Disclaimer: All characters belong to Cassandra Clare.
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Now, when Sophie regarded herself in the mirror, she felt like there was a completely different person staring back at her.
She was no longer Sophie Collins; the devoted and eternally grateful servant of the Nephilim, whose hair was always up in a bun that was covered by her maids hat, who stayed in the background and could only listen in on conversations whilst feeling guilty for being so curious.
She was Sophie Lightwood; a Shadowhunter of the London conclave, an equal.
Not, however, that Charlotte had ever made her feel like a true servant. She had always been treated with respect and kindness, more so than most servants could ever expect from their employees. She hadn't hated her role, but she had never quite felt herself, like there was always a piece missing. For so long, she had dreamed of becoming more, but she had never expected it to happen. Sometimes, dreams were just meant to be simply that; dreams, a retreat from reality.
But now, as she regarded herself in the mirror and her eyes took in the black runes over her skin, she found herself smiling.
~0~0~0~0~0~
"There are reports of demonic activity in the shipping harbour." Will announced.
The Shadowhunters of the London Institute were gathered around the long table, the fire burning behind Will, who was seated at the head of the table. At his right was Tessa, whose pretty face was still and serious. Cecily sat to Will's other side, with Gabriel beside her. Gideon sat opposite his brother, Sophie to his right. Three days had passed since the wedding, so Charlotte and Henry had unfortunately headed back to Alicante.
"Any indication as to what type of demon?" Gabriel asked, his voice calm as he spoke to Will. Only a short while ago, the two Shadowhunters had constantly been at each other's throats. Now, they seemed to share a somewhat respect for one another; Gabriel, because Will was the head of the Institute, and Will because it was quite clear how fond his little sister had become of the Lightwood boy.
"Raum demons," Will answered.
Sophie recognised the name, easily piercing it to an illustration in one of the books she had studied; demons with slick tentacales lined with red suckers coated in tiny needle-sharp teeth. Their poison was not deadly, but it did cause a Shadowhunter to become delirious if too much gets into their bloodstream.
"That is surprising, as Raum demons don't commonly hunt in packs." Gideon commented thoughtfully. "They aren't the brightest."
"Suppose they figured out it was best for them to rely on strength of numbers rather than tactical decisions." Gabriel said dryly.
Will nodded. "I don't feel that this is an issue that we need outside help on. There is no evidence to suggest there are a great number of these demons, so it should be simple enough to dispatch them." He had changed since taking over the Institute; he still came out with sarcastic, sometimes brutally honest comments, but it was as if recent events had caused him to grow up a lot quicker. The loss of Jem had affected him gravelly, as it had Tessa.
"When do we leave?" Cecily asked.
There was a small flash of light in Will's blue eyes as he regarded his sister. Cecily was more than capable, but sometimes, it was clear that Will would rather protect her than allow her into dangerous situations. It was understandable, seeing as he had grown up in the Shadow World whilst she had stayed in the mundane world. Gideon, who had trained with Gabriel since he was little, did not feel the same amount of worry, and he knew Gabriel wouldn't care for it anyway.
"Tonight," He answered. "That's when they are active, and that's when we'll strike, before they kill anymore mundanes for sport."
That was it, the final decision. They would all be going, it seemed. Gideon reached for Sophie's hand under the table, and when he felt her squeeze his, he looked up and saw her smile slightly at him, as if wanting to reassure him.
You were the one that pushed her to follow her dreams of becoming a Shadowhunter, he reminded himself. Still, that wouldn't stop him worrying about her.
As the Shadowhunters of the Institutes returned to their respective rooms to get dressed in their gear, Sophie had clearly picked up on her husband's unease. "Gideon, what is wrong?" She asked once they were in the privacy of their new, married room. It was much bigger than their former separate rooms, with a lovely four poster bed, a grand wooden wardrobe and a desk. There was a full-length mirror placed in the corner, and Sophie was currently stood before it.
Gideon moved to stand beside her, helping her slide her gear on, even though she could have managed it herself. His breath ghosted over her spine as her back became covered in material.
"Sophie," He whispered gently, his nose resting on the back of her neck, which was bare as she held her hair up in one hand.
She turned to look at him, instantly picking up on the tension in his shoulders and the torn expression on his face. "Do you do this to everyone who prepares to leave for a mission?" Her eyes were careful as she regarded her husband.
He shook his head. "No. I know I shouldn't fuss over you. I wanted you to be a Shadowhunter, and that included all that came with it, but now…"
She took his hands. "Stop making this feel like a goodbye." She told him, and although her voice was kind enough, her words were firm. "It is a controlled mission. A handful of demons does not terrify me as much as facing the clockwork army did."
