{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*]*~Multiverse Mysteries~*[*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*}
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*~6~*
Chapter 7:
Method Or Just Madness?
{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-* {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}"-and it turned out the butler actually DID do it! Even I didn't see that one coming, Hell of a twist. Hope this case is as surprising."
Alec scoffed, eyes widening, waving towards him.
"Don't say that! You'll jinx us!"
Magnus laughed, brow quirking.
"Jinx? You believe in jinxes?"
Alec huffed out a chuckle, head tilting concedingly.
"Nah- though never ask 'what's the worst that could happen'. That's basically issuing a challenge to the universe-But in general? No I don't believe in jinxes. What I DO believe is actively rooting for drama and complications on a case is rooting for trouble."
Magnus laughed, shrugging, glancing over, flashing a faint smile.
"Oh come on. It's our first case with something to really sink our teeth into. Our first case we get to work together that will actually require some real work. That you can actually get a feel of what I can do beyond just how well I can curtail my boredom and my stellar color commentary and snark.
Admittedly those are truly exceptional but I have quite a few more tricks up my sleeve. It'd be nice to actually get a chance to use them again.
We've been partners for a week now but the cases we've worked haven't really given us any kind of opportunity to really see how this partnership is going to work. This'll be our first chance to really get a feel for how we work together, to see each other in action and how our styles mesh.
I haven't really worked with a partner much and I'm quite eager to see how we'll play off each other. Best way to get a feel for that is to really give us something to work that'll actually require us to put in some real effort.
Something like, oh I don't know; a multimillion dollar antiquities heist. Perfect first real case for us."
Alec shrugged, holding up a finger.
"Again, ever-"
Magnus chuckled, nodding distractedly, waving him off.
"Yes, yes I know- every case counts. I got it, I do. I understand why you chose the cases you have up till now and while it drove me up a wall and to within a hairsbreadth of going toe to paw with a pissed off raccoon I do get the significance of it. I do. I'll even admit it is a good, solid idea for helping detectives accustomed to more intensive, higher stakes cases keep perspective.
That being said it's been a week and I feel like a Formula One driver that's been stuck on the kiddie go-cart track out in the parking lot. I get that 'every case matters' but this is the first one that we've have to work that has even the slightest possibility of providing some interest, challenge and a chance to really flex my skills.
We've been working the Public service cases and I do understand that they can mean the world to those directly involved but none of those were in any way, shape or form any kind of a challenge.
I'm not 'rooting for drama and complications', I'm just hoping for a bit of excitement and stimulation after over a dozen cases that the only challenge was dealing with the fact that there WAS no challenge.
My favorite part of my job has always been how much it challenges me. The way it makes me push myself, stretch, twist, shift and flex to work it out and solve the case. The fact that it's always different and you never know what you're gonna be jumping into until you're already in. It's a challenge, a mystery or puzzle. It's like an exercise routine for your mind…at least it usually is.
This past week it's felt like the mental equivalent of being trapped in the back middle seat on a cross-country road trip.
I'm not hoping for drama or a crazy amount of complications, just a bit of an excuse to dust off my skills, stretch them and put them to work before they begin to atrophy from lack of use. I just want a case that really peaks my interest and gives me a real challenge, that's all. Those are always the best kinds of cases- the one's that really keep you guessing and keep you on your toes."
Alec snickered, rolling his eyes, shaking his head faintly, glancing over, flashing an amused smile.
"Yeah no. The best cases are the nice, clear cut right out of the gate ones. Much smoother."
Magnus snorted, rolling his eyes right back, head shaking animatedly.
"Ugh- no. Those are so boring! And seriously, this past week I've more than had my fill of boring. There's no challenge there, nothing to hold your interest. Where's the fun in that?"
Alec snorted, eyes widening.
"The 'fun'? It's not about fun! It's about solving the case, helping the victims and catching the criminals."
