A/N: Hello my wonderful followers, readers, Supernatural and Shadowhunters/mortal instruments fans! Yes 2 chapters in the same day! As always all the thinks goes to whoever is reading!
Carry on wayward supernatural fans, and happy patrol shadowhunters.
Andra slumped over the bar at Pandemonium, nursing her third drink. The dim lights of the club flickered around her, casting shadows that danced with the music. She tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers to her chaotic thoughts. "Ah, the joys of being a Shadowhunter," she muttered to herself, rolling her eyes. "Fighting demons by day, drowning feelings in alcohol by night. What a glamorous life."
Tonight, the weight of her emotions felt heavier than usual. She took another sip, the burn of the whiskey providing a momentary distraction from the swirling confusion in her mind. There was Dean, with his charming smile and that ridiculous way he always seemed to know just what to say to make her laugh. It was infuriating how easy it was to feel something for him. But every time she thought about him, her heart did that annoying flip-flop, and she couldn't shake the nagging guilt that came with it.
Then there was Magnus. She was still in love with him, more than she probably should be. The memories of stolen glances and warm laughter haunted her, even if he was with Alec. It felt like she was standing on a tightrope, balancing her feelings for Dean while clinging to the ghost of Magnus. "Great, Andra," she thought, taking another swig. "Just what you need—a love triangle that's more complicated than a demon's contract."
To top it all off, there was the whole Valentine thing. She hadn't seen him in years—thank the angels for that—but his voice still echoed in her mind as if he were right there beside her. "You're a good girl," he'd say, that sickly sweet tone dripping with false affection. It was enough to make her want to scream, and yet here she was, drowning her sorrows in the very place where shadows mingled with the living.
"Classy move, Andra," she muttered to herself, downing the last of her drink. "What would the others think? 'Oh look, it's the Shadowhunter who drinks alone at a club because she's haunted by her dead father and confused about her feelings.'"
Just as she was contemplating ordering another drink, Jace appeared beside her, his golden hair catching the light. "You look like you're plotting world domination or just trying to erase your memory with that drink," he said, leaning casually against the bar.
Andra smirked, her sarcasm sliding into place effortlessly. "Well, if I were plotting world domination, I'd definitely have a better drink than this swill. But for now, I'm just trying to forget that I'm a hot mess with a penchant for bad decisions."
His raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "What's got you in such a state? I mean, aside from the obvious?"
"Oh, you know, just the usual: complicated love lives, emotional baggage, and the occasional haunting from someone that's been dead for years. No big deal." She waved her hand dismissively, though the humor in her tone was laced with an undercurrent of honesty.
"Valentine is still bothering you?" He asked, his expression shifting to one of concern.
"Not in the way you think," She replied, her voice lowering slightly. "It's more like his voice won't leave my head. It's like he's still trying to manipulate me from beyond the grave. And then there's Dean, who is a solid distraction, but it feels wrong to even think about him when Magnus is still…" She trailed off, biting her lip.
"Still Magnus?" Jace finished for her, his tone gentle. "It's okay to have feelings for more than one person, you know. It doesn't mean you love Magnus any less."
"Yeah, well, my heart didn't get that memo," she sighed, frustration bubbling to the surface. "It thinks it can just throw a party for two while I'm still trying to figure out who's invited."
"Sounds like a typical Saturday night," Jace joked, trying to lighten the mood. "But seriously, you can't keep drinking your feelings away. You have to deal with them eventually."
"Ugh," She replied, rolling her eyes. "Next, you'll tell me to journal my feelings or something."
"Actually, journaling might help," he said with a straight face. "Just make sure you don't write about how much you love me. That would be awkward."
"Trust me, that's not a problem I have," Andra grinned, feeling a little lighter. "But I'll think about your sage advice. For now, I'll just settle for another drink and your delightful company."
"Just remember, I'm here to help if you need it," he said, his expression sincere. "And if you ever want to talk about Dean or Magnus—or the joys of having a dead ass nagging you—I'm all ears."
"Thanks, Jace," Andra said, her heart warming at the support. "I'll keep that in mind. But for now, let's just enjoy the chaos of Pandemonium together."
