Resting Here With Me - Chapter 11
Resting Here With Me
Chapter 11
Written by We_Dreamerz
Betaed by Xanntonya
Canon Friendly
NC17
QAF is Cowlip's, I'm just moving the pieces around. No copyright infringement is intended.
Post Season 5- Brian and Justin start a new chapter in their lives. Will their separation tear them apart? Or will they grow closer in their love? Only time will tell.
A/N: When I first started writing this chapter I wasn't really sure where I was headed with it. I have a overall plot in mind for the fic.. But this chapter stumped me. It has ended up being one of my favorites so far and I really hope you guys enjoy it. I want to thank you all for the feedback and support and assistance. I've had such a great time jumping into the fandom. And it's you guys who have made it that way.
~Liz
Justin's POV
Brian's Corvette, Pittsburgh
Wednesday, 7:36 am
"Will you stop looking at your face?" Brian asked, exasperated.
"Sorry." I flipped the mirror back into place for what had to be the millionth time that morning. "I look like a twelve year old fresh from a playground fight." I sighed.
"You look fine, Justin. I told you it's not that bad." he commented and pulled into his personal parking space at Kinnetik.
"That's easy for you to say. You're not the boss' little piece of blond boy ass coming to head a project, sight unseen." I said, finally voicing the doubts that had been creeping into my mind.
Brian killed the engine and turned to look at me. "Do you really think that's how you got this job; because you're my little piece of blond boy ass?" Brian sneered. "Don't insult me, Justin. As hot as your ass may be, I wouldn't hire you to work for Kinnetik because your ass never fails to make my dick hard."
"I know that, Brian." I began, but Brian interrupted me.
"Do you?" he asked, looking into my eyes. He always had a way of seeing right through my bullshit. "You got this job because you have talent. What's more, you have vision. You have more talent, vision and creativity in your pinky finger, on a bad day, than my entire art department has in their whole bodies, on their best. I would hire you to head my art department if I knew that's what you really wanted." I was stunned by Brian's heartfelt words.
"Don't ever let anyone make you think you're anything but the best, Justin; bruises or no bruises."
"Besides," Brian gently stroked my marked jaw, looking angry and guilty. "I happen to know how you got those bruises, trying to protect my pretty face." He sighed. "I am so sorry for these, Justin."
"Brian, you can't possibly think you're responsible for this." I asked and held his warm hand to my cheek. He withdrew his hand slowly, looked away and shrugged.
"Come on, Justin. We're going to be late and you don't want that on your first day. I heard the boss can be a real cocksucker. "
It turned out that I was worrying needlessly. Yeah, the entire art department knew who I was, knew I was Brian's… whatever. I had even been friends with a few of them. But they were also big fans of Rage and knew I'd done the artwork. No one even batted an eyelash and some actually seemed excited.
Brian introduced me in a morning staff meeting. They all made me feel welcome and I began immediately reviewing Megan's ad concept and brainstorming with the project team. It was invigorating and exciting and I remembered why I had been so thrilled to intern at VanGard. This was a completely different world than the solitary existence of a painter and I found it refreshing.
"Who are you, and what have you done with Justin?" Brian exclaimed sometime later as he walked into the conference room that been assigned as my makeshift workspace. Since I would only be there two weeks Brian hadn't given me a permanent office. But I liked the room. There were wide windows that allowed the natural light to come in and it had a warm feel to it.
I looked up and smiled. "What are you talking about?" I asked.
He looked at his watch. "It's almost 12:30, Justin; are you trying to starve me?"
"Oh shit, is it that late already?" I exclaimed, eyes flying to the clock. "Sorry, Bri; let me get my coat."
The day was relatively warm for that time of year so we decided to walk to the diner. I kept thinking spring would be right around the corner, but it was only the beginning of February despite how warm it had been. It seemed like I'd been in New York forever. I was still the same person but I felt different somehow. A month ago I thought my world was breaking apart. Things had been so up in the air for me. But it became more and more clear that Brian hadn't been confused and compromising at all. Sure, his feelings were new to him. He needed a period of adjustment. But that didn't make his feelings any less real. I sometimes felt like an absolute shit when I saw him looking at me; saw the love in his eyes. I don't think I really believed him when he said "I Love You", when he wanted to get married. I wanted to but I didn't. And now I saw how wrong I'd been. Despite the distance between us he'd been right there for me. He'd visited, called, emailed, texted; been emotionally and sexually available. But he was still Brian and he has never seemed more content with himself.
I looked sideways at Brian. Since my comment that morning he'd seemed out of sorts. I knew he thought it was his fault that I got hurt; that the altercation with my father had escalated because Brian had pushed too hard. But the truth was, if he hadn't, I would have. So, either way someone was going to get hurt. Brian had already been physically assaulted by my father twice over the years. I wouldn't allow it to happen again.
From the corner of my eye I saw Brian glance at me. "I always get nervous when you get that look on your face, Justin." Brian commented. "It means you're thinking again."
"No need to be nervous Mr. Kinney. I was just wondering how many people are assembled at the diner waiting for me to make my grand entrance." I smiled and he glared at me.
