WARNING: THIS CHAPTER FEATURES A CHARACTER HAVING A PANIC ATTACK. Do not read from "Alec pressed a hand to the back of the man's head, and held onto him tightly." Stay safe friends!

They needed to get a security pass to break into the power room. Alec and Izzy headed inside the precinct and climbed down some stairs. Izzy opened the door, Alec followed behind her. They stepped out into the lobby and they both spotted an opportunity to get what they needed in the form of a female cop.

"Okay, I'm guessing you're the distraction? " Alec asked, because that was how it usually went.

" Nope," Izzy said. " I've decided to grow up, remember? No more distracting for me. Besides, " Izzy looked to the policewoman, " I don't think I'm her type. "

Alec shifted in discomfort and tugged on his jacket nervously. " Oh, crap. "

"Don't worry, it's good practice. "

Alec turned to his sister. "Huh? "

Izzy smiled devilishly. " You know, for asking out Magnus" —her gaze flickered up to Alec's face— "and Jonas."

Alec shot her a glare, causing her to chuckle. He coughed to clear his throat, and then looked down as Izzy grabbed at his clothes. " What are you... what are you doing? "

"Unbuttoning your shirt. What's it look like I'm doing? " she asked.

"Izzy, this is not really my department," he complained.

Izzy sighed. "Come on. " She straightened his jacket. " You do this sort of stuff all the time. "

Alec stared at her. "You do, I don't. "

"It's easy," she said. Alec exhaled slowly as he realised that he had no choice. This was necessary for the mission, as much as he hated to admit it. He turned towards the welcome desk, hearing Izzy urge behind him, " Come on. "

Alec approached the woman, preparing to smile. He leaned over the desk once he was close enough, offering her a grin. " Hey. "

"Can I help you? " she asked, seeming unfazed by his efforts.

"Yeah, um... " Alec felt his smile drop for a moment as he wracked his brain for something to say. An idea hit him, and he smiled again. "You come here often? " he asked, only stuttering a little.

She tilted her head and offered him an unimpressed look. " I work here. What can I help you with? "

"Right, um... " Alec let his gaze drop and he searched around the desk. Clearly he wasn't going to win her over with a smile and an unbuttoned shirt. " Right, right– Right, yeah, um... " he said, stuttering a lot as he stalled for time. His gaze caught on the woman's security pass, and then on the uncapped water bottle. " Yeah, I'm just... I'm looking for some information. "

"Oh, look... " He reached out to grab a pamphlet, purposely knocking over the bottle. Water spilled everywhere, and the woman hurried to clean up the mess. " Oh, wow. I'm so sorry. Let me just get that." As he grabbed some pamphlets, he flicked the security pass over to Izzy who was walking by. He didn't check to see if she caught it, instead focused on the mess he made. " That's not... I'm so sorry. That's such a mess. Let me clean that up. " When his attempts failed, he continued, "Uh, it's not working."

"Here, let me," she said.

Alec fumbled some more. "Okay. "

"No, I got it. I got it." She pushed his arms away. "Just go. Go. "

"You sure? " Alec asked and just grabbed a bunch of random pamphlets.

"Go," she told him.

"Thank you so much, " Alec said, shooting her one last smile (that she didn't see) before scurrying away with a handfull of pamphlets that he had absolutely no use for.

Oh well, he thought. Mission accomplished.

Alec and Izzy caught up with Jace and Jonas outside of the precinct. There were cop cars everywhere, and people were rushing about around them. "Did you get it?" Alec asked as he reached Jonas.

"Sort of," Jonas replied.

"Sort of?" Alec questioned.

"I've got the card," Jonas said. "But I need to figure out how I reached into the book before. It's… It's not an exact science."

"Can't you just pull the Cup out?" Alec questioned.

Jonas answered, "In theory, but I've never been good with theory. I'm more of a 'do or do not, there is no try' kind of guy."

Alec got the feeling that Jonas had just made some kind of 'pop culture' reference. Even though he didn't get it, Alec still found himself thinking the man adorable. Alec was doomed— Utterly, irrevocably doomed.

"Listen," Jace cut in. "You two can discuss theory as much as you want when we get back to the Institute. But right now, considering we just stole from the cops, I suggest we get home."

"Guys…" Izzy looked down at her necklace, and Alec tensed as he noticed it was pulsing. "I think the mundanes might be the least of our worries."

Alec turned back to the group. "Well, at least we know the demon necklace works."

