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

by MistyMay6886

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

9. Chapter 9-Not THAT Guy…But Kinda That On

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

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-PsychicSpectrumVerse*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

*~6~*

Chapter 9:

Not THAT Guy…But Kinda That One.

*Notes*

Okay fair warning guys; even for me this is a long one. Over 17k words for one chapter; so you know, settle in.

{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-* {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}

Oh my god, what the hell was that?!

What the hell WAS that?!

Raphael practically hurled himself through the door of his office, slamming it closed, locking it. He swallows, shaking his head, pacing the floor, agitatedly pushing his hair back while trying to fight the urge to smack himself repeatedly upside the head.

Not that it wouldn't be totally warranted. Maybe he could knock the screw that came loose back into place.

Oh dear god. What did he just do?

What the HELL did he just do?!

He goes on a quasi-date with the guy, than immediately ghosts him, he tells him he's not interested and he just wants to be friends and then turns right around and flirts incessantly with him every chance he gets, and now he freaking corners the poor guy in the security room and practically jumps him!

Has he just completely gone off his rocker? Has he been dosed or hypnotized or placed under some kind of freaky curse?

That's it, isn't it?

He's cursed. Ah what the hell, Why not? Psychics are real. Ghosts are real. Vampires are practically real- they feed on energy, emotions, ephemera and such rather than blood or viscera but it's the same damn thing…just less messy.

So they got psychics, ghosts and vampires…Why not curses?

Sure, why the hell not. Come to think of it that'd actually make the majority of his life make a hell of a lot more sense.

He's just cursed; he's an antisocial asexual psi vamp enthraller.This shouldn't even really be news. So he's cursed- and it's apparently ramping up. Maybe it's like a full moon or Mercury is in retrograde or whatever. He'll go see Sara at her shop- she should have something that can help with this whole curse thing.

Or at the very least some kind of brain bleach type potion that'll help him forget what a colossal moron he's being.

Yeah- it's definitely a curse. Even so this is out there even for him; and he's an asexual, energetic ephemera sucking Psi vamp with more baggage than LaGuardia and the temperament of a pissed off antisocial mongoose on a power trip-

And no that probably doesn't really make sense but he doesn't care because he is freaking out because Oh my godwhat did he just freaking do!?

He has totally gone around the deep end. Simon's gonna freaking HATE him. I mean yeah the flirting and button pushing and being all touchy touchy and all that was annoying and no doubt confusing as all hell but there's wiggle room there.

Simon doesn't know him yet- not really. He could totally think he's just 'that' friend. The playfully enticing, teasing, harmlessly flirty friend like Kevin said he did. Like a Mags…he might just think he's a Mags. That's fine. Some people are just Magnus's; They flirt, or tease or joke or whatever.

It's just part of their personality. Just part of their charm.

True he's very much not that person but Simon doesn't KNOW that. He could play that part. He's good with acting, he's good with improvising, he knows how to bluff and lie and play the hand you're dealt and how to stack the deck so it falls in his favor. He knows this…o-or he usually does…

When he's not cursed with irrepressible idiocy. He could totally make it seem like he's just THAT friend…or he could have…until THAT…

But now?

God damnit. He has screwed himself six ways from Sunday here. There is no wiggle room. There's not spinning it- he could spin like a freaking whirling dervish it's not gonna change a damn thing. He didn't just make some flirty little comment or stand a bit too close or linger a bit too long on a hug or whatever.

He practically jumped the guy. He did it-there's no way around it and there's no way to play it off as just a friendly type kiss. I mean Mags kisses him all the time but nothing like THAT-that'd j-oh ugh- He's practically his brother and just…ugh….no…just no.

He has enough mental freakouts and squirming to deal with right now thank you very much- no sense adding that to the pile.

He did it. I mean he didn't really intentionally and it wasn't as simple as just he got all hot and bothered and couldn't control himself but the truth really does not make it sound any better! Hell, it sounds ten times worse!

Oh man…He totally tanked this whole friend thing…absolutely obliterated it…like HARD.

Simon's gonna be pissed. Kevin's gonna be pissed! Kevin is gonna be pissed and he's gonna think he's doing EXACTLY what he asked him NOT to do. He's gonna think he's purposefully torpedoing this friend thing cause he's panicking and being all down on himself and half a step from fleeing to the other side of the country in a vain, flailing attempt to hide from his feelings and then he's gonna tell Simon what's going on cause no doubt he's be confused as hell and Kevin's gonna explain exactly WHY Raphael's been acting like such an absolute freaking moron around him cause they're partners and BFF's and probably have like friendship bracelets and all that other cutesy, irritatingly adorable crap that he's never really understood but would fit these two like a freaking glove and so of course he's gonna tell him cause yes he did say he wouldn't but his condition was that Raphael didn't do exactly what he'll think he JUST did!

So he's gonna tell Simon and then Simon's gonna know and he's gonna be all sweet and concerned and empathetic with those damnably adorable honey colored puppy eyes and dimples and warmth and hope and oh my god he SO cannot deal with all of that and then Raphael might actually HAVE to flee the country to get away from his feelings cause what the hell do you even do with that?

Seriously what do you do, cause he doesn't have the first damn clue. He knows NOTHING about any of this crap! He doesn't DO the whole weird, sappy, squishy feelings thing. He doesn't do the carried away, lost in the moment, overcome with desire crap. He is not that guy. .0He doesn't do ANY of that. You may as well ask him to write a cheer for a freaking pep squad or learn to polka!

That is not him and Kevin knows that and knows why it isn't and Simon tells him what happened he's not gonna think he just lost control he's gonna think that he's gone back on his word so that means he can go back on HIS and that means he's gonna explain to Simon exactly WHY Raphael's been acting like such an absolute freaking moron around him and then Simon's gonna know and gonna be all…all…like Simon –ish and Raphael is somehow gonna be even more screwed than he already is which shouldn't even be possible!

He can't be pitied and fussed over and seen as some fragile, flailing, panickily damaged mess. I-I mean, okay so right now he pretty much is exactly that but Simon doesn't have to actually know it damnit!

But he will now. He'll know all of it. He may already.

Yeah, yeah they have their suspect in the building now and that could buy him a bit of time before they get into this whole 'thing' but as soon as they get some down time from this case and Kevin hears what he did he is gonna be screwed.

I-I mean yeah, okay so Kevin doesn't seem like the callously spiteful, vindictive type but he's already shown he's not about to just back down or turn a blind eye when Raphael screws with Simon. His little shovel speech/confrontation thing was admittedly absurd and adorable as all hell but the guy was dead serious.

If he thinks he's doing something that hurts Simon he will not hesitate to do what he needs to do to stop it. Yeah alright, he does seem like a pretty standup type guy; and he know Raphael is Ace and confused as all hell about all of this with Simon. He might give him the benefit of the doubt. He might give him the chance to explain but…well…what the hell kind of explanation could he give?

What, the truth?

What's he gonna say? 'Hey Kevin, so I know I promised not to sabotage this whole friendship thing with Simon and I TOTALLY wasn't trying to but it might kinda, sorta seem like I was cause I kinda made out with him like a lot but that was TOTALLY not my intention. I was actually just there to prey on him and psychically feed off of his energy and I guess things just kinda got out of hand…

Right…cause that sounds SO much better:

' I swear Kev; I wasn't screwing with your friend; I was just going to feed on him.'

Oh dear god…

He's gonna end up fleeing cross country just to avoid a puzzle happy, accounting, librarian, isn't he?

How strong ISthis freaking curse he's under?

Raphael groaned, moving over to his desk, slumping ungracefully down in the chair, propping his elbows on the desk, resting his face in his hands, gently rubbing his temple, trying to get some wisp of sanity and rational to seep into his spinning, spiraling, utterly frazzled mind. He just sat for a moment, taking slow, deep measured breaths, massaging his temples feeling his brain slow and calm.

Eventually he feels the electric buzz in his brain lessen, feels the tension in his shoulders ease, the jittery, over caffeinated buzz calm, feeling his brain slow and clear to a less manic pace. He swallows, nodding faintly to himself, lifting his head out of his hands, settling back in the chair, blinking his eyes open.

Okay…okay…he's alright. He is. Breathe and think about this logically. You're okay. You have time.

They are working a case. Simon is working the case- he has other things on his mind right now and even if that in the security office did totally throw him for a loop and confuse the hell out of him he is a detective. He is a detective working a case and this case is a really big deal. He's not the type to let personal crap interfere with his work.

He is working. Raphael has time.

He may not be able to out and out fix this but he can at least do some damage control. He needs to talk to Simon but first he needs to talk to Kevin. Okay logically by rights he should talk to Simon first. He's the one he screwed up with and he's the one who he owes an apology but he's not the one who has something over Raphael.

He needs to get ahead of this and he needs to do it quickly. If he can talk to him first- explain the situation and convince him that this really wasn't him trying to sabotage anything – it was just one more weird, awkward fluke in this seemingly never ending string of weird, awkward flukes he's experienced since meeting Simon – than maybe- just MAYBE- he can get this from flee the state level drama to just a hide in his office, apologize profusely, blame it on the full moon, Mercury and Psi vamp quirkiness level drama and hopefully stumble pass this.

It may not be pretty or particularly graceful but it's manageable.

After he puts out that fire he'll go find Simon, apologize, explain about the draw of vamp feeding, apologize again, explain that he really had planned to explain before and ask permission but it just kinda got the better of him and got out of hand, apologize again and assure him that while it likely really confused him and probably made him think Raphael's just flat out screwing with him it's really nothing of the sort.

Just psychic stuff run amok.

He'll understand. At least he thinks he will. I mean Simon and Kevin both seem like really wonderful people and neither seems the type who'd hold something someone doesn't really have control over against them.

And both of them ARE psychic. They know how sometimes your abilities can get the better of you or just really throw things off. They both seemed surprisingly empathetic about the whole Psi vamp thing. They acted like they genuinely understood how complicated it was.

I mean true there are plenty of people who ACT fine with the idea of something and then totally flip out when faced with the reality of it but he really doesn't get that vibe from either of them. Nothing about either of them feels contrived or phony.

If Simon's really the person he seems then he'll at least try to understand. I mean he may be offended- or even outright pissed because yeah he might be okay with Raphael being a psi vamp but he may very much NOT be okay with a psi vamp feeding on him, especially without even telling his what was happening or asking for permission.

Umm…yeah…that might be a sticking point. That's a pretty big violation. That could absolutely be a deal breaker for Simon and that would be totally understandable. It's entirely possible there isn't a coming back from this that when he knows the truth Simon won't want anything to do with him.

That…hell…for Simon's sake that'd probably be the best possible outcome. He kinda hopes it doesn't turn out quite that bad but it'd probably make everything much easier for the both them. He really has no idea how Simon is going to take this but he needs to know exactly what happened. Raphael most definitely owes him that much.

He sighed faintly, slumping down in his chair, reaching up, pushing his hair back.

