Hodge was pissed. Valentine had been at Pandemonium, right under Camille's nose, but by the time Hodge had made it there, he was gone and the NYPD was sorting the place out after the brawl. Damnit, he couldn't catch a break, it was bad luck, but he really wanted to get this done and over with. If he'd been half an hour earlier, he could have breathed a whole hell of a lot easier.

Valentine was out of hiding, which increased the opportunity for running him to ground, but Hodge felt uneasy about how complicated everything had become. Valentine was a hell of a lot slippier than he thought, just not slick enough not to kill the merchandise. He rubbed his forehead. Meliorn, the bartender at Pandemonium, owed him a few favors. When Hodge knocked on his door, he wasn't all that surprised.

Stare placid, face devoid of emotion the man said softly "I called you as soon as I saw him. It was unfortunate that someone started a fight soon after."

Hodge just shrugged. "No worries." Hodge wasn't really there to cause Meliorn problems. "Did you notice if he was with anyone?"

"No, he was not. He did buy two drinks for himself. A beer and a coke."

Well shit thought Hodge, he'd hooked up with someone or at least tried to, and because the brawl had more than likely interrupted his activities he'd be on the prowl soon. Hodge shook his head, what the hell had Valentine been thinking showing up at Pandemonium. How did the moron not know that Camille was out for his blood? It defied all reason.

"I appreciate it Mel. Keep an eye out for him tomorrow if you can. He might not be there, but if he is let me know as soon as you see him." Hodge passed the bartender a few bills. "You were definitely on point, can't help if a fight starts." It was too bad when Valentine disappeared, Meliorn would have to go too, but that was life. Smart men didn't leave loose ends.

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A black sedan pulled into Lydia's driveway, and a small thin woman stepped from the vehicle. She strode up the sidewalk and mounted the steps, the front door opened before she even stepped on the porch.

"So how'd it go at the club?" Lydia asked as she led the way to the kitchen, where the scent of freshly brewed coffee settled around the two women.

"He's a surprisingly good dancer," the smaller woman said neutrally. She had black hair that swung just passed her shoulders, and dark brown eyes, a slim build and olive skin. She would probably blend in almost anywhere, she had the look of someone who knew how to keep her head down.

"Anyone come onto him?"

The woman let out a small giggle and then coughed to cover her slip up. "Hell men were all over him. He has an innate air of pure mystery and bad ass energy that just glows off of him, the rainbow wrist band he had on sent a wave through the crowd. He's walking sex, and the little bastard doesn't even have to try. It's kind of gross." She opened up a cabinet door and took down a coffee cup, then filled it.

Lydia grinned. That was exactly the effect she'd aimed for in Alec's makeover, not that he really needed that much work. She was rather proud of her efforts. "Anyone buy him a drink?"

"He didn't really have time to drink anything. He hit the dance floor and then danced for awhile before a fight broke out. Some guy grabbed him, and his training clearly took over because he had him on the ground in 10 seconds flat. Pretty impressive."

Lydia's brow furrowed. "Did you follow up?"

The other woman arched her brow, the "do you really need to ask" all over her face. "He was clean. Magnus was there, he pulled Alec aside for a minute. They argued I think, Magnus left a minute later." The woman took a sip of her coffee and then frowned. "This is a shit idea Lydia."

"I agree!" Lydia said fiercely, she sipped her own coffee and then leaned back against her cabinets with a sigh. "It's better than no idea at all. And hell he's perfect."

"We can't keep tabs on every move he makes. Is he going to just ask your permission every time he goes out? Are we stalkers now, have we stooped that low?"

"No and we won't have to. I just, I just really need to see before we say anything."

"You really expect this to work?"

"Look, he's doing this anyway, with or without me. At least this way we'll get to…" She ran her hand across the back of her neck.

"I do have a life you know. Clubbing is for children and those without someone waiting for them at home." Her dark brow rose annoyingly judgmental, "I might miss an episode of Brooklyn 99."

