#but i’ll never escape destiel

[no-nightingalez]

[casdeans-pie]

Falling (In Love)

Destiel Fanfiction 2,065 words Rated G

Tags: Aftermath Of A Case (we don't see the case, but we see what Situation Dean and Cas have ended up in because of it), Castiel Is A Fallen Angel, Dean Sees Cas's Wings, Near Death Experience, First Kiss.

Summary: Desperate times call for desperate measures even if those measures are jumping out of the window on the seventieth floor with nothing but hope and mangled fallen angel wings to keep you in the air. Probably not the best time for a kiss... or is it?

------Read on AO3------

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In terms of ‘situations where escape seems impossible’ Dean would probably rank this at a solid two. He’s not entirely sure what keeps it from being number one, since there are currently a group of eight witches blocking the only doored exit to the room, and the only other way out would be through the floor-to-ceiling window behind him – seventy stories up from the ground. Dean lost his gun a few floors back, and Cas’s angel blade was stolen by the witches, so they’re also weapon-less. But he figures that while the spell book that he and Cas just stole is still in his hands the witches won’t risk damaging it, so at least they can stall for time while he thinks of some way to get them both out with the book. He’s escaped with impossible odds against him all the time.

It just feels a little more impossible than usual.

Dean glances over at Cas, hoping to see some kind of glint in his eyes that means he’s got a plan. But he’s not looking at Dean. His eyebrows are drawn together in indecision and worry and he’s staring straight ahead with a vacant expression that means he’s deep in his thoughts.

Hope flares in Dean’s chest.

He’s learned enough from Cas’s expressions over the years to know that he’s got something up his sleeve. Something risky, but hell, Dean’s not picky about that right now.

The witches all take a pace forwards as a unit and Cas tugs on Dean’s shirt sleeve to pull him back further towards the window, to keep their distance. Nothing but a desk separates them now.

The huge glass window is pressing cold and solid against their backs in a cruel reminder that freedom is a pane of glass away, but they’d never survive the fall.

“Just give us the book Winchester,” one of the witches snaps.

“Give us the book and we’ll let you both live,” another adds in a low, persuasive tone.

“Like hell you will,” Dean retorts with a snort, “you think I’m gonna trust a single damn thing that comes out of a witch’s mouth?”

A witch taller than the others takes another step closer to them both, her chin held high, and she examines her long, blood red nails as if bored by the whole situation. “Boys, boys, boys,” she says, with a shake of her head, “I grow tired of this. You’ve stolen my book, and I want it back. There is clearly nowhere for you to go, so I suggest that you hand it over, or I will regretfully have to kill you both and hope that my book survives.”

“This book contains angelic spells, and it belonged to the angels before it belonged to you. You’re the ones who stole it in the first place. You have no more claim to it than we do,” Cas says suddenly, his voice firm and full of defiance.

“Yeah, except Cas is an angel, so really, yknow, if it belongs to anyone it belongs to him,” Dean adds, tapping the front cover of the old book with his knuckles and scoping out the room again while he stalls for time, hoping to find any way out of this. Preferably without him and Cas becoming spell-practice for witches or bloody smears on the sidewalk below them.

The bold witch at the front laughs in a throaty cackle.

Dean smiles. “Wow, nice laugh you got there, Wicked Witch of the West, you about to tell me you’re gonna get me and my little dog too?”

“Mm, you are pretty I’ll give you that. But no, I’m just amused that you can call that an angel. I’ve been using those spells a long time, so I can see something of this… abomination’s true form, and trust me, Winchester, if you could see what I see you wouldn’t call it an angel.”

------Read the rest on AO3------

[hekate1308]

Fictober 2022, #29

Prompt: “You love this, don’t you“

Fandom: Supernatural

Rating: G

Pairings: Destiel

He first noticed the man on a Thursday.

Castiel had been sceptical when the library he worked at had decided they would allow volunteers who simply walked in from the street to read to children on that day of the week. After all, one never knew who could come by, and he had sworn to himself that he would pay special attention to anyone doing so.

So far, there had been nothing to arouse suspicion, if he didn’t count a strange and rather well-known local business man – rather well-known to be mean-spirited and stringy, at that – showing up, gifting them the entire works of Enid Blyton and spending an afternoon reading them to children.

But today, there was a different volunteer. And this one… Castiel didn’t even have to remind himself to keep an eye on him because he was utterly beautiful, more beautiful than anyone else he had ever seen in real life.

God, he hadn’t believed someone like this could even exist.

Almost unconsciously, he moved forward so he could hear what he was reading, and his heart picked up a pace when he realized he’d chosen Paddington Bear, always a favourite.

He was even doing voices.

At first, he thought he was being sneaky, or at least his version of it but then Charlie, his co-worker, said, “That’s Dean.”

“Dean?” he said before he could stop himself, and she chuckled.

“The volunteer you can’t take your eyes off of. He’s one of the best man I know.”

“I – he’s reading really well.”

“Yes, yes, I am sure you like his reading…” It just so happened that Dean had finished for the afternoon and was closing the book, and she quickly grabbed Castiel’s arm. “Let me introduce you two!”

“Charlie –“

“Hey Dean, this is Castiel. I’ve told you about him.”

“Yeah, of course, the one named after an angel, right?” Dean said before turning to Castiel and oh my God, now he was looking at him.

He nodded and said, “Hello, Dean.”

For some reason, he chuckled.

Quickly. He had to say something. Books. Books were safe. Books were good.

"You love this, don't you?" he asked, nodding at the book in his lap.

Dean once more read the title, then looked up and grinned at the librarian. “He –“ he glanced at the children who were still around. “Yes, I do. Very much. Used to read to my little brother all the time. He loved the tales of the knights of the Round Table, but anything I could get my hands on, really.”

His smile being directed at Castiel only made him more beautiful and he could already feel his tongue twisting; he was sure to say something inane and drive him away. “That’s nice” he finally managed.

“Yeah, imagine that – he went to Stanford! Shows you what reading can do.”

He wasn’t quite sure what the Knights of the Round Table had to do with college, but he nodded.

Dean got up from his chair and winked at him. “See you next Thursday then, Cas. I’ll be in touch, Red.”

Cas? He watched Charlie escort Dean out and escaped back amidst the books.

Despite what Dean had said, he didn’t actually expect him to return the next week – there were many volunteers who only came by once or twice – but Dean made it a habit of showing up, clearly delighting in reading to any children who happened to be there.

And he always not only talked to Charlie, but Castiel too afterwards. He’d quickly grown used to being referred to as Cas.

And the feeling in his stomach whenever Dean smiled at him was growing harder and harder to ignore.

“Hey, Cas” a voice rang out and utterly surprised, he raised his head. It was Wednesday, after all – not Dean’s day.

“Hello, Dean.”

He chuckled. “You always greet me like that.”

“Do I?” But of course he did. He tended to stick with what he knew worked so things wouldn’t grow awkward.

Dean cleared hi throat. “Yes, well, it’s – It’s lunch time.”

“Yes” he confirmed, looking at his watch.

“So I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch – with me?”

For some reason Dean looked nervous. Naturally he agreed though.

If he had had time to think about it, he would probably have been nervous, but instead, he and Dean spent the lunch talking about everything and nothing, and he couldn’t help but feel that he had never really gotten along so well with someone out of the blue.

Also, Dean was still growing more beautiful, but how, he had no idea.

It was after they had finished their meal and Dean was walking him back to the library that he said, “We should do this again sometime.”

He nodded happily.

“Or… maybe you’d like to have dinner.”

He stared at Dean, because certainly…

He managed to nod again.

Dean answered by kissing him, so it seemed his suspicion had been correct.

[akascow]

nonononono howd i get on destiel tiktok again ahhh

[mishacollinsthighsss]

"Sam, what do you want?"

Cas stared at Sam, unsure why the younger brother wanted to talk to him so badly, but now seemed to struggle to get a single word out.

"Listen man, there's- there's things you should know about. It's about..."

Sam trailed of with a sigh and sat down in one of the chairs in the library, so Cas did the same.

"About what?"

He got more and more confused by the second, but he could sense that Sam was really nervous, almost scared, so he tried not to be too impatient.

"It's about Dean."

"What about Dean? Is he- did he get in trouble again when I was gone?"

Sam sighed again, even deeper this time, but shook his head.

