A Study In Chaos- Story 2 (Verse 6 Psychics, Secrets & Snags)

by MistyMay6886

Simon and Kevin investigates a case at Chaos- that would be great...if Raphael wasn't purposefully ducking Simon... But why is he? Read to find out... Meanwhile Magnus and Alec try to find a balance with their vastly different styles- just how accurate is 'opposite's attract?

12. Chapter 12- Did NOT See That Coming

{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*]*~Multiverse Mysteries~*[*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*}

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Chapter 12:

Did NOT See That Coming…

{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-* {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}

"So you really have no clue?"

Magnus shrugged, giving a fluttering wave, reaching forward, holding the elevator door as the taller man stepped on, quickly slipping inside as well, hitting the button for the bullpen.

"Nope, not a one." He huffed, gesturing animatedly towards the elevator buttons.

"And why do we have to keep hard copies of the files? You know everything is digital now, right? Why do we have to waste the last ten minutes of our shift running paper files down to a musty old basement, locking them away in some cabinet that'll likely never be opened again?"

Alec shrugged.

"Luke insists. He says digital data is too easily changed or corrupted. Gotta admit I agree with him. It's much more convenient having the digital copies but when the only copies of the information is just in that one, easily accessible place it's just far too easy for someone who change it.

A hard copy is permanent and so long as it's stored safely incorruptible. It just makes sense…

And we've already went over this you're just trying to get me off topic." He smirked, leaning back against the wall of the elevator, shaking his head.

"It's not gonna happen by the way. I'm a hell of a lot harder to shake than that. It was Raphael wasn't it?"

Magnus sputtered, shaking his head.

"Wh-what? What's Raphael?"

Alec snorted, brow rising sarcastically.

"Really Magnus, that's the best you can do?"

Magnus glanced over, brow quirking right back.

"What? I have no idea what you're getting at. Raphael wasn't anywhere near our case."

"Uh huh…"

"He wasn't! I've barely even talked to him today."

"Sure you h-"

"I haven't! I mean I called a minute just to check in but that's it. He seemed pretty busy with his own thing, as he tends to be. Guy does tend to have a lot going on. I told you- I have no clue who the 'concerned 3rd party' was. It was probably just someone who was at the museum when we were there and saw what was going on, or maybe a friend of Maiara.

Girl was already suspicious of us and thought we were throwing her friend under the bus. Yeah, she'd told him she'd stay out of it but…well…maybe she lied. Situation reversed I would. Maybe she wanted to make sure he was okay and if she's known him that long she probably also knows he's not that big on lawyers so she probably just wanted to make sure he was covered.

Can't say I'd blame her."

"Uh huh…" Alec agreed, totally unconvincingly.

The door dings, slipping open, Alec chuckles, rolling his eyes exasperatedly, slipping forward, holding the door of the elevator for Magnus. The shorter detective huffs, rolling his eyes right back, flashing a totally heatless glare, playfully nudging Alec's shoulder.

"Hey! You're my partner; you're supposed to back me up. I backed you with Caleb."

Alec snorted, shaking his head, once more falling into step next to him.

"No you didn't! You practically threw me under the bus!"

"I did not! I j-"

"Oh please! You told the suspect YOU totally believed them- that I was the one with doubts. You basically set me up to play the heavy." He shrugged, giving a bit of a conceding wave.

"I mean don't get me wrong; it was clearly the right play- guy was practically moony eyed over you. Situation reversed I'd probably do the same thing and I knew what you were doing right from the start but even so-"

"Even so I had your back the entire time. I may not have been totally sold on your theory but I backed you and gave you the benefit of the doubt. Don't know why I shouldn't expect you to do the same, especially when it's just you and me."

Alec chuckled, brow rising expectantly.

"Even when it's just you lying to me?"

Magnus sputtered.

"I'm not ly-"

Alec snorted, rolling his eyes, shaking his head.

"Yeah, like you weren't lying about the sw-"

"Oh we've been over this! That wasn't lying. It was being observant…and what makes you so sure I'm lying now?"

Alec smirked, shrugging, glancing over, gaze flickering over him, smirk picking up a tic.

"Because you're not the only one who can pick up on details…and you- Detective Bane- have a tell."

Magnus's steps faltered, blinking.

"What?! I do not."

Alec smirked, brow rising, leaning in a bit, gaze flickering over him.

"Then how do I know you're lying right now?"

"Oh that's j-I'm not- ugh. You don't know anything of the sort. I'm not lying."

"Of course you're not."

"I'm n-"

Alec chuckled, shrugging unconcerned, holding up his hand placatingly.

"Okay fine…You win, I believe you. Not like it's hard to fact check. I'll know soon enough…" He smiled again, shrugging, turning continuing towards the door of the precinct.

Magnus paused a moment before seemingly startling, scrambling after him, once more moving in tandem, giving a faint chuckle and a casual wave.

"And what does that mean?"

Alec shrugged, flashing a faint smile, glancing over.

"Well if you're telling the truth right now and I think I know what your tell is then clearly I'm way off base and you have no tell. But if you are lying right now and I AM picking up on it then you DO have a tell and I now know what it is.

Like I said, easy enough to fact check."

Magnus nodded, the pair pausing momentarily at their desks, gathering their things, turning off their computers before finishing up, continuing on, heading towards the doors of the precinct.

Magnus slowed a bit, glancing over curiously, head tilting.

"So what's my tell?"

Alec chuckled, brow quirking in amusement.

"So you're admit-"

Magnus laughed, waving him off, shaking his head.

"Hey I'm not admitting to anything. I'm just curious what it is you're so convinced is my tell."

Alec laughed, flashing a teasingly impish smile, leaning in faintly.

"What's it matter if you're not lying?"

Magnus huffed, eyes widening, holding his hand up.

"Well clearly you think something I do is an indicator I'm lying. If I'm not lying when I do it than it's not a tell but if every time you catch it you think I'm lying than it's incorrectly telling you I'm lying. I need to know what my not a tell – tell is so I know if I'm accidentally telling you something that I'm not actually telling you…" he trailed off, head tilting, nose scrunching, going back over it in his head before nodding, giving a flickering little wave.

"Yeah that tracks…"

Alec snorted, blinking shaking his head faintly.

"I'll take your word for it."

Magnus smiled, nodding, perking up a bit, glancing over, nudging his shoulder, catching his eye.

"It does. So…what's my not a tell- tell?"

Alec smirked, nudging his shoulder right back brow quirking playfully.

"I'm not telling."

Magnus huffed, flashing a heatless glare, lightly smacking his arm. Alec just chuckled, shrugging before taking a few long strides ahead of Magnus, catching the door, pulling it open.

"Here I got it." Alec smiled, holding it for Magnus.

Magnus gave a soft, low chuckle, nodding thanks, flashing a flirty little wink, slipping through a fair bit closer than was strictly necessary, brushing lightly against him.

"Well thank you gorgeous. And they say chivalry is dead."

Alec scoffed, rolling his eyes in amusement, shaking head, nose scrunching.

"Ugh that term has been totally ruined. It's like 'nice guy'. Just a term creeps use to explain why they're owed something. It's went from being a simple descriptor to a near certain red flag."

Magnus snorted, head tilting concedingly, gesturing towards him.

"Too true."

Alec nodded, settling close to his side.

"It's not chivalry, just common courtesy." He shifted, closing the door, falling into step next to Magnus as they made their way out of the precinct, heading to the parking structure across the street.

Magnus snorted, brow quirking.

"Sweetheart Common courtesy is like common decency and common sense- anything but common."

Alec huffed out a faint laugh, shrugging.

"Yeah I guess it does seem like that sometimes but then again people can surprise you."

Magnus chuckled, head tilting concedingly, holding up a finger.

"Oh absolutely…but it's not generally a good surprise."

Alec chuckled, giving a bit of a wave.

"But sometimes it is. I mean look at today with Caleb? That was a good surprise, right?"

Magnus smirked, shrugging, giving a fluttering wave towards him.

"For you maybe- I totally saw it coming."

Alec snorted, rolling his eyes, nudging his shoulder.

"Uh huh, sure you did."

Magnus gasped, nudging his back.

"I did! I told you both I didn't think he was a thief."

Alec shook his head, smiling.

"You were working him!"

"I was n-"

Alec laughed.

"The hell you weren't! You played the guy like a fiddle. With the makeup camaraderie and the flirting-"

Magnus huffed, rolling his eyes, waving him off.

"I wasn't flirting! I'm just naturally flirty."

Alec snorted, brow quirking in amusement.

"Is that like lying without lying?"

He chuckled, head tilting concedingly.

"Kind of but not."

Alec chuckled, shrugging.

"Gotta admit, whatever it is it does seem to work. The guy bought your play hook, line and sinker."

"Well that's probably because it wasn't a play."

Alec's steps faltered, head tilting, glancing over curiously.

"It wasn't? I thought you were doing the whole 'good cop, bad cop' thing. I figured you saw how taken he was with you and how he seemed to feel like he could connect with you and you just ran with that."

