with september here, i wanted to quickly thank everyone for participating! i loved seeing us come together to celebrate fic, and discover new and rediscover old works.
please feel free to send in more recs if you couldn't make it in time! i will reblog them.
lastly, i want to encourage everyone to leave praise and love where the authors can see it, too. comments really do mean the world.
Hii , I once read this fic on ao3 about j2 which was sorta non au where jared was pinning on jensen and get hurt on set , lost consciousness and taken to hospital and when he woke up he was in bed withe jen and discovered he is in the future where he is married to jen and a teacher whereas jen is a director i think but I canât find it but I want to re read it so please if you know it share the linke or name đđ»
iâm so sorry nonnie, i donât know which one this is :( iâve read exactly one (1) j2 fic so my knowledge is very limited
edit by the amazing and talented and generous @lemondropsonice
SPN FIC REC FEST #11
All-Time Favorites/Free Recs
The only pairing is Wincest
Most are explicit, but those that arenât are marked accordingly.
THE FIREFLY THAT LOVED METALLICA by fleshflutter
Rated R, but WARNING: MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH/RESURRECTION. I passionately adore this indescribably poignant story. Get tissues.
LIKE STARING INTO THE SUN by nyxocity
It was never about the girls. It was about them.
A new OFC in each part, until there are no more FCs at all and itâs just them.
There is also a sequel, linked to the original
RUN IT ALL OVER (THE WEST SERIES) by runawaydr3amer
I LOVE this series with a passion not too dissimilar from Sam and Deanâs for each other
When you live a life like theirs, chasing tail isn't always an option. But sometimes you just want someone to touch your dick, and your brotherâs hand is as good as any.
THE LAST OUTPOST OF ALL THAT IS by gekizetsu
Iâm sure this will end up on multiple lists during this event, as itâs a fandom classic that everyone loves. I donât even want to try to describe it. 60K words. Casefic. First time. I think thereâs some H/C. Beautiful. So so sad. Joy amidst the wreckage and heartache. I love it so much I should probably get the title tattooed on my body somewhere
NOT FOR SAMSON IN THE TEMPLE by maygra-fic
Coda to my all time favorite, see above. You have to read that one first to truly appreciate how this coda maintains the tone, voice, and prose quality. You feel like itâs from the same author, but surprise! itâs not, and thatâs remarkable. Mature Sam and Dean. Elderly Sam and Dean
THE GHOST OF SOMEBODY AT HIS SIDE by runedgirl
Prepare to weep. When I need pain, this one guarantees Iâll get it. Author Description: The night before Sam Winchester meets with his 12th grade guidance counselor for the second time, something very bad happens. One of those somethings that takes only a ridiculously short amount of time â in this case, about three minutes â yet manages to change the course of two lives forever. Or: Sam goes to Stanford, and takes most of Dean's heart with him.
COGNITIVE DISSONANCE by Morgan
This one justâŠstuck with me. The events that unfold are awful for Dean in particular, but Iâm sure it wasnât a great time for Sam, either. Bobby makes an appearance. Angst for daaaaays, and NON CON/DUB CON warning is red-flag-level. Author Description: Sam loses his mind. It's that simple. Dean doesn't know what to do, but he's not going to walk away from this, he's never backed down in all his life. If you're looking for happy endings, don't come here. This shit is dark.
THE SILENCE OF A SUMMER DAY by wanttobeatree
***Everyone who loves the Winchesters should read this amazing future fic***
Rated PG. The world has moved on. This is their legacy. Haha, yes, of course Iâm recommending this one again. No sex whatsoever! Weird, right?!?!
@spnficrecfest
RESTRAINT by DarkEmeralds
Free rec. Rated M. 200k+ words. It's not Spn or Wincest or even J2, not really. I guess itâs technically a J2 AU. Iâm sneaking it in here because itâs an all-time favorite of mine. This might not be your cup of tea, fanfic wise. I certainly didnât think it was mine. But but butâŠitâs absolutely lovely, itâs extremely well-written, the tone/voice/verbiage is accurate for its time, and it has a happy ending that made me cry HAPPY tears when I was finished. If you like historical romance, youâll like this. Itâs set in Regency England! Author Description: The calling card said Tristan Jarrett, Viscount Penrith. Beneath that, in a lazy scrawl, was the addendum Mr Acklebury, be so good as to wait on me tomorrow, number 10, Half Moon Street. Yours, &c., Penrith. Mr Acklebury was not sure how he felt about being thus summarily commanded to paint his lordship's portrait.
fic recs that feature sex worker dean for free space @spnficrecfest
âšđâš
trade by chinablue (John/Dean, Dean/OMCs, 771, E) (part 1 of tradeverse)
You'll hide from mirrors until the marks fade away.
quiet room by chinablue (John/Dean, Dean/OMCs, 1.9k, E) (part 2 of tradeverse)
This is what love looks like.
love is by chinablue (Sam/Dean, John/Dean, Dean/OMCs, 2.3k, E, Rape/Non-Con)
Love is all you are.
halo (in reverse) by poisontaster (Dean/OMCs, Dean/OFCs, 4.9k, E, Underage)
Adulthood has a taste.
the black line below me by smilla (Dean/OMC, 4.1k, M, Underage)
It's not about money
march madness in carson city by egipci (John/Dean, 1.5k, Not Rated)
Dad just saw him, heâs pretty sure.
pragmatics by deadlybride (Sam/Dean, Dean/Others, 4.3k, E, Underage)
Dean tells Sam about the work he used to do; he hopes Sam understands why he did it.
it's a mile from here to glory by ivyfic (Dean/Others, 7.6k, M, Underage) (part 1 of after school special)
John found it when he was doing laundry. When John dug into the bottom of Dean's duffel to get the last of the dirty socks that had been sitting in there, probably, since the last time John had caved and done the laundry, he found a roll of bills. Tens and twenties, mostly, held together with a black binder clip. It was close to five hundred dollars.
dear lovey hart by ivyfic (Sam/Dean, 5k, M, Underage) (part 2 of after school special)
"People I've fucked," Sam said nonchalantly. Dean almost did a spit-take. "I have had sex with eight people. Lifetime total." He waved his hand in the air over his head, probably trying to show the number eight on his fingers, then gave up and let his arm drop like a rock back to his side. He scrunched up his face like he was thinking hard. "Make that nineâŠnoâŠeight and a half."
