Chapter Ten

Gabriel was ruthless. There was no other word for it. Dean was more than surprised since he almost forgot how cold and distant the angel was towards him at first. He was also rather tolerant and curious of humans whenever they were among them, but there was a shift when he locked his eyes on someone who struck him as a "sinner". Dean never actively went out of his way to find someone who needed to be punished, he intervened of course when he stumbled upon some bloody bastard, but Gabriel was absolutely focused the second he had a task at hand. It seemed like having a goal he was familiar with put him at ease, he looked comfortable in his skin again.

Of course he was doing it all wrong. He was able to do practically anything he wanted even with his powers limited, but he never actually thought for a second that he could do something else than just simply smiting someone. Dean admitted that when he made one of the bandits they stumbled upon explode with a snap of his fingers was actually pretty funny, but only because of the mortified faces of the other brigands. Gabriel was righteous and straightforward… everything that a trickster was not. Dean was lost for days thinking about what he could do to get him on the right track. He opted for telling Gabriel what to do instead of letting him decide temporarily because the angel had not an ounce of creativity in him and he didn't understand why he had to make things complicated when they could be settled in a very simple way.

'It's not a mission' Dean told him one evening after they arrived to their second town. Dean planned to circle the mountains in the next few weeks. For humans it would've taken a lot longer to do that but him and Gabriel didn't have to take the human road, deep cliffs and wide rivers were not a problem. They didn't have to take the longer path to find bridges and passages. 'These things are… the desserts in life. You live your life; enjoy it and when you see that some bloody sullied fathead is having a good time on their high horse you shove them down to the dirt and enjoy that you gave them what they deserved' he explained. 'You don't just go from one bastard to another and smite them in righteous fury. You don't want to be a god of justice, remember? For tricksters intervening in human affairs is more like… a pastime and not a duty.'

Gabriel regarded him with an unreadable expression then he took a sip from his goblet of wine while he glanced away seemingly thinking about the god's words. Dean realized a day before that the angel liked wine more than beer, but it was sweeter so he was not surprised about it.

'I'm not sure I completely understand the concept' he said finally and Dean sighed. Gabriel learnt new things so easily, but when he had to change something he already knew in his own way it was hard to make him grasp the small differences. He understood the end result he wanted to achieve and knew and accepted what was needed to be done to reach that point; he absolutely failed to see why the road leading to that point mattered. If two things lead to the same outcome he didn't see the difference between them at all.

'You are way too focused on this' Dean told him after a swig from his beer. 'There is no need to try this hard, if it's something you want to do this way fine, but walking around like the wrath of your God smiting the unrighteous is not going along with your disguise very well.'

Gabriel actually sighed and emptied his goblet in one go, Dean could see he was annoyed.

'I'm not good at doing nothing. I need a purpose' he said. 'So I will keep doing what I'm good at.'

'That's bleedin' deadly scamp, but there's a delicate way to do this. You're striking down like a thunderstorm' which was most definitely the only way Gabriel had to ever settle things, by sheer power. It was almost terrifying that he could do that. Even the great gods had to use their wits and be careful with one another if they wanted to live, but Gabriel was not someone who ever stepped aside an obstacle he simply destroyed them at will. On the other hand he did mention raising chaos among the Giants, Dean only heard stories about them.

'You said you turned the Giants against each other, why?' he asked.

'Because my Father commanded me to bring them forth and excite them against one another and to let them perish under mutual slaughter' Gabriel answered.

'And why did you have to do that instead of just burning them to dust?' he asked then.

'I did not question my Father just did what I was told' the angel replied.

'Was there ever a case when you had to do that again? Punish someone in a… unusual way instead of striking down with all your power?'

'Yes.'

'I'm going to make an assumption here and say that your Father had very good reasons to give you the exact way of how those things needed to be done.'

'What point are you trying to make?' Gabriel asked.

'That from what I heard about the Giants making them fight each other to the death served them just right' the demigod said. 'If simply killing them would've been the same than your Father would not have told you to make them fight.'

