To Belong- (Malec AU)

Chapter 2

Magnus' POV

Zipping up the final suitcase full of my last belongings, I breathed in and released a sigh.

I stood in my now empty room, relishing in its smell. I would miss this room so much. Even though my mother was gone, the home of my childhood would always remind me of her. She and my father built a life together here. The furniture, the color of the walls, and every little knickknack reminded me of her.

I packed as much as I could to take with me to LA. Even if I wasn't going to be in my home, I wanted to bring as much as I could to remind me of it, to remind me of my mother. My clothes no longer took up every corner and space in my room, leaving the furniture and room fully clean. The bright walls were no longer decorated in the pictures of me and my friends. They were bare, as if nothing was ever there. My posters of various artists and broadway shows were also missing. My desk, bed, and nightstand were the only furniture that would stay. I placed the final item-a frame with a picture of my mother and I-into my suitcase. The picture was taken when I was eight, with my mother holding me in a hug. I remember my father taking this picture as my mother held me down just long enough to catch a picture. We were at Central Park having a picnic, which was a rare occasion. My mother's eyes were full of love and happiness, as she held on tightly to her only child's small frame. I remember trying to get away so that I could run around in the grass, but I was held back by my mother's arms. I longed to go back to that moment, the moment that my mother was full of life and true happiness. The moment in my life where I was truly happy.

The only life remaining in the room came from the meowing of my cat, Chairman. Luckily, Chairman was making the trip with us. I would cry even more if he didn't.

I quietly cooed at the little feline, scooping him up into my arms. He meowed annoyingly at me as I rubbed his belly.

I began to rub my toes into the white, soft carpet of my room for what seemed like the last time. I let out a final sigh of sadness before I set Chairman into a cat carrier, grabbed my final suitcase, and hauled myself out of my room.

Making my way down the hallway, I can remember my ten-year-old self running down the very same hallway as my mother chased after me. For a moment, I can smell her lilac perfume, as if she is standing right next to me. I turned around, looking for the person that the familiar smell was coming from. I was looking for my mom.

"Magnus, there you are! You alright?" Catarina asked, dragging me out of my thoughts.

I quickly turned around to find her concerned face looking back at me, standing halfway down the staircase.

Taking a shaky breath in, I replied, "yes, I'm fine." Catarina returned with a sad nod as I made my way down the stairs.

She quickly took the cat carrier from me, allowing me to walk faster down the stairs. When we made our way down, I noticed that my other friends sat on the white living room couch. Each turning around quickly as they heard Catarina and I enter the room.

"Oh, Magnus..." my other best friend Ragnor said.

He made his way over to me and Catarina, with Tessa and Camille following behind him. He put his left arm around my shoulder, attempting to reassure me. I attempted to smile at him in gratitude, but it failed.

"You look like shit," Ragnor muttered. Camille, Tessa, and Catarina all turned to Ragnor, anger written on their faces.

"Shut the hell up, Ragnor. You look beautiful, Magnus!" Camille responded with annoyance in her voice.