I wanna request a story about Jace Herondale x Reader. Where reader and Jace are exes and dated before meeting Simon and Clary. Jace gets jealous over how close reader is with son?
You Were Mine First- Jace Herondale
OMG tysm for the request i love writing about Jace <33 (#1 bookbf if you ask) i hope you'll like this !!
The New York Institute had never been meant to feel like home.
And yet, for her, it had become exactly that.
She arrived from London with a single suitcase and too many reasons not to go back. Her parentsโ voices still echoed in her head: sharp, bitter, always circling the same arguments until the air itself felt poisoned. The Clave had decided it was best for her to stay in New York, hosted by the Institute, surrounded by people who understood her world and wouldnโt ask her to choose sides.
She hadnโt expected kindness.
She hadnโt expected Isabelle Lightwood.
Izzy had taken one look at her on her first day: awkward, jet-lagged, emotionally exhausted, and had decided she was hers. Best friends almost immediately. Shared late-night talks, borrowed clothes, whispered confessions. It was Isabelle who taught her how to walk the halls of the Institute like she belonged there.
And it was the Institute that introduced her to Jace Herondale.
The boy who lived with the Lightwoods, the boy everyone noticed.
From the moment she stepped inside, there was something about him,something sharp and golden and impossible to ignore. He moved like he was aware of being watched, like the world was a stage he pretended not to care about. Arrogant, sarcastic, infuriatingly beautiful, devastatingly magnetic.
Her crush wasnโt subtle. Not to Isabelle, at least.
โTell me everything,โ she had whispered one night, lying on Izzyโs bed, eyes bright, impatient to make a move on him.
โEverything?โ Isabelle had smirked.
โEverything.โ
Jace stealing hearts wasnโt news. Girls, boysโฆ he left impressions everywhere he went. She knew that. She told herself not to hope. There was something so challenging about him that she loved so much she couldnโt help but want to try.
And somehow, against all expectations, he noticed her too.
Two weeks after she arrived at the Institute, they were dating.
Jace wasnโt soft in the way people expected softness to look. He didnโt pour his heart out or say too much. He loved through actionsโmidnight training sessions that turned into laughter, surprise sneak-outs beyond the wards, hands brushing hers like it meant something sacred. He memorized the way she smiled. He kissed her like the world might end tomorrow.
And every time they kissed, she felt weightless.
Every time they parted, she felt the smallest ache, like something precious was always just out of reach.
They lasted months. Almost a year.
She was terrifyingly certain that she had found the love of her life.
On the morning of their first anniversary, she found a letter slipped beneath her door, Jaceโs handwriting, of course.
Her hands shook as she read it. It was beautiful. Vulnerable. Honest in the way only he could be when he wrote instead of spoke. At the end, an invitation: a special date. Midnight.
She spent the entire day preparing.
Dress. Hair. Makeup. Isabelle watched from the doorway, offering commentary she pretended was judgment but couldnโt quite hide the smile behind.
โHeโs lucky,โ Isabelle had said. โDonโt let him forget that.โ
But as the hours passed, Jace didnโt appear.
She told herself not to worry. Jace always had a plan.
What she didnโt know what she couldnโt know was that he was in Brooklyn. Standing in a strangerโs apartment. Helping a red-haired girl named Clary Fray whose mother had just disappeared under circumstances no one could yet explain.
So when the Institute doors finally opened that night, she wasnโt expecting to see him.
And she definitely wasnโt expecting to see him with her.
Jace walked in beside a pretty, young redhead, too close, too confident with him. Her stomach dropped so violently she nearly tripped over her own feet.
She was in the kitchen with Isabelle, Alec leaning against the counter with his usual judgmental expression. Church was lying on a chair, unimpressed by everything.
Then she saw Jace look at her.
He opened his mouth to explain, but she didnโt wait.
Out the door, down the hall, heart in her throatโฆ
โฆAnd straight into someone else.
She stumbled, lost her balance, and hit the floor hard. Before embarrassment could fully register, someone was already helping her up.
She looked up. It was a boy she had never seen around before. He was tall, dark-eyed, wearing a pair of glasses a bit too big for his face. He smiled nervously.
