Chapter Text
"FUCK YOU" Shouted Gabriel as he pushed the man towards the door "Get out and don't come back or I will call the police!"
"Don't want my hair cut by some raging queer anyway!" Says the man harshly.
As Gabriel pushes the man through the door of his salon, the man grips on to his top and pulls him forward roughly, sending him crashing to the ground. Gabriel bites his lip as he falls. Embarrassed and pissed off he turns around, he is ready to open a can of whoop ass on the man but is amazed to see that someone else has beaten him to it... The man, who is fucking beautiful in a leather jacket and grey shirt, swings at Gabriel’s attacker, punching him straight in the jaw, the man drops to the ground with a satisfying thud.
"Get the hell out of here" The man growls, before turning his attention to Gabriel and offering him a hand "You alright?" He asks with a real sincerity in his eyes.
"I’m fucking fag-ulous," Says Gabriel, pointedly looking at his tormentor on the ground, as he wiped the blood from his mouth, when he turns back to the man who'd helped him, he softens and says "I'm Gabriel, thanks for that"
“Dean,” Says the man tugging Gabriel to his feet, “And no problem. That dick had it coming” Said Dean kindly, looking intently at Gabriel “Do you get shit like that often?”
Gabriel shrugs “Not really, just the occasional asshole that didn’t realize they were getting their hair done by a ‘fag’ as if it’s fucking contagious and me washing his hair is going to make him wanna bend over for every dude he meets”
Dean frowned “Someone needs to tell him what year it is. I can't stand idiots like that causing trouble." Dean glares at the burly man who is standing a few feet away now, looking as if he is trying to decide how to respond to being knocked on his ass by a fag. Finally, his decision made, he walks away, calling more insults over his shoulder about how the ‘dirty queers aren’t worth it’.
Gabriel looks at Dean, his lightly freckle face catching the sun just right so that his eyes lit up, shining green. He was really handsome and he’d come to defend Gabriel’s honor… “I’d like to thank you, maybe with a cup of coffee if you're interested?” Gabriel offers, both him and Dean pointedly ignoring the man's slurs as he walks away at the pace of a slow jog.
“I’m interested,” Dean smiles. Pulling out his phone to offer Gabriel his number.
Dean has never laughed so much on a first date in his life. Gabriel is such a great storyteller. He watches as Gabriel animatedly tells about how his younger brother was attacked by a ‘crazy’ flock of geese. The way he tells the story, Dean can see the action happening in his mind.
“... I’ve never seen a grown man scream like that before.” Gabriel laughs as he finishes his story. Time goes on with more laughter from both at each other's jokes and the recollection of the customer who’d attacked Gabriel going down like a sack of shit when Dean had punched him.
Catching his breath, Dean reaches across the table and taps Gabriel’s hand to draw his attention back to him. “I’ve had a great time this afternoon. Maybe we can do this again, sometime? Maybe dinner?”
“I’d like that, yeah. I guess I should be getting back to the shop. Thanks for a nice time and the rescue, Dean,” Gabriel winks at Dean.
The following Friday, Dean picks Gabriel up for their first real date. Over dinner Dean shares stories about himself and his brother, Sam. He and Gabriel both think it’s interesting that they each have brothers just a few years younger. They share childhood and adolescent stories, telling each other about their families. Discussing all the similarities and the differences in their childhoods keeps them going for most of the evening. It’s late and the restaurant staff is glaring at them, wanting to clear the table and close up, before the two men realize what time it is.
“Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever lost track of time like this on a date before. You’re kinda awesome, Gabe.” Dean says as he holds the door open for Gabriel to exit.
“You’re not so bad yourself, Dean.” Gabriel takes Dean’s hand as they walk through the now dark car park towards Dean’s car. Dean rubbing the back of Gabriel’s hand with his thumb. When they reach the Impala, Dean holds the door open for Gabriel, who chuckles at him. Dean walks around the car, checking his breath in his hand before getting in the driver’s seat. He turns to look at Gabriel and without thinking too much about it, he leans across the seat, glad when he sees Gabriel shift forward too, their lips meet in the middle. They end up making out, (a lot) in the parked Impala, in the back corner of the empty parking lot.
The kissing is nice, it’s not mind-blowing but Dean figures it’s an uncomfortable position, both twisted in their seats of the Impala, maybe he should have waited till he’d driven Gabriel home...
