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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Psychics, Secrets, AndSnags Verse(6)~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A Study In Chaos… Story 2 Psychics, Secrets And Snags Verse (Verse6) Description:

Opposites attract is a nice concept but how does that translate to two strong willed, stubborn detectives with wildly different techniques working an actual case?

Well…Alec and Magnus are about to find out…

Meanwhile Simon and Kevin catch a case at Chaos. Simon's excited to get to see Raphael again as he's been busy all week and hasn't got a chance…

Or he WAS…until he realizes Raphael hasn't been so much 'busy' as 'blowing him off'…which…well…sucks…

But he has a case and he's not letting a personal setback get in his way.

Story Notes:

Alright this is the last of this round of stories to start- and there's a reason I waited for last on it. This one's gonna be tricky for me. You all know I adore my fluffy, cute Saphael and nine times out of ten everything with them is all happy, fluffy and near instantaneous…

Umm…y-yeah…

T-this would be the tenth…

You know it's gonna happen but it's not gonna be all sunshine and puppies here. There's a lot for them to work through….a lot for them (mainly Raphael) to get past, a lot of self-doubt, and a lot of denial, misinterpretation and well…idiocy…

Not gonna lie the start of this is gonna be hard for me- I'm gonna have to force myself to ignore my instant, knee jerk instincts to jump right to the fluffies with these two. It's gonna be hard but it will be worth it I promise…

Guess we might just have to push the Zanik a bit quicker to balance it out…think most would be good with that, yeah?

Kay enough of me babbling…

Let's see where this one goes…

Chapter 1: Too Good For Bad News…{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-* {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}

Simon: Hey, hope things are going good for you. I know you have a lot going with the club opening and the move and all of that- can't imagine how much you have to juggle right now. Guess I keep missing you. Anyways, I just wanted to say again that I had a really great time last week meeting you and whenever you get a bit of free time I'd really love to see you again.

Hope everything's going good.

Have a wonderful day!

Raphael sighed, rereading the text from yesterday morning for what seemed like the hundredth time, finger hovering over the delete button, yet again unable to actually go through with it. He should, it's about the only way he can think to make this less painful.

And yet he can't.

He slumped back against the bar, idly flicking through the multitude of messages from the past week. He's actually surprised they're still coming- figured they'd trickle off after the second or third day of no responses. Simon was very sharp and despite the sweetness and near innocence he wasn't actually naïve.

By now the guy had to be at least somewhat suspecting it was more than just he's busy and hadn't got the time to respond. He figured the messages would either taper off or become shorter, maybe even sharp or annoyed asking what his issue was but they never did. They were still coming, still the same bright, cheery tone.

It made this so much harder.

They were always sweet and kinda long winded and babbly, no matter how much reading them hurt he couldn't quite keep from smiling whenever he got one. Asking how he was, how the club was doing, telling him about crazy cases or ridiculous suspects, just random little funny things to make him smile or brighten up his day. Saying how nice it was meeting him and how much he'd love to see him again.

God, they were so damn sweet, adorable and endearing.

So inherently 'Simon'.

That was kinda the problem.

Part of him hopes they stop soon, it's getting harder and harder to resist the urge to respond. Every time he hears his phone blip with the specific tone he feels a little flutter in his stomach, a giddy little buzz slipping through him, followed near immediately by the sudden drop- plummeting mood when he has to force himself not to respond.

It's so hard, near painfully hard- but he knows it's how it has to be.

That's how it has to be for Simon's sake.

That makes it worth it…

Doesn't make it any easier though.

Honestly he really should just block the number. He knows he should…It would probably make this a fair bit easier if he didn't see the sweet notes, funny little quips and jokes, cute comments and bright, cheery babbly rambles that were just so perfectly Simon. It'd be so much easier if he wasn't constantly reminded of everything he's turning his back on. So much easier if he could just shut it all out completely.

And yet he can't seem to bring himself to do it. Can't bring himself to give up these last little fleeting glimpses of the brightest, sweetest, best person he's ever met.

God…Simon Lewis really was something else. I mean yeah, the guy was cute…well okay…so he was way beyond cute- like hands down the most adorable person he has ever seen; like ever. With the soft, verging-on pretty features and that big, brilliant smile, the wild chaotic mess of soft light brown hair and those big, bright golden brown eyes.

God those eyes.

They were beautiful to be sure but there was so much there…so much he could see in that pretty, warm, oh so soft gaze. There was intelligence and strength and heart and so much brightness. So much hope, compassion, empathy and excitement.

So much light.

The guy was like a freaking living, breathing, excitably babbling Christmas tree. Being near him made Raphael feel lighter, happier, near giddy.

It was dizzying, overwhelming, infectious….

Damn near addicting.

Simon was unlike anyone Raphael had ever met. So amazingly sweet and bright, even though it was a cliché the guy really was like a breath of fresh air. Honestly even though neither of them were quite willing to call it that the evening meeting Simon was probably the best date he's had in his entire life. He was so unique and so amazingly animated. Being around him just made everything feel lighter, happier…just...better.

