bsumone | ❝ Nobody knows where you’re going ❞

He made a note to heat up his food in the microwave. Not gourmet but it didn't have to be. Just a leftover burrito. Nothing compared to what his mom could make but that was what he expected from all Mexican food in the city. There just wasn't anything good here and he'd come to accept that.

At the question Gabriel was quiet for a moment. Then he offered his hand over to him without looking. A way to offer him support.

"In the greater sense of the word? No. He didn't suffer." Death by drowning was never pleasant but the way things had looked the gesture had been almost...kind. It was complicated to explain and the best way to put it was just that he didn't really suffer.

His hands poked out from under Gabriel's jacket, still trembling though maybe not entirely from the chill. Those thin fingers clutched at the agent's hand while Dal tried not to lose it completely. It's one thing to hear people are going missing, getting killed. It's another entirely when it happens to someone you know. It suddenly became less of an abstract thing.

Dal couldn't stop thinking about it, though. Poor Tommy, alone and terrified in his last desperate moments. Dal always figured he'd die alone but... He shook his head and pulled one hand from Gabriel's to rub his sleeve over his eyes.

"I didn't see him leave with anyone unusual. I thought he was goin' somewhere to crash for a while. He said goodnight and headed off. And then he never came back."

And he knew now that he'd found that shelter. The favorite of everyone on those blocks. He even had a short list of people that might be the killer now. He just needed a plan to get close to those people and figure out who it was. Basically he needed bait and he hated that.

Squeezing his hand, Gabriel did his best to reassure him. He had this. He'd get it figured out and ask these people would be safe finally. As safe as they could be given their positions.

"If I can do what I need to then Tommy is the last one this killer will ever get. I swear that."

Somehow, that squeeze made him feel a little better. He believed it when Gabriel said he would find this killer and make them all that much safer. He never believed it when the cops said things like that because he'd seen too much of their disdain. When people like him were victims of anything, the cops always called it a 'no humans involved' sort of case.

"Do you know who he is? If he has anyone here?" He meant Tommy, of course. He didn't know the guy's circumstances or even his last name. Just that they exchanged small talk on the regular and worked the same block for the last couple years. "Even if he didn't get on well with 'em, if he has family they deserve to know he's gone."

"I know him. I have his file and I'm looking into who his family is and if he has anyone." Including if it would be safe and honoring him to contact them. But that was for him to figure out. He'd take care of it so Dal wouldn't have to worry.

Taking his hand back to get his key out for the parking garage, he got them parked then led them to the elevator. There he glanced at the man next to him and rested a hand on his shoulder. Giving him a smile, he nodded then led him to his room.

"Bathroom is there and there's a fresh robe in there. I'll heat up the food and you can have the bed. The couch is fine for me."

Never mind that the bed clearly showed signs that he'd been in it before he came to get Dal.

In truth, Dal was still feeling pretty numb. So he didn't say much or even look around as they made their way inside. He snapped out of his daze when Gabriel finally spoke and he directed his eyes wherever the agent indicated.

"You sure? I don't mind the couch. It looks pretty comfy."

"Well then I should sleep well on it."

Gabriel gave him another smile then went to move his things away from the bed. Thinking about it actually. "What charger does your phone use?"

He has to think about the question for a minute. "Um, one of those USB chargers... The small kinds." He meant a USB A-to-C cable. "It's a Samsung, if that helps." He fished the phone out of his pocket and held it out so Gabriel could see it.

"Um, you mind if I shower?" He was still cold and wet and wanted to warm up before wrapping himself in a dry robe and some blankets.

"If you hand me your phone I'll start charging it and you can enjoy your shower." So yes he could go shower. He didn't mind and even encouraged it. Gabriel smile and waited until he had the phone to plug in before he went to get comfortable on the couch, putting away files so that way he wasn't exposing things to Dal. That done, he got up again to microwave the food. And grab a bottle of water for his company.

Those were set on the table and he got out a book to read while he waited for the other to come back out.

Usually, Dal wasn't long in the shower. He's used to having lukewarm water, at best, so he's mastered the art of washing in just a couple of minutes. Tonight was different, though. The hotel had hot water aplenty. And Dal turned the heat up until the water beating down on him turned his skin red and steam filled the bathroom and then some.

