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Simon had shown up to the Institute completely unannounced. Not that his presence was unwelcome in any way, most of the Shadowhunters seemed to like him, it was just odd for the unofficial clan leader, especially in the middle of the afternoon while his friends weren’t there. He claimed to be there on business though, something about a rogue vampire that the clan needed some extra assistance tracking down, practically demanding to see Alec as soon as possible.
The surprise Alec expressed when Simon all but barged into his office was soon replaced by a faint smile as his assistant, Molly, chased after him, stuttering something about how he rushed past her and she couldn’t stop him, but Alec thanked her and asked her to close the door on her way out. Molly looked between the two of them, confused by the sudden tension in the room, until she realized what was happening, it was obvious when it was just the two of them.
“So, what was it you wanted to see me for, Mr. Lewis?” Alec said, standing up and walking around to lean against the front of his desk.
“Just some vampire we need help tracking, but now that I think about it, the clan might not need help after all,” Simon caught his breath and took a few steps toward Alec. “So, we have some time to ourselves to discuss other matters. But only if you’re willing, Mr. Lightwood.”
Alec’s light expression turned into a full-blown smile as he grabbed the front of Simon’s shirt and pulled him closer.
“You’re such a dork, you know that?” he couldn’t help but laugh.
Simon pressed his forehead into the crook of Alec’s neck, “Yeah, but I’m your dork.”
They held each other for a few more moments when Alec kissed the top of Simon’s head, startling the vampire out of whatever zone he was in.
“What’s the matter, Si?”
Simon hadn’t had blood in forever. He looked fine, for now, but his body was starting to resist his movements and it was getting harder and harder to survive day after day. He had become so worked up about protecting the clan, managing everything Raphael left behind on short notice, his dysphoria, everything really, that he hasn’t the time or patience to drink even the littlest amount of blood. He even felt guilty about drinking it at all, the littlest mundane part of his brain screamed.
But, having this time with Alec was supposed to help, he thought. It only seemed to make it worse as he could hear, no feel, the blood turning and moving under his boyfriend’s skin. He didn’t know which feeling he hated more; the need for blood or the want to sink into Alec’s flesh.
Simon shook his head a little bit, trying to brush off the feeling in his stomach, huffing a laugh. “Nothing.”
“Doesn’t feel like nothing. Tell me,” Alec whispered, nudging his boyfriend with his shoulder.
Simon couldn’t help his smile as he looked at Alec, kissing him gently. “I appreciate you wanting to help, but it’s not that big of a deal, I promise.” His tongue throbbed as he spoke, trying his best to resist his fangs.
“Simon, you can tell me, whatever it is. If it’s bothering you, then it’s bothering me,” Alec said, bringing up a hand to cup Simon’s chin.
That only made the problem worse for Simon; he could feel the blood thrumming in the warmth of Alec’s skin. It took everything he had not to bite into his boyfriend’s hand right then and there. To spare both Alec and himself, he stepped away and turned his back to the Shadowhunter.
That’s when it clicked for Alec, “When was the last time you fed?”
Simon couldn’t help the guilty sigh that escaped him, “I don’t remember…”
Alec approached slowly, wrapping a steady hand around Simon’s waist, and kissing his temple softly.
“Simon…”
“Alec, don’t. I can’t ask you to do that,” Simon was trying to protest, knowing what Alec was about to suggest.
The taller brunette wasn’t hearing it though and pulled Simon back to their original position leaned up against the desk. He held onto Simon’s waist and held eye contact for a moment. “I love you, Si.”
Simon was awestruck, he knew he wanted to say something, anything, back, but the way Alec leaned his head to the side and unbuttoned his shirt rendered him speechless. He watched as his boyfriend slipped the rarely worn button-up off one side, exposing his neck and shoulder, the rune there saturated the perfect shade of black to contrast Alec’s tan skin.
The vampire caught his lips, a silent thank you, before working his lips down Alec’s jaw, neck, shoulder, and back to his neck.
“Are you sure?”
Simon looked into Alec’s eyes for any shred of doubt, worry, or distrust. When he couldn’t find any and was met with a nod from Alec, Simon went to work. He kissed the skin, admiring the deflection rune, before taking a second to settle himself. His fangs appeared on instinct, sinking easily into Alec’s skin, filling Simon’s mouth with the disgustingly tantalizing feeling and taste of blood.
