First Impressions
WritingIsLoveAndLife
AN: Hello again, everyone! WritingIsLoveAndLife here with yet another cross-post from AO3. This time it's my first multi-chapter story, so I hope you enjoy it
Disclaimer: I don't own The Mortal Instruments/Shadowhunters. The series was written by Cassandra Clare and adapted for television by Ed Decter.
Enjoy the story!
'Deep breaths, Lewis,' Simon tells himself as he gathers the courage to knock on the door of Alec Lightwood's office. Alec was the Head of the New York Institute, and his boyfriend Jace's Parabatai. Simon and Alec had somewhat of a rocky relationship personally, but tensions had eased considerably since he'd begun dating Jace.
Even with that though, Simon felt uneasy about interrupting him while he was working. They have an understanding, but Alec could still be plenty intimidating.
Before he loses his nerve, he raps his knuckles on the glass door. "Hey Alec," he greets. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you had a minute?"
Alec nods, and motions him to sit. "What can I do for you, Daylighter?"
"Well," Simon begins. "I need some advice. And for this specific advice, you're the only one I could think of to ask."
"I can't promise to be helpful," Alec says. "That said, if I can help, I will. What is it you need advice about?"
"Jace has asked me to meet your parents, as his boyfriend," Simon tells him. "And since you were obviously raised by them, I thought you might have some insight on how to make it go as smoothly as possible."
"Well, despite your bests efforts, Daylighter, it won't go well," Alec laughs humorlessly. "Robert and Maryse Lightwood are thoroughly stubborn people, the both of them. They're very set in their ways, and are not the least bit progressive. That may sound bad, but I'm not one to sugarcoat things. Magnus and I tried this whole thing with them already."
"Please," Simon practically begs. "This is really important to Jace, which means it's really important to me. Robert and Maryse are the closest to parents Jace has left, and I'd really like to make a good first impression."
Alec sighs.
"There are a few things you can do so that they aren't openly hostile," Alec says finally.
"Tell me," Simon says, impatiently. "I'll do whatever I can."
"My parents minds cannot be changed," Alec begins. "If you go in with the mindset that you're going to change their thinking, they'll become even more steadfast."
Simon nods. "Don't try to change their minds, got it! What's next?"
"As much as their minds cannot be changed, you'd do well to stand your ground," Alec continues. "If you want them to respect you, however grudgingly, you have to have a backbone and show them that you won't be intimidated."
"So, don't let them intimidate me, got it!" Simon nods again. "Anything else?"
"My parents are both big on Shadowhunter traditions. They're very prideful creatures, and so you'll definitely want to read up on Shadowhunter etiquette and traditions. Guaranteed, you will encounter instances when meeting them where knowledge of both will be required."
"Study etiquette and traditions, got it!" Simon exclaims. "I guess I should get started on that, then, Thanks, Alec."
In a blur, Simon is gone, leaving Alec and a mountain of paperwork behind.
"Good luck, Daylighter," Alec says quietly, as he settles back into his paperwork.
Unbeknownst to Simon, as he was taking tips from Alec, Jace was setting things up with Maryse and Robert.
"I'm bringing someone to dinner," he says, as soon as all three of them have sat down in the Lightwood home. "I'd like you to meet them."
"We already know it's Jocelyn's daughter, Jace," Robert laughs. "You know that you two didn't exactly do anything to keep that a secret."
"And while I may find your taste questionable, at best," Maryse intones condescendingly. "If the Fairchild girl really makes you happy, we'll be glad to host her. I even promise to be on my best behaviour and not bring up my old rivalry with her mother."
"That would be appreciated, Maryse," Jace tells her. He feels no need to correct her after she'd been so condescending to him. Let her be surprised.
'We'll see how much of that you actually mean when I show up with Simon on my arm instead.' Jace says to himself.
If Simon were here, he'd say Jace was so bad, but he'd be laughing so that it was clear he found it funny too. Jace couldn't wait to see what Simon thought of Maryse's mix-up, just as he couldn't wait to see her face on the night of the dinner.
He bids goodbye to both of the Lightwood parents for now, and sets off to find Simon.
