Hello, sorry for the delay, my computer decided to boycott me and that's why I couldn't update this Friday, but anyway, everything is fine now, so here's the next chapter. I don't have much to say, so enjoy and don't forget to share your thoughts, okay? I really love to read what you have to say ;)

Chapter 8

Magnus didn't know what he was going to do now that he knew Valentine Morgenstern was the man behind the slander against him. It had been two weeks since his friends had shared that information with him and still, Magnus couldn't wrap his head around it. The criminal had managed to trick the FBI into thinking that he had died all those years ago and since then, he had been laughing at theirs faces, making fun of their sacred system, and showing them why he was the best criminal to have ever existed. Magnus didn't like his bloody methods, of course, but he couldn't deny that what he had done was worth admiring. Valentine had managed to stay off the radar for more than twenty years doing whatever he pleased, and that was just as brilliant as it was unbelievable.

Raphael's contacts had been trying to track him down for days, but so far they hadn't found him. The man was nowhere to be found, it was as if he were, indeed...dead. He was invisible, like a ghost. Nobody knew where he was, where he was hiding, what he was doing, or where had he been all these years, but it was rumored that he had been all over the world having the time of his life, and now he was somewhere in New York City, planning his next big score. Why was he here and what was he planning? Magnus wished he knew.

"But why New York, though?" Magnus voiced his thoughts to his friends. Raphael and Ragnor had been there with him almost every day since they had discovered that Valentine was still alive. They had been trying to find the other criminal, trying to figure out why he was doing what he was doing. After all, three heads thought better than one.

"Maybe he just likes this city, you're here for that reason." Ragnor suggested.

"No, it has to be something else," Magnus said, "there are no records of him being here before he started to use my name, so I'm going to assume something or someone brought him here."

"I agree with Bane on this one," Raphael said, "he had already managed to stay completely off the radar for decades, why come out of hiding now and in one of the busiest cities in the world? He must have a very good damn reason, and bagels can't be it."

"Maybe there's something here that he wants?" Ragnor suggested.

"Yeah," Magnus agreed, "but what?" He questioned. It was really hard to try to think like someone he didn't even know.

"I don't know, but it could be anything." Ragnor said.

Magnus sighed. His friend was right, it could be anything. This city was a treasure in itself, a global power city with a significant impact upon commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. New York was an important center for international diplomacy and was often described as the cultural and financial capital of the world, so if Valentine wanted something, guessing what that was, it was almost as hard as getting tickets for that Broadway show everyone was talking about.

"It doesn't matter what he wants," Raphael said, "what matters is to know why he's trying to ruin you, and us by extension. Are you positive you haven't done anything to upset him?"

"How could I?" Magnus said. "Until two weeks ago, I thought he was dead."

"I know, but maybe in one of your heists you did something against him without knowing it and that's why he's trying to ruin you."

"Like what? I always go after museums and stuff like that, never against people. Besides, all my scores are always planned down to the smallest detail, there's no room for mistakes." Magnus said.

"I know, but no one is perfect, perhaps you missed something."

Magnus shook his head. "Impossible, we always check everything twice—you know that."

"I don't," Raphael admitted, "remember that I try not to ask about what you're going to do and how you're going to do it for the safety of us all."

"Well, Ragnor can confirm for you that we leave no room for mistakes—ever."

"He's right," Ragnor said, "it's practically impossible for Valentine to be after Magnus for something we've done, but…"

"But, what?" Magnus asked.

"Maybe he's after you for something someone else did." Ragnor said.

"¿Quién?" Raphael asked.

Magnus gave his friend a knowingly look. He didn't have to say who out loud, he already knew it, they all knew it.

"Oh..." Raphael said when realization hit him. "You think?"

"It's a possibility," Magnus admitted, "but I don't think so either. As far as I know their paths never crossed."

"So if he's not after you because some stupid revenge, or because you-know-who made him mad, then the only other reasonable explanation would be that he's using you as some sort of distraction."

"I agree," Magnus said, "but the question remains, why me? There are plenty of other criminals out there that he could have used. I know I should feel proud or something because after all, he chose me, well, my name, but I just can't. He's ruining my reputation and killing innocent people. I can't let him keep doing that, I have to stop him."

"But how?" Ragnor asked. "We know nothing about him, we haven't found anything that could lead us back to him."