Yeah this is definitely gonna suck but it is also near entirely out of his hands at this point. He did it. It happened. All he can do now is explain to Simon what exactly happened and let him decide how they take it from there. Just be honest, tell him the truth and then just cross his fingers and wait. Whatever happens after that is entirely Simon's call.

Eh...you never know. He might take it better than Raphael thinks. Simon is very compassionate and very empathetic. If he lays out exactly what happened and Simon really gets that it was unintentional and his abilities really did just get the best of him Simon really might be able to forgive him and they might be able to move past this.

I mean it might be awkward and he'll probably really have to double down on his attempts to stifle the flirting and all that crap as he'll likely be pretty wary of Raphael getting too close for a while but it is possible they could move past this. Simon genuinely does seem to want a friendship with him- if he wants them to be friends he will have to understand that this might every once in a while come up.

Simon does seem pretty open minded and he really did seem to get how complex and confusing the psi vamp thing was. If he genuinely does and doesn't feel for lack of a better word completely violated by the whole thing then they really might be able to move past it and give this friendship thing another shot.

I mean yeah the way it turned out was not intentional but he really did go up there with the best of intentions. He did initially go up to the room to siphon some of Simon's energy off. He HAD to. It was to a point where either he needed to do this or Simon was going to have to leave. His energy was totally off the charts. It was buzzing so loud some of them could feel it clear from down stairs. They all flat out refused to go to the second floor. Poor Layla ended up having to go home early.

The place was turning into literal Chaos. All his employees were quickly reaching their limits. Simon needed to get his energy levels down quickly or case or not he was going to have to leave. Even so Raphael absolutely wasn't going to do it without permission and he had every intention of explaining all of this to Simon as nicely as he possibly could as he knew it wasn't intentional but he couldn't stay at the club like he was.

He really did have every intention of explaining all of this and asking for consent but the moment he hit the second floor everything just seemed to shift. The energy was all but shouting at him. It wasn't the harsh, screeching, teeth gritting buzz like the others felt…at least not to him. The energy was inviting, palpable…near intoxicating. He's never felt that much energy from a single person. It was positively electrifying, thrilling, mesmerizing. It felt strong…and it felt good.

Like REALLY good…

By the time he got to the security door it was near irresistible. It felt like it was calling him, coaxing him in. He really was planning on explaining to Simon, asking his permission…h-he was…but then…well…then he was just there and then his hands were on Simon's shoulders and he was relaxing and the energy was buzzing and thrumming and then Simon was reacting and then he was reacting more and then…umm…

Heh…wow…oh wow…

He shivered, feeling his cheeks warm and his heartbeat pick up a few tics, an excited, electric thrill slipping down his spine at the memory.

Umm…y-yeah…that…uh…that was…umm…

Wow…

B-but um…but it was wrong. He was majorly out of line and MAJORLY overstepped and he lost control of his abilities. That's what it was…that's all it was. Just a psi vamp drawn to an especially desirable energy source…uh-d-desirable as in powerful- not um-not like-uh…

B-but um…but yeah, that's all…totally.

Psi vamp feeding run amok.

Yeah it's not exactly ideal and it's probably gonna creep him the hell out and Simon's probably gonna be offended and insulted and may really not feel too comfortable with him, may even reconsider the whole friend thing but…well…he's a psi vamp. They know this. This is part of him, no matter how much he may wish it wasn't. Simon doesn't have to understand, he is under no obligation to forgive him but if they're going to be friends they can't just ignore this or brush it aside.

If he explains that it wasn't what it seemed like-that he wasn't screwing with him but that it was just his psychic abilities getting the best of him then…I mean…yeah it's crappy and awkward and it's a pretty long shot but it might work.

It's about the only shot he has. If they're actually going to be friends it IS something they'll have to work through. He can't just run from this. He can't just bury his head in the sand and hope it just goes away. He tried that already with Simon-

That's how he ended up here.

He needs to just suck it up and face this. Again it's about the only move he has…well that or the flee cross country but he's kinda hoping to keep that as a last resort. Besides he does that and Mags will know something is up and if he figures out exactly what that something is then Brooklyn isn't gonna be far enough to run and Raphael may need to take a page from this Levine guy's playbook to cover his tracks to shake the lovingly meddlesome psychic bloodhound.

Yeah…no question about it. He needs to deal with this and he needs to do it ASAP. The faster he does the faster he can figure out which way this is gonna go. Obviously he can't really bring it up too much during the case but hopefully once they get it sorted he can talk to them. Their suspect is at the club now, that's a step in the right direction. That's a start…

It-well it's something in any case. He'll just have to face the music and deal with it- the sooner the better. Once they're done with the case he'll deal with it. He's kinda hoping it doesn't take too long- he doesn't want to have the chance to talk himself out of it. He knows the suspect like JUST got there but hopefully it's progressing fast and they'll be done soon. It really would be useful if he could find out where they are on this.

Fortunately he has an app for that.

He hummed faintly, shifting forward, opening up his laptop, pulling up the security feeds, hitting a few buttons, bringing up the facial recognition program Akira had integrated into the system, uploading the photo he'd snapped of this Andre Levine from the file, starting the search in the program.

It should only take a few seconds to get a bead on the guy. Their system was totally unsurpassed. Akira really did know her stuff- benefits of having a technopath on the payroll. The program was extremely accurate and lightning quick…they probably should have told Simon and Kevin about it- it'd of really helped with the case but as the program was very much experimental, totally unique and most likely wildly illegal given its power, accuracy and the whole covertly linked into near every intelligence database on the planet thing he kinda thought maybe let them work this for themselves.

It will make it a hell of a lot easier for him th-

He starts faintly at a soft ding from his computer, the screen shifting the feed, camera 12 expanding taking up the entire screen, zooming in and enhancing on the bar, showing Mr. Levine standing next to one of the tall tables around the perimeter of the dance floor, clearly trying to chat up some pretty young thing with delightfully tousled caramel brown curls in a soft, slinky yellow dress shir-

Wait…w-what?

Wha-that…uh…that's…

T-that's Simon. That is without a doubt Detective Simon Lewis; setting right there in his cute, clubby outfit Raphael had helped pick out, turning towards Mr. Levine, smiling, giggling, brushing his arm, gesturing for him to take the other chair. The guy all but falls into it, shifting closer to him, gaze flickering over him lingeringly, leaning in, saying something close to his ear. Simon giggles, rolling his eyes, lightly smacking his shoulder, nudging him playfully, hand casually coming to rest on his arm, squeezing lightly.

Raphael blinked, freezing, hands gripping the edge of the desk in a near white knuckle grip.

He does not remember this part of the plan…

And he may have been a bit distracted but he doesn't think he was distracted enough to miss this. On the screen Simon giggles again, flashing a gorgeous, dimpled grin, again nudging his shoulder…again shifting even closer to the suspect.

Uh…yeah…

He really does not like this plan.

{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-* {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}

"Here we go Mr. Lequoia, have a seat." Alec said, holding the door open, flashing a quick smile at Caleb, gesturing to the table with the two chairs, Magnus slipping into the room right behind him.

Caleb glanced between them, giving a faintly unsure smile, nodding to Alec, glancing once more over at Magnus, awkwardly moving further into the room before stopping, head tilting in confusion. He shifted awkwardly, glancing between the two chairs before shifting his attention back to the two detectives, flashing a kind of sheepishly confused, nervous smile, gesturing towards the chairs.

"Um…w-which one do I sit at?"

Magnus chuckled softly, smiling reassuringly, giving a relaxed, dismissive wave towards them.

"Whichever one you want, makes no difference. You're fine."

Caleb nodded quickly, a slight, nervous little almost laugh slipping out, giving another sheepish smile, cheeks warming. He turned back to the table, pulling out the chair closest to them, pair of detectives slipping over to the opposite side, settling in. Alec took the other remaining chair, Magnus settling next to his side. Caleb startled faintly, seemingly just now realizing there were more people than chairs, glancing unsurely around the room, beginning to push the chair out.

"Oh! Sorry- did you need this one? I co-"

Magnus laughed softly, waving for him to sit back down.

"No, no you're fine. I get antsy if I sit still too long. Standing actually helps quite a bit. Thank you for the offer though."

He nodded, smiling, shifting back into his seat, relaxing faintly, again quickly nodding.

"Okay good…good…um…s-sorry…I'm just a bit nervous. I've never been in a police interrogation before."

Magnus chuckled, flashing a charmingly impish little grin, shrugging, settling on the corner of the table, giving a relaxed, casual shrug.

"And you still haven't. This isn't an interrogation. Just a friendly little chat between the head of security and the department to coordinate on the logistics of the case and compare notes, that's all."

He seemed to freeze a moment, blinking, brow raising faintly, unsure gaze slipping over them once more, huffing out a soft laugh, nodding, head tilting concedingly.

"Right…Right…you keep saying that…" he sighed, slumping down a bit in the seat, again reaching up, brushing his hair back, flashing a slightly false little smile and a halfhearted shrug.

"Sorry…I kinda get flustered really easy. W-well, I mean not when I'm like on patrol or on the clock or whatever- would be a pretty crap guard if I was that easily thrown. I'm not then… just like now when I'm meeting with someone in authority."

Alec chuckled, shrugging.

"Understandable- a lot of people can be thrown by that. Especially with members of law enforcement. It does tend to make even the most innocent person nervous and on edge."

Caleb huffed out a faint laugh, head tilting concedingly.

"Well that- yeah, okay fair enough; but I just meant more like the last thing I'd want is to come off as disruptive or a problem or threat or whatever and…well…for me that's kinda easier said than done."

Alec shifted, head tilting.

"Why? Do you generally have a problem with authority or a confrontational personality type issue?"

Caleb snorted, quirking his eyebrow in amusement.

"Um…no…I have a 6'9"/three hundred pound/ people run if I exhale too loudly type issue."

Alec chuckled, head tilting concedingly.

"Okay yeah, I get that. I mean it's on a slightly smaller scale-uh, literally in this case- but yeah. I've had that a few times myself. Between my height and my job and my usual near permanent case of low grade resting bitch face people do tend to read the smallest things as a threat."

Caleb chuckled, nodding faintly, gesturing towards him.

"Exactly. It just tends to really throw me…and them…and just like everybody basically. It's just in general a really awkward, largely uncomfortable dynamic all around, you know?"

Alec nodded, flashing a commiserating smile.

"Oh I can only imagine. You're like me- used to being the one in charge, right? I mean I've been a detective for well over a decade and head detective of this precinct for over half of that. I know when the tables are turned with me it's a bit hard to remember the switch in the dynamic."

Caleb huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head, giving bit of a halfhearted wave.

"No- well, kinda…I mean yeah I know what you mean and I have been working security since college. Well actually since midway through my senior year of high school." He paused at the somewhat thrown looks, giving a bit of a flippant wave.

