An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood
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Rating: G, Word Count: 1751
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Human AU, Single Parent Magnus, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Christmas Cookies, Holidays
For @gingerangelofthursday for the @bytheangeldaily Holiday Gift Exchange. I hope you like it, and have an amazing 2019! ♥
‘Brought the flour you asked,’ Alec says as he steps into the kitchen. He looks and smells cold and windswept, his cheeks and nose red. Snowflakes are melting in his hair.
Magnus is always happy to see his downstairs neighbour, but right now he’s most excited about the bag of flour Alec is carrying under his arm. ‘Thank you.’ Magnus takes the bag and immediately starts measuring out what he needs.
‘Hi, Alec,’ Madzie says a little distractedly. She’s sitting at the kitchen island, a huge sheet of cookie dough rolled out in front of her. She’s carefully cutting out shapes with an assortment of cookie cutters.
‘What are you guys making?’
Magnus vaguely registers the rustling of Alec taking off his coat and the scraping of chair legs as Alec sits down next to Madzie.
‘Cookies,’ Madzie says like it should be obvious.
Alec huffs out a laugh. ‘I can see that. But what for? And why this many? Are you and your dad going to eat nothing but cookies this Christmas?’
‘They’re for school, so children who don’t have money can have a nice Christmas.’
‘Charity bake sale,’ Magnus adds.
‘Ah. Do you need any help?’
Magnus can’t help but smile at Madzie’s narrowed eyes as she looks at Alec, then glances at her dad. Can she trust Alec with this? They’ve both tasted some of his cooking before and it wasn’t… great. Slowly, she hands him a Christmas tree cookie cutter.
‘You can use this one.’
‘Thank you.’ Alec glances at Magnus, eyebrows raised. Magnus quickly goes back to his dough.
They find a rhythm. Magnus makes the dough, Alec helps Madzie cut out the shapes—under Madzie’s strict supervision—and then Magnus puts the cookies in the oven. After a couple hours they have about a hundred cookies in all shapes and sizes. There are quite a few Christmas trees and Santas, but Madzie wanted everyone to have a special cookie, so there are dreidels and snowmen, and a couple other shapes that Magnus can’t really define but he’s sure his daughter has a plan for.
‘Shouldn’t we decorate them?’ Alec asks, already going for the glazing and sprinkles.
‘No!’ Madzie shouts and latches onto his outstretched arm. ‘We have to let them cool down first.’
Alec presses his lips together in a barely suppressed smile and winks at Magnus. Magnus quickly looks away, so he doesn’t betray Alec with a smile of his own.
‘Well, what should we do in the meantime?’ Alec asks Madzie, easily turning her grip on his arm into them holding hands, and follows her to the living room.
‘Can we watch a movie?’
‘Sure, but maybe let Alec pick this time, sweetpea.’
‘I pick Princess and the Frog,’ Alec says.
Madzie marches triumphantly to the television.
‘You really shouldn’t give in to her so easily,’ Magnus sighs.
‘I know, but it’s hard to say no to those pigtails.’
Magnus snorts. ‘She had you wrapped around her little finger from the first time you met.’
‘True,’ Alec chuckles. He shrugs. ‘I don’t mind. So far, she’s never abused her powers.’
‘Are you sure?’ Magnus nods to where the Disney logo is appearing on the screen.
‘It’s an amazing movie,’ Alec protests.
‘Well, while you two are going to watch your amazing movie, I’m going to clean up the kitchen,’ Magnus says, pouting. ‘All on my own. With no one to help me.’
‘Make sure to clean up yourself a little, too,’ Alec teases. Then his hand is cradling Magnus’ cheek and his thumb swipes across Magnus’ cheekbone. Heat gathers where Alec’s palm is warm against his skin, then spreads through his entire body. Magnus forgets to breath for a second. ‘You’re covered in flour.’
When Alec removes his hand Magnus barely resists the urge to chase after that warm pressure.
The kitchen isn’t too big of a mess, but he does need to make room for the decorating. After a quick stop in the bathroom to wash his face, and a change of shirt, he joins Madzie and Alec on the couch.
‘We ordered Chinese,’ Alec tells him. ‘With extra spring rolls for you. For cleaning the kitchen.’ He turns his head and throws Magnus a beatific smile.
‘Thanks. And–‘
‘Shhh!’ Madzie glares at them both, then focusses back on the movie.