Dean rolled his eyes.
"Your turn," Sam said.
hitchhikers by glorious_spoon (795, T, Underage)
Some ugly facts about life on the road.
monsters are out there by connivingophelia (Dean/OMCs, 4.6k, E, Rape/Non-Con, Underage)
When Dean is ten-and-a-half, he learns men will fall for his pretty mouth, his fuck-me eyes.
When Dean is twelve-and-a-half, he discovers how to use this information.
Dean longs to be a hunter like Dad, to bring monsters to their knees. This isn't what he had in mind.
feel like i should have said something by karaokeburial (John/Dean, 1.3k, E)
John's come home exhausted from a long hunt, and they're broke. Dean, thankfully, is always good for making a little bit of money down at the hunter dive.
so goes the song by aeli_kindara (Dean/Lee, 21.7k, E) (+ jackalopes)
The first time Lee meets Dean Winchester, itâs courtesy of a chokehold.
the landscape after cruelty by hearthouses (Sam/Dean, Dean/Others, 16k, Rape/Non-Con, Underage)
Dean leans into Sam's touch, instinctive, too exhausted to fight the part of him that enjoys the attention Sam gives him, a shameful dirty secret, how much he loves letting Sam do this, when it should be the other way around.
No one else would ever take care of him like this.
OR
Five Times Sam Took Care Of Dean In The Aftermath + 1 Time He Got Revenge On Those Who Hurt Dean.
there are worse things i could do by amiwritesthings (John/Deanna, 5.2k, E)
Itâs cold and windy, the bite of first snow in the air, a strange yellow glow in the sky that tells Deanna winter is coming and itâs coming soon. Her breath billows in a cloud of white, and she pulls the thin leather jacket tighter around herself, rocks on her heels to keep the blood flowing.
Itâs a little past midnight, and the streets are quietâtoo quietâfor all of them to get to the other end of the night with some cash in their pockets. Itâs not the first time and it wonât be the last, but she needs the money tonight, for a hot meal and a fix and maybe a new jacket that isnât more holes than fabric.
discovery by reapertownusa (John/Dean, 1.1k, E)
After a hunt John is looking for a release and finds it an unlikely place.
+ the rest of the past is a foreign country verse (John/Dean, Dean/OMCs, 13.1k in total, E, Rape/Non-Con)
as if we'd never met by thatotherperv (John/Dean, Dean/OMCs, 6.7k, E, Underage)
AU. Dean Winchester was kicked into the foster system when he was 4 years oldâŠwhen he was 14, he kicked himself out of it. Bottom line is, men enjoy fucking little boys all across this great nation. Dean figures if he's gonna spend the rest of his life with sick fuckers staring at his mouth, he'd better be making some cash.
sharp teeth of the one you love by vintagedean (John/Dean, Dean/Others, 2.3k, E)
The ogre at the corner table right by the door has been eyeing Dean all night. John watches the way the beastâs eyes track Dean as he works different patrons at the bar with no luck. Dean tries for a shifter and a vampire before he starts flirting with a human man playing pool by himself, but John knows thereâs no way his boy is unaware of the behemoth of a creature tucked into the shadows behind him. Heâs been moving slowly in his direction, never engaging or tossing a smile, but angling his body with every interaction with someone else so that his ass faces the monster. Deanâs a professional, and heâs good at what he does.
John keeps to himself and lets his son work as he nurses his beer and thinks through what heâll need to have ready for after Deanâs done his job. Ogres have relatively small dicks for their size, but theyâre usually barbed at the tip. It means Deanâs going to have some internal damage when heâs through, but not too much if they use enough of the right kind of lube. It also means they can charge a small fortune. Dean knows this, so Johnâs not worried about needing to intervene. His kid can handle it. He is, after all, a professional.Â
first night as the prince of hearts by karaokeburial (John/Dean, Dean/Jean Renault, 1.9k, E)
John's made the drive all the way across the border from Twin Peaks into Canada, coming to visit his eldest on his first night at his new job.
this is for fics that should have been on my other reclists for @spnficrecfest but, well, i forgor.
my other reclists are in this tag.
this list will be ordered by wordcount, but it will also be by category.
should have been on my season six reclist:
what a brave little ant you are by withthekeyisking, 2k
dean goes about his life. cas pops in, from time to time. dean is soooooo mad about it. the salmondean of it all is good too. great stuff. destiel.
there are no lies on your body by tiptoe39, 6k
post godstiel, cas is a poor little meow meow. dean's poor little meow meow. destiel.
the law of conservation of energy by peroxidepest17, 90k
an oldschool "what if cas capitulated in the man who would be king and they had to come up with a different plan" type fic. im kind of obsessed with this one. like the ways in which it's good and the ways in which it's weird. destiel.
should have been on my season nine reclist:
i shall not want by domesticadventures, 20k
a little season nine bunker depressionfic with good brother conflict.
should have been on my true au reclist:
aprĂšs moi, le deluge by allthismusic, 11k
dean is an innocent hiker, and after he messes up his foot, he and his brother happen upon a nice cabin with a friendly cas inside. destiel. horror.
the fix by luulapants, 12k so far, chose not to warn
an au where dean is a conservative politician and cas is a fixer. this is like, the fic i have been longing for for literal years, and i can't think of a better author to take on the topic. wip, but my experience is that luulapants will finish what she starts. destiel
lillith's fayre by all_the_damned_vampires, 17k, chose not to warn
a strange and wonderful fic with a lot of fun character stuff. meg is the main character, and she's joined by casey and lenore, two favorite side characters from the early seasons. and cas, of course. it's a whole polycule thing. they're in the circus in the nineties. the demon circus. i was particularly compelled by lenore's characterization.
