Chapter Text
Alec took a slow, deep breath, facing his parents head on. He was prepared for whatever the consequences would be. He was ready to give up his family and to be stripped of his runes and exiled, if that was what Maryse chose to do. He didn’t care anymore. He was done hiding who he was. “Maryse, Robert, I’m gay,” he said, falling silent and letting the words hang in the air.
“We know, Alec.” Maryse was the first to respond, her tone as dismissive as ever. “We have already made arrangements for the day when you finally told us the truth. We’d hoped it wouldn’t take this long, but good things come to those who wait.”
“Wait, what?” Alec stared at her for several moments, trying to process his mother’s words. He had worked to find the courage to come out to his parents for years , and this was all the reaction he got? Had he spent years fretting over nothing? And that was only the beginning of what she’d said. “Arrangements?” he asked Maryse.
“Yes, Alec. You have a status to uphold for the Lightwoods. We cannot allow you to marry just anyone. You are the key to preserving the honor of the Lightwood name.” She crossed her arms. “We have already chosen a man for you, a young Warlock from Indonesia. He is extremely powerful and the product of Indonesian royalty and a High ranking demon,” she explained. “You’re welcome. We would only allow the best of men for our son.”
Alec narrowed his right eye, his entire face scrunching up in confusion. “Mother, I don’t understand. Are you saying you had a pre-planned arranged marriage set up for when I finally came out to you?”
“That is exactly what she is saying,” Robert confirmed. “I thought it was an excellent idea.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Alec ran his fingers through his hair, taking a few moments to let the situation sink in. “Of all the things I wouldn’t put past you, this never even crossed my mind.” He let out a frustrated yell, causing everyone in the institute to look at him, murmuring quietly amongst themselves.
“We’re doing what’s best for you, Alec,” Maryse told him, typing out a message on her phone. “You’ll thank me, in the end. Magnus is a suitable match for you, and his royal bloodline was enough for me to. . .overlook his status as a Downworlder.”
“Oh, and you know so much about my taste in men?” Alec asked her.
“Your internet viewing history says it all. Do I need to pull up proof for the entire Institute to see?” Maryse narrowed her eyes at Alec. “You need some time to cool off and remember how to speak to your mother. Go to your room, Alec. You are dismissed.”
“Mother—”
“Silence. I said you are dismissed , Alec.” She waved him away and Alec stalked down the hall, slamming the door to his room behind him.
As Alec stomped off, Robert turned to Maryse. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
She nodded. “Yes. I have met the Warlock myself, and he is what’s best for our son. Alec will accomplish things that no Lightwood has managed to do before him.”
“But a Downworlder, Maryse? Where is the honor in marrying one of them? I just believe that—“
Maryse silenced him with a look. “It’s good I didn’t ask what you believed, Robert. The Lightwoods have been given a golden opportunity. Magnus is a Warlock who is not even a century old, yet. We could form him in our image. Imagine a being that powerful who has sworn loyalty to the Lightwoods because of our son.” She grinned. “It’s a solid partnership that has already been approved by the Clave. We are following through with this.”
Robert let a loud sigh leave his lips and nodded. “If it has the Clave’s approval,” he conceded. “When will Magnus be arriving?”
“He’s portalling into the Institute tomorrow. Talk to Isabelle to ensure that Alec is ready to meet him.” Maryse turned away and walked to her office, her heels clicking loudly as she made her way through the Institute.
Robert exhaled loudly and walked down the hallway where all the rooms were, knocking on Isabelle’s door. “Mija, open up!” He knew that Maryse's idea was just as insane as it was brilliant, but he’d come to expect nothing less from his scheming wife. When her mind was made, the only thing he could possibly do was try to minimize the damage done while Maryse maximized the rewards on her own.
Which was why he needed Isabelle to speak to her brother as soon as possible. The boy was just as stubborn and more brilliant than his mother. At twenty-two years old, Alec was shaping up to be an excellent Head of the Institute when Maryse eventually stepped down completely. She already allowed Alec to Act as Head while she was in Idris, working up to a position in the Clave, and he had already proven himself more than capable.
