Alec woke up at 7:00 the next morning to a phone call from Luke. Alec answered it a little groggily but he was awake. "Sir."

"Alec, listen, NYPD has another unidentified body on their hands." Alec was instantly alert. "He's young, no ID, we think probably Hispanic. A ferryman found him last night."

Missing persons and dead bodies were not generally something Alec concerned himself with, Jace yes, him not so much. Most of his work was money related. "Okay, and?"

"Well, they don't have shit to go on other than the kid was shot. The bullet was pulled out, all traces washed clean." Alec hummed along, surely the director had a reason for calling.

"His hand was stamped." Well shit. There it was. "Not Pandemonium, but NYPD has had several murders in the past few weeks. All the kids were shot and all of them had nightclub stamps."

"How can I help?"

"Well I know you're watching Camille, and looking over Magnus for me. If you happen to find yourself in the club, can you just watch out for me." Alec winced, he should really probably start hitting the books on that. He'd kind of been slacking off.

"Sir, is there anything official on this?"

"No of course not. I'm talking to Jace and Clary too, in fact any young kids I know in law enforcement that could legitimately hang out in clubs during their off time. This makes five kids killed. If we keep it off record, it's easy enough to push probable cause."

"This is a very long shot."

"Well yeah, but damn it none of us like seeing the bodies of kids turn up on the medical examiners table. To that end you should probably give Izzy a call. She got this one."

Well shit that's why she hadn't texted back. Alec sighed. He'd give her a call in a minute.

"Alright, I'm in. I hear anything or see anything, I'll pass it along." Alec thought back to Val last night at the club. Man really did rub him the wrong way, but he'd been hitting on Alec and Alec didn't fit the profile according to what Jace had been saying, the bodies were all teenage boys and girls.

8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8

Hodge Starkweather was a professional. One of the reasons he and Camille worked so well together was because he didn't draw attention to himself. He wasn't brash, didn't do drugs, kept everything as evenly balanced as he could. He was an "Average Joe", short sandy hair, boring clothes, and he watched his damn mouth. He never drew too much attention. That's why Valentine disgusted him. The dead kids weren't important, but their bodies were starting to draw attention. He was jeopardizing everything they'd all worked so damn hard for, and if he got picked up for the murders he'd sing like a god damn canary.

So Valentine had to go. If Camille hadn't said so, he'd have done it anyway. Camille for all the appearance of class, was one of the coldest most ruthless people he'd ever done business with. He had seen a lot in his years, but she was someone he wouldn't cross. Valentine really should have thought twice, eliminating him was going to be a huge relief.

First he had to find the shifty motherfucker though, Valentine had gone to ground, spooked by something. Hodge wanted to put a bullet between his eyes, but unfortunately that would draw attention. He needed to find a way to keep this as low key as possible. His phone rang and he groaned.

"Have you found Valentine yet?" Camille's sharp tone came through his bluetooth speaker.

"No." Hodge said annoyed. If he'd found the bastard he would have called. "I've dropped lines at his favorite places, he pops up and I'll know."

"Asmodeus is not happy. There were buyers lined up for the boy. Now that buyer has to shop around, and we're out the cash. Asmodeus wants Valentine's head."

"Understood. If I make noise he'll bolt. I'll get him, we just need to be patient."

"Asmodeus has no patience and you know it. Shit it was a lot of money."

Hodge shrugged. The boy was supposedly virginal, and they always came with a higher price tag, the sick fucks that wanted them kept them in high demand. Whatever happened to the kids after he delivered them was not his concern, they were products, and he delivered and there was no shortage of shitty people in this world to do the buying. "We have another boat coming in next week. Do we have an alternate location for storage? Valentine being loose means we're compromised. I don't want this overheard by the wrong ears."

Camille cursed, then clenched her hands into fists. There were only so many places they could store their merchandise and bring buyers in to view it. "I'll find a place and keep you posted." She mentally reviewed the warehouse space available to her that Valentine wasn't aware of. She'd go check some things out today.

8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8

Alec opened the door to the Mediterranean restaurant and wrinkled his nose at the smell of lemons. Not his favorite. Spotting just the people he needed to see, he walked over to their table. Magnus, Clary, Isabelle, Simon, Jace, and Alec when he could, all had lunch together at least once a week. He was using their family lunch as an excuse to drag Magnus away and talk to him. Alec hadn't had a chance to talk to anyone about what happened at the club, and Izzy had been radio silent on his questions about Magnus, so into the belly of the beast as it were.

Magnus was looking more like himself, a royal blue silk shirt that would probably hit him mid thigh when he stood, necklaces, and eyeliner all was as it should be. He was as polished as ever, and Alec rubbed his wrist with the memory of Magnus' touch on his hand. Get it together he ordered himself.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" He asked.

"Sure." Magnus replied with a smile.

