Third Time Lucky - Arrow number one
For the Gabriel BigBang 2012
Time swirled around Gabriel. Curiosity flared briefly inside him as he wondered where a Cupid got the power to send him flying like this, but the thought vanished as he crashed back into reality. Something was wrong. A body slammed into Gabriel's, pushing him into a wall. He spun round, a sarcastic remark ready to go and realised he wasn't where he had expected himself to end up. His mouth snapped shut as he stared in confusion. This was not a happy feeling for him. A long hallway stretched out in front of him, one side covered with lockers. The hall was full of teenagers, rushing past him, the air filled with sound of sneakers on linoleum, quick bursts of chatter.
“Out of the way, dickwad! Stupid Goth!”
“Fuck you...” Gabriel's voice trailed off as the other boy turned around, broad shoulders straining the seams of his t-shirt.
“What'd you say?”
Gabriel blinked and reached for his grace, only to find that it was - not there. He knew it was around somewhere, but it was like trying to grab hold of a bar of soap in a pool of jello, it was always just slipping away from him.
“That's what I thought.” The other boy sneered and turned away, taking Gabriel's silence as capitulation. A teacher rounded the corner of the hall and spotted them.
“Mr Atkins, Mr Smith, isn't it about time you were in class?” Gabriel blinked at the woman.
“Class?”
“Yes, Mr Smith, class. I believe you have drama just now.”
Gabriel turned and started to walk down the hall.
“Other way, Mr Smith. Drama is in Room 15. Do I need to send you to the nurse for a drug test?”
“No, sorry. Just a bit confused. Room 15. I'm on it.”
Gabriel dashed down the hallway, mind spinning. Something was definitely wrong and he needed to sort it fast. He spotted a small sign, the almost universal sign, a black featureless man made out of rectangles and a circle head and he dashed into the bathroom. It smelt like every other school bathroom he had ever been in, which wasn't that many come to think of it; cleaning fluid, boys and a lingering trace of cigarette and pot. He looked around, the room was empty apart from a young man, honey-brown hair streaked with blond falling over one eye, his features sharp behind the covering hair. He stepped towards the boy and then realised, as the boy moved, that it was him, his reflection in the mirror.
A couple of quick steps and he was leaning forward, one hand against the cool mirror, breath fogging the glass as he stared at a young version of the body he had created for himself. Well, if he had ever imagined himself as an over-dramatic teen that is.
“What the fuck?” The voice was his, but softer, higher and he brought a hand to his throat, eyes widening as he spotted the chipped black nail varnish that decorated his hand. He stepped back from the mirror and took in the full effect. A checked shirt hung loose from his shoulders covering a pale t-shirt with some kind of symbol on it, possibly a 5 and and the letter N with a cross in between them. The words 'nineinchnails' appeared in tiny letters just under the collar. He looked down at himself, took in the pale jeans barely hanging on to the bones of his hips, a belt studded in rainbow colours and grey trainers, although he wasn't sure if they were originally that colour or if the fact that he seemed to have been wearing them for the last three years had made them that way.
A backpack was slung over one shoulder and he dropped it to the floor, falling to a crouch next to it. Badges were pinned over the side of it, a rainbow flag, one with the letters NIN, another with a spiral design with a triangle in the centre. Nothing that he recognised. He unzipped the bag, English textbook, idiots guide to algebra, the script for a play, all with his name, scrawled in his handwriting.
“Once again, what the fuck?”
He zipped the bag up again and turned and left the bathroom. Something very strange was going on and he was going to find that Cupid and shove his arrows...
“What, giving in already?”
Gabriel swore silently and turned. The Cupid stood behind him, a piece of paper in his hands. “So you want the name of your target, or you want to admit you can't do the simple job of making someone fall in love.”
“Give it here!” Gabriel snatched at the paper, a scowl creasing his features. “Screw you man, I can do it.” He stopped, biting his lip in surprise. Guess he didn't just look like a teenager, he also sounded like one. “Run along, Mr Smith, don't want to keep that drama teacher waiting.” The Cupid smiled and vanished, leaving Gabriel alone in an empty hallway.
Gabriel pelted along the hall to Room 15, pushing the door open and trying to sidle in without attracting attention. Thankfully parts of his grace were beginning to fall into place and he managed to sneak in unnoticed. He took the only empty seat and unfolded the piece of now heavily crumpled paper.
Dean Winchester appeared on it in a thick scrawl.
“Something interesting there, Mr Smith? Care to share with the rest of us?” Gabriel's gaze darted up to the front of the room.
“Uh, no Miss?” He shoved the paper into a pocket.
“Well good, since you're not otherwise occupied, you won't mind reading Guildenstern's lines then will you?”
Gabriel looked down at the book in front of him. One of the other students began speaking, repeating the word “Heads.” After the fifth time, Gabriel joined in.
“There is an art to the building up of suspense.”
“Heads,” said the other student, sounding thoroughly bored.
“Though it can be done by luck alone.” 'But mainly just careful planning and a devious mind,' thought Gabriel, already bored and wondering who and where this Dean Winchester person was.
The teacher coughed and the plaid-coated shoulders to the left and in front of Gabriel jerked slightly before the bored voice drawled, “Heads.” Gabriel's brows shot up, it's not often someone managed to express so many emotions in one word, and a slump of a shoulder. Both sarcasm and ennui in one go.
He glanced back at the pages in front of him, “If that's the word I'm after.”
“Seventy-six love.”
They continue trading lines back and forth, the student in front of him continuing to make each proclamation of 'Heads.' duller and duller. This kid really has a talent, thought Gabriel, well, for sarcasm any way. He turned back to the text, even though he doesn't really need it now.
“The law of probability, as it has been oddly asserted, is something to do with the proposition that if six monkeys...” Gabriel stifled a giggle at this point... “if six monkeys were...”
“Game?” The other voice sounded oddly grateful to be saying something other than heads.
“Were they?” Gabriel grinned widely, getting into the spirit of things. Any time that people are paying attention to him is a great time and he might as well get into the swing of things here, at least until he can find this Winchester boy and set him up with his cheerleader of choice. Oooh cheerleaders...and Gabriel's vessel is age-appropriate...he grinned wider, until he heard the deep voice repeat again.
