I bit one too many Vampires | Vampire AU | Jace and Alec

[wayfaring_stranger]

Jace isn't pleased to be visiting the Institute or meeting with a Shadowhunter. It's been a very long time since he spent any effort or time visiting his old life. A Shadowhunter turned Vampire was not a popular Vampire. But Raphael needed someone to stand in for him and had this whole convincing speech about how Jace had been a Shadowhunter so who better to mediate. Blah. Blah. Blah. Jace had rolled his eyes and given Raphael the usual bored expression before finally agreeing. It would cost Raphael. He just hadn't decided what he wanted.

He was still debating the price when he was escorted through the Institute and left in a room to wait. Opening drawers, touching everything, sitting in the chair behind the desk with his feet on a stack of very important papers. Trying to imagine the person who chose a desk over fighting demons. People in charge were so boring.

~*~

Additional Vampire AU Thread: Texting http://angelic-archer.dreamwidth.org/18325.html

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[wayfaring_stranger]

Alec was definitely full of surprises. Which was so refreshing and attractive to Jace he suddenly found himself speechless. He was so used to saying whatever he felt like saying with no regard for how it affected anyone. So he had to think carefully about how he wanted to respond to the comment about his ego.

"I can tell my ego to take a hike." If it meant Alec would let him come back he'd check his ego at the door. "And we could start again. With introductions. Although, I doubt I'll get the same reaction the second time I tell you my name."

Jace hooked the chair with his boot and pulled Alec closer, leaning forward so he could see all the colors that made Alec's eyes so beautiful "Jace Herondale."

[angelic_archer]

"I don't think it'd go far." He shouldn't bait the vampire that was perched on his desk, but it was surprisingly fun. Most people either expected him to be the good little soldier his parents wanted or thought of him as the boring member of the Lightwood family. Few ever bothered to joke or flirt with him, assuming that he'd glare make snarky comments. He'd do both to Jace but he seemed to enjoy their banter instead of being put off by it.

Jace was right about telling Alec his name again but not about his reaction. As he began to reintroduce himself, Jace rolled the desk chair closer. He barely managed to keep from reaching for the weapon stowed in his desk. His hand curled around the arms of his chair but that was the only obvious sign of shock that he allowed himself.

Keeping still when Jace leaned closer, he mentally headdesked when he realized he was blushing. "Alec Lightwood." Sitting so close, with Jace studying him so intently, he couldn't help but be transfixed by the colors of Jace's eyes. It was something he'd never seen before, the difference between gold and blue almost making his breath catch. "Did your eyes change after or were they... like ..." The blush brightened and there wasn't any possibility that he could be less obvious in his interest. "It's - uh - rare trait."

[wayfaring_stranger]

Alec's tease made Jace genuinely happy. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed talking to someone, teasing them, enjoying the company. Even if it was obvious he still made Alec uncomfortable.

He didn't blame him for reacting. Jace was a predator. A Downworlder. He vaguely wondered about Alec's fighting abilities and had a sudden urge to spar with him. He'd missed that, too.

Jace almost missed the blush entirely, the romantic part of him would say he was literally lost in Alec's eyes, but he caught that slight hitch in Alec's breathing and realized it was because Alec was also getting lost.

His ego would have responded with 'I'm a rare find', but Jace was caught up in a war with himself. To kiss or not to kiss.

Considering the way Alec was still guarded and unsure of Jace's intentions he decided it was best if he remained just within kissing distance without actually kissing Alec.

"They were like this before I turned." And before he could stop himself he added. "You can ask me anything, Alec."

[angelic_archer]

His instincts were conflicting with something else other than his need to make a good impression with Raphael's envoy. There was a voice whispering in the back of his mind that this was dangerous. He was being hunted and instinct warned to either fight off the predator or to run. Sitting at his desk, accepting how close Jace was, took more control than anything he'd done in years. Even ignoring the fact that Jace was a vampire, Izzy and Max were the only people who ever got this close to him. It was unnerving but not only in the ways he expected.

Jace was attractive even without the attempts at charm. Alec knew he wasn't always discrete in his preferences, but he usually didn't act like he was potentially smitten by a pretty face or, in this case, pretty eyes.

