Before I Go

A/N: This is my first one-shot! It takes place after Valentine's attack on the institute in season 2. Honestly, I am not a huge fan of how this fic turned out, but I figured I would post it in case anyone was interested. I have a couple of other Ideas for 'Shadowhunters' and The Mortal Instruments, so If you enjoy this one or are curious about my upcoming work then stay tuned! Thanks for reading!

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As soon as I heard I was speeding into the lobby of the institute. This had to be some sort of mistake. The Raphael that I knew would never just abandon his clan, especially now. 

"Is it true?"

"Lower your voice Isabelle," Alec said. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he guided me out of the main area of the institute into one of the side halls. I could almost feel the waves of tension rolling off on him.

"Alec, what's going on?"

"It's temporary. Raphael came to tell me that he was going on leave for a while. He'll be back in a few months. " Alec said , turning to face me.

"But why would Raphael just leave like this? I know Raphael. He wouldn't just leave like this, especially after the attack on the institute. This doesn't make any sense. Where is he even be going?"

"I didn't ask."

"I have to go find him."

"Izzy wait," Alec said, grabbing my arm to spin my back around, "I thought you were done with this. Besides, he's probably already gone. Maybe you didn't know him as well as you thought."

"I know that your worried about me Alec, but I'm fine. I'm capable of controlling myself without you looking over my shoulder all the time," I snapped, pulling away from him.

 I headed back towards my room. It hurt me to think that Alec didn't trust me anymore. I had been clean for weeks and he was still watching my every move I collected my bag and was half way through reapplying my lipstick when Alec came through my door, not even bothering to close it all the way. 

"Alec why can't you just leave me alone!" 

"Because I care about you Izzy. I can't watch you go back down that road. I can't watch him hurt you again."

"Raphael is not going to hurt me," I said standing, "I know he cares about me. You heard him say it."

"Did he tell you that before or after he bit you?"

"I thought that you of all people would understand."

Grabbing my bag, I pushed past Alec and made my way through the institute.

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My stomach was a ball of nerves as I was led through the Hotel DuMort towards Raphael's suite.

The escort left me standing outside he a closed door. Before I even knocked the door swung open. 

"What are you doing here Isabelle? "he said, walking back towards an open suitcase.

"Were you really going to just leave without saying goodbye?"

He didn't respond. He went back to packing, carefully folding his clothes. I strode over to him and flung the suitcase onto the floor, spilling the few contents that had been placed into it across the room.

"Fine Isabelle, you wanna talk about it? Let's talk about it. I thought it would be easier for both of us if I just kept this quiet. I know a guy who owns a soup kitchen, and I'm going there to try and redeem whatever is left of myself. Zeke will be here as my representative here while I'm away, so if something comes up than you can talk to him, but otherwise you need to stay away from the DuMort."

"How would it possibly be easier Raphael? I care about you, and I know you care about me."

"Of course I do, that's why I have to go. Isabelle, we're on opposite sides of a war."

"You really think it'll come down to a war?"

"If the downworld refuses to work with the clave, it could be a violation of the accords."

His words hung heavy in the air. I new it was right. if it came down to a war then we would just be forced to leave each other all over again. I hated it, but he was right.

"I'll be waiting for you. After all of this is over, come find me and we'll figure it this out."

"I can't ask that of you Isabelle..."

"You're not, I'm offering. There's no one else I want right now but you. I understand why you have to leave, but before you go, please, just promise me that you'll find me after."

He took both of my hands in his. "I promise. I WILL find you. And you promise me that if there is a war, you'll survive it."

"I promise."

He leaned in to kiss my forehead.

"You need to go."

"I know..."

"I wish you didn't have to..."

"I know."

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I found my room back at the institute, not bothering to tell anyone that I was back. I had barely sat down at my vanity when Alec came rushing through my door. 

"Izzy? Izzy! I was so worried about you," he said pulling me into a tight hug, "What happened? You didn't..."

"Relapse? No."

"Thank the angel. Where's Raphael?"

"He's gone. He didn't say where."

"Izzy I'm sorry. I know you liked him."

Alec hugged me tighter and let me cry into his shoulder. I knew it would be a long time until I saw Raphael again, but even though he drove me crazy sometimes, I knew my brother would always be there for me.