Title: Spirit of Truth
Author: scyllaya
Rating: NC-17
Characters and/or Pairing: Gabriel/Dean, Sam and some random folk
Spoilers: pagan world AU, so only know who Gabriel is.
Warnings: cursing, graphic sexual content (slash)
Word Count: ~ 10 000
Disclaimer: All names and characters in this story belong to CW/WB and Kripke. I'm making no profit. It's just for fun! Don't sue me! =D
Summary: Gabriel's a rockstar, Dean's a very big fan. They meet unexpectedly.
x~x~x
Part One
The only reason Dean was willing to play chauffeur was because the hotel Sam had to go to meet with Jess and her parents was in Kansas City. Now he usually didn't like to go there at all, but now he planned to do so anyways as his favorite band Caelum would concert at the Sprint Center. They were the only band from his favorites that was not one of the big classic rock bands, but their music was just as awesome cause they didn't play any of that modern pop rock crap, but real music.
When he stopped the car he felt uneasy for a second.
'Really? The Hilton President?' he asked as he looked at his brother. 'You didn't tell me Jess was this loaded.'
Sam threw a very impressive bitchface at him at the remark.
'What? This is a 4 star hotel, they have to have a thick purse if they're spending the entire week here.'
'Fine, they're pretty well off' Sam huffed. 'But they're not that upper-class, just...'
'Hilton level' Dean said. 'Hey, it's good Sammy, I knew Jess was a classy chick, now I know how classy.'
'Don't make any remarks about it' Sam warned.
'Hey, I'm not even getting inside this place, not my scene' he looked meaningfully at the casual suit Sam put on for this first meeting with Jess' parents then he gestured at his torn jeans, black Caelum T-shirt and his new black leather jacket, and no he didn't get the new jacket just for the concert no matter what Sammy thought.
'Jess asked me to get you in to say hi to her at least.'
'Dude, you really want me to embarrass you in front of Jess' parent?' Dean asked incredulously.
'No, we're gonna meet with Jess at the bar, you say hi then me and Jess will go to the restaurant to have dinner with her parents' Sam explained.
'Fine' Dean said after he took a breath. He had to get here Sam pretty early, the concert only would be hours later, he planned on drinking a few bears at the stadium while waiting, so he had time.
He fought a small battle at the entrance as some douche wanted to take his car keys to drive the Impala to the parking lot, but Dean was having none of it. He told the guy that only he got to drive his car, no one else. After a few minutes of intense glaring Dean could park down on his own, Sam's lips were thin and he seemed annoyed, but he didn't say anything, he knew better than start arguing about the Impala.
Dean felt out of place the second he got inside the fancy hall. Sam seemed a lot more at ease, but he probably was already getting used to these kind of places with his lawyer college friends. The bar was close and they headed there immediately instead of the reception and Dean was pretty grateful for that.
They didn't see Jess anywhere so the brothers walked across the room to the bar where they could be easily spotted and waited. Dean contemplated whether to buy a beer, but he wasn't sure it was wise. He didn't want to spend all his money on a few drinks after all and the concert tickets were already expensive enough that this would be probably the only party he would attend in the entire month, he had to pay 16 bucks just to park down his car. He would have to skip his usual nights at the Roadhouse too for a while, but he knew it would be worth it to listen to his band live.
'Really? You're gonna sell me this piss-poor beer for 10 bucks?' he heard a voice from behind his back and his lips quirked up into a half-smile at the complaint even as Sam turned towards the voice with a frown looking at the guy behind Dean.
'Sir, I assure you that...' the bartender started.
'Don't assure me of anything, just get me that beer and shut the hell up' now a chuckle was about to erupt from Dean and in a blink he felt more at ease, he was not the only one who stood out from this place. So he had to take a look, he turned around with an amused smile... and the words promptly froze on his lips as his eyes widened dramatically.
This was not possible, couldn't be possible. No way he, Dean Winchester high-school drop-out with six bucks to his name was this lucky. Right in front of him, in the flesh, and looking right back at him was the guitarist and song-writer of Caelum, Gabriel... Gabriel Fucking Dayne.
'Oh My God' he managed to stutter out finally, and probably a bit too loudly as several eyes landed on him, including the stink eye the bartender was throwing his way, but they could all go and fuck themselves because he was standing right next to Gabriel Dayne and how the hell didn't he recognize his voice right away, he sang two songs from Caelum on their first album before he stepped back from the microphone and he only did a bit background singing which was a damn shame, since Dean liked the singer's voice, but he always loved the two Gabriel songs best and he was almost hyperventilating.