Magnus raises his eyebrows and catches Alec’s eye, then quickly looks away before he bursts out laughing.
They have dinner in front of the TV. The movie ends and Madzie drags them back to the kitchen to decorate the cookies. She gives them very specific instructions for how each is to be decorated, then stage whispers to Magnus to keep a close eye on Alec. Alec throws Magnus an affronted look when Madzie can’t see him, but Magnus supports his daughter on this one. Alec needs to be watched when it comes to preparing any kind of food, since, according to Madzie, he can even mess up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
‘Are you going to helps sell the cookies?’ Madzie asks, looking up from the snowman she’s decorating and turning to Alec.
‘I don’t think I’m allowed.’ At Madzie’s confused frown Alec explains, ‘I’m not a parent or family.’
‘Oh.’
‘Although, I could always pretend to be your dad’s boyfriend. You think that’ll get me in?’
Madzie turns with shining eyes to Magnus, silently pleading, but there’s something else there, too. Something that means she’s plotting.
‘Sure,’ Magnus says. ‘Alec can pretend to be my boyfriend to help sell the cookies.’
‘Yesss,’ Madzie grins, casts another look between the two men, and goes back to decorating.
Magnus can’t remember the last time he had this much fun, or felt so completely at peace. He doesn’t want the night to ever end, but Madzie has school the next day, which means she has to go to bed on time.
He sends her off to put on her pyjamas and brush her teeth, while he and Alec clean up all the spilled glazing and sprinkles. She’s barely in the hallway when she turns around and fixes both men with her gaze.
‘You can each have one cookie tonight,’ she says. ‘Just one.’
‘Thank you,’ Alec says, a serious look on her face.
‘We’ll only take one each,’ Magnus promises.
Madzie nods and continues on her way.
‘She’ll count them tomorrow, won’t she?’ Alec asks.
‘Oh, definitely,’ Magnus says. ‘She’ll get up extra early to make sure she has the time to count them twice.’
Alec chuckles, and starts loading the dishwasher.
‘She’s a great kid, Magnus.’
‘I know.’
‘She’s lucky to have you.’
‘Thank you.’ It’s barely more than a whisper, and it’s a struggle to get the words past the lump in his throat.
Madzie calls for Magnus when she’s ready for bed, and when he walks in, she’s already lying under the covers, the book she’s going to read by her flashlight barely tucked under her pillow. Magnus pretends he doesn’t see it. He’ll check on her in an hour.
‘Daddy,’ Madzie starts the second he walks into the room.
‘Yes, sweetpea?’
‘What if you asked Alec to really be your boyfriend? Then he wouldn’t have to pretend to come to the bake sale.’
‘Madzie…’
She sits up. ‘You smile more when he’s here. And he smiles when he looks at you.’
Magnus sits down on the edge of the mattress with a sigh. ‘Well, we’re friends. We like spending time together.’
Madzie looks unimpressed. ‘He’s here all the time. He’s come over every day this week.’
‘Well…’ Magnus has no idea what to say. He’s getting called out on his crush by his own daughter. ‘What if it doesn’t work out?’
‘It will.’
‘And you would be okay with that? With me dating Alec?’
‘I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t.’ Madzie’s expression goes a little sad. ‘You should be happy, daddy. You’re always happy when we’re hanging out with Alec.’
For the second time that night, there’s a lump stuck in Magnus’ throat. He pulls Madzie into a hug and presses a kiss to the top of her head.
‘You are wise beyond your years, sweetpea.’
‘I am the best at English and Maths,’ Madzie reminds him.
‘I know. I saw your report cart.’ Magnus lets her back down and tucks her in. ‘You brush your teeth?’
‘Yes.’ There are very few things that Magnus’ loves more than the exasperated tone his daughter uses when she says this.
He presses one more kiss to her forehead, and makes sure she’s tucked in tight. ‘Good night, sweetpea.’
‘Good night.’
Magnus turns off the light and closes her door. He hears the snick of the flashlight turning on before he’s taken a step.
‘What are you thinking about?’
Magnus blinks. He’s sitting next to Alec on the couch, wine glass in one hand, a cookie in the other. He’d been so lost in thought about what Madzie had said, that he hadn’t realized he’d sat down, or even come back to the living room. He shakes his head and throws Alec a small smile.
‘Nothing.’
Alec raises an eyebrow. ‘You haven’t said a word since you came back from saying good night to Madzie. Is everything okay?’