"That's true." Raphael said. "How can we stop someone who's not there to be stopped in the first place?"

Magnus took a few seconds to answer that question. He knew his friends were right, but he had an idea, well, more like a plan. He had been thinking about it for days now, trying to weigh the pros and cons of it, analyzing whether he had lost his mind or not. It was stupid and risky, and probably the craziest thing he had ever done, but it seemed to be his only choice. Time was ticking and if he didn't act right away, Valentine was going to destroy him.

"We are going to need some help." Magnus said.

"From whom?" Raphael and Ragnor asked in unison.

Magnus looked at them. "From the FBI, of course."

"From the...wait what!?" Ragnor exclaimed.

"You're not being serious, are you?" Raphael inquired.

"Of course I'm being serious, Santiago. What better way to catch that bastard than by teaming up with the FBI, huh?"

"Are you out of your mind!?" Ragnor exclaimed. "In what world teaming up with the feds is a good idea? Do you want to end up in jail, is that what you want? Because if so, please go on and team up with them. I can assure you that in less than a day you'll get what you want, just be sure to ask them for a cell with a view or else you're going to rot in some morbid corner for the rest of your life."

"Why do you always have to be so melodramatic, my friend?" Magnus told his best friend. He loved him, but he couldn't deny that Ragnor had a tendency to blow everything out of proportion. "Of course I don't want to end up in jail, I'm not an idiot. I just want to put an end to this and given that we haven't been very successful on our own, I thought maybe we could use a little help."

"Well, yes, but from the feds?"

"Why not? I mean, they have the resources, the equipment. Besides, it's not like I'm going to turn myself in. I'm just going to help them catch Valentine in exchange for them clearing my name."

"And, how are you going to request that without ending up cuffed against a desk?" Raphael asked.

Magnus smiled knowingly. He knew exactly how. He had wanted to save this card for later, to use it only in case of emergency, but, well, desperate times called for desperate measures. "I guess it's time to ask Agent Pretty Boy out on a date again."

o-o-o-o-o

Alec was working on the security footage they had managed to gather over the past two weeks. They had several tapes that had led them to believe that fake-Magnus, as they were calling the criminal for the sake of this investigation, had run all way down 79th street until he had reached Central Park, so now they were trying to figure out what had happened after that. They knew he had entered the park, but they had more than 843 acres of land to cover, and so far, they hadn't been that lucky. Alec had shared with the rest of his team his theory about Magnus's body complexion compared to the man captured on camera and they all had agreed that Alec might be onto something, but until they had solid evidence to backup that statement, they couldn't confirm or deny anything.

"This is the last material we could find, boss." An agent said, playing a ten-second video where it was clear that the criminal had run through the park and stumbled at some point, but what was strange about the footage wasn't that, but the fact that fake-Magnus had disappeared from the frame in the blink of an eye, as if he had just evaporated.

"Replay that again." Alec demanded, standing up from his chair and walking until he was right in front of the plasma. "Slowly, please."

The agent replayed the video and Alec analyzed it, trying to see every little detail. "There, stop!" Alec said. "What does this look like?" He asked, pointing to a small spot on the bottom of the screen.

"A glitch?" Raj suggested.

"No, no, no, no, no, look closer. Please, replay the video one more time." Alec asked.

"It's a hand." Jace said when the video replayed for the second time.

"Exactly!" Alec smiled. "Someone pushes him out of the frame."

"To protect him?" An agent suggested.

"I don't think so," Alec said, "it's very fast and it looks...abrupt, so I'm more inclined to believe that someone is dragging him by force."

"Another criminal who was after the same diamond?" Jace suggested.

"Possibly, or maybe just someone who saw what he had done and wanted to stop him. This city is full of anonymous heroes," Alec said, "but either way we have to find out what happened here, I don't know why, but I think whatever happened after this video ends, it's key to find out who this criminal is. I know it's late, but tomorrow I want everyone looking at every camera to see if there's a different angle that can help us see what happened, okay?" He ordered his team. He knew that what he was asking for wouldn't be easy, since it was very dark and the footage wasn't of the best quality, but at least they had to try it.

"Okay, see you tomorrow, boss." His team said, quickly grabbing their things and leaving Alec, Jace, and Izzy alone.

"Sometimes you really surprise me, big brother." Izzy said, turning off the plasma.

"Why?"

