angelcakealec

[angelcakealec]

"Are you always this philosophical so early? I haven't even had my coffee yet."

“Well, of course, you could do that. I just asked you whether or not you should.”

[angelcakealec]

Alec glowered at her. "And then the woman gets put in her place by a devastatingly gorgeous man. Let's assume he's a fae."

[angelcakealec]

Alec had made sure Ava found her way to Hayden. He knew at this point he was who she really needed. He could empathize. All he wanted right now was Helenus.

He didn’t particularly like the idea of going to his empty room right now. The memory of losing Max was jolting. So he figured he’d go to Izzy’s room. They could wake Jace up and just huddle together.

But then his phone chirped. Seeing it was Helenus he knew exactly where he wanted to be.

Alec: Hi. Unfortunately. We just got back a few minutes ago.

After a moment of deliberation, he sent another message.

Alec: Can I see you? I know it’s late.

On the steps of the Institute

Helenus hadn’t wanted to push in so he hadn’t even asked for special permission to enter the Institue with Alec. Hadn’t wanted to be in the way, nor put more onto the mind of the Institute head. So after making sure Alec had gotten back safe with the others he’d headed home to shower and change. After the nights events though he couldn’t deny the need to hold Alec again. He found himself heading to the Institute, not even know if Alec would be awake. Sitting on the front steps of the impressive building he texted the nephilim who owned his heart.

Helenus: Are you awake?

@angelcakealec

[angelcakealec]

Finders Keepers

"Are you sure that's him?" Alec asked from where he hunched at Jace's side, stringing his bow as he did.

"Of course it is." Jace replied with absolute certainty. "When have I ever been wrong?"

Alec looked as his parabatai with a dubious expression he couldn't see. "All the time, Jace." He hissed back at him. "You need to be sure. Because if we attack the wrong warlock Magnus is going to be pissed. And you know how much Hayden hates having to talk to him."

Jace wasn't paying attention to Alec though, his eyes were following his target as the warlock darted into an alley.

"Jace!" Alec hissed with a little more urgency this time.

"He's getting away." Jace shot back before darting out of their hiding place, hopping accross the tops of the buildings with ease as the chase began.

"By the angel..." Alec grumbled, following after him. "If you get me killed I'm coming back to haunt you. With ducks. Lots and lots of ducks."

But of course, Jace wasn't paying any attention to Alec. Not even sure he was there at all. Just trusting he would be. Because it was Alec, and he always was.

Finally catching up, Jace swooped down into the alley, leaving Alec standing at his vantage point where he could see them.

Jace dropped down right in the warlock's path, his angelic blade already glittering in his hand. He landed lightly on his feet, his grin spreading eerily across his face. "Hello, sparky."

Blaze had to skid to a halt to keep from running into the nephilim. It was really a rather stupid thing for him to do. Moving around in the night where the nephilim patrolled. But he honestly hadn't been expecting to be caught. He'd been there a week, and hadn't had any issues thus far. "That's an original name." He said with false calm.

"Thanks." Jace said importantly. "Made it up myself."

"Mm..." Blaze said, narrowing his eyes. "In that case...you aren't very bright. Are you?" Out of seemingly nowhere, an arrow narrowly missed him. It would have hit him if he hadn't taken a step back just the second before. So...there were two nephilim apparently. Blaze huffed out a breath.

"Easy, Alec." Jace said grinning. "We're just talking."

"Oh is that what we're doing?" Blaze asked with mock curiosity.

"Well...." Jace shrugged apologetically. "Until you make some stupid ass move against me in which I will be forced to have to stab you with this pointy thing here." He said, playing with a blade.

Blaze considered the blade dubiously. "Unless I torch you first."

"You could try."

Blaze didn't like him. He was arrogant. Like the nephilim in Dublin. A familiar spark sent a jolt of heat down his spine. Another arrow came careening by him and he jumped with a start. He'd nearly forgotten about the other one. "So...." He said a little breathlessly. "I torch you, and then your friend up there skewers me? Is that the plan?"

Shrugging, Jace cast a glance up at the sky before honing back in on the warlock. "That's if Alec doesn't get you before said torching. He's really an annoyingly excellent shot."

"Is he?" Blaze asked curiously. "Does he not want to come down here and play?"

"So you can figure out his position? Not likely." Jace replied. "See...that's how this works. I distract you with my alarmingly good looks and Alec just you know, pelts you with arrows until one actually hits you. Which is all for show really...because he could get you right between the eyes at really any point in this conversation. He just likes the song and dance. Because...well....I'm hilarious."

