A/N: I'm so sorry for the long delay in posting this. Spring semester is finally over so I'm attempting to update all my fics over the next few days.
Chapter summary: In which the gang bond and chill, or try to, and Alec sees the strange man again.
3: Taki's Cafe
Taki's Cafe was a small hole-in-the-wall place squished between a bar and a Chinese restaurant. The entrance was deceptively small with a quaint sign hanging over the metal awning covering the patio. The door was to the left of the niche housing a single table and a couple stools at the weathered metal bar overlooking the sidewalk and the one-way street running directly in front of it, dead-ending at Campus Loop Road circling the college campus.
It was close enough to walk to from campus even in the rain. Of course, Alec saw now that even if he had chosen to drive he would have been unable to find a parking spot because every spot along the business side of the road was occupied. All of the spots were also metered and while most of the meters had a green light flashing indicating the spot had been paid for some had a red light flashing indicating the opposite. Although, if Alec guessed right, most of the police would forego ticketing people for minor parking infractions in favor of helping families reunite with the victims and investigating the shooting on campus. Maybe. You never knew with big cities after all.
The boy Simon had not been entirely exaggerating when he had said everybody hung out here. This place was clearly popular if the crowd of people visible through the café windows and loitering outside was any indication. Most were students but many others were families. Some people were crying, others were talking animatedly, and still others were noticeably quiet.
There were lots of people.
Unfortunately, Isabelle was unfazed by the crowd and pulled Alec forward into the small café. He was mildly impressed to see a small bar on the right that was equipped with alcohol, tea, and coffee as well as several snacks for the customers. There was a booth against the window on the left facing the outdoor patio. The window itself was actually a Plexiglas garage door that could be opened upon request. There was a power outlet on the wall by the booth. Many more lined the walls that extended back into the bowels of the café.
While the place may not have been wide, it made up the difference in length. Art, most likely by student artists, decorated the walls above the booths and tables on either side of the long room. Skylights on the roof allowed the watery light filter into the room adding its soft light to the manmade lights dangling from the ceiling over every table setting. It would have been a nice, comfortable place to sit and read had there been significantly fewer people.
"Isabelle!" a voice called over the hubbub.
Simon waved to her from one of the booths on the left wall under a skylight. Isabelle did not give her brother the chance to refuse the welcome, taking his hand and pulling him towards the table in question. Jace and Lydia were also sitting at the table, Lydia next to Simon and Jace all alone across from them facing the back of the café. The booth itself extended around the table for easy access from either side. Simon and Lydia slid further inwards to allow Isabelle and Alec to sit with them.
"Have you called your parents yet?" Lydia asked wide eyed.
Isabelle shook her head. "Long story," she said shortly. "You?"
Lydia nodded and studied her hands resting on the table. Her fingers picked distractedly at her hangnails. "I talked to them on the way here," she said softly. "They driving down to meet me but they upstate. So it'll be a a few hours. The cops are blocking lots of the roads around here." She shrugged avoiding lifting her eyes from her fingers.
Jace pushed his backpack off of the booth bench, placing it on the floor by his feet so another person could slide in next to him. Isabelle looked up and saw Clary brush aside her long ginger hair back as she slide into the newly open spot. She looked much less put together than she had earlier that day but that was to be expected.
"Hey," Clary huffed. "Sorry I'm late. My mom had me cover the bar for a bit."
"Cover the bar?" Isabelle asked in mild confusion.
"My family owns the place," she replied with a frazzled smile.
"I didn't know you're family owned this place," Simon said. "I come here a lot in the mornings but I've never seen you here."
Clary smiled weakly. "I usually work the night shift," she admitted. "But there're more people here than usual for this early in the morning." She breathed a laugh and ran a hand through her hair. "We weren't expecting…any of this," she said, waving her hand to indicate everything that had happened that morning.
"You're telling' me," Simon muttered, taking a swig of his coffee. "Hell of a first day of school," he said shaking his head. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it."
Clary flashed him a wane smile and Isabelle snorted, letting his head hang. They both looked up when they heard a buzz to his left. Lydia reached into his pocket and pulled out her cellphone to check the latest in a stream of texts from her friends and family back home. Her parents were both at work still and had not come immediately because she had insisted she was alright. She loved her parents but right now she just needed to breathe and figure out what she was feeling and thinking.
