#alec lightwood fan fic

[green28go]

Butterflies.

What an unpleasant day, Magnus thought as he sat in his apothecary and stared at vast nothingness despite having demonology books on the study table. Alexander was not back yet. No, the whole truth is that Alexander, who was angry with him, had left in the morning at nine past and was still not back. It’s 4 pm now, and since his boyfriend left their home, his mind constantly circled back to the fight they had in the morning. It was awful and really loud—the argument. It had been about the immortality issue once again and this was their first big argument after they got back together since the Camille debacle. This time he had really pushed Alec’s buttons which he’d never willingly do. And Alec, by the look on his face, could understand that his boyfriend’s resolve broke and was seconds away from slamming the door, right on his face. From then, up until now, he sat worrying about him. He’d wanted to do nothing more than to look into the bright blue eyes and tell how sorry he was and that he did not mean a single syllable that he had uttered at that moment, he knew that Alec required space and he respected that, but now, his mind starts to worry and he glances at his phone if he’d received any text from Alec but feels dejected as there is no sign of what he is looking for.

He gets an idea that he deems fitting as an apology to the Archer for the way things ended between them in the morning. So, he summons a small stack of Clairefontaine Triomphe writing papers and, writes a short and sweet letter for Alec.

Dear Alexander,

                            I apologize for my suboptimal behavior earlier this day and would want nothing more than to tell you by holding your hand that I did not mean an ounce of what I said in the moment of heat. Believe me, love, when I say that you are indeed the best thing that happened to me in decades. Now, if you will come home, to me, I would gladly curl up with you on the couch and kiss you till the daybreak.

Love, Magnus.

He perfumed the letter with sandalwood, of course, what else would he use, and performed his little trick that sent the letter, converted into a fire message, flying out of the room to his Alec, in the form of a butterfly. He watched as it left the room swiftly and started waiting patiently for Alec to reply.

He waited and waited. Ten minutes turned into thirty and that turned into an hour and a half.

No reply, not a single word through any means from Alec. He was not on a mission or on patrol as Alec would always ensure he informed him beforehand. So, he must either be in the Institute or with the Alliance. Magnus has a half mind to track him but he resorts to calling Isabelle instead.

“Hello, my favorite compatriot from Brooklyn!”  

“You don’t really know many people in Brooklyn,” he replied.

“Of course, I do, like your boyfriend who lives with you,” he is amused at Isabelle’s reply.

“And pray tell, why is your brother not your favorite?” he asked.

“Because he is in a grumpy mode and had already snapped at me once and twice at Jace,” she answered.

He is indisputably aware of the grumpiness in his boyfriend and it is his job to make it go away. Just when he was about to inquire about what Alec was doing, Isabelle pondered a question towards him.

“Magnus, does it have to be something to do with you?” she asked.

His reply was easy. Silence.

“By the angel, should’ve already known it was you, I thought it had something to do with mindless Shadowhunters who are refusing to cooperate with the Alliance,” she said again, more like realized.

“Is he in your line of sight, dear Isabelle?” he asked her.

“Yes, we are in the training room and he is staring at a piece of paper with his signature “I’m unimpressed,” look,” she said.

What Isabelle said only meant one thing. Alec is nonchalant about his apology, not impressive enough, so he’ll just strengthen his strategy to woo Alec through his cher-courrier.

“Thank you, Isabelle, now I have to make it up to your brother,” he said with determination.

“I know you will, Magnus,” she said leaving the call.

Now, he took the writing paper and started expressing his love for Alec, molded into an apology in the form of words.

Dear Alexander,

                         I once again stand here to tell you how sorry I am for what happened in the morning. Darling, you are exqui………………….

He filled the entire letter with his adoration for his loving Shadowhunter and, transformed it into a butterfly, scented it, and sent it flying towards the Institute.

He waited for forty-five minutes and when nothing came his way from his beloved, he took the feather into his hand and started writing again. Maybe the letter was quite a bit. So, he tried again.

My Dearest Alec…………….

No answer. He tried again.

I truly am remorseful……….

Nothing from his boyfriend. He wrote afresh with a different ink.

I want to hold you……………

None. No reply. He was reluctant to give up. He sprinkled glitter in the letter and sent it Alec’s way.

Sweetheart, I love you………

Nope, not a singular word from Alec. So, he dipped the feather in the black ink and started.

Alexander, talk to me……....

He was exhausted, not because of expressing his affection and fondness for Alec but because of having his beloved not give an expression for what he was saying. The silence was absolute torture and now it turned into anger.

Come on, this is not fair………

He wrote, and waited. The answer became obvious when he held the feather again.

He was feeling what was a huge amount of sadness, hurt, and a bit of anger and decided that this was his last letter and he was going to the Institute, once the reply from Alec resembled his previous replies.

Come home, Alexander, I’m sorry………

He sent it and waited. It was almost 10 ‘o'clock and he seriously questioned his boyfriend’s stubbornness in not wanting to speak with him and ghosting him. Was this how Alec felt during the time of their break up? He remembered how sorry Alec was and how frustrated he got in a certain voicemail. He had listened to all of them, a part of him at that time hoped that he’d preserve those voicemails if Alec never wanted to get back together with him. But that was an obstacle that they had overcome, together.

He didn’t make an effort to dress himself ever-so-enticingly as far as his fashion sense goes. He was worn out and missed having Alec by his side. The only energy he has is required to open up a portal directly to the Institute and he did that.

He was at the back of the Institute and walked, without a single thought on his mind, into the place, as he no longer required anybody to escort him. He found Jace in the corridors and Jace, who must’ve either sensed it or found it from Isabelle, had simply mouthed at him that said training room.

He strode towards the place with quietude, careful not to show his wretched worry.

There was his Alexander, his back facing him and his position upright. He was holding the bow and arrow, aiming towards the target with the proficiency that can only be achieved by vigorous training. He cleared his throat to draw the attention of his boyfriend.

Alec didn’t turn toward him and just spoke in a tone that indicated detachment and coldness. If he was surprised by his presence, he did very well not showing it.

“What do you want?”

Oh no. That angered him. After all those apologies and letters and his obvious efforts, Alec just did not do that.

“What do I want? What exactly do you want Alec?” He said with a clear indication of how furious he was.

“Nothing,” Alec stated, not moving an inch.

“Why are you being so uncompromising?” He said, his voice weary.

“You mean difficult,” Alec answered, finally turning towards him.

“No, I didn’t say that,” He immediately responded. Alec looked like someone who hadn’t been sleeping for two days and he could notice the bruises on the archer’s hands.

“But you meant it,” Alec quietly voiced his opinion.

“You’re never difficult to be with, Alexander,” He uttered in a soft voice.

Alec didn’t respond to that, he was just standing there, with his eyes looking anywhere except at the person in front of him.

“I’ve apologized so many times, Alec, and I-” he started but was cut short.

“Wait, when did you apologize?” Alec asked him, clearly confused.

