Chapter Text
“Wanna get married?” Jace calls out, rolling to avoid a shax demon’s pincers. Simon frowns.
“What?” he calls back, his attention on the circling monstrosity in front of him. No matter how many times he goes out on Shadowhunter missions, he never gets used to fighting demons. Putting down rouge Shadowhunters, sure. He always gets a kick out of that. But demons are still difficult for him to get used to. It doesn’t help that if he goes on missions with his boyfriend he’s expected to hold conversations while fighting for his life. Jace is delusional. A special kind of death-defying delusional.
“Do you want to marry me!” Jace yells, louder this time as he narrowly jumps out of the way of an attack and crashes into the wall of the warehouse they’re in. It makes a deafening echo, and the demons begin to leave Simon and swarm to Jace. Simon swears, swallowing convulsively as he considers Jace’s predicament and Jace’s words.
“You said this would be an easy security check!” Simon grits out, gripping his dagger tighter and clenching his jaw. The world narrows in and out of focus as he slashes the demons, preternaturally swift. “This is not what most people consider a security check.”
Jace laughs, a beautiful, throaty sound that always has Simon smiling. He loves Jace, it’s - easier than breathing. Of course, it’s also idiotic beyond belief that he hears this laugh during a demon fight where they’re clearly outnumbered, but. It’s Jace, with his stupid hero complex the size of a goddamn Ferris Wheel. Jace, who would throw himself in front of any blade, for anyone; who eats his cereal dry because he has a strange vendetta against all types of milk; who takes a glorious sort of joy in constantly being a smart-ass; who loves Simon so fiercely, with everything he has.
“Answer my question.” Jace counters, catching Simon’s eye for a second before thrusting his blade into the space over Simon’s shoulder. Simon doesn’t flinch, but it’s close enough that he glares as the demon explodes into dust behind them.
“Show-off.” Simon mutters, taking a moment to wipe a drop of blood off of Jace’s cheek with his thumb. “And honestly, is this the place to ask me that?” They both turn again, moving to finish off the last of the demons. Simon can already hear the next wave skittering through the warehouse, their pincers making disgusting clacking noises.
“Is that a no?” Jace asks, his voice even. Simon eyes the lone demon that’s managed to survive, stepping out of the way as it leaps towards him. He pivots and watches as Jace impales it on his blade, and they stare at each other over the shower of sparks it explodes into. “Only, I thought - “
“I would never say no,” Simon blurts out, faint terror and disbelief creeping in as Jace regards him, his eyes serious and his gaze intent. “I - Jace, why now? I can hear another wave coming, we have to - “ he glances behind him, and hears the clacking getting louder. Jace holds his hand out, palm up, and Simon grabs it as they start running, bursting out into the open and making a beeline for a nearby building, skidding into the alley near it.
“Because I love you.” Jace pants. “And I - “ He stops, pushing a hand through his hair. Simon watches him, still holding hands and pressed close together. The sound of car horns and the murmur of the city at night surround them, along with the hum of crickets. Jace smells like shax demon blood and his cologne, something that, somewhere in Simon’s life, has become one of the smells of home.
Change is overwhelming, and terrifying, but Simon is pretty sure he knows, deep down, exactly what his answer to Jace’s question is.
“Don’t stop now.” Simon says softly, and Jace opens his mouth, his eyes hopeful -
“Jace!” Alec’s voice echoes, and Jace groans, rolling his eyes. Simon’s mood plummets. Fuck. Backup is here. Which, honestly, is probably a good thing so they can clear out the demons, but - Jace’s face is slipping back into business mode, and Simon feels bereft and hollow.
“Duty calls.” Jace says lightly, disentangling from Simon and stepping back. He tucks a stray curl behind Simon’s ear, and Simon swallows. “You’re right, I’ll…finish this somewhere else.”
Simon trails behind Jace as they meet with Alec and Clary, his hands in his pockets as he considers what to do. He’s - pretty sure he knows exactly what he wants to do, at least.
Three hours later, freshly showered and dressed in a Izzy and Magnus approved outfit, clutching a box that Raphael helped him get, he peers into Jace’s room.
“Hey.” Jace says, smiling when he looks up at Simon. He puts his stele aside, a fresh iratze healing on his leg. “Come to fawn over the best Shadowhunter?”
“Already talked to Alec, but thanks.” Simon says cheerfully, and Jace pouts. He jerks his head outside. “Take a walk with me?”
Jace follows him outside, humming a tune that sounds suspiciously like it’s from Mulan. Simon snorts to himself, because Jace is humming Let’s Get Down To Business. “China’s lucky to have you save them from the Huns, babe.”
“You know it.” Jace says, smirking, as he catches Simon’s hand and holds it in his own. Simon rolls his eyes, leading them to the steps of the Institute. “Hey, the stars look pretty tonight.”
“Not as pretty as - “
“Don’t.”
“ - you.”
“Lewis.” Jace says, chastising. “What have we said about cheesy pick-up lines? We do not embarrass ourselves like this.”
“In that case,” Simon says, a bundle of nerves in his stomach as he slowly sinks to one knee, still holding Jace’s hand, “you’re really not going to like what’s coming next.”
Jace is silent, his breathing shallow as he stares down at Simon, shock written across his face. Simon waits, a faint smile on his face.
“Are you - really.” Jace finally says, his voice thick and his eyes suspiciously bright. “Simon. Simon.”
“I can’t believe you can effortlessly ask me this in the middle of a life-or-death situation, but if I do this in the spot we first kissed, you suddenly can’t believe it.” Simon laughs, and Jace bites his lip, his eyes crinkling as he grins.
“Simon.” Jace repeats helplessly, and Simon takes a deep, unnecessary breath.
“To answer your question,” he says first. “Yes. I will.”
Jace laughs then, a giddy noise, as he squeezes Simon’s hands tight enough to hurt. “The ring is in my room, I can’t - “
“I’m not done, Jesus.” Simon says, and they’re both grinning at each other like love struck fools. “I wanted to say, your proposal was perfect. I should have said yes right there, but I didn’t get a chance to. So. I have a question for you, as well. Will you marry me?”
“Yes.” Jace says, before yanking Simon up and kissing him, hard. Simon lets out a low groan before he presses back, giving as good as he gets. He tries to put everything he wants to say into the kiss, that Jace means everything to him, and he tries to kiss his - his fiance even harder, dipping Jace back a little as he leans forward. Jace makes an appreciative noise, and -
“Stop making out on the front steps!”
“Did he say yes?”
“Don’t forget to give him the ring - “
“Did Jace leave the ring inside? I don’t see one on Simon’s hand - “
“How can you see that - “
“Rune, honestly, Clary, you have to start making better use of your runes - “
Jace and Simon break apart to look at the front door, where all their friends are peering out. They’ve evidently been there the whole time - even Raphael is leaning against the entrance, looking vaguely interested. Alec is smirking as Magnus hands him money.
“Of course.” Jace hollers. “Why should my proposal get any privacy - “
“It’s not yours, it’s Simon’s.” Alec says, unrepentant.
“You interrupted mine too, back at the warehouse.” Jace says hotly, and Alec rolls his eyes. They’re all laughing though, and Simon tugs Jace’s grinning face back towards him and kisses him sweetly, cheers echoing around them.
“Love you.” Jace murmurs, and it’s the easiest thing in the world to murmur back love you too, forever and always.