“Dude, are you or are you not?”
“What?” Gabriel blinked out of his sudden daydream about the cheer team spelling out his name with their lithe young bodies. A sudden ripple of laughter trailed through the class and the guy in front of him turned and scowled briefly at Gabriel. He got the swift impression of freckles and bright green and gold eyes, before the teacher clapped her hands and asked another two students to continue reading.
Finally the bell rang and Gabriel looked at the planner tucked inside the front of his folder. Maths, urgh! Not only has the Cupid sent him off to make some stupid kid fall in love, he also has to do maths? And where oh where is the Hubble building?
He reached out and wrapped his fingers around the arm of the boy who was playing Rosenkrantz.
“Hey kid,” The raised eyebrow makes Gabriel realise his slip and he corrected swiftly, “Uh I mean, dude, where the heck is the Hubble building? I'm supposed to go there for maths.”
“Oh man, are you baked in class? Dude, how do you do it?” Green eyes went wide and the taller boy hustled Gabriel out of the door and along the corridor. Gabriel could spot an out when he got one and he let his shoulders slump in a half-shrug. He leant in to the taller boy, noting the faint smell of engine oil and smoke that clung to the leather jacket he's shrugged on.
He tugged on his shoulder and said softly, “No, not baked, just a little...” He manifested a hip flask in his pocket and slipped it out, waving it discreetly under the cover of his other arm.
“What you got in there?” Green eyes lit up with curiosity and Gabriel found himself being tugged out a door and off to one side towards the side of a hut that must house the maintenance equipment for the school.
“Whisky.” It's the first thing that comes to mind. Gabriel had no idea if high school kids have access to that kind of thing, but it's too late now. The blond kid is grinning wider.
“Well, Hubble building's over there, or we can skip maths and hang out here with your friend.” The other boy waved a vague hand at the hip-flask. Gabriel grinned again. Best way to find Dean is probably to mingle with the natives so he held out his hand.
“Gabriel. This is my friend, Jack.” He waggled the flask.
“Dean.” Gabriel had to fight back the urge to cackle. Oh this is far too easy. They slip silently into the maintenance shed, slumping down behind the large mower and swapping the flask back and forward. Dean drank easily, eyes brightening and face flushing as the alcohol hit him.
“Man, slow down. What, you a professional or something?”
“Or something. Man that's good stuff. Your dad keeps a well-stocked cabinet, that's all I can say.”
“You have no idea.” Gabriel snickered softly.
“So, you new here? Don't remember seeing you before. Mind you, that don't mean shit. S'not like I've been here that long either.”
Gabriel nodded, taking the hip flask and tipping it up, draining out the dregs. “Yeah, just arrived. It sucks, man.”
“Tell me about it. Don't know why my dad keeps making me sign up each time we move. I mean, with Sammy it's different. He's smart, he's gonna get out, but me, I know where I'm going.”
“Sammy?”
“Sam, my little brother.” Gabriel could hear the pride that flooded Dean's voice, the warmth and love, but he could also feel the sadness, the knowledge that Dean's little brother was going to leave him, was going to go off and have his own life. He let a hand fall heavy on Dean's shoulder.
“Cheer up Dean-o. At least Maths is over.” As if to punctuate his sentence, they heard the faint ring of the bell.
“Shit man, I gotta go pick up Sam. Thanks for the drink. I'll see you around.” With that Dean was gone, out the door and away across the field, plaid shirt trailing behind him in the cool breeze.
Gabriel spent the afternoon wandering around the small town. He had trailed Dean to a low-budget motel on the outskirts, taking note of the younger boy trailing after him, all coltish limbs and dark floppy hair. He thinks that Dean is not going to be able to refer to Sam as his 'little' brother for much longer.
He found an empty house further into town, the owners away on vacation. He let himself in, rifling through the cupboards for biscuits. He spent the evening curled on the large sofa, TV murmuring softly in the background, flicking through a copy of the school's yearbook.
The next day he wandered into school with a vague list of girls that he thought Dean might go for. The first one was a total bust when he saw her pressed up against the lockers, eyes fixed on the bobbing blonde ponytail and curved figure of one of the cheerleaders. He took in her scuffed trainers, the laddered tights under a pair of long denim shorts. Maybe he could at least gather intel. He wandered over, leaning beside her.
“Hey.”
The girl frowned at him, dark-lined eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Yeah?”
“I'm Gabriel.”
“So? I'm not interested.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. She's a feisty one. Reminded him somewhat of a girl he knew a long time ago.
“And I thought my parents gave me a shitty name.” The girl couldn't hide the way the corner of her mouth curled as she tried to suppress her smile.
“And I'm not hitting on you. I noticed the way you were eyeing blonde and perky over there.”
A flush warmed the girl's cheeks, and she dropped her gaze, hugging her folder closer to her chest. “Fuck,” she muttered under her breath. “Is it that obvious?” She turned her gaze back to Gabriel, this time her eyes are dark with worry and fear.
“Nah. I'm just the observant type. Don't worry, I'm sure everyone else around here is far too self-absorbed to notice your inclinations.”
The girl smiled, this time the expression reached her eyes, bringing warmth to the deep brown colour. She uncurled fingers from around the edges of her folder and held out a hand, the nails tipped with chipped red and black varnish.
“Wanna start again? I'm Peri, nice to meet you Gabriel.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, amber eyes glinting, “Peri?”
The girl looked down at her folder again before she sent a dark look at Gabriel from under thick lashes. She leant in closer. “You repeat this and I'll gut you.. with a rusty spoon, understood?”
Gabriel nodded and widened his eyes innocently. “Swear by my father.”
“You're not the only one whose parents were reading the weird section of the baby name book. My birth certificate bears the completely humiliating Persephone Caliadne.” Peri rolled her eyes in complete disgust at the unutterable stupidity of her parents.
Gabriel swallowed the snort that wanted to break free, turning a deeply sympathetic look on the girl next to him. “I can help you hide the bodies.” he said with utmost sincerity.
It startled another laugh out of the girl and she finally relaxed beside him. They share random chit-chat and Gabriel managed to work out when and where they are from the small snippets and the swirl of her thoughts. The bell rang and he walked her to class, crossing another two names off his mental list as they walked past the girls in question and he noticed one giggling up at a meat-head in the football team's jacket, the other thinking about how she had to finish packing up her clothes now that her parents were finally leaving this dump.
