Love Bug Story 6 Wickedly Powerful Magnus Verse

by MistyMay6886

Beware The Love Bug: No, it's not a little beetle like car…it's an actual beetle. a fluffy little beetle.However the bite of these little critters has an…odd…effect… they're cute, fluffy, fluttering aphrodisiacs…While out investigating Alec gets bit and rushes off to Find HIS intended… Poor Magnus…there's only so much self-control one little high warlock can muster.

12. Chapter 12Questions, Cameras, Curses, &

*~2~*

Chapter 12:

Questions, Cameras, Curses, & Kisses

**Chapter Notes***

YAY we're finished! Oh my god, I can't believe I started this round of stories in 2020! It's definitely been a long time coming, I couldnt believe it took that long...but then I just added up the total of work I have and it's 90 chapters and 644,400 words...so...yeah..that kinda adds up. Also that's not even half of all the work I've put into these- that doesnt count world building, notes for future stories, coverart, my Aux chatacters or the million other things that are worked out to go into this insane multiverse I'm building...

So yeah, here's the end of this one, 3 years in the making. Hope you like it!

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*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*

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Simon pushed the door to the apartment closed, groaning, leaning back against it, shaking his head.

"You know for this being an 'easy, low stakes case with no real dangers' it sure went to hell in a hand basket pretty quick."

Raphael chuckled, leaning against the door next to him, turning to face him, trying to fight down a bit of a smile.

"Eh it wasn't really THAT bad."

Simon scoffed, brow raising to his hairline, disbelievingly looking over.

"Not that bad?! My partner got bit by a demonic bug from a hell dimension, I spent hours spinning like a top worrying a couple of teens would find out I'm a Gwir-dyst and trying to seem like a competent detective without seeming too competent in the supernatural to tip my hand about just how much I see and know of the supernatural world, I got loopy from bug pheromones and vapor trails and acted like a moony idiot and a jealous, obnoxiously possessive jackass towards you.

Then after all the spinning and spiraling and doing everything I possibly could to throw them off I ended up outing MYSELF as a Gwir-dyst in order to keep some flaily, babbly well-meaning busybody from having a panic attack thinking he accidentally revealed the supernatural to me and broke my brain.

So now my secret's out with a whole new group of people- this time to a couple of teens, a gargoyle teacher and a nervous, flaily well-meaning busybody who makes ME look calm, cool and collected." He sighed, lightly thunking his head against the door, giving a helpless wave.

"Gotta say really don't have a hell of a lot of faith in the dudes ability to keep a secret. He does seem like a genuinely good guy and I do think his heart is in the right place and he's just wildly out of his depth and scrambling to gain a foothold in this new world but one stumble here and I'm screwed six ways from Sunday. And then there's Divya knowing which is dangerous as hell as he works with Magnus so odds are if he slips it's gonna be with Magnus and it's gonna be bad.

And as if all of THAT wasn't enough I ended up decking a federal agent- a drugged, bug addled federal agent which really makes me feel like crap and it's now 2am and we just barely got home from quasi breaking into the Federal Agent's house in order to drop him off with the hopes he doesn't remember anything too incriminating!

Oh AND icing on the cake I saw my boyfriend kiss someone else.

Exactly what part of that is 'not that bad'?"

Raphael huffed out a soft laugh, brow quirking almost playfully.

"So wait, you're expecting me to be the optimistic, positive one here? Maybe those bug pheromones scrambled you more than I thought."

Simon shook his head, smiling, waving him off.

"Alright fair point."

Raphael shook his head, smiling, waving him off.

"No, no, I'll give it a whirl. Don't know how good it'll be but for you I'll try..." he hummed, thinking a moment before nodding, glancing back over at Simon, beginning.

He smiled, shifting closer to Simon, catching his hands. He pushes off the door, tugging Simon along with him, walking backwards towards the couch, catching his eye, beautiful dark brown eyes shimmering bright and oh so warm.

"Well for starters you handled it all flawlessly. You completely held it together-"

Simon scoffed, shaking his head.

"No I didn't! I was a flaily, panicky basket case!"

Raphael chuckled, nodding, intertwining their fingers, squeezing his hands, lifting them to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to each knuckle.

"On the inside; but on the outside you were calm, competent and collected. You seemed every bit the strong, cool headed, hardnosed detective. You led the investigation, kept your cool and kept all of us safe, together and on track the entire time. And you did it while spinning on bug pheromones. You didn't let anything stop you, just powered right on through. You were amazing. And I do always so enjoy getting to see you in strong, assertive detective mode.

It is VERY appealing..." he hummed softly, deep shimmering black gaze flickering over Simon, lingering on his lips, giving a pleasant little sigh before shifting, gaze sliding up, catching Simon's eye, head tilting, brow quirking.

"How am I doing so far?"

Simon gave a soft breath of a laugh, head tilting concedingly.

"Great actually, I'm impressed."

Raphael smirked, flashing a quick wink.

"Good, that's what I'm going for. Let's see if I can keep it up. You were amazing during the investigation and leading us through the capture. No one could have done it better. And the case was low stakes. We really didn't have any overly worrisome dangers.

Yes, Alec got bitten by a demonic bug from a hell dimension and wandered off but there's no way you could have possibly anticipated that. There was nothing to indicate the case was anything supernatural and it's Alec: Of course you didn't think twice about being out of his sight for a few minutes– the man's a six foot four head detective with over a decade of experience, is so by the book he probably proofread it and is about as impulsive as Mags is demure.

Of course you didn't think anything of going back to the car to grab a few supplies. There's no way you could have known anything would have happened. And again; there wasn't any actual danger." Raphael flashed another reassuring smile, squeezing his hands once more, settling comfortably on the couch, continuing.

"Alec was bitten but so far as Anifail go that was just about the best possible break you can catch. Anifail encounters with unsighted humans are worrisome in any circumstances and that's just the ones that actually live in this world. These weren't just any Anifail, these were escaped, demonic creatures from a closed off hell dimension. Like ninety percent of things from Calon Tywyll are vicious, horrific living nightmares- this was a glittery, fluttery Barbie pink aphrodisiac with wings. It doesn't burn, freeze, melt, electrocute or eviscerate you, just makes you desperate for someone you already have the hots for and makes you seek them out and do what you can to impress them.

Alec got bitten and went straight to Magnus. To someone he's been dancing around for months. Who he's already very much romantically entangled with. There was no danger or drama. The absolute worst thing that happened was Mags getting a taste of his own medicine for a few hours and them both getting a nice romantic night to remember.

Really all things considered this may have been a blessing in disguise. I know this isn't just some quick, meaningless fling for either of them. This is something special, something real. That deserves a good, memorable start, not just some quick, frantic, desperate roll in the sheets. This was the kind of start it deserves and this was pretty much the only way that was gonna happen. They had a romantic evening of flirting, slow dancing, champagne, strawberries and chocolate mousse.

They had a night they can remember for the rest of their lives. It was the perfect way for them to officially start their relationship- probably the ONLY way it'd start like that as under any other circumstances the moment Alec gave him the green light Magnus would have been all over him, dragging him off to the bedroom.

Like I said this was really a blessing in disguise."

Simon huffed out a faint laugh, settling next to Raphael on the couch, flashing a bit of a teasing smile.

"Still think you enjoyed Magnus's suffering WAY too much..."

Raphael laughed, rolling his eyes, nudging him.

"Oh I did not! I'm just happy for them...and yeah okay a bit of a sucker for the irony. Nothing wrong with that. Mainly I'm just really happy for the two of them."

Simon snorted.

"Uh huh..."

Raphael shrugged, head tilting concedingly.

"Okay so maybe I did enjoy it a bit more than I should have. I can't help it; Mags's been shamelessly throwing himself at Alec from the second they met. For MONTHS he's been gleefully pushing every button of Alec's he could find. With this Alec got the chance to turn the tables on him and Magnus got just the slightest taste of the aggravation he's been putting Alec through.

Like I said; with this both of them got exactly what they deserved. I can't help if that tickles my funny bone."

Simon huffed, rolling his eyes in affectionate exasperation. Raphael shrugged unconcerned.

"Hey, we've been together for months, you know what you got by now."

Simon laughed, squeezing his hands, tugging him closer.

"Yes I do, and I love it; every bit of it. Even the slightly twisted sense of humor, playfully evil overdramatic flairs and ridiculously supervillianish leanings."

Raphael flashed an impishly villainous smirk, brow quirking.

"You know that's your favorite part."

Simon chuckled, settling closer, shaking his head, cute smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"I'm not admitting to anything."

Raphael chuckled, winking flirtatiously.

"You don't have to, by now I know what I got too..." he hummed, tugging Simon closer, brushing a soft kiss to his lips before pulling back.

"Anyways regardless of my level of amusement with this I really do think this was a good thing for them. Also it was most likely more than enough to give them both the push they needed to bite the bullet and officially jump into this.

They've been faltering and waffling and hovering just on the edge of this for far too long. Think they did need a little bit of a push to make it official. I'm sure this pretty much cinched it.

No way Mags's waiting any longer after all that teasing. I'm guessing for the next few weeks I'm not gonna want to be stuck in a room with them and I'm immediately reinstating my TMI hang up policy I have whenever Mags has a new relationship but even so I'm happy for them. " He huffed out a faint laugh, holding up a hand, giving a bit of a fluttery wave.

"Odds are I'm gonna waver on that depending on the Mags oversharing but right now I really am genuinely happy for them." He smiled, shifting faintly on the couch, settling closer to Simon, slipping his arm around Simon's shoulders, squeezing gently.

"Next the elephant in the room; I know the idea of even more people knowing your secret has to be terrifying- especially given that two of the people now in the know are teens and another is-well- RAJ but I really do think it'll be okay.

