire to eat even if the best cuisine was presented in front of him. He hated those drugs.

Aline's fingers crossed and dropped on the apron, eyes anticipating. Magnus was watching near the backdoor while Ragnor was behind him – probably intentionally so they could trap Alec in the kitchen before he ate every single bite like a beast.

He was supposed to be starved. A mundane had to eat constantly for energy: supplements did nothing to them. The robots were staring at him and waited for him to take the spoon or fork. Alec picked up the silverware and stirred the porridge. Pieces of fish meats and different colors of corns mixed together.

Spooned a mouthful, Alec gathered up his courage to look at Aline. She was biting her lip, hard enough which nearly drew blood. His tongue moved along the line of teeth and he opened his mouth, took a small bite.

It was amazing, texture sticky. The meats melted on his buds. Yet his appetite remained low. Alec didn't know what was wrong with him. He had so many great things in his life but he didn't have the want to enjoy them.

Alec said after another spoon. "It's delicious. Thank you Aline."

This lifted everyone's spirit more and she said. "That's great! Oh, Alec, this morning

Jace called. He wanted you to call him back."

"Is it about the dinner on Wednesday?" Ragnor joined in when Alec chewed the meatball; he wanted to throw up but continued eating. He had to try for their sake.

His body somehow rejected the food and the stomach turning like a roller-coaster. To act natural he held on the base of the bowl, avoiding them to see his clutching fists.

Alec nodded and added. "I think so."

"Alright." Ragnor said and moved to the kitchen front door, next to the calendar.

Magnus asked. "Dinner at Lightwood Mansion? Can I go?"

Aline placed the pan, the stew pot and knifes on the racks of the washing machine, mixing spoon tossed into the sink. Ragnor took the bowls of sauce and chicken meat mixture from Aline's hands after she sealed it with jelly lids, and stuffed them into the fridge.

"No. You're staying." She rebuffed.

"Why can't I go?" Magnus said with confusion. Alec felt a glance spare at him before she spoke. "I mean –"

"Aline." Ragnor interjected and she let him do the talking. "You should have some ideas that we are not supposed to happen. The Lightwoods don't know about us expect Isabelle's boyfriend Simon, but he won't say a word."

"They are very conservative?"

Alec listened to their conversations and silently shoving the porridge into his mouth. Take it you stupid organ! There was an ocean of acid inside his stomach, digesting his own walls. Just get this over with and take the pill.

"No. It's just that we agree to keep this as our secret. The fewer people know the better for us." After the explanation Ragnor turned to Alec, noted his bowl was still half-full.

"Alec," he said while taking out one pill from a small transparent bottle fill with pills in red color, and put it back to the top of the fridge. "Eat few more spoons and finish the meatballs; then you can take the meds and rest."

"Huh-um." Alec prodded the meatball and took the whole one, gnawing as fast as he could. "But I want to call Jace first. He will get worried." He stirred the porridge absently.

Ragnor nodded and pointed the bowl of sticky content with his chin, pressuring Alec to eat more. Knowing the butler stood his ground firmly, Alec could only comply. He felt like a child under their surveillance: he wasn't an adult anymore but a child who had his family worried sick all the time.

Alec didn't blame them though. He knew what he was like when he lost control.

Finally Ragnor let him go after he ate half of the remaining porridge. Alec popped the pill with water and took the phone from Magnus's hand. It seemed the robots were dividing their work and Magnus was picking them up quickly. They cooperated on the same wavelength.

Alec had no idea how he managed to chat with Jace and make arrangement for the dinner. It passed like a blurred scene. The next thing he remembered before falling back to sleep was Magnus lifting him in bridal style and walked into his room. Their skins touching.

Magnus put him down on his bed and tugged him in. When he was turning away Alec spent all his strength to grip on the wrist, hauling him to a stop. The tall man looked at Alec softly and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Stay."

He didn't know if he had pronounced it right or it just came out as unintelligible noises. Yet Magnus just sat on the edge and took Alec's hand, the other brushed the hairs off his cheek.

Magnus leaned in and whispered into his ear.

"I'm not leaving, Alec. Sleep tight." Only after that Alec was willing to drift into the slumber, completely trusting Magnus that he wouldn't leave his side.

Magnus was finishing his sketches when he heard the beeping of the door. Turned his back and peeped through the frame from his bedroom, a blonde man was taking his boots off. Even in the darkness of the hallway Magnus could the dripping of bloods on the carpet.

Got up to his feet he welcomed the shorter man. Woolsey took his hand and led him to bed. None had said a word.

