6. Magnus' Glitter Party (And So The Glitter War Continues)
Everything was great. Magnus was great. Alec had never felt better. All of his friends were couples, and now he and Magnus was a couple as well. Magnus didn't even seem to mind that he couldn't kiss him at school or in public, although, a few times he'd slipped his hand into Alec's at school or on a date, and Alec had squeezed it lightly, before discreetly taking his hand back. Magnus didn't complain, even if sometimes Alec complained about it himself.
They had been dating for a few weeks, and Alec had never thought he would give himself this much to someone this quickly, but he felt like he was ready to go all the way. That's when someone slipped a piece of paper into his hand at school in a very subtle manner – a flyer. Alec looked at it, and as soon as he saw that it had been written with a glitter pen, he knew who had made it without reading the name. He rushed outside to the back of the school, where he'd come to learn Magnus always hung out. Magnus wasn't alone; he was with another kid from school – Raphael. Alec knew they were friends, but that didn't mean he liked Raphael very much. He always looked as if he thought he was better than everyone else, or maybe he was just bored all the time.
"Alexander," Raphael's pronunciation of his name sounded like a purr in his Spanish accent. Alec ignored him and held out the flyer in front of Magnus' face.
"A glitter party? Really?" he said with disbelieve.
"Yes, it'll be fun, don't you think?"
"You're doing this because of the glitter war, right? The one you and Jace have?" Alec figured.
"Partly. I will enjoy not letting him into my party, because he doesn't comply with my glitter dress code. Also, I really want to see you in sequins," Magnus flashed a smile.
"You must know that's not going to happen," Alec warned him. From the corner of his eye he noticed Raphael rolling his eyes.
"We'll see about that," Magnus said, and bit his lip challengingly. He knew what his charms did to Alec, and it wasn't fair to use them at school. Alec turned his back on the two.
"I can't wait to see Raphael in a glitter," Alec said, just before walking off. Raphael's look was just as simple as Alec's, and he would probably hate glitter even more than Alec would. To be honest, he'd probably come to sort of like it a little when Magnus wore glitter around his eyes or in his hair, or even that sequined T-shirt he had.
…
"So I was thinking we should get ready for the party at my place. Just us girls," Izzy said. Clary looked up at Izzy, who seemed busy studying her apple before biting into it.
"What do you mean get ready? Like have drinks? Without the boys?" Clary wondered. Izzy rolled her eyes, and looked as if she was trying to come up with an explanation for morons.
"No, we're going to dress up. There's a dress code, Magnus won't let us in unless we're wearing glitter, and I don't expect you to have anything remotely glittered?"
"Of course we're going to get in, aren't we sort of his friends now that he's Alec's boyfriend?" Clary tried.
"Don't count on it. Besides, this is probably Jace's fault, you know. He was probably the inspiration, since the school's dress code wouldn't allow Magnus to go to class with all that glitter from his glitter bomb that day."
"Really? Is this some kind of war they have going on? I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that," Clary wrinkled her nose. But Izzy had gotten her thinking – she was always so gorgeous, maybe she could teach Clary a few things. She knew Jace didn't like her for her girly looks, but it would be nice to surprise him once in a while, even if it meant going outside of her comfort zone. "Okay," she said.
"Okay what?"
"Okay, we should get ready together. Do you have any glitter I can borrow?" Clary asked.
"I think we'll have to go shopping," Izzy flashed a wicked grin.
After school the two of them went shopping. To Clary's great surprise Izzy found a dress for herself that wasn't black, it was a dark blue and green sequin tube dress, but it wasn't black. Clary found a sequin skirt with a gold, copper and silver pattern, and she actually liked it. It was a bit short, but not as short as Izzy's dress at least. Clary hadn't thought she would have this much fun shopping with someone as bossy and girly as Izzy, but she'd enjoyed herself with some girl time. She'd never been used to girl time with anyone other than her mom. Izzy hadn't always liked Clary, not before she started whatever it was that her and Simon had started. Now Izzy seemed intend on wanting to make friends with her. Perhaps it was some kind of 'keep your friends close, but your enemies closer' strategy, seeing that Simon was her best friend and she was a girl, but if that was the case Izzy hid it well.