'I see you're a fan' Gabriel smiled up at him easily while nodding at Dean's T-shirt, and wow Dean was taller than him. Well he knew that he was taller as he knew Gabriel's height from his bio – he only checked it once to see where he studied music, honestly... maybe twice – but now it was a shock to have the extra inches on him. Then his brain finally caught up with him that Gabriel was talking to him, he had to answer dammit.
'Yeah, yeah I came to the concert' he managed.
'Awesome' Gabriel smiled again, Dean was smiling back, who was he kidding, he was probably grinning like the biggest fucking idiot on the face of Earth. He had to get a grip before he embarrassed himself any further.
'Damn, sorry I'm making a total idiot of myself here. My name's Dean Winchester' he said as he held out his hand, Gabriel shook it and dammit he was not going to start grinning again. 'I'm a huge fan, really... been listening to you guys since your first album, I loved "Progeny" and man "Celestial Idiot Box" blew my mind away, seriously that album was beyond epic... and your guitar solo in "Spirit of Truth" in the last track of "Three Worlds"... wow, I listened to that a dozen times just the first day I bought the CD man, it's my favorite of all, you're awesome!'
Gabriel listened to his rant with the same smile on his face.
'That's good to hear' he said. 'Nice running into you, the others are too lazy to get out of the suit just yet. Give me some company?'
Dean somehow managed to hold back the excited little noise that almost slipped out of his mouth.
'Yeah, absolutely!' he replied with a grin.
'Great. I buy a drink... if I can have my hand back' he added with another smirk and dear God he forgot to let go of his hand.
'Sorry' he mumbled as he felt as his face was heating up. This was embarrassing, he managed to turn himself into s 13-year-old girl in 5 minutes.
'Um... Dean?' he heard his brother call.
'Not now Sammy, talk to you later' Dean said without glancing back, he heard his little brother take a large dramatic sigh before he walked away, again he knew better than to start arguing.
'Brother?' Gabriel asked.
'Yeah, little brother.'
'Little is not the word I would use' Gabriel told him and Dean huffed out a laugh. The bartender who apparently was paying attention already put down Dean's beer to the counter next to Gabriel's.
'This is so freakin' unbelievable' Dean said as he shook his head.
'Trust me the excitement will wear off soon enough' Gabriel said.
'Yeah, not likely' Dean laughed, still a bit nervously. He was having a beer with Gabriel Dayne, it was so beyond bizarre, in a very awesome way. Gabriel huffed out a laugh.
'Not that big of a star, big boy' he said. 'It's not like I'm Slash or Young.'
'Well I would put your style somewhere closer to Jimmy Page, even if your lyrics are nothing like Zep's and I bet they're already preparing your spot at the rock Hall of Fame' Dean answered with a grin and was pleased when Gabriel smiled into his beer.
'You play anything?' he asked as he was clinking the silver ring on his right pinky finger to the side of the beer bottle. Dean shrugged, suddenly a bit self-conscious.
'I play... guitar, on an amateur level.'
'Are you selling yourself short because you're talking to me?' Gabriel asked.
'No, I'm really not that good, just a hobby.'
'It started out as a hobby for me too.'
'Yeah well I am not that talented' Dean answered with another shrug as he took a swing from his beer, he was glad that his heartbeat slowed down a little, he no longer felt like smashing his head to the bar for acting like some squealing fanboy, even if he was a fan. Still he was glad that he managed to hold onto his dignity a little and that he didn't send his self-respect into the land of fading memories forever.
'You are hot though, you'd be surprised how much that would compensate for' Gabriel added with a smirk and Dean almost choked on his beer. He looked at the guitarist with a frown but answered without over-thinking it.
'I have sex for fun, not to use it to my advantage' he said and Gabriel laughed delightfully.
'Good answer' he smirked again. Dean was not sure where to put that when Gabriel glanced away at the clock behind the bar. 'Fuck, I have to get into the stadium soon' he exclaimed.
'Oh right' Dean said. He was sure that there was still stuff the band hat to settle before they could start. 'Well, I bet the concert will be awesome' he said before Gabriel left and he continued quickly. 'It was so great meeting you, really. Just keep doing what you do' he said.