"I needed an after school job and it sure as hell beat flipping burgers. I was already 6'5" and could pretty much bench press a fully grown man. They kinda fudged the age requirement."

Magnus chuckled, head tilting concedingly.

"Fair enough."

He laughed, nodding, again shrugging before getting back to it.

"Exactly. So yeah I've been doing this the entirety of my adult life; I am pretty used to the power dynamic being the other way around and it is a bit of an adjustment but that's not the real issue.

Honestly I have no problem with that. I know that probably is kinda surprising but I've never really been that into all that macho idiocy crap were you feel like your masculinity is in some way in jeopardy if you're not constantly perceived as 'The Man' every last second…" he started, freezing a moment, eyes going wide, placatingly holding his hand up.

"Oh! N-no offense- I didn't mean it was for you! I really didn't it j-"

Alec chuckled, smiling reassuringly, waving him off.

"No, no I got ya, I know you didn't mean it like that. And yeah- I know the exact kind you mean. We've all had run in's with THAT type. Even worked with more than my fair share over the years."

Caleb scoffed, animatedly nodding, rolling his eyes, giving a flippant, flickering little wave.

"Oh yeah, same. Think the field just in general attracts them. Probably something to do with the intoxication of a badge, an air of authority and the sexy uniform. It's like a whole 'thing'. I've met WAY too many of those jackasses over the years- hell I may have seen more of them as my own workmates than as the moronic, drunken roustabouts needing to be shown the door I'm actually hired to deal with.

Thankfully at my job now that's not the case. Maiara runs a tight ship and she doesn't put up with any of that crap-thank god. This is one of the first ever security gigs I've had that didn't feel like some jackass fraternity or some kind of cultivating farm for dudebro douchebags." He again scoffed, rolling his eyes, shaking his head, giving a fluttering little wave, holding up a finger.

"I've never really got on with that type- and I'm more than good with that. I may not be perfect and I have my issues and short comings same as anyone else but I'm a hell of a lot more secure than that thank you very much.

It's just so obnoxious and aggravating. Not to mention a total self-own. Far as I'm concerned if your masculinity is so fragile that you constantly have to posture and boast and try and 'put others in their place' to prove you're 'The Man'…well…then all you're proving is that you're really not much of one.

All you're telling me there is you're in many ways a very small man desperately trying to compensate for some major shortcomings…" he shrugged, head tilting, glancing from Alec over to Magnus, flashing a faint, near flirty little smirk his way.

"Again, most definitely not me."

Magnus chuckled, nodding.

"With you there. And good to know." He laughed again, giving a flirtatiously playful little wink and smirk back.

Alec gave a faint, slightly forced bit of a laugh himself, glancing between the two of them, clearing his throat, nodding quickly, shifting closer, kind of waving it off.

"Uh huh, yeah- pretty sure we all are on the same page there. General rule the more you feel the need to boast the less you really have to brag about. In any case, we're kinda getting off topic.

So if it's not an issue with the switch in dynamics that wh-"

Caleb sighed, slumping further down in the seat, giving a bit of a helpless shrug and a halfhearted little wave.

"Because people take one look at me and automatically assume I'm gonna be one of THOSE guys. That's what near every person who I meet's first impression is and it is nearly impossible to get someone to change that no matter how much you prove that first impression wrong.

They feel like I'm gonna assume even if I'm not I'm still the one in charge and that I will do everything to assert that. Like I'm gonna have this massive chip on my shoulder and constantly be trying to knock them down or throw them off or throwing around my weight or whatever. As if I'm just some dimwitted, agro, jackass, douche and they're gonna have to go full tilt at me to 'keep me in my place'.

And god help me if the one actually in charge is that type cause odds are all of a sudden they're not the biggest, most intimidating looking one in the room and then it's a whole OTHER headache with them trying to posture and flex and 'reassert their dominance' and just, ugh…" he scoffed, rolling not only his eyes but his whole head.

"They see me and automatically assume I'm gonna be this brutish, super butchy, dramatic hassle and I'm NOT that guy. I never have been and never will be and I hate that assumption." He huffed faintly, giving a bit of a helpless wave, plastering on a blatantly fake, overly wide smile, head shaking in clear exasperation, gesturing animatedly.

"It annoys the hell out of me but heaven forbid I actually SHOW that annoyance because annoyance can be read as anger and anger can be read as a threat and then before I know it they're calling for backup and shouting and panicking and thinking they're cosplaying the storming the Castle scene from Beauty And The Beast." He snorted, giving a somewhat hopeless shrug, glancing between the two detectives, brow rising.

"That? Yeah- REALLY not fun. It's pretty much the last thing I want so I end up doing everything to counter that which ends up having me stumbling and bumbling and getting all flustered, tripping all over myself trying to bite my tongue and reign in my normal snark and sense of humor and keep my cool to seem as cooperative, pleasant and unconfrontational as possible but that's easier said than done when you're built like a combination of a linebacker on steroids and the jolly green giant and something as innocuous as moving too quickly or breathing too loudly can be taken as a threat and set people off."

Alec froze, kind of faltering, shifting back faintly, giving a slight nod.

"Ah…Okay yeah…good point. Sorry if I seemed like I was doing that. Really wasn't my intention…" he chuckled, flashing a faintly apologetic smile and a slight shrug.

"Hey I'm a detective setting in an interrogation room. Some habits are hard to break, you know?"

Caleb chuckled, relaxing faintly, giving a casual shrug and a bit of a wave.

"Hey, totally understandable. And you were nothing like that- I just meant generally in a situation anywhere like this I feel like I need to walk on eggshells at every turn and it really throws me off."

Alec smiled, nodding back, relaxing as well, mirroring him.

"Well good, thank you. And you don't need to do anything like that with us. Honestly that'd probably just make this a lot more complicated."

Caleb blinked, head tilting curiously.

"How so?"

Alec shrugged.

"We're working a case; we don't need tiptoeing around and placating. We need honest details and clear cut information. We're not gonna get that nearly as easily if you feel like you gotta tiptoe around us and pacify us by censoring yourself into oblivion." He smiled, relaxing, shifting forward a bit, giving a slight wave.

"Please don't feel the need to do that. We're not overcompensating jerks set on knocking someone down a few pegs just for the hell of it. We're just detectives working a case, trying to do our job.

We're not some overly confrontational jackasses, flexing and posturing and throwing our weight around. Seems like something we have in common, yeah?"

Caleb shrugged, flashing a faint smile.

"Yeah, seems like it. I'm really not that type. I-well…not in general. I mean I'm not gonna lie, if there's a real reason I need to be I can. I'm not some helpless pushover or a doormat. You can't really be an unconfrontational security guard. I know how to play that part and lean into that when I need to…I kinda have to. Confronting people is a big part of my job. I have to be comfortable with that and sometimes that includes matching the energy of the idiot you're dealing with- only way it gets through.

It's not really me, me…just work me. It's like a blatantly fake 'professional' overly cheerful smile or a customer service voice or whatever. But for the most part- like out in the real world off the clock- no. No it's really not even close to who I am. I've never really been 'that guy'…I just tend to kinda really, really look like I am."

"You're not bad; you're just drawn that way…"

Caleb gave a surprised chuckle at the reference, relaxing faintly, glancing over at Magnus, flashing another amused, slightly cheeky little grin. He shrugged, giving a fluttering bit of a wave, gesturing towards himself.

"Eh, I'm not exactly the Jessica Rabbit type- well with the exception of the chest size- but same basic principal."

Magnus gave a surprised laugh, relaxing, eagerly nodding, shifting a bit more towards him.

"Fair enough. And yeah, I know what you mean. You only have so much control over how others perceive you-" Magnus snorted, giving a fluttering, flourish of a wave, gesturing to himself.

"I definitely get that."

Caleb huffed out a faint chuckle, gaze flickering over him, lingering appreciatively, flashing a warm, somewhat flirty little smile, shifting a little closer, smile warming even more.

"Kinda got the feeling you would. Your lip gloss is amazing by the way. I love the blue. I'd never be able to pull off that color."

Magnus blinked, flashing a genuinely surprised, clearly flattered smile, perking up a bit.

"Aww, well thank you! That's so sweet. I'm sure you could though."

He snorted, shaking his head animatedly, holding up a finger, brow quirking in amusement.

"Umm…yeah no. HARD no. I've tried- blue does not work for me. Any kind of blue. My ex Liliana thought golds and warmer reds were me, but Oliver always insisted pinks and purples were best for me when we were going out on the town. Those and shimmer. Guy really had a thing for shimmer.

Though I kinda think part of that was just cause he always got such a kick out of the mix of righteous indignation, total confusion and abject terror when homophobes see a near seven foot tall guy built like a tank in hot pink lipstick and shimmery purple eyeshadow-

Gotta admit he wasn't the only one…really was a laugh."

Magnus gave a bright, delighted laugh, nodding eagerly, animatedly pointing, warm deep brown eyes sparkling in amusement.

"Oh I bet! And I'm sure you look gorgeous in them. Oh man, that has to be the best reaction EVER!"

Caleb snorted, shaking his head, bouncing lightly in his seat, setting up a bit more, leaning forward, giving a fluttering little wave.

"Damn right I do. I'm a freaking knock out. And no, the BEST reaction would be the one I get when I see those douchey jackasses trying to press up on a girl who's clearly NOT into it and can't seem to take the hint and I go up and start pulling the same exact crap on him…bonus points when I have the makeup thing going full force.

That one is the best."

Magnus now outright giggled, clapping, eyes bright and excited.

"Oh my god-I bet! Oh I would pay to see that!"

Caleb laughed, nodding.

"It really is one hell of a sight." He shrugged, smiling, gaze flickering over him, leaning a bit closer.

"Maybe some time we co-"

Alec chuckled faintly, nodding before pausing, head tilting.

"Oh yeah…man that's gotta be a real kick. Though I thought you said you weren't really the confrontational type?"

Caleb paused, blinking at the blatantly obvious cut off, dark eyes flashing in curious amusement, gaze shifting pointedly between the two of them before settling on back on Alec, head tilting right back, brow quirking, giving a somewhat casual, relaxed wave.

"I'm not…unless there's special circumstances that call for it. I said I wasn't confrontational but I also said I'm not a doormat. I don't go out purposefully looking to make trouble but If I see something troubling I'm not just gonna turn a blind eye and hope everything works out.

I've also never been THAT guy.

Being how I am may have its irritations and annoyances and all of that but it does also have a few advantages. I'm not above using those every now and then when it's necessary. I'm not really the 'put someone in their place, flip the script just for the hell of it' type but…well…some people REALLY need it and depending on the dude there's not always a hell of a lot of people able to do that.

I generally can…and if it's especially warranted I will." He huffed out a faint laugh, holding up his hand placatingly.

