When it rains

Kit would like to have said he was surprised but, honestly, this was just the kind of cosmic bullshit the universe seemed to throw at him near weekly. It was, however, incredibly heart wrenching to hear those words from a man who looked older and more wise than a god themself and whose words Magnus seemed to take as gospel.

'Then you must inflict the same mortal wound upon her with the same weapon or method, you have to kill her with the weapon she first died with' he looked at them sadly 'the literature states: To unburden and untether oneself to the spirit thou must give them up to the dead once more'

He turned to Try and tried to prepare himself for an argument or perhaps a screaming match, he wasn't prepared for the boy to look so sallow and drained of colour that he seemed to have become a walking corpse himself, frozen- in shock perhaps? He breathed but once before turning and fleeing out of the tent.

'Ty' Kit tried feebly, not knowing what else to say

'Merci frere Isaac, à plus tard' Magnus said, and to his credit seemed to be smiling though Kit could tell he too was aghast and at least a little horrified by the new information, though, he didn't know if it was the encouragement of necromancy or the horror of the ritual itself.

Magnus then turned with a swift, dancerly grace and glided out of the tent, Kit just about having the sense to follow him.

The Shadow Market was now even busier than before, as Kit had expected it would be, and the sky had faded into its inky black, stars threaded through it, the odd deep grey clouds weaving between constellations cast shadows over the ground below. It suddenly dawned on Kit that not only did Ty not know the market very well, but he also couldn't cope all too well with the loud noises and bright colours of the place either. Kit had to find him and make sure he was okay whether he wanted him to or not.

'He'll say he doesn't want you, doesn't need you but I promise you he will need you more than ever right now' Magnus, as if he could read the boy's mind, leant over to Kit as to be heard over the clamour of voices… wait, could he read minds?

'Thank you for your help' Kit smiled kindly at Magnus

'Dear, I've been the errand boy for your lot for years, trust me when I say this is nothing' Magnus smiled before ducking into the stream of people moving about the tents with a small wave.

Kit took a moment to think, where would Ty have gone? He probably wouldn't have been thinking at first, just running, considering the way he had left the tent mere moments ago. They were at the back of the market so Ty could have only gone forwards, but the only question was then where did he go. Kit had always described the Los Angeles Shadow Market's winding pathways to others as if it were some sort of system: a heart in the middle where the proprietor and their favourite stalls, entertainment and food lay and then veins snaking out in all directions, newer or less liked vendors the furthest out, with each pathway leading back to the center. His and his father's booth had always been fairly close to the heart as, while they often upset many people, secrets were well dealt for around these parts.

Ty would have gone with the flow most likely and been dropped at the center, so Kit began in that direction, striding forward and weaving through people with a speed and skill that Jem would've been proud of, until he reached the familiar central round and the giant purple velvet stage. He stopped once more, gaining a reprimand from an older werewolf woman who was piled up with bags and nearly dropped them all, having to stop rapidly behind him.

'Watch it kid!' she shook her head and swerved around him.

'Sorry' he called after her before re-focusing on his task.

Kit scanned the area, nerves on fire with panic, and noticed that there was a vein to the right of him that seemed to lead towards some variety of weapons booths. While most people wouldn't see that as safety, he knew that the shadowhunter would take a slight sense of familiarity from it even if Kit knew his stance on fighting. He headed in that direction, the crowd here already slightly thinner, and scanned each and every corner, nook and cranny for anyone who looked like they could be him. As the seconds grew longer, Kit began to panic, what if he didn't find Ty in time and he had a meltdown and then hurt himsel,f or worse someone else hurt or took advantage of him? No, he wouldn't let that happen. Kit let his heartbeat steady and tried to listen, perhaps for a familiar voice or a downworlder complaining about a shadowhunter… any form of clue really. Then he heard it, the faint rush of water. He remembered learning somewhere that some autistic people were drawn towards water due to its calming and stimulative effects. He also knew that Ty grew up by the beach and had always found water calming, so, with renewed resolution, that is where he headed, veering off behind a stall and following a smaller vein until he was dropped out of the market by a small park with a stream running through its center.

