SEEN AGAIN
Title: Seen Again
Written By: suzvoy
Timeline: The Pink Posse arc.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: There's Ethan, but trust me - it's all about Teh Love.
Summary: Ethan's wondered what it would be like if he ever saw Justin again.
Author's Notes: Thanks to my beta, and thanks to Randy, Gale and Fab.
Inspired By Icon:
*
Ethan would never admit it, but he's wondered what it'd be like if he ever saw Justin again. He doesn't for one second think they'd get back together, that Justin would throw himself into Ethan's out-stretched arms - he knows better. He suspects they both do.
But he's imagined everything else - a warm, friendly greeting, Justin all wide smiles and blond hair; an abrupt, tense meeting where it's clear that Justin has never forgiven him. A wary but heartfelt hello, where they end up going for coffee.
Mostly, Ethan imagines bumping into Justin when he's with Brian, and Brian always looks smug.
When he does see Justin again - months after they broke up - it's not at all like he expected. He doesn't even realise it's him at first.
Ethan's walking along Liberty Avenue - although he was never into bars and clubs, he does have some nostalgia for the place - when he notices a flash of pink on the other side of the street. There's no way to miss it because it's a big flash of pink, which he quickly realises is a group of six guys, and then he realises who they are.
Pink shirts, fatigue pants, buzzed hair - the Pink Posse.
He's only been back in Pittsburgh a few days and he'd already heard about them. A group of proudly proclaimed fags 'defending' Liberty Avenue from homophobes.
Ethan thinks they'd be a lot scarier if they didn't have such bad fashion sense.
It's then that he realises that one of them is Justin.
He literally stumbles, at first, his brain temporarily unable to process what he's seeing. Completely unaware, his head shaved, Justin happily keeps walking along with the group.
Ethan follows, all the time wondering how Justin - strong, defiant Justin - could get involved with a group like that.
But then it seems that maybe there's nothing to worry about. The Pink Posse help an old lady across the road. Chase an empty-handed thief away from Torso. Help an obviously inebriated guy into a cab.
Eventually they leave Liberty Avenue and Ethan still follows, trying to be discrete, although it's mostly his paranoia making him do that. It's not as if they don't want to be noticed.
One by one they all split up from the group and go their own way. Ethan has never been particularly plugged in to the 'gay grapevine', but he knows that Brian and Justin are back together, so he's not in the least bit surprised when he ends up at the loft. Justin goes inside, Ethan hides, and doesn't leave until well after midnight.
The lights in the loft never go out.
*
After that he starts purposefully looking for the Pink Posse every night. Something about them, something about the fact that Justin's involved with them, sends a trickle of unease down his spine.
For a few nights nothing seems to change - and then the Posse start becoming more confrontational. A car full of straight guys decide to drive down Liberty to play a game of 'Taunt the Gays'.
This time the Posse pull them out of their car. Humiliate them. Justin gets thrown back against the car and Ethan freezes for a moment, but then Justin is laughing, clearly pleased, throwing the jeans they'd pulled off one guy after the rapidly departing car.
Swallowing against something at the back of his throat, Ethan leaves.
He doesn't need to see where Justin will be heading after that.
*
A couple of nights later, the Posse abruptly loses four members - now it's only Justin and one other guy 'protecting' Liberty Avenue.
It only makes Ethan even more paranoid.
That night he follows them far out of Liberty Avenue and the surrounding area, until finally what remains of the Pink Posse stop outside a straight bar - and make out.
It takes Ethan about five seconds to realise what's going on (this is not one of the games that Brian and Justin play) and he doesn't even hesitate when Justin and the other guy follow a straight couple who jeered at them for kissing.
This time, as he peers around the corner into the alley, Ethan knows exactly what to expect but isn't sure how he should be reacting. He thinks he should probably be debating whether to stop Justin or help him, but truthfully it's his hands that are utmost in his mind.
His hands.
If anything happens to them, his career is over.
He leaves, knowing that music is his only gift.
*
That night he doesn't sleep. He barely sleeps for the next two, and he doesn't go out looking for Justin anymore.
On the fourth night, his last night back in Pittsburgh, he finds himself standing at the door to Brian's loft. He doesn't hesitate when he knocks, and he doesn't flinch when the door suddenly slides open.
He's thought about this meeting, too. Coming back to Pittsburgh, especially Liberty Avenue, he knew there was just as much chance of him bumping into Brian alone. Those imagined meetings always went a little differently than the ones with Justin.
"What the fuck do YOU want?"
"He still likes my cock better."
"Fuck off."
The reality is somewhat different. Brian stands inside the door wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and, though he has to be surprised to see Ethan, he doesn't show it on a single inch of his face.
"What is it?" Brian asks firmly, and it's only as Ethan opens his mouth to reply that he notices the tension set along Brian's shoulders. The grim expression on his face. The unmistakable sign of weariness beneath his eyes.
And for the first time the thought crosses his mind that maybe Brian already knows.
But Ethan can't take the chance that he doesn't, and finally forces out the words.
