6
Chapter 6:
Give Him Hell Bambi
(Title is a line from the story, made me laugh, couldn't resist)
{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-* {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}Okay...it's official. He's a big enough person to admit it.
He; Raphael Santiago; is without a doubt a totally, completely irredeemable, irrepressible jackass.
He is.
There is no other way to describe it.
He growled faintly, shaking his head, absently staring out the window of his office at the overly bright, airy beachfront view. It really is something else. From his window you can see the entire beach. Brilliant turquoise blue water and foamy rolling waves lapping against the bright pale yellow sand dotted with lazily swaying palm trees and happy, cheery people milling about, laughing, playing, surfing and sunning.
Ugh...
What was he thinking moving to Southern California?
He missed the nice, dreary view of the industrial Brooklyn waterfront. Didn't see surfing idiots and sunbathing starlet wannabe's there. The only time people go to hang out in the east river is to clean up toxic waste or search for and/or ditch a body. Seems much more fitting then all this cheery, sun-bleached frolicking crap. Definitely a better fit for him...especially in the mood he's currently in.
He sighed heavily, rubbing his face, pushing his hair back, slumping against the wall, irritatedly hate-watching the happy, carefree frolicking beach idiots wondering how he ever got this cynical and screwed up.
Well...okay...so no mystery there.
Between his powers, his upbringing and the collective morbid insanity and soulnessness that was his life before his meeting and taking up with Mags it's a wonder he didn't end up in a padded cell...or some kind of Magneto, Lex Luthor, Hannibal Lector-esq personalized type cell.
Probably would have if the powers that be knew psychics were an actual thing beyond cheesy movies and comic books.
Even so this is screwed up in a wholly unexpected, totally different way. One he very much doesn't like and very much needs to get under control before he ends up totally torpedoing this and getting the sweetest, cutest most empathetic empath in existence to hate him.
Simon is a FRIEND. Just a friend.
Yes, Simon wanted something else- something more- but Raphael told him he didn't want that...well o-okay, so no he didn't. He was a pathetic, whiny wuss who completely chickened out and ghosted one of the most amazing people he has ever met...apparently convinced if he just ignored it it'd just fix itself, sort itself out. Like an ostrich with its head in the sand.
Simon is the one who stepped up, acted like a competent adult and actually confronted the issue- MADE Raphael confront the issue. Made him...and yet it somehow never felt confrontational. Never made him feel like the colossal, cowardly jackass that he most definitely HAD been.
Instead Simon just flashed that soft, pretty smile, shrugging it off like it was just a little hiccup, an inevitability- like Raphael was somehow the aggrieved party - and waved them past it as if it was nothing.
There was no drama, no anger or resentment or animosity of any sort. Simon didn't even blink an eye at Raphael taking one of the most cowardly, pathetic outs in the field of romance. He just shrugged, chalked it up to a stumble and them not clicking romantically and pivoted like a pro boxer without even missing a beat, shifting seamlessly into friend mode like it was just that simple.
Because for him it was.
He was attracted to Raphael but realized it wasn't mutual so to him that was that. Raphael wasn't into it so that route was done. Simple, clean, clear- No harm, no foul. He didn't push, prod or wheedle. He didn't ask what he could have done to make it work, why Raphael wasn't interested. He didn't do anything to try to push the issue...Raphael wasn't interested and that was that.
He just let it go; breezed right past, decided his feelings were his to deal with and slipped right into friendship mode just as enthusiastic, cheerful and open as he was to a possible romance. Not seeing the 'just friends' thing as a consolation prize or some kind of possible stepping stone to something more. Rather he saw it as just another wonderful opportunity at something amazing. Seeing a possible friendship as just as ideal, just as desirable as a romance.
Wh-who does that? Sees things so simple and clear and bright. Who is that understanding? That empathetic...I mean yeah the man is literally an Empath but even so. L-like...How is this guy even real?
God he really is amazing...
No way in hell he deserves anyone that wonderful. If anything this just re-enforces that fact...which...well...kinda really sucks.
He wants to tell himself it's an act. A game, a ploy, something...anything. He wants to believe the guy's just trying to work something...stay close, get another shot. That he's working some angle or even that he's just saying he wants to be friends because it puts him on the high ground and he wants to save face. He wants to believe that...b-but...but he knows he's not.
It's not a manipulation...it's not a game or a ploy or play or a face saving gesture or trying to take the high ground or anything else. There is nothing false or disingenuous or in any way hollow about the offer of friendship. Simon is totally sincere.
Simon is 100% fine with them being nothing but purely platonic friends.
Which makes Raphael 100% screwed.
And 1000% a jackass.
Simon is fine with them being friends...Simon wants them to be friends. Simon thinks Raphael wants them to be friends...And Raphael DOES. He really, truly does. He may not deserve a romantic relationship with someone that amazing but the idea of having someone that wonderful as a friend? Having him as someone he can lean on and turn to? Having that pretty smile and warmth and compassion and joy as a part of his day to day life? Yes...that...That would be more than enough. He genuinely DOES want a friendship with the man...
But unfortunately Raphael ALSO cannot seem to stop himself from hitting on the poor guy every time he freaking turns around!
And he's not doing it intentionally! That's the craziest thing. Screwing with people is pretty much his favorite hobby. He does it all the time, just for the hell of it. He knows how to find and push people's buttons...and he does it. Gleefully...at times to a point where it's just this side of malicious. Hell most nights he'll make a freaking game of it just to kill some time. He knows how to get to people...but for probably the first time in his entire life he's genuinely NOT trying to.
He knows people react to him. He knows how they react to him and WHY they react to him. Not gonna lie he has no qualms whatsoever about using that. Far as he's concerned his magnetism is just another asset that can be used to his advantage. It's like Alec's height, Mags's beauty, Clary's morality or Val's terrorization. A useful card he's been dealt that he can play when it suits him. For the most part he doesn't care. Usually his reaction to people's reactions to him is anything from eh to ugh...but...well...Simon is anything but 'usual'.
And man does Simon react...
Geez...
And the more he reacts the more Raphael wants to see him react. The guy gets to him in a way he's never experienced. He really doesn't WANT to screw with him. For once in his life he actually doesn't want to push someone's buttons...only he doesn't seem to be able to stop himself from doing exactly that.
Maybe it's like an instinct or something? Like a predator reacting to prey...o-or something NOT totally creepy and off-putting.
