EDITED 5/30/2020
"What if they hate my music so bad that they start throwing their pretzel sticks at me?" Simon asked nervously as he and Clary left the Hunter's Moon hand-in-hand.
"I'll take em down before they get the chance." Clary said confidently. "You're gonna be fine, Simon."
They walked a few more paces before Simon stopped, an odd look on his face.
"What's wrong?" Clary asked him.
"I smell blood." He turned and walked into the alleyway next to them, Clary following close behind.
"Oh my God!" Clary exclaimed seeing what Simon had found. "That looks like..."
"Human flesh." Simon confirmed.
It was just sitting there in the alley, surrounded by blood.
"Simon," Clary said, her voice shaky. "That's a rune."
She pulled out her Seraph blade and together they stalked further into the alleyway. They found another piece of flesh before finding the body. He was shirtless and all of his tunes had been cut off of him.
"By the Angel." Clary gasped
—-
"Heard from Mom." Alec informed Izzy as she made her way towards him. "Max is on his way." He joined her in walking further into the ops room.
"Feels like just yesterday we were taking knives away from him." Izzy grinned.
"He's lucky to have you as a tutor." Alec complimented her.
"Alec," She sighed. "Maybe it's a mistake, putting me in charge of him."
"Are you kidding?" Alec asked. "Izzy, you're the smartest one here. You're one of our toughest fighters."
"But, it's just, I don't totally feel like myself yet." Izzy admitted.
"What about all those mundane meetings?" Alec asked quietly.
"They're helping. Even though they think I'm talking about heroin." Izzy smirked a little.
Alec was about to say something else when Jace's voice reached them.
"Shadowhunter down!"
"Milo Keytower." Clary added.
"What happened?" Izzy asked.
"From what I understand," Imogen cut in. "His tunes were carved out. Is that true, Jace?"
"Yes." Jace answered. "After He was attacked by a wolf."
"He had multiple bite and claw marks." Clary told her siblings.
"What kind of werewolf randomly attacks a Shadowhunter?" Izzy asked.
"One who's trying to send a message." Alec spoke for the first time.
"And get the attention of the Clave." Imogen added.
"We need to find them before this happens again." Clary looked around at everyone.
"Well, I think I have a pretty good idea who it is." Imogen revealed.
Jace and Alec were sent to bring Luke Garroway in, and after a long and painful interrogation he was let go, but not before supplying them with a DNA sample.
Alec and Clary were in the weapons room not even thirty minutes after Luke left. Alec was showing Clary his bow and how he tunes his arrows when Jace and Imogen walked in.
"Mister Lightwood, Miss Lightwood." Imogen greeted them with a tip of her chin. "We have some news."
"Inquisitor Herondale has appointed me Head of the Institute." Jace told them.
"Congratulations." Alec said immediately.
"But I turned the offer down." Jace added, not paying any mind to Alec's praise.
"Mister Lightwood." Imogen addressed Alec. "I hereby appoint you Head of the New York Institute."
Clary squealed, wrapping her arms around Alec's torso. "What?" Alec asked, wide eyed.
"I'd also like to apologize, what I did to you, it was inhumane. I regret it; I only wish I could take it back."
At that Alec only stared at her. "Congratulations, Mister Lightwood." She walked out and Jace followed after sending Alec a blinding smile.
—
Alec and Jace were in the ops room when the alarm went off. Clary walked in followed by two stretchers.
"What happened?" Alec asked.
"Found Rosegreen and Penmount dead in the Bowery." She reported. "Runes carved out."
"Just like Keytower." Another Shadowhunter said.
"Except Penmount's been drained by a vampire." Alec said.
"And Rosegreen was lanced by a Seelie Knight." Jace added.
"It's not just a lone-wolf. It's multiple Downworlders." Clary said.
"Luke was right all along. The Downworlders want revenge." Jace realized. "This could be the start of an uprising."
"We won't let it get that far." Alec promised.