She had to come to terms with what had happened to an extent. Now Lydia just had to completely reevaluate how to deal with the fallout. She was alive and relatively unharmed physically but she was stuck repeating the whole scenario in her head. She probably would for the rest of her life. That was something she wasn't sure she was ready to deal with. She doubted she ever would be.
"Is this normal?"
Lydia looked up at Isabelle in confusion, trying to process the question in a way that made sense. "Is what normal?" she asked.
Isabelle shrugged awkwardly and looked around. "This whole thing," she answered vaguely.
Jace snickered. "We seem to be doing that a lot," he said. He waved his hand vaguely making air quotes. "This whole thing," he said with mock humor. He nudged Simon next to him. "You're the history minor," he joked. "You write lots of papers. Got anything better than," he held up his air quotes again, "this whole thing?"
Alec rolled his eyes and leaned back, removing his damp trench coat to lay it on the seat next to him. He slipped the shoulder strap of his messenger bag off and reached in to pull out a copy of The Return of the King and opened it up to the dog-eared page where he left off.
Simon noticed this change as well as the title of the book and turned a smile to the one person in the group he still didn't know by name. "Or you," he said. "Any suggestions for-"
"No," Alec interrupted curtly.
Simon's smiled wilted and he sat up slightly at the unexpectedly cold response. He blinked in further surprise when Isabelle snatched the book from the stranger's hand and glared at him.
"Socialize," she commanded sternly before turning back to the group at the table now watching her and offering an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that," she said. "Alec's not exactly the most, ah, social person in the world."
Alec glared at his sister and moved to take his book back only to have it held out on Isabelle's other side, far away from him. He still tried to reach for it but was hampered by the table and Isabelle's body. He sat back and glowered at his sister before leaning back against the back of the booth and crossing his arms in a full on sulk.
"You like reading, I take it," Clary said with a friendly smile.
Alec turned his glare onto her catching her off guard by its fierceness. His eyes were as cold as ice. She breathed a sigh of relief when they left her to stare longingly towards the windows at the front of the café.
Isabelle jabbed her elbow in Alec's side causing him to grunt but otherwise drawing no further response. She sighed. "Don't mind him," she said. "He woke up earlier than normal this morning and hasn't had his coffee yet."
Alec glowered at her only to be on the receiving end of one of her particularly sunny smiles. He flinched, the strength of his glare wavering under the force of her enthusiasm. "He's childish like that," Isabelle added, lifting an eyebrow at her brother, daring him to argue.
"I am not childish," Alec countered, taking the bait.
"And yet you're arguing," Isabelle replied.
"No," Alec said, "I'm correcting your flawed information."
"Just because you don't like it doesn't make the truth flawed," she said. "It just means your perspective is flawed."
"Says the baby," Alec said.
Instantly, Isabelle's eyes gleamed and Alec smirked victoriously.
"Um," Jace voice said drawing the siblings' gazes. "So," the blonde sophomore said, "how long have you two been dating?"
Isabelle snickered and Alec snorted, looking away from the group towards to café entrance once more in clear dismissal.
"It'd be a bit awkward if we were dating," Izzy said. "Not to mention illegal in this state."
Simon sat up, confusion evident on his face as he studied to two people. "Why?" he asked, unable to come up with an answer by himself.
"Because they're related," Lydia said, pushing a few stray strands of dirty blonde back over her shoulder. "Isn't it obvious?"
"Related?!" Simon gasped, staring hard at Alec and Isabelle intently drawing an amused grin from the sister.
"Don't worry," she said. "We either get asked if we're twins or people are shocked we're related at all." She waved dismissively. "Happens all the time," she said with a wink.
Unfortunately, she had waved with the hand still holding the captive Return of the King book which Alec quickly snatched from her in a well-practiced, lightning quick move. He turned so his back faced his sister and his front faced the crowded room and began reading once more.
Lydia laughed quietly. "You like Lord of the Rings?" she asked.
Alec hummed.
"Other than the main Fellowship, who's your favorite character?' Clary asked. "Mine's Eowyn," she said. "She did what she wanted no matter what everyone else thought of her."
"I like her too," Lydia agreed. "But I actually prefer Celeborn myself."
"Who?" Jace asked. "Sorry, I never read the books. I just saw the movies."
