Title: Changes
Author:  coming_staying
Chapter 1: Liberty Avenue
Story Rating: NC-17
Chapter rating: PG-13
Summary: AU. Justin is new to Pittsburgh and pessimistic about the move. New people will change things. Especially one person.

Chapter 1 - Liberty Avenue

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"Justin, you'll like it here."

"I liked it in New York."

"Justin, don't talk to your mother like that."

Justin Taylor, the perfect epitome of "pretty", scowled from his seat in the back of Craig and Jennifer's midnight blue Beemer. His father's pride and joy it would seem. Everyone, including his sister Molly, seemed to love the fact that they were being forced to move to Pittsburgh due to Craig's job. It was either move to Pittsburgh or get canned. There was no way that Craig would let his sky high ego get shot down to the ground so he had made everyone pack up, get in the car, and endure a long drive to Pitts with a 'It'll be great!' and a slap on the back. On top of it being short notice it fucking sucked and not in a life affirming way. Jennifer turned around just slightly in her seat, hands holding the head rest, so she could meet her son's scowling eyes.

"Pittsburgh is just as good as New York."

"Pittsburgh is nothing."

Molly looked up from her GameBoy Advance ® and shot him a small knowing look. "My friend Stephanie told me that there was this place called...what was it? Oh yeah, Liberty Avenue. That's like a haven for all the fags of Pittsburgh." Fuck. Justin knew there had been a reason he shouldn't have told Molly that he was gay. Why had he told her again? Oh yeah, the two had been sitting in the living room of their house in New York, Craig and Jennifer had been out of town at the time, and Justin had made the mistake of having five too many beers. It had just kind of slipped out and as soon as he was sober he had drilled Molly about his rights of privacy and that if she told a soul he would tell dad about the time she wore make up when she wasn't supposed to.

Molly didn't give a shit about the make up.

She hadn't told because the two of them got along and she knew how to keep a good secret. To Justin's relief. If Craig or Jennifer found out about his secret sexual preferences then he would be one very dead fag. Craig made a sound of disgust from the driver's seat. "That's one part of Pittsburgh that we won't be visiting. We'd rather stay away from all those disgusting...things." Justin shot a glare in Molly's direction. What the fuck did she have to bring that up right here in front of their parents? She could have told him in private. It wasn't exactly a good thing when your father was talking about you, even if he didn't know it, right in front of you. Molly smiled guiltily and hurriedly turned back to her GameBoy. Jennifer sighed and stared worriedly at Justin.

"You just have to get used to it. We all have to get used to it."

"We wouldn't have to get used to anything if,"

Craig butted in. He wasn't stupid. He knew what was going on inside the seventeen-year-old's mind. "We had no choice. It was either Pittsburgh or live on the streets." Justin clamped his mouth shut and stared out his window. Justin heard the little beep of Molly's GameBoy shutting off and then heard her put it away. Jennifer was still watching him silently, pathetically sad expression on her face, and Justin ignored it. What did they expect him to do? Jump up and down in happiness at the fact of being shipped away from all that he's ever known? Be the perfect son and tell them what a great idea it was for them to move to Pittsburgh to start his life all over again? Justin didn't think so. He wasn't one for bullshit.

"Oh my god! Look at that guy!"

Justin and Jennifer both looked out Molly's window. Craig looked too but only because the light turned red and he was able to take his eyes off the road. On the sidewalk were four guys. Three of them looked perfectly normal. One with thick wavy brown hair in Armani, the other with short black hair, grin on his face, and a Captain Astro shirt on, and the third one who looked as boring as they came. The accountant type. The fourth one on the other hand was far from normal looking in skin tight leopard print pants (purple) and a tight white shirt with "Boys,Boys,Boys" written on the front of it. Justin grinned. This was the first good thing he had seen all day. "Disgusting fag..." Jennifer glared at her husband in the front seat which gave Molly the time to open her window.

"Hey! Guy in the leopard pants!"

Craig told Molly to shut the damn window while Justin just smiled. The guy, he had short brown hair, purple sunglasses which were clearly made for girls sitting on top of his head, looked over in their direction. He looked kind of shocked that a young girl was actually asking for him but he smiled nonetheless. Jennifer told Molly to shut the window and not to talk to strangers. Molly pretty much ignored them and smiled at the man. "Yeah! You! Where did you get your shirt?" He practically beamed at the fact that someone was asking him about his clothes. "I got it at Torso, honey!" Molly nodded, smiled, said 'thanks' and shut the window just as the red light changed to green.

"What the hell were you thinking, Molly?"

Molly stared at the back of her father's head. Justin quickly looked back out his window and sank down further in his seat. Jennifer turned back around in her seat and stayed silent. "I liked his shirt." Craig pressed harder on the gas pedal then necessary. "You don't need to talk to people like them." Molly glanced over at Justin who met her eyes in the reflection on his window.

"I already have. Too late."

Craig didn't answer but, instead, stayed silent only muttering once in a while to himself. Most of the time it was incoherent so everyone pretty much stopped listening. Molly would point things out every now and then like shops she wanted to go to or guys that she thought were attractive. Needless to say, they didn't see anymore gay guys roaming the streets. Justin on the other hand kept his mouth shut tight and stared out the window in agony. The realization that he would have to tell his parents about his sexual preferences sooner or later, preferably later, was starting to dawn on him. His mother had already asked him countless times back in New York why a good looking boy like him didn't, and never, have a girl-friend. Justin always responded with a "I'm too busy for girls." His dad asked about it a lot more then his mom and he always had to come up with some sort of response.

Needless to say, his parents were going to become suspicious.

"What does our new house look like, mom?"

Justin silently listened to the answer Jennifer was giving Molly. Even though he hated the fact that they were moving away from New York he was still curious as to where they would be living. Anyone would after all. "It's a Victorian Style home. Two stories, white with dark shingles on the roof, a huge wrap-around porch. Oak. There's a garden in the backyard full of roses. The backyard is absolutely huge, you guys will love it." Justin was sure they would although Justin wasn't one to spend all his time outside. He usually sat in the comfort of his room and drew in his sketch book. Another thing that peeved his parents. Mostly Craig though.

"All the floors in the house are rose oak. There's a grand staircase in the foyer that leads up to the second floor. All the bedrooms are huge. So your rooms will be considerably larger then they were in New York. And you can have your own bathroom." Molly and Justin said nothing although the house sounded pretty nice. That didn't change Justin's thoughts on moving to Pittsburgh. He'd rather still live in their two story smaller then hell condo where Molly and Justin both had to share a small crowded bathroom. Jennifer turned around in her seat again with a hopeful look on her face. Justin couldn't help but think that she looked pathetically hopeful for some good reactions. "So, what do you two think?"

"It sounds pretty nice." Jennifer looked over at her son for his answer which he didn't seem to keen on giving. Justin lifted his shoulders up in a shrug. "Sounds ok I guess." Craig looked at the blonde in the mirror from the front seat. "What do you mean you guess? You'd rather be back in that condo made for midgets?" Justin met his father's eyes. He knew he was being incredibly difficult and pessimistic about this but he couldn't help it. It wasn't his fault that he was so emotional about things like this. Like getting shoved away from his own life without making sure it was ok first. Justin nodded squarely, eyes narrowed just slightly.

"Yes."

"Just let it go, Craig."

Justin silently thanked his mother for stopping Craig from whatever it was that he had been about to say. Four long hours later everything they had brought: Clothes, extra furnishings (The house had already been furnished. Craig had sent them all the furniture and the movers had moved it in about three days ago so it was ready), toiletries, and anything else that any of them had brought was put in their respectful places. Justin would admit that he felt a little bit more at home in his new bedroom when all his posters and pictures were all tacked up on his wall and when his sheets were on his bed. Craig and Jennifer had bought him new sheets for a new life but he had stuffed them in his closet as soon as he had walked inside and replaced them with his deep red sheets instead.

The sun was down now and the "happy" family was seated around the dining room table in complete silence. Justin wasn't really in the mood to talk. Neither was Molly - For once Justin realized. Sighing, Justin scowled down at his food and began pushing it around on his plate with the tip of his fork. He wasn't in the mood to eat either. The food didn't look very appetizing tonight for some reason and his mom was an excellent cook. Suddenly Craig's fork was slammed down on his plate with a loud clatter. Startled, Jennifer, Justin, and Molly all looked at the man of the household. Shocked expressions. He on the other hand looked angry.

"I'm tired of your attitude, Justin." The blonde shrugged and looked back down at his plate. Figured.

"This is what I'm talking about. No one here is happy with the way you've been acting since we all piled up into the car this morning. And, quite frankly, it had better stop."

Justin placed his own fork down. "Whatever."

"Just go up to your room."

"Gladly."

An hour later after lounging lazily on his bed, sketch book on his lap, and drawing a light knock sounded on his door. If it was his father he would tell him to fuck off. If it was his mother he would ask her to politely leave. "Who is it?"

"Molly."

"...Come on in."

Justin sat up in his bed and slammed his book shut and placed his pencil on the nightstand next to his bed. His younger sister slowly opened the door and peeked her head through the opening before walking fully inside, eyes looking around. "Wow. It almost looks like your old room except bigger." Justin nodded. "Yeah, well, I wanted to feel comfortable." Molly just nodded and walked towards the bed and pulled herself on top of it and smiled a small smile over at her brother. Justin looked at her curiously. "Was there something you needed or did you just come to talk about how nice my room looked?" She laughed.

"Actually, I came to ask you if after school tomorrow you could...take me to Torso."

Justin smiled slightly. Oh yeah, the shirt.

"Why don't you ask mom?"

"Well, I looked up Torso on the internet and,"

"Dad got the internet hooked up already?"

Molly nodded and narrowed her eyes at the interrupted. Justin quickly apologized and nodded for her to go on. "Anyway, I can't ask mom or dad because Torso happens to be located in the 'fag community' as dad would call it." Justin just looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She sighed. "And I figured since that's probably more your scene...I'd ask you. Come on! I know you want to go there! Think about all the hot guys that are probably down there!" Justin smiled slightly. Maybe it hadn't been such a bad thing - telling her about his fag tendencies. He shrugged.

"I guess. I won't have anything else to do."

Molly reached over and hugged him. "Thanks!" Justin shrugged. "No problem." Molly slid off the bed and headed back towards the door. Before it shut all the way she peeked her head back in. "You are the best brother ever."

"I know."
 

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Chapter title: Shitfaced
Rating: R
Summary: Justin meets the gang. Hot sexy dancing.

Chapter 2 - Shitfaced

^^^

"Bye, Molly!"

It was the second day. The second day that Justin had to endure St. James Academy. But, to be honest with the readers, it hadn't been as bad as yesterday since he had the support of Daphne Chanders with him. All day. Alright, Justin would admit it. He had been pessimistic about Daphne hanging out with him the entire school day. Why would someone so...social want to hang out with him? Who was pretty much anti-social. Well, with the homophobes of St. James of course. Yeah, Justin had been a little - no, try a lot - pessimistic about their friendship. Wouldn't she get bored of him? Obviously not since he seemed to be the only person she talked to all day except for the occasional girl or two. Maybe she was doing it for him; so he didn't feel so...left out.

If so, Justin could really do without the pity friendship.

She might as well give him a pity fuck while she was at it if that was the case. On second thought...scratch that. Gross! Sex with Daphne didn't exactly seem very appealing. Justin was about to stride away from the car in which his sister had just piled into - She had a little scowl on her face since she knew where Justin was going and she knew that she was probably going to miss some hot guy on guy action. Alright, maybe that's not why she was mad but whatever. - when his mother, worried lines in her face and stress in her eyes, called him back to the car with a 'where are you going'. Shit. He had forgotten to tell mommy dearest where he was going. Daphne was walking towards them. Perfect. His mommy would be so proud that he had gotten himself a girlfriend. As soon as Daphne was standing next to him he smiled at her, slung and arm around her waist and pulled her close.

Needless to say, Daphne looked pretty confused.

And freaked out. After all, he was supposed to be gay.

"I'm going out with my girlfriend." At least she caught on by this point and smiled at his mom. That helped it seem all the more convincing. That's for sure. Jennifer actually smiled, eyes widening in surprise, and Molly looking...well, she looked pretty amused that Justin was pulling something so...stupid. She had a little smile on her face as she continued to still pretend to be mad that she couldn't come to Liberty Avenue with her arms crossed tightly across her chest. "Girlfriend? Justin! Why didn't you tell your father and I?" She seemed absolutely ecstatic about all of this and he felt like he was going to be sick. If only there could be some hot man standing next to him and get the same reaction from his mom as he was getting right now.

Totally not gonna happen.

"Well...I wanted to surprise you."

"So I assume you're going out then?"

Justin nodded vigorously. Yes, yes, yes! So go away! Jennifer smiled proudly. God, Justin felt sad for the other guys who actually had girlfriends and had this happen to them. "So you'll probably be out late?" Thank god it was Friday today. That meant he would be able to spend as much time as he wanted checking out the hot guys on Liberty Avenue without having too bad of a curfew and if his mom told Craig about Daphne, which she most certainly would, then his dad wouldn't give a flying fuck when he got back. He would probably ask if he had fucked her or something. Alright, Justin wouldn't go that far but his dad wouldn't care about what time he got in if he was with his "First Girlfriend". Ah. He was making mommy and daddy so proud!