'Thanks' Gabriel answered. 'Enjoy the show' he added with a smile as he tossed a few bills down on the bar and slid off the stool. Dean turned back to his beer, still buzzing with a bit excitement over this unexpected meeting. He was sure that he would enjoy this concert even more than he first thought he would.
'On a second thought' came Gabriel's voice from his left and it almost made Dean jump, he turned so quickly he barely kept his balance. 'We're gonna have a little party here after the gig' he said. 'Wanna join me?' Dean was pretty sure that his eyes widened so dramatically that they looked like they would fall out from their sockets.
'Wha- Yeah! Of course' he said, Gabriel's smile widened then he stepped closer, right into Dean's personal space. The younger man just blinked at him as he felt that Gabriel slid something into his belt, he had to push his T-shirt to the side a bit to do so, his fingers touched the skin on Dean's stomach for a brief second. Dean didn't look down to see what the small object was – it felt like a credit card or something – Gabriel's amber eyes were locked on his face and he couldn't tear away his own gaze.
'Good to hear, check you later then' Gabriel said with a final smile, then he turned around and left without another word. Dean just blinked for a while and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding until this point. Then he finally pulled out the small plastic card Gabriel left for him, it was a gold Hilton key card.
x~x~x
'What was that?' came Sam's voice from his other side unexpectedly and Dean turned to his brother immediately.
'What the hell dude, aren't you supposed to be with Jess and her parents now?' he asked.
'I just talked to her on the phone, her Mom's not done dressing yet' Dean wanted to roll his eyes on that. 'So again, what the hell?'
'What?' Dean asked with a frown, because he seriously had no idea what his brother was talking about. Sam pointedly looked down at the key card Dean was holding in his hand.
'Who was that guy? I swear you were embarrassingly worshipful.'
'Dude, Gabriel Dayne!' at Sam's oblivious expression he continued. 'The lead guitarist of Caelum' he added as he pointed at his T-shirt.
'That guy?' Sam asked with a raised eyebrow, but didn't continue when Dean started to glare at him for his incredulous tone. 'Ok, fine, but than even more so, what the hell?'
'Once in my life I'm the lucky bastard that runs into the right person and gets invited to the after-party and you're saying "what the hell?", Sammy you know better than that.'
'After-party? Here? And you got a key card?'
'Yeah' Dean replied with a frown, he didn't know where to put his brother's expression.
'You do realize that you're the groupie in this set-up, right?' Sam asked and his tone had the edge of his a lecturing voice in it.
'No, I'm not' Dean protested.
'The guy rendered your personal space nonexistent' Sam told him with an annoyed face. 'An the way he slipped you the card was a suggestion if I ever saw one.'
Dean frowned again and replayed the scene in his mind, he might've been a bit unfocused, having one of his favorite musicians so close would do that... and huh.
'Huh' he repeated out loud, not sure what else to say.
'That's it?' Sam asked incredulously as Dean showed no more reaction, the older Winchester brother shrugged. 'Seriously? You're going?'
'Of course I'm going man, it's an after party with the band' Dean replied. 'He might've made a suggestion, but maybe not... and it's Gabriel Dayne dude, who cares if he did.'
'You can's be serious.'
'After the string of waitresses and random chicks I picked up at bars and slept with over the years you think I'm gonna turn down... a rockstar? Dude...' it was his turn to look at Sam like he was out of his mind.
'No freakin way, Dean. Are you crazy? Since when are you into guys anyway?'
'I have my moments' he shrugged and wanted to laugh at the way his brother's eyes widened. 'And like I said Sammy... it's Gabriel Fucking Dayne' he said with a grin then emptied his beer bottle. 'Got a concert to catch, enjoy meeting the parents.'
Sam was in a shocked enough state that he didn't manage to add anything before Dean was gone from the bar.
x~x~x
The concert was amazing, just like Dean expected it to be. They started with "Stars fall down", their first big hit, like always and the entire stadium went wild the second the first notes filled the air. Dean was not close enough to the stage to see the band in detail with his own eyes, but the two large projectors at the sides of the stage made up for it and Dean was thrilled more than ever that they usually showed the lead singer, Mercury Cooper, or Gabriel up close.
