Picture Perfect- Part 2 Time And Place Verse (Verse 8)

by MistyMay6886

Simons 1st day at Oasis. working with Military professionals, crazy scientists led by their fearless and fabulous leader Magnus, a picture perfect 1950s family thats anything but perfect and a supervillianish boss intimidating and flirty is a lot. But Simons nothing if not adaptable…Thats good…Between the Mags-sanity, Becks helpfulness and Raphaels secret hes REALLY gonna need it.

12. Chapter 12

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

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-FutureFalloutVerse*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

*~8~*

Time & Place

(Gets REALLY Complicated)

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

***-Kasey-***

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"Aright, we're on the ground; let's move people!" Valerie belted, gesturing towards the slowly descending ramp.

Next to her Magnus huffed, rolling his eyes, standing up, waving them towards the door.

"Relax Valerie; breathe, this is a simple drop off, not a blitzkrieg. Thank goodness as with that damn door it's gonna take ten minutes just for it to reach the ground-" He shook his head exasperatedly, glancing over at Alec, giving an animated wave towards the door.

"Okay, I know I've got a ton of irons in the fire but I am clearing some space ASAP- this has got to be fixed. If there ever was an emergency we'd all be screwed."

"No, we'd just go out the emergency hatch at the back. That's why we have it…for emergencies…" Bindy smirked, shifting over next to Valerie, slipping her arm around the blonde woman's waist, flashing a playfully flirty wink.

"And don't listen to him Valerie; he's just jealous he can't pull off the sexy, commanding, authoritative thing like my girl can." She hummed, leaning in, pressing a quick kiss to the taller woman's cheek.

Magnus scoffed, giving a fluttery, dismissive wave, smirking impishly, gesturing over towards Alec.

"Hey I pull it off just fine; just ask my husband."

"Magnus? How many times do I have to tell you; no one wants the details of your sex life." Raphael deadpanned, not even bothering taking his eyes off the readouts on the monitors.

Beside him Simon coughed to muffle a laugh, nudging his shoulder, shaking his head faintly as Magnus, Bindy and Valerie burst out laughing and Alec sputters, blushing clear to his ears. Kasey just barely managed to keep in his laugh, Blake not even bothering trying to hide it, Ritchie just had his standard confused expression. Walter huffed, glaring irritatedly at the team, shaking his head, clearly just barely managing to keep his comments in check.

Millie settled closer to his side, reaching over, resting her hand on his arm, flashing a grateful smile before turning to the team, head tilting.

"Well, as we have a few minutes before we can get out is there anything else we need to know before it opens?"

Magnus glanced over, flashing a warm smile, giving a bit of a wave.

"No, not really. Usually it's a bit less organized as we have to kind of guestimate when the anomaly will reopen but thanks to Simon's wonderful additions we know exactly when it will. He's the scientist on this one; he was for the initial investigation, only seems fair to let him finish the mission out. He's the scientist on this mission; I'm just along for the ride." He paused, flashing a warm smile at the younger scientist, gesturing towards him to continue.

Simon startled at the sudden attention, blinking, glancing from Magnus over the rest of the group, pausing briefly on Raphael. The dark haired man glanced over, flashing a surprisingly warm smile, nodding, waving him forward.

"Go ahead Simon; you've got this."

Simon blushed lightly before again starting, blinking, shifting back over to the others, nodding.

"Oh-well…okay so we still have thirty five minutes and fifteen seconds until the anomaly opens, more than enough time to get out and get set up and make sure you guys are all ready to go. Magnus has his anomaly stabilizer set to activate in thirty five minutes and sixteen seconds in order to ensure it stays open long enough for you all to get through as the candle rifts tend to open and close only for very small windows of time but that's about it.

We have your car in the cargo hold, the signal shows the cargo hatch has already deployed so all that's left to do is drive it into position, then just set back and wait. Since we didn't have to do the whole subtle approach thing we just landed about twenty yards from where the anomaly will reopen so we thankfully don't have to walk through a squawking, ticked off mob of angry, breeding sea birds giving us the evil eye.

There's a few readings and checks we need to get from the area around where the anomaly will open that we'll want to get as soon as we get out and then take them again at Three minute intervals but that's not really about your jump specifically it's just the standard compiled Data to add to what we already have to give us more insight into the rifts.

As soon as the ramp is down I'm gonna try to get out pretty quick to get as much of the on the ground data as I can but again that's not specifically you. I just want to let you know so when you see me rushing around or if I seem distracted it's not any indication about your jump. Everything is on point, you're all good.

About ten minutes before the anomaly opens we have a few little odds and ends, a couple of scans and safeguards to double check that have to be done just before a jump, just to ensure all the readings and everything is where it's supposed to be- oh! No worries-purely precautionary- it's basically just like safety checks, same as you'd do on a flight or if you were going out in a ship. But that's all on us.

All you guys have to do is get the car in place, get seated and when you're ready to go and get the all clear just hit the gas. Everything's all set." He paused, glancing over, perking up faintly, shifting away from the computer screen, Raphael following his lead, turning, curiously looking over the group.

"And the ramp is finally down now so we can actually head out." He smiled, bouncing lightly on his heels, gesturing towards the now fully extended ramp.

Millie nodded, smiling gratefully.

"Thank you Simon; I knew we were in good hands."

Simon smiled, shrugging, blushing lightly, waving her off.

"Oh thank you ma'am but it really was nothing."

Beside him Raphael gave a soft chuckle, brow quirking, shaking his head.

"You know Angel, I really don't like contradicting you but I'm afraid I have to. It wasn't 'nothing'. Your invention was leaps and bounds ahead of what we had- and you made it out of repurposed junk and flea market finds. If it wasn't for you we wouldn't even have any readings to work with until after this flair.

The only reason they're able to go back to their time now and not whenever the next flair would be-" he paused, glancing at the screen, sharp, dark eyes flickering over the data, head tilting, shifting back to the group.

"Which from the theoretical readings we extrapolated using the data from your invention looks to be in a month and a half- is because of you. There's no sense in being demure about it. You were amazing."

Simon glanced over, somewhat surprised, bright honey brown eyes shifting around at the rest of the team. Magnus smiled, head titling towards Raphael.

"I try not to agree too much with him, just out of principal. Not really the precedence I want to set after all, he really is far too full of himself but I do have to agree with him on this one. You did extraordinarily well darling. This mission was all you."

Simon blushed, glancing between the two, shifting faintly.

"Thanks Raph…Uh Magnus."

Magnus flashed a warm smile. Raphael just shrugged, waving him off.

"It's not a compliment just a statement of an undeniable, unequivocal fact." He glanced over, smirking, catching Simon's eye, brow quirking near playfully, flashing an impish little wink.

Simon huffed out a surprised laugh, rolling his eyes, nudging his shoulder. Raphael just smirked, nudging him back, nodding towards the ramp.

"Come on, Simon, I'll help you get the initial set up done so you can get to your readings."

Simon shook his head before startling, shifting back to the rest of the group, cheeks warming, giving a bobble head like nod.

"Uh-o-okay, so, let's get to it. See you guys out there." He flashed a quick smile at the group, falling into step next to Raphael, heading out the door and down the ramp.

Magnus huffed out a faint chuckle, glancing over at Alec, quirking his eyebrow, leaning in, nodding towards door where the two had just exited.

"You owe me twenty bucks gorgeous."

Alec laughed, shaking his head.

"That proves nothing." He smiled, squeezing Magnus's arm, nodding towards the door, shifting back to the others.

"Alright, enough distractions. Twenty eight minutes and thirty three seconds- let's get this show on the road." He paused, glancing over the group, nodding towards Walter, gesturing towards the back of the transport.

"Walter? You're with me, Valerie and Mags. We're gonna head back through the cargo hold so you can bring the car out and Valerie and I can get the anomaly stabilizer out and moved into position. That's gonna take a bit- the thing is a beast, but we'll get it. Bindy will head down the ramp with the rest of you. Everyone set?"

The group nodded. Alec smiled, nodding back, giving a sharp wave.

"Right then; let's move on out. In less than half an hour you guys can be back in your time and back to your lives."

"Back where things make sense." Ritchie muttered, just loud enough for the family to hear, somewhat irritated gaze slipping between the two couples.

Walter huffed, nodding, moving to follow Alec and the blonde soldier woman to the back of the ship,

Kasey smiled softly, gaze shifting over the bustling crew made up of happy seemingly totally in sync couples, feeling an excited blip of nerves and hope. He took a deep breath, reaching up, fiddling lightly with the simple little necklace tucked into his shirt, falling into step next to Blake as the group makes their way out of the ship. He glanced over, catching the blondes eye, flashing an anxious, hopeful look. Blake returned the look, reaching over, squeezing his arm.

Kasey, Blake, Millie, Ritchie and Bindy made their way down the ramp, stepping out into the cool windswept, craggy island. They settle around the starkly beautiful stretch of rocks and scrub grass, taking in the rugged, natural beauty, the sound of the crashing waves and the sea birds flitting about. Kasey took a deep breath, the soothing scent of the ocean calming him a bit, grounding him.

The group turns as they hear the familiar rev of the bright red Cadillac convertible pulling around, bouncing over the rocky terrain and scrub, coming to a stop just in front of them. Walter turns off the car, climbing out, coming around to the side the rest of the family settling around him. He relaxed, flashing a slight smile at Millie. She sighed, settling closer to his side, slipping her arm around his arm, squeezing reassuringly before glancing over at the kids, lingering momentarily on Kasey, a glimmer of uncertainty flickering in her grey blue eyes before it shutters, pulling back behind the soft smile and the gentle warmth.

"Well, looks like everything is ready. As we all set?" she paused, glancing over the others, again lingering on Kasey.

Kasey took a deep breath, nodding, moving over, hugging his mom tightly.

"Y-yeah mom, we're all good." He hugged her once more, lingering faintly before pulling back, giving a slight nod, glancing around his family, feeling a little tightness in his chest before pushing it down.

No sense dwelling on that now, that'll just make it harder.

He took a deep breath, glancing around before pausing, head tilting in confusion, craning his neck to see.

"Hey where are-"

"Right here sweetheart!" Magnus called, striding across the stark landscape, picking around the craggy rocks and scrub in his sharp black spike heeled boots, giving a flutter wave.

A few paces behind him Alec and Valerie came into view carrying between them an odd, large metal contraption. It was about three feet wide and shaped like a squished apple. It had gears, gyros, and about a dozen other things that he had no clue what they were but looked like something right out of one of his sci-fi comics. Kasey gasped, bouncing lightly on his heels.

