#the parabatai curse

[darcyolsson]

bestie I need your help because I always see people mention that it's canon that jem and will were in love but I can't remember anything like that in the books so are they just kind of exaggerating or is it actually canon 😭😭 it's been too long since I read these books

so the answer no but also yes but no but yes hope that helps :)

if your question is "do they have an on-screen romance on par with the other romances in the books which involves them mutually acknowledging their romantic feelings for one another", the answer is no. in the infernal devices, their relationship is presented as a really close platonic relationship (with notable homoerotic overtones, but which man in tsc hasn't been there). HOWEVER,

there's two quotes from other tsc stories that people usually bring up when disussing this:

Clary took a deep breath. "Were you ever in love? Before the Brotherhood? Was there ever anyone you would have died for?" There was a long silence. Then: Two people, said Brother Zachariah. There are memories that time does not erase, Clarissa. Ask your friend Magnus Bane, if you do not believe me. Forever does not make loss forgettable, only bearable. (city of lost souls)

and

“What you said before,” she asked. “That Jace Herondale loves Clarissa Fairchild more than anyone you’ve ever known except someone — you never finished the sentence. Who was it?” “I was going to say you and me and Will,” he said. “But — that’s rather a strange thing to say, isn’t it?” “Not strange at all.” She cuddled in close against his side. “Exactly right. Ever and always, exactly right.” (after the bridge)

both of these are notably from spinoff stories set 100+ years after the infernal devices, though, so basically..... interpret it how you want to. cc said she did not intend to write them as a romance (and i don't think they are in tid), but that's what death of the author is for.

in MY humble opinion they were in love but only in the same way will & jem are one person. so like, yes, but not in the most literal sense, but it's kind of woven into every word in those books so you'd have to be quite blind not to catch it, and the story is stronger for it being a natural interpretation of the text rather than it being something that is outright stated (more than a few times, at least). but what do i know. hope this helps!

[marrr444]

Julian Blackthorn: Well I can't cry to mourn my sister's death but you know what I can do? I can have sex at a probably very inappropriate time, place and person considering the fact I'm forbidden to do it with them... I most definitely shouldn't do it. Yup, sounds like an amazing way to mourn my dead sister.

Parabatai curse: yeah... You can't but enjoy the pain. You won't be feeling anything for long lol.

[cabeswaterdrowned]

which tda book is your favorite?

Lord of Shadows slightly edges out Lady Midnight although they’re really close since I love both so much… but LoS has the overall most impactful arcs and storylines to me the section in the Unseelie Court is probably my favorite part of the series, and the ending packs a big emotional punch to say the least. It might be my favorite tsc book period actually I really love LoS. Also like I just said in the previous ask I tend to be a middle book(s) or middle seasons girlie it’s just who I am. I think this book struck a neat balance between being character driven and plot driven that was extremely effective although to be clear it would probably also be my favorite if it was just character centric filler angst about Emma&Jules because that’s who I am… but I’m still glad it was more than that! LM is also wonderful in a way that few first books in fantasy series are to me usually there’s a slow burn for me to be really invested but not here, and the whole murder cult mystery with body horror (had forgotten about the missing hands that made it even better) + forbidden romance + familial dynamics themes combo and vibe really works for me. Qoaad is my least favorite of the three but I still really like it, and I definitely thought far better of it on reread compared to when I first read it since back then I had been anticipating it so hard and theorizing etc. and had very sky high expectations (especially with Clockwork Princess being a rare perfect finale to me and with how much I loved the first two tda books I hoped for Qoaad to accomplish the same thing..) on reread I could evaluate it more for what it is and I came to the conclusion that about 80% of the actual content of the book I am a fan of, it’s just that the pacing of the book is insane. Genuinely if that book was split into two books and they were paced normally I’d have loved them as much as the first two I think! Genuinely I think cc has gotten too attached to trilogies as the sole structure for her work and it’s a big part of why the receptions for her last two finales have been what they are … (well I’m sure there are multiple factors at play but I’m confident that’s one of them) also maybe even effected tmi part 2 because I remember cofa being pretty filler and the plot there feeling like it could be resolved in a duology? I love almost every individual storyline in that book so if you asked me which ones I would snipe for the third book to be paced correctly I’d be hard pressed to get rid of things but if you split it into two books and grounded them each tonally to feel distinct and just gave us some breathing room I think you could stick the landing! But since I like almost every individual element of the book it’s an enjoyable reread when you already know where the story ends up and the best parts of it really work for me / get a level of emotionality from me no tlh or tmi book does so it still ranks high (like #6ish since I like all the tid books more as well as first two tda) for me, I slander her but she’s my bestie <3.

