#deathish

Cinderwings by bendingsignpost [ @bendingsignpost on tumblr] Rating: M Word Count: 182,000 Summary: Under the cover of a masquerade ball, Castiel has five nights to recover the key to his people's freedom. The world has changed greatly in the six centuries since their banishment into the void, but the task isn't impossible. Unfortunately for Castiel, this is going to involve talking to people - especially the Knight Prince who has taken an interest in Castiel and his "costume" wings.(Destiel Cinderella AU)

You have no idea how excited I am to rec this fic! We all know that rich world building, suspenseful plot, unique cultural misunderstandings and oodles of yummy destiel feels is more than enough for a great fic. But there’s also so much more. Angel Castiel trying to understand human body language and how to use it for his own agenda is amusing in and of itself. But when you add to it Castiel’s struggle to restrict his wing language from oblivious humans and the very tactile Prince Dean, you get a true winner among wing fic. On top of all that, this story is told with very eloquent prose. Many times I had to pause and savor a particularly lovely turn of phrase or linger over a sentence with so many emotions packed in just couple of words.

The fic is tagged as a Cinderella AU and, indeed, it borrows some of the most iconic moments from that famous fairy tale -  secret identities, a royal palace and extensive dancing, the importance of midnight, the lost not-a-slipper-thingy that is essential to track down the mysterious guest the prince has fallen in love with. But these are only building blocks in a cleverly subverted fairy tale fusion laden with canon parallels. The fic itself is an action packed, character driven story about deception and the sacrifices Cas and Dean are ready to make for their families. This is so not a story about a sweet natured orphan being noticed by a prince. Quite the opposite, Castiel is a seraph on a mission and his strategist and tactician skills are on full display here. He knows his target and that his time is limited, now, if only Prince Dean would stop being so distracting and wouldn’t make Cas to question his loyalties. The amount of destiel flirting -- er, I mean Dean flirting and Cas trying to make sense of human facial expressions-- in this fic is to die for. Also, I had the pleasure of reading one of the longest, sweetest and still very plot relevant kissing scenes ever in this fic. There’s so much I could say about this story, but I’ll save you time and just tell you to read it immediately. Your day or weekend will be better for it!

Fanworks inspired by this fanfic at destielfanworks (other fanworks by title)

If you enjoyed the fic, please drop by the archive (AO3) and let the author know with your comments and/or kudos!

Suggested further reading (links go to our reviews)

Not Part of the Plan by scaramouche [ @no-gorms on tumblr] -  read this super epic fic for intricate political plot, arranged marriage shenanigans, culture clashes, betrayals and separations,  but most of all, for Dean and Cas falling in love and fighting for it despite every expectation posed on them, and winging it as they go. If you have already read NPOTP, be sure not to miss recently posted timestamps.  

True as It Can Be by whelvenwings [ @whelvenwings on tumblr] - read it for a contemporary take on classic fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast, for Dean trying to understand creature Cas and for an amazing twist on the classical curse.

find more fics about strategist Cas on this ask and fics that highlight Cas’ otherness on this ask. We also have a wing!fic tag! 

True as It Can Be by whelvenwings Rating: light NC-17 Word Count: 72,000 Summary: Growing up in a small town in Kansas, Dean learned from a young age that there was only one rule that couldn’t be broken, one place he couldn’t go - through the forest, to the long-abandoned Angel’s Hollow. But when Sam disappears, Dean’s left with no choice but to follow his brother’s tracks through the dangers of the wood; little does he know that the most dangerous creature of all lurks not among the trees, but in the Hollow itself. Dean sets Sam free, at the cost of his own liberty - and, bound by magic, resigns himself to living out the rest of his days in the Hollow, at the mercy of the being within. The angel of Angel’s Hollow, however, has a story - is a prisoner, too, as much as Dean is. Only one thing can free them both - but it is impossible. For, after all: who could ever learn to love a beast?

Came for a lighthearted destiel fusion with Beauty and the Beast to take my mind off the late canon stuff and stayed for all the amazing parallels and references to the Disney movie and SPN. All the references! Seriously, it was such a joy to see how classic Disney characters were seamlessly transformed into beloved (or not so beloved, lol) characters from the show.