"Oh Woah! That's killer! What is it?"

"Heavy-VERY heavy…" Valerie grumbled, Alec nodding animatedly, groaning , shifting his hold, arms flexing distractingly, glancing over at Magnus.

"Is this okay babe? Can't carry it too much further."

"That's great sweetheart…" Magnus all but chirped, giving a fluttery wave.

Alec and Valerie groaned, setting the huge metal contraption down, standing up, stretching their arms. Magnus smiled, slinking over next to them, nodding before pausing, head tilting contemplatingly, holding up a finger.

"Hmm…actually, on second thought it'd really work much better on the right side, about twenty feet over."

Alec groaned, beginning to lean back down to hoist the huge hunk of metal up off the ground and move it over. Magnus smirked, shaking his head, waving him off.

"Oh no need for that gorgeous, I can get it." He smirked, leaning over, pressing his hand to the side, a glimmering violet control panel flickering into view.

He hummed softly, punching in some kind of code, the contraption whirring to life, glowing a bright incandescent pink and violet, an odd blue pulsating light emitting from the bottom. The device hums, pulling up off the ground, levitating silently about three feet in the air. Magnus lightly pressed his hand to the side, guiding the floating device across the rocky expanse of open terrain easy as can be. When it gets to where he's happy with it he hits a few more buttons on the side, three narrow tripod like legs extending out, holding it at just the right height.

He smiles, satisfied, turning back to the others, giving a little thumbs up.

"Kay, all good to go."

Alec blinks in shock, Valerie giving an irritated growl.

"Damnit Magnus- I thought the electro-ascending pulse was on the fritz?"

Magnus shrugged, giving a fluttery wave, multitude of rings sparkling in the bright noon day sun.

"It had been. I ended up with a bit of time before we headed out last night, got it back up and running."

Alec sputtered, animatedly waving.

"Then why didn't you tell us it was fixed? Why the hell did me and Valerie have to haul two hundred pounds of metal and circuitry halfway across this miserable, craggy, sky rat infested island of the damned?"

Magnus smirked, brow quirking impishly.

"Well I could have said something, but then I wouldn't have got to enjoy the show…you can see my predicament. All in all I'm quite happy with my decision."

Alec huffed, rolling his eyes exasperatedly, cheeks warming, flashing a heatless glare and a disbelieving look over at Bindy and Valerie. Bindy shrugged, gaze shifting from Alec over to Valerie, flickering over her, head titling towards Magnus.

"Guy's has a point. I enjoyed the hell out of it."

Valerie chuckled, flashing a wink back at her girlfriend, shifting a bit closer, arms folding, flexing very purposefully.

"Well you k-"

"Alright so the car is in place, you're machines is ready to go and we're all just about in position." Walter interrupted, shifting away from the flirty couples, nudging the family over closer to the car, glancing over at Simon expectantly.

"Where are we on the countdown?"

Simon started faintly, looking up from some kind of odd hand held holographic alien looking device.

"Wha-oh! Yeah, here." He flashed a bright, energetic smile, nodding, hitting a few buttons on the device before tucking it under his arm, reaching up, tapping against his green and orange watch, a little projection coming up. He shifted, holding it up so they can see.

"Five minutes and forty two seconds. We're right on track."

Magnus smiled, nodding, gesturing over towards the younger scientist.

"Simon is right. We are all set-" he started, giving a faint wave, gracefully holding up a finger.

"Oh, well almost set. One more quick step than we should be golden." He shifted, pulling a small handheld device off the side of the stabilizer, hitting a few buttons on it before it hums to life, glowing a soft, incandescent violet.

He turns, running his finger over the side of the device, a little pink oval glowing. He presses his thumb to the glowing spot, the thing emitting a soft, low buzz. He swipes the spot once more before turning, pointing the device directly at them, hitting a button, a glimmering violet light emitting; pulsing over Kasey and his family. Kasey starts at the soft little buzzy electric type feeling slipping over and what feels like completely through his entire body.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?" Walter demanded.

Magnus chuckled, holding his hands up placatingly.

"Relax Walter; just a simple scan to check for futuristic tech. Its standard procedure, just making sure nothing is going back to your time."

Walter huffed, eyes widening.

"You think we're stealing from y-"

"Now, now, don't get your panties in a bunch Skippy. No one's accusing you of anything. It's standard protocol to ensure nothing alters the time stream. No travelers are permitted back through the anomaly without it.

We have a job to do and we take it seriously. If you take issue with us doing our jobs…well…that's really a you problem, now isn't it?" Raphael hummed, slinking closer, eyebrow quirking in challenge.

Walter shifted, faltering.

"Well you could have at least asked…"

Raphael shrugged, totally unapologetically.

"I don't see the point; you have no say in it."

Walter sputtered.

"Wha-" Walter starts at a sudden feedback like sound, the air suddenly shifting and swirling.

Woah!

Kasey gasps, eyes wide as the pocket of air in front of them seems to solidify into a crystalline, prismatic mass. There's a sudden flash and an odd whistling sound before the glittering mass flashes, seemingly exploding out, swirling around the center, a bright white void of nothingness. Almost immediately Magnus's machine whirred to life, a bright Violet electric pulse firing into the glittering void. The edges flash, shimmering and pulsing from electric blue to violet to pink.

Raphael sighed, shrugging, waving towards the newly opened anomaly.

"Alright, the anomaly is open. Assuming you are finished with the sanctimonious outrage maybe we can move on.

The scans were non-negotiable. No travelers go back through without a scan. If you are going through you are getting scanned. And besides, the scan's already complete. What's done is done. No sense whining about it.

Readings are in, once we get the green light you're all clea-" his words are cut off by a low tone, the device in Magnus's hand flashing neon red.

Raphael blinked, shifting, glancing up, catching Magnus's eye. Magnus shrugged, gesturing towards the device. Raphael stood up a bit straighter, shifting his focus from Magnus back over to Walter, intense, dark eyes flashing, zeroing in on the man, gaze sharp and calculating.

"So Walter…you seemed quite opposed to the scan. Something you need to tell us?"

Walter started, glaring.

"I-what? How dare y-"

Kasey swallowed, hesitantly holding up a finger.

"I-it's not him…it's me…"

"What?" Walter exclaimed, looking over in shock,

Millie gasped, the rest of group zeroing in on him. Kasey shifted nervously under the sudden focus, swallowing, nervously tugging at his shirt sleeve, fidgeting. Raphael shifted, head tilting, those odd, impossibly dark eyes slinking over him, the sharp, uncomfortably intense gaze changing, slipping to something softer, a little more curious, a bit of a knowing spark lighting those darkly bright eyes.

Kasey gulped, clearing his throat, nervously shaking his head, reaching up, scratching at the back of his neck.

"U-um…I…I'm not taking anything-w-well not like taking taking like stealing it or anything… I-I wouldn't, I'd never do that and I wasn't trying to mess anything up or take back future stuff or forbidden things or any of the other stuff on all the forms we had to fill out. I really, really wasn't. I-it was a gift…it's not technology or anything like that. J-just a gift…f-from my friends…" he stammered out, swallowing, reaching up, pulling the crystal necklace out of his shirt, holding it up so they could see.

"J-Max and Isaac made it for me."

"That was very nice of them." Raphael smiled, shifting closer, holding his hand up, hesitating questioningly, head tilting, catching Kasey's eye.

"May I see?" he asked gently, gesturing towards the necklace.

Kasey blinked in surprise at the unexpectedly soothing, empathetic tone, nodding shakily, feeling his cheeks warm. Raphael's smile softened, giving a graceful, magnanimous head tilt in thanks. He shifted a bit closer, reaching forward, taking the crystal pendant in his hand, delicately running his finger over the reformatted cobalt and titanium cord and along the edge of the shimmering tanzanite infused amethyst in the selenium treated copper wire sculpted setting.

He sighed softly, releasing the pendent, slipping back a bit, glancing back up, again catching Kasey's eye, brow quirking, expression somewhere between curious and apologetic.

"Kasey it is very nice but these are elements and components that are used in the Anomaly stabilizer. I am sorry but this will not go through the anomaly- it's not a matter of not being allowed. It is physically impossible for them- or anything in contact with them- to travel through…" he paused, head tilting, those darkly bright eyes sparking pointedly.

Kasey swallowed, nodding.

"I know." He shifted, taking a deep breath, standing up a bit straighter, turning from Raphael and the others over to his parents, shaking his head, standing up straight and sure.

"I'm not going back. Neither is Blake. We're staying here." he shifted, gesturing to his side, Blake nodded, settling next to him, reaching up, resting her hand on the teens shoulder, squeezing, nodding.

Millie's breath caught, Ritchie shaking his head, Walter scoffed disbelievingly.

"Wha-no you're not!"

"Yes I am."

"You're not-you don't have that choice; you need to go home. WE need to go home. It's not a decision, it's a fact."

Kasey shook his head.

"No it's not. It isn't a fact- it's a choice. They don't force people to go back, not if they don't want to..." He paused, glancing over at the team.

"Divya told me. She said it's our decision. It is, right?"

Raphael glanced at the rest of the crew and the family before returning back to the teen, slowly nodding.

"It is true. We do not force people to go back. We don't understand the rifts, what's behind them, how they form or why they appear where and when they do. If someone comes through we don't know if it's purely coincidental or if there's some kind of reasoning behind it.

We leave the decision to the traveler as we try to interfere as little as possible to how things would naturally play out. We help travelers and ensure they have as many options as possible but the ultimate decision is theirs. But you have to realize the choice will be permanent. There is going to be at least one more flare to your time but that's not for a month and a half and unless you plan on completely isolating yourself to limit your knowledge of the future we cannot risk you going back. As I said we have to do what we can to preserve the time stream.

A night or so in Oasis is one thing but months of foreknowledge could have unimaginable repercussions. You would have to be certain."

Kasey nodded.

"I am, we are." he said, smiling at Blake, the blonde nodded, the two stepping away from the car, moving closer to the crew.

Walter huffed, glaring irritatedly, shaking his head, folding his arms, standing up straight.

"It may be some people's decision but it's not yours. You're a kid; you don't get to make this decision. Get back over here. We need to get in the car and go home. Both of you get in the car."

Kasey shook his head, standing up straight, standing his ground.

"No. Me and Blake are not going back. I won't-we won't."

Blake nodded, folded her arms.

"He's right. We're not. We're better off here. I'm an adult, Kasey's nearly one. We'll be fine. A hell of a lot better than we'd ever be back there. We're staying."

"I don't care if you're technically an adult, you're still my responsibility and you're not doing this."

