Archive of Our Own ^beta

The morning sun had just begun to filter through the trees as Alec jogged through the park, his mind blissfully quiet, something he rarely got to experience. Running had always been his escape, a way to clear his head of the endless responsibilities that came with being the Head of the Institute. But today, that peace was short-lived.

"Alec! Hey, Alec!" A voice called out behind him.

Alec sighed, recognizing the energetic tone without needing to turn around. It was Elijah—again.

He slowed to a stop and turned, watching as the young warlock jogged up to him, barely winded, his face lit up with the same boundless enthusiasm Alec had seen the night before. The kid was talking before he even got within earshot.

"I didn't expect to see you out here! Are you always up this early? Man, I didn’t realize Shadowhunters were morning people. And the way you took down those demons last night, that was insane! I mean, I thought I could handle it, but wow, I’ve never seen anyone shoot that fast before. How do you even—"

"Elijah," Alec said firmly, cutting him off mid-ramble. "I’m running."

The kid’s mouth snapped shut, but only for a second. "Oh, right. Running. Got it. I’ll walk then." He grinned, falling into step beside Alec, clearly not getting the hint.

Alec resumed his run, hoping Elijah might get bored and leave, but to no avail. The warlock matched his pace effortlessly, still talking a mile a minute.

"So, I was thinking about that spell I messed up last night. I’m pretty sure I didn’t channel enough energy through the right ley lines, but then again, maybe it was the incantation. Do you know much about ley lines? I mean, warlocks have to be careful with that stuff, but I guess you already know that because of Magnus, right? Oh, and by the way, I totally didn’t mean to just crash your patrol like that, but I’ve been practicing, and I thought maybe you could give me some tips—"

Alec sighed, feeling his patience wear thin as Elijah continued to rattle off question after question. The kid reminded him too much of someone else—someone who never knew when to be quiet and always seemed to be around at the most inconvenient times.

Simon. The once Mundane, now vampire, who had once driven Alec absolutely crazy with his constant chatter. Elijah’s rapid-fire questions were beginning to have the same effect.

But it wasn’t just Simon. There was someone else Elijah reminded him of—someone Alec couldn’t quite put his finger on. The familiar energy, the spark, the almost-too-eager excitement. It tugged at something deep in Alec’s memory, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.

"Do you ever stop talking?" Alec finally asked, his tone more exasperated than he intended.

Elijah paused, blinking up at Alec with wide eyes before flashing him a sheepish smile. "Not really, no. I tend to just... go." He laughed, a little awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry. I know it can be annoying."

Alec huffed out a breath. "It is."

But despite his words, he couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. Elijah wasn’t exactly insufferable—just persistent. And somehow, that persistence reminded him of someone... important.

“Oh my God, you smiled!” Elijah practically squealed, and in his excitement, he waved his hands a little too dramatically. Alec barely had time to react before a nearby cat—a small tabby wandering the street—was suddenly transformed into a bright red apple.

“Oh fuck” Elijah whispered, staring at the apple in horror. “I swear to you, that wasn’t supposed to happen”

Alec groaned inwardly, his brief smile vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. "Great," he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Elijah looked at Alec with wide, panicked eyes. “Look, I’m sorry. I get excited, and when I get excited things…tend to happen”

Alec took a deep breath, stepping closer to the apple. "Alright. Let’s fix this." He knelt down, studying the apple as if expecting it to suddenly start purring or sprout whiskers. Elijah fumbled around beside him, nervously muttering something about magical theory.

Alec’s hand hovered over the apple, and he spoke firmly. "Focus. Deep breath, and undo it slowly. You’re not going to fix anything if you’re panicking."

Elijah nodded quickly, taking a deep breath as he raised his hands again, his fingers trembling slightly. Alec kept his gaze on the boy, watching for any more mishaps. A small pulse of magic flowed from Elijah’s hands, this time softer, more controlled, and a moment later, the apple shimmered, transforming back into the small, confused tabby cat.

The cat meowed indignantly before scampering off, none the worse for wear.

Elijah let out a relieved sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Thanks, man, got a long way to go”

 Alec stood up, dusting off his hands. "You’re not terrible," he said with a half-shrug. "Just need control."

Elijah grinned again, clearly taking Alec’s words as the highest of compliments. "I’ll get better, I promise! Maybe… you could teach me sometime?"

