the gym; saturday morning

[flickofthewrist]

Flick hadn't been in the gym much since the last time. There'd been a lot going on that had mentally and physically stressed him so the gym had been a second or third thought. Plus, he had some issues from the last time he'd been in the gym.

But, things seemed to be settling now so he was back. He didn't know why he was here, really, but he figured an early morning round with the heavy bag couldn't hurt. For one of the first times since he'd been on the island, he pulled on a pair of gloves and started a quick pace of jabbing and swinging at the heavy bag. He worked without stopping, building up a good sweat before moving his blows into something a little more powerful, something sharper.

He was falling right back into what he knew despite what had happened last time. Hard to stop muscle memory.

[Open place/post]

Comments

[flickofthewrist]

"Barely anyone in your world knows about me," he reminded her. "Your parents, your friends, that's it, right? I doubt I really register with them so I can't really see any attention because of that."

He shrugged. "I'm not arguing, just pointing out that the people that know about me in your world is small. In mine? Even smaller."

Since it was Joi and Leila and Ella.

[seveninchmotto]

Isabelle sighed. "And you don't think other people can find out after you move over?"

[flickofthewrist]

"Would you prefer I stay in my New York to be safer?" he asked her quietly.

[seveninchmotto]

"That's not the point I was making," she replied, and shook her head. "That's not it at all. No, we're talking about your fighting. We're talking about making sure you prioritize correctly if you run into trouble."

[flickofthewrist]

"No, but my question still stands," he told her, not willing to just ignore that. "Would you prefer that I didn't go to your New York? That I went to mine and stayed there?"

[seveninchmotto]

Isabelle wasn't trying to make him ignore it. It just honestly didn't register as a question worth answering. Not before he repeated it.

She cupped his cheek with her hand. "I would not prefer that," she said. "I want you there. I want to be able to drop by after a patrol and stay over until the morning."

[flickofthewrist]

"Okay," he said, nodding slightly. He didn't want to jostle her hand too much. "I would love to be included in your life, Isabelle. But I know that's not going to happen. Not with all of it. I'm not expecting you to bring me into that fold and I'm not going to go out and try and draw attention to me either."

[seveninchmotto]

"And I never thought you would," she murmured. "The point is that a mundie hanging out around Shadowhunters can attract attention whether he wants to or not. Some might consider you the weakest of the herd to attack."

[flickofthewrist]

"And my point is that I didn't think I'd be around any Shadowhunters," he explained. "I'd be around Shadowhunter. I'd be around you. I didn't really expect to spend time with anyone else."

[seveninchmotto]

"Don't be dense, Jon," Isabelle murmured, softening her words with a quick kiss. "It's me. I'm the Shadowhunter you're hanging around. We've established that. That's enough for the kinds of people I'm talking about. Besides, if you think you can somehow avoid spending time with my brothers, you're wrong."

He was coming to Taki's with them, okay. Often.

[flickofthewrist]

"Not avoiding," he promised, shaking his head. "Just trying to make sure you had things separate, when you wanted them to be. That's all."

[seveninchmotto]

"Leave that to me, baby." She'd being doing okay with it so far, and she would continue with that. "Let me worry about that."

[flickofthewrist]

"I'm fine with spending time with your brothers too," he assured her. "That's fine. I'd like that."

[seveninchmotto]

"Good, because we're a package deal." They were. It wasn't true all the time as strongly, but they were a package deal. "Back home. Me and Alec and Jace. Clary now too, I guess."

But not Simon.

[flickofthewrist]

"I understand," he said quietly, nodding. "And that's fine. I get it. I really do. I'm not intending on being -- I don't know, I'm not intending on being someone who tries to keep you away from that."

As if he could.

"I mean, I won't give ultimatums or anything."

[seveninchmotto]

Isabelle let out a quiet chuckle despite herself. It was just a short sound. "I would be shocked by an ultimatum from you, Jon."

[flickofthewrist]

"Really?" Not that what she said wasn't a good thing but he was still surprised. "I'm an asshole though."

[seveninchmotto]

"Maybe, but you're not stupid."

Which was what giving Isabelle an ultimatum would be. Especially when it was about her family.

[flickofthewrist]

"Maybe."

He sighed and blinked a few times.

"I'll do my best to -- to stay out of what you want me out of and not argue too much. But, I'll be happy to be included."

[seveninchmotto]

"I trust you," Isabelle said. For her, that was a big thing to say. Even now, even after everything.

Easier to feel, these days. But still hard to say.

[flickofthewrist]

"Thank you," he said, nodding. "I appreciate that."

[seveninchmotto]

Isabelle gave him a soft, quick kiss.

"And I'm so happy you're moving closer to me."

[flickofthewrist]

"So am I," he murmured, smiling at her. "Maybe the change in location will keep my mom safe for a little while longer."

He'd sent Frank away and he'd been planning on doing the same to his mother but maybe he could hold off on that.

[seveninchmotto]

"No one's going to follow you across the multiverse," she told him quietly, shaking her head. "She'll be safe."

[flickofthewrist]

"We're never going to be completely safe," he told her, shaking his head. "She'll be safer but I can't let my guard down."