Simon was seven when he found his favorite place to get out of the house. He had found it walking around one day after school. The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store practically begged for him to enter. With all the stuff needed to be a hero, he was in heaven. Simon's favorite was concealed behind the secret door, a library where he could write his own comics. Well, officially it was "A space to explore the endless possibility through the power of writing," but Simon liked his version better.
Fast forward to a decade later, Simon was now the one behind the counter, opening the secret door. Watching the wonder cross the kids' faces as he whispered to them about the "special secret" would never get old.
"Si! Come see what I wrote!" A voice shouted over the crowd by the front door.
"Alright Max, I'll be right there. No need to yell," he said at a noticeably lower volume. He chuckled as he shook his head. Max was one of his favorite regulars. He loved all of the kids, don't get him wrong, but there was something about Max that could put a smile on Simon's face no matter what.
It was adorable how Max always had a story, both written and not, about his older siblings, Der, Bells, and Johnny, whenever he came in. In Max's written story, they fought demons. In his verbal ones, they were heroes in a different way.
"Sorry about him, even at nine years old he hasn't gotten the hang of inside voice," said an achingly familiar voice beside Max.
"Jace, what are you doing here?" Simon wondered, completely not catching the second half of the blond's sentence.
"That little menace is my little brother," he said, pointing to the still swinging secret door.
"You're Johnny," the brunette groaned. "It's so obvious now. Oh, I'm so stupid."
"Hey, you're not stupid. I don't blame you for not connecting the dots. Max is literally the only person that calls me Johnny."
"He talks about you a lot though." And hadn't that been an eyeopener. The fact that he was talking to his crush's little brother without even knowing it. "Sure he talks about Alec and Izzy too, but the way he talks about you. You're his hero," Simon said, unaware of the impact the words had. "Johnny, the one who will always make time for him, who will stay home with him when he wants to play hooky, who will listen to him no matter," Simon was cut off by a pair of lips pressing against his, "what." he finished when Jace pulled back.
"I'm sorry I know I should've asked, but."
"Jace, shut up and kiss me."
They both got so lost in the kiss that they didn't notice Max peeking his head out the door.
"Finally! We've only been trying to get you together for weeks." Max exclaimed, causing the pair to jump away from each other.
"We? What do you mean we?" The blond demanded.
The only answer he got was a grinch smile and a laugh as Max went back into the secret room.