Prompt: "I don't believe you."
Centers around the episode where Mason and Alex broke up in Translyvania.
Alex huddled deeply into the armchair in her family's lair, it's familiar comfort not enough to reach her broken heart. She pulled the blanket tighter, willing it to all just disappear. As she was trying to forget and force the shattered pieces of her heart to be fixed, without any success, she wondered if there was perhaps a spell she could use that would make it all better.
Before she could follow that errant thought further, her mother's hand touched her head, patting soothingly and her perfume wafted gently to Alex's nose. Her eyes still teary, she raised her head to see her mother's pained face. "Oh mija." she murmured, "I know it hurts." she moved in, and Alex shimmied in the chair so Theresa could fit in the oversized chair with her. Her mother's arms were safe and held her close. In the back of her mind, she felt like she was a child again, finding solace in the safest place she knew. "I know how much it hurts when you're heart gets broken, but time will heal it." her voice was assuring, "And on the bright side, we're all really happy to see you have feelings." she tried injecting some humor, to see if that would break Alex out of her stupor, but Alex stayed quiet instead of reacting with a loud, "Hey!" like she had hoped.
How could it hurt this much? She had been through breakups before, with Dean and Riley, and yet neither had set her back or shattered her so completely like this breakup with Mason had. It had just been a normal day with those two, but something was making this one different. "Why does it hurt so much?" she managed to croak out the question, and was met with a sigh as Theresa tried to figure out how she should answer.
Forcing herself back up, she looked into her mother's eyes. "Why does it hurt so much?" she hiccuped again, fresh tears starting to spill.
With a gentle hand, Theresea Russo began to wipe her daughters tears, the back of her mind cursing the heartbreak her daughter was suffering. "Mason told Juliet he loved her right in front of me." her heart felt heavy saying it, "Why does it hurt so much?" The repeated question was hard for Theresea to answer.
It was with a deep breath that she found some words for her daughter. "Listen, honey, you're going to fall in love so many times before you find the one you'll be with forever." she bit her lip as she tried to smooth Alex's hair. "So think of it this way; you're just one broken heart closer to happily ever after."
"You mean I'm going to have to go through this more than once?" she stammered out. "But I thought I did find the one." she cried, tears falling harder than before as she finally admitted what made this breakup turn into a deep heartbreak far harsher than the others. "Mom, I really thought we were going to be together forever."
"Oh honey." her heart broke for her daughter. "Most people don't find 'the one' when they're in high school. You're just 17 Alex. You have a whole life ahead of you to find the one you love."
Her lips wobbled as she tried to accept her mother's wise words, and her mind couldn't help but flash back to the time that she confronted future Harper about writing stories about their lives as teen fiction novels. Future Harper had asked her why she was so upset, and thought she was heartbroken. The words she said were now back to haunt her, "Did you break up with Mason yet?" It rung in her ears as her mother helped her to her feet and gently guided her to the substation.
"Harper. Jerry. I brought Alex out here because I thought you guys might, you know, have some advice on how to cheer her up."
"Hmmm." Harper hummed, "Just do what I do!" she instructed, "Push down your feelings and hide them until they come out at complete strangers." She smiled brightly at her best friend and her parents, as though this was the best advice possible. "Hey you!" she shouted, an angry tint to her voice as she turned to go deliver a sandwich to a customer.
Theresa and Jerry both winced, realizing that maybe Harper needed some guidance too. Locking eyes, they agreed they could only handle one crisis at a time- especially when they were at such a loss on what to do on both fronts.
Jerry tried to think quickly, seeing the way Alex leaned towards the lair again. His eyes settled back to the task he was about to complete before his wife managed to lure Alex out of the safety of the Lair, and a light bulb came on. Maybe he could get her to laugh!
"I think I know how to cheer you up!" he smiled brightly at his daughter, "See that guy over there?" He pointed discretely to the person sitting by themselves. "Well, he ordered a cola, BUT I'm going to serve him prune juice!" He wasted no time in pouring the juice and gestured at her, "Come on! Watch!" With quick steps he delivered the cup to the unsuspecting patron, "One cola." he tried to smile pleasantly before returning to his wife and daughter. For a moment he was sure the only thing holding Alex to the spot by the counter was his wife's hands on her arms, wrapped around her back like a warm protective cage.
