Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Raphael
Raphael hated Camille. He hated the way she ran the clan. He hated the way she broke the Accords. He hated how she asked him to clean up her messes. But what he hated most of all is how much he needed her.
He needed her power. Without her, the rogue vampires and dissenters would not accept him as their leader. They were fine with him in control as second-in-command or even speaking for them in meetings with Shadowhunters, Seelies, or werewolves, but to listen to him when he was so young would be too much for some of them to swallow.
He knew he hated her as he swept the perimeter of the graveyard with Lily. Sure, getting the Moral Cup would be a game changer. Valentine was a threat again and if he got ahold of it, he would wipe out all downworlders. But would it be worth so blatantly torturing and killing four Shadowhunters without knowing if they had the needed knowledge themselves? This was not the smart way to do things. They couldn’t just run in, fangs-ablazing and kill any Shadowhunters who threatened their lives. It would encapsulate too many people. They had to be more subtle than that.
Lily and Raphael caught sight of their targets. Apparently, their intel was not wrong. There was, in fact, a new Shadowhunter spotted in New York. Her bright red hair is hard to miss. Clary Fairchild was led by three other Shadowhunters: Jace Wayland, a strong fighter but not match for Raphael, Alec Lightwood, a prodigy, known for his archery skill, and Alec’s sister Isabelle Lightwood, rounding out the group with mid ranged attacks. Raphael knew that they were a strong trio. They had trained together since childhood. They were well known in the New York downworld community for being effective, well-trained, killing machines.
However, Raphael and Lily had also made names for themselves. They were second and third-in-command of the largest clan of vampires of New York. Raphael having only done this in 80 years was nothing to scoff at.
Lily started towards them, ready to attack. Raphael held her back, smirking. He saw something interesting. A mundane. Their intel was not infallible. This could work. This was smart. This would not break the Accords. He whispered his plan to Lily. She wasn’t thrilled. She wanted to make a statement. But she knew her place in the clan and held back.
They watched the group from afar as they made their way to the Silent Brothers.
When Clary and Jace went into the crypt, Raphael thought for a second that it might be their chance. But there were still two Shadowhunters on guard and they were on the cusp of the Silent Brother’s lair. He did not want to risk getting them involved in the fight. Maybe they could narrow it down a little more.
When Isabelle and the mundane started back towards the van, Raphael saw an opportunity. He used his vampiric speed to beat them there and wait in the back of the van.
Raphael regretted that decision pretty quickly. He was crammed awkwardly inside the mundane’s truck, its musky aroma surrounding him. While he hated not breathing, he found it to be useful to not have to inhale any more of the stench. Still he was highly uncomfortable. He wished he had just attacked the group and forced the answers out of them. Then again, had they attacked and killed the mundane, they would have had a whole war on their hands.
Raphael stifled a sigh. Please let this be over soon. He just wanted to go home, shower, and make sure his clan was okay.
He could hear a pair of footsteps heading towards him. He willed himself completely still. He prayed they would not check the back of the van.
“So, you play the bass and sing?” Isabelle’s voice purred. She was clearly charming him.
A soft giggle echoed before the mundane stumbled over his words, “No - well, yeah. But, I’m not the only singer. I mean, I wouldn’t call myself a singer. I do sing, but that is not the point. I also play the guitar but not usually in the band. Oh! And I learned the harmonica in the fourth grade! I’ll just shut up now.”
They reach the car. The mundane hopped in, red in the face, and pulled out his phone from the glove box. “Just a second - trying to find the right clip.”
Raphael sent a small blessing to God. This could not have worked out better for them.
Lily intentionally broke a twig on the outskirts of human hearing. “I’ll be right back. Whatever you do, do not leave the van,” Isabelle warned her companion.
“Okay. Got it.” He complied. She slammed the door to the van shut. “I’m not going anywhere,” he promised while she motioned for him to lock the door.
With little regard for his life, the mundane put on headphones and relaxed. Raphael smirked before reaching forward and grabbing him. Raphael felt the boy struggle under his grip but he was only human. There was no chance. The boy was very lucky they needed him alive.
“Scream and you are dead.” Raphael threatened him carefully. The kid stopped struggling and locked eyes with Raphael in the rearview mirror. Raphael could see the pure panic racing through him through his glasses. His large brown eyes filled with tears. The kid seemed to get a bearing before dipping his head in agreement.
Raphael jerked them out of the van and whisked them to the underside of the bridge above them and waited. He still was weary of the Silent Brothers.
Isabelle ran back and checked the van empty. “Fuck,” she whispered under her breath. She started searching the surrounding area and ran off. The kid seemed too afraid to speak. Raphael sent him a toothy smile. A reminder that the kid’s world has completely changed. The monsters that he feared all his life were real. And they had him in their grasp.
Lily materialized next to him. The kid gawked at her. The mundane looked near seconds from shitting his pants.
“Simon?” a female voice screamed. A stampede of four Shadowhunters came running to the van. “No! Simon!” the redhead cried when she saw that the van’s door was still open. Simon was still missing.
Raphael picked the mundane up from his ankle and dangled him over the edge. “Is that the mundane’s name?” he tried to sound genuine. The Shadowhunters gasped at him. Clary glared daggers. Raphael had to try not to laugh. “I’m afraid Simon’s coming with us.”
“No! No, he’s not a part of this,” she argued.
“And it’ll be my pleasure to kill you unless you return him,” Jace cut in. Raphael raised an eyebrow in challenge.
“Careful. We’d be violating the Accords,” Alec replied blandly as if unaffected by their friend dangling above them.
Raphael smirked at Lily at that comment. “I’m afraid your sidekick’s quite right. The Night Children have broken no laws. We’re negotiating. The mundane, unharmed, in exchange for the Mortal Cup. And the clock is ticking. Tick-tock, people.”
The mundane broke through his panic and chose that moment to yell out, “Clary!”
“Simon!” The redhead replied before Raphael and Lily zip off to return to the Hotel. To Camille.

---

Simon
“Hello! Anyone? I’m just an accounting student. I have no value to anyone. And I barely saw your faces, so if you let me go, I couldn’t even identify you. Not that I would, ‘cause you guys are vampires! Who would believe me? I didn’t even know you guys existed until yesterday! Is anyone there?” Simon was freaking out. He was trying to bargain with vampires through a door with a cross cut out. He was trapped in a dingy room full of cobwebs and caskets. He never asked to be part of the downworld. He could have lived in ignorant bliss. This was beyond him.
His kidnapper appeared before him in the blink of an eye. He stumbled backwards trying to get away from him. “If your goal was to scare the crap out of me, mission accomplished!” No response was given. He just maintained eye contact and walked slowly towards Simon. The door slamming behind him. Simon’s heart was pounding. “And as far as I’m concerned… you can have it out with those Shadowhunters. Especially the blonde one.” Simon bumped into a coffin. A coffin! That was laid out behind him. He was a second away from hyperventilating. “You know, you don’t need me.”
“On the contrary, I do,” the vampire hissed at him and lunged suddenly.
Simon knew death was coming at that second.
Only, it didn’t. The vampire grabbed his waist and hoisted him over his shoulder. Simon suddenly realized how cold the other man was. He started flailing without thinking about it.
“Stop that.” The vampire growled. Simon considered his chances of survival, however slim, and realized that listening may prove the best course of action.
In a blur, they were suddenly in a trophy room of sorts. Simon takes a second to look around. There were couches in the middle of the room and shelves and bookcases displaying a variety of artifacts. “So how does this end? Do I, uh… do I get out of here or what?”
“The answer to that is above my pay grade,” the vampire sounded almost bored.
“Pay grade? They pay vampires?” Simon wanted to keep him talking. Maybe he would find a way out of this mess.
“Let’s just say we invest early and often,” Simon could hear the other man smirking at his words. Was he joking?
Simon started exploring around the room in earnest. “Sit down,” the vampire told him. It seemed more like a suggestion. Simon did not stop exploring what was around him. Some of these items he would only expect to see in a museum. There were vases, paintings, tableware, and statues. “Why won’t you sit? I really hate fidgeting,” the vampire sighed.
“I’m just, uh… just looking?” Simon said. He hoped he sounded convincing. Every item he was evaluating their worth.
“For a way out?” the vampire cocked his head to the side. “There isn’t one.”
“I mean, all the cool stuff you guys collect. Steal. It’s,” Simon made a vague gesture,
“whatever.”
“Leonidas the First has been trying to peddle that junk for years. Museums make you prove antiquities are legit these days,” The vampire got a far away look in his eye.
Simon finally saw what he was looking for, a dagger. Slowly, he let the vampire ramble while he made his way over, he calmly grabbed it, said a short prayer and hurled it at the vampire. It pierced the vampire right below his left shoulder.
The vampire chuckled. Fuck. “Oh, my God.” Simon squeaked.
The vampire smile dropped suddenly as he looked down. “Oh, please. Honestly, I just got this jacket.” He yanked out the dagger and played with it between his hands. “There’s no way out. You’re a hostage, so accept it.”
Simon grabbed at the hope in that, “I’m a hostage? That means you won’t kill me, yeah?”
He almost jumped out of his skin when a woman’s voice answered. “Won’t kill you? Who said that? Raphael?” She glanced pointedly at the vampire before turning to Simon. “Oh, look. How sweet.” She approached Simon slowly. She reached a hand out and caressed Simon’s face. His heart was trying to beat out of his chest. He hissed as he felt her nail drag along his forehead. “You’re bleeding!” She said in mock surprise. She swiped a drop of blood and licked it up, never breaking eye contact. “I am so looking forward to getting to know you.”
Simon stared at her. He knew instantly that he was in danger in her presence. Her red lipstick stark against her pale skin. Her dark wavy hair pulled half back. Are all vampires attractive? He briefly pondered before catching himself.
Simon glanced at Raphael in panic. A sudden comradery formed with the first vampire as he knew he wasn’t going to kill him.
“I hate throwing things. I don’t… I literally hate throwing things. Even at my own Bar Mitzvah, I wouldn’t throw spitballs at a gray table. I mean… I would never throw things, honest to God! Oh, God. You guys can’t say God, right?” Simon rambled.
Raphael rolled his eyes, “For God’s sake, what are you trying to say?” he deadpanned.
“I didn’t… I didn’t mean to throw that thing,” Simon lied.
The woman did not let that slide, “Of course you did, darling. That’s what makes you so amusing.”
Raphael raised an eyebrow, “I don’t find any of this amusing”
“Me neither. I can’t say how sorry I am. So I’d be happy to pay for a whole new jacket,” Simon tried to convey with his eyes how sorry he was.
Raphael just scoffed and left the room.
“Don’t worry, my little caramel. Everything will be just fine,” the vampire purred at him.
Simon had never been more worried in his life. He never thought he would miss the man who kidnapped him.
“Come sit with me,” she had moved to the couch. She was lounging casually patting the seat next to her.
Simon swallowed nervously but obeyed her command. Sitting next to her, he could smell her perfume. He felt her hands rubbing his arm. He turned to tell her to off, but she was closer than he expected. He jerked back. She refused to drop eye contact. She raised her hand and in a sensual voice told him, “Listen to me. Do as I say.” The world got dim. She leered at him, “Don’t worry, my little caramel. This won’t hurt a bit.” She bit him.
Simon didn’t consider the implications of a vampire biting him. All he could think about was how great he felt. How he felt her lips on his skin. How he wanted her. All he could think about was her and how close she was. The world around them was a haze.
He moaned when he felt her remove her fangs from his neck. A sense of loss overcame him. He heard her sultry laugh and soon her lips were on his. They shared a languid kiss. “Tell me where the Mortal Cup is,” she demanded against his lips.
“I wish I could, but I don’t know.” He returned, searching for a way to reconnect their lips.
“But Clary does,” She pressed.
“No, she doesn’t.” Simon groaned as she finally gave him what he wanted and reconnected their lips. She kissed him down his jaw and reattached herself to his neck again. Sucking, nipping. Simon was going crazy.
“But what if she was just keeping it from you?” she asked him again.
Simon smiled at her. “No, she doesn’t know. She is trying to remember.” But all he could think about was her lips. Her hands. Her body. Her fangs.
When she finally bit him again, Simon swore that he was begging for it. The world around him is still blurry. It was almost like not wearing his glasses, but she was so clear. She was his only focus. He had never felt such clarity in his life.
She pulled back and looked at him for a second before dragging a finger down her own throat as an invitation. Simon did not need to be asked twice.
He leaned forward and bit her.
Simon has tasted blood before. It was metalic and gross. This blood was different. It was sweet. It was floral. It was… love.

Chapter Text

Raphael
What a fucking idiot. Were mundanes always so stupid? Raphael could not understand how Simon had no self preservation. He was allowing this to happen. He was allowing himself to die. Camille was breaking the Accords for some nerdy teen. Albeit he did have large, doe-y eyes. Camille always went for the innocent ones.
Raphael was pissed. He just wanted to keep his clan, his chosen family safe. He did not want to start a war with the Shadowhunters. He did not want to discard a body. Not again. Not one that was so clearly involved with the Shadowhunters already.
Raphael ran his hand through his hair, making sure it was all still in place. At least all he needed to do so far was replace a jacket. He frowned. An Armani suit jacket. No way the kid would be able to pay him back for it.
The front door of the hotel slammed open. He was two floors up, but he heard it clearly. The calvary had arrived.
Raphael sprinted towards Camille. The clan leader needed to get out safely.
“Clary! I’m here!” He heard the mundane call as he ran towards the door. He almost tripped at the smell of blood pulsing from the room.
He slammed a hand into the boy’s chest and pushed him back into the room. “I told you, you’re a hostage! Accept it!” He growled. The kid swung at him. The audacity. Raphael whipped the dagger Simon had thrown at him from his jacket, grabbed Simon’s arm and swung him around in a smooth motion. He held the dagger securely to the kid’s neck. “Don’t move. I know you wanna find out how this story ends,” He threatened.
“Thank you, Raphael. I’ll take care of this from here.” Camille dismissed him casually.
“You don’t have to bother.” Raphael pushed back.
“No, honestly. I’ve had it with this thing.” she gestured at Simon. “Give it to me. I’ll finish it off.”
“Camille, we have a bigger problem. They’re almost here and you can’t be caught. You’re too valuable. Don’t worry, I’ll kill it.” Simon was struggling against him, but he refused to let him go. He was too valuable.
“That’s a little excessive, yeah?” He squeaked.
“Shut up.” he hissed. “Take the back passage out through the tunnels. Go!” He watched as Camille turned away from them and strode out of the room. She was used to him cleaning up for her. “Now you listen and do exactly as I say… nothing more.” The smell of nephilim blood was becoming overpowering. “They’re coming.”
Alec burst into the room, his bow taught. The girls followed him in, their steles drawn and ready, Jace took the rear, his angel blade glowing. Raphael prayed that they did not wreak too much damage on the clan.
“Simon!” The redheaded girl shouted seeing her friend with a blade to his neck. She did not even notice the smudges of blood on his neck. On his lips. She dropped to a fighting stance. Ready to attack Raphael.
“Clary! That’s not gonna do any good.” Jace warned carefully. His eyes never leave the dagger on Simon’s neck.
Raphael nodded at him, “Listen to him, Clary Fairchild. Put it away. I’ve had more than enough of your friends for one day. I’d love to cut his throat. Don’t give me a reason. Put it away!”
They all slowly dropped their weapons. Clary clearly hesitated. She seemed to want to fight for her friend’s life.
“Simon. Simon, are you all right?”
Simon stuttered out, “I wouldn’t say all right-”
“Stop talking!” Raphael interrupted. How can this kid really not have any survival skills? Raphael thought enraged. “Now, if you would all just follow me. Let’s go.”
Raphael led the group down the same set of stairs that Camille had walked through earlier, but instead of wandering through the tunnels, he turned left.
“Come on, let’s go! Up here now! That’s right, get down there now! Get down there or I’ll kill him right now!” He warned when he saw them starting to hesitate.
“Look, we’re not gonna hurt you. We just want Simon.” Clary tried to reason with him.
Raphael wanted to laugh, “I’m glad you do. We don’t! We wanted you.”
“Well, here I am,” She said defiantly.
“Stop!” Jace warned her.
Raphael rolled his eyes. “I said ‘wanted’. Not my idea. Now, get out! Go!” They turned and noticed a door behind them.
“Not without Simon.” Clary argued in a final attempt. Raphael kept the dagger to the other boy's throat.
“Shut up! Open that door right now or I’ll kill him right here,” He yelled at them. Didn’t they know what he was sacrificing? If Camille found out, he was dead standing. If he didn’t calculate this right, he was dead.
Alec tested it. It was unlocked. Light streamed into the building. Raphael stayed back with Simon in his grip. The Shadowhunters all turned towards him.
“Clary, go!” Simon told her. Raphael was shocked. He was so… human.
“Go! Go! Go!” Jace realized that Raphael was giving them an opportunity to leave a vampire clan untouched. He was going to take it.
“Go.” He shoved Simon forward suddenly. “Take him.” He told the group.
Simon stumbled forward. He looked back. His large brown eyes searching Raphael’s as if looking for some sort of trap, “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. You mean nothing. This is about Valentine and the chaos he can bring,” Raphael reasoned. “Jace Wayland,” he addressed the blonde boy, “Remember who your friends are.” The group ran outside and the door shut with a resounding thud.
Raphael took a deep breath. He needed an excuse for what happened when Camille got back but for now, he needed to see how his people fared.
He dashed to the lobby of the hotel and could hear something was wrong before he could see what it was. Usually after chaos, there was noise, but after the Shadowhunters, it was dead quiet. He walked into the room and ten heads turned towards him.
“What happened?” He asked. No one said anything. “Someone tell me now,” he commanded.
Autumn, one of the newer members of the clan cleared her throat, before letting her voice ring across the hall, “They killed Eric, Lisa, Thomas, Rachel, Mia, and Ashley P.”
“My Lisa.” Theo chimed in, his voice cracking.
Raphael cursed under his breath. Eric and Lisa had been on guard during the day. Most of the other vampires had been asleep when the attack happened. They must have tried jumping into action.
Ayasha gave Theo a hug. It was not easy losing someone so close to you. They have been married for 70 years. They were so happy. And the Shadowhunters came into their home and killed her. For a mundane.
Raphael could not believe it. Why was he so important? What about him was so important that his family needed to die for him? Why did Camille risk their lives for this? Was this his fault for bringing the mundane back here?
“We shall hold a funeral for them come sun-up. For now. Rest. I will stand guard.” Raphael. Took watch over the front door as the other vamps scattered. The remains of ash from his friends remained below his feet.
Camille returned and found him. “You took care of my sweet caramel?” She asked.
“He got away.” Raphael didn’t even look at her. He kept his eyes on the ashes of his friends.
She was suddenly holding him up by his lapels against the front door. “What?” she demanded. She was glaring daggers into his soul.
“They took him. He escaped,” Raphael explained, plainly, brushing her hands off of him. As much as he hated Camille, she hated him. It was not a secret in the clan. They were immortal enemies, but she needed him. He was able to keep the clan together. Functioning. Within the laws.
She hissed at him. Baring her fangs. Raphael returned the grimace. Subtly bracing for a fight.
Suddenly, she turned around and walked out of the room, “He’s your problem now.” She told him. Not even looking back. Raphael rolled his eyes. Of course. Simon wasn’t interesting to her anymore so Raphael would need to take care of any fall out he could cause. He did not even try to argue. He straightened his jacket and resumed his lookout.
Raphael had almost forgotten about Simon after the next few days passed without a hitch. It was only a week later when he smelt something sweet outside of the hotel that he remembered his responsibility. He darted outside. “Excuse me. Are you insane or just an idiot?”
The kid looked terrible. He was sweaty, shaking, dark circles under his eyes. He jumped out of his skin at Raphael’s sudden appearance before him. “Huh?” he started backing up.
Raphael walked forward slowly. Making sure to keep him on edge. Making sure he knew this place was not safe. “What are you after, anyway?”
“To tell you the truth, I don’t know.” He shrugged without removing his hands out of his pockets. Raphael could smell his fear wafting off of him. It sent a sick thrill through him.
“You can’t think I’m interested in saving your worthless life again.” Raphael growled.
“Honestly, no. No, I don’t think that.” The kid’s confidence was nonexistent at this point.
Raphael made sure no other vampires were coming. Made sure Camille wasn’t coming. “Get out of here and don’t come back. Go. Now.” He snarled at Simon. Making sure to bare his fangs. Making sure that the mundane would know that even though Raphael let him go once, he still wasn’t safe.
Simon turned heel and fled. Raphael sighed in relief. One less thing to worry about. He doubted that kid would ever be back. He was a fucking idiot though.

---

Simon
Simon listened to what Raphael said. He understood him clearly. He knew Hotel DuMort was dangerous. He learned how much danger he was in through Alec, Jace and Izzy. They told him Camille and Raphael were the leaders of one of the most feared vampire clans. He knew that without Clary and them, he wouldn't be breathing. But Clary wasn’t answering his calls and she was the only person he knew that he could talk to about things like this.
He was so confused. He kept seeing things. Hearing things. Things that would be impossible to hear. He heard people’s heartbeats. Their blood flowing through their veins. He heard them talking two rooms away. He could smell them. He knew when someone was approaching before anyone else did. He hated it.
Simon was normal. Simon just wanted an average life. He knew how to deal with average. He never felt the need to stand out. He was always overshadowed. Whether by his friends or bandmates, there was always someone who got more attention than him and he was happy with that. At least, happier than he currently felt.
Maureen wouldn’t answer his calls. He dialed her number again but was sent straight to voicemail. Blocked. Fuck. He felt terrible. He hadn’t meant to call his band member by his crush’s name. By his best friend's name. By Clary’s name. He sighed. When did his life get so complicated?
He had been in love with Clary since before he could remember. Being in love with Clary was just part of who he was. It was as easy as breathing for him, but this was the first time that he called someone else by her name and it was Maureen. His other best friend. A girl who had just confessed her feelings for him. A girl who he just slept with.
Rebecca knocked on his door, “Simon? Are you in there?” His sister called out.
“Yeah, one sec!” Simon quickly moved a couple things around his desk to clean it up a bit before giving up. His sister never cared before if his space was a mess. “Come in!”
Rebecca and, to his surprise, his mom walked in. “Simon, can we have a talk?” His mom asked.
“We?” he asked, confused.
“You, me and your sister.” she gestured between all of them as if that clarified why this was happening.
“Do I have a choice?” Simon asked withdrawn.
“Well, I’ve already ducked out of the office early, so, no.” Simon was shocked. His mom was a workaholic. She was a lawyer and her hours were long. For her to come home early, it must be serious. He wracked his mind with any reason they might have to come to talk to him.
“Okay. I stayed out last night at Maureen’s. I should have called. It slipped my mind. So, what are you gonna do? Ground me?”
“Maureen called us this morning and she was very upset,” his mom told him.
“Actually, Maureen called me and she said that you were spazzing out, like, more than normal.” His sister chipped in almost gleefully.
“She said- She did what?” Simon was scrambling to figure out how to keep his lie going. He couldn’t explain his confusion about feeling like he was turning into a vampire to his mom. Could he?
“Well, I just tried to say that’s kind of how you are with girls, but, uh, she was very upset, so. I told Mom.” Rebecca supplied.
“You did what?” Simon asked, scandalized.
“Simon, Maureen thinks that. Well, that you might be on drugs. And listen, if I thought it was just marijuana I wouldn’t be so worried, but, honey, you look like you’re dying.” His mom was looking so sincere.
“Would dying get me out of this conversation?” He asked sarcastically.
Rebecca frowned at him, “I know that I’m not usually the sentimental one here, but, we’re here for you.”
“It’s all right. You can tell us, whatever it is.”
Simon considered what to say. “Okay, okay. I think I have a disease.” He said as close to the truth as he felt possible.
His mom and sister dote on him, but when he slams his hand onto his desk and breaks it they are afraid. They avoid him. Something is wrong with him. Something is so seriously wrong with him. He needs help. Help that he will not find anywhere besides from the Hotel.
On his walk over, he half expected Raphael to jump out in front of him and tell him to turn back. To tell him he was being stupid. To tell him that nothing was wrong with him and that it was all in his head. But by the time he reached the hotel, he was sure that he was alone in this.
He braced himself as he opened the doors. He walked in and two vampires hissed at him. “I’m here to see Camille,” he said as calmly as he could. His heart beating out of his chest. His fingers shoved in his pockets so that the others could not see them shake. They vampires exchanged glances, but one led him upstairs. Into their trophy room. Into where this all started.
Camille was lounging on the couch, smiling at him. “Poor darling boy. I was wondering when you’d come back.”
“You- you’re not mad?” He asked. Raphael had been mad.
“On the contrary, I’ve been expecting you. You see, it’s just my blood running through your veins. It can have some curious effects. But I assure you, they’re all harmless. In time, they’ll fade and you’ll return to normal,” she observed her nails. Dark red. Same as her lipstick. Simon distantly noted.
“Thank God. Um… But I’m okay? I’m still human?” Simon felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He knew he was an overthinker. He was always anxious. He should have known it was nothing. Just weird downworlder business.
“Well, of course you are,” Camille smiled brightly at him, “Or at least you would’ve been.”
Camille materializing before him, fangs in front of his eyes was the last glimpse Simon saw before he died.

Chapter Text

Raphael
Smelling blood at the Hotel DuMort wasn’t abnormal. There were many times when someone spilt a blood bag, had a messy feed, or occasional times when Camille would bring someone back with her. This time though, the blood hit Raphael like a truck the moment he stepped through the doors.
Raphael let curses fly under his breath before he tracked the scent to the trophy room. He walked in to Camille filing her nails. Her mouth was red with blood. At her feet lay a corpse. Raphael tried not to stare. If he showed too much interest, Camille would notice. He clenched his fist by his side. She was going to get them into a war with the Shadowhunters, over a mundane, for her own amusement.
She looked up and saw him. A twinkle lit up her eye. “Mi amor!” She called out to him. “Would you please clean up my mess? It looks like someone was a little eager for my love and I couldn’t say no to someone so sweet.”
She was over 300 years old. She knew better. Raphael took a deep calming breath. “Whatever you need,” he promised her.
She smirked at him and got up to leave him to it. She stopped on her way out to wrap her arms around him for a quick hug. Her lips close to his throat as a threat. She wanted to lord her power over him.
He remains perfectly still. Not submitting to the action but not fighting her either. He had a plan now. She already played her cards. Raphael saw an opportunity. He couldn’t squander it now. If Simon was brought back, it would be irrefutable proof that Camille had broken the Accords. He could take power. But he couldn't make that choice.
Once Camille departed, Raphael finally had the chance to look at the body laying next to the couch. He walked over and braced himself. He really was a kid. So small, so lanky. His hair was wild and curly. Clearly he had attempted to control it before coming to the Hotel, but it had not withheld his murder. He slid the kid’s large brown eyes shut and touched the boy’s neck. Cold. No pulse. Raphael knew better than to think this was the end for him though.
He only knew one place to bring him. Only one place where he would have a chance of survival.
He picked up the body and headed to the Institute.
He knew better than to walk into the Institute itself unannounced. He waited at the edge. knowing he would be caught. He prayed that he made the right calculations. They trusted Jace and Alec as fighters. They would tell Clary. She would save her friend. She would make the right call.
He heard footsteps and started heading towards them.
“Don’t move!” He heard one of them call. He ignored it.
“Drop what you’re holding. Put your hands up.” Another voice rang out. Raphael ignored this one as well and kept walking towards them. He thanked God that the voices were familiar.
Finally, he looked up, they were just close enough to see him as well. “Oh, my God, Simon!” Clary sobbed. All the Shadowhunters dropped from their fighting stances and ran towards him. “Simon! Simon! Please wake up.”
“Clary,” Jace whispered, grabbing her hand in solace.
“We need to move,” Alec shepherded them towards a small trap door on the side of the Institute leading towards the basement. In the center of the room there was an altar. Raphael carefully placed Simon on it. Jace found a book to use as a pillow for him.
Jace seems to think out loud, “People will be wondering what we found outside the perimeter.”
Alec nodded, “I’ll go. I’ll tell them we didn’t find anything. Nobody will come down here.” He promptly left. The room got quiet.
Raphael broke the silence after a minute, “I might be a vampire, but I was raised a good Catholic.” He sent a silent prayer for the dead and crossed himself in the name of the father, son and the holy spirit.
The Shadowhunters stayed quiet until Isablle said, “The vampires breached the Accords. Killing Simon is grounds for war.”
“The vampires were not behind this. Just Camille. She attacked Simon on her own.”
“And how do we know you’re telling the truth?” Jace asked skeptically.
“I could have gotten rid of him, but instead I brought him here. I don’t want trouble with the Shadowhunters,” Raphael spelled out for them.
“Smart decision.” Isabelle quipped.
“I warned the mundane to stay away, but Camille gave him a taste of her own blood, and like an addict, he came back wanting more,” Raphael sighed. Simon fell into the same path as so many mundanes before him.
He did not expect it when a ball of fire appeared before him and Clary got in his face, a finger pressed against his chest, “The only reason Simon ever tasted Camille’s blood is because of you! You kidnapped him! You drug him to the Hotel DuMort. You delivered him to Camille!”
“I never meant for this to happen!” He snapped back at her.
She fell back and leaned over her friend again, “Simon. Simon, please come back, please!”
Raphael considered it for a second before he said it. “There is a way.”
“‘A way?’ What?” Jace asked.
“A way to bring Simon back.”
“You can do that? How? How?” Clary practically shouted at him.
Raphael looked at Simon’s body. So young. So still. “He’s a fledgling. It’s a state of transition. Your friend can be resurrected.”
“No,” Jace and Isabella both said.
“So I could have Simon back? Alive and breathing?” Clary was looking at him with such hopeful eyes. He blinked and looked away.
“That’s just it. He won’t return alive or breathing. He’ll be a vampire,” Isabella spat.
“And not the sexed up, romantic kind. The ugly, bloodsucking, coffin-dwelling kind,” Jace continued for her.
Raphael regarded them carefully, “That’s offensive.”
Jace raised an eyebrow at him, “Really?”
“‘Coffin’ implies wooden box. We have caskets now. They’re made of 14-karat gold,” he smirked.
Jace rolled his eyes, “My bad.”
“It’s almost sunrise. Simon must be turned into a vampire tonight or staked through the heart.”
“And if I do neither?”
“His soul will be trapped for eternity. You have till sunset to decide. The clock is ticking.”
Most of that day Raphael was stuck with Clary and Jace, Clary making the toughest decision of her life: to kill her best friend or to bring him back a monster.
He did not envy her choice. No one in his life needed to make it for him. His sire was not as kind. Death was not an option for him. His sire was a sadist. He wanted to watch Raphael turn and kill. He did not help him adjust to his new life. He made Raphael the monster he was today. If they turned Simon, he promised himself, he would not allow him the same fate. He would look after the kid. He would look out for him.
Raphael refused to sire new vampires. He knew this was not a real life to live. It was damnation. But it was better than nothing. And he knew Camille was no better than the man who had turned him. Unwilling to think about the consequences of her actions. Usually, her fledglings would wind up dead within the first month. She normally turned mundanes as numbers to her rank rather than allies.
It probably did not help Clary to have Raphael there. She hated him. Raphael knew Shadowhunters felt superior to downworlders, but he had no choice. He could not go out in the sun. He was there to explain the risks of both choices as well as for her pits of self doubt. He was there for when she lashed out at Jace and when she lashed out at him. She was there when she sobbed and sobbed and sobbed.
Raphael tried to remain as quiet and still as possible. He wanted to give her privacy in a room that had none to give. In a building swarmed with people ready to kill him. Only at the very end of the day did he speak up unprompted, “The sun is setting. Have you decided?”