"No, that's not- have you noticed anything different about him since you're back?"

Cas furrowed his brows and lowered his gaze to the table, trying to think of anything, but there was nothing, at least not something he'd noticed.

"No, not really. Well, he eats even more, but other than that-"

"Yeah, he eats more because he was starving the last few weeks?"

"Starving?"

Cas tried to keep up with Sam, but it got harder and harder.

"Yeah. He- you know how he is, when someone dies, he always blames himself-"

"It's not his fault. I told you to go, both of you. I thought I could handle it."

"I know Cas, but that's not the point."

Sam brushed his hair behind his ear, and just then Cas noticed that he was shaking a little.

"What is it, then?"

"If you'd stop to interrupt me-"

"If you'd just say what you want to say-"

"Okay, okay, stop. This isn't going anywhere that way."

Cas looked up again, his eyebrows still knitted together, but as soon as his eyes met Sam's, he could see the worry in them, so he closed his mouth and made a gesture for Sam to continue.

"Listen, this wasn't the first time. I mean, it was the first time it was that bad, but... whenever you die, Dean's- he's different. He doesn't eat, drinks whenever he can get his hands on some booze, he doesn't sleep, has nightmares. He's a mess without you, dude."

That definitely wasn't what Cas was expecting, and even though it was good to hear that he was important to Dean, his heart felt heavy because Dean suffered because of him.

"That's normal when you're grieving Sam, you should-"

"No, no its not. Not like that. When- when Charlie died, or Kevin, or even dad... it's different with you."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Sam took another deep breath, before he locked eyes with Cas, a determined expression on his face.

"Do you love him?"

Cas was taken aback for a second, because of everything Sam could've asked, he definitely wasn't expecting that.

"Of course, you know I love you both-"

"No. No, no, not like that. Are you- are you in love with Dean?"

Cas sucked in a sharp breath, his heart racing. He knew that Sam asked because he didn't know, how could he, Cas tried to hide it as good as he could. He thought about lying for a second, but why should he?

"Yes."

His voice was quiet, almost a whisper, and he couldn't hold Sam's gaze anymore. His eyes fell closed and he had to lower his head once again, because he could feel his cheeks burning.

"Good."

"Good?"

"Yeah."

When Cas looked up again, a small smile appeared on his lips, but the angel couldn't quite figure out what was going on inside the younger brother's head.

"Why?" he asked after a long moment of silence, afraid of the answer, but he was too curious not to ask.

"Because I- I think he loves you too."

Even though his grace was protecting the vessel, Cas could've sworn that in this moment, he was close to a heart attack, but he quickly shook his head.

"No, that's not- he... he doesn't like men, Sam. It's normal that he's grieving me, he said it a few times, I'm like a brother to him-"

"Oh, and you believe everything that comes out of his mouth without any doubt?"

Sam raised an eyebrow, challenging, and Cas quickly shook his head.

"No, of course not, but he- he made it clear that he isn't interested in me that way."

"Goddamnit Cas, do you have any idea what I have to deal with when you're gone?"

"No, I don't know if you've noticed, but I was dead."

The angel's voice was quiet, but he couldn't stop it from shaking completely, so he hoped Sam didn't hear it.

"He's- he's not Dean anymore when you're gone, man. He's just- just an empty shell. God he- he wanted to die, Cas. You've seen him grieving, and when you're gone- that's a whole new level."

Sam looked stressed now, almost desperate, but Cas didn't allow himself to think about it, not even for a second, so he just shook his head stubbornly.

"You two are fucking killing me! Just go and kiss Dean and you'll see."

"Wait- what?"

Both their heads snapped around when all of a sudden, Dean appeared in the library, still wearing his pajama, a cup of fresh coffee in his hand.

"You heard that right, could you two just kiss? Do you have any fucking idea how frustrating it is to see you dance around each other, both of you obviously totally smitten, but neither of you has the balls to make a fucking move?"

Cas stared at Sam with wide eyes as he stood up and stomped out of the room, leaving Dean and Cas alone there.

"You uh- is he- I mean does he-"

"Yes. I'm sorry Dean, I know you don't feel that way and it was inappropriate for Sam to-"

"So you- you love me. Like... in love with me? The whole chick-flick stuff?"

Dean's voice came closer, but Cas was too afraid to look at him, so he stubbornly stared at the table.

"Uh...y-yes."

The angel could practically feel Dean's eyes on him, so he lifted his hand and rubbed his neck, in an attempt to lessen the feeling, but it just got stronger with every second.

"Huh."

"Huh?"

"Thought angels couldn't feel that way."

"Well, we aren't supposed to."

"But you do?"

"Yes."

"Great."

"What?"

"I said great."

"Oh."

"So... you gonna make a move now, or what?"

Dean's voice was close to Cas' ear now, and when he looked up, there noses were touching all of a sudden. Dean's eyes were shining and even though Cas wanted to bring some space between them, he couldn't stop staring. His heart hammered in his chest by now, and he knew he could use his grace to calm it down, but for some reason, he didn't want to.

"Because, y'know, me too. The same thing, I mean. Me too."

"You- you mean you...?"

"Yeah."

Both of them were just whispering, but they could hear each other perfectly, could feel their breaths on their lips, even. For the first time in his existence, Cas felt like he wasn't able to think, wasn't even able to breathe. He hesitated for another second, but then leaned forward to close the gap between their lips. A quiet whimper escaped him when he felt Dean's lips for the first time, followed by a sigh. He'd kissed people before, but not like that. He'd never felt the way he felt for Dean, which made it so much more special to him.

He could hear a distant noise, but before he was able to pull away, two warm hands were on his cheeks and pulled him even closer. Their kiss was messy, almost clumsy because of Cas' lack of experience, but neither of them broke it. After what felt like hours and no time at all, Cas could feel Dean sitting down on his lap, so he hesitantly wrapped his arms around the other man's waist. Apparently, that was a good move, because he could feel Dean smiling.

Dean was sighing quietly too now, so Cas used the chance to deepen it even more. His hands were shaking and he could actually feel his blood rushing through his veins, which made him chuckle just a little.

They didn't know how long they were sitting there like that, just kissing and touching each other, when suddenly, Sam cleared his throat from the other end of the room.

"You guys done soon? Because I found a case."

Dean was the one who pulled away first, a smile on his lips and his eyes shining with happiness, something Cas could stare at forever. His cheeks were flushed and the angel knew that he probably looked exactly the same, but he still turned his head to look at Sam, who was trying to hide a grin.

"If you ever do something like that again Sammy, I'm gonna kill you myself. And I'll make sure that you'll stay dead."

Dean's words were harsh, but there was no heat behind them. Cas tightened his grip around Dean's waist and buried his face at his neck, not ready to let go yet, which made the other man laugh quietly.

"Noted. Anyway, there's this case..."

*****

So, it's 3 in the morning, it's still 26° Celsius outside and I already forgot half of what I wrote. I'm also too exhausted to read over it now, so if there are any mistakes, my apologies 😅

Also I didn't make a tag list now, but I'm gonna tag the people who asked anyway. If you want to get tagged too in future fics, please let me know, and also let me know if you wanna get tagged for destiel, cockles, or both 😊

💙💙💙

@green-blue-heller @sam--ships--it

[chocolatecakecas]

Not so Cold Feet: Destiel Wedding Ficlet Part 1

Part 2

Congrats to the happy couple💙💚💍!!!!!!!

So far, the day had gone off without any major hiccups, to everyone's complete surprise.

They had somehow managed to keep Dean and Cas away from each other since late last night, which neither of them were happy about. Cas had tried to explain the actual origin of that tradition, and how it definitely didn't apply to them, but nobody budged (Cas you have the rest of your life to be gross with Dean, you can handle a couple more hours). And as they were shuffled off to opposite ends of the bunker, Dean had to agree with Cas, it was a stupid tradition.

Was there an attempted escape plan (meet in the kitchen at 3am to make out), that was foiled when Cas flicked on the lights to see Sam, Eileen, Charlie and Claire, all leaning against the kitchen island? It's possible, but they did manage to catch a glimpse of each other before being frogged marched back to their holding cel-bedrooms.

Other than the failed coup and his wounded pride, Dean was fine for the rest of the night. He was fine throughout breakfast, he was fine in the shower, he was fine when he began getting ready. But now as Dean was staring at his deep blue suit in the mirror, he knew one thing for certain.

