Mikey goes to big brother Max for help.

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Mikey sits on the floor as tears roll down his face.

For the first four years of his life, he didn't know what love was. He felt no love for Master, nor did he feel any love from the warlock. Master never held him or kissed him or even touched him in a gentle way.

Just hit him with that wooden spoon.

Master never smiled at him nor said a kind word. Just yelled orders and directions.

And cursed out ShadowHunters. To Master, they were monsters. Monsters that needed to be killed. Monsters that didn't feel pain. And that is how Mikey was taught to see them.

Until Mikey saw one of those 'monsters' unconscious. The 'monster' wasn't a threat to Master or his friend, but they were a threat to him.

When he sat on the floor and put Daddy's head on his leg, that was the first time he touched somebody. He would have sat there and waited until the ShadowHunter woke up, if not for Poppa showing up.

Poppa.

Poppa was the first person to smile at him. Poppa was the first person to hold him.

He realized that he liked being held.

Then she walked in. His big sister with sparkling blue eyes and a bright smile. She held him in her lap then bought him over to Daddy. She gave him a name.

He offered his power to his new family and they accepted it with kisses.

He fell asleep on his new father's chest, with his new big sister nearby. He opened his eyes and his other new father was there as well. He went back to sleep knowing that he was finally loved.

And now they are gone.

Mikey looks around the empty room.

He remembers when Maxine bought him the coloring book and crayons to keep him busy. He looked at his new family and knew that he needed to keep them safe. He held a black, brown and blue crayon in his right hand as he colored with his left. With those three crayons in his hand he made a silent oath to himself that he would use his powers to keep them away from harm.

But as he colored, Master's threat to leave him echoed in his ears. He kept check of his new family and feared that they would disappear from his life as easily as they appeared.

When Poppa wanted him to make a fireball, he was scared to show his new family what he was capable of. He ran to Daddy because he needed to know that he wouldn't lose their love because of his power. Daddy's encouragement was all he needed to do as Poppa wished. With his hand on Daddy's leg, he knew that his father wouldn't leave him.

And yet they are gone now.

Mikey can hear his own breathing in the room and it scares him.

He wants to be in Daddy's arms, with Poppa nearby and Maxine smiling at him.

With all his power, he couldn't stop whatever took them from him. He woke up this morning in a strange bed. When he walked out of a strange room, he was called "Lionel". He ran out of the shelter and thought going to the Institute would clear things up.

He only got answers that made things worse.

Mikey takes a deep breath, wipes his eyes and slowly gets to his feet.

His Daddy is Alexander Lightwood, the REAL Head of the Institute.

His Poppa is Magnus Bane, the High Warlock of Brooklyn.

He has a beautiful sister named Maxine. And a big brother named Max.

Poppa taught him how to make portals. He was told that in the case of an emergency, the Institute was his first place to go.

His big brother's world was the second.

Mikey squares his shoulders and opens a portal. He takes another deep breath and walks through.

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He walks out into a parking lot. He looks around, confused. He stands there and wonders what to do next. He looks up at the sky and closes his eyes.

He prays to Mistress Destiny for help. He waits.

Suddenly an address appears in his mind. He thanks her and opens a portal.

He walks through and is outside a supermarket. Mikey walks in.

He looks around and sees Max behind one of the registers. He is wearing a red polo shirt and khaki pants. He has a name badge that says 'Albert'.

Mikey walks past a line of mundanes and goes over to his big brother. Max glances at him, then continues to ring up customers.

Mikey clears his throat, "Max."

The old lady, Max is helping, glares at him.

Mikey ignores her and tugs on Max's arm, "Max."

Max glances at him, "My name is Albert." He returns his attention to the old lady.

The man behind her tells Mikey, "There's a line buddy."

Mikey rolls his eyes and brings magic to his fingertips. Not Poppa said that he had the power to restore warlock minds when timelines were fucked with.

He touches Max's forehead. His big brother blinks as the old lady glares at Mikey. The mundanes on the line start screaming as Max's glamour flickers.

Mikey holds his breath until Max's glamour stops flickering and his brother looks around. He seems puzzled to see the mundanes and smiles when he sees Mikey. He looks down, "What the fuck am I wearing?"

Mikey smiles, "Hi, Max."

Max nods as he pulls the name badge off, "Albert? Why the fuck does the Clave insist on calling me Albert?" He crushes the badge in his hand.

Mikey giggles, "Max, mundanes."

Max looks around, "What the fuck?" He shakes his head as he walks away from the register.

The manager of the store runs over to see what the commotion is about, "Albert, where are you going?"

Max sneers at him, "The name is Max, and I quit." He and Mikey leave the supermarket and walk down the block.

Max shakes his head and snaps his fingers. Jeans and a black henley replace the polo shirt and khaki pants, "That's better."

Mikey nods, "Much better."

"What's going on Mikey?"

"Bad stuff. Aldertree is in charge of the Institute. Daddy is dead. The loft is empty. I don't know where Poppa and Maxine are. You were Albert."

Max nods, "Me being Albert, that's not good, but I'm not sure why the changes in your world have affected this one. Let's go to the Institute."

Mikey nods, "Okay." Max opens a portal and they walk through.

They walk out and there is only grass, the Old Church is gone.

Max looks around, "This can't be right."

Mikey stays close to Max as they walk around. Max shakes his head, "This is the right spot. Where's the Institute?"

Mikey swallows, "Max?"

Max shakes his head, "Not good. Let's go to the loft." He opens a portal. Mikey holds his hand as they walk through.

They walk out into the parking lot that Mikey originally showed up in. Max shakes his head, "No." He walks around, "No."

Mikey watches as Max rubs his thumb across his fingers, as he continues to shout "No". He sinks to his knees and starts to cry.

Mikey runs over to him and sits beside him as tears run down his own face. They hold each other.

The loft, like the Institute, is gone.

-tbc-

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Tiny little chapters to get the ball rolling.

Yes, I know, you hate me.

I love you. xo