He doesn't see Dean again until lunch, spotting the worn leather jacket moving outside. He towed Peri behind him as he followed Dean outside, finding him heading for the maintenance shed again.
Peri followed him inside, her dark eyes widening as she rubbed at her wrist. Gabriel cursed under his breath, he must remember to act more like a teenager. “Why are we out here, Gabriel, and who is it you're following?”
“Peri, Dean. Dean this is Peri. I met her this morning. We're out here because... I don't know, why are we here Dean?”
Dean shrugged and slumped down on the floor, pulling a crumpled brown paper bag from his backpack. “I'm just here to eat my lunch in peace, no point in hanging out in the cafeteria, got nothing in common with the cattle there. Dunno why you're here. To annoy me?”
“Aw, Dean. That hurts.” Gabriel clutched at his chest, faking a mortal blow, sliding to the ground with a low moan. Peri giggled and her eyebrow rose when she noticed the look Dean slipped Gabriel from under his lashes. Gabriel missed it as he was currently pretending to be dead.
“Why don't you give Sleeping Ugly there a kiss, wake his ass up, ask if he brought supplies again.” Dean grinned at the girl Gabriel had dragged in with him, sending a brief glance over the grungy clothes, eyes landing on the heavy boots that were barely laced on her feet.
“Nice footwear.” Peri grinned and kicked one against the wheel of the mower.
“Steel toecaps. Prevents anyone from getting any stupid ideas.” She turned to Gabriel, prodding him with the tip of her boot. Gabriel opened one eye and turned his warm amber gaze on her.
“What, no kiss from the fair maiden?”
“You ain't my type, baby.”
Gabriel seized the opening with both hands, pushing himself upright. “Yeah, I know.” He added a fake pout. “So we know what Peri's type is...how about you Dean? Blonde and perky, dark and mysterious?”
“Short and annoying?” Peri continued before breaking into peals of laughter. Dean smirked and turned his bright gaze on Gabriel. “Oh man, she got you there. I think I like you Peri.”
Dean took a huge bite of his sandwich, chewing thoughtfully. Gabriel concentrated and then pulled a bag from his previously empty backpack. He opened it up and offered one of the sandwiches to Peri, pulling a bar of chocolate out for himself. He raised an eyebrow at Dean.
“So?”
“Well we don't usually hang around anyone place for too long. My dad's job...kinda keeps us moving around, where the work takes him, you know.” Dean took another bite, and raised an eyebrow at Gabriel in return. Gabriel pulled out his hipflask and passed it to Dean, who took a long swallow, eyes tearing slightly at the burn.
“So how about Melissa then, from drama? Or Lori?” Gabriel snatched the flask back, taking his own slug before offering it to Peri.
Dean shook his head. “Melissa's too uptight, Lori looks slutty enough though. No offence, Peri.” Peri just grinned and said, “None taken Dean, I like my girls slutty too.”
Dean nearly spluttered his mouthful of liquor all over the floor, coughing hard in surprise. Gabriel pounded him on the back, laughing as Dean fell over. Dean hauled himself back up and blinked the tears from his eyes. “So why the yenta shit, Gabe?”
“Well, I hear there's this thing called prom coming up. Didn't want to be stepping on anyone's toes, you know. Maybe you could be my wingman or something.”
“Dude, if anyone's gonna be a wingman, it's your short ass.”
“Hey, my ass is fine.” Gabriel drew the fine out, moving on to his knees and wriggling his ass in Dean's face.
“Dude, I'm eating here!” Dean crammed the last of his sandwich into his mouth, hoping that neither Gabriel nor Peri noticed the flush he could feel creeping across his face. He made a gagging noise and knocked Gabriel over, stealing the flask from his hand. He only took a small sip this time before he passed the small container to Peri. She sniffed curiously at the neck of the flask and then chanced a swallow, eyes closing as the malt liquor burned down her throat.
“Mmmm, that's the good stuff there Gabe. You guarantee some of this at prom and I'll accompany your sorry ass.”
“Hey! You suggesting that I can't get my own date?”
Peri just laughed and knocked her shoulder into Dean. “So you want me to see if Lori thinks you're cute? Or you got your eye on someone else?”
Dean sighed and stole the flask from her. “Dunno if I'll even be here for prom...”
“But...” prompted Gabriel, eyebrows wiggling suggestively.
Dean shoved him over again and drained the dregs of the whisky, before hauling himself to his feet and belching impressively. Peri wrinkled her nose in disgust and backed away from Dean. “Sometimes I wonder why all girls aren't lesbians.” Gabriel responded with giggles, rolling on the floor like a dying beetle.
“Cos we is amazing, right Dean?”
“What ever you say, shortbus.”
“Hey! Is that a slight on my height or my intelligence?” Gabriel hauled himself to his feet, indignant.
“Well, if you can't figure it out...” Dean smirked at him and pushed his way out of the shed, holding the door for Peri and letting it close in Gabriel's pouting face.
“See if I help you out after that.” Gabriel muttered to himself, but trailed after them anyway.
Gabriel used his grace to make a few tweaks over the next couple of days. He caused the heel to snap on Lori's boot sending her stumbling into Dean in the hallway. He ensured that Lori got selected to be Dean's partner in lab, figuring that both of them hated science, so they might as well fail together. He promised to spike the punch at prom and stood behind Lori, giving Dean a manic thumbs up as he asked her if she would like to go to prom.
Okay, it was not the most romantic thing ever but Gabriel figured everything had to start somewhere. Gabriel used his grace again on the night of prom, picking up Peri in a stretch Limo. He passed her a pale blue corsage, pinning it to the strap of her dress. She looked amazing, the rich purple fabric of her dress vibrant against her glowing skin.
They swung by the motel next, Dean waiting out in the parking lot, stiff and uncomfortable in the tux Gabriel had acquired for him.
“Wow, okay I take back my comment on all girls being lesbians. You scrub up nice Dean. If I was ever going to swap teams, you'll be the first person I call.” Peri leered at him and Dean wrapped his arms around himself, flushing uncomfortably. “I feel like a douche.”
