Hoy amanecí con antojo de Saphael...
Love Language
Flufftober Day 10 - Love Language
(Read on AO3)
Raphael is caught off-guard the first time Simon gives him a gift.
“It’s nothing,” Simon insists. “It’s just that this seems like it’s way more your style than mine, and I know we’re the same size since I borrowed that suit for Alec’s almost wedding, so…”
Raphael inspects the dress shirt, a just-shy-of-black color with a raised, textured pattern in pure black. It is his style, and he isn’t sure what to make of the fact that Simon knows that after the short period of time they’ve known each other.
“Thank you,” Raphael says, deciding there’s no harm in accepting it. He ignores just how pleased Simon looks in return.
That isn’t the last time Simon gives him something. Some of the gifts are planned ahead of time, like the tickets to a show that Simon made sure would start enough after sundown to not be any risk. Another time it’s a brand of cologne Raphael casually mentioned running out of and not being able to find more of, which Simon managed to hunt down a near-perfect duplicate of.
Raphael tries not to think too hard about the fact that Simon’s putting all of this thought and effort into getting him these things. He tries even harder not to think about how much more meaningful the smaller, impromptu gifts are, like Simon swinging by Rosa’s while he’s out to drop off chocolates, or buying a flower from a street vendor to tuck into Raphael’s jacket pocket.
“What is this?” Raphael asks one day.
“It’s a pen,” Simon says, looking uncertainly down at the very nice fountain pen he just handed Raphael.
“No, I mean… all of this. The constant presents. I have plenty of money, I don’t need you to buy me things, Simon,” Raphael says.
“I know,” Simon agrees. “But I want to.”
“Why?” There it is, the root of it all. Raphael hasn’t asked that question yet, like maybe if he didn’t give the gifts too much attention or thought they would just stop. But they haven’t, and Simon probably never will, so he has to at least know why.
“You deserve nice things and you never really treat yourself, you know? You’re always too busy taking care of everyone else.”
Raphael considers that. Simon isn’t wrong, Raphael does spend most of his time and energy looking out for the clan, and for Simon and the other newer fledglings in particular.
“I’ve never been good at that sort of stuff, but Clary always said I was great at gifts,” Simon continues, speaking into Raphael’s continued silence. “I guess gift-giving is, like, my love language.”
It occurs to Raphael then that Simon considers Raphael taking care of him as Raphael’s love language. He’s tempted to argue, except Simon’s right. Raphael does many things out of obligation to his clan, but he does a lot more because he cares, and because he wants to rather than needs to.
It’s his love language.
“You are very great at gifts, Clarissa is correct,” Raphael says finally. “Thank you, Simon.”
“It’s just a pen,” Simon says with a shrug, but Raphael shakes his head.
“I believe tonight you’ve given me more than just a pen.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s just a pen,” Simon repeats.
Raphael turns away with an endeared smile to put his new favorite pen away somewhere special.
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Keep howlin' 🐺
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