Chapter 1: ART
Chapter Text
Chapter 2: One
Chapter Text
It’s a beautiful spring day and even New York seems welcoming, gone the usual gray cap that makes everything look depressing and rotting. This is truer for the upscale districts of the city, where buildings are well kept, where gardens often surround them and where you also can find the red-brick one to which Magnus Bane’s loft belongs, with its large terrace and amazing view on Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park. Or should we say “Magnus Bane’s ex-loft”? Because Magnus, after having sacrificed his own magic to free Jace Herondale, his boyfriend Alec Lightwood’s parabatai, from Lilith’s grasp, begged his warlock archenemy Lorenzo Rey to transfer him some of his magic, letting Lorenzo become owner of this loft as a payment for the service.
Things went south quickly, though: Magnus rejected Lorenzo’s magic and found himself sadly human again, forever robbed of a fundamental part of himself. Since unfortunately things can always get worse, a few days after, his boyfriend broke up with him, he still can’t understand why. While a very depressed, very lonely Magnus was wandering along the streets, brooding over his misfortune, Prince of Hell Asmodeus, his father, appeared, entreating Magnus to join him in ruling Edom and giving him his magic back. Magnus, despite being suspicious, accepted. What else did he have to lose?
Strong and himself again, Magnus is trying now to have back at least one of his “ex” things, and since he is steady in refusing to think about his ex-boyfriend, he chose to get back his ex-loft.
Right now, if someone could get closer to it, they could hear two upset voices quarreling.
“You know, Bane? I’m sick and tired of you getting what you want just because you’re royalty. You spoiled brat! I know your power is greater than mine, that’s rich and easy, being the only son of a prince of Hell. You never had to fight tooth and nail to climb the ladder, you’ve always had everything ready at your feet!”
The two warlocks are facing in anger since Magnus showed, rudely requiring Lorenzo to leave.
Lorenzo moves closer to Magnus and points a finger right to his chest. “So, don’t even try to compare MY sufferings to yours. I might not have a powerful father, but I’m a self-made warlock, and I’m proud of it. Everything I have, I got it with my own efforts, something you can’t say for sure!”
Magnus glares at Lorenzo’s finger jabbing into his shirt.
“Don’t touch me!” he hisses. “How dare you talk to me this way? Remember I’ve been your former High Warlock and you should show some respect!”
“Yes, you said that. FORMER High Warlock, and if you don’t mind, I’m the High Warlock now, so YOU should be more respectful. You came to me begging for help and I agreed, don’t forget that.” He snorts. “I should have let you wallow in your misery!”
Magnus purses his lips. He can’t help but admit that Lorenzo is telling the truth. Obnoxious as he is, he’s right.
“Now, please, get out of MY home!”
Lorenzo’s last sentence hits Magnus hard: he always tends to erase unpleasant events in his life, but he has to remember this isn’t his loft anymore. That asshole named Lorenzo took advantage of Magnus’ weakness and stole his home. Yes, stole. It doesn’t matter that Magnus offered him whatever Lorenzo wanted, as long as he would transfer some of his magic to Magnus. Lorenzo was a prick, anyway. Add that the magic transfer was so lame that Magnus got sick: he remembers very well the frightening nights and days Alec spent next to his bed, praying for him to wake up.
Well, maybe it’s not the time to remember what Alec did. Magnus will never be able to forgive him for breaking his heart, ever, even if Alec’s devastated face sometimes pops up in his mind and he wonders….
Magnus snaps out of his enchantment. Whatever. He needs to find a way to get his loft back, now that he has regained his magic. He slowly gets close to Lorenzo, until they are face to face. He smirks, trying to make Lorenzo feel smaller, taking advantage of his undoubtedly superior power, and for a moment the trick seems to work.
“You know, Lorenzo, you didn’t earn your payment, eventually. Your magic turned out to be poor and weak, nothing useful to me, I’d say…neglectable. So, you received something you didn’t deserve, especially taking into account the elegance of my home and the value of my art pieces.” He lifts a hand and straightens a lapel of Lorenzo’s velvet jacket. “So… get out of here, please…” The warlock swallows, clearly intimidated, but then his shoulders tense and his smug attitude comes back.
“I’m sorry, Bane, but you offered your loft willingly, without conditions, so, no matter the result of our…interaction, the property transfer is valid. I can bring this case to the Spiral Labyrinth, but I kindly suggest you not to try me.”
Magnus is boiling inside with rage, because Lorenzo is unfortunately right. Again. No one in the world is going to agree with Magnus and support his request. He’s fuming, and despite that, he’s about to drop the fight when a portal opens just behind him in a whoosh, and a very pissed, very threatening Asmodeus appears in front of them.
Lorenzo flinches, while Magnus moves aside. His father? Coming to what…rescue? And in case, why is he so considerate? Magnus doesn’t trust him, but this doesn’t mean he’s not going to grasp every help he can get.
“Father…” he says, while watching Lorenzo shrink under Asmodeus’ glare.
“I heard that my son needed support,” Asmodeus says plainly, quietly, sounding like a hissing snake, “and no doubt I can give him mine. What were you two debating about?” His deceitfully sweet tone doesn’t fool anyone, and Lorenzo starts trembling.
“I was trying to convince Lorenzo to give me my loft back, since the spell I asked of him didn’t work. So, his payment wasn’t due, right?” Magnus says, with a honeyed voice.
Lorenzo – let’s acknowledge that he’s being brave, facing the Prince of Hell in person – Lorenzo straightens his posture and reaffirms his position.
“On the contrary, it was due. My spell was good, not my fault that your son couldn’t withstand it. Maybe he’s weaker than he thinks.”
Asmodeus smiles and tsks.
“I don’t believe this is the right attitude to address Edom’s royalty, dear Lorenzo. Don’t forget who your father was. You were sired by a… let’s say, a low-grade demon, so you have no right whatsoever to oppose your superiors. So, please, get out of here and return my son his property.”
Lorenzo knows he should yield and retreat, it would be safer, but his hubris stupidly wins, even against such a powerful demon.
“No, I won’t. I got it through honest trading, I’m entitled to keep it!”
Asmodeus tsks again and looks at Magnus, shaking his head in disbelief.
“He can’t be this stubborn…” Then his sharp gaze moves to Lorenzo. “I’m sorry, Lorenzo, I think I need to teach you some manners.” He flicks two fingers and, in a cloud of red magic, Lorenzo disappears. When the dust sets, where the poor warlock stood before, there’s a large and well-furnished glass case, hosting green plants scattered around on small heaps of dirt and two small bowls containing water and some indefinable brown material that looks like animal food. In the middle of the case, slightly panting, is a brilliant green and yellow chameleon of respectable size, completely still, until Magnus reaches out and the reptile, looking scared, runs to hide behind one of the heaps.
“I hope you’ll enjoy this pet’s company, my son, especially now that his big mouth is not working anymore,” Asmodeus says.
Magnus nods slowly, concern in his eyes. “But…unfortunately, he’s the local High Warlock, sooner or later the Spiral Labyrinth will get he’s disappeared. What if they warn the community and deepen their research?”
Asmodeus hums for a moment, then he snaps his fingers and summons a letter, signed by Lorenzo.
“Then they’ll receive this paper, Lorenzo himself communicating that he steps down as High Warlock due to personal reasons. Anyone knows that warlocks like to live a secluded life. And you’ll be their obvious subsequent choice as High Warlock, since you’re powerful and you already held this position. No one else can compete, and anyway I could have my…ways to convince that bunch of old farts. What do you say?”
Isn’t it a bit too much? Magnus would swear he can hear his conscience scolding him. But he’s still mad at Lorenzo, and his father’s voice is so appealing, erasing the other voice inside him. He shrugs.
“Okay,” he says briefly; he throws a last glance at the glass case, and for a moment he pities Lorenzo, seeing tears welling in those eyes so reminding him of the human the pet was before. Though he’s happy to have his home back, he can’t help but feel sorry for that petty, arrogant, naïve, foolish warlock.
**
The loft is silent. Maybe Magnus and Asmodeus have left. Lorenzo dares to peek out of the heap he was hiding behind, his tender belly trembling. His eyes roll up and down, from left to right, and he realizes his visual range is much larger now. Then his gaze falls on his hands…well, what used to be his elegant hands and now are two green clawed paws. Lorenzo tentatively moves one of them, and it opens as a sort of soft, cushioned fin. A clamp. Demons in hell…. Then he curls up and looks at his feet: other two paws, just a bit longer than his forepaws. What the hell is he? He looks around and the loft looks enormous, the ceiling is so high it might very well be the sky, so as it’s almost invisible, the furniture and the items scattered around incredibly BIG. The walls he sees surrounding him are transparent, and the inside is full of greeneries and dirt and…it’s a case! And he's become some kind of reptile kept in a home zoo. A small reptile. Lorenzo feels his heart clench and starts regretting facing Asmodeus so insolently. He should have known better, but now it’s too late. Anger and fear mix in his mind. He’ll dig his freedom out of here, and his revenge will be tremendous, no matter the cost, even if he had to summon Lucifer himself!
Suddenly, a quiet buzz fills the air, growing like thunder in his ears. His senses sharpen immediately, bypassing his conscious, still human mind, instinct striking; his sight focuses on the small insect flying inside the case and in a flash, without thinking, he unrolls his long tongue and catches his prey, engulfing it.
What? Did he just…gulp an insect? Is this going to be his life from now on?
He snuggles against one of the plants and small tears start falling from his eyes.
**
Time has passed and Lorenzo’s life has become a nightmare. He tries to sleep a lot, the only way to forget his tragic fate at least for a little while. First, he thought of letting himself starve to death. But his bowls were magically filled, and insects happened to fly over his head, and his animal instinct always prevailed, against his mind and will. Now he’s resigned to his condition, since he has no magic now and can only rely on Magnus’ goodwill. Not that he’s a complete asshole: he treats him well, sometimes he even stops and chats with Lorenzo, telling him about his day. But he doesn’t show any intention of turning him back to his warlock self.
**
Asmodeus and Magnus enter the loft, both frowning. Tiny flashes of magic run along Magnus’ fingers and Lorenzo wonders what’s happening between the two of them. Nothing good, anyway, he already noticed how tense the air is lately, like this alliance doesn’t run so smoothly as before. Predictable, maybe, Magnus has never been prone to comply and Asmodeus can’t help but feel in command, it’s his nature. Just to avoid danger, Lorenzo sneaks into a hole he dug in one of the dirt heaps, leaving only his head outside, and tries to follow their discussion. Well, it seems more like a fight. Magnus looks very, very pissed off, while Asmodeus reminds him of his role as a royal in Edom…
WHAT?
So that’s why that Lightwood boy hasn’t shown up at the loft since forever. Asmodeus might have plotted something awful to tear the two lovebirds apart. For a moment, Lorenzo is wickedly delighted with Magnus’ suffering, but then he reckons that Asmodeus is a really shitty father. He might admit that he’s been envious of Magnus’ happiness, finding his soulmate. Lorenzo sighs: he has never been so lucky to find someone who loved him heart and soul and to love in return, as Magnus did. That Lightwood boy, he was an affectionate guy, so in love with Magnus that he begged, begged!, he, a Nephilim, begged a warlock to help his fiancé.
Lorenzo snaps out of his thoughts at hearing the voices get louder, until – Lilith! – Magnus is wrapping a magic rope around his father, strangling him, and then, after striking him unconscious, opens a portal and throws Asmodeus through it! All devils below, Asmo is going to get stuck in the Limbo and never come back…
Lorenzo shudders, while the loft turns silent and Magnus storms out, slamming the door behind himself.