[annluvazzel]

🌑 Shadowhunters AU ☆ Parabatai BKDK [part 2]

Clips Studio Paint | Jan 12, 2025

I made a little more research for the steles and now they look like magic wands lmao.

Well, it's mutual! Everybody cheered!! (they don't know about the curse)

He looked cute here ♡

[tea-and-cats-and-books]

The Shadowhunter Chronicles rated by Alec content:

The Infernal Devices

Alec hasn’t been born yet. A true tragedy for the characters living in this time- 0/10

The Last Hours

Alec still hasn’t been born yet, and did not time travel, so did not appear. This is very sad- 0/10

The Mortal Instruments

City of Bones- We’re introduced my grumpy precious little angel child- 10/10

City of Ashes- Alec continues to be the best even though nobody properly appreciates him- 10/10

City of Glass- Yay for Alec! - 10/10

City of Fallen Angels- Alec comes back from vacation and is still the best (plus I adore those postcards)- 10/10

City of Lost Souls- This book hurts my soul, and I need this to be fixed yesterday, but Alec is still better than everyone- 10/10

City of Heavenly Fire- Alec is 100% done with everyone and tells them what’s what and I love it. Alec wins at life- 10/10

The Bane Chronicles

Alec is adorable and perfect and I love him and wow I love reading him from Magnus’s point of view (even if those voicemails cause me great pain)- 10/10

Tales from Shadowhunter Academy

Alec and Simon talking and becoming proper friends + Born to Endless Night= A+++++++++++- 10/10

The Long Conversation

pouty, considering poisoning the punch, worrying about his family Alec- 10/10

The Dark Artifices

Lady Midnight- Magnus says he’s going to meet Alec in Buenos Aires and Emma sees Alec through a portal at the end- 10/10

Lord of Shadows- Alec becomes the temporary Head of the London Institute and is the best as always- 10/10

Queen of Air and Darkness- ALEC BECOMES CONSUL AND GETS MARRIED AND IS THE BEST FICTIONAL CHARACTER EVER- 10/10

A Love That Never Tires

Alec hanging out with Jace towards the end of his wedding party- 10/10

Ghosts of the Shadow Market

BABY ALEC HIDING BEHIND A VASE AND THE LAND I LOST- 10/10

The Eldest Curses

ALEC IS A MAIN CHARACTER-  ∞/10

The Red Scrolls of Magic- ALEC IS BASICALLY A FAIRY TALE PRINCE, EXCEPT BETTER BECAUSE HE IS ALEC, AND THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 -  ∞/10

The Lost Book of the White- ALEC GOES ON AND ADVENTURE WITH THE PEOPLE HE LOVES MOST AS THE MAIN CHARACTER AND IS BEST DAD, BEST HUSBAND BOYFRIEND AND SAVES THE DAY LIKE THE FAIRY TALE PRINCE HE IS  💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖-  ∞/10

Secrets of Blackthorn Hall- Alec goes on a well deserved vacation with his family- 10/10

The Wicked Powers

haven’t been written yet, but Alec will be there, so- 10/10

The Shadowhunters Codex

A list of Alec’s stats is included- 10/10

Not for Humans

Alec having to deal with his idiot of a parabatai and not noticing a drunk Magnus checking him out- 10/10

Kissed

💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 💖 - 10/10

A History of Notable Shadowhunters & Denziens of Downworld: Told in the Language of Flowers

Alec threw Magnus a surprise birthday party where the guests were cats- 10/10

Classics Reimagined in the World of the Shadowhunters

Alec is Snow White- 10/10

[threewaywithdelusion]

