As it was, they were waiting for Magnus to be the one to open the door. They’d been to his place before but it had been a while and after their last job, he’d declared they were all in need of a good, stiff drink and invited them over as his place had both the best alcohol and the best view for the coming sunset. As insight into Magnus’ mysterious past was always welcome and a drink very much needed, they’d all agreed and followed him to his home. It was only when he went to unlock the door that he paused, hand above the knob even as his posture stiffened.

The crew followed his lead, instincts honed and immediately catching on to the fact that something was amiss.

It wasn’t until they entered the loft itself that Magnus suddenly relaxed and even let out a low chuckle, which didn’t make any sense as his lights were dimly lit and music was playing softly throughout his home.

Maia reached for her knife but the motion was cut off by Magnus sweeping into the room with a broad grin on his face and then ushering them in with an absent wave of his hand. The amount of pure happiness and elation on his face was something that even Tessa, who had known him the longest, had never seen before.

“Darling,” he murmured into the empty space, “this is a wonderful surprise. I take it Catarina has finally cleared you, or you’d still be sulking in the vents.”

As if summoned, a dark figure dropped from the arched ceilings, he was wearing an intricate harness that he seemed more intent on inspecting than saying hello.

“This,” Magnus said with a look of adoration on his face, “is Alexander. The man who stole my heart.”

That caught the man’s attention and he snorted, looking up at Magnus with a soft, fond smile that changed to a blank glower the moment he looked at Magnus’ guests.

“That’s his way of saying I’m his husband… and a thief.”

-

“How did you meet?” Asked Tessa, they were all curious but she was the first to voice the question they all wanted to ask.

They were in the living room, all in various stages of comfort. The dining room table had been bypassed as a night of what had been set for two had become takeout for all. Magnus had poured their drinks with a heavy hand and his husband had ordered them all food, a bemused furrow to his brow and a stern set to his lips as he’d made the call.

“Oh, such a boring, uninteresting story,” Magnus said and he fluttered his fingers through the air, drawing attention to what had once been assumed a merely decorative ring.

Alec, as he’d made it clear that only Magnus called him Alexander, snorted softly, shaking his head fondly and replacing his husband’s glass with a new drink before moving to sit next to him.

“Yes,” he said drolly, “it’s unbearably dull, better to skip over it completely.” There was a twinkle of mischief in his eyes however which proved true when Magnus gave an alarmed and oddly undignified squawk, looking at Alec with narrowed eyes and a dangerous gleam that made them spark with gold in the light of the setting sun.

“I only meant,” Magnus said and his voice was low and captivating, “to spare you the indignity of it being shared my love. After all, you were something of an adorable mess when we first met.”

Alec however, either had no shame or remembered things quite differently as he merely rolled his eyes, “he’s convinced that I jumped off the building because I didn’t know what to say to him and doesn’t believe me when I assure him that it was the fastest way for me to get to the ground.”

“Lies!” Magnus exclaimed and he was laughing softly, “I never doubted it was the speedier path, however I also recall a delightful little stutter and you saying something about getting back to the party and then throwing your lovely self off a roof rather than waiting for a reply. I almost thought I wouldn’t see you again, you were so efficient in evading me.”

“Wait,” Maia said, interrupting, “is he why we don’t have an actual thief?”

“That’s what you want to know?” Raphael muttered under his breath, “I want to know why Magnus married someone who jumps off roofs! He’s already a dramatic, daredevil without adding someone equally ridiculous. I can’t believe Ragnor didn’t warn me of this travesty.”

“Yes, well I rather like the thief I’ve got,” Magnus said dryly, “and they can get a bit territorial. Alexander was injured shortly before I called you all to form the team, I was just waiting for him to be cleared.”

“And the secrecy, why didn’t we know about him?” Tessa asked, narrowing her eyes at Alec expectantly.

“Is there a Lieutenant Fick here?”

It would have been great to say that Nate reacted fairly calmly to hearing his name, but honestly he stood up so straight so fast he nearly knocked himself out on the counter he’d been cleaning under.

“Who’s asking?” Nate replied, wiping the cleaning solution from his hands with a rag and trying to play off his surprise. Standing at the end of the bar was a tall, broad man in a khaki jacket and a baseball cap, a little scruffy but definitely not unattractive. Actually, Nate thought he was considerably attractive, but he kept his smile polite.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”The man apologized, taking off his cap. In truth, Nate had heard the door open and the man approach, but he hadn’t paid it much thought. What had shocked him was hearing his old title after almost four years.

