#destiel fics rec

[its-alittleobsessed]

Exactly ONE person asked me for spn fic recs and it sent me into a mania i cannot explain. So here is my personal top fics that I feel no one talks about enough and that everyone should read right fucking now.

(In no particular order)

WARNING: some kind of have some dark themes but i have reread them more than once. So it’s worth it:

Canon-verse:

1. A second grace by Sometimeswelose

2. To the bone by bluehorses

3. The Lord Tests the Heart by imogenbynight

4. Unrelentingly in view by a_good_soldier

5. A complete kingdom by komodobits

6. Mouth to Manhattan by a_good_soldier

7. A thousand lives by fairy_tale_echo

8. Downstream by pantheon_of_discord

9. Cas’ Ultimate Pop Girls Mix by watchriverdale

10. By your ancient names by microcomets

11. Honorable mention bc I have to: Dean Winchester’s Take Two by alittleobsessed

AUs:

1. Sir this is a wendy’s by noviembre

2. It’s the end of the world (as we know it) by tiamatv

3. For all you young hockey players out there, pay attention by ThursdaysfallenAngel

4. Shut up (put your money where your mouth is) by kototyph

5. Where there is darkness by quittewandering

[travelingtwentysomething]

[sailorsally]

As much as I would like to see Cas go full on smitey on John, I would LOVE to see Dean have a Mickey Milkovich moment where he goes "yeah, dad, Cas fucks me so good and I love it!"

[queensilber]

WE REACHED 120‘000 DESTIEL FICS ON AO3 YALL

LETS CELEBRATE✨✨✨📖

REBLOG THIS POST WITH YOUR FAVOURITE DESTIEL FICS

(Can be your own btw)

[destiel-wings]

does anyone know a fic like this???

[the-mpreg-guy]

btw here is THEE rhonda hurley fic that includes both panty kink and pegging and HERE is a pre-canon deanlisa fic with face sitting and also there's a deanbela fic that ALSO has pegging and if you only want to read destiel fic but have done dean gender studies, here is a spooky destiel fic that includes mentions of dean getting pegged by lisa years ago and here is a destiel oneshot where cas asks dean about eating women out (you should probably check out the whole series bc its prime dean gender studies)

[endversecastielobsessor]

I love when in a fic Cas like time travels to before season one or whatever. And he’s expecting Dean to be like the Dean he knows. But younger Dean is eminently like hard core in love with him as soon as he meets him, and is not even trying to hide it.

[szlez]

Is That Straight?

My first but surely not the last art inspired by the ultimate fic Ninety One Whiskey by komodobits. If you still haven't read it you should! 😊

A scene from Chapter 11: Brest: Recouvrance

[angel-fruitcake]

hot take: Three Princes (Destiel Titanic AU) by @loserchildhotpants should be on the same level of fandom famous as Twist and Shout

^^ art also by her !

[foolondahill17]

Fool’s Top 10 2024 Fanfics

My favorite stories written in 2024. If you don’t see your 2024 favorite, please add in a tag or reblog!

it dawns darling on the daffodil pastures by fleeceframe (@tasteslikevelvet)

Rated E, Destiel, porn with feelings, 20,669 words

Premise: Dean and Cas have some truly spectacular and emotional grace/soul sex.

Favorite part: At his sides, Dean’s hands shake. “You can kiss me. But just- just a little one, okay? I like it when…”

“You like it when what?”

“When you make me feel- When you treat me like I’m real fragile.” Dean tenses as soon as the words leave his mouth.

But Cas replies, “Things that are fragile are usually precious.”

Clutch, Bite by kalliel (@kalliel)

Rated T, gen, missing scene, 1,926 words

Premise: Dean tries not to kill himself after Sam’s death at the end of Swan Song.

Favorite part: It is the possibility of death that pulls him back to the truck, and maybe the whisper, Winter is ending. If he slips off the road without black ice in the picture, Sam will think it wasn't a mistake.

Thoughts: the return of my absolute favorite fic author. If I had the time to rec every single one of their works, I would.

sweet syncopation by enochianprayer (@chapeldean)

Rated M, Destiel, mid-season 15 one-shot, 12,252 words

Premise: Dean and Cas have a very messed up will-they-won’t-they situationship while Cas tries to stay within the bonds of his Empty deal.

Favorite part: “You know I can’t taste what you taste, Dean,” Castiel says softly. “I’m sorry.”

