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Lydia held the stele by Alec's arm, ready to pull it away and even run away if it will be necessary. Alec didn't deserve this. She was ashamed that she had even agreed. At the same moment, the door slammed and Magnus entered the hall. Lydia was relieved and watched the exchange of glances between Alec and Magnus. She heard Maryse ask Magnus to leave the Institute, and Magnus tell her that this was something between him and Alec, he would not leave until Alec asked him to. Meanwhile Alec was standing at the altar, speechless.
"Alec," Lydia addressed him.
"Sorry…I can't," Alec whispered. "I thought we were doing the right thing, but this is not it."
"You don't have to explain," Lydia smiled. "I'll be fine." Alec turned on his heels, walked over to Magnus and kissed him in front of everyone. Lydia smiled, even if the worm of a guilty conscience gnawed at her.
She knew this was a bad idea from the start. She shouldn't have agreed, for him, for herself. She always knew she was different. And she had to keep it a secret from the Clave, just like Alec. She accepted the offer from John, just to avoid the questions, not knowing at the time that their relationship with him would become a lifelong love. To her surprise, John was understanding and didn't mind that she was different. He quickly came to terms with the fact that he and Lydia would not have children either. When she confided in him that she was asexual, it took him a while to come to terms with it, but with a joint effort, their relationship worked.
Lydia sighed and smiled when she saw how excited everyone was at what Alec had done. Well, not all, but most.
"Are you going to be okay?" Jace addressed her.
“Sure, it was the right thing to do. I did it for him, and for myself.” She looked at Jace one last time. "Wish them luck from me." And then she left.
***
Lydia closed the office door behind her and began packing. It was time to start a new life. Maybe after what happened now, she will finally find the courage to tell the world the truth too. Someone knocked at the door.
"Can I come in?" Izzy asked.
"Sure." Lydia nodded.
"I wanted to thank you for what you did." Izzy told her.
"I had to let him go," Lydia replied. "It was the right thing to do."
"So what now?" Izzy asked.
"I will return to Alicante and dive into work."
"You don't have to leave, we're glad to have you here."
"I'm fine," Lydia smiled. "But now I need to be alone for a while."
Izzy nodded, she understood what Lydia meant. "I wish I had the courage of your brother," Lydia broke the silence. "Maybe everything would be different."
"What are you talking about?" Izzy didn't understand her.
"I'm asexual," Lydia said after a moment's silence.
"So you're never ... Never ..."
"Exactly," Lydia nodded. "John was understanding, he didn't mind. So when I lost him, I decided to shut myself off from the world. "
"Like I said, you don't have to leave. So when you solve your things, you might always come back. "
"Thank you Isabelle, you're a true friend." Lydia smiled.
"Maybe you should tell him," Izzy said after a moment. "He has a right to know."
"You're right, I'll go and talk to him ...better to them both right away."
***
Lydia found Alec and Magnus in the hallway deep in conversation.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything ," she said.
"Not at all." Magnus shook his head.
"Did anything happen?" Alec asked.
"No." Lydia shook her head. "I wanted to wish you good luck, you look like a cute couple."
"Thank you, and we should actually thank you." Magnus smiled.
"You don't have to thank me. It was the right thing to do. And speaking about doing the right thing.” She looked at Alec and Magnus. "I'm asexual."
"I'm glad you told me." Alec smiled and hugged her. "You could have told me before , though. If I knew that ... "
"We were both trapped. We were just looking for a way out. ” Lydia shook her head. "I'd let you go, one way or another. Even if Magnus hadn't shown up. "
"Thank you." Alec smiled. "The Institute will always be open for you to comehere."
"Isabelle said this as well. And then you were the one who gave me the courage to say it out loud. "
"Come here." Alec pulled her into his arms.
Suddenly, from behind Alec´s shoulders Lydia noticed Maryse and Robert approaching and subconsciously sensed trouble.
"What was that supposed to be?" Maryse spit coldly. "You embarrassed us in front of everyone!"
"This was never about you." Alec replied, stepping away from Lydia.
“It's one thing to call off a wedding and a different one to kiss a warlock in front of the entire Clave. Couldn't you have stopped him?” Maryse took the anger out on Lydia.
"I couldn't," Lydia sneered. "Alec is an adult and can do whatever he wants. Besides, I'd let him go anyway. Even if he didn't kiss Magnus.
