"I'm getting the impression that was par for the course last night." Gabe stared at his food for a few moments longer and then sat, taking up his fork. Without looking over he said, "You're not going to get very far on crutches if he's let monsters out into the halls again tonight."

Zero didn't strike him as the type to broadcast false bravado, which meant his assertion was more one to push Gabe away. Well, not tonight. Gabe didn't want to take even one step outside that door alone, as selfish as that was. And Zero needed the help, anyway.

He didn't put down the fork, but the Archangel hadn't yet picked anything up when he turned to look at Zero properly and from more closely, a thorough and intense examination. "I'll give you a hand, okay?"

It wasn't like him to be so forceful. Not like him at all. But he didn't want to be alone.