City of Recollection

by esmeandluna17

Clary did grow up in the Shadowhunter world. She did - that is - until she was 12. She grew up with the Lightwoods, and was trained as a Shadowhunter until the her father's evil plans frightened her mother - forcing her to take Clary away from the world she had always known. She forgets her friends. She forgets Jace. But what happens when she starts to remember?

15. Chapter 15

Clary's POV

"It's totally your fault."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

Jace laughs. God, he's perfect.

He shakes his head as he grins. "How is it my fault?"

"You dazzled her!" I cry, throwing my hands in the air and rolling my eyes. "She was so mesmerized by you, she tripped over her own feet and emptied spaghetti bolognese all over me!"

"I still don't see how that's my fault." He pauses when he catches my raised eyebrow, "I can't help it!" He cries.

"Sure, you can't."

"Clary," He whines, grabbing my waist and twisting me round. We're almost back at the Institute but everything seems to melt away as he presses me gently against the wall next to us. His long fingers rest gently at my hips, toying with the hem of my green t-shirt, and his cool breath fans across my face as I look up at him.

"What?" I mumble, my breath hitching slightly as he trails his nose along my cheek - his lips brushing against my jaw. "Jace..."

He presses butterfly kisses along my jaw and mutters: "It wasn't my fault."

"You sure about that, Herondale?" I challenge, trying to hide the tremor in my voice as I rest my hands on his chest and push. He stumbles back a little with wide, surprised eyes and I smile innocently.

"You did not just do that," He says, shaking his head and pointing a finger in my face. I giggle.

"And what if I did?"

"You're going to pay," He replies before reaching out for me. Ducking under his arm, I run away quickly, squealing.

My sneakers thud against the pavement as I run and my lungs burn. I swallow the cold air, and it feels so refreshing and familiar. I can hear Jace sprinting after me and it spurs me onwards up the steps of the Institute where I flop down on my back, out of breath.

Jace appears above me with a small smirk on his perfectly sculptured face. No sweat. No red cheeks. No laboured breathing.

"How are you still standing?" I groan, sitting up and breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth.

"Because I'm fit," He answers and then starts laughing at his own joke. I frown with confusion. British humour? "Up you get then, Fairchild."

He lifts me up and sets me on my feet - a small smirk still quirking his lips as he tucks a red curl behind my ear. His gold eyes flicker across my face before landing on my lips.

I'm ready for him to kiss me. I want him to kiss me.

The tips of our noses brush and our gazes meet. "Jace ..."

"Wait," He says, pulling back reluctantly and looking down at me with a small pucker between his eyebrows. Well, that stung. "I want to show you some place ... will you come with me?"

I shrug and slip my hand into his, lacing our fingers with a nod and he grins. "Come on then."

He leads me through the corridors of the Institute and up various, precarious staircases which creak in protest under the weight of the two of us. We climb higher and higher until my lungs ache and my chest heaves with each drawn out breath.

"Slow down, Jace," I whine, and I'm suddenly hit with the dream when we were running through the field before Jonathan turned up. "You're going too fast."

Jace stills and turns around with a small tilt of his head. "You remember?"

"What?" I'm utterly confused. "What do I remember?"

"Nothing..." He shakes his head and turns back around with a sigh - giving my hand a small squeeze. "It's nothing." I don't believe him, but I don't question it because he obviously doesn't want to tell me. "Okay."

We walk about one long, winding staircase before we arrive in a large greenhouse or conservatory. It's dark outside and in the distance, I can see the bright vibrant lights of the city, and a pang of homesickness shoots through me.

The place is full to the roof with plants of all different kinds - I can name a few but my knowledge ends at a bright, glowing flower which Jace picks and hands to me. A blush spreads across my face and I stammer a bashful 'thank you'. He leads us over to another staircase in the middle of the giant room and sits us down on the bottom step. Our fingers brush and, like all our touches, it sends small tingles up my arm and leaves me wishing for more.

"Only Hodge really uses this room ... I like to come up here when I need to think.." A small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth and he nudges me with a small chuckle. "It has been known to happen, Fairchild."

I open my mouth to object to the last name but one look at him stops me. Silence ensues.

"Your birthday came and went too quickly ... I never got to give you your present," He says, his voice soft like silk. "That's why I wanted to bring you up here, so that I could give it to you."

I look up at him and shake my head, pinning a piece of curly hair behind my ear." You didn't need to get me anything.."

He shrugs and shoves his hand into his pocket - pulling out a long rectangular box and handing it to me. "It's yours anyway. It got a bit damaged in your last fight when you were twelve but I had it repaired ..."

