profoundrecs

Rating: E Words: 194,739

As a grease monkey turned college freshman, Dean's constantly three seconds away from being stressed out of his mind. It hardly helps that he's finally figuring out his sexuality in his thirties.

What might help with that stress is a little phone number (and a big credit card bill). If he can't figure out how to be bisexual in person, he can at least give it a go over the phone, right?

(It's probably a bad idea, but he really can't help himself.)

Ok let me try write a coherent rec rather than just OMFGAAAHYOUNEEDTOREADTHIS.

I'll start by saying that this is not just one of my own personal favs but a favorite in our discord server. Mondays were so much better when we had a 4LWFI update to look forward to! It became the spark behind the creation of a new channel to discuss WIP fics and personally changed my own rule on reading WIPs.

I love this version of Dean. BSPs get the perfect mix of humor, cockiness, heart and vulnerability. You have “Micheal” exploring his sexuality and his kinks with “Jimmy” (insert finger quotes) on Thursday nights, and earnest student Dean studies (and flirts) silently with Cas in the library every Friday while trying to fulfil Sam and Bobby’s wishes for his academic career.

Fans of the two person love triangle trope may enjoy this incredible story of two people who round out the other in the best ways. Cas is the hand that lifts Dean up and Dean is the one who sees Cas as a person. Fans of Dean will enjoy the growth of a flawed yet beautiful character.

4LWFI combines delicious slow burn with sizzling smut in almost every chapter. Hot and tasty! Ben has an amazing way with words that just sucks you in.

Elements to be aware of: Mental Health Issues such as anxiety and Dean's lack of self worth, BDSM and dropping, coming out and bi-panic. And mentions of Dean and Cas with others.

Lines that stuck with me: The butterflies in Dean’s stomach have become idiot moths, bashing themselves uselessly against the light of his heart.

Domesticadventures has over 60 individual Destiel works and is one of my absolute go-tos for Canonverse fics. 

As the name may suggest, many fics feature the more domestic side of Destiel. It’s really nice to see the softer side of the hunting life - though the fics are not all entirely fluffy or angst free. Many are light codas but there are a few slightly longer reads which pluck the heart strings beautifully. The author has the ability to make the world interesting in their own way while still feeling true to the show’s universe.

Perfect for Domestiel. 95% of their fics are canon based, and non explicit. Thoroughly recommend for anyone looking to find something in that vein. 

Some of my Favs (What’s yours?):

A Light for My Path Rating:M Words:25,518 She’s always had a make and a model, but it’s only after Castiel parks her in the bunker garage, Dean coming to lean irreverently against her side, that she has a name. “When you were Castiel,” Dean says, “you were untouchable. Unknowable. A stranger. But now you’re Cas. You’re our friend. Our family. Not quite sure when one became the other, but the person who this car belongs to is definitely Cas. So maybe...we’ve been calling her the Continental, right? But that’s so formal. You know her now, so she needs a nickname. What if we called her Connie?” “Connie,” Cas repeats, testing the feel of it. He hums to himself, sounding as pleased as she feels. “I like it.”

The POV helps make this one of the sweetest fics I've read.

Entertaining Strangers Rating:M Words:30,185 There are angels all over the country. Dean has seen them on street corners, met them in bars, taken them to bed. He never expected to wind up with one sleeping on his couch, but he supposes stranger things have happened.

I was left with so many lingering feels after this fic. I often find myself randomly thinking of it months later.

Text Run in Twelve Parsecs Rating:G Words:3,181 Dean shoots first.

Cute nerdy text exchanges with emoticons and Star Wars references. Is Cas oblivious or flirting? Is Dean Han or Leia?

A Real Chore Rating:T Words:5,144 “I swear to God,” Dean tells Cas’ voicemail, “if you just forgot to charge your phone or some shit and got me worried for nothing, I’m gonna kill you.”

I adore Dean's aggressive mothering and nesting side.

Build a Home Rating:T Words:20,102 After they save the world, Dean expects Cas to come back to the bunker with them. He doesn’t.