Dean rolls his eyes, licking the same wooden spoon he fed Castiel with before chucking it in the sink.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. But the molecules? They’re groovin’?” 

Flash of the Needle; Dark of the Dream by kayliemalinza (@kayliemalinza)

Rated T, Destiel, mid-season 9 one-shot, 4,514 words

Premise: Dean and Cas take shelter in a cabin as a snowstorm comes in. Dean cuts his hand on a broken window and needs stitches; Cas has trouble falling asleep.

Favorite part: I could tell him sometimes friends have sex in cabins, Dean thinks. He'd believe me. He doesn't know any better.

Paging Doctor Novak by Salamitsunami1 (@salamitsunami1)

Rate E, Destiel, Doctor Sexy/Grey’s Anatomy AU, 51,314 words

Premise: Dean Winchester is a nurse, Cas is a surgical intern. Rivals to friends to lovers.

Thoughts: a fun, hospital AU romp. I will warn for asshole!Gordon, however, for those who like to avoid that characterization.

Ten Minutes From Home: Lebanon Coda by disabled_dean (@disabled-dean)

Rated E, Destiel, canon-adjacent AU, WIP 65,828 but the posting schedule promises an end by December 31

Premise: In season 14, John Winchester comes back and knocks Dean’s world off its axis.

Favorite part: Mary says, “Breakfast.”

“What?”

“I'll make breakfast.” She stands from the table.

Dean follows her with his eyes, “You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

Mary opens the fridge, digging through the shelves, pulling out tupperware. She spreads it out across the table, and then doubles back for plates. Silverware.

“This is just breakfast from yesterday,” Dean points out, “I made this.” He gestures at the food, and then winces.

“I made you.” Mary tells him, but he can see the tension in her eyes. “Eat.”

Physical Graffiti by entropic_saudade (@entropic-saudade)

Rated E, Destiel, Sharp Objects-AU, 62,894 words

Premise: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn but make it Supernatural

Thoughts: “The purest form of family remains underground.” In turns eerie and painful but always captivating. Devoured this in one day, and it left me yearning for more.

Ninety One Whiskey Snippets by komodobits (@cuddlebabies)

Rated E, Destiel, World War II AU, 50,093 words

Premise: 17 delicious morsels from Komodobits’ excellent Ninety One Whiskey universe

Thoughts: not a single one didn’t make me cry. Ninety One Whiskey continues it’s well-deserved legacy as one of the best works of fiction I’ve ever read.

Perhaps the World Ends Here by Randomfandomwoman

Rated T, gen (implied Destiel), Supernatural/Criminal Minds AU. 26,919 words

Premise: JJ is rescued from a serial killer by another serial killer, Dean Winchester, and kidnapped for 24-hours in his underground headquarters for a cult that exceeds JJ’s wildest imaginations.

Thoughts: I’ve never seen a singular episode of Criminal Minds, but I’m somehow obsessed with reading crossovers. This story scratches my outsiders-POV itch like no other.

Riptide by luulapants (@luulapants)

Rated E, Dean/others, alternate season 2, WIP 23,214 words

Premise: the sequel to my favorite fic last year A Cliff That Knew Too Many Tides follows the events of the second season with a painfully closeted and traumatized Dean at the helm.

Favorite part:

Footsteps drew closer. Stopped. Dad asked, “Can I sit down?” Out of the corner of his eye, Dean saw him gesture toward the edge of the bed.

He knew why he had to ask now. He wouldn’t have asked before. And Dean knew, he knew…

A soft choking sound escaped his throat. Dean covered his eyes. He nodded. Dad would always have to ask now. Maybe sometimes he wouldn’t even ask, would just keep his distance. He’d thought, back when the shifter thing happened, that he and Dad would never be okay again, but they had been – just a different kind of okay. Now even that was gone.

[damienn]

Yall PLEASE give me destiel fic recommendations. I've read most the big ones like 91 whiskey, four letter word for intercourse ect. I don't do mpreg or omegaverse stuff, freaks me out to much lmao. Anyways I'm also not exclusively looking for smvt, I love angsty shit and even just fluffy comfort. Feel free to self promo, post fics you love, and use this post as a rec spot im just desperate for something to read lol

Ps. I also love Sabriel (preferably not bottom Sam if it's gonna be smvt) and anything involving Benny. Benny is my bitch, I love Benny.

[loserchildhotpants]

Got any fic recs?

