Okay, so I’ve been remiss. The last time I posted about my Ketch/Gabriel series it was January 2019. I took a hiatus, but starting in late August I began actively writing fics in this (not so little anymore) nichey rare-pair AU of mine so I decided it was finally time for a master post.
The Fics I’ve Posted About Before
Save Yourself - A story of the friendship forged between a broken man and a broken archangel.
Dedicant - Ketch is the center of a prophecy fortelling the death of Lucifer. Pretty much everyone is like wtf really? Slowburn friends to something more.
Gabe Gabriel, Sports Agent - A one-off spin off or an AU of the AU, written after David’s first State Farm ad aired.
Academic Integrity - A single test. A single kill. The birth of Arthur Ketch as we know him. A standalone prequel to this entire series, that is nonetheless referenced frequently in further stories.
Then the Morning Comes - Ketch and Gabriel need time to process the events of Dedicant; but Ketch’s former employer just had to rear their its ugly head. We finally reach the lovers part of Friends-to-Lovers trope with a hand job.
Cheater! - Pure porn. Ketch’s first full gay-sex experience.
The Fics You Might Not Know About
About Bloody Time - Mini-golf, puppies and a proposal.
He Said Yes - The day after Gabriel proposes, Gabriel and Jack go to grab breakfast and talk. This is told from Jack’s POV.
The Family You Choose - As news of his engagement spreads, Ketch gets well wishes from sources expected and unexpected. Feels, fluff, food sex (and not in that order).
Title: Road Trip Who: Ketch, Gabriel What: What the roadtrip from the Gate of Hell to the Bunker might have looked like. Word Count: 1000 Warnings: None
Getting Gabriel out of Hell had been comparatively easy compared to getting Gabriel into his car.
“Come on,” Ketch implored. “We must get going before an alarm can be raised!”
Gabriel looked at the car dubiously before his eyes frantically searched the area around them, as if seeking for any kind of alternative.
“I mean you no harm, I’m taking you to the Winchester Brothers, I swear it.”
Eyes whipped back around and stared at Ketch, as if reading his soul for intention. Ketch wasn’t sure if he could, but in this instance, he was quite glad that he was being sincere. Finally, the archangel nodded.
“Thank you, Gabriel,” Ketch replied relieved as the angel finally slid into the passenger seat before Ketch closed the door.
*
Once on the road, the silence in the car was almost insufferable. He’d read up on Loki once it’d been revealed that the Trickster and the archangel had been one and the same and knew that this broken husk of an angel was nothing like his normal self.
“Shall I turn on some music?” he offered, not wanting to startle Gabriel.
A slow nod.
Ketch hit the button and a light Mozart sonata started to play softly through the speakers. To his chagrin the angel started getting frantic, making piteous noises and tugging on his seatbelt.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Ketch said as he immediately hit the scan button to find something else to play. He kicked himself for failing to remember that the demon was a fan of classical music. Something about not drowning out the screams of the tortured or other cliched rot.
A Christian rock station came on next and this time it was Ketch making a face. He was no longer a religious man. Realizing that so much of the divine and the infernal was so <i>human</i> took away the mystique and comfort that religion held for many. The song instead only caused him to think of Asmodeus’ taunts, of that the fact that he was almost certainly going to be condemned to Hell. It was a day he intended to put off as far as possible.
They both seemed to relax as a country station came on next.
Ketch hit the button again to keep it playing.
*
He found a rest stop a little more than half way on to their destination. It was poorly tended, some of the overhead lights were out and the landscaping was sadly neglected, and that suited Ketch fine. It meant more respectable types, the types who might spot Gabriel in his current state and reach out to the cops – would be more apt to keep driving instead.
“I need to relieve myself,” Ketch said. “Do you want me to help you clean up?” he asked. “I’ve a pair of scissors in my first aid kit if you desire.”
A fervent shaking of the head.
This wouldn’t have been his first choice to clean up at either, so he supposed he couldn’t blame the archangel.
“I will be back in three minutes, all right?” Ketch asked. “If I feel that I cannot return in that time, I will come back and give you a better estimate.”
A slow nod.
“Excellent,” Ketch said.
He felt the eyes watching him as he hurried to take care of himself.
*
Ketch stifled a yawn as they approached the last leg of the trip. Some atrocious black coffee and a hastily consumed breakfast sandwich had helped but overcoming adrenaline crashes could be rough.
He glanced over at Gabriel who had curled up on himself in the seat. His head was resting on his shoulders, his eyes fluttering shut.
