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Of Men And Angels

AFTER HER ARGUMENT WITH JACE, ARYA HEADED BACK TO THE INSTITUTE ALONE. The shadow hunter headed straight over to the training room floor where she found Hodge. "Arya, what can I do for you?" He asked, tossing two blades around in his hands.

"Train with me?" She asked and he nodded, changing to a stick and passing her another one. She knew what was going on at all times when she was training and knew she was in a risk-free situation—sort of.

The brunette tossed her stick between her hands before setting both her heeled boots in a stance where she was stable before they began. Hodge started with basic combat where they continued to block each other. After Arya ducked one of his shots and swung for his legs which knocked him to the side when he didn't expect it. She was at the top of her game, the words Jace used against her triggered her anger and only made her want to prove she was good.

She did a roundhouse kick which caused Hodge to take a step back. While he did so she used her stick to hoist herself in the air and flip over the man's shoulder, knocking her stick into both of his sides lightly.

He swung around quickly and swung towards her head again which she ducked, aiming her stick for his leg where he blocked it before they both took another stance and readied themselves again.

Arya noticed when Alec and Izzy also returned from the mission and headed over to their mother. They also noticed her letting her frustrations out against Hodge and were just grateful that she was back at the institute. Both were still furious at Jace—almost as much as Arya was. The three Lightwoods soon disappeared and Maryse smiled at the girls fighting skills before leaving with her children.

They continued their fight back and forth before Hodge swung his stick up and tried to knock down on her head. It gave her free access to his chest where she pocked her stick—signalling she had won.

Hodge chuckled at her while she dropped down on the step of the training room floor. "What's got you so frustrated?" He asked the brunette.

"Jace." She said bluntly and Hodge nodded. "He said some stuff that he probably didn't mean but still pissed me off." She grumbled and Hodge nodded.

"What did he say?" The blonde man asked.

"Apparently, I'm a bad fighter and an even worse shadow hunter." She muttered rolling her eyes and Hodge placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Look, if that wasn't just enough that you're a talented fighter, then you can ask anyone and they'll say the opposite. You are a better shadow hunter than most. Don't sell yourself short." He told her truthfully and she nodded with a smile.

Arya had no clue that while she had left them—because of Jace— Clary's mom's friend Luke had reappeared and had killed the leader of the New York pack to protect them and was now the Alpha. But in doing so he had been bitten by the original Alpha and the poison was killing him—slowly but surely.

They had all converge at Magnus'. All except Alec and Izzy who were fighting against the wrath of their parent's demands.

"What happened?" Magnus demanded, throwing the doors to his lair open while Clary and Simon followed him through them, lugging Luke on their shoulders. "He was attacked." Simon clued him in with strain apparent in his voice from the strength it was taking to hold a limp Luke up. "He needs a warlock." Clary established. "He needs you." She begged.

"Put him here," Magnus told them, laying out a sheet on his sofa for Luke to lay on. He was muttering things about Jocelyn while he writhed around in pain on the sofa and Clary's tried to calm him down.

He suddenly shot up and his eyes glowed a manic green. Clary and Simon tried their best to hold him down while Magnus retrieved a price of what looked like wood but would delay his wear wolf transformation.

The warlock sent Simon and Jace out to get a list of ingredients. The pair bickered about it but Magnus shushed them. "I also need Arya." He told them certainly and they all shared a look.

"Why do you need Arya?" Jace asked, hoping it wasn't necessary since he had no idea where she was. "Shadow hunter energy." He shrugged and Jace frowned. "A certain kind of shadow hunter energy—to me." He said, vaguely explaining it. He needed the strongest bond he had with a shadow hunter and that was Arya. He needed his desire for the girl to strengthen the bond. Whether she felt the same or not.

"Great." Jace groaned. "Is that a problem?" Magnus asked wearily. "She's not exactly going to answer my calls." Jace sighed. He was worried, to say the least. "Well, then someone needs to find her." Clary insisted.

✧

Once Arya had finished with her training, she headed to her room to shower and change before heading back out onto the floor of the institute—where she was met with the sight of Max and Robert Lightwood.

Once he saw the girl he immediately embraced her in a warm hug. Out of the two Lightwood parents, he was by far the kindest. Their mother was intimidating and strong-minded. Their father was considerate and brave. But Arya loved them just the same.

"Arya, dear." He smiled. "Quite a performance up there." He complimented and the brunette grinned. "My sons watching us." He noticed and Arya laughed. Alec's dad always loved Arya as a daughter and he had always noticed the clear infatuation between the pair.

Arya laughed awkwardly before she heard a younger voice calling her. She turned around to see the much younger Lightwood—Max—running towards her with his arms out wide. "Arya!" He called, running into her arms which were also open—ready to embrace the boy.

"Hey, Max." She smiled. "Why are you back so soon?" She asked since she hadn't expected him.

"He set—" His dad started before the young boy interrupted.

"Fire to my book during rune study," Max admitted and Arya rose an amused eyebrow at the young boy who just shrugged. "I was trying to draw the nourishment rune." He excused and Arya laughed knowing he was more than likely lying.

"Max, go upstairs and look up the extinguishing rune in the brown book." His father instructed and Max groaned.

"But I haven't seen Arya in ages." He complained and the brunette shadow hunter chuckled.

"I'll see you later, promise." She grinned and he nodded, running off with a small wave.

"He's obsessed with you." Robert laughed and Arya grinned at him. "Both of my sons are, clearly." He winked

"I wouldn't say that." She laughed awkwardly—glancing over at Alec who had a shadow of a smile on his face.

