[Canon is The Infernal Devices series]

[gabriellightwood]

Mundane...

Just what do you think you're doing?

Seriously. What are you going to do with me?

I don't really want to see that Will Herondale although I suppose that it may be of interest to find some of my other family members to discover what has become of the Lightwood name.

Comments

This is not going to help me talk myself out of playing Gideon

[alec_lightwood]

[This can't be worse than his conversations with Will, but he's still nervous, unsure of what his ancestor would think of him. Even he's sure that Gabriel would be proud of Isabelle.]

What's happened to us is complicated.

:D

[gabriellightwood]

You're a Lightwood?

[alec_lightwood]

I'm Alec Lightwood. I'm one of your family's descendants.

[gabriellightwood]

So what is this complicated thing that happens?

[alec_lightwood]

Things. A group of shadowhunters thought they knew better than the Clave so they tried to destroy the Accords and all the Downworlders.

My parents were part of it during the first attempt.

[gabriellightwood]

... They tried to destroy the Accords?

.........

First attempt?

[alec_lightwood]

They almost did. About ten years later, Valentine tried it again. He sent demons into Idris. [Somehow he manages to keep his voice level despite his thoughts turning to his brother.] They invaded Alicante.

[gabriellightwood]

And what did you do when your parents did such terrible things?

[His voice is edged and tense, thinking of his own father.]

[alec_lightwood]

I hadn't been born yet. They were teenagers during the first attempt.

During the second... the Clave was having a meeting and they had left us alone. Most of the adults left the children alone. [No matter how often Magnus had told him it wasn't his fault, he still believed it was his fault Max had died and Isabelle had been hurt.]

I... should have done more to protect them.

[gabriellightwood]

[He nods as if in understanding.]

They don't think of you as worth much until you're eighteen...

Protect who? Your parents? Did something happen to them?

[alec_lightwood]

I was eighteen. Barely.

I should've done more to protect my siblings. A demon attacked the house and I was trying to save a friend. I left my sister and little brother with someone I trusted. He killed Max and tried to kill Isabelle.

My parents survived the attacks, but our family is falling apart.

[gabriellightwood]

[His frown deepens. He doesn't like the sound of any of that.]

Falling apart in what way? Is the Lightwood name in danger as well as yourselves?

[alec_lightwood]

My parents are estranged. They really don't have much to do with Isabelle or me. When I die, the Lightwood name will end unless Isabelle keeps her family name. I've heard that happens sometimes.

[gabriellightwood]

Why would the name die with you? Don't you intend to have children?

[alec_lightwood]

[Alec pauses for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to say 'I'm gay' to his great grandfather who was from a time when that meant something completely different than it does now.]

I could adopt but having children... I was dating a warlock. A male warlock.

[gabriellightwood]

[There's a stunned silence that maybe goes on for far to long to be comfortable to either of them. Then he answers, just one shocked word.]

.... What?!

[Right now he's not sure if the word 'male' or the word 'warlock' is worse. It's just not something he's considered.]

[alec_lightwood]

[This is almost deja vu... Robert had had almost the same reaction when he'd found out. His expression turns carefully neutral.]

I was dating Magnus Bane.

[gabriellightwood]

[That certainly doesn't make it any better. In fact, Gabriel goes pale and the same word comes out again.]

What? Magnus Bane. The warlock Magnus Bane?

[He heard all of that but he obviously can't believe it - or doesn't want to believe it. The Lightwood family line destroyed because of Magnus Bane?]

Did he put some kind of magical curse on you?

[alec_lightwood]

Yes, Magnus. The High Warlock of Brooklyn.

Being gay isn't a curse. It's part of who I am just like being nephilim. He was the first person who made me feel like there was nothing wrong with me.

[And Alec had let jealousy and doubt destroy everything. That thought combined with everything else that had happened since he'd come out causes him to snark more than he would with someone who is family.]

Would it make you feel better that my first crush was Will Herondale's great grandson. My parabatai.

[gabriellightwood]

What has being gay got to do with anything? You may be as happy and gay as you like.

[He doesn't quite get it yet. Then he scowls.]

Ugh. Will Herondale? Why would you want anything to do with kin of his?

[alec_lightwood]

Gay also means preferring men. It's probably more polite than the words used for it a century ago.

My family took him in when his father died. [Which is something Alec doesn't want to try to explain since he's sure that some days Jace doesn't completely understood it.] Jace can be obnoxious sometimes, but he cares. He just doesn't know how to show it in ways that don't make you want to punch him.

I don't think we can cast stones at other families considering what ours has done.

[gabriellightwood]

[He purses his lips.]

I would have hoped the Lightwood name would not be so tarnished in the future.

[And he sighs tiredly before shaking his head.]

So something all Herondales have in common... Lightwoods want to punch them.

[alec_lightwood]

My parents sided with a Shadowhunter who wanted to wipe out every single Downworlder but falling in love with a warlock tarnishes the family name.

I guess Magnus was right about Lightwoods.

Whether I want to punch him or not, he's still my brother and my parabatai. He's had a hard life, even for a Shadowhunter.

[gabriellightwood]

I meant all of it. All of what you've told me.

Is having a hard life some sort of excuse for being a horrible person?

[But he takes a breath and tries to soften his tone.]

I'm not trying to judge. We've all done things we're not proud of, I'm sure. I just... do not want to see the Lightwood name die out and your news is distressing.

[alec_lightwood]

He isn't a horrible person. He just... I don't think he knows how to care about someone without trying to shove them way for their own good.

[His expression wavers slightly, anger replaced by a weariness that he hasn't been able to shake since he'd outed himself in front of everyone.]

It might not die out. There's always kids that need a family. Might not be our family line, but the name could continue on.