*-*-*-*-*-*-*- MagnusBane:PsychicDetective*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Chapter8-
Love is the Right Place
(Bryan White)
Song Title by Bryan White, one of my favorite singers (one of my favorites for love songs)
Alec checks the footage; it is not as helpful as he thought it would be…
Simon panics, slightly about not being able to lie to Alec, Raphael thinks he can help...
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Alec-Alec-Alec-Alec-Alec *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*Not a damn thing…
Alec shook his head irritably, giving a frustrated sigh as he went over the footage for a fifth time, hoping to see something that he hadn't the previous four. He'd gone to the bank and retrieved the footage, hoping that it would have something that they could go on, but so far there's nothing.
The footage isn't clear, rather grainy at that distance. There is a clear sight line to Zillah's front entrance during the time the stores cameras where down. It just isn't really showing anything that is of use…
No new vehicles around the place, a few cars are parked in front, but they'd been there for hours. Many use the street for overnight parking, so that is not unusual. No people walking around, which was kind of to be expected at 3am on a weeknight…
He thinks it's possible in a few frames, if he squints, he can spot movement inside. Possibly a flash or two from a flashlight, but can't really make out more than that.
It's fifteen minutes of grainy footage taken from a camera clear across the street. Really he shouldn't have been so hopeful about it in the first place. It was just the closest thing to a lead they'd had so far…He supposes that this at least proves that they didn't go in through the front entrance, but that was kind of a given. Most of the stores had exits in the back for safety reasons. That was the most obvious way for them to get in without having to worry about drawing attention…
He supposes it IS something, almost, maybe… the best he could get from it anyhow…
Now, if Magnuswas going over it?
He shook his head slightly,
The guy would have in all likelihood solved it long before this. He'd probably just walk into one of the stores, do that graceful, focused, borderline predatory, slowly circling the place thing he does, that is way too distracting, and tell them everything they needed to know…
Alec wondered again how exactly he did it.
Magnus seemed to see everything; take in every detail, every clue, every aspect of, well…everything. More and more Alec would watch him as he worked a case, trying to figure it out, figure out his secret, how he was doing it. But try as he might he just couldn't. It wasn't psychic-ness, he knew that much, but it was definitely something. Some kind of ability or skill or something that was just so totally, completely, Magnus.
Honestly, often times he wished he could just be like the others down at the station and simply dismiss it as some weird, crazy, supernatural power; that actually seemed less daunting than any other option he could come up with…
Alec wanted to ask him, he really did, but he kind of figured it would all boil down to him simply being a better detective.
He couldn't deny he was a bit jealous…
He wasn't generally competitive, and he didn't even really think it was about that, exactly. It's just rather frustrating having someone effortlessly find a solution right off the bat, when you tried so hard and had been completely unable too.
He knew that way of thinking was rather petty; they were getting results and that was what counted, not who was getting the lead. It hadn't really even bothered him until recently, and he felt kind of guilty that it got to him at all. Almost feeling that thinking like that made him no better than the jackasses that were all so dismissive towards Magnus, just because of his looks and somewhat eccentric style.
It wasn't that he wanted to be better than Magnus; he didn't want to show him up, or prove that he was 'just as good', nothing that petty.
Really, if he was totally honest with himself?
Alec just wanted to impress Magnus.
He wanted to amazehim,
Not even all the time, like Magnus did, just every once in a while…Just to have him see Alec the same way Alec saw Magnus.
He shook his head,
Yeah, like thatwould happen…
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Simon-Simon-Simon-Simon-Simon *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*"Okay, so, I'm still not sure how we're gonna pull this off, can we just go over it one more time, please?" Simon asked, nervously
Raphael sighed slightly, but couldn't stop a bit of a smile. This was the fourth time they'd went over it…Anyone else, he'd of given up hours ago,
But it was Simon
And he was stupidly, hopelessly in love with the guy, so…
"Yes, lindo, of course…Magnus is going to send us all the information he can find. We are going to go over the files and find as much information as we possibly can. We will compile everything we have. Then tomorrow when Alec comes in you convince him to go back to the scenes, preferably by making him think it is his idea…
Once you are at the scene, you steer him towards the evidence we have, like the camera…
He finds the evidence, Magnus is nowhere near it so no one can say he solved it, Alec is the defining factor in the closure of the case, thus boosting his confidence, getting him to stop feeling sorry for himself, and regaining his detective skills and instincts, allowing him to solve future cases." Raphael finished with a slight casual wave, looking over hoping the fourth time would be the charm,
Simon blinked, shaking his head faintly,
Nope…not the fourth time…
"Okay, but what a-"
"Simon, it will be fine, it will work."
"Yeah, b-"
Raphael cuts him off again, this time by leaning in and kissing him. Simon sighed slightly, before wrapping his arms around Raphael, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss.
