Tongue tied
- The Olympics were meant to be about sport. Alec is not ok with cameras in his face, thank god for his knight in glittery spandex.
AN. Hello all. First time in this section, I am trying to branch out. I have only just started watching the tv series but I am hoping on the weekend to locate a copy of the book so if the characters are off I am sorry. This is a slow start I warn you. Let me know what you all think. ;P
0ne
Alec dropped his goggles onto the block, rubbing his stinging eyes. The chlorine was burning his retinas. The stupid cheap goggles kept leaking.
"Come on, lets race."
"Izzy." Alec groaned sitting down on the diving block next to the offending eye wear. The rest of the swimming team had left. They weren't at Isabelle's level. They didn't need, nor want to train as hard as his sister.
"Come on Alec. You train with me everyday. You're one of the few people who can keep up with me." She grovelled. He sighed.
Her eyes sparked at the sound. She knew her big brother would do anything for her. She was one of the few people her brother cared about. The circle was small but she knew how much it meant to be included.
"Eight hundred metres. The loser buys the winner an ice cream." Izzy grinned at her brother.
He sighed. They had been training for hours. If they didn't leave soon he'd be late to his own practice.
"Just one hundred metres but you're not eating it in my car." He pointed accusingly. He knew her to well to not trust her with his baby. He had seen what she had done last time she wanted to borrow his keys.
She smiled widely jumping up onto the block. She waited while Alec put his goggles back on. He climbed up and noticed the coach had moved over to them. Alec shrugged. The man was always keeping track of his sister efforts. He hadn't realised she was being time today.
"On your marks." They both dropped into position. "Get set, GO!"
They were off.
Isabelle had a much cleaner dive then Alec. She was ahead before he even surfaced. Even knowing he'd be buying the ice cream, he'd make sure she earned it. He pushed forward trying to gain some distance.
Alec got up every morning at five with Izzy to go to swim training. Their parents told her if she wanted this, it was all up to her. They didn't have the time for her. Their work was always more important. However Isabelle was a Lightwood and stubborn was written into her d.n.a. She was going to go rain, hail or shine. Alec hated the thought of her alone on the train at that hour. He had always been protective of his little sister. It was silly now really. Izzy could probably take him out. It had become their thing over the years. He'd just tag along. For three months when she started he just sat and watched but then she finally talked him into joining in. She had reasoned with him that it would keep him fit for archery which was his passion. He figured he was already there, he may as well do something with his time. Had had to keep in top form himself now. He had been accepted for the Olympic archery team after his silver medal at the championships.
His fingers touched the wall after his sister. Gasping for breath he noticed a shadow over him. He yanked his dodge goggles off. Alec blinked looking up.
The coach let out a low whistle. "Your quick kid."
Alec looked warily between his sister and her coach. He didn't like where this was going. He quickly pulled himself out of the water grabbing his nearby towel.
"I was hoping I could get you to come to the time trials."
Alec froze. He started to protest. He didn't have time for swimming. His time had to be decated to archery. Training with his sister was to stay fit, it was nothing more.
"Here him out Alec." Iz pleaded.
"We don't need another swimmer. Simon is at the prime of his career. All I need is a decent backup. You're already through for the Archery. It will be cheaper for the team to have you. You're already going, the chances of us needing you are practically zero. You just get to cheer from the side. "
"I, I don't know. I mean I.."
"Look come to the time trails on Sunday. If you qualify we'll talk more." The coached nodded to the siblings before disappearing back into his office.
Izzy squealed throwing her arms around him.
"Settle down Iz. I am not going to be fast enough." She laughed and picked up the timer. Her grin widened.
"I don't know." She turned the timer to face Alec. "I think it might run in the family."
Alec read the time and swore.
He was fast enough. His stomach clenched. Swimming was Izzy thing not his.
"What flavour do you want?" He dropped the subject.
"Take a wild guess."
He rolled his eyes.
Chocolate.
.
After taking Izzy home he went out to team practice. There was a total of two of them. The rest of the country's team were scattered across the states. They had both agreed the fields owned buy the local archery club would have to do. It wasn't high class. It was like standing in a paddock, all it needed was some cows. It's saving grace was it was in a good spot. There were no chances of any one getting hurt if an arrow went astray. Half the time Alec was convinced Greg and him were the only people who knew this place existed.