My absolute favorite destiel fics to date, in no particular order:

a kiss for every season (literally) by sobsicles

A Room of One's Own by NorthernSparrow

a turn of the earth by microcomets

according to all known laws of life by sobsicles

Aching in the Absence of You by sobsicles

Apres by imogenbynight

Dean (and Cas') Top 13 Zepp Traxx by pantheon_of_discord

Deeper and Deeper into the World by perilously

Heroes for Ghosts by pantheon_of_discord

In the Shadow of your Wings by Salr323

in this louisianna bar by fleeceframe

let's take a drive by sobsicles

Life Skills by ilovehowyouletmefall

More Than Ever by Sass_Master

Neglect by vanishingact

oh sooner or later it all comes down to faith by sobsicles

Our Bodies, Possessed By Light by obstinatrix

psalm 40:2 by unicompoe

Seek to Know You Better by ahurston

the cheapest room in the house by biggaybenny

The One Thing You Can't Lose by MajorEnglishEsquire

The Story of You and Me by the_diggler

There's Only One Sure Thing That I Know by blinkiesays

things happen (they do, they do, they do) by sobsicles

Tripping by Hatteress

Unknown Quantities by xylodemon

[randomishnickname]

Must-read Destiel fics - my superduper Nov. 5th rec list

Three years ago, on the blessed day of November 5th, 2020, I had:

never seen an episode of SPN,

only had a vague inkling of what the two pale coconuts were on about,

and I hee-heed and ha-had with the rest of Tumblr about the love confession scene and the Internet errupting in an unparalleled craze

At first I thought, that's it.

Then ... I got curious. I watched some YouTube Destiel supercuts. I read some fic (I think @andhumanslovedstories beautiful Cas/OC fic was my entry point?). I read meta. I watched some more YouTube scene packs. I read even more fic. I watched some of S4, some of S1, some random fan fav episodes. And then Destiel lodged itself so deeply, thouroughly into my brain that it took over and hasn't relinquished control in the last two years. The most tenacious, pervasive brain worm to date.

This ship got it all, and this fandom got it all, and there's such delightful, powerful, batshit crazy, romantic, expertedly crafted fanfic out there, it's like being a starving child in the world's biggest candystore.

So without further ado, here's some of my very favorite fics from this infinite trove, with all my thanks to the wonderful writers who keep delighting and awing me with their dedication and craft. There'll of course be some recency bias at play but you can browse my bookmarks over here to chose from over 100 excellent and well-curated SPN stories.

💕CATEGORY: SWOONWORTHY💕

Wildly romantic fics that warm you up from the inside.

It Won't Be Perfect by someonetoanyone (10K words) Summary: Dean daydreams about what it'd be like to let himself love Cas freely.

Why I love it: the humor, the spot-on characterizations, and the quintessential late season Destiel-ness of being so deeply love with your best friend that it's too big to actually do anything about. Just. So warm.

Rock Lobster by Ginger Fail (13K) Summary: Cas decides that the lobsters Dean planned to cook need to get back home. Impromptu beach vacation ensues!

Why I love it: This road trip story is fresh and invigorating like a sea breeze! Fun, entertaining and full of deep, deep fondness.

Seek to Know You Better by ahurston (32K)

Summary: On a road trip, Dean and Cas play the 36 Questions That Lead To Love.

Why I love it: They’re so deliberatedly, carefully starting a relationship here. They try so hard to bridge the gaps and meet each other halfway. A very mature take on love that feels nourishing.

☢️CATEGORY: BRAINWORMS GALORE☢️

Fics that make you go BARK BARK BARK.

samson went back to bed by piesexuality (9k, @twoheadedcas) Summary: Cas strikes a deal with Chuck - keeping his family together comes at the price of their free will.

Why I love it: What if Cas got his revenge for the Mala'ak box? What if love came at the price of everything you've been fighting for? What if a story twisted the knife oh so sweetly? Each word of this one lands a punch. Made me insane in the best of ways (cue pinned fanart).

In sickness by @saintedcastiel (41K) Summary: S4 redux but Castiel has a fetish: giving Dean the sniffles.

Why I love it: This one is soooo. Can barely find words for it. It taps into Cas' early season alienness and psychosexual obsession with Dean, brilliantly demonstrates Casdean vs Samruby parallels, and each word is just. Perfect. ARGH!

so much smoke in a hall full of mirrors by AreYouReady (6K, @autisticandroids ) Summary: Godstiel is losing his heavenly war. Crowley provides a compliant Dean-doll for him to release his frustrations upon.

