Winter Blooms (Alec Lightwood)

🗝 Chapter Twenty-Seven 🗝

Magnus Bane was rather confident when it came to matters of his son.

After all, he had spent just about seventeen years with his son, learning the way that Varian worked and how he approached his magic.

But in this moment, following his son down the streets of New York, he had no idea what was going on, which was something to say.

Varian seemed to be staring at his hands, very specifically so, as if he weren't sure what to do with them. His stance was different, Magnus was quick to note that. He walked on the heels of his feet, rather than the ball of his foot, a subtle change that really on Magnus would have noticed, and maybe that Shadowhunter boyfriend of his. The marks on the back of Varian's hands were gone, and for that reason, Magnus Bane was following his son in secret.

He wished more than anything to be able to see the emotions that his son could see, that just perhaps he'd be able to make out what was going through his sons head.

Alec Lightwood didn't think much of Varian's quick departure, but rather found himself thinking about Valentine Morgenstern in the basement of the Institute. He hadn't stopped pitching a fit in the cell, and despite the fact that the microphone was muted, Alec could see the differences between the mans current shouting and earlier.

Despite the fact that he knew he shouldn't, Alec reached forward and unmuted the cell that the villain was currently in.

"I'm not Valentine Morgenstern! I'm Varian Bane please!" Valentine's voice was raw from shouting, his fist pounded against the glass of the cell as he shouted, each syllable punctuated with a hit to the glass. "Please! Azazel switched us!"

Alec felt like he was seeing red, the words of Valentine Morgenstern did so much more to him then it should of, and without thinking about it Alec stood.

"Alec?" Izzy's voice carried through the Institute, and all thoughts of speaking to Valentine flew from the Shadowhunters mind, he turned, his face lighting up at the sight of his small stature sister wrapped in a sweater that did not belong to her.

The dark haired man smiled brightly, crossing the room and wrapping his arms around his little sister. "By the Angel, I've been so worried." Alec pressed a kiss to the top of his sisters head, finding comfort with her here for the first time in what felt like forever. "Where have you been?"

Izzy smiled when she stepped back, "Searching for Azazel," she motioned to the man over her shoulder, "With Sebastian Verlac, from the London Institute."

Alec looked Sebastian Verlac up and down, frowning when he realized that the taller man reminded him of Varian, who still hadn't called him since he'd left.

"Alex Lightwood," Alec held his hand out to the taller man, smiling in a friendly way when the Shadowhunter shook his hand.

Izzy lead the way through the Institute, muttering about what she had been up to. "Sebastian is an expert on all things Azazel." It was said in a way that was suppose to be helpful, but it sounded forced into the conversation. Jace bristled, as if he didn't believe it.

"When I studied abroad at the Paris Institute, I specialized in Greater Demons. Azazel was one of them." Sebastian smiled, offering his hand across the Ops room table to Jace. "Jace Wayland, the great warrior in the flesh. Your reputation precedes you."

Clary joined the table, catching the introduction and offering her hand as well, though just like Jace she did not have to introduce herself.

"Clary Morgenstern, Valentine's daughter." Alec could see Clary feel uncomfortable under the use of last name that she did not belong to.

Clary smiled either way, "Don't hold it against me."

Sebastian smiled, looking at the faces of the team surrounding him. "I feel as though there is one missing from this group."

"Varian Bane." Clary supplied, looking at Alec to see if he knew where the Warlock was.

Alec just nodded, "He'll be back later," Though he wasn't sure if that was true.

"Valentine's other child." The phrasing was strange, and it was strange to hear Varian referred to as the other child, let alone as a child of Valentine. Despite the fact that Varian was not here, Alec spoke again.

"The only child of Magnus Bane." It was a correction for appearances sake, Sebastian was aware that Varian was Valentine's child, but still seemed to appreciate the correction. He hummed, and Alec felt the need to continue the conversation. "So tell us about Azazel? How do we take him down?"

There was an understood basis that all Shadowhunters operated off of. By the time Shadowhunters were thirteen, they were expected to be able to name the species, and at least most subspecies, of demons. Alec was able to name every major, and Varian was able to fill in the gaps of subspecies.

Most Shadowhunters would enter into a specialization, whether it was something involving fighting demons or architecture or legal practice or any infinite other opportunities. In the case of the Shadowhunters currently surrounding this particular table in the ops room, only three of them had specialized in a subject.

Jace Wayland had taken up weaponry. His skills ranged from being able to use every type of weapon to some extent, to being able to repair them in a heartbeat. It made him a rarity among the New York Institute, as most weapons masters took up a position in Idris or other major Shadowhunter cities.

Izzy Lightwood was a historian. She knew everything about the Shadowhunter world past, and while she didn't love some of the history that she surrounded herself with, she was glad to be able to learn from the past.

Clary Fairchild hadn't settled on one, and it was almost assumed that she would not, as she was so much older in her training than most Shadowhunters. Though it wouldn't be opposed, and the smallest part of Alec believed that it would be beneficial for her to focus on runes.

Alec Lightwood had focused on two things, while not unheard of, he was very regretful, as both were large subjects that needed to be studied at the same time. Leadership and Downworlders. His mother had insisted on Leadership, and his father agreed. In an almost spiteful way, Alec had also picked Downworlders, and spent four years learning about half-breed Shadowhunters and Downworlders that was a rarity among the entirety of the Shadow World.

It was not a scenario that he would have changed, but he found it ever so useful in this moment.

Sebastian Verlac took a deep breath before speaking.