Author Notes: Okay so a few things. First this is my addition to the Gabriel Monthly Challenge on Tumblr ( ) This month we had a few to choose from but I went with… The trope for March will be fake relationship. So here it is! Now a couple things to point out before you read. This is AU. In this fic Chuck is NOT a prophet but an author. He wrote the Supernatural series which is being turned into a TV show. There are NO monsters in this (that we are aware of) and Gabriel is human.
Warnings: AU-Human, Fake relationship, Insecure Chuck.
**This has been beta's by nopenopeartichoke **
Chapter 1
He was doomed. While he checked the schedule one more time, Chuck couldn't help the soft groan from escaping his lips. In less than a week he would need to show up at his own convention, completely alone. It was bad enough that he had just broken up a two-year long relationship with his number one fan Becky, but now he was going to show up without anyone. What was worse was the first convention in his schedule was going to be in his hometown. While he anticipated some of the crowd to be actual fans of his book series the truth was most of them would be people he went to school with.
Boy he missed being able to use his pen-name exclusively. When Becky had suggested he post his real name to boost sales and show his face he should have said no. It may have led him to where he was now, about to disclose he had a five-year contract to produce a TV series based on his books with room for more if the views were good. They had even managed to finish up most of the casting, the main characters being chosen who were almost exactly as Chuck had pictured them while writing.
Still, success in his work life was one thing; people had always known he had the chance to go places. They also teased him because with his shyness and inability to take a hint, it was likely he was going to die alone, he was even voted as such in his yearbook. He couldn't go to the convention with only his success in his work, he needed someone to have on his arm or else he would never hear the end of it.
Pulling up the listing on his phone, Chuck sighed before posting the ad. He didn't have enough time to try and find someone, he needed results and if he had to pay for them he could afford it now. Going about his day, Chuck only had to wait a few hours before there was a response, his phone dinging to inform him of an answer. Pulling up the app, the author couldn't help but blush at what he was doing.
'I saw your ad and wanted to know if you wanted to meet and discuss terms? It lists that we live in the same area if you know the diner off Main Street? Barb's? Let me know ;)'
Chuck bit his bottom lip before sending his reply. It was almost time to take a break anyway and he did love the food from the small diner. Making his way there, Chuck couldn't help but feel nervous. The man hadn't given him a picture or description to work from however Chuck had posted his own picture in the ad. Opening the diner doors, Chuck glanced around when his gaze caught a pair of golden eyes looking at him.
The man was beautiful. His soft blond hair was slicked back slightly his bangs started to lose some of the gel which caused a lock of hair fell loosely onto his forehead. There was a slight five o'clock shadow on his jaw; just enough it would feel wonderful rubbing against his face while they kissed. Blinking that image aside, Chuck was startled as the main waived him over.
Taking hesitant steps, Chuck couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated as the other man looked up at him. His eyes were gorgeous. Chuck almost didn't catch what the other man said since he was distracted by taking the man in. When his name was called however, Chuck blushed brightly and listened to what the man was saying.
"There you are, I was wondering if I lost you there… you zone out often or am I just that stunning?" While the man spoke, he wiggled his eyebrows in jest, but Chuck couldn't find much humour in it. "I'm sorry… I just…" Once Chuck started to stammer a reply the man softened his smile, so it was less teasing and more reassuring. "Hey," the man began to speak. "It's fine, I mean we should be attracted to each other at least a bit to pull this off, right? Sit down and take a load off and we can plan this out."
Chuck realized the man he had been staring at was the one he had been looking for and sat down on the other side of the booth his cheeks flushed. "Let's try this again," said the man, still with the softer smile on his face. "I'm Gabriel and I'm here to answer your ad." Chuck nodded his head, reaching out with his hand to shake Gabriel's. Instead of shaking the hand though, Gabriel brought it to his mouth and kissed the back of it. It should have been insulting, feminizing, but Chuck couldn't help but feel warmed by the action.
"Hi… so ummm… what all do we need to cover?" asked Chuck pulling his hand back. The waitress showed up then, having recognized both customers she easily took down the orders with a smile before leaving the table. Gabriel smiled and picked up the glass of water she left and brought it to his mouth. Chuck couldn't help but watch as Gabriel's throat moved to swallow the water. "You know, if you keep looking at me like that, selling this isn't going to be a problem."
Gabriel set his glass down while speaking, his golden eyes not leaving Chuck's blue ones while a smirk crossed his face. "What we need to figure out is our back story. I also have an alternative payment method if you're interested." That caught Chuck's attention. He had posted that the payment wasn't negotiable, he had offered a good deal of money plus he would be covering all food and travel costs for the long weekend.
"While I will completely take you up on your offer to feed me and travel, instead of money I would rather you do something for me." Gabriel hunched slightly then, and for the first time Chuck thought he saw some vulnerability there. It was enticing and made him want to reach out to the other man. "I looked you up before I responded. I have a few friends in your networking department for the show and so I know what your announcement will be."
