*-*-*-*-*-*-*- MagnusBane:PsychicDetective*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Chapter6-
Returning the Faith
(Ty Herndon)
Simon wants Raphael to be honest with him about everything…
The guys discuss how to help Alec
Notes:
(Just FYI- the first part turned out ridiculously fluffy and kinda funny, but, well…I needed that after the last few chapters, so, I'd SAY I was sorry if it seems incongruous, or messes up the tone, or whatever, but I'm really not, cause I kinda love it, so…)
Also, the first part was supposed to be Raphael's perspective but I got caught up in Simon, so he has this entire chapter (though Magnus does talk for most of the second part)
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Simon-Simon-Simon-Simon-Simon *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*Simon pulled back slightly, breaking the kiss, trying to catch his breath. He sighed happily, pressing one more quick kiss to Raphael's lips, just because hecould, before stepping back, just enough for breath, then a bit further so he could actually concentrate.
He took a deep steadying breath,
After all he did come here for a reason, other than just to kiss his gorgeous boyfriend…
Though, he totally could, because he still had a gorgeous boyfriend…
And they were going to be okay, they really were.
He couldn't stop himself pulling Raphael close one more time, wrapping his arms around him, and just holding him tight for a moment. This morning he really didn't think he'd get this back, thought he'd have to try to forget it.
He was so relieved he didn't have to…
He knew they had work to do, and it may take time, but he really had no doubt they would be alright.
"Simon, I am so glad you came back… I really don't know what I'd do without you anymore."
Simon nodded
"Yeah, me too… god today, waking up, I was hoping it was just a horrible dream, that I'd still be here with you and it would all just be okay. I-I hated feeling like that, like I couldn't trust you, didn't know you."
Raphael shook his head quickly,
"I am so sorry that you had to go through this; that I made you feel like that… I swear, I will never do anything to hurt you, and I will find a way to make up for this, I do not know how…but I will... I-I know how bad this was, how much it hurt you, and I do realize that it isn't just forgiven, that even though you came back it doesn't mean that you are just over it. I will do whatever it takes to make it up to you, to get back what we had, get you to see me the same way you did, absolutely anything."
Simon shook his head slightly, reaching up to brush back a bit of Raphael's hair
"What we have; it's still there... I don't want to hold onto that pain…just be honest with me from now on, okay?'
He nodded quickly
"Y-yeah, of course."
Simon gave a nod in return before meeting his eyes,
"Is there anything else you need to tell me, that I need to know?"
Raphael started to shake his head, then paused, looking indecisive, and nervous.
Simon took a deep, steadying breath,
"Raphael, is there something else?"
He hesitated, biting his lip with a slightly guilty expression,
"I-I, well, not exactly…"
"Another lie?"
He shook his head quickly,
"NO! Sorry… no, nothing like that…well…not exactly anyways. It's just, Simon, there's a lot of me that you don't see, that I don't know if I want you to see. It is not that I was hiding it, exactly; I only ever wanted you to see the good parts of me. I never wanted you to be afraid of me, and I'm worried that if I am totally honest with you, if you really see all there is to me, that you will be."
Simon blinked, quirking his eyebrow in confusion, shaking his head slowly
"Raphael, I could never be afraid of you."
He shook his head slightly
"You don't know that, not really… and I don't want to hide anything from you, but I also don't want to lose you…"
"I won't b-"
"Okay, you say that, but you can't really be sure"
Simon gave a slight laugh
"Raphael, I don't mean to be, like rude or anything, but you're almost an inch shorter than me, how scary can you possibly be?"
Raphael gives a slight shrug,
"So? Alec is, like, half a foot taller than me, I scare him pretty often… like once a week."
Simon chuckled, rolling his eyes slightly
"I do!" Raphael insisted,
"Okay, I believe you."
"No you don't!"
Simon shrugged faintly, smiling
"I'm sorry, I don't… it's just, it's kinda hard to believe, that's all. I mean, you're like the sweetest guy I know."
Raphael huffed,
"Yeah, to you, not to everyone else!"
"And Mag-"
"Okay, to you and Magnus, but you guys are exceptions; I am scary to most everyone else."
Simon just grinned
His boyfriend was so cute
Raphael tried again
"I scared Doctor Lombard, at the lab, you saw that…"
Simon shrugged,
"Well, yeah… but you were calling him out on his sloppy work and asking him about a project of his being used as a murder weapon, of course that scared him, he thought he was going to end up an accessory to murder."