Like some kind of psychic pheromone or something.
He doesn't know what it is. All he knows is it seems to be getting the best of his every time he turns around.
There's just something about the guy that gets to him, calls to him, coaxes him in...Makes him want to be closer...Want to push the buttons and see the reactions and see how far he can push before the guy pushes back. There's a pull there, an attraction, a magnetism...something he knows a hell of a lot about. O-only he's never really been on THIS side of the pull.
Gotta say...he's not really a fan.
There's just something about Simon...about how he reacts that strikes a chord in Raphael.
The catching breath, zipping pulse, the blushing clear up to his adorable little ears. The way he seems to gravitate closer, so close Raphael can feel the giddy thrills and little buzzy shivers slipping through him. How he all but melts into him when he's close enough until he catches himself and pulls away, all flustered and breathless. Those cute, thrilling little sounds that he doesn't even realize sneak out, the little gasps and soft whimpers- it's dizzying…intoxicating…near addicting.
Well...not near...it IS addicting...
Worryingly addicting.
He just can't seem to help pushing the guy. He knows he needs to stop. Knows if he doesn't he's gonna screw this up, push too hard, overstep and piss him off and he's gonna cut and run and this whole thing is gonna end up blowing up in his face. He KNOWS that.
He does damnit.
And yet he just keeps pushing him, flirting and touching and teasing. Taking every opportunity to shift something totally innocuous into an innuendo or flirtatious little comment. Jumping at every chance to see those pretty eyes shimmer, flash and flicker, see that pretty blush, feel that little catch in his breath and all those pretty, enticing reactions.
He just keeps pushing him when he knows damn good and well Simon's attracted to him. He knows he is...he knows and SIMON knows he knows...And he knows that Simon knows and...
Ugh...god...he sucks.
It's only been a few hours but it's already gotta be wearing thin. He must think Raphael is a total ass...or a straight up sociopath/sadist. Who else purposefully-relentlessly- pokes at what is so blatantly a very new, very raw sore spot for someone?
The guy literally JUST told him he had feeling for him but he understood that Raphael didn't feel the same. He flat out TOLD him he was attracted to him, interested in him. There's no wiggle room there. He knows Simon is attracted to him. Simon Knows he knows. Simon knows (or thinks he knows) that Raphael is not interested in him romantically. And right now Simon knows – without a shadow of a doubt- that Raphael is pushing every last button of hers he can find every single chance he gets.
Yeah...by now guy has to think he has some kind of screw loose. Probably already looking for the escape hatch on this friendship thing.
If he has any sense he is.
He would be if someone was screwing with him this much. Hell if someone was pushing his buttons like he's doing with Simon he'd probably end up knocking them flat on their ass. And they'd damn well deserve it.
Ugh...god...he is such an ass.
Seriously w-
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
He starts faintly at both his office door slamming open and the infuriated question, whipping around from the window, whirling to face an irate, glaring Kevin standing in the middle of his office.
He blinks, head tilting in confusion.
"I- what?"
He scoffed, brow quirking.
"You heard me. What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Wha-"
"You know damn good and well what! You're being a total jackass to Simon! Teasing and tempting and being all touchy-touchy with him. Acting all flirty like you're into him. Pushing his buttons and playing with his feelings just for kicks. It's really low dude."
Raphael again blinked in total confusion, wondering if he'd somehow zoned out or fell asleep at his desk and was just imagining that. He swallowed, shaking his head, looking over the up till now timid, bubbly rookie detective as if he'd grown a second head.
"I-did Simon ask you t-"
"No. Simon doesn't even know I'm here. He went back to the station to get our clothes for the undercover thing tonight. Figured it'd be best if we can blend in more. While he's dealing with that figured I'd deal with this."
Raphael couldn't help a faintly disbelieving laugh sneaking out, brow raising to his hairline.
"You...are going to deal with me?"
Kevin glared, standing up straighter, waving off his clear amusement at the mere thought.
"Yeah, yeah I know- flaily astral-projector challenging psy-vamp supervillian. Totally crazy, totally lopsided, totally don't care. I don't know if this is some kind of obnoxious test, just you getting a few cheap kicks from an easy target or just a pathetically cowardly roundabout way of getting Simon to call the whole friend thing off but I also really don't care. Whatever it is needs to stop, like now."
Raphael blinked, sharp gaze shifting in interest over the glaring detective. He hummed softly, pushing off the window sill, all but slinking across the room, settling in front of his desk just a few feet in front of the detective, looking up, catching his eye, brow raising in faint challenge.
"And if it doesn't?"
Kevin blinked, a glimmer of hesitation in his deep turquoise eyes before it's covered with a surprising flash of defiant strength. He shrugged, shrugged, giving a clearly purposefully casual wave.
"Don't know...not for sure...but you keep screwing with my partner and I'll most definitely find something. I'm a detective now but I'm also the founder and president of the Santa Barbra puzzle club, worked for three years as a librarian and two years as a forensic accountant."
Raphael blinked, clearing his throat, reaching up, covering his mouth, trying to muffle a faint laugh, head tilting in confusion.
"D-did you seriously just try to threaten me while using the words 'puzzle club', 'librarian' and 'accountant'? Umm...Kevin? Not to be rude but that's not exactly intimidating-"
Kevin gave a faint breath of a laugh, shrugging, brow quirking right back, head tilting questioningly.
"True...at least in general...for most people. I know they all sound pretty boring and nerdy but thing of it is? All of that means I'm REALLY good at connecting dots and puzzling things out...and you...well...you are quite the puzzle...
Thinking there's some really interesting pieces to find should someone know exactly what they're looking for. You keep screwing with Simon I'll start puzzling. I'm sure there'd be plenty of people interested in just what the full picture turned out to be...people like Alec...or Chief Garroway."
Raphael froze a moment before blinking, giving a faintly impressed little nod and a begrudging chuckle, holding up a finger.
"Okay...credit where credits due; That was not absolutely terrible so far as intimidation goes. Hell of a lot better than I'd think possible given Accountant, librarian and puzzle club. I'm impressed."
Kevin scoffed.
"Thanks. I'm not bluffing."
Raphael's gaze flickered over him, giving a slight nod.
"I know, that's what's so interesting. Though just for future reference? Never actually SAY you're not bluffing, it just makes most people all the more certain you are...take it as a tip from a pro. Huh..." he paused, head tilting, gesturing towards the door.
"Hey, how'd you sneak past Val?"
