"Dios, I look ridiculous." Simon turned around to evaluate Raphael's current attire, designer jeans and a button-up shirt Simon knew Magnus must have given him. Reaching out to grab hold of a pair of belt loops on Raphael's jeans, Simon pulled him in as close as possible.
"You definitely look stunning to me," he replied before leaning in to give Raphael a quick kiss. Looking slightly annoyed at how short the kiss had been, Raphael turned back to study himself in the mirror.
Simon couldn't help but smile; he and Raphael had been dating for almost a year now. Although Simon was still a Daylighter, he had developed a nocturnal schedule as a way to keep up their relationship. About a week ago, Raphael had made the mistake of complaining that they never had any "adventurous" dates anymore. Now they were suddenly being whisked away on a double date with Magnus and Alec.
"Remind me again why we are doing this, Lewis." Raphael's voice was more of a groan, and Simon could tell that he was still caught up in his appearance.
"Well, Santiago, we are doing this because Magnus is terribly excited to have planned this date." He came to stand behind Raphael, wrapping his arms around the other man and resting his chin on Raphael's shoulder. "We are also doing this because, knowing Magnus, we cannot leave Alec to deal with whatever Magnus has planned. We are men, Raphael, we can do this, no matter how scary Magnus's date ideas always are."
Raphael grinned as Simon used his name. They had become used to calling each other by their last names, using first names when they wanted to show more affection, affection that was crystal clear in Simon's voice.
"No, no," began Raphael as he turned around to face Simon. "I get that. But what I don't get, Simon, is why we are letting Magnus surprise us."
This time, Raphael went in for a kiss, and Simon reacted eagerly, leaning into Raphael as he always did. And as always, the world around Simon melted, nothing other than Raphael mattered. He felt like he was home, safe and sound within Raphael's arms.
Smiling, Simon broke off the kiss and gazed back at a highly annoyed Raphael. "You know, Santiago, if we keep going, we'll never make it to our date."
Turning out of Simon's arms, Raphael smiled enough to show off his fangs. "Why are you always the responsible one, Lewis?"
"Someone has to balance you out, Raphael."
Simon liked to think that he knew a thing or two about terrible dates, he sort of thought of himself as the master of terrible dates. But this date, was going so terribly that Simon was certain it topped any terrible date on his list.
He was currently attempting to hold back laughter at the terrible awkwardness that had just spread over the table. If Raphael's rock hard grip on Simon's hand and the glare full of death that Alec was giving him across the table were any evidence, he was failing miserably at containing it.
They were having dinner at a Downworlder-exclusive restaurant, and Simon was nervously trying to figure out what else Magnus apparently had planned. Their waitress, an obviously young warlock, had just uttered perhaps the funniest question Simon had ever heard anyone ask Magnus, and he was having immense trouble keeping that fact to himself. Now that Simon thought about it, it looked like Alec was having trouble too; he looked like he was about pass out from trying to keep his mouth shut.
"Why, Mr. Bane!" Their waitress had exclaimed. "I heard that your….preferences were a bit….exotic. But I had no idea you were this brave!" Magnus was visibly confused, as was everyone at the table. Until she clarified and everyone became in danger of busting out laughing. "What's it like to, you know…"
Magnus's voice was surprisingly calm when he answered. "No, I don't think I understand. Please, go ahead and enlighten me."
The girl looked embarrassed as she began speaking again. "Well…how is it to…take on a Shadowhunter and two vampires…you know…in bed?"
To no one's surprise, Magnus didn't skip a beat, suddenly becoming overly serious. "Oh, you have no idea. It's got to be the scariest thing I've ever done." He dropped her a glittering wink and she ran to get their food, obviously flustered.
It was then that Simon and Alec burst into laughter while Raphael looked as though he could die, again. Simon rearranged his grip in Raphael's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze as he leaned over and whispered in his boyfriend's ear, "Oh come on, have a sense of humor."
Raphael turned and gave Simon a slight grin, and it looked as though he wanted to kiss Simon until Alec started speaking.
"I've been on a few terrible dates, no offense, Magnus." At that, Magnus inclined his head and flashed them all a smile. "But this has got to be one of the worst," finished Alec.
It was Raphael's turn to speak up and give a question of his own. "What? I thought it was going swimmingly. I mean, between the werewolf fight we somehow got in the middle of on the way here, then the demon that attacked Alec shortly after, and now this terribly awkward waitress not to mention the stares from almost everyone in here, what's not to love about this date?"
Anyone who didn't know Raphael would have said that he was being completely serious about hating the date, but Simon knew him well enough to hear the stubble hint of sarcasm that came along with what he was newly able to recognize as joy.
"Well, I know that all three of you have been terribly nervous about what I have planned," Magnus's voice was full of amusement. "But, I planned something I think everyone will love, no tricks, no surprises, I swear."
Simon chuckled as Alec spoke up. "No glitter?" Magnus nudged him lovingly and simply shook his head.
As they ate their food, Simon couldn't stop wondering what else could possibly happen to them that night, what Magnus was going to have them do. On their way out, Magnus made the comment that he had a couple of friends helping him put it together. Simon's anxiety heightened as he realized they were walking back toward Magnus and Alec's apartment.
He felt Raphael's grip on his hand tighten as he seemed to realize that fact seconds after Simon. He looked over at Simon, a question clear on his lips but Simon simply shrugged and continued walking.
When they arrived at Magnus and Alec's, Magnus threw the door open with a flourish. "Welcome, to my humble project," he said with a flashy grin.
Simon was watching Raphael as the door opened, and he was pleasantly surprised as Raphael's face lit up with pure elation.