"I'll buy the season for you."

"Fuck you."

"In your dreams sweetheart."

The smaller woman burst out laughing. "Good god, not even close. My dream woman is in my bed, no room for you." She winked, then sighed. "We really do need to focus on the job we were sent down here for."

"And we are, we're just scoping out the lay of the land and playing our hand a little smarter than we have been."

The woman's dark eyes narrowed at Lydia. "Is that what we're going to put on our reports? We've been working for over a year and a half, what are the odds this all blows up in our faces?"

"Look, there's this pressure, can't you feel it? Like something is about to explode. We need to be prepared for it to dump on us, is what I'm saying. And Alec, Alec's going to be the one that's hurt if we don't stay sharp. So get it together, be smart, and it'll finally be over."

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"So, how much did you wind up buying?" Lydia asked conversationally, her amusement evident. Alec groaned over the phone and she had to resist the urge to laugh out loud at him.

"None of your business and I still hate you." She did laugh then, he sounded like such a petulant five year old. She really had missed his grumpy ass, it was too bad they lost touch after college.

"So, did you at least try them on for Magnus in the dressing room? I'm sure he'd have appreciated the show." She said through her giggles.

"I'm hanging up, in fact I'm never answering when you call again. Between you and my god awful siblings, I'm never going to get a boyfriend. You are all ruining everything." Lydia shifted her phone to her other ear, confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"If you all keep pushing me at Magnus, like we're a "thing"..."

"You mean an affair," Lydia said helpfully.

"..then it's going to be difficult for me to find an actual boyfriend, because the owner of Pandemonium might not like it. Magnus isn't famous, but he is well known, damnit."

"I can see where that would be a problem, Magnus can be a bit vindictive given the provocation."

"You really have no idea. He once stole my clothes when I was showering in the local gym. I had to call Clary to come give me clothes, and I had to walk around the damn gym in a towel. And it was because I told him throwing a party for his cat was stupid. A little vindictive my ass."

Lydia was rolling. "Oh god that sounds just like Magnus." She wiped a tear from her eye. "So if Magnus is off the table, are you going out tonight?"

"I didn't say off the table, I just said not suitable. And, nah I'm moving into my house tomorrow, the movers are packing my stuff now."

Lydia chose to ignore the Magnus remark, instead focusing on his new home. "Do you have enough furniture? You've lived with Jace for a long time."

"Yeah, Mom is actually giving me some stuff from storage. I'm all set. I might need help picking out curtains though. If you want to come with Izzy and me when we go shopping, I'd welcome the buffer."

Lydia chuckled. "Send me the time and place, and I'll be there."

Alec moved into the little house that Lydia had suggested on Friday Morning, purely exhausted he dropped onto the couch and grinned. He was sad knowing he wouldn't be coming home to Jace and Clary every day, but at the same time he couldn't deny the excitement of having his own space. The movers had taken care of everything, he didn't even have to unpack, modern conveniences for the win. He didn't have a lot of things, simple things like curtains and pots and pans. He'd left all of that at the apartment, he and Clary had picked out most of it, but he wanted a fresh start. That meant picking things out for himself.

The little house had a small fenced back yard, and he'd kind of been joking at lunch the other day, but he genuinely thought he might get a dog. He'd get the shopping marathons out of the way first.

Groceries were first, then household items like a vacuum cleaner and a mop. He hauled it all home, and then spent the rest of the morning cleaning and arranging things that he did have to his liking. When Alec wasn't running a swifter over every inch of his space, he was shopping with Izzy and Lydia for new stuff for his house.

"You're like a little tiger, pouncing on things you want with no hesitation whatsoever." Lydia said looking at him appraisingly.

Izzy immediately laughed. "Alec's always had a one track mind."

"I can see that. I mean, he knows exactly what he wants. It's somewhat curious to me that he would ever ask for help looking for a man or with help changing his life." Lydia and Alec had filled Izzy in on why they were spending so much time together lately. Izzy had been briefly hurt that Alec hadn't asked for her help, but quickly recovered when Alec told her they may not have survived the ordeal. She had petulantly agreed.

