Chapter 1
Grace and Simon loved each other. Not in the familial or platonic sense, not even the romantic sense. But something deeper, an understanding, a complete and utter knowledge of each other, that kind of love. Grace knew today was going to be a great day, because today she would lead the Apex in a raid alongside the person who mattered most to her, just like she did everyday. An energy tingled in the air as the followers of the Apex prepared for their raid. Weapons being maintained hair being cut and general controlled mayhem abound in the minutes before they would be able to raid. Simon spent his few minutes before the raid completing a diagram he was working on. His models and figures calmed him and gave him reprieve from the wild world of the Apex. The two leaders separately suited up preparing for the best part of their job as Apex leaders, taking what was rightfully theirs from a car full of Nulls. The two converged at the top of the escalators, descending into an adoring crowd of followers who worshiped their every move.
Grace gave a small smile and put a hand on Simon's shoulder to which he responded with a smile in return. The two didn't even have to speak to each other to have an understanding. The Apex descended upon the car, the children desperate to attack any Null in their path in the pursuit of treasure.
"Take what you want Apex! Highest number gets the pick of the raid!" Grace announced. This turned the children's already violent raid into an all out frenzy, each excited to gather what they wanted from their newly claimed car. Simon grappled up to the stage lights which looked at him with about as much fright as a stage light could manage. Normally him and Grace choose not to deal with Nulls so directly unless necessary but this one's singing had particularly pissed him off. He swung the bat smashing the glass sending shards everywhere. Graces smiled and spun as the embers of the fire danced down around her. Simon could have watched her like that all day, free and happy and home. His love of watching Grace do anything was only surpassed by his love of gloating.
"You see that Grace," he called "I'm already up fourteen!" Never one to be out done Grace casually responded
"That's not bad." Internally she laughed, she knew Simon wouldn't be able to resist the bait.
"Not bad? You think you can beat it?" Simon responded with joking indignation. Really there was nothing either of them could say to hurt the other, but their back and forth came naturally to them.
"Already have, Socks and Sandals." Grace said her killing strike using her old nickname for Simon to solidify their teasing. She tore into a Null as if to punctuate her point.
"Aww come on, give me a new nickname. I was ten and my mom thought they were practical." Simon said faking hurt over Grace's comment.
"Ha! Never trust an adult! Had she ever heard of shoes?" Grace responded. Truly her and Simon were almost adults both being seventeen. But really they'd never be adults, as long as they lead the Apex, and had each other, they'd never need to become adults.
"Why no! What are these shoo-es you speak of?" Simon approached her as the reporte went on. He gave a smug smile, really just pleased to get closer to Grace. She was so pretty, always had been. The two were halted by the sound of a number changing. Looking down the two watched Grace's number rise.
"Wow, nice combo. Guess you win again, Knee Pads." Simon quipped
"Ahh! Ooh! Ow!" Grace imitated a pained noise before quipping back "You're just jealous I know how to make practical look good." As the two watched the stage become engulfed in flames
Simon asked "Time to go?"
"Time to go." Grace affirmed as the two prepared for the exit of the car. Simon went to go check the exit door becoming exasperated at its refusal to budge.
"Ugh another dumb puzzle?" He asked
"Barely." Grace responded as she, Simon and the other Apex joined hands and took a bow on the flaming stage before exiting the car. As they left Simon and Grace wrapped their arms around each other practically out of habit at this point. They enjoyed being close to each other and went out of their way to do so. Grace and Simon stood waiting as the children presented their gifts.
Grace made an effort to encourage each child. She told herself it was to instill loyalty, but in reality she just enjoyed making the children smile. Simon enjoyed this too though he was significantly worse at it, often coming off as more intense than he meant. He instead elected to stay mostly silent as Grace did this job. This was of course until the last child, Lucy unveiled her gift. One of the singing light fixtures. Grace tuned out its pleas for its life instead responding to its presences with
"Lucy hold that Null." Using it as a reflective surface Grace surveyed her appearance. "Nah too much." She decided "One if these days I'll make crushed velvet work for me." she said tossing the cape one of the children had given her in a pile. "Wheel it or whatever." she ordered not caring much for the Null one way or the other
"So I can keep the light person!" Lucy excitedly stated this gave Simon and Grace pause and Grace proceeded with the reminder they give to all Apex.
"Aww that's cute, Lucy thinks it's a person." She mocked "Simon, do you see a person?" She said giving Simon his opening
"Nope, I'm sorry Lucy but that thing is just a toy the train made for our amusement." Simon chastised throwing in a mock apology so as not to too badly hurt the girl.
"See Lucy it's nothing, just something to play with until we get bored. And honestly, you're boring me." Grace added a bit of sharp coldness to the last part of her message. She really didn't enjoy treating the kids this way but it was the only way to ensure they understood what she knew to be true, that Nulls were nothing.
"Yes Grace, understood Grace." Lucy affirmed beginning to run off to wheel the light. Simon, feeling a bit bad for the girl decided to throw her a bone.
