Shadowhunters: Lost and Found

“Jace. Jace, wake up. You fainted.”

He opened his eyes. Why was he in Jace’s room at the Institute? What was Clary doing here and why was she calling him Jace?

“Clary? I’m not…” he stopped short, his voice sounded… weird. He slowly raised himself from the floor, his eyes going wide as he surveyed his surroundings. He looked down at himself. He was wearing Jace’s leather jacket, the one that always looked tight, like it was molded onto Jace’s body. He was nowhere near as big as Jace and yet the jacket felt snug.

“Jace… are you okay?” Clary sounded concerned. What had happened? The last thing he remembered was finding a leather jacket that looked a lot like Jace’s and, since no one was around, had decided to try it on.

“Sure, Clary. I’m fine.” But he wasn’t fine. Nothing about him or this situation was fine. He started to get to his feet, only to fall back down as the change in weight and height hit him. Clary offered her hand as he tried once more.

“Let me help you.”

“I’m fine. Just need to splash some water on my face.” He made his way to the open bathroom door. Every movement felt so odd to him. Different. He closed the door to be alone, to think. He was glad Clary was there with him but now he needed to see if he could figure out what had happened. He was feeling somewhat better… until he saw his reflection in the mirror.

Simon found himself in the strangest circumstances of his life. He literally had become Jace Wayland, the confident, cocky, and handsome Shadowhunter that Clary loved, despite her protestations otherwise. Of course, Simon knew the Shadowhunters could change their appearance using their runes but he wasn’t, or least hadn’t been, a Shadowhunter. Almost anything was possible in the supernatural world he now was part of but how could trying on what must have been Jace’s jacket cause him to transform? For that matter, how had Jace’s jacket just been lying near where he had been?

His first instinct was to ditch the jacket. Maybe he would be himself again. He unzipped the jacket, revealing a tank that did nothing to hide his quite impressive physique. How he had often wondered what Jace looked like underneath the cool exterior people saw. Now he could find out. He excitedly ran his hands along his torso, feeling every sensitive touch for the first time. Jace had such a finely tuned body, the perfect specimen of masculinity and now it was all his. Did it really matter how it happened? Why not just enjoy it…?

The longer Simon stared into the mirror the less he thought about how this had all happened or even trying to change back. Why would he want to? After all he was now the stud he always wanted to be… what every nerd dreamed of being. True once he had become a vampire his vision had cleared so he no longer needed glasses and he had become somewhat of a chick magnet in his own right but this was something entirely different.

“Jace. Are you okay?” Clary’s voice snapped him out of his reverie.

“Be out in a minute.” Simon cringed. Jace would never talk like that.

Clary. He pictured her in his mind. Beautiful, smart, everything he had ever wanted. He had loved her from the moment they met at school so long ago. They had become quick friends and as time went on Simon could do nothing but dream that one day he might have her for his own. That even looked quite possible until the day Jace walked into her life. Simon had been relegated back to “best friend” status and it had hurt badly.

That had changed again when Clary and Jace were led to believe they were brother and sister. For a fleeting moment Simon once again became the man in Clary’s life and he was ecstatic. Fate intervened yet again when the truth that Jace and Clary were not actually brother and sister was revealed. But while Clary had stayed with Simon, he was never completely sure she was not still in love with Jace. His hopes were once more dashed when he had gone with them to the Seelie realm and the Seelie Queen had shown Clary she truly loved Jace. No matter how much Clary tried to reassure him that she loved him and that had all been some sort of Seelie trick, doubts filled Simon’s mind.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on a door. He could hear Clary talking with someone then a knock on the bathroom door.

“Jace come out. Alec and Izzy are here. Valentine has been spotted.”

Alec would surely know he wasn’t Jace, after all the two shared a special bond and had grown up together. Reluctantly he opened the door, not quite sure what he should do. Tell them he was Simon in Jace’s body? Even though they all knew such things were possible, would they believe him?

“Uh, hi guys. It’s me… Simon.” They all stared at him.

“Good one Simon. Stop fooling around Jace. We’ve got a mission.” Alec slapped him on the back. “Such a joker.” Simon had no clue how he could possibly help them defeat their archenemy but his friends had no way of knowing that. He looked like Jace, sounded like Jace, so to the world he was Jace but inside the hunky Shadowhunter exterior he was still the nerd, not the hero. He would have to wait until later to prove to them that he really was Simon or, more likely, they would find out on their own when they confronted Valentine.

