I watched Alec, as he slowly turned, his arm landed where I should be laying, making his head peak up immediately when I wasn't by his side.

"Don't worry-" I caught his attention, seated in the chair by his room in just his sweater, holding my sketch book in my hands, "I'm still here."

"Hi-" Alec's voice was raspy, a soft smile forming on his lips as he laid on his side, looking at me, "Morning-"

I softly smiled, then sat up a little, "You know, I remember the day I came to wake you up for the first time because Jace had asked me to- I remember thinking that- your back was- extremely attractive, and you know what- to this day, I still think that-"

Alec asked, "My back caught your attention?"

"Don't be silly-" I set my sketchbook aside, "You've have my attention ever since you locked me up."

"Oh, you wanna play that game?" Alec shoots me a playful look, "Hey, Zee- you have a really nice body."

"Let's not bring that one back-" I grabbed something from the dresser, then slowly walked over to his bed, pushing him onto his back and slowly getting onto him, "I wasn't exactly wrong, was I?"

Alec smirks softly, his hands resting on my thighs, pressing his lips into mine when I leaned down to meet his face.

When he starts dragging his hands up under my sweater and to my waist, I pulled away from the kiss, "Nope-"

Alec looks at me, "Hey-"

I softly giggled, before grabbing his wrist, tying the leather bracelet I had gotten him around it, "I got this for you the other day when I was shopping with Magnus-"

"You got me a bracelet?" Alec watched me tie it around his wrist, "I don't usually- wear jewelry-"

"It's leather- I thought that with all the demon killing and all- you'd probably either break- or lose one that wasn't leather." I let go of his wrist, "I don't know- I wanted to do something nice for you- because you got me this necklace-"

"The fact that you wear it every day is enough for me." Alec grabbed me and flipped me so I was on my back and he was on top of me, "You didn't have to get me anything- us being together is enough for me."

I point at him, "That is not a way to say thank you."

Alec softly smiles at me, rubbing his nose with mine, "Thank you."

"See? Now that's more like it." I pecked his lips, then wrapped my arms around his neck, "Hey- have you decided what you're going to report to the Clave?"

Alec sighed lightly and dropped his head into the crook of my neck, holding onto me tight, "I'm torn."

"If I don't tell the Clave about Luke's attempt on Valentine's life, I'm in violation." Alec said, "If they find out, I could be de-runed."

"Well, whatever you decide, I'll stand by you- okay?" I held onto him tight, kissing his head.

-

Jace walked into my bedroom that day, where I had barely looked at him, music blasting from my speakers as I pounded on my drums.

My hair was up, dressed in my usual attire, except for the cropped tank and one of Alec's shirts.

I didn't glance at him, assuming he would get the hint, continuing to play my drums.

Jace took a few steps closer to me, his gaze still on me, as if he was waiting for me to stop playing and talk to him.

I didn't, starting to hit my drums harder.

When Jace's second attempt didn't work, he slowly drags himself toward me, hugging me from behind, resting his cheek on my shoulder, a small pout at his lips.

I rolled my eyes, not being able to play as he had trapped my arms in his hold, slowly looking at him.

I tossed my drum sticks onto the ground, turning my head to look at him, "What do you want?"

"I really need to talk to you." Jace softly said, keeping a hold on me as if he needed the comfort, "Something happened at the Seelie Court."

"Okay." I rested my hands on his arms, relaxing into his embrace, "Tell me."

"Last minute, Simon decided to come along- I wasn't fond of the idea, but- he came anyway." Jace sighed, "Well, at the Seelie Court- he killed a bug- which made the Queen almost kill the both of us- if, Clary didn't kiss one of us to set us free."

I make a face, "Why a kiss?"

"It was a game-" Jace scoffed lightly, "She said that whoever Clary kissed was the one she most desired."

I nod slow, "And who'd she choose?"

"She kissed Simon- and it didn't work." Jace told me, "Then, she kissed me- and the vines that were meant to kill us- retreated back into the ground."

"I can't believe she has two guys pining over her." I thought out loud, looking at the ceiling, "Why don't I have two guys pining over me? Do you know how interesting my life would become?"