He was definitely not fine.

It wasn't that he was getting cold feet, quite the opposite actually. Dean loves Cas with his entire being, more than Dean can put into words, he wasn’t sure that the right words even exists. He doesn’t want to be with anyone else in the world. Cas was it for him.

And listen, Dean knows Cas loves him. He tells him every chance he gets, and they've been raising an actual baby together, for godsake. So Cas loves him, and logically, Dean knows that it's true.

But because his mind apparently can't let himself just be happy for once in his life, he panics.

What if they're making a mistake? What if this isn't what Cas really wants? What if Cas marries him and realizes that Dean actually isn't the one thing he wants?

Ice rushes through Dean's veins.

He has to talk to Cas. Dean has to stop this befo-

A knock interrupts his thoughts. Sam's head peers around the door, and with a blinding smile, tells Dean it's time.

They walk down the hallway together in silence, the energy of the day bounces off the walls, excitement hanging in the air.

Dean's mind races. He has to talk to him.

When he sees Cas he'll just tell him the wedding is off an-

Okay well, I'll word it better than that, Dean thinks.

They slowly make their way to the backdoor that leads out to the clearing. It's hidden from view behind the bunker, and it's where Cas had started a garden, spending hours out there taking care of the land. Now the ground now covered in various wild flowers.

That's where everyone is waiting. Right. He has to talk to him, before they go out there in front of literally every single person they know.

Dean fiddles anxiously with his cufflinks, heart rate increasing with each step.

He'll just tell Cas that this is a mistake, that he can't let Cas do this. He has too, even if it break Dean's heart. He has to let him go, for Cas.

By the time they reach the door, a small crowd is gathered, and he starts to sweat. Dean’s eyes find Eileen and Charlie first, in long, flowing dresses (Eileen had picked them out).

As soon as she sees him, Charlie tackles Dean in a hug, excitedly whispering her congratulations, and wipes tears from her eyes as she pulls away. Eileen makes her way over next, wrapping him in a tight hug, and signs a quick, "good luck" with a teasing wink.

It does nothing to quiet the noise in his mind.

He can't let Cas tie himself to Dean forever, Cas deserves better than him.

He can't let Cas make the biggest mistake of his life.

So Dean has to tell him. He ha-

Dean freezes.

He spots a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. His back is to Dean, and he's crouched down low, fixing Jack's tie. His focus is on the conversation he's having with Claire, who stands above him in a deep green suit.

Then he rises and turns. And Dean feels the air leave his lungs.

Every word dies in his throat, and his thoughts stall in his mind, because suddenly, nothing else in the world matters more, than the sight in front of him.

He drinks in Cas for the first time in 10 hours.

The way his deep green suit perfectly hugs every inch of his body, his hair carefully (but still messily) tousled, his crooked bowtie, eyes dancing with excitement as he places Jack on his hip.

And Dean has never seen a more beautiful sight in his life. Tears begin to form in his eyes as he tries to commit everything to memory.

Love, like he's never felt before washes over him, quieting his anxieties, filling his thoughts with blue eyes and gentle touches.

Jack spies Dean first, excitedly yelling as a greeting, and alerting Cas of his presence. Their eyes meet.

Cas's jaw goes slack, blue eyes widening, and a look Dean has never seen before, takes over his features.

A soft smile grows on Cas' lips, Dean smiles back.

Jack wiggles free from Cas' arms and crashes into Dean's legs, effectively breaking their staring contest.

As he ruffles Jack's hair, he hears the conversation on the other side of the door subside.

It's time.

Sam engulfs Cas in a tight hug, whispering something Dean can't quite make out, so he shifts his focus to the three year old, who's hanging on his leg. With a laugh, he bends down to actually fix his kid's tie, since it's still completely uneven (Cas is hopeless). Dean stands, throwing a wide smile to Claire, who smiles back and makes her way over.

In a flash she's wrapped her arms around his neck giving him a quick hug and a whispered congrats. Dean is completely stunned, but manages to hug back, before she pulls away. He watches her walk towards Eileen and Charlie, with Jack in tow (he pretends not to notice the tears in her eyes).

Sam eventually pulls back from Cas, both a little misty eyed. He rights Cas' bowtie and makes his way over to Dean.

They share a meaningful look before wrapping each other in a tight hug.

"I'm so happy for you, Dean. You guys deserves this. You deserve this".

Dean's breathe catches as they pull apart, clasping each others' shoulders for a moment longer.

Then with a watery smile and a whispered, good luck, Sam begins to usher Jack and his little basket through the door, sending Charlie and Eileen after. Then Sam and Claire disappear.

Dean watches in a daze as Jack toddles down the aisle, tossing petals (from Cas' garden of course) as he goes. Eileen and Charlie each had to put him back on track, as he got distracted seeing all of his family seated on either side, which earns a laugh from the crowd. Sam and Claire follow slowly behind them, moving to opposite sides of Bobby, where he currently stands on the makeshift "alter".

Dean feels the fears slowly begin to creep around his edges, his mind racing once more.

He has to tell him, he's running out of time, he has to stop this he can't let Cas make the biggest mist-

A hand on his shoulder rips him from his thoughts, he feels it's warmth radiating through his jacket. Their eyes meet in silence, the gravity of the situation clearly weighing on the both of them.

Dean fears he might blurt out something he'll regret for the rest of his life, but his thoughts settle. And the only thing his mind telling him to do, is reach out and tilt Cas' bowtie. So he does.

And Cas lets out a surprised laugh, and it's the most beautiful sound he's ever heard. Cas reaches out, doing the same to Dean's tie. He laughs back.

The tension melts away and Dean's mind quiets. He finally feels like he can breathe as he finds Cas' eyes again.

Then it hits him.

The angel that he fell in love with, with the ratty trench coat and backwards tie, with the smile reserved just for him, and that stupidly endearing head tilt, now stands before him. The man he loves more than anything in the world, the man who raised him from hell, the man who sacrificed everything for him, the man who saved him from himself so many times he's lost count, stands before him. In his deep green suit, with his wild hair, piercing blue eyes, a gummy smile, and a now crooked bowtie. His guardian angel, the light of his life, his best friend. This awkward, wise, dorky, powerful, ancient, little weirdo, stands before him.

And Dean is going to marry him.

The music swells pulling them from their daze, and they watch as all of their family rises and turns to face them.

Cas takes hand and squeezes, and Dean squeezes back.

Now, as Dean stares into those deep blue eyes, as they stand together on a makeshift alter, in a field of budding flowers, in front of everyone they love, tightly clasping ring-clad hands. He knows one thing for certain.

They are definitely, going to be fine.

Tag list:

@theangelwiththewormstache @smiledean @shelikestv @good-things-do-happen-dean @chaoticdean @midnightwings-deancas @jellydeans @sunshine-jack @archervale

@wikiangela @organicpurplepants @bbcalamity @tkdwolf2012 @doemons-blog @rolling-stoned-girl @skylerkernaghan @shadowywerewolfqueen @the-cookie-navy

@martymar1963 @thelahatiel @thefantasyfiend @castielle-deanna @aestheticflyer26

As always, let me know if you want to be added or removed!!!💛

[windsource]

It’s in the Knowing (that Wishes Come True)

destiel december 2020 prompt: sledding + spn advent calendar 2020 prompt: wishes wc: ~1.4k

[READ ON AO3] 

“Dean, you had,” Sam huffs, “infinite possibilities at your disposal. And you wished for–for this?”

Dean’s a little confused, too, looking out at the mountains. Almost every inch is covered with a layer of snow, but by far, the hill they’re standing on has the thickest blanket. Dean’s feet sink into it a little when he shifts his weight, studying their surroundings.

Apart from the clearing they’re in, the place is littered with trees. Dean’s gaze follows the trunks up, until he’s looking at the sky, which is quickly losing light. He thinks he can make out the beginning twinkles of constellations, and when he laughs, a puff of frosty breath obscures them for a moment before fading off.

Then he smells it—something like firewood, he thinks, and turns towards it. Eyes still searching the tops of the trees, Dean catches sight of a thin column of smoke, likely from a cabin nearby.

A few feet away from them, a tree branch packed with snow loses its hold, and the whump of the snow hitting the ground startles Dean out of his thoughts.

