Sam was contentedly humming the following day, giving a bite to a delicious chicken sandwich sided with arugula salad when Dean came into the room. There was a serving of pancakes sided with bacon and sausages for him.
-Mornin’
-Hmmrnin’
He had to wait until Dean had gone through half of his breakfast before he could ask.
-…You still angry about yesterday?
Dean sent a quick glance to his brother.
-Nah, I’m good.
-You sure about that?
-Yup
-…
Dean didn’t last much under Sam’s pressure.
-Alright man knock it off it’s all good. I mean, I really was angry yesterday but you’re back now.
Sam sighed -Well that’s good because today I’m going out with Gabriel again.
-What!? -Using a harsher tone than what he intended, Dean realized his mistake and held his head down in defeat. Sam on the other side looked at him with a knowing look.. -Ok, yeah, I’m… I’m still angry.
-Why is that so hard to admit?
Dean pondered for just a second but then straightened himself a bit more.
-Because I don’t want you to get hurt.
Sam chuckled -Why do you think I’d get hurt?
Dean glanced his brother significantly. ‘Please don’t make me say it’ was what his expression asked of him. Sam studied him for a second and then it hit him. His eyes dilated and he blushed wildly while turning away from his brother’s sight. A minute later he looked back defensively.
-Just so you know, I know he took me out as a gesture of appreciation for letting him stay around. There’s nothing more about it.
Dean shrugged slightly. -Well, I guess it’s ok then.
The rest of the day went as normal as it could get. Sam had gone out a few hours ago, probably coming back a couple more hours later and Dean was on the way back to his bedroom with another beer when he met Castiel, coming forward from Sam’s bedroom. With a casual ‘Sup Cas, busy right now?’ he surrounded the seraph’s shoulder and swiftly guided him to his bedroom.
Castiel knew Dean, he noticed something was bothering him so he followed his friend’s lead. He only squinted his eyes when Dean looked around the hall before locking the door behind. Once secure inside, the hunter began to pace around for a good five minutes lost in his thoughts.
-Dean?
-You haven’t seen your brother around, right?
-Not today, why?
-Do you know what’s up with him taking Sam out?
-I think it’s a good thing he did, Sam looked very happy about that.
-Yeah well, there’s no way he shouldn’t but that’s the problem, I’m afraid your brother plays with him.
-What do you mean?
Dean stopped for a second his rant, Castiel could see him weighing down pros and cons of telling him anything at all. It was odd of him to be so secretive after all these years. He sighed in the end.
-I just want Sammy to be happy.
-But he looks happy.
-No you don’t understand -Dean sat by Castiel’s side -He might be happy now but I know my brother, he needs someone stable and Gabriel he, well, he doesn’t seem to be too reliable on his actions on the long run if you get my drift.
Castiel immediately frowned his face. -But Gabriel wouldn’t… he wouldn’t do any harm to Sam.
-Well it’s good you think so well of him but dammit Cas, he’s gonna take the first chance he can to get in Sam’ pants and I’m not gonna wait idly for him to do that you know? Cas? Wait a second, sit back down I need your help with this, we have to make your brother be a good guy for Sam.
Castiel turned back to Dean -Why?
-Because he… uh…
-He what?
-He might be the only one my brother really wants.
Cas looked completely taken aback for a second, Dean had never seen the angel like that before. -Dean, you cannot change people from one day to another. And I’m not changing Gabriel to have him stay by Sam’s side!
He stepped out of the room towards his own before the hunter even had a chance of stopping him.
—
Gabriel entered the darkened library dragging his feet, chocolate bar in hand. Only a lamp providing light over a couple of books on the table.
-Hey
-Sammich
-Have you seen Cas around?
-Not since Dean dragged him into his room. -Gabriel made a face showing what his theory of what they were doing inside was.-Why?
Sam knew that both his brother and Cas had always been close but he had never actually seen a piece of evidence signaling that they were sleeping together while being around them, and they had had more than enough time to prove it. He had been so sure by now everything was just platonic that receiving news of his brother taking Castiel into his bedroom had removed some things inside, he couldn’t help blushing and stood up to take a book back to the shelves just to try to hide the awkwardness a bit.
-Wow, ah, nothing. I just… wanted to ask him about a book.
-You seem uncomfortable ‘bout that.
-What? No, no. -Odd chuckles and more blushing
-There’s no reason for me to… to be uncomfortable.
-Well it is weird for me ‘cause it never came through my mind your brother was into guys as well, that would actually explain a couple of things.
The hunter eyed Gabriel, he was curious about what kind of things but was smart enough to understand that he probably wouldn’t like the answer considering he knew firsthand Gabriel had taken his brother along to certain adult inclined places before more than just once.
-And what about you? You also into both sexes?
Sam hesitated for a second and then leaned on the column by his side, focusing his attention on the archangel.
-Yeah, I am.
Gabriel only raised his eyebrows.
-Well color me surprised.
-What about you?
-Hellooo? Ex-Pagan God here? Would you even doubt for a second I’m more than willing on going down anyone hot enough?
-Would you go down on me?
Well look at that, the kid had grown a pair. Gabriel approached Sam with a sensual cadence on his posture, checking him up all the way from the bottom to the top. The hunter squirmed in self-aware while his ears and neck turned red.
Gabriel was leaning moodily over the table with a frown, arms crossed in front of him in dejection.
-What’s wrong brother?
-I’m all spent Cas, I’ve tried everything, everything, to make Dean happy. I’ve helped with a bunch of hunts, I’ve taken him to Vegas several times, the other week I signed him up in a vintage car race and after that I got him in the Playboy mansion. Heck, I even asked him if he wanted to be warped into another dimension as the protagonist of a hentai harem… refused that one, don’t really know why. But I still haven’t been able to make him happy at all.
-Well those do seem like activities that would make Dean happy, how do you know he wasn’t happy at all?
-He said he was hyped about the things we were doing but he looked like something was bothering him all the time. His true emotions are so hidden right now it fazes even me.