"Zee-" Jace shot me a look, "Come on-"

"Oh, you know what- you're right, my boyfriend left his wedding for me." I touched my chin to pretend like I was in thought, "I kind of do have her beat-"

"Alright, alright." Jace pulled away from me, then plopped back right into my bed, "Clary won't talk to me now- and I think she blames me-"

"What? That's stupid." I got up, sitting next to where he laid, "It's not your fault that she wants to hide her feelings for you."

Jace looked at me, "Have you seen me-"

I stared at him, a very soft smile forming on my lips at the remark, knowing he was upset, "There he is."

"Yeah, yeah-" Jace moved and laid his head on my lap, "Look, Seelie magic doesn't lie-"

"What happened at the Seelie Court, it was real." Jace continued, "I felt it- I know Clary did too."

I placed a hand on his head, my thumb caressing his hairline, "Whoa, slow down, pretty boy-"

Jace stares at me, "Zee, I can't just erase my feelings."

"Look, I'm rooting for you." I told him, "But, it's better if you let them figure out what's going on between them first before you go down that road."

-

"I've requested that we move Valentine to the Gard in Idris." Alec told Jace, Isabelle, Sebastian and I, "The Clave has approved the transfer."

Jace questions, "You told them about the assassination attempt?"

"No, I explained to them that moving Valentine out of the city is the best way to restore relations with the Downworld." Alec exhaled slowly, looking down at me, "I left Luke out of it."

I grabbed his hand, squeezing it.

Sebastian nods, "It is the right decision."

"But- we have not given up on finding who orchestrated the hit on Valentine." Alec said.

"I actually have a few leads on that." Sebastian said before walking away, "I'll get a report in by end of day-"

"Great." Alec looked down at me, "Zee, I thought you'd like to lead the transfer mission- Izzy and Jace, can assist you."

I nodded lightly, "Alright-"

"We need to remove Valentine's Circle Rune- the new wards in Idris won't let him pass with it on." Isabelle looked at me, "Zee, do you want the honors?"

"You did good asking me." I snapped my fingers at her, "I'll be done in a second."

Isabelle nodded lightly with a smile, walking away, as I began to walk away, but get pulled back by Alec, who had grabbed my wrist and pulled me into him, his voice low, "Tell me that I'm making the right call."

He sighs and leans his forehead against mine, "'Cause between you and me, I'm just not sure I'm good at this."

"What're you talking about?" I asked him, "You're a great leader- this job was made for you, Alec."

"Think of it like archery- just trust yourself, and don't hesitate." I slowly slipped away, crossing my fingers, a small smile playing at my lips, "And beyond that, just cross your fingers."

-

"That tight enough?" I asked Valentine, before tightening the restraints even more, "Better."

"Go ahead, Zee." Valentine stares at the device in my hand, "It's not gonna stop me- it's not some rune that makes us who we are, it's our blood- and yours, my dear, is exceptional."

"Because you experimented on me." I clenched my jaw, "On my mother- you've hurt her so much, why?"

"Even someone as heartless as you could see how pure hearted and sweet that woman was." I took a step closer to him, "You killed her."

"Oh, my sweet Margaret." Valentine exhaled slowly, "Her death is something I will regret for a long, long time- but, she stood in the way of humanity- and I couldn't let her stop me."

I set the device down, crossing my arms, shaking my head lightly, looking away, "You're sick."

"Zee, the injections I gave your mother when she was pregnant with you, they made you strong- special- different." Valentine stared at me, "You are so powerful- the way you just- release a blast of power with a flick of your wrist- activating your runes without a stele- you can shoot sunlight out of your palm- with runes no one has ever seen before."

"I raised you to use that blood- and you are, you're becoming stronger and stronger by the day, but you don't let yourself reach your full potential because you're here- with these people." Valentine said, "I taught you-"

"You taught me not to feel." I confronted him, small tears in my eyes, "You taught me that- to love is to destroy, and to be loved is to be the one destroyed- that I was incapable of love- and that love was weakness-"

"And you've proven how right I've been all along." Valentine snapped back at me, "Look at yourself- your love for Alec, it will be your downfall."

"Being with him has been the best thing that's ever happened to me." My voice lowered, my eyes glued to him, "He makes me happy."

