Title: Lost to the Sea
Author: QuillsAndInk
Artist: Knowmefirst
Rating: Explicit
Pairings: Dean/Castiel (side Sam/Gabriel) (past Dean/Lisa, past Castiel/Others)
Wordcount: 20000
Warnings/Tags: #Graphic Depictions of Violence #Oregon #Gothic #Painter!Cas #Horse Breeder!Dean #Mythical Animals #Fluff #Love #Cute
Posting: 10/10/2018Summary:
Castiel is running away. Away from the city, away from exes, away from where he felt he never fit in. Luckily, his long-lost brother has a perfect escape in the form of Mercy, Oregon, a tiny seaside town where Castiel can while away the hours painting. But a bump gets thrown in his plans when he meets Dean, the secretive racehorse breeder who seems determined to win Castiel over. But Mercy is full of secrets, and even the sea hides monsters, so how can Castiel fall for with a man who seems to want to protect them at all costs? In a town full of strange magic and enigmas Dean and Castiel are put to the test. Can their budding romance survive it?
Castiel gathered up the nerve to ask the question he had been dying to ask all morning. “Could I paint your horses?” Dean hesitated in answering for the first time all day. He he drew a breath in through his teeth.
“Maybe another time?” He offered weakly. Castiel nodded. He was a little disappointed, but even more confused. Why was everyone hiding these horses? They were going to the Kentucky Derby for God’s sake! Why the hell couldn’t they be seen?
“I hope to see them. I’ve always loved horses,” Castiel offered, trying to hide his warring emotions. Dean gave him another heart-melting grin.
“Would you let me take you to dinner tonight?” Dean asked suddenly. He looked so honest and sweet. Castiel’s heart dropped. He had promised himself no more.
“Dean—”
“Oh!” Dean looked stricken and he quickly put more distance between himself and Castiel. Castiel immediately felt the loss of his warmth. The misty chill of the day curled against the side of Castiel he has occupied. Dean ducked his head and his ears turned an interesting shade of red. “Are you not, um, into guys?”
“I am,” Castiel remedied far too quickly. What was the matter with him? He needed to say no. That Dean was barking up the wrong tree. But would dinner be so bad? Dinner didn’t mean dating, or love, or kissing, or sex. It just meant eating food, right? Maybe he could find out about the horses. Castiel was already tired of this town’s strange secrets and he had been in Mercy less than a day. “Pick me up at seven?” He asked weakly. Dean’s face lit up so rapidly and beautifully, Castiel heart gave a painful beat and he couldn’t find it within himself to regret his choice.
“See you at seven, Cas!” He tugged Castiel into a warm, one-armed hug and trotted off toward his stables. Castiel stood frozen. What had he done?
Karate Girl 