"I didn't really know what I should do. Curtains and throw pillows are easy. Changing who I am so someone doesn't think I'm the most boring guy he's ever met….that was more than I knew how to do." Alec said with an absent shrug.

Izzy and Lydia looked at one another. "Alec, you're not actually changing who you are...you get that right." Lydia said concerned.

"Yeah of course I know that." Alec said, but he wouldn't meet either one of their eyes, and Lydia felt real concern in the pit of her stomach. Before she could push further, Alec was off walking to the other side of the store, in search of new sheets.

"I'll talk to him." Izzy said picking up on Lydia's concern. They spent another hour poking around in stores looking for little things the house might need. As they parted ways Lydia hugged Alec.

"So after all of this are you going out tonight? Friday's are usually pretty busy you might find the perfect man"

Alec laughed in her hair. "Yeah I doubt it, but I'll probably go out, I need a break and hell dancing was pretty fun."

She smiled on his shoulder. "Be careful, and have fun."

"Yeah, of course."

Friday nights at Pandemonium were always jam packed, so Meliorn wasn't really sure how long Valentine had been there before he saw him holding a beer and leaning over a woman in her 30's with enough makeup on her face that he could see the sparkle from across the room. She wasn't really looking all that impressed with Val, she kept turning back to the woman beside her and speaking, but Val wasn't taking the obvious hint.

Mel didn't look over again, he just grabbed his cell and called Hodge. "He's here."

"Well shit," Hodge said conversationally, "I really needed to chat with him, but I'm at work. Oh well, I'll catch him another time."

"Sure," Meliorn said and hung up.

Hodge slid his phone in his pocket, called two of his associates and simply said "Meet at Pandemonium in 2o. Bring your gear." Hodge pulled on a baseball cap, put his boots on, and pulled on several shirts to mask his silhouette. This disguise would be sufficient for keeping his identity under wraps at night. He borrowed a car, and replaced the license plate. Val was getting taken care of tonight, Hodge didn't cross his fingers but he did take a deep settling breath.

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Magnus stood on the balcony and looked over his club. Bodies were rubbing against one another, the bar was packed, waitresses were running the gamut across the room, and his dancers were drawing eyes from every side of the crowd. Magnus was pleased. The liquor order was short, and something was off with the deposits, but Alec had said he would take a look so Magnus tried not to freak out too much about it.

Camille had made herself scarce again that day, just one more thing to worry about. He sighed trying to focus on the success below him. Music beat against him and he swayed his hips slightly with the music. He'd started out as a dancer in a club like this. It's how he met Isabelle.

Asmodeus had been furious when Magnus had said he wanted to do everything on his own. He didn't want his father's money, and he didn't want his father's influence. So he'd got a job in a nightclub, and gone to school during the day. He'd paid for it himself, and it would always be a point of pride for him. About 70% of his staff was in college, and if they weren't Magnus made sure that was their choice and there wasn't something keeping them from it. Working like that had been hard as hell, but he'd made some damn good friends and created a life for himself far removed from his gangster father.

Magnus was wearing red tonight. A silk shirt that shimmered under the club lights, red liner and black nails made him look a little more impressive than he felt. He'd needed the little boost to his esteem. His accountant had called him that morning with more bad news, and Magnus had to sit down on his bedroom floor. Because if something didn't change soon, he might have to go to his father and do the thing he said he'd never do. The amount that Magnus might need was a drop in the pond to Asmodeus, but Magnus couldn't shake the pain of failure from his shoulders.

Magnus cursed his own preoccupation and made his way down the stairs, focus he commanded himself. He'd do a quick perimeter check and then go huddle with the bartenders and bouncers to make sure all was well. He slipped out the side door employee entrance and made his way around to the front of the club.

