The Week 2 Winner for the prompt Neon was @laughingmagnus (AO3: serendipitiness) with the fic someone’s looking out.
Summary: He's a little intimidating and a little strange (seriously, who calls people biscuit?), but Clary decides she likes the man she meets at her art exhibit.
After watching Madzie for the day, Magnus and Alec find there’s something they need to discuss.
A VERY HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAR @s-erendipitiness WHO DEALS WITH SO MUCH OF MY NONSENSE AND HELPS ME PLOTS OUT MY ANGSTIEST IDEAS! HERE YOU GO! TWO WEEKS LATE, BUT IT’S HERE!
Alec barely had time to look up at the sound of the knock at the door before it burst open. Magnus stood a little shell shocked where the door had nearly hit him, while Alec ducked down quickly to catch the intruder.
“Gotcha,” he smiled as he wrapped his arms around the tiny, wriggling mass of pink. “You won't get away that easy.”
“Noooooooooo,” Madzie whined, giggling too hard to escape Alec's hold. He just hugged her tighter and lifted her off the ground for good measure.
Magnus rolled his eyes at the antics of his boyfriend. Who knew that Mr. Tall, dark, and stoic was amazing with kids? He could admit to himself at least it was endearing. Of course his attention was quickly taken back to Catarina when she shoved a heavy bag into his chest, nearly driving the air out of his lungs. She kept piling more into his arms out of a suspiciously small bag, all while listing off instructions.
“Her latest interest is space. Be ready for her to tell you all about it. Her favourite books are all in there. There are some minor spell books if she wants to practice with you. Don't let her try anything too big though. I don't need her getting ideas, and trying to summon a shark into the living room again. She's eaten, but I packed an afternoon snack if she gets hungry before dinner. Don't feed her a ton of junk please. Don't let her nap, or you'll never get her to sleep tonight. Same for sugar and pop. Thank you again for watching her.” Catarina already looked exhausted, and her 18 hour shift hadn't even started yet.
“You know you can bring Madzie here any time,” Magnus assured her, and summoned a coffee from down the street for her. With a snap, he added a tiny boost of magic just to make the day a bit more tolerable for his friend. “Alexander and I both adore her. We'll both make sure she's perfectly-”
“Sweetpea, Alec isn't a jungle gym,” Catarina interrupted. Magnus turned around, and sure enough, Madzie was climbing Alec with great determination.
“Yes he is,” Madzie replied, grabbing onto Alec's shoulder to pull herself up.
Alec just looked over at them both with his most serious expression and added, “Yes I am.” To his credit, he only winced a little bit when Madzie planted her foot in his ribs.
Catarina just shook her head with a laugh. There was no point in arguing, so she might as well save her energy for the long day ahead. “Have a good day you three. I'll see you sometime tomorrow morning,” she said kissing Magnus’ cheek, and blowing one to Madzie who deftly caught it from her perch on Alec's arm.
“So, what do you want to do today Madzie?” Magnus asked with a grin that Alec recognized from two things. It was the look he reserved for young children. The man could never hide just how much he adored kids, and Alec couldn't help but hope that would be something they would talk about one day.
That grin was also for when Magnus was planning mischief.
Madzie seemed to share the same expression, because without warning, she loudly declared, “TICKLE WAR!”
Two tickle wars, one snack, a magic lesson, and one pillow fight later, and Alec was down for the count. Magnus had laughed when Alec had asked for quiet, reading time with his face planted in the carpet. Lucky for him, Madzie decided she wanted to show Alec her new favourite book, so she had pulled him into her room to read while Magnus started on dinner.
He could just barely make out the sound of Alec reading aloud. From what he could gather, it was a book about comets and meteors.
All was calm for the first time in hours, and Magnus let his mind wander while he waited for the water to boil. He thought about this being a normal thing. He thought of a calm life, without imminent danger every other week. He thought of slowing down, and just taking the time to be with Alexander. They could explore the world at a more leisurely pace. They could take their time, just to love each other. After all, they had plenty of it, right? He thought of quiet nights like these, with Alexander reading to-
That train of thought was cut short by a piercing scream. Magnus’ blood ran cold, and he had never moved so fast in his life.
---
Alec had no idea how things had gone wrong so quickly. He had been sitting on the bed with Madzie reading aloud for her, and she had been adding commentary on every page.