"Mister Lightwood!" Imogen called from across the room. Alec raised an eyebrow at his friends and went to go see her. A few minutes later she called for everyone's attention.
"Another Shadowhunter was found dead last night in Williamsburg. This time murdered by a warlock. In this time of crisis, it is essential that we maintain strong leadership. That is why I am naming Alexander Lightwood Head of the Institute. Effective upon my departure to Idris. Dismissed."
Alec walked towards his siblings, watching as Izzy grinned widely and threw her arms around him.
"Congrats, Big Brother!" She cried. "Get in here, Little Sister!" She held her arm out to Clary and Alec enveloped both his sisters in a hug.
"I'm the same age as you Izzy." Clary reminded her.
"I was born in May and you were born in August." Izzy said. "I'm older."
Alec rolled his eyes good naturedly at his sister's silly debate. He released them and gestured for the three to follow him to a table nearby. They stood around it as Alec started to speak.
"The Inquisitor would like us to reach out to each of our allies to see what they know. At this point she considers all Downworlders suspects, which is casting a pretty broad net."
"She can't honestly think any of our friends did this." Clary said.
"We'll prove that to her." Alec promised. "Luke's DNA cleared him, we'll collect DNA samples from each of our friends and clear them as well. I'll make an institute-wide announcement."
They nodded. "Clary go see Sheldon, Jace see Raphael and I'll take care of Magnus."
—-
Magnus swung the door open after Alec knocked.
"Alexander." He greeted.
"Wow. You look very..." Alec stammered, Magnus was definitely dressed up today.
"I was bored." Magnus explained. "Needed a change."
Alec stepped inside, closing the door behind him and pressed a kiss to Magnus' lips.
"Is everything okay?" Alec asked.
"Yeah. I've been worried sick." Magnus admitted. "With all these attacks, you shouldn't be out on your own."
"Well, I'm not on my own. I'm here with you." Alec smiled. "High Warlock of Brooklyn."
Alec tapped his shoulder before moving away from him. "A body was found in Williamsburg." He started. "Have you heard anything?"
"No," Magnus answered. "But Warlocks don't need to report their misdeeds to me. If they did, my phone would never stop ringing."
"Magnus, I need your hair. It's just a strand for a DNA test to clear you."
"I didn't realize there was anything I needed to be cleared of." Magnus returned. "Do you not trust my word?"
"Of course, I trust you." Alec whispered. "But until the Inquisitor leaves and I'm officially instated as Head of the Institute, I don't have any pull here."
"I see." Magnus didn't even show any surprise at Alec's promotion. "So once again, you're just blindly carrying out orders? What happened to following your gut?"
"Magnus. Shadowhunters are being slaughtered. I'm just asking for a strand of hair. Let's not be overdramatic."
"Well," Magnus whispered. "I wouldn't want to be overdramatic." He pulled a piece of hair from his head and put it in an envelope, handing it to Alec.
"Thank you." Alec smiled.
"Get out." Magnus said.
"What?" Alec asked, confused. "Magnus, come on."
Magnus magically opened the front door, not looking at Alec.
Alec sighed and moved past him. He walked through the door, pausing and turning around. "I love you." He said before leaving.
—
An hour later is when Magnus received the phone call. He looked down to his phone and saw that Alec was calling him. He almost sent it to voicemail but decided to pick up, just in case. Despite how angry and hurt he was, he loved Alec with every fiber of his being.
"Was I cleared?" He asked when he picked up the call. "Do you trust me now?"
"Magnus!" It was Jace on the other end, not Alec. "You've got to get to the Institute now!"
"What's wrong?" Magnus asked.
"Alec's alive, but the killer targeted him. He's been drugged and they had just started in on him when he was found."
Magnus didn't even bother responding. He hung up on Jace and made a portal, stepping through. He stepped out into the entryway of the Institute where Jace was waiting for him. His hair looked tousled, his eyes were red, and he looked beyond worried.
"Where is he?" Magnus asked. Jace turned and led Magnus down halls and around corners before coming to a stop outside Alec's bedroom.
