Hi! I've never actually seen TW, but I've found myself stumbling into the world of Sterek fanfiction recently, and yours are my absolute favourites. I'm an awkward commenter so I've mostly been leaving kudos and bookmarks, but I just wanted you to know how much I love your writing.
;~; You are so incredibly sweet, omg thank you!!! ❤❤ I am seriously super happy to hear you've been enjoying my stuff, that means a lot to me and I really appreciate it ;~;
I love when people stumble into the fandom without knowing anything about the show XD Honestly, that's the best way to drop in haha. Sometimes it's better not knowing the source material >.>;;
But seriously, you are super sweet and this is such a kind ask, I really appreciate you taking the time to come and let me know, your words mean so much <3<3<3<3
happy holidays @galaxystiel from your @destielsecretsanta2020 secret santa! sorry this is late but since i didn’t know i would have to pinch hit until a couple of days after posting date, this was the quickest turn-around i could manage. i hope you like it!
Dean loved the holiday season. Of course he did, he made about a quarter of his annual income in December. People liked to eat baked goods on Christmas, go figure.
But he hated the holiday season, too. Every single day was busy, every hour was rush hour. Sometimes he didn’t get the last orders done until an hour after closing. He had seasonal hires, of course, but in the three years since he opened Rolling Scones, he’d always ended up underestimated how much extra help he needed.
Thankfully, things quieted as soon as Christmas was over. The last week of the year, while still busy, was a calm oasis compared to what came before. This meant that for the first time all month, Dean wasn’t busy with twelve other customers when Cas dropped by.
Cas had been coming to Rolling Scones twice a week, like clockwork, ever since he took over the flower shop next door a few months ago. Dean had been sad to see Mildred, the previous owner, go but he’d been prepared to welcome his new neighbor. He’d even set aside a complimentary piece of pie for him, because who didn’t like pie?
The first time Cas had come by, Dean had been so dazed that he almost forgot not to charge him for the pie. Dean hadn’t even thought he had a type when it came to men but here Cas had been to prove him wrong, handsome and charming and weird in the exact right way to come across as endearing rather than awkward.
He always came about half an hour before the lunch rush, ordering a cup of coffee and a new type of pastry every time. Then he hung around while he ate, talking with Dean if he wasn’t with another customer.
And yeah, maybe Dean treasured those quiet moments with Cas, learning about flowers and their symbolic meaning and explaining to him how to make the perfectly flaky pie crust. Maybe he looked forward to the days Cas would come by the rest of the week. Maybe he’d added a few items to his menu since Cas started frequenting, just to give him the incentive to keep coming.
It was called being a good business owner.
This past month, Cas had come by for his coffee and pastry and taken them to go. He’d been busy, too, so stopping wouldn’t have been an option even if the bakery hadn’t been crowded and Dean hadn’t been on the phone with some asshole who absolutely needed sixty-four macarons in eight different flavors for a holiday party that same evening.
Today, though, was just a slightly-busier-than-average Monday. For both of them, judging by the foot traffic outside that Dean could see from his spot behind the counter.
Cas even arrived a little bit earlier than usual, carrying a huge bouquet of red roses.
Dean watched him, amused as Cas navigated his way past the chairs and tables, head just barely poking up past the flowers in his arms.
“What’s this?” he asked as Cas finally arrived at the counter.
Cas placed the flowers down, giving Dean an abashed smile. “Cancelled order. A young man was intending to propose on Christmas Day but apparently, his girlfriend had different plans.”
“Yikes, poor guy.”
“Yes,” Cas said. “But I felt the bouquet should be enjoyed by someone, so I thought of you.”
Dean grinned. “You’re not planning on proposing, are you? ‘Cause I like you but I don’t think we’re there just yet.”
“For the bakery,” Cas clarified, cheeks growing pink. “I - uh, I thought they might look nice in your window.”
“Relax, I’m kidding.” Dean picked up the bouquet. It was heavier than it looked and up close, the smell of them was almost overwhelming in its sweetness. “Thanks, Cas. I don’t gotta feed them, right?”
“Only water.”
Dean looked around for some free space for the flowers then, failing to find one, put them back down on the counter. “So, what’ll it be today?”
Cas placed his order - a cup of coffee and a festive peppermint eclair Dean only offered around the holidays - and stood at the counter as he ate, talking with Dean in between customers. As soon as he left, Krissy walked up to Dean and smacked his shoulder.
"He gave you flowers?”
Dean rubbed the spot she hit - kid was getting stronger by the day. Maybe he should stop making her knead the bread. “Yeah?”
“And you didn’t take the hint and ask him out?” she asked.
“They weren’t for me, they were for the shop. It wasn’t a hint.”
Krissy crossed her arms, raising her eyebrows in disbelief.
“Was it?” Dean asked faintly.
