angelic_archer: (Distancing Myself)
Alec Lightwood ([personal profile] angelic_archer) wrote in [community profile] marlowemuses2019-01-10 07:11 pm

The lonely become either thoughtful or empty

There had bee no other options. Someone had to guard the relics the Angel had given them. The Cup and Sword were too powerful to be left in mortal hands even those that had been blessed by the Angel. That power was too tempting no matter how noble Nephilim might be. There would always be someone, some group of someones, who would be seduced by the possibilities that those gifts represented.

Even centuries after the decision had been made, Alec wasn't sure why he had been chosen for this particular duty. His parabatai had been a better warrior. His sister was far more clever. But the Angel had chosen him. Perhaps because he was better able to accept the isolation of his divine task. His siblings would have been driven mad by loneliness after the first few decades.

There were times when Alec wondered if he would eventually succumb to insanity, but he had the books that he eventually became guardian of and the cats that somehow crept between worlds to keep him company. They weren't exactly cats, of course. They were built more like predators than pets, eyes glowing with flames instead of the usual nocturnal glow. No matter how frightening they looked, they were Alec's friends and they helped Alec protect the items the Angel had left in his care.

It was the cats that warned him that something was wrong at the gates. The largest of them howled a warning, hissing as she faced the gate. The rest of the pride ran to her as Alec sprinted for the gates. Something - Someone - was attacking. He felt the temple shiver its warning through him and he knew that no matter how impossible it seemed, someone had crossed the threshold between worlds.
hondoyota: (pretty)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-04 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't think it was rude," Adam said, brow still a little bit furrowed. He had a sick feeling in his chest at the idea of Alec being lectured over something tiny like that, because it was all too awfully familiar. "You can cook?" he asked, since that was the only conclusion he could draw from Alec's statement that food didn't appear already made.

There was a tray of pastries, all different, artful Parisian delicacies like nothing Adam had ever seen before. He selected one of them with care, setting it on his plate and turning it a quarter turn so that he could admire the exquisite, towering, tiny confection.
hondoyota: (polite interest)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-04 06:23 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm sure you could. With practice and dedication, if it's what you chose to spend your time on." Adam believed that when it came to most things. He had to. Every time someone had told him he couldn't, he worked and worked until he proved them wrong.

"I don't know how to cook," he admitted. He hadn't had time or opportunity, and didn't expect that to change in the near future. He survived on apples, cheese, peanut butter, bread, and granola bars. That was a balanced diet, as best as he could get it. The spread in front of him was a wonder beyond imagination.
hondoyota: (focused)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-04 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
Adam was surprised that the temple couldn't provide a functional oven, when it could provide other wonders like this feast, but he kept that to himself.

"I don't have time," Adam said, looking away. He picked at his dessert, carefully extracting a tiny bite at a time in order to make it last.

As much as he wanted to have the time to take cooking lessons with a gorgeous guy who wanted to court him, that wasn't Adam's life, and he didn't think it ever could be.
hondoyota: (Default)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-04 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)

“I work three jobs,” Adam said, eyes on his food. “Plus school.” He briefly considered mentioning that he was missing his shift at work to be here, but didn’t.

Picking at his food for a moment, Adam turned over the offer, his pride, and Alec’s feelings. “I don’t need anyone’s help,” he said, thickly, hoping that Alec wouldn’t take it as a personal rejection.

hondoyota: (introspective)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-04 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"You're not my assistant, you're my partner," Adam argued. His jaw clenched and his nostrils flared, trying hard not to fight about this. He didn't know how to explain it without offending Alec or hurting his own pride, and he didn't want to insult Alec with the implication that he wouldn't understand.

"No," Adam said, very simply. He put down his fork. "I have to go. I have homework."

Not looking at Alec, Adam got up and headed for the door.
hondoyota: (skittish)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-04 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Adam ignored that, because if he didn't, then they would fight, and then the temple might try to trap him again. He was already too scared that it would try to trap him now.

Heading for the gate without a word, Adam stepped through and was surprised to find it was still light. When he checked his phone, it was only minutes after he'd gone in. He could still make it to work.

His head reeled with the shock of it, because he felt as though it was late evening, but his watch said afternoon. The temple had given him the gift of time, which was the most valuable gift he could have accepted.

~

Hopeful that the temple would grant him time again, Adam went back the next day, bringing Gansey this time. He'd explained everything that he felt was his to explain, about the gate, the temple with a guardian, and his new role as 'priestess'. It felt right to bring Gansey. Adam didn't want to keep this secret from him, if it could end up helping Gansey's quest, and he thought that Gansey might actually be helpful to him in connecting with Alec.