Maryse's eyes darted between Alec, Lydia and Magnus. "Are you going to drop everything for the Downworlder?"
"Wait, wait. So you're not okay with me kissing a warlock but being gay is fine? And you know he has a name?” Maryse gave Alec a cold stare, she wanted to add something, when Robert entered the debate.
"You don't even know him," Robert pointed out.
“But I'm planning to get to know him, if you have a problem with that, I suggest you deal with it.” Maryse threw them one last angry look and she left, Robert following her.
"Thanks for not saying anything." Lydia smiled.
"None of my business," Alec shook his head. "It's up to you when and whom you tell."
***
The day after the failed wedding, Lydia was called to Idris together with Alec, she actually was expecting that what happened at the wedding would not go without a response from the Clave. Imogen Herondale eyed them both in her office. If a look could kill, hers would.
“Do you both have any idea of what you've done?!” She started yelling at them as soon as the door closed behind them.
"That we call off the wedding?" Alec asked and Lydia gave him a warning nudge.
"Such a shame in front of the entire Clave. Kissing the Downworlder.'
"It's not Lydia's fault."
"Of course it is. She was too soft on you,” Imogen sputtered. "Don't expect any promotion in the long run either, what you have done was scandalous.You´ll be assigned an oversight at the Institute, one misdemeanor and you can both bid the Institute goodbye. Now get out!”
***
Lydia stared at Imogen´s office closed door for a long time.
"What?" Alec raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Do they want a war? It will serve them right, we will show them that shadowhunters like us have the same rights they enjoy. We will fight for it just like we are going to fight for the same rights for the Downworld.”
"I like that!" Alec winked at her.
***
"How was it going in Idris?" Izzy wondered.
"We're not going to be stripped of our runes, but we're not going to think about promotion either and we're going to be assigned a Clave supervisor," Lydia sneered and Alec rolled his eyes.
"Well, this doesn't sound so good," Izzy smirked.
"Yeah so I'm going to lock Fray and Jace up in a basement somewhere and not let them out, because those two have an amazing talent for breaking the rules." Alec pointed out and Izzy and Lydia laughed.
***
The institute was called to an important meeting.
"What's that about?" Clary asked.
"You better not talk," Alec advised her. Maryse Lightwood ascended the stairs with a man.
"Since the Clave found the current Heads of the Institute unfit to perform their duties, they were assigned supervision by the Clave. This is Victor Aldertree,” Maryse introduced the man at her side. Alec and Lydia looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
"I firmly believe," Victor said "That with joint efforts we will be able to correct the mistakes made by the current Heads. May the Angels accompany you.”
"Idiot," Alec muttered and Lydia burst out laughing.
"We probably won't get along with him, huh?" She winked at him.
"I don't think so!"
***
A lot had happened in the institute lately. The demon attack left Lydia injured, if it wasn't for Alec she probably wouldn't be here anymore. The death of so many Shadowhunters had taken its toll on her, so now she was sitting in the Hunter's Moon deep in though,, although the Donwworlders looked at her with distaste it was always going to be that way, their relationship had never been good and Lydia hoped that she and Alec could change that.
"What's such beauty doing here alone?" A mundane person approached her and Lydia just rolled her eyes.
“Leave me alone.” She advised him.
"Such a pretty baby, you have nice tattoos."
"I told you to leave me alone."
"Come with me behind the bar, I'll show you the eighth wonder of the world, beautiful." Lydia glared at him.
"You mean, the eighth wonder of the world, something I'd probably have to look for with a magnifying glass?" Lydia countered. From behind the bar Maia laughed.
"You shouldn't say that, you bitch."
“Hey!” A familiar voice boomed from behind the man. The man turned.
"Shut up, pretty boy. That's between me and this whore.”
"You will not touch my wife!" Alec grabbed the guy by the collar and threw him out of the bar. "Are you okay?" Alec turned to Lydia.
"I could handle him myself," she shrugged.
"I know you could."
"Wife, huh?" Maia asked amused. "Maybe Magnus shouldn't have to hear that."
"I had to say something to that idiot. So, sorry.”
"I'm taking it from you, husband," Lydia grinned. And they both laughed. "What are you doing here anyway?" she asked.
