Jace was sitting on the railing of the balcony, straddling it so his feet were dangling from both sides, and looked out to the city skyline. He scribbled in his notebook - little doodles of piano chords he remembered from when he first started playing. He was trying to remember a specific song, the one he played when he felt most alone, the one he played when he thought about his parents or his childhood altogether. The one that used to be in his memory, but ever since he met Simon, he didn't have the need to play it. 

When they moved in, Jace thought that the happy feeling he got, when Simon walked into the room, was just friendship. At first, Jace thought that when Simon started to bring his dates over, it wasn't jealousy that he felt, but a brotherly need to protect him. After a few months, after every time Simon had made him laugh until he cried, after his touches made his heart leap and after he wanted to rip his insides out when Simon held hands with someone else, he knew that he had fallen in love.

After that, he wanted to play the song. But he couldn't remember it. For the life of him, all the good, happy times spent with Simon clouded his mind, making him forget the song that used to drag him from the deep, dark hole he fell into, after yet another person left him. It's not like Simon left him. How could he, he was never there. He never saw him the way he wanted him too, and Jace couldn't leave because that would've hurt even more.

Crazy to think that a man can't hurt
Love takes its toll every time it don't work, yeah
One door closes and another opens
But it's hard to let go when your heart's broken
I'll give you my trust, can you give me your word?

Jace had seen Simon get his heart broken one too many times. Right now, it was the same person, all over again. And again. And Simon never learned, however hard Jace tried to explain it to him. That he deserved better. That he should've wanted better. The unspoken words 'I'm better for you' hung in the air, without Simon grasping them and Jace felt lost. What happens when he gives up, explodes like a supernova, confesses everything? Will he lose him? He didn't have the answers and it infuriated him.

Whenever Simon's heart broke, so did Jace's, for him. And it was even worse, when Isabelle found out about it. "Why don't you just talk to him? Jace, you can't suffer like this." she said. Jace shook his head. "It's not that simple. And besides, I'm fine. I'm used to it." he replied. Jace swung his leg back to the balcony, groaning frustratedly. He couldn't remember. Why couldn't he remember the notes?

He pocketed the little notebook and went into the kitchen, grabbing some white wine and pouring himself a glass. He glanced at the clock and saw it was half past 9. Simon was still out, after 5 hours. He shook his head, pushing worry about Simon to the back of his head. At least he knew for sure, that Raphael was never violent. He had harsh words, but he never hurt Simon physically. Jace sat on the kitchen stool, tapping his fingers on the counter. He stilled, when the muscle memory took over and his fingers moved in a forgotten tune. He closed his eyes, trying to remember the rest, but he lost it, thanks to the door that opened with a crash.

Come take my heart of glass
And give me your love
I hope you'll still be there
To pick the pieces up
'Cause baby I'm fragile, fragile, fragile
'Cause baby I'm fragile, fragile, fragile

He looked up, seeing Simon stomp in, throwing his jacket towards the rack, and of course it didn't hit its mark, tumbling down on the floor in a heap. Jace sighed quietly, making sure Simon didn't hear him. The brunette turned on his heel, spotting light in the kitchen. He came over, his eyes blazing in fury and hurt and he took the bottle, without words, and poured Jace's glass to the full. Then, he took it to his lips, taking two big gulps before setting it down, glaring at it like he was trying to burn a hole into it.

Jace got up, strode to the forgotten jacket and picked it up, neatly placing it on the rack. Then, he went back to the kitchen and took another glass from the cupboard, setting it in front of him and pouring him a new one from the bottle. Simon played with the rim of the glass and his eyes were bloodshot. Jace immediately knew he had been crying. His hand curled into a fist by his side, but he tried to relax it almost immediately. Don't get angry, he thought. 

"He's an ass. I know." Simon finally said, his voice cracking just a little, but even that got Jace mad. Who was Raphael, to do this to Simon over and over again? But then again, who was Simon, to go back every time? And who was Jace to judge either of them? So he just shrugged his shoulders, which seemed to infuriate Simon even more. "I know you want to say 'I told you so'. Go ahead. You've held back all the other times so, go ahead." he continued, rushing the words in an angry tone, his voice carrying pain and sadness. Anger, too, yes. But anger at who? It didn't seem he was angry at Raphael. He seemed angry at himself. It pained Jace to know that Simon might blame himself.