"And at what cost?" Valentine scoffed at me, "This is why- in the long run, I will win, because as long as you're letting them soften you up, you will be nothing but weak when the time comes- because you? Love doesn't drive you. Anger does- pain, does."

My body tensed, as I grabbed the device, starting to take off his Circle rune without another word.

-

"Magnus?" I walked into his apartment, staring at him as he didn't notice I was there, staring ahead.

I made myself more clear, "Magnus."

"Well, hello-" Magnus blinks, looking at him, before getting up, "I was just about to make myself a drink- do you want one?"

"No." I shook my head lightly, "I've got to be sober for when I transfer Valentine to Idris."

"Even more reason." Magnus held up his drink, "We can toast to Valentine's highly anticipated departure."

"Magnus." I cross my arms, "I know something's wrong. I can tell something's off, and whatever it is, I'm here for you."

"I appreciate it." Magnus poured himself a drink, "But- I'm fine."

"No, you're aren't- and I won't leave until you talk to me about it." I leaned against the arm of one of his couches, "I'm a great listener."

Magnus looks back at me, going quiet.

"Look, I don't want to push it- if you really don't want to talk about it, I won't force you to." I folded my hands, "But, I don't want you to deal with what you're dealing with on your own- I know exactly how that feels and I don't want anyone else to feel that kind of loneliness."

Magnus stares at me, then exhales, slowly sitting down, "When I was tortured in Valentine's body, that agony rune made me relive my worst memory- and now, I can't get it out of my head. Every time I close my eyes-"

"If you don't mind me asking-" I got up, sitting on the ground in front of him, folding my hands, "What is it?"

"Remember I told you how I found my mother dead by her own hand?" Magnus looked down at his hands, tears burning in his eyes from the memory, "My stepfather found me shortly after- he screamed at me, he called me an abomination."

My heart saddened, "Magnus-"

"He was right." Tears fell from this eyes, "He blamed me for her suicide- he said that she hated herself for giving birth to a monster, so- I lashed out, with all the magic I had."

"I burned him, biscuit." Magnus locked eyes with me hesitantly, "Right where he stood- I murdered my stepfather."

"Magnus." I moved onto my knees and placed a hand on his knee, "You were just a boy- you weren't in control of your powers."

"Yes, actually, I was." Magnus sniffled, wiping his tear, "I never wanted you to see this- terrible, ugly side of me, of my past-"

"It doesn't change my view of you." I grabbed his hand and held it in both of mine, my voice soft for his sake, "Magnus, you are entitled to have emotions- feelings. And what you just told me? It just shows me that you're human."

Magnus stares at me, tears streaming down his face.

"We all have dark pasts, but what matters is who we came to be." I squeezed his hand, "And what I see right now? An amazing friend- that has the kindest heart, and the strongest tolerance for alcohol."

Magnus softly chuckled at my words, as I got up, sitting next to him, pulling him into my side when he started to quietly sob, "It's alright-"

-

"Valentine Morgenstern, by order of the Clave, you are hereby remanded to the Gard in Idris." Alec announced when we had gotten him restrained and out of his cell.

I nodded toward Magnus, who opened a portal for us to take Valentine through, as Valentine snips, "I may be in a cell, but at least I'll be in Alicante- where the air doesn't reek of Downworlders."

I wasted no time to land a solid one right on his jaw, taking a step back, "Go on, keep going- see what happens next."

Valentine spit out blood, looking at me, exhaling slow, "You've chosen the wrong side, my dear-"

"Alright, get him out of here." Alec instructs, nodding towards me, as I squeezed his hand as a goodbye, before walking through the portal with Jace, Isabelle and the rest of the time.

When we came out the other side, Valentine never came through, and neither did Duncan.

"Where's the prisoner?" asked Consul Dieudonne when the portal closed, all of our eyes wide.

"I-" I stammered, "I don't know-"

Jace whispers to me, "What happened to Duncan?"

He looks between us, "Where the Angel is Valentine?"

authors note:

zee's such a softie in this chapter, oh my god

the whole gang cracked her shell, awh

zace is an iconic brotp tho

and zee's talk to magnus? omg

but, thank you for 36k !!

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