Gabe is right behind him, now, and his arms wrap around him. Latch on to him, strong and protective. Possessive and powerful. Moving to tangle himself around Niles--not twist, no, but weave, and Gabe is shaking. Gabe is shaking with grief and despair because Niles is feeling it.
He, too, has grief and loss. He's painted with it, tarnished, and Niles is his ticket. Niles, delicate Niles, careful Niles, memories swimming in his mind, difficult to fish out what's what.
It's the hair that he sees that causes him to cry. He cries because Connor is dead and Connor is his best friend, he cries because Niles is all alone and there's nothing Gabe can do.
He cries because Niles is grieving.
His arms tighten on Niles, pulling him back into a bear-hug, staring at the hair. He begins to whisper, soothing, and kisses the other's cheek. Staring at the lock of hair. The last connection.
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Gabe is right behind him, now, and his arms wrap around him. Latch on to him, strong and protective. Possessive and powerful. Moving to tangle himself around Niles--not twist, no, but weave, and Gabe is shaking. Gabe is shaking with grief and despair because Niles is feeling it.
He, too, has grief and loss. He's painted with it, tarnished, and Niles is his ticket. Niles, delicate Niles, careful Niles, memories swimming in his mind, difficult to fish out what's what.
It's the hair that he sees that causes him to cry. He cries because Connor is dead and Connor is his best friend, he cries because Niles is all alone and there's nothing Gabe can do.
He cries because Niles is grieving.
His arms tighten on Niles, pulling him back into a bear-hug, staring at the hair. He begins to whisper, soothing, and kisses the other's cheek. Staring at the lock of hair. The last connection.
"I miss him."