“I don’t know, man,” Dean says, “It’s not like I really had a choice. I just, you know, just had this thought, I guess, and now…we’re here.”

He turns back to Sam, who focuses on Dean once more, seemingly having caught sight of the smoke too.

“I’m assuming…those have something to do with it?”

Dean’s eyes follow the direction Sam’s finger is pointing to, which is a somewhere on the ground and behind Dean, off to his left. Just at the edge of the hill sit two sleds—the old, wooden kind that seem like they’re always one good bump away from splintering into a million pieces, but somehow never do.

He chuckles, moving towards them to check them out, when Sam urgently pats his shoulder. Dean swivels around, taking in Sam’s confused—but not shocked—expression, and once more tracks his stare to see what he’s looking at. 

Dean finds himself mirroring his brother, but otherwise smiling despite himself.

“What took you so long?” He hears himself say, feels Sam looking at him weird in response. If this was his “wish,” then this only made sense—it’d just been a matter of waiting for him to show up.

Cas levels him with a stare that says ‘really?’ and Dean moves to meet him half way.

“Jackets,” Cas says, handing Dean a thick black one that looks like it’s meant for snow. Dean takes it. “And Jack,” Cas adds. With a gentle tilt of his head, Dean looks over and sees Jack, not too far away, walking briskly towards them with something small in his hands.

“You two always come out here practically naked,” Cas says, leaving Dean and handing Sam his own jacket. “And the lumberjack outfits are fine for when it’s any other season, but you do realize it’s the dead of winter, right?”

“Well, you…” Dean starts, about to tell him off for the dress shoes and trench coat he’s never seen without, except that Cas isn’t wearing them, he’s…

“Cas, is that—are those—are you wearing boots?” Sam asks, a lilt of amusement in his voice.

Cas looks down, frowning. “These are my snow boots. Dean got them for me last Christmas.” He shoots Dean a confused glance, as though Dean should be in on this, and Sam was the one acting deluded. Dean can’t really bring himself to care, too busy smiling at the rest of Cas’ outfit.

He’s about to comment on the snow pants, which are black and baggy over Cas’ lower half, but Jack makes it to them just in time, pushing something into Cas’ chest.

“You forgot your beanie,” Jack explains, and then looking up at them, “I thought you guys came out ahead of us so you could ‘get the sleds ready.’ Cas and I started on the cookies so they should be done by the time we get back.”

Dean watches Cas slip the beanie on, losing his breath a little at the sight. The thought occurs to him—when he’s looking long enough to notice Cas’ red nose and ears and cheeks—that angels don’t usually get cold.

“Hang on—you left the oven on unattended?” Sam says. Pulling his eyes away from Cas, Dean chuckles at the wild look on Sam’s face, like he’s half ready to bolt for the cabin to stop it from catching fire.

“Of course not.” Jack frowns at him like he should know better. “I charmed it with the spell you taught me. It’ll shut off automatically when it’s done.”

Sam relaxes, forcing a smile. “Right. Uh, Dean? Can we talk for a second?”

Dean follows him around to the nearest tree, which is far enough away that Jack and Cas probably won’t hear them over their own conversation (Dean thinks he hears something about hot chocolate) if they talk quietly enough.

“We can’t stay here,” Sam says, “We have to find a way out.”

Dean wets his lips, “I know, Sammy, but…” He looks over at Jack and Cas.

Sam is quiet for a second before he notes, “You want to stay.”

He shrugs. “Just…just for a little while longer. We can–we can go sledding, eh? We haven’t done that since we were kids! And then—then we can figure out a way out of here.”

Sam has a look of growing concern on his face, something Dean thinks is teetering too close to pity.

“What?” He jokes, “You’re telling me you don’t wanna see those two sled? It’s not for us, Sam, it’s for the nerdy angels over there.”

His brother manages a smile, which is a relief. “Sure,” he says gently. Dean pretends not to hear it, heading now for the sleds and waving them all over.

He pulls the sleds apart, placing them each by the hill’s edge, but not so close that sitting on them would be enough to send them flying down the slope.

“Okay,” Dean starts, “How do we want to do this?”

Dean knows the answer before anyone says it. Better stated: he knows his wish before anyone else does.

“The logical route would be to pair up,” Cas says seriously, “You and Sam have done this before, so each of you gets a sled.”

Dean feels his chest go tight with anticipation for a second, and then it subsides. He nods.

“Good idea. Who—”

“I’ll go with Jack,” Sam interrupts, a wry smile on his face. Dean quirks his lips in a smile, cocking his head to the side in a mild ‘screw you’ gesture to his brother. He turns to Cas.

“Well, hop on then Louise and we’ll sail off this cliff together,” Dean says. He waits for the recognition to spark in Cas’ eyes and he smiles—for real this time—as Cas situates himself in the front of the sled. He spares Jack and Sam a glance, amused at how Sam is struggling not to take up most of the sled with his legs, before sitting down behind Cas. 

And he stays like that for a moment, sitting awkwardly and gathering his courage, until he musters up enough to wrap his legs around him.

“I’m nervous,” he hears Jack say. Dean thinks, Me too. Sam laughs and reassures Jack that it’ll be fine.

“Okay, uh, you’re gonna have to lean back once we kick off, alright?” Dean instructs, trying to remember how to do this. 

“You promise I won’t fall?” 

Dean swallows. “Nah. I’ll hang on to you.”

“Let’s race,” Sam says. He can feel him staring and avoids Sam’s gaze. He’ll blame the tint on his cheeks and ears on the cold, if Sam ever asks. 

Dean scoffs, “You’ll lose.”

“Prove it,” Sam responds, and then he’s pushing off and leaving them in the dust.

Dean’s surprised by the laugh that escapes him, and then he’s pushing off too, and he and Cas are propelled down the snowy slope after the others.

Cas leans back as instructed. Dean’s pretty sure the guy can feel the rush of his heartbeat with his back on Dean’s chest like that, but Dean can also feel Cas’ steel grips on his legs, nails digging into his shins. 

He laces an arm around Cas’ chest, pressing him closer. “I’ve got you!” he reminds him. 

There’s a beat, and then over the sound of the wind whipping against their faces, Cas says, “I know.”

-

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[blessyourhondahurley]

On the Run

Destiel month prompts: A/B/O / Flirting Random word: bark 

(Read on AO3)

Cas fills his lungs with the frigid early morning air and savors the burn of his muscles in motion. Since choosing to stay permanently human, he's become quite keen on the way his body feels when he exercises. He's trying a longer route today for his run, since the short loop he'd started with has begun to feel too easy. At the intersection where he usually turns left to head back home, this time he goes straight, striking off into unfamiliar, exciting new territory.

“Exciting” might be a bit of an overstatement for the neighborhood he finds himself passing through. It's a quiet stretch of suburban houses – picket fences, aluminum siding, well-tended lawns. He hears a loud bark nearby and quickens his pace in case he's just invaded someone's territory. (He's never been chased by a dog on his excursions, but he's heard horror stories from his friends on r/running.)

He leaves the houses behind and then there's a long stretch of empty fields on either side of the road. The flat Kansas landscape leaves nothing to the imagination; it's frost-tinged stumps of cornstalks for a half mile in all directions. He can see the low buildings of town on the horizon. He focuses on the heartbeat rhythm of his feet on the macadam and watches Main Street get closer one step at a time.

The thoroughfare, when he reaches it, is nearly as silent as the fields were. The torpid November sun has so far failed to take the bite out of the previous night's chill, and it seems Lebanon is in no hurry to open for business. He passes only a couple people as he jogs towards the square at the center of town.

The hush of the streets makes it easy for him to hear the car. The menacing roar of its engine rends the quiet of the early morning like a sheet of pink tissue paper. The noise rises and falls in volume several times as Cas completes his loop of the square and turns his feet towards home, and he pays it little mind at first. Then the rumbling gets unpleasantly loud, and a dark hulk of a vehicle appears from a cross street.

It cruises up behind him, and he moves a bit further onto the shoulder to allow it to pass. The car doesn't pass, though. It pulls abreast of him, then slows to his pace. The passenger side window rolls down and a deep voice yells, “Hey hot stuff, wanna ride?”

He's heard about catcallers on r/running, too, and he remembers the advice he read there: ignore, de-escalate, keep an eye out for escape routes in case it gets scary. He tries to pretend he's alone on the road, but the car is a beast, massive and loud, and it's impossible to ignore. He runs a little faster, but of course the driver has no trouble keeping up with him.

