All I need is a miracle/All I need is you

[fromfryingpantofire]

Things had been going well lately. Hunts just seemed to fall into their laps, the book Sam needed at the library had just been handed in or just been reshelved, the sheriff or local law looking the other direction when they needed to get to a cemetery for a salt and burn. It had been going really, really well.

It should have occurred to Sam that things were going a little TOO well, honestly. But he didn't even think about it until a knife that should have had his name on it simply ricocheted off his chest, as though he had some forcefield up around him.

Later that night, Sam pulled his overshirt off at the hotel, looking at the spot where the knife had definitely started to pierce the fabric. "Okay. There's definitely something weird going on here."

Comments

[low_key_angel]

"Things changed at Broward. You hung on every day, fought even when you knew you were going to lose. For no idea how tempted I was to change it up, to give you what you wanted and pull you out of the Apocalypse."

Gabriel threw the ball again. "It's why I followed you two to the hotel. A building full of pagans after your head.. you needed my help."

"Then Mercury had to be a moron and summon Lu. Asshole."

[fromfryingpantofire]

"Yeah. We'd probably have gotten out all right if it hadn't been for Mercury." The guy had gotten his in the end, but that hadn't been enough. Definitely not worth having lost Gabriel as well.

"You still hit me in the balls and gave me herpes, man. Was that your idea of pulling my ponytail or something?"

[low_key_angel]

"He always had been a dick." Even if he didn't deserve what had happened in the end. None of them had.

"Hey, you just had to say you had herpes. I didn't give you anything of the sort," he defends.

"Something like that. I guess you could say I was out of practice flirting with humans."

[fromfryingpantofire]

"And I don't know how well I would have reacted if you'd just come out and said it then," Sam admits, leaning forward and putting his elbows on his knees. "I think I only really came to the conclusion that there could have been something when I saw your message. Or maybe it had been after the TV land stunt. I can't be too certain. I just know that...that when I saw that message, I knew that any chances we'd had had been entirely lost and that hurt more than anything else."

[low_key_angel]

“It hurt just saying the words, knowing I was about to face my brother and more than likely wind up on the pointy end of a sword.” His smile grew brittle. “Wasn’t expecting it to be my own, but them’s the breaks.”

And he’s.. honestly not sure what to do about those feelings now. “Guess that’s the sixty four thousand dollar question on the table. What do we do now?” Gabriel let the ball sail off into the grass before taking a seat himself. “Rather than continue this charmingly awkward talk, I’m gonna settle for direct. Save us a lot of ducking and fucking in the long run.”

Did humans always have to deal with a heartbeat that fast? Because he’s pretty sure his is trying to simply slam right out of his chest and he hasn’t even started talking.
“I’d have given anything to change what happened, Sam. To stop the path you were on and find some way to make you smile. You deserved that. You still do. I threw down that spell because that was the only way I’d know for sure that you’d be safe. I did it because I..” deep breath, “I love you. Still. But I’m not expecting the grand chick-flick finale here either.”

Even if that was what he wanted. No, Sam had to make this decision on his own. Gabriel couldn’t do it for him. If he wanted to give this a go, it was up to him.

[fromfryingpantofire]

Sam raises his head, watching Gabriel. He snorts at the last, shaking his head. "Gabriel, I sort of figured you probably still...at least had feelings for me. You don't just go and carve out your Grace and create an impenetrable shield around somebody else for shits and giggles."

He sighs, sitting back and staring at his beer. "What do we do now?" he repeats, then shakes his head. "I don't know. But...I've got a couple of days unless a hunt comes up. I'd suggest we start with actually getting to know each other?"

[low_key_angel]

He rolls a shoulder. "I did a lot of weird things for shits and giggles back in the day. But no, no I didn't do it for grins."

Getting to know one another. It's terrifying, really. The potential is there and it's enough to send his pulse skittering out of control all over again and he's not sure if it's hope or fear this time. So Gabriel offers him a smile. "Sure. We can do that."

[fromfryingpantofire]

"Okay. Okay, good." Sam nods, taking another drink of his beer before looking up. "I'd also really like to kiss you, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea before the 'getting to know you' part of things."

[low_key_angel]

The declaration startles him but Gabriel grins easily after only a beat. "You're a Winchester, doesn't that mean that you're genetically predisposed to doing the exact opposite of good ideas?"

Also? He'd really like Sam to kiss him.

