The Aftermath Chronicles: A TMI FanFic

Part 4

"You think there's something fishy about this Institute?" Alec asked. Isabelle sat, cross-legged, on the antique desk. Alec sat behind the desk.

"Yes! Why would they send you here when Sienna can run it?" Isabelle countered.

"Because it's a punishment," Alec said, miserably.

"For what? You helped save the world!" Isabelle had been so obsessed with the idea that they had saved the world.

"For dating a warlock," Alec said. "Or maybe it's being gay. Pick the greater of two evils-- I don't care, Izzy. There's nothing wrong with this Institute. You're getting worked up about nothing."

"One warlock, Alec," Izzy said.

"We're just used to New York," Alec said. "That's very normal here."

"I doubt that."

"Maybe we're here as a sort of preventative measure for that."

"Or maybe this is all just bull."

"Or maybe you don't want to go back to New York without me," Alec said. Isabelle punched her brother in the arm. There was nothing playful about it. 

Izzy jumped off the desk and left the library.

Alec began pouring over the finances for this Institute again; what he had been doing before Isabelle had arrived. The Institute had no means of income besides the Clave's monthly support which was barely enough for James the butler and Sienna. There was no way they could add Alec, let alone Clary, Jace, and Izzy to the mix.

The library door seemed to open moments later.

Alec looked up. 

Jace.

"Hey," Jace said. His hands were tucked into his pockets as he crossed the long room towards Alec. As much as Alec loved Magnus, Jace would always be flawlessly beautiful to him. He pushed those thoughts out of his mind. Jace had Clary. Alec and Magnus. Everyone was happy. Right?

"Hi," Alec said.

"Are you busy?" Jace didn't ask that. Jace spoke without abandon with Alec.

"No," Alec said, slowly. There was something wrong. Why was there always something wrong? "What's going on?"

"Calm down," Jace said, sounding more like himself. "I'm fine. I just-- I'm stuck."

"Well, I'm here to unstick you," Alec said. He regretted that. It sounded stupid. 

"I don't know where to go," Jace said. He sat on the edge of Alec's desk.  

"Where to go?"

"Like. What do I do with my life? I'm 18 and I don't have a real job. I don't have any money from the Herondales really. I feel like I'm living off your charity--"

"It's not charity, Jace," Alec said. "Get over your ego, please."

"And then there's Clary. What do I do now?"

"What do you mean, 'what do I do now?'"

"Like, you know Shadowhunter traditions. You get married young--"

"Marriage?" Alec jumped up. "Jace! You're only 18. Clary's not even 18 yet! What do you think her mother would say? Jeez, what would the Clave say? She's barely a Shadowhunter and--"

"Don't tell me she's not good enough," Jace said, quietly. "Do not say that."

"That's not what I'm saying," Alec said. "I'm saying you're talking about marriage and your future like it needs to be decided tonight. Jace, you're 18. Do you know what most 18 year olds are doing?"