lust; malec au

chapter nine

 "You can't just sit inside and mope, Alec. You need to come to school with me," Aline said to Alec, her arms crossed over her chest. She understood that Alec was wrecked by his father taking his siblings away from him, but she wouldn't let him rot away inside when his school attendance was already pretty low and he was in enough trouble.

Alec groaned and pulled the covers over his head, burying his face into his pillow. "Aline, go away. I love you, but I don't want to talk to anyone right now. Except for Jace and Isabelle. Unless you have them, leave me alone to drown in my tears." Aline rolled her eyes at how dramatic he was being, sitting at the end of his bed gingerly.

 "You still have me, and your mom. They'll be back, Alec. They're not moving away forever; they're almost adults." Aline said softly, putting a hand on Alec's leg. Alec craned his head to look at her over his shoulder, "They're not adults for another two years, Aline. I'm not waiting that long. I might not even be alive in two years."

Aline furrowed her eyebrows in confusion and worry, "What does that mean?" Alec sighed and threw his head back at the pillow, telling her with a more stern voice to leave him alone. Aline grabbed her bag in anger, storming out of the room. She wasn't angry at Alec, she was angry that he was closing himself off and frustrated with himself.

It had been a few days since they had left, and Alec had been crying in his bed the entire time. Magnus stayed with him the first day and made him feel slightly better, but Alec felt guilty for taking up so much of his time, so he practically forced him home.

Alec heard a knock at the door, turning his head sharply, almost still leeching onto the impossible hope that it was Jace or Isabelle. "I brought you something," Maryse smiled weakly, holding something behind her back.

 "Call the school and tell them I don't feel well," Alec said grumpily, resting his head back against the pillow. Maryse sighed and proceeded to come in, sitting at the end of the bed. "Alec, I know how much your siblings leaving you is hurting you. I'm not going to give up on them, just like I know you won't. But you have to trust me if we're going to get anywhere."

Alec swallowed the lump in his throat, pushing himself up into a seating position. She still had something behind her back, and the anticipation of what it was made Alec slightly nervous. Maryse saw the look of interest and let a smile slip onto her face.

 "Before we get anyone back, I know you're going to be a little lonely. So, I got you a little buddy to keep you company." Maryse said with a smile, taking her hands and putting them in front of Alec, a tiny puppy sat in her palm. A small gasp left Alec's lips as he looked down at the puppy, then looking up at his mother's smiling face.

For the first time in days, Alec smiled. He opened his hands, his mother passing the puppy over to him. "Is this for real?" Alec asked with a childish grin, starting to stroke the small creature. Maryse found joy in her son finally smiling, replying, "Of course. He's yours, so don't accidentally feed him too much or be too heavy-handed."

Alec let out a small laugh, feeling a connection to the dog already. He'd always wanted a dog, but with four kids in the house everything always seemed too hectic to take after a new crazy soul. Alec's mind threw names at him, him and Maryse now in a silence.

She eventually broke it by saying, "I know that you're gay, Alec." Alec felt panic rise in his body, his whole face dropping. "What? No, I'm not. Who told you that?" He got defensive, feeling his cheeks heat up with embarrassment. He put the small puppy down on the bed.

Maryse said, "No one told me, I just know. Magnus . . . he isn't just your friend. I could tell from the moment I met him on the beach. I don't need anyone to tell me who my kids are, you just know." Alec felt his chest heave up and down faster than usual, trying to tell if her tone was hostile or not.