Simon shifted slightly, till he was leaning back against the arm of the couch, tugging Raphael along with him. Raphael made a pleased, happy sound that made Simon's heart flutter, and his breath catch, just a bit.
Simon pulled him just a bit closer.
He loved this man so much, more than he'd ever thought possible. Yesterday, when he thought he wouldn't have this anymore, over at his house, alone, he'd felt absolutely lost
He really missed this,
It was so good to be back home…
The thought startled him slightly, made him pause, breaking the kiss.
"Hmm…what's wrong?" Raphael asked, sounding rather dazed
"Uh…n-nothing" Simon stammered, shaking his head unconvincingly
Raphael raised his eyebrow, tilting his head curiously,
"O-okay, well I just had a thought and it just kinda distracted me, that's all, no big deal or anything"
"What thought?"
Simon blushed brightly,
They'd only been together just over four months; it was WAY too soon for anything like that, no matter how much it felt like the truth...
"Umm…It-I just thoug-, just th-"
Raphael stopped him, shaking his head, with a soft smile; he could see how uncomfortable Simon was
"You do not have to tell me, just…Is it anything bad?"
Simon shook his head vehemently
"N-No, no not bad, definitely not bad… really good actually, just, like, really way too soon is all, but definitely not bad, like, at all"
Raphael smiled warmly
"It is okay Amor; you can tell me whenever you are ready."
Simon gave a soft, brilliant, totally amazed smile,
He definitely knew that word.
"What did you call me?"
Raphael blushed slightly
He made RAPHAEL blush!'-
"Amor? It means-"
"I know what it means; I just really wanted you to call me that again."
Raphael chuckled softly
"I will call you that as much as you like, amor."
Simon couldn't stop a slight giggle. Raphael leaned in again, kissing him softly, Simon responded, starting to melt back into the kiss, before catching himself, and pulling away again.
Raphael blinked in confusion before it seemed to click, he sighed faintly,
"We don't have time for this, do we?"
Simon shook his head regretfully
"No, we don't…And don't think I don't know that you just started this to get me to shut up" he mock glared, it really didn't work with the smile he was fighting, but it was worth a shot,
Raphael laughed, shaking his head
"No, I didn't! I just wanted you to stop over thinking it, that's all. It will be fine."
"You keep saying that bu-"
"Simon, it w-"
Simon leaned over, pulling him into a quick, passionate kiss,
It was a very effective way to silence him…And turnabout is fair play, after all,
He pulled back just as quickly as he'd started
Raphael looked dazed
Yeah, he's definitely using this again…
"What I was GOING to say, and don't interrupt, is that you guys DO realize that pretty much this entire plan hinges on my ability to lie, convincingly, to Alec… right?"
Raphael paused for a moment, considering, giving a slight shrug,
"Well… I know you don't really lie, but it is not as if you are incapable of it…I mean, Magnus said that you lied at the bank, you told Wallace that Magnus was your boyfriend, and he believed it, so you can do it, right?"
Simon shook his head, agitatedly
"Well, yeah, I guess I did then, but I wasn't like, planning it, or whatever; it just sort of happened. It was the only thing I could think of to protect Magnus. I mean, just because I can do something in a life or death situation doesn't mean I can do it all the time."
Raphael nodded a bit
"That is true."
Simon nodded quickly, setting up a bit more, gesturing slightly,
"Yeah, also, it's not like I'd be lying to some random person; it's Alec. He's my partner, as well as a friend and a detective and he knows me really well. I really don't know how I'll be able to lie to him and actually get him to believe me. This last time it was just a total fluke that in my babbling I happened to mention our fight and he thought that was what was bothering me, but that isn't going to keep working…. plus, I really don't want to try to pretend that we are still fighting."
Raphael shook his head quickly, tugging him just a bit closer, maneuvering Simon slightly so he was nestled against his side comfortably.
"I do not want that either."
"Okay, so what? How can I lie to him and it actually work?"
Raphael thought a minute, tilting his head,
"Hmm…Well, I could try to teach you" he suggested, shrugging faintly, glancing over at him
Really, how difficult could it be?
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Raphael-Raphael-Raphael-Raphael-Raphael *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*Difficult was an understatement,
This was impossible!
What was he thinking? Simon trying to be deceptive was like Magnus trying to be subtle!
It seemed like it should be easy enough, but it just was not going to happen…
He sighed, shifting on the couch to where he was facing Simon,
"Okay, to lie convincingly, all you have to do is say what you mean to say, and only that. Stick to the truth as much as you can. If at all possible, just tell the truth; only omit a few key details. Don't over think or over complicate it. Just keep it simple."