The park itself was a stark difference compared to the busy and bustling market behind him in its echoing silence. There were very few people walking about, just the occasional dog walker or couple hand in hand sneaking in a late night stroll. Kit remembered a point where he would have been envious of that life but -for all it was worth- even in its never ending trauma, Kit wouldn't give up his shadowhunting life for the world. For one, he finally felt closer to the mother he never really knew and he had finally, finally found a family who actually cared for him in a way his father always seemed to struggle with.

Scanning the area, he saw a small outcrop of trees atop a gentle incline that would probably be quite secluded and well hidden, whilst also looking over the stream below. Slowly, though being loud enough as not to surprise anyone, Kit made his way up the incline. Now, Kit's life was often like a movie, and if this were a movie Kit was sure he would've found Ty here immediately though alas he did not. Ty wasn't in the clearing, on the bench or up a tree and, after having a brief scan from the higher vantage point, Kit wasn't even sure Ty was in the park at all.

Okay, he was really starting to panic now… where the hell was he? A spark of anguish was beginning to light itself somewhere between his lungs and a chilling thought overtook him. What if Ty had already been hurt, after all the shadow market was no place for a shadowhunter no matter how much they tried to claim otherwise. Using the fire building within him as a fuel, Kit turned tail and headed back into the Shadow Market, making a note of the seemingly unguarded back exit (if one could call a hole in a fence an exit).

Once back in the Shadow Market, Kit returned back to the center where he was met by starburst eyes and her copper hair framing a lazy smile. There were very few people around the stage now and those that were there, were stood around her watching what might end up being the evening's entertainment.

'I thought I told you not to come back for a while after the incident' Hypatia said in an almost bored tone 'though you do seem to bring a great deal of entertainment and I had missed that. Sometimes I think you shadowhunters are truly meant to be performers not warriors with how each of you seems to perform and dramatise each moment in your life''

Kit wasn't sure what she meant but dared not let her know as much 'ah, well I'm not much of a performer if that's what you mean' he tried to make light of the situation but the flames were fanning and he still hadn't found Ty

'Ah well maybe another time then Rook?' She smiled at him and ducked into her caravan which was carefully tucked behind the stage and masterfully painted with a gold filigree.

The market goers then seemed to come alive once more as if they were simply paused in motion for a moment. Kit scanned the area once more but couldn't guess where Ty would've gone. He was sure it was the panic setting in but he couldn't seem to dislodge it from where it pressed down on his chest trying to suffocate him. A horrifying thought dawned on him at that moment: he was going to have to search the whole market and hope he found Ty before a downworlder did or Ty did something to himself. Maybe Ty was alright? Maybe he hadn't started to panic and he was actually perfectly fine? Kit shouldn't pigeon hole him after all. Plus, he was a Centurion and they were the toughest of the tough as proven by how hard Ty had kicked his ass when they had trained together back on Dartmoor.

Kit had been lost so deeply in his undulating thoughts that he had ended up wandering and, upon looking up, realised exactly where he was. Of course he had ended up in front of his father's old stall because of course he had. It was no longer a stall as such but seemed to be a pile of ash that had been either ceremoniously or accidentally burnt to the ground. No matter the pain that came with the memories, it had been a home of sorts to Kit for years and the sight left an odd echo in his ribcage.

'It's the worst feeling in the world to see what we love most having been destroyed'

At first, over the roaring in his ears and the shouts of the market, Kit thought it was some kind of a stranger bent on revenge. That is, until he turned to where the voice was coming from and saw Ty. Ty who still looked pale and lost but newly exhausted as if just knowing what he did now had finally weighed on him. It was oddly poetic and even a little out of character for Ty and that made Kit just a slight bit more concerned.

'Ty'

'You've said that already' Ty said, taking his headphones from their spot on his ears.

'I don't know what else to say here' he tried honesty

'I do though, we have to do it, to save her' Ty was focussed, not on Kit's eyes but his forehead, but Kit watched the intensity burn in his eyes like sparking steel.