"It took you one try to see that the spot on the screen was a hand, you have a very good eye." She pointed out.

Alec chuckled. "I don't, I just know nothing is what it seems."

"Either way, big bro, if we manage to prove that this man is not Magnus Bane, dad is going to be very, very mad."

"He's already mad." Alec said.

He had had an argument with him a few hours ago because they hadn't found anything about Magnus or Valentine in all the time he had been there, and that had led him to believe that they weren't working hard enough, especially, since Alec kept insisting on the same thing: that Magnus wasn't the one behind the last two attacks and that there was no way he could be working with Valentine.

"I saw him storming out of your office," Jace said, "what did you tell him?"

"Nothing new, but he keeps saying that I'm coming up with things to not see the truth, but as I told him, I'm the only one who's seen Magnus Bane in the flesh, I've been studying him for years, I know what I'm talking about. That, of course, doesn't matter because according to him, I'm losing my mind and we aren't working hard enough to catch both criminals."

"We aren't working hard enough? Yeah, right...that's probably why he left at five and we're still here." Jace said.

"Precisely my point." Alec agreed.

"Besides, he can't expect us to catch them just because he's here." Izzy said. "We haven't had any leads about Valentine since they told us he was still alive, how do we know that's even true? The Marshals turned down our request to see their files on the criminal, dad said it was because of national security, but we know it's because they probably don't have much. The man knows how to avoid us, he's been doing it for two decades. I bet they have the same information that we have."

Alec nodded. He agreed wholeheartedly with what his sister had just said. The fact that the D.C office had decided to take over the investigation didn't mean that they were going to catch them any sooner. Yes, their presence there meant more heads trying to solve this mess, but what they were forgetting was that they weren't facing amateurs, these were Valentine Morgenstern and Magnus Bane they were talking about and, although Alec was still sure that they weren't working together, they both were extremely clever and skillful on their own—and that made them very difficult to catch.

"What Valentine did, tricking the FBI into thinking that he had died, must be the reason why they all are so eager to catch him. If we're honest, he made them look pretty bad." Jace said.

"He made us look bad." Alec added. "Whether we like it or not, everything that happens to this institution happens to us, so their mistakes are ours."

"Yes, but-" Jace started to say, but Alec stopped paying attention because in that moment his phone buzzed, distracting him completely. It was a text message from an unknown number. He frowned because he never gave his personal number to strangers, but unlocked the screen to read it anyway.

"Roses are red, violets are blue, Alec Lightwood...what about date two?"

Alec couldn't contain the chuckle that escaped from his lips. This had been undoubtedly the most ridiculous thing he had ever received on his phone, and that included those nights in which Jace and Izzy—more often than not—had texted Alec under the influence of alcohol telling him how much they loved him and admired him.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah..." Alec said distractedly. A new message from the same number had just arrived. It was a simple address. And although Alec didn't recognize the number, he knew who was behind these messages: Magnus Bane. So he quickly ran the number through the Bureau's databases to see if something useful popped up, but the number was untraceable and the address was just from a restaurant. At first glance this looked like nothing but a normal date, but somehow, Alec knew it wasn't.

A new text arrived.

"7:30 p.m., don't be late."

Alec glanced at the clock. It was 6:47 p.m., he barely had time to get ready and...what? Alec shook his head. No, this time he would not fall into Magnus's game. The criminal was doing it again, luring Alec into his game board, but this time Alec knew better, this time he was prepared. This was his chance to fix what he had done wrong the last time, this was his chance to change the rules and make them play in his favor. He got this.

"Who texted you that made you smile like that?" Izzy inquired.

"What?" Alec said still distracted.

"Who texted you? Your boyfriend?"

"What!? I don't have a boyfriend." Alec said, quickly locking his phone and putting it in his pocket.

"Then who was that? You had a 1000 kilowatt smile on that serious face of yours." Izzy said.

"No one." Alec said, rolling his eyes at her, but he could feel his cheeks getting hot, not because he had lied about the boyfriend, he didn't have one, but because he had been caught red-handed, receiving texts from the criminal he was supposed to have caught a long time ago.

"You're seeing someone." Izzy teased.

"No, I'm not."

Jace and Izzy shared a knowing look. "Alec is seeing someone! Alec is seeing someone!" They sang in a mocking and rather irritating tone.

