So now that Simon has lost his Mark of Cain, Raphael is after him and Maureen is even more crazy than usual, I think that Simon should get some basic Shadowhunter training – or something similar - to be able to really defend himself and who is better suited than Isabelle? I'm sure she worries about Simon, too.
This is for all the Sizzy shippers
Training Simon
Isabelle wraps her whip around her arm. "Ok, I think that's enough training for tonight." Clary breathes a sigh of relief and wipes some sweat off her forehead. She sprawls down on a mat and takes deep breaths. Izzy shakes her head and nudges her red haired friend with her trainer. "Oh come one, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Clary only rolls her eyes, "I'm looking forward to the day when Jace can train me again, you are ruthless, Iz." Isabelle sits down next to her and shakes her head, smiling. "You are only saying this because you used to sneak kisses from Jace while he was training you." "Hey, that's so not true!" The dark haired Shadowhunter only grins knowingly. "Sure… So, how is it going for you and Jace?" Clary groans and covers her sweaty face, "Don't ask, Iz! I'm so glad he's back but this whole Heavenly Fire issue is so freaking frustrating! We can barely touch each other…" She throws Isabelle a dirty look when she sees her friend smirking. "Isabelle! Not like that!" Clary blushes and picks at her sweatpants. Izzy looks at her expectantly but Clary doesn't elaborate. Instead, she decides to make her friend uncomfortable for a change. "What about you and Simon? Have you talked to him? Are you together now?" Isabelle scowls, lies down next to Clary and stares at the ceiling, "We haven't talked much since Ireland. He and Becky are busying convincing their mother that he is not evil." Clary grabs Izzy's hand, "Are you afraid he will reject you?" "What? No," says Isabelle indignantly. Clary pushes herself up on her elbows and looks at her friend, "So what is stopping you? You want to be with him, he wants to be with you. Just talk to him, Izzy because like I told you before, Simon won't make the first step. It has to be you."
Isabelle gets up again and starts putting away the training weapons, muttering under her breath. Clary chuckles when she hears "Stupid Simon" and "Stupid feelings" coming out of Izzy's mouth and gets up to help her tidy the training room.
"Tomorrow, same time?" Isabelle asks once they are done. Clary shakes her head, "I can't. My mom wants me to help with the wedding, maybe tomorrow mor –" Clary's cell phone rings. "Hang on, it's Simon. – Hi!" "Clary, are you at the Institute?" Simon's voice sounds worried. Clary frowns, "Yeah, what's going on?" Simon's breath is irregular, "I think I'm being followed and since I no longer have the Mark -" He lets his sentence drift off. "Okay, where are you right now? Iz and I will come to help." Isabelle's eyes widen and she tugs on Clary's T-shirt. "What's happening? Why does Simon need our help?" she whispers frantically. Clary waves her hand and turns away from her. "What was that? Where are you?" "I'm heading to the Institute." Clary turns to the door and motions Isabelle to follow her. "Ok, don't worry. We're on our way out now. We got this." She hangs up, "Simon thinks he is being followed. He's on his way here now." Isabelle lets out an unladylike curse and storms to a cabinet holding seraph blades. "He hasn't got his Mark!" Clary nods, "I know –" Isabelle rushes out of the room, putting two blades into the back of her sweatpants and running down the corridor before Clary can finish her sentence. "Hurry up, Clary! He's completely defenseless!" She hurries after Izzy, "He's a vampire, Iz. He can handle himself." Isabelle arrives at the elevator and stabs the call button. "Strength isn't all, Clary. He doesn't know how to defend himself properly. You don't need to use brute force to defeat an opponent. Sometimes it only takes the right strategy." "Well, Simon is good at strategy; he plays all these computer games." Isabelle glares, "This isn't the same, Clary. We are talking about Simon's life! Damn it, why isn't this elevator moving faster?" She kicks the metal, clearly frustrated.
The car finally arrives and Isabelle drags Clary inside. Once they are in the nave of the church, the older Shadowhunter rushes down the aisle and throws the door open. A few seconds later she is down the steps and running down the path to the gates. Clary can only gape at Isabelle and quickly picks up her pace to keep up. "Iz, wait for me!"
Isabelle hears Clary's cry but ignores it, passing the gates and turning towards the busy street. She spots a lone, hurriedly moving figure a few hundred yards away. Although the sun has just set and bathed the streets in blueish light, she still recognizes Simon's dark hair and his lanky built. She breathes a tiny sigh of relief and runs to met him. Simon is nearly knocked off his feet when Isabelle's arms wrap around his neck and squeeze him tightly. "By the Angel, you are alright!" "Uh yeah," he mumbles into her neck, breathing in her gardenia smell and sweat. "I think I lost them after they realized that I was going to the Institute." Isabelle steps back but she is still standing rather close. Simon can feel her breath on his skin and see the vein which is pumping steadily in her neck. "You had me worried." He runs a hand through his hair, "Yeah, sorry, I – "She brushes her cool hand over his forehead." You're no longer invincible, Simon. You have to be careful from now on. Did you see who was following you?" Simon takes a deep breath although he doesn't need to, "I'm pretty sure they were some of Raphael's guys." Izzy gapes at him and even Clary, who has no reached them, looks worried. "Raphael wants you dead, Simon, "Clary remarks and he rolls his eyes."Gee, thanks, Clary. I didn't know."
