Jace Wayland

His countenance hardened. Swiftness rune burning into his skin, Alec skidded to a graceful stop in front of Jace. “I’m here now.” He stated factually. “You can punch something any other time of the day but I’m here unbridled by meetings. paperwork, and conference calls. You can punch something when I’m busy but I’m here now. For you.”

Jace wanted to argue. Wanted to point out that the only reason Alec wasn’t drowning in meetings and paperwork was because it was four in the morning. And the only reason they were having this conversation was because he’d stumbled upon Alec trying to sneak back in. Instead Jace just dropped his head and crossed his arms. :Does talking to me have to involve food? I’m not hungry.” Usually after a nightmare Jace just felt like puking. “But if you’re hungry I’ll sit with you in the kitchen.” His voice was tight and strained but despite everything Jace wanted to try. And scathing proof of Alec’s original motives or not, Alec did have a point. He was here now. And that was all Jace really wanted at the end of the day.

Alec opened his mouth to reply but let it fall shut. It was too early and he was still too tired to be fast enough to hide the genuine hurt that flashed across his features. Eventually he reigned it in and a stoic stare took control. Alec hated being caught in between his brother and boyfriend. Jace’s attempt to brush off the subject didn’t make him feel any better. Instead he crossed his arms protectively over his chest and stared at the ground. There was no winning in this situation. If he stayed more with Jace he’d be hurting Magnus but whenever he stayed with Magnus he was hurting Jace. “Don’t do this to me.” His voice was quiet. Soft. A request he wouldn’t have made if he had coffee and a few more hours of sleep in him. “Don’t be like this, Jace.” He still had yet to make eye contact. 

Jace had a scathing reply ready when the truth slipped out of Alec’s lips and he swallowed it hard. Just that one look on Alec’s face was enough to shut him up. Alec was hurt enough and Jace wasn’t about to add more to it. He took a careful step forward and put a hand on Alec’s shoulder and squeezed. “You don’t have to be ashamed, man.” Another squeeze. “You’re dating.” He shrugged and pulled his hand back. “Although perhaps you should consider a better time to come home than four in the morning, no?” He shot him a smile. “If I’d been Izzy instead of me you might find yourself at the end of a very awkward conversation.” He grinned.

“I-I’m not.” He lied. Alec wasn’t ashamed of Magnus; he’d never be. He was just embarrassed that he was caught. Or more so ashamed at himself that he couldn’t exude as much confidence sexually or even normal confidence like his boyfriend could. Like his siblings could. “We fell asleep watching a movie or else I would’ve.” Alec didn’t come home with the telltale signs that he and Magnus had done anything more than kept it a simple night in. His skin wasn’t scratched or bruised with kisses. The gel in his hair remained undamaged. Alec’s skin wasn’t patchy or red. “I would’ve but…” He shrugged and looked away. This could potentially be a very rough topic. “I hate leaving him. He’s alone.” Alec was quick to add. He’d never not lived in the Institute with Jace and Izzy but the longer he dated Magnus the more appealing moving in became. “We’ve always had each other and he’s got…cats.” His voice fell flat. Now wasn’t the time to discuss this. Not when Jace still looked so familiarly stirred. He knew this look. Alec had been awoken by this bright eyed fright many times before, normally quelling it with sharing a bed or talking to distract whatever horrors had plagued the boy until the sun rose. “Not everyone can be as cool as you.” Alec offered him a gentle smile. “I always worry about you. It’s my job to worry about you.”

Jace had a scathing reply ready when the truth slipped out of Alec’s lips and he swallowed it hard. Just that one look on Alec’s face was enough to shut him up. Alec was hurt enough and Jace wasn’t about to add more to it. He took a careful step forward and put a hand on Alec’s shoulder and squeezed. “You don’t have to be ashamed, man.” Another squeeze. “You’re dating.” He shrugged and pulled his hand back. “Although perhaps you should consider a better time to come home than four in the morning, no?” He shot him a smile. “If I’d been Izzy instead of me you might find yourself at the end of a very awkward conversation.” He grinned.

