Chapter Text
His alarm is annoying most mornings, but this time it feels like a drill in his skull. Which is unfortunate really, he’d gone to bed early hoping to catch up on sleep. He’d been unusually tired then, but chalked it up to long hours with reports. With a cluster of demons terrorizing LA and a rogue seelie wrecking havoc in Brooklyn, he’s had reports and requests coming at him all hours. Without a doubt, he loves his job, he wouldn’t change anything from the last two years, married, living in Alicante and serving as Inquisitor, but sleep is also a valued concept at least once in a while. But it’s fine, he thinks. Nothing he hasn’t done before. He can catch up tomorrow on his day off. Then he’ll be great. Unfortunately that sentiment doesn’t ease the pounding in his head as he sits up, rubbing his temple. The movement makes his husband stir, which would make him feel guilty if he didn’t love that sleepy expression so much.
“You don’t look like you slept great.” Magnus says softly, reaching up to rub Alec’s shoulder.
Alec sighs. “Guess not. I think I’m going to go to the institute today, working from there is usually quieter.”
“Alright.” Magnus smiles, squeezing the shoulder. “We should do breakfast first.”
Alec nods with a fond smile, waiting while breakfast is conjured. He simply doesn’t have the energy to make it himself anyway.
By the time he’s dressed and ready to go to the institute, the pressure in his head has moved down to his sinuses and throat. He’s wiped when he comes through the portal, taking a second to straighten himself up before walking down the hall.
“Hey big bro.” Izzy grins, giving him a quick hug. “I wasn't expecting to see you today. Is everything alright?”
Alec smiles. “Thought I’d come by my favourite institute before we go on vacation next week.”
“Sure. I can’t wait to spend a week in Idris on your behalf. Mom might be even more excited for me, honestly.” She laughs.
“And Jace?”
“He’s promised not to pass off the head of institute duties in the first three hours.”
“Good.” Alec laughs, which makes him cough.
“Are you okay?” She asks, looking up at him with concern.
“Of course.” Alec assures her. “Just tired. I didn't sleep well. What’s going on here?”
Izzy takes a beat to glare at him for his quick dismissal but relents. “As you know we caught our seelie, Luke and Clary took her to the clave this morning. So it looks like we’re business as usual for the time being.”
Alec knocks on the table. “Hopefully it’s a quiet day for you. You earned it.”
“Thank you.” She beams. “And a good day for you to go home and rest before you get really sick.”
“I’m not-”
“Alec.” She scolds.
“I’m fine. Besides, a quiet day here would be better than a quiet day home alone. Magnus is out all day on business.”
“I guess it does make it easier for me to make sure you’re not working yourself too hard.” She teases.
Alec chuckles. “Shut up.”
“Morning, Iz.” Clary enters the briefing room. “Luke and I just got back, he was going to report it to Alec directly, but he wasn’t in yet.”
“Tell him he still can, Alec’s upstairs.”
“Oh?” Clary questioned, pulling out her phone to text Luke.
“Yep. Apparently he wanted another day here before his big vacation.”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
“He’s sick, isn’t he?” Jace asks, coming down the steps.
“On his way there, I think. Definitely run down.” Izzy replies.
“Oh I can sense it, he’s definitely off. Word of advice Clary, steer clear. He’ll be insistent that he’s fine.”
“Like I’m not used to that with you.” She snips.
Jace scowls. “Fair enough. But just trust me. He’ll be completely miserable at the same time. Remember last time he got sick, Izzy?”
“Yeah.” Izzy scoffs. “He could barely form a coherent sentence and nearly collapsed on this table. Jace carried him to the infirmary where we found out he was running a temp of 102.”
“Sounds about right.” Clary crosses her arms. “You know, I didn’t realize we could actually get sick. Now that I think about it I haven’t been since I became a shadowhunter.”
“Runes do a lot for us.” Jace nods. “But it does happen every so often. This incident with Alec was long before we met you, and I’m pretty sure he got it from Izzy.” He smirks.
“Not true!” Izzy punches his arm. “I only take responsibility for giving it to you.” She turns back to Clary. “Point is, it takes a lot more to knock us down, so if Alec is truly not well, Jace is probably right, steer clear, just in case.”
“Noted.” Clary turns to Jace. “Are we still on to train?”
Jace winces. “I should check on Alec first, maybe after lunch.”
