Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This is not set in a specific timeline like the Shadowhunters are, nor are their ages the same. Tavvy is 15, Rafe is 14, Max is 11/12, and Mina is 9. Other characters' ages will be specified. Also, in case I’m still writing by then, this was written BEFORE The Wicked Powers, which means things are subject to change.

WARNINGS:

Possibly OCs

Possibly incorrect Spanish

Possibly Gay

Others to be added as story goes on

Others will be added soon! Just a note, this is not set in the TV show universe, but rather the book one, and characters will be described as such.

 ENJOY!

Chapter Text

Tavvy stood outside the New York Institute, staring it down anxiously. Was he truly ready for this? He worried something would happen like Jules and Emma. Although he didn’t find Rafe attractive, he didn’t want to rush into this and risk losing the bond. It wouldn’t only affect him, he could lose his friendship with Rafe.

“You okay, Tav?”

Tavvy flinched and saw Dru standing behind him, her hair curled into a tight ponytail. She wore her bee earrings and had a smile on her face. “Are you nervous?”

Blackthorns and parabatai don’t have a good rep.” Tavvy muttered. While it was shocking at first to learn, it’d become a family joke about parabatai never working in the Blackthorn family. With what happened to Livvy and Ty, along with Jules and Emma…

Yeah, parabatai was tough.

So Tavvy had done the only logical thing and not told anyone he planned to ask Rafael Lightwood-Bane, son of High Warlock Magnus Bane and Consul Alexander Lightwood, to be his parabatai .

In truth, he knew Rafe probably would want to tell everyone he could about being parabatai , because despite living in a Shadow Market for Angel knows how long, Rafe wasn’t good at keeping secrets. But in all fairness, Max was worse.

Tavvy shuddered. Max .

Tavvy did like Max, but he had mastered the ‘annoying little brother’ act perfectly. He often tag-teamed with Mina Carstairs, distant relative to Emma, to annoy Rafe to the point of Spanish, a language Rafe didn’t use too much. Max was bitter he couldn’t have a parabatai, because he was a warlock and couldn’t take runes. Which meant a lot of whining.

“I’m heading to Taki’s,” Dru looked at Tavvy. “You’ll be okay?”

Tavvy nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

“Cool,” Dru grinned. “Train hard, and say hi to Magnus if you see him. Oh! And if you decide to stay at the loft, please call me.”

Tavvy nodded and watched as Dru walked off, disappearing into the busy streets. Yet another Blackthorn gone.

Tavvy shook off the bitter feeling and stepped up to the New York Institute. He twisted through the halls, avoiding any Shadowhunter who might stop him and ask why he was suddenly in New York instead of with Helen and Aline in LA.

He didn’t want to explain Helen and Aline. He didn't want to explain Kit and Ty. And he really didn’t want to talk about Jules and Emma. 

Tavvy didn’t want to explain that night two days ago. He didn’t want to tell anyone that he packed his bags and portaled to Dru’s studio apartment where he had taken her only bed. He didn’t want to talk to anyone except Rafe, and ask the infamous question.

He paused, realising he had no idea if Rafe was even training. He let out a soft groan and turned, looking for the nearest person to ask. A boy a little older than him walked past. He tapped their arm.

“Excuse me,” Tavvy mustered some confidence. “Have you seen Rafael Lightwood-Bane anywhere?”

The boy looked over. On his arm was a tattoo, which told Tavvy he was a distant relative of the Verlacs, but it was slightly blurry.

“Lightwood-Bane? I think he’s off in Jonathan Herondale’s office.”

Tavvy held back a groan. “Thanks…?”

“Gregory.”

“Gregory.”

Tavvy gave a small wave and began to head off, when he heard giggling. He turned back to see Gregory, only to see Rafe standing there with a shit eating grin.

“Rafael, 27. Octavian, 19.”

Tavvy punched his shoulder good-naturedly. “Shoulda known.”

“Yeah. As if the Verlacs would set foot in filthy NYC.”

Tavvy laughed at the way Rafe said it. He still spoke with slight Spanish in his tone, which Tavvy knew was from his time in Buenos Aires.

“Wanna train?” Tavvy asked.

Rafe nodded. “I need to train.”

Somehow, after two spars, the boys had ended up lying on the floor of the gym, catching up as if they hadn’t seen each other in decades. In reality, Rafe and Max visited LA for three days two weeks ago. But Tavvy felt like it was longer.

Rafe was venting about how Max and Magnus seemed to have a lot more in common and how Alec was constantly off on ‘Consul duties’ and how Rafe felt like he could only ever talk to Tavvy. 

And Tavvy vented about Dru’s apartment and how much colder New York was to LA and how he sorta also felt the same as Rafe.

He just left out the details of the Tuesday two nights ago. He did like Rafe, but that was something he wasn’t ready to talk about.

“Dad’s also been stressed,” Rafe said softly, placing a hand behind his head of curls. “I think Uncle Jace did something, he was yelling and Bapak had to take him out of the loft.”