โUhโhi,โ he said, offering his arm. โIโm Simon.โ
And just like that, everything changed.
Jace rushed through the Institute, her name spilling from his mouth like a curse.
His footsteps echoed loudly in the halls, each unanswered call tightening something in his chest. Godโฆ. why was she like this? Always assuming the worst, always pulling away before he could explain. Didnโt she know didnโt she feel that he had eyes only for her?
He dragged a hand through his hair, breath uneven. Protecting people was what Shadowhunters did. It was his duty. It was instinct. How could she not understand that?
Exceptโฆ this wasnโt just anyone.
Confusion blurred his vision, panic settling deep and unwelcome. For the first time in longer than he would ever admit, Jace Herondale felt like he was losing control. Losing her. And that thought,sharp and final, hurt more than any blade.
She was standing near the stairs, laughing softly, her shoulders relaxed in a way they hadnโt been with him for weeks. She was giggling (giggling!!!) at something said by a tall, skinny boy with dark hair and glasses.
Something ugly twisted in Jaceโs chest.
His steps slowed, anger dissolving into something far more dangerous. Jealousy burned hot and irrational, coiling through him like poison. He had never seen her look at anyone else that way. Not once.
And suddenly, the Institute felt too small.
Because for the first time, the thought hit him hard and merciless.
What if she wasnโt running from him?
What if she was already walking toward someone else?
โWell, Simon,โ Jace said, his voice deceptively calm even though his head was spinning so hard it almost hurt, โI see youโve already made yourself comfortable.โ
Simon blinked at him, clearly confused.
โFor your information,โ Jace added sharply, โsheโs my girlfriend.โ
The words had barely left his mouth before she cut him off.
โYeah,โ she snapped, her voice trembling despite her effort to keep it steady. โYour one-year girlfriend. The one you ignored all day just to spend time with another girl.โ
Jace turned toward her, stunned.
โHow long have you known her,โ she continued, tears burning behind her eyes, โsince you already dragged her here? Is it official, then?โ
Simon looked at her, then at him, completely confused. What was even going on?
For the first time, Jace had nothing ready. No clever remark. No perfectly sharpened excuse.
โY/N, have you lost your mind?โ he finally said, frustration slipping through. โThat girl just lost her mother. She disappeared. We think Valentine is behind it. Her house was destroyed, she killed a demonโwhat exactly was I supposed to do?โ
He exhaled sharply, then gestured toward Simon.
โAnd the only person who shouldnโt be here is him, by the way.โ
Because he had a point.
Jace always had a point.
But then she thought about Clary. About how she had walked into the room, instantly catching everyoneโs attention.
About the way Clary looked at him.
And suddenly, none of his words mattered.
She knew that look. She felt it in her bones. It was the same one she used to give him in quiet corners, in moments when the world fell away and it was just the two of them. The look that said you see me. The look that said Iโm yours.
โJustโฆ just leave me alone, alright?โ she muttered, her voice breaking. โOhโand happy anniversary, by the way.โ
She scoffed, then turned and walked away before he could stop her.
She barely made it to her bedroom before everything crashed down.
She slid down to the floor, sobbing.
Moments later, there was a knock.
โJace, go away!โ she shouted, her voice raw.
โItโs Izzy,โ a soft, familiar voice replied.
Y/N reluctantly opened the door.
She was a mess:cheeks flushed red, eyes swollen, tears streaking her face. Isabelle didnโt say a word. She simply pulled her into her arms.
โShhh,โ Izzy murmured, holding her tightly. โItโs okay. Let it out. Iโve got you.โ
After that night, she never spoke to Jace again.
๏ธถโน๏ธถ๏ธถเญจเญง๏ธถ๏ธถโน๏ธถ๏ธถโน๏ธถ๏ธถเญจเญง๏ธถ๏ธถโน๏ธถ๏ธถโน๏ธถ๏ธถเญจเญง๏ธถ๏ธถ
She stopped showing up to lessons. Stopped training. Stopped pretending everything was fine.
Instead, she spent her mornings with Simon (the Mundane, as everyone insisted on calling him.). Simon, who listened. Simon, who didnโt demand explanations. Simon, who made her laugh even when her chest felt permanently bruised and sore.
