BE MY PARABATAI
Note: This story was planned before CP and started before CP2 (yes i know, it's been a while...) so please forgive the outdated-ness.
After I finished reading Clockwork angel, I found the pair Jem/Will especially intriguing, (as if Cassie didn't hint it enough) and thought hard of some that would work. Something came to me and I said to myself, Why not? I'll give it a shot. This fic was originally planned to be up before CP came out, but ah well. CP broke my heart and I sometimes pray that Magnus will just kidnap Will and be done with it! (but otherwise enjoy~)
Disclaimer: Don't we all wish we owned the Infernal devices? Yes of course we are jealous Ms Clare.
PROLOGUE
JAMES Carstairs walked into the institute, guided blindly by brother Enosh in the dim lit hallway. The moist stench filled Jem's nostrils and clung to his skin uncomfortably. The air here tastes different. There was only one occasion previously when he has been to The Institute in London, and that had only allowed for a short stay. He hadn't been granted the opportunity to closely observe the place properly, but the first thing he picked up was that it was gravely different to the institute in Shanghai.
The hallway was cold, and the entry walkway was excruciatingly narrow for such an enormous structure. He noticed on the way in, engraved on the arc were the words "Pulvis et umbra sumus", similar to the one in Shanghai, minus the Chinese translation. Jem frowned, instantaneously home sick. Although he'd spent his last few years in the silent city, the institute somehow brought back memories of his dead parents.
"come" Brother Enosh's voice echoed in Jem's head, and he obeyed, sticking to the brother so closely he could feel the vibrations of his robe in the air before his face. They arrived at a room with towering bookshelves, where a lady in black sat at the single desk in the middle of the room. The flickering of the candle light projected tortured shadows across the room, making Jem's stomach knot.
"I've brought him. We have decided that it was best he remained in England."Brother Enosh informed the shadowhunter.
"Thank you Enosh." The woman said, dazed. Jem faintly remembered the woman from his previous visits.
"And this is James Carstairs?" She turned to face Jem. "I'm Charlotte Branwell, and I run the institute here."
Jem nodded slightly, definitely recalling his father talk about her.
"Yes. Mrs Branwell." Jem replied.
"Please call me Charlotte." Charlotte smiled again, and the knot in his stomach loosened.
After bidding a quick goodbye to brother Enosh, and a promise from him of returning soon, Charlotte led Jem through the unfamiliar hallways to a grand set of double doors. Upon entry, Jem quickly recognised it as the training room.
"Will, Thomas, we have a new visitor." Charlotte spoke to the two figures in stance, baring equally surprised expressions on their faces.
"This is James Carstairs." Charlotte finished, "and he is here to stay."
Jem stared as the couple placed the weapons on the floor, not accustomed to seeing three shadowhunters in one day when he'd been denied to see anyone for months. It was strange that even though the dark haired boy was bare to the waist, Jem could not spot any evidence of markings. Perhaps he had not received them yet?He directed his attention to the other boy, who bore the most enthusiastic smile. He wiped his hands on his trousers and held it out.
"I'm Herondale, William Herondale." The boy introduced.
Jem took his hands and looked into his crisp blue eye, which seemed to welcome him without doubt.
"And this is Thomas." He pointed to the other boy, who smiled and inclined his head.
After the introduction, Charlotte had, unfortunately, more important matters to attend to, and left the touring of the institute with the two boys now standing before Jem. She made a quick apology before scurrying along the way they came, most likely back to the library.
"We're done for the day anyway." Will explained, and proceeded to packing the weapons and tools. Jem watched as the two shadowhunters worked. He paid close attention, especially to Will, who despite being covered in sweat and salt, looked tremendously handsome. Jem found it hard to gaze away, eyes tracing the swirling patterns of the marks on Will's torso.
William and Thomas led Jem through the assorted hallways and to the absurd rooms of the institute, including the unused storerooms and the series of strictly do-not-open doors. Jem couldn't help but stare as the back of William's hair lit up angelically every time they passed a torch. Were all shadowhunters in England this beautiful?
It was later that evening that Jem was introduced to Jessamine – Jessie Lovelace, whom William paid little attention to, and Henry Branwell, the bubbly man to whom Charlotte was wed. To his reassurance, no one at the table had asked of his family or background. He was aware that the Silent brothers had informed Charlotte of his past prior his arrival, and was grateful she said nothing of it.
After desert, Jem was shown to his room, to which he would reluctantly retreat to without the company of others.
Will seemed to have picked up the frown on his face.
"You don't seem awfully pleased to see it. Is it the bed sheets? I can arrange that to be changed." Will offered.