Can we talk about how tightly written the themes are in Lady Midnight?

~~~ SPOILERS ~~~~

Malcolm is the perfect villain for Emma and Julian, because he’s a foil to both of them. When we meet Emma, she is entirely devoted to finding her parents’ killer and getting revenge. The only thing keeping her grounded is the relationships she has with Julian, the kids, and Cristina. She has her Wall of Crazy and multiple times considers placing her need for revenge above other considerations (investigating faerie deaths being illegal, the fact that she could endanger Julian’s attempts to get Mark back, etc).

Malcolm is Emma in another world. Emma where revenge became her be-all end-all. Her dark mirror.

Malcolm is also a foil to Julian. He’s a liar and a ruthless man who will do anything for the one he loves. Once the Blackthorns discover the murders are caused by someone trying to bring their love back from the dead, Julian immediately feels kinship with the killer. He says that if it were Emma who was dead, he would do the same. Julian isn’t driven by revenge the way Emma is, but his loyalty is just as dangerous. Julian is also playing a part the way Malcolm is — pretending that Uncle Arthur is running the Institute — but unlike Malcolm, he has not become completely severed from his true self. Not yet.

So both Emma and Julian can see the worst parts of themselves in Malcolm and both can empathize with his motivations. And that’s before we throw the forbidden love thing into the mix. In the first book, neither Emma nor Julian know about the parabatai curse. They both think their love is only forbidden by law, the way Annabel Blackthorn’s love for a downworlder was forbidden by law. Julian keeps thinking this for another whole book.

More than any of the other series, the Dark Artifices is about the interaction of love and law and government. About Aline choosing to be exiled with Helen and Mark’s relationship with a faerie prince and a Shadowhunter girl (being forced to choose whether he is a Shadowhunter or a faerie and eventually picking both). But especially with Emma and Julian, their story — their fear of discovery, the way they know their relationship is taboo, the close childhood friendship that became love — parallels Malcolm’s story almost exactly.

He is a warning of who they can become if they lose each other, and simultaneously a warning of who they become if they cleave to each other too tightly and put their love above all.

[mardthorn]

Defending Blackstairs online is not enough, I need a gun

I must say that, now that I'm 22 years old and I think I think like a more functional adult, I still don't understand how there are people who hate Emma and Julian's relationship.

Let's go in parts, I read that many readers do not like their relationship because they consider them "toxic", "codependent" and "intense", but we must be honest, we read the entire beginning of their romantic relationship when they are teenagers and are in an impossible situation to face, surrounded by other problems as serious as the Parabatai curse. And we must keep in mind that these two have known each other their WHOLE LIFE, they never lived without each other and I think that one of the conclusions we can draw from TDA is that they should never have been Parabatai to begin with, but circumstances led them to make a very serious decision that did not correspond to 12 years old.

Now, since I'm re-reading the books, I realize that the unhealthy aspects of their relationship are mainly due to the Parabatai curse, since it is designed to intensify their behaviors and thoughts towards each other, and yet they were able to avoid the most impulsive decisions that the curse directed them to make. (until Emma is mortally wounded, so they give in to the curse)

I think we haven't seen much of their relationship yet without being affected by the Parabatai curse, so I think in TWP we could see a different dynamic between them than it was in TDA (without the curse and without threats hanging over their heads). I hope CC can give us a glimpse of their more mature relationship in Better in Black.

The only thing these children did not want was to be separated from each other and unfortunately they realized very late that they loved each other not only as friends. Plus, they love each other in such a fierce and honest way that it makes you wish you had a bond similar to theirs, I hope CC gives them the happy ending they deserve.

(Also, I like to defend love stories)

[helenofblackthorns]

Tavvy's role in how the battle on the Imperishable Fields went is actually so crazy I feel like we should talk about it more. like oh parabatai who fall in love are basically completely doomed and once they reach the final stages of the curse they go mad and murder everyone they know & love??? not on this seven year old's watch!

[fairdale]

to william herondale, with love

you have two options when it comes about will.

you can choose to stay in the surface, to think of him as a sassy, sarcastic, superficial and selfish man who doesn't give a shit about anything nor anyone except for jem, who makes insensitive jokes and doesn't care if he hurts people.

or you can choose to know him. the little parts of him that make him wonderful, sweet, delicate and caring. and, oh, how much love will fill your heart when you realise how much he deserves to be loved.

and how much he craves it.

will is sarcastic, yes. he's funny, he pulls off jokes like it's nothing, he makes people laugh, he sings the demon pox song and makes everyone think he's a little crazy.

but he's also the kid who left his family too young because he thought he was cursed and he loved them too much.

he's also the kid who thought no one could ever love him anymore.

he's also the kid who felt terribly lonely after leaving his family.

