Silent Night | Rasaura x Simon

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Rasaura paid the bill at Le Bal du Lezard after everyone had left. She wasn’t sure of the meeting had been productive in the way she’d hoped or if it only raised tension all the more. She had pulled Hannah and Blake into their meeting so they could feel included because they still deserved to be protected even if they were Courtless.

But after seeing everyone off, she now waited just within the foyer for a cab, clutching her jacket closed. Her gaze darted back and forth as she scanned the passing cars to see which would pull up to carry her home. Much to her surprise a sleek red vehicle pulled up and out stepped Simon Allard. He had been at the meeting and one of the last to leave, making sure everyone wasn’t leaving alone. She hadn’t expected to be included in that, but his intense gaze was on her as he looked around the car back and opened the door, nodding once to Rasaura.

She could feel heat creep into her cheeks as she slowly stepped outside, “Simon, I’ve called for a ride already.”

“Yeah and I’m here answering that call.” The devilish Resistance leader replied with a smirk, “I’m not letting you be the next to disappear. So just do me a favor and let me get you home safe.”

Rasaura knew it wasn’t a good idea to travel alone, but this gesture seemed quite personal, particularly after Simon’s little chitchat with her after he arrived. To say she felt intimidated by him wasn’t exactly correct, but he had a way of making her feel diminutive. Now certainly wasn’t one of those moments though.

“C’mon, engine’s running Miss Cabello.” Simon smirked as he bowed slightly, directing her into the backseat of his car.

“You’re exceptionally strange.” Rasaura announced as she moved with grace into the vehicle, adjusting her coat as she settled into the seat.

Simon chuckled at the comment and gently closed the door after she was in and moved hurriedly back around and jumped into the driver’s seat, buckling in as he adjusted the rear view mirror to see the Spring Muse, “So where to Miss Cabello?”

“3467 Rue Des Voiliers.” Rasaura replied as she looked around the interior of his car, “I’m surprised that your car is so... clean.”

“I take pride in some things mortals enjoy.” Simon smirked as he quickly plugged the address into his phone and then revved his engine, “You ready for the ride of your life?”

“That sounds rather final.” Rasaura answered with a hint of amusement as her gaze moved to the mirror, meeting the Summer Resistance leader.

He readjusted the mirror so he could still see her, but she couldn’t see him, although she turned her head so she was looking out the window, the same view that Simon often found himself looking at and reimagining in his mind to help himself relax into sleep. He turned up the radio slightly with some mellow piano music from a talented young musician from New York City. He could see across her face that she was deeply troubled and that she felt a deeper sense of failure in her own abilities at the hardship of all their Lost dead or missing. He wanted to help Rasaura, but no one seemed to know what to do. Simon had inadvertently made himself the leader of a civil war within the remaining Freehold, which hadn’t been his intention, but he couldn’t help but to a fiery and passionate individual. Any other way wouldn’t be him.

He drove the Muse home in shared silence, stealing glimpses at her as she looked toward the city from behind the dimmed windows of his car. Rasaura was seeing something far greater than just the historical city though. Her thoughts churned with possibilities and ideas of how to save their city. But they didn’t know what their enemy even was. Several of the Royals were in contacts with Goblins and denizens of the Hedge and there had been absolutely no movements of Gentry and Huntsmen traversing Quebec, so they certain it was their keepers. Their keepers also had no gain from outright killing the Changelings and leaving only their bones picked clean and not in such high numbers. The muse was sure it had to be something consuming her brethren because of their image magical properties, but what? And why?

As the car came to it’s final stop, Simon looked back again the rear view mirror, Justin time catch Rasaura wiping some tears away and he felt something twist in his chest. He got out of the car, taking the keys with him, and came around to open the back door, offering Rasaura his hand.

“Can’t let ya just sit in my car and cry now.” Simon stated flatly as he gently guided the Muse from the car and to the front door of the apartment building.

“You don’t need to walk me up. I’m sure I can manage to get the third floor without incident.” She assured the Summer Courtier.

Simon shook his head and grinned at her, “I’m sure you can, but I ain’t taking any chances. You go missing next and I just won’t be able to forgive myself, so at least humor me and let me be a gentleman for a change.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, trying to pretend that there wasn’t a gleaming streak down her cheek where her inner turmoil betrayed her, “Tonight, you approached me, demands to know why I’d call a secret meeting and then invite the Gordains to join us. It’s not my intention to be sneaky, but I thought discussions on a smaller scale might be more beneficial and then you wouldn’t need to feel guilty about any further injury.”

Simon scoffed even as he moved to usher the Spring Bishop inside as a heavy snowfall began, “I know you have better intentions than the others, but when news of that gets out, it’s gonna be hard to fend off accusations. I know I can sound like a jerk, but really, I have everyone’s best interests in mind.”

She sighed, contemplating his words as they climbed into the elevator and she hit the third floor button. The machine brought them up in a droning silence before it chimed and the doors hissed open. Rasaura and Simon stepped from the elevator and they walked down to the left end of the hall, before finally reaching an apartment door with a dainty Christmas wreath hanging from it. She stopped and turned to face Simon with a serious expression.

“What are you getting from this?” She asked quietly.

“I told you already. I can’t have you disappearing under my watch.” He shrugged at her.

“Because it’s all about looks for you, is it?” She pressed.

Simon eyed her, his smile vanishing, “Yeah, you could say that I wanna look cool in front of you.”

Rasaura’s eyes widened at the blatant admission, her keys dropping to the floor in surprise.

Simon sighed and bent down to pick the fallen keys, “No need to be so dramatic. I don’t plan on going past this point, but I sure as hell ain’t gonna be in the same position as Mack, wishing he hadn’t lost someone that he never admitted his feelings for.”

He stood upright, offering her key ring, even she stared wide-eyed and shocked at him, mouth agape as she stuttered, “Y-you... What?”

“I’m not gonna spell it out for you.” The Resistance leader stated, leaning close so he could try the first key in the lock.

Simon looked at the keys to see what he was, undaunted by the fact that Rasaura was simply staring at him with shock. The second key fits to the lock and the door glided open as he pushed his hand against it.

“Go on and get some rest.” The Resistance leader stated as he gently grabbed Rasaura’s wrist and pressed the key ring to her palm, “Good night.”

Simon walked back towards the elevator, turning back to make sure that Rasaura had gone inside, but she was like a statue, still blinking with surprise at him. He sighed and walked back, trying hard not to smile at her.

“You’re making it really difficult to look like a cool guy the way you’re staring at me.” He commented as he placed both hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her just past the door to her apartment.

“Who’s seeing you home?” She blurted in a tumble of words as she felt his hands release her.

“I’m not too far from here, so I’m pretty sure I can manage.” Simon shrugged, “Good nig-“

Simon was pulled into the moonlit home by the collar of his jacket, but the momentum toppled him forward, where he found himself pinning Rasaura to the floor, bringing heat to both their faces.