They didn't talk much for a team. They simple nodded their greeting and hopped to it. Greg was a cool guy. He seemed to get that Alec just needed quiet. Perhaps that's how the older man liked it too. They both set up their gear barely acknowledging what they were doing. It no longer required any thought almost like breathing. Alec paced out the seventy meters from his target. He turned seeing Greg had followed suit.
The wind was low today. They wouldn't have much to counter-act.
They stood ten meters or so apart.
"Ready?" Greg asked raising his bow.
Alec smiled. "Always."
They started firing arrow after arrow. Alec could feel the burn through his shoulders after an hour. His fingers aching. Slowly he lowered his bow. Greg caught his eye and nodded his head that he planned to pack it in for the day. Alec nodded in agreement. They trailed down to collect their remaining arrows. Sometimes a few got damaged in training but most of the time with the equipment they were using they were able to save the arrows. They got a little expensive to replace all the time. There was nothing more that Alec hated then having to beg for money from his parents. hopefully after the Olympics he'd have a sponsor and his own form of income. If not even maybe he'd have to get a real job. the kind that pays.
"Same time tomorrow?"
Alec nodded.
…...
"I would give my left ovary for a piece of that chocolate cake."
Alec looked down at his salad. He wasn't huge on sweets but when it had been months they were hard to look at with out craving sugar. It was ok at home. The three siblings all sticking to their health diets made it easy but out at the restaurant there were so many mouth watering options.
"Really Isabelle, just think of your thighs. Aren't they wide enough?"
Alec dropped his fork. He shot a quick look at his baby sister. She looked sourly at their Mother. The silence freezing them all in place.
Their Mother was traditional. Women were not strong, they belonged along side a man. Isabelle's sporting ability always put a strain on their relationship. Alec hoped after tomorrow maybe their Mother could be proud of her. Deep down Alec doubt it. He and Isabelle knew that their parents favoured Jace. Jace had been taken in by the Lightwoods when his parents were killed in a car accident. Since the age of ten the blonde had been one of the family. Jace was naturally talented at everything. He was smart and athletic. He wasn't shy and awkward like Alec. He was confident and handsome. He was exactly what their Mother wanted in a child. Surprisingly the Lightwood siblings didn't resent him, instead they took him under their wings. Jace was theirs just as much as he was their parents. They loved him even if he was being a bit of a cocky douche.
"Guys I am the Master!" Jace interrupted the show down with an overly enthusiastic hoot. He had just arrived at the restaurant late as normal. They had order him a healthy meal which had been sitting waiting for him. He plonked down in the chair next to Alec. He screwed up his nose at the sight of the salad next to his steak.
"I can not wait until I can have chips." He poked the salad. "What's the pink crap?"
"Pomegranate." Izzy sighed with a shake of her head.
Jace looked over to Alec with a shrugged.
The boys weren't exactly exotic with their menu choices. Steak, eggs and chips would suit them just fine. However their Mother insisted they go out to celebrate Jace getting a place in the running team for the Olympics. Alec tried not to feel to disappointed she hadn't cared about his own placement on the squad. He didn't really like the attention but it would have been nice if his Mother had at least pretend to be proud of him. She didn't believe Archery was a real sport. It was a hobby.
"Well Izzy it's up to you now. We'll make it a clean sweep."
Izzy looked at Alec who violently swung his head. He didn't want anyone else knowing about the trail. He didn't want to embarrass himself. He wasn't even keen to go. Alec was smart enough to know Izzy would never let him get away without at least trying but it didn't mean he had to like it.
"That's a given. Are you coming to watch?" She smiled at Jace.
"No. I am sorry Iz. I have a team meeting. " She looked a little hurt but shook it off.
"What about you Mum? Are you and Dad coming to see me?" Isabelle's defences were already up. She knew the answer but still she liked to push.
"Your Father and I are busy. We have to pay for all this frivous lifestyle of yours."
"After tomorrow you won't have to worry anymore. I 'll have sponsors."
Their Mother tutted. She didn't believe in her own children. Jace was the only one she took seriously.
Alec lean over the table and grabbed her hand. He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze before releasing.
She smiled warmly back at her brother.
"So did you all see my epic win?" Jace grinned.
The other two groaned not prepared to hear a play by play for the next four hours. Didn't matter either way they would have to suffer through it. Damn family.
…...
R&R ;p