"No…well…kinda? I don't know, I suppose a bit…" Magnus shrugged, sighing, reaching up, tucking a soft, loose lock of teal tinted hair behind his ear, finger trailing along the dragon earcuff, giving a fluttering little wave with his free hand.

Alec settled closer, shoulder brushing against Magnus's.

"What do you mean?"

Magnus again shrugged.

"I-I don't know. I really don't play people- At least not intentionally. Well not in general in any case. I know I seem like the type and I guess it does really sometimes come off like that- especially in there with Caleb but I really don't do that too often. Well at least I don't unless it's someone who really has it coming. Caleb was most definitely not that kind of person. He was just a good guy who got into a desperate situation.

I know how it seemed with the makeup conversation and the flirtatiousness and the heart to heart about fitting in and standing out and all of that that it seemed like some kind of play or a calculated move but it really wasn't."

Alec settled closer, head tilting curiously.

"That wasn't a play?"

Magnus shook his head, shrugging.

"No…that was just me. I knew exactly what he meant and I totally understood how he felt. I wasn't trying to connect with him to be able to work him better; I was just connecting because we had a like view of things."

Alec slowed faintly, glancing over somewhat unsure.

"Oh…so, you like him?"

Magnus shrugged, nodding.

"Well of course I like him. He seems like a wonderful person; intelligent, handsome, nice personality, great sense of humor. Why wouldn't I like him? Didn't you?"

Alec shrugged, tucking his hands in his pockets.

"I-well-I don't know, I guess. He seemed like a nice enough guy. I mean he's not really my type bu-"

Magnus blinked, startling.

"Oh! You meant am I interested in him?"

"Ye-"

"Oh wow, no of course not!"

Alec relaxed faintly, nodding, giving a shrug.

"Really? You seemed to have a lot in common a-"

"Sweetheart, he was a suspect!"

"My suspect-"

"Yes, he was your suspect. My partner's suspect." He chuckled, brow quirking, glancing over at Alec.

"Darling I know I have a tendency to skirt the rules and kinda play fast and loose with things like protocol and all of that but there are some lines even I won't cross.

Not fraternizing with suspects is pretty close to the top of the list."

Alec shrugged, head tilting concedingly, holding up a finger.

"Fair enough…but he's no longer a suspect."

Magnus smirked, dizzying brown eyes sparking playfully.

"Hmm…that IS true…"

Alec nodded.

"And you did say you liked him and you clearly have a lot in common…"

"Also true…"

Alec nodded again, kind of shifting, scratching at his neck.

"Right…so…you gonna see him again?"

Magnus smirked, coming to a stop, glancing over, brow quirking teasingly.

"Why detective Alexander Lightwood, are you jealous?"

Alec sputtered, startling.

"I-wha-NO…I'm not I j-I was just wondering."

"Uh huh…"

"I was!"

Magnus snickered, Alec glared, nudging his shoulder, shaking his head faintly, shrugging.

"I'm not jealous…just curious." Alec shrugged, beginning to move, Magnus once more falling into step next to him.

"You're my partner; I'm just trying to get to know you better." He paused, glancing over, going for causal and curious, head tilting.

"So is that your type?"

Magnus chuckled, brow quirking.

"What? Tall, dark and gorgeous with a good sense of humor, a moral compass and a great personality? Isn't that pretty much everyone's type?"

Alec huffed out a faintly conceding laugh.

"Okay fair enough but I m-"

Magnus laughed softly, settling closer, reaching over, resting his hand on Alec's arm, squeezing.

"Darling I'm just messing with you. Caleb was delightful and to be honest if I met him another way there's a definite possibility there'd be a major spark there. But I met him as a suspect on a case. There's some lines I just really wouldn't cross…at least almost never.

But then again there's exceptions to every rule. I mean there's only so much willpower one poor little detective can have. Caleb was hot and interesting and definitely intriguing but at the end of the day not really the 'throw caution to the wind, say to hell with it and roll the dice cause it's too good to pass up' type…" he paused, smirking, glancing over, nudging Alec's shoulder, flashing a flirty little wink, brow waggling playfully.

"Now if YOU were my suspect-"

Alec laughed, shaking his head, brow quirking, playfully nudging Magnus's shoulder.

"Me a suspect?"

Magnus shrugged.

"Hey I could totally see it. Getting you in an interrogation, cross-examination, cuffs…maybe a strip search."

Alec flushed, a slightly too high laugh slipping out, rolling his eyes, once again nudging Magnus's shoulder.

"Oh yeah, as if between the two of us I'd be the suspect."

Magnus smirked, gaze flickering over Alec.

"Seems like I win either way."

Alec huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head.

"You're too much."

Magnus shrugged, giving a flippant wave.

"Eh I'm an acquired taste; you'll learn to love it."

Alec chuckled, brow rising.

"Just like I will with your organized chaos method?"

Magnus smirked, brow rising pointedly.

"Hey did it work, or did it work?"

Alec held his hands up placatingly.

"It worked…it was insane and confusing and there were a few times that I really felt like I was setting myself up to shoot myself in the foot…but you're right. It did all work out."

Magnus smiled, giving a soft chuckle, nodding.

"Yeah it can sometimes feel like that but like I said I got you. There's a learning curve to it but you'll get the hang of it."

Alec huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head lightly.

"I don't know about that."

Magnus shrugged unconcerned.

"You will- I sense it."

Alec huffed out a faint laugh, rolling his eyes.

"The psychic thing again…really?"

Magnus grinned, shrugging.

"Well how else do you explain me knowing everything?"

Alec snorted.

"Oh please! You don't know everything."

Magnus scoffed.

"What don't I know?"

"That's a pretty long list."

Magnus gasped, nudging his shoulder.

"It is not."

"Is too."

"Like what, if you're so sure. Give me an example!"

"Who's the concerned 3rd party?"

"I- that's a fluke."

"Uh huh…"

Magnus huffed out a faint laugh, shrugging.

"For the last time I don't know! Like I said, I'd just gone to find Maiara and explain what happened. I figured once she understood what happened she'd drop the case. No case, no arrest. The rest I just don't know. I mean I figured we could pull some records and maybe Maiara would share some of the info Thad used to verify his ownership of the artifacts which would be a good starting point but I didn't have much worked out after that.

It must have been a good Samaritan who heard about the case."

"Yeah of course…And why aren't your 'amazing psychic powers' telling you who it is?"

Magnus faltered, shrugging dismissively.

"I don't know, they're kinda spotty right now- mercury must be in retrograde or something."

Alec snorted, brow quirking.

"Mercury's i- what does that even mean?"

Magnus chuckled, shrugging, giving a fluttering little wave.

"I don't know, it's just something I hear tossed out on cheesy shows like that dreadful 'Ghosts Of His Past'."

Alec faltered, steps slowing faintly, glancing over, curiously tilting his head.

"Oh, you watch that?"

Magnus scoffed, shaking his head.

"Not if I can help it. It's total dreck. It's so cheesy and cringy and oh dear lord that lead is the worst actor I've ever seen. He's such an overly fussy, scenery chewing showboat he j-umm…wha-?" he trailed off, slowing to a stop, blinking in confusion looking over his partner who at this point nearly doubled over in laughter.

"Umm…darling- are you alri-"

Alec laughed brightly, nodding, waving him off, standing up straighter, taking a few deep breaths trying to get his laughing fit under control.

"Y-yeah…sorry. I'm good. I just didn't expect that."

Magnus blinked, head tilting curiously.

"You didn't expect tha- what would it matter what I think of some scenery chewing, showboating, peroxide blonde wanna be pretty boy actor?"

Alec snickered, brow quirking in amusement, giving a fluttering wave.

"The scenery chewing, showboating, peroxide blonde, wanna be pretty boy actor? He's-"

Magnus gasped, starting, eyes widening.

"Lightwood- Jace Lightwood. You're related to h-"

Alec laughed brightly, nodding.

"Yeah, he's my brother."

Magnus huffed, blinking, head shaking, giving an animated wave.

"Oh my god, HOW did I not put that together? I know his name! I've known it for years. That damn abomination of a show is going into like its fifth season. His obnoxious headshot was on the dart board in the back of Clary's old occult shop back in Brooklyn. AND is already hung up in the new one she has here too- it's like a staple of the place.

How did I miss that?"

Alec chuckles, shrugging.

"I don't know- maybe Mercury's in retrograde." He chuckled again before pausing, head tilting.

"Wait, your friend has my brothers' picture on a dartboard? Like your NICE friend? The non-Raphael friend? Should I be worried?"

Magnus chuckled, waving him off.

"No, no he's fine…he's just really not too popular in more metaphysical/paranormal type circles. Occultists, Wiccans, palm readers, seers- all of them kinda see him as giving them a bad name. He's basically to psychics what chief Wiggum from the Simpsons is to police officers."

Alec snickered. Magnus shrugged, totally unapologetically, rolling his eyes, head tilting, glancing over in surprise.

