2018 preview – Page 2 – Karate, SPN Demonic Octopus Guardian

deancasbigbang:

Title: Going the Distance

Author: Aubreyetta

Artist: NadiaHart

Rating: Mature
Pairings: Dean/Castiel (minor Sam/Jo, Jimmy/Amelia)
Wordcount: 31000
Warnings/Tags: AU, No Supernatural, Fluff, Long Distance, Slow Burn, Letters, Texting/Sexting, Video Chatting, UST
Posting: 11/7/2018

Summary:

Castiel meets Dean in a bar and sparks fly. With half a continent separating the two men, can the sparks ignite or will they fizzle out? This is a story about communication. First in letters, then electronically, and finally in person.

The bartender came around, perched in her vacated spot, and placed two plates on the bar, one in front of him. The cheeseburger and hand cut fries staring back at him smelled of heaven.

“Need ketchup or anything?” the bartender asked as he put the second plate in front of himself.

“No, thank you,” Castiel said. “However, if we’re to have dinner together, I would like to know your name.”

The bartender chuckled and dropped the french fry he was holding. “You’re right. Dean Winchester,” he said as he held out his hand. “And you are?”

“Castiel Novak. This looks great,” he said.

They ate mainly in silence. Dean getting up a few times to refill drinks or grab fresh beers for other patrons when Charlie was busy with another table or customer.

Castiel was just finishing up when another two fingers of Jameson was pushed in front of him. “Thanks, Dean,” he said with a smile. He picked up the drink and washed down the remaining bite of cheeseburger with it. “That was delicious. How ‘bout a slice of that cake? What is it?”

“It’s a lemon pound cake, but I’ve got something better. Promise,” Dean answered with a grin.

“I’m sure you do,” Castiel flirted and grinned as two bright patches appeared on Dean’s handsome face. He laughed quietly, and whispered, “I’m going to head to–” as he motioned toward the restroom.

Dean nodded, rubbed the back of his neck, and smiled.

Castiel stood and surprisingly only swayed slightly. He made his way back to the restroom to wash his hands.

His plate was cleared away when he returned. In its place was a piece of apple pie, topped with a hearty scoop of vanilla ice cream, and another drink. Charlie was just coming over to chat, when from the back room Dean yelled, “Charlie! Quit annoying the patrons and get back to work!”

“Fucker has ESP, I swear,” she muttered as she moved to a table of men that had just arrived.

Dean emerged from the backroom, pony keg slung over his shoulder. Castiel took a moment to admire the rippling biceps that peeked out of Dean’s snug black t-shirt. Dean grinned at Castiel. His green eyes darkened when he watched Castiel take the first bite of pie. Castiel moaned around the fork and took a much larger bite. Much too soon, the pie was devoured and he absently flicked his tongue to gather the last bit of ice cream off his spoon.

“Sweetheart, the way you’re eating that is positively sinful,” Dean said with a flirty wink before he crouched to hook up the keg to the tap.

deancasbigbang:

Title: First Times, Second Chances

Author: samikitten

Artist: DeanOh

Rating: Explicit
Pairings: Dean/Cas (minor Charlie/Gilda, mentions of Benny/Andrea, Bobby/Ellen and Sam/Ruby)
Wordcount: 20000
Warnings/Tags: College AU, supernatural creatures, Angel Castiel, Demon Dean, first love, BAMF Castiel, protective Dean, Naomi is a terrible mother, Crowley is an assbutt, mentions of drug use
Posting: 11/8/2018

Summary:

Castiel couldn’t decide if he was excited or scared about attending college. He’d only been around other angels his entire life, and college would include all other species of supernatural creatures. Along with his brother Gabriel, he befriends a bubbly fairy, a southern vampire, and an absolutely gorgeous demon named Dean. Between his crush on Dean, his mother’s strict plans for him and a problem with another demon named Crowley; college is definitely going to be interesting.