"And very modest." Blaze deadpanned. Unsure of which nephilim he really ought to be concerned with. The witty banter though, had been what he needed for his fire to coil in his core, waiting for him. It wouldn't be wise to through the first punch. But Blaze had long since decided he was going down in a blaze of glory, pun intended. He wiggled his fingers as a flame started to lick up his arm. His eyes suddenly sparked as darted forward at the one nephilim but actually sent the fireball up into the sky, praying it hit its mark and took out the archer.

Jace's grin widened. "Oh that was dumb." He said, parring Blaze's attack aimed at him. It was pretty impressive. Attacking both of them at once. but Alec wasn't likely going to just stand there and let himself get torched. The answering arrow that came flying at the warlock was the perfect response to that. "I think you made him mad."

Blaze caught the arrow that was aimed at his head, tossing it aside. "Best two out of three?" He asked, sending another fireball over his shoulder, not much caring where it ended up.

Jace's eye twitched. "Would you mind stopping that? You are going to set this whole place up in flames. Just throwing fire around like that."

Raising a brow, Blaze sent another one, this time directly at the nephilim in front of him.

Jace let out a yelp, but it was entirely for show as he blocked the attack, letting it sizzle on his sleeve. Pulling his arm back, he assessed the damage to his armor. "Hey Alec...." He called into the darkness. "I think we need to talk to Hayden about investing in some heartier armor."

Blaze wasn't paying attention anymore. His anger and annoyance melding together into a warm, sizzle in his gut. At that point, control was out of the equation as he fired again at the nephilim. Then again. Then again. The dumpster behind him burst into flame, every piece of flammable trash engulfing in flame.

That was apparently exactly what Jace was waiting for. He darted through the rising flame. The heat almost unbearable, but he didn't care about getting burned. Part of his recklessness. He reappeared through the smoke, his arm holding his blade already extended. There was a flash of light, then the blade found flesh and he grinned triumphantly. "Got you."

It wasn't that Blaze wasn't prepared for his attack. But he hadn't expected the nephilim to throw caution to the wind like that and come into the fire after him. His eyes widened as the blade hit its mark, him. He cried out, staggering back as the blood spread past the wound and into his flimsy shirt.

With a grunt of effort, Jace pulled his blade free. He examined the blood with a sigh. "Huh...I was expecting it to be blacker. You know. Spawn of hell and everything."

Alec had lost sight of Jace in the smoke and flame. He barely heard his voice, so he wasn't dead anyway. Stupid. But not dead. "By the angel..." He huffed, "Jace!" He called, "What are you doing....finish him."

Hearing the other nephilim's voice finally, Blaze's lip curled. He was no stranger to pain. So being in it just made everything clearer. The fight or flight adrenaline rush. His back hit the brick wall, his arm covering his abdomen where the wound continued to smart and bleed. The familiarity of the flame licking up his throat. The rage. A sheen of red slid over his eyes as his lips formed the word 'Burn.'

Jace had barely a moment to react, and not fast enough as the warlock seemed to burst into flames. The alley being consumed with it. He heard Alec cry out from somewhere up above. And didn't know if he ought to go to his parabatai, or finish the warlock. But he couldn't get close enough to do it. His flimsy armor having singed, sticking to his skin. "Shit..." He muttered. He needed to retreat. needed to go to Alec but his legs wouldn't move. Maybe this was it? How he went? Consumed by flames? Fitting...so fitting.

The rush of fire had caught Alec off-guard. He had thought Jace had the situation under control. Which, evidently he did not. Alec barely had time to bring his arms up to shield his face as heat and flame engulfed him. He couldn't help but cry out, because it fucking hurt. He cursed, not able to see a damned thing anymore. They needed to fall back, but he couldn't see Jace anymore, even hearing him over the roaring.

[angelcakealec]

"O-oh..." Alec squeaked when he saw that it wasn't Helenus he'd heard. "Sorry."

@ Priam Books

Taryn sat at a small desk, deep without the warren of the bookshop, an old tome open in front of her. Next to it was a half drunk, half forgotten cup of tea. She could have easily forget she was in a shop and not a library if it wasn't for the distant ring of the old fashioned metal bell above the door every so often. Most of the times it had rung so far on this visit she hadn't seen the patron who had arrived before it quietly rang again on their departure. But not long after she'd noted it again, she heard footsteps heading her way.

[angelcakealec]

You moved...

Alec lowered his camera with a little scowl. "I said to stay just like that."

[angelcakealec]

"No. But it might kill me." Alec deadpanned from his seat beside her. "Must you flirt with everyone? I am not your wingman."

"It's a party, isn't it? One drink won't kill me."

