For the first time in a too long, Alec slept well. The demon hunt had exhausted him, which had turned out to be exactly what he needed, and for some reason Alec found that he no longer had a heavy heart, in fact all of his regrets appeared to have vanished. Alec wasn't sure when exactly he'd stopped missing Magnus, but since Sebastian had arrived Alec had become increasingly distracted by the charismatic young man, and at some point the excitement he felt around the Nephilim had replaced the longing Alec used to feel for Magnus. Alec hadn't thought too much about the significance of no longer desiring Magnus, and at first he was just slowly adjusting to not having the warlock around, but now he didn't miss him at all. He knew that Magnus had been his first love, but now that the emotional rollercoaster he'd had with the warlock was over, Alec felt peaceful. Magnus would always be important to him, Alec supposed, as he was the first person to get Alec to come out of his shell, but he'd also been the first person to break Alec's heart, and now he actually agreed with what Magnus had said, he did think that it was better if they didn't see each other again.
Alec had supposed that these revelations would have been more heartbreaking, but he felt relief wash over him as he realised he was finally moving on from the warlock. Alec had also mused that perhaps such deep insights into his own life wouldn't come when he was brushing his teeth of all things. Alec quickly got ready for the day, and he was about to leave his room when he glanced down at the usual clothes he was wearing; faded jeans and a shirt with a hole in it. Alec frowned, and walked back into his room, for some reason deciding he should make a bit more of an effort. Alec didn't know why, but he seemed to care more about how he appeared since Sebastian had shown up, and now that the young shadow hunter was looking normal again the only reason that Alec didn't look like a walking fashion crises next to him was because Sebastian still didn't have any clothes that fit him. Alec supposed that at some point that situation would have to be corrected, but for the moment he focused on finding something in his wardrobe that didn't look like it had been eaten by moths.
Eventually Alec entered the kitchen wearing a pair of dark skinny jeans Izzy had given him at some point, and shirt that he had been told was meant to look too tight. Alec of course didn't really understand why someone would wear clothes that hugged the body so tightly, but he entrusted the taste of others when it came to what to wear.
"Are you wearing new clothes?" Jace asked the second he saw Alec, who ducked his head to avoid the glances he was now receiving from his siblings.
Sebastian seemed to be teaching Izzy how to cook something, although judging by the horrified look on Sebastian's face it was not going too well.
"Why does Alec get new clothes whilst I have to make do-" Sebastain suddenly stopped speaking as he turned and actually looked at Alec, his eyes quickly raking up and down Alec's muscular body, which was shown off perfectly by the clothes he was wearing.
Alec was instantly glad for deciding to put in the effort, and his heart gave a strange stutter as he watched Sebastian's reaction. He was usually oblivious to such actions, but even he had to admit that Sebastian's eyes were lingering, and in response Alec felt himself flush. Yet again he cursed his pale skin, reminding himself that Sebastian probably wasn't checking him out, or anything like that, and was most likely just surprised to see him wearing an acceptable outfit.
"You look…nice," Sebastian eventually said, and he cleared his throat as he turned back to the cooking, noticing the way that Izzy and Jace seemed to raise one eyebrow almost in unison.
"Th-thanks," Alec stammered, internally yelling at himself for stuttering.
Alec had no idea why he even cared about Sebastian's opinion so much, they had become friends over the week he'd been staying in New York, but Alec had never thought of anything else happening between them. Anyway, there'd been no indication that Sebastian was even gay, and so Alec quickly dismissed his line of thought.
"Speaking of new clothes, Sebastian really needs to get some, I'm sick of loaning out my stuff," Jace said as he watched Sebastian, who's height meant that he was stretching out the shirts that he borrowed off of Jace.
"I don't enjoy having to wear your clothes either," Sebastian muttered.
"It's settled then, Sebastian and Alec will go shopping today," Izzy stated.
"What? Why do I have to go?" Alec asked as he sat down and awaited whatever food was being made, a service he was getting very used.
"Jace and I are busy, and you also need some new clothes. I'm planning on burning every piece of clothing I find in your wardrobe with holes in it," Izzy said as she once again tried to become more involved with the cooking, but was quickly dismissed as Sebastian attempted to save the dish.
"Why does everyone care so much about what I wear?" Alec muttered, making Sebastian chuckle.
"Well, the tighter the clothes are, the easier it is to picture you naked," Sebastian said with a sly grin, causing Alec to blush again.
"Is that something you do often, Sebastian?" Jace asked expectantly.
"Jace!" Alec said as he glared at his brother.
Sebastian turned back to the cooking, although Izzy could see the small smile on his face that seemed to be his silent answer of 'yes' to Jace's question.
"You're not busy today," Jace said once he and Izzy were alone in the kitchen together, as both Sebastian and Alec had disappeared to go get ready for their forced shopping trip.
"What are you talking about?" Izzy replied in a guarded tone.
"I know for a fact you're not out with Simon because he and Clary are hanging out together today," Jace replied, looking a little annoyed at the fact he wouldn't be able to see Clary.
"Fine, I was lying."
"Why?" Jace asked, clearly confused.
"Oh come on, there is totally something going on between Alec and Sebastian."
"So you think shopping is going to bring them together?" Jace said sarcastically.
"They have had hardly any alone time together, and every time there's just the two of them, sparks fly. You can't tell me you haven't noticed," Izzy said, sounding proud that she was secretly setting her brother up.
"Izzy," Jace said in a warning tone, knowing how much she enjoyed becoming involved in other people's lives.
"Don't you think they're sweet together? And it's not like I'm actually doing anything…I'm just giving them some privacy," Izzy said with an innocent expression that didn't set well with the general mischief she often caused.
"Well, it's pretty obvious that Sebastian likes Alec…and Alec has been happier lately…" Jace thought out loud.
"I bet you that by the end of today they'll have at least kissed," Izzy declared.
"What? No, that is not going to happen with Alec. He was stuttering again this morning, there is no way the two of them are going to get together just like that," Jace said dismissively.
"Oh yeah because Alec wasted heaps of time before starting to date Magnus," Izzy pointed out.
"That was different, he's an 800 year old warlock, he probably magicked Alec into it or something," Jace said, his disdain for the warlock showing.
"Fifty bucks says I'm right," Izzy challenged, and with a smirk Jace nodded.
"You're on," he said, and quickly went quiet when he saw Alec and Sebastian walking together, both boys smiling slightly.
"Don't have too much fun today," Izzy called after them as Alec and Sebastian left the Institute, however neither of the Nephilim even noticed that Jace and Izzy were there, being far too wrapped up in each other.