As if to ensure Magnus wasn't going anywhere, Elliot kissed him anytime he got the opportunity.

Magnus hated it. It felt like Elliot wanted something from him, like he was trying too hard to make their relationship work out. And though Magnus would never admit it to Elliot, Alec was a much better kisser.

But Elliot wouldn't stop. Pretty soon, he was trying to get Magnus to the sex step again, and while he told Magnus he loved him and wanted him to be comfortable, Magnus couldn't help but not believe him. Alec would never push him into doing something he wasn't ready for. He told Elliot this.

"Fine," he said angrily. "Why don't you go back to Alexander again, if he treats you so well. Maybe he'll give you more of those scars."

With that, he stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

Magnus felt relief, hoping Elliot wouldn't come back.

Of course he came back, hours later, with an apology on his lips.

"I'm sorry," he said. "But this is getting hard, Mags. I've never been with someone so long without being intimate. I do care about you, but I don't know how much more of this I can take."

Magnus looked down, not knowing how to respond.

"If it's time you need," Elliot continued, "I'll wait for you. But I can't keep being rejected. And honestly, Magnus, I know you still feel something for your ex. Maybe it's time you two talked, properly. If things really don't work out, and you need someone, I'll be here."

Magnus nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Elliot sighed and left the loft once more.

Magnus missed everyone, not just Alec. Through him, he had net Isabelle, Clary, Simon, even Jace. He was tired of this being alone. He had Catarina, yes, but she could only help him so much.

He dialed Izzy's number and pressed the call button.

She picked up on the second ring.

"Magnus," she said in an excited whisper. "How are you? Are you okay? What do you need? I was just with Alec, should I tell him you called?"

"No, no, Isabelle. I'm calling for you, actually. I guess I just… need friend."

"Do you want me to come over?"

"If I'm not bothering you."

"Never. Be there soon." And she hung up the phone.

As promised, Isabelle was at his door within twenty minutes. She embraced him when he opened the door for her. And Clary, it looked like.

"I hope you don't mind," Isabelle said. "I brought Clary."

"Of course not. Hello, Biscuit." They hugged as well.

"Magnus, we haven't heard from you in months!" Clary exclaimed. "What have you been up to?"

"Not much. Haven't had many clients. I've just been… recovering. I was dating someone, too, but he left this morning."

"Oh. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be, Isabelle. He wasn't good for me."

They held off on more conversation until they were comfortably sitting on the couches. Magnus prepared them drinks.

He had to know. "How's Alexander?"

Isabelle and Clary looked at each other. Magnus noticed.

"He's great," Clary said. "He's actually-"

"Horrible," Izzy cut in. "He's been horrible without you, Magnus. He told me about when he ran into you a few months back. You were with that guy who punched him in the face - the guy, I'm guessing, who left you this morning. If you think he looked bad then, you should see him now. He's an empty shell. He doesn't eat or sleep or even fight anymore. It's not your fault, Magnus. It's nobody's fault, but no, he isn't 'great.'"

Magnus was speechless.

"He burned off his rune, too," Isabelle said. "His Parabatai rune. He took hot metal to it and burned it off. He wants nothing to do with Jace anymore. And that's killing Jace. What happened to you wan't Jace's fault. It wasn't Alec's. The only people to blame are the men who did that to you. To both of you. It was a bad situation, Magnus. There was no way to win. But you need to stop this and talk to him. Really talk to him. He needs you, and I know you need him, too."

Magnus downed his entire drink. "I think I'd like you to leave now. I have to think."

Isabelle smiled a small smile, as though she thought she had done some good. Which, Magnus thought, maybe she had.

When the two of them left with a promise from Magnus that he would call again soon, Magnus was alone again. He didn't want to be alone, but he did need to think.

He ended up falling asleep on the couch with Chairman Meow curled up next to him. He woke up to knocking at the door, and he knew who it would be. Catarina came over every other day to check up on him.

"Come in," he groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, successfully ruining his eyeliner.

"You don't look well," Catarina said. "What happened?"

"Elliot left. Isabelle and Clary came over. I've been thinking."

"Is that a good thing?"

"I'm not sure."

"What are you thinking?"

"I was thinking of Alexander."

Catarina sat next to him with a look of fondness on her face. "You love him."

Magnus let out a frustrated sound and leaned his head on Catarina's shoulder. "I don't know. What am I supposed to do?"

"It's okay if you love him, Magnus. I think you've always loved him, but with what happened, you wouldn't let yourself forgive him. You know it wasn't his fault. It wasn't Jace's either. Elliot left you because he can see right through you, like I can. It's not hard to see."

"I have to go talk to him, don't I?"

Catarina smiled and nodded.

"Thanks, Catarina."

"Anytime."

Magnus returned to the Institute and was welcomed with open arms. Most people there were glad to see him, but he could only think of Alec.

"Want to tell me where your dear brother is, Isabelle?"

He noticed the panicked look on her face the moment he asked. "I don't know," she said. "I was just looking for him myself. He must have left the Institute."

Magnus understood why this bothered her, and it bothered him too. Alec was weak, and in no shape to be skipping around the city tempting monsters to attack him.

"We'll find him, Isabelle. Do you have something of his I can track him-"

"Oh my god, Alec!" Isabelle shouted, looking behind Magnus with wide eyes. Magnus turned to look.

Alec was between both Jace and Clary, being held up by the pair of them (well, mostly Jace). His shirt was in shreds, sticking to his bloody chest. He had clearly lost a lot of blood and his head lolled to the side, hinting that he was unconscious.

"Get him to the infirmary!" Isabelle called. Magnus followed them down the winding hallways to their destination. He knew he would be needed.

Everyone got Alec to the nearest bed, removing the remains of his shirt. The gashes on his chest were deep, and Alec would be in a lot of pain when he woke up if Magnus didn't get to healing him soon.

"Where did you find him?" Izzy asked Jace.

"Not far from here. He was an easy target, and every demon knew it."

Magnus looked at Alec. Isabelle was right, he did look worse from when he had last seen him. He was even skinnier, hair longer and a beard growing on his face. He needed to help him.

"Get out," he said.

Everyone involved looked at him before leaving the room. All except Izzy, Jace, and Clary.

"I need everyone to leave. You cannot distract me if I am to help him."

Jace was about to fight, but Isabelle stopped him. "Let's go," she said. "He's in good hands."

With that, the room was empty and quiet. Good. He wanted them to be alone.

Magnus's magic glowed around his fingers, wrapping around Alec's torso, stitching his wounds together at a snail's pace, but it was progress. Magnus saw where Alec had burned off his rune and decided to heal that, too. If he knew Alec, he must have felt he couldn't heal it himself because he thought he deserved the pain.

When all there was left to do was wait for Alec to wake up, Magnus pulled up a chair to the side of his bed, grabbed ahold of Alec's right hand in both of his and looked at him, wondering what it would be like, wondered what would be said, when he opened his eyes.