“This one's my favourite,” she said, pointing at the page. Truth be told, it looked the same as all the other illustrated space rocks in the book, but Alec nodded his encouragement anyway. “It sounds like Catarina.”
Alec nodded, and read the page out for her. “Catalina was last spotted in 2005 and is visible every 153 years. It's next expected appearance is in 2159.”
“Cat says we can see it together next time. She promised,” Madzie grinned up at him, fingers tracing the pictures on the page. “You and Magnus can come too!” she declared proudly.
Alec’s heart clenched painfully at that. Was she too young to know? Surely, if Madzie was old enough to know she was immortal, then she was old enough to have been told she was the exception, and not the norm. His expression must have reflected his thoughts, because Madzie’s own smile slowly drooped in his silence.
“You and Magnus will be there, right?” she asked quietly.
Alec closed his eyes, not wanting to have to look at her when his words inevitably made her sad. He had never been good at lying, and he couldn’t see himself starting now, especially not to Madzie. Madzie who had saved his life twice. Madzie who trusted him to watch out for her, and looked up to him. So, he squeezed her tight, and exhaled a long breath before answering. “If you invite Magnus, I’m sure he would love to go. He loves you so much, I’m sure he would do anything for you if you asked,” Alec didn’t quite have to force a laugh, remembering earlier how Madzie had asked to go to Turkey for dinner. Magnus would have caved if Alec hadn’t reminded him it was the middle of the night in Turkey.
“You have to come too,” she whined. Alec could swear, she sounded exactly like Izzy had at her age. Izzy would know how to handle this kind of situation better. He had no clue what he was doing. He felt her turn around in his lap, and heard the book thunk to the floor. Madzie tugged on his shirt, persisting. “Alec. Alec? Alec, you have to come see the comet too. It won’t be any fun if you’re not there too.”
Alec laughed quietly at that, and opened his eyes for her. Of course the first time someone called him fun was when he had to disappoint them. That seemed like a good reflection of his life, somehow. Her eyes were wide with concern, and under her scarf, Alec could see her little gills flapping, to draw in more air. “I’m sorry Sweetpea,” Alec whispered, borrowing Magnus’ name for her. “I won’t be able to make it. I won’t be around then.”
“Why not? Where will you be?”
Alec didn’t want to disappoint her, but it seemed inevitable. With a sigh, Alec pulled Madzie closer. “I won’t be around any more in a hundred years, because I’m mortal Madzie. Mortals don’t live that long.” Her head ducked down as he explained why he couldn’t see the comet with her, so he couldn’t see her expression, but he did feel her stiffen in his arms.
The sound started so softly, Alec didn’t quite know what it was at first. Then Madzie began to shake, and he heard tiny hiccups coming from her throat. “Madzie?” he ducked down to try and see her properly, only to see tears streaming down her face. “Madzie. Hey, it’s…” Saying it was okay didn’t sound right. “I promise I’ll be around for a long time. I’ll live for a long time, just for you, and Magnus, and Izzy, and Jace.” Could he even say that for certain, given his job? How many times had he already almost died? He could die at any time against any number of demons or Downworlders. Her hiccups persisted though, and Madzie’s quiet tears were slowly turning into sobs. Alec didn’t have time to think his words over precisely. “Hey, hey, shh. It’s going to be fine. I’m not going to die for a long, long time.”
That apparently was the exact wrong thing to say. Madzie gasped, and that was the only warning Alec got. She let out an ear piercing scream. He didn’t know if it was magic, or proximity that made the scream sound abnormally loud.
“Shh, Madzie. Shh. Don’t cry. It’s okay. I’m right here Madzie,” Alec tried to comfort her, but she couldn’t seem to hear him over the sound of her own wailing.
Seconds later, Magnus ran in, expression terrified, and hands raised to attack. His eyes scanned the room for immediate danger before landing on Alec. Alec must have looked as panicked as he felt, because Magnus lowered his guard, and stepped into the room looking more concerned than murderous. “Madzie?” Magnus said softly, approaching the two of them. “Sweetpea? What’s wrong?” he asked, kneeling, and placing a hand on her cheek.
With a sob, she ripped herself out of Alec’s loose grip, and launched herself at Magnus. He was nearly thrown to the floor, but she barely seemed to notice as she sobbed into his shoulder. Magnus rubbed gentle circles into her back. To Alec, he mouthed over her shoulder, ‘What happened?’