Castiel looked around the orientation room with mild trepidation. He’d never been around so many different supernatural species in his life. He’d studied enough in high school to be able to pinpoint what everyone was. The fae tended to be the shortest of all, easily recognizable by their gauzy, colorful wings. The succubi and incubi had shiny horns and thin, whip-like tails. The werewolves, when not in their transformed state, usually had long and sharp nails. The vampires generally looked like humans, although very pale, but they also had retractable fangs and slightly pointed tongues. And the last type was…

Demons. He shuddered inwardly. Castiel had always had a morbid fascination about them, with their pointed tails and sharp looking, bat-like wings. His overprotective (and, let’s face it, xenophobic) mother had never let any demons around their family, claiming that they were vicious and dangerous creatures. In fact, she had a whole list of species not welcome in her home. But demons were public enemy number one. Castiel had never even been in the same room as a demon before today.

Children went to school only with their own kind. High school was the same, if only to keep horny, hormonal teenagers from cross-mating. Mating with a different species wasn’t common, but when it happened it was often looked upon with distaste. All species were required to take higher education together, despite the fact that most jobs were still segregated anyway. But that was the law of the land. It was one of the contradictions of living in this world. Learn to get along, but don’t worry, you won’t have to do it in real life.

deancasbigbang:

Title: Don’t Blame Me

Author: BubblegumPenguin

Artist: May-darling

Rating: Mature
Pairings: Dean/Cas (minor Charlie/Anna, minor Dean/others)
Wordcount: 25000
Warnings/Tags: college au, underage drinking, implied drug use, using religion as an excuse to be a bigot, referenced abuse (non-explicit)
Posting: 11/12/2018

Summary:

After living with his religious family for 18 years, Castiel Novak leaves home for college. There, he meets his biggest temptation ever, in the form of his ridiculously handsome and proudly bi roommate, Dean Winchester. As Castiel struggles between his attraction to Dean and his conservative upbringing, he finds himself falling hard for the charming nerd he’s been assigned to room with for the next four years. To renounce what you’ve been raised to believe since birth all in the name of love is crazy. Right?

At 8am, a loud crash awoke Castiel from his peaceful dream. He shot upright, grabbing at the blankets for a weapon to throw at the source of the noise. Through bleary eyes, he made out Dean’s figure standing in the center of the room. He relaxed for a moment and blinked a few times before realizing that whatever the loud crash was, it had been caused by the now sheepish looking boy in the middle of the room.

“Sorry Cas. Didn’t mean to wake you,” Dean said softly, as if that would somehow rectify the fact that Castiel had been scared awake.

“I’d say it’s fine, but I’d be lying,” Castiel grumbled, turning his confused gaze into a glare. Dean chuckled lightly before bending down to pick up whatever it was that he’d dropped. Castiel looked and saw a lot of glass on the floor, as well as a handle that was now connected to nothing.

“Damn,” Dean murmured to himself.

“You were making coffee?” Castiel found himself asking. Dean nodded.

“Kinda. More like trying, and failing, to make coffee. I knew the handle was coming loose but I didn’t expect it to just fall off like that,” he said. Castiel nodded sagely, as he watched Dean grab the broken pieces and walk them over to the garbage.

“Wait, don’t put them in there,” Castiel said, pushing the covers away from himself. He stood up and walked over to the closet and pulled out an empty paper grocery bag. He opened it and gestured for Dean to placed the broken glass in there. “This way, none of the glass pierces the bag when we take it out. Don’t feel like accidentally getting cut,” he explained. Dean nodded, before dumping the glass into the bag.

“Guess this means I’m going to have to go buy some coffee,” Dean said, scowling.

“Guess so. You should pick me up some since you rudely woke me before noon,” Castiel said, giving Dean a small grin to let him know that he was just joking.

“I could. Or you could just put on some shoes and come with me since you’re already awake,” Dean suggested. Castiel frowned at the idea.

“I already said that I’m not-”

“As friends, Cas. I mean, we’re gonna be roommates for the foreseeable future. May as well get to know each other, try to be friends?” Dean suggested. Castiel thought for a moment before sighing and walking over to his shoes.

“You’re paying,” Castiel said.

“Yes dear,” Dean said, rolling his eyes.

deancasbigbang:

Title: The Same Mistake, Again
Author: zaphodsgirl
Artist: Subtextiel
Rating: Mature
Pairings: Dean/Cas, brief Dean/Lisa, past Dean/Nick, past Castiel/Inias
Wordcount: 50000
Warnings/Tags: Underage Kissing, AU – Modern Setting, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Mutual Pining, Amnesia, Be Careful What You Wish For, Fairy Godmothers, Dean is Bad at Feelings, Not So Much Gay Panic As Gay Pondering
Posting: 11/5/2018

Summary:

One night, after watching Dean pick up yet another girl while they’re out at a bar, Cas heads to the local diner. Over the years his feelings of attraction have only deepened into something more, and he wishes desperately to go back to the time before he was in love with his best friend. His wish is granted in an unexpected way: he wakes up in the hospital the next morning with broken limbs – an arm and a leg- and a fractured memory with the last four years missing.

