{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^Multiverse Mysteries ^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-Psychics, Secrets And Snags Verse*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
{6}
Chapter3: Awkward Understanding {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-* {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}
Hmm...this is Akira's sixth day this week, She likes the overtime but it'll wear thin. Kylie and Kimba's backgrounds cleared- so that's promising. Better than some of the others in any case. With him only hiring psychics some kind Of record is practically a given. Even so the benefits far outweigh the pitfalls. It's just easier being able to talk openly with the entire staff, not to mention growing up psychic comes with a whole laundry list of pitfalls, hang-ups and issues that tend to make it harder for some to find- or keep- employment. He sees it as a service to their community.
Even so it does come with its own list of issues. It's near impossible to find psychics who don't have at least some kind of dust ups with the authorities in their past. Thankfully the Cairo twins definitely seem promising...and if anything having a pair of telepaths working will be helpful during really loud, busy nights.
Hopefully He can get them on for next week, th-
"Hey boss, there's a couple detectives here to see you. They're waiting at the bar downstairs."
He startled at the interruption, pulling himself out of his thoughts, glancing over at Valerie by his office door.
"Mags and his partner o-"
Valerie quirked his eyebrow.
"If it was I woulda said so."
Raph rolled his eyes, giving the sarcastic look right back.
"Yeah, yeah, fair enough, had to ask."
"And I had to snark."
Raphael huffed out a faint laugh, head tilting concedingly, unable to keep in an amused smirk at the snarky, somewhat abrasive blonde (He tries not to play favorites with his employees but gotta admit Val's pretty close to the top of the list.)
"What do they want? It's not an employee thing is it? No one's been arrested- Or is going to soon be arrested? We're already stretched too thin as it is. I'm trying to get more help but I don't know if someone's a real candidate till one of us actually meet them. Can't exactly put 'only Psychic's need apply' on the applications. One it's technically discriminatory and two it'd bring in every loon in Santa Barbra...
And again it's freaking Santa Barbra: that's a lot of loons."
Valerie snorted, silvery grey blue eyes lighting with amusement, leaning back against the door, nodding.
"Got that right...no, nothing like that. They said it's for a case they're working. Apparently some big time crook's gonna be in town and about the only thing they know for sure is guy's big on the club scene. Figure he's sure to show up at the new hot spot. They want to do some kind of sting, hoping we'll cooperate.
Said they could set up across the street or in a van or whatever but they're really hoping they can just set up in here- said it'd help a lot."
Raphael sighed, thinking for a moment before shaking his head faintly.
"I don't really like the idea of giving the go-ahead to spy on our patrons. That gets out it could cause some issue."
Val shrugged.
"True...though I don't like the idea of us getting off on the wrong side of the authorities a fair bit more. And gotta think a pissed off, vindictive detective with an ax to grind might be a fair bit more of an issue than a couple shifty as hell scumbags not wanting to come in. Frankly that could be a plus...saves me from having to toss out the trash."
Raph chuckled, head tilting.
"Yeah cause I know how much you hate that."
Van smirked, flashing a playful wink and a dangerous little smirk, grey blue eyes shimmering, flashing silver, giving a little flick of her wrist, a glimmer of electric blue charge dancing across her fingers, head tilting concedingly.
"Granted...but even though it means less fun for me I'm still pretty sure it's worth rolling the dice on this one. I know Mags's on the force but it's not like back home. There He had nearly a decade of experience and the record to back it up. He had plenty of clout and pull to give us a bit of protection if need be. Here He's back to starting from scratch. I mean yeah He has his record but that's only gonna get him so far and you know there's gonna be some just waiting for him to stumble. There's always some backstabbers or self-conscious jackasses intent on keeping their position in the hierarchy by pushing others down.
He hasn't even had any real cases to flex his skills yet. Right now his pull is exactly nil and He's pretty much at the most vulnerable position He could possibly be. Last thing we want is to get off on the wrong foot with some already established detectives in town...or worse yet blow them off and it get back to them that the club owner standing in the way of their investigation is none other than the BFF of the new detective.
Don't think that'd play too well."
Ah...crap...
"Damnit...you got a point. And these detectives, you think they might be the type to try to jam Mags up over this?"
He scoffed, giving a faint, half-hearted shrug.
"Don't know...Telepathy and Empathy really aren't in my bag of tricks. Still probably better not to chance it."
Raph groaned, slumping a bit on the desk, shaking his head.
"True enough...Still don't want to do it. Sets a bad precedence and could be trouble. We really don't need the issues this early on. I'll just have to find a way to smooth over the rejection somehow."