"No, it's just… I'm homesick. This reminds me a lot of the institute in Shanghai." Jem spoke openly for the first time he arrived. "Thank you for the tour."
Will smirked. "It's all part of the job."
"William…" Jem called as he turned to go.
"Call me Will."
"Will, why was Thomas not at dinner? Is he…?" Jem asked.
"Thomas isn't a shadowhunter." Will said, disappointed. That explains the absence of marks.
"He's a mundane who was granted the sight." Will continued. "He's a servant of the Nephilim."
Jem nodded, and bade Will goodnight, shutting the door regretfully, as he is fully aware that he will not be able to sleep. That evening, he lay awake holding the box of demon powder brother Enosh had given him, the only possession of his own in his new 'home'.
He turned and tossed on the bed, but sleep would not come. After several desperate tries of forcing his eyes shut, Jem gave up in exasperation and decided to explore the room.
Every room in the institute was almost identical, containing a bed, bed side drawers, a closet and some decorations chosen at random. Jem recognised some decorations in this room were imported from China; tea sets, cupboards and pieces of carvings and paintings. Perhaps someone has chosen this specific room to make Jem more at home, no doubt Charlotte or Jessamine might've done it, and he was grateful.
He opened each of the drawers, most of which are empty save a few dust balls and left over pieces of wood; nothing of interest. Next he approached the large wooden cupboard with a design carved with meticulous care by hand. He traced his hands over the patterns, admiring the impressive handiwork. Finally, unable to contain his curiosity, Jem wrapped his hands around the handle and pulled the doors open, to reveal a violin and bow mounted on a gleaming silver stand.
Jem carefully lifted the instrument from its resting position, handling it with caution. He placed it on top of the cupboard and ran his hands along, feeling the thickness of the strings. Could he still handle it? It's been two years…Jem shrugged the hesitation away and brought the instrument to his neck. After tuning with a bit of difficulty, Jem closed his eyes and focused on remembering a song. Any song…His fingers began to move, and the bow ran across the strings like it belonged…
"I didn't know you played." A voice interrupted the sweet flow of the music.
Jem stopped playing at the sound of Will's voice. He spun around to see the shadowhunter standing at the doorway, in his undergarments, rubbing his hair.
"I'm sorry… The music woke you up?" Jem apologised with a slight apologetic frown. "I couldn't sleep."
"You'll get used to it here." Will said with a smile, and showed a hint of sadness on his face. But the sadness disappeared quickly, and it was replaced by interest and curiosity.
"Well, since you can't sleep, I'll keep you company for a while." Will helped himself to the edge of the bed. Jem smiled at his guest.
Jem was about to resume playing when Will's hand crept towards the silver box on the bed side table. "what's-?" Will began.
"Don't, touch that." Jem shot, sounding a bit harsher than he meant to. Will withdrew his hand quickly and seemed astounded. Jem muttered an apology "Sorry, It's just…" And placed the violin back on the draw and took the box into his own hands.
"Sorry." Jem said again.
"What is it?" Will said, concerned at Jem's strange reaction.
"Its… I… It's demon powder." Jem explained quitely, after hesitation. There was silence. "I'm… not well."
Jem bowed his head in his hand, concealing the box in his cupped hand, waiting for Will to storm out, to call him a freak, to run away from the monster he is. But after none of those things happened, Jem released his breath and looked up. Will sat patiently on the side of his bed waiting for Jem to resume playing, clearly attempting to conceal his curiosity.
"I'm sorry." Jem apologised again. "It happened a long time ago…"
"You don't have to." Will cut him off suddenly. "I can't tell you anything in exchange."
Jem merely smiled and shook his head. "If I'm going to stay, then you should know the truth…"
That night was the beginning of a close relationship between the two boys.
Jem became more and more settled in the institute as time went past, able to fight for a few hours of sleep every night. Will found a new sparring partner who kept up with him, even though Thomas was fast, and strong among the mundane, he could not beat the heightened strength of the shadowhunters. And progressively it became universally obvious that the only person Will wasn't an ass to, is Jem.
Jem loved Will as a brother, and as a best friend. His room became a frequently visited place for Will's late evening strolls, to check if Jem had had enough of his medicine.It soon became a ritual that Will came to check on him every night, and whenever Jem had one of his days,Will would tend to him, and make sure he was all right.
Jem swore, by the angel, that he would protect Will, and love him forever on end, for as long as he was alive.
And it was by that oath which Jem was screaming at, as Mortmain and his clockwork creatures dragged his parabatai away.
A/N Didn't intend the chapter to be this long, but action starts next one so stay tuned! As nobody probably have noticed, I've taken a lengthy ff haitus, and have no idea if this is worth continuing. So feedback please?