“Seriously Alexander,” He said, looking every bit unimpressed.

“Magnus, You didn’t apologize at all, today,” Alec finished.

“I did,”

“In your dreams, I suppose,” Alec muttered.

“Alexander,” he retorted.

“I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about,”

“What did you even read in those letters, Alec?”

“What letters?”

“The letters that I sent you,” he exclaimed.

“I did not receive a single letter from anybody today, the Institute mailbox is empty,” Alec declined.

“Are you sure?”

“Oh, now you don’t think I am telling the truth, fantastic, what else is new?” The bitterness in his voice was evidently clear.

“Alec, will you just stop, I am trying to make things right between us,”

“So, you think I am not?”

“For Lilith’s sake, I don’t see you doing that,” He said, frustrated.

“Magnus, if you are really here to pick fights with me I-”

“My purpose of being here is not that, but I highly suppose you are the one who is trying to do it,”

Just when Alec was about to remark, they were interrupted by footsteps making their way toward the Institute. So, they naturally fell quiet. It was Clary, and she was carrying a strange cage in her hand.

“Hey, are you guys okay?” she inquired.

They nodded.

“Magnus, I’m here to ask if these belong to you,” she pointed to the box she was holding. Now, it became distinct to him what was in it—his letters—all of them. Their wings were fluttering, and those butterfly-shaped letters were trying to get out of the cage.

“They’re sparkling and have a natural glimmer of your magic, so I brought them to you,” she said, holding them out.

“Yes, they belong to me, and how did you get them? " He said, taking the cage into his hands.

“Oh, the new group of Shadowhunters from Geneva caught them, they are still waiting for more in the entrance,” she answered.

He’d take care of them tomorrow but for now, his priority is Alec and giving him these letters.

 “Thank you, biscuit. You truly helped me a lot today,” he said with a breath of relief and gratitude toward the redhead.

“You’re welcome and good night, the both of you,” she left with a smile on her face.

He looked at Alec, who was looking at the cage in his hand. There was no anger, only mild irritation mostly masked by curiosity.

“All right, brace yourself, Alexander,” he said, hoping Alec would like what he had done.

He opened the cage and the letters went flying toward Alec, landing on Alec, forming a half-silhouette of the Shadowhunter.

“Magnus, what are these?” Alec asked not moving an inch and holding still so as not to disturb those little inanimate letters.

“Pick one and read,” he instructed his boyfriend gently.

Alec did as he was told. He watched as his eyes skimmed over the letter swiftly, the expression on his face changing, his gaze softening and a small smile forming on his angelic face.

Alec looked at him and asked.

“Are all these letters, apologies?”

“Yes, they are,”

“Why so many?”

“You were not responding so I-”

“I forgive you,” Alec didn’t blurt it out but had said it calmly.

“You didn’t read all of them,” he said.

“I will but to forgive you, you are enough,”

Alec uttered those words with such sincerity that it made him want to reach out to the Archer and wrap him in the warmest hug. But he didn’t.

“I do not mean anything I’ve said this morning, I’m sorry-” he started instead.

“Magnus, I know,” Alec told him gently.

“So, you already forgave me?”

“Of course, I did,”

“But, you didn’t say so,” he said in a quiet tone.

“Because I wanted to know,” Alec hesitated. “I wanted to know if you’d reach out to me before I’d do it,” Alec whispered.

He moved towards Alec.

“Oh, Alexander,” He cupped Alec’s face in his hands and gently tugged at his face so that the Shadowhunter would look at him. The butterflies on Alec's body stayed where they were, only fluttering a little.

“Of course, I would reach out to you,”

“I know, it’s a stupid doubt to have-” Alec mumbled but he cut him off in the middle.

“Of course it’s not sweetheart, I’m sorry that I gave you the implication that I’d never come to you first and that you had to doubt me about it,” he softly said those words, meaning every monosyllable.

Alec looked at him with adoration and in a heartbeat, kissed him. The butterflies came to life when their lips touched and then again settled on Alec.

The kiss was soft, nothing passionate but rather it was a slow one, one that is full of love and familiarity. Their hands wrapped themselves around each other.

When they finally broke the kiss but, didn’t break away from the embrace, Magnus bent his head forward and a bit downward, his forehead touched Alec’s.

“I’ll try to do better,” he said gently. A soft smile spread across Alec’s face.

“So will I,” Alec uttered with reverence.

It was a promise from both of them. They smiled into their kiss once again.

[imawriteriwrite]

*five years later*

If anyone is still following me from my Malec fanfic days, here, have the first chapter of a new fic. I hope you like it! 🙈

Synopsis:

Alec and Magnus have a reputation for ruining holidays amongst their friend group. From the mistletoe incident to the infamous Halloween massacre (no one even came close to dying, despite what Simon claims). But this Christmas is special as it might be the last one they all spend together in their hometown before everyone moves away and Magnus is determined to make it the best ever. Starting with a promise to the others that he and Alec can get along and not ruin Christmas. Again. But they wouldn’t be them if there wasn’t a healthy dose of friendly competition, right? Anyone who says you can’t win at Christmas isn’t trying hard enough.

Also known as: that moment you stop believing in the magic of Christmas but true love helps convince you it was real all along (like any good Hallmark movie)!

In this fic, you can expect: lots of angst and fluff, Christmas fun, idiots in love, a healthy dose of competition, and lots of mutual pining.

[demon-of-arts]

currently writing a Malec 4+1 fic where you have the talents of your soulmate and the first scene i have is alec playing the piano

a snip it-

Struggling to come up with other talents up i know i want to add mangus' potions or something with his magic, i also know i want to add 2 talents for alec and 2 for magnus

But the one i'm looking forward to is magnus using a bow!!

[dani-dabbles]

A Prince Restored, A Lover Lost

Title: A Prince Restored, A Lover Lost

Artists: @capcavan and @another-random-stranger

Beta: quill_and-ink (AO3)

Rating: Teen and Up

Pairings: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood

Word Count: 24k+

Summary: A SH 2x12 canon-divergent story where Magnus isn’t rescued by Alec and is executed in Valentine’s body by the Clave. His last moments of life are that of absolute agony…

…until the moment he wakes up in Edom and in the company of Asmodeus. 

Given a second chance at immortal life, Magnus returns to New York only to discover that, despite the seemingly fleeting moments he’d spent in death, decades have passed in the mortal realm. 

In a desperate attempt to reconnect with the Downworld/Shadowhunter family he was just beginning to build, Magnus finds everything and everyone changed. And the one he misses the most…he can’t find at all.

Devastated and unmoored, Magnus returns to his loft. And while the place is mostly the same (aside from inches of dust and stale air), it's the pile of mail at the door that stops him short. Because among the credit card applications, coupon sheets, and charity solicitations, are letters. Letters upon letters and each is labeled to mark the passing of time - Day 3, Day 64, Day 378, Day 1104 - all written in a heartbreakingly familiar hand. 

