Once Upon A Time In Brooklyn

Chapter Nineteen: Larceny

"I need to see a man about stealing a horse," Magnus announced, sweeping into the Institute's debriefing room like he owned it. Jace, who had been reading surveying something on the screens abruptly closed whatever it was. Well, the shadowhunters could keep their state secrets, Magnus didn't want to know them anyway.

He glanced around the room. Clary and Isabelle were there. No Alec, which was good, but Hodge was there, not ideal. Even so, he'd take what he could.

"The curse?" Clary asked.

"The curse," Magnus confirmed with a nod, sitting at one of the empty chairs and putting his feet on the table.

"It's almost December," Clary said with a waver to her voice.

"There are three petals left on the rose," Magnus said and tried to keep up the air of not-caring that he'd shrouded himself in for the last month. It wasn't precisely working for him, and he was aware that he'd become insufferable to those around him, but he had nothing else left to work with. Nothing else left inside himself but a timer slowly ticking down to his now seemingly inevitable demise.

"Oh Magnus..." Clary said and it was like she was already grieving his death.

"Please don't," Magnus said, giving her a sharp look. She hastily looked away. "In any case, the tale is called the Black Thief. I need a shadowhunter to help me. You are the most famous black-clad ninjas I know."

"I don't know that tale," Jace said, folding his arms. He looked at Hodge who shrugged as well. Magnus had never had much hope that the ex-Circle member would have any help for him.

"I do," Isabelle said, getting to her feet and putting her hands in her pockets. She looked especially ravishing and Magnus wished more than ever he had picked a different Lightwood to get hung up on.

"Thank you Isabelle, you're help will be much appreciated," Magnus said, getting his feet off the table and standing. Isabelle gave him a slow smile.

"Oh no, I'm not going to help you," she said before pausing, waiting for his confusion to show on his face. "My brother is."

*

"Alec."

"Magnus."

They stood barely six feet apart, a table between them, and tried not to make eye contact. Alec could see that Magnus looked... thinner. Stretched. A like a glamorous suit washed too many times without care.

"You look well," Magnus said, his voice clipped. Alec nodded.

"Thank you," he replied. Luckily, Hodge didn't let them stew in their own awkwardness long.

"Well, now the pleasantries have been discussed, down to business," the ex-Circle member said, clapping his hands together. "This is a heist, essentially, though the logistics are going to be somewhat more complicated due to the item we're stealing being a... horse."

"Go on," Magnus said. "It can't be harder than stealing the Queen of France."

Hodge gave him a long look that said he had no time for Magnus' bullshit today, before he continued.

"From what information Izzy has gathered, the most precious horse currently in New York is called Steed of Bells. It's kept in a stable and is pretty well guarded," Hodge explained, pulling up a picture of a horse that Magnus could tell was worth a lot of money. It's black coat was almost as glossy as leather, its head held high. Kingdoms could have been bought with horses of that calibre once upon a time.

"Great," Alec said. Hodge turned back to them both.

"Now in the story, the Black Thief is caught and has to tell stories to the King for his freedom. You may have to be prepared to deal with mundane security guards and if you're caught, have some pretty impressive tales to tell," he said. Magnus shrugged.