Simon once described drinking Alec’s blood as ‘a homemade meal to a starving man’. He said it tasted like what home felt like. It was love, warmth, every happy, positive feeling in liquid form, but that didn’t stop the guilt from forming and souring the taste in his mouth.
Alec leaning his neck back further seemed to only egg Simon on though, the vampire stepping their bodies impossibly closer. If the hiccups in Alec’s breath, the fluttering of his eyelashes and ever tightening grip on Simon’s waist were anything to go by, it could be said he was enjoying it as much as his boyfriend was.
The two of them were so distracted by their own feelings and each other’s company that they didn’t hear the scuttle outside Alec’s office door and its sudden swing open until it was too late.
Simon was the first to open his eyes, instantly retracting his mouth from Alec’s neck, the sudden chill of air causing Alec to turn around and bump backwards into Simon. Alec cleared his throat and pulled his shirt back on and stepped toward the unexpected guest.
“Mother, what are you doing here?”
“What I’m doing here? Alec, I’m more concerned about this thing and what it’s doing to my son!” Maryse was incredulous, practically screaming.
“ Thing ? Simon ,” Alec emphasized his name, “had my full consent to be doing what he did.”
“Oh, by the Angel, Alec! What would you have done if it were someone else that witnessed him attacking you?” Maryse was clearly ignoring Alec’s rebuttal, stepping towards him and reaching to hold the sides of his head.
He rolled his eyes and accepted her mothering for a moment before she went to touch his neck and he swatted her hands away. Simon stood awkwardly behind Alec, shuffling his feet, when Maryse made eye contact with him.
“Wipe the blood off your smug little face, downworlder,” She had practically spat in his face, judging him from head to toe.
“Mother, that’s entirely inappropriate. I will not have you treat Simon with this disrespect,” Alec started, putting a hand up to defend Simon.
Simon coughed over a laugh, trying not to embarrass Alec any further. Maryse looked incredulously between the vampire and her son. She was about to speak when Simon cut her off.
“I think now would be a good time for formal introductions, don’t you? Simon Lewis, daylighter and leader of the New York clan,” Simon extended a hand to Maryse for her to shake, but it was ignored as she returned to questioning Alec.
“Why are you hanging out with such creatures? They don’t deserve your talents, Alec.”
Alec couldn’t help but grimace as she both degraded his boyfriend and those who weren’t shadowhunters. Simon huffed a light little laugh though, so he was enjoying it for some reason.
“What is the matter with you monsters, laughing at a time like this? You’ve just violated my son, a sense of humor won’t get you through a Clave trial,” Alec tensed up at the mention of the Clave.
They were one of the reasons his and Simon’s relationship was under wraps; they knew Alec was gay, everyone knew, but if they found out that he was seeing a downworlder, let alone anyone, they would be after his job. He was a damn good Head of the Institute and Simon appreciated and understood. Even with his own struggles, Simon still realized it was complicated for Alec.
Despite that, Alec still reached for Simon’s hand and wasn’t surprised when their fingers interlocked on instinct, Simon stepping forward to stand beside him. Maryse processed the development and her eyes went wide.
“Is this what I walked in on? You… seducing my son?”
Simon couldn’t help himself when he whispered to Alec, “I don’t think I seduced you, but it was definitely the other way around.”
Alec couldn’t help but smile, almost crack a laugh, as his boyfriend turned his face into Alec’s shoulder.
“This is ridiculous! You can’t ruin your reputation like this! Seeing a downworlder? It’s bad enough that you’re gay, but this? Son, why do you do this to yourself…” Maryse was upset, then she sounded sympathetic.
Alec squeezed Simon’s hand, “I haven’t done anything wrong, neither has Simon. We choose to be together because we love each other, end of discussion. We were going to tell people on our own terms, but I’m still sorry you had to find out like this,”
Simon kissed his boyfriend’s shoulder gently and felt Alec’s body relax almost immediately.
“Alec, he was eating from your neck, don’t you find that concerning? He could kill you in your sleep, by the Angel, you don’t sleep in the same bed, do you? What would you have done if it was someone else that walked in…”
“Mother, Simon and I can field these things as we go, and, honestly, it’s really none of your concern,” Alec squeezed Simon’s fingers, pulling the vampire closer to his side. “I hope it doesn’t become a problem for you. I would hate to cut you out of my life.”
Maryse made an indignant noise, “You’re willing to lose your mother over him ? Alec, I think you need to rearrange your priorities. I don’t have a problem with you being… different, my problem is with the scum you choose to date--”
“That’s the problem, you keep talking about Simon, my boyfriend, like he’s this disgusting, horrible creature because he’s a vampire,” Alec was starting to get defensive, but was cut off by Simon.
