He reached over his shoulder and took an arrow from his quiver. The arrow came free and as quick as a flash, the boy's nimbi fingers had set the arrow into the correct position on his bow. HIs arm pulled back, he aimed automatically for the demon's head- the brain- and shot.
Not all demons had hearts; the brain made for a more definite kill.
The arrow flew cleanly through the air and struck the target exactly. The demon fell immediately and started to fold in on itself, returning to the demon realms. The boy had trained all his life, learning how to kill a demon without pause or hesitation. He loaded another arrow and shot at another demon who was moving towards Jace.
Just as the arrow soared by Isabelle, Isabelle threw her hand back to gain force when she struck a demon with her electrum whip, and the arrow came dangerously close to her palm. Alec gave a sharp intake of breath at the prospect of hurting his little sister, but then it found it's target in the brain of the demon, and Alec was infinitely glad.
The demon he'd just hit staggered backwards and hit the ground with a resounding thud, and it began to fold in on itself, too. Jace swung a sword at the demon he was fighting, and then it finally fell backwards and folded in on itself. Isabelle swung two more times at the demon she was fighting, and then her whip tightened on the thing's calf and with one swift pull, the demon's leg was pulled off in a bloody mess, and Isabelle landed a fatal blow with her whip across the demon's throat, and that demon was soon back in the demon realms, too.
Jace clapped his hands together, grinning, "Nice work, team," He said, slapping Isabelle's shoulder firmly and then doing the same to Alec, who grinned, too. There was something very empowering about his job, and he really did enjoy it.
Alec looked around at his siblings, "So, what now?" He asked. The night was young and adrenaline was pumping through Alec's veins. If he knew Jace- and he did- a long night of demon killing and maybe alcohol awaited the three of them.
But Jace just shrugged, looking suddenly glum, "I think I'll just head back to the Institute," He said, thinking of Clary and Simon, and how jealous he'd felt when Clary rushed to defend Simon. Sure, he may have only just met the girl, but he really liked her, and he wanted to mean something to her, but Simon was always here, in the way.
"Are you okay?" Isabelle asked worriedly, her beautiful features suddenly taking on a concerned expression. She watched Jace the same way she watched Alec: they were her brothers, and she was fiercely protective of both of them. As the most defensive and cynical of the three, she took it upon herself to watch out for Alec and Jace. Jace didn't need much protecting; he was almost as closed-off as her, not like Alec, who was so vulnerable and soft. Until recently, the only people Jace gave a damn about were her, Alec, Max, Maryse and Robert Lightwood, but then Clary showed up.
Isabelle hadn't made up her mind yet about Clary. She seemed nice enough, but Alec didn't like her, so Isabelle felt that her loyalty to Alec was being tested.
Jace sighed and pushed back his golden hair, "No I'm not, and you know why?" Isabelle looked like she had a pretty good idea. "The problem is Clary Fray. His eyes were troubled, his voice agitated. "This tall-" he held a hand up next to his chest, "with red hair and green eyes." He scowled, "She can often be seen being followed around by a stupid mundane." He looked at Isabelle quickly, "You're a girl, what do you think she sees in him?" Alec might've laughed at Jace, had a furious jealousy of his own not appeared.
Isabelle rolled her eyes, "Simon is Clary's best friend, Jace. There is as much chance of them being in a romantic relationship as us. They're practically siblings." Sometimes Isabelle was amused by how soft her adopted brother really was, under all his pretences. Jace might not act like it sometimes, but he was just an easily-offended teenage boy who usually pushed people away, made them hate him, so there was less chance of them hurting him.
"Well, Simon," Jace said his name in an odd voice, "Obviously doesn't feel that way." He was scowling again, "He has a thing for Clary, and he's always there, every time I try to make a move on her." The blond boy crossed his arms over his chest indignantly. "He won't let her go."
Isabelle frowned, "By the Angel, Jace, why would he let her go?" She asked, confusion clouding her features.
Jace rolled his eyes again, as though the answer was obvious, "She doesn't belong to his world anymore. She belongs to ours now. She's a Shadowhunter. She should just forget her mundane life. It doesn't matter anymore." He signed, "But she won't let go of that part of her life so long as Simon Lewis carries on clinging to her."
