The Mortal Instruments - City of Cataclysm

Getting Around

Clary and Jace looked from side to side before gingerly crossing the gummed-up alleyway of revving cars, motorbikes guzzling oil and exasperated pedestrians.
"Why couldn't we just have cooled down in that chip shop back there?", whined Jace.
"Oh shut up you dumkopf!", Clary hissed between clenched teeth, "You're the one who slept in this morning! If we'd only arrived here a couple of hours earlier then it would have been deserted! But oh no! Monsieur had to have his beauty sleep, didn't he?"
"But...but... It's important for your complexion!", Jace stuttered.
Clary stared at him, her jaw dropped.
"Since when have you started caring about your complexion?"
"Oh, you know. I've taught him a few beautifying tricks here and there..."
"Magnus!", Clary squealed.
Behind Jace appeared one of Clary's dearest friends, dressed in a wonderfully-tailored Armani suit. His hair, by his standards, was reasonably normal, with only a few multicoloured gelled spikes jutting out of his scalp.
"What are you doing here?", Clary demanded, fixing Magnus with her death-stare.
"By any means, don't give me a warm welcome!", Magnus declared haughtily, squinting at her through his slitted cat-eyes, "Anyways, as I was saying, I am here to bring bad news. The town of Alicante is under a discreet attack, that only a few of us are 'in the know' about and-"
"Eeeeeeeeeeekkkkk!", squeaked Jace, his sapphire-blue eyes twinkling.
"Does that mean you get cool cars and gadgets?!", he continued, his voice a few octaves too high.
"Jace!", cried Clary, obviously appalled by how her newlywed husband was behaving.
"Clary, give Jace a bit of breathing space, will you?" said Magnus.
"I've been watching you through my new 'Futurama 2000' crystal ball and-"
"You've been spying on us?!" This time, though, it was Clary who squealed. Magnus waved his hand dismissively before continuing.
"As I was saying," Magnus said in a pompous voice, "I don't approve of the way you treat Jace. Let him have a bit of fun. Relax!", said Magnus, awkwardly tapping Clary on her back.
"Yes," boomed Clary, wrenching Magnus' hand off her, "The only slight flaw in your plan is that Jace's idea of 'having fun' is assaulting a poor old defenseless man in an aeroplane 8000m in altitude!"
"True.", sighed Magnus, staring at his feet uncomfortably.
"Anyway, I'm sorry to say that you're needed back in Alicante, orders of the minister."