"Wait," he said "That might actually be useful, good job Lucy. Why don't you put it in my room." Grace gave him a look of respect. The fuzzy feeling in his stomach indicated that he might need to complement recruits more often.
"Yes Simon!" Lucy said enthusiastically. Getting complemented by Grace was one thing but an elusive complement from the reserved Simon was a real treat. Grace continued looking at Simon though the look had shifted from respect to bemusement.
"What?" He jokingly asked "I'm building a diorama for my soldiers. I need a big light to emulate dawn before the battle of Esmarath." Simon spoke wistfully.
"Is that a real battle?" Grace questioned
"It is in my fantasy novel," he mumbled "which you promised you'd read!" He said slightly annoyed
"I'm still on the foreword." Grace teased
"You wrote the foreword." Simon responded humor now illuminating his voice.
"I know isn't it great." Grace couldn't help but say. She looked down upon her followers and couldn't help but smile leading them in a chant. "Apex let our spirits be high and our numbers higher."
"Down with the false conductor!" Simon added. Grace thrilled her lips. Half because it helped her concentrate and calm down and half because she knew Simon found it cute. She quickly turned to him
"Let's raid another car!" She proposed
"Wow you read me like a book. Not my book which you haven't read but a book." Simon teased "Let's go!"
"Who wants to raid one more car?" Grace asked the adoring Apex who began chanting
"One more car!" Simon scanned the car ahead
"No passengers in the next car should be easy." Grace continued the chant of
"One more car." The two looked at each other with the same understanding as before. They had everything, they had each other. The Apex burst into the car with a bang, the children spitting off to wreak havoc on the peaceful neighborhood. Simon burst into a home snatching a hat and an apron from a Null on the train. He could fairly easily rough them up but he didn't have in particular interest in this Null election instead to correct the Null's usage of the term breaking in.
"Dude, it's not really breaking in when your house has no walls." He explained before running off to find Grace. Grace happily smashed away at phone booths and mailboxes before catching sight of Simon.
"Looks like someone wants a new nickname, Chef's Hat." She poked fun
"Oh am I wearing one? It's so subtle I didn't even notice." Simon quipped, keeping their reporte going. Grace jokingly flicked the hat off his head crossing her arms to give an air of smugness. He looked back at her sheepishly before the two were accosted by the authorities. Grace mocked their orders before effortlessly kicked one of them in the face. She patiently waited to see Simon's move both showing off for each other. Simon did a wall run before jumping down, sweeping the leg of a guard and cockily watching his number increase. Grace put an arm on his shoulder and he smirked at her still cocky from his fighting prowess. As the car began to shift Grace made an order
"Back to the car Apex!" Grace called. The Apex fled but the shifting of the car caused Simon to fly backwards. The gravity shifted once again causing debris to fall on top of him. Grace quickly bound towards Simon. Two had an agreement, they'd always protect each other. Grace quickly removed the derbies from atop Simon helping him from under.
"I think I bruised my ribs." He expressed holding his side
"Don't worry, I've got you." Grace said slinging his arm around her shoulder doing her best to support him. Looking around for an exit Grace spotted a tapped off exit way. "Alright Simon hang on tight." Grace said determined
"Are you sure you can carry us both." Simon asked, it was one thing for him to get hurt but to lose her was something else entirely.
"You wanna find out?" Even in the most dire of situations she couldn't help but tease him. Their back and forth, their love for each other had never been so clear to Simon as in that moment. He gave her a look of admiration, and love. He held on to her waist and Grace pretended that it didn't make her want to burst into flames of embarrassment. As they attempt to escape a Null stands in their way. They swerved to avoid it in the process hurting the rope. Grace slammed down on the bridge looking over to see Simon slipping off. Grace quickly rushed to his aid saving his life.
"I owe you one." Simon stated out of breath
"Dude you owe me a million. Also a new raid mask, also a harpoon pack." Grace said
"Yours is broken?" Simon asked
"Ugh beyond broken." Grace said showing off the mangled remains of the pack
"We'll swap it out back at the car, can't be that far." Simon says optimistically
"Ugh what happened cars aren't supposed to move if there's people inside." Grace assessed
"Well you know who has control over that." Simon said curtly
"That horrible little robot." Grace finished
"I think the false conductor just made his first move." Simon positied
"You think he was attacking us?" Grace asked quizzically
"I wouldn't put it past him. Oh good news! They're here." Simon said pointing at their map "Bad news we're here. Forty seven cars away." Simon said sadly. Though he'd never admit it he worries about the children who look up to them. Would they be okay with them gone so long?
Grace quickly took notice of Simon's worsening mood and acted quickly playfully elbowing him and saying "Hey, it's not all bad it'll be just like old times. Just me and you." At the prospect of the two of them being alone together for an extended period of time he can't help but sigh happily "Yeah, old times." As Grace opened the door to the next car the two looked in awe at a jungle before chuckling and walking in together.