Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Alastair pulled his phone out of his pocket “What is it?” he said

“I need you down here now!” Thomas said on the other end of the line. “I’m at Hyde Park!”

“You are aware that Hyde Park is massive right?” Alastair said

Alastair could practically hear Thomas’ eyeroll “We’re by the Duck Pond!”

“We?” Alastair asked, already on his way to Hyde Park by way of taxi.

“James, Matthew, Cordelia and Lucie are here. I need help restraining James” Thomas said

“FROM WHAT?” Alastair asked incredulously

Thomas sighed “The Herondale DNA runs true. James is fighting the ducks. Again.”

Chapter Text

Thomas often wondered what life would be like if they had met any other way. First at school, then in Paris, just before going off and never crossing paths again.

Except- Cordelia.

Cordelia brought them together again, and as Thomas carded his fingers through Alastair’s silky hair, he wouldn’t trade anything for where he is now.

Despite all the pain of the last year. First, losing Barbara to an unknown disease, then Christopher to a laboratory accident.

And yet.

Alastair was there through it all, even when Thomas was framed for causing Kit’s accident.

“I Love You, Alastair” Thomas whispered.

Chapter Text

“Watch out, Tom!” Alastair shouted over the wind. “Ibilis Demon”

Thomas turned, and he looked as beautiful as ever, even with his brown hair sufficiently tousled. He reached up with his seraph blade and pierced the flesh of the demon. “Thanks!”

Alastair moved closer to Thomas, cutting down a few demons as he went. “Why do you think there are so many?” He asked.

“I don’t know” Alastair admitted “But it can’t be good. Remember last time?”

Thomas nodded, and sliced through the last of the demons. “I remember, and in a weird way, it brought us together.”

Alastair laughed.

Chapter Text

Thomas walked into his first period and sat down in the nearest seat. He dug a book out of his backpack, and let himself become immersed in the story.

“Excuse me, but is that Layla and Majnun?” Someone asked. Thomas looked up, and was starstruck. Tiger eyes melting into caramel skin combined with black-and-blonde hair.

“Yeah. My cousin recommended it” Thomas replied.

“Really? Who’s your cousin? I don’t know many people who know the story” said Tiger Eyes.

“Lucie Herondale” Thomas said “I’m Thomas.”

Tiger Eyes frowned “Lucie? That’s my sister’s, Cordelia, her best friend. I’m Alastair, by the way”

Chapter Text

Alastair stared into a grayscale world. Shades of black and white covered his vision. He expected, eventually, with Charles, his vision would color. It never did.

Thomas’ touch did. Thomas, who’s smile reached from ear-to-ear. Thomas, with his everlasting kindness. But he didn’t know if Thomas knew they were soulmates. Now, Alastair made his way across the room.

“Thomas” He opened once he reached him.

Thomas smiled “Alastair! I was looking for my soulmate!”

“You know?” Alastair asked.

“Of course I do. I’ve been seeing color since that day we spent together in Paris.” Thomas said. “It wasn’t anyone else.”

Chapter Text

Thomas drew his bowstring back, and released the arrow. It hit the bulls-eye, as did the previous five.

“So, you aren’t completely terrible at Archery” Alastair drawled.

Thomas turned “I never said I was. Also, it’s kind of in my blood.”

“Ah, yes, child of Apollo and all that. Is that where you get your ridiculous amount of cheer from?” Alastair said.

“Well, it’s not as if you aren’t perfect with any weapon you pick up, son of Ares” Thomas fired back, then walked up and grabbed the arrows “You try now, Alastair”

“I thought I’m a prodigy” Alastair joked

Chapter Text

Alastair let the orange sparks fade away when he heard a knock on his door. “What is it?” He asked the couple standing in his doorway.

“We need you to help our son. He was bitten by a wolf, and now… you must come over” They begged.

Alastair sighed “What are your names?”

“Sophie and Gideon Lightwood. It’s our son, Thomas who needs help.”

“Let me grab my coat” Alastair said “As long as I don’t have to put up with the stuffy Shadowhunters.”

