hatred // malec

fuck rumours

magnus was so happy, he didn't care about his dad's remarks that day.

or at least, he tried not to.

everything was so surreal. alec liked him too? what did this mean? did this make them boyfriends? he had sort of asked alec out, and he had said yes, but he didn't want to assume just yet.

he could wait until they were official. he didn't care.
all magnus cared about currently was alec. thinking of the way they cuddled yesterday made his heart burst with happiness.

from alec ❣️: heyyy would u like me to walk u to school??
to alec ❣️: sure!! i'm just outside my house. i'll meet u at the end of the lane <3

magnus clutched his phone to his chest like a child.
life really was looking up for him.

-------------

alec greeted magnus with a quick hug. magnus had been around alec long enough to realise that he wasn't very touchy; he only hugged or touched someone if he really felt comfortable with them. so even small gestures like those hugs were enough.

alec was discussing what his sister had done when he came back.
"and she wouldn't stop! she even blocked my way into my room and refused to let me in until i told her what happened!"
magnus giggled. "so what did you tell her?"
"i told her that i'd rather tell her in the privacy of my room to try and get in, but no. she wasn't falling for that. eventually i just gave up and told her the whole story," alec concluded, glint still in his eye.

magnus loved watching alec when he spoke of his family. his eyes lit up, and the gold flecks shone like the sun.

someday, he thought, someday i hope alec talks about me with that look.

"the whole story? even the part where-"
"no no no! no! not that, no, that's -that's private. but i did tell her that i admitted the truth, and that we're sort of dating now."

magnus's mouth curled up at one corner in a soft grin. "that's cute."
he couldn't help but think about how he didn't really have anyone to share his excitement with. his three best friends were on the other side of the country.

alec seemed to pick up the drop in his mood. "is everything okay?"
"yeah, i- yeah. it's just, i don't really have anyone to talk about you to. i have school friends sure, but i'm obviously not discussing you with them. also, my closest friends are away on the other side of the country."

they were close to the school gates, but alec sneakily linked their hands together and touched their foreheads.
"look. how about we go out later, so that not only can we determine what this relationship is, but you can also facetime these friends?"

magnus couldn't help but let a tear fall. "but i can't. my dad doesn't allow me and he'll find out somehow."
this didn't seem to shake alec. "we'll use my phone!"
"they'll not know it's me."
"you can text their numbers beforehand if you want. but i have a feeling they'll know it's you anyway."

in that moment, magnus had never been more thankful for anyone ever. "thank you alec. you really are an angel."
alec smirked. "you know, it's a running legend in my family that we're descended from angels. something about being more strong and talented and more attractive than normal people."

magnus snorted. it sounded funny but in actual fact was not far wrong; the lightwoods were indeed very attractive and talented.
they were also a lot stronger than what they seemed. he knew from what isabelle had told him.
"you know," he said, as they walked into school,

"i wouldn't be surprised if that was true."

-------------

no sooner than had they walked in, eyes were on them. mouths were whispering, eyes were wandering.
lucky for alec, he had a lot of practice that day, and his teammates were mostly his friends josh, david, et cetera.

except there was one.
jonathan. clary's brother. clary didn't know that they knew each other, or at least to what extent. but there was a reason that jace, isabelle, and alec steered well clear of him whenever possible. this also was the reason that alec was less warm to clary. he couldn't trust that she truly wasn't like her brother.

josh caught up with alec, who was taking a quick breather. they jogged alongside each other.
"hey man. we haven't had a chance to do anything lately. i know you had to cancel saturday because of study. but i was thinking, how bout tonight? me, you, and a couple glasses of sweet sweet alcohol? just a Bros Only night?"
"alcohol is not sweet, josh."
"but it can be," alec's friend replied, wiggling his eyebrow. alec laughed.

then he remembered.
he'd already made up an excuse for josh once, and he couldn't do it again.
he was meant to meet with magnus.
he'd promised him he could facetime his friends.
shit.
"um, sure! yeah that sounds great. what time?"
"oh, any time after eight. my parents are going out, so we'll get privacy to talk without my mom questioning everything."
phew. alec was sure he'd be able to get magnus for a while and then hang out with josh. he really liked magnus, a whole lot, but josh and he had not had much of a chance to chat recently. it would be nice.
"ugh, i know. can't wait!" alec replied. they fist bumped, and then alec ran forward quickly to the rest of his team members. he couldn't help but notice jonathan watching him. he was looking coldly with his arms crossed, as if all joy was miserable to him.

but when he looked at alec, it seemed worse.
alec hoped it was just his anxiety playing him up.
he hoped jonathan didn't know too much.

-----------

it was hard for magnus to not think of alec all day. it was also hard for him to not squeal of excitement for later. so it was no surprise that he kept making tiny slip-ups during dance.
tessa giggled every time.
magnus was beginning to get frustrated with his friend.
"sorry, sorry. it's just i can tell your mind's elsewhere. care to share?" she asked.
"maybe after class," magnus responded. he knew he could trust tessa to not tell anyone. they'd been friends for four years; just a little less than his three best friends.
tessa was a pretty girl. long, light brown curls, soft rosy cheeks, pearly grey eyes. she looked so fragile that she'd shatter if you even poked her, but magnus knew from experience this was far from the truth. tessa was an amazing dancer too, so elegant.

magnus's heart belonged with dance. he was exceptionally skillful at it. however, he was terrible at everything else to do with the arts; acting, drawing, singing. well, actually, his singing was pretty good, but it was nothing compared to his dance. he'd won countless competitions. sometimes, if the teacher couldn't be bothered, she just asked magnus to lead the class.

"oh by the way," said tessa as the pair finished up," there's a rumour going round that you and alec are dating."
magnus laughed and rolled his eyes. "nah, that was a weekend thing. i debunked it myself."
tessa shook her head. "no, magnus. people are now seriously convinced that you're a thing. and they were convinced even more when the account posted the thing about removing the post about you two and they included the fact that it was you who told them it was fake. they think you're just trying to deny it. and i mean with the extra tension these past three weeks, who can blame them?"

magnus thought for a moment. what if alec was outed? what if he blamed magnus for this? what if he lost him forever?
"well they're not wrong."
"what?! seriously? you ARE dating???"
magnus smiled at tessa's shock. "pretty much. but please do not tell anyone the truth. alec isn't out, and i don't want to pressure him to be. he can come out whenever he's ready. i'll wait."
tessa grinned widely. "i'm so happy for you! i mean to be honest i've known for a while, but i'm so glad it's official!"
magnus pretended to be offended. "you've known for a while? was it really that obvious?"
tessa deadpanned. "yes. yes it was. you're in love with the god damn boy!"
magnus rolled his eyes. "anyway, fuck rumours."
"the rumours are true, magnus."

"fuck them anyway."