I asked fandomnatural what their favorite Supernatural fics of all time are - the must-reads, the top 3 (or 5, or 10, or more…) that they would recommend to someone new to the fandom. OH MY GOD SO MANY GREAT FIC RECOMMENDATIONS! Lots of people wrote in with epic lists! I’ve sorted them all alphabetically here. Most are Destiel but there’s a smattering of Wincest, Wincestiel, gen fics, Sabriel and some rare ships as well. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it has a lot of the classics plus some lesser-known gems, and I thought maybe y’all would enjoy it as much as I did. Visit fandomnatural’s Friday fic recommendation threads, and the full fandomnatural fic-rec archive, for more!

How lucky we are to have such spectacular writers giving us all these wonderful stories for free. Remember, if you like a fic, please drop the author a comment and let them know you appreciate all their hard work!

Full list of the recommended fics follows. Happy reading. :) - sparrow

The italics is the fic summary; the parts in quotes are what somebody (not me) said about the fic. (I couldn’t get complete info on every fic, mostly because I ran out of time, sorry!) I tried to find links for all fics. - sparrow



300 Things - by cautionzombies. Destiel AU, college, Explicit. Dean’s life at twenty-four makes him feel like he’s forty—he works two jobs to help pay bills for his house and put his genius little brother through private school, and has spent six years (on and off, let’s be honest) working on his mechanical engineering degree at KU. With so much of his life devoted to his family, Dean has little time in his schedule for class and no time for social interaction. Then, while getting his classes together for the fall, he finds himself in a do-or-die situation: He must take his last literature class now, his spring already filled with those left for his major…except that none of the English classes will fit his schedule. This is how Dean grovels and begs Dr. Castiel Milton to make a special arrangement for him, and Dr. Milton does.

999 Days From Now - by Dear Collectress (thecollective). Destiel AU, modern setting, Mature. An AU in which a recovered alcoholic Dean owns a diner, Sam is in law school and is clueless about the way Jess looks at him, and Cas? Well, Cas turns Dean’s world upside down and maybe, just maybe, gives him a reason to have a little faith. The love of a lifetime told in a heartbeat. “Because sometimes I just feel like making myself cry. A lot.“

Above and Below - by murron. Destiel, canon divergent from season 6, Explicit. After the events of Caged Heat, Dean, Sam and Cas climb into Hell to get Sam’s soul. While they pass from one infernal circle to the next, Dean struggles with his mistrust of soulless Sam and the shadow of his own past in the Pit. In addition, there’s the matter of Cas who’s come to mean more to Dean than he wants to admit. Fighting against Hell spawn and fallen angels, passing through burned cities and salt deserts, Dean believes in the success of their mission until their luck runs out and Hell threatens to swallow Cas whole.

All That is and Used to Be - by Misachan. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. Dean never even knew anyone was living in the old estate outside of town until its mysterious occupant contracts his shop for a very specific job: a custom piano bench with grooves cut into the back. He finds Castiel and his terms to be eccentric with a capital E but the money is too good to turn down and anyway, Dean can’t help indulging his curiosity about the guy and his secretive, isolated life. There are secrets that will not stay hidden and stories that refuse to be forgotten. Especially when they happen to involve Dean Winchester and the angel Castiel.

All Things Shining - by Askance, standbyme. Destiel AU, canon divergent, Mature. Something in the world is waking up. It isn’t long before it’s brought to the attention of the Winchesters and Castiel: miracles are spreading across the country, the paranormal seems to be shrinking back on itself—and it all has something to do with the missing prayer book of a traveling preacher who died over a century ago. Dean is convinced it’s all the lead-up to another Apocalypse; Sam and Castiel aren’t so sure. Regardless, it sends them out on a less-than-typical road-trip, following the Mississippi and remnants of a very old story that seems increasingly to call to them. And along the way the trio learn much more about themselves—and the consequences and origins of love—than they’d ever have anticipated. "I think this was one of the first Destiel fics I ever read and I totally fell in love with the slow pace, how it almost read like a fairytale. Did I tell you I was a sucker for slow burn?”

America’s Next Top Chef! - by emwebb17. Destiel AU, modern setting, rated Teen. Thirteen of the best chefs in a Supernatural Alternate Reality vie for the title of America’s Next Top Chef on national television. Of course, the real drama takes place when the cameras aren’t rolling. Okay, the drama takes place on camera too. “Reality TV shows are totes your guilty pleasure, amirite?! From the first round to the final one-on-one, this fic has it all! On camera drama, behind the scenes drama, and what those annoying pesky cameramen catch people doing in the communal beach house. Be sure to read it with the pictures in it. It’s funny by itself, but take my word for it. You haven’t read it unless you can correlate the facial expressions to the confession booth lines. RUFUS OMFGILOVEITINEEDTOREREADIT.”

Angel’s Wild - by LimonadeGaby and riseofthefallenone. Destiel AU, alternate-canon verse, Explicit. Sometimes Dean wishes that Angels were like how they’re described in the Bible. How people from time too old for him to care much about thought Angels were messengers and warriors of God, protectors of Humans. He knows that how they’re really described in the Bible is actually pretty terrifying, but at least they were told by God that they’re supposed to love Humans, right? That’s a thousand times better than what Angels really turned out to be.

Après - by imogenbynight. Destiel, canon divergent, post S8, Explicit. When the angels stop falling and Castiel makes his way out of the trees, he finds himself alone and oceans away from the Winchesters. For once, Dean flies to him. "I don’t read many canon based fics these days but this one was sooo sweet, and romantic and just lots of love in there.”



