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This Is Why You Don't Wander Away From The Group… Story 2 Agents & Aliens Verse (Verse5)

Intro:

Memo to Simon:

Do not wander around the home of someone that you yourself describe as a 'Supervillian'. Do not snoop. Do not go into secret hidden rooms you stumble onto during said snooping- no matter how cool a secret hidden room behind a fireplace is. Do not panic when said hidden room's walls are festooned with very real SO-not-a-movie-prop sharp, blade-y objects of death. DO NOT try to pocket one such 'sharp, blade-y death object'…

And MOST importantly since you SO clearly cannot keep from doing any of this…

DO NOT GET CAUGHT!

Welp…poor Simon is kinda out five for five there. He wandered…he snooped…he panicked…he pocketed…AAAND he got caught.

Big time…

So…Now what?

And Why do Raphael's deep espresso brown eyes suddenly glimmer, flash and flicker like dancing flames...

See Simon?

THIS is why you don't wander away from the group.

Notes:

Hi again! I'm back- couldn't stay away. Starting on round 2 of the stories- same deal as the last set- writing 9 stories at the same time so it might be a bit between updates but I promise I'm not going anywhere.

This story is gonna pick up right where we left off in the last one because…well…really when you end on a cliffhanger starting anywhere else would be just cruel (So if by chance you haven't read that one yet you probably want to start there- otherwise it's probably not gonna make a whole lot of sense.).

Oh, one more (kinda long sorry) thing? While this round all the stories ARE gonna be 12 chapters I'm gonna probably be having most chapters only 1 section. This is partly because some of them are picking up in the same scene we left off on in story 1 but mainly because I am trying to break myself of the mindset that I 'have' to have multiple sections for every chapter. Think I started this early on as a way of beefing up the stories as in my 1st couple I'd have chapter sections that weren't even two full pages….

Uh this SO is not the case anymore.

In the 1st round of stories I ended up with multiple chapters that were well over 12k words- that's literally longer than my 2nd completed story in the Psych! Verse.

I like long stories (And believe me they still will be) but I tend to be a creature of habit and I kinda got into the mindset that I 'had' to have multiple parts for near each and every chapter which led to filler sections that looking back I probably could have done without. I'm not deleting any of them as they are a part of the completed story and I'm sure deleting entire sections would lead to issues with continuity and honestly some of them I really do just genuinely like as they give a bit more insight into the verse or the characters themselves.

So from here on out the stories will still be long, will still be rounded and (mostly) balanced between our major players POV's but from here on out I'm gonna try to keep the multiple sectional chapters to when the story actually calls for them rather than having them just to have them.

On the plus side this means generally when a chapter is posted it is done entirely rather than in sections so that should help (And don't worry about missing any updates or what have you- if a chapter's gonna have more sections I'll give a heads up both in the beginning and end notes).

Kay? Kay…moving on…

Yeesh…sorry for going on so long-

Here we go again…

How's Simon gonna get out of this one?

Let's find out…

Chapter 01: Flame eyes, Elbow Barbs And Spock Ears… (Oh My){*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^} *-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-*-Simon-* {*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^}

"Oh Simon…I really wish you wouldn't have done that…" Raphael murmurs, impossibly deep brown eyes flickering bright again, a flash of something that seems to spark and flicker. They slip from the glimmering object in Simon's hand back up to his face, meeting Simon's gaze.

He swallows, head shaking faintly, hand lowering back to his side.

"I am sorry- I did not want to have to do that Angel."

W-what t…

Oh god…

Oh my god…

Why can't he move?

W-why can't he speak!?

He's trying- trying with all his might but nothing's coming out…nothing. He's paralyzed, he can't even so much as twitch…all he can move is his eyes.

Why, how, wha-

Raphael blinks and Simon feels his heart stop. His eyes' glimmer yet again, the deep, rich espresso brown brightening, overtaken by vibrant orange, gold, and reds, glowing, flashing, and flickering like flames. The brilliant flame like irises are now circled by inky, glossy black, pupils an odd, upside down pear shape. They're black but seem to catch in the light, reflecting like a cat's. His skintone shifts as well, the rich golden tan brightening to a dusky dappled burnt amber, subtly patterned with brushes of copper, crimson, and saffron, faint hints of gold catching in the light, glimmering softly, highlighting his sharp, striking features.