“I scared you? What are you even doing up at–” Alec tugged the sleeve of his jacket past his wrist to look at his watch, “this early.” He amended, not wanting to admit to the time. He should’ve waited until Magnus woke up or left while it was actually last night; chosen a time far less suspicious than now. 

Even though Alec had been going out with Magnus for a while now, each time he came back to the Institute after spending most of the day with him, he felt judged. Alec felt as if everyone knew what had happened or what they’d done even if all the men did was talk over drinks or read on opposite ends of the couch. It didn’t help that Alec was sneaking back into the Institute at 4am, just before sunrise. 

“Is paparazo even a word Alec?” Jace asked, smirking. He had every intention of snapping a picture the next time Alec blushed. Just to prove him wrong. He grunted when Alec shot up and moved so he was sitting more or less on Alec’s legs. “Chill. I was kidding. You’re supposed to laugh. Not freak out.” He knew Lydia was a sore spot, a very sore one, but he couldn’t let Alex bottle her up too. He shook his head, hair dropping in front of his face. “Sorry.”

“It is a word sadly enough.” Alec sighed. He felt bad as he always did whenever Jace apologized. Even if Jace Wayland Lightwood took a puppy by the scruff and sliced its throat in front of a kindergarten class, the puppy’s own mother, and Alec, he still wouldn’t demand an apology from his parabatai. Life had dealt him too many shitty cards to begin with. Jace deserved apologies from the world, not the other way around. “It’s okay.” He mumbled, looking away. Lydia was a sore spot. The wedding was an even sorer spot. Magnus had been the only beautiful part of that entire painful ink blot of a memory.

“Oh. No blush? I’m a little sad now.” Jace joked, smirking. “Alec Lightwood blushes. I’ve seen it. Often lately.” Jace felt a flash of jealousy but stuffed it. “Next time I’m taking a picture. Don’t hold it against me when it does…and it will, happen.”

“When do you ever take pictures?” Alec asked incredulously. “There’s no point in getting your little paparazo hopes up because I do not blush.” He glowered. The Lightwood winced a little at Jace’s wiggling. That kid was all muscle but goddamn was his butt nothing but bones. “If I start balding like that? At twenty?” His eyes widened and he shook his head. There were already enough hairy chest jokes to last him a lifetime. Alec didn’t want to be bald up top and furry on his chest so young. That would be signing up to die of ridicule. “No!” He lurched up on his elbows. “Don’t–don’t contact her.” His heart leapt in pace and fear struck his nerves. “I-I can’t.” Alec blinked a few times. “I can’t face her.” He admitted quietly. “And that wouldn’t be fair to her. I promised her an Institute but hey, I miss working out so you can be my unofficial paper-mule?” His face had scrunched in disgust and he shook his head. “Absolutely not, Jace. Do not contact Lydia Branwell.” He lowered himself back down. 

"Is paparazo even a word Alec?" Jace asked, smirking. He had every intention of snapping a picture the next time Alec blushed. Just to prove him wrong. He grunted when Alec shot up and moved so he was sitting more or less on Alec's legs. "Chill. I was kidding. You're supposed to laugh. Not freak out." He knew Lydia was a sore spot, a very sore one, but he couldn't let Alex bottle her up too. He shook his head, hair dropping in front of his face. "Sorry."

Alec let out a puff of air as Jace flopped on him. The kid was small but damn was he dense. All muscle and hardly an ounce of fat on him. He forced himself to keep his stare stony when Jace said Magnus’s name just to spite his parabatai. “Children blush. Little girls blush. Alec Lightwood doesn’t blush.”

“Oh. No blush? I’m a little sad now.” Jace joked, smirking. “Alec Lightwood blushes. I’ve seen it. Often lately.” Jace felt a flash of jealousy but stuffed it. “Next time I’m taking a picture. Don’t hold it against me when it does...and it will, happen.”

Alec rolled his eyes too flustered to think about any possible come backs. It wasn’t like he could rag on Jace never reading or anything. When he met the boy it was all he did. That blonde was brilliant brain in disguise. “It does not.” He shot back, making a face and shaking his head. “And how does one train to lie better, Jace?” Alec laughed and rolled his eyes for the thousandth time that day. “That’s exactly what I hear when you talk about stuff that’s not your business.” He said, following him to his office.