he's also the kid who wanted jem to be his parabatai so badly he didn't care he was sick and that he would leave him too soon.

he's also the kid who didn't want people too close to him because he loved them and didn't want anything bad to happen to them. jem was different. it wasn't just because he was sick, it's because he was jem. because jem saw who he truly was when no one else did. his heart beat because jem's did as well.

he's also the man who loved to read. the man whose name will still be dancing in the walls of the library centuries later. the man who found a safe place between books.

he's also the man who was so in love with tessa he tried to break the curse after years of living like that, because his love was so pure, so deep, so real, he had to do something.

he's also the man who put his hands into the fire to save jem's yin fen, because he couldn't imagine a life without him. because he didn't want a life without him.

he's also the man who was desperately in love with tessa, but made himself scarce because he couldn't put his own happiness over tessa and jem's. because he saw how good they were to each other.

he's also the man who held jessamine in his arms when she died too young.

he's also the man who let jem go when he told him he didn't want to live like that anymore even though it would forever break him and he would take a part of his soul with him.

he's also the man who went to save tessa even when he felt his heart getting carved out of his chest when jem died.

he's also the man who learned how to have his sister next to him again, the man who went back to his parents even if he were terrified.

he's also the man who made sure tessa never doubted for a second that he was devoted to her.

he's also the man who travelled the world with her and wrote her letters to show his love.

he's also the man who made sure to love his children loudly, to tell them he was proud of them and that they weren't monsters.

he's also the man who fought against injustices in the clave.

he was also the man who died surrounded by his loved ones (because he was, in fact, so loved).

he was also the man watching jem and tessa's wedding dream since the other side of the river, being happy for them.

will was the man with a heart so big he didn't know what to do with all the love he held in it.

when someone asks me, but why do you love him so much? well, how can you not? how, when he tried to love so quietly but he was screaming, when he was trying not to care but he cared more than anyone.

will herondale was, is and forever will be the character i hold closest to my heart, the character who made me laugh, cry and love the most.

"he lies consistently. he always invents the story that will make him look the worst."

"but it was there, in the touch of his hand on her cheek, in the softness of his voice, in his eyes when he looked at her. it was the way she had always dreamed a boy would look at her. but she never dreamed up someone as beautiful as will, not in all her imaginings."

"all my life, since i came to the institute, you were the mirror of my soul. i saw the good in me in you. in your eyes alone i found grace. when you are gone from me, who will see me like that?"

"against his own will, almost, will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make tessa love him. he would have done— almost anything. he would not betray jem for it. that was the one thing he would not do."

"don’t you see, will? you’re a person like me. you are like me. you say the things i think but never say out loud. you read the books i read. you love the poetry i love. you make me laugh with your ridiculous songs and the way you see the truth of everything. "

"when she tilted her head up and brushed his lips with hers, he cupped her face in his hands. so many years, he thought, and each kiss was new as the break of day."

"wo men shi sheng si ji jiao," said will, and he saw jem’s eyes widen, fractionally, and the spark of amusement inside them. "go in peace, james carstairs."

"and in the shadows they’d whispered, reminding each other of the stories only they knew. of the girl who had hit over the head with a water jug the boy who had come to rescue her, and how he had fallen in love with her in that instant."

"she remembered when will had died, her agony, the long nights alone, reaching across the bed every morning when she woke up, for years expecting to find him there, and only slowly growing accustomed to the fact that side of the bed would always be empty."

"i don’t know how to live in the world as a shadowhunter without will. i don’t think I even want to. i am still a parabatai, but my other half is gone. if I were to go to some Institute and ask them to take me in, i would never forget that. i would never feel whole."

"i miss you. we miss you. someday, we'll all be together. not too soon, my angel tessa. i can wait."

...

"my name is herondale," the boy said cheerfully. "william herondale, but everyone calls me will."

[illstuckwithclace]

Herondales

let's say that the most important male herondales are Will James Jace and Kit

so

Will and Kit's lovers names both start with T, and they've repeated their names like this: "Tess, Tess, Tess..." "Ty, Ty, Ty"

while James and Jace's lovers names both start with C and both have red hair

Will and Jace both have curses about love and traumatizing childhood, raised in an institute by a couple and finding their parabatai here

James and Kit both use gun and are not usual to the demonic world, tho they are impregnated with demonic magic or things like that

Will and Jace both seeing their lover die (Will when holding bleeding Tessa and Jace having a nightmare by those fear demons)