---

Simon
Simon couldn’t breathe. It was pitch black. He raised his hands but there was no room, he was encased. He was panicking. He was going to suffocate. Only he didn’t. He didn’t need to breathe. Simon started clawing his way out of his entrapment only to realize he was starving. He couldn't think straight.
He started hearing noise first. Faint voices. He couldn’t make out any words, but then the smell overtook him. Food. He smelled food and close. So close! He started digging more vigorously. A corner of his mind supplied that he was clawing dirt out of the way. He broke the surface and in front of him was two whole meals!
He braced himself to jump at them when a snack pack landed in front of him. He tore into it. He did not care where he got his food. Only that he ate. He was so hungry. So, so hungry.
He finished the bag. The noises started again and he regained focus on his meals. They were pleading with him. But it was of no use. Another snack pack. He downed it.
“Simon. Simon, it’s me. It’s, it’s Clary,” the words started to make sense again.
Suddenly, it wasn’t meals in front of him but his best friend and her… friend?
Simon hisses. He saw Raphael out of the corner of his eye throw another snack pack. Blood bag. He bit into it and drank hungrily. Too hungry to care.
“Once reborn, you emerge hungry,” he heard the older vampire inform the Shadowhunters. “Very hungry. Drink up!” he told Simon.
Simon finished the bag and everything started clicking into place, “Clary, what’s happening?” he tried not to let his voice shake.
“You, you died,” she sniffed.
“I-what? What?” He picked up an empty blood pack. “And this? That’s blood! Oh, my-. Oh, my-. Why can’t I say?” his eyes went from Clary’s to Raphael’s in sheer panic.
“God? It’ll take time to regain that ability. There is a lot you will need to learn.” He said calmly. As if it was every day that someone became a vampire. A vampire. Holy crap.
“Oh my- Damn it. Am i- Am I a vampire?” He needed it said aloud.
Clary looked at him sadly, “Yeah.”
“Clary, tell me, tell me this isn’t real. Tell me this is not really happening!” He was having a panic attack.
“I’m sorry!” and she truly sounded like she was.
“I’m repulsive!” Simon screamed at her.
“No, please! Please don’t say that, okay? You’re still the same, Simon. You’re the same Simon I’ve known my whole life. The same guys who loves sci-fi. And who can recite every line from, from every Nicolas Cage movie. The same Simon who carried me over the Brooklyn Bridge when I lost my shoe, okay?”
“No I’m not!”
“Yes, you are, Simon! You are the same Simon! You are my best friend!”
“I’m not. I’m nothing more than a monster.”
“No, Simon, you–”
“Stay away. Please just stay away!” He sprinted off. The world around him blurred. He did not consider if that was from his tears of his newfound abilities.
He finally slowed down and found the time to just breathe. How could Raphael do this to him? How could Clary?
Clary… he almost killed her. He wanted to kill her. A shiver ran down his spine. Who was he? Who had become? If he could kill Clary, what else was he capable of?
He watched a couple of mundanes pass him, jealous of what they didn’t know. Of how simple their life was. Of how they will never know how he is feeling.
“Fucking hell, Raphael,” He murmured under his beath.
“You summoned me?” Raphael calmly asked behind him.
Simon nearly jumped out of his skin, “Oh, my -!” he choked, “Is that a thing?” He started trying to think about the ramifications but saw Raphael smirking at him impishly. He realized he fell into Raphael’s trap. “You dickhead,” he accused.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Raphael redirected with a perfectly arched brow.
Simon shrugged. It didn’t matter where he went. He just knew he needed to be away from where he was. From Clary. From his grave. From his previous life. He looked away from Raphael and saw his reflection in a window, “I can see my reflection, does that mean I’m not one of you?” Simon hadn’t even finished asking the question when his eyes drifted to Raphael’s reflection. Their eyes connected.
The look Raphael gave him broke his heart. A mix between sadness, pity, understanding. Simon. He quietly said, “You have a lot to learn.”
“This can’t be happening,” Simon said, shaking.
Raphael approached him and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Listen-”
“Don’t touch me!” Simon shouted at him. Startling Raphael. “Don’t touch me! I don’t have a heartbeat! I’m dead.”
“Undead,” Raphael countered.
“You did this to me,” Simon’s emotions were spilling over. He couldn’t take it.
“No, I didn’t,” Raphael was not making eye contact anymore. He refused.
“You’re a monster! I’m a monster,” Simon whispered.
Raphael looked up at him again. Pity written over his face, “Look, you gotta get this under control. You are what you are now. We’ll get you back to the Hotel DuMort. Get you fed. Show you around your new home.”
Simon shook his head, “That place will never be my home.” Simon needed to go home. He wanted something untouched by this world. He looked at Raphael’s eyes. Too full of understanding. Too strange on the man who made him this way. He reached out and grabbed his shoulders. Raphael raised a quick eyebrow before Simon threw him into a nearby van and spirited away.

Chapter Text

Raphael
By the time Raphael straightened himself up from hitting the van, Simon was nowhere in sight. He sighed, “I swear, if that kid ruins one more jacket,” he said without much heat behind it.
“Raphael!” Clary called running over with Jace. They didn’t even blink at the human sized dent in the van behind him. “Where is he?”
“He’ll be back.” Raphael replied confidently.
“You just let him go? You said you’d look after him,” Jace asked skeptically. Raphael glared at him.
“I can’t do that until he’s ready.”
“What does that even mean?” Clary countered.
“It means he’s where everybody goes when this happens. His own personal hell.” Raphael remembered his own transformation. Going home. His mom’s reaction. He shook his head. He couldn’t agonize over that right now.
“I did this. I put him there,” Clary said sadly.
“If it helps, he doesn’t even remember it was you. Those first minutes, a complete blank,” Raphael lied.
Clary and Jace left to find Simon. Raphael on the other hand, realized he needed to get his clan in order.
The run back to the DuMort was faster than he wanted. He walked through the door and wasn’t instantly attacked. That was a win, right? Autumn and her boyfriend Christopher were standing guard.
“Did you really do it? Is she really gone?” Autumn asked hesitantly.
Raphael gave them a grim smile, “I need to talk to Lily.”
He passed more members of the clan on his way to the lounge. They all nodded at him and asked him the same questions, “Is she really gone?” When he finally reached Lily, he was wondering the same thing.
“Is she really gone?” He asked Lily, but what he, and the rest of the clan was actually wondering was, was Camille’s reign actually over?
Lily grinned at him. “Yes, sir! We have her right where we discussed. Why can’t we just kill her though?” She pouted, flashing her big brown eyes in Raphael’s direction.
“It’s too messy. We’d need a trial with the Shadowhunters and although I hadn’t done much, my past isn’t squeaky clean either. They might not accept me as the new head. It is better to have her disappear for a while. Let them get used to the idea first.” Plus, she was Simon’s sire. Killing a sire would hurt anyone connected to her through the sire bond. Simon was just a baby vampire. So new to their world. Raphael had no intention of hurting him in that way so soon after Turning. “Anyway, I have other plans for her. It was a waste for her to die anyway. Eternal starvation seemed like a more fitting punishment for all the shit she did,” He flashed his fangs at Lily who flashed hers back darkly. Eternal starvation, stuck in a casket for milenia , was a purgatory that Raphael never wanted to experience himself.
“We need to tell the others,” Lily said solemnly.
Raphael nodded. There would need to be a vote. He did not want to rule as a dictatorship. Not like Camille. He wanted a more communal system. He knew that they trusted his decisions but he did not want them to find out behind his back either. “Let’s call a meeting.”
The meeting happened quickly. Everyone was close to the hotel due to the upheaval.
Some vampires seemed scared, others happy, others stoic, but a few seemed angry.
“I have gathered you all here today to talk about Camille,” Raphael started. A few vampires hissed at her name. “As you know, she broke the Accords. They attacked, killed, and turned a mundane. This cannot be taken lightly. Shadowhunters are aware of the situation. It is too late to sweep it under the rug like we usually do. We currently are keeping Camille locked away, and I think we should keep it that way, but I need your opinions.”
“I think we should just kill her,” Lily chimed in. A few growls echoed throughout the room.
Igor spoke up in a thick accent, “Why don’t we just kill you?” He was glaring at Lily.
Derek smacked him on the back of the head. “Learn some respect for our second in command,” he chastised.
“We’re not concerned about rank today. We want to hear your honest opinions. This will be an opinion of the clan. Not just me,” Raphael gestured between all of them.
Christopher stood up and calmly said, “I think keeping her locked away is right. Being so old has its knowledge. We can still use her if we need to.” He plopped back down. Autumn grabbed his hand and nodded in agreement.
“Well, let’s put it to a vote, all in favor of killing Camille raise their hands,” Raphael said. A smattering of hands were raised. “Okay. All those in favor of releasing Camille?” Even less hands were raised. Raphael grinned, “And those who think she should remain entrapped for the foreseeable future?” the most hands were raised. “And those who abstain?” the remaining hands were raised. They were more preoccupied with their own lives rather than clan politics. The shift from Camille to Raphael would not affect them. Nor would ending Camille’s life.
Raphael looked around the room. Everyone was watching him. They trusted him at least to a certain extent to lead them. They need to believe in him, to trust him. “Okay. Then we know where we stand. Let’s not forget this. This was our decision. If you are unhappy with our decision, you can leave.” He paused. No one got up. He smiled at them. “Lily and I will take care of the rest. Please resume normal activities.”
The next few days were weirdly no different for Raphael. He felt like Camille was still alive. He was dealing with blood supply to the clan, clan drama, and cleaning up messes his members made. He just did not need to report to someone who wanted him dead. He loved it. There was a little worry nagging him though that at any second, his power could be taken from him from another clan or the Institute questioning his position. So when he received a call from the Institute in the middle of the day he was worried.
What he didn’t expect was to hear Simon on the other end of the line. “What do you need?” Raphael growled having been woken up from the ringing.
“It’s not what I want. This is for you. Can we meet you at the DuMort at sunset?” He answered cryptically.
Raphael frowned. “This better be good, Simon.”
Sunset came faster than Raphael would have liked. Raphael was grumpy. He could smell them before they arrived, and they were bringing a mutt with them.
“Have you lost your mind? A Shadowhunter and a werewolf? You do know this isn’t a hotel?” He asked the fledgling.
“Technically, it is.” He replied smartly.
Raphael thought his eyes couldn’t roll back further in his head. “Even starvation can’t shut you up.”
“Look, we just need someplace secure until we can figure out a plan,” Clary intervened.
“These people never listen. Don’t bother. Let’s go,” The werewolf cut in.
“You should put a muzzle on that mutt. The fledgling can stay. But you aren’t exactly welcome after you barbecued half a dozen of my people.” He glared at Clary. Any member of his clan died due to a Shadowhunter was not easily forgotten.
“Let’s go, please. I don’t want any part of this.” Simon begged Clary.
She shook her head. “Look, there isn’t any place else,” She looked at Raphael, “You need Simon back, right? To prove Camille broke the Accords. What good will he be if he dies of starvation?”
Raphael growled, “Fine, but the stray waits outside.”
“If anything happens to these two, you won’t have to wait till sun up, I’ll kill you myself,” the walking dog threatened.
“Easy there, Fido. They’ll be under my protection,” he waved off their concern. He had full confidence in his clan. Simon and Clary followed him as he led them into the hotel. They huddled together while walking through.
Raphael led them to the lounge and gestured them into their waiting room. They were unaware of the nature of their agreement. The room closed behind them. The bars locking them in. The both spun around when the thud of the bars hitting the ground behind them filled the room.
“So this is your idea of protection?” Clary asked angrily.
“It keeps you away from my people, and my people away from you.” He looked at the young vampire. “Give a shout when you’re hungry. Of course, you do have a pretty decent snack right here, no? Oh, silly me. I forgot. You two are such great friends. Or has that changed?” He smirked at the kid. Simon was glaring daggers at him even going so far as to snarl and bear his fangs.
Raphael chuckled while leaving the room. Fledglings need to learn somehow. Simon needed a family, a safe haven. He was not going to find that in the Institute. No matter how much he might want to cling to his old life with that red headed girl he so clearly loves.
Raphael patiently waited in the next room. He knew it was only a matter of time. Simon did not seem like the type to have freely fed on mundanes. He probably last ate around the time he was reborn. Raphael got a pitcher of blood ready. This was going to be fun for him.
“Raphael!” He heard the kid cry.
He smiled to himself and strolled back into the main room, “You ready now?”
“Yes, please,” He begged. His voice husky from the strain. Clearly, he was starving. Raphael felt a bit bad about the position he put him in.
“Here you go,” He handed Simon a wine glass full of blood. It was downed in seconds and handed back to him.
“It’s all about presentation and quality produce. You see, us vampires look after one another. We take care of our family,” Raphael was watching Clary. She looked horrified at her friend.
She turned to Raphael angrily, “Simon already has a family!”
“Had a family. That’s all gonna change now,” He poured more blood into the wine glass.
“You’re a Shadowhunter, he’s a vamp. You two will never be equals. You’ll have to learn that for yourself.” He handed the glass back without looking at Simon. He felt it snatched away from him. Clary looked over at Simon again. Fear and sadness overt on her face. Simon looked at her for a second before turning and facing the wall and downing the drink. Raphael smiles. “Hasta luego.” Leaves the friends locked away. They had a lot to work out.
It was only a few hours later when Luke and Jace showed up at Hotel DuMort asking for Clary and Simon. Lily set up a meeting with all of them.
“We’re offering an alliance with the Seelies,” Clary tells him. Raphael raises an eyebrow. The fae people were notorious for working alone. They also couldn’t lie. If they had worked out an agreement, it must be serious.
“And the werewolves,” Luke added. Normally, Raphael would not listen to him but as he was the Alpha of the biggest pack of the New York as of recent, his words did hold merit.
Still he wasn’t convinced. “Why should we believe you? You killed our people. You violated our home.” He remembered the countless vampires who had died in the hands of Shadowhunters. Even at those in the meeting they were holding today. Even within the DuMort. Their safe haven.
“You kidnapped a mundane, remember?” Jace clipped.
“That was me!” Simon chipped in. Raphael ground his teeth together, glaring at Simon.
“Look, you were just following Camille’s orders. She violated the Accords. You are a different kind of leader. We are a new generation of Shadowhunters. We believe everyone can be equal. But we have to work together to stop Valentine. And to ensure the Clave doesn’t repeat past mistakes. What do you say?” Raphael looked at Clary and realized she was more than a baby Shadowhunter, she was a diplomat. New to their ways.
“This decision requires a consensus.” He wanted a vote from his clan before he made a decision this big. He did not want to do something without their voices.
“I vote yes,” Simon instantly replied. Raphael shot him a look.
“Well, well, well, baby’s first words,” he snapped back.
“Don’t make me regret them,” Simon held his ground.
“If our newest member pledges his loyalty to his new leader and joins our clan, we’ll all stand beside you,” Raphael may have wanted his clan's opinion on this but he also knew how valuable Simon would be to the New York Vampires.
“Simon’s not a pawn!” Clary said.
“No, I’m not. But I accept your deal.” He looked straight into Raphael's eyes as he said it.
“Then we’re in.” Raphael replied simply.

---

Simon
Moving into the hotel was disorienting. He realized very early on that they all slept during the day and stayed awake all night. Something that came naturally, but Simon still needed to get used to being nocturnal. Too used to assimilating with the Shadowhunters.
He also realized he was not well welcomed. For the first week, when walking down the halls, he felt the eyes of his new clan members watching him, but when he turned, there would be no one there. The next week, when he would run into someone, they would hiss or growl at him. There were only three people who would consistently acknowledge his presence: Lily, Raphael and a beautiful girl. She looked about twenty. With soft features, curly brown hair, and a warm smile. Simon would only see her with other people around. The moment he saw her alone, he swore he was going to speak to her. She reminded him of Clary.
With Clary being asleep during the night, Simon found himself extremely alone. It seemed like the vampires blamed him for the attack that had gone wrong and the deaths that followed. Both for when he was literally kidnapped (which to be fair to his friends… He literally was killed) and for when he bargained with Raphael for his help to team up with the Shadowhunters. Who would have expected Jace touching the sword to cause such a wave of power? Simon did not expect it either and was just happy to have survived. Happy that not more vampires perished with them. But no one would listen to him to hear his side. Or what they might consider the Shadowhunters side.
The third week was when things started getting weirder for Simon. He was walking out of the kitchen when he ran face first into what felt like a wall but on closer examination turned out to be Derek’s chest. “Watch where you are going, Baby,” Derek warned him gruffly.
Simon sputtered out a response while Derek wandered off. Simon must have misheard that. He spent the next ten minutes thinking about what insult could rhyme with baby before giving up.
The next day he ran into Emily. She frowned at him before pointing at his collar, “Baby, you got some blood on your shirt.” she wandered off. Simon looked down and saw a spot of blood on his shirt like she said. He grimaced
He hated drinking blood though. Raphael swore that it was “humanly acquired” and some of it was animal blood but it still creeped Simon out. Raphael told him that was not unusual to new vampires. That he would eventually just accept the blood no matter the source. Simon wasn’t so sure.
While training with Raphael, Simon almost lost it. Raphael had tackled him before tauntingly saying, “Are you even trying, Baby?” Simon was glad that for once he was dead. He knew if he was alive, he would be beet red.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” Simon grumbled.
Raphael only smirked. Simon wanted to throttle him.
After a month of no improvements with relations in the clan, Raphael sent him away. He claimed that Simon’s close relationship with Luke would make him a good diplomat between the clan and the werewolves, but Simon thought it might be a way for the vampires to cool down a little. The werewolves were not easier to live with. Luke, of course, did not treat him any differently, but all the others looked down on him. Even Alaric who had known him his whole life now though he was beneath his attention. A lowlife.
It hurt though. Seeing the werewolves live semi-mundane lives while Simon was stuck waiting until the sun went down. He was jealous that they had the ability to mask as human while he never was able to be himself ever again. He couldn’t eat normal food. He could never watch a sunrise again. He truly felt damned.
Simon eventually ran out of blood at the Jade Wolf. He sighed. It was bound to happen one day. He told Luke and headed back to the DuMort. He walked in and was immediately hissed at, but no one stopped him. He took that as a win.
He went into the kitchen and found the nice girl with curly brown hair. “Hi!” He practically shouted in the nearly silent hotel, eager for an opportunity to speak with her. “I’m Simon!” he stretched out a hand for her to shake.
“I’m Autumn.” She smiled at him and shook his hand warmly.
Simon remembered when he thought vampires were cold and realized that he was now the same temperature. Simon also realized that she was wearing a graphic shirt. He smirked “Nice to meet you, Autumn. Do you like Twilight?” He gestured at Edward and Bella.
“I loved it!” She had a shit eating grin on. “The old grumps here don’t understand but it was everything and more. We needed Kristen Stewart and she was there for us. I could spend hours talking in minute detail about the movie and how it impacted the culture of vampires today. How it helped us negotiate blood prices and how it helped mend our public perception. We no longer are feared by mundanes but celebrated. It changed the narrative.”
Simon could hug her. “I agree completely. Though I was always on Team Jacob myself.”
Autumn gasped. “You cannot let anyone else hear that! We are trying to make them like you! Your image here is rough as is. A werewolf lover and a having a Shadowhunter lover will not help you, Baby”
He sputtered, “I don’t have a Shadowhunter lover!”
She looked at him skeptically. “And we went to the moon.”
“We did!” Simon yelled.
A beefy man walked into the room and looked between them. He moved behind Autumn to look at Simon. He didn’t hiss but his eyes were letting Simon it was his time to leave.
“Oh, my -. What is it with vampires? Are there no unattractive vampires?”
Autumn burst out laughing while the man just rolled his eyes. “Christopher, this is our new Baby! Finally, someone to take that dreaded title off of me!” Autumn tells him.
Simon’s jaw dropped. “Wait. What?” he asked.
“You didn’t know? The youngest member of the clan is always addressed as Baby. I’m only thirty so I was the last Baby until you rolled through. I had to deal with that shit for years!” She laughed. “Don’t worry, it grows on you.” She winked at him.
“I doubt that,” he grumbled. “Anyway, it’s not like most people talk to me anyway.”
“That will change. They are weary of strangers. Especially, when those strangers came in with a group of people who had killed their closest friends. You’d agree that that is a big ask from anyone, no?” She asked.
Simon nodded empathically. “I didn’t want anyone to die. Especially for me.”
“But they did,” The man chipped in stoically. Autumn grabbed his hand.
“Anyway, some of them are already warming up to you! Haven’t you noticed their presents?” Autumn asked. Simon just stared at her. “The cups?” She prompted.
“Oh, my -. Those bastards! Those were for me?” Simon shouted. He walked over and flung open the mug cabinet and pulled out a sippy cup. Autumn smiled at him while Christopher snorted. He grabbed the utensils and pulled out the tiny spoon he had seen. He clearly was engraved with “Simon.” “It’s a common name!” He argued to himself. He thought about all the weird items he had seen scattered around the hotel. The “it’s a boy!” balloon, the pacifier, the bib. He had just assumed that someone faced a tragic loss. He never put that together. He felt like an idiot.
He stormed out to the living area and threw himself down on the couch. No other vampires were there. The couple followed him and found a place on a sofa together. They seemed to fit together perfectly. No words needed to be spoken for them to have a conversation.
“So, how do you two know each other?” Simon asked, looking between them.
“Oh! Well that’s a good question,” Autumn said looking up at her man. “Christopher and I met 25 years ago at a nightclub, Pandemonium. I was having fun at a bachelorette of a friend of mine. He was just out for the night. When we locked eyes, we fell in love. We started dating in secret. I thought it was strange that he only wanted to meet at night but thought he just had a long shift during the day. He never let me hold his hand. We could talk for hours. He was my twin flame. It felt like I knew him for years after only knowing him for a week. He told me he was a vampire after only a couple of days. I didn’t believe him at first, but once I accepted him full heartedly. We were so in love. Christopher had never fallen in love until he met me. Isn’t that right, sweety?” She looked up at him.
He smiled at her, “I thought I did, but it is so much different now than it was with them. So much brighter.” He wrapped his hands around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder.
She continued, “One night, he asked if I wanted to be a part of his life forever, I knew I did. That's when he turned me. Now he is my love, my life, and my sire.” She turned her head and kissed his cheek.
“Awwww. That is such a nice story! So not everyone’s turning is as traumatic as mine?” Simon gushed.
Autumn’s smile turned sad. “No, but some are more traumatic than yours. Most people’s turnings are very personal. I would be careful asking about them.”
Simon nodded, “Noted. Well, thank you for sharing.” He checked his phone for the time and cursed under his breath, “I need to get back to the Jade Wolf now, but anytime you want to chat, please let me know!”
He left the DuMort feeling uplifted. He felt for the first time that maybe he would be okay being immortal. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as he had first thought. He had a chance to find someone to spend forever with.

Chapter Text

Raphael
Having a new member in the clan was strange. It had been ten years since they initiated their last member and before her, it had been fifty years. Usually, Camille’s fledglings did not live long. Simon was also unique. He was so… lively.
Simon always had something to talk about. Raphael couldn’t understand half of what he was saying, but he was always so passionate about whatever TV show or movie or comic of the day was. Raphael tried tuning him out but Simon would call him out on it. Worse, he would ask Raphael’s opinion.
He couldn’t complain though, having a fledgling so full of energy brought life to the hotel. Being immortal, many vampires had lost their spark. They had no drive to learn new skills, no interest in the new shows, new movies, new books. With Simon around, he could see some of them start listening to Simon’s stories with interest. Even if they did not speak to Simon yet, they would go out and watch the movies themselves and rant among their peers. Raphael had considered reading Gone Girl based solely on how terrible Simon seemed to think it was. It could not be as dreadful as he made it out to be.
Raphael found that he enjoyed spending time with Simon. He looked forward to their lessons. He was trying to impart some basic vampire knowledge on the fledgling. One could not survive without basic combat and blood lust coping habits.
Simon was improving in his ability to resist blood but his combat was still lacking. Raphael finished his work and stretched. Speaking of, it was time to do some exercise. He walked over to Simon’s suite, but there was no reply when he knocked.
Raphael frowned. Hopefully, Simon was not too far. They were scheduled to train tonight. He went to the kitchen but only found a group of older vampires gossiping.
He went into the lounge and finally spotted Simon, unbeknownst to him, he was being watched by almost all the vampires in the room while he ranted about the latest and greatest Marvel film. He was using large gestures and Raphael at one point was convinced he was going to stand up and jump to prove his point.
Autumn was deeply engaged in the conversation and was prompting Simon to keep going. Christopher was nodding along, an arm slung around Autumn’s shoulders. Simon did not show any signs of stopping so Raphael pointedly cleared his throat.
The room fell dead quiet when Simon stopped speaking. “Oh! Raph! I didn’t see you there! Are you ready? Am I late?” Simon checked his phone for the time. They had planned on meeting ten minutes ago but Raphael was the one who had been running late.
“It’s fine. Let’s go,” he replied, semi-conscious of all the eyes on them.
“Bye, Baby!” Autumn winked at Simon. Christopher just nodded in dismissal at Simon.
Simon and Raphael walked quietly to the training room. “That’s what you’re wearing?” Simon stared at his suit quizzically.
“Well, I was planning on removing the jacket, but don’t worry, Baby. You won’t get a wrinkle on me.” He said, removing the jacket smoothly, laying it carefully on the benches in the front of the room.
Simon scoffed, “Overconfidence will be your downfall.”
“Please. Try me,” Raphael smirked at him and walked into the middle of the room.
Simon charged at him without constraint.
Raphael sidestepped at the last moment. Allowing Simon to rush past him. He tutted softly.
Simon spun around and threw out a punch. Raphael turned and let the punch brush past him. Simon unleashed hell but Raphael was always a step ahead. Years of training and real combat put him leagues above Simon’s level.
Simon didn’t back down from a challenge though. He kicked and punched and pushed and charged. Raphael was impressed. Usually, fledglings did not try this hard. Usually, they were too intimidated to try and attack the clan leader. Simon did not seem to have this hesitation.
He was going through the motions when he realized he was staring at the fledgling. Simon wasn’t aesthetically unattractive. Raphael could see that when he was excited about something, he would smile so wide and would practically glow. Without those pesky glasses, his large brown eyes were bold. They scrunched in the corners when Simon said a joke. Simon’s hair, often styled, had some wave to it. Raphael figured that with a bit of length it would get curly. And his lips were-
Raphael was knocked over. He chastised himself for getting distracted.
“Ha! Got you!” Simon had tackled him and was now sitting on his chest goading him. Raphael couldn’t have that.
He growled and flipped Simon over. Flashing fangs. Simon’s smile dropped when his back hit the floor, his eyes left Raphael’s and dropped to the other vampire’s mouth. Simon’s pupils dilated. He bit his lip and looked back at Raphael’s eyes.
Raphael froze. What? He practically leaped to his feet. “Uh, I just remembered I have a meeting to attend.” Raphael all but sprinted out of the room.
“What the fuck?” Simon asked the air behind him.