The sky darkens further and Clary shivers. "We should go back to the Institute", she turns to leave. "I can't." She mentally slaps herself; of course he can't enter hallowed ground. Isabelle gives her an encouraging smile. "Just go back to Jace, I'm sure he's waiting for you. Simon and I will go to his apartment and I'll keep him company there." Simon looks surprised, "You will?" "Yes, let's go." Clary hugs her friends quickly. "We'll be back tomorrow morning at 9, ok?" The redhead nods, "Be careful." "I'm sure Isabelle will take good care of me," Simon reassures his friend. Isabelle gives Clary a tiny smile and waves.
Simon and Isabelle turn to head to the nearest subway station. Their hands occasionally brush against each other and after a while, Simon takes her hand into his and laces their fingers together. Isabelle looks at him out of the corner of her eyes and sees him smiling, staring straight ahead. "I was really worried that something had happened to you, Simon." He stops and takes her other hand into his, "I'm okay, Isabelle. I'm a vampire, not some helpless mundane." She sighs, staring at his slightly larger hands. "I'd feel better if you let me give you a few training lessons so that you could defend yourself." His eyes widen and Simon is speechless for a moment, "You want to train me? Like a Shadowhunter?" Her cheeks turn a slight rose color, "A few basic defense moves couldn't hurt." In an act of bravery, Simon tips her chin up and looks at her intently. "I cannot enter the Institute, Iz." She bites her lip and looks away. "The Shadowhunters have a training spot in Central Park, we could go there." He thinks about her offer and finally agrees, "Ok." Isabelle looks at him, clearly surprised by his answer, "Really?" Simon grins, one corner of his mouth going up before the other. "Yes, I will let you train me but in return you will go out with me to watch at least one Star Wars movie." Her heart beats faster in her chest, "Take me out? On a date?" He nods sheepishly. Isabelle relaxes and lets go of one of his hands, tugging on the other. "Sounds like a plan. Let's hurry back to your apartment; I need to use your shower. We left as soon as Clary got your call and I feel a bit cold." Simon wordlessly takes off his leather jacket and drapes it over her shoulders. "Thank you," Izzy mumbles while wrapping herself up in his scent. He takes her hand again and they enter the subway station. The rest of their journey passes in a comfortable silence until they reach his apartment. "You will kick my butt tomorrow, won't you?" Izzy laughs. "I'll go easy on you in your first lesson." Simon looks doubtful but shrugs. "I will get you a towel and some of my clothes." She nods and sits down at the edge of the sofa. Simon returns after a few moments, hands her the clothes and motions to his room, "I'll be inside – waiting for you." "Thank you, Simon."
She quickly showers and enters his room somewhat nervously. It's almost completely dark but Isabelle can see Simon sitting on his bed, his hands gripping his knees tightly. "I ordered some food for you, from Taki's. Should be here soon." She sits down next to him and brushes her finger over his left wrist, "Thanks." He clears his throat, swallowing nervously and then he turns to her. Isabelle's hair is slicked back and her face scrubbed bare. She looks younger which somehow relaxes Simon a little bit. His eyes roam over her figure, taking in the way his sweatpants cling to her hips and how her breath under his 'Made in Brooklyn' shirt is slightly uneven. "Your hair, it's still wet. You –" Simon stops, almost reaching out to push her a strand of hair behind her ear. "You should dry it unless you want to catch a cold." Isabelle bites her lip and his gaze flickers to her full bottom lip before looking into her dark eyes. Simon cups her cheek, smelling his shampoo on her and he leans closer. Only inches are separating them now but before Simon can close the gap between them, the doorbell rings. They both shoot to their feet. "It's your food." "Yeah, thanks, I got that." Isabelle turns away from him and silently curses the delivery guy. "I'll just… get it", Simon says awkwardly. She nods in agreement and points to her towel which is at her feet, "I'll dry my hair."
He leaves his room while clenching his fists to keep his frustration at bay. He mentally berates himself and almost growls at the guy who delivers Izzy's favorite food and some blood for him. Once he has paid, he slams the door shut and begins to spread the food on the couch table. After his work is done, Simon throws himself on the couch and rubs his hands over his face, trying not to think about what has nearly happened in his room.
Isabelle enters the living room to find a burger, her beloved smoothie and French fries spread out, "That looks delicious. How much do I owe you?" Simon looks up from his slouched position on the couch, his gaze still a bit frustrated. He shakes his head, "It's ok, my treat." She sits down next to him, gives him a grateful smile and fingers her hair which is now in a braid. "You ordered my favorite smoothie. That's really sweet. Thank you, Simon."
They both eat in silence, relieved that the tension that has built is finally fading. After their meals, Simon picks a movie and they watch, both sitting at a respectable distance, until Isabelle's yawns are as frequent as her blinks. They tidy the living room without many words and afterwards Izzy slips into the bathroom to get ready for bed.
Once back in Simon's room, a familiar sight greets her. Simon is sitting at the edge of his bed, clearly waiting for her. Isabelle steps out of Simon's sweatpants and smiles at his blush when he sees her naked legs. He shifts and gets under his covers, holding one end open for her. She quietly slips next to him and he immediately wraps his arms around her like he used to at Magnus's apartment. Isabelle presses a kiss to his cheek and curls against him, "Good night." He clears his throat, "Good night, Isabelle."
They fall asleep to the never-stopping sounds of New York City.
