"...You don't think we will get in real trouble, do you? For being late..." Clary asked lowly, her eyes running wild over the unfamiliarity around her, everything was so different from the west department.

The main room had fifty, maybe even seventy times the amount of people that the west wing had. When first coming here Clary felt uneasy at the lack of people, wondering if this church was a hideout rather than an institute. Her worries of having been mislead by a blonde were replaced with anew ones, Clary is stepping into an unknown field of a foreign world, she is not aware of the dangers ahead. She could tell simply by looking around, she stood out, the mundane among the men in black.

Alec glanced at her, remaining quiet. He knew better than to fill a newbie's head full of uncut explanations. What she needed was to take a seat and have a long conversation.

Walking among highly advanced shadow hunters, with a lost Nephilim demanding answer after answer was something Alec was not keen on doing, especially with the morning rush. A hallway in the main room was also not quite the appropriate place for such conversation, Alec made a note to send his sister over to the redhead, Izzy had always been warmer, more understanding with the newcomers, they seemed to be the same age as well.

Alec preyed inside his head when Clary kept stumbling, she didn't know where she is going, Clary Fairchild had become another one of his problems. Some shadow hunters turned to look at her with a frown, confused of her presence, a mundane. Clary Fairchild looked like an ordinary young woman rather than a high skilled warrior, she stood out.

What if Robert finds out? Had even Jace signed her in? Alec already knew what kind of lecture he will get the moment it's revealed, a mundane staid over the night without the ones in authority knowing any of it.

How can you be so careless when mundanes walk in and out the institute without your knowledge?
His father will ask.
Do you even know what's going on within this walls?
He will, unnecessarily, add.
Soon demons might as well enter and set their atrocious nests right under our noses!
He will then finish with.

Alec glanced back at the red head, she has remained standing in the distance, staring at two shadow hunters, getting distracted. The magic of a fire massage seemed to have made her stop dead in her tracks, her eyes glowing in excitement. "Can I do that too?!"

Alec clenched his jaw, bitting back his surpassed emotions of desperation and rage. "Get moving."

Just how much patience can a person master?

How on earth is she going to the advanced wing when she doesn't even know the basics? Alec wasn't mad at her, he was annoyed. Jace acted as he liked, letting his parabatai handle the rest, like always. Alec doubted the girl even killed a demon... He slowly came to a stop, is she even a Nephilim? What if he is helping an one night stand his irresponsible friend lead here? This felt like a high possibility...

Most shadow hunters, if not all, traited their role as religion, or rather a heirloom to pass down. For ages, the parents enroll their children off to Institutes, Nephilim camps and assign them classes. The earliest they adjust and find their footing, the better. Yet this girl that calls herself a shadow hunter, has experienced non of that?

Maybe she is an orphan...

"How far is the north wing?" Clary asked with an exhale of exasperation, having enough of her unanswered questions falling flat by a douch that only knows how to scowl at her. "We are close..." Alec finally spoke, the red headed woman rolled her eyes, taking another moment to glance around in awe.

Even the architecture was different from the west wing. The main floor felt more divine, a temple if you may. White walls with pillars separating the huge space into sections, huge angelic statues, the windows, how beautifully elegantly they are painted. Clary almost lost sight of the tall man again.
Her eyes still dared to linger, this place was extraordinary...Nothing compared to the shabbiness the west wing held, it looked more like an old hotel than the NY institute of Nephilims, warriors that fight under the grace of the heavenly creatures.

"Stay behind me and keep quiet." Alec warned all of a sudden, Clary could only stare at him blanky, just what does he think she will do?
After a small pause, Alec opened the massive wooden doors in front of them with odd silence. Walking into the room, Clary could tell, it was the training room.
Sure enough, on the mat was the blonde from last night, Jace Herondale.
He didn't took notice of them immediately but when he did his brows rose in surprise. "What are you doing up so early?"

Clary shook her head. "Well, you told me to find you as soon as I wake up."

Jace made a step forward, ready to converse with the beautiful red head, his usual flirty smile on. "I would have come to pick you up."

"Jace, did you sign her in?" Alec intervened, his face tense, all the relaxing he did this morning turning into wasted time and false hopes.

"Alec! Good morning, have you met her? She actually pretty good for an inexperienced hunter. I thought it best take her in, -"
"You haven't checked her in?" Alec cut him short.
"Well... I don't really know how to do that, I was waiting for you to come by this morning to discuss-"
"Jace..." Alec signed, getting frustrated. Jace straighten himself, closing the distance between them.
"... I'm sorry. I didn't thought it would be a big deal to do it in the morning, its only some hours apart..." Jace whispered, dropping his playfulness.

Alec knew Jace wasn't a man of slack, rather simple minded. He nodded, "It's fine, next time, wake me up... My father is here."

Jace nodded in understanding, he too was aware of how unfairly Robert treated his parabatai. "How long has he been here?"

"I'm sorry if I am interrupting your chitchat but I would really appreciate an explanation of what is happening... For starters, what am I... Exactly?" Clary exclaimed, feeling frustrated.

"I will sign her in..." Alec signed, leaving the new girl with his parabatai to do the hard job of enlightenment. "You handle the warm welcome."

Jace nodded with a subtle smile. "Talk to you later?"

"If I'm free." Alec spoke under his breath, knowing full well that Jace will find him whenever or wherever he is. Walking back out to the main room he took note of the glances, the peeks and whispers, something was going on. Alec moved to the research domain.

"Underhill." He greeted.