Blake shrugged.

"That's not your decision."

Walter scoffed, shaking his head.

"The hell it isn't! You've been living with us for over half your life. You're just as much our kid as Kasey and Ritchie. You're our family, our kid, our responsibility. This isn't a decision you get to make. Neither of you. Kasey, you're being ridiculous. Stop throwing a temper tantrum and get in the damn car."

Kasey scoffed, waving towards him.

"I'm not 'throwing a temper tantrum' dad. I'm standing up for myself. Something you taught me to do." He took a deep breath, shaking his head, looking over them, shrugging helplessly.

"Dad, Blake is an adult. No matter what you think about it you can't really control what she does. You're my dad and I'm a minor and that generally means you get the final say but on this I'm sorry but you don't. I can't go back dad. I can't. It would be ruining my life- possibly ending it.

I can't go back. I'm doing what I need to do for myself. I need to stay here. I fit here. I'm happy here, I'm safe here. I have a chance at a real life and real happiness and hope. I have that here. I don't back home. I never have and you know that."

Walter glared, huffing, glancing over at his wife, gesturing towards him.

"Damnit- See Millicent? This is what I was talking about. I knew being around these people would screw him up. Kasey come on, you're just confused. It's these damn people, this place. It's messing with your head. We just need to get you back home where things are normal and get your head back on straight."

Kasey snorted.

"Dad, my head's never been on straight and you know that. It's why you were so worried about me being around them and not Ritchie. Because you knew- you've known since I was like five.

I don't fit back home. I'm not happy and I'm not safe and I make all of your lives more difficult and I know it…I know it but I can't help it. At least I couldn't…now I can. I'm good with this. I'm happy with this. You should be too."

Walter swallowed, blinking in surprise.

"What?"

Kasey gave a deep sigh, shaking his head, looking up, deep green eyes swirling with emotion, meeting his gaze.

"Dad, this would be great for me- like a dream come true- but as good as it's be for me it's even better for you. Now you don't have to try and 'straighten me out'. You don't have to try to make me normal. It was never gonna happen and we both know it. Now you don't have to worry about it. I won't be some problem you need to fix or embarrassment you need to hide or make excuses for."

"Kasey you're n-"

He sighed, swallowing, shrugging helplessly.

"No I am…or at least I was. Back in that time I was. I always was. It was never my intention but it's the truth. I was a liability and a burden and something you always had to fret over. Your friends, colleagues, your boss, the neighbors. All of them had an opinion about what you should do, how I could be fixed or why I wasn't even worth the effort and you should just wash your hands of me altogether."

Millie sniffled, gasping softly, dabbing her eyes, head shaking faintly. Walter startled, quickly glancing over at his wife before shifting back to Kasey, frantically shaking his head.

"N-no they d-"

Kasey sighed, head tilting.

"Dad? They're not subtle about it. Neither are you. Every time any of them come over you rush me out of the room like there's a freaking fire. Half the time I'm not even completely out of the room before they start in. And that's with you- with someone they actually respect. You really think the comments only happen when you're around?

For gods sakes at least twice a month Dr. Thomason puts an intake form from Whispering Pines under our door."

Ritchie blinked, head tilting in confusion.

"The nut house? Why would h-"

"Because that's where he thinks I belong Ritchie. That's where MOST people back home think people like me belong- at least the ones who don't think we should just be wiped out altogether."

Walter paled, swallowing, shaking his head.

I-Kasey you know I don't think that. And I would never do that to you."

Kasey sniffed, nodding.

"I know you wouldn't dad and I'm thankful for that every day because I know a lot of parents in your shoes would. Because back then that's just what you do when you have a kid like that- like me. But I also know that just because you wouldn't it doesn't mean that's not where I'm most likely to eventually end up, and that's not even the worst option.

I know it worries you what could happen to me because of this- hell it worries me too! It freaking terrifies me but back then there's no way around it. No way that doesn't involve me trying to turn myself into a completely different person. I don't seem capable of hiding it or disguising it and I can't fix it- no one can and honestly I don't want to.

That's probably why I can't hide it cause I don't feel like I should have to. Everyone back in our time thinks I'm wrong or broken or some kind of repulsive freak- that I should hate myself just as much as they do and be willing to do anything to change who I am but I…I just don't feel like that.

I don't and that just pisses them off even worse. That puts me in danger; it is scary and keeps you guys up at night and causes issues everywhere I go. In that time I will always be a burden, a problem to solve or an embarrassment to hide.

Here I'm not. This is better for everyone."

Walter swallowed, looking almost like he was punched in the gut.

"R-Kasey…you're n-you weren't…"

Ritchie blinked looking between his parents, his dad looking near sick and his mom tearing up. He huffed, turning on him, glaring.

"Damnit Kasey, look at what you're doing to mom and dad! Just knock it off. Stop being an idiot and just get in the car so we can go home already."

Kasey sighed, folding his arms, shaking his head.

"No. Ritchie, I can't."

"Wha-of course you can! It's home- it's where we belong."

Kasey scoffed, shaking his head.

"No Ritchie; it's where you belong. It's where dad belongs. I don't. Blake doesn't. I don't fit there, I never did and you know it. You should be happy about this too. It'll make your life a hell of a lot easier. You won't have your freakish, dorky, annoying Nancy boy brother embarrassing you anymore."

He started, shaking his head.

"I-I've never said that."

Kasey scoffed.

"Every one of your friends has! Every last one and you never say a damn thing to any of them. You just laugh and roll your eyes and wave it off like it's nothing. Half our school does- they did way back when you went there. I can't go a day without hearing it and a hell of a lot worse. I doubt you go a day without hearing something like that about me. This way you won't have to.

Like I said, you should be happy." He shook his head, waving flippantly towards Walter and Millie, shrugging.

"This is better for everyone."

Ritchie shook his head, swallowing, shifting uncomfortably.

"I-I don't, I tell them to knock it off, that they don't know what they're talking about, that you're not-"

Kasey groaned exasperatedly, pushing his hair back irritatedly, dark green eyes widening, animatedly waving.

"But they DO know what they're talking about Ritchie! I AM! That's the problem. That's what I've been saying for the last twenty minutes! I am like that- I'm exactly like that! I'm just like Alec and Magnus and Bindy and Valerie and Simon and Raphael and all the rest! I am and every last person who's met me for more than ten minutes for the last five freaking years has known it!

They do and I don't care- I don't want to have to care! I really don't want to have to but back home I do. I have to. I have to care all the damn time. I have to second and third and fourth guess everything.

I have to watch what I do, watch what I say, make sure I don't get too close to any other guys or look at any for too long or talk to them for too long or even ask them to borrow a freaking pencil because someone could read it wrong and then I'd be completely screwed.

Forget about dating or romance or crushes or any of the rest of that- I can't even just try to be friends with other guys cause someone is gonna think I'm trying to hit on them and warn them about me and if they don't treat me like I got the freaking plague after that then they get treated just as bad if not worse.

So I can't be friends with guys because it's social suicide for them and basically putting a target on their back and I can't be friends with girls because half of them think I'm trying to be one of them and call me a freak the other half are creeps who think they can 'fix' me!" he huffed exasperatedly, gesturing animatedly towards the blonde girl next to him.

"Back home Blake is literally my only friend- and she's my cousin and a girl and she STILL gets sideways glances for hanging around with me!" she sighed, shaking his head, looking at them pleadingly.

"I haven't even been here two days and I have more friends than I've had in the last ten years." He gave a soft little laugh, shrugging, smiling.

"You know what I did last night? I got to go and watch movies with a group of people my own age who didn't give me a second thought. Some that are like me, some who are different in other ways, some who were glaringly, audaciously obvious and some who were totally straight and no one cared! No one treated any of us any different. No one gave it a second thought. We watched cheesy b movies and read comics and then went out for burgers and literally no one gave us so much as a second look.

I got to laugh and joke and talk about comics and b—movies and I got to sit next to a really cute guy and I got nervous and was completely tongue tied and I felt like a total idiot, but it was fine!

It was fine because it wasn't some big dramatic declaration or whatever; it was just two teens talking and spending time together. I can't have that back in our time…I just can't." he sighed, shrugging, looking over them, reaching up, scratching at the back of his neck, gesturing towards them.

"Look…I-I love you guys. I really do and I will miss you every day but I can't go back. I can't do that to myself. Not knowing that I have a shot here at a real life. At real happiness.

I have hope here. I can be me…just me. I don't have to hide or second guess or panic because I accidentally made eye contact with someone a second too long or any of the rest of it. I can have friends here-real friends who know me and accept me for exactly who I am. I can date here…"he paused, sighing, a softly disbelieving little almost laugh slipping out, gesturing towards Magnus and Alec.

"I-I could even eventually get married, have a family…I have a chance at all of that here…Back home? I don't. I don't and I never will." He sighed, shrugging, looking up at them somewhat helplessly, looking over at Ritchie, shaking his head.

"Ritchie? All I want is the same thing you have. I want to be able to talk to someone I like and my biggest worry be me looking like an idiot or a jackass. I don't want to have to worry that I'm putting my or someone else's life in danger just because I attempted to flirt with someone.

You make a total idiot of yourself around girls you like all the time and no one gives it a second thought. That's all I want. The chance to make a total idiot of myself trying to impress someone I like. I deserve to have that chance.

Back then I could never do that. The best I could hope for is that I'd eventually be able to hide who I am enough to pass and maybe if I was really lucky find someone and have a secret relationship with who I'd have to treat like some huge, horrible secret that I'm ashamed of…and that's the best case." He took a deep breath, shaking his head, once again glancing back at them.

"I have to do what's best for me. I go back and I would regret it every single day of my life. I can't do that to myself…I just can't…" he trailed off, looking them over, hoping he somehow got through.

Ritchie sighed, swallowing, shaking his head.

"Kasey I just…I just don't get this. I don't know why you're like this. Why you think you have to be like this.

Can't you just try- like really try? Can't you just like…STOP liking guys?"

Kasey scoffed, head tilting, brow quirking pointedly.

"Could you just 'stop' liking girls?"

Millie huffed out a soft breath of an almost laugh, once more delicately dabbing at her eyes, shaking her head.

"He couldn't…there's no way. He shouldn't have to…neither should you." He smiled softly, slipping closer to Kasey, reaching up, gently tucking a few loose auburn locks behind his ear.

"Sweetheart I've never wanted you to be anyone but yourself."

Kasey swallowed, nodding.

"I know mom. Here I can do that. Here it's safe for me to do that."

Millie, nodded softly.

"I know. And you're right. You need to stay." She glanced over, catching Blake's eye, smiling faintly.

