Here's Chapter 2! By the way, this takes place after CoHF but before Lady Midnight:)
This mystery boy had brought an air of tension to the New York Institute. Clary and Jace, who had been fighting a demon when the guy showed up with a strange looking blade and a unique attitude toward the creatures, had been granting each other some silence after an argument over what to tell the Clave, if anything was to be said at all.
"He's obviously not mundane," Jace had argued, "and there's no way he's a Shadowhunter."
Figuring the boy's possession of a weapon meant he was Nephilim, Clary had attempted to mark him with a voyance rune. When the rune sunk into his skin, residents of the Institute fretted for the boy, expecting him to scream in burning pain. He didn't.
"Still," Clary pushed, "nothing good has come from keeping secrets. And with the progressive movements that have been made, there's no way they would hurt him unless he proves to be a threat."
Of course, they would be over it and all over each other again within a few days, but for the time being, they were unpleasant to be around.
Clary and Jace weren't the only couple out of sync due to recent developments. Magnus had been noticeably quiet, leaving Alec dismissed from his thoughts. Alec of course knew his boyfriend wasn't ignoring him on purpose, but it still stung when Magnus was sitting deep in thought over some stranger instead of entrusting Alec with his. Despite the extensive hours he had spend at the Institute over the past few days, they had spoken significantly less than normal. They really only spoke later in the night, when the two returned home and Magnus was ready to shed his troubles for a few hours. Alec figured at this time it was better left alone.
"Hey," Alec prodded. Magnus looked up, smiling. Alec continued, trading lightly on his boyfriend's troubled mind. "Do you think we ought to tell the Clave or not? Jace and Clary have been at war over it, and I don't know what to think, but do you think it's safe?"
Magnus sighed, and took Alec's hand as the Shadowhunter sat himself on the stool beside him.
"I think we should hold off for a bit. I've messaged Tessa. I believe her guidance could be of help. This is a very particular situation, and its urgency is difficult to asses." Alec saw in Magnus's eyes a glint of suspicion, as if there were a viable explanation that he didn't want to confirm.
"Magnus?"
"Yes Alexander?"
"You know you can talk to me, right?"
Magnus leaned in and kissed Alec's nose, then his lips.
"Of course."