Chapter Text
Alec was still yawning when he walked into the bullpen the next day. By the time he got home after the basketball game and ate dinner it was late enough for Alec to consider it “past his bedtime.”
Alec thinks this might be one of the reasons he’s single.
“Good morning, Alec,” Lydia said as she flipped through a report sitting on her desk. Of anyone at the precinct, he had the most in common with Lydia. Like him, she was always one of the first ones in with a steaming cup of coffee and her spotless hair tied back into an immaculate braid. If he were straight, Alec often thought they could be soulmates.
“Morning,” Alec responded lifting his coffee cup slightly in greeting.
Jace grunted, but that was typical. Trying to get his partner to speak in coherent sentences in the morning took a miracle. Or, more accurately, it took red hair, a take no shit personality and a smile that could light up a room.
Two of those three things Alec lacked, genitalia notwithstanding.
“Have you seen Luke today?” Jace mumbled
“No, I have not seen Captain Garroway yet,” Alec responded putting an emphasis on the title.
“God you are such a brownnoser,” Jace said unhappily.
“Shut up, Wayland. I bought your coffee this morning.”
“Only because I fed you after your hot date. You know, next time Bane should take you out to dinner. Not like the guy can’t afford it.”
Alec blushed a light pink, “it wasn’t a date.”
“Yeah? Is that why you walked in with a huge smile on your face last night?” Jace said leaning over his desk with a mischievous smile. Lydia was turned towards their office now with interest.
“It was an excellent game,” Alec insisted, “leave me alone, both of you.”
“Where’s Izzy?” Jace said, giving Alec a moment of mercy.
“We were just assigned a new case,” Lydia cut in, “that thing about the prostitution rings? Rumor has it that Belcourt’s people are behind it. Izzy is downstairs getting a tox screen done on the blood at the crime scene.”
Alec nodded, “super. I didn’t get a chance to see her last night when I got home, and I left work earlier than she did. Glad she got here safe.”
Jace rolled his eyes, “she’s a trained detective, Alec. Don’t worry about her.”
“A trained detective with a reckless streak!” Alec replied, “besides I’m her big brother. I’m supposed to look out for her.”
“You know,” Izzy said as she walked up the stairs to their desks, “that is a lot less cute now than it was ten years ago.”
Alec just held his hands up in defeat, “sure. Whatever, Iz. Just glad you got here safe.”
“So… Can we get to work now? Or is this still feelings hour?” Jace said leaning back in his chair and observing his fingernails.
Alec sighed heavily and sat at his desk across from Jace; he was looking at the details of the case again trying to see if there is anything they had missed.
“Anything else from the lab?” Alec said instead of responding to Jace.
“Yeah, they found elements of sodium benzoate coating her body,” Jace said idly glancing at his notes.
“Interesting,” Izzy said from where she was still eavesdropping, “that is pretty unusual to find on a corpse.”
“Um… For those of us who weren’t chemistry majors in college?” Alec said.
“It’s a compound found in food preservatives… But it isn’t typically used to preserve human flesh. We use formaldehyde for that,” Izzy answered. Though she didn’t often act like it, she had one of the sharpest scientific minds Alec had ever seen.
“Thanks, Iz,” Alec said with a smile.
“Nice,” Lydia called from her desk, “now give me my partner back. I’ve got victim interviews to do, and I’m not doing them alone.”
“Yes, dear,” Izzy said while shooting Alec and Jace a wicked smile. With that, she grabbed her stuff from her desk and moved to follow Lydia out.
“So… The killer tried to pickle the body?” Alec asked looking mildly disgusted, grabbing the small bouncy ball on his desk to play with while he spoke.
Jace looked at the information the lab provided with a thoughtful frown, “I don’t think so… It’s used to preserve food. Why on earth would they use it on a person? It’s so much easier to use liming methods.”
“Maybe he’s got a fucked up sense of humor?” Alec said still looking at the case details.
“Why would a sense of humor play into this?”
“She, Francesca Morgenstern, was independently wealthy when she married Valentine. Actually, at the time she was much more wealthy than him. Her family's wealth comes from… drum roll please, preserved foods… Ya know? Like “lean cuisine” and stuff.”
