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“Why do I have to go?” Magnus whines, sagging into his chair. He knows he’s being childish but he can’t help it. “We all know that High Warlock Lightwood won’t help us no matter how much we offer him.”
“That may be true, but there’s one thing we haven’t tried,” Ragnor says. He jabs his pen in the direction of Magnus. “And that’s sending you in.”
“But why me? Why not Catarina? She’s the most harmless one out of all of us!” Magnus sits up and gestures wildly to said shadowhunter sitting in the chair next to him.
“Oh, I am just here to watch this unfold,” Cat admits, filing her nails. “I wanted to see your reaction to the news.”
“You knew this was going to happen? And you didn’t tell me?” Magnus gasps. He places a hand on his chest at the betrayal.
“Where is the fun in that?” Cat snorts. “You have a way with downworlders that rivals my own. I guess they just like your charm. So charm Mr. Lightwood.”
“Also your father requested it since he is still stuck in Idris on Clave business,” Ragnor states, holding up a piece of paper no doubt from Asmodeus.
“Remind me again why he left you in charge?” Magnus asks, pointing at himself. “He has a perfectly good son right here.”
“Maybe if you actually showed interest in being Institute Head, he might have,” Ragnor tells him. “Seeing as how you avoid your father any chance you get, it doesn’t surprise me he asked me instead. You don’t really have the best relationship with him.”
“Yeah, I know. I do that for a reason. The old man never lets me have peace,” Magnus grumbles, falling back in his chair again.
Charm High Warlock Lightwood? Magnus internally scoffs.
If there is one thing known about High Warlock Lightwood is that he absolutely hates the Clave and the shadowhunters they send to try to convince him to help them. The New York Institute has had to call in warlocks from other cities to help with magic-related tasks as Lightwood refuses to help them.
Everything he’s heard from his colleagues about the warlock hasn’t been good. Every shadowhunter that has returned has cursed the High Warlock out for being uncooperative, though Magnus wouldn’t put it past the others that they weren’t so kind when asking him for help. Probably doesn’t help that they all come back with some sort of hex put over them.
“You realize I can’t guarantee his help,” Magnus says. “He is free to do what he wants.”
“I am aware, Magnus,” Ragnor sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose, “but this is the Institute’s wards and while we could gladly ask another warlock to come in and update them, Mr. Lightwood was the last warlock to work on them over twenty years ago. It would be in our best interest if he was the one to update them, especially with the rise of forsaken attacks.”
The mention of those monsters sends a shiver down his spine. He still remembers when the first one breached their walls. Poor Raphael took a nasty hit to his knee that took a month to heal even with the intervention of the Silent Brothers. Though his friend never complained about the time off from patrols. Turns out he has a knack for research and barely goes out in the field anymore much to Magnu’s dismay.
“Okay,” Magnus sighs. He stands up with all the flourish he can muster and heads towards the door. “I’ll do it, but if I come back hexed, I am filing a formal complaint against both of you.”
“Hey!” Catarina shouts in protest. “What did I do?”
“You betrayed our friendship by not telling me about this silly meeting.” Magnus wiggles his finger at the two of them. He doesn’t wait to hear her response as he closes the door behind him. That’s what she gets for not warning him.
“This is going to end horribly,” Magnus says to no one.
While he does not doubt his charming skills, he does doubt that they will work on Mr. Lightwood. He’s going to have to try a different approach. He obviously doesn’t want to insult the man and get him to hate the New York Institute more than he already does. He’s only heard second hand of what the man is like; shadowhunters despise him but any downworlder he’s talked to always raves about how fair and kind the man is.
Mr. Lightwood has a reputation for helping other downworlders without asking for payment, which makes a few of his colleagues grumble, though Magnus isn’t upset about that. They are his people and shadowhunters are not. Of course, he would milk the Clave for money. No downworlder has actually wanted to help them for over two decades, not since the rise and fall of the Circle.
Magnus sits down at his desk in the ops center. He might as well look up Mr. Lightwood’s file before heading over. There has to be something there to help him understand what the man is like. What he finds makes him grimace at his screen.
Arrested for housing wanted downworlders and refusal to surrender them to the Clave.