Rating: T Words: 7,594

Castiel lives in a world of colour and sound, endlessly intertwined like two parts of a whole. As a radio broadcasting student, he runs a small segment on their campus radio program in the evening - and with help from his synaesthesia - tries to make the program more interesting by bringing in a little bit of colour. Castiel views his synaesthesia as both a gift and a curse, but after a chance encounter with a mysterious, stunning, golden-green voice, he's starting to think that it's more of the former.

I've grinned my way through this fic every time I've read it. This is such an adorable meet-cute story. Warning for mild doses of second hand embarrassment as these two dorks flirt and fluster over the airwaves!

A picture may paint a thousand words, but this fic paints a beautiful Destiel picture.

Rating: Explicit Words: 24,872

A week ago, Dean was pulled out of Hell. Now, he’s apparently woken up in 2018, and the angel that a mere twenty-four hours beforehand had threatened to chuck him back into the pit is sleepily pouring himself coffee and wearing Dean’s second-favourite Zeppelin shirt. It all seems like a perfect happy ending, but with Hell’s scars still so fresh, Dean can’t imagine how he could have possibly gotten there.

At the same time, the Dean who went to sleep in the bunker, right next to Cas, wakes up on Bobby’s couch in 2008. He’s instantly bombarded with questions by a Lilith-obsessed brother and a man who’s been dead for years, and must decide between keeping his finally-perfect life intact, and the lives he could save by re-writing history.

Regardless of these choices, both Deans are trapped in the wrong decade, and their only way back lies with a Castiel still very much under Heaven’s thumb – one who might find the future Dean describes difficult to believe.

Twice the Destiel, twice the emotions.

This is a truly fantastic time travel canon fic. A wonderful mixture of humour and angst. Time travel is tricky business and here is proof that knowledge isn't always a benefit.

I think my favourite thing about this fic is how excellently characterised it is for having two - quite different - versions of Dean and Cas (and Sam). Although it’s written from Deans’ POV (both of them) you don’t miss out on Castiel’s evolution and the growth of our favourite canon characters and the varying relationships in Team Free Will.

Lines that stuck with me:

Sam takes a moment to bite back a retort, before closing his eyes and inhaling through his nose. “A lot, Dean. A lot has happened, more than you can imagine.” He takes another breath and opens his eyes again. “I know it’s hard for you to accept it right now, but look, I trust Cas with my life, and so do you. I mean, our you. More than that – we’re family.” Something like revulsion twists around in Dean’s stomach. “Did we somehow change what that word meant in the last decade?” he says coldly. “Yeah, Dean,” Sam says. “We did.”

Rating: Explicit Words: 69,749 (96,499 including timestamps)

Dean Winchester’s college years felt like the greatest of his life: School came easy, he was the starting first baseman for the KU Jayhawks and he was in love with the smartest, nerdiest, hottest guy in school, who also happened to be his roommate. They were the definition of Relationship Goals. Until they weren't. Until Cas left. If you asked Castiel Novak why he was back in Lawrence after 10 years, he'd tell you it was because of a great job opportunity. If you knew Castiel, you'd know it was because of Dean Winchester. But Dean had moved on, successfully running his bar, brewing his own beer, tattooed and still the most gorgeous man Castiel had ever laid eyes on. Oh and? He was taken. Dean wants to, but forgiving Cas isn't easy, and finding their way back to each other after all this time is like searching for a hand in the dark. Sometimes, ten years is ten years too late.

Anyone that knows me knows how much I love an AU. I put off reading this for a long time because I didn't think I could handle the time jump and the pining, but this was so well done, the flashbacks slotted in so perfectly, that I regret not reading it sooner. I adore Dean in this, adore that he is running a bar and brewing his own beer. It's such a nice touch to see within a destiel AU. Music plays a large part in this story, with both Cas and Dean singing the words they struggle to say.There's plenty of mutual pining, but it's not overdone, and you never get to a point where it becomes frustrating. There's a huge smattering of SPN faves scattered throughout, and I love the way Dean's extended family treat Cas in this, and that those relationships are also explored - particularly Sam and Cas' relationship. There's a lot of angst, but there's plenty of smut and fluff to make up for it, and most definitely a happy ending.

