Close to Home II

+ Five +

Justin rolled off Brian and stretched out beside him. He grabbed a tissue from the box on the nightstand and wiped his stomach. He tossed one to Brian who was removing the condom.

"So are you going to tell me what Michael had to say?"

"I'm sleepy," Brian replied.

"It's four o'clock in the fucking afternoon. You're not tired."

"You wore me out," Brian said with a smirk.

"You are a colossal asshole."

"Moi?"

"Either tell me what Michael had to say or I'm leaving," Justin threatened.

"Okay, okay. What do you want to know?"

"How did it go?"

"It was awkward at first, but I'd say we were both happy to see each other."

That sounded like a good thing. "Did he say what made him call?" Justin asked. He figured they might as well get this out in the open.

"He missed me." Brian smothered his smirk. He wasn't going to let Justin off too easily.

"What? Out of the blue two years later he just decided to try your number and call?"

"Something like that."

Justin heaved a loud sigh. "So what did he have to say for himself?" Justin asked deciding to come at this from another direction.

"He has a boyfriend, Ben, and he owns a comic book shop."

"Does he call it Captain Astro?" Justin said referring to their conversation about comics.

"Funny you should bring that up. We did talk about Captain Astro."

"You did? That's a coincidence."

"Yeah, big coincidence," Brian agreed stifling the urge to laugh.

Justin fidgeted. He was sure Brian knew that he had sought Michael out and encouraged him to call Brian. Why didn't he just say so? "Why did he abandon you?" Justin finally asked.

"You know, he told me that he had a visit from some blond boy who asked him how he could abandon his best friend. You wouldn't happen to know who that blond boy might be, would you?" Brian glared at Justin in mock anger.

"Fine! Fine! I'll admit it. I went to Michael's store and told him off for leaving you all alone in the hospital. I told him he should call. Are you fucking happy now?"

"Ecstatic!"

"So are you mad at me?" Justin asked wrinkling his nose and trying to look cute.

"Furious!"

"Briiiaaan," Justin whined.

"Yeeessssss!"

"You are the most frustrating hunk of flesh I have ever met."

"You shouldn't stick your nose in where it doesn't belong," Brian said rolling towards Justin.

Justin put out his hand and held Brian at arm's length. "Am I forgiven? Did you like getting together with Michael? It worked out all right, didn't it?"

"Yes, yes and yes," Brian said with a grin.

"Oh, thank God. You had me worried there for a minute."

"More than a minute," Brian smirked.

"Don't you ever quit?"

"It's been a long time since I had anybody to torment. I'm enjoying myself."

Justin burst out laughing at that comment. It was stupid and pathetic and so … Brian. "I'm always happy to be of service," he snorted.

"Except in the morning," Brian reminded him.

"I can't help it if I'm a night person."

"We need to talk about that," Brian said seriously.

"We do?"

"But not right now. I have something I want to ask you."

"And what's that?" Justin would have liked to talk about their living arrangements and Brian being a morning person and Justin a night owl. It would have to wait for now.

"Michael wants to meet you."

"He did. I thought I just confirmed that."

"Apparently you didn't give him much of a chance to talk."

Justin snorted. "Maybe not," he replied.

"He invited us to dinner at his mother's next week," Brian said watching Justin's reaction.

"Are we going?" Justin asked with a smile.

"I … told him that his mother's house isn't really wheelchair friendly."

"What did he say?" Justin asked with a frown. He hoped Michael hadn't said something stupid that upset Brian.

"He said they'd try to do something. But I told him not to bother. His mom's a waitress. She doesn't have a lot of money. I don't want her spending money on a ramp or other useless stuff."

"You are a sweet, considerate man," Justin said sliding closer to Brian and giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"If you get to meet the rest of my friends you'll soon learn the error of such a thought."

"There's no error. I'm on to you."

Brian actually smiled and pulled Justin close. He held on tight for a moment and then released Justin with a sigh.

"I should really be furious with you," Brian said looking into the blue eyes.

"Why? I thought you said you were glad I contacted Michael."

"Because … now I want more."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"I want my old life back, and that can never be," Brian said sadly.