‘Everything is fine. It’s just…’ Magnus looks at Alec. He really looks, and what he sees is that Alec is perfectly at home here. He doesn’t behave like a guest; helping with the washing up without being asked, ordering food, pouring drinks for the two of them. He even has his own key. ‘It’s just something Madzie says.’
Alec doesn’t say anything, just waits for Magnus to continue.
‘She says that I smile more when you’re here. And that you smile whenever you look at me.’
A blush creeps up Alec’s cheeks, but he doesn’t look away. Instead, he smiles and says, ‘You give me plenty of reason to smile.’
Magnus feels the heat creeping into his own cheeks, but he doesn’t look away either. ‘She also said I should ask you to really be my boyfriend.’
‘Well, we wouldn’t have to lie to the other parents and teachers tomorrow.’
‘Is that a yes?’ Magnus’ heart hammers in his chest, full of hope.
‘We haven’t even gone on a date yet.’
‘Do you need a date?’
Alec shakes his head, leaning in, giving Magnus plenty of time to pull back. ‘No,’ he whispers into the space between them.
Magnus closes the distance. Alec tastes of sugar and wine. And it’s perfect.
Simon Lewis/Jace Lightwood
Rating: T, Word Count: 1198
Canon Universe, Past Clary/Jace, Past Jace/Maia, Angst, Jace Is Bad at Feelings, Misunderstandings, Or Rather: Bad Communication, Maia&Simon Friendship, POV Simon
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Read on AO3
Simon closes the door to the boathouse behind him, head spinning and chest tight. How could he have been so stupid? Why did he think that he would be any different from any of the others? He slides down to the floor and hugs his knees to his chest. Just another Tuesday, and another broken heart.
He closes his eyes, but the image of Jace flirting with that girl, leaning in close and whispering something in her ear, making her laugh, becomes even more vivid.
This wasn’t how tonight was supposed to go; he wasn’t even supposed to be near the Hunter’s Moon, but Maia had a book that might help him with his paper. He was just going to meet her at the start of her shift, pick up the book, maybe have a glass of O-neg, then go back home to write that damn paper. Everything went to shit when he put his hand on the door, looked up, and saw Jace through the window, in that corner, with that girl.
Simon presses a hand to his chest at the memory, gasping for breath. He doesn’t even need to breathe. Is this what being staked feels like?
He’d frozen with his hand on the doorknob. Maia said something, but his ears were ringing. He hadn’t even noticed her walking up to him. And then he ran. He ran as fast as he could, back to the boathouse.
He should’ve seen it coming. He and Jace have never done anything together that didn’t involve a bed, or a chair, or the floor, one time the wall, and very little clothes. They talked, after, watched a movie, but they didn’t go on dates. Jace has never even stayed the night. Simon drags his fingers through his hair, pressing his forehead to his knees. How could he have been so blind?
‘Simon?’
Simon jumps up and throws open the door. He didn’t have a plan for what to say, his words usually just pour out, but at the sight of Jace, standing on the other side of the door, a dark stain on his shirt that spreads from his stomach down to the top of his jeans, the words refuse to come. For a second, Simon thinks the dark stain might be blood and he tries to remember where the first-aid kit is, then he smells the stale beer. He wrinkles his nose.
‘Why did Maia throw beer in my lap?’ Jace asks, gesturing at his wet shirt and jeans. ‘Accompanied by the words “this is for Simon”.’
Simon can’t help the smile that tugs at his lips. Maia is an awesome friend.
‘I think it might have something to do with the girl who was practically crawling into your lap,’ Simon says, crossing his arms over his chest.
Jace frowns, his eyes searching Simon’s face.
‘Look,’ Simon sighs. ‘Obviously there’s been some miscommunication about what we were doing.’
Jace’s frown deepens, and there’s a blip in his heartbeat.
‘And I may have communicated that miscommunication to Maia,’ Simon finishes. He looks away from Jace’s now shell-shocked expression. ‘I’ll call her later to fix it so you won’t get beer thrown in your face every time you walk into the Hunter’s Moon.’
Jace is completely silent, so Simon figures that’s it. This is the end of his three weeks of… something with Jace. His hand is on the door to close it when Jace splutters, ‘I– But we–‘
Simon looks up. Jace’s jaw is working, his heart is pounding unevenly; there’s no sign of his usual bravado. He looks down at his feet, obviously struggling with his words, and Simon has no intention of helping him. ‘But it didn’t mean anything,’ Jace finally says.
