Heya,
Well the last chapter wasn't actually very good at all, I'm not proud of it. Will was far too OOC and actually I have to say Tessa and Jem were out as well- so here is a bit to make it up to you all- I am very sorry.
Disclaimer: Clock work angel is most definitely not mine.
"Tessa? Tess, are you there?" Will had searched the institute over looking for her, no one had seen her and she hadn't appeared in any of her usual places. The library had been utterly empty and every room other then that Will had searched had come up with nothing. Fear passed through him at the thought she could have left the institute entirely- she had no idea of all the dangers of London, all the crooks and criminals who hid in the small alleys you would never place to be dangerous. Anything could happen to a young and beautiful New Yorker in the streets of London.
With a final glance at the library doors, Will rushed down the halls and grabbed his coat on the way out. It was cold out; the brisk wind sending bitter shivers across the street, Tessa had left in only her yellow gown. Will could not seem to keep the thought that she was probably freezing to death out of his anxious mind. He stepped out onto the chilly streets and took a quick glance around, London was never resting but there were only a few people scattered around the streets during the chilly afternoon. He had no idea where to start looking, where would she go to?
A small market was taking place on the street a few rows down and the shouts of sellers trying to convince people to buy their 'goods' deafened the surrounding area. Will glanced casually around him at everyone he passed; trying not to let the nerves and the sick feeling rising in his throat show- after all, if you look weak it's the main signal for someone to attack. He passed several stalls but saw no one he recognized amongst the bright colours, a huge contrast to the thick smoky grey sky above. He kept walking until he came out of the market and onto a quiet road leading down to black friar's bridge. Will kept walking slowly towards the steel bridge as a feeling of defeat washed over him. She had run off, into the dark depths of London and it was his entire fault. He'd caused something to go wrong yet again.
A small figure lay huddled on the other side of the bridge and Will's pace quickened substantially as he came closer to it, hope rose in his chest as he saw the edge of a butter yellow dress. There, sat gazing out at the river, Tessa lay curled- her arms wrapped around her knees and her eyes surveying the muddy river.
"Tessa, where on earth have you been?" It was a stupid question, Will realized just after he had said it. She'd been here of course, why did he need to ask that? She seemed to do this to him often, confuse everything in a blur of emotions, confuse him to the point where only blunt sentences could be formed in his mind. Emotions were much better left alone padlocked in a far away box, however Tessa seemed to have a magical ability which allowed her to go to that box and drag everything to the surface.
"I'm sorry," Her voice was fragile and vulnerable as she continued to gaze out across the water. Will stood, quite unsure of what to do next; slowly he lowered himself till he was sat next to her.
"Why here?" It was genuine curiosity in his voice, it wasn't that he didn't find it somewhat beautiful himself, but most people only saw the grey steel bridge and the mundane colour of the river. London itself was far more beautiful then anyone gave it credit for, the smoke tunnelling into the midnight sky and the long cobbled streets that stretched endlessly, full of people bustling around all with their own agenda.
"Jem brought me here; before we were attacked on this very bridge he said it was his favourite place in London. I don't think it's mine, but I just needed to be somewhere… alone," Tessa spoke thoughtfully, as if only just thinking through her reasons for coming at all, as if she hadn't really planned it and was only just discovering her motive.
Will however couldn't help the bubble of anger rising, "And you had to run off out the institute, all by yourself, to do that? You didn't tell anyone where you were going; no one knew what the hell had happened to you! London isn't some amazing fairytale Tessa; it's dangerous out here," Throughout his whole speech Tessa nodded gently but she didn't turn to him once, her eyesight remained fixed on the running water.
"I know," She said it softly, so gently that Will could feel his anger melting away before him, could feel it dripping down as she turned and looked at him with her glittering grey eyes. Every word he had wanted to say, every tiny bitter word, faded from his mouth before he could say them.
"Don't do it again," It wasn't what he'd wanted to say- nothing like it. He had wanted to tell her to get back immediately, that she was foolish, naïve and would drag everyone at the institute down with their worry for her, but he couldn't. It was his worry that scared him- he cared too much about what happened to her. Harsh words were William Herondale's forte but at that moment, he couldn't form the words. He didn't want to form the words- not subconsciously.
They sat there together; neither saying a word and slowly the sun began to set. It cast a brilliant orange glow across the working city, highlighting beauty you would never see otherwise. Tessa leaned lightly, her breathing slow and soft and her hair tickled his chin as she rested her cheek onto the curve of his shoulder. Just her being so close to him caused emotions to jump he never thought he would feel for anyone.
"I'm sorry for scaring you," Tessa whispered so only he could hear, her eyes watching ever tiny ripple in the river as it cascaded along.
"You didn't scare me…" he lied arrogantly, trying to banish the tremble in his voice. She didn't need to know how much he cared, loving was a weakness. Shadow hunters couldn't afford weaknesses. Tessa didn't reply but he noticed a small smile on her face regardless of his words, clearly his lies were growing thinner and thinner to her eyes. The idea of anyone knowing him so well was a fearful idea but he batted it away as fast as it had come. He had found her and she was safe, safe and unharmed. They were together on black friar bridge and London was turning out the sun and welcoming in the night as they sat alone together. Night was spreading her cloak over the scattered buildings yet together they sat until every star rose into the sky.
Hey,
I hope all the characters were a little less OOC- sometimes its hard with Will because any emotion but hate seems out of character which is a little annoying :/
However, I hope I have made up for the terrible previous chapter, thank you to everyone who has reviewed xxxx
