The Simple Life, by Zoetrope NC-17

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

This was the second fic I added to the list of stories I wanted to recommend, back in April- then, within a couple of weeks, the archive it was on was taken down and the story, I assumed, disappeared. So I spent the next couple of months looking for another crossover to recommend which I liked as well, which had not already been recommended here. Then, in a conversation at ds_ficfinders, akamine_chan pointed me to the author's lj and there it was! D'oh!

Fandom: DUE SOUTH/HARD CORE LOGO X-over
Pairing:Benton Fraser/Billy Tallent
Length: about 1500 words?
Author on LJ:zoetrope
Author Website:none, alas
Why this must be read:Because anomy and dysthemia are rarely shown to such good purpose, because Fraser's assumptions about his own identity and understanding of the world get shaken to their foundations, to good effect, because Billy Tallent gets to be sane and competent and more virtuous than is often assumed.


He waits on the top step of the staircase for Billy to get home, and the longer it takes the more worried he gets; what was he thinking? Billy can’t live this kind of life! He’ll just have to go back with Fraser. No choice in the matter, that’s the key.

Eventually, Fraser hears distant, echoing footsteps, and a blond head comes into view. Billy looks almost the same as when Fraser last saw him, but much more tired, and when he sees Fraser he glares, but without much venom. It seems rather resigned.

“Hey,” is all Billy says when he reaches the top step. Fraser has stood, and is clutching his hat carefully. “C’mon in.”

The room is as bare as ever, a few clothes strewn around a few dirty plates on the floor by the bed, in various degrees of decay.

“Tea?” Billy asks, but Fraser can tell he’s being facetious. There isn’t a teapot in sight, let alone a kettle or running water.


The Simple Life