Naked Encounters

1 - 4

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Cassandra Clare owns the characters.

A/N: This was originally a one-shot. I've turned it into a two shot. It's not all childhood stuff. The next chapter is when they're in high school. It gets good.


Jace had only seen Clary naked a handful of times. That was more than most guys could say, really. Clary didn't know why she was always reminiscing on those fateful times. She supposed they were quite memorable. Especially considering what just happened.

The first time he saw her naked was when they were in kindergarten. It was Halloween, and all the kids brought their costumes along to school to change into for the parade. "Clary," the teacher called, "I think Jace must have finished. You can go in now."

It was all the teacher's fault. Holding her big ghost costume in one hand, she opened the door to the bathroom and was surprised to find she wasn't alone. Jace sat against the opposite wall with his head against his knees, sniffling and crying. Clary instantly ran to his side. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?" She sat beside him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Jace looked up with red eyes.

"My dad said dressing up was for babies. I d-don't have a costume." He whimpered and threw his head back down against his knees. Clary rubbed his back.

"That's okay," she said and thought. "Hey, you want to use part of mine? It's too big anyway." At those words, Jace's tiny face and long, curly hair shot up. His eyes were suspicious.

"Why?" he asked.

Clary shrugged. "I don't want you to feel sad. It can be our secret." Jace, still uneasy, looked at her costume and finally nodded. Clary grinned. She helped him on to his feet and began tugging at the white sheet. When she couldn't get it, she groaned and said, "Can you tear it in half?"

Finally, a boyish smile formed on Jace's lips. "Of course I can. Look at these muscles!" He pushed up his sleeve and flexed his arm. Clary snorted and rolled her eyes. He took the thick sheet and tore it in half. Using the door handle, he jabbed two eye shapes in it. The other sheet already had them.

Clary wouldn't admit it, but she was secretly impressed with how innovative he was. She never would have thought she could have used the door handle to make holes in a sheet! Then she started pulling off her pants.

"What are you doing?" Jace's eyes bulged out of his head. Clary frowned and turned towards him as she yanked off her shirt.

"What?"

"Why are you getting…naked?" He whispered the word like it was a sin.

Clary laughed as she stood in just her underwear. "Why not? Jonathan and I take bathes together, and he's in first grade."

Jace paused and blinked at her. "Oh. Okay." Then he stripped down to his underwear. Together, they pulled on their ghost outfits. Clary was actually relieved. She could walk now without a mile of it dragging behind her. Just as she reached for the handle, Jace grabbed her hand. "Thank you, Clary."

She beamed at him. "You're welcome."

. . .

The second time occurred in the summer going into fourth grade. Jace had moved away after kindergarten. She always wondered where he went. He was her favorite friend. Even Simon wasn't as cool as him.

Jonathan, Simon, and Clary were playing in the sprinkler outside of their house one hot summer day. Jonathan and Simon were arguing over where the rainbow came from. Jonathan thought he was smarter because he was older, but Simon would not believe that fairies came and shot colored pixie dust into the water. Clary groaned and sat on the ground, watching them argue in the sticky heat.

That was when a woman from across the street called out her name. She turned around and stood up. Her name was Maryse, Clary recalled. She was the woman who had reported Jonathan for getting gum in Isabelle's hair. Clary grinned. She liked this woman because she hated it when Jon got away with bad things.

"Clary, would you three like to come and play in our pool? Isabelle, Jace, and Alec would love to have more friends to play with." Maryse squatted in front of Clary. The second name sounded familiar to her. Where had she met a kid named Jace?

She glanced over her shoulder. "Can you call my mom and ask if it's okay?" Clary grinned excitedly. She had never been in a pool before. Maryse smiled and asked for her number. Clary gave it to her off the top of her head.

"Hello, Mrs. Fray, I'm Maryse Lightwood, Isabelle's mother," she began and paused, smiling slightly. "No. Jonathan isn't bothering anyone. I was wondering if it would be okay if your kids and their friend came over to play with my kids – wonderful! They can stay as long as you need them to…all right. See you then." Maryse hung up her phone and smiled at Clary. She held out her hand. "She said yes." Clary jumped up and squealed.

"Hey! Jonathan! Simon! Let's go to Isabelle and Alec's pool!"

They didn't question her for once because the offer sounded so tempting. Jonathan didn't even care if his mom said yes or not. It was another chance to tease Isabelle. Clary could practically see his gears turning. Maryse led them inside their house.

Clary tried to remember how many steps they took. She knew she'd easily get lost in here. The many artworks spanning their walls kept distracting her eyes. Simon had to shove her along multiple times. Then they made their way out back. Alec and another boy with distracting golden hair were tossing a ball over the pool. Isabelle was lounging on a chair.

Isabelle was in Clary's class. She made fun of Simon a lot, but he never minded. He'd stare after her and smile at whatever harsh words came from her mouth because 'she's so prettyyy.' Alec never even glanced at Clary. She didn't mind. She was used to being invisible. All she wanted was to swim in a pool.

