What the Future Holds
A/N: This is my first fanfiction in a few years so I may be a little rusty. But I've been contemplating coming back into it for a while, so this is where I want to start – with a bit of cute Clace fluff that we all love. Set 2 years after City of Heavenly Fire ends.
She fell back onto the black training mat beneath her, rolling away like she had been taught. Behind her a low growl erupted, and silent feet chased after her. She glanced behind her, spotting a golden lion chasing after its prey. She laughed out loud, and veered to the right. Her lion was surprised by the sudden change of direction, and she leaped at him, landing on his back. She wrapped her legs around his torso and put her arms over his shoulder until she was piggybacking him. She kissed his cheek and laughed. "Got you," she declared.
He laughed and put his hands behind her knees, hoisting her up so she was balanced on his hips. "You've always had me," he said. And then she yelped in surprise as the world was suddenly upside down, and she was on the mat with her golden lion hovering above her. "And now I have you."
She glanced up into his golden eyes that were swelling like a fire the more he looked at her. She smiled up at him, and he smiled one of his real smiles, one that wasn't just the quirk of his lips. She reached up and tucked a golden lock of his hair behind his ear. "Kiss me," she whispered, and he lowered his head and took her lips into his own. He balanced himself with his elbows on either side of her head, careful not to put too much weight on her delicate, doll-like body. He took her lower lip hostage, sucking on it, nipping at it, telling her how much he loved her against it.
A sound came from the doorway, someone clearing their throat. Clary sprung away from Jace, pushing him off her. She brushed her messy hair back, blushing until she was the same colour as her hair. Jace just grinned smugly.
Alec stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed before him. "I thought you guys were meant to be training?"
Clary flushed harder. "We were… are… we are."
Alec roared with laughter. "Right. Is that what training looks like nowadays?"
"Yes, Alec," Jace said, and Clary suddenly feared for her pride. Jace had a way with his words. "It takes a lot of effort to kiss somebody, a lot of breath, and you never know when kissing will come in handy."
"Oh, my god," Clary said with embarrassment. "Well, I think that's enough training for the day. I think I might go shower." She scrambled to her feet, kissing Jace quickly on the way, and ran for the door.
"Aren't going with her, lover boy?" Alec joked, and Jace wiggled his eyebrows as he watched the girl disappear.
***PAGE BREAK***
There was a knock on his door. He looked up from the book he was reading, encouraging them to come in. Clary pushed the door open, standing awkwardly, her toes curling into the carpet. Jace was stretched out on his bed, looking at her with his golden eyes like she was the brightest thing in the room. He abandoned the book on the nightstand, and held out a hand for her to take.
"Hey," he said, "I've told you, you don't have to knock, you know? You're always welcome to just come in."
"I know," she replied, "but I don't want to invade your privacy."
"My privacy is your privacy. We're a team, a couple, better with each other together." She blushed and sat beside him on the bed. "I thought you had to be home by six?" he murmured as she curled into his side, and he ran his fingers through her tumbling red locks.
"Mum and Luke are having a date night. You know how they still don't like leaving me at home on my own."
His eyes lit up and he pulled back just a little bit to gaze at her. "So, you're staying here tonight?"
She rolled her eyes, smiling. "Yeah, but Mum gave me strict warning about sleeping in one of the spare bedrooms tonight. No boyfriends allowed apparently."
Jace looked like a wounded child who had just had his lollypop taken off him. She laughed and slapped his arm. "I can stay here a little longer before I have to go to bed." He grinned and pulled her closer into him until his arms were fully wrapped around her, and her head was pillowed against his chest with the sound of his beating heart filling her ear.
Eventually their breathing slowed to match each other, the beating of their heart intertwined, and they fell into the world of dreams, without Clary moving to her own bedroom. It was the best sleep either of them had had in ages.