Simon had expected the words, but they still feel like a slap in the face. He takes a step back. He closes his eyes, hoping to dispel the dizziness caused by those four words bouncing around in his head.
‘Did it?’ The words sound small, and when Simon opens his eyes and looks at Jace, he looks even smaller.
Those four little words stick to a memory. Clary saying “It didn’t mean anything” after the kiss in the Seelie court. Maia saying “It didn’t mean anything” after she told Simon she’d slept with Jace. Jace’s entire love life seems to be made of one-night stands and weekend flings, and “it didn’t mean anything”s. Simon’s chest tightens again, but for a completely different reason. He looks into Jace’s eyes, so scared and uncertain.
He clears his throat to make sure his voice is steady and clear when he says, ‘It means something.’
The words don’t have the effect he hoped for. Jace looks devastated.
‘Simon, I’m so sorry.’ The words sound almost broken. Jace reaches for him, but then snatches his hand back. ‘I just–‘ He laughs bitterly. ‘I have no idea what to do right now. How to make this up to you.’
‘Just, tell me, does this, us, mean something to you?’ Simon asks.
Jace nods. It’s small and quick, and Simon would’ve called it terse if it wasn’t for the hope written all over his face.
‘Well, then,’ Simon says, smiling. ‘Let’s start with an actual date.’
‘Now?’
Simon shakes his head. ‘I’m working on a paper. Some of us still go to school.’
‘Right.’ Jace looks down at his feet, then he takes a step towards Simon so they’re almost toe-to-toe. He gently takes Simon’s hand in his. When he looks up again, he there’s a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. ‘I could keep you company?’ he suggests.
‘Not in that shirt, you’re not.’ Simon wrinkles his nose and plucks at Jace’s shirt. ‘Come on, you can clean up inside, and borrow something of mine.’
Jace lets himself be led into the boathouse and shoved into the bathroom. Simon grabs a set of clothes from his dresser, and leaves them outside the bathroom door. Listening to the running water with half an ear, he installs himself on his bed, and organizes his books, pens and notepads around him, his laptop in his lap. He’s just found where he left off earlier, when Jace walks out of the bathroom and awkwardly stands beside the bed.
‘I didn’t sleep with anyone else,’ he blurts out. ‘I was just flirting with her because…’
‘Because you’re terrible at feelings and don’t know how to deal with them properly,’ Simon finishes for him.
‘Hey! I’m getting better,’ Jace protests, then he huffs out laugh. He clambers onto the bed next to Simon. ‘So, now what?’ he asks.
‘You find some way to entertain yourself while I work on this?’ Simon suggests, waving towards his laptop. He glances at Jace, who smirks, and Simon quickly adds, ‘You find a way to entertain yourself that doesn’t distract me.’
Jace pouts, but he slides off the bed to rummage through Simon’s books. He picks one, then drops back onto the bed, on his stomach. Simon thinks of telling Jace that his ass is distracting him, but he doubts it will do him any good, so with a little extra willpower, he focusses on his paper.
Simon Lewis/Maia RobertsRating: T, Word Count: 633Tags: Established Relationship, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Studying
Simon looks up from his keyboard, needing a break from thefour bars that refuse to be written, to find Maia staring furiously at hernotes and gripping her hair in frustration.
‘Hey,’ he says softly, getting herattention.
‘I can’t do this,’ she groans. She gestures at her laptop. ‘It doesn’t make any sense. Idon’t make any sense. I’m gonna fail. And I’m not gonna get my degree. And I’m gonna be stuck with a student loanthat I won’t be able to pay off, becauseI’ll be working a minimum wage job thatwon’t even pay enough for me to pay rent.’
‘Wow. It’s not that bad. You know all thisstuff. You’ve been getting near perfectgrades for four years!’ Hepulls off his headphones and moves towards his girlfriend. He puts his hand on hershoulder. ‘We can do this, okay?’
‘You cansay that. You’ve got it easy,’ Maia bites out. ‘All you have to do is smashsome keys, call it art, and you’ve gotyourself a degree in music.’
Simon knows she’s tiredand frustrated and scared, and is lashing out because of that, but the remarkstill stings and he has to bite back a retort that might lead to a full-blownfight. But something must show in his expression, because regret flashes acrossMaia’s face.