Through Alec’s words, the events after Magnus’ passing begin to unfold. And with each painful letter, a hopeful path back to the man who had the makings to be Magnus’ greatest love begins to be revealed.

Link to AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/49775434/chapters/125643631

This fic was created for the Shadowhunters Mini Bang 2023: Presented by the @malecdiscordserver. 

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Epilogue

[dawnlibrary]

MALEC - LECRIT EDITION

because her writing is amazing!

(her profile link: Lecrit )

And the Oscar goes to...

Summary:

Working for Magnus isn’t easy. Magnus is out of control and Alec has to yell more often than not to get him to listen to him. He hates everything formal because it means he has to watch his mouth. Most importantly, Magnus is an incorrigible flirt. Which would be alright if Alec wasn’t utterly, irremediably, unfathomably in love with him. Based on this prompt: "AU where Magnus is an Oscar winning actor and Alec, his PA, is in love with him."

(Link: ao3)

Love Is Not a Victory March

by j__writes and Lecrit

Summary:

“I think we should get a divorce.” Alec and Magnus have been married for years but busy work schedules keep them apart and when they do finally manage to spend time together, they fight. A divorce seems to be their only solution at this point, but neither of them is ready to give up without a fight. And a fight it might be. After all, relationships take effort. A story about how to fall in love all over again.

(Link: ao3)

Bright Lights, Small Town

Summary:

When Magnus gets to Nashville, Indiana to handle his late mother's will, he doesn't expect to be forced to stay there for six months. Six months away from New York and lost in the wildness of the countryside. It quickly appears that he is going to go through six months of living hell. The fact that he hates the local veterinarian on sight isn't helping.

(Link: ao3)

Rumor Has It

Summary:

Magnus widens his eyes at him, silently asking him to just give him this one. Alec simply curves one of his stupidly perfect eyebrows in response, a simple gesture that carries the weight of a call for challenge. “Looks like you’re gonna have to postpone your wedding for now,” Maia giggles next to him. Magnus huffs, flexing his jaw. “Oh, it’s on, Lightwood,” he mouths at him. . Or the one where Alec and Magnus are both after the same guy, but end up falling for each other instead.

(Link: ao3)

Invictus

Summary:

“You should get a tattoo.” Alec firmly believed in coincidences, in the serendipity that could bring the hazards of life, but even he could admit that sometimes, things seemed to happen for a reason. He was too much of a pragmatic person to truly believe in fate and destiny. So even when Jace blurted those words at him as he stumbled into his shop, they remained abstract concepts to him, no matter how it nudged at the back of his mind.

(Link: ao3)

[cityofdownwardspirals]

Thanks For The Memories

A comeback fic by yours truly (who hasn't written in forever)

Magnus Bane has everything a rock star could possibly wish for. An amazing band who always has his back. Passionate fans that make sure all their shows are sold out. The possibility to buy as many designer clothes as he can possibly want.

And an arch nemesis. Alec Lightwood has been the bane of his existence ever since his rise to fame. The fact that they used to know each other before they became famous only makes things worse.

Warnings: Swearing, Smoking Weed

Word Count: 3k

Rating: T

Read it here on AO3

[themagnusbane]

Murder at the New York Institute

Title: Murder at the New York Institute

Artist: @la-muerta

Rating: Mature (Chapter 7 only. Will give a heads-up)

Pairings: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood, Clary Fray/Isabelle Lightwood, Jace Herondale/Simon Lewis

Word Count: ~27k

Summary: Pull out the Cluedo board they said. It would be fun to play they said. Nothing could possibly happen on Samhain they said. And now, Magnus and Alec, Clary and Izzy, Simon and Jace have been pulled into an alternate New York Institute, with no powers, no idea what has caused it, or who has brought them there. Oh. And there’s been a murder. Except, can you kill a dead man twice? And can Valentine Morgenstern just SHUT THE FUCK UP!

This fic was created for the Shadowhunters Reverse Bang 2024: Presented by the @malecdiscordserver

Chapter One: Miss Lightwood

Isabelle Lightwood was not a fan of the hangover headache. Her mouth tasted foul. Her eyes hurt. Her head had that pounding sensation; like her brain was warring with her skull, insistent on being let out, and she’d not felt this hungover since before the night she, Jace and Alec figured out the rune that would make getting drunk come with zero repercussions. 

When it has been that long since one last experienced a hangover, getting hit with one, when you have zero memory of getting drunk… It was like being hit in the face. Repeatedly. With an 18-wheeler. It was… uncomfortable. Isabelle Lightwood found out that she did not like that at all. 

She also didn’t like that she had no remembrance of how she made it back to what looks to be the institute. She cast her eyes over the aged bookshelves. The desks littered with scattered papers. The copy of “The History and Evolution of the Demons of Edom” that inhabitants of the institute always forgot to put back in its place. Third row. Sixth shelf. Eighteenth book from the right. She smiled. 

And then her smile froze when she noticed the light switches. Or rather the absence of them. It wasn’t electricity that brightened the otherwise darkened room that was the Institute’s library. No, what granted illumination were the dozens and dozens of candlesticks. That was a health hazard. And this wasn’t the New York institute. 

She reached for her seraph blade, hidden in a holster that held her thigh in a grip. Always important to make sure that she had a weapon on her person, easily accessible for when she woke up in strange places that looked a lot like her home, but had enough changes to make her feel disorientated. That was one more thing Isabelle Lightwood did not like about her present situation. She was off her game. It had taken her way too long to realize that this was all a mirage and not her home. Jace would have shaken his head that it took her too long to notice. Alec would have tsked and gone on and on about how she needed to be more aware of her surroundings. 

She rolled her eyes and let out a soft huff as she thought of her siblings. 

But the smile that was starting to light her eyes died abruptly when her hand touched her inner thigh. Calluses meeting smooth silk… Silk? Isabelle’s eyes went down, widening as she finally caught a glimpse of what she was wearing. 

“What the fuck,” she breathed as her eyes took note of the red silk dress that sure, flattered her curves and fell in soft waves at her feet, but was definitely not the short leather skirt and cropped top she was a hundred percent sure she had been wearing when they had been at Magnus’ apartment. 

Magnus’s apartment!

Finally, her thoughts finally caught up with what her mind had been screaming at her since she came to. That feeling of discomfort.   Her eyes swung around. “Clary? Alec? Jace? Magnus? Simon?”

Silence responded. Deep. Not a rustle to be heard. Which should have been her second giveaway that this was not her institute. Where were the footsteps? The voices that formed the steady hum of her existence? The absolute lack of privacy that was all she’d known her entire life? Where was everybody?

As her mind flitted about, trying to figure out what was happening, she caught a wisp of thought. A memory unlocked. Clary telling her about a portal that Meliorn had led her to back when she was still hunting for Jocelyn, and searching for clues to where her mother was being held hostage. 

