More Than Monsters

Werewolf Heart

"Have you lost your damn mind?" Luke asked, sizing up Raphael.

The vampire had about a million snarky comebacks that he could have said, but he decided to keep them to himself, even if some of them were really clever. He reminded himself that he wasn't there to pick a fight. He was there for Simon, the stupid annoying fledging that he was falling harder for than he could care to admit.

"Listen, I️ have something important to ask," Raphael said in a fairly calm tone that had some underlying bitterness to it.

Luke chuckled.

"Now tell me what it is that the Brooklyn vampire clan leader can't handle himself," Luke mocked.

Raphael sighed and cleared his throat. He then made direct eye contact with Luke to show that he was serious.

"It's about Simon," Raphael said softly.

Those three words changed Luke's entire demeanor. His stance became less defensive and his face showed deep concern.

"Is he okay?" Luke asked, sounding surprisingly fearful.

Raphael broke eye contact before shaking his head. Luke gasped.

"He's hurting himself, he's not sleeping, and he's not eating," Raphael recounted.

Luke looked at Raphael, surprised. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He shook his head.

His surprise and worry soon shifted to anger.

"How could you let this happen?" Luke asked bitingly.

Raphael was so close to lashing out, but he could hear Magnus's voice ringing in his head and therefore knew better. Also, while he was angry, part of him felt a little bit guilty. Simon was his responsibility and he had failed him. However, he couldn't reveal that to the werewolf. He was willing to swallow his pride for Simon, but that was just pushing it.

"I️ didn't 'let' anything happen. He started doing this on his own," Raphael snarled.

Luke wasn't buying it. Even if the two were supposed to be enemies, Simon was like a son to him, and therefore he felt very protective of him. Also, frankly, he was always a little bit suspicious of Raphael and questioned Simon's decision to move into the DuMort. He had ultimately supported him, due to the fact that he felt as if perhaps being around his own kind would help the boy to adapt to being a vampire. However, Luke was now regretting that.

Luke shook his head.

"I'm starting to think that him living at the DuMort isn't such a good idea. Maybe he should come back here for a while," Luke suggested.

Raphael was not about to lose Simon, and therefore did not even begin to consider this. He knew that Simon belonged at the DuMort with his people, with him.

"Simon is staying right where he is. It was his decision to live at the DuMort. He can make up his own mind," Raphael retorted defensively.

"I️ know, and I️ respect that. But at the end of the day I'm interested in what's best for him," Luke replied, further guilting Raphael without even realizing it.

"And what's best for Simon is to be around his own kind, not a pack of wild dogs," Raphael snapped, finally losing his composure.

Luke rolled his eyes. He looked away from Raphael, and then back at him and sighed.

"Look, this isn't about us, so I️ suggest that you put aside your personal feelings about my people and think about Simon," Luke said, trying to reason with the other.

Raphael sighed. He dropped the harshness of his tone and spoke softly.

"I️ am thinking about Simon. I️ haven't been able to think about anything else," Raphael admitted.

Luke took a step back. His jaw dropped, and he appeared as if he was about to say something and then changed his mind. That was all that Raphael had to say for Luke to put all of the pieces together.

"I️ didn't know," Luke simply stated.

"No one does. Except Magnus. And now you," Raphael confided.

Luke nodded. He could hardly believe what Raphael was saying to him, and neither could Raphael.

The fear of losing Simon had brought out a side of the clan leader that he was somewhat scared of. It was a more vulnerable and emotional side of him that he thought died along with him when he had turned. Apparently, that just wasn't the case, and Simon was proving that more and more.

"You need to tell him how you feel. I️ can tell that you mean a lot to him, and if he knows that he means that much to you, then it might help him through this," Luke explained.

Raphael nodded, but was slightly surprised. Simon meant the world to him, but it had never before occurred to him that he meant much to Simon. He always assumed that the feelings were one sided. Simon was still good, innocent, and pure. Raphael, on the other hand, had hardened with age and grown colder over time. He had become the monster that he knew Simon would never be.

Besides, perhaps Luke was wrong. Or maybe he was just saying it. Either way, Raphael couldn't brush his words off entirely, regardless of how hard he tried to.

"Do you really think that'll help Simon?" Raphael asked.

Luke nodded.

"I️ do," he said softly. "And if not, I️ can always try and talk some sense into him," he said, attempting to lighten the mood a little bit.

"Okay," Raphael replied.

Luke took in the worried look that remained on the other's face. He took a step closer.

"Hey, it'll all be okay," Luke said calmly, in some ways trying to reassure both of them.

Raphael nodded before turning to go back to the DuMort.

Luke began to walk back inside before he heard Raphael call after him. He turned back around.

"I️ just wanted to thank you. For everything," Raphael said.

Luke gave him a slight head nod.

"Of course," he replied.

Raphael then sped off into the night. A pit formed in his stomach as he tried to think of how he would possibly tell Simon how he felt. He was nervous and unsure, but still, he was willing to do whatever it took to save Simon Lewis.