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Magnus walked along the sidewalk and put off hailing a cab back to his club smiling with fondness over Alec's complete befuddlement at his presence. Jace had been a dick when he called, but he said that Alec was feeling things, and he might blow up if they threw a party he wasn't aware of in their space.
Magnus, never one to miss an interaction with Alec, had eagerly jumped at the chance to visit his office. It was kind of pathetic how much he enjoyed Alec, when he knew Alec barely tolerated him. But he also knew, that despite Alec's prickly edges if he needed anything from him, anything at all, he could ask. Oh he might moan about it and claim that Izzy had to twist his arm, but at the end of the day he was a solid rock that Magnus could depend on. And he'd had an incredibly short supply of that in his life before he'd met the Lightwoods.
Over the years he'd done a lot for Magnus. Things he probably didn't even realize he'd done. And Magnus couldn't help but be grateful that they'd all come together like they had in college. He also pondered if he should go to Alec about Camille. He'd thought about it sitting in his office. Right there in the FBI, and who better to help him than his very own FBI agent. But, he'd held back. He didn't have proof. Hell he didn't even know how to find proof. He knew she was up to something, but he just couldn't figure out what the hell it was.
He didn't want Alec to think he was crazy, and he sure as hell didn't want to come across as some kind of hysterical idiot, so he held back. He respected Alec and his thorough appreciation of rules and duty, he didn't want to lose any more points in Alec's eyes by being the little boy who cried wolf. Alec's opinion mattered to him, more than he was comfortable acknowledging to be honest.
Magnus chewed on his lip and tried to think of what the hell he could do. He could hire a private investigator. He'd already asked Camille to sell him her half of the business, for far more than it was worth mind you, but he just couldn't deal with her anymore. She was becoming..., well she'd always been..., he sighed. The woman was the devil incarnate and he really needed to get her out of his life for good. How?…..was what he just couldn't wrap his mind around.
She had a particular skill, and Magnus had a really hard time pushing back against her. She'd fronted the capital for his dream, and a part of him was devastated that she was tearing that apart. He was also reluctant to admit defeat. The club was doing well, but despite the crowds of people paying to get in every night, he was still not turning a profit. Not like he had been in the beginning. He just couldn't figure out where the hell the money was going.
Shaking his head and wishing like hell he knew an accounting wizard, he himself knew some stuff, but he was no Camille. She'd been top of her class and could walk circles around people who thought they knew money. He honestly didn't want to think the worst, but she made it really hard.
Magnus sighed, brooding over it wasn't going to fix it. It was a far more pleasant a past time thinking about Alexander in his work suit. Magnus hadn't been able to stop himself from salivating over Alec's removal of his jacket, and the slow reveal of his forearms. The man was pure sex, and it was beyond ridiculous that he just moved through life so effortlessly completely unaware of the effect he had on others. Magnus had thought for years that he did it on purpose, had thought he was just a complete tease. It had taken Isabelle to actually open his eyes to Alec's complete unawareness of his own person.
Magnus had walked around completely baffled for days and utterly charmed. Alec thank god had never noticed Magnus' fascination. Then his defense mechanisms had kicked in, god forbid he become some sort of pining mess. He was beyond in danger of falling head over heels for the oblivious man, so college Magnus had thrown himself out into the world and he'd managed to come back with Camille. Magnus was both grateful and devastated by the turn of events. She'd crushed his heart under her 4 inch spiked heels, but he had the club. And for whatever it was worth, he still got to have Alec in his life, if only peripherally.
All in all, it could be worse.
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Setting the appointment with Lydia had been kind of nerve racking, even though he knew Lydia. She was incredibly nice and about as honest as they came. Alec still couldn't shake the worry that this was all useless, and it didn't really matter what ideas Lydia had or didn't have he was going to die alone. There was just something so humiliating about admitting that he needed help finding a man, like millions of people all across the world could do it just fine by themselves, but here he was….hopeless.
And did he really want someone he had to catch by using whatever tricks Lydia was going to teach him?
He groaned. Hell yes he did. The "real" him was getting him absolutely nowhere. If Lydia had to add a layer of polish to help him get the life he wanted, then so freaking be it. He'd wear fucking glitter….okay….maybe that was a little much. Alec dialed his determination back just a bit. Men like Magnus could wear glitter, remembering the flecks on his cheeks from that morning. Alec liked the look of it, but he just couldn't see himself applying the stuff.