Astrophysics and Tea ‘Verse - by casfallsinlove. Destiel AU, modern setting. Wherein Dean (who owns a bookstore) and Cas (an astrophysicist grad student) have been best friends since they were kids, NASA nearly screws things up, and tea is mentioned far too often. “I almost picked this author’s story Easy Now, With My Heart instead but I find that I go back and read the first one more often than the other.”

Asunder - by rageprufrock. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. (Multiple votes.) “Cas is a doctor, Dean is a social worker, and they’re off to the wedding of Sam, Dean’s estranged brother. Despite the tension going on between some of the characters, this is a great fluffy mood lifting fic for me.” “OMG OMG… i can’t say enough good things about this. One of the ones I’ve reread the most. Just read it.”

A Beginner’s Guide to Communing with the Dead - by suspiciousflashlight. Destiel AU, modern setting, Mature. (Multiple votes.) “Cas is a little shit in this one and I love it.” “The world building in this fic really does it for me. Dean is a police officer in a world where magic is a thing, and Castiel is the ancient and powerful being that he enslaves to help him solve a case that’s quite literally haunting him.”

The Best Years of Our Lives, My Ass - by ireallyhatecornnuts. Destiel AU, canon divergent after S08E06 “Southern Comfort,” Explicit. Dean goes to sleep in a motel room in Texarkana, and he wakes up 17 years old, in his childhood bedroom in Lawrence, Kansas, 1996. He has no idea how he got there, why his parents are still alive, why his brother is an adorable freshman with no memory of his adult life, and why the only ally he has in this place is the angel he left behind in Purgatory – somehow also 17 years old. They have to get out, that’s the important thing. Only, falling in love with his angel wasn’t a part of the plan…. “Probably one of my favorite fics of all time”

Bing Crosby’s “Pennies From Heaven” - by twentysomething. Destiel and Sabriel, canon divergent from S5, rated Teen. “A great Gabriel-centric Samiel fic in which Gabe doesn’t die but instead follows Sam around engineering apocalyptic victories and also giving him free coke.”

Bratishka: Little Brother - by Valinde (Valyria). Destiel AU, modern setting. “ex-mob cas and cop dean… bestfriends to lovers. HELL YEAH.”

The Breath Of All Things - by KismetJeska. Destiel AU, modern setting, rated Teen. Dean Winchester was twenty-six years old when a car accident killed his father and left him paralysed from the waist down. A year and a half later, Dean is in a wheelchair and lives in a care home in Kansas, where he spends his days waiting to die. It’s only when Castiel Novak starts volunteering at the care home that Dean starts to wonder if a changed life always equals a ruined one.

Broadway Musical - by Griftings. Destiel, canon divergent from very early in the series, Mature. The romantic comedy where Dean Winchester and Jo Harvelle are destined to get married, Castiel is given the task of playing matchmaker and fails terribly, the entire Heavenly Host becomes a sitcom audience, God warns against male pregnancy, and Jimmy Novak is incredibly unimpressed with angels in general. “Honestly the funniest fanfiction I’ve ever read. I’ve read it at least 10 times by now and it still makes me giggle like a maniac. If you in ANY way like Destiel, read it!”

By the Dark of the Moon - by r2metoo. Destiel AU, omegaverse, Mature. “An a/b/o werefic, alpha!Dean and omega!Cas.”



The Cabin - by Bookkbaby. Destiel, canon-divergent, Explicit. (Multiple votes.) For an angel, the building of a Nest is sacred. Dean doesn’t understand. “The fic that got me addicted to the idea of angels having birdy instincts… like, say, wanting to build a nest with the person they love.”

Carry On - by TamrynEradani. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. (Multiple votes) When Sam gets into Stanford, Dean needs a bigger paycheck than Bobby’s garage can give him. Luckily, he knows a guy. “Everyone and their mom will have this one their list. It deserves it.”

Chasing Cars - by ratherbehere. Destiel AU, college, Explicit. “There are two strip scenes in this fic that will make you scream.”

Chili Peppers - by justanothersong. Destiel AU, college, Explicit. "Are you into hot college professors? How about rating the hot college professors on a website? This is the series for you!“

Clean Air - by anactoria. Destiel AU, Wool/Supernatural crossover, Explicit. (Multiple votes.) "I’ve never read the series that this fic was based on, but I thought the world building was really cool!” “Really well done crossover with Supernatural characters in the Wool universe. Dean’s living in an underground silo in a post-apocalyptic world.”

Coming Down on a Sunny Day - by maychorian. Gen, canon divergent, rated Teen. In 2009, Castiel watches the Apocalypse end disastrously and makes a decision. In 1984, John Winchester suddenly finds himself with another little boy on his hands, one with dark, messy hair and sad blue eyes who won’t leave John and his sons alone.

The Consequences of Falling - by FayJay. Destiel, canon divergent, Explicit. A story in fifteen parts, in which the angel Castiel finds himself put in an untenable position, and consequentially loses his grace. In which he goes on a roadtrip with a demon, discovers the delights of tequila and french fries and pie, plays a starring role in a virgin sacrifice, is deflowered by his favourite Winchester, and then gets some very unpleasant news indeed.

Cooking With Gas - by Winjennster. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. Castiel Novak has it all. He’s rich, famous, has a top rated cooking show and restaurant, drives an expensive car and wears Armani. His producer throws a contest to spend a day with Chef Novak, cooking and learning techniques. Castiel wants no part of it, but Balthazar insists and Castiel will do as expected. What Castiel wasn’t expecting was to fall head over heels for the winner….“I’m currently reading this one and it’s amazing (as are all of Jenn’s fics).”

