Little Lies and Secrets

Promise Me

            AC/DC's Highway To Hell was blasting from speakers in the kitchen while a deliberately off-key Pippin sang and danced, using the broom she had been using as a mic to sing into.

        "I'M ON THE HIGHWAY TO HELL! HIGHWAY TO HELL!" She laughed the chorus, the biggest grin on her face at her silly antics. She had been cleaning Bobby's bunker of a house while the boys went out for a supply run, Emmy and Gabriel staying behind to do whatever. She didn't notice the archangel that had slunk in and was watching her with an equally big smile as she continued dance and sing. Gabriel shook off the feeling that tugged at his gut before setting his face in cold determination. He stepped forward and Pippin jumped, reaching around for her silver knife before visibly relaxing at the sight of Gabe standing there.

        "Jesus Gabriel you can't just sneak up on me like that." She said in an exasperated voice, the fond smile gracing her lips contradicting it. When Gabe didn't retort back with a sassy or sarcastic comment her smile vanished and was replaced with a small frown. Something didn't feel right about this current situation. Something just felt...off. Even Gabriel felt off and she resisted the urge to turn tail and run. Gabriel instantly recognized his mistake when Pippin's fingers twitched, a telltale sign of her fight or flight instinct. He plastered a smirk across his face as he took a step forward towards the hunter but stopped sharply when she took one back. Her dark green eyes darted up and down as well as to the sides, assessing the danger and her best chances at escape should she be attacked.

         "Aren't you supposed to be the observant one?" He asked abruptly, the few minutes in which this took place felt like hours. Pippin's eyes widened in shock as her mouth dropped open at his casual question, acting like the past couple of minutes didn't happen, and she felt the need to flee from Gabriel get stronger. He would have laughed at her almost comical expression had the situation not been so serious.

        "What's wrong?" She asked, her normally cheery attitude evaporating as her voice shook slightly with uncertainty. She knew him too well.

        "We need to talk about your curse." He stated simply like they were talking about the weather, and he watched as she frowned, the anger and hurt bubbling up to the surface.

        "Great. Swell. Wonderful. Whoopdyfreakingdoo." She sighed heavily as she ran a hand through her hair in her most obvious stress tell. Gabriel frowned at her automatic response to his statement and he grew suspicious.

        "Listen Gabe...we both know I'm not going to see another sunrise after this show down with the big boss." Pippin dead panned and Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest, unimpressed.

        "Not if Castiel has any say in the matter." He countered and if Pippin's change in expression and demeanor had been any faster he would have thought he was going crazy.

        "Gabriel I need you to promise me something right now." She demanded darkly and Gabriel just shook his head childishly. It only served to anger Pippin further and her Grace popped and crackled dangerously, a warning almost. If Dean was there he would have found it hilarious that a small 5 foot 4 inch woman would scare the much bigger archangel. Yet despite all that Gabriel flinched slightly as she rounded on him.

        "Fine. It depends on what it is?" He conceded, playing along with the hunter's game. He saw the words frustrate Pippin as she took a deep breath in an attempt to resist strangling the archangel. Whiskey colored eyes followed her as she paced the floor in front of him.

        "You have to swear to me, promise me," She started honestly "That no matter what happens you'll keep Cassie far away from Vela during the final fight." Pippin finished as she stopped in front of him and looked up. Gabriel almost couldn't talk as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat and struggled to say words. Had she lost her damn mind!?

        "Why!?" He sputtered out and it was Pippin's turn to flinch away at the words. Gabriel forced himself to watch, expecting her to just give up after that. He was completely taken by surprise when she looked back at him, more determined than ever. She was stubborn as hell. 

        "Because Gabe! I just...if I die I don't want him to witness it!" Pippin snapped back quickly as she moved to cross her arms over her chest. Gabriel glared down at her in anger. Any normal human would have coward away from the heated glare but Pippin just glared right back at him.

        "Do I really need to spell it out for you?" He said, the anger and frustration that Pippin was forcing this on him finally surfacing.

        "Spell out what Gabe?" She growled out and Gabriel finally broke.

        "Hello! Castiel adores, no, loves you Pip! " He spat out quickly. "He isn't going to let you anywhere near Vela without him with you!" He said, waving his hands around as Pippin took an alarmed step back. 

        "You better make sure he isn't within a 3 mile radius of that bitch." Pippin said suddenly, the snarl ripping it's way past her lips and cutting off Gabriel in mid rant. He looked down at the hunter in alarm, feeling the sudden rise of her Grace, what little she could use.

        "She will kill him, wait, no she'll torture him." She began again "Vela wants vengeance Gabriel! She will cut off Cas' wings, strip him of his Grace and slowly torture him until he dies all to spite me! The next time you say something like that again I advise you to take a wooden spoon and screw yourself with it." She yelled, face starting to turn red with anger and hurt. Gabriel watched as every wall he had broken past go back up and block him out once more.

        "I CANT LET HIM DIE GABRIEL! I LOVE HIM TOO MUCH FOR THAT!" She screamed as she stood in her tippy-toes, fists hitting his chest weakly. Pippin couldn't even think straight at this point. "I can't loose him too." She cried, not registering the tears that started to roll down her cheeks. Gabriel knew Pippin had a violent temper but he didn't expect her to act like this. He expected her to pull a Dean and beat him up, not scream and pour her heart out. Gabe couldn't stand seeing the hunter he called 'sister' cry and he knew she hated crying.

        "I'm dying Gabe. Jesus Christ I'm dying and I don't want to take him with me." She breathed, the anger fizzling out as quickly as it had started and hurt taking its place as she shook her head. He felt lost all of a sudden, as her Grace pulled away suddenly, retreating from him.

        "Please Gabriel. Promise me you'll keep him away from Vela." She muttered tiredly, feeling drained of any further emotion. "Promise? " She questioned. Gabriel stared at Pippin for a brief moment before he locked pinkies with her, dread filling him as he realized he would come to regret this decision.

        "I Pinky Promise."


        Gabriel relived the entire confrontation and promise with growing horror as he watched his little bro carry Pippin back inside of the house bridal style. He was split between what to do and suddenly he felt the dread resurface. Something was coming. Something that would completely change all of them forever.  Gabriel shivered slightly as he realized that he was going to keep his promise because Vela had forced Pippin's hand. She was going to kill Castiel in front of her slowly should he show up for the hunt.