"Never a dull day," Jace commented. "Let's go."

The three of them hurried off, with Jonas bringing up the rear. "Not to be an inconvenience, but could we slow down?"

Alec didn't pay him any mind, too busy keeping an eye out for demons. It wasn't until he heard a snarl behind him that he turned around.

Jace was already approaching the demon, and when he got close enough he smile in greeting. "Grandma," he said. The creature turned to face him and he pulled the blade out from behind his back, stabbing it through the demon's torso. It screeched as it dissipated, and Jonas gaped at the display.

"Holy fuck," he cursed.

"Language," Jace chided. "Not in front of Grandma."

Alec neared them and questioned, "How did it find us?"

"I don't know…" Jace said, trailing off as he was distracted by the demons that'd just arrived. "But she brought friends."

"What?" Jonas asked, whipping his head back around to face the three of them. "How do you know?"

"It's like seeing through a glamour," Jace said and turned to start walking again.

Alec added, "You just have to pay attention to the details."

"What details?" Jonas replied. "I don't see anything!"

Izzy pulled up alongside the two. "Behind us," she warned.

"Yep, yep. Totally see them," Jonas muttered. "They're wearing bright pink bows and everything."

The four of them pulled to a stop as more demons arrived ahead. Jonas backed up a few steps, saying, "Okay, there's too many people."

"I think I'm gonna agree with Jonas on that one," Alec said. "We gotta get out of here."

Jonas looked around for a moment, and then clapped Jace on the back. "Over here!"

He led them over to a massive staircase. The four of them raced down it and to a service door. Jonas reached it first, and tried to open it. When the door wouldn't budge, he turned to the three of them. "There must be a rune for busting stuff open, right?"

Jace stepped forward, and then promptly kicked in the door with seemingly no effort. "Open sesame," he said and grinned at Jonas before heading inside.

The four of them hurried through the door, and as they passed Jace told them, "Go."

Alec waited until the others had gotten a lead before pausing. He tapped his quiver, causing it to appear, and then drew an arrow. Jace noticed him stopping.

"Hey, what are you doing?" he questioned as he approached.

"Holding them off," Alec explained. "Take Jonas back to the Institute."

"No, if you're staying, I'm staying." Jace shrugged as though it were that simple. "We fight together."

Alec glared at him. "Don't be stupid. If the demons get the Cup, we're dead anyways."

"I'm not leaving anyone behind," Jace argued.

"You don't have a choice."

Jonas called out from his position by the wall. "Let him have his hero moment." The auburn haired Shadowhunter then narrowed his gaze at Alec. "But if you die then I'm bringing you back to life so I can kill you myself."

Alec gulped, because he actually believed the man's threat.

"Don't worry," Izzy said, noticing Jace's hesitation. "It's not like this is the first time Alec has saved your life. I doubt it'll be the last."

Alec inclined his head towards Jace. "Go."

Jace seemed reluctant to leave, but he did and Alec listened to their fading footsteps as he turned and prepared to fight.

The demon disguised himself as the Shadowhunter's friend. The demon was excited. The demon did not think it would be difficult at all to trick the poor, sad, helpless, untrained Shadowhunter. The demon did not think it would be difficult at all to kill the Shadowhunter.

It listened to the Shadowhunter's pathetic cries for help, cries for "Alec! Alec!"

It listened and followed the cries, growing closer and closer to its prey by the second.

At last, the demon rounded the corner and called out, "Jonas!"

"Finally." The Shadowhunter sighed in relief. The demon approached the poor, disgusting creature. As they drew close, the Shadowhunter reached out as though to touch the demon. "They hurt you," the Shadowhunter said.

The demon pulled its head away, because gross gross it did not want the Shadowhunter's hands anywhere near it.

"I'll be all right," the demon— Alec… Demon!Alec— said. "You okay?" Demon!Alec asked, taking in the Shadowhunter's wide eyes.

"Yeah, I'm… I'm fine. Barely, but–"

Demon!Alec interrupted its petty whinings. "What happened?"

"I got cornered by one of those bugs, but I sent them away with the Cup." The Shadowhunter grinned. "It was so badass. I mean, I've got no clue how I did it. It was sheer dumb luck, but it was still awesome."

Demon!Alec listened to it ramble for as long as possible, before saying right as it finished, "Jonas, you're amazing. I always knew you could do it. Now give me the Cup and let's go."

The Shadowhunter scoffed. "Give you the Cup?"