Val snorted.
"Gee, can't imagine how you're gonna do that..."
Raph chuckled, pushing away from the desk, turning, quickly checking his reflection in the mirror, ensuring his hair was still in its usual, perfectly quaffed style. He reached up, smoothing his crisp black vest down before rolling up the sleeves of his deep burgundy dress shirt, perfectly highlighting his arms and shoulders. Finally He reached up, undoing his tie for a more relaxed, more approachable look, tugging it off, tossing it carelessly on his desk, smoothing the collar into place, checking his reflection once more before giving a slight nod, turning back to face Val, smirking.
"Eh, might not come to that. I'll try the old fashioned- non-enthraller way first. Easiest way is usually the best."
Val snorted, brow quirking.
"Sure you don't want to undo a few more buttons?"
Raph laughed brightly, rolling his eyes, shaking his head, moving towards the door.
"Uh yeah no...really not that kind of guy."
Val smirked teasingly, holding the door open for Raphael before turning on heel, falling into step beside him, continuing.
"Hey just a thought. Besides might not be a bad idea. They're both kinda cute...I mean if you're into that anyways. Which I'm pretty sure you kinda are...at least so much as you're into anything..."
Raphael again rolled his eyes, waving her off.
"Yeah, still no."
"Just saying it couldn't hurt anything."
"Except my pride."
Val snorted.
"Yeah and clearly you don't have that to spare."
Raphael glanced over, brow quirking.
"You DO remember I'm your boss, right?"
Val scoffed, brow quirking right back.
"Yup...and I'm YOUR muscle- what's a quasi-kingpin/supervillian without the muscle and henchmen to back them up?"
Raphael laughed, shaking his head.
"Don't call me that...first off I'm not a 'quasi' anything-"
"No arguing the actual titles I see."
"I am- you just interrupted me before I could. I'm neither of those. Nothing of the sort."
Valerie tilted her head, brow quirking.
"Yes of course- Psyvamp enthraller recruiting a whole cabal of morally ambiguous, murkily law-abiding psychics to do his bidding... nothing supervillianish or crime syndicate-y about that whatsoever."
Raphael gave a disbelieving laugh, again waving her off.
"Come on now it's not like that and you know it. I'm just a savvy entrepreneur with a bit of a theoretical flair giving people who've been dealt a rough hand a fair shot-"
Val snorted.
"Yeah and I'm just a rent-a-cop with a bit of an attitude problem."
Raph tilted his head, holding up a finger.
"Well now that y-"
"Oh please- don't even...you wouldn't have drug me clear across the country if that was the case."
It was Raphael's turn to snort, brow quirking.
"Drug you? Really? I didn't even ask you to come! I told you me, Izzy and Mags were moving clear across country and you just unilaterally decided to follow us. Took out your phone and booked a seat on the same flight as me before I was even done telling you...kinda stalkerish if you ask me."
She snorted, rolling her eyes.
"Please don't flatter yourself Angel- you get enough of that already. SO not my type. Besides you know you were relieved I came along. You all were. I mean yeah your abilities are cute and all-"
"Cute!?-"
"Yeah yeah, Psyvamp, chilling, terrifying blah, blah, blah..."
"It is, and I hate it when you call me tha-"
Val chuckled, rolling her eyes, waving him off.
"I know- 's why I do it...and please, I had to come. I mean not saying you all are helpless or anything but it's an energy draining super-flirt, a walking talking-way-too-damn-much-and-then-some crystal ball/slash freewheeling detective and an annoyingly chipper, redheaded Ouija board running a freaking occult shop and is WAY too compassionate for their own damn good.
Not like your abilities aren't impressive but as much trouble as you lot get into you need someone with a bit more oomph backing you up."
Raph laughed, shaking his head.
"Hey we have back up here. Gage and Ryder a-"
He snorted, giving a dismissive wave, shaking his head as the pair began down the stairs.
"Please, the bull-boys are just window dressing and you know it. Push comes to shove I'm your go to back up, no two ways about it."
Raphael began to deny it but couldn't quite bring himself to. Electrokenesis was an even rarer psychic ability than being a Psyvamp...and admittedly could be a fair bit more dangerous. Instead of a hollow argument He just settled on a faint head tilt and a flickering wave.
"Yeah, yeah, just don't tell them that."
"Course boss." He smirked, giving a sarcastic, overly dramatic salute.
Raphael rolled his eyes, shaking his head, just barely managing to stifle a groan...going by the uptick of that annoying smirk or the teasing wink it didn't do any good.
