Alec found Izzy in the main training area, even at ten she handled a whip better than any Shadowhunter that Alec knew. His Parabatai ceremony with Jace was in a couple hours and he didn't know what to do. The numbers over his heart said he would find his soul mate a little after his eighteenth birthday, but his heart was telling him he already had.
Izzy stopped short when she saw Alec come through the doors. "Why aren't you getting ready?"
Alec hesitated, then fidgeted as he walked closer. "This is a mistake. I'm not going through with it." Alec paced, one hand playing over his heart, the other gripping at air.
"That's histerical. Whatever happened between you two, why don't you kiss and make up?" Izzy said. She swung her whip to continue practicing.
"This just doesn't feel right."
Izzy shook her head. "You're not making any sense." She lowered her whip and turn to face Alec properly. "All you've been talking about since Jace arrived was becoming Parabatai. Now you're actually doing it."
Alec bent his head. "I thought if anyone would understand it would be you," he said, he gestured to her and continued, "you don't have one."
Izzy sighed, "I never wanted one. But you and Jace click. Everyone knows that you guys are better fighters together than you are apart."
It was true, and Alec knew that. He and Jace did click, they seemed to know exactly where the others was and how to meld their unique styles to be a better pair. Maybe that's why he loved Jace so much. He hoped Izzy would have understood why this was so hard, but obviously she didn't. He finally replied, "super helpful, Izzy. Thanks."
Alec went to leave but Izzy grabbed his arm. "All these years of training and … and you're just gonna call it off? Are you nuts? I mean, the only time that actually happens is when somebody falls in love with–" She broke off and really looked at Alec. "Oh!"
"Don't say another word." Alec couldn't have described how he felt just then. His sister had figured out the one thing that could destroy his life.
"I get it," Izzy finally whispered.
"No, you don't." Alec believed that. Izzy would never understand what he felt. Something was wrong with him and it wouldn't just destroy his life, but it would destroy his family's name, his standing in the community… they could de-runed him for this.
Izzy took a deep breath and tried to calm Alec down. "Okay, maybe I don't. I know you're obnoxious and stubborn—"
Alec cut Izzy off, "I hope you're going somewhere with this—"
Izzy interrupted Alec before he could get the wrong impression, "but you're also loyal and honest and a big old softy when you stop worring about what people are thinking of you." Izzy wanted to hug Alec, but knew he would only push her away.
Alec hadn't started hiding his mark until he was ten himself, when Jace had arrived. Izzy's numbers were constantly on show, she believed in love. She couldn't wait to find her soulmate. Alec had only seen Jace's numbers once. Alec would be the last one to find his soulmate, but within days, or hours, of each other. Izzy was the most excited, she knew that when Jace's countdown was over, hers only had hours left.
She would worry about Alec now, about how his life would turn out, but she had faith that whoever Alec's soulmate would be that they would be exactly what Alec needs to really be himself. "One day, somebody is gonna love you heart and soul."
Alec scoffed, even if that were true, he would never be able to have an open relationship, not with the clave. Or maybe fate was a dick, and he would be fated to a girl instead of a guy. He stopped believing fate knew best long ago, now he just fate to stay out of his life.
Izzy had been silent, waited for Alec to digest what she'd said. When he didn't respond she kept talking, "If you walk away from Jace you may never find another Parabatai, is that really a risk you're willing to take?"
Alec thought about it, he could tell fate to take a hike and forget about the numbers on his chest and stop the Parabatai ceremony on the chance that Jace would do the same thing, that he felt the same way. Or he could take Izzy at her word, she always knew things before he did.
The likelihood that Jace felt the same way, or that the Clave would be okay with a gay Shadowhunter were both improbable at best. And Jace was his best candidate if he wanted a Parabatai. Izzy was right, he wouldn't find someone else who complements him better and for the sake of his family it was a good allegiance to have, like father like son. The Lightwoods and the Waylands would be Parabatai again.
Alec let out a breath and reached out for Izzy. "You're too smart for your own good, sis," he said and wrapped her up in a hug. "C'mon, help me get ready for the ceremony, so I don't change my mind.
Izzy wrapped her arms tighter around Alec and prayed to the Angel that Alec would find happiness. Her big brother deserved nothing less than someone who protect the man who never thought of his safety when others were in danger. And someone who would love Alec more than he could love himself, for what lied ahead for him would test everything Alec ever knew.
And Izzy, as the best sister in the New York Institute, would be there to defend and support Alec, where ever his heart lead him. Because the best big brother deserves nothing less than an amazing little sister.