Castiel could tell the archangel was actually making an effort to get on Dean’s good side. He had been the only one not really on board when the archangel had shown up some months ago declaring he had intentions of living in the bunker since he, quoting: “was already fed up with dealing with other pagans” and “wasn’t feeling ready to go back to heaven and probably wouldn’t in like another three millennia”. But had to oblige after Sam’s stubbornness on having him tag along with the team won.
-Maybe you should read his mind.
-Mmmnah, not happening.
Castiel gave a confused look to his brother.
-I mean yeah, I could, and it would probably make things a lot easier but I don’t like doing it. Humans have only so much that belong to themselves, looking into their minds is just rude.
Castiel had to agree with his brother but that didn’t leave the question on how to get on Dean’s good side answered. Suddenly something occurred to the seraph.
-Why don’t you try making Sam happy? Dean’s face always shines when Sam’s does.
Gabriel sat balancing his chair on it’s back legs in a way impossible for a human being, eating his nougat bar and started to show one of his impish smiles.
-You know what Bluejay? Maybe you’re right.
Sam woke up with a knock on the door that made him rustle slightly. It wasn’t early but still he would have liked to sleep a bit more.
-Yeah?
The door swung open in a swift motion. -Mornin’ Sammy Boy! How’s the waking up doing?
-Ugh, it could be better if my sleep hadn’t been interrupted.
-Am I interrupting you now?
Sam only pressed his face against the pillow and softly groaned.
-Well then, I guess I’ll have to take this delicious 5 star hotel breakfast back to the kitchen…
Sam raised himself up enough to see the large silver platter on the angel’s hand. -Wait -Gabriel stopped midway from the door and turned back to him.
-Is that for me?
-Hmm…maybe.
-Whatever for? -Gabriel restarted his pace towards the hunter, who was now sitting on his bed.
-Well, I wouldn’t be able to hang around here if it weren’t for you. I just assumed it was the least I could do.
Gabriel snapped a pretty elegant looking bed table and placed the tray in front of the still sleepy hunter. Once the lid was taken away the waft of freshly ground black coffee and freshly baked pastries invaded his nostrils finally waking Sam up, a bowl of quinoa and spinach salad covered with sliced avocado, a half boiled egg and roasted cherry tomatoes in an arrangement worthy of a California hip place made his mouth salivate.
The first bite was like heaven, he had always craved this kind of stuff but it was impossible to make it without Dean complaining about money wasted on ‘conceited rabbit food’. In a matter of seconds he was devouring everything up while Gabriel sat with his legs crossed on a corner of the bed. Sam’s soul was content and all it had taken was a good breakfast to start the day with. Things were going smooth and if nothing odd happened, Gabriel might be able to achieve his goal in less time than expected.
-Man, I wish you did breakfast everyday.
-I can do that. But I’m not bringing it to bed all the time.
Sam’s ears went a shade of pink.
-That one was your idea. -He said, a bit conscious about the situation.
Gabriel noticed, of course he noticed, all the time since he had helped their asses out of the pagans hotel and teased Sam about his feelings towards him he had set an aside note on his brain about it. But chose not to say a thing.
-So, what’s the plan for today?
Sam eyed Gabriel with a hint for suspicion. -Nothing I guess, try to find a case.
-Then you’re basically free.
-Eh… -A snap of fingers cut anything Sam could have possibly said to answer.
Next moment, he was standing in a busy street somewhere. Sam of course would have never noticed but his pecs were nicely shaped behind the simple dark cotton shirt he was wearing right now and along the slim dark jeans, shiny pale blue blazer and the polished dark leather shoes he was quite a sight and every single girl and a guy from time to time turned around to look at him. Gabriel was also sharply dressed with dark blue jeans, trekking boots that had obviously never seen the side of a mountain and an aviator style olive jacket, soft hair neatly brushed at his sides.
Sam looked around nervously. -Where are we?
-In a place you’ve always wanted to be. -Gabriel motioned towards Sam’s back, nudging him to turn around. The white classical facade of the building was absolutely recognizable. He was at the entrance of The Smithsonian Museum.
It already was 9 p.m. when Gabriel appeared at the bunker once more with Sam. Sam was obviously still excited about the trip and the dinner at the vegan restaurant had made everything ten times better. They stopped right when they noticed Dean was just sitting on one of the library’s couches near them, beer on hand, sporting an inscrutable look. Both men stood still in front of him, like a pair of animals waiting to run away at the first alert.
-You left Sam’s phone on the bedroom.
-Whoops! Sorry, my bad.
-Where the hell have you been?
-Just went out to have fun, last time I checked it wasn’t a sin yet. And I should know about it.
Dean held the sides of his forehead with his free hand. Sam, who obviously realized Gabriel was just pushing all the wrong buttons chimed in.
-It’s fine Dean, Gabe took me to the Smithsonian. That museum I’ve always been wanting to go? It was really cool.
Dean turned to look at Sam and gave in, defeated. Something didn’t feel right about his reaction but Gabriel couldn’t pin it down. The older Winchester just sighed and motioned them that there was nothing more to say.
Sam just smiled nervously at him and waved a simple ‘Night’ at his brother before heading back to his own room. Gabriel noticed the tinge of worry about his brother in Sam’s profile but considering how far they had gone on improving his general mood he didn’t give it a second thought. What he couldn’t let go of right now was the feeling of having Dean’s eyes fixed on his back. He turned to face him, expecting an exasperated look but the hunter’s face was unreadable.
After minutes of maddening silence Gabriel was desperate for Dean to say something, anything. His eyes shouted it was right there, touching the surface. But the silence in the library was dense and suffocating and Dean finally looked away and leaned back on the couch returning the beer to his lips, pretending to be more interested in the row of books in front of him than what he’d ever be on Gabriel.
Gabriel vanished to his own bedroom and immediately threw a bunch of porn magazines from his desk onto the floor. Dean’s pretense of disinterest had hit him harder than what he would like to accept. He didn’t bother to pick the mess up.