“So, is this another world?” Isabelle murmured. “Did Meliorn do this?” But the minute she had the thought, she shook it off. No. This couldn’t be Meliorn. He wasn’t one to bear grudges, and he had since come to terms with her and Clary’s relationship. It made no sense for him to try and mess with it now. Plus, how the hell would he have been able to grab her, in the presence of everybody, and successfully push her into a portal with Alec, Magnus, Jace, Clary, and Simon present? 

No. It had to be something else. Plus, Clary had mentioned that the other world that Meliorn sent her to, was one where there weren’t demons any longer, which meant there wasn’t a need for Shadowhunters to exist anymore. 

That world was one that would have no need for the New York Institute.

Isabelle walked over to the copy of “The History and Evolution of the Demons of Edom” and picked it up, running her fingers over its well-worn cover. At least, whatsoever world this was, the people here did get some good use from the reference material. She flipped it open and it fell open, as if naturally, to the page about Asmodeus. She scoffed, taking a moment to flip him the bird and shut it close. 

As she walked over to the cluster of bookshelves to replace it: third row, sixth shelf, her mind worked fast, trying to piece together the pieces of her memory. It was strange. Whoever had worked on getting her here had done so expertly. There was no gap, no visible hole in her memory that might account for whatever event had brought her to this world. Instead, it really did feel like she was dragged here straight from Magnus’ loft, to this world, whatever it was. Like she had been one minute there, and now she was here.

Isabelle shrugged. Whatever the case, the only way she would surely get any answers at this point was to explore the world, starting with whatever lay at the other end of the door to the library. 

She made her way carefully over, listening for any sound that her ears might catch, silently cursing whoever had brought her to this world for effectively kidnapping her and stripping her of her stele and weapons. 

Weapons! 

The minute the thought occurred to her, Isabelle stopped. Yes indeed. Weapons! Surely it was foolhardy of her to attempt to investigate and explore this strange world, without a weapon she could use to defend herself, should the need call for it? 

But where would she get a weapon though? She cast her eyes over the room, trying to see if there was anything she could repurpose as a weapon?

Sure, “Mundane World History” was quite the heavy tome, considering that it covered every single war the mundanes had ever fought in their history, from the Age of Antiquity, to the present age, but it wasn’t an easy weapon to wield, especially with her not being able to activate her strength rune. 

She shook her head. No. She needed something smaller. Lighter. Slimmer. But that could still do sufficient damage. Crush a windpipe. Damage an eyeball. Cause a concussion.

As her mind processed these thoughts, Isabelle’s eyes drifted about the room.

Ah. That can work. Isabelle nodded, as she reached for and grabbed the unlit candlestick from the table. She juggled it, shuffling it from one hand to the other. It was clearly made from solid silver. Heavy enough to cause damage, but not too heavy that she couldn’t manoeuvre it with ease. 

This would do.

With her weapon secured, Isabelle made her way to the door of the library. She braced herself, candlestick in her right hand, her left hand on the door knob and turned it. She swung, immediately, but hit nothing. Just the sound of the candlestick cutting through the air, with no target, or sound of an impact that came from it hitting someone.

A glance to the left and her right revealed nothing. No sound. No persons in sight. It really did feel like she was the only one in this fake institute. 

She shrugged. No better way to find out if she really was the only one present, than to go exploring. 

She stepped out the door, and promptly found herself back at the door’s entryway.  

Isabelle shook her head. That was strange. She reached out, pushing against the empty space by the open door and was met with solid weightless air, like a barrier of some sorts. “Magnus?” She called out, not really expecting a reply. Her mind knew of course that Magnus Bane wasn’t the only person capable of creating a magical barrier. But he was the one she turned to, the one they all turned to, matter of fact, any time they were in a magical quandary. And this seemed like a magical quandary like any other actually. 

She took a deep breath, and tried again, pushing against the empty air that turned weighted with each attempt, until she found herself sweating, and still very much in the library. 

What is happening???

The answer to that, Miss Lightwood, is simple. You will need to roll a number, to gain some movement.

Isabelle wasn’t proud to say it, but she almost dropped the candlestick in shock. She’d spent way too long alone with her thoughts, in total silence in the library. Having what sounded like a voice speak from the void, when she thought she was the only one in the space, wasn’t anything she’d thought would happen.

“Who are you? Where am I? What do you want?”

Roll a number to gain some movement.

“Where are my friends? Where is Clary? Where is Alec? What did you do to them?”

Roll a number to gain some movement.

“What does that mean? What number? What movement? Am I trapped here?”

“You know, for the longest time Isabelle, I did consider you the smartest of the Lightwood siblings. Right now though, you’re making me reconsider that opinion. Roll the bloody dice!”

She stopped, her mouth clicking shut in shock. She knew that voice. Her girlfriend sometimes woke up from nightmares because of that voice. “Valentine? Valentine Morgenstern?”

“In the flesh.” Valentine scoffed. “In the voice. In the void. In the ether. You get the deal.”

“What are you doing here?” 

“Same question I’m asking myself actually,” Valentine replied sardonically. 

“But… You’re dead!”

“You don’t say.” Valentine’s voice was dry. “I never would have realized that.” She couldn’t see his face, but she could hear the sneer. “None of you Lightwoods are very bright are you? And here I was thinking that what Clary found most attractive about you, was your mind. Now however…. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.”

“Keep Clary’s name out of your fucking mouth, Valentine.”

“I’ll call my daughter’s name any damn time I want. Now roll the bloody dice so we can BOTH figure out what is happening here, and I can get the fuck out of whatever purgatory you’ve dragged me into.”

“Shut it Valentine.” Isabelle’s mind was running a mile a minute. She was 100% sure that Clary had told her that she stabbed her father back in Idris when he tried summoning the angel Raziel, back in Idris, for his fucked up ritual to eradicate downworlders and demons from their world. And knowing her girlfriend, Isabelle was certain that Clary would have stabbed him multiple times to ensure that he was deader than roadkill. 

So what on earth was happening and how is she able to hear Valentine in this fucked up world? 

Only one way to find out. “Roll the dice.”

Dice has been rolled. And it’s a 10. You can now take 10 steps out of the room.

10 steps? Was that all? How would that get her anywhere? “And if I choose to not take the 10 steps?”

Seeing that you’re at a designated room, you can also choose to make a suggestion, and name a suspect, location and weapon. Or you can make an accusation of a suspect, location and weapon.”

Suspect? Location and weapon? Why did that sound familiar? 

What would it be Miss Lightwood?

“Yes. What would it be Isabelle? Some of us would rather prefer to return to being dead, rather than having to witness all this dilly-dallying. I might have all the time in the world now, but I surely don’t want to waste them on you.”

“Shut up Valentine. I’m trying to think.”

“Ah. She’s trying to think she says. Fascinating. I’ll just sit here. Waiting, whilst you think. It’s not like I have anything better to do anyway.”

“Exactly. You don’t. Now shut up.”

When she confirmed that Valentine wasn’t about to add anything else to their conversation, Isabelle let loose a sigh of relief. “Why do they sound familiar though? Suspect. Location. Weapon. Suspect. Location. Weapon. Suspect. Location. Weapon.”

