[prefall!learn-from-the-pain] ❝ Lemme help you with that! I’m coming in there. ❞
“You open that door,I’m gonna throw you through it,” Gabriel rasps, trying not to dry-heave, “I’m fine. Bad chicken wings.”
In a kinder world, he’d unlock it and let her in, crack some joke about holding his hair back while he retches into the toilet bowl. In a kinder world he’d hold his smoky hands up to her and say This is all going so wrong and let her help him through the rest.
Unfortunately, that world isn’t this one, so he’s stuck keeping an eye on that fucking door, trying not to throw his lungs up and knowing that no matter what happens next he’ll bear it alone but thanks for the concern, really, appreciate it, sure wish this wasn’t Just How It Be--
He’d really hate to die here, he thinks. There are few fates less dignified than dying clutching at a toilet bowl with half your guts still swimming in it. Gabriel’s skin is clammy and he’s hot and cold all at once, but he’ll be damned if he’s getting anywhere near the sink and the mirror sitting behind it to get some water. He can’t be sure his face isn’t still more eyes and smoke than, you know, his face.
“Ana?” Gabriel’s eyes are shut. He hopes he doesn’t sound as shit-terrified as he feels. “This is gonna take a while, but I could use some tea when I get out.”
Listen. He needs some way of getting her to leave.