Three men were coming out of the club, the light from the Pandemonium sign very briefly illuminated their face. The one in the middle looked familiar, but a name didn't come to mind. He watched them walk across the crowded parking lot, and as they reached the car another man stepped out of the drivers seat. They all headed for an SUV parked further away.

One of the men must have been really, really drunk, because two of the men were now supporting him, one on each side, and as Magnus watched they hefted him into the back seat of the SUV, keeping his head aloft as they did it. Well at least they were taking care of their drunk friend thought Magnus, he was in no condition to drive apparently, he'd passed smooth out. They'd been walking okay from the club to the car, but the alcohol must have hit him hard. Two of the men got into the SUV with their friend, the fourth one went back to the car and got in.

Damn if there wasn't something familiar about that one too. Magnus shook his head and checked the time on his phone, the light illuminating his face. He continued his perusal of the exterior of the club, making sure they weren't in violation of any city ordinances, and then quickly got back inside and checked in with his staff.

Hodge sat in his car eyes burning like coal as he watched Magnus walk back into the club. Where the hell had he come from? He hadn't seen him leave the club.

It was dark, details were hard to make out, a drunk man leaving a club with his buddies was nothing that didn't happen here every night. Magnus didn't know him, though Hodge knew him, but he may have seen Hodge about the place occasionally when speaking with Camille. He'd just turned into a loose end. There was blood in the parking lot if anyone cared to look, and Valentine had a gash across his throat, if Magnus had caught even a glimpse of Valentine's face, since the son of a bitch was a regular here, he could identify the body and potentially link it to tonight.

Meliorn knew he'd been looking for Valentine, but said he'd been working, if he went in now that alibi was off the table. He was going to trust his associates too dump the body, and he would have to set up another meeting. One he was not looking forward to.

He was going to have to call Camille. God fucking damn it.

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Alec winces, Pandemonium is packed wall to wall tonight. He stood for a minute letting his sense absorb the pounding beat of the music. The dancers in the cages above the dance floor were on fire, and Alec had a brief memory of Magnus dancing similarly years ago. He'd been good, hell he'd been the most fluid dancer Alec had ever seen. His body just seemed to know how to move to the music, like it was instinctive. Alec had always appreciated it, though no one ever knew that he'd sometimes go and watch. If Izzy ever found out, she'd never let him live it down. So he'd sat at the back of the club and drank while watching Magnus mesmerize a crowd.

Alec ducked passed several men and women that made eyes at him, he was on a mission at the moment. Maia saw him and he sighed in relief. "Please, please tell me you have something cold."

Maia laughed and had his beer out before he even sat down on the stool. "Like I wouldn't have your beer for you. Jace called me and said not to let you get into trouble."

Alec gaped. "I swear they're a bunch of old ladies in a damn knitting circle, gossiping like they have nothing freaking better to do."

"Well, to be fair they're all basically old and married. They have to live vicariously through you." Maia wiped down the bar in front of him.

"You have got to be joking, there is nothing about my life that someone might want to relive." Alec said morosely.

Maia looked at him questioningly, but before she could say anything, someone slid in next to him at the bar. "Hello sweetheart, let's dance." The man slid a hand down Alec's back and Alec controlled the knee jerk reaction to put an elbow in the man's face. Instead playing with his rainbow bracelet. He always wore it at the club, Izzy had gifted him with it a week after he came out in college. Now he rubbed it against his wrist to keep his temper in check.

He turned slightly shrugging the man's hand off, "No."

"Aw come on. You're.."

"No." Alec cut him off more fiercely.

"What's your name?" The man said even more persistent, and Alec was quickly losing his patience. He did come here to dance, but he'd be picking his partners and right now he wanted a drink and not to be bothered. Alec's look seemed to finally get through to him, because the man finally held his hands up and backed away.

Alec could smell the alcohol on him and rolled his eyes. He turned back to Maia. "Someone needs to cut him off. He's had too much."