The military uniform was a mess. Bloods of his or others dotted the fabric. Magnus wrinkled his nose in distaste.

"Woolsey, you should clean up before coming here. You just ruined the carpet." Extracted his hand from the Colonel, Magnus returned to his desk and picked up the dark red color pen, but dropped it before he drew a line on the paper.

"See, I nearly use the wrong color. It should be in mantis." Quickly he pushed every red color pen away from his papers, sighed.

At last Woolsey just said. "I didn't come here to argue, Magnus." he plummeted on the bed and closed his green eyes. "I want to be with you, that's all."

Magnus understood; he simply didn't like the sight of blood. It reminded him millions people were dying outside. It was only a matter of time that those transformed attacked Calum.

He could see it in Woolsey's face how brutal the battles were. He would return with exhausted body and soul. The gleam of his eyes darkened. They were shining but the glisters dimmed. Wars never were a good thing.

Left his work for later Magnus decided to join his companion, threw himself next to the torn man. There were dusts and dried blood stained on his face, Magnus rubbed them off with his thumb.

"Come here."

Woolsey said as he pulled Magnus, arms rounding the taller man's neck. Went with the flow Magnus kissed him full on mouth, a gentle one first. Then Woolsey responded with such enthusiasm that Magnus couldn't believe he still have the energy after a deployment.

"I miss you." Magnus said as he pecked more kisses on the lips, elbows rested on each side of Woolsey's head as not to weight on the tired man.

Hummed, the Colonel rolled Magnus over and straddled his hip, removing his clothes. Magnus admired the lean and strong physique the man had and ran his hands on the chest, down to the abdomen then the sides. When he tried to search under his pants, his wrists were captured by the blonde.

"Let's sleep, Magnus. Tomorrow we will rejoice."

"Whatever you say, Colonel."

Woolsey roared out a laugh and collapsed next to Magnus, hands limp on the bronze chest.

"How are you though? I mean, seriously." Magnus asked as he stared at the ceiling, listening to the sounds of even breathing.

The man adjusted his position, snuggling closer with his chin rested on Magnus's shoulder. "The real answer?"

Magnus rolled his eyes and said. "Of course." He then reached his arm out, tugging Woolsey and put his head on top of his chest, fingers playing the slightly curled hairs.

A hand picked the button of his shirt. "Well, it gets worse. The attacks are more savage; and I swear I saw some Aristos out there with those transformed."

News had been broadcasting the war. Battles were spilling bloods on grounds and planets eliminated. Magnus could feel the chill running up his spine every time as the robot reported the newest number of casualty. And he did not wish anyone he knew was devoured by the wrath of those monsters.

"I'm glad you are here, Woolsey." Said Magnus, planted a kiss on the crown of the blonde man.

He didn't get a reply but a snore. Smiling, Magnus flicked his fingers and the light went off, with only the moon shadowed the frame of window onto the ground.

It might have just been his sixth sense, but Magnus could predict the future of Saidah: the first target of those transformed in Calum. Here had the weakest defense system with the city authority investing money in fashion industry rather than security, hell they even announced another policy that aimed to construct their image as a capital for fashion. It wasn't safe here.

Magnus was never fond of wars. If he had the chance he would be fleeing from this oblivious Saidah where everyone drunk themselves to death and buried their heads into piles of clothes.

Vikram, maybe, could hold for a while.

Either way, Magnus was going back to the city where he was born after the contact ended, or before depending how the war proceeded. There was nothing could convince him to stay in Saidah, not even Woolsey. He liked him, but never loved. Woolsey had said it before, he was not one for romantic relationship.

With the war coming it was unavoidable that Woolsey would be deployed more frequently. It would be the best to part and be on our separate ways. He thought absently.

Alec had been jumpy and inattentive for the past three days. During work when he was cutting the metal piece for a client's robot he nearly sliced his fingers off. And he jointed a different clutch into the wrong car, only noticed the mistake when he tried to do the same to another car with a completely opposite clutch. Not to mention he lost a miniature component of a molecule machine due to the shaking of his hands. Now he had to pay for one himself and it cost a thousand, even in the black market through Simon.

His heart skipped a bet when Magnus strode in and threw himself on the sofa, next to Ragnor who was reading a magazine. "God, there are so many phone calls."

Ragnor replied, "Alec is a brilliant mechanic. What can you do?"

Hearing the comment Alec bit his bottom lip and forced himself to focus on the burnt robot hand scattered across his working desk. The client recently updated her charging spot for the robots but the hardware didn't match. The robots had a different volt of electricity and once they got on the charging spots they were set on fire.