'Are you really okay with losing her again, I thought you'd put up so much more of a fight?!' he was truly surprised at how well Ty seemed to be taking this

'Oh, I'm not going to lose her again, were just going to do the ritual right this time and I can have Livvy back'

'Oh Ty, no not this again. You heard what Isaac said it'll end up killing you' Kit's panic was beginning to take over his entire body, winding through his veins like a jungle vine.

'Isn't it worth it? That my sister will get to live again, to have a proper life and see the world?' Ty was shaking all of a sudden, hollow voiced, and Kit desperately, desperately wanted to reach out 'because she's normal and I'm not, the world wasn't built for me but it was for her. She was supposed to be able to grow up and to find a parabatai, find love and be a shadowhunter. Nobody ever expected anything from me, I don't deserve a life more than she does and the one I'm living now means nothing if not with her, my family is missing a piece and they all say they've gotten over it, but nobodys been in her room since it happened and every time someone mentions her the room falls quiet. I only became a Centurion because I lost her and I lost you too. I did not choose this life, it came and drained me of all I had and maybe Livvy could do better, maybe her life would be worth more than mine?'

Kit stood stunned for a moment, bile sneaking up his throat. How could Ty say those things? Had it really gotten that bad, and if so how had Kit -or anyone for that matter- missed it? Kit was determined not to let it go the same way it had three years ago, he wouldn't let this break them the way it had before.

'Tiberius, listen to me and I mean really listen: your life is worth so much more than you have been led to believe and sure, you're right, you arent what most people would class as "normal" but that's part of the most amazing things about you. The way you see the world is lyrical and your ability to recall information has saved us countless times and I'm sure your Centurion friends would say the same thing. If you were to die, to leave, how the hell do you think your family would feel? They've already had to lose 4 family members and I don't think they would survive another. Sure , they'd have Livvy back but they've already gotten past the worst part of losing her and yeah, I'm sure it hurts every day but the wound is starting to heal and losing you would only open a fresh one. All Livvy would do was remind them of what you did, what happened to you' Kit tried not to sound as angry as he felt, not angry at the other boy but instead for him

'They would get over it' a sentence said with such haunting brevity.

'Well what if I couldn't stand to lose you either?!' Kit's words came out harsher than he meant them to, and they were left hanging in the air for an unbearable amount of time.

That is, until Ty burst into loud, wracking sobs and fell to his knees on the dusty path 'I don't know how to do it again, how to lose her again… and this time I know it'll be permanent' Kit dropped to the floor and wrapped his arms around the other boy as tight as he could manage.

'I know' there was no point in sugar coating 'but we will just have to figure it out together okay? And I think I have to tell Julain about this' the sound was muffled into Ty's shoulder.

'I know you do, and I understand why' the words scraped their way through Ty's throat and came out crackling, Kit was impressed with his agreement in the matter as he hadn't the energy left to fight.

'We don't have to do it now, so we have time to work though it and to say goodbye' Kit ached at the thought too, he didn't want to lose Livvy either 'plus we need to find the correct ingredients anyway' and that should hopefully provide a worthy distraction Kit thought.

'I want to go home now,' Ty said, pulling his headphones back over his head, untangling himself from Kit and standing back up.

'Okay, just please tell me if you ever feel like this again, please?' Kit didn't know if he could ever un hear those desperate pleas from a boy so broken.

'I promise and I'm sorry' a warm smile appeared on his face but it didn't quite seem to reach his eyes. Kit took him home and made a mental note to call Magnus about whether shadowhunters had therapists… probably not.

Drusilla was sat on her bed alongside Thais (who was currently in the middle of a rant about how stupid it was to use corn syrup as blood) while a laptop sat between them playing zombeavers, which was just as terrible as it had sounded. Tomas was propped up on one arm at the bottom of bed looking like he was about to fall asleep. Dru had been so shy when she was younger and had always secretly worried that that meant she wouldn't make friends. She had also felt overshadowed by Emma and her sisters who all looked so much prettier than her, or at least that was what she had thought, but Livvy had always tried to remind her that she was just as beautiful as them and the older shadowhunters were just judgemental idiots.