Divya may be young but she's very intelligent and she knows how important this is. I know with her working with Mags she's the biggest danger here but I think she got just how important this is and she's read all the books Magnus gave her on Gwir-Dyst and knows just how on edge even the mere mention of the term makes most supernaturals. She knows how much danger you'd be in if someone found out.

Blake I might be a bit more worried about but the girl was seeing supernaturals nearly her entire life and no one even knew. She has to have one hell of a poker face and the girl definitely knows how to keep a secret. Also she's just barely even starting out in the supernatural world; pretty much the only person she's really comfortable talking about that with is Divya so I really don't think you have much to worry about so far as she goes.

Bryan I'm not worried about at all. Gargoyles can read souls and auras to a certain extent- not to the level Clary or Kai can but in a similar vain. He could see the kind of person you are. He knows there's no evil in you and being a mid-level demon he definitely understands that what you are doesn't definitively dictate who you are.

Those three I think we're good with...and Raj...well...that might be a bit less certain. The boy is rather skittish and does tend to seem a bit panicky. But on the other hand given that the entire reason he was out there was to confront me because he thought I was enthralling and mistreating you he does seem fairly brave given the right circumstances. I think he'd keep his mouth shut but he clearly isn't afraid to take an insane risk if he thinks it's needed.

I don't think he'd go blabbing about this- not unless he gets the idea you're a genuine threat and-well, it's you- that's just not gonna happen. Plus even though both Mags and Luke told him if he needed help adjusting to our world he could come to them I really don't see the guy just setting around shooting the breeze with either of them so I'm pretty sure we should be good there..." he paused, head tilting, eyes flickering black, flashing a bit of a playfully supervillianish, fang revealing smirk.

"And if by some chance I start to feel that there's any doubt he'll keep the secret I'll just have to have another chat with him about it. I can be VERY persuasive after all."

Simon huffed, rolling his eyes exasperatedly, nudging his shoulder.

"Oh you just want to torment him because you're irritated he thought you'd do that."

Raphael shook his head.

"No I'm not! I'm actually really impressed he was willing to take such a crazy risk for a total stranger. It kinda reminds me of Kevin's little shovel speech- it was actually pretty sweet, almost endearing."

"So you're not gonna torment him?"

Raphael laughed, shaking his head.

"Oh I'm most definitely going to be tormenting him, probably every last chance I get."

Simon gasped, again nudging his shoulder.

"Don't you think you've tormented the poor guy enough?"

Raphael shook his head.

"Nope. It's just way too much fun."

Simon groaned, again rolling his eyes, unable to stop a bit of a smile.

"God you are SUCH an ass."

Raphael chuckled, smirking, winking.

"Part of my charm."

Simon snorted.

"A very, VERY small part." He huffed, mock glaring, nudging Raphael's shoulder, unable to stop the hint of an impish little smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Hmm...you know you keep at it I might start to think you kinda have a thing for him."

Raphael sputtered, eyes wide.

"What? Where would you get that?"

'Well you know pulling pigtails and all that...and you DID kiss him..."

Raphael laughed, placatingly holding his hands up.

"It was to break the bugs influence! Bryan was bug addled and on the warpath- it was either kiss Raj or kick Bryan's ass. Kinda figured that was the better option, at least worth a shot in any case."

Simon quirked his brow, giving a teasingly questioning look for a moment before relaxing, shrugging concedingly.

"True...really does seem crappy to hurt someone who's under the influence and not in their right mind..." he groaned, leaning his head back, rubbing his temples.

"Ugh- can't believe I punched a freaking federal agent!"

Raphael hummed, settling closer, smirking excitedly, eagerly nodding.

"I know...it was really sexy."

Simon blinked, glancing over, brow quirking.

"Seriously? You think it's 'sexy' that I socked a federal agent? A Bug addled, doped out of his mind Federal agent?"

He chuckled, head tilting concedingly, holding up a finger.

"Okay first off; it wasn't a 'federal agent' you hit, it was Jace. I doubt it was the first time it's happened to him and I doubt it'll be the last. The fact that he's a fed is totally irrelevant. Besides with him literally stumbling into the love bugs nest there's no way he'll remember anything about it. A bite or even a few bite's doesn't mess with your memory but dozens of them coupled with the concentrated pheromones and vapors inside the nest are a whole other can of worms.

He'll wake up with a massive hangover, a bruised, overly tender nose and a weird rash type thing- again probably not the first time it's happened to him and likely won't be the last. Hell, again it is Jace we are talking about; he may even just think it was a typical rowdy night out." Raphael's smirk picked up a tic, dark eyes sparking bright and dizzying, slinking closer, fingers trailing distractingly down Simon's arm.

"And next; do I really think it's sexy when my boyfriend gets all protective and possessive when some sleazy, smarmy creep is trying to get handsy with me? Um...yes. Yes I do...a lot...like a LOT a lot...Mmm...Damn..." he gave a soft, growly type hum, tugging Simon in closer, leaning over, nuzzling just behind his ear, nipping lightly.

Simon gasped, shivering excitedly.

"Oh! Umm...that's uh...that umm...that kinda works for you, huh?"

Raphael breathed out a soft, growly chuckle, nodding against Simon's neck, hand on Simon's shoulder tugging him in, other hand coming to rest on Simon's knee, squeezing.

"MmHmm...big time…" Raphael mumbled, trailing off on a soft growl, nuzzling, nipping sharply at Simon's collarbone.

"You have today off, yes?"

Simon gasped, nodding. Raphael gave a pretty, growly kind of pleased hum right against Simon's pulse point, the vibrations sending a dizzying shiver straight through him.

"W-well that's good. I was worried I really screwed up out there."

Raphael paused, pulling back just the slightest bit, blinked in surprise, head tilting.

"What do you mean Angel?"

Simon shrugged, settling closer, reaching up, running his hand over Raphael's arm, glancing up sheepishly.

"Well I was really obnoxious out there. I even made you blush! Enough that EVERYONE noticed-and commented...I'm really sorry I-"

Raphael shook his head, waving him off, smiling reassuringly.

"Amore, it's fine. You didn't even know what you were doing. You weren't really in your right mind...and if anything one positive thing I can say about Jace is he really did have perfect timing."

Simon snorted, animatedly nodding.

"Oh man, no kidding! I didn't know how the hell we were gonna stop that line of questioning and I know the intimate feeding things are flat out the last things you ever want to talk to anyone about- much less two teenagers and someone who's basically the closest thing to family I have. Talk about awkward."

Raphael huffed out a soft laugh, nodding, settling closer.

"Right? Can't believe I'd actually have something to be grateful to that grabby, cackling jackass about but gotta give him points on that one. Really dodged a bullet."

Simon sighed, deflating a bit, nodding, glancing up sheepishly.

"I know I really am sorry."

Raphael again just smiled, reaching up, resting his hand on Simon's arm, squeezing lightly.

"Again, it's fine. You weren't really in control of what you were doing."

Simon, shrugged, reaching up, tucking a loose honey brown lock behind his ear, hesitantly glancing back up.

"I know but I was for the most part. Enough to know not to do that. I mean even without the blushing thing I was still really clingy and pushy and kind of over the top and I know you're a really private person and you're not that big on PDA's and overt, aggressive teasing type t-"

Raphael shrugged, shifting closer, deep brown eyes flickering over him, humming softly.

"I am not…usually…kinda good with it with you though."

Simon blinked, head tilting in surprise.

"Y-you are?"

Raphael made that soft, growly hum again, nodding eagerly, dark eyes flashing black, shimmering bright.

"I most definitely am…" he shifted closer, leaning in, brushing his lips just behind Simon's ear, leaning over, nipping lightly at the lobe.

"Especially when you kiss me like that. Really was something else. It was like you were claiming me."

Simon gave a soft, breathless laugh, shivering, tugging Raphael closer, giving a bit of a shrug.

"That's cause I think I pretty much was. I really didn't like him looking at you like that, touching you like that. Kinda really got to me. I wanted him to know you were taken. That you were mine."

Raphael gives a soft, growly type moan, an exciting shiver slipping through him, dark eyes flashing, glimmering dizzying black. He gulps, nodding eagerly, giving a soft, breathless laugh.

"Yeah I uh- I got that…kinda got to me too...Mmm..." he chuckled, reaching up, running his fingers along Simon's cheek.

"I mean he was already out cold on the ground so I don't think he really got the message but I definitely got it loud and clear. Don't know if you've ever kissed me like that…"

Simon swallowed, shivering excitedly at that dizzyingly enticing reaction, tugging Raphael closer.

"You mean...like this?" Simon mumbled, hand slipping up, catching in Raphael's hair, tugging him in, an electric tingle slipping down clear to his toes.

He hums, fingers tangling in Raphael's hair, pulling him down, catching his lips in a slow, deep, breathtaking kiss. Raphael whimpered, gasping, eagerly nodding, fingers tangling in Simon's soft honey brown hair, pulling him in. Simon gave a soft, dizzying little hum, nipping sharply at Raphael's lip, shifting the angle, taking total control of the kiss, wrapping his arms around Raphael. He moans into the kiss, tugging sharply at Raphael's hair, shifting up, pushing Raphael back, pressing him down, settling comfortably on top of him, switching their positions.

He growls softly, changing the angle again, teasingly flicking his tongue, nipping, doing everything he knows sends Raphael spinning, everything that drives him wild.

Finally, when air became necessary Simon broke the kiss, unable to stop himself from nipping at Raphael's full, pretty lips, teasingly catching his lower lip before slowly shifting, pulling back just enough for him to get a good look at the gorgeous man now sprawled out beneath him.

Damn….