Jace finds him in one of the last places he'd expect: the Institute library where he's scanning an antiquated text of Shadowhunter etiquette and traditions.
"Hey Sunshine," he says, effectively startling Simon out of his book-induced trance.
"Angel!" Simon beams, getting up to press a kiss to Jace's cheek. "Is everything set with Maryse and Robert?"
"It's set," Jace confirms. "What are you doing reading about etiquette and traditions, though?"
"I asked Alec for advice on how to make the evening go as smoothly as possible. He said Maryse and Robert were big on etiquette and traditions, so I'm reading up."
"Sunshine-" Jace starts.
"Angel, I want to," Simon reassures him. "It's no trouble. I enjoy reading, and if it helps the evening go easier for both of us, I'd do it a thousand times over."
"I love you, did you know that?" Jace asks Simon, heart full of affection and tone uncharacteristically fond.
"I was kind of hoping," Simon laughs, kissing him soundly on the lips before pulling back. "Now, come on, I could use someone to quiz me."
"They think what?!" Simon exclaims, when he and Jace are cuddled up in a canoe that night.
"They mistakenly thought when I said I was bringing someone to dinner that I was referring to Clary," Jace repeats.
"I don't know whether to laugh or…" Simon trails off. "Did you correct them?"
"No," Jace admits. "Maryse was being condescending so I decided not to. She did promise however, to be on her best behaviour though, so we'll see how much she meant that when I show up with you on my arm for dinner."
"You're so bad, Angel," Simon laughs.
"You love it," Jace teases.
"I really, really do," Simon admits. "Now how about you shut up and kiss me?"
"Gladly, Sunshine," Jace smirks.
After a few more days of studying, the night has arrived for Jace and Simon to attend dinner with Maryse and Robert, who are also being joined by Alec, Magnus, Isabelle and Max, making it a true family affair.
Jace rang the doorbell, and the two of them waited. The door swung open.
"Jace and… Who are you?" Maryse asks.
"I'm Simon Lewis, ma'am," Simon greets her, kissing her hand as was the custom. "I'm Jace's boyfriend. It's so lovely to finally meet you. Jace and the others have told me great things."
"Of course they have," Maryse sighs. "Please come in. Everyone else is already in the dining room."
"Thank you!" Simon says jovially, looking around. "You have a lovely home."
"That's very kind of you to say," Maryse says. "You must be quite special to Jace for him to bring you here."
"He is," Jace intones.
"I look forward to getting to know each other then," Maryse bites out, sounding as if she'd rather be having a root canal as opposed to sitting down to dinner with her adopted son and his boyfriend.
Jace and Simon have to compose themselves to keep from laughing as they finally arrive at the dining room.
"Jace!" Robert exclaims. "And this must be… Oh, I'm sorry. I thought Clarissa Fairchild was joining us. Who are you?"
Simon strides over to Robert and offers his hand, which Robert accepts, before bowing slightly.
"I'm Simon Lewis, sir," he says."I'm Jace's boyfriend. It's an honour to be invited to your home."
Robert nods, in grudging approval. "It's our pleasure, Mr, Lewis. Isn't it Maryse?"
"Hm?" Maryse questions, before snapping out of her haze. "Oh, yes! It's our pleasure. Can I get you started with something to drink?"
"I'll have water please, Maryse," Jace tells her,
Maryse nods, and extends the same offer to Simon,
"If you don't have synth or animal blood, I'll have water as well," Simon tells her. "Thank you, Mrs. Lightwood."
Maryse scoffs, and sets off toward the kitchen as Jace and Simon get seated,
"Can I see your fangs?" Max asks excitedly.
"Max!" Robert exclaims. "We've been through this before…"
"It's okay, Mr. Lightwood," Simon waves him off, as he smiles, showing off the pointed teeth.
"Cool!" Max says in awe. "So, you're Jace's boyfriend?"
"That's right!" Simon nods, smiling. "Is that okay with you?"
Simon can feel Jace tense as they wait for Max's answer, Max being the only one of his siblings who didn't know about his relationship with Simon beforehand.
