bsumone | ❝ Nobody knows where you’re going ❞

Gabriel noticed that Dal had set up the couch for him and he smiled as he went to make himself comfortable. He was grateful for this. It was kind. Though he did worry when he heard Dal slip out, saw the light of the hallway light up the room. But he didn't stop him, wondering what had him distressed enough to...

It was best not to think about it. So he focused on sleeping until he heard the door again. Opening his eyes, he watched Dal go to the bathroom and then go to bed. Getting up, he grabbed a bottle of water and brought it to the bed to put beside Dal before he went back to the couch to get some more sleep. Whatever had happened out there? It didn't have to be his business. But he could make sure that the man was taken care of.

With that, he slept until a call woke him after noon. Groaning softly, he sat up and saw that it was his mom. Being as quiet as possible, he answered it, talking quietly to her in Spanish in the hopes of not waking his guest.

At some point before noon, Dal woke up and noticed the bottle of water. Gabriel must've put it there after he got back. It sent a pang through him. He actually felt... bad about what happened downstairs. And he promised himself it wouldn't happen again. He could tell himself it wasn't because of feelings, but some kind of abuse of Gabriel's hospitality.

When he heard Gabriel speaking softly, he stretched in the bed and yawned loudly so the man would realize he's awake and didn't need to be quiet on account of him. When Dal finally unwrapped himself from the covers, he padded out to start some coffee for them. Even though he didn't understand what was being said, Dal hummed to himself quietly so it didn't seem like he was eavesdropping.

Hearing the movement, he squinted then saw that it looked like Dal was awake. Speaking a little more normally then, he chuckled softly. Sometimes it was clear who he was talking to when he said 'mama' but what they were saying was a mystery unless one knew Spanish. Which he honestly doubted Dal did. Saying goodbye to her, he hung up the phone and went to stand up finally so he could go use the bathroom quickly.

When he came back out, he offered an apologetic look. "Sorry, I hope I didn't wake you. You were up later than I was."

He wasn't accusing him of anything though. It was just an observation. After all, they weren't a couple and he knew that. They couldn't be with the conflict of interest.

No, Gabriel wasn't accusing him of anything, yet Dal felt guilty about it anyway. A little frown bowed his lips and he looked down at his bare feet. At least he could use making the coffee as excuse to keep his eyes elsewhere for a few minutes. Since Gabriel heard him coming back in last night, he's sure the man can parse out what he was doing outside of the confines of this room.

When the little in-room pot was full, Dal poured a cup for each of them, and went over to hand one to Gabriel.

"I went downstairs for a soda." Not entirely a lie. That was part of the initial reason he went to the lobby. "I didn't wanna wake you or get anythin' charged to your room."

"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Dal. It's your life. As long as you're safe that's what matters most."

Besides, why would a prostitute want to date someone from the FBI? Especially someone who seemed to be here illegally on top of the illegal prostitution. But he wasn't going to get into that. No, it wasn't appropriate to think that way at all. So he just took the coffee and had a sip of it with a sigh.

"You made it back safely. So I'm happy."

Finally, he grabbed his glasses to put them on to actually be able to see properly.

Those dark eyes widened a fraction and Dal's lips parted. Somehow those words took him by surprised.

"... You are?"

Blinking a few times to adjust to being able to see through all the failed sleep he'd been getting, he took another sip of the co... Well almost. The surprise he could see on Dal's face made him pause with the cup partway to his lips. Lowering it again, he nodded.

"Yes. I was very happy you made it back safely. I hope I didn't wake you bringing the water over. You deserved some good rest."

Dal sucked his lower lip and he felt his hands starting to shake with the coffee cup in his grip. His eyes dropped to the dark drink and in a small voice said, "I really like you..."

As soon as the thought was given voice, Dal's eyes went wide as saucers. Barely a heartbeat and he was turning to set the coffee down so he could get changed and go. This... Staying here like this wasn't going to work now.

Gabriel had the cup down and he was standing right away. Catching Dal's hand, he stepped closer. Had he said what he thought he said? And it hadn't sounded like just the sort of liking one might mean for a friend. Was Dal...falling for him?

"Dal, wait..." This was definitely something that they needed to talk about.

Feeling that warm hand snatch his made Dal gasp. But it stopped him from heading further toward the bathroom. He didn’t turn around, though. How could he look Gabriel in the eye knowing he’d be rejected? After all, what kind of person would want someone like him?

"Dal, tell me what you meant. Please."

Because he wanted to be absolutely sure that they were on the same page. He was already fairly sure that they were but it was important that he know. There shouldn't be any miscommunication here. Not this time.

He still doesn't turn around. Dal sighed and let his head, hell, his whole body, droop. "I... I got feelings for you, okay? It's stupid, I know. You're just here to work then you'll be gone and... that'll be that."

It was exactly what he'd thought it was. Gabriel watched him a moment then moved around in front of him. Moving his hands to his shoulders, he hesitated just a moment. But only because he was gathering his thoughts. "It's not stupid. I don't think that at all. So will you look at me? For just a moment?"

