Chapter Text
Kit never liked when the sun came through his curtains and, for some reason, in Devon the sun always decided to send its brightest rays early in the morning. When he first arrived in his new home three years ago, he had been too scared to ask Tessa and Jem for new curtains. He didn’t want to seem too needy. Over the course of his stay, he had just continuously forgotten to buy new ones for himself. After all, he had other things to think about. Lots of other things. In fact, he just couldn’t stop thinking and he hated it.
Though his mind was always racing, there was one time in which it never was: when he first woke up. How was his mind expected to work so early? There were many things Kit didn’t like about being a shadowhunter, one being having to get up early. Having to have structure. He knew it was good for him, especially after so many years with Johnny.
He winced when he stepped into the shower, the scalding hot water always took him by surprise. The old, faded runes of yesterday were scrubbed harshly off his body leaving only one remaining. His only permanent one. Ironic really. The only permanent rune he had came from something so temporary it actually took him by surprise. He traced over the delicately drawn lines and remembered the touch of the boy he loved. The boy who had every reason to hate him, the one he left. But at least he wasn’t alone.
The ghost of his past mistakes even stopped visiting. It made sense, she was only here for Ty. Never Kit.
Kit was suddenly snapped out of his daily crisis at a hard banging on his door. He quickly stepped out of the shower, almost slipping and wrapping a towel around his body. The banging didn’t stop as she approached the door, swinging it open. His wild eyes were met with the wide smiles of Tessa and Jem with little Mina in his adoptive mother’s arms.
“Yes?” he asked sarcastically. “Would you like to come in?” he held his arms out. Tessa chuckled while Jem swung his arms around to reveal a neatly wrapped present.
“Happy birthday!” they both shouted accompanied with the incoherent babbles of Mina. Kit couldn’t help but smile . Jem extended the present even more. Kit quickly whipped his eyes down and back up. His hair left large droplets of water dripping down his face.
“Can you give me a moment?” Jem and Tessa both nodded and quickly hurried out of Kit’s room, slamming the door behind them. He chuckled, drying his head and getting dressed for his 18th birthday.
*****
When he arrived downstairs, the table was covered in enough food for multiple feasts. In the middle was the best looking cake Kit had ever seen. Jem was struggling to get Mina to stay in her highchair. She started getting rowdy when she saw her big brother coming into the kitchen. She jumped out of her seat to reach for him.
“Kitty!” she shouted followed by giggles that Kit could’ve sworn was made of actual sunshine.
Tessa also got out of her seat like it was made of fire, grabbing the gift they had offered to Kit in his room. This time he took the gift and sat in the closest chair to him. Tessa and Jem watched him intently. Not even bothering to be careful, Kit ripped the paper of the gift off with speed he didn’t even know he had.
The box was filled with little goodies, mostly things he knew Jem had seen in the town’s downtown area. Also drawings Mina had done, Kit noted that she was already getting talented at art. It reminded him of someone he once knew. He shook off the memory and continued looking thoroughly at each of the items until Tess got impatient.
“Open the little box,” she almost shouted. Kit looked back into the big box and noticed the little blue velvet box hiding in the corner of the tissue paper.
He ran his hands over the velvet before gently opening the box, leaning back like he expected something to pop out of it. Nothing did, but the shine of a bright object did catch his eye. He couldn’t tell what it was at first but shock quickly took over his face. He looked up at the softened faces of Jem and Tessa.
“Is this-?” he cut off his words in fear that tears would follow. They both nodded, already knowing.
Kit pulled Will Herodale’s ring out of the box and exclaimed every nook of the intricate design. Jem gently took it from his hands and placed it over Kit’s neck. He closed the clamp in the back and let the necklace drop close to being over Kit’s heart. He held it in his hand as a soft breeze drifted past him. He had never felt so connected to his family, his actual family.
He looked back once more to thank his parents when the sound of glass shattering boomed through the large house. Without even thinking, a seraph blade was in Jem’s hand, he and Tessa stood strong in front of their children. The silence was almost louder than the glass.
Suddenly Tessa whipped around and she pushed her magic past Kit and Mina. Kit grabbed his sister and held her close to his chest. A faerie went flying to the wall, then they all came at once but before they could all attack, they stopped. An even taller figure walked down the stairs that Kit had descended down not too long ago. Vines and leaves draped their arms delicately. The greenery could almost distract one from the thorns also protruding from their skin.
“Who are you?” Jem’s voice was stern, it sent a chill down Kit’s spin. He had never heard his father (father?) like that before.
The faerie ignored Jem and looked directly at Kit. “The first heir,” It’s smile was sharp and it bowed slightly. “How beautiful you are. Your hair, your eyes.” Kit looked down, noticing Tessa’s hands moving with the slightest movements. Jem looked back at Kit and gave a slight smile.
“No,” he said under his breath. He raised his eyes back to the faerie.
“The lost Herondale. So perfect you are.” They looked at the other fae that were scattered in the dining room. “And how perfect you would look with your head on a platter for the Seelie Queen!”
There was a loud screech before Tessa made her final movement, dropping Kit and Mina into a portal. He could see his parents smile at him before the portal closed and he landed… softly? Sand.
Kit, still holding onto his sister for dear life, lifted himself to his feet and looked around. The sun peaked its beautiful head above to crash off the waves. Mina turned her head slightly to see the ocean, her soft cries were reduced to sniffles as Kit turned away and walked them to a building that proudly overlooked the beach.
*****
He stood on the doorstep for what felt like ages. He wasn’t sure if he should just walk in or knock. He didn’t live there anymore, but surely this counted as an emergency. Mina rested her head on his shoulder, her eyes trying to stay open. Finally he came to the conclusion to knock, so he did. Three hard knocks. A small part of him hoped that no one would answer but he knew that he needed someone to answer. He just didn’t expect everyone.
When the door of the Los Angeles Institute swung open, Kit was met with shock looks of the entire Blackthorn clan with the addition of Christina and Jamie Rosales. Even Livvy’s ghost looked surprised. They all stared at each for way too long. Only Mina’s soft cries snapped them out of it. Kit tried to comfort her, not even caring that everyone was watching him. He whispered to her and rubbed her back until she settled on his chest again.
“Kit,” he looked back up at the sound of Julian Blackthorn’s voice. “What are you doing here?” Kit looked for one person in particular. And there he was, standing on the stairs looking as beautiful as ever. Kit looked back to Julian, letting tears finally form in his eyes. Julian softened.
“They, uh, they took them,” he tried to keep his voice steady. He used his sleeve to try and stop the slow falling tears but it didn’t help. Julian approached him slowly.
“Who took who?” his voice didn’t sound so harsh anymore.
“Faeries. They took Jem and Tessa. And Tessa made a portal for us to get here. And I- they wanted me. Oh god, they should’ve taken me,” he was cut off by his own soft sobs after his voice cracked. Emma quickly rushed past Julian and wrapped her arms around the two now lost children. She rubbed his hair as he sobbed into her shoulder.
“It’s gonna be okay. I swear to god it will.”