“Yeah, but you look like James Bond.” Gabriel grinned, already imagining Lori's face when she saw Dean, the way the two of them will glare shyly at each other, and then Gabriel will get up and make them dance and then, whammo, he'll stick them with the arrow and he'll be outta there.
And that chubby Cupid would have to give it up and admit that Gabriel was awesome, even stuck in the body of a teenager. Gabriel ran his hands down the lapels of his tux, shoved back his fringe of hair. Maybe he could hang on to this body for a bit. There were a couple of things he hadn't tried out yet and being thinner and younger might just be a help.
He flicked his tawny eyes up, catching Dean's gaze fixed on him, his gaze dark in the shadowy interior of the car.
“S'up Deano?”
Dean flushed, hoping that the darkness hid the sudden rush of colour. He cursed internally, damning his fair skin and the nerves that roiled through his stomach. He let his lip curve into its default cocky grin.
“James Bond? So does that make you Miss Moneypenny?” Peri broke into peals of delighted laughter at Gabriel's affronted face. They pulled up outside Lori's house and Dean exited the car, Gabriel glaring furiously at him, for once stymied for a comeback.
His eyes widened when Lori slid into the car, her pale blue dress clinging to every curve. Dean couldn't seem to lift his eyes above her chest, where the fabric clung without discernible means of support.
“Um, I have a...” Dean held out the ivory and blue corsage to Lori who smiled prettily at him, staring up at him from under mascaraed lashes. She held out a slender arm and he wrapped the ribbons around her wrist. There was a shout from the house, Lori's mother reminding her of her curfew.
“Yes mother!” Gabriel watched as Lori rolled her eyes extravagantly, slumping back into the seat, and burying her nose in the fragrant blossom of her corsage. She turned to Dean and Gabriel and smiled. “So, who's got the booze?”
Dean pulled out a chased silver flask, Lori almost snatched it from his hand, taking a long swig before passing it over to Peri.
“Ladies first, of course. You boys don't mind?” Dean shook his head, raising an eyebrow at Gabriel. Gabriel began to wonder whether he had got this pair-up right. They arrived at the hall and the two girls darted off to the girl's bathroom to freshen up. Dean fidgeted nervously and Gabriel looped an arm around his shoulder, leaning in to him.
“C'mon, loosen up. It's all good. And even if Lori does dump you, you've got me and Peri. We're friends now, right?” It seemed strange asking that, Gabriel had never had a friend before. But it seemed to settle Dean and he leant back into Gabriel, knocking at his arm with a grin.
“Unhand me you weirdo. I don't want Lori to think I've left her for your freakishly short ass.” Gabriel pouted and Dean patted gracelessly at his shoulder in mock concern before he lost the smirk and nodded at Gabriel. “Yeah, we're friends.”
“Awww, look at that. Our two boys, being all girly, sharing their feelings.” Peri giggled and then leant into Gabriel as he stared at Dean, confused and unsettled.
Peri smiled up at him, echoing Dean's pat with her own soothing caress. “It's okay sweetie. You two guys are friends right? He'll get over this Lori thing. I don't know why you were so keen to set them up in the first place.”
“What, no. I...wait...” Peri just smiled at him and placed a soft kiss to the side of his head before she followed Dean and Lori inside. Gabriel frowned, trying to work out what had just happened.
An hour later and he was content again. They're in the hall, over-decorated with paper streamers and plastic flowers. Lori is pressed up against Dean, his arm wrapped around her waist as she babbled at him, her glass of punch swaying precariously.
Of course, Dean seems to be paying more attention to her cleavage than her actual conversation, but Gabriel just figured that that's teenage hormones for you. He glanced round the hall, spotting Peri across the room, her arm wrapped around the blonde cheerleader as she sobbed into Peri's shoulder. There had been some kind of altercation with the football team and, well Gabriel didn't really care anyway, but he gave Peri a broad smile when he caught her gaze.
He slipped into the shadows, pulling the dart gun from his pocket, sliding in the long arrow.
He smirked and raised it to his lips, taking aim at the couple across from him. He watched as Lori leant further into Dean, one hand snaking up to curl into the hair at the nape of his neck. Dean smiled absently down at her, before his gaze moved away, almost as if he was looking for something.
Gabriel blew hard, the dart shooting across the space between them, shifting from a solid metal projectile to a beam of light, trailing sparks behind itself. It hit Lori, twisting around her and Dean in a sparkling ribbon. Gabriel resisted the urge to yell happily.
The air shifted behind him with the sound of feathers and Gabriel spun round to find the Cupid standing behind him. He raised an eyebrow at the semi-naked angel, gesturing over his shoulder at the couple behind him.
“And you said this love thing was hard!”
The Cupid smiled at Gabriel and shook his head. “That's not love, Gabriel.” He cocked his head to one side, staring at Dean and Lori. “It's about 60 percent hormones, 25 percent alcohol and the rest of it is just like. There's no future there. Lori's looking for a bad boy to annoy her parents but inside she's a good girl who just wants to settle down and raise a couple of children. She's not set to meet her true love until she's twenty-two.”
Gabriel stared at the two of them, watching as Dean pulled away from Lori's wandering fingers, leading her back to the seats, a hand brushing gently against her cheek as he went to bring her some water. His gaze returned to Lori to see her suddenly relax, the soft shimmer of tears in her eyes as she stared after Dean, a small smile curving her mouth when he returned, sitting across the table from her.
He can see it all play out. Dean will take her home, well before curfew, walking her to the door and leaving with the soft brush of lips against her cheek. They'll talk when they see each other in school, they'll make out once just to see if there's anything there but they'll both agree that nothing will come of it. They won't even offer to keep in touch once Dean finds out his Dad is ready to move them on again.
“Harder than you thought eh, Archangel?” The Cupid gave him a soft smile, only slightly mocking. Gabriel let his gaze move across the dance floor, smiled when he saw Peri and the cheerleader still talking. The smile faded when his eyes met Dean's. He seemed to be looking round the room, brow creased with a frown. Gabriel could see the words form on his lips,
“Hey Lori, did you see where Gabriel went?” But then the Cupid was twirling him round and the world spun on edge as they blinked out of existence.
