This isn't my first fanfic. Duh. I really, really want to write that so that my hideous writing can be excused but...na. I have written like, one chapter, in Harry potter . And I'll try writing more. I've got too many ideas, too less conclusions. I hope I'll figure this. I'll need reviews, guys, I might get stranded. And a beta. And coffee. Oh, this one is an A.U fanfic. Just a random idea I got when smoking. Thanks for reading. Criticism is welcome. Thanks again, buddies.

Chapter 1: Gathering up the team

Luke Garroway ran a bookstore. He did not indulge in any unlawful activities. He didn't smoke. Didn't drink. And was most certainly not elusive safecracker Lucian Gray.

Safecracker. It was a word too strong for Luke. Luke didn't crack safes. He was far too ranged for it. He was just a high profile thief. He wasn't restricted to safes. Glass display cases containing priceless jewellery, pieces of art which Luke thought had no business hanging in the ridiculously opulent homes of cranky old men- Luke rescued them. Lucian Gray was his alias, the one the police knew. No one in their sane mind would put together that Luke Garroway, kindly bookstore keeper, was the notorious Lucian Gray.

And now his longtime friend, Hodge, had contacted him (after explicitly promising that he would never, ever, contact Luke or his fiancée Jocelyn again, after their last big job). But he wouldn't pass up this opportunity for anything in this world. One, the prize was too good. A golden cup, embedded with precious stones. Hodge estimated its price to maybe six figures.

Two, it was currently with Jocelyn's horrible ex husband, Valentine. Luke would dearly love to rub it in his nose. Like, yeah man, though you're oh-so-hot, your wife left you for me and I bring up both your kids. And I'm gonna steal your bloody cup from under your nose. Deal with it.

There was no way he was turning down this opportunity. But first, he had to go assemble a good team to steal. And the world class professionals were right here in New York. Starting with Clary, Jo and Simon.

Jace Herondale hated the inevitable phone calls which came hunting for Alec. He was so looking forward to a nice, lazy Sunday afternoon with absolutely nothing to do other than ogle his girlfriend, when the aforementioned girlfriend's dad called and asked for Alec. Jace, understandably angry, was pacing angrily around the stuffy living room while Alec tried to explain what the job was.

"I don't care, Alec," Izzy was saying, tossing a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm not doing it again. For goodness sake, wasn't the last job enough? Jace , knock some sense into Alec's thickhead, please."

"Izzy," Alec's legendary patience was running thin now. "We can't. This is Luke who asked us to do this. Luke. Jace's girlfriend Clary's dad. Our best friend Clary's dad." "Oh, is Clary joining as well? That means even Si will be there." Isabelle's eyes went disgustingly glazed. "What do you see in him, Izzy? He's too.. geeky." Jace exhaled ,disgusted.

"I could ask you the same about Clary, but-" "Stop it, both of you. We're doing the job, and that's final."

"I expect he wants to do it because of Jo Morgenstern." Jace said maliciously, enjoying seeing Alec squirm. "I don't, Jace. I've told you about a gazillion times, I have no interest in Jo Morgenstern." Alec's telltale flush gave him away. "Well, I won't hold it against Alec, Jace. He's so hot, you start wondering whether Clary and him are even related. But bad luck, Alec. Didn't hear whom Jo's seeing?" "He's dating someone?" Alec asked, busying himself with the dishes. "He's dating Sera." Jace grinned.

"Sera?" Alec looked thunderstruck. "I thought- I thought she was seeing that Longsword! From Berlin, right?" "She left him two weeks ago. Keep up." "But Sera and Jonathan?" "Why not? Granted, he's a bit absentminded, and she's a bit too violence-loving but what's the harm? They look good together. And they'll be joining in too." Isabelle said, admiring her perfectly polished nails.

"How do you know that?" "Well, you thought Luke would only tell you? Sera told me about it four hours ago."

"Wait, where is Sera? Dad called me. He says Mom is absolutely frantic." Jace sneered at the thought.

Jace and Sera had left home- no, their parents' house, they refused to call it their home, to pursue their criminal tendencies, in collaboration with the Lightwood siblings, who too, had left on similar grounds.

The idea that Céline Herondale was frantic about Sera was enough to make Jace laugh till evening. Sera and Jace shared a common father, but a different mother. Sera was Stephen Herondale's daughter by his first wife, Amatis. Like all fairytale stepmothers, Céline Herondale went out of her way to be horrible to Sera. Her being frantic about Sera's wellbeing was laughable.

"Sera's ah, engaged, with Jo. Java Jones. They have a date there." "And you planned it." Alec said, deadpan. "Indeed I did." Isabelle said, smiling like a cat as she stretched.

"Jo? Where on earth are you?" Clary shrieked into the phone, Simon wincing slightly. Inaudible garbling. "Dammit!" Clary threw the phone into her bag." "Clary," Simon said patiently, "He's twenty two. You don't need to act like he needs you always. Besides, he's with Sera-" "He's with Sera?" Clary shrieked again. "Oh Simon, why didn't you tell me earlier? Sera will probably get him killed! He had absolutely no idea...you know how absentminded he is, Si. And Sera's too...brash for him. She won't understand." "Clary," Simon said again. "You do realize you're talking about Jo, right? Jonathan Morgenstern, the guy who can hack into any computer system within seconds? He isn't so innocent." "Yeah, he may be able to do all that, but he's still oblivious when it comes to basic things like shopping and crossing the road, Simon."

