Moose-Napped

by Lady Lanera

Sam decides to figure out his feelings once and for all about a certain sandy-haired archangel. Only, he's a Winchester, and it never goes that easy.

6. Date Night

A/N: Hello, lovelies. I've been slaving away on this since the last update. My bunnies admittedly got away from me, and it took me 20 hours to outline all the stories before this one to make sure I answered 90% of my plot divergences I started but never elaborated. That said, this was a labor of love. Let me tell you. However, I think you'll enjoy it wholeheartedly if you're a Sabriel fan.

Some inspiration came from Tumblr users SoftieSabriel's post on Sam's reaction if Gabe returned in Season 14 (that shirt and look-haha), dhsyweirdo's after s.e.x. gif (lol), and several officialSamWinchester posts, mysweetshop's cute loving post of Sabriel with Gabe on top, retrouvel's sweet fanart, and so many others. It's probably why it took me so long to write this as I went down the Sabriel Tumblr rabbit hole for inspiration at times.

I know there are three large questions that I didn't answer in this final chapter, but they're for the next fic. :) Also, Gabe does have a moment of, shall we say, dark thoughts. So, fair warning on that, but they're fairly similar to thoughts Dean and Sam (even Cas) have had in the show. As always, enjoy and thank you so much for taking the time to read my fic. Please stay safe and healthy. Until next time.

Date Night

Glancing off to his left, Sam swallowed down his nerves at seeing the time. 6:35. Twenty-five minutes until his date with Gabriel. His heart instantly leapt up into his throat at that. There wasn't enough time. He should have . . . something. This was not going—what the hell was he thinking? He was going to screw this up somehow. He just was. There was no question about it. He'd do something, and they'd regret this. He'd end up screwing up his friendship with the angel and hurt him and—

A knock at his door stopped his rambling thoughts at once.

Hazel eyes darted to it and frowned, unsure if he should answer the door or just continue to stare at it some more. He was leaning towards staring at it. Gabe was early. Crap. He winced and glanced upwards before he looked once more at the mirror and quickly ran his fingers through his hair, giving it a slight fluffier look. He then glanced at the white button-down shirt he was wearing and grimaced some more. Maybe he should have worn the blue-and-red plaid instead. It worked better with these jeans.

"Sammy, come on. Stop fucking around with your hair and let me in," groused his brother from the other side of the locked door.

He let out a loud, relieved sigh, the tension rolling from his broad shoulders. Thank fucking whatever it was nowadays. The tall hunter took a half-step to his side and twisted his body to unlock and open his door with one hand before he stepped back in front of the small mirror, adjusting his collar for the hundredth time. It wouldn't be the first time his brother watched him get ready for a date.

Dean walked in a second later, snorting at him with a shake of his head.

"You two idiots deserve each other, I swear," his older brother remarked before he threw himself into a chair leaning back and sprawling out.

Sam met his brother's look in the mirror and frowned. What the hell did that mean?

"Hot Wings is in my room currently panicking too," Dean explained with a light tone. When Sam's brows furrowed more, Dean rolled his eyes. "Your damn angel's been talking to mine most of the night with Balthazar trying like hell to drag him away before I gank his ass."

"Gabe's been . . ." His voice trailed off as he shook his head. "So, why are you here then?"

"Because the damn asshole kicked me out of my own fucking room. That's why. Legit snapped his fingers and kicked me out."

Sam stared at him for a moment with scrunched up eyes of disbelief. "Okay . . . so walk back in there." Seriously. It wasn't that difficult to do.

"Gee, bitch, now why didn't I think of that?" Green eyes rolled before his brother pushed himself up with a loud scoff and strode over with pinched lips. He batted away Sam's hands when the younger tried to push his hands from his collar. "Oh, that's right. I did. Only it didn't work because your asshole decided to put some funky woo-doo crap on my room. Every time I open the door, it opens to another stupid universe." Dean forcibly turned him a second later, which Sam bit back his annoyed sigh and allowed. He hated it when his brother got all fussy over him like this.

"You realize I'm thirty-six, not twelve anymore, right?"

"Oh, shut it, Samantha," his brother huffed, meeting his bitchy look with his own. "Of course I realize that. I just . . ." Dean exhaled quietly, his posture sagging a bit. His voice lowered with his eyes as he admitted, "I need this distraction, all right? So, let me have it without your bitching for once."

Sam conceded and bowed his head. "Next time you and Cas have a date, though—"

"I'm yours, got it." Dean pressed his tongue against his right cheek before he pulled back. "Wait. Seriously, man?"

"What?" Sam's eyes narrowed. He then caught in the mirror the exposed mark Gabe had left on his neck. A small smile graced his lips at the memory as he glanced down bashfully. "Like you don't have any fucking marks from Cas, jerk." The second he caught Dean's pained look, his smile fell. "Oh, shit. I—"

His brother raised a hand and shook his head sharply. "Stop. It's fine. You didn't know."

"Yeah, but—"

"Sam," Dean pleaded, his eyes catching his brother's. "Please." He then shook his head again. "It's just not in the card's right now. Maybe once we figure out what's going on with Cas this time, sure, but right now, I'm just going to, you know, be there for him when I can. That is when his asshole fucking dick of a brother isn't having a stupid panic attack in my damn room going on about how he's going to ruin everything and acting like the damn sky is falling over a damn date."

"Is he really panicking?" Sam asked with a gentle chuckle, imagining it. They really did deserve one another if they were both panicking over the same thing.

"Like a fucking chick I swear," Dean replied dryly. "It's seriously ridiculous, but it's distracting the hell out of Cas, so" he shrugged "what can I do?"

The younger nodded curtly. "How is he today?"

His brother's eyes immediately darted from him, which Sam knew his brother needed to do in order to answer that.

"He's Cas." Dean then closed his eyes for a moment before he continued. "I mean, I got him to sleep for about an hour or two, though, before Gabe showed up and then Balthazar. But . . . damn angel's still terrified of something. He wakes up sweating, gasping for air, and shaking horribly."

Sam glanced down at his feet then and nodded slowly.

"But he wants to talk. I can see that. He just doesn't know how. So, I'm just going to keep being patient and wait like he does with me and hope to—whatever—he trusts me again with whatever this fucking thing is." The deep green then snapped back to Sam before Dean scoffed, clearly just noticing something. "Why the white shirt, Sammy? Why not the blue-and-red plaid one? You look better in it."

He raised a brow. "I look better in that than the white one?" he repeated skeptically.

His older brother rolled his eyes in reply. "Fine. Your asshole is wearing white, okay?"

Sam gave him a classic bitch face. "You know, you can call him by his name. I call Cas by his."

"That's different."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. Course it is." His brother's lips quirked upwards. "Cause Cas is a fucking BAMF."

Sam burst out laughing. "Been reading some fanfic, have we?"

He shrugged. "It's not all bad. Some of that smut is—"

"Yeah, okay." The towering Winchester snorted, shaking his head.

"What? I mean, come on. Have you read some of this stuff?" He half-shrugged. "They once did the whole Zorro fantasy I had. It was awesome. Oh, and they did a whole thing on our Dodge City stuff after Cas returned from the Empty. Cowboy boots, hat, the works."

He should have known. "In other words, you're using it as porn."

"Yeah. Course I am. What else am I supposed to use it for?"

He chuckled. "Well, at least you're embracing it, I guess, instead of getting bitchy over it."

"Eh, I wasn't sold on it at first, but I was talking to Cas about it, why he reads it you know. He changed my mind and made me take myself out of the equation on it. And really . . . it taught me something about angels too that no freaking lore book ever has."

"Oh?" Sam raised a brow.

"Yeah. There's an author Cas likes, Cas'sKickassLittleSister—"

Sam doubled over laughing raucously instantly, which earned a fierce glower from his brother.

"Dude! What the hell?"

"That's Roz, Dean," the younger said through fits of laughter. "That's her pseudonym."

"Seriously?" His brother thought on it for a moment and shrugged carelessly not long after. "Well, she taught me about the whole intimacy crap angels need. Plus, she writes fucking hot shit."

"Yeah. I know." He rolled his eyes when he caught his brother's brow raise. "I may have occasionally read some of her Sabriel stuff, okay?" Or a few thousand, but who was counting really?

"Well, her flair is on Destiel, so, you know, fuck you and the Winged Dick. Cas and I win."

Sam scoffed, chuckling. "Whatever. You keep telling yourself that." He patted his brother's arm. "Because Gabe and I are hands down the best. Seriously. Our chemistry is—"

"Full of what to do if you want to end up in a human resources training session, sure. Cas and I are a love that transcends, though. The ultimate enemies-to-lovers trope. Like, you know, Beauty and the Beast shit. Or, hell, Love Actually or any Hallmark movie that has that guy from those State Farm ads."

"The one you swear looks like Ketch?"

"Yeah, that one."

Hazel eyes rolled before Sam glanced at the clock. He instantly felt his blood pressure rise. 6:50. Ten minutes until his date. Oh no. He wasn't ready.

"Kid, it'll be fine," His older brother scoffed beside him, gently hitting his chest with the back of his hand. "You could honestly show up in a fucking clown suit, and that asshole would probably—"

"Yeah, thanks for that," Sam interrupted, knowing exactly where his brother was going with that statement. But did the dick have to mention clowns? "Is it so wrong of me to want this perfect, though?"

"Nah. But you're putting a lot of unnecessary stress on yourself. And when you get stressed out, you start to do weird shit." He held his hands up. "Hey, I'm just looking out for you, man. That's all. I'd hate for you to lean in to kiss that dick only to, you know, sneeze in his face or fart or something."