[angelcakealec]

Having Helenus full attention on him now, made Alec feel a little flustered. Which, wasn't unpleasant at all. Being around the fae was exciting, exhilarating at times. Something Alec didn't think he'd ever tire of. "Well...I mean we've worked them." He amended a little sheepishly. "As security and things." His eyes fluttered up to meet Helenus'. "If that's an honor...then it would be mine." He replied, boldly kissing the fae on the cheek.

"Your first? Then may I have the honour of your first dance at such an event my love?"

[angelcakealec]

"Because I'll stumble and step all over your toes?"

"And why is that?"

[angelcakealec]

"Judging from the fact this is the first party I've been to...I'll take your word for it."

"Masquerades really are the very best sort of party, don't you agree?"

[angelcakealec]

Having Helenus beside him was a pleasant surprise. And when he pulled him closer, Alec's heart skipped a beat. The kiss? Absolute perfection, just as Alec remembered. He inhaled a little shakily, smiling at the words spoken against his lips. "No patrol tonight." He explained. "Or....according to Hayden for a week incidentally. I suppose he thinks he's punishing me for something." He said thoughtfully. But then he turned a bright smile to Helenus, dimples on full display. "So...I am here. To whisk you away for an evening on hunting ghosts or whatever they do on these silly haunting tours. You owe me a date....after all."

“Those too,” he couldn’t help but smile at Alec calling himself his boyfriend. It still amazed him that he was lucky enough that Alec returned his feelings. “Ah,” he chuckled, “Please don’t worry about it. I can tell how much she cares about you. She seems like a strong and deeply caring person. I like her,” he assured him. Helenus watched as the only customer left, giving them as brief wave goodnight. Then he stepped forward, wrapping one arm round Alec’s waist and pulling him close so he could kiss him. He’d figured Alec wouldn’t want an audience. “It’s very good to see you,” he said against Alec’s lips when the kiss ended.

[angelcakealec]

Alec exhaled a self-deprecating laugh. "Well...at least you got to save someone in the end. I just sort of sat there. Got saved myself."

"Dude, I totally forgot that butthole got you too." Kwan says, trying to refrain from swearing inside the Institute. "But no, yeah, so glad he didn't kill me even though it was pretty close when my lung got punctured.. I'm glad he didn't kill you either."

[angelcakealec]

Alec got a small sense of satisfaction hearing that Jace was actually worried about him. He sighed heavily. "Actually...I think it has more to do with abandonment. He feels like Clary abandoned him. Everyone essentially has. Well except for us. I guess he thinks that by keeping us at arm's length it won't hurt so much when we evidently leave him."

Alec gave her an identical raise of his own eyebrow. "I am telling you no such thing." He said. "I honestly don't know what it all means. I just know I love him. And he...." He had a hard time saying it outloud, even though he was certain it was true. "Loves me too." Watching his sister's face he sighed. "Don't get any wide ideas. Nothing actually happened. Like that....I mean. We slept...well mostly."

"Maybe that's it though, don't you think?" Isabelle pointed out, frowning a bit in thought. "I mean, he nearly died. That'd rattle anybody. So he acts out, lashes out too. Like a kid. Because in the face of death I think we all go back to our baseline selves." She placed her hand on Alec's knee, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I think he just needs a bit of time... or needed, really... He was so worried about you last night, you know. I thought he was about to have a panic attack. But then I got angry, and.... well, I'm sure you can guess how that went after."

The grumbling only deepened the cat-like grin on Izzy's features. If he was getting that worked up about it, that meant things were really serious... at least for Alec. She made a note of the name of the bookshop--she'd have to scope out this guy for herself. Because younger sister or not, she would go full momma bear mode for Alec or Jace in a heartbeat. Her attention came back to the present though with those last few words. "Different... and he's fae," she repeated, her eyebrow arching in curiosity. "Alexander Lightwood. Are you telling me you're his soulmate?"

[angelcakealec]

"Or um....wayward boyfriends." Alec mumbled, keeping his eyes hidden from Helenus. He'd though he was past the awkwardness, but he apparently was not. "I um..." He tucked some hair behind his ear, finally glancing up at him. "I'm sorry for sicking my sister on you. She can be a little....forceful."

Early Evening @ Priam Books

"I like to stay open late on Wednesdays. Give people a chance to drop by after work instead of having to wait till the weekend,"

[angelcakealec]

Alec sighed. A long, weary sound. He rested his cheek on her head. "I know. I'm sorry. I'm just...I'm out of ideas at this point. It's like we're 10 years old again. You know? Like he's guarding himself."