"We definitely have to put your hair up," Izzy said as they were in her room, finding all of her makeup.
"Jace likes my hair down," she shrugged. They were going to a party, she was dressing up and so she figured she might as well look good for someone. Izzy turned to look at Clary.
"First lesson, you do not dress up for a boy, you dress up for yourself. Second lesson, boys might like your hair down, but they do also enjoy to be the ones taking it down," Izzy said matter-of-factly.
"Oh."
Izzy had much to teach her, Clary thought, when she also explained that you never went to a party on time. An hour after the party had started, and the girls were still in Izzy's room just finishing up, a knock sounded on the door. The boys came in, and the sight was comical. Jace was wearing a very eighties glitter, yet somewhat formal, shirt and it looked ridiculous, but of course he wore it with pride – he did have a glitter war to win. Alec was wearing a simple black shirt and black jeans, but he'd topped it off with a sequined bowtie and he actually looked incredibly handsome. Simon had glued sequins onto his old prescribed sunglasses and he looked like an Elton John wannabe, and she noticed that he was gaping at Izzy.
"Wow. You look like a mermaid wearing legs!" Simon said to Izzy, and Clary thought she saw a tinge of flattery cross Izzy's face, but she didn't blush, Isabelle Lightwood never blushed. And she did actually look like a two-legged mermaid in those colors. That's when Jace walked up to Clary.
"How do you like my outfit?" he asked, and shook his head as if to flip his hair back, but it stayed in place.
"Very glamorous," she giggled.
"I hate to complain, but I think that skirt could have been a bit shorter," Jace noted with sarcasm.
"Oh, too bad. I didn't wear it for you," Clary shrugged, and went to take Alec's arm. Alec looked confused. "Here's how I see it – since Simon is drooling over the mermaid here, I can't take her as my date, that leaves me with you two, and since for once I'm better looking than you, I'm going to walk with Alec, because let's face it no one wants to be seen next to that," Clary did her best mean girl act, when she pointed at Jace. He didn't look hurt, but amused.
"Well, as long as I get to walk behind you, I guess I won't complain again," Jace said, glancing behind Clary, and unlike Izzy, Clary blushed.
"Should we get going?" she looked at Alec, who looked stunned.
"Sure," he shrugged.
"Where did you get that bowtie?" Clary wondered, as she and Alec walked down the streets in the front of the group.
"Magnus bought it," he answered.
"Of course," she smiled softly. Alec leaned closer to her.
"Why are you teasing Jace?" he whispered.
"Sometimes you need to put him in place, and I also think this glitter war is ridiculous," she whispered back.
"Thank you, that's what I thought too," he smiled back at her.
"And to be honest, I really do think you look better tonight. Don't tell him I said that," she admitted.
…
Alec couldn't help but be a little impressed, and slightly flattered by Clary. He had never really thought of her as much other than Jace's foster sister or now Jace's girlfriend. It was stupid, because of course there was more to this girl than just that. He surely didn't want to be seen as just someone's boyfriend, or someone's brother, which he was, but it also wasn't all he was.
Magnus was the one who opened the door, when they reached his house. He was wearing a velvet blazer on top of a black shirt, with fake diamond buttons. There was a small amount of glitter around his eyes, and some in his hair making it shine in the dark light. Alec could hear the party blasting all the way out into the street. Magnus glanced at Alec and Clary standing together in the doorway.
"Should I be worried?" he suppressed a smile, and looked behind them at the rest of the group.
"Oh yes," Clary said in a definite tone.
"I can see why you wouldn't want to walk next to that," he nodded towards Jace.
"What does he mean, Alec? Doesn't he know a good catch when he sees one?" Jace replied.
"Obviously not," Clary grinned.
"Well, it appears that neither of us will back down. I respect that in a man, Herondale, you may enter the party," Magnus said.
"Is that what he said last night?" Alec felt the blood run out of his face. He'd never liked those jokes, but he especially didn't like them when they were pointed at him. Magnus just offered Jace a smug look, as he let them all inside. Alec didn't know if any of the others noticed, but as he walked past Magnus he felt the faint gesture of his fingers brushing his hand, and when he looked up into his eyes they were a bit unfocused as if he'd already had a few cocktails.
