Riots are fascinating.

Like the Brooklyn skyline at night, a thousand minds come together as one collective group. They're more powerful than ever like this.

Riots always make the front page.

The group aims to destroy. The group destroys.

The group aims to take a stand. The group stands.

Despite the panic and flurry of movement, the group stays together.

There is a sense of calm, as if they don't see what isn't right in front of them.

And what's right in front of them is fascinating.

Magnus considered the potentiality for a riot as a group of Wall Street protesters paraded hundreds of feet below him on the streets.

Would they get violent?

The potential was always there.

"We all have the potential," Magnus muttered.

Talking to himself was another one of the patterns of loneliness he hadn't quite broken yet.

His phone rang from it's place on the kitchen counter.

Magnus waltzed into the kitchen, sliding in his socks across the tile and grabbing the phone as he slid past.

"Hellllllo?" he answered.

"Magnus? Good. Are you home?"

"Are you calling about our one-week roomie anniversary?" Magnus asked. He jumped up on the counter. "I swear I didn't forget."

"One week? One week— what? Magnus! This is serious."

"You sound distressed," Magnus observed.

"I need a favor," Alec said.

"Anything," Magnus said. "Well, not anything. Almost anything—"

"My parents— they live in Manhattan. I told them I got a new apartment in Brooklyn and—"

"They're surprising you, aren't they?" Magnus asked. He jumped off the counter and ran a hand through his hair.

"Magnus, I'm so sorry—"

"Don't apologize," Magnus said. "We just improvise."

"Improvise what? I'm an English major—"

"Really?"

"Yes, I— Doesn't matter! Please, I'll be there in 6 minutes—"

"Don't worry about a thing," Magnus said. "I'm very good at lying."

"We're not lying!"

"But you can't tell the truth either," Magnus said.

Alec made a strangled cat noise before hanging up.

Magnus became a tornado of activity for the next 6 minutes, picking up what little was laying around, and fixing himself up.

The elevator doors slid open and without a word, Alec joined him, brewing coffee, setting out mugs, cream, sugar, and wiping the counter top down.

Then the buzzer rang.

Alec sprinted over to the panel, letting them in.

There was a tense silent. Magnus waited patiently in the dining room as Alec danced from foot to foot.

How bad could his parents be?

They could hear the elevator arriving.

"And Magnus," Alec said, turning around quick. "Thank you."

The doors opened.

The Lightwoods both held themselves incredibly tall and proud. Their black hair matched Alec's.

"Mother, Father." It was a terse greeting but Alec's mother smiled, hugging him gently. But there was still something off and distance about them both.

Alec and his father shook hands.

Even Magnus' father would have attempted a drunken hug.

"This is Magnus Bane," Alec said, turning to face Magnus who hung back by the windows of the dining room.

Magnus could tell Alec was searching for a title— something more.

"Alexander's boss," Magnus said, finishing the sentence.

Both of the parents looked almost pleased, perhaps glad that Magnus was nothing more than business.

The Lightwoods crossed the living room.

"Maryse," the woman said. Magnus shook her hand and gave her his best smile.

"Robert," the man said. Magnus repeated the process. There was definitely something colder about Alec's father.

"Coffee?" Magnus offered.

"Yes, please," they said in unison. Magnus gave Alec a quick glance. He seemed to be frozen to the spot as Maryse and Robert took a seat at the dining table.

"Sit," Magnus hissed as he passed back by with the coffee.

Magnus sat across the table from them. Alec took the head of the table.

"So Alexander tells me you live in Manhattan," Magnus said.

"Yes," Maryse said. "We were very shocked to hear that Alec had moved to Brooklyn."

"So what exactly does Alec do for you?" Robert asked.

"Well, it's officially a paid internship," Magnus said, settling into his chair. "I'm an investor. Alec does minor calculations and on the good days, he's quite brilliant."

"What qualifications does Alec have for that position?" Robert asked.

"College level math," Magnus said. "That's really all it requires."

"But—"

"Robert," Maryse snapped, "there's no need to interrogate Mr. Bane."

"Magnus please."

"I am confused why you brought us to your boss' house though," Maryse said to Alec.

"Mr. Bane works late nights. It's just easier this way," Alec said.

"We saw your building got condemned," Robert said.

"I moved out before that," Alec said quickly.

"Guess they couldn't stay afloat without him," Magnus said. "I sure can't."

"You're too kind," Maryse said. "But aren't we imposing?"

"Day trading in China doesn't start until late," Magnus said.

"I mean—"

"Mrs. Lightwood, you're not imposing," Magnus said. "We haven't had visitors in days. It's a nice change. I will excuse myself however because I fear I am imposing."

Magnus got up. Alec's eyes follow him out of the room.

........

"Magnus?"

Magnus' heavy eyelids took a few attempts to open.

The lights were still off in his office but a thick bit of light came through the crack in the door.

"Alexander," Magnus croaked. "Come in."

"You were sleeping."

"What a keen observation," Magnus said, picking his heavy head up off the desk.

"Just go to bed."

"No, no," Magnus insisted. "What do you need?"

"Nothing," Alec said.

"I'm not your parents," Magnus said. "I am your friend. And I'm definitely not oblivious."

"It's a conversation for the morning," Alec said.

"Maybe," Magnus said. "But you've already woken me up."

Alec stepped inside and Magnus pulled on the chain of his vintage green lamp. Soft brown light filled the tiny office.

"What did they say?" Magnus asked as Alec sat in his usual.

"A lot," Alec said. "It's the first time we've spoken in months. But I guess the most notable is that they're getting a divorce."

"Are you upset by that?"

"No. Mostly because it's no surprise," Alec said.

"So what are you upset with?"

"How do you know I'm upset?" Alec asked.

"You wouldn't have come in here without reason," Magnus explained.

"How is it that you know me so well after a week?" Alec asked. "My parents have known me my entire life yet they don't seem to understand me at all."

"I choose to know you," Magnus said. "Parents don't get that choice. It can lead to a lack of empathy. Back to the question: what upset you?"

"I had to lie," Alec said, "to get them to even remotely approve of me. Even then, they don't approve of the lie we told. Will I ever be a success?"

"I hope not," Magnus said. Alec looked shocked. "What is success, Alexander? Define it." Magnus paused. "You can't. Simply because it doesn't exist. You could be me. You could have all the money in the world. You could be happy. You could have everything your parents ever thought they wanted for you but they would always want something more. You would always want something more."

"Why?"

"The human spirit," Magnus said.

Alec was silent.

"Do what you love, Alexander," Magnus said. "We live for 70 years and damn it, if we don't do what we want to do, then why the hell are we here? My father is happier on his bar stool than I was when I sat in this very room, night over night, pouring over bank sheets. So screw your parents, Alexander. If they're not happy for you, then screw them."

"Then what?"

"Hope for the very best," Magnus said. "The things that make us happy are very rarely the ones that pay."