"I'll be inside if you guys need anything. Jace. You're the lifeguard today." With that, Maryse went back in the house. Jace looked up at that with a smirk. Clary gasped. That was Jace from kindergarten. He shared her Halloween costume with her. She smiled at him and he smiled back, walking over to her. Jonathan was already by Isabelle, sitting on the end of her chair so she could try to kick him off. Simon was in the shallow in, testing the water's temperature. Alec yelled at him that he should have just jumped straight in.

"Jace! Where did you go? Everybody missed you!" Clary exclaimed, throwing her arms around him instantly. Jace stiffened at that, but Clary didn't notice. He shrugged with a cocky smile.

"Dad was teaching me stuff at home. I bet I know more than even you now!" Jace commented. Clary crossed her arms over her chest.

"What is eighty divided by two?"

Jace blushed. "Shut up, smarty pants. It's summer. I'm going to have fun!" He yelled at the same time that he took Clary's hand and jumped in the deep end. Clary gasped in shock, but closed her mouth before the water hit her. Jace let go of her hand when they hit the water, and she was lost in darkness. She kicked her feet, but she didn't know how to swim.

She opened her eyes to stinging, blurry water. Looking around, she felt the need to breathe, and when she opened her mouth, she found nothing but choking water. Jace's form shot down to her, his eyes searching the water. He found her quickly and yanked her to the surface.

Jace pulled her to the side of the pool where she continued to cough up water. Everyone was looking at her. Jonathan started laughing, and everyone else caught on, except for Jace. Finally, she got the water out of her lungs.

"Jace! I ca-can't swim!" She cried, tears running down her dripping face. Jace looked concerned. He patted her back and watched as she worked the water from her air pipes. She turned to him with fury.

"I didn't know!" he protested innocently. Clary started shivering from the cold. He rested a hand on her arm. "Want me to teach you how?"

The rest of the afternoon passed like that. He slowly taught Clary to swim, even before her own brother learned. By the end of the day, Clary and Jace were licking their popsicles while everyone played water basketball. They shared the same chair. "You know what would be fun?" Jace had an impish glint in his eyes that scared Clary slightly.

"What?" she asked.

"Let's swim naked!" Jace grinned.

Clary's eyes lit up wide. "Okay!"

Just like they, they stripped themselves of their swimsuits. Clary's pale butt matched even Jace's, considering everywhere else on him was more tan. "What are you guys – hey!" Alec yelled as Jace and Clary jumped in the deep end together, drenching Alec.

Clary and Jace came up giggling. "Ew! I'm telling Mom!" Isabelle groaned.

They didn't care. They swam from one end of the pool to the other, Jace beating Clary every time. She didn't mind. She was having the time of her life. Swimsuits were way too clingy. She felt so free.

When Maryse came outside, however, the fun ended. "Clary, Jace, where are you swimsuits?" She exclaimed. Jace and Clary giggled and pointed to the chair where they had previously discarded them. She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed.

"Spank them!" Jonathan chanted, and everyone else joined in aside from Simon, who was clinging to the wall pouting.

"Let's get you two dressed," Maryse shook her head with a small smile. She brought them both a towel, wrapping them tightly as she led them inside. The phone rang. "Jace, would you be kind enough to show Clary some of Isabelle's extra clothes?"

The third time he saw her naked was only moments later.

He nodded and took Clary's hand, leading them upstairs. Jace first grabbed some of Alec's clothes and then took them in Isabelle's room. "How do you know where you're going? I would get so lost."

Jace shrugged. "I stay here lots."

Clary was left speechless as she entered Isabelle's room. It was huge. "Wow. My kitchen is smaller than this."

Jace grinned. "That why I love coming here. Hide and seek is awesome!" He grabbed an outfit for Clary, but when she reached for it, he held it out of her reach considering he was already taller than her. "I think you have to pay me. I saved your life and got you clothes."

Clary pouted. "I don't have any money."

Jace grinned again, the grin that kind of scared Clary. She backed away with a frown. "You have to…kiss me!"

Clary sighed in relief. She was expecting something so much worse than that. "Okay," she said, walking forward. "Close you eyes, dummy."

Jace instantly closed his eyes, and so did Clary. She reached both hands up to frame his face. Then, she pressed her lips to his, puckering her face very hard, just as hard as Jace did. Ew! She wanted to say, but she thought that was rude. Then she had a funny idea and pulled away, but not letting go of Jace's face. Quickly, she took her tongue and licked a long trail from his chin, across his lips, and up to his nose.

Jace jumped away in disgust, but Clary was already on the ground laughing so hard it hurt. He wiped at his mouth, complaining how gross she was. When they opened their eyes, he noticed her towel had fallen off. Clary didn't seem to mind at all. She was too busy laughing.

"Ha! You're naked!" Jace pointed. She giggled and shrugged, reaching for Isabelle's clothes. No matter how much trouble Jace got her in, she definitely won that time.

Who would want somebody's tongue all over their lips? Ew!

. . .

The fourth and fifth time wasn't supposed to happen. It was a cruel thing that never should happen. It wasn't even full nudity, but the idea was there.