---

Simon
Simon thought seeing Raphael again after their training would be awkward but really it felt no different than seeing him at any other time. Raphael simply looked Simon up and down and said, “You cannot be representing the clan wearing that.”
Simon was puzzled. He was wearing a graphic t-shirt, sure, but it was nicer than most of the ones he wore around the werewolves. Plus it is not like Luke would expect him to wear anything different. His pants were also fine in his opinion. They were just a pair of ripped jeans and he had some black converse on. What could Raphael have against it?
He looked at Raphael. The man always looked good, sure. His dark hair slicked back. His suit tailored to his size. He seemed to like it a little more casual by dropping wearing ties, but he routinely wore black. Making his face more pale. He was often angry or aloof but the few times Simon had gotten him to smile, were the best.
Simon would challenge himself to talk to Raphael until he could see it. Even if it was just a smirk at his expense. Was this masochism?
“What should I be wearing?” Simon asked when he realized Raphael wanted a response.
“Anything would be better than that.”
“Want to bet?” Simon joked.
Raphael looked agasted. “I’m not risking this. Let’s go.”
“Go? Now?” Simon squeaked. “But I’m supposed to meet Autumn!”
“Tell her plans have changed. We’re going shopping.”
Simon laughed. “We’re going shopping, bitch.” Raphael raised an eyebrow. “No? You weren’t quoting Mean Girls?”
Raphael sighed, “Baby, let’s just go.”
Simon agreed and they headed out of the hotel.
The one good thing about living in New York is it truly is the city that never sleeps. Even though it was after sunset, they knew they would be able to find department stores open for them. Simon knew Raphael had his favorites and didn’t even bother looking any up and just followed the clan leader.
“Please, tell me you’ve seen Mean Girls though. Because it was a cultural phenomenon.” Simon started telling Raphael the nuances of Mean Girls and the impact it made in modern society.
Raphael, to his merit, did not complain. He simply listened and walked. Allowing Simon to fill the air with his monologue.
When they reached the store, Simon realized pretty quickly that this was a different Raphael. “Try this. And this. And these.” He was shoving items into Simon’s hands quickly. He had quickly analyzed Simon’s measurements and threw together a look that apparently even Simon couldn’t mess up.
When Simon stepped out of the dressing room. Raphael assessed him. He took a step back and looked at him from head to toe and back. Simon, although fully clothed, felt more naked than he’d ever been.
“That shirt won’t do. Otherwise, I’ll buy the rest.”
“What! No. I can’t let you just buy all of this. I have money!” Simon argued.
Raphael brushed him off. “It’s your allowance from the clan. No worries.”
Simon was worried however, but the grin that Raphael flashed at him made it hard for him to argue. He would feel like a dick if he was the reason the first genuine smile was wiped off the clan leader’s face.
They went through three more stores and soon Simon was carrying five bags full of clothes. He’d never seen Raphael happier. The man was smiling and laughing and more relaxed than he ever was at the hotel. He might love his people but he was clearly stressed out by them.
Simon loved seeing Raphael like this. He loved hearing him get excited. Raphael’s accent would slip out a bit more. It made him feel warm inside when Raphael would slip up and revert back to Spanish. It reminded Simon of home. His mom used to do the same thing when he was growing up.
Simon felt as though the day could not have gone better. That was until they were about midway home. “So you decided to dance with her?” Simon asked incredulously.
“What else could I do?” Raphael laughed. “Who else was going to ask her?”
“She was a princess!” Simon his shoulder with his own affectionately while they walked.
“Of Liechtenstein. That’s basically not royalty,” Raphael waved him off.
They turned down a side street. “Royalty is royalty, Raph!”
“Camille may have been awful, but she really did know how to party,” Raphael laughed.
Simon felt himself stiffen. The carefree mood evaporated. “Well, I wouldn’t know. The last time I partied with her, she killed me.”
Raphael sobered instantly. “Shit. I’m sorry.” His hand suddenly snapped out in front of Simon’s chest and stopped him in his tracks.
Simon opened his mouth to ask when a Shadowhunter dropped in front of them, stele drawn. Raphael adjusted his stance in turn and Simon dropped the bags he was holding.
“What the?” he murmured.
“Finally, some vampires! I’ve been looking for you,” He ran his stele over a rune.
Raphael growled, bearing his fangs. He shifted slightly forward to stand in front of Simon. “What do you want? We have not done anything. The Accords are intact.”
“That’s what you say but there has been an increase in mysterious deaths and I know you lot are behind it.”
“Hey, that’s racist! Or… Vampirist?” Simon blurted out.
“Not the time, Baby,” Raphael muttered under his breath.
The Shadowhunter lunged at them. He was a strong fighter, not afraid to fight dirty. But so was Raphael. Simon tried to help but quickly realized he was better off trying to stay out of the way.
Simon watched helplessly as Raphael was thrown into the wall and socked in the face. Raphael hissed in pain and uppercut the Shadowhunter in the gut. The Shadowhunter groaned but slammed Raphael back into the wall again with a resounding thud. Simon could smell the blood.
He charged the Shadowhunter and knocked him back a few steps. Raphael peeled himself off the wall maybe a little less steadily than he would have liked. The Shadowhunter ground his teeth together and grabbed his Seraph blade that was disillusioned across his back.
Raphael watched the Shadowhunter and tensed. “Simon, get back to the hotel. Now.” He commanded. It occurred to Simon that this might be more serious than he thought.
“I’m not just going to leave you here!” Simon argued.
“Then send Lily. You’re a liability,” he said bluntly.
But it was too late. The Shadowhunter was not just going to stand there. He rushed them again. Sword wheeling through the air at the two of them. Simon was thankful for his superhuman strength and reflexes. He was moving without thinking about it. Letting his body take control of his actions.
Still, it wasn’t a perfect skill. He was getting nicked. Little cuts kept appearing on his body. As the sword kept flying, he found that the cuts were getting more frequent, deeper. He started getting worried. He glanced at Raphael, he seemed fine. Annoyed, but fine.
That was a stupid idea. Simon felt the sting of the blade as it sliced across his clavicle. A few inches higher, he would have been dead. He felt the blood seep down his shirt but tried to stay focused on the sword in front of him.
Focus was getting more and more difficult though. Simon was starting to get light headed. He tried taking a step back but there was a curb. He stumbled. Another slice. More blood. Simon yelped and hit the ground.
He saw the Shadowhunter’s sardonic grin. He lunged at him, Simon braced for his final breath but Raphael intercepted the blade and pushed it away from Simon. He knocked it out of the Shadowhunter’s hand. It clattered to the ground. Raphael started overpowering the Shadowhunter. He threw punch after punch, all landing with sickening accuracy. Never pausing. The Shadowhunter found a split second to break away. They were both bleeding, panting. The Shadowhunter seemed to be weighing out his options before he turned tail and ran.
“You know, my mom invited me to go to the ballet tonight. I told her I’d rather die. Maybe this is kismet?” Simon joked he tried to stand up but collapsed back onto the ground.
Raphael frowned at him.
“What is it called when I die? I’m already dead. Re-die? Kinda lame, not gonna lie,” Simon tried to smile but based off of the look Raphael was giving him, it did not seem to work.
“Are you okay, Baby?” Raphael was crouched next to him suddenly. When did he do that?
“Since when did you have a twin?” Simon asked. He hadn’t seen the world this blurry since he was mundane. He missed his glasses. Raphael had such pretty eyes. He would look terrible with glasses. Those pretty eyes were staring at him. Calm, assessing. Simon couldn’t look away.
He saw out of his peripherals that Raphael was lifting his hand to his own mouth. “What are you doing?” He panicked when he saw Raphael’s fangs extend and he made a sharp jerk with his hand. His wrist was oozing blood.
“You’re bleeding out. You need to heal. Blood helps.” Raphael’s wrist was suddenly in Simon's face. “Drink, Simon.” The smell of blood overtook though and Simon latched on without thinking.
Drinking blood from another person was completely different from a blood pouch. It was so warm. It reminded Simon of hot chocolate on a winter’s day. Of sitting next to a fire while camping. Of the day in elementary school when he married Clary.
It was smooth and soothing. Simon could feel his injuries closing, but he couldn’t stop. He didn’t want to.
Eventually, he felt Raphael pull back. “-enough, Baby. That’s enough.” He said quietly. He released his fangs and watched as blood still trickled from Raphael’s wrist. Raphael simply sighed and lifted his own wrist to his mouth and licked the incisions closed, letting his saliva heal the minor wounds.
Simon heard the growl before realizing it was his own. “Relax. You’ve had enough.” Raphael told him. “We’ve got to get home.”
Simon stood and nearly tumbled over, not yet fully steady on his feet. He felt weird. Everything felt out of place.
Raphael helped prop him up. They collected their bags. Well those without blood and those fully intact and headed home.
“This is what you get for trying to take me clothes shopping,” Simon teased.
Raphael rolled his eyes.
They weren’t even two blocks from the hotel when Lily intercepted them. “What happened?” she demanded.
“Simon will tell you. I need to talk to the Clave,” Raphael excused himself.
Lily turned sharply to him. He raised his hands, “It wasn’t my fault. I swear!” he claimed.
“A likely story,” She started helping him back to the hotel and listened as he explained.
“Wait, so you’re telling me you have no idea who this guy is?” She interrupted.
“None,” Simon agreed. He went on explaining.
Lily frowned at him when he told her that he went down and thought he was going to die. “But don’t worry. Raphael, ever the hero, saved me.”
“Oh? Did he scare off the big bad guy?” Lily teased, knowing that Simon and Raphael, although hurt, got back safely.
“Well, yeah. And he gave me some of his blood before I bled out on the ground.”
Lily started, “He did?”
“Yeah? Why? Is that weird?” Simon asked.
“No. Not weird. Just haven’t seen Raphael do that,” Lily told him. She sat him down in the lounge while she got him some blood packs.
While he was waiting a wave of anger washed over him. What was that?

Chapter Text

Raphael
The Clave did not take the news of their attack lightly. They wanted every minute detail. They had Raphael on the phone at all hours of the day, which made Raphael less than civil. Slowly, he started to notice that when he walked into a room, the others would clear out. Well, anyone except Simon.
Simon seemed to make it his mission to be even more annoying than he typically was. He followed Raphael around like a lost puppy. He kept trying to talk Raphael’s ear off. There was one surprising upside though, the fledgling was surprisingly good under pressure. He was proving himself an asset to Raphael, at least when Raphael wanted to talk to the Shadowhunters. The problem lay with how infrequently Simon was at the hotel. He spent most of his time hanging out with the werewolves and only came home for blood or late at night when the wolves were all asleep.
Raphael had an epiphany while the two of them were holed away in the basement. Raphael had just finished negotiations with their blood supplier. Simon, of all people, had convinced their supplier to give them a hefty discount. That was unheard of. Raphael realized he might be more valuable than he gave the fledgling credit for.
“I’m pulling you from the werewolves,” Raphael told him bluntly the moment the supplier left.
“Huh?” Simon started and stared at Raphael with his jaw slack.
“I liked the way you handled that. As of now, you’ve been recalled. You’re advisor to the interim chapter president.” Simon blinked in shock. “Looks like we’ll be working closely together, Baby” He sauntered closer, fixing Simon’s collar and leaving his hands there, “I need to keep you on a tight leash.” Flashing his fangs to emphasize his point.
Simon’s eyes darted to his lips for a second. His eyes were blown. He shivered slightly.
Raphael smirked, let him go, and walked away. He didn’t hear from Simon for the rest of the day, but the next, Simon was back in full swing. Now, his once previously unsolicited advice had merit. Maybe that was a mistake.
Thanks to Simon, he stopped needing to talk to the Clave about the attack, which was now his advisor’s responsibility. Another advantage of having Simon as an advisor, he realized, was that he was close to Shadowhunters and werewolves making him useful during negotiations. Simon was also unyieldingly positive which balanced nicely against Raphael’s pessimistic outlook.
Still, when the Shadowhunters asked for a meeting with Raphael, he agreed to go solo. There were some things that an advisor’s voice wasn’t the same way as the interim leader’s. The Shadowhunters showed up at the hotel and Raphael was surprised to see it was Isablle, Alec, Jace, and Clary. Were there no other Shadowhunters in the Institute?
“Good evening,” he greeted them.
“Thank you for having us,” Alec said politely.
“Like I had a choice,” Raphael mumbled. He motioned for them to follow him to the lounge. They had scheduled this meeting right before sunset. All the other vampires were asleep. Raphael was jealous of them. Shadowhunters like to work on their own time though.
Once everyone was seated, Isabelle got straight into the meat of the meeting, “We think we’ve found him.”
Raphael raised an eyebrow. “You think?”
“Well, we still need to go to trial. Plus, we have no evidence so it will be your words against his,” she said softly.
“So, we have nothing,” Raphael said harshly.
“You have us! And Simon!” Clary jumped in.
Raphael rolled his eyes. “Still, we don’t have anything on this guy.”
“There is a good chance he is working with the Circle,” Jace informed him.
Raphael nodded thoughtfully. “That wouldn’t be surprising. He did not have many pleasant things to say about downworlders. Though many of your kind don’t either.” He gave them a pointed look.
Clary is the only one with the decency to look away. Raphael’s phone started buzzing. He frowned. It should be silenced. Except.. He checked the caller ID and his heart sank. “Please excuse me for a second.” He stepped to the side of the room and picked up the call.
The words on the other end of the line confirmed his greatest fears but he still had the meeting to attend. He is not listening. He should be. He can’t think. He is numb. This wasn’t happening. Alec is saying things to him and he is agreeing. And agreeing. And agreeing. Anything to make this meeting end. Why won’t it end?
Finally, they are all standing. Raphael is the first one through the door. He can see that the vampires are starting to wake up. “Clary! I thought it was you!” He heard Simon call behind him.
He sprints. He can’t breathe. It can’t be. He wasn’t ready. How could she do this to him? He was suddenly furious. This wasn’t fair.
He reached Sacred Hearts faster than he wanted to but somehow not fast enough. She was only 80. If she had taken better care of herself, she could have another 20 years! She was doing this to spite him!
Raphael felt the tears coming as he walked through the front doors. He fought them back and gave a weak smile to the administrator. She gave him a cursory glance, “Santiago?”
He didn’t trust himself to speak and nodded. She pounded some keys on her computer before looking up and giving him a look of pity. “A nurse will be with you in a minute to escort you.”
He nodded and sank down into a chair. He wanted to argue. He knew where his sister’s room was, but he appreciated the moment to try to put himself back together.
“Raphael?” A voice recalled him from his spiral. A nurse appeared before him. She was pretty. Young. So young. She looked like Rosa 50 years ago. Raphael wanted to hug her.
He stood up and she gestured them on their way. “Rosa told me so many stories about the great Raphael! Is that your dad? Your uncle? She loved him so much! She misses him so much. Every story she tells somehow involves Raphael Santiago. We have an ongoing joke about it. I was very excited to meet him.” She laughed.
Raphael choked out a laugh. She didn’t know how she was breaking his unbeating heart.
“Obviously I wish the circumstances were better,” She continued without a break. She must have tough skin working at a nursing home, but she did not possess bedside manners.
Raphael let her drone on, most of what she was saying was not registering with Raphael. He was worried if he arrived too late. About if he waited too long because of his duties. About if she never saw him again.
When they entered the room, he heard the faint beeps of the monitor and sighed in relief. The nurse reached out and squeezed his hand comfortingly. “You’re so cold! Why were you running around without a jacket! I’ll grab you a blanket.” She left.
Raphael disregarded her. He looked at his sister. She was asleep. He walked towards her and found a stool to pull next to her bed. “Hola, hermanita,” he whispered. He grabbed her hand and watched her breath pattern change. “No te preocupes, estoy aquí,” he gave her hand a soft squeeze. “Te amo mucho. No me dejes como el resto. Eres mi vida.”
Rosa’s heart sped up. Her eyes opened a fraction. “Raph? Is that you?”
Raphael sobbed and nodded, “Sí, estoy.”
“Are you here to take me to heaven?” She asked.
“Oh, Rosa, no. No,” he bowed his head down to kiss Rosa’s hand.
“You haven’t changed. You’re an angel. I know it,” she told him.
“Rosa,” he choked out. “No soy un ángel. Soy un diablo.”
“That’s impossible. You were always an angel. Mom said so. Her little angel. We prayed for you. Every day since you died. Mom would pray for our angel, Raphael to look after us,” Rosa’s voice wavered. Her eyes were drooping.
“I was looking after you,” He promised. “And mom, Gabriel, Jose, and Manuel, they will keep looking after you.”
“I’m tired, Raph.”
“Sleep, gordita. Te voy a echar de menos,” Tears were streaming down Raphael’s face as he looked at his sister. He could see her lose herself to the darkness.
He didn’t need the monitors to tell him when her heart stopped. He could hear it himself. He didn’t feel the blanket laid on his shoulders. Didn’t see the variety of nurses rush into the room. He didn’t let go of Rosa’s hand until a nurse gently pried it from him. They offered words of condolences but he couldn’t hear. They asked if he wanted to take care of funeral preparations or if someone else in the family was available. He was so young, they said. He hated it. His little sister was dead, and he was too young.
He didn’t respond, he needed to leave. He sent a quick message to Lily, letting her know to look after the hotel for the night and left. He needed space. He wanted to forget. He wanted to be numb. He knew the perfect spot.
There weren’t many places that Raphael knew he would be anonymous but he could always count on Elsewhere. It also had other benefits that he was fully ready to take advantage of, namely many, many mundanes with high blood alcohol content. Raphael walked into the club and let the wall of voice wash through him.
The noise, loud for mundanes, was deafening to a vampire. The lights were flashing and bright. He squeezed his way onto the masses. He didn’t usually like being surrounded but, today, it was exactly what he wanted.
He felt the rhythm beat through him. He allowed himself to forget who he was, where he was. He closed his eyes and danced. When he finally decided to scan the crowd, it didn’t take long until he caught the eye of a redheaded boy. It took a smirk and a quirk of brow for the boy to follow him to the bathroom. He encantoed him in the stalls, leaned in and drank. It was reckless, it was dangerous. It was fun.
He felt the alcohol hit his system and moaned. This is what he needed. He didn’t take too much. Just enough that the room around him started losing focus. He left the boy a little confused, but made sure he made his way back to his friends, grinning.
Raphael resumed his place on the dance floor. Allowing himself to be engulfed by the music, the alcohol, and the bodies around him.

---

Simon
Simon was woken up by a punch to the stomach. Well, that is what it felt like. Simon tried breathing through it but all he knew was something was deeply wrong.
He tried calling Clary but she did not answer. He tried calling Raphael, but he did not answer. He tried to call Lily. “Hello?”
Simon nearly wept. “What is happening?” He asked.
“What do you mean?” Lily asked back.
“Do you not feel that?”
“Feel what?”
Another wave crashed over Simon to the point that he thought he was going to throw up. “That!”
“Nothing is happening, Simon. Calm down. Probably just another nightmare,” Lily sighed.
Simon wasn’t sure. “Okay, if you say so. Thanks, Lils.”
“Call me that again. I will rip your tongue out.” The line clicked.
Simon walked out of his room and went out to hunt for a blood pack. On his way, he ran into Clary, Jace, Izzy, and Alec. “Clary! I thought that was you!” He hugged his best friend.
“Simon! Why weren’t you at the meeting?” Clary asked.
“I was asleep. Raphael said he would handle it,” Simon shrugged.
“Oh, my God. I can’t believe we forgot about that. No wonder Raphael was being so weird,” Izzy said.
“Weird?” Simon prompted.
“You know,” Izzy made a vague gesture. Simon stared in confusion.
“Yeah, he's all normal grumpy Raphael but then he was just… compliant. Anything we said to him he just agreed to. It was really odd,” Clary filled him in.
“Yeah, Jace even told him we were thinking of turning Hotel DuMort into a spa!” Izzy giggled.
Alec rolled his eyes. “That was not very professional of you, Jace.” Jace snickered.
“But he agreed to that?” Simon was shocked.
“Yeah. He was really out of it after that phone call,” Clary trailed off.
Simon felt a wave of rage hit him. “And you just went with it? No questions asked?”
Izzy and Clary exchanged looks. “We didn’t think much of it at the time,” Clary trailed off.
“Well of course you didn’t. Shadowhunter business first, huh?” Simon scoffed. “Well, back to it.” He gestured towards the exit.
Clary frowned at him. “Simon, are you okay?”
“I’m just peachy,” he growled. He couldn’t even say why he was so mad. He never got that mad at Clary, no matter what.
The Shadowhunters left. He made his way to the kitchen and grabbed a blood pack and filled a mug. Maybe he was just hungry?
He went to the lounge to eat. He tried not to worry. The melancholy from the morning returned. Simon was still sipping at the blood when Lily walked into the room.
“Hey, Baby!”
“Lily, is something wrong with Raphael?”
“No, I just got a text from him saying he was fine.” She said nonplussed.
“The Shadowhunters said he was acting really strange. Even agreed to turn the hotel into a spa.”
She laughed, “He’s fine. He said so himself. Maybe he was being facetious, and they didn’t catch on. You know how he can be.” Simon wasn’t convinced. “Plus, you would know better than any of us if something is wrong. You are bonded.”
“Please, we are not that tight.” Simon rolled his eyes. Used to Lily’s teasing.
“That’s not what I meant.” Simon looked at her confused. “Oh, you really don’t know. Wait, fuck. Is that what you were talking about this morning?” Simon was bewildered. He shrugged. “Baby, have you ever felt like you were feeling things that weren’t yours?”
“No?”
“Never?”
“No?”
“Not even after you drank Raphael’s blood?” Lily pressed.
Simon considered it. “What if I had?” The melancholy was gone now. A sense of emptiness filled him.
“You see, Baby, drinking from a vampire is different from drinking from a mundane. It is usually very intimate.” Simon’s eyebrows shot up. “Usually it is reserved for couples or near death experiences since, well, there is some transference. Like a miniature, stronger sire bond. It only lasts for a couple days, so don’t worry too much. You would feel if Raphael died and you might feel strong emotions.”
“Can he feel what I am feeling?” Simon wondered.
“No, not unless he drank your blood, too. Though in that case, you would be a bonded pair and the bond between you would last a significantly longer time. But I don’t think you need to worry about that, Baby,” She tells him. “That is exclusive to couples in vampiric communities. Fucks with your chemistry.”
Simon still felt uneasy. “But what you’re saying is that I’m feeling his emotions? But I haven’t felt anything the last few days that was that out of the ordinary?”
“Have you seen Raphael? He is not the most emotive dude,” Lily rolled her eyes.
“But he must have feelings!” Simon exclaimed.
“Maybe not such strong ones. You wouldn’t feel them unless they’re strong. At least not from one time.”
“So why am I feeling it today?” Simon asked.
“Baby, you’re not that stupid, right?”
Simon paused before saying slowly, “We need to find him.”
“He doesn’t want to be found. He’s fine.”
“He’s not fine!”
“He is physically fine.”
“I’m not letting him go around like this alone! Something is wrong!”
“Your funeral,” Lily rolls her eyes before leaving him alone fuming on the couch.
Simon tried asking a couple other vampires if they’d heard from Raphael, but none of them had any ideas. He left the hotel and ran to Raphael’s favorite shops, but there was no scent of him.
Simon was panicking at this point. He felt a fuzziness from his connection with Raphael. He didn’t like it. It was weird. Disconcerting. He tried calling Clary, but she didn’t have a solution for him either. He heard Alec in the background mention asking Magnus Bane, the High Warlock of New York.
Simon had met him a few times, but why would Magnus know where Raphael would be if his own clan members didn’t? Simon tried a couple downworlder classics he knew through the werewolves. It was a long shot since he’d never heard of Raphael visiting but he went to Jade wolf and Hunter’s moon, but still there was not a whiff of Raphael.
He had all but given up hope when Izzy rang him. He picked up instantly. “Hello?”
“Hi, Si.” The line went quiet.
“What’s up?” He prompted. He felt this was important but he didn’t want to press.
“Oh, nothing. Just-” She froze again.
“Yes?”
“Well, I can’t really explain why, but I was just thinking about it. Have you found Raphael?” She asked quietly.
“Not yet,” Simon was getting impatient now. He was shifting from foot to foot in the middle of a side street in the middle of Brooklyn. This had better be good.
“Well-” Silence.
“Well?” he almost growled.
“Well, maybe you should visit Sacred Hearts. It’s a nursing home off of Flatbrush.”
“Why?”
“Just do it, Si,” The line clicked.
Simon looked at the phone for a minute before typing it into the GPS.
He ran there as fast as he could. Raphael! He had been here. Not too long ago. Maybe a few hours.
He walked in to the nursing home. The ladies working were surprised to see him. Simon didn’t think they were taking visitors at the time.
“Good evening, or night? Shoot! Look at the time. I am so sorry! I was just trying to find my friend. He was here early tonight.” He rushed. “He is about my age. Dark hair. Brown eyes. Hispanic.”
“Raphael Santiago?” The girl behind the desk asked.
“Yeah!” Simon silently thanked God that he didn’t use an alias. “That’s the one!”
“He left hours ago,” She told him.
“Do you know where he went?” Simon gave her the biggest puppy dog eyes he could muster.
She blushed. “I’m not sure. He seemed upset. I saw he was headed up the street that way.”
“Thanks!” Simon chirped. He practically ran out of the building.
For the first time he was following a solid lead. Simon was not well versed enough in tracking to solely rely on smell. If Raphael spent a significant amount of time in a space he could smell him, but he was no blood hound, he couldn’t follow a trail.
He had to rely on the instructions from the lady and hope that he would find another clue on his way. Wandering the street was not easy. He kept feeling a pull to go one way then another. He knew that at any point Raphael could have veered off but he also knew that he hadn’t seen anything that would have specifically enticed his clan leader.
He kept marching forward. He had given up hope at this point. He pulled out his phone and sent Raphael a couple texts, again, wondering where he was. He didn’t expect to get an answer though. Raphael hadn’t responded all night. It was approaching 2AM and there was no news about his whereabouts.
He decided to just walk one more block. One more block and he would go home. It couldn’t hurt. He frowned. Maybe this block was a mistake. It was a sketchier street than he could imagine Raphael traversing. But something told him to keep going. He passed a nondescript building that made him double back.
No way. There was no way. He could smell Raphael again. He glanced up at the sign: Elsewhere.
He saw the line of 20 somethings waiting to get in. He took a steading breath. This was going to be interesting.

Chapter Text

Raphael
Raphael was lost in the crowd. He was dancing with whoever was dancing with him. He was warm and fuzzy and happy. He paused. He shouldn’t be happy. Why shouldn’t he be happy? Raphael felt a pang of anguish when he remembered Rosa was dead and here he was, alive and happy.
She’d bandaged him after his first fight, she’d been the one to talk to him about his first crush, cheered him on when he got his first girlfriend, she’d been the one he’d talk to late at night about anything and everything. They used to make fun of them for being so close. Rosa and Raphael used to spend all their time together. When Raphael ‘died’ it broke her. She was so quiet, so sad.
Happy. Immortal. He closed his eyes and let the alcohol take over again. Let it numb him. He needed to find someone. He needed more. It wasn’t enough. He didn’t want to think about the last person who knew him (knew him!) was dead.
He opened his eyes and scanned the crowd. He caught eyes with a beautiful black girl wearing a tiara. She staggered over to him. When she was close enough, he spotted her “21 and (legally) drunk!” sash. He rolled his eyes but grabbed her waist and held her close.
She ground against him eagerly. He tried to keep her hips moving to beat as she moved in to kiss his neck. He moved his head to the side to give her more space. She giggled slurred words into his ear. When she tried to move to his lips, he jerked back. “Why don’t we take this outside?” He asked her.
She nodded enthusiastically. He took her hand and led her to the back alley. She allowed herself to be pushed against the wall. Raphael leaned into her personal space. He ran his hands up her arms and held her face in his hands. Her eyes were dilated. Her breath coming out in pants. Her heart was racing. She pushed against his hands trying to capture his lips with her own. He held her steady. He used one hand to brush back her hair and moved his mouth to her cheek, down her jaw. She moaned in ear.
He grinned into her skin and he moved further down to her neck. His fangs extended. He brushed them against her vein. She froze and her breath hitched. “You should be more careful,” He informed her before he bit down sharply.
She squirmed against him until the satisfaction of vampire venom hit her. She moaned and relaxed into him. Raphael allowed her blood to rush over him. She was a relief. A blanket.
Raphael caught movement in the corner of his eye. Shit. This was reckless. The Accords. He was no better than Camille. He closed the girl’s wounds, did a quick encanto for her to forget about him, and stepped back quickly. He tried to appear like caught lovers would.

---

Simon
To say Simon was overwhelmed was an understatement. Simon could not think, he could not hear, and he could not see. The music was overwhelming. He used to love going to bars and clubs with his friends, but he felt like his ears were bleeding. His night vision was overcompensating but with the flashing lights, he felt like he was in a haunted house as opposed to what he was sure was supposed to be fun and mood lighting.
The room was also too crowded. Too many mundanes around. They were so unaware of who was or really what among them. Simon had not been so close to so many mundanes since he Turned. It was distracting. The smell of blood. But still he had an objective. He could not allow himself to be distracted by their delicious smell of blood. He tried scanning the room for Raphael but there were too many faces. Too much movement. He tried pushing his way through but it was futile. Simon was not going to find Raphael like this.
He felt the body heat of other people pressing by as they tried to slip past him. It was too much. He was overwhelmed. Simon wanted to leave. He caught a glimpse of pale skin going through the emergency exit. “Raphael!” he shouted in vain. It didn’t even register in his own ears. The bass thumping in his chest.
He started pushing through to follow but kept getting caught by the crowd. They pushed and pulled. He felt like he was in an ocean. But he kept pushing his way through. Kept heading to where he caught a glimpse of pale skin and dark hair.
When he exited the door, he was in an alleyway. Disappointingly empty. He almost turned back to the club when he heard a woman moan. He took another step into the alley and he saw Raphael entwined with a beautiful woman. His face buried into her neck. Her head was thrown back and her eyes glazed over. “Raphael!” He shouted again.
This time his voice seemed to ricochet off the walls. He didn’t move. Simon walked towards them. This was not like Raphael. He was never like this before. He would never drink from a mundane somewhere so public. He would not break the Accords. He would not put their clan at risk. Raphael suddenly tense and all but jumped back from the girl. She was clearly drunk and high whether that was true before or from the venom in her system Simon wasn’t sure.
She looked around blearily before turning and wandering away. Simon hoped back to the club but his priority was in front of him. Raphael was staring at him unmoving.
“Are you crazy? What were you thinking!” Simon rushed him. He gripped Raphael’s jacket and threw him back into the wall.
Raphael smirks. “What, Baby,” he purred, “are you angry I wasn’t paying attention to you?”
“What, no!” Simon could feel the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. He could feel the tension escalate. He looked Raphael back in his eyes and realized how close they were. He could feel the ghost of Raphael’s breath hitting his face.
Suddenly, Raphael had his hands on Simon’s shirt, and they were spinning. Simon felt the impact of the wall behind him as an afterthought. His breath hitched. “I don’t think that is true.” Raphael leaned in to whisper in his ear. Simon whined in protest but didn’t make any moves to push Raphael anyway. His hands were still gripping Raphael’s jacket tightly.
Raphael leaned back to look at him but hesitated. Simon could see and feel his conflicting emotions. He felt the way he wanted him. He felt how Raphael was holding himself back. Simon leaned forward and connected their lips.
Raphael responded instantly. He kissed back passionately, sliding a quick tongue over Simon’s lip. Simon parted his lips and groaned at the feeling of Raphael kissing him. It was rough, it was gentle, it was Raphael.
Simon moved his hands from Raphael’s jacket and grabbed his hips. Roughly drawing him closer. Raphael’s hand’s found their way into Simon’s hair and pulled gently. Simon felt himself losing control.
He pushed into Raphael. Wanted him closer. Needed him closer. Raphael groaned quietly. Simon smirked. He reveled in the sound.
Raphael moved his kisses from Simon’s lips to nip at his neck playfully. Simon hissed when Raphael’s fangs grazed his skin.
“Raph,” Simon moaned. Raphael stopped moving suddenly. “Raph?” Simon asked.
Suddenly, Simon was alone in the alleyway. The taste of Raphael and blood still on his tongue. Well, fuck.

Chapter Text

Raphael
The Interim Chapter Leader of the New York City Vampires did not run from his problems. Raphael faced his problems head on. He always had. That was why his schedule was packed. Meetings back to back. From dusk till past dawn. It had nothing to do with his fledgling on the other side of the room. Nothing to do with the quick glances he would shoot him when he thought he wouldn’t notice. Nothing to do with how he didn’t hear a word of what was actually talked about at the meetings.
Simon was handling his advisor duties well and talking for them. It surprised their guests that he allowed someone else to speak for him, but they couldn’t openly question Raphael. Lily also attended the meetings. She frowned at Raphael, but kept her mouth shut.
Between meetings, Simon would give him stern glances, seeming to try to convey, “we need to talk” with just his eyes. Raphael pointedly ignored him. When the next group would enter the room, Simon would grin at them and turn on his charm. Raphael wouldn’t move. He kept his chin placed delicately on his folded hands in deep thought.
Their audiences did not need to know that it wasn’t about their topics.
Raphael was young for a vampire but even as a human he never had this problem before. What to do about Simon?
Simon was interesting. He was fun. He was nice. He made Raphael feel like he could just be himself. There weren’t many people that Raphael could let his guard down around. Raphael learned young that people only looked after themselves. They were always after their own interests. Simon wasn’t like that. He always offered a helping hand, even at his own expense. He cared so deeply. He was so loyal.
But he was so young. So naive. Simon did not know what the downworld was like. He did not know what it really meant to be a vampire. What Raphael had been through. Could Raphael really ask him to learn? Was it fair? Was it fair to use him?
Simon shot him another look. Raphael looked away again. Looked at the papers scattered around his desk. Simon audibly sighed. The next group walked in. Simon greeted them cheerfully. Raphael didn’t even look at them. Only choosing to look at Simon. He was vibrant. So full of life. Something that most vampires were lacking.
Was that something in his nature or would that be lost over the years? Raphael wondered. What if Simon fell for him and he never felt the same? What if he was the reason Simon lost his spark?
Lily cleared her throat next to him. He glanced at her. She nodded at the group, prompting him.
“Ah, yes,” Raphael agreed with conviction.
Lily then sighed, “The werewolves were asking if we would be willing to share our supplier with them. That way we could have more options at Hunter’s Moon. However, if we shared that information I would expect better rates. They disagree.”
Raphael realized he was needed. He tried to focus on the remaining meetings. But Simon’s brown eyes watching him was distracting.
At the end of the day, Lily smacked him behind the head. Raphael snarled at her. “What is wrong with you?” She asked.
“What is your problem?” he shot back.
“You might as well have been in bed this whole meeting. Unacceptable. We might as well have Camille back,” Lily fumed.
That killed the rebuttal on Raphael lips. Simon hissed at Camille’s name.
“I didn’t mean that,” Lily faltered.
“No, you did,” Raphael frowned. He wasn’t usually so transparent. “Maybe you guys should go.”
“But-” Simon started before cutting himself off at the glare Raphael shot him.
Lily looked between them. “Did you fight?”
Raphael snorted. Simon just looked startled. “What, no!”
“Are you sure?” She raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
“Leave it alone, Lily,” Raphael commanded.
Lily fumed for a second. “No,” She flitted out of the room with vampiric speed and slammed the door behind herself. They heard her place a chair under the door knob on the outside. “You’re staying in there until you resolve your differences. We can’t have our leader distracted during every meeting! Not good for our image. Raphael is supposed to be a badass not mooning after a fledgling.”
“Lily! This is childish!” Raphael yelled after her.
“We are Night Children!” She giggled down the hall. “Text me!”
They were effectively alone. Raphael pulled out his phone - We’re fine, let us out.
Liar. She sent back.
“We can just break the chair,” He called.
There was silence coming from the other side of the door.

