elohvee: (Default)
[personal profile] elohvee
that painting's not so blue.
Supernatural. Sam/Dean. PG-13. Approx. 660 words. Title from Frank O'Hara.


Dean looks at Lucas and remembers how much Sam used to love crayons when he was still Sammy.

He worked his way through boxes and boxes of Crayola colors with a vengeance, and he always drew more whenever Dad was on one of his trips, the long ones he came back from bloody and beaten and too close to broken. Those times, Sammy used a lot of red.

When he still had time for it, John used to tell Sammy how good he was, how much it helped to come home to new pictures. Adds color, lightness, zest. He ran out of adjectives soon, but Sammy, before he was Sam, never noticed. He just glowed.

::

For those first few years, when their dad held a regular job and things were almost okay, there were always colorful Sam Winchester originals scotch-taped to every wall, papering the fridge and held up by the restaurant magnets they got free in the mail.

And even after, when the compliments stop coming, Dean buys markers and colored pencils if he has the cash, and once a sixty-four color case of crayons that Sam takes his time with, uses up slowly, like he's savoring it. Like he doesn't want to waste a single one.

Before he throws it out, he's used up every single crayon to a tiny chip of wax in his fingers, even the white.

He's nine years old.

::

In middle school and high school, he doodles. Sam's notes are covered in spirals and symbols, ancient crosses and knots and sigils, but he always gets down all of the lecture, every single word.

Sometimes he'll sketch the things they've seen, the things they've killed, and sometimes he draws fire. More often than not, he draws fire.

When Sam turns sixteen, Dean buys what the chick at the art store register says are the right pencils, the right sketchbook, the right erasers. He throws in a mix tape of the music Sam swears he hates, too, just so that his brother can bitch if he needs to.

::

In summer, Dad goes on hunting trips and Dean strips off his shirt and fiddles with the car, always has something to fix. Sam sits with a sketchpad and watches him, sometimes gets up and brings a sweating glass of ice water. Sometimes, there's this look that they share, and they know. Dean sets aside his tools and Sam puts down the book. He pushes his brother's back against their bedroom wall, and graphite-stained fingers leave bruise-shaped smudges against Dean's thighs.

When it's over, when it's late in the afternoon, it's too hot to go back outside.

::

In his junior year, Sam had no time for art. Dean and Dad hunted more, left him alone more, and Dean guesses now that Sam spent his alone time filling out applications, writing essays, reading brochures and taking SAT prep courses after school.

The weeks before the Fight—always, always capitalized in his head—Dad's in one of the Carolinas and they're in a cheap apartment in Des Moines. Sam's pencils and paper and gum eraser suddenly appear, and Dean wakes up on Sunday with his brother sitting, watching, drawing, and he smiles good morning and says something about enjoying the view, Sammy?

And Sam laughs and says, Blow me, and he calls Dean a stuck-up ass. He drops his pencil and climbs back into bed and they fuck until lunchtime.

::

He still sketches, but it's mostly on motel stationary and bar room napkins, now.

And Sam thinks Dean doesn't know, because they all end up crumpled at the bottom of the trash cans in their rooms or in the glove box so he can get rid of them later, but Dean does. He does knows. Always did.

He pulls them out, one by one, and smoothes the creases, and sticks them in the photo box in the trunk. Sam never looks at those, anyway.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-24 11:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] la-folle-allure.livejournal.com
*cries* BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-24 11:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] la-folle-allure.livejournal.com
okay, so now I can comment fully *straightens up*I love the idea of arty!Sammy. I love that Dean bought him crayons. I love that Sam was DRAWING Dean while he slept. I am so stealing that, BY THE WAY.

*flails* Jeeze, I can't take all this amzing fic being sent to me *clings to you*

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com - Date: 2006-09-24 11:57 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com - Date: 2006-09-24 11:57 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 12:01 am (UTC)
ext_56966: (Default)
From: [identity profile] fiddleyoumust.livejournal.com
God this is beautiful.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 12:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 12:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laminy.livejournal.com
I wrote an arty!Sammy fic once. Okay, mine was a bit more of a drabble, and I like yours better, but still...the comparison is there.

He pulls them out, one by one, and smoothes the creases, and sticks them in the photo box in the trunk.

Of course he does. Because he loves his Sammy.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 12:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Because he loves his Sammy.

That he does. :O)

Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 12:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] missyjack.livejournal.com
so intimate and sweet. wonderful writing

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 12:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you. :O)

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 12:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] amara-m.livejournal.com
Absolutely fabulous...I love Big Brother!Dean...it just rings so true that he would fish out all the doodles and save them....

Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 01:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you! :O)

oh. my. god.

Date: 2006-09-25 01:05 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
this fic is gorgeous! So well written, it draws (heh) a person in and shows us a series of mental pictures that I can see in my head so clearly it's almost like watching the show.
Dean has never been more 'big brother', Sam never more than himself (although it was Dean who was doodling on the show--can't remember which episode) and the sex so hot even though it is only alluded to.
Be very proud of this. It's excellent.

Re: oh. my. god.

Date: 2006-09-25 01:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
They've both been known to doodle: Dean BOC's cross in "Hell House", and Sam the tree in "Home". :O)

Thank you so much!

Re: oh. my. god.

