Magnus opens his doors, leading us into his apartment as Simon and I struggled to carry Luke on our shoulders, "What happened?"

"Luke challenged the alpha of the pack and got hurt in the process." I grunted, struggling to keep his weight up as we followed him, "At least he won, though."

"He needs a warlock." Clary cried out, "He needs you-"

Magnus lead us into his living room and gestures to a couch, placing a white sheet over it, "Put him here-"

"Where are you?" Luke's breathing was ragged as we laid him on the couch, "I can't find you- where are- where are you? Where are you?"

I stood straight as Magnus, Clary, and Simon hunched over a repetitive Luke, "If he says where are you one more time, I might just kill myself."

Luke breathes heavily, completely out of it, "Where are you?"

"Well." I clap my hands together once, "There's my calling guys!"

"Wait- Jocelyn!" Luke calls out to the ceiling, "Jocelyn!"

"No, Luke, it's Clary." She held his hand, "Can you hear me?"

"Clary, listen to me." Luke was out of breath, "You have to listen to me- I have to tell you, just in case-"

Clary was tearing up, "No, don't even say it, don't."

"No, you need to know!" Luke bursts, "Listen-"

Magnus looks up at me, "Was he bitten by an alpha?"

I nod, "Yeah, why?"

Magnus backs up, "Three, two, one-"

Luke growls loudly, his body stiffening, his eyes glowing green, Clary jumping back, "Oh, my God-"

My eyes widen, "Wow-"

When Magnus walks away, Simon speaks up quickly, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Hold him down- we don't have a lot of time." Magnus grabbed a piece of bark as Clary, Simon and I tried our best to hold Luke down, "It'll take a few moments to take effect."

Clary looks up with wide, tear filled eyes, "What's happening to him?"

"Random werewolf transformation." Magnus places the bark in Luke's mouth as he bit on it, "It's a side effect of the poison in the alpha bite."

-

Magnus was in the other room, gathering the ingredients he had to make an antidote for Luke.

Clary was on her knees, next to Luke as he laid on the couch; unconscious.

Simon stood next to me, but I stood a few inches behind him, still in clear eye shot of him.

We were all drenched in Luke's blood, but Simon was fidgeting.

Simon's eyes were glued to his hand that was stained in blood, as he slowly inches down and licked some of the blood, pulling his palm away quickly before anyone could see.

I crossed my arms, staring at him in suspicion, my tone firm, "I saw that."

Simon glances at me, before avoiding the conversation I would spark up and comforting Clary.

"The bark will stop the transformation for now, but Luke needs an antidote to stop the poison in his system." Magnus walks in, holding many things, "And I don't have all the ingredients here."

Clary was confident, "Just tell me what you need and how to get it."

"And how are you gonna do that without getting killed?" I looked at her, "I'll go."

Magnus shook his head, "I need you here-"

I stared at him for a moment, "For?"

"You'll see later." Magnus then points at Clary, "You stay here also- Luke will need you if he wakes up."

Clary corrects him right away, "When he wakes up."

Simon shrugs, "I'll go."

"I'll go." Jace walks in, offering at the same time as Simon, making Simon huff.

Magnus notices the dried blood from Jace's nose, "Jace, what happened to you?"

"Luke's car may have found its way into a pole while I was stashing it-" Jace shrugged lightly, grabbing a tissue, "I don't do mundane driving."

I eye him, "Yeah, apparently."

Jace wipes his nose, "What do you need for the antidote?"

"Hey, I got this." Simon stopped him.

Magnus sets down different ingredients, "Phoenix eyes, moon salt, and Idris fulgurite."

Simon shrugs and began walking, "One trip to the pharmacy, it'll take two seconds."

"I know a guy." Jace grabbed his arm and stopped him, "And, uh- I don't need him."

"Too bad- you're getting me." Simon shot back at him, "We'll be right back."

"One more thing." Magnus calls out, "I need Alexander."

Jace exhales deeply, "Uh, why do you need Alec?"

"Virgin Shadowhunter energy." Magnus made something up as I eyed him in suspicion, Magnus just shooting me a smile.

Simon scoffs, "That explains so much."

Jace shook his head, "Um, Alec, yeah I can't."

"Jace, just ask, please." Clary almost begged, "You guys need to talk."

Jace huffs as Simon was already walking away, "Just don't speak to me."

"Hey." I grabbed Jace's arm before he could follow Simon, my voice quiet so Clary didn't hear, my eyes watching Simon, "Keep an eye on him."

-

I watched Magnus as he tosses different things into the bowl, while Clary was in the bathroom, trying to get the blood off her as much as she could, "What's all this for?"

"The base for the potion." Magnus handed me a wooden spoon, "Stir- we need to have it ready before your boy toys get here-"

I began stirring, "Simon isn't even hot, and Jace isn't my type."

Magnus slightly smiles at me as he pours something else into the mixture, "I meant Alexander."

I almost stopped stirring, looking up at him, "Alec?"

