QAF Fanfic Update - Coming Out Of The Dark part 3
Title: COMING OUT OF THE DARK - Part 3
Author : May and Stacy (crazy4qaf & my_alexander)
Disclaimer: All characters and situations from Queer as Folk are properties of Russell T. Davies, Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, Showtime, and others. No copyright infringement is intended.
Rating: R for language/NC-17
Timeline: Future (post 513)
Summary: Five and a half years ago, things in his life were completely different. He would just be Brian fucking Kinney, the asshole. Brian fucking Kinney, the heartless shit. Or Brian fucking Kinney, a man who bangs his own drum, and while at it, manages to bang every damn man in Pittsburgh.
A/N : Important -> Those who read this at the BJFic site will notice that the parts of the story are forwarded (prologue became part 1 and so on). The story is the same, I just had issues with the numbering of the chapters on the site, so I had to do it like this. I hope that there will be minimum of confusion because of this. *sighs*
Prologue / Chapter One / Chapter Two
CHAPTER THREE
New Year’s Eve, dinner at Deb’s
“Did you have to invite him, Ma?”
Deb rolled her eyes and reached over to slap Michael across the back of his head.
“Now you behave. Sunshine is as much a part of this fucking family as you are. I might not have screamed bloody murder while pushing him out into this world, but he’s still mine.” She stated with that flair only she could pull off, a fluttering of her hand tapping over her chest right where her heart resided.
A gaudy ringed finger waggled at Michael which brought about the responses of eye rolling and a flabbergasted sigh, which was definitely over dramatized, but that’s Michael for you.
“Well, I for one can not wait to see that gorgeous little blond haired twink again,” gushed Emmett. “I swear that boy just gets prettier and prettier every time I see him.”
“Thanks Em,” replied Justin, a genuine smile on his face, Brian following in right behind him, his customary brow lifted in response to what Emmett just said about his Sunshine.
Ted muffled a chuckle at Brian’s reaction and said nothing except a friendly hello to the newly married couple. It actually felt pretty damn good to be party to such a big secret that no one else knew.
“I was wondering when you were going to share Sunshine,” grumbled Debbie good-naturedly, leaning up to plant a kiss on Brian’s cheek.
“Hey honey...” and then the little blond at his side was immediately enveloped into a tight hug. “It’s so good to have you home, baby. How long you’re here for?”
“Maybe you should loosen up your hold, Deb and he might actually be able to answer you,” teased Brian, tongue in cheek. Justin laughed quietly at Brian’s comment and met the gaze of his husband, who nodded in answer.
“I’m not going back to New York, Deb. I can paint here and go back to the city every so often. I already made the contacts that I needed.”
“Oh my god! Sweetie, that is so wonderful!” Both Emmett and Debbie screamed in unison, which garnered an eye roll from Brian, who couldn’t help but glance down at the blond at his side. Even now, despite everything Justin has been through, he still got embarrassed. Gloved hands moved up to hide his face from everyone. Brian, unable to resist, leaned over and kissed Justin on the temple, whispering “You’re a beautiful blushing bride,” the words spoken so quietly that only Justin could hear it and he immediately grew a darker shade of red.
“You would think that being in an on and off again relationship with you for the last six years, the kid wouldn’t be so fucking quick to blush,” stated Deb with a grin, then reaching across to pinch Justin’s cheek. Justin glanced up at Brian briefly “You’ll pay for that one,” he mouthed. “I look forward to it,” mouthed Brian right back.
“That’s really good news, Justin.” Ben, who had just came downstairs and overheard the conversation, added.
“Thanks Ben.”
“Yeah. Great, Justin.” Michael’s words lacked the sincerity in them that everyone else’s possessed.
“Hmm..” was his only response, though he had so much more to say, especially because of the dark look Michael kept shooting his way, but he was not about to ruin this dinner. He knew Debbie spent hours in the kitchen for this meal.
Brian was less concerned about such things. His arms folding against his chest, his glare stealing Michaels gaze away from Justin, as the two best friends shared a look, the meaning clear in hazel eyes. Back the fuck off of Justin. Michael blinked and looked away. Seconds later, Brian slid a possessive arm around Justin’s shoulders and pulled the blond against his side, the maneuver clearly a statement to Michael.
“Come on, come on, let’s get this party started.” Deb said, while grabbing Justin’s wrist and pulling him along into the kitchen. Justin glanced back at Brian with a pleading look in his eyes to save him, but Brian was having his fun right at that moment. He just hoped there wouldn’t be any dead people at the end of the day.
“Ok, everyone, grab a seat and we can maybe begin this dinner even before we ring in the New fucking Year!” Deb laughed. Soon, everyone was sitting around the table, waiting for the mistress of the house to start the festivities.