He knew Jace hadn't bespelled him. The encanto felt a certain way and this wasn't like that. This was simply Jace. "They're - uh - " At least he stopped himself from saying Jace's eyes were pretty. "You shouldn't tell me that. I don't really have any tact."

[wayfaring_stranger]

The hesitation and change of subject made Jace lean in a bit closer. So close. He could feel Alec's warm breath against his lips before he moved away. Sitting up and then gracefully flipping backwards off the desk with a sly smile.

"Ask me anything, Alec." He had the pen again, twirling it between his fingers, slightly smug that he'd taken it back so easily. He wanted Alec to know him, not be afraid of him. This Shadowhunter he'd just met who had made him want to be known again. Pacing back and forth in front of Alec's desk, he added. "I haven't simply...talked. To anyone. Not honestly or sincerely. In a long time."

Stopping, he sat down in the chair opposite of Alec. "You were going to say something about my eyes. We could always start there."

[angelic_archer]

For a moment Alec thought Jace was going to kiss him. His heart stuttered, a sound that a vampire had to be able to hear and he almost swayed forward to close the distance between them. His hands tightened on the chair until the arms began to creak before he forced himself to let go.

Despite his attempts at control, Alec smiled as Jace decided on a more acrobatic way of removing himself from the desk. The grace could have been because of being a vampire, but he recognized a hint of Shadowhunter training.

Realizing that he was actually enjoying Jace's games, he tried to understand what was going on. Was Jace using the encanto on him?

He knew what that felt like. Nothing was clouding his thoughts. Nothing was taking away his free will. His runes and training would make it difficult for a vampire to enter his mind without effort. Jace wasn't trying to bespell him. He was just being... friendly?

That was what it seemed like but Alec knew that he wasn't the first choice most would make if they wanted a friend. He was too blunt. Too stubborn. Too... all the traits that Izzy proclaimed were a disadvantage.

Wondering why the pen was so interesting to the vampire, he rolled his eyes when Jace suggested that he compliment him as his first question. Leaning forward on the desk, he considered what he could ask. Anything related to why he was a vampire or why he wanted to be sincere with Alec seemed off limits no matter what Jace said. Instead, he decided on something simpler. "What's your favorite book?"

[wayfaring_stranger]

"Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit." Jace's automatic response. "Although, to be fair to all other books I've read, choosing a favorite isn't as easy as it seems. I could name off an entire library of books I would happily read again and again."

He pointed the pen at Alec. "You hesitated before asking. Why?"

He could guess the answer, but he wanted to hear it from Alec. He wanted to know what Alec was thinking and why he was thinking it. The pen was twirling again, effortlessly and without conscious thought for the action.

[angelic_archer]

"Those are some of my favorites." And ones that Alec didn't expect to interest a vampire. He knew that Jace had to be older than those books. There would be rumors about a lost Herondale if Jace had died recently... recent being relative for Nephilim.

For some reason the idea of Jace and death made him uncomfortable. He'd thought about it with Raphael, knowing that the vampire was younger than he acted, but the idea of Jace's death wasn't pleasant.

"Most vampires stick to things from the era they're most comfortable with. You don't." It was more of an observation that his tone implied. It was still a curiosity, making him wonder about the being that Raphael had sent.

Arching an eyebrow to imply that he was unimpressed with the pen usage, Alec shrugged. "The question I was going to ask was rude. Even if you'll let me ask anything there are some boundaries I shouldn't cross."

[wayfaring_stranger]

"In a world where all the legends are true it's still bewildering to me that anyone could create a world so beautiful." Jace was going to go back to the Hotel Dumort and read all of the books again. He'd decided. "I learned to embrace change."

Catching the look, Jace closed his hand around the pen. And then he looked away from Alec. He had hoped Alec would want to know something. For a moment when he was trying so hard not to kiss Alec he thought Alec might be feeling the same. Trying hard not to kiss him.