"I don't know if you're aware of what Justin's been doing lately-"
"I am, and it's over," Brian interrupts brusquely.
Ethan stares at him. "You're sure?"
"Yes."
Brian doesn't explain what they're talking about or ask how he even knows, but Ethan had known better than to expect an inquisition (nonetheless, he had been ready to discuss how very successful he was becoming, just in case Brian turned out to be the shit Ethan had sometimes wanted him to be).
The relief is potent. "It was bad," he points out uselessly.
"But it's over now," Brian nods condescendingly, "so you don't need to worry your curly little head about it anymore."
Ethan begins to turn away, deciding retreat is the better part of valor. "You don't need to tell him I was here."
"Wasn't planning on it," is all the reply he gets, and honestly all the reply he expects.
Before he even takes the first step down, he hears Brian's voice again.
"Wait."
In the few moments it takes him to turn around Brian is already gone from the door.
Ethan has never seen inside the loft before, and Justin had avoided the subject frequently enough to make him intrigued.
Not having a death wish he doesn't step inside, but what he can see of the loft seems very Brian Kinney - although there is less furniture than he expected.
His gaze, though, is quickly drawn to the most prominent feature - the bedroom, where Brian had headed. The shutters around it are open and there's a distinct bump beneath the covers.
Ethan had come to the loft tonight expecting Justin to be out on patrol, but he knows without the slightest doubt that it isn't a trick under the covers - a thought that's confirmed when he hears the soft, familiar murmurs of Justin's voice.
They're speaking too quietly for Ethan to make out what they're saying, but Brian says something in reply and then, through the shutters, Ethan sees him sit down on the edge of the bed and run a hand over what remains of Justin's hair.
Laughing quietly at something, Justin pushes the hand away and suddenly Brian is up and out of the room and walking towards Ethan.
"Here," he says, holding out a familiar pink shirt. "Do us all a favour and get rid of this piece of crap."
Surprised, Ethan nonetheless reaches out for it, and it's in the few seconds that they're both holding the material that Brian meets his gaze.
And nods.
Ethan barely has time to do anything - nod back, blink, breathe - before Brian is stepping back and sliding the door shut with a definitive clunk. Just like that, he's been dismissed.
Staring down at the shirt for a few seconds, Ethan slowly tightens his grip and starts making his way out of the building.
Justin is okay, and has someone looking out for him. That hasn't been his job for months and, quite honestly, he knows by now that wasn't what he was meant to do.
His talent lies elsewhere.
But first...
He has a shirt to burn.
Written By: suzvoy
Timeline: The Pink Posse arc.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: There's Ethan, but trust me - it's all about Teh Love.
Summary: Ethan's wondered what it would be like if he ever saw Justin again.
Author's Notes: Thanks to my beta, and thanks to Randy, Gale and Fab.
Inspired By Icon:
*
Ethan would never admit it, but he's wondered what it'd be like if he ever saw Justin again. He doesn't for one second think they'd get back together, that Justin would throw himself into Ethan's out-stretched arms - he knows better. He suspects they both do.
But he's imagined everything else - a warm, friendly greeting, Justin all wide smiles and blond hair; an abrupt, tense meeting where it's clear that Justin has never forgiven him. A wary but heartfelt hello, where they end up going for coffee.
Mostly, Ethan imagines bumping into Justin when he's with Brian, and Brian always looks smug.
When he does see Justin again - months after they broke up - it's not at all like he expected. He doesn't even realise it's him at first.
Ethan's walking along Liberty Avenue - although he was never into bars and clubs, he does have some nostalgia for the place - when he notices a flash of pink on the other side of the street. There's no way to miss it because it's a big flash of pink, which he quickly realises is a group of six guys, and then he realises who they are.
Pink shirts, fatigue pants, buzzed hair - the Pink Posse.
He's only been back in Pittsburgh a few days and he'd already heard about them. A group of proudly proclaimed fags 'defending' Liberty Avenue from homophobes.
Ethan thinks they'd be a lot scarier if they didn't have such bad fashion sense.
It's then that he realises that one of them is Justin.
He literally stumbles, at first, his brain temporarily unable to process what he's seeing. Completely unaware, his head shaved, Justin happily keeps walking along with the group.
Ethan follows, all the time wondering how Justin - strong, defiant Justin - could get involved with a group like that.
But then it seems that maybe there's nothing to worry about. The Pink Posse help an old lady across the road. Chase an empty-handed thief away from Torso. Help an obviously inebriated guy into a cab.
Eventually they leave Liberty Avenue and Ethan still follows, trying to be discrete, although it's mostly his paranoia making him do that. It's not as if they don't want to be noticed.
One by one they all split up from the group and go their own way. Ethan has never been particularly plugged in to the 'gay grapevine', but he knows that Brian and Justin are back together, so he's not in the least bit surprised when he ends up at the loft. Justin goes inside, Ethan hides, and doesn't leave until well after midnight.
The lights in the loft never go out.