Dios, Val really is one of his favorite employees and hands down one of the best people to have in your corner when things turn bad but good lord; woman could give Mags a run for his money in the exasperating department...and that is saying something...
Raphael sighed, vaguely wondering what He did in a past life to deserve having such irritating best friends, again shaking his head, reaching up covering his eyes for a moment before glancing over flashing a faint glare that garnered little more than a snort, an eyebrow raise and a blatantly fake overly bright smile.
This time He didn't even bother fighting off this groan.
"God you are exasperating..." He trailed off reaching the bar area, glancing around in confusion before shifting back to Val, head tilting.
"Wait...where are they?"
"Right here, Sorry!"
A bright, unmistakable voice called from the other side of the bar. Raphael's brain completely slammed to a halt, trapped in a bizarre mix of warring emotions too complicated, jumbled and bewildering to even begin to try to list, half convinced He'd just totally lost it and was somehow hallucinating it.
W...wha-
A hand shot up a few feet down the bar, waving animatedly, Simon springing up, reaching up, pushing the chaotic mess of Light brown curls back away from his face, giving a slightly giggly, nervous laugh, cheeks flushing, eyes widening kind of gesturing abstractly around at the bar.
"Ah ha! Found it!" Kevin exclaimed popping up excitedly a few feet down the bar, triumphantly holding up a gold pen, grinning ear to ear before spotting then, flushing, raising his free hand giving a slight wave.
"O-oh...uh...H-hey Raphael...umm...and uh...Ms...um...securi...uh...ma'am..." He trailed off, side stepping down the bar, keeping his gaze on Raphael and Valerie, stopping next to Simon, holding the pen out to him.
"Kay so I know this looks b...umm..."Simon trailed off, freezing, swallowing, gaze catching on Raphael, shifting over his, pretty honey eyes widening, blinking rapidly.
"Wow..." He breathed before catching himself, startling, a soft, inviting flush warming his cheeks, clearing his throat, quickly looking away, gaze shifting over to Kevin, taking the pen, giving a quick, grateful smile before turning back to them, holding the pen up, kind of waggling it back and forth, flashing a nervous, slightly guilty smile.
"Oh sorry- um...h-hey...Hi, SO not what this looks like. Not snooping or like sneaking liquor or anything like that. We're on duty...a-also not thieves so tha-umm...a-anyways...
See what happen was we were on that side and I was talking to Kevin and I was kinda gesturing and I guess I was gesturing way too much and I kinda made a gesture that was more gesture-y than intended and my pen flew out of my hand and back here and I should have left it but it was a gift when I made detective from the chief and I know that's kinda stupid but it's like a tradition and it really means a lot to me and I didn't want to leave it so we came over on this side to get it and we couldn't find it and then you came in and Kevin found it and...and then I started babbling uncontrollably and well...now here we are...
A-again...Hi..
So u-oh wait...sorry..." He paused, turning quickly making his way around the bar, Kevin scrambling along behind him.
The duo stopped just in front of the bar, Simon quickly turning to face Raphael, flushing brighter, the pretty pink trailing up clear to his adorable little ears, shifting nervously, giving another endearingly awkward wave, tucking the pen safely into the front pocket on his soft yellow dress shirt. He paused a moment, taking a slightly deep breath, standing up a bit straighter, apparently getting his composure, taking one more deep breath before settling, those warm golden eyes flickering back up, landing on Raphael, flashing a shy, near apologetic, faintly hopeful little smile.
"Hi Raphael. Sorry for the sudden drop in. I know what it must seem like but it's really is sheer coincidence." He swallowed, glancing away, reaching up tucking a few wayward curls behind his ear, giving a faint shrug.
"I-I know this is about the last thing you want and you probably think it's some kind of plot or scheme or whatever cause I was impatient and just got tired of waiting or whatever but it's really not. When Kev told me the club we'd be looking into for the stakeout I even went in and talked to Chief Garroway explaining the situation and that it might be best to assign it to another detective but everyone else already have assignments and we don't really have a big window of time to get set up. I know it's kinda gonna be awkward but I really do appreciate you agreeing to at least see me and hear us out on it."
"Uh...y-yeah..." Raphael swallowed nervously giving a slight wave back, shifting from one foot to the other, somewhat at a loss for anything else to say. Well...anything to say to his...
He glanced over at Valerie, brow quirking. Val quirked her brow right back, flashing a faint smirk, eyes flickering silver.
"What?"
"You know what."
He shrugged, totally unconcerned.