It was no secret that Arya had always gotten on with the Lightwoods. She had been best friends—sisters almost—with Isabel for years before they became parabatai. She had always been close with Alec and always looked at him a certain way. Max had loved Arya the whole time since growing up and loved to tease the girl and Alec about how they 'were in love with each other. While both of Alec's parents had treated her like family since she had known them. They were even friends with her parents and Alec loved the relationships she had formed with his family.

✧

Almost immediately after Arya left the conversation with Robert and Max lightwood her phone began to ring. She noticed Jace's contact and decided to ignore it. After all, he was the one who caused the argument.

As she searched around to find Isabel, she spotted her brother instead. He was on the training floor, fighting against a kicking bag with a stick. He was glistening with sweat and for a moment or two, Arya found herself staring and all of the anger she held from that morning melted away. She hated the effect he had.

After she felt her phone vibrate at least seven more times she finally answered. "What do you want Jace?" She snapped, holding the phone to her ear.

"I need your help." He told her desperately and Arya sighed.

"Are you okay?" She asked concerned but remained angry.

"Yes. But Magnus needs your help." He told her firmly.

"Why does Magnus need my help?"

"He needs your energy or—whatever."

"Why?"

"To help save Luke's life."

"Why?"

"For Clary."

"Of course." Arya scoffed.

"Please. Arya, please." He begged.

"I'll think about it." She huffed.

"I'm sorry," Jace said quickly before she had a chance to hang up.

"Okay." She sighed, hanging up.

She was torn. She wanted to help, but helping meant making Jace think she was okay with what he said and she definitely wasn't. Giving up on the task she was doing she stuffed her phone in her back pocket and headed for the exit of the institute.

While she loved Maryse and Robert—she knew they wouldn't let her leave if she told them why she was going.

"Where are you going?" She heard a voice—she immediately recognised as Alec's—call from behind her.

She turned to see the shaggy, raven-haired boy stood with his arms crossed and his jacket on ready to leave with her. "I've got to go do something." She said vaguely and he frowned at her—waiting for a proper answer.

"Which is?" He insisted.

"Stuff." She shrugged and Alec raised an eyebrow at her.

"Tell me." He told her sternly, stepping toward her and Arya tried to block out all the thoughts which rushed into her mind. He was way too good at this.

"Jace needs me." She told him honestly and he nodded, showing off his jawline.

"I'm coming with you." He told her bluntly and she nodded.

"Okay." She said turning towards the exit and Alec was surprised with how fast she let him come.

✧

It appeared that Arya and Alec arrived at the perfect time. Magnus was wavering beside the sofa and looked as if he would collapse any second when Arya dropped down beside him and caught his shoulders before he had a chance.

"Help me." Magnus panted and Arya nodded, Alec stood close behind her in case she needed more help. "I need your strength," Magnus told her and she complied and took the hand he was offering her. "Go for it." Arya sighed with a small smile. She was ready and Magnus could take all the strength he needed.

Magnus used all of his strength and Arya could feel it being taken from her and barely even registered when Jace and Simon made an appearance—not that she would be talking to the blonde boy until he properly made it up to her. It felt like Magnus was absorbing all of the power she was running on. She knew he needed it and she was happy to give it. She just hoped it would be the last thing she had to do that day. It all too soon became painful, like Magnus was scraping at the bottom of an empty barrel which was her strength. Her veins felt like sandpaper rubbing together but she felt like she still had enough to keep her up.

She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood and just as she did the spell stopped.

Magnus dropped back and Arya was luckily behind him and was quick enough to catch the warlock before he fell.

Alec admired so many things about the girl in front of him. But her selflessness was one of the best. She would risk anything and everything she had to help anyone and everyone she helped. She must have been looking at her a certain way because Jace was soon by his side with a huge smirk. "Still gotta tell her man," He mumbled and Alec laughed a little.

"I will." He smiled. "You've still gotta apologise man." Alec reminded the blonde and his smirk soon dropped. That was harder said than done when it came to the brunette.

Because she cares about and would do anything for the people she loved, it hurt her, even more, when they didn't treat her the way she deserved. She didn't forgive easily—unless it came to Alec—so Jace wasn't going to have it easy.

✧

Arya was lay on the sofa in Magnus library while Luke took place on the one in the living room. Clary walked in after a few moments but Arya didn't look away from the light which she had been staring at while she thought of what had happened to her throughout that whole day.

"Arya, hey." The girl greeted as she took a seat on the chair beside the brunette. "Look, If you hadn't gotten here on time...I-I'm just...glad you and Alec are okay now." She grinned and Arya nodded. "I was never really that mad at him." Arya laughed and Clary's nodded with a grin.

"Well, I'm glad you're okay again. If you weren't then Alec would have been in a mood forever." She teased and Arya grinned. "Yeah, well, I have that influence on people." The brunette joked and Clary nodded.

Soon after they all decided to leave and we're headed to the doorway when Magnus reached or the brunette shadow hunter. "Care to stay for a drink?" He asked hopefully and Arya looked between him and Alec and then to Izzy. Jace was looking at Alec sadly and Alec was looking down at the ground. He knew he had waited too long and Izzy was staring at the girl with pleading eyes. She just needed her to do what was best for herself for once.

"I-I..." She stumbled and then pulled Magnus off to the side, whispering the truth into his ear. He smirked, while he was glancing over at the raven-haired boy.

"Oh," Magnus said quickly. "He's lucky." The warlock whispered and Arya smiled at him sheepishly. "But I'm still not going to give up." He assured her and Arya laughed, blushing before leaving with the others. Isabelle smirked at her and the blonde grinned at the raven-haired boy who had no clue what was going on.

✧

Okay, I've rewritten it and I like it a lot more. It's not my best but I still like it. I don't know if it's a bit too repetitive but it's fine.

For the next chapter, a lot is going to happen so get ready guys!!!

Xoxo-LCC

Words: 2465