“Lean cuisine?” Jace said cocking his head.
“Just trying to help,” Alec said raising his arms.
“Okay… So maybe a crime of passion was the wrong motive?” Jace said.
“Maybe, otherwise why would he have so much of that chemical on him?”
“I’m sure there aren’t many people buying shit like that,” Jace said thoughtfully, “I mean, outside of the food preservation business.”
“True, I bet individual buyers stand out on a list,” Alec replied.
“I’ll have the lab run some numbers,” Jace said.
“Yeah,” Alec said absentmindedly, “but why would Valentine- or anyone for that matter- have a motive for premeditated murder?”
“I have no idea,” Jace said, “all accounts say she was nice, if a bit stupid. She donated to charity, baked pies for school bake sales… Just your average ‘lady who lunches.’”
“I swear to God, Jace,” Alec said, “this case gets weirder every time I look at it.”
“I know,” Jace said with a sigh, “and don’t forget that the entire city is watching us. I hate this high profile shit.”
Alec couldn’t help but agree, having the weight of public approval on your shoulders makes doing a job like this much harder. Already the news stations are blowing it up; he can barely listen to the news without hearing more “dirty details” about the case.
“Alright,” Jace said, “I’m going to run down to the lab and let ‘em know to look for bulk buyers of that chemical.”
“Yeah, cool,” Alec said, “I’m going to chat with the Captain. He asked to see me.”
“Fucking kiss-ass,” Jace muttered under his breath.
“Is that a rimming joke?”
“Ah,” Jace said flinging his hands up in surprised horror, “why dude? Why?”
“You deserve it, now go to the lab,” Alec said waving him away with a snicker. Jace was still cringing in faked horror.
Alec was still smirking at his victory as he got up to walk to the Captain’s office. Luke Garroway was a tall, handsome man with a husky voice and an impeccable record. Alec was confident he would follow the man anywhere, and his amazing ass was only half of the reason.
“Captain? You asked to see me?”
“Alec,” Luke said with a beaming grin that made Alec’s palms sweat, “glad you stopped by. Close the door?”
Alec walked in and closed the door behind him with a sense of foreboding. He knew he hadn’t done anything wrong lately, but he also hadn’t done anything so spectacularly good that it would warrant special praise.
“Can I help you, sir?”
“Just wanted to remind you of the importance of the Morgenstern case,” Luke said gesturing for Alec to sit, “I’ve got a lot of pressure coming down on me from the higher ups. I put you and Jace on it because you’re some of my best. How is it looking?”
“We just got new information that Ms. Morgenstern was soaked in a preservative that is commonly found in frozen food, so we’re seeing if that angle helps us at all.”
“Good,” Luke said absently, “right… I can’t have this getting away from us. The reputation of our department rests on this…”
“Oh good, no pressure,” Alec said without thinking.
Luke smiled warmly, even if he looked exhausted, “I know how you feel, kid. When I was around your age, I got put on a massive serial killer case. Four vics, no leads and the entire nation watching my every move…”
“What did you do?” Alec asked eagerly.
“Cried myself to sleep for two nights, drank an entire bottle of whiskey every time a lead came up dry and broke up with my girlfriend,” Luke said evenly.
“Um… Sir? Was that supposed to be helpful?”
Luke shook his head, “no, not really. I’m just saying, I know how much this can suck. You’re not alone; you have the precinct, and you have me. We’re a team, son. Don’t forget that.”
“Thank you, sir,” Alec said feeling touched.
“Oh, I forgot to ask,” Luke said with a sly grin, “how was the game last night?”
Alec blushed and looked away from his captain, who was chuckling knowingly.
“You know,” Luke said casually, “I was planning on having Magnus over for dinner sometime next week. Would you and Jace like to join us? He can bring his girlfriend too, of course."
Alec paused enough to make Luke chuckle.
“I’m going to take that as a yes,” Luke said ignoring Alec’s stuttering.
“Um... Yes, sir. I… I… I.. I’m, I’ve gotta go. I’ll mention it to Jace,” Alec said trying very hard not to trip over his feet in front of his boss.