Chapter 3: Two
Chapter Text
So, the Lightwood boy – Alec, right? - is back to the loft. He’s smiling and Magnus is smiling too, they hug, they smooch ugh! and sometimes they can’t keep their hands off each other and run to hide inside Magnus’ bedroom. Then, there’s a concert of groans and moans and screams of pleasure, and Lorenzo would gladly give a limb to be earless…hey, chameleons are actually earless, why can he hear any sound? Whatever. He’s not deaf and also, he doesn’t even have hands anymore to cover his head and keep those devastating noises at bay. Once more, Lorenzo admits he’s envious. But this is a thought for another day. Now that Magnus is in a far better mood than before, maybe he could reconsider freeing Lorenzo from his punishment, since he’s not under his father’s influence anymore. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care about this sad, little chameleon. Now that he has his boyfriend back, there are no more chats in front of the glass case, he has someone else even too eager to listen to him, looking at him in a total adoration, and able to talk back, instead of staring at him with a – Lorenzo is aware of that – totally dumb-like glare.
What could he do, then? Maybe he could try to draw Alec’s attention. The boy is kind, and loves pets, Lorenzo can see him cuddle Magnus’ cat and play with it. Hell, he does know that he’s not maybe the cutest pet, but Alec could be nice to him, who knows?
He needs to find a way to make himself get noticed. He starts moving in a circle around his cage, looking for inspiration, and puts his paws on the glass walls to watch the loft and check if someone is going to show. He tries to climb along the wall to make himself more visible, but he slides down – the glass is too smooth, even for a chameleon’s strong, prehensile paws. But wait, his nails are leaving a trace on the wall, carving a long line in the glass. A brilliant idea pops up in Lorenzo’s mind: he could write something on the glass, asking for help and hoping that Alec catches a glimpse of it. No one can believe that a chameleon owns enough brain to write something meaningful, so they should realize there’s someone behind, or inside, to be more precise.
Yes, it’s me, Lorenzo Rey! he pleads in his mind.
Reassured and excited for the perspective, he starts working on his project.
**
Andrew Underhill is Alec’s right-hand man. Tall and handsome, he’s a blond guy with delicate features, but the soul that lies behind his angelic façade is nothing but steely. He comes from an obscure Scottish family, the only child of a couple who tried for years to become parents. They were successful, at last, but that meant he couldn’t have any siblings and also, he unfortunately became an orphan far too soon. He grew up at the London Institute, one of the many shadowhunter children who lost their families, and maybe his career would have developed in Great Britain, if he hadn’t heard something unusual happening in the New York Institute, so incredible that he did his research and finally he asked for being transferred there. Truth is that Andrew, since his teen years, had been feeling this (unnatural) attraction towards boys. The idea of being somehow wrong had been completely ingrained into his mind thanks to his teachers in London, and of course he knew the rules. Coming from a modest family, he knew that his chances for a marriage were lower than those bringing more distinguished surnames, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t engage into finding a suitable female partner to procreate.
Procreate. Ugh! It’s such a disturbing, irritating word to define what should be a happy interaction. Not that Andrew doesn’t like children, the other way around, he would love to become a dad, but he despises the bigoted rules that would require him to betray his true self. He isn’t interested in girls, so he thought he’d rather stay a bachelor all his life, if the Clave would allow him to. Not likely. As a consequence, eventually, he stayed in the closet, forbidding himself from having a fulfilling sexual and sentimental life.
But gossip travels fast in the Shadow World. Andrew knew that Downworlders were much more relaxed about sexual habits and much more welcoming about diversity, but couldn’t believe his own ears when he heard that the eldest son of former New York Institute’s Heads, on the verge of becoming Head himself, had come out in front of the whole damn Clave, dropping his soon-to-be wife at the altar and kissing a male warlock, the High Warlock of Brooklyn any less! It was so incredible that Andrew had to find confirmation – and rumors revealed it to be absolutely true. Even better, the two of them, after some adventurous trip in Edom, got married. The following day, his request for transferring to New York had been placed on his Head’s desk. He didn’t dare to hope that his life could be at a turning point, but, if that man was going to be Head, he did want to serve under him, at least for the respect and admiration he already felt for such a brave action.
**
They say that reality sometimes overcomes imagination, and this exactly is what Andrew realizes as soon as he sets foot in the New York Institute. The Head himself shows up in the hall to welcome the new recruits and shadowhunters coming from different Institutes – there are so many that Andrew can’t even believe his own eyes. This is unheard of, already. More so, he introduces himself, then his brother and parabatai, Head of Field Operations, and his sister, Master of Weapon, and shakes hands with everyone, asking for their name – Andrew is sure he will remember all of them - and origin, telling them he’s going to receive each one in his office to hear about their stories and reasons for asking to be transferred. He gives a brief speech and wishes them to be accustomed very quickly to their new environment, then orders a few of his subordinates to show the newbies the whole Institute. Andrew is already conquered and knows he’s going to love his new Head and serve as his most faithful soldier.
What strikes Andrew hard, though, happens the day after, when a very handsome warlock, wearing makeup and fashion clothes, waltzes in the Institute smiling, without any alarm blaring nor shadowhunters taking him in custody, on the contrary people amiably greeting him – and him greeting them in return. No one stops him, while he walks toward the Head’s office. What the actual fuck? At that moment, the office door swings open and a glowing Alec Lightwood runs at the warlock. They hug tight and exchange a deep, very sensual kiss, then the warlock enters the office and they both disappear inside.
Andrew is gaping, eyes popping out.
So, it was true. Well, he knew it was true, but seeing it with his own eyes makes it somehow more real and shocking. A Nephilim and a warlock dating and after that, married. The Head of one of the most important Institutes in the world and a notoriously very powerful High Warlock married! Both out and proud. And no one bats an eye at that. Snapping out of his stupor, Andrew smiles and feels a little bud of hope for himself suddenly growing inside his chest.
**
Respect and admiration for his Head grow every day in Andrew’s heart. Head Lightwood – Alec, like he asked to be called since the first day they met – is an excellent strategist but doesn’t only schedule patrols or assign tasks. He personally leads the most complicated operations and he’s always first in facing danger, he doesn’t hide behind his soldiers, more so he does everything to protect his people. Then, he’s able to work until the wee hours to fulfill the most annoying bureaucracy stuff the Clave orders him to do, even when he’s deadly tired and his husband magically provides him with dinner, since he often forgets he also needs to eat and rest, sometimes.
His husband. Andrew can’t wrap his mind around this yet. Two men clearly deep in love, respectful of each other’s position and duties – Andrew knows that being a High Warlock too comes with a lot of troubles to deal with – and yet so head over heels for each other. The way they stare, the way they softly touch and smile and kiss, even just a brush on the lips to say hi. It’s comforting. Will Andrew get enough courage to come out himself and try to win a sliver of that happiness?
Meanwhile, his career takes flight. He’s faithful and a good fighter, well versed in tech stuff, and quick in making decisions, and he had been able to gain Alec’s trust, unshakably devoted as he is. So, when Alec calls him for a meeting at his office, Andrew thinks he’s going to assign him some new task, ordinary stuff.
He knocks at the door and walks in.
“Did you want to see me, Alec? What can I do for you, boss?”
Alec smiles and nods at him to sit, then joins his hands on the desk.
“Andrew,” he starts, “from the very first moment I met you, when you arrived in New York, I saw so much potential in you, and I want to say I was right. In these two years you’ve shown to be smart and competent, upgrading our computer net and improving our surveillance system. You’re trustful, ready to fulfill your tasks but also to give wise suggestions, thanks to your analytical mind. And you’re a very good fighter, but kind and compassionate, so people can count on you, as a good friend, ready to help. All in all, you’ve become an asset for this Institute, an asset I want to keep and be rewarded. So, I’m going to appoint you as our Head of Security. You’ll have a group of people under you to guarantee this Institute’s safety…”
Alec’s smile widens.
“Well, I don’t know if this is going to be a reward or a punishment, I’m actually loading on your shoulders a very heavy task, but I’m sure you can cope and I’m completely comfortable to put our safety in your capable hands. I add that you’ll get the same security privileges I myself own. What do you say?”
Andrew is speechless. He opens his mouth a couple of times without talking, astonished as he is. Astonished is an inadequate word to describe what he’s feeling now: he’s incredulous, amazed, grateful… “Andrew?” Alec asks, doubtful.
“Yes, yes… I’m okay with it,” Andrew stutters, “I’m only shocked you can put so much trust in me. I’m…grateful beyond words, Alec, and I swear I’ll be worth this trust, I’ll work 24/7, I’ll do everything to show you how honored I am!”
Alec huffs a brief laugh.
“I’m sure you’re the right man in the right place, Andrew. I already know that.”
“Thank you, thank you so much, Alec.”
“Good. You’re dismissed, but first go and check with my secretary, he’ll give you written instructions and the codes you’ll need to access security files. Ah, by the way, I asked Magnus to revise the wards protecting our loft, so as they recognize you and you can enter on your own, should I need you to pick up something for me. I happen to forget something at home, and I can’t always ask my husband to be available to rescue me.”
Alec smiles and then comes back to his paperwork; Andrew stands up and heads for the exit, but he stops and turns towards Alec.
“Anything else?” Alec asks kindly.
“Yes, I’m…,” Andrew takes a deep breath and blushes lightly. “I don’t have enough words to thank you for everything, but there’s something special, close to my heart, I want to thank you for, and it’s for the path you paved…for us all, those like you…and me. Showing that love has no bounds, that everyone is allowed to chase and find his own happiness, even when this doesn’t follow…the rules. You gave me this courage, looking at you…out and proud.”
Alec stares at him in silence, but his eyes are sparkling.
“I’m glad I’ve been of help, Andrew. I know it’s not easy, I experienced this myself, but the freedom you’re going to enjoy…it has no price, you’ll see.”
Andrew smiles and nods, then he leaves, his heart lighter than it’s ever been.
Chapter 4: Three
Chapter Text
So, now Andrew is cautiously entering the famous loft, where the High Warlock Magnus Bane and the Head Alexander Lightwood live together in harmony and happiness. Alec forgot his stele home and asked Andrew to retrieve it while he’s attending a boring meeting with the Consul. Andrew is overwhelmed for several reasons. One, trusting someone with your stele is like putting your life in their hands, tied as the stele is to its owner, more so if it’s the Head’s stele; two, Andrew is allowed freely into his boss’ home – and the High Warlock’s! – three, because it’s the first time that Andrew walks into a warlock’s lair. He can say it doesn’t look like a “lair”, more like a comfortable, elegant apartment, ancient and modern pieces nicely blending, a few apparently very precious paintings on the walls, trinkets from possibly any part of the world and any time since the maybe Middle Age – and Andrew shudders a little, thinking about the Magnus’ long life – and a couple of soft looking couches scattered with colored pillows. A well-equipped kitchen, a table, still hosting a couple of mugs, next to the large window from which the sunlight is pouring, Alec’s leather jacket carelessly thrown on a chair, a golden scarf hanging from the coat rack in the hall. Everything seems so “normal”, so homely. Andrew wonders what he thought he should expect… cobwebs everywhere? Human skulls as cups? Maybe some dangerous animal as a guardian?
