bsumone | ❝ Nobody knows where you’re going ❞

For a moment, Dal's quiet. Then his shiver redoubled and his fingers tightened even more in Gabriel's sleepwear. "I was so stupid..." Stupid to trust someone when Gabriel had done more than insinuate this killer was someone people like Dal trusted. Stupid to think they'd be getting groceries before 6am. Stupid to let himself be victimized like that. "I'm so sorry..."

"Trusting someone doesn't make you stupid, Dal. You were really brave. Because of your actions we got him off the streets and he'll never hurt anyone ever again. Because of you I was able to put an end to all his evil. Perhaps you did fall for his trick at first but you were far from stupid. You are the bravest, most intelligent man I've ever met."

And he meant every word of that. If Dal hadn't kept his composure to do what he did then Gabriel would have needed to identify his body instead.

"It may not feel that way but you are a hero, Dal."

“I wasn’t thinkin’ of any of that,” he admitted. “I just wanted you to find me… one way or the other. I wanted it to be you.” It had to be someone who cared and wouldn’t simply treat him (or his corpse) like high-risk street trash that no one would miss.

Well, Gabriel would’ve been the only one who missed him anyway.

Dal kept his head tilted down so Gabriel couldn’t see his face. He should be angry or sad or something. Maybe it would all come later but right now he just had that thousand yard stare and wanting nothing more than to be exactly where he was: safe with Gabriel, his anchor.

"That doesn't make you less of a hero in my eyes."

After all others had had phones too and yet none had recognized something was wrong to call someone. Dal was very brave no matter his motivations. Gabriel was proud of him for that.

"I'm really glad you did call me. I knew right away that something was wrong."

A tiny smile curled his lips. “Is that ‘cause I always text?” He hoped Gabriel would realize something was off, not only because he called, but also because he wasn’t speaking. Maybe it was a bit of cleverness on his part.

Finally, Dal tilted his head back so he could look at Gabriel. He was still pale and fear lingering in his eyes. But here with this man he felt a degree of safety.

“Thank you for savin’ me.”

Edited (Typo) 2023-03-31 19:47 (UTC)

"Thank you for believing in me. And yes. It was because you never call me."

Gabriel smiled at him and tucked some of that hair back from Dal's face. So beautiful. Truly the bravest man he'd ever known.

"I'm glad you're safe now."

He didn’t feel wholly safe. He felt safer resting there beside Gabriel, wrapped in those strong arms. He’s dreamt of that for a while now. It was nothing like the real thing. Gabriel felt warm and solid against him. Dal could hear his heart beat in his chest and feel the rise and fall of his breathing. There so many details his imagination hadn’t considered.

But these weren’t the ideal circumstances. Far from it. He curled in closer for more contact with the one thing anchoring him in reality. He was going to be lost the moment they were apart, Dal knew and dreaded it. But he had to get back out when the sun went down. Gabriel would have to work away from him at some point.

Then he’d fall back into the spiral of his dark thoughts. Then the shaking would get worse. The fear and horror of seeing that face distorted through the water would haunt him.

“I don’t feel safe without you.”

"I know. But we'll worry about things like that later. Right now you have me and that is what matters."

The rest they could start figuring out tomorrow. There was no need to figure out everything right at this exact moment. Gabriel even brought a hand up to start gently stroking through Dal's hair.

"I'm right here."

Oh, that felt nice. Genuine physical gestures of affection were rare for him — giving or receiving them. He longed for the time when they could be free with them luke this without harrowing circumstances surrounding them.

Dal was so tired but his body was still in its fight-or-flight mode. Sleep would be a long time coming. But as long as he could just rest here in Gabriel’s arms, he felt like it would be fine. Drowsiness could morphing into sleepiness and then into sleep eventually.

He breathed out quietly and the death grip he held on Gabriel’s shirt slowly began to loosen as Dal relaxed. It was at least an hour or more before the tension in his body melted away and his breathing grew slow and steady. Soft mumbles occasionally interrupted his quiet sleep. Every now and them, Dal jolted awake, terrified that he was still in the room, being held under water.

But with Gabriel’s reassurances, he drifted back to sometimes fitful, sometimes calm sleep.

Gabriel was always there to make sure that Dal could see him throughout the day and even into the night so that way he'd know he wasn't alone. He wasn't in that room. He was safe with the person he trusted and they were far from that cruel room.

The next day he didn't ask Dal if he wanted to shower before they left, aware that was something that was going to have to be worked up to and today wasn't that time. Instead, he just took his time with the other to make sure that he was ready to go. Ready to go to the station where he'd already sent word that he would be the officer to get his statement. This was not a time for anyone to be judging Dal while they were talking to him.

He offered Dal a smile. "Are you ready to go? You will be with me the entire time. I won't leave you alone with anyone else."

Was he ready? Probably not. But he was sure Gabriel would be true to his word. As long as he wasn't left alone with some stranger, as long as no one laid hands on him, Dal would be as okay as he was going to be after a traumatic incident.

"I'm ready."

He was quiet on the ride there, trying to steel himself to relive his near death. It wouldn't be pleasant and he could already feel his hands starting to tremble. Dal didn't say anything once they arrived, simply following wherever he was led to recount what happened.

Edited 2023-04-02 00:05 (UTC)

The car ride was quick and Gabriel led them straight to the office of the commanding officer. There were only a couple people in that room but Gabriel got Dal sat down then sat across from him to make sure Dal only had to look at him. Smiling at him, he got the recording device set up and identified who the young man was and why he was there.

