Chasing Ghosts (under construction)

Two

Kit watched the sun rise over the trees, the burnt orange rays hitting each tent individually. He had spent the night propped up against a tree. He hadn't slept at all. He had half-wanted Ty to come rushing out of the tent after him, but of course, he didn't. Kit felt like shit; he had likely added nothing but confusion to Ty's already tumultuous feelings, and he dreaded to think what he thought of him now.

People had begun leaving their tents slowly to make small fires and cook breakfast. The smell of bacon carried through the breeze, making Kit nauseous. He watched Jace and Clary leave their tent, talking animatedly with each other. Kit could see even from a distance how grossly in love they both were. His heart ached with a strange and terrifying yearning. He tore his eyes away from them and immediately made eye contact with Ty. He looked fragile, like a china doll. His pitch-black hair made his face look all the more pale, and his grey eyes watery. He couldn't help but think Ty was beautiful anyway. An aura of golden light formed around his silhouette from the rising sun. It was the closest a Shadowhunter had looked to their angelic ancestors Kit had ever seen. Ty had the appearance of a deer in the headlights, unsure if he wanted to approach Kit or not. He didn't, turning on his heel and walking over to the fire. Kit bumped his head against the tree and groaned.

Simon, Isabelle, Jace, Clary, Magnus, and Alec were all huddled together: Jace and Clary holding hands, Simon and Izzy with their heads pressed together, and Magnus had Alec's head in his lap, and stroked his hair tenderly. Magnus watched Ty approach, his eyes flitting over to Kit briefly, giving him a knowing look, before greeting Ty. Kit turned, choosing instead to watch Cristina leaving the dense woods. He could only imagine what she might have been doing there.

Everyone was set to go to the imperishable fields in an hour, and Kit had watched everyone don their uniforms and rune themselves and their respective parabatai or fellow Shadowhunters. Kit had been told by several different people that he and Ty wouldn't be joining everyone on the fields, as there was a possibility a fight would break out, and he and Ty were too young. He could understand why he wasn't allowed to go, barely a Shadowhunter with no training, but Ty was one of the best Shadowhunters Kit knew. The only reason he didn't stand up for Ty was the gut-wrenching torrent of fear at the idea of a fight breaking out and Ty being in the middle of it.

Kit reluctantly got up and went to the rest of the group, head down and hands firm in his pockets. Ty looked up at him, his face showing no indication of what he might be feeling. Kit didn't look back but also didn't move away as Julian approached the two of them.

"You know you have to stay here, don't you?" Julian said. Kit nodded, but Ty was much more reluctant.

"I don't see why we have to stay back while everyone else gets to go to the imperishable fields."

"We want to keep you safe," Julian argued, ever the protective older brother. Ty crossed his arms over his chest indignantly.

"And we want to be there with you," Ty bit back, speaking for the both of them despite the fact that Kit wasn't even dressed in appropriate fighting gear. "We want to fight beside you."

"Ty, this isn't a fight. It's a parley. A peace meeting. I can't just bring my whole family with me."

"But it isn't like you were invited and we weren't." Kit had to admit, Ty always made good points in arguments; it always surprised him whenever he lost.

"If we all show up, it will be chaos," Julian said, his voice calm and level. "You need to stay here. You aren't being tossed to the side, you have a job, and it's just as important."

Eventually, Ty relented with a small nod. "Give a warning. Stay safe."

Julian took his brother's face in his hands, and Kit saw how young Ty looked next to Julian.