At that moment, he feels something slipping between his ankles and jumps back, unsheathing his sword. But it’s only a cat, a tabby cat with green eyes, looking at him suspiciously and meowing loudly. Andrew nervously laughs, blaming himself for being so on edge, and bows to scratch the cat behind its ears. The cat looks like it enjoys the cuddles and meows again, jumping on the closest piece of furniture and licking its paws. Andrew stands and tries to stroke the cat again when he realizes that there’s another pet in the house. On that furniture lies a glass case, containing a small reptile, a…chameleon? Yes, it’s a chameleon, rather big and nicely colored. Andrew bends to look at it more attentively, being reciprocated with a dull stare. Yes, this animal doesn’t seem too smart, but after all, how much Andrew knows about chameleons? Nothing, actually.
He carefully picks up the reptile and strokes its back: the animal seems to enjoy the cuddles and Andrew smiles. Despite being an active warrior, he’s tender-hearted and loves animals. The scales covering the chameleon body are hard and sharp, but their colors are beautiful, shiny greens and yellows with a hint of blue here and there.
“You’re cute, you know?” he says, hoping that, even if the animal can’t understand his words, it could get at least the gentle tone.
“I’m sorry, I gotta go now, duty calls,” he says after some more cuddles, “maybe we’ll see each other some other time, okay?” He’s going to put it back into the case when he notices that the glass is slightly scratched on the side. Ugh, this pet must have sharp nails and maybe it tried to climb onto the wall and ruined the glass…but wait…this isn’t a scratch only…it’s…a word????
H-E-L-P
**
Andrew hastens back to the Institute to give Alec his stele and patiently waits until he can have a word with his boss. It’s rather late in the evening, though, and Alec asks him if their chat might be postponed. Of course, it can, Andrew answers, even if that word carved on the glass is a disturbing thought that makes him restless the whole night. Since it’s clear he’s not going to sleep, he leaves his bed and walks to the Ops center, starting his shift in advance and earning the gratitude of the current guard staff. Meanwhile, he’s mulling over. What is that chameleon really? Can a chameleon be so smart to learn to write?
Andrew, don’t be this stupid, he says to himself. Of course chameleons can’t write, produce logical thought any less. They’re reptiles, right? So, they’re not at the top of the evolutionary chain. What if this is some mutant specimen, able to communicate? Well, dinosaurs were probably able to chitchat in their own language of whistles and grunts, at least that’s what he was taught, but…in English? And if this is a mutant reptile, couldn’t it be dangerous to keep it at home? But Magnus Bane is a powerful warlock, wouldn’t he be aware of a danger threatening him and his loved one?
Andrew is more and more confused, but luckily, even if it’s barely dawn, he sees Alec walking in, early bird as usual, and it’s a relief: maybe now he can unload this burden from his own shoulders. Alec, kind as he is, greets everyone, then spots Andrew.
“Andrew, so early on shift?”
“Good morning, boss. Couldn’t sleep…”
“Maybe this is the best time for the conversation you asked about yesterday. Did you have your coffee already? No? Let’s order some and go to my office.”
When they are sitting in Alec’s office, next to each other, a mug of strong coffee in hand, Andrew finally lets it go.
“You remember you sent me to your loft to retrieve your stele yesterday, right?” Alec nods. “It’s a beautiful home, by the way, and well, a cat welcomed me.”
Alec laughs. “Yes, Chairman is usually rather suspicious towards strangers. Did he annoy you?”
“Not at all, he was nice and cuddled against me, and then he jumped on a piece of furniture, where the case with your other pet is.”
Alec stops in the middle of a sip.
“What other pet? We don’t have any but Chairman…”
Andrew swallows. “I swear, boss, there was this glass case with a reptile inside, I think it’s a chameleon…”
“No, it’s impossible, it’s… a chameleon, you said?”
“Yes, yellow and green, and rather big, and it looked at me so… thoughtfully… It was impressive, but there’s another thing I need to bring your attention to.”
Alec puts his mug on the desk, waiting. Andrew takes a deep sigh, it’s make or break.
“On the wall of the case, there was a word carved, and this word was ‘help’. Now, I don’t think that this chameleon might have suddenly become a genius, so there must be a reason why an animal should try to communicate…”
“That it isn’t an animal at all…” Alec slowly completes. Andrew nods.
“But I’ve never seen this reptile in my home! I think we should ask Magnus and get what’s happening. But he’s busy now, so let me call someone else to check.”
He fishes his phone out of his pocket and dials a number.
“Cat? Good morning, sorry to bother you, I know you just ended your shift, but I only need a quick info. Did you know that Magnus keeps a…let’s say, unusual pet home, that I’ve never seen or heard of though? A…chameleon… No? You’ve never seen it either? Thank you, Cat, take care and have rest, yes, say hi to Madzie from me.”
He closes the call. “I think Magnus owes me some explanations.”
**
Once more, usual Institute stuff keeps Alec busy as fuck the whole day, but Andrew’s request is constantly nagging at him; he’s more than curious and wonders why Magnus hid that pet from him, probably glamouring it. There must be some mystery behind it, but didn’t they swear to each other to be honest? No more secrets, after the Soul Sword accident? He can’t wait to go home to unravel this puzzle.
Dinner time has come and Alec can’t drop work yet. He curses under his breath, since he and Magnus have planned an evening out, hoping for an exciting after dinner, but it’s clear now that he’ll never make it in time. A sudden whoosh, and a shimmering blue portal appears in Alec’s office. He immediately relaxes, since there’s one single person in the world that can open a portal here, and it’s his beloved husband. Alec smiles in anticipation, all his exhaustion molding into joy.
“Alexander…” Magnus exclaims in a whirlwind of blue magic, flicking his hand to make the portal disappear. “You look tired, darling. Seems that we’re forced to give up our night.”
Alec stands up and kisses Magnus tenderly. “I’m so sorry, baby. This damn bureaucracy will be the death of me!”
“Not if I can prevent it,” Magnus answers, his hands gently stroking Alec’s face, “so, first, dinner. This is not negotiable.” Another gesture, and a set table appears, candles and elegant tableware included, covered with any kind of food. Magnus twirls on his heels, smiling and obviously proud of himself.
“Here we are. Let’s have dinner in peace,” with a snap he locks the door, “then I can help you to manage your stuff, so we can go home together quickly, and well, maybe I’ll get my reward for taking care of my husband so well…”
He winks and Alec laughs. “We’ll see…” he says, and they both sit at the table, starting to help themselves. Their dinner goes on peacefully, until Alec thinks that this is the right moment to face the weird pet case topic. They’re relaxed, pleasantly full – the food was excellent, not that he didn’t expect any different – their mood is happy. “Magnus, can I talk to you about something…bothering me? Nothing serious, but I’m just perplexed.”
Magnus becomes instantly concerned. “Of course, you can. What’s wrong, darling?”
“You remember Andrew, right? My Head of Security to whom you granted access at our place?”
Magnus nods. He’s always been a little jealous of that young man, so nice and handsome and clearly devoted to Alec, but he’s a 400 year-old warlock, he can’t get jealous, so inappropriate of him…
“A couple of days ago I sent him to the loft to retrieve my stele. Do you remember I had to run as fast as I could that morning, late for work, because…um…”
Magnus smiles, he remembers very, very well why Alec was so late that morning, after an impromptu and very hot sex session, both woken up terribly horny! Alec even accepted to be cleaned and changed with magic, late as he was for a Clave meeting. No wonder he forgot his stele. He makes a gesture to encourage Alec to go on.
“Well, he entered the loft, met Chairman and played with him for a little while, until Chairman jumped on what I suppose is the Louis XVème trumeau, and there was a glass case on it, hosting a…um…a chameleon?” Alec can’t even give an affirmative sound to this sentence, as incredible the whole thing looks to him. The most unbelievable event, however, is that Magnus doesn’t burst in a laugh, but becomes very serious and obviously concerned. Alec would say embarrassed.
Waiting for an answer, Alec tilts his head to the side. “Should I be worried? Because it seems to me that this is true and you hid this thing from me, clearly glamouring it. The purpose, though, evades me. Were you thinking I would have been scared, or disgusted, by a reptile? Or are you hiding a more serious reason for that? Because, you know, Andrew noticed a word carved in the glass from the inside, and this word was ‘help’. Unless you’re breeding a super smart species through some spell, and anyway this animal doesn’t seem excited about being experimented on, or the chameleon is something else. Or someone else. Am I wrong?”
Magnus swallows a couple of times, lips pursed, then puts down the fork he was still holding and sighs. Then he stares at Alec.
“You’re right, darling, I wasn’t honest with you. I regret it more than you can think, since we made the deal to never hide anything from each other anymore, and instead I did. I did it because I was ashamed. And you’re right, that isn’t an actual chameleon, I mean, it is, but there’s someone else behind, well, inside. I’m sorry that Andrew was caught by surprise, I didn’t think to keep the case glamoured when we aren’t at home, the spell activates just when you enter the loft. I didn’t want you to witness how wicked I’d become when my…father found me, after our breakup.”
He stands up and starts pacing back and forth, under his husband’s curious glance.
“I told you that Asmodeus appeared to me when I was walking aimlessly, thinking of you and of how much you hurt me without any logical reason,” - Alec stands up too and goes to hug Magnus tight – “Alec, I know now, you don’t need my forgiveness anymore… I was saying, I was walking, and he appeared to me, and started talking about my legacy, saying that I couldn’t give it up only because I had fallen in love with a mortal, that my destiny was to rule Hell with him, and that I had to claim back what was mine. Starting from my home. I was weak, I believed his lies, and I went to the loft and met Lorenzo, asking, better, commanding him to give my home back to me. He refused, you know how petty he is, saying that his payment was legit, despite the spell, the magic transfer, remember? hadn’t worked. And threatened me to bring me to the Spiral Labyrinth for judgment. I knew he was right but I was so angry! Though I was on the verge of dropping my request, when Asmodeus appeared in the loft and so, so sweetly – I still shudder at reminding his voice – recommended Lorenzo to obey. He was scared but, stupidly, still said no, and Asmodeus…changed him into that chameleon, as a punishment…”
Alec is gaping. He throws his hands in the air. “And you didn’t do anything? I mean, at least after you banished Asmodeus, still you didn’t fix it? And this means that Lorenzo Rey no less is that reptile? Or…the other way around. Been living for months inside that cage, catching flies for lunch? Of course he asked for help!”
Alec doesn’t know whether to be pissed at Magnus or to pity him. Magnus’ slouched shoulders speak of shame and regret, the corners of his mouth are curled down, he doesn’t even try to find an excuse.
“I was so ashamed that I couldn’t let you see what I did. Though I do think Lorenzo deserved some punishment…”
Alec puts his hands on Magnus’ arms. “You need to fix this, right now. We’re going home and you give Lorenzo his human shape back, at once. Got it?”
Furiously blushing, Magnus nods.
“And we’re going to bring Andrew with us, so as Lorenzo thanks him properly.”
Magnus thinks that this humiliation might be a bit too much, but he’s guilty as charged, so he nods again.
**
Alec has given Andrew a quick debrief, and now they’re all at the loft, in front of the glass case. Magnus has conjured a Martini for himself, but put his glass on thetrumeau - Alec was right in pointing at the furniture – and now he’s modifying the wards, so as the spell that hid the case from Alec stops working. Alec tuts when he finally gets a glimpse of the poor chameleon; he squats and gently talks to it.
“Mr. Rey, I know you’re in there now, but I didn’t know until tonight, so I can’t say how sorry I am for what happened. Wait just for a little while and you’ll be free.” He points towards Andrew. “This young man, my Head of Security, realized that there was something fishy in here and warned me, so as I could talk to my husband. I assure you it wasn’t a pleasant conversation.”