Dru found herself smiling at the memory of when her and her sister had been at a clave event and someone had made a mean comment, so Livvy had, in fewer words, said the very same thing to her. The offending older man had looked as if he wanted to reprimand her and explode with rage but he daren't for the company he was in. She and Livvy had burst out laughing and that had only made the man seem to vibrate with anger and turn the shade of a raspberry. Later Livvy and her had put a cream tart in his jacket pocket, while nobody was looking, for extra measure and his face had been the best revenge Dru could have asked for.

Now however, Dru was so much more comfortable in herself, so much more confident and while it had been a journey to get to this point, she was glad she had undertaken it as she now had an amazing group of friends both locally and at the academy. Dru looked around her and smiled again.

'Oh no the vampire bat is smiling… what must she be planning!?' Tomas cried in faux dramatics from his spot.

'Oh nothing, just how much we crushed Thais at golf' Dru covered quickly

'We basically tied' Thais tried to defend themself.

'Nuh uh, we got 2 points less that you and therefore we beat you!'

'2 points dru… 2 points is nothing'

'That's what all the losers say'

At that point all three of them burst into contagious laughter.

'Okay, okay let's get back to the movie and I'll drop it' Dru said, leaning over and pressing play.

About half of the way through the second movie, Dru found her eyes were becoming heavier, to the stage where she was unable to fight it and seemed to be blinking her eyes closed every second.

When she opened her eyes again, Dru found herself in the same deep green woods she had visited last time she had found Ash. She seemed to be stood on a small, winding path flanked either side with rows and rows of small white flowers which seemed to give off the most odd scent.

A voice echoed through the trees 'they're wild garlic and they're rather offensively scented aren't they?' a voice Dru had begun to recognise.

The owner of the voice stepped out from behind a tree and stood between a crop of the small white flowers, staring at her with a steady smille. He looked like every depiction of an angel or a faerie from a mundane book she had ever seen and dru didn't know where this realisation had crept up from, but she hadn't the ability to push it away.

'Its funny how you keep finding me here, in fact I didn't think it possible' his emerald green eyes held hers 'why don't you come and walk with me?' he asked

'Uh, I don't think so, I still don't really know who you are, and besides I'm not sure what this is' and Dru hardly wanted to get stuck in some weird dream or hell dimension if that's what this ended up being.

The boy, Ash, seemed shocked by her response 'oh- uh okay' the power he had seemed to hold until now fading into a little bit of seemingly misplaced awkwardness.

'Why don't we just stay here, maybe we could get to know each other and find out why you keep appearing in my dreams?'

'These are dreams for you?' he asked, stepping closer carefully so as not to squash as many plants as he could save.

'Mostly, the first time it was when I touched something' she said, trying not to give too much away to someone she had not met more than 3 times.

Dru sat herself on the floor and crossed her legs in front of her, placing her semi sheer black skirts around her neatly. Shortly, Ash joined her sitting opposite her in much the same way.

'So, you're Drusilla right?'

She didn't remember telling him her name 'yeah, but most people call me Dru'

'Okay Dru, well I'm Ash' he extended a hand and she took it shaking once a little awkwardly.

'It's nice to meet you again Ash, now tell me something about yourself'

'I don't know where to start, uh I'm half fae as you've probably guessed, and my mother is a very important person in her land' his eyes betrayed a small amount of shock, as if he didn't mean to say what he did. He composed himself quickly however 'okay it's my turn, what is your favourite flower?' he asked and smiled softly.

Dru couldn't help but smile herself, she had felt an odd connection with Ash ever since she and he had first seen each other years ago and she felt like she could trust him 'uh maybe tulips or black calla lilies?' she pondered 'I don't know, I've never really thought about it before'

Dru and Ash ended up asking each other quite a few random questions, both seeming to stick to very mundane and safe territory. It was nice, Dru thought, having someone to talk to who didn't know or care about her past or current dramas, and someone who seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say. One question still lingered though: Dru wondered just who Ash's mother was considering he had mentioned that she was important and hand then seemed quite awkward after.

