Brian walked into the Diner for his usual morning breakfast, completely oblivious to the repercussions of his actions from the previous night. He took a seat at the counter next to Michael and ordered his meal, "Flop two, sinker, and some suds." He didn't hear Ted's self-loathing comment, all his attention fixed on the two things he had yet to consume that morning: His breakfast and His Sunshine. As if reading his mind, a skill the young blonde had gained by instinct and had learned to finely tune over the past year or so, Justin came up behind Brian, doughnut in hand. "Morning, Sunshine," Brian greeted the young busboy turned waiter. "Can I get you anything else?" Justin replied dryly, agitated by Brian's nonchalance regarding his encounter with the Zucchini Man. "Yeah, come to think of it." With a slight moan of anticipation, Brian stretched his neck eagerly expecting Justin's waiting lips. "I'll be late for class." Justin quickly exited the Diner, not waiting for Brian's reaction to his hasty rejection. In typical Kinney fashion, Brian brushed off his Sunshine's refusal to partake in PDA, something he secretly knew Justin enjoyed every bit as much as he did. Still, this mask of indifference did not hide his initial feelings from Michael, who simply shook his head and let out a low snort at his best friend's pitiful attempt to conceal his emotions. He knew he had to get the whole story. There was no reason Justin would turn Brian down. It was obvious, after knowing him for 16 years, that the ad exec wouldn't willingly open up about his personal life, even if it was Michael. Actually, ESPECIALLY if it was Michael. Mikey figured he would have better luck getting all the facts from Justin. He left Brian to finish his breakfast as he went to find Boy Wonder before he left Liberty and headed to PIFA. "Hey! Did your mother teach you to cross on the green?!" Mikey quickly pulled a clearly dazed Justin out of busy oncoming traffic. Michael chuckled when he asked, "What did he do now?" "Nothing," Justin responded, attempting to escape Michael's questioning. "Cut the shit. I know that face. That's the 'Brian Kinney just fucked me' face." "Yeah, except it wasn't me he was fucking. It was some other guy. I come home; he's on the fucking couch…" Michael couldn't hold back the laugh at that. "Another hurricane off the coast of Florida. Another earthquake in Peru. So what else is new?" "I just thought that now that we're together…" Michael didn't let Justin finish. "That things would be different. Brian is never gonna change. You know that." Michael thought this was common knowledge and was surprised Justin hadn't picked up on that by now. "Then why am I there?" Being Michael, never one to think before he speaks, he blurted out the first thought to come to mind. "Maybe…because you got bashed in the head and he feels guilty." Justin took in this suggestion and seemed to acknowledge the fear that had stored itself in the back of his head. He quickly zoned out once again and reentered traffic. Michael realized how horrible and heartless he sounded to HIMSELF. He could only imagine what Justin was thinking. He tried to recover quickly, but it was futile. "Look, I didn't mean for it to sound like that!…Sorry." He turned back to the Diner and was about to enter when he heard the loud screeching of tires and an accompanying thud. MICHAEL POV 'What the fuck was I thinking? Yeah, I know this professor's really cute…Okay. He's more than cute, he's gorgeous, but I have no idea what the hell I'm doing. Maybe I should just back out right now. No one would ever notice…except Ben. Oh, Ben! He really is a gorgeous specimen. But something tells me he goes deeper than the body. I already know he's smart. Hello, a fuckin' college professor! But there seems to be something genuine and sweet about him. Maybe I should give this lecture thing a shot. Granted, this speech is for shit. Ted and Emmett aren't helping. Neither of them is listening to me. Oh, here comes Brian. Maybe he can help me. On second thought, maybe I should wait. He'll need his daily morning dose of Sunshine. Who knows how long they'll take? Here comes Boy Wonder, now. Okay. Something's up. Justin never turns Brian down. What did he do now? I look over at Brian after Justin walks away. He actually seems upset. Of course, he'd never admit that. He's wearing his usual mask of indifference. He actually thinks I can't see through that shit. Well, he's obviously not going to talk. Maybe I can get the whole story from Justin before he leaves. I run out of the Diner right before he's about to walk directly into traffic. Okay, something's DEFINITELY up. I see that look on Justin's face. I know that face. He says it's nothing. Yeah, right. I may not be a Carnegie Mellon professor, but I know what that face means. He finally tells me. I should have known. He caught Brian on the couch with a trick. I honestly don't know why Justin's surprised. This is who Brian is. Justin knew that when he met him. Hell, if it weren't for Brian's tricking, they never would have met in the first place. Still, we all know whatever it is between them is different. He's really upset. He's at a loss. He wants answers. He wants some kind of validation as to why he's living with Brian. I let the first thought that comes to my head slip. "Maybe…because you got bashed in the head and he feels guilty." Smooth, Novotny. Did you really just say that to him? Before I can pull my thoughts together, Justin is crossing the busy avenue. I yell out an unheard apology and turn to go back inside the Diner. Then I hear it. A loud screech and a pounding thud. I turn around, expecting to see a simple collision between a car and a garbage can or something. What I see I am not prepared for. I stand there in shock, watching the crimson flow trickle across the street.' JUSTIN POV 'I should have known better. 1500 on my SATs and I didn't see one of the eternal truths of the world: Rule #1 in The Kinney Operating Manual: "Brian Kinney will never change." I let myself get comfortable and naively thought I could change him. Well, he won't have to deal with me much longer. I'm staying with Daphne after I finish my classes for the day until I have to face the inevitable. I never realized how much I was in the way of his life. Well, I've always wanted him to be happy. I'll get my stuff when I go back tonight. Oh, here he comes. Yep, I knew it. He's acting like nothing happened. I'm just gonna get him his breakfast as quickly as I can and then I'm outta here. What the fuck?! He just tried to kiss me! He really has no idea what's going on. What the fuck is taking this damn light so long? He'll probably come home tonight and want a quick fuck without even talking to me. Well, sorry. I'm sick of no more than a convenient fuck to him. I do love him, with all my heart and soul. I would do anything for him. I know this. But, it's obvious he's never going to feel the same way. What the fuck? Oh. Of course. Michael. Always sticking his nose where it doesn't belong… Shit. That's it. I've always had that idea in the back of my mind, but I guess I just didn't want to believe it. He still feels guilty and is only letting me live with him to try to make up for it. Well, he won't have to worry about that anymore. His conscience can finally be at peace…Oh shit!'