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."

Comments

[worldfelldown]

"Yeah, okay. I'll be back out in a while then." He smiled a little, strained. Not really because of Gabriel this time, but this was a conversation he wasn't looking forward to having with Dean right now... well, not entirely anyway.

He was glad to tell him the apocalypse wasn't looming over them for the moment, that he could relax for a couple days.

With another brief look, he headed inside. The talk... didn't start out all that easy. Nothing starting with, 'I spoke with Lucifer' was going to settle right with his brother though. He explained as much as he could - while leaving out as many of the intimate details as he could. Dean didn't like it, didn't trust it at first... Sam couldn't blame him for being worried or not trusting the devil of all people though.

It was a long talk and a lot of yelling before Dean calmed down enough to actually accept it... and agree to gathering the last of the rings and locking Lucifer up for good in any way they could. Sam was exhausted by the time he poked his head out, but he was looking forward to sitting out for a bit, getting some space from Dean while they both cooled down and really thought about what they were doing here.

They were going to stop Lucifer, somehow, some way.

"You still out here?"

[low_key_angel]

He couldn't miss the yelling. Dean had a rather explosive way of coping with things that threatened his little brother. It all reminded him a bit too much of his brothers, how they'd been in the beginning. Before everything had gone to shit. Pulling pranks with Lucifer, chasing Michael through the clouds of a brand new planet.

Gabriel stretched out on the hood of a blue Chevy next to the a Impala to wait. (he's not about to piss Dean off when he's already in a mood. Tempting as it might be.)

When Sam finally came out, he picked up his head long enough to wave and offer a beer from a freshly created six pack. "He took it better than I thought."

[worldfelldown]

Really, after seeing Dean so ready to give up and say yes, give up on him in the process... it was just good to see him showing any kind of spark again. It was equally as nice to see the concern for him hidden underneath all the screaming and anger, even if he was pretty sure Dean shouldn't give a damn anymore. They were still brothers though and that was giving him the courage to do what was going to need to be done soon enough.

And alright, maybe the angel waiting for him outside was adding to that, along with the rest of his little mismatched family he'd made over the years.

He grinned tiredly as he moved forward to grab a beer. "He's worried."

He can't say that he blames him either. Leaning against the hood, he slipped a hand into his pocket as he brought his drink up to his lips. "But a few days off to rest will probably do him some good."

[low_key_angel]

Gabriel winked, scooting over so Sam could boost himself up I'd he wanted. The car was a damn boat, there was more than enough room for two. "Means he's a good brother."

The angel gives him a friendly nudge. "You both could use the rest. I'll even make sure the room has magic fingers for Captain Cranky. And you two can stay as long as you like. I'll handle the details and poke at where the horsemen might be holing up,"

[worldfelldown]

"Yeah..." He smiled slightly as he settled on the hood next to him, cradling his bottle in his hands. Sitting here, chatting with the guy he'd been made to have sex with earlier... it should be awkward - and on some level, it was - but the company wasn't so bad.

He gave a look over to Gabriel at the offer, laughing under his breath. "Alright... thanks. Just let us know when you find them and we'll be there."

[low_key_angel]

It was fucked up and that was putting it mildly. But here they were, trying to have a semi-normal conversation after incredibly good, if coerced, sex. Talk about doing things backwards.

Sam wanted to be there, and while there was some lingering tension, it was worth it to just talk to him. Listen to that quiet, easy laughter. Reaching over he tapped his bottle against Sam's. "You're on. And when this whole clusterfuck is over with? I'll take you someplace, a bookworm's paradise."

[worldfelldown]

"Oh, really?" He arched a brow, curious as he gave Gabriel a look. And because there really was no reason to sweep it under the rug, pretend it didn't exist when just moments ago, Gabriel had confessed to exactly what he was interested in... "Is that you asking me out on a date or something?"

Sam... wasn't opposed to the idea, didn't want the coercion earlier to taint whatever might happen if only because Lucifer would enjoy that too much. And because he's already been through so many horrible things, Sam wanted to believe that maybe there could be something a little more pleasant there between them.

*snort* That face..

[low_key_angel]

Gabriel grinned impishly in return. "Maybe. I'm the Messenger, I know where all the good old books are stored. Vatican archives, lost libraries, everything a growing brain needs, right? Could maybe make a day or two out of it."

Sharing hidden mysteries with Sam, lost secrets with someone who'd really appreciate them, that was a pretty appealing idea. "Set Dean up in a nice hotel with beer, magic fingers and porn, he'll be in hog heaven while you browse ancient archives to your heart's content."