"I can't believe I didn't know this. We've been partners for a week! How do I not know this?"

Alec smirked, brow quirking teasingly.

"I don't know…kinda seems like one of those things your 'amazing psychic abilities' would loop you in on."

Magnus huffed, nudging his shoulder, rolling his eyes exasperatedly.

"Whatever…you're probably just blocking the info somehow. When it's something extremely personal or extremely embarrassing people can sometimes mentally shield that kind of thing. Totally fits here."

Alec chuckled, rolling his eyes right back, waving him off.

"Yeah sure, that's it…"

Magnus chuckled, shrugging.

"Hey it makes sense. You're the kind who tends to play it close to the vest; you don't really broadcast your feelings- stands to reason the same would go for your personal info and the like." He smiled, glancing over, brow quirking curiously.

"So really, how has this not come up in a week of partnership?"

Alec sighed, shrugging faintly, scratching at the back of his neck.

"Eh, I wasn't exactly 'hiding it'. It's not like I'd flat out deny it or whatever if someone asks. I just don't generally make a point of announcing it."

Magnus snorted, nodding emphatically.

"Yeah I get that. If I was related to that I'd be pretty set on downplaying it as much as possible too."

Alec gives a faint gasp/half laugh, nudging him again, brow quirking in gentle, playful censure.

"Hey now- brother. He's a pain but I still love him to death. Don't get me wrong; he drives me up the wall and is a walking headache and at times he's as fussy and yappy as a freaking show poodle but he's still my little brother, my family and one of my best friends."

Magnus shrugged, flashing a faint smile.

"Well guess you can't always pick your family."

Alec chuckled, head tilting, giving a bit of a wave.

"Well technically he's my adopted brother so my parents did actually pick him."

Magnus chuckled, holding up a finger.

"Ah that explains it. There really isn't any family resemblance- lucky you. That's probably what was throwing me. Well that and me not having the instant desire to mute you, change the channel or throw a dart at you when you start talking."

Alec chuckled, flashing a playfully censoring smile, holding up a hand, waving him off.

"Alright now…enough Jace Bashing." He paused, head tilting concedingly.

"At least enough for today. I'm sure you'll have plenty of other times you can complain about him- especially when you end up actually meeting him." He glanced over, holding up a finger.

"By the way he will absolutely try to hit on you. He's bi and kinda of the opinion that he's god's gift to- well basically everyone."

Magnus snorted, brow quirking.

"Huh…interesting. I didn't know god was that into gag gifts."

Alec snickered, shaking his head, shrugging.

"Maybe they just tend to hit the bargain bin. In any case he will without a doubt try to hit on you-then you can insult him all you want. But in general you should probably save the insults until you actually meet him, or at the very least until they're actually warranted."

Magnus huffed out a faint laugh, holding his hand up.

"Oh trust me, I'll have plenty." He huffed, chuckling, shaking his head before pausing, head tilting, glancing over.

"Hey, so then if you're not just embarrassed to admit it why don't you mention he's your brother?"

Alec shrugged, sighing faintly.

"Eh, you know how it is with celebrities. Someone finds out you're related to someone famous and then you wind up a go between or whatever. Fans don't really see you, just who you're related to and as an in with the star…It just gets kinda old."

Magnus scoffed, shaking his head, brow quirking disbelievingly.

"He has fans?"

Alec huffed, nodding, shrugging.

"Apparently."

Magnus scoffed in disbelief, shaking his head, shrugging right back.

"Well no accounting for taste I guess. No worries with me on that front though- really can't stand that show- and he's the biggest reason why. The character is a joke, it's an insult to psychics, palm readers and seers everywhere."

Alec chuckled, shrugging.

"Yeah well seeing as there's no such thing as any of those I'd think it kinda take a bit of the sting out of the insult."

"Not as much as you think…" Magnus huffed, rolling his eyes exasperatedly.

"Huh?" Alec glanced, over, brow quirking in confusion.

Magnus seems to near start before relaxing, glancing back over, shrugging, flashing a cheekily teasing, impish little smile.

"What, you don't believe in psychics?"

Alec chuckled, shaking his head. Magnus pouted, batting his eyelashes.

"You don't believe in me?"

Alec chuckled, nudging his shoulder.

"I believe in you…I just don't believe in psychics."

Magnus gasped dramatically.

"Even after seeing my amazing psychic abilities? They really are something else. No one can get anything past me."

Alec snorted somewhat rudely, shaking his head. Magnus huffed, brow rising questioningly.

"What?"

Alec chuckled, glancing over, brow quirking right back.

"When we first met?"

Magnus scoffed, waving him off.

"That was a fluke."

"The raccoon-"

"That was a fluke too! It's an animal! Psychic abilities don't work with animals- well I guess unless you're an interspecies telepath b-"

"There's a term for that?" Alec laughed brightly, brow raising to his hair line.

"How do you know that term?"

Magnus huffed.

"I told you; I'm psychic."

Alec chuckled.

"Or you just know how to put two terms together to where they sound like they'd make sense."

Magnus shrugged, giving a flippant little wave.

"Don't underestimate. It could be both."

"But it's not."

He huffed, eyes widening. Alec chuckled, holding his hands up placatingly.

"Hey, don't get me wrong. You're good. I'm not saying you're not. You're really detail orientated and you are amazing at what you do…you really are…you're just not psychic."

"And you're so sure of that…why?"

Alec snorted, brow quirking expectantly.

"Umm…because psychics don't exist?"

Magnus smirked, brow quirking mysteriously right back, head tilting.

"As far as you know."

Alec laughed, rolling his eyes, shaking his head.

"They don't…and even if they did, you're not one of them."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because too much gets by you!"

Magnus gasped, eyes wide.

"It does not!"

"Again our first m-"

"Again fluke."

"The rac-"

"Fluke."

"My play to run the-"

"I knew it was a play!"

"But you didn't know what the play was!"

"I di-"

"About Jace-"

"You were blocking me!"

"Uh huh…"

"You were! It-"

Alec snorted, smirking, head tilting.

"Okay then who's the 'anonymous concerned 3rd party?"

Magnus huffed.

"That was-uh…Another fluke-"

"Uh huh…"

He huffed, rolling his eyes, reaching up, tucking a soft loose lock of teal colored hair behind his ear, shrugging, turning to face Alec as they reach their neighboring parking spaces. Magnus flashed a faint smile, relaxing, leaning back against his car, giving a casual shrug.

"Hey that's the story I'm sticking to."

Alec huffed out a faint chuckle, brow quirking, settling next to him against Magnus's car.

"So you admi-"

"I'm admitting to nothing Detective. Plausible deniability is a thing."

Alec chuckled, rolling his eyes before an idea occurs to him, he shifted closer, brow raising in playful challenge.

"Okay psychic…if you're so good. What's your tell?"

Magnus froze a moment, blinking before huffing, waving him off.

"It's a trick question…I don't have a tell."

Alec chuckled, shrugging, flashing a teasingly impish smirk.

"Yeah, you keep thinking that."

Magnus huffed, flashing a totally heatless glare. Alec just snorted, rolling his eyes in affectionate exaggeration, nudging his shoulder, settling closer against his side. Magnus pouted for a moment before sighing, nudging his back, giving a slightly dismissive shrug.

"Okay- like I said it's not an exact science. Being psychic doesn't mean you're a magic 8 ball. You don't get every possible shred of information all at once all neat and clean and precise. It's just little blips, hints and jumbled glimpses even at the best of times. And like I said before; it's fuzzy. Probably something to do with the move and the planet alignment and all of that.

Besides being psychic doesn't mean you know EVERYTHING, everything. It just means you see things other people don't, in different ways, you get glimpses and hints here and there and you catch things others miss. That's me to a T and be that as it may my abilities are amazing. I am always on point. No one can surprise me."

Alec chuckles, brow quirking.

"No one huh?"

Magnus smirked smugly, nodding, brow raising in playful challenge.

"Yup."

"Okay…"Alec chuckles again.

He hums softly, shifting more towards Magnus, reaching up, brushing Magnus's hair back away from his face, tucking it behind his ear, fingers tracing lightly over the dragon ear cuff before slipping down, cupping his jaw, tilting his head slightly leaning in, catching his lips in a soft, slow, head spinning kiss.

Alec shivered, settling closer, hand slipping back, catching lightly in Magnus's hair, tugging him in, taking the kiss just the slightest bit deeper before slowing, pulling back, breaking the kiss. He swallows, shifting back further, bright hazel green gaze shifting over Magnus, taking in the gob smacked look, prettily flushed cheeks and dizzyingly exhilarating flair of heat and excitement he can see dancing in those gorgeous, impossibly deep brown eyes.

He swallowed again, gaze flickering over him once more, biting his own lip distractingly, lingering on those soft shimmery pearlescent blue lips before shifting back up. He hums softly, reaching up once more, brushing his hair back, again tracing along his ear, trailing down his cheek, catching that dizzyingly brightly deep gaze, flashing a warm, playfully teasing smirk, leaning in faintly.