Meanwhile, Magnus has reached them. The counterspell is revealed to be not that easy to perform, and it means some hard effort from Magnus and an energy contribution from Alec – even if it isn’t “virgin shadowhunter energy” anymore, it always works very fine, so Alec refuses Andrew’s kind offer of his own force.
At last, in a burst of red and blue magic, the case disappears, leaving a disheveled and very pissed Lorenzo Rey standing in front of them.
Chapter 5: Four
Chapter Text
Lorenzo feels dizziness clouding his mind. The time he spent as a reptile has given him a different perspective about dimensions, so finding himself abruptly back to his previous size leaves him confused for a little while. He also feels gross, since when didn’t he take a shower? Obviously, since his transformation, but he can’t tell how much time has actually passed. Does time flow differently for an animal? He has worn the same clothes since then, too. At least, they don’t stink too much, just a faint smell of…dirt? Plants? Stagnant water? The sudden memory of the kind of food he had to swallow – did he really catch flies rolling out his tongue? Oh, Lilith! – makes him sick. But he can’t let loose, not in front of… BANE!!! That asshole, son of an asshole! Damn Bane!
Lorenzo growls and is going to jump onto his sworn enemy, when Alec Lightwood puts himself between the two of them.
“Easy, Mr. Rey, easy… I know you’re rightly furious towards my husband, but please, let’s try to behave, okay?”
Lorenzo grabs Alec’s arms, trying to remove him from his target.
“I won’t behave, I want to kill him! I…I’ll send you to keep company with your father in the Limbo, I’ll drag you to the Spiral Labyrinth asking for a death sentence, for disrespecting your High Warlock and threatening his safety, I…”
“Please, Mr. Rey, listen to me!”
Alec is taller and much stronger than Lorenzo, but the warlock moves like a tornado, and luckily he hasn’t still regained control on his magic, otherwise he could throw Alec against the wall to get to Magnus. Two strong arms suddenly encircle Lorenzo from behind, one blocking his hands on his back, the other enclosing him against a solid body.
Lorenzo is fuming, but he can’t do anything against two shadowhunters – because the man behind him is another shadowhunter, right?
“Mr. Rey, please…” Alec pleads again. Aware of being outnumbered, Lorenzo takes a deep breath and slowly nods, so Alec signals to Andrew so as he lets go of the warlock. Now Lorenzo, finally free, straightens his jacket, brushing dust and a few blades of grass away, and does his hair a bit, trying to tie his ponytail better.
“Let’s sit and talk,” Alec suggests, and they all move to the couch and the armchairs surrounding the coffee table.
“Anything to drink, Mr. Rey? I suppose you need something strong.” Lorenzo nods again, and sits ramrod straight, the epitome of hurt dignity.
Alec mixes a Martini for Magnus and a shot of whiskey for Lorenzo, while he and Andrew stay for sodas; they need their clear minds to manage this situation. Then, Alec addresses Magnus.
“Magnus, I think you should apologize to Mr. Rey for what you did. I know you weren’t in your best mood and your father’s bad influence could have misguided you, nevertheless you owe Mr. Rey something, don’t you think so?”
Magnus sounds immediately petulant. “Well, if ‘Mr. Rey’ – he quotes – had given my loft back to me when I asked for it…”
“Magnus…” Alec stops him.
Magnus sighs. “Okay… I’m sorry, Lorenzo. My father counted on my anger and desperation. I had just been dropped by my boyfriend,” he squints at Alec, who purses his lips, “I wasn’t in my top shape, and anyway I didn’t turn you, it was my father’s work!”
“That’s correct,” Lorenzo answers, “but you didn’t do anything to stop him, and you left me like…like THAT, even when you had already banned him to the Limbo!”
“I didn’t want Alec to know how stupid I’d been. I…could have glamoured your case, so as he didn’t see you…and I was ashamed, and…right, you know, time passes…”
“Mr. Lightwood, so you really couldn’t see me, right?” Lorenzo asks.
“I told you before, I learned about this only because I sent my Head of Security here to retrieve my stele, he saw the case and your help request, and reported it to me. The rest is history. By the way, may I introduce to you the man who saved you?”
He nods to Andrew, who moves next to Alec. “Mr. Rey, this is Andrew Underhill, my collaborator and fellow shadowhunter, a man I trust with my own life. Andrew, Mr. Lorenzo Rey, current High Warlock of Brooklyn.”
Lorenzo and Andrew look at each other. Swallowing hard, Andrew nods respectfully to the warlock, but Lorenzo takes Andrew’s hand between his, while a small smile blooms on his lips.
“Mr. Underhill. Let me say I’m honored to make your acquaintance, even if I would have chosen a different set. Anyway,” he winks, “there could be time for that too, I mean, enjoying a more pleasant set. I’d love to find a way to thank you properly for what you did for me.”
“There’s no need, Mr. Rey, I did my duty…” Andrew blurts, blushing.
“Oh, but I insist. I wouldn’t be up to my position, if I let you go unrewarded. And please, call me Lorenzo…” he adds, still squeezing Andrew’s sweaty hand.
Magnus chooses that very moment to jump in.
“Okay, now you’ve thanked him, Lorenzo, or not enough yet, whatever, but what about my loft?”
Lorenzo frowns, his gaze still focused on Andrew. “Take it back, Bane, it’s not up to my expectations and refined tastes. It’s…sloppy, nothing comparable with my large estate and my castle in Spain. Would you do me the honor of visiting it with me, Andrew?” he addresses the young shadowhunter, his smile coming back.
While Andrew stutters to offer a proper answer, embarrassed as he is, Alec exchanges a glance with Magnus, then rolls his eyes, sighing.
**
When the chameleon disappears and Lorenzo Rey comes back, Andrew breathes more easily, hoping for a quick and peaceful arrangement, even if he wonders how pissed off the warlock can be towards Magnus. And actually, at first, they all seem to be embroiled in a dispute that, given the immortal lives of the two opponents, is going to last forever. So, at Alec’s silent request for help, Andrew grabs Mr. Rey to hold him back from killing Magnus, and he finds himself strangely emotional, next to that strong body. Shadowhunters are not used to being touchy, their most frequent way to be that close being only when training in hand-to-hand combat or – angels forbid – when one of them is hurt or dying and someone is trying to save their life. More also, Andrew usually tends to avoid close contacts, shy as he is, especially towards men, fearing that his attraction might be discovered. Of course, he isn’t attracted to anyone, but in a bigoted society like the one he’s living in, he’s really afraid of being inappropriate, or better, that someone can see him as inappropriate. Sometimes, though, after Alec’s coming out, he wondered if he could ever be out like his boss; he knew there would have been consequences to face, but Alec’s example was pushing him to be braver.
When he comes in contact with Rey’s strong body, a sort of thrilling sensation crosses him. The man is charming. Shorter than Andrew, but well built, his black, stylish clothes wrap him beautifully, suggesting muscles below, broad shoulders and a nice ass – ugh, is it appropriate to enjoy that view? His hands are long and thin, with elegant fingers and well-manicured nails, but, differently from Magnus, they’re not painted, and Andrew must admit he prefers that way. What hit Andrew at first sight, though, were his eyes, two onyx-black pearls, sparkling with wrath. Impressive. Andrew has blond hair and blue eyes, and this, together with his pale complexion, gives him a cherubin-like appearance he doesn’t appreciate. He doesn’t think he’s attractive: dark and handsome men are, like Alec…and like this warlock, whose colors betray his Latino ancestors.
The fight between the two warlocks seems to calm down, thanks to Alec’s ability in negotiating, so Andrew lets Mr. Rey go. The man straightens his clothes and clears his throat: there’s still a brief exchange of opinions, then Alec puts an arm around Andrew’s shoulders and introduces him to the warlock, pointing that he should thank him for his salvation. The smile on Rey’s lips is captivating and suddenly Andrew feels a few butterflies timidly move in his stomach. It's a totally new sensation, he’s never felt anything similar. Yes, he’s been attracted before by some men, but Mr. Rey…Lorenzo…is, like, on another level. Now that he isn’t struggling to hold him, he can have a better look of him: his face, those eyes and those masculine, fascinating features, his raven hair in a ponytail – Andrew can’t help but thinking how Lorenzo could appear with his hair loose and that single thought makes his hands itch from the need of running his fingers through it. Lorenzo’s body is a promise of pleasure – did Andrew notice his long legs before?
Lorenzo – hey, he asked Andrew to call him Lorenzo! – Lorenzo is thanking Andrew profusely for saving him. Andrew tries to minimize his role, but the warlock doesn’t buy it and looks truly grateful, even if he can’t understand what Lorenzo means with “different set”. The answer comes right after when, incredibly, Lorenzo invites him to visit his home! A castle! In Spain! Andrew has never been on vacation.
By the Angel…
**
Andrew Underhill is a sight for sore eyes. This is the second thought crossing Lorenzo’s mind, when, cooling off a little after his homicidal wish towards Magnus Bane, he tries to listen to Alec Lightwood, the voice of reason. His first one is to kill Magnus Bane. He’s pissed off, humiliated by this ordeal he had to endure, he lost control of his magic, of his own body, and he’s disgusted by what he did to survive, moved by animal instinct instead of human reason. He’s never going to forget what Asmodeus did to him, and since the Prince of Hell is not a threat now, he feels as his right to get revenge with his son, who did nothing to save him and to fix that evil deed even when Asmodeus was not on the scene anymore. Add that he also had to witness all Magnus and Lightwood’s makeouts and smooching and listen to their bedroom training… As a High Warlock, moreover, he’s deeply offended by Bane’s actions and disrespect, and he wants him to be properly punished.
However, he hasn’t regained control of his magic yet and finds himself outnumbered. He expected Lightwood to protect Bane, but who’s this other shadowhunter holding him from behind? Hard body, strong arms, and Lorenzo has never been built, he’s rather slender and doesn’t work out like Bane is used to. So, he realizes that, until he has his magic back, he’s overpowered.
Alec Lightwood’s words, though, are reasonable, he’s offering Lorenzo his own and, above all, Bane’s apologies. Bane looks really sorry. Petulant, as usual, but scolded by his husband, he admits he’s guilty and doesn’t seem to offer further excuses.
Lorenzo takes a deep breath and calms down. The day acquires a new light the moment when Lightwood introduces Andrew Underhill to him.
Lilith! The boy is handsome! Lorenzo has a penchant for blond, angelic-looking guys, just because they’re so different from his dark colors. And he saved him, so his attitude towards Downworlders must be kind. Truth is that the New York Institute has seen a new dawn since Lightwood became Head. People from all over the world asked for to be transferred under his lead, attracted by his revolutionary ideas about collaboration between different races, all being equally part of the Shadow World, and Lorenzo knows that many LGBTQI2+ people too found a place where they could be themselves, thanks to their Head’s bold coming out, not only as an openly gay man, but also getting married to a warlock! Something unheard of under the Clave since the millennia of its existence.
Who knows if the boy is into men? Well, someone can dream, right? Or try… if the enchanted glance Andrew gave him and his adorable stuttering is giving him away. Lorenzo had never said no to a good fuck and the boy looks like he’s never got laid. A virgin shadowhunter? Tempting…
So, Lorenzo achieves his most seducing smile and, as a thank you, invites him to his castle in Spain. Who needs Bane’s loft? It sucks, for Lorenzo’s very peculiar tastes, and honestly, who’d want to fuck into Bane’s bedroom? Ugh…
He summons an elegant business card and hands it to a fascinated Andrew. “Call me, handsome!”