"Ask me another easy question then." When he looked at Alec again the disappointment was carefully hidden away. He wanted to be sitting on the desk in front of him, close enough to feel his breath on his lips. He wanted to know why, after all these years, he suddenly wanted to talk to someone about everything, even the difficult things Alec was being careful to avoid. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable. It's important. I don't know why when I've spent my entire existence intentionally making everyone around me uncomfortable." If by uncomfortable he means want to kill him in horrible ways.

[angelic_archer]

"Maybe those stories are true too. Maybe there's a world with Hobbits and Elves. I spent most of my childhood wishing it was true." Maryse hadn't approved. She had thought the books were nonsense, distractions that kept Alec from being the ideal she wished for. But Tolkien's stories had been the inspiration for his choice of weapons. "Maybe being willing to embrace change is why Raphael sent you." Alec had discussed changing things related to the Down World with Raphael but not while they were at the Institute.

"I doubt there's any easy questions with you." His tone was teasing, one that he rarely used with anyone except Izzy. Humming a thoughtful sound, he considered the 'easy' questions, and then decided to ask one that was important to him although few people would realize it or knew of his interest. Alec was about to ask when Jace tried to reassure him about the subjects that were allowed. "Jace, asking those questions would make you uncomfortable, not me. I didn't say it because I didn't want to offend you." Or hurt him, but he wasn't sure if Jace would believe that. "You don't exactly make me uncomfortable." Not in the way that Jace meant at least.

Not wanting Jace to think he was avoiding the offer of asking questions, he returned to the one he'd been about to ask. "What's your favorite type of music?"

[wayfaring_stranger]

Jace had imagined the same thing. A world full of elves and hobbits and magic beyond what they knew as Shadowhunters. Or vampires. He wasn't sure why he found the world of Tolkien so fascinating when he lived in such a fantastic world already.

"You mean Raphael actually sent me to do something good?" He certainly had failed so far. He doubted Raphael would be surprised how little good he'd accomplished so far. In fact, Jace was starting to think Alec was too good for him. Way too good for someone like him.

The problem with being a vampire wasn't the blood lust. It was having everything about yourself intensified. Good and bad. So when Alec said he didn't exactly make him uncomfortable Jace was kicking himself for being discouraged, even for a moment. What was he thinking? Alec may be too good for him, but he was also attractive, smart, and compassionate.

Rubbing at his bottom lip, he considered the question. "Everything. Except most rap and a lot of the more current pop the kids seem to enjoy. Classical. No country. Too...whiny. Rock, hard rock, classic rock. Mundanes really are brilliant when it comes to creating music."

[angelic_archer]

"I know it's hard to believe, but it might be true." He tried to keep his tone serious but amusement crept into his voice. "There had to be some reason why he sent you." It could be because his friend wanted to troll him, but Alec thought it was something else. Raphael wouldn't risk relations between the vampires and the Clave for a joke. There was something that Raphael wanted to accomplish even if they didn't know what.

Alec just wasn't sure what Raphael was thinking.

Realizing that he was staring at Jace a little too intently, he glanced away before he could embarrass himself. Why was he reacting like this? He'd been around dozens of attractive men. He'd been around vampires who had actually tried to bespell him. There was no reason for Alec to act like this with Jace.

"The kids seem to enjoy." No matter how much he tried to hold back his laughter, he snickered over the phrasing. "You sound like an old man." Which might be true but it didn't match the attitude Jace had been projecting. "You forgot about jazz and the blues." There were other genres too but those were ones that Alec would have added to that list. "They are. I envy that about their lives." Which wasn't something he'd normally admit, but he didn't think Jace would tell anyone that Alec had a secret interest in music.

[wayfaring_stranger]

"I was so sure my mission was simply to be a pain in the ass." Jace smirked. He liked talking to someone who had a sense of amusement and sass all at the same time. "Or he could have wanted to get rid of me for a few hours. Raphael only has so much patience."

Alec looked away and Jace wanted to follow, force him to look at him and to look into Alec's eyes, like before. So he did. This time he moved casually, getting up from the chair and walking around the side of Alec's desk. He didn't try to sit in his lap or invade his personal space. He leaned back against the desk next to Alec and laughed when Alec laughed, calling him an old man.

