Hey! I'm so sorry it's so late but I do have a good reason.
I couldn't find a good place to end the chapter...so I ended up writing far more than I expected to, which took a LOT longer considering I'm far too prone to writer's block.
So, I met in the middle and split the work I did up into two, with the hope that if you have another chapter to read, you won't kill me for ending the first one weirdly.
Okay, I'm not going to do that thing where I make a harsh critque of my own work in the notes. That's your job! Comment and let me have it.
-Karma
"So the fey is like, 'Don't you think that's a little bit inconsiderate?" Jace said, setting down his fork to make hand gestures alongside his high-pitched imitation. "So she's fuming, and seriously looks like she's going to lunge for me, and all I can think about is, 'who the hell says 'inconsiderate' anymore?"
"You didn't say that, though?" Isabelle said, more a demand than a question. She was sitting across from Jace, her plate half empty already.
"I did," Jace said with a smug smirk.
Isabelle's mouth dropped open. "Did she kill you?" she asked, a small, shocked chuckle in her tone.
"I'm sure she would've," Jace said. "I just got up, got out of there. And she was looking at me with this smug look, like, 'you not being here would probably make me happier than if I actually punched you'."
Isabelle laughed from her belly, ducking her head until her hair was almost touching her beef.
Hodge coughed gutterally, the first thing that had come from his mouth since they'd sat down. "Jace," he said. "I hardly send you out on these missions so that you can mingle with Downworlders and get drunk."
"It was purely a matter of blending in," Jace urged, holding his hands up. "I was gathering intelligence. Honest."
"I was wondering when you were going to get some of that," Isabelle interjected.
Clary laughed shortly from beside Jace. Even Hodge worked to repress a grin.
Alec sat at the other side of Jace, twirling his peas around his fork. His thoughts drowned out the conversation, drowned out the room. All there was was the peas, his fork, and the absolute calm in Magnus' eyes when he had handed Alec the card.
Just a little get together. Something to do if you're free.
What the hell did that mean? What would he be doing? What was Magnus roping him into?
Not roping, the little voice in the back of Alec's head piped up, you don't have to go. He said IF.
Alec sighed, lowering his head until he remembered that there was a plate there.
"What?" Jace asked with a chuckle, stirring Alec out of his reverie. "You don't like dinosaurs?"
Alec lifted his head up and squinted his eyes at Jace. "Dinosaurs?"
"Yeah," Jace said, looking around the table as if expecting the others to back him up. "Haven't you been listening for the past five minutes?"
Alec shook his head. "No," he said. "I'm fairly indifferent to dinosaurs."
Jace's face fell. "That's a shame."
Isabelle laughed quietly.
***
After dinner, Alec retreated to his room. He left half a steak and a couple of peas, but eating felt like a chore tonight. As such, he was the first one to leave the dining hall.
He flopped onto his bed the moment that he got in. He covered his eyes with his hands and sighed. His thoughts were displaced and messy, but he could identify three main tracks of thought.
The first was about the others. The way they'd react, if they could even be allowed to find out, and what would happen as a result of it. He didn't even know if there was a rule against it, but he was sure that the Clave would find something inexcusable in it.
The second was about Magnus. His mind traced over the conversation, and he was surprised how much he could remember. He could practically run the whole event, from start to finish, just from memory. The softness in his eyes when he had told Alec that he was important, utterly antithetical to the concrete ignorance that usually flickered around his irises. The way his jaw had set, ever so slightly, when Alec had conceded and confided in him that yes, he was in love with his best friend. That was still there, that wasn't going to go away, but there was no disputing that Alec was attracted to Magnus, not now, anyways. 'Attraction' was such a strange, casual word, and didn't quite fit the sentiment that tore through Alec's chest when he even recalled the kiss, but he was scared to use anything stronger than it. He certainly couldn't ignore it like he had before, especially with the time on the card growing ever nearer.
The third track of thought was about how he could sneak out whilst avoiding detection. Above anything, he wanted to avoid using the front door; if there wasn't a glamour around the Institute, he was sure that anybody within a mile would be able to hear the thunderous creaking that commenced every time somebody went in or out.