Gabriel considered his words with a serious expression and Dean refilled his goblet while he was lost in his thoughts. The angel hated talking about his brothers, after that one night when he told Dean the reason he left and had to hide on Earth he refused to speak a word of them again and looked positively willing to shed blood if Dean dared to bring any of them up. He didn't get angry like this if it was his Father the demigod talked about.

'It was probably the most appropriate punishment for their sins' the angel concluded.

'You could follow that route' Dean offered.

'Meaning?' Gabriel asked.

'Don't just smite them. Figure out the appropriate punishment. I heard the Giants were violent and cruel to humans, your Father made you turn their wrath against one another.'

'Let the punishment fit the sin' Gabriel finished. 'I never thought about Father's orders that way' he added with a frown.

'There's a first time for everything' Dean chuckled. 'And I'm happy to inform you that you do seem to have a good functioning mind behind that cute face of yours, so it shouldn't be too hard for you to live up to this challenge.' Gabriel's frown morphed into an expression that signaled deep but intrigued consideration.

'Of course I can' he answered confidently after a few moments passed.

'We'll see about that' Dean said maybe a tiny bit skeptically. 'But not now, I'm gonna enjoy a nice meal, good beer and enjoy some much needed company after.'

Gabriel frowned at him again of course.

'As in get some bar wench or some other sweet bird in a bed and and have my way with them' he explained. It took Gabriel a moment to get the exact meaning even if Dean was rather literal about it.

'Oh... I see' he said simply and went back to his wine. Dean regarded him with a searching look on his face.

'It would do you a mountain of good if you did the same' he told him. Gabriel just looked back at him dispassionately.

'I am not interested in such things' he said and Dean snorted.

'Away with you, just like you were not interested in wine either, or for that caramel covered hazels you like so much for that matter' because he sure knew that the angel was talking a load of bullcrap, he always said that he was not interested or that he had no need of something when he didn't know what said thing was like in the first place. Gabriel looked at him sharply after his words, which just proved that he was right. His lips curled into a smile as he opened his mouth to point it out.

'Not another word Dean' Gabriel warned him, which just made the demigods smile widen. The angel mostly got angry when he was defensive, annoyed or uncertain.

'You never even lay with a woman before, right?' he asked.

'Nor do I intend to' Gabriel told him sternly.

'Then you don't know what you're missing' the demigod answered.

'I sank low enough already without indulging in such futile acts like animals do' the angel snapped at him and Dean felt as blood rushed into his ears as anger spread through his body.

'If you're so high and holy you should be not sitting with an animal like me then' he said slowly in a low tone. He was not stupid to lash out in his anger bodily but he would not be insulted and stay silent. 'If it's such a bloody pain to sink down to my level than you can just flap your wings and get out of here you arrogant prick.'

'Watch your tone with me Deandalon' Gabriel said. 'I was not-'

'I will not watch my tone' the demigod answered sternly and he had to let go of his jug not to shatter it with his hand, but he did see from the corner of his eye that shadows were gathering in the corner behind him in his anger. 'My help you accept, demand it from me, but if you think that I will stand you treating me like I'm just scum for your self-righteous arse than you are very much mistaken. You are not better than me and unless you stop acting like you are... we are done.'

He was not surprised to feel the electric power of the archangel on his skin, it was different, it felt darker like the edge of a storm and not a spark of the sun. Gabriel's eyes were almost gold as he locked his gaze on Dean's face but the demigod didn't back off and kept his green eyes on him in return. There were only a few humans around them but they would soon notice their presence like this. Dean felt as the symbols marking his skin reacted to his anger he knew that they would look almost black if he looked on them. Gabriel's face hardened to sharp lines, his lips thin and his golden eyes stormy. He was undoubtedly the most powerful being Dean felt the power of and it made his heart beat vehemently in his chest as his skin prickled with the charged air around them. His every instinct screamed at him to back off, to bow down but he didn't listen to them just to the flaming anger burning under his skin.

Then Gabriel disappeared in a blink, Dean only caught the sound of wings as harsh cold wind roused up inside making most torches and candles die out and the humans to snap their heads up in alarm. None of them were staring at Dean so they did not notice that a moment ago there were two of them sitting in the dark corner and not just him. Dean let out a long breath as tension slipped out of his body, the barmaid was lighting up the candles and torches again and Dean knew his own shadows vanished as well.

