James: fashionable, but not trying too hard; iconic over-the-shoulder smolder; dramatic wings; cheekbones; has a book tucked under one arm because he is Wessa’s child; angsty Herondale vibes; those gold eyes are watching you; 10/10
Matthew: fashion icon; the little half smile; hey babe 😉; bi king; the rings; the vice-president of Anna’s heartbreaker squad; blonde waves; this man is beautiful and he knows it; 10/10
Thomas: big man; sexy suspenders; 4 buttons undone; the rose tattoo; simultaneously intimidating and hot; Alastair better watch out; 10/10
Christopher: Glasses and goggles, what an inspired fashion choice; unbuttoned vest; the cute smile; “I am here to help”; smudged with dirt and he doesn’t even care; this man is in his happy place; smol bean; 10000000/10
PARABATAI WEEK — day 4, James Herondale and Matthew Fairchild @carstairgray
Safe
tw mention of sexual harassment
it’s too often forgotten that james threw a grown ass boy in the thames for insulting tessa — which is a crime, my boy james deserves recognition — so here’s my take on what would happen when he found kellington harassing matthew even after being fired and told to stay away
James was laying on his bed, reading a book as he did most nights, when a sense of great discomfort and fear took hold of him. He brought a hand to his chest and stood, trying to figure out why his breathing seemed to have become so rushed. His shadowhunter reflexes told him to check for treats but there weren't any, and as he paced around his room, he realized those feelings weren't truly his. They were his parabatai's. Something was wrong with Matthew.
Without thinking twice he grabbed his coat and ran out of the institute to fetch Balios. He knew Matthew was at the Hell Ruelle with Anna: he was safe, it was a simple night out in their favourite salon and Kellington had been fired and warned to keep his distance weeks before, thanks to Anna's help. But something was wrong, James could feel it, and the fear he felt through his connection with his parabatai only grew more intense as he urged the horse to run faster.
When he reached the salon he pushed past the guard at the door and strode in the main room to look for Anna, who'd already seen him walk in and was waving a hand to the guard to signal he was with her.
“Where's Matthew?” he asked before Anna could say anything.
“I don't know, he was at the bar only two minutes ago, talking to a most charming warlock, I believe.” Anna's eyes darkened when she noticed the hard lines of worry on James' face. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes” he replied, and walked out of the room. He heard Anna calling his name but he didn't turn, he stalked to the near corridors and started checking behind every door, inside every room. Half of them were empty and others were occupied by people who weren't his parabatai, and a new fear of his own raised in his chest. He could feel Matthew was not happily chatting at the bar, he could feel something was off.
After the tenth door he opened, he stumbled on a locked one and his heart started racing. Matthew.
He banged on the door and a voice told him to go somewhere else. “We're busy here.”
Kellington's voice.
All his discipline and control faded. “Kellington, you bastard! Open this damn door!” he yelled.
“Jamie!” Matthew. The sound of his parabatai's voice from the other side of the door was like a tether, a lighthouse in that darkness. He was in there, Matthew was in that room. But he wasn't safe. He knew that undertone in his voice, the fear he'd heard times before.
James' senses focused. “Matthew” he called, fumbling for his stele to open the door. “Are you okay?”
No answer came, but James heard rustling behind the locked door and a moment later he heard glass breaking. His heart sank in his chest and he kicked the door open. Matthew was pressed up against the wall of the dimly lit room and Kellington was caging him with his body. The place smelled of cheap liquor and the floor was littered with shattered glass. James' eyes landed on Matthew's face, his sharp lineaments stained with tears, his skin much paler than usual. James felt his heart sink even deeper.
Kellington moved away as soon as he realized the door was open and Matthew dropped to the floor, as if his legs couldn't hold him anymore. James ran to his parabatai and caught him mid-movement, sitting him gently on the floor and pressing a hand to his cheek. “Math. Math, please, look at me. Are you okay?” Matthew raised his eyes and his deep green irises fixated on James' face as he checked him for injuries. Matthew nodded faintly and closed his hand around James' arm. He was shivering and he still looked alarmingly pale, but he was fine. His Matthew was fine.