Known to attack shadowhunters at the slightest provocation.
Has multiple safe houses unknown to the Clave.
All this tells him is that Mr. Lightwood takes no bullshit which he already knew. Magnus would bet his family’s fortune that disgruntled shadowhunters are the only reason he has any of this on his file. He continues to scroll through hoping to learn something new.
Warlock mark: unknown.
Alexander Lightwood has never revealed his mark to the Clave or any known associates.
“Yeah, no shit,” Magnus scoffs to himself. “Barely a decade ago, shadowhunters would have cut it from his body like some trophy.”
He sighs and closes his screen. That was extremely unhelpful. There wasn’t a single line or word that gave a hint to what the High Warlock is like. He snorts at himself for even thinking the Clave would say anything nice in the man’s file.
“Having trouble, Bane?” Lorenzo asks, approaching his desk. It takes everything in him not to roll his eyes at the man. Lorenzo has been a thorn in his side ever since his father promoted him to Head of Security. He still believes his father wouldn’t have done it without Lorenzo seriously kissing his ass, but he knows his father and anyone who is a yes man to him is seen as good in his eyes.
“Rey,” Magnus greets. “Actually I was just about to head out. I have been tasked with asking High Warlock Lightwood for a ward update for the Institute.”
“Ragnor is sending you? Ha!” Lorenzo mocks. “Surely there has to be someone else better for the job. Though I guess you would be fit as you like to associate with certain downworlders.”
Magnus wants to punch that smug look right off his face, but he has to resist. He promised his father that he would not resort to hitting Lorenzo every time the man annoyed him.
He never promised not to fight with his words.
“That is exactly it,” Magnus agrees, pushing his chair out to stand. He pats a hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder and sneaks a grab at the man’s ponytail. “Seeing as how you came back with pink hair when my father tasked you with getting Mr. Lightwood’s help, I guess he thought I would be a better fit. After all, my downworld friends have told me I am the most likable shadowhunter.”
Magnus shoulder-checks Lorenzo as he walks past the man, head held high. He will not let the bastard get the last laugh if he has anything to say about it. He’s pretty sure the man curses at him under his breath but Magnus ignores it, heading to the exit.
He has a High Warlock to charm.
Magnus doesn’t know what he expected Mr. Lightwood’s house to look like, but a small townhouse was not it. The dark red brick is a stark contrast to the other houses to his left and right. He must pay a fortune for the place seeing as the architecture is Queen Anne which is extremely pricey to own in New York. He probably owned the plot before the home was even built. Another thing his file said was that his origins were unknown.
While most warlocks like to keep to themselves, they are quite social with their own kind, gladly boasting that they were alive when this or that famous person was. Magnus has had to sit through a few boring conversations while at Hunter’s Moon about how a warlock was around when Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel or when they got to witness Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. While he is fascinated with history, he could do without the arrogance that the stories come along with.
The High Warlock has never spoken about his past from what Magnus can understand. When the warlocks under his protection have a few drinks in their system, they always rave about how mysterious and elusive Mr. Lightwood is. They all complain that their High Warlock never opens up to them, no matter how close they think they are. Clary is always sad that no matter how long she has worked under him, she can never get the warlock to open up. It makes this meeting even more nerve-wracking for him.
With a deep breath, he makes his way up the steps. He left his weapons at the Institute, wanting to come off as harmless as possible. He’s certain that the other shadowhunters before him tried to force him to help after he refused payment or to agree, but Magnus won’t do that to him. He would never do that to any downworlder.
Just as he’s about to raise his hand to knock, a voice appears out of nowhere.
“The answer is no,” the deep voice says.
“I didn’t even say anything!” Magnus protests.
“You didn’t have to,” Mr. Lightwood says. “The only reason you shadowhunters come here is to request my help.”
“How would you know that?” He asks, putting his hands on his hips. “Maybe I could be here to get to know you and enjoy your company?”
The answering snort brings a smile to his face. “Right and I’m the Inquisitor.”
“You’d probably make a better one than who we currently have,” Magnus says truthfully. “I mean don’t get me wrong, Inquisitor Bellcourt has his decent moments, but I’d rather not have my ex’s father in charge of anything.”
