Disclaimer: You know the drill. Yata, yata. But, I do want to thank you all for reviewing a lot. So, I will be continuing this story; only if you all keep the reviews and suggestions coming! I swear, these suggestions are actually super, duper useful. More on the rest of this story will be at the end of this chapter. So, as of right now, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 2: a diamond in the flesh

{ after so much pressure; you either crack, or become a diamond }

Clary -

It was a slight disappointment, waking up in a empty room. She had hoped, right before she passed out, that Magnus would have figured out a way to send Jace and Izzy (Simon, even) as well. But, according to the Asian warlock, it was only her who would be able to go through the time traveling portal. He had said it was something about how her extra angel blood had went to her rune drawing powers and not to her physical powers. Having the ability to create runes, apparently, also gave you time traveling powers in portals.

Weird.

She sat up, blood rushing to her head as she brought her hand up, groaning. Magnus had said the side effects would be bad, but not this bad. This is when the redhead took notice of her surroundings. It was most obviously a infirmary, of sorts. She knew she was still in an the Institute, the runes on the wall making it obvious. Yet, everything looked old. It didn't look sturdy. It didn't look like something she was used to living during.

Which she wasn't, so Clary supposed it made sense. She blinked her eyes, once, twice, three times. What does she do now? Call out for someone? Sneak out and find Magnus? Go back to bed? Rubbing her back from soreness, she stood up, the world around her wobbling. "Fuck," she hissed under her breath. She was going to kill Magnus when came around to bringing her back home.

With a sigh, Clary maneuvered herself back onto the bed, and leaning against the backboard. She had to do it. She had to call the people who were probably so suspicious of her, that they would poison her. The only thing she could do was hope that the letter got through to them, at the very least.

"Hello?" she called out lightly, running her fingers through her hair. No. She was definitely not feeling ok. The redhead closes her eyes for a moment, until she heard footsteps come in.

Green hues opening, her eyes landed on a familiar pair of black hair and blue eyes that did not belong to Alec Lightwood. "I have a feeling you're not a nurse," she said quietly, looking at Will Herondale with caution. And it's like it's her and Jace again, having a silent face off. He's just looking at her and she's looking at him. Blue hues to green and vice versa.

"I want to know why you're here," he says, grabbing a chair and sitting right next to her. It's obvious he's not planning on leaving until she said something of use; and it wasn't like she had the ability too, with a migraine starting to form in her head.

"Can't you just read the letter from Magnus?" Clary groaned, closing her eyes once again as she leaned her head against the headboard.

"I didn't write a letter."

It's a new voice, coming from the other side of the bed. And Clary's eyes fly open. They fell on Magnus. He's not her Magnus, though. There's no glitter, no rainbows, no smirk across a pair of lipglossed lips. No, it's not Magnus Bane the High Warlock of Brooklyn. Just... Magnus. The one who wasn't in love with Alec Lightwood and didn't buy all those paintings from her mom. Her hands itch and her green eyes are still staring because she wants to draw this.

Then Clary realized that she was staring and that her Magnus had told her to draw the box. "I need drawing utensils," she demanded, looking up at Will. He looks like he's about to protest until the Asian Warlock interrupted. "Get her what she asks, William."

And soon enough, the black haired boy leaves the room, grumbling something about demanding people thinking he was their slave. A small grin crossed Clary's lip and she looks up at Magnus and is glad to see someone she knew -

Until she realized that this Magnus was not wearing electric blue eyeliner and her facial expression died. She knew what he wanted. An answer.

"You figure out a way how to time travel," she blurts out, only a few seconds after Magnus opened his mouth to say something. "Well, not you. How to create a portal that gives Shadowhunters the ability to time travel. Only special Shadowhunters, like m-" Clary winces once, twice. Damn, she forgot about the little detail how portals don't exist, not yet.

Simon would be telling her how badly she was messing up the future, if he was actually here. And the redhead pulled at her hair with frustration, something she used to do in the fourth grade.

Magnus doesn't say anything. He's just watching her with a curious expression on her face and Clary wants to scream. She was never good with giving out information, giving out speeches. She used to stutter in school when it came to repeating things from memorization. Though she no longer had that problem, whenever she had to explain something, butterflies would form in her stomach.