On to Part Two
Time swirled around Gabriel. Curiosity flared briefly inside him as he wondered where a Cupid got the power to send him flying like this, but the thought vanished as he crashed back into reality. Something was wrong. A body slammed into Gabriel's, pushing him into a wall. He spun round, a sarcastic remark ready to go and realised he wasn't where he had expected himself to end up. His mouth snapped shut as he stared in confusion. This was not a happy feeling for him. A long hallway stretched out in front of him, one side covered with lockers. The hall was full of teenagers, rushing past him, the air filled with sound of sneakers on linoleum, quick bursts of chatter.
“Out of the way, dickwad! Stupid Goth!”
“Fuck you...” Gabriel's voice trailed off as the other boy turned around, broad shoulders straining the seams of his t-shirt.
“What'd you say?”
Gabriel blinked and reached for his grace, only to find that it was - not there. He knew it was around somewhere, but it was like trying to grab hold of a bar of soap in a pool of jello, it was always just slipping away from him.
“That's what I thought.” The other boy sneered and turned away, taking Gabriel's silence as capitulation. A teacher rounded the corner of the hall and spotted them.
“Mr Atkins, Mr Smith, isn't it about time you were in class?” Gabriel blinked at the woman.
“Class?”
“Yes, Mr Smith, class. I believe you have drama just now.”
Gabriel turned and started to walk down the hall.
“Other way, Mr Smith. Drama is in Room 15. Do I need to send you to the nurse for a drug test?”
“No, sorry. Just a bit confused. Room 15. I'm on it.”
Gabriel dashed down the hallway, mind spinning. Something was definitely wrong and he needed to sort it fast. He spotted a small sign, the almost universal sign, a black featureless man made out of rectangles and a circle head and he dashed into the bathroom. It smelt like every other school bathroom he had ever been in, which wasn't that many come to think of it; cleaning fluid, boys and a lingering trace of cigarette and pot. He looked around, the room was empty apart from a young man, honey-brown hair streaked with blond falling over one eye, his features sharp behind the covering hair. He stepped towards the boy and then realised, as the boy moved, that it was him, his reflection in the mirror.
A couple of quick steps and he was leaning forward, one hand against the cool mirror, breath fogging the glass as he stared at a young version of the body he had created for himself. Well, if he had ever imagined himself as an over-dramatic teen that is.
“What the fuck?” The voice was his, but softer, higher and he brought a hand to his throat, eyes widening as he spotted the chipped black nail varnish that decorated his hand. He stepped back from the mirror and took in the full effect. A checked shirt hung loose from his shoulders covering a pale t-shirt with some kind of symbol on it, possibly a 5 and and the letter N with a cross in between them. The words 'nineinchnails' appeared in tiny letters just under the collar. He looked down at himself, took in the pale jeans barely hanging on to the bones of his hips, a belt studded in rainbow colours and grey trainers, although he wasn't sure if they were originally that colour or if the fact that he seemed to have been wearing them for the last three years had made them that way.
A backpack was slung over one shoulder and he dropped it to the floor, falling to a crouch next to it. Badges were pinned over the side of it, a rainbow flag, one with the letters NIN, another with a spiral design with a triangle in the centre. Nothing that he recognised. He unzipped the bag, English textbook, idiots guide to algebra, the script for a play, all with his name, scrawled in his handwriting.
“Once again, what the fuck?”
He zipped the bag up again and turned and left the bathroom. Something very strange was going on and he was going to find that Cupid and shove his arrows...
“What, giving in already?”
Gabriel swore silently and turned. The Cupid stood behind him, a piece of paper in his hands. “So you want the name of your target, or you want to admit you can't do the simple job of making someone fall in love.”
“Give it here!” Gabriel snatched at the paper, a scowl creasing his features. “Screw you man, I can do it.” He stopped, biting his lip in surprise. Guess he didn't just look like a teenager, he also sounded like one. “Run along, Mr Smith, don't want to keep that drama teacher waiting.” The Cupid smiled and vanished, leaving Gabriel alone in an empty hallway.
Gabriel pelted along the hall to Room 15, pushing the door open and trying to sidle in without attracting attention. Thankfully parts of his grace were beginning to fall into place and he managed to sneak in unnoticed. He took the only empty seat and unfolded the piece of now heavily crumpled paper.
Dean Winchester appeared on it in a thick scrawl.
“Something interesting there, Mr Smith? Care to share with the rest of us?” Gabriel's gaze darted up to the front of the room.
“Uh, no Miss?” He shoved the paper into a pocket.
“Well good, since you're not otherwise occupied, you won't mind reading Guildenstern's lines then will you?”
Gabriel looked down at the book in front of him. One of the other students began speaking, repeating the word “Heads.” After the fifth time, Gabriel joined in.
“There is an art to the building up of suspense.”
“Heads,” said the other student, sounding thoroughly bored.
“Though it can be done by luck alone.” 'But mainly just careful planning and a devious mind,' thought Gabriel, already bored and wondering who and where this Dean Winchester person was.
The teacher coughed and the plaid-coated shoulders to the left and in front of Gabriel jerked slightly before the bored voice drawled, “Heads.” Gabriel's brows shot up, it's not often someone managed to express so many emotions in one word, and a slump of a shoulder. Both sarcasm and ennui in one go.
He glanced back at the pages in front of him, “If that's the word I'm after.”
“Seventy-six love.”
They continue trading lines back and forth, the student in front of him continuing to make each proclamation of 'Heads.' duller and duller. This kid really has a talent, thought Gabriel, well, for sarcasm any way. He turned back to the text, even though he doesn't really need it now.
“The law of probability, as it has been oddly asserted, is something to do with the proposition that if six monkeys...” Gabriel stifled a giggle at this point... “if six monkeys were...”
“Game?” The other voice sounded oddly grateful to be saying something other than heads.
“Were they?” Gabriel grinned widely, getting into the spirit of things. Any time that people are paying attention to him is a great time and he might as well get into the swing of things here, at least until he can find this Winchester boy and set him up with his cheerleader of choice. Oooh cheerleaders...and Gabriel's vessel is age-appropriate...he grinned wider, until he heard the deep voice repeat again.