“She’s upset about the vampire thing, not the other thing, so we can’t be too mad.”
Alec rolled his eyes, but couldn’t help smiling in the slightest. At least Simon had a sense of humor about this whole thing. Maryse looked confused, switching her glare between Simon and Alec as if demanding an explanation.
“Should we tell her? I mean, I thought it was obvious, but I guess not. Would she even know what it means?” Simon was talking to Alec, but Maryse inserted herself.
“Know what? I probably have a greater understanding of the world than you do, Simon,” She was adamant about the emphasis on his name, in an attempt to mock him or have a change of heart in a way only she could, it was hard to tell.
“Well, uh, I’m trans. Transgender that is. It means that I was born a differe--”
“I know what it means.” Maryse sounded conflicted, almost as if she didn’t believe him or was trying to make sense of it.
Simon grew uncomfortable in the silence following, instinctively curling in on himself. Alec had let go of his hand and pulled him into a hug, rubbing his back. Maryse picked that moment to speak, unfortunately.
“I was under the impression that being a downworlder was the lowest you could go, Alec, but this… mundane proclivity is really a new low. You claim to be attracted to men, so what is it then? Born a girl--”
“That’s enough, Maryse,” Alec couldn’t stop himself. “I am gay, I am attracted to men. Simon is a man , so I’m attracted to him , end of story.”
“But--”
“But nothing. He told me he was a man when we met and when he told me he was trans, that didn’t falter in my mind. You’re just so full of hatred for anything unlike yourself that you can’t even see that Simon makes me happy. You just see some broken, dangerous creature, but Simon isn’t any of those things.”
Simon stepped out of Alec’s embrace and turned to Maryse, saying something that he himself never thought he could say. “I forgive you.”
“What?” Maryse and Alec were both dumbfounded.
“I forgive you. The way you treat other people isn’t entirely your fault, y’know. You were taught what was wrong and you just stuck with it because it was safe for you, you were trying to survive and make the best life for your family,” Simon reached a hand out and placed it on Maryse’s elbow in an attempt to comfort her shock.
“I mean, that doesn’t give you the excuse to treat me differently, but I won’t hold it against you. I think if you get to know me or try in some way to learn for yourself, you’ll come around. You’re a smart woman, Maryse, and I’m willing to give you a second chance if you want. How about it?”
Maryse looked at Simon, studying and admiring the strength in his eyes, before looking to her son who just stared at Simon with all the love in the world. She nodded after a minute, pulling Simon into an unexpected hug. “I’m sorry.”
Alec’s eyes widened as his mother and boyfriend hugged, but the surprise was replaced with admiration as he wrapped his own arms around the two of them.
Maryse stepped back, wiping at her face before sharing a faint smile with the two of them, “While I may not understand the relationship yet, it’s still probably unprofessional conduct to let your vampire boyfriend feed on you in your office, Alec.”
Alec laughed and pulled his mother into a tight hug, feeling so incredibly happy.
“I better be going now. It was lovely to meet you, Simon,” Maryse hugged him again. “Perhaps you can come by sometime and we can talk, yeah?”
“I would love that, Maryse.”
She had left as she had entered, lingering in the doorway for a minute before closing the door behind her.
“Wow,” Alec said, just hit with the realization of what happened. Simon just nodded in agreement.
They stood like that, staring at the door after Maryse, for a while before Molly knocked on the door.
“I hate to interrupt, but I just received news that Jace, Isabelle, and Clary are back from their mission and would like to see you.”
Alec cleared his throat, “Thank you. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
Simon turned to Alec, realizing his shirt has been unbuttoned this whole time, bursting into a fit of laughter.
Alec quickly buttoned his shirt back up, straightening himself out before he and Simon headed to meet their friends.
They got there only to discover a still teary Maryse talking to Izzy. She smiled back at Simon and Alec for a second before pointing at Alec’s neck and making a wiping motion with her hand.
Alec got the hint and rubbed the dried blood from his neck before anyone else saw it.
“Must you be so messy, Simon?”
Simon just laughed at him again, this time joined faintly by Maryse and himself.
It’ll be alright , Alec figured, watching as the Institute ran around him and his mother left, waving at Simon. It’ll be more than alright.
“Hey, guys, Simon and I have something to tell you…”