Meanwhile, Jace and Clary grew closer. Too close.
Their chemistry was impossible to ignore: you could feel it even rooms apart. They moved like they were drawn to each other, finishing sentences, sharing looks that lingered too long. Whenever she saw them together, it felt like her heart was breaking all over again, piece by piece.
And somehow, Simon was the only one who managed to glue those pieces back together. With his dumb jokes. His ridiculous stories about his band. His passionate, borderline unhinged rants about DnD.
He made her feel safe. Seen. Wanted.
One day, they were sitting on the couch. He was showing her a Marvel comic book when he suddenly stopped ranting about superheroes and looked at her differently.
โUhโso,โ he said, rubbing the back of his neck, โI was thinking maybe I could take you out. Thereโs this Japanese place in Brooklyn. Youโve never had sushi, right?โ
She raised an eyebrow. โIs that a date?โ
He instantly turned red. โJustโjust put on something nice.โ
She smiled despite herself. He was adorable when he tried to be confident.
Her heart ached for just a second, because that awkward bravery reminded her of someone else.
Stop it, she told herself. Get over it. He chose Clary. Move on.
โA cute guy just asked you out,โ she whispered to herself. โDonโt ruin this.โ
She rushed to tell Isabelle, who smiled brightlyโthough there was something unreadable in her eyes.
That evening, she got ready carefully. Isabelle had to leave briefly with Alec, promising to come back and help with her hair. Y/N was halfway through her makeup when someone knocked.
โYeah, come in!โ she called, assuming it was Izzy.
He stood there, golden and ruined and impossible; his eyes locked on her like she was the only thing left in the world.
And suddenly, the room felt far too small.
โWhat the hell are you doing here?โ she snapped, her voice sharper than she felt. โGo away.โ
He leaned against the doorframe instead, arms crossed loosely, like this was exactly where he belonged. Like he hadnโt just shattered her peace by stepping back into her space.
โGo away,โ she repeated, louder. โBefore I start screaming and someone forces you to.โ
She turned back to the mirror, hands trembling as she brushed bronzer along her cheekbones, focusing on her reflection instead of him.
โListen,โ she said bitterly, โyou should go back before your girlfriend loses her mind because youโre not glued to her side.โ
She waited for it: the usual comeback. Something sarcastic, cutting, perfectly timed.
And for the first time, it felt like she was really seeing him. Not through love, not through anger: Just a boy standing in her doorway, jaw clenched, eyes too intense, pride cracking at the edges.
โJustโฆ why?โ she broke. โWhy are you making this so difficult? Iโm finally trying to move on.โ
Silence stretched between them.
Then, cold and sharp, โOf all the guys in the Institute, you chose the worst one. The Mundane?โ His mouth twisted. โSeriously? What a glowdown.โ
She laughed, humorless. โOh, I donโt care what you think. If you hadnโt been so busy giving those looks to Clary, maybe weโd still be together. But clearly, you donโt want this.โ
She exhaled harshly. โI donโt even know why I said that.โ
โOh, you know exactly why,โ Jace snapped. โYou messed everything up, and now youโre pretending that hanging out with that loser will fix it, because you canโt accept that you did something wrong.โ
โAnd,โ he added, gaze dropping to her short black lace dress, โnice wardrobe update. Donโt remember you owning that.โ
โItโs Izzyโs,โ she cut in immediately.
โOh, of course,โ he scoffed. โAnything to impress the nerd. Though honestly? Heโd probably prefer you in an oversized Harry Potter sweatshirt.โ
Her grip tightened around the brush as she dusted highlighter across her cheeks and nose, hands shaking.
โHow long?โ he asked suddenly.
She froze. โHow long what, Jace? Can you just stop?โ
She turned to face him, voice trembling. โDonโt act like you didnโt move on fast. Youโre already hooking up with Clary.โ
โHow long have you liked him?โ Jace fired back. โAnd for your information, weโre not hooking up. Sheโs new. She only knows me. Weโre friends.โ
His eyes hardened. โHard concept, right? For once youโre not the only vulnerable girl with family issues. Youโre not the center of the universe anymore.โ
Something inside her shattered.