Before Alec had the chance to reply, Madzie cried more loudly, “Alec’s going to die!”
Magnus felt his blood freeze. Alec looked just as frozen by her words, but also strangely guilty. Magnus had no idea how to respond. It was something he had known in the back of his mind. He had thought about the difference between his and Alec’s lifespans in situations where it was obvious just how young Alexander actually was. Never before had the issue of Alec’s mortality been thrust in his face so forcefully though. Still, with a crying child in his arms, Magnus had to make himself keep breathing and focus on settling Madzie down.
“I don’t want Alec to die,” she hiccuped, and wiped her nose on Magnus’ shirt. The tears just kept pouring.
“You’re okay Sweetpea,” Magnus soothed gently. “Alexander...Alexander will be with us for a long time,” he whispered into her hair. “He loves you very much. He might not be here forever, like you and me, but he’ll definitely be here to watch you grow up.” He continued to whisper platitudes to her, and rub her back. At some point, Alec scooted closer to them, and added his own comforting arms around both of them.
Eventually, Madzie cried herself to sleep. Magnus tucked her in, while Alec tidied up the room. They were both quiet, even after they left the room.
Alec left to clean up the kitchen, and Magnus didn’t stop him. Both of them had lost their appetites after facing all that. If Madzie woke up hungry later, Magnus would just summon her something to eat. It wouldn’t quite be the homemade, family meal they had planned, but at least she wouldn’t starve.
Almost an hour later, Alec emerged from the kitchen, to join Magnus on the couch. Magnus had no doubt the kitchen was now beyond spotless - the benefits of dating a stress cleaner. Magnus also had no doubt that if the silence hanging between them lasted much longer, it would choke him.
Alec must have been thinking the same thing, because a minute or so later, Alec spoke up, “We need to talk about this, don’t we?”
Magnus turned to look at Alec, but Alec’s gaze was locked on the far wall. “I suppose it was inevitable. We’d have to talk about it eventually,” Magnus conceded.
“You know I love you, right?” Alec turned towards him, but he still wouldn’t meet Magnus’ eyes. He took Magnus by the hands, and focused on those instead. “And I’ll love you for the rest of my life. No matter what happens, I’ll always love you.”
Tears stung at Magnus’ eyes. Of course Alec could declare his unending love, like it was the simplest thing in the world. Of course Alec’s love could bring him near tears when little else did. Maybe that was why he so selfishly wanted to hold onto that love. One lifetime with Alexander would never be enough.
Magnus had to swallow a few times to find his voice, but he was eventually able to nod, and whisper, “I love you too.” He took a few deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out. It was the only way for Magnus to stop himself from telling Alec, he would love him for the rest of his life too. There was so much more he needed to say, but he just couldn’t find the words. Those ones sounded like too much pressure.
“I may not have forever,” Alec started again slowly, as if looking for the right words himself. “But I promise to love you, for every day I do have, with all my heart and soul. I know it’s not enough, but it’s all of me.” He finally looked up, only to stare straight at Magnus with the intensity, and seriousness with which he had once told Magnus there was nothing ugly about him. It was the kind of look that made Magnus have to believe exactly what Alec said.
Part of him wanted to laugh, or to do anything to lighten the mood. All the words he couldn’t say were still choking him, but there were words he needed to say, despite this. “You are always enough, Alexander,” Magnus replied, voice scratchy with the tears he couldn’t let go of. “You will always be enough.” With a tired sigh, he closed his eyes, and leaned in to rest his forehead against Alec’s.
‘I don’t want Alec to die.’ Madzie had said.
Magnus wrapped his arms around Alec, and pulled him closer. Alec seemed to get the hint, pulling Magnus into a hug that always felt like home.
‘I don’t want Alexander to die either,’ Magnus thought, letting himself disappear into Alec’s embrace.
Congratulations to Serendipitiness for winning this week’s Ficlet Instruments poll. Five extra points and bragging rights are all yours.
Stay tuned for the Week 3 prompt. (And if you didn’t participate last week, you are more than welcome to jump in this one. Just claim the prompt once it’s announced and get writing!)
@s-erendipitiness is a kind soul, and lots of fun to talk to about plots, theories, AUs and more! Her writing is spectacular, and I love how she takes my craziest ideas in stride (with some screaming for my sad things). She deserves an award and a bottle of wine!