Hand in hand, he led Gansey through the gate, grateful that he came through unharmed. Wanting to make sure that Alec didn't feel this was an invasion, Adam waited near Gansey at the gate, neither of them taking more than a step into the temple.

"This is Gansey," Adam said when Alec appeared. He watched Alec carefully, wanting to be sure to prevent any hint of violence toward Gansey. "You can ask him anything you want. Including anything you'd like to know about me."
hondoyota: (fite u)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-04 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"He's under my protection," Adam said, glowering right back at Alec. "I'm authorizing his presence, and I will take full responsibility for that. You will not kill him without going through me."

"He's not going through you," Gansey said mildly, but with a note of authority. It was to Adam, not to Alec. Gansey would not let anyone die for him. Not again.

"He's my guest," Adam said to Alec, still holding his glower.
hondoyota: (not takin bs)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-04 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Adam watched him go, irritated and aching at Alec's reaction. He had hoped that Alec would see the gesture--the gift--for what it was. Alec wanted more connection, more interaction, more knowledge of Adam's life. Gansey was the best way Adam could offer that.

"Will you wait outside?" Adam asked, softly. "I shouldn't be more than a minute. If it's more than fifteen, go."

Hopefully the temple would be kind, and whatever time passed inside would be no more than a minute when he left to find Gansey again.

Gansey's eyes lingered on the temple, bursting with all his own questions, but he went because Adam asked it of him.

Sighing with frustration, Adam went to find Alec. He was so tired. He just wanted to sit down and rest his eyes for a minute, but he had to deal with this instead.
hondoyota: (resentful)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-04 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Adam opened his mouth to speak, but he paused as the arrow hit the target. Then another, and another. Perfect in skill and execution. An unspoken threat of how easily he could kill Adam and Gansey both. Maybe a threat of how badly he'd wanted to.

Adam didn't have the energy to deal with this. He was so tired, and he desperately needed this time--if the temple would give it to him again--to write an essay for class, because otherwise he'd have to lose another half night's sleep to write it, and Adam wasn't sure he could lose any more sleep without starting to hallucinate during the day.

"He's gone," Adam snapped. Alec's pride might need some reassurance, but Adam didn't have any to give.

Turning away, Adam headed into the temple, planning to spread his things in the library so he could get his homework done.

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hondoyota: (Default)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-05 08:21 pm (UTC)(link)

Adam winced slightly under the glare, but he was at least glad Alec wasn’t aiming an arrow at Gansey’s heart the way he had upon first meeting Adam. “He didn’t find it. I brought him. Like the caterpillar.” Taking a careful step forward, Adam looked up at Alec. “For you. To give you the answers I can’t. He won’t take a step past the threshold, ever, without your permission.”

Alec’s glare made him nervous that he’d messed up, but Adam still felt certain that this was right. “He can’t pass over without me. This is my role. I’m the bridge. I brought him for you to talk with.”

Hand shaking, Adam rested his fingers lightly on Alec’s arm, the silent plea that his pride couldn’t quite put into words.

hondoyota: (firelight)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-06 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
"He's my king," Adam said, softly. "And chosen by the ley line. I won't bring anyone else."

Gansey stared, mouth open, at where Adam was touching the guardian, and how the guardian put his hand over Adam's without Adam taking any kind of offense at being touched. His chin lifted in surprise at what Adam said, because Gansey hadn't known that Adam saw him like that.

"He told me that the ley line was allied with a temple that belonged to an angel," Gansey said, trying not to mentally count the seconds that Adam was in physical contact with another person of his own volition. "That he had been chosen as its 'priestess', and that the guardian had been alone for centuries. He said it might be relevant to my search, though you probably wouldn't let me past the threshold, and that he wanted me to tell you about him. And Aglionby. And Virginia." Gansey understood a little of what it had cost Adam to ask this favor. Tell him about me. The things I... can't.
hondoyota: (wary)

[personal profile] hondoyota 2019-02-06 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
"I want this," Adam insisted. He took a step to the side away from both of them, and then sat down, crossing his legs and settling in here. Gansey wasn't yet allowed to leave the gate, and Adam didn't want to leave them alone together until he was sure how this was going to go. "I wouldn't have brought him here if I didn't want you to know."

Gansey watched the two of them, still perplexed by the way Adam reacted to the guardian. There was an intimacy to it, far more so than when Adam had been with Blue. Adam seemed to trust him. Adam seemed... infatuated with him. Gansey wouldn't have believed it, but he didn't know how else to explain what he was seeing.

"Please call me Gansey," he said, and held out his hand to the guardian in greeting. "I sincerely apologize for being an imposition."

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