Multishipper

Coming soon: The novel “A Century Divided” as paperback on amazon, based on my Destiel fanfic.

The forbidden love between Caleb and Tristan throws them in a tornado of heartbreak and loss, nevertheless they find each other repeatedly as the historical disasters of the century unfold.

The story centers around the lives of Caleb Milton and Tristan Somersmoore, told from 1922 to 1989. We follow their problematic but meant-to-be relationship way beyond the tender age of young adulthood attraction to dream-crushing middle age, and into the stage of becoming two senile old men.

It begins as an art deco-esque, boy-meets-boy love story once upon a time in the Roaring Twenties, when a young farmer’s son Caleb comes to New York City and falls in love with the flamboyant alcohol smuggler Tristan Somermoore. But their long term, on-off relationship is under constant threat by the homophobic society of the time. Their own sexual insecurities and the waves of history crush them as they experience the Great Depression, the PTSD traumas of the Second World War, until the Cold War era sees them facing a world full of new possibilities due to the 1960s “love revolution.”

This quick and sloppy ficlet is my Valentine’s day present to @mansikkaomenabanaani. She is a lovely human and an amazing author (http://archiveofourown.org/users/mansikka).

Special thanks to @jemariel for helping me brainstorm, @celesteandtheirfandoms for the title translation, and both @60r3d0m and @seraphdean for their encouragement!

(Human!cas, no timeline, established)

Edit: I spelled the title wrong in the first post of this! Sorry to embarrass you, @celesteandtheirfandoms!

—

Dean was bone tired as he trailed into the grocery store behind Cas. It was damn near three in the morning, and he’d just spent seven hours driving back from a grueling rugaru hunt. His dreams of getting cozy with his memory foam had been dashed when he discovered they were out of beer. And bread. And eggs.

Cas however, who’d wisely chosen to sit this one out, was bursting with energy, a shopping basket tucked in the crook of his elbow. He made a beeline for the garish pink and red Valentine’s display lining the wall adjacent the entrance. Dean winced at the thump of his boots on the tile as he watched Cas inquisitively pick up stuffed animals and trail his fingers over floral displays. He wondered how ridiculous they looked considering Cas was in flannel pyjama pants and house shoes while Dean was still dressed from the drive.

Dean stopped in front of a table of bakery items. His eyes glazed over as he idly wondered why pie wasn’t considered a Valentine’s day food. He deserved some pie for running errands after such a long day. When was Valentine’s day anyway? Today? Yesterday? He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t hear Cas sidle up beside him.

“What are these, Dean?”

Dean jumped at the sound of Cas’ gravel bitten voice. “Huh, what?” he asked, his tone edgy.

Cas hummed thoughtfully before pointing down at a box of chocolate covered strawberries, “I suppose more accurately, my question is why is this fruit covered in chocolate? Would that even taste good?”

Dean couldn’t help the little smile that crept onto his face. “‘Course it’s good, chocolate’s sweet, berries are sweet…” he trailed off, gesturing vaguely in hopes of Cas understanding him despite his lack of verbal finesse after a 20 hour day.

Cas frowned, “Strawberry aren’t berries; their name is a misnomer. Strawberries are actually an aggregate accessory fruit, meaning they are receptacles for the plant’s ovaries rather than the ovaries themselves.”

Dean fixed Cas with his best ‘really?’ face of frustration as he processed Cas’ lecture. Finally he broke their stare off with a sleepy giggle. Cas rolled his eyes, “Are you laughing because I said ovaries?”

Dean’s delirious titter broke into a full laugh. Cas frowned at him. “Ok, ok, I’m sorry,” Dean said after composing himself, “Why don’t you think they’d be good?”

Cas sighed, clearly still frustrated with Dean’s juvenile behavior, “I just don’t think the soft, grainy texture of the strawberry would pair well with the solidified chocolate.”

Dean shrugged, “I dunno Cas, most people seem to like them.” He picked up a box and scoffed, “Twenty dollars? At that price, they better blow me too!”

“Do you think that’s an unreasonable amount for the product or an unreasonable amount to spend on showing one’s affection?” Cas asked sourly.

“All I’m saying is you can get a box of strawberries and a candy bar for less than ten bucks!” Dean complained, still looking affronted.

Cas glared at the confectionaries for a moment longer. Finally he turned on his heel to stalk off, calling back to Dean, “We need bread, correct?”