Simon makes a slight, soft, barely audible whimper that's really just a stuttery, terrified breath, eyes widening, feeling his heart rate zoom. He feels tingly and cold and hot and dizzy and like he's gonna pass out but how do you pass out when your muscles are frozen?

Oh god this is j-

Raphael gives a soft gasp, flame eyes glimmering bright, nearly glowing, hands coming up in a placating gesture…his nails look longer, sharp and dark, glossy black. The movement exposes his forearm, five dusky red marks of descending size trail from the base of his wrist to just below his elbow which is now tipped with a sharp, vicious looking deep crimson barb that catches in the light, glinting like a blade.

"Simon you need to stop panicking."

Stop Panicking!? He's paralyzed, staring at a guy with flashing, glowing flame eyes, glimmering orange, red and gold patterned skin and elbow barbs! Who just caught him in a secret hidden room packed to the ceiling with pointy, bladed death objects- one of which he was clearly in the process of stealing.

A patterned, elbow barbed, fire eyed guy who not fifteen minutes ago he was cuddled up on the couch with, flirting, blushing, giggling and teasing.

How the hell do you NOT panic in this situation?!

Simon made the whimpering sound again, eyes widening more, locking on the elbow barb things.

Raphael seemed to falter, a shadow of something almost like regret flickering in those glimmering flame like eyes. He sighed, shaking his head, beginning to lower his hands before just giving a kind of helpless gesture and a barely there shrug.

"I-look…I know you're terrified- I know it's because of me and I'm sorry- I really, really am, you have no idea how sorry I am about that. I know I look scary but Simon I am no threat to you- I swear I'm not." He took a deep breath, swallowing, a little flicker of something glimmering over his skin, the colors brightening for a moment before shifting back, raising his hand near cautiously, pointing at the glimmering black object in Simon's hand.

"But that is."

Simon blinked, barely daring to breathe, eyes flickering down to the thing in his hand then back to Raphael questioningly. He swallowed, nodding faintly.

"It's a type of weapon- designed to take out a ship, capable of taking out an entire squadron. It's triggered by blood- you must have nicked yourself when you picked it up. It's activated and extremely sensitive. That's why I had to use thedal seicig on you- I couldn't risk it going off. If you drop it or move it too quickly, or even just react too much it will sense it and go off and everything within about four hundred yards will be little more than a smoking crater…so like I said I know it's hard and terrifying and that does not in any way make it any easier but I REALLY need you to try to calm down as best you can…

Okay?"

Simon gulped trying to nod, settling for a slow blink as an answer, taking a couple deep breaths. Raphael seemed to relax faintly, the tension in his stance easing a bit. He took a deep breath, nodding, flashing a faintly encouraging smile.

"Much better- your heart rates getting closer to your normal level."

How did h-

He sighed, eyebrow quirking faintly.

"Okay now not so much…"

Simon gave a sharp exhale- the closest thing he could muster to a scoff- along with the single most sarcastic eye-glare of his entire life. Raphael huffed out a surprised breath of an almost laugh, a little smirk tugging at the side of his lips. Simon somehow managed to glare even more.

Raphael again held his hands up placatingly- this time clearly mindfully keeping the elbow barbs out of view, shrugging faintly.

"Sorry- not laughing. Just this is a definite improvement. While a sharp jostle or sudden drop can set it off terror, fear and panic are what is mainly designed to set it off- anger not so much.

If that were the case it'd more often than not go off the second it was activated. You don't generally intentionally incinerate an entire ship and about a quarter mile of space when you're safe, sane and totally clearheaded."

Simon blinked rapidly not really sure how to respond to that.

"Okay if you insist on it confusion works nearly as good as annoyance."

Simon did the sharp exhale again, doing his best to quirk his eyebrow sarcastically. It didn't really work but since apparently Raphael could read emotions or whatever he knew damn good and well it got through crystal clear.

