<i>I can't</i>.  Well, technically Eddy<i>could</i>, but doing so could be disastrous, and Gabriel just gave an understanding, slow nod as he considered the situation.<br/><br/>"You're worried about what may happen when he finds out."  It wasn't a question, instead a statement of fact-- Luke would learn Eddy's identity eventually, and it was obvious the man's biggest concern was the possible reactions.<br/><br/>Would Luke be starstruck?  Would he cling to Eddy's glamorous past, paint over the real person with a rosy caricature of the artist version?  Or would he be intimidated by the fame, seeing Eddy's reputation as a formidable giant he couldn't hope to compete with or overcome?<br/><br/>There were too many outcomes to guess, but Gabriel thought it a good thing Luke had met Eddy as he was now, not what he used to be.  This Eddy was himself, not a piece of publicity, and if the boy liked what he found in just the true essence of the man, then Eddy might get a feel for Luke's true character.<br/><br/>"You should be the one to tell him, whenever you decide to.  There's no immediate rush."  He picked up his glass again, draining the last few sips.  "But, learning about you from someone else will make him feel like you don't trust him, like you hid the truth because you thought he wouldn't handle it well."<br/><br/>It was none of Gabe's business to spout off relationship advice, especially considering his own disastrous experiences in the past, but he still felt compelled to do so.  "And if he doesn't...  Then he wasn't what you thought he was."<br/><br/>Maybe that sounded harsh, but Gabriel knew you could project as much hope and positive thinking on a person as you wanted, and it still wouldn't change who they actually were.  It was better to remain objective, at least at the beginning...  Safer, less heartache.<br/><br/>But playing it safe wasn't always the best idea; sometimes you missed out when you didn't let your guard down... or so Gabriel had been told.  There was no one he would ever let past his defenses (no one he would admit to, at least).<br/><br/>He smiled again, and leaned forward with a bright, almost playful glint in those glassy eyes.  "Have you slept with him?"  The question was light and easy, like he was asking Eddy if they'd exchanged phone numbers, but the boy's stare remained intense and focused.  He had a suspicion that more than conversation had happened-- why else would Eddy be so shaken, so suddenly and utterly at a loss for how to handle things.  Luke was something special, indeed.