Sam stared at his brother for a full moment before he scoffed. "Fuck you, asshole."

His brother chuckled in return, though. "Just remember to be stretched properly before—"

"Dean!" His brother was dying laughing, though. As if Sam was even thinking about sex right now. It was a first date, not the third or fourth. "Go back to your angel, jerk."

"Only if you fucking get yours first, bitch, so mine can finally sleep."

He rolled his eyes, eventually laughing with him. He had him there. As long as Gabe was around, distractions would be as well. It was rather endearing in a way. And he was glad that Cas had someone other than Dean and him nowadays to talk to, to be around. Maybe it'd help the angel sort out whatever this was.

"Hey?" he said a few minutes later when a thought occurred to him.

"Yeah?"

"I don't know if Cas told you or his brothers, but—"

Dean sighed and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I know, Sammy. Cas and I talked about it."

"Yeah?"

His brother laughed dryly. "He's honest about that at least." He shrugged dismissively. "They took him out flying the other night. He's missed it, I guess, and he thought it might help him or something because he used to enjoy it with them in the past. So, he agreed." He met Sam's hazel eyes. "Only when he got in the air, it hit him that, you know, he's mortal now. Once they figured out he was having a problem, they brought him back and tried to calm him, but . . ." Dean's hand waved aimlessly. "We're made for one another too obviously. I'm afraid of losing him, and he's afraid to leave me."

The taller brother watched his older silently, wishing he knew the magic words to fix this. There weren't any, though. So, he'd have to do the one thing his brother craved the most. He turned his body again and embraced Dean, feeling his brother first tense like usual before he accepted the hug.

"It'll get better." It had to.

Dean huffed a sarcastic chuckle. "I wish I had your faith, Sammy."

"Have faith in Cas then. Like you usually do." He caught his brother's faint ghost of a smile before his brother shrugged and pulled back.

"We're a couple of dumbasses. What can I say?" He then shook his head. "Seriously, though, blue-and-red plaid, not that one. You never wear white on a first date."

"What? Since when?" Sam scoffed but moved away to grab the discarded shirt from where he had previously thrown it. After all, if Gabe was wearing white anyway, it made sense not to.

"Since, like, ever. Think about the stains you'll get all over it. Because, face it, kid. You get messy as shit when you're nervous. You always have been."

"Like you don't," the younger threw back, rolling his eyes.

"Never said I didn't, but I look better in darker colors, which hides the stains better." He then grimaced. "You need to relax. Just breathe. Ain't as if you two are ending up in bed on the first date."

"What?" Sam's head whipped towards his brother, his hair flaring out like a Loreal ad.

"Oh, I heard all about it," his older brother teased with an easy smile. "How you got rejected by him after practically throwing yourself at him. Desperation ain't a good look on you, Sammy."

"Shut up."

"He was lamenting to Cas about it, how hard it was to fight his urges." Dean groaned, exaggerating it loudly. "I swear the damn dick does it on purpose. As if I want to hear that shit."

"You could always do it back to him, you know."

"Yeah, I could, but then knowing my luck, the asshole would say something back and—yeah, no. I'm just going to stop right there."

Sam snorted. "Why don't you try and have a nice date with Cas? It'd distract both of you."

"Believe me. I've asked. He keeps saying no."

A head tilt later, his brow raised again. "Wait. Cas is saying no to a date?" That surely had to be a sign of an apocalypse. Cas usually jumped at the chance to do anything with Dean regardless of whatever it was. And with the angel having read as much fanfic as he had, he had to understand the whole importance of having a date.

"I know! It's super weird, right?" his brother shrugged, practically bursting that someone else agreed with him. "I've tried other stuff with him, too, but . . . I don't know. And we've talked about it. Well, okay, I've talked to him about it, which is so not my thing but I'm trying to communicate better. Anyway, he keeps telling me he loves me, but like the minute we get hot and heavy, he's flying from me like I got some deadly disease or something." Oh. "Something's working on him. That's for sure. I don't know what because he's fucking stubborn as shit, but I think it's why he won't sleep or, you know, engage in 'coitus' with me or whatever the fuck he'd use if he'd say it."

He snorted at his brother's imitation of the angel. "It could be worse."

"How?"

"You could be dating the Angel of Karma Sutra," he drawled with a grin.

Green eyes rolled with a loud snort. "Yeah, you got me there. You can keep him. I love my Sexually Inexperienced!Cas. It's going to make things ten times hotter when we finally work through whatever this shit is, and he enjoys things again."

Chuckling, Sam then glanced at the clock, his eyes widening when he saw that it was 7:10.

"Fuck!" He fluffed his hair once more to give it a more natural wind-swept look and then smelled himself to make sure he wasn't smelling like a musky skunk or anything. Finding both satisfactory, he turned away and rushed out the door.

"Go get him, Samantha," Dean called after him, snickering.

Hazel eyes glanced upwards in annoyance, but Sam said nothing, rushing towards Gabe's room. Because Gabe would have gone back to his room, wouldn't he have? Ugh. He could see it now. He'd be spending half of their date trying to find the archangel. He quickly forced his annoyance and fear aside once outside of Gabe's room, staring at the closed door. Finding it closed had to be a good sign, right?

He then paused with his hand closed into a fist above the door. He could do this. He totally could. It was just two guys who cared for one another enjoying a nice evening together. Though, he also knew that he had been an idiot and bonded them before doing this step so who knew how that would mess things up. What if he said something and it offended Gabe, who then decided he wanted to break their bond or— Yep. Yep. Deep breaths. Deep fucking breaths. He was spiraling. His eyes closed for half a second before he gently knocked against the middle just underneath the numbers and waited.

It felt like a lifetime passed before Gabe finally opened his door. Sam's eyes widened. There stood Gabriel slightly disheveled as if he had gotten dressed in a hurry. His white button-up shirt was halfway untucked and horribly wrinkled, and his jeans were partly zipped up with the belt undone still.

"Uh . . ."

Of all the ways he had imagined this, this never crossed his mind once.

Gabe forced an awkward smile and nodded jerkily. "Yeah, I know. My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard." He winked flirtingly before he turned away, finishing getting dressed. His belt jingled lightly as he fastened it and turned back to grab something from the desk beside him, breath mints Sam noted. "Sorry about that." He still looked horribly uneasy and very unlike himself. "Shall we, oh—" His voice squeaked unexpectedly before he cleared his throat. "Sorry. Not sure what happened there."

"Is everything okay?" He looked the shorter man over, finding more and more alarming signs that something was seriously not right here. Since when did Gabe look this nervous? And was he . . . sweating? Angels didn't sweat. Under any circumstances according to Cas. "What did you do?"

Amber eyes darted to the floor with another wince before the slightly wavy-haired archangel drug his hand lightly against his nape, hanging his head dejectedly.

"Gabe?" Oh no. What did he do?

"You weren't supposed to find out this early," mumbled the man with a sigh. "It was going to be a surprise for the second act."

History proved that was never a good sign when he heard those words. "What's going on?" He tried to ignore the slight flush to Gabe's cheek, but he couldn't fully. He had never seen the archangel this human looking before.

"I'm suppressing my Grace currently." Gabe then raised his hands as if he expected Sam to freak out over this. "But it's only for the next 12 hours, so I'll be fine tomorrow, but . . ." The sandy-haired man shrugged lightly, relaxing his pose minutely. "Surprise?" he said lamely.

"You're suppressing—why?" Hazel eyes widened. What the hell?

The former Trickster answered matter-of-factly, "Because I'm an archangel, and you're a human." As if that explained everything somehow, which it didn't. At all.

Sam stared at him for a few moments before he scoffed finally. "I don't know how to make this clearer to you, idiot, but I don't want you to change." He really didn't.

"I know that," the angel replied with a faint smile. "But I needed to level the playing field, Sam. It's more for me than you really."

"Why?"

Gabe laughed shortly and shrugged. "Because the absolute power goes to my head sometimes and I, well . . ." His eyes, a deeper whiskey color than usual, fell to his feet for a second as he rubbed the back of his neck again. He took another moment, which Sam waited patiently during, and then quietly admitted with a reluctant gaze, "I don't trust myself around you right now not to take advantage."

Huh? He didn't trust himself around Sam? The hunter watched the ancient being in front of him and took note of Gabe's hunched shoulders. He was lowering his defenses and showing his vulnerability yet again to the human, and it was scaring the hell out of him likely.

"Gabriel?"

The rich sparkling eyes glanced upwards instantly with no hesitation this time.

He offered him a kind smile as he pondered his reply. He needed to let him know somehow that— He gently reached forward and placed a hand on Gabe's shoulder and squeezed it lightly.

"Thank you." He caught the angel's immediate puzzlement and pushed on. "For telling me that. I know it's out of your norm." His heart constricted when he saw the flicker of sadness sweep over the angel's face. "But, Gabe, I want—no scratch that—I need you to know I trust you. I do. Maybe not in the beginning, but that was long ago, and you've shown that you're not the same person you were. You've grown."

The angel nodded shakily and glanced away as he breathed in deeply.

Sam's hand fell to his side again, and he took a step back to give him some air. They weren't the same anymore, and it was important he recognized that. He then gave a quiet chuckle at a thought that crossed his mind, which drew the otherworldly amber orbs back to him.

