SPN Rec: Serpent and Staff

Serpent and Staff by trinityofone. SPN. Dean/Castiel. 10,000 words.

So far, this is my favourite SPN story (second place is rageprufrock's Asunder, complete AU but very happy-making), because it left me feeling gleefully, giddily happy and able to believe in the possibility of a happy future.

SPN is many cool things, but it's really not about the upbeat, happy endings. It's a show where pain and angst is heaped onto the characters, and then for a little extra fun, they'll add a little more. Sure, it's funny and full of banter and awesomeness and cool fights, but watching this series, I can't imagine a canonical ending that will save the world without causing Sam and/or Dean (and/or Cas) a huge amount of hurt.

So occasionally I need stories like this. Stories that give me a possibility of hope, the idea of an ending that would leave the world whole and the characters capable of living without nightmares and burdens. And, y'know, I'm a sucker for Cas/Dean.