"You better at least act surprised you little twat. They've been waiting long enough."
I laughed and bumped his shoulder with mine. "You can't keep secrets from me, Brian; I can read your mind."
"No, Sunshine, that's Rage's superpower. What the fuck does J.T. do anyway; besides look hot?" Brian asked; his face serious and questioning.
I looked at him aghast. "You don't consider J.T.'s amazing blowjobs a superpower?"
"Well you may have a valid point there, Sunshine. Perhaps later you could remind me just how amazing J.T.'s blowjobs are; give a happy ending to this debate?" he said smiling, his tongue poking lewdly into his cheek.
"Hmmm, I don't know Bri; Old Man Kinney can be quite a hard ass." I said as we walked up to the diner's door.
Before I reached the door Brian swung me around and pushed me against the window, his eyes hungry and lips inches from mine. "I have something hard for your ass, Justin. And as I think you'll recall from last night, there's nothing old about it." he growled and kissed me; his lips hard and demanding.
I sunk into his kiss and his mouth grew softer, sweeter; drawing me in and teasing my tongue. Brian's body pushed into mine and I felt the hardness of his cock against my hip. Delicious warmth spread over my body and a moan escaped my lips, but he drank it in and brought me closer, my own hardness pressed into his thigh. I wondered briefly if other people felt like this, had this passion always boiling at the surface. But the thought was erased by the feeling of his hands on my ass.
Dimly I heard the sound of the diner door opening and an exasperated sigh. "Don't you two ever get enough?" Debbie screeched from the doorway. "Get your asses in here! Welcome home Sunshine!"
Brian's POV
Liberty Diner, Pittsburgh
12:40 pm Wednesday
The entire crew had assembled at the diner thanks to Ted's big mouth but Justin liked that kind of thing, so I slapped on a smile and allowed him to soak up the attention from our weird little extended family. Michael, Ben, Debbie, Ted and Emmett herded him into a booth leaving me to slide into the booth next to them where Carl and Hunter had taken refuge.
"Hey, tall, dark and handsome." Hunter greeted me. "Decided to keep the little blond toy huh?"
"More like he decided to keep me." I said and felt Justin shoved my shoulder. "Hey, I thought you had decided you were straight." I said as I stretched my legs into the seat of the booth.
"Yeah well, consider yourself on the list I'd go back for. So, ya know if you ever get tired…"
"Don't count on it Hunter." Justin interjected and winked at me as the hoard descended upon him.
"Tell us, Justin. How are you enjoying New York?" Debbie asked.
Justin answered question after question with Emmett chiming in now and then to tell them about Crave. I didn't know how much Ted had told the gang, but I figured I wouldn't have to fire him because when Justin finally told them why he was home, they seemed sufficiently surprised. Justin told them about the freelance work he was doing on the Crave project and the mural Megan had commissioned him to do. Justin's voice betrayed every ounce of his excitement and despite their initial surprise that Justin was deviating from what everyone, including me, had assumed was his dream; they couldn't help but be excited for him. When Justin was passionate about something, it poured out of him and lit him up like a Christmas tree. Just when I was beginning to relax, Justin let the cat out of the proverbial bag I had forgotten to tell him to keep closed.
"So, what's going on tonight guys? We have to celebrate Justin's little homecoming!" Emmett gushed. "Do I hear Woody's and Poppers? Its Jungle Fever night and I've been feeling a little wild!"
"I'm game!" Ted responded.
"Us too!" Mikey and Ben nodded.
I looked at Justin who had turned around to see how I felt about the plans. "I don't know, Sunshine. It is a school night and you know how much of a hard ass the Boss can be." I rolled my eyes; as if I'd be anywhere else that night but lost on a dance floor with Justin. Besides, he'd expressed a desire to do a little hunting together when we were home and really, who was I to disappoint the lad?
Justin laughed, knowing exactly what was on my mind. Maybe my powers of mind control really were rubbing off on him. "We'll be there!" he answered for us and took a big bite of his cheese burger. He moaned in appreciation and I was surprised when my dick twitched in my pants. I couldn't help but laugh. Justin's intense love of food and the noises he made always made me hard. Jesus, I was totally fucked where he was concerned. Why had I ever bothered resisting?
"Mmmm. Nobody does greasy cheeseburgers like this in New York." he said. "Oh! Hey, speaking of Poppers. How excited are all of you that Brian is reopening Babylon?" Justin asked with his mouth full of burger.
I winced as everyone within earshot turned to look at me, silent and still; their mouths agape. I hadn't told a soul but Ted, who after getting the green light from me when I had spoken to Justin had been handling the initial process; contacting contractors, getting estimates. He'd found the perfect company and I'd signed the contract that morning. Mikey was the first to speak.
"You decided? You're reopening Babylon?" he asked tensely. I glanced at Justin who mouthed his apology.
I smiled at him. "Its okay, Justin; I suppose it's time I told everyone anyway. Yes, I am reopening Babylon. The contract was signed this morning and they will start on the repairs this coming Monday." I announced.