Alec shook his head, this case and this lawyer were all turning out to be more trouble than they were worth. Still, Alec couldn’t help but think of how dazzled he felt last night by Magnus. He knew it was silly to even be thinking about this, to be going to a dinner for the sole purpose of seeing Magnus again… But he’s not sure he’s ever met a man like Magnus. He blushed remembering the feeling of the other man’s hand in his before the train came.
“Oh my god,” Alec murmured to himself suddenly remembering the phone number Magnus had left him.
This is crazy. This is crazy. THIS IS CRAZY. Alec thought as he reached into his wallet to pull out the card Magnus gave him last night.
It’s one text, Alec reasoned to himself, and one text doesn’t have to mean anything. Friends send text messages.
After spending several minutes drafting a text he eventually decided on, Hey, this is Alec Lightwood. The detective.
The second he sent it he started panicking because Magnus already knew his job. And they spent all day together. Of course, seconds later Magnus texted back ( Hello Alexander- can’t talk now! In a meeting.) and Alec felt his heart rate returning to normal.
“Yo, dude,” Jace said jumping over the small gate that separated the office desks from the waiting area, “Lily Chen from the lab just double checked stuff for us. Most of them were big name companies, and LLCs so it’ll take some time. No private buyers as far as we can tell.”
“Damn it,” Alec said, shoving Magnus out of his mind for more important things, “ damn it. Okay, fine, maybe someone who worked for a company? Had access?”
“Yeah,” Jace said dryly, “I’m sure someone on the manufacturing floor suddenly decided to murder a random wealthy woman who isn’t even involved with running the company anymore.”
“We’ll look into the companies who have been buying that stuff later. By the way, who is running the company now?”
“Oh, after she stepped down they just gave it over to a board of trustees, none of them had a personal relationship with the victim.”
“Ugh,” Alec said glaring at the file with irritation.
Jace nodded, “I agree. Anyway, dude, at least I have some good news. While I was down there, guess what Lily told me?”
“Mhm?”
“You know that B&E case, with the homicide?” Jace said excitedly.
“You mean the case we are currently working on that has no leads?”
“We found fingerprints, let’s go check it out,” Jace said grabbing the car keys.
“Sure, but only if I drive,” Alec said holding his hand out. Jace sighed and handed it over.
Alec felt like the rest of the day passed in a feverish blur, the case they had been working on was one that usually almost always ended in a cold case. B&Es were so common, and without fingerprints on record, most evidence isn’t enough to cast any hard suspicion on anyone. Alec hated that; he hated knowing that there were people out there who broke laws and walked free, it made him sick to his stomach.
Still, by the time they ended the day they had an arrest warrant. Some skeezy kid who was trying to pay for drugs with stolen electronics, only to panic when he realized the owner was home and shot him.
“Fuck,” Jace said, “I am exhausted.”
“Me too,” Alec said looking at the time, their shift was over, “you coming home?”
“Nah,” Jace said, “I’m heading over to Clary’s.”
“Why don’t you ever bring her around? You ashamed of us?” Alec asked playfully.
“Yes,” Jace said without hesitation, “but also, she lives by herself, so we don’t have to worry about keeping roommates up… All night.”
“Gross. Please keep your heterosexuality away from me,” Alec said with a feigned frown.
Jace rolled his eyes and pushed Alec, “see ya tomorrow.”
“See ya,” Alec said with a smile.
He was just packing up to go when Izzy and Lydia came back; their shift was also ending and soon the night crowd would be there.
“Izzy, great timing. I was just heading home,” Alec said.
She nodded tiredly, “super. I could use some takeout, a good rom-com and about thirty glasses of wine.”
“That good, huh?” Alec said sympathetically.
“Belcourt has a leash on these girls like you wouldn’t believe... We couldn’t get a single one of them to talk.”
Alec pulled her into a comforting side hug, “you’ll get her.”
Izzy gave Alec a baleful look, “doubtful. Camille Belcourt is a fucking snake.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, “come on. Let’s go home. I will gladly drink wine with you and watch rom-com. As long as it isn’t 27 Dresses. I fucking hate that movie.”
She laughed tiredly and let him lead her out of the room. There were times, especially times when there were guns, knives, and gangs when he hates that his entire family works in law enforcement. But there were other times, times like these when he was so glad that they worked together. He was thankful that he was able to take care of his sister when things went wrong, that he was always able to support his family.