"Yeah, late. Don't wait up for me."

"Bye, sweetie."

Molly glared at me from the front seat. All her amusement had worn off by now. I smiled apologetically at her and, as soon as the car was out of sight, I smiled over at Daphne and unlatched myself from her. She smiled at me and rolled her eyes. "Is this what I get for being your friend? I get used?" Justin smiled and the two began walking towards her car. He shook his head and pushed her playfully on the shoulder. "No, that's what you get for being my best-friend!" Daphne smiled and slid into the driver's seat.

"Well, your lucky I'm not a bitch 'cause I didn't have to play along."

"If you were a bitch I wouldn't hang out with you. Ergo, I knew you would play along as soon as you realized what my brilliant mind was thinking up!"

Daphne peeled out of the school parking lot. "I wouldn't flatter yourself with the whole 'brilliant mind' part of that statement." Justin laughed before he suddenly remembered what he had been doing last night. Drawing. Drawing pictures of Daphne and Emmett. "I wanna show you something." Smiling to himself, Justin reached into his backpack and pulled out his tattered sketchbook. He was in dire need of a new one. Especially since he was running out of paper. Daphne looked over curiously when they stopped at a red light. "So, I was drawing last night since I have nothing else productive to do with my time and this is what came out of my pencil." Flipping to the correct page I showed her the picture of herself first.

"Oh my god, Justin! That's...good!"

Justin could tell she meant it. She sounded completely and utterly shocked. He flipped to the one of Emmett in his 'Boys, Boys, Boys' shirt with his hands doing those dramatic hand motions when he talks and his bright, contagious smile. Daphne actually gasped, gasped! Justin smiled over at her. "So, what do ya think?" Daphne looked at him in disbelief. "What do you think I think? Those are...fuck, Justin! You are quite the closeted artist...among other things." Justin smiled proudly. This was the first real person that he had showed his drawings to. Sure, he had showed his mom but his mom kind of had to say they were good. That was her job as a mother. And Molly, well she didn't really count. No offense.

"Thanks. When we see Emmett I'm gonna give it to him...since he gave Molly that shirt for free yesterday."

"I'm sure he didn't mind."

Justin stayed silent. Small smile on his face.

"But he'll love the drawing! You better be popping out more of those. I want one done of that guy, Jake, in our fifth period Geometry. He's a total hottie and I'm sure you could draw him for me. With your talent I won't even need to waste money on a camera!" Justin laughed.

"Who said I won't charge you?"

"Well, I won't suck your cock so don't even think about it."

"Gross, Daph! Don't ever say that again!"

Daphne grinned and the two stayed in comfortable silence until they pulled into Liberty Diner. Justin could barely contain his excitement. How could he? He was actually about to meet other gay guys! Sure, Daphne was good and all but she wasn't a gay guy. That served sort of a problem. Smiling brightly, Daphne led him inside the glass doors and inside the diner. The rainbow décor jumped out at him from everywhere. So did the obscene shirt that a women behind the counter had on. "Hey, kiddo!" Daphne must know her too. Daphne strode over to the slightly large women with frazzled red hair. She had a million pins - I love my gay son! - on her blue vest and her bright yellow shirt said 'I love my Penis' on the front. She was definitely a sight, that was for sure. Justin knew he would like her though.

"Who you've got there?"

Daphne smiled. She obviously couldn't wait to do introductions.

"This is my best-friend, Justin Taylor. He just moved to Pittsburgh yesterday."

"Huh. Cute. Nice to meet ya, Sunshine."

Justin smiled at the nickname and quickly shook the women's hand that was outstretched. He also couldn't help but blush slightly. Cute? Yeah, he supposed he was since he was so...short and...blonde. Most blonde boys were cute. Plus, looking about a million times younger then he was helped with the cute factor. "You too." Daphne suddenly grabbed the sketchbook out of his hands. "You have got to see these pictures he drew of Emmett and me." Justin immediately grabbed the book away from her and flipped to the pages myself. Needless to say, she was pretty damn impressed. "Damn! That's fucking excellent. Well, like they say, gays make the best artist!" Justin smiled and quickly closed it shut. Daphne gripped his arm and her eyes scanned for a table, a certain table.

"There they are! Time to meet the clan."

Justin would admit. He was now nervous as hell. Sure, Debbie had been nice enough but he was about to meet Daphne's friends. Friends that were gay. Friends that were hot. Well, when they reached the table there was only one guy that really stood out from the others. Fuck. He was fucking beautiful. It dawned on Justin that he had just seen this same man - He was in Armani again - just yesterday when Molly had called out to Emmett from inside their car. Justin hadn't really noticed him then since he had been too busy smiling at Molly's antics but now, wow, he was quite the looker. His hair was like silk, wavy and brown, it looked so smooth. Justin wished he could reach out and touch it. His eyes were mesmerizing. They weren't one single color. They were more hazel then anything. Green and brown and, if you looked hard, there were tiny gold specks near his pupils.

Justin flushed slightly and quickly looked away to see the other people at the table.

There was the accountant guy whom Daphne introduced as Ted, there was Emmett of course with a bright friend smile and a 'Hey, sweetie!', then there was the guy who had been wearing the Captain Astro shirt except now he was wearing a button down shirt like he had just gotten off of work. He was introduced as Michael. Then there was the beautiful guy sitting there with a smirk on his pretty, kissable lips. "And this is Brian Kinney." Justin opened his mouth to speak, which was really hard to do with Brian Kinney sitting there, but he couldn't seem to get anything out. "N-nice to meet you. All." He made a point to look at everyone else at the table. Too bad he had made it painstakingly clear to Brian, and probably everyone else at the table , who he was talking about. They all nodded and mumbled 'hi' and whatnot. Daphne jabbed him in the ribs.

"Give Emmett the...drawing."

Emmett immediately perked up. "What drawing?"

Daphne grinned. "You won't believe what Justin drew. He's an amazing artist!" Justin rolled his eyes over at her and smiled when Emmett scooted over, pressing Ted into the wall he was sitting next to, offering Justin a sit down. Justin gladly took it and Daphne sat down next to Michael across from him. The black-haired comic guy was sitting next to Brian who looked pretty curious while Justin flipped through his sketchbook. "I guess I drew this for you since you gave Molly a free shirt yesterday." Emmett practically beamed. If someone's light house broke down Emmett could definitely help bring in lost ships with that bright smile, no lie.

"Here."

"Honey! That's gorgeous!"

Ted looked over Emmett's shoulder and you could see approval in his eyes. "You are quite the little artist." Daphne chimed in. "Yeah, quite the little closeted artist," She smirked over at me. "Among other things." I rolled my eyes over at her. "Ha, ha." Emmett passed it over to Michael who was pretty impressed with it. "Hey, you aren't too bad." Daphne looked at him in disbelief and poked him in the shoulder. "What do you mean 'too bad'? His drawings are one-hundred percent better then the artist of Captain whatever-the-fuck-his-name-is!" Justin ducked his head to hide a small smile. Michael truly looked offended.

"It's Captain Astro!"

Now it was the moment of truth. Brian Kinney was looking at his drawing. Justin mentally made fun of himself when his palms actually started to sweat. Who cared if an extremely hot guy was looking at his art work? It didn't matter. It didn't. Justin kept telling himself but it didn't convince him of anything. "Not too bad." Daphne smiled over at Justin. "Thats all you'll get out of Brian. He never compliments on anything." She leant over the table to get closer to Justin. "But in the inside...he's a big...huge...teddybear." Brian scowled at her. "You can shut the fuck up, Daphne. Teddy bear? In your dreams." Daphne smiled.

"He just likes to act like an asshole for fun."

Ted sighed.

"Ain't that the truth."

Michael grinned while he handed Emmett back the picture. "Amen to that sister!" Brian rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah...you can have your fun. Daphne's just jealous that I can't be her teddy bear." Justin grinned and smiled over at Daphne who was pretending to look like she had been caught. "Yeah, you caught me. Brian I wish you would fuck me into total oblivion." Brian smirked.

"Everyone does."

Ted snorted. "I don't." Brian grinned.

"No matter. I already have, remember?"

Michael, Emmett and Daphne all looked at Ted with disbelieving looks on their faces. Ted looked...cornered and irritated at the unwanted attention. Justin just sat there, ridiculous smile still on his face. Michael, not bothering to be quiet, stared accusingly at Ted and Brian. "You fucked Ted?" Ted groaned. "I was drunk and high!" Brian smiled over at the accountant with a small smile. "So was I. I made a horrible mistake that night." Ted raised an eyebrow. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Brian raised his own eyebrow, looking all innocent. Justin thought he looked hot...all innocent like that but knowing that this Brian didn't seem innocent at all.

"Ask other guys that've fucked you...wait...you don't get that very often. Never mind."

Daphne reached across Michael and slapped the man on the arm. "Stop being so brutal! Ted's hot! If he actually tried instead of looking so...boring when you went out to clubs he could get someone too." Brian snorted.

"Yeah, a little twinked up twinkie. Sound good to you, Ted?"

Before the distressed man can answer Deb is standing there, smile on her face and pad out to take their orders. "What can I get for ya boys? And girl." Daphne smiled. "Cheeseburger, not onions and a coke." Emmett jumped in next. "I'm on a diet so I'll get..." Brian smirked over at him and then smiled at Deb. "He'll get some tofu." Deb actually wrote it down and ignored Emmett's scowling face that was directed towards Brian who only smiled sweetly at him. "What can I get for you, Sunshine?" Justin smiled slightly at the nickname. He had a feeling he would be doing that whenever she called him that. "Uh...same as Daphne." Ted leaned over so he could get a better look at Justin.

"Sunshine huh? Perfect nickname since you do remind me of a little ray of sunshine. Your all...bright and everything." Justin raised an eyebrow. "Well, at least I don't look like an accountant." Daphne laughed along with Brian. Well, Brian more like snickered and nodded in agreement. Emmett smiled over at Justin and rested a hand on his shoulder. "He is an accountant." Justin nodded. "Oh, so that explains it." Ted frowned. "Explains what?"

Justin smiled. "Nothing."

"What? Really!"

"It's not like no one's told you before."

"Tell me, Sunshine."

Debbie rolled her eyes and waited for Ted to give her his order. He was obviously too busy at the moment. Justin sighed and looked over at Ted with a small smile. "You just seem like an accountant. Boring, bland, ugh, and...old." There was a whistle from Emmett and he immediatly set to work on inspecting his nails. Ted glared at the blonde. "Ha, ha smarty pants. I'm only thirty-one." Brian piped up from behind the newspaper he was reading. "You might as well be dead." Ted glared at the newspaper - well, the figure behind it.

"Shut up, asshole."

Brian lowered the newspaper.

"Now, now, Teddy. Don't be jealous that I'm at a nice young age of twenty-five and your...old."

He smirked at the older man before digging his face back in the newspaper. Justin laughed along with Daphne. Emmett sighed dramatically. "Anyway...back to the picture. It's amazing! Thanks." Justin smiled. "Sure." Daphne grinned. "Hey, does anyone wanna pose nude? I bet he could do a mean nude drawing." Justin glared at her before his cheeks turned peek. He wouldn't mind drawing Brian without any clothes on, that's for sure. Michael blanched. "Count me out." Debbie laughed. "Aw, come on hunny! Take a ride on the wild side." Justin grinned.

"I can do one of you fucking Captain Astro."

Michael grinned, only slightly though. "Ha, ha." Deb looked back over at Ted. "Are you ordering anything, hun?" Ted rolled his eyes. "Nah. Once you reach my age its harder to get the pounds off. Just a diet coke for me." Justin sighed and smiled over in Ted's direction. After all, he was here to make friends. Not enemies. "You aren't fat." Emmett nodded in agreement. "That's what I keep telling him but he won't listen!" Daphne snorted.

"Yeah, this coming from the guy who weighs like...nothing and it on a diet. Why would Ted listen to you?" Emmett thought about it for a moment. "You have a point I guess." Emmett turned to Ted. "Sweetie, you aren't fat. I shouldn't be the example your following." You could hear the smirk in his voice. Ted smiled slightly.

"Believe me, I'm not. If I was I would be walking around in tiaras and feather boas."

Justin grinned. He could see Emmett doing that. Definitely. He smiled over at Daphne who smiled back. For once, he was actually fitting in and he loved it. Craved it. This was probably the best day of his life and he no longer regretted moving to Pittsburgh.


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Everyone pretty much stayed at the diner for a while and then went to Woody's. Daphne told him all about how they were going to the Babylon later and that he had to come or he would be missing out. "Don't you need an ID for that? I'm on seventeen." Daphne rolled her eyes but Brian beat her to answering. Smirking, Brian slung an arm around the blonde's neck as they watched Michael, Emmett and Ted play pool. "Don't worry 'bout that, Sunshine. Stay with me and you can get anywhere." Justin liked the sound of that. Was there a ticket to Brian's bed anywhere? Justin also found that he liked it a lot better when Brian called him Sunshine.

