Supernatural

Destiel

Castiel/Dean Winchester

The angel Castiel and hunter Dean Winchester, whose profound bond became one of the most popular ships in fandom history.

95,000 works

What is Destiel?

Destiel is the longest slow burn in television history — twelve seasons of longing stares that the fandom took as a writing prompt. The ship's AO3 corpus is enormous and stylistically wide: casefic that out-plots the show, human-Cas domesticity, purgatory two-handers, and post-finale fix-its that are their own literary genre born of collective spite. Because Supernatural ran fifteen years, the fandom's veterans write with a craft level that newer fandoms haven't had time to develop. The canon-adjacent casefics are the underrated gems.

Destiel is the fan-given name for the romantic pairing of Castiel and Dean Winchester from Supernatural. With over 95,000 works on Archive of Our Own, it's one of the most popular ships in the fandom.

Why fans love Destiel

The 'angel who fell for humanity' narrative combined with Dean's character growth creates endless storytelling potential.

Most Popular Destiel Fanfics

The highest-rated Destiel stories on AO3, ranked by kudos.

1

Twist and Shout

by gabriel

What begins as a transforming love between Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak in the summer of 1965 quickly derails into something far more tumultuous when Dean is drafted in the Vietnam War. Though the two both voice their relationship is one where saying goodbye is never a real truth, their story b

40,924 kudos 97,556 words ~391 min read Explicit
DeanCas Big Bang Twist and Shout AU
2

a turn of the earth

Complete

by microcomets

Dean’s your typical half-orphaned, monster-killing 22-year-old until a trenchcoated stranger crashes into his back windshield one September night, claiming he’s an angel that knows him from the future and that he’s on the run. Frigging fantastic. (Or, in which Castiel gets stuck in Dean’s timeline p

33,932 kudos 95,274 words ~382 min read Mature
Time Travel DCBB 2015 Dean/Cas Big Bang Challenge 2015
3

Dean Doesn't Listen to Eurythmics

Complete

by Annie D (scaramouche)

Dean and Castiel share a bed. It starts out platonic, and then becomes something else.

33,336 kudos 1,941 words ~8 min read Explicit
First Time Plot What Plot Wet Dream
4

A Room Of One's Own

Complete

by NorthernSparrow

All Dean wants is a little privacy. Cas doesn't understand.

24,258 kudos 94,118 words ~377 min read Explicit
Masturbation Porn Watching Anal Play
5

An Exercise In 'Worthless'

Complete

by glassedplanets

"I mean, you’re–” He gestures at Cas, in his neat oxford shirt and nice pants. “–and I’m a high school dropout who tattoos for a living.”  Wherein Dean makes a hefty living as a tattoo artist who owns the space next to Gabriel's cafe. Sam attends the local university. When Gabe's cousin comes to liv

22,889 kudos 26,547 words ~107 min read Mature
Alternate Universe - College/University Tattoos Coffee Shops
6

Unknown Quantities

Complete

by xylodemon

No one ever tells Dean anything.(or: Dean Winchester and the not-relationship crisis of 2014)

22,808 kudos 8,570 words ~35 min read Explicit
Future Fic Getting Together Didn't Know They Were Dating
7

things happen (they do, they do, and they do)

Complete

by sobsicles

So, the first thing that happens is Castiel comes back. ~~~"Right," Dean says eventually, gruffly. He looks down at his shoes. "I'm not gonna tell you how to live your life, man. It's—you know, yours. Do your thing, love who you love, whatever. I can't really stop you from loving me, if that's what

22,763 kudos 27,918 words ~112 min read Explicit
Once again Cas comes back Repression Dean being ready to throw hands for Not Straight People
8

Four Letter Word For Intercourse

Complete

by bendingsignpost

As a grease monkey turned college freshman, Dean's constantly three seconds away from being stressed out of his mind. It hardly helps that he's finally figuring out his sexuality in his thirties. What might help with that stress is a little phone number (and a big credit card bill). If he can't figu

20,409 kudos 194,739 words ~779 min read Explicit
Alternate Universe - College/University College Student Dean Winchester Professor Castiel
9

Professional Couple Only

Complete

by saltyfeathers

There's a haunted apartment building in Vermont, and the ad says "Professional couple only". Dean and Cas rise to the occasion.

19,750 kudos 37,153 words ~149 min read Mature
Fake/Pretend Relationship Case Fic Post-Series
10

dean's coworkers vs the heteronormative agenda

Complete

by cowboydeanwinchester

Dean started working at a local auto repair shop in Lebanon, Kansas about a year ago. His coworkers don't know much about him. Except that he has a wife. Or maybe he doesn't. But he has a kid. Who is either a toddler or a high schooler. Who is either named Jack or Sammy. He also might have a best fr

19,541 kudos 4,106 words ~17 min read Teen And Up Audiences
POV Outsider Post-Finale Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies
11

Angel-Mine

Complete

by relucant

Cas exhaled. "When an angel's wings are injured," he said to his feet, "the healing process can be augmented by… grooming, I suppose, would be the most accurate word. Removal of the maimed feathers to allow growth of healthy ones. Otherwise, they're left to fall out alone." He tilted his head to

18,751 kudos 4,274 words ~18 min read Explicit
Wing Kink Wingfic Frottage
12

How (thanks to Gabriel) Dean and Castiel (accidentally) raised each other (and Sam).