Lines that stuck with me:

“What do you dream about?” Cas rubbed small circles into Dean's palm, and he relaxed into the touch.

“I don't know. I'm a simple guy, you know? I just want to be able to take care of my family, pay back Ellen and Bobby for everything they've done for me and Sam.” Dean sighed. “I want Sam to be happy, give him and Jo opportunities to do what they want. I just want the people I love to be taken care of.”

Cas shifted towards Dean. “That's great Dean, but what about you? What makes you happy?”

Rating: Explicit Words: 87,974

When his brother embarks on a risky venture, Prince Dean of Pellia’s only choice is to enter into a marriage with the king of Arxelle in order to save Sam’s life as well as his own. King Castiel is severe, aloof, and no more happy about their hasty wedding than Dean. Marital bliss is the last state either of them expects to reach, but as Dean spends more time in his new home, he and Castiel slowly begin to settle into a partnership that allows them to put the needs of their kingdom before their own feelings. The longer they spend together, though, the more those feelings develop, daring them both to wonder if they might ever be husbands in more than just name.

The arranged/forced-into marriage trope is not something I realised I needed more of like air until I read this fic. The world building is brilliant, Castiel's Kingdom of Arxelle a place that is well developed. The author's approach to not only Dean and Cas' relationship, but also to how Dean tries to change the culture of Cas' kingdom, is done really well. I really enjoyed how Cas was written in this, how we followed him and his struggles and thoughts. I loved the appearances of Gabriel and Anna, and the way that magic is used. And the length is just perfect to give a well rounded AU that doesn't feel rushed, and yet still leaves you wanting more.

This fic is part of the 2018 Dean/Cas Reverse Bang and you can see the awesome art for it here.

Rating: Mature Words: 3,017

Endverse: Dean's learned to be careful. In his experience, the moment you admit to loving something, you lose it.

I have a serious weakness for Endverse fics. I find that they often show a softness that you don’t find in other verses. This is no exception. There is a softness and a sadness, and fair warning it is heart-breaking but I still love it. This fic is not for everyone, it is a painful one, but it is also gorgeous. If you like endverse fics, I would highly recommend it, but go forward with warnings. If you don’t like endverse fics and heartbreak, this fic may not be the one for you.

Rating: Teen Words: 38,384

Set in 2002, Castiel Milton is a soldier returning from duty in Afghanistan with PTSD and anxiety disorders. He doesn't believe he can ever have a normal life again, until he attends a support group and meets Dean Winchester.

I’m actually sat here being the literary equivalent of speechless. I read this fic in one sitting and it’s been stuck on my mind ever since. It was punch you in the gut and leave you breathless good. It was honest and raw and hopeful and had such a mature approach to the issues Cas faces that I loved. The relationship between Cas and Dean is so well written, Cas is the snarkiest, most sarcastic little shit and I adored every moment of it. Dean is both an optimist and a realist, and it’s so nice to read him with such a positive outlook, but still grounded by the struggles in his past that had made him who he is. The banter between Cas and Dean is both soft and hilarious and every exchange left me feeling warm inside. 

This fic takes a head on approach to how anxiety can affect not only those suffering from the disorder, but also their friends and family around them. Anna, Castiel’s sister, is written with such honesty. While there is a lot of hurt/comfort in this fic, there are also instances of Cas’ disorder being met with frustration, or anger, which made the story and the emotions so much more relatable.

The final third of this fic has an angsty twist that I never saw coming. I was riding such a high of this absolute gem and it was so unexpected. While there is a level of angst here, this fic does have a happy ending - so don’t let the twist scare you off. My only disappointment was that the fic ended, I could have read so much more of this universe. 

