AN: Hey guys thanks for sticking through that last chapter. I'm sorry it was awful. But here's a new one and I hope you think this one's a little better. In case you were wondering this is in fact a Clace story. There may be some Clary and Sebastian moments but end game is Clace. I made the second part of this chapter in a different pov, let me know what you guys think about that, if I should do it more or just keep it to Clary's pov. Also, this chapter shows a little bit more into the other characters and spoiler alert but Magnus shows up! YAY! Anyways I really hope you guys enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Mortal Instruments.
Clary walked into the office confidently and closed the door behind her. Hodge looked up from his work. "Ah, Clary, perfect I needed to talk to you." He said as Clary took a seat across from him. "Yeah, Izzy called me this morning saying that you needed to see me." Clary answered. "Perfect, I thought I'd call you in because I really needed to get an update from you." He said, looking at her expectantly. Clary rolled her eyes, why was Hodge always such a pain? "Like I told you earlier. Sebastian finally asked me out, I said yes, we went to dinner, it was super awkwardly adorable how nervous he was. And when he dropped me off at home, we kissed. End of story." Clary replied, although it was the truth she knew what Hodge was really looking for. He was trying to see if she was taking her job seriously. Well she was, no matter how much she disagreed with these methods she had to do what she was trained to do, her job. "You kissed? That's excellent. You're on track. Remember you need to meet his parents, that's the most important part of your mission. You need to get into his father's house, plant the bugs, and make a good impression as Sebastian's new girlfriend." Hodge replied, pacing now. "Yes, Hodge, I know. You've only told me a million times." Clary said getting up from her chair. "Now, if I'm done being interrogated…" "Wait, Clary, there's one more thing I wanted to talk to you about." Hodge said, cutting Clary off and causing her to sit back down.
Hodge sat down across from her and looked at her harshly. Clary rolled her eyes and stared right back at him. "How're you doing Clary? With this mission? People tell me that you were taking it a little hard when you were first given the mission. I was just wondering, how's it been going? I'm worried about you Clary." Hodge said, faking emotion. Clary knew exactly what he was asking. She knew that he was just waiting for her to show the slightest bit of weakness. Clary made her face emotionless, nothing showing but clear boredom. "Thanks for your concern, Hodge, but I'm perfectly fine. Besides, you're sources don't sound very reliable. I was perfectly fine when I received my mission. Charles Verlac is someone who needs to answer for his crimes and that's that." Clary replied, staring steadily at Hodge. Hodge just looked at her for a while and then finally said, "Alright that's all. You're free to go." Clary got out of her seat and walked away, giving Hodge a little nod. "Oh and Clary?" He said before she could exit. "Remember, there's a difference between playing the part and being the part." He said seriously. Clary, who was feeling a little defiant at the moment, replied, "I have no idea what you mean." Okay, that was a lie, she knew what he meant. She just didn't feel that it applied to her. "Don't let your feelings get in the way, Clary. You are pretending to be his girlfriend, that doesn't mean that you actually are. Don't get involved." He said, returning back to the work on his desk. Clary left his office but not without registering the underlying threat. She was expendable to him, just like every other agent in the building was expendable.
"Clary! Wait up!" Shouted someone as she was getting on the elevator. When she looked behind her she saw Simon running towards her. His glasses slipping down his face as he ran. "Hey Si." She said as Simon was finally next to her in the elevator. "Hey, where've you been? I haven't seen you in a while?" He asked as he straightened the tie he was wearing. "I'm on assignment. I thought I told you that." She replied. "Oh yeah, you did, I just… I really need your advice." He said and Clary finally looked at him, noticing how disheveled and nervous he looked. "Are you alright? What's wrong?" She asked worriedly. "Nothing major but…. Maia… she kind of said something about how she didn't want me to spend so much time with you." He said nervously. Clary started to laugh. "Are you breaking up with me, Simon? For your girlfriend?" She asked between laughing. Simon just stared at her as she laughed. "Shut up Clary, it's not funny." He whined. "I'm sorry Si but it's so ridiculous. We never even spend any time together anymore, what does she even mean by 'spending less time'?" Clary said, with an eye roll. Simon sighed.
"I know, Maia was so cool and normal when we first met but as soon as we labeled it as boyfriend-girlfriend, it's like she became this totally different person." He said putting his head in his hands. "You know Simon, I know exactly what it is." Clary said seriously, causing him to look up at her. She looked at him and said seriously, "You have too much sex appeal. Puberty made you too hot and, I mean, even before puberty you were already drowning in the ladies, so I can totally understand why she is so worried about putting you on a short leash." Simon just stared at her as Clary kept her face serious, well as serious as she could. All of a sudden, they both just started laughing hysterically at the idea that Simon was anything but incredibly awkward around women. This is what he needed, Clary thought to herself. He needed a minute without stressing about relationship drama, he needed a good laugh.
