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This work could have adult content. If you continue, you have agreed that you are willing to see such content.
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Summary
Dean Winchester is good at pretending.
At school, he's the sarcastic, reckless senior everyone thinks they know. At home, he's surviving an alcoholic and abusive father, protecting his little brother, hiding his injuries, and pretending the nightmares, headaches, memory problems, and exhaustion aren't getting worse.
Then Castiel Novak moves to Lawrence.
The new kid is quiet, intelligent, awkward, and completely unlike anyone Dean has ever met. From the moment they meet, something clicks. Friendship becomes something more, and neither boy is ashamed of what they feel.
Their families are.
As school gossip and bullying begin, keeping their relationship hidden becomes harder. Meanwhile, Cas starts noticing the things Dean doesn't want anyone to see—and realizes Dean's secrets go far beyond bruises.
Dean doesn't want to be rescued. He wants to protect Sam, survive his father, and keep the truth hidden.
But secrets don't stay buried forever.
A long-form Destiel human AU about first love, trauma, family secrets, bullying, and two boys discovering that sometimes love isn't about saving someone.
Sometimes it's about staying.