Set in City of Bones, Jace is in the infirmary after the events at Hotel Dumort. Jace's point of view.

Destoyer

Clary walked in, clean, sweet smelling, hair fiery under the bright lights of the infirmary. There was something so strange about her; not in a bad way. Unsettling, that's what I'd told her before. Every time she entered a room my heart started to thump faster, more unevenly; and I could quite honestly say he didn't care for the feeling.

"Oh. It's you" Alec said from his seat on the windowsill. I couldn't understand Alec's problem with Clary. He glowered at his back.

"Hodge says he's on his way and that you can both cling to your flickering sparks of life until he gets here. Or something like that." She looked at Simon and then me. He could see that she was going to go to Simon. A strange bitter feeling sprang in my chest.

Pull yourself together Jace!

"I wish he'd hurry" I said, acting out my wounded prince routine.

"Why? Does it hurt?" Clary asked slightly anxiously. I liked that she cared for me. But I couldn't let her see that I was hurt, that would go completely against my nature.

"No," I said as scornfully as I could "I have a very high threshold for pain. In fact its less of a threshold and more of a large and tastefully decorated foyer. But I do easily get bored." I squinted at her; her face was less worried now and looked slightly exasperated. Whoops. One last shot. "Do you remember back at the hotel when you promised that if we lived you'd dress up in a nurse's outfit and give me a sponge bath?" I asked her, the picture of her in a skimpy nurse's outfit slid into my mind. I was sure my pupils had dilated.

"Actually, I think you misheard. it was Simon who promised you the sponge bath" This girl knew how to play. My eyes slid over to Simon's form involuntarily. He grinned at me and said:

"As soon as I'm back on my feet, handsome."

I Shuddered "I knew we should have left you as a rat"

Clary laughed and went to sit by Simon. Her laugh was so sweet, like chiming bells. I smiled secretly. The smile vanished as soon as it came. Simon? What was so special about him? What about me? I remembered that moment in the car park where they were hugging each other I'd never felt like that before. I felt so … deflated. I didn't feel deflated anymore. I felt angry. Angry at her for choosing him. Angry at him for being here. Wait Jace; a voice in my head reasoned. She hasn't chosen yet. You can still get her.

What was happening to me? I've never felt like this before. I recalled my own words to Clary, ones that had been spoken to me by my father

To love is to destroy and to be loved is to be the one destroyed.

Is that what was happening? Was I in love with Clary? Everything was so strange; so mixed up. My head was starting to hurt. I turned my head just in time to see Simon kiss Clary on the cheek.

He shot me a smug look.

Cheeky bastard…

I had the sudden desire to hit something, preferably him. Clary walked out of the room. I gave a small, inaudible sigh as the door clicked shut. So this is what love was like.

My father was right; this feeling could be the destroyer of many

Not my best work... please review.