a/n: Look you guys! LONG CHAPTER! Don't get too used to it... sorry.

-CONTINUATION OF FLASHBACK-

"Um… Bane?" Alec cleared his throat. "Magnus Bane?" He put his question to the intimidating voice behind the speaker as though he hadn't just been in that exact spot a few hours ago and didn't know exactly whom he was speaking to.

"If you don't tell me who you are, what you want, and how much you're going to pay me for it in the next ten seconds, I'm done with you."

"Oh, I'm Alec. Alec Lightwood. The shadowhunter from earlier. And I came here because I really need you're help…" He paused as he listened to the warlock yawn from the other end.

Magnus sighed and responded lazily. "I should really send tonight's bill to the Clave if they insist on sending their Nephilim to me."

"No. This has nothing to do with the Clave. Listen… Can I come up?"

There was a long pause and Alec found himself holding his breath as he waited for the warlock to respond.

"You said your name was Lightwood?"

"Yes. Alec Lightwood." He responded cautiously. Why should his name matter?

"The smashed brunette's brother?"

He remembered him.

"Yes."

Alec could practically hear the slow self-satisfied grin splitting across the warlock's face at his reply. He nearly jumped when a loud buzzing noise signaled the unlocking of the door. He pushed the door open and worked his way up the stairs, careful to avoid the still sticky railing.

Alec felt the anxiety creeping back into his system. He needed to focus. This was business. Just business. A warlock and a shadowhunter conducting a business transaction. Business, business, business.

He looked up as he continued up the stairs. There was the warlock's tall frame leaned up against the doorframe, his dark hair still slightly jelled up and his lips still tinted blue but his eyes were noticeably devoid of glitter. It made the long dark lashes framing his tired eyes even more distinct. Alec looked down at his feet to avoid being caught observing the man so closely.

Magnus watched him as he made his way up the final steps, stopping just one step below him. He was surprised to see the boy back here so soon. But he wasn't unhappy about it. Even if it meant being dragged out of bed for the second time that evening. The boy looked up at him again.

"Hello again, Mr. Bane. I have a business proposal for you."

"Hrmph," Magnus couldn't hold in the grunt of laughter. "What? Are you kidding me?" He held his palm out towards the inside of the apartment to allow Alec to pass. "I think we're past the formalities, Alexander. Come on in."

Alec frowned as he walked into the apartment, the warlock trailing behind him. He heard the door close and turned to face him. He felt uncomfortable being back here with no one else around. The last time he was here the place was filled with music and downworlders of all shapes and sizes. Now, they were alone. Maybe that's why he had been so awkward. He knew it was strange to call him Mr. Bane, but he had no idea he was going to say it until the words slipped out of his mouth. And even he heard how odd it sounded. Fine. Maybe it was too much. But the way Magnus was smirking at him was even worse. And something else was still bothering him. He didn't come here for chit-chat but he had to ask.

"If we're so past formalities why did you call me Alexander? Nobody calls me by my full name."

That annoying smirk only seemed to get wider.

"Mm. I noticed." What does that mean?

"That isn't an answer."

"Isn't it?" His white teeth flashed as Alec's frown deepened.

"Why are you talking in circles?"

Magnus sighed and rolled his eyes. "It's called flirting, Alexander."

Alec visibly paled and took an unconscious step back.

"I'm- What? - No, I just- Will you stop calling me that? Can't you just give a straight answer?"

Magnus took a step towards him and talked slowly, his eyes wandering towards the ceiling as he thought.

"Well, if you insist on a straight answer, I can't really help you. But mostly I'd say it was more of a reflex then a decision. And if I had to actually analyze it, I'd say there are two reasons."

"Well, just tell me so we can move on." This was not why Alec was here. He was supposed to be gone already. But now he was genuinely curious.

Magnus graciously chose to ignore the boy's pushy manner. He wasn't used to being ordered around, let alone by a child. But to have him standing in front of him, so interested in something as simple as the way he chose to call his name was—strangely satisfying to Magnus. In fact, he was surprised to notice how much he was enjoying this.

"Well—the first reason is simple enough. It suits you. The name fits you nearly as well as my favorite leather boot cuts."

Alec shuddered at the analogy. Sounds like his assumptions about the warlock's fashion sense were spot on. But the answer was not nearly sufficient enough, and the warlock knew it. It sounded as though he were just teasing him.

"Magnus." Hm… yes, Magnus could definitely get use to the boy calling him by his name.