Dean had always been nice to him, but Cas had a feeling his goodwill wouldn’t last when the truth came out. “I don’t think that would be wise,” he hedged, wondering if his new roommate would be the tolerant type. Or at least less attractive. Did it make him a bad person to wish for an ugly roommate?

“What? Why not? I think we’d get along great if you got to know me better. Or at all, even.”

“I think my sexual orientation would make you uncomfortable,” he’d blurted, preparing for the worst. There was no point keeping it a secret any longer, since he was on his way out, and maybe Dean would just back off and leave him be.

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Dean had sounded so incredulous that Cas paused, turning to him with a pair of sweatpants in his hands. “I don’t care about that, dude, whatever it is. You’d know that already if I were around more, I guess.” He ran his hands through hair, then leaned onto his knees to look Cas in the eye. “Listen. Let’s go over to the housing office and talk to them about this. I really don’t want to spend the rest of the year with Captain Righteous, and even if you don’t want to braid each other’s hair every night I much prefer your company.”

“You never even accepted my friend request.” It was a stupid thing to say, but it was always in the back of his mind whenever Dean was nice to him.

“On Facebook? You sent me one? Aw, man, I’m sorry. I’m terrible with social media stuff, I don’t think I’ve even opened it for months!”

Cas had blinked stupidly at him, at a loss for what to say. Dean squirmed uncomfortably.

“Unless…unless you really don’t want to room with me?” He asked this last part rather timidly, as though it hadn’t actually occurred to him, and just like that everything changed for Cas. For the first time he saw past Dean’s outward veneer and glimpsed the one beneath it: shy, unsure, and maybe just as vulnerable as he was.

“I think I would like to, actually.”

Dean smiled fully then, and Cas felt his heart skip a beat before he shook himself. He couldn’t be perving on his roommate if he didn’t want to go back to having an awkward living situation. It might help if you actually got to know him better. Familiarity breeds contempt and all that. He didn’t know, then, that familiarity can also shape a thing to you in a way that makes anything else seem like a poor substitute. That familiarity is what makes a pillow mold to your head just right, or favorite pair of jeans so comfortable, or a person feel like there’s no one else for you but them.

deancasbigbang:

Title: The Volunteer
Author: thatwriterlady
Artist: Diminuel
Rating: Explicit
Pairings: Dean/Cas, mention of Sam/Eileen, mention of Mary/John
Wordcount: 29300
Warnings/Tags: Truemates, Falling In Love, Self-Esteem Issues, Mention of Loss, Depressed Character, Devotion, Alpha Dean, Omega Castiel, Fluff, Smut
Posting: 11/5/2018

Summary:

Dean visits his brother on occasion at the hospital where Sam works in the maternity ward as a doctor. This time turns out to be different. He’s only ever heard his brother talk about the mysterious Omega that volunteers in the NICU to hold the preemie pups, and help them want to live. On this day Dean happens to meet the mysterious Omega, and it changes his life. The quiet, reclusive man is his truemate, and he isn’t as happy about that as Dean is. It will take some patience and a whole lot of love to convince Castiel that he is worth having as a mate. Dean has his work cut out for him, but he doesn’t care, he’d do anything for his truemate.

Sam stood outside the NICU watching as Castiel rocked gently in the glider chair. His shirt was open and he had a tiny pup pressed against his chest. Little Abigail Norman. She was six weeks old now, though she’d been born almost six weeks premature. Her little hand was in her mouth and her eyes, the most beautiful chocolate brown, were wide open as she sucked away on her fingers. The Omega was stroking his fingers gently up and down her back, smiling softly as he soothed the tiny pup. He knew she was one of Castiel’s favorites. She’d struggled so hard in the beginning. After her mother had given her up for adoption, essentially walking out on her, she’d had failure to thrive. Her doctor and the nurses had all done everything they could to try and save her, but it was Castiel who managed to make her want to fight to live. She was almost ready to be released. It broke his heart knowing she didn’t have a home to go to, but she wasn’t the first pup to come through here that had been given up by their parents, and she wouldn’t be the last.