"Did you see that coming?"

Magnus gulps, blinking, swallowing, shaking his head dumbfounded.

"Then I guess at least SOME people can surprise you." Alec chuckles, shrugging, flashing a playful little wink, beginning to turn away from him, fishing his keys out of his pocket, clicking the button to unlock the door, tossing a quick, fluttering little wave over his shoulder as he climbs into the car.

"See you tomorrow psychic." He murmurs, flashing one more playful little wink, chuckling softly as he puts his car in gear, pulling out of the spot heading towards the entrances.

Magnus blinked, finally snapping out of his precognitive stupor.

Mmm…oh my…That was one hell of a vision. He's never had a flash of something like THAT…

He sighs, leaning back against his car, hand coming up, trailing along his cheek, shivering excitedly, eyes flashing bright and excited, huffing out a soft somewhat breathless little laugh, cheeks warming at the thrilling tingle he feels as his mind shifts through the dizzying, spiraling, tantalizing images of him and the gorgeous detective that flickered through his mind's eye.

"Mmm…Can't wait Detective."

{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}

*~*~*~Raphael Santiago~*~*~*

{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}

O-okay…okay…you're fine.

You're doing this.

You have to.

Damnit…

Raphael took a deep breath, rolling not only his eyes but his entire head at himself, reaching up, rubbing his face, pushing his hair back before settling himself. He takes one more deep breath, standing up straighter, squaring his shoulders, raising his hand, knocking at the door. There's silence for a few moments before he catches shuffling from inside, a soft rattling and the click of the deadbolt before the door pulls open a crack.

"Hel-oh…Hey Raphael." Simon shifted, pulling the door open a bit more, flashing a somewhat confused smile, head tilting curiously.

"Wh-um…what are you doing here?"

Raphael sighed, shrugging.

"Hi-I j-I wanted uh…I think we need to talk."

Simon kind of fidgeted before giving a faint nod, flashing a slightly dim, somewhat dejected little smile, shifting over, holding the door open.

"Yeah…I kinda figured that was coming. Do you want to come in?"

Raphael smiled, awkwardly nodding.

"Yeah…yeah that'd be…that be good." He swallowed, nodding again, moving into the apartment.

Simon blinked, head tilting, bright honey gaze flickering over his curiously.

"Are you okay?"

Raphael started, turning back towards him, nodding.

"Huh-oh um…yeah…yeah I'm fine …nice plac- umm." He trailed off, blinking, glancing around the living room, eyes widening faintly.

Simon chuckled, brow quirking, gaze slipping around the somewhat small, fairly cluttered apartment with the Tardis book case, the mismatched end tables, bright yellow polka dot, thrift store find couch and the life size Papier-mâché Jersey Devil he bought at comic-con a few years back. He chuckled, shrugging, flashing an amused little smile.

"Well it's definitely mine."

Raphael huffed out a faint laugh, nodding.

"That is definitely true..." he trailed off, fidgeting awkwardly, clearly at a loss as to how to begin.

Simon sighed, shaking his head, shifting closer, smiling gently. He reached up, lightly resting his hand on Raphael's shoulder, nodding over to the bright yellow polka dot monstrosity.

"Come on, why don't we have a seat? I know it's not much to look at but it's actually really comfortable." He turned, making his way over to the couch, settling on one side of it.

Raphael hesitated for just a moment before moving over to the couch as well, cautiously setting on the other side, perching on the very edge of the cushion. Simon blinked, gaze shifting over his curiously, a flicker of concern dancing in those beautiful golden brown eyes.

"Raph, are you sure you're alright?"

Raphael started, nodding quickly, flashing a somewhat false, reassuring smile.

"I-yeah…of course. Why do you ask?"

Simon huffed out a soft little laugh, brow quirking, seemingly fighting to tramp down a smile tugging at his lips.

"Because you seem more jumpy and awkward than me?"

"What! I am n-"

"Raph?"

"I'm n-"he paused, head tilting concedingly, giving a faint shrug and a bit of a wave, pointing.

"Okay so I guess right now I kinda am…" he shrugged, deflating faintly, glancing away.

"I'm not used to this and it's just really not in my wheelhouse."

Simon sighed, carefully shifting a bit closer, reaching over, resting his hand lightly on Raphael's shoulder. Raphael's gaze shifted back up cautiously. Simon shifted closer still, head tilting, flashing a warm, softly encouraging smile, lightly squeezing his shoulder.

"Yeah, not too many people are good at awkward conversations-" he shrugged, smiling playfully, nudging his shoulder.

"Fortunately, you're looking at a full on expert."

"An expert?"

Simon snorted, shrugging, reaching up, tucking a few wayward caramel brown curls behind his ear, flashing another one of those adorable dimpled smiles.

"Well I definitely have enough practice to qualify."

Raphael gave a surprised breath of a laugh, brow quirking, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Doesn't it take something like ten thousand hours at something to be considered an expert?"

Simon nodded, cute dimples flashing, bright honey brown eyes sparkling warm and inviting.

"Yup- and I have a good twenty six years' worth. I may actually be OVER qualified to just be considered an expert but I don't know what the level above expert is. I think I'm just gonna go with super-expert.

And take it from a super-expert; whatever awkwardness you have spinning around in your head odds are it's not gonna be nearly as bad as you think when you finally get it out and get the chance to move past it." He smiled, flashing a playful wink, nudging his shoulder lightly.

"So, I'm guessing this has something to do with last night, yeah?"

Raphael nodded, flashing a faintly apologetic look.

"Yeah- see-"

Simon sighed, nodding, waving him off.

"Raph, it's okay, Kevin already explained it to me."

Raphael started, eyes widening.

"He-Ah damnit. I knew I should have went and talked to him first." He grumbled, shaking his head, pushing his hair back before glancing back up, catching Simon's eye, shrugging.

"I'm really sorry Simon-"

Simon started, shaking his head, shifting closer.

"What? No I'm sorry."

Raphael blinked, head tilting.

"Why are you sorry?"

Simon huffed, eyes widening, gesturing animatedly.

"What do you mean why am I sorry? My stupidly obnoxious psychic shield turned your club chaos into LITERAL chaos! I drove all of your employees crazy. Drove your security out of the security booth. They couldn't even do their jobs. Kevin said most of them wouldn't even come up to the second floor!

You were nice enough to let us do our sting at your club and I end up throwing everything off and alienating every last one of your employees." He sighed, giving a helpless wave.

"Look I get it. It's really nice of you to actually come over and talk to me in person to tell me and I totally understand why I'm banned from the club-"

Raphael started, shaking his head, waving him off.

"Wha-Hey no. you're not banned. Why would you be banned?"

Simon huffed, eyes widening, shifting closer again, gesturing animatedly.

"Because I drove all of your employee's crazy and made it near impossible for them to do their job or even tolerate being in what is probably the closest thing to a safe space they have? Kev said it was like my shield was pushing them away, like it was trying to push them out or even attack them or something. It freaked HIM out and he actually knows me and has for over a month. Your people didn't even know me a day- hell half of them hadn't even met me and here I am bombarding them with a psychic freaking tsunami of energy and craziness.

God they must hate me. I swear it was totally unintentional and I didn't mean to upset or insult them or anything. I really had no control over it. I had no idea it'd do that. I feel so bad about it- I want to go and apologize and explain to them but I'm worried if I try that I'm gonna be nervous and I'm gonna start spinning again and I'm gonna end up doing the same dame thing to them again!

I j-"

Raphael shook his head, reaching over, catching Simon's wildly gesturing hand, squeezing gently, lowering it, settling it on Simon's leg, catching his eye.

"Hey no. It's nothing like that. There's no need for you to apologize. No one hates you. No one blames you. None of them are taking any of it personally, I promise. You're fine, okay?"

Simon blinked, shifting, looking up unsure.

"Are you just saying that to make me feel better?"

Raphael chuckled softly, shaking his head, flashing another warm, gentle smile, brow quirking playfully.

"Simon? I don't really do that. Actually truth be told I'd be more likely to be the person to push the issue even more, twist the knife, just to screw with somebody. The whole 'placating and soothing' crap is even more out of my wheelhouse than the awkward conversation thing.

I'm not saying this just to make you feel better. I'm saying it because it's the absolute truth. You have nothing to apologize for. You really don't. You had no way of knowing it would affect the others like that. And honestly even if you did know it could do that you didn't know it would for sure, you didn't do it intentionally and you had absolutely no control over when it did. We all know that." he sighed, settling a bit closer, relaxing faintly, turning more towards him, flashing a soft, surprisingly reassuring smile.

"One thing about this group? We definitely get how upsetting it is when your abilities work against you or do something you don't want. Believe me we all are VERY- in some cases painfully - aware of just how scary and unsettling it is." He paused, shrugging, head tilting, giving a bit of a wave with his free hand.