"I asked for him- for you, biscuit."  Magnus admits, pouring a blue liquid into the mixture, "Don't think I didn't notice the chemistry you two had the night we summoned the memory demon."

I cracked a smile, staring at him, "God- you're my favorite person."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've grown quite fond of Downworlders- considering you're Valentine's daughter." Magnus grabbed another ingredient, "Helping save a Downworlders life- calling one your favorite-"

"I never had a problem with Downworlders- but, I know my father wouldn't approve of what I've been doing." My smile faded as I looked down at the mixture I stirred, "Staying at the Institute- around these- people, and now I've been repetitively involved in Downworlder business. At this point- I don't know what I'm doing-"

"Don't sell yourself short." Magnus tossed something into the mixture, "You forget, I've seen you in action, Zee Young- you have a heart of good."

This time, I don't correct him for my name.

Luke then calls out as Clary joined us, "Jocelyn!"

"Luke, I'm here." Clary ran over to him, "I'm here."

Magnus and I walked over, as Magnus' fingers sparked blue, "Let me take your pain away- agitation only makes the venom work faster."

Luke breathes heavily, "I need to tell Clary-"

Clary stares at him with wide eyes, "Save your strength."

"No, you need to know." Luke was breathless, "No, please."

I exhale deeply, "Magnus, do it."

Luke grabbed my arm and pulled me closer, "You need to tell her, all of it- you and Magnus, promise me."

I stare at him for a moment, before nodding slowly, him letting go of my arm when Magnus' magic makes him go unconscious, "The poison is spreading- your suitors need to hurry."

-

"Tell me what?" Clary questioned, "What's so important that Luke risked his life?"

"Everything Jocelyn hoped to hide from you." Magnus handed me a drink, sipping his own.

I took a big gulp of the drink, needing it ever since I showed up here, "And how well did that work out for her?"

Magnus uses his magic, a sketch book and charcoal appearing in front of Clary, "When you were younger- I'd watch you sketching- It was your bliss, you're gonna need some bliss now."

"You draw." My eyes trailed from the book to Clary, "Guess we're alike."

Clary looks back at me, "You draw?"

"I used to." I drowned my drink, pouring myself anymore one, ignoring the burning in my throat, "I don't anymore."

Clary exhales deeply and looks between Magnus and I, "I'm ready- bring it."

I look at him, waiting for him to begin, as Magnus nods, "When I first heard about your father, around the time he and Jocelyn first got together, long before the Uprising and the Circle, Valentine elevated the Morgenstern name- to be synonymous with virtue- and Jocelyn was at his side."

"But by the time my people came to know him, barely two years later his name had become synonymous with devastation." Magnus explained, looking at Clary, "Your mother told me it was then she first saw the signs."

"They never found all the bodies." I moved my glass in circular motions, watching the alcohol in it, not knowing the story with Jocelyn in it, "They all stood with the Clave for centuries."

Clary began drawing on the blank sheet, "How could that not matter to him?"

"He was obsessed with ensuring purity of blood." I shrug lightly, sipping my drink, "Convinced that the impurities were a threat to peace."

Clary mutters while she drew, "He was the threat to peace."

"Mad men rarely make sense." Magnus remarks, "Mostly, they just hate- and he hated the Downworlders, for the gifts that we possess that he could not have. He hated us enough to kill us all."

"Ever since my mother was kidnapped, and the Shadow World invaded my life, so many Downworlders have helped me, not even thinking about what it might cost them." Clary got up and paced, "How could Valentine not see good in any of them?"

I set my drink down and huff, "My father is always blinded by his ambition."

Clary looks at us, "And why didn't the Clave stop him?"

"He was clever." Magnus tells us, "He and his followers, they managed to convince the Clave that the Downworlders they killed on their special missions had violated the Accords in some way. Complete fabrications."

Clary crosses her arms, "How could the Clave not see?"

"Shadowhunters believe in the Law as absolute." I answered her question, "They could never conceive of one of their own going astray."

"Our father didn't go astray, Zee." Clary looked away, "He went insane."

"What happened back then is happening again." Magnus looked between us, "The Clave refuses to believe that Valentine's a threat. Nineteen years ago, their lack of vision allowed the Circle to almost decimate the entire Shadow World."

Clary spoke, "That was the Uprising?"

"Yes." I confirmed, "Valentine wanted to create a new Shadowhunter army, and for that, he needed the Mortal Cup."

"He knew it would be on display at the signing of the Accords as a show of the Clave's power." Magnus went on, "He seized the opportunity to accomplish everything he ever wanted. Destroy the Accords, murder Downworlders, and secure the Cup."

"How could my mom and Luke be a part of something like this?" Clary started to pace.

"Jocelyn and Luke tried to prevent the Uprising." Magnus explained. "They tried to change Valentine's mind about Downworlders."

"Obviously, they didn't." Clary spat, sitting back down.

"Clary, if it wasn't for your mother and Luke, the Circle would have won." Magnus held his drink.

