Alec entered the Institute quietly, careful not to wake his sleeping family. He had been taking a walk to clear his thoughts when he had found himself in front of the apartment belonging to the High Warlock of Brooklyn. Alec missed Magnus more than anything, but he did not enter the apartment. Magnus was away attending important meetings in Idris regarding the treatment of Downworlders to which Alec, or any of the Lightwoods, were required to attend. So Alec had sat in front of Magnus's door, praying that he would be safe while he was gone.
Alec left the lights off, not wanting to draw attention to his late arrival. He could feel his vision rune tingling against the skin of his forearm as it began to work in the dark, although he did not need it. He knew the inside of his childhood home like the back of his own runed hand. Or, so he thought. Alec had made it into the living room when he bumped into the couch, nearly flipping himself over it.
"Alec?" a voice asked. It was feminine, belonging to his sister. He would've recognized it anywhere. Alec froze in his spot. His heartbeat rose in sudden panic. He didn't mean to wake Isabelle. Why was she sleeping in front of the fireplace?
Isabelle sat up on the couch and leaned forward. "Standing still doesn't make you invisible, Alec. I know you're there."
Alec opened his mouth, preparing to protest, but quickly shut it again and sighed. He crossed the room and sat on the couch next to Isabelle, looking into the flames of the fireplace. Isabelle leaned on her brother's shoulder and followed his gaze. She knew what was on his mind.
"You miss Magnus," she said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Isabelle sat up again, looking at her brother. She could see the worry in his eyes.
She noticed that his light blue eyes appeared gray from the lack of light in the room.
Alec nodded. "Why are you awake?" he asked, noticing the same worried expression on his sister's face. "Is it about Simon?"
Isabelle sat quietly for a moment, thinking about the mundane who had left yesterday to begin his training as a Shadowhunter. And she was in love with him. Isabelle sighed. "Not everyone survives the Ascension process," Isabelle murmured, bringing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.
"Izzy," Alec said quietly, beginning to stroke her long hair, tangled from tossing and turning on the couch. "If I've learned anything about Simon Lewis," -he separated the strands into three pieces and began to braid them- "it's that he is the strongest, bravest mundane I've ever met."
"He won't be a mundane for long."
"I know. Because he'll make it. I'm sure of it."
Isabelle's dark hair was in a simple braid, no longer tangled, but Alec continued to play with it. He could feel Isabelle's breathing slow-she was calm.
"Aren't you tired?" asked Isabelle.
Alec shook his head, but remembered that Isabelle was facing away from him. "Not really."
"What's on your mind? You went for a walk. Are you worried about him? Magnus, I mean."
Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper. She shifted so she was lying on his shoulder again. Alec grabbed the afghan on the couch and draped it over the two of them. He was looking into the fire again.
"Sometimes," he said, "it feels like I won't see him again. Like he won't come back."
"Alec," Isabelle said, still quietly.
"He leaves so often. Anything can happen while he's gone and there's no way for me to protect him."
"Alec," Isabelle repeated. "Magnus is perfectly capable of keeping himself safe. Warlock, remember? Lived for hundreds of years? Does that ring a bell to you?" She nudged him in the leg with her elbow. "He'll be back soon. Get some rest. You've hardly slept since he left."
Alec sighed, knowing his sister was right, and kept his eyes on the fire until he was asleep.