"Wanna get out of here?" Jace proposed, bringing a flask of water to his lips. Sometimes he just wanted to look cool. He didn't need to be an idiot for that. Besides, the glee he'd felt when a chaperon took it and brought it to their nose to check made up for any loss of points in his street cred. Jace Lightwood didn't break any laws, he just tried to make it look like he did. But knew better than to break the mold and disappoint his father.
Simon rose an eyebrow. "To go where?" He asked, trying to conceal his nervousness the best he could. For some reason, he doubted Jace could pick up on the slight shake in his voice but was certain his rabbit heart was giving him away.
Jace's lips curled up in a confident grin, edging very much to a sly grin. "Do you trust me?"
'Well, not really, we don't know each other that much. I'm not even sure we're actually friends.' That's what Simon would have said. Had he not been so ridiculously smitten with the male sitting next to him. What Simon did, was silently nodding a few times before letting out a passionate "Yes!"
Jace chuckled and stood up, holding a hand out for Simon to take. "Easier to navigate the crowd like that Lewis, I don't want to loose you." Simon blinked, looking down at the offered hand. "Come on Simon, it'd be really sad if I lost you before we made it to the door of the gymnasium." Simon chuckled, eyes anchoring themselves in Jace's heterochromic ones and took ahold of the hand offered to him, laughing a little as he was hauled up.
With long strides but an unhurried pace, Jace led the two of them out, sticking his tongue at his sister when he caught her inquisitive gaze on him. Izzy fondly rolled her eyes and went back to focusing on making Raphael feel as awkward as possible. So far he'd been so good at keeping his composure that it was frustrating. Simon didn't catch any of that, instead he was grinning like an idiot, glancing at their joint hands every few seconds to make sure it was real. As soon as they made it inside the school's corridor, Jace paused. The blond seem to weight in his options. "Okay, we have a two choices here." He spoke, turning to face a wide eyed Simon, lips slightly parted. The Lightwood paused, taking in the sight for a second before he shook his head. "We could truly get out of here and go to a small bar I know. But where's the fun in that? A much more interesting option would be to sneak in the labs and let me offer you really cool mocktails."
Simon laughed. "And he's good at sciences. Is there anything you can't do?"
Jace sighed softly, gaze remaining fond despite his fading smile. "Too many, I'm afraid. But don't tell anyone, I have a reputation to uphold."
Simon grinned, revealing his teeth for a second before he gently bit his bottom lip. Either way he was bound to observe Jace in his element, which, he was trying to convince himself wasn't a creepy way to phrase things. He narrowed his eyes. "Does your bar have a piano?" Jace blinked a few times at the unexpected question before slowly nodding. "Great." Simon said. "Then I think we're really getting out of here." He added, before tugging on Jace's hand and leading the way out before the blond could protect. Turns out he didn't even try to relent.
They made it took quick for either of them's liking. Silence had made the conversation on a way, something pleasant, something light, something neither of them felt the need to fill as they held hands and lazily marched through quasi empty streets. Jace had tugged on his tie, letting it go loose and Simon had removed his faux bow tie, carefully pocketing it. They realized they were still holding hands when Jace stopped in front of the small bar. "We're here." He spoke, brows slightly furrowing as he let go Simon's hand.
The brunet nodded, eyes narrowed as he studied the blond, more bothered by the change in Jace's demeanor than the loss of contact. He said nothing though and forced a smile back on his features, looking up to read the name of said place. "Hunter's Moon." He read, chuckling when he saw that Jace was holding the door for him. He stepped in and paused. This definitely wasn't what he'd expected. The place was rather warm, with touches of red and yellow drowning in brown leather and mahogany. But what caught Simon off guard was the people. They all seemed to have more personality than him, and a whole story written on their skin.
"Jace!" A pretty girl with blond hair, genuine elf ears and a vine tattoo crawling along her face called, waving to the blond from behind the bar.
Jace chuckled, bringing a hand to Simon's back. "Be careful with Kaelie, she probably could gouge out your eyeballs with her perfectly manicured nails." He warned, as he led Simon toward the bar. Simon swallowed thickly, not particularly bothered by the words but more so by the proximity. Jace had leant toward him to conspiratorially whisper in his ear, lips almost grazing Simon's skin. And Simon was certain this was a lot more closer than strictly necessary. He glanced at Jace when the male stood straighter, grinning as he looked ahead, tie almost fashionably askew and styled hair messed up by the wind. Boy did he look beautiful. Simon bit his bottom, pouting a bit as he realized just how bad he still had it for his best friend's ex. After a soft sigh, he sat next to Jace, struggling just a little with the leather stool. Jace's small laugh almost made his embarrassment worth it. "Kaelie, let me introduce you to Simon, master guitarist but for some odd reason, aspiring accountant. Simon, this is Kaelie, your local seelie, intern tattoo artist and extremely sexy barmaid."