Magnus bowed his head and watched Alec from under his lashes as he spoke. "What I mean is, the name Alexander, reminds me of a time when men were civil and chivalrous and had a lust for life and knowledge like nothing this age can replicate."

The boy's face went through such a gamut of expressions that it was difficult to tell if he was disgusted or pleased with the answer he received. Magnus snapped his head up to look straight at Alec and quickly finished his thought before Alec could react.

"And beautiful. They were also beautiful."

Alec's face was wiped clear of all expression then as he stared back at Magnus, his mouth slightly open. Magnus watched him blink, once, twice, thrice.

Alec searched Magnus' face for a condescending grin or a seductive smirk, anything to suggest he was still toying with him- mocking his inexperience or generally being every bit the equal-opportunity philanderer he seemed to be. But he didn't see it. Nothing he could use to fuel some kind of anger or annoyance at his words. And he didn't have the energy to feign it right now. Not with Magnus looking at him like that. Not when he had just called him beautiful. That's what he was saying right? Magnus thought he was beautiful. A flash of golden hair and piercing blue eyes flickered in his mind and the elation that was threatening to spread through him suddenly ran cold.

"I came to ask about Jace." He said abruptly.

"Oh." Magnus looked disappointed. Surprised. And hurt. Though he quickly put on a careless expression, Alec hadn't missed the emotions there. The High Warlock of Brooklyn was disappointed because Alec Lightwood had mentioned his parabatai. It was a surreal realization.

As surprised as Alec was by Magnus' apparent hint of jealousy, he was even more shocked to find that he was more than slightly pleased by it. No one had ever been jealous of anything Alec had done. No one had ever cared enough. The thought embarrassed him, he felt selfish and petty. He wasn't here for a self-esteem boost.

"Jace went off with Clary a little while ago and I'm worried that she'll get him into trouble. Actually, I'm sure of it."

"Ah yes. I see." The warmth in Magnus voice was long gone.

"So, I was hoping you could do a location spell to find out where they went."

The playful grin was nowhere to be found. Magnus was still looking at Alec but his stare had turned hard. It didn't look right on him. Alec felt like he was being attacked by those feline eyes and he refused to give in, staring right back at him. But he felt himself falter as Magnus' eyes practically dived into him, trying to glean some information from inside him, analyze him, come to some conclusion.

"And then what?" Magnus' voice matched his stare: harsh and cold. Alec was confused by the sudden question, still reeling from the mental warfare of their staring match.

"What?"

"Let's say I find you're little shadowhunter…."

"He isn't my shadowhunter." Alec wanted to kick himself for interrupting so forcefully. Only after saying it did he realize how much the quick response gave away. Damn it. What was wrong with him tonight?

"Okay then. Let's say I find that arrogant prat of yours-"

"Magnus!"

"Self-absorbed d-bag?"

"Why do you hate him so much? You just met him!"

"Hm. Let's see… he crashed my party, harassed my guests, vandalized their property, threatened me and then demanded details about my private business affairs."

Alec had nearly forgotten how rude Jace had been earlier. That's how Jace always was.

"Point taken, but tone down the name calling. He's really not that bad." A little white lie won't hurt anybody. "He wasn't himself tonight. He's not normally like that." Okay, a big black lie can't be that bad either.

"I'm sure." Magnus sounded unconvinced.

Alec sighed deeply. He was tired of defending Jace's behavior and apologizing for his actions. It felt like it was a part of his job: Train. Fight demons. Protect humans. Apologize for Jace. Just another day.

"Alexander. If I find him for you, what will you do?" Magnus' eyes had softened again. He sounded concerned. Alec responded without hesitation.

"Go after him."

"I can't let you do that."

"What do you mean?"

"If he wants to go put his neck on the line—fine, it's his choice. But you shouldn't go rushing after him and get yourself hurt as well."

"I'll be okay. I'm a shadowhunter. It's what we do."

"So is he. And he doesn't always need you to-"

"You don't understand. We're parabatai. He does need me. He always needs me. He always will." He recited the words that he had repeated to himself and to Isabelle many times over the years.

"I do understand, Alexander," Was that pity in the warlock's voice? "I understand exactly." Alec refused to look at Magnus. He didn't want to see that same pity reflected in his eyes.

Magnus knew.

He knew Alec's long-kept secret. He knew how he felt about Jace. And he felt sorry for him. Just like Isabelle. They pitied him- poor, pathetic Alec, pining over the Shadow World's golden boy all of his life, risking everything time and again only to end up watching the object of his affection chasing around some ginger half-mundie.. Alec knew how he must look to them both. But….