Cas stopped again when he felt the basket dip. He looked behind him just in time to see Dean placing the strawberries inside. Dean grinned apologetically at him, “Best to form your own opinion, right?” Cas smiled softly in return.

—

Dean admired how well the cashier hid her discomfort as she scanned the fifth container of salt. Cas was busy giving a cold case of energy drinks a judgemental look when the cashier reached the strawberries. Her eyes lit up as she slid the striped pink box over the scanner. “Are these for your partner?” she inquired exuberantly. Dean stammered out a nonsensical answer as his ears warmed with a blush. He paid quickly and gathered Cas and the groceries in an attempt to make a quick escape.

Unfortunately for Dean, Cas hadn’t missed the cashier’s innocent question. He shot Dean a mischievous grin as the doors slide shut behind them. “Does this make me your valentine, Dean?” he teased.

“Shut up,” Dean quipped, even as a smile crinkled his eyes. He shifted the groceries to one hand and slung an arm around Cas.

Cas pressed a kiss to Dean’s cheek, “I’m not sharing the fruit if you don’t say it.”

cas will be an affectionate customer from now on ;)

I’m absolutely in love with this.

As he crept toward the fridge, the holiday music mysteriously grew more, and more, audible. Just as he could make out the words to the song, he noticed a warm glow of light eminating from the kitchen. He wiped the last bit of sweat from his brow, readying to face whatever ghosts have appeared in the bunker. Turning the corner, armed with only the belt of his favorite robe, he saw… Castiel.

Cas was deep in thought and hadn’t noticed Dean walk in. So, he quickly fixed his belt and ran a hand through his hair (catching a whiff of some B.O. he had no time to do anything about). Then he realized how sad Cas seemed to be, his eyes s little more solemn than usual. The song on the radio began to fade out as the dj announced a dedication: for all the lonely souls braving another cold night alone this holiday season, this one’s for you… As a warm and steady song began playing, Cas sighed and shifted his feet.

Without thinking, Dean walked up and asked, “what’s with the long face?” He knew the answer, it was the same reason he awoke with a lump in his throat. Cas began trying to find an answer, but was interuppted by Dean commenting on the quality of the current song and asking him to dance. Before he knew what he’d said, Dean pulled him up into a hug and started dancing.

Neither of the knew how much they needed that. At first, they danced slowly, heart to heart. When an upbeat, jazzy tune came on, they interlaced their fingers… laughing and dancing. They both clumsily found the right moves for a comforting and thoroughly enjoyable moment together. Cas looked into his eyes, smiling and breathing heavily. Dean, smiling back with sparkles in his eyes. The next song seemed to jump out of nowhere, a simple piano classic…

They both turned back to each other, breath almost normal. Dean swallowed, nervously awaiting Cass’ words. Cas, also unsure of what to do next, licked his lips and took a deep breath. Then, Dean suggested, on his way toward the fridge, “So, uh. How ‘bout some pie? We can share it-” trying not to make an obvious face as he opened the box to slightly less than half a pie… “That sounds great”, Cas said, knowing full well he would happily have only a bite, or two.

The best part of Christmas? Getting to cuddle up with your angel and watch the old, holiday shows until you’re both asleep. Picture perfect, sound asleep in each other’s arms. Completely defenseless against a little brother with pure joy in his heart, seeing two adorable dorks snoring on the couch… 😘

For millennia, Cas didn’t understand what companionship was. What family was. What love was.

Sometimes, not knowing is better than the alternative.

Because now… now Cas knows what family means, how companionship feels, what love truly is.

Sitting in the nothingness of the Empty, Cas longed for Jack, Sam, and Claire.

But mostly, Cas ached and yearned for Dean. Reminisced about Dean. Pictured companionship and love with Dean.

For the first time in his existence, in a pit of inky blackness, Cas was truly lonely.

~

“I dream about him. Every night,” Dean whispered one evening, the words so quiet Sam barely heard them.

Closing his book gently, Sam asked, “Cas?”

