Jace & Clary | Clace

Ten

Isabelle released Jace's arm after a few blocks and broke the heavy silence, "Jocelyn isn't my favorite person but you know what happened to her son.  It's probably hard for her to reconcile the fact that you got the better deal.  Understand?"

"Did I?"  Jace's voice was laced with bitterness.  He had never pitied his circumstances; being with the Lewis's had been good years for him.  Still, he had been severed from his real life and his truth and that made him angry at times.

"You grew up loved, Jace.  Clary and Sebastian did not, not in regards to their father.  Sebastian became..." Isabelle sighed.  "He was pure evil because of what was done to him."  Then she muttered, "I can't believe I'm even saying all this..."

"It wasn't his choice and it wasn't mine."

Isabelle gave Jace a sideways glance.  "And you're here, but where's Sebastian now?"

Jace looked at her.  "I understand, Isabelle, I really do.  I'm sorry."

"I don't want you to be sorry, Herondale!"  Isabelle hit him fondly.  "Just don't take it out on Clary if her mother never welcomes you with open arms."

"I would never."  Jace replied sincerely.  He would never put her in a situation that pitted her against her mother.  Family came first.  Family was... everything. 

The breeze washed over him, cooling his fire a bit, clearing his head.  "So what's up with you and my brother?"  Jace asked, changing the conversation.

He noticed her cheeks color and she smiled, "I like him.  He's unusual."

"Simon is unusual?  That's not a word I'd use to describe him."

"He seems... good.  Just good.  And it's refreshing.  He's angry at you but when you're not around all he does is ask about your wellbeing.  Are you ok?  Are you happy?  Is this what you want.  And..."

Jace looked at her, "And?"

"He hardly knows me but he looks at me like I'm soft and precious, not just some warrior angel who can kick his ass if I wanted to."

"Yeah, that's really going to surprise him, or thrill him."

They walked around for hours without going straight to the Institute. For all her indifference at times Isabelle felt for Jace and what had just happened with Jocelyn Fairchild hadn't been pleasant, so she insisted that he clear his head before reality hit again at the Institute.

Clearing his head meant walking around New York until well past midnight, she downed a huge cherry soda that Jace bought for her, tasting it for the first time and then ordered two more much to Jace's amusement.

She pointed out landmarks that were Shadowhunter refuges or sanctuaries.  Spoke about Idris fondly.  Her stories were a needed distraction and Jace was grateful.

By the time they reached the Institute he was in a better mood. "Thanks Izzy." He said and she shrugged and Jace watched her head for the infirmary and he laughed quietly to himself. She had bought a large cherry drink for Simon too but she had started to sip it herself and there was only half of it left...

Jace headed to his room. Sometimes demon stalking was messy and violent but tonight it had been uneventful and he hadn't had to kill anything, for which he was grateful. It still took getting used to.

He thought of Clary and his heart constricted at the memory of her mother's face, her words...

Jace got into the shower and let the hot water clear the rest of his thoughts away. It burnt his skin and he appreciated the scalding water that washed the night, the club and the New York streets away.