Cross to Bear - by Zafona. Destiel AU, canon verse, Explicit. With a heavenly fall comes a bundled miracle. After seeing a winged man leave an infant in the backseat of their car, the Winchesters take Castiel into their family. Unbeknownst to them, Castiel included, he’s an angel and his people’s last hope. Destiny calls on him in the throes of high school drama and puberty, he isn’t ready. “Super long fic but her verse is amazing. It’s doesn’t follow canon at all but it’s so good!”

C-S-T-L - by komodobits. Destiel AU, sci-fi, Explicit. It’s been nineteen years since the beginning of the Last War, and the Alliance Army is losing land faster than it can supply good men to defend it. Their hope is the synthesis of Android Angeles, a series of humanoid machines designed without the capacity to feel, and thus enabling them to be the perfect super soldiers. In order to check their battle suitability, the first prototypes are sent down with a landing party of the men they will later replace, and Sergeant Dean Winchester is paired with Unit 5284-C-S-T-L for the assignment. Cas, as Dean nicknames him, is easy enough to work with - once you get past the emotional vacancy and blatant disregard for human life, that is - but as the squad’s tour goes on, Dean gets to wondering whether the Android Angeles are really as unfeeling as he’s been told, or if the fear of a reality in which malfunctioning prototypes will be shut down is too great for them to exist any other way.

Cult-De-Sac - by BlueMorpho. Destiel, canon universe, Mature. Dean and Castiel go undercover in an insulated family community to investigate the bizarre and gruesome death of a married couple. Hijinks ensue. “Right next to "trapped” and “djinns”, fake married are my favorite kind. And this one’s a great one in my opinion, I just adore it.“



Dark Side of the Moon - by imogenbynight. Destiel AU, sci-fi, Mature. Five months into his six month mission, an accident leaves Flight Engineer Dean Winchester stranded on the moon. It comes down to a man he has never met to bring him home. "Do you want despair? Do you want to be driven to the edge of an anxiety attack? Do you want to feel hopeless?! Then Dark Side Of The Moon is for you! umm… minor character death… and PTSD… and space. Seriously, anyone that hasn’t read this needs to. It’s my go-to for when I’m depressed and need something to bottom me out so I can start my upswing.”

Down to Agincourt - Seperis. Destiel, canon divergent, endverse, Mature. (Multiple votes.) (Special note: This immense fic has become so well-known it has its own fan clubs. It is still in progress.) “This is the Endverse fic you always wanted without the hate fucking and abuse. It is honestly publish worthy, but unfortunately there’s no way to change the plot enough to make that happen. Give it a try I guarantee you’ll love it.” “My single favorite thing to happen to the supernatural fandom.”

The Ends of Earth - by darkforetold. Destiel AU, Explicit. Dean Winchester should have died that Thursday. His murder would have started a civil war between the entitled rich and the starving poor. Equality, and the chance at food and clean water had been one throat-slit away. In the end, it only took one man to ruin it all. Tagged as a traitor for saving Dean’s life, Castiel’s world is torn apart by the vengeance of an unseen enemy. Little by little, he loses hope—until he himself is rescued by the kindness and love of one man. “6,000 hits is nothing to sneeze at but I’ve always felt like this fic deserved more notice. This is another story with a great and interesting setting, the world unfolds for you and reads like reality, and I love stories like that.”

Everytown, USA - by aileenrose. Destiel AU, modern setting, Mature. Dean’s determined not to stay in one place for long–he’s enjoying his new-found freedom too much. Castiel might be the one to make him stick around.

The Face Behind A Mirror - by ShippersList. Destiel AU, omegaverse, Mature. Castiel, a lone alpha wolf, would like nothing more than to be left alone in his house to die. He wants nothing to do with the outside world and doesn’t have anything to offer to anyone. Then, one early morning, a black car crashes into a tree right beside his house. The driver is rendered unconscious and doesn’t remember a thing after he wakes up. He is also an omega, but there’s something very wrong with him.

Forgotten, and the sequel Flight or the sequel’s gen version Broken - by NorthernSparrow. (Multiple votes). Destiel or gen (depends which sequel you read), canon divergent from 9x03, Mature. Team Free Will fics with Dean, Sam and Cas teaming up against epic Big Bads. Forgotten begins with Dean and Sam working a case in Wyoming; they have forgotten all about Castiel for some unknown reason, but soon they spot a blue-eyed man who seems oddly familiar. And good thing they spotted him because soon they need his help. In Flight and its gen-fic version Broken, Cas breaks a wing right when North America is being threatened by a series of epic natural disasters. “Sparrow is just amazing. I wish her stuff was canon! Forgotten can be considered gen-fic. Flight is Destiel.” [edit to add: I swear to god I’m not trying to rec my own fics here, but they kept turning up on other people’s lists! - NS].

Foxfire - by PeppermintIndulgence. Sabriel AU. “Hasn’t been updated in a while, but damn, if it isn’t a fantastic AU. Never knew just how entertaining KitsuneGabe could be. Just a warning, though: it’s horribly, horribly NSFW.”

Freak Camp 'verse - by Brosedshield and LaviniaLavender. Wincest AU, Mature. The same old Sam/Dean love story, with a darkfic twist. Sam grows up in a concentration camp for monsters, and Dean is raised as an only child and a hunter. Together, they make each other human. “…This is very possibly one of the best fics I’ve ever read. It’s very long (2 separate parts so far plus some side-adventure thingies), and it’s INCREDIBLY dark (really), but honest to god, it’s amazing. It’s also unfinished, and because the chapters are massive and incredibly well-written, it’s a LONG time between updates… but it’s been reliably updated since 2010 and now stands somewhere around 500,000 words, so I don’t think it’s likely to end up being one of those tragically abandoned WIPs, at least.”

