Jalec || Shadowhunters || Jalec || Book Club Meet-Cute || Jalec || Shadowhunters || Jalec
Title: During Book Club – Jalec Bingo & Writer's Month 2023
Fandom: Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments
Disclaimer: All rights to the Shadowhunters show reserved to Ed Decter, the books the show is based off and its characters belong to Cassandra Clare. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.
Tags: m/m, fluff, meet cute, canon divergence (Céline survived)
Main Pairing: Alec/Jace
Shadowhunters Characters: Jace Herondale, Alec Lightwood, Lydia Branwell, Céline Herondale
Summary: Jalec Bingo Prompt: literature. The war is long over and Alec just started as consul member of the Clave. But he doesn't know anyone aside from Lydia, whom he met during the war. She encourages him to try and meet people in her book-club, hosted by the Inquisitor's grandson.
Book Club Meet-Cute
Jalec Bingo 2023/2024
"A book club?"
Alec raised a judgmental eyebrow as he looked up from his paperwork. With her arms crossed over her chest was Lydia Branwell, quietly judging him. She was one of his best friends, even though they'd only met about a year ago, in the middle of the war against a returned Valentine Morgenstern when she had been sent by the Clave to lead the Institute because it just didn't look too good that two former Circle members were leading the very Institute that was battling the head of the Circle. And though her seizing power from the Lightwoods should have put Alec and Izzy against her, they had both had very quickly befriended her. Which was a rare thing for Alec; he'd never been the social type. His sister Isabelle was the social butterfly who had an easy time connecting with people. Alec? He could count his friends on one hand, one was his sister and the other was his ex-boyfriend Andrew Underhill. The two closeted boys had dated for a while as teenagers, but still remained friends. Andrew was happily dating a warlock, last Alec had heard.
The war that had brought Lydia into Alec's life had long since been over, and Alec had worked so hard, climbing the latter, until now, he finally got offered a position as a consul with the Clave. Knowing the New York Institute was in good hands with Izzy and her still new parabatai Clary Fray, Valentine's daughter they had met during the war. Though he had been mostly annoyed by her for the majority of the war, once she actually committed to training and learning how to be a proper Shadowhunter, Alec did grow a little attached. And now, he knew, she was a big part of why he was ready to leave. Because Izzy wasn't alone. She had her parabatai at her side.
Only that now, Alec was… kind of alone. He had Lydia, but aside from her he knew nobody. And he struggled with making friends, that was what Izzy did. Izzy got along with everyone and then, by association, Alec would get to know them. Without Izzy at his side, he was having a harder time.
Which was what brought him to this utterly ridiculous exchange. Lydia was concerned about him burying himself in his work instead of also developing his social life. She also argued, more convincing, that he needed connections if he wanted to go far. Still, her suggestion as a solution was unusual. A book club. What good would that do?
"I've been attending it for years and made many connections through it, there are only a few who still remain from the original book club we started as teens, it's been a bit of a rotating door over the years," Lydia offered. "Maybe this will make you more inclined: This isn't my book club, it's the book club of my friend, Jace. Jonathan Herondale. The inquisitor's grandson."
Now that little detail did give Alec some pause. During the war, he had met Inquisitor Herondale. After all, a war with Valentine Morgenstern that demanded the attention of the highest power. She was an intimidating woman, but equally impressive. After all, she had worked so hard to gain this position and even the death of her only son hadn't destroyed her.
Everybody knew that Stephen and Céline Herondale had been members of the Circle, that Stephen had died. The way the Inquisitor had spun it, the way the public knew, Stephen had been in there undercover. But after learning about his own parents and Hodge, Alec was more skeptical of that version. Either way, while Stephen Herondale had died, his wife had been safe with her parents-in-law, and the Inquisitor and her husband helped her raise the baby.
Alec knew Lydia was friends with the Inquisitor's grandson, they'd grown up close with each other. And she'd told him that when she had come to New York, he had wanted to come too. But his grandma was a little protective, after all she had lost her son to Valentine already. So far, Alec had not had a chance to meet this friend of Lydia's. This book club would be a good way, he supposed.
"Okay, fine," Alec heaved a sigh. "Give me the title of the book you're reading and I'll consider it."
Lydia smirked, knowing she won the battle.
/break\
Alec actually read the book. The whole book. Which, he supposed, reflected on that non-existent social life that Lydia kept worrying about. He just wasn't a people person. But he knew that for his political ambitions, he would need to grease some hands, make the right connections that would move his career along. Being good at his job would never be all it took. Especially for him, as a gay man. The Clave still frowned upon that and though Alec had fought very hard for that, was pushing for acceptance, a systemic problem like that wasn't going to go away in a few months.
"Hello. You must be here for my son's book club. Though you are new, I don't believe I've ever seen you around. I'm Céline Herondale, please, come inside."