Gabriel opened up the door through the intercom once the boy outside the building introduced himself as his new homie. He was gladly impressed when the hot 21 year old came through the threshold into the apartment because although his voice was not really that of a man yet his body was already well defined, you could tell he worked his ass off in that car shop and Gabriel couldn’t but thank the gods that he had decided to leave the family business to help his uncle Bobby out while he found and trained a respectable manager for his first car shop branch. With a little bit of hope maybe he would decide to stay a manager himself and not leave.
-Hey
-’Sup Dean-o, nice to meet you in the flesh.
Gabriel couldn’t stop smiling brightly, asking for a roommate through Craigslist must have been the best idea he could have ever had. And he had a lot of good ideas, mind you, not the most innocent ones but good ideas in the end. Dean on the other side felt a lot less wary once he saw the cheerful honey-glazed eyes of the man in front of him, if the information he had provided through their messages was to be trusted, he was 28 and working at a half owned pastry shop. After an awkward moment of just looking at each other smiling Gabriel motioned himself into action.
-Right so uhm, is that all you brought with you?
He pointed out the puffed up duffle bag on Dean’s shoulder.
-Yeah, well, apart from Baby, you know, my car.
-Oh, there’s a parking space behind the building for our use, remind me to give you the card later.
-You don’t have a car?
-Work’s five blocks away, I’m pretty sure having a car would be an insult to the environment.
Dean chuckled, following him to one of the two tiny bedrooms of the apartment.
-So, here are your quarters young man, might not be the best in town but the view compensates all that.
Gabriel motioned towards the large windows and Dean’s face opened in awe. He had driven most part of the day and arrived late, meaning that the image of the sunset over the city was in front of him in all its magnificence.
His stomach though, was not entirely happy at the moment, Dean got three shades of red with the grumbling of his belly while Gabriel just laughed openly.
-Well, I guess it’s time to make a celebratory meal for your arrival!
-Is that really ok?
-Yep, you’re still helping with the cleaning though.
-Sure man, I can do that.
Dumping his bag at the room, Dean followed Gabriel back to the kitchen. It was obvious this guy Gabriel was an absolute foodie and, loving to cook himself, Dean was quite eager to put his hands on the pasta making machine.
He saw the guy fumbling over the fridge and take out a bunch of ingredients to start cooking. After prepping everything he eyed a bunch of apples in a fruit bowl and proceeded to look for something inside a cupboard.
-You like crumble Dean-o?
-What’s that?
-Well, it’s kind of like the poor distant cousin of pie.
-Dude I love pie.
-Then you’ll probably like the crumble.
After a moment Dean heard Gabriel curse under his breath.
-What is it?
-I’m out of teddy grahams.
-I can go get them, saw the store at the other corner.
-Would you Dean-o?
-Anything for a nice dessert.
For just a second, Gabriel allowed himself to think he would also do anything for Dean’s captivating eyes while looking at him. Damn, these kind of thoughts were probably not good if they were going to share the place as roommates. Still, he did his best to stay focused on doing an amazing meal because the way to a man’s heart was always through the stomach after all.
-Perfect! -he moved towards the entry door and grabbed a set of keys- Here, this is your set, this round one is for the door downstairs, the large one is the security lock but I only use it when I leave the place alone, this squarey one is the doorknob.
-Great, so what kind of flavor do you want them?
-Hmmm I’m not sure, honey’s the best way to go but cinnamon is also great…
-Well, I’ll get there in a moment so be sure to send me a message before I buy whichever I want.
Gabriel had been left at the door a bit startled, Dean might have been calm while introducing himself but he apparently had a snappy side and Gabriel was really digging the idea of pushing some buttons now.
After giving it some thought while cutting the onions he sent a message to Dean.
“Honey”
A ding from his phone while he was peeling the potatoes informed Gabriel that Dean had gotten the message.
Then a second ding came while he poured the potatoes in the boiling water, he had been about to make pasta when Dean arrived but now that the guy was here he had changed his mind into mashed potatoes. Curious, he picked up his phone.
“Yeah wassup?” was the first message.
The second message read “Just realized you were saying the flavor you wanted, not addressing me endearingly”
Gabriel’s stomach tied in a knot of nervousness while his face beamed. Still he wasn’t ready to lose the war. His fingers dashed through the phone’s keyboard.
“I’ll call you Honey when we get endearing enough”
Dean unlocked his phone after paying up the cookies and almost trips when he read Gabriel’s note. It was still too soon to know if Gabriel was just joking or not but he was certain he wouldn’t wait idly to find it out. And if he wasn’t joking then Dean would do everything in his hand to make him say a lot more appreciative words.
Been reading Couyfish’s story “Do I Worry?” on the Archive. I got there because of the BigBrother!Gabriel and toddler!Cas premise but the Debriel is killing me. Right now Dean and Sam are guests in the celestial household and Dean was sleeping in Gabe’s bedroom until Gabriel got sick.
Having made a shockingly eventful return, Gabriel was now officially back from misery. Sort of. There were still multitudes things he was unable to do with such a fractional amount of grace. Having to refrain himself from snapping up snacks was the one he hated the most; fortunately, he managed to convince Dean to stop at a gas station and buy him a stash on the way to the bunker.
Leaving aside the impending doom of a psycho alternate universe Michael, everything in life was just peachy. Or, at least that’s what Gabriel had previously thought.
His convoluted thoughts were interrupted by Castiel. “Every room has a sink. If you ever need to use it, hot water comes from the right handle. I already placed your towels in the left upper drawer, right below that one you have another blanket for the bed if you feel the need to lay down.”
“Okie dokie” managed Gabriel.
“Is there anything else you need to know?” Cas tilted his head in a questioning manner.
“I dunno…” he said, shrugging half-heartedly. “When do we eat?”
Castiel aimed a quick glance at Gabriel. The younger angel wasn’t sure whether his brother was just joking or so depleted of grace he actually felt hungry. He hoped it was the first option; since the second one would imply a lot of worries.
“Sam and Dean generally have dinner around six while they’re here so it shouldn’t be long, I’ll ask them to call you.”
“Great. Thanks a million, Bluejay.”
“Anytime… and Gabriel?” intoned Cas.
Gabriel turned to meet his brother’s gaze. “Welcome home.”