“What? No way” said Alec

Elijah’s eyes lit up with mock desperation as they walked, his hands clasped together as if in prayer. “Come on, Alec! Just let me tag along for one patrol—one! I swear I won’t get in the way. I could be like… your sidekick! The Robin to your Batman, the Watson to your Sherlock—”

“No,” Alec said firmly, cutting him off without breaking stride. His voice was flat, and the answer was definitive.

Elijah let out a dramatic groan, throwing his head back. “Why not? I’d be so useful! You said it yourself, I’m not terrible. Think of all the cool things I could do. Maybe I could teleport us around? Or throw up a quick shield if we run into a demon? I can even control shadows to make things disappear or bring them to life! You could use a warlock on patrol!”

“No,” Alec repeated, turning down another street, his patience running thin. The kid was relentless. “Patrolling is dangerous. You’re not ready.”

Elijah pouted, but his eyes still had that mischievous gleam. “Fine, but just so you know, I’m gonna wear you down eventually, and then you’ll be begging me to come along.”

Alec gave him a pointed look, unimpressed. “Doubtful.”

Elijah chuckled and made a show of sulking, though it was clear he wasn’t about to give up easily. Alec could already sense trouble brewing, but for now, he was just glad the conversation was over as they went their separate ways.

Later that night, Alec was out on patrol alone. the moonlight casting long shadows across the streets. They were moving through a quieter part of the city, discussing the latest intel on some demon sightings when Alec heard the unmistakable sound of someone stumbling nearby. The three of them tensed, ready for action, but when Alec turned the corner, he felt his frustration flare.

“Elijah?” Alec’s voice was incredulous, seeing the young warlock standing awkwardly in the alley, clearly trying to look nonchalant as if he hadn’t been caught red-handed.

“Oh, hey! Fancy seeing you here,” Elijah said, waving enthusiastically like this was a casual meetup and not a dangerous patrol route. “I just… happened to be in the neighborhood.”

Alec’s eyes narrowed. “I told you not to come.”

“I know, I know! But hear me out—”

Before Elijah could finish, a group of lesser demons scuttled out from the shadows. Alec’s instincts kicked in immediately and he sprang into action.

“Elijah, get back!” Alec shouted,

But instead of running, Elijah tried to conjure a spell, his hands glowing with dark, swirling smoke. Black tendrils of fog curled around his fingers as he focused on the incantation. “I can help!” he yelled, but the magic sputtered and fizzled, the nerves getting to him. The smoke grew thicker, spilling from his hands, but it lacked the control needed to form the spell. Alec sliced through one of the demons with his seraph blade, heart racing as he kept one eye on the demons and the other on Elijah.

One of the larger demons reared up, charging at Elijah. The kid’s eyes widened in panic, and Alec cursed under his breath. He leaped forward, blocking the demon’s attack just in time, sending it sprawling back with a powerful kick.

Elijah, wide-eyed and shaking, was completely out of his depth.

When the last of the demons were vanquished, Alec whirled around to face him, frustration bubbling over. “I told you this wasn’t a game, Elijah! You could’ve been killed.”

“I’m sorry Alec, I thought I could help” Elijah voiced croaked

Alec cut him off, "This is dangerous, Elijah. You can't keep doing this."

Elijah looked down, shifting awkwardly, but then glanced up with determination. "I just... I don’t want to sit on the sidelines."

Alec sighed heavily. His first instinct was to send Elijah away, but then a thought struck him. Elijah wasn’t going to stop. He had already proven that. If Alec sent him off tonight, he'd likely keep following him—alone, reckless, and vulnerable.

Alec glanced at the young warlock, his expression softening. Elijah was trouble, but he was also a kid with potential who clearly needed guidance. Maybe it was better if Alec kept an eye on him rather than let him roam the streets on his own, throwing himself into danger without any help.

"Fine," Alec finally said, his voice firm but resigned. "If you're going to keep doing this, it's better if you're with me. At least then I can make sure you don’t get yourself killed."

Elijah's eyes widened with surprise, a grin spreading across his face. "Really?"

"But," Alec raised a finger, "you follow my lead, no unnecessary risks, and when I say run, you run."

Elijah beamed and saluted dramatically. "Yes, sir!"

Alec couldn't help but roll his eyes, wondering what he'd gotten himself into. But deep down, he knew he'd made the right choice. Elijah was a trouble magnet, and if Alec couldn't stop him from diving headfirst into danger, the least he could do was protect him while he did.