Jackass…

Those odd eyes flickered brighter, nearly glowing, a hint of amusement playing in the bright, dancing depths. He smiled, nodding encouragingly.

"Good…you're actually doing really good right now. Just keep being vaguely annoyed and calling me an ass in your head and we'll be fine. Can you do that?"

How did h-

He shook his head.

"I can't read minds- just physical reactions and expressions…and that one's pretty self-explanatory even just from your eyes. Just try to stay as calm as possible and if needed lean into the annoyance and 'jackassary'- okay?"

Simon took a deep breath, giving a slow blink for yes. Raphael flashed a relieved smile, nodding gratefully.

"Good thank you. Now I know the immobility is really alarming and it's a big stressor but I can't take it off without risking you startling from the sudden change and fumbling the Steaua Mortii. I can drop it enough so that you can talk and move your head and such but I don't want to ease it any more than that until I get the Steaua Mortii out of your hand and safely disarmed. Also if at all possible try to avoid sudden loud bursts of sound- some models can be triggered by that…I don't think that one is geared that way but I do not want to take any chances, alright?"

Simon again did the slow blink. Raphael nodded back, raising his hand, giving a little flickering movement. Simon swallowed, feeling the muscles in his neck relax. He gasped slightly, cautiously trying to move his mouth.

"W-what…th…oh I REALLY don't like that."

Raphael nodded.

"I know…and I'm sorry. It triggered just as I got here. I heard it engaging just as I got in the library. You were panicked and your adrenalin was spiking. I couldn't do anything about that so I had to do what I could.

A-and I am sorry about scaring you…it really was not intentional. It's just that I can't do the deactivation procedure without dropping my camouflage completely…s-so I will have to get fairly close to you and I have to do it like this…

Again sorry…" He paused, shrugging faintly, reaching up, brushing his hair back, tucking it behind what Simon just noticed were slightly pointed ears.

"You have Spock ears…"

Raphael blinked in surprise, eyebrow quirking.

"Umm…yes…suppose I do."

Simon's eyes widened realizing that wasn't just an inner thought, giving a faint groan, dropping his head forward.

"Oh my god- escaping inner thought…sorry….maybe you should have left the dolce-whatever up a bit longer."

Raphael smiled near teasingly, taking a small, hesitant step closer.

"Dal seicig…Dolce is a type of drink at Starbucks."

That surprised an almost laugh out of Simon. He rolled his eyes disbelievingly.

"Dude really? You're gonna call me out on not being able to pronounce a language I've never even heard before?"

Raphael shrugged, shifting a bit closer, giving a flippant little wave.

"Well to be fair it really was a terrible attempt."

"Hey!"

Raphael startled faintly at the volume, eyes flickering down to Simon's hand. Simon inhaled sharply, freezing. Raphael shook his head, again catching Simon's eye, flashing a gentle smile, slipping a little closer.

"It's fine Angel…don't think about it…just keep talking…you are doing fine. Even if you are horrible at pronunciation." He added, eyebrow quirking in near challenge, a smug little smirk tugging at his lips, meeting Simon's eyes expectantly.

Simon swallowed, catching on to the distraction, giving a slight barely there nod, swallowing once more, a nervous little laugh escaping followed by a faint, not quite real smile.

"H-Hey I can't help it…I suck at pronunciation okay? I just do. Always have…I took an entire year of Spanish in High School and all I learned how to say is 'I don't speak Spanish'…and trust me as bad as it comes out you will totally believe me."

Raphael chuckled, giving a faintly dismissive shrug, moving a bit closer, coming to a stop barely a foot in front of Simon.

"It's fine…the more languages you know the more you are expected to talk….that's why I try to avoid letting on just how many I know. There's a handful of people that actually think I'm completely mute and at least a dozen more I know who don't even think I speak English. I initially tried that to throw Mags off but he figured it out…annoyed me into answering….he's sneaky like that."

Simon gave a surprised laugh, head tilting curiously.

"How many do you know?"