"Both of you. It's so much better for you here, you have so many more chances, so many more opportunities. Chances you'd never have back in our time. You deserve that." She sighed, shrugging, head shaking.

"But I can't just leave you two here alone. Blake? I promised your mom I'd always take care of you and protect you. And Kasey? You deserve everything you described, you deserve to be happy and have a life: a real life. A life we're you have safety and freedom and friends and love…you deserve all of that.

And I deserve to have the chance to see you grow into the amazing person I know you are. And I can't do that with you living two centuries ahead of me." She took a deep breath, standing up a bit straighter, turning to look at her husband and their oldest son.

"I'm sorry Walter. I can't leave them here by themselves. I'm staying here with them."

Walter shifted, looking over his youngest child and niece before shifting up to Millie, locking eyes with her, an entire silent conversation slipping between the couple. He took a deep breath, shakily nodding.

"Then we all will."

Ritchie started, gasping, looking over near panicked.

"Wha-no! Dad! We can't! We have to go home! We have to! We have a life there, things are normal there. They make sense. We have to go back.

Everything was good there- we were happy. Please dad we need to go back. I don't like it here. It's weird and confusing and nothing makes sense. Please dad we were good back home- we were happy…you were happy. R-right dad?"

Millie sighed, shifting forward, looking between Ritchie and her husband, gaze filled with sadness, nodding.

"He's right darling. You and Ritchie belong there- you're made for that time. You were absolutely thriving there- both of you. You should go back, you would be happier there."

Walter blinked, shaking his head.

"We can't- I can't. Not without you. What would I do without you?"

Millie gave a soft, sad little laugh, blinking the mist from her eyes, shrugging.

"Walter you would be fine. Women absolutely fawn over you. You cannot go a week without some pretty young thing falling all over herself trying to get you to look her way. You go back, say I left- took off with the kids- you would have a line of women halfway around the block tripping over themselves to comfort you. You could find a new wife within a month."

Walter shook his head, moving closer, grabbing her hand, squeezing it.

"They wouldn't be you."

Millie sniffed, swallowing, shifting closer, slipping her arms around him, hugging him tightly, leaning over, kissing his cheek.

"I know darling but I can't leave them here alone. They need to be here and I need to be with them."

Walter nodded, slipping his arms around her.

"And I need to be with you…all of you." he paused, glancing over at Kasey and Blake.

"My job above all else is to keep my family safe. To keep you all safe. If I can't do that nothing else matters. If you're all staying here then so am I."

Ritchie sputtered, eyes wide.

"I-b-but dad! We hate it here! We don't fit here-"

"We don't..,but they do." He sighed, glancing over apologetically at Ritchie, shrugging.

"I'm sorry Richard; we might be more comfortable back in our time but they aren't. We may want to be back in our time but they NEED to be here. When you're the head of a family their needs come first. They always come first. I might be better off back there but Kasey isn't, Blake isn't, and my wife isn't. They're better off here and I need to stay with them." He sighed, shaking his head, catching his sons eye.

"Richard, you're an adult. It's your choice what you do. I have to stay with your mom and brother. I have to." He took a deep breath, shrugging helplessly, gesturing towards the anomaly.

"I don't understand this time. It scares the hell out of me and I don't know if I'll ever feel like I fit here. I know that. We'd both feel a lot more comfortable back in our time, probably have a much easier go of it there. I can't do that but if you want to go back you can. It would likely be easier for you even by yourself. If you want to go back I would understand. The four of us have to stay here but what you do is up to you."

Ritchie blinked, looking around helplessly, gaze shifting from his family over to the anomaly and back again, looking totally lost. He swallowed, head shaking before finally landing on his dad, shrugging.

"D-dad…I don't know if I can do it."

Walter smiled, stepping closer to his son, reaching up, resting his hand on his shoulder, squeezing.

"I know you can. Whatever you choose you will be okay. Back in our time you'll feel more comfortable, you'll understand things, you'll know how things work. It would by far be the easier road for you- even if you're going it alone it'll likely be a hell of a lot easier.

Staying with us would be a lot harder for you. We're gonna be totally lost here. We won't understand anything, I don't know if we'll ever really feel comfortable here. This world is not ours and I really don't have any idea how I'm going to adjust to it. If you stay you'll have us-have your family- but that's the only thing we'll have.

It is your choice but you're going to have to choose."

Ritchie blinked, swallowing, looking again from the anomaly over to his family looking up, meeting his dads eye.

"You've always told me the easy road isn't always the right one and not to make a choice just based on which is the least work. I'd likely be better off back home but it's not really home without my family." He sighed, head shaking, gaze slipping over his family, settling on Kasey, meeting his eyes.

"You really need this, don't you?"

Kasey sniffed, nodding, shrugging helplessly.

"Y-yeah Rich- I do…I can't go back. I'm really sorry but I can't."

Ritchie looked over his little brother, head shaking before softening, swallowing, nodding slowly.

"You know the head of the house isn't the only one whose supposed to protect the family. The big brother is supposed to protect their siblings…sounds like up till now I've really been a lousy big brother."

Kasey sniffed, eyes widening shaking his head.

"N-no you w-"

"Yeah I was. I let you down a lot. More than I ever even realized." He sighed, head shaking, shrugging, flashing an almost smile.

"Kasey, I don't understand you- I don't know if I ever have or ever will. I don't get this or you and Skylers little in jokes or the science fiction thing or how you can breeze through half the classes I only passed because I was on the football team. I really don't understand anything about you…but I'd like the chance to- and I can't get that if I don't stay." He smiled, shifting from his brother over his cousin who looks a combination of shocked and impressed finally back up to his parents, nodding.

"I'm staying with the rest of you. That isn't home if you guys aren't there."

Walter smiled, nodding approvingly looking over the family before starting, glancing over at Raphael and the rest of the team.

"Uh…we'll it would seem we've kinda wasted your time."

Raphael hummed, those oddly bright, glittery dark eyes shifting over him meeting his eyes, holding his gaze for an uncomfortable moment before shrugging, flashing a slight smirk.

"Not a waste, we would have came to get the readings from the next flair regardless. It's quite rare we get the chance to actually get readings before a anomaly opens, much less get the actual data from one as it's opening. This was quite productive regardless of if you went back or not. And I must admit I'm rather impressed. I didn't think you had it in you…" he glanced over at Ritchie.

"Either of you. It's always welcome when people actually manage to surprise you for the better." He shrugged, flashing a surprisingly warm, approving smile, giving a fluttery wave.

"And you are correct, it will be a huge adjustment for all of you- especially you two- but you will not be facing it on your own. We don't just toss people out into an alien world with a few bucks and a good luck. We will do everything we can to get you up to speed and get you acclimated to this time. It's going to be quite an undertaking but I'm confident you'll make it through."

Walter blinked, head tilting.

"You really think so?"

Raphael huffed out a faint laugh, brow quirking.

"Walter we have dealt with travelers from near all points in time. From ancient Egypt, the middle ages and Puritans from the Salem witch trials. If I can get a wannabe pharaoh, a knight from the crusades and an uptight, buckle headed puritanical jackass judge up to speed I think we can manage a few thick headed men from the fifties…" He huffed out a faint chuckle, shrugging.

"If anything at least you're not too likely to try to Burn any of us at the stake. You're already ahead of the curve." He gave one more quick little smirk and a dismissive wave, seemingly done with them, shifting from Kasey and his family back over to Simon, brow quirking.

"Well angel, how are we doing on those readings?"

Simon smiled, nodding, bouncing eagerly, animatedly waving the handheld device.

"Right on point. Maybe another ten minutes and we can wrap it up and head back to start the analysis. The things we really need to find are the electromagnetic transmission and thermodynamic flux. See when the-"

Kasey blinked, the techno babble fading into the background, the reality of the situation beginning to dawn on him. He turned, looking over at Blake in shock. The blonde smiled at him, shrugging disbelievingly, putting her arm around his shoulders. Kasey laughed, the reality suddenly hitting him. He gasped, bouncing on his heels, wrapping his arms around Blake, hugging her tightly, giggling, turning, hugging his mom, smiling at his dad and brother. At his family.

H-he did it…He did it! He's staying! They're staying- they are ALL staying! He gets to stay here. Stay where he's safe and has a shot- a real, honest to god shot- and he gets to keep his family!

He still has his mom and dad and his irritating big brother who drives him up the wall but even so he can't imagine his life without. He has them and he has hope and he has friends and…and…everything.

He has everything.

Oh god.

He blinked, trying to hold back tears, to keep from breaking down. He knew he wasn't going back. He knew that last night. But he also knew-without a shadow of a doubt-that that meant he was losing his family. I mean yes; Blake was staying with him and he loved her and he knew they would have been fine on there own. Blake was his family and by far the family member he was closest to but Blake wasn't his whole family. She wasn't his annoying big brother. She wasn't his parents.

He knew he had to choose between having a real life and having his family and he made his decision and he knew it was the only possible choice for him…

But this?

This he never even imagined. He never even let himself think of it as a possibly. It never even occurred to him to ask them to stay. He never thought they would. He really thought they'd be better off without him. That his dad and Ritchie would be relieved to be done with him…

But there weren't.

They chose him.

That…just…

Wow…

That's j-

He starts at a tap on his shoulder, glancing over, eyes landing on Ritchie. He faltered, blinking, shrugging.

"I'm really sorry Ritchie. I know this isn't anything you want but thank you so much for staying. I really can't imagine my life without you."

He huffed, shrugging, shaking his head.

"Yeah I don't get this place. I'm totally lost…I feel like I've fell into one of your sci-fi comics or an episode of the twilight zone." He huffed, shaking his head, gesturing towards the crew and the pulsing alien looking machine and the hole in the very fabric of time.

"I don't even know if that's an exaggeration. maybe I need to start reading them to get caught up with this crazy."

Kasey laughed, nodding.

"It's actually probably not a bad idea. From what Max and Isaac were saying a lot of the things in old sci-fi are now commonplace." He paused, glancing up, giving a faint shrug.

"I can help you with it if you want?"

Ritchie smiled, nodding faintly.

"Think I'd like that."

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

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

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

Simon took a deep, centering breath, raising his hand, tentatively knocking on the large, elaborate wooden door. He starts faintly as the door slowly opens without so much as a whisper. Looking around the room he blinks in surprise, rather thrown by the lack of the usual dramatics. The room doesn't have the usual heavy, jittery feeling, the colors aren't as intense and it just feels comfortably cool as opposed to the what he thinks is normal biting chill that usually fills the room to put the visitors on edge.