Look at him? Just to get his heart broken? Well, wasn't it already since this was all just some fantasy that could never be anyway? All because Dal was weak to... what? People who were nice to him? That's entirely true. The people at the shelter have always been nice to him. The lady at the diner who saved food that would otherwise be thrown away was nice to him. Was it because Gabriel bothered to get to know him? That he paid attention to the things Dal said and did and remembered them? Because he was gay and therefore a possibility, however improbable? Some combination of it all?

It took a few seconds and, oh is he trembling with Gabriel's hands on his shoulders like that, but he finally lifts his eyes first, then his head.

He waited patiently for Dal to look at him before speaking. Very patiently. "I need you to listen to every word that I say before you react, alright?"

Because while this was going to sound like a rejection? It truly wasn't. But they had to get this out of the way. "While I am on this case? I cannot be with you that way. It would compromise everything we've worked for and even when I catch this bastard the case would get thrown out and there would be a killer targeting you and your friends all over again."

And he couldn't have that. He couldn't. "I have been attracted to you from the start. So I want to make this compromise. If you can wait for me until after the case is done then we can go somewhere to figure this out. Just you and I talking. But please wait until the case is done first so I can be sure that I can save you all. That is all I ask for."

And it was the best he could offer. For both of them.

Dal nodded. Yes, he'd listen. He'd keep his mouth shut and hear Gabriel out.

Another nod. Yes, Dal understood any relationship, romantic, sexual, whatever, could compromise Gabriel's case. That was something he didn't want to risk either. Catching a lunatic who was murdering his friends was the important thing here. Yes, he understood that.

The next part is what earned Dal's eyes getting impossibly wide. I have been attracted to you from the start. That was not something Dal expected to hear. Not at all. That was... that was just something he'd been daydreaming about. The emotions played out on his face as clear as the sky: uncertainty, confusion, hope.

Finally, he nodded again. Yes, he could wait. He could make that compromise. But then... "Can I... can I have one thing first? One small thing?"

Alright. This was a good start. They'd wait until the case was done and then see where they wanted to go from there. Gabriel felt good about that and let out a little sigh of relief as he smiled.

At the question though, he tilted his head. "What is it?"

He honestly had already agreed to giving it in his head before he even knew what it was.

"Can I hug you?" It was all he wanted at the moment. Something he didn't get from the people he saw night after night: true affection.

His expression softened so much and Gabriel gave him a warm smile. Then he let go of him so he could hold out his arms to him to welcome him to come and give him that hug he wanted. Absolutely yes. He could give him a hug. That wasn't going to compromise what he was trying to do here. Especially not here in this hotel room with no cameras and the blinds drawn.

When Gabriel smiled like that, Dal simply melted. All the tension left his thin frame immediately, like some sort of full-body sigh. Dal closed the distance without any hesitance and threw his arms around Gabriel's waist. He was still shaking a little even while he buried his face against Gabriel's shoulder.

This definitely wouldn't be the sort of thing that would compromise the case. And knowing that Gabriel would even consider him after it's all wrapped up? That was enough to keep his heart from hurting while he waited.

"Thank you," he murmured oh-so-quietly.

Wrapping his arms around that small frame, he held him tight. To comfort and to assure him that he meant his words. Gabriel didn't care where Dal came from. What he did for a living. He cared about Dal.

"As soon as I'm sure that monster is put away for good then we'll figure this out. You are very special, Dal. I could tell that from the beginning."

Oh, if he doesn't stop talking like that, Dal might start crying. It's not like he hasn't already cried in front of Gabriel. But still! He'd rather not be ugly in front of someone he likes! Who could blame him?

Dal held on longer than absolutely necessary before he finally pulled back. He wasn't crying (yet) but his eyes were wet. "I know you're gonna get 'im." He knew it because Gabriel cared too much to just let it go. He cared about the people being hurt, the people who could be hurt. It wasn't just a matter of closing a case and notching his belt.

He swallowed hard, cleared his throat, then tried to affect a more casual expression. "D'ya wanna reheat the burritos?"

Gabriel smiled warmly at him and rubbed his arms before stepping back. He would have loved to continue holding him but he knew that would actually venture into being inappropriate. So he just smiled and let him go. They'd come back to this later. That he knew.

"That would be great. I am hungry and my mom was getting on me about my poor eating habits when I'm working."

He laughed a bit then went to go collect them from the fridge so he could reheat them.

"That who you were talkin' to?" There was a warmth in Gabriel's voice that couldn't be missed while he was on the phone. Dal didn't have to know what was being said to know there was affection there. It was really sweet.

Dal picked his coffee back up and went to settle in on the couch. It wasn't long before the smell of the breakfast burritos started to fill the room and had him squirming where he sat. "They smell just as good as this morning!"

Gabriel chuckled and nodded. "She was worried since the case isn't done and I've been gone almost two weeks so she can't feed me breakfast before work."

Because that was her nature. Always worked about those around her. She'd been that way as long as he could remember and he recalled people who knew her before he was born saying she'd always been that way. It was nice honestly. He tried to be like her the best he could.

Bringing the burritos over, he handed Dal his before sitting down and opening up his own. "They reheat nicely too. Still good the next day."

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Phone tag bc my laptop is a POS

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