“A waste. An atrocity. An insult. A waste. An atrocity. An insult. ”

“What are you doing?”

“Oh, I thought we were doing that stream of consciousness thing where we share our inner thoughts for everyone in the room to hear, and waste each other’s BLOODY TIME!” 

“Fuck you Valentine.”

“I’m dead Isabelle. Your words don’t mean anything to me. Now if Clary were here however—“

“Clary!” Isabelle’s mind raced. That was who she’d heard those words from! On the evenings when she and Simon played that Cluedo game on their phones. 

Wait a minute. Was that what happened? Had she been pulled for some reason into the world of a board game? Why? How? And why was she the only one brought into this world? Was it because she went first as Miss Scarlett and was the one who rolled the dice when they started the game? Did that mean everyone else was still at Magnus’ apartment, searching for her, unaware that she’d been pulled into the world of Cluedo?

Fuck! Alec was so right. The game was indeed a terrible idea! And Magnus was right! They shouldn’t have been playing it on Halloween. If he was right about the veil being thin—

Wait! If Magnus was right about the veil being thin, maybe the veil was responsible for bringing her into this world? Then would that mean everyone else was here too? But, if this was the world of the Cluedo board, and the system was asking her to name a suspect, then someone was dead??? 

Isabelle saw stars. Her breath quickened. Her hands reached for the door, digging into the cracks in the wood, as she tried to stay upright, stomach sinking to the floor as her mind flashed from Clary’s grin as she leaned in to wake her earlier in the morning with a kiss, to her brother’s stern hazel eyes, as he crossed his arms and needled her about not training the new recruits hard enough, to Jace, making faces behind Alec’s back whilst he was lecturing her about the recruits, to Simon, vampire teeth peeking out any time he was excitedly trying to convince her to come see the latest alien movie with him, to Magnus, rings glinting in the sunlight as he danced his way through the Institute, in search of his Alexander. 

The thought of any of them being dead—

“Can you tell me who the murder victim is?”

There was a pause. Long. Drawn out. Each a pulsing beat. Like the voice was wrestling with itself, trying to figure out how much information it could give her, to convince her to make some sort of action in whatever twisted game this particular world was playing. 

But finally, after what felt like hours, but was most likely a couple of minutes, Isabelle heard the response. 

Valentine Morgenstern. 

“Wait. What?!”

Both hers and Valentine’s question came at the same time, overlapping in their incredulity at the worlds. 

“How can I be the murder victim?”

“But he’s already dead?”

“Thank you for stating the obvious, Isabelle.”

“Well, certain situations need a restating of the obvious, and this definitely seems like one of them.”

“Unfortunately, you are right.” Valentine groused. “Dead. A second time. What are the odds?”

“Same as whatever odds brought me from Magnus’ loft to whatever world this is.”

“True.”

What is your answer Miss. Lightwood? Are you going to take the 10 steps or name a suspect?

Isabelle took in a deep breath. There was something freeing about having the certainty that neither of her loved ones was the murder victim. But it didn’t mean they were safe. All she could do at this point was keep her fingers crossed, pray to Raziel for mercy, and using the information on this damn game that Clary had told her, make a guess. 

“I suggest Clary Fray. With a candlestick. In the Library.”

[masoena]

On the Tip of My Tongue

Shadowhunter Fan Fic - Hurt/Comfort Bingo Fill

This fic is a one-shot to fill a square on my Hurt/Comfort bingo card cas created by @sweetspicybingo

Prompt filled: it's not fair to recovery room

Fandom: Shadowhunters

Pairing: Jalec - Jace Wayland/Alec Lightwood

Rating: Mature (for violence)

“Jace!!! Nooo!!!” Alec dropped his bow and the arrow he was about to shoot as he watched Jace collapse to the ground, the warlock and his ravener demon were pulverized by Magnus’ magic but not before Jace had been first stung by the demon’s poisoned tail to his shoulder and been blasted by a sickly green nearly opaque pulse of demon powered magic from the warlock who’d been brainwashed to do Valentine’s bidding.

It was the latest of Valentine’s series of passive-aggressive and increasingly less subversive attacks on the New York Institute and the Clave by extension. Alec himself went down as his legs went out from under him with the agonizing pain that raced through him via his bond with Jace. It wasn’t fair that Jace was getting hurt all the time, he protected both Clary, the cup and by extension the entire Downworlder population with stubborn conviction which only left in harm's way time and time again.

He crawled the last few feet, so that he could cradle Jace’s head in his lap, wrap protective arms around him and whisper encouragement to stay awake, to not give in. The spark in Jace’s beautiful multi-colored eyes was dulling and he could sense Jace fading through the bond.

The blond shadowhunter held on to Alec’s arms that embraced him to then look up into those gorgeous hazel eyes and with barely any sound to it said: “I love you too.” before he passed out.

The beeping was annoying and incessant but somehow he knew he needed to not ignore it, as his mind and body came back online. Jace went through what felt like quicksand to try and claw his way up to a fully awake state. When he opened his eyes, everything was blurry at first, but came into focus slowly as he took in the darkened room he was in.

The beeping was a heart-rate monitor beside his bed; he recognized the room as one of the recovery rooms at the New York Institute. He racked his brain for how he had gotten here but came up blank. The last thing he remembered was a flash of green and searing pain in his left shoulder and Alec’s concerned hazel eyes above him and then nothing but blackness until now.

He looked down from his half seated position and saw the blood transfusion needle stuck in the back of his hand along with another in his arm to administer a bag of clear liquids. His shoulder was bandaged he could just see the dark gray material poke out from underneath the navy blue hospital gown he was wearing.

His hand that wasn’t doubling as a pin cushion, was loosely covered by Alec’s, who had fallen asleep, his head resting on the bed beside Jace’s hip. He looked beautiful and peaceful in sleep. Gently Jace pulled his hand out from under his and carded his fingers gently through the shock of unruly black hair, and could feel his parabatai push into the gentle touch. Jace wanted him so much more than he could ever admit out loud, especially after finding out that Alec felt the same way. The words had been at the tip of his tongue ever since that catastrophic memory demon experience a few weeks back. However, Jace also knew that Valak had taken that memory from Alec so who knew if he even still felt the love that he had so unwillingly disclosed in front of all of them as it had floated towards the memory demon.

Alec slowly opened his eyes, he was sleep-drunk and rather adorably rubbed his eyes before he looked up at Jace who regarded him with a gentle smile.

“Hey there, brother.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been blasted by errant magic and stung by a demon?” Jace tried to laugh but winced when the motion pulled the wound on his shoulder.

“Hey take it easy, funny guy. Do you remember what happened?”

“I remember the warlock aiming at me and that ravener demon appearing out of nowhere. I’ve never seen a warlock with a ravener familiar. It was a very strange thing to see. And then I saw you crouching over me, encouraging me to stay awake before I passed out.”

