Author's Note: I want to start by saying I've just recently become a fan Shadowhunters tv show. I haven't read The Mortal Instruments, yet. So if I got a character wrong, I apologize. I hope you enjoy this.
Simon entered Pandemonium. The club was packed, as usual. Only this time, he wasn't blind the undertones of the place. He knew who really gathered here. The downworlders. His people.
Clary and Izzy asked him to meet them here. It had been two months since Raphael said he betrayed him. One month since he left the Institute. With Valentine back in the shadows, surely moving on to stage two of his master plan now that he had the mortal cup; Simon didn't feel comfortable at the Institute. He was a downworlder. He constantly wondered in the shadow hunters there were secretly on Valentine's side or were considering joining his side to save their own lives. Izzy's parents were part of the circle once.
So was Jocelyn and Luke.
Simon needed to be away from that. So one night, while Clary, Alec, Izzy, and he were out following a false trail, looking for Jace, he slipped away from them.
He had been dodging and ignoring every attempt Clary made to reach out to him. He knew she would only continue to convince him to return to the Institute. They were best friends. Of course, she'd be able to convince him to return. They had been through so much the last few months; it bound them together, more than they were before.
So much, he willingly betrayed his superior. The one who vowed to take care of him and show him the way of the vampires. The one who gave him a home and protection.
He stepped inside the club, pushing his way through the hot and cold bodies as he passed the dance floor. The music was bumping. He found himself tapping his fingers on his thigh as he moved further in. He found the loud music calming. It overpowered his thoughts of why he left the Institute and his betrayal, muting them into the background of his mind.
He felt a hand with long fingers on his right forearm, wrapping around it. He turned his head and saw that it was the only Asian ginger he had ever met. He was convinced that Yo-Han was one of a kind.
"I thought you said you were going to stay in," Yo-Han said after he moved his mouth to Simon's ear.
He had been staying with this nomadic vamp for the last month. Yo-Han was a century old. He was confident and charming. Charming in a way that made you want to punch him in his smug smile. Simon didn't question why a stranger would take him in. He was in no position to be picky.
"I changed my mind," he said coldly. His eyes scanned around the room. He was looking for Clary and Izzy.
Yo-Han ignored the coldness. He grabbed Simon's hand and pulled him to the center of the dance floor and forced him to dance. Simon went along, just moving his feet side to side and off beat. He knew he could do better, but he didn't want to dance. His mind was somewhere else or trying to be.
Yo-Han pressed his body up against Simon's. Simon wasn't even phased by it. Yo-Han's lips returned to Simon's ear. "Your friends are here." Yo-Han tilted his head to the left, his left, and then pushed Simon in that direction.
Simon turned his head and flashed Yo-Han a faint grin from over his shoulder as he made his way to Clary and Izzy. He replayed the words he had been practicing at Yo-Han's underground lair.
Clary's met with his just as Simon reached them by the couches. Izzy smiled at Simon. She was always kind to him. Clary grabbed his hand and pulled him further into the club. He didn't put up a fight.
Izzy kept an eye on their surroundings as she followed close behind them.
They entered a room. A quiet one, so they could talk. Izzy closed the door and craved a run on the door, sealing it shut.
Clary laid in on him, punching his arm with every sentence. "What happened to you? I thought we were friends. Best friends. How could you just leave me like that?"
Izzy interrupted, correcting Clary, "leave us." She was hurt by his abrupt departure too.
Simon bit on his bottom lip. He looked away from them for a moment, shamefully. He hurt them. He betrayed their friendship. A burning grew inside his chest, consuming the part of him that allowed him to keep in control. His fangs dropped.
Clary gently touched his wrist. Simon took an unnecessary breath and calmed himself down. His fangs retracted. "I understand why you left. I just want to know you're safe."
"I made a promise to your mother," she reminded him.
Simon nodded.
Alec came into the room from a back entrance. He had an arrow in his bow, ready for release. As if it were necessary. "There were two men watching your every move," he said to Clary and Izzy. "We've been out for too long." His eyes never made contact with them. They focused on around them, covering every dark corner.
Simon wanted to greet him, but since Alec didn't greet him; Simon didn't say a word. "You should get back to the Institute." He suggested.