A slow, deep knock at the door jolted him out of his thought castle.
"Hello." It was Isabelle.
Alec spun around and rested his feet on the ground. "Come in."
She did, gliding into the room and sitting down on the bed.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi."
"What's wrong with you?" she asked.
Alec shook his head, looking forward and scratching the nape of his neck.
"Um..." He looked up at Isabelle, blinking rapidly. "Isabelle, have you ever snuck out at night? Like, without anybody knowing?"
Isabell stared at him with a neutral curiosity. "Yes," she said firmly, pronouncing every letter. "Why?"
Alec opened his mouth but then closed it again,turning his head towards the wall.
"What is it?" she asked with an irritated lightness to her voice. "Do you need to sneak out?"
Alec stayed silent.
"Alec."
"...I met someone," he said, barely more than a mutter.
She made a noise somewhere between a gasp and a laugh. "You what?"
"I met someone." He looked her in the eye.
Her jaw dropped a little. She prompted closed it and nodded with soft, kind eyes. "So, a boy, then."
Alec nodded, suppressing a smile. It was weirdly gratifying to say that you had a boyfriend- even although he didn't. Yet.
"Are you meeting him?" she asked. "At night?"
He nodded again. Something about this conversation had messed with his ability to speak.
"When?"
"Midnight. Today."
"In 5 hours?" Isabelle asked, her eyes widening.
Alec nodded.
She let out a deep breath, looking around the room. "Okay. I can help you."
Alec's face lit up. He tried to hide it, but it was too late. Isabelle smiled.
"I can give you the key to the window in my room," she said.
Alec blinked. "You stole the key?"
Isabelle shrugged, pursing her grinning lips. "Nobody's missed it yet. Besides, it's my room. My window."
Alec's mouth slowly opened and curled into a smile. "What else don't I know about you?"
"Oh, dear brother," she said, "there are more things on Heaven and Earth than you need to butt your nosy ass into. Now, come on. We need to get you dressed up."
***
"Turn around," Isabelle ordered.
Alec stood at the door to his room in a dark blue button down shirt, a denim jacket and black jeans. They'd spent the last three hours tearing through Alec's wardrobe, finding little bits and pieces that he hadn't worn for years, but somehow still fitted him. Whenever he put on a new outfit, Isabelle would make a critical commentary of it in fashion jargon that he didn't understand in the slightest. In any case, it often meant that she disproved of it, so he had to get changed again.
But as he did as requested, Isabelle jumped off her seat, putting her hands together. "That's it!" she proclaimed. "What do you think?"
Alec looked down at himself. "It's a little...casual, don't you think?"
Isabelle's mouth parted. She looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Where exactly are you going with this boy?"
"Uh..." That was a good question. Where was he going?
"Nothing special- I just want to look nice, that's all," he explained, shrugging.
Isabelle grinned broadly and raised her knuckle to her lip. "Aw, it's your first date, isn't it?"
Alec's cheeks reddened. "...Something like that, yes."
She let out a short, high-pitched and gleeful shriek.
"Honestly," she said, standing up and putting a hand on either shoulder. "You look great. He's going to be putty in your hands."
Alec allowed himself to smile just a little. "Thanks."
Isabelle looked over him for a while longer, still with a goofy grin plastered on her face. "I'm sorry. I'll shut up. I'm just happy for you, is all."
"I'm pretty happy too," Alec chuckled.
Heavy footsteps pounded against the floor outside Alec's room. Isabelle turned to him with a severe look, eyes popping open. "Shit," she whispered harshly. "Hide the key."
Alec scooped the key up from his bedside table and shoved it in his top drawer.
Before they could do much else, the door slid open and Hodge appeared in the doorway. "Isabelle," he said, his gaze latching on to her. "It's late. Shouldn't you be getting to bed?" Before Isabelle could answer, his eyes shifted to Alec. "Alec- why are you dressed like that?"
