Chapter Text
The first time Izzy saw the envoy, newly arrived, bossing her own mother around as if she owned the place, dismissive and aggressive, she felt threatened. “Who does she think she is?” she thought, arms crossed, lips pursed. The Institute, her family, her world were being seized by a stranger. Only a look from Alec had stopped her from immediately facing the representative from the Clave, a confrontation she knew, deep down, would eventually come... but for very different reasons. Izzy swallowed, her throat dry, when she recognised her. Hurt, perplexed, she couldn’t help but aim to what she knew would hurt the most.
“Isn’t she also your cousin?” Remarked Izzy, with an icy tone, defiant.
And then she looked up, saw her. Her expression didn’t vary. With cold precision, Lydia rejected the insinuation.
“Distant cousin.”
After that, Alec had approached her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Izzy, we will make this work.”
She looked at him with a pang of annoyance.
“I know it bothers you too, brother, but there is something I…”
“We have to make it work.” He insisted.
Izzy nodded, averting her eyes and sighing.
“She seems quite… prepared, at least you can give her that.”
“That is a word I wouldn’t have used. I have others in mind.”
“You are harsh.” He smiled.
“I’m not a fan.” Said Izzy, watching Lydia chatting with her mother.
“Jealous?” Asked Alec, with a hint of amusement in his voice.
“No… Maybe. How the hell did she catch that arrow?”
Alec didn’t answer, but the question remained, buzzing in her mind. It wasn’t every day that you saw somebody who could present a threat to her brother. How well would she do against a whip, though? Izzy shook her head, she couldn’t allow her anger to cloud her better judgement. She couldn’t fight an envoy from the Clave, no matter how much she wanted to measure her strength and ability. But of course, it wasn’t only that.
“Are you coming, or what?”
Izzy pretended it didn’t bother her –and it did. Very much.- how she acted as if she weren’t there, as if she had never known her. Alec left, following Lydia. Their mother, visibly upset, stormed off the place.
“You look like you could snap somebody’s neck, my dear. It looks good on you.”
Izzy looked up from the screen. Her face lit up.
“Magnus. I didn’t think you would be so quick.” She said, feeling a spark of contentment for the first time that day.
“The woman on the phone was adamant.” He answered, taking the white medical gown she was offering him, considering it, and giving it back. “And you know how welcome I always feel here. It is a charming place. Or perhaps it’s the company.” He winked at her, and she smiled again.
“Let’s get to work, shall we?” she suggested, leading the way to the examination room.
Speaking to Magnus was incredibly easy. She felt at ease around him, and her conviction that he might make her brother happy, that spark of hope for Alec’s future, only contributed to make their relationship a comfortable one. Izzy, focused on the matter at hands, took pleasure in chatting with the warlock, who was to her, especially today, an escape from an increasingly tense environment. Magnus managed to turn the conversation to Alec, but her train of thought lead her in another direction.
When the warlock went to hand Alec the results of their examination, she stayed. There was something bugging her. Something was wrong, something didn’t make sense. And of course, Lydia. She had to either confront her or ignore her completely, but she couldn’t continue pretending much longer. She checked her phone; no messages from Clary, not even from Jace. After a while, the room started to become smaller by the minute. She needed some air. She took off her medical gown and went up to her room, thinking that revising some files and comparing notes would help her clear her mind and perhaps gain a new perspective.
It was dark when she decided to go back to the examination room.
“Isabelle.”
The voice, feminine, defensive, came from upstairs. Izzy stopped and turned her chin up. She pursed her lips.
“That’s me.”
“Please, Isabelle. I would not like us not to be in good terms.” Said Lydia, with a hint of doubt in her voice.
“Come on, Lydia, drop the act. Why are you doing this?” Burst out Izzy.
“Please, lower your voice.”
Izzy laughed, a sound without joy, deeply sarcastic.
“What the heck, Lydia. Really. You come here, and… what? Were you expecting me to have forgotten you? Did you think I had hit my head in the last year?”
“I am sorry. I didn’t want to compromise either of us. I am simply following orders, my personal acquaintances cannot get in the way.”
“Acquaintan…? Get in the way?!” Izzy couldn’t believe her eyes. “This is my family. You are getting in the way.”
“Isabelle… ” Her eyes were almost pleading, which disconcerted Izzy. “I understand that…”
“I don’t think you do.”
“Isabelle, listen…”
“I am listening.” She crossed her arms.
“I am simply doing my job.” She hesitated, as if there were something else she needed to say.
“You know what? We are both professionals, and, honestly, I don’t care.”
Lydia looked at her, eyes softened.
“Please. I do. I would like us to be friends. As we were. My job here shouldn’t interfere in our relationship.”
“You did a pretty good job with that yourself, coming here and pretending you didn’t know me.” Izzy snapped.
The young woman looked down. She sighed, and turned up her chin, collecting herself.
“Mine is not an easy job. You know that. You knew that before, and it hasn’t changed. I am simply asking you to consider being in good terms with me. That is all, for the sake of this Institute.”
Izzy stared. She nodded one single time.
“I would do anything to protect my family.”
“As would I.” Lydia nodded.
A tense silence ensued. Lydia quietly wished her good night and left in the opposite direction. Izzy watched her go, allowing the bubble of memories to slowly fill her chest with sadness and longing. She decided to ignore those feelings and move on.