Hey guys! I realize I'm trying to write three stories at the same time, but I keep getting new ideas. This one came to me last night after reading another soulmate fanfiction (I love Soulmate fics like this one, but I can never seem to find very many.) So, this is my first Malec fanfic. I hope you like it. Also, let me know if you think I should continue of scrap it. This is in the book universe (as much as I love the TV show.)

Disclaimer: I'm not Cassandra Clare. I don't own the characters.

Warnings: A little bit of self - harm, but not major

Five Years Ago

13 Year Old Alec Lightwood knew that sooner, rather than later his soul mark would appear on his wrist - which one depends on which hand his soulmate writes with. In the Shadow World, when you reach puberty, the name of the person you're meant to be with appears on your wrist, then, if you're a Shadowhunter, you head to Idris to find your pair. Of course, sometimes things didn't work exactly how they were supposed to. sometimes the name that appeared wasn't another of your kind. The Downworlders never seemed to mind that, but Shadowhunters hated it. But, it rarely ever happens with Shadowhunters, so Alec isn't worried all that much. He gets ready for bed just like any other night, but then glances at his arm, wondering when a name would appear and who it would be. He's met a lot of Shadowhunters his age and they all seem nice. He crawls into bed and goes to sleep, still curious.

In the morning, Alec wakes up and stretches before climbing out of bed. He grabs his clothes and head into the bathroom to take a shower. It isn't until he goes to wash his hair that he notices the name on his arm, written in fancy script; his soulmate's handwriting. However, the name is short, too short to be a the name of a Shadowhunter, and even worse, it's not the name of a girl. Alec goes into full panic mode as he quickly finishes his shower and dresses. He hurries back to his room, trying to figure out what to do. No one can ever find out about this. He picks up his stele and carves a burn rune over the letters on his arm. The pain is searing and after what seems like forever, Alec draws a line through the rune, deactivating it. His skin is red and raw. He carves an iratze on his arm and hopes that this fixes the problem. After all, there have been Shadowhunters that never had a name appear on their arm. Alec would just act like one of them. His family would be upset, but not as upset if they knew the truth. Alec does his best to put the name out of his mind; it doesn't matter. Whoever the other person was would just end up being one of the people that never found their soulmate. It happens sometimes, despite all the effort people put into finding that person. Alec made sure to pull on a long sleeve shirt and heads to start his day acting like everything is fine.

However, at the end of the day, Alec peels off his shirt. Both runes have mostly faded, but the name is still there. It had faded a little, but if you look at it, you can still read it. Alec quickly redraws the burn rune on his arm and suffers for almost two hours before he can't take the pain and breaks the rune, then redraws the healing rune.

For almost a month, Alec wakes up early and stays up later to let his skin burn before he is caught.

"Hey, Alec, can you-" Izzy, his 11 year old sister walks into his room then immediately cuts off, "What on earth are you doing, Alec?" She grabs his arm and breaks the rune.

"Izzy!" He exclaims, "Haven't you heard of knocking?" He glare at his little sister.

"Why are you carving the burn rune into your arm, Alec?" she asks him slowly, "Are those letters underneath?"

"I didn't have a choice," Alec says, "It wasn't a Shadowhunter name."

"Oh, Alec, I'm sorry," Izzy hugs him, "I'm so sorry."

"You can't tell anyone. Especially not Mom and Dad, okay? Promise me," Alec say, his voice fully serious.

"I promise," she says, pulling away from her brother and drawing a stele. She puts a healing rune on his arm, "How long?"

"Almost a month," he says, "It's almost gone. You can't really read it anymore."

"Come to my room tomorrow morning. I'm sure we can come up with a better way to hide it. No more burning, though. Promise?"

"Fine. I promise. As long as no one will be able to tell that it was ever there," Alec says.

"Deal," Izzy says, "Goodnight, big brother." She leaves his room and goes to bed. Alec watches her go and wonders briefly why she didn't ask what the name was and why Izzy would willingly help him. He only hopes she keeps her promise and never tells anyone about this.

In the morning, Alec goes into Izzy's room after his shower. She's already up and dressed for the day.

"Have a seat," she point to the chair of her vanity. Alec complies and crosses her room to sit in the chair. Izzy walks over and stands behind him.

"Put your arm on the table," Izzy says. Alec pushes up his sleeve and sets his arm, palm up, on Izzy's vanity. The runes are gone, but between the scars from the faded runes and the work the burn did, the only letters that are even semi legible are the first one and the last one: an M and an e. Izzy pulls out her stele and draws a powerful glamour rune over his wrist, then grabs a bottle from off her vanity and rubs some kind of makeup onto Alec's arm; what kind Alec had no idea. Then she adds another glamour rune followed by another layer of the makeup.