"Raj! I scared Raj, remember how fast he ran away from us?"
Simon nodded, smiling,
"Okay, but that could have been cause you're my boyfriend and he kind of asked me out."
"No, bu- Wait…He did what now?"
Simon rolled his eyes slightly
"Oh, don't get jealous, I'm pretty sure it was just the situation anyways, I told him I had a boyfriend and he dropped it."
"Okay b-"
Simon cuts him off, leaning in and kissing him. Raphael melted into it, wrapping his arms around Simon, pulling him closer. He finally pulled back, slightly.
"No one who kisses me like that is going to scare me."
"Hmm…?"Raphael murmured, dreamily
Simon laughed slightly, leaning in, brushing a soft kiss against his lips.
"You don't have to hide anything from me, ever, okay? I love you, nothings changing that, I just want you to be yourself around me."
He nodded with a slightly dreamy smile,
"O-Okay…But, for the record, I did try to warn you."
Simon chuckled, giving him a bright grin,
"Yes you did"
Raphael shook his head, but smiled anyways
"I am so glad you came back, I'll have to thank Magnus for talking to you, convincing you."
Simon paused a moment,
"A-Actually, he didn't… I came here for something else."
Raphael's face falls slightly
"Oh…"
"I had came over for something else… but the second I saw you I knew I'd never just be able to let you go, and I am so happy I came over" he hastily assured
Raphael gave a small, warm smile, nodding faintly
"I am too…so why are you actually here?"
Simon sobered a bit, giving a faint sigh, shaking his head,
"I wanted to see if you guys will help with Alec. He's…I-I don't know…I've never seen him like this, and I remembered Magnus said he found him in a bar, and, like, I know he doesn't really drink much so that was a pretty bad sigh, and he looked super upset today, and it looked like he hadn't slept much, or, like, at all, and I remembered Magnus saying that he was feeling like he shouldn't even be a detective anymore, and I just really can't have him feeling like that…
It's Alec…he should never feel like that… " he trailed off, meeting Raphael's eyes kind of hopelessly,
Raphael gave a quick nod,
"Yeah, of course we'll help, anything we can do."
Simon breathed a sigh of relief…
Okay good they were in…With the three of them working on it they should have it in no time…
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Magnus-Magnus-Magnus-Magnus-Magnus *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*Magnus jumped up once they entered the apartment, rushing over, pulling Simon into a hug.
"Sweetheart, it is so good to see you! I hated seeing you so upset. I cannot tell you how happy I am that you two are going to be okay. You are the most wonderful couple I have ever seen, and I truly can't express how much I regret that my selfishness threatened that."
Simon shook his head slightly
"I-it, well, it's not okay… exactly, but the way you explained it, I think I understand at least."
Magnus stepped back somewhat self-consciously, nodding faintly
"Thank you darling…after what I put you through, that is more than I deserve."
Simon wanted to reassure him, but he didn't really know what to say. He really liked Magnus, and had begun to see him as one of his best friends, but forgiving him wasn't going to be quite as easy as with Raphael. He had been covering for his friend, protecting him; Magnus was the one that had lied, had started the whole thing, had been the reason Raphael had lied to him in the first place. That was going to be harder to get over.
He settled on what he hoped seemed like a reassuring smile, and a kinda awkward pat on the shoulder, but it was the best he could do.
Magnus sighed a bit, giving a slight, understanding nod,
"So, you had said that you came over because of Alexander?"
Simon nodded, grateful for the topic change
"Yeah, h-he…man, I have never seen him like this. He's really quiet and, like, I know It's Alec…not like he's usually, loud or super energetic or whatever, but he's just so down right now. He seemed so sad today and I don't think he's sleeping and I really don't know what to do to fix it, but I can't just let him feel like that, but I didn't know what to do, so I thought you guys could help."
Magnus nods
"Of course we will help, darling, I was quite worried myself."
Simon breathed a sigh of relief giving a quick nod back,
"Yeah, I-I'd forgot what you had said about the other night till I saw him today. I didn't hear all of it…What exactly happened?"
Magnus gestures towards the living room
"Why don't we sit down, I believe this may take a while."
He turns moving towards the living room, the other two following along. Magnus takes a seat on the small lounge, leaving the couch for the couple.