From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2006-09-25 04:22 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 01:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pixel-0.livejournal.com
Aw, I like the sweet quiet tone it has to it with the occasional little burst of sexuality. There's something very comforting, yet sad to this piece. Very well done. :)

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 01:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you. :O)

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 01:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] destina.livejournal.com
This is beautiful; the subtle intimacy, the sad truth of Dean having the sentimental streak and Sam barely even aware of it. Dean is so much more the adult, and he always was. And Dean saving the sketches, awww. Lovely work.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 01:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Hee, thank you. :O)

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 02:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] anakin415.livejournal.com
this was terribly sweet I adored it

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 02:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 02:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ephemerall.livejournal.com
OW. My heart hurts and loves you after reading this. This is so vividly and well written i'm not sure how else to compliment you without sounding like a moron...

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 02:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Moronic reviews are lovely, even though I don't believe it would be. :O)

Thank you so much!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 02:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] particlesofgale.livejournal.com
Very sweet. I especially love that Dean keeps Sam's
doodles. :) Thanks for sharing!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 03:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you! :O)

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 03:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yumikoyoshihana.livejournal.com
shiiiiiiiiiiiny......... *_*

Uhm.... other than that.... I love the imagery with the drawing, and how you used sam's name as a measure of time. 'Sam used to love crayons when he was still Sammy' and 'but Sammy, before he was Sam, never noticed.' I LOVED that.

and Sam drawing sleeping dean? How do you beat that? I, for one, Have no idea.

So, I have to go gather the puddle of goo that was once my brain and solidify it. Again. Seriously, this cant be healthy

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 04:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
It's a proven fact that Fandom, though it may not be good for braincells or for preventing heart failure, is great for the soul. Honest! *nods*

Thanks so much! :O)

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] yumikoyoshihana.livejournal.com - Date: 2006-09-25 04:12 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com - Date: 2006-09-25 04:16 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] yumikoyoshihana.livejournal.com - Date: 2006-09-25 04:17 am (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 04:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chimerablack.livejournal.com
I am too emotional and sentimental for my own good, so there is no doubt that I absolutely adored this. I just want to curl up with this fic like a nice, warm blanket.

I will definitely be adding this to my memories.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 04:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you. :O) I'm glad you enjoyed it.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 07:03 am (UTC)
mf_luder_xf: (Default)
From: [personal profile] mf_luder_xf
Oh, so sweet. Tender and caring and the glimpses into their past were wonderful. Sam as an artist is very cool I think. Someones gotta draw those things once John's gone, and it does seem to be Sam who does all the symbols. Very nice.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 03:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you. :O)

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 07:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ataniell93.livejournal.com
squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee so much love.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 03:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Heee, thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 01:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] teand.livejournal.com
Sweet and true. And God, Dean just clutches to whatever scraps of happiness he can, doesn't he?

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 03:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
He really, really does. *pets him*

Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 08:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dawnstarrising.livejournal.com
Oh man, that was beautiful. Made the old heart clench at the thought of Dean taking out the drawings Sam threw away.

*mmwwaahhh*

Loves

Dawn xxx

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 08:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you! :O)

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 11:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] girlguidejones.livejournal.com
Beautiful, beautiful look at Dean's nurturing side (to which he would never admit, of course.)

Some favorite parts...Sammy using up even the white crayon (because who uses the white, anyway? Sam, that's who!), the Fight, capitalized in Dean's head, and of course Dean saving Sam's doodle napkins.

Loved this.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-25 11:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Last year, a friend wrote a story about the poor, underappreciated white crayon becoming psychotic and ravaging the fringes of the crayon box. I figured it needed its time of day in Sammy's world, at least. :O)

Thank you!

(no subject)

From: [identity profile] girlguidejones.livejournal.com - Date: 2006-09-25 11:39 pm (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-26 03:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/__3amconfession/
*clutches chest*

Oh, that was wonderful. Just. Yeah, made my night.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-26 03:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-26 01:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zenamydog.livejournal.com
Aww kind of sad, but really touching!!! Good stuff!!!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-26 08:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-26 01:39 pm (UTC)
ext_12410: (Default)
From: [identity profile] tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com
this is so sweet and only a little bitter (mostly sammy taking his time with the big box o' crayons and using up every single color so as not to waste them - you get the feeling he knows it'll be a long damn time before he'll get another box), and i love that dean tempers his gift of paper and pencils and erasers with a mix tape so sam can still have something to bitch about if he feels the need to bitch, because he's certainly not going to complain about the paper and pencils. and of course dean keeps all sam's sketches - they're sam's and he loves his little brother.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-26 08:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
I love it when people pick up on everything I thought was really important while writing. :O)

Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-26 08:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] healerariel.livejournal.com
*Attempts to fight back a schmoopy little smile* So precious... Dean saving Sam's drawings, Sam sketching him as he slept. Gah, they just love each other so much, it melts me little heart into a puddle of goo!

Er, in short, well done!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-26 09:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Hee, thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-26 11:20 pm (UTC)
ext_1770: @ _jems_ (Default)
From: [identity profile] oxoniensis.livejournal.com
So lovely. I love the change in the feel of the story as it moves from innocence to adulthood.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-09-26 11:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you. :O)

(no subject)

Date: 2006-11-05 08:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] buyo105.livejournal.com
I forgot where I came here from, because I got distracted for a bit. But it doesn't matter.

What matters is you're amazing. These fics are probably some of the most fantastic things I've read since coming into the Spn fandom.

Thank you.

(no subject)

Date: 2006-11-05 02:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wheebubbles.livejournal.com
Thank you so much! :O)

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