"I'm not, what are you, five? Stop! I think Max is more mature than the two of you together." He said, but his siblings were still whistling and smiling like idiots. Why were brothers and sisters so annoying?

"Who is he?" Izzy asked.

"No one, okay?" Alec said, getting up from his chair. "I have to go."

"Can we go with you?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I have some personal things to do."

"Oh, so you're going to do someone, I see." Izzy said.

"Isabelle!" Alec exclaimed, almost horrified by the lack of filter.

"What? It was about damn time, was it not, Jace?" Izzy asked, and Jace nodded.

Alec rolled his eyes again. "You two are impossible." He said, grabbing his jacket and walking out of the conference room. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Say hi to your mysterious boyfriend for me, okay?" Izzy said.

Alec resisted the urge to turn around and flip her off, after all, his mother hadn't raised him like that, but sometimes his sister really drove him nuts, she could be a real pain in the ass.

"Have fun and be safe," Jace added, "wear a condom, be responsible."

This time Alec did turn around and flipped his brother off. "Goodnight." He said, closing the door behind him and walking away, but even when he was already near the elevators, he could still hear Jace and Izzy's laughter across the hall.

o-o-o-o-o

Magnus glanced at his watch, 7:23 p.m., that meant that Alexander would be there any minute now. Well, only if he had agreed to their date, of course. Magnus knew that the agent must be really confused about it, first, because the address he had given him was from a very public place, and second, because, well, Magnus had asked him out again.

Magnus had told him that he would do it, of course, but he had meant it as a mere formality—as a false promise. They both knew that what had happened that night on that rooftop had been a one time thing, but there they were, repeating the feat again and on yet another rooftop. It was becoming kind of their thing.

Magnus's phone rang and he immediately took the call.

"He's here, boss." Elias said through the phone.

Magnus had all his men positioned strategically around the restaurant just in case something went wrong. "Is he alone?" He asked.

"Yes, he's walking in," Elias said, "he's a bit hesitant. He's looking around as if looking for someone."

"He's probably looking for me, what is he doing now?"

"Talking to the hostess, your friend, Tessa."

Magnus smiled. Tessa was one of his best friends and although they didn't hang out as often as they wanted, she was always willing to help and be there for Magnus when he needed her. So it always came in handy that she and her husband, Jem, owned so many restaurants in the city.

"She's guiding him inside," Elias reported, "the agent just asked who made the reservation."

Magnus laughed. Of course Alexander would ask that.

"Now she's taking him upstairs, they are almost there, boss. Good luck and be careful, he's armed."

"Thank you, Elias, be on your guard, just in case, okay?"

"Yes, boss."

Magnus hung up and put his phone back in his pocket. He was very nervous, he very rarely got nervous, but this man had something that managed to turn him into a bundle of nerves. Magnus didn't know what to expect from tonight, but he knew that everything was going to depend on the agent and his willingness to listen to what Magnus had to say, so he took a deep breath and tried to calm down, standing next to the parapet of the rooftop, just looking at the street to regulate his breathing.

Magnus heard the door of the rooftop being opened and took a deep breath.

"Alexander, right on time, I like that." He said, smiling with ease at the agent.

"So I made the reservation?" Alec asked, looking around the place.

"Of course, dear, you didn't think I was going to be so stupid to do it myself, did you?"

Alec shook his head. "You know this time I have my gun, my badge, and a pair of handcuffs with me, I could arrest you."

Magnus smiled. He knew that although technically that was possible, the agent was giving himself too much credit. Magnus hadn't chosen this restaurant at random, he had chosen it because it had an escape route. The agent hadn't noticed it yet, but it was there, hidden in plain sight. "You certainly could, but you know me better than anyone, I can disappear at any given moment. Besides," Magnus added, taking a seat at the table and motioning Alec to sit down too, "we're on a date, Alexander, you don't want to ruin it just yet, especially when I have a proposition for you. So why don't you sit down and wait until you hear what I have to say and then decide?"

Alec looked at him intently. Magnus could almost hear the gears in his mind spinning at the speed of light as he pondered what to do. Magnus knew the agent wanted to arrest him more than anything, but the curiosity to know what Magnus had to say was bigger.

"Okay, fine." The agent finally said, taking his place at the table. "But this time I'm not falling into your trap, any funny business and the FBI will be here in less than it takes you to say my name. Oh, and I'm recording this meeting."