Castiel saw himself out of the room before Gabriel could say anything more; leaving the archangel with an odd sensation brewing inside. Now that he was alone, Gabriel let his haughty posture deflate and he collapsed onto the mattress with a sigh, arms crossed behind his head.
This is home now, huh?
He didn’t know how much time passed as he stayed in that position, but he eventually turned towards the desk. The strong wood turned into a delicate structure was identical to Sam’s, only placed in the opposite side of the room. A small notebook and pen were laying next to the lamp. For a moment, he wondered for a second how much of the original owners had been left behind. Gabriel’s wonderings quickly got the better of him; as he was curious to see if it really was a relic from the past, or just a gift from Castiel. Like he actually needed to write anything down, he held more information in his brain than thirty supercomputers merged into one.
He reached out to grab it, but a swift movement behind the lamp caught his attention. Gabriel grabbed the lamp and picked it up, letting a spider with long legs the size of his hand run towards him.
He immediately dropped the lamp with a startled shout and ran towards the door, colliding with Dean in the middle of the hallway. The two of them hit the floor in a tangled mess of limbs.
“-the hell!? Gabriel, what’s wrong!?”
Gabriel, who had attached himself to the hunter firmly impeding his movements, simply pointed towards his door. As he makes that motion, Sam and Cas show up, footfalls thundering against the tile.
“Th-Th-Th-Th-There’s a spider in my room!” His voice came out a bit higher than expected.
Both hunters froze, looking at Gabriel in disbelief. On the other hand, Castiel moved forward and disappeared into Gabriel’s room, ready to find the menace.
“Kill it, Castiel! Kill it with fire!!!” Gabriel proclaimed, his pitch in voice showing earnest distress.
After some noises of moving furniture and scuffling, Castiel came out of the room with his hand closed in a loose fist.
“I’m not going to kill it. I’ll take it outside and see it stays there.”
Gabriel made a noise of discontent, and refused to release his death grip on Dean. For good measure, he sent his best death glare at his brother’s fist when Castiel passed by them, the small offender in hand. As Castiel disappeared around the corner, Gabriel felt the hunter suddenly tremble.
“Dean?” And just like, that Dean exploded with laughter.
“Seriously Gabriel? Spiders?”
Sam also began to snicker against his own judgement. Gabriel just blushed wildly while finally releasing his hold on Dean.
“What!? I hate spiders! I hate them! They’re evil! Evil! Even in Harry Potter, they’re evil!”
Sam joined Dean’s cackles, bending over and placing his hands on his knees to support himself, while Dean continued rolling over the floor with tears on his eyes.
“And just for the record,” Gabriel interjects, “I would have killed it asap if it hadn’t caught me by surprise!”
Dean was now holding his side, panting desperately for air. “Sure thing Cowboy, you’re a badass.”
Frustrated, Gabriel just stuck his tongue out against the brothers while retreating to his room and slamming the door. A minute later though, when their laughs were starting to recede, Gabriel opened it again sending them a sheepish look.
“What now?” said Dean.
“Can you check there’s no more spiders in the room?”
Dean and Sam made way into Gabriel’s room with smiles on their faces; it had been a while since they had laughed like that.
The first time Sam caught Gabriel kissing Dean he had been straddling his brother on a chair at the kitchen table, surrounding him with his arms, mingling his fingers on his loose crew cut hair while Dean’s hands could be seen below the archangel’s shirt caressing his skin.
To say he had been shocked would have been an understatement. A part of him wanted to run away and try hard to pretend it never happened. But his body reacted faster than his brain and placed the words he was thinking straight on his mouth.
-WHAT THE FUCK!?
Dean and Gabriel turned towards the appalled hunter. -Sammy! Uh… hey. -Dean was obviously embarrassed about the situation. You couldn’t say the same about Gabriel, he just turned towards him with a look that dared him to say anything else. This definitely was Gabriel’s fault.
-What did you do to my brother!?
-Me? I didn’t do a thing!
-Well, technically you did. -Gabriel eyed Dean kind of bothered that he had sided with Sam.
-But it wasn’t something bad. -He purred at the hunter, trying to start the action again.
-Dude, DUDE! Stop! Get… Get off my brother dammit!
-It’s ok Sammy, I uhm, I actually don’t mind.
Sam was speechless. His brother being stupid enough to try getting some action with any girl available was one thing, but there was a long shot between that and jumping on the ‘a guy is fine too’ bandwagon. His mind crashed and he just stormed away from the place. Dean followed him in a rush. Gabriel just sighed hard, knowing this was going to eventually happen and that Dean had already dragged it long enough.
-Sam! Sam! Sammy please, stop! I know I need to explain this to you, just talk to me. Please.
Sam finally halted in the middle of the library and turned to face his brother. -Ok then. Talk.
Explaining his sexuality shift had not been easy but he managed, Sam’s expression transformed from shock to constern to eventual acceptation. He was sitting now on one of the couches.
-So now you and Gabriel are a thing?
-Uh I… Guess so? Haven’t really talked about that.
Sam’s bitchface came in the game when he realized his brother was avoiding responsibility like many other times, then again, it was Gabriel the one we were talking about. Maybe it was a good thing and they had met the best kind of partner for each other. He had to stop worrying about something that ultimately was not his problem.
-Ok, well I just hope you can keep up with whatever you’re doing without complications.
-You really ok about this?
Sam chuckled. -Well it’s gonna be awkward as hell but it’s not like I can actually have much to say. It’s your personal life after all.
-Wow, thanks Sammy. It’s… yeah. Thanks.
-Besides, I just really wanna see mom’s face when you have to explain it to her as well.
Dean turned to look at his brother, who was sporting a mischievous grin that only predicted trouble.
You were trying your best. But your best was nothing when you were confronted with the power of an archangel. The mightiest of the archangels. Michael.
At the moment you were helping Rowena search for every tracking and halting spell in all the notes of the bunker, you even decided to find the other Chapterhouses in order to see if they had something else inside. Something that could help you reach Dean. And some spells looked like they could have worked but something jarred it, no doubt that had been Michael. Had it been any other lesser being you were damn sure it would have worked.
