Gabriel began walking away from the cafe, warmth still swirling in his chest and then just as sudden as when it first appeared, after he was out of her proximity the happiness was sucked away. He stood almost paralyzed by the empty feeling in his chest, feeling the hunger ebbing its way back into his mind. Gabriel turned his head back towards the cafe desperately, as if he wasn't sure if it was still going to be there when he turned around. He looked down at the coffee and then back up at the cafe. He took a step back towards it and felt (y/n)'s happiness flood through him. He leaned his back against the side of the building beside him and relaxed into her aura of happiness momentarily. After being around her and feeling that overpowering flood of emotion he didn't know if he could let her go. He quickly pulled out his phone and opened her contact info, and hit call. He lifted the phone to his ear and after a few rings he heard a confused girl on the other end, "Hello?"
"(y/n), it's Gabriel-"
He was cut off by her breathless laughter and he felt her emotion aura pulse with amusement, "When you told me to expect to hear from you I didn't think you meant immediately."
Gabriel smiled warmly and let his head fall back and rest against the brick wall behind him, "Sorry I just…I can't stop thinking about you."
"Is that so?" Her voice was not conveying the nervousness Gabriel felt building inside him and he realized the worry was his own.
"I-I…" He looked up at the sky and watches the snowflakes fall, "I was wondering when you get off work today."
"My shift ends at five. Why?" Her voice was curious now.
"Cause I'd like to take you on a date…if you'd let me," Gabriel asked. He felt her answer before she gave one. The overwhelming happiness that filled him and the blush that spilled across his face as he beamed at the sky was all the answer he needed.
"I would love to," Her happiness reflected in her voice now, "Did you want to meet me at the café when I get off work in at ten?"
"Yes, absolutely. That sounds great," He said and looked down at his feet, "I'll see you in a bit."
"I look forward to it," (y/n) hung up.
Gabriel felt her excitement fill him and from his spot against the wall he stared down at the phone, his mind swimming, his heart thrumming with emotion. This amazing girl made him feel so alive and that thought alone gave him hope that he could overcome the darker side of his ability. He sat outside for the next ten minutes, enjoying the snow and his coffee. Then suddenly the feelings left him. The distracting warmth was gone and suddenly his hunger clawed at him for attention. Had she left suddenly without him noticing? Had she forgotten their date? (y/n) exited the café and smiled when she saw Gabriel, "Gabriel, hey, did you have some place in mind?"
He stared at her in confusion. Was she not who he thought she was? No, it had to be her. Maybe she had more control over her power than he assumed she did. The café was the safe place and she only used her ability while working to make the customers feel at peace. She didn't need to use her powers now so he was left with a girl with nothing to protect her from himself.
"Gabriel?"
Her voice pulled him from his own mind and he looked down at her, a small smile on his face, forced, "Sorry, u-uh…yeah. Yeah, I have an idea. How do you feel about some dinner? I saw this really great (fav food) restaurant on my way here."
(y/n) smiled and pulled her jacket up around her shoulders, "I love (fav food). And I think I know the place you're talking about. Let's get going then, hm?" She held out a gloved hand to Gabriel and he took it, walking beside her as they made their way back up the street where he originally came from."
Every time they passed a one ended alleyway he felt the need inside of him arise to push her into the darkness and split her head open. But her quiet humming pulled his mind back to her and kept his mind in check. She looked back to him and bumped his side to get his attention, "So, Gabriel. What brings you to Colorado?"
He looked down at her wondering eyes and looked back ahead of them, "What brings YOU to Colorado?"
"Alright, ignore my question, that's cool," (y/n) chuckled and started swinging their hands back and forth as they walked, "I needed to get away from family. Not like I had a rough childhood or anything, my family is great. Just needed some space, you know?" She lifted her arm up and spun around once like a ballerina, "Wanted to make my family proud of me and I had a friend in the area, so we opened a café together and here we are."
Gabriel was amused by her calm nature, she was childish and so open to a stranger. He felt an honest smile pull onto his face and he looked down at her, "I came to Colorado looking for help."
"What kind of help?" She asked, crushing a small pile of snow with the heel of her boot, "Are you with the FBI or something? Trying to get lead?"
"No, I…" Gabriel cringed a little and looked away. He was as far from law enforcement as one could get, "I'm…sick. In a sense."
"I'm sorry," (y/n) looked up at him and her brow furrowed, "Did you find the help you needed?"
His jaw set and he held his smile on his face, not wanting to worry her, "I have."
Her eyes were curious and she pursed her lips slightly, seeming to notice his deception in not telling her the whole truth but accepted the answer anyway. They approached the restaurant and headed inside the large doors. A waiter greeted them instantly, "Hello, seating for two?"
"Yes. At a table, away from a lot of people if you could," Gabriel nodded the two of them watched the waiter pick up two menus and lead them to a booth near the back of the restaurant and away from the other people.
They took their seats on opposite sides of the booth and the waiter left to let them think about their choices momentarily. They both removed their jackets and gloves, getting comfortable in the warmth of the restaurant.
"Don't like people much, huh?" (y/n) smiled warmly as she looked over the menu.
"I like less noise. Means I can pay more attention to you," Gabriel stole a glance up at her.
She seemed amused as she stretched her legs out under the table, her leg brushing against his, "A smooth talker, huh? I sure have gotten myself into something here, haven't I?"
He smiled but it wasn't anything more than a mask and the girl across from him seemed to notice instantly.
Her hand reached out and touched the back of his, her fingers curling around his, "You okay?"
Gabriel looked down at their hands before he looked back up to her, "No."
"Is it something I did?" (y/n) asked in worry, hand making a move to leave his when his hand tightened round her fingers.
"You didn't do anything. I'm sorry," Gabriel kept his eyes on their hands, "I just…something happened a-and…I don't..." His brow furrowed as he thought of a way to ask her what he knew he needed to, "I need to show you something."
His eyes met hers and the sudden intensity of his stare took her breath away, "Gabriel…"
The waiter approached, "What can I start you with?"
"I'll have a coffee and a (fav food)," Gabriel said stiffly, hand retreating from hers and eyes flitting to the waiter momentarily before moving to his hands which were now resting on his lap.
"I'll have a (fav drink) and the same thing he's having," (y/n) said, eyes trained on Gabriel as the waiter nodded and left them alone again. The silence that moved through them was overwhelming before she reached her hand out again, placing it on the table in front of him in case he needed some reassurance, "You said you wanted to show me something."
Gabriel kept his jaw set and he looked to a salt shaker, "Just…keep an open mind…please."
He didn't wait for her confirmation and instead raised a hand, flicking his wrist, causing the small bottle to slide across the table before he caught it with his other hand before it went over the edge and shattered on the floor. When he was greeted with silence he felt as though he was going to be consumed by worry and then he felt her hand on top of his which was trembling.
"Gabriel," She said quietly and he looked up to her. (y/n) was smiling warmly, knowingly, and gave his hand a squeeze, "What was it you needed help with?"
