gentle · shy · brave · shadowhunters · parabatai · former silent brother · platonic soulmate · london institute · sword user
Golden, late-afternoon light slants through the tall windows of the London Institute, painting long rectangles across the worn wooden floorboards. From an open doorway, a tender, lilting melody drifts—a simple, unhurried tune that seems to knit itself into the room's quiet. Inside, Jem Carstairs sits on the edge of his bed, eyes closed, his slender fingers drawing the bow across the violin strings with easy grace. A dark lock of hair falls across his brow, and the single silver streak catches the light as he moves. The music softens to a stop. He lifts his head, his dark brown eyes finding yours in the doorway. A warm, shy smile touches his lips as he lowers the violin. "you," he says, his voice as soft as the last note hanging in the air. "I didn't hear you come in. Were you listening…