“Really?” Tavvy asked with equal softness.

“Yeah. He was yelling about how he wished he never asked Uncle Jace to be his parabatai. But once Bapak calmed him, he called Uncle Jace and they talked for hours. I eavesdropped on the apology part.”

Tavvy wondered if now was a good time to ask Rafe about parabatai.

“In the Blackthorn family, parabatai is…complex,” Tavvy said softly. “Emma and Jules kinda put me off it.”

“Yeah, Dad and Uncle Jace’s fight did as well…but I still think I want one. I only have like, four or five years to decide if I want one.”

Tavvy nodded. “Emma and Jules are moving to London.”

“That’s…?” Rafe turned to look at Tavvy.

“Bad. Very bad.” Tavvy said.

“Very very bad.”

Tavvy sighed. “I miss Jules. Kinda feels like he only ever has time for Emma or Ty or anyone but me.”

Rafe nodded. “It feels like Bapak and Dad are always fawning over Max. His magic went weird the other…week, I think.”

“Really?” Tavvy turned to face Rafe. 

“Yeah. He’s already got the horns and blue and stuff, but his magic…it’s…strange.”

“How so?”

“He’s like, floating and lighting things on fire. Bapak said he used to do that when he was a baby, but he stopped once he got his magic under control.”

“Woah,” Tavvy tried not to grin, but it was hard when Rafe was also grinning.

“Yeah, I call it, ‘Warlock Puberty’.” Rafe did jazz hands to authenticate his point.

“But Max is only 11, right?” Tavvy asked.

“Yeah, so as I’m thinking of calling it, ‘Prepubescent Warlock Puberty’.” Once again, jazz hands. Tavvy laughed. He hadn’t felt this content in a while, with all that was happening.

“Rafe? Oh, Octavian, you’re here too.”

The boys immediately sat up, looking over to see Magnus Lightwood-Bane, decked out in his warlock fashion of a long trench coat and silver leggings. He looked tired, the same way Aline looked when…

No, do not think of that night. Tavvy fake smiled. “Hello, Mr. Bane”

Magnus laughed tiredly. “Just Magnus, please, young Blackthorn. I’m off duty.”

Tavvy nodded with a friendly, yet a bit scared smile. Even though he knew Magnus and had met him many times before, he still got intimated. Rafe groaned.

“Dad, do I hafta go home? Can’t I stay with Tavvy? Oo! Can Tavvy sleep over?”

Magnus sighed softly. “Sorry bud, not tonight.”

“Why not?” Rafe whined, standing. He sounded a lot more like Max.

“Because I’ve just had a tough day and I really don’t need more children right now.” Magnus groaned. “Sorry Tavvy, maybe another time.”

Tavvy nodded, ignoring the glare he got from Rafe. Sure, they could’ve tag-teamed, but he didn’t have much else to share at that moment other than what happened two nights ago, and he didn’t feel like doing that.

“You need a lift home?” Magnus asked, seemingly forgetting Tavvy was meant to be in Los Angeles, but whatever. If Magnus knew, he didn’t let on.

“Nah, I’ll portal.” Tavvy smiled. “See you Rafe.”

“Bye, Tav!” Rafe grinned, and Magnus ruffled his son’s curls. It made Tavvy a little jealous, seeing such affection from a father. His own was dead, and Julian…

“Oh, wait, Rafe!” Tavvy said quickly. Do it now, while he’s listening, Tavvy’s mind screamed.

“Yeah?” Rafe asked.

“...you wanna train tomorrow?”

“Hell yeah!” Rafe yelled, and Magnus shot him a glare. Rafe went a bit red and turned back to Tavvy. “Uh, I mean…yeah, I’d love to.”

Magnus’s glare lightened, and he smiled at Tavvy. “Have a lovely night, Tavvy.”

“You too.” Tavvy waved them off as the duo left.

Chicken. His mind screamed.

Chapter Text

“Alec, we’re home!”

Rafe kicked off his boots. It was nice to see Tavvy, even if he wasn’t technically meant to. Magus had made Rafe swear not to tell Alec he was with Tavvy, and Rafe was more than happy to oblige.

“Alec?” Magnus called again, heading into the living room. Rafe removed his quiver before hearing: “Ah.”

Rafe quickly went into the room to see Max standing on the ceiling. His hair was floppy over his face, but you see the confusion and fear on his face. Rafe knew the last time this had happened was when he was four, and only just mastering magic.

“How long has he been up there?” Magnus asked in a whisper.

“I think an hour,” Alec responded

“You think?”

“Well, he won’t tell me!”

Magnus groaned. “Max, just jump, okay? We’ll catch you, blueberry!”

“I said not to call me that!” Max whined. But to his credit, he jumped.

And landed right on Rafael.

“Ow!” Rafe shoved Max off. “Watch it, Max!”