"He didn't...I let him in." Val sighed, slipping into the room, leaning back against the door jam.
Raphael looked up, gave a disbelieving scoff.
"So a pissed off detective storms up to my office ready to threaten me and rip me a new one and you just LET him in?"
She shrugged carelessly, brow quirking.
"Yup."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
Raphael sputtered, eyes wide.
"You're my security!"
Val snorted, head tilting sardonically.
"Yeah-my job's to get between you and legit threats not real world anime characters with ruffled feathers and righteous indignation. Pretty sure push comes to shove you can take him Angel.
Besides kid's gotta point."
Raphael blinked.
"Got a point?"
Val gave a sharp, curt nod, brow quirking.
"Oh yeah...big time."
Raphael started, head shaking.
"I-wha-...so you just let him come in here, threaten me, call me out and read me the riot act?"
Val shrugged.
"And again...yup."
Raphael blinked, head tilting faintly.
"Yup? Really? That's all you got in response to allowing someone to blow past my security and burst into my office to tear me a new one?"
She once more gave a careless shrug and faintly dismissive wave.
"Yeah well seemed like you kinda needed a new one..." She glanced over at Kevin, giving a faint head tilt towards the door.
"I'll go keep watch, let you know when Fanboy gets back. Should give you time to sort this out...
Give him hell Bambi." She glanced over, flashing a faint smirk and a bit of a wink, slipping out the door, pulling it behind her, chuckling faintly.
Raphael blinked in total confusion before shifting from the closed door back over to the huffy, incensed detective currently glaring daggers at him. He sighed exasperatedly, shaking his head, rubbing at his temples.
"I have got to get less obnoxious friends..."
Kevin scoffed.
"Well if you'd stop being a colossal jackass and callously screwing with them non-stop just for kicks maybe you'd have them."
Raphael gave a faint laugh, concedingly tilting his head.
"True. Though if someone can't accept you for who you really are than they're not real friends...now are they?"
Kevin scoffed, folding his arms, head tilting sarcastically.
"So that's you excuse? You're an ass so people just gotta deal?"
Raphael purposefully relaxed, leaning back against the desk, giving a dismissive shrug.
"Pretty much."
"Simon just has to deal?"
Again he shrugged carelessly.
"May as well know what he's getting into. I like to mess with people, if we're gonna be friends he's gonna need to get used to it."
He snorted.
"So what? You're just breaking him in fast, like throwing him in the deep end of the pool?"
Raphael flippantly waved, half shrugging.
"Quickest way to learn to swim..."
"Quickest way to drown too."
Raphael scoffed, rolling his eyes, waving him off.
"Oh he's not gonna drown. He's tougher than that...have to be if he's gonna be a friend of mine. Tends to require a bit of a thicker skin. If he can't handle it it's best to know right out of the gate."
Kevin scoffed, head shaking faintly.
"Dude that's just pathetic."
Raphael gave a disbelieving scoff, brows raising to his hairline.
"Excuse me?"
He scoffed, gaze flickering over him, head shaking faintly.
"You're not excused. It is pathetic. If you didn't want to be friends with him you should have just summoned some type of backbone and flat out told him..." he trailed off, giving a faintly pitying scoff, bright turquoise eyes shifting over him, shrugging dismissively.
"Well...I guess maybe YOU really couldn't. The whole piss someone off enough to get them to end it IS really just like half a step up from ghosting them and hoping they take the hint so I guess that actually might be asking a bit much from you."
Raphael's brow quirked, begrudgingly impressed.
"You are very brave..."
He scoffed, shaking his head.
"It's amazing how brave you can be when someone's purposefully hurting someone you care about."
Raphael sighed, shaking his head, holding his hands up placatingly.
"Okay now. I'm not-"
The hell you aren't! You're pushing every button you can fin-"
"Yeah? So? Kinda my thing."
Kevin scoffed, waving him off, shaking his head.
"Yeah no not like that. Screwing with someone is one thing. Being obnoxious and poking at people is one thing. Messing with their emotions and doing things that you know are hurtful and cruel are totally different."
Raphael bristled a bit at that.
"I'm not doing that."
"How are you not doing that? You're flirting and teasing and making it seem like you're into him when you just spent the last three days acting like he didn't even exist. You made it abundantly clear you have no interest in him like that. You two went on a date- yeah you both said it wasn't a date but I was there, I saw it- it was a date.
You had a date and then you ignored him, ghosted him, acted like he didn't even exist. It's a real crap move but whatever, doubt he's the first guy you blew off like it was nothing. To you it probably was nothing. Probably one of the first that didn't push and prod and act all desperate and pathetic trying to get you back..." he paused, blinked , huffing, shaking his head, looking up, again catching his eye.
"Is that it? Just some mind game type crap? Figured let him spin for a bit, let him get all desperate and then when you finally did call he'd just leap at anything? What? Are you just pissed he decided to act like a mature adult and move on rather than becoming some pining, moping sad-sack or fawning, groveling ninny willing to do whatever you wanted?
Are you trying to punish him for not playing your stupid, manipulative little game? Figured he wasn't upset enough about the first time you blew him off and you didn't get the reaction you wanted so you want to make it a reoccurring thing?"
Raphael started faintly, shaking his head.
"No. It's not s-"
"Well that what is it? Some kind of test? You trying to see if he means it? If he really can 'just be friends' with someone he had the hots for?"
Raphael sighed, again shaking his head.
"No he was sincere...I know he was."
Kevin scoffed, eyes widening, nodding sarcastically.
"Yeah, good of you to get with the program. He doesn't do the game, manipulation crap. He says he wants to be friends he means he want to be friends...not that hard to figure out."
"I know th-"
"Well so what's the problem? You don't want to be friends? He's too loud or cheerful or nerdy or too something stupid and shallow? Just doesn't fit with your broody, flashy, showoff-y image?"
Raphael shook his head, brushing his hair back.
"No, no- it's nothing like that. Yeah he's a lot but it's everything we can never have enough of."
Kevin kind of faltered at that before shaking it off, shifting, nodding.
"Yeah he is...he's one of the best people you can ever meet."
Raphael can't help a soft laugh, nodding.
"Definitely can't argue that one..."
Again he somewhat faltered before startling, shaking his head, glare intensifying, agitatedly pointing.
"No you most definitely can't. And I don't know what kind of mind game/manipulation/placating crap you're trying here but it's not gonna work so cut it out.
