When Johnny curls in on himself, Gabriel pulls himself back up from his relaxed posture, not really having expected a response like this. "Whoa, hey." Just how fucked up does Johnny think he is, Gabriel wonders, and how much of that is likely to be the truth? Even if that is Zagreus' interest in Johnny, it would have to be a very interesting sort of fucked up. He can't see Zagreus singling someone out just because they have self-esteem issues and a bad history.

He sets his hand at Johnny's shoulder and rubs his thumb there for a moment. Venia conducts a similar gesture, lowering their head to brush their beak against Nova's soft fur. "What do you mean?"