“Boys…” Magnus said, clearly exhausted. With Alec as Consul, Magnus was the one more around the sons and therefore had to deal with their bickering a lot more than Alec did.

Rafe stood. “I’m going to my room.” He muttered.

“Okay, but come back for dinner, okay?” Alec asked, helping Max up. “We’re getting pizza.”

Max was about to say something, but Magnus swooped in.

“Blueberry, let’s talk in your room…”

Rafe headed away. He knew his dad didn’t like the fact he wasn’t around as much, so he and Max weren’t to mention much. They’d had pizza the night before, but Rafe knew if Alec did know, he would feel a little awkward.

He flopped onto his bed and sighed. It was fun seeing Tavvy. But he wished Tavvy could stay. Tavvy was at a big risk in New York. Bapak said so.

“If Helen and Aline find out he’s here, we’re both in big trouble,” Bapak had told him on the way home. “So we keep his secret.”

But why? What had Tavvy done to piss off Helen and Aline? Okay, he’d pissed off Aline a few too many times, but Helen was hard to piss off. Rafe knew. It was a game between Max and Tavvy to see who could piss her off first. 

Tavvy turned everything into a game. Rafe figured he probably got it from Jules or even Dru.

Rafe felt his eyes drooping. Maybe he could take a small nap. And then go out for dinner. Tavvy really could fight…

Maybe he could….teach…Rafe some….

Tavvy explored the streets of New York with a lazy look. He didn’t know if he should return to Dru’s apartment or not. Maybe he could portal back to Los Angeles?

No. He wasn’t facing his family, not yet. Dru was the only one who actually cared enough for him to be taken in. Ty was busy with Kit, Helen and Aline were busy with their own stuff, and Jules didn’t even care.

Tavvy blinked away the bitter tears and headed to Dru’s apartment, where he was met with a note on the door.

Tavs - Night shift. Leftover Pizza if you want. Dru

Tavvy opened the door and sighed, kicking off his shoes and heading into the kitchen.

On the fridge sat many photos. One of their parents, one of Jules and Emma, one of Mark and Helen, and one of Helen and Aline’s wedding. Ones of Tavvy and Dru messing about. And of course, of Tavvy’s niece and nephew.

Eunice and Patrick. Helen and Aline’s kids. Eunice was four, and Patrick was one. Tavvy did like them, but ever since they arrived, Tavvy was on his own. Which is why Rafe’s company was much appreciated. Rafe was always ready for Tavvy, always there. And Tavvy liked it.

He looked over and saw Dru’s spare phone on the counter. It had everything of Dru’s on it, but Dru had two. One for her, and she’d let Tavvy have her old one. It was flashing, and Tavvy, being the snoop he was, looked over it.

Aline: Dru, answer me. Do you have any idea where Tavvy is??

Tavvy quickly unlocked it. He went onto Messages and scrolled to the night before. Helen and Aline had been frantic texting.

Helen: Dru, Tavvy’s gone!!

Aline: Drusilla, answer Helen, or I swear to the Angel.

Helen: Is Tavs with you? I think he got upset at Jules’ news.

Aline: DRUSILLA ANSWER I KNOW YOU GET THESE MESSAGES

Helen: Dru, please.

And then the most recent message from Aline. Tavvy felt sick. They were onto him. Thankfully, Dru was keeping his secret, but how much longer would she? When would she get sick of him? Like Jules.

Tavvy threw the phone down and left the apartment quickly. He needed to go. Somewhere new. Somewhere where there were no Blackthorns, or Lightwoods, or even Herondales. Somewhere where no one would know who he was.

He could go with Rafe.

Tavvy felt everything light up. Running away with Rafe. They could ask for secret help to become parabatai . And then he could finally get it done with.

With a quick run and some planning, Tavvy headed to the loft.

Rafe stood in the Buenos Aires Shadow Market. He was no longer 14, but rather 5 again. There was no one there, apart from some fairies and other children who teased him.

He looked up and saw Dad. But it wasn’t Dad. It was Alec Lightwood and Lily Chen. The two who helped him. Rafe walked up and held up his arms.

But Alec walked away.

Rafe looked around again, he was in the Council Hall. Dad stood tall, looking down at Rafe.

“Consul?” someone called. “You won’t go easy on the boy because he’s your son, will you?”

“He’s not my son,” Alec said coldly. “He failed to be Consul, and he failed me. He is exiled to Edom.”

“No!” Rafe screamed, but he could feel himself pulling away and further and further until darkness overtook him.

Rafe bolted up. God, he hated that nightmare. The one where he failed to be what he knew his dad wanted. For Rafe to succeed him as Consul. For Rafe to have some importance.

He rolled over and saw it was midnight. A cold piece of pizza sat on the bedside, with a small note from Magnus.

Sleep well ~

Rafe sat up. He hated those dreams, where he felt like he had no self-worth. He had to make Alec and Magnus proud. To make them not regret adopting him. To make the Shadowhunter world proud.

“Rafe!”

