In a perfect world where Jace didn’t leave with Valentine
Jace convinces Lydia to stay in the Institute, despite how embarassed she is. He stays by her bed as she recovers from the blow she received to the head. She keeps apologizing for being weak, for not having seen this coming, for losing the Cup. Jace just assures her they’re gonna get it back, that it’s not her fault.
She gets the room next to Jace’s once she’s better. The first few nights, they don’t talk. But the walls are thin, and Jace can hear her sobs despite her attempts to stifle them in her pillow. He knows she’s still beating herself up over losing the Cup just like he can beat himself up over things. So he starts talking, just out loud from where he’s lying, knowing Lydia will hear. He tells her about how he once accidentally lost one of Maryse’s favorite rings when he was playing and thought she was gonna send him away. He begged her not to give up on him, promised her to get her a new ring - a better one. He thinks Lydia has fallen asleep, but when is story ends, she quietly asks him to tell her something else.
So he does, every night, until she starts talking too. They find it to be surprisingly easy to talk to each other, both when there’s a wall seperating them and after, when Lydia shyly finds her way to Jace’s room to talk.
And in the midst of a brewing war, two people who have always felt like they didn’t fit in anywhere find somewhere they can finally belong. And it’s not four walls and a roof, but open arms and a listening ear, and after a while exploring hands and a warm mouth.