“Dude, are you or are you not?”
“What?” Gabriel blinked out of his sudden daydream about the cheer team spelling out his name with their lithe young bodies. A sudden ripple of laughter trailed through the class and the guy in front of him turned and scowled briefly at Gabriel. He got the swift impression of freckles and bright green and gold eyes, before the teacher clapped her hands and asked another two students to continue reading.
Finally the bell rang and Gabriel looked at the planner tucked inside the front of his folder. Maths, urgh! Not only has the Cupid sent him off to make some stupid kid fall in love, he also has to do maths? And where oh where is the Hubble building?
He reached out and wrapped his fingers around the arm of the boy who was playing Rosenkrantz.
“Hey kid,” The raised eyebrow makes Gabriel realise his slip and he corrected swiftly, “Uh I mean, dude, where the heck is the Hubble building? I'm supposed to go there for maths.”
“Oh man, are you baked in class? Dude, how do you do it?” Green eyes went wide and the taller boy hustled Gabriel out of the door and along the corridor. Gabriel could spot an out when he got one and he let his shoulders slump in a half-shrug. He leant in to the taller boy, noting the faint smell of engine oil and smoke that clung to the leather jacket he's shrugged on.
He tugged on his shoulder and said softly, “No, not baked, just a little...” He manifested a hip flask in his pocket and slipped it out, waving it discreetly under the cover of his other arm.
“What you got in there?” Green eyes lit up with curiosity and Gabriel found himself being tugged out a door and off to one side towards the side of a hut that must house the maintenance equipment for the school.
“Whisky.” It's the first thing that comes to mind. Gabriel had no idea if high school kids have access to that kind of thing, but it's too late now. The blond kid is grinning wider.
“Well, Hubble building's over there, or we can skip maths and hang out here with your friend.” The other boy waved a vague hand at the hip-flask. Gabriel grinned again. Best way to find Dean is probably to mingle with the natives so he held out his hand.
“Gabriel. This is my friend, Jack.” He waggled the flask.
“Dean.” Gabriel had to fight back the urge to cackle. Oh this is far too easy. They slip silently into the maintenance shed, slumping down behind the large mower and swapping the flask back and forward. Dean drank easily, eyes brightening and face flushing as the alcohol hit him.
“Man, slow down. What, you a professional or something?”
“Or something. Man that's good stuff. Your dad keeps a well-stocked cabinet, that's all I can say.”
“You have no idea.” Gabriel snickered softly.
“So, you new here? Don't remember seeing you before. Mind you, that don't mean shit. S'not like I've been here that long either.”
Gabriel nodded, taking the hip flask and tipping it up, draining out the dregs. “Yeah, just arrived. It sucks, man.”
“Tell me about it. Don't know why my dad keeps making me sign up each time we move. I mean, with Sammy it's different. He's smart, he's gonna get out, but me, I know where I'm going.”
“Sammy?”
“Sam, my little brother.” Gabriel could hear the pride that flooded Dean's voice, the warmth and love, but he could also feel the sadness, the knowledge that Dean's little brother was going to leave him, was going to go off and have his own life. He let a hand fall heavy on Dean's shoulder.
“Cheer up Dean-o. At least Maths is over.” As if to punctuate his sentence, they heard the faint ring of the bell.
“Shit man, I gotta go pick up Sam. Thanks for the drink. I'll see you around.” With that Dean was gone, out the door and away across the field, plaid shirt trailing behind him in the cool breeze.
Gabriel spent the afternoon wandering around the small town. He had trailed Dean to a low-budget motel on the outskirts, taking note of the younger boy trailing after him, all coltish limbs and dark floppy hair. He thinks that Dean is not going to be able to refer to Sam as his 'little' brother for much longer.
He found an empty house further into town, the owners away on vacation. He let himself in, rifling through the cupboards for biscuits. He spent the evening curled on the large sofa, TV murmuring softly in the background, flicking through a copy of the school's yearbook.
The next day he wandered into school with a vague list of girls that he thought Dean might go for. The first one was a total bust when he saw her pressed up against the lockers, eyes fixed on the bobbing blonde ponytail and curved figure of one of the cheerleaders. He took in her scuffed trainers, the laddered tights under a pair of long denim shorts. Maybe he could at least gather intel. He wandered over, leaning beside her.
“Hey.”
The girl frowned at him, dark-lined eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Yeah?”
“I'm Gabriel.”
“So? I'm not interested.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. She's a feisty one. Reminded him somewhat of a girl he knew a long time ago.
“And I thought my parents gave me a shitty name.” The girl couldn't hide the way the corner of her mouth curled as she tried to suppress her smile.
“And I'm not hitting on you. I noticed the way you were eyeing blonde and perky over there.”
A flush warmed the girl's cheeks, and she dropped her gaze, hugging her folder closer to her chest. “Fuck,” she muttered under her breath. “Is it that obvious?” She turned her gaze back to Gabriel, this time her eyes are dark with worry and fear.
“Nah. I'm just the observant type. Don't worry, I'm sure everyone else around here is far too self-absorbed to notice your inclinations.”
The girl smiled, this time the expression reached her eyes, bringing warmth to the deep brown colour. She uncurled fingers from around the edges of her folder and held out a hand, the nails tipped with chipped red and black varnish.
“Wanna start again? I'm Peri, nice to meet you Gabriel.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, amber eyes glinting, “Peri?”
The girl looked down at her folder again before she sent a dark look at Gabriel from under thick lashes. She leant in closer. “You repeat this and I'll gut you.. with a rusty spoon, understood?”
Gabriel nodded and widened his eyes innocently. “Swear by my father.”
“You're not the only one whose parents were reading the weird section of the baby name book. My birth certificate bears the completely humiliating Persephone Caliadne.” Peri rolled her eyes in complete disgust at the unutterable stupidity of her parents.
Gabriel swallowed the snort that wanted to break free, turning a deeply sympathetic look on the girl next to him. “I can help you hide the bodies.” he said with utmost sincerity.
It startled another laugh out of the girl and she finally relaxed beside him. They share random chit-chat and Gabriel managed to work out when and where they are from the small snippets and the swirl of her thoughts. The bell rang and he walked her to class, crossing another two names off his mental list as they walked past the girls in question and he noticed one giggling up at a meat-head in the football team's jacket, the other thinking about how she had to finish packing up her clothes now that her parents were finally leaving this dump.