When the man took a sip, expecting the taste of cola he made an immediate sour face, spitting it out in an exaggerated spit-take that usually would make Alex holler. He gave them a disgusted look, threw up his hands as he watched the father nudge his sad looking daughter. "Was that great or what?" he looked back and forth expectantly. The man threw down his napkin before storming out with a scowl. "OH, and now I'm losing a customer!" Jerry exclaimed, "You love it when I lose customers! There he goes!" he was sure Alex would have a smile at the very least when he turned back but was instead greeted by the sight of his daughter still looking very melancholy.
In an uncharacteristic display of sympathy she spoke in a watery voice, "Oh, that poor man!" she frowned at her dad, "What'd he ever do to you dad?" Her lip wobbled and Jerry's eyes widened, "Oh." he blinked, "Oh honey." he reached out to wipe her cheek, despite there not being any visible tear tracks. "Your heart must really be broken." his shoulders slumped slightly at the realization at how deeply Alex cared about this breakup. His little girl had been through breakups before, but he'd never seen her this stuck and unable to bounce right back to her sneaky, mischievous, joyful self. His own eyes watered as he hugged her, feeling Theresa join in a group hug.
"Awe, it's an Alex-sandwich" Harper seemed like she might cry too and without a moment's hesitation the Russo parents both held out an arm to allow her to join them which she rushed into. With both girls secure in a hug, Jerry and Theresa agreed with locked eyes, both of their girls needed more help to heal, they just needed to sit down and figure out what it would look like.
"Alex." The British voice was almost a whimper as he called her name upon entrance to the sub station. Mason's eyes quickly scanned the room to find the Russo parents in a group hug with Harper and someone else in the middle. Instincts told him this was his beloved girlfriend Alex. "Alex." he repeated, making it halfway into the substation before a hand stopped him.
"Mason." his eyes were steely as he greeted the other boy. "I don't think Alex wants to see you right now." He crossed his arms and smirked, almost triumphantly, "And not to gloat, but I know Juliet doesn't." Mason looked at Justin disbelievingly, how could he possibly think that he was here to look for Juliet? Sure, Juliet had once been his girlfriend, eons ago, but Alex was his only thought now. Hadn't he already explained that? Hadn't she? Alex held his heart in her hands, and he was sure she would forevermore. He shook his head at the jealous older brother and looked over his shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of his heart.
"Alex." he looked at her pleadingly, his own heart cracking to see the way she clutched the turquoise blanket around her shoulders with a tight knuckled grip, the way her shoulders caved and she was hunched in on herself, the redness rimming her eyes and the puffiness that were telltale signs of tears. "I came to fix things." he spoke directly to her, keeping his eyes on hers, locked.
It was Harper who stepped right back in the middle, between Justin and Alex, effectively cutting her from view again. "Make him write down what he wants to say to her." she narrowed her eyes at Mason, "That accent gives him a totally unfair advantage." Her arms were outstretched, as if that would keep Alex behind her.
"Alex, I didn't mean what I said earlier." he pleaded, hoping she was listening even through her best friend's back. "I was in shock from seeing Juliet, but I want to be with you." he promised
"Really?" her voice was tiny as she peered over Harper's shoulder.
"Yes." he tried to take another step, but Justin held up his hand again, putting pressure on Mason's shoulder. It wasn't enough to actually stop the werewolf, but out of desperate need to convince Alex that not only did he love and want her, but that he was still a safe choice to be around, he didn't throw off the hand and force himself forward. The wizards strength would be no match, and the last thing he needed right now was to hurt her older brother and start a fight.
Alex sidestepped her best friend and took a step closer to Mason, looking right into his eyes. Her lips pursed for a moment as she found the words she wanted, "Look, Mason…" she grit her teeth against the pain the words were causing her. "I've been in shock before too." Her fingers tightened their hold on the blanket, "Like when I accidentally made my brother disappear." she gestured, "Or when I accidentally made my parents not know who I was." Jerry and Theresea shared a confused look, filing this information away for later, "Or when I accidentally got trapped in a horror film." she paused, "Or when I accidentally-"
She was cut off by her mother, Theresea gently grabbed her arms again, "Honey, we know. You've messed up a lot." she rubbed her thumbs encouragingly on her skin, realizing that Alex was stalling from heartache.