Chapter 6: Five
Chapter Text
Of course, in the following days, Andrew doesn’t dare to call the charming warlock. He blames his never ending tasks to fulfill – being Head of Security means to be always on call, even if he trusts the people working under him – but truth is that he keeps the card in his pocket and every now and then he throws a glance at it, wondering how in heaven such a confident, beautiful man could find interest in a dull shadowhunter like him, just a cog in the complex Institute machinery, who never distinguished himself for special abilities or for being part of some phenomenal feat. Mr. Rey – Lorenzo – is likely going to have some fun with him, and Andrew doesn’t know if he likes the perspective. He’s barely out with a few trustworthy friends and his boss, and, after so many years of self-loathing and of feeling wrong, he can’t wait to live his own love story. Moreover, his imagination has never gone beyond kisses and hugs, maybe make out a little, but he’s not sure of what might happen when two men have sex. It’s a kind of education that the hard shadowhunter training does not include.
Maybe he should watch some gay porn. It’s an unsettling thought, and he’s uncomfortable, but it might be a good way to get information he can’t get elsewhere.
**
Another week and Lorenzo never showed at the Institute nor called. Andrew snorts: he’s been a fool, thinking that the warlock’s interest was founded. He’s on patrol tonight, and he’s unusually distracted, so he doesn’t notice the last surviving demon of the nest they just erased, until it’s too late, despite his partner screams to warn him. The demon’s talon goes through his shoulder before he turns to slash it. Unfortunately, the talon doesn’t disappear with its owner, and Andrew feels his arm become cold and heavy. Fearing that Andrew might lose his limb, since iratzes don’t seem to work, his partner frantically calls for backup, so as they can bring him back to the Institute.
Alec in person is waiting for him at the infirmary and maybe Andrew is dreaming, because, in the poison-induced daze, he sees, next to his boss, someone looking just like Lorenzo. Andrew smiles until a sharp pain shakes him to the core and then he passes out.
**
When he wakes up, dawn is barely peeking through the window. He blinks and tries to remember what happened…yes, the demon…his arm going numb… He gingerly checks on his bandaged shoulder but his arm doesn’t hurt anymore and it’s warm and sensitive. He cautiously opens and closes his hand and everything seems to work properly. He sighs in relief and turns towards the door, just to see Lorenzo, curled in an armchair next to his bed and sound asleep.
By the Angel, it wasn’t a dream, then! Why is Lorenzo here? Who called him? Andrew is on the verge of panicking when the warlock stirs and, in a blink, his eyes are wide open. He stands up and bows towards Andrew.
“Hey, handsome, are you awake? How are you feeling?”
“G…good, I’m…good…”
“Excellent. You gave us quite a scare, but I’m glad to say that my magic worked very fine.”
“Your…magic?”
“Yes, handsome. Your boss called me – looks like his husband was stuck at the Spiral Labyrinth – and he sounded very worried about your injury. That talon was poisoned but luckily I possessed the right antidote and well, with that and some magic…you’re okay now. Just some more rest and you’ll be as good as new.”
Andrew stares at him, a grateful look in his eyes, and Lorenzo feels something stirring inside him.
“Thank you,” Andrew whispers, “thank you for saving me.”
Lorenzo remains silent for a little while, then he sits back.
“Why didn’t you call me?” he asks Andrew, “I left you my card on purpose.”
Andrew fidgets with the hem of the sheet, avoiding Lorenzo’s gaze.
“I…I wasn’t sure you actually meant what you told me. I thought you were being kind because I had seen your help request and…that’s all, I did what I had to do, and you didn’t owe me anything. You’re a powerful warlock, and I’m an obscure shadowhunter, nothing you should be concerned about…”
Lorenzo takes Andrew’s good hand in his.
“Andrew. I never say anything I don’t mean. I was seriously grateful for your help and wanted to find a way to repay you. And since you…forgive me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think so… you looked interested…”
Andrew takes a deep breath and gathers all his courage.
“I…was…yes, I was.”
“Good. So, what about going out together for some coffee…or better, dinner, when you’re healed? Do you think your boss can give you an evening off?”
Andrew smiles goofily.
“I’d love that!”
Lorenzo gently kisses the hand he’s holding, and in a corner of his mind starts to think that Andrew deserves something more than a ‘good fuck’.
**
Alec has been unusually lenient and has given Andrew the Saturday evening off, even if it’s often a busy night, with so many people around having fun, and consequently demons lurking in the shadows, ready to hunt some interesting prey. Alec’s behavior is suspicious, lately: Andrew happened to hear that he called Lorenzo to help him when he was injured – shouldn’t he have called Magnus, or, being Magnus busy, Ms. Loss, who's the best healer they know? – and now this. A night off.
“Have fun,” Alec told him, “I’m on call tonight, my husband is busy so I’m not giving up anything. Unless a rift opens to Edom, enjoy your night and…your date…”
He had smiled knowingly, and Andrew had smiled in return. You didn’t have to be a genius to understand there was something fishy, but Andrew had looked the other way and had been grateful, because his boss pushed him when he didn’t dare to.
So, now Andrew, his heart in his mouth, is waiting, on the Institute steps, for Lorenzo to come and pick him up. The warlock said nothing fashionable, so Andrew is wearing slim cut black jeans and a turquoise shirt – he asked Isabelle Lightwood to help him and still doesn’t know where she found it – and a blue blazer. He gelled his hair and let her apply some eyeliner, so his blue eyes are standing out beautifully.
A portal opens in front of him and a smiling Lorenzo walks out of it, black trousers and shirt, but a maroon waistcoat with a golden chain crossing it. Andrew feels his inside melting: the warlock is beautiful.
Lorenzo reaches out his hand towards Andrew. “Shall we?” he says, “We have a reservation in half an hour, nothing too posh but I hope you’ll love it. By the way,” he adds, his gaze roaming up and down Andrew’s body, “you’re quite a catch, handsome!”
Trying not to pass out, Andrew takes his hand and they walk together through the portal.
**
The diner Lorenzo chose is actually quite cozy, a sort of homey ambience which Andrew finds relaxing. He’s glad that Lorenzo guessed he wouldn’t find himself at ease in a more chic restaurant, even if he suspects that Lorenzo is used to different places. Magnus calls him “pretentious”, and maybe he is, but not now, not in this situation: he seems to have caught Andrew’s personality, simple and content with small things life can offer. Not that this is anything “small” for Andrew, more like the most enticing event in his whole life.
The waiter brings them to their table and Lorenzo moves the chair so Andrew can sit, in such an old-fashioned way that Andrew swallows from emotion. Lorenzo sits too and offers him the menu.
“Wine? Any preferences?” he asks.
Andrew decides that he must be honest, maybe Lorenzo will soon understand he’s not worth the effort and will never invite him to dinner anymore, but he can’t pretend he knows what he’s doing.
He takes a deep breath.
“Mr. Rey…Lorenzo…I…I’ve never been invited to dinner at a restaurant, so I don’t have the slightest idea of how to manage these things. I’m sure you’re already regretting this invitation, just…be kind with me and help me, please…”
Lorenzo smiles but there’s no mocking or pity on his face, there’s more sweetness than before, if any. He takes Andrew’s hand.
“May I?” he asks, and when Andrew nods, “Andrew, I wasn’t born royal either. My father was a medium-rank demon and my mother a poor woman who earned her salary as a laundress in Spain…many, many years ago. I grew up poor and scared by my powers, and well, if our…friendship will continue, I’ll tell you more about myself, but believe me, I got what I have with strain and effort, and time. Someone else taught me what I can teach you, who are so much younger than me, so don’t feel ashamed, you don’t have to.”
He smiles fondly. “Enjoy this dinner. May I order on your behalf too? Do you trust me?”
And yes, Andrew trusts him. He doesn’t know why, but he does.
**
After dinner, they take a long stroll towards the Institute, Lorenzo being the gentleman escorting Andrew, even if of course Andrew doesn’t need any escort at all. Along the way, making small talk, Lorenzo brushes Andrew’s hand and suddenly their fingers intertwine, a questioning look in Lorenzo’s eyes asking for consent and a smile and a brief nod by Andrew. He’s totally in, even if he still can’t believe this is true, the dinner, the walk, the kind gestures, the sparkling in Lorenzo’s eyes watching him, the giddiness he feels in his stomach.
Without even realizing, they’re on the Institute’s steps now.
“Lorenzo,” Andrew whispers, gathering all his courage, his heart almost beating out of his chest from emotion, “thank you so much for…well, everything. It’s been the best evening in my life.”
“The first date of many…at least, I hope so,” the answer is, “Goodnight, my dear.” Lorenzo takes Andrew’s hand in his and leaves a soft kiss on its back, his eyes never leaving Andrew who – Raziel! – is on the verge of fainting.
**
Andrew feels like he’s walking on clouds while he’s slowly approaching his bedroom. He doesn’t realize that Alec is watching him from afar, a knowing smile on his lips.
**
Lorenzo climbs down the Institute steps and, as soon as he’s out of sight, he opens a portal home. He walks in, toes his shoes off and leaves his elegant jacket on a chair, heading straight to the drink cart to pour himself a cognac. With the glass in hand, he tiredly sits on the couch and sips the liqueur, while Andrew’s face appears in his mind: so young, tender, naive in the best meaning of the word. Beautiful – he isn’t even aware of how much – and innocent, Lorenzo is almost sure he’s a virgin. At the beginning of his first relationship. And he might be innocent in love and sex, but he’s smart, fun, a good listener also posing thoughtful and appropriate questions, a man who has expertise in shadowhunter-ish things but able to discuss different topics, and so eager to listen to Lorenzo’s life experiences. Lorenzo feels suddenly ashamed of his first thought, the plan of having a good fuck with him; he deserves much better.
Lorenzo looks around and sees that his home is…empty. He’s never been lucky in love; he has loved in his life, sure, but it never lasted. He thinks of Magnus Bane, well, Lightwood-Bane. That lucky bastard! Who got himself a hot husband who loves him to the moon and back. Well, Magnus too is disgustingly in love with him.
Disgustingly? Is it envy, what Lorenzo is feeling now? What if he could have a relationship like that too?
His glass is empty, like his home. With a sigh, Lorenzo realizes that his heart is empty too.
Chapter 7: Six
Chapter Text
Truth is that Lorenzo can’t stop thinking of the blond, fascinating shadowhunter. It’s his first thought when he wakes up, the last one before falling asleep, and more than once he fantasizes about having him in that luxurious bed he’s always been so pleased about, with its red velvet canopy and its silk sheets, and that now appears so empty and lonely. Mindful of his poor childhood and youth, Lorenzo has always loved pomp and splendor, a token of what he could achieve thanks to his hard work and his skills as a warlock, his fares are remarkable and he can say he’s a wealthy man, now. With time, he has also developed a certain taste for art and has entertained himself by haunting precious pieces all over the world.
Not that he doesn’t appreciate what he owns anymore, but he’s slowly finding out that something else could be more fulfilling – or someone else’s presence? Wouldn’t it be nicer, sharing all this beauty and enjoying it with someone dear to him?