"I don't hurt them. They're never in any actual DANGER or anything- I just kinda screw with them a little. Give them a taste of their own medicine. I always hope it'll be a bit of an eye-opener. That it lets them get an idea of how they're making these women feel. Least that's what I always hope- I know it's one hell of an uphill battle with some of these guys and sometimes you'd have better luck trying to get through to a brick wall but I usually try to be optimistic about it.

So no, I'm not generally the confrontational type but if a situation calls for a confrontation I'm also not really one to shy away from it either. I just kinda try my best to strike a balance between the two." He finished with a shrug, glancing between the detectives.

Magnus smiled, nodding approvingly, giving a bit of a shrug.

"And it would seem you do that perfectly. I'm sure those women were very grateful."

He huffed out a faint laugh, head tilting faintly, giving a bit of a wave.

"Fair bit too grateful sometimes if I'm honest. I've had a few where they end up trying to flirt with me the rest of the night…it's kinda awkward."

Magnus blinked, head tilting, a soft, politely confused smile tugging at his pretty lips.

"And that's a bad thing? I thought you were bi?" He started, holding his hand up placatingly.

"Oh! Not that it's any of my business of course b-"

He chuckled, smiling, waving him off.

"No, no, you're fine. Like I said I'm pretty comfortable with myself- that includes my sexuality. Though as point of fact I'm not Bi- I'm actually pan. I take it you're Bi though, yeah?"

Magnus smiled, nodding. Caleb chuckled, nodding back, head tilting towards Alec, smirking.

"And he's OBVIOUSLY gay s-"

"Hey! I'm not-" Alec started, shifting forward, glaring faintly, feeling his cheeks warm lightly.

He huffed out a faint laugh, brow quirking.

"What? Gay?"

"No…obvious…"

Caleb snorted, brow raising a bit more, casting a glance over at Magnus catching his eye, brow quirking pointedly before shifting back to Alec, giving a clearly disbelieving, near patronizing smile.

"Sure- course you're not."

Alec huffed, shifting in his seat, reaching up, tucking a loose lock of hair behind his ear, glaring faintly, pointedly pretending he doesn't catch the little snicker from Magnus or feel the heat rising in his cheeks. He takes a deep breath, setting up straighter, squaring his shoulders, giving a faint shrug, trying to move on.

"Yeah, okay, whatever…we seem to be veering off course again here."

Magnus nodded in agreement.

"Absolutely-totally agree." He smiled again, nodding once more to Alec before shifting his focus back over to Caleb.

"So why exactly is it a bad thing these women hit on you?"

Alec huffed, shaking his head faintly.

"Yeah that's not exactly what I m-"

Magnus shrugged, smirking cheekily, giving a flamboyant little wave.

"Lead detective- might be relevant."

Alec huffed.

"No you-HOW would this be in any way relevant?"

Magnus huffed right back, brow quirking to mirror him.

"Goes to character." He all but singsonged before shifting his gaze from Alec back over to Caleb, giving a fluttering little wave and a charmingly bright smile.

"You were saying?"

Caleb blinked, his own brow rising in amusement before giving a soft huff of a laugh, glancing somewhat pointedly between the two of them once more, yet again shrugging, continuing along.

"I-well I mean I guess you can't really control how you meet someone but to me it always just feels like getting a date from that would seem like that was what I was angling for all along and I'm most definitely not THAT guy. I wasn't helping them to earn brownie points or get a shot or whatever and generally if I meet someone like that it kinda feels like taking advantage of the situation, you know?

I mean they were scared and uncomfortable and vulnerable and I swoop in and chase away the creep. They on some level feel indebted to me. It's like that transference thing with a therapist or hero worship like when someone thinks they fall for the cop or firefighter or whatever who saves them in a crises." He paused, glancing between the two of them, gesturing.

"I mean you're both cops- and like insanely gorgeous- you gotta know what I mean. Yeah they might like you and yeah it COULD be genuine but they could also just be romanticizing the situation and conflating fear responses mixing with an adrenaline rush with attraction and genuine interest. It just feels kinda contrived or like they'll somehow feel like they're obligated since I 'saved' them and they owe me or whatever.

I blame lazy movie tropes and misogynisticlly skewed gender expectations. I mean it's even a sleazy move some particularly crappy guys use. Have their wingman act like a sleazy pig and then they get to do the whole white knight spiel and rescue the poor damsel in distress." He huffed, again rolling his eyes before continuing.

"I don't know. It just kinda makes me feel creepy to take advantage of the situation even if that wasn't in any way my intention. Even if I did actually find them attractive and think I might be interested under other circumstances I just couldn't really go there.

Usually I'll just apologize and tell them I'm gay and it just really felt like they needed an assist." He sighed, shrugging helplessly, giving a bit of a halfhearted little wave.

Magnus chuckled, nodding.

"Totally understandable- and very admirable. There aren't too many people with that level of integrity." He paused, glancing pointedly over at Alec before shifting back to Caleb, smirking playfully.

"Though for the record I still totally think you could pull off the bright blue lipstick."

He snorted, shaking his head, waving him off.

"Yeah no, again I tried. Blue of any shade, tint or hew…no…just no. Warm colors work really well, purples work pretty good- usually the warmer ones but blues are a definite no go. It was pretty much unanimous among all my exes…and like anyone else who've ever seen me try them.

Last time I tried it was when I was promoted to head of security and was going out with Maiara and some other friends. The security uniform is a dark blue and I found a shade of lipstick that was nearly the same exact color and I thought that'd be kinda fun. I put it on and it really didn't look that great to me but I thought maybe I was just overanalyzing or whatever. Apparently I wasn't.

Maiara came over to pick me up and when I opened the door she just took one look at me, said 'NOPE', drug me back into my apartment and stood on a step stool while she got the brightest pink I had and put it over the blue till it turned a warm violet.

Admittedly she was right-it was much better. The blue is just too stark of a contrast for me. Golds, reds, pinks, oranges and certain violets work much better…" he paused, shrugging.

"I have found a few greens that work okay…but generally then I just look even more like a human tree than I already do." Again he paused, sharp dark gaze slipping between the two of them, brow quirking near teasingly.

Magnus blinked, head tilting.

"Hu-what? You don't look like a-" Caleb huffed out a faint laugh, brow rising even more, head tilting towards Alec.

"Well, that's what you told him when you were lamenting not having your convertible as you didn't know if I could even fit in a regular car."

Magnus froze, blinking, gaze shifting quickly from him over to Alec in confusion before shifting back, giving a somewhat awkward chuckle, head tilting curiously.

"Um…that what- How did y-"

Caleb sighed, flashing a faint smile, shrugging.

"Yeah…umm…funny thing about the museum architecture? The high vaulted ceilings and dome like shape of the roof makes the foyer a kind of whispering gallery. Someone can whisper something clear across the room in one area and you can hear it plain as day on the opposite side."

Magnus again froze, guiltily biting at his lower lip, glancing once more back over to Alec, somewhat at a loss before shifting back to Caleb, giving a slightly sheepish, apologetic smile.

"Sorry, that was really rude and unprofessional."

Caleb chuckled, smiling reassuringly, waving him off.

"Eh, hardly the worse I've heard. We're good, no offense taken."

Magnus relaxed faintly, nodding, flashing another one of those pretty, warm smiles. Alec for his part just kind of shifted, giving a half shrug back, taking a deep breath, leaning forward in his chair, resting his arms on the table.

"So…you heard everything?"

Caleb shrugged.

"Yup…"

Alec sighed.

"So you know you're pretty much our main suspect at this point?"

"Your main suspect." Magnus piped up, shrugging faintly towards Alec before shifting back to Caleb.

"For the record I don't buy it. You really don't strike me as the shifty, smarmy, thief type."

Both Alec and Caleb looked over at him, Caleb in relief, Alec in confusion. Magnus caught his look, brow quirking, shrugging faintly.

"What? You're my partner and I got your back, but I'm just not sold on this one yet. This is all you." He shifted, giving a fluttery wave.

"Go ahead- just don't put words in my mouth." He shrugged, settling more comfortably on the table, the slightest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, that dizzying spark lighting in those gorgeous brown eyes.

Huh…he's working something. Good cop, bad cop maybe?

Hmm…guys already checking him out- had the whole makeup camaraderie thing going…definitely a smart play…

Smart guy…

Alec blinked, setting up a bit straighter, giving a seemingly aggravatedly curt little wave towards Magnus, flashing a purposefully contrived, somewhat irritated smile.

"Fine, whatever. You know you're MY main suspect, right?"

Caleb sighed, shrugging, slumping down in his chair, giving a helpless little wave.

"Again yup…"

Alec blinked, taking a deep breath, setting up straighter, brow rising to his hairline.

"And you just…casually toss that out there like nothing?"

He shrugged, unconcerned.

"Yeah…pretty much."

Alec huffed out a disbelieving laugh, head shaking in some combination of shock, confusion and amusement, holding up a finger, pointing.

"You know? For being 'non-confrontational' and not one to flip the script or 'put someone in their place' you sure seem to do it a lot."

Caleb huffed out a faint laugh, giving a somewhat helpless little shrug and halfhearted wave.

"Guess it kinda would feel that way. Sorry, that wasn't intentional- it really wasn't. I just happened to catch an opening and figured may as well get to it rather than just play dumb and circle around to the next one…" he paused, gaze shifting from Alec over to Magnus, flashing a faintly apologetic, somewhat unsure smile and a bit of a wave.

"And sorry for kinda putting you on the spot like that. No disrespect or animosity meant. Really. I wasn't trying to throw you off or call you out or get the best of you or anything like that. It was just the first clear lead in that wasn't just 'hey so I heard you gossiping about me'. Kinda felt like I needed to just bite the bullet and take it rather than us keep beating around the bush, pretending this is anything but an interrogation."

Magnus started, blinking in confusion, quickly shaking his head.

"Wha-n-it's not an interroga-"

Caleb sighed, shaking his head faintly, waving him off.

"Detective Bane, come on. I'm your partners main suspect and you brought me into your precinct. I can read the writing on the wall. I figured once we got here and in the room you'd drop the bomb and get to it but you never did."

Alec shrugged, somewhat at a loss.

"Well to be totally honest were nowhere near anything like that. This honestly was just a pretty standard meeting we'd do on any case if there's a designated security team at the scene of a crime."

Caleb huffed out a faintly disbelieving chuckle, brow quirking.

"Huh…and here I thought it was some kind of fishing expedition. You know bring me in under the guise of collaboration and just wait for me to let my guard down and trip up…"

Alec huffed, head shaking, giving an exasperated, flippant little wave.

"Well it's out there now so I'm not gonna set here and lie to your face; that was kinda my hope. I was hoping we could get something more concrete so we could actually bring you in for an interrogation.

Honestly right now it's pretty much just my gut, a hunch and circumstantial evidence. For some people that might be enough but-to borrow a phrase from you- I'm not THAT guy. I don't make a move on a case until I have something concrete to back it up."

Caleb huffed out a faint almost laugh, blinking, shifting faintly, glancing between the two.