"I would never do that." Jace said softly, trying to convey his feelings into the sentence. Simon had to know how sorry he was, but also that there was nothing he could say that would make Simon feel better. At least, nothing that Simon would want to hear.

Simon scoffed, looking at Jace. His brown eyes showed Jace hell - the fire that burned even when all other aspects of Simon were cold, his smile and his voice, even his fingertips. Simon's eyes always betrayed his emotion and right now, he was pissed. Jace almost winced when Simon raised his voice. "I know you think I'm stupid! Don't you think I see that? And then you sit there, with the judging looks and then you..." his voice was loud at first, dying out in the end, like the fire crackling but then burning lower and lower until there was only smoke. Jace stood up, going to Simon and didn't even care, that Simon might shove him away.

He stood next to him and took Simon's hands in his. Just as he had known, they were cold as ice. He wondered why that was. That they were always cold. Simon didn't move, but his eyes were now averted to the ground. "Simon, look at me." Jace said softly, his heart beating so fast he thought he might have a stroke. Was he going to tell Simon? Should he? 

After he left you in ten times ten
Could I put you back together again? 
One door closes and another opens
But I won't let go 'cause I'm not like him
Baby just say the words, let the love begin

"I want you to listen carefully." Jace continued, squeezing Simon's hands a little and he felt the brunette squeezing them back a little, making his heart flutter. Relax, Jace though, it doesn't mean anything. Simon's eyes stilled on him and he nodded, his breathing even, while Jace's was quickened. He willed it to be steady and willed his heart to go slower, but there was nothing he could do - Simon's presence made his body react in ways he didn't know existed. He sat down, just in case.

"I did know from the start that you two were not meant for each other. But none of it was your fault. You, Simon, are so much more than you make yourself out to be. You think that he's the only one who cares about you? No! You have friends, family, you have me! I care about you, Simon, that's why it kills me to see you do this to yourself. Why is it, that you think you are not deserving of true, good love? You have to see that there's so much more out there, if you'd just see, just open your eyes. Simon, you are an amazing person, even if you don't see that, then others do, and maybe that should be enough for you to finally understand, that you are worth a good life, not just 'good enough'." Jace finished, his voice now tired of all the feelings he held back, of all the words he didn't say, what he chose not to say, and Simon stared at him like he was seeing him for the first time.

Come take my heart of glass
And give me your love
I hope you'll still be there
To pick the pieces up
'Cause baby I'm fragile, fragile, fragile
'Cause baby I'm fragile, fragile, fragile

"Others do? So, you do, too?" was all Simon said after a long, excruciating pause. Jace's eyes closed, his heart shrunk and he felt like the air was toxic, making him weaker every time he breathed in. "I- of course." he stammered, trying to avoid Simon's eyes. The brunette hummed, like he was thinking something over. Jace felt self-conscious, sitting there next to Simon while he tried so hard not to pour his heart out, but Simon always had a way of seeing him through. It was like he was glass and Simon looked through him, seeing behind the fragile facade. Jace wasn't sure he liked it.

A single tear went down Simon's cheek and it startled Jace, so much that he forgot that he wasn't supposed to give in. His hand automatically rose and he touched Simon's cheek, tracing the tear and noticed in delight that Simon leaned into the touch. "Simon...Please, don't cry." Jace said, his voice begging even, and Simon let out a shaky breath. He shook his head slightly and Jace's hand fell. The brunette smiled sadly and watched him. "Jace...I never told you how thankful I am that you're here for me. You always have been." Simon stated, his voice sweet and soft, when his hand creeped over the tabletop, onto Jace's hand who felt the touch like a light feathery feeling.

Jace's heart pounded again, loud and demanding, like it knew this was the only option, the only chance. But the blonde sighed inwardly. This was not the right time, and maybe there won't ever be a right time. "You don't need to thank me. That's what best friends are for, right?" he said, smiling at Simon, with his insides screaming at him to 'tell him', 'tell him'. The piano melody sounded a little louder at the back of his mind, like it knew it will be needed in just a few moments later.