"Magnus and I have a date here, he needs to go to the toilet."
"What did I miss?" Magnus wondered when he was back. "Hello Lydia."
"Hello Magnus."
"You really missed a lot," Maia laughed. "The Lightwood/Branwell duo is really great."
"What happened?"
"Some jerk flirted with Lydia and was quite annoying, so I dealt with him."
"I guess no one should mess with a gay guy and an asexua woman!" Magnus winked and ordered drinks.
***
After Valentine's massacre, Aldertree and Lydia were recalled to Alicante,but only Lydia returned back to the Institute and her expression spoke volumes.
"What happened?" Alec asked her.
"Aldertree has been fired, Imogen is coming to lead us," Lydia said through gritted teeth.
"Guess that's not the end of the bad news," Alec raised a questioning eyebrow.
"No, Imogen is bringing a couple of young Shadowhunters with her, one for me to choose and marry."
"That's too much!" Alec fumed. "After all, it's only your business if and when you get married. And since you didn't want anyone after John's death, they don't have the right to push you into anything.”
"Don't get me started," Lydia sneered.
"Why can't we run the Institute and be free?"
"Like I said, the Clave wants a war so it's got to have one," Lydia grinned. "And I'm not really going to marry some jerk just because the Codex requires it."
"We run the Institute together, so what's the problem?"
"Quoting," Lydia tracing the quotation marks with fingers in the air. "Mr. Lightwood could have a bad influence on you. So you and your partner ruling the Institute together will be the right choice to replace him."
Alec's mouth corner began to twitch in anger. "If she wasn't an Inquisitor, I probably would have punched her."
"You'd lose your runes and I can't fight this war alone."
"You're right about that," Alec agreed.
***
Finally, Imogen came up with an idea to stop the Shadowhunter murders. By tracking Downworlders.
"What?!" Alec and Lydia looked at each other in disbelief.
"Mr. Lightwood, your personal relationship seems to have clouded your judgment."
"That's not true!" Alec said. "Or you know what, maybe it's true. Because the warlock told me to follow my gut. And this is just wrong.”
"Alec," Jace interjected. “Look!” He pointed at the dead Hunter. "How many more of them are we supposed to see?
"I'm telling you it's wrong!!!" Alec had the guts to kick his parabatai in the ass to wake him up.
"I agree with Alec," Lydia chimed in. “You will unleash these Downworlders against us even more. We all want to find the killer of our people, but we're going to do that the wrong way.'
"You two," Imogen looked at Alec with Lydia. "You'd better shut up or you'll end up in jail with that werewolf and vampire." Alec took a breath to say something nice from at the top of his lungs, but Lydia stopped him.
"Come with me, it's not worth it." She said, while dragging him out of the operating room.
"What is it?!" Alec snapped at Lydia. "If you'd rather go chipping Downworlders, please do. But leave me out of it.”
“Are you crazy?! Of course I don't want to chip them,” she shook her head. "We're going to warn them."
"Let's go!"
***
Alec and Lydia were standing outside Magnus's door. Alec knocked and the door opened to reveal Magnus.
“Are you knocking?” He raised a questioning eyebrow.
"I didn't know if you wanted to see me after what happened this morning."
"Did you call in reinforcements this time?" Magnus shot Lydia a glare. "What should we do now? Spit together in a cup? Bow to you?!'
"Nothing of the sort," Lydia said. "We came to warn you." Magnus looked at her in surprise.
"Come on in, then." He made way for them.
"Magnus," Alec bit his lip. "I´m so sorry. You never have to prove yourself to me. What I did was a mistake and I'm really sorry.'
"You are forgiven."
"Alec!" A shriek of excitement broke behind them.
"Madzie!" Alec scooped the little warlock into his arms.
"We wanted to help you find the killer and I had no one who could watch Madzie," Cat explained as she came out of the living room.
"Speaking of which," Lydia began. "The Clave wants to start chipping Downworlders with GPS locators to make the killer reveal themselves."
"And where do you have it?!" A warlock whom Alec didn't know, asked contemptuously.
"We don't have it, we're against it."
"Wow! Are there even Shadowhunters who don't want to listen to the Clave? That's new!'
"Malcolm!" Magnus shot him a warning look. "When a commando from the Clave shows up, we'll disappear," Magnus assured Alec and Lydia.