“What is it, Papá?” Isabelle opened up the door, her smiling as bright and welcoming as ever. Robert would always see his little girl whenever she smiled like that, no matter how old Isabelle got.
“Damage control,” he offered in explanation. “You already know about your mother’s arrangement. Try to talk to your brother so that when Magnus arrives, their meeting will be as painless as possible.”
Isabelle smirked. “Let me finish painting my nails, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“A warlock in the Institute?”
“Has Maryse lost her mind?”
“Did the Clave really allow one of his kind to be here?”
Magnus kept his head high as he walked through the Institute, making sure to remain completely unfazed by the quiet murmurings of the Nephilim that surrounded him. He was already dealing with enough, considering that his own half-brother, an old mundane man well into his seventies, had accepted the proposition without asking what Magnus wanted. He didn’t know what he got out of the deal, but Magnus had eventually agreed to the deal after a bit of coercion from his real family, the silent brothers of Indonesia.
“Magnus, it’s a pleasure.” Magnus didn’t fail to notice how Maryse did not shake his hand. He knew how Shadowhunters really felt about Warlocks like him. He had suffered in silence for almost a century. All he had to do was wait for his fiancé to eventually kick the bucket and he could move on with his life. Seventy or so odd years at most was nothing to an immortal.
“Thank you for having me.” Magnus looked past the woman to where her son was, standing still behind him. He didn’t have much interest in anything she had to say, and her son was pretty. His face was set in a deep frown, but it did little to mar his gorgeous features, especially his wide, hazel eyes. After a moment of staring, Magnus strode past Maryse and stood face-to-chest with Alec, looking up at him in awe. “You are beautiful,” he spoke without thinking.
Alec’s eyebrows went to his hairline at the easy admission. He had definitely not been expecting to be told that, by Magnus least of all. He hadn’t been sure what to expect from him, but his mother had been right when she’d said she knew what Alec liked. Magnus was an absolute vision . His eyes sparkled with a shade of silver that sat right over his dark eyeshadow. He wasn’t wearing lipstick, but the clear lip gloss made his naturally pink lips shine, and Alec couldn’t stop his eyes from lingering there for a few more moments than necessary.
After he managed to tear his eyes away from Magnus’ glossed lips, he took a moment to admire the outfit he was wearing. His shiny, silver V-neck was positively sinful, the neckline plunging just low enough to tease Alec with hints of Magnus’ chest without exposing enough for him to truly ogle without staring directly down the man’s shirt. The black pants he wore were tight fitting, attaching themselves to form with the slender curves of Magnus’ hips. On his hands were a pair of thick, black gloves, and when Alec looked at those Magnus placed his hands behind his back.
“It’s nice to finally have a face to put to the name, Alexander,” Magnus spoke again as Alec ogled him silently.
Alec’s breath caught in his throat at the smile and he swallowed hard, unable to find words. Instead of fumbling over himself and looking like an idiot, Alec turned away from Magnus and walked back into his bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Magnus stared after Alec as he walked, confused, before a pair of hands held his. “I love your makeup!” Isabelle squealed, bringing all the attention to herself instead of her socially inept brother. “I’m Izzy.” She gave Magnus a quick greeting as he snatched his hands away quickly, as if he was afraid to touch her. Isabelle frowned, but the expression was gone before anyone had a chance to really notice. “You have to tell me your secrets for such great skin. Come on, Magnus.” She held Magnus by his elbow this time, feeling relieved when he didn’t jerk away, and mouthed a ‘You’re welcome’ to her parents as she dragged him into her bedroom. She sat Magnus on her bed. “Sorry about my brother,” she began, sitting down next to him.
Magnus nodded. “He went from checking me out to running away.” He pursed his lips. “He’s a strange one, isn’t he?” He turned to Isabelle.
“You have no idea, Amigo.” She clapped a hand on his back in a friendly gesture. “I know this probably isn’t what you’d been hoping for, considering that you were probably just as roped into this as Alec was, but I want the best for my brother. I think you could make him happy.”
“But you don’t know anything about me.”
“Don’t I?” She gave Magnus a secretive smile. “Tus manos. Alguien te lastimó?”
[Your hands. Someone hurt you?]
