~6~
Chapter 5:
Flirty Friends...
{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^} *-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}
"Hmm...Interesting..." he mumbled, idly flicking through the newly updated info on the target, Andre Levine.
"What's interesting?"
Simon startled at the soft voice right by his ear, breath catching, spinning towards it, near stumbling back.
"Woah!" Raphael gasped, blinking in surprise at the reaction, hand darting forward, catching Simon's hand, steadying him, pulling him a bit closer, other hand coming to rest at his waist.
Simon swallowed, shivering excitedly, hand automatically coming up, landing on Raphael's shoulder to steady himself. He shifted, hand slipping down his shoulder, coming to rest on Raphael's bicep, squeezing lightly...which um...was uh...
"Woah..." he breathed, starting yet again, realizing that was in fact out loud, looking up guiltily, seeing if Raphael caught it, hoping against hope that he didn't.
Raph's smirking, those dizzyingly dark, hypnotic eyes mere inches away, sparkling bright and teasing.
Sigh...yup...he caught it alright...and apparently he thought it was entertaining...joy...
Ugh...Okay yeah so he said he wanted to be friends- and he DID...he really reallydid. But man it'd of been nice if he'd had a heads up beforehand.
And again, He's good with the friends thing...he is. Only thing is he kinda wished he had a bit of a heads up that Raphael was THAT friend.
Apparently Raph is that flirty friend. Because of course he is...he doesn't even know why he's surprised. Guy flirts easy as breathing- probably doesn't even realize he's doing it half the time. At least the half of the time when he's not actively weaponizing said flirting...
Because apparently 'weaponized flirting' is a thing.
A thing his new 'friend' Raphael does...
That he's especially very skilled at...
Because well...of coursehe is...
And again...
Ugh...
He REALLY did not think this 'friend' thing through...
Even so it's more than worth it. He knows it will be in the long run. Raph's amazing. Brilliant, funny, brave, deep, complex and utterly fascinating. He's one of the most remarkable people he's ever met. Yeah, until he can get the little swoopy thrill and the tingly zippy buzz and all of those distracting little crush-y type feelings in line and build up his tolerance it's gonna be a lot to power through but he'll make it. He will...
Raph's worth the effort.
His friend Raphael is worth it.
He gasped lightly, taking a deep breath, coming back to himself. Raphael smirked, pretty dark eyes shifting over Simon.
"Careful...little jumpy there." He murmured, voice warm and softly teasing, head tilting, gaze flickering over Simon curiously, that pretty, confusing spark shimmering even brighter, lips impishly tugging up, leaning in just the tiniest bit.
"You okay lindo?"
Well if anything at this rate he should build up his tolerance pretty quickly. Definitely have enough chances.
Simon felt his breath yet again catch. Ugh at this rate he's gonna end up hyperventilating...which if anything would at least temporarily stop the awkward so he's not totally ruling it out as a backup plan. He tries to brush it off, cover it with a fake cough, a nervous little near giggle slipping out. He tried to pass it off as sarcastic, rolling his eyes hopefully exasperatedly (he didn't think it landed with the blush he could feel creeping up from his cheeks clear to his ears but it was worth a try).
He swallowed, head shaking lightly, brow quirking.
"Really, again?"
He chuckled, brow quirking right back.
"What? You're the only one who gets to use nicknames? Doesn't seem very fair. Friendships a two way street, turnabout's fair play after all...right?"
Simon huffed, giving a conceding nod, shrugging.
"W-well yeah of course it i-"
"And you said you like Angel for me...yes?"
He sighed.
"Yes..."
"And you wish to still use it...yes?"
Simon huffed somewhat exasperatedly.
"Again...yes..."
Raphael smiled mischievously.
"Maravilloso, lindo."
Simon laughed lightly, rolling not only his eyes but his whole head, nudging his shoulder lightly.
"Okay yeah I like Angel for you but that's like an exception or something. I only like it so much because it fits so perfectly."
Raphael chuckled, brow quirking.
"As opposed to Cutie for you?"
"I'm not cute...I'm a detective damnit." Simon huffed, near pouting, going for his best annoyed glare, folding his arms, just barely managing to keep from tapping his foot.
Raphael laughed, head shaking disbelievingly.
"Dios mío, vaya, sí no...eres la cosa más lindo que he visto en mi vida. Se adapta demasiado a las palabras."
Simon snorted, glaring more.
"And I told you my Spanish is limited to counting to ten, five insulting words meaning geek or nerd and what I'd catch from flipping past Dora The Explorer!"