As soon as they got home Izzy flopped down on the couch of their modest, but cozy apartment. It wasn’t anything huge, but it was theirs- filled with memories and stains of parties gone awry and cooking experiments gone worse. A few years ago he tried to live on his own, and he found that he hated it. Coming home to an empty apartment, without the sounds of pots banging and people laughing was just not for him. He might be a quiet guy by nature, but he is a family man, something he’s long since accepted.
“I’ll order- what do you want?”
“Everything. I want it fried. I want to feel disgusting,” Izzy said as she still lay face down on the couch.
Alec laughed as he looked down at the takeaway menus, “pizza?”
“Yes, and I want cheese bread.”
“You got it,” Alec said with a soft smile. He went to order a pizza and open a ten dollar bottle of wine that they had stashed in the kitchen. He swiftly poured two glasses and turned on the TV to their Netflix.
“So, talk,” Alec said.
“I told you…”
“Oh please,” Alec said rolling his eyes, “a bad day at the office doesn’t cause this. What’s up?”
Izzy bit her lip nervously, and Alec shifted to place a hand on hers.
“Are you okay, Izzy?”
She sighed, “I got a call earlier today… Over lunch.”
“And?”
“Some people at the FBI saw my record, and my IQ test and offered me a job,” Izzy said quickly like she was trying to get it all out, “and I meant to say no immediately! Because we’re a police family, not the fucking feds. But… I don’t know, Alec. This could be a huge opportunity for me.”
Alec froze, but he forced himself to relax, “Izzy, that is great. You’re amazing at your job, and honestly, maybe your talents are being wasted. You’re four times as smart as any detective on the force, and ten times as dedicated.”
“I know, but Alec… The Feds? Really? And what about being captain someday? I’ve dreamed about that since I was a little girl. I’ve thought about that more than I’ve thought about my wedding. ”
“When do they need a decision?” Alec said pulling her closer, so they were cuddling on the couch. 10 Things I Hate About You played quietly in the background.
“Next week… Jesus, Alec… What am I going to do?” Izzy sank next to him, and for the first time in years, Alec remembered that she is nearly a foot shorter than him. She’s so larger than life, with her whip-smart tongue that it’s easy to forget how tiny she is.
“Okay, you have time, and we can figure it out together. You’re not alone, Izzy, and I will one hundred percent support you no matter what you decide.”
“Even if I become a Fed and end up poaching one of your cases?” Izzy said aiming for light-hearted, but Alec could see the genuine fear underneath.
“Even then. You’re my sister, Iz. I love you,” Alec said pressing another soft kiss to the top of her head.
“That goes for you too,” Izzy said clearly trying to divert attention, “even if you end up dating a criminal defense attorney.”
“Hey!” Alec said blushing, “whatever.”
“Whatever?” Izzy said sitting up and twisting, so they were facing each other, “is there potential?”
“Izzy…” Alec said, about to call her on her attempt to change the subject. But he looked at her pleading eyes and relented, if she didn’t want to talk about this anymore then they wouldn’t.
“Well? Are you going to see him again?”
“I don’t know… I mean, Luke invited me, Jace and Clary to dinner next week and he’ll be there… But he also gave me his number and told me to call.”
“Oh my god, seriously? You should call him! Call him right now! You should meet up before the dinner,” Izzy said excitedly.
“I don’t know… I mean after Sebastian….”
“Okay, sure, he was a jerk who testified against you and used frankly unnecessary amounts of gory imagery in his testimony… But that was weeks ago. Just because the court decision just ruled for Rutherford doesn’t mean jack. I know he hurt you, but it isn’t like you were in love with him, you barely liked him.”
“I know... But, Jesus, I don’t know Izzy… This whole thing feels like a mistake.”
“Maybe, but do you like him?”
Alec blushed, but he nodded, “he’s… I don’t know, Iz, he’s dazzling.”
“Dazzling, huh?” Izzy said, her teasing smile softened, “give it a shot, big brother. What’s the harm?”
Alec glared at her, but he pulled out his phone and pressed the call button anyway. His heart is beating out of his chest.