"The only way you're going to believe me is if I draw it." She swallows a ball of spit. Magnus is giving her a worried look, if a bit freaked out. But he doesn't say anything too her, which is weird, because Magnus always had something to tell her. (Most of the time it was insulting or criticizing, but that was just his way of showing love.)

"William, dear!" he calls out instead, snapping his fingers multiple times. "Dear Clarissa needs to draw and I need to see what she draws." And lord and behold, the dark haired boy walks in moments later and Clary's eyes narrow. Was he listening?

"It's Clary," she points out, her hands greedily taking the charcoal and raw paper from Will's hands. Clary examines the paper for a moment, her artistic side taking over as her fingers ran on top of it. It had little ridges and bumps, something that she was used to drawing on. And though the paper was straight, the texture blended with the paper so well that she almost wanted to run home and show it to her mom.

Except she couldn't.

"Well?" Will's sharp voice interrupts her, but her head doesn't jerk up, not this time. She's too far into the zone now. Then her hand's moving and an image of a box is forming.

Clary doesn't, however, notice the crowd starting in the room. It was like what Simon always said. "You don't interrupt Clary when she's drawing. It's not possible. She's in her zone and when she's in her zone? Nobody but her, that pencil and paper, and picture in her mind is there."

Clary's not even half way done when Magnus grabs the paper out of her hand.

"Where did you get this?" His eyes are angry, but voice is calm. This was Magnus at his worst and she knows she has to navigate carefully.

"My head."

(... she was never good at navigation in general.) And Magnus' jaw ticks, hand tightens and Clary knows whatever happens next will not be good. She has to act fast and she has to act good.

"Look, Magnus." Her head shakes, wild and unruly red curls falling everywhere. She still can't get up, for some unknown reason. And so lecturing from the bed will have to suffice. "You told me to draw this for you. Because ..." she pauses. What does she call him? Future Magnus? "Because, well because New York Magnus needs whatever is inside that damned box."

She hears a gasp from across the room and her eyes fall on a small blonde girl, her gloved hand over her mouth. What on -?

She shakes herself out of it because she doesn't even notice Jem and Will talking to each other in whispers. She didn't notice Tessa and Sophie talking to each other, side by side. Even Charlotte and Henry are whispering something and she doesn't notice until now.

They must think she's crazy.

Finally, the redhead returned back to where Magnus was standing because she needs to convince him sooner than later. But he's not there and she's tugging at her hair again. The rest of the room doesn't notice her silence until a few moments later, but soon enough the whole room is silent.

Until Will speaks, and Tessa interrupts him.

"By the Angel! -"

"Why would Magnus send you all the way from New York-" and Tessa pauses, emphasizing her city because it's her city, not Clary's, "To show him a drawing of something he has in England; which is where he happens to live."

And Clary doesn't answer, instead groaning and placing her hand on her forehead with plain distress in sight. How thick were these people's heads? Clary knows that she should reason with them, but frankly she's tired and not in the mood, not anymore.

"Because, I already told you." Her green eyes harden, lips blowing at her side bangs. "I'm here to get something for future Magnus," she places emphasis on future this time, "Which only exists in this time. That, and I can help you fight. | know what I'm doing. I can help, you can help me solve a problem and then I'll go." It's the exact words that Magnus had told her, give or take a few details. She opens her mouth once again, ready to talk until her voice falters, Clary's green eyes falling on a small figure in the opposite corner. He's small, has the looks of a child with grey eyes and black hair.

And it can't be, but suddenly the image is getting sharper and she knows exactly who it is.

The word is almost silent, from the gasp stuck in her throat, causing her to loose some ability to breath.

"Max."

A/N: And there you go! Chapter two! I want to apologize for taking so long to upload this. School got in the way and I've been going to bed super early. On the other hand, I've gotten ideas for the Teen Wolf fandom, from OC characters I have on my RP tumblr blogs. So, there will be some one-shots there and maybe another multi-chaptered fic. I'm really excited for them, so I hope you read them when they come out as well.

As for a sidenote, I'm not sure what ship I'm going with for this fic. It could be a crack!ship, clary/jace, clary/simon, etc. Your suggestions would definitely be helpful in this situation, guys, so be sure to review!

If anything else, just review if you want me to update faster, it's how I get motivation.

(Also, be sure to subscribe for other stories from me.) I'm about too pass out now, so I'm gonna get off. Be sure to review and leave suggestions and such!

xoxo romanceonaborderline