Gabe listened quietly. That sounded a bit like his old neighbor, but there were plenty of old men with white hair and glasses. "Okay then," Gabe said softly. "Is there anything else about him you remember? You don't have to look, just try to remember."
"There's…uhm…I-I…" he swallowed. "Grey…shirt. Tie."
(should there be a distinguishing mark that makes Gabe realize the man was his neighbor?)
"Okay then," Gabe said softly. He carefully moved right next to Alex, trying to calm him down.
(idk?? I've been trying to do details but Alex isn't going to be willing to stare at the ghost to find details?)
Alex was shaking still, breathing a little shaky as well.
(hmm… What about, like, a body deformity? Like a smaller arm?)
"Can I put my arms around you?" Gabe asked softly.
(sure!)
Alex nodded a little bit in reply, his eyes finding the ghost again, tracking it as it moved. "H-he's got…he's got a s-small…arm…" he whispered.
Gabe was putting his arms around agreed when he said that, and Gabe's eyes widened slightly. That sounded like his old neighbor that had passed, for sure. Had agreed seen a picture of him? He securely hadn't gone over to the widow's- she would have told Gabe. His shock was written across his face.
Alex closed his eyes, burying his face in Gabe's shoulder so that he didn't have to see the ghost anymore.
Gabe lightly rested his hand on Alex's head, keeping him close. He was still stunned.
Alex let out a breath, clinging to Gabe. "I hate this." he whispered.
"I k-know," Gabe said softly. He pulled Alex closer, holding him close.
Alex sniffled, his brown hair falling down his back in curling waves.
Gabe gently ran his fingers through Alex's hair, again and again, occasionally wiping away any stray tears.
Alex leaned into Gabe, his shivering and fear eventually fading as the ghost's presence grew fainter and fainter until it was gone.
Gabe held Alex close, mind racing.
"You really did see him," he mumbled out loud.
Alex glanced up at him. "I-I…I did…" he whispered back softly, eyes broken and damaged as he looked up at the other man.
Gabe carefully cupped Alex's head with one hand. He was still completely stunned, but Alex must be going through so much. He saw ghosts.
"I'm so sorry," Gabe said softly.
Alex looked up at him. "I…f-for what?" He whispered back, biting his lip slightly.
"You must have see so many at the asylum," Gabe said softly. "I had no idea…"
He blinked slowly. "I…" He nodded a little, closing his eyes for a long moment and letting out a shaky little breath.
Gabe wrapped both arms around Alex again.
"I'm sorry for not believing you," he mumbled.
"It's okay…nobody does." he whispered. Henry did. He shook his head a little bit.
Gabe gently pulled Alex closer.
"Is… Is there anything else I need to know?"
"I-I can…kill things. People. With…a touch." Alex whispered, waiting to be kicked out, waiting to be told that this was of the devil and Gabe wasn't going to stand for it, that being a sodomite was bad enough but this was the final straw.
Gabe was silent, but he pulled Alex closer.
"I see," he said softly. "That does make sense…" Gabe sighed, not letting go of Alex.
Alex sniffled softly. "Aren't…are you going to kick me out?" he asked softly.
"I'm not," Gabe assured. "I told you you could stay here as long as you needed to, and I'm not taking that back. You're my friend, Alex."
Alex looked up at him, vulnerability in his eyes, in his movements. "But…"
"I'm never gonna kick you out," Gabe said softly. "You'll always be welcome here. You'll always be safe here."
Alex clung to him. "Thank you…" he whispered, closing his eyes for a moment.