Opening the box, a soft gasp escapes me. Nestled in between the plush velvet cover is a stele - my stele. The polished glass is a long and pointed at the end; a glittering emerald. Metal melded into the shape of small ivy leaves wraps around the base and are engraved with miniature runes. I pick it up and it's light, unlike Zan's stele, glowing faintly in the dimness of the greenhouse and warming slightly in my hand.

"It remembers you," Jace mumbles, leaning his elbow on his knee and resting his chin in his hand - watching me with a small smile.

"I remember it," I reply and strap it to the belt at my hip - grinning widely. "Thank you, Jace ... it's the best present I could have been given."

"You're welcome."

I place the box on the step beside me and look up at him thoughtfully. "I ... I thought you were finally going to kiss me earlier.." I whisper, biting my lip as I wonder where I mustered the courage to say this.

A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth and my heart flips in my chest. He stands up and holds out his hand for mine, so I take it quickly.

Tugging me up, I squeak and fall against his chest very ungracefully - my hands pressed to his chest so I can feel his hard muscles beneath his shirt. "I did too," He mutters as his eyes flicker to my lips and back to bore into my eyes. Gold meets green and a shiver runs through me.

"I ... I wanted you to.." I whispers, my voice and my whole body quivering a bit as his hands settle at my hips - thumbs brushing over my hips bones.

"I wanted to, too, Clary." I bite my lip as he leans his forehead against mine, moving one hand to cup my cheek and brush his thumb over my cheekbone. "I have wanted to for a very long time."

"What are you waiting for, Herondale?" I whisper and the tip of his nose brushes mine.

"Nothing. I've been waiting for long enough."

And then he presses his lips to mine.

At first, I can't respond because my whole body goes into meltdown - shock and tingles shooting through me. It isn't fireworks like people describe in books, it's slow, burning passion which starts at my toes and sets fire to the rest of my body, making my toes curl and my fingers clench into fists as they tangle in his hair. After a second of hesitation, I respond; rising on my tiptoes to be closer to him, I move one hand to cup his jaw.

He presses my hips to his so my back his arched against him slightly, and then moves one hand to the small of my back - just slipped under the hem of my shirt. I shiver a bit and allow a small smile against his lips.

"Clary.." He whispers, pulling back and nuzzling his nose against mine. Brushing his fingers through my hair, he rubs my side gently and smiles this crooked little smile which has me pulling his head back down so I can kiss him again.

Kissing him is like waking up after a long time sleeping, my limbs ache and my eyes feel heavy but I'm so relaxed and warm. He seems to be enjoying it too, as every time we pull back he begins pressing little kisses along my jaw and I can feel a little grin set on his face. The fact he's happy, makes me happy.

When he runs his tongue over my lip, I open my mouth to let him in and -

Then the sprinkler system goes off and I pull back with a squeal and then a giggle - wrapping my arms round his neck and nuzzling his nose with a grin.

"We should go back!" He shouts, grinning himself as he rubs my sides gently and then takes my hand to lead the way back into the staircase where he kisses me, continuing to do so all the way back to my room where I say a reluctant 'goodnight' to him.

When I shut my door, I press my back to it and slide down to the ground - just sat there in complete shock and bliss before a girlish squeal escapes my lips.

Faintly I can hear a small chuckle and I don't even care that he heard me because all I can think is that I kissed Jace Herondale.

A/N: IT'S BEEN SO LONG! I RECENTLY WATCHED THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS FILM, AND THOUGHT - I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN ABSOLUTELY AGES! SO I DECIDED TO THROW IN A BIT OF CLACE BECAUSE THIS STORY WAS ORIGINALLY MEANT TO BE FOCUSED ON THEM. I HAVE BEEN PLANNING A SEQUEL TO CITY OF RECOLLECTION BUT IT MAY BE AGES UNTIL THAT ACTUALLY BECOMES A REAL THING - I WILL SAY THAT ZAN'S LONG TERM ROMANTIC INTEREST WILL BE INTRODUCED THEN BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE FROM A SEQUEL AND EVEN THE END OF CITY OF RECOLLECTION.

THANK YOU TO ANY READERS WHO HAVE COME BACK TO READING THIS - I REALLY AM THE WORST AT UPDATING BUT I REALLY WANT TO GET BACK INTO THIS STORY!

HOPE YOU'VE ALL BEEN HAVING AMAZING SUMMERS!

P.S. ANYONE ELSE SO EXCITED ABOUT SHADOWHUNTERS?! I CANNOT WAIT! 3