---

Simon
Simon watched Lily and Raphael’s interaction with eyes wide. He couldn’t move. He wanted to talk to Raphael but he wanted it to be on their terms. Once the door was essentially locked behind Lily, Simon turned towards Raphael.
He might not like it, but it did give them a chance to talk. Raphael was back to ignoring Simon. He was fiddling with his phone.
Simon cleared his throat. Raphael visibly stiffened. He put his phone down and quickly glanced at Simon before resolutely looking at his desk in front of him.
It was kind of cute, endearing even. Simon smiled to himself. He stood up and walked to the other side of Raphael’s desk.
Raphael took the time to grab a pen and start playing with that. Spinning it between his fingers.
“Although this is not ideal, we really should talk about it.” Simon states bluntly.
Raphael hums noncommittally. Still fidgeting. Not looking up.
Simon geared himself up to say it, since it appeared Raphael will not be the one to start this. “I don’t regret it.” Simon said simply. Raphael eyes shot up to his, searching. “I don’t really know what this means between us,” he made a vague gesture between the two of them. “It can, but it doesn’t have to mean anything if you don’t want it to. I mean I think you’re hot, but like I respect that this is complicated and that you were drunk as hell yesterday and maybe you regret it. And I don’t want to be a regret, but I don’t want to be a problem. I don’t want anything serious. But maybe we could do it again, not seriously? I don’t know. I think I just need to shut up.” Simon realized he was panicking a little as Raphael stared at him. They both stared at one another eyes wide in shock at Simon’s rambling.
It had been too long. Simon was not going to get a response. It was awkward to put everything out there like that.
Simon broke eye contact to glance at the door. Pondering when Lily would deem it appropriate to let them out or if the ground would just bury him alive.
“It can’t mean anything,” Raphael let out with a sigh. Simon almost gave himself whiplash to look at the other man. Raphael was looking back at the pen. “Lily, can you please unblock the door? I think you’ve heard enough.” The chair was moved and they heard her footsteps hurrying down the hallway. He was too numb to care how long Lily had been there. How Raphael had known. Raphael sighed. “Please, leave Simon.” It was weird hearing his name from Raphael’s lips.
Simon nodded numbly. Ouch. So once again Simon was going to leave with his heart broken from another crush not feeling the same. He could get over it though. He still talked to Clary normally. He could go back to a normal relationship with Raphael. Might take a little time to nurse his wounds but he knew the drill.
Simon blinked back the tears forming. He was startled by his response. He hadn’t realized how much it would hurt to hear Raphael reject him. He thought it wasn’t that serious. Stupid heart, he thought, always leaping before it looked.
He reached the door when he heard Raphael whisper, so quietly, Simon almost thought he was talking to himself, “I don’t regret it, though. I could never regret you.”
Simon stumbled over his own feet. He looked back and gawked at Raphael. Raphael was already ignoring him again. Looking over the papers on his desk. A pen spinning in his hand. No need to push him now, Simon felt his heart soaring.

Chapter Text

Raphael
It was raining. Raphael had never been more happy about the forecast in his life. It meant that he could go outside. Usually, Raphael wouldn’t even consider the risk of burning alive in the sun. Today was different though. Today, Rosa was going to be buried.
He slicked his hair back and made sure there wasn’t a crease on his suit. He wanted to respect his sister to the best of his ability. He made his way out of the hotel, all the other vampires dead asleep at this time of day. Or so he thought. When he entered the lounge, he saw the classic brown curls that sent a pang in his chest. “Simon, why are you awake?”
Simon stood up quickly and faced him. He was in black shirt and sports jacket. More dressed up than Raphael had seen him since that Shadowhunter wedding where he’d borrowed one of Raphael’s own suits.
“It’s today, right?” Simon asked solemnly.
Raphael frowned but nodded.
“I’m coming with you.”
“No, you’re not, Baby,” Raphael countered.
“Why not?”
“You have clan business.”
“Lily will handle it. Plus, it’s the middle of the day.”
“You should be asleep.”
“I’m feeling awake.”
“You didn’t know her.”
“I’m going for you.”
Raphael didn’t have the energy to argue and walked out of the room. He heard Simon following a few paces behind. Allowing Raphael his peace.
They walk to the graveyard in silence. Raphael stopped at a simple grave. Simon came and stood next to him and let out a small gasp. “Is that, is that yours?” He pointed at the headstone.
Raphael smiled sadly. “Raphael Santiago 1937-1958. A beautiful memory lingers” he read. “Mom always did have a sense of humor,” he smiled sardonically. She was the only one who knew. He took a deep breath to level himself and started pointing at the tombstones around them, “Yeah, that’s me. That’s my mom and dad. My brothers and their wives. Their families.” Raphael pointed further away. “But over there, Baby, is my sister. Being buried with her husband and his family.”
Simon started walking towards the group that was gathering. Raphael’s family. But Raphael held him back. “They don’t know me. It was too complicated. Too risky to have them involved. I don’t want to be too close in case I’m familiar.”
Simon stopped moving, “But we’re here.”
“Yes, we are. And we will stay here. For her.”
“You didn’t tell them?” He asked quietly.
“I tried.”
“What happened?”
Raphael shook his head and Simon finally got the hint. They stood in silence as more members of Raphael’s family arrived. Raphael started pointing them out to Simon. The newest members of the Santiago lineage. He told Simon stories from moments he’d witnessed from afar. Stories he’d overheard. Simon laughed but it was twinged with sorrow.
Raphael felt his heart breaking. He loved his family. Truly. But it was so hard to be so close but so far from them. To be their support but a distant memory in their eyes.
Raphael cut himself midstory when he heard the priest begin, “O God, by whose mercy the faithful departed find rest, bless this grave, and send your holy angel to watch over it. As we bury here the body of our sister, deliver her soul from every bond of sin, that she may rejoice in you with your saints for ever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen”
“Amen,” Raphael chorus. He was listening to the priest’s every word. Engraving them in his heart. Allowing his tears to be washed away by the rain.
He felt Simon grab ahold of his hand and squeeze it gently, offering reassurance. A tether to the modern world. Raphael took it and squeezed back. I’m here, I’m okay, he hoped it relayed.
The rain slowly eased, only a faint drizzle hitting them. Raphael felt Simon start tugging at his hand. He didn’t move. He wasn’t ready. Rosa wasn’t buried yet. He would rather burn than leave before it was over. Simon’s tugging got more persistent. The rain completely stopped. Raphael hissed at Simon. Still Simon kept tugging.
He looked at the fledgling and saw the concern written on his face. The unease, the tension. He gave in. He let himself get pulled away. He didn’t want to hurt Simon.

---

Simon
Simon had a choice to make. He didn’t want to go back to the hotel with Raphael like this. He was too emotional. Too open. Too vulnerable. Too easy a target. Simon might be new to the clan but he knew that Raphael was still not fully stable as the leader of their chapter. He couldn’t bring him to the Institute or werewolves as as much as that was somewhere Simon would go during a time like this, Raphael would have rather died than let them see him like this. That left one place Simon could think of a refuge.
He hoped he made the right call as he led Raphael hand in hand through New York’s streets. The apartment complex was as unnerving as Simon imagined it would be. Raphael made no comments when they went in.
They knocked on the door and waited. Magnus Bane opened the door with a flourish. “Who even comes unannounced anymore! Cell phones have been created!” He scolded. Simon had been intimidated by the thought of the High Warlock of Booklyn from the stories of his powers alone. What he did not expect was to be intimidated by the man’s appearance. He was a younger looking Asian man with nail polish, glittering eye makeup, gelled up hair, and the most flamboyant suit Simon had ever seen. Simon didn’t know where to look. “And who are you?” Magnus looked him up and down, a predatory smile crossing his lips.
Simon floundered, but was saved by Raphael. “Magnus,” the other vampire growled.
Magnus’s whole demeanor changed in an instant. He went from calm, confidently, flirty to a worried mother. “Raphael! What happened? You look awful. Come in. Come in,” he ushered them in and led them to the living room.
Before either vampire could get a word in, Magnus offered to fetch them some warmed blood and disappeared into another room.
Simon felt shell shocked. This was not what he expected, but he could also recognize they were not here for him. He glanced over a Raphael. He really did look like a wreck. His eyes were puffy, his suit was wet, he was even shivering slightly. Vampires don’t get cold. The shock? Simon guessed. He pushed Raphael down onto one of the couches and grabbed the blanket draped over the couch’s arm decoratively to cover him with. Simon went to sit down on the other couch, but he felt his sleeve pulled. He glanced down and saw Raphael holding it tightly. Raphael maneuvered Simon to sit down next to him. They sat side by side in silence. Raphael still holding his sleeve. He was fidgeting with the fabric, running it through his fingers, grounding himself.
Magnus returned with the warmed blood and sat on the adjacent sofa. He joined them in the quiet. There was something so fragile about it. Magnus’s ringtone almost made Simon jump out of his skin. Magnus flashed them a guilty smile, “Whoops!” He picked up his phone and his smile turned genuine. “Alexander! To what do I owe this surprise?” He made his way back out of the room. The quiet befell them again. Simon wanders abstractly if he warded his house since the next room should still be within earshot.
Magnus eventually returned looking more serious. “Raphael, I’m so sorry. You, of course, are welcome to stay as long as you need. As well as your cute, little friend here. But I must go. Shadowhunter business. I am sure you understand.”
Raphael nodded in his direction before returning to stare blankly at the air in front of him. “Thank you, Mr. Bane.” Simon said for them.
Magnus frowned in distaste. “Please never say that again.” He created a portal and stepped through.
Simon wondered how long they would remain in silence when Raphael finally spoke, “We didn’t grow up with much. My family. There were five of us. My mom raised us alone. She really tried, but it wasn’t easy.”
Simon nodded. Unsure if he spoke if Raphael would continue. If he would break his trance.
“I was the oldest kid so I had a lot of responsibilities. I needed to make sure my siblings were well taken care of and I did. They were. I worked two jobs from twelve on. My younger brothers stayed in school. My sister and I were always the closest though. She was everything to me. I doted on her. Mom always said I needed to make sure she was safe. Make sure she was happy. I really tried. Mierda, I really fucking tried, but she always struggled. She was not well understood. People made fun of her. They would say she was stupid. She was not stupid! She just needed some extra help to learn. She was very gifted in math though. Could solve any question you gave her in her head. Didn’t even need to think. People said she was a freak.” Raphael spat the words out. His fist tightened.
“I used to get into fights all the time with the neighborhood kids about it. I wouldn’t hear those lies about my sister. But then I died. I tried coming back home, but my mom was… not accepting.” He barked out a laugh, “She told me I was a monster. Evil. Ungodly. I couldn’t argue. I was. I did not want to face the rest of my family. Maybe that makes me a coward.”
“No. She was wrong,” Simon said aghast.
“I lost my way for a while. I’m lucky Magnus found me. He helped me learn. Helped me realize how important my family was to me. So, I started watching them from afar. Too much of a coward to face them in person,” he spat.
Simon shook his head. “You’re not a coward,” he whispered.
“I helped them where I could. Sometimes sending money from ‘long lost relatives’. Sometimes making things happen without them knowing. Promotions, lucky contests, lottery wins. My brothers all got married. They had kids. I watched over them. Cheered them on from the sidelines. I wanted them to succeed. My mom died.” Tears started trailing down Raphael’s cheeks. Simon slid closer and he put a hand on Raphael’s arm and rubbed comfortingly. Raphael kept talking. “She was so good to us. She did so much for us. She was still taking care of my sister at the time. My brothers already had their own families. They didn’t want to look after my sister. She was shipped from house to house for a while. They did not have the resources to look after her. It wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t their responsibility. But still. If I was there, I would have taken care of her. Eventually, she found someone like her. Someone who understood. I think they were in love. He died too soon though. My brothers started dying. Aging is so quick with mundanes. One second they are okay, the next they are in hospice. Now I’m the only one still alive. Cursed. Damned to this immortal life. And I’m too much of a coward to die.”
“Raphael,” Simon whispered. “You have so many great things in your life.”
Raphael shook his head. “That’s not the point. When I die, I am not going to join my brothers and sister in heaven.”
Simon squeezed his arm, “Hey, come on. Don’t say that. You have no idea what happens after death. No one does.”
Raphael wiped some tears. “Rosa and I used to talk to each other about it. We discussed what heaven would be like. I wonder if she is happy there.” He chuckled suddenly, “When we were kids, she used to say heaven would be like St. Nicholas Park. We used to go there all the time. Me and my siblings. We used to play soccer and baseball. It was a reprieve. Somewhere to go to get out of our mom’s hair. To my sister it was her favorite place in the world because when we were able to scrape together a couple cents, we would splurge on ice cream,” Raphael smiled fondly.
Simon laughed, “Rebecca and I used to do that, too! My dad died when I was young and my mom was a workaholic. She was never home. Always at the law firm.” Simon rolled his eyes, “Rebecca, my sister, and I would go to Central Park. Sometimes Clary would come with us as well. We used to sneak into my mom’s wallet and take a twenty and treat ourselves to ice cream in the summer!”
“I guess some things don’t change over the years.”
“No, ice cream at the park will always be a staple to sad, single parent children!” Simon joked. He put his arm around Raphael and felt the other vampire lean into him.
He tried not to seem surprised. He smiled to himself. They stayed that way until sunset. Talking about their childhoods. Swapping stories about growing up.
Eventually, they had to go back to the hotel. They were expected at a meeting. Simon wished they could stay at Magnus’s apartment forever. Just the two of them.

Chapter Text

Raphael
It was already late. The sun had risen, but Simon was playing cards with Autumn and Christopher, and Raphael wasn’t even surprised. Nowadays, when he needed to find his advisor, he didn’t even try his room, he went straight for the lounge to look for the three of them. They were always around playing games, laughing. Simon seemed to love being in their company.
They seemed to welcome him with open arms. Raphael knew Autumn was nice but he’d never seen Christopher smile so often.
“Fuck you!” Christopher said without heat behind it.
Simon laughed as he took the trick. “We can’t all win, Chris!”
Christopher rolled his eyes. “Shut up and you know I don’t like it when you call me that.”
Simon and Autumn giggled at his expense. Christopher shrugged and set them up for the next hand. Raphael looked around the room. He saw Derek’s eyes glued to the game. Raphael wondered if that was because he was one of their chief strategists and he was curious about the gameplay or if he was working out how Simon’s mind worked. Theo and Ayasha were also in the room. They were mulling over a magazine together but Raphael does not remember the last time he had seen them in the lounge. They usually holed themselves away from everyone else. Theo had not been spotted since Lisa died. They put their misplaced anger on her death on Simon. It was a wonder they would even be willing to be in the same room as Simon. Raphael knew that integrating Simon into the hotel was not easy. He was not well liked from the start. He was too close to the Shadowhunters. Too friendly with the enemies. He was also a product of Camille. It made him untrustworthy to some.
Simon seemed to take the blame on his shoulders. He worked hard to get people to like him and was often seen going around to different vampires with blood packs and books and CDs. Anything he thought they might like. Anything he thought that would get himself into their good graces. Raphael thought it was very endearing. Ahem, he paused. It was very… admirable.
He opened his mouth to call for Simon to join him for a meeting when the front doors to the hotel burst open. Every vampire in the room jumped to their feet. Raphael looked at Derek, they exchanged quick glances and sprinted out of the lounge towards the stairs. They needed to get to the lobby as quickly as possible. Something was wrong.
They arrive in the lobby and see Isabelle Lightwood surrounded by vampires. They were fiercely defending their home, but Isabella was keeping them at bay.
Raphael was confused. Last he heard, they were on good terms with the Shadowhunters. What was going on? Another bang comes from a few floors up. “Keep an eye on her!” He commands Derek. He trusted the other vampire to keep her in check. Derek was one of their strongest fighters.
He ran upstairs and found Alec Lightwood surrounded by ash. He dropped to a fighting stance and growled. Lily ran into the room, “Where’s Baby?”
Raphael felt his heart squeeze. That’s not good. Alec looked between them wearily. He seemed to hedge his bets and headed back out onto the rooftop. Out of reach. Raphael hissed. “What do you mean where is Baby? He should be in the training room as per protocol. Any non-fighters are to fall back. Including fledglings. You should be guarding them. Why are you here?” He yelled at her.
“He wasn’t there! I went to go look. Christopher and Autumn are looking after the non-fighters. They are more than capable. Plus, we needed me out here more.” She defended herself.
“He’s a fledgling. He doesn’t even know how to defend himself! He is going to get caught in the crosshairs. We need to find him. Now! Move!” He commanded.
They split up. Lily tried other levels, Raphael went straight for the basement. He heard less noise from the lobby which was either a really good sign or a really bad sign. He didn’t have the time to check. He had to trust his people were capable of taking care of themselves.
He paused at the top of the stares and almost sighed in relief when he heard Simon’s voice. That is until he heard what he was saying. “Clary, love, this is a bad idea.”
“We need the Book of the White. Camille is the only one who can get it for us,” a woman’s voice replied.
“I can get you a meeting with Raphael.” He claimed.
“It’s a little late for that, Si.”
They were moving things around by the sounds of chains clanking.
“Are you sure this will work?” Simon asked. “Once we open this, there’s no going back. Everything we’ve done to unite the Downworld goes out the window.” Raphael felt a chill go down his spine. This was worrying.
“I wish there was another way, but if Valentine gets a hold of the Cup, there won’t be a Downworld left to unite.”
Raphael heard chains hit the floor. They weren’t doing what he thought they were, right? He crept down the stairs and found a vantage point. He could see Camille’s coffin open. Clary and Simon standing over it.
Clary looked at it wearily. “She’s dead,” she stated.
“Well, yeah. What’d you expect? She’s a vampire,” Simon deadpanned.
They all jumped when Camille suddenly sat up and screamed.
Fortunately, Clary’s training kicked in and she grabbed her Seraph blade and held it at Camille’s neck. “Not so fast.”
Camille did not even glance in her direction, “What took you so long?” She asked Simon.
Simon stepped back slightly and looked between her and Clary, eyes wide in confusion. “Excuse me?”
“I knew you’d come back for your sire, just like you did before. We’re forever linked, you and I,” She smiled at him, her fangs on display.
“How do you know I don’t wanna stake you?” Simon asked, puffing his chest with false bravado. So clear even to Raphael.
“Do you?” She slowly moved from her coffin. Clary, not willing to act on her threat, allowed her to move slightly closer to Simon.
Simon, looked away, and answered in a small quivering voice, “No.” Raphael wanted to move. Wanted to help, but he could not do anything alone. He was now trapped until more vampires came down to the basement.
“I do. But that’s not why we’re here. Where’s the Book of the White?” Clary interrupted their exchange.
“The book of the what?” Camille asked innocently.
“The Book of the White. Big, white spell book. Kind of explains itself,” Simon said sarcastically.
Raphael realized that this was going to be awhile. He slid his phone out of his pocket and occupied himself in messaging Lily and any of his best fighters. Anyone who stood a chance against Camille.
He waited. Camille, Clary and Simon engaged in their discussion on the Book of the White did not notice his presence. Nor Lily’s, Derek’s, Theo’s, or Ayasha’s. They were ready.
“Simon, it’s 6:00 AM. The sun’s almost up,” Clary told her best friend.
“No problem. We’ll go downstairs and take the tunnels out. Come on.”
Raphael took the opportunity to leave his hiding spot and stand in front of them, “Going somewhere?”
It was almost comical to watch Simon’s eyes pop out of his head. Clary startled. Camille seemed to have expected it. “Raphael,” she greeted him.
“You should have stayed put,” he told her. He looked back at Simon. His Simon. The one he had grown so fond of. “I’m disappointed in you.”
“I– I guess it’s too late to put her back in the box?” Simon stuttered.
“I’m afraid so. Our alliance is finished. The Accords may prohibit killing mundanes, but they say nothing about sunburned vampires.” He heard Lily, Derek and Theo falling in step behind him. “Simon has betrayed us, just as Camille did. They deserve the same fate. Adios. Kill them.” The words were ripped from his throat but he did not regret saying them. He knew he couldn’t keep control if he showed weakness at such a blatant coup attempt. Even if he knew Simon did not mean anything by it. Even if he knew Simon was just thinking about that damn Shadowhunter.
He was in too precarious of a position as a leader to appear weak. Still, he didn’t want Simon dead. He was halfway relieved, halfway panicked when Isabelle broke the wall and burned his hand. He hissed in pain and retracted his hand from the sunlight quickly. The sunlight perfectly separated the Shadowhunter group with Simon and Camille from the rest of the Vampires.
The Shadowhunter sauntered in, hips swaying. “Seriously, guys?” She asked. “Typical vampire, always underestimating a Shadowhunter.”
Raphael bared his fangs at her in warning.
“Adios!” She called to them as the group headed towards the tunnels. Simon at the last minute looked back to Raphael with his big, sad eyes. His mouth opened for a second, but then he was gone. Following Clary. Always following Clary.
Raphael growled. He didn’t have time to ruminate on that. He needed to assess damage, get a body count, and prepare for funerals. All because of these damn Shadowhunters. But now with the added dagger in his chest at the betrayal of Simon. He prayed that the damage was minimal. That his makeshift family was safe.

---

Simon
Everything felt wrong. All Simon wanted to do was head back to Hotel DuMort. Hearing Raphael say that he betrayed them broke Simon’s heart. Camille wasn’t making things easier either. She seemed to enjoy the fact that Simon was upset.
“What is it, my little caramel? Did you miss me?” She asked.
Simon didn’t answer, hearing her voice was awful. It brought him back to the day he died. But he also felt a pull to her. Something about her made him feel protective. He didn’t want her dead. He also wanted to throttle her.
“We had such a good thing. Why don’t we do it again? Hmm?” She ran a nail down his arm.
He jerked his arm away. “Clary! How much longer until we get to Magnus’s apartment?” He asked worriedly.
“Magnus?” Camille perked up.
Simon and Clary exchanged a quick glance. “We’re almost there, Si.”
Camille, blessedly, stayed quiet for the rest of the journey.
Magnus was as ostentatious as Simon remembered him from their previous meeting, but he was strangely reserved. Simon wasn’t used to it but he could scent that Magnus was afraid. Afraid of Camille? Clary better have a very good plan. This was a very bad idea.
Simon was starting to feel very guilty about bringing her to Magnus’s place.
When Simon heard the front doors of the Hotel DuMort fly open, he knew it was Clary. He’d overheard her talk about needing Camille for something and he knew her preferred method of diplomacy was do now, ask forgiveness later.
He’d rushed after Raphael and Derek and saw Izzy fighting. If Izzy was there, so was Clary. If Clary was there, she’d be in the basement. Simon turned heel and ran. He’d almost knocked her over when he all but flew down the stairs. She turned ready to fight but saw who it was. “Si!” she chirped gleefully.
“Clary! This is a bad idea,” He warned her. He really tried to change her mind, but Valentine was too much of a risk. She knew that the vampires would never forgive her, but her mom was at risk.
Her mom. Simon had been raised by Ms. Fairchild. When his mom was working late, she took him and Rebecca in. They used to do homework on her kitchen floor. She used to drill them on vocab. She made him birthday cakes. She would come to his school recitals even though his mom couldn’t make it. She would always offer him kind advice.
And how could Simon say no to Clary. She was his everything. His best friend. The love of his life. The one person he never wanted to disappoint. If he said no to her, then she may never speak to him again and how would he survive without Clary? He could not imagine his life without her.
He used to imagine them growing old together in the suburbs with a two story house, a white picket fence, two point five children, a dog, the works. Ever since Clary found out about the downworld, things have changed. The office jobs were the first thing that were out in his fantasy, replaced by cool spy-like missions to save the world. Even if it was just the two of them against the world.
Then Simon found himself in the downworld and his life was turned around, and he was dead. The house in suburbia disappeared from the fantasy. So did the sun. Simon’s fantasy was fading. The darkness was invading. But still Clary and him were together. They could still face it together. Clary and him saving the world with her halo of red hair ablaze, he imagined.
Then Jace came along. And Clary’s head was turned. Simon hated Jace for that. Clary was never looking at him, but she was never so serious about anyone else. Then Raphael appeared and that was confusing. Sure, Simon never had an issue finding guys attractive. Guys, girls, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that Clary was the most attractive.
But now he was seeing someone else and thinking how amazing it was when they smiled. How perfect their voice sounded. Plotting how to spend more time with them. Simon didn’t even know when the shift happened. But suddenly he was torn. He was still in love with Clary. Always Clary. But he could not deny he had feelings for the vampire, even if the other vampire wanted him burned at the stake.
Simon sighed and ran his hand through his hair. This was getting complicated. His head hurt. His heart hurt.
“He’s not signing that!” Clary shouted. Simon caught the words and found Magnus, Alec, Izzy, Clary and Camille in the midst of an argument.
Camille shrugged. “Okay then, I have no idea where the Book of the White is.”
“Liar,” Alec mumbled under his breath.
Camille grinned at him.
“Simon does not owe you anything. You’re our prisoner. You will do what we say, or we will deliver you back to Raphael to rot the rest of eternity in your coffin!”
“Prisoner? I beg to disagree. You see, I’m your only chance at saving the world.” She giggled. Magnus winds a finger around his ear, gesturing to Alec that she was crazy. “You need me.” She notices them staring at one another. “You certainly have a type, don’t you, Magnus? He’s cute. Too bad it won’t last.”
Alec and Magnus frowned at her. Simon looked between them again. Oh?
“What do I or do I not owe?” Simon chimed in.
Everyone turned to him.
“Hello, my sweet little caramel, I wondered when you’d come back to us. I just need you to sign a Writ of Transmutation.”
“What the hell is that?” Simon asked.
“A document stating you asked her to turn you into a vampire,” Izzy said plainly.
“Signed and sealed in your blood, of course,” Camille said sweetly.
“Haven’t you had enough of my blood?” Simon hissed.
“Never. And I definitely don’t want the Clave to falsely accuse me of killing mundanes,” She said as she brushed her hand through her hair.
“Because you want Simon to pardon you? No way!” Clary shouted angrily. “You killed Simon. The least we could do is return the favor.”
“And yet, the second I go up in smoke, so does any hope of you finding your precious book,” Camille counted.
“I’ll sign it.”
The room went quiet.
“Take us to the apartment, give us the book, then you can have your pardon,” Simon ground out.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Camille said, smiling again.
Magnus did not take long in drafting the Writ. It took all of Simons’s willpower not to run away. He knew that signing the Writ would be a slap in the face to Raphael but it needed to be done.
It would compromise his position in the clan. Allow people to question if he truly deserved to lead them as the President of the Brooklyn Chapter of the New York City Vampires. But what could Simon do? They needed the book. They needed Ms. Fairchild safe. They needed Valentine under control.
If signing the Writ is what it took, then Simon would do it. Consequences be damned.
Magnus created a portal to the front entrance of Camille’s apartment. She led them through the front door.
“Welcome home, Madame Belcourt,” a man in a suit greeted them. Simon guessed he shouldn’t be surprised that a woman with infinite wealth would have a butler.
He started poking around the bookshelves lining the room. Out of the corner of his eye he could tell Clary was doing the same. Everyone else was staying towards the middle of the room, keeping an eye on Camille.
“This place creeps me out,” Izzy said looking around.
“If I know Camille, she’ll have a trick or three up her sleeve,” Magnus glanced around the room as if something would jump out at him.
“Let’s check the perimeter,” Alec sighed, always the practical one.
The three of them departed.
Clary instantly turned to Camille. “I still don’t get it. Why do you have this place if you live at Hotel DuMort?”
“The DuMort has too many rules. Think of it like Gracie Mansion. It’s the official residence, but it doesn’t mean I have to live there. This place gives me the freedom to indulge in certain… proclivities.”
“You know, the mayor has the same problem,” Simon said, rolling his eyes. He didn’t notice Camille approaching him until she had grabbed his hand and flipped it over. “Wha- hey!” He shouted as she pricked his finger.
“Come with me,” she pulled him to the desk and placed a drop of his blood on the Writ. “Sign on the dotted line.” She handed him a large feathered quill.
Simon doesn’t argue. He signed dutifully. She took it back and looked it over before rolling it up and handed it to her butler. Since when did he get here? Simon wondered.
“He did what you asked. Now give us the Book of the White,” Clary demanded.
“I’d love to,” Camille walked over to a bookcase and ran a hand over a few spines before stopping, “but I can’t.” Simon and Clary growled. “I have no idea where it is.”
“Dot gave it to you!”
“I’m sure it’s here somewhere. But if the idea was to hide it, telling me would defeat the purpose. Dot must have put it somewhere when I wasn’t looking.”
“So we have to search the whole apartment?” Clary looked at the walls of books surrounding them.
“See? That’s the spirit. Although, I’d start now. I’ve got four more rooms just like this one.” Simon’s jaw dropped. “Goodbye, Simon. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”
“Wait!” Simon tried to reach for her.
She backed away, “I wish I could, my little caramel. But don’t worry, we’ll see each other soon.” She bolted. All that was left was thousands of books and a smell of perfume.
“I hate when she does that,” Simon said under his breath.
Simon realized it was going to be a long night. He went to the first bookshelf and started sorting through the books. Looking for any sort of magical presence. Hoping that he would know what he was looking for once he felt it.
Clary’s phone started ringing, “I need to take this. Just a sec, Si.” She left the room. “Jace! Where are you?” He heard her from the next room.
Simon sighed. He grabbed his own phone and flipped it open. He didn’t give himself the time to think before redialing. It rang once before skipping to voicemail. Well at least he wasn’t blocked. “You’ve reached Raphael Santiago’s cell. If it is an emergency please contact Lily Chen, otherwise leave a message.” Raphael’s voicemail told him.
Simon considered it before the beep. “Hey, Raph. Uhh, listen. I’m really sorry about what happened today. I didn’t mean for it to go down like that. I hate Camille as much as the next vampire. She’s out by the way. I had to sign a Writ of… something. Thought that might be important for you to know… Uhhh, but yeah. Can you call me back? I think we should talk. I’m really, really, truly sorry. Please?” The tone beeped and let him know his time was up.