“C'mon sexy, I'm talkin' to ya,” the voice calls. “Hop in, we'll go have a little fun.”

“I'm taken, thank you,” Cas replies primly, keeping his eyes straight ahead.

“Got a boy at home, huh? Bet he can't keep you satisfied. Body like that, you need a real man to take care of you. Damn, look at that ass bounce, shit,” the man growls.

With relief, Cas realizes that the next cross street is the one that heads back to the Bunker. He waits until they've almost passed it, then pivots sharply at the corner. He's counting on his ability to move with more agility than the ponderous steel behemoth beside him. By the time his harasser gets his car turned around, he should be out of sight.

The plan is a good one, but his recall is faulty – the street he's turned onto is a dead end. The driver handles his machine with breathtaking skill and follows him easily. Cas is now boxed in, the huge car blocking his only escape route.

He rolls his eyes and grabs the handle on the passenger door. It's unlocked. He gets in.

“I told you I was going to be home later than usual, Dean. I was trying a longer route.”

“The bed got so cold after you left, babe. I couldn't get back to sleep.”

“I'm sorry. Tomorrow I'll put the quilt on you when I get up.”

“Now that we're in town, you wanna go get waffles?”

“Okay.”

[stillwinchester]

destiel, baby!jack, cas didn't die in 12x23 and took him to the lake house, dean found them

I miss you

Read on AO3

“Dean?” It's not like Cas didn't expect to see Dean again, of course, he did, but not like this, not here and not so fast after their paths split apart.

He hasn't seen him for two, the longest in his life, months. He made his choices when he decided to raise Kelly Kline's baby. For the first time he stopped being selfish, he didn't stay with Dean, he chose Jack. And now, Dean Winchester stood in front of him on the porch of his lake house.

“Hi, Cas!” Dean grinned like nothing bad ever happened between them. It looks so similar to the smile he gave him when he worked at Gas 'n Sip as Steve. A smile full of sadness and guilt.

Cas hidden his Angel Blade, believing that it was no longer necessary. He still maintained the eye contact with Dean, and he didn't move even one inch.

“Can I come in?” Dean spoke again, this time he's serious like he wasn't sure if Cas will let him in. Dean Winchester was scared of rejection. Cas hesitated for a second, but eventually, he nodded and made one step back. Dean walked in, and followed Cas to the living room. They seated together on the couch, they could feel the tension in the air.

“How did you find us?”

“It's not like you made it easy, buddy.” Dean was looking around, judging the house. “It's nice place. For a kid.”

Cas ignored this note. He didn't feel like having small-talk. Dean was here because of some reason, and Cas needed to know what was that. “Dean, why are you here?”

Dean looked at him and licked his lips nervously. For a moment, he was just staring at him with open mouth, but any word escaped them, like he was too afraid to say why he's here.

“I'm checking on you, is it something bad?”

No, it wasn't. But Cas knew it wasn't all the truth, not really. He would've been delighted if Dean was worried about him, but he didn't expect that. It's not like he was so important that anybody could care about him. And there was also Jack, they hated him only because he was Lucifer's son, but for Cas, he was his kid, and he would do everything to protect him. Anyway, Dean didn't drive six hours from Lebanon just to "check on him". Maybe something bad happened? Maybe Sam is hurt? And Cas can heal him?

“Where's Sam?” asked Cas, looking at the door like he just expected the other Winchester there.

“He's... not here. He's in the bunker. I came alone. Is it... Would you prefer Sam instead of me? To checking on you,” he finished awkwardly. Dean looked very tense, he clenched his fist, and scratched his neck with the other hand.

“No,” he said quickly. “I mean, I don't need a babysitter, Dean. I'm fine, thank you for your concern.”

“Yeah, sure. It's my job, right?”

Cas frowned. His job? What was he talking about? Cas wasn't anybody's job. He was the one who needed to carry too much all the time. He didn't have time to ask about that because in the other room a baby started crying. Dean turned his head to the noise source, but didn't comment on it.

“Excuse me,” said Cas and stood up. He went to the baby, not knowing that Dean followed him immediately.

“Hi, Jack. I'm here. Dad's here,” he whispered calmly, taking Jack from the cradle. He kissed his forehead, and the kid stopped crying at once. “You're hungry, right? We'll make you a bottle, come on.”

Cas turned around to leave the room when he met Dean's eyes. Still with a kid on his arms, he stood and stared at Dean. 

“You're doing great job with the kid.” It sounded honest, and Cas almost believed that. Dean was smiling, looking at the kid, and there was no disgusted. Cas was prepared that Dean saw in Jack only son of Satan, but to his surprise, he saw just the baby.

“Thank you, Dean. ” He took a few steps forward. “I need to feed him, now. Can we talk later? Give me, let me say, fifteen minutes?”

“Of course, Cas.”

They went to the small kitchen. Cas took baby formula, still holding Jack.

“May I help you?” offered Dean, but Cas shook his head, pouring water to the pot.

“I can handle with that.”

“It's danger to hold a baby near the stove. You can burn him... Just give him to me, I can take care of him for five minutes,” insisted Dean. Cas turned to him, and bit his lip as he wasn't sure if it was good idea. 

“I-” he began, but nothing more came from his mouth.

“I won't hurt him, Cas.”

“I know.”

Cas gave him Jack, who shifted a little, but didn't protest that some strange person was holding him now. He seemed to be interested of him, his little fist tried to reach Dean's chin.

“Hi, buddy.” 

Dean met Cas' eyes, the angel was staring at him with a shy smile, but after Dean caught him doing it, he immediately came back to prepare a bottle. Ten minutes later it was ready, and when he wanted to take Jack back, Dean spoke again.

“Come back with me, Cas.”

“What?” Cas blinked twice.

“Come back home. The bunker is a safer place,” Dean repeated. So, it was the real reason. Dean wanted… needed Cas back.

“I can't.” Cas took Jack and started feeding him, not looking at Dean. 

“Of course, you can. But maybe you just doesn't want to,” he said reproachfully. 

“I want to. You have no idea, how much I want to. But I can't risk that...” he stopped. He almost said it, but he knew it would hurt Dean. Even if it was the truth.

“Risk what?” asked Dean, not understanding anything. From his perspective it wasn't any risk, Cas and Jack will be safe in the bunker, that's all, simple fact.

“Never mind.”

“Risk what, Cas?” he repeated, a little to loud. Jack shifted in Cas arms.

“Shh, Jack, it's okay.” Cas tried to calm the baby, after Jack was eating again, he looked at Dean. “I can't risk that one day you'll kick us out!”

On Dean's face appeared a real terror. He opened his mouth to say something, but he changed his mind at the last moment. Instead, he turned back and left the house. Cas didn't stop him, not this time. 

Dean left, and maybe it was better. Maybe Cas would miss him less, when they were fighting, when he didn't stay longer. Because every minute he was here, Cas knew he was gonna miss him even more. And he knew he couldn't go with him.

*

Cas changed Jack's diaper, read him a story which a baby couldn't understand, and put him in the cradle where he could sleep. An hour later, he looked out the window and saw that Impala was still there. It was almost evening, and it was a long day for all of them. Cas went outside and knocked in the car's window. Dean opened a door, but didn't say anything.

“Dean, come inside, there's a bed. And you can catch a cold if you'll sleep here.”

Dean looked at him, tired and devastated.

“You really want me there? Are you sure?” he asked, and Cas nodded.

“Yes, I'm sure. Come on!”

Dean got out of his car and followed Cas. 

“Actually, why do you have a bed, you don't sleep.”

“It has been there already. So, I keep this, just in case.” 

Because I hoped you find me one day… 

“Cas, about earlier. You need to know, I'd never do this again. And I mean it. I want you in the bunker. I would know that you're safe,” he explained, and Cas' heart skipped a bit. He cares, he thought. “And, you know, we could control the kid, we don't need another Apocalypse.” Of course, it wasn't because he was worried, but because he didn't trust Jack.

Cas said nothing, he made his decision long time ago, even before Jack was born.

“I'm sorry, Cas.” Dean started again. “I'm sorry that I didn't trust you. And I'm sorry that I left you with all of this.”

