Soul Untouched

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Author’s notes: Thanks to my most wonderful beta..LOIS, my love, how the hell would I survive grammar without you? You do NOT get enough recognition for all of your hard work. A special thanks to Misty, because you’ve never failed to make my day with your kindness. You truly are the most special person I know. Lots of love to Russ, for being strong enough to live with me and for reading any of my work and being honest with me. I love you baby.

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Sitting in his usual booth, Brian Kinney was waiting for his best friend to join him for breakfast when the blond at the counter captured his attention. He seemed young and maybe just a little frightened. Brian watched the young man as he glanced around the diner, his eyes never meeting anyone else’s and wondered just what it was that he was afraid of.

“Hey, Bri,” Michael slid in across from him and interrupted his thoughts.

“Late as usual, Mikey.” Brian scowled at his longtime friend, eliciting a giggle and smile.

“It takes time to look this cute.”

“Yeah, sure it does. And how is the Professor this morning?”

Michael blushed and lowered his head slightly embarrassed that Brian knew exactly why he was late for their weekly breakfast. “Ben is good. He’s working on a new book and that takes up a lot of his free time, so anytime we get alone we jump at the chance.”

“I just bet you do, Mikey.” Looking up he noticed that the blond was gone and searched the room looking for him. Tuning back into what his friend was saying he smiled across the table at him, trying his best to focus on what he was saying.

The brassy, loud mouthed redhead interrupted them, popping gum as she waited for their order. Once she’d scribbled it down she leaned in and accepted a kiss from her son and the man she’d always loved like a son.

“Hey Deb, who’s the blond kid that was in here a bit ago?”

“Isn’t he a little young for you Brian?”

“Quit bustin’ my balls, Deb, and tell me who he is.”

“All I know is his name’s Justin and he’s new on Liberty Ave. My guess is he just came out and his folks flipped their fucking WASP lids and kicked him out. He’s only been coming in about a week, but I just got this feeling that something ain’t right with that kid.”

Michael studied Brian’s face and tried his damnedest to figure out why he was so interested in a kid. Everyone knew that Brian Kinney didn’t do boyfriends and never, ever fucked anyone more than once. Hell you were lucky if he bothered to learn your name. Michael had known Brian since they were both fourteen and this was the first time he’d ever heard his best friend even ask about someone. An empty feeling started in the pit of his stomach and he wasn’t sure why.

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Justin Taylor sat on the edge of the bed fighting back tears. Breakfast lay scattered on the floor and all he could do was stare at the cold eggs and toast. A drop of blood splattered on the scuffed linoleum and he absently ran a shaky hand across his lip, feeling the split and wondering if he would need stitches this time. Taking a deep breath he stood slowly up and walked gingerly across the apartment to the bathroom. The reflection in the mirror was not someone he knew anymore. Before him stood a beaten, bruised young man and he tried to remember who he used to be.

There was a point in his life that he laughed and his blue eyes sparkled, but that was all before he’d met Matt. It had been years since he’d smiled or even had a reason to. Turning on the shower he carefully undressed and folded up his jeans and t-shirt before stepping under the hot spray. The heat from the water helped soothe his sore back and arms and gave him a chance to think about a life he only dreamt of.

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Lunch time at Liberty Diner was always busy, but Brian took his chances on getting his usual stool at the counter and a chance encounter with the mysterious young man he couldn’t get out of his mind. He’d just taken a bite of his turkey on rye when the kid sat down next to him.

With a quick glance out of the corner of his eye he could see the bruise on his left cheek and desperately wanted to reach out and caress his beautiful face. It took every ounce of self restraint that he had but Brian controlled the urge. Noticing how thin the boy was for the first time Brian called out to Debbie.

“Hey, Deb, whatever the kid wants is on me.”

Justin turned to look at the handsome man next to him and smiled up at him. Brian noticed that the smile didn’t reach his eyes and felt a sadness creep over him. “Thanks, but I’m okay.”

“Listen, kid, take the food. It looks like you haven’t had a good meal in years.” When Justin shrugged his shoulders Brian called out an order for him. “He’ll take a cheeseburger, onion rings, a chocolate shake and chocolate cake. And pack him up some lemon bars to go, Deb.”

“Feeling generous are we, Sir Kinney?” Debbie laughed at his commands but busied herself filling the order. If there was one thing she knew it was that when Brian made up his mind there was no stopping him.

Justin looked back over at the man sitting beside him and smiled once more before digging into the plate of food before him. He ate heartily, stopping only to sip at the milkshake and make sure that Brian didn’t leave. When he had cleaned the plate, he pushed the plate away and turned back to face Brian.

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me, seeing you eat every bite was thanks enough. So you got a name kid?’

“Justin.”

“Oh, so you’re like Madonna, just one name?”

“Taylor. Justin Taylor.”

Brian extended his hand and waited for Justin to accept it before going on. “Brian Kinney. It’s nice to meet you Justin. Are you new in town?”