Fumbling in the Dark: Love Advice For the Romantically Impaired - by leonidaslion. Wincest, canon divergent, Explicit. “So, I’m not really a wincest fan, and I mostly only read it for the brotherly-soulmates-tangled-up-in-each-other vibe I got from previous seasons, but this fic is just such a treat. It’s absolutely hilarious, and most of it is pretty innocent (well…). I reread it every so often and every time I do I enjoy it so much.”

Further Up and Further In - by Vera. Sabriel AU, Explicit. During a leave of absence from his law firm, Sam is grieving the death of his wife Ruby. To while away the time, he starts spending time with his neighbor Gabriel, a smart-ass whose idea of fun conversation includes an hours-long discussion of philosophy. They begin to spend all their free time together, building toward romance so slowly that Sam honestly doesn’t see it coming. And once he returns to work, Gabriel helps him investigate a nefarious conspiracy involving Sam’s late wife and the boss at his firm, Mr. Scratch.

The Ghosts of Blackthorn Hall - by linoresearch. Destiel AU, gothic, Explicit. In 1843 Castiel Milton leaves his life of quiet faith and duty to take up employment as tutor to the young ward of one Mr Dean Winchester, at Blackthorn Hall. Set deep among the Yorkshire moors, Blackthorn is a place of mysteries – a wild place, where pale faces appear at the windows, and mad women laugh in the night. Castiel is drawn to the enigmatic Master of Blackthorn and they form an attachment neither of them expected. But there are secrets hidden behind Blackthorn’s stone walls, truths that threaten to destroy their fragile happiness, as they are forced to confront the ghosts of their past.

Greed - by HigherMagic. Wincestiel, Explicit. So, if your boyfriend and your brother swapped bodies and you had to have sex with one of them to change them back, who would you choose? “This story here is so well done, and heart-wrenching and… it didn’t convert me to brotherly lovin’ BUT I still enjoyed the tale very much. Worth the read, I swear.”

Hail Mary - by galaxysoup. Gen, rated Teen. Take one newly human ex-angel on the run from Heaven. Combine with one mysteriously resurrected and increasingly pissed off Mary Winchester. Add overtones of Apocalypse. Shake well.

Hard Road - by AleishaPotter. Destiel, canon divergent, Explicit. Dean discovers a few truths about himself when he and Cas are forced to go undercover on a hunt to the very last place Dean ever thought he’d find himself: a gay resort called “Last Hope” that is geared towards helping troubled homosexual couples repair their relationships. “This must have been one of my favourite "fake married” stories… or one of my first… either or, it’s awfully good. And if I’m not mistaken, I wouldn’t be the first one to rec in that very thread. lol"

Have Love Will Travel - by squeemonster. Destiel AU, modern setting ,Explicit. (Multiple votes.) Castiel - a reclusive, obsessive compulsive and phobia-ridden author - gets dragged to a strip club by his obnoxious brother Gabriel. There he is mesmerized by stripper Dean, whose comfortable stage presence and sexual magnetism mask a host of deep emotional and familial troubles. They grow closer and slowly start to open up to each other - a new and terrifying concept for both. “Extremely sexy/adorable stripper!dean fic :) ”

A Hole in the World - by AnnelieseMichel. Destiel, omegaverse, Explicit. Dean Winchester never wanted to go home again. Going back to Lawrence meant people who knew what he was, who didn’t buy into the lie. But with a tragic accident, he’s back and dealing with the death of his father, the social stigma and objectification of being an out Omega, and the lingering aftermath of a long-ago crime. “Don’t knock this one till you try it. Not your typical a/b/o fic, it’s non-were and written very well.”

Home In Motion - by AnnelieseMichel. Destiel, omegaverse, Explicit. Castiel swore he was done with spur of the moment decisions that permanently changed Dean Winchester’s life. A year after the angel’s most disastrous, his newest may present the largest challenge of dean’s life: Fatherhood. “Cas is sent to interview a witness and ends up taking the baby she’s neglecting. Now Dean’s a hunter/Daddy.”

How to Romance a Human - by CloudyJenn. Destiel, canon divergent. “Is one that made me laugh a lot. Cas looks for tips in Cosmopolitan to woo Dean. I can almost picture it really happening.”

Hunting For Faith - by pappcave/riseofthefallenone. Destiel AU, reverse-verse, explicit. “Reverse!verse amazingness. I was completely pulled into this story.”

In Loving Memory - by natalievenom. Gen, canon ‘verse (framed as a sequel to canon). No one knows what really happened in the final chapter of the Winchester’s tale. They may be dead, or alive, or ruling it up as angels in Heaven. All that is known, is that the brothers have vanished, but the world of Supernatural continues on without them. Ben Braeden is in College, living it up on a sports scholarship, and looking forward to fame and fortune. Until one night he gets a panicked call from his mother, and is driven to return home, only to find tragedy waiting for him. Conceived as a possible spin off series after the canon Supernatural series one day closes. “It’s different. It is about what happens when Sam and Dean are supposedly gone.”

The Inexhaustible Silence of Houses - by Askance. Destiel, canon-divergent from S5. (Multiple votes.) Almost two years after the world doesn’t end, Castiel falls from grace—and loses his voice in the process. It is the impetus for confession and change; before long, he is settling into a loving relationship with Dean, the Winchesters are tired, and hunting for a place to land has taken precedence to hunting anything else. Dean and Castiel fall in love with the strange little house on the end of Swallowtail Drive, and for a little while life is as it should be—sweet, affectionate, and beginning afresh.But more and more Castiel sees and hears things in the house…[summary truncated]. “It’s so sad and beautiful and creepy, it’s incredible.” “Be careful. This one will tear your heart out.”

