bsumone | ❝ Nobody knows where you’re going ❞

Gabriel chuckled softly and gave him another little kiss. Just a brief one to let Dal know that he would always be getting these little affections as long as he wanted them. Then he cupped his face before reaching to grab a cup that was nearby.

"I love you too. Now close your eyes for me and I'll wash your hair. When we get out I'll dry it for you before we go to bed."

That way he could be absolutely sure that Dal wouldn't get sick on top of having been drugged.

The first time Dal showered after nearly being drowned was tough. Water in his face freaked him out. Getting too much water in his mouth still sends a jolt of panic through him. He has to face away from the shower spray now. So this makes him a little nervous. It shows in the way his shoulders stiffen and how, even though he nods, his fingers twitch and reach out to rest against one of Gabriel's shoulders.

Dark eyes fall closed and Dal sucks in a deep breath.

"Ready."

Gently, he tilted his head back then used his hand to make sure not a drop of water got onto his face. Only his hair was wet. Satisfied, he set the cup aside then got the shampoo so he could massage it in, keeping all his movements obvious and even murmuring what he was doing next so that way Dal would always be aware of what was happening to him.

After rinsing and conditioning, he rinsed one more time then gathered him close to embrace him. "You did so well. Good job, Dal. You're all done and we can get out when you're ready."

It was so relaxing. Dal’s lucky he didn’t fall asleep right then and there. With Gabriel’s hands in his hair, his soothing voice, and, of course, the drugs in his system, it was nothing short of miraculous that Dal was still conscious at all!

A quiet sigh slipped from his lips when Gabriel pulled him close. And Dal simply folded into him. He rested his head against the man’s shoulder, lifting a hand to lay on his chest, just above where his heart beat. Was this the first time they’ve been skin-to-skin? Dal’s pretty sure it was. It was comfortable and made him anxious at the same time. This wasn’t someone paying for him… This was someone who actually cared about him and that alone made Dal uncertain how he should behave.

“I’m ready,” he murmured, voice thick with sleep. But then Dal pulled back, peering at Gabriel through tired, half-lidded eyes. “You’re gonna stay with me, right? You’ll sleep next to me?”

He gave Dal the kindest of smiles and nodded before taking his head between his hands to pull him forward to kiss his forehead. "I'll be with you the whole night. I promise."

With that, he gathered him up so he could get them out of the bath, letting it drain behind them. Drying them both off with a towel, he brought Dal to the other room with a hair dryer then sat behind him so he could get his hair dried properly. He knew that the other was tired and needed sleep but he refused to let him get sick from having wet hair in bed.

Once the hair was dry he got himself dressed before helping Dal do the same and then tucked him into bed before getting in with him. Pulling him in close, he kissed the top of his head.

"Sleep. I'll be here when you wake up."

Those smiles were so nice. The way Gabriel looked at him was always so nice. Even in a state like this, Dal appreciated those things. The warmth, the kindness that just seemed to ooze out Gabriel’s every pore reached to the very heart of him. Even back in Seoul, he’d never known this kind of affection. Not from friends or family or even that boy he liked. He never imagined being this happy.

He nearly fell asleep where he sat while Gabriel dried his hair. He was already so tired and the warm air only enhanced that. He teetered a couple of times, flashing a sheepish grin when he started from the wobble. Even Gabriel’s clothes felt nice against his skin. Softer and a little bigger than Dal’s street clothes… which was all he owned. Pajamas haven’t been a necessary part of his life since he arrived in the US. He nestled into them, and Gabriel’s arms, sighing in content. Such a bad night turned into something so magical thanks to this man.

It wasn’t long before Dal was fast asleep. Almost as soon as his head hit the pillow, his breathing went deep and steady. Instinctively, he curled closer to Gabriel, attracted to his warmth even in unconsciousness. And thus he stayed for most of the night: still and dead to the world. Every now and then, he’d turn in Gabriel’s arms and let out some small sound.

When he did wake, it was late in the morning, almost close to noon. Sleep clung desperately to him and his body felt heavier than usual. And sore in ways it wasn’t used to. Dal blinked a few times, giving his eyes a moment or two to focus before he realized he didn’t know where he was. Not only that, his memory of the previous night was minimal, at best.