Right now the room just feels comfortable; almost welcoming. He can't help a faint huff of a laugh, shaking his head, wondering if it was just the normal, unedited feel of the room or if this was like the 'nice' settings for the atmospheric generator. Simon slows a bit, somewhat surprised to see that the windows to the office are clear right now, Raphael standing in front of them, contemplatively looking out over the facility, seemingly lost in thought.

Simon swallows, feeling a little buzzing in his chest, silently crossing the room, settling next to the other man, unable to help the soft bit of amazement at the view beyond the window. He blinks, head shaking, feeling his breath catch and that little excited zing of wonder just like every other time he saw it.

"God…does it ever not hit you?" he thought.

Beside him Raphael gave a soft chuckle, shaking his head, turning around, leaning back against the window, glancing over, dizzyingly deep eyes sparkling warmly.

"Nope, never. I've been seeing it near every day of my life for the last five years and it still gets me."

Simon started, blinking, looking over hesitantly.

D-did he say that out loud or did Raphael read his m-

Raphael laughed, flashing a knee weakening smile, shaking his head, waving him off.

"I didn't read your mind Angel; just one of your escaping inner thoughts. Though in truth you do tend to be a fairly easy read…even for someone who sucks as badly as me at interpreting emotional data." he smirked, brow quirking.

Simon flushed, wincing, nervously shifting, giving a hesitant wave.

"Umm...y-yeah that was r-sor-"

Raphael gave a soft chuckle, shaking his head, smiling, reaching over, lightly catching Simon's flailing hand, stilling it.

"Simon, relax…I wasn't putting you on the spot, just trying to break the ice and get us to the conversation I know you're here for."

Simon huffed out a faint laugh, blinking, brow quirking.

"You sure you can't read minds?"

Raphael laughed, shaking his head, giving another fluttery wave.

"No…well, not in the most literal sense at least- like actually hearing someone's thoughts. In truth with all the emotional and physical data I get it sometimes feels like I can. Hell, sometimes it feels even more invasive. Kinda like snooping in someone's diary verses spying on them during a physical." He paused, sighing, glancing over, giving a faintly helpless shrug.

"I really don't like it most of the time. I don't like snooping or invading someone's privacy but I can't really just turn it off. I mean there are degrees, I can mute it slightly, shift it a bit lower and drown out specifics and super personal things but I can only push it down so far before it really begins to affect my energy and strength. It takes a lot out of me to shift it completely off and it takes so much that I start to panic worrying I'm going to miss a threat or there's gonna be an emergency and I won't be able to get back to myself quick enough." He sighed, slumping back against the windows giving a slight, halfhearted shrug.

"I don't know…it's kind of a never ending balancing act. My usual way of dealing with it is just to be as standoffish, unsettling and antisocial as possible so I don't have anyone around me too long to get the constant data stream from." He shrugged, smirking, giving a fluttery little wave, pretty dark eyes sparkling near playfully.

"And since as far as the majority of the people around here are concerned I'm an eternally cynical, likely supervillain in the making with the temperament of an antisocial wolverine and a near permanent case of resting bitch face it's really not that difficult to maintain."

Simon laughed in surprise, smiling, settling a bit closer.

"I don't think I'd put it quite like that; maybe just go with aloof and intense…and theatrically dramatic, REALLY theatrically dramatic."

Raphael chuckled, shrugging unconcerned.

"Semantics…"

Simon smiled, head tilting concedingly, nudging his shoulder.

"Pretty much, yeah. But sometimes semantics can make all the difference. I'm an annoying chatterbox nerd but persistently loquacious innovator sounds a whole lot better. They may mean the same thing but they definitely hit differently."

Raphael laughed, nodding, nudging him back.

"Fair point…though my first one does tend to let me keep my distance a whole lot better, which is kind of what I'm going for." he smiled, settling so that their shoulders are just barely brushing, glancing over, catching Simon's eye.

"I am glad it's not the conversation I was originally expecting this morning- you turning in your resignation-or calling it in and not even coming back."

Simon shrugged, flashing a slight smile.

"Yeah, not a chance. I told you in our first meeting you weren't gonna be able to scare me off and I meant it."

Raphael sighed.

"Yeah, you did. Even so I know I got pretty damn close last night. Honestly even though it felt like we left it at an okay place I wasn't sure if after you had time for it to really sink in exactly who- or more precisely WHAT- your boss was if you would still be alright with it…and I would totally understand if you weren't. It is a lot to deal with.

I really wasn't sure if I should expect you to come in this morning or not. I was relieved to see you on the transport."

Simon blinked in surprise, looking up hopefully.

"You were?"

Raphael quirked his eyebrow in confusion.

"I-yeah of course I was. I really wasn't trying to scare you off. I don't want you to leave. I think you could have an amazing future with this company and I would absolutely hate if my stupid slip up ended up costing you that. You and Oasis." He smiled, head shaking.

"You're gonna be incredible here Angel. You easily have one of the most innovative, unique, brilliant minds I've ever seen-ever felt. It irritated the hell out of me when Mags went behind my back and basically hired you on the spot but the second you entered my office I knew exactly why he did. He saw the same thing I do, saw what an asset you would be.

The man irritates the hell out of me eighty percent of the time and usually the other twenty he's nearly giving me a damn heart attack but I got to say his instincts were spot on this time.

You belong here Simon; there is no question in my mind. Combining your innate brilliance, creativity and passion with the tech, resources and materials we have here to really bring out all of its full potential? God Simon, you are going to blow SO many people here clean out of the water, and I can't wait to see it- and see their reactions when you do.

I'm really glad we didn't lose that just because of one stupid mistake of mine."

Simon swallowed, blinking, feeling his cheeks warm, the heat creeping clear up to the tips of his ears, head buzzing, heart fluttering, an excited little thrill slipping down his spine. He gave a soft, breathless little giggly type laugh, head shaking, glancing up shyly, smiling.

"I-oh wow…that's like the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you."

Raphael smiled, shrugging, settling a bit closer.

"It is the truth."

Simon leaned a bit heavier against the window, feeling breathless and a little light headed, knees feeling like rubber at those dizzyingly bright, dark eyes. He swallowed again, an excited little twist coiling in his stomach, a distracting tingle slipping over his skin sending a thrilling, buzzy little shiver down clear to his toes.

Good god, how could anyone be that freaking gorgeous? It shouldn't even be humanly possible! Hell maybe it isn't- maybe that's actually part of the upgrade thing…if it is it's one hell of an upgrade.

The man seems like an unattainable fantasy come true. Like some kind of naughty dream that has somehow manifested itself into a real person what with the stupidly enticing arms and distracting shoulders and gorgeous figure that's the exact right combination of lean and muscular and the stunning features and distractingly sharp cheekbones, full, downright sinful lips and those deep, dark, dizzying eyes…

God those eyes. He feels that look clear down in his soul, like a teasing caress, fluttering over his skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

Mmm…damn, when he looks at Simon like that he just wants t-

"Ahem…uh-A-Angel…?"

"Hmm…?" he mumbled, settling closer.

Raphael gave a soft, distracting little gasp, glancing over, reaching up, scratching nervously at the back of his neck, sharp cheekbones warming prettily.

Mmm…oh wow that i-

"Simon? Y-you're kind of spinning."

Simon blinked in faint confusion.

"What do you me-"

Raphael swallowed, a soft, near awkward little laugh slipping out, shifting, looking over sheepishly, brow quirking.

"Uh-r-remember that whole emotional/physical data thing that I really suck at interpreting?"

Simon froze, blinking, feeling the blush rushing back tenfold, burning his cheeks and ears. He gasped, flailing.

"Oh god! I wha-sorry I wasn't-I didn't I jus-oh damnit!" Simon groaned, totally abandoning the sentence as a lost cause, reaching up, rubbing his face, wanting to rub the embarrassment out, wishing the floor would just open under his feet and swallow him up or for him to spontaneously combust.

As much as he's blushing he feels like option two is a solid possibility.

Oh dear god! He was just mooning after his boss! Practically freaking lusting after his boss and his boss heard – and felt- every last bit of it! Every last flit, every last flicker, every last damn one. It-that's j-oh god…

Come on spontaneous combustion…any time now. It has got to be way less painful than this.

Oh good lord wh-

His mental spiraling, flailing, internal beratement is interrupted by a soft breath of a laugh and a warm, gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Hey-it's okay, relax Angel, you're alright. You're fine, you're good."

Simon groaned, just managing to barely crack open his eyes, peeking through his fingers. Raphael caught his eye, shaking his head gently, giving that stupidly soft, warm, irritatingly pretty knee weakening smile that started this whole damn thing.

Simon groaned, moving his fingers back over his eyes.

"Can you like NOT smile at me like that? It's really not helping right now."

Raphael gave a soft, bright laugh. Simon starts as he feels two strong, firm, distractingly warm hands settle over his, catching, gently pulling them away from his face, squeezing lightly. Simon took a deep breath, slowly blinking his eyes open, huffing faintly, brow quirking, near pouting.

"What did I say about that damn smile?"

Raphael laughed brightly, dizzyingly deep eyes sparkling with warmth and humor. Simon groaned once more, glare/pout intensifying.

"You know if you're doing that on purpose you're a real ass."

Raphael laughed in surprise, finally letting go of Simon's hands, stepping back just the slightest bit, holding his own hands up placatingly, shaking his head.

"I-I'm not doing anything intentionally Angel. Sorry- I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable or embarrass you or anything like that, I swear I didn't. I just didn't want you to not remember and then when you did and it clicked you feel like I was being some kind of smarmy creep for just standing next to you listening in on that…that's all…sorry…" he chuckled, shrugging, reaching up, scratching at the back of his neck, beginning to flash another stupidly pretty smile before remembering what Simon said, clearly trying to pull it back but to no avail.

All it did was result in some stupidly adorable tiny up tic to his irritatingly pretty, perfect lips and an even brighter sparkle in those gorgeous eyes. Simon huffed faintly, shaking his head, waving him off.

"O-okay, that's actually worse…j-just…let's just move on, Alright? Hardly the first time I had to just power through the awkward and embarrassment. I definitely have plenty of practice, hell; this is like my strong suit."

Raphael smiled, nodding, relaxing next to him, sighing faintly.

"Of course- and just so you know I'd normally never call someone out about something like that. Everyone has those little mental spirals, distractions, fantasies and side trips- everyone. I really wasn't calling you out about it or anything like that…I just- with you knowing what I can see-what I can feel- I didn't want you to be blindsided and then end up feeling exposed or violated…t-that's all…" he shrugged again, shifting hesitantly, glancing up, shaking his head.

