bsumone | ❝ Nobody knows where you’re going ❞

Touching hands and now sharing the same eating utensils? What's next?

Dal laughs at Gabriel's jest and shakes his head as he returns to his seat. Ah, but it feels good, normal to be like this after everything... To be able to smile and laugh and just feel comfortable for a little while.

He leans in and takes the bite with an exaggerated chomp. By now he's tried just about everything on that restaurant's menu, so he had some idea what to expect. He hasn't had the opportunity to try a lot of places outside his neighborhood, but he liked their food well enough he didn't care if he had no point of comparison.

Dal hums quietly, nodding in approval at the flavor on his tongue. Fried rice always hits just right, no matter what he's in the mood for. Once he swallows the bite, he moves to scoop up a piece of the curry chicken -- complete with slice of carrot and a pea pod -- to offer in kind.

It was always nice seeing how much Dal enjoyed food. He hoped to introduce him to his mother's cooking one day. He knew that he'd love it as much as she'd love to feed him. And fatten him up given how thin he was. He smiled fondly thinking about it then leaned closer so he could accept the bite.

The curry was very well flavored and he hummed his approval of it as he enjoyed the bite of it. Very tasty. "I can see why you recommended that one," he said after swallowing. Then he tried a bite of his own food too and found it to be just as good.

"What is your favorite thing to eat, Dal?"

"Jjin mandu," he answers without any hesitation. "Uhh..." Translation in progress. Buffering. Buffering. "Steam... dumpling?" He thinks that's right. His expression is warm, maybe a little nostalgic. "The cook used to make them for me a lot." Another small breadcrumb about the life he had before coming to New York. His parents were always too busy with their work and charities to pay much attention to him, let alone cook for him.

Unfortunately, Dal never learned to cook for himself, so even if he could afford fresh ingredients, he wouldn't be able to cook the mandu for himself.

"Do you like Korean food?"

"I'm not sure if I've ever had it before. But I'd like to try it sometime. Especially the dumplings you like so much."

And maybe he could look up a recipe and figure out how to make it. The internet was a wonderful place after all. Besides, if he was really planning on dating Dal in the future he should learn to do special things for him. Like know how to make his favorite food.

"What are these dumplings like?"

"Mine are pork and beef with onion, cabbage, uhh... mung bean noodle... Sometimes kimchi instead of plain cabbage." Perfect little pillows of flavor, in his opinion! He sighs a little, kicking his feet in his chair. The food is truly something he missed dearly from home.

Then he perks up. "We can go to K-town sometime!" Dal's never actually been, but given that the neighborhood was built by Korean immigrants back in the 70s, he's sure they can find some authentic food there.

"I'd like that. You can tell me if the food is what you remember from back in Korea or not."

And he could probably buy him some snacks there too. Things for him to have around to enjoy that would remind him of good times when he was still in Korea. "It'll be good to have someone who understands the food well introduce me to it."

"It's so good, Gabriel!" Flavorful, sometimes with a little bite to it. It's one of precious few things he has fond memories of from Korea. He dips his head slightly to hide whatever he's feeling, shoving a small bite of curry into his mouth.

"My family's rich," he began quietly. And what an understatement that was. "My dad's a," he puffs out his chest and tries to deepen his voice, "very important person," and back to normal, "at an international bank in Seoul."

It was interesting the way that Dal talked about his family. Like he respected them but was still wounded by them rejecting him. Gabriel watched him a moment or so then smiled. "I think you're an important person too. Even more so than he ever will be."

He truly did respect them in a lot of ways. They were hard-working people who provided him with so much opportunity. They couldn't care for him themselves, so he had nannies and tutors, a housekeeper and a cook, even a driver to take him places he wanted to go. They did everything that could be expected of them given the way he is. So what if they were cold and distant as he got older? They'd never been around much when he was a child. So what if they couldn't love him for who he was? They did their duty as best they could.

Sometimes, in the early morning hours when Dal's lying in his bed trying to sleep, he wonders if they would've had a child if it hadn't been expected of them. Publicly, they'd been a model family. But if one looked too closely at family photos, they might notice the way his parents' smiles never seemed to make it to their eyes. How, as Dal came into his teenage years, he was in those photos less and less. Oh, but he remembered the disdain in his father's eyes so clearly the last time he saw the man. They were full of cold, and a certain resignation as if he always suspected...

Sometimes Dal still wonders about the boy his father caught him with. If he was hurt when his father pried him away from Dal and all but threw him out the door. If he's found someone to be himself with in all the intervening years. If he ever wonders what happened to Dal after he vanished...