Isabelle laughed, "You are such an idiot, Jace," She said, grinning at him. "Clary will never let Simon go. She would sever her ties to the Shadow world before she severed her ties to Simon." Isabelle looked knowingly at her adopted brother, "I haven't spent nearly so much time with Clary as you have, but I get the impression that she isn't just going to follow your orders." She smirked at Jace, "Maybe that's why you like her so much."
Jace's cheeks went pink and he dropped Isabelle's gaze immediately. Alec stared at him, amazed that he even had the capacity to blush. He'd never seen Jace blush before, which caused him to wonder, again- what the hell has Clary Fray done to him?
Alec really wished Isabelle would drop it: it hurt too much, listening to Jace's romantic problems. It also hurt to see Isabelle being to supportive of a relationship between Jace and Clary, when she knew exactly how Alec felt. Alec busied himself by collecting the arrows he had used and wiping the demon ichor that covered them on a spare rag of cloth. He tried not to listen.
"Oh, please," Isabelle laughed again, "Simon is her friend. She made that perfectly clear, if I remember correctly. You are jealous of Clary's best friend because you see him as a love rival." She smirked, her dark eyes glittering. "You're so pathetic." But her words held no malice, just endearment.
Jace made a weak retort about how she was pathetic, so Isabelle messed up his hair with one hand, still grinning at Jace. Alec turned back to his siblings. Jace had thrown one arm around Isabelle's shoulders. "So," Jace said, "Shall we head home?"
Isabelle shook her head, "No, Jace," She grinned, "You and Alec might be grandmothers, happy to be tucked up in bed by seven o clock, but I have a hot date."
Jace smiled and raised one eyebrow, "Oh, and who's this hot date with?" He asked.
Isabelle smiled and batted her eyelashes, "Meliorn. He's a faerie knight. Totally hot." She undid the long black trench coat she'd been wearing, which was splashed with demon ichor in places. Underneath the trench coat, she was wearing fitted, dark blue denim jeans, a black sequinned camisole and her favourite leather jacket. She shrugged off the trench coat: she'd only been wearing it so she wouldn't get anything on her outfit. She's wearing black heels, too. "Meliorn's meeting me in central park in half an hour, so I'd better head off." She thrust her coat at Jace, "Put this in the laundry basket, okay?"
Jace nodded, taking the coat from Isabelle. Isabelle didn't hug either of her brother as she left, because she didn't want to risk getting any demon ichor on her clothes, but she waved and said bye and then disappeared into the night.
Alec considered his options: go home and listen to Jace talk about his love worries concerning Clary, or loiter around on his own in Brooklyn at night. Neither option seemed particularly appealing to Alec, but the latter seemed to be the lesser of two evils.
"Well then, Parabatai," Jace said, turning to Alec, "Looks like it's just us tonight."
Alec though of how, a few weeks ago, this would have seemed like the perfect evening. "Actually, I have some errands to run." Alec said with a frown.
"Errands?" Jace echoed, "At eight o clock at night?" Jace was smirking.
Alec was suddenly feeling very flustered and uncomfortable as he tried to think of a more believable excuse. "Yes," He said, coming up blank, "Errands." His voice was quite defensive.
Jace just smirked even more, "Alexander Gideon Lightwood," He said in a mockingly dramatic tone, "Got a hot date, too, have you? Looks like I'm the only one without a love life. What a surprising turn of events." Alec frowned, not sure whether that was an insult or not. Jace was scowling again, "I bet Clary's sitting in the Institute with Simon."
Alec rolled his eyes, "No, Jace," He said, looking both tired and unimpressed. "I have actual errands. No date on the agenda for me tonight." Alec shrugged.
Jace frowned, "Have you ever actually been on a date?" He asked, trying to remember a single romantic thing his brother had ever done. His mind came up blank: no results. Alec was eighteen years old, and as far as Jace knew, he'd never even kissed a girl.