The shadow hunter behind the screen looked up with pleasant surprise. "Lightwood!" He greeted back with a smile, "How have you been?"

"Descent. Jace brought in a new shadow hunter, I want to log her into the system." Alec explained in short, "What about you?"

"Well, remember the date I was telling you about?" Underhill spoke lightly, unbothered by his comrade's straight forwardness or the questionable events. Alec nodded, stepping behind his friend with his arms crossed over his chest, feeling himself calming down a notch.

"It went pretty awfully really." Despite the bad news Underhill still spoke calmly with a light ease while doing his new task on the side, like it was nothing to fuss or grief over.
His friend however knew him better, after becoming close acquaintances since their camping days, Alec knew that shield Underhill would put up to hide his sorrows.

"What? Why?" Alec frowned, recollecting all the good things his friends had said in their previous conversations. "Haven't you two been dating over two months now? What happened?"

"... Well, Alec... You know how it goes." Underhill spoke lowly, focusing more on his assignment rather than the conversation, meaning it was taking a direction they couldn't speak openly about. Alec rested his hand on Underhill's shoulder, soothing him. "If not this time, then another."

"I was really bummed out though... I really liked them." Underhill complained under his breath.

"Tomorrow morning, west wing?" Alec proposed, making Underhill laugh. "You are still going there?"

"If you went with me once, you would get it." Alec huffed, pinching his friend's cheek. "Okay!" Underhill laughed, waving Alec's hand away. "What's the girl's name?"

"Clary Fairchild."
Alec recalled.

"... Fairchild? Isn't her mother a legend?" Underhill spoke aloud his thoughts, "How odd, she has never joined an institute before..."

Alec thought for a moment, he indeed had heard the name Fairchild before... Wasn't she a warrior who helped in the execution of Valentine? But that was years ago, in his parents' days of bloom.

"Alec Lightwood, the head is calling for you." A by passer called out to him, Alec nodded their way, slightly startled before quickly composing himself. "Any questions you have ask Jace Herondale... It's his mess after all."

"Sounds like relationship problems..." Underhill pointed out, a smug smile on his face, teasing. Alec always cleaned up after Jace and Izzy, what a wonder to let them do the clean up themselves for once. Alec shook his head, he still took care of them like they were incapable, in his eyes they were in a certain level.

Alec will never get rid of the feeling when it's time to walk into the office. Going in was harder than going out, always. Surely enough, he was more than aware of his situation the moment he stepped into the head's office. He could feel intensity in the air. Robert signed and Alec wanted the earth to open up under his feet and gulp him whole.

"Where were you? Do you know how many people I have send to look for you?" Robert spoke tiredly, drained.

Alec made a step forward, feeling cold to his feet. "Did something happen?"

"Rene Zalan and Ron Andrews were here... where were you Alexander?" Robert repeated, his tone harsh.

Alec was momentarily stunned... Is he about to get an earful because he didn't greet his father's guests? "When did they arrive?"

"Does it matter?" Robert simply put, turning red in fury. "They are clave members Alexander... They are your future, the future of this family! You should be aware of that, no?"

Alec bit his tongue and nodded submissively, his eyes stuck on the floor. He had so many things to do, yet he is stuck again handling and bearing bullshit. "I am sorry father, I was escorting a new shadow hunter to the information department." He excused himself. The west wing was his escape, he would like to keep it that way, even for a little while.

"Is your job to handle such matters?" Robert stared at his son with disappointment, banging his hand on the desk enough to move every object on top, he repeated. "Aren't you ought to be the future head?!"

Alec fell stiff under his gaze, aren't you ought to be my father?

Robert threw his hands in the air, talking to his son seemed to always put him on edge. "Thank the angels your brain works well enough on the field... They are impressed with your work Alec, don't make them change their mind... That's a warning."

"... Yes sir." Alec muttered, somewhat relieved to take his leave so soon.

Robert signed, staring into the distance. "... The Clave has voted for new measures, make sure you look over that with your team before heading out tonight."

Alec nodded, moving forward Robert handed him a document. "What is it about?"

"Downworlders." Robert responded in short, as if handling a trivial matter. "What about them?" Alec insisted, regretfully so, Robert lifting his gaze, irritated. "For angel's sake Alexander, you know how to read don't you?"

Alec restrained himself, keeping his facial expression natural. "Since I was five sir."

"Leave Alexander, there is no need to get agitated over minimal criticism. After you are done with your mission I expect you in my office with a full report... Dismissed."

Is that all sir? Alec wanted to asked but didn't dare to, turning his back to leave he was stopped.

"What was that?" Robert hissed, standing up abruptly. Alec frowned, had he spoken aloud? "Nothing sir... I didn't say anything."

"Are you calling me delusional Alexander!?" Robert had moved closer, inches away from his son who didn't lose his upright posture. "No sir."

"I will be watching you... Disappear again and I will make sure, to keep your hands full." Robert pressed his finger over the hunter's chest, ending their conversation with a threat.

Once the doors closed behind him, Alec let out a breath. What is up his ass anyways? He didn't even swear him off and he acts like that... Not something uncommon but at least most of the time Robert has the decency to remain logical. The only explanation Alec could think of is that the Clave had placed Robert in an awkward position. How? Alec wasn't sure.

His father used to be involved with the Clave until they found his mother, Maryse, more suitable for the position. Their parents' marriage ended with their separation, Robert becoming head of the NY Institute while Maryse gained a position among the council.

Alec glanced down at the document still under his grasp, what had they done now?