Alec pushed through his office and headed out lost in his thoughts. The appointment with Lydia wasn't until later that evening, and he had a key to make for Magnus, so he stopped by the local hardware store and got that sorted. After leaving the store he set up an uber to get him to Lydia's and tried to push down his nerves. Hello new life he thought.
Knocking on Lydia's door ignited the butterflies in his stomach. Thankfully she answered quickly and ushered him into the living room of her home.
"Alec I'm so glad you set this up. It seems like ages since I've seen you, I don't get to as many of Clary and Isabelle's parties as I used to."
Lydia had always had a way about her that just put him at ease, Alec almost couldn't believe he'd been nervous. She was a beautiful woman and at a glance she might seem soft, but she had a spine of steel and she had fit right into their group in college. She dressed impeccably, but she never put him on edge like some high class women could do. His mom he thought suddenly could use a few pointers from Lydia's personable approach to social situations.
"It's really good to see you as well." Alec stood at attention in her living room and let her turn to face him. "So let's get this going then."
She raised her brow at him but smiled softly. "Alec it's not a race. What we need to do is sit down and have a little talk." She gestured at one of the comfortable chairs bracketing her coffee table.
Alec sat and eyed her warily, talk, what did she want to talk about. Now that he thought about it he didn't really have any idea what the hell she did to actually find men and women for people. Holy hell, why did he suck at everything?
"So, the first thing we need to establish is what you're looking for. I need to know what kind of man I should find for you. So you're going to have to fill out some paperwork for me, just take it home and be as honest as you can. The quicker you get it back to me, the quicker we can get started. I'm going to warn you now, the questions are personal. Incredibly personal, but confidential." She pushed a manila folder at him and he put it in his briefcase without so much as a glance. He'd look at it later.
"Now for this meeting, I want to get a general sense of what put you on my doorstep." She smiled softly at him and Alec slumped in his chair. He told her the whole revelation and sordid morning mess that had led him here. She kept her gentle accepting smile on her face throughout it all.
"Well, lucky for you I'm pretty good at what I do. And, I might be able to help you with that other problem as well."
Alec frowned. "Other problem?"
"A place to live silly." She said excitedly.
"Really!" Alec sat up straighter and looked at her expectantly.
"One of my clients had a kid graduate from college and move out of his rental. It's pretty reasonably priced, and it's available now. I'll get you his number." Lydia had stood during her explanation and walked to a small desk in the corner. She came back to Alec with a business card and a serious expression. "I think this is a good move for you, but I caution you...it's not going to be easy. It never is. We're going to fail a lot before we find you exactly what you're looking for. So try to prepare yourself okay."
Alec stood and took the business card from her, and pushed the folder under his arm. "I'm okay with that, I'm ready for my life to be something more." Alec walked out of Lydia's house with a spring in his step and a good solid feeling about this new path he was on.
Lydia closed her door with a smile and walked back into her living room. It had been a long time since she'd seen Alec and she remembered their college years fondly. He was just the kind of oblivious she needed. Grabbing her phone from the table she unlocked it and scrolled through her list of contacts. Selecting her most recent call, a deep voice came through the phone with a barked "What" that made her wince. She breathed deeply, "I have a contender if you still need someone." The harsh baritone ordered her to send the details, and she hung up the phone with a sigh of relief and a bit of regret.
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Alec fingers the key in his pocket and decides he may as well swing by Pandemonium on his way home and drop off the key, both saving Magnus the trip and him having to deal with Magnus in his space at work. Alec flashes his badge at the bouncer, but the guy knows him so he just waves him inside. Most of their parties are held at Pandemonium, and Izzy is sure to drag him to just about every one of them. He's familiar with the club, and had actually helped Magnus with some of the inside renovations before the place was opened. Izzy had twisted his arm, but he and Jace both had picked up hammers and hauled debris to the dumpster.
He took the steps to the upper floors two at a time and made his way down the hall to Magnus' office. He was about to open the door and walk inside when he heard the unmistakable sound of Camille's voice. He really did not like the woman, but he thankfully wasn't around her all that often. She and Magnus had been a thing for awhile, but to hear Izzy tell it, the woman had been pure poison and Magnus was better off when they'd broken up.
