#catharinaloss

Simon bit down on his lip, and Jace instantly recognized that expression as Simon trying to hold back a smile. Jace offered the rope again with a smirk, realizing that Simon’s resolve was crumbling.

“Fuck, fine! Fine, okay, cool,” Simon stuttered out, grabbing the rope with two hands.  

Jace let go and took a step back, giving Simon an encouraging nod. 

“Just a tip: whatever you do, don’t look down,” Jace said, giving Simon a thumbs up when he smiled weakly. 

“Okay, I can do this. I got this,” Simon said. Jace barely heard Simon’s quiet ‘come on spiderman’ that he whispered to himself before he was off, climbing the rope. 

Jace watched him intently, and while he was almost positive Simon would stop at most halfway up, Simon just kept going. He continued to grab the rope and hoist himself up, and Jace’s jaw actually dropped when Simon reached the top and rang the bell. 

Izzy and Jace were the only ones able to reach the top in their entire grade. 

Jace cheered for him loudly, pumping his fist in the air.  

“Jace?” Simon shouted from the top. “I don’t think I can’t get down.” 

“One hand after the other, babe, you got this,” Jace replied loudly, watching Simon hesitantly move back down the rope.

A little more than halfway down, Simon panicked and dropped down on the matt below with a soft thud. Jace ran to him immediately, shaking his head fondly. 

“I can’t believe after almost a year of dating you I haven’t learned to stop underestimating you,” Jace said, laughing as he hoisted Simon up, gripping his shoulders. “You did it, man!” 

“I did, didn’t I?” Simon said, blinking a few times before grinning widely. He pushed his glasses up his nose before grabbing Jace’s face and kissing him, grinning into the kiss. 

Jace cupped the back of Simon’s head, kissing him deeper. Simon pulled away after a moment, kissing Jace’s lips again briefly. 

“Thank you,” Simon said, cupping Jace’s face. “For helping me today.” 

“Anytime,” Jace replied, smiling as he pushed Simon’s hair out of his face. “Now you just have to do it in gym class tomorrow.”