Simon looked unconvinced
"Simon, amor, it is not that hard, if you are lying, less is more. Just say what you intend to say, and stop…That's it"
Simon huffed, rolling his eyes
"You make that sound so easy! You don't actually think I mean to talk as much as I do all the time, do you? I have been trying to 'just say what I intend to say' my entire life, that just doesn't work! If I get out what I mean it gets jumbled up and comes out with, like, every other random thought plus a few other things that I don't even know where they come from!"
Raphael shook his head, trying not to smile;
He was right about that one…
Simon gave a bit of a hopeless shrug, slumping down against the arm of the chair, unconsciously pouting slightly,
"I've tried to stop babbling, I really have, cause I know it bugs a lot of people, it annoys me sometimes, when I just can't seem to stop chattering, I don't know how it doesn't annoy you…well, unless it does and you just hide it really well…" he trailed off a bit, looking down somewhat.
Raphael reached over, tilting his face up slightly so he was facing him, Raphael shook his head firmly,
"It never does, amor" he leaned over, kissing him softly,
"You do talk a lot, I think more than anyone I have ever met…But I have never minded it. You do it when you are nervous, or excited, or happy, when your emotions get the best of you… which they do a lot. You do it because you do not hide yourself, your emotions, thoughts, feelings, any of it.
Everything about you is right there, in plain sight. It is because you are such an open, honest, trusting person, it doesn't occur to you to hide yourself. I do not want you to change that, it is what first drew me to you, from the very first time we met. It is one of the things I love the most about you."
Simon gave him a warm, slightly amazed smile, cuddling closer to his side and slipping his arm around Raphael, hugging him close, before leaning over and kissing him one more time, he just couldn't help it.
"I love you" he said softly
"I love you, too" Raphael murmured, pressing one more soft, lingering kiss to his cheek.
"You know, that was one of the sweetest things anyone's ever said to me" Simon said with a bit of a smile
Raphael shrugged slightly, slipping a bit closer, settling his arm around his boyfriend. Simon turned towards him, cuddling in more,
"It is the truth. You are the most wonderful person I have ever met, I still have no clue how I was lucky enough to even have a chance with you; I never thought I would be as happy as I am now."
Simon shook his head with a soft smile,
"Well…I kind of think I was the lucky one so far as this is concerned. I really did not think I'd have a chance with you when we met. I mean, come on; you practically, literally, swept me off my feet, catching me when I clumsily fell after stupidly clambering up a shelf, then you were all calm and suave and cool and I either couldn't from a single word without stuttering and stammering or blathered on like an idiot until I had to stop for breath!
And then you called me 'Detective Simon Lewis' which was the first time I'd ever heard that and hearing it from you was just the most awesome thing ever. When you left…" he shook his head, chuckling faintly,
"Man I was sure I'd totally blew it. I hoped, working with Magnus I'd get a chance to see you again, get a chance to prove that I wasn't as awkward as I'd seemed…I mean, I was, I totally was, but I thought I could maybe convince you I wasn't, for a bit at least."
Raphael laughed brightly, shaking his head in surprise
"You thought I was calm!?
The first thing I said to you was that you are the cutest thing I'd ever seen, then I ended up calling you cute, again; and you started blushing, which really did not help matters, and all I could think was that I hoped you didn't speak Spanish so you wouldn't know just how awkward I was being!"
Simon burst out laughing
"Oh my god! I can't believe that, I was SO nervous and your first thought about me was that I was cute, and you totally got flustered, and I didn't even know!"
Raphael chuckled, smirking playfully, with a slight shrug,
"Actually, that was my second thought of you"
Simon tilted his head curiously,
"Hmm…What was the first?"
"That you were a crazy guy who snuck into the police precinct for some reason."
"Hey!" Simon gasped, giving a surprised laugh,
"What? The first time I saw you, you were climbing up a shelf, what was I supposed to think?"
Simon shrugged a bit
Yeah, had to kind of give him that one…
Simon grinned, tilting his head,
"So basically you're just as awkward and flustered as me, you just hide it behind a cool, confident, suave exterior?"
Raphael shook his head
"No, I am cool, confident and suave with everyone else; YOU just make me awkward and flustered."
Simon grinned
"That's actually way better."
Yeah, it kind of is." Raphael agreed,
He pulled Simon closer, who immediately nuzzled in, leaning his head against Raphael's shoulder, giving a happy, contented sigh. Raphael tugged him in more wrapping both arms around Simon hugging him tightly, before relaxing his grip, idly trailing his hand up Simons back. He sighed again, nuzzling against Raphael's neck, giving a faint, pleases hum,
"You know, none of this is really helping me learn how to lie convincingly? We really need to go over it again…" he mumbled,
Raphael groaned
This was going to be a long night…
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*O21O
*-*-*-*-*-*-*- MagnusBane:PsychicDetective*-*-*-*-*-*-*-