"Clary's in there now, Izzy is taking care of the Inquisitor and calling our parents."
"Is he awake?" Magnus asked, staring at the dark wooden door.
Jace shook his head. "He only woke up once, he freaked out and took down two of the healers."
Magnus looked at Jace in alarm. "Are they okay?"
Jace shrugged. "I mean, they'll live." Magnus thought that Jace sounded just a little too nonchalant about it.
Magnus reached out for the door handle when Jace grabbed his wrist.
"Whatever went down between the two of you, Alec was trying to clear your name. We all went to get DNA samples from our allies. Hell, it was Luke's idea! Not Alec's. He's been fighting the Inquisitor tooth and nail about this. Did you know she wanted to implant trackers in every Downworlder? Alec made her throw the idea out. He went there, trusting you, having no doubt in his mind that you would be cleared. That you didn't kill that Shadowhunter in Williamsburg. So, don't blame him. He never doubted you. Not once." Jace released Magnus and turned on his heel. Magnus watched until Jace disappeared around a corner then he turned the doorknob and entered the room. He closed the door softly behind him and looked around the room, soaking up the scene.
Alec was in the bed, covers drawn up around his waist. He was pale and his dark hair was stuck to his forehead from the sheen of sweat that was visible on his skin. The contrast between his hair and skin made him look dead. Magnus didn't like that. He was so still that if the steady rise and fall of his chest wasn't so obvious, Magnus would believe that he was dead. Clary was stretched out on the bed next to her brother, her hand holding one of his and her head resting lightly on his shoulder.
Her eyes snapped open when the door clicked closed.
"Hey, Biscuit." Magnus whispered, approaching the bed.
"Magnus." She sniffled, her voice thick with tears and her mascara was smudged.
She slowly slipped off the bed and ran into his arms. "Is he okay?" Magnus whispered into her hair.
"He will be." The killer drugged him; he's been hallucinating some. They also tried to carve one of his runes off but Jace and I found them in time. She motioned for Magnus to follow her to Alec's side and she gently turned her brother's head. There was a bandage on his neck where his deflection rune was. She pulled the bandage away from his skin and Magnus gasped at the sight.
Some of the skin was no longer connected and it was still bleeding, not a lot but just enough for it to start drying around the wound. There was some pus starting to form where the knife cut.
Magnus reached out with a shaky hand to lay his fingers near the cut. He supposed that the killer probably never cleaned the knife they used to carve the runes out, after all, the victims weren't meant to survive. The wound already looked infected, and this had happened just under an hour ago.
"Why haven't you healed him?" Magnus looked to Clary. His tone wasn't accusing, more curious and disbelieving.
"We did." Clary told him. "He was so much worse when he came in. He's probably a thousand times better now. But the infection and the skin, he needs you, Magnus. We can't do anymore for him." She reached a hand out and smoother her brother's hair away from his face.
"I'll do my best." Magnus told her. "Could you call Catarina? Madzie is with her, practicing some healing magic today, Alec would want her here when he wakes up. And I'm sure Madzie's missing her Dad."
"Of course." Magnus handed her his phone and she stepped out of the room to make the call.
Magnus sat on the bed, as close to Alec as he dared and reached out with his hand. He willed his magic to heal his lover and his hand glowed blue. He moved it over the wound and watched as the skin knit itself back together. Unfortunately, the process was not painless. Alex's brow furrowed and his head turned slightly. As the widest part of the cut healed itself, Alec's eyes popped open.
Magnus flinched back in surprise and was thankful that he'd finished. Alec stared at him, looking at him as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He blinked slowly, and focused and refocused his eyes several times before allowing his features to settle into a confused expression.
"What are you doing here?" Alec asked, his voice wavering.
