asoncalledgabriel | (no subject)

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steve,
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(no subject)

Gabriel knocks on Steve's door, a bit hesitant because even if Steve invited him, he always feels like he's imposing or something. He'd wanted to bring something with him but he's not much of a cook yet - he's learning, or he's trying to - but he's still getting the hang of everything.

So he has a box of scones from a bakery he likes.

The weather's gotten so much warmer here than he's used to, the summers so much... heavier. But it's the heat as much as the humidity - he's used to humid, Ireland is half rain.

He flashes a shy smile when Steve opens the door. "Sorry I'm a little late, bakery was mobbed."

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"Aw, hey, you didn't need to bring anything," Steve assures, but he steps back to let Gabriel in and smiles as he smells the scones, even through the paperboard box they're in.

"Mam'd never let me hear the end of it if I showed up somewhere empty-handed." Never mind that she isn't here, but her voice is still in his head. He offers the box to Steve before following him inside.

"They smell great," he assures. "Want me to put on some tea, or coffee, or something to go with them?" He fully intends on needling Gabriel the first chance he has: he hadn't overlooked him at Pride, and he's curious to find out how he's doing, adjusting here.

"Tea would be lovely, I think. Thank you." He wants to offer to help but maybe that would be too much; he supposes he's a guest, after all.

"Want to help? Make sure I don't ruin it?" It's partly a joke: Steve can make tea just fine, but it's more likely that Gabriel prefers a specific way that he doesn't know yet.

"Yeah, sure." Gabriel smiles a bit and follows Steve into the kitchen. He at least picks out the tea he likes, and while Steve puts the kettle on he gets milk and finds the sugar. "How do you like it here?"

"Here as in Darrow, or here as in the house?" he asks, just to clarify. He putters around as he waits for the water to boil, getting cups and spoons out so they can each mix their tea the way they like it.

"In the house," he says with a faint laugh. "Though, I suppose in Darrow too, if you like." Gabriel shrugs and leans against the counter, waiting for the pot to come to a proper boil.

"I love this house," Steve says feelingly. "It's just the right size." He and Agron fit in it perfectly, and it was theirs. "This city is weird," he adds. "I think it's always going to be an adjustment. I'll always miss home, but at least it's . . . quieter, for the most part. What about you? How've you been?"

"I'm alright, I guess. Registered for school in the fall, working a little bit." Maybe he should be working more, he's got the time. Might as well do it now before the semester starts.

Steve nods as he listens. "I saw you got out the other day," he says, as casually as he can manage.

Gabriel blushes hotly. "At the-- at the parade?" he asks as he looks down at the floor, suddenly shy.

"We don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to," Steve assures without even looking at him. "But you looked like you were having a good time?"

Gabriel shrugs helplessly. "We can talk about it," he says. "I just-- yeah, I had fun. I ran into some people I know."

He's not sure how he feels about that all, still, but it had mostly been good. Strange, but good.

"I'm sure it's still sort of an adjustment," he reasons. The kettle starts to whistle, so he removes it from the burner and sets down a trivet he can rest it on after pouring the water into each of their mugs.

"Something like that," he said. Gabriel picked out a tea to put into his mug before Steve poured the water over it. "You were there, then?"

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