"Sorry. I just— what exactly is it that you don't trust yourself over?" The long-haired man flashed him what he hoped was his best disarming dimpled, sweet smile. "Like, are you afraid of hurting me accidentally or forcing me to do something I don't want to do or—"

The archangel stared at him for a moment. "You really want to know?"

"Yes." He wouldn't have asked if he didn't.

The other man's rosy cheeks puffed up and then his lips blew out all the air like he was blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. "All right. Might as well." He ran a hand through his light hair, which made parts stick up wildly. "If I had my powers, I'd whisk you far from this damn bunker, probably some tropical place like Sandals Turks and Caicos or some resort like that, and then I'd wine and dine you. Only the best for my moose. Do my damn hardest to show you the world."

Sam's lip twitched as he fought back the amused smile while he listened.

"And then . . . when I was convinced that I had you completely and undoubtedly mine, I'd snap my fingers and lay you down in a bed of roses . . . or something. I haven't decided yet." He then shrugged as he thought on it. "Then again, that might be a bad idea, but the song made it sound cool. Whatever." Gabe waved his hand absent-mindedly and continued with his answer. "And I'd snap my fingers again to stop time before I'd take you apart slowly, lovingly, and give you everything I had to make you mine forever. To worship you like the beautiful soul you are."

All thoughts ceased instantly. Wide hazel stared back with a slackened jaw. Several thin creases were etched into Sam's forehead as his brows were raised. Sam could feel the urge to cough become more and more imminent as he continued holding his breath in complete shock. His eyes darted to the left and then the right before they circled back to the archangel in front of him who obviously wasn't noticing Sam's reaction in the slightest.

"Without my powers and Grace and all that fun stuff," Gabe shrugged with his eyes downcast on the floor, still not seeing Sam's shock, "I can't do any of that, so I'm forced to be me, just a de-powered version of me. A depowered!Gabriel or human!Gabriel to use AO3 tags." He laughed humorlessly. "Though, this is making it sort of a bitch to reign in my emotions since I can't use my Grace to suppress them like usual, but I like challenges." His eyes then slowly raised as he added, "I mean, instead of all that, I only have to deal with, well, not shoving you against that fucking wall and jamming my tongue down your throat. Or tossing you against the bed and grinding hard against your—" He then stopped suddenly and flinched violently when he finally saw Sam's opened mouth and saucer eyes. "Too much honesty. Yeah. I figured. Sorry." His eyes fell back to the floor with a heavy sigh. He shifted his weight clumsily. "But you asked," he reminded bleakly.

"Yes." The word effortlessly rolled off Sam's tongue as he rasped it. As if there was no other answer but that. And there really wasn't. Not after that kind of declaration, after that kind of— Only Gabriel could dissolve all his thoughts at once like that. While he had already accepted the angel enough to finish their bond, it was the way the angel said it, so resolute, so honest, so fucking hot, so . . him. "Yes," he breathed back, gasping and trying to hold back the pleading in his voice. "Yes."

They didn't need to eat dinner. Hell, Gabe usually didn't eat anyway. Candy, sure, but—

Sam's right hand clutched at Gabe's white shirt and yanked him into him as his left quickly went to the back of the angel's neck to bring him closer. He had to bend his knees slightly because of the absurd height difference, but he managed to find Gabe's lips fairly quickly, devouring them with their bodies pressed firmly against one another tightly. He felt the archangel tense instantly, likely in surprise, and paused for a second, just in case Gabe needed them to stop. He could feel his breaths coming out in pants, knowing he wasn't do any better. When the hand finally rested against his chest and Gabe lightly pushed him back, Sam received his answer. He reluctantly pulled back and released him, trying hard not to show his disappointment.

"Not that I'm, you know, not agreeable with what you're doing here, Sam-cubi , because I am very much so, undeniably even, and would definitely love to continue this," his angel quietly stated, gently cupping his cheek, "I'm not some cheap prom date ready to throw away my virginity to the first boy who comes knocking. Got it?" He then walked past the hunter before he paused when he realized he had no idea where their date was supposed to be. "Where are we going anyway? Kitchen?"

The taller man blinked in surprise before he answered a second later, "Outside."

Gabe raised a brow and stared at him. "Outside? Okay. Little bit kinkier than my last date, but lead the way."

"Your last date was you screwing Rowena—"

His hand shot up as he shook his head. "For the record, Samshine, that wasn't a date. That was just two adults engaging in perfectly normal—"

Sam rolled his eyes and walked out, brushing past the angel. "Whatever. I still didn't need to see it, Gabe." No one did.

"Then you should have offered yourself instead," remarked the angel dryly, falling in step beside him. "Then, we would have already been married with little rugrats of our own instead of going outside for our first date."

Stopping short, the tall hunter full body turned towards him, gently grabbing his arm. "Wait! You want kids?"

"Um, you don't?"

"I . . ." He paused for a moment and shrugged as he thought on it. "Well, I have Jack, and he's my son in all but blood, but we don't—it's—I don't know." He let go of him and continued their walk, his brows furrowing in concentration. He easily slid into the role of guiding Jack. And while he'd admit at first that he foolishly wanted to use the Nephilim to get Mary back, he quickly pushed that thought aside as he got to know Jack and grew to love him. "I mean, I know what you and Roz said, but this is all so. . ." He shook his head, ending that particular thought. Seriously. Kids. "And this life is hard on anyone, but to raise a kid into it, I mean, look at Dean and me."

"I don't know. You two turned out pretty all right." He then paused. "Well, except for the whole Daddy issues and horrible coping methods, not to mention the whole self-sacrificing and— Any who, you get my point. But the kid's doing well, considering who his bio dad really is."

Sam huffed a laugh as they walked up the wrought iron stairs, their steps thudding against the metal. He jumped when hands went to his ass a second later and squeezed firmly. Whirling around, he caught the faux innocent look on the mischievous man who was looking elsewhere.

"Keep it up, and you won't get dessert."

"Maybe I don't want dessert," Gabe challenged, stepping up just below Sam. His eyes darkened sexily. "Maybe I want the main course." Amber eyes flicked downward with a predatory smirk.

"Well, then you shouldn't have played hard to get earlier," he remarked, turning away with a smirk at the lightness he felt inside. Fuck, their banter sometimes—manuals would be written over it.

"Saaaaam!"

Throwing open the door, he walked out, feeling the cooler summer air rush past. His boots thumped quietly against the concrete before he finally reached the outside. It'd be a little bit of a hike for them, but it'd be worth it. As they passed Balthazar who was walking back from where Sam had asked him to set up their date, he caught the steely grays and the faint, knowing smirk of the angel. His stomach lurched in dread. Oh no.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't, boys," Balthazar drawled.

Gabe snorted in response at Sam's side before he quickly retorted over his shoulder, "Yeah, see, that's hard to do when you do everything under the sun, Bro."

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Angel of Hedonism and the Angel of Sexual Harassment. All Sam needed now was the Angel of Kinks, and he'd be back in Hell.

---

They managed to find the clearing without incident. Well, there was a minor one where Gabe had stumbled into him and they both ended up tumbling down the prairie grass hillside into the clearing where their date would be, but they both agreed not to mention that ever again. Gabe was still picking twigs and leaves out of his hair grumbling about it. Even though, Sam didn't think it looked that bad.

As they walked down the candlelit path towards the set-up, Sam found the corners of his lips twitch in an attempt to hold back his smile of disbelief. Balthazar had actually managed to follow his request to the letter. There were no crazy additions from what he could see. The blanket was there spread out. The basket of food (which should be filled with mostly sugary desserts and foods that Sam knew Gabe would like with a few healthy additions for himself) placed in a corner with two bottles of beer set out for them chilling in an ice bucket. And two pillows for them to use later to stare up at the night sky. He'd thank the blond angel later.

"Whoa," his angel murmured quietly beside him as they neared the blanket. "You go all out on first dates, don't you?"

Sam did smile widely at that and chuckled. "I admit I had some help from your brother. I told him what I was thinking, and he did the rest."

"Cool. Remind me to snap him to the Fantasy 'verse later as a thank you."

His eyes widened. "There's a Fantasy universe?"

"There's a pocket universe for anything I want, Samshine," Gabe stated cockily. "It's sort of my thing. Remember?" He held up his fingers as if to snap them before he wiggled his brows again.

"Right. I forgot." He burst out laughing a moment later when he watched the archangel fall back against the blanket like it was a trust fall exercise gone wrong.

"What?" Amber eyes stared up at him curiously.

"Nothing," he replied, shaking his head. Honestly, that damn angel was too freaking adorable for his own good sometimes. The hunter carefully lowered himself down to the opposite side of the blanket, snorting when Gabe instantly moved closer into his space, holding out one of the beers. Angels clearly never learned the meaning of the personal space. He popped off the cap to his beer, tapping it against Gabe's held out one, and took a swig, glancing upwards. "Was it like this up there in Heaven?"

"Nah," Gabe said quietly, taking a sip from his from own bottle. He swallowed and swiped at his mouth when he had spilled some of it accidentally. "Too damn quiet and peaceful down here to be like it. The only times it was like this was when I was with Cas . . . or Dad. Mostly Cas. The rest of the time it was just screaming and anger all the time. Sort of like Twitter nowadays."

"Oh." He tried to ignore the Twitter reference because it was obvious the trouble he'd cause.