Raphael laughed bright and warm, the sound and accompanying beaming smile far too disarming to allow Simon to keep up even the pretense of his irritated look. He groaned, slumping, glancing away, shaking his head before looking back up, meeting those deep, dizzying eyes near pleadingly, squeezing Raphael's arm.
"Come on Raph. I told you, it's one of those things that really bug me. It's like when you hear someone whispering and laughing nearby. Just makes me twitchy and self-conscious. I never know if they're complimenting or insulting me or talking about something else entirely and I just happen to be standing in their general line of sight. I always feel like they're laughing at me- or like I'm the butt of some joke or whatever."
Raphael smiled softly, fingers at his waist flexing, subconsciously tugging him closer, a warm, gentle huff of a laugh slipping out, head shaking.
"Yes Lindo, I remember. Apologies...it wasn't intentional, merely a little slip of the tongue. Happens from time to time when I'm caught off guard or otherwise unexpectedly thrown. Something you seem to have a rather charming knack for where I am concerned so though I will genuinely try in all likelihood it will happen again. Even so I will try my best to keep it in check. Last thing I want is to make a friend uncomfortable.
Though for the record I was most definitely not insulting you."
Simon huffed, shrugging, settling closer, relaxing, finger lazily trailing over Raphael's arm.
"Okay...so you say...a-and from the way it sounded that seems like it'd be the case- even if there was quite a bit of laughter it seemed like nice laughter...though you do just in general have a really nice laugh s-er, um...b-but anyways how do I actually know that?"
Raphael playfully pouted, leaning in, gaze flickering over him.
"What? You don't trust me Lindo?"
Simon shrugged, settling closer, head tilting, giving a faint shrug, lightly squeezing his arm.
"Should I trust a supervillian?"
Raphael blinked in surprise, those pretty eyes sparking excitedly, giving a soft dizzying little laugh, gaze flickering over Simon slowly, lingering near wistfully before shifting back up, catching his eye, smirking.
"You? Absolutely...though if you're that wound up about it you can always just use the translator app on your phone."
Simon huffed out a faint laugh, again nudging his shoulder. He shifted, shaking his head, turning somewhat away from Raphael, going back to flicking through the info on his tablet setting on the bar, doing his best to act unaffected by the gorgeous man and the stupidly enthralling smile and the dizzying, beautifully deep brown eyes and the mind fogging flirtatiousness. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, giving a faint shrug, trying to block out all the pretty distractions, forcing his focus back onto the case.
"Yeah, yeah, alright showoff."
Raphael chuckled, shrugging, settling near flush against his side, looking over his shoulder at the tablet in interest.
"Not showing off...just comes off like that because I'm so good."
Simon couldn't help an endearingly exasperated giggle, shaking his head, perusing the updated information.
"And yet still so modest."
Raphael smirked, flashing a teasingly flirty little wink.
"I know. Really is something else, isn't it.."
"That's definitely one way to put it." Simon mumbled, shaking his head, rolling his eyes affectionately, trying to shut him out, doing his best to turn his focus back to the case.
Hmm...No alias's...seems pretty odd b-
Beside him Raphael gives a soft, somewhat confusing little hum, head tilting, leaning closer to get a better look at the screen. He shifts, resting his elbow on the edge of the bar, other hand still casually (and distractingly) resting at Simon's waist.
"Well...he's rather busy. Trying to cover the entire city in one go?" He murmured, voice right by his ear.
Simon shivered, beginning to settle closer to him before catching himself, feeling his face heat, quickly shifting away. He gasped lightly, shaking his head, reaching up, pushing his curls back, gesturing halfheartedly.
"Yes...well...yes and no. This is kind of his MO. Apparently rather than using things like alias's or stealth to cover his tracks like other criminals Levine goes a different route. Rather than trying to cover his tracks he just totally bombards anyone trying to track his movements, flooding the city with false trails to the point where any definite tip on his actual movements are totally lost in a sea of other tips.
And it would seem the method is pretty damn effective.
When he's coming into town there will be flights, tickets, rooms, car rentals, reservations and basically anything else that can possibly be used to produce a paper trail booked under his name practically blanketing the city. Some he'll use, some his associates will use, some he'll raffle off online or give away in random bonuses to employees, some will just be missed and left empty.
Far as we can tell there's no real way to know which are legit for him and what are just the dummy ones. Hell we don't even know if HE knows which he'll use and which he won't before he's actually arrived at them. It's thought that if he's settled on one and spots something fishy when he gets there he'll just pass right by and head to another, not even miss a beat.
Telling you; it's really something else."
Raphael huffed out a distractingly warm little laugh, giving a slight nod and a clearly impressed, approving smile.
"Yeah...it's genius."
Simon huffed, glancing over, brow quirking censuringly.