Daphne smiled knowingly at him.

She knew exactly what Justin was thinking. Fuck, he was hot!

The next two hours had been full of mainly talking. Justin even talked to Brian, well more like flushed and listened to the brunette. Brian even smacked him in the butt once, when he had been leaning over to do his shot when it had been his turn at pool. He had just taken his hand and slapped him and even though it had made him screw his shot up horribly he wanted to Brian to do it again. He even flirted back a little bit, wiggling his ass and smiling over at the brunette. Brian even smiled back with a tiny look of...Justin didn't know what it had been. Wanting? Amusement? Justin hoped it had been wanting, lust, that he had seen there.

'Cause Justin really, really wanted the gorgeous man to fuck him.

"Time for Babylon."

And just like Brian had said, they got in without any trouble. As soon as the group was all situated at the bar, music pounding, hot sweaty bodies grinding, moving and groping everywhere, Brian turned to Justin. "Wanna dance?" Justin blinked. The only time he every danced was when he was alone in his room and in front of his mirror where no one could make fun of him. It wasn't that he was bad - Damn! He knew he was good. He could see. - he just had...issues with dancing in front of large crowds of people. Especially with an extremely hot guy. He was way too self-conscious to dance with him but how could he refuse? He couldn't. Brian was like a drug. He couldn't just say no.

"Sure."

That said, Brian reached out for Justin's shirt and pulled him through the moving bodies until they were situated in the throngs of people, glitter falling down from the ceiling, different colored bright lights flickering everywhere, and Brian's hands on his hips pulling him closer against his taller, lithe body. As soon as Brian's body moved Justin's moved with it trying to move in perfect synch. Brian leaned in, mouth right next to his ear, breathe tickling across the tender skin. "You're trying too hard. Relax, Sunshine." Brian was right. He was trying too hard. Too hard to impress Brian. Hands cupping the back of Brian's heck, Brian's hands gripping his hips holding him close, he slowly melted away. Into the music. He tuned into everything.

The way his hips moved, no, grinded, against Brian's, Brian's forehead leaning against his, their eyes meeting, the way Brian's hands traveled up his hips, around his back, and downwards again until one grabbed his ass and pulled him closer. Justin's breath hitched slightly, erection pressing harshly but nicely against Brian's rather apparent one. The brunette smiled slightly and moved his hips faster, harder, with more meaning then before. Justin's breath hitched again, he found it harder to breathe with Brian's hips grounding into his like that. The pressure of Brian's hand on his ass didn't help either. Then it was over because Emmett had bounded over since the song had changed and had stolen him away from Brian so they could dance. Not anywhere near as provocatively as he had with Brian however. More like danced because it was fun and since Justin had been so relaxed from before...

He was moving. He got eyes. Smacked on a the butt a few times.

Hit ons and even one phone number shoved into his pocket. Justin had no intent on calling it back. Soon five minutes of dancing with Emmett turned into two hours and Justin was more then a little exhausted. Plus, he wanted to find Brian again and dance with him again. Last time had been...nice. As soon as Justin stepped up to the bar Daphne bombarded him with questions. "You and Brian looked pretty cozy out there." Justin smiled. "Yeah, like an hour ago." Daphne shrugged. "Cozy nonetheless. Do ya like him?" Justin smiled. "What do you think? He's only the hottest guy here." Daphne nodded.

"He's a looker."

Justin nodded in agreement and leaned up against the bar. "Beer please." And, his good looks came in handy yet again, he got the beer no questions asked. Too bad he hadn't been placing closer attention and maybe he would've noticed the tablet that the young bartender had slipped into his drink. Hips moving slightly to the music, Justin downed the glass in two gulps and, already, the drug was having its affect on him. He couldn't see straight, Daphne was walking off talking to someone so he couldn't tell her, he couldn't really stand up anymore. Blinking rapidly, Justin fell heavily in the stool. Fuck. This was not good. He could hardly think coherently.

"Like your drink?"

The bartender. He was cute. Wait. He slipped something in the drink. "Get...away from...m-me." Great. He couldn't talk now either. Justin looked around wildly hoping to at least see someone but that was hard since he had been drugged. There was nothing he could do about it. Justin shook his head and tried to pull his hand away when he was pulled out of the stool. As soon as his ass left the stood he couldn't stand up. Hardly anyway. Justin tried to push away anyway. "N-no! G-go...away!" The man laughed, his head shook. Not good. Not good at all. Justin whimpered and tried to push away again. Then the man pulled him into a painfully searing kiss that made him want to vomit. He tasted bad. Like stale beer and...just fucking bad.

He pushed again.

"N-No! H-h-help!"

Of course no one heard him. No one was paying attention. After all, everyone was here having a good time. That's what they probably thought was going on. They were going to leave and fuck. No fucking way! Not if Justin did something about it and, fuck! He couldn't since he was fucking drugged. Justin groaned and his eyes fell shut for a moment and he pushed with all that he had and he did get away but he only swaggered backwards and ran into the bar. The man soon had him back in his grasp and he was pulling him somewhere. Justin couldn't see. Justin couldn't do anything. He could hardly hear. "g-g...away!" The man didn't answer. Justin squirmed some more but gave up seeing as it wasn't helping. Ow. He was banged into a wall.

Where the fuck was he. Justin opened his eyes to see that they were heading towards the exit. No, he couldn't leave! Justin moaned. "I-i-have...AIDS." The man laughed. "Nice try, kid." Justin sighed and he just dangled there lifelessly. There was really nothing he could do. He was going to get raped and he couldn't even fight back. Fuck, he sounded like such a coward. Justin decided that one last try. One more time he would call for help and he would use all the strength he could muster. "H-HELP!" It was louder then before but Justin knew it wasn't loud enough. He was doomed. Doomed straight to fucking hell. This was going to be a fun trip. The icy air soon greeted them as the man pulled him outside into the night. He shivered immediately but obviously didn't say anything and let himself be dragged to a car.

No, he wasn't being dragged to a car. Just around the building.

"Oww.."

He was being slammed against a wall. Justin thought at somehow...the car probably would've been better.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brian slid up next to Daphne who looked downright confused and worried.

"Brian! Do you know where Justin is?"

"What am I? His keeper?"

Daphne didn't find it funny.

"I'm serious. He was just here a second ago. He go a beer and I left for like five seconds and he was gone. He said he was just going to take a break and his beers still here. He didn't even finish it and I doubt he just left it here. Plus, I don't see him anywhere."

Brian smirked down at her.

"He's short. You wouldn't be able to."

Daphne pleaded with him. With her eyes.

"Please help me find him. Justin doesn't just...run off." Brian rolled his eyes. "Fine. Come on." Taking his beer with him, Brian led Daphne through a series of people asking if any of them had seen a short blonde kid. None of them had, surprisingly. How could you have missed him? He was fucking hot. Brian rolled his eyes over at them and scanned the dance floor. He didn't see him and Brian was sure that he wouldn't wander off alone. Not on his first night here and not without telling anyone. He wasn't with Emmett who was dancing up a storm. He wasn't with Mikey who was talking to some guy that Brian didn't recognize. And he wasn't with Ted who was standing at the bar getting snubbed by everyone in the club.

Brian strode up to the bouncer.

"Did you see that blonde kid I came in here with earlier?"

The bounced smiled. "How could I not see him? Yeah, some guy dragged him out here just a few seconds ago." Daphne raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'dragged?' The bouncer laughed. "That little fucker was shitfaced." Daphne glared at him. "Just didn't hardly have anything to drink. He wasn't shitfaced. He doesn't get shitfaced." The man shrugged and let another person inside the pounding club. "Whatever. He was pretty fucked up." Brian pushed past the man without another word and stepped out into the street. It was pretty cool out here by now. Daphne stepped up next to him and cupped her mouth with her hands.

"Justin!"

Brian glared over at her.

"You think that's going to help?"

"What?"

"Yelling for him. If he's been drugged he won't be able to reply."

Daphne glared back up at him.

"At least I'm doing something."

The two were quickly interrupted by a loud, familiar sounding scream. Daphne grabbed Brian's bare arm and looked up at him worriedly, doe eyed. "Brian..."

"...That was Justin!"

Fuck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Title: Fall to Pieces
Rating: R
Summary: Rape. Trauma. Justin tries to keep it a secret from his family. Not such a good idea.
Warnings: Rape, References to Rape

Chapter 3 - Fall to Pieces

^^^

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Chapter Title: Nobody's Home
Rating: R
Summary: Brian tells Justin's parents about the unfortunate events and also helps Justin come out at the same time. Obviously. Brian offers Justin an offer he can't refuse.

Chapter 4 - Nobody's Home

^^^

“Justin…”

Brian took a few steps back to distance themselves even further away from his parents who were cheering excitedly for their trophy daughter. He also led the two of them further away because he wanted to get away from the nosy soccer moms who would get off on listening in on someone’s private conversation. Looking confused, Justin followed him, arms crossed protectively over his chest. His eyes darted around the soccer field. Quickly. Nervously. Cautiously. Brian sighed. How could he go about this?

He reached out a hand to touch him so he could get his attention, changed his mind, and ran the hand through his hair instead. Now wasn’t the time to startle him like it would if Brian just came out of the blue and grabbed his wrist or something. “Justin…look at me.” Blinking, the blonde quickly looked over at him, concern etched across his pretty face. Brian’s serious tone must’ve gotten to him. Brian hadn’t meant to sound so serious but this was a serious conversation that was about to be had. God, Brian couldn’t remember a time he had sounded so serious. Brian almost reached out again. Maybe to grab his hand.

He looked so lost.

“Listen to me-” Pause. “Are you listening?”

Justin quickly nodded in response, eyes clearly showing his confusion, concern, as to what Brian was so intent on telling him. The brunette took a step closer, only an inch, but Justin mirrored the move except went backwards. Despite what Justin had told him earlier while in his jeep…he still couldn’t handle the fact that Brian was here. That he couldn’t and wouldn’t trust him…even if he knew that Brian wouldn’t hurt him. Maybe Brian could write a book on rape, Rape 101, after this fiasco was over…if it ended. “Justin, what happened last night…”

Brian tried his hardest, his fucking hardest, to ignore the way Justin’s whole body seemed to shrink, grow tense and how Justin’s eyes suddenly looked so pained, sad, and dark. Angry too. It seemed to only get worst as the time tip toed by. So slowly. “…You really need to tell your parents. Don’t interrupt me, Sunshine. You have no idea how much I’m stressing the fact that you need to tell them. Here’s the deal…if you don’t tell them, right this second, I will.” Justin’s face held that sickly pallor at these words and Brian hated knowing that he looked like that because of him.

The blonde’s teeth nipped at his bottom lip, Brian was afraid he might make them bleed again if he was too hard. He looked so fucking pathetic and vulnerable. Justin blinked up at him, probably blinking back more tears that had reproduced, and shook his head a few times. “You wouldn’t.” Brian sighed, rubbed his forehead with his index finger and thumb, and let out a long sigh of…something. Maybe sorrow. “That’s where you’re wrong. I will tell. They need to know. Your life’s going to be royally fucked up for a while. You’re going to need someone to talk to that you can actually trust. Not some twenty-five year old you don’t.”

He looked close to tears. Boarder line. Brian tried not to feel too sorry for him bit…it was hard. He offered him a sympathetic smile and offered a hand out to the blonde. When Justin didn’t respond, Brian didn’t find this surprising, Brian reached over and lightly, gently, grasped on to the boy’s wrist and slowly led him over to his smiling, even Mr. Taylor was smiling, parents. Brian kept his gentle hand around the boy’s small wrist hoping that it was, at least, a little comforting. “Mom.”

His voice was strained, chocked up, and, Brian felt a small pang in his stomach, scared. Craig and Jennifer both turned from the exciting soccer game. Jennifer immediately noticed the hunched way her oldest son stood, the way his eyes stared unblinking at the ground, and the tears that were close to slipping out of his eyes. Concern mode was immediately engaged. “Hunny, what’s wrong?” Craig said nothing but looked on with slight worry. More curiosity then anything though. His eyes, Brian noticed, would wander back to the soccer game a few times. Brian was glad the man stayed silent though.

He was a fucking bastard.

Justin glanced over to meet Brian’s gaze. He hoped it was encouraging. He doubted it. The blonde’s look said it all. Brian, sighing painfully, met Mrs. Taylor’s eyes. He shoes not to glance at Justin’s dad. As far as Brian was concerned, Justin’s father wasn’t, and shouldn’t be, part of this. Not after the things he had heard about the man and seen for himself. “There’s something you should know about last night. It’s important and I don’t think is should be discussed here. Somewhere private and now.” There he went, sounding more serious then he had in a long while. He hated sounding serious.

Mrs. Taylor took in Brian’s solid, serious, voice and quickly agreed despite the fact that their younger daughter was competing in her first game. “Yes, of course. Craig…go tell the coach Molly will need someone to drive her home after the game.” She turned back to Brian and her hands clasped in front of her, wringing her fingers. A nervous habit, Brian guessed. “We live about ten minutes away from here. We can talk at our home.” Brian nodded and led Justin, hand still looped around his wrist, towards his jeep. Brian thought it would be best if Justin rode with him since he was so close to breaking down and Brian didn’t want Justin’s parents cornering him with questions.