“Hey, Sammy, you free to join me for lunch?”

He turned away from the window to see his brother approaching.

“Uh,” he checked his watch, “I’ll be free in a few. I have a patient to check on. Give me five?”

Dean nodded and watched as Sam headed around the corner. He looked into the NICU window, his eyes landing on the man sitting with the pup cradled against his chest. There was something both beautiful and intimate about it, and he was intrigued. He wondered if this was the volunteer Sam had mentioned a few times over the years. The man looked up, his blue eyes locking on Dean’s own green ones. It sent something that felt like an electric shock through him. He’d already figured the man was an Omega, based on where he was and what he was doing, but he’d never had such a reaction to one before. More than anything he wanted to go in there, to scent the man, but if this was the Omega Sam had mentioned, the man would be offended.

“He’s saved her life.”

Dean jumped at the sound of his brother’s voice and turned to see that Sam was standing next to him.

“This is that Omega volunteer you talked about, right?” Dean asked.

“Yeah, Castiel. I don’t really know his story. He showed up here about 15 years ago, long before I started here and just offered to volunteer to cuddle the pups that were really in critical care. Thanks to him, many of them have gone on to thrive and survive. He has cried and mourned every one that didn’t make it,” Sam replied.

“He doesn’t look all that old.” Dean noted. “Is he mated?”

Sam side-eyed him, pursing his lips. “Don’t go there. No, he is not mated. I don’t know how old he is. He’s older than me, that’s all that I know.”

Dean turned back to look at Castiel again and found the Omega still watching him. A nurse had come to take the pup he’d been holding, and now he was cradling one that was barely bigger than his hand, holding it against his chest as he stroked a finger against its cheek. There were so many wires Dean could hardly see the pup itself.

“Why is he staring at me?”

“I don’t really know, he never does that. Usually he focuses 100% on the pups. If he feels up to talking later, he might say something.” Sam sighed and turned away from the window. “I have an hour, let’s go down to the cafeteria.”

“Cool. I’m starving.” Dean gave one last glance back at the Omega with the bright blue eyes. Castiel was beautiful, though there was something in his eyes, something that spoke of heartache, and he found himself wondering what it was. With a sigh he followed after his brother, not knowing if he’d ever see the gorgeous, haunted Omega again.

deancasbigbang:

Title: Out of Ash, Shift and Save Me in the Night
Author: cymamoremocha
Artist: oh-cassie
Rating: Mature
Pairings: Dean/Cas
Wordcount: 24000
Warnings/Tags: Graphic Depiction of Violence, Dean Winchester/Castiel, Dean Winchester POV, Sam Winchester, Bobby Singer, canon divergent, season 4, memory loss, slow burn, AU
Posting: 10/25/2018

Summary:

Dean returns from Hell with an axe to grind. But he finds out pretty quickly just how damaging Hell trauma can be. Left humiliated and in a weakened state, Dean’s big plans to save the world are put on hold, as he now needs his brother to help glue his brain back together. And who is his mysterious rescuer? Is it the same person he dreams about at night but never actually met? Why can’t he remember?

The clicking slowed and stopped, like it forgot. Just like him.

Dean was in the shit this time, because apparently not only did he leave Sammy behind somewhere, he also fucked up the car somehow? He felt his heart beating so loud and so fast, it almost drowned out the persistent ringing in his ears he just noticed was there. Everything was too slowly coming back, and he didn’t comprehend it as a bad thing he couldn’t see Dad properly, like looking through the wrong end of a dirty telescope.

But he was still right there in the passenger seat, looking at him and not breathing in the way only ghosts and nightmares do. Dean finally remembers he has hands, and holds them up as he speaks, almost on autopilot.

“M’ sorry, Dad.”

“No, Dean,” is the reply he gets, much rougher and somehow at the same time gentler than Dad’s voice. Much more patient, anyway.

“M’ sorry, Dad.”

“You were in an accident.” Well that explains why he was in the car, but Dean only blinks. A reflex.

A pause where he probably could have said something. Was he dead?

“You don’t seem to have been seriously injured, but your mental awareness is still taking some time to recover. I’ve already called Sam, he’s on his way.” calm as anything.