As Jace said this he recalled vividly and with utmost certainty that what he had said to Alec, seeing his parabatai’s face fall was all the proof he needed.

“Anything else you recall?”

“Yeah, only just now though; I love you Alec, been wanting to say it since the Valak incident but too afraid to. The curse, our bond. I was worried it would change everything but I love you in the way that I shouldn't but I can’t deny it.”

Alec kissed him then, a soft tender meeting of their lips, the touch between them was electric and it made their bond thrum with increased intensity and connectedness, as the link between solidified infinitely more and it couldn’t feel more right to either of them.

[malec-ao3feed]

The Silly Goose and His Warlock

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/Aza3SpT by gryffinexists “Well, you are supposed to be a shadowhunter, but today is not one of those days. And being fearless? Nobody is truly fearless. Trust me, it's not stupid, it's being human. Now come on you silly goose, can I make the portal or not?” -Magnus Bane First Ever Fan Fic!!! Words: 412, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: The Shadowhunter Chronicles - All Media Types, The Mortal Instruments Series - Cassandra Clare Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Magnus Bane, Alec Lightwood Relationships: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood Additional Tags: Anxiety, Comfort No Hurt, Coffee, Mornings, Teasing, No Smut, No Sex, Canon Gay Relationship, Cliffhangers, Alec Lightwood Deserves Nice Things, Magnus Bane Is a Nice Thing, Insecure Alec Lightwood, My First Fanfic, My First Work in This Fandom, My First AO3 Post, My First Fanwork, I Wrote This Instead of Sleeping, I Can't Believe I Wrote This read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/Aza3SpT

[carelessflower]

Hello!!

Having an abundance of Consul Lightwood-Bane vibes.

I cannot wait to read about him in TWP and TBVOTD.

Any good fics about our beloved Consul?

hi!!!!!!!!!

i can't play favorite also everyone preference is different so better if u search through the 'Consul Alec Lightwood' tag on AO3. consul alec fans assemble!

[riverdalee]

The One With A Distraction

Pairing: Alec Lightwood x Reader

Summary: While Magnus and Jace summon Azazel, Alec goes after you, another Greater Demon working with Azazel, only to find out you’re incredibly charming - and a great distraction. 

A/N: it’s been a while since i did an alec imagine so here you go!

MASTERLIST (mobile and desktop) (you can like it and save it for later!)

After the attack on the Institute, everyone was still in mourning. The down worlders had lost many loved ones and the Shadowhunters, though fewer, were still enraged and seeking revenge. Knowing Valentine, the cause of their misery, was chained up in the basement waiting to be slaughtered was just a huge temptation.

“Let them maul him to pieces,” Alec shrugs, “I couldn’t care less. In any case, I’m not going to be part of some stupid protection detail for a mass murderer. Not when my sister is missing and all our resources should be put toward finding her.”

“We need Valentine to find the Mortal Cup,” Clary points out.

Alec sighs in defeat, “Well, we can’t just sit here doing nothing.”

“Magnus and Jace are working on summoning Azazel. They think they might be able to convince him to trade Valentine for Izzy,” Clary informs him.

“And what about the other Greater Demon? That girl that was with Azazel?”

“Her name’s y/n. She’s not in the system. Magnus has no idea who she is either,” Clary informs him, “We only found her name out through facial recognition. She was in a picture a long time ago - I mean like centuries ago.”

“From the footage it seems like she’s more powerful than Azazel and yet there’s no record of her?” Alec asks frustrated.

Clary sighs in defeat, leaning over her desk and clicking the monitor a few times until she can zoom in on your face to get a better look, “She looks our age from this footage. How can she be centuries old?”

Alec shrugs, “Maybe one of her abilities. Look, I can’t just sit around here. I’ll be back if you guys figure a way out to summon Azazel but in the meantime I’m going to find this girl – maybe I can appeal to her sensitive side.”

“Do demons have sensitive sides?” Clary scoffs.

Alec’s eyes linger on the image of you, “Let’s hope this one does.”

“You know, you’re going to have to be sneakier than that to get the jump on a Greater Demon,” you say, smirking as you turn to find Alec Lightwood behind you, his bow and arrow drawn. You could’ve killed him in a heartbeat with no witnesses, but instead you cross your arms over your chest and lean against the wall of the alleyway, watching him curiously.

“Where’s my sister?” he asks firmly, his jaw tense.

“Isabelle Lightwood?” you raise a brow, “Why would I have her?”

“I saw the footage from the alleyway. Azazel grabbed Izzy and you-“

“Stopped him,” you cut him off, “We don’t have her.”

“Why should I believe you?” he leers.

You stand up straight, walking over to him. His grip on the bow tightens as you come to a stop and he shifts it so the tip of the arrow is angled to hit you right between the eyes.

Before you get a word out he releases it. Little does he expect you to catch the arrow an inch from your face.

You drop it to the floor, “You can’t kill me,” you tell him, “As for believing me – I don’t really care whether you do or not. Our business is with the Mortal Cup, not you Shadowhunters.”

Alec lowers his bow, dropping it to his side, “Look, if you have my sister-“

“I don’t,” you reassure him, “I could find her quite easily though.”

Alec rolls his eyes, “Like a Greater Demon does anything for free.”

You bite down on your lip and shrug, “I’m no ordinary Greater Demon.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alec frowns.

“It means we can stand here and you can try to kill me repeatedly or we can go find your sister. Free of cost, I promise,” you wink.

Alec knew it was stupid to trust you but something about the way you spoke and the way you looked at him made him feel like he could. In any case, it was better than sitting around waiting for news.

And if things did go south he was sure he could take you. Probably.

“Alright, where is she then?”

“It’s not that easy, Lightwood,” you scoff.

Alec narrows his eyes, “If you aren’t interested in Shadowhunters then how do you know my name? And my sisters?”

“It’s my job to know the Lightwood’s,” you say pointedly, “Your mother heads the Idris Institute and while I was in town she put a massive target on my back.”

“That’s impossible. You weren’t even in our system, she couldn’t have known about you,” Alec says, walking alongside you.

“She didn’t need to. She found out one of her trusted recruits was in love with a Greater Demon and she wanted me hunted down,” you sigh, “We had to go on the run.” Suddenly your voice is strained.

“Wait, you’re dating a Shadowhunter?” he asks in disbelief.

“I was, it was years ago. He died… protecting me from your mother. After that she had to call it off so no one would find out this all happened on her orders – that she’d pretty much killed him.”

Alec’s eyes widen in alarm as he watches your face fill with disdain.

“Well, then, you have a reason to want to hurt our family,” he says slowly.

You roll your eyes, “Really? That’s what you got out of that. Geez, you really are a Lightwood,” you sigh, “Unlike your mother, I take no pleasure in seeing people hurt.”

“In the alleyway you killed at least a dozen vampires just by raising your hand,” he retorts.

“Vampires that were about to kill your sister,” you shoot back, “Look, do you want my help or not?” you snap.