“You won’t” Sophie said, “We aren’t Shadowhunters.”

“Your names-” Alastair began.

“We left” Gideon said quickly.

Chapter Text

Thomas stood at the foot of the stage, and carefully walked up the steps.

He was the last of his family to make his choice, and he couldn’t believe what he was choosing.

He, against all odds, was choosing Dauntless.

He, against all odds, tested Dauntless.

He kept that mantra, of Dauntless.

He used the knife, and cut his hand, letting his red blood spill onto the hot coals.

He ignored his family’s gasps as they arose.

He ignored the sly comment from Alastair Carstairs “I guess you aren’t so puny anymore, Lightwood.”

Except, maybe he didn’t ignore it completely.

Chapter Text

Alastair ran a hand through his hair, thoroughly messing it up.

“Alastair, could you not be a jerk, just for tonight?” Cordelia asked, leaning against the wall beside him. The perfect picture of a princess in every way.

“I can only be myself, Layla” Alastair said. At that moment, the first of the guests for Cordelia’s birthday came through the door. It was Sophie and Gideon Lightwood, with their kids Barbara, Eugenia, and Thomas. Alastair looked away, blushing.

“You have a crush?” Cordelia asked. “Barbara or Eugenia?”

“Neither” Alastair snapped. He then added “I don’t have a crush on anyone”

Chapter Text

Thomas took a deep breath, and walked out to the interview.

“So, Thomas, you’ve certainly made a scene since you arrived. Let’s cut to the chase – Who is waiting at home?” Malcolm Fade greeted

“Well, I have my Mom, Dad, and sisters, Barbara and Eugenia. I also have three friends waiting, James, Matthew and Christopher, and they’re going to die without me ensuring they don’t do anything stupid. And then there’s –” Thomas caught himself

“There’s who? If you win, you know it won’t matter who’s waiting for you” Malcolm said.

“Alastair Carstairs.” Thomas said. “I bet he’s probably facepalming now”

Chapter Text

Alastair ran behind Thomas, trying to get his scarf to stay around his neck. “Slow down, asalam.”

Thomas looked back and had merely a massive grin on his face “We’re going to be late if we delay any longer”

“Who cares about being late to Will’s Christmas Party?” Alastair caught up to Thomas, and held him by his turtleneck.

“I do.” Thomas said. Thomas chose that moment to kiss him. And continue to drag him towards the institute.

“Everyone is going to hate me” Alastair mumbled.

“That might have worked when we were teens, but not anymore joon.” Thomas said

Chapter Text

Thomas walked into the library and found Alastair paging through a book. His green and silver tie was falling in the middle of the page, but he didn’t seem to care. Thomas wasn’t quite sure what they had, but he did know that he wanted more.

“Hello Alastair” Thomas greeted.

“How was Herbology?” Alastair asked.

Thomas shrugged. “Is your tie bothering you? It’s in the way of your book.”

“I wasn’t really reading it. I was waiting for you. Figured if we did Divination homework together it’ll be less boring” Alastair commented.

Thomas blushed, just barely though “Thanks” he said.

Chapter Text

Alastair opened the shop and started scrolling through his phone. The bell rang. “Hello, welcome. What can I get started for you today?”

His customer was panting. “Sorry, I know you guys just opened but Matthew was very insistent that this is the best coffee shop in town. Two caramel lattes, an Americano, Hot Chocolate, a quadruple espresso with 1oz of milk and the sweetest drink you have. All 16 oz please”

“I’ll get that started.” Alastair said. When he completed the order, he put it in two drink carriers.

“Thank you…Alastair” He said

“Of course..”

“Thomas”

“Thomas” Alastair finished.

Chapter Text

Thomas stood on the deck of the Merry Thieves, surveying for their sister ship, Layla & Majnun. James said the others were due back today, and he hadn’t been wrong for years. Of course, he and James were always far more excited for Layla & Majnun’s return, because of Alastair and Cordelia.