Magnus nodded animatedly, shifting in his seat, turning more to face Alec, reaching up, brushing a few teal tinted strands of hair back, tucking them behind his dragon ear cuff, looking over at the taller detective expectantly.
"Yeah? That's the fun part. Especially when you really have to work for it and push yourself to figure it out. It's a mystery! Who doesn't like a good mystery?"
Alec huffed in amusement, giving a faint wave, holding up a finger.
"Me. Mystery means twists and turns and unexpected complications and missteps and the chance of innocent people being put through the wringer and usually a lot more danger and drama for everyone involved."
Magnus huffed faintly, giving a slight, fluttering, somewhat conceding wave.
"Okay yeah maybe that's the case when it's something super serious or really dangerous with lives on the line and a ticking clock and all that but come on; this isn't some big, traumatic murder mystery- it's a heist!
Heists are always the best types of crimes to work. No one's in danger, no one's being threatened or in any real life or death type situation. Someone just swiped something fancy and expensive. It's all white collar stuff.
Yeah it's a big deal but it's the fun kind of big deal.
Besides, I'm always on the lookout for something that actually manages to challenges me. Don't get that too often. Especially with something that has such safe stakes."
Alec snorted, glancing over, brow quirking.
"Millions of dollars and multiple international incidences are 'safe stakes' to you?"
He hummed noncommittally, concedingly tilting his head.
"Yeah, I know, sounds kinda crazy but when you've worked as many big time, high octane cases I have the bar tends to be set pretty high…" Magnus smirked, sneaking a sly glance over, giving a casual shrug and a fluttering little wave.
"Don't worry, you'll catch up soon enough."
Alec sputtered, glancing over, brow raising to his hairline.
"Catch up?"
Magnus nodded, smirking impishly.
"Yup, and until you do I got ya. After all that's what partners are for; smoothing things out, picking up the slack till you both are at the same level."
Alec scoffed in disbelief, shaking his head.
"Excuse me? You're picking up MY slack? The only reason Matt even agreed to bring you on in the first place was because I'm partnering with you. If anyone's picking up slack and smoothing the way it's me for you."
Magnus shrugged, giving a flutteringly dismissive wave.
"Eh… admittedly you got my foot in the door and I appreciate that but he's just caught up on that one little thing. He'll come around once he gets a chance to really see what I can do for you guys. I get that looking at my record it can seem really daunting but once he sees me in action and my results he'll realize that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Besides I do bring a lot to the table.
I mean come on. I was a detective for nearly a decade in one of the busiest, craziest, toughest cities in the world and I did it almost entirely on my own. I've worked cases that were deemed unsolvable by detectives with decades more experience than me. I've solved cases that have gone unsolved for decades. I've went toe to toe with real life, literal criminal masterminds and came out on top every time. Thinking my closure record speaks for itself."
Alec snorted, brow quirking glancing over teasingly.
"Yeah, it does. Almost as loudly as your record of infractions and citations."
Magnus huffed, rolling his eyes, waving him off.
"Eh, can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs."
Alec again snorted, shaking his head.
"Again, I've seen your file. You've broken a hell of a lot more than eggs. The Cloverfield-"
Magnus set up animatedly, shaking his head, holding a finger up.
"Oh that was blown way out of proportion!"
"You stole a car-"
"Commandeered! I commandeered a car. And it was on an official case, the suspect was getting away! I had to catch them."
"You didn't have to total the ca-"
"It wasn't totaled! It just needed new tires from the tire spikes…and a re-alignment…and a bit of work on the suspension…and body work to fix the bullet holes. And a good cleaning to deal with the water damage. But that's all!"
"Y-yeah…all…"Alec chuckled, shaking his head disbelievingly.
Magnus sputtered faintly, shifting in his seat, feeling his cheeks warm, setting up straighter, stubbornly nodding.
"Yes, all. So not totaled, just in need of a bit of work. And it got a murderer off the streets and probably saved countless lives so well worth it. Besides the car owner was really understanding about it. A fair bit too understanding actually. Sent flowers for me to the precinct for over three weeks straight."