*
After that he starts purposefully looking for the Pink Posse every night. Something about them, something about the fact that Justin's involved with them, sends a trickle of unease down his spine.
For a few nights nothing seems to change - and then the Posse start becoming more confrontational. A car full of straight guys decide to drive down Liberty to play a game of 'Taunt the Gays'.
This time the Posse pull them out of their car. Humiliate them. Justin gets thrown back against the car and Ethan freezes for a moment, but then Justin is laughing, clearly pleased, throwing the jeans they'd pulled off one guy after the rapidly departing car.
Swallowing against something at the back of his throat, Ethan leaves.
He doesn't need to see where Justin will be heading after that.
*
A couple of nights later, the Posse abruptly loses four members - now it's only Justin and one other guy 'protecting' Liberty Avenue.
It only makes Ethan even more paranoid.
That night he follows them far out of Liberty Avenue and the surrounding area, until finally what remains of the Pink Posse stop outside a straight bar - and make out.
It takes Ethan about five seconds to realise what's going on (this is not one of the games that Brian and Justin play) and he doesn't even hesitate when Justin and the other guy follow a straight couple who jeered at them for kissing.
This time, as he peers around the corner into the alley, Ethan knows exactly what to expect but isn't sure how he should be reacting. He thinks he should probably be debating whether to stop Justin or help him, but truthfully it's his hands that are utmost in his mind.
His hands.
If anything happens to them, his career is over.
He leaves, knowing that music is his only gift.
*
That night he doesn't sleep. He barely sleeps for the next two, and he doesn't go out looking for Justin anymore.
On the fourth night, his last night back in Pittsburgh, he finds himself standing at the door to Brian's loft. He doesn't hesitate when he knocks, and he doesn't flinch when the door suddenly slides open.
He's thought about this meeting, too. Coming back to Pittsburgh, especially Liberty Avenue, he knew there was just as much chance of him bumping into Brian alone. Those imagined meetings always went a little differently than the ones with Justin.
"What the fuck do YOU want?"
"He still likes my cock better."
"Fuck off."
The reality is somewhat different. Brian stands inside the door wearing nothing but a pair of jeans and, though he has to be surprised to see Ethan, he doesn't show it on a single inch of his face.
"What is it?" Brian asks firmly, and it's only as Ethan opens his mouth to reply that he notices the tension set along Brian's shoulders. The grim expression on his face. The unmistakable sign of weariness beneath his eyes.
And for the first time the thought crosses his mind that maybe Brian already knows.
But Ethan can't take the chance that he doesn't, and finally forces out the words.
"I don't know if you're aware of what Justin's been doing lately-"
"I am, and it's over," Brian interrupts brusquely.
Ethan stares at him. "You're sure?"
"Yes."
Brian doesn't explain what they're talking about or ask how he even knows, but Ethan had known better than to expect an inquisition (nonetheless, he had been ready to discuss how very successful he was becoming, just in case Brian turned out to be the shit Ethan had sometimes wanted him to be).
The relief is potent. "It was bad," he points out uselessly.
"But it's over now," Brian nods condescendingly, "so you don't need to worry your curly little head about it anymore."
Ethan begins to turn away, deciding retreat is the better part of valor. "You don't need to tell him I was here."
"Wasn't planning on it," is all the reply he gets, and honestly all the reply he expects.
Before he even takes the first step down, he hears Brian's voice again.
"Wait."
In the few moments it takes him to turn around Brian is already gone from the door.
Ethan has never seen inside the loft before, and Justin had avoided the subject frequently enough to make him intrigued.
Not having a death wish he doesn't step inside, but what he can see of the loft seems very Brian Kinney - although there is less furniture than he expected.
His gaze, though, is quickly drawn to the most prominent feature - the bedroom, where Brian had headed. The shutters around it are open and there's a distinct bump beneath the covers.
Ethan had come to the loft tonight expecting Justin to be out on patrol, but he knows without the slightest doubt that it isn't a trick under the covers - a thought that's confirmed when he hears the soft, familiar murmurs of Justin's voice.
They're speaking too quietly for Ethan to make out what they're saying, but Brian says something in reply and then, through the shutters, Ethan sees him sit down on the edge of the bed and run a hand over what remains of Justin's hair.
Laughing quietly at something, Justin pushes the hand away and suddenly Brian is up and out of the room and walking towards Ethan.
"Here," he says, holding out a familiar pink shirt. "Do us all a favour and get rid of this piece of crap."
Surprised, Ethan nonetheless reaches out for it, and it's in the few seconds that they're both holding the material that Brian meets his gaze.
And nods.
Ethan barely has time to do anything - nod back, blink, breathe - before Brian is stepping back and sliding the door shut with a definitive clunk. Just like that, he's been dismissed.
Staring down at the shirt for a few seconds, Ethan slowly tightens his grip and starts making his way out of the building.
Justin is okay, and has someone looking out for him. That hasn't been his job for months and, quite honestly, he knows by now that wasn't what he was meant to do.
His talent lies elsewhere.
But first...
He has a shirt to burn.