Lo and behold, the ship materialized on the horizon and soon was saddled up the Merry Thieves. “Alastair!” Thomas said, leaning over the rail.

“You don’t need to make such a fuss, deldaram” Alastair said back over to him.

“Of course I do!” Thomas said back to him.

Chapter Text

Alastair was walking along the shore when he saw the thrashing at the reef line. He had grown up on coastlines his whole life, he knew when a creature was struggling. He dove into the water and swam out to the creature, intending to free it.

“What are you doing?” The creature said.

Alastair stopped. It was human? “Helping you. You seem to be stuck in an old fisherman’s net.”

“Oh. Thank you.” It paused “I was always taught that humans went extinct”

“You say that as if you aren’t human” Alastair said.

“I’m a merman. My name’s Thomas Lightwood”

Chapter Text

Thomas carded his fingers through Alastair’s hair. They were laying on a picnic blanket and Anna and Ari’s daughter was running through the Kensington Gardens.

“What if we did that?” Thomas asked suddenly

“Did what?” Alastair asked

“Adopted a kid.” Thomas said.

“I don’t want to hurt them” Alastair said “You know how bitter I can be sometimes.”

Thomas moved his fingers to run down the side of Alastair’s face, down to his collarbone, and back again. “You won’t. You’re amazing with Zachary and Owen adores you”

“Maybe. We’d have to prepare a room for them first.”

“Of course joon.”

Chapter Text

Alastair felt an itch on his left arm but ignored it for most of class. He was barely passing Calculus as-is and didn’t need a worse grade. When the bell rang, he finally gave in and shoved his sleeve up to see WHAT his soulmate was writing to him for most of the hour.

It wasn’t writing

And it didn’t look to be done with a pen or marker.

It was a tattoo.

Of a compass.

He talked to Ari about it during lunch.

“Thomas is getting his tattoo today” She said.

“What?” Alastair asked.

“You didn’t know?” Ari asked.

Chapter Text

Thomas sat beside Christopher at dinner, desperately trying to prevent him from setting his mashed potatoes on fire. He nearly missed the line of Selection candidates, and their families, walking in. James’ clear top choice – Cordelia Carstairs – brought along her mother and two brothers. Soon after that, the rest of them came in. Thomas ignored them though, still catching up on the fact that Cordelia’s older brother was, to say it bluntly, the most attractive man he had ever seen. “You didn’t mention that Cordelia’s brother was hot” he whispered to James over Matthew.

“Alastair isn’t hot” Matthew said simply.

Chapter Text

Alastair tumbled through the air, his wings rendered useless. He hadn’t meant to break them, but there was his right wing, bent at all angles, missing so many feathers it was easier to count the amount he had left, and scorched. He curled his left wing around his body, willing to accept his inevitable doom.

“What are you doing Esfandiyar?” A voice above shouted

Alastair knew who it was. “At present, dying. My goal? To get you a Tiger Lily.”

Thomas must’ve dove, because the next moment, Alastair was in Thomas’ arms. “Don’t scare me” Thomas said. Alastair kissed him.

Chapter Text

Thomas rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. His first thought was that the wallpaper was different.

His second was that the windows were new. “Alastair! What’s happening?”

Alastair walked through the door, wearing something that was definitely nothing like anything they owned. “I have no fucking idea. This box says it’s 2015.” He held it in his hand.

“We’ve traveled forward a century?” Thomas asked.

Alastair nodded. “I’ve sent out fire-messages and apparently the Consul wants to talk later. His name is Alec Lightwood-Bane.”

“Magnus Bane got married?” Thomas asked

“And Brother Zachariah is Jem Carstairs again.” Alastair added.

Chapter Text

“I’ve got a lock on the target, Babe” Thomas’ voice crackled through the speaker.

“Anyone could tap into this shit!” Alastair hissed. “I love you, but don’t say things like that unless you’re in a completely secure area.”

“Love you too” Thomas said, having seemingly ignored everything beyond the ‘I love you’. Alastair could feel his smile over the audio.