Dean is a small town mechanic who is openly bisexual and being shunned because of it. He’s feeling out of place and not belonging. Angel Castiel is disfigured by a terrible curse which is so, so different from the one in the fairy tale and yet so fitting to the Castiel we know. And I bet you won’t guess easily which characters are filling in for the Clock, the Candlestick and the Wardrobe! I loved every moment Dean spent with his new friends in the cursed castle. Dean and Cas’ courtship was so lovely and so believable that I wanted it to last much much longer. All in all, this story soothed my post season 12 finale broken heart and it is a Beauty and the Beast fusion that Dean and Cas deserve. 

A destiel reverse bang 2016 fic

Fanworks inspired by this fanfic at destielfanworks (other fanworks by title)

Confession time. This season 12 finale coda fic rec list was so long in making because at first I refused to read any coda fic at all. Just the idea of reading about and reliving Cas’ last scene again kept me away.  When I started to look around, I was surprised to see that there’s actually way less fic than I expected. Especially when compared to immediate fix it fic outpour after 9x03 (see our post here). 

So, here it is, a small collection of 12x23 coda fics that I was able to read through. All these fics do their best at Fixing the Unfixable as @awed-frog so aptly put in the tags of her fic. 

For more coda fics, check out these AO3 tags: 

Episode: s12e23 All Along the Watchtower [sorted by kudos here]

Post-Episode: s12e23 All Along the Watchtower [sorted by kudos here]

Post-Season/Series 12 [sorted by kudos here]

Thank you to euclase, who provided us with permission to use her beautiful art! 

I. Fix it fics that diverge from canon at some point during 12x23

Catharsis by komodobits [M, 2,300 word count]

“By all means,” Lucifer says, “you can try to hurt me, to atone for your mistakes. But they are your mistakes. I didn’t manipulate you. There was no sleight of hand, Castiel—you were weak. I was exactly what I’ve always been, and you were too stupid, and broken, and desperate to see it.”  Castiel breathes through his teeth. “Kelly?”  Her voice is soft. “I’m here.” She reaches forwards to touch his wrist, hand angled to stay out of the way of the angel-blade still tight in his grip.  “So, now what, Castiel?” Lucifer says. “Are you gonna make me pay? Will you like yourself, then? Would you even know where to begin?”  Castiel thinks he knows where to start.  (12.23 adjacent coda)

II. Fix it fics that pick up right after 12x23 and have hopeful endings

almost too much by awed_frog [Gen, 3,300 word count]

Sam and Dean try to come to terms with the harrowing events of the season finale, and discover that not all is, perhaps, lost.  (I'd write a longer summary but I'm crying too much to see the keyboard, so.)

Do Not Go Gentle by dustlines [T, 4,800 word count]

Sam doesn't know how they're going to get past this.  Especially Dean, without Cas.

Just Pretend by thepopeisdope [Gen, 2,000 word count]

After Sam’s footsteps crunch over the gravel and disappear into the house, the only sound remaining is Dean’s ragged breathing, and the thundering of his own heartbeat in his ears.

no stopping us yet by superhoney [Gen, 4,600 word count]

"Everyone is gone except for the two of them. The Winchester brothers at the end of the world, again."  But sometimes, when people die, they come back. Dean can only hope this time Cas returns to him.  A coda for 12x23.

Lay to Rest by domesticadventures [Gen, 1,600 word count]

Dean holds Cas’ hand in his own, rubbing his thumb against his still-warm knuckles, back and forth, back and forth.  “You promised,” he says, voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. “You promised.”

Lift Up Your Hearts by domesticadventures [T, 1,300 word count]

He dials the number from memory. After five rings, someone picks up. “Listen, I don’t know who this is,” a tired, familiar voice says, “but this better be really fucking important.”  Castiel lets out a shaky breath and says, “Hello, Dean.”

slow fall home by ellispark [T, 2,000 word count]

A story of Cas and Dean and meeting in barns

For more season 12 fics, keep an eye on our Season 12 tag and check out our other oneshot rec list - There’s something about season 12 - Mary. 