Sam makes some of the best faces, man.

[worldfelldown]

"I'd love that." He doesn't know if they'll actually get to do it, but... he would love it if he did. Learning things most people wouldn't ever get to lay eyes on, spending his time in pleasant company. It all sounded amazing, really...

"And Dean would probably love that way too much."

Re: Sam makes some of the best faces, man.

[low_key_angel]

It was at least something to shoot for. A pleasant what if to carry them through what was going to be a terrifying and dark time ahead.

"Then you're on. After this? It's a date."

One they might not live to see, but it was a nice idea. "Maybe I'll sneak out a book or two before then."

[worldfelldown]

They might not live to see it, no, but it actually brightens Sam mood for the moment -- a feat that he thought would've been impossible when he first went to meet Lucifer and accepted those terms. At least... this wasn't so bad between them. It was possibly Gabriel was good at hiding it, but it seemed like he hadn't... broken whatever was between them too much, that he hadn't hurt the angel.

Sam was kind of sick of hurting people close to him.

He took another swig of his beer as his eyes turned up tot he sky. "It's going to be weird, getting used to you being able to just zap things in and out, you know."

[low_key_angel]

It's enough that Sam wants to even be around him, that he can say something to lighten his mood a bit. Gabriel grinned easily, leaning until his shoulder rested lightly against Sam's. Just a faint press, something warm and grounding while they looked up at the sky.

"Gonna have to get used to it I guess. My carrier pigeon retired about thirty years ago. So it's just little ol me."

[worldfelldown]

Sam didn't mind the contact, strangely enough. It probably shouldn't feel comfortable after earlier, with those memories lingering in his head and still too fresh to really push aside, but it was. He leaned in a little bit closer and took one more swig from his beer, finishing it off.

"I think you'll be better than a carrier pigeon anyway."

[low_key_angel]

A touch turned the empty bottle into a bright eyed wren that perched on Sam's finger for a moment before fluttering into a nearby tree.

"I have my moments."

And as much as he'd like Sam to stay close, he was human and that meant sleep. "Go get some rest, Sam. I'll keep watch out here tonight."

Keeping watch also meant dispelling any nightmares that might threaten Sam's rest.

[worldfelldown]

Sam's eyebrows raised at the sudden, tiny bird that was perched on his finger for just a moment before he shook his head and laughed under his breath. "Show off," he teased playfully.

And sleep. Right. He wasn't sure how much he could unwind for some sleep, but he really should try. "Yeah..."

He wanted to remind Gabriel that he didn't have to sit watch, but... he knew he'd likely do it anyway. Felt nice to have someone else watching his back anyway. He smiled briefly and leaned in to nudge the angel's with his lightly.

"Good night. See you tomorrow?"

[low_key_angel]

A friendly eyebrow waggle in return. Show off? Him? Probably. But it made Sam smile and after everything they'd been through? Kinda worth it.

The nudge gets a smile that's far less flash and a lot more Gabriel. "Good night Sam. I'll be here when you wake up. If Dean is nice I'll even bring donuts."

It was enough that Sam wanted him around, even knowing that he was in love with him, that he'd do anything for Sam. He could keep his distance and treasure those small gestures for what they were along the way.

[worldfelldown]

It felt strange to be smiling at all. He can't remember really, the last time that he did... at least a real smile and not one done out of politeness or just humoring along.

He couldn't really be angry with Gabriel, not over loving him. It might have made things awkward, pushed them into something neither of them wanted tonight (at least not like that), but it still wasn't exactly a bad thing. It wasn't bad to care about someone... it was possibly not a smart idea to care about a Winchester though. People tended to die when that happened.

Slipping to his feet, he gave one more smile and nodded. "If you bring pie, it might brighten his mood even more," he called back as he headed inside.

With any luck, Dean was just as worn out as he was and they could just crash for the night.

[low_key_angel]

Well in fairness, Gabriel wasn't exactly the poster child (angel) for smart decision making.

"Pie and donuts, you got it." He answered back with a smile of his own, watching the door swing shut behind Sam.

Gabriel wanted nothing more than to follow Sam in, to hold him, shelter him while he slept. But he could do this too, stay outside and and protect the two brothers while they slept. Raising one finger in the air, he traced a sigil into the air, watching it flash brightly before vanishing. A quiet, dreamless sleep for both Sam and Dean tonight.

"Good night Sam."

I love you.