'Was nice knowing you' Dean murmured into his jug of beer. 'Bloody bastard.'

x~x~x

Dean had a shitty night after Gabriel left, unsurprisingly. He drank his beer and ate his food but was too angry to charm the barmaid or someone else. He was just glad that they didn't go too far so that his trip back to the valley wouldn't be that long. He wasted way too much time with the bloody angel anyway. Sure there were at least a hundred reasons why such a powerful ally would've been the best thing that ever happened to him and everyone else in the valley but that didn't mean he had to swallow down an insult like that. He had to duck his head and smile at harsh words like that just too many times and he would be damned if he let it go for someone who was asking for his help. That arrogant, muddle-headed, annoying prick. He can try and stay hidden on his own, his brothers will drag his arse back to Heaven so fast that he won't even know what hit him, that was sure. Serves him right.

'Dean.'

'Bloody-' he spinned to the side and managed to stop cursing but he couldn't hide that he was startled. How did he just appear right next to him without Dean noticing? Bastard. 'Get lost' Dean bit out the second he managed to get himself under control.

'Stop' Gabriel told him and he had every intention to ignore him but of course the angel was suddenly in front of him and he grabbed his arm for good measures too so he couldn't side-step him.

'What?' he grumbled.

'Stop acting like a sulking child' Gabriel told him and Dean knew he would most likely start shouting any second now. He was sure that it was very clearly visible on his face as he glared down at the archangel. 'I don't...' the angel averted his eyes away for a second before he looked back at the demigod. 'I do not think of you as badly as my words might have suggested' he said. 'I was... uncomfortable, that angered me' his words were short and clipped, but clearly well thought out in advance.

'Well good that the truth comes out when you loose your temper then' Dean said, he would've crossed his arms over his chest but Gabriel still held his arm in his grip.

'It is not the truth, I spoke recklessly' the angel answered.

'That doesn't change a damn thing' the demigod told him angrily.

'Oh for the...' Dean felt as Gabriel's hand tightened around his elbow for a second and the angel even closed his eyes obviously trying to control his anger or frustration. 'Fine! I apologize.'

Dean just had to huff out a laugh at that.

'Oh the high and mighty archangel was willing to lower himself to blabber empty sentiments for little old me, I am truly touched.'

'Dean... just...' Gabriel seemed to struggle with his words and Dean narrowed his eyes on him because that was certainly an unusual sight. 'I apologize' he repeated. His tone was lighter, it seemed a tad more genuine.

'What? Isn't saying that beneath you?' Dean asked, his tone still harsh.

'Pride makes one fall the deepest' Gabriel said quietly. Dean took a deep breath and sighed dramatically. He was going to regret this, he knew it.

'Loki' he said.

'What?' blinked Gabriel at him, obviously confused.

'You told me to search you a name' Dean answered. 'So... Loki... "Close to the Sky"... that's what I came up with.'

'Isn't that... too obvious?' Gabriel asked. Dean shrugged.

'Most gods will assume you were named like that in hope you would reach greatness' he explained. They stayed silent for a few moments.

'It's a... good name...' Gabriel said.

'Well don't go around telling humans too much because worship is sure to come then even if you are a trickster' Dean warned. 'But only use this if you meet gods.'

'Understood' Gabriel said with a nod.

'Good, let's get going already' Dean grumbled as he moved to step away and Gabriel let go of his arm and turned to walk beside him. He knew he would regret it, but damn he was too bloody sentimental for his own good, he could never leave behind someone who was completely alone in the world. Puck told him once it would be the death of him, but even so he could never turn his back. Foolish really, so very foolish. It never ended well.

'You want some hazels?' Gabriel asked out of the blue. Dean looked at him in surprise as the angel had a small bowl in his hand full with those caramel covered nuts he liked.

'Where'd you get that?' he asked.

'I realized I can make them' the angel answered simply. Dean looked down at the small bowl for a second then he took a handful from the offered sweets.