Magnus brought his gloved hands to his chest. “No. No es nada de eso.” He shook his head, smiling just a little at the fact that Isabelle immediately assumed that he was the victim.
[No. Nothing like that.]
“You speak spanish?”
“When I was growing up, I fled my home often. One of those times, I ended up hiding out in Costa Rica,” Magnus offered in explanation, shrugging his shoulders. “I know sixteen languages. I spent the better half of the fifty years it took to control my powers in a dungeon with the silent brothers. Had to pass the time somehow.”
Isabelle nodded. “More likely than not, you’re going to be stuck with me until I die, so I want the both of us to get along, and I will do everything in my power to make sure you and my brother are happy together.” She looked at Magnus’ hands once again. “Me vas a decir qué pasó?”
[Are you going to tell me what happened?]
“No. No te conozco y no quiero hablar de eso.” Magnus kept his hands pressed against his chest, one of them clenched into a fist and then other gripping his wrist.
[No. I don’t know you and I don’t want to talk about it.]
Isabelle frowned. “It could help,” she said, deciding not to push Magnus any further. “Vamos a ser la familia. Si me necesitas, estoy aquí.” With that said, she dropped the subject, hoping to ease Magnus’ tense demeanor. “What room are you staying in?” she asked, assuming he’d be sleeping at the Institute with everyone else.
[Soon we will be family. If you need me, I'm here.]
“I have a loft nearby. I thought it’d be best if I slept in neutral territory.” Magnus placed his hands on his lap. “Maybe you don’t hate me, but Nephilim and Downworlders aren’t exactly on the best of terms.”
“I’m aware.” Isabelle licked her lips. “You probably don’t really have much to do right now since my brother’s temporarily a block of ice. But until then, how about you go get settled in at your place, explore Brooklyn. I’ll work on him for you,” she promised, standing up and patting Magnus’ shoulder. “I’ll even have our brother show you around.”
“Max?” Magnus arched an eyebrow up at Isabelle skeptically. The youngest Lightwood was, what, 12? He didn’t want a child showing him around New York.
“No, not Maxwell.” She pointed her head toward the door. “Come on. You’ll love Jace.”
“Somehow…I doubt that.” Magnus made an offhand gesture with his right hand, following after Isabelle. He was still a little lost, not only in the Institute but in New York overall. Somehow, in his various attempts to escape and hide away in order to free himself from his brother's clutches, he’d managed to forget to stop in Brooklyn.
Isabelle led Magnus into the training room, opening the door for him. “This is our brother, Jace.” She pointed to the man beating his fists into a punching bag, his blond hair hanging in his face. “Jace, come say hi!”
Jace turned his head at the sound of Isabelle’s voice. “Hey, Izzy. New…boyfriend?” He looked Magnus up and down suspiciously, taking in his flamboyant choice of clothing and made up face. “Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand.
Magnus stared at his hand for several moments. “I’m here for Alexander.” He wasn’t sure if he should be calling the eldest Lightwood his fiancé just yet.
“Alec? I don’t. . .” Jace gave Isabelle a confused look, before his eyes widened in realization when everything clicked into place. “You’re the Warlock.”
“I prefer my name, Nephilim.” Magnus turned his nose up at Jace. “If it’s already escaped your feeble mind, I get it. You don’t appear to be the sharpest tool in the shed.”
“Did this painted Warlock just call me stupid?” Jace looked at Isabelle for confirmation.
“Yikes.” Isabelle pressed her lips together firmly. “Jace, it’s your responsibility to show Magnus around.”
“Actually, that offer has been rescinded,” Magnus cut in. “I have no desire to go anywhere with him. I’ll get around New York just fine on my own.” He turned around, his six-inch heels clicking loudly against the floor as he walked out of the training room and then left the Institute, stepping out into the cold night air. He walked down the street, humming quietly to himself in Bahasa. Outside of the Institute, Brooklyn appeared to have a scene that he could get used to. He had been beginning to feel suffocated by the presence of so many Nephilim, but outside there were Downworlders in all shapes and sizes. More than he’d seen in Jakarta by a wide margin, and that was just roaming the street corners.
A flash of elongated teeth. Green werewolf eyes. Horns or blue skin.