"Don't praise the criminals."
Raphael chuckled, shrugging totally unconcerned, waving casually.
"Hey just saying it's effective. It's effective as hell. I may actually have to keep that in mind next time I need to go under the radar."
"Oh my god don't COPYthe criminals! And what do you mean 'Next time'?" He shifted, gaze flickering curiously over Raphael, brow quirking.
"Am I gonna have to take you in?"
Raphael gave an amused chuckled, brow quirking.
"You would arrest me?"
Simon kind of faltered, giving a faint shrug.
If you give me no other choice..."
Raphael blinked in surprise, gaze flickering curiously over Simon, smirking, kind of shrugging, flashing a teasing wink.
"Hmm...Cute guy and handcuffs- I can think of far worse ways to spend an evening."
Simon huffed exasperatedly, flushing clear to his ears, glaring totally ineffectually, lightly smacking his shoulder.
"You know? You're kind of an ass."
Raphael laughed brightly, shrugging totally unconcerned.
"Not the first person to say that. One of the few brave enough to actually say it to my face though. Pretty gutsy...I like gutsy..."
Simon snorted, giving a blatantly sarcastic, overly bright smile.
"Gee thanks- high praise indeed."
Again Raphael shrugged, waving casually.
"Well I do believe in giving credit where credits' due."
Simon huffed out a faint laugh, rolling his eyes, unable to stop a faint smile, again nudging his shoulder.
"Yeah well thanks for the credit. Now if you're done shopping for evasion tactics in my report I have to get back to work. Preferably before you start copying my mark.
I already have one info flooding criminal mastermind to track down; don't need to go for a twofer."
Raphael chuckled, holding up his hand placatingly.
"Okay first off I don't 'copy'...might take a bit of inspiration but I'd definitely put my own spin and flare on it. My take would definitely be an original. And I'm not saying I will...just seems like one of the most effective maneuvers to stay under the radar that I've seen. It's a good skill to have. There could be times when you're tracked by people other than good, honest, above the board detectives.
Besides like I said, I believe in giving credit where credits due. And this? Yeah; credits' definitely due...it's absolute genius."
Simon snorted, waving him off.
It's not genius, it's obnoxious- BIG difference."
He laughed, brow quirking.
"Why do you say that?"
Simon sputtered.
"Because it is! It's irritating and totally overblown and needlessly complicated."
Raphael chuckled, shrugging.
"Yeah...for the people trying to track him. For the person trying to ditch them and cover their tracks it's probably a total riot. Especially when they see those on their trail floundering. Probably half the fun of it is watching the authorities chase their tails."
Simon gasped, nudging his shoulder irritatedly.
"Hey! Whose side are you on here?"
He chuckled, the sound warm and soft like velvet. Raphael reached up, hand coming to rest on Simon's shoulder, squeezing lightly, trailing distractingly down his arm, coming to rest on top of his hand.
"Yours Lindo, of course. I'm just rather unused to being on this side of the operation, that's all. Rather an adjustment...and you can't blame me for being at least a little impressed.
You said it yourself; this tactic really is something else.
It's creative, unique, obviously effective- hell sounds like it's even a net positive for the businesses in the city. Lots of reservations, sales and boosts. Even the ones that he skips out on most places would still have a cancelation fee so even when he doesn't show up they're still making money. In this economy I'm sure the business is definitely appreciated."
"The business of a criminal?"
He shrugged.
"Hey hard times. Beggars can't be choosers."
Simon scoffed disbelievingly, exasperatedly tilting his head.
"Uh yeah...I get that but they can be a BIT choosy. He's not a small business savior; he's a smarmy, shifty, illegal trader moving everything from exotic animals to automatic weapons to explosives. Yeah I'm sure they appreciate the little bump in business but I'm thinking they'll appreciate it a hell of a lot less when there's an escaped tiger or an explosion or their nice little business turns into a saloon from the O.K. Corral."
Raphael sighed, head tilting concedingly.
"Okay...fair. Again I'm not defending the man's actions, just admiring one small aspect of the operation. It's like taking inspiration from Lucky Luciano's fashion sense. You're not wanting to emulate their whole persona, just the style and swagger...nothing wrong with that."
Simon snorted, brow raising, gaze flickering pointedly over Raphael.
"Of course you'd think that. So long as that's all you're copyi-"
"Again I don-"
"Taking inspiration from."
"Thank you."
He shrugged, giving a slightly helpless gesture towards the tablet.
"Sure...and though I don't agree with the admiration or emulation I do have to admit it is irritatingly effective. We're not even totally sure when he'll be in town. The reservations started popping up three days ago. From what it looks like they can start up to a week or more before he's to arrive and can continue to pop up days or even weeks after he leaves. Because of this his movements are basically impossible to track.