All at once the crowd began to talk, the news spread and before long the entire diner was abuzz. Babylon, Pittsburgh's premiere gay nightclub, the same nightclub that had been bombed and people had died, was going to reopen its doors.
As I explained my plans I sought Mikey's eyes and was relieved to see a smile on his face. Besides my own and Justin's, his was the only other opinion that mattered. He almost lost his life in the bombing and a part of me was afraid that maybe he changed his mind in retrospect. But he was smiling and seemed excited so it put my mind at ease. But my bubble burst when Justin, Ted and I rose to go. Debbie hugged me goodbye and said, low enough for only me to hear, "I hope you know what you're doing asshole because if I lose one of you to that God damned club…." she hugged me hard and patted my back, her fears left hanging, unable to say the words.
Justin's POV
Kinnetik, Pittsburgh
5:30 pm Wednesday
"Goodnight, Justin!" Cliff, a member of the project team called after me as I headed down the hall that led to Brian's office.
"Goodnight, Cliff. See you tomorrow!" I returned with a smile. It was true that there were a few bad apples with in the art department. I'd only been there for a day and I'd seen that. But from what I saw I thought Brian grossly underestimated the talent he had hidden away at Kinnetik. For the most part they were bright, creative and energetic. I thought from what I had observed that the problem laid squarely on the shoulders of the Art Department head, Linda Stone. She was talented in her own right; but, she played favorites. I observed several times people bringing her ideas for accounts; only a few select people ever got approval and it was always the same people. Lots of great ideas had ended up in the trash because that person wasn't on her "list". Luckily, Brian chose my project team and had given me carte blanche over it so I didn't have to work under her. But she certainly made her presence known. I'm sure I made her nervous. I tried to be nice and professional. Today she tried to tell me Bryce, one of her obvious favorites would be great on my project and wouldn't I love to speak to Mr. Kinney to see if I could make that happen.
I politely told her that we had all of the people we needed, but thank you for the suggestion. Linda had smiled graciously and taken her leave. But I knew she was pissed. I tried to shrug it off. But I caught her several times the rest of the day trying to put her two cents into someone else's ear. I knew I'd have to nip it in the bud, but I wanted to handle it on my own, without Brian's help. So I decided not to tell him about her yet.
I had learned so much that day though. Cliff was a genius with the computer. The artists at Kinnetik used the same program and touch screen user interface that I used myself. Thanks to Brian's insistence that I keep up with the latest and best technology; over the years since he gave me the computer, as soon as his artists got an upgrade, so did I. It helped me out when my hand was too fatigued and it produced some amazing results that I couldn't have gotten otherwise. Cliff had shown me new ways of manipulating my images, faster short cuts and great new techniques. I was excited to try out the new techniques with my own work.
When I entered Brian's office I caught him staring blankly at his screen.
"Is this what The Great and Powerful Oz does while we Munchkins toil away?" I teased.
Brian smirked sarcastically and began shutting down his computer. "I was just thinking." he said.
"What's wrong, Bri?" I asked and sat down on the couch.
He sighed. "I think you spend too much time with that comic book of yours, Justin. Rage's powers of mind control really are beginning to rub off on you."
I smiled and waited, giving him time to decide when he was ready to talk. In silence he organized his desk and pulled out his briefcase and coat then laid them across the back of the couch and thumped down beside me with another sigh.
"Am I doing the right thing, Justin; opening Babylon? I mean, I know Prop 14 was dropped and since the bombing people have stopped hiding their heads up their asses. I know we've made small strides in the past couple months since it happened in unifying our communities. But, I've said it before, there are two kinds…"
I had to stop him. I couldn't even let him say it. "You know that's not true, Brian. Look at Megan. She's straight and I know she cares about all of the people that work for her; me, you too. I mean, look at the incredible club she's opened. She's trying. There are straight people who do not hate. And, if anything came out of the bombing, the deaths, it was the straight community of Pittsburgh seeing how their hate could manifest itself into something so ugly. They've really tried to make an effort, Brian; to show that they are sorry. But you and I both know that the hate continues. That there's no way to stop it; and I can't guarantee that something won't happen again. In fact, I guarantee you that it will." I stood and began pacing, unable to stay still. "But, does that mean we should change; stop being who we are and hide behind what they think we should be? No, it means we have to be just as loud and just as proud as we ever were and if that invites more violence, well than so be it. I can't be anything but me, Brian. And a part of you will always be at Babylon. A part of us all will always be at Babylon. You need to open it. You need to prove to them that they can't frighten us, change us or dampen our spirit." I looked into his eyes; He smiled stoically and held out his hand. I took it and was pulled onto his lap. "You're very wise for someone so young." he whispered.
I shrugged. "I had a good teacher. But it seems sometimes he needs reminded." I said and pushed his hair back from his face.
"I can't wait to dance with you again, Brian. I whispered. "On the floor of Babylon, all the lights and the glitter and your body pressed against mine. I think that's where you fell in love with me you know?"
He chuckled and kissed me sweetly. "No, Justin. I fell in love with you beneath a random lamppost on Liberty Avenue…a brave man of seventeen, deciding to take a chance."