Alec snickered, brow quirking.
"You stole a guy's car, took it on a high speed chase and near totaled it going over police spikes and careening into the spillway and he sent you flowers?"
Magnus smirked, shrugging, flashing a teasing wink.
"What can I say? I have a way with people."
Alec snorted, rolling his eyes.
"Clearly…Where was your car anywa-"
"Back at the warehouse. I'd parked one street over so they wouldn't see but they began to move pretty quickly and I didn't know where they were going so I'd just slipped into the trunk of the suspects' car. Figured this way they couldn't lose me."
Alec's brow rose, looking over in faint shock.
"That…was NOT in the report."
Magnus sighed, head tilting concedingly, placatingly holding his hand up.
"Yeah I know, I kinda tend to streamline them a little…o-or a lot. It's purely for practicalities sake. It's supposed to be a report, not a long form, epic rhapsody. I just limit it to the bare necessities- Gotta keep it short and to the point.
Figure if I put in every last detail someone trying to look up something important will get lost in all the extra crap and end up wasting time on their own case- most likely time that they don't have to waste. Keeping it short and on topic saves me time writing it and saves anyone tasked with looking through it later a major headache. So see? Better all-around."
Alec blinked, casting another glance at the road ahead, pulling over into the far lane, taking the exit to museum drive before casting another somewhat nervous glance Magnus's way.
"So…the crazy in your file is just the tip of the iceberg?"
He shrugged.
"Well yes b-"
"So you've been lying in your reports?"
"Not lying! J-just streamlining."
Alec's brow raised, giving a totally unconvinced nod.
"Uh huh…"
Magnus sighed, shaking his head, yet again placatingly holding his hand up.
"Yeah alright, I know how it sounds but it's not like I'm hiding anything. I don't leave anything OUT out of the report- everything IS in there. I put in everything pertaining to the case- I just word things carefully.
Like in the Cloverfield case for example. I DID put in that I tailed the suspect from the warehouse and I DID put in that I thoroughly searched the trunk of the car…I just didn't include exactly how close I tailed or that I was actually IN the trunk when I was searching it. I didn't leave anything important out, just superfluous details that'd complicate things and muddy the water."
Alec blinked again, swallowing before shifting his focus back to the road.
"Wow…"
Magnus groaned, again shaking his head.
"Okay yeah I know out of context it sounds crazy b-"
"OUT of context?! What context can you put 'I threw MYSELF into a suspected hitman's trunk' into that'd make it any less crazy?"
Magnus shifted, setting up, bouncing lightly.
"The context of it was the best way to solve the case. And it was a real stroke of luck that I did it how I did because I actually found the exact evidence I needed to cinch the case IN the trunk…so it was actually a really smart move."
Alec blinked, eyes widening, head shaking faintly.
"Y-yeah…smart…that's the word."
Magnus again shook his head, smiling, waving him off, reaching up, fiddling with his earcuff. He nodded again, shifting more in his seat to better look at Alec.
"It was- and I was fine. It was totally safe."
"You were in the truck of the car of a man suspected of killing over a dozen people!"
Magnus nodded, shifting forward, holding up a finger.
"Ah BUT he didn't know I was in there so that's t-"
"Totally insane? Yeah I agree."
"Oh it was not- besides I got the guy, that's the take away."
Alec shook his head.
"No the take away is you locked yourself in the trunk of a suspected multiple murderer and stole a car."
"AND caught the suspect and saved the day s-"
"The car chase made the news."
"Yeah b-"
"-And wasn't there an explo-"
"A small one-"
"Small? It took out a-"
"Okay so small-ish. It really wasn't as bad as it sounds in the report."
"Didn't it bring down a bridg-"
"It was an old bridge! Practically falling already, was gonna come down anyways. Probably a public service bringing it down."
Alec chuckled, head shaking, gaze shifting around as they pull up in front of the Museum, pulling into a space along the curb, bringing the car to a stop.