Chapter Text

Raphael
Raphael threw his phone across the room, again. He can’t remember the last time he had been this angry. He had put his name on the line for the kid and this is what he got? He saw himself in Simon and Simon just threw it in his face? Fucking rude.
He had gotten another text from Simon. Another half assed apology. Like that was going to do anything. Camille was out. She had free reign to New York. She was off the hook for Simon’s murder. He could not go back on a Writ of Transmutation. He didn’t even know what he was signing.
The other vampires in the clan were avoiding him again. It was probably smart. He felt exceptionally short tempered. Ready to explode at any minute. Lily had called off Simon’s kill order. She wanted a trial for him. Thought it was only fair. Raphael disagreed. They did not need to talk. She was overstepping. Raphael made it clear that if he stepped into the hotel, Simon was dead onsight.
There was a divide in the clan on whose orders to follow. It had less to do with power and more to do with how much they liked Simon. Raphael was surprised by some of those that straight up would defy him for the fledgling.
Still, after a week of calls and texts and no sign of Camille, Raphael had enough of it. He needed to take action into his own hands. He knew Simon was at the Jade Wolf. There were enough reports telling him about it. He was staying in the shipping containers. As if that was a proper place for a vampire to stay.
It wasn’t hard to figure out which one either. It smelled so much like him. It pissed Raphael off. It shouldn’t make him feel at ease. Being surrounded by Simon’s scent shouldn’t be so calming. He heard movement outside the doors and moved to the side. Simon walked in after him. “Hey, bud. Cómo estás?” Raphael asked while walking out of the shadows.
Simon nearly jumped out of his skin. “Raphael, amigo! Can I get you a pint of O neg?” He giggled nervously pushing past Raphael. He was clearly trying to make space between them.
Raphael followed him further into the container “Explain to me why you told Victor Aldertree I’m responsible for a vampire den in Flatbush,” Raphael growled.
“No, I didn’t say that. I said that those decisions are way above my pay grade, that they come from guys at the top like you. Now, saying it back, I can see how they came to that conclusion.” Simon’s eyes were so large. He was flailing about, trying to make his point come together as cohesive but Raphael wasn’t buying it.
Raphael aggressively pushed him into the wall behind him, “That was one of Camille’s dens, puta.”
“I thought that was Rosa’s den,” he countered.
“Camille turned Rosa, too, idiota. And now, because of you, I’m being called in to answer for it. Do you have any idea what the Clave does to vampires who violate the Accords?”
“Not sure I wanna know.”
“They nail us to crosses, then let shafts of sunlight burn off our body parts, one at a time.”
“Which body part?” Raphael raised an eyebrow at him angrily. “You know what? Don’t answer that. I can probably talk to Clary.”
“No, you’re gonna find Camille,” He placed a hand on Simon’s shoulder and made sure he was paying attention, “and bring her back to the Hotel DuMort.”
“What? Why me?” Simon yelped.
“Because you and your friends are the ones who let her out. She’s your sire. Use your connection to her, or die trying.” Raphael let him go and left the shipping container. He hoped Simon would heed his words. It needed to be done.
When he didn’t hear any reports within the next few days, Raphael realized that Simon would need more of a shove. He decided another trip to the container was in order.
He was scouting the area when he saw Simon on the phone leaving the container. “Hey, Mom. Just got your messages. Just wanted to let you know I’m not dead, so, uh, don’t call the police. Um- I know you’re upset that we haven’t talked in a while, so I was thinking of stopping by the house. Hopefully you’re home.” Raphael dropped behind Simon and followed him, “That’s it, bye.”
“Going somewhere?” Raphael asked.
Simon spun around and nervously let out, “Just a detour. My mom’s called me, like, 30 times. I just have to tell her that my band went on tour, and I’ll be right back on Camille. You know, if you spent the amount of time looking for Camille that you spent telling me to look for her, you’d probably have found her by now.”
Simon was backpedaling away from Raphael. More concerned about getting away from Raphael than his surroundings, he walked himself into the chain link fence surrounding the perimeter of the shipyard. Raphael had no problem stepping into his personal space, threateningly. “I don’t think you understand the gravity of the situation. I’ve got the whole clan searching, but she’s your sire,” he shoved his finger at Simon’s chest for emphasis.
Simon clung to the wall as if he could will himself through it, “But there are others, right? I can’t be the most qualified vampire Camille’s turned,” He tried to walk away.
Raphael grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back into the fence, “No, but sadly, you’re the only one left. All the other vampires she sired have joined her side. There’s a civil war brewing, and Camille is gaining power.”
“I’ll be right back on Camille as soon as I deal with my family,” Simon moved to walk away again, but Raphael shoved him back again. Simon growled.
“We are your family now,” Raphael raised an eyebrow at Simon as if challenging him to contradict him.
“And what? Just supposed to forget my mom?”
“Your mom? Your mom will grow old while you stay the same. And eventually she’ll be gone. Sooner or later, even your memories of her will fade, whether you want them to or not.”
Simon swallowed. “No. That won’t happen. Not to me,” he denied vehemently.
“Keep telling yourself that,” Raphael went back to the clan. It was too real. Too much. He didn’t want to think about Rosa or his own mom or his fading memories.
The next day, Raphael mulled it over. Simon needed to get Camille back. It wasn’t an option. There was too much at stake, but there was no reason for Simon's mom to be worried about where her son was. Simon did not need to have that on his plate as well. He could take care of that for Simon.
He looked up her number in the yellow pages and called. “Hello, Mrs. Lewis? This is Raphael Santiago. Would you have time to speak with me? I am Simon’s band manager. We’re back in town for the next couple days and I’ve heard so many things about you! I have a wonderful opportunity for Simon but I would love to speak with you first!”
For once, Raphael was happy that paid attention to Simon’s yammerings.
“Mrs. Lewis? Please, call me Elaine. It is so wonderful to hear from a friend of my Simon! He never introduces me to anyone! It is already so late though. Would you have time to meet tomorrow? Let’s say five? I know this wonderful little tavern.”
“That sounds wonderful, Elaine. I cannot wait to meet you. Please text me the address at this number.”
They hung up and Raphael cursed under his breath. Five o’clock wasn’t going to work. The sun was going to be up until at least eight.
Still he wanted Elaine to like him, so the next day at five, he set an alarm to wake up and sent her a text saying that he was delayed and moved their meeting to six. At six, he sent another to move it to seven. At seven, he sent another to move it to eight. At eight, he showed up at the tavern.
He was expecting an exceptionally angry middle aged woman, but when he got there, he found a belligerent drunk woman in her forties.
He fixed his jacket’s sleeves nervously before entering the tavern. “Elaine! Good evening! Nice to finally meet you in person!” He put on his most charismatic smile.”
Elaine beamed at him, “Oh, you must be Raphael. Cute as a button! Why doesn’t my Simon ever talk about you!” Raphael chuckled.
“Well, he certainly talks about you, but he did not mention what a beauty you were.”
Elaine blushed. Raphael was thrown. She looked so much like Simon for a second. She swatted at him playfully. “Oh hush you. You are a few numbers too young for me.” Raphael did not correct her. “How is Simon? How’s the band? What are you guys playing as nowadays? Is it still Rock Solid Panda?”
Raphael almost burst out laughing. What the heck? “No, ma’am, we went with something a little more classy. Vampire Rebellion.” He said with as much conviction as he could muster. Hoping his poker face would hold.
“Really?” Simon’s mom exclaimed. Raphael couldn’t hold back. He burst out laughing. He got slapped gently on the back of the arm for it. “You’re playing with the heart strings of an old lady and it’s not nice.”
“My apologies. I’ve had a rough couple of days,” Raphael sobered up. “I really came here just to make sure you knew Simon was alright.”
She smiled at him, “You didn’t need to do that. Simon texts me every day. He doesn’t visit anymore. He didn’t even tell me he was in town but you know how kids get. We’ll maybe you don’t,” she eyed him skeptically.
“I ran away from home for a bit too when I was his age. It can be hard to return.”
“Simon is always welcome.” Elaine finished the dredges of her drink and waved to the bartender to give her another.
Raphael hummed in agreement. He wondered if that was true though. There was so much that she didn’t know about her son.
“Is the tour ending soon? I would come to a show, but Simon knows I hate the music. I wish he just kept trying with his accounting degree. No offense, but music is going to take him anywhere.”
Raphael frowned, offended for Simon, “His accounting degree wasn’t taking him anywhere either. At least now he is trying something exciting. He can always pick accounting back up. He might as well try music while he is young. I was actually coming to tell you we are starting part two of the tour. He won’t be home for a while yet.”
The bartender delivered Elaine’s drink and removed her empty drink. Raphael half wondered how many she had had at this point.
“But my boy is okay? He’s happy?” Elaine locked eyes with him.
“He is,” Raphael promised. His phone started buzzing, “If you’ll excuse me for a second,” he stood from the table and took the call. “Lily. What happened?”
He walked to the back of the room.
“There are some people here to see you,” She replied cryptically.
“Ay, puta madre. I’ll be back soon. Please don’t let them wander without supervision,” Raphael spat. He closed the line and headed back towards Elaine when he heard a familiar voice.
“Mom.”
“Simon? Oh, thank God!” Elaine’s voice rang over everyone else in the tavern.
Raphael moved deeper into the shadows. He didn’t particularly want Simon knowing he was there. He was doing this for Elaine, not Simon.
“Oh, I thought something terrible had happened. I have been looking everywhere for you,” She cooed.
“I’m so sorry. There’s something I need to tell you about where I’ve been and who I am,” Simon said ominously.
“It’s all right. I know.” Raphael snickered to himself. Elaine was so convinced.
“You do?”
“What, did you think I wasn’t going to find out?” Only a mom could sound that patronizing.
“I mean…”
“Oh, monkey, you should have told me. I’ve been so worried. If your band manager hadn’t found me and told me everything that’s been going on I don’t know what I would’ve done,” She gestured to the back of the tavern.
Raphael pocketed his cell phone, grabbed an unmanned glass, and started walking. That was his cue he supposed.

---

Simon
“My band manager?” Simon asked and looked towards Raphael. His eyes widened as they made eye contact. Out of anything he thought he might see walking into the bar, he did not expect to see Raphael, in a suit, clearly making friends with his mom.
“Hello, Simon.” Raphael said once he reached their table.
“You told my mom?” Simon asked quietly.
“Of course I did. I can’t believe you didn’t tell her we were out on tour.” Raphael seemingly offended.
Simon paused before nodding, “Right. I’m sorry, Mom,” he looked towards his mom. “My phone died,” he cleared his throat before sardonically adding, “among other things,” while looking over at Raphael.
“Well, Raphael was so kind to keep me company until you arrived,” Elaine laid a hand on Raphael’s shoulder. He smiled at her warmly. Simon choked. What had he missed?
“You know, Simon, you should take better care of your mother. It’s far too late for anyone to be wandering the streets alone. I know you’d feel horrible if anything were to happen to her.” Raphael's voice might have been sweet but his words were sour. Simon glared at him. Was he implying what he thought?
“Oh, you’re sweet, but you don’t have to worry about me,” Elaine squeezed his shoulder before letting go and touching Simon’s cheek. “Oh, sweetie, you’re so pale and… cold. Let me get you a hot drink. I’ll be right back.”
“Thanks, mom.” They watched as Elaine made her way to the bar. Simon wheeled around to face Raphael, “What the hell.”
“You should be looking for Camille, not your mother,” Raphael must be getting tired of repeating himself.
“You’re threatening my family,” Simon hissed.
“And you’re threatening mine. The longer Camille is free, the more people she kills. My people. Don’t make me stoop to Camille’s level.” They glared at one another, but straightened their expressions and sat back as Elaine returned to the table. “Well, now that Simon’s back, I think it’s time I get going.”
“Really? Oh, I wish there was something I could do to thank you for everything. You know what? Why don’t you join us at our house for dinner? We can talk about Simon’s music career and his accounting career,” Elaine was frowning at him. She was clearly unhappy with his decision to leave.
“Mom, he can’t. He’s extremely busy,” Simon said flippantly. He practically waved Raphael away.
“Honey, any friend of yours is a friend of ours,” she chided her child. She turned and faced Raphael, “You are welcome at my house anytime.” Simon wanted to scream. She did not just say that! She did not just invite a vampire into their home!
Raphael smirked smugly at Simon who was gobsmacked. “To your home?” he clarified.
“Mhmm.”
“Well, that’s a lovely invitation,” he told Elaine before addressing Simon, “I’ll see you soon.” Simon gave a half hearted nod in dismissal. Raphael left without looking back. Simon felt cold. How could he come and threaten his mom like that?
“Monkey, why didn’t you tell me about your band?” his mom asked after a minute of silence passed.
“Like you would support it,” Simon shot at her.
“I do, sweetheart! Your band manager seems nice.”
“He’s not. Trust me, he sucks. But I told him to put the tour on hold. From now on, I’m only doing local gigs.”
Simon’s mom furrows her brows. “But he told me you were doing another leg of the tour and wouldn’t be home for a while.”
“He must have misspoke. The tour is local this time,” Simon smoothly lied.
“So does that mean you’re moving home?”
“I want to. But I just need to, you know, get my stuff together.”
“Well you’re welcome anytime. As long as you think about going back to accounting.”
Simon rolled his eyes. “Please.” He looked at his mom again. To the outside world she probably looked fine. Normal. But Simon could see the stress she was carrying on her shoulders. How frazzled she’d been by his disappearance. He could see her swaying slightly from the drinks. “Mom, you need to go home.”
She scoffed. “You can’t tell me what to do. I’m your mother.”
“Mom, don’t,” he felt tears forming in his eyes.
“I’m fine!” she said exasperated.
“You’re not. Please,” he begged.
“I just had one drink.” Simon gave her a long stare. “Fine! I had a few. But it’s no big deal!”
“Mom, you know you can’t handle just a drink. It doesn’t work like that.”
“Stop telling me what to do!”
“You need to go back to AA”
“No!”
“Mom.”
“No!”
“Please. For me?”
“No!”
“For Rebecca?”
Simon’s mom paused. Rebecca had taken the brunt of mom’s addition when Simon was young. After his father died, Simon's mom had hit the bottle. She found it the only way to cope with the grief.
Rebecca, at 10 years old, was left to look after Simon, the cat, the house, and her own mother. She learned young how the best methods remove wine stains from clothes, to best remove vomit from the carpet, and how to get their mom back on her feet after a long night.
“I’ll go home.” Simon’s mom sighed. “But you better come visit.”
“I will,” Simon promised and he meant it. He wanted to make sure everything was Kosher in his house.
Simon walked his mom to the bar’s doors and watched her stagger to a taxi. He mostly trusted that she’d get home alright. It was not her first rodeo. He sent a quick text to Rebecca to let him know when their mom got back home.
Rebecca returned that text with a wall of texts curing him out for not telling her he was back in town. Simon smiled and walked to the Institute.
Clary had called him and asked him to be there in the morning, something about Aldertree needing his expertise? He walked into the Institute and found that everyone, besides the guards, were asleep. He forgot how quiet a building could be. He wandered around the lobby for a while before his guard cleared his throat and pointedly stared at the couch. Simon took a seat and played on his phone until Clary woke up. She had agreed to wake up at midnight for him so that they could hang out for a bit.
“Simon!” She called walking into the room. She almost instantly waved off the guard.
Simon gave him a mocking wave. Before turning to Clary, “Hey! How’ve you been? How’s life?” Simon wrapped her into a hug. He missed her.
“Everything’s been so messy. How about for you? How’s it going? Any sign of Camille? How’s your mom? How’s Autumn?”
Simon frowned. “Ah, you know. It’s messy being dead. I miss the clan. I miss my home. No sign of Camille. Mom’s… well, she’s trying. Rebecca says she’s been at home at night. She’s been taking care of her. Autumn is doing well. She can’t meet me though. It’s against Raphael’s rules.” They both roll their eyes. “But enough about me. How’s Jace? Is he back yet? How’s Alec? Is he still seeing Magnus?”
Clary smiled briefly, “Alec and Magnus are still doing well. Jace still isn’t back yet.” She instantly sounded choked up. “We haven’t heard from him. Alec says he’s alive, but why hasn’t he said anything?”
Simon hugged her again. Clary buried her face into his shoulder sniffling. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s a strong guy, Clary.”
“But what if being strong isn’t enough? What if he wants to be there?” She asked.
“Clary, you know him better than that. Plus, he probably thinks he is too cool for Valentine anyway. He’s always marched to the beat of his own drum.”
Clary giggled and let him go.
“Aldertree wants to question you,” she changed the subject.
“Aldertree?”
“He runs the Institute now. We’ve talked about him before. Keep up,” she playfully slapped his arm.
“He wants to question me? Why would he do that? I don’t know anything,” Simon was genuinely curious.
“Maybe he wants you to confirm that my mother has lost her mind.”
“Your mom is the sanest person I know. Remember she told me it was a bad idea to get the Champagne Enema tattoo? Or she warned you that Tommy Peterson was a total assclown?” They laughed.
Clary suddenly sobered up, “So, you’re saying that my mom’s right about this? That Jace is some kind of evil flower-killing monster that deserves a death sentence?”
“What? No! That’s definitely not what I’m saying. But we did see what Jace did to that vampire before he grabbed Valentine and then disappeared.” Simon reasoned. The poor vampire was slaughtered without a second's thought.
Alec came into the room, “Aldertree is ready for you.”
Simon squeezed Clary’s hand briefly. Before following Alec to Aldertree’s office. “Hey, be careful in there, Simon.” Simon was confused.

Chapter Text

Raphael
Getting a call from the Institute was unexpected. Raphael just had his weekly meeting with the Shadowhunters the week prior. No one had reported any rogues in the area recently. No one reported any mistakes recently. Raphael mulled it over before picking up the phone.
“You’ve reached Raphael.”
“Good evening, Mr. Santiago. I was wondering if you might be available for a meeting at the Institute. It is rather pressing.”
“And who might I be speaking to?” Raphael rolled his eyes.
“It is a rather serious matter. We would require your presents post-haste.”
Raphael felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. “What is this meeting about?”
“Please arrive as quickly as possible. Goodbye.”
The line went silent. Raphael stared at his point. He growled slightly. The disrespect for his time was unreal. He had things planned, but clearly Shadowhunter matters took precedence. He sighed. He didn’t want to start something with them though. It would put the clan in too much danger. He might be petty but he wasn’t stupid.
He stood up, informed Lily where he was going, and left. He brought nothing and no one with him. There was no point. He did not know what the meeting was about. How could he prepare for it?
When he arrived at the Institute, there were two guards standing out front. “Victor Aldertree would like to see you,” One said gruffly.
Raphael rolled his eyes. Victor was taking his new role in the Institute very seriously, but he seemed to have a low opinion of downworlder. At least, he had a conservative view. Alec and their group raised Raphael’s expectations marginally. Times were changing in Shadowhunter and downworlder relations and Raphael preferred feeling like he had a voice.
Raphael let himself be led upstairs to a balcony where Victor was waiting for him. “Mr. Santiago, thank you for coming in.” Raphael recognized the voice from their phone call.
“Not like I had much of a choice,” he huffed.
Victor waved off the guards. The two of them were left alone. “Believe me, I was hoping to resolve our little vampire den dilemma without dragging you in here. But last night, one of my team raided another one in Ocean Hill. Fourteen mundanes drained. Three of them- children.”
Raphael cursed himself for his intel. He’d heard nothing of it but he had no doubt that it would come back to Camille. He forced himself to stay relaxed and sighed. “Camille at work. She’s always had a thing for kids.” He shrugged. “It has nothing to do with my clan.”
“Unfortunately, we’ve reached the limit on kicking the can down the road. If you want to prove your innocence, deliver Miss Belcourt to the Clave.” Raphael contemplated what that could mean. He’d never pushed blame before. He could only think of one thing, Simon.
“You think I haven’t been trying?”
“I want to believe you, Mr. Santiago, but sadly… I’m not sure I do.” He gestured for Raphael to follow him inside his office. Raphael followed obediently, unwilling to get on Victor’s bad side. “Based on your long list of missteps over the past seven decades, it seems you have a hard time controlling your urges.”
Raphael bristled. Most of his ‘missteps’ had actually been Camille’s. “All unfortunate misunderstandings. But I told you, I had nothing to do with those feedings. It must’ve been Camille,” he reiterated.
Victor sat behind his desk. Raphael subconsciously copied and sat in the chair across from him. “Where is she now?” Victor asked.
“I told you, I don’t know. And if I did, I’d go over there and find her myself and stop her,” Raphael answered honestly.
“What a hero you are, Raphael.” Raphael watched curiously as Victor took out a box and started fiddling with it. He realized a second too late that there was a button on it to move. Victor hit the button and metal straps shot out from the arms of the chair and locked Raphael in his chair.
He struggled against the cold feeling of metal against his skin. “What are you doing?” He hissed.
“Something new from the Clave R&D department. To convince our vampire friends to cooperate,” Victor said as he walked to stand next to Raphael. “Concentrated UV rays. Even more intense than sunlight.”
He hit another button and a contraption came down from the ceiling. Raphael panicked. He never felt fear until this moment. “Woah! Stop!” He thrashed in the chair. Trying desperately to get out.
“Where’s Camille?” Victor asked bluntly.
“I told you. I don’t know. You can’t get away with this. Torturing Downworlders is a breach of the Accords.” Raphael didn’t move his eyes away from the device.
“We are aware of our restrictions on torture. We call this… motivation.” Victor smirked as he hit the button for the final time. A laser shot out from the device and hit Raphael’s face. Raphael screamed. He had been burnt by the sun before. This was ten times the strength. It felt like his face was being melted off.
Victor paused the device. “Miss Belcourt?”
Raphael panted, “I. Don’t. Know.”
Click. A new place Raphael’s face lit up. He tried to keep in his screams but he couldn’t. It hurt.
Clink. The pain receded. “Mr. Santiago. Don’t make me ask again. Where is Miss Belcourt?”
Raphael did not answer. He focused on breathing. “Mr. Santiago. Where?” Victor demanded.
“I. Don’t. Know!” Raphael growled.
He was burned again. And again. And again. Raphael stopped answering. He started cursing out Victor. Eventually, Raphael’s screams diminished. His throat was raw from use.
Victor stood over him. “Mr. Santiago, you’ve disappointed me.”
“Likewise,” Raphael quipped quietly.
Victor ignored him and ran a hand down Raphael’s face. Over the fresh scars burned into Raphael’s skin. Raphael hissed at the sensation. “This could have been avoided if you just told me where Miss Belcourt was.”
“I told you a hundred times, puta madre, I don’t know!” he hissed.
Victor slapped him. Raphael saw stars.
“You have 12 hours. If Miss Belcourt is not in Clave custody at that time. I will assume you all are granting her safe harbor and will burn you and all New York City Vampires that I can find.” Raphael felt a chill go down his back.
Victor left his side and Raphael heard him open the door. “Get him out of here.”
Raphael felt the metal brackets get released and two men hefted him from the chair. He did not put up a fight. He let himself get dragged out of the building. He barely had the energy to spit at Victor’s feet.
He was dumped unceremoniously outside of the Institute. Under a tree. He vaguely wonders if this was a tree he walked under while carrying Simon’s dead body. Simon. He couldn’t just lay here. He was going to be found. If Simon, or Clary, saw him like this, he would be mortified.
He willed himself into a standing position. He couldn’t go back to the hotel. He could not let them see him like this. They would declare an all out war. He did not want to start a war with the Shadowhunters. They were not strong enough on their own for that. Not now. Not with Camille out.
He limped through the streets of Brooklyn. People moved to the other side of the street to avoid him. He reached the apartments in what felt like a lifetime. He rang the doorbell and waited.
“Coming!” He heard the familiar voice call. He slumped against the door frame and waited.
Magnus opened the door and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. He quickly smoothed out his expression though. “Oh, Raphael.”
“I didn’t know where else to go.” Raphael whimpered before trying to step forward. Standing so suddenly caused his vision to go gray for a second and he pitched forward. Magnus easily caught him. “Oh, my poor boy. Everything’s gonna be alright. I’m going to take care of you. Come on.”
Raphael allowed Magnus to haul him into his apartment and carefully prop him up onto a sofa. Raphael groaned, he finally was able to let his guard down. He knew that with Magnus he was safe. Magnus had looked after him since he was a boy. Since he Turned.
“How did this happen, Raph?”
Raphael closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. “New Shadowhunter technology. Concentrated UV. Pretty effective I would say.”
Magnus cursed under his breath. “Yeah, I would say so. My poor Raphael.”
Magnus went to work quickly. He cast spell after spell. Raphael let the magic wash over his face. It was cool, calming, and familiar.
It took him back to when he was a fledgling and he spent more time with Magnus. When Magnus helped him find himself again. When he regained his morals. When he learned that being a vampire did not mean being a monster. When he stopped feeding off humans.
It also took him to the darkest time in his life. When he realized how bad he had gotten. When he tried throwing open the shades and wanted to watch his last sunrise.
How upset Magnus had been. How he had cried and chided and magically healed the burns across Raphael’s skin. How Raphael didn’t feel anything until that moment. When he promised himself to live for Magnus’s sake. For Rosa’s sake. For his brother’s sake. Even if they did not know he was there. They deserved someone who was trying.
Magnus taught him so much about the downworld that Camille and her clan neglected. He taught him about the Night Market. About how to haggle with warlocks and seelies effectively. It allowed him to climb ranks in the clan quickly. He knew tips and tricks that no one else was aware of.
Magnus seemed to be on the same wavelength as he whispered, “Aldertree knows how I took you in. How you’re like a son to me. That’s why he did this.”
Raphael dismissed him, “He was looking for Camille.”
“And punishing me at the same time,” Magnus said dejectedly.
Raphael cracked an eye open, and looked at Magnus. He was solemn. Raphael wasn’t used to seeing him so grim. He mulled it over but knew he needed Magnus’s help, “So, can you help me deliver Camille to the Clave?”
The magic stopped flowing from Magnus’s hands as he frowned. “Raphael,” he warned.
“I know it’s a lot to ask. Which is why I haven’t until now. Aldertree gave me 12 hours to deliver her, or he’ll burn me alive along with my entire clan.”
Magnus contemplated. Raphael knew this was not an easy request. Magnus still loved Camille. As poorly as she treated him, he had loved her with all his heart. Their relationship had left Magnus devastated for years. Until recently, Raphael hadn’t even heard of Magnus even floating the possibility of dating another soul.
A knock at the door broke both of them out of thought. “Magnus, you there? It’s me.” Both of them recognized Simon’s voice on the other side.
Magnus shot Raphael a look before magicking the door open. Raphael got off the sofa, quickly checked his reflection in the mirror, making sure most of his burns were vanished, and made his way towards the door. Magnus followed a half step behind him.
“Okay, time to put your money where your mouth is about helping me find Camille, ’cause Raph–” They turned the corner at the same time. “Man, you are everywhere!” Simon yelped.
“Aldertree did this to me because of you.” Raphael pointed to one of the few remaining burns on his face menacingly.
“Yeah, well, you look like crap. Bring it on, Scarface!” Simon puffed himself up. Ready for a fight and shoved Raphael back. Raphael bared his fangs and started towards Simon.
“Hey, hey, hey, boys. Relax. Let’s talk this out like civil Downworlders. Anyone for a martini? I’m having a double,” Magnus interrupts. He stepped between the vampires and waited until they relaxed their stances. He cautiously headed towards the bar, giving Raphael a pointed look on his way out.
“You threatened my mother,” Simon informed him.
“And if you’d even lifted half a finger to find Camille–”
“Lifted half a finger? I portaled to freakin’ India and had to face off with a cobra! And all I got was this stupid box of hers!” He pulled out a wooden box. Raphael snatched it immediately.
“This stupid box is sacred. You know why? It contains Camille’s grave dirt.” He wanted to smack both of them. They had their answer right here.
“Grave dirt? I thought maybe diamonds, or that gold ring she stole from Cleopatra’s tomb,” Magnus chimed in, his martini in hand..
“So we’re excited about a box of dirt. Anyone wanna clue me in?” Simon asked dutifully.
Raphael rolled his eyes, “You have a vampire’s grave dirt, you can use it to summon them.”
“Great. Except, not that it means anything, but that thing’s harder to open than the Lost Ark.”
Raphael sighed. He grabbed the tooth pick from Magnus’s drink and Simon's hand. He made a quick slice down the center. “Ouch! What the hell?”
“To open the box, you need Camille’s blood. And since she’s your sire,” He maneuvered Simon’s hand to the box. It sprang open immediately. Raphael smirked at him.
Simon swallowed nervously. “Okay, now what?” He asked.

---

Simon
Waiting for dawn was hard. Simon was pacing the living room, Magnus claimed he needed to rest, Raphael was sitting on the couch, plotting. “Would you please stop doing that?” Raphael growled.
“I can’t. Too much nervous energy. You know.” Simon turned and paced the room again.
“I hate it,” Raphael told him.
“What would you rather I do?” Simon challenged.
“Literally anything else,” Raphael deadpanned. Simon raised an eyebrow at him. Raphael glared back.
Simon collapsed into an opposing couch. “How can you be so calm? We could die.”
“We are dead.”
“You know what I mean, asshole.”
Raphael shrugged. “After your hundredth near death experience it doesn’t have the same effect.”
“So you’re not afraid of death?” Simon pondered.
“Did I say that?”
Simon looked at him. “I’m sorry.”
“So you’ve said.”
“No, but I’m really sorry. I did not mean to drag you into this, too. Hell, I didn’t want to get dragged into this. But, after my dad died, Clary’s family became mine. She’s been my world for as long as I remember. You, and the clan, and the downworld, are so new to me. When she asked me, I tried to say no. I tried to ask her to talk to you, but she wouldn’t listen. I got steamrolled. Still, I should have held my ground. I can’t blame her for everything.”
“No, you can’t,” Raphael agreed drily.
“But, I’m really hoping that we can go back to how we were. I, uh, I don’t mean like the whole,” Simon made a vague gesture hoping Raphael would understand, “but I mean like I want to come back to the clan. I want to get to know you again. I want you to trust me again.”
Raphael shook his head, “Simon,” felt a pang in his chest hearing his name on Raphael’s lips, “you know just capturing Camille will not change the past, right? Trust is not so easily mended. But, I will say that it is a good first step and I know that many people in the clan miss you.”
“Are you one of those people?” Simon whispered. Raphael bit his lip and looked away. Suspiciously silent. Simon’s heart surged. He bolted up from his spot on the couch and crept over to sit next to Raphael. “I missed you too, you know?” Raphael started picking at the fabric on the couch. “Raph, hey,” Raphael looked up. He looked worried.
Simon cupped his face, he locked eyes with Raphael. Waiting for some sort of rejection, but hoping for confirmation. He got neither. Raphael was frozen. Eyes wide. “I don’t… I can’t-” Raphael’s eyes darted to Simon’s lips.
Simon swallowed thickly before leaning in slightly and allowing their lips to brush together. He watched Raphael’s expression change. To be pushed off, but instead Raphael’s eyes became hungry. He was pushed back by Raphael’s lips. The connection of lips turning into an honest kiss.
Simon’s breath hitched when Raphael softly pushed him down, their lips never departing. Simon hadn’t realized how much he missed the taste of Raphael’s tongue.
Raphael situated himself on top of Simon, his thighs on either side of Simon’s waist. Simon let his hands wander, down Raphael’s back, on the sliver of stomach exposed, across Raphael’s chest.
Simon was trying very hard not to make a lot of noise, conscious of Magnus in the next room. Raphael seemed to see this as a challenge and was drawing out as many mewls and groans he could from Simon while being frustratingly quiet himself.
When Raphael whispered, “Baby,” into Simon’s ear, Simon couldn’t take it anymore and bucked up. He needed friction. Raphael groaned needily.
The lock to Magnus’s door clicked open. Raphael practically flew off of Simon. Simon immediately sat up. They tried their best to look as casual as possible. Simon could see Raphael’s hair was clearly jostled. He was sure he looked just as disheveled.
Clary, Alec, and Issy walked into the room. “Simon!” Clary called and ran over to hug him.
Simon had the most awkward hug in his life, seated on the couch, thankful that he could not blush. Raphael, on the other hand, was suddenly very preoccupied with looking anywhere other than at anyone else in the room.
“I’ll get Magnus,” Alec said as he slipped away, to Magnus’s room.
Izzy rolled her eyes. “Well, this could take a while.” She sat herself down near Raphael.
Clary plopped down next to Simon. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this.”
Simon nodded, but Raphael responded, “We’ll if it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have to be.” He did not hold back the malice in his voice.
Clary winced. “I won’t apologize. It was the only way to get the Book of the White. Otherwise Valentine could have found it and all downworlders would be at risk! That and we got my mother back. I would do it again.” She held her chin high.
“Say that again at the end of the night, Fairchild,” Raphael growled.
Izzy interrupted their glare off, “Well, tonight she’ll be in Clave custody. She can’t take us all at once.”
Raphael was seething. Simon hoped that Izzy was right.
Alec slipped out of Magnus’s room looking a little more ruffled and pink cheeked than he did when he went in. “He’ll be right out.”
Magnus eventually emerged in full makeup and dressed to the nines. He was wringing his hands together fretfully. Everyone watched as he stepped out to the balcony. Simon stood up, “I’ll talk to him.”
Alec and Raphael looked at him shocked. Izzy and Clary just shrugged. Now that Alec was back, they started discussing war plans. Simon hadn’t been in enough battles to help with this and he mostly knew that he was to stick to the outskirts.
He slipped out to join Magnus. “Cold feet? Listen, I get this can’t be easy, considering you and Camille used to, you know.” He made a gesture that Magnus winced at and he instantly regretted. “But, if you’re feeling guilty about handing her over to the Clave, I can show you phone shots of the den she created, ’cause it’s, it’s messed up. Plus she killed me, too. So there’s that.”
Magnus sighed, “I admit she’s gotten more reckless over the last 200 years. And I can’t defend anything she’s done, but she isn’t pure evil.”
Simon barked out a laugh, “Not to doubt your word, but I need proof of concept on that one.”
“Not too many people know this, but when I was living in London, in the early 1870s, I was in a bad place. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see my way out. Then on one particular stormy night, I got as far as the ledge of the Blackfriars Bridge. And if, if it wasn’t for Camille, I wouldn’t be here right now. She was the only one who cared enough to stop me. She saved me.”
Simon gawked at him, “Wow. I always thought you were like the Energizer Bunny of warlocks.”
Magnus laughed, “Most of the time I am. But in my moments of weakness, I have my rock just as you have yours.” Simon stayed silent, was he so obvious? Magnus raised an eyebrow. “So now you see why it’s not so simple.”
“Never thought it was.”
They shared a pained smile before Magnus took a deep breath and said, “Okay, I think it’s time. Let’s go.”
The plan was relatively simple. Magnus portaled them to a large abandoned circus. It was perfect as Raphael and Simon would be safe from the sun, but Camille would be unable to walk away at her own will. At least that was the hope.
Looking around the tent, Simon was nervous. It was so big. There was so much room to hide away, but he was also confident in the fighting capabilities of his companions. He could not have asked for a better group to accompany him.
Raphael took out the box and motioned Simon closer. Everyone watched them. Clary protested when Raphael took out a small dagger and slit Simon’s palm. Simon watched his blood drip to the ground. His hand in Raphael’s.
Raphael positioned the box under Simon’s hand and when Simon’s blood hit it, it sprang open. Raphael let go of Simon’s hand instantly. Simon felt his nerves in his throat as if they were trying to crawl out of him. Raphael grabbed Camille’s grave dirt, “Camille, you’re needed,” he said gruffly.
Everyone tensed and scanned the room. Nothing happened. Raphael cleared his throat. “Camille?” Nothing. “Mierda!” Raphael threw the box across the room in frustration. All the preparations for naught. He was pissed.
A woman’s laughter echoed behind Simon. Camille was there. The battle was on.