If he didn't know any better he'd swear the man must have some kind of hypnotic or psychotropic kind of abilities. He's never felt that relaxed, happy and comfortable with someone he just met…or…well…anyone really. Raphael probably laughed more in the few hours they spent together than he has in the past month. There was something about his personality that was just downright infectious. He couldn't help but smile every time he looked at the guy.

There little 'not a date' was probably the best night of Raphael's entire life. They'd went to his office, chatted for a while over their coffee, Simon told him about the 'Komodo Caper' as they had decided to call it (During which Raphael had laughed so hard he ended up with a stitch in his side and near gasping for breath.). It was both a hilarious story and one hell of an ice breaker. Raphael really had never felt so comfortable with someone so quickly.

They'd talked about the psychic thing, Simon told him the story of how he found out (okay so Magnus had actually already told him that but Simon told it way better). Raphael had even ended up telling his finding out story as well. In truth he hadn't even meant to do it, it just kind of slipped out- which was honestly pretty bizarre-

I mean really ' So all my life I thought I was some bizarre freak of nature that had to steal energy from others and that the weird buzzing, tingling feeling that you get from other psychics was just a way to sense better prey and I only found out the truth when a flashy detective in bright blue heeled boots, WAY too many sparkles and shimmery blue lipstick ambushed me, crowing triumphantly and babbling about psychics while brandishing what looked like a necklace out of a bubble gum machine as if it was freaking kryptonite' is not really a 'first date' kinda conversation.

And yet it just kinda came out…and it was fine! It really was. He wasn't creeped out or morbidly curious or any of those kind of things. It really felt like he genuinely 'got' what Raphael was describing and yet he never felt pity from the other man, just empathy and compassion. He listened, laughed at the ridiculousness that was Magnus's arrest, kind of neatly sidestepped the whole 'arrest' thing (which was both a surprise AND a relief).

It was just so easy and effortless.

It was the least self-conscious he's ever felt while discussing his past. He didn't even know that was possible.

But then again that was just Simon.

He knew the man was an empath and yet the level of empathy, heart and compassion he felt from him all but knocked him off his feet at every turn.

They'd talked a while longer before finally moving out into the club. He showed Simon around, they'd went to the bar and had a drink (that Raphael made for them…just to keep from bothering the busy bartenders of course- it had nothing to do with the brilliant, beaming smile Simon gave him or anything), danced together a few songs…and okay, then a few more. He'd even taken him up and showed him the security room and the effects and lightning area. They'd actually been nearly an hour late meeting up with the others but he can't really say it wasn't worth it.

The group ended up having to call it a night around one, he walked Simon out, still chatting, teasing and laughing…Simon had even surprised him, darting forward quickly, hugging him goodbye, pressing a quick, near shy kiss to his cheek before quickly pulling away, cheeks and the tips of his cute little ears tinged an enticing pink, giving an adorably animated, bubbly wave and the prettiest smile Raphael had ever seen.

It really was easily one of- if not the- best nights of his life.

Simon truly was something else. Without a doubt the most beautiful person he has ever seen- both inside and out…which was kinda the problem.

Simon was amazing…so bright and open and compassionate…

So very happy…

And he deserved to stay that way.

That's not gonna happen if he ended up getting involved with someone like Raphael…it's just not.

Raphael's under no allusions about himself. He's moody, snarky and gloomy. Simon's 'supervillian' comment honestly was mainly so funny because it could have so easily be true. I mean for god's sakes: he's a freaking Psychic Vampiric enthraller.

That's not even just 'kinda' supervillianish- that's full on black cape, eye patch, shark tank, death ray level supervillian territory. He's a dismal, bitingly sarcastic, just barely law abiding club owner who needs to consciously stop himself from mesmerizing people while at the same time literally feeding on them…well their essences- same differences.

Meanwhile Simon is the most empathic empath he's ever met, a detective and basically a human shaped ball of happiness, warmth and light.

I mean okay, yes, he knows the old adage 'opposites attract' and all that but really there's 'opposites' and then there's opposites .

As much as he would love to have a chance with someone as sweet, kind and amazing as Simon he knows it just wouldn't be fair to the guy. He really does just have to face facts.

The man is flat out too damn good for him.

He deserves better. He deserves the best.

And that is not Raphael Santiago…

It's just not.

There's no doubt in his mind the best thing to do is just walk away now…before he gets in too far to think clear headed enough to step back.

Simon will probably be upset for a while (and he has no doubt whenever Magnus finds out he's basically ditching his new friend/colleague there'll be hell to pay) but he's sure Simon will get over it soon enough…the man has to have better options.

And Simon absolutely deserved the best.

He has no doubt in his mind that's exactly what he's going to find.

It just won't be with him.

No matter how much he wishes it would be.

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*~*~*End Of Chapter Notes*~*~*

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Umm…yeah….

Sorry guys. I know this was a bit of a downer- I promise it's not gonna be all doom and gloom…(Hey I told you there's a reason I put this one off till the end.)

I know this was just Raph spinning about Simon but we had to start somewhere- figured starting with Raph's POV and why he's basically ditching Simon would be the best.

But hey, good news, I now have all 9 stories started for this round so yay!

So what do you guys think so far?

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*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Psychics, Secrets, AndSnags Verse(6)~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*