"The movies are good," Simon said, "but the books are better. Plus, a lot more happens in the book and some stuff that wasn't explained much in the movies is expanded on in the books."
Jace nodded. "I believe it. I just never saw them. I went the way of Harry Potter instead," he admitted. "Had to watch it on the down-low, though. My mom thought it was about glorifying witchcraft and all that mess."
"Typical," Lydia said sympathetically. "But Celeborn was Galadriel's husband. You know the elf queen of Lothlorien where the Fellowship ran to after Gandalf fell in Moria?" J nodded. "Celeborn's the guy who stood next to her when you first meet her." She sneered in annoyance. "I was a bit annoyed he had such a small part in the movies. He was an interesting character in The Silmarillion."
"You read The Silmarillion?" Alec asked, watch Lydia warily.
Lydia snorted. "Heck yeah, I did," she said. "Depressing as crap but it had its moments."
"It's too real," Alec said soberly, looking back to his book but not really reading it. "That's why it's so depressing," he clarified. "Everything that happened in it was too close to home, too realistic. That's why it's depressing."
"Yeah, I guess," Lydia agreed after a moment. "But I was hoping at least one character I liked wouldn't die or could have a happy ending."
"Life doesn't have happy endings," Alec said.
"Well, aren't you a Debbie Downer," Simon groaned.
Alec looked up in befuddlement. "A what?"
"A Debbie Downer," Clary said. "It's someone who only ever sees the bad in everything."
"He called you a pessimist," Jace said flatly.
Alec gave a half nod. "I prefer to think of myself as a realist," he said, turning his body slightly towards the group. "I see the good, it just doesn't last and it's too few and far between to take seriously."
"Definitely a pessimist," Jace said with a not-so-apologetic smirk. "I'm Jace by the way," he said, holding out his hand across the table top. He didn't take it personally when Alec just eyed his hand suspiciously instead of taking it. He just shrugged and sat back with a grin.
"Simon," Simon said, raising a hand briefly to catch Alec's attention.
"Lydia," the blonde girl sitting between Clary and Isabelle said.
"Clary," the petite red haired girl to Simon's left said with a ready smile. She took a deep breath and met Alec's gaze boldly said. "So, you have a favorite character or what?" she demanded.
Alec blinked. "What?"
"From Lord of the Rings," Clary said slowly, looking at him as if he was stupid. "Lydia likes Celeborn, I like Eowyn." She gestured for Alec to pick up where they had left off but Alec just lifted an eyebrow and stared at her dully.
"Definitely related," Simon muttered, earning himself a half-hearted glare from Alec and a snicker from Izzy.
"I'm not that big of a fan, but I do like the movies," Isabelle answered instead. "I like Boromir actually," she admitted.
"Ah!" Lydia said, holding up a finger. "A character who's not part of the main Fellowship."
"Ah, but is he really a member of the main Fellowship if he dies in the first movie?" Isabelle countered. "Or book," she corrected when Alec gave her a disgruntled look.
Lydia considered a moment before tilting her head in acquiescence. "Yeah, okay, I'll give it to you," she conceded. "But only because he dies in the first part." She leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table in a relaxed position. "Why him?" she asked. "I'm curious."
Isabelle smiled, warming to the subject. "I like him because he was enthusiastic in everything he did," she said. "He had a good heart, even if he did stumble. He repented at the end right before he died. I never did like that part," she said, her mood drooping. "He protected his friends, played with Merry and Pippin, and fought to protect them even as he was dying. It wasn't fair."
The subject of death sobered the group, bringing them abruptly back to the matter at hand. Four people were dead last they heard from the latest post on social media, not counting the injured. Not all injuries were visible after all.
"Faramir," Alec said thoughtfully, his voice cutting into the dark atmosphere. "I like Faramir best from the Lord of the Rings trilogy." He lowered his eyes to the obviously well-loved cover of his book and considered his next words carefully. "He lived in Boromir's shadow all his life, never living up to his father's expectations and desires, always second best. But he still loved Boromir and Boromir loved him. He tried to do the right thing to the best of his ability but nothing ever seemed to please the one person whose opinion mattered the most to him."
"But he lived," Lydia offered hesitantly. "And he ended up with Eowyn."
Alec titled his head. "Yes," he said in what not quite a question, as if he wanted to say more but wouldn't, or couldn't.
"Smooth," Clary whispered, leaning over to Lydia.