***
“Can I ask you something?” Lydia approached Alec as they made their way back to the Institute.
"Sure," Alec nodded.
"The little girl who threw herself at your neck. Since when do you know each other? She seemed to adore you.'
"Madzie? Do you remember that demon attack at the Institute?”
"Sure," she nodded.
“Fray had the absolutely brilliant idea of trying to bring Jocelyn back to life. I felt guilty for Jocelyn´s death, so I agreed to go with her. Because she found some warlock who claimed to be able to do it. And at her place I met Madzie.” Alec paused for a moment. “I was probably the only Shadowhunter to ever treat Downworlders as equals, '' I told her as a compliment on her warlock´s mark. And then she saved my life during Valentine's attack.”
“One day we will be equal. They will be treated as such,” Lydia declared. "The two of us can do it."
***
"Now all we can do is wait for Imogen to send me the suitors," Lydia laughed after Jace had named them both Heads of the Institute.
"Grandma's going to have a heart attack when she finds out what her grandson did," Alec added to her laugh.
"Why the suitors?" Jace didn't understand.
"After Valentine's massacre, after Imogen dismissed Aldretree, she threatened to send here to meet me several Shadowhunters. So I can choose a husband from among them," Lydia rolled her eyes. "Because they say," Lydia indicated the quotation marks. "Alec has a bad influence on me."
"Maybe you should pick one," Alec sneered.
"Maybe I should. But do you think he could accept a wife who´s not to give him offspring?”
"Probably not," Alec shook his head. "But who knows, you might run into someone who doesn't want children the same way as you."
"And you and Magnus?"
"It's too early to think about that, but I'd like to have children with him one day."
"That's the difference between us, I don't want to have children."
"Workaholic," Alec laughed.
"Idiot!" Lydia returned it, throwing a pen at him.
"Hey what's this?!" Jace spoke up to interrupt their banter.
"He doesn't know it?" Alec asked in surprise.
"No, he doesn't know it.“ Lydia shook her head. “Only you and Izzy know.“
"So what's the matter? Don't play games with me.”
"I'm asexual," Lydia replied.
"What is it?" Jace asked.
"The exact opposite of what you and the Book Club do," Alec grinned.
"Asexual is someone who doesn't feel sexually attracted to either gender," Lydia explained.
"How does that work?" Jace wondered.
“Imagine yourself in a group of women, some are attracted to you and some are not. So I'm not attracted to anyone from that group of women/men.'
"You set a bad example," Alec laughed. "Jace is attracted to females whatsoever."
***
Following the appointing of new leadership at the Institute, Alec came up with the idea of meeting the Downworlders to work together trying to solve equality issues between Shadowhunters and Downworlders. At the same moment Lydia had a similar thought.
"When you’re going to arrange a meeting with Downworlders, I thought I could arrange a meeting for LGBTQ+ Shadowhunters and maybe Downworlders as well. To show them that our Institute is open to anyone.” Lydia announced to Alec one day.
"That's an excellent idea," Alec smiled happily. "Go for it."
***
To Lydia's surprise,there were many people from the other Institutes. Both she and Alec promised them that their door would always be open for them regardless of their origin or sexual orientation.
The Clave could only rage: suddenly they received requests for transfer from other Institutes to the New York Institute. Imogen was furious and wanted to immediately remove the two of them from their leadership positions and put a stop to all the activities they were doing. She also considered the possibility of stripping them of their runes. She never did, however, because Robert Lightwood began blackmailing her: if she didn't leave Alec and Lydia alone, he would tell the world that the Clave was lying about the possession of the Soul Sword after Valentine's massacre. Imogen could not allow that and dropped her threats.
***
Alec got the information from his father anyway. "What are we going to do?" Lydia asked.
"I don't know," Alec shook his head.
"What's going on?" Izzy wondered as she peeked into the office.
"The Clave lied," Lydia replied.
"The Soul Sword was not found after Valentine's attack," Alec continued.
"Are you going to tell Magnus?" Izzy asked.
"I don't know," Alec shrugged. "This isn't like when Lydia and I warned the Downworld about GPS trackers, this will have much more far-reaching consequences."
"Alec is right about that."
***
Lydia watched Alec at work, he was completely emotionless. She could see his blank expression. She learned from Izzy that Magnus broke up with him because he found out the truth about the Sword.
