Demon!Dean Recs
After I watched Season 3, I have to admit, I was deeply intrigued by the idea of Dean coming back from Hell a demon. His nightmare during his bout with the African Dream Root obviously only increased my fascination with the idea, and as a result, I was pulled into the tributary of fandom that concentrates on Hell!Dean.
Having found hoodie_time's Dean/Alistair rec list, I quickly found a subtrope that deals with Dean IN Hell, then getting out. I read these for a while, and then FINALLY found stories--scattered, I'll have to admit--of what I had originally set to find in the first place: Demon!Dean stories, which I find fascinating.
You could explore Sam OR Dean's psyches with this trope, depending on the story's POV; their characters can be tangled and untangled with each other in any possible way. It's terrifying and exciting and at the same time heartbreaking, and I think there has to be more out there, shouldn't there? If you've been through the same phase, you've probably read a lot of these stories already, but a reread is never not an option. Leave any other stories you know in the comments, I'll have to check them all out! :)
So, I present to you now, some demon!Dean recs. Prepare to have your hearts in your hands while your chest bleeds out, from excitement as well as, eh, terror. Okay, that sounded contrived.
But STILL.
1) Fade to Black by runedgirl and its sequel: Black is the Colour of My True Love’s Eyes (NC-17, Sam/Dean)
The brother that Sam gets back isn’t the same, but Sam’s love is. Sam risks everything and leaves everyone he’s ever cared about behind in the desperate hope that the bond between him and Dean might just be strong enough to transcend what hell did to his brother. Set post Season 3, seven months after Dean’s deal came due and written over the summer before it was AU, this story just kept writing itself and wouldn’t let go until it was an epic love story in every sense, eventually spanning five decades with enough twists and turns to make me dizzy.
This story awed me. Upon my initial reading, I was expecting a “regular” demon!Dean storyline; as the story progressed, I found that I was failing to predict what would happen, time and again. This story has twists and turns and can make you laugh, and make you cry. It’s done beautifully.
2) Fortress by glasslogic and its sequel: Static (NC-17, Sam/Dean)
Seven years ago Dean Winchester paid his due to the Crossroads Demon and fell into Hell. Grief almost killed Sam, a demon blood addiction came closer, but he
rid himself of demonic attachments and spent years building himself a prison where no demon can set foot, determined to take himself out of the apocalyptic game that had crushed his family. But each year on Earth is an eternity in Hell, and now Dean is back. Angry, powerful, and demonic; he has a plan to wreck vengeance on those who destroyed his life. A plan that will shake the foundations of the Pit and send shock-waves into Heaven. Dragging a reluctant Sam in his wake, will Dean manage to pull it off before the combined legions of Hell get their act together enough to stop him?
Reading this story brought back so many memories of Season Four, and what might have been. Dean’s character is brutal, but far from unrecognizable; the edge of humanity he’s lost just accentuates his protectiveness over Sam. Sam, too has changed, and not necessarily for the better; Ruby, though, even in the brief glimpse we have of her, seems to have remained static. Ironic, given the title of the sequel.
3) Me and the Devil Blues by britomart_is and its sequel: Bury my Body Down By the Highway Side (R, Sam/Dean)
It’s been nine months since the hellhounds dragged Dean into the Pit, and Sam drives along the coast highway with an empty passenger seat beside him. He hums along to Black Sabbath in the tape deck-Dean’s music, not his, but Sam learned to make concessions a long time ago.
Sam, dealing with Dean’s death, is a tragic, lonely thing. It delves deeply into his character, though, and comes up with something that is haunting and dark, but with an edge of ironic sweetness.
4) My Own Destroyer by jacyevans (R, Gen)
With the Devil's Gate only open for a moment, a demon slips out with one purpose: find Sam Winchester. The best laid plans turn sour, and Dean finds that another demon is tracking him, with nefarious purposes. With the help of Ruby, Dean finds Sam only to learn that his brother has engaged his powers while grieving and his only goal is to track and kill Lilith. While keeping his identity a secret, Dean, Ruby and Sam stand-off with Lilith but not before she tells Sam everything, leaving both Winchesters to deal with a fall-out neither of them expected.
This is the first fic I read based on the premise that Dean escaped from Hell a demon. The characters are written exactly as they are, no more, no less, and the way the story is paced complements the development of Sam and Dean’s relationship perfectly. One of my absolute favourite demon fics.
5) The Devil You Know by vinylroad (Adult, Sam/Dean, Sam/OFCs)
In the end, it doesn’t take centuries. Just fifty-three years.
A simple story, told in gorgeous prose.
6) Devil ‘verse by cha and anyothergirl415 (NC-17, Sam/Dean)
We started off with a simple premise. What if the character of Ruby was actually a demon named Dean? Then we went from there.
Charlotte and Miss Brie have done it again, and we shall applaud them.
