Alec was nervously sweating. He sat in the driver's seat of his car and kept glancing into his rearview mirror, where Magnus' limp body lay in the backseat. When he had picked Magnus off of the ground and began to carry him to his car, Sebastian had shouted at Alec. The words still echoed in his ears.
"He's a Downworlder, he means nothing!" Nothing. Nothing. If the cat-eyed boy meant nothing, then why did Alec's heart nearly split when he saw him on the ground, broken?
Suddenly, a groan broke the eerie silence of Alec's car. Alec quickly pulled into the first parking lot he saw and turned towards Magnus, who tried to push himself into a sitting position. Tried. He fell onto his side with a whimper. Slowly opening his feline eyes, they scanned Alec, who had his own eyes open wide with worry and was turning slightly pink.
"Alexander?" Magnus questioned softly, holding his hand over his injured ear.
"Yeah, it's me." Alec answered in the same quiet voice. "I'm taking you to the hospital." Magnus, looking scared, slowly sat up.
"No." He said, sounding nervous.. Alec frowned.
"Why the hell not? Sebastian could've killed you! You literally almost died!"
"Alec." Magnus interrupted. "I understand that. What you don't understand is that I can't go to the hospital. I don't have enough money, and they would never take a filthy Downworlder like me without payment. Please," he pleaded. "Just take me to Catarina's house. That's all I ask of you."
"Magnus," Alec argued, "You're seriously hurt. I'll even pay for you."
"No!" Magnus' eyes were full of fear, though Alec didn't understand why. Why was Magnus so afraid of going to the hospital? "You're Marked, I'm a Downworlder. You never needed to help me."
"I was worried about you!" Alec shouted, now turning very red. "I thought you were dead." He said, quieter. Magnus looked at him interested.
"Alexander, you are very kind, but if you truly care about my well being, just take me to Catarina's." Alec scrunched his eyebrows. Why didn't Magnus understand he was trying to help? Most likely because he didn't trust the Marked, and he had full right not to. Alec, in a rare act of compliance, turned back around in his seat and began to drive towards Catarina's house. Alec had a distinct feeling that, for some odd reason, he would do whatever Magnus asked of him. Magnus had an aura around him that made Alec's heart flutter and feel nervous, but also made him feel calm and safe. He didn't understand the feeling.
The two didn't speak the entire way to Catarina's place; they had nothing to say. Alec stole quite a few glances in the rearview mirror to check on Magnus and noticed the boy was staring at him intently. Once, Magnus noticed Alec looking and quickly closed his eyes, pretending as if he were resting and not just looking at him.
"We're here." Alec said as he pulled up next to the house. Magnus gave him a grateful smile while trying to stand up. Alec exited the car and helped Magnus out, draping his arm over his shoulder. "Here. Do you have a key?"
"No." Magnus said, wincing as he stood, supported by Alec. Alec raised his eyebrows in confusion. "Locks are expensive." Magnus explained. "Cat barely had enough money to buy her own house when she turned eighteen. She saved money by not getting a lock." Alec nodded and the two walked to the door, Magnus leaning heavily on Alec. Alec helped Magnus sit down on the couch and got him some ice for his ear. "Thank you, Alexander." He said as he put the ice on his ear. "I'll see you at school."
"I'll stay here until Catarina gets back from school." Alec proclaimed, sitting down on the couch next to Magnus.
"You'll miss more school! I'll be fine, go ahead." Magnus argued, but Alec was back to his intransigent self and set his jaw in a stubborn line. "Fine. But I'm sleeping."
"Go ahead." Alec smiled softly. "If you need anything, I'm here for you."
Magnus had indeed fallen asleep. In the process, his head had fallen onto Alec's shoulder, his silky black hair touching Alec's neck. Magnus' light breaths had become comforting to Alec in the few hours he sat there. After a while, he checked his phone, which notified him that he had three texts.
The first was from Aline.