Into the Light of the Dark Black Night - by BewareTheIdes15. Wincestiel AU, Explicit. Across the space of a thousand lonely miles and approximately four and a half feet of boot-worn, hide-anything-colored carpet, Dean watches his brother twitch. Twitch. Twitch again. Then still, stop. Breathe. Twitch.

Jump the Track - by alisian_fields. Destiel AU, high school AU, Explicit. It’s Dean’s senior year at Lawrence High, and he’s already given up on himself. It takes the arrival of the strange, intense, awkward Castiel Delacroix at the school to prove to Dean that maybe his life is worth saving after all. “My favorite high school AU. Probably my favorite fic ever. There’s mentions of past sexual abuse in case that bothers you.”

Kind Of A Forever Deal - by komodobits. Destiel AU, high-school-esque, Explicit. Getting the girl of your dreams is expensive, especially when it’s Lisa Braeden - and so Dean finds himself, plus faithful and ever-saracastic companions Jo and Victor, being packed off to volunteer at a summer camp to earn some extra cash. Of course, when Dean gets to the beach, there’s still a couple hundred screaming children to contend with, as well as sand in places sand should never be, and Castiel Novak, award-winning Recluse of the Century, but those are just bumps in the road to getting the girl. The plan is absolutely foolproof. “I don’t often read teen!Destiel but I loved loved loved this. It’s like a perfect Destiel YA novel with all the right amounts of nostalgia for a sleepaway camp I never went to. I’ve read it thrice, and I never re-read anything. Sigh”

Kingdom Come - by cheesewithmy. Destiel AU, modern setting. Dean’s life is all work. He’s either at the bar that’s been left to him, serving drinks and cooking with his friend and partner Benny, or tinkering with prosthetic limbs. The rest of his life is one unhappy mess after another. Finding a stranger in the bathroom of his bar, after hours, doesn’t necessarily improve anything.“This was taken down by the author but you can find an epub link to it here. I love this fic so much. Everything about it is perfect for an AU. LOVE LOVE.”

The Last Moonlight Serenade - by gankyourdarlings. Destiel AU, WWII, Mature. (Multiple votes). It’s the night before 1945 and Honolulu is celebrating like flipping the calendar is all it’ll take to end this thing and send everybody home. Makes for one hell of a party. But it’s been a long war, getting longer, and Dean Winchester stopped pinning his hopes on anything a long time ago. Then, as the clock ticks down to the new year, he finds himself in the company of a grounded fighter pilot. All of the sudden, maybe there’s something to look forward to. “OMG so good. One of my favorites.”

The Last Great Race - by madefrom memories. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. “If you don’t kind of want to run away to Alaska and become a sled racer by the end of the story… well then read it again you heathen.”

Laughing as a Young Man Laughs - by Natt. Dean/Death. “This is an AMAZING Dean/Death fic. If you ever thought that pairing was intriguing this is the only fic you’ll ever need to be convinced. It’s so good.”

The Law of Conservation of Energy - by Peroxidepest17. Light Destiel, canon divergent. The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one state into another. And what is grace, if not energy? In order to win the war in Heaven, Castiel and the Winchesters embark on a cross-country quest to find the scattered shards of Gabriel’s grace in the hopes that its remaining power will be enough to defeat Raphael before he and Crowley can open the door to Purgatory. “This was the first Supernatural fanfic I had ever read, and will always hold a special place in my heart. As someone who didn’t read fanfic, I found this was one of the best ones to ease me into reading them. It’s canon like, and to top it all off, it was beautifully illustrated by Artmetica (NaSyu). I would recommend reading it in PDF form, it’s beautiful.”



Let This Remain - by VioletHaze. Destiel AU, college, Explicit. Dean Winchester dropped his little brother Sam off for his freshman year of college, then dropped out of his life completely. Now, nearly a year later, Dean’s gotten himself together and is back in Lawrence to make things right with his brother. As he works to build his life in Kansas, Dean finds himself repeatedly crossing paths with Castiel Milton. Maybe the universe is trying to tell him something at a time when he’s actually ready to listen. “This gave me lots of feelings. I like fics that make me feel feelings.”

Like a Slow Fire Burn - by obstinatrix and mournthewicket. Wincestiel. "There are three fics in this series, and they are amazing!! Pure smut.“

Living in Agony - by ChasingRabbits. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. Dean Winchester’s life is… well, it’s not great. He’s a gym teacher, he’s in his thirties, and he can’t seem to keep any part of his life straight. When the aftermath of a one-night stand goes awry, Dean is dragged kicking and screaming out of his cozy little closet and into the harsh light of reality.Enter: Castiel Novak, the new history teacher, who knows full well that life gets crappy when you don’t allow yourself to live it in the way it needs to be lived. "This is my all-time favourite. I LOVE IT.”

Lost Souls - by lastknownwriter. Destiel AU. Homicide detective Dean Winchester is thrust into a past he has tried hard to forget when he finds himself leading a manhunt for an unlikely killer: his childhood best friend, Castiel. [note: I can’t find the full fic online but I found an epub link -NS]



The Mirror - by cloudyjenn. Destiel, canon universe, Mature. (Multiple votes.) When Dean touches a strange mirror, he’s whisked away to one alternate reality after another and it doesn’t take him long to realize the universe is trying to tell him something. “One of my favorites. So inventive.”

Named - by RC_McLachlan. Destiel, canon divergent, post season 4. (Multiple votes.) “One of the first stories to really kick me in the ass with how into it I was. Fic spoiler if you want it: don’t worry about the MCD warning.)” “My all time fave. This one is super long and really intense so I don’t want to go into a lot of detail (especially cause it’s been a while since I read it and some of the plot escapes me atm). But I can tell you it’s all about fate and origins and the role of God and the Righteous Man and it’s just very extremely EPIC in what happens throughout this story. Lots of angels and demons involved, Metatron is there being a fuckwad as usual, and… it’s just really fucking epic.”