When Magnus walked into his office at eight am the day after the game he was surprised to see that it was already occupied. His old friend and colleague Ragnor Fell were standing by his bookcase looking through the titles with interest. He was wearing a long, complicated coat that looked like it belonged in another century. That, coupled with his graying hair which was placed in an intricate style that vaguely resembled two horns, gave him the appearance of not being entirely human.
“You know,” Ragnor began, “I’ve always found your bookshelf an alarming and awe-inspiring place.”
“Oh?” Magnus said.
“Certainly,” Ragnor said, “Antonin Scalia should not be placed next to Lovecraft. It messes with the universe’s balance.”
“I don’t know,” Magnus responded, “both are equally fantastical. And equally horrifying.”
Ragnor laughed and pushed the book he was glancing through back into the case.
“Aren’t you going to ask why I’m here?”
“I assumed it was for inspiration. Aren’t you still trying to write the next great American novel?”
Ragnor sniffed indignantly, “yes.”
“You do realize you have to be American to write the next great American novel, right?”
Ragnor glared at Magnus, “I think my input--”
“Ah yes, the views of a well-educated British man, where on earth would we get such a unique perspective otherwise?”
“I didn’t come here to be mocked.”
“Oh? Then why did you come here?”
“I’ve heard rumblings,” he said musingly, “rumblings that mean you are trying to throw me out of my law firm.”
Magnus clenched his jaw. It was too early for this. His assistant hadn’t even brought him his coffee yet, and he and Raphael were still working on how exactly they should bring up the fact that Ragnor was not pulling his weight.
Instead of answering the question directly, he sidestepped it.
“When was the last time you were at the office, Ragnor?”
Ragnor narrowed his eyes, “oh goodness. It must be half a year ago, now. Is that right?”
Magnus said nothing, just nodded and moved to place his jacket and bag down on his desk.
“All we’re saying, Ragnor,” Magnus said eventually in a plaintive voice, “is that it is unfair to us and it is unfair to the other partners to keep splitting profits. Now, if you’re willing to come back and work…”
“Bah!” Ragnor said, “ignorant, arrogant clients who think nothing of my creative genius!”
Magnus rolled his eyes and gently rubbed his forehead, “what would you like us to do, Ragnor?”
“You do realize that if it is just you and Raphael everything will go to hell in a handbasket, don’t you?”
“Of course I do,” Magnus snapped, “if you would just do your fucking job then--”
“Watch your tone,” Ragnor said icily. Suddenly Magnus remembered why the other man was one of the most formidable lawyers he had ever seen. “I have given decades of my life to practicing law. I barely saw my children when they were young. I barely saw my spouse while she was alive. I am done doing this job.”
Here Ragnor paused to take a shuddering breath before finishing, “this place will take everything you have if you let it.”
“Ragnor… I…”
Ragnor shook his head as if to unblock it. Then, apropos to nothing, he laughed.
“I don’t even know why we’re arguing, my friend,” he said still chuckling. “You do have a way of winding me up. The real reason I came here today was to tell you that I am taking a job at Harvard’s law school as a tort professor…”
“You’re… you’re taking a new job?”
“Yes, I think I was meant to be a professor. It’s time for me to engage the young minds of tomorrow.”
“But... “
Magnus stood there with his mouth hanging open. He knew it was silly and childish, but for all their talk about not having Ragnor in the firm anymore, Magnus never believed it would happen. The older man had been a constant in his life since he graduated from law school ten years ago. Foolishly, he wants to beg Ragnor to stay. He always provided balance, levity, and humor to a job that could be draining and exhausting.
Some of Magnus’s emotions must have shown on his face because Ragnor softened.
“You and Raphael have exceeded my wildest expectations. When I first took you on... When I first formed a firm with you two… People were skeptical. They laughed at me, but even when you were young I knew that you had a capacity, unlike any others I’ve seen. Hungry, talented and yet still somehow you two are real people,” Ragnor said placing a warm hand on Magnus’s shoulder.
“Ragnor… We need…”
“You need a third person. That person doesn’t need to be me anymore. I knew I made the right choice with you two. I knew it the second you forced us to increase our pro bono percentage. You should have seen yourself then,” Ragnor laughed, “I thought your eyes would burn me alive. You two will be okay without me.”
