oh man.
No Going Home by algernon_mouse is a Sid/Geno story (ok they're
human puppies who look like this), but the great thing about AU in hockey RPF fandom is that this doesn't read like RPF, but more like original fiction for people who have no idea at all about hockey. and yet, for those "in the know", the characterizations are very very fascinating (imo a slight deviation from "fanon" depending on whom you ask, but the nuance is what makes this so great).
this story will touch you in the heart even if you don't give a damn about sports -- there's barely any hockey in it. if you look at the summary thinking this is just another foster care/abused orphan story, or just another coming-of-age finding-out-you're-gay story, or just another young-men-fumbling-in-love story, you'd be quite surprised. it's cliched to say "this story has everything" but that's how it felt to me, and not a few people cried while reading it. this one sucks you in and makes you feel as if you were breathing the night air alongside the boys. i didn't want it to end when i was done.