And at the end of it all, Dal doesn't blame his parents for not loving him. It's a lot to ask of someone.

He didn't realize he'd fallen still and silent while recounting all of that in his head. Dark eyes blinked away the past and the sting it left. Without looking at him, Dal slowly reached over the table for Gabriel's hand, if he'd allow it.

"I dunno if it matters much but... you're a very important person to me." And not just because Gabriel saved him from being murdered. It had more to do with the way he treated Dal from the start. Like he was someone worthy of human decency and respect. Like what he did and who he was wasn't something shameful. Not that Dal believed what he did for money or who he found himself attracted to were shameful. But others did and they made no qualms of letting that be known. He ran away from a life of creature comforts so he could be free to be himself, wholly and completely. He'd never regret that, not even when the world was going dark around him in that bathtub. He didn't regret any of it.

Gabriel recognized that look. It reminded him so much of when he'd wanted to have the love his father and had found out he'd never have it. Him or his mother. He wondered what could have been, what he was doing now. It was a hard thing to let go of. So he accepted that hand and gently squeezed Dal's.

"It matters because that's how you feel. Your feelings are important to me and they always have been. Perhaps even more so now as well."

Gabriel set his food aside and invited Dal to come sit next to him for a moment. When he had him there, he wrapped an arm around him. "I know it's hard to believe that I mean what I say but when this trial is done? I'm going to spend every single day of my life showing you how much you mean to me. Would that be alright with you?"

Thinking about the future can be as dangerous as thinking about the past. They're both riddled with what-ifs. What if I'd done something differently? What if these plans and promises fall apart? That's why Dal tried to keep himself seated in the present. But more and more he'd been dreaming about the future... the one Gabriel spoke of where they have a life together. It's so tempting...

He doesn't realize it, but Dal's eyes widen by degrees as he stares at Gabriel. Gabriel, who's always treated him well, who's never made him feel bad about... anything, really. Gabriel, this kind-hearted man who's declaring powerful feelings without naming them. Dal blinked, unsure what to say in the face of something he's craved for most his life: someone to love him.

So instead of saying anything, he simply flung his thin arms around Gabriel's neck and nodded silently. Yes. That's alright with him. More than alright!

Laughing as he caught him, Gabriel wrapped his arms around Dal. He didn't know what the future would bring and that was okay with him. He didn't need to know. As long as he had a chance of bringing happiness to this person right here then that was all that mattered to him.

"Then I will. When this trial is done I'm going to make sure that you and I go on a date together. And I'll take care of you and make sure you always feel cared for."

That was his promise to him there and then.

"I already do," he blurted out into the crook of Gabriel's neck. How could he not feel cared for when Gabriel's done's so much more than just helped him with food and shelter? He's been a real friend and companion. Is it any surprise that Dal harbors such warm feelings for him?

The mere idea that a man like this would want to be with him... It's so mind-boggling. But it makes Dal feel light and happier than he's been in so many years.

When Dal pulled away from the embrace, he let his hands run along Gabriel's arms until he grasped the agent's hands.

"I can wait," he promised in return. "Long as it takes. I'll wait."

Sitting back, he smiled at Dal and nodded. Hopefully the trial wouldn't take long but there was no way for him to be able to tell that for sure. He could only hope and know that Dal had his number if he needed it. And after that? They would be free to do what they wished, be with who they wanted to be. Namely, each other. Gabriel was looking forward to that already.

"I will do my best to make sure you don't have to wait long. For now eat some more. The food is really good."

It was still so mind-boggling that someone like Gabriel wanted to be with him. But it made him so happy to know it, even if it's not something they can act on immediately. Not only did Gabriel want to be with him, he was willing to wait. What a big-hearted man he was!

"As long as it takes," he reiterated firmly.

The trial would give Dal time to try to figure some things out on his end. Surely Gabriel didn't want him to keep hooking once they were together, even if he understood better than most that all that sex was meaningless. But what else could he do without any skills, without any ID, without being able to read fluently in English?

Moving back to his side of the table, Dal mulled these things over while he started eating again. First, a few small bites from the curry, then he'd steal a few bites of Gabriel's fried rice. This was nice, just being able to be in the company of someone who actually wanted to spend time with Dal the person, not Dal the whore.

"You gonna stay here 'til it's over?" He didn't mean this hotel specifically, but more in the city. It would be nice if Gabriel was nearby for a while longer.

