A Choice

[low_key_angel]

"So that's how you end this Sam." Lucifer has never looked quite so smug as he laid out his proposal. "Have sex with my brother and I'll make all of this go away."

"Lu, don't do this."

"He can do this my way Gabriel, or he can watch you die."

Gabriel turned away from the ruined face of his brother's vessel. He was willing to give up ending the world for the sake of breaking his heart, of destroying any chance Gabriel might have had with Sam. Tainting every future interaction with this.

"Sam.. just go. You don't have to do this."

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[worldfelldown]

Sam was tense, fists clenched angrily at his sides. He hated that look on Lucifer's face, the one that said he knew he already won. And he had. He had the minute Sam knew someone else's life was on the line.

And then the offer to stop the Apocalypse... How could he walk away?

He shook his head stiffly at Gabriel urging him to do just that and made himself look away from Lucifer. Meeting the angel's eyes wasn't exactly easy right now. "You're gonna be okay. I can do this."

Everything was going to be okay.

"So, that's it? Those are the terms? Just sex?" He frowned. "That seems a little too easy."

[low_key_angel]

"You don't have to, Sam. Don't let him force you into this," Gabriel can't even look at his brother, his voice thick with anger. There had been a time when he'd loved him above anything else in all of Creation. "I can take care of myself."

Lucifer chuckled at his brother's ire. "It really is that simple. Gabriel loves you, so much he's willing to die for you. Now how far will you go to save him?"

[worldfelldown]

"No." He'd get back to Lucifer in a second, but right now? He was fixing his eyes back on Gabriel. He didn't... want it to be like this either. It made his skin crawl to think he was being used like this, but it beat being his vessel, it beat the apocalypse, it beat--

Well, it beat watching him die too. "If this is what it takes..."

He could do it. He'd feel the guilt of it later, but... really, it was something he already had tons of anyway. What was one more sin to add to all the others? And he had a feeling that yeah, this had to be a sin of some kind.

He swallowed and turned his attention back to Lucifer, his shoulder slouching in defeat. He knew what it was like, to have someone you loved used against you. Sam wasn't a stranger to it. He didn't want to be used against Gabriel, if Lucifer was telling the truth. He didn't want to be used to hurt someone who didn't deserve it. But there wasn't really a choice here at all, was there?

"Fine." Making a deal with the devil... he really should know better. "You win. I'll do it if you really mean it. He gets to live, you call off the apocalypse. How does it work? Are you... are you sticking around to watch?"

God, that thought made him sick and once again, he was avoiding even glimpsing Gabe's way.

[castfromhome]

It was painfully easy, really. His vessel, his Sam. So wonderfully predicable. His grin was wolfish as he watched Gabriel's grace shift in distress.

"Watch?" Distaste colored his voice. "As much as some of my more wayward family enjoys the act, I find the process distasteful. No, Sam. I'll wait here and leave you two to sort out the details."

"I hate you Lucifer."

"And here I thought you'd be thanking me. Go, Gabriel." And Lucifer settled back to wait. "Try and lie to me, about any of it, and the deal is off."

[worldfelldown]

That was better than watching, he guessed, but not by much. "Alright."

Because it's not like either one of them could protest, right? They were stuck... but this was a way out. Whatever happened after? They'd just try to work through, some way. At least, that's what Sam kept trying to tell himself. He had no idea what Gabriel would do after this, what he'd say when he was firmly protesting it the entire way.

But no apocalypse and he got to live.

Taking a step towards the angel, he tried to call his attention back to him, keep it only on him as much as he could. Reaching out, he put a hand on the side of Gabriel's face to draw it towards his, meeting his eyes. He tried to tell himself not to feel awkward... they were going to touch so much more intimately than this soon. "Tell me what you want. It'll... it'll be easier. I want to hear it."

[low_key_angel]

The touch was both better and worse. Sam had never touched him before and for one wildly selfish moment, he wanted to lie to himself, pretend that Sam really wanted him, that it wasn't just Lucifer's plan to hurt him in the worst possible way.