"Magnus do you honestly think you'll be able to run this place without me. You can barely keep things going when I'm out of town, you're basically useless. No one wants to work for you." Acid dripped from her words and Alec felt a simmering rage begin to build inside of him. Peeking through the cracked door, he saw Magnus with his head bowed and a drink hanging limply from his hand. More vitriol spilled out of her mouth, but Alec couldn't take his eyes off of Magnus. He seemed so closed off, so withered. Alec had seen Magnus in many different states in the 12 years they'd known one another, and the only time he'd seen Magnus this defeated was when his mom passed. Alec's investigator sense exploded. Magnus was in trouble.
He may not get along with Magnus, not like everyone else, but they were still kinda friends. And no one should be speaking to another human being like this viper of a woman was speaking to Magnus. He put his fist to the door and banged a few times to announce his presence, and then walked in without either of them acknowledging.
"Oh Camille. Didn't realize you were here." He said dismissively. "Magnus can I talk to you for a sec?"
Magnus turned slowly from the window overlooking his club and gave Alec a sort of glazed look. If he didn't know Magnus as well as he did, he'd almost say he looked drugged, but he hadn't touched any of that stuff in years. Upon closer inspection he'd just zoned out, so potentially whatever Camille was saying he hadn't been listening to. "Of course Alexander, what can I do for you?"
Camille huffed and said with a harsh sneer, "Magnus I wasn't done."
Alec had learned a few things in FBI training and one of them was how to assert himself in a conversation. He twisted himself between the two of them, cutting off her line of sight to Magnus and then straightened his posture so every inch of his 6 ft 3 frame towered over her, then he let his raised brow and resting bitch face do the talking.
Camille rolled her eyes and said "fine, we'll finish up later." She whirled around and stalked out of the room. Alec turned slowly back around to face Magnus.
A soft almost quiet look of vulnerability hung around him, and Alec struggled with the idea that he should go wrap himself around the man to protect him from the evil bitch that just left his office. He and Magnus weren't close like that though. Clary or Isabelle would have been across the room and wrapped around him before Camille had turned to leave. Alec clenched his hands into fists by his side, not entirely certain where this reaction was coming from. Magnus sat his drink down on his desk, which he'd clearly been using as a prop, and visibly attempted to shake off Camille's venom. Alec watched as he built a mask and put it on so he could face Alec. "What can I do for you Alexander? I wasn't expecting you to drop by."
Magnus tone was fake, his expression was fake, and Alec wondered how many times over the years Magnus had used this face, this tone on him and he had been completely oblivious. How many times had he been so wrapped up in himself, that he missed the pain coursing behind his sister's best friends eyes. "Yeah it was a whim, sorry I should have called, but I went ahead and made the key for you and I thought I'd drop it off for you on my way home." Alec made sure not to raise his voice, and pulled the key out of his pocket. Magnus smiled at him and held out his hand. Alec ignored his hand and sat it on the desk, then he made a snap decision.
He grabbed Magnus' hand closing his fingers around his wrist, "If you needed help, you know I'd help you right. If you need something…"Alec trailed off.
Magnus pulled his hand away abruptly, and waved it airily in front of his face. "Everything's fine darling, Camille and I have spats all the time. Nothing to worry about."
Alec was paying attention though, and Magnus was lying. His face was drawn, and his eyes were nervously darting around the office unable to settle. God damn it. He vowed in that instant that he would pay closer attention to Magnus. Case or no case, they may not be best friends, but he still considered him, well….family, and there was nothing Alec took more seriously than family. "If you're sure. Anyway, sorry to interrupt, if you need anything for the party let me know." Alec turned to leave the office and heard Magnus' quiet "of course darling." as he walked out of the office. He jogged down the steps and quickly left the building.
He'd barely shut the door of the uber he'd left waiting, when he opened his phone and called his sister. On the second ring he hung up with a curse. He couldn't actually tell her what had happened at Pandemonium, because she'd ask why he'd been there in the first place. There was literally 0 reason for him to swing by and speak with Magnus, not one she wouldn't blow out of proportion anyway. With a frustrated groan he shoved his phone back in his pocket and scowled.
His case at the office was to look into Magnus' activities to see if he was a part of Camille's schemes, but he was honestly more worried about the vicious gleam in her eyes when she spoke to him. Was she like that every day? How long had it been going on? Why didn't he know about it?
Striding through his front door, he breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Clary. She would at least be able to catch him up on whatever the hell gossip he was apparently oblivious to. It was too bad she gave him far more than he bargained for.