"It terrifies me, the thought of you facing them." He admitted, taking her hand in his and lifting it on his face, holding it against his cheek. "I cannot help it."
She smiled softly. "I'm ready, Gideon. I had the best trainer." She said, and even Gideon smiled at that. "We will be fine, Gideon. I'll watch your back, I promise." She winked at him.
Finally settled, he kissed her forehead. As much as he wanted to kiss her lips, he was aware of the fact that it would seem like he was still treating this as a goodbye. It wasn't, but his irrational side had caused him to worry about harm coming to Sophie. It wouldn't, he'd protect her against Hell itself. "As I'll watch yours." He promised.
~0~0~0~0~0~
The shipping harbour was ghostly quiet. The eery silence caused Gideon's hair to rise on the back of his neck, his seraph blade gripped tightly in his hand. Beside him, Sophie had controlled her breathing perfectly, her hazel eyes starting around them for the first sign of movement.
Then, there was a loud racket as one of the wooden boxes stacked onto a high pile came crashing down. A moment later, a demon appeared, slithering around the broken box and approaching the two Shadowhunters.
"Malachi!" Gideon hissed into the blade, causing it to lighten as he struck out towards the beast. A tentacle darted out to him, missing him by an inch as he ducked out of the way. A second later, a blade struck into it, causing the demon to let out a painful shriek as it backed away.
Gideon looked over his shoulder, knowing exactly where the blade had come from. Although she had her seraph blade pinned to her side, Sophie had always been particularly gifted when it came to aiming. Quickly, his eyes assessed her, but she seemed perfectly fine. She gave him a look before pushing past him, throwing another dagger towards the demon. The blade sunk into its flank.
Gabriel joined them, bow held skillfully in his hands as he aimed, the arrow hitting straight into the eye of the demon. Gideon surged forward, striking the beast as it writhed, partially blind, and as soon as his seraph blade cut into it, it vanished in a burst of black and ichor.
"Lovely, Gideon, just lovely." Gabriel muttered with displeasure as he swiped inchor out of his face. "I bet that's gone all in my hair."
"Think of it as an improvement." Cecily said as she approached them. "I've checked the perimeter. There's no activity outside of the docks."
"So, they're all in here." Will added as he and Tessa approached. The arm of Will's gear was slightly torn, and Tessa's hand was stained in ichor. "We've just dispatched of one."
Gabriel surveyed the docks. "Do we split up, or wait for them to come and find us?"
"I'm not a fan of waiting." Cecily commented under her breath.
Then, another demon appeared, slinking out of the darkness as if it had simply materialised out of nowhere. It drew it's horrible lip back in a snarl, presenting them with its sharp, jagged teeth. The Shadowhunters fanned out, with Will and Gabriel being the closest. They dealt with it quickly enough, but no one had the time to reflect on how well the two of them actually worked together, when they weren't winding each other up.
More demons spilled out of the shadows, and soon, each Shadowhunter had been corned with an individual Raum. Gideon lashed out with his blade, dodging tentacles that tried to knock him down. As one stretched towards him, he raised the seraph blade and rammed it down, trapping the tentacle to the floor. He quickly pulled out throwing discs, aiming them perfectly for the creatures fade, distracting it as he pulled his blade back and stabbed at the demon where he supposed a heart would have laid. The demon vanished before his eyes.
The harbour was alive with the sounds of shouting, of blades scraping against the solid floor, of shrieking and cursing and the clinking of metal. Everywhere, ichor was spilling, staining everything it touched and leaving behind the most disgusting of smells. The runes on the Shadowhunters' skin stood out even more against the harsh brightness of the moonlight. Their gear shone in the light.
He scanned the area around him. Tessa had just finished off her own demon, and had moved to cover Cecily as the Shadowhunter had been knocked off balance. Will's seraph blade shown in the moonlight, and Gabriel's arrows whistled through the air, landing with such precision.
Gideon looked for his wife, seeing her pull out the last two daggers from their sheaths on her calves, sending the blades flying towards the demon, sinking into its eyes. She then took out her seraph blade, shouting its name before striking out.
Soon, all the demons had vanished, leaving behind dark, smelly puddles of ichor behind them.
"See," Will said, breaking the silence as they all stood panting, clutching their weapons. "I told you we could handle it."