I mean it'd seem he probably stays in the same room for the trip unless it's compromised and I doubt he changes warehouses too much with the goods he's moving but...hell...who knows?
Far as we know he could stay at a different room each night and keeps the goods in moving trucks to avoid detection. We don't really know much of anything about his operation except it's big, it's lucrative as hell and it puts a lot of very dangerous things in very much the wrong hands." He sighed, shrugging, glancing over, giving a faint wave indicating the club.
"That's a big reason we wanted to do the sting here. It's about one of the only places we know for sure he'll want to check out himself and we figured Friday or Saturday night would be the best time as from what we can tell no matter how much he likes a place he never hits the same one twice in the same visit.
Figured Friday or Saturday would give him the most bang for his buck. If he's wanting to get a real feel for the place he'll come on one of the busiest nights..." He sighed, giving a slightly flippant wave, head tilting concedingly.
"At least that's what we're thinking...again kinda working blind here." He groaned, slumping faintly, yet again flicking though the info, head shaking hopelessly.
"It'll be alright, you got this Lindo..." Raphael hummed softly, settling closer.
He reaches up, resting his hands on Simon's shoulders, squeezing firmly before trailing near teasingly down his arms, touch light and distracting. Raphael makes a soft, dizzying near growl like sound, leaning in, so close his lips nearly brush Simon's ear as he speaks.
"And I got you.
After all, what are friends for? Just tell me what I can do for you Lindo..." He murmurs, voice warm and soft as velvet, barely a whisper, breath tickling his neck, sending an excited little shiver clear down to his toes.
Oh I can think of a few things you can d-NO...stop...
Bad friend...Verybad friend. Raphael's a friend. He. Is. A. Friend.
Stop it. Get it together dude.
Simon gulps, near biting his tongue to keep what feels like a spectacularly embarrassing whimper in, hands shifting on the bar, grasping the edge tightly, trying to center himself, steady himself as his knees suddenly feel like jelly. Doing whatever he can to keep from doing something unbelievably stupid and embarrassing. Something like melting into a puddle, spontaneously combusting, or turning round, grabbing the gorgeous, intoxicating, irrepressible flirt and kissing him senseless.
Althoug-
No...stop...again...that is not 'friend' thinking.
Raphael was his friend.
Justhis friend...
His gorgeous, brave, amazing, brain fogging, totally intoxicating, irrepressibly flirty friend...
...
...
..
.
Crap...
This was gonna be a Looongcase...
{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^} *****End Of Chapter Notes***** {*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}"Dios mío, vaya, sí no ... eres la cosa más linda que he visto en mi vida. Se adapta demasiado a las palabras."
Oh my God, yeah no ... you're the cutest thing I've ever seen. It fits too perfectly for words.
}~*~{
Yay! Another one down. You know, starting out with the dynamic I'm planning for this verse this one was probably my least favorite but the more I work with it the more I like it...maybe just because it's a change of pace for my favorite couple and adds a bit more interest to it but whatever it is I actually really like it now.
I know there wasn't a lot of progress and Raph being a tease and kind of really tactile when they're 'just friends' seems kind of out of character, maybe even obnoxious but I promise it will all make sense eventually...(I swear I have a plan...and as next chapter will be the official halfway point I'm probably actually gonna stick to said plan...you know unless the characters decide to wander off on their own...they tend to do that sometimes lol).
I kind of purposefully made Simon's last part of the chapter faintly echo Raph's in Ch 3, I like them both spinning on the same thing.
Oh and as obviously I can't use Angel for Simon here (As in this one instance it's way more fitting for Raph- though I guess in V2 I could see Simon working this one too but we're already past that there I think so...) I just went back to Lindo. I use it for 'cutie'- I know it just translates to Cute but the closest I could find for 'Cutie' was Chica which also can just means guy...so...yeah... doesn't really feel the same to me.
I know this is the shortest update I've had in a while but it's what was needed for the chapter. Trust me there'll be plenty more to come on this one.
As Always 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)
Death Was Just The Beginning (Verse 3)
So as you can see next up is V3 (used to be V5 but that story is completed for this round so yay!). I'm really excited, I do love that verse- I really love all the verses- it's getting harder and harder for me to figure out my faves.
So a little thing this chapter is the 56th chapter update for this round so that means I am officially 2 chapters over the halfway point lol (9 stories 12 chapters each=108 chapters...{Yeah I don't know why I did this to myself either but I love it too much to pull back now so I just have to roll with it}).
So what do you think so far?
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