V1S2- Fashion Police, It's An Emergency!- Psych! It's Magnus Verse

Chapter 6: He knows the game well

       

Summary:

Simon is just completely different from anyone Raphael has ever met; he really has no clue what to do with that.

**FYI this gets a bit broody and introspective, but I swear it will be the only time in this story we get that**

Chapter Text

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Raphael sighed as he realized he had been reading the same paragraph for the last thirty minutes. When Magnus had left, after his initial worry that he was off to track down Simon and grill the poor boy relentlessly, he had been a bit relieved with the break. It had been a while since he'd had the place to himself, and, while he loved Magnus, the guy was a bit much all the time. It was nice just to have a quiet moment. He had settled in on the couch, intent on beginning the newest thriller he'd picked up that he hadn't had a chance to start. Usually he could completely lose himself in a story, shutting out the rest of the world- Magnus included, which annoyed the hell out of Magnus, and absolutely delighted Raphael - clearing his mind of the standard day to day. But today; today it just wasn't working. His mind just wouldn't focus on the story; it kept drifting, back to the day before, back to Simon...

There was just something about the guy.

Raphael knew people. He could read them nearly as well as Magnus; could see what they were planning, what they were thinking, reading their motives as easy as any book. He could tell when they were lying, or being sincere. When they were being manipulative, deceitful, or genuine. Most everyone, in his experience, was working on something; playing some kind of game, some kind of angle. Magnus said he was cynical; he maintained that he was just a realist.

He could tell when someone found him attractive, when they were interested. He usually found it amusing, watching them flounder; flirting, seducing, trying so hard with lines that, honestly, he couldn't believe anyone would even say out loud, much less go for. The way too blatant looks, overly inviting smiles or 'innocent' touches that lasted just a bit too long, seeming just a bit too familiar. None of it ever had any effect on him; well, unless you counted an eye-roll and a vague feeling of pity and/or annoyance as an effect. He knew that game; could play it quite well, actually, when it suited him. He knew all the tricks; a lingering look, a comment made in just the right tone at just the right time. Everyone seemed to play this game; always striding for the upper hand, everyone had an angle, a goal...

Everyone but Simon.

Simon was just completely different. Different from anyone he'd ever met. Everything about him was just; so open, so honest, so real.  Raphael didn't know if the guy could hide anything if he tried. There didn't seem to be a deceptive or dishonest part to him. Most people tried to hide their emotions, tried to school there actions, their words; trying to tailor them to best suit the situation. But with Simon? With Simon, everything was just there; He had been SO animated, so excited, chattering on without even a second thought.  He didn't seem to be able to stand still and seemed to talk faster than even he could keep up with. Everything about him was just right there; in plain sight for anyone to see.

Raphael just didn't know what to do with someone like that. That kind of openness and honesty; it just completely threw everything Raphael thought he knew about people out the window.

He thought the guy was interested in him, but it wasn't anything like with others. Simon never seemed to be sizing him up, or appraising him. He didn't seem to be trying to 'work' him. Raphael kind of doubted Simon even really knew how to flirt; the thought made him smile a bit. The guy, blushing and stumbling, attempting some of the cheesy lines he'd heard. Raphael shook his head with a bit of a laugh; much as he loathed to admit it, they might be far more effective on him coming from Simon.

He wondered how the guy would react to him being asexual. If he would even be interested in dating Raphael after he found out.  It threw a lot of people, he knew. Many didn't even know what it meant; it got old having to continually explain. Trying to tell someone, yes, he wanted to date, yes, he wanted a relationship; he just didn't want all the 'physical' things that went along with it. It just seemed so foreign to people. Which always kind of  baffled him; god knows there are plenty of people who can have sex without love- a quick search of the internet and the prevalence of 'hook up' apps ample proof of that-, why is the reverse such a hard concept for people to grasp? He knew, with Simon, he'd be able to tell exactly what he thought of it, knew he wouldn't be able to hide his reaction. It kind of scared Raphael; how much it would hurt if this really sweet, kind, open, honest, adorable guy; just couldn't accept him.

Raphael was pulled from his, rather depressing, thoughts by a knock at the door.

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Notes:

Gee, I wonder who it could be?

Sorry if this chapter got a bit broody; I wanted to give a bit of what Raphael is dealing with. I really want him and Simon to balance each other out, which I think they seem like they will.

I like the idea that Raphael is a flirt and uses it to his advantage when necessary. He's kind of coming off as a bit manipulative, but I really like it. I have a feeling that will come into play a lot in this series. He won't be like that with Simon though; I'm thinking Simon and Magnus are kind of his weak spots, the people that can really get to him and actually see him for who he is underneath the persona he shows the rest of the world.

(This stupid series is going to completely take over my mind, I can tell already)

**THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SHORT FLUFFY ONESHOT DAMNIT!**

Whatever, Chapter 7 will be up soon