"Jace called me." Magnus dropped his eyes to the scar that now adorned Alec's neck. He couldn't make it go away. Alex would forever have a reminder of this night and for what felt like the hundredth time, Magnus wished he had acted differently, that he hadn't kicked him out of the loft. "I'm so sorry for the way I acted, Alexander. I'm so sorry. I wish, I wish that... I just, this is my fault. If I hadn't been so horrible to you, if I hadn't jumped to conclusions, if I'd listened, really listened to you. If I hadn't kicked you out, you wouldn't be here right now. You wouldn't be hurt." Tears fell down Magnus' face in slow drips, he didn't dare raise his eyes to look into Alec's because he was too afraid of what he might see.
"Magnus," Alex whispered. "I don't blame you, I-"
"Daddy!" The door flew open and Madzie ran in, followed by Clary who was walking at a much slower pace than the hyper six-year-old.
Madzie hefted herself up onto her Father's bed and threw herself onto his bare chest. "Daddy! Auntie Cat and Auntie Clary said that you got hurt, but it's okay because Papa fixed you all up!"
Alec chuckled and wrapped his arms around the young girl. "That's right, Papa made me all better."
Magnus watched the exchange with a small smile. He watched the tenderness in Alec's eyes as she looked at their daughter, the gentleness in the way he brushed the hair from her face and how when he held her it was as if he were holding the most precious object in the world. And Magnus supposed that to Alec, Madzie was the most precious thing in the world. And then Alec turned his eyes to Magnus, and Magnus saw no change in the way that Alec regarded him, from the way that he regarded Madzie. The tenderness did not drain from his eyes, the smile did not fall from his lips. And Magnus wasn't sure if he could handle that. He couldn't handle Alec not being angry at him. Because Magnus was angry with himself. And if Alec truly didn't blame him, then he was a far better, more selfless and deserving man than Magnus had originally thought. Alexander Lightwood truly was too good for this world, too good for Magnus.
"-nus?" Magnus shook himself out of his thoughts and allowed his eyes to reconnect with his boyfriend's. "Magnus? Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Magnus asked, looking from Alec to Madzie who was dozing on Alec's chest. He looked over Alec's shoulder and saw that at some point Clary had left.
The corner of Alec's mouth turned down. "I made a mistake, approaching you the way I did about this whole situation. I'm sorry."
Magnus shook himself. He was sure he'd misheard Alec. "Don't apologize." Magnus retorted. "I shouldn't have kicked you out. We should've talked about it. I'm sorry, Alexander."
Alec rolled his eyes and grabbed Magnus by the shoulder, pulling him down to connect their lips.
—
Alec had just gotten up, transferred Madzie onto the mattress rather than him, and put a shirt on when Jace threw the door open.
"Simon just brought Clary in. He's refusing to leave her side. The killer tried to get her too."
Alec and Magnus rushed after Jace down to the infirmary
"You didn't see the attacker at all? No description? Anything?" A Shadowhunter was questioning Simon when they entered the room.
Clary was laying on the bed being examined. Alec and Magnus rushed to her side as Jace took over for the Shadowhunter.
"It was hard to see, and I had to choose." Simon told Jace as they switched off. "Either go after the attacker or help Clary. Would you have done it differently?"
"You better get going." Jace told him.
"No. I'm not going anywhere until she wakes up."
"Simon, under the circumstances, it's probably best that you aren't here."
"But-" Simon started to protest.
"Sheldon." Alec sighed. "I was just barely able to convince the Inquisitor that we shouldn't have a lockdown ban on all Downworlders. You causing this scene here, isn't going to help my case. I may be Head of the Institute, but right now, she's still in charge. I'll tell Clary you were here, okay? But please, leave. She's in good hands. We won't let anything happen to her. I'll call you if anything changes."
Simon regarded Alec for a long moment before nodding. "My name is Simon." He turned and left.
An hour later, Magnus was sitting by Clary's bedside when she opened her eyes before shutting them again. When she opened them again, Magnus was leaning forward looking at her in concern.
"Biscuit?" He asked gently. "Are you okay?"
Clary breathed deeply before her brow creased in what could've been confusion.
"Who are you? She asked.