~0~0~0~0~0~
The London Institute had only had one carriage, however being the oldest of the Lightwood children, Gideon had inherited his family carriage and horses. As he currently didn't have a driver for it, Gideon had driven it himself, regretfully meaning that he couldn't journey back beside his wife. He pushed the thought away; he had checked her when they had left the docks, not wanting to fuss her or make her feel incompetent. She had seemed fine; a little pale, but her eyes had been bright enough.
Passing Cyril the horses upon returning at the Institute, Gideon headed inside. Gabriel was waiting for him, and the two of them strode down the hall, side by side.
"Forgiven me yet?" Gideon asked good-naturedly, glancing at his brothers slightly dampened hair, slightly sticky still.
Gabriel gave him a sour look. "I need to wash my hair and assess the damage before I think about forgiving you. If demons didn't smell quite so vile, I probably wouldn't have minded too much." He said, but as he picked up on the set of Gideon's shoulders, he added, "She's okay, Gideon. I kept an eye on her in the carriage."
Sophie. He was so desperate to see her. "Thank you." Gideon said. Gabriel dipped his head, leaving his brother to head down a different corridor. With an urgency to his steps, Gideon returned to his own room and stepped inside.
His wife turned to see him, her eyes glowing as they found his face in the darkening room. The sight of her alone was enough to ease the ache he felt in his body. Home was not simply a location for him anymore; it was her.
"Would you like me to draw you a bath?" She offered.
He approached her, his hands finding her waist instantly. He pulled her against him, hearing her sharp intake of breath before he captured her lips with his. He had been craving this since they had left the harbour. All he had needed was the physical reassurance that she was okay, to feel her lips against his and have her in his hands. His heart was pounding in his chest.
When they parted, she looked slightly flustered as she tilted her head to the side. "Should I take that as a yes?"
"You did fantastically, Sophie." He said, completely ignoring her offer as his own emotions threatened to overcome him. "You were so brave."
"I am a Shadowhunter now." She reminded him. "I have to be brave."
"Bravery isn't something that every person is gifted with." He told her, his hand moving to cup her cheek, and he felt her soften instantly into his touch. "Yours shines in comparison to most. I never saw you flinch once."
He kissed her again, and she moaned as her body was drawn even closer to his, pressing them against one another. He brushed his tongue over her mouth, and she gladly opened up to him, allowing him to explore the warmth depths. His grip on her hips tightened as he tried to push away the pool of arousal that was growing in his stomach.
"Gideon," She said as she pulled away. "A bath?"
He sighed softly, nuzzling her neck. "Will you join me?"
She gasped at the suggestion, and for a moment, he worried that he had perhaps stepped over the line. Had he been too forward?
But, then she smiled his favourite smile. "A bath would be perfect."
~0~0~0~0~0~
It wasn't until they were both in the warm water, with her naked back pressed against his chest as she sat between his legs, that he had seen the bruise on her shoulder.
"I had a minor complication with one of the tentacles. Raum demons certainly have quite the grip." She explained, understanding his sudden tension that she felt against her. She leaned further against him. "I'm fine, Gideon."
"You should have told me." He whispered, looking down at the blue and black markings across her skin. "I could have given you an iratze-"
"It is too minor for that." She argued. "You forget that I am not used to be able to be healed by runes. I can handle a bruise. I am perfectly fine."
He kissed the area by the bruise carefully, and she breathed out at the feel of his lips against her. "If I could protect you from being hurt, I would do so in a heartbeat."
"I know that." She took one of his hands in hers and squeezed it, resting them both on the side of the bathtub. "But, you cannot. There's always going to be a risk, Gideon. It is inevitable that I will get hurt."
The thought displeased him greatly, but he knew that she was right. It was an unavoidable factor about being what they were, their roles came with sacrifice and courage and danger. Yet, he knew there was nothing that could stop him from protecting her, and he knew the feeling was returned to him.
He kissed the area again, his free hand wrapping around the top of her stomach to pull her even closer against him, causing the water to slush against the side of the bath. "May I wash you, Sophie?"
She smiled softly, leaning her head back against his shoulder. "I thought you'd never ask."
He took great care in sponging her back, making sure to coat every inch of her skin in the soapy water, his lips continuing to lay gentle kisses from her shoulder, up her neck, to the area being her ear. Sophie's head remained against his shoulder, her eyes closed in bliss as her husband paid great attention to her.
As his hand brushed over her breast, teasing her pert nipple, she gasped. "Gideon-"
"I need you, Sophie." He said lowly into her ear, as his fingers played with the small bud, tweaking it. "I need you so badly."