“Nah, it’s not your fault. I get caught up in the work is all,” Nate said, waving it off and motioning that he was still listening as he continued to wipe down the counter.

“I’m Mike Wynn. Uh, a guy named Rudy gave me this card and said I should talk to Lieutenant Nathaniel Fick?” The man said, pulling a worn business out of his wallet and handing it over to Nate. Frowning a little, Nate turned the piece of stiff paper over in his hand. The edges were worn and the crease down the center was pressed firmly. He knew Rudy kept every business card he ever received tucked safely away so obviously this ‘Mike Wynn’ had been fiddling with this card for a while, or at least often.

Rudy wouldn’t have sent him a client unless it was legit, but Nate was still a little wary. He and his team operated outside the law, he had to be. He scanned Wynn quickly but carefully. Blonde hair, probably a lot of sun. Close-cropped haircut, probably military especially considering the heavy stress he seemed to put on Lieutenant involuntarily. He was half-turned to face Nate, but obviously kept the door in his peripheral and he leaned heavily on his back foot like he was ready to take off at a moment’s notice. Something was clearly worrying him so Nate weighed his options quickly and nodded.

“Alright, Mr. Wynn. Why don’t you take a seat and I’ll hear you out,” He said, cracking a smile as he watched the realization dawn on Mike’s face that he was speaking to the man he was looking for. “And call me Nate. No one’s called me ‘sir’ in almost four years. Not seriously, at least.” Mike nodded in agreement and waited for Nate to settle in the barstool beside him.

“So, how can we help you, Mr. Wynn? I assume Rudy told you about the services we provide,” Nate said, jumping right into business. The bar as empty like it usually was on weekday afternoons, so he wasn’t worried about discretion.

“Actually not really, he just said you could help with a problem I’ve been having. Wouldn’t tell me anything but that,” Mike shrugged.

“Well, how about you tell me about the problem you’re having and we work backward from there,” Nate said and moved to sit in one of the booths instead of at the bar.  Mike hesitated but followed.

“Ray, I need that exit,” Brad said, breathing heavily as he dragged the last security guard into a supply closet.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Bradley, this is a ten-digit passcode. It takes a delicate hand,” Ray replied, grinning as he watched the numbers spin.

“Yeah, well I can’t exactly stay here so I need that fucking exit,” he stressed, slipping back out into the hallway and moving quickly towards the door Ray was supposed to have open a minute ago. “I’m gonna be surrounded in thirty seconds if you don’t open that fucking door.” 

“Well I don’t know, punch someone. Isn’t that what you normally do?” Ray sassed just as the door clicked open. 

“Oh, I’m gonna punch someone alright,” Brad muttered to himself as he went through the newly-opened door. 

“Guys, we don’t have time for this. Our window is closing,” Nate said, effectively putting an end to their bickering. “Walt, do you think you can get in there and stall for us? Trombley is still in the vault.” 

“Yeah that’s a no-go, Boss. I know these guys. Schwetje thinks I’m a nephew of Raymond Patriarca from a money scheme a while back and I convinced his little toadie Griego that I was the grandson of the lost Grand Duchess Anastasia just last year. They may be stupid, but they’ll recognize me instantly. Sorry,” the grifter apologized, making sure to keep his back to the marks in question. Nate swore under his breath and drummed his fingers against his leg tensely. 

“Ray?” He tried. 

“No can do, LT. I’ve gotta be at my computer to get Trombley out of the vault when he gives the signal and I can’t do that out there. Plus, I can just feel my brain cells dying as I listen to you guys talk to them and I’ve only got so many,” the hacker said, only half-joking as he remotely opened another door for Brad. Nate sighed and wrung his hands but nodded to himself. 

“Yeah, you’re right. Brad? You think you could get in there and keep them busy for a minute?” He was grasping at straws now and he knew it. 

“That wouldn’t work. They already know me as Professor Alexander, and what reason would he have for being at this company meeting?” Brad pointed out and Nate groaned quietly in response. “Plus, my knuckles are a little bloody right now and I’m pretty sure even Hasser couldn’t explain that away.” 

“Fine, I guess I’ll have to do it myself,” Nate said, tightening his tie and fixing his cufflinks ot make sure he looked presentable.  

“Wait, really?” Brad asked, stopping short in the hallway at the prospect of Nate, their honest man, stepping out to grift. 

“Shit, this client must be really important to you, LT. Hey, what was his name again?” Ray asked with a grin, knowing that even though no one could see him that Nate had a blush rising in his cheeks. 

“Michael Wynn,” Walt practically purred into his comm, making the rest of them laugh.