bsumone | ❝ Nobody knows where you’re going ❞

Dal pressed his lips together in an effort to hide his smile. An impossible task, truly. Once Gabriel helped him with the buttons, Dal picked up the shirt he laid out for his boyfriend and held it out so he could get his arms in the sleeves. Moving around him (and maybe, just maybe admiring how broad his shoulders were), Dal grinned up at him.

"This one, right?" Dal indicated the second button from the top, the one just below the collar. Unless he was wearing a tie today, there wasn't much reason to button the first one, right?

"That one."

He grinned as he watched his boyfriend inspect him as he dressed him. It was sweet and very charming. He loved every moment of it. Laughing softly even, he did a little pose to make sure that Dal got the best views and angles possible before offering his arm to him to head down the stairs again.

"Shall we go call her over then?"

Ah, it was time! Dal felt his nerves flapping around like so many butterflies in his stomach and he lifted his hands to cover his face without actually touching it. He swallowed the lump in his throat down and dropped his hands, shoulders squared in determination.

"I'm ready," he assured. Then, more quietly, "Do I look okay?" He fussed with the collar and cuffs of his shirt to make sure the bruises weren't prominently displayed.

"You look more than okay. You look breathtaking." He gently took his hands to make sure he'd stop him from fussing over his collar and cuffs. The bruises were covered and Dal was fine. And if she saw them then she wouldn't judge him for them in the slightest. The farthest thing from it.

He pressed a kiss to his lips then got his phone so he could call his mother. She was clearly delighted on the other end and he smiled when he hung up before taking Dal down to wait for her arrival.

And when she came it was in a rush. Bursting through the door without care.

"Where is he? Where is my new son? Oh! Precious boy. Beautiful boy." She immediately when to cup Dal's face, much shorter than him and with motherly sort of curves. She smiled up at him though. "Ahhhh. You need to eat. So thin! Come. I'll make you food."

Just like that she was headed for the kitchen, not taking no for an answer.

He had to believe it when Gabriel said it like that. It helped with Dal's nerves, but it didn't quiet them entirely. Thankfully, he's pretty good at keep those kinds of feelings off his face (even if he doesn't really have to in this situation). Ah, but when she bustled in with all that energy, Dal can't help but feel his nerves fade away. Even just seeing and hearing her for a few seconds, he can tell she's a warm and caring person. And the way she called him her new son... Dal felt like he might cry.

He followed to the kitchen without question or even a small protest that they just had breakfast not very long ago. No, in fact, he stopped Mama Moreno before she could even start cooking with a gentle tug on her sleeve.

"Can I hug ya?"

Gabriel stepped back to watch the pair of them, smiling at what he saw. His mom was doing exactly what she knew he would. And when Dal reacted the way he expected? It was nice.

She turned to look back at him then spoke in that motherly tone all in Spanish. Then pulled him in close, bringing his head down to her shoulder to hug him first. Over his shoulder she looked at Gabriel and nodded her approval. Yes, she had him. She loved him.

"Good boy. Hug me when you wish."

Gabriel smiled and leaned against the door frame to watch them, so glad to have Dal part of their family now.

Oh. He really didn't anticipate the heavy wave of emotion that came crashing down on him. Her easy acceptance, her warmth and affection... All things he never had from his own parents. All things he's never had much of from anyone for very long. Was this really what family was supposed to feel like?

He held on far longer than customary, so hungry for a taste of motherly love. His own mother was a cold and distant woman, more of a mythological figure in his life than an actual mother. This was... the opposite of that. And when he pulled away, Dal had to tip his head back and blink quite a lot to keep from crying.

"Gamsahamnida," he murmured, voice raw with emotions - mostly happiness. Utter joy. "Thank you."

That said, he slipped back to Gabriel's side, reaching to clasp the man's hand in both of his. This was... so much he'd never dared to hope for. A home and a family. It was enough to make Dal forget how self-conscious he felt earlier, how horrible he'd felt last night. It even made him forget he wasn't remotely hungry (and yes, he was more than willing to try at least a few bites of whatever Mama Moreno made for them.

She gave him a kiss on the cheek before letting him go, looking at him with such fondness before she moved about to start cooking. Soon the kitchen was filled with the delicious smell of Mexican food being prepared from scratch. And also the sound of her humming old songs from the country she grew up in.

Gabriel wrapped his arms around Dal, smiling down at him. "I told you she would love you."

He kissed his hair and guided him over to sit at the table with him. As he did, she suddenly came over to fish around in her purse. From it she withdrew a pot to hand to her son. "Dab on the bruises. Those doctors do not know. This is better."

A smile and a kiss to his cheek too then she was back to cooking. Gabriel chuckled before opening the jar. "Scoot closer. She made this herself to help your bruises heal faster. It helps. She used to use it on me when I was little and got hurt."

Dal thought he might just burst from happiness. Between Gabriel's strong arms around him and Gabriel's mother being perfectly motherly... So happy! He couldn't tear his eyes away as Mama Moreno moved about the kitchen, filling the room with her warmth and the delicious scents of her cooking.

When she brought the pot over to the table, Dal blinked at it. A home remedy? Looking from the ointment to Gabriel, he nodded before scooting his chair closer. "Did you get hurt a lot?" Dal was such a sheltered child, he didn't really have a lot of opportunity for the usual childhood bumps and bruises.

❝ Nobody knows where you’re going ❞

tfw you realize you totally misread a tag /scrubs face

it's all good. it worked out.

<3

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