"Thank you so much! My sister will love this."
Alec smiled warmly at the older woman, as she left the store, taking a deep breath.
"I knew I could trust you with the store."
He turned to the back entrance, where Jocelyn was entering, a fond smile on her face.
"I suppose that Clary and Simon made their excuses early on?"
Alec hesitated, not wanting to drop his adoptive sister and friend in it, "Ummm."
"No need to say anything." The older woman rolled her eyes, "Your face says it all. Let's shut up shop and go and grab something to eat."
As Alec rushed to help, he missed the sad look that flashed across Jocelyn's face and the way she shook her head.
He was too eager to please others, a remnant from his Institute days she figured.
They closed the shop and headed out. Halfway down the street, Jocelyn noticed how Alec would occasionally glance up at the stars, a sad look flashing across his face.
"Go on." She nudged him with her shoulder, "What are you thinking about?"
Alec shrugged, "I was just… thinking… of the past."
"Oh?"
"… I used to watch the stars a lot at the... home. At home."
"That sounds nice." Jocelyn carefully answered, "Did you… watch them with anyone?"
Alec remained silent, before shrugging and speeding up slightly, making Jocelyn wince.
She shouldn't have asked.
…..
"Are you sure?" the blonde-haired man asked the girl beside him.
"I think I would know my brother when I saw him… it was Alec."
"… Alec's dead, and even if he wasn't, what are the chances that he happens to be living with the one person who can help us stop Valentine?"
"We never saw a body…. it's him Jace, I know it."
…
"What's going on?!" Clary screamed, her and Simon pinned up against a nearby wall as Alec frantically attempted to knock away the approaching Shadowhunter, "Alec!"
Alec ignored her, focused on keeping the smirking men away.
He wasn't a threat to them, and they knew it. They were just… playing with their food at this point.
What was going on?
Why were they targeting the shop? And Jocelyn?
"Run!" He yelled at the other two, "Get out of here!"
They were frozen in place though.
"RUN!"
The pair attempted to rush to the entrance to the apartment, only for their path to be cut off by another man, who grabbed Clary's arm.
"Let go of her!" Simon yelled, attempting to kick the man in the legs, only to be kicked to the ground, head slamming against a nearby desk.
"Clary! Simon!" Alec yelled, quickly realising that they were outnumbered and outgunned.
As one of the men pulled a Seraph blade from its sheath, darting forwards to put a quick end to the fight, there was a flash of bright blue light. Alec winced, eyes squeezing closed in an effort to protect them.
When he heard four identical THUMPS, like bodies hitting the ground, he cautiously opened his eyes, only for his mouth to gape open in shock.
How often had that face haunted his dreams?
How often had he woke up screaming, imagining how those gorgeous eyes glazed over death, blood staining the floor.
"H-High Warlock?!"
The glittery man spun around, frowning slightly At Alec, almost in confusion.
"Alec!" Clary's voice broke the silence, as the Warlock's eyes widened in recognition.
"Alexander Lightwood?" He whispered, his voice stopping Clary and Simon in their tracks. However, before they could question him, the door to the shop slammed open and Jocelyn charged inside, panic written all over her face.
"Clary! Alec- " She stopped at the sight of the Warlock, "… Magnus?"
"Jocelyn." The Warlock, Magnus, straightened up, glancing between them all. "I think we need to talk."
She stared at him for a moment, before turning to the trio. "Head up to the apartment, I'll be up in a- "
"- Not Alexander." Magnus interrupted, eyes still on Jocelyn, "I have questions."
"… Of course."
….
It took some persuasion, but eventually, Clary and Simon headed upstairs, leaving Jocelyn, Magnus and Alec in the shop.
Alec froze in place as Magnus's gaze turned to him, those gorgeous brown eyes softening as a small smile appeared on the Warlock's face
"You have no idea how pleased I am to see you Alexander." He whispered, an unknown emotion in his voice, "How are you- "
"- How are you alive?" Alec interrupted, unable to hold the words back, clearly taking Magnus aback.
"I… was going to say the same to you."
"You know each other?" Jocelyn asked quietly, as they both nodded.
"We do." Magnus nodded, "But… everyone believes Alexander Lightwood to be dead."
"They do?" Alec frowned, only to remember the final conversation he had with his Father… he'd been stripped of his Lightwood name.
Saying he was dead, was probably the kindest thing to save their family's reputation.
Except…
"T-they told me you were dead." Alec stuttered, "M-my Dad… he- "
"- Told you I was dead?" Magnus frowned, "I was… badly injured and drained of almost all my magic, yes. But not dead."
Maybe his Father believed Magnus would die… that's why he said those things?
"Lightwood."
The pair turned to Jocelyn, who was staring at a fixed point on the wall.
"I tried… so hard to keep Clary safe from the Shadowhunter world." She whispered, "And yet, it found us anyway."
Alec felt like his heart was breaking in his chest as Jocelyn wouldn't meet his eyes, moving to the staircase.
"Jocelyn." Magnus's voice was a little colder than before, "We need the Cup…. Before your husband finds it."
She nodded, before continuing on up the stairs, leaving Magnus and Alec alone.
The silence was only broken when Magnus sighed wearily, "She means well." He tried to reassure Alec, "Jocelyn has… made certain decisions in her life that she does regret, but I'm sure taking you in, is not one of them."
"It sure feels like it." Alec sighed, only to frown at the look on Magnus's face, "What- what is it?"
"… It's like you're back from the dead." Magnus answered quietly, "You don't know how much this will mean to everyone." A pained expression flashed across his face, "What it means to me."
"I- I'm glad you're not dead either." Alec winced at how awkward he sounded, "I- I really didn't want you to be dead."
For a moment, all they could do was stare at each other, before Magnus turned away, clearing his throat almost nervously.
Alec found himself transfixed by how the shadows highlighted the angles of his face.
He'd come to terms with being gay over a year ago, though he had never confessed to anyone, but he had never seen someone as beautiful as Magnus.
He too, looked away, not noticing how Magnus watched him out of the corner of his eyes, a soft smile on his face.
"Maybe we should leave and let Jocelyn explain the situation to Clary and her friend." Magnus eventually whispered, "I'm sure this entire experience has been… confusing for them."
"Shouldn't we stay in case some more of those men come back?"
Magnus frowned, before waving his hand, sending blue sparkles over the room. "There." He smiled, "If anyone enters the shop, I'll know about it."
"Right." Alec shakily, only for his eyes to widen as Magnus gently took his hand.
"Come on… let's go for a short walk."
And so the pair left the shop, hand in hand.
…
"I didn't know Alec was… you know." Simon muttered, as he and Clary watched the pair leave.
"Really?"
As Clary sent her friend an incredulous look, they heard Jocelyn clearing her throat behind them.
"Clary… I need to tell you something."