should have been on my canon-a-little-to-the-left reclist:
in the twilight kingdom by argentnoelle, 48k, violence and noncon warnings plus chose not to warn
so i am actually currently enjoying this fic right now and im not done with it. i'm like halfway through? which is maybe against the spirit of things. but im REALLY liking it so far. it's a rewrite of seasons four and five which takes place mainly in hell. deanalastair, destiel, megstiel, and deancasmeg. the deanalastair parts are particularly compelling to me because they're like written like, you know. it reads like a sugar daddy thing. except of course you know how things started. you KNOW. sickeninggggg. and of course dean and meg are brainwashing themselves a castiel. which i'm greatly enjoying so far.
should have been on my rarepair reclist:
a rock with a hole in it by de_nugis, 11k
cas has an interlude with soulless sam in fairyland. a kind of fascinating, unsettling pastoralism. and it's not even set in season six. sastiel, unrequited destiel.
should have been on my outsider pov reclist:
leave my body, moving up to higher ground by trieduntrue, 17k
post godstiel, cas has to switch vessels. an adventure from the point of view of the vessel. i'm kind of obsessed with this author. the vessel character is so charming to me, i enjoy her. yes: this is a female vessel cas fic, lol. destiel.
weâre here, the big fest finale !! i tried to keep this list short but alas it got out of hand... pls go read them because theyâre all wonderful and be sure to give the authors your thanks and kind words :)
as before, i've tagged authors that have their tumblr public on their ao3. if you'd like me to remove the @, just lmk. @spnficrecfest for more info on the event.
dead dove & sensitive topics under the cut. TWs are given where necessary.
Touch Me Like a Razor Blade by ADeedWithoutaName (@a-deed-without-a-name)
Sam/Dean, 18k, E [underage]
"For as long as he can remember, sins have caused Dean physical pain."
in my mind this fic is in the golden hall of wincest fame. the idea of materializing dean's guilt is SO CRAZY and ingenious given he is THEE guilt character. especially in a story about the taboo of incest. dean's internal struggle in most wincest fics is already so delicious and painful but to make it a physical sensation that he is constantly aware of puts this perfect bow on him as a character. also because sam DOESN'T KNOW until so late into the story. are you kidding. also an actually GOOD example of bdsm!! a masterpiece, go read it and show the author allll the love!!
The Road Rhythm Outro by brokenlittleboy
Sam/Dean, 50k, E [violence]
"A routine hunt goes horribly wrong. A curtain fic dealing with permanent injury, angst, and various types of trauma, and fluffy domesticity."
this is my favourite permanent injury fic! the author clearly researched a lot to make it accurate and that makes it hit so much harder. there's not only the initial grief and pain, but also the recovery journey, and a thorough exploration of sam's struggle after his injury and how it effects his relationship with dean.
The voicemail by tattooalecki
Sam/Dean, 3k, E [noncon]
Sam masturbates to the infamous S5 voicemail.
#1 for hottest samdean smut fic. PLUS a voicemail fix-it! this particular niche of humiliation kink is my fav and i haven't found any other piece of writing that does it quite so well. it's hot and captivating while still feeling in-character. if this sounds like your thing as well then definitely check this out because it's insanely good!
snuff by chinablue (@mpregjohnwinchester)
Dean/John, Sam/Dean, 5k, E [underage]
"There's nothing good on TV, and Sam's contemplating killing his father again."
i had to control myself from putting all of china's fics on this list. she is SUCH an amazing writer and the way she writes johndean is my absolute favourite in the fandom. this fic manages such a delicious balance between hot, violent, possessive and horrific. i don't know how she does it! @-@
Tethered to You by lily rose/annabeth
Sam/Dean, 32k, E [TW necro, violence, major char death, noncon]
"Sam wants Dean, but he'd like him even better dead."
yes, this is necrophilia smut. BUT- it's also a character study and an insanely interesting look into the psychology of paraphilias. i firmly believe sam would be into something weird given the way he grew up, and the author really displays that in an accurate way. 10/10 most tasteful necrophilia i have ever consumed.
the one percent by deadlybride (@zmediaoutlet)
Sam/Dean, 9k, E
Dean finds out that Sam's too big for most condoms.
my fav take on the bigdick!Sam fanon. there is something soo hot about a guy being too big to be contained... it rolls perfectly into sam's gentle giant thing where he's sooo big and powerful yet quiet and unassuming. also sizequeen!Dean. whats not to love.
Brittle by thecapn
Sam/Dean, Sam/Jess, 30k, E [TW ED]
"Sam Winchester has an eating disorder."
so- i couldn't reread this fic when i was putting together this list. not because it's bad but because it is so beautifully written, raw and accurate that i couldn't read it again because it got me worked up. it's really that good. the ending manages to be positive without feeling preachy, and at the same time has that lingering pain of how difficult recovery is. massive tw for eds obviously, but if you can stomach the content then this is a must-read fic.
I have to live here by Goshen/applecrumbledore (@goshen-applecrumbledore)
Sam/Dean, 30k, E
An angel erases Dean's memories, but only the ones about his relationship with Sam.
silly amnesia fic from the one and only applecrumbledore. there's some angst as well where we get to see sam's grief over losing his relationship with dean and dean working through all the roadblocks they had to overcome to finally get together. as always the characterization is perfect and the writing is so engaging and witty.
Lima Syndrome by guestwho (@guestwho)
Sam/Dean, 20k, E
Sam has extensive facial scarring from the fire. John locks him away, and Dean is as usual, not normal about him.
holy SHIT i cannot rave enough about this story. it's one of those fics where you read it and wish there was more or an actual book about it because the author's writing is so compelling. it's an interesting take on the whole sam/dean codependency thing with an angle that's less supernatural focused. also freak!sam in this is sooo captivating and the smut gave me shivers, just go read it, i promise you won't be disappointed!!
hello by allwellandgood
Sam/Dean, 4k, T [major chara death]
Dean's dead but his ghost lingers. Sam struggles to reach out to him.
this is such a depressing but hopeful fic. it broke my heart the first time i read it, especially considering how dean dies in the finale. in my mind if dean ever died he would refuse to pass on and stay with sam just like in this fic.