“Isn’t it against your ridiculous laws to make fun of Clave officials?”
“With how many dumb laws we have, I wouldn’t be surprised honestly,” Magnus sighs, rubbing his forehead. He thinks he hears a faint chuckle but can’t be certain. He also realizes that the High Warlock has distracted him from his task. “Okay, we’re getting off-topic here. Would you at least hear me out?”
“No.”
“Wow just like that huh?” Magnus gestures to the door before dropping his arms.
“What is it you shadowhunters always like to say? You’re all alike, so clearly, I can’t trust you.”
“Okay yeah, you got me there,” Magnus sighs. “There’s only so much one person can do against a whole institution of decades long bigotry.”
“More like centuries,” Alec murmurs.
Well, since the warlock hasn’t hexed him or portaled him back to the Institute, he’s going to take this conversation so far as a win.
“What if I offer you something other than gold?” Magnus asks.
“There is nothing you could have that I would even consider taking as payment for whatever it is you need me for.”
“Even if it was my services?” Magnus offers. Alexander has fallen silent at the question and Magnus takes that as an okay to continue. “I would be at your beck and call anytime you needed me. I would help defend you and other downworlders in Clave matters, which I technically already do but that’s not the point here.”
“The point is,” Magnus huffs, “I am offering my position as a shadowhunter to help you get away with bending the law since I know it front to back.”
Still silence. Magnus starts to rock back and forth on his heels, waiting for a response. Maybe it was extremely rude to do that. He really didn’t think that through when he asked. He just knew that jewels, gold, and money all didn’t work when offered to the warlock. So he had to think of something else that would actually be beneficial to him.
Magnus is so lost in thought, he almost misses the front door opening. He startles as a man appears in front of him, looking incredibly confused. Whatever he thought Alexander looked like this was not it.
He’s wearing all black, looking like a shadowhunter himself. The only thing separating him from Magnus’ people is his lack of a thigh holster and a seraph blade. Maybe he caught Alexander on an off day? From what his friends told him, Alec dresses nicely. Suits and formal attire were the most mentioned. Suits more because everyone and their grandmas rave about the High Warlock’s outfits when he’s at the speakeasy he owns.
“Did you seriously just offer your body to me?” Alexander asks, interrupting his thoughts.
Magnus feels a blush crawl up his face as he realizes the double meaning his words might have had.
“No!” Magnus denies. “Not, like that! By the Angel, Alexander do you think I would be that crude?”
“It’s Alec,” the warlock corrects, leaning against the door frame. There’s a smug look on his face that says he’s clearly amused by this conversation. “I mean I wouldn’t put it past the Clave to do a dirty tactic like that. I was just surprised they found someone willing to do it.”
“Well, I’ll have you know I have had past relationships with downworlders,” he says, head held high, “and they were all amazing partners.”
“You’ve dated downworlders?” Alec asks curiosity sparking in his eyes.
“Two or three,” Magnus replies. “Depending on who you ask. Lydia and I had an on and off thing that I thought was a relationship, but turns out she was ordered to get to know me by the Seelie Queen.”
“Well she is a royal guard on the Queen’s court,” Alec says. “That should have been a given.”
“Yeah well,” Magnus huffs. “She was really nice company to be around. Raj was a nightmare in disguise, that only lasted three months. For being a werewolf, that man has a lot of issues that don’t have to do with his lycanthropy.”
Alec lets out a hum as he stares at Magnus. The gaze is so intense that Magnus starts to squirm under the look. Does he have something on his face? Magnus wants to check but he also doesn’t want to make any sudden movements.
“You know what?” Alec starts, his eyes raking up and down Magnus’ body. “I think I will take you up on that offer.”
“Really?” Magnus almost shouts but catches himself. “What made you change your mind?”
“There’s something different about you,” he says. He pushes himself off the door frame and steps close to Magnus. It takes everything in him to not give the man a once over. He has eyes, he knows the man is attractive. This close to the warlock, Magnus seems to be entranced by him. Those eyes are stunning as they reflect the sun’s light. “Almost every shadowhunter that they’ve sent here has been brash, arrogant, rude, egotistical, you name it, but not you.”