She could feel his need for her, pressing against her lower back, and it brought her great excitement to know that she caused such a reaction for him. Her smile deepened as she turned her head to be able to kiss him, knowing that he was holding himself back, waiting for her permission. So, she stood, hopping out of the bath and turning to face him, surprising herself at her boldness. She held a hand out to him. "So, have me." The three words came out in the softest of whispers.
His eyes had darkened with his own desire as he rose from the water, moving to stand beside her. The water streamed down their bodies as he cupped her face and pulled her lips to his desperately. The first time they had made love to each other, they had both been so careful as they explored each other's bodies, so slow and patient. Now, they were both fuelled with a need for one another, a physical reassurance that they were both okay.
Sophie let out a small squeal as Gideon's hands grabbed the back of her thighs and lifted her up, causing her legs to wrap around his waist. They both shuddered as their bodies were held together, and Gideon carried her out of the room and practically threw her down onto the bed. She laughed, her sound dying in her throat as her husband slowly crawled up her body with his lips, starting at her ankles and working his way up her legs. His tongue flicked out occasionally, tantalisingly slowly as he tasted her skin, sweet with the hint of the water they had bathed in.
"Gideon," She whispered with hollow breaths. "I cannot wait. Please."
Unable to refuse her anything, especially something that he desired just as much, Gideon moved up her body and kissed her as his lower body settled between her parted legs. In one easy stroke, he was inside her. He paused, giving her time to adjust. Her hands moved to his hips and pulled her down, showing him that it was okay to continue. Slowly, he found a pace that worked best for them; steady, but still urgent.
"I love you." He groaned out against her lips as he moved inside her, going deeper than he had ever done. The feeling made him tremble against her, and Sophie arched her back with pleasure. "I love you. I love you."
She kissed him back passionately, her tongue battling with his as their hips moved together, with her reaching for him, spurring him on. Her hand was in his hair in a heartbeat, with a steel grip on his sandy-coloured hair. Her other hand remained at his waist, her fingers gripping onto him as she continued to encourage his quickening thrusts.
"I need you." She whispered against him. "By the Angel, Gideon, I need you."
The combination of her words, the deepest in her voice and the fact that her entire body was begging for him, Gideon powered himself on, quickening the pace even more. He pressed Sophie into the blanket, muffling his groaning as he sucked on her neck.
Although his movements were rough, they did not cause Sophie to panic. She didn't freeze underneath him, or worry. She knew it was Gideon, and that no harm would ever come to her from him. The fact that his desperate actions were fuelled by his wanting for her made her feel alive. She burned for him, and she willed him to continue, loosing herself in the sensations and feel of him.
Gideon felt his release approaching fast, but he desperately wanted to ensure that Sophie also found the same bliss, so his fingers moved to opening, pressing her slightly. She gasped at the feeling, having never had his hand down there before, but she moaned his name out and that was enough to reassure him.
Steadily, he continued, bringing her closer and closer to her peak whilst his harboured up inside him like a giant lake threatening to overpower the dam that restricted it from flowing freely.
His teeth grazed over her collarbone, down to her chest where he licked at the curve of her breast before claiming a nipple. His tongue swirled around him, and Sophie let out one last moan before he went her clamp around him and give in to her needs. As her juices coated him, he buried himself as deep inside her as he could before he too lost himself.
They remained like that for a few moments longer, both panting as oxygen returned to their lungs. The sheets below them were slightly damp from the bath water, and their bodies glistened with a layer of sweat. Gideon's forehead rested against her collarbone as she lazily traced her fingers over the back of his neck, purring contently.
"I'll look forward to the next demon encounter, if that's what happens after." She teased lightly.
He laughed, forgetting all the worry that had racked his body just hours. When he was with Sophie, alone like this, he could forget the outside world completely. Nothing outside this room existed.
"Trust me, my love, it wouldn't take you battling a demon for me to want to do that to you." He told her fondly, moving to lay beside her. He smiled as she nestled closer to him, and he placed his arm over her stomach, lightly stroking her side. "Was that okay, Sophie? i wasn't too rough?"
She beamed at him. "Do not worry, Gideon. I enjoyed it, very much so." There was a blush to her cheeks, as Sophie had always been so careful of being proper and ladylike, just as she was raised to be and expected of by society. Gideon was pleased to see that she was finally excepting the fact that she had desires and needs just like he did, and the fact she was now voicing them and acting upon them thrilled him.
He leaned down and kissed her, the action sweet and soft compared what they had just done, but the desire for her was still there. He would always desire her.
~0~0~0~0~0~
I'm really loving writing about these two - I feel like there is so much of their characters left to explore, and their dynamic together is so exciting to develop in this story.
Hope you enjoyed seeing a little more of an untamed side of them!
- E x