Alec looked around the table at all the curious faces and scowled. "Can we take a walk." Hell this was probably the worst time he could have approached him. What the hell had he been thinking?

Magnus frowned at him but stood from the table, "Did something last night?"

Alec cut him off as everyone at the table's eyes widened with delightful interest. "Everything is fine. I just have something I'd like to ask you." Magnus followed him away from the table and when they rounded the corner he began to giggle. Alec looked at him confused. "What?"

"You do know they think we're hiding something from them right?" Magnus smiled at him softly and Alec momentarily lost his train of thought. Magnus was gorgeous, so damned gorgeous, too bad he just wasn't really marriage material. He liked parties, and fun, and well everything Alec wasn't. He sighed, caught his stupid moony behavior, and snapped back to attention. He was here for a reason.

"What are you hiding?" Alec watched him closely.

"I'm not hiding anything." Lie. That was a bald faced lie.

"Lie." Alec snapped.

Magnus eyes narrowed, his brow dropped, and with his eyeliner he looked fierce as hell. Alec licked his lips. "What business is it of yours?" Magnus said harshly.

Alec stepped closer to him crowding him against the wall. "Someone or something is fucking with you Magnus, and you are hiding it from us. All of us." Alec put his finger under Magnus' chin to lift his face when Magnus tried to turn away. "That is absolutely my business." Magnus' face went tight and he glared, but Alec wasn't backing down. Magnus might be able to weasel out of most situations, but Alec could out stubborn him any day of the week, especially when he was worried.

Magnus shoved at him but Alec planted his feet. "I'm serious Magnus, we're not leaving this spot until you tell me what the hell is going on with you."

Magnus crossed his arms and sighed. "I considered telling you the other day, but Alec I have no proof. Nothing. Nada. I don't even know how to get the proof I need." With a frustrated groan he shoved Alec away from him. Alec let himself be moved this time.

"Tell me now. I don't care if you don't have proof." He followed Magnus as he walked down the sidewalk in frustration.

"I think Camille is embezzling money from the club, but I can't figure out how she's doing it. I don't understand any of it." Magnus rubbed his arms against the chill of New York. Alec slipped his jacket off and handed it to Magnus absently. He didn't need it and he'd dragged Magnus out of the restaurant without really giving him a chance to grab his own. He missed the confused look Magnus shot him as he took the jacket.

"You do know blue collar is my department, if you don't mind and you give me access, I can take a look and tell you one way or another." Alec pulled Magnus out of the way of a man not paying attention, and missed another look Magnus shot him.

"You'd do that?" Magnus stopped on the sidewalk and Alec turned to face him. Raising his brow he stared Magnus down. "Alright, okay, I knew you would. I don't know why I haven't already asked you. I'm just scared I guess. I don't want to lose everything I've worked for."

Alec backed Magnus up against the wall, his most serious expression on his face, "I'm not going to let that happen." Alec tugged the lapels of his jacket closed on Magnus. "Be honest with me though. Have you had anything to do with what Camille is doing?"

Magnus stared into his eyes. "No." Alec let out a relieved sigh and Magnus' eyes narrowed. "There's an official investigation isn't there?" Magnus groaned and leaned his head back against the wall. "You're jeopardizing it now by talking to me."

Alec shrugged. "Not really. I'm not officially on the case. I'm not officially on a lot of cases." He said with a scowl. "Luke asked me to dig around to make sure it's not getting pinned to you."

"Perfect. Just fucking perfect."

Alec didn't like the defeated set to Magnus' shoulders, so he stepped back from the wall and pulled Magnus with him. "Let's get back to the others."

They walked into the restaurant again and Magnus slipped Alec's jacket back to him. Clary raised her eyebrow at him, but he shrugged at her. They both sat back down and Clary announced to the table, "Alec your hair looks fantastic."

"Thanks." He said warily. Then his sister hit him with the solid punch.

"So how long have you and Magnus been seeing each other?"

"What, we're not." Alex started, but Magnus' dulcet tones overrode him.

"A week or so."

8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8

Magnus watched Alec's face turn fire engine red and he laughed out loud. Teasing him was honestly the most fun he'd had in a long time. It was mostly true, he'd been actively seeking Alec out for about a week in the literal sense, but the undisguised horror on his face as he growled "We have NOT", with such vehemence, Magnus had the urge to check his face in the mirror. He didn't have horns or demon eyes, and except for Camille no one really complained about him before, so Alec's reaction was just slightly insulting. What was his deal?

"You all know we're just friends. Well not really. I mean he's Magnus, he was at the club with me last night when the fight began."

"Fight?" The table chorused together. Clary and Izzy looked gleeful, Simon looked horrified, and Jace was clearly betrayed.

"I didn't start it, well not exactly, but Magnus pulled me aside, and today I just had some follow up questions about…."