Why was this news not affecting him? What’s wrong with him? Where’s Sam?

“You’re not Dad.”

“No, Dean.” A patient reply, but Dean doesn’t think to ask who, how, or why. There’s just an itch coming through that pegs this deep timbre inside him as the word familiar, and he can feel the heat of something radiating from the passenger seat and through him, settling to pulse like a second heartbeat in the space just above his right ear.

“But I know you.”

“Sometimes, yes.”

Dean doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry at that, so he turns his gaze away from his flexing fingers to look at the now sharpening outlines of the figure next to him. His already shaky peripherals waver and darken what must be the middle of the day, down to a single focal point: blue.

He remembers hearing lightning strike, but he never saw any. He must have dreamt about it. But who dreams about getting struck by lightning? His left arm tingles.

“Do you know where you are?”

Dean blinks heavily again and refocuses his gaze on what he now knows is the cassette deck, with Zeppelin side 1 ready to go. The radiator was still steaming and hissing weakly.

“The car?” like he still isn’t sure.

The not-stranger still doesn’t move, doesn’t shift his weight or anything, and Dean doesn’t know if that was the right answer or not. He feels tears erupt from his eyes and fall into his wringing hands, and he suddenly doesn’t want to see anymore.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” he asks, patient, but Dean can’t stop his tears.

“I’m sorry Dad, I was just-“

“DEAN!”

deancasbigbang:

Title: Roommate Wanted
Author: supernatural9917
Artist: Busy Squirrel
Rating: Explicit
Pairings: Dean/Cas, past Dean/Carmen, non-explicit Dean/others and Cas/others, minor Charlie/Dorothy, minor Sam/Jess
Wordcount: 20000
Warnings/Tags: they were roommates, Dean thinks he’s straight
Posting: 10/26/2018

Summary:

Dean Winchester moved to Pontiac, Illinois six months ago when his girlfriend Carmen got a new job. Unfortunately for Dean, Carmen then left him for her boss, so he needs to find a roommate ASAP. Castiel Novak needs to move out of his brother’s house before his niece is born, and when he finds Dean’s ad on Craigslist, it seems like the perfect solution for both of them. So what if Dean is ridiculously gorgeous? Castiel can keep his crush under control. So what if Castiel is gay? Totally straight Dean isn’t at all affected by seeing him hook up with dudes. They’re just a couple of completely platonic roommates.

Well… that’s what they think, anyway…

Roommate wanted: 2 bed 1 bath apt on west side of Pontiac. $400/month including bills for furnished room, access to half the space in the rest of the apartment, and a reserved spot in the parking lot. I’m a dude in my late 20s, I like cars and pie. No slobs or pets.

‘Wow, Dean, that’s a really appealing ad. I can’t imagine why nobody has responded yet,’ Charlie said with a sarcastic eyeroll. ‘You sound so friendly and welcoming. You do realise that you need a roommate if you want to keep this place?’

‘I know, I know,’ Dean sighed. ‘I just thought I’d moved past the part of my life where I’d need a random roommate.’ Charlie rubbed his shoulder in sympathy. ‘I definitely didn’t think I’d be stuck in a town where I barely know anybody because my stupid ex-girlfriend dumped me for her boss.’

‘Hey, Carmen’s loss, man. I’m glad you moved here.’

‘Thanks Charles,’ Dean replied, wrapping her in a hug. ‘Too bad you don’t want to move in.’

‘Yeah, sorry. Too bad I don’t have a second room so you could move in with me. That would kinda rule.’

‘Nah, we’d end up fighting over the same girl and it would get ugly.’

‘Oh Winchester, like you’d stand a chance against me.’ Dean wasn’t able to get his argument in because just then his inbox pinged. ‘Ooh, look, somebody replied!’

Hello, I saw your advertisement for a roommate on Craigslist and would like to have a look at the apartment. I’m also a ‘dude’ in my late 20s, no pets and not a slob. Can I please make an appointment ASAP? My phone number is 555-0918. Sincerely, Castiel Novak

‘What the hell kind of name is Castiel?’ Dean laughed.

‘Who knows? Text him, maybe he can come by tonight and your problem will be solved!’

‘Doesn’t that come off as a bit desperate?’ The inbox pinged again.