All covered by a glamor that Magnus was able to easily see through. These were his people.
Lost in thought, Magnus didn’t seem to notice where he was going and stepped on someone’s foot. He stepped back when the man whose foot he’d stepped on let out a string of loud curses and bared his teeth at Magnus.
“I’m sorry!” Magnus held up his hand defensively. “I wasn’t looking at where I was going!”
“Now, now, Raphael. Put the fangs away.” A vampire in a tight red dress stepped forward, placing herself in between Raphael and Magnus. “Heading to the party, Warlock?” she asked, running a finger down the exposed skin of Magnus’ chest. “You’re a tasty little morsel, aren’t you?” Her hand moved from Magnus’ chest to under his chin, tilting his head up to look at her. “Do you want to party with me?” She leaned in toward Magnus. Her breath brushed over his lips and Magnus stepped away from her.
“I have a fiancé.” He licked his lips. “I was just going for a walk.”
“Oh, fiancé?” Her grin widened into a smirk. “Well, tell her that Camille’s her new competition, and I always get what I want.”
“Him,” Magnus murmured, hoping if he convinced her that he was gay, she’d leave him alone. His actual bisexuality didn’t matter in the moment. Camille scared the hell out of him.
Magnus’ hands shook, and sparks flew from his fingers, making him put them behind his back to hide his loss of control.
“We’ve been looking for you.” A hand landed on Magnus’ shoulder. He looked to his left, at a woman with deep blue skin hidden by a glamor. She ran her fingers through her short, platinum blonde hair. “What’s been keeping you?”
“Hm?” Magnus looked at his other side as a man with green skin and horns protruding from each side of his head stepped up beside him. “Hello, there, Raphael, old friend.” Ragnor smiled at Raphael, before turning to Magnus.
“We should really get you back to your fiancé,” Ragnor said cheerfully, turning Magnus around and walking swiftly away from Camille. After they were out of hearing distance, several blocks away, Catarina spoke.
“Hello there, little one. What are you doing here?” she asked Magnus, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “You look lost.”
“That may because I am,” Magnus admitted. “This is my first time in Brooklyn.”
“Oh, how sweet.” Ragnor placed a hand on Magnus’ shoulder. “A young Warlock, just stepping into New York’s Downworld.”
“You have to let us show you around sometime. During the day, where Camille can’t dig her fangs into you,” Catarina said excitedly. “Ragnor, I think we may have a new friend.”
“Not if you scare him off,” Ragnor deadpanned. “Sorry, friend. My wife is a little overbearing. A healer warlock trait, I believe.” He rolled his eyes, a smile coming onto his face all the while.
Magnus perked up at the word ‘healer,’ his eyes wide with admiration. He had always wished that his magic had been meant for healing instead of having so much potential to destroy. “That is amazing. I have always held healers in high regard.” He smiled at Catarina. “I have spent many years learning how to heal others with my magic.”
Ragnor frowned. “What a waste,” he told Magnus, shaking his head. “Why would you waste years of time and untapped potential in healing?” he asked. “You realize that you are not a healer, correct? You have power that far surpasses anything of the sort.”
Magnus frowned. “How do you know?” He stopped walking when he saw a familiar blond head of hair on the man stalking toward him.
“We’ve seen many things over the centuries.” Catarina’s gaze followed Magnus’. “Nephilim are after you?” She looked at Ragnor as they both readied their magic to defend him.
“My future brother-in-law.” Magnus placed his gloved hands on each of their shoulders to put them at ease. “I may have stormed out after an argument,” he explained, scratching the side of his neck sheepishly. He looked at Jace as he got in his face.
“Your fiance is a Nephilim?” Ragnor asked, his eyes widening.
“Do you have any idea how worried everyone was?” he asked Magnus, narrowing his eyes at him. His lips were set in a thin line, and he held Magnus’ chin to force him to look at him. “You just stormed out, leaving your phone at the Institute.” He heaved out a loud sigh. “No one could get ahold of you, Maryse was having an aneurysm because she thought I just let you leave.”
“I can take care of myself.” Magnus peeled Jace’s fingers away from his jaw. “I’m perfectly fine without your help.”