Maia nodded her head gravely, "on it," she said, and walked over to her fellow bartender.

Alec took his drink and stepped away from the bar and headed towards the dance floor. He was standing waiting for the next song, when a familiar voice whispered in his ear "may I have this dance?"

Alec sighed. He'd chosen Pandemonium. He was flirting with danger. He knew he was. But damnit, he couldn't get Magnus out of his head. Magnus wasn't suitable, he wasn't at all Alec's type or what Alec was looking for, and it would only be a matter of time before Magnus realized just how boring Alec really was. Then he'd lose interest just like everyone else had, but would their friendly relationship survive it? Izzy would kill him if he did anything that pushed Magnus out of their lives. He was family.

This would be more than just a fling. No matter how lighthearted they tried to be about it. And Alec had finally accepted that Magnus was interested. What to do about it, was an altogether different problem.

He didn't resist when Magnus pulled him onto the dance floor. A part of him had always wanted to know what it would feel like to be pressed against him, to feel every sensuous movement his body made as it absorbed the music. Was it ironic that the DJ chose to play Dancing with a Stranger...probably not. Magnus wasn't a stranger, but the sentiment was….well...appropriate.

Magnus slid around him, that was the only word Alec really had for what Magnus was doing to him at the moment. Then he wrapped both arms around Alec's neck and pulled him close. "So worn any of the panties yet?"

Alec knew the lights in the club wouldn't show everything on his face, but he could feel the heat and Magnus didn't have to see it to know it was there. Magnus chuckled low, "Oh if you could see your face Angel." His arms tightened around Alec and he swung them in a circle forcing Alec to hold on to him. Somehow they ended up chest to chest, closer than they had been, hell closer than Alec let anyone else ever get to him. Magnus pushed his chest against Alec's and then shifted his hips so that his leg moved against Alec's and then slipped right between them.

Alec felt a rush of heat that caught him entirely unprepared. He was on fire, sweat dampened his shirt, and he was hard with the barest movement from Magnus. "Magnus.." his voice came out hoarse.

"Yes Angel." Magnus shifted his hips again, as if he wanted to hear nothing in the world but what Alec had to say next.

"Magnus." God he was melting, like a hormone obsessed 13 year old boy he could barely form a coherent thought. His feet were moving because Magnus was guiding them, following his movements, but Alec could feel his center of gravity shifting. "It's hot in here."

Magnus laid his head on Alec's shoulder his breath tickling Alec's ear when he said, "I think it's perfect."

Well if he liked fucking sauna's thought Alec. But neither one of them pulled away, even though Alec was sure Magnus could feel the dampness of his shirt. It felt damn good to lie against him, their bodies just seemed to fit together. He liked it more than he should. The warmth of Magnus' arms around him should be uncomfortable, but all Alec could focus on was the definition of his arms. How damn sexy it was that the sleeves of his shirt conformed to the muscles so very tightly. Magnus very very slowly turned his body around so his back was to Alec's chest. He pulled Alec's arm across his stomach and rolled his hips. Alec inhaled the sandalwood sent of him and lost all reason. God he wanted to rub every inch of his body against Magnus. He brought his free hand up to grip Magnus' waist and jerk him back more snugly against him.

Magnus leaned his head back against Alec's shoulder and then just let their bodies move to the music. What song was even playing anymore? How long had they been out here?

"What's wrong?" Magnus said softly in his ear as he turned his head.

"Not one thing." Alec said softly into Magnus' neck.

"You tensed up."

"Magnus. Shut up and dance."

Magnus giggled, but he shut his mouth and they danced. No more words were said, they just moved to the music sinking further and further into one another. Alec gathered Magnus as close as he could, not really caring if Magnus could feel more than his belt buckle against his back. Then the DJ broke the rhythm with some song that neither one of them were feeling.

Magnus pulled slowly out of Alec's arms and grabbed his hand. Making their way to the bar, he asked if Alec wanted anything to drink. "Sprite." Magnus grinned at him, but went around behind the bar to grab the requested drink.

