Gabriel flinches a little at the blasphemy, but he's more worried about the boy turning away from him. He wants him to stay and talk, not go away so soon after he'd arrived. There's obviously something interesting here, and it'd be a shame not to investigate further.

Rather than step forward, he simply jumps forward in space so that he's close enough to rest a hand on the boy's shoulder. "God cares for you, Johnny, as he does all things."

He glances down and catches sight of the scars on Johnny's arms, and he steps around so that he can view them better. It must be true that they are easily injured creatures, he can see the proof here, though he's not sure exactly what the lines represent. His expression changes from one of curiosity to mild concern. "Do they hurt you? I can take them away."