“I was the one who left. It was my decision,” said Cas to end this subject. Dean nodded, agreeing with him, but repeated his apologies one more time anyway.

“Still, I'm sorry.”

*

Cas left Dean a card that he and Jack went for a walk. It wasn't necessary because when they came back, Dean was still sleeping. Cas was staring at him like a hundred times before, he looked so calmly, lying on his stomach. Cas knew he was sleeping this way only if he felt safe.

Dean woke up half an hour later, and he met with Cas in the kitchen.

“Mornin'.”

“Hello, Dean,” he greeted him. “I went with Jack to the farmer markets, and bought a few things you could eat for the breakfast.”

“Umm, thanks, Cas. You didn't have to.”

“You're my guest, Dean… And my best friend, of course, I have to.”

“All right… Any chance you have also a coffee?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.

“Yes, Dean. Of course, I have a coffee.”

*

It has been four days since Dean appeared on the porch of the lake house. It was a wonderful time, but Cas started feeling anxious. How long was Dean going to stay? When will he leave him again? When will he crash his heart into a million pieces? He didn't want to get through this one more time, he needed to know what Dean was planning.

“Dean, how long will you stay?” he asked in the evening, when they were sipping a beer together. Jack was sleeping, and Dean had brought some wood earlier to make a fire in the stove. It was nice, warm and familial, just like home… 

“I-I thought I'll stay until I convince you to come back with me... But we know it's not gonna happen, so I can go whenever you want.”

“I understand.” Cas nodded and took a sip of his drink. Dean did the same, and after that, he put the bottle on the coffee table.

“I'll leave in the morning,” he decided, not looking at Cas.

“It will be for the best.”

“Good.” Dean didn't sound like anything was good. He took a bottle again to keep his hands busy.

“Yeah, good,” said Cas with the same enthusiasm as Dean. Screw this, nothing is good, actually.

*

Dean was washing dishes, and Cas came to help him. They were doing it in silence, feeling a tension in the air. Tomorrow everything will get back to normal. But Cas didn't want any normal. Not anymore.

“I'm sorry, Dean.” he started, putting the last plate on the dryer.

“You don't have to be sorry.”

“But I am.”

“Okay.”

Dean looked at him and put his hand on Cas' cheek gently, brushing his cheekbone with his thumb.

“Dean…” Whatever he wanted to say, it didn't matter anymore. He forgot it anyway in the second Dean's lips met his. Cas didn't know if it was a good or a bad kiss, but for him, it was the perfect one. The perfect because Dean was kissing him.

“I missed you...” murmured Dean when they pull away. His hand found Cas waist, and he didn't want to let him go.

“I missed you too.” Cas wasn't sure if Dean could imagine how much he missed him. How much every minute without him made his heart ache.

“Come back with me, please. I promise I won't hurt you again. And I promise I'll do my best to help you with Jack.”

“Dean...” Just his name, but the tone was enough for Dean to understand.

“I know. I know, but I had to try once again.” Dean kissed Cas forehead. “I understand.”

Cas shook his head.

“No, you don't. Dean, I want this, whatever it is, I want this, and I want to come back with you. But I can't think only about myself, not this time, not with Jack... I don't reject you, Dean. I would never reject you, I dreamt about it for years, and I want you to be my family, but Jack... He's my son. He's my responsibility. I promised to protect him, and I'm going to keep my promises. But I don't reject you, you must know that.”

“Yeah... So, why it sounds like that?”

“Dean...”

“It's okay, Cas, I get this. It was selfish, and you're right. Jack should stay here, grow up, be happy. He has a chance for this here. You're amazing father, I believe you can handle this. You were doing a great job for now.”

“Thank you, Dean. And I'm sorry.”

“I'm sorry too. But maybe it's gonna be the best for us. Starting new lives apart.”

Dean stopped touching him. That was it, the end of the moment of true happiness. Now only cold left.

“Dean, don't say like that, please,” he started. “I... I lo-”

This time, Dean was the one who shook his head like he didn't want to listen to him.

“Don't say it. Don't even dare to say it.”

Cas nodded, maybe it wasn't the best time to confess. Maybe he needed to be patient, he needed to wait.

“You know why did I ask you to leave?” asked Cas. “Because I knew it's gonna be harder if you stay. Every day made that I would miss you more.”

“Yeah… Me too, Cas.”

*

Dean went to sleep, so Cas had all night to think. Think about them. About Jack. And about the future. And the future, which he saw when Jack showed it to him a few months ago, told him what he should to do. Cas made his decision.

*

“I made you a breakfast and coffee, you find it in the kitchen,” Cas said fast after Dean came  downstairs, still in his hot dog pajama's pants. “And later, you could help me pack all this stuff to Impala.”

He pointed at two suitcases, and a lot of baby's stuff like cradle or diapers. 

Dean looked at Cas and later at the baggage. He couldn't help the big grin, it was the best news he could receive.

“Of course,” he said, but he didn't go to the kitchen, still staring at Cas, and a few seconds later, he shorted the distance between them and gives him a deep kiss.

“What was for that?” asked Cas when they pulled away.

“Just because.”

“Can you do this again?” he asked, and he didn't need to tell this twice. The next kiss was even more passionate. Dean's lips found his immediately. They were kissing for a long time, and after they pulled away, they were still close to each other.

“Cas?” he whispered. 

“Yes?”

“I...” he started, not sure how to say this. “Me too, Cas. Me too.”

*

One hour later, they are in the car. Three of them, driving to their home.

And yes, maybe it was going to be hard. He needed to learn how to be a good father, he knew he won't be like Cas, but maybe he could just try to be the best version of himself? Maybe he could love the kid like his own? And maybe, for the first time in their lives, everything will be fine?

He doesn't know that. But there's one thing which he's certainly sure. They were family, and only it mattered. 

[angzlicas]

Since we've hit 100k works on ao3,

I've gotten many asks about my favorite Destiel fics! Instead of replying to them all, I thought I'd just list them here along with the summary, word count, and my opinion on each (as a side note, all of them are Explicit):

In a Mirror, Darkly by anyrei, mugglerock Words: 196,710, Canon

Summary: “Do you trust me, Dean?”

“You know I do,” Dean answered, his voice carrying resignation and sadness. He knew Cas was right. This was the only way if he wanted to help save his brother. He had to do it, even though everything in him wanted to fight it. But he trusted Cas with his life. And now he was going to show him just how deep that trust ran.

Dean fell to his knees in front of the angel, bowing his head forward as he was fitted with the extraordinarily heavy collar. Castiel’s fingers caressed his skin when he closed the clasp of the sign of slavery; the symbol that gave Dean’s life over to the angel’s mercy. Dean suppressed the urge to close his eyes.

Opinion: This fic is my all-time favorite. No seriously, it's the first fic I recommend to people when they ask. And I've read it 3 times over a 3 year period. I'll never get tired of reading it. It follows Cas and Dean having to pose as master and slave to rescue Sam from Angels in Limbo. Lots of smut, basically a Porn With Plot fic but the smut adds SO MUCH to the story. Amazing fic.

Taker of Souls by jscribbles Words: 128,665, Canon

Summary: The angels have fallen. Castiel is human, Sam is recovering from the trials, and Dean doesn’t want to expose them to the world as it’s crumbling outside the bunker doors.

To pass time in their solitude, Dean discovers a hidden room in the bunker full of dangerous magical artifacts and accidentally exposes his friends and family to an ancient horror. If Castiel thought adjusting to humanity was already a terror in itself, he experiences a world of pain when the ancient spirit Dean released chooses him as a vessel to fulfill its evil prophecy.

Castiel begins to change as voices call out to him in the night and take the form of the one righteous man he desires, temptation drawing him to complete a ritual that will allow one of Hell’s most feared ancient entities to occupy his vessel.

Before Sam, Dean, Kevin and Crowley know what is happening, they are thrown into a lockdown, unable to escape the bunker as the cruel, twisted monster inside of Castiel prowls the hallways, hunting them, thirsty for their blood, hungry for their souls.

Opinion: This one was very gory, very scary. A cheeseless and modern take on the horror movie The Evil Dead (1981 2013) where Cas is the villain but unwillingly. Heartbreaking angst with a happy ending, this little fic is overlooked because of being tagged as a crossover. I hadn't seen Evil Dead when I read the fic and the author did such a good job describing every single scene, I didn't need to. READ TAGS

Out of the Deep by @riseofthefallenone Words: 488,608, Mer!Cas/Human!Dean AU

Summary: Stay away from the light-beds. Stay in the deep.