***
A lot has happened in the last few weeks. Valentine was defeated, Magnus and Alec reconciled. However, there was chaos, but when isn´t chaos a common event in the Shadow World? An unknown demon started attacking mundanes, who then killed their loved ones, the Shadowhunters found out that Lilith was involved and they realized that Jace, possessed by the demon, was responsible for the attacks.. In the duel with Lilith, Clary was killed and Magnus lost his power. Upon finding out, later, that Clary was not as dead as assumed, but was connected to her brother, whom Lilith had been trying to revive all along.
***
Lydia felt like kicking Alec when she found out what he did to give Magnus his power back.
"You're a complete idiot, Lightwood!"
"And what do you think I should have done? He told me he was nothing without his magic. Was I just supposed to deal with it? To watch him suffer?'
***
Jonathan attacked Alicante and if it wasn't for Magnus all might have been lost. Lydia watched with the others as Magnus and Alec got engaged and Magnus then sacrificed himself to save Alicante. Eventually, with Clary's help, they brought him back home.
***
Time went on and new couples were formed, and that meant new marriages to attend.
Lydia had joined one of these marriages; it was so beautiful.
“May I have this dance?” A Shadowhunter, at the after-ceremony party, addressed Lydia.
"Sure," she nodded.
"Jeffery Whiteowl," he introduced himself.
"Lydia Branwell," she accepted the hand he was offering her.
"I know," he smiled. "Lightwood's right-hand woman."
"Everything okay?" Alec wondered,coming close to them accompanied by Magnus. "Can´t be better," Lydia nodded. "And congratulations again."
"I join in the congratulations," Jeff chimed in. "Thank you and have fun."
"You too," Lydia smiled.
"We will, but privately," Alec grinned. Magnus slapped his head and Lydia kicked him with her heel.
"Ouch, what for?" Alec asked.
"I don't think Lydia is interested in details from our bedroom," Magnus dragged him away from Lydia and Jeff.
“Champagne?” Jeff suggested as Alec and Magnus had disappeared.
"Sure," Lydia nodded. Jeff offered her his arm and led her to the bar table where he handed her a glass.
"Cheers." Lydia toasted.
“For such a pretty girl as you are.” Lydia bit her lip.
"You know, I...uhm..."
"Aren't you used to flattery?"
"No, but my boyfriend is dead, the other one ran away from me at the altar for another guy....I guess, I have some bad luck with men."
"It was quite a scandal, what happened at the wedding."
"I know. I'm surprised Imogen didn't scratch our eyes out while we were in Alicante.” Lydia laughed. "But seriously now."
"Did I do something wrong?"
“No, you're just fine and I'm a little afraid of messing it up. I don't want to lie and the truth can hurt.'
"What's going on?"
"I haven't had a relationship since John's death, not because nephilim only love once, but because I'm asexual."
Jeff looked at her in silence for a moment. "That means...You know, I looked up those terms after Lightwood kissed Bane."
"You're probably the first one."
"I don't care what you are," Jeff replied. "I would never force anyone into anything they aren't comfortable with."
Lydia smiled.
“There's too many people here, don't you want to go out for a while?” Jeff suggested. Lydia looked at him skeptically, this was the exact opposite of what he was saying not even a minute ago. “In all fairness!” Jeff held up his hands in a defensive gesture when he saw her expression.
"Okay," she nodded.
***
They stood in front of the Institute and talked about everything possible, mainly about work. Jeff wondered what else Lydia and Alec were planning to change, because just marrying Downworlder was a big step towards success.
“Alec would be happy if the barriers preventing the Downworlders from entering Alicante fell too. But we both know it's going to be a long shot.”
"I believe it will happen someday," Jeff assured her, about to add when a sobbing Clary burst in between them.
“Clary? Clary, is everything okay?” Lydia was worried. But Clary ignored her, as if she didn't even hear or see her.
"What happened?" Jeff didn't understand.
"I wonder about that too," Lydia threw up her hands.
***
Lydia and Jeff walked into the Institute and headed to the table where Jace was sitting.
"Did you and Clary have a fight?" Lydia asked.
"No, why?" Jace didn't understand.
"We saw her run away from the Institute crying," Jeff replied. “She didn't even turn around when we called her.” Jace got up from his chair and went looking for Clary.
