Gabriel couldn't take it anymore, watching his big brothers trying to tear each other apart. When God commanded Michael to throw Lucifer into the hell, he couldn't stay in Heaven anymore. It was the breaking point so he let himself fall to Earth. The last thing he remembered before cloaking himself was a familiar little blue-eyed fledgling crying his name, reaching out to him while his brothers and sisters pull the little guy away from the edge.

Gabriel woke up and started running. He couldn't use his grace the way he used to, not when the angels are still looking for him. He started wandering, clueless about what to do now. He had no orders, no one to look to for guidance. He was away from his father, his family, the feud. He was free. He started to walk among man, he began to see how different they were from angels. They were unique, so wild and unruly. No two souls were the same and not all of them waited for the command of his father, they acted for themselves. Free will, the gift his father bestowed on his newest creations but to no angel but the last one He created. He couldn't help but feel jealous and decided to try it for himself.

When God left Heaven, he could hear the angels cry in anguish. Even though he was Gabriel no more, he shed a tear for his brothers and sisters. When Odin asked him why he was crying, he just shrugged it off and drank, trying to forget the hollow feeling inside him. Although his Norse family tried to be supportive, Gabriel couldn't get any comfort from it. After all, they were all worried about Loki. It took some time but being Loki was the best choice he made. He crafted a new persona for himself as the Trickster and started taking matters into his own hands, punishing the scum of the Earth while living it up. He finally felt alive and Gabriel became a name of the past.

It was when he first recognizes the Winchester brothers that his perfect illusion was shattered. He knew that this meant, of course, he could never escape what Heaven has planned. Dean would go to Hell and Sam would be Lucifer's vessel, two brothers that loved each other will tear each other apart and this time the whole world with it. What was the point? Gabriel wondered, what was the point of free will if destiny would make it all meaningless? He couldn't go back to Heaven, he didn't want to watch his family die over this again. He didn't want anything to do with this, he just wanted it to be over.

Telling the Winchesters to play their roles was a last resort. He was annoyed that they were so determined to go against both Heaven and Hell, don't those two knuckleheads know that they couldn't win? Why even resist? But the one thing he didn't account for was seeing those big blue eyes again. That naïve little fledging that wanted him to stay was all grown up, and that realization hurt more than anything. Those eyes that were filled with awe and wonder were hardened by pain and loss, this angel was made into another soldier, a carbon copy. Castiel didn't deserve that and Gabriel never thought that he would see such rage and disappointment from his favorite fledgling directed right at him.

When the boys escaped his maze and tore off his mask, he couldn't even fight back. He was so tired of it all, he just wanted this be by himself and ignore all of it. Dean called him a coward, Gabriel glared at him as if that would smite him but a part of him knew that was true. He was nothing more than a coward that couldn't stop his big brothers from tearing the family he loved so much apart. Even after the holy fire was out, he didn't move. He just stood there, drenched and miserable, as he watched Castiel leave with those boys with their heads held high. Gabriel couldn't remember the last time he did that.

Gabriel wasn't going to intervene with the little coup that his old friends had formed until dear brother Lucifer started killing them, he was just as ruthless and horrible as Gabriel remembered when he and Michael were fighting. Watching Kali try so hard made him feel guilty for not even trying to fight back but seeing Lucifer knock the woman he once loved down was too much. He had to do something.

After handing Sam and Dean his last message, he told them to guard it. He knew his voice was shaking and how slim his chances were. Lucifer was Dad's favorite, the Morning Star. But he was done running from his problems, he hoped that in some way, this would be his way of helping the world. He took a moment before going to face the music. With the most courage and righteousness he could muster, he knocked his brother back and stood tall with his head held high.

"Luci, I'm home."

A/N: For some reason, my first fic into a new fandom seems to be inspired by SU. This time it's "That Distant Shore". When I first heard this song, it was supposed to be a one-shot based on Cas but I also found Gabriel to be a better fit. So now I have two versions of it.

Thanks so much to jscribbles for helping me with Cas's part, you can find her on AO3.

I've been trying to catch up with Supernatural but I'm only on Season 8 so far, I've pretty much signed my life away to this show XD

Enjoy and take care, Loves.