Gabe too his shoes off, finding a clean enough read to actually wipe his face off.
"How was today?" He asked, noting that Alex seemed to have not had an episode earlier. He ran his fingers through his hair. He was filthy again, like he always was when he had gotten home from the factory. He usually cleaned up as best he could, though.
Alex let out a quiet breath, looking over at him. "It was…it was fine." he replied, biting his lip a little bit, curled in his chair.
"That's good," Gabe said. He gave Alex a small smile, making his way over.
"How are you doing now? Hungry? Or did you eat?"
"I'm, uhm, I'm alright. I'm not hungry." he replied, fidgeting a little bit. He didn't answer the last question. No, he hadn't eaten, but…he wasn't hungry.
"Okay then," Gabe said as he made his way over to Alex.
"I'm glad to know you are doing okay today." He smiled kindly, tilting his head a little.
Alex nodded a little, looking down at his hands. He wasn't doing great, but at least he hadn't collapsed, right? At least he hadn't started crying because of memories again, right? At least the ghost hadn't come around, right?
Gabe watched Alex for a moment, sighing internally.
"Well, I'm going to make some dinner for me. You're more Ryan welcome to have some if you feel up to it, alright?" Gabe gave Alex another small smile, stepping away.
Alex nodded a little bit. "Alright. Thank you." He replied quietly, biting his lip a little as he looked up at Gabe.
Gabe started making his food- it wasn't much, not with his pay, but it was enough to survive on. He glanced over at Alex, smiling, before turning back to his food.
"Have you eaten anything since I left?" He asked. He wasn't an idiot; he knew when people were avoiding things.
Alex hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "…no." he replied softly. "I wasn't…I'm not hungry…" he bit his lip slightly.
Gabe paused for a moment, thinking, before he returned to preparing his food.
"It's not good to not eat," he said softly. He seemed more withdrawn now. "You'll waste away…"
(So uh. I made another aesthetic board, this time for Alex: Alex)
"But…if I'm not hungry then there's…there's no reason to eat, and…" he trailed off, shrinking into himself again and shaking his head a little.
(so hauntingly beautiful)
"Okay then," Gabe said. He still seemed distant. "Just try not to make a habit of it, okay?" This was obviously something that affected Gabe.
(:D thanks!)
Alex nodded a little bit, looking at his hands. "S-sorry." he said quietly, biting his lip.
Gabe closed his eyes for a moment, pulling himself to the now again, moving his food to the side and making his way back over to Alex. He knelt down in front of the chair, sighing a little.
"It's okay, Alex," he said softly. "I've… just seen too many- I've lost too many friends to starvation."
Alex peeked up at him, still biting his lip. "I-I…sorry…I just…I'm not…if I'm not hungry, there's no reason to eat…"
"I understand," Gabe said softly. "You don't have to apologize." Gabe placed his hand slowly on the chair arm, giving Alex a reassuring look.
Alex nodded a little, curls of brown hair drifting into his face a little bit. "Alright." he replied quietly, taking a deep breath and fiddling with the hem of his shirt.
Gabe took another deep breath, standing up again.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm over reacting."
"It's…it's okay…" He replied quietly, still fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, twisting it in his hands.
Gabe walked back to the kitchen area, finishing preparing his food before it coming back out. He sat down on the floor, saying a silent prayer before he started eating.
Alex cracked open the book again for a moment, then looked over at Gabe, taking a deep breath. "I'm…sorry for being a-a burden."
Gabe froze, for halfway to his mouth. He set it down, looking up at Alex.
"You're not a burden," he said, firm and confident. He truly believed it.
Alex blinked at him. "But I take up extra space and…and your bed, and…and now you've gotta provide for two people and…"
"That doesn't make you a burden. The only thing that would make you a burden would be me not wanting you here, and that's not going to happen." Gabe have Alex a smile with that, to be kind.