“I know they say your mind starts to go as you grow older but, wow.”
“I’m not that old,” Dean protested. “You’re… young.”
“Nice one, boss.”
“Shut up.” Dean scratched the back of his neck, observing the roses still sitting on the counter. “You’re not messing with me? You really think that was a hint?”
“He gave you red roses. Dude couldn’t have been more obvious if he walked up to you and shoved his tongue down your throat.”
Dean shoved at her. Krissy danced out of reach, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Go man the register," he told her. "You've got customers waiting."
She rolled her eyes but did as told. Dean picked up the bouquet, getting it out of her way, and went to the back to find something to use as a vase. As he looked, he thought about what Krissy had said.
Had Cas meant that gift to be romantic? There were times when they talked that Dean thought his feelings might not be unrequited but then, he usually dismissed it as wishful thinking. Cas had never asked him out. He usually responded to Dean's more overt flirting with a confused but polite smile. That had to mean he wasn't interested and was just too nice to say so, right?
But then again, red roses. Those were objectively the most romantic flower, even Dean knew that. Sure, Cas had said they were for the bakery, but he'd also said I thought of you. He could've thrown them out or donated them or done whatever he did with flowers he couldn't sell. But no, he'd brought them to Dean, because he'd thought of him.
And Dean had gone and screwed it up by making a bad joke.
He needed to make it up to him. Just asking him out wouldn’t be enough and it wasn’t like he could give Cas flowers back. But, Dean considered, an idea forming in his mind, he could give him something else.
It took a couple of tries. Dean’s first attempt ended with a soggy middle. His second in burnt edges on the carefully crafted apple/rose petals. His third was perfect, the apples sliced not too thick and not too thin, curling up beautifully in the oven as they dried while still retaining their vibrant red color.
He stared down at his creation, cooling on the counter in his bakery’s kitchen. It was an apple pie and a rose bouquet rolled into one, the apple slices serving as petals arranged on top, sweet and tart just the way Cas liked best.
Cas wasn’t due for another visit until tomorrow but Dean was too nervous to wait. Both Krissy and Kevin were working today and the lunch rush wouldn’t start just yet, he had the time to drop by next door and deliver his gift. And possibly ask Cas out, put his heart on the line for what might just be a simple misunderstanding of intentions.
No big. A couple of minutes, in and out.
He put the pie on a plate, covering it with cloth for the short trip over to Cas' shop. Krissy dryly wished him good luck on his way out, to which he responded with a raised middle finger.
("Good luck? He's just delivering pie."
"Oh, Kevin.")
Dean had only been inside the flower shop a couple of times since Cas took over. A lot had changed since Mildred left, most noticeable of all a window in the ceiling that let in the pale morning light, shining directly down on the counter where Cas was working alongside a dark-haired woman. He smiled as he spotted Dean at the door, turning to the woman to say something before leaving her alone with the customers and making his way over.
"Hello, Dean." God, had he always looked this beautiful? "What brings you here?"
Dean opened his mouth, then realized that he had no idea what he was going to say. Wordlessly, he shoved the pie at Cas' chest. Cas looked confused but accepted, pulling the cloth away.
"Oh, this is lovely!" Cas looked back up at Dean. "You made this for me?"
Dean shrugged, his ears growing warm. "Just- since you brought me those roses yesterday. Thought I'd bring you something nice in return."
"Thank you, Dean, but there was no need. It wasn't any trouble for me, I had the roses by chance and no one else to give them to."
Dean's stomach sank. So it hadn't been romantic after all. Krissy had been way off and Dean had been desperate enough to believe her.
“It’s, uh, no big.” Dean cleared his throat. He needed to get out of here, quick. “I was gonna test out this technique anyway, so I figured I might as well try it on someone. Anyway, I gotta go back. Busy time, you know how it is.”
Cas nodded. “Thank you again for the pie.”
“No problem.”
Krissy had the good sense not to say anything when Dean returned less than two minutes after he left. She must have explained to Kevin what was going on because for the rest of the day, the two of them were model employees, quiet and helpful - in other words, nothing like their usual selves.
Dean sent them home early, figuring he’d use the time it would take him to close up by himself to stew in his disappointment and get it out of his system before he got home. He hadn’t lost anything, after all. He and Cas hadn’t broken up. It was just a stupid crush, a passing infatuation, and Cas would still be his friend once he got over it.
He’d be fine.
He’d almost managed to convince himself he believed that whole crock of shit when someone knocked on the door. Dean looked up, ready to tell them off when the bakery was so clearly closed, but stopped short when he saw Cas standing outside, giving him a small wave.
Dean was tempted to pretend he hadn't seen him, or to wave him off under the pretense of needing to close up quickly.
