5. Something Falling Apart
Okay, sorry it's been so long since my last upload. Feel free to shoot me.
You don't have to knock so hard." Alec told Jace as he hammered repeatedly on the door. He watched with weariness as the blonde boy all but punched the wood.
"Yes I do." His parabatai said very matter -of -factly, "Otherwise how will he hear me?"
Alec spared a moment to roll his eyes. "He's not deaf, Magnus will hear you if you knock like a normal person."
Jace snorted and stopped pounding the entrance. "Normal? How dare you insult me with such words, I am something Shadowhunters have never seen, I am one of a kind."
"You know," Responded the elder teenager, "Clary has Ithuriel's blood as well; you're not that special."
Jace's only answer was to hammer on the door loudly again, only this time, it elicited a response. Alec bristled at the sound of light footsteps, he could recognise them anywhere. Magnus Bane was coming to open the door. His legs seemed to be telling his brain to run, get out of here, before he could do anymore damage. But never the less, Alec stayed frozen to the spot, unsure whether he was demonstrating cowardice or bravery.
The door swung open, revealing a smirking Warlock. Bizarrely, Alec's brain took in the fact that his boyfriend managed to find red, sparkly, skinny jeans that matched his candy striped shirt before he realised that there was a boy standing behind him. Alec could practically feel the hostility rolling of Jace. The person behind Magnus looked like he could rival Jace for arrogance, although instead of a blonde halo of hair, the boy had a shock of black locks. The only way they looked alike was the obvious handsomeness each possessed. Their eyes, even though the boy's was a deep blue, still had that spark of mischief that made them look somehow…similar. They were opposites, dark and light, yet still they looked the same.
"Who's that?" Jace's tone was not a friendly one, and neither was his stance.
"That," Magnus sighed, looking tired, "Is the result of you meddling with powerful magic."
"That," Spoke the boy, "Has a name."
Magnus turned to face him, so all Alec could see was the back of his glittery head. He said something quietly, the boy only nodding. Alec's stomach turned again. So Magnus obviously knew this person well, well enough to lean close to his face and not get punched. His stomach felt vile, how well exactly did this…boy know his boyfriend? Jace however, seemed to be figuring out if he could take the black haired teenager . Alec, knowing his Parabatai well, knew he probably could. But there was that certain air of mystery about him, the sense of the unknown, and Alec could tell that Jace was itching to get a Seraph blade out and see what this guy had.
"So," Alec said, before Jace could pounce, "Can we come in?"
Magnus, who had previously been bitting his lip, deep in thought, nodded hastily. "Of course, Alexander, and, lovely, you brought the blonde wonder as well." Magnus did not sound as if Jace being there was a lovely aspect. But never the less, both boys were ushered inside.
The apartment itself hadn't changed; it was still as ambiguous as ever, with pink couch in the middle of the living room and glitter sneaked subtly into the floor. However instead of an empty couch, there were three other people that Alec had never seen let alone met before. Two girls, in much the same attire as the boy, and another boy, one with hair so fair that it seemed to be transparent.
"Well," Magnus demanded, "Sit down."
Alec obeyed, taking his favourite armchair that sat near the door. Jace sat on the arm, still eyeing the black haired boy. Clasping his hands together, Magnus spoke.
"Alexander, you told me Clary created a time travel rune, and you assumed it was unsuccessful," Magnus glanced pointedly at the couches occupants, "You assumed wrong."
"A time travel rune?" Spoke the blue eyed boy, a dubious look on his face, "There is no such thing as a time travel rune. What have you been taking, Bane?"
"Shut up." Ordered Magnus, "Or I shall be forced to give your coat tails."
"But I don't like tails." Responded the boy.
Magnus surveyed him under tired cat eyes, ones Alec had grown so used to seeing. "That is exactly my point. Now be quiet or be tailed."
The boy was silent, but looked mutinous. With a brilliant grin, his boyfriend curled his feet up under him and continued. "These people, as you may have gathered, are not from this time."
"How stupid do you think we are?" Asked Jace.
"What do you mean?" Asked the girl with the curly dark hair.
"Please cease from interrupting," The Warlock asked while putting a delicate hand to his temple, "This situation is on tedious strings already. I do not care if you are confused, or don't know what's happening, nor am I feeling very forgiving to sarcasm or word play so just let me finish."
Something about his words stopped anyone from speaking, even Jace, who had little respect for authority. Alec could feel Jace bristle. He didn't like being told what to do, but Alec thanked the Angel that he was being silent.
"Now," Said Magnus, deadly calm, "We've established that the time travel rune worked, but not how it got a destination. Alec, did Clary mention anything about London?"
"No," Alec admitted, feeling bad for not having the answers, "She just drew the rune."
"Well that was helpful." The black haired boy said. Magnus threw him a glare.
"Do be quiet, Will."
Will? Will? So this was the infamous William Herondale. Alec's stomach turned, acid feeling like it was burning its way up his throat. His heart landed somewhere in his shoes.
"I'd like to see you try it." Jace spoke, anger practically radiating through him.
"What?" asked Will, turning to Jace with a threating look in his blue eyes.
"I'd like to see you try and draw a time travel rune." Jace answered, his eyes just as threatening as Will's.
"Now don't be ridiculous," responded the dark haired boy, "I'm not idiotic enough to even think about messing with the time and space continuum."
