3
After resting up a bit at Briar’s castle and taking a couple of potions she was on her way back to her cottage despite Briar, Aspen and Jasper trying to get her to stay a little longer. She wanted to go home and besides her suppressants would run out soon and that was the last thing she wanted to deal with right now.
She paused in her doorway as she noticed Gabriel sitting at the table staring at his hands, she had kinda forgotten about Gabriel in all of the chaos. She sighed as she slipped her mask off knowing that using that much magic on Gabriel had already given her away so keeping it on was pointless.
Gabriel jumped a little at the noise as he turned to look at her only to furrow his eyebrows together as he looked her up and down.
“You look like shit” He finally said and Dawn huffed in amusement as she flopped down in the chair across from the ram.
“Yeah well, magical exhaustion and dealing with two withers as well as a blown-up country will do that” She remarked offhandedly as she rubbed at her eyes and Gabriel's eyes went wide in shock.
“Two withers?” He practically squeaked and Dawn hummed as she rested her elbow on the table and then placed her head on her hand.
“Sally blew everything up before fucking off to who knows where and Techno decided to spawn two withers before also fucking off to who knows where leaving the rest of us to deal with them” She explained tiredly and Gabriel looked truly stunned.
“You were practically on the verge of collapsing after healing me so how the hell are you still on your feet?” He questioned and Dawn grinned a little bit.
“Spite and potions are the only reason I’m even awake right now” She said simply with a slight shrug of her shoulders and Gabriel huffed in slight amusement.
“I’m surprised you were able to leave, Aspen can be quite the mother hen towards their patients” He remarked and Dawn groaned almost dramatically in agreement.
“The combined efforts of Aspen, Jasper and Briar is truly a force to be reckoned with” She muttered and Gabriel chuckled in agreement as Dawn crossed her arms on the table and laid her head down on them.
“Today has been exhausting” She grumbled tiredly and Gabriel hummed in agreement.
“How are you feeling by the way? Is my magic still holding up or should I get you some potions?” Dawn asked in concern as she propped her head up slightly and Gabriel leaned back in his chair slightly with a small smile on his face, he couldn’t believe he ever thought this woman was an Alpha.
“My head is a lot clearer than it's been in months and the pain has dulled right down so I’m fine” He reassured and Dawn relaxed a little bit.
“That’s good” She mumbled tiredly and Gabriel hummed in agreement.
“You know it’s almost funny, if you hadn’t intervened I would have died of a heart attack surrounded by everyone who hates me on my own fucking birthday” He remarked humourlessly and Dawn propped her head back up with a stunned expression on her face.
“What a pathetic way to go out” Gabriel muttered to himself bitterly.
“It’s your birthday?” Dawn questioned stunned and Gabriel hummed as he nodded.
“Yup, what a shitty way to celebrate, huh? Almost dying in a former drug van” He said simply only to blink in confusion when Dawn suddenly stood up with a determined expression on her face before she marched over towards the fridge and began sorting through it.
“Uh… whatcha doing?” Gabriel questioned and Dawn made a noise of triumph as she found what she was looking for, she briefly stopped to grab a fork before placing a slice of cake in front of Gabriel which made his eyes widen in surprise.
“It’s not much but you should have at least one good thing on your birthday” Dawn mumbled almost self-consciously and all Gabriel could do was gape down at the cake in shock, when was the last time he even celebrated his birthday let alone been given something on it? Fuck he was not going to cry over a stupid piece of cake but if the warm wet feeling on his cheeks was anything to go by he had failed in that.
Dawn pulled him into a hug and her soothing lavender scent made him practically melt into the Omega who was humming a soft tune that he couldn’t quite place.
“It’ll be okay” She mumbled softly and Gabriel took in a couple of deep breaths, maybe it would be okay and maybe one day he’ll be okay too. Only time will tell.