Leave the Light On

A kiss to the forehead means- I'll protect you.

After Brian was done at the office he stopped by the diner. He knew Justin was covering the dinner crowd. Justin was wiping down the counter when he saw Brian come in. He smiled brightly at his lover. Brian sat down at the counter.

"Hey, are you almost done here?"

Justin leaned in inches away from Brian. "Yeah, another twenty minutes and then I'm all yours."

"Mm, I like the sound of that."

"Do you want some coffee while you wait?" Justin asked while he grabbed a fresh pot.

"Sure. I was thinking how about we rent a movie and order some take out?"

Justin smiled. "That actually sounds really good."

Justin went to give table five their check. Michael came in with Ted and Emmett on his heels.

"Hey Brian, are you up for Babylon tonight?"

"No can do, Mikey, I've got plans." He continued to watch Justin move from table to table.

When Justin was done for the night he grabbed his jacket and linked arms with Brian. They walked down to the video store since it wasn't very far. Justin knew exactly what he wanted to see.

"I wanna rent this one, Brian." He held up the case to the DVD.

Brian smirked. "You only want to see it because it has that actress in it."

Justin looked at Brian pointedly, "Your point being?"

Brian slung his arm around Justin's shoulders. "Get it if you want to see it."

"I hear it's supposed to be really scary, but then you know how I love horror films. I heard the actress got freaked out watching the original version."

"Let's hope you're braver than some girl."

Justin nudged Brian's shoulder playfully. They went up to the counter to pay for their movie selections. Brian valiantly bit his lip and said nothing when Justin used a coupon, though it damn near killed him. He swore Justin did it on purpose just to see him twitch.

When they got to the loft Brian went up to the bedroom to shed his suit while Justin went to dial up their dinner. Brian came down wearing faded jeans and a soft worn t shirt, Justin couldn't wait to snuggle up to his man even if he was a bit bony in some spots. Their food came right on time. Justin figured all the delivery boys were terrified of Brian. If they only knew he was just a great big ol' pussy cat; it was the best kept secret. Brian plated up the food and brought it into the living room. Justin followed with their drinks. Justin curled up on the couch with his plate on his lap while Brian slipped in the DVD and pressed play. They sat close together on the sofa. Brian felt Justin flinch a few times. Scary movies usually didn't bother him; most of the time he'd crack up laughing at the poor effects. Brian had a feeling this movie would be different.

Justin started out by his side then got progressively closer as they watched the movie. Soon Justin was in his lap and actually trembling. Justin buried his face in Brian's shoulder.

"Stop the movie! I… I can't take any more."

"Are you sure? The movie should be almost over."

"I'm sure."

Brian held him on his lap while he trembled.

"That really scared you, huh?"

"You know I love scary movies, I practically grew up on them but that one…" Justin shuddered.

"What was it that scared you?" Brian had some idea but he wanted Justin to tell him.

"That noise," Justin shivered. "I know it sounds stupid but that noise just freaked me out and those jerky movements I… I didn't like that at all."

Brian rubbed circles on Justin's back while he held him. At the moment Justin looked so young clinging to him.

"Maybe we can finish it tomorrow, when it's day," Justin finally suggested.

Brian could tell even though the movie scared the daylights out of him, he was determined to see the rest of the film.

"Yeah, we could do that. Come on, let's try to get some rest."

Brian didn't say anything about the little Justin shadow that followed him while he locked up the loft and dimmed the lights. Justin eyed every shadow in the loft like it would rear up and attack him. Brian slung his arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. Justin stuck to him tight as glue. Brian didn't leave his side when they entered the bathroom and did their nightly rituals. When they were done Brian flicked off the light. Justin froze dead in his tracks.

"Bri, can you leave the light on?" Justin said in a small voice.

Brian flicked the light back on. "Is that better?"

"Yeah."

Brian pulled the door across part way so it wouldn't be quite so bright. Justin jumped in bed and pulled the duvet up to his chin.

"The bedroom light too," Justin quietly insisted.

Brian sighed but turned on the bedroom light to banish all things scary. When he got into bed as expected Justin clung to him like an extra blanket. Brian kissed his forehead and ran his fingers through his long hair.

"It's ok; just try to get some sleep."

"Ok."

Justin practically burrowed underneath him so he was covering him. Brian tried to bury his head in Justin's shoulder mostly to block out all the light. They both laid there for quite a while unable to sleep. Finally exhaustion consumed Justin and he was able to fall asleep.

The next day when Justin was ready they sat down to watch the rest of the movie. Before he pressed play Justin was in his lap and Brian had his arms securely wrapped around his boy. He had been right; there wasn't a whole lot of the movie left, only fifteen minutes or so. During the light of day it didn't scare Justin quite so much.

"If they make a sequel I'm not watching it," Justin vowed.

The movie had affected Justin more than Brian realized. For four days he watched Justin creep around and jump at shadows. He smoothly changed the subject when the guys wanted to know what was up with Justin. If Mikey ever found out he'd just torment Justin with that creepy creaky sound, he could be cruel like that.

# # # # # # # # # # #

A couple of months later

Brian was stretched out on the sofa flipping through Advertising Weekly. Justin was surfing the net when suddenly he came across something.

"Oh no! I knew it!"

"What's got your jock in a twist?"

"They are making a sequel to that movie."

"What movie?"

"You know that horror movie…"

Brian huffed a laugh. "The one that had you creeping around the loft for four days?"

"That's the one," Justin trembled.

"Well if I remember correctly you vowed you weren't going to watch it if they made another one."

"Yeah."

Justin got up and went over to sit on Brian's lap, he snuggled up to Brian.

"Well maybe if we watched the next one in the day time it would be all right."

Brian arched a brow at Justin.

"And I could sit on your lap and you could hold me."

"You are a persistent little twat I'll give you that. If that's what you want to do then that's what we'll do." Brian pressed a kiss to Justin's forehead and Justin smiled softly at his partner.

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