Why I love it: Urgh, this one is sooo dark. Taps into the scary, intimidating and alien aspects of Godstiel so well. Gore, consent and psychosexual issues galore. Delicious.

Special mention: In a Parked Car, Exhuming Ophelia by @an-android-in-a-tutu (17K). Still need to comment properly ;)

💣CATEGORY: EMOTIONAL WRECKING BALLS💣

Angsty fics that tear you to pieces to remake you better.

What Used To Be Mine by someonetoanyone (48K words) Summary: Dean never makes his apology prayer in Purgatory - Cas dies, Dean mourns.

Why I love it: Oh god, this is a heavy hitter. Just, straight up insurmontable grief, packaged in poetic, raw language to make you shed tears and tears. Loved it so much.

Ignite your bones By ilovehowyouletmefall (67K, @angelinthefire) Summary: Dean accepts Chuck's deal: killing Sam to save the world.

Why I love it: Cruuuuel cruel premise for a story that doesn’t pull its punches. It gets dark in Dean’s head and everyone around him suffers. Wonderfully written. The ending set my brain on fire.

Right Where you Left Me by outdean (93K, @armandgender)

Summary: Cas comes back from the Empty after 10 years to find Dean married to another man.

Why I love it: This one is a riiiide. When grief has become a part of you but your love comes back… When you return from the dead and have to carve a new space into the world for yourself... nothing is easy here, but the emotions are INTENSE. Also, autistic!Cas for the win.

Special mention: Who Ya Gonna Call? by saintedcastiel (50K) and Clear skies in spring by enochianprayer (WIP)

💥CATEGORY: EPIC RIDES💥

Expansive, wild adventures with lots of ups and downs

Spirit of the West by teen_dean (140K, @urne-buriall)

Summary: An 18y old Dean grew up on a horse farm – cue veterinarian Castiel. The summer of a lifetime ensues.

Why I love it: So this is one of my very favorite stories, ever ever, and I cannot recommand enough to immediatedly suscribe to the author’s Substack to be able to follow it in „real time“ next summer. It’s cinematic, rich, full of darkness and light, it’s everything a story can aspire to, I’m just. I just really love it.

Second Verse, Same as The First by LaLaCat1 (135K)

Summary: Endverse!Cas is sent back to the start of S1 and is determined to make things right this time round.

Why I love it: a desperate and badass Cas, unfridging everyone, a thrilling plot, moments of awesome for the entire cast, gripping action scenes, a romance for the ages… this is a genuinely amazing story.

back road, black road by eden22 (167K)

Summary: 18y old Sam gets kidnapped by Hell on his way to Stanford. Dean tries to deal.

Why I love it: So this one’s not Destiel-centric but does have wonderful Destiel moments. It’s also very heavy on the gore and the angst (NOT for the faint of stomach), but expertly crafted, fascinating and frankly it deserves more love. Held my breath for half the read and never knew where it’d take me.

Special mention: It's The End Of The World (As We Know It) by tiamatv (140K)

🤪CATEGORY: DESTIEL INSANITY🤪

Uproariously funny stories about the intricate rituals these two weirdos get up too.

Life Skills by ilovehowyouletmefall (26K)

Summary: Dean teaches a newly human Cas how to be „a real man“.

Why I love it: Dean coming to Big Self-Realizations while trying to have platonic threesomes with Cas is so perfect. Very endearing, tender and funny. Also, smoking hot sex.

the cheapest room in the house by biggaybenny (89K)

Summary: Dean downloads Grindr for Cas

Why I love it: Just. Late season Dean being deranged about Cas’ sexuality while everyone watches on in utter confusion. Equally hilarious and deeply moving

according to all known laws of life by @sobsicles (29k)

Summary: Cas comes back from the Empty to a Dean who won’t stop playing gay chicken.

Why I love it: They are both such petty, insane weirdos in this one. They said „can every situation be turned into a squabble“ and didn’t wait for an answer. So funny, so tender

Special mention: Wedding Vows and Negotiations by GingerFail (6K)

That's it, enjoy and leave your writers some much-deserved love!

[valandrawrites]

2024 Recommended Fics - Incomplete List

Here's my start at an end of year round up. If you're looking for a specific kind of fic or trope, let me know, and I'll try to find something for you! I have many, many more I could add, and what I've included is in no particular order.