Raphael swallowed, shivering, cheeks flushed warm and bright, dark, dizzying eyes sparking hot and excited. Simon shivered, feeling a buzzing, heady thrill at that look, settling more comfortably on top of him, hand trailing from Raphael's hair, slipping forward, tracing along his jaw, sharp, honeyed gaze sliding over his gorgeous features, lingering on his soft, kiss swollen lips before slowly shifting back up, catching those dizzying, unfathomably deep black eyes.

"Well you know, gotta protect what's mine." Simon murmured, leaning down, once more catching his lips in a quick, deep kiss, nipping sharply at Raphael's lower lip, pulling back just enough to catch his eye.

Raphael gave a soft, growly moan, nodding eagerly, a soft breathless chuckle slipping out.

"Mmm yes you do...and yes, you most definitely did..." he hummed softly, settling back more comfortably, hand again slipping down, resting on Simon's knee squeezing before teasingly sliding up his thigh, touch feather light and distracting.

"You know...that was actually the second time today you've defended me. Feel like I really should show you just how much I appreciate it..."

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*-Other-*-Other-*-Other-*- Other-*Other-*

***-Raj-***

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Have you smelled blue?

Huh…what's that even mean? How do you smell color? How would you even know if you smelled a color? Okay don't think that's the case. Going with a no on that one.

Have you found a strange coin?

Hmm...no he hasn't found an odd coin...so that one's out.

Strange lamp?

Uh uh...

Crystal, pendent, or any other kind of mysterious jewelry?

Nope...

Okay probably not something he found. At least nothing he remembers finding so most likely his curse isn't tied to an object he found. Maybe something he did? Or didn't do...or pissed off...something...

Raj sighed, shaking his head, realizing he's reached the end of that book, closing it, setting it aside, picking up the next book off the stack he'd pulled from the reference library Magnus had given them, opening it, flipping through the pages, beginning to peruse the heavy tome.

Well, he hasn't burned a spell book...so no on that...

The doar deserturi? The Doar deserturi is triggered usually by-what? Seriously? The Doar deserturi is usually enacted when someone steals food from a communal fridge. Oh my god there's actually a specific curse for THAT? How is that even a-okay, you know what? Maybe don't try applying logic to curses.

Curses are a thing, this particular one happens when you steal food from a communal fridge. He doesn't do that but there was that pot luck at work around Christmas, he didn't steal food but he did sneak out an extra plate of the desserts. Maybe that's when it happened? That was just a bit before Divya's run in with the Rhwystro tân so the timeline would fit. Seems pretty extreme punishment for someone snagging a few extra cookies but he'll put it in the maybe pile.

The hex șuierat is possible-oh no wait...that one doesn't give you bad luck it turns you into a werecat. Thankfully that's not it...though it does say some of the symptoms can either be becoming lithe, curious and stealthy or clumsy, high strung, and scared of their own shadow. He definitely fits into one of those categories but he doesn't remember being scratched by a strange cat anytime recently. Plus he's kinda always been like that so probably not that.

Okay not the werecat thing...moving on...

Maybe the Colecționar de haos? It makes you a magnet for chaotic energy. That definitely would fit. I mean it says it's caused by breaking an enchanted mirror and he hasn't broken a mirror anytime recently so far as he can remember but maybe it was an accident or he didn't notice? Or maybe it doesn't have to be an actual MIRRIOR mirror but just something reflective enough to be used as a mirror?

He did kinda dent the toaster the other day when he knocked it off the counter and it's pretty reflective...does that count? Eh probably not. He really doesn't think their toaster is enchanted...though they did get it from his work when they upgraded the one in the break room and were just gonna toss this one, and he does know a few of the girls down at the office did sometime use it to touch up their makeup after lunch so maybe a possibility.

We'll put it in the pile too.

Now what about th-

"Raj, you're not cursed."

He started at the voice just over his shoulder, flailing animatedly, the book he's looking at fumbling out of his hand's and clattering to the floor. He squeaks, scrambling after it, quickly picking up the book, dusting it off, inspecting it for damage, mumbling an apology, patting the binding almost soothingly. He huffed at a faint laugh behind him, turning, casting a heatless glare towards Divya.

"Damnit I told you not to sneak up on me!"

Divya sighed, rolling her eyes, waving him off.

"I didn't sneak, I said hello when I got in and was talking for like ten minutes before I realized you weren't even listening. Just came over to see what was so interesting.

By the way did you seriously just apologize to a book for dropping it?"

Raj scoffed, nodding emphatically.

"Yes I did, I'm not taking any chances. There's a curse for burning books I don't know if there's some for just damaging or mistreating them. I already have one curse on me, I don't need another."

"You don't have a curse on you Raj."

"Oh I most definitely do. Only way to explain this. I already have one I don't need a matching set thank you very much!"

Divya shrugged, an impish smile tugging at her lips.

"Well maybe they'll cancel each other out."

Raj rolled his eyes, flashing a sarcastically irritated look at his sister.

"Div this is serious, I need to figure out what's going o-"

Divya groaned, rolling not only her eyes but her entire head.

"Raj, You are not cursed. You're not spelled or hexed or enthralled or any of the rest of it. You're not cursed. There's nothing 'going on' to figure out; the world's just insane and we now know just how insane it really is."

Raj flailed animatedly.

"Yeah because of the curse!"

Divya snorted, rolling her eyes.

"No because of crazy circumstances, an ill-timed walk and a giant freaky fire scorpion. You're no more cursed than anyone else stumbling into the supernatural. You're not cursed, there's no curse."

Raj snorted, gesturing to the collection of books littering the kitchen table.

"What do you mean there's no curse? There's curses everywhere! For everything! Apparently they're like the supernatural version of apps! There's one for every occasion. There's curses for breaking mirrors and stepping on cracks and being a lunch thief and getting scratched by a cat and pissing off cats and about a million more things. There are cursed objects and cursed creatures and cursed places and cursed plants and cursed foods and seemingly everything else! This world is lousy with curses, there's curses everywhere!"

Divya sighed, head tilting concedingly.

"Maybe there are but you're not cursed. I'm telling you, you're not."

Raj scoffed.

"Then how do you explain this?"

Divya blinked, brow quirking.

"What?"

Raj sputtered, eyes wide.

"What? EVERYTHING! How do you explain everything that happened to me in the last four months? I tried to help you by calling an angel and one off little slip of the chalk and I ended up instead accidentally summoning a demon from a hell dimension that disguised itself as an angel and showed me the entirety of the supernatural world and tried to convince me I'm on some divine quest to save humanity only what it was trying to get me to do wouldn't save humanity it would have raised hell on earth.

I only got out of that by crossing paths with A terrifying warlock and an even more terrifying vampire clan leader who my sister than becomes buddies with and goes to work for in a Supernatural detective agency because of course she does.

But I flail my way through that and officially meeting the vampire clan leader this time without the flashing fangs and demands for my blood who then proceeds to quasi enthrall me just for the hell of it as a powerflex and just to screw with me because she gets a freaking kick out of it.

So I stumble past that and just a few weeks later I'm back to it bumbling my way into a classroom to confront what I thought was an evil vicious demon trying to god only knows what and the demon ends up being a really nice, sweet dreamboat of a man and I end up making a total ass of myself so much so that he asks for my number- probably just to make sure I don't end up hurting myself.

So what do I do? Two weeks later I stupidly charge off on a Don Quixote-esq mission to confront the terrifying, enthralling vampire clan leader about her relationship with a sweet, helpless, unsighted human guy and I end up dragging the poor way too caring for his own good dreamboat into the middle of the woods and getting him bit by a freaky demonic inter-dimensional lust bug which caused him to kiss me senseless and then promptly sprout wings and fly off to confront one of the most terrifying supernaturals in the country just to impress me!

Bug addled dream boat flies to the rescue and near certain doom and I end up throwing myself between a charging bug addled gargoyle and a terrifying vampire clan leader in front of a helpless human and end up babbling out the entire supernatural insanity and then promptly freak out because between the babble and the gargoyle attack and the vampire defensiveness there's no way the human wouldn't get the supernatural thing and the supernatural can and usually does completely break humans minds.

So I panic at the possible supernatural outing and start to babble and flail and then Bryan starts at the terrifying vampire again and then the terrifying vampire ends up grabbing me and kissing me senseless in order to break the bug spell or just screw with me or possibly both because I was confronting her about her relationship with and possible taking advantage of a helpless, innocent human who I'm now freaking out that I may have accidentally broken mentally who then it turns out is not in fact a helpless, innocent, clueless human at all but rather a terrifying hunter of all things supernatural and like nightmare fuel for all the nightmare beings – which means she was never in danger and I risked both my and Bryan's lives for no reason whatsoever and now I'm in on a secret I want absolutely no part of and if I screw up and let it slip then the vampire is gonna be after me and probably the hunter too and god only knows what else."

"Most likely a greater demon and an old one."

Raj blinked, freezing.

"A what now?"

Divya shrugged, reaching up, brushing her hair behind her ear, nodding.

"Declan and Kai, friends/relatives of Magnus and Raphael. Declan's a greater demon- like the second highest level of demon there is- and Kai is an old one. They're the beings that sealed Calon Tywyll and the other nightmare type dimensions off from the human world in the first place.

They came for a visit a few weeks ago- that's how we think the bugs got here- and met Simon. Guess they really hit it off, especially Simon and Kai, they spent the whole day together and Kai made sure to give her his number so they could text- though that's kinda tricky as Verizon doesn't really have much coverage in a sealed off hell dimension.

Sounds like they totally adore her. They'd probably be pretty upset if you outed her and put her in potential danger...and they really don't sound like the type who's bad side you want to be on. Apparently they refer to Raph in full on hissing, snarling defensive Vamp mode as 'adorable.'

So you know...might want to be a bit careful there."

Raj again just blinked.

"Umm...w-what?"

Divya just smiled, nodding.