With A Bit Of Spit And Luck by elsi/Prince_of_Elsinore (@prince-of-elsinore)
Sam/Dean, 7k, E [underage]
"Teenage boys cooped up in a cabin in the dead of winter with nothing but each other and an ancient porno on VHS to keep them warm."
weecest smut extravaganza. i loveeee the trope of dean being sam's sexual awakening. the idea of them in a little cabin together while dean shows sam scratchy low quality porn is amazing and the execution of it in this fic is perfect.
lay my bones beside his bones by adastreia
Sam/Dean, John/Dean, 6k, E [TW CSA]
Dean has a rape fantasy. Sam indulges him, and things come to light.
a perfect mixture of smut and hurt/comfort. i also love how sam & dean's hell trauma is integrated into the johndean CSA. the scene where dean says 'dad'- i genuinely felt my stomach drop. haven't had a reaction like that from fanfic in a LONG time !! very well-written.
When Sam vanishes on a case, it feels like every nightmare Dean's had since he got his brother's soul back is coming true. Waking up buried alive doesn't exactly make it Sam's favorite day, either. The Winchesters will do anything to save each other: thatâs almost a natural law. But in nature, everything has a cost, and Sam and Dean have a bad history of not examining the price tag.
Why I rec it: If I could describe this fic in one word it would be haunting. This fic doesn't have a lot Sam and Dean interaction because the premise is that they are split up and trying to find their way back to one another. That being said, the love and devotion they have for each other is felt in every paragraph. Its a great character study as well. And the mystery of the case is so endearing and disturbing, I still think about it now.
both gen and G/T-rated fic recs for @spnficrecfest
âšđâš
story by egipci (John & Sam, 1k, G)
In which Dean and his dad watch Scream.
the spell by smilla (Dean & John, 900, T)
He had the experience to back him up. This was hardly the first time.
hope of a lifetime by deadlybride (Mary, 495, T)
April 2, 1983. Mary contemplates the future.
(+ the rest of the milk carton kids series)
counting by foolondahill17 (Dean, 960, G)
He is one-two-three-four years old, but soon he will be one-two-three-four-five years old. And Sammy is one-two-three-four-five-six-seven months old. And Mommy has been gone for one-two-three weeks.
A tiny moment: Dean, Sammy, and John a little while after the fire.
first snow by sowell (Dean & Sam, Dean & John, 733, G)
Mom is gone, and the Impala is in a snow bank. Way, way pre-series.
hopscotch by sowell (Dean & Sam, 1.4k, G)
Dean can't stop counting. Post-8.01
down from your fences by glorious_spoon (John, 1.4k, G)
John's made a lot of mistakes, he knows, and he's not sure whether this is redemption or his final damnation. Pre-series.
i will be here by amiwritesthings (Dean & John, 4.5k, T)
He picks his boy up, settles him into the crook of his arm. Dean smiles up at him with a gummy smile, eyes wide as his hands grab for the dog tags again. John lets him hold onto the metal plates, jingles the chain just to hear that little giggle. Itâs insane how much he loves this little human, his precious baby boy.
so in my reclists for @spnficrecfest i haven't been including many fics that are very "big destiel."
this is partly because i've been trying to keep the kudos count lower (though obviously this hasn't been absolute), and also because i actively did not include any "post empty destiel fix it" type fics in the dabb era reclist because they're kind of a genre unto themselves. nor have i intentionally made space in other reclists for fics that have a particular destiel romance novel vibe. obviously there's some, but those tend to dominate reclists, and i wanted to highlight smaller fics.
so this is my "big destiel" reclist, except i still did not include anything that had >2k kudos, because those are generally speaking pretty well known already.
some of these fics are small and just have the big destiel vibes, but a lot of them are more in the 1k kudos range than the hundred kudos range, on account of being big, or medium-sized, destiel.
in order of word count:
ain't that the worst thing you ever heard? by everytuesday, 1k
a couple of takes on the confession scene. very special to me.
rot and grace by extemporaneous, 3k, violence warning
cas watches dean murder the world. corruption kink.
some dying star looks dull in the light by sp8ce, 4k
heaven angst with a happy ending, post-empty.
one step closer by rhinestoneangels, 4k
an empty rescue. i love the empty geography in this one.
i didn't feel it on the first day, and now i got it in the worst way by wintertree, 6k
meg pov on a post-widower arc destiel.
the doorway to a thousand churches by sonatine, 6k
cas and the deans from goodbye stranger.
if you try sometimes, well you just might find by jenthesweetie, 9k
cas pov on dean's wants.
godot ain't got nothing on me and my baby by ilovehowyouletmefall, 10k
post empty, cas became death. the only way dean could see him is by dying.
before and after breakfast by spocklee, 10k
a silly little case where cas and dean realize how they see each other.
solitudes by ilovehowyouletmefall, 21k
cas sees dean see cas die. a wonderful little melodrama. i actually really liked how it handled dean's alcoholism (not really as something to be solved but just as a... reality to be dealt with) and i'm OBSESSED with the director's commentary. if this had been published in 2021 instead of 2023, every heller would have read it three times over.
powerless in dreams by calicoyak, 24k
a post-empty fic. i really liked some of the cas stuff in this one.
between a rock and a hard place by amidsizefrog, 24k
dean's dick doesn't work. also cas is dead. maybe the two are related.
every single thing by thestoryinsideme, 37k
a charming and goofy season nine fic. dean is a shitty little man in a very canonical way that is also deeply sweet and adorable.
a light above descending by hedderstheowl, 38k
a mark of cain fic with chefkiss angel stuff. a recent favorite of mine. really put this author on the map for me.
with understanding by apokteino, 427k, chose not to warn and noncon warning
yeah it's with understanding. you've heard of it. go read it now chop chop.
and if your wondering which fics (that you've probably read) got the axe for having too many kudos: it was on labor, the bee movie fic, time has come today, and r/supernatural. that's my taste. if you were curious.
one of my last few for @spnficrecfest. gonna be lazy and just rec a couple of series made up of codas that i really like.
things that probably will not happen in season twelve by expatgirl, 8k total, chose not to warn
what it says on the tin. i think i found this while looking for stuff with cas and mary interacting. stabat mater in particular is something special. some of it is destiel, the rest is gen.
dadstiel missing scenes by alpacamybags, 12k, mcd warning
it's hard to find good cas&jack fic, but this is some of the best out there. it traces the contours of s15 and injects some much needed actual character work. gen.