Alec went red again, "No," He replied shortly, "I have not, and that isn't actually any of your business." Alec avoided Jace's gaze, because, truthfully, it was Jace's business, seeing as the reason for Alec never having a romantic experience was that he had spent years pining for his straight brother. Not to mention, even if- by some bizarre miracle- Jace did turn out to be gay, he'd still be way out of Alec's league.
Jace smiled gently at his brother, holding his palms up in surrender, "Okay, okay," He patted Alec's shoulder and said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, Alec." He ruffled Alec's dark hair- and Alec thought sadly that it was the same gesture of brotherly affection that Alec always extended to Max, his nine year old brother. Without another word, Jace turned around and walked off in the direction of the New York Institute, hands buried in his pockets.
Alec sighed. Now he couldn't even go home. Why had he lied? He should have just gone home and excused himself to go to bed when he got there. He could have claimed that he had a headache. He groaned loudly, and began to wander aimlessly through the streets of Brooklyn. It was gone ten when he found himself just a street away from Magnus' apartment and decided to stop in. He had become quite used to dropping in on Magnus: he liked him, even though he never would have thought that Magnus would be his type.
Alec bit his lip, flattened his hair, and pressed the buzzer. He pressed it five times this time, and was about to give up and just continue his aimless wondering of the Brooklyn area, when a response came. It was Magnus' voice, sounding tired and bored and not in the mood for company, "Magnus Bane at your service." Alec bit his lip, not sure how to reply. Magnus spoke again, sounding irritated this time, "Look, whoever it is, either speak, or leave."
Alec swallowed nervously, his eyes sweeping across the street. "Er, hey. It's Alec Lightwood." He said uncomfortably, pushing some of his dark hair out of his eyes. "Listen, I can leave if it isn't a good time-" Alec started quickly. He had that feeling again, the one he always got when he visited Magnus: the nagging sense of inferiority and insecurity.
"Oh," Magnus said, sounding much friendlier, "Hey." Magnus hadn't been expecting to see Alec tonight. Alec had told him last night that he would be out with his sibling, working. "What a pleasant surprise. Come on up, Alec." The buzz sounded, and Alec pushed the door open with his shoulder. On his way upstairs, he heard loud arguing coming from the apartment below Magnus.
When he reached Magnus' door, Magnus was standing there in the open doorway, waiting for him. "Hey," Magnus said again. He was happy to see that Alec was alone: he had wondered if maybe the Shadowhunter Dream Team were in need of his help again.
As Alec looked at Magnus, who was wearing black skinny jeans, a purple jumper and an assortment of precious-jewel-encrusted broaches, he got that familiar feeling of inadequacy again. He always felt that way when he visited Magnus. He remembered how, earlier that evening, Jace had pointed out his lack of experience: Magnus had a lot of experience. After all, Magnus was over three hundred years old, and the rumours Alec had heard said that he was no stranger to adventure.
Magnus' eyes were glittering as he welcomed Alec inside. He was smirking at the adorable wayward Shadowhunter he had unknowingly taken under his wing. Alec had barely made it through the threshold of Magnus' apartment, and he was already blushing. "Do you want to talk?"
That was all they ever did- to Magnus' great disappointment. Alec seemed to have chosen Magnus to be his confidant, and while Magnus was very honoured by this, he also felt as though he had been devastatingly friend-zoned by this gorgeous boy with gorgeous black hair and gorgeous blue eyes. Magnus hated it. He reminded himself that Alec was "in love" with Jace. He wasn't looking for a boyfriend.
Or at least, that was what Magnus thought.
Because Alec seemed to have different intentions. His arms gingerly found Magnus' waist and his blue eyes gazed up at Magnus' green-gold eyes from under pretty dark eyelashes, and he said, "I don't want to talk." Next moment, he had closed his eyes and pressed his lips against Magnus' lips. After a few seconds of being caught off guard, the Warlock closed his eyes and returned the kiss.
Magnus felt quite smug as, still kissing Alec, he led the Shadowhunter over to the teal sofa. On the sofa, he tangled both hands in Alec's dark hair and lost himself in the kiss. His last thought being that he had beaten the friend zone.