"Yeah." she nodded, biting her lip, "I have messed up a lot." she admitted before turning back and forcing herself to look at Mason, whose heartbroken expression tore at Alex's already shattered heart and the loose grip she had on the decision she was making. "And still, I've never accidentally told someone I loved them when I didn't."
He reached out, managing to brush his fingers on her cheek, "Alex, I know it's hard to believe, but if you just let me explain I know you'll understand- I lo-"
"No." she turned her gaze, effectively removing his soft touch from her cheek. "That's the problem." she shook her head and stepped backwards, "I don't understand. I don't believe you." Without another word Alex fished her want out of her book and in a flash was gone, leaving everyone else standing around in the substation.
"It's time for you to go, Mason." Jerry leveled him with a look.
"Yes sir." he bowed his head in acceptance and they watched his own breakdown happen in front of their eyes. "I'll be on my way then, and I'll regret my mistake for the rest of my life." he voice was dejected and his shoulders slumped in despair. The rejection weighed heavily on him as he turned and left the substation, fighting his loyal heart's begging to go find her instead.
Two hearts thoroughly broken by an accidental misunderstanding.
Max never prided himself on being the smartest or the funniest or the most balanced sibling, but he did pride himself on his heart, how much he cared. Seeing the way Alex had self destructed and the way Mason crumbled, he knew he had to do something, after all, they were both in such pain but didn't seem to be fixing it.
Frowning he made his way down Waverly Place, eyes scanning the street, wondering if he'd be able to even find Mason or not. He wasn't an expert or anything, but something about this all seemed off to him and since he'd already seen Alex's side maybe he could get something from Mason. "Hey yo Mason, what's up? Where are you going? He put on an easy smile as he approaching the werewolf.
He almost faltered when he was met with a sad look, like a puppy. "Listen Max, it's probably not a good idea that we hang out anymore." he lowered his head, but tried to keep his eye contact. "I'm missing your sister a lot and when I see you, I think of her." even now, his thoughts refused to leave Alex, what was she doing right now? She looked so… sad. Was she still curled up with that turquoise blanket?
"Wait, hold on a minute." Max shook his head, "I'm deciding if I should be offended or not." he scrunched his nose. Should he? Normally, he might be, but Mason was Alex's boyfriend before he was ever Max's friend. "No, I'm good." he decided, he couldn't falt the werewolf for his feelings. Speaking of feelings, he decided to try and get the information he came for. "Mason, you can't just give up like that man." He placed a hand on Mason's shoulder, his touch far more friendly that Justin's had been. "I mean, you and Alex should be together. We've all see the way you two are. You bring out the best in her and anyone who looks can see that you love her. That's all I could ever want as her brother." he gave a little shrug, "Annnd I think you should make it happen by Werewolf Thanksgiving."
Mason was confused by the statement, "Werewolf Thanksgiving?"
"Yeah…" Max trailed off and brushed a hand through his curls, "I kinda told all my wizard friends I was going to your house because you guys eat pilgrims." he admitted. His priority was Alex, obviously, but could you blame him for having ulterior motives? Werewolf Thanksgiving sounded awesome, and Max didn't want to miss it.
"I don't know if Alex will ever understand this, but werewolves are very loyal." Mason lamented, "The problem is that we're also insanely impulsive." he squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose, frustrated at his own genetic traits. "It's what drove me to approach her in art class even when I thought she was a mortal. It's what made me kiss her in the rain. It's what made me fall before I'd even said two words to her." he sighed, "It's also what made me say things I didn't mean after seeing Juliet after all these years." His nose twitched, And now that you mention it, I'm craving pilgrims." he gave a shocked look to Max who shrugged with a relaxed smile.
His smile slipped off his face and he became more thoughtful as he processed what Mason had just revealed about werewolf nature. "Well, I think you should go explain that to Alex." He looked back up and continued, "Not the pilgrim part, cause that's gonna feel like history to her and she's gonna tune you out." Mason nodded as he listened, knowing Max was right. "But like, the impulsive thing? That's definitely worth mentioning."
For a moment Mason felt hope, which can be a dangerous thing to an impuslive werewolf, but he crushed it and looked back up to the Russo patio longingly, remembering their date when they tossed water balloons from the balcony onto unsuspecting walkers. "Yeah, but I haven't been able to talk to her at all, let alone alone." he signed, and stared, lost in the vision, imagining he could see her standing there mischievously grinning down at him.