Nodding jerkily, Dean confessed, “Always the same dream. He’s in the Empty… and it’s like he’s calling out to me without saying a word. I get all these-” he broke off, clearing his throat, suddenly thick with tears.

there had been a lot of things dean had planned to do the second cas was safely out of the empty. yell at him for doing something so reckless and then leaving after saying those words. press cas up against the wall and kiss him stupid so that cas would understand this was something the angel could have. do a full body check of cas to make sure he wasn’t hurt. maybe even wrap him up in a new trenchcoat that wasn’t dripping in Empty tendrils. but instead… instead dean grabbed hold of the lapels of cas’ trenchcoat and pulled him close, yanking cas into a desperate hug that melted into dean wrapping his arms around cas’ waist as he buried his head into cas’ shoulder. dean didn’t care that the hug had morphed from something simple and familial into something tender and lingering. that it wasn’t just a ‘great to have you back, buddy’ kind of hug, but one of those ‘this is a very long hug now’ sort of hugs. and if dean pressed his lips to cas’ throat, with a litany of neck kisses and whispered words of “I love you too” against cas’ skin, well, that surely must’ve conveyed his feelings in a way cas would never forget.

Okay this started as a short little post series fic about Cas feeling comfortable expressing himself more freely once the boys get him back, but it kind of grew… and is still growing. I can’t stop so enjoy however long this story ends up being! [Part 1]

Something Dean hadn’t expected when they got Cas back, was how emboldened he’d become. If he was being honest, he expected him to be shy… embarrassed even… unsure, at least. But no. Cas had gotten a taste of being open and there was no going back. The two hadn’t really talked about where they stood, and Cas didn’t seem to assume either way. Instead, he kept testing the waters- flirting and touching to see how Dean would react.

That morning was no different. Sam was seated at the table, mid-conversation with Dean as he made breakfast, when Castiel made his appearance. His hair all over the place and wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt. Dean had to admit, he made a pretty cute human- all tired and grumpy.

“Morning, Sunshine,” Dean smiled and motioned with his spatula, “Coffee pot is still pretty full.”

“Thank you, Dean,” he sighed, voice unbelievably low.

He passed Dean, letting his hand run along the hunter’s shoulders in a very friendly show of appreciation.

Sam snorted, mid sip, and splashed coffee out of his cup.

Dean glared at him before focusing on the stove once more, a welcome distraction as he was almost certain he might be blushing.

He hadn’t talked to Sam about any of it; the confession, his own complicated feelings on the matter, none of it. It really wasn’t his fault for being confused, but Dean would really rather the matter not come up with both of them at the same time.

“So Cas,” Dean held his breath as his brother spoke, “Now that you’re human… presumably for good… what do you think you want to do next? Any hobbies you wanna try or things you want to buy for yourself?”

“Yeah, I gotta say, we really screwed up your human experience last time so…” Dean added, looking over toward Cas’ awaiting gaze, “Whatever you want…”

The end of his sentence hung heavy between them for a beat before Sam cleared his throat.

Dean jumped a little as his gaze dropped back onto the stovetop. He poured the eggs and bacon onto two, large plates and headed toward the table with them.

“I think I’d like to visit Claire,” Cas spoke up, finally deciding to answer Sam’s question, as he lazily made his way to the table to join them, “She says she wants to take me shopping.”

“We haven’t seen Jody since everything happened so that actually sounds great,” Sam replied as he added a small portion of eggs to his plate and grimaced at the bacon.

“But I’m going with you and Claire if you’re picking out clothes,” Dean pointed at Cas with his fork.

Sam laughed and raised a questioning eyebrow at him, “Getting into fashion?”

“Dude, it’s Claire…” Dean turned the fork toward him before digging it into his eggs, “There’s no telling what he’d come back wearing if it’s just them…”

Cas watched over the rim of his coffee mug, looking more content than Dean had ever seen him. The hunter couldn’t help it if the tug at his mouth won out or that his voice seemed to decide to speak before he even knew what he was saying.

“Humanity looks good on you…”

And whoa, that tone was not one you usually used to speak to your best friend over breakfast. Sam yet again almost choked and Cas just looked at Dean with these eyes-

“Guys, I’m right here-” Sam brought up amusedly as his eyes darted between the two other men, “And is there something I should know?”

“No, I’m just gonna go get a shower and get ready to head to Jody’s so.. figure out who’s doing the dishes before we leave,” Dean’s brain awkwardly provided as he hurried from the room.

Cas reached over to grab Dean’s abandoned plate as well as his own and was halfway standing when Sam spoke.

“Cas-”

“I can do the dishes, Sam, it’s fine,” Cas cut him off but Sam was determined.