I have read literal hundreds, if not thousands, of fics, and it’s been a long time since I read something that left me so stunned. It’s gone instantly to the top of my favourites list. 

Lines that stuck with me:

Dean wasn't sure exactly when he fell in love with Castiel. He didn't even know when he'd first become aware of it. It was just there, and he could barely imagine himself before it.

Sure, he'd loved people before. He'd had girlfriends and a few boyfriends, but nothing like this. It felt like he was constantly oozing it, wearing a stupid smile around, walking taller, love spilling out of him. It felt like he was becoming it.

It was ridiculous how stupid love made him. Suddenly all the lyrics to mushy songs began making sense. For instance, he'd never understood lines like "I only have eyes for you". He'd thought about it before, when a girlfriend had gotten angry at him for eyeing someone else. Sure, you could be into someone, but how could you just stop seeing others? Especially when there were so many fine pieces of ass populating the earth.

Rating: Explicit Words: 29,430

Castiel is the new student in the senior class of Lawrence High School. When a dirty note zooms across his desk, the last thing he thinks is that he'll fall for its smirking sender. As it turns out, however, Dean Winchester is more than a pretty face with his mind in the gutter and a insatiable drive to get closer to Cas. But after a lifetime of constantly moving for his father's work, Castiel is accustomed to only tenuous, temporary friendships. And Dean may seem ever playful and carefree, but his walls are built up even higher than Cas's.

I like this fic for being fluffy but serious enough to address John's parenting. It gets angsty by my standards but for most people it probably wouldn't be considered angsty at all!

Rating: Explicit Words: 41,369 Warnings: Graphic Descriptions of Violence

Dean can help Castiel defeat Raphael, and in doing so discovers feelings that go deeper than friendship. A fixit fic for S6, with hurt/comfort, fluff, angst, light bdsm and lots of angel politics. Oh! And classical music. The warning's for a section dealing with the after effects of torture, but I'll comment around it so you can skip it if that pokes you wrong. Sam came back with his soul but is still working with the Campbells, and otherwise everything starts in canon in early S6 and diverges from there.

This fic made me cry in the best way.

Supreme levels of achey bittersweet feels, I love how expressive the author's writing is. Every action is described without halting the movement of the story. Often even prolific writers bog down the narrative while going into unimportant detail. This hit all the right notes. The details are impactful and carry the narrative deeper. That's so incredibly rare. While this is a beautiful story I can say I fell in love with the author's style immediately.

Rating: Mature Words: 3,097

“Only idiots order cranberry.”

Dean’s finger rests against the glass case in front of a row of cranberry cupcakes, his order frozen on his tongue. Annoyance ripples through him, and Dean straightens and spins to face the judgemental asshole behind him. “What d’you say?”

“Did I stutter?” The man stares at Dean with muted blue eyes. “One does not patronize the finest bakery in town only to get a cranberry cupcake. Sacrilege.”

“What’re you, the town expert on baked goods or something?” Dean crosses his arms and tucks his chin to glare over the rim of his sunglasses. A flash of brilliant blue nails him to the floor. Holy shit, those eyes are so not muted. But pretty eyes don’t make him less of an asshole. “Well, what would you recommend?”

“Salted caramel is where it’s at,” the stranger says without pause. “Everyone knows that.” His face splits in an indulgent smile, the corners of his eyes crinkle, and Dean’s not sure if he wants to wipe that smile off with a fist or a kiss.

Holy fudge this fic. It’s a PWP with so much more to it than that. Rockstar Dean and Baker Cas and it all starts with snark and ends with porn (and maybe there’s some snark and porn too). And if you decide to keep on with the series (currently at 14,523) you will be in for even more of a treat. This is the perfect opener, and as sweet as the caramel cupcakes Dean buys in the fic.

Rating: General Audiences Words: 4,094

Getting into bed at three in the afternoon is generally frowned upon.

So Dean lies on the couch instead.

