Chapter Text
It was supposed to be an easy day. Not a happy one yet, since Clary had lost her memories of the Shadow word just a few days ago. And while Alec’s sadness was in part due to his parabatai’s devastation, he had to admit that part of it was his own. He missed the woman she became, that brave person that didn’t doubt for a second helping them getting to Edom, going with them. He would have never guessed that the selfish scared little girl that put his loved ones in danger so many times, would become one of his loved ones.
Andrew, his head of security now, found him in the Operations Floor, watching confused how all the readings showed disturbance all around the borders of the NYI jurisdiction, but signaling not even the lowest of demonic presence.
“Sir, can we intervene?”, asks Andrew.
“It’s outside of our…” Alec trails off for a second, “what’s the Boston Institute doing? Have they requested for help?”
“No sir, we’ve tried contacting them, but no one is answering. Downworlder’s of the area have been seeking refuge in NY for days, and the Mundanes are starting to notice.”
“We’ve been granting refuge, right?”, asks Alec, he needs to confirm that none of the more traditionalist in his institute have interfered with his Institutes policies.
“All requests have been granted”
“Have they said why they’re looking for refuge? Here?”
“Not at first, they were concerned that the reason why would put them at risk”, answers Andrew.
Before Alec can ask more, his phone starts ringing, and it’s coming from Magnus’s work phone. A while ago it was decided that they needed a way to separate work calls from personal ones, especially after the third time Alec put a whole meeting on hold, worried Magnus was in trouble, when he just wanted to ask if he was free for lunch.
“Magnus?”, asks Alec as he picks up the phone.
“Alexander, what’s going on? The Spiral Labyrinth just contacted me, saying all over the world there are cases of Shadowhunters attacking Downworlders and Mundanes”, says a slightly panicky Magnus.
Alec feels frozen for a moment, before he says in a shaky voice, “they’ve lost their shepherd, they’ve become lost”
“Alec, it’s not the time for your cryptic Nephilim ways”, answers a clearly worried Magnus.
Alec looks bewildered at the screens once more, and says, “Magnus, tell all the Downworlders that are currently in NY to not leave, under any circumstances.”
“What? So they’re corralled?”, asks an even more worried Magnus.
“No, so they’re safe. There’re already Downworlders asking for refuge in NY, they’ll be safer here. Afterwards, please, I need you to come here.” And Alec must sound more scared than he thinks, because Magnus agrees right away.
“Sir? Do you mean they’re lost as in…”, asks Andrew.
“Old Testament Biblical Righteousness”, replies Alec, leaving them, and all those near, in silence.
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Alec wishes he could have talked with Magnus before the Emergency Council Meeting took place. He always fears of when it’ll be that Magnus says it’s too much, which new Nephilim characteristic will be too devastating and bloody for Magnus to say their relationship is not worth it. He though the Claves racism and bigotry were bad, but Alec can envision so many more ways things can get worse. If the Soul Sword broke them up, then this… No, he needs to focus, there’re lives on the line, and peoples lives will always be more important than whatever shattered mess his heart ends up as.
“Can someone tells us what’s going on?”, asks a furious Maia, “we have at least 3 different wolves packs sheltered at the Jade Wolf, terrified that Shadowhunters are going to attack them again. They demand we join them in a war against the Nephilim.”
“King Meliorn only allowed me to come here, because the request came from you. All the rest of us are not leaving the Seelie Realm”, says the Seelie representative, “He also says this fulfils the pending debt for you halting any proceedings and repercussions from his escape of the Silent City.”
“Alec, man, I need something to pacify the vampires too. They’re about to remove me as the clan leader if I don’t do anything in, like, yesterday”, says Simon.
Magnus hasn’t said a word, which concerns Alec more than any war declarations. He allows himself one look his way, but his cold demeanor gives him nothing. But he needs to push that down, lives over heart. And since he can’t really tell them the whole truth, especially since it’s the first time he’s seen the Seelie representative, he starts right in the middle of it.
“The NY Institute has taken any Nephilim that could represent a threat and we’ve locked them up. Downworlders in NY won’t be under attack”, declares Alec.
“What? Just like that? Why? Because you said so?”, asks an incredulous Maia.
“It’s a bit more complicated than that”, concedes Alec, “but basically, any outsider Nephilim, individual or group, that goes against the NY Institute directives will be basically declaring war to this territory. And this being one of the 3rd biggest institutes, would make that a suicidal decision.”
