What Was and What Will Always Be (1/2)

[theinsaneeraser]

Title: What Was and What Will Always Be 
Author: theinsaneeraser 
Rating: NC-17
Genra/Pairngs: AU, Romance, Schmoop, Humor, Gabriel/Sam and Minor Dean/Castiel at the end.
Spoilers: All of Supernaturl...well, not really,  but still yes.
Warnings: None really.
Word Count: 7,663
Prompt: Written for hopenight  for spn_gabriel_sam's Fic ecxhange as a pinch hit, I hope you like! 
- AU! After the events of 5x19, Gabriel is sent hurtling back in time. He realizes that he can get Sam away from the demonic sphere of influence in college. With some clever disguising and causing havoc with records, he becomes Sam's roommate and best friend while doing a Trickster business on the side. However, Sam thinks that Gabriel is doing the male escort game. Basically a time travel comedy of errors. 
Summary:  “Sorry, mother,” Gabriel huffed out in a laugh. He moved to walk backwards in front of Sam. “I went for a walk to clear my head. I’m awake though, notes included; what’s your excuse?”
Notes: I had fun writting this and it was beta'd by the lovely and wonderful qumabh  who was able to beta this with such short notice. It wasn't so much acomedy, and it kind of went away with itself, I hope you don't mind. Exchanges and BigBangs HERE

 

~*~*~*~

It was cold.

Gabriel was cold, a foreign sensation. He had never had to worry about the cold or heat before, being an archangel. But he felt it now, a chill so great that if one was to go outside with wet hair, it would probably snap off. It was a new feeling, and he didn’t like it. He curled in on himself, into a tight ball, (which with his small vessel was plausible.) He could feel his wings straining against his back, and soon they too were wrapped tightly around him. It helped, cocooning him in a nest of heat.

He felt like he was floating, suspended in the air, locked within the warmth of his wings. He had a feeling he was dead; he could vaguely remember dying—that it was Lucifer who had shoved his own blade into his stomach. It was kind of poetic really, his trick had failed, and he had died—ended, and this cold emptiness was all there was left. Boring really, he thought. He’d expected something like rolling green fields, or maybe a nice candy store.

He supposed angels didn’t get their own heaven, which was a rip off, and he was going to have to complain to management about that.

He was floating for what felt like forever, though truth be told, it probably only lasted a day or two. Then he wasn’t floating, in fact he wasn’t cold anymore either. He was warm, and clothed, in the presence of a bright light. He opened his eyes, squinting against the harshness of it. Having been encased in darkness for however long he had been was torture to his retinas.

He pushed himself up from the ground he found himself upon, and he knew his wings were gone, which was a good thing because there were people all around him—a lot of people, all looking to be in their early to mid twenties. They carried school bags, and chatted amiably with their peers.

Gabriel raised an eyebrow and looked around. He saw a huge building, yellow with a copper-red roof, and he recognized it as Stanford University. What the hell was he doing here?

Gabriel crossed his arms and was about to snap himself away, when somebody bumped into him, nearly sending him to the ground. If he had been human, he would have fallen, but being an angel, he only swayed forward, and threw his hands out to balance himself. He turned, intent on yelling at whoever had the audacity to ram into him when he stopped, his jaw going slack.

“S-sorry.”

The kid apologized quickly, dropping to his knees to collect his books. He had a mop of messy brown hair, and brownish-green eyes. He wore faded blue jeans and a striped button-up. He was tall, freakishly tall.

The boy’s name was Sam, Sam Winchester, though he didn’t recognize him at first. The kid looked nothing like the Sam he knew; he was innocent, like when they’d first met, but even more so. Well, as innocent as a twenty-one year old could be, he supposed. This was Sam, still untouched by Jessica’s death, untouched by the knowledge of his powers, Ruby’s filth, demon blood, Lucifer—any of it.

Gabriel dropped to his knees to help, just so he could get a better look at him. He picked up a textbook (law, of course) and handed it to Sam with a chuckle.

“Careful where you’re going, Gigantor; we smaller people may feel a little intimidated,” Gabriel teased in his normal fashion, earning a soft smile from Sam.

“Thanks,” Sam said softly. He stood up, holding out a hand, balancing his many books and papers with his other hand. Gabriel took it, and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. “Um, sorry again about, uh, bumping into you.”

Gabriel shoved his hands in his pockets and walked away, chuckling because this was rich, real, real rich. Why had they sent him back in time? Why send him back to the time before Dean came to whisk Sam away? The last time he checked, his brothers and sisters were all for the whole heaven vs. hell shebang. He was pretty sure it wasn’t demons who sent him back either because they were on board that bandwagon too, leaving only one suspect—God, his absentee father.