He spent a solid twenty minutes or more in there before the water finally shut off. Dal felt a little better once he stepped out, dried off, and wrapped himself up in the fluffy hotel robe. At least the chill was out of his bones. He made certain he was wrapped up tight before he stepped out of the bathroom. The last thing he wanted was to give the impression he was trying to get a little something-something out of Gabriel.

The scent of the burrito hit him instantly. And since he wasn't working, he didn't care what was in it! His face lit up a little at the sight of it and he snatched it up before taking a seat beside Gabriel.

"Thanks for this. I'll try not to be a bother."

Setting his book aside, he shook his head. "You're not a bother, Dal. You can stay here until your place gets unlocked. I don't mind. Think of it like a friend having your back."

Letting himself relax, he turned the TV on to some random feel good late night movie. It didn't matter that it was the middle of it. This was just to let the man next to him have some semblance of safety for a little bit.

"They shouldn't be gone long. They're never gone more than a week at a time." Thank goodness for that or things could get tricky. Dal kept eating the burrito slowly, stopping for sips of water now and then. But his eyes were fixed on the TV. He didn't have one of his own and the only time he really saw anything on one was when he would stop in at some all-night restaurant. Usually, they just played the news.

After he finished the burrito, he at least had the sense to look over at his host and ask, "Is there a blanket for you?" He thought there would be, but he needed to ask before tucking in for the night to make sure everyone's warm and comfortable.

Dal had a good heart. He was looking out for others and it mattered to him that his friend had died. Gabriel nodded to reassure him that he'd be fine. He had a stack of blankets for handing out to people in the corner so he could just grab one of those. The lack of a pillow was unfortunate but it wasn't anything serious. A cushion would work just fine.

"Get some sleep. I'll chat with you in the morning and make enough coffee for the both of us."

"I left my clothes hangin' in the shower to dry," he added before getting up. Best to let him know so he's not startled in the dead of... well, it was already morning and it could very well be light by the time either of them might wake up to use the toilet.

Dal sank a little deeper into the robe and gave Gabrial a little wave before he padded off to the bed. He fell asleep easily, wrapped up in clean sheets that smelled like someone safe. Dal's not the sort who had trouble falling asleep in strange places. Staying asleep was his difficulty tonight since his unconscious mind was thinking a lot about his friend.

It's possible Gabriel woke long before Dal did. Or maybe not, considering the hours they were both keeping. Whatever the case, it was the scent of coffee that pulled Dal from sleep. For a second, he thought he was still dreaming when he opened his eyes and found himself in a much nicer place than usual. Clean, warm, welcoming. He almost didn't want to come out of the cocoon he'd made of the blankets.

Some tired sound escaped him and he asked, more to himself than Gabriel, "What time is it?"

The couch was not ideal for him. But he didn't mind it really if it meant Dal got to have a nice warm bed to sleep in for a few nights. Getting as much sleep as he could, he showered when he got up and made coffee before sending the clothes off to the laundry service. Maybe he should have asked but he figured Dal should get as much sleep as possible.

Looking up at him through the dim lighting in the room, since he'd kept the blinds closed and only used the desk lamp, he took off his glasses a moment to clean them. "It's after noon I believe. Are you hungry? I can order something. I sent your clothes down to get cleaned up so they should be up in a bit when they're done."

Closing the file he'd been looking at, he rubbed his eyes then put his glasses back on.

Oh, that's a lot of information for someone who can't even open his eyes all the way, yet. Not just the telling of it but the processing of what was behind it all. Gabriel's proven to be nothing short of a thoughtful person; Dal's seen that. Yet every time it's directed at him, it feels... He couldn't describe it. People just weren't like that to people like him. It felt new every time.

Those dark eyes swept over the room once more. It was a pretty nice place as far as Dal was concerned. The carpet was soft under his feet, the bed was incredibly comfortable, and it just... Well, it seemed very clean. Much more upscale than any place he's stayed in almost a decade.

"Is there a menu?" If it was after noon, he might as well get a lunch-type meal. Hell, they might not even be serving breakfast at this hour. "Did you eat already?"