"Done," Izzy says, "Come back to me tomorrow morning and I'll do it again."

"Thanks," Alec looks at his arm. It looks completely normal, like it had a month ago. Alec felt a lot better with one less thing to worry about and he was glad to not have to suffer any further.

Present Day

For five years now, Alec has been going to his sister every morning. he tried to learn how to do it himself, but to no avail. His sister's glamours got more and more powerful over the years so that no one can see through them. They dropped the makeup part after a couple of tests to see if anyone in their family could see through the glamours, which they couldn't. His family had been disappointed and gave up hope when he turned 15. Things had been going well until a few days ago when a certain little redhead had showed up. Her name was the one written on his Parabatai's arm, so now the younger blond boy is head over heels and willing to do every stupid thing to help Clary out.

"So, what are you going to wear to Magnus Bane's par-" Izzy walks into her brother's room, and then has a sudden realization.

"I'm not going to the party, Izzy," Alec says, looking up from his book on bed.

"And what are you planning on doing when Jace, Clary, Simon, and I show up at the party and talk to him? Somehow I don't think he cares about hiding his mark."

"It's not always a reciprocal thing, Izzy. Plus, I doubt a Warlock wants a bunch of Downworlders to know he's meant to be a Shadowhunter. I highly doubt it will be showing," Alec says.

"Don't you want to at least meet him, Alec?" Izzy asks, "You don't have to talk to him. He doesn't even need to know your name."

"It's a bad idea, Izzy," Alec says.

"Afraid you'll fall in love?" she asks him, "come on, you've got to be curious."

"Not really," Alec says, but then Jace walks into his room.

"What's this I hear about you not going to the party?" Jace asks, "Come on, we need you. Plus, maybe you'll meet someone pretty."

"I don't have a soulmate, remember?" Alec asks, "It will never last."

"Yeah, but there's nothing wrong with having a bit of fun," Jace says.

"We're not supposed to get involved with downworlders," Alec says, "I'm not going. You only need Clary to talk to Magnus. There's no point in me going."

"Come on, Alec, please? You can stop us from breaking rules," Jace says, "That's your favorite thing to do."

"You're already breaking rules," Alec says.

"By going to a party?" Jace asks, "Come on, we won't even be there that long. I need you to have my back in case something happens."

"Fine," Alec says, only to get Jace to stop bugging him. He immediately regrets it, but there is nothing that can be done.

Alec got increasingly nervous as they got closer to Magnus's loft. What if his name is showing on the warlock's arm? What if Magnus can see through his sister's glamours? He wishes he had asked Izzy to add the makeup layer just in case. Subconsciously, he pulled his sleeves down even further. He was just being paranoid. He has long sleeves on top of the glamours. Everything will be fine. Right?

They get into the party pretty easily and they stick out like sore thumbs. The others have visible marks on their skin. Of course, Alec's Z shaped deflection mark on his neck is showing, but none of the others are.

"I don't remember inviting any Shadowhunters to my party," a man appears in front of them. Alec can't help but stare at him. He's obviously attractive and there is something mysterious about him. Alec finds his warlock mark quickly - the cat eyes. It's subtle compared to a lot of warlock marks. Luckily for Alec, the warlock is wearing a long sleeve t - shirt.

"Well, you did," Izzy showing him the invitation.

"I must have been drunk," he says, "I'll let you stay because of the hot one."

"Thank you," Jace and Izzy say at the same time.

"Not you. I meant him. With the blue eyes," Magnus points at Alec and winks at him.

"I'm are my brother, Jace and-"

"Alexander," Magnus cut her off, his voice sounding a little hopeful, but also there is a bit of a questioning tone in his voice, as if he's not sure. Magnus has known lots of Lightwoods over the years, so he knows one when he sees one. However, so far none of the have been called Alexander.

"It's Alec," he corrects, "No one calls me by my full name."

"We have a lot to talk about," he tells Alec, but then looks at Clary, giving Jace a moment of confusion, "Clary. Where's your mother?

"Gone. That's why we're here," she says.

"Follow me," he says, "Can I trust the rest of you not to kill my party guests?"

"Yes," Jace says. Clary follow Magnus into his room and sits down on his bed.

"My mother was taken," Clary says, "I went to the Silent Brothers and your name was stamped in my mind. Why did you take my memories? And how do I get them back?"

"Your mother wanted me to," he says, "Every few months she brought you to me. She wanted to protect you. So she made you forget the Shadow World. As for getting your memories back, they'll come back on their own. There isn't anything I can do. Sorry."

"Great," she says, looking around, then notices a picture that sticks out "Why do you have a painting of my father? And how many of my mother's paintings did you buy?"

"Your mother needed the money," Magnus says, "And that's not your dad. The guy's widow asked your mother to paint a picture of him, but she didn't want it because it was too painful a memory."

