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It'd been a couple of days passed since the incident out in the early morning woods. Gabriel had been taking his time, working through some things and been spending a bit of his in the small town nearby working at the grocery store helping with trucks. It was a coping mechanism to start processing through some of the jumbled up mess that was his head.
It had begun a day after he had started absorbing energy from Jean. Small flashes in his mind of what was in the past, leaving him confused at times to where he was and pushing him distant from others. So as a soft cold rain sprinkled across the countryside, Gabriel wandered around in the forest with a thoughtful expression.
*
Jean had asked Logan to train her. Then she had asked him to kill her if she goes dark. He agreed. Her path and choice was now set before her but.. there was at least a person missing in all of this. Gabriel. But there was a little sense of peace when it came to him. He went out into the world to work his job. Jean continued to visit the mansion and study, then to the frost institute to study more, then to Charles' apartment in the city to clean up her mess and try to sleep. It was lonely, possibly only an hour or two intervals, but it was something.
Back into the Institute, it was an idle walk around the forest as well, Jean seeking out Gabriel's mind as she tries to gain closer to where he walks. In some parts, he was a little loud.. and some parts, quiet. It was like he was wandering away from her quicker, or she had a shitty sense of direction. "Gabriel?" She finally calls out, giving up. She'll get better at it sooner or later.
*
He hears a voice calling out to him, pushing through the sound of his mind and Gabriel starts to make his way to it. It had been a difficult few days, week nearly apart from Jean while struggling through their messes individually. Eventually he trudges through some foilage and approaches her in view. "Hey." He calls out by way of greeting, learning to speak a bit more casual in the way the people of this world do.
*
Jean stops in place as she looks around, finally seeing Gabriel in the distance. Her hand lifts in a wave, and with a quick rush of footsteps, she approaches and stops in front of him with a smile. She really didn't know what to say right then.. so.. she just goes for whatever was at the surface. "I asked Logan to train me and teach me how to fight, I want to go out there and save people. Want to come?" Dumb! Dumb Jean! Why not ask him how he's doing?! Or what he's been up to?!
*
Gabriel owl blinks at Jean, head tilting to the side some with a questioning look before he finally speaks, "Fight what? Just… like fight fight?" That's all he pulled out of that topic before his shoulders lift into a shrug, "I mean, I guess I can." There is no spirit behind it, only a sort of 'yeah, I'll go since you offered'. Not his normal vibrancy.
*
"Um.. you know.. fight monsters. People who hurt other people. Stop them and send them to jail. That sort of thing.." It was hard to explain, being a hero had it's grey lines. But, he didn't seem too happy about the prospect. "Gabriel.." She finally says with a slight sigh, feeling that little bit of disconnect. She was even hesitant, but she steps forward to reach out and take his hand. "..What's wrong?"
*
"I have felt alone." Gabriel explains to her quietly, not accusingly by any means. "Just a bit lost, and alone. Since that morning when you had the nightmares… in the forest, do you remember?" Like she would have forgotten. "I've had weird flashes in my mind. I don't know if they're memories, if it's something else, but it has left me confused."
*
His words cause her to step forward, her arms slipping in between his to wrap around his middle. He was taller than her by a good bit, but it was still nice to rest her head upon his chest as she gives him a warm, comforting hug. "I remember briefly.." Things were fuzzy after that. She was so tired that she's slept better than she did in months. "Do you want to talk about the things that you've seen? I'm a really good listener.." She frowns a little, hugging him just a little tighter. "I'm sorry if I made you feel that way."
*
There was hesitation, a swallow of a lump in his throat as Gabriel's head shakes a bit. "I don't know. None of the dreams… the images are pleasant at all." It was a difficult admission that even what he might be remembering was terrible. His own arms move to hold Jean against him, face falling to rest on the top of her head. "You do not need to be sorry, you did not cause this."
*
Jean couldn't help but feel that she did. If she didn't bring him to Charles, he'd still be so sweet and so innocent. But watching his development has been a true gem, and him coming into his own, he was doing so well. She just hated seeing him sad. "But.. what were they? Maybe I can help? If.. you don't want me to know, it's okay. I won't be upset, but I am worried about you."
*
Gabriel is quiet for a long moment then finally he speaks. "I see faces. Bloody faces and people laying on the ground. I don't know how, but I know I did it. I was responsible for it. But I don't feel guilty over it…" That makes him frown further and he pulls away just a bit.