Inside the party was bright with glitter. On the kitchen table was the usual glittery drinks, but more than just that – there were cupcakes and the frosting was covered in glitter as well. Very few of them had been eaten it seemed; perhaps it wasn't exactly healthy to eat that much glitter.
"Don't worry, it's edible." Alec heard a voice say in an accent. He turned to look at Raphael, who wasn't wearing any glitter.
"Don't tell me, you're his glitter pusher? You have that back-alley vibe going on," Jace mused.
"Funny," Raphael replied with no indication of amusement. "Nice shirt."
Jace took a drink for him and Clary and they walked away. Alec flashed Raphael something he hoped came off as a smile, but wasn't entirely sure, before heading off after his friends. Izzy and Simon had disappeared outside. Alec noticed Magnus talking to Raphael in the other corner of the living room, while sipping at the awful drink.
"If you want to be with him, just go be with him. Screw these guys," Jace said.
"Sure, it's easy for you, because you don't care about anything or anyone's opinion," Alec snorted.
"How do you make that sound like a bad thing?"
Alec knew that Jace was right, but that didn't lessen his fear. He wanted to go through high school unnoticed, because that was the easy way through.
"Or…" Clary stepped in between him and Jace to get closer to Alec. "…you could play a game. Role-play. Seduce him as if you were having an affair, and leave him flirtatious hints throughout the party, without anyone noticing," she suggested. Clary kept surprising him this evening. He hoped it didn't have anything to do with her spending more time with Izzy.
"I can see that – Alec as the seductive mistress," Jace joked.
"Don't do that," Clary shook her head at him. "Come on, it'll be fun. I'll help you, we just need to find a post-it," she said, and left for a moment.
"Once she gets an idea in her little red head, you won't be able to change her mind," Jace shrugged. "She's also quite the little match maker that one, she's spent the past few weeks helping Simon and Izzy make a tree house," he added.
Clary came back with a pen and a small piece of paper, before Alec could ask what they would want a tree house for.
"You should probably write it yourself. Just write something you would normally write, but add a little more to it," she said.
"But I wouldn't write notes?"
"Jace," she turned to her boyfriend. "We all know you're the seductive mistress in our relationship, what would you write me?"
Jace smiled wryly and with a plotting sort of look in his eyes. Alec couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of dirty thoughts he was having. Alec grabbed the pen and paper.
"Never mind, I'll think of something," he said, took the note and left the two of them.
On the way to find a quiet place he was able to grab two glasses of alcoholic beverages, just to ease his nerves and make him creative. He bottomed both glasses quickly before scribbling down a subtle note. 'Meet me upstairs in ten'. He knew that if it had been Magnus writing a note for him he would have used adoring nicknames, but Alec didn't feel natural using nicknames, instead he went with the demanding seducer. He folded the piece of paper into a small square and went to find Magnus. He was in the kitchen with Raphael, making some sort of cocktail with his back to Alec. Raphael noticed him immediately and left respectfully.
"I think this could use a bit more vodka, don't you think Raph…" Magnus said as he turned around to see that his friend was gone. "Alec," he smiled, and he looked a bit tipsy. Alec checked to see if anyone was looking into the kitchen, but there was no one in sight, so he slipped the note into Magnus' hand, holding onto his hand for a short moment, while not breaking eye contact. He could sense that Magnus was steadying his breathing, just as he was. And then he left the room.
Upstairs Magnus' room was occupied, and Alec hurried on to the next room, which belonged to Mrs. Bane. He sat down on the bed while thinking how Magnus would probably have to throw the couple out of his room before finding Alec.
Soon he heard the door to Magnus' room being opened, but no voices had followed, when the door to the master bedroom slowly opened. Magnus hurried inside, when he noticed Alec on the bed.