The homophobic father and seemingly kind mother jumped into their little Beemer and Brian immediately followed. Justin didn’t make it the whole ten-minute trip before he started balling in the passenger seat. Again, Brian wished he could think of something encouraging and perfect to say. All he could come up with was ‘don’t worry…I’ll do all the talking…’ Of course, it didn’t help. He only cried harder, trying to keep it silent and only ending up choking on his tears. By the time the four of them were seated in the living room, Justin had stopped crying but looked scared shitless. Brian took time to take in their house. Nice. Rich. Brian, however, preferred his loft. So much more…well, it was just better.

The living room they sat in was cheery too. It wouldn’t be too cheery in a few minutes.

“So, what’s wrong?”

Craig’s voice was clipped, snobbish, as if he could think of a million other places he would rather be. Probably at his little girl’s soccer game since she actually played sports. Or maybe somewhere where he didn’t have to deal with his son. Brian held back a glare and a rude retort at the man’s tone of voice. He glanced over at Justin who stared at his, well Brian’s, jeans with intense interest. Brian looked at Mrs. Taylor instead of the man of the household. “Your son-” Mrs. Taylor cut him off. She suddenly looked...suspicious.

“You’re not seventeen are you?” Bingo! You win!

“I’m twenty-five…but that’s beside the point.”

Craig looked disturbed. Probably disturbed that his son had lied to him about his “friend.” He was no doubt wondering how many more imperfections his son had aside from not playing sports, being pretty much quiet all the time, and hiding away in his room and drawing all the time. Not very manly to say the least. He shot a suspicious look towards the brunette. “What’s your real name then?”

“It’s Brian. Brian Kinney.”

A look, albeit a disgusted look, of recognition, which surprised Brian to say the least, made an unwanted appearance onto his old face. Brian watched him closely. How could this…this…man know who he was? They had just moved here for fuck’s sake. “You’re that fag that owns Kinnetik.” Kinnetik was spat out, like it was a word of supreme disgust or like it was a really, really dirty word. In Mr. Taylor’s book, Brian realized, it probably was. After all, a fag owned it. Plus, what made it worst was that it was the biggest and most successful ad agency in Pittsburgh.

And to think a fag owned it! Blasphemy!

Jennifer looked at her husband with a look that said it all. She obviously couldn’t believe her “perfect” husband was being such a jackass. Or, the look said she couldn’t believe he was being his normal self around a guest that was trying, key word here being trying, to help them and her son. She quickly told him to watch his mouth and not to speak to Mr. Kinney like that. The brunette’s face was already hardening. Sure, he didn’t care that he was being called a fag; he didn’t give a flying fuck what straight homophobes thought about him.

But, technically, he was calling his own son a fag.

And he didn’t even know it. Yet.

Brian stared directly at the prick, jaw clenching.

“That’s me. Now, are you ready to hear about your fucking son or would you like to waste even more time on yourself?”

Mrs. Taylor shifted uncomfortably on the sofa, hands clenched tightly in her lap, and she looked over at her husband to see his reaction. His jaw was set in grim determination to not let Brian’s referring to him as a ‘waste of time’ get to him. After all, he was too good a man to let some remark like that get to him wasn’t he? Brian felt glee in knowing that the man wished he could do nothing more then walk across the room and smash Brian’s face in. Justin, jolting out of Brian’s gleeful realizations, suddenly got up off the couch and hurried out of the living room, doors slamming shut behind him. A moment later you could hear his steps pounding up the staircase and then a door slamming shut.

Craig looked away from the doors and glared back at Brian.

“Actually, I would like to know why my son’s been hanging out with the likes of you.”

Likes of you obviously meant: Fag, queer, homo, cocksucker, butt fucker, etc…Brian chose not to reply and turned to Mrs. Taylor instead. She seemed like a better candidate to speak to about her son since she really seemed to give a shit about him. She was clearly distraught. Her eyes held stress, stress, and more stress. Then there was irritation that was directed, no doubt, in her husband’s direction. He was being a fucking asshole after all. The arguing between the brunette and the old, ugly man probably wasn’t helping either. “Craig! Please, be quiet and act your age. I’d like to hear about my son. Mr. Kinney…”

So Brian did. He started out with what Daphne told him last night. About how Justin had lied to his mother about going out with Daphne so he would be able to come to Liberty Avenue with her and not have a curfew. Predictably, Mr. Taylor cut in asking why in the world would his son want to go to Liberty Avenue. He said it with that annoying tone of disgust as it rolled off his tongue. Brian simply stated that he was gay and went on. He told them about Daphne and Justin arriving at Liberty Diner, about him meeting other fags, and then about the art that Justin had drawn for Emmett. Then he went on to tell them about going to Woody’s.

He left out the part about him smacking their son’s ass.

That seemed like a good idea.

Brian had also decided to leave out the part of the story when they arrived at The Babylon when he and their son had engaged in provocative dancing. The rest he told: Justin and Emmett fooled around on the dance floor for a couple of hours – Brian had been watching from a corner of the club where he got a perfect view of the blonde’s little body moving sexily with all the other hot sweaty bodies around him. – And then he paused. Brian wasn’t exactly sure what happened in between the time that he had left the dance floor and when Brian and Daphne had found him. So, he told them what Daphne had told him. He got a drink, the bartender slipped a drug in, and dragged him out of the club.

Mr. Taylor seemed to be getting angrier by the minute.

Mrs. Taylor was in tears. Brian felt sympathy for her. For Mr. Taylor? He could go to hell. He didn’t deserve a son like Justin anyway. After a brief pause to take a few moments to breathe, Brian got back on track and told him how Daphne had come asking him if he knew where Justin went. Then told them how they had found him getting raped, how Brian had beat the guy until he had fallen to the ground unconscious and then how he took him to his house to give him a shower –Mr. Taylor practically blanched at this and Brian quickly added that Daphne had taken part in that activity- and talked about what to do.

“So…he spent the night at my place and we came to the soccer game today and I tried to convince him to tell you or I would.”

By this time, about an hour and a half later, Mrs. Taylor was sobbing her eyes out. She had moved to sit closer to her husband, probably hoping for some type of comfort but had received none, and buried her face in her hands. After all, how could something so horrible happen to her precious son? Mr. Taylor finally got the message and wrapped an arm around his wife. Brian watched on in disgust. He was quite the father and husband. He didn’t give a damn about being either, that was for sure. A moment later, Mr. Taylor abruptly got up off the couch and walked out of the room, towards the kitchen, muttering profanities.

Brian took this opportunity to get up off the couch and make a quick escape before Mr. Taylor came back to chew him out some more about being a fag. Too bad Mrs. Taylor, all red and puffy eyed, kept him from going. “Mr. Kinney?” Brian turned to face the distraught housewife, counting the seconds until Craig would come back with an alcoholic beverage and chew him out. The brunette met her gaze. He made sure to keep his own eyes unreadable. Void of all emotion. “Thanks f-for taking ca-care of him.” Brian made a sound of sick amusement.

“I’m not a good care taker, Mrs. Taylor. I was too late.”

Jennifer shook her head while she slowly lifted herself from the sofa. Brian watched her carefully wondering if he was allowed to go. He didn’t want to have a run in with Mr. Taylor again. He could really do without that. Brian shifted from one foot to the other waiting for some type of permission to leave. Since when did he wait for permission? “Thanks for taking care of him, though. M-making sure he got…h-home ok.” The brunette wasn’t used to getting praise. Especially from mothers that he didn’t know. Brian only nodded, not really feeling proud of himself for being Justin back to this “home”.

“Anytime, Mrs. Taylor.”

“Not anytime, Mr. Kinney. My son won’t be going anywhere near you. So, get out of my house you disgusting fag.”

Mrs. Taylor had returned, glass of some alcoholic beverage in his hand. Brian finally had the nerve, no, not the nerve, but the decency to glare at him. He was tired of this man’s bullshit and just plain tired of him. Fucking bastard. He should get an award. “Does that mean Justin has to leave too?” That struck him. That struck him hard. Struck him where it hurt like a motherfucker. “My son is not a fag.” Brian couldn’t help but smirk. “Then I guess some guys at The Babylon got the wrong impression then.”

Mr. Taylor stepped forward, hand clenching so tightly around the glass that his knuckles turned pale white, and his other hand clenched down at his side. His eyes glared daggers at the brunette and Brian loved it. Delved in it. Worshiped it. Brian continued to smirk/glare at him. He was ready for whatever punch the man wanted to throat at him. Just because Brian was a fag didn’t mean he couldn’t fight. Go ask the man that had raped Justin. He’d tell Mr. Taylor. Tell him to fucking back off.

Mrs. Taylor looked close to yelling or throwing something. She looked a complete mess after sobbing and becoming frazzled with he husband’s disrespectful behavior. Her hands kept soothing out her wrinkled skirt, before Brian had delivered the news it had been stiff and wrinkle free. “Craig!” The husband was silenced, knuckles white around his glass as he raised the alcohol to his lips. Veins were practically popping out of his neck and forehead. He looked repulsive. His eyes were raging, his nose even flared. Brian wished he could laugh. Tense silence. Mrs. Taylor worked up a smile.

One of those smiles that was sad, angry, thankful, and apologetic at the same time.

“Thank you, Mr. Kinney.”

Brian quickly told her to call him by his first name. After all, he hated it when people called him Mr. Kinney. It made him feel…old. “-Brian, I’ll see you out.” Brian’s eyes flew over to the stairs as Mrs. Taylor, followed stonily by her husband, led him out of the living room and into the foyer. “Mind if I say goodbye to Justin real quick?” Mr. Prick opened his mouth to protest but Mrs. Taylor sent him a sharp glance that would make anyone be quiet. She gave Brian that annoying smile again. “Of course.”

Brian quickly disappeared up the stairs, stopping once he got up there and looked down the hall. The hushed arguing whispers of the parents downstairs carrying up to the second floor. He couldn’t hear what was being said however. Mrs. Taylor was good in his book, Brian decided. He might’ve been able to have a good conversation with her if they had met under different circumstances. Mr. Taylor on the other hand…well you already know what Brian thinks about that bastard. He was nothing but an egoistic, rich, non-caring, bastard.

Brian didn’t know how Justin could live with that everyday.

Mentally kicking Mr. Taylor’s ass, Brian knocked on the only door that was shut. At first there was no answer, then a squeak of the bed hinges as if someone was getting off or on, and then Justin’s timid voice right on the inside of the door. “Who is it?” He was obviously expecting the worst. Probably his father and a shotgun. “Brian.” The door slowly creaked open, relieved look on his troubled features and his eyes looked towards the stairs as if waiting for his father to stomp up them. Brian sighed. “I’m leaving.” Justin nodded but did Brian see a look of disappointment in those blue eyes?

Brian dismissed it.

He was probably scared that when Brian left his parents would take the opportunity to chew him out or interrogate him. The blonde said nothing, just stood there, disappointed look disappearing as fast as it had come. His hand was hanging onto the knob of his bedroom door. “Stop by Liberty Diner sometime or…if you ever need to make an escape from…here…” He paused and looked around the house for a minute with a disgusted look on his face. “My place is open.” Justin nodded, but, again, didn’t say anything. Brian doubted that Justin would show up at Liberty Diner…much less his place. Brian offered one last smile and turned to leave. “Bye, Sunshine.”

“Bye.”

He spoke. Brian was surprised. He left before Mr. Taylor came up here to see what was taking so long. Brian could only imagine what his mind was thinking up.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Title: Sick
Rating: R
Summary: Justin stays at Brian's. Craig thinks. Jennifer worries. Brian tries to help Justin get back into the "real world".

Chapter 5 - Sick

^^^

Seven quickly changed into eight.

Eight into nine.

Nine to ten.

Then, ten into eleven. The sound of the elevator shaft making loud, banging, noises, pulled Justin out of his bored and tired daze. Any other person probably would have left hours ago, given up on waiting for the person they were waiting for, but Justin had decided to sit there knowing, hoping, that Brian would pop out of the elevator whenever it came up. It had only moved twice since seven. Now was the third time. Eyes watching hopefully, Justin pulled his knees to his chest and rested his hand on his black duffle bag full of clothes, toiletries, and whatnot. The gate was pulled up and out stepped…Brian! Justin sighed with relief, which caused Brian, started, to look up from some papers he was reading and meet the relieved look on Justin’s face.