Rafe turned and nearly screamed. Tavvy stood there, all geared up.

“Razial, Tavvy!” Rafe hissed. “If Dad sees you-”

“I need to run,” Tavvy said desperately. “Like, away. And I want you to come with me. ASAP.”

“W-Wait!” Rafe walked over. “Run away? Why?”

“Because I’m in trouble and I can’t risk it here.” Tavvy sighed.

“And I want to become secret parabatai .”

Rafe froze. “Huh?!”

“Rafael, please. I’ll do anything. I’m escaping from Aline and Helen, and you could kiss your dad’s expectations goodbye!”

Rafe thought for a second. Away. From being ‘The Consul’s Son’. From being ‘the adopted Shadowhunter’. Just away from being ‘Rafe’.

Maybe it was the lack of sleep, or maybe the nightmare, or maybe because it was Tavvy Blackthorn.

Or maybe it was the parabatai thing.

But yet…

“Fine. Let me pack.”

Chapter Text

Mina Carstairs knew she didn’t have a typical family. Her mother was an immortal warlock, and her father was an ex-Silent Brother who was now over 130 years old (she thought). Oh, and she had two half siblings from her mother’s first marriage in the 1880s. James and Lucie Herondale. Forever to live in their legacy.

Not to mention her parents! Tessa Gray, hero of the Clockwork War, legendary warlock, wife of Will Herondale. Jem Carstairs, ex Silent Brother Zachariah, parabatai to Will Herondale. All this talk about Will Herondale! She’d never even met the dude!

And yet, she was named after him? There were plenty of ‘Will’ names for girls. Like Willow. Or Willa! Not Wilhelmina!  Thank goodness they had some sense and she was now ‘Mina’. 

Mina once brought this up to her father. Jem had been…strangely calm about it. Mina still remembered going up to him and tell him she didn’t like her name. She still remembered Jem’s words.

“A name is an honour, Mina. We must respect it. Besides, your name means dear to me and your mother. Names are power.”

Names are power. What poppycock!

“Mina, darling?” Tessa lifted her daughter’s head. “You have a call waiting for you.”

Mina looked up from the book she was reading. Herondale History , it said. She was on Edmund, currently. She went over and grabbed the phone.

“Mina! Mina! Mina, is that you?”

Mina blinked. “Maxwell?”

“I told you, it’s Max.”

“Did you teleport to the garden again?” Mina sighed. “Max, I told you, it’s fairly easy to get out-”

“Rafe is gone, Tavvy was here and then gone, Bapak’s calm, and Dad’s freaking out! Is Rafe there? Or Kit?”

“No, why would Rafe be here?” Mina asked, playing up her accent. She knew it pissed off Max whenever she spoke with the thickness of the British accent, because then he couldn’t understand it.

“Because he’s run off with Tavvy! Some drama went down at the Los Angeles Institute, Tavvy ran away and stayed with Dru, Aline and Helen panicked, Dru went radio silent, and now Rafe is gone and everyone is freaking out!”

“...how do you know he’s with Tavvy?”

“Bapak told Dad.” Max sighed. “Can I teleport over? I’ll bring pizza!”

Mina sighed. “Fine. Go to my room Knowing Magnus, my mum and dad will be called and it’ll turn into a whole bloody thing.”

“Why do you say that?” Max asked.

“What?”

“Bloody?”

“I’m British, mate,” Mina sighed. “It’s a whole bloody thing.”

“We should’ve done something! We should’ve strengthened the wards!”

“Alec-”

“Oh, Angel, what if he went to Idris? What if he joined The Cohort?”

“That’s completely-”

“What if he’s dead in a ditch and the last thing he heard me say was we were having pizza?!”

“Alexander,” Magnus said firmly. “If you do not calm down, I will sedate you myself. Rafe is fine. He is responsible. Besides, maybe he went for a walk?”

“What, a walk around the United States?”

“Alec, he’s smart. He’ll be fine.”

Max walked over to the fridge, both men still immersed in their conversation. He pulled out the leftover pizza box (Alec always ordered too much) before heading away. No questions asked.

He smirked triumphantly. Maybe he could sneak away, no questions asked.

And then the world went upside down.

Great. He once again had a magic malfunction. This meant he had to wait to be noticed, then he needed to jump down and then explain why he had a box of pizza.

“Mags?”

Oh, amazing. Dad found him.

“Yes?”

“It happened again!”

“Again?” Magnus entered. “Alright, Maxie, come on down.”

“I’m fine!”

Alec raised an eyebrow. “This is the seventh time this week you’ve gotten stuck to the ceiling. And it’s only Wednesday.”

Max glared. “I can get down myself.”

“Can you, now?” Magnus smirked. “Let’s see it, then.”

Max jumped and hit the floor. He heard Magnus wince and felt Alec’s hand on his back.

“Max!”

“I’m fine!” Max sat up. “Perfectly fine.”