So, after that first date, a few others follow: dinners in more elegant restaurants – which Andrew slowly tries to get used to - strolls in the park – which Lorenzo never thought he could enjoy – even patrolling together, with Alec’s consent, of course, Magnus’ disdain and the whole Institute’s astonishment…but since relationships between Shadowhunters and Downworlders are improved now, Lorenzo’s contribution is seen as an appeasement gesture by the warlock community. Andrew is not completely out still, so they act discreetly, under Alec’s silent protection: he and Andrew didn’t speak frankly yet, but Alec, remembering his own experience, knows that it takes time and anyway Andrew is entitled to choose when and how to come out, should he decide to.
As promised that fateful day in the loft, when Lorenzo had been freed from his cage, the Spain topic pops out one morning. Andrew has been on patrol and Lorenzo, who couldn’t join him, is pacing back and forth in an alley behind the Institute, waiting for his return. It’s been a hard night and Andrew is exhausted, but when Lorenzo peeks from the corner, waving his hand, he can’t help but smile. That man is always able to cheer him up. He’s kind and generous, he showed Andrew a world he’s been ignoring his whole life, he’s charming and smart and…hot… oh my god, Andrew realizes how much he likes Lorenzo and something very looking like desire stirs inside him. How would Lorenzo appear, devoid of his elegant clothes? Andrew didn’t dare to think about anything more physical than make-out so far, but their relationship is growing and he starts to believe it must become serious. A commitment. At least if Lorenzo feels the same way: he always seems a bit too detached for Andrew’s liking. He’s charming and flirtatious, he shows his interest in the young shadowhunter, but there’s something lacking. An involvement that could sound sincere. Like Lorenzo never wanted to let it go, somehow restraining himself from showing who he truly is, or how he truly feels. Maybe it’s the immortality thing, he should talk with Alec, he and Magnus surely faced this topic already.
All these thoughts flash in Andrew’s mind very quickly, and very quickly are forgotten, in front of Lorenzo’s wide smile.
“Good morning, my dear,” he says, “I don’t want to keep you from your well-deserved rest, I hope your patrol night wasn’t too demanding. Are you okay?” he adds, a slight concern in his eyes.
“I’m fine, Lorenzo, thanks for asking. What are you doing here?”
“Well, I was waiting for you to say hi, and also that I was called for an urgent matter abroad – warlock stuff – so I’ll be away for three or four days, unfortunately unreachable. What I wanted to ask you…” he looks unusually hesitant. Andrew tilts his head, feeling his eyelids slightly drooping.
“Oh, dear, I’m so sorry, you’re exhausted, I wanted to ask you…well, I wanted to keep my promise and take you to Spain, where I own a small castle near Granada, in South-eastern Spain, and…we could spend some quality time there. The place is so beautiful, there are mountains behind the city and the sea in front of it. What do you think? If you’re interested, of course, and if your boss agrees to grant you some vacations…should I ask him?”
Andrew can’t believe his own ears: so Lorenzo didn’t forget his promise! He didn’t dare to hope, but the idea of a holiday – and in Spain – looked too cool, almost unbelievable. Oh my god, what’s Alec going to say?
Andrew feels his heart beating out of his chest. “I will… I can’t wait…” he whispers, and gathering all his courage, leans towards Lorenzo and kisses his bright smile. It’s a soft kiss, timid and inexperienced, but Lorenzo thinks it’s the most amazing kiss he’s ever received.
**
Andrew is wringing his sweaty hands while waiting to enter Alec’s office. His boss has always been understanding and kind, but Andrew – or anyone else, for all he knows – has never asked him to be granted a vacation. Shadowhunters have no time off, they’re always on duty, apart from random, brief leaves. Not even pregnant shadowhunters get long leaves, no matter the danger they might be in, and he’s going to ask for two weeks off? Not a chance Alec agrees. Yet, Andrew is so eager to leave with Lorenzo, he has never wanted anything else more than this, that he wants to try.
Alec’s gaze is sharp, and the more Andrew looks hesitant, the sharper it becomes. Alec sighs, nods Andrew to sit across him and throws his pen on the desk, leaning against the back of his armchair.
“You’re allowed to speak, Andrew, you know? What is it?”
Andrew takes a deep breath. It’s now or never.
“Lorenzo, I mean, Mr. Rey, asked me to join him for…a…vacation, and…” He squares his shoulders. “I would need two…weeks off…” he almost whispers. “I know it’s much,” he hastens to add, “but it’s…really important to me, I…I can cover any shift after, whatever, I don’t mind, just…”
“Just let me go, right?” Alec says not unkindly.
Andrew nods. Alec intertwines his fingers on the desk and looks at him pointedly.
“Is this serious, Andrew? I don’t mind about the vacations, but I need to know he’s not toying with you. Things might become…difficult. He’s a man and you’re barely out and believe me, I know how unsettling it is, and he’s a warlock, and again I can very well testify how hard it is to cope with our life spans and theirs. Warlocks often hide themselves behind a mask, because immortality is challenging and is hard to face: things change, people change, habits change, and they have to change likewise. They harden their hearts because hurt can become too much, especially when they tie a knot with mortals. Much more with mortals like us, who live with an untimely death hanging over us. My husband and I had our tough time coping with this and it’s still a painful topic to discuss.”
Andrew has been listening so far, staring at his hands in his lap, not daring to look at Alec straight in the eye, but now he lifts his gaze.
“I understand. Yet you and Magnus are testimony that it can be made, it can work, right?”
“Right. But it comes with a price. Magnus never knows if I make it back home every time I walk away, he has learned to manage his anxiety and he gave me a lot of protection trinkets and threw spells on my weapons. But you’ll never know. And every time I walk out of our home, I always greet him…like it could be the last time we see each other. It’s our cross to bear. And if we’re lucky and we succeed in living a long life, we need to make peace with us becoming old and feeble, while they still look the same. Lorenzo doesn’t look more than 30 now and he will always be 30 when you’ll look like his grandpa. I’m sure he likes you and maybe also that he’s in love with you, but will you be able to accept it, when he’s going to help you, I don’t know, to dress yourself, to get clean. When you’ll see his toned body in bed next to your wrinkled one?”
A tear runs along Alec’s cheek and he wipes it angrily, showing that this is still a sore spot in his happy marriage.
“This is what being with a warlock is. It’s challenging. But if it’s love, it’s worth every effort, Andrew. That’s what you need to find out, and maybe this vacation will help you to. And also you’ll have time to think about what I told you. So, it’s okay, take these weeks off, I hope you put them to good use.”
“You know,” Andrew says quietly, “when I was waiting to meet you, I was scared about asking for something so unusual in our world. Now it seems like a silly fear, after what I heard. And yet,” he smiles, “I couldn’t be surer about giving this relationship a shot. I want to know. I want to know what it means to feel attractive, what it means being cared for, being courted, being loved. I don’t know if Lorenzo will be the love of my life, but when I’m with him I feel so good, like I’ve never been. Sure, he’s my first boyfriend and I might be naïve but I feel he’s honest with me, well, I hope so…”
Alec returns the smile.
“Magnus doesn’t like Lorenzo that much, but honestly he’s quite different from the petty warlock he was before – given that, no matter what Magnus says, all warlocks are rather petty. The bad experience he suffered as a vulnerable little creature might have tampered his arrogance, it’s been a scary event. Now he looks like a decent man, so I’m hopeful about you two. Now go and see you in a fortnight. Have fun, Andrew.”
He picks up his pen again and goes back to his paperwork.
**
When they step out of the portal, it’s a sunny, very hot morning in Spain. Andrew is used to the suffocating heat of summer in New York, but this is different. The sun shines like it never does in the City, where the air is always dusty and polluted, the sky a clear turquoise, without a single puff of cloud.
The view is breathtaking. Lorenzo has brought them on a hill not far from the city, and Granada spreads in front of them with all its beauty. Far away, the mountains are a brilliant crown to the countless buildings underlying, most of them more ancient than Andrew has ever seen. Between the mountains and the city, on the top of a hill covered with a luscious forest, a massive fortress stands, surrounded by high stone walls, everything of a warm, reddish color so as they seem to burn in the sunlight.
“This is the city of Granada, Andrew,” Lorenzo says, a dreaming tone in his voice, “one of the most beautiful cities in the world, blessed by god. It’s also my city, I might be biased, and it hasn't changed that much since I was born.”
He points in the direction of the fortress. “That is Alhambra, Andrew, one of the twelve treasures of Spain. There are not enough words to describe it, its beauty, its complicated architecture and all the symbols and hidden meanings of its decorations. It’s been built by Arabic people during the XIIIth century, think that they already had running water inside, that’s great, right? Then it became the Catholic Kings’ Palace and…well, I’ll show you. I want you to know as much as you can about my heritage.”
He points to the mountains. “The Sierra Nevada, Andrew, a crown jewel where people from Granada go skiing in winter,” then he turns, “and over there, the Western Mediterranean Sea, the marvelous Costa Tropical.”
Lorenzo is clearly elated to show Andrew his city, and Andrew is astonished too, but his eyes mostly roam on Lorenzo’s excited features, feeling warmth and joy spreading inside him at the warlock’s enthusiasm. Unconsciously, they join hands, intertwining their fingers.
“Come on, Andrew, I want to show you my humble home!”
Chapter 8: Seven
Chapter Text
The ‘humble’ home reveals to be a small castle – well, small compared to the Alhambra it faces, but to Andrew’s eyes it might very well be the prince’s castle in a fairy tale. A huge park surrounds it, all nice lawns scattered with magnificent blooming bushes, medium-high stone walls covered with cascades of multicolored bougainvillea, interspersed with small groups of century-old trees; there’s even a little creek merrily flowing and ending in a crystal lake where a few mallards are lazily swimming and quacking. One of them rises from the water and flies for a brief distance, making an expanse of water drops spread under its wings before it slips onto the surface again, and for a few moments a bright small rainbow appears in the air below. Cicadas are chirping loudly all around.
Andrew smiles. There’s peace here, comfort, deep beauty, but also a sort of sensuality he’s never experienced in his life, totally different from both his youth memories from England and his current life in New York. Maybe this, the land in which he was born and raised, helps him to better understand Lorenzo, who somehow reminds him of this exuberant environment.
Hand in hand, they take a stroll through the park until they reach the castle, a two-stores building made of the same reddish stone of most structures around, with a small tower on the side. A snap of Lorenzo’s fingers, and the massive, sculptured bronze doors open wide in front of a gaping Andrew. The hall is much cooler than the outside, and Andrew breathes a bit better, but his relief doesn’t last. The walls are completely covered with deep blue and maroon tapestries – ancient and precious even to Andrew’s untrained eye – each one of them bordered with a gold fringe, showcasing haunting scenes or groups of noblemen and women surrounding the Royal couple on their thrones or some cathedral insides with people bowing or kneeling in prayer. Andrew blinks and then giggles, because in each one of them, Lorenzo is there, impaling a deer or offering the Queen a jewel or receiving the Holy Communion from the very hands of some outstanding Church Minister.
“What’s fun, Andrew?” Lorenzo asks.
Andrew clears his throat. “Um…nothing, I was wondering…did you join all these events? I mean, I see your face everywhere, so I thought…I don’t know, you were there? Every single time?”
Lorenzo smiles, clearly smug.
“Sometimes I was, sometimes I wasn’t, but, you know, I gave these artists the task to weave the tapestries to celebrate me, so of course you can see my portrait in each one.”
Andrew remains silent for a little while. “Was it truly necessary?” he asks then.