[fromfryingpantofire]

Hey. Sam had had nearly five years to get used to the idea that he'd never have a chance to ever act on the possible attraction between himself and the now-former archangel. Now that it's right in front of him, he doesn't exactly want to just duck it.

He snorts, putting his beer down and reaching for Gabriel. "You should know about me and good ideas." Because Sam has rarely ever managed to follow one.

[low_key_angel]

"I dunno," Gabriel goes easily when Sam tugs him closer, grinning up at him. "I think this might be a pretty good one overall. One of your better ones, in fact."

And if his heart is hammering so hard in his chest he's sure Sam can hear it, Gabriel could care less as he closes the distance between them and Sam finally kisses him.

[fromfryingpantofire]

It's possible that Sam's thought about this a few times. Nothing serious because he tried his best not to dwell on the things that couldn't be, but it crossed his mind a few times.

He wraps his arms around Gabriel, holding him close as he tilts his head to slot their lips together better. It felt...really, it felt good. Felt right. Maybe that's just the Grace surrounding him reacting to it's proper owner, but it still feels like he's where he belongs.

[low_key_angel]

It had been overwhelming at first, learning to live as a human. Everything was more intense, all of those feelings and sensations crammed into one small body rather than spread over the wide expanse of his grace.

So it’s no surprise that his first kiss as a human completely bowls him over. Sam wraps him up close and he can still distantly feel the hum of power surrounding him, protecting him. Then his lips are on his, dry and warm and it’s perfect. Completely perfect.

So maybe he should have said something earlier. But this? It was worth waiting for. Sam was worth waiting for.

[fromfryingpantofire]

He's not sure what he's expecting, but it's not for the kiss to be so...easy. It's simple enough for him to settle into it, keep Gabriel close and give into the kiss. But it's good, incredibly good.

His hand slides up Gabriel's back, cupping his head to support it since the height difference makes it harder on the shorter man. And it allows him to sink his fingers into Gabriel's hair, which might be something he's thought about before as well.

[low_key_angel]

The height difference was giving him a bit of a crick in his neck, but he has absolutely no intention of breaking the kiss for something so mundane. It's a bittersweet thing, realizing that they could have had this so much earlier if someone had simply spoken up.

But Sam is here, with his arms around him and fingers sifting through his hair in all the right ways and that's enough of a start for him.

When the need for air finally drives them to break the kiss, Gabriel smiles up at him, "This breathing thing can be kinda inconvenient."

[fromfryingpantofire]

Sam huffs out a laugh, keeping his hands in place. Not really letting Gabriel go just yet. "Yeah, it kinda is," he agrees. "But you learn to appreciate it."

He tips his head up slightly, pressing a kiss to Gabriel's forehead. "So. I think that went pretty well, really."

[low_key_angel]

"Are you kidding? My first kiss as a human ranks a bit higher than pretty well, kiddo." Gabriel tucks his head under his chin, simply basking in the closeness.

"Kinda hoping the second and third ones are just as awesome."

[fromfryingpantofire]

It actually feels really nice. Nobody's really been close enough to do that to Sam for ages. He settles his chin against Gabriel's head, rubbing the other man's back. "Well. I suppose we'll just have to find out, huh?"

[low_key_angel]

"Yeah, I think we can." Gabriel wraps his arms around Sam's waist and simply takes a few to bask in the warmth of being completely wrapped up in him.

"You wanna head inside? I can leave the mutts out here, let them run themselves into the ground for awhile." Because they still needed to talk and it might be easier without the furry distractions.

[fromfryingpantofire]

Sam glances over at the dogs, not taking his arms away from Gabriel at all. "As long as they'll be safe." But, then, Sam didn't figure Gabriel would have left even the backyard unguarded before he transferred his Grace. So it was probably as safe as the rest of the house. "Inside is probably good, yeah."

[low_key_angel]

"They'll be fine, the fence keeps them close to the house and they know wandering away means no treats or games of fetch." The entire property line was guarded, careful protections put into place to keep Gabriel and anyone else under his roof safe from harm.

Slowly he untangles himself from Sam's arms, taking his hand. "Let's head inside. Couch should be more than comfy enough."

"Be good guys."

[fromfryingpantofire]

It's enough to make him chuckle, hand tightening around Gabriel's before they head in. He takes another moment to look around as they make their way to the living room. "So. Seriously, your first kiss as a human?"