Most of the time you were all by yourself these days. You still remembered the words that started your pilgrimage.
-Sam, you go and put a bunch of silver bullets over those werewolves’ hearts and stop worrying about the research for a while. I’ll do it. I’ll call you every night to keep you informed if that helps you distract yourself.
You called every night the first couple of weeks. You didn’t mind calling anymore. You couldn’t stand hearing Sam’s broken voice lose a little bit more hope every time you told him you still had found nothing. These days just a text note would go.
Chapterhouse 7 breached, everything’s in order.
Chapterhouse 7 day 1, nothing new.
Chapterhouse 7 day 2, nothing new.
Chapterhouse 7 day 3, nothing new.
Chapterhouse 7 day 4, nothing new.
Chapterhouse 7 day 5, nothing new.
Chapterhouse 7 day 6, nothing new.
Chapterhouse 7 done. Nothing new.
Found Chapterhouse 3.
Chapterhouse 3 entrance flooded up by the Glen Canyon Dam. Called Rowena. Impossible to breach and open.
Found Chapterhouse 11.
Chapterhouse 11 breached, everything’s in order.
Chapterhouse 11 day 1, nothing new.
Nothing new.
Nothing new.
Nothing new.
You even felt that the words themselves were losing meaning. What is nothing? What is new? Was it pronounced that way?
Those were the times you dropped all the books off the table. Rivers of tears flowing. Flowing for Sam, flowing for Dean, flowing for Cas, flowing for yourself. The phone rang, startling you from your breakdown. You checked out the caller id in fear before you answered the call.
-Any good news Rowena?
-And a very fine day to you too lass.
-Sigh… I’m sorry. I just… I just don’t feel like I care anymore.
Despite all the problems she had caused you in the past, Rowena had slowly become the closest thing to a confident you had these days. Oddly enough, she was a very good listener.
-Aye, that I see. But things will turn out just right. Three hundred years of experience are talking to you right now.
You couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly -I really don’t know how you’ve been able to do it. I am so much older than I can take.
The call had ended after you gave Rowena your current address. She wanted to check something in the scripture database Charlie had left as her legacy that you had copied on your laptop for easy access. Rowena still didn’t like to use computers and she preferred your company to that of the boys.
You went for your cooler to grab a beer and take a break. The table of that Chapterhouse was eerily similar to the one at home. Everything was similar to everything at home. Your mind went back to the last time you had an argument with Dean over a table just like that one.
You slammed your hand over the table.
–Oh don’t you put me on the backburner, Dean Winchester!
Dean stood up exasperated. -And what exactly are you going to do over there!? It’s bad enough that we’d have to watch all of our friends die together, I don’t want to see you go as well!
-And will it even matter if everybody else dies!?
Even Gabriel winced at the high pitch of your retort. You hated to show your weaknesses and Dean had managed to push you the wrong way enough. The room had gone silent, and you had to do your best to keep the tears up to yourself while hanging your head down. Finally you turned your sight back at him.
-I don’t need to argue with you. I’ll go.
You stormed before he could say a thing against it, grabbing a couple of beers on your way through the kitchen as safeguard to help yourself stay inside your bedroom without the need of going out again for at least half a day.
A soft knock came some minutes later. -Go away Bitch!
-Wow, rude much kid?
A slight pang of guilt held your gut, wrong person to lash at. You went for the doorknob and greeted a pair of pale gold eyes. Gabriel had not been too communicative with you ever since he had arrived to the bunker, not that you had had much time to interact with the assumed archangel. Still you were curious as to what the guy wanted with you. You knew from the boys that there was some sort of history between them but they never elaborated on that. You figured it might not have been that good considering Sam always winced when reminded about it and proceeded to bitchface Dean if the older brother tried to insist on telling the story.
He strolled into the room without even asking for permission.
-Couldn’t help but notice you care about the pair of idiots out there a bit too much.
You were startled, was this guy making himself at home, sitting over your bed and having a go at your recently opened beer stash?
-I thought angels were unable to taste food at all.
Gabriel just winked at her. -I’m way above the average angel Pumpkin.
-Even powered down?
-Potato, potato… whatever. You ain’t answering my question.
-I don’t recall you asking one.
He acknowledged you with a pointing finger. -You’re sassy, I like that. Come have a beer with me, my treat.
Such a ridiculous situation would have put Sam or Dean in a snappy mode but you ended up laughing about it. How could you not? It was exactly the same thing you used to do to the guys.
-You’re weird.
-Am I?
-Yeah but it’s alright… I like that.
You went to grab the second beer Gabriel already had opened for you and sat by his side. A quiet silence fell upon the both of you while you emptied your drink.
-They care about you too.
-Sigh, I know… And I get it. I mean, they are the closest thing to a family I got now but that’s exactly why I can’t let them go alone.
-We’ll take care that everything goes well for you kid.
-Thanks Gabriel.
-You can call me Gabe.
-Gabe
The sound of the phone buzzing over the table woke you up. your neck was hurting. Somehow you had snoozed off and the consequences of sleep deprivation were starting to show all over your aching body.
-Yeah?
-I’m outside the Chapterhouse sweetie, be a good girl and open this door for me.
-Coming right up ma’am.
The day passed, Rowena found her translated codes with help of the database and you had found an old archived box filled to the brim with codexes on nephilim. Maybe they would be of interest for Jack, you thought while putting them aside and filling up a note in an old recording binder denoting the time of removal of the box and the Chapterhouse to where it would be moved. Habit that you had taken up after Sam had gotten the librarian in himself out and forced everyone at the bunker to use library cards whenever a book was removed for reading after having lost a particularly important tome that appeared later on in Dean’s bedroom under a scotch glass. The idiot had forgotten he had taken it.
And there was Dean again coming back to your thoughts.
Gabriel had confronted you about it in a small free space of time at the refugee camp. The grey monotone of the land thankfully cut off by the brightness of the stars above. These were the moments where despite having angels by your side you wondered if there really was a Heaven out there.