I didn't list the rating or warnings with this because it just got too long, and honestly, I'm lazy. Read at your own risk.

A. fragilis by eachainn @eachainn

This is quite simply the best fic I've ever read. Do not continue until you read this one!

150 million years ago, an Allosaurus finds a stranger had wandered into his territory and he wants the intruder out.

1878, the middle of what will become known as the Bone Wars between O.C. Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope. Castiel Novak is transporting fossils from the latest dig in South Dakota back to Yale. He has to be careful, because there are people who work for Professor Cope who would gladly take the fossils off of his hands.

Those Who Get in the Way of Peace by ladyofthelake17 @ladyofthe-lake

“Don’t make me an optimist. You will ruin my life.”

Dean Winchester finally has his shit together: business is booming at his auto repair shop, he's eating healthy (okay, he's eating salad with bacon bits), he's exercising (in a cemetery). He's single, but he's claiming it as a good thing. And so what if Sam's not talking to him? So what if his dad is marrying an insane artist? And so what if the priest marrying them is hot as hell with a name that sounds like a sin just to say it — Castiel?

AKA: another Fleabag fic, but maybe it'll have a happy ending. Maybe.

Illicit Ink by allmystars @allmystars-i

Dean Winchester has a secret. He does this thing maybe two or three times a week, and he loves it, don’t get him wrong, but… He’s a camboy, and that’s not exactly something he wants shared around the breakfast table. When Dean decides he needs a change, it’s nothing too drastic, just a tattoo. But the hot-as-sin tattoo artist he gets to do the job might just change everything.

Ground Control to Major Tom by MrsShinigamiDaiko @mrs-shinigami-daiko

Dean Winchester dreamed of being a mechanic all his life, but he never thought he would end up working as a mechanic for NASA and going into space. He is thrust into his first ever space mission after a strange lunar body, dubbed Luna-b I, mysteriously appears in Earth’s sky. Teams of astronauts scramble up to the permanent lunar base and begin analysis to determine if the blue orb is any threat to mankind. Most of the first team is sent home after a few months, nearly all of them having fallen ill with devastating cases of space sickness. As time goes on, it becomes clear that something altogether unnatural is going on here. Dean feels like he’s losing his mind as he and his crewmates also begin to succumb to sickness. He races to figure out what could possibly be the root cause. Is Luna-b I really just some weird, deep space rock that got caught in the Moon’s orbit by chance? Or is it something much more sinister, watching and waiting for the opportune moment?

Pinfall by crowleyo @crowleyo

Cas runs the family diner with his adopted son, Jack. His old high school flame rolls into town and he thinks he can just step back into Castiel's life. Well... He's kind of right.

This Impossible Happiness by FriendofCarlotta @friendofcarlotta

In one universe, Dean Winchester is pushing thirty. He’s just danced at his little brother’s wedding, he likes his job at the garage, and he goes on the occasional hunt with friends and family. He’s also desperately lonely for someone to share his life with. One day, he finds a mysterious package outside his door. It contains a news clipping about an urban legend that just might be real, and a book by Professor Castiel Novak, who happens to specialize in that same urban legend.

In another universe, Castiel Novak’s roadside motel is slowly dying, its business hollowed out by the interstate system. Dean Winchester, the man who asked him to run away together years ago, is only a painful regret these days. Until the day a mysterious letter Castiel doesn’t remember writing brings Dean back to his doorstep.

Out there in the multiverse, a man and an angel look for each other in all the wrong places. In the meantime, they might as well help a few other versions of themselves figure things out.

Then Comes the Rain by someonetoanyone @someonetoanyone-blog - a three part series

“I’m not looking forward to it,” Rowena tells him, as though that will absolve her of anything, “he may have a better solution for this, but the spell requires a smidge of spilled Grace. He’ll need to be hurt for this to work, and — Dean, all joking aside, you may be the only person fit to do this.”

“Oh, this’ll be great — go ahead, tell me why I’m the only one that can get butt-fucked to save the world.”

Mind Your Own Business by BunnyHunter

While the ability to overhear the secret thoughts of the people around him was distracting at best and anxiety-inducing at worst, Castiel had found ways to cope that included a pair of noise-canceling headphones and burying himself in his PhD research. After hearing inner thoughts for his entire life, there were very few things he overheard that surprised him anymore. So imagine his shock when his roommate Sam's brother, Dean, came to stay with them. While Dean may have been able to keep a straight face on the outside, his inner thoughts told a much different story.