Never Not Fantastic - by thestoryinsideme. Destiel AU, modern setting, Mature. When television star Dean Winchester makes a stop at the Rogue Wave Cafe, owner Castiel Novak initially takes notice - and exception to - the celebrity’s presence in the all-but-forgotten beachside town where the age of the average resident is sixty-five. “This is a story about love and love, about family, friends, and more than friends, about learning when to hold on and when to let go, and about maybe, finding some turtles along the way.”

A Night at the Museum - by Swordofmymouth. Destiel, canon divergent from S5, Mature. For anyone who’s seen 5.04 all the way through, and wondered what happened afterward, in the Year of Apocalypse, 2014 – this is that story. “Oh, my heart… this, THIS, story just blew my mind. I loved it so much and I gotta admit, I’m kind of afraid of reading it again. I will, eventually, but… I’m only human, you know?”

Ninety One Whiskey - by komodobits. Destiel, WWII AU, Explicit. WORK IN PROGRESS. In the spring of 1944, the 104th Medical Battalion of the United States Army is disbanded, and its men reassigned to various infantry companies in preparation for their invasion of occupied France. For First Lieutenant Novak, this is less than helpful, as he has so far met his platoon’s designated medic a grand total of twice, and has both times found Sergeant Winchester to be the optimum combination of reckless, arrogant, and downright insufferable so as to make cohesive platoon function near impossible. When the time comes to move out, however, Castiel has to reconcile himself to the fact that men are going to go down and trust in the knowledge that Dean Winchester may well be the only person who can put them back together again.

No Such Thing As A Lamia Says The Werewolf - by Klu. Gen, Grimm/Supernatural crossover. “If anyone is into crossovers then this is a really good one. This story is also complete and the portrayal of Sam and Dean is right on as they introduce Nick to other supernatural things going on in Portland. Also, Cas and Crowley make an appearance.”

Not Part Of The Plan (series) - by Annie D. Destiel AU, urban fantasy, rated Teen. 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. "Still a WIP, but winding up. Honestly one of the best, most thoughtful, character building, world building, well written, and planned out fics I’ve ever read. I have never enjoyed a fic so much in my whole life. Doesn’t necessarily fill all my kinks. But I can’t rave about it enough.“



Of Unconventional Dealbreaking - by rionaleonhart. Gen, Mature (for language). Dean, much to his annoyance, gets turned into a unicorn.

On Air - by wincechesters (madefrommemories). Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. Cas and Dean are radio DJs who host the second most popular morning show in Lawrence. "Bestfriends to lovers. woo”

On Wings Of Steel - by Misachan. Destiel AU, steampunk, Explicit. They may serve on the same airship but Dean knows regular crew and the elite who wear the Seraphim Star aren’t supposed to have anything to do with each other. It’s a regulation Dean’s more than willing to break. “Amazing world building, ugh. The story itself is a satisfying length but at the same time I would kill for more, and that’s a good thing.”

Orpheus - by sysrae. Destiel AU, real world, Explicit. “I love all of Sysrae’s work. Fools Rush In is amazing too!”

The Oxpecker on the Buffalo’s Back - by komodobits. Destiel, poemfic, Mature. Death rides in an old cream car and takes who he wants, but simply letting go is for the tired and hopeless, and Castiel is neither. He takes the nearest vessel available, and he holds on for as long as he can.

Painted Angels - by WinJennster. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. Author Castiel Novak has finally hit the big time, with a book based on his failed college relationship with a brilliant painter. He’s put all his pain behind him, but at a book signing, he comes face to face with Dean Winchester for the first time in twelve years, and the reunion doesn’t go like Cas hoped. Dean’s a broken man, with a lot of scars and secrets, shoulders weighed down by his demons and self loathing. Cas sees a second chance with the man he’s never stopped loving, but Dean’s moved on, and is about to get married. Sam launches a “brilliant” plan to reunite his brother and his best friend, but Cas is worried it will all blow up in their faces, and he’ll go through the agony of losing Dean a second time. “My heart, ok? My heart.”

The Parts of Our Sum - by Annie D (scaramouche). Destiel AU, scifi, Explicit. Castiel, a former soldier, has worked for the Company his entire life. They’ve been good to him, providing clothes, shelter and new body parts whenever necessary. Now the Company’s gearing up for a space exploration voyage, and Castiel’s volunteered for the research team. During the preparation period, he meets Dean Winchester, who makes Castiel wonder about the things he’s missed out on. “Does this even need selling? It’s by Annie D. Sci-fi world, and I love human (or mostly human) AUs that still create a sense of otherness/danger about Castiel.”

The Path of Fireflies - by museaway. Destiel, canon divergent, Mature. (Multiple votes.) After his humanity is restored, Dean wakes up in bed with Castiel, a wedding ring, and no memory of the past twelve years. “One of my absolute favorites of the ‘waking up married’ genre.”