"I know right? They sound pretty awesome. Raph said they're supposed to be coming for another visit around the summer solstice; That's next week. I'm really hoping I get a chance to meet them then."

Raj blinked, freezing before startling out of it, gulping, shaking his head, reaching up, pushing his hair back.

"Uh huh...so one false move or misstep and I'm on the crap list of one of the most terrifying supernaturals in the country, a supernatural hunter and the boogeyman of all nightmare beings, a super powerful demon and a realm hopping, reality altering super being that sees terrifying, out for blood Vampires as 'cute'?"

Divya smiled, nodding way too cheerily.

"Yup!"

He scoffed, shaking his head, holding his hands up.

"Yeah, that cinches it; it's a curse. It has to be a curse. What else could possibly account for all of that?"

Divya shrugged, brow quirking.

"Klutziness, flailing and blind panic?"

Raj huffed, heatlessly glaring, waving her off, animatedly shaking his head.

"Yeah no that's been me all my life. It does not cover all of this."

"It does when you toss in the supernatural."

"But WHY are we tossing in the supernatural? Why is that a thing? There are millions of happily oblivious humans in this world totally in the dark about the supernatural. What are the odds of us stumbling into it? Why us?"

Divya smiled, shrugging happily.

"Just lucky I guess."

Raj sputtered, eyes wide and disbelieving.

"You think this is luck?"

She again shrugged, shifting, leaning forward a bit.

"Seems more like luck than a curse. Actually when I think about it you're probably the luckiest person I know."

Raj blinked, flailing, gesturing animatedly.

"I-wh-what how do-how the hell do you figure THAT?"

Divya shrugged, head tilting, reaching up, brushing her hair back, giving a bit of a fluttering wave, starting at the beginning.

"Well- yeah you drew the wrong symbol but it did end up getting us the help we needed. Not from the source we expected but if you didn't do that than I'd still be thinking I was both dying AND losing my mind and wondering which would happen first.

The things that happened were terrible but from what I've learned from Mags, Raph, Bryan and the books these kinds of things are just an unfortunate part of supernatural life. They were terrible and terrifying and insane but we made it through them all which not many can say they would have.

I managed to kill the Rhwystro tân and you managed to resist the Hanfod lladrata's influences enough to keep from doing something you couldn't come back from. Yes it WAS trying to raise hell on earth but it didn't- and the only reason it didn't was because of you."

Raj huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head, waving her off.

"No because of Magnus. She's the one that beat it, sent it back and saved the world- all I did was throw a shoe and badly mumble out a spell."

Divya smiled, shaking her head right back, setting forward.

"Which distracted it long enough for Mags to get the upper hand and kept her from having to get rid of it by obliterating half a city block. You did good. You saved a lot of lives."

He huffed.

"Which wouldn't have even been in danger if I hadn-"

"Which you had no way of knowing. Like Magnus said we can only work with the knowledge we have. You can't just keep wondering what if and trying to figure out how something should have been. Hindsight's always twenty/twenty. Of course looking back with all the information you know exactly how you should have handled it but there was no way you could know then and no point of constantly beating yourself up over hypotheticals.

It happened, it was terrifying and insane but it's done. It's done and we made it through. We made it through with no foreknowledge, no preparedness and you basically being under a terrifying demons thrall and it catapulted us into an insane, amazing literally magical world we never could have dreamed of." She laughed, perking up, bouncing lightly on the counter, smiling bright.

"I'm a super powered teen working in a Supernatural detective agency with two of the most powerful supernatural beings in our world. That's not a curse, that's the basis of my own superhero journey. I even have the whole dramatic origin story!

And yeah Raphael did kinda quasi enthrall you when you met but that's just her sense of humor, she likes messing with people. And she usually messes with people she genuinely likes- at least that kind of messing with people. It's really kinda fun once you get used to it.

You barging into my school to confront my Gargoyle teacher was bad and yeah you DID kinda make a total ass of yourself- "

Raj huffed.

"Thanks Div-"

"No problem- but even so it could have been way worse."

Raj scoffed, eyes widening.

"How could it have been worse?"

Divya smirked, head tilting, brow quirking, expectantly.

"You could have been right."

"Wha-huh?"

Divya laughed disbelievingly, eyes widening, animatedly gesturing.

"Raj? You clambered into the classroom totally unarmed, unprepared and with no plan whatsoever to confront a mid-level demon. If you were right and Bryan wasn't the most awesomely understanding, empathetic guy in the world and was in fact an evil, terrifying demonic nightmare working some terrifying demonic scheme...then what? What exactly was the plan there?"

Raj blinked, swallowing.

"Umm..."

Divya snorted, nodding, smirk widening.

"Exactly. You marched into the classroom totally unprepared to confront an evil, demonic being and walked out with a bounce in your step and a smile that lasted for a week and the phone number of Suncrest Highs most eligible bachelor teacher written on your hand in sparkly purple permanent ink.

HOW is that not pure luck?"

Raj blushed, beginning to shake his head, scratching at his neck.

"I-i-it wasn't like that. He didn't mean it like tha-"

Divya snorted.

"The hell he didn't!"

"Rude!"

Divya rolled her eyes, waving him off.

"Warranted- special circumstances."

"What special circumstances?"

"Flagrant obliviousness. How did you not know Bryan liked you? It was so obvious."

"What? No it wasn't!"

"He talked to you for hours."

"He's nice and compassionate and knew I needed to vent."

"He flirts with you every time he sees you."

"That's just how he is."

"Just with you."

Raj sputtered, setting forward.

"Wha- hey I just met him! How am I supposed to know that? Why didn't you tell me?"

Divya scoffed, eyes widening, gesturing animatedly.

"I thought you knew! You're usually one of the most intelligent people I know. How was I supposed to know you'd be an oblivious idiot here?"

Raj gasped, starting.

"Hey! I wasn-"

"Oh please! Raj I'm an ace/aro teenager who wasn't even in the room and I got his signals loud and clear!"

Raj blinked.

"How?!"

Divya huffed eyes widening.

"I have eyes and a functioning brain!

The dude wrote his number on your hand. You can't get more obvious than that! I have absolutely zero interest in that crap whatsoever and even I know what that means. How do you not realize that? How does it take a Don Quixote-esq Cosmo Quiz of Doom, a demonic lust bug bite, a near brawl between a vampire clan leader and a gargoyle, a vampire kiss, a supernatural reveal freakout AND a double twist supernatural hunter in hiding reveal to get you to clue into what your Ace/Aro teen sister got the second she saw the ink on your hand?" She paused, brow quirking expectantly, waiting for a response.

Raj shifted, fidgeting.

"I-w-well...maybe it's a curse of obliviousness?"

Divya chuckled, rolling her eye in exasperated affection.

"Raj, what kind of curse gets you a dream date?"

"I-w-well...okay...you may kind of have a point there."

Divya smirked, head tilting, shrugging.

"I usually do. Face it you're pretty much the luckiest person there is. Every possibly bad or dangerous thing I've managed to pull us into you've got us out.

It's always been like that. The thing at the Gator farm, Me nearly getting us kicked out of the Museum in Egypt when I almost knocked over that mummy thing, when I climbed the tree and got stuck and you came up to get me down and got attacked by that owl, the time with my Science Fair project and the glitter tornado, the time we went to see the coral reef and I almost stepped on that stingray, that time I tried to bake the blueberry pie with the atomizer in my science kit and it exploded and turned the apartment purple and we got a visit from homeland security because the bright blue cloud of blueberry-fied atoms looked somewhat chemical weapon-ish, The Rhwystro tân sting, the demonic teacher blunder, the unnecessary Gwir-dyst rescue mission, the Vampiric demonic lust bug hunt, The vampire kiss that managed to avoid a Vampire/Gargoyle throw down.

All of it you got us out of it."

Raj shifted, head tilting curiously.

"Yeah...I did...and you got us INTO it...huh...Maybe you're the one who's cursed." He turned, looking over the stacks of books, picking back up the book he had been looking through, glancing up at Divya.

"Tell me, do you remember breaking any mirrors, finding any mysterious jewelry or smelling anything blue?"

{****************}

*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*

{****************}

Sigh…well here we go again.

Damnit, seems like anytime he turns around he's got some other embarrassing blunder to apologize to the man for. Why is this so consistently a thing for them?

It's not like he makes a point of going out and getting wasted so why is it he so frequently finds himself having to apologize for some mind fogged, inebriated idiocy to just about the last person he wants to look like an idiot to? First there was the pain killers and concussion combo in the hospital, then the thing with Dick Cameron and now some weird, mind scrambling sex pollen thing?

What the hell? How is that even a thing? He went over the info from the case, multiple times and it does make sense he guesses. It's kinda what him and Simon got to thinking in the clearing, well for the most part, just with a few little extra twists.

Some rouge botanist was growing exotic illegal plants in a secluded part of the nature preserve. The exotic plants crossbred with some of the native plants and the combination of the plants pheromones and pollen ended up having a mind altering aphrodisiac like effect. When someone stumbled into the patch of plants it sent the pollen and hyperactive pheromones into the air and whoever breathed it in ended up loopy and lovestruck.

It's ridiculous and insane but that's what it says in the report and that's what all the evidence supported. They sent a crew out to the preserve to remove the banned plants and crossbred plants and brought them in for testing. A few of the lab techs down at the hospital were able to isolate the chemical pheromones the plants were exuding and managed to work up an antidote so everyone effected is now good, the botanist was heavily fined, racked up a nice little laundry list of charges and his plants and experiments were confiscated so everything is sorted, everything is good, everything is back to normal.

Now it's just a matter of dealing with the fallout. He really hates the fallout part. And this one's even worse as in the midst of his weird pollen crazed idiocy he babbled out about how he tricked Magnus into making out on a case! Multiple times!