Magnus internally pats himself on the back. He didn’t realize how badly he wanted Alec’s approval until he got it. Oh, he’s going to rub this so hard into Lorenzo’s face. That bastard of a shadowhunter is going to be so pissed when he comes back with Alec in tow.
“I am delighted to hear that,” Magnus says truthfully. “Is there anything you want from me first before we head over?”
“Not that I can think of,” Alec says, closing the door to his house. Magnus hasn’t made a single step towards the sidewalk. He was distracted by the peek of a tattoo on Alec’s hip when he reached to close his front door.
“Shall we get going?” Alec muses.
“Right yes,” Magnus coughs, stepping out of the way for Alec. He watches the warlock go down the steps enjoying the view until he realizes that he forgot to mention the most important thing about his whole visit. “I should at least tell you what it is the Institute needs you to do.”
“Update the wards,” Alec answers for him. He waves his hand and white magic trails over his body, changing his dark attire into a well-fitted suit. Magnus once again finds himself checking the man out. He had heard that Alec had an amazing collection of suits, but seeing it in person is something else.
“I am well aware that they are in need of a tune-up seeing as how Asmodeus has sent me over a dozen fire messages of my obligation,” Alec scoffs, annoyance clear in his voice.
“I am so sorry,” Magnus sighs, trailing down the steps. “My father still doesn’t understand proper etiquette when it comes to talking to downworlders. Hell, just people in general.”
Alec freezes as he fixes up his suit and Magnus realizes that he probably made a mistake by mentioning that. For a brief moment, he had forgotten that his father is hated by almost every downworlder in New York. He keeps trying to get his dad to at least try to get along with them but he just won’t have it. Still stuck in his old ways unable to forgive what happened in the past.
“Your father is Asmodeus Bane?” Alec turns to stare at him with an unreadable face.
“Unfortunately, yes?” Magnus says, preparing himself for the inevitable hex he is sure that is going to come his way. Only that doesn’t happen. Magnus watches with slight fear as a grin forms on Alec’s face.
“That makes this deal even better,” Alec says. “I’m glad I said yes.” The warlock turns around and continues his way down the street. “The son of Asmodeus is my guard dog. This is great.”
“I am still a person you know,” Magnus notes, rushing to catch up to the warlock now that the shock of his statement has worn off. There’s a skip to his step as Alec seems to be walking with a purpose now.
“A person who so happens to be the son of the man who is the bane of my existence,” Alec explains with a grin, clearly pleased with his pun. Magnus rolls his eyes and scoffs. It’s not the first time he’s heard that and it won’t be the last. “This gives me the leverage I need to get him to back off my establishment.”
“I said I would be at your assistance, not be your tool to get revenge against my father,” Magnus states.
“That may be true, but I want to see the look on his face when he realizes that you gave your services to me and offered to help us against the Clave.”
“Well you’re going to have to wait until he gets back from Idris. Ragnor was left in charge in his absence.”
“Who?”
“Ragnor Fell? One of the greatest tacticians currently?” Alec shrugs at him, no recognition flashing across his face. “I know you don’t interact with us, but you should at least be aware of the shadowhunters in the city you live in.”
“Well, that’s what I have you for now, isn’t it?” Alec’s smile is annoying, but with the suit on, it’s attractive.
“You’re enjoying this way too much already,” Magnus grumbles. Ragnor owes him so many days off after this.
This is either going to go well or be a complete disaster.
Walking into the Institute was the worst kind of awkward silence Magnus has ever experienced in his life. While he was aware that the High Warlock had barely stepped into the Institute for a few years, the fact that everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at the two of them entering the ops center makes him wish a rift would open right below him.
“What a warm welcoming committee,” Alec says as glares shoot his way.
“You did hex a majority of the people here when they came to visit you,” Magnus reminds him.
Alec lets out a snort and continues to stroll through the room like he owns the place. Magnus trails behind the warlock, completely ignoring the bewildered looks from Cat and Raphael as they approach the first node. Only before Alec can even summon his magic to check it, Lorenzo steps in front of him.
“Mr. Lightwood,” Lorenzo greets, voice terse. “You need to be checked in before you can do anything.”