“I thought angels didn’t sleep,” Ketch said softly, but still somehow pleased that Gabriel seemed to be at some kind of peace.
Gabriel didn’t wake until the car came its final stop.
*
Gabriel tilted his head at the structure before him.
“I know, I know,” Ketch said. “It’s decidedly rustic, but it is well warded. You will be safe here,” Ketch said. He left the “And hopefully, so will I,” unspoken.
Gabriel eyed him, suspiciously.
Ketch raised his hands as he reached into his coat pocket and retrieved his key.
“See? Just a key. Did you want to do the honors?”
Gabriel nodded and slowly unfurled his hand.
Ketch laid it there gently.
Gabriel wrapped his fingers around it and studied it, looking for watch, Ketch wasn’t sure, but finally took it and used it once Ketch showed him where to find the lock.
The bunker door swung open and Gabriel took a tentative step in, eyes widening as he took it all in. Ketch lead him to the library. It wasn’t too dark; the ceilings were as high as you could get outside the foyer and the worst of the hum of the machinery that kept the lights on and the air flowing through the bunker was minimized. Gabriel offered a timid nod of approval as Ketch offered him a chair.
“Excellent,” Ketch says. “You stay here, I have some things I must do. I will come grab you when they’re ready.”
A nod, even as he saw fear creeping back into Gabriel’s eyes.
He considered it, and briefly left the library to return a few moments later with a pair of walkie talkies.
“If you need me, press this button here and make noise and I will return to you, all right?” Ketch demonstrated how they worked. Gabriel jumped at first, but the nodded. “Did you want to try it?”
Gabriel pushed the button and squawked and jumped at the sound of his own noise, but he still seemed more settled, some of that fear leaving his eyes once more.
Ketch nodded, pleased with that reaction. He knelt down and looked the archangel in the eyes. “I will be back for you again, I promise.”
Another slow nod.
“Good man,” he said as he left to ready himself to plead his case with the brothers.
Who: Gabriel, Ketch, the brothers make a brief appearance
What: A deal is made
Word Count: 1131
Warnings: None
Note: This is a canon divergent fic. This is also a BroTP for me, and I plan on any future prompts staying rated E for everyone. Also, this whole two-a day isn’t my normal, but I’ll ride it while I can :)
In the end, the brothers agree to let Ketch stay. It is unspoken that none of the three truly trust each other – even if Ketch thought he deserved at least some trust by now for being forthright about his dealings and you know, actually bringing Gabriel back to them – but he could reluctantly admit that if their roles were reversed, he would be as skeptical as well.
“I will go with you,” Ketch said when Dean announced his intentions to start the rescue mission. Dean started to protest that someone needed to be there for a rescue mission due to the time constraints when Gabriel threw in his own opinion on the matter.
“Mmph! Mmph!” Gabriel moaned as Sam was busy trying to remove the stitches from the archangel’s mouth.
“Hold still, Gabriel,” Sam said. “I don’t want to accidentally cut you.”
Another whine escaped.
“It’s okay, Gabriel,” Ketch said trying to keep exasperation out of his voice. “He truly only wants to help.”
Gabriel eyed Sam wearily, but settled.
“Weird, man,” was Dean’s only comment as Sam finally finished cutting the bindings.
Gabriel moved his jaw experimentally, but otherwise said nothing, eyes still just flitting between all three men.
Sam put the scissors on the table, which Ketch promptly moved closer to Sam and farther away from Gabriel. He had a hunch it would be best to keep any and all sharp objects away from the archangel for the time being.
“No,” Sam said as he turned his attention back to Dean. “I’ll go with you. We’ll wait until we can locate Cas, then we’ll go. Cas has been to the other world too, he can open the portal just fine.” He glanced at Ketch. “For some reason, Gabriel seems to listen to what Ketch says. Cas can watch Ketch while Ketch watches Gabriel.”
“Why don’t we just let Cas watch Gabriel?”
Gabriel shook his head.
“Did they get along…before?” Ketch asked. Having an angel watching over Gabriel wasn’t the worst idea, but he couldn’t say he necessarily trusted the Winchester’s pet angel, and apparently Gabriel didn’t either.
“It was…strained,” Sam allowed.
“And rightfully so!” Dean said. “Gabriel was the one that sent Cas who the hell knows where when we were trapped in TV Land!”