Hello again, apologies for bothering you again so soon, but I just wanted to stress that when I said ASAP I really meant it. I’m currently living with my brother and his wife, and they need the room for their new baby. My SIL is due in a week and is planning a home birth, so I’d really rather get out of here before the place is covered in placenta. Thanks. -Castiel

Dean and Charlie looked at each other and dissolved into a fit of laughter. ‘OK, I’m definitely calling this guy right now,’ Dean said when he’d gotten his breath back. ‘He sounds hilarious.’

deancasbigbang:

Title: From You The Flowers Grow
Author: winkingwinchesters
Artist: lowkeyguru
Rating: Mature
Pairings: Dean/Cas
Wordcount: 20000
Warnings/Tags: canon divergent, cas-centric, creature!cas, canon-typical violence/gore, slow burn, original characters
Posting: 10/29/2018

Summary:

Castiel has spent the last six years building a life for himself in the backwoods of West Virginia. He has friends, dogs, even goats to look after along with a nursery (the plant kind, not the child kind). After a long-lost family member arrives in town, Castiel’s Angelic nature is revealed, and now he has the gossiping townspeople, an overly curious hunter, and his tumultuous past to contend with.

The drive starts out silent. Not quite peaceful, as there is an armed hunter in Castiel’s passenger seat, but at least it is quiet. As they officially leave Bubbling Springs, the hunter speaks.

“You know, I can’t say I’ve ever heard the name Castiel before,” he says. “Is that a family name or…?”

“No,” Castiel says, keeping his eyes fixed on the road. He stops his hands from tightening on the steering wheel.

“Your friends didn’t seem to know it,” the hunter says. Castiel glances at him. He doesn’t look like he’s trying to goad him; it’s more like curiosity. Castiel almost finds that more annoying.

“I can only assume you are not Detective Hetfield of the West Virginia State Police,” he says.
“Is that the same as keeping a false identity for years?” the hunter asks.

Castiel doesn’t answer. He could tell this hunter that it was meant to be protection, not only his but everyone else’s, or that Steve Fischer is a better version of himself, one that hasn’t killed anyone in loyalty to the wrong cause. It doesn’t matter. If the hunter finds him worth hunting, he’s welcome to shoot him right now. It won’t do anything but waste a bullet.

They reach the gas station before the hunter can choose another part of Castiel to prod at. Castiel waits as he gathers all the coins from the glove box, roughly three dollars worth, and opens the door. He looks over when the hunter still hasn’t gotten out.

“I’m Dean,” the hunter says.

Castiel stares at him until he looks away and then says, “I can’t say I’ve heard the name Dean before.”

Dean rolls his eyes as he gets out. “Thanks for the ride. And for ganking the psycho murder bitch. And the quarters”

Castiel doesn’t respond. Dean shuts the door. Castiel waits until he’s gotten to the phone to drive away.

Mostly because the truck refuses to shift out of park.

deancasbigbang:

Title: Compatible
Author: mugglerock, Anyrei
Artist: Knowmefirst
Rating: Explicit
Pairings: Dean Winchester/Castiel (minor: Castiel/Inias, Dean Winchester/Unseen OFC)
Wordcount: 102000
Warnings/Tags: Canon Typical Violence, Self-Harm, Suicidal Ideation, Hurt/Comfort, Case Fic, Pretend Relationship, Canon Compliant Through S13E6, Thinly Veiled Excuses to Makeout, Our Own Fucked Up Version of the Little Mermaid, Dean Approves Cuz Dean Loves Disney
Posting: 10/31/2018

Summary:

Compatible – capable of existing or living together in harmony.

It was the reason why Castiel and Inias were chosen for each other prior to Castiel’s assignment to save the Righteous Man from Perdition. But after so many years on Earth, first-hand experiences with emotions and the nuances of humanity, Castiel has come to terms with the fact that he isn’t the angel he used to be. However, it isn’t until a traumatic event upending his world that he finally starts to question what love really means.

And surprisingly, it isn’t at the hands of his Aisaroel (the angel he was bonded to), but that of a certain hunter.

Practically dropping himself onto the swing on the terrace, Dean dialed his brother and counted out the rings before he answered. If he answered after one ring and gave the code word, he was in danger. If he answered after two and brought up a random movie, that meant he was getting laid or in the process of sealing the deal. They always picked up after three rings to indicate free and clear.