“But you don’t have to be!” Jace shouted at him. “What the hell is wrong with you, that you can’t realize that you are family now, Magnus!” He grabbed onto Magnus’ shirt, and Magnus shoved him away, blue sparks flying from his fingertips.
Jace held his arm, wincing at the sting.
Magnus’ eyes went wide. “I’m sorry!” He shrunk away from Jace, moving toward Catarina and Ragnor
“Wait, Magnus, I’m fine.” Jace showed Magnus his arm. The only sign that he’d been stung was a red mark that was already beginning to heal over. “It’s okay, calm down. I can heal it.”
Magnus barely heard him. He was already shaking, staring at his hands in horror.
“He’s one of us. We can take care of him.” Catarina held Magnus, rubbing his back to try to calm his shaking. “We’ll return him to you once he’s calmed, Nephilim. Leave us.” As she spoke, Ragnor created a portal and the three of them stepped through, the portal closing in front of Jace when he tried to follow.
Jace clenched his hand into a fist and cursed under his breath. “Dammit.” He stomped his foot and turned around, walking back to the Institute.
“Any luck?” Isabelle asked hopefully when Jace returned, both her hands clasped together in front of her. She looked behind him and frowned. “Jace, please tell me the reason Magnus isn’t with you is because you took him home and put him to bed.”
Jace groaned. “Magnus went into a portal with a Warlock couple. He was upset because I may have scared him and he stung me with his magic. It was nothing.” Jace shrugged, showing Isabelle the spot where the mark was now completely gone. “They said they’d return him once he’s feeling better.”
“Really, Jace?” Isabelle pinched the bridge of her nose. “You let Magnus go through a portal with two Downworlders that you’d never met and just figured ‘oh, since they’re Warlocks, too, everything should be fine.’” She glowered at him. “What if something happens to Magnus? We have to get a team together to find him. He’s family now, Jace. We protect our family.” She ran a hand down the length of her face. Who could she get help assembling a team from? Alec was already a mess of nerves; she couldn’t ask him. Maryse would kill them both and ensure that no one found their bodies.
“Hold that thought.” Jace raised a hand, answering his phone. “Talk to me.”
“This is Magnus.”
Jace let out a sigh of relief. “You got your phone back. Hey, Magnus, Izzy’s worried about you. We need you to stay at the Institute tonight.”
“I’m not sure if that’s safe.” Magnus’ voice shook. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. I know that here you have rules, The Accords. Sometimes it’s hard for me to control my powers. When I’m upset, mostly. If I hurt someone on accident, they will kill me.”
“You won’t hurt anyone.” Jace tried to be as comforting as he could, but he knew it wasn’t something that he was skilled at. Comfort was Alec’s specialty. He was the oldest, it was something that he’d always taken the responsibility of doing. “Please come home, Magnus.”
“My home is in Jakarta.” Magnus’ tone was biting, and Jace lowered his phone away from his ear and stared at it dumbly.
“Is that Magnus?” Isabelle asked. “Jace, let me talk to him.” Jace didn’t try to argue, he just placed his phone in Isabelle’s hand.
“You deal with him. I have better things to do than babysit an ungrateful Warlock.” He turned around, as if that was going to block Magnus’ voice out.
Isabelle rolled her eyes at her brother. Jace was seriously childish sometimes. For two men who were both in their early twenties, both Alec and Jace proved to completely lose their composure over the Warlock Maryse had brought to the Institute to marry Alec. They were out of sorts for very different reasons, yes, but that didn’t mean that she was any less entertained. Isabelle believed that Magnus was already the best thing to happen to their boring, drab Institute.
“Where are you, Magnus?” Isabelle asked, worrying her lip between her teeth. “I want to make sure that you are okay.”
“I’m fine. I just want to leave. This isn’t my home and I’m stuck here for a man who hasn’t even spoken to me.”
Isabelle hummed in understanding. “That’s what it is, then.”
“Hm?”
Isabelle perked up. “It’s Alec,” she stated. “You came all the way here for him and he’s neglected you. You’re left navigate the Shadow World of New York and he hasn’t helped.” She cursed under her breath. “That’s it. Please tell your friends to let me in when I arrive. Where are you, Magnus? I’m bringing you home.”