And by the way what kind of stupid sex pollen manages to leave every last freaking embarrassing moment in your memory? Couldn't it at least have the decency to fog and blur and somewhat lessen the embarrassing moments?

But Noooo…this one leaves every last cringy, embarrassing stumble perfectly clear in his mind.

Bumbling into Magnus's office, babbling on and on (and on and on) about how beautiful he was, flirting shamelessly, pawing at him, repeatedly pushing him after he said to stop multiple times, asking him to get into bed with him and cuddle till he fell asleep…taking off his shirt and strutting around like a freaking moron…

Oh good god, he may have to move. Is there some kind of witness protection program for severe idiocy?

He may need to look into that…

Later, right now he has yet another apology to make.

He groaned, rubbing his face, irritatedly pushing his hair back before taking a deep breath, raising his hand, quickly knocking on the door before he can change his mind again. There's silence for a few moments and then he hears shuffling and the sound of the locks on the door being turned. The door opens just a few inches revealing Magnus standing there looking tense, somewhat disheveled and more than a bit annoyed.

Yup, that seems about right.

Alec sighed, shaking his head, beginning to apologize.

"H-hey Mags I-"

"Are you drunk?"

Alec startled at the abrupt question, blinking in confusion, sure he's misheard.

"I-wha-"

Magnus huffed, folding his arms, brow raising pointedly.

"Are. You. Drunk."

Alec huffed out a faint, somewhat confused laugh, shaking his head.

"What? No, Magnus, of course I'm not drunk. It's six in the afternoon and I just barely got off work."

Magnus nodded, sharp, brightly dark eyes flickering over him, that odd, flashing something or other shimmering. Alec swallowed, that dizzying thrill slipping over him same as anytime he sees it. Magnus slinked closer, slipping out of the door of his townhouse, head tilting, dark eyes sliding over Alec curiously.

"So you ARE sober, yes?"

"Yeah?"

"Completely sober?"

"Again, yes."

"So you are not drugged or concussed or trying to freak out a homophobic Dick or effected by a crazy bite or weird sex pollen or inebriated or anything else, right?"

Alec hesitates.

"Umm...r-right."

Magnus nods, slipping closer, head tilting the other way, sharp, dark eyes flickering bright, near dangerous.

"So right now you're not on any pain killers, flu medicine, allergy medication or any other kind of medication that would in any way impair or alter your judgment?"

"No?"

Magnus relaxed faintly, a bit of the sharp tension in his posture slipping to something else, slinking closer, those bright eyes flashing distractingly, that shivery, tingly, buzzing something or other dancing in those dizzily dark eyes. Alec shivers, breath catching, feeling his knees getting a bit wobbly at that look. God that look.

It's almost a tangible thing; he swears he can feel that look against his skin, like some kind of electric tingle, enveloping him, surrounding him, near overwhelming him but in the best possible way. Alec gulps, subconsciously shifting closer to the other man. Magnus gives a soft purr like sound, slipping closer still, nodding.

"And you haven't been cursed, hexed, enthralled or bewitched?"

Alec laughed, trying to fight off a smile, shaking his head.

"Uh no."

"Have you smelled blue?"

Alec blinked in confusion, brow quirking.

"Huh?"

"Has anything smelled blue to you?"

"Umm...I-I don't think so?"

Magnus scoffed, head shaking, giving a fluttery wave.

"Oh trust me; you'd know if it happens. So you haven't felt a weird tingling or buzzing or seen any strange lights, vapors, shadows, sparkles or shimmers?"

Alec huffed out a faint laugh, head shaking, completely lost.

"No. Wha- Magnus no. No I'm not any of those things I'm fine, I'm normal, I haven't smelled any colors or seen any odd sparkles or shadows or been cursed or hexed or drugged or spinning on some weird sex pollen or on any medication or pain killers or anything else that will in any way impair my judgment.

I'm fine, I'm good. I really am. I am one hundred percent, stone cold sober, I swear."

Magnus takes a deep breath, giving a faint, sharp nod.

"Okay, good."

"Wha-woah!" Alec exclaimed as Magnus reaches forward, grabbing the lapels of Alec's jacket spinning him around, pushing him back up against the door to the townhouse, kissing him desperately.

Alec gasped in surprise; Magnus took the opportunity and freaking ran with it, tongue slipping in, deepening the kiss. He makes an approving growl, hand slipping up, fingers tangling in Alec's hair, catching, pulling him down sharply. Alec whimpered, head spinning, heart racing. He shivers, feeling his knees going weak, wrapping his arms around Magnus, holding on for dear life.

Mmm...damn...he felt amazing, so hot and firm and perfect. It was more intoxicating than anything he'd ever imagined.

God he never wants to let go.

Alec all but melts into the kiss, pulling Magnus closer, that thrilling, electric, buzzing energy dancing over him, overwhelming him senses, making his head spin like a top. Alec's hand comes up, fingers slipping through Magnus's soft, silky inky black hair.

Finally when air became necessary Magnus breaks the kiss on a soft, breathless gasp. Alec whimpered desperately, shaking his head, finger's in Magnus's hair tightening, trying to pull him back in. Magnus chuckled low and sultry, the sound trailing off into a soft, growly type purr. He leans in just the slightest bit, nipping sharply at Alec's lower lip, bumping his nose against Alec's, pulling back just enough to catch Alec's eye, dark, shimmering eyes flashing bright as fire.

"So you ARE good with this, yes?"

Alec nods quickly.

"Y-yes...good...very good."

"Mmm...Wonderful." Magnus made that pretty, growly purr again, eyes sparking somehow even brighter, flaring hot and thrilling. He trails his hands down from Alec's hair, sliding along his arms, catching his hands, pulling Alec away from the door before turning, reaching over, pushing the door open, all but dragging Alec into the townhouse, slamming the door closed behind them.

*-Other-*-Other-*-Other-*- Other-*Other-*

***-Jace-***

Jace whimpers, wincing at the sharp, thumping pain pounding in his head. Oh my god it felt like a jackhammer at the base of his skull. And this is the IMPROVED part! This was after three doses of Blowfish hangover cure, three full bottles of water and nearly twelve more hours of sleep after stripping off his clothes and hauling himself from his couch into his bedroom {Which took just about every last ounce of strength he could muster}.

Ugh...god damnit...He's never had a hangover like this. What the hell did he have to drink last night?

The first time he woke up he flat out thought he was dying. His head felt like it was gonna split in two, every part of his body hurt, up to and including his freaking hair and his stomach felt like he'd ate an entire bucket of bad potato salad and then went on the Coney Island Cyclone for hours. It was not good, not pretty and he kinda wondered if he was dying of alcohol poisoning or if that would actually be LESS painful then whatever the hell this was.

He barely had the strength to open the little mini fridge beside his bed and get out the bottle of water, reaching into his night stand and popping a few of the Blowfish hangover cure tablets into the water. He'd drunk that bottle, and another and one more before either falling asleep or passing out. He woke up again five hours later, feeling less like he was dying but sure as hell not anything approaching decent. He'd drunk two more bottles of the hangover cure and was back out for six more hours before now.

He does now almost feel like he can manage to not pass out again but either this hangover is an absolute beast or the hangover cure tablets are expired. He groaned again, swallowing back a new wave of sick, breathing through it, gingerly setting up a tiny bit, wincing, reaching up, rubbing his face before hissing in pain when his hand catches his nose.

Oww!

What the hell?

Why does his nose hurt so bad? It's super tender, breathing through it is kinda difficult and it feels pretty swollen. He took as deep of breath as he could, reaching up again, gingerly inspecting the damage. Okay well it's sore as hell and definitely bruised but it doesn't feel like anything is actually broken so he has at least had worse.

So sometime last night he nearly had his nose broken, but how?

He had to of been pretty wasted; did he have some kind of an accident? Did he run into something? Run into someone? Did he get into a fight? Did someone punch him? That's more and more what it feels like. Over the years he's dealt with enough jealous exes, jealous jocks and wannabe tough guys to know the feeling.

This one feels like whoever did it had one hell of a hook. Was it some jerk flying off the handle or in the state he was in did he end up doing something that warranted getting walloped? Was it a sucker punch or an honest to god fight? Did he win, lose?

Definitely doesn't feel like a winner right about now.

What the hell happened last night?

He hissed, setting up more, shakily reaching over, opening the fridge again, pulling out one of the fresh bottles of water. He opens the nightstand, pulling out the box of hangover cure tablets, looking for the expiration date but they're good for another year and a half.

Okay so it's not the tablets, it's the hangover. He sighs, pulling out another packet, thinking a moment before pulling out two more, dropping all the tablets into the new bottle of ice cold water. He shakes it up till the tablets disintegrate, grasping the bottle, gulping down nearly half of it in one go before taking a deep breath.

Ugh...god...that's horrible but if it helps it'll worth it.

Oh god, what the hell did he get up to last night? Feels like he had quite the time. Got completely wasted, got in a brawl and god only knows what else. Be kinda nice if he could actually remember it so he'd know if the after effects were in anyway worth it.

Well as he woke up alone, fully dressed on his couch he's gonna go with probably not. He whimpered again, rubbing his temples, pushing his hair back, wiping his eyes again, shifting trying to work out the tense, achy feeling in his muscles, wincing as his fingers accidentally brush against his nose again. Oh dear lord...

Yeah definitely not worth it.

He shifted up, finally making it to a setting position, kind of folding in on himself, wiping his eyes once more before finally braving opening them, vision kind of muzzy and unfocused. He blinked, trying to clear the sleep from his eyes. Ugh...god damn...

A somewhat pitiful whimpering moan slipped out, he shivered, swallowing, shifting back, leaning up against the headboard, trying to breathe through the sick feeling washing over him. He groaned once more, trying to clear the fuzziness from his head, wiping his eyes yet again before freezing as his gaze catches on some odd marks on his forearm. And another...and several more. A-and...Was he shimmery?