He shrugged.

"Umm…last count? About a hundred- but that was decades ago and even then I'm sure I was forgetting some."

Simon swallowed blinking faintly.

"Wow…h-how-t-"

Raphael swallowed, glancing up, catching his eyes.

"Kay…Simon…I'm going to begin the deactivation now but it has to be done very carefully. I need you to stay as calm as possible and I'm gonna need to move your hand to where I can see the device. There's two different activation modes- distinct for a specific target or sweeping for maximum destruction…I need to see which one was triggered…okay?"

Simon swallowed, nodding. Raphael flashed a gentle smile, nodding back. He took a deep breath, reaching forward slowly, lightly catching Simon's hand with the device. He pulled it gently towards him, turning Simon's hand, slowly lifting it palm up, the device now balanced in the center of his hand. His thumb traces along the side of Simon's hand, trailing over the tips of his fingers, leaving his skin tingly. He tilts Simon's hand just the slightest bit, the light catching on some patterning, Simon registers as some kind of writing unlike anything he's ever seen before, a perfect circle of it. Raphael swipes his thumb clockwise over the top of the writing. It glimmers, shimmering before glowing a dark blood red.

"Damnit…" Raphael exhales, head shaking.

Simon whimpers, swallowing.

"W-i-it's the bad one? Like t-the REALLY bad one?"

Raphael glances up, nodding.

"It's the distinct activation that was triggered."

Simon blinked, head tilting in confusion.

"I-but…I don't understand…I thought that was the good one? I mean the other one you literally said was designed for maximum destruction…Distinct means a specific target…how is THAT not the better option?"

Raphael swallowed, looking up apologetically, head shaking.

"Because the target it's locked onto is you."

Oh…well…t-that's…umm…

Oh Crap…

Simon gulped, startling.

"W-what do I-can yo-how w-."

Raphael shook his head, reaching up with his free hand, squeezing Simon's arm.

"Simon-Angel? Stop…okay…stop spinning…it's alright. Okay…it's alright."

"It's alright?!"

"Shh!"

"Damnit…" Simon took a faintly gulping breath, swallowing again. Leaning forward as much as possible whisper yelling, eyes wide and panicked.

"What the hell do you mean 'it's alright'?! I'm in a supervillian-esq what I'm just now realizing is probably a literal fortress of solitude complete with alien type security in a hidden room behind a fireplace festooned with sharp blade-y death objects with a flame eyed, barbed alien and a freaking space weapon designed to smell fear, panic and terror and take out entire ships and squadrons and it's now latched onto my scent…

And I am HOLDING it.

And panicking because…well…all the things I literally JUST said.

What part of that is 'alright'?"

Raphael leaned closer, squeezing his hand lightly, meeting his gaze, holding it.

"The part where the 'flame eyed, barbed alien' has more experience with fear, pain, panic and near death situations than you have comics books. I have fought and nearly died. Been so close to death that there's no way I should have logically made it out…a few I still don't know how I survived. Been to many points when I'd nearly welcome it. I've hunted…been hunted…faced nearly every conceivable type of death you can think of and more than a few that you'd never imagine. I have faced things that the things that give most people nightmares have nightmares about.

I've made it through all of it.

And I sure as hell am not gonna make it through all of that just to be taken out by a piece of wall décor from my own damn home.

Got it?"

Simon gulped, nodding quickly. Raphael gave a curt nod back.

"Simon I know you're scared…and I'm not saying you have no reason to be. I know this is a lot, and it's insane and it's terrifying…but I got you- Okay?"

Simon swallowed, nodding again.

"O-okay…" he breathed, the words coming out slightly breathless, feeling his head spinning, cheeks warming a bit, an odd little shiver slipping down his spine…he told himself it was a fear shiver.

Raphael's expression softened, thumb trailing over his fingers, lightly squeezing, meeting his eyes, shaking his head faintly.

"I know this is scary Angel but I've faced a thousand times worse…I really have. The cabinet you got this out of? It has thirty other devices just like this one- I've disabled them all…I can disable it no problem and you are correct that the distinct setting is the far less dangerous option.