It is the first thing hatchlings are taught the moment their fans unfurl and they can swim without their parents to buoy them along. It is the first rule, the first law. It is the beginning of every boogey-monster bedtime story told when they settle against the cliffs to sleep.

Castiel should have listened better.

Opinion: WOW. Where to even start. This fic is a staple in the Destiel AU fandom. The world-building is absolutely incredible and the author stayed true to the characters' personalities and what makes Dean and Cas, Dean and Cas. I was hooked from the very first chapter and read it within 2 days. Although the 500k words may look daunting, it's ABSOLUTELY worth it, I promise. You'll get. everything you could want from this fic including fluff, angst, heartbreak, hurt/comfort, smut, just everything. And if you're staying away because of the mermaid thing, let me tell you. The author just makes it so realistic and believable and beautiful, a few chapters in is enough to change your mind.

The Graveyard Shift by @purgatory-jar, @riseofthefallenone Words: 620,733, Monsters Living In Harmony AU

Summary: Dean’s favourite coffee shop, The Graveyard Shift, is only open after the sun goes down. Which is perfect for him, because that’s exactly when he craves coffee the most while doing the overnight at the fire hall. The coffee shop’s owner is pretty perfect too, but it’s kind of a bummer that Dean never gets to see Cas during the day. In a world where the supernatural live more or less in peace with the rest of humanity, it’s a little impolite to ask Cas just what he really is - or what his dark past entails.

Opinion: Although it's over half a million words, this fic is incredible. From the world-building to the mysterious air it has, the art, as well as the writing, makes it a must-read. I can't tell you how many times I've recced this to someone in the fandom. I won't spoil it for you, but it's absolutely adorable. Again, the authors work so hard to make sure that Dean and Cas' personalities are true to the show's. It's coffee shop!au meets fireman!au meets monster!au. A slowburn truly worthy of it's title.

Hunting for Faith by @perunamuusa, @riseofthefallenone Words: 270,952, Reverse!verse AU

Summary: It starts a few days earlier.

Castiel first notices it in the middle of the night when the dreams of fire and screams have kept him awake. He’s kneeling before the altar, praying, when the glass in the windows start to shake, the very air vibrating around him. Castiel is on his feet and reaching for the gun tucked into the back of his pants as the shutters over the windows start to rattle.

Opinion: If you have ANY interest in Hunter!Cas/Angel!Dean, go read this fic. Like now. So, so awesome. I won't say any more other than Cas is a priest and a hunter and Dean and Sam are angels, because I don't want to spoil it. Truly a masterpiece.

If you want to see more of my favorites, check my BOOKMARKS on my Ao3!

[huggybearsunshine]

One of a Kind Part 4

[Part 4] Dean finally braves a visit to the dungeon.

“Hey, Sammy!” Dean called to his passing brother and closed the laptop in front of him, “You coming from the dungeon.”

“Yeah, just checking in…” the younger Winchester explained, pushing his hand absentmindedly through his hair.

“Everything okay with… him?” Dean asked a bit quieter.

“Seems fine,” Sam answered with a shrug, “You’d know that if you actually checked on him yourself.”

“Not interested,” the other hunter huffed.

“It’s been two days, Dean,” Sam added, with a concerned look, “We need him to trust us…”

“Fine,” Dean pushed roughly to his feet, “I’m not playing my part? Not playing nice enough with the fake Cas?”

“Okay, it’s clearly not a good time…”

“There are no good times…” Dean clenched his fist, “Let’s get this over with then…”

He stomped past his brother who could only sigh in frustration.

Dean paused in front of the door before steeling himself and pushing through.

“Dean,” Cas stood quickly.

“Hey… Cas…” he cleared his throat which had suddenly turned painfully dry, “I wanted to… check in on you.”

“Oh…” Cas looked down, “I didn’t know if I was going to see you… Your prayer seemed… angry…”

A sharp ache clutched at the hunter’s chest.

“So you did hear that…” he also looked down, finding it easier to speak to his feet than this other Cas.

“I did, yes…” the Angel admitted, “I’ll be honest, it’s… hard to not see my Dean when I look at you.”

“You don’t look how I remember you looking…” Dean’s words escaped before he could think better of it.

“The other day, or… do you mean to say we’ve met before..?” Cas gave him a tilted look.

“Long time ago for me… but not yet for you… It’s a long story, but yeah…” Dean sighed, loosening up a bit, “We’ve met.”

“And I was different…” he remarked, a question in his eye.

“You were human… for one thing…” Dean shrugged, seeing no point in preserving that timeline since it was already gone, “Kind of a hippie, I think.”

“A hippie…” Cas hummed thoughtfully.

“Can I ask you something I’ve always wondered about you?” Dean’s sudden humor softening Cas’ eyes.

“Yes, Dean.”

“You and that Dean…” the hunter looked at him conspiratorially, “What exactly was going on there?”

“I don’t know what you mean…” Cas’ brows furrowed.

“Were you two, like…” he made a hand motion, unwilling to finish the question.

“Oh,” Cas looked surprised by this, “Um… Dean and I have… a profound bond.”

“Oh, don’t give me that profound bond crap, were you together or not?”

“It isn’t that simple…” the Angel’s stance stiffened in discomfort.

“Never is…” Dean ran a hand over his mouth, “Look I wasn’t around long, but I will say this… You deserved better…”

Cas seemed to recognize something in the other man’s eyes. His mouth opened as if he were about to ask something Dean was sure he wasn’t ready to answer.

“I should…”

He turned to go, but the Angel’s voice spoke once more before he could slip away.

“You know, Dean- just because I heard your prayer… doesn’t mean he didn’t…”

Dean turned back, hand gripping the open door.

“Thanks, Cas…”

Dean practically ran to his room, slamming the door closed behind him.

“Fuck!” he screamed, kicking his bed so hard he heard wood crack somewhere within, “…Fuck.”

—————————

@spuffy-destiel @imthedoctorlove @destieliscanon5nov Since I still seem to be stuck on the Empty Promises chapter, I wrote more of this one instead!

[dothwrites]

spn15 spec, destiel, post 15.18, mcd?? sort of???

---

And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me. You will always be my friend.--Antoine de-Saint Exupery, The Little Prince

---

Castiel opens his eyes in nothingness. 

It’s not dark, though the air which presses around him is thick onyx. There is neither gravity nor weightlessness here. Castiel exists but he does so in a void so barren that he doubts his own mind. He opens his mouth to call out, but no sound escapes. 

Castiel exists in ignorance for one, glorious moment. Then the weight of memory crushes into him. His chest buckles underneath the pressure. He tries to scream, but the vast emptiness swallows the sound. 

---

“Cas, we can fight this!” 

Dean, his Righteous Man, Dean, the shining beacon, his friend...The first real friend he’d ever made. Dean is ready to fight. Dean would fight God, has indeed fought God. But he can’t fight this. 

The door shudders in its frame. Blow after blow rains down on the weakening wood. Already, the wood is splintering under the assault. The thin strip of light at the bottom of the door disappears underneath a sea of writhing black. The Empty is here. It wants what it was promised.  

“Dean,” he says. He intends to say much more--It’s too late, let me go, thank you--but his voice cracks on the single syllable of Dean’s name. 

He wants to stay. God help him, but he wants to stay. 

“No, dammit Cas! You don’t get to give up! We can fight this thing, we can keep running, we can...” Dean’s voice trails off into nothing as he looks wildly around the small room. 

Though he might protest, Castiel knows that Dean is a man bailing out a sinking ship. In his heart, Dean knows the battle is already lost. But he’s still defiant, still clinging to the faintest shred of hope.

Castiel loves him for that. 

“You fought for the whole world.” Castiel’s voice is weak and pale against the ear-shattering thunder of the Empty’s attempts to break into the room. 

“Cas, no--” 

“But you can’t fight for me.” 

The words shatter something vital in him. Castiel gasps as the agony shreds through him. He thought there would be more time. He thought that happiness was an ideal that no one could ever reach. He thought there would be time, he doesn’t want to go, he wants to stay--

“Cas, I can’t...Not again, I can’t lose you again, please don’t go--” 

Black seeps into the room, slender tendrils snaking across the room towards where they stand. Castiel feels every second ticking away. He’s lived for millennia, seen worlds and empires rise and fall, felt the passing of centuries like nothing more than a passing breeze. Millions of years, and now, when it means everything, he has no time. 