He gives a faint sigh, then begins,
"I was out with a friend, we were talking and I was just taking in the crowd, as I have a tendency to do, and saw him sitting alone. He was quite a few in. I didn't even recognize him at first, usually I'd be able to pick him out of a crowd in a second, but it just did not even seem like the same man. He was slouched down in the chair and looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. I thought that the poor guy must have had one hell of a day, then I saw his jacket draped over the chair and realized it was Alexander.
I apologized to Dot, explaining that I knew him and wanted to check that he's alright. I sat down across from him and he didn't even seem to register it. Asked him what was wrong, and he said that HE was, the way he had said it, the total bleakness of his tone…it just broke my heart.
I asked him what he meant, if it was something about a case, if he needed help…
That was not the right thing to ask…
He said of course I'd be able to solve it, and he didn't even know why he tried anymore. He got out his badge and cuffs, trying to give them to me, because he couldn't keep up with me, that he couldn't at his best, and that now he was just the joke of the station…"
Simon gasped, eyes wide
Magnus paused a bit, taking a deep breath, trying to get his emotions in check,
"I-I told him that he wasn't, that I couldn't believe he'd ever even think that, I moved over to his side of the table, hugged him, trying to reassure him…god, I hated seeing him like that, thinking like that…
I asked him again, what had happened, and he said he just couldn't do it anymore. Ever since the case at the bank with Hodge, he just cannot stop second guessing himself, doubting himself. The disillusionment with his mentor, the person who he feels taught him how to be a detective; it made him call into question his own abilities…
He had got it into his mind that if he was that wrong about Hodge that he may be that wrong about everything else. He wonders how much he's missed on cases, how many guilty people went free because of it…but that is just flagrantly not true…he has an exemplary record, is one of the best detectives I have ever seen. Possibly the best person I know…
I tried to assure him that he was just having a bit of a rough streak, that it would be fine, I really did, as much as I could…but he flat out would not believe me, said that he really thinks that he lost his abilities to be a detective, if he ever had them in the first place, said that part of him thinks he just convinced himself he was that good, until someone actually that good came along…I tried to tell him again that he was a great detective, that it wasn't a competition, that we were on the same side…
I tried everything I could think of…
I did tell him I was sorry for going overboard around him so often, but that I was never trying to overshadow him, I just wanted to impress him, because he is one of the only people who really seems to see me, who doesn't just see what I do as a trick or insignificant little thing, that I go so overboard around him because I just want to impress him… want him to think as highly of me as I do of him…
H-He said I didn't have to try, that I amazed him… I told him that he rather amazed me as well…I tried to tell him as much in any case, but he simply wouldn't believe me, thought I was just being nice, trying to make him feel better…Which I was, but it was all the truth, I just couldn't get him to SEE that.
I finally gave up on it as a lost cause, and just helped him up so I could take him home"
Magnus stumbled a bit here, blushing slightly,
"I-I got his keys, drove him home, made sure he got in safe. I made sure the blinds were pulled closed so he wouldn't be jarred awake, put some pain relievers and a pitcher of water by his bed, and left a note explaining what happened…
I honestly debated the note, but with how he was feeling the last thing I wanted was him thinking that he drove himself home, and I had to leave the water and medicine because I didn't want him to have nothing to combat the hangover that I was certain he'd have, I wanted him to know that he could call if he needed anything, that it was okay to ask for help…"
He trailed off slumping back slightly on the chair, glancing up at the other two men.
Raphael looked concerned; after all he hadn't heard all of it…
Simon was staring at Magnus in shock.
"Dude, how do you remember ALL that? I mean, yeah it was a seriously intense conversation, and I get remembering most of the important stuff, but, like, it was almost three days ago, and it's like you know it word for word?"
Magnus gave a slight smile, shrugging
"It's not 'like' that; I do know it word for word. I could recite the entire thing, every detail, right down to what color hairclip the waitress who brought the bill over had on/"
Simon shook his head faintly, eyes wide.
"I-I, b-w-what, how? I thought you said you're NOT psychic?!"
Raphael rolled his eyes at Magnus, before turning to Simon to explain.
"He has an eidetic memory; he can remember pretty much every detail of everything. Also once Henry, his dad, realized he could do that he started training him to be a detective, just like him. That started when he was like, what? Seven?"
Magnus tilted his head slightly
"Six years, nine months, and eighteen days, but we can round up a bit if you would like."
"Show off" Raphael muttered, rolling his eyes again. He turned back to Simon, who had a look of total amazement.
"See, it's not a supernatural ability, just a regular one…taken to a bit of an extreme level, but that is all it is. He does 'SEE' things that others don't…but it is not psychic phenomena, it is just how he is."