Clary continued to sketch, "Ever since I found out Valentine was my father, I wondered how my mother could be married to someone like that and why she stayed. She had to stop him."

"And safeguard the Cup." Magnus nods, "Everything Jocelyn did, she did to save the people she'd sworn to protect. She took her oath as a Shadowhunter seriously."

"Okay, as wonderful as it is to reminisce and dwell over the past, how does this help the red head locate the Cup?" I picked up my drink.

"Maybe Luke thinks if you know your mother better, you'll know where she hid it." Magnus shrugged.

"Then, tell me why she gave up being a Shadowhunter." Clary sat up.

"Because the one thing in the world she loved more is you." Magnus told her, "She had to protect you."

"From our father." I scoff, taking a big gulp of my drink, swallowing it down quick, my tone raspy due to it, "Honestly- I think she made the right call."

Clary looks at me, "Why do you say that?"

"I was raised by our father- look at how I turned out." I finished my drink, shame clear in my tone, a sigh leaving my lips.

Before Magnus or Clary could protest, groans and grunts came from the couch, she rushed over to him, "Luke-"

"The magic's wearing off." Magnus set his drink down and followed her, as I came close behind.

"It was our fault-" Luke mutters, "It was our fault!"

"Luke!-" Clary looked at his wound, "It's worse-"

Magnus used his magic to keep him stable, but we all knew that there wasn't much time left.

-

"I'm running out of magic." Magnus was on his knees, his blue magic hovering over Luke as he tried to contain him, Luke grunting loudly, his body stiff.

Clary was holding onto the couch due to the entire apartment rumbling, "What do we do?"

"I can't leave him, but the potion stock still needs Komodo scale." Magnus told her, pushing harder to keep Luke contained, "Find it, add the rest when they get here- you'll have to feed it to Luke."

Clary looks at me, "What about you?"

Magnus was raising his voice when Clary wasn't moving, "I'll hold on as long as I can- go!"

When Clary rushes off, Magnus looks back at me, his voice weak, "Biscuit- I need your strength."

I paused for a moment, before sliding onto one knew behind him, nodding as he grabbed my hand, and suddenly I felt all the energy that was present in my body began to leave.

I held on, pushing, trying to stay strong so we could just hold a little longer, but my entire body felt like it had been sucked of all life within a few moments of doing so.

I felt myself lose my balance, my eyes beginning to roll to the back of my head as I fell back.

Suddenly, someone had caught me, my back leaning against his leg as they were resting on one knee as well.

I blinked a few times and looked up, noticing Alec, who was holding me up, "Alec."

"Yeah- yeah, it's me." Alec exhales deeply when he looked into my eyes, grabbing my free hand, giving both Magnus and I the strength we needed.

Then, Clary, Simon and Jace came running, Clary pouring the white potion into Luke's mouth.

When the potion took into effect, Luke smiled up at her, "Hey, Clary."

The room stopped rumbling, and there was suddenly light, as I let go of Magnus' hand and fell back into Alec in exhaustion.

Alec held me with his entire body, keeping a hold on my hand as my head laid on his chest, my eyes barley open, "You okay?"

"Yeah- yeah, I'm okay." My voice was quiet, a small smile forming on my lips as I nuzzled my face into his chest on purpose.

-

"Hey." Alec's voice filled my ears as I was stood alone during the aftermath, "How are you feeling?"

I was in the hall, my back leaned against the wall, exhausted but relaxed due to the alcohol coursing through my veins.

Clary and Luke were talking in the other room, Simon left, Magnus was pouring himself a drink and I had no idea where Jace went.

I looked at him, keep my head leant against the brick, "Like all the energy I once had has been deprived of me. There's no feeling like it."

Alec walked over to me and stood next to me, making me eye how he towered over me, even in my slouching position, "You should be resting then."

"Rest is for losers." The corner of my lip turned up lightly to the joke I made, as did Alec's, "Besides- I'm fine."

"Hey-" I clear my throat, staring at him, "I haven't known you for very long, but- I've noticed how you always follow the rules- so, why did you come tonight?"

Alec's eyes linger with mine, "I'm not sure."

Then, suddenly, there was two drinks in our hands, making us look at Magnus who stood in the living room, walking into another room, pretending as if he had no idea what just happened.

"Well, we're the heroes- we saved the day, saved a life-" I held up my drink in a cheers gesture, "Cheers to not being failures."

Alec's glass clinked against mine, eyeing me, taking a sip of his drink as I did, his face screwing in disgust.

"Have you never had an alcoholic beverage before?" I wanted to laugh, looking at him in amusement, "You're so innocent."

Alec eyes the drink then looked at me, swallowing again to try and diminish the burning in his throat, "Good innocent or bad innocent?"

I stare at him for a moment, my glass touching my bottom lip, speaking before downing the rest, "Good."

authors note:

they're literally goals, I could cry

like why are they such goals

like I don't understand

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