“Yes,” Alec grumbles in response.

“Then shut up a follow me.”

You knew enough about Alec Lightwood to know he wouldn’t ever completely trust you. To be honest, you were surprised he was following you around at all – his sister clearly meant a lot to him. You knew she was safe. You’d waited around to see her disappear with another Shadowhunter but you couldn’t tell him that. As the two of you were walking around, Magnus was summoning Azazel and you needed to keep Alec distracted.

“We’ve been walking around for hours,” Alec groans, “You have no idea what you’re doing, do you?”

You give him a pointed look.

“Well,” he throws his arms up in the air, “How am I supposed to know? You’re vague and mysterious and I have no idea who you are. You seem to know everything about me and all I know is that you have a dead boyfriend.”

You stiffen at his words and his eyes soften.

“Sorry,” he mumbles.

He inhales sharply, gathering his courage to ask a question he’d thought about at least a dozen times after you’d told him that story, “How did you get a Shadowhunter to fall in love with you?”

When you don’t answer, he stops walking.

“We’re raised to hunt demons. We’re taught they’re all evil… but you,” he trails off, “You’re different.”

“When you’ve been around as long as I have, you don’t let yourself get caught up in Shadowhunter-Demon-Mundane wars. Greater Demons are capable of much more than regular demons.”

“I know that,” he nods, “I just didn’t know you were capable of love.”

“Neither did I,” you say softly, “Until I met him.”

Alec nods quietly. He knew there was probably things you had done that were unforgiveable – there was no such thing as an innocent demon. But everyone was guilty of something, even Shadowhunters and for the first time, he felt sympathy for you. And he felt slightly enraged at his mother for causing you so much pain, and worse, covering it up.

Before he can express his condolences, his phone rings.

“Take it,” you nod despite knowing what would happen next. After a few seconds, Alec hangs up and glares at you.

“You were just a distraction,” he growls, drawing his bow again. You place a hand over it and push it down.

“My sister could be dead right now and I’ve been here messing around with you instead of finding her!” he yells angrily.

“Your sister is fine,” you reassure him, “I saw her leave with another Shadowhunter.”

Alec sighs in relief, running his fingers through his hair, “Why didn’t you tell me that?! Why make me walk around for hours like an idiot?!”

“Was it so wrong to want to get to know the son of the woman who killed the boy I loved?”

Alec slumps slightly, “And? What did you gather from these few hours?”

He asks with a tone of sarcasm but he was scared to know the answer; he was scared you’d think he was exactly like his parents.

“You’re different,” you finally say, “You’re actually remind me of him. A lot. It’s been a while since I’ve spent time with a Shadowhunter who wasn’t trying to kill me.”

You tilt your head, eyeing his hand on the arrow, “You’re not going to try kill me are you?”

“No,” he chuckles.

“Wow, a smile,” you laugh, “Haven’t seen one of those all night.”

He looks at the floor, shaking his head with a wide smile, “I’ll talk to my mother, make sure that target stays off your back.”

You nod in appreciation, taking a few steps back, about to head off.

“And when I do,” he says quickly, causing you to stop in your tracks, “Maybe I’ll see you again?”

“Maybe, Lightwood,” you smirk, “I hear you guys can pull off one hell of a summoning spell.”

[yoongisjuicebox]

I love you

This is just a simple, emotionally overwhelmed Alec admitting things. 

=====

He walked down the alleyway leading to the back entrance of the Hunters Moon, leading himself into the back of the bar where the others were waiting. “Hey guys, sorry I'm late, I had some paperwork to do. Where is my drink?” He asked with a raised brow, a small hint of a smile playing at his lips. Magnus walked up with a kiss to the cheek. “Here you are darlin’” He hummed. Alec took the drink and downed it in one shot. He glanced at the others in the room looking at him with surprised looks. 

“Listen, when you are dating the High Warlock of Brooklyn you learn to handle your drink” He said with a small chuckle, looking down at Magnus who has a smile on his lips. “Let’s have another round, we deserve this.” Everyone cheered at that. He moved to sit down next to his lovely boyfriend, reaching over to hold his hand. Something he got more comfortable with as time went on.

As time went on he found himself being overcome with emotions, “I love you guys.” He said aloud, catching everyone’s attention, the room falling silent. “Are you okay, Alexander?” Magnus asked with a worried look. A tear fell down his cheek not seeming to realize he was crying to begin with. “Yeah, yeah I’m okay. Just lucky. Life has been tough this past year or so , but...I finally found a family that means more than anything to me. A family I didn’t even know I needed. Even Clary and Simon, who I fight with on a daily basis, and my Parabatai...the one who's been with me through thick and thin. I just...am so thankful for you guys. Thank you, Izzy, for being the best sister anyone could ask for. I don’t know where I would be without you guys. I love you all.” Alec said, finishing up his thought. He wasn’t the only one shedding a few tears. Clary wiped her face standing to go give him a hug when Simon yelled, ‘Group hug.’ 

After a few more drinks and laughs shared, Alec headed home with his Warlock. Once they entered the apartment, Alec slipped his shoes off and pulled Magnus close to his chest. “I am so thankful for you especially. I didn’t say any of this in front of them because I wanted this to be between us.” Magnus nodded his head gently, looking up at his lover as he waited. “I am thankful for you because you were there to show me it is okay to be me more than anyone else. You loved me when I couldn’t love myself. I love you more than anything and anyone. If I ever lost you or even a memory of you I would shatter. I love you so much Magnus.” 

Magnus was crying for the second time that night not sure where all of this was coming from. “I love you too. Wh-where is this all coming from, darlin’?” He asked in a soft tone. Alec gave a small smile. “I am just learning to show the people I love that I love them, we have all almost lost each other way too many times. I want you all to know I really do love you.”

Magnus smiled wider at those words. “I love you so much. How about a bath and then sleep?” Magnus asked earning a smile and a nod from Alec. “Sounds like a plan.”

[thetimetraveler24]

Chapter Eleven Sneak Peak 2

“You’ll bring him to New York for a celebratory dinner, right?” Izzy asked. “And you two,” she said to Alec and Magnus, “you’ll come to New York for a celebratory dinner?”

“Cant have a celebratory dinner without the guest of honor,” Magnus said, looking at Alec. “Besides, have you met me? Of course we’ll be in New York.”

“It’s really not necessary,” Alec stuttered.

Jace rolled his eyes. “Yes it is.”

“I should let you go,” Robert said. “Hello, Magnus. Ah, and… Simon.” He shuffled off awkwardly.

“How come he can remember my name and you can’t?” Simon asked Magnus.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Sherwin Williams,” Magnus said.

Simon sputtered. “That’s a paint store!”

From chapter eleven of Mysteries Unfold. Start from the beginning with Fate Beckons.