-Oh there is a Heaven alright.
You turned to look at Gabriel in a start. This wasn’t the first time an angel had given a straight answer for an unasked question. Were your thoughts so open to every feathered ass out there? Gabriel chuckled.
-I’m sorry to break it to you Sugar Plum but you really are an open book when you let your mind drift like that. The more you let yourself be swallowed by everything around you the more your thoughts resound.
Well, that explained a thing or two you thought to yourself.
-So even if I’m not praying…
-We’ll hear you alright.
-Can demons hear me as well?
-Never seen one do that so I don’t think so.
You just nodded and sighed while turning your eyes back to the sky. Gabriel just followed your gaze.
-I know there’s a Heaven alright…
-But?
-I don’t think I’ll ever reach it at all.
You could sense Gabriel turning towards you but you were angled in a way that didn’t allow you to read his expressions. You turned your head towards the ground at your feet and slightly crouched, hiding from the light above you with loose strands of hair over your gaze.
–With all these things that I’ve done… Guess I just hope I’d rather be thrown into The Empty.
-You don’t know what you’re saying.
-Billy said she’d throw Dean there with her own hands. I don’t see why I can’t ask for the same.
Gabriel didn’t say a thing but you could feel him turning his whole body at you, you finally decided to face the archangel.
-Stop thinking like this. You’re gonna bring yourself down.
-I just don’t want to be left alone.
-No. You just don’t want to leave Dean alone.
You blushed and turned away. You were desperate to give a comeback and deny everything but you were too tired for doing anything about it at all. You had been pining over him long enough. That anybody else could see the obvious wouldn’t change the fact that the object of your affection would never see you as anything more than a cute little sister. That battle had been lost long ago.
-It doesn’t matter.
-It matters to me. -You chuckled but had to regain some sobriety when Gabriel knelt in front of you to be at your sitting height and made a move to hold your hand. -Because you are human and beautiful. And yeah, you may have committed terrible mistakes along the way but believe it or not, you are still so very pure. The single fact that you can love someone desperately enough to follow them everywhere just to ensure their safety is proof enough of that.
Everything happened so fast. Maybe it had been the piercing truth within his words, maybe it had been the soft touch between your bodies, maybe it was the way his attention was completely concentrated on you and nothing else than you. But you had felt those walls inside your heart crumble one by one and before you even knew it, your tears had been streaming down while you made a go to hold Gabriel tight and cry your grievance away.
Rowena startled you from your pensive state when she placed a plate of small sandwiches and a cup of tea in front of you.
-Enough research for today, it’s time to let the mind rest.
-Thanks Rowena. -The witch only smiled at you while sitting by your side to enjoy the refreshments.
-Well, have you discovered anything new?
You just gave away a sigh. -Not really, there is only so much documented angel lore, let alone talk about archangel lore. If we at least still had Gabriel by our side…
-…You miss the nifty steamy boy don’t you?
You could catch the undertone of the question Rowena gave you but you just didn’t feel like answering that kind of thing. -Well yeah, it would be such a great help to have him by our side to help us out of this Michael predicament. If we could only bring him back just like Jack brought Castiel ba…
You went silent, slowly dropping your hands over the table. Rowena could have been able to literally see the cogs in your brain work.
-Of course! Rowena I’m such an idiot! Why didn’t I think of this before!?
Rowena just raised an eyebrow with a smirk. She wouldn’t admit it but your pure joy was contagious and she was suddenly happy for the simple fact that you were happy as well. She saw you pick up the phone and send a message to Sam asking if he was available to talk then wait impatiently until your phone rang.
Gabriel always thought that finding a person capable of impressing a being older than the galaxy would have to be impossible and yet Dean Winchester had managed to deliver.
And it didn’t really have anything to do with the fact that the hunter was pinning him down against the memory foam mattress.
What actually had impressed Gabriel was the fact that he was always able to antagonize him, despite having so much in common. And that had grinded against the archangel in a way that finally exploded in Gabriel wanting to bang the hunter hard all the way ‘till next week. And had it been anybody else in this situation he would have gone chaotic neutral without remorse but still there was something bothering him.
-Wait, why are you doing this? I mean, don’t get me wrong it feels great but… -The hunter ignored the angel’s question and went back to kissing. Damn it. It was hard to ignore Dean’s hands touching his sides, looking to invade his skin once they went past the dark shirt he was wearing. Gabriel could tell Dean had lost his issue with the whole ‘not with men’ stuff but they literally had an argument about this less than 12 hours ago so what happened?
He tried to fight against the hunter, and they keyword here was ‘try’ because if he had really wanted, he would have obviously been able to best Dean at any moment. Dean finally gave up trying to shut the archangel and raised up his head to look at him directly.
-Gabriel I want this. -Dean could tell he was about to retort. -No buts, now let’s get into a better position, I want to lay on top of you.
Not many had the guts to boss him around without receiving a proper punishment but he should have known better already with Dean. He decided to give in and move towards the middle of the bed, allowing the hunter to get in between his legs. This was quite an intimate feeling. The eyes of the Trickster went alight with an idea. Dean noticed but couldn’t react as fast as he’d have wanted to the snap of the angel’s fingers. The room lights had gone out and been replaced by several candles providing a more appropriate illumination, the sheets below him now of red silk and drapes of sheer fabric letting in just glances of the playful light beyond the frame of the newly transformed poster bed.
-You had to go there, didn’t you? -A snarky shrug with a wicked smile was the only reply. Dean tried to ignore the nervous twitch that came to his stomach while leaning over Gabriel to start kissing him again. This was far more than what he had bargained for, in fact, he probably didn’t really know what he was getting into at the moment. But it was exciting.
Gabriel was the one that started building up the heat by undressing Dean, he tugged the shirt out of his frame to feel his naked skin and undid the button and zipper of his jeans, inserting a hand through the layers of fabric and sliding it along his tummy down towards the base of his cock where he separated his fingers to hold it and caress it between them. Dean arched on top of him while breathing hard and lifted himself to unbutton Gabriel’s jeans. They had to maneuver a little but ended up able to push enough denim down to free their dicks. Dean chuckled.