"There was once, though." The heavenly being let his eyes wander upwards longingly with an air of somberness settling in. "Dad had gathered us all up after a particularly difficult day. I don't recall what had happened exactly, but I remember Balthazar being particularly good for once. Roz wasn't around yet. Or if she was, I didn't notice her. And Cas was silent at my side, resigned for some reason." He gave a dark laugh and shook his head before he took another long sip. It was a good thirty seconds until he finally spoke again. "I think it was to prepare us for you guys entering the family. Or maybe he had already created you guys and was revealing you. I don't know. Dad was so proud with himself, though, telling us how he finally got it right with this batch. They would be the ones, his most prized possessions. How he had such great hopes for this group."

Sam watched him silently, taking note of the terrible pain in the rich eyes.

"On second thought, it may have been the time when he showed us your souls before creating you. I feel like it was then because Cas—damn kiddo—has always been so mesmerized with your souls. I remember him pulling away to lean closer like it was a siren to him. He asked me so many damn questions about it afterwards." Gabe smiled at the memory. "Like I knew anything about souls."

"You can see them, though, right?"

Amber eyes instantly flicked to him. "Yes?"

"You telling or asking?" he said with a laugh.

"Both?" the angel answered uncertainly, shrugging lightly before he glanced away and took another sip from his bottle. He swallowed and then glanced upwards prior to turning back. "I mean, I don't see yours right now. But I usually do." More words then tumbled out in an obvious sign of high anxiety. "It's how we read you so well. We read your souls and what you're giving off to us."

The hunter snorted. "I consider myself lucky then."

"Why?" He seemed confused by Sam's words.

"An archangel is giving his secrets away," teased the human playfully. He then tossed back more of his beer, his eyes glancing upwards as he thought how this was the weirdest date he had ever been on. And yet how completely relaxed he was with it, except for the occasional hiccups.

"Eh. It's not like I'm teaching you the sigil Roz used on me."

The curious hunter leaned back with an easy smirk. Got ya. He gradually turned his attention back. "So, it was a sigil then."

His angel groaned loudly, rolling his eyes. "You're like a dog with a bone. I swear." Amber eyes quickly met the amused hazel. "Yes, Sam-brarian. It was a sigil, and no I'm not teaching you it."

"But what if I need to lock in my room again?" he remarked with a casual shrug. He tried his best to ignore the scene his mind concocted for him with those words. He honestly had read waaaaay too much smutty fanfics lately. But maybe he'd borrow the handcuffs someday. For . . . research purposes.

"Make me a kickass nest with all your favorite clothes or sheets on your bed with some Netflix and a bowl of candy, and you won't need the sigil," Gabe quipped with a pointed look. "Or, you know, you can apply to my higher senses, heavenly being and all here, and ask me instead of forcing me."

He instantly felt a stab of guilt at that. His pint-sized angel had a point. They didn't need to take the nuclear option all the time. Not to mention he hadn't really thought that much on it before, but it was similar to kidnapping in some regards, forcing them to stay and submit. Not to mention disrespectful and treating them like they weren't beings. Well, those only really applied to their angels. He thought on this for a few moments, his curiosity getting the better of him. "So, angels really are similar to birds then?"

"Well, in some regards, sure," the heaven-sent being stated. "We molt. It takes a long time, but we do. We have awesome wings that allow us to fly. We can screech really loud—but we of course don't around you humans because that tends to go very badly. Your kind's so damn fragile," he remarked with a twisted grin. "We nest . . . sometimes. But we also have elements of human in us too. Dad probably used a bit of our design to make you. So, treating us, treating me, like I'm a stupid bird, well, Sa-stien, you're likely to get your ass kicked over it. Fair warning."

"Duly noted." The hunter then leaned forward, opening the basket to glance inside. If he kept up with his current drinking of his beer every two seconds to get rid of his dry mouth, he was going to end up being carried back by Gabe. The second he saw the so-called food Balthazar had packed for them, the deep giddy laughter exploded out of him. He full on belly laughed, his entire frame shaking. "Of course that jackass did," he declared through fits of laughter. Because of course Balthazar would.

"What?" Gabe suddenly moved towards the picnic basket as well and glanced inside. His lip twitched upwards immediately when he saw it, clearly fighting his own amusement. His hand reached in a moment later before he pulled out the long Saran-wrapped item near the bottom of the basket. His eyes twinkled mischievously as he met Sam's. "What do you say, my human lover? Want some of my extra-long sausage tonight?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively for the full effect.

Sam tried and failed to keep from snickering at the completely juvenile comment. "Gabriel!" He playfully shoved the man back, chuckling. "For the record, though, that doesn't impress me much," he stated with a wide grin, leaning back and lowering his voice. "I've seen . . ." his eyes glanced downwards suggestively "bigger."

The archangel's mouth dropped as he feigned shock. "Samuel! You take that back!" He used the sausage as a pointing device. "My sausage is—" His voice cracked again, and he soon joined Sam in loud, raucous chuckles. They doubled over, tears streaming down their eyes at the foolishness.

It was a good few minutes before the last of their giddiness vanished completely, and they were left resting beside one another. Sam watched Gabe's eyes drag reluctantly to his lips briefly before the angel slowly licked his. He smirked inwardly and then inched himself closer, watching the amber disappear into the black.

"Gabe?"

"Yeah, Sam?" His tongue darted out against, rewetting his lips for at least the third time so far that night. He was going to get chapped lips if he kept it up.

"What's your favorite kind of music?"

The angel snorted, rolling his eyes before he rolled onto his back to stare upwards at the sky.

"My favorite kind of music?" He brought his knees up so the backs of his sneakers were against his butt before he draped his left leg over his right knee lazily and kicked it with some silent song.

"Yeah." Sam propped himself up to stare at the heavenly being next to him. He could feel his insides knot and twist as he waited. It wasn't what he was originally going to ask, but he wasn't quite ready to ask that yet. "You know what mine is. So, it's only fair."

"Cheesy porno music. Nothing's better than a good ol' porn song. Bow chicka—"

Rolling his eyes, he glanced at Gabe. "I'm serious."

The archangel huffed at the interruption, glancing upwards. "Can't get anything past you, can I?" He then sighed loudly, uncrossing his legs and stretching out languidly. He was quiet for a few moments, his lips pursing as his eyes remained staring at the twinkling stars overhead. "Country. All right? I'm a sucker for old country." He gradually turned his head back to Sam. "There's a certain soul to it I enjoy."

He gave him a soft smile and nodded. From the songs he could remember John playing growing up, the few country there was in the tape deck, he had to agree that it had a definite spirit. "So, like, are we talking Merle Haggard here or Billy Ray Cyrus?"

Gabe instantly sat up with an outraged look. "Billy—what?!" he sputtered, shaking his head in utter indignation before he combed his fingers through his hair and turned away. "No, Sam. Just. No."

The hunter quickly crossed the mullet-haired artist off the list and bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. Well, if he ever needed to rile Gabe up, he had a way now. Who would have thought that would have been so insulting to the angel?

"Like Hank and the boys, Cash. Hell, songs like Coppertown Road and Devil Went to Georgia. Fancy even or— Billy Ray," the angel muttered with a grumble. "You're lucky I love you. Committing that disgusting blasphemy in front of me like that. If you were anyone else, I'd smite you for that."

"My apologies," drawled the taller man, catching the amber eyes. "It won't happen again." He watched Gabe turn his back to him, digging inside the basket again. The man's shoulders were hunched up again. His earlier easiness had been replaced by extreme defensiveness. "Gabe," he murmured, a few minutes later when Gabe didn't relax. He waited until the angel turned back to him in surprise. "I didn't know." He caught the immediate confusion before the amber eyes softened in recognition.

"I know that." The man waved his hand dismissively. "I'm not upset with you."

"Could have fooled me," he remarked with a pointed look.

The sandy-haired former Trickster huffed and shook his head. "There was no way you could have known I'd react like that." He then turned his attention back to the basket, rifling through it.

"And yet you still bit my head off like I committed some terrible sin." He watched Gabe pause for a moment before he continued with his search. "Gabriel?" He sat back up and reached for the angel's arm. "There's something else, isn't there?" His heart feel into his feet again.

The man groaned, yanking his arm back gently while hanging his head for a second before he turned back reluctantly. "You're too smart for your own good, I swear."

"What is it?" His insides twisted more in growing dread. His heart really couldn't take anymore.

"I keep getting this stupid wiggling thought up here," grumbled Gabe, tapping against his temple with a huffed sigh of irritation. "I thought suppressing my Grace would help us connect, let me focus more on us, but all it's doing is making me act like an idiot around you."

The hunter's lips twitched silently. Oh. "Welcome to first date jitters. They suck."

"That they do." He then sat back with no food and ran another hand through his light, wavy hair, messing it up with a groan. "I don't understand why I'm like this. I've never been like this before." His eyes slowly looked up again pitifully. "It's not like I'm suave or debonair by any means, but I got moves still. I can sweep whoever I want off their feet anytime I want." Sam smiled faintly but said nothing, finding Gabe's admission of first date jitters endearing. "But around you I'm as graceful as a baby penguin just out of its shell." He shook his head sullenly, his lower lip protruding slightly. "I'm an archangel for Dad's sake. I'm not supposed to get like this. I'm supposed to be calm under—"

He couldn't help himself any longer. He had to. Desperation took over. It was really all the angel's fault for looking so damn adorable and then doing that pout. Sam moved forward suddenly, his lips crashing against his angel's. The second he felt Gabe surrender, which really wasn't that long after, he felt his happiness skyrocket. Yes! Finally!