Survivalism by bleuzombie @bleuzombie

Genetic engineers Castiel Novak and Dean Winchester are on the verge of a breakthrough in cancer treatment and possibly even a cure, using genetic manipulation and incredibly, shark DNA.

Following a devastating diagnosis of brain cancer, and amid growing pressure from his boss, Dick Roman, for results, Castiel is pushed to an act of desperation. He tests the cure on himself with disastrous and violent results.

He has never been so hungry.

Dean Winchester’s half-way house for orphaned half-monsters (and humans) by foolondahill17 @foolondahill17

What if Dean just kept every kid he’s ever interacted with?

A re-write of season 6 onwards in which Dean slowly collects every conceivable stray that crosses his path.

The eyes of a lamb by naughtystiel @naughtystiel for Shedar

The year is '98 and Spring is approaching fast. For most, the season is a symbol of new beginnings with Mother Nature’s chaste kiss that breathes life into everything once more. It's inspiring, peaceful and beautiful. So, the fact that this is exactly when a certain serial killer loves to strike makes Detective Winchester's blood boil. Two years in a row now, the guy has slipped through his fingers, not leaving a single trace behind. No clues, no leads, just murdered women in the most picturesque places imaginable. And the worst thing of all? Sometimes Dean catches himself admiring the killer's work.

where there is darkness by quiettewandering @quiettewandering @wanderingcas 

When Castiel Milton takes a job to be the new assistant keeper at Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery, Maine, he expects to live out his new life in quiet isolation. What he gets instead is Dean Winchester: bitter, brash, and, like Castiel, harboring a dark secret. As the spark of attraction between them grows into a flame, the lighthouse walls start closing in—as do the ghosts of Dean and Castiel's checkered pasts.

[strawlessandbraless]

Since AO3 is still down I thought I’d share some of my favorite destiel fics from fanfiction.net to help in these trying times

This is Not Convenient by cloudyjenn If Castiel doesn't find a mate soon, the council will assign him one. And Dean's not about to let that happen. Dean/Castiel slash

Heart Trouble » by Cerulea Dean's having a harder and harder time of denying what he feels for a certain blue-eyed friend of his. And it's making him a little ornery, and a lot confused

Tripping » by Hatteress That time the universe decided Dean belonged with Cas and wasn't afraid to pull out the big guns to make it so. Big guns in this case being obsessive fangirls, archangels turned tricksters and overly enthusiastic cupids. Welcome to Dean's life. First in the Tripping Verse

Destiel, Actually » by Cuboid Dean and Castiel are playing out your typical-and-not-so-typical rom-com cliché's. The culprit's obvious. Gabe's just trying to help - it was about time someone kicked the knuckleheads into gear. "And... ACTION!"

Ready To Fall » by Cerulea Castiel falls from Grace for Dean. This is the first fic I've posted!

Ache by HigherMagic Sam pulls wings out of Dean's back, which apparently you're not meant to do, and Castiel has to clean up the mess, then help the Hunter deal with them. AU, Wing!kink

[profoundbondfanfic]

Romantic Theory

Romantic Theory by 2street2car Rating: Teen and Up Word Count: 6.9k

Dean doesn’t just remember Hell; he remembers being raised from it, too.

Dean’s back from Hell. He’s… acting a little odd, a little ��kooky,” as Bobby says. But that’s to be expected when a guy comes back from the dead and crawls his way out of his own grave, right?

Especially since the thing that saved him swallowed him whole in the process. 

This is Lazarus Rising but told a little to the left.

I was one of the lucky people who got to watch that particular episode completely blind. I remember the growing feeling of dread as Bobby, Sam, and Dean try to figure out what brought Dean back to life. This fic makes me experience that again, but multiplied by one hundred— even upon reread.

This fic is told through multiple POVs: the gas station owner as he watches video footage of Dean’s return, Ruby, Sam, and Bobby. We watch Dean’s strange behaviour through them. The use of outsider POVs is very effective as, while the events are familiar to us as they follow the plot of the episode, the new perspective allows the author to really lean into the horror of everything that happens. If this story was told through Dean’s eyes, this fic would be completely different. By the end of the fic, the reader is on the edge of their seat waiting for Cas to arrive. 

Primed and ready for the closing lines to steal their breath away.