‘I’m sorry, Si,’ she sighs. ‘Iknow that’s not how you compose music.It’s just…’
He pulls her out of her chair and plucks the pen frombehind her ear, dropping it on the desk. ‘Iknow.’ Maia rests her forehead onhis shoulder and he can feel her trembling. ‘Let’s take a break,’ he suggests. ‘We’ll takea nap, get some food that is actually somewhat healthy.’
‘Youmean with actual vegetables and stuff?’ Maiagasps.
Simon chuckles. ‘Exactly.And then we’ll try again. We can do this.’
‘How doyou know?’ Maia asks. She lifts herhead, and Simon’s heart hurts at how tiredshe looks. ‘I don’t even know if I can do this.’
‘Yeah,but you don’t know you like I do,’ Simon grins. ‘So you’re justgonna have to trust me and my knowledge of you and your beautiful brain.’
Maia huffs out a laugh. ‘Rightback at ya,’ she says, punching himlightly in the shoulder. ‘Thatmusic you’re writing, it’s gonna blow them away. You’re gonna get calls from Hollywood andBroadway the day after your final presentation.’
‘I’m gonna make so much money with mymusic that I can singlehandedly fund your research that’s going to save the ocean’s.’
‘We’re gonna be awesome.’ Maia is beaming now. She presses akiss to his lips and hugs him tight.
Simon buries his head in the crook of her neck and smilesagainst her skin. He hadn’trealized how much he’dneeded that. He pulls back and presses a kiss to Maia’s forehead. ‘Nowlet’s take that nap.’
They quickly get rid of their clothes and fall onto thebed. Seeing his girlfriend in nothing but her panties as she grabs one of Simon’s shirts to sleep in, should betantalizing, and it is, a little, but all Simon can think of is how comfortableit’s gonna be to have Maia’s arm around his waist, or her handin his, or head on his chest, just to have her close as he falls asleep.
‘G’night,’ Maiamumbles when they’re both comfortable.
‘Is itnight?’ Simon asks. He lost allconcept of time at some point this week.
‘Fuck ifI know.’
Simon tries to open his eyes to check, but they’re too heavy. So he takes a deepbreath, forces his thoughts away from his music, and instead focusses on whereMaia’s leg comfortable and warmpressing against his, and falls asleep.
93. “It’s a real shame nobody asked for your opinion.”
Isabelle Lightwood/Maia RobertsRating: G, Word Count: 360Tags: Canon Universe, Established Relationship, Fluff
‘I thinkyou need a break.’
‘It’s a real shame nobody asked for youropinion,’ Izzy mutters, maintainingher hunched over position over the paper she’sscribbling on. A handful of claw clips is barely holding her hair into a messybun. A lock of hair slides in front of Izzy’s face,and she absentmindedly tucks it behind her ear.
‘Actually,your brother did,’ Maia says.
Izzy freezes, her pen hovering over her paper. She slowlysits up and turns around, wincing when she straightens her back and a loudcrack sounds through the lab, to look at Maia, who is looking at her with raisedeyebrows and a smile.
‘I didn’t realize it was you. Sorry,’ Izzy says.
‘Ifigured.’ Maia shrugs. ‘I was serious about that break,though. And so was Alec. I think if he could’veordered me to drag you out of here and into the fresh air, he would’ve.’
Izzy frowns. ‘Hecould’ve ordered me to do that.’
‘Apparentlyhe did, and you threatened to throw some highly volatile chemicals at him.’
Izzy winces again, though not from pain this time. Thenshe shrugs. ‘He’ll get over it.’ She grabs Maia’s hand and her lips twist into arueful smile. ‘I wish I could take abreak, but this new type of Forsaken–’
‘Will behere when you get back.’
‘But mycultures…’ Izzy protests, gesturing atthe row of petri dishes.
‘One ofyour minions can watch them.’
‘We’re not her minions, we’re her colleagues,’ a blond guy in a lab coat grumblesfrom a few stations over. He looks up from his microscope to glare at her, thenhis gaze softens a little as he looks at Izzy. ‘They’ll be fine. We’ll let you know if something weird happens.’
‘Well…’ Izzy looks from the petri dishes toMaia.
‘Are youreally gonna pick Forsaken goo over your super cute girlfriend?’ Maia asks. ‘Who not only looks better, but smells better, too.’