Magnus raised an eyebrow, but he was long gone with Alec, who was back on his Rafe spiral.

“Oh, Angel, what he’s not even in New York?!”

“Alec…”

Max grabbed the (squished) pizza box and slipped into his room, opening a portal to Cirenworth. There, he was met with a very strange-looking Mina.

“Maxwell.” she said firmly. He’d teleported into her room, which had soft blues and yellows littering it.

“Wilhelmina.”

Mina flicked her hair. It was shorter. Shoulder length. The last time her hair was that short was…3 years ago.

Jeez, had he been friends with Mina that long?

“You got a haircut.”

“No shit Sherlock.”

Max smirked and handed her pizza. She brightened.

“So, what’s going on?”

Max flopped onto her bed. “Dad’s flipped.”

“I’d reckon. What’s up with the Blackthorn? What’s his name, Livvy?”

“Tavvy.”

“Ah.”

Mina sat next to him, half-way through a slice. Was her hair always that shiny? Max couldn’t remember.

“Dad didn't say. But according to Bapak, Emma and Julian are moving to England. Into Blackthorn Hall.”

“Why?” Mina’s nose scrunched up. “Isn’t Blackthorn Hall in London? Because that place is a bloody-”

“Mina, please stop with the British slang, I physically can’t understand you.” Max asked.

Mina finished her pizza and wiped her mouth in a very-unlady-like way. Tessa would have a heart attack.

“...is there a bounty out for them?”

Max turned and gave her a confused look. “I don’t know. Is there usually?”

“Well...no...BUT! Imagine it, Maxwell-”

“Max.”

“Whatever. Imagine it, Maxwell-”

Max groaned.

“-us, millionaires. 2 million pounds.”

“I use American money.”

“You damn Americans.”

Max snorted. “So you’re thinking we also run away and find Rafe and Tavvy?”

“Yes!” Mina turned and grinned at Max. “Maxwell-”

“ Max. ”

“Whatever. Maxwell, you are a genius.” Mina stood. “We should do that and get the bounty!”

“Won’t your parents…freak? I mean, they did-”

“Whatever. We can forget what happened last summer-”

“Wait, what happened last summer?”

“-And move on and get that blimmin’ bounty before someone else does!”

She ran over to her closet.

“Mina, what happened last summer? I’m talking about what happened at Christmas-”

“Maxwell! Whatever happened in the past is not important. Oo, do you reckon I might be able to internationally buy pizza? Or a vampire?”

Max rolled his eyes and left Mina to her rambles. He stepped back, nearly tripping over a book. He looked down and saw the name ‘James Morgan Henry Herondale’.

“Huh…” he said to himself and looked down to see Mina had written something.

James Herondale passed away in 1963, at the age of 76/77. He left behind a legacy as destroyer of Belial, alongside his wife, Cordelia Herondale (nee, Carstairs), leaving behind a son, Owen, and a grandson, Marcus.

Mina’s note read:

Will I ever leave behind a legacy? Or am I forever cursed as a Carstairs?

Max was about to ask her what she meant, when he suddenly found himself upside down, staring at the floor.

Marvellous.

“....Mina?”

“....oh, you bloody wanker, Maxwell.”

“Tessa?” Jem said calmly as he entered the kitchen.

Tessa turned and smiled at Jem. “Yes, darling?”

“Are you sure Mina is mine?”

Tessa looked concerned. “Yes, why?”

“Because I’m worried some of Will might be in her.”

Chapter Text

“We did it.”

Tavvy sat up. He had been dozing on the bus for Angel knew how long. The night before was blurry, at least after he and Rafe left. Rafe took him to a bus station, used an invisibility rune on both, and they snuck onto a bus.

Tavvy hadn’t had the best sleep in recent days. Every night, he’d be plagued with nightmares. Nightmares of Julian, of Helen and Aline and Eunice and Patrick and Dru and everyone. He was running on at least 4 hours currently, so that might have explained his silly decisions.

“Yep.”

“...I’m dead.”

Tavvy sat up. Okay, maybe he was more sleep-deprived than he thought, looking for a stab wound.

“My dad is gonna kill me,” Rafe lamented. “He’s already stressed…this is going to suck.”

“ If we get caught.”

Rafe raised an eyebrow so fair, it hid behind his curls. 

“Okay…fair point.”

“...Tavvy?”

“Yeah?”

Rafe looked concerned, and Tavvy was terrified Rafe would ask why he was even in New York in the first place. And then Tavvy would have to confess. Confess it all.

“Where are we?”

Oh, thank the Angel…wait, no, don’t thank the Angel!

Tavvy tapped the woman in front. “Sorry, but uh, I fell asleep. Where is our bus going?”

The woman looked back, confused. 

“This is going to New Jersey…?” she said, clearly confused.

Tavvy nodded. “Thank you.”

Rafe looked alarmed. “We can’t go to New Jersey!”

“I know it’s bad-”

“Maia’s there!” Rafe said, clearly distressed. “And she’s friends with my dad!”