Dal bolted upright, panic lancing through him. He was wide-eyed as he looked around. No, nothing was familiar. He couldn’t even hear the familiar ambient noise of the restaurant below him or the city’s sounds outside. Looking down, even these clothes weren’t his. Where was he?

Edited (HTML fail) 2023-06-16 15:14 (UTC)

His mother had come while Dal was sleeping and Gabriel had slipped away long enough to have breakfast and talk to her about what happened. Of course she made extra food for Dal when he woke up, promising to come by later when he was awake. Then Gabriel had gone back up to collect his glasses and read while he held his new boyfriend against him.

Which meant he was right here when he woke up in a panic. Setting the book aside, he quickly shifted to get himself in front of him, offering him a comforting smile as he took his hands.

"It's alright, Dal. You're safe. This is my house. I came and got you last night and took care of you. Do you remember?"

He'd understand if most of that would be forgotten since there had been drugs involved. But he was willing to be patient and help him through this until his boyfriend could feel safe again. "You're safe. I promise."

Gabriel’s pretty safe to do as he wanted in the mornings. Dal’s been a night owl for so many years, shifting to a new sleep pattern will be difficult for him. So, for now, he’s not likely to wake much before noon.

Seeing Gabriel dulled that spike of anxiety and Dal clutched his hands so tightly it hurt his fingers. He sucked in a slow breath and tried to remember. It was mostly foggy, everything blurred around the edges like a barely remembered dream that left him with impressions instead of details.

What he did remember was a rare out-call. It was a repeat customer, someone he’d seen often enough that Dal accepted the unusual request. He remembered dim lights and music and people laughing. People, plural. A party? Couldn’t have been. He doesn’t do parties. A deep crease settled between his brows and Dal shook his head.

“I don’t remember…”

A frown tugged his lips down when he spotted the bruises around his wrists. Well, that would explain at least a few of his mystery aches.

“I thought… You don’t live in the city?”

"I don't. You called me last night and I drove into the city to find you then drove you back to my place. I got you cleaned up and taken care of then we went to bed."

Gabriel used his grip on those hands to pull him into his arms, onto his lap. Wrapping his arms around him, he gently stroked his hair and pressed a kiss to his temple. All to reassure Dal that he was safe and that he was going to be alright.

"I can give you some ibuprofen for the aches if you want. And I'll apply some more bruise cream for the bruises. Mama made food for you as well when she was here."

He smiled warmly at him and kissed his temple again.

"You're safe here. I won't let anyone hurt you anymore."

He came such a far way because Dal called him? just because Dal called him? Well, admittedly Dal only ever called when something was wrong. So even though he can’t clearly recall what happened, he still had the sense to know he was in trouble and to call Gabriel.

Curling up into those arms, Dal sighed with relief. He folded in as small as he could make himself. But the mention of food had a most predictable response: Dal’s stomach rumbled loudly. The rest could wait. Food was the priority.

But it felt so nice to be in Gabriel’s arms like this. It felt different from when they snuggled together in Gabriel’s hotel room in the city. There was nothing hovering over them now. Well, nothing but Dal’s job.

“I gotta go back,” he mumbled mournfully. He wanted his sketchbook, at the very least. Everything else was just stuff; stuff he didn’t realize Gabriel had the foresight to pick up last night.

"I already got your stuff last night. I grabbed everything that didn't look like it belonged there."

So maybe there were a couple things that weren't Dal's but he could always return them later. What mattered was that he got all of Dal's things. He smiled then gently patted his boyfriend's stomach.

"Let's get you something to eat and you can ask me anything you want to. Mama will stop by later so you can meet her too if you're feeling up to it. She's looking forward to meeting you."

“You did?” Dal peered up him, wide-eyed before the surprise melted into fondness. “So thoughtful,” he mused, a smile finally coming to his face. There really wasn’t much in the apartment: a couple of outfits, some socks, his many, many toiletries and collection of makeup, and the sketchbook.

Dal reached up to try to smooth his hair out. No doubt it was sticking out in all directions. And because Gabriel washed it for him last night, the natural waves in it were clear. The same hand moved to lay fingers against his own face.

“Can fix up before meetin’ her?” He wants to do his hair and put on some makeup. After whatever happened… he’s not sure he’s presentable. He’ll definitely want to make sure he’s wearing something that covers any bruises he hasn’t seen yet.

