"Thank you for taking me to my appointment." Malia said, before she sunk into a chair across from Isabelle. The Lightwood gave her a smile, "Of course!" She chirped.

A waitress walked over to take their order, Isabelle ordered a large pepperoni pizza for the girls to share. "I'll have a large glass of cola too, thanks." Malia said. Isabelle just grinned, "You're gonna have a sugar high.. I feel like that would be quite amusing." She added. Malia rolled her eyes playfully.

"So what are you doing today?" Malia asked, her eyes on Isabelle. "I'm hoping to go to the adamant citadel to see the Iron sisters! Clary might be coming along too." Isabelle explained. Malia nodded, "That sounds cool." She replied.

The warlock hadn't really been interested in the Iron sisters, after all she wouldn't be able to go and see the citadel whilst demon blood ran in her veins.

"Pepperoni pizza." The waitress said, placing a large plate down between the girls, before giving each of them a share plate. "And a large cola." She added, placing the large glass by Malia. "Thank you." The two girls said in unison.

"Are you up to much today?" Isabelle asked. Malia shrugged, "I don't know. Magnus invited me to go out with him and Alec, but I don't want to third wheel." She laughed. Isabelle shrugged, "I don't know... I feel like that would be funny." She admitted.

The girls ate their pizza, and split the bill before leaving. They walked along the river, slowly heading back to the Institute.

"Can I ask you something?" Malia suddenly asked, as it had been silent. "Hm? Of course." Isabelle answered. "Eleanor.. my therapist.. she set me a task this week.. to ask those I'm close to, what things they value about me." Malia explained, "So can I ask you?"

Isabelle nodded, "Well.. I value your loyalty. In such a short time you've shown to be quite loyal towards Magnus, Clary and myself." She began. "It feels like you have my back.. and I really appreciate it." The Lightwood smiled. Malia smiled back, unsure about what to say in response. "And for the record. I have your back too." She chirped.

"You... mean that?" Malia asked, surprised. She hadn't heard such a thing in.... hold up— she didn't remember the last time she'd ever heard those words from anyone. "Of course I do." Isabelle declared, before she linked her arm through Malia's.

"You know.. I never expected to become best friends with the Princess of Hell." Isabelle confessed before she grinned, "But here we are." Malia laughed in response.

Best friends...

Isabelle was Malia's best friend.

☠︎︎

Hours later

After spending the day shopping in Paris, Malia entered her apartment with a pep in her step, as she wore her newly purchased thigh high boots.

Once inside, the Bane waved her hands around, closing the door. She tossed her shopping bags onto the couch and clicked her fingers, as a seafood platter suddenly appeared on the kitchen table.

She smiled, before taking a seat and digging into the food.. but not before she noticed that something was off. Malia waved her hand around, turning on a radio that Magnus had in the living room. "That's more like it." She decided.

After a few minutes of enjoying her dinner, the doors to the apartment opened, and Alec and Magnus walked in. She could feel the awkward tension between them instantly, as she looked up, half a lobster in her mouth. "Sup." She said casually.

Alec just blinked in surprise, not sure what he expected. Magnus just chuckled. Once her mouth was empty, the girl asked, "How was your date?"

"It was good." Alec answered, not wanting to elaborate on it. "For a guy so used to Portals, I have to admit, nothing beats a late night stroll through the city." Magnus confessed as Malia nodded. She's spent a lot of time walking around the city with Izzy and occasionally Clary or even Madi.. and she couldn't deny that she enjoyed it.

"Yeah. Gives you time to think." Alec said as Magnus spun to face him. "You must have thought a lot. You barely said a word the whole way home." He confessed. Malia munched on a prawn, trying to be quiet. "This is awkward." She thought.

"Magnus... Do you think... maybe we're too..." Alec trailed off but Magnus finished his sentence, "Different?"

"Yeah."

"We're from totally different worlds." The Bane admitted. "Different centuries... Look, I... I should go." Alec said, before he headed towards the door to leave, but suddenly he stopped in the doorway. Before Alec turned around, Malia shared a sympathetic glance with her brother. She could tell that more than anything, Magnus wanted this relationship to work.

"Look, I don't care how many people you've been with." Alec declared, before walking back towards Magnus, who seemed surprised by this. "I... don't care how many people you haven't been with." Magnus replied. Malia didn't know why, but she tried to stifle a laugh at her brothers response. The girl then stood up, as the couple kissed. She took her plate to the fridge in the kitchen, deciding to finish the platter later. She just wanted any excuse to not be a thirdwheel in her own home.

"I hear that relationships, they, um... take effort." Alec said, as Malia stepped back into the room, heading towards the balcony door. "I'm all for effort." Magnus replied. The younger Bane took a quick glance at her brother and his boyfriend, and how happy they both looked, which caused her to smile.

Suddenly, the door to the apartment opened, as Madi and Jace stepped inside. Malia spun around, ditching her plan of going to the balcony for now, to see what the Shadowhunters wanted.

"Sorry for killing the mood." Madi said, letting go of Jace's hand as he walked forward, holding a bag in his other hand. "You got a spare room?" Jace asked.

☠︎︎

Sometime later

As Alec and Magnus helped set up a spare room for Jace, Madi and Malia sat outside on the balcony. The Bane had made herself a cocktail, and sipped on it as they looked over at the view.

"I can't believe Aldertree just kept pushing for Jace to leave.." Madeline sighed. Malia reached out to Madi, offering her cocktail. "It sounds like you might need this more than I do." The Bane said. Madi smiled awkwardly, before she took the beverage.

"Are you sure Jace can stay?" Madi asked. Malia shrugged, "I can't imagine he has anywhere else to go." She admitted as the Lightwood sighed, "He doesn't... it just seems unfair for him to be kicked out of his home."

Malia bit her lip, I know the feeling, she thought.

"Well.. he can stay as long as he wants.. it'll be quite nice to have someone else here for times when Magnus and Alec are being all mushy. I don't like being a thirdwheel." Malia confessed. Madi laughed, "Sounds like you need somebody." She sai before grinning, "Maybe a certain red head comes to mind?"

"Ugh not this again. I am literally coping this from both of your siblings. Don't you three have better things to do?" Malia asked, as Madi laughed. "How is Clary?" The Bane then asked. "Ask her yourself. I'm not being the Banechild messenger." The Shadowhunter declared as the warlock raised an eyebrow, "Did you just... combine our last names?" She asked, in surprise. Madeline giggled, amusedly, "Perhaps."

"Alright." Madi sighed, placing the empty glass down. "I've gotta say goodbye to Jace and head back to the Institute." She declared, before getting to her feet. Malia quickly stood up, "Maybe I can take you." She suggested, which caused Madeline to smirk, "Because you want to see Clary?" She asked. Malia rolled her eyes, "Maybe. I wanna see how she is doing." She clarified.

"Whatever you say, warlock." Madeline teased, before she headed back inside, Malia following.

☠︎︎

Sometime later

"I'll see you guys soon." Malia said to Jace, Alec and Magnus, before she opened up a portal. "Be safe." Magnus smiled to Malia, "Don't destroy the Institute." Alec added, more so looking at Malia, but he wouldn't put it past Madi. Malia just smiled smugly in response, "No promises."

Madeline and Jace shared a kiss, before the Lightwood pulled away. "I love you." She said softly. "Love you too." Jace replied, with a smile. Even though he felt like his life was all over the place, he was really grateful that he had Madi.

Madi stepped towards Malia, before the warlock offered out her hand. Madeline took it before she waved to the others with her free hand. The girls then stepped through the portal, taking them back to the Institute.