"In fact Akira and Layla asked me to apologize to you for them running out so quickly; they actually were worried they'd offended you."

Simon blinked, head tilting curiously.

"Wha-why would they possibly think that?"

Raphael smiled, shrugging, settling closer, giving a flippant bit of a wave.

"Well they did just kind of make up a blatantly obvious fake excuse to leave and all but ran out. They weren't exactly subtle. That's really not like them; they just seemed to be especially sensitive to it and really needed to get out quickly. Even so they did feel terrible about it and they hoped you didn't take it too personally. It was just putting them through the ringer and they couldn't stay any longer. They really had to leave right then."

Simon shook his head, shrugging, gesturing with his free hand.

"Well of course they did! Kev said it was near suffocating- even he had to get out of there- and he's like used to my whole spinning, flailing, spiraling thing! And he said he doesn't even think it affects him nearly as much as most of the other psychics. He said he didn't even notice it for over an hour or more- Akira and Layla seemed to start reacting in like the first ten minutes. I don't blame them for needing to get away from that."

Raphael smiled, nodding, shifting a bit closer, squeezing his hand.

"And they don't blame you for it happening. Like I said we all more than understand how hard it is when your powers go haywire. How scary it is and how guilty you feel when something happens and it is technically your fault but was also totally beyond your control.

It's scary and makes you feel both powerless and so powerful it's petrifying and it's just a huge, confusing, terrifying, jumbled mess all around. Again we are all FAR too familiar with this feeling. Far as we're concerned you're good, okay? You are always welcome at the club and no one is going to hold this against you or in any way look at you differently because of it…" he huffed out a faint laugh, head tilting, giving a bit of a wave.

"Well that's not entirely true. It'll probably make them far more apt to like and trust you. They'll actually most likely be a lot more comfortable around you from here on out."

Simon huffed out a faint laugh, brow rising in confusion.

"Okay, how would my powers going haywire and quasi attacking them actually make them MORE comfortable around me?"

Raphael shrugged, smiling, again squeezing his hand, giving a fluttering wave with his free hand.

"Because misery loves company?"

Simon blinked in confusion. Raphael chuckled, shrugging, settling a bit closer, subconsciously playing with his fingers, lightly nudging his shoulder.

"Sorry, joking…well, kind of at least. Like I said we are all FAR too familiar with how it feels when your abilities don't do what you want or when they seem to act independently of you. We understand what it's like to be scared by your abilities. To be scared of yourself. To hate a part of you and want to be able to change it and just fix it but not being able to. We know what it's like to be blindsided or confused or feel utterly powerless in the face of your own powers.

Every last one of us has been there. They may all be different experiences, different levels whatever you want to call it but we all know that feeling…and we all know how upsetting it is when people hold things you have no control over against you. We know what it's like and we support each other through it because we all know how terrifying it is when you're trying to face something like that alone.

Honestly with this group that was probably the best icebreaker you could possibly have had. Far as they're concerned you're good. You really are. Again absolutely no apologies necessary.

Okay?"

Simon smiled, relaxing, nodding, settling closer, kind of leaning against his shoulder, shifting his hold, entangling their fingers, squeezing Raphael's hand.

"Yeah…thank you…really, you have no idea how much of a weight that takes off."

Raphael chuckled, shrugging.

"Actually I most definitely do. We all do. It's a horrible feeling. None of us would ever want to make someone else feel like that."

Simon sighed, settling closer, reaching over, patting his arm, squeezing gently.

"Thank you so much Raph, that really means a lot to me…" he flashed another soft, warm, devastatingly beautiful, dimpled smile that made Raphael's stomach do a summersault and his heartbeat pick up a few tics before pausing, something seemingly occurring to him.

He shifts, blinking, head titling curiously.

"But…wait…so you weren't coming over to tell me I was banned from the club?"

Raphael chuckled, shaking his head, once more waving him off.

"No- most definitely not. You are always welcome."

Simon smiled, nodding before shifting a bit closer, bright, sharp gaze flickering over Raphael questioningly.

"Okay…well good. That's definitely good, but then…what WAS the awkward conversation YOU had in mind?"

Raphael froze a moment, blinking before shifting faintly, reaching up with his free hand, nervously scratching at the back of his neck, glancing up near sheepishly.

"I-um…I actually was coming over to apologize to you."

Simon blinked in confusion.

"Apologize to me? Why?"

Raphael sighed, shrugging.

"Umm…the other night-"

Simon started, setting up, smiling faintly, giving a fluttering little wave.

"Oh that? Yeah, it's no problem."

Raphael blinked.

"It's not?"

Simon gave a soft chuckle, shaking his head, again flashing that cute dimpled grin, this one accompanied with a cheekily mischievous little light in those pretty honey brown eyes.

"Hey not like it's the first time it's happened."

Raphael startled.

"What?"

Simon laughed again, shrugging.

"Eh, I'm kinda used to it by now. A lot of people underestimate me."

"Underestimate y-"

Simon's brow quirked.

"The other night? You following along with me and Levine? You were worried, didn't think I could handle it."

"Oh that!"

Simon chuckled, flashing a teasing little smirk.

"Yeah…that. That's what we're talking about, right?"

Raphael shook his head, holding up his free hand.

"Oh no that's n-I-I mean yeah; obviously I owe you an apology for that. Sorry. That really was out of line. The case turned out okay though, didn't it? I mean I didn't totally screw it up for you?"

Simon chuckled, smiling reassuringly, waving him off, shifting a bit closer.

"No, no you were good-" he huffed out a faint laugh, shrugging, glancing over, flashing that adorable, impish little dimpled smile.

"Actually I think you helped a lot. You totally threw him for a loop and completely knocked down his guard. He kinda got in his head that I had a weakness for the whole dangerous, edgy, legally ambiguous thing. He took that and ran with it, trying to one up you. Had this whole like THING about artist criminals vs. thug type criminals and blah, blah, blah…" he gave a faint chuckle nudging Raphael's shoulder, flashing a teasing little smile.

"Think he had a BIT of an inferiority complex about you."

Raphael chuckled, brow quirking, flashing a faint smirk and a playful little wink.

"Yeah I get that a lot."

Simon giggled, nodding, nudging him again, settling closer.

"Figured as much. I kinda banked on it really. To be honest I leaned into it pretty hard…" He huffed out a faint laugh, reaching up, tucking a few loose curls behind his ear.

"The more I did the easier he was to work."

Raphael blinked, chuckling, nodding approvingly, settling closer.

"Why detective Lewis- that's positively devious…" he smirked, leaning in, flashing another wink.

"I like it."

Simon gave a soft breath of a laugh, nudging him playfully, rolling his eyes. Raphael chuckled again, settling closer still, curiously glancing over.

"So it worked?"

Simon snorted, nodding animatedly, bouncing faintly in his seat, turning more to face him.

"Oh yeah- big time. Better than we could have ever imagined. Turns out he's even more connected than we thought. We had him pegged for a somewhat mid-level player and it turns out he's actually this big time international jewel thief/criminal mastermind- even had a cheesy, grandiose codename: the Warlock." Simon chuckled, rolling his eyes.

Raphael blinked in surprise.

"Levine's The Warlock? Huh…that's surprising. I've always thought The Warlock was a woman."

Simon shifted, brow rising in surprise.

"You know the name?"

Raphael shrugged, giving a fluttering wave.

"Eh, I've heard it a few times in passing. I tend to run in some pretty interesting circles."

Simon snorted, rolling his eyes.

"I have a feeling that's a major understatement."

"You have no idea detective." Raphael murmured, settling closer, smirking, flashing a teasing little wink.

Simon flushed brightly, giving an adorable bit of a giggle, shifting closer before seemingly catching himself, shifting back faintly clearing his throat, a cute nervous little breath of a laugh slipping out , swallowing, nodding again continuing.

"Heh-uh…y-yeah…so…um…so anyways it was a huge break. Even bigger since he's gonna turn states evidence. This is gonna be huge. It's like a total game changer…" he paused shrugging, smiling.

"Hell I should probably thank you. If you hadn't acted like you did and spooked him, got his competitive streak up we may never have really known what we had. So thank you…even though you did totally underestimate me it kinda really played out in my favor."

Raphael gave a sheepish little chuckle, shrugging, smiling faintly.

"Well I'm glad it worked out so well for you. I really didn't mean to get so carried away. And it's not that I didn't think you could handle it I just…umm…I just- okay maybe I didn't…kinda…Sorry by the way-umm…a-again. You-uh- you most definitely proved me wrong there. You absolutely handled that…umm…" Raphael trailed off, chuckling faintly, gaze flickering over Simon, shrugging.

"That…uh-that was actually pretty hot."

Simon smirked playfully, flashing a cutely cheeky, teasing little wink.

"I know."

Raphael chuckled softly, nudging his shoulder, shrugging.

"I know you know. That was most definitely something else…" he smiled again before shifting, again reaching up, brushing his hair back, glancing back up, catching Simon's eye apologetically.