Lydia had put the Institute on lockdown. Only absolutely necessary mission were sanctioned. Simon had heard from Yo-Han that a few shadow hunters were killed last week. He thought maybe it were his friends. Yo-Han assured him they weren't and when he got the calls from Clary he knew Yo-Han told the truth. It was that worry that prompted him to agree to this meeting.
"I'm okay, Clary," Simon said, reassuring his best friend. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She forced a smile. He knew she needed him, but he had to stay safe.
And he knew his decision to leave, it was a selfish one.
When Simon tried to pull back, Clary held on. "There's something else," she mumbled, looking down, shamefully.
Clary was going to ask for a risky favor. He stepped in closer to her and asked what kind of danger, agreeing.
Izzy briefed him. They got a solid lead on Jace. The problem was his location was heavily guarded with Valentine's shadow hunters. Everyone knew how much Valentine despised downworlders.
They wanted Simon to go as a distraction. They said all he had to do was run by. The new shadow hunters couldn't catch.
Clary grabbed his hand after Izzy finished the briefing. "I know this is dangerous, but we need."
Simon cut her off. "I know how much Jace means to you. All of you. I'll do it for you."
Izzy spoke, "if you see danger, runaway." Her eyes were filled with this gentle compassion. It amazed Simon how much ferocity also resided in those eyes. Izzy was passionate about what she does and whom she loves.
Her compassion only made Simon feel guiltier for leaving them.
He nodded...
...They arrived a couple blocks away from the abandoned factory on the north side of Brooklyn. Izzy went over their plan to get Jace back. They were going to take him by force. Simon couldn't help, but think how dangerous this was. What if he fought back? He was gone for two months. Who knew what Valentine has put in his head?
"Simon, these shadow hunters are trained, but still very new at being angelic," Alec said.
Simon nodded.
Clary grabbed his arm, gently. "Just distract them. Pull as many as you can away from the factory."
Simon grinned. "I have super speed." He flexed his arm muscles.
Alec scoffed as his eyes scanned around them. He was such the vigilant watcher.
Once they made it to the back of the abandoned factory, Simon looked at the girls nodded. He was phase one. Alec lightly hit his left arm. "Don't get killed." The words barely slipped through his tight lips.
Simon grinned, big. He was growing on Alec. He was sure of it.
Alec rolled his eyes.
Simon ran, whooshing away from his friends. He stopped in the middle of several men. "Hello," he said, waving his hands to them like an excited kid at a comic con.
The tall raven haired man pulled out his sword. "Downworlder. Valentine will be please to know we've rid the world of more garbage."
"Hey, I may be dead, but I still have feelings." Simon declared as he pointed at his chest. They laughed at him. They did exactly what he planned. They were distracted. Simon charged at the raven haired man, shoving him back into the side of the building. He didn't wait. He took off.
Simon didn't use his speed at full capacity, enough to keep them close behind. He had to make sure they could see him so they'd keep following.
When they were a block away, Simon heard a loud howl and stopped. The shadow hunters stopped as well when more howls echoed through the street. Five wolves came out on an alley. The center one, the alpha, howled and the other four charged at the shadow hunters.
The alpha shifted back to human. Luke. "Simon, you can go now." Luke smiled at him. He turned around, shifted back into a wolf, and Followed after his pack.
Simon didn't want to leave. Now that he was in the mix. He had to be sure his friends didn't get hurt. Taking a different route, he made his way back to the abandoned factory. The back door was closed. He tried to open it, even with his vamp strength. It didn't budge. Alec or Izzy must have locked it with a rune.
He ran to the side, looking for another entrance. What he found was a fire escape. The ladder was at least twelve feet from the ground.
He looked over his shoulder, seeing if anyone was near him. He didn't want any surprises. No one was behind him.
He turned back to the ladder. He was going to have to jump to reach it. There wasn't a dumpster or anything big enough to lift him up. Nothing.
Simon took a few steps back. He placed one foot in front of the other, leaning slightly forward. He took an unnecessary deep breath. He wasn't good at sports, especially basketball. So he was completely relying on his vampire abilities to get him through this.
He took off, running and when he got a couple feet away, he jumped. He was airborne and thrilled that he did it. He reached the second to last bar and grabbed tight. His weight was enough to bring the ladder down.