*
"Oh.." Jean quietly murmurs, allowing him to pull away from her, her hands resting upon his sides before she hesitantly lets go. She wasn't expecting -that-. But could it be the reason as to why his memories were blocked in the first place? "I.. maybe it was because you had to. Maybe they tried to hurt you and you attacked.. I.. you could have felt guilty, right? Which.. which is why you probably asked someone to block your memories or.. " She was grasping at straws..
*
Gabriel walks away a bit, going to find a spot to sit down on, a nice patch of grass and he does so, just settling in right there. "Maybe. But I don't feel like that. I feel like… like it didn't bother me at all." He looks up at Jean and then eyes fall downcast. "I don't know what to make of myself."
*
Jean shakes her head, following him towards the grass as she waits for him to sit. Even as he looks down, she steps upon either side of him, lowering herself down until she straddles his lap. "War, maybe." Jean states, reaching out to press her fingers against his chin to lift. "Do you want me to see? To try to make sense of it? Organize it at least?" She -was- curious. She didn't know what to make of him either, or if she should be scared of this newfound information.
*
Looking up when she sits upon him, pulling his face up by the chin, Gabriel's eyes widen a moment before he shakes his head. "And what if what you see is … too much?" A concern at least but he pauses then adds. "What I mean is, not too much that would make you flee, but too much for us to handle. Too much emotion?"
*
She leans down to press her lips against his briefly, a quick and reassuring kiss. He's done it to her, yes? So surely he would know what that means. "I told you, I'd never leave you, right? And as it stands.. I feel everything. All of the emotions of the people around me sometimes, even all of the children in the mansion. The teachers.. even the animals." She smiles sadly. "I'll take care of you if it's too much. We will be okay."
*
The quick kiss seems to reassure him a bit and Gabriel listens to her words quietly. "What are we?" The question is so soft, barely a whisper but his eyes are searching deep, questing to know. "Not … I mean.. what are we?" The we this time is emphasized, we, them.
*
It was her turn for the owlish look; the blush upon her cheeks immediately drawn upon her pale skin as she lifts her eyes to the sky. "Um.. I don't know.." She answers honestly. She had been questioning that for a while. "We.. are.. together?" This time, it was her looking to him for approval. "I.. I don't know. We can be anything we want to be, really." She shifts a little uncomfortably, then lifts a finger to lightly tap his nose. "Boooop.." Awkward.
*
"Together.. together?" He looks almost expectant. Gabriel's nose scrnuches with the boop to it and it creates an odd, if not adorable, expression before he nods. "I thought as much. The people in town, the girls, they keep… asking me about such things. I did not know how to respond to their questions."
*
Jean nods, it was.. official? In a weird way. Official. "Oh.. like, they keep asking if you have a girlfriend?" Another shift has her sliding from his lap to sit at his side, her body scooting back so that they could touch arm to arm, her own legs spread out as she begins to idly bounce her legs. This was.. difficult. And she felt a little jealous. "Did.. I .. um.. did you say anything? A.. About me?"
*
"I didn't know what to say. I usually respond with a statement of having someone who I spend my free time with when we can. I think that the impression that was given was one of uhm… being together, I guess?" He tries to explain before nodding. "Yes, they were asking if I had a girlfriend, which I did not realize meant more than just a female who was a friend until it was explained to me. I get an awful lot of weird looks when I talk, so I try not to talk much." Which probably leads to that puppy dog mysterious guy vibe that can cause trouble.
*
Jean didn't hear the long winded explanation. All she heard was.. 'girl' and 'friend'. In fact, she had to look away to at least form a semi-coherent sentence or idea. "You.. you told them I was your girlfriend?" Dumbass. "I.. well… um.." Her hand lifts to reach behind her neck, rubbing a little idly. She even squints an eye as she turns to look at him, a weird and awkward smile upon her face. "Do.. you want that? I mean, it's okay if you really don't, but is that what you want?"
*
"I do not understand what it is." Gabriel explains to Jean looking down a bit. "The term doesn't hold meaning to me. Explain it and then I can tell if it is what I feel?" The concept he would know, but the actual wording just doesn't compute. One of those weird idioms that people use that has no place for him at present.
