Small Town Days [Malec]

Life Tip #11- Time is Slow When Pain is Great

Magnus drove straight for Luke's.

At some point in the drive, Alec went silent, staring out the window.

The apartment was empty and Alec immediately went for the couch, wrapping a blanket around himself.

It was a Wednesday.

Magnus was thinking about how they should be at school tomorrow, where they would avoid each other in the halls but text whatever free moment they had.

They probably wouldn't go.

Magnus paced then resorted to ordering pizza. It came, a small pepperoni and pineapple; Alec's favorite.

"Call your parents," Magnus said when Alec didn't touch the pizza in front of him, more than an hour later.

"What?" Alec asked, agitatedly.

"Call them," Magnus said.

"Absolutely not," Alec said.

"What did I tell you when we started this?" Magnus asked. Alec thought for a moment, his expression of anger unwavering.

"You didn't want me to have any regrets--"

"You're going to regret not calling your parents," Magnus said. "So pick up your damn phone and call your parents. Have a civilized conversation from a distance. I'll be right here."

Something about that motivated Alec.

He pulled out his phone and dialed the home number.

Isabelle picked up first though.

"Alec?"

"Hey," Alec said.

"Mom and Dad are freaking out. I don't know what you did--"

"Isabelle, I need to talk to them," Alec said.

"Are you safe?"

"I'm fine," Alec said. Isabelle's concern was genuine.

"Alright," Isabelle said. "I'll get them."

He heard her footsteps.

"And Alec?" She was going downstairs, her feet thundering like always. "Just come home, okay? I still love you."

"I-- I love you too," Alec said.

"Put it on speaker phone," Magnus ordered softly. Alec did.

"It's Alec," Isabelle's voice said.

"Alexander?" Alec thanked his lucky stars that it was his mom and not his dad.

"Hi," Alec said. He looked to Magnus. What was next?

Magnus sat down next to Alec, taking his hand.

"Alexander, where are you?"

"I'm fine."

"Are you at Luke's? I swear--"

"Mother, I'm not at Luke's."

"Come home, immediately. We need to speak--"

"I'm not coming back just yet. We can speak now," Alec said.

Maryse hesitated.

"Let me get your father."

Alec closed his eyes.

"It's okay," Magnus whispered, too softly for the microphone to hear. He kissed Alec's cheek, softly.

"Okay, we're all here," Maryse Lightwood said.

"Is Magnus Bane with you?" Robert asked. He sounded more level than he had just four hours ago.