You know Simon is interested in you...he told you as much. Told you. Flat out. Obliviously flirting with someone you don't know is into you is one thing but that couldn't be farther from this. First off I doubt you ever 'obliviously' do anything. Next Simon is the most open book there ever was and lastly even if he wasn't he flat out told you he was interested in you!"
"And today he flat out TOLD me he was good with us just being friends!" Raphael cut in.
Kevin snorted.
"Yeah he did. And he meant it. Because that is all YOU wanted. But either you have no freaking clue how to be an actual friend or you just really, REALLY suck at it. He said he wanted to be friends...you said you were good with that."
"I am!"
"Well then start acting like it!"
"I a-"
"No you're not! Friends don't purposefully hurt each other. Friends might tease or joke or whatever but they don't purposefully cause each other pain. They don't screw with each other's emotions and manipulate each other and knowingly do things that bring each other down...at least real friends don't.
Either you have absolutely no clue what a real friendship is or you are just a toxic, manipulative, needlessly vicious, miserable, extremely broken person. Simon doesn't need friends like that. He doesn't deserve that. He is WAY too damn good for someone like that."
Raphael huffed out a faint, totally mirthless laugh, nodding.
"Oh believe me I know. That's kinda the problem."
Kevin blinked.
"I-what?"
Raphael swallowed, waving him off, shaking his head irritatedly.
"Nothing, never mind. You're right- it is hurting him. Maybe I can't be friends with him either...kinda hoping I could at least do that but you're right. He doesn't deserve that. I'll back off okay? Just find something to do in my office or whatever during your stakeout thing."
Kevin hesitated, bright, deep eyes flickering over him curiously, head tilting. He swallowed, shrugging.
"Or...you could just try NOT being a total ass to h-"
Raphael scoffed, exasperatedly waving.
"That's what I've BEEN trying to do! I'm not TRYING to mess with him! For what is probably one of the only times ever I'm actively trying NOT to screw with someone. But damnit, I just can't seem to help it. And if I don't figure out how to stop pushing him I know I'm gonna end up with the best person I've ever met hating me."
Kevin swallowed, deflating, now looking more confused than angry, giving a shrug and a faintly reassuring head shake.
"I-I don't think I'd go that far. I couldn't see Simon out and out hating anyone."
Raphael scoffed, shrugging, slumping back, waving carelessly.
"Give me time. Gotta hell of a knack for bringing it out in people."
Kevin blinked, swallowing, moving closer, settling next to him against the desk, hesitatingly reaching up, resting his hand on his shoulder. Raphael glanced over, giving a halfhearted glare. Kevin just flashed a faint not quite smile, gently shaking his head, waving him off.
"Yeah well you've met your match with Simon. He sees the good in everyone."
Raphael gave a faint mirthless laugh, nodding, slumping more against the desk, taking a deep breath, helplessly shrugging.
"Of course he does. He's like happiness and sunshine freaking personified. Probably sees the silver lining in everything."
Kevin smiled, nodding.
"Yeah he really is, and he does...he totally does. And you can't bring something out of someone that isn't there to begin with. I don't think there's a hateful bone in his entire body."
Raphael sighed, shaking his head.
"Maybe not but he has limits...everyone does. You can only push someone so far before they push back...or they fall off.
I don't want that to happen with Simon. He doesn't deserve that."
Kevin shrugged, head tilting concedingly.
"Yeah so just try to pull back some a-"
Raphael groaned, rolling not only his eyes but his whole head, helplessly shrugging.
"That's what I've been TRYING to do! I just can't seem to stop. I don't want to mess with him, I don't want to make him unhappy...Simon should never be unhappy. I just can't seem to help it. I don't know if it's an instinct or a natural reflex or just some screwed up, twisted self-sabotaging 'ME' thing but no matter how much I try I can't seem to stop pushing him." He groaned again, rubbing his face, glancing over, catching Kevin's eye, giving a half-hearted, totally lost wave.
"I want to be friends with him. I really, really do, I want at least that much. He's one of the most amazing people I've ever met. Unlike anyone I've ever met. I've never felt so comfortable with someone, so relaxed, so happy. I was actually happy the entire night. Not fine, or just putting on a front for the crowds type happy but really, genuinely happy. I didn't feel irritated, agitated or overwhelmed even once the entire night. It was probably some kind of record for me.
When I went home I had a smile stuck on my face- I was freaking whistling! I didn't even know I knew how to do that without it being a vague taunt, distractionary tactic or a signal for something to go down. I think I talked more during our date than I have in the last month! And probably laughed more than I have in the last four. It was hands down the best date of my entire life." He trailed off with a faint sigh, glancing away.
Kevin swallowed, nodding faintly, head tilting, hesitatingly holding up a finger.
"Umm...o-okay...think I have an idea why you can't help flirting with h-"
Raphael snorted, looking back up sarcastically.
"Yeah- don't really need to be a master puzzler to put that one together Kevin."
Kevin huffed out a faint laugh, placatingly holding his hands up.
"Hey just say-"
"Yeah I know what you're just saying. And yes, okay? Yes I do like him...I am very much interested in him. He's absolutely amazing; bright and funny and warm and compassionate and absolutely adorable. He's brave and deep and impossibly sweet and has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen and a smile that literally makes my knees weak. I didn't even know that was an actual thing! At least not so far as I was concerned.
He's the most amazing person I've ever met. I've never felt that kind of instant connection with anyone. Which is why I can't seem to act like 'just a friend'...which...well...which really just freaking sucks."
Kevin's brow quirked, clearly trying to fight off a faintly teasing smile, giving a relaxed little shrug.
"Well not necessarily. Pretty sure he'd be okay with going back to the other option if you just give him a heads up."
Raphael sighed, shaking his head.
"I know he would. Which is why this friend thing was probably a really bad idea. Don't know I could trust myself to keep to it. I need to just pull back, step back. Just act like an adult and tell him the friend thing won't work a-"
"And ask him to give you another shot?"
Raphael huffed, shaking his head.
"No- get as far away from him as I can so he move past this and find someone else. Maybe I'll head back to Brooklyn for a b-"
Kevin startled.
"What?! Why? Dude! I know you tanked it the first time but if you just explain you panicked th-"
"I didn't panic."
Kevin huffed exasperatedly, pointedly rolling his eyes, waving him off.