7) The Dragon that Speaks Like a Lamb by randomfandom93 (R, Sam/Dean)
Hell got it wrong. Sam's not the Antichrist after all...Dean is. Or course, Sam's more than willing to play the part and front for his brother.
This premise initially captured my interest, but the author’s style quickly drew me in. She actually excerpts Revelations in this fic, and although I haven’t read it myself, the author utilizes it as an extremely effective storytelling technique that adds infinite beauty and mystery to the story itself.
8) Rising From Ruin by elusive_life_77 (NC-17, Sam/Dean)
In a post-cataclysmic future, the world has been reduced to a new version of the Old West. A place where monsters roam freely through the wilds, and threaten the safety of frontier towns. While patrolling the land as Hunters protecting humanity’s foothold, tragedy strikes the Winchesters and Dean is fatally wounded. Months later, rumors reach a still-grieving Sam that Dean has been spotted in the shadows of the mysterious Hollow Peak; Sam races across the wilderness to find the truth. He finds a lot more than that.
Supernatural has always been a modern-day Western; this author, however, takes it to a whole new level. I would compare the epic storytelling of this story to the Morgan’s Free Rangers verse by calamitycrow; the characters are instantly recognizable, but unique in their own way.
9) One Year, Four Months by glassyskies and its sequels, Stay True to Your Nomad Skies and De Profundis (PG-13, Sam/Dean)
It takes one year, four months for Dean to find Sam after he gets out of Hell.
This fic is gorgeously rendered, and excruciating to read. Glassyskies has never failed to make me awed by her character pieces, but this story is something that I hold close to my heart-particularly since it was the first demon fic I read after Season 5. The idea of them, together, in the future-it’s such a terrifying thing; sad, but a little hopeful too.
10) Sacraments by keerawa (R, Sam/Dean), with podfic by reena_jenkins
I’ve been known by a thousand names over the ages. Raum, Akoman, Mara, Azazel’s Hound. Lately, I go by Dean Winchester.
Three Days on the Rack by keerawa (R, Sam/Dean), with podfic by reena_jenkins
It’s been months, but Sam finally found a crossroads demon willing to Deal to get Deans soul out of Hell. The Deal sounded too good to be true. Sam took it anyway.
Keerawa is, in short, amazing in her characterization of Dean in both these stories. The motivation of Sam, as well as the weaving of the events around these stories, makes them that much better. And Reena, as usual, never ceases to amaze.
11) For His Brother by ennyousai (R, Sam/Dean)
Hell might have taken the humanity out of Dean, but one thing that never changes is his devotion to his brother.
This is one story I will never tire of reading. I was intrigued by the idea of Dean getting out of Hell, but his ambiguous alliances here are detailed and fascinating to read.
Having found hoodie_time's Dean/Alistair rec list, I quickly found a subtrope that deals with Dean IN Hell, then getting out. I read these for a while, and then FINALLY found stories--scattered, I'll have to admit--of what I had originally set to find in the first place: Demon!Dean stories, which I find fascinating.
You could explore Sam OR Dean's psyches with this trope, depending on the story's POV; their characters can be tangled and untangled with each other in any possible way. It's terrifying and exciting and at the same time heartbreaking, and I think there has to be more out there, shouldn't there? If you've been through the same phase, you've probably read a lot of these stories already, but a reread is never not an option. Leave any other stories you know in the comments, I'll have to check them all out! :)
So, I present to you now, some demon!Dean recs. Prepare to have your hearts in your hands while your chest bleeds out, from excitement as well as, eh, terror. Okay, that sounded contrived.
But STILL.
1) Fade to Black by runedgirl and its sequel: Black is the Colour of My True Love’s Eyes (NC-17, Sam/Dean)
The brother that Sam gets back isn’t the same, but Sam’s love is. Sam risks everything and leaves everyone he’s ever cared about behind in the desperate hope that the bond between him and Dean might just be strong enough to transcend what hell did to his brother. Set post Season 3, seven months after Dean’s deal came due and written over the summer before it was AU, this story just kept writing itself and wouldn’t let go until it was an epic love story in every sense, eventually spanning five decades with enough twists and turns to make me dizzy.
This story awed me. Upon my initial reading, I was expecting a “regular” demon!Dean storyline; as the story progressed, I found that I was failing to predict what would happen, time and again. This story has twists and turns and can make you laugh, and make you cry. It’s done beautifully.
2) Fortress by glasslogic and its sequel: Static (NC-17, Sam/Dean)
Seven years ago Dean Winchester paid his due to the Crossroads Demon and fell into Hell. Grief almost killed Sam, a demon blood addiction came closer, but he
rid himself of demonic attachments and spent years building himself a prison where no demon can set foot, determined to take himself out of the apocalyptic game that had crushed his family. But each year on Earth is an eternity in Hell, and now Dean is back. Angry, powerful, and demonic; he has a plan to wreck vengeance on those who destroyed his life. A plan that will shake the foundations of the Pit and send shock-waves into Heaven. Dragging a reluctant Sam in his wake, will Dean manage to pull it off before the combined legions of Hell get their act together enough to stop him?