He'd need to talk to Cas again sooner or later, though. He closed the register, walking up to the door and swinging it open. A cool breeze greeted him. Dean now noticed snowflakes lazily drifting from the sky, covering the ground in soft, powdery snow.
Dean stood aside but Cas remained in the doorway, looking nervous.
"I think I may have misunderstood you earlier," he said. "After you left, Meg told me that the pie was- that it might be a romantic gesture?"
Dean stared at him, his face on fire. Great, so Cas had been completely clueless and this Meg chick had to go and rat him out? And now he was here to, what, make sure Dean knew nothing was going to happen?
"Was it?" Cas prompted after a long silence.
Dean looked away. "Does it matter? Look, I promise I'm not gonna make things awkward if that's what you're worried about. Nothing has to change, I'll get over-"
"There was no proposal," Cas blurted. "I just wanted to give you flowers."
Dean blinked. "You-?"
"I intended to be honest with you but when the moment came, I lost my nerve." Cas smiled sheepishly. "So I made up a story about a botched proposal. The truth is I like you and I've wanted to ask you out for a while."
Dean laughed. He couldn't help it, this situation was beyond ridiculous.
"I wasn't testing out any new techniques," he admitted. "I just wanted to give you pie."
Cas' smile widened and if he'd been beautiful before it was nothing compared to now, beaming and pink-cheeked, eyes sparkling in the artificial glow of the streetlights. Dean wanted to kiss him so bad and for once, he had no excuse to hold back.
Cas must have been thinking the same thing because they met in the middle, noses bumping in their excitement, before Cas cupped Dean’s cheek and tilted his head, bringing their lips together. It was a sweet kiss and Dean smiled as he could taste the apples and cinnamon on Cas’ lips.
Dean’s heart was pounding as they parted, stomach fluttering with what felt suspiciously like butterflies.
“I know offering pastries to a baker might be as useless as offering flowers to a florist,” Cas said, “but I have some pie left over if you’d-”
Dean cut him off with a quick kiss. “Baker or no, I never turn down pie.”
But even with the promise of pie Dean was in no hurry to move and neither, it seemed, was Cas, because they lingered in the doorway, trading kisses until their noses had gone cold and Cas’ dark hair was dusted with melting snowflakes.
Hi! Regarding information, I have a copy of the script for 15x18 that dates back to at least March (when I got it), and the episode is called Despair then. So that was all prelockdown, if that helps.
Oh thank you! That’s something at least. I’ll add it to the list. Hopefully this information will help us get a little bit closer to the truth ;-)
2. Is there a trope you’ve yet to try your hand at, but really want to?
Oh, that’s a fun question. Murder husbands for sure. It seems I’ve read all the fics I could find, but I haven’t tried writing any myself yet.
28. Share three of your favorite fic writers and why you like them so much.
Only three? It’s so hard to choose, there are so many amazing writers out there. I guess I’ll mention @duckyboos-blog, since I’m following their WIP Number 1 Crush - excellent, highly recommended, especially if you love murder husbands (see above) but also all their fics are hilarious and so tense you won’t be able to put your phone down.
@deansmultitudes - I’m currently reading A Matter of Heart and Mind and it’s amazing! I knew going in that the writing would be excellent of course. Every scene is so carefully and lovingly crafted, and the plot is super interesting, and honestly I wish I had more free time so I could read it in one go. Again, not surprised, all their fics are A+
And last but not least @andimeantittosting and their Two Inches to the Left fic which I read this morning. A beautiful alternate ending for season 15, with just the right amount of saltiness, and we got to see Becky again so yay! Their other fics are super good too, especially if you love regency AUs and/or mutual pining. Go read for all the feels (no, seriously, all the feels!)
37. Talk about your current wips.
Well, three of them are bangs so I’m not sure how much I can share. Let’s just say I’m currently working on a holiday fic, a modern au, and a magic au. Plus, Tag you’re it, my FBI AU. It’s actually a sequel to last year’s Harlequin fic and I love it to death. I might write more after this part is done
I did it... I posted my @destielharlequinchallenge fic!
The Shadow in the Corner is now up on AO3, complete with simply stunning art from @galaxystiel, as you can see!
(Some of the art is NSFW, so please keep that in mind!)
Summary:
As a high-ranking member of the Men of Letters, Lord Dean Winchester is overqualified to be investigating strange phenomena at a seaside photography studio. But since the photographer is related to the organization’s most powerful sorcerer, Dean reluctantly boards a steam dirigible to Brighton.
Castiel Novak is haunted by a shadow that appears in some of his recent portraits. In each case, the subject died within days of the sitting. Does he have his grandfather’s gift of foresight, or has he somehow caused the deaths?
As Dean and Cas search for answers, their investigation draws them together in a most improper way—but it seems the evil presence in the studio may not be their only enemy…
Explicit, 48k, As always - Please check the tags!!