“I’ll… I’ll miss you,” Magnus said.
He was surprised and embarrassed to find that his eyes were brimming with tears. In many ways, Ragnor was as close as he had to an older brother or a mentor. The only person in his life that had ever believed in him, that had ever taken a chance on him. And now, here was Ragnor again, taking another huge chance on him. He was leaving his New York legacy in Raphael and Magnus’s young hands.
Ragnor didn’t comment on his wet eyes, but he did pull Magnus in for a tight hug.
“I am proud of you, Magnus,” he said. Magnus felt his breath hitch. He can count on his hands the number of people who have said that to him.
They stood there staring at each other for a moment before Ragnor moved to leave, “I must be going. I spoke with Raphael yesterday, so he’s aware.”
Magnus chuckled, “how’d he take it?”
“Not well,” Ragnor said, “you know, for a kid trying to kick me out of this firm he was rather heartbroken actually to see me go.”
“He showed a human emotion?” Magnus said with a watery chuckle, “I’ll have to make sure he never lives that down.”
“Yes, well… Be sure to come and visit me in Cambridge. Lord knows even I will get bored with that level of pretension after a while.”
“Are you sure you have to go now? Why don’t you relax? Have a drink?” Magnus said trying to push his emotions down.
“It’s eight in the morning,” Ragnor said dryly.
“It’s happy hour somewhere, my dear,” Magnus said with a wink.
Ragnor shook his head fondly, “I’m sorry, old friend. My son is waiting for me downstairs to take me to the train station.”
Magnus nodded in understanding, his heart still feeling oddly full of the knowledge that they will be removing the name “Fell” from their letterhead. He felt an even sharper pang as he glanced out of the glass doors of his office and saw the cast iron sign that read Bane, Santiago, and Fell.
Magnus shook his head and chuckled, “I suppose this is the end of an era, my dearest Cabbage.”
“I guess so. But do not worry, I will always be there for you,” Ragnor said placing a soft hand on Magnus’s cheek.
“I’ll come up and visit you soon, and please call me when you get there.”
Ragnor smiled and nodded, “I don’t regret one moment of choosing you, Magnus Bane. Never forget that.”
Magnus nodded and walked Ragnor to the elevator. Just as the doors opened, Magnus pulled him in for one last tight hug.“You changed my life, Ragnor. I’ll never forget that.”
Ragnor hugged back and replied, “you changed mine too… I’ll see you soon, my friend.”
He stood there and watched the doors close behind his oldest friend.
“Magnus?” Maureen called out interrupting his thoughts, “I have your coffee and your schedule. Would you like me to go over it with you?”
Magnus straightened his back and cleared his head. It was time to get back to work. Still, he couldn’t help but let his mind linger on the reality of his situation. It was just Raphael and him now, just the two of them against much higher odds than they had ever faced before.
“Yes, Maureen, I would love that,” Magnus said turning sharply to face her.
“Wonderful,” she said shaking her curly brown hair, “you have an appointment with a potential client in an hour. Sandra from billing sent up the most recent count of the billable hours, so you’ll have to go over those… And you’re also working on the Montoya and Yukimura case alongside Morgenstern.”
“Sounds like today will be busy,” Magnus said dryly, “anything else?”
“Well… Ms. Belcourt called. Apparently, something has come up. However, there was no time in your schedule today, and she said it was urgent, so I transferred her call to Simon and had him schedule her with Raphael.
Magnus nodded his head in understanding. It was for the best anyway, he and Camille had a complicated history. When he first signed her as a client five years ago, he knew what everyone knew about her. She was fairly well known (for those who were in the know) as one of the most powerful and blood-soaked crime lords in the city.
Of course, Magnus always had a weakness for things that were bad for him. He fell in love with her faster than he had intended. He had loved the way she curled her cruel lips around her words and the way she could cleverly twist the truth. He especially loved the way she was able to bring New York City to its knees. Not through brute force (though she had that too) but through her keen and vicious mind.
Admittedly keeping her on the books was a risky proposition, but Magnus was very careful with her account. He only managed her “legitimate” businesses, like the antique stores she is so fond of.
“What time will she be here?”
