Quick Note: I started this story on AO3 under my other penname (kosherrainow) I wasn't going to post this until it was done over there but I couldn't help myself.
I am admittedly very new to the entire fandom universe, having only the TV show and what I read on the internet to guide me. So, this is mostly going to be set up on the skeletons of knowledge, but I have taken some liberties as all fanfictions do to help the universe and this idea that popped in my head work cohesively. Also I will admit Alec, as do most of the characters will be a bit OOC but that is in response to variations on their backstories.
I do not own anything which is owned by another in a manner including but not limited physically, monetarily, or legally. I simply like to play with characters and words for entertainment and receive no monetary gain or an gain out side of any stroking of ego that comes in the forms of follows and/or comments accessible via this website.
Clary Garroway walked into the coffee shop scanning only briefly until she found her best friend in their regular spot.
"Where's my brother?" She asked, collapsing into an armchair after setting her art portfolio on the coffee table between them.
"Well, he was supposed to be ordering the coffee, but I think he's now flirting with the biscotti guy." Simon explained looking to see he was right in that assessment. "Your brother has skills, I think the poor guy thinks he actually has a chance." With one last sigh he turned back to face the red-head, "So, how did it go?"
She pouted with a sigh, putting on her best disappointed 'woe is me' look. And as expected Simon fell for it, "I will show them …that's unacceptable…you're the best."
"You got in, didn't you?!" Her brother's voice interrupted, as he carefully rolled his wheelchair in place to slide the tray of coffees on to the table.
"That's not the face of someone who is…" He drifted off as he realized she her pout had been replaced with a wide smile as she reached for the biscotti next to her mug. "You did?! Nice, fake out. How do you two do that?"
The older boy smirked, "You may be our best friend, Simon Lewis, but she's my sister….I know her better that anyone else."
"Birthmark power." Clary added with a laugh pulling down the neck of her shirt just enough to reveal a fade mark on her skin.
"Birthmark power." Her brother repeated showing off his own just as the boy he'd been flirting came by to deliver a plate full of extra biscotti and his phone number.
"Alec Garroway, you are magic." Simon teased.
"Hey, it did work on you after all."
Red poured across the younger boy's face, "It was one kiss, and I was being a supportive friend….Clary? You okay?" Both boys looked to the artist who had apparently stopped listening to look around confused.
"Yeah, I swear I had a biscotti…did you steal it?"
Alec looked at his sister confused, "Uh, no…you probably ate it, then forgot…because you're old now. "
Clary laughed, distracted by the comment, "Say the guy who is a year and half older than me."
She reached for another biscotti, the missing one forgotten. "So, are you just stringing this boy out on hope or did you tell him you going on date tonight."
He shrugged, "Who knows how tonight is going to go?"
The eyeglass wearing Simon shook his head, "You're such a jerk."
The comment was said with a laugh because Alec knew it came from a place of love, the accounting student was like his brother and had been there ever since Alec had come out five years ago. He chalked it up to that support from his friends and family that made him so confident in his flirting, despite that often that self-assuredness didn't always feel like it fit, like it came from a part of him he couldn't exactly control. But thinking that made him feel as crazy as his sister and her missing coffee side dish. "Speaking of my date tonight, we should get going if I'm going to be able to make the gig tonight…then we're hanging out right?"
"Right," Simon confirmed, "Clary only turns eighteen once."
A few blocks away from the coffee shop they parted ways with Simon and the Garroway siblings raced toward home. Turning into the break between building that lead to the courtyard of the refurbished warehouse that was now home their playful bantering was cut off by the sound of arguing floating through the screen door of the shop their mother and her best friend, Dot, operated out of the first floor. A young man was standing to the side of the ramp that led to the door. There was something that felt off about him to Clary, but she had no time to find as the stranger made and broke eye contact by disappearing inside. Whatever argument ceased and two people emerged from the shop.
It was the newest stranger that caught Alec's attention, the slender muscled body, the tan skin…and the man's eyes. His staring must have been felt as the other man seemed to notice Alec as they passed each other. There was something old and sad about the uniquely colored eyes that seemed to contradict what Alec recognized as a flirting smirk. But the moment passed and the two strange visitors seemed to disappear as soon as they had passed the siblings.
Inside the shop Dot seemed rather unfocused from the counter top she seemed to be staring at until she heard the door again. Instantly her face changed into a smile.
"My two favorite people…Happy Birthday, Clary. I also sense there may be some congratulations headed your way."
"And by 'sense' you mean…"
"Simon's twitter." The three of them finished together with a laugh before the shop owner reached behind the counter to hand the birthday girl a shiny gold gift bag, "Your mother is upstairs already, don't open this in front of her. I've got close up and take care…of some last minute things." Her eyes seem to flit towards the door behind them as if she expected those strangers to return. "But I'll see you at brunch tomorrow."
The headed to the back where the freight elevator was located, they could have gotten to it by the exterior door as well, but they had always found it more fun to go through the store especially when they were younger and the elevator was extremely creeping, but as Alec got older and needed to operate it on his own it had been updated to match the rest of the building as well as for accessibility. Alec paid attention to getting the doors closed while Clary dug in the bag to pull out Dot's gift. He turned to the button panel to take them up to the second floor but something caught his eye. Through the linked metal a pieces of the building showed through gaps, and Alec could see what looked to be a graffiti tag. Nearly ready to call out his sister he noticed how faded it look. He shook his head, maybe it had always been there and he just noticed it. These things happened all the time to everyone so, instead he just hit the '2' button and then back to see what his sister had gotten for her birthday.
