Title: The New York City Angels
Summary: They'd always thought Idris was home. Every Shadowhunter did. Only as they watched their home destroyed in front of them did they realize that they'd been home all along. T for language mostly.
Notes: Wow, I'm so happy! I got reviews, and people added me to their alert lists, and favorited the story - and me as an author! I'm so glad that you all like the story so much, and in my defense, the cliffhanger wasn't my fault: Magnus told me to. And how can you resist such a wonderful warlock? Also, you know that song, Angels on the Moon, by Thriving Ivory? That was the inspiration for the story - it's even part of the title. Give it a listen while you read - you'll see. Please, once again, if you catch anything, let me know! I'm trying to do the fandom justice!
Disclaimer: As much as I'd love to, I do not own the Mortal Instruments series. I'm only missing a few of the ingredients to the Polyjuice potion, but for now, I do not own. Sad face. I wish I owned something.
The door to Magnus's apartment swung open and there stood a man, most likely a werewolf, that seemed vaguely familiar to Magnus. Perhaps he was one of Luke's pack?
As soon as the werewolf started to speak, Magnus recognized his voice. His name was Eric or something like that. He wasn't of Luke's pack, but he frequented Magnus's parties. Magnus wasn't surprised it took so long to recognize him; it was hard to make a lasting impression on someone if you saw them only when they were drunk.
"… and just down the street Cody was attacked by one of those demons, the du-sen, or something like that. We need you to look at him. We took care of one of them, but the rest ran off." The were stopped for a second and added, "You probably want to tell the Shadowhunters. You know some of them, don't you?"
Magnus chose not to answer the question. "So where is this Cody?"
"Tim is bringing him right up." Eric paused uneasily. "How much is this going to cost us?"
"I'll have to see how bad the injury is, if it's poisoned, stuff like that. I'll charge you based on that." Magnus felt his phone vibrate and held up a hand. "Just a moment."
He saw that Alec was calling, and opened the phone. "Hello?" Eric had gone out in the hallway to help his friend up the stairs.
"Magnus, how fast can you get to the Institute?"
Magnus furrowed his brow. "I've got someone that needs healing from a Du'sien demon, like the ones you killed earlier. Why do you ask?"
"The Institute is burning down and we're surrounded. We all the help we can get." Alec was cut off by a large crash and the shouts of his sister.
"Alec? Are you there?"
There was a pause that lasted only a few seconds; to Magnus it stretched into an eternity. He let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding when Alec responded, "I can't talk anymore. How soon can you get here?"
"I'll be there in a few minutes, darling. I just need to make a call," he breathed, picking up the landline and dialing already. "And Alec?"
"Yes?"
"I love you. Don't get yourself hurt."
"I'll try not to. I love you too." The call ended, the dial tone washing through the receiver.
Magnus started dialing a familiar number when he remembered, cursing under his breath. Fell was dead, killed by Valentine.
So, who would be charitable enough to take care of the were in his absence?
Okay, who owed him a favor?
As the boys came in the door, Magnus waved them to the couch and entered the number. The phone was picked up on the first ring. "Hello?"
"Marcus, darling. It's Magnus."
"I know that. What are you calling me for, Bane?" Marcus sounded irritated and impatient.
Magnus frowned. "Expecting someone, Zusak? I just wanted to ask if you remembered the favor you promised me. If I remember correctly, you owed me one."
Marcus Zusak groaned. "One of the worst mistakes of the century, I see." A sigh. "What do you need?"
"Young Cody here needs healing, and I have matters that are a bit more pressing. So could you be a dear and take care of it for me? They'll pay you, of course, and if they can't afford it, I'll pay."
Marcus laughed. "Fine. It must be dire need if you're willing to pay me for this, Bane. I'll be there in a flash." He hung up.
A knock came at the door only a minute after. Magnus opened it, and ushered the warlock in. "I'll be back soon, Marcus. I have my cell, though I highly doubt you'll need me." With those words, he left the apartment, rushing down the rickety staircase and bolting down the sidewalk.
Simon walked down the street with the crowds. He was heading for the Institute, even though he wasn't going to be allowed in. He was hoping Isabelle would still be up for going out that night, even though he'd been unable to lie to Clary.
He shook his head in shock. He was still surprised that Isabelle had gone after him when she could so obviously have anyone else. He wasn't complaining; she was one of the best parts of his new life in the Shadow World.
But was it just because he was a Downworlder now? The question kept coming up at the back of his mind.
That was stupid, though. His change into a vampire wasn't the only change he'd undergone; he'd grown up a lot in the time since Clary told him about Shadowhunters, and the world they saw.
Simon's thoughts were cut short as he saw the smoke rising in the distance.
The smoke was coming from the Institute.
He broke into a run.
Jace swung out with his seraph blade, decapitating a Drevak demon and stepping back to avoid the spray of ichor and guts as the demon folded in on itself. An Oni demon stepped forward to fill the Drevak's space, coming at Jace with its tusks. He managed to dodge the attack and nearly got hit by the poison a spider demon shot at him.
