We are incredibly lucky to belong to a fandom that is constantly producing a high volume of fanworks– but sometimes, it can be a bit overwhelming. To that end, DeanCasFix proudly presents Challenge Highlights, a selection of our favourite stories and artwork from recent Dean/Cas fests and challenges.
Here are some of our top picks from the 2018 round of the Dean/Cas Big Bang.
Autonomy by A_Diamond, art by telltaleofthestars
Summary: Dean had his share of difficult sentinel partners at his underfunded, overworked police department in Kansas. When he gets a position on a national investigation team in D.C., he’s not expecting the biggest challenge of his career to be his new partner. A sentinel who thinks his cybernetic augmentations render guides like Dean unnecessary, Cas proves every bit as difficult to pin down as their first case together: a hunt through suburbs, slums, and the vast virtual landscape in search of a missing prodigy whose technology could bring down governments—or make them invincible.
(don’t) fear the reaper by justkeeponwriting, art by starmouse123
Summary: Castiel is a grim reaper – and a very experienced one at that. He has negotiated thousands of deals to keep the balance of souls, acquiring years of life energy from mortals who have too many years in their life span, and has passed it onto those who have less. But even Castiel isn’t prepared when he accidentally convinces a mortal called Dean Winchester to give him his soul, and with it, a complete control of his life.
The Firmament Field by whichstiel, art by subtextiel
Summary: Heaven is falling, the power grid failing. Dean and Castiel set off on a daring mission to stabilize Heaven, but the operation goes south. Captured by angels, their memories are wiped and they’re sent back to Earth.
Although their allies include denizens of Heaven, mortals on Earth, and even dragons, Dean and Castiel are presumed lost. Before Heaven can be saved, they must find their way back to each other.
Green Corners by rustling_pages, art by harplesscastiel
Summary: After the death of his son, there is nothing left for Dean other than his garden market. His days are tough, the nights are tougher, but at least there's a reason to get up in the morning. And with the new boom on do-it-yourself garden magic, his business is going okay.
Amidst the passing of time, there is only one thing that distracts him from functioning like a normal human being: Diagonally across the street, in the display window of that traditional Herb and Potion shop, plants are dying in masses.
Storming in to confront the owner goes differently than he imagined, though. Castiel Novak may be the kind of guy who wears old-fashioned mage robes and keeps his shop in sweltering heat, but he's also a talented herbalist, the kindest soul Dean has ever met, and utterly beautiful.
Not that Dean is ready for anything other than friendship.(Not that Cas doesn’t get sick a bit too often.)
Half City Lights by starespressos, art by possiblyeggs
Summary: Ever since Dean’s near-death experience as a child, he’s been interested in finding gods, and his research has narrowed down to Greek mythology. Sam knows well enough that taking advantage of this is the only way to ever get Dean into an airplane, and decides to throw his destination wedding in Mykonos. In addition to finally getting to explore the locations he has only read about so far, Dean makes a bunch of new friends, one of which is Castiel, a local business owner. Together, they embark on a sea voyage around the Greek islands. There’s surprises on the horizon, though…
If I Loved You Less by surlybobbies, art by Busy Squirrel
Summary: (Inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma)
Dean Winchester has everything. He’s got a great house, a steady job, a beautiful car, a loyal best friend, and (most importantly) an abundance of great advice. He wants nothing more than for everybody else in his life to know what it feels like to be as happy as he is. After successfully seeing his brother Sam married off to Eileen Leahy, Dean turns his attention to his newest friend: Charlie Bradbury. Despite his best friend Cas’s apprehensions, Dean does his best to improve her life. Thing is, none of his attempts at matchmaking seem to work. In fact, Dean’s carefully laid plans for Charlie (and for himself) quickly start to fall apart. Why is Charlie so oblivious? And why is Dean so upset when Cas’s ex returns to town?
Dean’s got a lot to learn about his family and friends, but mostly, he’s got a lot to learn about himself.
Love’s Labour’s Won by andimeantittosting, art by GoodQuestionHarlie
Summary: It’s been five years since the workplace accident that killed Dean Winchester’s father, and conditions at Roman Mills have not gotten any safer. When Dean confides in his friend Charlie, she introduces him to Cas Novak, a union organizer passionate about workers’ rights.
As they work together on the union drive, Dean and Cas bond over good food, trashy TV, Castiel’s introduction to LARPing, and their shared commitment to improving the lives of the workers at the sawmill. Cas, however, is all too conscious of the power imbalance between them.
And then there's Roman Enterprises, determined to stop them from forming a union, even if it means breaking the law, with devastating consequences for Dean and Cas’s nascent romance.
The Magic of Things Big and Small by deliciousirony, art by almaasi
Summary: According to the tourist guide for St. Mary’s Harbour, the quaint little town nestled between the mountains boasts a magical lake with an island where the local goddess resides. Dean is the High Priest of the island's temple (or priest, as Dean likes to point out, since you can't really be a High Priest if you're the only priest) and is rather unhappy with the recent influx of tourists.
When Sam introduces Dean to Castiel Novak, the town’s new director of the tourist board, Dean is immediately smitten, despite his initial reservations. But when Castiel congratulates Dean on the fantastic CGI effects in the town’s infomercial and highlights reel, Dean doesn’t quite know what to tell him.
Night at the Impala Theater by Speary, art by almaasi
Summary: Dean lovingly cares for the old theater that his father left him. The Impala Theater is a haven for movie lovers from everywhere. Dean shows the classics and the new films, and occasionally some obscure stories find their way onto his screens. When a crate is delivered containing seven films that seem to have no history. Dean watches them and is immediately sucked in. The story of the PI Castiel and the crime-filled city that never sleeps, is right up his film-noir-loving alley. There’s something about the film though, something mysterious, that makes him want to learn more about the characters, the actors, and even the production company. The more he searches, the less he seems to know.
Observe and Report by VioletHaze, art by ricketyjukeboxer
Summary: Recently demoted from his job as a field agent, Castiel is back behind a desk. It’s humiliating to be here with the same coworkers he left behind only a few months ago, but he’s bound and determined to keep his head down, do his job, and prove to his boss that he won’t make the same mistakes twice. Everything is going as planned until he finds himself distracted by one of the people he’s charged with monitoring: Dean Winchester.
The Same Mistake, Again by zaphodsgirl, art by subtextiel
Summary: One night, after watching Dean pick up yet another girl while they're out at a bar, Cas heads to the local diner. Over the years his feelings of attraction have only deepened into something more, and he wishes desperately to go back to the time before he was in love with his best friend. His wish is granted in an unexpected way: he wakes up in the hospital the next morning with broken limbs - an arm and a leg- and a fractured memory with the last four years missing.
Sweet Caroline by BlueMasquerade, art by koisocks
Summary: When Castiel Novak discovers he’s unexpectedly inherited a farmhouse outside small town Caroline, Kansas, he decides it’s an opportunity to make some major changes in his life. As the youngest son in the powerful Novak family, he’s always been sheltered and expected to do as he was told. His one prior attempt at independence ended disastrously, destroying his innocence and trust. If he had his way, he’d be the old recluse in the spooky old house. Unfortunately, the house needs some major repairs to be livable.
Fortunately Caroline has a jack of all trades who’s available to help with all of the things Cas doesn’t know how to do – for a price. Dean Winchester apparently either knows how to do everything himself, or knows someone. Everything would be wonderful, if only Dean would stop chipping away at the walls Cas so carefully built.