If tension was tangible Alec would be able to cut it with a knife.
"But, and excuse me if I am mistaken, you're here, which kinda means you do lack the perfect amount of brain cells." Jace was starting to rise from the arm rest, his gold eyes filled with fury.
"Jace," Alec warned quietly, "Don't."
"Will," said the boy with the silver hair, "Do not."
Both of the boys turned to look at the appropriate Shadowhunter. "And why not?" they both asked in complete unison.
"William," Magnus warned, "tails."
With a look of absolute fury, the Shadowhunter settled down into the couch. His arms were folded tightly over his chest and his booted foot tapped impatiently on the coffee table. The boy next to him, the one with the silver hair, rolled his equally silver eyes and fisted his hands on his legs.
"After all that arguing we have managed to deduce one thing," Magnus spoke, steering the conversation back on track, "Somehow, Clary's rune ended up bringing four very delightful teenagers from London to here."
"Hate to break it to you Maggie," Said Will, lazily examining his nails, "But Jessie isn't really a noun that goes with the adjective delightful."
"Oh believe me," said Magnus darkly, "It was used in the upmost sarcasm."
"Did you just call Magnus Maggie?" The girl with brown hair and grey eyes asked, "That is utterly disturbing."
"It's my nickname for him," Responded Will, "Like Jem is Jemmie and Jessamine's Jessie."
"Please never call me that." Said the silver haired boy, "Ever."
"Well how come you call Tessa, Tess? Asked the pretty blonde, "Why not Tessie?"
Will glared at the girl with pure hatred. Magnus, who Alec saw, was watching the whole scene with a lazy grin plastered on his face. Normally Alec loved to see his boyfriend grin , but this time it only intensified the sinking feeling in his stomach. There was something about the casual threats and inside arguments that Magnus exchanged with the four London-ers that suggested an easy intimacy, one that was born of friendship and time. It made Alec feel undeniably jealous and nauseous. Alec didn't like feeling jealous all the time, but it was hard not to. He didn't want to ever loose Magnus, especially not to people from his memories. But Magnus told him that nothing ever went on between Will Herondale and himself, so why didn't Alec believe him?
Magnus couldn't help but grin. It was like forgetting about a bunch of photos and then finding them years later. Sure there was the pressing issue of paradoxes and alternate universes, but he was enjoying himself, there's nothing wrong with that is there? Just having Jem, Will, Jessamine and Tessa in his apartment was enough to bring the smell of rain washed London streets back to him.
"Nonsense Jem," Will blabbered, "You are Jemmie. It suits you."
"Yep," Smirked Jace, "A manly Shadowhunter like you just begs to be called Jemmie."
"Impressive," Spoke Jem, "You managed to insult me and complement me as the same time. I don't know if my insufficient intelligence allows me to be a part of this conversation."
"Children," Magnus interrupted, because as much as he enjoyed watching people bickering there was the whole 'time travel' issue to sort out, "You'll give me a head ache."
"So we're all children now, are we?" Spoke Alec, a scowl on his face, and his arms in knots, "Is that how you think of us?"
"I hope not." Muttered Jace, and even though he said nothing else Magnus understood the implications of his words as clear as still water.
"Careful Nephlim," Magnus warned Jace under a calm façade when all he wanted to do was punch the blonde boy's face in, "I can give Will tails, think of what I can take away from you."
Jace tried to surreptitiously cross his legs and failed.
"That didn't even answer my question." Alec told his boyfriend with a horribly open look in his blue eyes, "Do you think of us as children?"
"If by 'us' you mean 'you', Alexander, then the answer is no."
"You are so impossible!"
"Honestly, Alexander, what has got in to you?"
Alec closed his eyes, but not before Magnus saw him glance distastefully at Will.
"I'm going to get a drink of water." Was all Alec said before he walked into the kitchen.
Magnus sighed and rubbed his temple. He suddenly remembered why he didn't like talking about his past.
Gideon Lightwood was cold. A simple matter that a coat could fix. The unfortunate problem being he didn't have his coat. So he was cold. And it was snowing. Because his luck was only selective to bad. And because of his selective bad luck, it just so happened that his brother was walking with him. And his brother would not shut up.
"I can't believe we have to look for Herondale and his friends. I mean, doesn't father think we don't have better things to do?"
Gideon rolled his eyes as he trudged through the ever so cold snow. Gabriel looked warm, he reflected, maybe because his soul was so cold, that his body heat was increased. The cold made Gideon depressed. He was depressed now, has he mentioned he was cold?
"Relax, Gabriel, William and his friends are probably at that Warlock's house."
"So we're out here for nothing?" Exclaimed Gabriel, "Great."
"Not for nothing," Reassured Gideon, "We're bonding. Maybe we don't bond enough."
"And this is our cosmic punishment?" Asked Gabriel, blonde eyebrow raised, "I highly doubt that."
They settled into silence as they trudged around the streets of London. It was 10 minutes until they actually saw something interesting.
"Hey, what's that?" Gabriel asked.
Peering ahead Gideon saw what his brother was referring to. A massive spread of light lit up the street. It was unnatural and way, way too bright. Gideon moved closer to it.
"It's like a…a…portal." Stammered Gabriel.
"Well then what a portals for? Asked Gideon, stepping closer to the light, "Let's go through."