Shadowhunter in the Apocalypse

The car slowed to a stop. Reed tilted his head back in the seat, eyes tracing up the impossible height of the skyscraper that stretched into the sky like it had no end.

Black Industries.

"I've always loved the whole hidden in Plain sight approach you know."

From the seat beside him, the woman simply nodded at his statement, he sighed at her stiffness but still it wasn't anything new, when people remembered or heard about his reputation they tended to become more formal than necessary, so he shrugged it off as the car drove into the entrance.

The guards up front didn't even twitch. They were Shadowhunters in full suit and tie camouflage, just another set of bodyguards ferrying a VIP to their corporate tower. Nobody outside would think to question it.

Reed leaned forward, pressing his hand against the window as he looked up again. "I mean, it works. Easier than cramming us in basements or underground structures, right? Better Wi-Fi too."

"Security's stronger this way," Hannah said quietly, adjusting her clothes "More eyes, more cameras, a constant stream of human staff who don't even realize what they're a part of. Underground compounds attract suspicion. It is indeed a practical method of hiding the supernatural from humans"

Reed grinned sideways at her. "Are you always so…formal?"

Her jaw tightened, and she looked straight ahead. He chuckled, it seemed that was his answer.

The car doors opened and the heat of the sidewalk spilled in. Reed stepped out, stretching his arms. Already he could feel the eyes on him.

It wasn't like LA, where his face was just another face, even if people whispered his name often. There, he had been part of the constant buzz. Here, in New York, he was the man out of legend, walking into the lobby like he'd stepped out of one of the House's recruitment videos.

It was weird, but a good weird. Though he'd never admit it out loud.

The elevator ride was silent except for the soft pop instrumental playing at the background. When the doors finally opened, Reed felt his chest tighten.

Hale's office.

The guards peeled away, leaving him and Hannah. She gave a small nod toward the door. "Commander Hale is waiting."

Reed smirked. "Yeah yeah let's go greet the king on his throne."

She frowned. "Excuse me?"

"Never mind."

He pushed the doors open without knocking.

The office was wide and polished, floor-to-ceiling glass windows throwing sunlight over a dark oak desk. And there, standing just off-center with a scowl already plastered on his face, was Hunter Hale.

"Reed," Hale said, his voice low and gravelly.

Reed's grin split across his face before he could stop it. He strode forward, arms opening. "Don't sound so happy Old man, you'll ruin your reputation."

Hale met him halfway as his scowl morphed into a smile, the two of them crashed into a hug that was more a slap on the back than anything tender. They held on just long enough for the tension to snap, then stepped back.

"Look at you," Hale said, shaking his head. "Still got that smug smile on your face. Thought LA would have punched it out of you by now."

"Please," Reed shot back, dropping lazily into the chair opposite the desk. "You're one to talk about faces, when yours is covered in wrinkles. I'd offer you my moisturizer, but I don't think science has reached that point yet."

Hale snorted, lowering himself into his chair. "Keep talking, brat. Last time I checked, I can still take you down with one hand tied."

"I can see it's also affecting your memory, my condolences" he bowed in mock respect

They stared at each other for a beat before breaking into laughter that echoed off the glass.

The overly stiff woman stood frozen just inside the door, her mouth parting slightly.

Reed glanced back at her and caught the faint disbelief written all over her face. He leaned toward Hale, stage-whispering just loud enough. "She thinks you're scary. Better keep the act up before she finds out you still cry during sad movies."

Hale's chuckle rumbled in his chest. "You disrespectful brat!"

The banter kept rolling, old inside jokes spilling out like they'd never left each other's company. By the time they got to mocking each other's haircuts, she realized she might be here for a while and decided to remind them with a polite cough.

Both men looked over at once.

She shifted her weight, her face carefully composed but her ears a shade redder. "Sorry…Commander Hale, I didn't mean to interrupt but..."

Hale waved it off like she'd just reminded him dinner was ready. "Hannah, relax. Come here." He gestured toward Reed. "You might as well know each other. Reed, this is Hannah. She's my assistant. Brought her in from the Spain branch, needed someone with a fresh eye."

Reed tipped his head, studying her. "Spain, huh?"

Her lips pressed together. "Yes, Hunter Reed."

"Oh, don't start with that again," Reed said, leaning back in his chair. "It's Reed. Or brat, if you ask him." He jabbed a thumb toward Hale.

Hale chuckled again. Hannah didn't.

"House of Black handbooks says respect is key in…" she murmured almost to herself.

"Handbooks," Reed echoed, rolling his eyes. "You know what else they say? Don't eat after midnight, get eight hours of sleep, and never talk back to your superiors. Guess how many of those rules I broke before I was sixteen."

Hannah blinked at him, uncertain if he was joking.

Reed leaned forward suddenly, eyes narrowing at Hale. "Speaking of breaking rules. You really dragged me across the country to babysit?"

Hale's expression barely shifted, but Reed saw the spark in his eyes.

"She's eighteen now," Hale said smoothly. "Barely a baby."

"You aren't denying what I asked though," Reed shot back, pointing.

The older man leaned back, smug as hell. "I refused to feel guilty for being a concerned parent."

Reed groaned, dragging his hand over his face. "Unbelievable. You pulled me out of potential missions, because your daughter's stepping into the field for the first time? You realize what people are gonna say? That you're paranoid."

"They'd be right," Hale said, lips twitching.

Reed opened his mouth, but Hannah shifted with a quiet apology. "I'll leave you both to speak privately. There are reports I need to collect."

Hale nodded at her. "Thank you, Hannah."

She almost ran out at the dismissal, causing both of them to erupt into another bout of laughter.

Soon the laughter between them faded, leaving silence. Hale rubbed his temples, the weight of years suddenly visible in the small lines at the corner of his eyes.

"I'm getting tired, Reed," he said at last.

Reed's grin faded too.

"What's wrong?"

"What's wrong is that even though my body doesn't show it, I'm easily over fifty," Hale said dryly. "My body is getting tired, my mind is getting slower and you always new how much I hated seating at desks"

Reed did know that, which was why he was quite surprised to hear that his old mentor had accepted the position in the first place.

He leaned back, staring past Reed at the walls. "And the annoying part about all this? I can't go around shadowing rookies around when Hunters are disappearing. Makes me look like I don't trust my people. Makes us all look weak. You understand?"

Reed rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, it projects fear, inadequacy. Not really a good look."

Hale's eyes warmed at the words.

"That's why you're here, you are the only person I can trust with her safety, my daughter's safety is the single most important thing to me right now, I have delayed her first mission long enough and she's already taken a hit to her reputation because of it among the younger hunters, but what can I do as a father? I have to protect my little girl."

Reed nodded "That's understandable"

"I know it is" he replied "But I also want to ask you for another favor, apart from protecting her on her first mission I want you to take her as your mentee, show her the ropes just like I showed you.."

Reed's jaw tightened and the whole place fell silent. Teaching was… not his thing. Fighting, yes. Killing, absolutely, but teaching…. And that would also mean he was staying longer than he planned.

He opened his mouth to argue, but Hale's voice softened, carrying a weight Reed couldn't throw off. "You owe me at least that much."

Reed groaned, slumping back. "I need to see her first."

Hale smiled faintly, like he'd known he'd win from the start. "Of course. Can't wait for you to meet her. She's almost as good as you were at her age."

Reed's head snapped up. "Ha don't insult me, you know nobody can even come close to how good I was."