"Uh huh…sure- course it was."
Magnus nodded adamantly, beginning to reach for his seatbelt.
"It was and none of that's as important as the results."
"The results of a collapsed bridge and a totaled hotrod?" Alec glanced over, teasingly quirking his eyebrow, a bit of a mischievous smile tugging at his lips as he reached for the door handle, slipping out of the car.
Magnus huffed, rolling not only his eyes but his entire head, quickly popping his own door open, hopping out, moving to the front of the car, falling into step next to Alec, glancing over, shaking his head.
"No, the results of the suspect being locked up safely behind bars and no longer a danger to the public. That's what matters."
Alec sighed, tilting his head concedingly.
"Not the only thing that matters."
Magnus tilted his head right back, holding up a finger, lightly tapping Alec's shoulder.
"But it's the thing that matters most."
Alec glanced over, a flicker of concern sparking in his oddly light eyes.
"Even more than your own safety?"
Magnus hesitated a moment, beginning to shrug.
"All part of the job. We gotta be willing to take risks."
"But not crazy risks."
"Sometimes-"
"Going by your file it's a lot more than just 'sometimes'. And apparently that's just the things you couldn't reword into oblivion...so…um…yeah…" He trailed off with a somewhat unsure shrug.
Magnus sighed, shifting closer, lightly bumping his shoulder, catching his eye, flashing a reassuring little smile.
"Now, now, no need for the concerned look sweetheart. I know it sounds bad but again in context it's nowhere near as distressing as it seems. I don't go the crazy route just for the hell of it; I do because I get a lot of crazy cases. Crazy cases a lot of time end up requiring crazy solutions.
Besides it really does sound a lot worse than it was. I wasn't actually in dang-"
"You were in the trunk of a car driven by a multiple murderer then in a high speed chase, in a car accident, then in a bridge collapse in a car INthe spillway!"
"Okay, yeah- but I had it all under control."
Alec blinked, freezing a moment, brow rising clear to his hairline, holding up a finger in question.
"THAT was under control?"
Magnus shrugged, totally unconcerned.
"For me? Yup."
Alec huffed out a faintly disbelieving laugh, head shaking, once more beginning for the museums steps.
"We have very different ideas of what 'under control' is."
Magnus chuckled, nodding, flashing a faint smile, falling into perfect step beside the other detective.
"Thinking we have very different ideas on a lot of things. You're not the only one who's been file-surfing. I've went through your cases with a fine toothed comb. You're so 'by the book' I'd think you did the proofreading for it. Pretty clear we approach things totally differently. But different doesn't mean wrong. In fact us being so different could even work to our favor."
Alec's head tilted.
"How's that?"
Magnus shrugged, head tilting right back.
"Well different strategies work for different situations. Calm, rational, logical situations generally require calm, rational, logical strategies. The crazier the case a lot of times the crazier the approach to solving it may be. Seems between the two of us we'd have just about all the bases covered."
Alec shrug, giving a non-committal wave.
"Eh I don't know about that. I mean yeah sometimes you have to think out of the box to solve a truly bizarre one but when you're risking your lif-"
"I wasn't. Again I was never in real danger."
Alec sputtered, looking over in disbelief.
"Not in any-wh-how could you say you weren't in a-"
"Because I wasn't. I know I wasn't."
Alec give a faint laugh, brow quirking, nudging his shoulder, a lightly teasing smile tugging at his lips.
"Why? Because you're psychic?"
Magnus shrugged, chuckling, an amused, mysteriously knowing little smirk tugging at his pretty lips, catching his eye, brow quirking curiously.
"Not JUST that…Because I'm me."
Alec huffed out a somewhat exasperated laugh, rolling his eyes.
"Magnus come on; be serious."
"I am."
"No you're n-"
"Yes. I am." Magnus sighed, reaching over catching his arm, squeezing lightly, tugging him to a stop.