"Hey can never be too careful."
"Here you can..."Raphael sighed faintly, shaking his head before shifting his gaze from Valerie back to Simon, reaching up, nervously brushing his hair back.
"Uh...s-sorry Simon...bit thrown. He didn't actually tell me it was you- just that there were a couple detectives wanting to do some kind of sting..."
Simon blinked, kind of deflating, giving a slight nod.
"Oh...um...well I-"
Raphael took a deep breath, shifting again nervously, glancing away, scratching at his neck.
"Um...S-sorry I haven't responded to your texts. I've been really busy a-"
Simon gave a faint, totally mirthless huff of a laugh, shaking his head.
"Raph? Can we not do that? We both know that's not the case and pretending it is is insulting to both of us."
Raphael startled.
"No I r-"
Simon sighed, shaking his head.
"No you haven't...well you have-I'm sure- but no one's that busy. If you wanted to get back to me you would have. You haven't, that pretty much speaks for itself."
Raphael swallowed, beginning to shake his head.
"A-Simon...it's really not like that...I j-"
Simon sighed again, holding his hand up. He took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders before looking up, those bright, dizzying honey gold eyes catching Raphael's, the swirl of emotions He sees stopping him dead in his tracks.
There's disappointment like He expects, there's hurt and a sadness that hits him like a punch, that He'd give anything to wipe away but over that there's so much strength, so much determination, compassion and empathy. There's no blame, no animosity, no resentment or condemnation...
There's a warmth and an understanding, and a soft flicker of hope that Raphael honestly doesn't even know how to process.
Finally when the silence has stretched on so long it seems a near tangible thing He just settles for a slightly awkward shrug, and a near hopeless wave.
"I-I'm sorry Simon...I really am."
Simon gives a soft not-quite smile, meeting Raphael's eyes, shaking his head gently.
"Raphael...it's okay. It really is- you don't have to explain. You didn't lead me on. We had a few really great conversations and one not-a-date, we specifically said it wasn't a date. We met at your club on your opening night- a time when you're doing everything possible to put your best foot forward, about the very worst time for some awkward personal moment.
You were ambushed with a blind date- specifically said you didn't want a date and then were guilted into meeting said blind date anyways...at your clubs big opening night, as a coworker of your best friend. I had a wonderful night- it was a lot of fun, and exciting but you never made it into anything more than what it was...meeting your best friends new colleagues.
I made it into more, that was all me. I thought you felt what I did and was way too enthusiastic and pushy about it but it'd hardly be the first time I've read something like that wrong and got too caught up. Honestly it's not at all surprising...hell at this point it's pretty much my go-to move..." He sighed, giving a faintly self-depreciating shrug and a slight smirk, pretty golden brown eyes shimmering with a slightly false vale of humor, holding a finger up.
"Eventually I'll find someone that works for- till then I just have to kinda own it and work through the awkward...If anything by now I have plenty of practice with that part." He paused, taking a deep breath, looking up, meeting his eyes, giving a soft, impossibly sincere smile.
"Raph, I really liked meeting you. It was a wonderful night, probably one of the best of my life. I'm disappointed it didn't work out but I understand- I really do.
And you don't have to make excuses or try to rationalize why it didn't. Sometimes people just don't click romantically. It's no one's fault...that's just how it is sometimes and pushing someone to try to make them feel something they simply don't is inconsiderate and dismissive and something I would never, ever do.
I-honestly I wish you would have just told me flat out the next day so I'd of stopped embarrassing myself and moved past it but I understand that's far easier said than done. Seriously the 'I'm just not that into you' conversations are never easy- and yes, I speak from experience here. A lot of experience. It sucks and it's awkward and uncomfortable and basically ranks somewhere around a root canal and an IRS audit on the list of things people want to deal with.
And that's just a normal one.
One where you can just kinda cut and run and move on. That's not really the case here. I'm your best friends' coworker and what apparently is his first real, official partners' best friend. We're gonna run into each other, it's just a forgone conclusion." He sighed faintly, giving a bit of a shrug, looking up, again meeting Raphael's eyes.
"L-look Raph, I know there was a lot at stake here for you, you kinda got drug into it and tossed in the middle when you really didn't want anything to do with it to begin with. I honestly don't know if it was even so much you ghosting me as you just being kinda stuck in limbo, not knowing where to go that'd have the least amount of fallout."
Raphael swallowed, shrugging kind of helplessly.
"I really didn't." He took a deep breath, talking a hesitant step closer, folding his arms across his chest, looking up, catching those beautiful golden brown eyes.