[imandras]

I have filled all the squares of the Hunter's Moon Bingo card. Thank y'll for your kudos, hits, bookmarks, comments and your support. This is what motivates me and keeps me sharing my fics with you. 💜

https://archiveofourown.org/series/2017141

Created for @shadowhunterbingo

[nerdywithatwist]

I recently wrote a new fic! It’s some of the missing scenes after Clary is presumed dead on the Shadowhunters tv show.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30992207?view_full_work=true#comments

[moonlight-breeze-44]

sacrifice (i would have loved you all my life) ~ Chapter 2!

The second chapter of the angsty prompt fic for @thelightofthebane is now up! In this chapter, we see the reactions of those left behind to Alec’s disappearance. 

Warning for implied/referenced alcohol abuse in this chapter! <3

Read on AO3

It was the excruciating, damn near unbearable pain that woke Jace up.

Izzy and Maryse were in his room before he even knew what was happening, because Jace was screaming and everything hurt and nothing was okay and - Alec. ALEC! Where was Alec?

“We don’t know,” Izzy cried, and her makeup was smeared, her face streaked with tears. Maryse’s hair was undone, falling out of its bun, and she was crying, too. Jace could barely breathe through the pain emanating from his side, but he was coherent enough to notice that Alec wasn’t there.

“Alec!” he screamed again, and his fingers found his parabatai rune, squeezing tightly. The rune was hot underneath his fingertips, almost scalding, and Jace sobbed. Where was Alec?! ALEC!

“He’s not here, Jace,” Maryse said, her fingers combing the sweaty hair away from his forehead. “He’s gone.”

A pulse like, like something, shot through the parabatai bond and Jace’s entire body convulsed, shaking apart like he was having a seizure. He screamed so loudly that his throat was raw, and he gasped for breath, tears that he couldn’t even hope to control sliding down his cheeks without his permission. He was sobbing, loud and ugly, and all he could feel was pain, painpainpainpainpain, so much PAIN, and Alec wasn’t there, and everything was wrong and Jace could almost feel something ending, something changing, something disappearing for good.

By the time the wave of pain passed and Jace could breathe again, Maryse had run out of the room to get someone from the infirmary, and Izzy was holding onto his arms as tightly as she could, her eyes filled with tears.

“Jace?” she asked hesitantly, and Jace would swear he’d never heard her sound more vulnerable than right then.

“He’s gone,” Jace said numbly. His fingers groped at his skin, hoping, praying that maybe he was wrong, but one look downwards confirmed his fears. His parabatai rune was gone. Alec was gone.

~ ~ ~

Isabelle wasn’t sure how long it took them to get around to telling Magnus, but by the time she and Jace let themselves into Magnus’s apartment, Magnus was already halfway through his eighth bottle of whiskey and his loft was destroyed by his own magic.

“Magnus,” Izzy whispered in horror. “What happened?”

Magnus laughed sourly and gestured to the kitchen countertop, where a white envelope laid, a letter next to it. Izzy recognised Alec’s handwriting and swallowed hard. He’d sent Magnus a letter, too.

“Magnus, stop,” she tried, stepping over the debris to reach Magnus. Jace followed reluctantly, taking in the damage with wide eyes like he was afraid they would be next.

“Why should I?!” Magnus shouted, chucking his whiskey bottle at the wall. It shattered upon impact and alcohol seeped into the expensive carpet. “No Alec here to stop me, is there? No Alec here ever again, Isabelle!”

“The, the letter said he was okay,” Izzy responded, stopping in her tracks at the sight of Magnus’s tirade. “That he wasn’t dead.”

“You’d be surprised how many dead people say they’re okay right before they die,” Magnus snapped back, summoning another bottle of whiskey from somewhere and taking a long drink. He gestured to Jace. “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? Blondie’s parabatai rune disappeared?”

Jace tried to shove down his hypocritical anger at Magnus for lashing out and nodded tightly. “Yeah.”

“I figured as much,” Magnus mumbled. His mascara was smeared, Izzy noticed, and he looked like he hadn’t slept at all since he’d received his letter. She felt tears begin to fill her own eyes, and she blinked them away angrily. This wasn’t about her. Alec had asked her to take care of Magnus and that’s what she intended on doing.

“Magnus, please,” Izzy said, stepping closer until she was directly in front of him. “Alec wouldn’t want this for you.”

“How do you have a clue what he wants? He’s not here,” Magnus replied bitterly. Before he could tip the whiskey bottle to his lips and take another drink, Isabelle reached out and grabbed the bottle from him, handing it to Jace, who shoved it underneath Magnus’s sink next to the cleaning supplies.

“I know my brother,” Izzy said, leveling Magnus with a fierce glare. “And I know that he would hate to see you destroying yourself like this.”

Magnus felt the fight drain out of him, and he slumped into the sofa tiredly. “Sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to yell at you.”

“It’s okay,” Izzy reassured him. “We’ve done plenty of yelling ourselves the past few days.” She picked her way through what remained of Magnus’s loft and made to sit down next to him.

“What did your letters say?” Magnus asked her bitterly, twisting a thread on his pants between his fingers, tension leaking out of his every movement.

“That he wasn’t dead, this was his choice, he loves us, and he’s sorry,” Izzy replied, her throat closing up on the last syllable.

“Lucky,” Magnus muttered.

“Lucky?” Jace’s voice was sharp. “How the fuck are any of us lucky, Magnus?”

“Your letters sound like nursery rhymes compared to mine,” Magnus snapped. He raised his hand and his letter flew to him in a flurry of dark red magic. He opened it, holding it out for the two siblings. “Here. Read it.”

Izzy gave Magnus a wary look, but reached out to take the letter, anyway. Jace crowded close to her and read over her shoulder as Magnus watched on, fiddling with his rings and trying not to cry for the umpteenth time since the letter had been delivered.

“What the fuck,” Jace breathed after a minute or two of reading, his eyes glassy with tears. “That’s, that’s fucking…” He trailed off, at a loss for words.

“Exactly,” Magnus muttered. “It’s so full of self-loathing it might as well have been written by me when I was about to jump off of a bridge.”

“I knew he always felt different, and he had a lot of pressure on him,” Isabelle said quietly, “but I never imagined this.”

“That’s just the thing!” Magnus said, and his voice shot up two octaves. “I knew! I knew how Alec felt about himself! I always have. I knew that he would blame himself for me losing my magic, and I didn’t do anything! I was too self-centered and stupid and idiotic to see that my own boyfriend was about to sacrifice his own happiness for someone else’s again.”

“You didn’t know,” Izzy said softly. “None of us did.”

“I should’ve,” Magnus replied, and he sounded close to tears now. “I should’ve known, I should’ve done something, I should’ve, should’ve…” He broke off, choking on a sob.

“Shh,” Izzy said, and she moved closer until she could lay her hand on Magnus’s arm. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not,” Magnus said, still crying. “And if you thought it was, you wouldn’t be here.”

Izzy glanced at Jace briefly, her eyes filled with tears, but he couldn’t reply; Magnus was right. It wasn’t okay, and as long as Alec was gone, nothing ever would be again.