"But it wasn't that that I'd wanted to apologize for. It was the other thing."

Simon blinked in confusion, head shaking faintly.

"What other thin-Oh…the kiss?"

Raphael felt his cheeks heat, giving a bit of a shrug.

"W-kind o-"

Simon chuckled, shrugging right back, subconsciously settling closer, quickly shaking his head, again flashing those adorable dimples.

"Yeah um- I was kind of REALLY okay with that…I mean your exit kinda left a lot to be desired bu-"

Raphael huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head.

"No not that-w-well yeah kinda but not…I mean okay, yeah- yeah I totally owe you an apology for that too. A-again sorry."

Simon smiled, shrugging, nudging his shoulder yet again, giving a fluttering little wave with his free hand.

"Hey, again- I was totally okay with that- well minus the awkward, super abrupt ending. Even so I wasn't exactly complaining."

Raphael sighed, gaze shifting over him.

"Yeah- you most definitely weren't…but-but even so I really don't want to give you the wrong impression."

Simon shifted, smile dimming a bit, shifting back faintly.

"Oh-you-you just got carried away?"

"I-kind of…sorry…"

Simon shrugged, waving him off, flashing a faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Hey- it's okay. You told me you just wanted to be friends- I know that. I know you don't really see me like tha-"

Raphael shook his head, quickly waving him off, shifting closer, again catching his hand, tugging his back closer.

"Hey- no-I well…well- yeah but I don't want to give you THAT wrong impression either."

Simon blinked, head tilting in confusion.

"Um…what?"

Raphael sighed, shaking his head, squeezing his hand gently.

"Simon? I really don't want to give you the wrong impression here. I don't want you to think it's anything to do with you. It's absolutely not. You're amazing. You're brilliant and funny, and brave and compassionate and incredibly sweet and strong willed and feisty and fascinating and absolutely adorable and y-you are without a doubt one of the best people I've ever met.

You really are. Me balking or freezing or seeming to waffle and switch and push you away than turn right around and flirt shamelessly or whatever else…I know it's irritating. I know it's confusing the hell out of you and I swear that's not what I'm trying to do. It's really not a game or me screwing with you or anything like that. It's not you. You're amazing and anyone would be unbelievably lucky to get the chance to have a romantic relationship with you.

This really has nothing to do with you- it's all me…i-it's just kinda complicated and confusing and hard to explain. It's just really not me. THAT'S really not me. I-I don't know if it ever will be- I'm sorry I'm jus-"

"Aromantic…"

"Aro-what?" Raphael blinked, head tilting.

Simon huffed softly, shaking his head, smiling softly, everything suddenly seemingly clicking into place.

"You're Aromantic! That's what keeps throwing you so much, right? That's why after our date you ghosted me, and then why you keep flirting but try not to and why you got carried away with the kiss and then panicked cause you thought you were leading me on and making me think that you switched and wanted a relationship but that's just not something you do and it's not that you're not attracted to me it's just that you don't do that kind of thing and it's not that you're not interested in me or attracted to me it's just that you don't want to give me the wrong impression and make me think it's something it's not- something that you don't want and-

Oh my god- dude all of a sudden it makes so much sense!" he laughed brightly, shaking his head, glancing over, brow raising, adorable dimples flashing, gesturing towards him.

"That's it, yeah?"

Raphael blinked, shifting.

"I-n-um…yeah-yeah…that's it." he took a deep breath, shrugging apologetically.

"That's it exactly. Sorry I really didn't mean t-"

Simon chuckled, waving him off, flashing a devastatingly beautiful, amazingly warm reassuring smile.

"Hey it's fine. I totally get it. I know how complicated it is when you're trying to explain about yourself and most people don't even know the terminology. I mean coming out is hard enough but when it requires a freaking soapbox, a power point and an off the cuff vocabulary lesson it just flat out sucks." He smiled again, giving a soft laugh, shrugging.

"I'm pan; the amount of times I've gotten 'so you're attracted to cookware'…" he chuckled, rolling his eyes exasperatedly.

Raphael laughed, smiling, nodding quickly, feeling himself relaxing just the slightest bit.

"Oh yeah- it gets old fast. Sometimes coming out almost seems pointless as you can't just say what you are and leave it at that. Oh no, you do the whole coming out and then you have to explain what that IS that you just came out as and then further explain 'no really that IS a thing- no, that really does exist…yes I know it's real because you are literally speaking to one…No I don't think it's just being picky or I just haven't met the right person yet…yes I am sure…ugh." He huffed out a faint laugh, rolling his eyes before settling closer, head tilting, glancing over his curiously.

"I really am sorry for giving you the wrong idea th-"

Simon smiled, waving him off.

"Hey, you didn't. Like you said a lot of people don't even know what Aromantic even is and having to constantly go into lecture mode every time the subject comes up gets old fast- and even older when people want to argue with you about your own identity and sexuality. I understand why you wouldn't just open with that.

Besides you never led me on. You were set up on a blind date by your BFF a-wait…" Simon paused, head tilting curiously.

"Why is Magnus trying to set up an Aromantic? I mean- not like I think Aro people don't date or whatever but he didn't seem like he was setting us up as like a casual thing. I mean maybe he was but I just didn't really get that vibe from him." He froze, setting up a bit straighter, bright honey eyes going sharp.

"Wait…he's not trying to like 'fix' you or whatever, right? I mean he doesn't really seem the type bu-"

Raphael chuckled, shaking his head, waving him off, flashing a reassuring smile, unable to stop the little fluttering he felt at the adorable spark of righteous indignation he caught in those pretty golden eyes on his behalf.

"No, no, no…He's not… nothing like that. He'd never try to do something like that- at least not knowingly…" he paused, shrugging, glancing up cautiously, kind of unsure if this was the right way to go.

"Uh…h-he doesn't really know. I've never actually told him. He'd never try to push someone into something they expressly didn't want." He paused, shrugging, reaching up, brushing his hair back.

"I-it's not that it's something I really made an effort to hide from him or anything, I just never really outright TOLD him told him and over the years the whole Aromantic thing never occurred to him. He just thinks I'm Anti-social and grouchy and very much not a people person and that I tend to be really weary about getting too close to new people. All of which is completely true.

Like I said- it's not something I've actually consciously made any effort to hide it's just something that kinda blends in really easily with all my other 'things'…kinda easy to miss really.

And the thing of it is I know he'll accept it, I know he knows what it is…but…I don't know…I've just never really felt like it was something I was super comfortable talking about…" he paused, glancing up, catching Simon's eye, shrugging hopefully.

"Umm…speaking of-"

Simon startled, quickly flashing that warm, gentle smile, waving him off.

"Hey- I got you. I won't say a word."

Raphael relaxed faintly, gratefully nodding.

"Thank you... and are you okay wit-"

"Oh yeah! Totally, 100%. We're good-I'm totally fine with it. Like I said it actually explains a lot." Simon chuckled, flashing another pretty dimpled grin, bouncing lightly in his seat, nodding animatedly.

Raphael shifted, brow quirking, smiling hopefully.

"S-so…you're still good with the 'friends' thing?"

"Absolutely." Simon smiled softly, nodding, reassuringly squeezing his hand.

"So that's what you needed to apologize f-"

Raphael gave a half groan, half sigh, slumping back, shaking his head in renewed frustration.

"No not that either. Well kinda that- it's sorta connected- but not specifically. I-ugh…god this is becoming a mess." He huffed faintly, rolling his eyes at himself, glancing over, brow quirking, flashing a somewhat pouty, heatless glare.

"Okay super-expert; didn't you say it was supposed to be LESS awkward than it was in my head?"

Simon snickered, shrugging, reaching over, resting his hand on his arm, patting lightly.

"I said usually…there are exceptions to every rule."

Raphael huffed out a faint breath of a laugh, dark gaze slipping subtly over Simon, a soft, near wistful little sigh slipping out, gaze shifting back up, catching those beautiful, honey brown eyes, nodding.

"Believe me I am well aware." He sighed, gently squeezing Simon's hand, distractedly playing with his fingers, giving a near shy shrug.

"I mean the OTHER other thing."

Simon shrugged, slowly shaking his head.

"The other- other thi-What other other thing?"

Raphael took a deep breath, swallowing, glancing up nervously.

"The feeding thing?"

Simon blinked, brows rising.

"What feeding thing?"

Raphael sighed, reaching up with his free hand, brushing his hair back, glancing away, kind of deflating before taking one more deep- hopefully steadying- breath looking back up, meeting those beautiful warm eyes.

"When I put my hands on your shoulders? When you felt that slowing, kinda off, almost punch drunk type feeling? That…um…that was me feeding…"

Simon blinked, eyes widening faintly, curiously tilting his head.

"That wa-oh…huh…I didn't know that. So you feed through kissing?"

Raphael huffed out a faint almost laugh, shaking his head.

"N-no…no that…that was…um no-b-but physical contact does make for a far stronger connection and allows me to absorb more energy quicker. That wasn't totally part of the feeding but emotions do tend to be pretty heightened during them so it's not exactly unusual."

