The Aftermath Chronicles: A TMI FanFic

Part 20

The tick of the analog clock in Clary's room was keeping Jace up. 

Alec's face was flashing behind his closed eyelids.

Jace's feet were propped up against the wall and he was lying on his back, his body and legs forming a perfect right angle. Alec was standing at the far side of the room shooting arrows at the target just above Jace's bare feet. They had hoped it would improve Alec's accuracy.

"This is hopeless, Jace," Alec complained, his voice still a little high.

"Someday, Alexander, you're going to be the very best archer in New York City," Jace said. He wiggled his toes. "Again!"

Jace listened as Alec pulled another arrow from the quiver and notched it in an arrow. In the silence of the mostly empty Institute, Jace could hear Alec's deep inhale, exhale, inhale, then release.

The arrow pinged hitting the outer edge of the circular target.

"That's better," Jace said, referencing the arrow stuck in the ceiling.

"Jace, I hate this," Alec said.

"Don't close your eyes when you release," Jace said.

"How did you--"

"I just know you," Jace said, tilting his head back to look at Alec. "You have to keep your eyes open otherwise you might lose your target. Real targets are going to be moving and you have to hit them."

Jace stared up at the ceiling.

"Again," he said. "This time, you'll hit the center."

Alec didn't protest.

He repeated the routine and when he fired this time, the arrow hit it's mark, dead center.

Jace smiled and let his feet fall back to the ground.

Alec was dancing in circles, waving the bow around. Jace jumped to his feet.

"I told you!" he shouted. Alec stopped dancing but a smile was still plastered on his face.

"How'd you know?" Alec asked.

"We're like connected or something," Jace said.

"Like mini-parabatai," Alec said. Jace smiled at the use of the word.

"Exactly," Jace said. "You know we could be parabatai."

"Oh my gosh! We'd be like the best!" Alec shouted.

"We totally would," Jace said. 

The days after that had been a whirlwind.

Robert and Maryse had been okay with it so the boys had petitioned the idea to the Clave who approved. The ceremony had been a week later. And Jace had never felt stronger.

Jace opened his eyes. Clary was facing him, looking serene. Something silver glittered behind Clary on her bedside table.

A knife.

How easy it would be to join Alec in death... It was right there... And besides, what did Jace have to live for... He already felt dead inside.

He began to reach over Clary.

The metal was cold. 

Jace had touched Alec when he was on the funeral pyre. His skin had been just as cold as the knife.