Alec shifted, glancing over, head tilting curiously. Magnus paused, glancing away, shifting, a bit of the playfully bright smile slipping away. He reaches up, fiddling with his earcuff. The move seems odd, near hesitant, the uncharacteristically subdued, near vulnerable move somewhat bringing Alec up short. Magnus swallows, taking a deep breath before seemingly making his mind up about something, standing up a bit straighter, turning back to Alec, looking up, meeting his gaze dead on. Alec feels his breath catch.
There's something flickering in those brightly dark, shimmering brown eyes, a spark of something unidentifiable. There's a depth there, a strength, a kind of inner fire that seems to spark, flicker and dance. The sheer power behind that look is a near tangible, palpable thing; he feels it like a brush of fingertips along the back of his neck. It sends a faint shiver clear down to his toes, makes Alec's head spin and his pulse race.
Those gorgeous, impossibly deep eyes spark, flicker, seemingly catching every movement, every reaction. Magnus pauses, head tilting curiously, an excited spark of interest flickering behind the mysterious depth. Magnus swallows, drifting closer before seemingly catching himself. He starts faintly, shifting back a bit, flashing a gentle, far more real smile, hand sliding down Alec's arm, coming to rest at his wrist, catching, gently squeezing.
"Look, Alexander, I know what you're saying. And I don't need any 'psychic' powers to know exactly what you're thinking right now. You're thinking 'oh crap, my partner's insane and I'm totally screwed.'"
Alec started, a surprised laugh slipping out, beginning to shake his head.
"I-I'm no-"
Magnus snorted, brow quirking.
"If you're not you're an idiot."
"Hey! That's n-wait…" Alec trailed off, somewhat confused, brow quirking in faint disbelief, head tilting, holding up a finger hesitantly.
"Okay…not really sure if that was more of an insult to me or to you but I feel like I should be insulted on behalf of both of us."
Magnus chuckled, shrugging unconcerned, flashing a cute little grin.
"Sweetheart, it's not an insult, just a statement of fact. It's like saying you're tall or Simon's hyperactive or Raph's terrifying. You've read my file- and the extensive, expansive insert that is my citation and infractions record- and I've just told you that's basically the watered down, censored, edited for cable for content and length type version.
Anyone with common sense, half a brain or any even remotely functioning self-preservation instinct would be thinking the same thing. Hell if I wasn't me and I read my report I'd think it.
I know what my file sounds like. I know reading through my list of citations and infractions would seem insane to anyone and to someone as straight laced and by the book as you most of it probably seems totally unfathomable. The idea that THAT's actually the cliff notes version has to be making you really wonder just what the hell you've gotten yourself into here.
I get that, and I'd honestly be concerned if you weren't thrown by it. You look at them and all you see are crazy, seemingly totally unnecessary risks and stunts. You see it as me totally disregarding my own safety, putting my life on the line at the drop of a hat. But the thing of it is those are just notes, stats and data. They only tell a tiny fraction of the story- and not just because of my selective editing and creative wording.
There's a lot of things you can't really put into a report. A lot of things that don't translate to paper. You can't put in feelings or instincts or every thought, strategy and scheme that flits through your mind in a moment.
I work a case I don't go in with one strategy- I don't go in with any strategy. I work it as I go and at every turn I usually have no fewer than a dozen possible ways I can take it depending on what happens next. There's no way I can put every possible next step I have worked out into a report- if I did it'd turn into one of those weird 'choose your own adventure' type books.
See Alec, the thing of it is I don't really do my job 'by the book'. I do it on instinct, by my gut, my intuitions and my ingenuity. Going into a case I purposefully try NOT to have a plan so I can be open to any and all possibilities that end up coming up throughout the case. It sounds totally chaotic- and that's because well…because it is…it IS chaos…total Chaos. But it's organized chaos.
It may only be organized in a way I can see and understand but it is organized. There is a method to my madness- it's just really hard to see from the outside.
Hence my propensity for working alone." He smiled, shrugging, glancing up, again catching Alec's eye, flashing a slight smile and a fluttering little wave.