“Before your briefing for the Montoya case. Meliorn has put together a document for you to review before that.”
Magnus nodded, “fantastic. Also, let Meliorn know he’s going to be my second chair on the Morgenstern case.”
She nodded, “anything else?”
“No that will be all for now, Thank you, Maureen.”
“Certainly, sir.”
Magnus gave her a look, “Maureen…”
“Certainly, Magnus.”
She nodded and left, and Magnus was left alone in the front hallway. He sighed and listened to the bustling sounds of his office, of his little empire. Magnus spared a thought for the young boy he had been, so angry all the time, so desperate to prove himself. He’d done it. He’d clawed his way out. He’d bled for this, and nothing was ever going to take it away from him.
The rest of the day was lost to meetings and litigation. Admittedly, Raphael was known as the “King of Litigation” in the city, just as Magnus was known for his criminal defense. He is not entirely sure how the Yukimura account became his problem, but he would deal with it now.
He was going over the details of the Montoya case, and the deposition had gone well for them and now they would take it to the judge. If the opposition didn’t offer them a sizable settlement, they would be fools.
He was just walking out to go to the conference room on a lower floor when Camille exited the elevator.
“Magnus,” she said with a smirk, “it has been too long.”
He pressed a kiss on either side of her perfect face. Her lips were stained a blood red, and her dress was equally shocking- she looked like a woman who could kill you and laugh about it.
“Camille, it is nice to see you. Are you going to your meeting with Raphael?”
“Yes, I am,” she said with irritation, “though I would much rather be meeting with you. I’ve always enjoyed our repartee.”
Magnus hid his disgust and placed a coy smile on his face, “as have I. I am very sorry, my dear. I have a meeting to rush off to, and I trust you know the way.”
“I do… But that delightful little assistant of Raphael’s offered to walk me to his office. He sounds like such a sweet, succulent little thing…”
Magnus rolled his eyes, “leave the poor boy alone.”
Just as he said, this Simon came stumbling in with a huge, guileless smile on his face. Magnus felt a twinge of worry if Camille set her sights on him who knows what would be left of the poor boy when she was done? He resolved to speak to her about this when he had more time.
“Samuel,” Magnus said nodding his head in Simon’s direction.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you got here, Ms. Belcourt! I mean, I intended to be, and I totally was on my way, and I was like right here. But then! Raphael called and said he needed a copy of this contract that he’s working on and I was like, “I can totally do this before she comes.” So I went to do it! But it turns out that it was two floors down, where the paralegals work. And did you know that paralegals are terrifying? I was so scared because they were all like--”
“Simon,” Magnus said cutting him off, “please take our client to her appointment now.”
“Right, right… Of course, Mr. Bane!”
“I’ll be seeing you, darling,” Camille said, pulling him down to force a kiss on his lips. He pushed her away sharply and glared at her. Her eyes glittered with amusement as she turned around to follow Simon.
He saw Camille smirking after the boy, her eyes trailing down the slim cut of his designer suit. When Simon began working here everything he owned was from The Gap, it took exactly two weeks for Raphael to crack and take his little secretary shopping. Magnus could admit that Simon was easy on the eyes, and a firm figure showcased in Valentino was a particular weakness of hers.
Suddenly, Magnus is transported back to when he and Camille dated. He remembered laying his head on her lap as she discussed business. She would drag her long fingers through his hair and smile charmingly at him. He had been so smitten.
“Oh darling,” she would say pressing a warm kiss on his lips while he drank a cocktail by her side, “you are my prettiest accessory tonight.” And he would laugh, a little starry- eyed that a woman like her, with all her danger and mystique, found him worthy of being hers.
He remembers the sex too, the burning heat of her bold lips on his. Remembers how she’d moved against him, never with him. Sometimes he thought that the only times she had ever been honest with him was when they’d lain in bed together. Even now, he couldn’t help but remember how her touch had inexplicably turned tender for a moment. The way her caress had gone from appraising to worshipful, but only for a second.
He wishes he could forget how she’d talked to him about books and movies and politics. Her startled bright laugh when he had managed to slip a joke past her defenses. In truth, it was the moments when she was human that had made it hard for him to walk away from her.
He wonders if those moments had been calculated too.