"Yeah, yeah whatever the tough, butchy version of panicking i-"
Raphael huffed out a faint not quite laugh.
"It's not a semantics thing. I didn't panic and balk. I knew what I was doing, I was pulling away. I don't want to be with him."
Kevin blinked, head tilting.
"So...you DON'T want to be with 'the most amazing person you've ever met'?"
"No I don't."
Kevin snorted, brow quirking.
"Dude?"
"I d-"
"Dude?"
"I-"
"Du-"
"Don't say dude again! I don't w-"
"D-"
"Oh my god, I can't!" He groaned, rubbing at his face, pushing his hair back.
"Okay fine, yes, alright? Yes I do want to be with him. B-"
Kevin crowed, bouncing lighting, pointing.
"Ha! I kn-"
Raphael huffed, rolling his eyes, waving him off.
"I do WANT to be with him but I really need to NOT be with him. It's not safe."
"How is it n-oh wait..." he paused, head tilting, hesitantly pointing.
"Wait it's not like the Angel/Buffy thing right?"
Apparently it was Raphael's turn to blink confusedly.
"Huh?"
Kevin huffed, shifting more towards him, gesturing animatedly.
"You know like on the show. You being happy isn't gonna like turn you totally evil or bring about the apocalypse or whatever right?"
Raphael blinked a few more times, swallowing, somewhere between oddly charmed and annoyed, shaking his head faintly.
"Umm...no...At least not to the best of my knowledge. It's kinda unprecedented but I'm fairly certain me being happy and romantically attached isn't gonna trigger some super evil alter-ego or be the starters pistol for the end times..." he paused, head tilting concedingly.
"Though again it IS fairly unprecedented so I can't say with absolute certainty."
Kevin huffed, flashing a totally heatless glare, near pouting.
"No need to be snippy. I was just checking, had to be sure. I don't know what all you're capable of."
Raphael huffed out a faint laugh, shrugging, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"No one knows what they're truly capable of. Even so I'm a psy-vamp enthraller; not a demonic key to the apocalypse."
He huffed out a faint laugh, shrugging concedingly, bit of a blush warming his cheeks, nodding faintly.
"Duly noted..." He smiled faintly, shrugging it off.
"So what did you mean 'it's not safe'?"
"I meant it's not safe for Simon."
Kevin froze, setting up a bit, shifting away.
"Wha-"
Raphael sighed, shaking his head waving him off.
"Nothing like that. I don't mean it'd be 'not safe'. I'd never intentionally be a threat to him...just not good for him."
"What do you mean?"
Raphael huffed, looking over, brow quirking.
"Come on Kevin? You know what I mean. Hell, you said it yourself just a little while ago."
Kevin blinked, head tilting curiously.
"Said what?"
Raphael sighed, shrugging.
"Simon doesn't deserve that, he is way too good for someone like that."
Kevin startled, quickly shaking his head.
"Oh no I didn't mean tha-"
"Yes you did. And you're right. You are absolutely right. I can be a toxic, manipulative, needlessly vicious, miserable, extremely broken perso-"
Kevin gasped, again shaking his head.
"Raphael no- I was just-"
"Calling me out, trying to protect your friend. I know, and you hit the nail on the head. You were right on all accounts. That's not me all the time, I try not to let that get the best of me, try to be better than that and I am a hell of a lot better about it than I used to be but trying to do something and actually really doing it are two very different things.
I'm under no illusions as to exactly what kind of person I am."
Kevin sighed, yet again shaking his head.
"Raphael you're not-"
"Kevin you don't know what the hell I am! I'm a psi vamp just barely former criminal who can enthrall people without even trying. I literally feed on other people- their souls, essences, energies whatever you want to call it. I run an international origination of nightclubs entirely staffed by excessively dangerous, morally ambiguous psychics.
Seriously the only reason the 'supervillian' crap is so funny is because it could so easily be true. Hell by all logic it SHOULD be true." He paused, taking in his rather alarmed, wide eyed look, placatingly holding up his hand.
"Take a breath Bambi, it's not."
Kevin relaxed, nodding, giving a slightly relieved smile.
"Oka-"
He shook his head, holding up a finger.
"It's not; but only because I purposefully make sure it's not. I make myself choose the right path, the moral one but the other option is always right there and if I don't constantly, actively try I can slip down that path in a heartbeat. It is WAY too easy. Worryingly easy." He sighed, helplessly shrugging, giving a slight wave, looking up, once more catching his eye.
"Kevin? I'm dangerous. Being around me is dangerous. Being WITH me would just be plain stupid, especially for someone as amazing as Simon. He doesn't deserve that drama. He deserves to be happy...to stay the happy, positive person he is and getting involved with me would do nothing but tear that down and make him miserable.
Like I said I know exactly the kind of person I am. I'm a dismal, bitingly sarcastic, just barely law abiding club owner who needs to consciously stop myself from mesmerizing people while simultaneously literally feeding on them.
I know right now he finds me interesting and appealing, maybe thinks the whole dark, dramatic vibe and edge is cool and sexy but that'll wear off soon enough. You can only overlook things for so long. And yeah like you said he sees the best in everyone but he's not naive. He may see the best in people but he's not blinded by it to the point of foolishness.
He's smart. Eventually he'll see past his rose colored glasses to who I really am. Much as the whole ghosting thing may make it seem my general way of dealing with an issue isn't just feign obliviousness, stick my head in the sand and hope it all works out. I'm a realist."
Kevin blinked, head tilting.
"S-so...you blew off Simon because you think he's too good for you?"
Raphael scoffed, shaking his head.
"No. I blew off Simon because I know he's too good for me...and I also know he's more than smart enough to figure it out. It'd just be a matter of time before he did and honestly when he finally does I don't know that I could totally trust myself to just leave it at that."
Kevin started faintly, setting up.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I don't know for sure that I'd be able to trust myself to just let that happen, not if I can stop it...and the thing of it is I can. I can with hardly any effort whatsoever...without even really thinking about it. Hell I have to consciously think NOT to do it...and even then I'm never 100% sure..." He swallowed, shrugging, glancing down, idly picking up a sharp, silver letter opener sitting on his desk, spinning it between his fingers.
Kevin swallowed, faltering a moment before shifting closer, cautiously reaching over, resting his hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly, bright turquoise eyes wide and surprisingly empathetic.
"I thought Mags said you had your abilities under control?"
He shrugged, head shaking faintly, giving a somewhat helpless wave.