"Yes." Demon!Alec tried for a smile. "Only until we get back to the Institute. It's the only way I can keep you safe." Demon!Alec stared at the annoying creature intently. "I'll die before I let anything happen to you."

That's what it would like to hear, right?

The Shadowhunter nodded. "Well, I can't fault that logic."

It reached behind itself, and then suddenly Demon!Alec had been stabbed (stabbed!) by the poor, sad, helpless, untrained Shadowhunter.

Demon!Alec grunted in pain and murmured, "Jonas?"

"Alec?" the Shadowhunter began to panic. "Oh fuck! Alec, no!"

As Demon!Alec felt itself fading, it fought one last time. Hoping to catch the Shadowhunter off guard, it snarled and flared its mouth open. The Shadowhunter just shoved the blade in deeper and twisted.

Demon!Alec knew no more.

Together, Alec and Luke searched for Jonas. They stepped through a door, and before Alec knew what was happening Luke called out, "Jonas!"

Alec stepped in behind Luke, and couldn't hold back a smile as he spotted a familiar, auburn haired Shadowhunter. "Jonas…" he whispered in relief.

"Alec?" Jonas questioned. Then, the man's eyes went wide. "Alec!"

Without warning, Jonas launched himself at Alec. He caught the man with only a slight stumble, and almost immediately Jonas wrapped his arms tightly around Alec

"I killed you," Jonas admitted, voice shaking. "I killed you."

"Hey," Alec soothed. Feeling out of his element, but wanting to help Jonas, he rubbed a hand up and down the man's back. "You didn't kill me, I'm right here."

"But– but you were–" Jonas cut off with a shaky, choked sob. He then burrowed his face into Alec's neck. Alec pressed a hand to the back of the man's head, and held onto him tightly.

With a start, Alec realised that the man wasn't breathing.

He pulled back and stole Jonas' gaze. "Breathe," he commanded. "In and out. With me. Breathe, Jonas."

Jonas took in a frantic breath that segwayed into a flurry of panicked gasps.

"Slower," Alec commanded, leaving no room for argument. "Breathe with me, Jonas. It's okay."

Jonas shook his head, breaths going in and out at an alarming rate.

Alec felt a tendril of fear curl in his gut as he realised that Jonas was having a panic attack.

"You're safe now, Jonas," Alec told the man in a careful voice. He let his forehead rest against the other man's, breathing pointedly in and out of his nose. "You're going to be okay, this will pass. Just try to breathe as slowly and deeply as possible."

"Get him to sit down," Luke commented quietly from where he stood.

Alec nodded and guided Jonas to sit down against the wall. He kept a comforting touch on the man and eyed him closely. "What you are feeling is scary, I know, but I'm here. I'm going to keep you safe.

Jonas shook his head, shutting his eyes as his entire body began to tremble. Alec repeated, "I'm not dead, Jonas. You didn't kill me. You didn't kill me."

Jonas' gaze snapped to Alec's face, eyes opening wide as he stared at Alec.

"Breathe with me," Alec tried again, and opened his mouth to suck in a deep breath.

Much to his immense relief, Jonas copied him.

Alec held his breath for a few beats before breathing out slowly. Jonas did the same.

He repeated the process for as long as it took. When Jonas was finally breathing normally, Alec felt like his heart started to beat again.

"Are you okay?" Alec asked, when Jonas just stared at him. "Do you need anything?"

Jonas swallowed. "What?" he asked, in a dry, raspy voice.

"Do you need anything?" Alec repeated. "Anything at all?"

Jonas shook his head. "Just you," he explained. "'Need to know you're safe." He then leaned into Alec's side, resting his head against Alec's right shoulder.

Alec looked up and sought out Luke's gaze. "Can you give us a minute?" he asked lightly.

Luke nodded. "I'll go check the perimeter. Yell if you need something."

Alec watched the werewolf walk off, and then turned to Jonas.

"There was a demon," Jonas explained. "Shapeshifter. It looked just like you."

Alec turned and glanced at what must've been the demons remained. He looked back to Jonas. "How'd you know it wasn't me?"

Jonas smiled weakly. "I just knew."

"Really?" Alec arched a brow. He asked in a joking tone, "Kind of a risk, wasn't it?"

"Not to inflate your ego any further," Jonas began. "But you actually have some good advice every now and them. 'You just have to pay attention to the details'."

Alec inclined his head and said, "I'm glad you avoided getting yourself killed."