"Relax. Did Jace call you? Izzy did. She told me Luke's got another job for us." "A job?" Clary frowned, getting up and tucking her hands inside her jacket. Simon followed suit.

"Yes. A cup, Izzy says, nice and gold. Antique. Six figures." Simon grinned. "And it's going to be job for all of us. The owner has a practically impenetrable security system, which is mine, Jo's and Izzy's department, security guys for Jace and Sera, a good deal of planning for you and Alec. It's perfect."

"Hm." Luke had taken Clary's unlawful activities into stride, (himself not being the paragon of a law abiding citizen), but it was very, very rarely he gave her something to do. He was perpetually terrified that Jocelyn would find out Luke had brought up both their kids to be thieves.

"Oh, chill, Clary. Stop overthinking. We need to go to Luke's place, so that we can discuss steps. Izzy told me they'll be coming shortly." "Jace too?" Clary asked, unable to hide the eagerness. "I should've known that's what you'd be interested. Yep, he'll be there, too. Now come. I want to hear for myself what's all this about."

"This place is nice, isn't it? Though I don't like coffee." Jo shivered in the booth across her, rubbing his palms together.

Sera looked at him, fondly exasperated. It was typical of Jo to forget gloves, jacket and shoes while going out on a December morning. He had come in jeans and a half sleeved shirt, beach flip flops. He put the 'absent' in absentminded.

"Why didn't you bother coming in a jacket, at least, Jo?" "Huh? Oh, right. I forgot. Your call came and I just..." He grinned, smile lighting up his face.

Sera had liked Jo for such a long time, she couldn't even remember when exactly she had started. Two weeks ago, when Jo had told her that he liked her the same way? Happiest day of her life.

"Didn't Clary call you yet? It's time for her to have called you a billion times by now." "Oh, she did. She called me before we got in." "Oh, so that's why you were muttering gibberish. So that Clary would think you were in a place with no connectivity." "Yep." He laughed.

"You're so good at acting, only I know you're actually not that absentminded. Jace called me, by the way. He says there's a job for us." "Really?" The interest Jo displayed on the topic of another robbery was almost unnatural. "Drink up. This is a coffee shop." Jo made a grimace and took a sip as if it contained the vilest poison.

"Why don't you like coffee? Your sister adores it, I like it, Jace does, Alec does-" "Speaking of Alec, I think he's the only one whom you haven't told that we're seeing each other." "I haven't?" "Izzy told me. He was shocked." Jo traced words nobody else knew in the air.

"I can imagine why." She grinned. "Why? I didn't get it. Tell me why." "Where's the fun in that? I know you're dense, but not this dense. Isn't it obvious? Alec fancies you."

"Me?" Jo looked so terrified at the prospect that he fell off his booth, much to the sniggers of everyone else. After Jo had gained back his seat, and composure, he opened his mouth again. "B-But, but, I'm a guy, Ser." "So?" "So Alec can't possibly-"

"You're displaying a very homophobic attitude, Jo." "I am not a homophobe. But our Alec- Okay, I'll say it. I didn't expect this at all." "Why not? Never wondered why he doesn't have a girlfriend?" "I- I thought he was asexual!" "Asexual? You can think he's asexual, but not gay?"

"It's just-unnerving." "I'm not asking you to marry him, Jo. I'm just telling you, he's had a crush on you. We need to go to your place, by the way. I'm the last person on earth who'll want you to hit it off with Alec, believe me."

Jo laughed as he put his hand on Sera's. "I know you don't."

Luke Garroway tapped his fingers over the coffee table. All of them were there, looking at him curiously. Alec, looking pale and uncomfortable as he stared at Jo and Sera, oblivious to anyone as Sera pulled her jacket over Jo's shoulders. Jace, asking Sera to get a room. Izzy, looking at Alec with a pitying look. Clary, arms around Jace. Simon, sharing his coffee with Izzy. Luke sometimes felt bad for Alec. Odd man out. And it was clear to anyone with two eyes that Alec had eyes for no one but Sera.

"Luke," Jace asked suddenly. "What are we waiting for?" "Not what." Luke allowed himself a self satisfied smile. "Whom."

"Whom, exactly?" "He'll be a bit late. That's his signature move. He's always late. It's an affront to his personal philosophy to be early."

"Who exactly-?" "He's an old friend. A very, very talented person...like ah, us. Jocelyn doesn't approve of him. She's away, her art exhibition." Luke grinned. "One more person for our job? You know I don't like strangers, Luke." "Luke, who-"

"Am I late?" A cool voice drawled. Luke beamed at the living room entrance. There was a man, late twenties, maybe, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

"Not at all. Come in. Just talking about you." "What about me? How magnificent I am?"

"How late you were." Jace smirked. "With my reputation? I can't afford to be early, darling." "Luke, you haven't told us who the hell this is." Sera snapped.

"Blondie, you don't know who I am? And you call yourself a thief? I'm the best thief in this world, sweetie."

"Blondie?" Sera swelled like a bullfrog. "Sera, Magnus, stop-" "Magnus? This is Magnus-?"

"Magnus Bane, yes. Pleased to make all your devious acquaintances."