"Yeah…I kinda got that vibe. You didn't really feel like the kind to go off halfcocked. That's why once we got here and you guys kept dancing around that it'd be best if I just brought it up and we could hash this out. I figured if you were bringing me into the station for an interrogation that meant you thought you had enough to move on." He paused, shifting, head tilting, looking just as flummoxed by the situation as Alec felt.

"But…you don't?"

Alec huffed, shrugging.

"I-it wasn't an Interrogation! We're investigating a heist; you're head of security where the heist took place. First move is collect evidence, second is interviews. Not interrogations…just interviews. Again you were the head of security where the heist took place. You were the most logical first step. It'd only make sense to go over the case with you. That's literally all we planned to do right now…" he trailed off, once more unable to think of anything to do but shrug confusedly.

Caleb froze, blinking, once more shifting, glancing between the two detectives, shifting again in sheer bewilderment.

"Oh…umm…o-okay…" Caleb mumbled, shaking his head slowly, eyes slightly wide, expression similar to the one Jace would get back in high school when they were trying to do Trigonometry homework.

"Okay…so…what do we do now?"

Alec scoffed, throwing his hand up exasperatedly, not really sure how to approach this as there's not really a by the book protocol for when your main suspect accidentally turns a standard data collecting interview into their own premature interrogation.

Oh god damnit. They haven't even read him his Miranda rights yet. He doesn't have an attorney; he hasn't waved his right to an attorney, nothing. Until they do anything he says could be absolutely obliterated in court. No reading rights means no case. Hell even the meeting could be seen as them trying to circumvent protocol, trying to entrap him.

I mean yeah meeting with the head of security at the crime scene WAS standard protocol but when said head of security is your main suspect…well then it kinda goes off into the weeds.

Oh crap…

Finally Alec just sighed, shaking his head right back.

"I-honestly I don't know. This is kind of a new one for me…" he paused, glancing over at Magnus.

"Any ideas 'lead detective'?"

Magnus huffed out a faint chuckle, brow quirking pointedly.

"What happened to clean, simple, by the book?"

Alec scoffed faintly, brow quirking right back, giving a halfhearted little wave.

"Yeah; thinking at this point the book's pretty much been tossed out the window- into a wood chipper…and possibly set on fire. So, you know; totally your wheelhouse.

Organized Chaos method it is."

Magnus couldn't seem to help a soft chuckle, flashing an exciting little smirk and wink Alec's way before shifting his gaze over to Caleb. He shrugged, giving a little flip of a wave.

"Alright Caleb, I'm just gonna be straight with you; well as straight as I ever can be in any case."

Caleb gave a soft, near laugh, nodding.

"Kay good. Cause gotta admit; I'm pretty lost here."

Magnus snorted, nodding animatedly.

"Once more- right there with you. Look, as of right now we don't have much of anything on you. We have hunches and circumstantial evidence. That's nothing. As of this moment we have nothing to hold you on and you haven't been read your rights meaning either we need to do that right now or you need to leave as we cannot formally interrogate you without that." He flashed a polite, professional smile, shifting off of the edge of the table, gesturing towards the door.

"Thank you for your cooperation today Mr. Lequoia, you're free to go."

Caleb started in confusion, looking from Magnus over to Alec, head shaking, the Jace Trig expression intensifying.

"I wha-I-is he serious?"

Alec blinked, looking over at his partner, gaze flickering over him, catching his eye for a moment before shifting back to Caleb, huffing, giving a faint shrug.

"I-I really don't know. Like I told your boss this is a new partnership, I generally don't have any clue what he's doing. Be yeah…I think he is…and he's right. We don't have anything to hold you. We can't just lock you up on a hunch and we can't formally interrogate you without you being read your rights. We brought you in to collaborate on the case, nothing more, nothing less.

It's pretty clear at this point we all know there was more behind our motivations then just background for the case but as it stands now it's not like we can all just pretend we don't know what ELSE this is about so…I don't know.

It's already out there so I'm not gonna lie, I do think it was you." He shrugged, head tilting towards Magnus.

"He may not be sold on this but I am. I am and once we find proof- proof that I feel is strong enough to move on- then I would absolutely formally bring you in for a proper interrogation but we're nowhere near that yet. We can't hold you without just cause and without you being read your rights and as you know you are a suspect and we are at our precinct and in an interrogation room anything you say from now until we read you your rights could be deemed inadmissible in a case.

We aren't to a point we can hold you and quite frankly we don't even have enough evidence to justify a formal interrogation, so pretty much, yeah." He sighed, shrugging, giving a bit of a wave towards the door.

"Don't leave town and know that we'll still be working the case but right now there's not a hell of a lot we can do here. You are free to go. Thank you for your cooperation today. We'll be in touch." He shifted, pushing his chair back, beginning to stand.

Caleb started, looking between the two of them, faltering, beginning to shaking his head.

"I-wait! Could you just like I don't know, do the rights thing now and just go from here or something?"

Alec froze, blinking, brow raising clear to his hairline, holding up a finger, not really sure he heard that right.

"I-You want us to read you your rights and interrogate you?"

Caleb huffed, shaking his head, shrugging near helplessly.

"I-well…honestly no, not particularly. I'd much rather you just stop thinking I'm the thief and we go back to this actually being a meeting between the department and the head of museum security but it's pretty clear by now that ain't happening so…I don't know.

I'm already here and this is already going and it beats constantly fretting and wondering when you're gonna decide you actually ARE ready to bring me back in. I'm not really a set around and wait kinda guy. I spin and spiral and overthink and end up a nervous wreck. I'd rather just get this over with and face it however it comes." He sighed, slumping down in his seat, glancing between the two, giving a faint shrug and halfhearted little wave.

"So how do we do this?"

Alec blinked again, unsure gaze shifting over to Magnus before shifting back, giving a totally lost shrug, settling back into his chair.

"Okay then, here goes nothing. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you.

Do you understand these rights as I've read them to you?"

Caleb shrugged, nodding. Magnus flashed a soft, near gentle smile, settling back on the edge of the table.

"You have to answer out loud, sweetheart."

Caleb started, fidgeting faintly, once more nodding, reaching up, tucking a loose lock of raven black hair behind his ear.

"Oh uh…yeah- yes. I understand."

Magnus smiled brighter, nodding encouragingly.

"Good. Now with those rights in mind do you still want to talk to us?"

Caleb began to nod before stopping.

"U-y-yeah."

"Would you like to have an attorney present?"

Caleb huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head, waving him off.

"No…I- I mean I probably should- Oh! Uh that's not like an admission of guilt or anything, just something I see on like EVERY show. I know I likely should but I'm really not that big on lawyers. Bunch of shifty bloodsuckers preying on the weak, scared and desperate.

I'm really hoping we can get this all sorted out without having to resort to that. I'd really prefer not to deal with one of them unless it's absolutely necessary."

Magnus chuckled, giving a fluttery little wave.

"Understandable…generally lawyers are right up there with morticians and IRS agents so far as PR goes." he huffed out another faint laugh before pausing, head tilting curiously.

"I take it you've had some less than pleasant run-ins with them, yes?"

"You could say that again…" he muttered, scoffing.

Magnus nodded empathetically, giving a soft chuckle.

"Again quite understandable. Even so the one's actually hired for you are a fair bit different than the one's being set upon you."

Caleb snorted, shaking his head.

"Not really, they're just hired attack dogs. Doesn't matter if they're going after an innocent victim, a sleazy con artist or some vile monster in human form, it's all the same to them, long as the check clears, you're covered. They'll go at whatever they're aimed at, defend whatever pays the best price.

I don't trust them as far as I can throw them."

Magnus huffed out a faint chuckle, brow quirking, leaning forward, gesturing towards him, head tilting near teasingly.

"Well now to be fair I get the feeling that'd be pretty damn far."

Caleb gave a surprised laugh, head tilting concedingly, holding up a finger, flashing a slight smile.

"Fair point…I never actually tried it but most definitely felt like it. How about I don't trust them as far as my twelve year old nephew could throw them? I'd say my ten year old niece but girls got one hell of an arm and is working on her green belt so I'm gonna go with her robot building, Klingon fluent, piano prodigy brother."

Magnus chuckled, nodding.

"Yeah…that fits better. But just so you know if at any point you decide you do want one or feel like you need one just let us know and we'll stop until we can get you one, alright?"

He took a deep breath, nodding.

"Alright."

Magnus relaxed faintly, nodding back, shifting a bit, dark, dizzying gaze slipping over him, pretty brown eyes brightening curiously.

"Okay then…let's get to it.

So you really knew he suspected you this entire time?"

He sighed, giving a faint nod.

"Yes…Oh and so does Maiara." He paused, gaze shifting from Magnus over to Alec, head tilting near apologetically, almost wincing.

"She's pissed by the way. Kinda feels your whole altruistic speech and pretty reassuring promises were just a smoke show and giving her the runaround and now you're just gunning to pin the case on the first person you see so you can close it and move on.

So uh…yeah…good luck with that." He gave a faint breath of a laugh and a slight wave.

"I did my best to calm her down. I really did. I told her I didn't think it was like that and people in your field have to follow their gut and it really doesn't take much for me to trigger wariness and suspicion in people. I told her you were likely just spit balling and following your instincts. That you were just trying to do your job.

I assured her it would be fine. That I'd cooperate and work with you guys on it and get this all straightened out. She fought me on it a bit but did ultimately agree to just let me handle it. She IS still pretty pissed though…so uh yeah…again good luck." He shrugged almost sheepishly, flashing a faint smile between the two.

"That's why she ducked out and turned dealing with you guys over to me. Well actually she did because I asked her to as I was worried she'd let on that we knew and it'd be a whole thing and the museum really wasn't the place for that."

Alec blinked, looking unsurely from Caleb over to Magnus before shifting back, head tilting in confusion.

"I-S-so wait…we were there for nearly two hours. You showed us around the entire place, gave us full access to the security office and all the upgrades, went over all the people with keys and the whole nine yards. I mean I get it wasn't really something to bring up in the middle of a crowded museum but we were in the security room and your office and a few other fairly private places that would have worked fine to bring it up.

You knew the entire time you were my main suspect- and you just…what? Played along?"

He sighed, giving a faint head shrug and a bit of a wave.

"Well…yeah."

Alec again blinked, brow quirking, gaze shifting back once more to Magnus, thoroughly confused. Magnus gave a mysterious little shrug, an oddly knowing smirk tugging at his pretty lips, Alec catching a thrilling little spark in those gorgeous brown eyes before he shifts, once more turning his focus from Alec back over to Caleb, head tilting curiously.

"I'm actually a bit lost on that myself. I mean if you just wanted to get it out there, clear the air or whatever why did you wait so long? Why did you wait until we brought you down to the station?"

He shrugged.

"Well, I mean you were there to investigate. Wouldn't make any sense if you didn't walk the scene and get the facts. Figured you'd need to do that regardless of anything else and if I brought it up there it would just throw the whole thing out of whack. You couldn't very well collect evidence and information when you think you're doing so with your main suspect. At least not when you know they ALSO know they're your main suspect."