"You do care," Jonas teased.

Alec hummed non-committedly.

"Alec," Jonas started. Alec glanced down at the man, meeting hesitant, vibrant green eyes. "What you said in the precinct, did you mean it?"

"About the underwear?" Alec felt his cheeks heat slightly. "No, of course not."

"No, not the underwear." Jonas huffed in amusement. "All of that… mushy, gooey stuff that was surprisingly poetic."

"Oh." Alec ducked his gaze.

He didn't know how to answer that.

...Because some of it had been true.

"Alec," Jonas said.

"Hmm?"

"Kiss me."

Alec looked up, surprised by the man's words. Jonas was looking at him with a level of intensity and sincerity that Alec had never seen before. Alec tracked the bob of Jonas' adam's apple as he swallowed, and then watched as the man's tongue flicked out to wet his full, pink lips.

Alec couldn't resist.

He pressed forward, reaching up with one hand to hold Jonas' cheek as their lips met in a searing hot kiss. Jonas let out a contented sigh, and Alec pulled back to press another kiss against the man's lips. It was a whirlwind of too-much teeth and not enough tongue and not knowing what to do with his hands and forgetting to breathe.

It was fierce and rough and caring and warm and perfectly imperfect.

It was a kiss, many kisses, it was Jonas not shoving him away like before, and them losing themselves in each other.

They pulled apart, both panting to catch their breath. At some point, Alec had found his hand drifting up and carding through Jonas' hair, which was now all tousled and breathtaking because of him. Jonas' full, pink lips were shining with saliva and puffy from their kissing. His cheeks were flushed, eyes wide in a mix of shock and wonder.

Alec… Alec could definitely get used to seeing Jonas look like that.

"Wow," Jonas said in a rush of wispy breath.

Alec grinned, sure that he was feeling exactly the same way. "Yeah."

They returned to the Institute to find Jace looking panicked as he bustled about the room. "Right now, Jonas is the only thing that matters."

"Jace," Jonas called to the man.

Jace turned, and his expression turned to one of relief as he took in Jonas' unhurt form. "You okay?" he asked.

Jonas hurried down the steps to meet him. Alec waited up top with Izzy.

"I'm fine." Jonas grinned. "Even better, I got the Cup."

"I don't care about the Cup," Jace replied. "When I came out of the tunnels, I didn't see you. I was worried something might have happened to you."

Jonas shrugged. "I dealt with it. I was such a badass, you should've seen it."

Jace chuckled, taking his word for it. He looked up to Alec. "You alright?"

"Fine," Alec said. Better than fine, he thought as his lips tingled at the memory of his and Jonas' kiss. He shook the memory from his head and walked down the stairs over to the monitor. He wanted to make sure that no one was coming for the Cup.

Jonas drew their attention when he slipped his hand into his jacket and pulled out the Cup from an inside pocket. He held it in front of himself, staring at it incredulously. "I mean, it's pretty, but it doesn't look very powerful."

"That pretty cup saved your life," Jace quipped in reply.

"You know if I hadn't gotten it out in time I'd probably be dead right now."

Jace replied, "But you did. First rule of Shadowhunting… when something explodes, just keep walking. Never think twice. Never look away."

"And rule numero due?" Jonas prompted.

Izzy cut in then, slashing out with her whip so that it wrapped around the Cup. She then tugged the Cup back to her and grasped it in her left hand. "There's nothing a Shadowhunter can't do in heels," she said and stepped down the stairs.

Jace walked over to Alec, joining him at his position in front of the monitor. "Alec, what are you doing?" he asked. "You can stare at this monitor all you want, they need angel blood to get past the wards. You know that. No Downworlder can come into the Institute."

"Not without an invite by a Shadowhunter," Izzy commented.

Alec crossed his arms and turned around to face his sister. "Last I checked, Valentine is a Shadowhunter. The Cup is not safe here. We have to give it back to the Clave."

"Why would we give it to those asshats?" Jonas asked. "We're the ones who went to all of the trouble to get it, and they didn't lift a finger to help. No thank you."

"My brother is right," Izzy cut in. "The Cup is extremely important."

Jonas sighed, whilst Alec stared at his sister with incredulity. "Are you agreeing with me?"

She shrugged. "I'm full of surprises."

Jonas took a step forward, tightly gripping the tarot card that he must have put the cup back into. "Valentine wants the Cup, with it, we have the upperhand. That's a serious advantage." He looked to Alec. "Sorry, but I'm not just going to give it away."