“Sure. If you need me to make a portal to force him home early, let me know.”
Alec has his head in his hands, fighting to focus on a file when there’s a knock on the office door.
“Come in.” Alec responds, immediately clearing his throat. The door opens and he sneezes, twice, into his arm. “Sorry, what can I- Jace.” He smiles weakly.
“Bless you.” Jace looks him down with crossed arms. “You sure you’re alright?”
“What did Izzy tell you?” Alec sniffles, reaching for the tissue box.
“That you were run down and tired, and I told her I could sense it’s worse than that. What are you even doing here?”
“It’s not that bad.”
“Sure, because I don’t feel any general sense of unease on your behalf.”
Alec rolls his eyes. “Fine. I’m definitely sick. But I have tomorrow off and then-”
“And then you’re off to Italy. So maybe you should go home and rest now so you’re not completely out of commission on your anniversary trip. Especially considering your lovely husband can only do so much to make you feel better.”
“A husband that’s super busy ahead of said trip who I don’t want to disturb just to portal me home.”
“Clary already said she could do it.”
Alec grimaces, shaking his head. “I think I’d rather be here than alone at home.”
Jace smiles softly. “Alec, you’re 90% asleep sitting up right now. Pretty sure if we get you in bed you’ll be out in no more than five minutes and won’t even notice there’s nobody home. I know how you operate.” Alec wraps his hands together, contemplating as Jace continues. “Izzy and I were already prepared to take over operations, we can get a head start. Just for you. To be clear, I wouldn’t be spending a week as head of the institute for anyone else.”
“Not even Izzy?” Alec chuckles.
“Ok, maybe one other person.” Jace laughs. “But seriously, we can get you out of here. I can even stay at the apartment with you until Magnus gets home if it’ll help.”
“Oh, no.” Alec groans. “You’ll probably give him Jace’s smartass guide to dealing with a sick Lightwood.”
“Oh yeah.” Jace beams. “He hasn’t dealt with this yet. Now I can’t decide whether I want to say anything or not.”
Alec glares but shakes his head with a smile. “You’re not staying. Just let me have lunch first.”
Jace grins, triumphant. “I’ll request soup for everyone. We won’t single you out.”
“Thanks.”
“Clary, new plans after lunch.” Jace jogs into the library after his trip to the dining hall. “Getting Alec that portal.”
Izzy looks up from her book. “You actually convinced him to go home?”
“It took a good deal of persuading, but yeah. He’s in kinda rough shape, but he wants lunch before he goes.”
“Well at least he wants to eat.”
“Yeah. I told him we could take over a couple days early to let him rest up. I assumed you’d be on board.”
“For Alec? Of course. I’m impressed, Jace. I thought he’d fight us until at least dinner.”
“Heading out?” Izzy pokes her head through the door, stepping out the back door of the institute where Clary and Jace stood with a truly exhausted looking Alec.
“Yeah.” Alec coughs. “I promise you it wasn’t this bad when I came in.”
“You’re fine, big brother. Come here.” She pulls him into a hug, head against his chest. “Just get better, and make sure you bring me lots of pictures home. And some gelato, if you can swing it.”
“Careful, Magnus might bring you an entire shop worth.”
“We’ll take care of it.” She grins. “See you soon.”
“Love you.”
Jace claps his shoulder. “Want us to go through with you and get you set up?”
“I think I’m good, thanks. You’re right, I’ll probably crash pretty quick.”
Clary holds up a bag. “Here, this can hold you over until Magnus can work up something stronger. Mundane meds, juice and water. I also threw some peppermint teabags in there, they were my favourite when I was sick as a kid.”
“Interesting.” Alec remarks, giving her a smug grin.
Clary smiles back, handing over the bag. She holds his wrist on the transfer, the warm gesture they’re accustomed to. “Ready?” Alec nods. She quickly draws up the portal, sending Alec on his way.
The apartment is dark and quiet. He heads straight for the bedroom, setting the bag down beside his nightstand. He takes the medicine out and takes a swig of it, grimacing at the taste before tossing it back in the bag and zipping it up. He slides out of his boots and jeans and shirt, tossing them in a pile on top. He has a thought to set an alarm as he slides under the covers, so he’ll be awake to see Magnus when he gets home, but he’s out before he can even reach for his clock.