Destiel/Cockles Fanfic Recs: The Best of DCBB 2013
I’ve been promising that I would rec fics from DCBB 2013 for a few months now, so I figured it was about time that I posted this. The following nine fics were absolutely incredible that I couldn’t narrow it down any more than that. I loved them so much and they are all going on the fic recs page of my blog. Enjoy all of these incredible fics!
Rating:Â NC-17 Â Word Count:Â 138,700 Â Â Setting: Law Enforcement AU
Jensen Ackles started his career in the FBI hunting a vicious serial killer who would carve the names of angels into his victims.  However, the killer was never caught and the case grew cold. Now 8 years later, this murderer has reemerged and agent Jared Padalecki joins Jensen on the case that has haunted him all these years.  As the killer begins to savor the game and bait the agents with more and more bodies, it appears that the only good thing about this case is that it brings him into contact with Police Officer Misha Collins. However, circumstances seem to work against them as Misha may have a deadly connection to the killer.Â
(Technically, this was a Jensen/Misha fic, but don’t let that deter you from reading it, even if you aren’t into RPF. This is literally one of the best fanfics I have ever read - twice in the past few months actually. The plot was incredibly detailed and well-paced, and the characterizations were absolutely perfect. Warning that the the serial killings are described in great and gruesome detail, and there are mentions of rape - although no descriptions.)
Rating: NC-17 Â Word Count: 105,000Â Â Â Setting: High School AU
Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak were destined to be best friends from the first day that they met when Dean’s family moved to Lawrence. However, growing up presented more challenges than they had anticipated as Dean begins to long for the type of life that a small town in Kansas can’t offer.
This fic details the lives of Dean and Castiel as they grow up best friends in a small town. I loved the portrayals of Dean’s character as he faced the challenges of high school. The development of a relationship between the two made so much sense, and I loved Dean’s journey towards the end. His characterization was absolutely perfect, and it was so nice to see him develop on his own and create the life that he knew he needed to find.
Every Man’s Got a Right
Rating: NC-17 Â Word Count:Â 78,100 Â Â Setting: Season 4 AR / Time Travel
Endverse Cas didn’t expect to live through Dean’s last mission to kill the devil. So it is a surprise to him when he wakes up to find himself in the past and run into a younger Dean who hasn’t sold his soul yet. Castiel begins to hope that perhaps he can keep his future from ever coming true by changing events in the Winchesters’ past.
This fic combines two of my favorite things: a more innocent younger Dean, and a snarky future Cas. Also, I want to make a note that I know I’m not the only one who hates reading fanfics written in first person, but give this fic a chance despite that. The voice was extremely well-written and fit perfectly with the portrayal of the characters that the author was trying to create.
The Best Years of our Lives, My Ass
Rating: PG-13 Â Word Count:Â 110,800 Â Â Setting: Season 8 AR / High School
Dean Winchester lays down one night in a motel and wakes up the next morning in his childhood home and 16 years old again. His family is all alive and remembers a completely different past. The only thing that anchors him in this strange new place is discovering that Castiel has also somehow ended up there as well, with all of his memories.Â
This was one of the most satisfying things I have ever read. It was beautiful to have the Dean that I know and love able to go back and work through some of the issues that he never had a chance to because of how he was raised. Only this time he had Cas at his side working through it all with him, which was absolutely perfect!
Rating: M* Â Word Count:Â 65,400 Â Â Setting: Care Home AU
Dean Winchester just wants the rest of the world to ignore him after an accident takes away his ability to walk. He can no longer do what he wants and sees himself as a failure, so he sit in his wheelchair and waits for the day when he won’t be a burden to anyone anymore, especially himself. However, things begin to change when the care home he lives in has a new volunteer named Castiel.
I loved this fic. The characterization of Dean was so well-written and the I really appreciated the way that characters with physical diabilities were handled in the story because their hardships and pain were not diminished nor were they scorned for depression over what they had lost. Instead they were respectfully encouraged to find meaning in the life that they had and use their passions for the good of others.Â
*This fic actually had a rating that was the equivalent of PG-13, but I decided to give it a higher one because of the suicidal thoughts and mentions of a past suicide attempt (Trigger warning).
Heaven for the Climate (Hell for the Company)
Rating: NC-17Â Word Count: 98,000Â Â Â Setting: Season 4 AR
Castiel raises the Righteous Man from hell, only he isn’t exactly an angel - although he tells Dean otherwise. Now the armies of heaven and hell are both after him because of his role in shaping the fate of the world. Throughout this story, the history of angels and demons are revealed, as well as Castiel’s origin.Â
There is a horrifying scene where a character is taken advantage of and almost raped (Trigger warning). Thankfully, it isn’t just brushed off and the characters actually discuss it, so I decided to include this fic on the list anyway because the entire thing was very well-written. I was fascinated by all the history (even though some of it did not line up with canon, which sort of bothered me). Castiel’s character arc and storyline alone is enough reason to read this fic though.Â
Rating: NC-17Â Word Count: 36,400 Â Â Setting: Best Friends/Hospital AU
Misha loves his life exactly the way it is and never thinks about settling down, that is until a drunk driver almost kills Jensen one night. Now with his best friend struggling to survive, Misha learns that his life might not be as perfect as he though it was.
Despite how often the word twink was used (seriously, it got irritating after a while), I loved this fic. The characterizations were brilliantly written with Misha a bit of an asshole who is afraid of commitment and Jensen a brilliant performer who struggles to show his true feelings to anyone.Â
Shut Up (Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is) by kototyph
Rating: NC-17Â Word Count: 23,800 Â Â Setting: Domestic AU
Dean is surprised to wake up in bed with another man from his firm after the company weekend in Vegas, but he is even more astounded when he realizes that the two of them got hitched over the weekend. He assumes that the two of them will get a quick annulment after returning home, however, he begins to enjoy spending time with Castiel so much that he has trouble reminding himself that they are supposed to be separating soon.
This fic was so fluffy that I almost died from the cuteness. Dean and Cas fixing up an old house in Boston together was so adorable, especially as they began to fall for each other.
The Great Escapist by 8sword
Rating: NC-17Â Word Count:Â 100,500 Â Â Setting: Nursing Students AU
Castiel tries to escape his home life after his brother dies, and he assumes it won’t be a problem to crash with his college roommate for the summer. However, he isn’t expecting Sam’s brother, Dean, to end up being his roommate for the summer instead.Â
There were so many reasons I loved this fic, not the least of which was Dean and Cas being able to explore their different reasons for their journeys into the medical profession. The best part though, was watching Cas’ emotional journey, especially as it intersected with the Supernatural books that his father had written. From the author description, you might think this is a fluffy summer fling fic, but instead it delves right into the emotional pain that these boys are facing while they work through some of that with the help of the other.
For a complete list of the fics I read out of the DCBB 2013 with links to the ones I liked, click here. (As a disclaimer, I did not not read every fic this year, but read all the descriptions and downloaded 54 out of the 122 that sounded interesting to me.) I would be happy to answer questions on what I did or didn’t like about any of these, and please let me know if there are any that I didn’t read that I should give a chance.   Â
Still want more fics to read?  Check out my previous posts:
Destiel Fanfic Recs Part 1: My Favorite Depressing Supernatural Universe AR Fics
Destiel Fanfic Recs Part 2: My Favorite Hilarious Supernatural Universe AR Fics
Destiel Fanfic Recs Part 3: My Favorite AU Fics
Or visit the new Destiel/Cockles fic recs page on my blog for the compilation of all of these lists.