James and Kit both not accepting their love for those person at first, kissing another person in front of them (James right before Cordelia ran to Paris and Kit kissing Livvie)

[dreaming-marchling]

2024 Fic Round Up

Tagged by @princessfbi (thank you! so thrilled to have discovered your work this year!)

2024 Word Count: 661,417

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

Safe In Certainty Started in 2023, Completed in Feb 2024 | Fast & Furious | Marked in Trust Series | 223,657k

Part four finished! Still stunned to be here story after story with the most amazing commenters I could have ever asked for. Not bad for a story I had never intended to share!

MARCH

Marked in Faith 10 chapters posted in 2024 | Fast & Furious | Marked in Trust Series | Roughly 60k posted in 2024

I'm putting this in for March because this is the month I began posting one story a month until Reckless in Devotion started. Some of those babies are longer than my oneshots, lol. Forever love exploring other POVs in the Marked in Trust world!

APRIL

MAY

The Ex 911 | Bucktommy | 17.5k

My first 911 story! My first Bucktommy story! Buck as a character totally captured me this year. I haven't been taken by a new fandom in so long so this was so exciting! Of course I beat the crap out of Buck right in my first fic for him :)

JUNE

Eyes On Me 911 | Bucktommy | 18k

Post lightning strike cataracts, I had so much fun with this one. I constantly think about extending it or maybe doing a Buddie version of it, I just loved the storyline so much and other scenes popped into my head after I posted

Doctor/Warlock Confidentiality Shadowhunters | Magnus-Centric | 17k

My first Shadowhunters of the year! Magnus Bane gets therapy against his wishes. I felt very clever for the title, lol

Heart & Universe 911 | Buddie | 6.8k

My first Buddie story! Why be stuck in a ship war when you can have BOTH?? I love writing them realizing they're in love :)

JULY

The King of the Dark Storm Shadowhunters | Malec & Chairman Meow | 5.8k

I've had this stray headcanon about Chairman being an old god trapped as a cat floating around in my head for fun for so long and finally I wrote it!

Not Sexy 911 | Bucktommy | 7k

Listen, I need more fics about Buck using sex in unhealthy ways. It's catnip for me. Tommy got a glimpse behind that particularly miserable door in this one

Invasion 911 | Buddie | 10k

Nakedperil!Buck and protective!Eddie - a match made in heaven, in my opinion

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

Over the Cliff 911 | Gen 118 Fam | 6k

This was originally supposed to be how Buck got injured in Not Sexy but I was having way too much fun with the cliff rescue which wasn't even the point of Not Sexy so I chopped them in half to make a gen 118 family/Buck whump story and gave a much more to the point explanation for Buck's injuries in Not Sexy

Away From Us 911 | Buddie | 76k

My first 911 multichapter story! A presumed dead lawsuit era story full of angst. I fully anticipate more lawsuit era angst in my future, lol

OCTOBER

Art Class and Earthquakes 911 | HenRen/Gen Buck & Karen | 5.5k

Karen Wilson is awesome and needs more stories

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Reckless in Devotion Fast & Furious | Brian/Dom | 33k posted in 2024

The 5th installment in Marked in Trust series!! This took me so much longer than I thought it would but it's finally up and running and I am so excited for everyone to see what's to come :)

To Be Bonded Shadowhunters | Malec & Parabatai | 30k posted in 2024

I still literally cannot believe that this is finally being shared. I started this story in 2019 - I know I keep saying that but like this thing took me 5 years. It is my nemesis, finally vanquished. And people are enjoying it??? What? I've been cursing its name and people are now enjoying it. Wild. Wonderful

2024 has been kind of a crappy year for me irl but in fic it as been wonderful. A new fandom, so many words shared and, best of all, such amazing support and kindness from readers. You're all so wonderful and you have truly been one of the brightest pieces of my year. I cannot thank you all enough.

Tagging: You know the drill, if you saw this and thought "I wanna do that" then you're tagged. Literally @ me so I can read yours, that's how tagged you are.

[clockwork-carstairs]

the last hours was actually so tragic. like maybe it’s the edwardian london thing that makes it seem more tragic to me but damn all that miscommunication made them all so LONELY and isolated when they didn’t have to be. in tid even when will thought he was cursed he had jem, and even when he was being awful to tessa she still had other people in her life like jem and sophie. jem and tessa had no family, but they had people they talked to and shared their fears with. in the dark artifices, they’re this really strong family unit, the tragedy is horrible but there’s a network around them all (blackthorns + emma + kit) so no one’s really alone.

but in the last hours like….these kids HAVE parents and friend groups and supposed best friends even, yet they seem more isolated than any other series mains. james doesn’t tell anyone about the gracelet and what he went through (fair enough bec it was terrible and traumatising). but then it’s not just that. cordelia isn’t telling anyone what she’s going through. lucie isn’t telling anyone what she’s going through (trying to bring someone back to life???) – and they’re supposedly best friends and future parabatai! and matthew isn’t telling anyone what he’s going through, not his parabatai either, and no one wants to address how visibly he’s suffering. and grace, she’s actually alone. and it just seems so lonely and sad and they all seem so isolated even though they shouldn’t be, because unlike the tid and tda mains, the tlh lot actually have parents and their own homes (for the most part). the start of chain of thorns especially is just really painful because they’re all suffering ALONE when they all have people around them they just don’t bridge the gap. it just feels so lonely which is almost ironic bec what about the friendship of the merry thieves and the parabatai bonds and best friendship?