Paved With Good Intentions - by crystamartin and csmartin. Destiel, canon divergent. When Castiel finally locates Dean in Hell after forty years, he finds the righteous man changed into something much darker than the angel had expected. Such a creature cannot be resurrected, so Castiel must return him to the man he used to be before he can be sent back to Earth. “I’ve rec’d this before on this sub but, I can’t help it, I just loved it too much. Love the intimate feel of that story…”

Peanut Butter-Pumpkin Wedding Cake - by sparseparsley. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. Dean is a waiter in a strip club to put his kid brother through school. Castiel is dragged to the club as a part of his sister Anna’s bachelorette party. Dean and Cas hit it off, but Dean thinks Cas is the one marrying Anna. “Oh oh!! Can’t forget this one! It’s very cute”

Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition - by Nekomitsu. Destiel. “This is a brilliant, long, hilarious, wonderfully written Dean/Cas fic that sees Dean going to heaven and becoming an angel and treating his new job with all the irreverence you’d expect him to. It’s amazing. But the catch is: the fic has been deleted (it was originally posted on LJ), and now survives only in podfic form thanks to a great podficcer named diurnal_lee.”



PWP: Pie Without Plot - by MajorEnglishEsquire and orange_crushed. Destiel, canon divergent, post S8. “The boys accidentally kind of sort of end up running a bakery. And Dean loves it.”



Ready to Fall - by angelwingsandthings. Destiel AU, college, Mature. When Dean tells his mother he’s bringing somebody home for summer break, she mistakenly believes Castiel is her son’s new boyfriend. When they arrive at the Winchester house, the easiest solution is to go along with it - at least at first. Dean’s love for his best friend becomes more and more difficult to keep separate from the fake relationship they’re putting on for the family’s sake.

Real Slick Dean - by trilliath. Destiel AU, omegaverse. Castiel is just an Alpha, career oriented and having no time for casual sex or potential mates. He’s a regular customer who only buys donor D347’s slick. It’s all fine until one night after a difficult bust he brings Ellen a new Omega about to have her first heat. What Alpha Castiel doesn’t realize is that he’s been over-dosed with Rutter during the fight and is about to go into a rut so bad he may die. And if that weren’t enough to kill him, the embarrassment he’s about to feel will, because he’s about to meet donor D347 face to face and neither of them are prepared for what’s going to happen…[summary truncated]. “I’m not a huge fan of A/B/O but I gotta say, I found this one’s hot as hell.”

Redemption Road - Multiple authors. Destiel, canon-divergent, alternate S8, Mature. (Multiple votes.) “Worth it just for the sheer audaciousness of the enterprise - a fan-led virtual season? But every SPN fan has had this question, what would have happened if Leviathan!Cas hadn’t dissolved into a blob of goo after five utterly riveting minutes of screen time?” “This is by no means perfect - among other things, there was evidently some kind of power struggle over the last chapter (Zatnikatel posted the original version), but the sheer quality of the writing and the insanity of the undertaking makes this one a must read.”

Remnants - by RC_McLachlan. Destiel, canon verse, rated Teen. “Super short oneshot with a kick, of Cas looking at stars.”

Rock the Vote - by KateThorne. Sabriel AU, modern setting, Explicit. Gabriel is running for governor of CA and Sam signs on as an intern after graduating law school. “Kind of a rollercoaster of emotions between the two but ends up kinda sappy (which I love).”

A Room Of One’s Own - by NorthernSparrow. (Multiple votes.) Destiel, canon divergent from S8, Explicit. Bunkerfic in which Cas accidentally blunders into Dean’s private life. Misunderstandings and explicit hijinks follow. Mix of comedy, smut and feels.

Rules of Creation series - by manic_intent. Destiel AU, Explicit. Dean and Castiel are both angels and brothers-in-arms. During a battle, Cas’s wings get hurt and [it’s] up to Dean to help him out. In the process, Cas finds out how sensitive his wings are and well Dean is Dean…[summary truncated]. “This has two fics, and both very well done”

Shortskirts 'Verse - by twentysomething. (Multiple votes.) Destiel, high school/college AU. “This is a must read for anyone who ships Destiel. It’s gorgeous and funny and I normally become disinterested in a story once the two characters get together but not so with this one. It only gets better the longer it goes on.” “Fluffy fluffy tooth rotting fluff.”

Shut Up (Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is) - by kototyph. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. Dean’s done some pretty stupid things, but getting drunk-hitched in Vegas to a colleague he barely knows might just take the cake. His surprise husband, Castiel, is a little weird but likable despite that, and Dean figures they’ll go back to Boston, get a quiet annulment, and go their separate ways. Six weeks later, he’s still married to one of the strangest, most genuine and definitely most dangerously lov– likable guys he’s ever known. Dean doesn’t know why or really even how it’s happening, but it’s getting harder and harder to remember that he has divorce papers to file. “Random hook ups that lead to permanence. YES YES”

Small Town Charmer - by lastknownwriter. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. By ten a.m. Dean had seen his dream of expanding the hardware store dashed. By one, his baby had been impounded off the street. And by midnight, Dean’s personal space had been invaded by an angry, wet bookseller with hot blue eyes and an armful of natty first editions. There was also a cat. Maybe we should start at the beginning…

Smells Like Roses - by BoMarlowe. Destiel, canon-divergent, S5, Explicit. Dean’s life is beautiful. He wants for nothing, has the pleasure of his family and friends, and is desperately, irrevocably in love with his husband. Everything is perfect, just as it should be. Then he wakes up.

The Soul Piece - by cloudyjenn. Destiel, canon 'verse, Mature. WORK IN PROGRESS. When a human child is born, their soul is shattered into bright gleaming pieces that scatter to the winds. “This one is a work in progress and hasn’t been updated in 2-ish years. Don’t worry though, it leaves off perfectly, no cliff hangers. It’s also my favorite :)”

The Story of You and Me - by the_diggler. Destiel, canon-divergent, S8, Explicit. (Multiple votes.) Dean wakes up in bed next to a very human Castiel, and a journal in his own handwriting that tells him it’s two years in the future. The house looks a lot like Bobby’s, and Sam lives there too… He just can’t remember how they got from angels falling in the sky – to comfortable domesticity. While there is much in the journal Dean doesn’t remember, there is much of their story he’s always known. And as he settles into the routine of his new life and relationship with Castiel, it quickly becomes something he doesn’t know how to live without. “Oh, do I like this one… Domestic Destiel? Yes, please!!!” “Memory loss! Welp!”

