Niles wanted more than anything to cling to Gabe, to hold him tight and assure him that they'd never be apart. But he knew just how much he needed this, needed her. Something to validate him, without judgement. Someone who saw what he was, wrapped their arms around him and without judgement or strings would tell him everything would be okay.
Like Connor had.
He could never have that with Gabe. They were too close. It was too complicated. Amanda was different. Something new and welcome and bright. Something he so desperately needed.
The brush. It was like a slap in the face. Gabe could never just let him have anything. It always came back to something old. Something he'd thought he'd forgotten for good. Something he'd long since forgiven himself for. "I was a teenager," he tried to argue. "You would have done the same thing in my place!" But his words lacked conviction. Connor had been pulling away. He needed just something to hold on to. Some reminder of the boy who would soon return home to New York. Who would miss a lock of hair?
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Like Connor had.
He could never have that with Gabe. They were too close. It was too complicated. Amanda was different. Something new and welcome and bright. Something he so desperately needed.
The brush. It was like a slap in the face. Gabe could never just let him have anything. It always came back to something old. Something he'd thought he'd forgotten for good. Something he'd long since forgiven himself for. "I was a teenager," he tried to argue. "You would have done the same thing in my place!" But his words lacked conviction. Connor had been pulling away. He needed just something to hold on to. Some reminder of the boy who would soon return home to New York. Who would miss a lock of hair?