Most Rewarding Title Author:
Artist: .com
Rating: Mature
Pairing/s: Sam/Gabriel
Word Count: 27,000
Warnings: Canon Divergent, Gabriel is Loki, Minor character deaths, Angst with a Happy Ending, Switching POV, Mentions of Rape, Mentions of Suicide, Reference to 'Bobby Singer's Guide to Hunting', Light petting/sexual situation, Violence Summary: Link to Fic:
Link to Art: /works/16175819
Authors Notes: Okay so this story is gonna have a bunch of notes which are important so please bear with me! This is also my first Big Bang and I wanna get it right!
1) This was written for the Sabriel Big Bang which you can find here:
2) The art for this is AMAZING and you can find a link to Knowmefirst here: .com and here: /users/Knowmefirst/pseuds/Knowmefirst
Link to Art: /works/16175819
3) This work was edited/beta'd by Andi4 and sooo many thanks to her taking the time to do this for me! You can find her here: /users/Andi4/pseuds/Andi4
4) For all FFN readers I'm sorry that the links probably wont work. The name of the artist is KnowMeFirst whose work can be seen on Tumblr and AO3. If you want to see the artwork, I posted each picture with the corresponding chapter it is meant for on AO3, I'm the same username there as always CrowNoYami.
Seriously though, check out the ART FOR THIS! /works/16175819
Prologue
Gabriel loved his job. While it wasn't typical, he enjoyed showing righteous assholes the error of their ways. It was fun at times to throw his flare into things, sometimes Gabriel couldn't help but wonder why he chose this line of work in the first place. He was once a beacon of hope and terror, the Archangel of Justice and Archerald of the Lord. Now he took a more personal job, dishing out just deserts on humans who harmed others. It was the same gig, only toned down. Sighing heavily, Gabriel leaned his head back on the sofa, his dog happily on his lap waiting for his master to notice him. Looking down at the small terrier, Gabriel smiled before petting the little guys' head, making the dog lean into the touch.
"What do you say, Spot? College jerks or CEO assholes?"
Spot barked once, and Gabriel laughed as the dog maneuvered his way onto his back on top of the archangel's lap. With a snap of his fingers, Gabriel transported his apartment. Rubbing Spot's belly, the blond chuckled at the dog's antics to get a better rub. "Crawford Hall sound like a good place to start to you, boy?"
Spot didn't answer this time, not that Gabriel was expecting him to. Placing his hand on the dog's stomach, the blond scratched and petted like he knew Spot enjoyed. This was the life he chose after running away from home. It wasn't something that he regretted, being able to live among humans was one of the perks of being on the run from his family. The archangel could admit, even if only to himself, that he chose the right path. It wasn't easy, being cut off from the Host had brought its own trouble, as while he had wanted to leave home, Gabriel hadn't wanted to be powerless while doing so.
It had taken time and energy to find out a way that he could keep his grace recharged and not have to give up the abilities he enjoyed so much. There was a flaw in the system, one that his older brothers had overlooked; Heaven wasn't the only place that was touched by God. While it was where most angels gathered their power, by being accepted into the pagan community, Gabriel as Loki had been able to siphon a small amount through nature.
Chuckling as Spot let loose a groan before shifting onto his stomach once again so Gabriel could rub his head the way he liked, the archangel looked at the small creature on his lap. It was interesting how overlooked everything but humanity was, even the brief petting session was enough to help charge Gabriel's grace, the dog radiating life energy and producing far more than needed. All living creatures gave off enough life that with a bit of training the archangel converted it to grace and recharged his own.
Not losing his grace allowed Gabriel to make a second life, one as far away from Heaven and Hell as he could get. Now he spent his days with his dog, and occasionally he would find someone to share his bed with, however briefly their time together would be. It wasn't the same as when he was connected to the Host, to when he was linked to every angel in existence. His link to Heaven remained cut from his side, silencing the prayers and whispers he had once been gifted.
Gabriel loved his job, punishing those who deserved it, sometimes saving people in the process, he loved it. But even he had to admit that if it was nothing else; it was lonely.