crack_van | The Just and Keeping Series by Perpetual Motion and Julian Lee (PG13)

Fandom: WITHOUT A TRACE
Pairing: Danny/Martin
Author on LJ:

perpet (I don't think Julian Lee's on LJ, but I could be wrong)
Author Website: The Thwarted Invasion for Julian Lee's fic, or Motion in Two Parts for Perpetual Motion's fic
Why this must be read:

The nice thing about small fandoms is that often one doesn't really have to worry much about BNFs and fandom politics. WAT is a nice little fandom in that there's a good amount of fic of all varieties, but there aren't a lot of egos to be stroked. I can't point to any one writer and say 'this is the name everyone associates with this pairing', which is kind of refreshing in a way. Having said that, this particular series is one that probably everyone in the WAT slash community has read. It's one of the first Danny/Martin fics that came out of the fandom, and on a personal note, it was my introduction into the fandom.

I have some problems with the later parts, but I won't spoil you by telling you what those problems are. Still, problems aside, it's an interesting look at the genesis and culmination of Danny and Martin's relationship, and it was written in the early part of season one, when the subtext was still shiny and new and canon hadn't choked the life out of Danny and Martin's potential yet. That's not to say they don't still have potential, you just have to work harder for it now. Back in the beginning the writers just sort of handed it to us on a silver platter, and this series really reflects that.

It looks like a long series, but each part is actually quite short. It's a nice, angst-free bit of weekend reading. Perpetual Motion wrote the Just series, then Julian filled in the gaps with the Keeping trilogy.

Just Danny
Keeping Counsel
Just Friends
Just Sex
Keeping Tabs
Just Martin
Keeping Honest
Just Them