Alec ran a hand through his hair, if there had been a style when he left the house, it was long gone. He turned around on the bar stool to look over the club. Everything in Alec's brain was moving a little slower than the action in the club. He'd told Luke he'd look out for any suspicious activity while he was out, but Magnus had absorbed every morsel of his attention. Alec could barely focus now, and the man wasn't even near him.

"Wanna dance?"

A cute little brunette asked him. He was standing right in front of Alec. He was wearing a Stud Muffin shirt, and Alec smiled at him, but didn't get the chance to turn the kid down before Magnus appeared out of thin air with a raised brow. "He's not available kid."

"Okay." The guy said cheerfully, and wandered away.

Magnus jerked his head to the back indicating the VIP section. It was raised and gave an incredibly good view of the club so Alec nodded in assent and followed Magnus to the back. Alec had shaken off the daze Magnus put him in and started working the crowd. He saw a couple potentials. Oddly enough a woman to the back, dark hair, olive skin, dark eyes was setting off his senses. Something about her. He shrugged it off but noted her face.

"You're working now aren't you?" Magnus asked a moment after they sat down. Alec startled and shot a quick glance at him.

"This is NYPD territory technically."

"I know, but you're still observing. Jace and Clary do it too."

"It's habit."

Magnus smiled softly. "What's with the constant vigilance though? Even Clary and Jace relax."

Alec shrugged. "I mean I will when I get home."

Magnus' eyes lit up. "Oh how did that go by the way? Moving in and everything." He clarified.

Alec smiled a genuine smile. "I was really apprehensive about it, I've always had a roommate, but I have to say the idea of it grew on me. Moving in went well, I managed to get most of the stuff I needed for the place. Now that it's all kind of sorted, I need to set some time aside to come over here and take a look at things for you."

Magnus frowned. And Alec picked up on it easily. "What is it Magnus?"

"I don't think you should come here. If Camille were actually here tonight I wouldn't even have approached you."

"It's that bad?" Alec cursed himself for not going over the case files. He'd just been so damned busy. He swore he'd do it tomorrow before Magnus' party for Isabelle.

"Yeah it's that bad. Monday, I'll come by your office. That sound okay?" Magnus asked hesitantly.

Alec realized there was still a part of him that thought Alec wouldn't help him. "Of course Magnus. I'll take care of it." Alec took a drink of his sprite and continued to clock the crowd. That dark haired woman damn it. Did he know her?

"Oh are you coming to the party Saturday?" Magnus asked.

Alec raised a brow. "Do I have a choice?"

Magnus played offended. "Have I ever made you come to one of my parties?"

"No you just get Clary to cry at me, or Jace to manipulate me with my parents, or Izzy to threaten me; so i repeat, do I have a choice?" Alec leaned closer to Magnus so their shoulders were touching.

"Honestly darling, no you don't have a choice." Magnus grinned at him. And Alec had to admit, it looked good on him. So did the eye liner, it made his face shine and his eyes mesmerized Alec. He leaned closer, suddenly consumed by the need to kiss Magnus.

Magnus' eyes drifted down to Alec's lips. Bingo he thought. Then a loud crash startled the both of them and they jolted backwards. A woman in the crowd screamed. The DJ cut the music and then a glass shattered, Alec watched two men charge toward one another on the dance floor.

"Aw shit," Alec heaved a sigh and he and Magnus rose from the couch they were on, "Here we go again."

"Come on we'll go to my office. Maia's on the phone with the police now." Magnus rolled his eyes. "And the night was going so well, I'm beginning to think you're bad luck."

"Not my fault." Alec mumbled. "I was sitting with you."

"Yeah but, you've been here on your own twice and both times things get crazy. Believe it or not there's usually no trouble, the universe doesn't like you here." Alec grumbled at him some more but followed him obediently to his office. A little irritated that the opportunity to kiss Magnus was lost. He glared at every person they passed.