Simon swallowed, nodding.

"Ah…I didn't know."

Raphael took a somewhat shaky breath, nodding quickly, turning more to face him, apologetically holding up his free hand.

"I know you didn't and I know you really, really should have. I should have told you- should have explained what I was doing.

I am SO sorry Simon. I never do that- never without express permission in any case. I-I mean yeah at the club I feed and I don't go about announcing it to the patrons but that's totally different. Feeding like that is like through osmosis- there's no personal connection, no specific target, no lingering after effects or anything else. They can't even tell it's happening. One on one feeding is totally different. It's really personal and really deep and it's a really specific, completely unique, quasi intimate kind of connection.

It's something the other person is very much aware of and can have a real, lasting effect. It's almost never something you just do without express permission. I mean yeah there are special circumstances- like if you're starving or things like that but in general unless it's a very special- life and death type situation you never do it without permission.

I'm really sorry Simon I swear I was going to tell you. I did come up with the intention of feeding on you but I wasn't going to do it without explaining it to you. Without giving you the choice. I really wasn't.

Your energy was just off the charts and it was getting to everyone and affecting everyone and I couldn't let it go on so I thought I could drain off enough of the excess energy so that it'd stop driving my employees away but I swear I wasn't just gonna DO it I was going to explain and tell you you either needed to find a way to lower your energy level quickly or you needed to let me do it or you were gonna have to leave cause it really couldn't stay like that but I j-"

"Hey, hey…okay…it's okay, Raphael? It's alright, okay?" Simon shook his head, smiling softly, settling closer, squeezing his hand, reaching up with his free hand, resting it on Raphael's shoulder, squeezing gently, bright honey gaze shifting over the other man in concern.

He swallowed, shifting a bit closer, hand on Raphael's shoulder slipping over to the other side, giving him a kind of half hug.

"Man you're really worked up about this, aren't you?"

Raphael scoffed, eyes widening.

"Of course I am! I cornered you in the security office, freaking jumped you and literally fed off of you without even so much as giving you a heads up as to what was going on. That's so creepy and invasive and such a violation. I thought you'd be furious…that you'd feel betrayed or disgusted or violated or like you'd think I took advantage of you or something. I can't believe you even want to be in the same room as me after I did that."

Simon sighed, shaking his head.

"Raph? You said yourself that you'd came up because I needed to stop my energy issues. You came up to help. You said you had every intention of explaining this to me and giving me the choice, right?"

Raphael swallowed, nodding faintly.

"I-yeah…sorry I know how creepy that sounds- that I was literally there specifically to feed on you but I really did think it was the quickest way for you to regain control. I really did plan on doing that…I just…I kinda…well…I…I don't know what happened…"

Simon smiled, nodding back, gently squeezing his arm reassuringly.

"Raph, it sounds like your powers malfunctioned. They just kinda got away from you, got the best of you, yeah?"

Raphael nodded, shrugging helplessly. Simon smiled, encouragingly nodding right back.

"So basically exactly what happened with me…right?"

Raphael shifted, beginning to shake his head before kind of trailing off into a faint, barely there half shrug.

"W-well, yeah kinda-but it's different."

Simon huffed, brow quirking.

"How? If I'm okay and none of you have any hard feelings about my psychic tsunami thing that affected EVERYONE in the building and was the entire reason why you felt you HAD to come up and drain some of my energy so I didn't drive them completely insane than why do you think I'm gonna hold your psychic slip up- that again was entirely triggered by MY psychic slip up- against you?"

Raphael blinked, brow quirking, waving.

"Because you've known about your abilities all of a month- I've known about mine since I was seven. You've had less than a month to figure out your abilities- I've literally had decades. And besides I flat out don't have room for errors or mistakes or slip ups. Not with these kinds of abilities. I just don't. My abilities are far more dangerous than yours."

Simon shrugged, head tilting curiously.

"How do you know that?"

Raphael blinked, brow furrowing in confusion, giving a slight scoff.

"What do you mean 'how do I know'? I'm a psy-vamp enthraller."

Simon quirked his brow right back in almost challenge, smirking faintly, scoffing right back.

"Yeah- and I'm an empathic-who-the-hell-knows-what who randomly produces stupidly powerful psychic repelling shields and god only knows what else with no clue what abilities I have, how they can manifest, how to control them or even what affects they can have on me or anyone else and whose only well of psychic knowledge so far is pop culture, cheesy tv shows, comics and what I've managed to learn from my partner of a month."

Raphael huffed out a faint laugh, head tilting concedingly, giving a wave and a bit of a shrug.

"Fair point…"

"I thought so…" Simon smirked, again squeezing his hand.

"And so far as any of that goes- this is a two way street. If I don't get to feel guilty and self-conscious about my abilities getting away from me than neither do you."

Raphael chuckled, brow quirking.

"You don't GET to? Do you actually WANT to feel guilty and self-conscious?"

Simon chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"Not particularly but that's just me. Gotta admit you do kinda have the whole dark, broody, vampire-with-a-soul thing going on…didn't really know where you fell on that one Angel." He smirked, nudging his shoulder, brow quirking playfully.

Raphael huffed out a faint laugh, pointedly ignoring the heat rising in his cheeks and the eager little flip in his stomach, head tilting concedingly, placatingly holding his free hand up.

"Alright, fair enough- though despite what some people will tell you I don't actually TRY to seem broody and dramatic. Just kinda comes with the whole 'vampire' territory…and gotta admit it DOES kinda totally work for me."

"Can't argue with that." Simon murmured, flashing an adorable dimpled grin and an impishly flirtatious little wink.

Raphael chuckled, head tilting concedingly, nudging his shoulder back, feeling himself finally relax a bit, a little of the tension knotting in his shoulders easing and soothing. Simon smiled, again settling a bit closer, shrugging.

"Look Raph, I really can't imagine how hard it is to deal with your abilities- to know just how bad it could be if it really went wrong but here it didn't. It really didn't. You lost control of your abilities but nothing bad happened, everyone's okay and we're past it…okay?"

Raphael took a deep breath, flashing a soft, grateful smile, nodding faintly.

"Okay…" he sighed, shifting to better see Simon, impossibly dark gaze slipping over the younger man in concern, looking for any signs of strain or stress.

"Thank you Simon; that really does help. But how are you feeling? I know the feedings can take a lot out of people. Depending on how much energy is taken they can feel anywhere from just kinda off, spacey or groggy the next day all the way up to a hangover mixed with a full on migraine. I usually have really good control over how much I take but…well…that…that really wasn't the case last night.

I honestly don't know how much energy I drained from you but I know it was a lot- way more than I'd ever intended. Generally it'd take a really excessive amount for it to be genuinely dangerous but there are some accounts of people having more serious reactions to it, even if it's just a relatively small amount you're taking.

So really how are you feeling?"

Simon shrugged, smiling, giving a faint wave with his free hand.

"Actually? Good…I'm good."

Raphael settled closer, giving a soft sigh, shifting his hand, squeezing gently, shaking his head.

"Simon- I appreciate you trying to make me feel better- I really do- but I took way more than I'd normally ever take from a single source last night. I need to know if you're having any kind of reaction. Again it's really rare bu-"

Simon laughed brightly, shaking his head, setting up straighter, kind of bouncing in his seat.

"No Raph- you don't understand. I'm not just trying to make you feel better. I feel fine today…hell better than fine. I-I feel awesome." he chuckled, shrugging, reaching up, tucking a few wayward caramel brown curls behind his ear, flashing that oh so pretty, dimpled smile, eyes warm and bright, sparkling distractingly.

Raphael blinked, head tilting in confusion.

"Wha- you do…really?"

Simon laughed softly, emphatically nodding, megawatt smile somehow growing even brighter.

"Yes really. Really, really. I-I actually don't ever remember feeling this good. I really don't. My mind is near always spinning and buzzing and darting around frantically. I always feel buzzy and electrified and- like almost just on the edge of jittery- as if I'd chased a full pot of espresso with a red bull and a five hour energy.

Kev has tried to explain the way the shield feels to you guys and I kinda really get it cause the thing of it is when it's not apparently being directed out at any psychic within half a mile of me it's just bouncing around inside me. I always have that zipping, spinning, buzzing energy going inside of me- like always, every second."

Raphael huffed, eyes widening, shaking his head.

"God- how the hell do you deal with that-oh! Sorry that was-"

Simon chuckled, head tilting concedingly.

"A completely valid question. And to answer I really don't know how I deal with it sometimes. I just do, cause it's all I've ever known. It's just how I always am…" he paused, head tilting.

"But…but right now it's not." He huffed out a faint laugh, glancing up, shrugging somewhat confused.

"Thank you Raphael."

Raphael blinked in shock.

"I-what?"

"Thank you. I think that helped me a lot. I actually feel calm and relaxed and- I don't know- grounded? I don't know but I really don't remember ever having my head feel this calm and quiet and peaceful. Last night I actually slept for a full ten hours straight after I got home.