-Hmm?
-Thought you’d take away our clothes in a snap.
-But it’s hotter this way.
Dean had to give him a considering nod and suddenly bent his head towards the archangel’s chest holding his breath. Gabriel had grabbed both of their cocks and was working them together.
-You sure this is… -Gabriel’s inquiry was stopped by Dean’s mouth. The hunter didn’t even doubt to go rough on him, it was almost like they were picking up from the kiss on the couch. The pace of Gabriel’s hands got faster, pressing their shafts together a little bit harder while soft grunts of pleasure left their throats. If they kept going like this Dean was going to come anytime soon. He managed to separate himself from the archangel and helped him take off the rest of his clothes.
The second time he got on top of Gabriel he doubted for a second. What was he supposed to do now? With girls he generally went down the neck and used his lips to play with their nipples but right now he wasn’t sure Gabriel would like the same kind of attention. Some of his thoughts must have become apparent on his face because Gabriel laughed and toppled him from his position in order to lie sideways facing each other.
-Let me do you this time. -He then proceeded to go down the length of the hunter’s body while Dean adjusted himself upwards. It was a little embarrassing but he appreciated the fact that Gabriel wasn’t making any comments about his beginner status on the issue.
Once Dean was propped on the pillows naked, Gabriel bent down to tease the soft, smooth skin of the hunter’s head with the tip of his tongue while holding his cock in place with his hand. Slowly, he began to surround all the tip, taking everything in his mouth. Sucking hard and softly, caressing him with his tongue while circling with his fingers what was left outside, he started to move up and down.
Dean groaned in pleasure while throwing his head backwards, it was evident Gabriel was more than experienced about this and he wasn’t afraid of showing it up. He sucked away from Dean with a soft pop and began to lick and kiss his way down to the base of his dick, where he began to gently suck his balls. Using his hands to jack Dean off, he began to get his tongue closer to his anus and gently tease it. Ready to step back at any second the hunter showed some sort of inconvenience.
There was an instant of struggle in Dean’s mind, this was something he wanted to experience but it wasn’t something he was used to feel. The hunter’s body gave out a soft tremor and jerked away from Gabriel’s tongue, who immediately left the teasing and went back to his balls.
-Wait. -Gabriel turned to look at him. – Go back.
-…You sure about it?
Dean steeled his body. -Yeah. -Gabriel looked like he was doubting Dean’s words. -Hey, I’ll tell you immediately if it doesn’t feel right.
Gabriel reluctantly went back down on him. He didn’t want to scare the hunter away but had to trust his judgement. It was his body after all. He moved his hands away from his dick and began caressing reassuringly the sides of his hips, Dean placed his own hands over his arms. He began the teasing once more, passing his tongue slowly but firmly along the muscles of his sphincter, feeling Dean’s hands tighten up his grasp on him, holding his breath a second every time and starting to sweat because of how his body was being worked up. When he relaxed again, Gabriel began to press firmly, decidedly intending to invade the hunter’s body. The first time he went completely in he did it with more resolve than planned, inserting all his tongue. Dean’s reaction was immediate, he tensed up and held tightly Gabriel’s arms arching his back while moaning hard. All Dean could do at that moment was whisper the name of the archangel in need.
Gabriel began to play with Dean’s ass in earnest. Dean’s mind was halfway lost, the sensations were more intense that whatever he had expected and feeling how the archangel’s tongue masterfully played with him was something he had not been prepared for, he could feel his body tensing, breathing faster and harder, getting ready for the climax. Right at the moment he started to feel Dean’s muscles move with a slight spasm, Gabriel separated himself from the hunter. Dean gave him a strained look of betrayal for leaving him like that. Gabriel just snickered.
-There’s no rush Dean-o, it’s better to go slow sometimes. -And just like that he went to straddle the hunter.
-You’re not gonna open yourself up?
-Perks of being an archangel.
Dean wanted to say something else but he was too caught up in the moment. Watching Gabriel line himself up over the tip of his cock helping himself with a hand while his own dick was bolting upright unattended made him go grab it between his hands to jack it off softly. At first it was an odd sensation, his hands were used to the feel of a dick just not that of another man, but Gabriel’s slightly aroused breathing was urging him to keep on doing it.
Once Gabriel managed to go back in control of his actions after getting a jolt of pleasure from the hunter touching his dick, he slowly began to fall bit by bit all the way to the base of the hunter’s cock. Needing desperately to feel every single part of Dean inside of him. Dean pressing his own dick between his fingers. Both were holding their breath until the very end of that first throw. It was pure bliss to be like that. Slowly, Gabriel began moving up and down and pacing up the rhythm until he was going at it without remorse. Dean had to let go of Gabriel’s dick, he was losing it and it was impossible to keep the archangel’s pace. He grabbed his legs instead to have somewhat of a hold. Gabriel’s agitated breathing turning him on, making his own groans louder. Each and every thrust making the angel’s muscles wrap around tightly on Dean.
-Dammit Gabriel, you feel so good. -Dean was throwing his head backwards, eyes closed. Lost in the sensations the archangel was causing on him. Gabriel only smiled heatedly while adding a movement to his hips in a swinging motion in order to hit that spot just right.
That had been what Dean needed to finally come undone. His hips bolted upwards while he pulled the archangel’s legs towards him to ram his cock hard one last time into Gabriel and let his cum flow. Gabriel was taken aback by Dean’s sudden take over power and let out a moan while coming himself, throwing his own cum all over the hunter’s chest. Both men trembled while their climax went through them and then Gabriel fell over Dean. Their breathing erratic for a second before both began to inhale deep a couple of times.
Dean’s dick finally fell away from Gabriel when it went back to it’s normal size, making Gabriel’s ass leak with his cum. It was hard to let go of that but Gabriel finally relented and pushed himself sideways to lay by the hunter’s side, launching himself upwards on his hands and going down on the hunter’s chest to lick and clean him almost like a cat would. Dean was still inebriated from the first climax but looking at the archangel passing his tongue all over him was definitely stirring him up once more.