The next morning, Dru woke up with sunlight streaming through the open curtain and cursed, throwing an arm over her eyes. Her friends must have fallen asleep with her last night and none of them had shut the curtains it seemed or bothered getting dressed for that matter.

The smell of wild garlic still seemed to linger on Dru's clothes and she decided then that she needed to go and find him and find out just why he was so intrinsically linked to her.

She ended up broaching the conversation later at breakfast with Kit and Ty who both looked like they hadn't slept a wink. Dru was tempted to make some kind of comment, but when she looked closer it seemed as though one, if not both, of them had been crying, both boys eyes puffy and rimmed with red. They were the only three down here this early, Dru having left Thais and Tomas sleeping, and the rest of her family either asleep or training somewhere around the institute.

'So, how would you feel about going to Devon?'

The question surprised Kit actually and, considering how tired he was, he almost thought he had dreamed it. Kit had ended up going to talk to Julian with Ty last night and it had been tragic, messy and painful. They had spent around 5 hours talking it out between the three of them and trying to convince Ty that he was a wonderful person and his life was with just as much as his sister's would've been. The boys had not elaborated too much into the why and how regarding Ty's outburst but Julian was still in, what most would call, a state of shock and despair.

After the talk, everyone had come away feeling a little better it seemed and -by no means was the problem fixed- but Ty did seem just a little bit lighter and hopefully felt a little more sure of how loved he was.

Kit had also text Magnus, not wanting to leave Ty's side, and asked about therapy or the like and was still waiting on a reply. The boys had then stayed up all night together, neither really wanting to go to sleep for their own reasons. They had reminisced on Livvy and Kit had tried to make Ty realise how wonderful, special and loved he was, without giving too much away of course. It wasn't exactly the right time for a love confession after all.

'Pardon?' Kit managed.

'I asked who wanted to come to Devon with me? I want to go see baby Mina, Jem and Tessa and besides, I'm on holiday and you made Devon sound like so much fun!'

'Okay calm down, it's an entire county and I can promise you it isn't all beaches and resorts... like have you seen Barnstaple?!' Kit tried to make a joke, tried to put up a front for Dru. They'd all agreed that no one else needed to know about this, not yet at least.

Kit thought back to his home, his family and the rolling hills that stretched on with the promise of calmness and beauty. He also missed Hocking's ice creams and raspberry and yoghurt flapjacks from Folklore, but that was beside the point. Plus he and Ty had had no luck with finding the imposter from afar so perhaps it would help to be on the same continent at least!? Plus there was a shadow market in London that they could always portal to for spell supplies and information… although they couldn't drive there easily, he remembered that much!

'Okay, why not! I mean I do miss my family and I think Magnus and Alec probably want to see their kids again too' Kit rambled tiredly, his attempt at putting words together on zero sleep almost passing as comprehensive, almost.

'If Kit is going so am I' Ty said resolutely

Kit smiled at the choice of phrasing because, while they both knew that they were both needed for the mission, he could have chosen any excuse and yet he still chose that one. Kit was determined now more than ever to get this right and to be there for the person he loved the most.

Thank you so much for reading. Please feel free to leave a comment or kudos if you enjoyed it absolutely makes my day to read your sweet comments. sorry it took so long, my laptop gave up and died last weekend so i couldn't write. My new one arrived today and i've spent all afternoon writing, which was just lovely.

Dictionary of terms

Wild garlic- a wildflower common in the UK (idk if its in other countries too) that smells exactly as bad as you think it will

Folklore- still a great little cafe in Chagford

Hocking's- The best ice cream you will ever get the pleasure of enjoying and only available in North Devon. I miss it so much living in the city at the moment

Barnstaple- I know people there so I can trash it a little… plus I'm right. Also apparently its one of the oldest known English settlements.