“...why is Maia in New Jersey?” Tavvy asked, clearly confused. 

“I don’t know. Some relative or something. But I’m screwed.”

“So, we’ll get another invisibility rune and catch another bus.”

Rafe sighed. “We don’t have a plan, do we? We never did.”

Tavvy felt his mood drop at the sight of Rafe’s frown.

“Hey?” Tavvy said softly. “We can do this! We’ll…we’ll go to the Silent Brothers of London and…and ask them for help!”

“I thought about Buenos Aires. I want to thank the Shadow Market and stuff.”

“Okay, okay.” Tavvy smiled. “Then we’ll go to Buenos Aires.”

Rafe nodded, and the two settled into a comfortable silence as the bus continued on.

Tavvy wondered what would happen if he told Rafe? He had told Dru, but she said nothing. But before that, he had told Helen and Aline. And they’d been no help. They told him the same things Julian had told him on the beach. That he was so good with change, and that he would survive.

No he wouldn’t. Jules had left him once, and now he was leaving again. Ever since Emma , Jules was always leaving.  And then Ty left with Kit on some quest. And then Dru was always busy with a boyfriend or her job. And Livvy was dead.

Livvy’s death was where it all went downhill. Once she died, Jules and Emma went off on some magical quest, turned into giant angels, and then suddenly left for their travel year, blissfully happy. Tavvy regretted being fine with their decision. He regretted the year 2012 so much. He wished Jules had stayed, or even better, Livvy had lived. What ifs were fun to think about. What if Emma had chosen to be raised at an Institute? Or go to the Shadowhunter Academy? Then Jules would still be around. But would he have met Rafe? And Max? Surely yes, but he wouldn’t have been close with them, right? Not the way he wanted to be.

When Helen returned, Tavvy caused trouble, and ever since, he’d done it over and over again. He’d heard Aline say so, when he wasn’t meant to be listening. If he was gone, he could cause no trouble!

Maybe if he was gone, Jules would come back and stay forever.

"Tav?”

Tavvy pulled himself out of his thoughts as Rafe tugged him up.

“Let’s go,” Rafe grinned. “Next stop, New Jersey!”

Chapter Text

“Well, blood ‘ell.”

Max turned his head to face Mina. She was short for her age, despite her parents being nearly as tall as Alec and Magnus. At only 5 feet, she looked super short.

“Mina, why are we at the back of your garden?” Max asked with a grumble.

“Usually, there’s a portal back here. Open and activated. I think in case of emergencies.”

“The portals have been closed.” Max told her.

“They have?” Mina looked confused. Max remembered Mina had a mix of mundane and Shadowhunter customs.

“Yeah. They closed a few days ago. When Tavvy went missing.”

“That seems a bit drastic, closing them for one person.”

Max shrugged. “Loads of Shadowhunter teens have been leaving their Institutes around the same time Tavvy went missing. It didn’t seem important back then, but I guess it is now.”

“But surely certain people are allowed to portal?” Mina asked. Max shrugged. “I’m pretty sure Dad, Inquisitor Rosales, and certain members of the Clave are the only ones allowed.” He explained.

Mina scoffed. “We need a stele.”

“Oh, of course!” Max said sarcastically. “Let’s go to your warlock mother and your ex-Silent Brother father and see what they have to say about this.”

Mina glared. “Papa is a retired Shadowhunter, and Mama is half Shadowhunter.” She said, chin high. “I’m just as Shadowhnter.”

Max sighed. “And I can bare runes.”

Mina shoved him.

“Hush. Now, I’m going to go in and get a stele, and then we will exit and go to…”

Max raised an eyebrow. “Mina, we really need to start planning things in advance.”

“...yeah, we do.”

Max stepped towards the portal, covered in runes. “...they look like they could still work. A little bit of magic and I could maybe activate it. No clue where it goes.”

“Maybe America? Oo, or Wales. Mama always says she wants to go to Wales. Will was from Wales, apparently.”

Max noted her change in tone. “Not a fan?”

“More of a mystery. I mean, I know Will was amazing. But I never met the dude. Or my half siblings!”

“You have half-siblings?” Max muttered, still looking at the portal.

“Yep. James Herondale and Lucie Herondale. And in-laws. Cordelia and Jesse, they said their names were. How amazing! If only they weren’t dead so I could meet them!”

“You sound bitter.” Max tapped the portal.

“I am!” Mina confessed. “James and Lucie Herondale are that! Herondales! Herondales are worshipped throughout history f-for what? I’m a Carstairs, I’m never gonna amount to that!”

“I wonder if a small burst would result in an opening…” Max mumbled to himself.

“Carstairs and Herondales are close, yeah, but what’s the difference gonna make? Emma is the only other Carstair I know, and she’s gonna be a Blackthorn soon enough! And then I’m probably gonna be expected to marry and leave my surname and then…then I’m no longer a Carstairs. Maybe I’ll become a Blackthorn. Or, maybe, a Lightwood!”