For day 31 of @spnficrecfest's event! All-Time Favorites or Free Space
American Myth by candle_beck
As long as you have a car, you are free, and other lies my country taught me.
SamDean // Mature // No Warnings Apply // 11,524
Tags: First Time
My Notes: This fic literally changed my life. The Sam characterization in particular is so on-point and insane that it fundamentally altered how I interact with him as a character. Jesus Christ.
Camdon Inn by dragonspell
In the backwoods of Northern Michigan, Sam and Dean are on the trail of what they think might be the area's fabled 'Dog Man.' What they find instead in the small town of Silver Lake is a suspicious sheriff, a shady innkeeper, a closed mouth town and a lot more than they bargained for when the supposed overly large wolf that they were hunting starts hunting them back. And, much to Dean's horror, he can no longer seem to keep his hands off of Sam.
SamDean // Explicit // No Warnings Apply // 44,412
Tags: Dubious Consent, Something Made Them Do It
My Notes: I'm convinced this author lives inside my brain to make all of my dreams come true. I can't believe they wrote my favorite kind of trope, wrote it well, AND gave it a satisfying ending. This is the fic that convinced me Sam has been in love with Dean for as long as he could love. I also enjoyed the struggle Dean had with his repulsion toward pursuing an incestuous relationship; not my exact headcanon, but it's developed well and I enjoy the strange, needy ambiguity and dubcon of it all. The author has a tendency to skip over words, but while it's confusing enough to make note of, it's not so confusing that it hinders the reading.
watch you weigh your powers by according2thelore
âIs thisâŠYou couldnât speak because I told you not to?â Sam asks. âLike Ansem?â
Deanâs face twists, and he looks at Sam guiltily. âNo, câmon.â He scoffs, shifting so his legs slide away from Samâs into the passenger footwell. Sam blinks at him. Sam then looks straight ahead, at the steering wheel, uncomprehendingly.
Samâs mind spins, unhinged from its moorings. He tries to think of every order heâs given Dean in the past six months. Hand me that. Scoot over. Shut up. Pass the remote. Go talk to the coroner. Turn it down. Kiss me.
SamDean // Explicit // No Warnings Apply // 8,266
Tags: Codependent Winchesters, Blow Jobs, Religious Imagery & Symbolism, Season/Series 02, Sam Winchester Has Powers, Mildly Dubious Consent, Established Relationship, Dom/sub Undertones, Mild Breathplay
My Notes: Incredible fic that has made a home in my brain forever. The focus on Sam's emotions, the fear and guilt and horror of what he's been doing to Dean, really makes me feel insane.
if you donât mind me asking, could you share some of your favorite fanfics or authors? thanks â€ïž
oh hi hello!! yes of course!! i actually haven't read any spn fic in a while but i have spent a lot of time organizing my bookmarks. i'm going to assume that you meant samdean fic but i'll add a few non-samdean ones at the end.
authors!
@zmediaoutlet (deadlybride on ao3)
candle_beck (ao3)
@goshen-applecrumbledore (ao3)
whereupon (livejournal)
Linden (ao3)
sevenfists (ao3)
there are so many more great authors but these came to mind :)
fics!
i am going to list my forever-favorites first - the ones i would recommend to anyone and everyone, screaming-from-the-rooftops kind of love - and then many many more under the cut.
beloved by urchinesque (2016, 1.9k, NR, warning: death)
It might be the gentlest thing that's ever happened to them.
in my opinion everyone should read this once. it's quick. they die. it's-- happy, somehow. beautiful. i think about it all the time.
Last Day on Earth by candle_beck (2009, 10.8k, E)
A list of things to do if you only have one day to live, presented in inconvenient non-list form.
last year my best friend and i were pondering which fic felt quintessential to samdean for us and somehow settled on this one. i still agree with the choice.
Odysseus, American by coyotesuspect (2010, 10k, M)
Dean finds Peter O'Toole's recording of the Odyssey in a bin marked âAudio" in Casa Grande's only used bookstore. The place smells like cigarette smoke and old books, and it reminds him of Sam. Stanford era.
my favorite stanford era fic. i think it captures dean's loneliness and desperation beautifully.
A man with his insides out and his outsides off by britomart_is (2016, 5.3k, E, time travel, underage)
They say there are only two stories in the world: man goes on a journey, and stranger comes to town.
another fic i want everyone to read. it's so short and feels like a novel. sam is messed up and dean is in love and everything is miserable.
Breathing Hard by whereupon (2009, 9k, E)
The day Dean figures it out.
this is so simple and yet-- everything to me. i can't think about dinosaurs without thinking about this fic, which doesn't tell you much, but you'll see. sometimes this is really all you need.
The Last Outpost of All That Is by gekizetsu (2008, 59k, E)
The world ends while theyâre asleep.
this fic has stayed with me my whole life. i thought about it even during my years away from spn and fandom entirely. they're alone and you don't know why and they build their life together and you end up wondering, is this hell or heaven? whenever i come across a screenshot of the last couple of paragraphs i want to cry.
see things so much clearer by deadlybride (2020, 11.7k, E)
Sam's been acting oddly. Dean learns how to use the history on an internet browser and finds out why.
this is a fic that hits the spot for me personally so well. another favorite preseries fic. i love the idea of sam using livejournal, and of dean finding out this way.
Stay The Distance by lazy_daze (2011, 24k, E)
Sam is dependent on Dean's touch and closeness after the wall falls - Dean's presence reminds him of why he chose to wake up, and keeps the memories at bay, allowing Sam to function.
i love enmeshment, and i love that here it's literal. i love that they're just sort of fine with it.
more fics below!
in absolutely no particular order whatsover. please check the warnings and tags on these before reading!
Recall by De_Nugis (2012, 6.3k, E)
Sam's having a hard time telling what's real and what isn't, especially when it comes to some voicemails from Dean.
