Shadowhunter in the Apocalypse

As Reed looked at the Scene in front of him, he realized he really should start knocking before he entered Commander Hale's Office.

Reed sighed under his breath. Great. Now I have to get in the middle of… whatever this is supposed to be.

"What the hell are you doing here, Jason?" Reed questioned the guy who was pinned to the wall by a furious Hale.

Jason was a Asian hunter he had moved a few times with in LA, Reed didn't really like him much, the older man's smile never seemed to reach his eyes, not to mention he was always trying to force Reed into dangerous missions without proper intel, Reed loved a good hunt and even occasionally did a few dark things for the House of Black but he never went on dangerous missions that specifics were kept from him, it pissed the Asian man off to no ends but he seemed to have backed up after the first 10 or so refusals.

All things considered though, he was a generally respected hunter and was fairly high up in the house of Black, which made the scene in front of Reed all the more confusing

Jason tilted his head, lips curving into a smile "Hunter Reed. Perfect timing. Would you mind asking your dear Commander to take his hands off me? I came as an envoy, not a punching bag."

Hale snarled, slamming him harder into the wall. "You will not lay a finger on my daughter!"

Reed's brows drew together. "Hold up." His gaze flicked between them. "Why do you want to take Mia?"

Jason smoothed his wrinkled collar as much as Hale's grip allowed, exhaling as though Reed was the only reasonable person in the room. "Let's not twist words. I'm not taking her anywhere. I'm arresting her. She's coming back to HQ to stand trial."

Reed blinked. "Arresting her? For what? She's barely been cleared for field training."

Jason rolled his eyes, his voice dripping sarcasm. "Oh, I don't know… maybe the part where she injected herself with an untested serum gotten from a shady connection? Risking contamination of her Shadowhunter bloodline? Or maybe it's because she already put new cadets in mortal danger, luring them into a fight they weren't equipped for?"

Hale growled low, but Jason kept talking, hands gesturing like he was explaining something to a child.

"Or—and here's my personal favorite—maybe it's the dangerous precedent she's setting. What happens when every reckless young cadet sees the Commander's daughter juice herself with some shady cocktail and come out faster, stronger? What happens when they start chasing the same? Selling themselves to organizations we're supposed to burn to the ground? You think this ends with Mia? It ends with half our future Hunters in body bags or worse as monsters that the other hunters will have to hunt down."

Reed's eyes narrowed. "So this is the House's attempt to punish her in front of the entire supernatural world? Just because she made a mistake that I have personally handled?".

Jason leaned forward as much as Hale's grip allowed. "I personally voted for her to be beheaded. That would have sent the proper message. But no. Because she's Ghost's precious student, we're bending the rules again. A trial, they said. Fairness, they said. But between me and you, the Council has probably already decided on life imprisonment at the very least. And while she rots, maybe a few pricks and prods to see how her DNA adapted too."

Every single word from his mouth seemed to be aimed at making them angry, and Reed couldn't lie it was working, Reed could feel Hale's rage boiling over, and he had to stop him because right now he hadn't crossed a line yet by unleashing his shadow magic, this could still be played off as an emotional father but if he went any further…

Reed calmly looked at his mentor and shook his head to tell him not too.

It took a fairly long minute for Hale to put him down, the man dusted of his suit with a winning smirk on his face.

"What if we made a deal" Reed suddenly offered, he knew force wouldn't work in this situation, even with his status there were some people he couldn't just provoke without it being the last resort.

"And don't tell me the decision on Mia's is already set in stone, I of all people know how quickly the Council's minds can change, give them a call and tell them I will be willing to make certain concessions on previous denied missions"

Jasons eyes seemed to sparkle, and for the first time since Reed had known the man, he was genuinely happy.

"Well, I guess there can always be another Council meeting to rediscuss punishments, though nothing is guaranteed yet"

It was classic formal lingo, Reed knew Mia was already of the chopping blocks, he sighed internally, the things he had to do because of this girl.

