wow this is where my life is

The Soul Burns Brighter Than The Sun by Wow_thisiswheremylifeis || @ipromiseimlying-blog1 Rating: Explicit Word count: 285k

Dean’s sitting at the kitchen table with Sam when his phone rings. Jody’s name flashes across the screen and he considers not picking up, but Sam’s there, and he’d start asking questions if he left the call alone. It’s not like Dean doesn’t want to talk to Jody, it's just that he can’t bear talking to anyone these days. “Hi, Jody,” Sam says. “Howdy, boys.” She greets them and begins talking about a case she’s asking them to take over. Dean doubts they will, Sam hasn’t let him pick up a gun or knife in months, not since their last hunt. Jody’s voice cuts through the phone. “Alright, if you boys don’t wanna take the case, I’ll see if Castiel will, but I think he’s helping Claire in Colorado–” Dean doesn’t hear a damn thing after that, and by the looks of it, Sam doesn’t either. For the first time in days, Dean opens his mouth and speaks. “Cas is alive?” Jody’s voice is quiet on the other end. “He didn’t tell you?” Cas is alive, and Dean is figuring out what he should do about that when they learn Cas's accidental jailbreak broke The Empty, letting out most of its occupants. Now that every villain they have ever fought is back, Team Free Will 3.0 has their work cut out for them.

If there was ever a fic which had the perfect storyline to cover a, let's say, season 16, this one would definitely qualify. Heck, maybe even better than the actual show, considering how well it deals with all the emotions, both repressed ones as well as those of a more explosive nature.

Of course, there is the familiar 'idiots in love' trope, but it is brought up to the next level by them dancing back and forth more than ever. It is marked as slow burn, but we see something happening pretty soon in their relationship that gives up hope, then squashes it in the next instant.

It is most definitely a masterpiece of miscommunication while also intertwining things that are left unsaid.

But it's not just a story about their relationship. It's also a story about their own individual growth, of how Dean shook off his father’s expectations, of how Cas learned to be human, so much so that he grew his own soul. Not to mention we get to see some old faces and enjoy a few cases along the way. Some incredible plot too.

Bottom line? Dean is hurting and is angry. Cas is hurting and is angry. They need to learn how to love without the baggage they have carried all of their lives.

For Dean, it's scary to let someone in, especially Cas, who keeps on leaving.

For Cas, he might say that it's enough to just have Dean’s friend, but it's not.

Clip is from Madagascar