Malec One Shots

56. Detached

~
Song ~ Daughter - Run
~

Max Lightwood's death was harrowing. Isabelle had long forgiven herself for not being able to stop it from happening, but Alec always had a nagging feeling in the back of his head that he couldn't get rid of.

Magnus sat in bed, curled up in the golden silk sheets, and turned to look around. Alec wasn't in bed, he wasn't in the bathroom or even the bedroom at all. Magnus got out, wedging his feet into some slippers and keeping the duvet wrapped around his shoulders. Dragging the mass of gold behind him, he left the bedroom to look around the loft. Alec was nowhere to be found. The only place left was the roof terrace. Magnus pulled on his silk kimono and left the duvet on the hardwood floor, before making his way up the spiral staircase to the roof. Alec was there. He was stood on the ledge, bow in his hands, arrows tucked into the crook of his elbow. Magnus switched on the outside bulbs, bathing Alec in hot white light. Though it wasn't just Alec. One of their two sons was laid out in the hammock, wrapped in Alec's jacket and a throw blanket that Magnus recognised from the living room sofa. It was Max. Magnus approached Alec, watched him kick his leg over the edge of the roof, and felt his heart skip a beat and not in a good way. "Alexander?" Magnus spoke the first word, and Alec just bowed his head. "He asked, you know. And now I can't get the thoughts out of my head." Alec laughed sadly, notching another arrow into his bow and letting it fly into the brickwork on the roof, making the concrete splutter and crack. "Come down, Max is sleeping, and Rafael is still in bed." Magnus coaxed, holding a hand out to Alec who was looking apprehensive. His fingers were pale except for the tips where they were drenched in scarlet, and Alec had a deep cut along his cheekbone from the bowstring. He took a wavering breath.

"I can't. I can't come down. My body won't move and I just- I can't feel anything." Alec sobbed, his voice fading out as he dropped his bow to the terrace floor. "It's alright, I'm here. I'm always here, you know that. All I'm asking is for you to try for me. Can you try?" Magnus asked softly, taking a small step toward the ledge where Alec leaned back. He teetered along the edge, as if he didn't even care about his wellbeing, and the breath caught in Magnus' throat. Somewhere, deep down, a sickening thought reared its head. Alec would jump, Magnus knew he would.

Telling Rafael where his name came from was quite a thing for Magnus, yet he managed to get the whole thing out with minimal tears. Alec, on the other hand.. He couldn't bear to tell his little Max what his namesake was, since it was attached to the deepest part of Alec's mind.

"Papa, was he a good person?" Rafael asked, his chin resting on his palm. Magnus sighed with a smile. "He was my best friend." Magnus reached out and ran a hand through Rafael's slicked back hair that reminded him of the Mexican vampire too much. "You look like him, you even walk like him. He would've loved you, you know." Magnus chuckled, standing to get a box from atop one of the many bookshelves in his office. He opened it, picked up a small item, and passed it over to his son. It was a signet ring that read 'Santiago' and it had the design of a thousand stars. Magnus slipped it onto Rafael's finger. "Keep this, and know Alec and I named you this because the Raphael we knew was a great man. And we know someday you will be a great man too."

"Please, come down." Were Magnus' words as he reached further, almost touching Alec's wrist that moved to pick his bow up. "Alexander, I'm scared." He wavered, and that made Alec stop in his tracks. The arrows fell from his arms, making a pile atop his bow, and his eyes started to water. He rushed off the ledge and into Magnus' arms, smearing blood onto his face and his kimono. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Alec sobbed, dripping wet, hot, tears onto Magnus' shoulder where the robe had slipped down to let the cold bite him. "Magnus what have I become? Why am I so angry and careless? I feel nothing.." Alec choked, burying deeper into Magnus' collarbone. "Nothing.." He murmured, feeling Magnus' warm hands trace his sides and rub his back. "Oh sweetheart, my beautiful Alexander." Magnus pressed the softest of kisses to Alec's crown, holding him close atop the terrace. "Daddies?" A small voice chirped, and Alec couldn't move. He froze to the spot, clutching Magnus frantically. The warlock beckoned the blueberry over, clasping their hands, and turned Alec to look. The small 11 year old pouted at the sight of his father crying and when he raised his hand to touch the cut on Alec's cheekbone, it healed.