"Yeah," Max says with conviction, "Just no kissing please. Kissing is gross and Magnus and Alec do it enough already."
"You got it," Simon agrees.
There's a lapse in conversation as Maryse comes back in with Jace and Simon's drinks.
"You have remarkable knowledge of Shadowhunter etiquette for a Downworlder, doesn't he dear?" Robert asks Maryse.
"Yes, he does," Maryse says grudgingly.
"Thank you!" Simon beams, "Jace has been helping me to understand. He's also training me in combat."
"Is that what people call it these days?" Maryse sneers.
"Mom, that's enough!" Alec exclaims.
"Alec…" Maryse starts, only to met with a withering glare from Alec, Magnus and Izzy
"I'll go check on the food," Maryse says, as she fails to find any support. "Please excuse me."
The silence stretches until finally Max breaks it. "Can I ask you a question, Jace's boyfriend?"
"You can call me Simon," Simon informs him. "And yes you can, Max."
"You know my name?" Max asks, shocked.
"I do," Simon confirms. "Your siblings have told me quite a bit about you, especially Jace."
"Cool!" Max exclaims. "I was just wondering why, if you're a vampire, you didn't burn in the sun walking over here."
"I was dying, and Jace allowed me to drink from him," Simon explains.
Suddenly, there's a crash, and everyone's head turns to see Maryse in the doorway, with shattered glass and food at her feet.
"Get out!" Maryse screams at Simon. "Never come back here."
"Maryse," Jace tries.
"We'll be talking about this later, Jace," Maryse grits out. "Now say goodbye to your boyfriend, because I'll be calling the Clave."
"If you do," Jace warns. "I will never forgive you, Maryse. I saved Simon because I wanted to."
"But-" Maryse starts.
"But nothing, Mrs. Lightwood," Simon says, voice as hard as steel. "Jace is old enough to make his own decisions."
"Normally I'd agree, Daylighter," Maryse spits. "But when you've seduced him with your bite and your venom, I'd consider him temporarily incapacitated."
"I'm not addicted to venom," Jace breaks in. "Simon has amazing control, and he'd never do anything to hurt me. Other than feeding from me to save his life, which I let him do for the record, he's never bitten me. Not once."
"That's…" Maryse sputters.
"Completely true," Simon interjects. "I love Jace with everything I have. He knows that, and most of the people around this table know that too, so I'd quit while you're ahead Maryse."
"You dare?" Maryse screeches, indignant.
"Of course he does," Jace laughs bitterly. "Simon's not someone you can intimidate, Maryse. I know you might not be used to that, but you better start getting used to it, because he's not going anywhere soon. Now we're leaving, come on, Sunshine."
Simon goes and shakes Robert's hand and ruffles Max's hair before joining Jace again.
"I'd say it's been a pleasure," he says to Maryse. "But both of us know that would be a lie, so all I'll say is that I feel sorry for you Maryse Lightwood."
Jace intertwines their fingers, and pulls Simon out of the Lightwood house, leaving everybody stunned and Maryse fuming.
"And you say I'm bad, Sunshine" Jace laughs as they cuddle in a canoe at the boathouse. "You might have to look in the mirror from now on."
"I'm sorry about that," Simon says. "I don't know what came over me, she was just so infuriating."
"Don't apologize, Simon," Jace says seriously. "That was badass. You took on Maryse Lightwood and won. Besides, it was nice to see you stand up for the both of us."
"I'm just sorry it didn't go well," Simon says.
"It was never going to go well," Jace sighs, "Max seemed to adore you, though."
"I'm glad," Simon beams.
"What if I told you Max isn't the only one who adores you?" Jace questions.
"I'd say you're a sap, Jace Herondale," Simon says.
"But you love me, anyway," Jace says seriously.
"I really, really do," Simon agrees, kissing him passionately, before pulling away just enough to look at Jace..
"Hey, now that I've met your family, what would you say to meeting mine?"
AN: And there we have it! Our first chapter! I'd love to hear your feedback.
See you in the next chapter!
WritingIsLoveAndLife