Yeah, no.

He sighed and turned around. Sam was gone, (which was a good thing). Now he could leave, find his past self, and maybe throw a party. That is if he had a past self. Perhaps when he got sent here, the two bodies smooshed together or something. It was most likely what had happened, just his luck.

 “Are you lost?” a soft female voice drifted through to him.

He turned to his left to see a nice-looking brunette with blue eyes, and a skirt so short it should have been illegal. She was also wearing a red blouse and a smile. She had a bookbag slung over her shoulder.

“Yes,” Gabriel said, nodding. “Yes I am. I’m looking for the main office, and I’m new here.”

She put on an even brighter smile.

“Follow me!”
 

Gabriel had snapped up a few papers—and a bag of skittles. One couldn’t fake school documents without skittles—and messed around a bit with the school system. Now Gabriel Lokster was a student. Not just any student, of course, but a veritable first-year law student, and because it was late in the day, he didn’t have to start classes until tomorrow. He planned to chill out in his dorm room, which he’d made sure he shared with Sam. If he was going to keep an eye on the kid, and make sure he didn’t do anything stupid, he was going to do it right.

Was there a right way to watch Satan’s past vessel, to make sure he stayed away from the naughty demons and their whore, so that he never drank demon blood or killed Lilith? He was pretty sure there wasn’t, but he was going to give it his best shot.

He pushed open the door, and sneaked a peek to see if anyone was there before pushing in all the way. Sam’s side of the room had a twin bed with old sheets, a laptop, and little else. It was sort of depressing. The kid didn’t have much, and Gabriel would have snapped him up some things, but he figured that that would be too much, too soon. He snapped his fingers, redecorating his own side of the room. He grinned at the bed (now a water bed, thank-you-very-much) covered in crimson silk sheets, a multitude of fluffy pillows, and a matching cashmere comforter, for the ‘colder’ nights. He’d put a lava lamp on his side table, and an alarm clock which he’d probably never use.

There were two windows. Sam had strung up an old blanket over the one on his side. Gabriel’s had black curtains that would block out any and all light, and he had a few posters of candy on the walls. He also had a small, flat-screen TV tucked against one of the free walls, a mini fridge, and a chest that held his ‘clothes’. He grinned and flopped down on his bed, dipping his hand back into the package of skittles, and pressed a few buttons on the remote until he found House.

 House was a lovable douche-bag, like himself; how could anyone not love the show?

He leaned back against his pillows, and settled in for the House marathon he may or may not have created himself, he wasn’t telling.

He almost didn’t hear Sam open the door; the kid was so quiet. He tilted his head to the side to watch Sam back in, talking to someone outside. When he turned around, he jumped, and let out a fairly girlish yelp. Gabriel raised an eyebrow at him, and Sam’s ears went beet red, his cheeks a faint pink.

“Sorry there, Gigantor; didn’t mean to startle you,” Gabriel said, grinning. He popped a few skittles into his mouth.

“I… Um… Hi.” Sam made a beeline for his bed, dropping his stuff on it, and reached for his laptop. “So, we’re um…”

“Roommates? Dorm buddies? Yup,” said Gabriel.

“Oh, um, okay.”

Gabriel raised both eyebrows before turning his head and body, reaching under the bed, and snapping softly. He brought up a brown shoulder bag, and tossed it to Sam. “So next time you run into someone, you won’t lose all your things,” he offered in explanation.

He watched Sam catch it, looking down at the bag like it was going to eat him. Sam lifted his face with a soft smile. “Thanks.”

“No problem, kiddo.”

“Um, call me Sam,” Sam stammered.

“Alright, Sam, the name’s Gabriel.”

“Oh, hi, Gabriel.”

Gabriel relaxed against his pillows again, eyes trained back on House, though he could feel Sam staring at him. Gabriel ignored the urge to look back, and when he heard the clicking keys of Sam’s laptop, he knew Sam was a million miles away. That was fine with him; he didn’t need Sam to pay attention to him twenty-four seven. He was just here to make sure Sam stayed on the right track, to keep him on the straight and narrow path.

They stayed like that, in silence, but Gabriel was getting bored. He rolled off the bed and stretched before moving swiftly towards the door.

“Where are you going? We have class tomorrow,” Sam said, looking up.