But as much as he wanted to lean into that touch, Gabriel was certain that Sam would never get this close to him again. Not with the memory of coerced sex hanging between them.

"I never wanted it like this." A weak final protest. "I'm sorry Sam."

[worldfelldown]

"I know." He was pretty sure neither of them wanted this. That was the whole point, right? "I'm sorry too."

For not saying no, for landing them both in this situation... for a lot of things. Getting used to hurt anyone like this didn't settle well with him. He let out a sigh.

He shifted in a little bit closer, voice lowering. "I asked you a question, you know... Just tell me what you want. I'll do it... anything."

It was twisted probably, selfish, but he thought if he could at least give Gabriel whatever he's been thinking of? Maybe it would be a little bit better.

[low_key_angel]

Even angels weren't exempt from fantasies, and he'd be a liar if he said that Sam hadn't been a part of them the last few months. So here he was, getting everything he wanted and Gabriel can't really recall the last time he'd felt so miserable.

But it would keep Sam safe. Keep him alive.

A hand on his waist, Gabriel gently drew Sam closer. "He was right, you know. A-about me." Ever the coward, he still can't say it.

"I won't hurt you. I'll be careful. If you'll let me."

Because fuck Lucifer. He'd find some way to show Sam he was really loved in. this whole twisted scheme of his brother's.

[worldfelldown]

He wasn't worried about getting hurt, really. Maybe he should be, but Sam hadn't really been thinking about himself at all. There was too much riding on just doing this, making sure Gabriel got out of here alive because Sam didn't want more blood on his hands.

Hearing the confirmation, an actual confirmation, kind of made this worse.

He let himself be pulled in closer though and brought his arms up to come around his shoulders. "You love me."

He didn't know why, not an angel. Not when he was an abomination, Lucifer's own vessel... He dropped his eyes to the floor between them, jaw tightening. "I... don't really know what to say. I'm sorry."

He'd apologized earlier, but he needed to say it again. He couldn't really say it enough, about everything he's done. Doesn't really change it or make it better though. He did shift in closer, just that much more so he could bend in and speak against Gabriel's ear. Like that'd keep anything private between them when Lucifer was in the room...

"It's fine. Told you... anything. You can do anything you want and we'll... we'll figure out the rest when this is all over, okay?"

[low_key_angel]

Well. That was it then. What Gabriel felt was one-way. He really shouldn't have expected any other reaction. But that doesn't stop a quietly broken sound from slipping free at his apology.

"'s okay Sam. You don't have to say anything."

Damning his brother in his heart, Gabriel wrapped Sam close, bringing them to the nearest unoccupied room. "He's not watching this. If this is really what you want." One last chance to back out. Because Gabriel isn't sure he'll be able to stop touching once Sam lets him.

"I'm sorry Sam. For everything." But Father help him he couldn't be sorry for loving him the way he did.

[worldfelldown]

That sound made him wince a little. "It's just... now's not the time to talk about it."

Not with Lucifer there. Sam wasn't giving him anything else to use against them, wasn't giving him any reason to change the deal.

But they were in a private room soon enough and Sam felt some of the tension easing up. It felt like he could breathe again at least. He shook his head at the one last offer to back out. That wasn't happening. "He'll know if we don't do something, you know."

They couldn't lie their way out of this one. Shifting closer, he leaned in again, this time to press his lips to the angel's, slow and tentative for now.

"Don't. You weren't the one who released Lucifer," he murmured against his mouth. "We'll figure this all out after. I meant that."

His hands went to cup the sides of Gabriel's faces, guiding him into another kiss.

[low_key_angel]

If there was anything to talk about. Sam didn't feel the same and the revelation itself was enough to break him and they hadn't even gotten down to business yet.

The kiss steals away the last of Gabriel's resolve and he sank into that first press of his lips. Slow, tentative and bittersweet. Gabriel shook his head as Sam broke the kiss.

"Heaven and Hell manipulated you into it Sam. You wouldn't have done it on your own." And he'd believe that for the rest of his existence. Sam, despite the taint of demon blood, had a good heart, an immeasurably brilliant soul.