-Shit Gabe, you’re making me hard again but I really can’t go to round two so fast.
-You wanna bet on that Big Boy? -Gabriel stared at Dean, eyes blown with lust and made a move to snap his fingers with a smile.
It had been six weeks since Dean and Gabriel had their argument and painful as it was to admit, Sam was starting to feel that nothing was going to get better unless the two of them talked.
-He didn’t mean wrong Dean, I think he honestly thought he was helping. -It was the sixth time this week he had caught his brother frowning at nothing while lost in his thoughts and it was just Tuesday morning.
-Great! Now you’re defending him!
Both Castiel and Sam had prayed to Gabriel in hopes that he would come back from only Chuck knew where he was hanging right now. But he didn’t answer back.
Finally, Dean grabbed the car complaining about being holed up all day and went out for a ride. There was a field nearby where he liked to go see the sunset. He was surprised when he saw Gabriel already sitting on his spot. He had forgotten he had shown Gabriel the place once. He also wondered if this was where he had been all along.
He considered for a second to retreat and drive again back to the bunker but he was already there. Besides, chances were the archangel would fly away as soon as Dean got near. He was always good at avoiding any conflict the Winchester created so he began to stride towards him.
But with every step he took to approach the archangel, the more he wavered.
Gabriel was still sitting there. Ethereal like one of those bronze statues on the park that look at nothing and yet seem to be watching all. The rays of the setting sun hitting his eyes, making them shine with a hint of ancient knowledge, like water filling a pond so profound you never get to see where it’s boundaries lie.
That was the moment Dean knew he couldn’t win this round, not only because both of them had had fault in it, he just didn’t want to fight Gabriel anymore.
He had to struggle with his own ego in order to walk the rest of the path and sit by his side.
They shared the moment when the sun glazed it’s last beam of light before the sky settled in the soft cobalt blue of the newborn night.
Dean sighed.
-Gabriel…
Gabriel didn’t move, for all it counted he could actually have been a statue.
-You know I am glad to know no innocent people were hurt that time but you see if… if there had been someone inside that house, every single wasted moment would have been a matter of life or death. Hunting is not just about going on a killing spree, I mean I love that too but saving people’s lives, that’s what’s really important.
Gabriel didn’t move yet. It was driving Dean mad to see him like that, so far from true human behaviour. It scared him.
-Anyway my point is… I’m sorry. I know you didn’t mean bad, and I know you get really bored on our hunting trips so I thought maybe you should just go, I dunno, take a vacation in Tahiti or get a massage with a happy ending while we go do our job. I know I’m not the best company in the world after all.
This time Gabriel did turn to look at him.
-Have you ever had fun when I take you around?
Dean was startled with the odd question.
-Sure I do.
-Have you ever regretted being by my side?
-No.
-Then, do you really think I’d take you around if I found you boring?
Dean’s stomach tied in a knot.
-I…
-Don’t dare you say you think I would because I swear to dad I’ll smite you.
Dean shut his mouth and tried to swallow what little saliva he had yet hydrating his tongue.
-I, I don’t…
-Look at me Dean.
The hunter obeyed at the commanding order. Locking his sight with the powerful archangel.
-Dean, I like you. Is it that hard to understand that I actually like to spend time with you?
Dean felt powerless, he couldn’t fight such a solid argument but he still didn’t feel like he actually deserved the praise. He stayed silent.
-But if you’re so doubtful, would you allow me to show you how much I care?
Dean was everything but certain but he still managed to give a soft and startled ‘ok’.
He didn’t know what to expect, maybe suddenly finding himself in another room full of pornstars or on a beach in Bali. But he certainly didn’t expect what Gabriel did. Because the archangel embraced him.
And it wasn’t just a normal hug. Well, he would have definitely been shocked only by that considering how little to none acts of affection Gabriel performed, but this time there was something remarkably different. Dean could have sworn the air around him started to brim with energy and he could definitely feel a soft rustle of large invisible feathers pressing all his body, surrounding him, heightening his sense of being.
It was overwhelming. This must have been the same kind of feeling a Saint must have felt in the middle of a revelation. He felt the power of light and life and unadulterated love imbuing every pore of his skin. If he hadn’t believed in Chuck already, just because he had met the guy, this moment would have been the moment when he might have started to believe that God was real after all.
Tears streamed down his face. And he really didn’t know why. All he was able to do was hold Gabriel close to him returning his embrace and hide his face in that nook between his head and shoulder to let his emotions flow. If Gabriel had been a normal human being he might have complained about breathing, the way things were right now, it didn’t really matter. Because he was exactly where he had wanted to be.
Dean wasn’t sure how much time passed by but it sure startled him to see the stars above shining bright under a very dark sky.
-It’s late.
-Or very early.
Dean chuckled. He was still trying to come down from the emotional rush and there was a small tug in his brain already telling him there were high probabilities he wouldn’t want to bring this issue later unless under a huge amount of alcohol running through his veins but he was trying his best to ignore that. He already missed feeling Gabriel’s wings surrounding him and filling his uncertainties with love. Something must have come through his face.
-What?
He looked aside with a rush of red painting his face.
-Nothing. -An awkward silence filled the following moment. -I just thought… I mean, your wings… I’m sorry, I don’t even know what I’m trying to say.
Something soft touched his hand in a flutter.
-They’re always there.
Dean felt his body leaning towards them by impulse. His emotions brought the words to his mouth before his external mask of toughness placed a barrier on them. -I like them. They… they feel good.
-Dean Winchester, do you have a wing kink?
Great, now he was never going to see the end of it. His brain was starting to come up with a snarky retort but Gabriel just laughed. And it wasn’t a cheeky or cynical laugh like his Trickster side used to bring. It was an honest playful laugh. And just like his wings, the sound touched Dean with joy.
-You’re an idiot. -The hunter said with a warm smile on his face.
Now it was Gabriel’s time to be captured by Dean, his soul was glowing in soft ripples of delight. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And the archangel set to himself the apparently insurmountable task of making Dean’s soul shine the brightest in the world one of these days.
Two Days Into June 