[annluvazzel]

🌑 Shadowhunters AU ☆ Parabatai BKDK

Clip Studio Paint | Jan 5, 2025

Parabatai are battle partners, best friends, "platonic soulmates". There is a magic ritual to create an unbreakable bond between them, and it's forbidden to have romantic feelings for your Parabatai. But you can't really control your heart, can you?

They both realize their love is not exactly platonic a little bit late and now are between the sword and the wall 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ Kacchan who would prefer to pretend everything is the same as ever, and have Izuku as "just a parabatai" if it means having him at all, vs Izuku who can't really contain his newfound emotions and *needs* to act on them and is going to doom the both of them.

A little late to make that observation, Izuku (He wasn't thinking of marrying anyways 😔)

How would they know? 🤨 (they're unaware of the parabatai curse)

[margareturtle]

Ngl I think I’m mainly disappointed with the end of Chain of Thorns bc we get none of that era with our modern day shadowhunters!! Like what was the point of having all of TLH before TWP if we aren’t gonna get any TLH characters in TWP???

Especially when their was so much potential for that in TLH!!

Like wdym James and Lucie are half warlock and have no extended life span??

They had the powers!! And 1/4 demon blood could give them a lot slower aging!! Like 200 yrs at least !!!

(James and Lucie should get to meet Kit and Mina!!)

Also Matthew had such great vamp potential!! Like he’s so simon core of seeing jordelia together and then running to the paris vampires to get away!!

Alternatively if Matthew was just mortal we would have JemxWill in reverse with the Herondale being the one to outlive their parabatai and James + Jem would relate sm

Wdym Grace was cursed with the power by Belial and that had no long lasting/slow aging effects??

Wdym half warlock!Lucie raised her bf FROM THE DEAD and that has no long lasting effects?? Hmmm

Vampire Anna would have also been iconic!!

I’m just saying as tragic as it is that Jessa outlived their friends idc I’m selfish and I want some of the tlh gang in twp

Their absence could easily be explained like they were lost in Thule along with Thule!dru + simon

[verygoodv]

I am very interested in their relationship, although most likely their friendship was very toxic. Did Luke even realize that Valentine had betrayed him before, even before he handed him the dagger and told him to kill himself? Valentine betrayed him when he framed him, he betrayed their friendship, their parabatai bond... And after that, Luke didn't hate him. And after that, it's Valentine who accuses Luke of betrayal! Ah, I want a story about them!

A little reminder: Luke realized he was in love with Jocelyn when Valentine started dating her. The curse of the parabatai "one woman for two"?

[alexanderlightweight]

Wednesday prompt :) what if the reason Valentine made Luke a wolf was that a wronged nephilim in a parabatai bond can declare the other an oathbreaker, to trigger divine judgement, and if the judgement finds fault with the other you get back your soul piece and the other is punished? What if Alec, faced with another entitled and selfish rant, just snaps and declares Jace an oathbreaker?

okay so I couldn't figure out a way that would work like you were wanting but i did really like the idea that traditionally, a ritual with the silent brothers as a conduit to raziel is the only one allowed to judge and break a parabatai bond

this is actually an au of all your cracks i'll paint gold. because my thought is that an alec who didn't have the faith or hope to wait to give jace till the very last minute (because until the first rune is taken, some part of alec still believes jace is coming). this alec knows he's about to be deruned and he wants to lose his parabatai bond on his own terms. because fuck if he's going to let the clave tear him from jace, he's going to ask raziel to judge them and whoever ends up taking the brunt, so be it. because only raziel can judge the bond between him and jace.

also a part of alec expects to be the one judged as an oathbreaker. he's really tangled up in his own thoughts at this point and he knows he's not thinking straight which makes him doubt himself.

alec wants answers and to fuck the clave by not letting them get their way.

also tbh, for parabatai, i think the loss of the bond itself, especially not knwing what is happening would feel like divine punishment itself. especially for two peple who are so devout to the bond.

i hope you still enjoy <3

lumine

-

Alec doesn’t know what to do, but there is only one thing left to try and Jace is going to lose him either way. This is the most selfish thing Alec’s ever done in his life and he almost doesn’t do it, until he thinks about how long he’s been sitting here, alone.

Jace isn’t coming. Alec knows that at this point. Wherever his parabatai is with Clary, it’s far beyond anywhere that Alec can reach him in time.

And Alec can’t stay sitting here, waiting to be deruned whenever Imogen gets bored of making him wait.

Treated like he isn’t a Commander and not even given the choice of someone as a witness of his own to keep watch.

“I demand the presence of a Silent Brother for an oath.” Alec rasps to the next shadowhunters who pass, and they wince, looking at him with concern but they shake their heads.

