Chapter Text
It's been a while since Detective Magnus Bane had a partner – and that was on purpose. Most people simply couldn’t keep up with him. He worked obsessively, relentlessly. Once he was assigned a case, it consumed him entirely until it was solved, no matter the hour or day. Sleep was optional. Meals were irregular. And personal life? Practically nonexistent.
Magnus didn’t have anyone waiting for him at home, only his cat. His former partners, on the other hand, had families, children, kinda a personal life. One ex-partner's wife even considered filing for divorce. Clearly, nobody could stick with him for long.
And there’s the other thing. Magnus Bane was openly, unapologetically bisexual. Proudly so. With eyeliner, glitter, and clothes that shimmered brighter than a disco ball. He was magnetic, bold, and utterly uninterested in hiding any part of himself for the comfort of others. That didn’t always sit well in the squad room.
Magnus had been working alone for about six months, and he was just okay with that. He had a privileged position in the police department. Both his captain and his superiors turned a blind eye to his actions because there was never a case Magnus couldn’t solve. They preferred not to question his methods because his results spoke for themselves. Everybody knew that Magnus had an extensive informer network and that he had “contacts” – some legal, some questionable –, but the captain was interested in results and didn’t ask. That gave Magnus the privilege of not having to work fixed hours. If he had a case, he worked nonstop. When he didn’t, he vanished for days.
He had just finished his latest case a week ago, and at this moment, he was sunbathing under the blue sky of Bali, when his phone rang. He glanced at the name on the screen, and the moment he saw that it was Ragnor Fell, the chief of the police department, he knew his vacation was about to end.
“Magnus Bane! Time to get that glittery ass of yours into work, I’ve got something for you.”
“It’s lovely to hear your beautiful voice, my dear, but I’m sunbathing my glittery ass off in Bali. Can’t it wait until the end of the week?”
“You’ve got two days. Change your flight. Be in my office at ten a.m. sharp,” grumbled the captain on the less sunny side of the world.
“Ten? Do you want to kill me?”
“I was going to say eight, so consider yourself lucky.”
Magnus groaned. “Fine, but only because it’s you. And you now owe me dinner for two at that new fancy place.”
“Done.”
“And I’m not going with you, obviously.”
“Obviously.”
They hung up the phone. Magnus made a few calls because he had no intention of traveling economy class. Leveraging his connections and privilege, he arranged for a private jet and continued sunbathing his glittery ass under Bali's cloudless sky.
Meanwhile, back in New York...
Ragnor picked up another call.
“Robert, I’ve got a new partner for Alec. Sending over the transfer paperwork now. He’ll report to me in two days.”
“Are you sure he’ll be fine with Bane?” came the skeptical reply.
“He won’t have time to do anything stupid. Magnus will run him ragged, and I’ll be keeping an eye on him. Trust me, this might be the best thing for your son.” Maybe even for that stubborn workaholic idiot, - he thought.
Los Angeles - Alec Lightwood's apartment:
“Dad, sorry… Captain , I don't want to go to New York. I have my friends here, I have my job here, and I have Camille here. New York is over 2500 miles away!” Alec Lightwood protested, pacing his small apartment like a caged animal.
Robert Lightwood folded his arms. His voice remained calm, but firm. “First of all, you don’t have a job right now! You were suspended, nearly fired, if I recall correctly.”
Alec opened his mouth to argue, but his father held up a hand.
“Thanks to your mother’s tireless efforts and a few favors called in, the case against you is being dropped, if you accept the transfer. Do you understand how close you came, Alec?”
“Dad, I was right! Shame on the police. That poor boy almost died in prison. He was innocent. I couldn’t let him rot there just to keep my record clean!”
“And I admire your sense of justice,” Robert said, his tone softening. “But that’s not how the system works.”
Alec looked away, jaw clenched. “I know you always say the law is the law. But if the law’s wrong... I don’t give a shit. I’ll do what’s right.”
Robert sighed heavily. He saw so much of himself in Alec — the fire, the sense of justice. But Alec still hadn’t learned that idealism could be a dangerous thing in a system that didn’t bend easily.
“All right, let me ask you one question,” Robert said, voice low. “Do you want to stay a cop?”
Alec’s answer was immediate. “Of course. This is my life.”
“Then pack your bags. You’re leaving tomorrow — one year. That’s the deal. You might even like it. And it’ll give you time to reconsider that FBI offer.”
“And what the hell am I supposed to tell Camille? Sorry, babe, gotta disappear for a year or lose my badge?”
“You know my opinion of her...” Robert stopped here because he didn't want to pick another fight with his son. He knew Alec had enough on his shoulders right now.
“That’s not fair!”
“I’m not trying to be fair,” Robert said, suddenly weary. “I’m trying to save your future. The apartment’s sorted. We paid six months in advance. You’re not a kid anymore, Alec, but you still have to face the consequences of your actions.”
Alec stared at the floor, heart pounding.
“You can’t make me go.” Alec made one last desperate effort.
“That’s true, Alec. Then take responsibility. Be at the Internal Affairs Division tomorrow at 8 a.m. and turn in your badge.” Robert said and was about to leave.
“Wait!” Alec said quietly. “You win, Captain. I’m going to New York.”
To be continued...