W-wait...what?

He blinked, moving his arm away from his face to get a clearer view, starting. The marks are everywhere on his arm- on BOTH arms. They're odd, a light pink and almost heart shaped and there is an odd, barely there iridescent shimmer to his skin.

Wha-Oookay...was he at a strip club or something? It's not usually his scene but it's also not totally out of his wheelhouse.

Maybe that would explain the shimmer but not the odd markings. He shifts up a bit more, pushing down the covers, startling as he sees the marks not only on his arms but also dotting his shoulders, chest and clear down to the waistband of his boxers.

What in the hell?

They were nearly everywhere. All over his chest, shoulders, arms and stomach. It almost looks like a rash but not quite, it's too distinctive and not the right shape for that. He reached up, running his hand along his arm, brushing against the odd markings. He shivers.

Whoa-tha-um...Oookay...that's kinda different.

They don't feel like welts exactly but they are slightly raised and they do seem fairly sensitive, almost like a hicky but they're too small to be hickys and they don't really look quite right for that either. They are pretty sensitive though, especially to the touch and as he shifts on the bed he realizes he can feel them on his back against the pillows as well. They seem like they're covering the entire top half of his body.

That's...well...he doesn't really know what that is but he's near certain it's nothing good.

Jace gulped, shaking his head, shifting a bit over, fumbling with the handle on the drawer, reaching into the nightstand next to his bed, pulling out a mirror. He gasps, nearly fumbling the mirror at what he sees. The marks are all over his face and neck, the odd pinkish marks stand out in sharp contrast to the deep bruising around his nose and eyes and the somewhat sallowness of his skin. His eyes look slightly swollen and bloodshot. Distantly he registers the odd iridescent shimmer clinging to his hair but that's just about the last of his concerns at this point.

Oh dear lord, he looks like a zombie that went on a bender, went a few rounds in the boxing ring, fell in a vat of body glitter at a strip club and ended up getting washed out to sea!

Okay, what in the HELL did he get up to last night?

What the hell are those marks? Why is he freaking shimmery? Why is he so hungover? Who hit him? Why was he hit? What in the hell happened last night?

Oh man, he's really starting to get freaked out here. When he woke up he just assumed it was a normal hangover- maybe one on steroids but he'd figured he'd just had way too much of something that really didn't agree with him and went a bit wild. At least he DID...until he realized he was bruised, looked like he'd been through the wringer, fell in a vat of body glitter, went through the wringer a few more times and was covered in odd hicky like markings.

Now he's kind of wondering if whatever happened wasn't something more than just the standard bender after-effects.

The hangover-i-it doesn't feel normal. He's had hangovers before- dozens- maybe even hundreds. He knows what a hangover feels like and this does feel like one...but then again it doesn't. It almost feels more like when he was seventeen and fell off the train trestle and ended up with multiple broken bones, a concussion and needing over one hundred stitches. When they had to dope him up to the gills just to get everything settled.

S-so this doesn't feel like a typical 'alcohol' type hangover. This feels like coming out of a drugged/pain killer type fog. That...um...o-okay...that's not good. He's good with drinking and having a wild time but he's never really been one for hard stuff. He may get plastered on occasion but he's never really liked the idea of spinning out of control on some unknown substance...

Also he is a DEA agent; he may be a lot of things but he's never been much of a hypocrite. There's no way he went out and got high. Not willingly in any case. I-I mean maybe there's more to it. Maybe he was on a case and had to seem like part of the 'scene' or maybe he got hurt somehow and ended up in the hospital and he just doesn't remember that part because of the medication?

T-that...might be it. He definitely looks like he should have been in the hospital. Maybe he was and he just doesn't remember? B-but then why would he be home alone? Wouldn't someone be staying with him if he was in recovery from some kind of accident or trauma? Yeah, of course they would. No way his siblings would leave his side if he'd went through something like that.

So...it wasn't a hospital type drugging...

So, back to square one.

Alright...he's a DEA agent, he's intelligent. He can figure this out. All he needs to do is retrace his steps.

Let's see...The last thing he really remembers is the meeting at work yesterday morning and volunteering for the case with that dunderhead Theo taking some smoking hot Barista on a tour of the evidence lock up in the hopes of getting some. The powers that be thought the dude had been drugged or slipped something and Jace had leaped at the assignment thinking he'd be getting to cruise the cool clubs and stake out the swinging nightlife in his quest to find the culprit.

Instead he ended up touring multiple train museums and an insectarium and having to go traipsing through the woods looking for a bug mating site.

Man that really wa-hey...wait...

They thought Theo was dosed with something. Is that what happened to him? Did he maybe stumble into wherever Theo was dosed with and it ended up happening to him too?

M-maybe...but...well...that doesn't really make sense either.

Theo didn't have memory loss. He remembered every last second of it. He wasn't hung over, didn't really seem to have any ill effects whatsoever and he didn't have a bunch of weird mar-oh wait...

In the report there WAS a mention of a weird mark on his neck. There were pictures of it in the file but he hadn't even bothered looking at it assuming given the rest of the circumstances it was just a wired looking hicky. But maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was whatever these marks are.

What did the mark look like?

Jace swallowed, taking as deep of breath as he could, mindfully pushing down the wave of sick, forcing his way through it, clambering, half stumbling off the side of his bed, searching for him pants on the bedroom floor. He locates them just a bit away from the bed, barely pausing at catching the subtle, iridescent pink residue clinging to the fabric. He swallows again, rifling through the pockets, pulling his phone out of the pant pocket, quickly unlocking it, flicking through his scans of the report before freezing when he comes to the mark on Theo's neck.

I-it's the same. Same odd shape, same faint pinkish coloring. Huh...okay. So he may owe Theo an apology. Maybe he was dosed with something.

That could actually explain why it's hitting him so much harder than Theo. Maybe the marks are how whatever it is is introduced to the system? Theo just had one mark, Jace easily has a hundred or more.

Damn, if that's the case maybe he wasn't actually too far off thinking he was dying when he woke up the first time. If he got hit with a hundred times the dose Theo got then it's a wonder he DIDN'T die.

O-okay so that...that maybe explains the mega hangover...and the markings...doesn't really explain the shimmer or his nearly broken nose...but then again if he was spinning on a super dose of some weird sex drug/aphrodisiac maybe it kinda DOES.

Ah crap...what the hell did he do last night? How much did he screw up?

W-well...he woke up alone in his own home on his couch still dressed in his own clothes so he couldn't have done anything too bad...right?

R-right...right. Right- okay...good b-wait...

He woke up on his couch...

Why was he in his own home on his couch? He should have been either still in the nature preserve, at the hospital or depending on how stupid he was acting in a jail cell.

HOW did he end up making it home?

No way he drove himself. The nature preserve where he was looking for the bug booty call spot was easily two hours away. He couldn't have driven that far like that and no way he could have walked that distance. There's no way he made it home on his own but he was alone when he woke up and if someone found him in that state wouldn't they take him to the hospital?

Well...yeah...unless they were behind the drugging. Maybe it was some kind of accident? He probably wasn't supposed to get that kind of dose...maybe something happened and he ended up somehow getting the mega dose and whoever was behind the drugging panicked and took him home to keep whatever they were doing a secret?

T-that would make sense...but then...how did they know where he lived? His ID maybe? But he doesn't carry his ID on investigations. He has his badge but he keeps his wallet locked in the hidden compartment in the trunk of his car underneath the spare tire as he never wants to chance dropping personal information somewhere he really doesn't want it found. Maybe they got it out of his car? Hmm...

Jace took a deep breath, groaning as he pulls himself back off the floor onto the bed, kind of collapsing for a few minutes to catch his breath before steadying himself, pushing himself up, again leaning back against the headboard, fumbling through his phone, searching for the airtag app to locate his car and wallet.

Hmm...It shows them parked in the driveway. S-so...he did drive home? Or someone drove him home in his own car.

But who? And how did they know his address? His wallet is still showing in the trunk of the car. And he didn't wake up outside on the lawn or in the car, he woke up on his couch...

So whoever brought him home likely brought him into his house...oh…hmm

Well that was a mistake.

Jace chuckled the sound trailing off switching to a pained groan as the action seemed to crank up the pounding in his head.

Oooh damnit...that's bad, he feels like absolute crap...

But he probably feels better than whoever just got caught on his home security cameras breaking in to ditch a drugged out of his mind federal agent is gonna be feeling at the end of this.

They are SO screwed.

Jace huffed out a faint, almost laugh, setting up a bit more, reaching for the remote for him tv. He flicks it on, toggling through the settings before he gets to the screen to pull up the security camera footage. It's a pretty state of the art set up, it's motion activated so he doesn't have to shift through hours of stagnate footage to get to what he needs. There's sensors on the porch so the moment someone comes up the steps the cameras switch on. There's one on the porch, one in the living room, and one on the back door. However they came in he's got them.

He looks through the entries and sees where he left for work at eight thirty, then where he came home for lunch and to change into his nicer suit in anticipation of a day of club hopping and schmoozing for the investigation.

The next entry is at 1:23 am on the front porch. That's gotta be it. Jace shifts forward, setting up in faint anticipation. This person drugged two federal agents and who knows how many other people. They're into god knows what and they thought they got away cleanly. He's got them; got them dead to rights.

He starts the footage running, leaning forward eagerly as he sees the lock click over, sees the doorknob turn, door beginning to creek open.

YES! Got them! He's gonna have them dead to rights. I mean it might take a bit to identify them b-

W-wait...what?

Jace swallowed, freezing in shock as an unmistakably familiar mess of chocolate brown curls pops into view. Kevin slips into the room quietly, sharp, deep turquoise eyes shifting around the darkened room, head tilting on high alert before shifting back, giving a faint nod, gesturing over his shoulder.