“Uh-huh.” Max said absently.

“I just wanna be important. This is my one shot to show the world that I am not just Tessa Gray and Jem Carstairs’ daughter. No, I am Mina Carstairs! Hero! Discoverer of Rafael Santiago Lightwood Bane and…wait, what’s Tavvy’s surname?”

“No clue.”

“Ah. Anyway…Discoverer of Rafael Santiago Lightwood Bane and Octavian Blackthorn! The next Jace Herondale! A victory! Someone notable!”

“...wait, have you been talking this whole time?” Max asked. He’d zoned out, and felt a little guilty that he missed what Mina had said.

Her glare sent shivers down his spine. “You got a plan?” she hissed.

“Y-Yeah. If we can gain an energy source, we could power it temporarily.” Max explained weakly

Mina’s face lit up. “So…you can light up the portal?”

Max was about to nod when he remembered. His magic was malfunctioning. He could barely go four hours sometimes without getting stuck to the ceiling. No way he could summon even a bit of magic to light up a portal unless he wanted to set something alight or go up into space. But…maybe it was worth a shot. He felt a spark on his fingertips.

“You promise to grab me if I lift up?"

Mina nodded, and Max could see the genuineness in her eyes.

Closing his eyes, he lifted his hand, feeling the heat, the spark, feeling the magical rift coming from his body….

"Max Lightwood-Bane!”

“Wilhelmina Yiqiang Ke Carstairs!”

Max quickly turned around. It was Dad and Bapak. AKA, Consul Alec Lightwood-Bane and High Warlock Magnus Bane. Behind them stood Tessa Gray and Jem Carstairs. None of the four adults looked happy.

“Damn it.” Mina muttered. “We got caught.”

“Maybe we should’ve planned this out?” Max muttered back. 

“Too late now, Maxwell.”

Chapter Text

“I’m pretty sure that’s a demon.”

Tavvy looked up. He was in the middle of putting a Soundless rune on Rafe, and when he looked up, there was no demon. He glared at the smirking Rafe.

“Made ya look.”

“We need to be serious, Rafe.”

Rafe shrugged. “My bapak is Magnus Bane. You think seriousness is in my blood?”

Tavvy wanted to point out Rafe was adopted at five, but Rafe was cold whenever it was brought up. Plus, maybe parents and guardians weren’t the best topic for two runaway teens.

“...so, you still wanna be Consul?” he asked instead.

“Ugh. It’s more of my dad’s thing now. Besides, I think Aline wants it.” Rafe muttered. “Please, pick a different topic.”

Tavvy drew another rune on. This time it was a top-up of their glamour runes. “ Parabatai? ”

Rafe smiled. “So, to recap. We’re going to the Benuos Aires Silent Brothers and asking them to set up a ceremony. Then, we are going to the Shadow Market, thanking the people who helped me, going back, doing said ceremony, and returning home.”

Tavvy wasn’t sure about that last bit. If Jules learnt what he did, then he maybe wouldn’t have a home.

“Would you be going back to Blackthorn Hall?” Rafe asked innocently. “I remember you said Emma and Jules were probably coming to invite you.”

Tavvy’s head hurt. He felt the sting behind his eyes. 

He had been so happy when he heard Julian was coming. He could see his elder brother once more, and he imagined it over and over. When Jules finally asked Tavvy to move and live in England with them. It never happened, and Tavvy’s bitterness hadn’t faded.

“Emma and Jules came for a different reason,” Tavvy muttered. “So, we shouldn’t go straight to Buenos Aires.”

“Why not?” Rafe sounded…disappointed? That was unusual. 

“...maybe we could do some sightseeing first?” Tavvy suggested. “We could…go to Europe?”

“Where?”

“I don’t know! England? Wales? Idris? Somewhere different. I want some travel.”

Rafe shrugged. “We can do that. Not sure how we’ll get to Idris, but we’ll work on it.”

Tavvy smiled. “Really?”

Rafe shrugged. “We’re on the run. We gotta have some mischief.”

Tavvy’s smile turned into a grin. 

“Let’s move!”

“Hold on!” Rafe grabbed his shoulder. “I still need to do your runes!”

“Ugh.” Tavvy rolled up his sleeve.

Rafe just rolled his eyes and began to draw some runes, muttering some not-so-savory words in Spanish.

“Hey, Rafe?”

“Hm?”

“How old were you when the Dark War happened?”

Rafe went quiet. “I was two. Maybe three.”

“...do you miss them?”

“Who?” Rafe said stiffly, drawing a Soundless rune, 

“Your birth paren-”

“Shut up, Tavvy.”

Tavvy was stunned, but just let it go. "Sor ry.”

“Alright, if we’re gonna do this, we’re gonna need ground rules,” Rafe said firmly. “For me, it’s nothing about Consul, my birth family, or nightmares.”