“Just gonna grab something to drink. Don’t you worry about me; I’ll be fine.” Gabriel grinned and opened the door, ambling out, and checking to make sure no one was looking, he snapped himself away.
 

He looked around the apartment where his past self should have been, but it was empty, and that was proof enough for him. He had been in the middle of pulling a prank in the past, and he had been inside when it was taking place. He wasn’t one for being outside when it was raining frogs. His two bodies must have collided, making the him of now, which appeared like the one from the future, but had some of the old habits of his past body.

Someone’s making sure I am the damn hero, even if I don’t want to be. But why me? Why not send Sam back to warn himself, or Dean, or Castiel even; why me? he wondered. Most likely someone wants to make my life a living hell, which is not fair.

He sighed, and shoved his hands back in his pockets before flipping through a picture book of the town’s people who didn’t believe in God or miracles, (which was why he had made it rain frogs.) He felt his lips tug into a smirk as he snapped his fingers. He was in a field in the middle of the small town. He then snapped his fingers, forming storm clouds in the used-to-be clear night sky. He snapped his fingers again, a frog appearing in his hand. He looked at it before throwing it up into the air, and snapping once more, for good measure, and then once more to appear back in the flat.

He grabbed a few things, before snapping again, the room reverting back into the run-down dump it had been before he snapped. He appeared in the stairwell of the dormitory building, and walked back to his room. He had only been gone an hour, two tops, but when he got back, Sam had fallen asleep, face against his keyboard. Gabriel dumped his stuff into the trunk, and then walked over to Sam, pushing him back against the bed. Sam let out a groan, and Gabriel froze, inhumanly still, before taking his laptop, closing it, and placing it on the bedside table. He tugged the sheets, and covered Sam with them.

“Mmm,” Sam mumbled. He rolled over, curling up a bit, and Gabriel smiled softly, and then made his way back to his own bed, settling down. Morning wouldn’t come for another few hours. The sound of Sam’s heavy breathing, and the TV, kept him company.     

~*~*~*~ 

Sam tried to pay attention to the teacher, he really did, and normally it wouldn’t be a problem, but he normally didn’t have someone staring at the back of his head for hours   on end, like Gabriel seemed to like doing. It was freaking him out—the way he seemed to see right through Sam, see things maybe others couldn’t, like he was looking at his soul and not his outer shell. Then there was the fact he had woken up under the covers with his laptop closed, and he was pretty sure he’d fallen asleep on top of the covers with his head on the laptop.

Gabriel wouldn’t have…Would he?

No, of course not. Why would a stranger you only met yesterday (who you almost bulldozed over) tuck you in, and put your laptop at a safe distance? Sam, you’re over-thinking things again, like you always do when something new happens in your life. Just because you thought you fell asleep on your laptop and the covers doesn’t mean you actually did.

Sam rubbed a hand through his hair and sighed, leaning back in his chair. He did chance a look at Gabriel, but when he saw him, he was tapping away at his laptop with a look of pure concentration on his face. He sighed again, and sank farther into his chair, frustrated with himself. He didn’t quite know what the teacher was talking about, having not paid attention for the last half an hour because of the phantom feeling that Gabriel was watching him. Though, maybe someone was watching him, and he was just hoping it was Gabriel.

Sam sighed once more, and gave up. He threw up the air of ‘pretend listening,’ and began researching, which calmed him down a little. Not that he was ever going back to hunting, but that didn’t mean he had to stop looking stuff up. He liked knowing about things, so why shouldn’t he take the opportunity to learn more, even if he’d never use the information?

After Class, Gabriel stopped him, munching on M&M’s with a grin on his face. It was kind of endearing.

“So, I missed all of yesterday, and I was wondering if you had the notes for class?” he asked cheerfully.

Sam nodded. “Um, yeah, would you like to borrow them?”

“No, I want to make love to them,” Gabriel said, rolling his eyes. “Yes, please?”

Sam nodded, scowling, and headed back towards his dorm to hopefully get some actual work done. He figured he could ask Gabriel for the notes from today’s class, since he didn’t take any. He turned around to make sure Gabriel was following. He was, slowly. He’d fallen behind, and was looking around, like this was his first time here.

“So, uh—do you have today’s notes?” Sam asked nervously, once Gabriel caught up with him. “I—um, got a little distracted in class; I was up late last night. What time did you get back anyway? You said you were grabbing a drink.”

“Sorry, mother,” Gabriel huffed out in a laugh. He moved to walk backwards in front of Sam. “I went for a walk to clear my head. I’m awake though, notes included; what’s your excuse?”

