Brothers in Arms by Barb G (R)

[daemonluna.livejournal.com]

Fandom: HARD CORE LOGO
Pairing: Billy/Joe
Author on LJ: troutkitty
Author Website: http://www.slashcity.com/barb/
Why this must be read:

Billy's not expecting a call from home. He's definitely not expecting his father--and he doesn't believe it at first that he's calling to say his mom is dead. I love this one for the plausibly dysfunctional family (in which Billy's father is not a psychopathic child abuser, and he has a cool aunt), the glimpse into teenage Billy and Joe, and the very real emotional reactions. Billy's mom dying isn't just an excuse for Billy to sleep with Joe, nor does he fall sobbing into Joe's arms, an emotional wreck who Joe must tenderly nurse back to health. Billy's in shock, and the grief hits him hard, so he does what he always does--drinks, and leaves.

The sun was too blue and he was too sober for this to feel like a part of his life. His mother was dead. She had been dead to him for much longer. Sean hadn't told their father that Joe had been in bed with him, but he did tell their mother. He told her he wasn't a faggot, but when she continued to press him he had finally gotten up from the kitchen table and just left. Joe had been about to climb up the tree, and didn't ask any questions about where they were going.

That was the first time they got drunk enough to actually black out. For three days they had slept in Stanley Park, gotten shit-faced, and lived in their music.

Brothers in Arms