"Is something wrong?" he wondered. Alec walked over to the other boy. Clary hadn't told him how to proceed once he'd gotten this far in the process. Alec reached up to cup Magnus' face and brushed the smooth skin of his cheekbones with his thumbs. His eyes were shining suddenly. The blood was pumping faster through his veins, and he closed the small distance with his mouth against Magnus' lips. He pressed his lips hard against Magnus' and explored his mouth as if it was the first time doing so. Magnus stumbled forward and pushed him onto the bed, the rush of it making Alec both excited and nervous. A part of him thought it was happening too fast, but the bigger part of him didn't want to hold off any longer. He clutched at Magnus, as they kept rolling around on the bed. Alec's hands found the buttons of Magnus' shirt, his fingers found the bare skin of Magnus' stomach, and the other boy made a sound of surprise at the back of his throat.
"Alec…" Magnus breathed. Alec moved his hands to lace his fingers in Magnus', placing them on each side of his head against the bed, just like Magnus had held Alec's hands in place that first date. Magnus tried to reach up to him, but Alec had the advantage of being on top and having a firm hold of the other boy's hands. Magnus let his head fall back against the soft bed with a silent sigh. Suddenly Alec felt nervous. Magnus didn't seem as into it as he'd thought he was.
"Oh God. I'm so stupid," Alec let go of his hands and scrambled back off the bed, but Magnus' long arms stretched out and took hold of him, before he could get further away.
"No, you're not stupid. You're wonderful."
"Then why…? Where did you go just then?" he asked. Magnus opened his mouth to answer, but before he could say anything sirens sounded outside of the house. Magnus flew out of bed and ran to the window.
"Shit! The neighbors must have called on us," Magnus said.
"We should probably leave," Alec said flatly. Magnus nodded.
They escaped out the back from the bathroom window, climbing down the flowered wall. People were running everywhere, but the two of them kept themselves out of the light of the party, and ran through the bushes.
…
"My mom is going to be so pissed," Magnus' tone was a mix between a laugh and a nervous breakdown, as they reached Alec's house. They hadn't talked about Magnus' small rejection in the bedroom. They had just silently agreed to go to Alec's house, because they had nowhere else to go.
"She doesn't seem like the type of person who gets pissed off?" Alec inquired.
"Oh, you have no idea – all those times when a normal parent would have freaked out, she is saving up for the big finale. It happens once every third year or so. Do you think your parents are home?" Magnus mused.
"I don't think so. My dad is at a conference upstate, or at least that's the story he went with. My mom is visiting our grandparents," Alec bit his lip, because as he was talking Magnus was leaning closer to him. Alec now had his back against the front door. Hopefully Isabelle had gone with the others and not taken them back here.
"I'm sorry about earlier. It's just, I'm not sure it's healthy to feel this strongly about someone this early," Magnus admitted, and Alec sucked in the air in front of him, because it wasn't what he'd expected Magnus to say. When Magnus kissed him it was careful and tender, and though Alec usually liked how unpracticed he felt compared to Magnus' skilled passionate kisses, he now realized that he also enjoyed tender Magnus. He didn't know what to do with such kiss, and he had to fight the urge to grab at the other boy and pull him close like he used to. Instead he felt the softness that was Magnus' lips, the careful caress of Magnus' fingers in his hair and the other cautious hand around the small of his back. They fit so perfectly, he thought, as his own hands laced around Magnus' neck. Alec had never thought he would fit with anyone, yet here he was, the first boy he'd ever kissed and he seemed perfect now. Seeing that Magnus could also be this tender, Alec thought that maybe this was the time to go to next base. He had been ready earlier that evening, but it had terrified him. He had always been afraid to go further, because Magnus always gave off mixed signals of what he was into, but this side of him, this side was what he wanted to be his first time.
Alec reached around and unlocked the front door. It was time to get inside, before neighbors would see two boys kissing by the front door of the Lightwood home. He took Magnus' hand and led him inside the house. Someone had forgotten to turn off the light in the kitchen, he noticed from the hallway. Alec lifted Magnus' hand so he could kiss it, while heading for the kitchen. They might be able to find some wine. But he froze in the doorway, Magnus a bit slower to notice that the kitchen was occupied, because he was busy looking at Alec. Alec's eyes met with his father's and they were both quiet, but it was two different kinds of quiet. Alec felt like fainting, as if the room had stopped in time around him. While his father looked as the typical calm before the storm.