Alec groaned behind his hands. He hadn't told her for this very reason. Apparently. But he couldn't exactly lie about it now. And he didn't really want to. Because things with Helenus were good. Really good. It felt like he'd finally found what he'd been looking for all this time. He dragged his fingers down his face, fixing her with his best glower. "My love life is not one of your silly little teeny bopper fantasies, Isabelle." There was no heat in his words though. Because, it was nice to see her smile. Really nice. At the mention of talking more about Jace, he scowled. "Ugh." He threw up his hands. "Fine. We met that day at the park...you know when I fell asleep? We had coffee. Well I had coffee, he had tea. But he owns a bookstore. Priam Books." He wasn't going to divulge Helenus' secrets. Not even to his sister. "He's fae." Was all he said. And then he didn't know what to say. Because simply saying they were dating didn't even begin to cover it. "It's...different." He settled on.

Izzy let out a small sigh of relief, both for the sake of Alec's words and the fact that he was finally here and safe. Even if she was upset, his safety mattered to her above all else--and that included getting past this distance with Jace. "Thank you," she mumbled against is shoulder, not quite relinquishing the hug just yet. "I couldn't deal with more fighting right now, even from me." Because she felt as if she'd aged by at least a decade in the last year alone, let alone since arriving in Chicago. "We need to be a family again."

The immediacy of the blushing and sputtering only confirmed her theory and deepened her curiosity. She really could read Alec like a book. "Alexanderrrr," she teased back, drawing out his full name as she poked gently in the middle of his chest. "Oh, I wholeheartedly disagree. It's exactly my business." The hastened addition to his words actually elicited a sort of squeal from Izzy in all of her excitment. "Many? And I haven't even heard about him at all. Now that's just cruel. I need all of the details. And don't pretend that you wouldn't rather talk about this--because I could certainly go back to lecturing you about Jace and whatnot, but this is far more fun and you know it."

[angelcakealec]

"There are worse things than being coddled. Aren't there?" He rolled his eyes lightly. "Like almost dying? Because....yeah. I'm with you."

At the Institute

"I'm going stir crazy. Hayden won't let me leave the Institute much until I can walk without the cane."

[angelcakealec]

Alec grimaced. "I know..." He moaned softly. Knowing deep down he'd be the one that would have to fix this. Despite how upset he was about everything. Because he knew Jace. And Jace was using this as a further sentiment to how awful a person he was. How much of a monster he was. Alec puffed out a breath, wiping his hair back from his face. By the angel, he was so tired. Of just...well everything. He hadn't been expecting Izzy's affection though. But he was grateful for it. He wrapped himself around her, relishing in the moment for what it was. A comfort. "I'll talk to him." He mumbled into her hair.

Her expression changed and Alec knew he was still in trouble. But in a much different direction. His eyes widened at her question as he turned into a very flustered looking tomato. "Isabelle!" He cried, "That's private!" Pouting a little at that, he crossed his arms indignantly. "Who I kiss is none of your business." But, now that he thought about it. Isabelle was always telling him when she kissed someone. Whether he wanted to know or not. With an exasperated roll of his eyes, he shot her a look. "Many...many times. I'll have you know."

It felt worse to actually hear it all described out, in truth. Because even what she'd known couldn't compare to hearing that Alec had been so badly injured and on his own. Well, without Izzy or Jace around. Because now she had these fae siblings to be grateful to. And it didn't escape her notice that Alec seemed to more than know Helenus by the sounds of things. But it did soften her expression and her anger considerably. Because he had been safe. They'd healed him and given him a place to stay for the night. And he was right to lash out a bit about nobody finding him. Ava had left to do that very thing before Izzy had even finished dealing with Jace. Dealing with. That didn't feel good either, to think about it like that. Because both of her brothers were hurting, and being in the middle of it was growing increasingly tiresome. So she sighed deeply, coming back into the present and stopping her pacing.

After a moment she made her way over to the chair to kneel in front of it, pulling Alec down into a hug. Damned if he was uncomfortable either, she would hug him whether he liked it or not. Because he was there and he was safe, and she needed to remind herself of that. "You're not awful. Neither of you are. But you're both annoyingly stubborn and wreckless in ways that threaten to make me the world's youngest heart attack victim," she shot back softly. "And I'll forgive you if you tell me one thing."

Isabelle pulled back then, searching Alec's face. "When you say you know this Helenus guy... have you kissed him yet?" Her expression had tugged its way into a mischevous smirk for the time being, because it was easier to slip into that side of sisterhood than it was to be angry with him. She was tired of being upset. Now she wanted nothing more than to be happy that her brother might actually be getting a boyfriend, if her assumptions were correct.