Alex sighed softly, and continued eating. He hadn't ever really believed in anything. Sure, his mother had been Catholic, and devoutly so, and he had gone when he was younger, but…as he got older, he discovered that the way he felt…wasn't normal. That his abilities, his powers…would be considered of the devil. That the fact he loved men instead of women was perverted, wrong. Sodomy. So he had stopped going to church, and then a year later his mother had become ill and died. His dad…vanished. He didn't know where his father had gone. After that, he had had to make his own way.
Gabe couldn't help it- he looked everywhere, the floor, the ceiling, the table, the other people- anywhere but at Alex. He wasn't supposed to feel like this. He didn't mean to suddenly come off as cold, but he did. He was just trying to find some distance, where he could help Alex without these feelings popping up.
And he had been able to, for a while. At 17, he met Henry, who was four years older than him. They had been friends, and then…then they were more then that. Then at 19, Henry's father found out and had Alex sent to Bedlam. That was the simplified version, anyways. It was a bit more complicated than that, in reality.
Gabe dared to glance back over at Alex again. Cute- he cut himself off there, his once soft expression hardening into one of disgust and disdain. Something was wrong with him, he was sure of it.
Alex caught the look, and flinched backwards a little, biting his lip and looking down at his food again. He pressed a hand to his forehead for a moment.
Gabe saw how Alex flinched away, and he finally realized the look on his face.
"I- sorry about that. I was just thinking about things."
"Oh." Alex replied faintly. "I-I…okay. It's alright." he cleared his throat softly. He had thought, for a terrible few moments, that that look was because of him. Because of something he had done or said.
"I'm sorry if I worried you," Gabe added. He really didn't want Alex to be uncomfortable. He told himself it was because he didn't like anyone being upset.
"No, it's alright." Alex replied quickly. "Don't worry about it." he ate a little more. He didn't know what he could tell Gabriel if the other male started to ask why he had been in Bedlam. He couldn't tell the truth about any of it.
Gabe nodded, turning away again. He wondered why Alex had been in Bedlam, yes, but he didn't ask. he probably wouldn't for a while.
He finished up as much food as he could, then stopped, glancing over at Gabriel and curling his arms around himself protectively. "Done." he said quietly.
Gabe turned back when Alex spoke up, seeing how he was curling into himself.
"Okay then." He flashed Alex a smile, if only to try to calm Alex's nerves. He picked up what food was left, wrapping it up in a cloth he pulled out of his pocket.
"Doing better?" He asked, demeanor back to being friendly.
Alex bit his lip a little, and nodded slightly. "I guess." he replied slowly. "Thank you." he brushed a strand of hair out of his face.
"You're welcome." Gabe slipped the food into his pocket, sliding out of his seat.
"You wanna see more of the city, or do you wanna start heading to my place in Brooklyn?"
Alex got up, and shrugged. "I don't know." he replied softly. He looked away quickly to hide the tiny, faint blush that had crept onto his features. He really needed to get ahold of himself before he said or did something he would regret.
Gabe looked at Alex for a moment.
"Maybe we should head to my place, so you don't have to deal with many more crowds."
Alex looked over at him, and nodded a little. "Alright. That…that sounds good." He replied softly, fidgeting for a moment. "Thank you."
Gabe nodded, heading out. He made sure Alex was following him.
"You don't have to keep thanking me," he said gently.
Alex followed him. He was quiet for a long moment. "Yes I do." he replied simply. He knew he did. Because if Gabriel knew the monster that he was bringing home, he would never, ever have done it.
Gabe turned back to look Alex in the eyes. His own seemed to be trying to look into Alex's soul, to try to understand him.
"Why? Why do you have to?" he asked gently. There was nothing harsh about him; even his icy eyes had a touch of warmth in them.
Alex ducked his head a little, avoiding Gabe's gaze. He didn't know how to reply. "Because you don't know anything about me, and if you did, you would never bring me back to your home."
Gabe wanted to reach out and take Alex's chin in his hand, to lift his face up so they would be looking in the eyes. Gabe didn't, though, out of respect for Alex.
"You make it sound like you're a monster. Well, you're not." Gabe said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"You have no idea what my criteria are for bringing people home."
Alex closed his eyes for a moment, and shook his head quickly. "You don't know anything about me." he said again. If he knew what I could do, what I've done…if he knew I was…if he knew I'm a Sodomite…he would never.
"And you don't know anything about me," Gabe returned, cocking his head to the side a bit.
"Trust me. I'm not one to easily pass judgement onto others."
Alex shuddered a little, opening his eyes again and letting out a slightly shaky breath. "Fine." he replied simply.
Gabe nodded once.
"Good." He smiled again before turning around, walking distance the alley again.
Alex watched Gabe quietly, following him. He sighed softly, raking a hand through his hair for a moment.
"We're gonna have to take a ferry," gave said, glancing back at Alex without stopping.
"Think you can handle it?"
Alex hesitated, then nodded. "So long as I don't fall off, yes." he replied, rubbing his arms for a moment.
Gabe nodded, giving Alex another smile.
"Don't worry, I won't let that happen." If Alex had been a woman, that would have been outrageously flirtatious. Gabe was shocked that he had said that, but this time he didn't let it show on his face. He really was going to have to take some time along with God to deal with this. He said a quick prayer in his mind, asking for the forgiveness of his sins.