"I know how it sounds but it really does work. It works quite well. Just tends to seem a tiny bit panic inducing from the outside.
I mean, do I take risks? Yes. Can I be reckless? Absolutely. But despite what my file says I don't actually take unnecessary risks. I don't take a risk just for the hell of it and I don't take a risk that I think has no chance of working out. I take it because it's what is called for in that situation. I don't throw myself into danger just for the thrill of it but if I get a shot at something and it's worth the risk I'm going for it.
And despite what it might seem like I'm generally not in nearly as much danger as it sounds like in the reports. Yeah I jump into crazy situations but I don't do it without thought and without a backup plan…admittedly the thoughts and backup plans may be in the works the same time I'm jumping but they are there and I am a wiz with improvising.
I may dive into the crazy quick but nine times out of ten by the time I jump into the crazy I have exit strategies already in the works.
Multiple exit strategies.
So yeah I do take risks but only because I know myself well enough to know whatever crazy I jump into I'm crazy enough myself that I'm gonna be able to find a way out when I need it."
Alec huffed out a faint laugh, brow quirking.
"So your strategy is basically to out crazy the crazy you're jumping into?"
Magnus chuckled, shrugging, giving a faint nod.
"Pretty much."
Alec laughed again, shaking his head.
"That's insane."
Magnus smirked, head tilting, brow quirking.
"Exactly…'s why it works."
Alec laughed, shaking his head.
"There is no way that works."
Magnus shrugged, turning, once more beginning to move towards the building.
"My record begs to differ."
Alec snorted, automatically falling into step next to him, shaking his head, nudging Magnus's shoulder, flashing a lightly teasing smile.
"Your record begs for a psych eval."
Magnus laughed brightly, giving a dismissive shrug and a fluttering wave, beginning up the sprawling steps to the museum.
"Fair enough, but my way get results."
Alec huffed, shrugging.
"Well so do mine…and mine don't come with a laundry list of infractions and citations…that apparently are just the things you couldn't edit out with creative wording. Logic, details and reason are the way to go."
Magnus gave a bit of a non-committal shrug.
"Eh agree to disagree. We can take it on a case by case bases. We'll just split the difference, match the approach to the case. For boring, cut and dry cases your way works just fine. Seems to have worked on our Public Service Quest For Justice of the last week. When it's a clear cut, logical, rational case you take the reins. When it's a more out there, crazy, chaotic type case? Those I take the lead.
Seems fair enough, yes?"
Alec huffed out a faint chuckle, brow raising.
"You take the lead, hmm?"
Magnus smirked, brow quirking right back teasingly, looking up at him through his lashes.
"What, you gotta problem working under me Detective?"
Alec swallowed, flushing brightly, an embarrassing little giggle slipping out before catching himself, huffing faintly, rolling his eyes in false exasperation, nudging his shoulder lightly.
"Cute…"
Magnus grinned, flashing a teasing wink.
"Thanks…I do try. So yes?"
Alec chuckled, shaking his head, leaning in faintly.
"I didn't say yes."
Magnus smiled coaxingly, leaning in as well.
"You didn't say no either."
Alec sighed, beginning to shake his head.
"Magnus I don't-"
Magnus huffed, catching his arm, lightly squeezing.
"Ah come on sweetheart, this is a partnership. Admittedly I don't have a hell of a lot of experience with them but one thing I do know is they're supposed to be about a team up of equals. Equal means both of us get a chance taking the lead. It also means one of us doesn't run roughshod over the other. We work as a team and each get an equal say. This makes a lot more sense than just flipping a coin or whatever. We simply match the tactics to the tone of the case.
Calm, cool, rational cases, we go your logic and rational type way. Crazy, oddball, bizzaro cases? The ones with the wild twists and unexpected turns? The totally out of left field type ones? Those we use my tactics.
Seem fair?"
Alec snorted.
"So in other words you take the lead on all the interesting cases and I get the lead on all the ones that you don't want? How's THAT fair?"