James heard movement behind him and he turned to see Kellington trying to leave the room as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. He stood and, before he could think it through, his fist was clashing with Kellington's jaw. James felt the pain crawl under his skin, spreading from his knuckles to his wrist, and welcomed it all. Before he could regain his footing, James pushed Kellington against the wall and lined up a dagger to his throat. He heard Matthew draw in a sharp breath behind him and call his name in a warning. His mind was racing.
Kellington laughed and spit up blood. You can’t kill me shadowhunter. You don’t have the guts to do it.”
James steadied his breathing and let the presence of his parabatai fill his bones and calm him. He drew in a heavy breath. “I live by the law of the Angel, and that forbids me to slit your throat this very moment. But you will leave this city tonight, find another place to plague with your miserable existence, and you will never walk anywhere near Matthew again, or I will have your life. You know damn well who I am, I can bring you to hell and bring hell right here to you in no time, if I see you one more time. I will feed you to whatever demon I can find to command.”
James felt Kellington shudder lightly and he saw a shadow of fear cross his face. He wasn't sure the werewolf could truly be afraid of his words, but as he spoke a glimpse of his shadow realm appeared to him and he knew Kellington had seen him turn to shadow for that split second.
The shadowhunter lowered his dagger and turned around to run back to Matthew, as Kellington left with swift steps. His parabatai was still on the floor, one of his hands clutching his wrist and an expression on his face James couldn't quite decipher. He knelt before him, taking his coat off and placing it on his parabatai's shoulders, checking on his wrist as he drew out his stele. A purple mark in the shape of a far too firm grip was starting to appear there. “Math, please forgive me. I should have come sooner. I didn't know— ”
His words were cut off when Matthew drew him in and enveloped him in a tight hug. His body was shaken by sobs and shivers and James sustained him with all the strength he could muster. He ran a hand through his golden locks as Matthew nuzzled his head in the crook of his neck and murmured “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Matthew.”
Matthew was clutching hard the back of his shirt, as if to steady himself and make sure James was truly there with him. “Thank you for coming” he said between the sobs.
James laid a gentle kiss on hid head and held him until the tears stopped coming and his breathing steadied again. “I thought he was gone” Matthew said, his voice so feeble as if to confess a secret.
“He is now” James told him, a surety in his voice he didn't entirely feel but wanted to make reality for his parabatai. “I'll make sure he is. I should have done that months ago.”
Matthew's breathing hitched and James' heart ached for him, for the secrets he'd kept and the burden he hadn't shared, the ghosts he couldn't cancel for him. “I'll make sure you're safe now” he added, and this he meant more than anything he'd ever said in his life.
tag list @cordaisya @im-not-ruined-im-ruination @surrounded-by-exquisite-clutter @stxr-thxif @icycoolslushie @writeforjordelia @gabtapia @fair-childd @clarys-heosphoros @shadowhuntingdemigod (let me know if you want to be added or removed!)
The line we so desperately wanted James to say, the line we thought would be followed by Cordelia's heart swelling with love, the line that was supposed to satisfy us, let us hold the book close to our hearts, close our eyes and hug it tight, letting out a relieved sigh.
Matthew: “Anyway, please stop harassing my boutonniere – it’s not its fault if I’m such a scandalous individual –”
Lucie: “Ah, yes! I can hear the guests already whispering away how your looks have suffered from such an endeavour!”
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head over my ig @bgzart for a close-up 😍 and follow me there if you have not yet!
First fanart of 2021, first (aweful) attempt at painting a background, and first fanart of my second fav ship after Jordelia who still does not have a fanart but I should remedy to that soon if I weren’t swamped in work. Man, that took a while!
This is a personal interpretation of that opening ball at the beginning of Chain of Gold where we see Lucie and Matthew dancing away through Cordelia’s p.o.v. – I love them so much I cannot express it in words. A short comic is also coming about this scene after that ask reply cassie sent me a while back 😏 Can’t wait to see what’s in store for these two, because I feel it in my bones that it’s not over yet.
What do you think?? Should I draw the boys character profile like I am doing for all the girls?
Also, do not forget to check The Jordelia Help Desk (and sometimes Mucie Help Desk too 😉) run by my dearest @ohnotoomanyfandoms and I, over at her account and under the #Jordelia Help Desk!
Any comment, reshare, etc are always very much appreciated 🥰