Alec stares at the Head of Security. “Do I know you?”
Magnus hides his laughter behind his hands, but judging by the way Lorenzo glares at him, he didn’t do a good job. Alec looks back at him with a raised eyebrow. Magnus realizes the warlock is waiting for him to intervene.
By the Angel, he’s already regretting even offering his services to this man and he hasn’t done anything yet.
“Yes, Mr. Lightwood-”
“High Warlock Lightwood,” Alec corrects, stepping around Lorenzo to work on the node. “I don’t need to be checked in as I will be with Mr. Bane the whole time I am present here.”
“While that might be true, you still need to be registered in our system.”
“I will not be registered in any system the Clave can use against me,” Alec says, summoning the node and working his magic on it.
His hands move like water as they glide against the wall. He forgets about Lorenzo as he becomes hypnotized by Alec and his magic. By the Angel, it’s beautiful the way the magic twists and turns around Alec’s hands. He lets the dirty part of his brain think about what they would feel like along his neck for a brief moment before shaking the thoughts from his head. He files them for a later time, for when he’s alone.
The moment doesn’t last long though, as the Head of Security breaks the connection by stepping between Alec and the node. He understands now why Lorenzo came back with pink hair. If this is how he treats the High Warlock, he doesn’t want to know how he treats other downworlders.
Alec doesn’t look impressed at all.
“Oh I remember you now,” Alec says. He crosses his arms and looks down at the shadowhunter in front of him. “You're the shadowhunter who threatened me with arrest for not complying with your demands. Glad to see you are at least smart enough to know how to reverse a hex.”
Lorenzo is practically fuming at this point. The man is not used to being dismissed and ignored so casually. Magnus is absolutely loving it.
“Mr. Lightwood, if you do not comply with the registry, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“Are you serious right now Rey?” Magnus interrupts. This has gone on too far and now Lorenzo is going to ruin the one chance they have at getting the damn wards updated. He stands between Alec and Lorenzo, acting as a shield for Alec. “High Warlock Lightwood is here to do us a service and you are interrupting him doing it. He doesn’t need to be registered unless he is going to be in the Institute unaccompanied. As High Warlock Lightwood stated earlier, I am accompanying him and it would be wise to let us be.”
He already knows he’s going to be chewed out later for this, but he’s not going to let Lorenzo abuse his powers because he has a vendetta against Alec. Lorenzo glares daggers at him before storming off, no doubt to tell Ragnor about this. He releases the breath he was holding and turns to glare at Alec.
“What?” Alec asks, placing a hand on Magnus’ shoulder to move him out the way and go back to working on the node.
“You’re impossible, you know that?” Magnus says, crossing his arms. He leans against the wall, facing opposite Alec to keep an eye out for anyone else who wishes to interrupt them.
“Wel,l you haven’t walked back on our deal yet, so you enjoy it a bit,” Alec smirks, not taking his eyes off the node. Magnus can’t stop his own lips from forming a smile.
He won’t admit how much he’s enjoying the warlock’s company. Their walk over here was filled with constant chatter, though mainly on Magnus’ end. Alec seemed to be fine with Magnus informing him of everything he needed to know. While it was clear the warlock did not care for shadowhunters' problems, the mention of the forsaken did pique his interest. Seems that the downworld was not informed of the zombie-like creatures that are attacking.
Maybe if Alec is okay with it, he’ll bring the warlock down to the morgue to get a look at one of the bodies. Cat would be more than grateful for a second eye and opinion on the creatures.
Alec finishes up the node, snapping his fingers to close it. Magnus can already feel a change in the wards as it updates. Alec starts to walk down the hall to the next one and Magnus follows next to him, watching for anyone who might cause Alec trouble. He doesn’t expect Ragnor to come around the corner, with a smug Lorenzo following behind him.
“Seems I owe Catarina some money,” Ragnor says as he walks over to the two.
“Ragnor, what a pleasant surprise,” Magnus drones, looking over his friend’s shoulder.
“Yes, well, Lorenzo came to me with concerns about High Warlock Lightwood being in our Institute.” Magnus lets out an annoying huff, ready to defend himself and Alec. “Seems to me that you have everything under control.”