The Substitute - by rons_pigwidgeon. Destiel, omegaverse, Explicit. Dean smells his mate one morning while getting his mail. He keeps smelling him in several different places, but never sees him. After months of smelling the mate scent without seeing his mate, Dean becomes cranky and begins to think he might go crazy.Then one day, the scent walks into his shop with a car repair, and Castiel is nothing like what Dean thought he would be. They hit it off easily despite Castiel’s traditional upbringing, but there is one barrier to their domestic bliss: Castiel is betrothed to another. “One of my favorites”

Suburban War - by squeemonster. Destiel AU, high school, Explicit. “Again with feelings! I usually don’t like high school AUs, but this one is awesome.”

Tell Me You Love Me - by Annabeth_Crestfallen_LeMorte. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. “Basically Dean is a cop and Cas is a doctor and they’re so cute together. Dean is closeted and coming to terms with his sexuality and Cas is in an abusive relationship.”

Ten Thousand Miles - by mimblexwimble. Gen fic, canon divergent, Teen. This isn’t a story with a deeper meaning. There is no moral at the end. On December 28th, 2007, Sam Winchester walked out of the motel room he was sharing with his brother and never came back. This is the story of what happened after. “You know how every fandom has that killer fic that tears your heart out and stomps that sucker flat? Yeahhh, THAT fic.”

There’s Only One Sure Thing That I Know - by leah k (blinkiesays). Destiel, canon divergent, Explicit. Dean doesn’t even get halfway through explaining before Bobby starts laughing. When he lets himself think about it for more than five seconds, Dean can almost see Bobby’s point: he’s faced down demons, witches, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, angels, and Satan himself and now he’s been defeated by the God damn Midwest. “Yeah… another Dean and Cas stuck somewhere they can’t leave and grow closer overtime and it’s oh so pretty.”

The Thing That Should Not Be - by moosesquirrelkittenandking. Crossover, NCIS S7/Supernatural S5. Gen, no pairings. When an ancient demon is raised from the depths of Hell, it’s up to Team Free Will to stop it from bringing on the end of the world. However, when the NCIS team gets caught up in their hunt, things get complicated. Falling in with the Winchesters and their angel means that none of their lives will ever be the same.

Thursday’s Child - by strangeandcharm. Destiel, canon divergent, endverse, Explicit. What would have happened if past!Dean hadn’t turned up in 2014, and future!Dean had actually succeeded in killing Lucifer with the Colt?

Try-Something Tuesday - by almaasi. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. Dean Winchester teaches a third-grade class. He’s new to this whole ‘bisexual’ thing - but by pure happenstance, he meets Castiel: a particularly dapper male librarian who moonlights as a substitute teacher. Dean’s curious and Castiel is willing, so why the hell not.

Twist and Shout - by Gabriel/standbyme. Destiel AU, Vietnam war, Explicit. (Special note: This has long been #1 on AO3’s kudos list for the entire Supernatural fandom. It also stands at #3 for all fandoms combined, out of 1.75 million fics.) “If you haven’t read this one, prepare for your life to be ruined. Just sayin’…”

A Vague Memory of Wisdom - by takadainmate. Destiel, canon based, early season 5. “Dean and Castiel trapped in an old library, under the influence of sex demons!!! It’s less cracky than I’m making it sound. Four parts, only posted to LJ as far as I know.”

Welcome to Oz - by Bauble. Destiel, canon divergent, S5, Explicit. Dean and Castiel find themselves in a mysterious suburb at the top of a mountain. With no way to escape, they’re forced to take up semi-ordinary lives as a general store manager and a school teacher. “I so love this type of stories… Dean and Cas stuck somewhere, can’t escape, gotta work together, grow closer even though they take their sweet ol’ time about it.”

We’re Not Alone Anymore - by ChasingRabbits. Destiel AU, modern setting, Explicit. Long-time best friends Castiel and Dean live in a tiny two-bedroom apartment in Hollywood, California. When Dean gets a call from a previous one night stand, he gets some unexpected news. When he gets a call from the hospital nine months later, he and Castiel both experience an unexpected life change. “I’ll admit it, I have an extreme soft spot for Dean and Cas raising kids together.”

What Has Eight Tentacles and Isn’t Allowed to Eat Pie? - by AnnieD. (Multiple votes.) Dean watched an anime porn about this once, but real life turns out to be way less interesting. Or, the one where Dean gets turned into an octopus.



While Angels Watched - by Sharlot. Gen fic, canon universe, preseries. Destiel, canon divergent, Teen. Teenage Dean has a major medical malfunction so John and Sam try to cope and keep hope. “I rarely read gen fics but I highly recommend. It sounds really depressing but I promise it’s not actually that sad and it has a great ending. It’s a preseries fic that fits perfectly into canon.”

Your Eyes Look Like Coming Home - by youaresunlight. Destiel AU, modernsetting, Explicit. Dean and Cas are two single men with pasts of heart ache and disappointment, neither believing that he is ready to enter a new relationship. But then Fate comes knocking, determined to prove them wrong, and creates a year of moments through which Dean and Cas meet and fall in love. In which there is a one-night stand that really isn’t a one-night stand, a field trip, baking, and a couple of guys who are just trying to figure it all out. “I love Dean and Cas raising kids together as much as I like it when one of them is a teacher or a firefighter. Cas is a single father of two and Dean’s their teacher.”