"I do...I-I think I do...mostly. I...honestly I don't always know." He slumped faintly, twirling the letter opener once more before setting it to the side, leaning back against the desk, glancing over at the young detective.
"Look Kevin? The thing of it is-w-with my powers I just never know. Not really...I think I do but...I am never really sure. I know I affect people. I know I can charm and beguile and impress and influence people and all of that isn't psychic abilities, it's just me- my human skills...a-at least I think it is...but I don't always know." He huffed out a faint laugh, shrugging, flashing an almost smile.
"Hell most of the time I really couldn't care less. If it means I can charm a potential investor or smooth over a legal issue or I get my way in a business deal then who cares? It's just business. But other things? Personal things like this with Simon? I-I really don't know.
I don't know how much of me is me and how much is my abilities...I don't know that I can ever totally 100% shut the abilities down and I don't really ever know how much influence I'm exerting on someone unintentionally. I don't know and this with Simon? It scares me." He swallowed, reaching up, brushing his hair back, again giving a faintly helpless wave.
"I-I like Simon...I like him a lot. A worrying amount. He's the most amazing person I've ever met and being around him I felt better- happier, lighter, j-just better- than I think I've ever felt. I've never felt this kind of connection to someone so quick...I don't know if I've ever felt it at all.
I've never felt this drawn to someone and I don't know if when my emotions kick in they're not gonna interact with my abilities, not gonna kick something up or somehow subconsciously push to get me the outcome I want. I would never use that on someone on purpose...a-at least I don't THINK I ever would...
B-but I don't really know and if we tried this and Simon wised up and broke it off I can't say for sure that I could keep from using my abilities to get him to reconsider. I-I don't think I would...I really, REALLY don't think I could ever stoop that low...but...well...to be honest I've done a lot of things I never thought I'd be capable of. It's amazing what you can do when you truly feel you have no other choice. Like I said no one ever knows what they're really capable of.
I really don't think I'd ever do something like that but I also can't stick my head in the sand and just act like it's not possible because the fact of the matter is it is entirely possible. Hell it's possible I could do it and not even realize I'm actually doing it...it just..."he trailed off with a somewhat helpless sigh, slumping, giving a defeated flick of a wave.
Kevin smiled softly, squeezing his shoulder, gently shaking his head.
"Raphael you're not that kind of person."
He scoffed, brow quirking.
"You don't know tha-"
"Yes I do. Just the fact that you are thinking about it means you're not that kind of person."
"No the fact that I'm thinking about it just means I know that it could happen and just how easily it would be for me to do it."
"No it means you know how wrong it would be and the fact that the very idea of it scares you so much just reinforces how unlikely it is you would do it." He sighed faintly, smile shifting to warm and reassuring, again squeezing his shoulder.
"Raphael? I get what you're saying- I really do- but I think you're being way too hard on yourself here."
He scoffed, looking over sarcastically, head tilting.
"Would you go out with me?"
Kevin started, kind of faltering, shifting back.
"O-oh umm...w-well no b-"
"Exactly." He scoffed, waving towards him.
He gave a faint huff of a laugh, shaking his head, waving him off.
"It's not that- not what you're thinking. It's nothing about you, it's about me."
Raphael snorted, brow quirking.
"Seriously? It's not you, it's me? See this is how bad I am at that. How are WE having a breakup conversation?"
Kevin laughed, shaking his head, a bright amused smile tugging at his lip, head tilting concedingly.
"Okay, yeah. Poor wording aside this is not that. I mean it's not about you being a psy-vamp or an enthraller or a quasi-supervillian in training or even my partner and friend being into you- though for the record that last one is a pretty big deal breaker for me just in general. But it's not about any of that. The reason I said I wouldn't date you isn't because of any of that. I just wouldn't date you because I'm demisexual and we barely know each other.
Oh! Um- Demisexual means th-"
Raphael gave a surprised laugh, waving him off, shifting closer.
"Yeah no, save the intro lecture, I know what Demi is."
Kevin blinked, head tilting curiously.
"You do?"
Raphael nodded, flashing a faint smile.
"Yup...really well in fact. I'm actually Ace s-"
Kevin snorted, rolling his eyes.
"Sure you are."
He glanced over, brow quirking.
"Yes I am..."
He gave another faint scoff and a sarcastic look. He met his look dead on, brow raising expectantly. He kind of faltered, looking faintly confused, head shaking.
"I-wh...no...no you're not...a-are you?"
Raphael just gave a faint smile and a sarcastic nod.
"All my life."
Kevin froze, blinking, looking almost like he's trying to solve a particularly difficult math problem.
"I...but...y-you...the flirting and Y-you...and your abilities and-" he trailed off, gasping, starting, eyes wide and bright, flailing slightly.
"Oh my god your powers! The mesmerizing and the weirdly intimate feeding thing and the enthralling and -Oh dude! That sucks!" he starts again, eyes somehow going even wider, gasping animatedly, covering his mouth.
Raphael gave a faint huff of a laugh, shrugging, waving him off.
"It's fine...it's what it is. Sure as hell wasn't a picnic tell you that much...but whatever. We don't get to pick the hand we're dealt, just figure out how we can play it best. Up till now this hands worked pretty well for me."
Kevin snorted, nodding.
"Yeah but talk about a crappy hand-er...oh uh...sorry...a-again..." he trailed off, blushing more, giving a sheepish shrug.
Raphael couldn't help a faint smile at the rather endearing reaction, again waving him off.
"No need to apologize. You're absolutely right. It sucks...an Asexual being hampered with these kinds of powers seems kinda like a shark gaining the ability to fly. It's bizarre, most of the time thoroughly uncomfortable and disturbing, completely out of my element and just in general a really poorly thought out combination. Although I guess on the flipside of that someone at least like me having these powers does mean I won't use them in the creepy, intimate kind of ways they could be used..." he shrugged, waving concedingly.
"Well usually in any case. Which kind of brings us back to the whole Simon thing." Raphael sighed, head shaking, glancing over again.
"See? Like I said, I've been like this all my life. I don't get caught up in people. I might meet someone I find interesting and I've always wanted to find a real romantic kind of connection but I never actually thought it was a real possibility. I-I don't know if I really ever wanted it to be a real possibility...didn't know if I'd ever want to pull someone into my drama and insanity...But I always just assumed if that did happen it'd be someone...well...someone like me."
Kevin blinked, head tilting.
"An Asexual?"
