[ sometimes alec lightwood is prone to stupidity. in this moment, he feels like he's tripped and fallen head first straight into it with believing izzy would want to be anywhere but here. after all, she ruined his joke just to express her gratitude for him suddenly appearing in cadelle. no one ruins any chance they have to tell alec lightwood he's poor at making jokes. ]

[ coming to a stop, alec doesn't look at her immediately. it isn't in an attempt to hide — he always needs to steel himself, just in case she spies something in his expression he hadn't known was there. most of the time, alec is never ready to confront what someone else may see, and izzy has always been able to read him better than anyone else, even himself. ]

[ looking down at her, he gives her a small smile, hoping it's reassuring. ] Nothing's wrong. [ he looks over her head, then back to her. ] I just don't really want to be left alone here. I feel like someone's going to come out and cuddle me without warning.

[ protect him, izzy. ]