Izzy laughs. She stands up and presses a kiss to Maia’s cheek. ‘Good point.’ Sheshrugs off her lab coat and hangs it on its hook by the door. ‘Let’s go.’
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Simon Lewis/Jace Lightwood
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Rating: T, Word Count: 3887
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Office AU, Mutual Pining, Obliviousness, Fluff, Food Stealing, POV Simon
Someone is stealing Simon's sandwiches and it's pissing him off, because despite the (very polite) notes he's been leaving, it doesn't stop happening. In fact, the thief seems to enjoy their little exchange by fridge notes. And then there's Jace, who has chosen today to start flirting with him. At least, Simon's pretty sure Jace is flirting with him. Possibly...
Simon stares at the empty spot in the fridge with disbelief. That morning, when he came in, he’d put his sandwiches in that exact spot. He’d even put a note on it with his name so nobody else would take it. And it’s gone. Again. For the third day in a row!
He slams the fridge door shut, and stomps back to his desk. Smashing the keys a little harder than necessary as he types a polite, yet challenging, letter to the asshole who keeps stealing his lunch.
Simon Lewis/Jace Lightwood
Rating: T, Word Count: 846
Canon Divergence, Post s02e14 The Fair Folk, Past Clairy/Simon, Past Jace/Maia, Love Confessions, Getting Together, POV Jace
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Read on AO3
Jace’s head is a mess. Part of his life he didn’t even realize existed fell apart after the visit to the Seelie Court, after that kiss, and he can’t figure out how to put it back together. He and Clary haven’t talked much, and they only talk about work when they do talk. Maia wasn’t happy when he first told her about the kiss; but when he finished the story, she poured him a couple shots, saying he needed them. They’re still friends, or whatever it was they were before. And then there’s Simon. He hasn’t seen or spoken to Simon at all. The fucker probably uses his super hearing and speed to avoid him.
Right now, only three things makes sense: his siblings, missions, and music—the easy glide of his fingers over the piano keys, the rustle of the sheet music as he turns the pages, rows and rows of notes woven together into a beautiful melody. He doesn’t play much anymore, but he really needed it today, partly because he’s least likely to be disturbed in this room. Music isn’t exactly a common hobby with Shadowhunters.
‘I didn’t know you played.’
Jace’s head snaps up. Simon is standing in the doorway. He’s too far in the shadows for Jace to see his face, but he can make out the tense line of Simon’s shoulders.
‘Not much anymore,’ Jace says. He realises he’s stopped playing, and turns his attention back to the sheet music. He’s acutely aware of Simon stepping into the room and walking towards him. All his effort is into continuing to play, even though he can barely stop his hands from shaking. He scoots over to make room for Simon on the bench, an open invitation. His heart tries to beat out of his chest as he waits for Simon’s response. Simon sits down, leaving just enough room between them that Jace can still move his arm for playing.
‘I’m sorry,’ Jace blurts out after a minute of piano filled silence. ‘For hurting you.’
‘Not for the kiss?’
Jace wants to say he is, but he’s not. He shakes his head, and keeps playing.
‘Take care of Clary, okay?’ Simon says. His voice sounds strange, like he has to push the words out.
Jace turns to Simon, brows knitting. ‘Clary and I aren’t anything but friends.’
‘What?’ Simon’s question rings through the room, and Jace realizes he’s stopped playing again. He sets his fingers to the keys again.
‘Haven’t you talked to her?’ he asks.
Simon shrugs. ‘Yes, but… Not about that.’
‘Clary and I, we needed to figure things out,’ Jace explains. He sees Simon turn towards him from the corner of his eye, and feels his gaze burning on his skin. He keeps his own eyes on the music. ‘With everything that’s going on, we hadn’t had the chance to really talk about what we were. We were falling for each other, then we were siblings, and then we weren’t, and it was kind of a mess.’ Jace grimaces. He’d been so confused, not sure which feelings were real and which were just memories of feelings. ‘That kiss pretty much cleared it all up.’
‘Oh.’
Jace continues playing as he lets Simon think on his words. This conversation probably didn’t go as he expected.
‘So…’ Simon begins, hesitantly. ‘Did that kiss clear up anything else? Aside from you and Clary just being friends?’
‘That I would do anything to never have you look the way you did after that kiss, ever again,’ Jace says, rushing the words out in a single breath. He doesn’t want to see Simon’s reaction, but his eyes won’t obey him, and he peeks at him from the corner of his eye. Simon is frozen, looking like a startled statue.