“We’ve been here a few weeks. I’m trying to find a job.” Justin looked back down at the counter avoiding Brian’s eyes.

“What kind of work are you looking for, Justin?”

“Anything right now, I just need a job.”

“Maybe Debbie has an opening here, if you don’t mind hard work and getting hit on regularly.”

“I’m not sure that would be a good idea. I was thinking more along the lines of something to do with art. I like to draw and I was even considered going into computer design or something in the advertising field.”

Brian fished a business card out of his pocket and slid it across the counter. “Be at that address tomorrow morning at ten. Tell the lady in the lobby that you’re there to see Cynthia and she’ll tell you how to get to the offices. Don’t be late and bring some samples of your work.” Without another word, Brian left the diner and the young man.

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Justin sat at the kitchen table sketching from memory. His fingers lovingly smudged the charcoal to add shading to Brian’s face. He felt he’d captured the man’s smile perfectly and stared at it for what seemed like hours. It was only the sound of footsteps on the stairs that snapped him out of his daydream. Sliding the sketchbook under the sofa quickly, he jumped up to check on the spaghetti sauce and set the table.

Matt walked in the door to find Justin hastily setting the salad on the table. Crossing the room he kissed his young lover’s full lips. He reached out and tenderly touched the bluish bruise on his cheek and kissed it softly.

“Did you go out today?” Matt noticed the fresh flowers adorning the table and stopped to briefly sniff them.

“I went to the market. I got your favorite chocolate pie for dessert and I picked up some fresh herbs to make the spaghetti sauce.”

“That sounds delicious, Justin. Did you get something for that nasty bruise?”

“No, I didn’t think it was that bad.”

“Well first thing tomorrow you run out and find something to tone it down a little. Tomorrow night we are having dinner with a client of mine and I need you looking your best. While you’re out buy a nice suit, can’t have you looking like a grungy teen at Antonio’s.”

“I have a job interview tomorrow morning, Matt.”

“I thought we’d discussed this, Justin. You don’t need to work. I’m more than capable of taking care of you.”

“But I want to. I want to help.”

“Are you saying that I can’t provide you with everything you need or desire? Do you think that I am not man enough?”

Justin took a deep breath and tried to prepare himself for Matt’s anger. His fist connected with the side of Justin’s face, causing him to drop the pan of sauce. The hot sauce burned as it splashed across his face and chest. Steeling himself against the pain, he fought back the tears, determined not to let Matt see him cry again.

“I said, NO JOB and I meant it. You have enough to do around here to keep you busy. Now clean up this mess and fix me a drink.” When Justin didn’t move, Matt kicked him. “Did you fucking hear me? Why do you make me do this Justin? Why do you want me to hurt you? Don’t you know that I love you?”

“Yes, I do. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it, Matt. I just wanted to help you out, so you don’t have to work so hard.”

“All I want is for you to be here every night when I get home. I want you available to me whenever I want you, do you understand me? You owe me that, Justin.”

“I know.”

Matt caught his chin in his hand and pulled Justin’s face up to look at him. “Don’t you love me? Don’t you want to make me happy?”

“Of course I do.”

“Say it. Say you love me, Justin.”

“I love you, Matt.” Reaching out Matt pulled Justin to his knees and with one hand unzipped his own pants pulling his erect penis out and pushing Justin towards it. Closing his eyes, Justin Taylor did what was expected of him, as always.

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“Cynthia, has Justin Taylor arrived yet?” Brian glanced at his watch, 10:30, and still no Justin.

“Not yet, Brian.”

“Well as soon as he does let me know. And while you’re at it find his number for me.”

“Sure thing, boss.”

An hour later Brian was going over some boards when there was a light rap on his door. Cynthia poked her head in and waited to be allowed into Brian’s sanctuary. With a nod from him, she slid in and closed the door softly behind her.

“He’s here, Bri, but he’s not in good shape.”

Rubbing the bridge of his nose he asked, “Well go on.”

“There is a very dark bruise on his cheek and it looks like he has burns on his face as well.”

“Send him in.”

“Want to tell me what it is about this kid that has you breaking all of your rules?”

“I haven’t broken any fucking rules. I haven’t fucked him.”

“Exactly my point. And you know his name, and you care enough about him to buy him lunch then offer the kid a job without ever seeing any of his work. What the fuck is going on here, Brian?”

“He’s a kid.”

“He’s not a kid, Brian and you know it. There is something else going on here. If you want my advice, steer clear of him, he’s going to be trouble. There are a hell of a lot easier ways to get fucked than to go looking for trouble with this kid.”

“Well no one fucking asked for your advice. Show him in and while you’re at it get me a fucking cup of coffee. That is still your job isn’t it?”

“Sure thing, boss,” she shot back sarcastically.

Justin walked into the office looking down at the floor, not wanting to draw any attention to the bruise on his face and because he was uncertain that this meeting was going to go the way it needed to.

“You’re late.”

Justin’s head snapped up and his eyes connected with Brian’s, locking on them, desperately searching for answers to why he was here.

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