Casey inhaled sharply, his body pressed against Alec's. His breath was hot on his neck and he felt his chest rise and fall against his back.

Now the two were not pressed together for the reason you all think so . . . mind out of the gutter . . . moving on.

The reason Casey and Alec were so close together - with zero personal space - was because everyone agreed - with a little too much eagerness - that Alec should teach Casey how to use a seraph blade.

Now, a seraph blade was a Shadowhunters greatest weapon - with the exception of their bare hands and their runes - and all shadowhunters needed to know how to use one. Clary would also be taught, but Casey was more of a priority.

The group knew that Valentine wanted the mortal cup, but they had realised that he would want Casey too. Casey was his eldest son whom he had lost at the age of two and although he may be a now heartless man, he still loved his son and wanted him back. But the kind of love that Valentine gave people was the dangerous kind. The kind that could get you killed.

And so, when he took up the topic about why Alec had to teach him, Jace said it was 'cause he may not be able to teach him just how to use a seraph blade. That was followed by a wink.

Sarcastic bastard.

"And so -" Alec continued, his hand on top of Casey's. " you then push with all your strength and hit your prey."

Casey shivered slightly, and it wasn't from the cold. The two remained silent until Casey squrimed out of Alec's hold, clearing his throat.

"Yeah, okay. I think I've got it." Casey said, the tension thick between the two.

"Casey I'm sorry." Alec sighed. "What I said to you . . . I had no right to say any of it. I was wrong to say those horrid things. You just want to protect your family, and I shouldn't have assumed otherwise." He walked towards him, and took his and in his. "Please forgive me." He pleaded, his voice soft.

Casey bit his lip, deliberating whether he should forgive him or not. Finally he nodded. "Last chance Lightwood." He mumbled.

Alec grinned in response, but quickly let go of his hands, afraid of what message it may be sending. "Izzy told me about you. How you were bisexual." He commented and Casey's tilted slightly.

He wasn't sure what he would say and he felt a slight panic until Alec's smile grew. "I think that is incredible and it's another thing to add to the list of things that makes you amazing."

Casey smiled sheepishly. "And what about you?"

"What?"

"Are you gay?" Casey questioned, his bright eyes wide as he waited for the hazel boys answer. The messages that he had been sending Casey clearly insinuated that he was most definitely not straight, but alas he had admitted nothing.

Alec's nose crinkled and his cheeks turned a dark shade of red as his entire body tensed. "No." He said sharply, his tone defensive. Casey recoiled, slightly offended. Alec saw this and his expression softened. His eyes fell to the floor and his hands fell by his sides. He looked like a kid that had been caught lying.

"Alec?" Casey questioned softly.

Alec raise his head and looked around, making sure they were alone. He sighed softly, biting his lip. "I - I don't know." Alec admitted.

"You don't have to label yourself if you don't want to Alec." Casey spoke softly, reaching for Alec's hand. Alec didn't pull away from the boy's touch, if anything he leaned into it.

"My family - my mother especially, she - they... if they knew."

"You don't know if they would accept you." Casey finished, knowing the feeling.

Alec nodded, his bottom lip jutting out. "My mother has this image of me getting married and having a family."

"Gay couples can still have a family Alec." Casey replied and Alec finally raised his head, his hazel eyes meeting Casey's. "I know that Casey, but my mother doesn't see it that way."

"Alec you have to live for yourself, not for others." Casey told the boy his eyes wide. "But I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want to. I like you Alec, I really do."

"As friends or more?" Alec questioned softly, seeming slightly frightened and nervous.

"Honestly, I'm not sure yet. But whatever it is I don't want to write it off."

"Neither do I." Alec agreed, smiling. "Can we take things slow and see where it leads us?"

"Definitely."

- - -

"Beloved servant." Casey mused, skimming his fingers along the engraved tomb of Mary Milligan. The group had vome to the cemetery in hopes of finding weapons, but Isabelle departed earlier, saying that she had to find a way into the vampire lair which Casey assumed was code for get laid.

"Who puts that on a headstone?" Clary asked as her brother got to his feet and surveyed the tomb.

"Someone who was part of a cause greater than themselves." Alec replied deadpanned.

"That's not deep and dark and brooding at all." Casey scoffed, causing Jace to snort.

The four gathered round the tomb and set to opening it, brushing away the leaves that had gathered as the seasons changed.

"Abra cadabra." Jace spoke, grinning.

"Wait, you guys actually say that?" Clary asked, and Casey snorted at how gullible his sister was.

"He's taking the piss Clary." Casey rolled his eyes and Jace winked at the raven haired boy as he unsealed the tomb, pushing back the lid to reveal several different weapons.

"Wheres Mrs Milligan?" Clary said, peering into the tomb. No one answered her, as the Fray siblings reached in and both took out a Seraph blade.

"Don't touch that." Alec scolded Clary. "You don't know how to use it."

"What, like at Pandemonium when I killed that demon?" Clary retorted, smirking.

"Yeah, em Clary sorry to interupt, well I'm not really. Anyway, I was the one who killed the demon little sis. You barely touched the blade. Nice try though." Casey grinned and the corners of Alec's lips twiched at the eldest siblings words.

"Well, how come you let Casey have a blade then?" Clary huffed at Alec, ignoring her brothers comment.

Alec shurgged. "I like your brother as a person. I don't however like you."

"Alec." Jace interupted, glaring at him. "I'll show her how to use it."

"Oh like hell you will goldilocks." Casey growled, sensing a double meaning. "Keep it in your pants."

"I - I didn't -" Jace stuttered.

"Uh huh." Casey scoffed. "Watch it Wayland, 'cause one of these days you'll go to the bathroom and wonder where the hell mini Jace went."

Alec guffawed, choking on air, while Clary's cheeks flamed.

"Now," Casey smiled. "Alec, do you see anything you need in there?" He asked gesturing to the tomb.

Alec peered into the tomb and looked around before shaking his head. "No, I need a bow and arrow. There's one at the institute. I gotta go."

"I'll go with you." Casey replied. "If that's okay." He added hastily.

"That's fine." Alec smiled.

"How are the two of you going to get back into the institute?" Jace replied.

"We'll go in the back. They won't bother us." Alec told Jace in response and Casey eyed the two of them, decide to ask all about it when they were alone.

"Fine, I can finish up here." Jace shrugged.

Casey said his goodbyes to Clary while Alec walked forward and he and Jace had a Parabatai moment. Finally, the dark haired boy turned to Casey and smiled at the Fray boy as they began to walk away, he looked over his shoulder at Jace.

"Remember I have a gun." He shouted. "You may be half angel but I can still shoot your ass if you piss me off. No matter how cute you are."

--
EDITED