Beneath the Skin

Secrets Can Break You

Catarina walked out and saw magnus and Alec laying with one another on her couch. "Ah, Alec. You're awake."

Alec sat up on the couch and smiled at her, "Caterina, it's good to see you. Magnus told me that you saved my life. Thank you, Catarina."

"Don't thank me. I would do anything for Magnus, and I was more than happy to help you. Just promise me one thing, Alec." he nodded at her and she continued, "Promise me that it will not get this far ever again. You may see your life as worthless right now," Alec started to fiddle with his hands, "but you do matter. Promise me, Alec, that you will tell someone if you feel like this again, okay?"

"I..." Alec paused a moment before answering. "I promise."

A smile grew on Catarina's face, "Good." she looked over at Magnus and saw that he was focused on Alec, never looking at her. "Now please leave." Catarina asked nicely.

Alec raised his left eyebrow and looked at her, "I'm sorry?" he asked.

"I'm asking you to get out, so please leave." she said once more.

He just looked at her again, "I don't understand, Catarina. Have I done something wrong? If it's because I've overstayed my welcome, then just say so." he told her.

Catarina looked over at Magnus who was still focused on him, and looked back at Alec, "No, Alec. This has nothing to do with you. Just ask Magnus. Maybe he'll tell you." she paused for a moment and saw Magnus glance at her, but in a split second his gaze was back on Alec. "I'm glad you're okay. Goodbye, Alec." she said and walked away.

Alec turned to Magnus, who had begun to get off the couch, "Magnus? What did she mean?" he asked.

Magnus snapped his fingers, sparks igniting from his fingertips and he used his thumb, pointer, and middle finger from each hand to open a portal in front him, moving them in a large circular motion, then moving them to the side. "It's nothing, darling. Let's get out of here."

He walked through the portal, "Magnus-" and he's gone... Alec watched as the portal lit up the room from the golden colors mixed together and took one last look around the room. Goodbye, Catarina. he said to himself and stepped into the portal.

...

A fluorescent light lit up the living room of Magnus's apartment, a portal appearing from thin air. Magnus was the first to step out, Alec following not far behind. "It feels good to be home." Magnus said, looking at the familiar surroundings.

"Magnus, what was Catarina talking about?" asked Alec as he walked closer to his boyfriend.

He turned around to face Alec, "Don't worry about it. It's not your concern, Alec."

Magnus started to walk towards the bedroom when Alec shouted, "Don't walk away from me, Magnus!!" he stopped in his tracks, back still facing Alec, "You cannot avoid this, not today. How is it right that I share everything with you, but whenever I ask you something, you shut me down?" Alec started to slowly walk towards Magnus, one step at a time. "I don't think it's fair for me to put everything out there for you, but you don't so the same for me."

Alec reached Magnus, who now had his head sideways, looking down at the ground. "Do not start this with me, Alexander." he snapped at Alec. "Just let this go."

He tried to walk away again, but this time Alec grabbed Magnus by the wrist, gripping it tight to ensure he'd stay there. "You can't just walk away from this! What happened to 'when things get hard, don't push me away', huh? It was YOU who told me that, so now I'm telling you. Talk to me, Magnus." Alec pleaded, still holing onto his wrist.