Once the ladder was down, he quickly climbed up. There were three floors, but Simon entered at the first one. He imagined was the second floor; unless he saw the blueprint of the factory, he couldn't be sure.
He opened the door. The other end was empty and filled with doors. He entered and stopped at the first door on the right. The door was made of steel. It was rusty. He could smell it in the air.
He opened the door. The room was empty with five pairs of chains hanging from the ceiling. He moved on to the next three (two on the left side and one on the right). They looked the same with five pairs of chains hanging from the ceiling.
He was going to continue looking for his friends on another floor, but he heard chains rattle in the next room. He moved to the door, using his vampire speed. Simon opened the door and saw a shirtless short man cuffed to those chains. The man had his back faced Simon. His back was covered with long cuts with streams of blood running down his body. There were streams running down his arms from the cuffs.
The other four pairs of chains were empty. Simon noticed the piles of ashes that sat directly below the hanging chains. They were the remains of vampires.
Simon moved to the prisoner and removed one of the chains. He wrapped his arm underneath the prisoner's arm, holding him up as he removed the other one.
He did, releasing the prisoner. He was toppled by the prisoner. They hit the floor hard. If breathing was necessary as it once was for him; the fall would have knocked the wind out of him.
"Hey, hey, you need to get up if you want to escape this place," Simon said as he pushed the vamp off of him.
The vamp only let out muffled words and grunts. He was completely drained of blood, on the brink of absolute death.
Simon thought to himself, if only the vamp would be cooperative or could find some strength and do what he suggested. Then he remembered how hard it was to focus on starving mode when he first turned.
He was positive this place didn't have any blood bags. From the piles of ashes around them, the prisoners weren't getting out of here alive.
"Hey, look," he said as he turned the vampire over and then instantly became quiet for a moment when he recognized the vampire. "Raphael," he mumbled out.
Raphael's eyes peeled open. "Simon?" He said.
Simon didn't say another word. The shame for betraying Raphael surfaced, flooding him with it. Simon's eyes wandered the room, looking at every crack and corner, but Raphael's eyes.
"I don't need your help, traitor." The last word was like a knife to his chest.
Simon knew he should leave Raphael alone. That the older vampire would never forgive him. How could he? The only way this guilt would end was making things right with Raphael.
He finally looked at Raphael in the eye. Raphael was like absolute death. There was no color to his face. His eyes were dark and hollow with large black circles around them. He needed blood.
"I'm going to get you out of here." Simon was determined. He got an idea on how to help Raphael. His veins were filled with plenty of blood. He stocked up before he left the Yo-Han's loft. He still didn't know much of the vampire ways or if blood sharing would work. He was going to find out.
He raised his wrist to his lips and bit into it. He winced. The bite really hurt. "Oh my g-" Simon growled. He still couldn't say the G word. He pushed his wrist to Raphael's pasty lips.
Raphael started to suck on the open wound. Simon thought to himself, this isn't so bad. He had thought too soon. Raphael opened his eyes and Simon felt fangs pierce his wrist.
Simon grunted.
Raphael continued to drink his blood. He'd bite Simon again and again. Simon knew Raphael did it on purpose. Raphael took pleasure out of it.
Raphael bit Simon once more and then let his wrist go Simon pulled his wrist close to face. He could see all the bite marks.
In an instant, Raphael pulled Simon by his neck and pressed him up against the steel wall. Simon's head hit hard against it. His eyes blinked uncontrollably in a daze. Raphael was shorter than Simon. He had to reach up to hold Simon by his neck.
"You should have never come for me," Raphael said in a weak breath. Not that he needed air. He was still drained.
Simon shook his head slightly, pushing away the daze he felt. His eyes met with Raphael's. "I shouldn't...have. I don't know what I was thinking." He looked away from Raphael, moving his focus to the hanging chains behind them. "I never know what I'm doing. It's that foolish impulse that got me into this situation in the first place."
Raphael scoffed. "Even when your life is literally in the palm of my hand, you find the time to fidget and ramble." No matter what state of being Raphael was in; he was still Raphael.
Simon heard steps coming from down the hallway. Someone was coming their way. He had to think fast. He acted quickly. He cocked his head back and released it, hitting forehead to forehead with Raphael. He pushed Raphael down to the floor and moved, whooshing behind the door before the person came in.