Edited (extra word this time lol) 2023-05-05 16:26 (UTC)

"I'll be around. I might not be in this hotel but I'll be at the office a good deal."

He ate his own food and stole bites from Dal in return. It was nice like this. Comfortable and quiet. Just the two of them connecting without expectation. He hoped he could always bring about things like this for Dal in the future. That was something he felt the other really deserved.

"So I'll be able to check up on you when you need me to. If you want me to, of course."

Because he wanted it always clear that he would respect whatever Dal's decisions about his life were.

Dal liked this. The comfort of spending time with, not just someone, Gabriel specifically. He was kind and handsome and everything Dal once dreamed about in a future partner And now here he was, very real and very much within reach. So please excuse Dal if he gets a little bit of a dopey stare every now and then.

"You know where to find me." Be it on his usual block or at his little apartment, depending on the time. They had each other's numbers, too. But Dal figured it would probably be best to keep communication to a minimum until the trial is over. It's too important that that man go to jail to risk compromising the case in any way.

"I'll miss ya, so you should check up now and then."

"I will. I promise."

And promises were not something he ever made lightly. He meant them completely. So he would definitely check up on him sometimes. To make sure he was alright and not locked out of his place. That he was safe until he could sweep him away from this life.

"I'll bring crustless sandwiches when I do," he said in a gently teasing way soon after.

He promised. That warmed Dal so much. He's never been the sort of person that people make promises to. Why would they? He's fun they can discard, nothing long-term that requires effort or oaths. But never to Gabriel. Gabriel's never made him feel like he wasn't something of value. Someone of value.

He perks up at the mention of sandwiches, grinning. It's so sweet that Gabriel took note of those little details from the start. "My favorites~!"

"I had a feeling they might be." He'd seen how Dal devoured them, after all. Chuckling gently, he reached over to rest a hand on his head and gently ruffle his hair again. "I'm going to try to make sure you don't have to wait long for me. But until then I'll make sure you're okay as often as I can. You're important to me, Dal."

Could Gabriel please stop making him feel warm and fuzzy for one moment? Actually, please don't. Dal enjoyed hearing those things; he's wanted to hear them for so long. To be important to someone... To be seen and accepted and even wanted after that!

Dal smiled with such fondness and leaned closer to offer Gabriel another bite of curry. Those dark eyes watched him closely, studying, as if he was trying to peer into his mind to discover everything that makes him who he is: what he loves, what bothers him, his favorite music and movies and colors, the places he's been, even the horrors he's seen.

He takes another small bite and almost immediately pockets it in his cheek.

"Gabriel," he asked slowly. "You ever been in love before?"

Leaning over, he accepted the bite then wondered what Dal was thinking about. He seemed to be looking at him so intently. Honestly he was just about to ask about it when he was asked a question instead. Quite a surprising one too.

Gabriel knew he could lie here but he opted not to.

"Yes. Years ago. But, he didn't love me back and it didn't work out in the end. I realized at that time that you could love someone but that didn't always make them right for you. It helped me to understand some of my cases better so I'm grateful for the experience." He took a bite of food and ate it before continuing.

"I know that the one who is right for me is close by. I just have to make sure the timing is right."

Oh, he didn't mind Gabriel's answer one bit. He would've been surprised if he said no. He's such a kind and caring person, surely that must attract love, right? What Gabriel said made sense to him. Hadn't he loved his parents? He just wasn't the right son for them.

"I dunno what it feels like," he admitted. Was he in love with Gabriel? How could he know when he's experienced so little of it in his life? Resting one elbow on the table, Dal cupped his chin in his hand, peering so curiously at him. "Can you tell me what it's like? I wanna know."

Gabriel set his chopsticks down in that moment. Adjusting his glasses, he thought about how to answer this properly, wanting to really explain this to Dal since he'd asked. "When you find someone you love the world just seems to click into place. You feel safe with them and you go from envisioning a life where you're getting to the next minute or day to suddenly you're picturing yourself years in the future with them."

He looked over at him with a smile. "You want to know everything about them so you can bond with them further. When things are dark they're always your light. Being in love feels like you've found that key you need to walk further than you ever have before."

Oh. That all sounded... very familiar. Like Gabriel reached inside and plucked out things Dal already felt. His eyes widen by degrees as the realization set in. Was he already in love with this man? When did that happen? Not that he was complaining. Gabriel was a good man. Kind, caring, understanding. But also determined, brave, and... Well, just sort of wonderful.

A small smile played over his lips and Dal felt his skin grow warmer. "I wanna know everythin' about ya."

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