He doesn't see Dean again until lunch, spotting the worn leather jacket moving outside. He towed Peri behind him as he followed Dean outside, finding him heading for the maintenance shed again.
Peri followed him inside, her dark eyes widening as she rubbed at her wrist. Gabriel cursed under his breath, he must remember to act more like a teenager. “Why are we out here, Gabriel, and who is it you're following?”
“Peri, Dean. Dean this is Peri. I met her this morning. We're out here because... I don't know, why are we here Dean?”
Dean shrugged and slumped down on the floor, pulling a crumpled brown paper bag from his backpack. “I'm just here to eat my lunch in peace, no point in hanging out in the cafeteria, got nothing in common with the cattle there. Dunno why you're here. To annoy me?”
“Aw, Dean. That hurts.” Gabriel clutched at his chest, faking a mortal blow, sliding to the ground with a low moan. Peri giggled and her eyebrow rose when she noticed the look Dean slipped Gabriel from under his lashes. Gabriel missed it as he was currently pretending to be dead.
“Why don't you give Sleeping Ugly there a kiss, wake his ass up, ask if he brought supplies again.” Dean grinned at the girl Gabriel had dragged in with him, sending a brief glance over the grungy clothes, eyes landing on the heavy boots that were barely laced on her feet.
“Nice footwear.” Peri grinned and kicked one against the wheel of the mower.
“Steel toecaps. Prevents anyone from getting any stupid ideas.” She turned to Gabriel, prodding him with the tip of her boot. Gabriel opened one eye and turned his warm amber gaze on her.
“What, no kiss from the fair maiden?”
“You ain't my type, baby.”
Gabriel seized the opening with both hands, pushing himself upright. “Yeah, I know.” He added a fake pout. “So we know what Peri's type is...how about you Dean? Blonde and perky, dark and mysterious?”
“Short and annoying?” Peri continued before breaking into peals of laughter. Dean smirked and turned his bright gaze on Gabriel. “Oh man, she got you there. I think I like you Peri.”
Dean took a huge bite of his sandwich, chewing thoughtfully. Gabriel concentrated and then pulled a bag from his previously empty backpack. He opened it up and offered one of the sandwiches to Peri, pulling a bar of chocolate out for himself. He raised an eyebrow at Dean.
“So?”
“Well we don't usually hang around anyone place for too long. My dad's job...kinda keeps us moving around, where the work takes him, you know.” Dean took another bite, and raised an eyebrow at Gabriel in return. Gabriel pulled out his hipflask and passed it to Dean, who took a long swallow, eyes tearing slightly at the burn.
“So how about Melissa then, from drama? Or Lori?” Gabriel snatched the flask back, taking his own slug before offering it to Peri.
Dean shook his head. “Melissa's too uptight, Lori looks slutty enough though. No offence, Peri.” Peri just grinned and said, “None taken Dean, I like my girls slutty too.”
Dean nearly spluttered his mouthful of liquor all over the floor, coughing hard in surprise. Gabriel pounded him on the back, laughing as Dean fell over. Dean hauled himself back up and blinked the tears from his eyes. “So why the yenta shit, Gabe?”
“Well, I hear there's this thing called prom coming up. Didn't want to be stepping on anyone's toes, you know. Maybe you could be my wingman or something.”
“Dude, if anyone's gonna be a wingman, it's your short ass.”
“Hey, my ass is fine.” Gabriel drew the fine out, moving on to his knees and wriggling his ass in Dean's face.
“Dude, I'm eating here!” Dean crammed the last of his sandwich into his mouth, hoping that neither Gabriel nor Peri noticed the flush he could feel creeping across his face. He made a gagging noise and knocked Gabriel over, stealing the flask from his hand. He only took a small sip this time before he passed the small container to Peri. She sniffed curiously at the neck of the flask and then chanced a swallow, eyes closing as the malt liquor burned down her throat.
“Mmmm, that's the good stuff there Gabe. You guarantee some of this at prom and I'll accompany your sorry ass.”
“Hey! You suggesting that I can't get my own date?”
Peri just laughed and knocked her shoulder into Dean. “So you want me to see if Lori thinks you're cute? Or you got your eye on someone else?”
Dean sighed and stole the flask from her. “Dunno if I'll even be here for prom...”
“But...” prompted Gabriel, eyebrows wiggling suggestively.
Dean shoved him over again and drained the dregs of the whisky, before hauling himself to his feet and belching impressively. Peri wrinkled her nose in disgust and backed away from Dean. “Sometimes I wonder why all girls aren't lesbians.” Gabriel responded with giggles, rolling on the floor like a dying beetle.
“Cos we is amazing, right Dean?”
“What ever you say, shortbus.”
“Hey! Is that a slight on my height or my intelligence?” Gabriel hauled himself to his feet, indignant.
“Well, if you can't figure it out...” Dean smirked at him and pushed his way out of the shed, holding the door for Peri and letting it close in Gabriel's pouting face.
“See if I help you out after that.” Gabriel muttered to himself, but trailed after them anyway.
Gabriel used his grace to make a few tweaks over the next couple of days. He caused the heel to snap on Lori's boot sending her stumbling into Dean in the hallway. He ensured that Lori got selected to be Dean's partner in lab, figuring that both of them hated science, so they might as well fail together. He promised to spike the punch at prom and stood behind Lori, giving Dean a manic thumbs up as he asked her if she would like to go to prom.
Okay, it was not the most romantic thing ever but Gabriel figured everything had to start somewhere. Gabriel used his grace again on the night of prom, picking up Peri in a stretch Limo. He passed her a pale blue corsage, pinning it to the strap of her dress. She looked amazing, the rich purple fabric of her dress vibrant against her glowing skin.
They swung by the motel next, Dean waiting out in the parking lot, stiff and uncomfortable in the tux Gabriel had acquired for him.
“Wow, okay I take back my comment on all girls being lesbians. You scrub up nice Dean. If I was ever going to swap teams, you'll be the first person I call.” Peri leered at him and Dean wrapped his arms around himself, flushing uncomfortably. “I feel like a douche.”