Simon noticed it was the same shadow hunter that jumped on the idea of killing him outside. He survived the werewolf attack. Barely. His clothes had tears and blood stains in them.
"Valentine gave me the order to end you." The shadow hunter pulled out his sword and slowly walked around Raphael, stalking his prey. "Your friend came to rescue you, but failed."
Raphael opened his eyes, looking at the door, looking directly into Simon's eyes.
Simon thought if that was a signal for him to act. If not, he was acting. He moved to the shadow hunter, using his vamp speed and crushing into him. The shadow hunter flew and hit the wall.
Simon was amazed with himself. He pumped his fists in the air, celebrating. "Failed my ass." He quickly lifted up Raphael and laying Raphael's left arm over his shoulders. They took off...
...Simon took Raphael to Yo-Han's loft. His first choice was to take Raphael back to Hotel Dumort, but he couldn't shake the thought that the other residents would want to stake him or let him take in the sun.
They entered Simon's empty room that was originally Yo-Han's storage room. Simon noticed Raphael was getting weaker. He quickly moved to his bed laid Raphael down, slowly and gently lying his head on the pillow. He then removed the 500 dollar pair of shoes from Raphael's feet. He rolled his eyes when he noticed Raphael's socks look expensive.
Simon went to the bathroom and grabbed a cloth. He turned on the faucet long enough to soak the cloth and returned to his room, to Raphael. He sat down on the left side of the bed, only an inch away from Raphael.
Simon started with Raphael's face, gently caressing the wet cloth on his skin and wiping away the dry blood stains. He moved down to Raphael's neck.
Simon stopped when Raphael twitched in his slumber. Raphael had a tickle spot on his neck. This was news to Simon. Raphael was critical and mean. He didn't show an ounce of vulnerability. Truth, Simon didn't know much about Raphael. Who he was before he was reborn? Where he came? Who his family was? Did they love him? Simon had realized he never got the chance to know his older vamp. From the moment he was reborn, Simon was in the middle of one battle or another, with himself or for his best friend.
He waited for a moment before he continued. Simon's eyes slowly moved up to Raphael's lips. The corner of his slightly moved back and up into a grin. He felt an itching to feel Raphael's lips under his own. Those full pale reddish lips. Simon licked his own and bit on his bottom lip.
What the hell? Simon thought as he moved away with his vamp speed and pushed himself up against the wall. He questioned himself. What the hell was that? Did he really want to kiss Raphael? When did he become attracted to men? He started to fidget.
"Why him?" He asked out loud. "Why Raphael? Sure, he's good looking. In shape. But he's an asshole. Self-centered. Arrogant." He paced his bedroom floor, fidgeting some more. This just had to be because he was feeling guilty. That was what he told himself.
His phone chimed in, literally. He had received a message. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. It was from Clary. SIMON, WE GOT JACE. ALEC IS PRETTY BEAT UP. I HOPE THAT YOU'RE OKAY. Simon glanced at Raphael. He was okay for now. Maybe not when Raphael awakes.
He replied. I'M OKAY. GOOD THAT YOU GOT JACE. He reread his message and smiled. He was happy for them.
He dialed Yo-Han's number. Raphael needed more blood. Yo-Han kept the loft well stock with "food." Simon had permission to eat when he needed, but this time it wasn't for him. It could have easily taken it and said it was for him, but Raphael's word: betrayed, still rang loud in his mind. He didn't want to betray anyone, anymore.
Yo-Han answered. Simon started with his rambling. "So I ran into an old friend…well not an old friend, but he is pretty old…I think. He's really not a friend either. Not anymore." Simon paused. He was rambling and it wasn't getting him anywhere. "Sorry." He took a deep unnecessary breath and began again, only this time it was sweet and short. "I found a vampire that is in need of blood. Could I give him some of your stock?"
"Sure, but make sure he doesn't see where it's at. I don't want to get robbed," Yo-Han said with a cheerful tone. He hung up the phone.
That was easy. Simon smiled and turned to the bed. His smiled vanished when he saw his bed empty. He looked around his room. Under the bed. In the closet. Raphael was gone.