"We're clear, come on." He whispered, pushing the door open a bit further yet another very familiar mess of light brown hair moving through the door, honey brown eyes shifting over the room before nodding, grabbing the door, pulling it open the rest of the way, holding it for someone.

"Good, great. Now move, I need to set this moron down." Raphael groused, slipping into the door past the other two, Jace looking like dead weight, slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes in some weird fireman's type carry.

He huffed irritatedly, lugging Jace across the room without even breaking a sweat, tossing him carelessly onto the couch, scowling. Simon huffed, rolling his eyes exasperatedly.

"Raph come on, don't be so rough! You already dropped him once- well threw him. Besides don't you think you're being just a bit overdramatic? The guy's like, what; maybe two hundred pounds, tops? That's not even really heavy for you."

Raphael scoffed, head tilting sarcastically.

"Oh sorry, I know that was incredibly rude of me, where were my manners. Next time I have to heroically rescue an innocent teen from a flying, bug addled, bird brained menace I'll be sure to be far gentler with the grabby jackass who tried to kiss my boyfriend and feel me up.

Mea culpa."

Simon huffed, brow quirking. Raphael groaned, waving him off.

"Oh Dois mío stop with the look already, he was fine! He landed in soft grass and wildflowers. Dumbass didn't even really roll that much.

And of course it's not that heavy for me. That's nothing. Just after how he was earlier I really didn't like how close he was to my ass." He scoffed again, scowling, startling as he catches sight of some of the odd, iridescent shimmers, frantically wiping at his jacket.

"Damnit! He got that stupid bug residue all over me! It's gonna take hours to get this out."

Kevin chuckled, brow quirking.

"Yes, I'm sure out of everything today that's the biggest issue."

Raphael scoffed.

"It is for me! This suit is Armani! Do you know how hard it is to get Anifail ephemera out of cashmere?"

Kevin huffed out a laugh, head shaking.

"Nope, can't say I do. My suit's from JC Penny's last going out of business sale. It's made of polyester, repurposed wool and I think recycled cans for the buttons."

Raphael blinked, looking confused and faintly horrified, hesitantly holding up a finger.

"I don't actually know what that means, but I'm kind of more than okay with that." he sighed, shaking his head, straightening his jacket before looking over the other two.

"Alright, we got the jackass home. Let's just get this done and get out of here. Jace's bachelor pad is just about the last place I want to be."

Simon huffed softly, flashing a faintly exasperated glare his way before shifting over Jace in concern.

"Come on Raph, that's enough. And you really didn't need to be so rough with him. Think I did enough damage already; he sure as hell doesn't need any more bruises."

Raphael sighed, shaking his head.

"Amore it's fine."

Simon scoffed, shaking his head right back.

"No it's not! I can't believe I punched a federal agent!" he swallowed, looking Jace over again, gingerly tracing along the already forming bruise, wincing in sympathy.

"God I hope I didn't break anything."

Raphael sighed, slipping closer, resting his hands on Simon's shoulders, squeezing comfortingly.

"Angel, it really is fine. He'll be okay. He'll be a bit bruised and sore and likely more than a little confused but other than that he'll be fine. Besides there's no way this was the first time he's gotten walloped. Even putting aside the whole Jace-ish everything else he really does just have an extremely punchable face."

Kevin and Simon both chuckled, Simon trying to fight it down, nudging his boyfriend, rolling his eyes.

"Raphael, be nice."

Raphael snorted, scoffing, shaking his head.

"No. It's Jace."

"Oh you said the same thing out there; I know it was just talk. Deep down you wanted to save him too."

Raphael scoffed, shaking his head.

"No; deep down I wanted to leave the dumbass out there as coyote chow, I just got outvoted."

Kevin laughed, rolling his eyes, waving him off. Simon huffed, again nudging him. Kevin slipped forward, giving a faint shrug, gesturing over towards Raphael.

"Si, he does kinda have a point. This was all but inevitable- um, decking him, not leaving him for coyote chow. The guy's a total tool. Even I've thought about doing it a few times; hell, more than a few times. Raph's not wrong; he's whole general vibe does kinda scream 'please punch me'.

Most likely the only reason this doesn't happen even more often is because of his siblings respectability, likability, flagrant intimidation and frantic damage control. If he wasn't Izzy and Alec's brother I doubt he'd make it a day without this happening, even with his badge."

Simon sighed, head tilting concedingly, giving a flickering wave.

"Yeah, okay I know, fair point. And if it happened on a usual bout of Jace Jackassary it's be one thing but this is totally different. The dude wasn't in his right mind. He was spinning like a top, wacked out on freaky, overblown pheromones, ephemera and bug bites. By the looks of it they nearly ate him alive; I don't even know how he got out of the damn nest. He didn't really kno-"

Raphael huffed, shaking his head.

"Amore; he forcefully kissed Kevin, basically trying to shove his tongue clear down the poor guys throat, he tried to kiss you, tried to kiss me AND he tried to grab my ass. Bug addled or not ten seconds more and I'd of done a hell of a lot worse than just give him a little smack."

Simon rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

"Oh you would not. He was exasperating but he wasn't in-"

Raphael scoffed, brow quirking, eyes doing that odd, flickering thing, almost looking jet black on the video, head tilting in an oddly fluid, near predatory kind of way.

"Simon? I really do not care what his excuse was. He was grabby and smarmy and too out of it to properly register even the most blatantly obvious of threats. He accosted Kevin, my boyfriend and me. I wouldn't just stand by and let that go and anything I did in retaliation wouldn't even register as a faint regret, especially given everything else I've done in my life.

You know my reputation and that it's a hell of a lot more than just some interesting stories and dramatic license. He crossed several lines that were inexcusable and was WAY too close to me for comfort. I'm generally a civilized person and I likely have better control over my baser instincts then most but he was hitting all the wrong buttons and he was hitting them fast. I would have stopped him by any means necessary and it would not have been pretty.

Honestly? You punching him most likely saved his life."

Simon sighed softly, shifting closer to the shorter man, reaching over, resting his hand on Raphael's arm, squeezing, honey gaze shifting over him in clear concern.

"Yeah I know. Sorry...you're okay though, right?"

Raphael smiled, shifting closer, nodding, leaning over, brushing a kiss to Simon's cheek, nuzzling lightly.

"Yes Amore. Thanks to you."

Simon smiled, relaxing against him, slipping his arm around the shorter man, leaning over, catching his lips in a soft kiss.

"Any time baby." He hummed softly, lingering, nuzzling lightly against Raphael's cheek before pulling back.

He sighed, head again tilting concedingly, giving a faint shrug.

"Though hopefully next time I have to defend my gorgeous boyfriend it'll at least be from something sober and in control of their own facilities." He huffed faintly, gaze shifting once more in concern over Jace, head tilting, glancing back over at Raphael, brow quirking.

"You really don't think it's broken?"

Raphael smiled reassuringly, shaking his head, reaching over, patting his shoulder, squeezing.

"I'm positive Angel. It's gonna be bruised as hell and he may end up with a couple black eyes- you really did pack quite the wallop there- but no, nothing broke, I'm one hundred percent sure about that."

Kevin shifted closer to the couple, gaze shifting over Jace before glancing up at Raphael, brow quirking.

"How are you so sure? He went down like a sack of bricks- and Simon really can pack a surprisingly strong punch. Why are you so sure nothing's broken?"

Raphael hesitated a moment before shrugging, giving a bit of a wave.

"Honestly? Bones breaking have a very distinctive sound. I've heard it...a lot...far, FAR too much then I really care to remember. At this point I can hear it from a mile away and when you know it as well as I do it's unmistakable.

Trust me, nothing is broken."

Kevin swallowed, blinking before nodding kinda quickly.

"Oh-uh...w-well...that-uh..."

Simon sighed, shrugging, flashing an apologetic smile at Kevin.

"Kev? We've known Raph for months now-and known his rep for years. Maybe-"

He sighed, huffing out a faint laugh, placatingly holding up his hand.

"Don't ask questions I really don't want the answers to. Fair point." He glanced over at the shorter man, flashing a faintly sheepish smile, scratching nervously at his neck.

"Sorry Raph. That was pretty rude of me. I know you really don't like talking about that kind of thing."

Raphael smiled, shaking his head, waving him off.

"It's fine. Don't give it another thought." He shifted, tugging Simon closer.

"The important thing is my Angel managed to keep me from having to do anything too unfortunate to someone very important to two close friends of mine." He laughed, shaking his head.

"Really don't think I'd want to have to explain to Alec, Izzy and Max what happened to their brother. Obviously Alec doesn't know the background yet but he's hard enough to lie to that he'd likely figure something out. The man already halfway thinks I'm some kind of supervillian/bond villain type-"

"And he's already seen your place so..." Simon cut in, flashing a teasing smile.

Raphael snorted, head tilting concedingly.

"Exactly. Probably wouldn't have worked out too well. Plus that'd most likely really throw a monkey wrench in the works for him and Mags. I mean Magnus's actually MET Jace so he'd get it and I know he'd be in my corner and help with my cover but still he'd be pretty miffed if I did something that ended up screwing up his fun with his 'darling detective' paramour.

The pouting, sulking and sighing would be intolerable.

This was likely the best outcome we could have hoped for. The case is done, the swarm of pests is contained and the peroxide pest is still here and relatively unharmed given the potential outcome of the evening. He is going to be in for one hell of a morning after and will likely be sporting makeup and sunglasses for a few weeks but at least it's something he'll actually be able to come back from.

And Lucian got everything squared away down at the station. Got the cover story worked out, all the I's dotted and T's crossed. He said Byrd, Anders, Phillips and Phineas managed to get out to the preserve and have all the evidence set up and ready to go. Should be all collected, cataloged and archived by tomorrow morning.

