Castiel's POV
It's 1am when I hear Gabe trying to discreetly open the front door.
Ever since dad went missing and mum got a second job (a night shift, of course) to 'support the family', Gabriel and I have had the house to ourselves pretty much 24/7. Even our other siblings packed up and left as soon as they were old enough, so the two of us really were on our own. Because of this, there was nothing stopping me from yelling at him. "Gabe, get up here right now and explain your self!"
I get up and open my bedroom door just in time to see his face contort with anxiety. Slowly, he walks up the stairs and I don't dare to speak until he's standing right in front of me.
"So?" I ask him. "Care to say where you've been all this time? Oh, and I'd also like a little more information on this… Sam." I'm trying to sound serious but the secret that could exist between Gabriel his rather tall 'friend' makes me smirk over the last few words.
To my disappointment, Gabe stays soundless, and I'm conscience-stricken as he starts to look worried. Really worried. "Gabe?" I ask quietly. "Gabe, what's wrong?"
"Please don't tell mum," he looks up at me and I see a single tear roll down his face. "I- please Castiel." and suddenly he's crying.
I take my little brother into my arms as he puts his head on my shoulder and I can feel his whole body shake with the sobs. We stay there for a minute, until he takes his head away, his face red and tear streaked, and it kills me that I still don't know why.
"Gabriel," I look into his eyes gently. "You know you can trust me, right?" for a moment I remember Ruby saying those same words to me earlier today, and I close my eyes for a second to clear my mind. I refuse to feel any more pain over something I can't change.
"Yes." Comes his now timid and frankly adorable voice as he nods weakly.
"Please, tell me what's up. I just want to help you."
In a matter of seconds not only his posture, but his entire expression changes. His hands curl into heavy fists and a menacing snarl drags itself onto his no-longer innocent face.
He flashes he head up at me in this outburst anger and spits at me, "What does help exactly mean? That you think you can change me? You can't, Nobody can. I'm a sin, a freak of nature. I'm gay, Castiel. I'm fucking gay and I don't want one single assbutt thinking they can snap their fingers and change that about me! I'm going to hell for it, I know I am, but what can I do? This demon that mum'll say is inside me isn't letting go. And you wanna know the worst part of it? I like it. I enjoy it. And you're mad if you think I don't hate myself for it."
His eyes are wet again and I can see the rage that fills my brother. I'm so sorry, I try to tell him. How could I ever let him think that's what I thought about him? About us? I'm so sorry, I try to say again, but now I'm the one who's crying. Placing my hands against his cheeks, I bend down until our heads are exactly level.
"I love you, Gabe. You are the greatest brother I could ever have, and I do not give one single shit about your sexuality." His eyes dart away for a moment.
"Really?" he asks.
"Really." I say.
We talk until 3am. I don't tell him about me, all I want is to help him, help him get through all the madness people will throw at those like us. I learn more about this Sam character.
His full name is Sam Winchester. First things first, he's apparently insanely clever - though I don't know whether this is the fact's talking or the hormones. The reason his hair is so hilarious (Gabe started off saying 'hot', but he got as far as 'ho-' before he went bright red and pretended he's been saying 'hilarious') is because his older brother, Dean, cuts it for him.
This confused me slightly, and Gabriel went on to tell me that Sam's mum died when he was a baby. Apparently ever since then, his dad has been an alcoholic, moving Sam and Dean from place to place for no apparent reason. The only real person in Sam Winchester's life is his older brother, he's the one to care for him, cook his meals and teach him the ways of life. It physically pained me how similar this Dean and I were: one parent gone forever, the other only a shadow in our lives, and a little brother whom we cared the world for. Someone for whom it seemed we would give up everything. The reason it pained me so much, is because no one should have to experience what I'm going through.
Eventually, I propose an idea. After I insist I get to know the boy – and the guardian of the boy (maybe I could learn a few things from this Dean character?) – who stole my brother's heart, I say that it is only fair we invite them round. Dean knows about Sam apparently, has done for a while. After a quick phone call the next day, it's been arranged.
The Winchesters are coming for dinner.