Magnus nodded faintly, head tilting concedingly.

"Okay yeah so I get not saying anything right off the bat, but like Alec said, we were there for over two hours collecting data. We were in your office and the security booth and a few other places that would have been fine.

We finished walking the scene a while before that and went over the info for who all would have access and so on. There was plenty of time after we'd finished collecting the information we needed.

Why didn't you ever let on at any point that you knew you were a suspect during those times? Especially when we asked you to come with us down to the station?"

He shrugged, head tilting, giving a bit of a halfhearted wave.

"Well…I mean I thought about it but you know. It was my office, my security booth, my work. If I broached the subject then it would have been on my turf and seem like it was on my terms. I didn't know how well that'd play out so I was kinda stymied.

I mean yeah I thought about it when we were in the security booth or my office but in both places it was just the three of us and I thought having a suspect suddenly just out and out tell you they're onto you, they know they're your main suspect and have known the entire time could go south really fast.

Especially when the suspect is a suspect like me." He shrugged, shifting forward, resting his elbows on the table, reaching up, brushing a loose lock of hair back behind his ear, glancing back up at the two detectives, head shaking faintly.

"Like I said I tend to get pretty extreme reactions and that's usually tenfold when something I'm doing can be perceived as a legit threat. People take it as a threat if I breathe too loud or freaking sneeze. I tell two detectives alone with me in my office that I know they're looking at me for a crime and…I mean….how are they gonna take that?

Two armed detectives suddenly realizing they're trapped in the office of a near seven foot, three hundred pound, armed security guard who knows he's their main suspect and has known the entire time and has just been biding his time…

Like…it's me- I KNOW it's not meant like that and even I'd have trouble reading that as anything other than a threat.

That? I mean…yeah…that just had way too many ways it could have gone bad, so I just kept it to myself." He shrugged, sighing, halfheartedly waving, continuing on.

"I wasn't specifically PLANNING on telling you. I was hoping you'd get a new lead and move on from me when you really begun working the case. I kept hoping but by the time we finished going over the scene and were back in my office I could tell that hadn't really panned out.

I thought about saying something then but…well…like I said it was way too easy for that to be read as some kind of threat and that was the last thing I'd want. When you mentioned coming down to the station to go over the evidence I kinda figured you thought you had something and that's where we were. You never said it was an interrogation so I figured you were just trying to play it safe and wait to drop the whole suspect thing when you were on your home turf.

Figured since we're coming into a police station I'd be expected to leave my Taser and side arm back in my office so that's one less worry. I thought holding off to let you know I knew till we were here in the precinct where you would feel comfortable and in control, where I was no longer armed and far less likely to be perceived as much as a threat just made the most sense.

I don't know…just seemed the best way to go all around."

Alec blinked, brow rising near to his hair line.

"So…you purposefully kept back that you knew you were a suspect to ensure that WE felt safe?"

He sighed, halfheartedly, shrugging.

"Basically? Yeah."

Alec huffed out a faint laugh, beginning to shake his head.

"That doesn't make s-"

"Except it does…at least when figuring in other factors."

Alec blinked, glancing between the two.

"What other factors?"

"The whole 6'9", three hundred pound Jessica Rabbit/human tree factor." Magnus sighed, flashing a soft, near sad little smile Caleb's way.

"I really do apologize for making you feel you had to jump through all these hoops just to be able to be straight with us. That you felt you had to go out of your way to make sure WE felt safe during our investigation just to ensure that YOU were safe."

Caleb shook his head, flashing a faint smile, waving him off.

"You didn't make me feel like that. I've felt like that since eighth grade when I was already taller than most of my teachers. And it's not that I was necessarily worried I was in danger- I just hate feeling like I'm making other's feel like they're in danger.

It wasn't anything you specific…just kinda the way things tend to go with me. I always have to second guess and analyze how my actions could be read because I tend to set people on edge without even trying and when you're watching for a threat near anything can be read as one. It's really not you…it's me."

Magnus chuckled, brow quirking impishly.

"Like I've never heard that line before."

Caleb huffed out a faint laugh, brow quirking, gaze pointedly shifting over him before once more catching his eye.

"You have?"

He faltered, shifting, reaching up, tucking a soft lock of teal tinted hair behind his ear, finger trailing along that distracting Dragon earcuff, head tilting concedingly.

"Well…okay no…but I've used it enough to know what it means. The other way just sounded far less conceited."

Caleb laughed, shrugging, relaxing faintly, giving a flippant little wave towards him.

"True…not nearly as believable though."

Magnus smirked, winking playfully.

"What can I say? When you're right, you're right…" he chuckled softly, relaxing a little more, leaning towards Caleb, gaze shifting over him, sobering faintly, giving an apologetic little shrug.

"I really am sorry you felt like you had to do that. It's really frustrating when people don't see who someone is, just what they look like they are. I know it gets to me sometimes too." He shifted, biting lightly at his softly shimmery soft blue tinted lips, tucking a teal lock of hair behind his ear, hand trailing along his earcuff, down his cheek over the just barely perceptible dusting of silvery shimmer, going to the simple black Celtic knot necklace he's wearing with the sapphire blue stone in the center, glancing back up, catching Caleb's eye, giving a slight shrug and an almost sad little smile.

"A lot of people take one look at me and assume they know everything there is to know. They see shimmers and color and sparkles and jewelry and they assume that's pretty much all there is. They don't see me as an authority figure, as any kind of threat. I have to work five times as hard to get half the respect I would if I seemed like a 'normal' cop…" He gave a half chuckle, half scoff, gesturing towards himself.

"Hell- this is me when I'm purposefully toning it down! I just have one necklace, two rings, a barely their shimmer, and a dash of gloss. I practically feel naked! I hate toning myself down and this is as low key as I go but it's just what I gotta do when I'm reestablishing myself."

Caleb shifted faintly, shaking his head, setting up a bit straighter.

"Well that's not right; you shouldn't have to do that."

Magnus chuckled softly, flashing a faint smile, giving a flourishing, fluttering wave, head tilting concedingly.

"And you shouldn't have to overanalyze and second guess every move you make just to keep from causing a panic or meltdown but here we are. You know you shouldn't have to but you also know how much it could scare people if you don't and that's the last thing you want so you do because you're a good, kind compassionate person."

Caleb smiled, giving a faint nod.

"And that's why you do it like this; the ease people into it thing? You don't want to throw them too much or get off on the wrong foot."

Magnus snorted, shaking his head, waving him off.

"Uh no. I generally don't give a damn what people think of me- hell sometimes I even play it up just to screw with them. Not gonna lie there can be definite advantages to a suspect not taking you seriously or thinking you're nothing but a flouncy, flamboyant joke who stumbled their way into police work.

It can definitely play out in your favor with out and out adversaries…not quite so much when it's your coworkers who see you that way. Again, I generally don't care what people think of me- especially bigoted, misogynistic jackasses but…well…it kinda just comes with the territory in this field.

It's work. Sometimes you gotta put on your work persona; tone this down, play this up, pretend the moronic jackass talking to you is an actual person and not an irritating cockroach that somehow gained sentience.

It's just the way it goes. It's the same as with your job. Sometimes you have to kinda play the part to get the job done." He chuckled, shrugging, settling closer.

"I mean true, at my old job I didn't have to do the whole show song and dance but I'd been there for nearly a decade and had more solved cases under my belt than most of the precincts other detectives combined. Here right now I'm just the flashy, flouncy new guy. Once I get settled and established and all of that than I can tone down the toning down but I start at that right off the bat and I'll be laughed out on my cute little ass.." he shrugged, smiling, leaning a bit closer.

"It's really unfortunate and a major headache when you can't just do your job as yourself but sometimes those of us who don't fit into the standard box have to kinda adapt and squish to try to make it work. Of course we shouldn't have to. People should simply see you for who you are rather than just what they expect you to be and in a perfect world that's how it'd be.

But it's pretty clear this world is far from perfect so we just have to kinda go with it, face the things we can and stand up to the things we can't." he shrugged, giving a fluttering little wave, gesturing towards Caleb.

"Hence why we're currently on your boss and friends crap list."

Caleb shifted, shaking his head.

"You're not. She j-"

Magnus chuckled, waving him off with an amused little smile.

"Thinks that we're some corrupt, narrow-minded jar headed jackass cops too lazy to properly work a case set on pinning the crime on the first person we see- the first person of color we see no less …" Magnus huffed, wincing, shrugging somewhat helplessly.

"I don't even blame her to be honest. We weren't even there twenty minutes and we're gunning for the first person we come across- her head of security and what sounds like close, personal friend. She's known you for years, likely trusts you with her life.

We're the detectives she tricked into working the case. Not really surprising she'd think that…" Magnus gave a faint breath of an almost laugh, head tilting concedingly.

"Hell given that she might even think we're specifically targeting you just to get back at her for getting one over on us."

Caleb sighed, holding his hand up, shaking his head faintly.

"I don't know about all that. I mean yeah she's really distrusting of cops and usually suspicious as hell just in general but I don't think she'd jump straight to 'it's a frame up.'"

Magnus shrugged, shaking his head.

"I don't know. I mean she tricks dispatch into assigning their best to a case she's convinced herself we'll see as totally beneath us- something I'm sure she had ample reason and justification to believe. Then we're not even their twenty minutes and latch onto the first person we see. A person also known as her head of security and a trusted friend who by his own admission tends to be seen as threatening and suspicious simply for existing.

When you look at it like that it really doesn't seem like much of a leap to 'frame the first person we see as the culprit so we can put this to bed and move on."

Caleb shifted, again shrugging, shaking his head, giving a somewhat hesitant wave.

"I-okay I can absolutely see that but I don't think that's what it is. I told her it's nothing like that…it's just a big misunderstanding."

Magnus smiled, nodding.

"Oh absolutely! It really is just all a big coincidence. Some kind of fluke or mishap or something."

Caleb relaxed, nodding, pointing.

"Exactly! It really is. Just a big coincidence."

Magnus smiled again, head tilting the other way, sharp, gorgeously deep brown eyes sparking with a bright, thrilling spark.

"Could not agree more. Detectives latching onto the first person they see on a case as the culprit seems downright lazy. It seems like we're just going for the easiest target, pushing this through to get it out of the way and move on. I can absolutely see how this makes us look lazy, vindictive or even downright racist. But I promise we're really nothing like that. THIS is really nothing like that"

Caleb nodded, smiling reassuringly.

"I know you're not." He paused, gaze shifting from Magnus over to Alec catching both their eyes, giving an encouraging smile.

"Neither of you are anything like that. I know it's just a coincidence."

Magnus smiled, nodding.

