ʙʟᴀᴄᴋᴛʜᴏʀɴs ➸ sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡ ʜᴜɴᴛᴇʀs

➝ vii.

•••

NATALIE AND ALEC got to the institute but went around it to go through the back of it. On their way there, they were both silent but kept exchanging glances and clearing throats.

Natalie first went to the room Clary and Angel were resting in to grab her backpack and place her throwing knives inside then rushed to the training room where Alec is, she nodded at him to let him know that the place is clear before he activated the weapon rack and as soon as it opened, he grabbed a bow and a bunch of arrows, Natalie was just standing there awkwardly, holding her backpack, she wanted to say something but didn't exactly know what to say.

She cleared her throat,"I'm sorry." She said, getting Alec's attention.

"Hm? For?" he asked as he turned to face her after he finished runing his arrows.

She cleared her throat, again."For snapping at you. . earlier at the Silent brother's cavern," she said, looking at the ground, feeling bad.

Alec let out a sigh,"It's okay- I don't really care." he said emotionless before Natalie narrowed her eyes and looked up at him and walked closer to him, their faces inches apart.

"Well, I care. Okay. I don't know what's wrong with you and why you hate me for no freaking reason. I like you. And since we're all in this together in this Valentine mess, we're gonna have to stick together and trust each other, and you're gonna have to deal withI'm done," she said as she began to walk away but Alec stopped her by grabbing her arm as she was looking at him in disbelief, not knowing what to say or do until Hodge came out of no where with a mug in his hand.

"Alec, Natalie. You guys alright? Didn't know you were here." He said as he took a sip from his mug making Alec jump and put the arrow in his other hand down quickly and sitting down on it.

"I- Yeah- You know we- Uh-" Alec stuttered as he crossed his arms over his chest before Hodge interrupted him.

"Don't tell me, I don't wanna have to report you." Hodge said.

"It's just uh- you know, Clary-" Natalie began to say before Hodge interrupted her, as well.

"That girl- is Valentine's dau-" Hodge stopped in mid-sentence as he hissed in pain due to the circle's mark on his neck which he placed his hand on then looked down at it,"The Monster's daughter." He corrected.

"Yeah, we know." Natalie commented.

"There must be some reason why the roaches are coming out of the wood work again, right? Leave you guys to it." Hodge said before walking away.

"Smooth." Natalie said to Alec as she faced him, crossing her arms over her chest, mocking him before he rolled his eyes.

"Hodge, thank you." He called out to him before Hodge walked towards us again.

"You remind me of me, Alec. A loyal friend, standing in the shadow of the chosen one," Hodge stated making Natalie say 'Wow', only audible to herself before Alec scoffed and looked away from Hodge.

"Hey," Hodge said as he put his hand behind Alec's neck, forcing him to look at him."Don't make the same mistakes I did. Look where it got me." He said, patting Alec's neck and walking away.