"Here." He got up and brought the menu over to him. Then he gave a pause as he laughed softly. "No. I lost track of time actually. So I haven't had anything other than coffee today."

He held up a finger to his lips and gave him a wink like he was telling him a secret. "Don't tell my mother. She'd be very upset."

Then he gave a stretch as he went to sit with Dal to see what he wanted to have.

Squinting at the menu, he brought it close to his face as if that would make reading it easier. Sure, he just woke up, but it doesn't take long for his eyes to focus. It's more his struggles reading in English. His surprise at hearing Gabriel's mother was still alive gave him a momentary reprieve. Dal always figured that people in that line of work didn't tend to last very long for reasons various and sundry.

Once his initial surprise passed, he offered a warm little smile. "Your secret's safe with me." Who would he tell anyway? But it was nice to be silly like this.

"Is she well, your mother?" More stalling as he tried to decipher the menu.

"She is. She runs a little restaurant outside the city. Best authentic Mexican food in New York. Which works because it satisfies her need to feed everyone around her."

He smiled fondly and then leaned over to Dal. He'd suspected he wasn't from around here no matter how good he was at speaking English. So he wasn't surprised that he might be struggling to read it. Especially for something that wasn't simple like a diner menu.

Gabriel then started pointing to things to read off what was on the menu and what was in the things that might be more strangely named. Just to give Dal a reference point for what he was looking at.

He was about to ask for help, but Gabriel anticipated him. Once more, that attention to detail showing through. Dal's heart raced a little at the thought of that kind of attention. Even though he knew it wasn't reserved solely for him. No, this was just the sort of man Gabriel was. Dal wasn't anything special.

In the end, he ended up ordering a hummus and feta dip plate. The array of marinated vegetables, olives, and grilled pita (which Gabriel explained to him) sounded really yummy. Nothing that would sit heavy in his stomach like a burger. Plus, it was something he never had that sounded kind of great in the moment.

"What are you havin'?"

"I was thinking the flat bread."

Then it would have a lot of vegetables and some protein on it now. He'd been eating poorly recently so having something a little healthier would be good for him. It wouldn't balance things out but it wouldn't hurt either. Gabriel grabbed the hotel phone to call down the order before coming back to get coffee for Dal, handing that over to him.

"Here. It's still hot."

Reaching out, he took the coffee in both hands with a nod of thanks. And maybe, just maybe, their fingers touched in the process. Was that intentional? Maybe. No, it absolutely was. Dal's a little tactile -- probably not that surprising given his line of work. But it's rare for him to be able to touch others on his terms. He smiled and then closed his eyes to breathe in the scent of coffee. It was a scent he enjoyed because it always made him think of warmth.

When he finally opened his eyes, they were more cleared of sleep and very warm as they fell on Gabriel. "How did you end up in the FBI?"

That little brush sent tingles through his fingers that he made sure to ignore. It wasn't appropriate to focus on those no matter how pretty Dal was. Instead, he grabbed his coffee and sat down to drink his own coffee. At the question, he thought about that a bit.

"After I came to America, I studied hard to get my citizenship. I did odd jobs here and there and kept applying at the FBI offices until they'd hire me. Then I worked my way up. But, I knew I wanted to be part of this because I wanted to be a part of something that was taking down the worst in the world."

Gabriel laughed a little. "That's how it started. Then it turned out I was really good at dealing with things here in America and talking to people who others would look down on or forget about. So I've been doing that since. Keeping the streets safe when the police fail to do their jobs."

"You have a face that people can trust," he murmured into his cup before taking a sip. "Your eyes are really kind. People can tell you really care when you look at them." And the whole part about him treating everyone around him with some iota of human decency.

"Well, I know what it feels like to be in your place. I know what I would have given anything for back then."

So, he made sure he was the one who gave it. It didn't mean those at his job always liked him but that was alright. He was good at what he did and that counted for a lot more to those higher up who largely just wanted to see results without so much a care about how those came about so long as it wasn't illegal.

Gabriel looked over at Dal curiously. "Why did you leave Korea?"

Because he strongly suspected that was where he was from by now.

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