Where are u? Seb told me you took Magnus and left. RU OK? -AP
Alec responded with a quick I'm fine and explained what had happened. The next text was from Izzy.
Mom is going to kill you. Is it true? Are you coming home? -IL
Yeah, Alec responded, I'll be home. Long story, tell you later. -AL
The third text was from his Mom.
The principal called. Cutting class is unacceptable. Talk to me after school. -ML
Alec frantically texted Aline once he read his mom's text.
My mom knows. I'm doomed. HELP! -AL
Lie. Say you had to take me home or something. -AP
She knows Seb! He'll tell her! -AL
Well, shit. -AP
If I die, I'll miss you. -AL
Ditto. Hopefully see you tomorrow? -AP
Hopefully. -AL
After that conversation, Alec checked the time. 2:30. Catarina should be home soon. Just as that thought ran through his head, the door opened and Catarina walked through. She raised her eyebrows at the sight of Alec, but walked towards the coat rack and hung up her backpack.
"Hmph." Catarina said. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Magnus finally brought a boy home. I didn't think it would be a Lightwood, but I guess you are his type." Alec's face went beet red.
"What? No, no, it's not what you think, I… um, have a girlfriend, uh…he got beaten up… I'm not gay." Alec stuttered. Catarina looked amused as she filled a glass with water.
"I know what happened, I'm just messing with you. I figured you two would end up here. Magnus practically lives with me. Is he doing okay?"
"Yeah, he's been sleeping pretty much the whole time." Alec said. "Why does he stay here all of the time?" He swallowed. "Are you two dating?" Catarina choked and spit out her water.
"No, no." she giggled for a little while longer before looking serious. "His parents aren't exactly the kindest people in the world. He likes to stay here when they're being especially terrible, which is most of the time."
"Oh." was all Alec said. There was an awkward silence. "I guess I should go." Catarina frowned with one side of her mouth.
"I guess so." She said. "I really want to thank you, by the way. You're one of the nicest people I've ever met. You're free to come by whenever you want." Alec smiled humbly as he carefully moved Magnus' head off of his shoulder and onto a pillow. "See ya." Alec waved as he exited Catarina's small house.
When Magnus woke up, his ear and his back ached. Alec was gone, and the scent of basil was lingering in the air.
"Morning, sleeping beauty." Catarina said as she held out a bowl of tomato basil soup. Magnus accepted it gratefully. "You doing okay?"
"Yeah." Magnus responded between spoonfuls of soup.
"How'd that Lightwood boy end up bringing you here?" Catarina smirked. "I didn't know you had that effect on the Marked, especially ones dating girls." Magnus tried to glare at her, but ended up smiling.
"Shut up, Cat. He just felt bad for me, that's all." Magnus said, trying to play it cool.
"Okay, believe what you want to believe." Catarina was grinning from ear to ear. "But I'm being best woman at your wedding." Magnus aimed a playful punch at her shoulder, but she scurried out of the way. "Stay in your bedroom tonight. If you need anything, just holler."
Magnus hobbled over to Catarina's guest bedroom. He stayed there so often he had a few pairs of clothes in the closet. After grabbing some pajamas, he dragged himself into the bathroom to get changed. He stripped his shirt off and looked at his back in the mirror. Magnus was so shocked at what he saw, that he almost slipped on the white tile floor. The word pathetic that his mother had carved into his back all those years ago was fading. Instead of thick, ugly, raised lines, they were thinner and didn't rise. He slid on a fresh shirt and tried not to think about it, but couldn't help smiling.
Maybe if Magnus had removed the bandage covering his new wound, he would have noticed the word unlovable was fading too.
A/N: Thank you guys so much for waiting for me! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks to YerathielNightingale423 for checking out/editing this chapter. So, what did you think? Why are Magnus' scars fading? What's going to happen with Alec's parents? And what about when they go back to school? Stay tuned, and please review!