"I can say I would be very disappointed if you didn't." Magnus said with a smile. "Anyway, I ordered for you, I hope you don't mind."

Alec shook his head, and Magnus took a moment to just look at him. The agent looked slightly different from the last time they had seen each other, not physically, his gorgeousness was intact, but he looked more confident, and not as uncomfortable as the last time. Magnus supposed it probably had to do with the fact that he already knew what to expect from his meeting with him, and also because he was carrying his gun. Magnus could see it beneath that leather jacket, which incidentally fit him perfectly. It made him look really badass.

"I like your jacket," Magnus said out loud, "I've already told you this, but leather suits you."

Alec ducked his head, and Magnus couldn't help noticing the flash of crimson that was turning the agent's cheeks a tone darker. It was sweet that something as insignificant as complimenting a jacket could have that effect, but Magnus couldn't help wondering why. Surely this man was accustomed to receiving all kinds of compliments, a mention about his jacket should be nothing, right? But before he could ask and quench his curiosity, their waitress arrived with the food.

"I hope you're hungry." Magnus said. Alec didn't respond, but the way he was eying his plate was a big sign that he was, indeed, hungry. "This time we're eating meat, so I asked for a red wine, but don't worry, I know you don't like the bitter taste, but this one has a very sweet bouquet, I'm sure you're going to like it."

They started to eat in silence, but Magnus couldn't help making small talk after a while. He hated eating without speaking, especially when he had such good company. Alec might be his natural enemy, but they had common interests, they had discovered that during their first encounter, so when Alec started taking too, Magnus just smiled and enjoyed the moment. They could talk about everything and nothing: art, music, life, history...books.

"Oh, and speaking of books." Magnus said, standing up from his chair and walking to the corner of the roof, where he had left a little something he had brought with him tonight. "I got something for you."

"I'm not accepting anything from you." Alec said firmly.

"Don't be like that, Alexander, you don't even know what it is."

"I don't care."

"It's nothing bad, I promise. Here." Magnus said, handing him the bag.

Alec grabbed it hesitantly, as if he were expecting for it to explode at any second.

"Go on, open it!" Magnus encouraged him, taking a seat again at the table.

Alec rolled his eyes, but complied, opening the bag. Magnus was watching him intently, trying to see his reaction when he saw what was waiting for him inside. And he had to admit that his reaction did not disappoint, Alec's eyes lit up the moment he saw the content.

"Are these?" The agent asked. He was having trouble speaking.

"First editions? Yes, they are." Magnus said. He'd had those books dusting on his bookshelf for years.

"I can't accept this." Alec said, putting the books on the table.

"Why not? You said you loved the classics, Shakespeare to be more precise. These are the Bard's first editions, anyone else in your place would be thrilled to have these in their collection."

"Perhaps, but I'm not like anyone else."

"Of that I am fully aware, dear, but please just accept them."

"I can't."

"Alexander, I didn't steal them, okay? These were actually a gift from someone very dear to me and that's the only reason why I've kept them all these years. I like Shakespeare, but I'm not a fan, those books have just been gathering dust in my place since I got them, don't you think they deserve to at least be read from time to time?"

"Who gave them to you?"

"The man who raised me."

"Your father?"

"No." Magnus said simply.

"I can't." Alec insisted.

God, if this man was stubborn! Magnus thought. "Please, they're just books, Alexander, accept them. You can even donate them to a museum if that makes you feel more at ease with yourself, but please take them. I want you to have them."

"Why?"

"Because you like Shakespeare." Magnus said. He didn't know why this man couldn't just say thank you and leave it like that. "Please?"

Alec looked at Magnus and then at the books. Magnus could see the resolution forming in his eyes, the agent was already reading them even though they were closed.

"Okay, fine...thank you."

"See?" Magnus smiled relieved. "That wasn't so hard."

Alec rolled his eyes and put the books aside, just in time for the waitress to come back in and pour them more wine.

"So...are you going to tell what was that proposition you had for me? Because let me tell you, a couple of books aren't going to stop me from arresting you tonight." Alec said.

Magnus smiled and nodded. This was it. Whatever happened after this would change his life forever. He was either going to team up with this man to bring down one of the most dangerous criminals of all time, or he would have to flee to avoid being caught by the agent and escape Valentine's reach.