He even reached out to Jace's Director to give him a heads up about what happened on the case so he doesn't get any marks against him for going AWOL or if he needs to call out for a few days they actually let him have the time. Izzy had mentioned during the Branding case he couldn't get time off to come see Alec because when he'd told them his brother was in the hospital he'd actually already used that excuse multiple times." He huffed, rolling his eyes, shaking his head.

Simon huffed out a faint laugh, head tilting concedingly, gesturing over at him.

"Definitely a good idea. Oh and maybe you should ask Luke to give them a rundown on the list of possible side effects so they know what to watch out for, just as a precaution. The book did say any lingering side effects are extremely rare but as the guy actually seemingly fell into the nest and is covered in god only knows how many bites it's still a good idea to keep an eye out, just in case."

Raphael nodded, giving a fluttering wave.

"Already did, he did the run down, they should be good. I also texted Mags and gave him a quick rundown. I'll probably go tomorrow evening and touch base with Izzy, let her know what happened and what to watch out for and since she has a pretty decent medical background she'll be the perfect person to keep up on that. Plus since it's her brother and he's gonna look like death warmed over it won't seem too out of place.

However all of that I want to actually do in person as 'hey your jackass brother stumbled into an Anifail nest, got attacked by the swarm, nearly eaten alive by them and then tried to grope a cop, a detective and a vampire nearly getting his ass handed to him and just barely managed to cheat death by getting walloped by my adorable boyfriend' isn't really a conversation you want to have over the phone.

I'll call Clary in the morning and go over it with her. She might be able to help break the news to Izzy and smooth things over. She may even have some kind of spell or remedy down at the shop that could help ease Jace's recovery. Izzy could probably get him to take it, say it's an experimental hangover treatment, vitamin boost, system flush or something." He sighed, shrugging, glancing over at Simon.

"We were gonna have them over for dinner this weekend anyway, maybe we'll just see if we can move it up a few days, do it tomorrow.

Alec might be a bit of an issue but he knows Jace probably better than anyone. Someone taking a swing at him can't really be THAT unusual of a thing so he probably won't be looking too far into it. Most likely he'll just assume he tied a few too many on and ended up stepping on toes he shouldn't have stepped on.

Besides after he spent over half the day teasing Mags mercilessly I kinda doubt either of them will be thinking about much of anything besides each other for a good while. Hell, Magnus probably won't even let him out of the house for at least a good day or two...thinking there we'll have a bit of a window to get things sorted.

Really all in all this is the best we could have hoped for. And at least Mags was able to come through quickly with the antidote. Magnus managed to get Alec to take it and got him home safe and sound and Nariko, Benji and Kiyoshi got the antidote to the others effected down at the hospital so all of that is good.

Oh speaking of..." He paused, glancing over at Simon, holding out his hand expectantly.

Simon started, nodding, searching through his pockets, pulling out a small, luminous vial, holding it up. He shifts it, the mysterious shimmery pink liquid in the vial swirling, catching in the light. He moves closer, holding the vial out to Raphael, head tilting curiously.

Raphael flashed a quick, appreciative smile, winking at Simon before reaching over, taking the vial, hand lingering on Simon's arm, squeezing. He smiles once more at Simon before turning, gracefully settling close to Jace. He reaches over, tilting Jace's head back, prying his mouth open none too gently, pulling the stopper out of the vial with his teeth before lifting it to Jace's lips, pouring the odd glowing liquid down his throat.

Simon shifted closer, settling at Raphael's side, hand resting on his shoulder, leaning in close, soft golden brown eyes shifting over Jace in concern. He swallows, head tilting, biting his lower lip nervously, reaching over, brushing a lock of hair away from Jace's face, looking over his bruised, marred features in concern. He shifted, glancing over, catching Raphael's eye, head tilting towards Jace.

"And this? This should help him, right?"

Raphael sighed, giving a bit of a shrug and a fluttery wave, shifting back away from him, turning and standing up in one smooth, fluid, graceful movement, giving a bit of a yes and no gesture with his hand.

"Well, yes...it should, at least a bit. It's not gonna be anywhere near how much he'll need, but it's pretty much all we got. The antidote is designed to work for people who have maybe a handful of bites. Just from what I can see on his face and neck he had to have at least a hundred and again he did literally fall into the nest. He's been absolutely saturated with the bugs pheromones and residue. There really isn't an antidote for that.

Unfortunately it's about the best help we have to give him. We can call Clary in the morning and see if she has anything that might help down at the occult shop but given where the bugs originate I kinda doubt she'd have anything close at hand." He sighed, giving a somewhat helpless shrug, casting one more glance over Jace's prone body sprawled out on the couch, unfathomably dark gaze lingering on the garish marks littering his face, shaking his head, beginning to turn for the door, the other two falling into step on either side of him automatically.

"Unfortunately there's really nothing else we can do. Still given the circumstances it could have been far, FAR worse. At least it's not deadly- the book specifically says there's no level of the venom, ephemera or pheromones that would be fatal but going by the description of the after effects Jace likely may end up really wishing it was.

He's gonna feel like absolute hell. The antidote clears out the more exotic effects but it still leaves you with the mother of all hangovers. It's not gonna be pleasant and as there's really no way he'll have any memories of any of it he's likely gonna be confused as all hell but again it could have been a hell of a lot worse."

Kevin huffed out a faint laugh, deep turquoise eyes flickering back once more over to Jace laid out on the couch, landing on the bright, deep pink marks littering his face and neck and disappearing down his half opened shirt.

"Yeah- he could actually remember it." he sighed, shaking his head, glancing over at Simon, catching the young detectives eye, giving a reassuring shrug and almost smile.

"Si? He fell into a nest of demonic biting bugs, was completely swarmed by them for god only knows how long, by the looks of it nearly got eaten alive by them and then ended up trying to kiss, fondle and grope anyone within range. Thinking there's some things you're really better off NOT remembering. I know you feel guilty about knocking him out but most likely it really was for the best.

I know if I went through all of that and then acted like THAT I'd much rather not remember. Sometimes ignorance IS bliss."

Raphael huffed out a faint chuckle, dark, disturbing gaze flickering over Jace in faint derision, head tilting.

"Kinda get the feeling that's basically Jace in a nutshell."

Kevin snickered, nodding, reaching forward, opening the door, holding it for the other two.

"You're terrible- I mean you're not wrong, but you are-"

Raphael laughed, smirking, waving him off.

"Yeah, yeah Bambi, just keep laughing while you can. You know damn good and well within the month he'll be back to his old obnoxious self and all over you again and you're gonna be kicking yourself for not leaving him to the coyotes. I still th-" Raphael's words are cut off by the door shutting, leaving the room in sudden, defining silence.

The video plays for a few more minutes before flicking off. Jace blinked in shock, staring at the now blank screen, one single thought repeating in his head on a near continuous loop.

What. The. Hell.

{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}

TheEnd***

***ForNow

{*_*^*_*^*_*^*_*^}

doar deserturi = Just Desserts

hex șuierat=Hissing Hex

Colecționar de haos= Chaos Collector

I feel like the 'Dun, Dun, Dun' is kinda implied there lol.

YAY another full story done and I think this one's the one that's been going the longest.

I really do love how this turned out- we're now down to just 4 stories left in this season of this verse {Yes there will 100% be another season of this one, it's unavoidable.} and everything is setting up really nicely. I really love how this ended. I adore Raph and Simon and Raph definitely seems the type that'd get a real kick out of his boyfriend being all protective and possessive.

Lol poor Raj is the unluckiest lucky person ever. Everything DOES work out for him but man does he have one hell of a flaily time getting there. I really do adore him, he so much fun to mess with.

With Mags and Alec I know some people are probably disappointed I didn't really give a proper 'first time' type scene but sex scenes just really aren't my thing. I actually really love how I wrapped it up with them- I loved Mags's run of checking everything possible off the list {Oh fyi? The 'smelling blue' thing will end up coming back in a future story but you'll have to stick with it to find out.}

And Jace...

Oh Jace, poor in way over his head, bumbling into a minefield Jace. I'm SO looking forward to the next few stories and a lot of what I'm looking forward to has to do with him.

So like I said there's just 4 stories left in this season, don't want to give too many spoilers but here's the upcoming titles:

7-Family, Friends, and Freak Outs

Case- (Alt Title: You Are SUCH an Jace…)

9. Drama Club (Was Never THIS Dramatic)-

10. Looking Through Your Eyes-

So...are we excited about this? I know I am.

And lastly I know this round is taking an absurdly long time, I really do apologize for that but I promise it's all worth it. During this round I've been getting all the prep work done. Finalizing the worlds, getting all my notes in order, working out the plots for all the upcoming stories {which is taking a long time as we have I think 100 full stories planned ~ I know I have a problem} and just getting all my productive procrastination things out of the way that seem innocuous right now but will really be useful in the long run. The further I get into the series I think the quicker I'll go...also for some of the later stories I literally have entire chapters worked out it's just a matter of getting to them so it really should eventually pick up.

We're now down to 18 chapters to finish out this entire round of stories but it might take a bit longer as I'm gonna be starting the 3rd round as I finish stories in this one. So I'll likely be jumping between adding a chapter, finishing out stories that are to the final 3 and starting the new stories for the verses that the stories in this round are completed in {So far we have V5, V7, V6 and now V2} so it's still gonna take a bit to get all this round done but by the time I do We'll be comfortably into the 3rd round so I think that'll work out actually really well.

Anyways thank you all so much for your patience and for sticking with it. I really do love these stories and creating these worlds and I hope you're enjoying it as much as I am. Thank you so much for reading and commenting! It really does help motivate me.

See you in the next one!

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