He tilted his head slightly to get better access then, snorting when their noses accidentally bumped against one another as they tried to take charge of their demanding kiss. They were both being stubborn with one another, not giving an inch to the other. He chuckled as he thought how this scene would have been best described as two alphas asserting their dominance if it was an A/B/O fic. And wasn't that the truth? A groan unexpectedly tore from his lips the second he felt Gabriel force them both down against the blanket, the angel's solid weight atop of him, pleasantly warm.

A second later, Gabe's hands went to the blue-and-red plaid, yanking it out from the jeans where they had been tucked in earlier. Once both were free, Sam having done the same to Gabe not long after, their hands slid under the other's respective shirt, exploring the hot flesh underneath. More muffled groans filled the clearing with an air of forbidden electricity building. They both grinded against one another, hissing their pleasure at the delightful friction it caused.

It was as if they had lost all rational thought. Which Sam supposed they had, but he honestly couldn't give a fuck about that right now. He groaned, arching his back when Gabe's fingers curled and dug into his biceps, drawing him even closer. It wasn't enough really. Nothing really would be. And that was terrifying and yet so utterly amazing to him. He shuddered against the heavenly being, hearing Gabe's low, reverent moan of his name so sinfully as Sam left a trail of kisses from the angel's lips to his jawline.

He may have originally been jittery, but he was obviously very much in his element right now.

The hunter sucked in a large gasp when he felt fingers quickly start to unbuckle his belt. He felt his arousal burst and explode inside in anticipation.

"Yes," he groaned into the side of his angel's throat, lapping at the man's flesh like it was a gourmet meal. "Please." He arched again, shuddering at the warmth that settled deep within his belly. His mind battled itself. He was defiling an angel . . . or was the angel defiling him? Oh, who honestly gave a fuck? And what a delightful fuck it was going to be. So fucking . . .

Trembling, his mind became overwhelmed by all his senses. It was as if someone had—had—

Warmth surrounded him, loved him. A pillow of absolute softness and unexplainable heat he had never felt before cocooned him. Each gasp drew in more of that rich earthy forest scent he identified as Gabe's, but there was also the hint of a fruity smell too along with a whiff of beer from earlier.

Sam's fingers gripped anything he could reach, mostly flesh with meaty muscle contracting and expanding deliciously underneath in reply. But then after a few more moments of practically rutting against the archangel, he felt it, the softness that had cocooned him earlier, enveloping him in its love and warmth. His mind fought against his hazy lust, desiring and pleading to see what he hoped it'd be.

At first, he saw nothing but darkness. No stars. No moon. No nebulas. No nothing. As if the night sky had been blotted out completely. But as his eyes adjusted, and he slowly felt himself come out of his lust for a fraction of a second, he started to see it. A beat later, he let out a stifled sob when he saw the beautiful iridescent golden wings stretched up and out proudly before they quickly hid them from prying eyes again. So much for suppressing his Grace for twelve hours, he thought with a smirk.

A series of violent crackles overhead caused the two to pause before Gabriel suddenly flew back from him, his wings quickly vanishing from sight again. He looked positively wrecked, panting loudly with his hair damp and sticking to his forehead in darkened clumps. His lips were plump, swollen, in an angry red. And his eyes glowed a pastel as his Grace flared with life. His head rolled back before he let out a low roar that grew, shaking the ground as more crackles raced across the charged air like fierce, destructive thunder during mid-summer Kansas thunderstorm.

The hunter felt something deep within react to his angel's cry. He inhaled deeply, feeling the raw power encircle them, soak into him. He wasn't scared, though, as he knew everything would be fine somehow. That all was well regardless of how it looked. As he felt more waves of energy penetrate him, he felt the current race through his body. He kept his eyes trained on Gabriel for as long as he could maintain before finally the spell broke. They both collapsed back onto the blanket, shuddering puddles.

His angel seemed to be the first to come back to himself, a tired chuckle slipping from his lips. "You're going to kill me one of these times I swear." He met the human's look and flashed his trademark smirk, albeit with extreme exhaustion etched into it. "But there are worse ways to go I suppose. I'm just going to have to be more careful now on."

"W-what was that?" he inquired, scooting himself closer as he needed them to be touching again.

"My Grace . . ." Gabe started to say in pants, still coming down from his high, "with your soul."

"Wow."

The heavenly being older than Creation itself chuckled and nodded tiredly, slotting their hands together before he gently squeezed their conjoined hands.

"Just wait until we actually hit that home run, slugger," purred the archangel, reaching his free hand up prior to brushing back Sam's hair tenderly. "Big Bang might get knocked down into a little bang." He smiled openly, completely content next to the hunter.

"Speaking of that," he snorted when he caught the amber eyes widen in mischief and intrigue, "you never did answer my question."

"Oh? Which one?"

Sam smirked, feeling a rare playfulness take over again. He squeezed their hands and rubbed the back of his thumb against his whiskey angel's hand. When he felt the responding squeeze back, he huffed a soft laugh. "Are you a top or a bottom?" He caught Gabe's immediately eyeroll.

"Make or break questions already? Really, Sam?" He shook his head. "I should've known."

"Gabriel," he chided. "I'm serious." He kept his smile light, but his eyes showed his slight concern. Not that it was really a big deal what the answer was considering, but he liked to have all the answers. Know what he was getting himself into in other words and make sure there were no surprises that would come back and bite them in the ass later. He was annoying like that according to his brother.

"Well, I am an archangel," the angel reminded before he shrugged lightly. "Sort of a requirement for all us to be alphas, you know?" His fingers lightly tapped against Sam's. "But it doesn't really—that's not really a thing for me honestly. It's the sex I enjoy. The joining of two to become one. The little sparks that result. The high that comes afterwards from a really good fuck." He tilted his head slightly in consideration. "It's like a good bar of rich extra sweet chocolate to me. I don't focus on the details like if there are nuts involved or what kinds. I just focus on if it makes me happy and if my partner is satisfied. But, you know, in all honesty really, my partners are usually an afterthought."

Sam chuckled quietly, shaking his head. "So, you're a selfish dick."

"Pretty much." Gabe shrugged lazily.

"Good to know." Least he knew where he stood in this relationship.

"That said," he regained Sam's attention instantly "you're actually the first one where I'm finding myself pausing and thinking about you before me. Not a lot, got to maintain that sexy endearing toxic trait of mine, but it's there."

"Oh, but of course," he drawled back with a dimpled smirk. "So, your answer is that you're a switch hitter then."

"My answer is that it doesn't matter to me, Sam," Gabe lightly corrected. "What about you?"

"Top. Definitely a top." He licked his lips as his eyes darted to the side to avoid the sharp gaze.

"Have you ever—"

"Yes."

Gabe whistled instantly before he forced a quiet, awkward laugh. "Not enjoyable I take it?"

The tall hunter winced and shrugged, recalling the one and only time he had ever tried to switch things up. He had really tried to get over his uneasiness and make it work. It just—it got weird really quick, and he couldn't. It had ended in him spending a few nights at a friend's house after they had fought about it stupidly, Jess thinking he was rejecting her instead of what really was going on. It had taken a few days before they managed to calm things back down again, returning to their vanilla lifestyle as she would tease sometimes. He still wasn't sure if she was bitter over it or not, as— His eyes quickly closed as he felt the metaphorical punch to his gut at the pain. He hadn't thought about her in years.

"Sam?"

Hazel eyes blinked back the sting and darted over to his angel.

"Whatever happened—"

"I just . . ." He huffed his frustration and sighed heavily. "Maybe because it was Jess and the whole misogynistic, testosterone-laced societal theory about how real men can't enjoy a dominant woman and switching roles in the bedroom or maybe because of something else entirely, but it just made me feel weird, so no I didn't enjoy it. And we didn't try it ever again." He left off the Because she died.

"Okay." The sandy-haired man shrugged lightly, starting to reach forward to comfort him likely before he stopped himself, thinking better of it, and let his free hand fall back to the blanket with a soft thud. "I don't know if it makes you feel any better, but, well, while we're sharing . . ."

Sam glanced at him, the creases deepening as his confusion grew.

"Everyone, and by everyone I mean my brothers, think the reason I don't want to be like Cas and choose to be human permanently is because I don't want to give up my awesome archangel power and all that nonsense. It's not that, though." His lips pursed in concentration as he likely considered his words carefully.

"What is it then?" The long-haired man felt a chill sweep over him when he caught the ghosts behind the rich amber. "Gabriel?" He moved closer, pushing himself up slightly to stare down at him. His voice was low, barely above a whisper.

"Asmodouche, he was one thing, you know, but he was a Prince of Hell, so his asshole ways were to be expected." He forced an uneasy smile. "I was conditioned to hate him from the very beginning. And the torture made it easy." His voice gave out again before he drew in a shaky breath.

Sam laid a hand on the man's forearm and squeezed his hand to give him all his strength.

"But, you see, it wasn't him that did the damage initially, though. It was home." He brushed back his hair with his free hand and groaned, his other hand squeezing Sam's briefly before he continued. "I sweep it under every rug I can, not wanting to bother dealing with it ever because it's not something we do. We're angels, emotionless dicks, weapons of terrible destruction for Dad to use so he doesn't get blood on his hands. No. We compartmentalize. We shove it into the deepest parts and slam the door shut. It's something I've done all my life, and something Roz would call me out on from time to time."

Sam could see that happening. She was rather feisty if they were honest. Not afraid to let her opinions be known to anyone regardless if they outranked her or not. She was strong, independent, fearless, and likely could kick anyone's ass if they pushed her far enough. Though, she likely had to be considering the other angels.

