Clockwork Heart | ✓

quinque.

London, 1903

"Brooklyn," Tessa said the next morning at breakfast. Six heads looked up at Tessa at the mention of the anachronism's name. "We have a friend that's a warlock that could help you, but he wasn't at his house last night. A friend of his told us that he'll be back tomorrow, and we will try to contact him then to see if there is anything he can do to help."

"Thank you," Brooklyn said.

Tessa smiled kindly at her. "Since the length of your stay is indefinite and you can't keep wearing Lucie's dresses that fit you poorly, we're sending you, Cordelia, and Lucie out to buy some clothes for you."

James had decided then that he would follow them, to make sure they were safe.

He knew that Brooklyn would be safe--Lucie was an excellent fighter, as was Cordelia--but he didn't like the look on Cordelia's face. He knew Cordelia, and he knew that if it came down to it, she probably wouldn't protect Brooklyn. She would protect Lucie, her parabatai, who didn't need her protection.

That was why he was following the three girls through the busy streets of London. Lucie chattered on about everything in the city to Brooklyn, pointing out different buildings and streets and people, while Cordelia sulked and glared at Brooklyn, who ignored her. Dress shop after dress shop they found nothing.

Around three in the afternoon--after James had considered throwing himself off of a bridge or turning back and returning to the Institute several times--they found a shop with designs that Lucie deemed fit for Brooklyn. The entire process was quite boring and tedious, but they purchased six gowns for Brooklyn--a brown one, a pink one, a yellow one, a green one, and two light blue dresses. They were told the dresses would be in by the end of the week, and then they bought her a pair of simple black boots and a pair of simple brown ones. They looked awfully uncomfortable, but if they were, Brooklyn didn't complain once.

Their conversations hadn't really interested James until he heard his name.

"Brooklyn," Lucie said on the way back to the Institute, "I couldn't help but noticed that since you've been here, Jamie has started to act like himself again. I don't know what it is about you or what it is that you've done, but thank you."

"I don't think I've really done anything," Brooklyn said.

"Oh, stop pretending to be all humble." Cordelia snapped. "Go ahead. Gloat. We all know you want to."

Lucie and Brooklyn both turned to look at Cordelia. "I'm sorry," Brooklyn said, "but I can't seem to recall what I did to you to earn such hostility. Could you please fill me in?" She hadn't said it rudely, and James smiled, because only Brooklyn could say something like that and have it not sound awful.

Cordelia's black eyes darkened. "I like James," She snapped.

Brooklyn laughed. "Yes, his presence is quite enjoyable."

"No," Cordelia snarled. "I'm in love with him, you foolish mundane."

James realized that this was not a conversation he should be listening to.

He turned and hurried, running around the girls and towards the Institute. He hurried up the stairs and to his room and flung himself onto his bed, switching mid fall back to a person.

It was a while later that a knock came on his door, followed by a very angry redhead storming into his room. Cordelia. He brightened, lifting his eyes from his book. "Daisy!"

"Don't play around, James." She snapped, leaning against the now-shut door. "I'm beyond angry."

"And why is that?" He asked, sitting up. His heart thudded in his chest. He hoped she couldn't hear it.

"That stupid mundane girl," she seethed, "I want her gone."

"She'll be gone soon enough," he told her. 

"It will not be soon enough," she snapped. "I want her gone now."

James stood up and crossed the room, taking Cordelia's hands in his. There was a time that he was in love with Cordelia Carstairs, and perhaps there would be a time after Brooklyn Mathis that he would love her again. "I promise, she'll be gone soon."

She looked up at him with sad eyes. "I feel like she's taking you away from me, Jamie. I...I love you."

He smiled down at her. "Perhaps there will be a time where I love you too, Daisy." He told her. "But my heart still aches from an all too recent shattering, and so I cannot reciprocate your love yet."

She closed her eyes. "Just a chance, Jamie. That's all I ask."

His heart ached, knowing that this was how it would be. Even if he loved Grace. Even if he ended up falling for Brooklyn Mathis. It would always be James Herondale and Cordelia Carstairs in the end. Always.

"You have more than a chance, Daisy." He assured her. "More than a chance."