Fire to Water

Lily

"Keep up, Kit," Jace called over his shoulder.

Kit grumbled and begrudgingly sped up for the third time. It was not fun (it was physical activity and as such, horrible), but it was a good distraction from suddenly being in the same place as Ty, again, and all of that awkwardness. It was also past midnight in New York, and he wasn't certain on the time difference, but that meant it was definitely past midnight in England, by a lot.

"Look, thanks for letting me come with you," Kit panted, "but where are we going, anyway?"

Jace slowed to an easy jog. "Oh, just the Dumort. Technically it's not part of the route, but I wanted to talk with Lily."

"Okay," Kit said, and then again for good measure, "Okay. But why do we have to run?"

"Oh. Whoops, sorry." Jace did not seem very sorry. "Good training, though. And we're here, already."

Kit sat down on the top step to keep himself from throwing up. Training in England with Jem was a completely different experience from chasing Jace through the city.The lights pulsing from the doorway of the Dumort didn't help, either. He buried his face in his hands. Someone sat down next to him.

"You're such— a jerk," he said between breaths. "Oh my god."

"Um," said the person who was very clearly not Jace, and nudged him with something. "I brought you water. I'm Lily."

"Jace was looking for you," Kit said, and took the water.

Lily laughed. "Nah, Jace was looking for someone he could mope with about Clary, and hell knows the werewolves would never."

"They wouldn't?" Kit had not spent much time with the New York pack, admittedly ever, but the ones from the LA shadow market seemed like the sort who would let you whine at them if only to tease you about it later.

"Maia has no patience for people who whinge, not since the last time she had to drag him out of the bar."

Clary's missing, Kit wanted to say, but he didn't know if he was supposed to spread that around. He just pressed the water bottle to the back of his neck.

Lily breathed in sharply as if to say something, and then paused, and let the rush of air back out. "You're his little English cousin, aren't you?"

Kit nodded, and leaned his head back against the wall.

Lily laughed a little, one single sharp burst like a cough. "He's really proud that you're family. Even if he's awful at having emotions, idiot warrior angel baby man."

Kit shook his head, gasping and cackling. "That's the best description of Jace anyone has ever said," he gasped. "Like, ever."

Lily laughed. "Oh, you've never heard Raphael go off about the nephilim." Her voice shuttered, and then she laughed, but it was forced.

There was a crash from inside. Lily sighed, and dramatically began to count down on her fingers.

As soon as she reached one, someone inside the building started yelling, something about Elliot, and Nephilim drinking buddies, and out before I throw you.

Lily sighed. "Why did I ever make him my second," she muttered. "See you later, Herondale. I have to do damage control." She stood up, and Kit moved to hand the water bottle back, but she waved him off. Jace rocketed out of the building. Lily's eyes followed him, but she looked far away. "He's not a bad guy," she said, and Kit had the feeling they weren't actually talking about Jace anymore. "Just a bit of a jerk."

"-flirting, dammit!" Someone yelled inside.

"I have to go," Lily said, still staring at Jace.

Before Kit could say anything, she was gone, leaving him staring after Jace, all alone.

"Come on, Kit!"

Kit broke into a run again, muttering under his breath, but he didn't really mind.

***

Lily wandered up to the balcony and leaned on the railing next to a man in a hoodie. She was an expert at nonchalance, and few of the mundanes even registered her appearance.

"Done brooding?" She asked him.

"I wasn't brooding," he said. She led him to her room, and shut and locked the door. Only then did he remove his hood. His face was sharp, steel and gold and light that cut, a darker, angrier angel than had just fled the hotel. A blade forged in blood, not fire.

"I did as you asked," Lily said. "Now take me to him."

Janus stared at her, his eyes flat gold, as sharp and glittering as Maellartach. They were both of the same forge. "Our bargain isn't over yet."