The paper Brian held was quickly folded, shoved into the pocket of his overcoat and offered a hand to help Justin up. At first Justin stared at the hand. The hand that had gripped onto his hip last night, slapped his ass, and had held him tightly after getting hurt. Getting over his hesitation he took the hand and was pulled up to his converse clad feet. Brian quickly let go and looked at him curiously while his hand dug through the pockets of his slacks looking for his keys. “How long have you been out here?” Justin reached down for his duffle bag. It was heavy with all his shit in it. “Since seven.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

Justin shrugged, hugging his bag to his chest as Brian finally unlocked the door to his loft and let the both of them inside. There were still sheets crumpled up on the couch where Brian had slept and the sheets that Justin had wrinkled up on the bed were still lying there in a wrinkled mess. Justin had forgotten to make the bed before he had left this morning. “I figured you wouldn’t hear it..." Brian raised an eyebrow, door sliding shut. It made noises in the process. “Why? I’m young. Not goin’ deaf yet.” Licking his bottom lip, cringing when he ran over the scab from his teeth, Justin sank down onto the familiar couch. Brian watched, setting his leather briefcase down on the floor and shrugging off his Armani coat. He tossed it onto the counter without a care. Justin sighed. “I figured you were at a club or…something. Loud music.”

“I was working late…since I missed a few hours of work this afternoon.”

It was painstakingly obvious that it was Justin’s fault for that and he felt slightly guilty. Brian must’ve noticed because he quickly offered a smile while toeing off his black leather dress shoes and kicking them somewhere out of the way. “It doesn’t matter. I probably would’ve stayed late anyway. Cynthia was having trouble with a money transfer. I just wish you would’ve called instead of sitting out there for four hours.” Justin shrugged. It didn’t matter. Sure, it was more then a little uncomfortable sitting there for four hours without moving, but the wait had been worth it. He was away from his angry sperm donor. Justin lifted his eyes away from the hem of his shirt that his fingers had been toying with.

“…sorry about my dad…he’s not very…”

Brian walked around the counter into his kitchen and retrieved a bottle of water from the stainless steel fridge. Justin noticed that all his kitchen appliances seemed to be stainless steel. His shoulders lifted up in a small shrug. Justin noticed that Brian really didn’t give a shit about what his dad had said. “It doesn’t matter. Did he say…or do…anything to you after I left?” Justin sank down deeper into the couch; sigh blowing out of his lips. He gathered the white sheet there and pulled it on top of him. Just thinking about his dad made him cold. Inside and out. The sheet smelled, Justin found, distinctly of Brian. Axe and shampoo. Slightly musky too. Good. Justin cursed himself and pushed the thought away but was immediately reminded of what the young bartender had wreaked of. Drugs, alcohol, and smoke. So much smoke. Justin felt like gagging all of the sudden, his stomach felt sick.

Brian was walking around the counter now and slowly towards the couch. Slow. It seemed that Justin’s mind was playing everything in slow motion. A concerned look was etched across the brunette’s face. “Justin…are you alright?” Justin opened his mouth to speak. He opened his mouth to tell Brian that everything was fine. He opened his mouth but words didn’t come out. Doubling over, still sitting on the sofa, vomit came out of his mouth instead of words.

All over Brian’s nice hardwood floors.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter title: Protection
Rating: R
Summary: Brian, Justin, and Emmett go to the movies. Brian comforts Justin after a nightmare.

Chapter 6 - Protection

^^^

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Chapter Title: Need
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Summary: Surprise early in the morning.

Chapter 7 - Need

^^^

 Legs entwined: Pale against gold. Arm lying across a pale chest, shirt riding up and hand protectively resting in the center of the silky skin. Midnight blue duvet and sheet on the floor in two giant knots. Brunette hair clashing with bright sunflower strands as a face nestles into the shorter boy’s neck. Artist fingers: Tangled comfortable and needily in the dark hair of his bed partner, other hand on top of the tan one resting on his chest. Cheek resting against the brunette’s head, body enjoying the comfort of the slow steady breaths across his neck.

Ring.

“Fuck.”

Who the hell was calling at – Brian, eyes sore from lack of sleep, tiredly glanced over at the alarm clock to read the green neon letters glaring out at him – two in the fucking morning? Groaning, Brian moved his hand off the still sleeping blonde’s chest – bare chest – and reached down on the floor, while doing his best not to roll over on top of Justin, until his hand connected with his ringing cell phone. It was so much fucking louder when it was quiet. And when you were fucking sleeping. Brian quickly pressed the “Talk” button just so it wouldn’t wake up Justin. He looked…peaceful. Beautiful even.

And Brian was a fucking lesbian.

Him and Lindsay could have meetings together. Every evening at six instead of Babylon.

“Hello?”

“It’s happening.”

Brian rubbed his eyes with his free hand. He moved slowly, he liked Justin’s hand in his hair and he didn’t want it to move any time soon. Or their legs to separate from their entanglement. Lying stock still as possible, Brian searched his memory for something that could’ve happened at two in the morning. His mind was coming up with…blank. It flashed across his brain over and over again and he wanted to kill Mikey. Why the fuck couldn’t this wait until he could actually think coherently? What the fuck was he talking about? Did Michael really think he would know anything this time of night/morning? Fuck no.

“What’s happening, Mikey?”

“Lindsay. She’s in…labor. Get your ass down here.”

Fuck. It was here. The day that he would officially be dubbed as a father. Dad. The very thought of him being a father scared the hell out of him. He wasn’t ready for that kind of responsibility. Not to mention – By the looks of it, he already had one child that needed taking care of. Why the hell had he let Lindsay talk him into donating his sperm for their ‘happy lesbian life’ fantasies? It was probably because he had been unusually high at the time or maybe drunk. Or even worst: Both. Now trying to wake Justin up, how the hell he could’ve slept through all that was beyond the man’s thinking, Brian pulled himself away, pulled his legs roughly away, and rolled off the bed with a loud thump.

“Ow! Dammit. Fuck.”

That woke the blonde up. Wincing, Brian pushed himself up off the floor as fast as humanly possible and watched as the blonde’s eyes fluttered open. First, fear, confusion and panic. Then those gorgeous – Lesbianism here I come! – Eyes landed on the brunette who was watching, hoping that there wouldn’t be another puking incident. There couldn’t be. He didn’t have time for that. His best female friend was going into labor and he didn’t have time to clean up Justin and the floor. Then, realization and relief and a small smile/look of amused concern. Justin half sat up, holding his upper body up on his elbows while his legs were still splayed out on the bed.

Brian tore his eyes away from the blonde.

“You need to get up.”

“…Why?”

It came out garbled and quiet. It was yawned out more then talked out but Brian understood him nonetheless. Hiding his own yawn, Brian sat on the edge of his bed and in the process tore off his shirt and replaced it with a white wife beater and a white dress shirt to go over it. They were wrinkled because, for some reason, they had been on the floor but it was clean and that’s what mattered. His pants, however, he didn’t have time to change. They would have to make an unwanted appearance at the hospital. While answering he pulled on his leather shoes.

“Get up. Get dressed. I’ll explain in the car.”

He was obedient. He did as asked and in approximately three minutes the two were in Brian’s jeep, buckled up, and speeding down the street. There were few cars on the street, the sky was pitch black still, and everyone – Lucky them – was still tucked away in their beds totally oblivious to what was happening tonight. Oblivious to the fact that Brian’s life was changing again. Another person was being introduced into his life and he wasn’t sure how to take it. Brian Kinney. A dad. Fuck. Those two didn’t go together.

“What’s going on?”

Brian cursed when they hit a red light.

“My friend, Lindsay, is giving birth…”

Justin started to speak.

“…to my son.”

He kept quiet this time. Brian glanced over at him to see how he would digest the news. He looked completely confused. He was, no doubt, wondering why the fuck a gay man would get a woman pregnant. Brian couldn’t help but smile slightly at the look on the blonde’s face – Plus, the light turned green, which was good too – and quickly sped on once again. “Did you fuck her?” Brian didn’t know if the boy sounded just plain curious or a little but disgusted too. He just couldn’t tell. He let out a laugh and quickly shook his head. He would have fucked her, hell, before he became the best homosexual there could be, he had. But that had been a loooong time ago.

“I jerked off in a cup and they squirted it up her.”

“Gross.”

Brian laughed again. The tone of Justin’s voice plainly said ‘I wish I hadn’t asked’. Brian’s mind went off into ‘thinking’ land. He wondered if he would end up regretting all of this later on. Regretting jerking off in that stupid cup and letting Lindsay have it. Regretting bring another person into the world. The fucked up world that was just getting more and more fucked up as the minutes passed. Brian would make sure of one thing, though, whether he regretted this later on or not. He wouldn’t treat his kid the way some parent’s treated their children. Example: The parents of the seventeen-year-old next to him. Fuck. Another red light. As soon as the red glare turned into a green smile Brian sped off again.

They would probably get pulled over before he reached the hospital.

Hopefully not.

“Well, you better hurry...dad.”

Brian rolled his eyes but grinned nonetheless at the smiling male in the passenger seat. Justin, however, was looking out the windshield smiling and not looking over in the brunette’s direction. All was silent for a few minutes, up until they reached the huge white hospital. There were tons of cars parked but it only took Brian two seconds to find one that was close to the doors that would lead him into the place his friend was going into labor in. His heart did flip flops.

“Are you scared?”

The question threw, Brian. Yes it did.

“What?”

“Are you scared?”

The brunette slipped out of the jeep before answering. He pondered over the answer to that question. He could almost hear Justin’s grin leering at him all knowing and smirkishly. The twat already knew the answer yet he asked anyway. Brian met Justin in front of the jeep, mind still pounding. He met the blonde’s understanding but still smiling eyes. “Don’t worry – I won’t tell anyone.” Brian only smiled and placed a firm but gentle grip on the blonde’s neck to lead both of them inside. He wasn’t sure if he just wanted to hold something to hold at the time or I if it was his hands natural reaction. Who the hell knew? It didn’t matter, though, because by the time they walked through the front doors Brian had a hold of Justin’s hand instead and they were running down the many corridors.

He didn’t stop running until they reached the room. Had the nurse even granted them clearance? Fuck. He couldn’t even remember. “The Door”. It would open and a whole new…life form would depend on him. Brian finally knew the answer to Justin’s question. Yes. He was fucking scared. Scared shitless. Brian looked away from the door and down at Justin who readily met his eyes. Their hands were still clasped together, fingers entwined. Brian was probably hurting the boy next to him with how tight he was holding onto him. A death grip. Surprisingly, Justin didn’t seem to mind. He was smiling, and if he was feeling any pain then he didn’t let on.

His expressive eyes were nothing but excitement and happiness.

Bright. Anticipating.

Brian felt a small squeeze on his own hand. The short person next to him smiled that bright sunshine smile that hadn’t really peaked out in a while. “Are you ready, dad?” Brian could get used to him calling him that. In a different sort of way though. Not the father-son sort of way. Brian dismissed the thought and swallowed, he was sure everyone in the hospital could hear it.

“…No.”

Brian didn’t think Justin had been expecting that answer. Not from someone so…able to deal with everything. Not from someone who was ready for everything and who could fix anything. Surely, that’s what Justin thought of him. The life fixer. The Miracle Worker. Justin stared at Brian knowingly anyway. Since when did he know everything anyway? Since when did he become so…I don’t know. But it peeved the brunette to see that he understood him. There were very few people who understood him. Well, who he knew understand him. Honestly, he betted everyone laughed at him behind his back because they all tricked him into thinking no one understood him.

Everyone probably understood him.

“I think you’re ready.”

Brian smiled slightly.

“You think I’m ready? Thanks for your vote of confidence.”

Justin rolled his eyes.

“I know you’re ready. Let’s go.”

Sighing, Brian pushed open the door and bam. In all honesty, he had been expected a horrid sight of snatch. He hadn’t really been looking forward to seeing pussy for the first time in a very long time but he wasn’t. He was greeted by a room full of flowers and a few balloons, a bunch of lesbians crooning over a baby wrapped tightly in a blanket, Melanie sitting next to the tired looking blonde women who was cradling said baby in her arms, and Michael grinning like an idiot. Brian’s eyes landed on the baby. His baby. His and Lindsay’s baby.

“Oh my god.”

Michael stood excitedly next to the hospital bed.

“Well, go on.”

Brian glared at him.

“I though she just started going into labor.”

“…I lied. I wanted you to get here ASAP.”

Brian rolled his eyes. Figured. He walked towards the bed. He must’ve been in some kind of trance because it seemed like everything was in slow motion. He couldn’t believe this. “When did it start?” Melanie, they weren’t the best of friends, narrowed her eyes at him. They were friends but, sometimes, they just got on each others nerves. Like, she hated it when he unplugged his phone, which was almost all the time since he had a cell. Stupid things like that. A lot of the time, however, they got along alright. “Around eight.” Lindsay smiled up at him, all happy and still heavily medicated. That must be why she looks so fucking happy right now.

“And six hours later, there he was.”

Brian smiled slightly. His voice sarcastic.

“I wish I could’ve been there. How often do I get to see snatch?”

The blonde women smiled and chuckled, eyes glancing down at the newborn. “Looks just like you.” Brian looked down at the baby too. He still couldn’t believe this was happening. “I guess he must be mine then.” Lindsay carefully held the baby up a bit. “Want to hold him?” Brian nodded; he could feel everyone’s eyes on him and on his every move. God, they didn’t have to act like it was…a world event. Him holding a baby. Alright, he didn’t usually walk around holding baby’s but still. Melanie leant forward a bit, hands outstretched. “Ok, careful. Don’t drop him!”