"T-though it wasn't only Mags I was worried about. I really didn't want to hurt you...I jus-"
Simon smiled softly, shaking his head faintly.
"Like I said you don't have to explain, I get it. I really do." He gave a slight near laugh, shaking his head.
"Believe me I get when it just doesn't click- I've been there before. On both sides. Most of the time you can't even explain why it doesn't, all you know is it doesn't. Again that is totally okay. We just didn't click romantically, that's okay, You don't owe me an explanation, I am good with it...I really am..." He paused, taking a deep breath, hesitantly stepping forward, coming to a stop a few feet from Raphael, looking up, meeting his eyes, giving a soft, warm, impossibly sweet, hopeful smile.
"A-and I know how awkward, borderline needy and generally cringworthy this phrase is but do you think we can maybe still be friends?"
Raphael blinked.
"I-y-you want to be friends?"
Simon flushed faintly, shrugging, reaching up, tucking a few wayward curls behind his ear, giving a slight nod.
"Well...yeah...And I know a lot of people say that as like a brush off or as a sneaky ploy for a way in or whatever but it's really nothing like that. I'm not angling for anything more, I'm not trying to wheedle in or just trying to save face or saying it cause we're likely to still see each other and interact and it'd be awkward if we weren't. I know it sounds cheesy but I genuinely would like to have a friendship with you. I mean regardless of the stumbling romantic false start and all of that we still had a great time together. I really enjoyed talking to you, joking with you and just spending time with you. The romantic thing may not have worked out but that doesn't make me like you any less."
Raphael gave a surprised faint laugh, head tilting.
"You like me?"
Simon quirked his brow faintly at the surprised uptick on the question, flashing a soft, warm, breathtakingly genuine smile, reaching up tucking a few Light brown curls behind his ear, nodding.
"Yeah...a lot."
"Why?"
Simon gave a surprised near giggle of a laugh. Raphael shifted back a bit, Simon's eyes widened, a flicker of guilt shimmering, quickly shaking his head, reaching over, resting his hand on Raphael's arm, stopping his retreat, squeezing lightly.
"Sorry...I wasn't laughing at you- I swear...you just surprised me, that's all. Raph? Of course I like you; why wouldn't I? You're smart, funny, sarcastic, really deep and honestly like one of the most fascinating people I've ever met...I know we didn't really click romantically but I'd still really like the chance to get to spend time with you...I mean if you're okay with that of course." He paused, shrugging faintly, scratching nervously at his neck.
"I-if not t-"
"No! No...um...I am...I mean if you are. I d-"
Simon's smile brightened, gaze shifting back up, meeting Raphael's eyes, nodding.
"I am...I really am."
Raphael shifted closer, head tilting faintly, gaze flickering over him curiously.
"And you're really okay with us just being friends?"
Simon took a deep breath, meeting his eyes, nodding.
"Completely..." He paused, head tilting.
"Though I've never really liked that wording. Makes it seem like the chance of having a great friend is some kind of conciliation prize, like those relationships don't mean as much." He chuckled softly, giving a faint shrug, tucking a couple wayward curls behind his ear.
"Hell, honestly some of the best friendships I have started out as an awkward crush or a failed attempt at a romance. I may have had a different outcome in mind at the start but I wouldn't trade what I have now with them for anything."
Raph blinked, gaze flickering over him.
"And you'd really be fine with something like that with us? With me?"
Simon sighed, those warm, beautiful golden brown eyes shifting over Raphael, biting his lip distractingly, honey eyes meeting Raphael's, nodding.
"Yes...completely."
And again Raphael was reduced to blinking in surprise, looking over the adorable empath with a mixture of amazement and cynical disbelief.
"Really?"
Simon chuckled softly, rolling his eyes faintly in amusement, quirking his eyebrow.
"Uh...yeah...that's what I've been saying. I mean come on, not like I was subtle with my interest in you...like at all...at all at all. You didn't really think I was that enthusiastic just because you're hot...right?"
Raphael blinked, swallowing, beginning to shake his head.
"I-umm...n-no of course not-"
Simon laughed disbelievingly, shaking his head.
"Oh wow...dude you are a BAD liar."
Raphael gave a surprised laugh.
"I am n-"
Valerie snorted.
"You are right now..."
Raphael's head whipped around, glaring.
"Thank you, Valerie."
Val chuckled, shrugging unconcerned.
"Sorry Angel, call it as I see it, you know that."
Simon startled faintly, cocking his head, glancing over.
"Angel?" He paused eyes widening, standing a bit straighter.
