A sense of adventure is a big part of these fanfictions. Max gets to explore different eras, meet historical figures in the Shadowhunter universe, and experience things that are completely out of his normal time. This adventure theme is what draws a lot of readers in, as it allows them to go on this wild time - traveling journey with Max, seeing new places and events within the Shadowhunter world.
One common theme is family. Since Max is part of the Lightwood - Bane family, many fanfictions focus on the family dynamics, like how his dads Alec and Magnus raise him, and his relationship with his siblings. Another theme is his growth. As a baby, there's a lot of potential for him to grow and develop his powers, which is often explored.
One great 'Max Lightwood Bane Time Travel' fanfiction is 'Time's Threads'. It weaves a complex story of Max traveling through different eras in the Shadowhunter world. The author does an amazing job of depicting how Max's character evolves with each time jump, and how his relationships with other characters change over time. It's filled with action, mystery, and a touch of romance.
One common theme is self - discovery. When Alec travels through time, he often has to re - evaluate who he is and what he stands for. For example, in many fanfics, he sees how his actions in the past could have different consequences and it makes him think about his values.
Love and acceptance are very common. Given that they are from different worlds (Shadowhunter and warlock), their relationship often involves them learning to accept each other's differences. Another theme is family. Alec has his Shadowhunter family and Magnus has his own kind of 'found family' among the Downworlders. Fanfictions often explore how their relationship affects and is affected by their respective families.
There's a fanfiction called 'Growing Up Lightwood - Bane' which features baby Max prominently. It details how his family and friends interact with him as he starts to grow and discover his powers. The author does a great job of showing the love and care that surrounds Max in this fictional take.
One of the most popular themes is the exploration of their cultural differences. Magnus being a warlock with a long and rich history and Alec being a Shadowhunter from a more traditional background. Another theme is their struggle against prejudice. They face discrimination from the Clave and others due to their relationship. Also, the theme of sacrifice is common, like how they would sacrifice for each other's safety and happiness.
Another theme is the search for support. Alec usually has to find people he can trust to help him deal with the abuse. This could be his family members like Izzy or Jace, or new friends he makes along the way.
One common theme is vulnerability. Alec is often shown as a strong and stoic character in the original series, but in hurt fanfiction, his vulnerability is explored. For example, when he's physically injured, we see a different side of him that's more reliant on others for help.
Power is also a big theme. Alec's power as a shadowhunter is compared and sometimes combined with the powers in the crossover world. For instance, if he's in a X - Men crossover, how his rune - based powers interact with mutant abilities. And there's usually a theme of discovery. He discovers new things about himself and the new world he's in, which is often a journey of self - growth.
I really liked 'Alec Lightwood: Time - Twisted Journey'. This fanfiction delves deep into Alec's emotions during his time travel. He not only has to figure out how to get back to his own time but also how to change certain events in the past without disrupting the future too much. It's a complex and engaging read with great character development.