As Andra sank deeper into her drink, the world around her began to blur, each pulse of music vibrating through her body. She leaned back against the bar, a giggle bubbling up from somewhere deep inside her. "You know, Jace," she started, her words slightly slurred, "I just remembered something Izzy said earlier tonight. She said my feelings for Magnus were 'obvious.' Like, obvious to everyone, even the demon in the corner!"
Jace raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "The demon in the corner? Is that a new way of saying you're drunk, or are you actually seeing demons now?"
Andra dissolved into laughter, the sound bright and carefree. "Oh, if only! Demons would have way more interesting things to say than I do right now. 'Hey, Andra, how's it feel to be a hot mess?'" She leaned closer to Jace, as if sharing a juicy secret. "And the worst part? I didn't even realize how obvious I was. I mean, who knew my heart was a billboard for Magnus?"
"Honestly? Probably everyone except you," Jace said, leaning in with mock seriousness. "I mean, it's not like you're trying to hide it. You light up like a Christmas tree every time he walks in the room. It's kind of adorable."
"Adorable?" She echoed, feigning shock. "Please, don't use that word. I'm trying to maintain some level of coolness here. Adorable is reserved for kittens and puppies, not for a fae Shadowhunter with a crush on an ancient warlock."
"Fae Shadowhunter?" He repeated, his expression shifting to one of amusement. "Now that's a title I've never heard before. You should put that on a business card. 'Andra: Fae Shadowhunter and Emotional Wreck.'"
"Don't give me ideas, Jace," she said, holding up her glass as if toasting him. "I might just do it. But then I'd have to explain why I'm a fae Shadowhunter and why my father—" She paused, the laughter fading as a shadow crossed her mind. "Why my father was a total nightmare."
He didn't catch the shift in her tone, too busy enjoying the banter. "Hey, at least you're not some boring old Shadowhunter. You've got a little magic in you. That's pretty cool."
"Right? Magic and chaos, like an explosive cocktail," She said, her words starting to slur together. "But honestly, it's exhausting. I'm basically a walking contradiction. One minute, I'm all tough and fierce, and the next, I'm a gooey mess every time Magnus is around. It's like my heart can't decide which side of the family to listen to."
"Sounds like you've got a lot going on in that head of yours," He replied, his tone sincere but still lighthearted. "But you don't have to figure it all out tonight. Just enjoy the chaos."
She giggled again, her mind swirling. "Enjoy the chaos? Jace, that's my life motto! 'Andra: Embracing the Chaos Since Forever.'" She took another sip, feeling the warmth spread through her. "But, you know, I wonder how Magnus would react if he knew I told him I love him. Would he think I'm cool, or just a little weird?"
"Honestly? Probably both," He said, chuckling. "But you know Magnus. He's not one to shy away from weirdness. He'd probably find it fascinating."
"Fascinating," Andra repeated, the word rolling off her tongue. "That's a nice way to say 'a little creepy.' Maybe I should just confess my undying love for him while I'm at it. 'Hey, Magnus! I'm a fae Shadowhunter, and I'm head over heels for you! Also, my dad is Valentine, but let's not focus on that.'"
Jace's amused expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly masked it. "You might want to save that confession for a more sober moment."
Andra waved her hand dismissively. "Pfft, who needs sobriety? It's overrated. Besides, everyone already knows I'm a disaster. What's a little more chaos in the mix?"
"True enough," He said, leaning back against the bar, clearly enjoying her antics. "But really, Andra, if you ever need to talk about Valentine or... well, anything, I'm here. You don't have to carry that weight alone."
She felt a swell of gratitude, the warmth of friendship pushing back against the shadows that had crept into her thoughts. "Thanks, Jace. You're like my personal cheerleader, but without the pom-poms. Just a sarcastic warrior with a flair for the dramatic."
"Hey, I'll take that as a compliment," he replied, his smile genuine. "Now, how about we get you another drink? Or maybe some water? We don't want you turning into a full-blown fae Shadowhunter disaster tonight."
"Water?" She wrinkled her nose in mock disgust. "What am I, a plant? No thanks! Just one more drink, and then I'll consider my life choices. Maybe."
Jace shook his head, chuckling as he signaled the bartender. "Alright, one more drink it is. But if you start talking about how you think Magnus is your soulmate or something, I'm cutting you off."
