V1S12- You Can Go Home Again..

Chapter 4: Homecoming...

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*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*

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"-trays in the upright position, thank you..."

Simon took a deep breath, squeezing his hand again. Raphael smiled softly, lifting his hand, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to the back of it. Simon gave a light, sweet huff of a laugh, cuddling closer to his side, flashing one more grateful little smile that didn't quite cover the flit of nerves shimmering in those soft golden brown eyes.

Dios this is not gonna be a fun trip.

He's been trying to help Simon relax for the entire flight, try to give his things to take his mind off everything but it's not nearly as effective as it usually would be. Understandable...about the last thing Simon wanted was to come back to Lawrence. He knows the guy's a basket case about this, absolutely dreading it, no question. Even so one call from Drake and he's ready to hop on the next plane out...which...well...hmm.

So...Simon and Drake were a thing...

Huh...

Did not see that coming.

Gotta admit he's kinda surprised Simon didn't think to mention it before they were on the flight. Admittedly it was a bit of a frantic, rushed, stressed morning and a whirlwind trying to get it all in order but even so it seems like something he'd of mentioned- especially given the fact they'll be staying at the man's place. Which was...uh...yeah...

Don't get him wrong, the offer was nice and given that they're flying out to help him look into a possible case that they kinda have to keep a lid on it is by far the most logical option. Even so compared to staying in his boyfriend's high school sweetheart's guestroom the Dateline Hotel seems like it could actually have a certain charm. It's not really his place to bring it up and heaven knows this trips gonna be rough enough for Simon without tossing his totally irrational prickliness about the situation into the mix. Last thing he wants is to add to Simon's nerves here.

He is a bit surprised Simon didn't think to mention it- usually the guy's hyperaware of the feelings and emotions of those around him- especially Raphael's but this situation is anything but usual. He's more than entitled to focus on himself here. Actually for the next couple days that's exactly what he needs to do. None of this is about Raphael and his weirdness about their accommodations. This is about helping Simon get through this with as little unpleasantness as possible.

He's sure if it even faintly occurred to Simon that the ex thing might be a sore spot for him he'd of given him a heads up. Though it's not as if the guy really had much of a heads up himself that this would be a thing they would be dealing with. He never planned to go back, never wanted to have to face that... to run the risk of seeing them again...of bringing it all back up.

Simon made it through that time, struck out on his own, made his own way and managed to put Lawrence, his parents and all of that unpleasantness behind him. He had been building his own life totally separate from that for nearly a decade. He genuinely thought all of it was in the past. And up till 6:45 this morning that's exactly where he had every intention of keeping it.