"You don't. You don't understand" The words came out as barely a whisper. Alec hated himself for the way his voice shook.

"Listen, Alexander, why don't you take the night off?" Alec felt Magnus' hand rest on his shoulder, just where Isabelle's had been only hours before. He was trying to comfort him.

Magnus moved closer to the boy, lowering his head a bit to match Alec's height. But Alec kept staring at the floor. "Parabatai or not, it sounds like you may need a break from tracking him around the city."

Alec was acutely aware of the warlock's nearness, his breathe disturbing the strands on the top of his head as he spoke. He felt embarrassed for letting him see him like this, as though he had burst into his home to demand comfort. He reminded himself, for what felt like the millionth time that night, why he was here.

"Can you help me?" He felt Magnus' hand move down his arm and pause at his elbow. Alec looked up at the warlock then, whose eyes were already waiting for his.

"Yes."

Alec let go of a breath he didn't know he was holding and stepped away. "Thank you."

Magnus turned around and walked back in the direction of his room. Alec felt suddenly awkward, standing alone in the middle of Magnus' apartment, especially after sharing a strangely intimate moment with the man.

Magnus came back into the room holding a hand mirror. "You want to see him?"

"Yes."

"You're going to owe me."

"I know."

"Are you willing to pay up?"

"Well, how much are you charging?"

"Really, darling, I doubt you could afford me." Alec wasn't sure how he felt about the endearment.

"How much?"

"10"

"Dollars?"

"Yes, dollars." Magnus' mischievous grin was back with a vengeance. "10 hundred dollars."

"Are you kidding me? One thousand for a location spell?"

"Hey, you didn't just come to some regular old side-street attraction here. I'm a High Warlock. You pay for the quality not quantity," Magnus was offended by Alec's incredulous stare. "Like Gucci. Or Prada. I'm like Louis-friggin-Vuitton." He realized his metaphors were getting nowhere as Alec's brow furrowed in confusion. Hm. That might prove to be an impediment.

"Is there any other way I can pay you? Protection from any pesky demons?"

"Ha. You aren't the only one who can protect themselves, shadowhunter." Alec heard a hint of warning flash behind the playful words.

Magnus' smile suddenly widened. "I've got an idea. If you're still up for the bartering thing that is."

"Depends." Alec responded suspiciously.

"My humble services, for your time."

Alec stared at him, confused. "My time?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, you're going to have to explain this to me." His time? What does he mean by that?

"Okay," Magnus continued slowly as if he were speaking to a child... a mentally challenged child. "I help you find your little shadowhunter," Alec winced at the repeated use of the possessive. "And you spend some time with me."

Spend some time—wait.

"You're saying you'll perform a $1,000 spell to hang out with me."

"Ah, now he's got it."

"But… why?"

"Because."

"Because why?

Magnus rolled his eyes. "Has anyone told you how type A you are? Do you need a detailed explanation for everything?"

"Yes."

"Well how about this: In case you haven't noticed, which I'm sure you have, because I'm not exactly a paragon of subtlety, you intrigue me. I've enjoyed this little session of ours, despite the interruption to my REM cycle."

"I intrigue you?"

"Very much."

"Why?"

Magnus suddenly felt bad for the boy. Was it that surprising that someone would find him interesting? He shook off the feeling, hoping Alec wouldn't notice.

"Alexander. Do you want me to find him or not?"

"I do."

"Then spend some time with me. I promise not to torture you or cast any ill-intentioned charms. It won't be that bad, you haven't totally hated this encounter have you?" Magnus was unabashedly fishing for a compliment now. Alec didn't want to give it to him, but he was even more concerned about coming off as rude to someone who was doing him such a huge favor.

"No, I haven't completely hated being here. And I appreciate your willingness to negotiate the price." He paused as Magnus waited. "I'll do it."

"Great! Let's get started." The warlock was all smiles and motivation now.

He laid the mirror on the table and turned his back to Alec as he kneeled on the floor and stooped his head over the mirror. Alec watched him, fascinated by the way the warlock's slender shoulders relaxed, entranced by the steady whisper of unintelligible ancient words. Alec felt like he was caught red handed when Magnus suddenly straightened his back and turned to face a still staring Alec.

"Found him."

- END FLASHBACK-

a/n: I know that some of you are going to cry foul about a certain detail that may seem to not align with the book. But no worries, it's coming. Perchance you would be so kind as to leave some comments as a reward for posting so much so quickly? Thank you readers!