“Don’t loose them” Alastair said. “Track them until 109^th and Yul-Battaar. Layla will take over after that.”

“What happened to no affection over the speaker?” Thomas asked.

“Layla is her codename, aside from being my nickname for her” Alastair explained.

Chapter Text

“Don’t ever talk to me again” Thomas said.

Those words had destroyed any chance he had had with Alastair.

And Alastair moved on.

And despite the rumor, and the lie, and the pain caused by it all, not having Alastair in his life was somehow.. worse.

But there was a common denominator between the two of them: James.

So Thomas was now on the edge of the room, leaning up against the wall during James’ annual Christmas party. He could feel the glare rolling off Alastair.

Apologies floated around in his head, all of them remained there that night.

Chapter Text

Alastair flopped down onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

James Herondale and Matthew Fairchild were gone. They had gotten expelled after a prank some of his friends had played. He hadn’t ever meant for that to happen. Just a bit of teasing, protecting his family’s reputation. And now James had been– AH! Alastair felt a sharp pain on his lower leg. He knew what it meant: His soulmate loved him. He rolled up the leg of his pants, scared to see something like Matthew Fairchild or Rosamund Wentworth.

Thomas Lightwood.

This wasn’t possible. Thomas Lightwood was his soulmate?

Chapter Text

“What movie are we seeing again?” Alastair asked Thomas again.

“Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. It’s American, and it’s a cartoon” Thomas answered. He gave their tickets to the mundane waiting at the entrance of the theatre.

“Will I have a headache?” Alastair asked

Thomas shook his head “If it gave mundanes headaches, I don’t think it would’ve gone international.”

 “I suppose that is true” Alastair said

“Shh!” Thomas said.

The opening credits played. Thomas quite likes the music “Maybe you should play this music when we get home”

“I thought I was to be quiet” Alastair sniped back

Chapter Text

Alastair felt Thomas entangle his fingers in his hair “Careful, Thomas” he said mid-kiss “You might get some of the dye on your hands.” He glanced slightly to his right and saw a clock. He bolted back “Is that the time?”

“Yeah” Thomas affirmed.

“Shit – sorry, I gotta go” Alastair said.

-

Alastair ran into his house, and saw his dad passed out on the carpet. “Alastair, you forgot your book” Thomas said.

Right. They were working on homework before they started making out.

“What happened?” Thomas asked

Alastair started to clean up the bottles. “Something I've dealt with for years.”

Chapter Text

Thomas sat in the Devil’s Tavern with James and Matthew, though the room had turned bittersweet in the months since their victory over Belial. Christopher’s lab station still sat in the corner, but now collecting dust instead of constantly having Kit blowing something up.

“So, what is happening with you and the less favorable Carstairs?” Matthew asked, snapping Thomas out of his thoughts

“The same thing going on with James and Cordelia. No offense to her, but I find Alastair to be far more favorable.” Thomas said

“When did you find him human?” Matthew asked

“My travel year” Thomas said.

Chapter Text

Alastair felt a flare of his meter. He knew what it meant, and after a moment, it subsided. He relaxed. Thomas, though flirting with death while on patrol, was fine. He’d be back in a moment. He was not losing his soulmate today. Still, he wrote two words on his arm.

You Alright?

Thomas replied in a few minutes. Understandable.

Just a nasty Drevax Demon.

Alastair breathed out a final sigh of relief. Thomas was fine. The Drevax Demons exploded upon death, that was all. That was why his meter flashed.

Good. I’d be terribly cross if you died, Delbaram

Chapter Text

Thomas lay on the bed next to Alastair. It had been a wonderful life with him, but now, their bodies were giving out. Not their souls, but certainly, their bodies were dying. Alastair showed it much less visibly than he did, of course. Alastair’s hair was still threaded with black and grey as it had been for 15 years. Thomas’ previously brown hair was now a shock of white. He looked over at his amor. Alastair was struggling to breathe in and out, but still, he was breathing.

“Tom” Alastair said “I love you”

Alastair exhaled for the last time.