They were due three days later and Alec had no idea how he could return the two robot in one piece to his client if he continued on like this.

"Leave."

He gritted his teeth. His back was facing them but he could hear the rustles of their clothes moving.

Ragnor asked, with a small thud of the tablet put on the table. "What's wrong?"

Controlling his sudden anger, Alec scowled though no one could see it. "I want to focus and your little chats are distracting me."

"Alright." Ragnor said and dragged Magnus with a hook on his collar. "Come with me."

Magnus grumbled protests but still let Ragnor had his way. They soon exited the room and the curtain fell back down as their frames moved into the reception.

Right away Alec sighed and dropped his crafting pen. Forgetting to switch it off the flame was still going strong. He cursed under his breath when the realization hit him and quickly picked the pen back up, turned it into a knife. Alec checked the parts on the desk and let out a short sneer when nothing was melted.

It was stupid. A solid proof of idiocy.

The day after the addition of family member Alec woke up to a pair of arms wrapped around his body from behind. Instantly stiffened, Alec held his breath and his heart was about to commit suicide by jumping out from his chest.

He could feel the warmth coming from his entire back and the air blew on his neck. His hairs stood on their ends because of the pleasures and horrors. It wasn't that he didn't like it – he loved it in fact. But it was wrong. Just the whole gesture screamed wrong in his brain.

So he got himself out from the tangling mess of limps and blankets and pillows, rushed to the bathroom before Aline could catch him. Stripped and turned on the shower, Alec scrubbed everywhere: he had to be clean. He had to.

After making his pale skin bleed from various scratches he collapsed on the tub. He felt so… dirty. Raunchy and lewd. Hands went to his mouth when he thought he was about to puke. Yet it was just a false alarm.

A high-pitch cry muffled by his hand and the sounds of water bashing on the tub, on his body. Tears ran down to the drain along with the slight redden water. He heard a knock on the door and rapidly wiped the tears away.

"Alec?"

It was Aline. She opened the door by a small gap but didn't poke her head into the room. Alec could see her hand on the knob.

"Ye – yes." He stuttered like a radio had a bad reception and his voice cracked. "Aline, come in."

He did not wish any of them to see him like this but his scratches needed to be healed. Otherwise it would be a much bigger chaos if Ragnor saw them. It was merely his luck that Ragnor was recharging at the moment.

Aline's eyes widened when she slipped through the door and closed it swiftly. She hurried to the tub and hands nailed into the materials. "Alec, you're bleeding."

He simply held out his hands to her and let her examine the wounds. Aline's small hand moved above the injuries and soon the skins were flawless. She turned his shoulders and Alec complied, presenting his back. Aline treated them like the ones on his arms and hands.

A pair of hands cupped his face and raised his lowered head. Alec closed his lids to avoid any eye contact.

Aline inquired tenderly. "Look at me."

Shaking his head, Alec just curled up and held his legs up to his chest, the water continued felling on his quivering form. Aline sighed and combed the ebony damp hairs.

"You can stay here for ten minutes. But Ragnor… and Magnus is going to wake up soon. I won't say a thing, I promise."

Nodded, Alec heard another sigh and he was left alone in the bathroom. Ten minutes, he had ten minutes to calm himself down and no more.

During the time he just sobbed and let everything out – his confusion and weariness. He had no idea why he became like this.

His slut. He remembered. Peeling off his disguise Alec was a vamp. If not, why would he had such filthy reaction when people touched him? If not, why would his dreams keep replaying those scenes? People said dreams were parts of one's consciousness. It made such perfect sense!

His hands jerked and a pain shot from his fingertip. A stream of blood flew down to his palm and the tip of the crafting pen dotted with redness. He threw the crafting pen at the desk, slumped on the chair.

More than that, today was Wednesday. Dinner with his family at eight.

Sure Alec would love to see his family again. Ever since the war Jace and Isabelle had been weeks and months away to other planets for missions. And every time they came back, their bodies were painted with scars and bruises, cut by weapons that even those hospital beds and nutritious fluids couldn't heal completely and left the reminders on those once perfect skins.

It pained him, that Alec was a burden. Why he couldn't be the big brother to protect his family, and instead let his younger siblings to fight against the transformed, to have themselves wounded? He should be the one on the battlefields. He should be one of them.

"Fuck." Alec swore.

Picked up the crafting pen again, he had his left hand pinned two parts on the working desk to secure the position, started melting them into a piece. Might the passion for handicraft help him to discard those troubling thoughts.