"You shouldn't go alone," Alec said. "Let me come."
"It's you he wants to trick, Alec," Magnus reminded him. "If I am going to get the truth out of him then I think it's best I go alone."
"I could just stay outside for moral support," Alec tried next, but Magnus shook his head.
"My father, my problem," he said firmly.
"Don't go off on that again," Alec sighed, pulling Magnus in for a hug.
Magnus accepted the hug, gladly, unaware of how badly he'd needed it.
"When we got married it wasn't just about being together for the rest of our lives," Alec spoke softly in his ear. "It was about my family being yours and your family being mine." Alec pulled out of the hug to grin at him. "Besides this all wouldn't have happened if I hadn't stuck my nose where it didn't belong in the first place."
Magnus laughed. "It's true," he said. "That DNA test was quite sneaky of you."
"It wasn't just that," Alec continued. "I was also encouraging dinners and trying to get you to hang out with him, plus the whole investing without talking with you first thing, so really this is entirely my fault."
"Don't even start that," Magnus objected. "He's a grown ass adult who chose to deceive you. All you're guilty of is being too trusting and too nice."
"Therefore I should come too and see for myself what you're so sure he's really like," Alec piped up. "To cure me of my trusting and niceness."
"Not a chance," Magnus chucked. "I like you just as you are thanks. We can't both be cynics."
"I mean technically we could," Alec disagreed, giving Magnus a playful glare.
"Two cynics would never last," Magnus laughed. "Trust me. This relationship only has room for one cynic and that seat is taken."
"What seat does that leave me?" Alec asked.
"The adorable worrier," Magnus chuckled. "Seriously though, don't worry about me." Magnus tried to smile to show it would all be fine. "Worst case scenario he won't give back the money and we just don't ever speak to him again."
"I guess," Alec sighed. "I still say we could just not talk to him about it and see how the investment turns out. It might be fine."
"Oh no," Magnus replied quickly. "That's so not happening."
Alec sighed. "Fine, have it your way," he said. Then he added in a more cheerful voice, "though I can't claim to be too fond of the reason, it is nice seeing you on a Monday morning. My little workaholic husband."
"I took a personal day," Magnus replied. "Using my vacation time."
"Yeah I know," Alec grinned, his tone turning quite flirty. "Do you think we could use those for other uses as well?"
"Naughty boy," Magnus teased back. "Get your head out of the gutter. Don't you have work today?"
Alec shrugged. "Switched my shift with Maia. She opened this morning. Since I couldn't talk you out of this, I wanted to be able to come with you if you needed me today."
Magnus was so touched by his husband's kind gesture he almost changed his mind and let him come.
"I love you," Magnus said instead, reaching forward to gently stroke Alec's cheek.
"With all my heart," Alec replied easily.
His eyes closed, Alec kissed Magnus's hand before it fell back to his side.
"I'll be here when you get back," Alec said.
"Thanks." Magnus smiled before turning to collect his keys and leaving through the front door.
The fall weather wasn't as nice as summer had been, but it still wasn't cold enough for a jacket. Magnus began his short walk to the bus stop. Ironically, if Alec had still owned his car he would have probably let Alec drive him, or driven himself.
As he waited, Magnus tried to give himself a little bit of a pep talk. Sure he'd fallen apart, but he wasn't gonna beat himself up about it anymore. He wasn't perfect and the shock of learning what Alec had done along with the waves of emotions he hadn't realized he'd been suppressing would have been enough to topple anyone.
Magnus knew where to find his father, though until now he'd never wanted the information. John Anderson lived on the second floor of a small apartment complex in a not so great part of town.
The whole way there, Magnus couldn't stop thinking about what he was gonna say, and then tried to guess how John would respond to each hypothetical phase. He was strangely nervous though he really wished he wasn't. After all, he had nothing to be nervous about. He was just going to demand John return Alec's money, and if he wouldn't then that would be the end of that. No more contact with John at all. It seemed like a simple enough plan, so why was he so worried it would go horribly wrong?
Either way it was gonna happen. It had to happen. This land of limbo had gone on long enough, and Magnus couldn't take it anymore. This farce had to end, no matter how many knots he had in his stomach.