Patiently waiting, he examined his angel's face. He could see that the archangel clearly was plagued by his demons, needing to get this out. He'd let him have his time uninterrupted then. The soulful amber was so unfocused now, reserved with hints of sadness showing. He just barely held himself back from smoothing out the angel's frown lines, wishing he could make it better somehow.

The former Trickster's frown deepened before he sighed dejectedly. "Did you know when I'm dying the last image, the very last one, I see is of my little brothers?" He nodded jerkily when the hunter's eyes widened. "Yeah. I know. I see Cassie and Balthazar, though. Every single time." He glanced away heartbreakingly. "It used to be their true forms, but this last time, no these last times, it was them as little adorable hellion brats with fluffy wings and all." He forced a dark chuckle and huffed. "The first time I was on Death's porch ready for the big finish, I had gotten injured sparring with another angel. One of Luci's lackeys who probably gladly followed him down to Hell at some point. It could have been an accident, could have been on purpose, who knows?"

Sam's eyes narrowed as he listened. Lucifer's lackeys? Wouldn't that have been demons that he supposedly created? He pulled himself back from his thoughts when Gabe continued.

"Dad found me, though, and healed me with that look of disappointment he typically wore around me. He told me how even though I was initially sparring with a fellow brother in arms that I should never let my guard down. That it'd always end in pain for me. And how he hoped I learned my lesson. I scoffed him off, though, and went about my merry way."

If the hoodie-wearing, folk-loving dick was in front of him, the hunter would have shot him again. Maybe he'd have done it in both freaking arms this time. He would just ignore the fact that they no longer had that gun anymore. It was the thought that counted after all.

"The second time was right before skipping out on Heaven. One of the many reasons I left in fact." The light eyes glanced down before they closed all together. "I had heard his cries, felt how absolutely terrified he was, so I flew off to find Cas, to save him from whatever the hell was going on this time. Mikey eventually found out what I was doing and kept telling me to ignore it while I checked the rooms one by one. That everything was fine. It was just Naomi helping Cas with something that Dad had asked her to do. To make him a better angel."

Naomi? He didn't know much about her, but he knew enough to know she was bad news. She had threatened Bobby's soul, after all, and whenever she was mentioned around Cas and Dean, they'd both flinch in response. None of that were good signs.

"Luci—oh the irony—was the one who told me what they were doing . . . and I . . ." The older being inhaled shakily as the memories likely assaulted him. Sam fell back against the blanket, his back hitting it silently, and instantly pulled him closer until the angel's head was on his chest and their arms were hugging one another. He was thankful that Gabe didn't even attempt to fight his offer of comfort this time. "I don't know what the hell I thought I was doing really, but I busted in there all Kill Bill. You'd have thought I was damn Uma, ready for the big, epic boss fight." He huffed a choked laugh, a slight tremble in his frame as he clutched the plaid.

Sam gently rubbed circles against the smaller man's back, ignoring the slight ache that was already starting from their position. He wished he could take the pain the angel felt, but just holding him would have to do for now.

"I barged in there and asked Naomi what the hell she thought she was doing, and she fed me the same bullshit. That Dad had asked her to fix Cas." His voice turned into angry snarls of contempt. Waves of raw energy crackled around them before it lessened again. "I yanked him out of that fucking white room horror show of hers as quickly as I could, using my Grace to patch him up. And when I realized it wasn't working, that he wasn't healing, I went to Dad and pleaded with him." His voice hitched slightly, and his small frame sank further into Sam's. He held the hunter tightly, as if afraid he'd be left alone with his thoughts. "He snapped his fingers, and it was like Cas had never been in that room. Do you know what the little brat did then? He got pissy with me—with me, Sam—for fussing over him and stormed out. Accused me of hovering over him." The older heavenly brother scoffed bitterly. "Damn right I hover. And I'd do it time and time again too if it meant keeping him fucking safe."

Sam smiled wistfully, recalling Dean saying something similar about him once.

"Dad, though—he looked me straight in the face and said he'd make sure Naomi knew Castiel would be off limits from now on. Lied and said he had never asked her to speak with Cas, let alone mess with his mind as she had. And I, the dumbass I am, believed him. I fucking believed him. So, when I left, abandoned them for good, barked at Balthazar to take care of Cas, I never once thought . . ."

At hearing the angel's voice cut out unexpectedly, he twisted his arm slightly to reach and carded his fingers through Gabe's hair gently, doing his best to will away the angel's regret and guilt. "I'm sure he doesn't blame you."

"No, I'm sure the dumbass doesn't," remarked the angelic older brother dryly, his head moving suddenly to bury further into Sam's chest. "But I blame myself," he mumbled quietly.

"Gabe—"

The angel had none of it, though, and cut him off, pulling back sharply and narrowly hitting Sam in the jaw with his head. "Everyone thought I went on a mission down to Earth per Dad's orders when I skipped out. Everyone. Hell, I bet Cassie and Balthazar still think it. Do you know what it really was?" His eyes darkened briefly before he buried his head again, clearly trying to escape the truth. His words were muffled into the plaid. "I ran to the exact place Dad had once told me about in one of our silly father-son bonding times, thinking it would be the perfect place to hide out for eternity. Five seconds later, though, I found myself trapped there thanks to a binding sigil etched into the ground and got a blade to my back for good measure. I didn't even see the coward, let alone hear them. I lay there in the dirt, face down, Grace pooling around me. And there they were, my little bros, mirages watching me die. After I walked out and left them like the stupid, selfish jackass I am." The angel shook his head against him, his forehead digging in, and shuddered an angry, guilt-ridden, choking sob. "And you know what? That time, I closed my eyes and welcomed Death with open arms. I deserved it for abandoning them."

"Oh, Gabriel," murmured the younger, closing his eyes at the pain he heard in his angel's voice.

"Only I woke up two days later in that same cave to a man stumbling in clutching his abdomen as he held his insides together. It was the weirdest damn thing. Here's this man who showed up out of the blue not long after I woke up, dying and I could sense it even in my weakened state. He had a goodness about him, his soul pure, just in terrible pain. I spoke to him then, revealed myself to him. I was trying to make sense of everything. How I could still be alive. How he had come into my cave of all places and found me. And the man, thinking he was delirious from blood loss, told me his story. How his entire family had been slaughtered by some Roman general because he had the audacity to fall in love with the man's son. I honestly don't remember. It's been eons since then, so I'm bound to forget."

Sam's eyes widened as he realized what Gabe was saying.

"Is that how you got this vessel?" he asked, his mind racing as he tried to commit it to memory. The history alone of what the archangel was revealing was . . . The same vessel used since Roman era.

"Yes." Gabe slowly tilted his head upwards to meet his eyes as the hunter lowered his. "I promised I'd avenge his family if he gave me permission. And he did." The amber eyes soon were hidden again. His arms, though, slowly snaked their way around Sam's neck. It was a good few minutes before he continued. "And I kept my word. I didn't prolong their suffering. I didn't torture them. I didn't draw it out. The second I found them all huddled ready to raid yet another village, I smote all but the general. For him, I ran my blade clean through his heart without a word. I made sure he and my vessel saw one another, and then I turned tail and snapped us out of there. Met Loki a few days later and begged him to hide me, assuming his identity, and you know the rest."

The hunter's mind processed this information, his thoughts rattling off with so many options. Had he read anything close to this, any lore over the years, any history he could recall from the Roman era? Nothing was an exact fit unfortunately he decided after a few more moments. He'd have to search for it later. Not for himself, but to tell Gabe about the town he had inadvertently saved from a bloody end when so many others hadn't. Maybe it'd cheer the angel up to see the good in his actions.

The man inhaled deeply before he trembled against the taller, shaggy-haired Winchester again. His emotions were clearly overwhelming him again, so Sam gently rubbed more circles against his back and murmured platitudes he wasn't even certain would be at all comforting to the angel. But he assumed Gabe would understand the old 'It's the thought that counts' adage. When he heard the quiet hitch of breath, he pulled him even closer, half of the angel atop of him now, closing his eyes as he felt his heart clench at the heartbreaking sound. He slowly brought up a hand and ran his fingers lightly through the feathery golden locks.

"He was too weak, though," Gabriel whispered, sniffling softly as he pulled back to wipe away the tears, his arms gripping Sam's bicep tightly, "and my Grace couldn't heal him quick enough." His smaller frame trembled horribly, causing Sam to readjust their embrace somewhat. The sandy-haired man immediately buried himself even further into the hunter, who did his best to oblige, gently resting his chin atop of the heartbroken angel's head. "I still don't have all the answers, but once they were all dead, he went silent" a slight hitch in his voice followed a hiccup and a muffled cry "and then he was gone." More tears soaked through Sam's shirt. "And I was alone again until Loki."

"You kept your word to him," quietly pointed out the six-foot-four, shaggy-haired Winchester who continued rubbing his angel's back lovingly.

"Doesn't matter," he argued back petulantly.

"I think it does," Sam softly stated before he lowered his chin slightly and kissed the top of his angel's head with a reflective sigh. "You showed him you were an honorable man, Gabe. That you kept your promises. And that you were merciful. I mean, you let him see the man who killed his family die."

"So?"

"You gave him a little peace back. Something to hold onto in his grief."