Later, everyone learned that the Angels punished Clary for drawing her own runes and took away her memories.
***
Lydia and Jeff were sitting in the Institute Head's office going through the mission reports together. While Alec was at a meeting in Alicante. Jeff laced his fingers with Lydia's, she raised her head.
"Is that okay?" Jeff asked her.
"Sure," she nodded with a smile.
"And this?" He caressed her cheek.
"Aren't you pushing a bit too much," she laughed.
"You have a beautiful laugh."
"What got into you today?" Lydia´s mouth twitched in the corners.
"We're alone here, so I'm testing where I can go," Jeff replied.
"And what…?" He moved closer to Lydia's lips as the door opened and Alec walked in.
"Of course they are cuddling instead of working. I'm really naive, when I thought they would work," Alec shook his head in amusement.
"Save it for next time," Lydia kissed Jeff's cheek.
"So what's new?" Lydia asked.
"Lots of things," Alec replied. "Jia invited us because...She appointed me the new Inquisitor."
"That's amazing!" Lydia hugged Alec. "But wait, you're leaving for Alicante, what about Magnus?"
"Big changes are coming," Alec smiled. "Magnus will be Alicante's first-ever High Warlock and the barriers preventing Downworlders from entering will be removed."
Lydia squealed excitedly. "So we won!"
"Yeah we won, Branwell!" Lydia jumped off the couch and she hugged Alec. "I could have a job for you," he told her as she let him go.
"Which one?" she asked.
“Jia wants to leave the job to the younger generation. I would need a Consul, do you accept?” Alec proposed to her. Lydia looked at him for a moment and then looked at Jeff. "We'll find something for Jeff, too."
"Shall I make coffee for Mr. Inquisitor?" Jeff asked amused.
"Maybe," Alec laughed. "Seriously, what about a guard position in the Gard?"
"I accept," Jeff nodded.
***
Even after a year, Jeff wasn't sure where he was allowed to reach. He and Lydia were walking along Angel´s Square when Jeff's fingers touched Lydia's hand.
"Please, take my hand," she told him, taking his hand herself and kissing him. Lydia sometimes had to take the initiative herself. "I understand that you are afraid. But if something made me uncomfortable I would stop you.'
"Sorry, I've never dated an asexual woman before. It's new to me.”
"I see," she nodded. "It was new to John too."
"What happened?" He asked.
"It was a botched event. We interrogated one warlock, he had the information we needed. John led the charge, they were outnumbered. They didn't stand a chance, I never actually found out what happened to him."
"I'm sorry," Jeff hugged her.
"Everything I dreamed about was gone. That's why I closed myself off and didn't want anyone else."
"Did Alec give you courage?"
"Exactly," she nodded. “I let Alec go when Magnus showed up. When I saw what he did. I couldn't keep hiding who I am anymore. Even though I know how the Clave feels about us."
"You did it in the end though. You changed the Clave's mind.”
***
Jeff came home to be greeted by a set table and the wonderful smell of dinner in the kitchen. "Are we celebrating something?" He hugged Lydia, who was standing by the stove, melting potatoes.
"Not at all," she shook her head. "Can't I surprise my boyfriend with a gala dinner?"
"Of course you can. I was more worried that I had forgotten something.'
"You didn't forget anything," Lydia shook her head. "Go change, dinner will be ready in a minute." Jeff returned to the balcony where Lydia was plating fish and potatoes and opened a bottle of wine pouring it into glasses.
"To us, then," he raised his glass for a toast.
"To us," Lydia smiled.
***
"Need anything?" Lydia peeked into Alec's office.
"We're going to New York, so get ready and you can take Jeff with you."
"What's happening? You look tense.'
"Clary's back, so it's an official visit," Alec shrugged.
"Yeah so the Clave is officially coming to welcome a retrieved lost warrior, that's why you're dressed in blue."
"Yeah," Alec rolled his eyes.
"Give us a minute," she smirked.
***
Lydia with Jeff, Alec with Magnus, Izzy with Simon, and Clary with Jace ended up atTaki´s for a small celebration.
***
When Lydia, Jeff, Alec and Magnus returned to Alicante that evening. Lydia pulled Jeff in bed to her arms and ended the evening cuddling.