"You're okay Angel- really. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. And I am sorry; like I said I can't really just turn it off and trying to shut down a data stream in the middle of the stream doesn't really work…again sorry…I really wasn't trying to listen in on that- or anything else."

Simon took a deep breath, relaxing faintly, shaking his head, smiling awkwardly, waving him off.

"No- you'd already explained-twice now. I'm the one who dropped the ball and then kinda got lost in the weeds. It's hardly the first time it's happened; no way it'll be the last. It was however the first time someone could actually hear my mental flailing so that's a bit different but I'm nothing if not adaptive." He huffed faintly before hesitantly smiling, glancing over, giving a slight shrug.

"I'm actually surprised you still even want me here at all after last night."

Raphael huffed, seemingly relieved with the subject change but somewhat thrown on the new one if the cute little brow quirk was any indication.

"And again-I'm surprised YOU still want to be here." Raphael sighed, head shaking faintly, waving.

"I really am sorry I scared you so much last night Angel. You and Becks. Is he alright by the way? I know it had to really upset him and it's totally understandable if he feels like he needs some space from me for a bit but I hope he'll eventually feel comfortable coming back."

Simon started, flashing a reassuring smile, shaking his head, waving him off.

"Oh! No, no…it's nothing like that, he's fine, he's here today actually. He's just hanging out back in our lab. And he was fine last night too. That was just his privacy mode for when I have private conversations or dates or whatever. I don't use it too often as it basically feels like giving him a time out and it usually kinda annoys him but he understands that sometimes people need privacy. It's cool, I swear.

I'll make it up to him, maybe toss in a surprise extra maintenance detailing this week for him- he loves those, they're his spa day, it always puts him in a good mood. Besides even if I didn't do that after I explained he totally understood. I woke him up after we got back to our lab and explained enough to get him settled." He gasped, eyes wide, looking over worriedly.

"Oh um…s-sorry I wasn't like gossiping or whatever I j-"

Raphael chuckled, shaking his head, giving a fluttery little wave.

"No, no you're fine. He was terrified, he deserved an explanation. Besides don't think I have to worry too much about him blabbing to anyone else."

Simon huffed out a soft laugh, nodding.

"True enough."

Raphael shifted, head tilting, sobering faintly.

"And…he was okay, right? Like I said I know it was a lot and confusing for him and he was really panicking for a bit there. Plus he had to be terrified going into hibernation and leaving you alone with me given what his readings were telling him."

Simon blinked in surprise, truly touched at the genuine concern he heard in Raphael's voice, nodding, settling a bit closer.

"Y-yeah, yeah he's good, really. I mean he was pretty shook by all of this but he's good now…or at least he will be by the next time you see him, I promise. Right now he's just hanging out in our office. I kinda figured it'd be best until we got everything sorted and I got him settled a bit."

Raphael nodded, slumping faintly.

"Yeah, kinda figured he wasn't ready to see me yet when he didn't go with us to send the Aldean's home. It's probably for the best if he gets time to process it all. I wouldn't want to upset the little guy any more than I already have. I know how protective you are of him."

Simon huffed out a faint laugh, glancing over, smiling faintly.

"Wow…you really are crap at interpreting emotional data, aren't you?"

Raphael blinked in surprise, head tilting in confusion.

"Wha-"

Simon laughed, rolling his eyes, shaking his head, smiling over at him.

"Raph? I'm not keeping him away to protect him from you; I'm trying to protect YOU from HIM!"

Raphael blinked, head shaking, a surprised huff of a laugh slipping out.

"I-wait, what? He…is he mad at me? Is he going to try to like 'come after' me or something? Like…should I be worried? Or should I at least act like I'm worried so I don't hurt his feelings?"

Simon gave a soft, warm giggle, shaking his head, reaching over, resting his hand on Raphael's arm, squeezing gently.

"No, nothing like that. But you may need to be a bit worried. He is gonna be pretty relentless." Simon chuckled, glancing over, shrugging.

"Raph? You have to realize other than me you are the very first person he's ever been able to talk to-like full on conversations- all on his own. He is spinning like a top on this. He has easily a billion questions and comments and observations that he's sure you will get much better than me and so much more." He laughed, shaking his head, rolling his eyes affectionately.

"Oh man, you have no idea the chatter that's coming your way. I'm trying to talk to him, trying to set limits- I really am- but I don't know how effective it will be. I've went over what is and isn't appropriate with him and if someone says a topic is off limits that means leave it alone and I've explained that even though I listen to his constant chatter all day and it doesn't get to me it can get to some people and if someone says they don't want to talk anymore that you need to respect that and leave them alone and give them some space but I really don't know how much of it he really took to heart as he only listens to me like a quarter of the time.

The rest of the time he just assumes I'm socially inept and I don't actually know what I'm talking about. And I'm gonna tell you right now I may be a babbling chatterbox a lot of the time but I'm practically quiet compared to him."

Raphael snickered, nodding, smiling, relaxing faintly.

"I know, remember the tour?"

Simon started, blinking.

"Oh right…so you heard everything…and in your office when he first met you…"

Raphael chuckled, smirking, giving a bit of a shrug. Simon blushed brightly, nervously giggling, glancing away.

"Y-yeah umm…c-can you maybe pretend you didn't?"

Raphael laughed, shrugging.

"Eh, usually I'd be an ass and say no as it really is in general too good to pass up but pretty sure after last night I owe you one."

Simon sighed, shaking his head, smiling faintly.

"Alright, kinda shooting myself in the foot here and I'll likely regret saying this- I'm not usually the type to look a gift horse in the mouth or anything- but you really don't owe me anything. You didn't do anything wrong last night."

Raphael huffed, brow quirking.

"Simon, I scared the hell out of you- and your little robot too!"

Simon couldn't help a slight snicker, brow quirking, relaxing, settling closer.

"Kay, so I know you said you're not really that great with the whole 'humaning' like thing or whatever, but you DO know that generally paraphrasing the Wicked Witch of The West isn't really the best way to quash the whole villainous image thing and put people at ease, right?"

Raphael hummed, smiling, shrugging.

"True…unless of course it makes them laugh…then it gets a pass. Besides cheesy, ubiquitous pop culture quotes- even those from villains- do tend to have a soothing effect on people."

Simon smiled, head titling concedingly.

"True…well so long as you stick to the more family friendly type villains. Wouldn't have quite the same effect if it was a quote from Hannibal, Freddy Kruger, Lady Veil or Revenant Rex."

Raphael chuckled, rolling his eyes, flashing that knee weakening smile, nudging his shoulder, brow quirking playfully.

"Umm yeah…I may not be great at the whole humaning thing but I'm not quite that hopeless at it, thanks."

Simon giggled, shrugging, holding his hand up placatingly.

"Hey, just pointing it out."

"Yeah, again thanks, but I do at least have that much down. Maybe not too much more but I'm at least not that lost…"he flashed one more smile before sobering faintly, head shaking, giving a hesitant shrug.

"I really am sorry I scared you so much."

Simon groaned, rolling his eyes, waving him off.

"Raph, stop apologizing! I told you, you didn't do anything wrong last night."

"I scar-"

He huffed, animatedly waving.

"Yeah, yeah, maybe you did. But not intentionally! You were being really nice! We were working on one of my ideas and getting actual results- getting close to a working prototype. It was awesome-You were awesome. Up to like the last hour it was easily one of the best nights of my life. I was having fun. We all were- that's how the whole thing happened. You were happy and relaxed and laughing and having fun and you let your guard down and you slipped.

You had a little momentary lapse and relaxed a bit more than you intended and you let something slip that you didn't mean to. You never once did anything to intentionally scare, upset or in any way make me uncomfortable. Me or Becks.

All you did was try to run damage control and calm us down. It's not your fault we stumbled onto your secret and panicked."

"Which was totally understa-"

"Yes but regardless of if the panic was understandable or not none of what happened was intentional. You weren't screwing with us. You weren't trying to mess with us or scare, intimidate or pressure us and…honestly…given the circumstances you'd of had plenty of incentive to do exactly that.

You don't owe me anything Raphael. If anything I owe you."

Raphael blinked in confusion, head tilting.

"Y-what? Why would you owe m-"

Simon scoffed disbelievingly, brow quirking, giving an animated wave.

"Are you kidding me? Dude I was a TOTAL ass!"

Raphael laughed, shaking his head.

"No y-"

Simon nodded animatedly.

"Yes I was! I pried into your personal life, pried into the most private, delicate, traumatic events of your entire existence! I pushed you and yelled at you and insulted you repeatedly. You told me you didn't like people getting your personal information and that it made you really uncomfortable and I literally just shouted at you that I didn't care!

I tried to lecture you- basically scolded you like some disobedient child- trying to give you the lecture that every last person who makes it past robotics 101 is absolutely bombarded with the entirety of their education. As if the head of the most cutting edge, forward thinking, tech savvy company on the planet couldn't recite the damn big ten regulations in their sleep.

I called you a criminal and a supervillain and a frankenstining monster…" He huffed, slumping, shaking his head.

"I-god, I was a total nightmare." He swallowed, blinking, slumping against the window, wrapping his arms around himself, looking up, shaking his head faintly.

"I am so sorry Raphael; I hate that I behaved like that. That I treated you like that. God I was horrible."

Raphael settled closer, close enough that his shoulder once more lightly brushed against Simon's, looking over, catching Simon's eye, sighing softly.

"No you weren't Angel. You were terrified- justifiably terrified. You were in a hidden, underwater top secret lab with a being that your trusted data collecting robot was telling you was giving false readings, was registering as not human. You had every right to be terrified. Hell, maybe you still should be."

Simon blinked, glancing over, head tilting, faintly shaking his head.

"What?"

Raphael gave a somewhat heavy sigh, shrugging halfheartedly, head shaking before glancing back up.

"Simon, you were not wrong about your conclusion. You were not wrong about the lecture or about the dangers of human experimentation. I may not have been the one doing the frankenstining but just because it's not something I did to myself it doesn't make the end result or the possible dangers any less real or any less terrifying.

Doesn't make me any less monstrous."

Simon gasped, eyes wide, shaking his head.

"Raphael, you're not a monster."

He scoffed, slumping against the glass.

"Well I'm sure as hell not a human."

Simon blinked.

"You sa-"

Raphael nodded, waving him off.

"I know, and I meant that. I really did…I do…I-at least I think I do." He sighed, shrugging, giving a helpless wave, head shaking faintly.

