Soulmates (A Malec Fanfiction)

Relaxation

 After a month or so, the thought of finding a soulmate was almost completely out of Alec's mind and the feeling of hopelessness was slowly creeping up on him again. He was kept busy during the day by the running of the institute but many were such trivial matters that Alec couldn't help but wonder if that was all his life was going to be. The nights were the worst, alone in the physical darkness that pressed on him almost as much as the darkness of his mind. His restlessness and frustration were becoming more and more evident in his sharp manner of speaking and the exasperated expression which all too often was etched across his handsome features. 

 "You're my parabatai - I know something is wrong," Jace eventually said after a particularly tense dinner in which Clary had been reduced to tears and forced to run out of the room to hide her upset. Alec's confusion wasn't clear, but he wondered what he had done wrong or if all mundanes were just more hormonal and confusing Shadowhunters. He had to force himself to remember that she was a Shadowhunter, she was one of them. 

 "I'm fine," he replied tersely, but he was fooling no one. Jace rolled his eyes. 

 "And I'm a werewolf," he said sarcastically, earning him a jab in the ribs from Isabelle. 

 "We're worried about you Alec, I think the stress of this job is too much for you," she said kindly, putting a comforting hand on his arm. Alec brushed her off and stood up, shaking his head. "I'm fine, just leave me alone!" he snapped, turning on his heel and storming out. Jace and Isabelle exchanged worried glances before Isabelle gave Jace a hushed instruction to follow Clary while she would go after her brother. 

"Alec wait!" she called as she ran down the tiled hallway to catch him. "Wait we need to talk!" she said, slowing her pace as she reached her brother's side. This time he didn't shake her off, only stared blankly at the space behind her as if he wasn't seeing her at all. 

 "You need to go out, relax." 

"Relax?" Alec repeated the word as if he had never even heard of it before he firmly shook his head. "No. Out of the question." 

 "As your sister I am telling you to go out and have a little fun, go to a cafe, take a walk - just stop worrying all the time!" she grabbed Alec's forearm and within nanoseconds a sharpie was in her hand. Alec was far more terrified of Isabelle with a sharpie than he was of any demon he had ever encountered. He tried to pull away but her strong grip held his arm in place and soon there was an address scribbled on his arm. 

 "It's a brilliant mundane cafe and they do amazing coffee. Go there tomorrow." With a wink and a persuasive smile Isabelle walked off, satisfied that the matter had been resolved. 

Magnus had spent the week worrying and working, an unpleasant combination but with seemingly no resolution. A heavy sense of guilt was weighing him down - his soulmate's disappearance distressed him greatly and he blamed himself although logically there was nothing that could have been done. 

 "This moping is unlike you, my friend," Ragnor, an old companion of Magnus' sought to comfort the distressed warlock. 

 "I have no clue what you could possibly be referring to. I am perfectly happy," Magnus replied glumly, sipping from his fourth strawberry daiquiri of the afternoon. Before  Ragnor could reply Magnus leant down to pick up Chairman Meow who had been sneaking out to avoid Magnus' incessant coddling. 

 "Gracious Magnus is that a tattoo?!" Ragnor exclaimed, looking horrified at the black writing that had been revealed on Magnus' forearm as he picked up the cat. 

 "I must go!" Magnus exclaimed, leaping to his feet and dropping Chairman Meow who squealed indignantly. Ragnor shook his head in amazement, he had given up trying to understand his eccentric companion long ago - so as Magnus dashed out he gave it no second thought. 

 Magnus' heart was racing, he had finally discovered something about his soulmate. Either where they lived or where they would be - and this time he wasn't going to be late - he would camp outside if he needed to. Well, maybe he would resort to using a three star hotel if needs must. A warlock should be allowed some degree of comfort as he waited for his soulmate to arrive...  

At the address Isabelle had given him, Alec found himself seated beside an attractive blond Shadowhunter who introduced herself as Lydia Branwell. She was English and Alec couldn't help but be fascinated by her accent and tales from the Institute in which she had previously lived. His heart sank when he realised what she wanted - his job. He knew his parents would never forgive him if he handed the control of the Institute to someone else so he took a deep breath and resigned himself to his fate. He would get to know the woman after his job, then make his parents proud. He would marry Lydia Branwell.