The blonde blushed bright red and ducked her head. Clary grinned knowingly and returned her phone to her pocket. "Well," Lydia said loudly, "as much as I'm enjoying this, I need a coffee and the Wi-Fi password," she added with a significant look at Clary.
The ginger huffed. "I don't remember. We changed it last night," she said.
"That's fine," Lydia said turning to Jace. "Go get it."
"What? Why me?" Jace asked, affronted.
"Because you're big and strong and I said so," Lydia said, giving him a look.
Jace sighed and shook his head. "Don't even know me for a day and already ordering me around," he said, shaking his head in mock concern. "What's a guy to do?"
"Give me the game controller and make me a sandwich," Clary shot back.
Simon let out a sharp laugh, quickly slapping a hand over his mouth at the dumbstruck expression on Jace's face. He held up a hand for Clary to high five while Lydia grinned proudly and gave Clary a high five too.
"Nice," Simon said. "I like you guys."
"What can I say," Clary said with a daring smirk at Jace. "I'm up for a challenge."
Jace's lips twitched upwards in an impressed smile. "Wi-Fi password and coffee, right?" he asked pointing to Lydia. "How do you take it?"
"Two sugars," Lydia said.
"Three creams, three sugars," Clary spoke up.
"One cream," Simon said, adding his order to a startled Jace.
"One cream, one sugar," Isabelle said.
"Black," Alec said.
Jace blinked, stunned for a moment before groaning and rubbing his neck awkwardly. "I asked for it," he muttered to himself as he walked off to get the drinks. "You all owe me," he called over his shoulder.
"You wish," Clary chuckled. Her phone vibrated and she glanced at it briefly before deciding to ignore it. "So, you said you're studying forensics," she said to Isabelle. "You," she said pointing to Alec. "Alec, right? What're you studying?"
"Nothing," Alec answered.
"He's not in college," Isabelle clarified for Clary. "Just me."
"Too young?" Clary teased.
"I'm older than Izzy," Alec stated simply. "By two years," he added.
"Where're you stayin' if you're not a student?" Simon asked.
"Home," Isabelle answered. "We both are. I got accepted too late to get a dorm room."
"Don't worry," Lydia said, patting Isabelle's hand dramatically. "Trust me. As an upperclassman, I can tell you, you aren't missing much. Except a couple cockroaches, bad roommates, and sucky air conditioners."
Alec snorted, his lips twitching upwards at the corners.
"Ah! You're smiling," Clary teased.
"Fuck you," Alec said.
"Alec!" Isabelle cried.
"Ooh, nasty mouth," Clary said, playing along. "But can you just curse or can you debate me like a civilized human being?"
Alec rolled his eyes and lifted his book higher so it blocked the rest of the group from view effectively ending the conversation. He didn't lower the book until he head the clink of a cup being set down in front of him and the smell of coffee filled his nostrils. Only then did he mark his spot in the book and set it on the table to drink the black gold. He held the cup between his hands, enjoying the way the warmth seeped into his skin through the ceramic mug and the steam swirled up from the hot liquid in ghostly designs.
He lifted it to his lips, testing it cautiously, deeming it suitably drinkable. It was definitely better than the fast food stuff or instant brew he typically dealt with. It also tasted better, he thought privately. He took another slow sip and glanced outside the café to the wet road outside.
He noticed a familiar figure sitting calmly in one of the chairs under the patio overhang staring directly at him. It was the Asian man from that morning. Alec stared right back at the man, doubting the stranger was really looking at him so much as he was simply looking through the glass in Alec's general direction. Or so he thought. When the man nodded to him, it sent a chill up Alec's spine. When something tingling and foreign brushed his senses like only Isabelle had ever been able to do up to that point, he froze, eyes wide in mixed horror and excitement.
He instinctively reached out and returned the light brush with a tug of his own. The other man jolted, eyes widening in momentary surprise before settling into a satisfied gaze. Again, the man nodded to Alec. Then he stood as if to leave.
"Alec?"
Alec turned to Isabelle, surprised by her tone.
"You alright?" she asked, mildly concerned.
Alec looked back towards the window and was not surprised to see the mysterious man gone. He took another sip of his coffee thoughtfully. "I'll tell you later," he said softly.
Isabelle let him be, satisfied she would get a full answer later. Preferably after Alec got some answers of his own.