Max frowned, watching Mason in pain reminded him too much of Alex. He didn' like it. Not the fact that it was similar, he couldn't care less about that- what bothered him was that his only sister and the werewolf who loved her were both in such immense pain. Fixable pain at that. Something in Max told him that they were meant to be, that someday he was supposed to see his sister walk down the aisle to meet Mason, and he just knew it was true.
"Come on." he bumped his shoulder to make sure Mason heard him, "I'll bring you up. It's my turn for Alex watch after all." Mason's stomach felt like a rock as he silently followed the younger boy up the steps, miraculously not seeing any other Russo family members on their way. Max paused, hand on the doorknob "Hold on- wait here." he told Mason, holding up a finger to stop him, realizing that Harper may not take it well if he brought him inside right now.
Slipping inside he smiled at Harper and she hustled over to him. "She's watching werewolf movies and I can't get her to stop." she fretted and Max nodded solemnly, hoping his plan would work and his family would be fixed. "Got it." Easily he flopped down on the couch, putting his head on Alex's lap next to the popcorn bucket she was picking up to throw at the tv. "Ooh yum." he plucked it free and popped some into his mouth, watching her stare at him dumbly for a moment before putting her hands back down empty as planned. One hand fisted her blanket and the other settled onto Max's chest by his heart, a sight that Harper pouted at, seeing the siblings be so sweet together was rare, but not as rare as seeing Justing and Alex getting along easily. Well, it had been better since Justin had fallen for Juliet and Alex for Mason, but she couldn't think about that right now. Harper shook off her worry, leaving Alex in Max's hopefully capable hands as she did her homework.
After a moment he looked up from his spot, seeing Alex watching him instead of the movie. "So." he licked his lips, "I actually have someone who desperately wants to talk to you and I think you should hear him out." he put a hand atop Alex's. "I know it's hard to believe, but he really does love you and I know that the two of you are meant to be together." he bit his lip seeing his sister hide the hope in her eyes. "I know it's hard to trust him, but can you at least trust me?" he asked softly, squeezing her hand.
Wordlessly, she nodded and squeezed his hand back. "Ok." her voice was hoarse and Max decided he didn't quite want to get up from his spot yet, it would be a great vantage point to comfort her and she also couldn't run away. "Come in." he called, quiet enough to not draw attention from upstairs.
Mason peered inside slowly, his eyes searching for Alex. Once he found her he used long strides to approach and dropped to his knees in front of her on the couch. His head dropped down, reminding Max once again of a scolded puppy. Mason's forehead rested on her knees and he gently held one calf in his left hand while his right hand ever so gently touched the hand that was wrapped so tightly around her blanket. "Please Alex, I'm over Juliet. I've been over Julietfor years, millenia even. You have to believe me, please." His thumb rubbed her skin soothingly, and she fought to ignore the sensation.
"Well, I don't." she repeated, Just because she didn't want you, Mason, I'm your second choice?" She stared down at him, clutching her hands tighter to avoid running her fingers through his hair like they longed to do. "I'm not going to be a second choice or a third choice."
"I can prove it please." he begged and Max butted into the conversation "Tell her what you told me- you know, about loyalty and stuff?" he reminded me.
"What do you know about werewolves, Alex?" Mason asked, finally looking up through wet eyelashes at the angel sitting quietly.
"Not a lot." she admitted. "I knew that when werewolves kiss someone they turn into a werewolf." she remembers when her brother dated that one werewolf girl. "But you told me that only happens with mutts and that you're a purebred." She wracked her brain, trying to come up with more information, but feeling lacking. The Magic dimension, more specifically the wizarding world, rarely shared information about beings they deemed dangerous, beyond the fact that they were deemed dangerous.