"I-Simon- the thing of it is sometimes I just really don't know. What you said? About how it can affect you, change you, kill off part of you without you even realizing what it's doing? Sometimes I really worry about that. Wonder how much it's done to me, changed me without me really registering it.

I-I'm really not great with people-never have been…" he paused, huffing, head tilting concedingly, giving a fluttery wave.

"Don't get me wrong I can make one hell of a show of it and I can work them like there's no tomorrow. Hell, sometimes I do without even meaning to. But that's different…that's…like calculated-strategic, logical…that's exactly what a sentient automaton would do if it's the most efficient way to get to the solution to their problem or task.

And the thing of it is I know that…and I know that's something I did long before any of this but I don't know if what I do now is me or the system problem solving. That part gets me a lot but that I've all but made peace with. With a few exceptions I don't really care if it's me or the system fixing a problem Oasis is having so long as it gets fixed and stays fixed.

But other things? Non-business, more personal type things? I just really don't know. I don't know how to tell how much of my quirks and tics and just random oddities are me and how much is the actualizare."

Simon blinked, head tilting curiously at the term. Raphael caught the look, shrugging, eyes brightening, flaring neon red, giving a flickering wave, nails shifting and sharpening, the little flicker of neon red circuitry glimmering over his fingers and down his arm. He sighed, reaching up, scratching at the back of his neck, again waving with his other hand, nails extending faintly.

"See by now I know the program. I've literally deconstructed and reconstructed it piece by piece. I know everything there is to know about it. I know the base program and I know everything that I changed in order to get myself back and bring it under my control and for the most part I really do genuinely think I have it completely in check. Ninety percent of the time I do think it is me in control…

But how do I know for sure?

How do I know if it's affecting me in ways I don't register? Even before the actualizare people would often describe me as robotic, cold, calculating, overly pragmatic, borderline ruthless- or just flat out ruthless depending on the situation.

I've never been that empathetic and I do normally tend to see things in the most practical, logical ways. I'm a scientist to my very core. Everything I do and see and process is through a scientific lense. I focus on evidence and data and logistics and cold hard facts. I see a challenge, find the most logical way to come at it to solve it and I go. I don't waste my time getting all tangled up in the deeper, mushier, emotional, more metaphysical type things.

I never have and before the actualizare I honestly don't think I ever gave it so much as a second thought. But now I can't help but wonder how much of it is me-the real me- and how much is the cybernetic system permeating every last cell in my body. How much of my thoughts are genuinely mine and how many are just the program synapses firing and flitting through my mind…" he sighed again, looking up, giving a kind of helpless gesture.

"Like I said, I've always been like this- or really, really close to this. And before the project I never thought twice about it. I never had to. But now I do.

I do and sometimes I think I might be getting worse. More robotic, less feeling. And then I start to wonder if that's me-just me. If that's just how I would be no matter what. I wonder if I'm just getting jaded or maybe I simply don't have as much bandwidth left for people and general stupidity as I used to and for the most part I really do think it's exactly that.

But then I start to second guess, start to wonder if it's more than that. If it actually IS the program altering me, twisting me, turning off- killing off- that humanistic part in me that still exists or if a near decade burying myself in military and espionage insanity had already killed off that part long before the actualizare ever got the chance and I just never noticed it before because I never really bothered to think about it..." he sighed, trailing off, wrapping his arms around himself, kind of folding in on himself, clearly not really sure where to go from there.

Simon sighed softly, turning more to face him, reaching over, resting his hand on Raphael's shoulder, squeezing gently. Raphael hesitantly glanced up, head tilting curiously. Simon caught those gorgeously deep eyes, smiling softly, shaking his head, again squeezing his shoulder before slowly trailing his hand down Raphael's arm, catching his hand, squeezing reassuringly.

"Raphael, you're not a monster."

Raphael scoffed, beginning to shake his head eyes glimmering, flaring red in emphasis.

"Simon you don't kn-"

"Yes I do. I know it beyond a shadow of a doubt. I see it in how you are with Becks and how you were with Kasey and his family and with Magnus and so much more. Even last night I saw it."

"Wha-"

"Raph? I discovered your secret. I pushed you on your most intimate, private, personal information and stupidly lectured you like some sanctimonious jackass hypocrite on the big ten as Becks is sitting right there spinning himself into a tizzy. You know him. You can hear him, speak to him. You've heard his thoughts, felt his feelings, his undeniable sentience. You have to know damn good and well he goes well past at least three of the big ten. You knew that: have known it from the moment you met him. You had us dead to rights. All you had to do was push that- even just insinuate that you might bring that to light and we'd be done.

There is nothing I'd do to jeopardize Becks and you know that. You had a perfect, logical bullet proof solution to your problem. A robot would see the logic in that- it was by far the best, most logical, tactical move. You had it. You didn't take it. You never said anything. You never threatened us. You never even tried.

That would have been the most logical move, the most calculated . But it never even occurred to you." He sighed , shaking his head, looking back up, smiling softly.

"You are not a monster Raphael. You're not cold, or emotionless or robotic or any of the rest of it. You're not some unfeeling automaton. You are a person. A human being. An amazing, wonderful, worryingly brilliant, gleefully intimidating, annoyingly attractive, unimaginably strong, resilient, utterly fantastic human being.

One of the best I have ever met."

Raphael, swallowed, blinking, those gorgeously dark, glittery eyes flaring warm and bright, a soft crimson glimmer flickering in the dark depths, shifting over Simon before slowly moving back up, meeting his eyes.

"Y-you meant that."

Simon sighed, nodding once more, squeezing his hand, subconsciously tugging Raphael in a bit closer. Raphael's breath caught, head tilting curiously, dizzying eyes sparking, flaring brighter than before, slowly trailing over him. Simon feels the gaze slipping over him like a phantom caress, raising goosebumps, skin tingling, feeling near electrified. Raphael blinks in surprise, head shifting the other way. He swallows, hesitantly shifting his grip on Simon's hand, entangling their fingers, squeezing his hand tightly, lightly pressing it back against the window, other hand shifting up, coming to rest on the glass just beside Simon's head, boxing him in.

Ooh…t-that...that's umm...oh whoa…

Simon shivered, feeling his head spin and his heart race, an excited flutter low in his stomach and that buzzy little tingle slipping over his skin. He squeezes Raphael's hand back approvingly, excitedly shifting, bright blue eyes eagerly flickering over him, moving back up, lingering on his lips. Simon reaches up with his free hand, coming to rest on Raphael's bicep, squeezing, just managing to keep in an embarrassing little whimper, tugging him in even closer.

Raphael gave a soft, low, growly little chuckle, brow quirking knowingly, those dizzyingly hypnotic eyes flaring brighter in excitement, clearly reading every last one of Simon's reactions and more than okay with them. Simon gasped softly, feeling that excited thrill flaring brighter, biting nervously at his lower lip, eyes again flicking wistfully over the other man, once more squeezing his hand, feeling more than a little desperate and breathless, trying to coax him closer.

Raphael swallowed, head tilting the other way, crowding in just the slightest bit closer. He leans in faintly, bringing his lips to just beside Simon's ear, so close that they brush against his ear with each word, each breath. Simon shivers at the warm breath against his skin.

"You are not afraid of me. Even this close…even knowing exactly what I am, you are still not afraid."

Simon gulped, a faint glimmer of understanding somehow slipping through his spinning, buzzing, lust addled mind. He shifts, using every last ounce of willpower he has, pulling just the slightest bit back from the other man, just enough to once again see the beautiful man, to meet his gaze. Simon sighs, gently shaking his head, once more catching those glimmering bright, hauntingly beautiful, dark crimson flaring eyes, holding his gaze.

"There is nothing for me to be afraid of."

Raphael gave a soft, approving little growl like hum that Simon felt clear down to his toes, making his knees weak and his head spin. Raphael's breath again caught, head tilting, those hypnotically gorgeous eyes flaring with an excited spark. His hand resting next to Simon's head shifts over, gently brushing a few soft, loose curls away from Simon's face, tucking them behind his ear, fingertips trailing around the shell of his ear and along his neck.

Simon shivered, again biting his lip to keep in that stupid, truly embarrassing little whimper that's still trying to escape, once more squeezing his hand trying to coax him in closer. Raphael gave another one of those pretty, dizzying growls, this one trailing off into a knowing little chuckle, leaning in closer, turning his head, nuzzling just behind Simon's ear.

Aaand…there went that stupidly embarrassing whimper. Raphael huffed out a soft laugh against Simon's neck, nuzzling teasingly at the dizzying little sweet spot, sending a pleasant little shiver down his spine. Simon would be annoyed at him for laughing at him right now if the sound wasn't so stupidly sexy and it wasn't like right there against his skin where he could feel the vibration slipping clear down to his toes and he wasn't currently using every last bit of his strength and willpower to keep himself from melting into a puddle as his knees yet again feel like they're made of rubber.

Simon huffs breathlessly, hand shifting from his bicep, trailing up, arm wrapping around the other man, pulling him in, hand coming to rest on the back of his head, fingers tangling in Raphael's deliciously soft, silky dark hair, grip tightening, tugging him in desperately. Raphael gave an approving growl and another soft breath of a laugh, nuzzling right against his pulse point, giving a soft, light little nip, again squeezing his hand, lifting it up, pressing it against the window, just beside Simon's head. Simon pretty much melted at that, gasping softly, arm around Raphael tightening, basically the only thing keeping him on his feet. Raphael seemed more than happy with this, hand trailing teasingly down Simon's side, coming to rest low on his hip, squeezing, finally pulling him flush against him.

Mmm…oh damn that is j-

The two startle at a sharp, glaringly loud feedback like sound from Simon's holowatch that is currently pretty much pressed flat against Raphael's head, a series of loud, annoyed, static-y beeps, boops, squeaks and trills bursting out of the device. Simon flails in an attempt to get the annoying trilling device away from Raphael's head, quickly moving his arm from around the other man. At the sharp feedback sound Raphael starts, quickly letting go of Simon's hand, pulling his hand away from his hip, quickly stepping back.

"Woah!" Simon exclaimed, knees nearly buckling at the sudden lack of support nearly pitching forward.

Raphael started, shifting back to him in a blink, catching and steadying him. Simon flushed, grasping his arm, steadying himself. Raphael shifted them over, settling Simon against his desk.

"Woah there-sorry Angel…I-"

Simon flushed, shaking his head, smiling, settling more comfortably against the desk, getting his balance, reassuringly waving him off.

"N-no, no, my fault. Beck has an override for the watch to break through. However it's supposed to be for emergencies not hissy fits. Didn't mean t-j-sorry-just one sec-" he groaned exasperatedly, rolling not only his eyes but his whole head, huffing irritatedly, holding up a finger before irritatedly jabbing at one of the buttons on the holowatch.