Chapter Text

Raphael
Raphael couldn’t breathe. He was sure he was dead. Victor was going to kill him and his clan. He was not going to do it kindly either. He was going to do it slowly and painfully with the variety of new Shadowhunter toys they had made. All his hopes had been dashed when Camille’s “grave dirt” had proven false.
Raphael hadn’t even considered that possibility. He considered everything else, other than that. He didn’t want to think about Camille outsmarting him. Not after all they had been through together. Not after he had to be her brain for years.
When Camille giggled, his heart nearly broke out of his chest. He spun around with the rest of the group. There was a chance!
“Well, look who we have here, my love, my sweet, and my traitor. Oh! And a bunch of worthless Shadowhunters to gawk at us!” She purred.
“Nice to see you too, Camille,” Raphael grinds out. He felt the familiar calm of battle rush over him. There was something about standing before the enemy that relaxed Raphael. Made him rely solely on instincts. Allowed him to get out of his head,
She ignored him and directed her attention at Simon, “I’m honestly the most disappointed in you, my sweet caramel. What are you doing standing over there? I thought we had something special. You don’t want to hurt me.”
Simon’s rebuttal seemed to catch in his throat. Raphael took a protective step towards him. He hissed threateningly at her. How dare she?
“Come here, Baby,” She cooed. “I made you for a reason, you know? You were just so sweet. So innocent. So perfect. We could have been so perfect. I could have loved you.”
Simon’s eyebrows shot up. Loved? Raphael wanted to laugh. She didn’t even know Simon. How could she even say that to him? She had no capacity to love.
It seemed to jolt Simon out of his shock, “Love? From you? No, thank you!”
“Why not? You seemed keen on me before.”
“You killed me! You hypnotized me! I had no control!” He shouted.
“So?”
“So! I would never love you!” He spat at her.
She rolled her eyes. “Magnus never found it difficult. Did you, dear?”
All eyes flew to Magnus. He paused. “That was a long time ago.” He shot a glance at Alec.
“How long has it been? One hundred? One hundred fifty years?” She purred
“One hundred and thirty-eight. Oddly, I haven’t missed you.”
“Of course you have, my love. We’ll never be done with each other.”
Magnus glared at her, “I gave up feeling anything for you over a century ago.”
“Love is fleeting. Even more so when you’re immortal.” She said flippantly.
“And yet true love cannot die.”
“But people can,” her eyes darted to Alec. “I’d say he’s about 20 years from male pattern baldness.”
Magnus threw a spell at her with a guttural shout. She giggled as she dodged past it. This was the catalyst that launched everyone into battle. Alec whipped out his bow and launched arrow after arrow in her direction while the others were still a fair distance away. Magnus helped with artillery, launching magic in her direction.
Camille was strong though, superhuman. She had no problems running past the arrows and magical flames to come closer to the group.
Isabelle unleashed her whip and Clary unsheathed her Seraph Blade. They both started running towards the vampire. Both trusting Alec and Magnus not to hit them. Once they reached Camille, they started their attack. Isabelle tried to stand a bit further back, behind her target with Clary attacking head on, distracting, swingingly with intent. For being a new Shadowhunter, Clary was well trained, Raphael thought distantly.
Camille grabbed Clary and threw her into Isabelle. They both went flying across the room. Raphael sprinted into action.
He was able to tackle her to the ground where they grappled for a few seconds before he was pushed off as well. Magnus threw a few spells at Camille. She rolled out of the way before jumping to her feet.
“Is that all you can do?” She taunted. She launched herself at Alec suddenly. Alec was able to keep her in a tight hand to hand combat. Punching, jabbing, upcutting, but never hitting. Camille got a few hits in but nothing solid.
Isabella lassoed Camille’s ankle with her whip and Camille hit the floor. She turned and hissed and used superhuman speed to get into Isabelle’s face. Isabelle jumped back but wasn’t fast enough to avoid being slammed by a solid punch to the gut.
Camille, quick as a snake, moved to her next victim while Isabelle tried to catch her breath. Simon barely was able to follow the flow of the fight and practically jumped out of his skin when Camille appeared before him. He gallantly bared his fangs at her, but she smirked and tried to claw his neck.
Raphael proudly saw that his training did not go to waste when Simon dodged successfully and managed to get a light hit back on Camille. She hissed and pushed Simon. He staggered back a few steps. Camille yelped as a ball of magic hit her shoulder.
She whipped around and charged Magnus. Magnus sent multiple spells at her, but none hit. She was dead set on getting to him. But instead of attacking him, she veered off and tackled Alec.
Magnus screamed at her and doubled his efforts. She had to move off of Alec quickly to not get hit. She found Isabelle and socked her hard enough for her to go down. She did not rise. Alec hit her in the leg with an arrow while Clary got a small cut on her collarbone.
She was getting careless, Raphael realized. This wasn’t as easy as she thought it was going to be. That was good for them.
She kept running between the five of them and attacking individually or in pairs. She was bouncing between offense and defense, but she was limited to close range attacks. She was getting some hits in but nothing sustainable. Nothing stronger than a push, a tackle, a punch. Until she was facing Simon and everyone heard his arm crack. His scream of pain.
Raphael moved without thinking and threw himself into their fight. He did not expect to get his arms trapped behind him. He thrashed in Camille’s arms but she held him firmly. She transferred his arms into one hand and raised a foreign object up to his neck. Well, that wasn’t good.

---

Simon
Camille had Raphael. His arms were locked behind his back by one of hers as she held her other hand to his neck.
She smirks before saying, “Good, I was hoping to be able to test this on someone. I just thought it might be my little caramel,” while shooting a quick glance to Simon. She jabbed the needle straight into Raphael’s neck. He promptly collapsed.
Cries were heard across the room. “Get up, Raph. Come on,” Simon was saying under his breath. His eyes were wide.
Raphael got up but his eyes were unfocused. When he looked up, Simon saw they were pitch black. Raphael was acting differently. During the fight, he’d been calculated, independent. Now he was growling, frenzied. He lunged at Alec without warning.
Alec threw the vampire off without thinking. Simon looked between Raphael and Camille. What did she do? Raphael was not himself. He was usually so deliberate when fighting. He would wait for his opponent to slip up, but no he was lunging and flailing and taking any quick shot he could. Alec was moving quickly and steadily. Avoiding any hits that he could.
“What did you do to him?” Magnus demands. Clearly on the same wavelength as Simon.
Camille only laughs. Clary and Magnus focus their attacks on Camille. They never fought together before but they’re abilities were compatible.
Camille bobbed and weaved and laughed. She tried to weasel her way from the attack. Magnus was not holding back anymore. He cast spell after spell. With Clary attacking head on, she eventually fell. “Stop!” She screamed from the ground.
Clary drove her Seraph blade down towards Camille with no intention of stopping. Magnus held her back. He still loved her, but he still knew her power. He bound her arms and legs as well. Holding Camille securely where she was. Clary and Magnus were stuck watching Camille in case she broke her bounds. Izzy was incapacitated. Though, Simon swore he saw her breathing. He hoped that was not wishful thinking.
Raphael was a little harder to secure as they did not want to hurt him. He was a frenzy of limbs. He was mostly focused on Alec, who took it in stride. Most of his effort went into blocking and dodging.
Alec, too, eventually slipped up. Simon saw it coming. Raphael did too. He smirked and jumped at his opportunity.
Simon lunged in front of Alec, intercepting the attack. Raphael hit him at full force, knocking him over. They were grappling, wrestling for control of the fight. Punching wailing.
Simon felt the impact of Raphael’s fist on his face and grimaced. He returned the shot with vengeance with a jab to Raphael’s side. They twisted over again as Simon gained the upper hand.
Raphael hissed at him and bared his fangs threateningly. Simon, not one to back down from a fight, did the same. What he didn’t expect was for Raphael to lunge suddenly. Simon braced for impact. He threw his hands in front of him. Simon yelped when Raphael made contact, his broken arm folding immediately. Raphael surged forward and pushed Simon’s other arm out of his way. He bit down hard on Simon’s neck.
Simon let out the most pitiful whine. It felt weird to be so vulnerable. Simon had never been bit after being Turned, but now he understood. It was so open. So emotional. It was also all the pleasure he’d experienced as a human without any of the pain.
His head lulled to the side slightly to give Raphael better access before he remembered where he was.
He froze.
Suddenly, he was aware of his surroundings. Camille’s laughter rang in his ears. “Well, I was hoping for something a little more interesting. But I always knew he wanted a taste of our little caramel!”
Raphael seemed to hazily regain consciousness. He suddenly jerked back. “Simon,” he asked, his brown eyes searching Simon’s, “what happened? Where are we?”
Simon looked over Raphael’s shoulder at Camille. “What did you do to him? What was that?” He demanded.
“Oh, well. He’s fine now. Just needed a little blood. Had a warlock in Serbia whip it up for me. Thought it might come in handy.”
“Simon?” Raphael whispered. Simon looked at him again concerned. Raphael was looking so meek. Raphael raised a hand and touched Simon’s neck gently. Raphael drew his hand back and it was smeared with blood. Simon’s blood.
Simon stared at it for a moment. “It's fine,” he whispered before pushing Raphael to stand up.
Raphael’s face hardened instantly. He spun to face Camille. “For what you have done, you will face the Clave.”
“I have done nothing! Simon has given me his permission.” She laughed.
“Everyone in this room can speak against that.”
“It is signed and sealed. With his blood.”
“You’ve more to answer to than just Turning Simon, dear,” Magnus reminded her.
“We’ve seen the dens,” Simon chimed in.
“I don’t think you’ll be out any time soon,” Magnus said.
“Any messages you’d like to relay to the clan? I can let them know as their new appointed leader with you officially gone.” Raphael hissed.
Camille growled. “They will never accept you.”
“They already have, bitch,” Simon snorted.

Chapter Text

Raphael
Whatever concoction Camille had made for him, gave him the worst hangover he’d ever felt. But what made him feel worse was that he’d attacked Simon, and lesser so the rest of the people on his team. Raphael hated feeling like he didn’t have control. He vowed to feel that way again.
He could also feel Simon’s blood coursing through his veins. He hadn’t realized how much a person could feel. How deeply. How much he could experience. To be fair to the fledgling, Camille brought a bunch of emotions out of everyone.
Magnus had portaled everyone back to his apartment. Isabelle was easily reanimated by Magnus. A mild concussion. Nothing too serious. Simon’s arm didn’t even need to be mended. Vampire healing was strong. Simon mindlessly rubbed it though. Probably more psychological than anything.
It was approaching dusk. Everyone was starting to head back to their homes. “Then, I’ll see you later, I guess,” Simon said hesitantly to Raphael.
Raphael frowned. “Why? Where are you going?”
“To the Institute?”
“No, you’re coming home. We need to chat. Let’s go.”
The Shadowhunters started to protest, but Raphael turned and walked out of the room. Simon said his goodbyes quickly and found his step next to Raphael. “Am I even allowed back?” he asked.
“I’m their leader. What I say goes,” he growled.
“Hmmm. That doesn’t sound like you,” Simon pouted.
Raphael sighed, “You did a lot more for the clan today than most people do their entire lives. Most people don’t put us in that situation to begin with, but at least you fixed it.”
Simon bumped their shoulders. “That is more like the Raphael I know and I love!” Simon tripped over his own feet. “I mean, well, that’s an expression.”
Simon took a half step away and refused to look in his direction. Raphael smirked, he could feel Simon’s mortification through their bond, “No, no. Go on. You love me.”
“I didn’t mean that!”
“It’s okay, Baby, I know I’m pretty irresistible.”
“And humble, too,” Simon muttered under his breath.
Raphael laughed, “No one has ever called me that before.”
“There’s a reason for that, Raph.”
“Impossible, I am the most humble person on the planet. And that is what you love about me.”
Simon rolled his eyes. “Forget it. You’re the worst. I hate you.”
Raphael pushed him into the alleyway they were passing. “Oh, really?” He felt a wave of excitement roll through him.
“Yes, really,” Simon attempted.
Raphael touched his neck. “You can’t fool me, idiota.”
He left Simon in the alleyway with Simon’s twinge of embarrassment and disappointment. “Jerk,” he heard Simon mutter.
“Hurry up. We have a lot to talk about before sunrise.”
He heard Simon’s steps fall in line behind him. It doesn’t take them long to get back to the hotel, but as they get close, he can feel Simon’s anxiety rise.
“Relax, you already did the hardest part of the day. Camille is in Clave custody.”
“Nothing is more difficult than this,” Simon said tightly.
Raphael shrugged. “You did all you could at this point. Why stress about it?”
Simon barked out a laugh, “That is not how anxiety works.” The hotel appeared before them. Simon braced himself. “Tell me they don’t all hate me.”
“They don’t,” Raphael said instantly.
Simon side eyed him. “I don’t trust it when you say it though.”
“They really don’t,” Lily chimed in.
Simon nearly jumped out of his skin.
“Lily!” He ran forward and hugged her. She accepted the hug.
“It’s been awhile, Baby.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I know.”
“You’re going to need to say that a lot.”
“I know.”
She grinned at him. “Then welcome home.”
“He’s not officially back yet. We still have a couple of things we need to talk about.”
Lily pursed her lips and tilted her head before nodding. “I’m sure you do.”
She let them go.
They walked inside the building. Raphael could see all eyes turn to face them. They all watched Simon walk through the building. A few vampires smiled at Simon, a few frowned, a select few openly hissed at him. They knew this meant Camille was incapacitated in some regard. Simon walked a little closer to Raphael.
They reached Raphael’s office and as soon as the door was closed Simon reiterated, “I really am sorry,” before Raphael could say a word.
“I know I can feel it,” Raphael rubbed his face wearily. “But I really came here to apologize to you.”
Simon’s jaw dropped. “You had all this time and you waited ‘till now?”
Raphael rolled his eyes. He sat heavily in his desk chair and motioned Simon to sit across from him. Simon didn’t remove his eyes from Raphael as he sat.
“I’m sorry for pushing you so hard these last few weeks,” the shock radiating through the bond was almost distracting. “I really did not mean to threaten your mother, I needed you to focus on finding Camille. You were slacking on that. You were never supposed to find us together and I had to think on my feet. Your mother was never in any danger from me. I, also, gave you a lot of responsibility in finding Camille alone. I could not offer you help because you betrayed us,” he lifted a hand to cut Simon off, “Yes, I know, you are sorry. And I get it. You needed to wake up your makeshift mother. And save all downworlders. But really you should have just talked to me.”
Simon nodded. “I really wanted to, Raph.”
“Regardless, it is what happened. I could not look weak so we were at an impasse. You had to do it to come back. But now you’ve captured Camille and given me the clan back. Well, really, you’ve more properly given me the clan to control fully, and for that, I can offer you a spot at the hotel. If you want it.”
They were both silent for a beat. “Of course! Of course I want it!” Simon practically shouted.
Raphael felt a wave of joy wash through him. He felt exhausted. “How can you deal with this all the time?”
“What?”
“These damn feelings.”
Simon just laughs. “I’m an 18 year old. What do you expect?”
“It’s awful.”
“You just need to feel more. This is probably good for you. Therapeutic.”
“I doubt that.”
He felt a wave of amusement from Simon. He wasn’t sure if the comfort he felt was Simon’s or his own.

---

Simon
Being back at the hotel was odd. Simon spent most of the day walking up to any vampire and apologizing. It seemed that not too much had changed. Most of the people who weren’t happy to have him there to begin with weren’t happy to have him around now.
Though, he was surprised to see how many vampires did not have hard feelings about his betrayal. Most just didn’t like him in general. He felt like he could work with that. He was used to growing on people. He knew his personality could be abrasive.
Derek was strictly mad at him though. He never really liked Simon to begin with but he was extra angry about the betrayal. When Simon apologized, he said, “I should have seen it coming. It is my job to see threats to the clan and your dopey ass face screams a threat. I thought it was because you were a weakness by muscle alone but it is due to the weakness in your heart. I hope you have it figured out now.”
Simon had a harder time apologizing to the vampires to hissed or growled at him when he tried to approach them. Maybe they needed longer to cool down. He wasn’t exactly willing to die to say sorry to everyone.
The rest of the day, he would spend either training with Raphael, talking with Raphael, or advising Raphael. He might have a little bit of a problem, but who needed to know.
Occasionally, he would have some Raphael-free time that he would spend with his other favorite vampire, Autumn.
She had always been on Simon’s side and Simon loved her for it. Christopher had been less thrilled about Simon’s return, but he waved and played cards and Simon couldn’t complain.
Autumn giggled, “You did not try to drink an entire handle of vodka when you were 16.”
“Well, so here’s the thing. Bobby Flarigan said I couldn’t and I couldn’t just let that go! So I tried to snoop through the house to find some alcohol but there was nothing. Of course there wasn’t my mom was two weeks in to fucking AA! But that didn’t stop me. I went next door to Clary’s house and I found a bottle of Tito’s. And just as I was sneaking out the front of their shop when their cashier, Dot-”
“Dot, the warlock?” Autumn giggled.
“Yeah, Dot the warlock saw me slinking out the front door with my hand tucked in my jacket. Totally not inconspicuously. Well, she called me out on it and I nearly dropped the bottle. At the time I obviously didn’t know about the whole downworld thing and so when I showed her the bottle, I thought it was just like getting caught by the babysitter. Embarrassing. I thought I was going to get in soooo much trouble, but she promised not to tell Ms. Fairchild or my mom. What I didn’t know is that she turned the contents of the container into water!”
Christopher snorted. Autumn was full blown laughing. A few vampires who were clearly listening in were shaking their heads. Clearly bemused.
“I chugged the whole thing in front of Bobby with no repercussions. Didn’t even have a hangover! I was probably the most hydrated I’d been in days! I thought I had the tolerance of a god! I was so stupid!”
“Awww, you didn’t know better,” Autumn comforted him.
“I think Bobby looked up to me after that. Used to invite me to all the cool parties. Even got my band a few gigs. Never quite became cool though.”
“You’re cool to me,” Autumn smiled at him sweetly.
Simon smiled back. She was always on his team. No matter what.
“Do you really play in a band?” Christopher asked.
Simon laughed, “Yeah the Rock Solid Panda. Pretty cool, right? We were going places, I swear. I was on bass. My friend Maureen on keyboard and vocals. Eric sometimes helped with guitar but he got busy. We had so much fun. I miss them.”
“Can you play us something?” Autumn asked.
“Huh? What? No way! That would be so embarrassing!”
“You used to play in front of strangers!” she said indignantly.
“Not people who are literally immortal and probably spent hundreds of years listening to the world’s best players!”
“I’m only thirty! Plus you might have played in front of immortals. How would you know?” she argued.
Simon pointedly looked at Christopher who shrugged, “I’m not so big on music. I spent my riches in other ways.”
“What is more important than music?” Simon asked, offended.
“Almost anything else.”
Simon stuck his tongue out childishly.
“Well I can’t even play anything if I wanted to. I don’t have my bass here.”
“We can just go to the music room. It’s warded,” Autumn shrugged.
“What music room?”
“It’s in the basement. Did you not know?”
“Autumn! How could you keep this from me! That’s just mean!”
“I didn’t even know you played!” She laughed. “Come, I’ll show you where it is, but you need to play us something nice.”
“No promises it will sound good. And just in case it isn’t clear. Only you and Chris are invited to listen,” Simon looked around the room pointedly. A couple vampires groaned. “Well, at least for now.”
Autumn led the way down to the basement and Simon cursed himself silent for never bothering exploring. The only time he’d been in the basement, he’d been in the crypt and he’d assumed every room would be just as dreary.
It turned out that the third room to the left was a relatively large music room. It held an assortment of instruments. His eyes instantly gravitated to a grand piano, a variety of guitars, a few violins, and not to mention a freaking harp!
Autumn laughed as she saw him take it all in. “You think you are the only vampire to play an instrument?”
Simon shook his head as he started wandering around the room, plucking random strings of random instruments, letting the sounds ring through the room. “I just thought they would hoard it away. Like a dragon and their gold.”
“We’re a family, Baby. What’s mine is yours.”
“With a few key exceptions,” Christopher wrapped his hands around Autumn. She rolled her eyes but smiled lovingly at her boyfriend.
Simon felt a thrill as he picked up a bass guitar. It was so familiar yet so foreign. It was the right shape, his hands knew exactly what they should do, but the weight was all wrong. It was so light to him now. It might as well have been air. He never thought of a bass guitar as heavy before, but it was a small reminder of how much his life had changed since he’d last played.
“I’ll warn you, bass guitar does not sound good on its own. Usually bass lines are pretty repetitive and unrecognizable. Anything you want to hear?”
“Surprise us.” Christopher couldn’t sound less interested if he tried.
Well this should be fun. Simon decided to go for a crowd favorite with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” At least it was recognizable. When he did not see the spark of recognition in Christopher’s eyes after the first few notes, he got a little worried. Autumn seemed to maybe recognize it. Hopefully.
“Feel free to sing along!” He tried. They both made faces at him.
Simon started singing the first verse. Praying that at least Autumn would join in the chorus. Autumn was slowly rocking the two of them to his playing. She seemed to enjoy it. Christopher was as always impartial.
Simon sang the first chorus alone. Then the next verse. The second chorus, Autumn tried to join in. She really did her best, but she clearly did not know the song well. It was fun though. They grinned at one another.
Simon regretted his song choice. How did a song with so many words end up at the top of the charts? At least it wasn’t super repetitive he supposed. Autumn whooped when he went for the high notes. She helped with the choruses and Simon tried his best to play and sing and be entertaining at the same time. When the song finally ended. Autumn and Christopher gave him a round of applause. What he didn’t expect was an additional set of applause. His head whipped to the door where Raphael was standing.

Chapter Text

Raphael
Officially leading the clan was definitely something Raphael could get used to. He loved having complete and utter control. He liked being the go to person when things went south. He liked that they needed him. There was so much power in the position.
There were parts he didn’t like though. So many boring meetings. He had to do them before but now it was more formally his role, people expected more from him. Expected him to know everything. He could not use Camille as a sandbag for his decisions. He occasionally would sit on decisions until the other side would beg him. The rush of power was worth it.
The vampires in the clan respected him. Although before there were people who didn’t listen to him, still loyal to Camille, they were now stuck with him. Raphael didn’t fully trust them, but he didn’t want to kick them out either. They tolerated his leadership. They listened to him now.
He found that he was shouldering more responsibility than he did before. He used to allow Lily or Simon to speak for the clan but now that it was his name on the chopping block, he found himself making all decisions. He could not afford any missteps. He trusted himself the most.
Lily was not happy with him for that. She tried to remind him that they needed to work together. He could not do it all. But he did not listen. He knew he could shoulder it all. He rarely had any time outside of his office.
When he did, he often found himself swept away by Simon. Talking with Simon was easy. Raphael would never admit it but the fledgling had a similar style of dry humor that easily matched his own sarcasm. They had surprisingly similar upbringings, though Raphael did not usually like talking about his own. Plus, Simon needed the extra help. Being so new to the downworld, he needed a mentor. He clearly looked up to Raphael and Raphael liked it.
He liked the extra attention, the admiration, the way Simon stuttered when he got embarrassed. He was so different yet so familiar. It made Raphael curious. He found himself seeking out Simon.
Raphael shook his head. He needed to clear out his thoughts. A group of Shadowhunters were supposed to be arriving any minute for a ‘talk’. He stopped trusting Shadowhunters, but they always wanted to meet during daylight hours making outside meeting points inaccessible to Raphael.
To Raphael’s shock, it was not Clary, Isabelle, or Alec who was ushered through the door but Lydia Brandwell. His eyes narrow in distrust. She had once been engaged to Alec, rumor had it, until Magnus interrupted their wedding and stole a kiss from her fiance in the middle of the aisle. Raphael gave the rumors credit as he heard from Magnus himself and Alec and Magnus were still together. From what he’d heard Lydia was still on good terms with Alec. She was, at one point, very anti-downworlder though.
Raphael did not know how to handle himself during their deal.
“Hello, Ms. Brandwell.” He said calmly.
She sat in the chair across from his desk, “Hello, Raphael. Please call me Lydia. I’ve heard so much about you.”
From whom? He wondered but refused to ask. If it was from a majority of people, it would not be good things. “What brings you to our humble home, Lydia.”
“We’re looking for the Mortal Sword,” she said bluntly.
Raphael sat shocked, “You guys have it. The Silent Brothers protect it. As they have for years.”
“No, it is missing. The Brothers were murdered.”
Raphael was reeling. First the Moral Cup now the Mortal Sword? There was clearly something large at play. What was Valentine up to? “That wasn’t us.”
“We know. It was a Shadowhunter who killed them.”
“Then why are you here?” Raphael hissed. “Go get the Shadowhunter.”
“We need the Book of the Dead,” She said as if it were common knowledge. As if it was something he could just hand over to them without repercussion.
“No.”
“Raphael, you know we wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t a last resort.”
“We can’t.”
“We don’t have a choice.”
“Of course you do. You always do. You know the risks.”
“Yes. But it could be the death of all downworlders.”
Raphael sighed, “Draugr cannot be controlled. The Book of the Dead will not help you. We cannot help you.”
“We figured out a way to control them. Magnus believes we can do it.”
“Magnus is a fool!” Raphael shouted, “They are undead. They have no souls. They cannot be controlled.”
“You’re undead.” She counted calmly.
“I have a soul.” Raphael countered quietly. “Get out. Never ask for it again. Forget about it. We will not help.”
Lydia stood up. nodded once in his direction and left without looking back at him. Raphael slouched in his chair. What were they doing? He sent a quick text to Magnus, to remind him how dangerous and stupid they were being and tried to get back to work. He couldn’t focus. How could they think bringing Draugr into this would be a good idea? Even if it meant getting the Moral Sword back.
He sighed and left his desk. He went to the kitchen and got himself a blood pack. He was still restless. He made his way to the lounge. Trying not to hope that he would run into Simon. His disappointment that the fledgling wasn’t there said otherwise.
He looked around the room but everyone was in their own conversations. Derek saw him and took pity. He pointed down, “Basement,” he mouthed. Raphael turned heel and refused to be embarrassed by being so easily read.
Raphael found the basement silent. He wandered down the hall confused, until he passed the music room. He saw Autumn and Christopher standing near the door and carefully let himself inside.
Simon was playing a song he clearly liked. He was amused and happy and having fun. Autumn was joining him for the fun of it. Christopher was the only one who looked over when he entered. Christopher winked jovially at Raphael.
The song ended shortly after Raphael arrived. Clapping was worth it to see Simon’s jaw drop in surprise.
The door still being propped by Raphael’s foot allowed them all to hear a scream resound from upstairs.
“Stay here,” Raphael demanded as he charged away from them. Fucking Shadowhunters could not be trusted.

