Fallen Angel

iv

Clary sat laughing at the counter when Jace and Sebastian came downstairs.

"Was he invading your teeny tiny personal space bubble?" Clary asked, giggling.

"He was in my room." Sebastian said.

"Okay? So? He was looking around! He's in a new place. He's going to be curious!" Clary said, as if she was defending a new puppy.

Jace watched as the two bickered like they'd grown up together. He watched as Sebastian pushed past Clary, pulling one of her curls before walking into the kitchen.

"Where were you guys?" Jace asked. Clary walked towards him.

"Grocery shopping." She said. She stood on her tippy toes and kissed him.

"Just in time for lunch." Sebastian said, pulling a bottle of wine out of the fridge. Clary smiled and sat at the table. Sebastian sat at the head of the table, after putting out a plate of cheese, some grapes, and some bread. He grabbed three wine glasses and poured some of the red liquid into all three.

Jace sat across from Clary and was reminded of the night at Renwick's. Valentine at the head of the table, separating them.

"Did you bring the stuff?" Clary asked, turning to Jace.

"The stuff? What kind of drugs are you getting Clary?" Sebastian asked.

"Haha. Worry about yourself Fetus Face." Clary said.

"Your stuff is in my bag which is in my room." Jace said. Clary instantly jumped up and ran towards his room.

"What did you get her? Some cocaine?" Sebastian asked.

"No. It wasn't drugs." Jace said. Clary walked back out in her jeans and her sneakers.

"Sneakers! Oh how I've missed you!" Clary said dramatically.

"Clary, I could've bought you sneakers." Sebastian said.

"Yes but these are my favourites." Clary said. Jace smiled.

"So what do you guys do?" Jace asked.

"Whatever we want. That's the best part of living in a travelling apartment!" Clary said. Sebastian kicked her under the table.

"Ow! What the hell?!" Clary asked.

"You aren't supposed to tell people that." Sebastian scolded.

"He's living here! It's probably important that he knows!" Clary hissed. They glared at each other for a few moments before Clary turned back to Jace.

"We're in Amsterdam right now." She said. Jace nodded and took a sip of his wine, even though the taste burned his throat.

"How much longer will we be here?" Jace asked.

"Depends." Sebastian said.

"On?" Jace asked.

"Various different things." Sebastian said. "Speaking of, we should lay down some ground rules."

"Okay like what?" Clary asked.

"Well for starters, Jace doesn't leave the apartment." Sebastian said.

"What?! He's not our prisoner. We can't keep him here." Clary said. "How about this, how about he can go outside if I'm with him."

Sebastian looked at Jace.

"Fine. Only if you're with him. Or if I'm with him." Sebastian concluded. Clary smiled and picked up her wine glass.

"So what's going on today?" Jace asked. Clary looked at him over the rim of her wine glass.

"Nothing in particular." Sebastian said. Clary smiled and set her wine glass down.

"We should go outside after dinner tonight!" Clary said excitedly. Jace smiled.

"Okay." He said.

"Like a date!"

Jace's heart sank. He was getting to go around Europe with Clary, but would she remember when they brought her back to New York?

+++

"Let's go!" Clary said. Jace smiled as Clary grabbed his hand a pulled him through the front door. Jace followed her and Clary started walking down the sidewalk.

"Where are we going?" Jace asked.

"On a canal cruise." Clary said. Jace nodded and Clary walked towards a dock.

The pair got in one of the boats and the driver nodded before pushing away from the dock. Clary rested her head on Jace's shoulder and he hesitated momentarily, before wrapping an arm around her.

"Why do you let him do that?" Jace asked.

"What?" Clary asked.

"Sebastian. You let him walk all over you." Jace said.

"I don't." Clary said.

"You do."

"It's not my place to say something." Clary said.

"Did he tell you that?" Jace asked.

"Partially. He said that I'm his younger sister and I should listen to him." Clary said. Jace didn't say anything at first.

"You can say something. About the way he treats you." Jace said softly. Clary sighed as they floated down the canal.

"It's fine." Clary said. Jace kissed the top of her head.

"Okay. If you're sure." Jace said. Clary pointed up at the sky.

"Look at the stars." She said. Jace looked up and smiled. The stars were starting to light up the sky and Clary sighed happily.

"I'm happy you came with me." She whispered.

"I am too." Jace said.

"Really?" Clary asked.

"Yeah. I love you. You make me happy." Jace said.

"Okay good! I was worried that you were unhappy. You didn't seem very chatty today." Clary said.

"Just tired. Time difference." Jace lied. Clary nodded.

"Six hours." She said.

"What?" Jace asked.

"Between here and New York. It's a six hour time difference." Clary said.

"That makes sense." Jace said.

"If you're tired, we can head home." Clary said.

Home. There was no way in hell that apartment was Clary's home. Her home was the Institute. Not some travelling apartment.

"No. That's okay. I'm having fun." Jace said quickly.

"Okay! Okay!" Clary said, giggling.

"Where do we go next?" Jace asked.

"Milan. Or Madrid. I can't remember. It started with an 'M' though." Clary said. Jace nodded.

"When do we go there?" Jace asked.

"I don't know. You seem very eager to leave Amsterdam." Clary said.

"I'm just being curious. I like knowing things." Jace said, leaning in to kiss her.

"Okay." Was all that Clary could say before he pressed his lips to hers. He felt her smile and kissed her harder, trying to do anything to convince himself that this was his Clary.