"Mom's going to freak when if she sees that."
"Well, she's not going to know." Clary stuffed the practically see-through shirt back into the bag. "She's just jealous Dot has better taste."
"I think Dot does it because she knows once Mom does find it she's going to get it right back so she's can wear it."
"Joke's on her though." The voice of Jocelyn Fray-Galloway came through the door as the elevator arrived to its destination. "Clary is eighteen now she can wear what she wants…even" She paused as the door fully opened, "if I don't like it." She took the miniature version of herself into her arms as Alec just rolled past. "It was just like when I found out what you were really using that cup holder on your chair for."
He stopped and pivoted, that self assurance he was never sure of exactly where it came from hid the embarrassment of his mom's knowledge. "Hey, sometimes safe-equal-opportunity-ADA-level sex requires condoms and lube to be in a more accessible location."
He turned quickly to go down the hall to change leaving his sister to explain.
"He has a date tonight. He always gets a little more arrogant when he has a date." This was true, Jocelyn had noticed the same personality shift as her daughter had. His confidence was normally the more quiet type and she suspected she knew what the cause was. She loved him, both of her the children she had raised so much, but now that were both eighteen she was facing a hard conversation. It was easy to not worry about when it had been years away and now it was only minutes away the panic was teasing her stomach and rising in her throat. To help her focus she gave Clary her gift while she waited for Alec to reappear.
When he did he bee-lined right back towards the elevator to head out, "Alec, can come here for a moment, I really need to talk to the two of you about something."
"Can it wait, I need to get going if I'm going this date over with and to the gig on time."
"Fine, but brunch tomorrow please. Dot and I are closing the shop and Dad is off from work, we need to have a serious discussion."
"Tomorrow. Brunch. Promise."
Simon emerged from the stairs on the other side of the room as Alec got into still opened elevator, calling out, "Have fun, but Alec the band needs you too. You better show up on time."
Alec nodded, pumping a fist in the air, "Champagne enema!"
Simon began to repeat until he saw Jocelyn's raised eyebrow. "The band's new name…Maureen's choice."
She didn't know if it was true or not, surprising or not but she let passed as the sound of Luke's deep voice drifted up, it was murmured, but with Alec voice in reply he could guess he was checking to make sure Alec's cup hold was well supplied, for safety she knew he would reassure her with if she ever asked him about it.
"Dad!" Clary greets Luke as he appears upstairs handing off he spray paint set for birthday gift and warning about responsible usage. There's a moment Luke looks to Jocelyn but she shakes her head , knowing he's asking about the talk that should have happened. He's been the only father the kids have known and he's as nervous about the conversation as she is.
Simon and Clary begin to take off and Jocelyn catches them for a second. "If you're not coming back here to celebrate can I just ask that you and your brother are home by midnight, please. I just want you both awake for brunch tomorrow."
"Mom, can you get any more ominous. But I promise…I will try."
Luke waits until they're gone before looking to his wife.
She shakes her head before he speaks, "I don't know which of them I'm more scared of telling the truth to."
"I think I more afraid that Alec will want to find them, or feel that he's losing us." Luke quietly admitted. They had had this talk before that no matter what the truth was Jocelyn and Clary were connected by blood, Luke and Jocelyn by marriage, but what connected Alec to them was such a thin label. The years had made her believe that their years of family could handle the truth but now she felt a little unsure.
Jocelyn took the crying dark haired nearly two year old boy from the warlock the moment Maryse had finished blocking rune just under his left shoulder. The Lightwood Shadowhunter seemed unfazed by her own son's tears as she simply took the red-headed infant from Luke. So, Jocelyn tried to calm him as she checked to see if the mark was taking. Normally the only mark infant Shadowhunter skin could handle was the parabatai mark that appeared when both children were born and sealed when the pair met as long as it was before they were both eighteen otherwise it faded. But the High Warlock's magic allowed the rune to stay, and once the rune was on their skin it would prevent the three children to see the Shadowworld until the midnight of the youngest's, the baby Maryse was focused on, eighteenth birthday.
"Quiet him, so I can focus." Magnus commanded.
Jocelyn began to whisper in little Alec's ear. "It's alright I've got you." Instantly her voice began to calm him and he settled enough for her to see the rune was taking and to look over him, such a cute little one. Dark hair, blue eyes, and the palest of tan skin, the only thing that set Alec apart from the other two children is that his leg hung limply from below him, he'd never be able to use them. She knew this is why he why was now in her arms, why he was leaving the Shadowworld with her family, no warlock or rune would have changed what had been inherited through the human half. What she didn't know if the Lightwoods were doing this for Alec or because of Alec's difference, but as much as their history spoke against them, the Lightwoods were also helping her, so she took the parental high road and called it parental prerogative.
Soon two of the children were sporting runes and it was nearly time for them to depart, her eldest just needed his turn. But the room grew eerily quiet, before sound of shattered glass rang out.
It was same sound that also pulled Jocelyn out of her memory.
I hoped you liked it and will tell me what you think. Any question on how this world will vary let me know and I will confirm details as I go.
The only solid confirmations I will give right now are:
Valentine still betrayed Luke and locked him in with werewolves.
valentine is dead. D. E. A. D. Any appearances he make will be in flashbacks or dreams.