"Exactly! It really does FEEL like we're just grasping at straws, latching onto the first mark we see to cut down the work we need to do and get this out of the way. I can absolutely see how it feels like that…but it's really not…" Magnus shrugged, giving a fluttering little near casual wave

"It just so happens that the first person we came across on the case WAS the culprit."

"Yea-w-wait…what? No I-"

Magnus sighed, shaking his head.

"Caleb, come on…"

He blinked, shifting back faintly, swallowing.

"Wha-what do you mean?" He shifted, kind of deflating.

"I thought you said you didn't think I was the shifty, smarmy, thief type?"

Magnus nodded, giving a slight shrug.

"I don't…"

Caleb blinked in confusion.

"I-but…you just sai-"

Magnus sighed, head tilting concedingly.

"I know- and I also believe that."

Caleb again blinked, head shaking faintly, glancing from him over to Alec before shifting back once more.

"Um…o-okay I really don't understand."

Alec nodded, shifting forward slightly, holding up a finger, gesturing towards Caleb.

"Yeah…I'm kinda with him on this one. You don't think he's a thief, yet you think he stole it?"

"Exactly…" He all but chirped, smiling, shrugging as if the answer was blatantly obvious.

Alec just blinked, head shaking slowly.

"Yeah, I might actually be more confused by this than he is. Sorry, I have no clue what you're getting at."

Magnus huffed, eyes widening expectantly.

"When is a thief not a thief?"

Alec huffed out a faint huff of a laugh, brow quirking.

"Uh…I'm not really that big on riddles. When is a thief not a thief?"

Magnus rolled his eyes, gesturing animatedly as if the answer was blatantly obvious.

"Where there wasn't a theft."

Okay…now Alec had Jace's Trig look.

He sighed, giving a somewhat lost wave.

"I…really don't get it."

Caleb nodded, gesturing towards Alec.

"Yeah…same…"

Magnus sighed, brow quirking pointedly before his gaze shifts from Alec back over to Caleb, flashing a soft, surprisingly gentle smile.

"When you got to the museum you had no clue what was going on. You got the call this morning to come in but it never occurred to you it was about the missing artifacts. Your surprise was genuine. When Maiara mentioned a break in you didn't look towards the Navajo exhibit. Your eyes immediately went to the priciest items in the place looking for disturbances. You didn't even glance towards the Navajo exhibit…

Even though it's your favorite. The one you have the strongest personal ties to…" He paused, head shifting the other way, brow quirking curiously.

"Seems kind of odd actually. I mean yeah, yeah price points and all that- it'd generally be assumed if someone is informed of a robbery they'll check on the most expensive things first but in actuality they'll check on the things that hold the most significance…the things they are most worried about losing." He gave a faint, fluttery little wave, head tilting concedingly.

"Admittedly the majority of the time those things are one and the same…that just wasn't the case here." He smirked, brow raising, leaning in a bit, sharp, bright eyes focused and sparking with that dizzying inner light.

"I find it rather interesting when you hear there's been a break in your eyes didn't automatically go to what you saw as the most important items in the entire museum…

Why is that?"

Caleb faltered, shifting, reaching up, brushing a loose lock of hair behind his ear, giving a fluttering little wave.

"Y-yeah…well…I mean obviously normally they would but I thought that they w-"

"Out for cleaning? Just like it was marked on the calendar in security office, right?"

Caleb swallowed, nodding, shifting again, giving a slight shrug.

"Yeah, I did. They were scheduled for cleaning so I assumed they were out of the museum. I assumed they were safe. I didn't know the cleaning was canceled."

Magnus sighed, nodding.

"Oh I most definitely believe that. You had no clue." he paused, head tilting, holding up a finger.

"My guess is had the cleaning company not called Maiara and canceled the artifacts would have still been gone this morning and by tomorrow morning they'd be right back where they belong, probably in even better shape than they would have been if the cleaning company took them, right?"

Caleb blinked, beginning to shake his head, holding his hands up placatingly.

"I-I don't know what y-"

Magnus sighed.

"You're not a thief Caleb. There's no way you have it in you to do something like that. You're most definitely not THAT guy. You weren't stealing them, you had every intention of bringing them back all along and no one would have been the wiser.

You weren't stealing them…just borrowing them. Right?"

Caleb faltered, shifting, beginning to shake his head.

"I-no-I-I wasn't…I wouldn't…I…"he sighed, kind of deflating, slumping down in his seat, shrugging hopelessly, looking between the two settling again back on Magnus.

"Okay- cards on the table; how bad is this?"

Magnus shrugged, giving a faint wave.

"Eh it depends-"

Alec huffed, shifting forward, shaking his head.

"What do you mean it depends?"

Magnus once more shrugged.

"Circumstances matter. Special circumstances c-"

Alec scoffed, waving him off.

"It's still theft! Borrowing without permission or the owners knowledge is still theft. If you snag some flashy hotrod and go for a joyride with every intention of bringing it back after you're done it's still theft."

Magnus's head tilted concedingly, a knowingly teasing little smirk, brow quirking impishly.

"And yet if you're a detective borrowing it in order to catch a murder and save lives it's just part of your job…" he smirked, flashing a distractingly flirty little wink.

Alec gave a slight scoff of a laugh, shaking his head faintly, counting off on his fingers.

"Okay One? No it's not. And two, what 'special circumstances' can there be for steali-"

"Borrowing."

Alec rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

"Fine. What special circumstances can there be for borrowing ancient, irreplaceable, Navajo artifacts?"

Magnus shrugged, turning from his partner, shifting back to Caleb, head tilting faintly.

"That IS the question, isn't it?" he smiled softly, near coaxingly, shifting a bit closer.

"Circumstances matter. I think in this case they will matter quite a bit. You weren't stealing them to sell, you had no intention of damaging them- in fact I'd even be willing to bet they were safer with you than with the cleaning company.

You didn't take them out of malice or greed or any other dark, cold, selfish motive. You did it…but you didn't do it just for the hell of it. You have a reason…I'm guessing one hell of a reason if you were willing to take this kind of risk."

Caleb shifted forward, resting his head in his hands, nodding faintly, rubbing his face, pushing his hair back, taking a deep breath, glancing up just enough to see them, giving a just barely perceptible nod.

"I do…"

Magnus sighed softly, nodding, leaning in, catching his eye, smiling soft and gentle, rather like he would when trying to soothe a frightened child.

"Okay...what is the reason?"

Caleb swallowed, shrugging, kind of hunching in on himself.

"My dad."

Alec blinked in confusion, head tilting.

"Your dad? Wha- is he in trouble or something?"

Caleb gave a soft breath of a sigh, again shrugging, shaking his head.

"No…. Least not anymore." He took a deep breath, setting up a bit glancing between the two of them.

"A few weeks back he was in an accident. It was really bad, some drunk jackass out screwing around. My dad never even saw him coming.-" he paused at the faint catch he heard in Magnus's breath, glancing up.

He froze, swallowing, shifting faintly.

"I'm sorry- is h-"

Caleb shook his head, holding up his hand, flashing a soft, grateful smile.

"No- thank god. It was pretty touch and go for a while there and a couple times it really didn't look like he was going to be but he's one of the strongest people I know. He pulled through- he's okay now…well…physically at least."

Magnus shifted, head tilting in concern.

"He's having memory problems?"

Caleb swallowed, nodding, reaching up brushing his hair back.

"Yeah. Right now it seems pretty much shot to hell. The neurologist said it's not too uncommon with the kind of injuries he had and he should get them back but it's not happening yet. He said it could take weeks, months…even years. Said there is even a possibility that they'll never come back." He sighed, shrugging, giving a helpless little wave, glancing back up, clearly totally at a loss.

"I-I really don't know what to do. None of us do. They said things that he's familiar with can help to jog his memory. Said once they began to come back they should keep coming but…We're just kinda at a loss here. It's getting really close to his release date and nothing we've tried has helped so far and he's really scared and really confused and he doesn't remember any of us and nothing we've brought in from home has helped and it doesn't seem right to force him to go home with people who he sees as total strangers- even if we are his family right now he just sees us as strangers and he's never been the overly trusting type.

He doesn't want to leave with a bunch of strangers and it doesn't seem right to force him to but it's not like he can just stay at the hospital indefinitely so either he comes home with us or we have to find somewhere else for him to stay. We talked about a care home, my sister even reached out to a few of her colleagues in the medical field around here who work in long care facilities or even just getting him a hotel room as a temporary fix but the doctors all insist the best thing is for him to be somewhere familiar as it can help jog his memory.

His memory isn't all gone. He has blips, little things here and there..." he sighed, shifting, scratching his arm, giving a deflated, halfhearted little wave.

"He remembers his childhood really well…remembers growing up- my grandparents all of that…but nothing recent. Nothing concrete. At least nothing that WE have…" he trailed off, shrugging helplessly.

Magnus blinked, breath catching again, those intense, gorgeously deep eyes sparking bright and distracting.

"They're yours, aren't they? That's why you were borrowing them. You wanted to take them down to the hospital, see if they'd be enough to jog your dad's memory."

Caleb shrugged, nodding near imperceptibly.

"Yeah, they're one of the things my dad remembers from growing up. I thought seeing them in person- getting to hold them and really connect with them it might be enough to give his brain the jump start it needs."

Alec startled, setting up a bit, glancing between Magnus and Caleb, shaking his head faintly.

"I-wha-wait. Maiara said they belonged to a private owner; this Mr. Hartley. She said they were HIS family's. That they were all he had left of them.

She said he has no family anymore."

She said has no family anymore."

Caleb scoffed, giving a look of near disgust.

"That's because he doesn't ever since he took advantage a dying family member and used it to screw over every last remaining one he had, robbing them blind."

Alec blinked, nodding.

"This Mr. Hartley? He is-was- family?"

Caleb scoffed, shrugging halfheartedly.

"Oh yes, Cousin Thad."

Magnus blinked, nose scrunching.

"Thad?"

Caleb snorted, nodding, eyes widening.

"Oh I know right? And he is most definitely a Thad. He's a smarmy, shifty, slimy little snake. We have a lot of extended family but our immediate family is pretty much just me, my sister and my dad- well that and my mom's parents and siblings." He paused, shrugging.

"She passed away when we were really young. My dad's the only parent we had so it's always just kinda been the three of us. Thad was part of our extended family. He's my second cousin twice removed."

Magnus huffed faintly, shaking his head.

"Think I know why he was removed."

Caleb huffed out a faint laugh, nodding animatedly.

"Oh you don't even know the half of it.

We basically walked right into it. When my grandpa began to really go downhill he offered to fly in and help deal with the business side of everything so my dad could just focus on grandpa." He scoffed disbelievingly, giving an agitated wave.

"We were grateful for the help. My dad didn't really know the first thing about any of that stuff and he was really successful- had half a dozen different thriving businesses- he knew all the ins and outs and codes and all the stuff that we'd of had to just learn on the fly.

