Michael watched Justin and Brian dancing in the middle of Babylon’s crowded floor and seethed. "Look at him," he continued to rant. "Justin’s been dragging Brian around like that all night. He has an interview tomorrow, he should be at home preparing, but that conniving little shit doesn’t care about anyone but himself!"

Emmett looked at Ben and just shook his head. They both knew it was actually Justin who needed to be home. He should’ve been working on a class project, but he agreed to come out with Brian for a little bit because his lover needed to work off some steam.

After a few more songs, the couple left the dance floor and stopped off at the bar for some water before saying good-bye and heading home.

"What?" Michael pouted. "You just got here."

"It’s a school night and Sonny Boy needs to finish his homework."

"So let him go. You need to stay and have a drink with us, for good luck tom--"

"Brian, fuck me," Justin suddenly demanded.

His lover grinned at him and squeezed his ass. "I gotta piss, then we can go."

As Brian walked away, Michael grabbed Justin’s arm. "Look, you little--"

"No, you look," Justin spat back, pushing the man’s hand away. "Brian doesn’t do pity so quit bringing up his job every five minutes. You’d think after all these years you’d have gotten a clue on how to deal--"

"Don’t tell me how to handle Brian! I’m his best friend, always--"

"--have been, always will be," Ben droned.

Michael glared at his lover, eyes flashing indignantly. "You don’t understand!"

"No, you don’t understand," Ben hissed as Justin walked away. "He’s what Brian needs. What Brian wants."

Michael opened his mouth to protest, but Ben cut him off again. "Always has been, always will be."

***

Michael rolled over and slapped the alarm clock. He glanced disinterestedly at the calendar in the hall as he wandered to the kitchen.

It was the anniversary of the day Ben moved out.

He was about to pour himself some cereal, but then decided to call Brian instead. They could meet at the diner for breakfast before going to the gym.

***

Justin groaned, his blue eyes darkening like storm clouds as the phone rang. "Didn’t you tell everyone to fuck off ?" he asked as he snuggled closer to Brian.

They wanted the day to themselves to celebrate the anniversary of Justin moving back in.

Brian’s only response was to reach over and yank the phone cord out of the wall before tightening his hold on the blond.