"But I know how that ends," he scoffed, pulling back from the hunter completely. "It leaves you empty, Sam. It leaves you—"

"What happened to you," the hunter stated fiercely, bending down to meet Gabe's gaze "was horrendous." When the angel turned his head to look away, the taller man gently snaked his hand up and grabbed the smaller man's face to turn him back. "I mean, Lucifer may have torn me down emotionally numerous times in the Cage, annoyed the crap out of me, but he didn't do half the shit Asmodeus did to you I'd imagine. I won't even begin to try to guess at all that you went through. You'll tell me when you're ready, whenever that is. But look at it like I am. Your vessel, whoever he was, knew you were good, Gabe. Just as I do."

The archangel sighed in exasperation, shaking his head, clearly not believing the declaration.

"I know you don't want to believe that. I know you think you're to blame for all that happened with him. But you said it yourself. He came to you already hurt, likely already dying, and knowing it."

"Right, and I took advantage—"

"No you didn't. You may do some pretty shitty stuff sometimes, but you ultimately do it to teach assholes painful lessons. And you always stand up for people who otherwise wouldn't have a voice." He frowned faintly before he brushed back a few stray strands of the archangel's wavy golden locks, his hand eventually cupping the man's cheek tenderly. He could see the regret and guilt eating inside his angel. "You need to forgive yourself. You didn't kill him. You gave him peace instead." He shook his head when Gabriel opened his mouth to argue. "And that's—hell, that's what I love about you." The heavenly being paused and stared at him in surprise. "You have a way of letting others know that they matter, that they're loved, that no matter what they did—you'll forgive them. And you passed that down onto your brothers. Onto your sister. You may not have been around for as long as you wished, but you did leave a lasting impression on them that they all carry with them and exhibit frequently."

"Sam—"

"No. Okay. I know what you're going to say. How you think that you were to blame. You're not, though. Gabriel, you gave that man back a sliver of peace. You showed him mercy and the same for the others. The rest of your family rarely ever does."

"That doesn't—"

"You're right. I could be entirely wrong about this. However, you said he went quiet after you killed them and then left, presumably to Heaven. He didn't have a reason left to be down here after their deaths. He had finished the last thing he wanted to do, thanks to you. So, when it was over, he let go." Sam's hand slid to Gabriel's shoulder. "His last act was to give his body completely to you to use however you wished as his soul moved on."

"Yeah, and look what I've done with it."

"I am," Sam replied flatly. "You helped Dean and me figure out the missing piece to prevent the Apocalypse. We wouldn't have known about the rings without your Casa Erotica DVD. You told us how to trap your brother. You even fought him for us and humanity. Several times in fact. You tried and tried to get Lucifer to listen to you, even in the alternate world to get over himself and his ego, to see what you see in us, to get the brother you loved back. You've taken your nephew under your wings and accepted him, no questions asked. You helped us fight an alternate version of Michael, again sacrificing yourself for us. Gabe, I mean," the hunter laughed rather astonished "you're practically fucking Iron Man." He shrugged his broad shoulders with another scoff. "Don't ever discredit all the good you've done because of the bad acts." He could see that the gears were already turning and decided to throw it all out there. "When you look at me, do you see me as a good man, Gabriel?"

"Of course," instantly answered the angel with not a second of hesitation.

"Even though I used to drink demon blood?" He didn't wait for the answer. "Even though I spiraled out of control after Dean and the whole Crowley and Mark of Cain crap?" He was impressed when he noticed that the man didn't even react to his confessions. "Or how about when I told Dean we should just leave Cas in Amara's hands so she could continue torturing him and Lucifer? That he had made his choice. What about then?" He caught the amber widen a fraction before they returned to forced neutrality. "I can go on. I've done a lot of messed up things in my life. Like, hell, I used your nephew like he was a tool for months after Cas was dead, like he didn't matter, because I just wanted to get my mom back. Jack would be collateral damage, and I didn't care. Not at first at least. Because all I could see was Lucifer in him, and a means to an end." He leaned forward, forcing their eyes to meet. "What about then? Still see me as a good man?" When the amber eyes slipped away from his, Sam felt his heart drop into his gut. Yeah. That was what he thought. Damn, they had gone heavy on this date.

"We're not black and white."

"We're not," Sam agreed, hoping the archangel understood that went for his feathery ass too.

Gabriel forced a quiet, dark laugh before he shook his head. "Well, I'll be damned."

Hazel eyes darted to him. What?

"You really see through me, don't you, Samshine? See through all my masks down to the very last." He closed his eyes briefly, resting his head against the man's shoulders. "You're one of four, I think, who can. Dad cheats, you know, with the whole being omniscient thing, so he doesn't count, but the other four." He slumped against him and sighed quietly. "That Rogers fellow—the cardigan guy with the puppets—he read me like a book the second I snuck into his heaven. Did you know?"

Sam willed himself somehow not to react, only tensing for a millisecond at hearing Gabe's mentioning of Mister Rogers. He'd freely admit ever since hearing that revelation of Gabriel meeting the children's tv host, he was fixated on it, curious about how that meeting had gone, wishing he could ask but not wanting to push the angel over it either. It was private between them. He understood that having gone through his own form of Mister Rogers's therapy session a while back in the Impala.

The shaggy-haired hunter may have only caught a few episodes here and there over the years, but he knew enough to know a meeting between those two would have been fascinating. Gabriel, a multi-dimensional wavelength of celestial energy, who constantly hid his pain behind humor, and Mister Rogers who likely saw through that and gotten the archangel to break down his walls if only for a moment with some gentle, understanding comment. He held his angel a bit tighter, waiting patiently for Gabriel to work out the words.

"Do you know what his first words to me were?" Sam shook his head silently. "Who hurt you, Angel?" Amber eyes fluttered closed for a second, his shoulders sagging somberly. Without a doubt, Sam assumed that if he could see the beautiful golden wings that faded into deep blue in the light again, they too would have been drooping in despair. He pressed a simple kiss to his angel's forehead, offering him a kind smile when the deep soulful whiskey opened in surprise and stared at him. A second later, Gabriel inhaled sharply, as if given life again by that simple act, and continued, his voice steadier than before. "I spilled it all to him like the chocolate fountain at Golden Corral. Because I want—" He instantly stopped and skipped ahead then, nearly giving Sam whiplash from the drastic turn. "I couldn't stay away from you. I couldn't interfere with your story. I knew that. And yet . . . I couldn't just not be around you either. I longed for you, craved to be near you. I knew Cassie had visited the guy, so I thought why the hell not. If he could help my little brother deal with his longing and not go insane, maybe he could help me too. Because you couldn't be mine. I couldn't ever get that lucky."

Sam was quiet for a moment as he processed this. It couldn't have been after the Elysian fiasco since he knew all about the painful saga of horrors the archangel suffered at the hands of a Prince of Hell. So, it was clearly before then. Finally, after a few more seconds of silence, he relented and asked.

"When did you talk to him?"

Gabe shrugged lazily before he snuggled back into Sam's chest. "Not long after you and Dean released me from that Ring of Fire you trapped me inside. Our whole epic revelation. 'They call me Gabriel." His fingers slowly started to trace something against Sam's chest. "You two made me think. And your whole alpha routine you did, taking charge and all, I was lost, tempted to spill my guts and tell you everything you needed, throw my allegiance, my blade, and loyalty behind you entirely, Sam, right then and there for good." He huffed a cold laugh. "Fuck Dad and his tragic story bullshit."

"Did it help?"

"Eh," he replied with an obvious grimace that Sam couldn't see from the angle the angel was at. "Sort of." He pulled back slightly then and glanced upwards again. "He kept trying to get me to deal with my whole family drama. Stating I needed to deal with that pain and learn to love myself first—you know, typical childhood trauma rehab just the angelic version of it."

"Did you?"

Rich amber eyes flicked down to him with a frown. "What do you think?"

"I think it's 50-50 at this point," he replied with a ghostly smile.

The angel huffed, rolling his eyes, and then let his full weight crash back down atop of the hunter's. His fingers returned to their silent wandering, tracing Enochian against him Sam recognized.

Hazel eyes looked up at the night sky soon after, allowing the silence to settle around them. These moments were theirs. When they both could be themselves and not have a damn care in the world about anything but each other. He could feel himself relax as he enjoyed these rare times.

And to think they both had been nervous about this for some reason. A smile quirked his lips up more and lightened his eyes in amusement. They had gone from nervous to adorable to sex-crazed to heavy emotional trauma to this. They clearly had no idea how a first date should go. And, yet, he couldn't help but smile at it, knowing they were doing it their way. That it made it more real this way.

They had learned so much about one another. Who would have known that Gabriel didn't trust himself around him? Or that he saw his brothers whenever he died or nearly died? That it and all the emotional baggage he'd suffer over the years were the reason why he refused the alluring siren's call to humanity? That he'd had a history with Naomi and all of the stuff with Chuck? Or, hell, what it felt like to have Grace mix with his soul and how overwhelmingly powerful that was.

After a few more minutes of silence, he felt the smaller man start to wiggle slightly in his arms and bit back his laugh. Now what?

"Gabe?"

"Yeah?" was the whispered, guilty-sounding reply.

He felt more wiggling against him and nearly groaned when the angel's leg accidently rubbed hard against his groin in an attempt to get more comfortable. They were going to kill each other if they kept that up. He lowered his head again to glance down at the angel.

"You good now or are you going to torture me some more with your squirming?" quipped the hunter with a raised brow, catching the deep amber widening before the impishness awakened. He grunted when Gabe suddenly rolled completely atop of him, straddling him with a predatory smirk.

"Now I'm good."

He chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Of course you are." He bit the inside of his cheek when Gabe leaned forward once more, feeling a fresh surge of arousal at the firm contact directly over his rapidly swelling dick. He caught the ass's grin and glared back. "You realize I could do the same, right? That without your Grace to rely on and suppressing it like you are, I could turn you into a sobbing depowered archangel puddle." He kept his tone light, but his eyes gave the clear warning that he wasn't messing around. He absolutely would give that dick back the same goddamn treatment if given the chance.

"Oh, really?" purred Gabe, his hips languidly rocking sensually against his erection soon after.

Sam threw his head back with a shuddered gasp as the sensation sent more waves throughout him. His hips jerked upwards, instinctively chasing the warmth and pleasure the angel was providing. He heard the deep rumbles of chuckles above him and felt his annoyance rise minutely. His hands quickly found Gabe's lower back, and he used every bit of strength he could find to roll them over. It took two attempts as the first only got them to roll onto their sides unfortunately, but eventually he had the Archangel Fucking Gabriel right where he wanted him—underneath him.

"You're a little shit," he huffed, glancing down at the sandy-haired man who was staring up with a slackened jaw. He quickly pulled his shirt off and threw it frustratedly down beside them before he leaned forward, dragging his pelvis firmly against the angel's in the most agonizing way he could muster. When he caught Gabe's head thrown back and heard the loud, lust-filled groan from the angel, he seized the moment. His tongue instantly plunged into the smaller man's opened mouth, seeking out all of the delicious heat and taking everything he could get from him. Gabe's fingers quickly grabbed hold of him, his nails raking down his back in response. He then pulled back sharply, entirely pleased when he heard the immediate grumpy growl of frustration. "I warned you. I fucking" he slid his clothed erection languidly against the angel "warned you, asshole."

"Yes, yes, whatever," growled Gabriel, his hands falling to cup Sam's ass through his jeans. "You warned me. Now, let's get to the— SAM!" His cry tore out of his throat with a roar, a bit of his True Voice slipping out and causing the ground to shake for half a second. His control was slipping.

The hunter smirked down at his prey in response. "What's the matter, Gabe?" he asked, adopting the man's usual smartass manner. He chuckled when he caught the fierce glower. "Not a fan of me beating you at your own game?"

"No. Actually, I'm loving it," he admitted thickly, "but if you keep this up, I'm going to lose what little control I have left and things are not going to go well for us. So, please, Sam," he begged, shaking underneath the hunter. "Please."

"Please what?" He raised a brow and tilted his head to the left as he glanced down at his angel, pressing more of his weight atop of him and grabbing his arms to pin down to the blanket. He felt Gabe's immediate response and chuckled. Could it be . . .? "Answer me," he stated coldly, his voice dropping several octaves into a low growl that demanded obedience. At the feel of swelling hardness against him, he drew in a slow breath, willing himself to remain in control of the scene. But, damn, it felt so perfectly delicious.

"Please," whined the heavenly being, his hips raising to seek out Sam's warmth but not finding it as the hunter lifted himself up off each time.

At the sound of crackling energy overhead, the hunter finally relented. The last thing they needed was for Gabriel to lose complete control.

"Fine." He then released him and moved to roll off. He paused when the hand latched onto his forearm soon after. "Gabe?"

"I didn't ask you to stop, my beautiful, sexy, soulful lover."

"I know, but you also said earlier that you're not going to put out on the first date. And I respect and care for you too much to take advantage of you." He tossed those words back with a grin.

Gabriel scowled, his hands suddenly coming up and yanking Sam back down to him. "I fucking lied. Now, stop dicking around and mount me."

"Mount you?" Sam repeated with an incredulous laugh.

"Fuck me. Do me dirty. Make me scream your name so our brothers hear it. So all of my goddamn siblings hear our lovemaking. So Dad can hear it! Take everything I am and will be and—"

The human's hand quickly covered his angel's mouth, his eyes shining brightly under the soft moonlight. He stared down at him lovingly.

"You have a positively dirty mouth for being from Heaven." He shook his head at the amber orbs rolling hard. "Plus, aren't you like Ken dolls down there anyway?" he joked, knowing full well that Gabe was nothing like a Ken doll in terms of male anatomy. Or at the very least his vessel wasn't, considering how painfully hard the man was currently. He then let his hand slowly fall to the side so the fierce archangel who was trembling below him could speak.

"Sam." His eyes flashed with sparks of Grace, his control clearly slipping more.

"Gabriel," he purred back, his pupils contracting as the heavy scent of woods invaded.

"Fuck. Me. Now!"

His index finger went to his lips in obvious deep thought as he stared down with a sinister grin. "No. I don't think I will." He then leaned back, putting all his weight on Gabe's thighs. He motioned all around them. "Not really a huge fan of public sex, especially out here in a clearing where anyone could come across us." More energy ripped across the sky, crackling violently as the waves of raw power slipped from Gabe's quickly waning control. "But . . ."

"But! But what?!" snapped the youngest archangel, his last shred of patience destroyed.

"Your Grace is rebelling against you."

A fierce bitchface rivaling his scowled back. "Don't worry about that. I've got it handled."

"It's longing for my soul, Gabriel," he pointed out, knowing he was torturing him.

"Again, I'm aware," grumbled the angel glaring mildly. "And I'm handling it. Now, will you hurry up before my hours are up?"

"End it."

The soulful amber eyes blinked in surprise. "What?"

"End whatever it is you're doing, Gabe," he stated calmly. His finger pressed lightly against the angel's lips then to silence him when it was obvious that the man was going to argue. "If we're going to be together, then I want all of you. That's the deal."

"Sam—" he muffled against his finger before the hunter removed it.

"You didn't suppress it with Kali or Rowena or probably any of the others you've been with."

"Of course I didn't," huffed the archangel. "Because I didn't need to. I didn't love them, Sam."

"Exactly. And you know what's so great about love?" He smiled down at him. "Trusting one another. Trusting your love." He then shrugged. "Because let's face it. If we had sex right now, you'd be distracted, focused entirely on holding back your power, out of this so-called sense of protectiveness you have. But I think we proved earlier that you won't hurt me." He snorted when the angel opened his mouth. He rattled his evidence off in rapid succession, pleading his case. "I heard your True Voice. I saw your wings. I've even seen flashes of your True Form. We had angel sex . . . or whatever that Grace-Soul thing was earlier. I think I can handle it, Gabriel. After all, I am a strong vessel."

His angel glowered before he sighed exasperatedly, conceding. "Fine."

"Thank you." Sam then leaned forward and kissed him gently. He slowly eased their kiss into a deep, languid exploration, seeking every inch once again. His fingers lightly scrapped against the angel's scalp, resulting in a low, needy growl from the celestial being. He then paused and pulled back, chuckling at Gabe's grumbling growl of annoyance. So needy. "Let's take this to my room, shall we?"

"No." The archangel then heaved a heavy sigh and whined a desperate moan, clearly wishing they were still kissing and not talking. "I'm an archangel in love with you, Sam-of-my-dreams. Fooling around with Red in the library was one thing, but you and me—your brother would never forgive me for blowing out Baby's headlights and all the other bulbs in the bunker for that matter."

Well, when he put it like that . . .

"Sandals Turks and Caicos then?" Sam suggested with a lopsided grin.

Gabriel chuckled in response, his eyes lighting up in absolute delight. "No. Not good enough for my beautiful Samshine I'm afraid," he remarked smirking. "But don't worry. I know just the spot."

Sam pointed at him, not liking that smirk one bit. "We're not going to a sex dungeon or strip club or brothel or wherever else your sex-fueled mind is scheming up. No."

Gabe's bottom lip protruded out again. "You never let me have any fun," he groused before the wide cheeky grin returned. "Don't worry, Sam-ilicious. I would never share you. You're all mine."

"Good." They were dorks but he loved it. "Go on then and snap your fingers."

"So bossy." He licked his lips slowly, clearly undressing the hunter in his mind. "I like."

"Gabriel," he warned, glaring down at the bratty archangel.

"Got it. Commencing Final Operation Moose-nap now." With a snap of his fingers, they were gone from the clearing and into one of the many pocket universes where no lightbulbs would be harmed.

---

A/N: So, I know we didn't answer the "What's up with Cas this time?", "Redirected prayers", and "Chuck's Meddling". All three are answered in the next fic I'm currently working on entitled, "Here Comes the Reaper." It's going to be fluffy, angsty, and our fav couples will be back so... maybe some smut... maybe. Depends on my fic bunnies. They got rather close this time, but decided to tease more than anything. :) So, to hold you over, enjoy the below teaser that features... Uncle Balthy and Jack. :)

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"What?" he grumped, mildly glaring back.

"I'm glad you're here," Jack declared, beaming at him.

"That makes one of us," he grumbled, walking back towards the table.

"Dad's happy you're here too. He missed you."

Balthazar snorted loudly, rolling his eyes. The brat was worse at telling lies than his brother was. "When? In between his lusting after Dean? I sincerely doubt that."

"Please," Jack pleaded, giving him the somber puppy dog eyes Balthazar loathed the most.

"Fine. You win." He then jerked his head at the kid. "Don't you need to be doing hunting things anyway? Shooting paper while you pretend its people? Sticking your nose in ancient books on ways to kill Moth Men? That sort of thing?"

"No." The Nephilim shrugged. "Plus, I like spending time with you."

Grey eyes instantly darted upwards, cursing his father to the Hell. At least Dean and Castiel had quieted down in his head thankfully. Heaving a heavy sigh, he leaned towards the child and briefly embraced him, patting the top of his head awkwardly.

"And I you, brat," he quietly stated before he pulled back.