Magnus got off the bus and began his walk down the street to the apartment that housed the one person on this earth he least wanted to spend time with. Nevertheless, that was where he was heading.
Luckily he didn't have to be buzzed in as someone else was entering just as he arrived. Magnus snuck into the apartment building, going up the stairs until he reached floor five. Standing in front of room eleven, Magnus knocked.
The door opened to reveal the man who had contributed genetic material to Magnus's existence.
"Oh Magnus, what a pleasant surprise," John said, feigning warmth. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting company. The place is a bit of a mess."
"This is not a social visit," Magnus said firmly. He needed to keep his cool. He had to give nothing away or he knew he'd never come out on top. John looked a little puzzled, but showed no signs of distress which to Magnus meant his poker face was working.
Without a word, John moved aside to let Magnus into the apartment, closing the door behind him. "What brings you here if not for a social visit?"
"I am here to insist that you give Alec his money back."
"Ah Magnus, you do know how investments work, right?" John replied, his lips tight, hands twitching, and feet shifting as he spoke. But despite his outwardly awkward behavior there was something very condescending about his tone.
"And more than that I know how cons work," Magnus said firmly. "In six months you'll inform Alec that your company has gone bankrupt, but wasn't it such a great idea and maybe another try will finally work, hoping that he'll 'invest' all over again."
"It's true, sometimes start ups don't work out," John said. "But it's not like I ever want or plan for them to fail."
"I know your company is fake so just give Alec his money back and we can all forget this ever happened," Magnus said again.
"Sorry, but I can't do that," John began. "Alec signed a contract."
"Something you wrote up on a laptop and printed at the library doesn't count as a legal contract," Magnus growled. "If you value a relationship with me even the smallest bit you will return what you took and never ask again, because if you refuse one more time neither Alec nor I will ever speak to you again. Understand?"
"Calm down, Mags," John said, clearly surprised by the growing anger in Magnus's voice. "Don't be so hasty. Just wait. You'll see. When the investment matures everyone will benefit. Don't get so worked up."
"Fine," Magnus said firmly. Magnus couldn't believe how infuriated he was at John's using his aunt's nickname for him. That was their thing and he hated it coming out of this man's mouth.
John smiled. "See calmer heads always prevail." But the smile fell from his face as Magnus spoke again.
"Then from now on you are no longer related to me," Magnus said with an authority he hadn't quite known he possessed. "You will have nothing to do with me or my husband and if it is the last thing I ever do I will make sure that you never ever again receive even one more penny of my in-law's money."
Magnus turned on his heel wishing to leave on a strong note. "If I never see your face again it will be too soon. Goodbye."
And he nearly made it to the door before the sound of laughter stopped him. If it had been ordinary laughter Magnus might have been able to keep walking, but this sound wasn't something you walked away from. It wasn't the kind of laughter you hear after someone's made a joke. It was malicious. It was wicked. It was spiteful. It filled the room and made Magnus picture an evil villain from a fairy tale standing over the princess's defeated form.
"I suppose the jig is up then," John sniggered. "If you are so determined to cut me off from that particular gravy train then I doubt very much it will be worth the act anymore."
Magnus didn't turn to face John, but rather stood frozen facing the door with John standing behind him.
"If you only knew where you really came from you'd understand you have no right to be so high and mighty with me," John laughed. "Born behind bars ring any bells?" He chuckled cruelly. Magnus felt something tighten in his chest.
"Right now, you would say anything to hurt me," Magnus explained calmly, turning around almost against his will. Still there was something in John's voice that scared him. "Why should I believe a word you say?"
"Because it's the truth," John spat. "And the truth can only stay buried for so long." He laughed suddenly and added, "Kinda like the truth of why I reached out to an estranged son only after he married money."
Magnus couldn't remember ever being more furious in his whole life, yet he hadn't a clue what to say next.
"Apart from the physical resemblance though it's hard to imagine you're actually her son," John continued. "I suppose that's down to that sister and her 'good' influence." He'd put an emphasis on good as if it were a bad thing. "Such a shame. We might have made a good team if you weren't such a drag."