Lorenzo shrugs. “I liked it.” He starts pacing along the walls. “Andrew, I’ve never told anyone what I’m going to tell you now, but…” He turns to face the shadowhunter. “I wasn’t always there, actually. Maybe…I was nowhere. But I didn’t want to remember my poor, miserable childhood, so I figured out a different story, let’s say a more glorious one, to tell the world, a story where I was someone important, where I could stand out proudly, among royals or aristocracy.”
He scowls, and his voice becomes harsher. “Those you see here, they despised me. I was the fatherless kid of a laundress, even the more high-ranking servants looked at us with contempt. They kicked me out of the kitchen when I was starving and begged for some leftovers, they humiliated me and my poor mother, they mocked me.”
He turns abruptly towards Andrew, his hand frantically shaking in the air, pale golden flames circling his fingers. “Later, when they found out I had…powers, they got afraid of me, or tried to take advantage of a magic I couldn’t even fully comprehend. They didn’t understand why I didn’t get older, so they reported me to the judge as a demon worshipper, and I’m sure you remember from your studies what my fate could have been.”
He swallows, panting lightly.
“You know what? They’re all dead, now. And I’m still here, rich, respected, holding an honorable position among my peers. These…illusions,” he points at the tapestries, “are my revenge!”
Andrew, so far completely silent, looks at him in awe, then he moves closer and tentatively hugs him, giving Lorenzo enough time to withdraw. But Lorenzo doesn’t, and Andrew hugs him tighter, tenderly kissing his hair and his forehead, and Lorenzo, returning the embrace, lies his head on Andrew’s chest: since he can’t even remember when, he’s crying.
**
Lorenzo has pulled himself together quickly, with a smile on his lips that looked almost painful, and Andrew thinks he has made a further step in knowing him better, somehow sharing his sorrow. Andrew lived a poor childhood too, but not a miserable one. He’s been loved, he never lacked anything essential, and even when his parents died, he wasn’t alone in the world, he had people who cared for him, raised him, looked after him. Lorenzo, like any other warlock, had only a traumatized mother to rely on and Andrew wonders how long she raised him and how long, instead, he had to take care of her. Also, how terrifying it might be finding out to have superhuman powers and being unable to manage them? Add poverty, hunger, fear of being hunted or worse…Lorenzo never confessed his age but Andrew suspects he might have been alive during the Spanish Inquisition already. Andrew’s heart aches for him. Lorenzo is pretentious? Petty? They wouldn’t say that, if they knew his storyline…
“Come on, Shadowhunter! I’ll give you a tour of my home,” Lorenzo is saying meanwhile.
And the tour begins.
Everywhere solid wooden furniture, other tapestries, mythological themed, heavy velvet curtains that look disproportionate in the heat of the afternoon, collections after collections of the most incredible items: ancient swords made in Toledo (you know, Andrew, the legend says that these swords belonged to Carolingian paladins defending the Christian territories), precious china from the Ming dynasty (see, Andrew, the Emperor himself used to sip his tea from these cups, look at this delicate gold decoration), marble statues from Greek and Roman archaeological sites (I myself funded some diggings, look what they found there), very old books and scrolls, older than any other book Andrew has ever seen in the Institutes libraries (a few are really precious and unique, for example this original papyrus from the XVIIIth Dynasty, found inside Tutankhamon’s sarcophagus)…
After a few hours, Andrew is exhausted, starving, thirsty and frankly bored. He understands Lorenzo’s need of showing what he got in his life, his wealth, his success, each one of these items a slap in the face of those who mocked him and made him suffer. But Lorenzo is better than this, Andrew is sure of that. He’s kind and generous, under his smug mask, and Andrew wants to let his true soul resurface. Lorenzo is going to approach the umpteenth room when Andrew stops him, putting his hands on his shoulders.
“Lorenzo! For heaven’s sake, just stop, stop, please!”
Lorenzo looks at him, a questioning look in his eyes. “Ah, mi querido, you must be tired and maybe it’s time for a break, right? Are you hungry? Which kind of food do you prefer? We could go to El Mercader, excellent cocina andaluz, or El Divino, that’s Italian, or, if you prefer to stay home – which I can understand, you’re not used to this heat – I can summon whatever you would like and…”
“LORENZO!”
Lorenzo shuts his lips.
“Lorenzo, my…dear,” it takes all Andrew’s courage to call him endearment, “I’m astonished of what I’ve been shown, what you achieved is incredible and you can be very proud of yourself, but…” he takes a deep breath, because he doesn’t know if what he’s going to say could spoil their entire vacation…or their entire life, making his hope for a love relationship vanishing, “you don’t have to brag about your wealth with me. I like you, Lorenzo, very much, and I want…to come to know you, I want us to explore this thing we have, to understand if…” he blushes, “there’s something in store for us two. I want to see you, the real you. This is the reason why I agreed with this trip and asked for a leave. Just…be honest with me.”
His hands raise from Lorenzo’s arms to his shoulders, then neck, then cheeks, until Andrew cups Lorenzo’s face and slowly, oh so slowly, he tilts his head and kisses him. It’s a light, inexperienced kiss, and Andrew’s lips are trembling, like they don’t know if they’re welcome and what exactly they’re supposed to do, but the kiss lights a fire in Lorenzo’s gut, and he finds himself returning it fiercely. His hands move to take Andrew’s and when their lips break, Lorenzo kisses Andrew’s fingers, one by one, making Andrew’s legs buckle.
“Forgive me, my darling,” Lorenzo whispers. Andrew sighs happily.
**
They end up having a light meal – it’s late afternoon, too late for lunch, too early for dinner but who cares? – in one of the smallest lounges, a nice, cozy room: no elegant tableware, no embroidered tablecloth, just good food which Lorenzo couldn’t help but summon from his favorite Italian restaurant, and good wine from Lorenzo’s cellar. Still much posher than Andrew is used to, but the atmosphere is intimate.
While eating, they make small talk, but when the meal is over and only a half-bottle and two glasses are all that’s left, Lorenzo looks thoughtful and silence falls between them. It’s not uncomfortable, though, more like some expectation lingering, like he’s on the verge of a confession. Andrew lets him take his time, he already said what he wanted to, more also he wonders how he could find so much courage to bare what his heart feels.
“I…understand what you meant, Andrew,” Lorenzo starts, “I’m sorry I put on airs to impress you, believe me, it’s that…you’re important to me. I loved before, I’ve been loved, of course I did, warlocks’ immortality brings us to meet people and get affectionate to them, and also, unfortunately, lose them. If I got it right, you and your boss are close enough to have debated this topic already.”
Andrew nods.
“And I’m sure he alerted you about how hard it might be to build a relationship with one of our kind, too.”
Andrew nods again, smiling.
“Yeah, right. Our hearts are fragile, Andrew,” he says, leaning onto the back of his chair, “and are an easy prey. We’re born out of hate and violence, and even when our mothers don’t reject us, they often blame us for their suffering or see again in our features those of the demon who raped them and can’t stand our marks. So, we grow hungry for love and acceptance, and when someone is prone to give us that… Warlocks have powers and sometimes people try to get close to us to take advantage of them. Or, being with a warlock may look cool, until it isn’t anymore. Sometimes love is real, yes, and this is the worst case, because mortals…are mortal, they die. You could say we should choose another immortal for a relationship. Someone does and sometimes it works, less than you could think, though. But we can’t choose the people we fall in love with, Andrew, and sooner or later, no matter the reason why, everyone leaves, and we’re alone again.”
He takes a sip of wine, some liquid courage to go on.
“So, after decades, our hearts harden, it’s the way we protect our souls, and when someone catches our interest, our first thought is to have fun with them. I…confess this is what I thought, when I met you. You were handsome and brave, and so, so innocent, and I owed you my freedom, so I wondered why not, even if he’s a shadowhunter?”
A frown appears on Andrew’s forehead. “So, this is what I am for you, Lorenzo? Some fun?”
Lorenzo takes his hand immediately.
“No, not at all, please, believe me. I immediately realized that you didn’t deserve such an…insult, it’s been quickly clear to me that you were…let’s say, not used to this kind of fun. I realized instead that you were smart and charming,” Andrew scoffs, “no, don’t underestimate yourself, it’s true. And I’ve been more and more attracted to you, and then I thought he’s not going to seriously date a warlock, but maybe I can convince him we can have that kind of fun together, so I tried to impress you, to show you I was worth your interest, at least for a while, until it lasted, and my heart was crying, because I liked you so much…”
Lorenzo is breathless now, he’s never bared his feelings like that with anyone, but deep down, he truly hopes Andrew might be kind to his heart. He notices that Andrew didn’t withdraw his hand.
“I’m…in love with you, Lorenzo,” Andrew whispers, eyes on their joined hands, “I don’t know what that exactly means, I’ve been in the closet for so many years, not even daring to hope for something, so as the kiss I gave you before was…my first kiss.”
Lorenzo shuts his eyes and swallows some tears.
“I’m out to very, very few loyal friends and my boss,” Andrew continues, “and you’re right, Alec and I talked about what it means, being with a warlock, and the troubles it might bring to us, but if love means that I feel giddy when I’m with you, that everything you do is fascinating, that when I look at you, you’re the most gorgeous and wonderful man I’ve ever seen, that I can be myself, with you, well,” he lifts his gaze and a small smile blooms on his lips, “I’m in love with you, Lorenzo Rey, and there’s nothing, nothing you have to do or show me to make me be more in love than I already am! Nothing else matters.”
Silently, Lorenzo stands up and reaches to Andrew.
“What did I do to deserve you, Andrew?”
“You are…you,” the shadowhunter whispers, staring at him like he’s admiring the most beautiful work of art kept in this castle, “your wonderful, charming self. Remember? Shadowhunters love once and fiercely. I know I’m not that much, but I love you.”
Lorenzo lifts a hand to tenderly stroke Andrew’s cheek.
“I think I love you too, darling…”
They move to the soft couch, hand in hand, eyes to eyes, and start making out, gently, in the beginning. Lorenzo’s hands clutch Andrew’s nape, Andrew’s fingers untie Lorenzo’s ponytail to run through his hair, then their touches become bolder, their chests heaving.
“Make love to me…” Andrew whispers, his lips still on Lorenzo’s.
Lorenzo breaks the kiss, panting.
“Andrew…”
“Make love to me, please,” he repeats, “teach me, I’m here, I’m yours…”
“How…far do you want to go, mi amor?”
“Everything,” is the answer, “I want everything. I want you.”
Chapter 9: Eight
Chapter Text
Lorenzo’s bedroom is luxurious like the rest of the castle, of course it is, but when they walk in, they have eyes only for each other. A demon could appear right there and they wouldn’t realize. After his bold request, Andrew lets Lorenzo take the lead: his mind isn’t working anymore, he’s only a pliant body in the arms of his companion. He doesn’t know what he should do, he has no experience in the field – apart from those couple of awful porn movies he eventually chose to watch and that left a slight lingering disgust on his tongue – but he trusts the warlock with all his pure soul.
They enter the room hand in hand. Lorenzo makes Andrew sit on the bed and kneels in front of him, taking off his shoes and socks first. His hand strokes Andrew’s feet and ankles, massaging them softly. Andrew starts unbuttoning his shirt, but Lorenzo takes his hand. “Let me…” he says, and Andrew complies, eyes shut and heart beating like a little bird flapping his wings to get free from its cage…really Andrew’s heart seems to be on the verge of bursting out. Lorenzo takes his right time, one button after the other. “Are you nervous, mi querido?” he whispers. Andrew nods, and swallows. Lorenzo kisses him on the lips, then on his neck and on the collarbone he’s just uncovered, and Andrew whines. Lorenzo cups his face. “You know we can stop whenever you feel like. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, you decide the pace, okay?” Andrew nods again and stares at him. “It’s okay…” he murmurs.
