Abnormal Integrity by Shrift (PG-13)

[daemonluna.livejournal.com]

Fandom: HARD CORE LOGO
Pairing: Billy/Joe
Author on LJ: shrift
Author Website: http://bifictionalbedlam.slashcity.net

Why this must be read:

Most first-person HCL fic are in either Billy or Joe's point of view, but Shrift takes a hard look at Billy through John's particular clarity. Teenage Billy recruits John the bass player in a psych ward, and the interaction between them is perfect, with John's fascination and paranoia, and Billy's guarded nonchalance.

At least Billy didn't look like the kind of person who would smother me while I slept. I could tell he would want me to be awake for it.

I had a sudden mental image of Billy's face in death by asphyxiation, those full lips shaded with blue and slightly parted. Eyes open and dulled with that death-fade. My skin and blood wedged under his ragged fingernails. Body limp. Blue. Blue all over.

It was time for another pill.

"Then w-what do you do?" I asked. "I mean, normally."

"I play."

"Play?"

"Guitar," Billy said. Sighed it, really. He rolled onto his back and mimed the movements, fingers shifting to form chords. I could see the calluses on his hands from across the room. I wondered if he was any good.

"Me, too," I said. "Well, bass."

"You play bass?" Billy asked. He craned his neck to look at me fully, tendons popping out underneath faintly golden skin. He propped himself up on his elbows. "We need a bass player."


Abnormal Integrity