Alec blinked repeatedly at the speed with which the blonde lady who had opened the door just spoke. He took a moment to take her in. Lithe, short, with brightly blonde hair – but the most outstanding feature were her mismatched eyes, brown and blue.
"I…" Alec blinked a couple times, processing everything she had just said. "Alec. I'm Alexander Lightwood, a friend of Lydia Branwell's."
"Lydia!" Céline made a delighted noise. "Such a wonderful girl. Come inside, my son and I made brownies for the club."
She was so… warm. Alec didn't know how else to describe her. It made him smile as he was being ushered in. He let her lead him toward a large living room, three couches and two armchairs filled with people. Relief filled him when he spotted Lydia, waving at him from one of the couches.
"You decided to come," Lydia looked pleased.
"Okay, the brownies are ready so we can all enjoy them while talking about the book."
Alec turned toward the voice, toward the young man entering the living room with a tray of delicious smelling brownies. Alec's mouth opened just a little as he took in the gorgeous man. Golden-blonde hair falling gently into a beautiful face, full lips pulled into a smile. A black suit hugging him in all the right ways, wine-red dress-shirt beneath it with the top button undone. Alec was drinking in the sight, stunned into silence by how beautiful this man was.
"Hey, you're new," the beautiful man put down the tray on the table and then approached Alec. "I'm Jace Herondale, hosting this book-club. I am assuming you're Lydia's friend, Alec?"
"Yeah," Alec cleared his throat. "Alec Lightwood, thanks for having me."
He reached his hand out and shook Jace's. This man's smile had captured Alec's whole attention.
/break\
Three months ago, Alexander Lightwood had joined his book-club. Jace had heard so much about him beforehand. Hero of the war against the Circle, vital part of tracking down and taking in Valentine. One of he very few openly out queer Shadowhunters, which took a lot of bravery. Jace knew that, he was also one of those. Though he had really freaked out as a young teen, knowing these desires were frowned upon. His mom had picked up on his mood change, on his weird behavior – her first conclusion had been that he'd stopped taking his meds. Which had happened before, because he had felt othered and weird about taking them and thinking he didn't really need them because he was all normal. The problem was when he stopped taking them though.
So he understood why his mom had come to the conclusion that maybe Jace had stopped taking his meds again, with the severe, unexplained mood-swing. He'd told her back then, sobbed into her chest about not wanting to be different or wrong. She's embraced him tightly and told him that he could never be anything but perfect the way he was, not to her, that she would always love him.
This had helped him embrace who he was, that he liked both girls and boys. Still, he tended to rather date girls, since most Shadowhunters still lived in the closet. During the war, Jace had heard about Alec Lightwood, who had dated a warlock at the time even. But he'd helped pave the way for others to feel more brave. From what Jace had heard, another one from the New York Institute had come out since then and also started dating a warlock. And then there were Aline Penhallow and Helen Blackthorn, who had also started openly dating after the war. A mix of seeing Alec's bravery and also seeing the war, seeing how short life could be, and not wanting to miss out.
Over the past three club meetings, Jace had gotten to know Alec better, as a person and not as a story told by others. Alec had some interesting takes on the books they were reading. Jace loved talking to Alec, he'd started staying later, even as the club ended and others left, Alec remained, so engrossed in his conversation with Jace.
After the second meeting, Jace had started seeking Alec out outside the club. After all, they did work in the same building, just on different ends. So it was easy finding Alec, bringing lunch and asking to talk some more about the book. These meetings became more and more frequent.
By the third book club meeting that Alec attended, Jace couldn't deny that he definitely had a crush on the incredibly tall, handsome man. Of course was Alec good looking, but it went beyond that too, he loved their conversations so much. He loved spending time with Alec.
"So…" Jace drawled, lifting his glass to his lips. "There's one thing I meant to ask you."
"Ask away," Alec turned to look at him with a smile.
Alec had stayed longer, once again. Everyone else had already left the club. It was just them.
"Are you… still seeing that warlock from New York?"
Alec looked surprised. "I… no. We were, but we both made decisions that the other didn't… agree with. We broke up. And then I moved here, so… there was no real… point in trying again."
"So you're single then? Or is there anyone else?"
"I…" Alec paused, regarding him, wary but hopeful. "I'm single."
"Want to change that?" Jace grinned, cocky and teasing.
Alec's eyes widened at that, before he laughed softly. "I… I would like that. Yes."
"Good," Jace put his glass down and grasped Alec by the jacket. "Very good."
He paused for a moment when their lips were a breath apart and Alec was more than eager to bridge the gap and press his lips against Jace's, Alec's arms wrapping around Jace's waist to pull him close. Jace eagerly leaned against him, fitting so perfectly against him. If Alec had known a man like this could be found at that book club, he would have let Lydia convince him earlier.
~*~ The End ~*~
Author's note: I NEEDED the literature prompt to involve a book club because I need Jace having a book club. Somehow, it turned canon divergent though, because I was in a "ok but what if Jace gets a happy childhood and his mom lives though?" mood :D