Hunter was mostly Luis’ story, even though the story is told through alternating points of view. The story is about a modern serial killer and Luis’ discovery of abilities that help to catch him, but it’s also about issues Luis has lived with since he was a child – isolation, lack of community, anxiety, depression, and how he finds ways to fill the void. Absolution is about how Luis and Donovan’s relationship progresses – and it’s also about Donovan’s issues.
In a lot of ways, Donovan’s a good guy. He prioritizes family, and he works to put things right when he finds out he’s screwed something up. He puts a high value on love, and he’s the kind of good cop we wish we heard more about.
No one is perfect, and Donovan isn’t an exception. Donovan grew up with some not-so-great examples of masculine behavior, especially when it came to relationships. He’s had to hide every relationship he’s been in. When he and Luis were younger, and on the other end of the continent from his parents, it was less of an issue.
He’s out of the closet now, but coming out doesn’t necessarily wipe away three decades of learned behavior. (Go ahead, ask me how I know…) Donovan’s biggest issue right now is insecurity. He’s got the love of his life back, but in his experience if something feels too good to be true it probably is.
They’ve both grown since college. Donovan is a detective with an impressive record, but Luis has gone on to the kind of career they make television shows about. He’s also had the kind of sex life they make movies about, and not the kind of movies he’d take his mom to go see. Donovan has a hard time figuring out why a guy whose life has been one adventure after another would settle down with him, of all people.
It might have been a simple insecurity, the kind of thing they could talk about whenever it reared its ugly head. Unfortunately for him – and for Luis – it’s a weakness two external forces seize upon and exploit.
I wanted to explore Donovan’s insecurity with Absolution. Hunter is intended to be a series, and I want to respect both of these guys’ experience and traumas. I was thrilled to get them back together in Hunter, but their story couldn’t just end there. It wasn’t enough to just have them kiss and fade to black. It wasn’t true to them – neither one of them would trust it, even though they’d work toward a true Happily Ever After.
I hinted at Donovan’s jealousy in Hunter, when his hackles rose every time Luis used Mixr or mentioned a prior partner. Here, his jealousy comes into play a little more strongly. We also have to explore its source.
There are times in Absolution when Donovan doesn’t come off well at all. I don’t feel he can improve, and truly grow into the man he can be, until he acknowledges what’s under the surface.
Absolution will be available on April 23, 2019.