Winter Blooms (Alec Lightwood)

🗝 Chapter Seven 🗝

Maryse Lightwood looked just the same as the wedding day, hair pulled back into a much to tight pony tail, pristine pencil skirt and suit jacket as dark as her hair. She scowled, a rather opposite picture figure than the excitable boy beside her. Max was perfectly immune to the terrible mood of his mother, and Varian couldn't help but smile.

Her gaze stuck to Varian, her eyes flitting up and down his form in a way that made him feel uncomfortable in his own skin. A sudden (and yet constant) wish that his magic still sat within his reach pressed to the forefront of his mind, the want to see the colors surrounding the woman and his boyfriend high as he watched the two look at each other.

Varian's eyes fell to the young boy, Max, and the way he looked between his mother and brother in a concerned way.

"Right then," Despite Varian's protesting knees, he kneeled to the ground in front of Max, smiling as he spoke to the boy. "How about you show me those Shadowhunting skills of yours?"

Max nodded quickly, dodging his mothers arm as she made a terrible attempt at stopping him from going. Varian smiled at Alec in an apologetic way, letting his hand brush along his forearm and bicep as he passed.

"You pick the weapons little Shadowhunter."

Varian had never attended a Rune Ceremony, as they were something so specifically Shadowhunter that the idea of inviting anyone other than the Angel-blooded was never even considered. The prospects of attending one for the first time was exciting, and as it was tradition to give a gift, Varian took it upon himself to learn what the boys favorite weapon was, the way he held it, which hand, how close to his body.

Max chose dual dao swords, a unique weapon, given the fact that the length of the blade was nearly all of his arm. He wielded it well, giving it a few test spins before nodding in a sure way. Varian followed suit, taking up a broadsword, slightly off-balanced but still well enough. Both weapons had been dulled for use in training.

"Where I am from," Varian began, thinking of how his weapons master in Ukraine and South Africa had taught him, "We bow to our opponent before a spar."

Max watched Varian curiously as the Warlock bowed at the waist, weapon tucked the opposite direction in his hand. When Varian straightened up, his weapon spun in his hand once, coming to rest with his feet apart and sword at the ready. Max followed suit, keeping his dao swords together as he bowed, before rising and splitting the weapon in two.

Regardless of the fact that Varian had been younger than the boy when he had first started using weaponry, it was still a shock to his system to see the young Shadowhunter wield the dao swords in his hands in such a practiced way.

The tension between Maryse Lightwood and Alec was forgotten as boy and Warlock began to dual.

At first Varian felt obligated to take it easy, to recognize and learn how the boy fought before actually trying in a fight. Max favored his left side, and based on how he had grabbed the dao swords with his left hand it was only to be assumed that he was left handed. Despite the fact that he left his right open to attack multiple times, Varian held back, knowing for a fact that he would find no joy in beating his boyfriends younger brother in a dual.

Max was fast, significantly faster than Varian (which the Warlock chalked up to the fact that he no longer had his magic and was weaker), and had a wonderful forward roll. He dodged most of Varian's swipes, only delving his own hits when he saw an open space.

Maryse and Alec watched for a moment, Alec all the more proud of his brother and boyfriend and the way that they connected so quickly was rather encouraging.

"You haven't answered my fire messages." Maryse spoke without looking away from the dueling duo, her shoulders tense as if Varian would hurt her youngest son.

Alec snapped without wanting to, speaking his mind with barely any regret. "Well, the last time you were here you turned your back on all of us." The memory of his mother not even making an attempt to fight for Jace a burning image in the forefront of his mind every time he looked at her.

The betrayal on Jace's face when he had learned that Maryse did not even try to stand up for him a constant, so much so that Alec couldn't even bring himself to look at her as she looked at him.

"I was following orders, I had no choice." His mothers excuse was a lame one, and Alec couldn't help but roll his eyes. Maryse sighed, "Max has some exciting-"

Alec interrupted, "He's told me, I'm happy for him." The Shadowhunter had already made an assumption when his little brother walked in, and the way his mother was speaking to him almost guaranteed he was right.

"Your father couldn't make it," Maryse started again, "He's tied up with the Valentine task force in Idris, and as eldest male in the family, you'll be in charge of Max's ceremonial party."

Some part of Alec could see the similarities between him and his sister, especially when he had to suppress the urge to snap at his mother about the audacity his dad had to miss his youngest son's party.

"Yeah!" A shout of joy distracted both mother and son, their eyes looking back at Varian and Max sparring, the younger had successfully disarmed the Warlock, blades crossed and pointed at his neck. At first a feeling of pride came over Alec,  but when he noticed the way Varian swayed on his feet, hands shaking by his sides, the smile fell away and he crossed the room in three easy steps.

Hands reaching for Varian, but careful to not grab at him in a way that would startle his boyfriend. Varian leaned into the touch, head falling to rest on Alec's chest in a way that clued Alec into how exhausted he was.

"I'll take you up to my room?" Alec offered, not missing the way his mothers eyes lingered on the pair of them.

Varian took a deep breath before speaking, "How about you keep having your argument- er," he interrupted himself with a small smile, "conversation with Maryse, and I'll see if Max can escort me upstairs." He spoke louder, directing his question to Max rather than whispering to Alec. "You think you can take me to Alec's room?"

Max instantly nodded in an excited way, clamoring around to put the swords away before making a grab for Varian's hands. The Warlock pulled them out of his reach quickly, the black bars on sudden display, Maryse gasping the moment her eyes locked on them. Varian acted as if he had not heard the noise, offering his elbow to Max instead.

It was almost as if Max noticed the painful way that Varian took a step, he slowed his pace significantly, his mouth moving a mile a minute as he told Varian about life in Idris. Varian smiled and nodded along, happy that the boy felt so comfortable to speak to him despite who his parents are.

Alec watched them go. Watched as his boyfriend bent slightly at the hips to hear his brother better, the way his smile never left his face.

Varian would be a great father, and Alec hoped that he would be alongside him.