Over the course of a few years, Jace had gotten many girls to kiss him. Clary was there for almost every girl. She laughed at him after it. "You're a whore," she teased one day in sixth grade.

Jace frowned. The girl he had just gotten to kiss – Aline – was already running off to tell all her friends. Jace was kind of a star around their school. "Where did you hear that word?" He knew he never taught her that word. And ever since fourth grade, Jace was her single and only line of information when it came to dirty things. Her brother was too grossed out to explain it to her, and her mother never had the time. Simon was more clueless than she was.

"Mom and I were at the movies and some guy she knew called her that. He said she was with too many guys," Clary giggled. "I don't think I was supposed to hear that."

Jace's face fell. He ran a hand through his hair. He decided to not tell Clary that the man was right. She deserved to be innocent for a few more years before she realized it on her own. "A whore means a very pretty person. So, you're right. I am a whore." Jace lied with a devilish smile. Clary made an 'o' with her mouth before laughing.

It was actually later that week when he had to tell her the real meaning behind it. Everyone was going to Aline's birthday party that night. They came as a group. It was only down the street so Simon came to Clary's house, and then the two of them came to the Lightwood's house. Simon was surprised to find Jace there, but when opened his mouth to question it, Clary elbowed him harshly. She knew he had moved in there last year. She just didn't know where his dad went.

Isabelle was coming with them. Simon was rambling about the science behind make-up, which was the only conversation that interested Iz these days. When they stepped up to the house, Aline was at the entrance with Kaelie and Helen. Clary recognized these as the girls she couldn't stand. They wore heels to school and always made fun of her torn clothes.

Isabelle and Simon entered swiftly. Jace was behind Clary. "I didn't invite you," Aline snarled in disgust. The girls behind her laughed.

"She's with me," Jace said, stepped up to Clary's side.

Aline batted her eyes and looked to Jace. "We don't let whores into my house," she said as if it were obvious. Clary was smart enough to know she cleared didn't mean to say a compliment. She looked at Jace in confusion.

"I think Jace would be a whore more than me," Clary laughed, but Jace heard the nervousness in her voice.

Kaelie stepped forward, eyes scrutinizing Clary's dress. "Did your slutty mom dress you?" She pushed past Aline and fingered one of Clary's straps. Clary knew what the word slut meant.

"My mom isn't a slut," she pushed Kaelie back, who stumbled and nearly fell. Her eyes burned with rage.

"Yes, she is. She's the reason my mom almost left my dad. She's a slutty prostitute!" Kaelie growled. She walked up to Clary and yanked on both of her straps, causing her worn dress to rip and fall right off of her. Kaelie stepped back with a smile that could challenge Satan's.

"Look at her! She has a training bra on!" Aline laughed.

"Are those granny panties or what?" Helen snorted.

"She looks more like a boy than that dork Simon!" Aline said again.

"Come on, Jace. The fun is in here." Kaelie left the door open. Helen and Aline followed Kaelie into the house, still laughing and looking back as Clary scrambled to hold her dress up.

Tears were streaming down her face. She was angry and scared. She loathed them so much. Who would do that? She didn't do anything wrong. It was her only dress, too. Jace looked at her. "G-go away, Jace," she sniffled and turned around, still struggling to clothe her body. She didn't want him seeing her training bra or granny panties.

Jace sprinted in front of her. He tugged off his shirt and held it out to Clary. She looked at him, not fully trusting his intentions. "Take it." Her hand snatched it out of his quickly. He turned around while she pulled the shirt on. She cleared her throat when she was done. The shirt hung halfway above her thigh. It was shorter than what she'd ever wear, but it would do.

"Thanks," she mumbled, not meeting his gaze. "I'm just going to go home now. Will you still be at the Lightwood's tomorrow? I can drop it off then."

Jace shook his head. "I'm not going back in there!"

She frowned. "Why not?"

"It's not fun without you," he shrugged. Clary looked at him finally, and a small smile encased her red lips. He stepped forward and wiped her tears away. "Let's go home."

She nodded. He held the remains of her dress the entire walk, telling her how Alec had a friend named Magnus who could easily sew the straps back together. "Jace? What does whore really mean?"

Jace sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He knew this was coming. "It's a mix between being a slut and a prostitute."

"Oh." Silence. "What's a prostitute?"

"Somebody who has sex for money," Jace said. He had explained sex to her before, which was one of his most awkward moments in life ever.

"Oh." She sighed. "Is my mom a prostitute?"

Jace didn't want to lie to her. He bit his lip and stopped walking. Clary did the same. He rested his hands on her shoulders. "You're mom loves you. She's always working to give you and Jon food and a house. She is better than any other mom out there. You don't need to worry about anything else."

It took Clary a few years to realize that was his way of confirming that she was a prostitute. It was also his way of saying that he didn't have a mother near as good as hers, if he ever had one at all.


A/N: Who liked that? It was kind of cute, right? Well, I thought it was. Review for part 2! It's ready, I just need some confidence to post it (as in reviews/favorites/follows)! Ps: they are older in the next chapters.