Gerard knew it was the wrong thing to ask the moment Cal went still. He knew how codependent his Cal was with Niko, that this one could survive so far ... it couldn't be without a struggle every damn day, could it? The kettle started to give the first breathy whispers of a whistle and Gerard turned off the heat without looking, moved it to a different burner where it could be ignored.

"Oh - Caliban, I'm so sorry-"

For it happening, for asking about it. Knowing better, that this wasn't his Cal, didn't change Gerard's first instinct at seeing such pain out in the open like that on a face he loved. Always careful to make sure Cal saw him coming, Gerard reached out to hug him tightly.