It takes everything Johnny has not to just stagger at the sight of him, sitting there, reading, like nothing's wrong. Scout is pulling and pulling, and part of Johnny wants to just let him go, but he resists - out of respect for the TARDIS and in case Gabe is hurt. He looks uninjured, but he also looks... different. Tired. Pale. Something.
Still, he lets Scout drag him to a pace just above a jog. His whole body aches over this, with physical desperation to see Gabe, touch him, be close to him - even though he doesn't know what to do or say.
He finally lets Scout go when they're at the couch, watches them with a small, dissociative smile. When Gabe speaks to him, he feels an uncomfortable tug right below his sternum, like at any moment he might break down.
"Y-yeah," he whispers. "Of course."
There's so much he wants - needs to ask, but for a moment all he can do is stare. Finally, moving a bit like he's in a trance, he lowers himself down to his knees, setting himself on the floor just beside Gabe, not quite ready to invite himself onto the couch yet.
"Gabe, I-" he starts to say, and then his voice fucking breaks, goddammit, god damn it. He drops his head into his hand, covering his eyes for a moment, while his other hand seeks out Gabriel's. He clutches on as tight as he dares and draws a few deep breaths.
"I - I, I'm sorry," he blurts. "Everything, all that, that shit I said, last time I saw you, it... I'm sorry, it was stupid, all of it, I-"
Where's he even going with this? He's not stupid enough to think Gabe left because of him. He sighs heavily and forces himself to look back up, though his eyes are still wet and probably red.
"I'm so fucking glad you're here," he murmurs, soft so his voice can't crack.
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Still, he lets Scout drag him to a pace just above a jog. His whole body aches over this, with physical desperation to see Gabe, touch him, be close to him - even though he doesn't know what to do or say.
He finally lets Scout go when they're at the couch, watches them with a small, dissociative smile. When Gabe speaks to him, he feels an uncomfortable tug right below his sternum, like at any moment he might break down.
"Y-yeah," he whispers. "Of course."
There's so much he wants - needs to ask, but for a moment all he can do is stare. Finally, moving a bit like he's in a trance, he lowers himself down to his knees, setting himself on the floor just beside Gabe, not quite ready to invite himself onto the couch yet.
"Gabe, I-" he starts to say, and then his voice fucking breaks, goddammit, god damn it. He drops his head into his hand, covering his eyes for a moment, while his other hand seeks out Gabriel's. He clutches on as tight as he dares and draws a few deep breaths.
"I - I, I'm sorry," he blurts. "Everything, all that, that shit I said, last time I saw you, it... I'm sorry, it was stupid, all of it, I-"
Where's he even going with this? He's not stupid enough to think Gabe left because of him. He sighs heavily and forces himself to look back up, though his eyes are still wet and probably red.
"I'm so fucking glad you're here," he murmurs, soft so his voice can't crack.