"Dad!" Alec finally exclaimed, after what seemed like a moment too long. Magnus pulled his hand back out of Alec's firm grasp, and hid it in his pocket.
"Who is this?" his father asked. Alec's vision was blurred, his head was spinning and he had to make a quick decision. When Izzy and Alec were younger and had lied about something, they'd begun to recognize their father for his inquisitions, and they'd soon learned to just not show any signs of what was going on in their lives, or he would find out by interrogating them.
"This is Magnus," Alec swallowed hard. "My boyfriend," he said and held his breath. Robert's face was expressionless, but his eyes revealed the many emotions the man went through.
"It's late. Magnus should probably go home," he finally said.
Alec looked at Magnus. He didn't want the other boy to leave him. Magnus' smile was one of compassion, and Alec wanted him by his side.
"Magnus is staying," Alec said.
"Well…" Robert stood up, and before he could object any further Alec took a step forward.
"Dad…"
"Not now, Alec." His father sounded tired.
"Yes now. You're going to yell at me, and I'd rather you did it now, but you must know that it's not going to change anything," Alec felt brave suddenly. He hadn't known he had it in him. Maybe it was the effect of the remaining alcohol in his system.
"Please be reasonable, Alexander," his father sighed.
"Be reasonable how, precisely?"
Robert's hand slammed down on the table, before he composed himself.
"I'm up for a promotion, you know that. A gay son will impair that position, not all people accept it so easily, not in my business," he thundered.
"So easily? You think it's easy for me?"
"That promotion will most likely save us from losing the house. Don't ruin this family, Alexander."
A snorting sound escaped Alec's throat.
"You're one to talk!" Alec snapped.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Who are you having an affair with?" he demanded, and his father was clearly taken aback.
…
Magnus could not believe that this was Alec – his Alec, standing up to his father, telling him off, and showing him that he didn't have the right to judge. Magnus felt a pride, but also a great deal of sadness inside from looking at the scene in front of him. This boy had a hold of him like no one before. He wasn't promiscuous, but he'd been around. Yet, he'd never found someone quite this capable of holding his heart, which meant he would also be very capable of breaking it if he ever wanted to.
"Alexander, I…" Mr. Lightwood looked as if he'd just been shot, and was now just realizing where the bullet had hit him.
"That's what I thought. We're going to my room. Magnus can't go home, his house is empty, he'll stay the night," Alec said decidedly. He had never seen Alec this confident before – Alec, who always seemed to be insecure and unsure of himself. Alec, who never thought much of himself, but always strived for approval. Magnus felt Alec's fingers take hold of his wrist and he dragged Magnus with him, up the stairs and into what had probably never looked like a teenage boy's room. Alec didn't keep much stuff in his room, but it didn't necessarily make the room cold. Alec turned the key and locked the door behind them. Because Alec was standing so close to him, he could see the heart beat fast in his chest and the pulse racing in his throat.
"Alec, are you alright?" Magnus cupped the other boy's face with one hand, trying to get him to look up at him.
"I never got to try your edible glitter cupcakes," Alec said, still looking down at the floor. Magnus had to suppress a smile, even though Alec wasn't looking up at him.
"If we're lucky the cops left a few behind."
…
"Shit! Did they see us?" Simon exclaimed as he and Izzy ran across the grass and ended up by a playground near Magnus' house. Simon turned to see if Izzy had heard him, and she crashed into him. He staggered, shortly thinking she hadn't noticed him stop, but then she kissed him aggressively. Almost by reflex he reached around her and drew her closer, practically lifting her up. Izzy was in some kind of rare mood, which was always hot. When she leaned back, she gasped and her hand flew up to her mouth. "What? I'm not that bad? You've kissed me before, surely you would have told me earlier?"
He was ready to hear her say that it was a mistake, she shouldn't have kissed him and that it had been a spur of the moment – she had momentarily gotten excited about the party being put to an end by the cops. But then she looked at her hand, and Simon noticed small drops of blood on them.