“And that’s just what I was planning on doing.”

She could be a bitch when she was tired. Brian rolled his eyes over at her and then stared down at his son. His son. He betted, that just a few years ago when he had been heavily into the party scene, people would’ve called social services as soon as they heard he had a son. Brian smiled down at the little boy in his arms. God, he was…cute. There just wasn’t another word for it. People would’ve keeled over if he had said that years ago. Brian dismissed thoughts of his old life and focused on his son. His very cute son. Lindsay smiled up at him, happy that they were…bonding or whatever the fuck. Happy that Brian was enjoying himself.

“We’ve been thinking of names. Mel wants to name him Abraham after her grandfather, but…I like Gus.”

She nodded as she said so. Brian smiled down at the baby. Why the hell were they asking him? Brian remembered the times when Mel and Linds wouldn’t trust him with a brush – Ah, the good times when him and Mel hated each others guts and had wanted to kill each other -. How could they ask him to think of a name, much less choose between two. He didn’t want to make the other mad. Make them think he liked one lesbian more then the other. He wouldn’t be able to decide. Brian looked over at Justin who was smiling like an idiot too. Like Mikey. Brian was proud to see that Michael wasn’t acting like a super sympathetic moron like he had at Deb’s the other day.

“What do you think?”

“Y-you wouldn’t survive a day at school being named Abraham…but I guess Gus is ok.”

Brian shot Melanie a warning glare before she could ask him who the fuck he was or something rude like that. She obviously wasn’t thrilled with the name but she would get over it with time. Plus, Brian agreed with Justin. Abraham? What fucking time frame did the women think they were living in? Abraham was good when Abraham Lincoln was living but not now, in good 2005. Brian smiled down at his son again. “Gus. It’s a good butch name. Come on, Gus. Give your daddy a smile.” Suddenly there was a flash and Brian would have to kill Michael. They were in the hospital, so if he managed to live the nurses could take care of him right away.

Suddenly there was another ring. Justin’s cell phone this time. The blonde scurried out of the room, phone held up to his ear and a faint ‘hello’ out the door. Lindsay looked up at Brian. She was curious. “Who’s that cutie?” Brian glanced over at Michael. No one had told her yet? It had only been, like, two days…fuck, he couldn’t remember how many days but not that many. Someone should’ve told them by now. “Uh…Michael will explain. I better go see who it is.” He placed a kiss on Gus’s cheek and carefully placed her back in Lindsay’s arms. He walked out the door and heard Michael’s voice start telling them about Justin.

He almost bumped into Justin when he walked out the door.

He was standing right there.

“Who is it?”

Who the fuck would be calling Justin at, he glanced down at his watch, two-forty in the morning? Justin motioned for him to be quiet and Brian did as asked, however, watching like a hawk. He watched the blonde’s every move. How he paced back and forth, how his free hand came to rub his tired eyes every few seconds and how he looked worried. Brian looked on with anticipation as Justin hung up his phone and stood there in the middle of the hospital hallway looking like he wanted to run and hide from something.

“Who was it?”

“Daphne.”

“What’d she want?”

Justin sighed.

“Apparently, my dad wants to see me.”

I raised an eyebrow, slightly skeptical.

“At two forty in the morning? Plus, he said he wouldn’t bother you again.”

Justin lifted up his shoulders with a shudder. He suddenly looked extremely fragile. Brian didn’t want him to break. Brian stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder, fingers massaging slightly. Sighing, the brunette turned the blonde’s body around so that Justin’s back was facing him and both hands began kneading into the boy’s shoulders. “You don’t have to see him. Why the hell is Daphne calling you now?” Justin sighed again and, again, shrugged. “She said my dad just called, like, an hour ago and she couldn’t decided if she wanted to tell me yet or not. She was worried I might freak out or something.” Brian nodded although Justin couldn’t see it. Suddenly the blonde pulled away muttering ‘Ow’. Brian smiled apologetically.

“Sorry. I was just…thinking.”

He really hadn’t meant to kneed that…hard. Justin smiled that weak frail smile that Brian was so used to seeing. “About my dad.” It was a statement, not a question. Brian nodded. “You don’t need to think about him. You have a son to look after now. I can deal with him.” Brian rolled his eyes and reached out for Justin’s hand, pulling him closer. He had started to pace again, back and forth, and it was getting on Brian’s nerves. Plus, he was annoyed with Justin thinking that Brian would ever be too busy to help him.

“I have two people to look after. Gus has his moms. You have…me.”

He only sighed, not convinced.

“Listen to me. Are you listening?”

Justin nodded.

“Whatever you have to deal with, I have to deal with. And if that means fighting with your bastard of a father then we’ll do it. You don’t have to act strong. You can ask for help every once in a while.”

“It seems like I’m asking for it every second of the day recently.”

Brian worked up a smile. Brian felt another urge to get that address from Emmett and go to that bastard’s apartment now and kill him. He ruined fucking everything. Sighing, Brian pulled the blonde close, arms wrapping around him, one hand on the small of his back and the other one automatically clawing through Justin’s hair. Again, he loved Justin’s hair. It was…perfect.

“You need it, Justin. That’s why.”

He paused, breathing in his scent.

“And I don’t mind.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Title: Easy Ambush
Chapter Rating: R
Summary: Emmett's Ambush.

Chapter 8 - Easy Ambush

^^^

“Are you hungry?”

“No.”

“Thirsty?”

“No.”

“Are you anything?”

Brian stared at the blonde who was currently huddled in the middle of his sofa, fingers tugging nervously at the sleeves of his shirt and eyes darting around the room. “Yes.” Brian sighed. That was a start. Ever since the call from his father last night/early morning, Justin had been…quiet and confined. He hadn’t said much and had mostly kept to himself and he looked deep in though. Brian hoped he wasn’t actually considering talking to his bastard of a father. Brian strode towards the sofa and sank down into the leather next to him. Justin didn’t acknowledge his presence.

“What are you then?”

Justin looked over at the blonde, hesitant about answering.

“Scared.”

The brunette sighed and slowly reached over to grab Justin’s hand in his. He was again proud to see that the blonde didn’t shy away from his touch but, instead, readily grabbed the hand that was offered to him and held on tightly. Brian shifted closer to Justin trying to offer him a smile of confidence. “About tonight.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. A fact. Tonight was the night that Emmett wanted to do his little ambush on Mr. Asshole. Carl was free, Debbie was worried, Emmett was probably more excited about nailing him then he should be, and Brian was…well…Brian was something. The blonde quickly nodded, teeth nibbling at his bottom lip.

“It’ll be fine. Soon he’ll be behind bars.”

Hopefully.

“You think?”

“Yeah. They can’t let him get away with this.”

Justin was silent except for a heavy sigh. Of doubt. Brian looked over at him. He had turned so he was sitting sideways on the couch, cross-legged. Sighing, Brian pulled Justin closer to his body and, in the process, shifted around on the couch until he was lying on his back, head resting on the arm rest, and Justin was nestled between his legs, on his chest, and in his arms. “Don’t worry, Sunshine…even if they don’t lock him up…you’ll never deal with him again.” Suddenly there was a large pounding on his door. Groaning, Brian looked over at the clock, exactly twelve, and didn’t make a move to get up. “Maybe they’ll go away.” They didn’t. The incessant pounding began to get on his nerves.

“Come on in! It’s unlocked!”

He hoped it wasn’t some mass murdered that he had just invited into his house. The sound of the door sliding open filled the loft and then a familiar female voice. “Hey guys.” Daphne. Justin didn’t get up but instead stayed put and just moved his head to get a look over at his best-friend. “Hey, Daph. What are you doing here?” Daphne didn’t say anything about the current position the two men were in and strode over and sat in an armchair near by. “I just thought I’d visit and…ask you if you were gonna call your dad back. He sounded…worried, Justin.” Justin snorted.

“I bet. Worried that the town will hear that his son is gay.”

Daphne frowned.

“You don’t understand. He sounded worried about you.”

“Yeah, that’s why he practically sold me to Brian, right?”

Daphne didn’t say anything but just shrugged, hands clasping and unclasping in her lap. Brian sighed and his arms tightened slightly around the distressed boy. “It’s his decision if he calls him back or not.” Justin didn’t say anything for a moment. “I might as well…or he’ll never stop. If he wants something he usually gets it.” Regretfully, Brian opened his arms to let Justin slide away from him and towards the platform to grab his cell phone. Brian felt oddly alone, less warm, without Justin’s body resting against his. Brian glanced over at Daphne who had pulled her knees to her chest and began biting her fingernails.

“That’s a bad habit.”

Daphne immediately stopped.

“More like a nervous habit.”

Brian nodded in understanding and slowly sat up into a sitting position. The next sound to be heard with the sound of Justin punching numbers into his cell phone and then his feet padding back over to the couch. “It’s me.” Brian watched Justin closely, as did Daphne, as Justin finally spoke. “Why the fuck did you call Daphne had two in the morning? Are you insane?” Brian knew the answer to that. Yes, the fucker was insane. “I thought you said you were gonna leave me alone.” Silence. Justin frowned and looked…confused. “You what?” Brian leaned closer as if trying to hear the conversation going on at the other end of the phone line. No success.

“You want me to go to the hospital.”

Not a question, a statement.

“Why? I didn’t think you cared about my well-being.”

Pause. “I’m fine dad. There’s nothing wrong with me.”

“I don’t need to get tested. I don’t need anything.”

Brian almost reached over to steal the phone from Justin and turn it off. Justin’s voice quieted. He sounded distressed and overly confused. “Why do you care?” Justin glared at the wall ahead of him, fingers clenched around the phone. Brian thought that it might break of he wasn’t careful. “You didn’t care about being a father before.” Justin quickly hung up and set the phone down next to him. He didn’t say anything to the other two people in the room and they didn’t say anything to him. They just let him think.
 

“Are you ready?”

Justin wasn’t ready. He wasn’t ready for this ambush. He wished that it wasn’t nine-thirty and that, instead, it was earlier so he wouldn’t have to do this just yet. Justin swallowed and just nodded. He didn’t trust his voice to talk. Emmett beamed encouragingly at him and gingerly patted his shoulder. Justin offered his own smiled. It probably turned out to be more o f a grimace and not a smile. A hand locked onto his and he turned his head to look into concerned hazel eyes. Justin squeezed his hand tightly around Brian’s as if it was a life preserve. And, in a way, Brian was kind of his life preserve. The man had helped him through everything so far. Everything.

“You’ll be fine. I promise.”

Justin found himself believe him. “Just…” He stopped. The request would probably sound ridiculous to the older man. Brian frowned. “What?” Justin bit down on his bottom lip. A habit he wished he could get rid of. “Just…don’t let go.” Brian squeezed his hand gently around Justin’s. “I won’t.” He laced their fingers together and they set off down the hall after Emmett, Carl, Debbie, and Daphne. Debbie had insisted on coming since she loved “her little Sunshine” so much. Justin smiled slightly. “…Thanks.” Brian only nodded and the two hurried to catch up with the other four members of their ambush squad.

“Who wants to ride with me?”

“Why don’t we just all ride together?”

Brian agreed with Debbie. They could just ride together. They all ended up squeezing into Emmett’s car. Debbie sat in the passenger seat, Emmett drove, Brian and Justin sat in the back. Carl was going to follow in his patrol vehicle. Justin smiled over at the brunette as he sat himself in the middle seat instead of a seat by the window. Just so he could remain close to the man protecting him from evil. Brian smiled back, his hand releasing Justin’s and coming across the blonde’s shoulders instead and holding him tightly against him. Debbie smiled in the review mirror at the two but said nothing. Emmett was too busy talking anyway.

Twenty minutes later Emmett pulled up in front of a crappy apartment complex. Very, very crappy. Justin swallowed as Brian helped him out of the car. Carl parked behind Emmett and the six of them walked inside the building. They were greeted with the stale smell of beer, cigarettes, smoke, and just…a smell that clearly stated that the building wasn’t clean. Emmett turned around to face his “followers.” “Now, I called head so he should be up there waiting for me. Well, us of course.” No one said a word. Justin was too nervous to say anything. The only reason he made it up the long flights of stares, heart beating rapidly in his chest, was because of the fingers laced with his. An ongoing change flooded his head saying that Brian was there. Brian would protect him. Brian, Brian, Brian. The brunette squeezed his hand when they reached the man’s floor.

“Are you ok?”

“No.”

“Do you trust me?”

Justin nodded. “Yes.”

“Then trust that I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Justin nodded again and this time didn’t say anything. He only looked up at the brunette to see that everything Brian was saying was true. That Brian meant every word that he was saying. Soon they reached the door, 513, and they all stood behind it. Daphne reached over and grabbed Justin’s other hand, coming closer to kiss him gently on the cheek. Emmett knocked on the door; Debbie folded her arms angrily over her chest and muttered a curse word under her breath. Carl placed a hand on her shoulder and reached into his pocket to get out his badge. Justin pressed himself closer, as close as he could get, to Brian when the knob began to turn. Then the door opened and there he stood.