"I agree with Jonas," Jace said. "We can't give the Cup to the Clave, not now. We need it." Jace turned to Alec. "It's our only bargaining chip."

Jonas nodded. "But I'll do everything in my power to make sure it stays out of Valentine's hands. I mean, the Cup has the power to create new Shadowhunters, control demons and even kill a mundane if they drank from it. There's no way I'm letting him have all of that power."

"There you go," Jace said. "You have his word."

Alec sighed and turned towards the training room. "Follow me," he told Jonas.

There were a few people in the training room, and Alec gestured for them to leave as he walked over to the floor safe. He knelt over it and activated the rune, causing the safe to rise up from the floor.

Jonas hovered behind Alec. "Alec… About before…"

Alec held out his hand for the card, and Jonas handed it over without protest.

"I just wanted you to know that… I wouldn't exactly be opposed to us… y'know… doing that again. Or a lot. Or like, right now."

Alec swallowed thickly and put the tarot card on the shelf. Then he stood and closed the safe with a flourish of his stele. "I– I… um." Alec faltered and glanced at Jonas. The man appeared hopeful, and nervous. Alec felt the same. "That would be… nice."

"'Nice'?" Jonas repeated suspiciously.

Alec cleared his throat and averted his gaze. "Nice, yeah."

"Well." Jonas smiled then, all white teeth and dimpled cheeks. "I'll take what I can get."

Alec rolled his eyes, but felt a smile spread across his face. Needing to get away from Jonas before they got carried away, Alec said, "I should… probably get back to work."

Jonas nodded indulgently. "Okay."

Alec turned and scurried off before he said anything else idiotic.

As he neared the main monitor, the scanners picked something up. Whatever it was, it had breached their wards. "What the... He–"

Alec cut off, watching in shock as the intruder stopped within the perimeter of the Institute. Alarms began to blare, and Alec stared at the monitor, sensing Jace come up alongside him. "There's something outside the perimeter," Jace said.

Alec began to say, "I told you–"

"Don't say it," Jace cut in.

Jonas stared at them in confusion. "I'm assuming the alarm means bad things."

Izzy sighed. "Looks like someone's trying to break in."

"Could be the Circle," Jace said.

The three of them began moving as one, with Jonas hurrying after them. "Told you so," Alec quipped finally.

Jace sighed. "Too soon."

As they headed towards the exit, Alec pulled on his jacket and so did Jace. They stepped outside, drawing their weapons in preparation. "Don't move," Jace called out as they spotted a figure in the distance.

"Drop what you're holding," Alec warned. He drew back the string of his bow, readying to fire an arrow. "Put your hands up."

The figure froze, and the three of them came to a stop as Jonas caught up to them.

Alec aimed his arrow at the figure as it turned around, revealing Raphael, who was holding Simon bridal style.

And Simon looked… pretty friggin' dead.

Alec lowered his weapon slightly, noticing that the vampire was unarmed and busy carrying Simon's… corpse?

"Oh boy," Jonas muttered. "Is he dead?"

Raphael shot him a bland look. "Yes."

Jonas sucked in a sharp breath. "Well… shit."

So... The big kiss! I hope you all enjoyed it, and I'm excited to see your reactions :P

Now, of course, this isn't to say things will all go smoothly for Jonas and Alec from now on, but it's definitely the start of... something!

Rutvi: I'm so glad you enjoyed the fight! It's one of my favorite scenes from the show, so I wanted to do it justice. It took me a while to figure out how Alec would react to the situation, and what angle he would go for to play his part. Thank you again! xo

CasAteDeansPie: Love the username! And I will do my best! Thank you so much for reading my fic xo

ErzsebetMorgana: sajjsajlaf Omg you're too kind! I've got plenty more where this came from, I've written up to season 2 episode 5, actually! so yay! I hope you continue to enjoy xo

so-many-fandoms-12: So do I! Because I'd most definitely read them :P Thank you very much for your comment xo

twi-fic luver: Aww, thank you! I love writing their relationship progression, so thank you for reading it!

GhostMbwa: Thank you so much and I'm so glad you're enjoying it! I do put a lot of time and effort into changing dialogue to fit Jonas, so I'm happy you noticed that! Ahhh! I try my best with characterisation, it's what I pride myself on, because it's one of the things that makes or breaks a story. Thank you, again, for your kind and generous comment. xo