"You're bleeding!" he said, just before realizing he'd bit her. It was her lip that was bleeding. How had he not noticed? "Oh no, I'm sorry, Izzy. I didn't mean to…" But he didn't get to finish his apology, before she had jumped into his arms, this time he staggered back and landed on the slide, Izzy still on top, kissing him with newfound passion. He tasted her blood in his mouth, and the adrenaline ran through his veins with excitement. "Isabelle," he breathed in between lips locking and unlocking. "Isabelle, we're on a playground."
"So?" she asked while pecking at his jaw line.
"Kids play here during the day." To his great regret she leaned back.
"You're right."
"I have a better idea," he said, remembering what Clary and the two of them had been working on for the past few weeks –
"The tree house," Izzy almost read his mind.
They kept a fast pace on the way back to the tree house in his backyard. They had all contributed with something to make it happen. Some might say that they were too old to have a tree house, but the truth was that a tree house could work for many things. With the right amount of blankets and candlelight it was the perfect place for a romantic date. And boy did they have a lot of blankets and candles. Clary had provided most of the candles; she had a collection of them. They lit a few of them when they finally got there. The house was only just big enough to sit up straight, and as Izzy sat down her already short dress rolled up a little, leaving little for the imagination. Simon felt the fire in his cheeks, and hoped she wouldn't notice. He dropped the lighter when his eyes went over her thighs.
"We don't need that much light anyway," he said and leaned over to kiss her soft lips. His hands ran over the dress and the sequins itched against his skin. How had she gotten the dress on? It seemed glued to her body, though emphasizing all of her perfections.
"There's a zipper in the back," she said, almost as if she'd read his mind once again. He guessed that he wasn't exactly the mysterious type. He reached around and found the zipper, and placed her back against the blankets so he could slip the dress off her. The nervousness he felt made him bump his head into the roof of the tree house, when he pulled his own T-shirt off.
"Ouch," he exclaimed, silently cursing himself for being so clumsy in front of a practically naked goddess like Izzy. She didn't laugh at him, instead she held up her hand.
"Come here," she said softly, and he leaned down to lie on top of her, but he didn't stay there for long. Izzy was the kind of girl who would want to have the upper hand, and so she turned him over before he could make any struggles and expertly undid his jeans.
…
This night had been full of ups and downs for Alec. He had not been comfortable with the suggested role-play, but he had enjoyed what the note had led to. He felt both relieved and terrified by the fact that his father knew about Magnus. He knew hell was waiting for him, but previous events of the evening prevented him from thinking about it further. Magnus in his room distracted the fear and turned it into something else entirely, as he looked at Alec with his deep brown eyes.
"I must say, I'm kind of disappointed you didn't have any glitter contacts to wear tonight," Alec felt brave still, whether it was from the adrenaline of telling his father off or the alcohol, he couldn't be sure.
"Oh really?" Magnus smirked, and stepped closer to Alec, but not so close that he couldn't still look up and down at Alec. Magnus looked as if he was searching for something on Alec to use as a payback for his comment, but he didn't find anything to point out, which made Alec feel a bit more confident. "I don't know what you're doing to me, Alec, but my usual wit appears to be momentarily gone," he sighed.
"Good," Alec said and pulled Magnus into a soft kiss. He brushed off Magnus' blazer and as a response Magnus ripped off Alec's bowtie. Surprised by the force and the little he felt of the ripping, he leaned back. "Hey, I liked that bowtie."
"No you didn't," Magnus looked smug.
"I really didn't," Alec only just gave him an apologetic glance, before Magnus pulled him down onto the bed. They practically continued where they'd left off back in the bedroom in Magnus' house, rolling around in the bed, but this time pieces of clothing went missing in between rolling around. Alec clutched at Magnus desperately, feeling every inch of him as they kept making out. Alec escaped into Magnus. He wanted to be with someone who would make him forget about all the bad things in his life, and make him see the good things instead – Magnus was that person. The memory of the night slowly faded, as Alec gave himself to Magnus completely, and until there was no more left to give.
Vulnerability had never felt so great.