Roommates & Soulmates

Ch74: Magnus's Voice

As school started again, Magnus's mind was ever mulling over the time he'd spent at his boyfriend's mansion over the holidays. Showing his aunt around the place had been like showing her a museum. It had reminded Magnus of when he worked as a tour guide over the summer. This last Christmas had been by far the best Christmas Magnus could remember having in a very long time, though he knew that was more because he'd been with Alec and Aleida, than because of the fancy accommodations. It had after all been his first Christmas with Alexander, and it just wasn't Christmas without his aunt. He'd missed Clary, but he knew Biscuit had had a great holiday season back home with her parents and Jace. But there was one conversation in particular that Magnus just couldn't get out of his head. It had been toward the end of the holidays when things were winding down, and he'd found himself alone with Aleida.

"So what do you think?" Magnus had asked her. "Glad you came?"

"Very much so," Aleida replied. "Because I got to see you with Alec."

"Oh?" Magnus inquired. "And why was that so important?"

"He is different than the others Magnus," Aleida had explained. "I've seen you get your heart broken so many times. I remember you crying in my arms just last Christmas because you were scared to try and love again, scared to open yourself up to heartbreak again." She'd paused, thoughtfully before continuing. "I have been watching Alec very closely since I arrived, and watching you as well. I see the way he looks at you, Mags. Rich or poor that man loves you."

"I know," Magnus smiled, leaning back.

"I understand why his world is strange to you," Aleida continued. "I have to confess, I wouldn't know how to live in a house like this. I barely know how to visit it, but I don't think that should matter."

"It shouldn't," Magnus said. "But somehow it does. I know that if I let him do everything, let him pay for everything, and buy my time like its nothing, then it will becoming nothing. I will be a dead weight. People will say I am with him for his money, and I will be dependent on him for the rest of my life."

"It's a scary thought isn't it," Aleida laughed lightly, though without much humour. "To be decorative."

"What was it you always said when I was slacking off," Magnus had said. "Make yourself useful instead of merely ornamental."

"Do I say that?" she'd chuckled in mock surprise.

"Yes," Magnus had chuckled. "All the time."

"Well considering your current lot in life, maybe that is bad advice," Aleida had said.

"You never give bad advice, Auntie," Magnus had replied.

"Oh I don't know about that," she laughed. "I am only human you know."

"Definitely not," Magnus had replied smiling. "Super-human at the very least."

"We really do need to crush these childish illusions of yours, Mags," Aleida smirked.

"Stop using my baby name and maybe we can," Magnus had grumbled at her. He'd known she was teasing him about the illusions. Magnus had a very good adult to adult friendship with his aunt, apart from her using his baby name that is. He knew lots of kids never developed such relationships with their parents, either the parents were never able to see the children they raised as an actual adult, or they drift apart slowly without realizing. Magnus felt very lucky to have the relationship with her that he did.

"All I'm saying," Aleida had finished with. "Is find a happy medium. Don't accept things so large that you feel small, but don't turn everything down either."

"Ah yes balance," Magnus had sighed. "A skill I do not possess."

"And never have," Aleida had chuckled. "But I think doing things for you makes Alec happy, and not letting him do anything isn't the answer."