Lorenzo pulls Andrew’s shirt out of his pants and lets it slide over his shoulders and arms, hands running on Andrew’s skin, that’s unusually soft, at least unusually for a shadowhunter. Andrew’s chest is covered with a fine, soft, blond hair and Lorenzo runs his fingers through it. Andrew tilts his head backwards, showing his throat, and Lorenzo kisses and sucks it. He can’t keep his hands still anymore, so he grabs Lorenzo’s shirts and, without even asking, starts to unbutton it.
“I want to see you too…” he whispers.
Lorenzo smiles. “I thought you’d never ask…”
They are both shirtless now, and this is already more than Andrew ever experienced. He looks at them, their colors so different, yet complementary; Andrew is trembling lightly while he lifts his hand and touches the soft raven hair of Lorenzo’s chest. They hug, hands running up and down their backs, then kiss again. When they break the kiss, Lorenzo’s fingers are on Andrew’s pants zip, a questioning look in his eyes.
Andrew nods enthusiastically, and for good measures he also says yes out loud, and they both laugh. Lorenzo pushes him on the bed and quickly disposes of his pants and briefs, then he stands up and takes off his own too. They lay naked facing each other, a giddy smile on their lips.
“I think we should go slow, Andrew…” Lorenzo says.
A slight frown appears on Andrew’s forehead.
“Don’t you want to…?”
“No, I mean, yes, of course I do… I don’t want you to feel pressured to do something you’re not ready for.”
Andrew cups Lorenzo’s cheek and kisses him lightly. “I don’t even know what I’m ready for, Lorenzo, as you probably figured out already, I’m..a virgin shadowhunter, so I don’t know exactly what I should expect, just…I trust you. Guide me, please…”
Lorenzo feels strangely emotional. It’s not that he’s never had sex, right? He’s had lovers who experienced their first time with him, he knows how to be kind and respectful and generous…but this is Andrew’s first time, and Lorenzo can’t understand why this sounds so important, or maybe he does, since Andrew is everything he’s always looked for in a partner. Andrew offered him his most precious gift, his unconditional trust, and Lorenzo is honored and astonished and…happy.
His glamour slowly drops, and a few scales start to appear along his cheek, neck and shoulder. He’s so involved that he doesn’t realize it’s happening, until he sees Andrew stare at him in awe, a hand lifting to gently touch him. The scales are shimmering like jewels in the light, iridescent blue, azure and green, and they’re strangely soft under Andrew’s fingers. Lorenzo blushes and hastens to reinforce his grip on the glamour.
“S…sorry…” he whispers, clearing his throat.
“No…” Andrew answers, an enchanted smile on his lips, “don’t be sorry and please, let me see them…they’re beautiful…”
Lorenzo can’t use his voice for a little while. No one has ever told him that his warlock mark is beautiful – very few people can say they saw it, anyway.
“Mi amor…” he whispers, “I want to lead you to Heaven…”
**
Andrew can’t believe it. He’s had sex. He’s not a virgin anymore. Lorenzo fell asleep right after, but Andrew can’t, he’s too excited, too astonished, too emotional. And also a bit sore, but by the Angel, it’s been a mind-blowing experience! Too much. He throws a look at Lorenzo, who’s snoring lightly beside him so peacefully laying on his back, his features relaxed, his hair spread on the pillow like a black wing, a hand on his own chest, the other one extended as to reach Andrew, slightly quivering as he’s looking for something. Andrew takes that hand in his and kisses it gently, but Lorenzo doesn’t wake up.
A warlock.
Not even in his wildest dreams he could figure out that a warlock would have been his first lover – and if Andrew has a say in it, he could be his last and only too. What do they say about shadowhunters? They love fiercely, once and forever. All the things he has been taught in the past about the inner malice that should be deeply rooted in demon-blooded persons, look so meaningless now, so false. There can’t be any evil inside this man, who looked at him with adoring eyes, who worshipped his body making him feel cared for, precious. Loved. Seen for the first time in his life.
I’m gay. It’s the first time that Andrew says it out loud, and it doesn’t sound scary anymore. He sighs happily, and while the shadows of the night slowly creep through the curtains, he falls asleep too, a smile still on his lips.
**
Lorenzo wakes up with a start, after a nightmare. He shakes his head, trying to get rid of the last shreds of a dream, in which Andrew had been killed in action and Lorenzo was screaming in pain, having found the love of his life at last and having lost him so soon.
It’s dark, the night has fallen while he was sleeping, and for a brief, terrifying moment he wonders where Andrew is. He snaps his fingers and a tiny light comes to life: and here he is, Andrew, curled up hugging his pillow, a smile on his lips like he’s having a nice dream. His blond, sweet, beautiful angel. His? Lorenzo does hope he wants to be his. He has loved in his long life, but maybe he’s never fallen in love for real, he does realize now. He cared for many people, but tying a knot? He never wanted to, he never wished for a too close relationship. He wanted to be strong, to look invincible, driven by his ambition and his need to prove he could be someone. Someone important, someone successful. Being rich, being envied, being powerful – being the High Warlock, for example – that’s what he’s always tried to achieve. Who needed love?
Now, though, all his previous aims look dull. He has got so much and he realizes that he could throw everything away provided that he could have this man in his life, his home, his bed. He thinks about Magnus and how silly he looked to him, lost in his all-encompassing love for Alec, ending with marrying him even. And also, how lucky he looked too, having found someone to trust completely and who was ready to give his life for him.
Now Lorenzo understands, and regrets his rudeness. Magnus was right. He lifts a hand and moves some curls from Andrew’s sweaty forehead, his heart and his love on his fingertips.
**
The day after finds them all giddy and excited. No one could recognize them, while they chase each other on the beach, or dive into the crystal water, swimming a bit offshore to make out. They’re on a private strip of land, part of one of Lorenzo’s properties, so no one is in sight and they can be naked and enjoy the view of their bodies. But Lorenzo is so concerned about Andrew getting a sunburn, pale as he is and totally unused to this kind of sunshine, that he casts a gentle spell to shield him and Andrew complains because no one is going to believe him, when he’ll tell anyone about his vacation, if he sports no tan. They end up agreeing about a few hours of sun exposure, as long as Andrew lets Lorenzo cover him with protection cream…that brings Lorenzo to the nice task of applying the cream and rubbing it on his lover’s skin, taking advantage of this to touch Andrew extensively.
Then another thought pops up in his mind.
“Are you going to talk about our vacation with your fellows, Andrew?”
“Well, I think it’s hard to deny, since I’ve been MIA for two weeks.”
“Um…I’m sure your boss offered some excuse for your absence, maybe some…secret mission no one else is privy of. Everyone knows you’re his right-hand man, as Head of Security.”
Andrew shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t, I’m not sure yet how to manage. But…” he takes Lorenzo’s hands in his. “What about your peers? How are they supposed to get along with their High Warlock dating an obscure shadowhunter? I don’t want you to be my dirty little secret, but I can be discreet if you need time to adjust.”
“Lilith! Andrew, I’ve never hidden my sexuality, and anyway you know this isn’t an issue among Downworlders, so that’s not the matter, right? It’s about you being the enemy…”
Andrew nods.
“Well, your boss paved the way for shadowhunters and, though I regret to acknowledge this, Bane paved it too, for us warlocks. At least, as a committed relationship, since you know for sure that mixed flings and affairs were common even in the past.”
“Yes, but…what do you want for us?” Andrew asks timidly.
Lorenzo stares at him. “I’ll give you the same answer you gave me on our first night. I want everything. I want you.”
**
With fun days at the seaside, long strolls along Granada’s small calles, tours at the most important historical monuments of the city, intimate dinners at cozy restaurants and very hot nights – in every sense of the word – two weeks are soon over. Andrew is almost dizzy from excitement and happiness and the discovery of a totally new world, the sex world, and Lorenzo feels that his pompous life is quickly paling in front of the days spent with the man he loves. He loves Andrew and he’s going to ask him to move in at his New York apartment. He’s only hesitating because Andrew, after their brief conversation, hasn’t decided yet whether to be open about their relationship or not. Lorenzo knows they’ll keep on dating, but on what terms, he’s not sure.
As promised, he’s not going to pressure him, though, this time Andrew will take the lead. It’s their last day in Spain, and Andrew insisted on tidying up himself without Lorenzo using his magic.
“I like it,” he said, “it’s familiar, comforting, somehow.”
After he’s put away the last clean bedlinen, he turns to Lorenzo and takes his hands.
“I want you to know, Lorenzo, that these were the best days in my life. I’ve never been so happy, so serene, so joyful. Thanks to you and to your beautiful country. So, thank you, thank you so much. I’ll keep these days in my heart forever as a cherished memory.”
“Andrew Underhill!” Lorenzo exclaims, frowning, “I do hope we’re going to have many more days like these, together. Am I wrong?”
Andrew laughs. “Of course not, my love…”
Isn’t it giddiness and butterflies frantically flapping in his stomach, what Lorenzo is feeling, hearing those words?
“Of course not, I hope we’ll have many. But these ones…” he gets closer to Lorenzo, “these ones will be my special treasure, as long as I live. Because I came to have you, sweetheart.”
Lorenzo shuts his eyes from emotion, listening to Andrew calling him endearment, and clears his throat.
“Okay, it’s…time to come home.”
Andrew pecks his lips. “My home is where you are.”
**
The portal opens in an alley not that far from the Institute and Lorenzo is going to tell Andrew goodbye. “Call me,” he says, “you have my number and we can arrange how to meet.” They exchange a brief kiss, careful to not be seen.
“Walk me to the Institute?” Andrew asks him.
“Oh…okay, but, what excuse could we come up with, for being together, I mean…”
“Don’t worry, we met by chance when I was back from my…mission, and you decided to pay my boss a visit…”
Lorenzo looks doubtful, but agrees, and they quickly reach the Institute. They climb the steps and are welcomed by the woman on guard shift.
“Hey, Andrew, how’s it going? Lightwood told us you were on a secret mission, are you okay?” And then, addressing Lorenzo, “Good morning. Mr. Rey. Do you have an appointment with Head Lightwood?”
Andrew turns to him and winks, Alec covered them, after all, just like Lorenzo suspected.
“I’m absolutely fine, Jenna, thanks. And I met Mr. Rey on my way back, he doesn’t have an appointment, he was going to pay an extra visit to our boss.”
“Very well, come in and just wait in the hall, please. I’ll warn Mr. Lightwood and see if he’s free to welcome you.” Then she stops. “Andrew. Are you okay for real? I mean, I see you’re fine, maybe more than fine…You look weird…”
Andrew smiles and she shrugs. “Okay, not my business. Just wait.”
After a little while she comes back and gestures to them to walk into the Ops center. The hall is in full activity mode, the day shift is the most crowded, and among a small group of recruits stands Alec, smiling and talking animatedly.
He spots them and excuses himself, heading towards them.
“Andrew, welcome back! Mr. Rey, so glad you took the time for a visit, how are you?”
Everyone stops what they’re doing and greets them, but Alec sees a strange light shining in Andrew’s eyes, and his smile widens because he knows.
“My office?” he asks.
“No, sir,” Andrew answers, “I mean, yes, sir, but before that…I’d like to show you that my mission has been successful.”
He turns to Lorenzo, grabs the lapels of his jacket and kisses him deeply in front of the whole Institute.
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