And Dean lost count how many times it ran through his head that just some time ago he was drinking beer with the guy, talked with him. And he was surrounded by thousands of people – who was he kidding the arena was full so it had to be around 20 thousand – and most of them would do a lot just to shake hands with any of the band members and he was invited back to the hotel. He had a fucking key card and Gabriel's invitation. He was not delusional or anything, he was sure the band had a a lot of key cards they could give out for their after-party, but still it was pretty damn epic. He never expected to be so damn delirious about a piece of plastic in his pocket, but he was.
As the concert went on his blood was pumping with the music as he too sang along with most of the songs like everyone around him. He joined in to clap with his hands above his head or to thump with his feet like everyone else did when the heavy beats of "Mabon" came up and it felt like the biggest thunderstorm rang in the stadium at the rhythm of the crowd, like thousands of drums.
Gabriel looked different, not marginally different, but he looked like the way Dean saw him in every concert footage, interview or music video. He switched his clothes to tight dark jeans and boots and a white wifebeater, but he wore a thin jacket above it. His nails were painted black – the cameras showed his hands on the guitar enough times – and he wore silver hoop earrings instead of the simpler ones Dean saw earlier. He was playing on his black custom Gibson Les Paul – almost like the one that was stolen from Jimmy Page in 1970 – and Dean found himself watching him as he listened to the music not even paying attention to the other members of the band. Hell he should've been drooling all over Tammi Tee like most guys did, because there was just no way that anything could be hotter than a sexy chick playing bass, she was practically an Afro-asian goddess. But his eyes just never left Gabriel, not for a second as he let the music wash over him. Watched as Gabriel's fingers moved over the strings, as he closed his eyes when he played the slow lyrical melody of "Dirty Rain" and thousands of lighters flickered up in the stadium.
It would've been one of the best concerts of his life even without the thrill he felt thinking about going back to the Hilton after it was over. Sam's words echoed in his head as he tried to figure out whether Gabriel's behaviour with the key card was really a hint or not, he wasn't sure but to hell with it, watching the way Gabriel played and moved on the stage with confidence and mostly with a smile playing on his lips... he had to admit that it was damn hot, okay so that he knew already from magazine shots where maybe he might've been looking at him closely too not just at Tammi Tee's curves.
When Mercury started up with the familiar words of "Dilettante" Dean knew it was the last song of the night, and so did many too. It was a tradition of Crealum to always start and end a concert with the same songs. Of course the crowd did start shouting and screaming for more as the stage went dark at the very second the last note left Gabriel's guitar even if many guys around Dean just shook their heads and were laughing at that. They never came back on stage after "Dilettante".
Dean was about to turn and leave to get out of the arena before the big crowd really started to head towards the exit.
'Let's make it clear that I am not making a habit of this' Gabriel's voice filled the arena and the entire crowd went wild with cheers as the reflectors went back up, Dean turned around quickly too to look back at the stage and the projectors. 'But there are some very awesome fans out here tonight, so I give you a treat" Gabriel managed to spot one of the cameras and he looked directly at it, of course the other projector switched to that picture too and mostly the female part of the stadium broke out in screams and Dean licked his lips absentmindedly staring at him, because damn... in the light Gabriel's eyes looked completely gold, his lips were curling up into a smile and the look he had on his face couldn't be called anything but mischievous.
Then he started to play and Dean felt as a shiver ran down his spine as he recognized the first notes of "Spirit of Truth", his favorite song. And he mentioned that to him, but surely it couldn't... because there was just no way it was for him, juts no way! Why would it be? Stupid to even think that. The long intro gave enough time to the other band members to take their places again to join in to play the song, but it was Gabriel's guitar solo that blew Dean completely away, he heard every note so many times that he knew it by heart even if Gabriel added slight extras as he improvised a little, and it was better, better than any CD or mp3 could be, the music practically rumbled in his chest and he literally had goosebumps on his arms as he listened the way the guitar sang in Gabriel's hands. He was staring at Gabriel the entire time as his fingers moved quickly as his whole body moved slightly to the music he created out of his instrument and Dean felt like the golden card was burning him inside his pocket.
Because damn he just knew, he was absolutely sure that if this guy wanted him he would be down on his knees so freakin' fast. And the thought that he might be able to do that made heat pool up in his belly.
x~x~x
Dean's grateful the card had a room number on it, it would've been an interesting experience to get the reception to give him out that particular piece of information, they probably would've kicked him out thinking he was some stalker of the band or something. So he headed to the elevator confidently without a glance at the reception as walking back here was the most natural thing in the world. He had to go to the top floor of course, he expected as much. He hesitated when he was standing in front of the door thinking whether he should knock or not, but then he realized that he got the key card so he could get it. He pushed the door open gently and stepped inside.