Tavvy nodded. “Mine is Jules, Emma, Los Angeles, and why I ran away.”

Rafe nodded back. “See? We make a great team.”

“We’ll make good parabatai .” Tavvy grinned.

Rafe grinned back, finishing the final rune. “Amazing parabatai .”

“Flight 202 to France departing in 5 minutes.” A loud voice said over the loudspeaker. Rafe smiled and stood. “Ready to go?”

“Yep.” Tavvy grinned. “I’m ready.”

Chapter Text

“So, you were planning…to run away and find two already missing children?”

Max stared at the four concerned-looking adults. He hadn’t noticed it before, but they all looked varying levels of tired. Tessa was the typical adult tiredness, just some little bags and the occasional yawn. Jem looked like he just wanted to sleep forever, to never wake again, while was mildly concerning considering his past. Magnus kept rubbing his face, a sign his magic was a little weaker than usual. And Alec looked like he was about to pass out, something that had happened a lot lately.

“Yeah?” Mina scoffed. “Wasn’t hard.”

“The portals are closed, Mina mine,” Jem said softly. “You couldn’t have left even if you wanted to.”

“What if I didn’t want to?” Mina asked. 

“Don’t get sassy, Mina,” Tessa warned.

“I cannot do this.” Alec rubbed his face. Magnus placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

Jem looked concerned. “Perhaps you should rest, Consul. We can take care of the children.”

Alec shook his head, massaging his temples. “No, no…”

“Alec-” Magnus tried, but Alec shook his head.

“Max Lightwood-Bane, you are grounded until further notice!” Alec said in his ‘I’m the Consul, listen to me!’ voice. “No going out, no portalling, no nothing!”

“Alec, he can’t portal anyway,” Magnus mumbled. “You closed them all off.”

Alec fixed Magnus with a withering glare.

Max didn’t like this version of his dad. The pre-disappearing shadowhunters Alec Lightwood-Bane wouldn’t have glared at his husband, or spoken with his ‘I’m the Consul, listen to me!’. The one who never placed unwanted expectations on Rafe’s shoulders.

It was definitely him, but Alec’s eyes were no longer those soft, yet bright blue. They were now icy cold. He never brought it up.

“Alec, you have a headache, sit down,” Magnus said, sitting down with the man. He rubbed his temples, and Jem continued the lecture.

“Same punishment goes for you, Mina. Nothing fun for a while, until this is sorted.”

“Damn,” Mina huffed. “That really sucks. You gonna put a lock on my door again?”

Tessa hummed. “Maybe some Will is in her.”

“Who?” Alec said gruffly.

“Old friend,” Magnus smiled. “Rest, darling. Max, go and pack up whatever you brought here.”

Max nodded, and Mina remained. She made their sign for ‘call’, and Max nodded.

He wondered when Alec’s constant headaches were gonna go away. When Alec would stop being Consul and start being a father again.

But it didn’t seem to be close.

“Hey, Rafe?”

Rafe opened his eyes lazily. They’d been flying for Angel knew how long, and he felt tired. He missed his bed.

“...you and Max fight, right?”

“Was the rhyme intentional?”

“Just answer the question.”

Rafe hummed. “Yeah, we fight. All the time. Over food, over stuff, over-”

“You…don’t have a partner, right?”

Rafe shook his head. “Nah. Oh, you remember Bianca Overbeck? Yeah, we made out once.”

“Really?” Tavvy was surprised…and a little envious. There weren’t many girls in Los Angeles, and despite her history, Bianca Overbeck was considered a major win. 

“Yeah, we did some training. She’s in Idris at the moment, so once this all dies down, I’m gonna ask her out, and I’m gonna get a girlfriend. Before you! Ha!”

Tavvy ignored the jealousy in his stomach. “She’s good friends with Ellie Wentworth, right?”

Rafe shrugged. “I guess. But Ellie lives in Brooklyn, not LA. Anyway, why do you ask?”

“About Ellie?”

“No,” Rafe rolled his eyes. “About Max and I. Why?”

“...You wanna know why I ran away, Rafe?” Tavvy asked quietly.

Rafe did. He truly did. He wanted to know more than anything in the world why Tavvy suddenly appeared in NYC, casually. But he didn’t pry. Tavvy’s life was Tavvy’s, and they’d just agreed on topics to not talk about.

“Only if you want to.”

Tavvy sighed. “I’ll give you the basics, okay? No questions.”

Rafe nodded.

“Firstly, Jules came with Emma, which is fine, because I like Emma, y’know? But then, I never got a moment alone with Jules. And then, I overheard them tell Helen and Aline something and I just…panicked. I ran and tol Dru and she let me stay and-”

“Tavs, Tavvy.” Rafe said calmly. “What did they say?”

Tavvy looked at Rafe, his Blackthorn eyes staring at him. Shiny with tears, ready for them to fall. Tavvy looked broken…but why?

“They said Emma was pregnant, Rafe.”

Oh.

Oh .