His expression faltered. โI- Iโm sorry,โ he said quietly. โI donโt know why I said that.โ
He reached for her arm, but she stepped back.
โJace, please,โ she whispered. โDonโt make this harder than it already is. I donโt even know if I like Simon. Iโm justโฆ confused. I need time.โ
โTime for what?โ he snapped, his voice rising. โYouโre impossible, you know that?โ
He laughed, sharp, broken. โDo you think youโre the only one falling apart? Iโm standing here humiliating myself, trying to prove Iโm better than a Mundaneโฆ just because you donโt even see it anymore.โ
She took in the scene in seconds: Jace rigid and cornered, Y/N trembling, half-ready for a date she wasnโt sure she wanted.
For once, even she didnโt know what to say.
Y/Nโs eyes met Isabelleโs.
Izzy raised an eyebrow, silently mouthing, Should I kick him out?
Y/N scoffed softly, then turned back to him, chest tight.
โJace,โ she said, her voice breaking despite herself. โOne last time. Why did you come here? Why interrupt me, when I was finally trying to move on?โ
โTrying to move on?โ he scoffed. โIt hasnโt even been a month since you went no contact, and youโre already drooling over some nerd.โ
โAdmit it,โ he continued bitterly. โItโs because heโs in a band. I bet if I told you I could play the drums, youโd be swooning over me again.โ
She rolled her eyes hard. โAt this point youโre just saying nonsense. And how the hell do you even know heโs in a band?โ
Jace smirked. โI know more than you think, missy. I know that Mundane better than you ever will. And trust me: he doesnโt even like you. He likes girls. You just happen to be the first girl he met when he stepped in here.โ
Izzy snorted. โIf heโd seen me first, heโd be falling for me.โ
โWho wouldnโt,โ Jace muttered.
She sprayed fixing mist over her face, hands steady now; Not because she was calm, but because she was exhausted. She turned, grabbing her bag.
โBy the way,โ she said quietly, โIโm ready. If youโd justโโ
Because when she turned back, she saw it.
Something unfamiliar in Jaceโs eyes. Not anger. Not arrogance.
โWaitโฆ whatโ?โ she whispered.
Despite everything, she still cared. She always had. Ex, boyfriend, friend. It didnโt matter. Seeing that look in his eyes made her heart twist painfully.
He looked at her like he was terrified she would disappear if he blinked.
And suddenly, she knew what that feeling in her chest was.
The kind she had never truly let go of.
โY/N,โ Jace said quietly, โyou really want me to say it, huh?โ
โI donโt know why I didnโt reach out that night,โ he continued, voice low and unsteady. โI didnโt realize how badly I broke you. Our first anniversary! And I wasnโt there.โ
โOh, shut up,โ she murmured weakly. โIt wasnโt entirely your fault. I was being overdramatic-โ
โNo,โ he interrupted. โLetโs say it was both of us.โ
โBut the only thing that matters is this: I canโt move on. If you can, then maybe youโre stronger than me.โ He hesitated. โI thought spending time with Clary would have helped. Sheโsโฆ incredible.โ
Something shifted in her chest.
โBut sheโs not you,โ he finished softly. โAll I want is you. I know Iโm bad at thisโat feelings, reassurance, everything. But maybeโฆ maybe you could help me. If you want.โ
She glanced at Isabelle, eyes silently asking the question she was too scared to say out loud.
โYou want to try again?โ she whispered.
Jace nodded immediately. โMore than anything.โ
Her breath catched. For a second, she couldn't move.
โWell,โ he added lightly, trying to hide how terrified he was, โI was expecting at least a kiss.โ
She didn't hesitate, without wasting any second, she rushed into his arms.
He spun her around, laughing softly before pulling her into a slow, tender kiss. Nothing rushed, nothing desperate. Just familiar. Just home.
โHow I missed you,โ he murmured against her lips.
โOverdramatic,โ she teased.
โI thought I lost you forever,โ he replied, rolling his eyes. โSorry if Iโm being honest.โ
โSo,โ he added casually, โabout that date with the nerdโฆ I havenโt had sushi in a long time.โ
Izzy clapped her hands. โOh, Iโd love to join. No one cooked tonight anyway.โ
โIโm glad,โ Jace said sincerely, remembering Izzy's cooking.