---

Simon
“What in the world,” Simon whispered as the door slammed behind Raphael.
Christopher made sure the room was secure before maneuvering Autumn and Simon deeper into the room.
“We can handle ourselves, dear,” Autumn protested lightly at her boyfriend.
“I know you can, but I don’t want you to have to.” He stared, ramrod straight at the door.
“Shut up,” Simon hissed. He heard the faintest sound from outside the door.
“They can’t hear us.” Christopher shrugged. Simon glared at him. “It’s warded.”
“Yeah, but maybe we can figure something out about them.” That shut Christopher up.
They all sat patiently. Listening for the foot steps. There seemed to be two people walking around the basement. Mostly sticking to the main room.
“We could take them,” Christopher whispered. “Hell, I could take them.”
“You don’t know that,” Simon countered.
“There are three of us. Only two of them. The numbers are on our side. We’re good fighters. We need to keep the clan safe. No one else is going to be coming down here.”
“I don’t like it. Raphael said to just stay here.”
“What if they find us first? I think we should get to them first,” Autumn chimed in. Simon turned to her. Betrayal written over his face. “Oh hush, you know it is the better option.”
“They attacked a vampire clan. You don’t think they might be good fighters too?”
“But we have the element of surprise.” Christopher grinned cockily at him.
Simon sighed, “If you both think it is the right option then I am in, but we’ve got to be smart about this.”
They plotted for a hot minute. They realized they wouldn’t keep the element of surprise if they were found first. Or if another attacker joined the two in the basement.
Simon was sent out first. He was small, quick and nimble. He was confident he would be able to get a good view of their attackers without them doing the same and divide who Autumn and him would take versus who Christopher would focus on.
However, once he slipped out of the door and crept down the short hall into the main crypt area he gasped out loud and alerted them to his presence. “Clary?”
“Si,” She gasped.
“What are you doing? Why didn’t you tell me you were here? Who screamed? Did that have something to do with you? What’s going on?” His eyes were darting between his best friend and Izzy. Clary looked embarrassed while Izzy was frowning angrily at him. As if he did something wrong. But he was just at home. What could he have done wrong?
Neither woman responded to him. “Clary?” He looked straight at her. She opened her mouth but closed it again without a sound passing through. “Izzy?” He asked a little frantically. What was going on?
He took a step closer. Izzy lifted her whip in a subtle threat. Simon felt his heart shatter.
Clary stepped in front of Izzy, “Simon, we need your help.”
He froze and shook his head slowly. “You’re trying to use me.”
“Si, I love you. I would never use you. You’re my brother.”
“Clary, what is happening?”
“We need the Book of the Dead.”
“So talk to Raphael. I can make a meeting. He can help you.” Simon offered.
“He won’t,” Izzy coldly cut in.
“Si, you know where it is, right? It’s somewhere down here.” She looked at him with her big green eyes. The eyes that he grew up with.
He opened his mouth, but felt a hand on his shoulder, “Simon,” Autumn’s voice was filled with untold warning. He saw a blur go past the Shadowhunters towards the stairs. Christopher must have figured they were safe enough for him to call for backup.
He ignored her, “I can’t help you, Clary.”
“You can’t or you won’t?” Izzy snipped at him.
He pursed his lips, “Won’t.”
Izzy lashed out at him. Simon stepped out of range and growled. Autumn jumped into combat mode. She started brawling with Clary. “Stop!” Simon cried.
They just needed to hold it together for a little bit longer. But Autumn didn’t listen. She was a good fighter. Easily kept up with Clary’s punches.
Simon rushed forward and tried to keep Izzy engaged. He was instantly hit by her whip and hissed his pain. The sting of Izzy hurting him was worse than the hit itself. Clary paused to make sure he was okay. Autumn took advantage of her distraction and got her into a lock before anyone could even blink.
Everyone froze. The Shadowhunters were out of breath from the exertion. Their pants were the only noise in the room. “I’m sorry, Baby, I know what she means to you. But, she’s too much of a risk. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice... We can’t risk it.” Autumn looked into Simon’s eyes.
Simon tried to stand up but his legs felt like jello. “No,” he whispered.
Autumn unsheathed her fangs and made a quick lunge at Clary’s neck. At the last second, she stopped. Her eyes darted to Simon’s. She hesitated. She couldn’t. She knew how much Clary meant to him.
Simon cried out as he saw Autumn’s head drop to the ground next to her body. She disintegrated to ash. Simon couldn’t breathe. His eyes jumped to Izzy as she stood behind Clary grimly. “Autumn!” Twin shouts echoed through the room.
All three heads whipped to the stairs. Christopher stood at the base. He let out the most feral scream Simon had ever heard. He charged into the room. Blind with rage.
Simon watched completely frozen, as an arrow lodged itself in Christopher’s chest. The warrior fell in seconds.
Simon’s head spun around to see Alec had come through the tunnels, bow still raised, a new arrow notched. He frowned at Simon. As if unsure what to do about him.
Simon’s world was crumbling beneath him. Alec, Izzy and Clary were his friends. His friends were good people. Autumn and Christopher were his friends too though. His friends just killed his friends. His friends just murdered his friends.
Autumn and Christopher had been in love. They were so happy. They had so much to live for. They were killed for no reason. They promised to play bridge with him next week. They were supposed to go with him around the city for his birthday. They were going to make him out for Halloween.
Simon felt cold. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t hear, he couldn’t think. He stared at the ashes of his friends. Where their bodies should be. He turned to face their killers. But all he saw was the people he spent the last year with. The people who comforted him about his transformation. Who fought with him against Camille. Who knew how much Autumn and Christopher meant to him.
The girl he loved for so many years. Who he grew up with. Who would never intentionally hurt him. A rage started bubbling in Simon’s stomach.
The world rumbled when the wall collapsed. They just rebuilt that, Simon thought distantly. A wave of deja vu passed through him. Lydia walked through. “Do we have it?” She asked, ignoring the ashes, ignoring Simon.
“No,” Alec said.
“Simon,” all eyes turned to face him when Clary spoke, “come with us. We can help you. We’re your family.
Simon stood up slowly. He was shaking. Clary extended her hand through the stream of light towards him. A show of friendship.
He walked towards her. His head down. When he got close he looked up into Clary’s eyes and growled at her, “We are no longer family. My family is here. You killed my family. Leave.” He swiped her hand away.
She stared at him in shock. The smell of blood filled the room from the small scratches on her hand. Simon saw Clary’s tears fall down her face. He felt his own sliding down his cheeks to match. But how was he supposed to leave, to fight with, the people who just broke his heart?
The rest of the Shadowhunters exchanged quick glances, grabbed Clary and escaped through the tunnels. A parallel Simon did not think he would see. He slumped to the ground, exhausted.
“Simon! Autumn! Christopher!” Lily’s voice echoed down the stairs.
Simon didn’t move as Raphael, Lily and Derek ran into the room. Didn’t listen as they tried to talk to him. Didn’t see them find the ashes. He focused on the tunnel wishing that this was some sort of nightmare he would wake up from.
The tunnel was obstructed by Lily’s face. She searched his eyes. “Baby, what happened here?”
So he told them. They didn’t look surprised, just sad. Simon had a hard time getting out the words. They made no sense to him. In no world would he imagine this reality to be true yet here he was, living it.
“Your injury isn’t healing. You need blood,” Raphael remarked once Simon finished.
Simon glanced at his leg. The pain was non-existent to him, but the wound wasn’t closed. He frowned. “I don’t need it.”
The other vampires in the room exchanged glances “You’re in shock. You need it. Nephilim weapons have stronger effects on us,” Derek tried.
Simon shook his head. “You are all bleeding. I am sure other vamps need blood more than I do. I do not need it. I don’t deserve it. This is my fault.”
“You need some. Blood doesn’t just help physical pain.” Raphael rested a hand on his shoulder. Simon slumped into him.

Chapter Text

Raphael
Simon was moping. He had been for weeks. It was honestly a little frustrating. All the other vampires were making it a routine to avoid him since part of his moping session was lashing out or bursting into crying fits and most of them did not know how to handle it.
Raphael was trying his best as clan leader to comfort him but he honestly was finding it a little trying. He understood that the fledgling went through a lot over the course of a couple months and maybe it made him a bad person but Raphael did not have it in his heart to be so patient with anyone.
By mid October Raphael had enough. “Simon, come with me.”
Simon looked up from his book. Raphael had seen him staring at the same page for the last thirty minutes. Simon was paler than a normal vampire should be and his shoulders were curving in on themselves. He no longer looked like the confident nerd that Raphael knew. Raphael gestured for him to follow and mentally noted that he needed to watch the fledglings blood consumption.
Simon put his book down wearily. “I don’t really feel like doing anything, Raphael.”
“Well, that’s too bad. Get up. We're going.”
Simon sighed but complied. He followed Raphael to the kitchens where Raphael warmed him a thermos of hot blood. Simon took it without complaint and followed him out of the hotel.
Raphael didn’t force him to talk. He was content for them to walk the streets of Brooklyn in silence. Letting the busy life around them happen. Simon was sipping at his thermos a half step behind, staring straight ahead, not worried about their destination.
Raphael weaved them through the streets. He knew where they were going. He knew they had all night. They were not on a time limit. The fresh air seemed to allow Simon some reprieve and that was enough.
Raphael took them to the subway. Simon glanced at him in confusion but dutifully trailed along without complaint. Raphael never thought he would miss Simon’s ramblings.
The hussle of New York did not end when the sun went down. They watched the colorful characters of New York pass by. Allowing them their space as they went about their days. Unaware there were two vampires in their presence. He allowed himself in the privacy of his mind to let himself forget that they were different. That their lives were damned. That the mundanes would rather them dead.
They took 137 St-City College and Raphael could see Simon was itching to ask questions. A slight glimmer of his usual self. He smirked slightly as the sign came into view: “St. Nicholas Park”.
Simon spotted it seconds later, “Wait! Is this where you used to go as a kid? Raph!”
Raphael rolled his eyes. “It’s no big deal. It's somewhere I used to take my siblings when they needed to be cheered up, to get out of the house. I figured you could use it too.” He heard Simon’s steps stop. He turned around and saw Simon staring at him with teary eyes. He looked away and cleared his throat awkwardly.
Simon walked forward and squeezed his shoulder, “Thank you.” He let his fingers linger a little longer than necessary.
Raphael smiled softly, “Well come on then, I’ll give you the tour.”
They walked around the park. Raphael pointed out where the ice cream man used to come, where Rosa used to paint, where Gabriel, Jose and him used to play soccer. He also pointed out Manuel’s favorite place to run away from home was, where Jose used to hide from his bullies, and where he had his heart broken the first time.
Simon listened eagerly. He asked question after question. He wanted to know everything. Who would dare bully Jose (racist assholes), what kind of ice cream did Raphael order (he didn’t order. He would eat whatever was leftover from his siblings), who would dare break Raphael’s heart (Raphael didn’t have an answer. It was a long time ago).
Eventually they ended up sitting on a bench together. Raphael leaned back staring up at the sky. Simon stared at the people passing. As it got later in the night, less and less people passed. “It’s strange being out here,” Simon told him.
Raphael shrugged noncommittally.
“I would never spend time outside at night when I was human.”
“Mundane,” Raphael interrupted.
“Mundane.” Simon corrected. “But now, I don’t have anything to fear anymore. It’s actually very peaceful.”
Raphael looked at him, an eyebrow raised. The night to him had always been alluring. The peace, the quiet, the ability to just be himself, it had always given him more freedom. He had always enjoyed it when he went down the street and felt like he was the only person left in the world. “Were you afraid of the dark?”
“Of course! I heard all the stories. Monsters, pedophiles, murderers, you name it they always came out at night.”
Raphael gave him a cheeky smile. “Don’t worry, baby, I can keep all the monsters away.”
Simon shoved him playfully. “You better!” His face suddenly fell, “But sometimes it is not the monsters we need to worry about.”
Raphael scooted a little closer, letting their knees brush. “You’re thinking about Clary again?” Simon nodded pitifully. Raphael rubbed a hand over his face. “You know I loved Christopher and Autumn, right? Christopher joined around the same time as me. We basically were babies together.”
Simon’s eyes shot to Raphael. He shook his head. “Christopher never mentioned anything.”
“Not much of a sharer that one. But even though I loved them. I want you to know that you can forgive Clary.”
Simon sent him the most pathetic look. His eyes searched Raphael’s for a sign of deception. “I can’t forgive her!”
“You can. She made a mistake. You’ll find that living forever, many people you love will make many mistakes. The lines that we used to hold steady will bend and break. Clary probably thought what she was doing was right. The Shadowhunters are so ingrained in their training that they probably don’t even think about the values of the lives that they take. It's a blessing and a curse for them.”
“But Clary was raised as a human! She knows better.”
“She was raised to know vampires are evil creatures with no souls. But Shadowhunters are changing. It’s slow but I see it happening. Especially with your friends. Probably do to how much they love you.”
Simon bumped Raphael’s knee gently with his own. “You’re not half bad yourself,” he winked at Raphael. Raphael rolled his eyes but smirked. “But seriously, I just need some time with it. It’s worse today though.”
“Why?”
Simon stayed quiet and looked up at the sky again. Only once Raphael figured Simon wasn’t going to respond did the fledgling finally drop, “It’s my birthday.” Raphael felt his heart sink.

---

Simon
“It’s my birthday.” Simon blurted out bluntly. Raphael’s grin was wiped off his face. “Usually, I celebrate with Clary, but I haven’t really talked to her since… well you know.” Simon's eyes were pained before they dropped to stare at the ground. Raphael reached over and gripped his hand.
“Mom still thinks I’m on tour. She asks about you all the time, by the way,” he let out a hollow laugh. “My sister made plans with her friends since, you know, I’m ‘busy playing shows’, and for the first time, I’m celebrating my birthday but I’m not aging.” Simon squeezed Raphael’s hand.
“You know you can see your mom, right? You’re not a brand new fledgling, you won’t attack her at any given time.” Raphael said. Simon grinned softly at him.
“But what if I do?” He whispered.
“You won’t.”
They sat in silence as Simon weighed his options. “How long do I have before she realizes it is weird that I’m not aging?”
“Usually a few years. Ten tops. Sometimes makeup can go a long way. You can tell her, but not everyone takes it well,” Raphael said bitterly. Simon wasn’t going to pry.
“You really think I could pass as 28?” Simon asked, looking down at his graphic t-shirt.
Raphael snorted. “If you styled your hair better, put on a suit, and put on some nice glasses, I think you would get away with it.”
“You liked the glasses?”
Raphael stayed suspiciously silent.
Simon squeezed his hand and let go. He got Raphael to look at his eyes again, “Tag your it.” he said, touching Raphael’s arm and jumping off the bench.
Raphael gawked at him before grinning and chasing after him. “You’re such a dork!” he laughed.
They were both grinning and laughing, running around like kids. Simon loved it. Until suddenly Raphael used vampire speed at the last second to tag him.
“That’s cheating!” Simon cried. But Raphael was already long gone. Simon sprinted after him. The game turned more serious. They were still having fun but Simon was determined to win. The game now needed a victor.
Raphael was avoiding Simon’s touch well. Simon was trying to catch him off guard but Raphael was in a different league. Suddenly, an idea sprung to Simon’s mind. He crouched a little lower and tacked Raphael.
Raphael went down easily. “Ha! Got you!” Simon shouted on top of him.
Raphael grinned at him, “Please, I let you do that. Your attempts were just pathetic.”
Simon considered it for a second, “That’s okay. I win!”
Raphael sobered up quickly after that. He jerked his hands up and grabbed Simon’s and flipped them over. He slammed Simon’s hands in the ground on top of Simon’s hands.
Simon kept still. His eyes glued to Raphael’s as they got closer. “Do you now?” he asked.
“Huh?” Simon asked. Game already forgotten. Raphael laughed gleefully. Simon pushed back but was effectively pinned. “Lemme go,” he whined.
“Not until you admit I won,” Raphael argued.
“Well then we’ll be stuck here for a long time,” Simon said, rolling his eyes.
Raphael relaxed his posture and sat more effectively on Simon’s hips. “Works for me.”
Simon started but he didn’t back down from challenges. He glared up at Raphael who was smirking down at him, a playful glint hidden in his eyes. Simon bit his lip and watched Raphael’s eyes drop to his mouth.
Huh. He could work with that, he thought. He waited until Raphael looked back up into his eyes and shot him a wink.
Raphael’s grip slacked for a second. That was all it took for Simon to wrangle one hand free and push Raphael off. He climbed on top of the other vampire.
Raphael’s eyes were blown wide. He was panting slightly. It was Simon turn to smirk. Raphael was usually hard to read but right now Simon could practically hear his thoughts.
He leaned down and whispered into Raphael’s ear, “Admit defeat,” before playfully nipping it. Raphael’s hands flew to his hips as if he was going to throw him off but he seemed to reconsider as Simon continued planting open mouthed kisses down his jaw.
Raphael’s hands slipped under Simon’s shirt, making him shutter. Their lips connected.
Simon was starting to find a familiarity in kissing Raphael. He knew how the other vampire liked it when he played a little hard to get. He knew Raphael would act tough but give the most tender kisses. He knew it and he loved it.
But he also knew that Raphael lost all control when he placed kisses on his neck. So Simon moved his mouth down and allowed himself to suck, lick and nip at Raphael’s neck. Raphael moaned and rutted under him. In a low voice Raphael groaned, “Do it. Bite me.”
Simon froze. It clicked. Simon never thought about the implications. How Raphael so easily let him in. His fangs however sprang from his gums. “Are, are you sure?” He whispered, pulling back to look into Raphael’s eyes. Make sure he was completely coherent.
Raphael ran his hand through Simon’s hair to the nape of his neck and squeezed gently, “I’m sure, Baby.”
Simon placed a quick peck to the side of Raphael’s mouth and another to his neck. Raphael groaned softly. Simon let his fangs sink into Raphael’s neck.
Raphael kept petting Simon’s hair, carding it through his fingers. He tilted his head to the side slightly, granting Simon better access. Simon shivered at the feeling of Raphael’s soft pants brushing his ear.
Simon forgot how amazing Raphael’s blood tasted. How warm and cozy he felt. He forgot how Raphael felt like home. He greedily drank Raphael’s blood, letting himself get lost in the feeling. He loved how it made him feel closer to Raphael. How they became so open to one another, bar nothing.
He withdrew his fangs and lapped at Raphael’s neck. He felt Raphael shiver beneath him. He kissed his way back to Raphael’s lips and let him taste his blood in his tongue.
He felt Raphael’s fangs respond on instinct. They nicked Simon's lips. Simon leaned back and looked at Raphael. He was so beautiful but so unlike Simon was used to seeing him. His suit jacket was hanging on by a shoulder, his shirt wrinkled by their messing around, his hair was clearly tousled from Simon’s fingers running through it. He was panting slightly, fangs displayed, pupils blown, needy.
Simon could feel it through the bond too now. The want. The need. It had him reaching for the hem of his shirt to pull it off.
Raphael’s hand stopped him, “Hey there, Casanova. We’re in a park.”
Simon lowered his hands to bracket Raphael and raised an eyebrow, “I just bit you.”
Raphael chuckled, “Mierda. I want you, damn it. But no way am I going any further out here in the dirt. You’ve ruined enough of my jackets as is.”
Simon giggled, gave Raphael one last languid kiss, and stood up. He offered Raphael a hand which the other vampire accepted without thought. He pulled him up and suddenly they were standing face to face.
Raphael started straightening his clothing. Simon smirked. He reached forward, grabbing Raphael’s cross strung across his neck and stroked it with his thumb.
Raphael swallowed. His eyes on Simon’s hand. “It is a beautiful necklace,” Simon said. He pulled on it lightly, dragging Raphael closer.
Raphael’s eyes dart up to Simon’s. “My mom gave it to me,” Raphael whispered, his eyes never leaving Simon’s. Simon kissed him again. Raphael melted into him. The kiss was so sweet Simon wanted to cry.
Raphael pulled away. “We really need to go back soon. The sun is coming up. Mundanes are waking up.”
Simon paused. He listened. He heard the typical city noises he was used to but Raphael was right, it was time to go. He sighed, “Let’s go home.”
He turned to start their journey back but Raphael grabbed his hand lightly.
“Happy birthday, Simon.”

Chapter Text

Raphael
There was the distinct sound of footsteps pacing outside of Raphael’s office. It was disturbing his work. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Raphael slammed his pen down onto his desk. “Enter or leave. Make a choice or you will be buried,” he threatened. The steps stopped but it still took another thirty seconds before the door opened.
Simon peeked his head in. He was gnawing nervously on his lip. His hair was displaced from running his hand through it. “Spit it out,” Raphael commanded. He’d seen Simon like this before. He was usually asking Raphael for things that he knew Raphael wouldn’t like. For him to team up with werewolves or Shadowhunters. For Simon to use clan funds on pointless things like board games. For movie nights, just the two of them. Raphael refused to admit he actually enjoyed the last one.
Simon sat down in the chair across from him and mulled it over once more in his head before he blurted it out, “Please come to my house for Hanukkah.”
Raphael had to bite down on his tongue not to just reflexively say no. “Why?” He asked instead.
“I don’t want to go alone,” Simon refused to meet Raphael’s eye.
“Then, no. I'm not interested.” Raphael responded. “I’m a good Catholic.”
Simon rolled his eyes. “Well then, I’m not going either.”
“You should go, baby. Your mother misses you.”
Simon pursed his lips. “I don’t know how to face my mom. I haven’t seen her since you used her to threaten me. We kinda got into an argument. I know she’s doing better but,” Simon trailed off.
“Doing better?” Raphael asked.
Simon’s eyes darted to his, “You didn’t know?” Raphael shook his head. “Well, fuck. My mom’s an alcoholic. She relapsed. That’s why I needed to find her when you wanted me to look for Camille. That’s why it was so important.”
Raphael walked to Simon’s side and took the chair next to him, “I’m so sorry, baby. I didn’t know.” He grabbed Simon’s hand gently.
“You would have done the same thing.”
“I would have met her somewhere else though.”
Simon conceded, “Well, anyway, you made such a strong impression on my mom she keeps talking about you. She wonders how you are and when you’ll join us for dinner. I figured the first night of Hanukkah would be the perfect time. I would do my son duties and make my mom happy and I would bring you along as backup. Plus, I really miss her and Rebecca and I know you think I’m capable of meeting them without incident but what if I mess up? What if I speak without thinking? What if they want me to eat? What if I bite one of them? I’d never forgive myself. I keep overthinking everything. I really want you there with me.”
Raphael squeezed his hand. “If you need me to be there I will be,” he promised.
Raphael realized that there was very little he wouldn’t do for Simon. If Simon wanted him to be there, he’d be there.

Simon
Simon lifted his hand and paused. He glanced back at Raphael. Raphael shifted his weight between his feet but stood resolutely at Simon's family’s doorstep. Simon braced himself and looked back at the door. He could do this. They could do this. He knocked.
He heard his mom and his sister rush from the kitchen to the front door. “Monkey!” His mom hollered as soon as the door opened. “You’re late! The sun has already set!” She pulled him in for a hug regardless. He was passed to his sister for a hug and his mom addressed Raphael, “Chanukah sameach, dear.”
“Chanukah sameach,” Raphael echoed. Simon was shocked. Looked like Raphael did some homework before showing up. Simon would bet Raphael did not know the words for Happy Chanukah in Hebrew before. “It’s my fault we’re late. Something came up with the band.”
Simon grinned at him for taking the bullet. “And you must be Rebecca, I have heard so much about you.” He reached out a hand to shake Rebecca’s.
Rebecca gave Raphael a hard stare, but shook his hand. She threw Simon a quick glance and frowned. Simon shrugged, he didn’t have to defend his choices to his sister.
“Come, we must hurry. The menorah will not light itself!” His mom ushered them into the living room adjacent to the front door. The menorah was on proud display on the window sill facing the front of the house. Simon wasn’t the orthodox but he realized how much he missed this. Celebrating with his family. How much God meant to him.
His mom appointed herself to lead their prayers and Simon and his sister joined in. He almost forgot himself as he let himself fall into the tradition. That was until he choked on a word. Then another and another. He hoped his family didn’t notice when he would choke up. He hoped they would think it was just that he was emotional, not that he was unable to due to his condition.
He shot a glance at Raphael. He thought it would feel weird having him here. An icon of the downworld in the middle of their holiday, but Raphael took it all in with a solemn expression. Although he didn’t know the words, he looked at ease. His eyes on the shamash burning brightly in his mom’s hands. He seemed to appreciate the ceremony. He blended in. It made Simon want to kiss him. Simon redirected that energy into his prayer. Not the time or the place.
The first prayer ended and Simon’s mom lit the first candle on the menorah with the shamash and carefully placed it in its holder. They started the next prayers. Raphael respectfully watched their traditions play out in front of him.
When they were finished, Simon had tears in his eyes. It was overwhelming. The sense of family and religion. The blend of mundane and downworld in his life. His sister on his left, his mom in front of him, and Raphael standing to his right, beside him through it. He felt truly happy for the first time in a long time. His mom and sister started heading towards the kitchen and Simon subtly tried to wipe the tears away.
“What’s wrong? You okay?” Raphael whispered.
“Nothing. Everything is right.” Simon smiled widely at him.
Raphael looked at him cryptically but gave his hand a small squeeze. Simon’s heart fluttered. Raphael left him to follow his family into the kitchen.
Simon took a second to catch his breath. He knew his mom had gone all out before he arrived since he was only going to be there for one day but walking into the kitchen he saw a feast before him. His mom clearly cooked to impress.
She was walking Raphael through the room pointing out the dishes, “and have you ever tried latke? It’s a potato pancake.”
“Basically like hash browns,” Rebecca chipped in.
“Becca, how dare you say that about latke! It is far superior!” Simon said in mock offense.
Rebecca giggled while their mom rolled her eyes. “This is gefilte fish-”
“The most bland fish in the world,” Simon added.
“Good with some horseradish though,” Rebecca said.
“I’d still skip on it though.”
“Simon!” His mom cried.
Simon shrugged. “It’s not your cooking, Mom, it's the fish. Nothing you can do about it. You should definitely try the matzoh ball soup. It is my favorite.”
“Basic,” Rebecca stuck her tongue out at him.
“Oh forget it. You both are too much trouble. Just load your plates and go sit down. Raphael, dear, if you have any questions, ask anyone. Apparently they have a lot to say.”
“Thank you, Elaine. I appreciate it. It looks delicious.” He flashed her his award winning smile.
Simon’s mom seemed to calm down a little and they all loaded their plates. Simon for the first time felt it a little odd to be sat down at dinner with Raphael next to him. It was a disconnect from reality. Raphael did nothing strange. He started eating happily and complimented his mom on her cooking and Simon couldn’t place what was so weird about it.
That was until he took his first bite and tasted like ash. Simon froze. He fought the instinct to immediately spit it out. Raphael kicked him gently under the table and took another bite. Simon realized what was weird about the scene. Raphael was eating. Eating. He was making Raphael eat food.
He swallowed the food heavily. He looked down at his plate and regretted loading it with food. This was going to be a longer dinner than he anticipated.
“Simon, dear, how’s the band doing?” his mom asked.
“Any fun stories from the road?” His sister chimed in.
Simon glanced at Raphael. “Uhhh. Well, it’s going well. It’s different.”
His family nodded and waited for him to expand. He took another bite and shrugged noncommittally.
“Simon is being bashful,” Raphael saved him, again, “Midnight Death Posse,” Simon whipped his head to Raphael, shocked expression written across his face, “is selling out small bars across cities all across North America!”
“Hmm. That’s interesting because when I looked you guys up, I couldn’t find anything,” Rebecca gestured to her phone.
“We don’t use things like the internet. That is too modern. We find it better to be more exclusive. Our fanbase is very eclectic.”
“You can say that again,” Simon mumbled.
“Wouldn’t it be better to be mainstream? Have your stuff available to the majority? You would be able to sell out bigger venues? Make more money?” Rebecca pressed.
“We need to make a name for ourselves first. Plus, our people do not respond well to sell outs. For now, we are doing fine, thank you for asking,” Raphael grinned and flashed his Rolex. Simon rolled his eyes.
Rebecca glared at him. Simon’s mom came to the rescue, “So, Raphael, tell us a little about yourself. What kind of education did you get? What is your family like?”
Raphael paused, “Ah, well, I come from a pretty big family, my mom, God rest her soul, raised us, I have four brothers and one sister, but we don’t keep in contact anymore. And I, uhh, I dropped out of high school due to some, well, personal matters.”
“But you got your GED, I hope,” Simon’s mom pressed.
Raphael refused to make eye contact, “Yeah, I got my GED.”
Simon jumped in, “Raphael actually invests in the stock market. He’s amazing. He knows all the trends.”
Simon’s mom started grilling Raphael about stocks and Simon happily tuned them out. He focused on getting through his plate. He hated that every piece of food he once cherished was now torture. Simon finished his plate first. “Feel free to help yourself to seconds. There is plenty to go around.” Simon’s mom informed him.
“Oh, no, Mom. I couldn’t have another bite.”
She frowned at him, “Monkey, you’ve gotten so thin, you need to eat more.”
“Don’t worry, Elaine, I will make sure he keeps eating,” Raphael jumped in.
“You do look like you’re a little more filled in than last time,” she gave him a quick once over.
Simon nodded uncomfortably. His phone buzzed. He glanced down and saw a text from Raphael, Go to the bathroom. Now. He looked at Raphael but Raphael was in a debate with Rebecca about the merits of social media on their publicity.
He excused himself to deaf ears. He walked to the bathroom and hovered over the toilet. Nothing about this was glamorous. He vowed never to agree to another dinner. He hated it going down. He hated it coming up. He knew it was a necessity but surely there was a better way not to break his cover than this.
He got out as much as he could, flushed and swished some mouthwash. He made sure that his face did not betray what he just did and took a deep breath to gear himself to go back into the chaos.
He was happy to see that his family was so welcoming to Raphael. They really did accept him into their house. Rebecca seemed a little hesitant to accept all his antics, but she was still inviting. His mom seemed to eat right out Raphael’s hand. He could do no wrong in her mind. It made Simon smile to see them acting so normally.
Even Raphael, although a little more formal than normal, was slowly letting his guard down. He seemed comfortable, content. Simon sat back down and allowed the flow of the conversation to take him.
A couple minutes later, Raphael asked, “Where’s the bathroom, Baby?”
Simon told him where to go without a second thought. Raphael left the room before Simon faced his family. Both stared at him.
“Baby?” Rebecca repeated, an impish grin on her face.
He stiffened. “Uhhhh. It’s not what you think?” He offered weakly.
His sister started cackling. “I knew it! You guys have been suspicious from the start! Hold hands, playing footsies!”
“We didn’t!” Simon claimed.
“You should have seen the giant heart eyes you’ve been sending each other!”
Simon sank down in his chair and covered his face with his hands, “No!”
“Well, I think it is lovely you found somebody so nice, Monkey,” His mom pipes in. Simon peeks through his fingers at his mom who is smiling at him. “But next time, tell us before you invite them to dinner!”
Simon nodded. He still didn’t trust himself to speak. Raphael came back into the room and Simon flashed him an apologetic expression. He raised his eyebrow in confusion but didn’t press. Simon’s family thankfully acted like nothing happened. Simon wanted to send them thank you cards. He doesn’t think he could take being grilled about their supposed relationship in front of Raphael.
The end of the night went by without a hitch. Simon’s sister and mom were sending him conspicuous glances whenever Raphael would mention the band or Simon or anything that they could misinterpret. Simon pointedly ignored them.
“Really, dear, come back any time. We loved to have you. Isn’t that right, Monkey?” Simon’s mom asked.
Simon nodded. He refused to feed into their narrative.
Raphael smiled, “I’m looking forward to it, Elaine. A pleasure to meet you, Rebecca.”
There were hugs around the room. “Make sure you take care of my brother. He can be an airhead sometimes,” Rebecca warned him.
Raphael snorted, “Sometimes?”
They shared a grin. Great, Simon thought, finally something agreed on and it was all to tease him. But he didn’t fight it. Seeing Raphael fit in with his family made Simon tingle. Simon had a habit of thinking about the present, of wanting instant gratification, but seeing Raphael in his house, with his family, he realized he could see a future with Raphael. He might have stronger feelings than he thought. He might be in love.