This is the first fic I have read from this year’s reverse bang, and it’s stuck with me ever since. I remember seeing the art for this during claims. I remember the art resonating with me, the quiet and tenderness of the moment captured. And I remember hoping it got claimed by someone who would do it justice. 

This fic absolutely does the art justice. The depiction of Dean’s mental struggles is so realistic and accurate, as is the way that Cas tries his hardest to handle them. The miscommunication between them is heartbreaking, but the ending is more than satisfying. 

Rating: Explicit Words: 126,611

Army veteran Castiel Novak is a wreck after his tour in Afghanistan, brought home to his brother's apartment in Lawrence, Kansas with scars both mental and physical. He copes poorly, and during one night of bad decision making, meets somebody just as much of a disaster as he is -- a prostitute named Dean Winchester. And suddenly, two damaged men might not be as irreparable as they believed.

This was one of the earlier fics I read when I first got into the Destiel fandom, and it’s a story that’s stuck with me. Castiel’s struggles with coming home from the war, dealing with his PTSD and low self-confidence from having lost a leg really struck a chord. Dean’s utter lack of self-worth was so difficult to read, but it was also extremely relatable because we all struggle with that sometimes.

The most beautiful thing, though, about this story is not about their struggles and the angst, but rather their growth. Their journeys together and separate and how they learned to love themselves, and in turn, learned to love each other.

It’s a beautiful story about two lost souls finding themselves, and along the way, they found each other as well.

Rating: Explicit Words: 15,890

Contracted out by the local police in Moriarty, New Mexico, Dean is sent to investigate the happenings around a church outside of town, the Angel-worshiping congregation reportedly flocking to the location in recent days. As it turns out, though, instead of snake charmers or devil worshipers, Dean finds an Angel crucified to the cross, said Angel unreasonably snarky despite being tied up against his will.

Turning over Castiel to the authorities, though, doesn't work in Dean's favor. With nowhere to go and Heaven having abandoned him, Dean agrees to haul Castiel across the country on two conditions--he doesn't smoke in the car, and he doesn't rob convenience stores in broad daylight.

God, Dean might actually kill him before this is over.

There’s just something about snarky Angel Cas that I love. This fic starts off with Dean meeting an angel Cas that’s everything we love about snarky angel Cas mixed with the lovely quirks of endverse!Cas. There was something special about reading a simple story of Dean and snarky Angel Cas driving aimlessly from place to place while Dean deals with Castiel’s prodding and trouble-making the entire way. 

Something about this fic just makes you feel oddly at ease. Dean and Cas quickly blossoming relationship from begrudging road-trip buddies to friends with benefits just works. And while I know some people don’t like fully Gay!Dean and prefer Bi!Dean it’s definitely not a detractor from this amazing fic. Overall, this fic packs a punch in under 20k and one you definitely don’t want to pass up.  

Rating: Explicit Words: 337,847 (Series of 8 works)

Castiel's spent most of his adult life keeping his head down and staying out of trouble. This is a deliberate choice on his part, because as a cousin of the King, he'd rather stay unimportant and forgotten. This changes abruptly when King Michael decides that he has a better use for Castiel: he is to be wed to a noble member of the neighboring Republic, as part of an agreement between their two nations.Castiel knows he has to obey, but that doesn't mean he won't rebel in what small ways he can. Unexpectedly, his actions end up having far-reaching consequences.

I love this story! The word count is intimidating, but totally worth it. You won't be disappointed. What starts out as a less than typical arranged marriage trope, turns into a whole lot more. Absolutely worth the read, even if you end up spending the week doing nothing else XD

Rating: Mature Words: 48,657 Warnings: Graphic Descriptions of Violence

Dean, prince of Winchester, had pretty much everything he could have ever wanted, except for a choice in his fate. That was until he found himself kidnapped and held for ransom by a band of pirates and their enigmatic captain, Castiel. Now, he must choose for himself whether or not he will allow himself to be free to do what he wants or to do what everyone seems to think he should.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read this, but this fic still stands out to me, and I remember being amusing. Mind the tags.