Such fics on our blog are tagged with deathish tag. We actually answered a very similar ask quite recently but since OP asked for a “mistaken death” our fic selection was somehow different. In the light of season 12 finale we are making another list with a particular attention to canon verse fics and mourning by POV character. By definition, this is a rather “spoiler-y” list. None of these fics have Major Character Death (MCD). 

All links go to our reviews unless noted otherwise and were written prior to the season 12 finale. 

I. Canon verse (SU) or AU fics where Dean or Cas saw the other to die or it was very strongly implied/expected. In brackets, we mention the one who died or was about to die.

any port in a storm [Cas]

Below Skyscrapers [Cas]

Down Like Water [Cas]

He Knows Where He Should Go [Cas] (unofficially recced here)

Holy!Dean Verse [Dean, Cas]

Kiss You When It’s Dangerous [Cas]

The Last Moonlight Serenade [Cas]

Look, Up In The Sky [Cas]

The Mensch [Cas]

My Roots Take Flight [Dean]

Named [Dean]

Ninety One Whiskey [Dean]

Of Clipped Wings and Chipped Halos [Dean]

Outrun My Gun [Dean]

The Parts of Our Sum [Dean]

Redemption Road [Cas, Dean]

Sleight of Hand [Dean, ambiguous ending]

Some Assembly Required [Cas]

Take Me Home Country Roads [Cas]

This Story Was Brought To You By Our Sponsors [Cas]

Though the Brightest Fell [Cas]

old ask about fics where Cas thinks that Dean is dead

Dean thinks that Cas is dead but is still looking for him is a common theme in season 9 fics, check out season 9 tag and 9x03 tag

II. Fics with reunion in heaven (kinda spoilerish but eh, we all need happy end)

The Dance of Inanna

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

In the Shuffling Madness

Ok, let’s talk about destielfanfic tags. On this blog, fics where Dean and/or Cas die permanently, without coming back, are always tagged with tragedy tag. However, on AO3, authors sometimes will tag their fics with Major Character Death (MCD) even when it is only a temporary death. Looking through top 20 destiel fics with MCD tag on AO3, we found that at least five out of twenty are temporary death fics. We use deathish tag for such fics. Please note that deathish tag can be added to a fic with any kind of on screen death/ assumed death/ disappearance, no matter if it is only five minutes or months/years and to fics where they die but are reunited in Heaven.

Given the supernatural nature of the show, almost dying & coming back from the dead happens a lot in canon verse fics, so we didn’t include fics where it is resolved on the spot or in hospital. Check out this old ask where we already answered a very similar question about Cas thinking that Dean is dead. We link to fics without disclosing their titles for spoilers there. 

Here’s some fics with emotional grieving scene that we think fit your ask best. Please see our deathish tag for more fics. Beware that this list may be spoilerish, especially if the authors have tagged their fics with MCD or Creator Chose Not to use Archive Warnings tags on AO3. As always, such lists are YMMV, and we are sure we’ve forgot some. All links go to our reviews unless noted otherwise. 

A Fighter, a Ranger, and a Cleric Walk Into a Tavern

Below Skyscrapers 

The Dove’s Long Journey to Champaign  (Sam thought that Dean died in airplane crash, Cast Away fusion)

The Ghosts of Blackthorn Hall 

The Last Moonlight Serenade

Look, Up In The Sky

The Most Important Thing 

Ninety One Whiskey 

The Overflow

Return, Meet, Ask (unofficially recced here)

Blaine knew it was bad as the other got hit.  He hadn’t expected the confession that followed though and as the other bled out he shoved his hands against the wounds.

“No you are not going to confess you love me and then die Clarington.”  He kissed him deeply almost breathing for him as he felt the other’s breath stop, “FUCKing no.  You’re staying with me.”  He pulled back and began chest compressions, “Stay with me I love you too.”

Before the Fall (temporary death)

Castiel Rising (temporary death)

In The Silence Afterward

Love is not Love; Which alters when it alteration finds

The Roman Thing (deathish)

So we actually have a death-ish tag that has some things like this, but there’s a few not yet included. We’re going to list them behind a read more cut for spoiler reasons. Be sure to check out other asks on that tag, though.