He let Sam set the pace of the kiss, they'll take all the time he needs to get comfortable with what they were being forced into. For now, Gabriel is perfectly happy to sink into the big hunter's arms and the feel of his softly parted lips on his.

[worldfelldown]

He was confused. He had no idea Gabriel gave a damn about him beyond the whole either stopping Lucifer thing or giving in and playing his part. He was an abomination by angel standards... and probably everyone else's too. It's not like he hasn't seen some of the looks Dean's given him before.

But yeah, that was not helping this situation at all. He had to stop thinking about it.

It was easier to just sink into the kiss, focus on that. He didn't break the kiss, but he did shift against Gabriel to work off his jacket, letting it drop to the floor. After that, he went to wok on the angel's, pushing the fabric down off his shoulders as he deepened the kiss.

Loopy loo!

[low_key_angel]

Anything. Oh father help him he'd give Sam anything. Even see his brother sent back to his prison because there was no other way to guarantee Sam's safety.

Gabriel reached down, grasping Sam's hip and shifting the angle of his thrusts until he was sure he was getting the perfect angle. He drank in every cry, every breathless sound as Sam moved beneath him. The enouragement wasn't necessary, he had no intent of stopping, especially as Sam's hand slipped between them.

"'ve got you Sam. Always."

[worldfelldown]

It was getting increasingly difficult to focus on anything but the angel above him, inside him. He was practically writhing at the change of angle, breathlessly whimpering. He didn't know how much longer he'd last, pleasure shooting through him with nearly every thrust of Gabriel's. His hand stroked faster as his muscles tensed up.

He was panting the other's name between each sound and gasp, breathless encouragement and pleas for more. He'd be frustrated later for losing control like this -- or maybe not. It felt good to just give in for a few moments, just be thoughtless and let his world narrow to Gabriel. He moved with him, tangled his free hand in his hair to tug him down for another kiss.

[low_key_angel]

He wasn't going to last much longer, not like this, with Sam writhing beneath him. Not when he'd confessed how he felt and Sam hadn't turned away. it may not be what he wanted, but it was enough to show Sam that he was loved. To wrap him in manifest grace and hold him.

Shaking with the effort, Gabriel leaned into that kiss, his control starting to slip, thrusting going erratic.

"Sam.. I'm gonna.. Ohfuck.."

I'll protect you. Because even in the heat of passion, Gabriel was fairly sure that Lucifer wasn't done yet.

[worldfelldown]

Sam never really felt deserving when Dean said that, let alone when someone who hadn't had protecting him drilled repeatedly into his head said it. It made his chest tighten painfully an if he'd had the capacity to do so, he would have protested it, told him not to.

But he just didn't.

Gabriel wasn't the only one who was getting desperate, losing his control. A few more thrusts and Sam was coming undone. It stole a cry from him, desperate as he arched on the bed, pressed up against him as close as he could get. Oh god.

He was trembling by the time he started to come down, heart racing and blissed out despite how lost he felt. "Fuck..."

[low_key_angel]

The moment Sam arched up, Gabriel clutched him close. Another thrust and he was gone, shattering over Sam with a ragged cry.

He only gets a moment however, before Gabriel can sense his brother moving. Panting and flushed, Gabriel kissed Sam one last time. "I keep my promises."

And with a rush of power, a fully dressed, if confused Sam, drops into the back seat of the Impala. Safely warded away from Lucifer, where he belonged.

Gabriel, for his part, stuck around long enough to make sure his brother intended to keep his word and no longer. He wasn't the same brother Gabriel had idolized all those years ago and, well. Distance was safer.

[worldfelldown]

Sam hadn't even really had the chance to catch his breath before he was suddenly back in the Impala, dressed. He blinked in confusion, looking around as he braced a hand on the back of the seat. "Hey--"

For a moment, there was a rush of panic that maybe it was Lucifer's doing, maybe... maybe the whole 'I won't lie to you' had been crap after all. But no, he knew it was Gabriel's doing. Keeps his promises, huh?

