Hey guys! So this is just a quick chapter so I could have an excuse to tell you that I'll be uploading the first chapter of my brand new full-length TOMORROW (19th july) at 11pm GMT. It'll be called 'A Tale Of Two' so keep an eye out for that. Till then, hope you enjoy this little thing.

(Also I've only just logged into FF after quite a while so apologies to everyone who has sent me messages that I haven't replied to. I'll be making my way through them slowly)

Disclaimer: I do not own TMI or its characters, neither do I own feathered pillows. I'm more of a polyester girl myself.

Feathers

"Jace!" The bedroom door was flung open as Sebastian strolled in. "Rise and shine princess, we've got work to do!"

"Five more minutes," Jace groaned into his pillow, though it sounded a little more like pffiffemerrmssiff.

"Speaking Welsh again?" Sebastian grabbed hold of Jace's duvet and threw it off, despite the other boy's protests. "Really, I think it's quite touching that you want to discover your roots, but I honestly don't understand a word of it."

"I said, five more minutes." Jace raised his head slightly to enunciate the words and then collapsed back onto the bed, burying himself in the pillow.

"No can do, little brother. We have societies to destroy, orders to disobey and most importantly, Lines to draw." Sebastian snatched the pillow from under Jace's head and tried to pry it away from his fingers. "Jace, be a good boy and let go."

"You let go!" Jace whined, desperately trying to claw it back. Normally he wouldn't have resisted, but his mind was foggy and disoriented in sleep. The boys both pulled at the pillow between them, struggling for dominance, until eventually it submitted to the unbearable tension and burst apart in a flurry of white feathers. Jace's eyes bulged and he let out an ear-splitting scream, before bolting straight out of bed. "What the hell are those!?" He cried, darting away until he was backed up against the far wall.

"Feathers, I do believe." Sebastian observed, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"I know that!" Jace was deathly pale. "But where did they come from?"

"I may be wrong, but evidence has led me to conclude that they did, in fact, come out of your pillow. Honestly Jace, have you been at the faerie drinks again? Or you know, that Starbeaks thing you were rambling about before?"

"You. Don't. Understand." Jace was finding it hard to breathe. His vision began to cloud over as he relived the terrible moment when the pillow had first been ripped apart. He shook his head violently in an attempt to dispel the sensation of the feathers falling against his skin, only to make those that had lodged themselves in his curls come free and he screamed again as they tumbled around him.

"Okay, now I'm actually a little concerned," Sebastian said, sounding completely earnest. He walked slowly towards the jittering boy, like how one might approach a Greater Demon in a pentagram. "Jace?"

"I need the packaging!" Jace's head snapped up; his eyes were bloodshot. "Whatever these pillows came in, I need it right now!" He stepped forward and began shaking Sebastian by the collar of his shirt. "Give me the bloody packaging!"

"Okay, okay. I can see there is clearly some issue here that I am unaware of." Sebastian held his hands out, attempting to send calming vibes. "Just relax, Jace. I shall do as you ask. Let go of my collar." He nodded in approval as Jace backed down. "That's good. Stay calm, just like that." Jace twitched as Sebastian stepped backwards carefully, his palms still facing outwards. When he reached the cupboards at the other end of the room, he nudged the door open with his foot and reached down to take out a white cardboard box. All the while, he never took his eyes off of Jace. "Okay, Jace. This is it. This is the packaging. I'm going to bring it over to you now. Stay calm." Sebastian held the box at arm's length and brought it so it was just out of Jace's reach. "Everything's going to be just fine. We're going to get you some help." Jace shifted nervously from side to side as the box was brought closer and closer, and then shot out to grab it from the older boy. Sebastian watched curiously as he flipped the box over and over, examining the print until he found what he was looking for. Sebastian sighed. He had so much to do, so little time to do it in, and all with a complete fool as his only companion. He'd seemed so promising just the night before, but now it looked like his brother in arms had more problems than he'd anticipated. The years he spent with the Lightwoods must have finally driven Jace insane, he thought. It was the only reasonable explanation.

Then finally Jace froze, his eyes locked on a certain portion of the box. His shoulders sagged with relief as he let out an exaggerated sigh. Shoving the box back into Sebastian's surprised hands, he clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, Sebastian," he said, giving him a wry smile. "We have work to do, remember?"

Then he sauntered out of the room, flicking the last of the feathers out of his hair.

Sebastian gaped at the now empty doorway in shock, and then looked down at the little red circle Jace had stared so intently at. Within it was written one word. Goose.

Oh those Herondales and their ducks.

Thanks for reading and also thank you to those of you who reviewed the last chapter. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I will be adding to this story throughout the summer too, but obviously AToT will be taking priority. Let me know what you thought! And also, if you have any theories as to what AToT will be about, I'd love to hear them!

Till the next time...

smim xx