Living in god's blind spot by applecrumbledore (2022, 25k, E)
Of all the situations Dean didnât need his dad to see him in, âgetting off to being pushed around by a guyâ was in the top three. And âa guyâ was a massive glossing-over of reality. Any guyâany other guyâwould be bad enough, but Sam was fucking cataclysmic.
Almost At Home by balefully (2008, 24.3k, E)
Sam graduates from high school in early June in rural Tennessee. He and Dean start the summer with an all-nighter of celebration; the day after, while both fight hangovers, John calls to assign them their first hunt by themselves.
they said it was the fall of man by jukeboxhound (2016, 7.4k, M)
Sam gets his soul back on a Monday.
When I Fall Asleep It Is Your Eyes That Close by britomart_is (2009, 1.9k, E)
Post-Season Two. Sam is alive. Dean is happy.
Life As We Know It by sevenfists (2007, 13.7k, M, curtain fic)
On the morning that Sam woke up, Dean ran five red lights on the way to the hospital, his half-empty coffee cup sloshing in the holder.
tied up like two ships by orphan_account (2014, 3.1k, E)
Dean liked to hold hands.
Gospel Truth by Cerberuss (2020, 15.2k, E, case fic)
âDOES YOUR BROTHER KNOW THAT YOU WANT HIM?â Individually placed letters, bold and tinged brown with the weather. Sam canât look away and he prays, dream dream dream.
Buy You A Mockingbird by candle_beck (2011, 10.3k, M, underage, outsider pov)
A genuine horror story.
because you want to die for love by hathfrozen (2021, 27.3k, E)
Sam and Dean settle into their Heavenâand into each other, too.
the constant vow by deadlybride (2022, 119k, E, fem dean-ish)
They've just finished up a pretty standard job and are killing time in snowy Wisconsin when Dean wakes up no longer looking like Dean. That's just the start of their problems.
This Fortress Made of Us by mickeym (2009, 10.8k, E)
Sam really didn't do very well without his brother. Coda for Mystery Spot.
State of Love and Trust/As I Busted Down the Pretext by cormallen (2010, 2.9k, M)
When you know exactly what your brother's thinking, there are some chances you just don't take.
Quiet with the Rain by Linden (2014, 5.3k, T)
Dean can spot an undercover cop at thirty paces, a hooker at twenty, and rims that will match his baby's at ten. But the fact that his little brother is in love with himâthat, he can't see worth a damn.
have a cigar by deadlybride (2020, 5.6k, E)
What happened with Andy and Ansem unsettles Sam. Dean doesn't seem worried.
Heart Shaped Balloon by winsive (2022, 18.5k, E, underage)
Sam and Dad are fighting. No surprise, but it's the weekend before Valentine's Day and Dean isn't missing out on the chance to bang a cheerleader just to console his bratty little brother. He does bring back a heart shaped balloon for him, though. It's not supposed to be cursed.
Bare by gracerene (2022, 2.2k, T)
Of all the things Dean hasn't done before, Sam never expected something as innocuous as skinny dipping to be on the list.
Speechless by candle_beck (2008, 11.2k, T, case fic)
Dean loses his voice and their rapport is only moderately impaired.
Like It Was Yesterday by nomelon (2014, 4.9k, T, fem dean, amnesia)
Sam can't remember a time when Dean wasn't there. Dean is always with him. Sam's whole life, there's never been anyone else.
Like a Ghost with Two Voices by Dyed_Red (2022, 46k, E)
To cure Dean from the Mark of Cain, Sam has to let Dean, in all his demonic glory, possess him for 28 days. It goes about as well as expected.
Breathe You In (Choke You Down) by orphan_account (2021, 5.9k, E, pwp)
Dean really likes the way Sam smells.
lost in yesterday by margaryes (2023, 1k, NR, john pov)
John hasnât seen his youngest son in 18 months.
Unraveling by Linden (2017, 855 words, E)
No, heâd said, the first time Sammy had tried to kiss him, sixteen and half-drunk and stupidly beautiful, even though heâd wanted so badly to say yes.
pack up the moon by deathdreamt (2021, 5.9k, T, pre-slash)
Sam storms back out from their room, his backpack on and his duffel hanging off his shoulder and isnât it kind of tragic that his whole life fits in two bags. He looks suddenly much younger than he is, eyes shining. John is back at his guns, whiskey at his elbow, and Dean can hardly believe how rapidly his life is cracking down the centre.
Yesterday, minnesota by applecrumbledore (2022, 30k, E, case fic)
Any initial awkwardness filtered away over a hundred miles of highway as Sam thumbed through the missing witchâs diary again. Some people had secret coke habits or secret second wives, and some people had passionate, pitch black, no-kissing sex with a family member every four to six months and never talked about it. You had to find ways to cope.
All Heartless Spectres, Happiness by orphan_account (2021, 5.6k, E)
Lisa Braeden receives an email with the subject line, "You Deserve to Know." It contains a single video file and nothing else. (soulless sam)
The Palm Oasis by fictionallemons (2022, 12.3k, E, underage)
John strands Dean and Sam at a middle-of-nowhere motel while he investigates possible demon omens in Arizona. The place is nothing to write home about, but at least it has a pool. Dean resolves to think of this as a vacation for him and his studious little brother, but when their money runs out sooner than expected, he considers turning tricks at a nearby truck stop so he can feed Sam.
Other Brothers by homo_pink (2020, 7k, M, underage, outsider pov)
A callow boy can go from infancy to someoneâs lover in the space of two wildflower summers.
Leader of the Pack by astolat (2007, 14.9k, E)
Teaching old dogs new tricks.
Underground Wires by eggnogged (2012, 15.8k, E, fem sam, underage)
Itâs hard enough being a teenage girl even without all the extra crap: they move around all the time, her family is as far removed from normal as itâs possible to get, and sheâs in love with her older brother. Sam has no control on any of it, sheâs just trying to stay afloat.
Multitude of Sins by Linden (2015, 4.4k, T, outsider pov)
Every now and again, Jim Murphy would look up from his altar and find the Winchester boys at the back of his church.