John shrugged. "It's a good thing that Asmodeus needs no sidekick. Now get out of my apartment, prison trash, before I throw you out."
Magnus didn't have time to process what he'd just heard for even a moment, as it did seem like John was going to attempt to throw him out if he didn't move quickly. Wanting nothing more than to leave this place and never return, Magnus ran for the door, down the hall, raced down the stairs and burst from the building like he'd escaped from the belly of the beast.
It meant nothing. It was all to be forgotten. Don't think about it. Don't remember what he said. Don't think.
The money was gone forever, but at least so was John. Magnus took comfort in the fact that Alec could afford to lose that kind of money without major consequences. If he really thought about it, given Alec's nature and John's skills at manipulation it could have been so much worse. Don't think. Don't guess. Just focus on the fact that it was over.
Find the bus stop. Wait, but don't think. Look at the graffiti designs at the stop. Coins go in slot. Sit way in the back. Wait again, but it's okay because he had a cell phone. Connect three across, and then down. Don't dwell, mustn't focus on what he said. Everything was finally over. He never had to speak to, or think about, or see John Anderson ever again.
Magnus took a few deep breaths as he left the bus and began his walk home. Everything was fine.
By the time he reached his front door, Magnus was sure he had himself under control. He was therefore very surprised by his husband's reaction at seeing him.
"What happened!?" Alec exclaimed, rushing over as if Magnus were drowning.
"Nothing," Magnus smiled. "Everything's fine." But Alec gave him a look. "Okay, so John was definitely conning you. He came right out and admitted it to me once I made him understand he'd never get another penny out of us." Magnus sighed. "I'm sorry Alec. I really did want to be wrong, it's just-"
"Nevermind the money!" Alec said. "What happened to you. You look like someone died!"
Magnus realized how little he'd managed to contain his thoughts. Seeing the fear and worry on Alec's face told him how he looked better than a mirror ever could.
"I-" Magnus began. "It's just… when he got mad he said some not so kind things, but he was probably lying. I mean it's not like he was ever honest with us, right?"
Alec was shaking his head. "You don't believe a word of what you're saying and you know it," Alec stated firmly, his expression still showing concern.
"He's a liar!" Magnus exclaimed, pulling away from his husband just a little. He needed some space, but Alec wasn't having any of it.
"If his words affect you this much," Alec continued calmly, "Then it hardly matters if they are true or not. They will haunt you either way. You have to deal with them."
"No," Magnus snapped. "No! I don't want to."
With that he ran from the room.
So I have a little confession for you all. I haven't written a single sentence in a month. ^_^ This chapter was done and edited at the same time as the last chapter. What I've mostly been doing this last month is binge watching Anime like a spaz lol. The Inuyasha references in the last chapter was the beginning of my binge and since then I've finished watched all of: Seven Deadly Sins, Magi, Sinbad, Blue Exorcist, Vampire Knight, Attack on Titan and Maid Soma. *awkward emoji here* And now my school has started again and I used all that great writing opportune time for anime. sigh.
Anyway about this chapter. I've been building up to this moment for Magnus since his father's first appearance. I hope it lives up to the hype. Anyone got any ideas about what happened in Magnus's past?
-Re-uploaded after editing by CoffeeandLiterature-
Sneak Peek Chapter 176
"Yeah I love you too crazy girl," Simon laughed. "But usually in the morning I get a growl of why did you wake me, not kisses."
"Would you prefer the growl?" Izzy giggled.
"Oh course not," Simon laughed, before pouncing on her. "Captured."
"Oh no," Izzy said in mock distress. "How ever will I escape." Simon laughed and squeezed her a little tighter before kissing her neck and letting her go.
"Hold on just one minute," Izzy teased. "Where are you off too so early in the morning? If I am not mistaken you are unemployed and therefore have all the time in the world to indulge your girlfriend in the morning."
"I made plans," Simon shrugged.
"I see," Izzy continued to tease him. "So who is it that I have to fight for your attention today?"
"Jace," Simon stated blankly.
"Well that does kinda ruin the whole vibe I had going," Izzy laughed.