Like clockwork, Sammy picked up on the third ring.

“Hey, Dean, how’s Cas?” Sam asked, the worry in his voice was prominent.

“Aside from suddenly being human again?” Dean sighed and shook his head. “I dunno, man. He seems okay, other than his grace is, as he put it, ‘behind frosted glass.’ Were you able to find anything?”

“Not much with the resources I have. Most of the books I need are back at the bunker. Did you ask Cas if that could happen after a separation?”

“Yeah. He said there are no accounts of what’s happening to him. On the rare occasion that there were bond separations, the angel who took the hit was back to himself after a couple of hours.”

“Weird,” Sam replied thoughtfully. “You think it could be because his grace was still… I don’t know… damaged from that spell Metatron used?”

“Maybe.” Dean let out a sigh of frustration and ran his fingers through his hair. “I mean, as long as it doesn’t kill him… I’m not as worried. And he’s, uh… he’s been smiling more, so I’m counting that as a win.”

He could practically hear Sam smiling through the phone. “That’s good to hear, after everything. He seemed pretty down.” There was a beat and a deep sigh. “But I’ll continue to look into it. I’ll call you as soon as I find anything.”

“Thanks, Sammy.” Dean hesitated for a moment. He wanted to tell his brother what was going on, on the personal front, but he wasn’t entirely comfortable saying the words out loud. “Uh… If I…” With a shake of the head he stopped himself. “Nevermind. Just let me know what you find and I’ll keep you updated on what we find here.”

“You know you can talk to me, right? If you’ve got something on your mind? I know this isn’t easy for you.”

Dean sighed, playing with a loose string on the hem of his shirt. There was a brief moment in which he contemplated playing dumb, but he really was getting too old for this shit. So Dean just bit the bullet. “I think I have a thing for Cas. And that’s just all kinds of fucked up.”

There was silence on the other line, so much so Dean had to pull the cell away to see if maybe the call was dropped. That was when Sam softly replied, “It’s not fucked up, Dean, but I’m glad you’re finally realizing it. Took you long enough.”

“What do you mean?” Dean had only just realized he had a weird crush on his best friend. Dean was already more than confused – especially having to add a pseudo sexual identity crisis to all of his complex feelings – so Sam’s know-it-all comment wasn’t helping.

deancasbigbang:

Title: Growing Pain
Author: darkheartinthesky
Artist: Ddff0111
Rating: Teen
Pairings: Dean/Castiel
Wordcount: 26000
Warnings/Tags: Spoilers through Season 11, No Major Archive Warnings Apply, mentions of bodily fluids/functions, Human Castiel, Light Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Sam Winchester’s POV, Oblivious Sam
Posting: 10/29/2018

Summary:

After Castiel is de-aged into a baby by a witch, Sam notices something… odd about Dean. He’s never seen Dean like this before; so gentle, so caring, so worried. And it makes him think, and reflect, on Dean and Castiel’s relationship.

There’s got to be something he’s missing, something he doesn’t understand, but he just can’t quite put his finger on it.

It was never ending. There was always something Cas needed. It made Sam think about Dean. Dean took care of him like this while he was still just a child himself.

Sam turned the water off. Thinking about all that Dean did for him as a child made his stomach twist into hot, heavy knots. He turned the light off before he left the bathroom and quietly padded back to bed, desperate to catch even just another half hour more of sleep. But he stopped briefly and stared at the crib. He hadn’t heard Cas cry at all since before bed.

The crib was empty.

Panic blossomed in Sam’s chest, ready to rip at his throat, but it died down in an instant when he turned to scream at Dean and saw—

Saw Dean on his back, mouth open and snoring obnoxiously, and Cas on his chest. Dean had one arm wrapped loosely over Cas, securing him in place, and Cas slowly rose and fell with Dean’s breathing. Cas had two fingers stuck into his mouth. His hair was sticking up in all directions, like he’d been given an electric shock. He looked the most peaceful he’d been since this whole fiasco started.

Probably more peaceful than Sam had ever seen him, actually.

After taking the image in, Sam sighed and smiled. He grabbed his phone off the nightstand, and making sure the flash was off, snapped a couple of photos for blackmail later; but he’d be lying if he didn’t admit that they were adorable like that.

Sam crawled back under the covers of his bed and faced Dean and Cas. He was never going to let Dean live this down.