Chuck sucked in a slight breath, while it wasn't exactly something to sign an NDA over, he hadn't expected someone to release that his books were going to be on network television. "What I would like instead of the money would be to spend a day on set if you could arrange it. If not, I'll still do this for you, but I've been directing small films for a while and I think I could learn a lot watching a day of filming on an official set."
Gabriel stopped speaking while the waitress returned with their food. Picking up a French fry, Gabriel waved it slightly while speaking. "Like I said, if not it's no big deal but, I thought I would give it a try." Chuck bit his bottom lip as Gabriel started to eat, while he wanted to help Gabriel he honestly didn't know if it was something he could pull off. He had been invited to watch the filming process, an invitation that he was told would not be retracted in case they needed his input.
"I can try," Chuck heard himself say which caused Gabriel to look up from where he had been about to take a bite of his burger. "I don't have much sway, I mean they want me around enough to ask questions and stuff but overall I don't have much say in what goes on… but I'll try." Gabriel smiled then, putting his burger down and reaching across the table with his palm up for Chuck to take. When the smaller man did they both felt a jolt go through their palms, Gabriel rubbing the back of Chuck's hand for a second with his thumb.
"You know, I think we should say we met at a book signing. I saw an ad you were in town and being the fan I was, I couldn't help but try to have my own collection signed. Bringing my favourite book, I was nervous as hell and nearly chickened out until I saw you." Gabriel had let go of Chuck's hand to take a bite of his burger, Chuck starting to eat as well. "You were flustered; because as much of a fanbase as you have it still gets to you that people enjoy your work. The second I saw how adorable you were I changed my plan."
"Your plan?" asked Chuck to which Gabriel nodded. "Yeah, instead of wanting an autograph I decided what I really wanted was a date. I waited until the signing was done, and as you were about to leave I came up and asked if I missed my chance. When you said you were sorry and opened your mouth to most likely offer it anyway, I asked you if I could take you out to dinner to make up for being late."
Chuck couldn't help but believe the story Gabriel was spinning. He would have done it; if Gabriel came up and asked him out on a date like that he would have been so flustered he would have agreed before even thinking about it. "I chose a cozy diner where we could sit and talk without any kind of pressure, and by the end of the night I had secured a second date and your number." With a smirk on his lips, Gabriel caught Chuck's eyes and leaned back on the booth.
"What do you think?" Gabriel asked. "Think it would work along with some PDA?" Chuck's eyes widened at the last statement, nearly choking on the food in his mouth before he swallowed it down. "PDA?" he asked his voice squeaking slightly. Gabriel once again reached over and placed his hand on Chuck's. "Nothing like making out in dark corners like in high school… but when I'm with someone I like to make sure everyone knows it. Small touches if you're comfortable with it. I like placing my hand on the small of their back, holding their hand or wrapping my arm around them. Sometimes a small peck here and there. If you're not comfortable with it, it's fine…"
"No," began Chuck. "I uhh… I would like that." Though he didn't think it was smart of him to let Gabriel get this close when he was already attracted to the man, Chuck couldn't help but want to milk as much physical contact with him as possible. "I also have a habit of using nicknames more than actual names, so you might want to prepare yourself for that." Gabriel commented . Chuck nodded his head to Gabriel's statement. He wouldn't mind being called baby or something of the like by the man.
"How are we getting there? Flying or bus?" asked Gabriel, still keeping his hand on Chuck's while the other finished his meal. "We have a tour bus, it will only be us and my ex… she's organizing the whole thing besides the driver of course." When Chuck mentioned his ex, Gabriel squeezed his hand for a moment. There was suddenly a grin on Gabriel's face that Chuck wasn't certain he would like what the man was going to say next.
"Does your ex know about me?" Gabriel asked, his thumb lightly rubbing Chuck's hand which he had yet to release. Chuck shook his head in response. "Good," responded Gabriel before linking their fingers together on the table. "Cause we can practise by convincing her of us being together, think of it like a trial run for when your former classmates start giving you hell. Just remember that I'll be there for you, okay?"
While he didn't want to, Chuck couldn't help but smile as Gabriel looked at him with such an earnest expression. He felt safe with Gabriel, like the man wasn't going to harm him even though it was likely that once he delivered on his payment Chuck would never see Gabriel again. There was something there though, and while Chuck was shy at the best of times it seemed Gabriel was willing to grab it with both hands so neither let it slip away.
Needing to make sure Gabriel wasn't making all the steps, Chuck cleared his throat before speaking. "We ah… we might need to be… physical with her around I don't…" Gabriel squeezed his hand around Chucks for a moment. "I am more than okay with that, how about we meet up later in the week to get more comfortable with each other? There's a new Marvel moving playing if you're interested."
Smiling Chuck spoke softly. "I'd like that… Wednesday?" Gabriel nodded and pulled Chuck's hand until he could place another kiss on it. Watching as Chuck blushed again, Gabriel couldn't help but feel relieved that the other man was attracted to him. At some point he was going to have to tell him that his original plan was to try and wiggle a date out of him at a signing, but his agent hadn't allowed him through the line once the signatures were over.
Thank God for Craig's List.
