Addicted to you- Alec Lightwood

17-Joined Together

Ethan was still sat on the cold, hard floor of the training room when Izzy came looking for him an hour later. He had been staring at the same spot on the floor the entire time. 

"Ethan," Izzy said shaking his shoulder and sighing when she didn't get an answer, "Ethan Fairchild tell me what is wrong! "

Slowly, Ethan turned his face to Izzy, and she saw all of the emotions that were tormenting him.

"Ethan, what did Alec do now?" she asked softly, placing a hand on the side of his face so he wouldn't turn away again.

"I kissed him. He... he kissed me back" Ethan said, sounding breathless.

"Oh my god that's amazing!" she squealed, then noticed that Ethan looked less than happy, "Then... what's wrong?"

Ethan sighed, "He said it was a mistake, before he left."

Izzy's eyes narrowed and she nodded in understanding. "So that's why you look so upset"

"I'm not upset, Izzy." Ethan said, staring at the floor once again, "I don't feel anything. That's what scares me.  I think I'm in shock"

Izzy looked at Ethan for a moment "Are you sure its not because you don't like him as much as you thought you did?"

Ethan shook his head violently. "No, there's no way that it could be that. I like Alec more than he could ever know, more than I can actually process at this moment. I've known him days, Izzy. I shouldn't like him this much"

Izzy sighed. "Yeah, well he's been very off lately, and I'm not sure what's going on with him. I'll try to find out, he shouldn't be treating you like this"

Ethan smiled at Izzy gratefully. "Thanks Iz. I don't know what I'd do without you"

Izzy smiled back at Ethan before continuing. "Anyway, just because you've only known us for a few days, doesn't make our friendships or relationships any less valid. In fact, that's what I wanted to speak to you about before"

"Oh?" Ethan raised an eyebrow in curiosity, as Izzy suddenly turned nervous.

She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. "I was wondering... because we seem to have gotten close... would you like to be my parabatai?"

Ethan looked at Izzy, slightly confused. "Isn't that what Alec and Jace are? What does that mean?"

Nervous energy pooled in her stomach as she explained what a parabatai was. 

"Basically, we are connected for life. They rune us both and it helps us sense each other's feelings. Its a sign of the best friendship a person can possibly get. Its also a promise. To always fight by their side, to have their back no matter what. I never thought that I needed one before. I always thought it would be better to go it alone. But then you came into my life and turned it upside down and made it crazy in the best possible way. Ethan, I really want you to be my parabatai"

Ethan grinned widely. "I would love to become your parabatai, Izzy. I feel it too. You are one of the best friends I have ever had, aside from Si-"

Ethan choked on his name, tearing up slightly. Simon. The friend that he had hurt beyond belief.

"Simon" Izzy said, shaking her head lightly, "I saw him storm out yesterday. You wanna tell me what happened, parabatai?"

Ethan chuckled for a moment, then turned sombre. "I know you saw that he kissed me at the Dumort. I didn't pull away, and I gave him false hope. He's now pissed that I led him on, understandably. But Clary... she accused me of not caring about him at all. And I do. Then, she..."

He broke off, tears streaming down his face as he remembered her horrified face, and what she had said to him.

"... she said that Simon was the brother that she never had. She sees Simon as a better brother than I've ever been, and sometimes I think she's right. I have always tried to be there for her, and to protect her, but maybe it wasn't enough. Maybe I'm not enough..."

Izzy rubbed Ethan's shoulders in support. She felt pity for Ethan. I mean, the guy had more drama in his life than a teen in a  rom-com series. A moment later, Clary came running into the training room. She was also crying, her mascara running in streaks down her pale face.

"I'm so sorry for what I said to you Ethan. I never mean to make you feel like you're not good enough. I love you" she said, sobbing.

Ethan was crying harder now, and he got up from his place on the floor to embrace his little sister. They were both crying and hugging and laughing and the sight was a bizarre thing to see. Izzy rolled her eyes slightly, but she was grinning at the Fray siblings.

"I'm so sorry I hurt Simon, Clary. God we are so pathetic, aren't we? We can't even keep an argument going with each other for longer than a day" Ethan said, as his face started to dry.

Clary bit her lip and stepped back from the embrace, smiling. "No we can't. As much as I love that we're okay again, this wasn't the only reason I came to talk to you. I have news."

"So do we," Ethan gestured between him and Izzy, whilst slinging an arm around her shoulder, "We are going to be parabatai"

Clary gasped in excited shock. "That's incredible, you guys! Well I guess this is a cause for celebration all round"

Izzy narrowed her eyes at the redhead. "What do you mean"

Clary grinned at Ethan. "I know where the Mortal Cup is"

A/N- Hey guys!

Hope you enjoyed the new chapter. 

Just a quick heads up: I'm including elements from both the TV series and the books, so the plot may not be what you are used to. Hope you like it anyway!

Stay safe, lovelies,

kait-astrophe