Magnus grinned, giving a fluttery little wave.
"Because but it is! Statistically we'll get way more of the boring, clear cut, by the bookish type cases. That means you'd take the lead the majority of the time."
"And you'd take it when it was actually something really interesting!"
Magnus shrugged, giving a flickering wave.
"Okay I can see how you'd see it like that but this is definitely the way to go. This is a partnership; it's all about playing to our strengths and shoring up each other's weaknesses. Crazy tactics are totally my wheelhouse."
Alec snorted, nodding animatedly.
"Definitely can't argue that one."
Magnus chuckled, shrugging, totally unconcerned.
"No you really can't. And in my experience the general rule of thumb? The crazier the case is the crazier the tactics you are gonna need to solve it."
Alec scoffed, animatedly shaking his head.
"Well in MY experience the crazier the case the more logical and rational you have to be to solve it. It takes a lot of patience and skillfulness to bring order to chaos."
Magnus laughed, nodding animatedly.
"True enough, it really does. Which is exactly why you specifically DON'T try to bring order and logic to the situation. Trying to apply logic to an illogical situation is in itself illogical. It's just a waste of time, like shouting into the void or swimming against the current. You don't fight and try to rationalize the chaos, you just lean into it, make it work for you rather than against you."
Alec blinked, unable to stop a faintly disbelieving smile.
"So your method is just to lean into the crazy until you come around to the other side?"
Magnus smiled, nodding.
"Yup, that's the key. Trust me it works every time and it gets you to the finish line way faster."
Alec snorted, turning back towards him, leaning back against the door of the museum, brow quirking, flashing a teasing little smirk.
"Yeah but at least my way when you get to the finish line it isn't on fire…and you're not getting there in the trunk of a hitman's getaway car."
Magnus chuckled, shrugging unconcerned.
"Hey, it's not always about the journey, it's about the destination."
Alec blinked, head tilting curiously, holding up a finger.
"I think you have that backwards."
Magnus shrugged, reaching forward, reaching for the door handle.
"I've heard it both ways."
"No you haven't!"
"Sure I have." Magnus's chirped, reaching forward, resting his hand on the door handle, freezing.
"No y-"
Magnus blinked a moment, breath catching faintly, head tilting, an odd little spark flickering in his pretty, deep brown eyes, glancing up, catching Alec's eye, holding up his free hand.
"Okay you know, you're right. That isn't really a fair way to decide who leads what case. We should leave it up to fate."
Alec huffed, brow raising.
"What, you actually want to flip a coin?"
Magnus shrugged.
"Eh, we could but I was actually I was thinking more along the lines of a bet."
"What bet?"
Magnus shrugged.
"Well, with the case you'd mentioned something about some super expensive, 14th century sword?"
Alec blinked, head tilting.
"Uh huh?"
Magnus smirked, nodding, giving a fluttering little wave.
"Well how about whoever gets a lead on the sword first gets to be the lead on the case?"
Alec again blinked in faint confusion, hesitantly holding up a finger.
"S-so…whoever solves the case leads the investigation? Tha-"
Magnus shook his head, smiling.
"Not the whole case. Just that one little part. Until one of us does we just work it as a team. Whoever gets a solid lead on the sword first is the lead detective for the case from there on out. How's that sound?"
Alec huffed out a faint laugh.
"Sounds like we'll be done with the case before we figure out who's leading the investigation."
Magnus shrugged, smirking, giving another fluttering little wave.
"Maybe…maybe not.
So that's a yes? It's a bet?"
Alec chuckled, shrugging, giving a bit of a wave, reaching over, resting his free hand on Magnus's on the door handle, pulling it open, holding it for the other detective, nodding.
"Sure, whatever it's a bet."
Magnus chuckled, the sound soft and low, nodding, shifting a bit closer.
"Mmm…wonderful. And don't worry detective, think you'll really enjoy working under me." He chuckled, flashing a teasing little wink.