“Yeah, but you look like James Bond.” Gabriel grinned, already imagining Lori's face when she saw Dean, the way the two of them will glare shyly at each other, and then Gabriel will get up and make them dance and then, whammo, he'll stick them with the arrow and he'll be outta there.
And that chubby Cupid would have to give it up and admit that Gabriel was awesome, even stuck in the body of a teenager. Gabriel ran his hands down the lapels of his tux, shoved back his fringe of hair. Maybe he could hang on to this body for a bit. There were a couple of things he hadn't tried out yet and being thinner and younger might just be a help.
He flicked his tawny eyes up, catching Dean's gaze fixed on him, his gaze dark in the shadowy interior of the car.
“S'up Deano?”
Dean flushed, hoping that the darkness hid the sudden rush of colour. He cursed internally, damning his fair skin and the nerves that roiled through his stomach. He let his lip curve into its default cocky grin.
“James Bond? So does that make you Miss Moneypenny?” Peri broke into peals of delighted laughter at Gabriel's affronted face. They pulled up outside Lori's house and Dean exited the car, Gabriel glaring furiously at him, for once stymied for a comeback.
His eyes widened when Lori slid into the car, her pale blue dress clinging to every curve. Dean couldn't seem to lift his eyes above her chest, where the fabric clung without discernible means of support.
“Um, I have a...” Dean held out the ivory and blue corsage to Lori who smiled prettily at him, staring up at him from under mascaraed lashes. She held out a slender arm and he wrapped the ribbons around her wrist. There was a shout from the house, Lori's mother reminding her of her curfew.
“Yes mother!” Gabriel watched as Lori rolled her eyes extravagantly, slumping back into the seat, and burying her nose in the fragrant blossom of her corsage. She turned to Dean and Gabriel and smiled. “So, who's got the booze?”
Dean pulled out a chased silver flask, Lori almost snatched it from his hand, taking a long swig before passing it over to Peri.
“Ladies first, of course. You boys don't mind?” Dean shook his head, raising an eyebrow at Gabriel. Gabriel began to wonder whether he had got this pair-up right. They arrived at the hall and the two girls darted off to the girl's bathroom to freshen up. Dean fidgeted nervously and Gabriel looped an arm around his shoulder, leaning in to him.
“C'mon, loosen up. It's all good. And even if Lori does dump you, you've got me and Peri. We're friends now, right?” It seemed strange asking that, Gabriel had never had a friend before. But it seemed to settle Dean and he leant back into Gabriel, knocking at his arm with a grin.
“Unhand me you weirdo. I don't want Lori to think I've left her for your freakishly short ass.” Gabriel pouted and Dean patted gracelessly at his shoulder in mock concern before he lost the smirk and nodded at Gabriel. “Yeah, we're friends.”
“Awww, look at that. Our two boys, being all girly, sharing their feelings.” Peri giggled and then leant into Gabriel as he stared at Dean, confused and unsettled.
Peri smiled up at him, echoing Dean's pat with her own soothing caress. “It's okay sweetie. You two guys are friends right? He'll get over this Lori thing. I don't know why you were so keen to set them up in the first place.”
“What, no. I...wait...” Peri just smiled at him and placed a soft kiss to the side of his head before she followed Dean and Lori inside. Gabriel frowned, trying to work out what had just happened.
An hour later and he was content again. They're in the hall, over-decorated with paper streamers and plastic flowers. Lori is pressed up against Dean, his arm wrapped around her waist as she babbled at him, her glass of punch swaying precariously.
Of course, Dean seems to be paying more attention to her cleavage than her actual conversation, but Gabriel just figured that that's teenage hormones for you. He glanced round the hall, spotting Peri across the room, her arm wrapped around the blonde cheerleader as she sobbed into Peri's shoulder. There had been some kind of altercation with the football team and, well Gabriel didn't really care anyway, but he gave Peri a broad smile when he caught her gaze.
He slipped into the shadows, pulling the dart gun from his pocket, sliding in the long arrow.
He smirked and raised it to his lips, taking aim at the couple across from him. He watched as Lori leant further into Dean, one hand snaking up to curl into the hair at the nape of his neck. Dean smiled absently down at her, before his gaze moved away, almost as if he was looking for something.
Gabriel blew hard, the dart shooting across the space between them, shifting from a solid metal projectile to a beam of light, trailing sparks behind itself. It hit Lori, twisting around her and Dean in a sparkling ribbon. Gabriel resisted the urge to yell happily.
The air shifted behind him with the sound of feathers and Gabriel spun round to find the Cupid standing behind him. He raised an eyebrow at the semi-naked angel, gesturing over his shoulder at the couple behind him.
“And you said this love thing was hard!”
The Cupid smiled at Gabriel and shook his head. “That's not love, Gabriel.” He cocked his head to one side, staring at Dean and Lori. “It's about 60 percent hormones, 25 percent alcohol and the rest of it is just like. There's no future there. Lori's looking for a bad boy to annoy her parents but inside she's a good girl who just wants to settle down and raise a couple of children. She's not set to meet her true love until she's twenty-two.”
Gabriel stared at the two of them, watching as Dean pulled away from Lori's wandering fingers, leading her back to the seats, a hand brushing gently against her cheek as he went to bring her some water. His gaze returned to Lori to see her suddenly relax, the soft shimmer of tears in her eyes as she stared after Dean, a small smile curving her mouth when he returned, sitting across the table from her.
He can see it all play out. Dean will take her home, well before curfew, walking her to the door and leaving with the soft brush of lips against her cheek. They'll talk when they see each other in school, they'll make out once just to see if there's anything there but they'll both agree that nothing will come of it. They won't even offer to keep in touch once Dean finds out his Dad is ready to move them on again.
“Harder than you thought eh, Archangel?” The Cupid gave him a soft smile, only slightly mocking. Gabriel let his gaze move across the dance floor, smiled when he saw Peri and the cheerleader still talking. The smile faded when his eyes met Dean's. He seemed to be looking round the room, brow creased with a frown. Gabriel could see the words form on his lips,
“Hey Lori, did you see where Gabriel went?” But then the Cupid was twirling him round and the world spun on edge as they blinked out of existence.
On to Part Two