Imogen has scared them all with his imprisonment and Alec is paying the price. Alec is normally the backbone of his Institute, the shield between him and the clave and while they trust him to do that, Alec’s never been their official leader or had the chance to make these hunters completely his.

It’s with a snarl and the determination of spite in his heart — because what was the point of any of this? Of denying himself and Magnus even a moment of anything if this is the way things end — and Alec spits his blood and saliva onto the ground.

It’s grueling work.

Alec was already tired from patrol and the mess with Meliorn when they dragged him to a cell and pronounced him a traitor.  There’s been no soul sword and no trial. They want an example and they’re not afraid to use Alec as one.

Where once, Alec would have assumed he had the protection and privilege of the Lightwood name, he knows now that none of it is true. He’s protected himself and his siblings by his own merits, despite their name, all of these years.

So, Alec reaches deep within himself and calls forward the blood magic that every nephilim is told about but rarely any ever attempt.

It’s a brutal, vicious magic that can turn even the simplest of magical desires into an onslaught of eldritch curses.

Alec uses the blood from his split lip and cut cheek and paints a series of runes before placing his hand down and willing it to activate.

His fingers shatter from the pressure he’s using t push down at the same time the array activates and Alec smiles in satisfaction, copper thick on his tongue.

—

“The Silent Brothers have been summoned and so will remain, especially for a trial we were not notified of.”

“Because this isn’t a trial.” Alec rasps out, “I’ve been asked no questions and offered no recourse. I request two things of the Silent Brothers, one of each.”

“Your requests?”

“I declare a broken oath between parabatai. I wish to let the angel judge my parabatai and I’s bond, not the clave.”

Alec isn’t going to fight his deruning, he can’t.

But he’s not going to let the clave strip away his bond, the angel himself can do that.

“The second request?”

“After the first is finished.” Alec says firmly, not about to let them know that his request depends on how the ritual goes.

“Very well. You will need a warlock to maintain your vitals.”

Alec hates to do it, but there isn’t a warlock who he trusts more than Magnus and Alec is very tired of being betrayed.

—

“What is going on?” Magnus asks tightly, because the Institute is full of strange nephilim and there isn’t a single one he recognizes. Which normally isn’t strange, except it wasn’t like this even a week ago.

“You’ve been requested to monitor and maintain the vitals of the nephilim, Alexander Gideon Lightwood, during a ritual.” The Silent Brother escorting him informs him with their invasive way of communication.

Magnus freezes, because this sounds dangerously close to the idea that he’ll be holding Alexander’s life in his hands.

“And he knows I am the warlock working with him?”

“You are the only warlock he would agree to work with.”

Magnus wonders at what that means and curses the flare of hope in his chest. As he enters the room he frowns, noticing it’s heavily guarded by what are clearly clave guards.

They sneer as he passes and Magnus lets his glamour drop, smirking as they flinch from him.  The cell-like quality of the room means he’s not prepared for Alexander when he enters, though he should be.

Alexander looks exhausted and worse than Magnus has ever seen him, and his eyes are dull. There’s a small spark, the softening of Alexander’s gaze on him. When their eyes meet there is wonder and curiosity for a brief heartbeat before Magnus’ glamour goes back up and Alexander’s eyes drop to the floor.

“Well, this is not how I imagined seeing you again.” Magnus says, trying to soften his words but he’s surprised, and he can’t help it and the hope makes him coy. “In my dreams, I imagined crashing your wedding. Not being summoned here to keep you alive.”

Alexander lets out a hoarse, defeated laugh and shakes his head. “There’s not going to be a wedding to crash, Magnus. I’m being deruned for treason. If I’m alive in a week, it’ll be considered impressive.”

Magnus feels his heart crack with the icy hands that have suddenly grabbed it.

“Tell me, everything, Alexander. Now.”

Alec sends him a weary, hopeless gaze and then shrugs, his hoarse voice forming words that tear into Magnus’ cracking heart.

—

Alec recites the words of his oath, the one that will allow Raziel to judge the bonds of his and Jace’s soul.

If he’s to lose this, then he’s going to do it by his own choice.

He expects the pain, when it comes, but it’s more excruciating than he thought it would be. 

The part of Jace’s soul that is melded with his own is burrowed tightly. It writhes and tugs and fights leaving, and Alec is too tired to do anything but accept the pain and the struggle. He doesn’t even have the energy to fight for himself, he certainly doesn’t have the energy to fight for Jace one last time.

Instead, he lets him go and wonders, whose soul will be returned to who.

—

Magnus has never seen such a gruesome, intimate ritual in all of his life, and it galls him at how many are watching it.  He’s keeping Alexander’s heart beating only through the strength of his magic, or Alexander would be lifeless on the flat table they’ve laid him on.  There is nothing to comfort him or ease him from the cold marble and Magnus seethes that he wasn’t allowed to add any kind of magical cushioning.

It’s as if they want Alexander to feel the most discomfort possible.

He can see it in Alexander’s eyes, the surprise and confusion of waking up and it breaks apart the walls he tried so hard to hastily rebuild.