Reading this story brought back so many memories of Season Four, and what might have been. Dean’s character is brutal, but far from unrecognizable; the edge of humanity he’s lost just accentuates his protectiveness over Sam. Sam, too has changed, and not necessarily for the better; Ruby, though, even in the brief glimpse we have of her, seems to have remained static. Ironic, given the title of the sequel.
3) Me and the Devil Blues by britomart_is and its sequel: Bury my Body Down By the Highway Side (R, Sam/Dean)
It’s been nine months since the hellhounds dragged Dean into the Pit, and Sam drives along the coast highway with an empty passenger seat beside him. He hums along to Black Sabbath in the tape deck-Dean’s music, not his, but Sam learned to make concessions a long time ago.
Sam, dealing with Dean’s death, is a tragic, lonely thing. It delves deeply into his character, though, and comes up with something that is haunting and dark, but with an edge of ironic sweetness.
4) My Own Destroyer by jacyevans (R, Gen)
With the Devil's Gate only open for a moment, a demon slips out with one purpose: find Sam Winchester. The best laid plans turn sour, and Dean finds that another demon is tracking him, with nefarious purposes. With the help of Ruby, Dean finds Sam only to learn that his brother has engaged his powers while grieving and his only goal is to track and kill Lilith. While keeping his identity a secret, Dean, Ruby and Sam stand-off with Lilith but not before she tells Sam everything, leaving both Winchesters to deal with a fall-out neither of them expected.
This is the first fic I read based on the premise that Dean escaped from Hell a demon. The characters are written exactly as they are, no more, no less, and the way the story is paced complements the development of Sam and Dean’s relationship perfectly. One of my absolute favourite demon fics.
5) The Devil You Know by vinylroad (Adult, Sam/Dean, Sam/OFCs)
In the end, it doesn’t take centuries. Just fifty-three years.
A simple story, told in gorgeous prose.
6) Devil ‘verse by cha and anyothergirl415 (NC-17, Sam/Dean)
We started off with a simple premise. What if the character of Ruby was actually a demon named Dean? Then we went from there.
Charlotte and Miss Brie have done it again, and we shall applaud them.
7) The Dragon that Speaks Like a Lamb by randomfandom93 (R, Sam/Dean)
Hell got it wrong. Sam's not the Antichrist after all...Dean is. Or course, Sam's more than willing to play the part and front for his brother.
This premise initially captured my interest, but the author’s style quickly drew me in. She actually excerpts Revelations in this fic, and although I haven’t read it myself, the author utilizes it as an extremely effective storytelling technique that adds infinite beauty and mystery to the story itself.
8) Rising From Ruin by elusive_life_77 (NC-17, Sam/Dean)
In a post-cataclysmic future, the world has been reduced to a new version of the Old West. A place where monsters roam freely through the wilds, and threaten the safety of frontier towns. While patrolling the land as Hunters protecting humanity’s foothold, tragedy strikes the Winchesters and Dean is fatally wounded. Months later, rumors reach a still-grieving Sam that Dean has been spotted in the shadows of the mysterious Hollow Peak; Sam races across the wilderness to find the truth. He finds a lot more than that.
Supernatural has always been a modern-day Western; this author, however, takes it to a whole new level. I would compare the epic storytelling of this story to the Morgan’s Free Rangers verse by calamitycrow; the characters are instantly recognizable, but unique in their own way.
9) One Year, Four Months by glassyskies and its sequels, Stay True to Your Nomad Skies and De Profundis (PG-13, Sam/Dean)
It takes one year, four months for Dean to find Sam after he gets out of Hell.
This fic is gorgeously rendered, and excruciating to read. Glassyskies has never failed to make me awed by her character pieces, but this story is something that I hold close to my heart-particularly since it was the first demon fic I read after Season 5. The idea of them, together, in the future-it’s such a terrifying thing; sad, but a little hopeful too.
10) Sacraments by keerawa (R, Sam/Dean), with podfic by reena_jenkins
I’ve been known by a thousand names over the ages. Raum, Akoman, Mara, Azazel’s Hound. Lately, I go by Dean Winchester.
Three Days on the Rack by keerawa (R, Sam/Dean), with podfic by reena_jenkins
It’s been months, but Sam finally found a crossroads demon willing to Deal to get Deans soul out of Hell. The Deal sounded too good to be true. Sam took it anyway.
Keerawa is, in short, amazing in her characterization of Dean in both these stories. The motivation of Sam, as well as the weaving of the events around these stories, makes them that much better. And Reena, as usual, never ceases to amaze.
11) For His Brother by ennyousai (R, Sam/Dean)
Hell might have taken the humanity out of Dean, but one thing that never changes is his devotion to his brother.
This is one story I will never tire of reading. I was intrigued by the idea of Dean getting out of Hell, but his ambiguous alliances here are detailed and fascinating to read.