Until you came along (english)

Chapter 23

Alec and Magnus arrived in front of Magnus's apartment. Isabelle had left them to tell Simon, Clary and Jace that Magnus was feeling much better and that they had left the hospital.

Mechanically, Alec took out of his pocket the keys that Magnus had given him. Magnus noticed it and could not help but smile.

"So you kept them?" said Magnus. 

Alec looked at Magnus, then at the keys he still held in his hands.

"Yes ... of course I did. Even after our ... breakup."

Alec's words got stuck in his throat, still feeling bad about this memory. Magnus felt it immediately. He approached him and took his hand.

"Hey, Alexander. It's all behind us now. I am with you and I am not going anywhere."

Alec turned to him. He put his hands on Magnus's cheeks and kissed him. Then he pulled away from him and smiled. Magnus returned his smile.

"Come on, let's go home. Our home," Magnus said.

Magnus had insisted on the "our" and Alec felt immense joy. He turned the keys in the lock and they came in.

"Ah it feels so good to be finally at home!" Magnus said.

Magnus dropped to the couch and Alec went to the kitchen.

"Magnus, do you want something?" asked Alec. 

"I want a glass of water please. I'm thirsty."

Alec filled a glass of water, then returned to the living room. He sat down next to Magnus, gave him his glass of water and then pressed himself against him. It was those moments they both needed. Without problems ... and without Jason.

Magnus rested his glass on the coffee table. He seemed preoccupied all of a sudden.

"Alec, can I talk to you about something?"

"Of course you can."

Magnus hesitated and avoiding Alec's gaze, he asked:

"Have you ever had any feelings for Jason?"

Alec straightened up quickly.

"Feelings for Jason? No way! Why would you think that?"

"For nothing ... I just wanted to be sure. Because he seems to really love you."

Alec took Magnus's hand in his.

"Magnus, I don't care about his feelings. It will never be reciprocal. Maybe he has always wanted to be with me but that's not my case. I promise you."

As an answer, Magnus kissed him.

"Alec ... tell me everything, please."

"What do you mean?"

"Tell me how Jason got back in touch with you ..."

"Magnus, I don't think it's a good idea."

"Alec, we promise to not hide things from each other anymore."

"Are you sure you want me to tell you this?"

"Absolutely."

Keeping his hand in Magnus', Alec began to talk:

"Do you remember the day of our first date? The day we decided to be boyfriends?"

Magnus smiled.

"How could I forget?"

Alec smiled briefly at the memory, then he said:

"Well ... The day after, I received a masked call on my phone. I thought it was probably important so I answered the phone. And it was him. I had not heard from him for weeks, I even thought he had given up on me. I swear to you that when I heard his voice, I didn't believe it. It started again. The nightmare began again."

"What did he tell you?" Magnus asked softly.

"That I had to be with him, that he was wondering when I was going to stop pushing him away ... And he asked me if I had anyone in my life. But I didn't talk about you, I didn't want to get you involved in this."

"That's why I felt you stressed when we saw each other. I'm not fooled, I saw that something was wrong. Only, I didn't know what."

"Yes. And I know that I should have tell you everything. But I didn't know how to tell you. And it got worse the day that ..."

"The day he kissed you," Magnus finished.

Alec nodded.

"But there is something that I don't understand," Magnus said. "If you really didn't want to tell Jason that you had someone, why did you want to show me that you were with me by organizing this party?"

Alec ran his hand through his hair, embarrassed.

I know ... I'm an idiot. All I thought was to make him understand that I had someone in my life, that it was a serious relationship and that I would never leave you for him ... I never thought it would go that far. I didn't think about the consequences ... Magnus, I'm so sorry."

Magnus shook Alec's hand in his.

"Alec, stop apologize. And I understand that it must have been difficult for you to bear that. I knew you were not well, but I didn't know what to do for you to talk to me about it. Or maybe you don't trust me enough..."

"Magnus, never say that again! With Izzy, you're the most trusting person in my life! If I didn't tell you anything, it's because I didn't know how to approach the subject with you. And I was afraid you'd leave me the instant I told you. And I could never bear that."

"Believe me Alec, I know you're a good person. You would never have hurt me intentionally. And now that we know that Jason is sick, we know that all his "impulses" are linked to his disorders of possessiveness."

"But that doesn't excuse what he did!" Alec reacted, strongly. "I'm sorry Magnus, but sick or not, he almost killed you! I hope I will never see him again in my life or I will..."

Magnus took Alec's face in his hands and looked at him in the eyes.

"Hey Alec, calm down. Everything is okay. You're okay. I'm okay. You arrived at the right moment to stop him. Don't think about what could have happened. Just think that we are together and that nothing can separate us."

Alec put his forehead against Magnus's.

"I love you, Magnus."

"I love you too, Alexander."