"Oh Damnit! Are you g-"
Raph and Val gave near identical scoffs, both shaking their heads animatedly.
"No."
"Hell no..." Val reiterated.
Raphael glanced over, quirking his eyebrow.
"Bit excessive."
Val snorted
"Uh no. If anything it's not excessive enough." He huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head once more before shifting his gaze over to Simon.
"Most definitely not anything even remotely like that...I'm just a friend- well a friend and his head of security/ go to backup if things get tricky...Valerie Chase. Good to see you again Fanboy."
Simon giggled relaxing a bit, head tilting.
"Fanboy?"
Raphael sighed, waving him off.
"He's one of those unbearingly annoying nicknaming people-"
"Not nicknames- Codenames- They're practical. Used them all the time in my last few jobs."
Raphael scoffed sarcastically.
"Yeah well this is neither the NSA or the military- it's a nightclub in Santa Barbra. We don't need 'codenames'."
Valerie shrugged, brow quirking pointedly.
"Until we do..."
Raphael gave a sarcastic, deadpan look.
"You're not that kind of psychic Val."
She chuckled faintly, folding her arms, smirking, giving a little flicker of her wrist, a glimmer of white, blue electric charge dancing between her fingers, grey blue eyes flashing silver, smirk ticking up a bit along with her eyebrow, gaze pointedly shifting between the two detectives.
"You're right. I'm not..."
Simon and Kevin blinked, glancing at each other before shifting back over to him, taking a subtle, tandem step back, bringing them up nearly leaning against the bar. Raphael groaned, shaking his head, casting a withering glare at Val before shifting back over to Simon, flashing an apologetic smile, stepping forward, subtly putting himself between the two detectives and his playfully menacing, enduringly irritating friend, waving him off.
"Sorry- Ignore her...She has a really weird sense of humor. It basically boils down to bad ni-sorry-codenames and overdramatic, Machiavellian intimidation. Izzy says it's endearing but...well...that's Izzy- she sees the best in everyone. I just see it as obnoxious. Pretty sure I just keep her around cause my supervillianish tendencies seem less outlandish-even bordering on charming- in comparison.
Again most definitely NOT a couple. Not now, not ever."
Simon gave a soft little giggle, relaxing a bit, nodding animatedly, relaxing a bit more leaning casually against the bar.
"Ah okay that's good...Oh uh...not like 'good you're not together' just 'good I didn't accidentally obliviously try to snake scary Storm's boyfriend. Seems like that'd be a bad idea."
Valerie chuckled, smirking, eyes flickering silver, a little glimmer of blue electricity dancing about his fingers, head cocking to the side.
"A Really bad idea..."
Simon gulped, giving a nervous laugh. Valerie held his gaze for a moment too long before giving a bit of a laugh, flashing a faint wink.
"Fortunately we clearly have VERY different taste...you're good Fanboy."
Simon relaxed faintly, nodding.
"Kay good...And the codename thing explains Angel...well kinda..." He paused, head tilting.
"Kinda curious how you got that for Raph's codename."
Raphael groaned, rolling his eyes.
"It's her idea of a joke."
Kevin blinked, glancing between the two of them, brow scrunching in confusion.
"L-like calling a really big guy tiny?"
"Hey!" Raphael exclaimed, glaring faintly as Val burst out laughing and Simon tried to muffle a snicker.
Kevin's eyes widened, holding his hands up placatingly.
"What?! You said it was a joke!"
"Not that kind of joke!" Raphael grumbled.
"'Least it wasn't before..." Val smirked, flashing an approving smile at Kevin before shifting back over to Raphael.
"Do like multifaceted jokes...thanks Bambi..."
Kevin huffed faintly at his apparent 'codename', flashing a blatantly fake smile.
"Don't mention it sparky..."
Valerie quirked her eyebrow censuringly. Kevin startled at the look, subtly taking a step further down the bar.
"Ever..." Raph muttered, rolling his eyes at the lot of them, shaking his head faintly, gaze shifting from his irritating as hell friend and the twitchy detective scooching his way down the bar, eyeing the exit back to Simon.
At least that gives him something cute to look at while He's plotting his revenge...also to get himself to keep his blushing at bay. He can feel it coming and if it does and Val catches it He will be relentless and would not hesitate for a second to point it out...loudly and emphatically...(Seriously-Why is He friends with this jackass again?).
Simon giggled softly, gaze shifting from Valerie and Kevin back over to Raph, head tilting inquiringly.
"S-so now I'm really curious. If the codename's not sarcastic or anything like that than what is it?"
