Castiel, You’re Human Now.
Castiel, You’re Human Now fic rec list. Castiel’s brush with humanity has always fascinated destiel fandom. Our Fallen Cas tag is 19 pages deep and even has Reference Post to help navigate the content. Oldest fics on the tag go back to season 5 when Cas experienced his first brush with humanity. End verse fics have a separate tag altogether. We’re working on rec lists for those fics, as well as super angsty season 9 steve!cas fic rec list. Meanwhile, here’s a small collection of less angsty, more introspective fics written after 8x23. In all fics Cas is human right from the start, grappling with confusing human nature and surviving one day at a time. (link to other destielfanworks rec lists)
Thanks to euclase/ @eliciadonze/ @eliciaforever, who provided us with permission to use her beautiful art! (link to #euclase fanart tag at destielfanworks)
All links go to our tagged reviews or submitted rec posts.
any port in a storm by mishcollin [M, 52,700 word count, posted 2014]
The angels have fallen, leaving Castiel graceless and Dean with, well, more of other people’s problems. When a string of couples goes missing on the east coast, Dean and Cas decide to investigate—and find themselves trapped and hunted on a couples’ counseling cruise. Although battling monsters at sea is dangerous enough, sorting through emotional baggage proves to be far more deadly. (And, in which Cas embarks to find his missing grace and Dean is put out. Not necessarily in that order.)
Après by imogenbynight [M/NC-17, 24,000 word count, posted 2013]
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. Author Note: As this story takes place in France, there is some French dialogue. If you hover over the text, you’ll see the English translation. If that doesn’t work for you, just scroll to the end of the chapter–I’ll post the translations for each in the notes.
Do What Feels Good by catchclaw & cymbalism [NC-17, 12,500 word count, posted 2014]
Castiel learns to love alone time in the shower. And then he learns to share.
Dream of Now series by sass_master [NC-17, 136,600 word count, 11 parts, posted 2015]
Various moments in Cas and Dean’s relationship.
Galveston series by aerialiste [NC-17, 57,000 word count, 3 parts, posted 2015 - 2017]
It’s been almost four years since Castiel left Kansas; he’d eventually settled in an island town where he has a job, a house, and a life without the Winchesters. Every winter, Dean drives down to the coast to see him.“I shoot guns. I beat up monsters. I fix cars, Cas.”“I guess I should have done something worse to yours than hide the distributor cap, then.” (summary of the first part)
His Fucking Kids Verse by 8sword [T/M, 96,000 word count, 14 parts, posted 2013-2016]
Jesus, the school should just have a parking spot labeled, “Reserved for the Novak-Winchesters,” because Dean’s getting sick of having to cruise around the parking lot looking for a spot every time he gets a call from the principal about Emma. (summary of the first part)
In Your Sweet Little Bungalow by annodominique (submitted rec) [NC-17, 13,700 word count, posted 2017]
All things considered, Castiel has a house. All things considered, Castiel has life. Without Dean. It has been seven years since Sam died, seven years since Dean left Castiel, broken and human, and disconnected from humanity. Cas had to cope on his own somewhere along the way. He chose a little town of Oregon to settle in. Seven years, and Dean shows up at his door on a chilly February night, saying the stupidest set of words to ever be said to Castiel’s face. “I was–just passing by the neighborhood. Thought I’d drop by…to see you.“ And Cas doesn’t know what to do.
On Drowning by domesticadventures [T, 28,700 word count, posted 2015]
The absolute last thing Dean would ever admit, after saving Cas’ life, is that it was all thanks to the unhealthy amount of time he spent reading about drowning on Wikipedia. Not that he’s not grateful, but what he really needs is an instruction manual for everything that comes after.
Professional Couple Only by saltyfeathers [M, 37,000 word count, posted 2015]
There’s a haunted apartment building in Vermont, and the ad says “Professional couple only”. Dean and Cas rise to the occasion.
Safe Spaces by dustlines [T, 22,800 word count, posted 2013]
The angels have fallen, and Castiel is collapsing under the weight of what he’s done. Nothing is as it was before, and Dean struggles to find Cas before it’s too late to save him. The road, though, is full of many new and unpredictable obstacles, as fallen angels and the spread of untempered Grace are creating havoc all over the world. In this newly-ravaged, volatile climate of fear, Dean and Cas must rediscover how to rely on each other if they are to survive the wars both inside and outside of their own heads. Canon-divergent from 8.23.
the taste of gravel in the mouth by beenghosting [NC-17, 22,400 word count, posted 2014]
This is what Cas gave up Heaven for: greasy diner food, shitty motel rooms with even shittier cable, long car rides spent in complete silence except for the same six tapes playing over and over again, and a burnt-out husk of a man who can barely hold a conversation anymore.
What Has Eight Tentacles and Isn’t Allowed to Eat Pie? by Annie D (scaramouche) (submitted rec) [T, 16,000 word count, posted 2013]
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.
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