Alexander didn’t expect to wake up and Magnus was the only one he trusted to make sure that if he did die, he was properly taken care of. Death is an intimate affair for shadowhunters, and Magnus knows the honor he’s been given, but every part of this except keeping Alexander alive feels like a curse.

Because what could have happened in the mere days since they last talked and saw each other, to send Alexander spiraling so low? When he was so proud in his own misguided beliefs the last time they saw each other.

“His soul and bond have been judged. Alexander Lightwood’s soul has been returned to him; he has not broken the oath of his bond.”

Alexander doesn’t look pleased by the pronouncement, if anything the distress and grief grow before they’re hidden away.  It’s then that Magnus realizes, while there are a variety of important shadowhunters, there isn’t a single person there connected to Alexander. 

“Is family not allowed?” He asks casually, smirking at the Silent Brother, because all of their order know Magnus’ reputation enough that it’s better to indulge his curiosity.

“There was no family willing or available to come.” Is what he’s told instead of something like, ‘they’re not allowed’ and Magnus, Magnus itches with the urge to destroy something.

“And Alexander?”

Whatever information Magnus is about to learn, is interrupted by Alexander himself.

“My second request, to the Silent Brothers. To request the right of severance. A trial of law.”

Magnus is curious and he raises an eyebrow imperiously at the Silent Brother standing near him.  Magnus hears the mental sigh before he’s told, “to request such a thing, means the clave has first betrayed the nephilim requesting it. There is no risk besides the soul sword knowing it is a lie and he is still due to be deruned. If he cuts himself from the clave, the clave cannot destroy first destroy him.”

“Does he need a magical aid?” Magnus asks without thinking, because of course he wants to help Alexander get away from the people doing this to him.

“Only comfort, when the strength of his own will finally fails him.”

Magnus wonders what that means but he has no further interest in what is being said and he takes the five steps that separate him and Alexander.

“What will happen, when you succeed in the next ritual?”

“I might fail.”

“You won’t.” Magnus assures him, his fingers light as he boldly places his hand on Alexander’s shoulder. Alexander stiffens for a moment and Magnus almost moves, before Alexander visibly relaxes and leans even closer.

“I’ll be allowed to leave the clave, though I doubt any Institute will take me. I wouldn’t trust them either, not anymore.” It’s a bitter thing for Alexander to admit and Magnus can tell. “I’ll still have my runes; I won’t be hunted. I can hide in the edges of the mundane world if I need to. I’m sure Night Markets have some use for what I can hunt.”

Magnus tsks and tightens his grip on Alexander’s shoulder and sends a soothing, warming pulse through Alexander’s muscles. His shadowhunter has been shivering since the ritual and not a single shadowhunter has offered him a blanket.

This entire time he’s been dressed in thin clothes, the kind nephilim are buried in, as if his fate is already decided on. Magnus is going to burn the horrendously white shirt and pants Alexander is wearing and never let him wear the color again.

After Alexander agrees… of course.

—

Alexander’s voice is low, but strong as he speaks his truth upon the soul sword. It carries across the room as he grips the soul sword and speaks.  He looks at no one but Magnus as he talks, repeating line for line the various laws the clave have broken in his case. Even Imogen looks a little pale when he’s done, as if hearing the truth of her own crimes is worse the committing them.

Alexander seems stunned when he’s finished.

As if he didn’t really think it would work, as if he thought he might actually be in the wrong and Magnus heart breaks.

“Alexander—” Magnus murmurs as he walks towards him, for his shadowhunter’s eyes haven’t once looked away from Magnus’ unglamoured ones. His dark eyes are weary as he watches Magnus, there’s no satisfaction in having one.

Hazel eyes widen in shock as Alexander watches Magnus reach out and wrap his fingers around the hilt of the soul sword.

“None of it has ever been a game. I would cherish you, darling. Far more than the clave, your family, your parabatai or even your exalted angel, Raziel.” The sword doesn’t stop him from speaking, because it isn’t a lie. Raziel cares little for the race he created and what Magnus is starting to feel for Alexander can’t be matched even by a divine being.

Let alone the petty, hateful mortals that have brutalized Alexander’s heart and soul so badly.

“What if you get tired?” Alexander asks and Magnus knows he’s too worn to voice the ‘of me’ aloud.

“I will keep you for every moment of your life.” Magnus tells him, swearing upon an angelic relic that croons temptingly to the corrupted blood in Magnus. “I will never throw you from me. Or give up on you. Whatever exists between us, it can grow to whatever we let it and no matter what that is, I will never abandon you. You, just you, would be enough, Alexander.”

Alexander wraps his trembling arms around Magnus and nods, “then take me away. Please, Magnus. From all of it.”

Magnus smirks at the one Silent Brother who never approached him and Jem nods in return. If his friend hadn’t told him about the properties of the soul sword in detail, this never would have worked.  However, Jem isn’t afraid to toe the line of nephilim law and Magnus has never seen him so enraged as he was when he pressed against Magnus’ mind in secrecy earlier.

The clave cannot refute Magnus’ words, not when sworn on the soul sword or witnessed by two Silent Brothers and that means that this is binding.

The clave no longer has any say or power over Alexander, only Magnus does.