"Cut the crap Wayland, I don't walk down the same battered pavement twice." Kaelie replied before focusing on Simon, or more so on the hands he was fiddling with on the counter. "What did he tell you about me to make you so nervous?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
Simon grinned. "Nothing I struggle to believe. But if that makes you feel better, I'm always nervous around pretty stranger."
Kaelie chuckled. "I like him. He's clever." She told Jace. "Next time you stop around, stop by without Jace and I'll give you a discount." She told Simon and winked. "Anyway, what can I get you?" She asked.
"Two beers." Jace replied.
"Two non alcoholic beers coming right up. Nice try though." She replied before turning away.
Simon chuckled when he saw the faint blush reaching the tip of Jace's ears. Shaking his head before he focused on the blond too long for it to be normal, he forced himself to look away. Slightly furrowing his brows, the male started to seek for the piano Jace had said would be there, struggling to see how one could fit in such a decor. But it did. It did and stood majestically at the end of the room. A "Steinway D grand piano." Simon said softly, awe seeping through the tone of his voice.
Jace smiled with a genuine warmth. "You play?" He asked.
"Never such an instrument." Simon replied. "Just synthesizer. Cheaper."
Jace's eyes widened for a second before he blinked the surprise away. "That. Is a crime." He stood up. "Come on Simon. It's time for me to pop one of your musical cherry."
Kaelie scoffed as she put the beers on the counters. Simon glanced toward her, his gaze asking for permission. "Awww, you're adorable." She told Simon. "Anyone can use Denise as long as they're very gentle and respectful with her."
"Denise?" Jace inquired. "I thought that was a he. Robust. Loyal. Soulful. Daring. A he."
Kaelie rolled her eyes. "A she." She replied before walking toward a customer who'd gestured for her.
"Once you've got your hands on Denise, I bet you'll forget all about your synth." Jace declared, smirking a bit before he moved toward the end of the room. Simon followed, a little dazed and absolutely appreciative of the piece of art in front of him. And for the first time in the night, he wouldn't be referring to Jace's ass in a fitting tux. With as much confidence as he did everything else, Jace sat on the piano bench and played with the blues scale for a couple of seconds.
Simon chuckled. "Is that the Monk theme song?"
"No." Jace replied with little conviction.
"It so is, you just played the whole thing in C minor." Simon slid on the bench next to Jace, starting in C for the few beginning notes and continuing in F minor as expected. "It's the theme for Monk." He repeated, facing Jace with a certain proud on his features. "Were you trying to pass it as improv? Were you trying to impress me?" He asked, grinning a little as Jace's confidence faded for a bit.
"You've got a good ear Lewis, and serious coordination but can you do that?" Jace inquired before launching itself in Chopin's Etude op 10, number 4 in c minor. The particularly complex solo piece seemed almost instinctive to the blond, his fingers grazing and glazing along the cues, anticipating the next note but always pressing at the right moment. Jace's features lost all cockiness to wear a mask of concentration, lips slightly parted, gaze lowered but eyes not closed, focused instead as his head discreetly accompanied the movement of his fingers. Simon knew he was a bother standing so close, restricting Jace's movements. But the other seemed to have such an unbreakable as the notes flew out for all to hear. So dexterous. So fast. So short.
"I..." Simon mouth remained opened but his lips curled up as he heard the claps that surrounded them. "No. I definitely cannot do that." He told Jace, leaning a little closer to make sure the blond could hear him. "You're an artist."
Jace grinned. "Well so are you." The Lightwood's eyes flickered to Simon's lips for a second before he wet his own, focusing back on the darker gaze on him. "Pursue it Simon. You'd make a terrible accountant."
The brunet smile, a faint blush creeping on his cheeks. "Thank you." He replied softly before standing a lot straighter when someone in their vicinity loudly cleared their throat. It wasn't even at them. But Simon had felt as if he'd been caught doing something wrong. Or was about to, he was fairly certain. Kissing someone without their consent probably was a bad idea. "Well," he cleared his throat. "I think I could use a sip of that non alcoholic beer right now. You?"
Jace sighed softly. "You barely played. We barely played."
Simon chuckled. He'd got what he wanted : To see Jace play. And he definitely was as good as Izzy had claimed. "Don't worry. I'm totally in love with Denise already and I will make sure to come back. Maybe with Maureen. She's into music too, I bet you'd love her." He told Jace, his voice gaining the fondness it always had when Simon spoke about someone he held dear.
Jace silently nodded, pressing his lips together for a second before he stood up. "Let's... Get those beers."