The law is the law. Maybe...

Chapter 24 (25-on AO3) - Parenting is easy to screw up but hard to fix

"You know, this was my room when I lived here."

"What? You were living under the same roof as the Italian mafia?"

"Yup." Nodded Magnus, for now not in Alec's lap with his back against the wall, but exhausted, with a sheen of sweat over his body, lying next to Alec in the bed, because for the umpteenth round they'd managed to get into the bedroom. Salvatore was like a father to him. Even before Ragnor caught them, he'd been here a few times. Salvatore took him in when he found out that one of his dealers was selling drugs to children. Yeah, they were criminals. Among other things, they made their living dealing drugs. But for an old-school mobster like Salvatore, family and children were sacred. He wouldn't allow his family to give drugs to children.

"A dealer of the family gave me drugs for free. And I, with my stupid mind, thought it would be fun. Well, it wasn't. It knocked me out, I was like a zombie. I remember Salvatore picked me up on the street and brought me here with his own hands. I was terribly sick. When I got well, he made me promise never to do drugs again. And I took his advice. It was rumored that after the dealer was caught, Salvatore took him down to the cellar and he never came back up again. At least not alive. And then sometimes, when I got in trouble, I was always welcome here. Salvatore's mother, God rest her soul, made the best pasta in the world."

"And how did he feel about you becoming a detective?" asked Alec, stroking the curve of Magnus's naked back with the tips of his fingers.

"Salvatore was proud of me."

They were lounging for a while, then got dressed, went down to the garage, picked up Magnus's car, Alec handed over the keys to room 304 and drove off. The sedan that followed them was no longer there.

They headed to the police department, to Ragnor's office. He sighed with relief when he saw them.

"Magnus, your friend, the Italian, left a package here. Well, actually, two."

"Oh, the agents have arrived? Good." Magnus nodded.

"Alec, we'll take care of the paperwork and I'll withdraw your suspension. Effective immediately." Ragnos said with a wide grin.

"Um, how about if that paperwork takes longer and you suspend me too?" asked Magnus to a now completely confused Ragnor.

"What the hell? Have you completely lost your fuckin' mind Magnus?"

"No, my mind is just fine, thank you boss. We are going to find this serial killer. By any possible way. And obviously, you know, most of my contacts have unacceptable reputations. And if they offer me something that's far from legitimate but might speed up the investigation, well, I won't resist. So I don't want you or anyone else to be in trouble. So suspend me too."

"No way, son. Anyway, for what?"

Magnus walked over to the desk, placed a kiss on Ragnor's forehead.

"Excuse me, boss. Don't take it personally." He said, and punched him so hard that his glasses fell off his head.

"What the hell. Magnus???!!!" snorted Ragnor after the punch, then finally realized what Magnus really wanted from him.

"You are suspended for 2 weeks." Ragnor said loudly. Magnus gestured with his hand that it wasn't enough.

3? showed Ragnor with his fingers. Magnus gestured to go further.

"You know what? To get you thinking about what you've done, let's make it 4 weeks. Magnus Bane, I want your badge and your gun. And be glad I didn't arrest you for assaulting an officer." Said Ragnor.

When Magnus theatrically threw his belongings on the table, he whispered a thank you to Ragnor.

Alec just smiled and rolled his eyes.