"Do you remember what we talked about the last time we were in this same situation? About this impostor trying to ruin me? I know who he is. Well, not exactly who he is, but who he's working with or for, I'm not sure yet."

"You do?"

Magnus nodded. "He's working for-"

"Valentine." They said in unison.

"You knew?" Magnus asked, really surprised. Of all the possible scenarios he had pictured in his head, this had been the least likely to ever happen.

"We had reasons to believe that he could be behind all this."

"So the FBI knew he was alive?" Magnus asked, and Alec just nodded. That was certainly something really unexpected, and Magnus was used to the unexpected. "When did you learn he was still alive?"

"Almost two months ago."

Magnus frowned really confused. He couldn't understand why the FBI had gotten the news first. That never happened, it was usually the other way around. The criminal world, the underworld, always knew everything first, so if the government had learned about it first, that meant th-

"They also think that you two are colluded." Alec added.

"What!?" Magnus asked even more surprised. "They think we?"

"Are working together? Yes."

"We are not." Magnus said in self defense.

"I know." Alec said with a tiny smile on his face, and somehow that was all Magnus needed to share his plan. Maybe the agent was going to tell him he was crazy and try to arrest him, but he had to at least try it.

"I will help you."

"What?"

"I'll help you catch Valentine, that's my proposition. I know people, I know things, with my help and your resources, we could catch him faster." Magnus said.

Alec looked at him intently. Magnus had expected a 'no' right away, but the agent was actually listening to his idea. "You want to help me catch a criminal?"

"Yes."

"You're joking, right?

"No."

"What's the catch?"

"There's no catch."

"Of course there is, you're a-"

"Criminal, I know, but I'm being completely honest here. This man is ruining my reputation and putting innocent people of this city in danger. You want to catch him, I want you to catch him...it's the perfect plan."

"I want to catch you." Alec said.

"I know, but we could make a truce...we capture this bastard together and then we go back to how things used to be. You chasing me, and I running away from you."

Alec looked him straight in the eye, and Magnus could see that he was really considering the idea. "And what do I win with all of this? Are you going to surrender?"

"No, Alexander, but you will catch the most wanted criminal of all time. Something not even your dear father could do. Plus, you'll get to spend more time with me and if I'm honest, I think that's the best part of it all."

Alec chuckled. "And how do you expect this to work, huh? I can't have you under my custody if you don't surrender. Half the states in the country want your head on a stick, if they know you are working with us in some way, I won't be able to stop them from arresting you. I'd have to give them your head...on a stick."

"I know that, and, well, the thing is that for this to work we'd have to do it off the books." Magnus said. "I know you FBI guys have CIs everywhere, and some aren't even legal, so I'll be your unregistered informant. Think of all the things you could win with this. You would be the man behind one of the greatest captures of the century."

"And you want to help me achieve that...why?"

"I am a charitable soul."

"I know you, Bane, you never do anything out of the kindness of your heart...what do you really want from this?"

Magnus smiled. He was glad Alec knew him well enough, that would make this a lot easier. They wouldn't have to hide under false pretenses, they could be open and honest from the beginning. "For you to clear my name."

Alec burst out laughing, and Magnus got lost in that vision for a few seconds. Alec looked really handsome when he smiled, he should do it more often. "You really want me to clear your name?"

"Yes, when this is over and that man's behind bars, I want you to clear my name. I'm a criminal, and my name is everything to me. I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty proud of what I've accomplished so far. My work is pretty good, you better than anyone know that, and what this man is doing is making me look bad. So yeah, I want you to return my name to its former glory."

Alec eyed him suspiciously. "That's all you want?"

Magnus nodded. "Plus a truce between us for the duration of this, let's call it mission, so what do you say Agent Lightwood, do we have a deal?"

Alec took a sip of his wine without breaking eye contact with Magnus. Magnus didn't want to move, this was it, the moment he had been waiting for all night.

Alec reached into the pocket of his jacket and Magnus flinched, mentally getting ready to make a run for it if the agent drew his gun, but Alec just took a fancy pen from there and put it in the glass of water that was in front of him.

Magnus frowned, not understanding what that meant for a second, but then realization hit him and his eyes widened. That wasn't an ordinary pen, it was one of those devices the FBI used to record conversations, and Alec had just ruined it by putting it in the glass of water.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but deal."

So...it begins. See you all this Friday!