The elevator opened on the 6th floor as the pair continued to laugh in the elevator. "Ah, my two favorite people. What are we laughing about now? Could it be how hideous those pants look with that shirt Simon?" Said Magnus as he got onto the elevator. Magnus was a…. actually, Clary didn't really know what Magnus did for the Clave, no one really knew. She just knew that whatever his job was, it was important and it paid very well. "What? What's wrong with my outfit?" Simon asked looking down at himself. "Everything, darling. Everything." Magnus replied as he turned to Clary. "You on the other hand, not awful. But you wear far too many dark colors. Brighten up your look a little sometimes. Trust me colors won't kill you." He said with a smile. "You're absolutely right, Magnus. I should try to look more like you." She said, looking at Magnus' bright pink blazer and sparkle tie. "Exactly!" Magnus exclaimed. "Finally, someone who understands what I've been saying this whole time. You know, if everyone was just more like me the world would be a fantastic place." He said with a smirk. "True, I mean, there's never a dull moment when you're around, Magnus. That's for sure." Simon replied.
The elevator stopped at the lobby and all three of them exited, just as Alec and Jace walked into the building. "Alexander, Golden Boy, my favorite people." Magnus said giving Alec a kiss on the cheek and causing him to blush furiously. "Wait, I thought you said Clary and I were you're favorite people." Simon said accusingly. "Oh please Simon, that's just a figure of speech. Don't take everything so personal. Besides, if I had to pick a favorite person, it would obviously be Alec, he's just so great to look at." Magnus said smiling at Alec. "Alec? And not me? That's a shame, it's the blue eyes isn't it?" Jace asked sarcastically, causing Alec to look even more mortified than Clary thought possible. "Of course it's the blue eyes, they're intoxicating. Also, I have sex with Alec so that does make me a little biased." Magnus said with a wicked smile. "Oh my god, can we please not talk about this?" Alec said, putting his face in his hands. "Alexander is right. You all shouldn't know how amazing our sex life is. And trust me it's amazing." "Magnus!" Alec exclaimed, interrupting Magnus and causing everyone to laugh at the two.
"Let me guess, we're embarrassing Alec again. My favorite pass time." Izzy said as she walked towards the group. "Isabelle! If it isn't my favorite person." Magnus said with a pointed look at Simon, who just rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm glad you're all here, now I don't have to text you all." Izzy said after giving Magnus a hug. "Text us about what?" Alec asked, finally recovering from his earlier embarrassment. "I have had an extremely long week so I was wondering if you all wanted to go out tonight and get absolutely drunk out of our minds." Izzy said with a mischievous smile. "I'm down and I'm sure Magnus is down too." Alec said as he looked expectantly at his boyfriend. "Of course I'm down. I love when you all get drunk out of your minds, it's the only time any of you are on my level." Magnus replied, causing Clary to laugh. "I could go for a drink." Simon said. "Yeah, sounds good to me." Jace agreed. Everyone then looked expectantly at Clary. "I can't," was all Clary said. "What? Why not?" Izzy asked. "I, uh, have a date with Sebastian tonight." Clary said with a blush. "What? I didn't know that!" Izzy shouted excitedly. "Why didn't you tell me?" Clary shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't think about it." She replied. "Well fine then, have fun on your date." Izzy said with a wink and started to make kissing noises. "You see Izzy, this is why I didn't tell you." Clary said with an annoyed look that just caused Izzy to make even more noises.
Jace laughed along with everyone else but he didn't find Izzy making fun of Clary making out with Sebastian as funny as everyone else did. He actually hated the thought and wished the pictures in his mind weren't there. It wasn't like Jace was in love with Clary, he just had a little bit of a crush on her. A crush that has lasted since the first time he met her. He couldn't help it, she was so blunt and such a bad ass, not to mention she was beautiful. She also always put up a fight and never just agreed with anything, she drove Jace completely crazy and he loved it. He would never tell her all of these things though, he just couldn't. She hated him, he hated her, they constantly fought, that's what their relationship was and it wasn't going to change anytime soon.
Everyone finally said their goodbyes and left their separate ways. Alec and Magnus left together for lunch, Izzy and Simon went back upstairs to their offices, and that left Clary and Jace, standing in the lobby looking at each other. "So I'm starving, do you want to go get something from Taki's?" Jace asked. "Abso-freaking-lutely, I'm so glad you asked, I'm so hungry." Clary replied enthusiastically. Jace laughed. "I don't know. You sound really excited to go to lunch with me. Maybe I should clarify that this isn't a date, no matter how badly you want it to be." Jace said with one of his signature smirks. Clary rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Herondale, you so wish this was a date." She said with a smug look. Jace couldn't lie to himself, he totally did. "Please, Red, have you seen this face? Girls all over the world fall on their hands and knees begging for this face. If I wanted you, I could have you." He said cockily. Clary laughed, actually laughed. "Jace Herondale, that act might work on girls with lower standards but it's not going to work on me. Trust me when I say, you couldn't handle me. Even if I wanted you to." Clary said turning and walking towards the exit. Jace just smiled to himself. God did he love their little banter. He quickly jogged after Clary and out of the building.