He looked over at Hale, he could see the struggle in his eyes, his mentor knew Reed like nobody else did, if Reed had previously denied a mission even with his suicidal attraction to danger, then there must really be something off about it, but he also wanted his daughter to be off the hook, top it off with the fact that he was already on thin ice already recently, it would really be improper for him to tell a 4th Order Shadow hunter to not go for a mission, right in front of another senior retired 4th Order Hunter, one that he had disrespected already.

"Excuse me while I rediscuss details with the Council" Jason said stepping out of the room, with his phone to his ear.

"Reed…"Hale began,

"It was the only way, Commander" Reed interrupted, "All they needed a scape goat, they can easily turn their eyes somewhere else now and leave Mia alone, actually I won't be surprised if this was the situation they had predicted."

"But still I can't help but feel guilty, I started all this by inviting you here to guide her, now you are fighting battles I as her father is supposed to fight" He Sighed, sitting on his desk.

"Well if you feel the need to reward me so much, then I guess I can reluctantly accept her as my future wife or something" He joked, "Only because you begged though"

Reed laughed and ducked as a Stapler flew by his head.

"Brat, I'm trying to be serious here and you're joking around.."

Reed felt amused "Who said I was-"

The door suddenly opened and Jason was back with a look of complete satisfaction,

"The Council has agreed to pardon her graciously"

Reed guessed he expected a thank you from the way the Asian man puffed up his chest, but the two Shadow hunters just looked at him

"Whatever"he continued with a cough "Reed, in exchange you are required to go for 5 missions, without question or delay at any time the Council requires you to do so "

Reed narrowed his eyes, who did they suddenly think he was, their call boy?

"Better call them back and tell them I can only do one for them"

Whatever threat that was about to come from the Asian hunter's mouth stalled with Reed's raised hand "I'm dead serious, tell them that or the deal is done, think about it, all you guys will get is one disobedient fledgling but I will make it my lifes mission to delay or deny every mission you guys ask of me from now on, make your choice."

"Excuse me while I discuss details with the Council," Jason said, stepping out with his phone.

"Reed…" Hale started.

"It was the only way, Commander," Reed interrupted quietly. "They needed a scapegoat. Now their eyes are elsewhere. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if this was the outcome they had predicted all along."

"But still," Hale sighed, sitting heavily on his desk. "I can't help feeling guilty. I invited you here to guide her, and now you're fighting battles I should be fighting as her father."

Reed smirked. "Well, if you really feel the need to reward me, I could reluctantly accept her as my future wife or something. Only because you begged, though."

He ducked as a stapler whizzed past his head.

"Brat. I'm trying to be serious here and you're making jokes."

"Who said I was—" Reed began, but the door swung open again.

Jason stepped back inside, satisfaction practically rolling off him. "The Council has agreed to pardon her graciously."

Reed guessed he expected gratitude from the way he puffed his chest, but both Reed and Hale just stared at the man in silence.

Jason coughed as he tried to shrug of the awkwardness. "Whatever, but in exchange, Reed, you are required to take five missions. No refusals, no delays, you will simply be there whenever the Council calls."

Reed's eyes narrowed. "Who do you think I am? Your call boy? Tell them I'll do one. Just one."

Jason bristled, about to retort, but Reed raised a hand. "I'm dead serious. Tell them that or the deal is off. Think it through. You'll get a disobedient fledgling you can lock up, sure, but you'll lose me. And I will make it my life's mission to deny or delay every assignment from here on out. Your choice."

Jason's glare burned, but he turned on his heel. "I'll be right back."

The door slammed shut again.

"Are you sure that was wise?" Hale asked quietly.

Reed shrugged. "I've stayed with these people for five years. Give them an inch, they take a mile. They know my worth and they know how dangerous the missions they want to send me on are."

Hale nodded slowly. "I suppose that makes sense. Most of the time HQ doesn't even bother with New York branch enough to send threats like that."

"Comes with the territory." Reed leaned back, his voice even. His power had its perks. Nobody saw the chains wrapped around him most of the time.

"Also, Reed…" Hale's voice went softer.

"Yes, old man?"

"About Mia…" He hesitated. "If you really are interested in her, all I ask is that you wait for her to come to you first. You won't exactly be the worst son-in-law in the world."

Reed's jaw dropped. He stared at his mentor, who very deliberately looked anywhere but at him.