Without waiting for Gabriel’s answer, Dal wiggled out of his hold so they could go downstairs (which was where he presumed breakfast was – oh! He remembered that there were stairs! Maybe more would come back to him). Once he was on his feet, Dal reached out with both hands for Gabriel’s. “C’mon. I’m hungry!”

"Of course. I'll show you where your things are after you eat." Taking that hand, he chuckled softly then guided him downstairs, pointing out different rooms along the way so that Dal would know where everything was. And then when they got to the kitchen he went and got the food back onto the stove so he could start reheating it. Before long the smell of spices filled the air. Fresh chorizo with eggs and beans to be served with homemade salsa and tortillas.

"Would you like something to drink? I have water, juice, coffee, tea..." he asked over his shoulder as he kept preparing the food.

Dal paid close attention to the layout so he could make his way around without bothering Gabriel for directions every single time he wanted to move about. He also clutched at Gabriel’s hand with both of his own on the way to the kitchen. He felt some small spark of anxiety in being in an unfamiliar place, but he knew he’d be okay since it was Gabriel’s house and Gabriel was there.

Once in the kitchen, Dal sank down in a chair to watch Gabriel heat everything up. It smelled so good!

“Oh, coffee, please,” he answered quickly. “Got a headache.” Only a slight one, but he’s sure it’s from dehydration and the aftereffects of whatever he ingested last night. After just a few minutes, he cocked his head to one side. “Did ya help me clean up?” He smelled… fresh. Like soap. Not at all like sweat and sex.

"Of course." Pausing in what he was doing, he got coffee started, using some of the fresh grounds from that morning to make it. Then he went back to heating up the food that he had started. Looking back at him, he smiled and nodded.

"I did. You wanted to be clean before you went to sleep so I helped you have a bath and even washed and dried your hair."

And they'd also kissed and exchanged feelings but he wouldn't overwhelm him by saying that part. Not yet

A bath? Hadn’t he dreamt that? Dal didn’t do baths for two reasons: 1) his apartment didn’t have a bathtub and 2) some psycho tried to drown him in one very recently. Since that incident, though, Dal didn’t have many pleasant dreams about water. So it had to be real. His recollection was so vague, simply the sensation of water trickling down his neck, of fingers massaging his scalp… of lips against his.

That part he might be conflating with something else. He wasn’t really certain.

“You were in it, too.” It almost sounded like a question. All Dal wanted was confirmation. Though he was a little disappointed he only had snippets of impressions of recollections of their first time bathing together. That wasn’t Gabriel’s fault.

"I was. It looked like you needed me so I got in with you."

Putting the food on a couple plates, he brought them over and set them down so Dal could start eating while he went to go finish making the coffee. Then he brought those over as well before sitting down. Putting some of the ingredients in the tortilla, he started to eat, even doing the action slow enough that Dal could copy it if he wanted to.

"You were happier and more relaxed when you were able to lean against me and sit on my lap."

Dal watched as Gabriel made up his meal and followed suit. He wasn’t sure what some of the ingredients were, but everything looked and smelled delicious. He found he filled the tortilla a little too full on the first try. It made him giggle to himself and shake his head, but he started eating it with those tiny little bird bites despite it being over-stuffed.

He paused mid-chew when Gabriel mentioned being in his lap and looked across the table at him with wide eyes. Cheeking the bite, he held a hand in front of his mouth and asked, “Did we…?”

"We didn't have sex if that's what you're asking. I want you to be clear minded when you tell me you're ready for that, Dal. I can wait until then."

He smiled warmly at him then had a sip of coffee before speaking again. "I will admit we did kiss. But I didn't let anything else happen. And I did give you permission at the time to kiss me anytime you want to."

He glanced down and let out a little laugh. But he truly wasn't making fun of him or himself with this. Rather it was something born of happiness. "I did admit that I love you and you told me you believe you might love me too."

He sighed at the confirmation that they didn’t do anything physical. Those slight shoulders even slumped in relief. Gabriel’s on the same page as him regarding sex. Dal wanted to make sure it was something more than just going through the motions when they final sleep together. He’s not surprised to learn that Gabriel didn’t press his advantage; Gabriel’s not that kind of guy. But he doesn’t put it passed himself to have tried something while on autopilot.