"I know you're not going to get out of that wheelchair anytime soon, but you can still have friends and family and a good life," Justin stated boldly.

"You are such a Pollyanna," Brian said with a smile.

"That's me, Justin P. Taylor."

"Twat!" Brian reacted kissing those adorable lips. "What did I ever do without you?"

"Not very well," Justin said seriously. "So, are we done talking? I'm hungry."

"Christ! You're always hungry."

"Just a snack to tide me over till dinner," Justin giggled as Brian tickled his tummy.

"Do you think we could…?" Brian hesitated.

Justin knew they were getting to the real crux of the problem finally. "Could what?"

"Could we maybe have a family dinner here?" Brian asked and looked away not wanting to face Justin if he refused.

"Brian, it's your home. You can do whatever you want … and I think it's a great idea."

"I could never do it by myself. I'm asking you to be here and … help me."

"Of course, I will, you big goof. Why do you even have to ask?"

"I do have manners," Brian protested.

"Only when it suits you."

"What does that mean?"

"How many times have you ripped my clothes off without so much as a fare thee well," Justin ranted giving his best imitation of an elegant lady from a Victorian movie.

Brian laughed his ass off. "I'll keep you around just for entertainment value."

"Thanks, I think."

"As for ripping your clothes off, do you want me to stop?"

"Hell, no," Justin said rolling on top of Brian and giggling. "I was just making a point."

"Thought so," Brian chuckled running his hands down Justin's back and squeezing the perfect globes of his ass.

"Umm," Justin groaned. "I really am hungry," he said with that luscious pout. At that point Justin's stomach rumbled ominously so Brian let him up, sorry to lose the delicious weight that had been atop him. He watched Justin's bubble butt disappear down the steps and head for the kitchen.

Brian smiled to himself. Justin really was a wonderful person, so confident and self-assured, so kind and gentle, so smart and forthright, so sexy and horny. What more could Brian ever want in a partner, and that was the way Brian had begun to think of Justin, as his partner. He couldn't even remember his life before Justin had arrived on the scene.

The buzzer went off indicating that someone was demanding entrance down below.

"Will you answer that?" Brian asked starting to get some clothes on.

Justin walked naked to the button by the door and asked," Who is it?"

"Trey," was the one word answer.

Justin buzzed him up. He pulled open the loft door and then walked back up to the bedroom. "Trey's on his way up. I better get dressed."

"Even though Trey's straight, I bet he would appreciate that ass."

Justin giggled and wiggled his butt in Brian's face. He was pleased with the groan that his actions produced. "Thanks," he said with a chuckle, "but I think I'll cover it just the same."

Justin climbed into his jeans while Brian hiked himself into his chair. He was rolling down the ramp when Trey appeared in the doorway.

"That wasn't your voice just now," Trey said. "You got company?"

"A very bad blond boy has been driving me insane," Brian said with a smirk.

"Sounds like your idea of heaven," Trey laughed.

"Pretty much," Brian said sticking his tongue in his cheek. "What brings you by? Got another new toy for me?"

"Not exactly. I was wondering how you were doing with…" His voice trailed off as Justin appeared from behind the glass screens. He was pulling on his T-shirt.

"Hey, Justin," Trey said. "Was that you on the intercom?"

"Yep. I was just going to get something to eat. Want anything?" Justin asked.

"No thanks. I was wondering how you two were getting on. Since you're just getting dressed at five in the afternoon, I guess that answers my question."

"Don't jump to conclusions," Brian said with a smirk, even though he knew Trey was right. "I was up early and had company this morning," he said smugly. "Justin only came up a little while ago."

"Long enough for the two of you to get naked," Trey teased. "And who was this company?" Trey liked the fact that Brian was having more contact with the outside world. He had been trying to get the man to do that for as long as he had known him. This Justin was certainly having an impact on Brian's life.

"Michael."

"Michael, as in Novotny, your best friend?"

"The same."

"Well, fuck me! How did that happen?"

"Courtesy of that very bad, blond boy I mentioned before."

Brian smiled at Justin who grinned back and took a little curtsey in acceptance of his role. Justin then continued rummaging through the fridge for something to eat. As usual his efforts were proving fruitless.

"You are one ballsy little fella," Trey said in praise of Justin's actions.