Lorenzo sputters behind the temporary Head. “Mr. Fell, you said-”
“I said that I would check and see that protocols are being followed and they are.” Ragnor turns to Lorenzo with an annoyed look. “Magnus is clearly escorting the High Warlock through the Institute so there is no need for him to register. You wasted my time by bringing me out of my office. Now go back to work, you have more important things to deal with than delaying High Warlock Lightwood.”
Lorenzo opens his mouth to argue but sees that he won’t get anywhere. The Head of Security sulks off without another word. Magnus, in all his professionalism, sticks his tongue out at Lorenzo’s back as the man walks away.
“You really need to learn how to not piss that man off, Magnus,” Ragnor scolds before turning around back to his office.
“I didn’t even do anything!” Magnus defends to his departing friend’s back.
“I like him,” Alec states.
“Of course you do,” Magnus sighs. “Next time a shadowhunter approaches, let me deal with them. I fear for what you’ll make them do if you open their mouth.”
Alec lets out a delighted laugh, that makes Magnus feel fuzzy inside. “It’s not my fault they never learned how to be nice.”
“Yeah yeah, shadowhunters are dicks, I get it,” Magnus drones.
“Not you though,” Alec compliments, working on the next node. “I would have sent you packing if I thought you weren’t genuine.”
“I can’t tell if I should be flattered or relieved by that statement,” Magnus jokes as he once again posts guard next to Alec.
“Maybe one day you’ll figure it out,” Alec jokes back. He snaps his fingers and the node seals. “We have three more of these to do. Think we’ll go without being interrupted?”
“Knowing how half of the people here don’t like you?” Magnus snorts, looking down at his watch and back up to Alec. “I give it ten minutes before we’re bothered again.”
The responding laugh Alec lets out does things to Magnus’ stomach that he wouldn’t even admit to his parabatai, though he’s sure that Raphael would not care either way. He doesn’t even have to look to know that the buzzing in his pocket is definitely a message from his parabatai that reads ‘shut up’.
The rest of the time that Alec is there, they only get interrupted once more by Ragnor who wished to properly introduce himself. He wonders if the man has anything to do with their uninterrupted time. Alec didn’t seem too interested in his friend, but he didn’t dismiss him like he did Lorenzo so Magnus counts that as a win. Probably helped that Ragnor got Lorenzo off their backs.
With the last node done, Magnus escorts Alec to the Institute’s front doors, once again ignoring the glares sent their way. He follows Alec outside just to make sure no one chases after the warlock once they part ways.
“Thank you for doing this,” Magnus says as he watches Alec open a portal. “I know you hate us and I’m sure that took a lot out of you to be in there after everything my kind has done to yours.”
“It helped that you made such a ridiculous deal with me,” Alec admits, turning around to look at Magnus. He has an unreadable expression on his face that Magnus can’t quite place. “Word of advice, make sure to be specific when making deals with people so they don’t manipulate you into doing things that you will regret.”
“Noted,” Magnus laughs but that soon stops at the serious expression on Alec’s face. He realizes the man is speaking from experience and another layer into the man that is Alec Lightwood unfolds.
“I’m glad it was you who showed up at my doorstep today,” Alec confesses, a soft smile gracing his face. “Had it been anyone else, I don’t know what I would have done. There’s something special about you, Magnus Bane.”
Alec snaps his fingers and a business card appears. He holds it out to Magnus. “My personal cell phone number. Send me a text so I’ll be able to get a hold of you when I need you. See you around, Shadowhunter.”
He doesn’t even wait for Magnus to reply as he steps through the portal, no doubt going home. Magnus doesn’t even know if he would be able to speak after everything Alec just said. There was so much to unpack there that Magnus wouldn’t have known where to start. With every word the warlock spoke, Magnus wanted to know more.
He looks down at the business card and laughs. It screams High Warlock Lightwood with its sleek lettering and the white magic that seems to dance around the card. Magical business card, clever. He puts the number into his phone and is about to press send on a simple message when he pauses.
Magnus erases the hello and replaces it with a single emoji before he presses send.
The responding emoji makes him laugh.
Maybe this arrangement won’t be as bad as he originally thought.