Like Arrows in the Hands of a Warrior by ADeedWithoutaName (2018, 10.3k, E, underage, dub con-ish, john pov)
John Winchester loves his boys, and would take a bullet for either of them. He knows that he's doing it right, the way he's raising them, the things he's teaching them. Not every problem, however, has an easy answer. Like what to do after an incubus case in which their target got his pollen all over both of John's sons.
You Can't Lose What You Never Had by nigeltde (2016, 5.6k, E)
You can't spend what you ain't got, and you can't lose what you ain't never had.
Flagstaff by Linden (2014, 7.3k, T, pre-slash, john pov)
John tracked Sam down in Flagstaff, four days after he got home to find him gone.
I'll take my chance on a beautiful stranger by fleshflutter (2007, 3.8k, M, outsider pov)
If Chase were a better friend, he might try to end the game now, before Brendan loses even more money. But if Brendan is a dick at Stanford, itâs nothing compared to how he is on break.
Cupid's Got A Gun by geckoholic (2012, 13.5k, E, non-con)
Fuck-or-die, set in early S4. But they've been fucking for years, so that shouldn't be a problem, right? Wrong. Ever since hell, Dean's in no hurry to get that show on the road again.
Someone Else's Blood by sevenfists (2006, 6.7k, E)
The first time, of course, was an accident. (pretend dating)
How Many Floors to Realize by lazy_daze (2009, 26k, E, swesson)
AU from the end of It's A Terrible Life, in which Zachariah decides to keep stringing them along a little while longer, because damn if they aren't somewhat entertaining, right?
Worthless cartography by applecrumbledore (2022, 15.6k, E)
Dean didnât know what finally made him go for it. The djinnâs dream was a catalyst, but the call was coming from inside the house, and heâd been letting it ring for a very, very long time. (They get one night together right before Sam is taken to Cold Oak. Dean has to deal with that.)
The Space Between Sense and Memory by orphan_account (2021, 4.8k, T)
There are a hundred unwritten rules on all the acceptable ways brothers should touch each other. There are hardly any ways at all to break them. Or; five times they follow the rules and one time they donât.
Ions in the Ether by nigeltde (2019, 10.9k, E, case fic)
When was the last time you trusted happy.
Crossed Wires by rivkat (2015, 10.9k, E)
Dean thinks Sam is dead.
Crown and Anchor Me (or let me sail away) by Sena (2010, 23.7k, E, underage)
Sam Winchester is fifteen years old, at yet another new high school in yet another state, he doesn't get along with his distant, distracted father, he's figuring out that he likes guys just as much as he likes girls, his clothes never fit and his limbs ache at the joint ever since his growth spurt started, he has to study for the PSAT and, oh yeah, he's a little bit in love with his brother, Dean, who's taken a break from hunting monsters to work at a local garage for minimum wage.
Wear Him Lika a Habit by sevenfists (2008, 2.2k, M)
Their first kiss isn't an accident. It's anticipated well in advance, discussed for weeks, argued over, second-guessed.
Amor Prohibido by phoenixflight (2020, 3k, M, underage)
They spent the spring of Sam's sophomore year living in a shitty apartment south of San Antonio. Every Friday night the clearest channel played three hour marathons of a Spanish soap called La Casa del CorazĂłn. There was a mutually understood truce about watching it, because the alternatives were infomercials or creepy kidsâ cartoons that futzed into static every fifteen seconds.
Open Road by Mollyamory (2010, 2k, T)
Sam's old enough to know what's good for him.
It's the Blueprint of Your Life by queenklu (2011, 38.4k, time travel)
Sam jerks awake in the middle of the night and everything goes to hell. Well, not literally, though Dean is staring down the barrel of less than a year before his deal comes due. In the midst of dealing (or not dealing) with his impending death, a killer ghost ship, and Bela showing up out of the blue, Dean also has to figure out whatâs going on in Samâs head to make him so twitchy, why heâs suddenly breezing through this case while writing endless notes in a notebook he wonât let Dean see.
North of Wednesday by Mollyamory (2008, 3.5k, G)
Sam's behind the wheel before he realizes he doesn't have the keys. Coda to Mystery Spot.
non-wincest fic.
dean/omc. We Drank a Thousand Times by glorious_spoon (2010, 43k, M, warning: death)
They meet in a bar fight in North Carolina when Dean is nineteen, broke, and desperate, then again when a hunt brings the Winchesters into town a few years later. Neither one of them ever puts a name to it but every once in a while, through the years, Dean finds his way back.
dean/cas: terror & desire intertwined by rupertgayes (2022, 39k, M)
Faced with Castiel suffering a fate worse than death, Dean makes the decision to let Cas use his body as a temporary vessel. All things considered, Dean thinks, it could have gone worse.
gen, sam&dean: what lasts by deadlybride (2021, 17.2k, M)
Not long after they move into the bunker, Dean loses a leg. Most of a leg. After the hospital, Sam brings him home, and they figure out how to live with what remains.
gen, dean-centric: To Repair Broken Men by procrastin8or951 (2015, 3.1k, T)
Dad and Sam keep fighting. Dean can't fix his family, so he fixes things around the crappy apartment they are staying in.
dean/michael: our hour came round at last by orphan_account (2015, 1.8k, NR, pwp)
"I want to be inside you," says Michael, low and velvet and hungry and that really shouldn't turn Dean on but it does.
dean/lucifer, dean/cas: exploratory by sp8ce (2022, 4.9k, E, non-con)
One night, Castiel proposes he and Dean have sex. Except it's a little more complicated than that.
dean/cas: for a healthy heart by Askance (2013, 2.4k, T)
A strange black box appears in Castiel's bedroom one afternoon.
gen, sam&dean: charmer & gentle by Askance (2015, 3.7k, G, outsider pov)
The afternoon girl calls them Big and Tall, the strangers who come in late every now and then, buying this or that. The night girl doesn't think those names fit quite right.
dean/cas, past sam/dean: whose wings, though tattered, shall carry me home by fleshflutter (2009, 2.2k, T)
There is a breeze moving across the field. It stirs the long grass in lapping waves like the sea. Castiel runs his fingertips through it and remembers flying.
