"I can take care of myself," Alec said immediately and automatically. The words were there before he even realized it, tumbling out in a rush, in an assurance that Peter hadn't asked for. He could take care of himself and he didn't need anybody to adopt him or care for him or invite him to holidays that he didn't even celebrate.
Except maybe he did. In the absence of his sister and his parents, he had Luke and Reid and he had Magnus. In the absence of the Institute, he had Luke's bookstore and his small apartment and though none gave him the comfort and the feeling of familiarity as the Institute did, it was still somewhere he found that he liked being.
"I don't think that matters to Luke or Reid though. They're gonna do whatever they can to help me when I need it," he said, lightening his tone and shaking his head. He'd said those words to Luke plenty, told Reid that he was 'fine' and that he needed no help and yet, they'd continued to be there, be around and hadn't asked for anything in return except his occasional presence every so often.
"I'm pretty sure Magnus would do the same thing," Alec said, glancing over at Magnus as covertly as he could. He'd tried to keep the looks to a minimum, brief and subtle, but sometimes he slipped. Sometimes he couldn't help himself. "It would just involve more glitter where Magnus was concerned."
no subject
Except maybe he did. In the absence of his sister and his parents, he had Luke and Reid and he had Magnus. In the absence of the Institute, he had Luke's bookstore and his small apartment and though none gave him the comfort and the feeling of familiarity as the Institute did, it was still somewhere he found that he liked being.
"I don't think that matters to Luke or Reid though. They're gonna do whatever they can to help me when I need it," he said, lightening his tone and shaking his head. He'd said those words to Luke plenty, told Reid that he was 'fine' and that he needed no help and yet, they'd continued to be there, be around and hadn't asked for anything in return except his occasional presence every so often.
"I'm pretty sure Magnus would do the same thing," Alec said, glancing over at Magnus as covertly as he could. He'd tried to keep the looks to a minimum, brief and subtle, but sometimes he slipped. Sometimes he couldn't help himself. "It would just involve more glitter where Magnus was concerned."