"You are worthy. You are beautiful. You matter. You are loved." Magnus recited his incantations as tears streamed down his face. He had always been alone, even in a crowded room. Even when all of the people were there for his attention he was empty. The compliments people gave him felt empty and dirty. They all wanted something from him.

"Magnus Bane." He said, hiding the scratchy, emotional voice he had at the moment with a cough.

"We need to meet." It was the yellow-haired shadowhunter, whatever his name was didn't matter to Magnus because he was as fake as his leather shoes.

"You know my price," Magnus said as he wiped the tears away and pulled himself together. The high-warlock of Brooklyn could never show emotion. He had to remain calm and flamboyant as usual. No one cared to look inside the glittery star, they just wanted to see the outside and once it went out it was forgotten just like the tide goes out. It was inevitable and yet managed to cut like a knife every time.

"Where should we meet?" The boy asked and Magnus wanted to tell him to go to hell to see his father. He had even more power and that's all the shadowhunters wanted anyway. They took and took while treating him worse than the mud on their boots.

"My place. Now." Magnus twirled on his heel and imagined Alexander in his mind. Sure he was the same as the others but he didn't hide the fact. He was honest and purer than should be possible of a killer. "Bring the others."

"Why?" The boy asked, which pissed Magnus off. He was sick of explaining things to others who would be dying soon. He didn't need to waste time asking questions.

"Just come." Magnus hung up his phone and poured himself a drink wishing that it would do more than just give him a slight hum. He prepared himself for the shadowhunters to come, get his help, and then disappear. They hated him so much, yet they needed him so often. They came to him and then ran away.

"Hello?" A voice called after a crackling sound.

"Come in!" Magnus bellowed, allowing his magic to carry his voice to the people below.

"I'm sorry," Alec said as he tripped through the doorway, not expecting the door to open.

Magnus held back his laughter and looked behind the attractive boy. "Where are your friends?"

"They're busy." Alec shrugged and to Magnus's shock looked guilty and embarrassed. "I'm sorry, not that you're not worthy of our time or anything. They just, well Jace, he's busy and I offered to come. I mean I didn't offer, I just wasn't busy, well I wasn't not busy. I just well, um here." Alec shoved a bag into Magnus's hand that was about to slap the adorable kid to get him to take a breath.

"Thanks?" Magnus eyed it suspiciously. "What is it?"

"Open it," Alec smiled his cheeks a soft pink color. He shuffled from one foot to the other nervously.

"First, come in." Magnus ushered him inside and swung the door closed. He took a seat on one of the couches and Alec sat stiffly on the other. "Drink?"

"I don't really drink much," Alec said with a shrug then his eyes grew wide. "I mean, yes thank you. Sorry, I'm not used to this kind of stuff. Jace generally is the spokesperson."

Magnus chuckled lightly and made a glass appear in Alec's hand. "You won't offend me if you don't drink it."

"Thanks." Alec looked relieved as he took a small drink followed by choking. "It's good." He hissed as he set the drink down on the coffee table. "You should eat the tacos before they get cold. The bag." Alec scrunched his eyes and then his blue eyes were on Magnus again. "Sorry, you probably don't want greasy, street food. You can throw it away."

"Who are you?" Magnus asked without thinking.

"Oh, sorry, of course, you wouldn't remember. We only met once-"Alec stopped speaking, his mouth wide open, when Magnus waved his hand in the air to stop him.

"Alexander, I do remember." Magnus smiled. "You just surprise me." Alec rubbed his neck as Magnus continued. "Over the years I've become accustomed to the nuances of people but you; you don't seem to follow them."

"I'm nothing special, really." Alec raked his fingers through his hair and Magnus watched him closely.

"That, Alexander, seems to be the first lie you've ever told me." Magnus opened the bag and pulled a taco out to take a bite. Sure, it was nowhere near the best he'd ever had, but it was the only thing in his life that he had received with no strings attached making it taste better.

Alec didn't rush him or talk while Magnus ate which should have been extremely awkward but somehow Magnus felt comfortable. He enjoyed the quiet when he was with him.

"Now, Alec, what did you need?" Magnus asked moments later after he had put the remaining taco on the table.

"Can you help me get somewhere?" Alec asked him.

