Destiel
Castiel/Dean Winchester
The angel Castiel and hunter Dean Winchester, whose profound bond became one of the most popular ships in fandom history.
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.
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
a turn of the earth
Completeby 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
Dean Doesn't Listen to Eurythmics
Completeby Annie D (scaramouche)
Dean and Castiel share a bed. It starts out platonic, and then becomes something else.
A Room Of One's Own
Completeby NorthernSparrow
All Dean wants is a little privacy. Cas doesn't understand.
An Exercise In 'Worthless'
Completeby 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
Unknown Quantities
Completeby xylodemon
No one ever tells Dean anything.(or: Dean Winchester and the not-relationship crisis of 2014)
things happen (they do, they do, and they do)
Completeby 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
Four Letter Word For Intercourse
Completeby 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
Professional Couple Only
Completeby saltyfeathers
There's a haunted apartment building in Vermont, and the ad says "Professional couple only". Dean and Cas rise to the occasion.
dean's coworkers vs the heteronormative agenda
Completeby 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
Angel-Mine
Completeby 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
How (thanks to Gabriel) Dean and Castiel (accidentally) raised each other (and Sam).
Completeby Vee (Vera_DragonMuse)
In which, Gabriel meddles with the time line and Castiel becomes Dean's angel rather sooner than intended.
Forget-Me-Not Blues
Completeby 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
Crazy Diamonds
Completeby 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
Grooming Instincts
Completeby 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.
Scent Like Home
Completeby 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
Angel's Wild
Completeby 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
Put up your Dukes
Completeby saltyfeathers
Dean can't sleep. Cas offers to tire him out.
Into Your Hideaway
Completeby 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.
psalm 40:2
Completeby 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
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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.
More Supernatural Ships
Wincest
Dean Winchester/Sam Winchester
60,000 works →
Sabriel
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30,000 works →
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Castiel/Meg Masters
15,000 works →
Drowley
Dean Winchester/Crowley
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Saileen
Sam Winchester/Eileen Leahy
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DeanBenny
Dean Winchester/Benny Lafitte
2,500 works →
Midam
Michael/Adam Milligan
1,500 works →
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