Title: The New York City Angels
Summary: They'd always thought Idris was home. Every Shadowhunter did. Only as they watched their home destroyed in front of them did they realize that they'd been home all along. T for language mostly.
Notes: I'm a little nervous about writing for this fandom, because I really want to do it justice. So if you catch anything, please let me know. I hope you guys like it! Btw, I edited it - line breaks represent POV changes - thanks to HidingDani for that suggestion!
Disclaimer: As much as I'd love to, I do not own the Mortal Instruments series. I'm only missing a few of the ingredients to the Polyjuice potion, but for now, I do not own. Sad face.
Alec Lightwood stumbled into his bedroom in the Institute, falling back onto the bed. He was exhausted but unhurt, despite the night's close calls. After applying an iratze for Jace's broken arm and being shooed away by Isabelle, he'd realized his crushing exhaustion. The Du'sien demons they'd been after had put up a chase and a fight, but they had dispatched most of them easily. One had gotten away, though, and their relentless search of the surrounding area had turned up nothing.
He was splattered with ichor in the same way Clary was splattered with paint earlier. She wasn't there to get in the way because of Izzy; Jace had asked her to get Simon to keep Clary out of it, to keep her safe.
Alec had disagreed. Even though he wasn't exactly fond of the redhead, he would've welcomed another Shadowhunter to help them out.
Because that's what she was: a Shadowhunter. Jace would have to come to terms with it, realize that she would have to have proper training and go with them, get more experience in fighting demons. It was part of her life now.
But they all let Jace have his way. They saw how pissed he got when it was brought up, and let it go. Maryse and Jocelyn hadn't brought it up, but once they did, it wouldn't be avoidable anymore.
He thought about getting up, but it seemed like too much work.
On the other hand, he'd feel a lot better if he got off of the Institute's uncomfortable mattress.
His sore muscles got the better of him, and he went to the shower, washing away the ichor and sweat that mixed together in his hair and on his skin. The hot water rushed over his skin, and it almost seemed like it was washing away the dirt and the pain.
He came out and dressed in one of his black jeans and faded sweaters. No matter how much he loved Magnus, his boyfriend, his clothing choices wouldn't start changing just yet.
Alec grabbed his phone off the bed, not bothering to pay any attention to his wet hair or the Sensor on his dresser that was clicking and beeping faintly.
Isabelle Lightwood brushed her wet hair back out of her face. Her mother, Maryse, had been livid when she heard that there was a group of demons lying in wait for them instead of the one that was reported. Isabelle knew that her mother had assumed it wasn't alone, but she understood. She was shocked when she saw the horde of Du'sien demons herself, hadn't expected there to be so many.
Of course, it didn't help that it was the anniversary of Max's death.
Isabelle hated that it was called that: an anniversary. It sounded too happy for what they were remembering.
There was knock on her door, and when she called, "Who's there?" a familiar voice answered, "It's Clary."
"Clary!" Isabelle jumped up as the door opened.
She stood in the doorway, her bright red curls escaping the braid that tried to restrict them. Isabelle rushed over to her friend and hugged her, accidentally hitting her on the back with the hairbrush.
"Izzy," Clary gasped, "you're choking me."
Isabelle pulled back, grinning. "It's great to see you! What were you up to today?"
Clary didn't smile. "I got Simon to tell me about it, Izz. I can't believe you guys still won't let me come with you. I'm a Shadowhunter, too, and I haven't even been trained. I want to help you guys out. Why won't you let me?"
Isabelle turned back towards her mirror and continued brushing her hair, the pleasant surprise of Clary's visit gone. "Jace is worried you'll get hurt."
"Screw Jace! This isn't about him, and you all know it! Why do you keep letting him have his way?"
"Because we see how he gets when you bring it up. He's terrified, Clary. I've never seen him like this." Isabelle stopped herself from saying anything else, trying to calm herself down. She had started to viciously attack the tangles in her hair instead of taking it out on anything else.
She heard Clary come to stand next to her, and she saw the two of them standing side by side in the mirror. They were polar opposites, and yet they'd become closer than sisters.
"I'm sorry, Isabelle. I just..."
Isabelle hugged her, saying, "I know, Clary. For right now, just let him have his way."
Simon couldn't keep secrets. Everyone he met knew about that.
So he was still surprised that he could lie so easily to his mom lately. Whether it was part of being a vampire, or just out of needing to keep her in the dark about it, he was thankful.
But Clary could still see right through him, just like she always could.
He hadn't wanted to tell her. Isabelle had begged him to keep her away from the Institute while the rest of them went out, and he'd only agreed because he didn't want her to be mad at him.
He didn't like it. He thought Clary should learn how to be a Shadowhunter, if only to protect herself better. But whenever the others got a call about demonic activity, he was always Clary's babysitter. Because she wasn't trained properly, they told him.
Fuck that. It was because of Jace.
Jace was selfish, and despite the times he'd saved Simon's life, and vice versa,
Simon still didn't care for the blond boy.
So he had to tell Clary.
He knew Isabelle would be mad, but it wasn't a secret he could keep.