“Isn’t your institute under the Clave? What if they decided your directives are not worth following? We’ll just, what? Gather all together to facilitate the slaughter?”, asks Magnus.
“Since Malachi’s death, there has been no leadership in the Clave, each institute has been following their own leadership.”, answers Alec.
“Wasn’t Jace’s Grandma in charge?”, asks Simon
“They haven’t been able to make it official yet, due to everything that happened afterwards. And the longer it took, the more fractioned it all became.”, replies Alec.
“Why now? If the Institutes were doing fine by their own so far, why did everything go to shit now?”, asks Maia.
“It depends on the leadership of each Institute. I’ve compiled a list of all the Institutes that have maintained their leadership, and are maintaining the previous norms.” says Alec, not drawing more attention to the fact that some that maintained their leadership, decided to forgo the Accords. “All those territories are safe for the Downworlders to stay or take refuge in. And all those Institute Heads have agreed to meet with their Downworld leaders and facilitate things as much as possible.”
“Would this mean that Idris and Alicante are leaderless right now?”, asks the Seelie representative.
“Factions and groups are forming, but so far nothing that encompasses the whole area.”, replies Alec.
“Max?”, asks Simon.
“We’re working on it.”, says Alec, not able to dwell on another heartbreaking notion at the moment.
“So what’s the plan?”, asks Maia.
“For now, get as many people to safety as possible. Is there any way for a Nephilim to access the Seelie and Unseelie Realms without their kings permission?”, asks Alec to the Seelie Representative.
“We’ll be safe in our own realms”, the Seelie answers.
“Would other races be safe there too? And would your people be willing to accept refugees?”, asks Alec.
“I’ll inform my King of your query”, replies the Seelie.
“Thank you. And for the moment, if we’re all in agreement, I think it would be best to inform of the situation to the rest of the Downworld, and that all are welcome to take refuge in the areas indicated in the memo given to you.”, says Alec.
“Ok, but what do we do about the origin of the problem? Do you take over Shadowhunnter society now?”, asks Simon.
“The reason of why it has evolved the way it has, is still unknown by the Shadow World.”, answers Alec, almost feeling how Magnus posture becomes even more rigid.
“I propose we meet again tomorrow morning, to discuss that further. Right now we need to get people safe.”, says Magnus.
“Agreed by all?”, asks Alec, to which all nod. “Very well, is 10 am tomorrow ok with all?”, everyone nods again. “So, meeting is over and see you all tomorrow. And anything that comes up before then, I’ll be available, and I’ve added a help desk phone on the memos, so you can circulate them to people in case they need our help.”
As they all leave, Magnus is the first out the door, not giving a glance to Alec. Lives over heart, repeats Alec to himself.
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It’s around 2 am when Alec hears a knock on his office door.
“You’re being an idiot”, says Jace, wasting no time entering and closing the door behind him.
“For any specific reason, or just in general?”, answers Alec, not stopping in his paperwork.
“Why aren’t you home? It’s 2 am, no one is doing office work at this time”
“First, that’s not true, because I am. And second, the institute is my home”, says Alec, now trying to concentrate harder on the papers in front of him. The Loft is Magnus home first, and the last thing he would want is to have Alec intrude in his safe space.
“No, the institute is where your family is, where your work is, home is where Magnus is”, says Jace, confused as to why he is explaining this to Alec. The bond they share makes it clear of where home for Alec is. And since this clearly won’t be an easy conversation, Jace takes a seat in front of Alec’s desk. “Alec, what’s going on?”
“What’s going on? Besides Nephilim’s worldwide not having a leader and being lost, becoming biblically righteous and trying to kill innocent people?”, asks Alec, finally looking at Jace in his astonishment.
“Yes, besides that. Basically because the bond feels more like you loosing Magnus than us dealing with possible apocalypse again”, says Jace, looking unusually serious.
“Is it too bad that I want to not have another memory where Magnus looks disappointed, heartbroken and ends our relationship?”, asks Alec, slumping in his chair for the first time in hours.
“It is, when you realize what you’re not seeing”, answers Jace.
“What’s that? Love conquers all? Even fucked up race impulses that lead to genocide?”, asks Alec, trying for sarcastic, but managing desperate.
“That he’s been the whole day portaling people and warding places, meaning he’s probably magically depleted, alone, while our race is getting all genocidal.”, replies Jace.
“Oh! For the holy fuck!”, manages to say Alec, before activating his speed and stamina runes, and leaving as fast as he can.
“No worries, I’ll stay in charge while you’re gone. Let you know if anything worse happens”, says Jace to the empty room.