โMaybe Clary could come too,โ Y/N suggested.
Jace tilted his head. โThat sounded weird. I almost preferred you jealous.โ
โLook whoโs talking,โ she shot back.
Izzy grinned. โSoโฆ should we tell Simon?โ
The room went quiet again.
๏ธถโน๏ธถ๏ธถเญจเญง๏ธถ๏ธถโน๏ธถ๏ธถโน๏ธถ๏ธถเญจเญง๏ธถ๏ธถโน๏ธถ๏ธถโน๏ธถ๏ธถเญจเญง๏ธถ๏ธถ
When Y/N told Simon, he didnโt look hurt.
If anything, he lookedโฆ relieved. Excited, even.
โThatโs great,โ he said honestly. โClaryโs been through so muchโฆ she deserves something good. And Izzy? Izzy joining us is a win no matter what.โ
For a moment, Y/N wondered if Jace had been right all along: Simon liked girls.
Alec came too, of course, though he looked like he would have preferred grabbing takeaway and eating in silence back at the Institute. Still, the dinner turned out to be perfect. Laughter filled the table, stories overlapped, and for an hour and a half Valentine, demons, and grief didnโt exist: They were just friends, sharing a meal and silly conversations.
After dinner, Jace found her.
โCan I talk to you?โ he asked quietly.
She followed him a few steps away from the group. He looked nervousโactually nervousโand that alone made her heart race.
โI asked you something almost a month ago,โ he said, eyes searching hers. โA date. Late at night. Do you remember?โ
โOf course,โ she smiled. โWhere?โ
โJustโฆ knock on my door thirty minutes after midnight,โ he said. โI promise itโs worth it.โ
Curiosity buzzed through her all the way back to the Institute. She literally couldn't think about anything else for the following hours.
Later, in the kitchen, Isabelle tried to make coffee. Somehow, even coffee became a disaster.
Eventually, the girls headed to their rooms. Isabelle followed Y/N, smirking.
โSo,โ Izzy said, leaning against the doorframe, โyouโre seeing Jace later.โ
โAlec told me. I had to work for it,โ she grinned. Then, softer, โYou knowโฆ heโs never been like this with anyone else. Youโre lucky.โ
That didnโt calm her nerves at all.
When the time finally came, Y/N slipped into her favorite soft nightgown and walked carefully down the hall. She stopped in front of Jaceโs door and knocked twice.
It opened almost immediately.
He pulled her into a slow kiss before she could even speak, closing the door behind them.
โSo,โ he said quietly, forehead resting against hers, โI donโt know if this still technically counts as our anniversary orโฆโ
โI donโt care,โ he interrupted. โWhat I care about is this.โ He took a breath. โI canโt lose you.โ
Her heart skipped a beat.
โI know weโve only known each other a year,โ he continued, voice low and vulnerable, โbut everything that happened made one thing clear. Youโre the one I need beside me. The one I want to wake up next to.โ
He hesitated, then slipped off the ring he always wore. The only thing he had left of his family.
โI donโt want to rush you,โ he said quickly. โBut I wanted to askโฆ if someday, when youโre ready, youโd want this. Us. Forever.โ
He gently slid the ring onto her finger.
โJace,โ she whispered, eyes wide, โare you asking me to marry you?โ
โNot today,โ he said softly. โNot unless you want to. Think of it as a promise. A reminder. Iโm here. And whenever youโre ready, weโll do it. Just us. Forever.โ
Tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them.
โIโโ her voice broke.
He caught her as she trembled, pulling her into his arms, fingers brushing through her hair.
โYou couldโve just said no,โ he teased gently. โNo need to fall apart.โ
She laughed through her tears, swatting his arm. โIdiot. Of course I donโt want to say no.โ
That night, they stayed together, wrapped in warmth, sighs, quiet kisses, whispered words that didnโt need to be spoken out loud.
And when she woke in the middle of the night, tangled up with him, ring warm against her skin, she finally understood.
Thisโ
thisโ
was home.