“Ben, could you help cut up the meat, please? And Brian, will you fill everyone’s glasses? If we’re doing this, let’s do it properly.”
Both Ben and Brian went about their orders and as Deb finally sat down and managed to take a breath, something suddenly caught her eye. No, it couldn’t be. She must be seeing things. Slowly, she first narrowed her eyes at Brian’s hands, as he done what he was asked and then, she switched her gaze to Justin’s hand. Back to Brian’s hand. Then once more, Justin’s hand. Finally, she simply grinned.
Things were definitely moving along even better than she expected. And for that, she was grateful. That they finally got it. Still, she couldn’t help but give them a little headache about it.
“So Brian...how long?” She asked as he finished and sat down beside Justin, his arm now instinctively hanging around the boy’s shoulders. As Deb looked straight into Brian’s eyes, he knew that she knew. Slowly, she grinned at him and he exhaled. Thank God, things will be alright tonight.
“Actually, it’s been three weeks.” The rest of the table, except Ted, was completely clueless. What the fuck were they talking about?
“What’s been three weeks, Brian? What are you talking about?” Lindsay asked, trying to track down the line she so obviously missed. There must be something she missed. She glanced around the table and everyone seemed as clueless as she was.. Just then, she spied a little smirk on Ted’s face, as he tried to concentrate on the table surface and not pull any unnecessary attention to himself. After all, his balls were something he didn’t want to part with. Now or ever.
“Sunshine, Brian, do you want to be the ones that’ll tell them or should I?” Deb winked at both men, as they looked at each other. They might as well give her the opening line. It might be even more fun that way.
“Well, Deb, the stage is all yours.” Brian smirked, pulling Sunshine closer into his embrace, their rings finally catching their eyes. Looks of disbelief and joy danced on the guests’ faces, as Deb spoke the words.
“It seems that we have real newlyweds here at this table tonight. So I just wanted to say how happy you made me. ” Deb stood up and hugged them both, while they were still sitting, kissing their cheeks with a smile on her face.
“Well I felt it was the right thing to do, since I knocked up Sunshine.” He laughed at the expressions on their friends’ faces. Deb flipped them both lightly across the head, causing them to turn toward her, question in their eyes.
“That is for not telling us, so we could be present, you little assholes.” But, there was no anger in her voice. Just joy at what they did.
“Holy shit!” exclaimed Mel.
Lindsay was beaming from ear to ear as she bounced out of her chair and made her way quickly to the pair, and following Deb’s example, hugged and kissed them both.
“Congratulations to the both of you!” She looked softly at Brian, her palm gentle against his cheek. “Oh Brian,” her eyes suspiciously misty.
“Did I just fucking step off into an episode of the twilight zone?” murmured Mel.
“Thought you always lived there, Mel” replied Brian with a smirk.
“Shut up asshole….and by the way, congratulations...” a small smile actually curving the woman’s face.
“Now I do believe that is the nicest thing you have ever said to me, Mel.”
“Yeah, well, don’t get use to it.” The two shared a knowing smile. They had come a long way in the past year or so. Ted glanced at the pair and then smiled at Blake, who already knew about it as well. Ted was not expected to keep it from his partner, now was he? Besides, he did have to tell someone.
“Congratulations, you two.”
“Thanks Ted,” responded Justin, who by now was grinning from ear to ear, doing his best to remind everyone how he actually earned his nickname.
Michael sat through it all completely dumbfounded as the words of congrats spread around the table like wild fire. Even Hunter and Ben, although Hunter was obviously pea green with envy, shared their happiness for the couple.
Brian leaned over and kissed Justin on the cheek
“Honey, think we should tell them that we are expecting twins?”
“I think you just did, dear.”
“I just hope you get your shape back quickly,” snarked Brian, earning laughter from everyone at the table except Michael who at this point had finally puffed up so much that he had to let it out.
“I can’t believe you did this, Brian. Not only did you marry this ungrateful little twat, but you didn’t even confide in me about it.”
“I don’t recall having to run my life by you, Mikey to see if you like how I am living it and I would be very careful how you refer to Justin in the future.”
Brian’s words were cold, his eyes narrowing on Michael. The only thing that kept him from reaching across the table and doing some real damage was Justin's carefully laid hand on his forearm.
“Michael Charles Novotny!” bellowed Debbie.
“No Ma! This isn’t right. Brian is making a huge mistake here and he can’t even see it. Justin is a gold digger! He never loved Brian like he should!”
Before Brian even had a chance to say anything, Justin had already sprang to his feet. Nearly six years of Michael’s bullshit had finally taken its toll.
