This is set two years after Golden Darkness. It isn't about Jace and Alec, although they will be in it at some point, so it's a partial sequel. This is (please no flames for who I'm using as a pairing.) Simon and Max. Max is about to turn 15, and Simon can't help but notice that he is like his siblings. Tall and pale with striking black hair and blue eyes. But since Jace and Alec had become friends with him, he was able to get to know Max better as well. He and the young Shadowhunter both share a passion (Obsession?) for anime/manga. They bond over it, and Simon being an otaku nerd, teaches Max to speak Japanese. As the time goes on, he begins to feel something stir within him that scares him beyond measure. (Starts with him already feeling the stirrings, but he will evaluate how long he's felt them.) He begins to shy away from Max, confusing the poor boy. Gonna shoot for 10-15 chapters, but I'm not making any promises. Or am I? XDXD
Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim The Mortal Instruments series. All rights belong to Cassandra Clare.
Chapter One: Manga
Simon was sitting in a booth at a cafe, reading a new manga. It was something fantastical. As per normal of the manga he usually read. He was waiting for Max. After everything that had happened with Jace and Alec, meaning that they were all really close friends now, he had taken it upon himself to befriend Max, due to their similar interest in manga. In those 2 years, their friendship had blossomed. It was no longer based on manga. It was about movies, music, pretty much anywhere and anything they could do to hang out. Recently, Max had voiced that he was interested to see if he could draw the oh so popular Japanese style. Simon knew how, and as he thought himself a decent artist, he was planning on bringing it up to see if Max was serious about trying it out.
He picked up the mug and took a sip of the bitter tea within.
"Why do you still drink that stuff?"
Simon looked up to see Max staring at him, anime bookbag hanging against his hip. The bag with the nerd glasses and his fashion choices made it obvious that he was a complete otaku. It was amusing to Simon, to say the very least.
"Just 'cause I'm a bloodsucker doesn't mean I can't enjoy mundane beverages."
Max chuckled and sat across from the vampire, looking thoughtfully at the book he held. Simon handed it to the young shadowhunter. Max read the back, then smirked.
"Rated M, huh? Manwhore."
Simon scoffed. "Right. 'Cause I'm the one who blushes furiously in a book store for having looked at yaoi."
Max blushed, smacking Simon with the book. "Hush up!"
Simon laughed as a barista sauntered over. She did that every week, as the unlikely duo met at the cafe weekly, sometimes more if their schedules allowed. After she found out that Simon and Max weren't romantically involved, she had begun to hit mercilessly on the vampire. It was annoying.
"Hey. What can I get you? The usual, or you feel like trying something new?" She was addressing Max, but winked at Simon. He shuddered on the inside, but forced a tight smile.
"Uh….. Hmm, hey Simon, what do you think? Same old or something new?"
Simon shrugged. "It's up to you."
"Gimme an answer damnit! That wasn't helpful!"
Simon chuckled. "Be adventurous. Try something new and unexpected."
Max threw the manga back at Simon with a laugh. "I'll have the raspberry tea."
She wrote it down and sashayed away from their table, swaying her hips hoping to catch Simon's eye. He didn't even look. He was too busy watching as Max gathered his art supplies from his manga bag. He had 3 or 4 pencils and a nice sketch pad.
"So you do wanna learn then, huh?"
Max beamed at him, looking utterly beautiful. "Of course. I know you wanted to teach me anyway."
Simon smiled.
How like him. Always wanting to make everyone happy, even if it hurts him. Like Alec.
Simon sat and thought about what he was going to have Max draw for him.
"Draw me a very basic anime school girl."
Max's eyes grew wide. "That's a bit much for a first attempt don't you think?"
"Nonsense! It'll be great for practice, and that way as you hone your skills, you won't be as afraid to try new things. You'll do awesome."
"How do you know?"
"Your a Shadowhunter, you're good at everything."
Max blushed and looked down on his paper, a determined look painting his features.
"What first?"
"Draw the head like this," Simon walked him through the appropriate size and shape. "See."
"Mhm." Max smiled and Simon could tell that he was nervous, but enjoying the start of the lesson nonetheless.
They paid no mind to the barista as she brought Max's tea. The scent was alluring to the hunter and he grabbed it once she had left. He took a sip and his eyes nearly bugged out of his skull.
"What? Is it too bitter?"
Max shook his head furiously. "It's delicious." It was barely a whisper.
"Uh oh. She created a monster, didn't she?"
Max nodded with a huge grin before taking another sip.
.
.
.
They continued their lesson, not paying attention to the time. By the time they had accomplished the basic line-work, it was nearly time for them to part ways.
"See. She looks cute. She'll be magnificent once you've finished her."
Max blushed once more. "Really?" He sounded so hopeful.
"Yes really! It's a great start. Better than when I started."
"You didn't have an amazing teacher like me."
Max blushed darker, the red spreading to cover his ears in pink. Simon smiled.
If only he knew what these compliments meant to me.
Simon was about to thank him, but said Shadowhunter's cell phone rang a Vocaloid song.
"Hello?
…
…
Oh! Gosh! I'm sorry, mom! I'm leaving right now!"
He was talking as he gathered his things, before waving with an adorable smile as he left the cafe. Simon knew that he couldn't think the way he had been that evening.
As he gathered his things a few minutes later, the barista came over with the check.
Scrawled across the bottom of the vampire's copy, in what looked to be an attempt at flirty handwriting, was her number. He paid the tab. He knew it was cruel, but letting her down easy the last few weeks hadn't worked, so he crumpled the receipt and tossed it into the nearest trashcan, knowing she saw it as the rejection flashed in her eyes. He gave her an apologetic look, but he was sick of her hounding him.
He hoisted his backpack up and left, knowing he'd hurt her, but also knowing that it was better he hurt her now than hurt her when she thought she was going to be able to be with him.
As he walked down the street, his phone chirped. He pulled it from his jacket and saw that Max had texted.
"Hey. I'm free on Wednesday after training gets done around 3-ish. Wanna meet up?"
Simon smiled. "Yeah. But we may have to switch cafe. I just kinda rejected that barista, and I don't think I want my chamomile spit in or poisoned. XD"
"LOL I highly doubt she would poison you.
We could go to Taki's?"
"You never know. Mundies are insane haha
Taki's sounds good. but…"
"But what? O.O"
"They don't have any really good tea. Like I doubt that they would have that raspberry stuff you liked so much tonight."
"Oh :'( oh well. If you don't wanna go there then we won't :3"
Simon smiled, yet again. He turned around and walked back to their cafe. He went straight to the counter, thankfully asking a different barista for assistance.
"Hi. I've got kind of a random question."
She laughed. "Well ask away 'cause I might have a random answer."
Simon chuckled. "Uhm.. you know that raspberry tea on the menu?" She nodded. "I was curious about if you sell the boxes of that flavor yet?"
"Oh, yeah actually, we do. We've only just started though. Like a couple days ago. Do you want one?"
"Two boxes please."
She smiled and went to the back while Simon retrieved his wallet. He paid for the tea, and after receiving a hurt glare from the all-too-flirty barista, he left.
He walked home, feeling a weight lifted. He felt guilt too, but having firmly, albeit cruelly, turned the barista down made him feel better. He had never wanted her to think that they had a shot.
He had unawakened feelings for someone else.
Well! Tell me what chapter one makes you feel? If it gets good feedback, I'll keep going, but if not I'll delete it and start a different story. Please? I would appreciate it ^.^