‘You know, that kiss cleared some things up for me too,’ Simon says. His voice is soft, and wavering slightly. ‘I wasn’t really upset that Clary didn’t kiss me. Well, I was upset. We were dating, and watching someone you date kiss someone else always sucks. I was upset that Clary kissed you.’
Jace’s fingers still. It’s his turn to be startled. The last note rings out loudly, and he quickly takes his hands off the keys and feet off the pedals. He finally turns to look Simon in the eye. He has no idea what his face is doing, but it must be something good, because Simon leans forward and presses their lips together. Simon’s lips are cool, but heat shoots through Jace’s body. It burns away the leftover chaos in his head and sooths his muscles, relaxing him for the first time in weeks. When they pull back, they’re both smiling.
‘So you really do think I have a pretty face,’ Simon grins. His eyes sparkle, and if he still could, Jace thinks he’d blushing.
Jace considers saying something sarcastic, to make a joke out of it, but then decides against it. ‘I really do,’ he confirms.
‘Well, I think you have a pretty face, too,’ Simon says, and pulls Jace back in.
Isabelle tries to figure out how to get Clary to start drawing again. She decides to take the least direct approach.
Isabelle hadn’t meant to take things this far. All she wanted was to see more of Clary’s art, but since Clary hasn’t picked up a pencil in months and it’s become a bit of a sore subject for her, Isabelle had to get a little creative. She knew Clary posted some of her work online, she just didn’t know where. Getting that info from Simon took almost no effort. Clary has her earliest work on DeviantArt, a couple pictures of half-finished drawings on Instagram, but most of it’s on Tumblr. Simon even told her Clary’s usernames without any prodding from her.
The second Isabelle got back to her room and her laptop, she’d looked up all of Clary’s profiles. She knew Clary could draw, but this is something else. She spends several hours admiring the drawings and paintings of both the magical and the mundane, of terrifying demons and simple landscapes. A lot of the pieces have partial runes in them, and it makes Isabelle smile. She traces the faint outline of the fire rune in the sky above a water demon. Even when Clary didn’t know it, she was already part of this world, her angel blood singing to her through the walls Jocelyn had built in an attempt to protect her. And then this world took everything from Clary: her home, her mother, her art.
Isabelle sighs and frowns at her screen. Even with her untrained eye, she can see the love and joy in Clary’s drawings, despite their often dark subjects. She wants Clary to have that back. She wants Clary to see the beauty in the world again. She needs Clary to remember that the world isn’t made of ichor and death.
After a moments deliberation, Isabelle has made her decision. It doesn’t take her long to figure out how the site works and then she has her own blog. The first thing she does is reblog every piece of Clary’s art, leaving compliments in the tags. It doesn’t feel like enough, too impersonal. She goes back and forth between sending an ask or using the messenger. Finally she chooses the ask. The messenger might be a little too personal; and she doesn’t want Clary to find out it’s her, since Clary doesn’t exactly appreciate her bringing up her art in real life. Sometimes a compliment or encouragement is easier to accept from a stranger than from a friend.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Simon Lewis/Jace Lightwood
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Rating: T, Word Count: 6454
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Human AU, Fake Relationship, College AU, Case Fic (sort of), Pining, Fluff, Angst, Minor Alec/Magnus, Minor Clary/Isabelle, POV Simon
Simon impulsively signed up for a class he will need all his detecting skills for. He's not sure about his partner for the project, but it doesn't take long before Jace's changes his mind and Simon starts to like him. So how can Simon possibly say no when Jace asks him to be his fake-boyfriend?
Simon zones out a little until he hears: ‘Lewis with Lightwood.’ He sits up and looks around. A blond guy in dark jeans and a leather jacket saunters over to him. Lightwood drops down in the chair next to Simon’s, leaning back and legs splayed, like it’s the most comfortable he’s ever been. Then again, he looks like he’d manage to make himself comfortable anywhere. Simon doesn’t know if it’s the guy’s looks or the confidence, but something about him puts him on edge. Lightwood smiles and Simon realizes what it is. Lightwood makes him feel like he has something prove. More than that, Simon wants to prove himself to him.
Simon clenches his jaw and resolves not to let this guy get to him.
‘Jace,’ the guy says, extending his hand. It’s big and warm around Simon’s.
This was my gift for @wordsablaze for the @jimonsecretsnowflake event
