#author: IncandescentUmbrage

[destielaureversebb]

Coming soon for the @destielaureversebb: “Take the Lead” 

Author: IncandescentUmbrage @okayfinehereiam Artist: @Adromelke

Rating: Explicit Archive warnings: None Length: 20,000 words Tags:  Ballroom Dance, Dancing with the Stars AU, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Demisexual Castiel, Happy Ending Relationships: Dean/Castiel

Summary:  

Castiel is an asexual man engaged to be married to his longtime family friend Daphne. He has contented himself with this parent-ordained marriage of companionship, but as the wedding date draws nearer, Castiel finds he is struggling to accept his lifelong acquiescence to his parents' wishes. In a fit of pre-nuptial pique, he lets his brother Gabriel convince him to become a contestant on Dancing With the Stars: one last little rebellion before settling into the next chapter of his pre-approved life. 

Little does he know that meeting his assigned partner, newly promoted pro dancer Dean Winchester, is about to shake him to his very core. Yet, as the weeks progress and they both try to cope with the many challenges posed by the wildly popular TV show, Castiel is forced to confront the false foundations upon which his life has been built, and decide whether or not he has the courage to change them.

Excerpt: 

Castiel had learned very early on that it was wisest to pick his battles with his parents. His career had been one. He'd wanted to paint and sketch, but his parents had pushed him to choose something more "sensible" and "lucrative." Graphic design had been the compromise. Granted, his firm did very well, and allowed him an extremely comfortable lifestyle without having to rely on his parents' funding, but Castiel still found himself sighing wistfully every time he walked by his too-neglected painting room.

His marriage to Daphne, on the other hand, was a battle he just didn't have it in him to fight. He supposed it was his asexuality that made it easier to accept his family's urging to marry her. It wasn't like he was going to meet someone who would knock his socks off, and he got along well enough with her. It just didn't seem worth the effort to fight his parents about it, not when there were far worse things to endure than marriage to a friend.

Castiel let out another sigh. If he was already thinking of his impending marriage as something to endure, maybe Gabriel had a point about cutting loose. Lord knew there was a certain appeal to doing something his parents would strongly disapprove of. He was in his thirties, after all. Maybe it was time he started making his own choices, instead of continuing to let their parents dictate his life.

"Gabe," he said tiredly, "have I mentioned that I hate it when you're right?"

Posting date: February 16, 2025  

[dcwildwestfest]

DeanCas Wild West Fest 2024

Thank you to all the artists and authors who made this first year of the DeanCas Wild West Fest a success! All twelve of the teams' fics are live and available below and in the in the DCWWF collection.

Keep on the lookout for info regarding next year's Wild West Fest coming this summer!

Over the Wide Plains by allthismusic Twilight Embers by Celestial_Starlight Wild Blue Iris by Sunkenfox Catching a Sleeping Weasel at Crow's Pass by GhoulsnHalos (Morgawse) Wanted Man by Hexentaenzerin love is a cowboy by deancaskiss The Prodigal by FriendofCarlotta when i saw you all alone against the sky by an_ardent_rain Posse: One Seraph, One Hunter, One Archangel by Hectatess Dean West by IncandescentUmbrage A Love Beyond Boundaries by Mydestielbabies_67 A. fragilis by spirithorse

[profoundbondfanfic]

Reconstruction

Reconstruction by IncandescentUmbrage || @okayfinehereiam Rating: Teen and Up Word count: 19k

Though both are single dads, the ways by which Castiel Novak and Dean Winchester ended up there couldn't be more different: Castiel came to Sioux Falls for a fresh start when his best friend died and his godson, Jack, became his adoptive son. Dean moved to be closer to family when a one night stand turned into a surprise toddler on his doorstep. When a certain strawberry blonde spitfire stands up for Jack against the school bully, they quickly become friends. Castiel and Dean are soon in each other's orbits, only drawing closer when Dean begins doing some renovation of Castiel's home. Meanwhile, the mother of the young bully, Naomi Adler, having failed to weasel her son out of his due consequences, wages a 'holy quest' against Castiel. One she doesn't bother keeping secret. As they spend more and more time around one another, neither man can deny their attraction, but Castiel especially must decide if there is enough room in his life and heart for grief, for love of a child, and for a love of an altogether different kind.

I truly think that as a fandom, we’ve underutilized Emma as Dean’s daughter in fic. Because of that, anytime I see a story that serves that up, I have to click. In this fic, Emma is truly as described, a little spitfire, a true Winchester not only in attitude, but in heart and character. The story starts with Dean needing to bail her out of the principals office, if that’s any indication. She’s there because she stood up for Jack, so Dean can’t be all that mad given the circumstance. 

So of course, he takes her for ice cream. 

Which is the first place Jack’s new devastatingly handsome guardian lays eyes on him. 

This fic has a split POV, so we get to see their first impressions of each other, along with a great look at the way they both see each other for the first time for real, when they plan a playdate for their kids. 

Everyone in this fic is really well written, even a softer version of Dean, who is sweet and charming and a great friend and support to Cas as he begins to incorporate into their town. This story is cute, with a nice good vs evil plotline that has you cheering for Cas as he takes on the wicked Adler family. The payoff is sweet and I think this is one fic that you shouldn’t skip if you’re a fan of dadstiel.