Through all windows I see only infinity [closed]

[johnny_truant]

Scout can tell something exciting is happening. Johnny's never taken him all the way to the Ramble before. He maneuvers around more wildly than usual, tugging this way and that, sniffing everything and letting out the occasional enthusiastic yap. Johnny trots along with him indulgently, his gut a tumultuous knot of thrill and anxiety. The certainty he'd had right after Seth had taken his power has lessened now, replaced again by doubt - what if this doesn't work? What if he gets there and has no choice but to turn back?

He feeds off Scout's nervous energy as he draws closer to where she is. Before he'd felt a sort of inexorable pull toward her, but now he feels nothing. A good sign, perhaps? Or had he only imagined it before?

He almost freezes when he sees her - just the top of her structure, standing bright beautiful blue - the blue of his house - against leafy green. He slows down to a crawling pace, leading Scout to look up at him wonderingly. Johnny can almost hear his heart pounding, his pulse thrumming strong all across his body, tight and hot under his skin. He steps closer, gently, until the full box comes into view, and he feels a certain apprehension knowing what's inside, but it's still nothing close to what he'd experienced the first and last time he came here. Still, it hadn't hit him until he'd almost touched her.

Slow inhalation dries his lips and throat as he steps closer still, extending a trembling hand. If he can just - if he can-

He touches her. Lays his palm flat across the surface of the door. He lets out his breath in an unsteady burst, feeling almost dizzy with joy and relief. The wood is warm and seems to tingle faintly beneath his fingertips, but there's nothing more. It worked. It worked.

He gives only the gentlest push and the door swings open.

Comments

[johnny_truant]

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.

[theoldgirl]

The TARDIS trails behind, now sharing Gabriel's apprehension about this encounter. She still thinks it will ultimately be good for him to see someone else caring about him, but she is a little worried that this might be too much too soon, and humans have an awful tendency to make everything about them. Gabriel's reassurance that he will be okay helps, but she can't quite trust him to know what's best for himself yet.

She returns his telepathic brush just as gently, conveying reassurance and understanding and patience. He's not going to be alone with this; she will stay right here and keep a watchful eye on his emotional well-being. Johnny's reaction is surprisingly overwrought as well and she doesn't like it, concerned by his distress and by how it will make Gabriel feel. But she knows she has to allow them to come to their own understanding, if possible.