Written for comment_fic on Livejournal

Prompt was for "Lies Day", S/L, "I Hate You"

"These are not small time criminals, Shawn! They aren't going to stare confused while you act 'psychic' to stall them."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Lassie. And you wouldn't even know about the case if I hadn't found it! Do I have to say it? Because I'll say it. Fine, you made me do this, Lassie. DIBS!"

"There are no dibs with gangsters, Shawn. If they find out who you are, they'll shoot first and ask why you're an idiot later."

"Oh, come on, Lassie. They may be hardened criminals, but that doesn't mean they would say hurtful things."

Lassiter shoved Shawn against the wall and moved within inches of his face. "This is not a joke Shawn! You stay away from this case or I will throw you in jail for fraud!"

"Fraud?" Shawn asked, feigning innocence, "You still don't think I'm psychic after all this time?"

"After all this time, don't you think I've gathered enough evidence to prove that you're not?"

Shawn paled at the comment. "You're bluffing."

"Try me," Lassiter spat.

Shawn smirked in disbelief.

Lassiter responded, "Photographic memory. Deductive reasoning. Partner with encyclopedic knowledge. Psychic act that gets people to open up to you. Plus, any number of instances where your 'act' was dropped as soon as you realized people were in immediate danger."

Shawn tried to calm himself but Lassiter's smug look pushed him over the edge. "Really? You're using THAT against me? I've solved crimes you couldn't! And I've helped you! And you've been working this whole time to put me in prison?"

"I've just been keeping tabs in case you ever got so stupid that I needed to use it!!"

"You really hate me that much, Carlton?!"

"Yes!"

Shawn was silenced for once. He looked shocked, then hurt and betrayed. He pushed away from Lassiter and stormed out.

Lassiter sighed. He wasn't sure if he would really arrest Shawn, but he honestly was thinking about keeping him in holding for a couple of days to stop him from getting himself killed. He wished he had played it smoother, convinced Shawn rationally instead of playing the authority card (which has never, ever worked with Shawn).

And he really wished he hadn't lied. It had been an issue with them, ever since that case with the astronomer. When they had started their not-relationship. An occasional drunken make-out session, even a couple of times with Shawn going down on him. And Shawn would act like nothing happened, except that he would act even more obnoxious and antagonistic than usual, and Lassiter didn't need the drama so he would pretend too.

And then Lassiter would get a 2AM call from a slurring and drunken Shawn, saying "You never even liked me," "You don't think I'm good enough for you," and "You don't even want me, you're just looking for a way to hurt me!" Followed by crying and then apologies for being over-emotional and then "Let's pretend I never called, 'kay?"

Shawn always acted like he didn't remember calling. But Lassiter had observed Shawn enough to recognize the really obvious lies.

Too bad Shawn didn't seem to have that same skill with Lassiter. Because now Shawn would think that his worst insecurities were just confirmed. Even though he was just trying to protect Shawn. To keep him safe at any cost, even if it meant being the kind of obsessive overbearing ass that made people despise him.

And he had meant to tell Shawn that it was because he loved him. But what came out was "I hate you."

Kisses. Sex. Murder. And the phrase "I hate you."

Some things you don't get to take back.