The reason I was hoping for the sweeping activation is because I could move it away from you to a safer location to deactivate it. I cannot do that with the distinct setting…if it loses contact with your skin it will trigger. So I know it's kind of unsettling but I'm gonna have to stay pretty close to you for a bit longer…and I get that it's rather jarring but while I'm disabling it I really need you to try to stay as calm and unpanicked as possible….

Can you do that?"

Simon swallowed, nodding nervously. Raphael took a deep breath, again slipping closer, shifting Simon's hand a bit, leaning forward for a better view, head tilting faintly this way and that, sharp, glimmering eyes taking in everything. He raised his other hand, tracing along the writing, this time counter clockwise. The object glimmered, the black shifting, somehow deepening.

Simon swallowed, trying to focus on something-anything other than the glimmering death object in his freaking hand…He looked up, eyes settling on Raphael. He blinked, eyes flickering curiously first from the pointed, Spock like ears over to the bright blazing eyes and the warm, rich tones highlighting his slightly sharper features. He gulped faintly, feeling a dizzying little flutter.

Umm…A-A fear flutter…that's what it was…

T-totally….

Raphael's breath caught, glancing up, glimmering flame eyes catching Simon's.

"Simon? Your heart rate's rising…"

He swallowed, eyes flickering nervously over Raphael.

"Y-you're really close…"

Raphael sighed.

"I know…sorry…I'll be done soon."

Simon blinked, head shaking.

"Oh no, that's n-" he trails off as the object suddenly flickers, the glimmering red writing flashing a sharp, electric violet a flash of crackling near white-violet pulse radiating out. It goes from feeling warm to near ice cold.

Simon startles, eyes wide.

"Wh-"

Raphael shook his head.

"It's okay, that was the deactivation- it's supposed to do that. We're good." He flashed a relieved smile, lightly plucking the thing out of Simon's palm, carrying it over, replacing it in the case, closing the glass before turning back to Simon, hesitantly coming closer, stopping about three feet from him.

"Like I said- perfectly fine…well except-"

He reached up giving another quick little flickering motion, eyes glimmering bright. Simon gasped, suddenly feeling his muscles relax, limbs feeling wobbly, clumsy and uncoordinated even for him. He startled faintly, eyes squeezing close, nearly tumbling forward, trying to brace for the impact with the floor.

It never came.

Simon startled again at a sudden impact with something far more forgiving than the floor…and far warmer…definitely not unpleasant. His arms went up automatically, wrapping around, bracing himself. Strong, sure hands catch him, holding him up, resting at his shoulders, steadying him before sliding down, coming to rest at his waist, squeezing.

"Woah! Damnit…sorry…I should have warned you. It's kinda disorienting when the dal seicig drops…you okay?"

Simon blinked his eyes open, feeling his breath catch, heart fluttering, those shimmering, flickering eyes mere inches away, looking him over in concern. He nodded, swallowing again.

"Umm…h-hi…Raphael…"

Raphael huffed out a soft breath of a laugh, head tilting curiously, the barest hint of a near charmed smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Hello Simon."

"Umm…Hi…"

"Hi..?"

Simon took a deep breath, swallowing once more, coming back to himself a bit. He shifted back faintly, raising a hand, gaze shifting around the hidden room, and the sharp, pointy death objects, finally landing back on Raphael, moving from the pointed ears, over the smooth, lightly patterned skin, and bright glimmers of gold highlighting the sharp, striking features, settling back on those glimmering, flickering eyes shimmering like dancing flames, holding up a finger.

"S-so…uh…kinda think we need to talk…"

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Steaua Mortii= Death Star (Come on I couldn't resist).

dal seicig= psychic hold

Yay! SO looking forward to returning to this verse- I really love it- it's easily in my top 3. I have 8 OTHER verses I have to start too so it might be another week or two for an update here but believe me I will be back as soon as possible (Honestly I know I said I'd keep them even but I may sneak back to this verse for an update before I get all the other's started- I really do love it.

So what do you think so far?

* 14 *

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