Chapter Text

Raphael
The holiday season meant that there was hardly any free time for anyone. Let alone the leader of the largest clan of vampires of New York. Raphael spent his days putting out fires, planning his constituents days, making sure their blood supply was topped off.
Most of the senior members of Raphael’s council had decided to skidaddle as well. Lily had decided to visit some friends in San Francisco, Derek had decided to visit his girlfriend (a werewolf of all things) for a week, and Raphael was stuck with all of their duties. It was an absolute miracle he was able to wake up one evening and find that he was free.
He triple checked his calendar. Nothing. He wandered around the hotel and checked in with the stragglers. Christmas was not a huge event in the hotel. Most of the members have celebrated for hundreds of years and opted to avoid holidays. He found himself looking for Simon to fill his free time training, but the fledgling was nowhere to be found. He frowned. He needed to stop relying on Simon for entertainment. What did he do before he arrived?
He went down to the music room.
It was empty. It was rare for vampires to use it. He remembers the last time he had been there was the day Christopher and Autumn died. He sent a short prayer to God for them and walked into the room, past the guitars and violins, and stopped at the piano.
He ran a finger across the keys and sat down. It had been awhile since he’d played. He touched the keys hesitantly. As if they would break. The sound reverberated around the room. It was beautiful.
Raphael smiled softly. He’d noticed Theo did try to maintain the instruments. Even if they were barely touched. Something about how Lisa would be upset if they were out of tune.
Raphael went through a couple warm ups, just to feel the keys against his fingers, to hear the piano respond to his touch.
He let his mind wander back to when he was alive, to when his mother used to praise him for his playing, when he would work all day to help his mother make money for the family, come home and play the piano for the amusement of his family. It was before the internet, before there was a TV in every house, when they used to sit around the radio for news.
He thought about when he lost himself. When how different the world was. Both the mundane and downworld. How cruel his life had been. How the vampire who’d turned him laughed as Raphael had gained consciousness after Turning and in his bloodlust had killed his best friends.
He remembered Magnus finding him and helping him find his way back. Helped him rediscover his soul. Let him play the piano and ground himself. Even warded the music room at the Hotel so that Raphael would have a place where Camille could not see him break.
A disjointed key from the piano resounded around the room. Raphael frowned. Now was better. No more Camille, no more struggle. Raphael was happy for once. He was almost afraid to admit that to himself. If he did, he thought, there was a chance it might all be taken away from him.
His phone buzzed insistently. Simon was calling. “Are you dying?” he asked grumpily.
Simon hesitated, “Well. No?” Raphael considered hanging up but he hesitated. “But! I need your help.”
“And why can’t you help yourself?” He asked unimpressed.
“Well you see, Clary invited me to this really cool Shadowhunter Christmas gala. She said I had to come. She needed me here since you know the whole fiasco with Jace being her brother then not? I think? I don’t know. Anyway, she wanted me here since it is a little awkward between them so I said I would go but I came over last night and I didn’t really think about it. Well Alec and Magnus are here too. They look great by the way. Izzy, too. Is it a Shadowhunter thing? I used to think it was just vampires. I mean, I remember when I met you-”
“Get to the point, baby,”
“Right, right. So I got here yesterday and I thought I would have time to come back home and grab some blood but I didn’t. So I’m starving and I thought maybe at the event they’d have some but I think it’s basically a Shadowhunter event only. It’s just me and Magnus from the downworld and I don’t really know him that well.” Simon trailed off.
“What do you need from me?” Raphael asked.
“Can you come to the institute with some blood for me? I’m starving!”
“No.”
“Come on, please!”
“No.”
“I thought I would be fine until it was over, but then some asshole cut their finger on a glass and I almost jumped them then and there and it was mortifying. I’m losing control over here. And I can’t just leave! I’m now representing all vampires, Raph, please!” he whined.
Raphael sighed. “You really can’t wait?”
“No. Plus, Clary and I are just starting to mend our relationship. I really don’t want to mess it up.”
Raphael weighed out his options. “I guess you are still a baby, huh. I’m coming.” He heard Simon cheer on the other end of the line. “But don’t get used to it. I’m not a delivery service.”
Simon laughed, “I assure you, I would never use you as Raphael Express! Your customer service skills would not live up to snuff.”

---

Simon
Simon waited impatiently. He could smell the Shadowhunters’ blood around him. So sweet. So alluring. He could hear their pulses. He hadn’t felt this way since he was a fledgling. His throat was scratchy. He felt like he was going crazy. Every fiber of him was focused on the sweet sweet blood around him.
The guilt started eating at him when he realized he had not heard a word that Clary had been saying to him. He faux laughed, hoping she wouldn’t see through him. Wouldn’t know that he was focused on the fact her hair was pulled up and her neck was completely exposed.
Jace interrupted their conversation, if one could call it that, and asked Clary to dance. She was thrilled. Simon took the opportunity to slip to the balcony. He let the fresh air run over him. He needed the space from the blood. It was also weird seeing Clary happy with another guy. He was mostly over her, but still, Jace really? She could do better. Simon and Jace had always been on the brink of war. Fighting over Clary’s attention.
Without Clary next to him inside, he didn’t have people at the party to talk to other than maybe Izzy but she was always a little hit or miss with him. Sometimes she seemed to think her insults flew over his head. Though those were far more sporadic nowadays. Alec and him also had a weird relationship. They seemed to get along alright but most of when they talked seemed to be motive driven. Outside of a mission, they did not have much in common. Alec seemed to think very highly of himself and Simon could not say the same. He was also a very busy man with an Institute to run and a husband to look after. Jace and him had a stunted relationship due to their mutual love of Clary in the beginning. It never fully mended.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when the door to the balcony opened. “Hey, I saw you slip out here and wondered if you might want some company,” A Shadowhunter asked him.
Simon had seen her in the Institute a few times. She was beautiful, dark hair, dark eyes, dark red lipstick.
“Uhhh, sure, yeah,” He replied eloquently.
She smiled at him. Simon smiled back, but regretted it when he realized that the banister of the balcony was behind him and she kept moving closer. The closer she got, the more Simon realized how good she smelt.
“I’ve seen you around the institute but we’ve never had a chance to talk just the two of us,” she purred, getting closer to him.
Simon nodded but kept thinking about how soft her body would feel pressed against his.
“How about we get to know each other a little bit now. I’m a Gemini. What are you?” she trailed a finger up his arm.
“Libra,” he stuttered out. How easy would it be to press his lips into her neck and slide his fangs into her veins?
“Ohh. We’re meant to be,” she squeezed his bicep.
He licked his lips. Felt his fangs descended.
Their lips connected but Simon could only think about how sweet her blood would taste. How frail she was in comparison she was to him. How it was just the two of them and she was so willing. She probably would be opening to giving him a taste.
The door clicking open broke him out of his daze.
“Hey, baby, finally found you.” Simon felt himself stiffen. The girl jumped back and looked between Simon and the door.
“You’re an asshole,” She informed Simon before darting back inside. The door clicked shut behind her.
Simon looked over to Raphael queasily. What was he going to think? Did Simon cross a line? Relief washed over him. Raphael looked bemused. Two glasses of wine in his hands.
“Your timing could not have been better,” Simon told him, holding out a hand for a glass.
“You seemed to be having fun,” Raphael said pointedly, but he walked over and handed Simon a glass. Simon drained it in one gulp. Animal blood dampened his thirst but it didn’t quench it. “Easy, baby.” Simon just looked at the other glass in Raphael’s hands. It was handed over without resistance. Their fingers brushing during the trade off. “You really weren’t kidding when you said you were starving, huh?”
Simon chuckled darkly, “I don’t know if I could have resisted the Shadowhunter for much longer.” He put the glasses on the banister and stepped into Raphael’s space. He leaned until either arm bracketed Raphael into the banister, his face inches from the other vampires. He watched as Raphael’s eyes darkened. “Are you offering more?” He bent down slightly and let his fangs brush Raphael’s neck.
Raphael shuttered slightly and brought his hands to rest on Simon’s hips. His head leaning to the side, allowing Simon whatever he wanted.
Simon felt a thrill rush over him. Having Raphael like this was amazing. He was so unguarded around Simon.
Simon kissed his neck again. His fangs grazed Raphael’s neck. Raphael’s breath hitched. “Simon!” They heard Clary calling from inside the building. Simon cursed under his breath.
Raphael squeezed Simon’s hips gently before pushing Simon back gently. Simon grinned bitterly at him before walking away to go back into the party to find Clary before she found them.
She saw him enter the room and bounded over to him. “Si! I’ve been looking all over for you! Do you want to dance?”
Simon hesitated. He saw her glance over his shoulder and furrowed her brow. She didn’t ask him why Raphael was there, why the two of them were on the balcony together. Why were the blinds closed. Simon took her hand, “I’d love to dance with you, Clary.”
They went to the dance floor and Simon let Clary lead him around the floor. It was what they always did. Simon never learned how to dance. Clary was always in control of what they did. Simon tried not to think about it too much. He also tried not to think about Raphael’s eyes on him as he twirled around the dance floor with his best friend in his arms.

Chapter Text

Raphael
The front door looked so tempting. Raphael itched to just walk out of the party. There was no reason he needed to stay. He could just walk away. There was nothing stopping him. Except, he was here, now, and Simon kept looking at him with those damned, big brown eyes. And if he was the sole representative of vampires at a Shadowhunter event they were doomed.
Still, he weighed his options. This was his first night off since Camille’s coup. He never had a chance to just be by himself. But, the back of his mind told him, he preferred seeking out Simon’s company, anyway.
He sighed and found an inconspicuous place against the wall to lean until Simon was ready to leave. He always did prefer the shadows.
He felt a presence next to him. “Raphael.” a familiar voice greeted him.
“Magnus,” his eyes never left the dance floor. “Where’s your better half?”
“He’s around. Can’t spend all his time with a downworlder at a Shadowhunter event. Turns out being the head of the Institute has responsibilities,” Magnus said bitterly.
Raphael chuckled, “Ah, really? Not all fun and games being a leader, huh? Didn’t think to ask the High Warlock of Brooklyn?”
Magnus barked out a laugh, “He didn’t think to ask the head of the vampires either. I take it. How about your new flame? I’ve not seen you like this in a long time.” Raphael turned to glare at Magnus, but Magnus had been mirroring his posture, except he had a drink in hand while watching the dance floor.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” He feigned innocence.
Magnus snorted. “My son, who do you think closed the blinds to the balcony? Do you think I am blind?” Raphael wanted to crawl into a hole and die. The only saving grace was that Magnus was one of his oldest friends. “Is it real? Is it love?” Magnus pressed.
Raphael looked back to the dance floor. The ever obvious Simon was laughing away with Clary. It made Raphael smile. “I’m not sure. But I want it to be,” he admitted.
“For your sake, as well as his, I want it to be too,” Magnus said, patting his shoulder comfortingly. “I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time.”
“But a lot of other things have happened. How do I know that it’s him that’s making me happy?” Raphael whispered his greatest fear to Magnus.
Magnus cocked his head, “Well, for one, the way you are trying to eat him with your eyes.” Raphael glared at Magnus, “For two, you think about who you want to spend your time with, who makes you smile, who you go to when you want to share something, and who understands you even if you do not explain yourself and if that person is always the same, then maybe you found someone worth keeping.”
Raphael looked back towards Simon. Simon was looking towards him as well. They locked eyes for a second before Simon looked away and started whispering something into Clary’s ear. Their eyes darted towards Raphael every few seconds.
Raphael chose to ignore their frivolous glances at his direction and chose to watch Magnus’s husband approach them. “Alexander! Nice to see you have time for your loving husband again!” Magnus peeled himself off the wall. “Raphael, I will speak with you later.”
Raphael nodded his dismissal. He watched his oldest friend walk to the dance floor with his life partner. He was happy to see Magnus happy. They seemed to be made for one another. It was too bad Alec was mortal. Raphael had seen it too many times. Magnus would be crushed. He didn’t want to dwell on it. They were so happy, so in love. Immortality did not mean that a person could not die anyway.
No one else approached Raphael for the rest of the night. He waited patiently. He watched as Simon danced with a few different Shadowhunters. As Simon spoke with Jace, Alec, Isabelle, Clary, and even Magnus, that traitor. As the first few Shadowhunters left the Institute for the night. He looked at the front door again. It beckoned him. Still, he waited.
The second wave of Shadowhunters started to leave when Simon appeared before him, “Are you ready to leave,” he asked.
“I thought you’d never ask,” He pushed himself off of the wall and beelined towards the door.
Simon gave one last wave to his friends and followed him.
Raphael turned towards Hotel DuMort but Simon grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and hesitantly asked, “Would you mind if we made a pit stop first?”
Raphael was not used to seeing Simon so shy around him. His interest was piqued. “Course, baby, what did you have in mind?” He asked.
Simon just led him into the city. Raphael ran over what might have Simon like this in his mind and realized why he might not want to go to the hotel. He smirked. Idiota.
They got out of the heart of the hustle and bustle of the city and started roaming through the back streets and alleyways. Raphael was patient. He could play this on Simon’s time.
Simon seemed to have a destination in mind.
Still, after a few more streets Raphael couldn’t help himself, “Where are we going, baby?”
Simon gave him a nervous smile over his shoulder. “Oh, nowhere special,” he said evasively. Raphael frowned. He reached forward and grabbed Simon’s hand.
Simon almost tripped in surprise. Raphael pointedly did not tease him for it. “How about we go over here?” He pulled Simon deeper into an alley.
Simon protested lightly, but his protests died on his lips when Raphael backed him into a wall and stepped into his personal space.
He saw Simon’s brain catch up and his eyes flicker to his lips. He smirked. There was something so pleasing about kissing Simon. The way Simon’s lips would chase after Raphael’s, the way he would mumble Raphael’s name like a prayer, the way he tasted so damn sweet. He tried to keep things light. He hated how little control he had when Simon was involved. How he could not hold himself back. How even though he knew it was a bad idea, he could not resist sneaking a tongue into Simon’s mouth. How he could not resist intertwining their fingers.
It was Simon who finally broke them apart, “No, but I mean yes, but that is not what I meant. I have a surprise for you. I know you said no gifts for Christmas from the clan. That you don’t really celebrate the holiday, but I didn’t buy you anything so I think this is okay.”
Raphael barked out a laugh, “Well, lead away, baby. Consider my appetite whet.”

---

Simon
Simon waited until he knew it was a straight shot and then pulled Raphael’s hand insistently until the other got the hint and they began to run. There was something so wild about being about to use vampiric speed to get through the city. The skyscrapers around them were a blur. They dodged mundanes, cars, bikes, and the occasional trash out on the sidewalk.
Raphael was laughing, clearly enjoying the rush as much as Simon did.
Raphael caught on only a few blocks from their destination. He squeezed Simon’s hand and smiled wide at him. Simon grinned back. It was their spot now, he’d decided.
St. Nicholas Park came into view and they both slowed to a walk.
There were Christmas lights strung up all over the park. Raphael and Simon took their time walking through looking up in wonder. “Was this your surprise? Because we could have just gone to see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree” Raphael asked when they reached the albeit sad Christmas tree in the center of the park.
Simon snorted, “No. Though, I’m happy to go with you, if you’re offering.” Raphael shrugged. Simon counted that as a win. “Come on, then. Mr. Inpatient.”
Raphael huffed but trudged along as Simon led him back down the path for a bit. It suddenly veered off for a smaller path leading to a bench.
SImon sat down and motioned for Raphael to sit down next to him. They looked over the park.
“Sure, it’s pretty. But I liked what we were doing better before,” Raphael raised an eyebrow at him.
Simon swatted at him playfully before reaching behind the bench, “But this wasn’t there,” he pulled out a guitar.
Raphael whistled appreciatively, “When’d you stow that here?”
“Had some help.”
“Clary?”
Simon did not answer. He started plucking at the strings. “Bear with me here. I mainly play bass but I figured this would sound better on a acoustic guitar. I practiced for days so you can’t make fun of me. Promise?” He shot puppy-dog eyes at Raphael.
Raphael looked bewildered.
He decided to start the song before he chickened out. Raphael relaxed into the bench as the music started. Simon hoped he chose the right song.

Cómo han pasado los años
Cómo cambiaron las cosas
Y aquí estamos lado a lado
Como dos enamorados
Como la primera vez

Raphael seemed frozen. Simon started doubting himself. He might be Hispanic but his Spanish was never up to snuff.

Cómo han pasado los años
Qué mundo tan diferentes
Y aquí estamos frente a frente
Como dos adolescentes
Que se miran sin hablar

Raphael smiled slowly at him and Simon gained confidence to continue.

Si parece que fue anoche
Que bailamos abrazados
Y juramos un “te quiero”
Que nos dimos por entero
Y en secreto murmuramos
“Nada nos va a separar”

Simon internally cursed at himself when his voice broke. When he plucked the wrong notes, Raphael did not say anything. He just listened intently.

Cómo han pasado los años
Las vueltas que dio la vida
Nuestro amor siguió creciendo
Y con él, nos fue envolviendo
Habrán pasado los años
Pero el tiempo no ha podido
Hacer que pase lo nuestro

Simon really tried to make sure his pronunciation was okay. That he wasn’t missing words, that he wasn’t stuttering. Still it was hard. He felt himself trip over words. It was a little embarrassing but seeing Raphael’s face made it worth it.

Si parece que fue anoche
Que bailamos abrazados
Y juramos un “te quiero”
Que nos vimos por entero
Y en secreto murmuramos
“Nada nos va a separar”

A tear fell from Raphael’s eye. Simon started to worry again.

Cómo han pasado los años
Las vueltas que dio la vida
Nuestro amor siguió creciendo
Y con él, nos fue envolviendo
Habrán pasado los años
Pero el tiempo no ha podido
Hacer que pase, lo nuestro

The song ended and the music faded into the night. Simon waited nervously for Raphael’s judgment.
“Simon. Put the guitar down.” Raphael commanded.
“Why?” he asked hesitantly. Unsure what he could have done to offend the other vampire.
“Just do it.” Raphael had not moved. Just stared at Simon without blinking. Face devoid of emotion. A tear stain still on his cheek.
Simon carefully placed the guitar down and sat back up before getting slammed into the bench by Raphael. His mouth pressed to the others in a kiss that was softer than he would have expected.
“Te quiero,” Raphael whispered. “Te quiero mucho. Nada nos va a separar,” he promised.
Simon swore if his heart was still beating that it would have stopped at that moment. “I love you, too.”
Simon let Raphael lead their kisses. Let him ravage his mouth until Simon forgot his own name and could only remember Raphael’s. He let his own hands roam Raphael’s suit. Semi-aware they were still in the middle of a park.
He lost all consciousness when Raphael moved to his neck. The brush of fangs drew all of Simon’s attention. He moaned Raphael’s name. The other vampire smirked against his neck. “Do you want me to?” he nibbled Simon’s neck for emphasis.
Simon whined, “Don’t tease.”
“But I don’t know. What if I want you to bite me?” Raphael purred.
Simon brought a hand up front Raphael’s abs and gently scratched at his neck. “I could do that, too. But for now, bite me, Raph,” he directed.
Raphael pulled back to look at his face, “You know what you’re asking?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re okay with being fully bonded?”
“It’s not like a marriage, right?” Simon backtracked.
Raphael chuckled. “No, it’s temporary. It’s similar to what we’ve done before. You’ll just be able to read a little more emotions. And it will last a little longer. Maybe a month with no upkeep?”
“Upkeep?”
Raphael grinned at him with his fangs on display.
Simon bit his lip and nodded, “That doesn’t sound bad to me.”
“It also will slightly change your scent. Other vampires will know you are bonded.”
“So they will know I’m yours?”
“So they will know that you're mine,” he agreed, “and that I’m yours,” Raphael promised.
Simon leaned his head to the side, exposing his neck. “Bite me, Raph.”
Raphael did not need to be asked twice. He flashed Simon a toothy grin, a chaste kiss on the lips and sunk his fangs into Simon’s neck.
Simon did not think he would ever get used to the feeling of having his blood sucked. It was all encompassing. It made Simon feel like he was on fire. He let the venom run through him. The high sent shivers down his body. He wrapped his arms tighter around Raphael. He wanted to be closer even though their bodies were touching from their toes up.
The moment Raphael removed his fangs, Simon flipped them over. Only he forgot something vital. Raphael was thrown off the bench and Simon rolled off and collapsed on top of him. They both burst out laughing.
“Eager much?” Raphael pushed him off playfully.
“Been waiting too long.”
“Yeah, right.”
Simon smirked at him and let a wave of compassion run through him. Raphael’s eyes widened fractionally. “God, baby. You can’t be doing that to me.”
“You best get used to this.”
“Emotional, asshole.”
Simon laughed before Raphael cupped his face and silenced him with a kiss. Simon covered Raphael’s hand with his own and held it still. He broke their kiss and placed a gentle kiss on the inside of Raphael’s wrist.
Raphael held eye contact until Simon’s fangs sank all the way into his wrist. Once Simon’s lips touched his arm, he closed his eyes and moaned. Simon felt the rush of blood hit his tongue.
He felt something in him break. Change. He felt as if the part of him that had been searching for meaning had found purpose. That he was whole.
He slowly weaned himself off of Raphael’s wrist and licked the wound shut. Raphael stared into his eyes. Simon leaned forward and claimed his lips into another searing kiss. Letting his heart and soul into the kiss. “I love you,” He murmured. Letting the words free from his lips.
Raphael smiled against his lips, “I know.” The wave of affection that hit him back warmed him. He would never get used to this. “I love you, too,” Raphael whispered affectionately.

Chapter Text

Raphael
Running around the hotel before the sun went down was never fun. Usually it meant something was very, very wrong for the clan. However, today was different. Today, Raphael was trying his best to make sure everything was perfect. He knew that Simon had been a little disheartened about New Years.
It was something he used to celebrate with his bandmates and although his family thought he was touring New York with them, he hadn’t actually spoken to them since Turning. It also prevented him from seeing his family at the time as they would get suspicious. Clary was spending New Years at some Shadowhunter event that Raphael did not want to be caught dead at and Raphael wanted the night to be special for Simon. Afterall, it was Simon’s first New Years as a vampire. That was special, right?
While most of the vampires in the clan were very supportive of their relationship Lily was a champ. When they came back from the Christmas party, they were greeted with stunned silence that turned to whoops and hollers, even a few cat calls. Simon had run back to his room modified and left Raphael to take the brunt of the teasing. Luckily, not many vampires were brave enough to mercilessly tease their leader.
Lily was beside herself with delight. Though, to be fair she did help Raphael make sure everything was as planned. He could not have asked for a better second-in-command. However, he would have been happier without all her little snarky comments.
“So, is this when the two of you tie the knot?” She asked.
He groaned, “Lily, I will kill you with my bare hands.”
“No you won’t. I’m too useful.”
And she was right. Raphael grumbled his response.
“Sorry, grumps. Should I get your boy toy to interpret for me?”
Raphael glared daggers at her. “As if you never dated anyone before.”
“I have. But I never bonded with them. And I know you sure as shit haven’t either.” She grinned at him. “Aww how cute. You’re blushing!”
He growled and threw the nearest item at her, she ducked out of the way still laughing at him, “Shut up, Lily. Vampires can’t even blush.”
“You loooooove him,” she teased
Raphael stayed silent. Don’t stoke the fire, he thought.
She giggled, “Oh my God! You really do!”
Simon turned the corner, “Of course he does. I’m very lovable. Have you seen me? Like a young Casanova.”
Raphael looked at him appreciatively, “I see you saw what I laid out for you.”
Simon straightened out the lapels of his suit. “Are you sure it fits right?”
Raphael gave him a slow once over: the polished shoes, the gray Hugo Boss slacks and jacket, the blue shirt. “It’s a perfect fit,” he told Simon, throwing in a wink for good measure.
Simon smiled brightly and strolled down the hall, standing in front of Raphael.
“What?” Raphael asked suspiciously.
Simon pouted, “No, good morning kiss?”
Raphael shot a glance towards Lily who was trying her hardest not to keel over laughing. “What is your game here, Lewis,” he growled, glaring at Simon.
“I know there is no malice behind that, Raph,” Simon grinned before leaning in and placing a gentle peck on Raphael’s lips.
Raphael sighed. “You’re going to ruin my credibility, baby.”
“That’s the goal.”
Simon felt Raphael fix a couple strands of hit hair. “It’s curly. It’s always going to be a mess,” He batted Raphael’s hands away.
“Not if you use enough product,” Raphael mumbled.
“Is that what you do?” Simon giggled.
“Don’t you guys need to get moving?” Lily interrupted.
Raphael removed himself from Simon’s arms. He checked his phone. “Yeah, he’s expecting us any minute. They need to get going soon.”
“Who?” Simon asked. Lily and Raphael smirked at him. “On second thought, I am very busy tonight. Can’t make it.”
“No, it is way too late for that. You’ll have fun. Don’t worry.”
Raphael quickly dialed a number on his phone, “Hey,. were ready.” he said. A portal manifested in front of them.

---

Simon
Simon did not know what to expect stepping into the portal. He certainly did not expect to step out into a candle wonderland. Every square inch of the room was covered in candles. All the windows covered, the aromas of the room almost overpoweringly sweet. Soft music playing from a radio in the next room. Simon turned to Raphael.
Raphael looked as dumbfounded as he felt, “Fucking hell Magnus. I just wanted a quiet space.”
Simon burst out laughing. “I didn’t know you were such a romantic, Raph!”
“Shut up,” He murmured grumpily.
Magnus came out of his room in a bedazzled suit. His hair dyed with blue streaks and glitter glistening across his face. Simon had never seen someone literally shine before. “Hello, boys! Pleased you could make it.”
“Magnus. What is all of this?” Raphael motioned to the room.
“I thought you might like it!” Raphael raised an eyebrow. “I wanted to do something special for you!”
“Thank you, Magnus. It’s lovely,” Simon cut in before Raphael could say anything biting.
Alec came out of Magnus’s room, saw them and paused. Simon waved at him.
“Magnus,” he addressed his husband, “we need to get going or we will be late.”
“Yes. Yes. Not my fault you were looking ravishing.” Magnus gave him an appreciative look. Alec blushed as Simon giggled. “We’ll be back tomorrow afternoon. But until then, make yourselves at home! Don’t burn the place down though.”
“Well that wouldn’t have been an option if you didn’t set up every candle in New York City!” Raphael exclaimed.
Magnus smiled widely at him as he looped his arm in Alec, cast another portal and whisked his husband to the Institute.
Simon and Raphael were left alone. It was suddenly very quiet. The soft sounds of piano played from the radio along with the wicks burning were the only sounds in the apartment.
“So - ummm-” Simon started.
“I thought ma-” Raphael said at the same time.
They both paused. Unsure of what to do. They were both afraid of doing something wrong. But both were eager to please.
“You first,” Simon said.
Raphael cleared his throat, “Ummm, I thought that you might like to spend New Years here. With me. Most of the other vampires don’t really celebrate it anymore. I don’t usually actually. Doesn’t mean much when you’ve celebrated so many, but this is your first so I thought you might want to.”
Simon grinned at him. “You were right. Thank you.” He reached out and squeezed Raphael’s hand. He couldn’t find the words to how much that meant to him. He turned and looked around the room again. “Bit much though, isn’t it?”
Raphael snorted. “Magnus doesn’t do basic.”
“No, he does not. It is very romantic though,” Simon said, slipping his arms around Raphael. He let his head perch on the older man's shoulder.
Raphael slipped his arms around his waist. “You’re a dork,” he claimed but he pulled Simon in tighter.
Simon smiled and buried his nose into Raphael’s neck.
They stayed like that for a while. Simon would have stayed like that for a lifetime, but Raphael whispered, “I have a surprise for you.”
Simon looked back at him. “Oh, yeah?”
“Mhmm,” He slid out of Simon’s embrace but kept hold of one of Simon’s hands. He led Simon through the apartment.
It was neatly decorated. Generally tasteful, if not a hair gaudy. But considering it was Magnus's, Simon was in awe. The amount of wealth flashing before his eyes. Magnus was not strapped for cash to say the least. Then again he’s had lifetimes to acquire it.
In the third living room, third!, there was a grand piano. Simon’s eyes were drawn to it instantly. Not only because it was in the center of the room. Not only because it was stark white in an otherwise dark and elegant lounge, but because Raphael headed straight for the bench.
“No way,” he whispered.
Raphael sat down and smirked at him. “Take a seat,” he motioned to the couches around the room.
Simon dove for a sofa. He couldn’t sit down fast enough. He needed to hear Raphael play.
Raphael hit a couple discordant keys. Clearly getting a feel for the piano. Then he started playing.
When he finished, Simon broke out in applause. “That was amazing!”
“You’re an idiot,” Raphael laughed. “I just wanted to warm up. That was literally Twinkle Twinkle.”
“And it sounded amazing.”
“Well if that is all it takes to impress you, I think this might blow your mind.”
Simon couldn’t breathe. Simon would never admit it to Raphael but he didn’t actually like Ed Sheeran before that day. However, hearing Raphael play Thinking Out Loud for him made it Simon’s favorite song in the world.
When the notes finally faded from the room, Simon whispered, “Have I mentioned how sexy I find a man playing piano?”
“No.”
“Well, I might have just figured it out. Though, I might be biased as I already found the man extremely sexy.” Raphael laughed. “Come here,” Simon commanded.
Raphael slid off the bench and walked over to Simon.
Simon pulled him down on top of him. He grinned. “How sexy would you say you found him?”
“Very sexy,” Simon purred. He cupped Raphael’s face with one hand and drew him in for a kiss. It was soft and sweet. Just enough to have them both out of breath. Raphael moved his hand from Simon’s bicep and carded it into his hair.
“Funny, I find guys who play bass extremely sexy.” He pulled Simon’s hair not too gently. Simon gasped. Raphael smirked.
“Lucky us,” Simon panted.
“Lucky us,” Raphael repeated, connecting their lips again. Simon felt Raphael slip his tongue into his mouth. He moaned.
He dropped his hand to Raphael’s jacket and tugged at it until the other vampire got the hint and carefully peeled it off, tossing it gently onto an adjacent sofa. They both paused and looked at one another before Simon yanked off his own jacket and grabbed the hem of his own shirt and threw it off too. Simon watched as Raphael’s eyes followed the jacket and shirt to the grown with a frown. He turned back to Simon, his mouth open, ready to scold but the words died on his lips as his eyes explored Simon’s torso.
Simon swallowed thickly. Raphael, still perched on his lap, started unfastening the buttons on his own collared shirt. Simon thought it torture watching those long fingers work one button at a time. Only a sliver of skin appeared with each button. He couldn’t take it. He brushed Raphael’s hands away, grabbed either side of Raphael’s shirt and pulled. The remaining buttons went flying.
Raphael frowned at him but Simon was too busy kissing and licking the new skin exposed to him to care. Raphael seemed to relax into Simon’s arms.
“Let’s go to the spare bedroom,” Simon said through his kisses.
“Have you done this before, baby?” Raphael asked carefully.
“Yeah. You?” He asked breathlessly, letting Raphael pull him up and lead him across the apartment.
“It’s been a while,” Raphael admitted while pulling Simon into the bedroom.
“Then we’ll go slow,” Simon pushed Raphael onto the bed...

Fireworks. Literally. Simon was dazed in Raphael’s arms. “Happy New Year, baby,” Raphael whispered into his ear.
“This was perfect. Let’s do it again next year,” Simon said, still a little dazed.
Raphael chuckled. “Sure. Te quiero, bebe.”
“Love you, too, Raph. Thank you for… well everything.” Simon felt Raphael’s arms tighten gently. Maybe eternity wouldn’t be so bad.