"So who is my father?" Clary asks.

"I wish I knew," Magnus says, "I wish I could be of more help, but I can't. I'm sorry."

"How did you know Alec's name?" Clary asks suddenly, "Have you met him before?"

"No," Magnus says simply, "Although, I thought it would be obvious how I would know," Magnus grabs Clary's arm, "Your mark hasn't showed up. I was curious about that. I'm not sure you'll ever get one."

"It doesn't matter. My name is on Jace's arm," she says, "What's that got to do with- Oh." Clary doesn't have the heart to tell Magnus that Alec doesn't have a name on his arm. Clary knows that warlocks are immortal and who knows how long Magnus has been waiting to meet Alec only to eventually lose him again because Shadowhunters are very moral. Of course, it would hurt Magnus even more to learn that his name isn't on Alec's arm.

"I'm sure he and I have a lot to talk about," Magnus says, "Can you send him in?"

"Yeah, sure," Clary walks back out to where the others are talking and looks at Alec, "Magnus says he needs to talk to you about something. He didn't say what, but it seems important."

"I don't see why he needs me," Alec says, "Why doesn't Jace talk to him?"

"Because you're acting director of the Institute, so you're a higher authority," Clary smoothly lies.

"Fine, if it mean we can get out of here sooner. Did he give you the information you need?" Alec asks.

"Yes," Clary says, "Although, I wish he could have been more helpful. My memories will slowly come back on their own."

"So we just have to wait. We came here for no reason," Alec says, walking to Magnus's room. The warlock was sitting on his bed with his drink.

"I'm surprised it took you this long to at least find out who I am," Magnus says, rolling up his sleeve, "Personally, it's been 300 years. You had some interesting relatives I've meet along the way." There on Magnus's arm in Alec's hand writing is written Alexander Lightwood.

"May I?" Magnus stands up and walks up to Alec, who steps away from him.

"Don't bother. I don't have one," Alec says coldly, "My arm is blank. Sorry to disappoint you."

"Prove it," Magnus says, not believing the Shadowhunter for one second, "Show me your arm."

"Fine," Alec pushes up his sleeve, the wrong one.

"Other arm," Magnus crosses his arms, "Nice try."

"Fine," Alec pushes up the other one, which is blank as well, but Magnus could feel the magic. He grabs the Shadowhunter's arm in his hand.

"Really? A glamour? And a powerful one at that. You've got talented friends," Magnus says, and snaps his fingers and the glamour disappears. Alec quickly pulls his arm away.

"Alexander, there is no one else in this room. I'm not going to force you to out yourself. I just want to see it. I've been waiting 300 years to find you. To see my name on someone. Ever since I got into this world, I knew it would be difficult. Shadowhunters hate downworlders. Even more than they do know. And I knew I'd also lose you eventually. I drew the short straw. But we can at least be friends, Alexander. Please," the warlock pleads. There is sadness in his old eyes.

"Magnus, I-" Alec is trying to figure out how to tell the warlock when he grabs his arm. Alec's reflexes are too slow. Magnus has a firm grasp on Alec's arm, his eyes studying the blue eyed man's scarred arm.

"I see," the taller man drops the other's arm.

"Magnus, you have to under-"

"I have to understand? Understand what? That you'd rather scar yourself than face the facts and admit you're not meant to be with a Shadowhunter," Magnus says.

"I was 13! I panicked! Think of it from my perspective! I woke up one morning and suddenly-"

"How long?" Magnus glares at him.

"About a month," Alec says, "Until Izzy found out. Then she started glamouring over it."

"A month?! You burned yourself every day for a month? You actually consciously for a month decided it would be a better option to burn yourself than admit the truth? Did you ever even think twice about it? Did you ever think about me?"

"Of course I did! But it seemed like the lesser of two evils! Sometimes you have to pick between two unpleasant things. That's just the way it is."

"So harming yourself for a month and permanently scarring yourself is a better choice than just telling your family? Were you planning on hiding it your whole life?"

"I told you, I was 13. I didn't know what else to do. I've heard stories of Shadowhunters who are paired with Downworlders. It hardly ever ends happily. They're sent away. And they're the laughing stock of the Shadowhunters. But a male Shadowhunter and a male Downworlder? I was trying to protect myself."

"What about now? Can I see you again?" Magnus asks, "Or do you plan on staying away and pining after the blond one your whole life? Or are you going to let yourself be happy for once."

"It's not that simple. And I'm not in love with Jace. He's my parabatai."

"ALEC!" Jace calls from the other room and Alec hurries off, leaving Magnus to his thoughts. This is going to be a challenge, but Magnus isn't going to give up.

Do you love it? Hate it? Should I keep going? Let me know!

- TheOtherAvenger