Raphael huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head.
"No-w-well...maybe. But I mean like the rest of me. Snarky, broody, morally ambiguous, manipulative, kinda broken."
Kevin sighed, squeezing his shoulder, shaking his head.
"You're not broken."
He scoffed.
"Yeah well maybe not totally but fate did it'd damnedest to try. I have issues and drama and a lot of darkness and just...just so much negativity. Simon? Simon is the exact opposite of me."
He shrugged.
"Well you know- Opposites attract."
Raphael huffed irritatedly, giving a sarcastic little nod.
"Oh yeah they attract alright...again kinda the problem. I am attracted to him, to a worrying degree. I've never been unable to control myself around someone. Never been all caught up and spinning about them. For gods sakes I'm Ace! Things like sex appeal and allure and all that crap? It's nothing to me. But with Simon?" he scoffed, shaking his head, shrugging helplessly.
"He smiles and my knees go weak, he gets close to me and my brain just goes blank and I get flustered and light headed and I just want to be closer. He reacts and I can't help but push more, try to get more reactions. I don't want to mess with him but I can't seem to stop myself from it...I can't control myself around him...and that scares the hell out of me."
Kevin sighed, shrugging faintly, concedingly tilting his head.
"I-yeah...okay...I get what you're saying. And yeah you losing control would no doubt be bad. But again I think you're being way too hard on yourself."
He shook his head.
"Kevin, are you not listening? I could-"
"But you won't."
"Not intentionally b-"
"Raph! You wouldn't. It's not something you want to do and you're too good of a person to take advantage of someone like that. You might be both psychically and physically capable of doing it but morally? You couldn't."
Raphael scoffed, disbelievingly shaking his head.
"If you're counting on my morals to keep us out of trouble you-"
"Are gonna be totally fine." He cut him off.
Raphael swallowed, turning more towards him, again shaking his head.
"Kevin I'm-"
"Way too hard on yourself. And kinda panicking...and spinning...and quasi flailing. All of which are very much Simon-esq type moves. Guess you two aren't as opposite as you both think."
Raphael huffed out a soft laugh, shrugging half-heartedly.
"Still way to-"
"Right chatty Cathy's he's back, wrap the therapy session up. ETA office in five minutes." They both start at Val's voice coming from Kevin's pocket.
He starts, looking around in shock, eyes wide.
"Wha-?"
Raphael groaned, rolling his eyes, giving a dismissive wave.
"Handy side-effect from the Electrokenesis, super easy wiretapping and phone hacking...irritating as hell."
Kevin blinked faintly in alarm, eyes widening all the more.
"That does not seem legal..."
Raphael shrugged, glancing over, brow quirking.
"Says the guy who can spy on someone from the other side of the country?"
He huffed out a faint laugh, giving a conceding wave.
"Fair point...but I have one too-"
Raphael sighed, holding his hand up, cutting him off.
"But mine is better. Simon deserves better than that. He does. I know what you're saying but I know myself. I can't take the risk. I can't. Right now I know I could do the right thing...further along it goes the less sure I am. I would never be able to forgive myself if I did something like that and if I did I don't know that I'd be able to come back from it. Like I said every day I have to make myself choose the better path. I start slipping and I don't know when I'd stop and you can only slip so far before you can't come back.
I can't take that risk. I really can't. Sorry."
Kevin sighed, shrugging.
"Don't apologize...you're trying to protect my friend and partner. That's the same thing I was doing when I came in here. I don't think it's the right way and I think you're underestimating both of you but it's not my relationship and I don't meddle in my friends love lives."
Raphael gave a relived sigh, nodding, relaxing faintly.
"Good..." he started, looking over.
"Oh and please don't tell him about this? I know it's asking a lot but-"
Kevin sighed, shaking his head.
"It's not my truth to tell. I think you should talk to him but I'm not gonna go blabbing it to him about it. I hope you'll end up talking to him about it but I get that 'I really like you but I think I might accidentally mind control you' is not really an easy conversation to have. I'll stay out of it and let you guys figure it out for yourself...on one condition."
Raphael blinked in surprise, looking over, tensing faintly.
"What condition?"
Kevin held his hand up placatingly, flashing a soft, reassuring smile, head shaking faintly.
"Nothing bad...just promise you won't actively try to drive Simon away."
"I'm no-"
He sighed, shaking his head.
"No I know you're not yet, I just don't want you to start to in an effort to spare his feelings. Don't torpedo the friend thing just cause you're scared it's gonna blow up in your face. I get that you don't want to screw things up and think it might be safer to just cut and run but take a breather. Give it more than a few hours to find a rhythm that works for you.
I know you said a romance is off the table and I get why but there's no reason a friendship has to be, and Simon really is one of the best friends you could ever have. He is cheerfulness and excitement and warmth and laughter. No offense dude but by the sound of it you need a hell of a lot more of that in your life."
Raphael snorted, nodding.
"Oh yeah, no question. But I keep-"
"Flirting, I know but I think so long as you keep it to where it is and rein it in as much as you can it'll be okay. Right now Simon just thinks you're 'that flirty friend' and he's really adaptive. Give him time and he'll adjust. Give both of you time to adjust...
Okay?"
Raphael paused a moment, nodding.
"Okay...I think I can do that."
Kevin smiled, nodding, squeezing his shoulder.
"Good. And I really think it'll be f-" he's cut off by the door opening, Simon stumbling in, trying to juggle a large, cumbersome box completely obscuring his view, all but kicking the door shut.
"Kev, you here? Little help!"
Kevin and Raphael both scramble up, Kevin giving a surprised laugh, catching a side of the box, steadying it, Raphael taking a spot on the other side, the three carrying it across the office, fighting it onto the desk, Simon huffing and puffing, slumping against the box, pushing his hair back, plopping down on the desk next to the box, exasperatedly groaning.
Raphael blinked, looking over the box in confusion, holding up a finger.
"Umm...I think I may have missed something. Thought this stake out was only supposed to be tonight and tomorrow?"
Simon snorted, nodding,
"It is..."
"S-so why do you h-"
Kevin chuckled, looking over the box, brow quirking.
"Nico working UC ops today huh?"
Simon groaned.
"Ugh yes...It's my fault...I mentioned club a-"
Raphael blinked, glancing between the two of them, shifting closer, looking in the box, spotting sparkles, spangles, fringe and enough leather to refurbish an entire freaking living room set.
