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"Alex," Gabe said softly, "I'm not going to have you staying somewhere where you can't handle. I want you to say in my home, yes, but not until we can make sure it's okay for you. And… I want to stay with you. I want to keep you safe."
Alex looked up at him. "But…but there's nowhere else to stay, I…"
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"I have friends," Gabe said, "who own me favors. They'll let us stay. And if one of them had a ghost, we'll go on to the next one."
Alex bit his lip. "I-I… but…" He didn't know what to say. He didn't understand why Gabe was being so kind.
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"It's okay, Alex." Gabe lightly put his hand on Alex's shoulder, closing the door and leading Alex back out of the building.
"I just want to make sure you're okay."
Alex looked at him. "But…" He didn't know what to say in response to this kindness, to everything that Gabe was doing for him.
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"You don't have to say anything, Alex. I want to do this for you." Gabe led Alex out of the building, down the street a bit to another one.
Alex followed Gabe, biting his lip. "Are you sure?" He asked faintly. "I-I don't want to be a burden…"
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"You're not being a burden." Gabe gave Alex a smile. "I'm perfectly sure." Gabe stepped stepped into the building. Thankfully, there didn't seem to be any ghosts here.
Alex bit his lip a little bit. "I… alright…" He replied slowly, taking a deep breath as he looked over at Gabe.
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Gabe sighed in relief. He made his way up the stairs with Alex, stopping at a for on the fifth floor. He knocked, and a woman with a child at her side answered.
"Gabe," she said. "Wasn't expecting you. Need something?"
Alex was quiet, half hidden behind the other man as he looked over at the woman.
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"Just a place to stay a couple days. This is Alex, by the way." Gabe gently turned to Alex.
"Alex, this is Martha." The child at Martha's side huffed a little.
"And Matthew," Gabe said with a silly smile to the boy.
Alex nodded a little. "Hi." He greeted, in a soft, faint voice.
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Martha looked from Gabe to Alex.
"Another one, huh?" She asked. Her voice was softer now. "It's nice to meet you, Alex." Martha stepped out of the doorway.
"Come on in," she said. Gabe nodded, stepping in. Matthew stared up at Alex, curious.
Alex nodded a little bit, wrapping his arms around himself a little as he followed Gabe inside.
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The home was about the same size as Gabe's, but much more crowded with items. Gabe lightly put this arm around Alex.
(Gtg soon sorry)
Alex leaned into Gabe a little bit, looking around warily.
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(okay then! Bye!)
Martha moved back to the stove, humming the same song Alex had been earlier. Matthew went with his mother.
"Thanks," Gabe said.
"It's no problem, with your help with my brother."
(bye!)
Alex wondered for a moment what had happened with Martha's brother, but didn't ask.
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"It was the least I could do," Gabe said. He motioned to a shabby couch to Alex, moving to sit down himself.
"Now don't you start on that again. You helped him when no one else would, and we're both grateful for it."
Alex sat down beside Gabe, quiet, his eyes flickering beween the two.
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"How is he doing?" Gabe asked. He looked over at Alex a moment, giving him a small smile.
"Better than normal. He have had any spells, and the voices have been quiet."
Alex blinked, returning the smile faintly.
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Gabe lightly put his hand in Alex's, turning back to Martha.
"That's good to hear."
Alex glanced down at their hands, then glancing over at Martha.
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Martha was cooking dinner, and patted Matthew's head lightly. Matthew had gone back to staring at Alex. The boy still hadn't said anything.
Alex looked over at Matthew, wondering why he was being stared at.
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Gabe and Martha spoke a bit more, and Martha stepped over with some food for both of them.
"Eat up," she said. Matthew gazed wide eyed at Alex, moving over and plopping down on Gabe's lap.
"Hey, kiddo," Gabe said, ruffling the boy's hair. He giggled a little, giving Gabe a bit hug.
Alex blinked at Matthew, unsure what to do. So he just took the food with a quiet "thank you".