As the four friends headed out the door to the spot where Valentine had been seen, Simon grew more nervous. He didn’t have Jace’s fighting skills and knew nothing about using weapons. He had no idea about the runes on his body or what they would do even if he knew how to activate them. Jace, where are you when I need you?

Imperceptibly, Simon began adopting Jace’s natural swagger and bravado the closer they got to their destination. When they came upon Valentine the four Shadowhunters surrounded him. Rather Clary, Alec, and Izzy fanned out forming a circle that Simon completed just by standing where he was. Alec signaled to Simon, as though Simon would know what it meant. Surprisingly Simon felt himself moving as if on autopilot, Jace’s reflexes taking over. He found himself performing maneuvers he knew nothing about and the more he did, the more Jace’s persona replaced his own. Soon it was second nature to him to battle. He felt incredible and powerful. The four were unstoppable as a team and, after a tough battle, captured Valentine, Simon binding the man in preparation for his return to the Institute. The Clave would be most eager to begin interrogating Valentine to learn of his plans.

After a revealing hot shower, Simon met up with Clary. He had assumed Jace’s natural cockiness and confidence, oozing charm that he hoped she just couldn’t resist. Maybe being Jace won’t be so bad. Clary won’t be able to keep her hands off me now. I’ve finally got the girl of my dreams, even if I do have to be Jace.

He leaned down to kiss Clary, but she pulled away.

“Not now, Jace. Let’s go see Simon.” He shrugged. Why would she want to go see Simon? Especially now when they were alone? Had he done something wrong? Wasn’t she in love with him now that he was Jace?

Simon was shocked to see his old body surrounded by women and unabashedly flirting with the bartender when they entered his usual haunt. He had never had that much confidence before nor had he realized just how much that confidence made him look so hot and irresistibly charming.

“Hello, Simon.” Clary made her way directly to him, clasping him in a way that was more than just a friendship hug.

“Hi Clary, Jace.” No big scene about stealing his body or other demonstration that he had ever been anybody other than Simon Lewis, day-lighter vampire. If this was the new Simon than the old Simon would just have to resign himself to irrevocably being Jace now.

As he watched Simon and Clary throughout the night, Jace’s heart kept breaking. He had wanted Clary so bad, thought he had an actual chance to be happy with her when he had woken up as Jace, only to have his dreams dashed. The Seelie Queen had told the truth, just in a very twisted way. She had known Clary and Jace were soul mates so naturally Clary would be drawn to him no matter what body he occupied. The complicated relationship between the two had a simple resolution: put Jace into Simon’s body so no one would think anything of the pair. They would just be two life-long friends finally getting together. Had the Queen caused the switch? He would probably never know. As much as seeing the pair together hurt, he was happy for Clary. She deserved to find happiness.

Jace took off without anyone noticing. He had to think what to do next. The warm New York night caressed him as he walked under the summer full moon. The world was alive tonight, humming with magic but for Jace the night only served to remind him how lonely he was feeling without Clary. He needed love in his life to be complete.

When he stopped in the park he realized he was beginning to be more Jace than Simon now, losing himself to his new life. Not that he minded being Jace. He couldn’t deny being Jace was a major upgrade and he certainly could take plenty of solace with the women who would flock after him now. Maybe it really was a win-win situation.

He started to walk again, deep in thought. In fact, so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice his clothes starting to change or that his strides were getting longer. Nor did he notice the hunger that started to gnaw away inside, a hunger to be close to someone special. Soon he found himself knocking at Magnus’ door, unsure how he had gotten there or why.

“Alexander. I wasn’t expecting you tonight.” Magnus’ surprise was nothing compared to the shock he experienced.

He started to protest, “I’m not…”, only to hear Alec’s familiar voice coming out of his mouth.

“You’re not what, babe?” Magnus’ warm smile greeted him as he welcomed him in. He caught sight of himself in the mirror, Alec’s lean muscled body staring back at him. He had no idea how this had happened. Certainly not via any clothes he had tried on. They gently kissed and Alec, nee Simon, felt emotion flooding into him.

“I’m not going anywhere.” It briefly flitted through his thoughts that the real Alec must now be in Jace’s body and hopefully happy. He couldn’t do anything about that in any case. Somebody or something more powerful than either of them had deemed this is how things should be. He soon forgot ever being anybody other than Alexander Lightwood as he leaned in for another kiss.

.

Stronger than his love for Clary had ever been, Alec found peace and true happiness in Magnus’ arms.