"I like to think of myself as forever 18." He defended, still smiling. "Billie Holiday. She's my favorite."

[angelic_archer]

Looking at the mess that still remained scattered around his office, Alec couldn't help snarking. "That's probably part of the mission and you've completed it with top marks." He might grumble, but he wasn't annoyed. Which was strange since he should be frustrated that his carefully organized space had been turned upside down. "It was probably send you to me or he'd try to figure out how to make staking you look like an accident."

Noticing that Jace had started to move, Alec pushed back his chair so that he could easily look up at his guest. "Was that how old you were when you became a Downworlder?" It still was a tactless question but it seemed less harsh than mentioning death or vampirism. "I have a few LPs, but I haven't had time lately to add to my collection."

[wayfaring_stranger]

"No one is fast enough to stake me." Jace said it with absolute certainty, still smiling as he looked around at Alec's office and then directly into his eyes. "I was always the top of my class."

His smile softened, became more thoughtful, but he was enjoying their conversation too much now to let it falter into something deeper.

"Yes."

Simple answer for a simple question.

"You have LP's? Not CD's or one of those iPods everyone is carrying around? Actual LP's?" This was probably the greatest surprise yet.

[angelic_archer]

Alec didn't contest Jace's assumption, but he did arch an eyebrow at his confidence. He was sure that the vampire was fast but so was Alec when he had his bow. It wasn't something that they could really test but it was something he couldn't help considering even if it wasn't appropriate.

He was surprised that Jace answered the question and knew that he shouldn't ask anything else related to that particular subject. "I have actual LPs. And CDs and an iPod. I collect whatever I can but vinyl is best." Few people knew about his collection. Izzy and the store owners that he purchased his most prized albums from but no one else. His parents would have thought it was a childish hobby and tried to ruin it just like they had when he asked to learn to play an instrument. "Do you dislike technology or just prefer the sound of records?"

[wayfaring_stranger]

"I know what you're thinking, Shadowhunter." Jace grinned. "You're not fast enough." Jace said it as a challenge, not a fact, and arched an eyebrow back at Alec. "There are non-lethal ways to find out if you're ever interested and get bored training with slow pokes."

He definitely hoped for the chance to spar with Alec. In more than one method. And with that thought Jace couldn't help letting his gaze wander. Alec was wearing too many clothes, but he could imagine his Shadowhunter physique and the runes that decorated his body just fine.

"I love technology. But nothing captures the true sound of beautiful music the way vinyl does. I can't even find words to describe it and I'm very articulate. Most of the time. I'd love to see your collection."

[angelic_archer]

"My preferred weapon is faster than you." He hoped that the comment didn't sound like a threat. Alec knew the kind of questionable activities his ancestors had performed before the Accords. He didn't believe in those kinds of tactics and didn't want Jace to think he might be a danger to him. Then Alec realized that Jace might be from that era. Pushing aside that thought, he focused on Jace's offer instead. "If you can find somewhere else to train. Most of the Shadowhunters at the Institute would freak if I started sparring with a vampire. They might think you're attacking me." Or pretend that he was so that there'd be one less vampire in the world.

Noticing that Jace was giving him a strange look, he was going to ask about but Jace mentioned music. "I understand it. I don't know why it sounds better but it does. Technology makes it portable but it doesn't always preserve the quality of the sound or the emotion that was part of creating the music." Not quite sure what to say to that request, Alec realized he was starting to blush. Why was he reacting like that. It was a completely innocent request... one that would offend most Shadowhunters in the Institute but it wasn't improper. "I'd like to show it to you sometime. Do you have a collection or is that some special vampire secret I can't know about?"

[wayfaring_stranger]

"We'll see." Jace smirked. He was already considering places that would be safe for them to play a nice game of hide-n-seek or even tag. They could wrestle. He'd really like to wrestle Alec of his clothes and see the evidence of how well he filled out his clothes. He was so caught up in imagining that scenario he almost missed the part about music and vinyl being better, but he definitely didn't miss the offer to show him his collection.

"I travel too much to keep a collection, but if I had one...it would fill an entire room. I'd need a room for music and one for books."

That would require a home he thought to himself.