Sam felt his ears and cheeks grow hot, and he stared at the ground. He was going to get caught in a lie, and then he was going to have to tell Gabriel the real reason he hadn’t been paying attention in class.

“Hey, Sammy, don’t worry about it. You can borrow my notes; lighten up a bit.”

“It’s Sam,” Sam said, irritated.

“Sam, Sammy, same thing,” said Gabriel, popping an M&M into his mouth, and gesturing nonchalantly.

Sam sent him a glare that he hoped showed just how much it wasn’t the same. Gabriel only laughed though, and crossed his arms, eyebrow raised. It was a friendly gesture, and though Sam had only known him for just over twenty-four hours, he guessed he could consider him a friend. After all, he did provide him with a bookbag and notes, so he really wasn’t that bad of a guy.

“So, Sammy,” Gabriel began.

Sam rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

“Why do you want to become a lawyer?”

Sam opened his mouth, and then closed it, tilting his head because that was a good question. He really didn’t know why he wanted to become one, but he’d have to guess it was because he could help people this way, help people without hunting. He may even be able to help hunters who were getting charged for reasons that weren’t their fault. He knew a few good hunters who had gotten locked away for saving people, and he supposed he could help them out.

“I guess I just want to help people,” Sam mumbled, and looked at the ground, because he thought he sounded foolish.

“I like it,” Gabriel spoke definitively, and Sam raised his eyes to look at him. He was smiling. “I like people who like helping others.”

Gabriel grinned, and turned around so he was walking forward once more. Sam didn’t know what to make of him.
 

Two weeks went by, and everything remained the same. Gabriel would borrow notes if he forgot to take them. Sam would borrow notes whenever he’d been too distracted by someone staring at him to concentrate. Gabriel would leave in the middle of the night. Sam would fall asleep on his laptop, and wake up under the covers, laptop neatly put away on the bedside table. Gabriel would be up and ready to go, after doing who knew what. Sam had an idea of what it was, but it was messed up, and Sam didn’t like to think about it.

But it fit.

Gabriel would be gone most the night, and look completely rested in the morning. Sam had—guiltily—searched Gabriel’s things one night for drugs, but all he found were candy bar wrappers, and half-full bags of skittles and M&M’s. He didn’t know how Gabriel could eat so much sugar and not get fat. Sam was kind of jealous, though he tended to eat healthier food. He’d seen what junk food did to his dad and brother. It made them slobs – Dean had no manners whatsoever.

One night, Sam had tried to stay up to catch Gabriel coming back, and he’d made it to about three in the morning before his body passed out. When he’d woken up, he found himself tucked in, with his laptop closed on the table. Only this time, there was a sticky note attached to it that said: ‘Better luck next time, Sammy’. He chuckled and shook his head before looking towards the bathroom, where Gabriel was humming as he brushed his teeth. It came out more as a slurred musical breath then a melody.

Still, it all fit.

He was pretty sure Gabriel was—a hooker.

Sam didn’t know where Gabriel got all his energy from, but it explained the late nights and privacy. It also explained his bed. It looked like it would belong in a pay-by-the-hour hotel. He was also pretty sure Gabriel was gay, or at least bi. He had caught him checking out other guys—though he did flirt with girls as well. It reminded him of Dean to the point it was creepy. But he also caught Gabriel checking him out, which made him squirm a bit, but the attention wasn’t exactly unwelcome.

He sort of liked it, so sue him.

But today Sam was going to confront Gabriel. He was going to ask his roommate slash friend slash he didn’t know what, if he was a hooker. He had a feeling this was going to end badly, but he just had to know. Sam thirsted for knowledge, and when he didn’t know something, it bugged him.

He waited until after class as they headed back to their dorm, like they normally did. Gabriel was chatting about some new type of candy or something. Sam was too nervous to pay attention before he just blurted out:

“Um, Gabriel are um—are you doing the male escort scene?”

Gabriel stopped walking, and Sam almost ran into him, but held himself back. Gabriel stared at him with a blank expression before he burst out laughing. He held an arm around his waist, and propped his other hand on his knee, eyes squeezed shut with mirth. Sam felt his ears and cheeks burn hot as he watched Gabriel laugh for a good ten minutes, before getting himself under control.

“I…Oh, Sammy,” he chuckled and shook his head. “You’re just too cute.”

He chuckled once again before walking off, leaving Sam standing there, feeling kind of like a jerk, and without an answer.

Gabriel thought he was cute, and that did not make him feel warm in his chest. No, not at all.

Part Two