"Okay Becks! Okay I know-stop yelling, stop panicking, just chill dude.

Everything's good, everything's fine. No need for a search party, intervention, rescue mission, deprogramization or freaking bubble wrap. I'm not hurt, lost or trapped anywhere. I didn't bump my head and get amnesia or get eaten alive by ravenous evil sea birds. I didn't accidentally fall into a hole in time, off a cliff, into a dino pit or into the clutches of some random evil cult.

I'm good, I'm fine, I'm safe. I'm not mad or freezing you out or giving you the silent treatment or avoiding you-it's just been a busy day. I'm at work and there's a lot of things to get dealt with and squared away." He huffed, as the chatter picks back up, this time even more animated and with far more colorful language.

Simon rolls his eyes, hitting the mute button on the watch, silencing his side, glancing up at Raphael, animatedly gesturing towards the watch.

"You see what I have to put up with?"

Raphael snickered, shrugging faintly, smiling soft and warm.

"I do. But maybe cut the little guy some slack. He was just worried…" he smiles, shaking his head, settling next to Simon against the desk before pausing, smile pulling into a cute little smirk, brow quirking, head tilting towards the watch.

"Quite the vocabulary by the way."

Simon snorted, nodding.

"Tell me about it. I don't know where he picks it up- or half his crazy panic spirals. I really need to figure out what the hell he's watching. Might have to put a few parental blockers in, just for his own good."

Raphael chuckled, relaxing a bit closer.

"Think they'd work with him?"

Simon huffed, shaking his head.

"If they did I'd if already been using them. I feel like I should be able to cook up something that would kind of work though. I've just never really put in the time as I'm the only one who can understand about ninety percent of what he's saying…" he paused, glancing over, head tilting, shrugging.

"Guess I might have to now."

Raphael chuckled, shaking his head, waving him off.

"Not necessary on my account. I don't really have that delicate of sensibilities. And if anything the robo-dramatics are fairly entertaining."

Simon chuckled, brow quirking.

"Yeah, you say that now, give it a week or so and get back to me on that." he sighed, head titling towards the watch apologetically.

"I should probably be getting back in there soon though. It sounds like he's wound pretty damn tight. I really need to do some placating and apologizing. He's a bit high strung."

Raphael chuckled, flashing a warm smile, nodding.

"Yeah, kinda got that. Definitely seems like you have your work cut out for you. He kinda reminds me of Mags when he gets going on something. When he gets like that I usually smooth it over with something gaudy and sparkly…don't know if that'll work with him though."

Simon laughed, brightening.

"Oh man he's gonna love that. Think the man's like his idol. And usually with him it's some new plants for his sleeping aquarium. He does like crystals though…maybe I'll get a few new ones to hang in the windows."

Raphael chuckled, nodding.

"Good to know…I know he was pretty enamored with some of the ones down in my lab garden, maybe he'd like one of those. And not to turn your own words back on you or anything but on the Mags/Idol thing? Give it a week or so and get back to me. I love the man to death but a little of him can go a VERY long day."

Simon blinked in surprise, flashing a warm smile.

"Oh wow that's really sweet. But you really don't have to do that. Thinking just telling him he reminded you of Magnus would likely go a long way in the apology for abandoning him most of the day…well not so much work as an apology so much as a really useful distraction to make him forget he was mad."

"Yup, he's your Mags alright. I use that on him all the time. With him flattery really will get you everywhere." Raphael laughed.

Simon snickered, nodding. Raphael chuckled, nodding back, flashing an amused little smile, settling a bit closer, hesitantly glancing over, head titling curiously, clearly feeling like he might be overstepping.

"I might be able to help too…if you want?"

Simon sighed, smiling, reaching over, resting his hand on Raphael's arm, squeezing gently, truly touched by the offer.

"Raph, that's really sweet but you don't have to do that."

Raphael shifted, shrugged, giving a faint wave.

"I may not 'have' to do it, but I kind of want to. I mean it was largely my fault he was basically grounded. I could come with you, apologize for last night and explain everything you had to deal with today. Maybe having someone else explain it to him will reassure him you weren't just ignoring him.

Do you think that would help?"

Simon blinked.

"I-w-well…yeah, I'm sure it would help a lot but again you really don't have to."

Raphael smiled, nodding.

"I don't 'have' to do anything…but I would very much like to. If you're okay with it of course."

Simon swallowed, cheeks warming, settling closer, nodding.

"Then…yes…thank you."

Raphael smiled, nodding, settling closer, gesturing towards Simon's watch.

"Of course…though we should probably head him off soon- I know he's incapable of running out of breath but I feel like if he keeps going he's gonna end up either blowing a fuse or frying a processor."

Simon laughed, glancing down at his watch, rolling his eyes at the still rambling stream of Becks scolding.

"Yeah you're probably right…" he huffed, hitting the mute button again, turning the sound back on their side.

"Oh- alright Becks, that's enough! You're being really overdramatic and I'm sure you were fine- our lab should be like a freaking playground for you. W-" he's cut off by a series of beeps, squeaks, trills and boops.

"Yes, Becks I know it was a long time you were alone b-" Raphael reached over, lightly catching Simon's hand, lifting it, bringing the holowatch near his mouth, glancing up, catching Simon's eye, flashing a playful little wink.

"But it wasn't Simon's fault; Sorry Becks. It was all me."

The trail of sound immediately stopped- Simon even thinks he may have heard an old timey record scratch. It was dead silent for a few moments before a soft, barely audible little squeak chirps out.

Raphael huffed out a soft laugh, nodding, subconsciously squeezing Simon's hand.

"Yes Becks, it's me."

Two little boops.

He chuckled, a soft, warm little smile tugging at the corner of his lips, again nodding in answer, casually waving with his free hand, settling a bit more comfortably next to Simon.

"Hi Becks."

A few awkward, much quieter little trills and squeaks. Raphael nodded, smiling, pretty dark eyes twinkling in amusement.

"Yup…every last word. Quite the vocabulary you have there little one."

Huh…Simon didn't know it was actually possible to hear someone facepalm…or blush…then again before today he also didn't know Becks actually COULD blush so there is that.

Simon cleared his throat in an attempt to cover his laugh. He wasn't sure how effective it was but it was the best he could do. Becks gave an annoyed little huff and a pouty, grumbly little string of half audible little blips, trills and squeaks. Simon snorted, rolling his eyes, smiling softly, leaning in a bit closer to the holowatch.

"And when exactly was I supposed to give you this heads up that you were making a scene in front of him? When you used your emergency protocol to commandeer my holowatch using a feedback sound that feels like nails on a chalkboard or when you were cursing me out?"

A huffy, grumbly boop and click.

Raphael chuckled, catching Simon's eye, smiling warm and bright, gorgeous glittery eyes sparkling with amusement and clear affection for the antics of the little Tridectopod, Simon felt his breath catch, his heart flipping at the gentleness and warmth. Raphael's head tilted, smile shifting faintly, a little spark dancing in those pretty eyes before he shifts his attention back to the watch, knee weakening smile coming through in his tone.

"True but it is quite rude to talk over someone- and you did seem like you really needed to get all of that out. In any case it really wasn't Simon's fault. I had a few things I needed his help with that had to be dealt with today and we just kind of lost track of time. I promise he wasn't ignoring you.

We're actually just now finishing up in my office. We were going to make a quick side trip to grab a takeaway order from the cafeteria and then head up there to meet you and go over everything from today and yesterday. I know you have a lot to talk about but I figured setting down over a relaxing meal would be best. With everything today we've been so busy neither of us have even had a chance to eat and I didn't want to feel like I was rushing us through it. This way we can just relax and go at our own pace.

I think all three of us could use that after last night, yes?"

Becks gave a soft little squeaky trill, sound perking up, ending on a hopeful little boop. Raphael gave a soft chuckle, nodding.

"Yes little one, we're on our way now, shouldn't be more than fifteen minutes tops, you can even set a timer if you want."

Becks gave a sassy, playful little chirp.

"Well you just do that. See you soon little one." He chuckled once more, letting go of Simon's hand, quickly hitting a few buttons on his own sleek black matte titanium holowatch, a soft chime sounding before he glances up, shaking his head, rolling his eyes, smiling at Simon in disbelief.

"I put us in an order, should be up before we get there, I just got us burgers and fries with the toppings and condiments on the side just in case there's anything you don't want on them. I can't believe he actually set a timer!"

Simon laughed, shrugging, slipping off the desk, moving to his feet, Raphael following suit, the pair beginning across the office towards the door.

"Hey you gave him the challenge. He can never pass up a chance to call a bluff."

Raphael chucked, head shaking.

"Hmm neither can I. this should be fun."

Simon laughed, shaking his head animatedly.

"Oh dude…you have no idea what you're getting into."

Raphael smirked, those gorgeously dark eyes sparking, shifting, flaring a brilliant red, smirking, winking.

"Neither do you Angel…"

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TheEnd***

***ForNow

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WMTC-

World Medical Technological Council

Woohoo! Another completed story!

This makes 29 completed stories and we're getting really close to 2 million words {1,907,000 words so far)

You know sometimes I get discouraged because it takes me so long to complete a story and I wonder what is taking so long…then I look at the word count. We just have 10 more chapters left in this round of stories- 10 out of 108. I'm really eager to put this set of stories behind me. Sorry it's taken so long; I know it seems like I go a long time without updates at times but there's so much behind the scenes work I have put in for the stories. I have to really solidify the worlds to make sure I don't end up having to do the annoying retcon thing so many shows do I want to make sure everything is leading where it's supposed to. I have all the upcoming stories for all the verses worked out- some are just vague ideas while others are set scene for scene but each one is ready {92 different stories- hence why it's taking so long}

I know it's taking a long time but I think of it as a marathon not a sprint. I'd always rather take longer and end up with the story I really want than rush through and

Not like the finished project. I really love all the stories I've finished so far. I hope you do to.

So this is the 2nd story in this verse, we still have 8 more to go. I don't do spoilers but here are the Stories to come:

Raptor Run

A Picture's Worth A thousand Words

School Project

Something Lurking In The Dark

Demon Duck Of Doom

I see a bad moon rising

The Future Is Now

Again I know it doesn't tell you a lot but that's half the fun. So what do you think of the verse so far? What's your favorite verse?

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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{ *^*^*^ *^*^*^*^*^*^*]8*- Future Fallout Verse*-8 [ *^*^*^ *^*^*^*^*^*^*}