Raphael scoffed, glaring at Valerie.
"Stupid...stupid's what it is."
Val chuckled shaking her head.
"No it's not- fits perfectly."
Simon shifted his eager gaze from Raph over to Val and back, perking up even more, bouncing lightly on his heels.
"How does it fit?"
Val huffed out a faint laugh, brow quirking expectantly.
"Come on Fanboy- you gotta get this one...Angel? Vampire with a soul?"
Simon gasped before bursting out in a loud, excited giggle, near clapping, pretty golden eyes shimmering with delight, turning to Raphael with the most breathtakingly dazzling smile He'd ever seen.
"Oh my god...that j-oh dude! I love that..."He giggled again, the sound like music, bouncing lightly on his heels, glancing over at Val, smile somehow ratcheting up even brighter before shifting back to Raphael, pretty, shimmery honey eyes slipping over him in a way that makes his pulse raise and his cheeks warm, nodding over at Val.
"Kay kinda have to side with her here. Really does fit perfectly."
Val chuckled, nodding.
"Right? He even has that dark, broody, mysterious thing going...I was like this close to getting his the coat but He's too short to pull it off."
Raphael glared. Simon giggled delightedly, eyes brightening, flickering again over Raph, this time a bit slower, a worryingly adorable, impishly teasing smirk, tugging at his lips. He shook his head, curls bouncing animatedly.
"Gotta disagree with you on that one. I think He could totally pull it off. Probably even better than he does."
And there went the blush...damnit...and Simon caught it too, a little flicker of something bright and dazzling dancing in those warm golden eyes. The smirk returned, this one with a teasing lilt that caused Raphael's heart to do a little summersault and his breath to catch.
"Really is too perfect. I may actually have to steal that..."
Valerie chuckled, smirking, giving a flickering little wave.
"No need, be my guess. Think of it as a welcome gift/icebreaker. Seems like a good idea- and if anything you'll have plenty of time to use it as with you guys setting up your stakeout here we'll be seeing a lot of you."
Simon started at that, blinking in surprise, gaze shifting from Val over to Raphael, those bright, gorgeous, honey colored eyes practically shimmering with hope.
"Wait, really? You're gonna let us do the stakeout in here?"
Raphael blinked.
"I-umm..." He trailed off, swallowing nervously.
Simon deflated faintly, shifting back, those pretty eyes dimming a little.
"If you're not comfortable with it it's okay. We can just set up across the street o-"
Raphael started, quickly shaking his head, trying to put on a convincing smile, giving a faint wave.
"No, no...totally unnecessary. It's fine, you can do it here."
Simon tilted his head, gaze a bit unsure.
"Are you sure? I know it's your business and something like this getting out could cause issues. That's the last thing I want. I mean not like we're gonna broadcast it or whatever kinda defeats the purpose of a sting but even so it ould cause problems. It wouldn't be that much more difficult for us to set up s-"
Again Raphael shook his head, the smile this time a bit more real, moving a bit closer.
"Nonsense- no point making it any harder than it has to be. Besides if this guys that bad of news we don't need him in here anyways- not really the clientele we want. You guys can set up here, maybe in the security office. This way you can get a clear view of everything." He smiled, shrugging, shifting a bit closer, reaching up, brushing his hair back.
"We could even help if you want...If you have a photo of the guy we could circulate it to the staff, have them keep an eye out for him, give you a heads up if he's spotted- subtly of course."
Simon blinked in surprise, smiling warmly, shaking his head, reaching over resting his hand on Raphael's arm.
"Oh that's really sweet but I couldn't ask you to do that."
Raphael shrugged, smiling back, reaching up, resting his hand on top of Simon's, squeezing, covertly taking a deep breath, trying to settle the giddy little flutter in his stomach.
"You didn't ask- I offered." He paused, smiling, settling a bit closer, head tilting, brow quirking, catching those pretty honey eyes.
"Besides what are friends for?"
Simon gave a soft laugh, that beautiful, megawatt smile brightening all the more, lighting up his whole face, squeezing his arm, sighing softly.
"Thank you Raph...though I don't want you to feel like you have t-"
Raphael shook his head, waving his off.
"No-nothing like that. It's not even really a favor- just smart business sense. If this guy's so bad that he warrants a stakeout and a coordinated sting he's probably not an element I really want hanging around my club. Sets a bad precedence...helping out a friend is just a bonus."
Simon positively beamed, slipping forward, hugging him quickly before kind of startling, pulling back with a bit of a sheepish smile.