His first thought was "wow". The suite was bigger than his apartment and since there were only couches and sofas and coffee tables around he knew that there had to be a bedroom or bedrooms here too. It was pretty fucking impressive, he only saw places like this in magazines and movies, it was surreal to walk inside. And he was sure that it was the presidential suite or something at this point. He heard music and some other noise from around somewhere.
'Who the hell are you?' came a voice to his left, but it was not spoken with anger. More like honest surprise and maybe a little boredom. He didn't know the guy, he was certainly not a member of the band.
'Um, I'm Dean... Gabriel invited me' he said as he held up a card to show that he didn't break in or anything, he couldn't say the words casually. He was sure that he couldn't pretend that this was something that ever happened to him before. The guy raised his eyebrows and some sort of realization appeared on his face.
'Oh, that guy' he said. 'Come on then' he waved with his hand as he started walking, Dean wanted to ask what he meant by "that guy", but he didn't get the chance. The man opened the side door and the muffled music was immediately clear even if not too loud. He wasn't sure how many people he expected but there were only like 10-12 people besides the band members, holy crap the band. No Gabriel, that's what he saw first as he scanned the room.
'Who's this?' asked Mercury as he stopped in front of them while he was walking across the room.
'Gabriel's guest' answered the guy before Dean could get a word out.
'Oh yes, that guy' the singer mused with a smile as he continued his journey to the other side of the room. And seriously, what was up with that? He was confused enough from being "that guy" that he forgot that he ought to be a bit more excited about being with the band right now.
'Wait, this is the bar guy?' asked a third voice and Dean really started to feel weird as several set of eyes were on him at this point.
'You mean that bar guy?' asked a female voice, and okay what the hell was going on?
'Hey, no teasing the new boy, kids' and that amused tone he would recognize now anywhere. He turned to the side as Gabriel walked into the room with a beer in his hand. Still in the jeans and the wifebeater, only his jacket was off. He wore a few bracelets on both of his wrists that the jacked hid before and just like that Dean forgot about the whole "that guy" thing and he felt how his lips curled up into a wide smile.
'No teasing baby' spoke up Tammi from the armchair she was sprawled on. 'Hell, he got you to play fuckin' "Spirit of Truth" again. I'm 'bout to get his name to name my first-born after him.'
Gabriel rolled his eyes dramatically while Dean stared at the bass guitarist with slightly widened eyes. Because no way did he hear that right.
'C'mon, big boy. Drop the jacket, let's get you a drink' Gabriel spoke up before he could say anything. Dean tossed his jacket down to were he saw a few others and turned to follow Gabriel. The edges of a tattoo was showing on both of his shoulder blades and on his spine, the decorated skin peeking out from where his back was uncovered and Dean suddenly wanted to see the whole of it, wondering what it was. He followed Gabriel back to the room where the guitarist came out from, which not-surprisingly had a pretty big bar in it, Gabriel slid behind it with an easy movement.
'So what can I get you?' Gabriel asked with a smile.
'Beer is fine.'
Dean took a few large gulps of the bottle he got before he looked back at Gabriel who was sipping his own beer casually.
'What did Tammi mean about the "Spirit of Truth"?' he asked then. Gabriel chuckled in a low voice and rested his elbows on the bar.
'Oh, doesn't work this way, hotshot. You have to earn the right to interrogate me.'
'That so?' Dean asked as he turned fully towards the bar too and let one of his elbows rest on the top too. He might've been getting embarrassing butterflies in his stomach at every smile or smirk directed at him from Gabriel and he probably was staring way more into his eyes than he normally looked at anyone else, but he recognized when he was being flirted with. He was a bit surprised, because not like Gabriel had to make an effort here or anything, hell he could probably get anyone he wanted, so why bother with sweet talking? Maybe he was like that, simple as that. Dean didn't believe it to be any sort of special treatment.
'How do I earn it?' he asked, and actually he was curious, and maybe glad. He truly liked Gabriel's music, it kinda would've sucked if he turned out to be a complete asshole, even if Dean never expected that, not someone who could write lyrics like Gabriel could be a total douche.
'Well my dear boy, first we're gonna drink' he said with a grin, that plan Dean could get behind.
x~x~x