He started to rise, but Simon's hand squeezed tighter, holding him in place. His eyes widened a bit, looking at Simon in question, who had his eyes closed now. "I was wrong. And you're right, I don't see what's right in front of me. God, I hope I'm right about this." he was mumbling now, so Jace could barely hear him. He looked at Simon in confusion, unable to decipher the words, but the brunette stood up, pulling Jace with him and he was left standing just inches form the boy, feeling Simon's breath mingle with his. Jace noticed, that both of them were breathing quickly and irregularly now, and he couldn't fathom why Simon would be nervous.

Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, say love, say love
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, say love, say love
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, say love, say love
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, say love, say love

They stood like that, Jace not knowing what was going on, but the sounds of the piano fading slowly, when Simon stared at his eyes, searching for something, anything. And when Jace's eyes flickered to Simon's lips ever so briefly, the brunette knew. Without another thought he pulled himself closer to Jace, letting his left hand go around his waist and the right go to his cheek, so he tilted Jace upwards a little, because of the small height difference.

Jace's whole body stood to attention, every fiber of his being screaming, yearning for attention, for Simon's attention. Until the very moment that he felt the soft lips against his, he still thought he must be dreaming, because only in his dreams would Simon hold him like this, would he look at him like this. But when Simon leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against his lips, his mind went fuzzy, the piano stopped playing altogether and the only thing he heard was the loud beating of his heart, that had now slowed. 

Yeah, you will take yours and mine

One of his hands flew behind Simon's neck and the other went to his chest, right above his heart. He wanted to know how Simon felt right in this moment. Was his heart racing? Was it beating slowly, like his? Like it was finally at peace? He felt the rhythm, almost like his, beating in silent thumps. Simon hummed against his lips, sending the vibrations coursing through Jace's body and he felt his feet give in under him, when Simon pulled him closer, slowly and very hesitantly letting his tongue slip over his lower lip, asking for permission. Jace had to think about granting it because if he did, surely that would be the end of him.

I got your heart of glass
You've got my love
I know we'll still be there
To pick the pieces up
'Cause baby we're fragile, fragile, fragile
'Cause baby we're fragile, fragile, fragile

Suddenly, as if sensing Jace's dilemma and weakness, which Jace would later deny, he scooped him up, putting his leg to each of his sides, holding Jace in place when he walked towards the couch and set him down so gracefully, it was unreal. His Simon was always so clumsy.

Not ever disconnecting their lips, Simon set Jace under him gently, positioning himself between his legs and holding him in place. Jace let his hands roam over Simon's arms, feeling his muscles contract and he smiled into the kiss. This had to be real. Something told him that it was.

Simon's tongue found its way into his mouth and Jace tasted the wine from earlier, a bit fruity and bitter at the same time and he loved it. Simon smelled like pine and freshly cut grass, and he wondered vaguely, where he could've gotten that scent. Simon kissed him slowly and sweetly, just like Jace thought he would. Just like he hoped he would. And when his hand went into Simon's hair, they were soft and his fingers ran through them like he had been doing this all his life - kissing Simon, holding him.

He felt a little out of breath and let his hand slide onto Simon's cheek, pulling away for a moment, although his body protested loudly at that. Simon set his forehead against Jace's and his eyes betrayed surprise but also content. "Jace." was all he whispered. The blonde smiled slightly, looking at the dimples on Simon's cheeks and his long lashes, that still held one tear.  

Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, say love, say love
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, say love, say love

"Simon?" Jace asked, feeling the weight of his body pressing onto his and he prayed that the piano music would never have to come back, if only Simon would stay with him, just stay a little longer. "I love you." he said simply, knowing that if he didn't say it now, he never would. And that Simon didn't love him, but maybe he could?

Simon stared at him, his eyes sparkling after all the crying and they were clear as day when he smiled sweetly, kissing the corner of his mouth. "Jace, I love you." he replied and Jace's heart soared to unknown heights. He could only hope that both of their hearts could take it.

Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, say love, say love
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, say love, say love

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A/N: I am backkkk (or was I never gone?)! This was pretty short, so I'm sorry for that and I will try and make the next one longer. You know what to do! :)xxxx