Winter Blooms (Alec Lightwood)

🗝 Chapter Eleven 🗝

"Darling, if you don't stop fidgeting with your tie, I will strangle  you with it." The tone of Varian's voice was entirely joking, though the smallest part of Alec believed him.

Varian had spent the better part of four hours getting his flat ready with both Alec and Magnus' help, though mostly Magnus'.

The benefit of having a top floor apartment, is that there are no neighbors to hear the sounds of the party, though they wouldn't hear it either way with the wards that Magnus had re-done around the entire apartment, and building. The balcony was decorated to the nines, a full bar and ice sculpture on display.

"Right Darling, I've got to feed the cats on the roof, and then we can start to make a pass round the room." Varian leaned up on his toes, a hand on Alec's chest in a way of holding himself balanced while pressing a kiss to his boyfriends cheek. He fell back on his heels, shaking his head as he muttered just loud enough for Alec to hear, "Bloody tall Shadowhunter and his damn out of reach cheeks."

Alec laughed, a bright smile on his face as he watched his boyfriend take his time walking up the stairs to the top floor of the building.

"There goes my heart." The words were muttered, just barely loud enough for Alec to hear, let alone anyone else.

Varian was sure to take his time, the spiral staircase leading to the rooftop of his apartment would trip him up even when he was at full strength. The moment he stepped out onto the rooftop, the cats came running, a half-a-dozen felines that roamed the city, always finding their way up here when they need something to eat.

"Hullo pretty kitties." Varian spoke in a high-pitched voice, bending at the knee and letting his hands brush over the fur of the cats running around his feet.

A strange feeling was in the air, something was slightly off.

The Warlock quickly chalked it up to his lack of magic, and in no time at all, Varian had each of the cats eating from their own bowl, and was on his way back downstairs. Alec stood their, hand smoothing at the tie that he was wearing. A part of Varian started to chime in that he would give him a smack if he didn't stop, but the thought was immediately overturned by his thoughtful boyfriend holding out his hand to help Varian down the last few steps.

"Max texted, him and mom are on their way up." Alec smiled, holding Varian's hand delicately as they both made their way to the front door of the apartment. They paused, Alec smiling down at Varian as he smoothed out the buttons of his boyfriends tux. "Is everything okay?"

Varian hummed, forcing a smile as he looked up at Alec. "I'm alright." It wasn't entirely true, but it was all that he could say in such an urgent time as this.

The sympathetic smile that Alec gave Varian almost made him cringe, but the kiss that was pressed to his forehead made up for it. "Everything is perfect V."

It was reassuring, and just as Varian started to say something, the front door to the flat opened and in came the guest of honor with Maryse Lightwood in tow. The former smiled, bouncing his way through the few guests in his way and running straight for his older brother Alec.

"Max!" Alec caught his brother, lifting him into a bone-crushing hug before dropping him back onto his feet and smiling brightly. Varian kept his eyes on Alec, watching as he tensed up and looked at Maryse. "Mother."

Maryse nodded to her son, placing a firm hand on Max's shoulder as she looked at Varian. "Mr. Bane, you do have exotic taste, don't you?" It was said in a condescending tone, her eyes glancing around around the room, the flamenco dancers and guitarist that set the scene.

"Ah-" Varian nodded, looking just over his shoulder at the woman dancing before looking back at Maryse. "The theme is actually in honor of you, and of your husband."

The question of 'how so' was asked, and Varian smiled brightly as he replied. The memory of Alec and him laying in bed all morning, sharing stories from their childhood. Alec told of how Alec's dad proposed to Maryse in Barcelona. The party theme was in honor of that memory, especially given the fact that Robert could not be here.

Maryse's reaction was not what Varian thought he would get. Her eyes narrowed, her face soured, and her voice was firm as she spoke. "How sweet it is that Alec feels comfortable sharing our personal family stories with you." She glanced Varian up and down before continuing. "Especially given your, disparate backgrounds."

It was an observation, most of the Shadowhunters were aware at this point that Varian Bane's father was in fact Valentine Morgenstern, her tone of voice suggested that despite the fact that he had been raised by someone else, he was still a Morgenstern in her eyes.

Varian did not let his smile drop, instead, he looked down at the young Shadowhunter in front of him, "How about a drink? A Roy Rogers for the guest of honor, and Sangria for the lady."

Max nodded excitedly, and Varian pressed a hand to Alec's arm before turning and making his way across the room. The party was basically in full swing at this point, dozen's of Shadowhunters spread through every corner of the room. It was very strange seeing all of them gathered with no regard to who was hosting, all to celebrate the newest Shadowhunter, Max Lightwood.

It was, of course, a party for the ages, as his baba  had a large hand in the actual set up of the party, and his had always been legendary. The story of the party that baba  had thrown for Igor Stavinsky's after his ballet Les Noces  had first been preformed was one that lasted days and involved many, many drunken Downworlders, and was the party to be compared against.

This came close, at least on the Shadowhunter level.

Varian smiled to his guest as he walked, a subtle nod to those that said 'hello' and a wave to those who waved first. The walk to the bar was not a long one, and Maia was a wonderful type of chatty as she mixed the pair of drinks, handing them across before moving on to serve Jace (who she glared at the entire time while mixing).

"Little Red?" The nickname slipped through Varian's lips as he watched the girl storm her way through the main room of the flat, the distinct lack of colors around her threw him for a loop as he wasn't sure her emotions, the only hint being the tears rolling down her cheeks. Clary stopped when she heard Varian, with a quick reaction time, Varian set the drinks down and accepted Clary as she threw her arms around him.

"I just need to leave." Her voice was breathy, and rather heartbreaking to hear. "Simon is, he's-"

It was as if she couldn't convince herself to finish speaking, and Varian smoothed over her hair before pulling back and looking her in the eyes. "Right red, we can figure that out, but I'd like to ask you to stick around, for Max, for Alec, and for Izzy."

Clary took a moment to nod, and Varian smiled, reaching up to wipe away the tears sitting on her cheeks. "God I need a drink." Her voice was just a bit louder, and Varian nodded taking a moment to speak.

"They'll serve minors here, I made sure of it." Varian let a small laugh pass through his lips, watching Clary walk away before picking up his drinks.

And then it was there again, the strange feeling like everything was slightly bent in the world, Varian stumbled, a few drops of the drinks in his hand spilling to the floor. Alec was there in less than a second, hands reaching but not grasping, a delicate touch that brought comfort more than anything else.

"You alright." Alec spoke just above a whisper, taking the glasses from Varian as the Warlock nodded, waving off his stumbling as a mistake over the carpet.

The feeling did not disappear.