'Between Wind and Water' Part 1

Where to begin. I guess I'll start with the part that matters, in case you want to skip my exposition and just get to the story. Understandable, really.

This is the Grayson/Luther Dubiously Canon story.

There, if that's all you needed to know, you're gtg. But if you're curious how this came about, continue reading. Over the last few months I have fallen behind on obligations both here and elsewhere, I've had a number of clearance sales trying to get the house ready to move, and I've done three conventions in a month and a half, all to facilitate us FINALLY getting our lives started apart from my toxic family, in our own ramshackle little house in the country. It has been... an endurance trial. But y'all were here for me, no one made me feel shitty about it, and there has been such an outpouring of love, support, and folks buying my dumb crap, to help us do all of this.

I wanted to thank you all, and this was the best way I could think how. People have been asking for this story, for this particular pairing, for literally half a decade now. Also a few months ago my girlfriend started asking me to write it, so... I mean. Bonus, I get to make my girlfriend happy.

I started writing this story as soon as I got back from Anthrocon, and I have continued writing it in between the weeks of packaging and Patreon mail-outs I am still currently getting through. It's a BEAST, up there with Sinful Behavior on length, and it has honestly been a pleasure to write. I try to approach my Dubiously Canon stories with an eye to making them as potentially Canon-Compliant as possible, for those folks who choose to see them that way. This one is no exception. In fact I'm kind of perplexed how I'd disentangle all the real, genuine conversations and moments in this one from the parts that are less-than-canonical, so in the end, I guess that means I did my job.

If this pairing isn't for you, that's cool. That's the point of these stories. I did my best to fit this into the framework of the main series, and I think you can read it as part of the lore if you choose to, but you'll all have to tell me how I did on that front.

This first 1/3 (because again, it is LONG) does not get particularly explicit. This story is 2/3 introspection and conversation, and maybe 1/3 actual smut. It is feels-y and complicated and does not end as an OTP (One True Pairing) but if you wanted these two to share something more than their platonic bond... this is how I see it going down.

Brace yourselves.

This takes place during the events of Conviction, almost directly following the meeting with the Captains on the pier. It is prior to the events of Ship to Ship. This does not replace the Illicit Alliance update for this month, it is an extra, just my attempt at a gift to y'all. Parts 2 and 3 will come out in a few days.