I have decided to interpret this as "fics that strongly influenced how I think about the canon or how I want to write fic"
a trick of the light on the face of your daughter (and/or your son) - Destiel, Dean/OFC, Dean/OMC
The transfem Dean fic that blasted my mind open about the possibilities of writing trans people. Without wanting to disparage anyone (I struggle with the same issue) a lot of trans fic tends to fall into a very didactic tone, overstating everything to the point of boredom. I get where this comes from (the reflexive need to explain many trans people feel in the face of hostile scrutiny) but it does make the works worse. So reading something that was an unappologetic examination of Dean's strange and indirect thoughts about gender felt like a revelation.
The Dean Winchester Beat Sheet - Destiel, background ships
The one and only Beat Sheet. Hilarious fic, I remain obsessed with it. What makes this one so memorable to me specifically is that Dean as the narrator does not have a single true thought in this entire work and yet you always know what his stupid ass is thinking. Also the definitive thesis of gay Dean. Especially powerful for opening with one of the most deliberately miserable sex scenes I've read in my life.
i fold in half so easily - Destiel, Dean/Anna and Dean/Lisa mentioned
Author often works in a register I privately think of as "very uncharitable reading" which is to say picking what canon is very much saying/presenting as a possibility and taking it to it's conclusion. As such it has the fun quality of making you aware of issues you were perhaps deliberately overlooking before, but now cannot unsee.
Also this is tagged fluff and angst which is very funny. Could have gone with fluff and horror, in all honesty.
Waveform Frequency - Destiel
The misunderstanding trope taken to it's logical extreme. An exploration of how Cas won't say shit about shit if he can just be around Dean a little longer. The discrepancy between Dean (living his personal romance movie climax) and Cas (living in a horror movie) is very interesting and merits so much more exploration - I have taken a half hearted stab at in Lucid Waking myself, but I want to do more with it still. It's so good.
Tidewaters - Rape, Underage, Graphic depiction of violence - Dean/John (well no but also yes but also no), Dean/Deacon, Dean/others
God truly the one and only. A look at what if Dean was even more traumatized, what if Dean knew he was gay and it didn't fix him even a little bit. Influential in the sense that the fact that Dean is closeted is not even in top ten of his issues and this fic is kind of a thesis about that. In many ways I DO read this as a fic that is in conversation with fandom and with popular tropes, even though that is perhaps not obvious from the description.
as before, i've tagged authors that have their tumblr public on their ao3. if you'd like me to remove the @, just lmk.
@spnficrecfest for more info on the event.
034 - adrenaline by ani_coolgirl (@ani-coolgirl)
2x12 Nightshifter, Sam/Dean, 2k, E
Sam & Dean crash at a motel after the bank heist in Milwaukee, but theyâre way too wired to sleep.
i really had to restrain myself from putting every coda in the Every First Time series into this list :') the way ani writes the boys is perfect for episode codas/missing scenes because she just absolutely NAILS their characterization and tone of voice. i love how chaotic and desperate this fic is, itâs really like sam and dean are like two black holes collapsing into each other. very electric & sublime.
Hail, The Son by HandsAcrossTheSea
4x1 Lazarus Rising, Sam/Dean, 2k, E
When Dean comes back from hell, Samâs buff & broody. With a little push from Dean, they rediscover the sexual relationship they had before.
ok so this ones mostly on the list for being scorchingly hot and having one of my fav hell!headcanons, that sam&dean came back from hell with foreskin. dunno why but it has cemented in my brain and refuses to leave. its also so cozy seeing them find comfort in each other during really tough arcs like post-hell seasons, and this fic really exemplifies that <3
True Face by WetSammyWinchester (@wetsammywinchester)
12x11 Regarding Dean, Sam/Dean, 5k, E
Rowena can't undo Dean's amnesia curse. Sam deals with the aftermath.
this fic is the perfect mix of angst with absolutely adorable wincest. its basically 5k of dean crushing hard on sam & being able to show it without inhibitions while sam has a mini freakout every time dean forgets who he is and finds their terrifying hunting gear lol <3 great fic
acid by goshen/applecrumbledore (@goshen-applecrumbledore)
11x17 Red Meat, Sam/Dean, 15k, E
Dean's romeo-juliet suicide attempt in red meat spurs Sam into starting a conversation about their codependency that Dean really does not want to have.
ok so-- not TECHNICALLY a coda, because it veers away from red meat pretty quick, but i haven't recced one of goshen's fics in this fest yet and that's just plain wrong. the dahmer conversation in this is crazy and totally something sam serial-killer-junkie winchester would ramble about. i also loved the scene later on about sam pointing out how much they know about each other and how theyâre basically synced up 24/7. i luv my codependent boys :3
Sometimes I Think It's A Sin by TatteredBurningWings/angelshotgun
4x22 Lucifer Rising, Sam/Dean, 3k, E
After accidentally freeing Lucifer, Sam is certain that Dean will want to kill him. He hopes that sex will put Dean in a better mood, at least.
a voicemail fix it!!! this is my brand of angst, i cant explain it but i loveeeeee when characters feel that overwhelming sense of guilt & humiliation and push themself into doing whatever they can to appease the other person. this fic hits that little guilty-pleasure spot in my brain. plus its hurt with comfort and the ending is soft and a great ending to the scene â€ïž
Coda to 4x01. Between the hyper awareness he's still feeling in his newly repaired skin, and the discovery of the meaningful, new tattoo on his precious brother's body, Dean is getting a whole new perspective on being back from the dead
LUST SICK by wren
Episode coda for 3x01
Turns out killing the seven deadly sins creates a new problem for Sam and Dean
STAY THE DISTANCE by lazy_daze
Episode coda for 6x22. I wish season 6 had ended like this. First time, H/C 24K words sorry not sorry. Samâs wall has fallen, and heâs afflicted with the necessity of remaining physically close to Dean or risking death. The boys have to confront the not just their physical boundaries, but their emotional, spatial, temporal , and spiritual codependency. Lots of h/c, which is not my thing, but it worked for me. Also this author has an amazing catalog
Hi! Im Sorry, but does anyone know of a fic where Dean discovers wincest fanfic and becomes obsessed? I was reading it and accidentally clicked out before I could save it!! Thx đđŒ