He pushed himself to sit up and pushed a hand through his hair. Even the afterglow of what had been... pretty mindblowing sex wasn't enough to keep him from thinking about what had happened, what was going on. He scooted to the door and slipped out, looking around.

Right outside the motel where it should be, but Sam couldn't bring himself to go in yet. "Gabriel?" He started, uncertainly. Had he come with him? Would he pop up soon?

[low_key_angel]

It’s a tricky thing, losing an archangel bent on chasing you down. But a few hundred years in hiding as a Trickster meant Gabriel had the advantage. He didn’t know what Lucifer wanted and he wasn’t dense enough to stick around and find out. Big brother was a loose cannon in all the worst kind of ways.

Gabriel?

That was a voice that would always stop him in his tracks. Halfway around the globe, he shifted course, rocketing back towards the Impala as fast as his wings would bear him. Sam called, Gabriel answered. That’s how it was going to be until the hunter told him otherwise.

A brief stir of air and the sound of muted wingbeats is all the warning Sam gets before Gabriel touched down a few feet away, hands stuffed in his pockets. He really can’t recall the last time he felt quite this awkward. “Sorry. I, ah, I didn’t think he’d just let us walk out the front door afterward.”

He also didn’t know if Sam would really be ready to face him after the fact. Unexpected declarations of love and coerced intimacy – did it really get more awkward than that? He didn’t think so.

[worldfelldown]

Sam spun when he heard the familiar sound of an angel touching down and Sam kind of hated that he felt he was being torn in too many directions with what he felt. Relief, anger, worry... definitely this awkward feeling of not knowing what he should do. They were both cleaned up in the blink of an eye, almost like they hadn't been having sex moments ago.

But the soreness he felt when he stepped forward was a confirmation that it had happened. "Jesus, what were you thinking? What if he decided to not keep up his end of the bargain, huh. What if he killed you?"

Yeah, it was to go with that than it was to touch on the fact that Gabriel apparently loved him for... whatever reasons that Sam wasn't having an easy time seeing in himself anymore. "What did he do after I left?"

[low_key_angel]

"I didn't wait too long to find out. Soon as I sent you here, I led him in the opposite direction. He didn't.. didn't get why it didn't end the way he wanted it to."

Well. That remained to be seen, really.

Lucifer had forgotten what love, what real affection meant. So he didn't understand why things hasn't immediately ended in anger and recrimination.

"I didn't want to give him a chance to change his mind. So I sent you here. Where you'd be safe."

Not the most eloquent of answers, but it was something.

[worldfelldown]

"How was it supposed to end?" Sam frowned slightly, bringing up a hand to push through his hair absently, smoothing it back away from his face. He knows, he thinks. He wanted a fight, he wanted Sam to hurt Gabriel more, but...

How could he do that?

Of all the things to piss him off, this wasn't one of them.

"Forget it," he finally murmured after a moment. It's awkward again and he can't help the way his shoulders slouch a little with how tired he feels all of a sudden.

"Are you... okay?"

[low_key_angel]

He wanted Sam to hurt Gabriel, he wanted guilt to sabotage whatever they could have been. Most of all, he wanted Gabriel to hurt. To have what he'd dreamed of and then have it taken away. Because Gabriel loved Sam enough to let him go. To make no demands.

"'m fine." Lies. "You.. you should head in. Get some sleep."

Gabriel wanted nothing more than to touch him, just to reassure himself that Sam really was okay. But he just stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets. "I'll, ah, I can keep watch out here."

[worldfelldown]

"I'm not that tired yet." Also a lie. Maybe he wasn't exhausted physically exactly, but mentally and every other way? Yeah, totally. He let out a sigh and slowly approached the angel. He didn't get too close though, not yet. He didn't think either of them were ready for that.

"You don't have to keep watch. You--" He paused, biting at the inside of his cheek lightly. He wasn't sure what to say here, how to smooth things over again.

"I didn't call you for that. I just wanted to make sure you were alright, that's all."