“And yet you think it’s a good idea to have him watch Gabriel?” Ketch asked incredulously. He didn’t know the backstory there, but it was bloody common sense that you don’t give positions of power to people formerly abused by the person in need of watching. He may not know the full story, but Castiel’s own reputation when it came to dealing with the Host of Heaven was as colorful as the Winchester’s own. He’d be cautious too.
“Castiel wouldn’t do anything. He’s not that kind of guy,” Dean said defensively.
“And yet you think Gabriel is in a mental state to appreciate that or trust in that?” Ketch again asked, no less incredulous than before. The Winchesters were thicker than he thought possible.
Gabriel heard the raising voices and tried to make himself smaller in the chair.
“I am sorry, Gabriel,” Ketch said as he glared at the brothers who were busy glaring back at you. “We are not mad at you, promise. It’s just a difference of opinion.”
Another slow nod.
“So like I said,” Sam said turning the conversation back around. “What if we have Castiel watch Ketch and let Ketch watch Gabriel? Castiel has been there. He can always mount the rescue mission that we hopefully won’t need.”
Ketch bit back a huff of amusement at the thought of the Winchesters actually getting it right on the first try. Still, while it certainly wasn’t Ketch’s idea of a good time, having some extra fire power just in case Asmodeus’ goons came sniffing around wasn’t a horrendous idea.
“I am willing,” Ketch said.
“It don’t matter if you’re willing,” Dean said. “Those are the terms.”
Ketch opened his mouth and then just shut it again. Some fights weren’t worth having.
“Fine. I accept.”
Dean looked at Sam. “Let’s go find Cas. Daylight’s burning.”
The brothers left the room.
“Well then,” Ketch said. “Since we’re going to hunker down for a while, why don’t we clean you up?” Ketch offered. “How do you feel about a bath?” The archangel didn’t exactly smell, but the grime and dried blood that clung to the skin wasn’t doing the host any favors.
*
Caretaking wasn’t something that the Men of Letters taught at Kendrick’s. To the contrary, they’d taught that the best thing to be done for Gabriel would have been to simply eliminate him, as he would have been considered too compromised to ever be of value again.
The Arthur Ketch of two years ago would haven’t even thought to question that notion. Now though, as he watched Gabriel hesitantly sink into the only tub in the whole bunker – thankfully there was a tub, even if it was metal and it had to be filled by strategically positioning it under the shower to fill it. It was slow, it was tedious, but it made for a bath that was warm enough to not be jarring to the skin, but not so hot as to irritate damaged skin. He’d found what passed for a soft washcloth in the bunker and lathered it up with soap from his own stash. The archangel deserved any small luxury he could get.
“Do you wish for privacy?” He asked.
Gabriel grabbed onto Ketch’s sleeve and shook his head.
All right. He’d stripped down to his boxers and undershirt, not wanting to get his suit wet. When he was done, he turned to find that Gabriel had removed his clothes. The already diminutive archangel seemed even smaller without the rags that were covering him. Even through the grime, Ketch could see the bloom of bruises under pale skin. Either Gabriel’s grace was more drain than he thought, or the angel had retreated so far into the host’s form that he’d forgotten how to use it.
He helped Gabriel into the tub. Gabriel managed to wash his body, but Ketch still dutifully helped wash his hair. He was efficient, but gentle, having had to watch far too many wounds of his own. He was happy to note that color seemed to return to Gabriel the longer he washed.
“There we go,” he said as he finally helped him out of the tub and wrapped him in a robe that Sam helpfully dropped off while Gabriel was in the bath. “I dare say you already look more presentable than either Winchester.”
A small smile formed on scarred lips.
Gabriel spoke for the first time since the stitches had been removed.
“Thank you.”
Ketch found himself unexpectedly smiling back in return.
“You’re welcome.”
Other ketchbriel peeps: @thewhiterabbit42 @nobodys-baby-now @embrrssed-love
Title: Basking
Who: Ketch, Gabriel
What: Gabriel gets his first taste of the sun for the first time in centuries
Word Count: 927
Warnings: None
It began with a low rumble, then the trembling of the plates on the table. Only then did he notice Gabriel’s eyes glowing blue.
So this is what an angry archangel looks like Ketch’s brain helpfully told him.
It was more than a little terrifying given that Gabriel still looked in full control.
“Too soon!” Ketch said hurriedly. “I’m sorry Gabriel.”
“What did you do, Ketch?” Castiel demanded as he appeared.
And just like that, the switch flipped back off. That was scary too, if Ketch thought about it.