"What did you mean by "he's Magnus", are you implying something about my personage Alexander?" Magnus demanded, his eyes shining with delight at Alec's fumbling explanation.

"Nothing, well I mean except for...you aren't exactly…" His thoughts had apparently hit a wall, because he trailed off and put his head on the table.

"I thought we were friends." Magnus managed to keep a straight face and look solemn, a little hurt. He wasn't what? Alec's type? He'd go along with that. Alec was a cop, and Magnus was a club owner, the two things were not exactly compatible. Magnus liked glitter, Alec didn't.

"You did?" Came Alec's muffled reply from his arms. Clary was covering her mouth trying to muffle her laughter, Izzy wasn't even trying and Simon and Jace were both watching in fascination.

"Sure, you gave me a key to your place. Isn't that friendship goals?" He asked the table at large and Alec's groan vibrated the table. Clary lost her battle with her hand and burst into laughter.

"Oh my god, Magnus are you teaching Alec your moves. Are you going through his wardrobe with him?" Izzy asked delighted.

"No, no he is not. I'm moving. I gave him a key, because I'm moving out, I don't care what he destroys, I see what you all are doing." Alec said petulantly from his hiding spot on the table.

"What! you're moving?" Izzy said shocked, Magnus was just as shocked this was news to him.

"Yes, and I'm getting a dog and I'm going to teach it to bite certain people on command." Magnus hid his own grin. Alec was just too adorable. Poor Alec. He looked ready to explode. When the waiter brought the food, Magnus had to shift his chair, incidentally it put him directly in Alec's space. Izzy was on his other side, and when Alec tried to retreat she wouldn't let him. Magnus deliberately intruded upon his personal space, ensuring that their thighs touched, placing his hand on Alec's arm when he was talking. Alec couldn't read him the riot act in front of his family, and Magnus took full advantage.

By the time lunch was over, he'd pressed against every single one of Alec's nerves.

Well, let him be pissed, he thought as he went back home. Alec didn't like him like that huh? Didn't consider him dateable? Had been horrified at the thought of them together, that his friends and family might think they were seeing one another.

Too fucking bad, thought Magnus cheerfully. Part of it was because he'd known Alec for years, part of it was because teasing him was honestly too much fun, but another part of him was tired of hiding it all and he'd made up his mind...he was going to get into Alexander Gideon Lightwood's pants. He had a feeling he'd been stupid about Alec. If he'd just given it a shot years ago he might already be in his pants.

He hadn't really had a steady relationship since Camille, if what he had with her could even be called a relationship. Relationships were a lot of work, and he had a club to run and an ex to defend against. He honestly hadn't really been interested enough to make any kind of serious effort regarding anyone lately. Until now, that is. He'd always had a slow burn kind of interest in Alec he'd just never pursued him seriously, he had thought Alec had no interest in him. But the subtle signs were there. And Alec couldn't be more different than Camille.

Unless he had become completely senile, Alec was actually looking for a man. He'd changed his hair, his clothes, and he'd gone out to a club. Well Magnus was a man, and he volunteered as tribute. Magnus had no doubt he could convince Alec that he was in fact his type.

Now he just needed to stay out of trouble, and keep a close eye on Camille's bullshit. Alec's protective instinct had charmed Magnus, hell if he was honest, he'd always found Alec's taciturn attitude charming. His temper made him look pretty, and Magnus did enjoy poking at him, color him stupid. The thought of Alec wrapped around him made a shiver run across him. He had plans for those long legs of his, he bet they'd look glorious draped across him.

8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8∞8

Alec tried to control his breathing. This wasn't a life or death mission. Hell he didn't even need his weapon. All he had to do was walk into the store. One step in front of the other. He could do it. This could be done. He didn't move from his spot behind the wheel of his car. It was a Wednesday night. Work was over. He'd come here at Lydia's suggestion, but he couldn't get his body to exit his car.

Not boring. Not boring. Not boring. Alec sing songed to himself. He should just do this online. Lydia had said he needed to be in store so he could feel the texture. So he could get a feel for what he liked. Then all future shopping could be done online, but he really needed to visit the store in person for the first one. Alec groaned, how did men do this. Other men. Not him. God he didn't think he could do this.

He could do this. He was a grown up damn it. Alec stepped out of his car and took in the store before him. Lydia had sent him to a classy place at least. There were no half naked men and women, or hell naked men and women covering the store front, it was all silver and glass fixtures with royal blue cloth. He was slightly impressed. Walking into the place was another thing altogether. If he had a purse he'd be clutching it to his chest right now, the image alone was so silly that he laughed at his own self and walked into the store.

Men's lingerie…..what the hell had he been thinking when he agreed to this. He pulled out his phone and called Lydia.

"Get your ass in that store." She demanded before he even had a chance to speak.

"Oh I'm in here you harpy. What the hell do I actually do?"