"That depends," Magnus sat up straighter and focused on the conversation rather than the boy speaking, or at least he tried to.

"I have to go somewhere that I don't want to. It's dangerous and I must go alone, but I don't think I can." Alec admitted.

"I thought Jace needed the help," Magnus shrugged.

"It's for him. I can't let him risk going." Alec mimicked Magnus's shrug. "He is far too important."

Magnus wanted to kill the blonde, but instead, he just clenched his fists and nodded his head so Alec would continue.

"It's a demon's lair. They took someone that Jace cares about. I need to get her out. I have an idea, but if they see through it then I'll probably die."

"And what is the plan?" Magnus asked him.

"To go in as the next victim. They're looking for humans to use as incubators for more demons, but with a shadowhunters blood, they can make an even stronger child. They're hunting for us, mostly women, but they've taken a few men. I need help making sure I get chosen." Alec said as if it wasn't the worst idea ever.

"And how exactly would I be of assistance?" Magnus asked him, already thinking of other options.

"Well, you can turn me into them. They're offering a hefty bounty." Alec nodded at Magnus. "They would never trust another shadowhunter turning me in and I can't trust anyone else. I feel like you are true to your word. If you promise to knock me out and leave me with them I know you won't do anything else."

"Knock you out?" Magnus asked louder than he had planned. "Why would I do that?"

"They wouldn't let me in awake. I have to appear weak and vulnerable."

"You would be vulnerable." Magnus was shocked. This was a terrible plan. Or did he just have too many feelings about the boy interfering? "Your friend is okay with this plan?"

"It's the only way." Alec shrugged.

"No, I'll go with you. We do it my way and then you stay with me."

"What?"

"You stay with me for the night and I'll help save your friend right now."

"Okay," Alec fidgeted nervously.

"I'll work a glamour on you and you'll be my pet." Magnus twirled his fingers and Alec yelped when he was forced to his feet. "This won't do." Magnus tapped his sparkling fingernail to his chin as he looked at him. "You have the looks but not the look."

"I don't-" Alec started to say and then went silent as the air around him heated and shimmered.

"Yes, much better." Magnus smiled at his handiwork. Alec was now in a black vest with his toned chest deliciously visible while still leaving enough up to the imagination. He had on jeans that hung low but were still tight in all the right places and simple, black boots. His hair was fluffed a bit to look like they had just had a little fun.

"Um." Alec covered his chest with folded arms. "Where are my clothes?"

"Where they should be," Magnus danced over to Alec to play with his hair a little more, "in the trash."

"That was my favorite shirt," Alec said, deciding that it was better to focus on his shirt than the way Magnus was looking at him. "And I liked those pants."

"Darling," Magnus ran his fingernail down Alec's chest, causing his arms to drop out of the way. "I'll buy you new ones."

"Why do I have to look like this?" Alec asked.

"Because my pet has to dress like my pet."

"Have you had a lot of pets?"

"Depends on what a lot means to you." Magnus grabbed his jacket and went to his favorite spot to make portals. "But, you are the most enticing, that's for sure."

"I'll open the portal and then we go. You will say nothing and do nothing unless I tell you to."

"What if you need help?"

Magnus laughed. "Alexander, I am the high warlock of Brooklyn."

"You don't even know where we're going and who we're saving."

"Clary, obviously and to the house on the end of Main."

"How?" Alec looked surprised.

"I'm not just looks and pizazz." Manus wiggled his fingers and started on the portal. "Not a peep, my pet." Magnus winked at Alec and a purple light grew in front of them.

An hour later Clary was back at the institute and Alec was walking back with an exhausted Magnus.

"Does your magic always drain you like this?" Alec asked as he continued walking, supporting part of Magnus's wait.

"Sometimes. It depends on what I'm doing." Magnus was too tired to not answer. "Thank you for walking me home."

"Of course," Alec stopped for a moment and traced a rune on his arm. "Even if I hadn't made a deal to go back with you I wouldn't just leave you on your own."

"Most would."

"They're pricks."

"Why aren't you?"

"I've been on my own enough. I would hate to make someone else do it too."

"You are something, Alexander." Magnus let the boy help him up the stairs and into his apartment. He knew that he wasn't going to let him leave anytime soon. He was going to stay with him. He was in his blood.