I don't know if I've EVER slept that long. Usually I'm lucky if I can get half of that- and even that's pushing it…so yeah thank you…" he paused, giving a kind of sheepish shrug, glancing over somewhat shyly.

"And- I mean I'm just throwing this out there but- if…umm…if you ever want to do it again I'm kinda really, REALLY okay with that…like anytime…"

Raphael felt his breath catch, pulse raising, an excited little shiver slipping through him, shifting a bit closer.

"I-y-you are?"

Simon shrugged, gaze flickering over Raphael, nodding.

"Yeah…" he paused, shifting, settling back against the arm of the couch, biting distractingly at his lower lip, those pretty honey gold eyes flickering over Raphael once more before slipping back up, catching Raphael's eye, brow quirking.

"Um…A-actually…it kinda feels like it's kicking back up- or like there's still a lot of excess energy. Would you mind maybe doing it again this morning?"

Raphael took a deep, steadying breath, feeling another excited shiver slip down his spine clear to his toes.

Oooh…this is a bad idea…

Raphael shifted closer, dark, excited gaze slipping over him, swallowing, biting at his own lower lip.

"A-are you sure you want that?"

"Yes please…" he breathed, voice little more than a breathless whisper, a pretty enticing flush rising in his cheeks clear up to the tips of his cute little ears.

Raphael huffed out a faint chuckle.

"Mmm…well since you asked so nicely…" Raphael growled softly, shifting closer, reaching up, fingers slipping though Simon's soft, caramel brown curls, tucking them behind his ear.

He settles closer, hand trailing down along Simon's cheek, feather light touch dancing along his skin, trailing down his neck and along his shoulder, feeling an excited little shudder slip through Simon as the energy begins to flow. Simon sighed, a soft, sweet little moan slipping out.

Raphael couldn't help a faintly excited shiver of his own, beginning to slip closer, nuzzling along his cheek, beginning to slip down to that sweet little spot he'd found just behind his ear before catching himself. Raphael swallows, shaking his head, beginning to pull back.

"Oh uh s-sorry Simon, that wa-" Raphael begins but is cut off as Simon's hand comes up, slipping into Raphael's soft, dark brown hair, catching lightly, tugging him back down, capturing his lips in a slow, deep, intensely passionate, head spinning, toe curling kiss.

Raphael shivered, totally losing himself in the kiss, feeling his head spin and his heart race. Finally when air became necessary he reluctantly broke the kiss on a deep, breathless gasp.

"O-oh…Woah…t-that…um…"he swallowed, shivering again, blinking in shock, looking up, catching those bright, glittering golden eyes.

Oh wow…

Raphael feels his cheeks warm and his pulse skyrocket at the dizzyingly thrilling heat and desire he sees shimmering in those gorgeous eyes. He suddenly feels breathless and lightheaded- near punch drunk. He shivers again, swallowing, trying to get his voice to start working again.

"T-that…uh…that REALLY didn't feel like a 'friend' type kiss?"

Simon huffs out a soft chuckle, bright, scorching gaze shifting over him once more, lingering pointedly on his lips before slipping back up, catching his eyes, smirking, giving a slight shrug, hand trailing down from Raphael's hair, settling on his shoulder, tugging him closer.

"Like I said, I'm good with improvising- figured I'd call an audible. Maybe friends Plus?"

Raphael huffed out a faint laugh, eyes shifting over him.

"That's one hell of a call…" he muttered before startling, shifting back faintly.

"Oh but I-um…like I said I don't-"

"Do the relationship/romance thing- I know. Hey, we're adults. We don't have to label it. It doesn't have to be something serious. It can be whatever we want it to be. Whatever we- both of us- are comfortable with."

Raphael blinked.

"A-and you're okay with that?"

Simon shrugged, gaze flickering over him, a bright light of near challenge sparking in those gorgeous dizzying honey eyes.

"I am if you are…"

Oooh man…this is a bad idea…

He knows it is. Knows he shouldn't…he does…

He really does…

But right now Simon is there. Right there, staring up at him from less than a foot away, looking at him with those dizzyingly beautiful honey brown eyes sparking with excitement and desire.

He knows he shouldn't…he really does…

And yet…

Raphael swallows, gaze flickering over him, settling closer, flashing an excited little smirk, brow quirking.

"That almost sounds like a challenge…"

Simon smirked right back, giving a flippant shrug, brow quirking in answer.

"Probably because it is…what are you gonna do about it Angel?"

Annd...that's it. That's all it takes to break him.

He feels the last bit of his willpower evaporate. Raphael swallows again, feeling a dizzying, electric thrill slipping clear down to his toes, heartbeat surging, head spinning.

"Oh I'm most definitely NOT an angel…" he growled, shifting forward, giving a soft, low growl like hum, hand reaching up, fingers slipping though Simon's soft curls, catching, sharply tugging Simon up, pulling the younger man into a deep, hungry, near desperate kiss.

Simon hums excitedly, reaching up, wrapping his arms around Raphael, pulling him down flush against him. Raphael can't help a low, eager, near desperate moan, all but melting into him, totally losing himself in the moment; in the kiss, and the heat and the dizzying electric thrill he can feel enveloping him.

Yes, he knows this is the stupidest thing he can possibly do.

He knows he's setting himself up for a huge fall.

Knows it's gonna be nothing but trouble…

He knows this…he really does…

But he also knows that he doesn't have the willpower to turn down a chance at something with Simon…anythingwith Simon…

He knows he doesn't deserve a real relationship with the man. Knows he deserves so much better than Raphael. He knows Simon would like a real relationship with him…he knows that…but he can't do that to the guy.

He deserves so much better.

He can't give him what he really wants…but this?

He can give him this.

He knows this is a bad idea. Knows it's gonna end up a huge mess and probably blow up in both of their faces. He knows they're going off the rails here. They're flying down the tracks to near certain disaster. That is all but inevitable.

But if anything at least they can enjoy the journey…

It's definitely gonna be one hell of a ride.

{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}

TheEnd***

***ForNow

{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}

Yay! Another one done finally!

Okay I know this one had a really different feel than the other verses but gotta admit I'm really loving the direction it's going. So elephant in the room- No Raphael isn't Aro/Ace- he's just Ace he just stumbled into this as the best excuse.

Yeah I know Raphael lying about his sexuality to Simon feels majorly out of character- and in most of the verses that'd absolutely be the case, but with this version it just kinda fits.

I know usually the Saphael is near always smooth sailing and everything just falls into place but in this verse we're going for something a bit different. I like the idea that it's not quite as simple- having a verse where they're the ones with the romantic waffling. Don't worry guys, it me and you all know they're my favorites. You know it'll all work out- it's just gonna be a bit of a journey in this verse-

I think that'll be a good thing.

So that's one more story down- we still have 7 left in the 1st season of this verse (I know I'm shooting myself in the foot but at this point near every verse I already have ideas for storylines for a 2nd season {I know, I may need help lol}.

So I don't want to give too many spoilers but I can at least give you the upcoming titles for the remaining stories, just to peak your interest:

Opposites Attract

Mediums And Medical Examiners

Truth Or Dare

Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)

The Dead Speak (How Do You Get Them To Shut Up?)

The Consequences Of Bad Acting

Blast From The Past

That Little Voice In Your Head (Is NOT Your Conscience)

I know it's not much but hopefully it's enough to keep your interest. And now we're really gearing up for the end of this round of stories. This one ending brings us down to just six left and I know the update order for all of them- here's what we have coming:

*You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch8}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch8}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch9}*Nosey Neighbors {Ch9}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch9}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch9}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch10}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch11}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch12}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch10}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch11}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch12}* Love Bug {Verse 2}{Ch10} Love Bug {Verse 2}{Ch11} Love Bug {Verse 2}{Ch12}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch10}*, Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch11}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch12}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch10}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch11}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch12}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch10}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch11}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch12}*

By the way I just want to thank you so much to all of you sticking with it- I know this round has gone on an insanely long time but this was the time I needed to really get all my plans solidified and really flesh out the world so I know where we're going. I do now-

I have nearly 400 pages of notes for the upcoming season and stories. I have all the major plot points worked out, my entire catalog of Auxiliary characters (all to be posted on my Deviant Art journal aceofhearts85/posts ) So I really think we're good.

I'd much rather take longer in the beginning than have to retcon older stories to make current ones work. That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid.

Thank you again so much for sticking with the stories- I really hope you all are enjoying them as much as I am. Thank you all so much for reading and all your wonderful comments, they really help motivate me and I can't wait for the next installment.

You all are amazing, thank you so much for reading,

See you in the next one!

reading and all your wonderful comments, they really help motivate me and I can't wait for the next installment.

You all are amazing, thank you so much for reading,

See you in the next one!

*~Page 63 of 63~*

{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^6-*Psychic Spectrum Verse*-6*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}