We really thought it was a blessing…a freaking godsend. We didn't really know much of anything about all of this- And he was family. We weren't super close but he was around for holidays and reunions and wedding and all those other things where the whole family gets together. We figured of course we could trust him, never even so much as crossed any of our minds we couldn't.

Again he was family, and besides he was far from hurting for money. It never even occurred to us his offer of help was anything other than just family helping out family in a rough time." He scoffed again, glaring, head shaking in disgust, glancing back up, giving a faint shrug.

"By the time we figured out what he was doing it was all but done. He had taken everything my grandpa has amassed- every last bit of anything worth anything- including the artifacts.

The money and property and that was a major blow but what hurt the most was the artifacts. These artifacts. They were everything to my grandpa. Handed down through ten generations. They were worth so much more than money. Worth more than all of the rest of it.

My dad pleaded with him to have a heart. Some kind of empathy, an ounce of compassion. To just return those but he dug in, totally shut it down.

And the worst part is it's not like he was just jealous that he was missing out or felt like he was being overlooked or whatever. He didn't even want them. They were just a part of my grandpa's estate and he thought if he back peddled on that it would open the door for us to contest the rest and he wasn't willing to take the chance.

He had his own lawyer- a whole damn team of them- vicious, cutthroat, vile snakes. We didn't even know where to find one. We looked into it but it would have been really expensive and drawn out and everything we looked at said we'd more than likely lose. It was possible we might have been able to contest it but we weren't exactly rich- I mean we were comfortable but not to the point we could have afforded a long, drawn out court battle that by all accounts we would have lost anyways." He swallowed, shrugging, reaching up, brushing his hair back, giving a slightly fluttery little wave, picking it up once more.

"It was hard and it hurt my dad to lose them but as much as the things meant to him our family meant more. At this point my sister was halfway through med school and I was in my last year of high school and already looking into colleges. He said the legal fees would have totally taken up all his savings, his retirement account and likely he would have to either mortgage our house or dip into our college saving accounts- maybe even both depending on how long it drug out.

He absolutely refused to do either. Ultimately he said at the end of the day they were just things- people mean more than material possessions. He said that obviously wasn't something Thad ever got and if he put us all through this just for a few things than he'd be no better than Thad. He said he wasn't going to risk our future security to hold onto the past.

It hurt but we all moved on and put it- and my lying, cheating snake of a second cousin- far behind us. At least my dad did. I always remembered how much they meant to my family, how much they meant to my dad. I tried to just put it behind me like he did but I just couldn't totally forget about it. I couldn't just let it go.

Over the years I kinda kept an ear out for them- trying to figure out where they ended up. I always figured they'd end up back on the market. We all knew they didn't really mean anything to Thad, he didn't see them as precious, irreplaceable family artifacts. He just saw them as leverage and part of our grandpa's estate. Eventually I tracked them down, I saw that they were leased to the museum for the expansion they had of the Navajo Exhibit." He paused, taking a deep breath, glancing between the two of them, flashing a faint sad little smile, once more picking it up.

"By that point I'd long since graduated from college but there's not a whole lot you can do with a degree in History so I'd just been kinda bouncing around and I saw they were looking to hire for security. I had a decent background in it and I always did have a knack for it so I came in to apply in person, got the job and have been here ever since.

I met Maiara and we clicked pretty much right off the bat. She was over the moon when she learned of my history degree, she even asks for my input on the new exhibits. All in all I really think it worked out for the best. I actually love my job- I get to use my history degree. I have really great coworkers- I get to work security which I actually do genuinely like with people I can actually stand which is a major plus and a real rarity for me, I get to see the artifacts and share them with people, use them to educate people of our past and our history-

My dad actually said he thinks it's what his dad would have wanted.

And the best part is with the family passes my dad and all the rest of my family get to see the artifacts again as well."

"Your artifacts." Magnus clarifies.

Caleb shrugs.

"My family's artifact-"

Magnus flippantly waved him off, bouncing lightly, perking up.

"Same difference, they're yours-they were always supposed to be yours." He glances over at Alec, brow quirking.

"Which means I was right. He didn't steal them. You can't steal your own stuff and stealing something back from someone who stole it from you isn't theft- it's retrieving stolen property.

That's exactly what we were called to do."

Alec sighed, brow quirking.

"Magnus, you know that's not how it works here."

He scoffed.

"Well it's how it should work."

Alec shifted, shrugging, nodding.

"I agree…but that's not how the law works. The law is the law and by law it sounds like this Mr. Hartley is the legal owner. I don't in anyway agree with how he did it- he sounds shifty as hell and like some smarmy slug but by law he IS the legal owner of them." He paused, glancing over apologetically at Caleb, giving a somewhat helpless shrug.

"I genuinely am sorry about this but our hands are kinda tied here."

Magnus scoffed, shrugging.

"Yeah well you're looking at one of the best escape artists on the planet." He shifted, glancing over at Caleb, flashing a reassuring little smile.

"Don't worry, we're on the case. We'll get this figured out. First step will be to go retrieve the artifacts-"

Alec nodded, shifting, pushing the chair back, standing up, animatedly pointing.

"Oh that's good. If we can retrieve them an-"

"And take them down to the hospital a-"

Alec starts, eyes widening, holding his hands up placatingly.

"Woah there, wait a second. We can't do th-"

Caleb shifted forward, setting up, eyes wide and pleading, a bright, hopeful little light flickering in the near black depths.

"Please detective. The call in woke me up this morning; I got them late last night. I haven't had a chance to take them in. I know it's a huge ask and it's not part of your protocol and probably like wildly out there but it's the only thing I can think that might help him…please?"

Alec shifted, faltering, beginning to shake his head.

"I-Caleb…I'm sorry. I really am. I wish we could but it's against prot-"

"Actually it's not." Magnus cut in.

"It's not?" Caleb blinked, question echoed perfectly by Alec.

Magnus shook his head, smirking.

"No… I think this would absolutely be protocol."

Alec blinked, brow rising.

"I don't think you know what protocol is."

Magnus snorted, shrugging.

"Sure I do- those are the things I always get written up for."

Alec huffed.

"Yeah and I'm not going t-"

"Of course you aren't. Like I said this IS protocol."

"How do you figure?"

Magnus smirked, brow raising right back.

"Well, we have our suspect but as of yet we don't have anything to corroborate his story." He shrugged, giving a bit of a wave.

"I mean it was a really good story, very compelling, but as of yet that's all it is. A good story. We need to verify that it IS more than just an empathetic story." He shrugged, smirk picking up a bit of a tick.

"He said the artifacts are one of the few things his dad remembers. If he remembers them, he'll be able to identify them. If he can then that proves Caleb's story." He paused, head tilting, gaze flickering over Alec, gorgeously deep, soulful brown eyes shimmering with that bright, dizzying inner fire that makes Alec's heart speed up and his breath catch.

"Now admittedly I'm in no way an expert on protocol- unless you're counting what NOT to do- but you are. Correct me if I'm wrong but a BIG part of protocol would be corroborating evidence and verifying that the information we gathered was correct.

Right?"

Alec blinked, slowly nodding.

"Yes…"

Magnus smiled, nodding.

"Okay so protocol dictates that we fact check the information we've been given. The way to do that is to take the artifacts down and have them Identified by an independent source…correct?"

Alec again blinked, hesitantly glancing from those bright, dizzyingly eager, impossibly deep brown eyes over to Caleb, taking in the scared to hope, near pleading look before shifting back to Magnus. Finally he took a deep breath, reaching up, rubbing his temple.

"Oh hell…"

"YES!" Magnus whooped, hopping off of his perch, darting over, slipping his arm around Alec's shoulder, pressing a quick, enthusiastic kiss to his cheek, squeezing him tightly before pulling back, flashing a gorgeous, positively beaming smile.

Caleb gasped, surging out of the chair, looking at him with utter relief and sheer astonishment.

"Oh my god, thank you detective. You have no idea how much this m-whoa!" he started as Magnus virtually twirled away from Alec, darting around the desk, catching Caleb's hand, practically dragging him out the of the room.

Alec took a deep breath, giving a helpless shrug, hurrying after them, idly wondering if Magnus's insanity was in fact contagious.

{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^} *****End Of Chapter Notes***** {*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}

Lol okay I know the 1st half was just Raph spinning and spiraling and just totally freaking and spinning and it sounded a bit more like an Simon-ish type mental spiral…that may not be totally coincidental…

Hmm

Oh man! This one really was a monster; nearly18K words for one freaking chapter- that's half a story! This felt like it kind of meandered but at the same time I really love how it went and the flow of the conversation works really well to me.

I like Raph spinning-and I really loved how the interview/interrogation turned out. I liked Mags and Caleb kinda bonding over the makeup thing and the very obviously not fitting in and having people take one look at you and think they know everything. I actually really just adore Caleb in general-

He's one of my characters from my Auxiliary character list. I really adore how he's shaping up- expect him to pop up in other verses.

Oh; To give an idea of the size Caleb would be- this is a 6'9" 330lb riot officer from Tulsa…

I can see why they'd count him as an entire security team lol.

So usually I have the update list with all the chapters in the next round but we're kinda getting into the homestretch on these so It's gonna seem a bit off as when I get into the final 3 chapters I stop jumping to the others and finish that up. I actually know the order for the updates for EVERY chapter we have left in this round of stories, This is gonna probably look a bit confusing but in my head it makes sense so we're good.

(Also it looks like a lot still but chapters 11 & 12 of all of them will likely be uploaded the same day as I ensure I have the final chapter done before I start 11 to give myself enough time to proof and all of that as that's our closing of the story and I want to make sure the end is right.

So here is all we have left in this round of stories:

A Study In Chaos {Verse 6} {Ch10}, A Study In Chaos {Verse 6} {Ch11}, , A Study In Chaos {Verse 6} {Ch12}, * You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch8}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch8}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch9}*Nosey Neighbors {Ch9}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch9}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch9}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch10}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch11}* The Demon In The Mirror {Verse 4} {Ch12}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch10}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch11}* Nosey Neighbors {Ch12}* Love Bug {Verse 2}{Ch10} Love Bug {Verse 2}{Ch11} Love Bug {Verse 2}{Ch12}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch10}*, Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch11}* Death Was Just The Beginning {Verse 3 {Ch12}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch10}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch11}* Picture Perfect {Verse 8} {Ch12}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch10}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch11}* You Can Go Home Again {Verse 1} {Ch12}*

Okay again I know It looks like a LOT but when you figure I start with 108 chapters this doesn't seem nearly as bad. I'm really excited to move into getting more of the stories completed- V7 and V5 have been finished for a while and I really miss writing in them but I can't start the new batch of stories until I finish this one.

We're getting there though and I know it's taking quite a while but I'd rather take my time and ensure the story is the story I want to tell rather than try to rush through to make a self-imposed deadline and end up with something that turns out to be a disappointment.

So far I absolutely adore all of the completed stories and I want to make sure it stays that way.

So, what did you guys think of this story?

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