iNSaNiTY: One-Shots

Right on Time: Sabriel

WARNING: Nothing. Just angst

Gabriel didn't care for the whole soul mate crap. It was annoying as hell to have a permanent timer embedded into your skin --  just mocking. Every day was a constant reminder of what should happen and when. There wasn't any excitement in it. 

Not anymore, anyway.

The first time Gabriel witnessed a Timer reach zero was with his brother, Castiel. They were walking together when Cas noticed his days had turned to hours. Castiel wasn't exactly an excitable person, but the second he saw his Timer, he lit up like a Christmas tree. He said that it must have been fate that brought them to this town on this day. Gabriel didn't voice his pessimism. The real reason they were there was to support their older brother Michael on something-or-other for his job; it was a mere coincidence.

Despite Castiel's giddiness, they went about their day like normal. Gabriel was pleasantly surprised at this considering most people search up and down when they notice their Timer getting close. Castiel wasn't someone to follow the majority, anyhow. That's what made him Gabriel's favorite sibling.

It was five minutes before Castiel's Timer reached zero.

The two had met up with a few of their other siblings to celebrate Michael. They celebrated straight past ten o'clock -- which was almost unheard of in their household. Siblings trickled out the restaurant together, all in high spirits. Everyone said their goodbyes before leaving with their respective traveling buddies. Castiel didn't notice his Timer until he was alone with Gabriel. He stopped in shock, the streetlight above them shining down on the seconds Cas had left.

"They're close, Sammy!"

Gabriel stepped in front of his brother with a grin. "Don't wanna keep him waiting, Castiel." He grabbed his brother's wrist opposite of the Timer, intending to pull him along.

Castiel glanced up. "Wait, Gabe --"

Gabriel jumped when his back crashed into something solid. He spun around to see a giant of a man staring down at him in surprise. They stared at each other before Gabriel pat the other man's chest. "It's like a wall," he mumbled. His eyes flicked over to his wrist and he retracted his hand.

"Uh, thanks?" The man gave a polite, confused smile. He pushed a strand of hair behind his ear, letting Gabriel get a look at the Timer.

Castiel and Dean were the very definitions of soul mates if Gabriel ever had to give one. They acted like an old married couple long before their dating was "official". He knew they would be together for a long time -- even when a lot of the world seemed to be against them, they were going to stick together. Gabriel was happy for them.

He tried to ignore the bitter, jealous feeling that threatened to seep through. He was glad Castiel met his soul mate, but he would be lying if he said that he didn't wish that would be him. He wanted to find someone that he could bicker with and wake up smiling next to. Just someone. Anyone.

The two brothers lived together, having been cut off from the rest of their family. On top of that, Sam and Dean were close brothers as well, which meant that Gabriel saw a lot of both Winchesters. He loved to tease them -- especially Sam. It just came so easy. There was something natural about the way Sam's mouth twitched after Gabriel said something inappropriate to him. It was like that was always meant to happen. Yet outside of their brothers' playdates, Gabriel and Sam never talked. There wasn't a need to; they weren't close friends nor did it seem like they were destined to be. After a while, Sam stopped hanging out with them. Gabriel couldn't help but wonder if it was something he did.

"Sam's getting engaged!" Dean announced to Castiel and Gabriel one day.

Castiel was the first to react. "That's great, Dean." Dean gave Castiel a peck on the lips, his excitement radiating. "Is it someone who stopped his Timer?"