"Alright Dal. Take your time and give your statement. Tell us what happened as you remember it. We're here to listen."

He felt like so many eyes were on him. Cold, calculating, eager for all the gory details. To take them away and dehumanize what happened, make it all neat and clean and sanitized. Devoid of all humanity, cold, hard facts.

Swallowing hard, Dal folded his hands in his lap and recounted his story. He spoke of how decent the man had always been to him, of how they would speak casually at the shelter. Of how he asked Dal for help while he was on his way home and everything from there on.

That he called Agent Moreno because he sensed something was amiss when he realized they were going in the wrong direction. Dal described the house and the man’s face in detail. He remembered the prayer and that disgusting shower. He looked down when he got to that part.

“And then you came in.”

Gabriel's superior was behind him and he looked at the commanding officer of the police station as Gabriel hit stop on the recording. He looked severe but there was a certain warmth to his eyes. Not that it was expected for Dal to notice that right now. "That lines up with the call Agent Moreno sent me. You have a copy in your email. It's time we contacted the DA and put an end to this."

With that he dismissed Gabriel who rested a hand on Dal's shoulder. "Let's get you out of here. You did well and we can take it from here. You won't ever have to see that man ever again."

Dal knew very little of the American justice system. He didn't know what happened next in Gabriel's case. Nor did he care to know the details. As long as that man was off the street and others were safe from him, that's what Dal cared about. That's what he was sure Gabriel cared about, too.

The hand on his shoulder jolted Dal back to reality. He even started in his seat, then relaxed when he realized it was Gabriel. He glanced from the other people to Gabriel, an uncertain look on his face.

"I can leave now?"

"You can. This man here is my superior. His name is Agent Daniels. He wants to make sure you're safe so he's taking care of some of the finer details for me so I can make sure you are."

Gabriel gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze then waved for him to come with him. No need to stay in the uncomfortable police station any longer. They had the statement and that was all they needed. The benefits of a lot of officers and a couple special agents literally witnessing the crime.

Dal rose from his seat slowly, looking at Agent Daniels. He didn't see any judgment in his eyes, which was a relief. He got enough of that from the local cops -- several of whom he knows, ah, professionally. They're the ones who glare at him the most. But he met Agent Daniels' eyes and bowed his head.

"Thank you."

That was his only delay before following Gabriel out, ignoring the looks the cops gave them both for vastly different reasons. He was still trembling a little as they left, so Dal shrank and shoved his hands deep into his pockets. Only once they were outside did he stop to look at Gabriel.

"If you have to stay, I can get home on my own." His voice was small and more than a little hopeful that he wouldn't have to go back alone.

"Dal. Stop. I am going with you and that's final."

Leading him to the parking lot, he opened the door for him so that way his charge could get inside. With that done, he went around to the other side and got in the driver's side. A soft sigh and then a smile.

"Where are we going? You can tell me."

“I wanna get my own clothes.” Which meant going to his place, or at least stopping there. “When we get closer, I can tell you the way.”

"Are we going to the Chinese place I picked you up in front of that one time?" Because if so then he didn't need the directions. He knew exactly where they were going.

“Yeah.” Dal nodded to confirm. Then, as if he needed to explain, “The owners let me live above it. It’s all kinda shady but I got a roof over my head.”

"It's alright. I've probably lived in worse honestly." After all, he hadn't always been someone with a job that let him stay in a super nice hotel for work. That was for sure. Or even someone who owned a nice house now and even helped pay for his mother's house as well.

"Would you like me to come upstairs with you?" Since he knew Dal was nervous to be alone right now.

It’s tough when you have no ID, no legit job, and couldn’t parse out a lease if you tried. Dal’s actually grateful for what he has because he knew it was rare. Oh, sire, he’s getting robbed in rent, but at least they’re not constantly upping the price for him to stay there.

Dal was nervous to be alone. He was also nervous about having someone else in his place. Not because it was small or shabby, but because it was his and he’s never brought anyone there for anything. That was his retreat from the world.

“Yes.”

Edited (Typo) 2023-04-07 05:43 (UTC)

"Alright. I'll come up with you."

Reaching over, Gabriel rested a hand on his leg then gave a gentle squeeze to reassure him before he went back to focusing on driving. When they got there, he found a good spot to park and turned off the car before getting out. Going to Dal's side, he gave him a smile.

"Ready?"

Dal was more than a little nervous. Maybe because of what he’s been through or maybe because he likes Gabriel and worries what he’ll think of how Dal lives. He nodded in answer and led Gabriel through the front of the restaurant. The workers inside recognized him and thought nothing of him wandering back beyond where customers were allowed. A quick turn just beyond the bathrooms led to a door with a narrow stairway beyond it. Upstairs was storage and another door off to the left, where Dal turned and fit his key into the lock.

Behind the door was a small studio apartment. There was a twin bed pushed up against the wall with a pillow propped up against it so he can sot up. A narrow door, presumably a closet, is beside it. The opposite wall is a small kitchenette, more of a counter with a small sink, a hot plate, a microwave, and a cabinet above which was empty. Then another door which was open that led to a tiny bathroom.

Dal didn’t turn to look back at Gabriel. Instead, he just went to the closet to pull out one of his remaining outfits.

“Um… do you mind if I change?”

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