"Deal!" Andra laughed, raising her glass in salute. "To emotional messes and questionable decisions! May we always embrace the chaos!"
And as the night wore on, Andra surrendered to the warmth of the moment, her laughter mingling with the music, and for a little while, the tangled threads of her heart felt a little less heavy.
...
Andra groaned as she stirred awake, the light filtering through the window stabbing at her temples like tiny, angry daggers. She squinted, trying to piece together the events of the night before, but all that greeted her was a foggy haze and an overwhelming sense of regret. "Ugh, why do I do this to myself?" she mumbled, rolling over and burying her face in the pillow.
The room was quiet, save for the faint sound of footsteps. A moment later, Jace appeared, a glass of water in hand, looking annoyingly well-rested. "Morning, Sleeping Beauty," he said, amusement dancing in his blue eyes. "How's the hangover treating you?"
"Like a demon is tap dancing on my brain," Andra replied, sitting up slowly and cradling her head in her hands. "What happened last night? Did I embarrass myself?"
"Only a little," he said, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. "But don't worry, I'll spare you the details. Just drink this." He handed her the glass, and she took it gratefully, gulping down the cool water.
"Thanks," she said, grimacing slightly as the water did little to quell the pounding in her head. "But if you think I'm going to ask you to draw a healing rune, you're sorely mistaken. I'm not some delicate flower, Jace."
"Hmm, I don't know," he replied, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe. "You seemed pretty delicate last night, crying about being a fae Shadowhunter and stuff."
She nearly choked on the water. "What? I said what now?" Her heart dropped as the memory began to flicker in her mind like a faulty lightbulb. "Please tell me I didn't confess anything embarrassing."
"Let's just say you weren't exactly subtle," He said, raising an eyebrow. "You mentioned something about Valentine being your father, but rather that you were a fae Shadowhunter. Care to explain?"
Andra's stomach dropped. The pieces started to come together like a puzzle with missing edges. "Wait, I said that?" she asked, her voice tinged with panic. "I don't remember much after the first drink. Did I really...?"
Jace nodded, his expression serious now. "Yeah. You might want to clarify what you meant by that."
As the memories began to surface, Andra felt a wave of horror wash over her. "I— I was just joking, right? I mean, Valentine raised me, but... it's not like I'm his daughter." She winced at how her words came out all jumbled. "I mean, I am, but it's complicated. I didn't mean to—"
"Okay, slow down," He said, holding up a hand. "You're clearly not ready to spill the whole story. But if Valentine raised you, that means…?"
She clenched her jaw, fighting against the urge to reveal more than she intended. "He took me in when I was young. But I'm not like him. Not really. He just... raised me. It's not what you think." The truth felt like a tightrope walk, and she didn't want to slip.
"Right," He said, leaning closer, his eyes searching hers. "But you're still a fae Shadowhunter? How does that even work?"
"It's a long story," She replied, avoiding his gaze. "Let's just say I've got more than just Shadowhunter blood in me. But Valentine—he didn't teach me all of it. There's still so much I don't know."
"So, you're saying you have powers or abilities that come from your fae side?" He asked, his voice steady but filled with curiosity.
Andra shook her head slowly, feeling the weight of the truth pressing down on her. "No. I'm just fast and agile. But I've kept it hidden because… well, you know how people are about fae. It's not exactly a popular topic in the Shadowhunter community."
"Right," he said, his tone softening. "But you should know that whatever it is, it doesn't change who you are. You're still Andra, and we're still friends."
"Friends?" she repeated, her heart swelling a little at his words. "I mean, yeah. Friends who drink too much and spill secrets, apparently."
Jace chuckled, the tension easing slightly. "Exactly. So, if you need to talk about it, I'm here. Just... maybe next time skip the part where you get blackout drunk first."
"Deal," she said, managing a weak smile. "Just remind me to steer clear of whiskey when I'm feeling emotional."
"Sounds like a plan," Jace replied, his grin infectious. "But for now, let's get you some food. You need more than just water if you want to survive the day."
As they left the room, Andra's mind was still whirling, but the weight of her secrets felt a little lighter with Jace beside her. Maybe she could navigate this tangled web of her past, one step at a time. But that didn't mean she was ready to share everything just yet. Some secrets were meant to stay buried, at least for a little while longer.