Magnus ducked into the bathroom one last time to check his hair, making a mental note to get better hair gel next time. It looked terrible, but he wasn't going to take a chance and use magic with his own hair. He wasn't stupid, and fixing it yet again would take too long. He'd settled with washing and straightening it and leaving it the way it was. Besides, he had more important things to attend to.
Like an adorable Shadowhunter who didn't realize that he didn't have to use perfect grammar, spelling, and punctuation in every text he sent. By the Angel, he was just too goddamn cute.
Magnus smiled as his phone buzzed again. He opened the message and read:
Alec: Exactly. There was an entire horde of Du'sien demons waiting for us when we thought there would only be a few.
Magnus sighed, typing back:
Magnus: You're not hurt, are you?
Alec: No, thank goodness. Jace broke his arm, but it was nothing once we applied an iratze.
Magnus: Figures Blondie would get hurt.
Alec: He killed most of them.
Magnus: What's your point?
Alec: Without him, we'd have been in trouble. He's lucky he didn't get hurt any worse.
Magnus: Yeah, whatever. Go Jace. Ugh, let's change the subject, I'm getting sick just thinking about him.
Alec: Alright. How was your day?
Magnus: Boring. All my clients cancelled, and I kept wishing you were here. Can you come over now? ;)
Alec: I'm not sure. Mom wanted to talk to us, especially because of what today is.
Magnus: Oh, that's right. I'm sorry, I didn't think.
Alec: It's okay. She's been really upset lately, probably because it's been a year today, but it's like no time has passed at all. Nothing's changed.
Magnus: Okay, you need some cheering up. Can I at least come over there? We'll go grab lunch or something.
Alec: Okay, sure.
Magnus grinned, and was striding over to the door of his apartment, when someone buzzed to be let in.
Damn it!
He pressed the speaker button, calling, "WHATEVER YOU NEED, IT BETTER BE GODDAMN IMPORTANT."
A deep voice responded, "It is."
Magnus glared at the door, but let the person up. He was the High Warlock of Brooklyn after all. It was his job to be on call, no matter how inconvenient it was.
Magnus: Someone thinks they're more important than you, so I have to go do my job instead of coming over immediately. :(
Alec: That's alright. We'll still be here. I'll spend some time with Mom. I'm sure she'll appreciate it.
Magnus: You are so sweet. I'll see you later. Love you. :*
Alec: What does that face mean?
Magnus: lol, I'll explain later.
Alec: ?
Magnus's laugh was cut off as someone knocked on his door. He sighed, putting away his phone, and called out, "Enter."
Jace winced as he pulled on a new t-shirt. His arm was healed but still sore, the reminder of the day still there. He sighed. There was only so much an iratze could do.
He made his way down the hall and as he passed Isabelle's room heard a familiar voice. The voice of a certain redhead that he thought had been with the vampire.
Shit.
He came inside to the two girls talking, but their conversation ceased with his appearance. "Clary," he said. She turned to look at him, and he saw that she wasn't exactly happy.
Clary opened her mouth to say something but Isabelle cut her off. "Doesn't Mom want to see us?"
"Yeah, she does. C'mon, let's go," he responded, and when Clary wasn't looking he mouthed Thank you at Isabelle, who just rolled her eyes.
They opened the door of the library and found Maryse who was staring out the window. She started at the sound of the door closing behind them and whipped around, hand to her chest. "Oh, Jace, Clary, Isabelle, it's you." Her voice sounded different, like she had a cold. She seemed dazed, like she was in a dream rather than real life. She looked around. "Where are Robert and Alec?"
"Alec's coming, Mom. Didn't Dad go to get some Chinese food?"
Maryse nodded. "Of course he did. Thank you, Isabelle." It wasn't just the way she acted that was different, though. She was dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt instead of one of the suits she wore. Even when she wore jeans, she made sure to wear sweaters that looked more formal than comfortable. So seeing her like this was a shock to Jace and Isabelle.
"How are you, Mom?" Isabelle asked tentatively.
"Oh, I'm okay. Jace, could you go find some tissues? And Alec?" Jace nodded and walked back to the door as Alec opened it to come in. He stepped back as Jace passed by and went over to sit by his mother.
"Hello, mother," Alec greeted her, and nodded at Isabelle and Clary.
"Alec, there you are," Maryse murmered, not looking away from the window. "How are you, dear?"
"I'm fine."
Maryse muttered under her breath, "Good, good," as if she wasn't conscious that she was saying it out loud.
Alec looked at his sister and they exchanged puzzled looks. Their mother was usually sharp and to the point, focused. So they were completely unfamiliar with the detached woman sitting beside them.
They sat there for a few more minutes of silence until Jace burst through the doors, a box of tissues in his hand and a Sensor going off in his hands.
Everyone rose as Jace told them, "Demons. They're outside. All over. They're waiting out there."
Alec led the race to the window on the opposite wall and saw what Jace meant. Demons of all kinds littered the space around the Institute – there must have been at least fifty, probably more. His heart sank as the realization hit him.
They were trapped and outnumbered.
He turned and saw Jace's mouth moving but couldn't hear the words he said over the crash down the hall and the unmistakable crackling of flames.
There you go! I hope you guys liked it!
You know you want to review. Review and I shall write more. (Too late!) Well, I'll post more. ;D