Complete

by Vee (Vera_DragonMuse)

In which, Gabriel meddles with the time line and Castiel becomes Dean's angel rather sooner than intended.

18,097 kudos 69,693 words ~279 min read Explicit
Weechesters Kid Fic Dreams
13

Forget-Me-Not Blues

Complete

by noangelsinthegarrison

Sam and Jess are getting married and Dean couldn’t be any happier for them. Honestly, they’re kind of disgustingly perfect for each other and Dean’s pretty damn excited about staying with them the week before the wedding. He’s Sam’s best man, of course, and he doesn’t even mind that Jess has her own

17,515 kudos 68,689 words ~275 min read Explicit
Romantic Comedy Firefighter Dean Professor Castiel
14

Crazy Diamonds

Complete

by pantheon_of_discord

A week ago, Dean was pulled out of Hell. Now, he’s apparently woken up in 2018, and the angel that a mere twenty-four hours beforehand had threatened to chuck him back into the pit is sleepily pouring himself coffee and wearing Dean’s second-favourite Zeppelin shirt. It all seems like a perfect happ

16,235 kudos 24,872 words ~100 min read Explicit
Time Travel Episode: s04e02 Are You There God? It's Me Dean Winchester Future Fic
15

Grooming Instincts

Complete

by jemariel

There's something going on with Cas. Dean is determined to help him through it, in whatever way he can. He might end up with more than he bargained for. OR: Dean helps Cas scratch an itch. As it were.

16,068 kudos 26,153 words ~105 min read Explicit
Angel Wings Grace Kink Wing Kink
16

Scent Like Home

Complete

by Destielshipper4Cas

‘Alpha Needed: Looking for an alpha with a calming scent, preferably mated, for scenting purposes. Twice a week, one hour. Pay: $20 per hour plus expenses.’ In order to get his anxiety attacks under control, Cas is supposed to regularly scent an alpha whose scent makes him feel safe.Dean could reall

15,670 kudos 34,634 words ~139 min read Explicit
Omega Castiel Alpha Dean Sharing a Bed
17

Angel's Wild

Complete

by LimonadeGaby (orphan_account)

But that’s the whole reason he’s here, isn’t it? He’s not out here hunting Humans. He’s not even hunting deer, or bears, or anything else that featured in Bambi. He’s out here, freezing his nuts off every night, because he’s hunting Angels.Sometimes Dean wishes that Angels were like how they’re desc

15,512 kudos 389,271 words ~1558 min read Explicit
Alternate Universe Wingfic Hurt/Comfort
18

Put up your Dukes

Complete

by saltyfeathers

Dean can't sleep. Cas offers to tire him out.

14,971 kudos 38,282 words ~154 min read Explicit
UST Sparring Men of Letters Bunker
19

Into Your Hideaway

Complete

by thepinupchemist

Driving down a deserted road in the Rocky Mountains, Castiel finds something unexpected: An omega. Not only an omega, but a naked, injured, pregnant omega.Dean doesn't talk much at first, but that doesn't change the brightness of his soul.It also doesn't stop Castiel from falling in love with him.

14,844 kudos 176,557 words ~707 min read Explicit
Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics Alpha/Omega Alpha Castiel
20

psalm 40:2

Complete

by unicornpoe

“How the fuck do you know my name?” Dean hisses.The man doesn’t look scared. He is watching Dean like there is nothing else worth watching, lips a little parted, eyes a little soft. And blue. Real blue, like the ocean on a postcard.The ice spreading down Dean’s spine makes him shiver.“I suppose you

14,677 kudos 44,872 words ~180 min read Explicit
Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence Time Travel Pre-Series Dean Winchester

Destiel Fanfics by Length

Pick a reading commitment — from one-sitting one-shots to 100k+ epics:

Characters

Castiel
Dean Winchester

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Destiel mean?

Destiel is the ship name (portmanteau or nickname) for the pairing of Castiel and Dean Winchester. It's used by fans to tag and search for fanfiction featuring this relationship.

How many Destiel fics are on AO3?

There are over 95,000 Destiel fanfiction works on Archive of Our Own.

How can I read Destiel fanfiction on my phone?

Download Fanfict Reader for iOS to browse and read Destiel fanfiction with a beautiful mobile interface, offline reading, and custom themes.

Read Destiel on the go

Fanfict Reader is the best way to browse, search, and read AO3 fanfiction on your iPhone. Download for free and start reading your favorite Destiel fics today.

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