"Oh um...sorry- didn't mean to do that...I'm kinda a hugger." He started to pull away but Raph caught his hand, tugging him back a bit, flashing a faint smile.
"It's okay- kinda used to it- you've met Mags and Izzy right?"
Simon laughed brightly, shrugging.
"Mags yes. Haven't met this Izzy yet but I'm really eager to- He talks about her all the time. Have a feeling we'll get along great."
Raphael chuckled, smiling, nodding.
"Oh you will. You'll have to go by the shop sometime. Check out the place, meet him...and Eugene."
Simon blinked in confusion, head tilting.
"Eugene? I don't remember that name. Is that Izzy's boyfriend?"
Raphael shook his head, shrugging casually.
"Nope- the ghost haunting the shop."
Simon laughed, rolling his eyes.
"Ha, ha, funny."
Raphael chuckled, quirking his eyebrow expectantly. Simon waited before giving a faint scoff, shaking his head.
"Oh come on...you're messing with me..."
Raphael smirked, head tilting.
"Am I?"
Simon begin to nod before pausing, head shaking.
"I...I honestly don't know. I mean I don't think ghosts are real...though up to like a month ago I thought the same thing about psychics...so...huh..." He trailed off, shaking his head, gaze settling back on Raphael, shrugging.
"I really don't know."
Raphael smirked, winking playfully.
"Guess I'm a better lair than you though, hmm?"
Simon snorted, giving a faintly sarcastic look.
"Dude- not really something to brag about."
Raphael shrugged totally unconcerned, again flashing a teasing little wink.
"Pretty damn useful though."
Simon laughed, again rolling his eyes, shaking his head, kind of waving him off.
"Yeah, yeah..." He paused, giving a faint sigh, reaching up brushing his hair back, looking up at Raphael, head tilting.
"So not that this wasn't fun-well when it wasn't awkward as hell- but we are kinda supposed to be working. If we're not gonna be able to set up here we'll had to figure out our plan B."
Raphael smiled, shaking his head.
"Again not necessary. You guys are welcome to set up here. Me and the staff will assist in whatever way we can, just let me know.
I'm happy to help."
Val snorted, Raphael glared faintly, Simon just barely managed to cover a laugh with a cough, again settling closer, hand again coming to rest on Raphael's arm. He squeezed faintly, a dangerously adorable, impish little smirk tugging at his pretty lips, warm golden eyes catching Raphael's, sparkling teasingly, giving that soft, pretty near giggle, shifting even closer, so much so that his shoulder brushed against Raphael's.
"Well in that case- Thank you...Angel."
The cute, teasing smirk bloomed into a full on grin, bouncing on his heels with delight, squeezing Raphael's arm once more before shifting, turning slightly, gaze pulling away from Raphael- thankfully giving him a chance to take a deep, steadying breath, propping his arm deceptively casually on the bar, trying to take a bit of the weight off his knees that suddenly felt like jelly.
Simon grinned, shifting over to Kevin holding up a finger, gesturing over to Valerie.
"Kay first off- totally using that. Way too good to pass up...next since you guys are gonna let us work the case here we should probably fill you in on the particulars...
So the guy's name is Andre Levine. H-"
Raphael tried to follow, to focus on the details and the case and not the bright, bubbly dazzling guy less than a foot away. The adorable, sweet, intelligent, unbelievably amazing guy. Likely the most amazing person He has ever met in his entire life.
Simon...
His friend Simon...
Just his friend...
...
...
..
.
Well...Crap...
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***End Of Chapter Notes***
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Andre= Daring, Manly
Levine= Connected
Think I'm gonna like Valerie here- He'll be a lot of fun to work in. Don't know if anyone caught it but Raph's reaction to Simon saying He likes his is supposed to kinda echo a scene from 'Fashion Police- story 2 of V1...only reversed.
Oh and I know it might be kinda odd having what's usually Simon's nickname be used for Raph but...well...come on how could I pass that up for our overly self-critical Psyvamp?
So here's the update list:
A Start Of Something New (Verse 7)
The Guy/Demon In The Mirror (Verse 4)
Nosey Neighbors (Verse 9)
Love Bug (Verse 2)
Picture Perfect (Verse 8)
You Can't Go Home Again (Verse 1)
A Study In Chaos (Verse 6)
This Is Why You Don't Wander Away From The Group (Verse 5)
Death Was Just The Beginning (Verse 3)
Yay! V5 is next- easily my second favorite. Gotta admit I am warming up to this verse though...
So, what'd you guys think?
./
* 36 *
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