“Leave him alone.” Gabriel said turning honey eyes back on Castiel. “He hasn’t done anything.”
“I beg to differ,” Castiel began before being abruptly cut off.
“He is the reason that I’m here to listen to you whining. You said yes to Lucifer. You’ve lost the moral high ground, baby brother.”
“I was trying to stop Amara!” he protested.
“Everyone always thinks they’re doing what’s right,” he said airly. “Not everyone releases Lucifer on the world.”
“I’m not going to stand here and take this,” Castiel huffed.
Gabriel and Ketch both ignored him, in fact, Gabriel now seemed to not even notice that Castiel was even in the same room at all.
“I want to go outside,” Gabriel announced. “I want to feel the sun again.”
“We could go for a walk?” Ketch suggested. “The wardings will protect us if we don’t stray too far.”
A nod.
It looked like this round of chatter had concluded.
“Right,” Ketch said. “Well, come along.”
*
There was a small faded footpath that circled the Bunker. At one time it might have been prominent, but now it was a was barely noticeable, time and rains having helped fill the path back in. That didn’t matter, however, its true purpose – a marking of the edge of the wards – was still readily served by those who knew what it meant.
Like Ketch.
He watched as Gabriel didn’t watch where he was walking. Instead, he just seemed to be soaking up the sun, not unlike a cat. He half wondered if they found a suitable stump if Gabriel would want to stop.
It didn’t take long to find out that he did.
They sat out there, just like that, for an hour, maybe more. Ketch didn’t check his watch. It didn’t seem right to. There was something about this moment that he just knew he should be in it, even if that moment was a celebration of the ability to do nothing but bask in the warmth of the sun.
And it was a celebration. Ketch could see it in the way that Gabriel looked more relaxed.
“It is beautiful out, isn’t it?” Ketch offered.
“I’ve missed the warmth.” Gabriel replied. “He made a cell for me near the Cage because. The cannon fodder wasn’t allowed down there and Crowley had enough deterrents to keep them away. We couldn’t see each other, but we could hear each other’s screams. I only knew because Asmodeus took great delight in rubbing in the fact that with Raphael dead and the other three of us trapped here in Hell that Heaven was floundering to keep it together. He would keep me up to date on news from Heaven. I generally tried to tune it out, because I didn’t want to let him get to me, but I knew he wasn’t lying about my brothers.” He drifted off. “Do you have any siblings?”
“I was an only child,” Ketch said. “My parents both worked for the Men of Letters. They considered my birth as the fulfillment of an obligation to the organization.”
“Siblings are a pain in the ass,” Gabriel opined. “Always making noise. Always causing fights. Always breaking your toys.”
“You miss them?” Ketch guessed.
“They were pains in the asses like you wouldn’t believe.” Gabriel agreed. “But they were my pains in the asses.”
“Would you help put Lucifer back in the cage?” Ketch asked.
“No,” Gabriel said. His voice was emphatic, but firm. “No, no, no.”
“But you helped put him there before.”
“I can’t.” Gabriel insisted.
Ketch knew he was pushing too hard and let off.
“Are you ready to go back?” he asked.
Gabriel nodded, albeit reluctantly.
“All right then.”
*
Ketch let them back inside, where Castiel was waiting for them.
“I was wondering where you had gotten off to,” he said eying Gabriel, frowning, then giving Ketch a disdainful look. “You’ve been gone for almost two hours.”
Ketch didn’t show his surprise. “We weren’t far,” Ketch said.
“Regardless. Sam and Dean are back. They are asking to see Gabriel; Jack wants to meet his uncle.”
“That’s lovely.” Ketch said. “And I want to be King.” He looked at Gabriel. “Are you up for it?”
“Who is Jack?” Gabriel asked not looking at Castiel.
“Lucifer’s son,” Ketch said carefully. “Like we discussed yesterday.”
Gabriel frowned and shook slightly. “Nephilim are bad.”
“Jack is not back,” Castiel said. “He has not even met his father.”
Gabriel shook more. “No.”
“But – “ Castiel said.
Ketch sighed. “By God Castiel. He needs a break. It has barely been twenty-four hours. When he is more lucid, he will be in a better place to Jack. For now, I’m taking him back to his room to decompress.”
Castiel opened his mouth to protest, but shut it when he saw Gabriel inch towards Ketch.
“Fine,” he said. “Why do I have to be the one to tell Sam and Dean?” he asked plaintively, knowing they would not like this answer.