"You don't know the half of it," Brian replied sucking in his bottom lip.

Justin shrugged and grinned at them both. He finally picked up an apple from the bowl on the counter. It would have to do till dinner.

"I'm thinking of having a party," Brian said suddenly.

Justin choked noisily on the apple he was eating. Brian had said a dinner, a family dinner, not a party.

"A party?" Trey reacted. "Who the hell are you and what happened to Brian Kinney."

"The new and improved Brian Kinney is standing, pardon me, sitting right here in front of you."

"Brian," Justin said with a tone of caution in his voice. "I think you should take this a little slower. You don't want to bite off more than you can chew."

"I can handle it all," Brian said confidently. "You said you'd help me. And you're invited to the party, Trey," Brian said with more energy than Trey had heard in a long time.

"Just tell me when. I'm always ready to par-tay."

"I'll have to let you know, "Brian said. "We're still in the planning stage."

"Well, I should be going," Trey said. "I stopped by to see how you were doing and everything seems to be fine, better than fine."

"I'll show you out," Justin said walking with Trey to the elevator.

"I take the stairs," Trey said.

"I know, but I'm concerned about Brian. I think he's jumping way too fast into things that may not turn out the way he wants."

"You could be right. This is a major about face for him."

"What do you think I should do?" Justin asked not liking to have his worries confirmed.

"Try to slow him down a bit, but don't crush this enthusiasm for life. It's great to see him looking so alive."

"It's a fine balance. I'm not sure I can do it."

"Do your best. That's all anyone can do. And by the way, you have worked miracles with him already."

Justin beamed with pleasure at Trey's praise. He tried to control the elation he felt as he watched Trey go down the stairs. He hoped his face looked normal as he went back into the loft. "Should I order dinner?" he asked Brian as he tossed the core of his apple into the garbage can.

"What did you and Trey cook up out there?" Brian asked. He didn't like being played for a fool.

Justin was about to make something up, but one look at Brian's face and he decided that the truth was a better idea. "I'm worried about this party thing," he said. "I wanted Trey's advice."

"So did you two decide that I couldn't handle it?"

"No, no, we didn't. He told me to maybe try to slow you down a bit, but he thinks your enthusiasm is great."

"Why should I slow down?"

"Brian, you just met Michael after two years, and you haven't met any of the others yet. Do you want to do that in front of a room full of people, at a party?"

Brian hesitated. He hadn't thought about it like that. He wondered how emotional that might be. Could he really handle all that? Brian shook his head.

"Do you see what I mean?" Justin asked.

"I guess so, but I still think I can handle it," Brian stated as much to convince himself as Justin.

"Fine," Justin said, "it's your decision."

"But," Brian said hastily, "there are some drama queens to contend with in all this."

"You mean besides you?" Justin asked with a smirk.

Brian snorted. "You'll know what I mean when you meet Emmett."

"I'd like to meet your friends, but a small dinner seems like a better way to do that than a party."

"Okay, I get the message," Brian said backing down. The more Justin talked the more Brian had to agree with his worries. "So, will you help me with a small dinner here, just for family members?"

"Deal," Justin said, "and if you want to have a party later on, I'll help you with that too."

"Come here, you," Brian said huskily.

Justin moved over to the man and slid onto his lap. "Are you all right with that?" he asked really concerned about Brian's feelings. The last thing he wanted to do was put a damper on Brian's wish to meet people and renew old ties.

"Justin knows best," Brian said with a little kiss to Justin's nose.

Justin wrinkled said nose and smiled at Brian. "You think I'm right?" he asked.

"I see no harm in taking this a little slower," Brian admitted. "It might have been a bit too much for my delicate sensibilities." Brian's tongue was planted solidly in his cheek.

"You are so full of shit," Justin giggled. "I just have your best interests at heart, you know."

"I know. I appreciate everything you have done for me."

"It means a lot to me to hear you say that."

"Then I guess I better feed you if I want to keep you around," Brian teased.

"And do you want to keep me around?" Justin stared into the hazel eyes.

"For a long, long time," Brian whispered.

Justin's radiant smile lit up the loft. Dinner was forgotten for a while.

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