"And...he took that to mean just send the lost and found box from the last decade of Pride Parades?" he paused, reaching into the box, hesitantly pulling out something with polka dots, checks and stripes and glaringly neon red pants.
"Or the remnants of an exploding circus train?"
Simon snorted, shrugging helplessly.
"Dude I don't even know. I made a run for it when he went to get the forth box...I heard something about wigs and feathers and spikes or heel...or possibly spiked heels and glitter and got the hell out of there. The other three are still out in my car, hopefully there's something in those that can help us blend..." he blinked, spotting some weird, metallic, iridescent top covered in sequins in a blazing bright, neon yellow...
"O-or maybe something we can use to blind the target..." his sentence trails off, head tilting, brows raising as he hesitantly pulls out something latex and black with chains and spikes, head shaking faintly.
"Or for self-defense if the dude turns on us...I am good with improvising...sure we'll figure something out."
Raphael couldn't help a laugh, head shaking, settling next to Simon, peering into the box with a mix of bafflement and disbelief.
"Seriously what kind of club does he think I'm running? I feel like I should be offended."
Kevin snorted, pulling out something that looks like leather shoulder pads with two inch long rainbow spikes sticking out like a porcupine mascot for pride.
"I feel like we should all be offended."
"I feel like we should never introduce this guy to Mags." Simon muttered.
Kevin laughed, nodding animatedly.
"Agreed."
Raphael smirked, brow quirking, glancing over the other two.
"Really? I'm thinking introduce them, tell them he and Alec have a case at a drag show and make sure you have enough space on your phone for all the pictures."
Simon laughed brightly, glancing over, animatedly pointing towards him, bouncing lightly on his heels.
Kevin nodded, smiling.
"Me too." He looked over the box, head shaking faintly, glancing up at Simon, giving a somewhat helpless shrug.
"Though before that we have to find something to wear for tonight that doesn't scream cop or REALLY flamboyant escaped circus clown." He paused, glancing up at Raphael.
"We may need some help with this…"
Raphael snorted.
"With that? You don't need help; you need kerosene, a match and probably a gas mask for all the fumes from burning polyester, polyurethane and sadness."
Simon laughed brightly, nodding.
"Dude, we come into your club in these we'll stick out like a sore thumb."
Raphael snorted.
"Lindo? You show up at the club in those things and even with my say you'll never get in..."
Simon giggled, giving a conceding wave.
"Understandable..." he sighed, settling closer, big golden brown puppy eyes on full display.
"Think you could help us?"
"Burn them? Yes, let me j-" Raphael begin, gesturing towards the door.
Simon giggled, rolling his eyes, catching his arm, tugging him back close, squeezing, glancing up, pretty eyes sparkling in amusement, an adorable hint of dimples flashing distractedly.
"No...Well...not yet. Maybe to celebrate when we're done. Will you help us put together something to wear for tonight that isn't gonna get us immediately made or relentlessly mocked?"
Raphael swallowed, feeling a little flip in his chest, kind of shifting, gesturing towards the door.
"I-well...I kind of had-"
Simon sighed, squeezing his arm, honey gold eyes wide, bright and pleading.
"Oh come on Raph, please? It's an emergency."
Raphael blinked, brow quirking.
"A fashion emergency?"
Simon snorted, shrugging .
"Hey I never thought that was an actual thing either but...well..." he trailed off, gesturing animatedly towards the overflowing box of insanity, giving a dramatic little wave.
"Here we are. If this doesn't constitute a Fashion emergency I don't know what does." He huffed faintly, head shaking before shifting back to Raphael, once more flashing that soft, hopefully pleading smile and those pretty, sparkling puppy eyes.
"So what do you say Angel?"
Raphael gulped, blinking, feeling that spin-y, flippy type feel in his stomach, breath catching before he managed to catch himself. He huffed out a soft laugh, purposefully relaxing, settling closer, reaching over, resting his hand on Simon's, smiling, going for a casually relaxed shrug and a careless little wave with his free hand.
"Of course Lindo...what are friends for?"
Simon positively beamed, shifting closer, hugging him quickly, brushing a fleeting, excited little kiss to his cheek, pulling back, bouncing on his heels flashing that bright, full on dimpled, megawatt smile.
"Oh thank you SO much!" He beamed happily, hugging him once more before pulling back, gesturing towards the door, beginning to walk backwards.
"Kay I'm gonna go grab the rest of the boxes out of my car- I'm sure there has to be something out of the three of them that'd actually pass as presentable...hopefully..." He glanced once more over at the box on the table, head shaking faintly before shrugging, gave another bright, soft little laugh, catching Raphael's eye, beaming.
"Oh man dude, think you might have your work cut out for you here. This'll be a hell of an undertaking but I'm sure you can handle it."
Raphael gave a faint laugh, gaze flickering over him, lingering a few moments before shrugging.
"We can only hope..."
{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^} *****End Of Chapter Notes***** {*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}Umm...okay...so...I k now this one kind of had a lot of feels and a lot of complicated Raph spinning but I like it and it does set everything up how I want. I know Raph spilling all that to Kevin was a bit out of left field but he doesn't really have a lot of people to talk to about that. Mags he wants to keep out of it as he'd totally butt in and his other people he's not really gonna drag into his romantic issues. Kevin knows more about what's going on than most anyone else and...well...he's too cute and endearing to really keep your guard up.
Overall I like how this went, and I really liked the little nod to Fashion Emergency, my very first Raph/Simon get together. Think this sets everything I need up for the rest of the story.
And now we are OFFICALLY past the halfway point here.
I kinda switched the update order. Organically V2 was supposed to be the next one on the update list but It's going into chapter 8. I like my list but some of the stories are really running away and leaving the others in the dust. After this one I have two more that still need another chapter to get over the halfway point so I'm updating them next then I'll
A Study In Chaos (Verse 6)
You Can't Go Home Again (Verse 1)
Picture Perfect (Verse 8)
Love Bug (Verse 2)
Death Was Just The Beginning (Verse 3)
Nosey Neighbors (Verse 9)
The Guy/Demon In The Mirror (Verse 4)
A Start Of Something New (Verse 7)
Kay so the next one up is V1. I'm really looking forward to that story, we still have lots to go in that one but I'm really looking forward to the twists, turns and feels we're gonna be getting. I always like Kevin, he's one of my favorite supporting characters and I do like the depth this put in.
So what do you think so far?
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