Chapter Text
There was a saying within the Shadowhunters of London: If you had a problem, go to Charlotte Fairchild. If you had a problem that couldn’t wait for bureaucracy, go to Will Herondale. Climbing the stairs to the London institute,Charles figured now that his mother was no longer consul, the saying would have to be changed.
He had already made his many apologies to the Herondales and hoped that the interaction had left them with a kinder perception of him. He suspected that Will and Tessa were more aligned with Anna’s idea of an apology. They required action instead of words. Charles felt he had used more words in the past few months than he had in the rest of his life. He was finally prepared for action.
Will Herondale was in his office on the second floor. It was a neat room that had formerly belonged to Charle’s mother when she had been the head of the institute. He was in a good mood when Charles entered, though William Herondale was always in a good mood if that was what you needed him to be in. Charles hadn’t realized he’d needed it, but trusted Will’s judgment enough to believe that was the case.
“Charles!” Will greeted him merrily. “No business cards today please, my desk is cluttered enough as is.”
Charles had never handed out business cards before, but mentally scratched the idea off a list. He looked across Will’s desk. It was not particularly cluttered. A single frilly card lay in front of him.
“A reminder invitation for the Baybrook’s wedding.” Will explained. The Baybrooks being Rosamund and Thoby who had become engaged in the winter. “Imagine that! A reminder that you’ve been invited somewhere! I told Rosamund when she delivered it that it’s been on my calendar since her first invitation, but she was adamant on making sure we were all well informed. I suspect you’ll have a matching one when you get home later.”
“Something to look forward to then,” said Charles. Will studied his face. Charles was not one who usually made jokes or snide comments.
“What brings you here, Charles?” Will gestured for him to take the seat across from his desk. “Not that you can’t be here for small talk, just that you aren’t.”
“Not completely, no.” agreed Charles. “I'm here for advice.”
“That is something I can offer,” said Will. “What am I advising today? Weapons cleaning, demon categorizing, wedding protocol, love, stunning horsemanship?”
“I was hoping you could advise me on being a leader,” said Charles. “You are a respected institute head. People listen to you.”
“Respected maybe, but I wouldn’t say I’m completely listened to.” There was a sadness in Will’s deep blue eyes as he said it.
Will had been one of the loudest protesters to Matthew’s banishment. A large part of that had been the toll it would have on his son when the parabatai bond was torn. Will had lost his own parabatai at James’s age. Jem had not died, nor had Matthew, but they had both been taken away from their sworn brothers by matters beyond their control. Charles was learning that he seemed to lack a significant amount of empathy normal to humans, but even he could see the complicated love and pain across Will’s face every time he saw Brother Zachariah. He wondered how it felt for James and Matthew.
“Respected is credentials enough.” Charles assured him.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Will said, the smile returning to his face. “It was hard work to gain the clave’s respect after all I’d done to prevent it when I was younger.”
Will’s past of being cursed was common knowledge enough, but had become old news and one of the least interesting things about him. His rowdy and disruptive childhood was easily overshadowed by his status as a war hero, the incident with Benedict Lightwood, his former parabatai, his warlock wife and peculiar children, or even the fact that he had a tendency to go into long lengths of detail about demon pox and its symptoms and effects.
“How did you gain it?” Charles asked.
“Well I didn’t kiss asses.” Charles winced, but let Will finish. “My goal wasn’t to be respected. It was to help. To serve. I wanted to improve downworlder relationships, so I set out to make friends. I wanted to pay forward the help your mother gave me, so I made the institute a welcoming place. I didn’t want to be a leader, I wanted to bring about a positive change, so I stepped up and became one. Do you understand that?”
“I’m trying to.” said Charles.
“Trying is an important step,” said Will. “Maybe the most important one. Try and try again until you get it right.”
“Someone else already told me something very similar to what you just said.’ Charles told him. “He said he wanted to ‘change things for the better.’”
“He’s got the real makings of a leader then.”
“He’d be glad to hear that,” said Charles. “I think.”
“Is there anything else I can help you with, Charles?” asked Will. “Tessa and I are always here for you and your family if you ever need us.”
“Thank you.” said Charles. “I’ll relay that to my parents, and, um, the same goes for you. If you ever need anything. I’d like to be of help. I know I’ve let you down before, but I would like to try and amend those times.”
“I’m always in need of help over here.” said Will. “Charlotte never told me there was so much paperwork involved in this job- or research. I’ve been scouring maps of London to try and find that Vermithrall nest that you uncovered.”
“Can I assist?” Charles asked tentatively. “I’m good at busywork.”
“I’d appreciate that very much.” Will smiled.