Hearing the rest, though, Dal frowned because he couldn’t remember those nice things that happened. Maybe that’s the tradeoff for not remembering the bad things, either. After a moment, he lets out a small huff.

“I don’t remember… Guess that means we’ll hafta do it all again.”

Gabriel chuckled around a bite of food. He knew that Dal was happy that they hadn't had sex when he was like that. And he was glad he'd made that right judgement call. Not that he would have made any other call honestly. This had been the right one to make. He smiled warmly at him then finished his first tortilla with a sip of coffee.

"I'd be happy to if you would like to, Dal. You mean a lot to me and I meant it when I said that I love you. So anytime you are ready for more kisses I am too."

Dal set his food down in favor of his coffee. He was slow to eat, but hungry enough that he just might be able to finish off one whole tortilla! Maybe. If he didn’t get too distracted by the warm feeling spreading out from his chest with every beat of his heart.

Had he ever been this happy? He couldn’t remember. Even before finding himself in the lease than ideal circumstance in which, until just last night, he lived… His family hadn’t been a loving one. His friends were… Well, they were teenagers. Everything seemed like extremes. And that boy he liked, it was just that: like. He didn’t have plans for some grand future with that boy.

Maybe he never thought much about the future back then because he knew his parents would choose it for him. He’d just be an automaton, going through the motions of life under the guise of being a good and dutiful son. Everything would be prim and proper and buttoned-up so they’d look good to the world at large. Dal would go into finance, like his dad. He’d clock in at some soulless office every day and his most meaningful relationships would be with the strangers he worked with, no deeper than the small talk exchanged in elevators.

And when he came to New York? He was on the street within a week. After the first year passed, he contented himself with having a little refuge of his own and a safe place to sleep. He knew his circumstance and didn’t have much hope of changing his stars. There was a future, it wasn’t as bleak as the one he foresaw for himself in Seoul, but it wasn’t vibrant either. Maybe just a step above.

And then Gabriel showed up and everything began to change.

Now? He looked forward to what tomorrow would bring. Dal looked forward to wakinge up tomorrow in Gabiel’s house, in Gabriel’s arms. He was eager to meet Gabriel’s mother. He was oh-so-happy to be sitting across the table from a man he’s certain he loved, eating too much breakfast (for him), and dreaming about their life together.

“I’m so happy,” he blurted out, albeit quietly.

The three words were so very simple and yet they meant a lot to Gabriel. When he'd first met Dal of course he'd found him attractive but he'd ignored that in favor of the job. But in getting to know him and spending more and more time with him? His feelings had changed and he'd realized that he could see himself spending the rest of his life with this man here. His past didn't matter to him at all. Only Dal as the human did.

So hearing how happy he was? It filled him with such warmth that he got up and went around the table to come kneel behind him. Taking his hands, he smiled up at him, eyes full of all the adoration that he felt.

"You are welcome to call this your home now, Dal. I would love to have you stay here and build a life with me. If you will say yes to that then I promise you I'll spend the rest of my life making you happy and safe. Anything you want, I'll help you with. Anything."

Even knowing that Gabriel was being completely earnest with him, it seemed too good to be true. Could he really have a life off the streets? After eight long years, could he really have a life where he didn’t have to let strangers fuck him night after night just to put food in his belly and keep a roof over his head? Was it possible?

It felt possible. More than possible. With Gabriel pledging the rest of his life to Dal, it felt real. But could Dal, fiercely independent, willing to do what it took just to survive Dal simply sit back and let someone else pay his way?

Oh, he wanted this so badly! Dal squeezed Gabriel’s hands and blinked at the tears welling up in his eyes. It was all so overwhelming. It took a moment for him to finally nod. He nodded once, twice, again.

“Okay. I’ll stay.”

Bringing those hands to his lips, he kissed them. This wasn't a marriage proposal yet, even if it felt like one. No, he'd wait a bit before he asked for his hand like that. Having him move in with him and start a new life was already asking for a great deal to start with and Gabriel knew that.

Getting to his feet, he pressed a kiss to Dal's temple. "Go ahead and finish your breakfast. Then I'll show you where your things are so you can get ready for the day."

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