At first he looked confused. Then he saw Justin. His eyes went slightly wide and he made a move to slam the door again but, at that moment, Carl stepped forward and blocked the door from shutting, badge held out. “You’re under arrest…” The whole police speech. Justin let out a relieved breath. This was better then he had thought it would be. At least he didn’t faint. The bastard met his eyes again; a sick gleam in his eyes, and Justin quickly looked away, burying his head in Brian’s chest. He didn’t watch but knew when Carl was leading the man past him. He knew because he could smell him. The same sick smell that he had smelled like on that night. Suddenly his legs went slack and everything went black.
 

Justin wasn’t sure how long he had been out, except when he did wake up to the hovering faces of Brian, Debbie, Emmett, and Daphne he felt like shit. He blinked a few times, florescent lights making it hard to see clearly, until his vision came back to him. He heard everyone sigh in relief and he then realized he was in the diner. He was lying on a table in the diner. He wondered what the people thought who were sitting around them trying to eat their meals. Justin groaned and made a move to sit up. Brian’s hand immediately connected with his chest.

“Don’t get up.”

“W-why not?”

“Just relax.”

“We’re in a diner full of people and you’re telling me to fucking relax?”

The brunette smiled down at him. “The diner’s closed. Debbie closed it for that exact reason. It’s only us in here.” Emmett beamed down at him. “We’re so glad you’re ok. We all panicked when you suddenly fainted.” Justin smiled up at him and this time propped himself up slightly, a dizzy feeling his head, on his elbows. They back up a little bit so they could give him room to breath. Brian sat down in the booth, hand clasping Justin’s tightly. Justin wondered if he hadn’t let go once. Like he said he wouldn’t. He looked everywhere for a clock but had trouble finding it.

“How long have I been out?”

Debbie frowned.

“A whole fucking hour! You scared the hell out of me you little shit.”

Justin offered her a small smile and hoped that she wouldn’t remain too mad at him. She didn’t. She suddenly smiled, all teary eyed, and said something about getting all of them something to drink. Daphne stepped up and sat down across from Brian. “Carl’s with him.” Justin immediately knew who she was talking about and nodded. “Are they at the station?” Daphne nodded and smiled encouragingly at him. “Yeah, not to pressure you or anything but…you’ll have to go down there soon…” Justin nodded and slowly sat up into a sitting position. Brian immediately placed a hand on his back.

“Are you ok?”

“I’m just a little dizzy.”

“Maybe you should lie back down.”

Justin smiled over at him. “I’ll be fine.” I think. Yawning, Justin got off the table top and slid down onto a seat next to Brian. Daphne smiled at the two from her seat across the table. Justin smiled over at her and was just about to ask her what she was smiling about when Debbie came back with a tray full of drinks. “Sunshine, I got you water because I refuse to let you drink anything else.” Justin smiled and only nodded. “Thanks, Deb.” He took the water and gulped it down. He hadn’t realized he had been so thirsty until the water had leaked into his system. Another yawn slipped out of his mouth and he looked tiredly over at Brian. “Bri,” Another yawn. “Can you take me home?”

The man immediately nodded, setting down his own water and sliding out of the booth.

“We’re leaving, Deb. Justin’s tired.”

“Good night, Sunshine! Sleep tight.”

Real fucking likely.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Title: Boyfriend Material
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Summary: Justin and Brian talk to Carl - Justin finally gets checked by a doctor - Justin asks Brian some questions.
 

Chapter 9 - Boyfriend Material

^^^

“Can you go to the station this afternoon?”

Brian had been waiting anxiously for Justin to wake up. As soon as they had gotten home last night Justin had fallen fast asleep on Brian’s bed. He had slept through the night, only making a few noises in his sleep, without one single nightmare. It was twelve and the phone ringing, it had been Carl, was what had woken up the blonde boy from his sleep. Justin only stared at him for a moment, thinking, contemplating on whether he was ready to or not. The blonde slowly nodded and let out a small nervous murmur of ‘I guess so’ and hurried into the bathroom. The next thing Brian heard was the shower running.

Brian picked up his phone and called Carl.

“Carl Horvath.”

“It’s Brian.”

“Did you ask him?”

“Yeah, he said he’d do it. When do we have to come in?”

“It’d be best if we could get this over with. Can you make it in, let’s say, an hour?”

“Yeah. Sure. Justin’s in the shower now.

“Good. I’ll see you then.”

Brian hung up without saying goodbye and rummaged through his dresser drawers to look for some clothes for the boy to go to the station in. Brian had been meaning to take him shopping for some but they had all been so busy…thirty minutes later, all clean and awake, they were in Brian’s jeep and on the way to the station for Justin to identify the man. Brian looked over at the passenger’s seat and studied Justin’s expression when they were stopped at a red light. He looked tense, nervous, his face drawn tight and more pale then usual. Brian started up once again when the light turned green.

“It’ll be ok. All you have to do is say it’s him and we’ll leave.”

“Ok.”

Then we’re going shopping.”

“…Ok.”

“Well, you need clothes. You can’t just wear mine for the rest of your life.”

“Ok.”

“Is that all you know how to say?”

“…No.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.”

“Did you hold my hand the whole time?”

Brian blinked. What? That was he talking about? “Uh, sorry, Sunshine but I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.” Justin was silent for a moment as if thinking of how to word what he was going to say next. Brian looked over at him again since they were at another red light and waited impatiently. “I mean, last night when I asked you not to let go of me…and when I blacked out…and I woke up and you were still holding my hand. I was wondering if you – If you had held it the whole time.”

Brian didn’t answer at first. Yeah, he had held Justin’s hand the whole time but it hadn’t been because Justin had asked him to. It had just been…an instinct to hold his hand the whole time. Brian cleared his throat as the light turned green. He could feel Justin’s eyes watching him, burning holes into his skin waiting for an answer. Brian nodded and shrugged his shoulders. “Yeah, yeah I did.” Out of his peripheral vision he saw Justin smile. “Thanks.” Brian only shrugged and brushed it off as if it was nothing. Justin, however, smiled the whole rest of the way to the police station.

When they arrived Carl was standing outside waiting for them.

“How you guys doin’?”

Justin didn’t answer and only shrugged. Brian shrugged too. “We’re doing as good as two men could be doing on this occasion.” Carl nodded and led the two inside the station. “Understandable. This’ll be quick. Just follow me.” Brian did just that, reaching back for Justin’s hand. It wasn’t that he was worried Justin would get lost or whatever…it was just that he wanted to hold Justin’s hand. The blonde was probably scared out of his mind right now. For one, he wasn’t big about crowded spaces and the station was pretty crowded because it was so small and Brian felt that he had some kind of impact on Justin’s behavior. He felt that him holding the blonde’s hand helped.

Brian told himself it wasn’t because he just needed to make sure Justin was there.

And safe.

“Come on in here.”

Carl led them into a small, black room with a large glass window. “Alright, is this him?” Carl sounded bored. Bored out of his mind. That was understandable. We all knew that this man was the man that had raped Justin. There was no question about it. Justin was silent for a moment and Brian felt the blonde move closer. Brian slipped his arm around Justin’s slim waist and pulled him closer. Carl waited patiently as Justin looked through the glass and at the man on the other side. Then Justin nodded, ducking his head so he wouldn’t have to look at him any longer.

“Yeah, yes, that’s him.”

Carl nodded.

“Alright, you’ll just have to sign some papers and then you’re free to go. I’ll call you and let you know what happens so you have the scoop. Also, your father called-“

Justin groaned. “No…”

Carl nodded.

“Yeah, he called and demanded that I talk you in to seeing a doctor. He told me that you refused. So, I have someone here since I was pretty sure you’d refuse to listen to me too. They just want to draw some blood and test you. They’re also probably gonna ask you to go to the hospital so they can see if there is any damage to your…well, any damage. Don’t fight them either.”

Brian swallowed and looked over at the blonde who then looked at him accusingly. Brian held his hands up in defense. “Hey, I had nothing to do with this. I didn’t know about any of this.” Justin must’ve believed him because he looked away and began fidgeting where he stood. “Fine. I just…I hate hospitals.” Carl nodded understandingly. “I’ll be fine. They just need to make sure you’re alright. You don’t want to have any problems later on do you?” Justin didn’t answer. Carl led them to another room, empty except for a doctor and his equipment. Carl turned to Justin. “They’ll draw your blood here and I’m assuming they’ll make you go to the hospital right after.”

He turned to Brian.

“Please make sure he gets there.”

Brian nodded despite the fact that Justin would probably never speak again if he made him go to the hospital. But he had to do what he had to do. Brian grabbed Justin’s arm. “We have to make sure you’re taken care of. I – we – don’t want anything to happen to you.” Justin just nodded, looking at the doctor wearily. Then he turned back to Brian. “You’ll be there with me the whole time though right? Like in the hospital? You’ll…hold my hand?” Brian nodded and reached for the blonde’s hand as if to emphasize. “Yeah, if they let me stay in with you I will.”

He looked slightly relieved.

“…Ok.”

“Now, let’s go get your blood drawn. It doesn’t hurt.”

“I- I know.”

It only took a few seconds. A poke and done. Then they were on their way to the hospital. Justin fidgeted nervously in his seat the entire time. Brian reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “Relax. I’m sure everything’s fine.” Justin didn’t reply. He just continued to fidget, teeth biting his bottom lip nervously and a small frown on his face. As they walked into the hospital, following the doctor, Brian held his hand. Brian held his hand when they walked into the exam room. Brian held the blonde’s hand when the doctor kindly asked Brian to leave. “I can’t leave.” Justin handled it a lot less calmly then Brian did.

“He can’t fucking leave! He’s staying. If you make him leave then…fuck this examination.”

The doctor, Doctor Stevens, quickly backed down and quickly allowed Brian to say. Justin immediately shut his mouth and calmed down. Well, as much as he could while lying on his back on the table. It felt like the circulation to his hand was being cut off, Justin was squeezing it so tightly. Justin had refused to let himself be put to sleep. When he was done, about ten minutes later, the doctor took out a clipboard and began talking in a slightly bored tone. “It looks like there was some damage done, rape is a vile thing, but, thankfully, it healed nicely. It would’ve been better if you had come in sooner,” He shot Justin a scolding look. “But everything’s fine. You’re very lucky.”

Brian let out a huge sigh of relief. On accident.

“Are you his partner?”

Brian blinked. “W-what? No. No I’m not. Friend.” Partner? Was this guy kidding? Did Brian look like he was Justin’s partner? …Well, probably. After all, they were holding hands. Justin hadn’t let him go yet. And Brian had been extremely worried about the well being of the blonde. Brian quickly shook his head and said he was just a friend again. The doctor seemed slightly amused but nodded. “Well, I’ll need his legal guardian to sign some papers…and I’m guess you are not.” Brian shook his head again. “No…” The doctor nodded and turned to Justin. “Can you call your mom or dad down here, Mr. Taylor?” Justin swallowed but then nodded, taking the phone the doctor offered.

“Mom?”

…

“Yeah, I’m fine…”

…

“I’m at the doctors with Brian.”

…

“Yeah, you need to come down. To sign some papers. Doctor Stevens will tell you about it when you get here…I just…I couldn’t call dad…is he home?”

…

“Good. Don’t tell him.”

“I love you too.”

Justin hung up and handed the phone back to the doctor. “Do I have to stay here? I’m…tired.” Whether the doctor believed him or not, he let the two of them go. As soon as they were in Brian’s jeep, Justin let out a loud sigh of relief. “This has been the second worst day of my life.” Justin didn’t have to ask what the first worst had been. That much had been obvious. “You handled it great.” Justin smiled over at me. “Liar. I nearly bit the guys head off.” Brian shrugged. “True, but other then that. Great.” Justin didn’t say anything for a few moments and Brian figured that this would be another one of those silent car trips home.

“Am I bad boyfriend material?”

If Brian had been eating or drinking something he would’ve choked. Seriously.

“W-what?”

“Would I make a bad boyfriend?”

“Why do you ask? Are you feeling ok?”

Brian looked over at him before looking back at the road. Was he supposed to answer that question honestly? Brian had never had a boyfriend before but if he had to have one Justin would be the perfect person for the position…except for the entire rape thing but after that all passed. Justin sighed, he sounded slightly annoyed and maybe a little offended, and repeated the question. Brian ran a hand through his hair and then realized just why he was asking the bizarre question. “This is about what I said to Doctor Stevens isn’t it? You think I was disgusted at the question don’t you?” Justin didn’t answer and Brian figured he was right. If he wasn’t Justin wasn’t telling him so.

“Justin…I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just that I…I’ve never had a boyfriend or partner or whatever before so the question kind of threw me. I didn’t mean that you were…revolting or anything.”

“So…”

“So what?”

“So answer my question.”

“Why are you asking me?”

“Because you always tell the truth.”

Brian agreed. He had always been straight ford. Blunt. Maybe a little too truthful at times. “Yeah, you’d make a great boyfriend.” Brian inwardly groaned. Maybe Brian could even try the whole boyfriend thing. Justin would be worth it. “Really?” Brian raised an eyebrow over at him. “Weren’t you just the one who said that I always told the truth?” Justin smiled over at him and quickly nodded. “Why haven’t you had a boyfriend? I mean you’re…” Brian smirked when he saw the blonde’s cheeks blush slightly and then shrugged, looking back at the road.