He swung out with the blades and left the spider twitching on the ground, figuring it would die within minutes.
The sight of Clary's red hair caught his eye, and he watched her and the bloodsucker fought together. She had gotten hold of a seraph blade while the vampire fought tooth and nail – literally.
As he saw Clary lash out at a Raum demon, his stomach lurched and he wished once again that he had thought to apply a Fearless rune. It would have done him serious good; the battle on Valentine's ship was proof of that to him, even if the others didn't particularly approve.
He fought his way through the demons to her and stabbed the Du'sien behind her in the abdomen, grinning as it screamed and disappeared.
Clary whipped around and called out, "Jace!"
Jace found that he was able to fight and talk to Clary. In light of their situation, he'd rather be doing the former, especially because the latter meant facing how wrong and selfish his decisions were. "What is it, Clary?"
Demon blood sprayed onto the back of Jace's gear and as he spun around he found Clary standing over a figure folding in on itself. "Thanks for that," he called out, whipping back around towards another advancing demon.
He heard his name being called and feinted; he escaped the demon he was fighting to look in the direction of the voice.
He saw Alec and Isabelle standing back to back, her whip sailing through the air and dispatching an Iblis demon, his parabatai lashing out with a guisarme at another. Alec looked up from his demon and was rewarded with a tendril of what looked like smoke snaking around his wrist and solidifying. Jace raced toward them and saw Isabelle and Alec take down the Iblis together.
When he reached them, he called over the din of wailing demons, "You okay?"
Alec nodded in response and yelled back, "Is everyone else doing alright?"
"As far as I've seen." Alec was staring at something behind him, and Jace turned, seraph blade at the ready, expecting another demon.
He saw the collapse of the top floor of the Institute but couldn't hear it. He coughed as the ash came over them again, heavier in the air now than it was before.
The crowd of demons was thinning fast, but from the individual standpoint, it seemed like the battle would never end. So Jace turned away from the burning building, returning his attention to the fight at hand.
"Look!" Isabelle called, pointing towards the street. It was empty, almost like it had been cleared specifically for the siege. Jace turned with Alec but didn't see anything; they were accosted by another Iblis.
They didn't have a chance to get in a blow, though, because a streak of blue sparks hit the demon in the chest and it disappeared. Alec grinned and turned towards the towering figure from which the sparks had come.
Magnus had arrived. He strode towards them, a grin on his face to match Alec's. "You called?"
A Ravenor crawled towards them, and Isabelle took it out quickly, wrapping her whip around the stinger and pulling. The demon's poison poured out of the wound and half drowned it. It died with a gurgling scream.
Isabelle laughed.
Finally, the horde of demons was gone, the demons themselves either killed or fleeing. Maryse was applying an iratze to Robert's back as the others put away their weapons; Isabelle coiling her whip, Alec shoving the guisarme into his belt, and Jace and Clary putting away their seraph blades. Simon was covered in demon blood and ichor and he was spitting on the ground. The air around Magnus was hazy from his magic use, and blue flames licked up and down his arms and at his fingertips.
They all turned to the Institute, knowing they couldn't avoid it forever.
The last of it was burning and the fire was persistent; the ashes that had settled looked like gray piles of snow.
Clary remembered the first time she saw the Institute when she woke up in the infirmary.
She watched as the fire devoured it.
Jace remembered coming up to those same doors years ago after witnessing his father's supposed murder.
He saw them crumble to ash.
Isabelle remembered how she would walk in after a day of slaying demons and Max would be waiting, jumping up and down and dying to hear about their day.
She felt a part of her being destroyed along with the place that held so many memories of her dead little brother.
Alec remembered how often he couldn't wait to escape the Institute's cold rooms and seek solace in Magnus's warm embrace.
He realized that he could never go back as the flames licked his home.
They'd always thought Idris was home. Every Shadowhunter did. Only as they watched their home demolished in front of them did they realize that they'd been home all along.
They stood there, and one by one, they grabbed each others' hands, if only to find something to hold on to.
I've been obsessed with these songs lately, I dunno why other than the fact that they're awesome:
Itoshii Hito by Miyavi (a wonderful contender for Magnus!)
Starry Night by Chris August
Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri
Spotlight (New Regrets version) by Patrick Stump (for his solo album!)
They're ah-mazing! So, replying to your reviews:
Bookworm24601: I've posted more! I'm glad that I've got you hooked, and thanks for looking out for mistakes!
HidingDani: It's Magnus's fault that it was a cliffhanger. He was all, 'No, no, no. Stop here.' And you can't say no in response. I'm glad you like it!
AverageDreamer: I have written more like that - hope you like the battle scene! I was kind of torn on if I should try the battle scene, because I'm not that good at writing them, but I think it came out okay.
vfthp: Wow. You are an amazing reviewer. The analysis was... I'm speechless. You rule! I feel inadequate responding because... I don't have much to say back to that except thank you!
To everyone that reviewed, subscribed, and favorited, a big thank you! I'm so glad you guys like it! More to come soon!