When Dean finally drives Gabriel home and they have another little make-out session in the driveway Dean does think it’s better, with his hands-free to hold Gabriel and tug him a little closer. Dean walks Gabriel to his door, ever the gentleman but hinting as he lingers with Gabriel under the porch light.
“I’d invite you in, Dean.” Says Gabriel with a cheeky eyebrow wiggle to indicate exactly what he meant, “But, my brother is staying with me while his apartment is being renovated. Mine’s only a one bedroom, so he’s sleeping on the couch, it’d be a little difficult to have you over just now.”
“Oh yeah, you did mention that he was here for a few weeks.” Dean takes a small step back, “Thanks for another great time.”
Gabriel reaches up, hand gripping the back of Dean’s neck and pulling in him in for one last kiss, “How about dinner and a movie next weekend?”
“Sounds good. Text me.” Dean pushes Gabriel’s hair behind his ear, “Good night, then.” And with one last smile, Dean turns and heads back to his car. Giving Gabriel a nod before getting into the Impala and pulling out of the driveway.
***
Gabriel closes his front door as quietly as he can and steps into the darkened living room...
“How was your date?”
“Jesus” Mutters Gabriel as he jumps slightly, startled that his brother is still awake. “Ah, sorry if I woke you, I tried to be quiet”
“Nope,” Castiel sits up and looks over the back of the couch toward his brother. “I only turned the tv off about half an hour ago. I heard you guys talking outside the door. He sounds nice.”
“He is,” Gabriel says, looking dreamily at the door. “Tall, handsome, and a great kisser.”
“Good for you, Gabe. It’s about time you find someone nice to date. You’ve been out of the scene too long.”
“Me? Look who’s talking. It’s been what... three years since you and…”
“Don’t bring him up.” Said Castiel turning his back to Gabriel again and cutting him off mid-sentence “I just don’t want to get hurt again.”
“Yeah, I know, lil’ bro. But don’t worry, I bet I could get my new beau to beat up anyone who tried to hurt you. He does throw a mean right hook”
“Yeah, I know, I know. Your big strong man beat up a guy to save your dignity, it’s all very romantic.”
“Jealous much?” Said Gabriel in an amused tone as he crossed the living room towards his bedroom “Don’t go spoiling my boyfriend's hero moment Cassie, now be a good little brother and shut up and go to sleep”
Castiel tutted loudly before saying “Good night, Gabe.”
Dean and Gabriel text each other through the week, Gabriel sending silly memes to keep Dean’s mood up while he’s working. And Dean returning the favor when Gabriel shares with him the news that his attacker had reported the incident to the police, lying and telling them that it was Gabriel who’d hit him. Dean speaks to Gabriel on the phone, reassuring him that he will stand as a witness for him if needs be. He mentions that his brother may be able to help too, as a law student and he tries to cheer him up with a few crude jokes, soon he can hear Gabriel laughing and gasping for breath down the phone.
Dean likes Gabriel’s lightheartedness and enjoys the banter they have together. But, there’s something, some little spark or feeling that is missing. Maybe he just needs to get to know Gabriel better and get past the first few dates.
***
“What’s got you smiling like an idiot, idiot?”
Dean looks up from his phone and the funny cat picture Gabriel had sent him across the table at his brother. “Nothin’. How do you like the chicken? I’m thinking about making it for my next date.”
“You’re planning on bringing him here? Moving kinda fast aren't you?” Sam’s eyebrow had risen so far into his hairline that it had almost disappeared completely.
“Well, it is our third date, if you count the coffee on the day we met. So...”
“Oh my, the third date, do I hear wedding bells?” Teased Sam
“Shut up, Sammy. I just thought it would be nice to have a quiet dinner and show Gabe that I’m -”
“Wife material?” Says Sam with a shit-eating grin.
“Fuck you. I was gonna say; a good cook. Besides, you should meet him, he could give you a nice haircut.” Dean, as usual, teases his brother’s choice to wear his hair longer “Or a buzz cut if you don’t watch your mouth”
“Are you saying that you want me to be here when you have a date over for dinner?” Asks Sam with a grimace “You’re not going to get all sloppy with him in front of me are you?”
“You can have dinner with us and then skedaddle over to the library or wherever college nerds go when they’re not at home.”
Sam gives Dean what Dean thinks of as Bitch face #forty-three, and rolls his eyes at the comment.