Simon's eyes were wide, he looked excited, practically bouncing in place.
"Dude! That is so much cooler than the psychic thing!"
Magnus gave a surprised laugh
"Well, thank you darling"
"So, like, ca-"
Raphael cut him off, gently
"Simon, lindo, I know this is big, and really fascinating, and I'm sure you have a lot of questions…which Magnus will be more than happy to answer, getting him to talk is never an issue, it's getting him to shut up-"
"Hey!" Magnus exclaims
Raphael just gave him a rather unimpressed look, before turning back to Simon
"But, I think that really needs to wait until later. Right now we need to focus on helping the detective."
Simon sobered a bit at that, his smile falling slightly
"Yeah, we really do…I don't know how though. If he got that upset about Magnus helping on a case, I don't think he'd be too happy with us all doing it for him."
"Also, do either of you have any idea why he'd think he was the 'joke' of the station? That seems separate from the issues with Hodge?" Raphael asked the other two.
Simon thought a second, then seemed to startle
"Oh, man…I think I might know. I know kind of a lot of the people down at the station think you and he are sleeping together Magnus. They've thought that for a while. I think cause Alec got annoyed at a few of the kinda bigoted officers making obnoxious comments about you and he started to point out to them that if you weren't their they wouldn't have the information cause they couldn't find it anyways and they didn't like that too much, and it kinda started going around that something was going on with you guys…
Which was really stupid, I mean, like, what? The only reason he'd care if someone was bad mouthing a friend is if you're sleeping together?"
Magnus rolled his eyes a bit, rather used to that kind of idiocy.
Raphael nodded, slightly
"Yes, when you two were in the bank Hodge made a comment to that affect, and Alec kind of read him the riot act about making those kind of assumptions; it was really kind of annoyingly endearing…But would that bother him to this extent?"
Simon shook his head frantically, leaning forward
"No, I don't think so. But someone told me that a few of the officers were starting to say that Alec isn't even really working his cases anymore, that he just waits around for Magnus to solve them for him…"
Magnus gasped a bit, looking shocked
"Oh…If he heard that? That would definitely explain why he was so touchy about me helping."
Raphael gave a quick nod, tilting his head consideringly,
"Well… I really think all he needs is a confidence boost, he needs to prove to himself that he can still do it…If he could solve this, without Magnus's help, without him even being on the case I believe that would fix his confidence, as well as silence the idiots at the station." Raphael stated
Simon nodded quickly,
"Yeah, that would work, it'd be perfect…But the way he is now, how he's feeling, I really don't know that he could. Like, he needs to get his confidence back to be able to solve the case, but he won't be able to solve the case until he gets his confidence back" Simon said confused, blinking a but at the run around before seemingly startling again.
"Crap! I just remembered, Luke said that if we didn't start to make progress by the end of the day, he was going to call you in!" Simon exclaimed, looking over worriedly at Magnus.
Magnus shook his head
"That cannot happen, that is the worst thing that could happen on this right now…"
"Well… what if we help him, but he doesn't realize were helping? HE solves the case, is none the wiser, and regains his confidence, thus getting back to his normal self." Raphael started,
" Mags, when Garroway calls make something up, say you're out of town or something…he can't have you on the case if you aren't here, and if you are nowhere near the scene, nowhere near the case-at least so far as anyone outside this room is concerned- then the morons at the station can't say you solved it for him…" he gave a bit of a sharp smirk, glancing at the others
Magnus looked relieved,
Simon seemed hesitant, and worried
Raphael realized Simon hadn't really seen him at this kind of thing.
"Are you okay, Simon? I-I do think it will work…"
He nodded slightly
"Y-yeah, I think so too…It's probably our only real chance at fixing this…I'm just…I really don't like lying to him, I don't want to do that to Alec…"
Raphael sighed a bit
"I know you don't, and I wish there was another way, but we're doing it to help him. If it helps, you're not doing it 'to' him so much as 'for' him?"
Simon nodded slightly, giving a faintly resigned sigh, but he still looked really troubled glancing back at the other two,
"Okay…I'm in, how are we going to do this?"
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* _End Of Chapter Notes_ *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*Yeah, I know Simon not believing Raphael's actually scary to others is kinda just funny, but that's how it came out and I kinda loved it, so it stayed
O26O
*-*-*-*-*-*-*- MagnusBane:PsychicDetective*-*-*-*-*-*-*-