“That’s not what I was going to say,” the younger Winchester returned.

“I know,” Cas surprised Sam and himself as he slammed the dishes down.

He took a moment to collect himself before picking them back up and turning to walk them to the sink, “I don’t mean this in a hurtful way, but I feel like this is not of your business.”

“None of my business, and yeah, you’re probably right…” Sam grabbed the remaining plates Cas had ignored and approached slowly, “But that implies there is something to talk about… between you and Dean?”

“Not between, well yes, I guess between,” Cas abandoned the dishes and faced Sam, “I told him how I feel about him and nothing more. I don’t want you to have the wrong idea.”

“Nothing more… Cas that’s still huge,” Sam’s head tilted, “He’s actually handling things remarkably well for Dean at least…” He seemed to snap back, “How are you? What happened when you told him?”

“I’m fine, Sam, but again, I think this is not of your concern…”

“I just care about you both, I’m sorry,” Sam put up a hand in front of him to show his surrender, “Just know you can talk to me if you ever need, okay?”

“Yes, thank you… I appreciate that,” the former Angel responded softly before turning back to the task at hand.

The kitchen was clean and empty when Dean swung back through so he headed to his room to grab a few things for the trip. He came to a sudden stop, however, when he found Cas standing shirtless in his room.

“I have nothing to wear… I hope it’s okay if I borrow something?” the former Angel asked, holding up two of Dean’s t-shirts.

“Y-yeah, it’s fine, I’m just gonna grab Sam,” he began to duck away but not before adding, “Wear the blue one.”

Cas’ hand tightened around the shirt in question as he watched Dean disappear from view, “Yes, Dean…”

Dean didn’t stop at Sam’s doorway, moving into the room instead and shutting the door behind him with an almost panicked look on his face.

“Whoa, you okay?” Sam asked, stopping midway through lacing his boots.

“I’m… hmm… Sammy, I might be in over my head…”

The younger of the two looked shocked, eyebrows rising and foot falling from his hand and to the floor.

“Is this a heart-to-heart?” Sam grinned, “Dare I say, a chick-flick moment?”

“Not if you keep talking it’s not…” Dean practically growled.

“Yeah, fair enough…” Sam schooled his face into his listening expression, turning his shoulders toward the other man, “What’s up?”

“Cas, he… well there’s no other way to put it really, he confessed his love for me, and… I don’t know what to do with that- what am I supposed to do with that?” Dean finally took a breath and his eyes found Sam’s.

“What do you want to do with that?” Sam asked cautiously.

An almost pained expression washed over Dean’s face at this thought, and he tore his eyes away, “Come on, Sam…”

“Think about it,” the younger Winchester offered, standing and crossing over to place a hand on Dean’s shoulder, “You don’t have to know right now… it’s okay.”

A knock at the door prevented any further discussion, and with another pat to Dean’s shoulder, Sam moved to reach for the door and pull it open.

“Everyone ready?” Cas asked tentatively from the hallway.

Sam turned back to his brother with a questioning look.

“Yeah, you guys go ahead and I’ll meet you in the garage in a few,” Dean’s eyes caught on the blue shirt- his blue shirt- as he looked over before rising toward the matching pair of eyes, “I’ll… um be there in a few…”

“Yeah,” Sam grinned, throwing him a look before brushing passed the two, “You said that.”

Cas nodded and followed behind him in his retreat, glancing back over his shoulder before they rounded the corner and catching Dean’s eye for just a moment.

A loud breath escaped him as soon as the two were out of sight, and he was able to think clearly again.

“This should be fun…” he sighed as he made his way to his room to gather his things.

Namor:

Attuma:

*meanwhile Namora*

Because Castiel didn't just tell Dean he loved him, no, that wouldn't have done it. Cas needed Dean to believe, even for an instant, that he was good, and that someone saw who he truly was, the good and the bad, and still loved him. Still cared about him above everything else.

One of the first thing Cas realized about Dean was that he didn't think he deserved to be saved, so Cas spent the rest of his life making sure that silly human knew he was the most precious thing in the world.

Sam getting a paper cut while they're doing research and Cas tapping the back of his hand absently to seal it up instantly

Vs Dean complaining about the crick in his neck from bending over the books for so long and Cas leaning into his space, reaching up gently, sliding his hand up the back of Dean's neck, running the tips of his fingers into his hair, and easing the ache with the warm glow from his palm