Magnus hummed softly, turned his hand, catching Alec's, squeezing lightly, slipping into the building, far closer to the other man than is strictly necessary, brushing lightly against him. He lingers a moment, hand trailing up Alec's arm before he turns, all but slinking into the building.
Alec freezes a moment, throat dry, pulse fluttering. He takes a stuttery breath, gaze shifting over the retreating figure, lingering appreciatively, leaning rather heavily against the door, taking the weight off his suddenly rubbery knees, an excited little shiver inducing thrill slipping down his spine.
Damn…
O-okay…cool it.
Work…partner…case…
Still…
Damn…
Really he was j-
He started faintly, coming back to himself, pushing away from the door, hurrying to catch up to the other detective who's already clear across the foyer, standing in the center of the room. Alec quickly stepped over next to him, trying to go for a casual, relaxed stance, pausing, gaze shifting around the lobby curiously.
"Kay so the museum curator is supposed to meet us in her office. They said it's just off the lobby. Do you see it?"
Magnus nodded.
"Yup…right there. Right next to the room with the 14th century sword."
Alec's head tilted, blinking in confusion.
"The wha-" he trailed off, eyes slipping from the dark blue door to the archway next to it and the illuminated glass case with the gleaming sword standing in the very center of the room.
Alec swallowed, holding up a finger.
"Umm…t-that…that's-"
"Yup…"
"The one that w-"
"Yup…"
"But that-"
"I know…"
"So…so what does that mean?"
Magnus shrugged, smirking, brow quirking.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Alec shook his head. The smirk grew, Magnus chuckled, reaching over, resting his hand on Alec's shoulder, squeezing, patting lightly.
"It means I'm lead detective on this one."
{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^} *****End Of Chapter Notes***** {*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}Oh my gosh guys SO sorry for such a long wait. This year got off to a hell of a start for me and it seemed like life was throwing a lot of things in my way (good and bad) and when I finally got a day off here or there I either had a bunch of other crap to deal with or I just was not in a 'writing' type mentality.
In any case things seem to be evening out and I'm really hoping I can get back to having pretty regular updates once or twice a week (I'd like to get more than that but at this rate I'll just be happy with that).
We're getting SO close to the end of this round of stories (to the point where I'm gonna have to start working on the final chapters so they'll be ready as I like to have them done minimum two chapters ahead to give myself time for edits, re-writes and all of that stuff.)
Kay enough of my babbling onto the actual chapter.
Okay taking a wild guess you're just as confused as Alec and Mags right? Good…that's totally what I was going for lol. I know it's rather an abrupt ending but it feels like a good place. In truth this chapter was actually supposed to get into the case proper but I got caught up on the Malec banter and before I knew it it was over 5k and if I got into the actual case we'd likely have yet another 12k or more chapter. I've had like three of those in a row, I think the longer it takes for me to get an update the more I feel I need IN the update so the longer the chapter ends up and then the longer it takes to update and…uh….yeah…It's a vicious cycle lol.
I'd say sorry for not getting the story to where I intended but I'm really not lol. I really love them in this verse; they have a really fun dynamic.
Don't worry, we have plenty of room to get this sorted.
Here's the ever-present update list:
The Guy/Demon In The Mirror (Verse 4)
Nosey Neighbors (Verse 9)
A Study In Chaos (Verse 6)
A Start Of Something New (Verse 7)
You Can't Go Home Again (Verse 1)
Picture Perfect (Verse 8)
Love Bug (Verse 2)
Death Was Just The Beginning (Verse 3)
As you can see next up is V7 (My favorite) so yay! (for real this time- on my last update I'd said it was then I decided to do this one because…I-I don't know my brain rebelled and decided it wanted to do this instead)
In any case V7 is up next for sure, it's my favorite and I'm really hoping I can get it updated within the week, fingers crossed.
So what do you think so far?
Oh and Happy Valentine's day!
*~Page 27 of 27~*
{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^6-*Psychic Spectrum Verse*-6*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}