Angel Wings and Demon Pitchforks

21. My Partner is Right Here

Sam and Gabriel lay on Gabriel's bed. It was Friday morning and they were doing absolutely nothing. It was fantastic.

"When are we going to tell them?" Gabriel asked suddenly. Sam shifted uncomfortably. He wanted to tell his brothers that he had found his soulmate - he wanted to shout it from the rooftops - but because of their past experiences with the subject... he didn't know how they would take it.

"I don't know," Sam replied, staring up at the ceiling, taking Gabe's hand.

"Well," Gabriel rolled over to face Sam, "before we do anything, I want to take a date. Take us on a date. Take you--"

"You'll get there," Sam chuckled.

Gabriel sighed in frustration. "I want to go on a date. A proper one. Tonight." Sam grinned.

"Okay."

Gabriel's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. "Really?"

"Yeah. Where'd you have in mind?"

"I was up all night," Gabriel sat up, causing Sam to drop his hand. "I was thinking roller skating, frozen yoghurt, maybe a movie, dinner, a walk in the park..."

"Gabriel! Slow down! How about we start with roller-skating then see how we go?"

"Okay. Yes. Yes please."

"Alright," Sam laughed lightly at his nerves, "what do you want to do in the mean time?"

"I've got a couple of movies--"

"So cliche."

"Excuse me? What about--"

"If you suggest Mario Kart I'm leaving."

"Sammmmmmy," Gabriel whined.

"Don't let Dean hear you call me that."

Gabriel fell back and buried his face into Sam's chest. "Why don't you like my suggestions?" He mumbled.

"Because every fan fiction I've ever read has the couple either playing Mario Kart or watching movies to pass the time."

Gabriel's head shot up and Sam realised -- much to late -- what he had just said.

"You read fan fictions?" Gabriel giggled.

"No! I mean-- maybe? Yes? No! You weren't meant to find out so soon!" Sam groaned, his cheeks flushed a bright pink.

"We're soulmates, Sammantha. I was going to find out eventually." Gabriel adjusted himself on the bed to be more comfortable.

He then proceeded to torment Sam to no end by asking him questions about the things he read, to which Sam refused to answer. He was not going to tell Gabriel - even if they were soulmates - about his Wattpad account and he'd be damned to hell and back if he told Gabriel that he wrote fan fiction as well.

---

Gabriel had dropped the subject by lunch came around. After a nice meal that Gabriel had put together, consisting of sandwiches covered with Nutella ("Do you want some bread with that Nutella, Gabe?" "Shut up, Sam. There's no such thing as too much."), the boys set off to catch the bus to the roller rink. They'd both agreed that it would be less hassle to catch the bus, rather than have to explain to one of their siblings that they just wanted to go to the rink "as friends."

They held hands all the way there.

Sam liked holding Gabriel's hand. He wasn't used to it yet, but he loved it nonetheless.

Sam also learnt very quickly that he sucked at roller skating. He'd never been before and it was very difficult to stay balanced on wheels. Gabriel teased him playfully about it, but helped him out anyway.

"One foot in front of the other," Gabriel coaxed.

"What do you mean?! I move my foot and I--" Sam gave a little cry for help as his foot slid across the carpet, "--slip like that." Gabriel tightened his grip on Sam's hands and led him slowly down the carpet next to the rink. It was reasonably busy, as busy as you'd expect a roller rink to be on the school holidays in the afternoon. Music pounded and laughter rung.

"You walk and slide," Gabriel said, demonstrating with his feet (going backwards, the show off -- and on blades no less). Sam tried. "That's it! Now again. It's like walking but on wheels. You can learn to glide later." Slowly but surely, Sam made it down the carpeted area, parents and small children bustling past. They made it back to their table. "You ready to go on the floor?" Gabriel asked.

"Maybe."

"There's a bar to hold on to if you need it."

"Okay." Gabriel smiled and started to lead Sam to the gap in the half-wall. "Don't let go of my hand!" Sam cried, his grip tightening in his unbalance.

"Never dream of it," Gabriel squeezed back and they slowly made their way onto the floor.

The first thing that Sam thought was this isn't so bad then came the sudden, terrifying thought; the floor is slipperier than the carpet. He would have hit the ground if Gabriel wasn't holding his hand.

One foot in front of the other, Sam told himself. Awkwardly, he stumbled over to the metal bar around the edge of the rink.

"Alright now you just pull yourself around," Gabriel said. There was a familiar song playing through the speakers and couples were skating out into the centre. Sam watched in awe, jealousy and a bit of guilt.

"You know you don't have to stick around me," Sam said with a small smile. "I can waddle around the rink just fine."

"Yeah but this is a couple dance," Gabriel said, "and my partner is right here." Gently, he coaxed Sam's hand off the bar and gave him a little spin. Sam, letting out a cry of fear, clutched onto his boyfriend's hand as if his life depended on it. But, surprisingly, he didn't fall over. "You're getting the hang of it," Gabriel remarked with delight, but Sam's head was reeling.

He'd just thought of Gabriel as his boyfriend.

Was that their title? Was that what they were going to call each other? Surely it was. They were soulmates.

Soulmates.

The word still tasted fresh. Sam wasn't used to it. When he was growing up, the word was bitter and something to be feared, but now... Every time he thought about it, he couldn't help but smile.