She looked down with a small thoughtful frown and a line between her eyebrows. Mason wanted to reach up and gently press it out of her skin, he didn't want her worrying over it too much. "Werewolves are very loyal, protective, and impulsive." he tightened his grip on her hand, trying to gain a soft hold of her hand in his- his fingers starting to find their way inside of her grip on the blanket that was starting to loosen. "Loyalty is hard to break, nearly impossible. That's what makes dating and love so hard for us. Once we've decided on someone, they're one of our people, our pack, for life if our loyalty bond is strong enough." he continues, "We're very impulsive creatures Alex. The magic world says I'm dangerous, especially to mortals." he reminds her. "I was impulsive when I moved here. I fell for you before we even exchanged two words. I approached you because I couldn't stop myself. And it was the impulsive nature combined with the loyalty I had for Juliet way back when we dated that caused me to say something I no longer mean. I only care for Juliet as a sister now, and have ever since we parted. It's you that's in my heart, you that consumes my soul and commands my every thought, my every action. You're my mate Alex." Tears pricked his eyes as he finally told her the truth at the very core of his love for her.
"Listen to me Alex, I can prove it- I can." He begged, his fingers slipping further into her hand to hold it completely now that she relinquished the blanket.
"How? How could you possibly prove that?" she asked hesitantly.
"All we have to do is go back to Translyvania and find the true love necklace." he squeezes her hand gently, "If you put it on me and it glows, then you'll know how I truly feel about you." Lifting their conjoined hands he unfurled her hand and pressed his cheek into it, relishing the warmth of her touch.
"No-" she immediately shook her head, "I'm never going back there. You can go get it." she pulled back, "No!" he pressed his cheek into her hand again looking up at her like a lost puppy. "You have to go with me." he begged, "Because that's where it all went bad and that's where I'm gonna make it all go good." His eyes shone with tears, determination, and dare Alex hope, love.
"I still don't believe you - I can't let myself believe you- but I have to know the truth." she bit her lip. "Okay. I'll go." Without a second to waste, Mason stood and scooped her into his arms in a single motion. "I've got you." he strode confidently towards the still open door, not wanting her to change her mind. As a werewolf Mason was fast, faster still when he shifted, even partially to a wolf state. She curled up into his chest, her face in his neck and arms wrapped tightly as he carried her, running swiftly. His clawed hands held her tightly, the sharp nails grazing her skin and his fur tickling her face, but she had never minded the sensations, they were some of what made Mason Mason after all.
He only stopped running when they were in Transylvania. Although he knew he should put her down to look, he kept her carefully wrapped in his embrace, protectively and selfishly wanting to hold her for longer. She peered around through her lashes as he searched the surrounding rubble for the red heart necklace. It was her own stubbornness that she didn't demand to be let down to help look- he could handle it himself since he was so determined to prove himself to her. Suddenly she froze, seeing a chain glinting from where it dangled off the edge of a tall pillar. "Mason." she whispered into his ear, and he froze, hearing her speak for the first time since they arrived. "It's up there." she pointed and he turned so he could follow her sight and finger.
He lamented the need to set her down and found a stone close to the pillar where she could be comfortable. "I'm going to get it down." he promised, kissing her fingers, "And then you'll see that I mean it when I tell you I love only you." Turning he used the sharp claws to keep his hold on the pillar as he climbed, the nails leaving deep gouges that should have scared her, knowing that only a minute ago they were touching her skin. She shivered in the chilly air, watching as he focussed only on reaching the necklace.
Once he had it in his grasp he let go of the pillar and pushed himself away from in with a large leap. The ground cracked under his feet when he landed on the slab of stone at the base. Breathing hard he staggered over to her, relief that she would know his heart in but a moment. Falling to his knees he presented it to her. "I love you, please believe me."
Gingerly she took it from him, her fingers brushing his. She stared at it in her hands for a moment, uncertainty flooding. What if it didn't glow like he claimed it would? Grinding her teeth to steel herself she lifted it and slipped it over his head. It settled over his heart and a heavy red glow filled the space between them, almost brighter and stronger than when he had first put it on her. Her eyes flit back up to meet his, tears now falling for a very different reason than before. "You love me?" she whispered, and he whispered back without hesitation, "I do, I love you more than I can possibly describe."
Leaning in her eyes slipped closed and she pressed a kiss to his lips. His fur tickled as she brushed her tears away, cupping her cheeks and returned the kiss, more deeply and fervently than the one she initiated. Breaking for a moment to breathe, he reached for the chain, "This belongs to you." he murmured, foreheads pressed together he switched it over to her. His heart soared when the necklace continued to glow, proving her love for him hadn't disappeared.
"I love you." he told her again.
"I believe you." she whispered back.