*
"Hmm." Jean crosses her legs and leans back with both hands as she looks towards the trees. "Girlfriend and boyfriend. I.. think that they're someone special to each other. Like.. when you go to sleep at night, they're in your thoughts. Or when you wake up, they're sometimes the one you think about." She nods her head slightly, then adds. "They can make you smile, laugh, feel better, safe. You remember how they smell.." She blushes a little. "..and they're in each others heart constantly. They.. even have sex. Um.. fucking, what Logan calls it." At least he understands that. "With each other. No one else. Yes! I forgot. There can be only one girl for a man, or man for a girl. Unless they want more and everyone agrees with it, but that's too complicated." She lifts her hand, rubbing a little at her cheek. "I guess.. it just means you're not alone in the world anymore. You finally found someone you love."
*
As she begins, Gabriel listens intently, eyes on hers and watching every feature of Jean's face to study. The ticks, the shifts of attention. As she starts it fits everything, he understands. Who consumes his thoughts at night and in the morning. Who makes him smile and feels like they are near him even when they are not. Everything goes and then he finally realizes she's finished speaking, and he's been quiet for a time. "Is that how you feel?"
*
His question hits her good, but her head nods slightly. "Yeah.. but.." She frowns a little. "I worry. And sometimes I'm scared. I try to stay away at night when you're asleep in Logan's cabin so I don't hurt you." Her lips bunch up a little. "But.." She does smile a little, looking away again. "I do wonder what you're doing sometimes. Like.. what is Gabriel doing right now? Is he okay? I wonder if I should make him dinner.. which I do. It's usually in the fridge. I don't know if you eat it or not." She shrugs her shoulders, then crosses her legs with a lean forward. "Though sometimes I think I'm around you too much and you don't get a chance to breathe or know yourself."
*
"It is tough to meet people here." Gabriel comments as he looks in the direction of the Mansion. "People there are nice but it is … different. I kind of like the town a bit because I can see how everyone interacts, learn from that. But that is not because of you Jean. I do not mind being around you…" He realizes how that sounds and corrects it. "I want to be around you. It is the best time of my day. I often think about you. I worry when I fall asleep if you'll be ok. I wonder if you're thinking of me. Even when working, I do what I can to finish and then come back, just to see if you're back."
*
"I.. know. Everyone is so involved in other things. It makes this place a bit lonely." She at least admits that part. But even as he speaks, her hands draw towards his, holding and lacing her fingers in between them. She smiles a little, then slowly scoots against him, her head lightly resting upon his shoulders as she places his hand into her lap. "Then it's settled. You're taking me on a date. I'll pay."
*
"To where?" Apparently he is familiar with the term and concept of 'date' from his conversations with townsfolks. "Most people speak of these movies, I will take you there?" Gabriel's blue eyes look at her leaning against him, entwining hands with him. So it is settled, a couple. "And maybe we can go to the larger city?"
*
"There is this place, La.. Cara.. something. It's really fancy. I bet their salads are really, really good." Then there was the movies, Jean nods her head completely as she looks up towards him, even leaning up to kiss at his chin. "Yes! Movies! I've never been!" Yup. They were facebook official! Only if facebook existed in 1963.. "Larger city?" She asks now, pulling away from him. "What do you mean? Where?"
*
"I heard some of the people in town speaking of the Big City. New York I think they called it? They spoke of tall buildings and lots of things. Maybe someday soon you can take me there?" Gabriel asks a bit hopefully, leaning down to kiss Jean softly on her forehead, barely brushing his lips against her hairline. "I also have never been to a movie. It could be quite the adventure."
*
"Ooh! Yes. I have to prepare to go to New York. There are a lot of people, too many voices, too many emotions.." She gestures at herself, then frowns. "But I'll take you there, we'll roam around and find a movie to watch. Maybe we can stay in the city for a long while before we come back here, if that's okay with your job.." She looks up towards him hopeful, her eyes squinting at the light kiss. It was coming to them so easily now, the affection.
*
The hand holding, the closeness, it really was becoming a second nature and Gabriel doesn't even realize they're doing it so naturally. "I do not think they would mind. I could help with the big delivery and then come back in a few days since they won't have another one for a time. Maybe we'll find someone there that knows me… since it's where you found me." Which does seem a long time ago, almost a month.
*
"I'll come help you if you want." Jean could make it quick, though she'd have to be careful. "Or bring you lunch." That would be sweet! And.. she still was a little bit jealous. Though, that was something to think about. They still haven't found that box.. "Actually, yes. I think we'll have to find your box too while we're out there. So.. I guess we'll have a lot to do this next week." She slowly rolls forward into a slight crawl, immediately getting to her hands and feet. "We need to get some rest, then."
*