He heard her cackle and gave a small smile in return. Looking around the room, he was thankful for the incredibly dim lighting but he was also relieved. This really wasn't that bad. It was similar to Victoria's secret, if a little bit more posh.

"Buy some frilly pink panties and set the men of New York on fire. Do you honestly think you're the only man who's ever been in that store?" She asked obnoxiously.

"No damn it but this is embarrassing." He whisper shouted as he walked to the back of the store. Then did a complete about face when he saw what they kept at the back of the store. Front of the store it was as he marched his way back up to the front.

"Touch the fabric Alec, pick out something that you might like to see on someone else. Buy silk, buy lace, but whatever you do buy something." She demanded.

Alec put his hand on one of the tables and did as she said. He'd had sex with plenty of club boys, but most of the time he'd never seen what they were actually wearing. It was too dark. In college they'd all just worn boxers. He ran his hand over the black lace boyshort style underwear and had a moment to consider. This place sold actual panties, but there were briefs as well. He could buy a regular selection, and throw in a pair of experimental ones and that would probably be fine.

That is, until he looked up and saw Magnus walk in the store. Alec froze, then he died, then he froze again. "Fuck." he said into the phone.

Lydia's voice came through and she actually sounded a little concerned. "Alec are you okay?"

"Magnus just walked into this fucking store, are you fucking kidding me right now." Alec knew if he moved Magnus would look his way. He knew the man would walk over and this horror of an evening would be complete.

Lydia started laughing. Hysterically. Alec whisper shouted again as he inched his way backwards. "Woman if you do not shut the hell up."

"Oh my god Magnus is there, this is almost priceless. Maia and Jace both think you two are banging by the way." Lydia said between giggles.

Alec, deeply unconcerned with the gossiping busy bodies she called friends, looked down at the table in front of him, he was standing next to a table piled high with red, black, and gold thongs. Some had lace ruffles, some didn't, but every single one of them were a quarter of an inch the size of the underwear he hand on now. Diving under the table was a no go, letting Magnus see him by this table was definitely a no go, what the hell was he going to do. Panic washed over him in waves. "This is all your fault."

"Oh yes, all my fault." Lydia said wickedly.

"I hate you." He whisper shouted one final time, because Magnus finally caught sight of him and his Cheshire cat grin lit up his face as he walked over. "I hate you so much." He didn't bother to whisper that time, just hung up on Lydia as her laughter exploded again.

"Well darling, this is the very last place I thought I'd find you, but also the most delicious. Can I help you with your selection?" Magnus looked like a cat with cream and Alec just wanted to die.

"I don't need your help." Alec turned like he was about to leave the store, but Magnus caught his arm.

"Don't leave and don't be embarrassed, if you think I haven't seen everything in this store on someone at the club at some point you are very much mistaken." Magnus said matter of factly. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with being interested in silk."

"That wasn't me though, I don't know what I'm doing and Lydia just told me I had to buy something." Alec said meekly.

"Alexander, there is nothing in this store that wouldn't look divine on you, and if there's anyone that can give you advice on what underwear to buy it's me. Why you were even talking to Lydia is a mystery." Magnus pulled Alec along behind him, over to a table sort of in the middle. He grabbed several pairs and handed them to Alec.

"Magnus seriously, this isn't…"

"Alec, who do you think goes shopping with Clary for Jace's underwear? And Simon's? I know what every single one of them wear, this is hardly different." Yeah thought Alec, they don't actually want to see you naked though, and with that thought Alec admitted defeat.

He wanted Magnus. Even though he was completely unsuitable, he wasn't the settling down kind, but dammit Magnus was fun. He didn't let Alec get away with being a bystander, and Alec admitted he wanted that, even if it was only temporary. Sighing in defeat he followed along behind the whirlwind of Magnus Bane. Magnus continued to flit around the store dragging a red faced Alec along with him.

"I like these." Alec said a little shyly as he picked out a pair of well panties were the only word Alec had in his head for them. They probably wouldn't cover all of his ass, but they didn't look horrifically uncomfortable. They were black and see through with little red filigree style flowers along the sides.

Magnus' eyes lit up, "Those are gorgeous. You should definitely get them." Alec blushed a little bit, but preened under the approval. Magnus had picked out mostly black underwear, silk and lace but conservative compared with some of the styles in the store. Alec liked every pair. With the underwear selection firmly picked out, they started to make their way to the register but Alec stopped. He wanted to test something.

"What is it darling?" Magnus asked a little distractedly.

"Lydia said I should get something in pink lace…" Alec watched Magnus' face. His eyes glazed over, his mouth went just a little slack. Alec smiled his own Cheshire cat grin. Magnus was interested, despite never showing any kind of obvious interest that Alec could see, he was definitely interested. "Maybe I'll come back and get something like that later." He said offhandedly as he walked up to the registers.