When they’d broken up, Raphael had sighed softly, while pouring them both a shot and said: “you two have everything in common except for the important things.”
He had been right of course.
He sighed and looked at his watch; he was running slightly late for his meeting with the junior partners. Perhaps Ragnor coming back to visit him had made him nostalgic, but there is no time to get lost in the past now. Especially a past like his. With that, he turned on his heel and decided to take the stairs two flights down to the second floor of their firm when his phone vibrated.
(203) 548-9085: Hey, this is Alec Lightwood. The detective.
Huh, Magnus thought. In all honesty, he hadn’t been expecting the other man to reach out so soon, or at all. Still, he spared a minute to save the contact in his phone, and shoot back a quick reply ( Hello Alexander- can’t talk now! In a meeting. ) before continuing on his way downstairs. The detective was not what Magnus expected. Admittedly, not Magnus’s usual type of glamorous and sly- no the other man was gorgeous and straightforward. Still, Magnus couldn’t help but feel that Alexander Lightwood might have the chance to be something special. Maybe Alec had something that the others didn’t.
By the time he got downstairs, the junior partners were already discussing the best approach for the case. He lets them talk, even after he walks in because he knows this is essential to learning. They’ll never get better if he’s constantly holding their hand, besides they might come up with ideas he didn’t have.
When the finally wrapped up one of his junior partners had found a note in the fifth footnote on the seventy-fifth page of the contract which provided the exact loophole they had needed.
“Very nice, you guys,” Magnus said smiling down at the contract, “this looks great.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bane.
“Now get out of here, I’m heading out for the day,” Magnus said glancing at his watch. It was now eight o’clock.
They chuckled and packed up, chatting amiably about their days. Magnus knew it was a facade. The legal world was cut throat. Magnus can’t count the number of backs he stepped on to get where he is now.
He walked down to the basement where his car was. He abandoned it at the office last night, due to the basketball game, but he does prefer to drive home when he can. He can blast his music and have some time to unwind from the day.
Traffic was bad, but that wasn’t unusual. Magnus had long since gotten used to that, so he played his audiobook and relaxed for the half hour it took for him to get home and park. He walked into his large, sprawling apartment which was decorated similarly to his office. The furniture was warm and plush, which contrasted sharply with the modern art he had hanging on the walls. He flung his keys into the bowl placed by the door.
Magnus rubbed his eyes as he took off his suit jacket and loosened his tie while also walking towards the kitchen. It was a clean kitchen and a spotless, very clean house, but that was not born from his innate organization. He didn’t spend time here. Even he had to admit that his apartment was more like a hotel, somewhere to spend the night before he got back to work.
“Nothing,” Magnus murmured to himself as he stared at the empty fridge, he had to go grocery shopping, but it felt like he never had the time. He thinks he understands what Ragnor meant when he said this job would take everything if he let it.
He was going to have to order in, Magnus thought resignedly, as he picked up a Chinese food menu that he kept in his drawer. He had just finished placing his order when he heard a knock on the door.
Magnus cocked his head to the side, who on earth could that be? He was still contemplating who could be at his door when he went to answer it.
“Carmela!” Magnus said with surprise, “what are you doing here?”
She was stunning, deep brown eyes and a perfect heart shaped face with pink lips. She was wearing a trench coat, some stockings, and hot looking stilettos.
“Can I come in?”
“Yes, of course, darling,” Magnus said moving to the side to let her in and putting his still vibrating phone back in his pocket, “I just ordered some Chinese food from down the street. I thought you were still in Milan for that fashion show.”
Just then his phone began to ring. He moved his hand to answer it, but Carmela beat him to it, sliding her hand into his she grasped his phone and ended the call before he had a chance to see who it was.
“That might have been work,” Magnus said mildly.
She nodded, “yes, but I’m sure if it is important they’ll call back.
Magnus couldn’t fault that logic, so he didn’t respond.
She nodded, “I got back early. When will the food be here?”
“Half an hour?”
“Wonderful,” she said with a lovely smile, “plenty of time.”
With that, she removed her trench coat to reveal that she was only wearing a garter belt which was connected to black thigh-high stockings. Nothing else. Magnus didn’t think about the missed call again.