Castiel cups Dean’s cheek with one shaking hand. If this is it, then he doesn’t want to leave with any regrets. “Dean,” he croaks. That word has become his compass, his prayer, the star to which he hitched his wagon. 

“I’m so sorry. I don’t want to leave you. If I had a choice, i would stay. I would stay with you through every sunrise and sunset, through every moment, the mundane and extraordinary alike.” Castiel’s voice catches in his throat as the door finally shatters and darkness pours into the room. 

“You’ve taught me everything, Dean, and I...I’m so grateful that I got to know you. Without you...” 

Castiel can’t continue. He’s immeasurably grateful for all he’s experienced with Dean, but he’s always been greedy. He wants more. He wants to see Dean’s hair continue to silver until it’s soft and grey. He wants to go fishing with Dean and discover the peace inherent in the activity. He wants to watch Jack grow into his own and Sam start a family. He wants, with a fierceness that takes his breath away. 

Darkness curls around his ankle and winds its way up his calf. 

Dean shakes his head. Tears well in his eyes but refuse to spill over, though his lower lip shakes. “Please,” he asks, tilting his head into Castiel’s palm. “I can’t...how am I supposed to do this without you?” 

Castiel starts to respond, but his voice is cut off by the swift, hard press of Dean’s lips into his. His heart jolts and gutters in his chest before it picks up again, beating so hard he thinks it might escape through the confines of his ribs. 

“I love you.” 

The words tumble out of Castiel’s mouth, the same as they did years ago when he was rotting from in the inside out. The same frantic need consumes him now as it did then, when every beat of his heart dragged him closer to the edge of oblivion, when seconds were more precious than gold, when he was so close to losing everything--

Dean sobs. He clutches the lapels of Castiel’s coat and kisses him, teeth bruising behind his lips.

Castiel’s whole lower body is engulfed in darkness so complete that it feels as though it’s ceased to exist. His whimper is lost in Dean’s mouth. 

“No,” Dean gasps, pulling away. Castiel already knows the cause of Dean’s denial. He can feel it, creeping up his chest and shoulders, slithering down to his arms. He remembers how it was to be devoured, remembers the noxious black ooze of the Leviathan crawling through him, but this is worse, is so much worse, because now he knows what Dean’s lips taste like, now he knows everything he has to lose--

“Cas, I love you,” Dean tells him, though his words echo strangely. The Empty crawls up his throat. Castiel chokes on it, but he doesn’t dare to blink. He can’t lose a second of this, of Dean’s face, horrified and tear-stricken though it is. 

Seconds tick away like centuries, Dean’s face in front of him. Castiel can’t hear what he’s saying, but he can see the words shaped on his lips. 

I’ll find you, I promise, I’m coming for you, Cas, Cas, I love--

And then. 

Empty. 

---

With the image of Dean’s face in his mind, Castiel screams. 

There is no sound in the Empty, but he screams anyway. His agony and loss pour out of him, his grief and fear. Everything that he’s lost, Dean--

Castiel screams until his voice cracks and breaks, until his throat is shredded and raw, until he tastes blood in the back of his throat. 

Hollow, he slumps to the side, curling into himself. His one consolation was that he would at least be asleep for the rest of eternity. He wouldn’t have to live with the weight of everything he’d lost. Now, even that slender comfort has been ripped from him. For the rest of time, he’ll have to exist with the memory of Dean’s glassy eyes, with the sound of Dean’s choked voice echoing through his skull, with the phantom ache of Dean’s lips against his. Castiel shudders, sobs ripping out of his throat. 

“Jesus. So much for helping.” 

Castiel blinks. The sound of another voice is foreign in this void where nothing should exist. He rolls over, looking up at the sardonic face staring down at him. 

“Ruby,” he rasps, then remembers himself. 

That’s not Ruby. 

“Go away,” he mutters. He wraps his arms around his legs, pressing his forehead to his knees. There’s no point in having pride here, not when time is meaningless and every second is a torture. The Empty already knows his secrets, though why it chose Ruby’s form to torment him is a mystery. 

“Look feathers, you were the one who screwed the pooch on this whole ‘fixing eternity’ thing. So I think I’m going to stick around for a bit.” 

“There’s no point,” Castiel says miserably. “You got what you wanted. I’m here. I’m suffering. What more could you possibly want from me?”

“Were you dropped on your halo? I told you what I wanted the last time you were here. I want out, you moron. I told you to find a way out, and you wound up here, which is kind of the opposite of what I asked.” 

Castiel blinks slowly, lifting his forehead from his knees. “Ruby?” he asks. 

Ruby rolls her eyes and sighs for dramatic effect. “Yeah, dumbo. You know, I’ve only been trying to tell you that since the beginning.” 

“I can’t trust that.” Castiel remembers all too well the last time he was here, the jolt of pleasure at seeing Meg once more only to realize that the Empty was aping her appearance to hurt him. “The Empty, it takes on your visage, your memories--”

“Yeah, you’re just going to have to trust me on this.” Ruby’s eyes flash black. “You know, as much as you can.” 

“I’d pay attention to her, Clarence. If you don’t, then she’ll probably kick your ass.” 

Castiel knows that voice. He whirls around. Meg’s face greets him, a tiny smirk twisting her lips upward. “Meg,” he whispers, an odd combination of grief and happiness twisting in his chest. 

“The one and only,” she assures him. 

A small shred of doubt clings at the back of Castiel’s mind, but he has to trust in something right now. Even if it’s two dead demons. 

“Castiel. So lovely to see you again. Though I can’t say that I agree with the company you’re keeping these days.” 

Make that three dead demons. 

“Crowley,” Castiel breathes. 

The demon looks exactly the same as he did  the day he died. His suit is pristine, down to the pocket square. He looks at Meg and Ruby with disdain before he turns that expression on Castiel. “I suppose you’re doing your biannual visit to this dump? Feel like taking any passengers out with you when you make your escape this time?” 

“I’m not...I made a deal,” Castiel whispers. He made a deal to save his son and he’ll never regret that, not for a second, but then he thinks of Dean’s face. “I’m not leaving.” 

“Oh, I wouldn’t be so negative, Cassie. You do have a way of wriggling out of the tightest of places.” 

Mingled guilt and joy sear through Castiel as he turns around. Balthazar’s familiar face looks at him. Balthazar raises an eyebrow. “No hug?” he asks. 

“I don’t understand,” Castiel breathes. Surrounded by ghosts from his past, he feels weak. “None of you should be awake. That’s the whole point of this place. All of us, asleep, forever.” 

“That’s the way it should be, but you have a habit of wrecking the natural order.” Castiel winces at Anna’s cool voice. Though there’s no real judgement in her voice, there’s also no real warmth. “It’s been changing here, ever since your last visit.” 

“I woke it up.” 

“And because you woke it up, we all started to awake as well.” Hannah’s calm voice joins their small group, though it’s growing steadily larger. “All of us, demons and angels, started awaking. At first, it was just for moments, but lately, it’s been distracted. More of us have been able to stay awake for longer. Eventually we started finding each other.” 

“That’s my boy,” Meg says, unmistakable fondness in her voice. “Shaking up the natural order, wrecking the whole of the afterlife.” 

Castiel’s eyes dart between all of them, former enemies, allies, and friends. “Is this all of you?” 

“Were you not listening? Did they not just tell you that we’ve all been waking up, at least a little bit?” 

Gabriel pops into existence next to Castiel. Despite himself, Castiel jerks back in surprise. 

“So, what’s it going to be, Cas? Are you going to just pop out of here like always?” Crowley brings Castiel’s brain back to the present. 

When he made his deal, he made it with full awareness that there was no coming back. He accepted that burden because he knew it was the only way he could save Jack. 

But that was before he felt Dean’s lips against his, before he heard the words fall from Dean’s mouth. I love you. 

When he made the deal, he had never heard those words directed at him. When he made the deal, he had nothing to fight for. 

Now he does.

He made a choice long ago. You don’t have to be ruled by Fate. You can choose freedom. 

Castiel looks at all of them, demons and angels alike, and makes a choice. 

“We’ve got work to do.”