my favorite argument for people anti-destiel is when they try to tell me that Dean isn’t gay or bisexual, and specifically isn’t in love with Cas.
like okay, first of all, it’s a completely logical reading that Dean is bisexual. if you don’t see it, you have your heteronormative goggles on. even those who don’t agree with that reading can admit that the potential for it is definitely there.
second of all, Cas is genderless. Cas is neither male nor female, he has occupied both male and female vessels and hasn’t textually stated whether he has a preference for one over the other. the show does textually state, however, that Cas has no definitive gender, gives no fucks about societal gender norms, and has, in fact, inhabited at least one female vessel before (and try to tell me Dean wouldn’t have been all over that if that hot piece had been the one to raise Dean from perdition, because heteronormativity. Go on. I dare you). However, before you try to say I’m contradicting myself here, let me explain: at that point in time (4x01), Dean did not know Castiel. To him, he’s just some dude in a trenchcoat. Had he shown up in a female vessel, Cas would’ve been a hot chick in a trenchcoat. And yes, Dean would’ve flirted. Not that he didn’t with Castiel anyway:
READ, Dean: Hello I have a big dick.
furthermore, the show has showed us over and over that Dean’s attraction/affection/love/however you want to see it to Cas has nothing to do with the vessel and everything to do with Cas himself.
exhibit A: Jimmy Novak
Go back and rewatch all the scenes with Dean and Jimmy Novak. The relationship is simply not the same. There’s no lingering stares, no heartfelt conversations (which to be fair, this was season 4), just simply not the same kind of chemistry (however you choose to see it) as there is between Dean and Cas. Dean is all but dismissive to the guy; instead only worried about Cas’s whereabouts and if his sudden disappearance is any indication that he’s in trouble. This is Dean and Jimmy. That’s it.
Exhibit B: Lucifer/Casifer/Lustiel
Point 1:
Wrong shoulder. Something’s not right here. *warning sirens*
Point B:
Lucifer is a smart cookie. Lucifer is now inside Cas, and, as the Empty says:
*shrugs indefinitely*
Lucifer now knows basically everything he wants/there is to know about Castiel. And he uses it against him, because you wouldn’t expect any less from Satan himself, right?
So Lucifer mocking the way Dean says Cas’s name? It’s meant as a jab. Right in the fucking feels. It’s mean and it’s spiteful and it’s meant to throw Dean off his game. But what’s even more interesting to me is Dean’s face when he’s talking to Lucifer v. when he’s talking to Cas in the scene where he summons Lucifer. Also, if you watch the clip itself, which I’ll link below, Dean seems to have somewhat of a difficult time looking at Cas when he’s Lucifer. It isn’t until Cas is “present” and speaking with him that he’s able to maintain eye contact.
andddd back to when Lucifer retakes control of Cas’s body, literally seconds later:
Okay, wayyy different. Dean reacts much differently to this vessel when it’s Cas versus when it’s Lucifer. His feelings have nothing to do with the vessel, and everything to do with Cas.
Bonus:
Amara, who supposedly has this hold over Dean out of his control, is standing in the room with him and Casifer, and Dean lets out one more desperate call for Cas…when the person who he’s supposed to be feeling overwhelming love and adoration for is standing right in front of him.
Amara is floored
but understands why immediately
Lucifer is really starting to get it
none of this is really relevant to my point, I’m just rambling now. Anyway.
To reiterate: Dean’s feelings for Castiel have nothing to do with the vessel that Cas inhabits, and everything to do with Cas himself. So the issue here is not Dean’s sexuality (he’s hella bi, but that’s not the point I’m making either) but rather that Dean does not need to be gay or bisexual to be in love with Castiel.
I repeat: DEAN. DOES. NOT. NEED. TO. BE. GAY. OR. BISEXUAL. TO. BE. IN. LOVE. WITH. CASTIEL.
So if you’re argument against Destiel is that Dean is straight, I’m sorry, but you have absolutely no argument. Here are the facts: Castiel isn’t a male. Being in love with Castiel absolutely does not make Dean gay or bisexual.
And his reactions to Cas v. the vessel/others possessing the vessel is the most telling of that fact.
Dean isn’t attracted to the vessel. Dean is attracted to what’s inside the vessel.
