SHADEGUARD

          the sensation sends goosebumps racing across his skin. if not for his trained restraint and the tolerance he’s built to burying his reactions to ira’s antics around other nephilim, he may have jumped. there is a near undetectable hitch in his voice as he carries on with his fellow shadowhunters. not a doubt crosses his mind that ira, from wherever he’s watching and using his magic to TOY with him, notices it perfectly fine and takes pride in causing it. 

                    this beach, as cold and isolated as it is, belongs solely to ira and has for decades. it’s a rarity that the doors of HIS HOME are opened invitingly to anyone, much less someone he thought he hated at one point — but much like the tides are ever ebbing in and out, ira’s dislike too has gone. washed anew with fondness. skylar has grown in the half - demon’s winter heart. they’ve been entrusted with one another, by powers “ greater ” than them both, and out of it a bond.

                    he leans against the threshold of a long - broken door. the water is far from the sunken story of his home, and so they are alone ( without the company of mermaids ). he can’t help but ADMIRE such a lithe form, maneuvering with poise in each stance. all of the sudden the boy falters, and ira is quick to stand entirely upright. he would know if there was ANY THREAT in his territory, but that does not mean he doesn’t feel a panic rise in his chest for a split second — thought it appears skylar is only avoiding something. a critter in the sand. relaxing once more, ira wanders forward, dark eyes cast down to see the familiar, vivid orange of a starfish. he crouches, and runs a finger tenderly along one, spiny arm.

                    ❝ starfish … or sea - star. go ahead — you can touch it …storm must have brought it ashore. ❞

          skylar offered an acknowledging glance upward as ira approached, his gaze quickly returned to the star in the ground. he wasn't sure what to expect, though being on a beach he was sure that ira would know what it was. ❝fish?❞ his brows raised and he looked up at ira with curiosity and some small measure of disbelief. so it was alive? honestly, he thought at most it would have been a plant, at least a peculiar shaped rock.

         extending a hand, black tipped fingers reached out, hovering over the star-fish and hesitating, before curling into a lose fist and returning to his side. standing, skylar dusted sand from his person before directing his gaze to the tide. ❝if a storm brought it ashore then it should be placed back in the water.❞

         skylar returned to his blades and retrieved them from the sand, giving them each a good, swift spin or two to clear the sand from the metal. electrum eyes wandered back over to ira, grip loose on his weapons as he pondered over their respective abilities. what few times they came into combat together he'd seen mostly an impressive display of magic, and only glimpses of the physical power he suspected the warlock to possess.

          skylar was beginning to develop a familiarity --- rather a fondness --- for the smell of salt water, and the feel of ocean mist coating his skin. more and more frequently he left the halls of the institute and their astute training arena to practice his craft upon a beach. well, the beach. one in particular which spread from beneath a partially sunken old mansion. the company of the many small beach dwelling creatures and the warlock that presided over them was among the few things skylar found himself actively seeking out simply for the enjoyment and repose.

         his feet moved with graceful swiftness through the sand, following each twist and turn his body made, the blades in his grasp whistling as they cut through the air with honed accuracy and blurring speed. the black and fading reddish-brown runes stood out stark against his fair skin, glimmering with the spray of salt water mingling with sweat ( and just a tinge of that metallic electrum shimmer ).

                    ira has seen too many bodies ( has lived through plagues, wars, religious crusades, witch hunts ), and caused too many deaths to so much as blink towards the fallen girl. it’s not that he has no heart, but that he’s grown desensitized to the fact that life ends — because it doesn’t, for him. the world around him continues on and ira is naught but a statue that resists time. HE FORGETS that the shadeguard boy is so new to the earth. that he has yet to experience many of the horrors it provides. abyssic eyes observe the art of rune - drawing ( he’s seen it before ), but gaze snaps back up to the hunter’s eyes as he hears a “ thank you. ” he is never given thanks. it sounds odd in his ears, ringing around hollowly in his head.

                    ❝ ———— don’t your kind hunt in pairs? it would be irresponsible of me to leave the clave’s GOLDEN BOY to fend for himself — if you die, i would like to vouch for myself in saying that i had no part in it and was, in fact, there to aid you … and witnessed your untimely demise. ❞          he steps closer, ROLLING HIS SLEEVES up to his elbows.          ❝ it’s been a while since i’ve hunted a demon. i usually summon them. ❞

          ❝typically, yes.❞ skylar answered to his inquiry, though did raise a single brow just slightly at the chosen nickname. golden boy?  ❝i believe that particular title goes to an exceptionally gifted young nephilim by the name of jace wayland, though i haven't had the pleasure of meeting him myself.❞ he was stationed in a different institute, though with his travels being so frequent it was only a matter of time before skylar visited the location in new york as well. though his gaze was purely focused on tracking the demon, he still listened to every word said by his companion.  ❝you seem quite positive that they clave would condemn you so easily.❞ unfortunately, it seemed a common trend skylar saw popping up in his reports.

                    another reason ira supposes he’s been ORDERED as the young nephilim’s personal chauffeur is because he has seen a majority of the world. if there is a place skylar shadeguard has to go, ira can either get them there or get them close — which comes in handy when there are reported attacks that would take many too long to reach. it isn’t skylar’s job ( at least, not as far as ira has gathered ) to be a normal foot - soldier, but sometimes he’s all that’s available. the hunters are spread thin as they try to smother rising threats, but there’s a war on the horizon, and ira finds himself standing closer to the heart of it as he grows familiar with the boy he reluctantly aids.

                    ❝ ——— she’s dead. whatever was here, we just missed it. ❞

     @adamasbone   

          electrum gaze fixed on the body below. he'd never seen a dead body before. every time he was sent into the field skylar walked in with the assurance that he had trained and studied for this all of his life, and almost every time he walked out with a heavy stone in his chest; study and first hand experience were vastly different. the shadowhunter removed his jacket and knelt down, laying it over the dearly departed. crouched, the agape terrified expression of the downworlder girl frozen in his mind, he barely caught the warlock's words.

          ❝but only just. it's not out of our reach yet.❞