"I'm trying something out," Isabelle piped up. "I was thinking that Alec would do well with a wardrobe change, you know. He's got plenty of gems in here, and he never wears any of them- it's like he's trying to downgrade himself. So, I was thinking, maybe the whole, 'intelligent punk rocker' thing? You know, this is just the start. We should get him sunglasses. Maybe even a pair of-"
Hodge sighed. "Okay, Isabelle. Just don't stay too late," he said. "Bed by eleven."
Isabelle nodded. "You got it."
"Right." He backed out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Isabelle giggled and took a seat on the bed. "Well, there you go," she said with a sly grin. "Seventeen and we still have a bed time."
Alec shook his head. "You can see where he's coming from," he said. "It's not like all we have to worry about is being drowsy at school. If we don't get enough sleep, we might die."
"Says you, who's sneaking out at midnight to meet a mystery suitor," Isabelle poked.
"I'm trying something out."
***
Alec lay in his bed, wasting the battery on his phone, until the Institute began to grind slowly to a halt. He went on Google Maps and looked up the address on the card. 0.7 miles, it said. That was just short enough that he could afford a cab. He hoped to god the driver would know where he was going.
Finally, the halls quietened and soon there wasn't a soul to be heard. When he was sure that Hodge was either asleep or lost in his greenhouse, he got up.
A surge of adrenaline surged through him, shaking him awake. He opened the drawer and took the key out. Slipping it into the back pocket of his jeans, he made his way out into the corridor.
A draft wrapped around his body as he walked, forcing the hairs on his neck to stand on end. There's nothing wrong with walking, he thought. Maybe I can't sleep, or maybe I needed the toilet.
As he felt his way around the darkness, Magnus fell into his mind again. For the first time, it occurred to him just how bizarre this whole scenario was. He was given a vague invitation by a man he barely knew, and that was enough for him to sneak out, risking his safety and his tutor's confidence.
But it was undoubtedly euphoric; it was one break, one chance to do something for a change. He'd been good so far- surely he deserved this?
After falling into his own thoughts once again, he found himself outside Isabelle's door. He absently wondered when he had memorised the way. He knocked.
"Isabelle," he whispered, "it's me."
Something stirred inside the room- there was a light clunk and a couple of soft footprints. Then, the door swung open. Light flooded into the hallway.
"You aren't asleep?"
She shook her head. "I didn't want to get rudely awoken," she explained. "Come in. You got the key?"
Alec nodded, pulling it from his back pocket. He stepped into the room.
"Wait," Isabelle said, holding his shoulders to keep him upright. She smoothed down a dark curl that was sticking up at the back of his head. "Perfect." She grinned.
"I don't really see why you couldn't have just opened the window for me," Alec said.
"Because," she said. "It's cooler this way."
He hopped up onto the bed and leaned towards the window.
"Hey, Alec?"
"Yes?" he asked, bringing the key to the lock.
"I won't pry too much, but whoever this boy is; if he ever hurts you, he has me to answer to."
Alec smiled. "I know."
***
The address on the card seemed to be taking him outside of the main city and into quieter territory. The cab driver had seemed apprehensive when Alec handed him the car, but he didn't mention anything about it. Alec didn't think much of it; he was a mundie, after all.
But as they drove further and further away from the Institute and the hustle and bustle of the city center, Alec's stomach dropped. He began to actually think about what he was doing, and how strange it was that he hadn't considered it before. He'd just dropped everything and ran, under the pretense of spontaneity, but tiny, unsettling thoughts were bubbling to the surface, one after the other.
Magnus hated Shadowhunters; that was clear. He was also in very close leagues with a lot of other...people, who also hated Shadowhunters. These people also seemed to have a very relaxed moral compass. The bottom line was that anything could happen; it could be a setup, it could be an ambush. Alec deeply regretted not bringing any weapons, but it wasn't like he could take on an assembly of warlocks, werewolves and fae himself. It was entirely possible that he was riding to his own death, and he was paying the fare.
Just when Alec was about to call off the cab, tell him he'd get off here, pay the fare and walk back himself, it stopped.