“Michael, I can forgive you for a lot of things, because sometimes you had Brian’s best interest at heart. But as of right now, you will stop talking about me as if I was not in the room. As for being a fucking gold digger, my last piece sold for ten thousand dollars!” Which caused everyone to open their mouths in shock. None of them had known how well Justin was truly doing with his art.
“So, I don’t need Brian or anyone else for their fucking money. Unlike you, I have loved and will always love Brian for exactly who he is and not because of some childish, misguided dream of a thirty something year old asshole who refused to mature past fourteen!”
Michael’s face had grown red with fury. The two men seemed to have a stand off of sorts and it looked like it was up to Brian and Ben to put a stop to this.
“Come on Michael...Let’s go before you say something you’ll regret or rather something that you can’t take back.” Michael jerked away from Ben, his dark gaze meeting Brian’s.
“And you call me a sell out?!”
“I’m warning you one last time, Michael. Stay. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. Life.” growled Brian.
“And you wonder why I never said anything?! This is why. The constant fucking interference that each of you has created in mine and Justin’s relationship over the past six years. So yeah, we did it our fucking way. Get used to it. I have nothing to explain nor does Justin. And so help me God, Michael, if you ever demean Justin in my presence again…” he let the threat hang there in the air as the two friends stared at each other. It was Michael that looked away first and without another word, stormed out of the house.
“I’m sorry about this, Debbie.” whispered Ben, who by now was probably just as pissed off at Michael as Brian was. The constant tug of war had finally wore out its welcome as far as the professor was concerned and his partner had some choices to make and soon. Hunter followed Ben out the door, leaving the kitchen in silence.
“We should probably go too,” murmured Justin.
“No. You two fucking sit down right now, because we are going to have this fucking dinner and you all better damn well enjoy it!” The red head looked around the table and dared any of them to say differently. For the most part, everyone returned back to eating except for and Justin. The two shared a look. To say Justin was in shock at what Brian just did would be an understatement. Brian on the other hand was still reeling at the news of how much Justin’s paintings were selling for.
“I’m fucking proud of you,” murmured Brian, leaning over to brush a kiss against Justin’s lips. It was not just because of the paintings though. It was for everything that Justin had just said to Michael.
“I couldn’t have done it without you, Brian. Which…” clearing his throat to get everyone’s attention “I’m not done saying my peace just yet. All of you will stop referring to my husband as asshole in a derogatory manner. Nor will any of you refer to him as a heartless shit. If I hear that any of you so much as spoke one wrong word about Brian, then you should know that those with dicks will learn to know the term eunuch real well and those born without dicks will find themselves sewed shut while you fucking sleep. Am I making myself fucking clear?” Justin asked looking at each and everyone of them. The table was silent, because Justin just didn’t talk like this. Brian did. Of course, the shock might eventually wear off, but for now all they could do was blink and stare at the young artist.
Thirty minutes later, as everyone was finishing their meals and conversations around the table took a more relaxed tone, Deb glanced at the clock on the wall.
“People, it’s five minutes till midnight. So grab your glasses and let’s move to the living room. I wanna ring in the New Year properly.” She rose her glass, standing up and walking into the room, where the TV was already on. Everyone else followed her, their glasses firmly in their hands, smiles on their faces.
“So Brian, Justin, what kind of surprise can be expected next?” Mel asked, not being able to help herself into provoking Brian just a little. Justin grinned, letting Brian take care of it.
“Well, when it happens, you will all see. Until then...” He rose the glass in the air like a toast, drank a sip or two and actually transferred the liquid into Justin’s mouth in a french kiss. Just to gross Mel and Linds out. That was always too much fun to miss.
“OK, guys. This is it. It’s ten seconds till midnight.” Ted warned, already pulling Blake closer. Brian gently entwined his fingers with Justin’s, pulling the man inside his embrace, already kissing his sweet pink lips with abandon. At that exact moment, midnight struck and people on the Times Square went wild in their celebration, confetti flying every which way.
“Happy New Year, everyone!” Deb yelled over the noise of the loud TV, smile stuck on her face.
Right here, right now, things seemed to be near perfection. The couples happily congratulated each other with laughter, hugs and kisses. Only Brian and Justin stood there in the middle of the room in each other’s arms, mouths fused together. Nobody else existed in their world right at that moment. Only the two of them together. But that didn’t put off anybody. They simply walked to them, hugging them together, wishing them all the best. And it wasn’t just for the New Year. They both knew that for a fact. A fact that made them smile at each other, as their friends danced around them and laughed with the innocence of pre-school children. And it felt so good. Just being here. Together.
TBC...