“The Institute—”
“I’m not hearing that,” Isabelle cut Magnus off. “We will be fixing this entire situation post-haste. Now, tell me where you are.”
“I can portal back to the Institute,” Magnus offered instead. “I was upset, but I’m doing better now.”
“Liar,” Isabelle cut in.
“I’ll be there in a second. My friends don’t want the Institute knowing where their Penthouse is.” Just as Magnus ended the call, a portal opened up just as few feet away from where Isabelle and Jace were standing. Magnus stepped through, looking at the ground, fiddling with his fingers. His gloves were missing, Isabelle noticed with pleasant surprise, but his body still held a clear mix of insecurities. He held his hands close to his body, afraid to touch either of them.
“Magnus. . .” Isabelle took a step forward, and Magnus stepped back. She frowned. “No voy a lastimarte.”
[I will not hurt you.]
“Eso no es lo que me da miedo. Tengo más poder natural que cualquiera de los brujos de Brooklyn. Soy peligroso.” He sighed. “Which is why Ragnor offered to start helping me control my powers. I could be an asset to you, with his help. I think I’m going to accept his offer.”
[That's not what I'm afraid of. I have more natural power than any of the Brooklyn warlocks. I'm dangerous.]
Jace turned to look at Magnus. “Make sure to consult Maryse before you give Ragnor his answer.”
Magnus nodded. “No soy el monstruo que se suponía que debía ser. Podría ser útil para todos ustedes. Quiero ser más de lo que la gente siempre ha creído ser era.”
[I'm not the monster I was supposed to be. I could be useful for all of you. I want to be more than what people have always believed I was.]
“I’ll help you do that in any way I can.” Isabelle placed a hand on Magnus’ cheek. This time, he didn’t move away. “I don’t know what you’ve been taught about Shadowhunters, but we’re stronger than regular humans. We can handle more than you think we can. Touching us will not break us.”
Magnus placed his hand on top of hers. “¿Alguna vez has amado a un mundano, Izzy?” he asked, waiting for her answer.
[Have you ever loved a worldly man (mundane), Izzy?]
Isabelle shook her head. “I’ve never been in love.”
Magnus, realizing she understood his words incorrectly, shook his head. “Neither have I. This man was my father.” He started to walk as he spoke to Izzy, the two of them walking to her room where they did not have to worry about anyone listening too closely. “My stepfather,” he corrected himself.
Isabelle nodded, waiting for Magnus to continue.
“My stepfather loved me, once. He never saw me as the child that never should’ve been. Even though I tarnished my mother’s good name just by existing, he didn't resent me. But everything changed after my mother hung herself. That night, he tried to drown me. It was when I was very young, before my powers had fully manifested.”
“Oh my god, Magnus.” Isabelle placed a comforting hand on Magnus shoulder. He leaned into the touch, glad to not feel so alone. He liked Isabelle. He already saw her as a sister that took care of him the way his real family had always failed to.
“Esa noche fue la misma noche en que mis poderes realmente se manifestaron. Mientras intentaba ahogarme, mi magia actuó por su cuenta y maté a mi padrastro,” Magnus finished his story. “I’ve spent my life trying to control it. I’m afraid to hurt someone else I love.”
[That night was the very night that my powers really manifested. While trying to drown me, my magic acted on its own and killed my stepfather.]
“Only after he tried to kill you. You’re not a monster, Magnus. You are a victim.” She frowned. “En el momento en que te vi, lo supe. Alguien te lastimó, y ni siquiera puedes admitir que no fue culpa tuya.”
[The moment I saw you, I knew. Someone hurt you, and you cannot even admit it was not your fault.]
Magnus stared at Isabelle in awe. “Thank you,” he said to her.
“I’m your sister, now.” Isabelle smiled. “It’s what family does. Now, it’s time for some sisterly meddling, Magnus.” She reached out and squeezed his left cheek, making Magnus frown. “My brother isn’t quite ready to take that final step and approach you yet, but he will be by tomorrow,” she assured him. “I’ll be damned if you two don’t live happily ever after.”