“You mean no one’s told you?”

Justin said nothing.

“I’m not exactly boyfriend material. Like you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I used to trick all the time.”

“Used to? As in you stopped?”

Brian sighed.

“Yeah, I guess so. For one, I’ve been busy lately,” He looked pointedly at Justin. “And…I don’t know. After my son Lindsay had my son, I donated my sperm; I decided to take a break. I didn’t realize it would be permanent.”

Brian looked over at him real quickly. He was smiling slightly.

“So you are boyfriend material now.”

“I don’t think so, Sunshine. Ask anyone – I have attachment issues.”

“Why?”

“I – Well – I don’t know.”

“Have you even ever tried to have a boyfriend?”

Justin had him there.

“…No.”

“Have you ever wanted one?”

Not until now. “No.”

Justin was silent for a moment and then an “oh” came out of his mouth. Brian smiled slightly. They were now parked in front of his building and they got up to his loft in silence. Then Brian popped the question that he had wanted to ask. “Why don’t you just ask me if I’m interested in you?” Justin looked absolutely bewildered at the question. His cheeks probably turned a hundred shades darker and he suddenly looked…trapped. “W-what?” Brian smiled, walking closer. “That’s what you want to know isn’t it? Is that why you were asking all those questions?” Justin’s mouth opened as if he wanted to say something but it looked like he couldn’t get anything out. Brian’s smile turned into an amused smirk.

“You like me don’t you?”

The mere thought made him slightly…something. Happy? No. Just…something.

It wasn’t a bad feeling exactly.

“N – No. I don’t like anyone.”

Brian raised an eyebrow and reached out to touch Justin’s cheek.

“Then how come you’re blushing?”

“W-what? I am-“

“Yes you are.”

“I – well – I…I have to use the restroom.”

Brian grabbed his arm before he could leave. “I don’t think so, Sunshine. Just ask me if I like you. If I’m interested in you. If I’d ever be interested in you being my…boyfriend.”

His cheeks were only turning more red but he did as asked.

“Would you?”

Brian was silent for a moment.

“Yeah. Sure.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 10 - Guilty

^^^

“Yeah. Sure.”

Justin was sure that his cheeks couldn’t get any hotter. And he was also sure that he had to really go to the bathroom so he could hide for about an hour. Or until Brian forced him to get out of the bathroom. “Oh.” The burnet smirked and Justin quickly looked away and in the direction of the bathroom. If he walked really quickly he might be able to make it look like he just has to go to the bathroom really bad and that he doesn’t just want to escape and hide from Brian. Brian chuckling causes Justin to look back over at him. Brian Kinney interested in Justin Taylor? Justin wasn’t sure if he could even grasp that?

Then again – Maybe he could. After all, when they first me Brian had been very, very interested.

“Is that all you’re going to say?”

Justin shrugged, teeth tugging at his bottom lip and a finger coming up to twirl nervously in his hair. “Uh, I guess so. W-what do you want me to say?” The brunet grins and Justin has no idea why. Probably because his cheeks are so red. Justin shifts in spot and decides that it’s too late to run to the bathroom for protection. “You’re supposed to ask me to ask the same question.” Justin blinks and doesn’t say anything for a few seconds. Justin wasn’t sure if he wanted to ask Brian to ask him the same question. Clearing his throat, Justin decides to but only because Brian seems to be waiting for it. Demanding it with the smirk on his face. “Um, ok…well?”

He snorts.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Justin sighed, slightly aggravated and embarrassed. Brian was just being plain difficult.

“Do you want to know if I’m interested in you?”

Brian grinned amusedly. He was finding this all funny. Justin glared at him and took a few steps backwards. “Never mind. Forget it.” Justin spun around and walked towards the couch. When he arrived he sat down with a small huff. What the hell? Did Brian find pleasure in embarrassing the hell out of him? Probably. Sick fuck. A few seconds later Brian joined him on the couch with a bottle of water in his hand. The brunet smiled apologetically at the blond. “Look, Sorry. I want to know if you’re interested.” Justin frowned and played dumb. He might as well. If Brian was allowed to play dumb than Justin was too.

“Interested in what?”

Brian smirked.

“Me.”

Justin didn’t answer at first. Of course he liked Brian. He had liked Brian since the first day he had met him. If what happened hadn’t happened then Justin was sure Brian would have already fucked him a million and three times. Justin watched the brunet for a moment before answering. Would it even be right to like somebody after what happened? Would he even be able to have a relationship if Brian did, for some reason, ask him to have a relationship with him? Would it be possible for him to even get close to Brian? To let Brian kiss him? He was sure that the only thing he’d feel comfortable with Brian doing anytime soon would be holding him, holding his hand, and, maybe, kissing him on the forehead. Was he even relationship material anymore? Justin didn’t think so.

Brian was wrong: he wasn’t boyfriend material. Not anymore.

Justin stood abruptly off the couch and took a few steps backwards. “I-I have to go to the bathroom.” Brian stood up too, eyebrow raised. “Are you alright? You look…sick…” Justin didn’t reply. He only hurried to the bathroom and before he knew it he was kneeling over the toilet and puking his guts out. He had shut and locked the door to keep Brian out but that didn’t mean that Brian hadn’t been standing outside the door the entire time. “Justin – are you ok?” Of course he wasn’t ok and Brian knew that. Justin flushed the toilet, walked to the sink and rinsed his mouth out a million times. This reminded him of the last time he had hurled everywhere.

His mouth couldn’t seem to get clean and he quickly brushed his teeth.

It helped but the minty freshness didn’t cover up all the taste.

“Justin.”

Justin stared at the door and then slowly walked towards it. He didn’t unlock it and he definitely didn’t open it. “What?” Brian was silent for a few moments. “What’s wrong?” Justin sighed and stepped away from the door again. He didn’t answer and, he guessed, Brian eventually went away. Justin was sure Brian wouldn’t stand outside the bathroom door for the entire two hours he would remain inside.

Two hours later Justin unlocked the bathroom door and peaked out. Brian was in the kitchen. He could smell the scent of pizza and he slowly walked out. Brian didn’t say anything to him when he walked into the kitchen. He only nodded towards the pizza and Justin took this as a sign to go ahead and get something to eat. Justin didn’t reply. He only picked a slice of pizza out of the box and slowly began to eat it. His eyes would land on Brian every few seconds who was successfully avoiding any eye contact and focusing only on eating his pizza and reading a book. Justin wasn’t sure what book it was and, honestly, he didn’t care.

Justin set his pizza down on his plate.

“Brian?”

“What?”

Brian still didn’t look at him and Justin wondered what the hell had pissed him off. Him running away? Him not telling Brian what was wrong? Justin wasn’t sure so he tried to forget about it.

“I - I like you.”

This time Brian did look up at him, blank look on his face. Justin swallowed and looked down at his half-eaten pizza. “I – the thing is…I can’t like you.” Brian raised an eyebrow and shut his book. He leant forward on his elbows and provided Justin with all his focused attention. “Why not?” Justin looked back up from his pizza and met the man’s hazel eyes and decided on how to tell him how all of this was wrong. WRONG. How nothing between them would work out. How nothing that had to do with relationships would work out for Justin. Ever. “Because you’re wrong. I’m not boyfriend material. I’m definitely not relationship material. I’m not…material anything.”

“What?”

Justin let out a long sigh. He hadn’t realized he had been holding his breath.

“It wouldn’t work out. If you ever wanted to pursue any kind of…relationship with me, you couldn’t. It would be impossible. Something that I’ve learned since…what happened is that…I don’t like people touching me and I definitely don’t like people kissing me or…doing anything physical like that to me. It just wouldn’t work out. Nothing will. So…maybe I should just…leave. I’m sure that my dad will ignore me all the time anyway. My mom can take care of me…I can stay with Daphne maybe but…this…no.”

Justin watches Brian carefully. He wish I could see what the man was thinking. Brian suddenly frowns.

“I care about you.”

The blond doesn't say anything and he focuses on his pizza now.

“Don’t leave. You can’t. That’s bullshit. All of it. Especially about your father. You and I both know that he won’t let this go and that he won’t want you living with them again.”

Justin still don’t look up at him. He can’t.

“And, incase you don’t remember, we slept together. I’ve touched you. I’ve held you. For fucks sake, what the hell are you talking about? I’m the one person that you do trust, remember? I don’t know why, exactly, but you do so cut the bullshit.”

This time Justin does meet his gaze. He’s right.

“I’m still scared.”

His eyes soften.

“You don’t have to be scared of me.”

“I’m not…I’m just scared in general.”

He’s suddenly around the counter and standing in front of Justin. He still has that small smile on his face and he grabs the blond’s hand, fingers entwine together. “I’ll protect you.” Justin knows he will too. Justin knows he’s not lying and he knows Brian’s not just saying that because it seems like the right thing to say. He’s saying the truth. Like he always does. Justin only nods and a hand comes up to cup the side of his face and then wander to the back of his head, fingers digging through his hair. His lips press against Justin’s for maybe half a millisecond before he pulls back, quickly and with a look on his face asking if that had been ok. If he had freaked Justin out. If Justin was going to have another puking episode. Justin smiles just to let him know that he’s ok.

“You shouldn’t kiss me…”

“Why?”

“Because I just puked in your bathroom and I don’t want you to think my breath stinks.”

He grins.

“I don’t care if your breath stinks.”

Neither of us move for a second and Justin slowly tilt my head upwards and initiate the first move this time so he knows that it’s ok to kiss the blond for longer than the kind of kiss you give your grandmother or something. Justin even lets him slide his tongue into his mouth, although, he’s still worried that he’ll taste the aftermath of his puking incident two hours ago. If he does, he doesn’t let on and he continues kissing Justin slowly, exploring, and tenderly. Justin pulls back when he can’t breathe anymore and smiles a small smile up at him and then looks away, cheeks burning just slightly.

“Your breath didn’t stink.”
 

[ I don’t know ANYTHING about court so I’m not even going to pretend I know. ]


Carl called that day with news about Justin’s attacker. Court proceeded a week later. The fact that there were three witnesses helped the case. And, the fact that the man ended up admitting what he had done right there in court definitely helped. It was probably one of the shortest court cases ever. Justin was happier then he was able to describe. The entire family: Jennifer, Justin, Brian, Daphne, Emmett, Ted, Michael, Debbie, Lindsay, Melanie, Gus, and Carl all went out to eat at one of the most expensive restaurants in Pittsburgh, which Brian, of course, paid for.

Which led on to something entirely different.

Brian hadn’t kissed him again. Justin wasn’t exactly sure why and he definitely wasn’t going to ask. Especially in front of all these people. Justin was happy, however, when Brian made it a point to sit next to Justin. He had asked Carl to vacate the seat so he could. When he sat down he flashed Justin a smile. Justin offered him one back and then Daphne was asking him for his attention and the two were talking. Justin’s mind, however, was still entirely focused on Brian. When dinner arrived almost everyone made toasts and congratulated Justin on making it through. When it came to Brian the man didn’t use words to express what he was feeling.

He simply cradled Justin’s face in his hands, leant over and kisses him. Right there in front of everyone. Tongue and everything. Justin’s arms wrapped around Brian’s neck and the only reason Brian pulled away was because everyone started complaining. Someone yelled out ‘PDA’, which sent Justin into another red-faced night. Brian only grinned, “I’m happy for you.” Justin offered him a shy smile. “Yeah, me too.” The group stayed at the restaurant until closing time and the workers even let them stay a little bit after the restaurant closed just because Debbie shouted out that they were celebrating a beyond worthy cause. Brian offered to pay extra and Justin guessed that’s why they complied with our wishes to stay a bit longer. When everyone filed out of the restaurant Jennifer came up to him and was careful to not hug him too long.

“I’m sorry your father couldn’t come.”

“I’m not. And it wasn’t because he couldn’t. It was because he didn’t want to.”

“Molly wanted to come.”

“Mom, it’s ok. I understand – Dad wouldn’t let her. He didn’t want her to be subjected to our fag march or whatever the fuck.”

Jennifer sighed apologetically.

“I guess this means you don’t want to come home yet.”

“No, not really, no.”

“Understandable, although, Justin, I do miss you. So does Molly. She and the Mr. Cleinman, the principle, both want to know when you’re going back to school. Molly just wants you to come so she can see you again. Mr. Cleinman told me to tell you to take your time. This situation is…delicate but he also wants you to come back soon. You have so much catching up to do.”

Justin sighs.

“Brian and Daphne will help me.”

“You trust Brian…”

It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. He smiled slightly.

“Yeah, he’s great, mom.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too. Get some rest.”

Jennifer only smiled and everyone started filing to their appropriate cars and going home. Daphne came home with Justin and Brian but only because she had every single homework assignment that he had missed with her. Justin groaned. Daphne had warned him about how they were going to stay up all night catching up on classes.

And they did stay up all night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~