~*~ “I don’t suppose Justin knows you’re here.” Brandon glanced up, obviously surprised to see Brian leaning casually against Babylon’s bar, staring accusingly at him. He shrugged and downed a shot. “We don’t keep tabs. We’re not married.” Brian cringed. It sounded too much like something he would have said. In the past two weeks, he’d been hearing more and more about the new guy on Liberty Avenue. Horny men and gossiping queens couldn’t keep their mouths shut about Brandon Keyes. It seemed since he’d discovered Babylon, his reputation was being firmly established as the best new fuck in town and Brian was fairly certain Justin was in the dark about his boyfriend’s escapades. “I don’t think he’d appreciate finding out you’re fucking half of Pittsburgh.” Brandon laughed. “Since when do you give a shit, Kinney? You and Justin go months without even talking and all of a sudden you’re his best friend again?” “Whatever my relationship with Justin is, it’s none of your business.” “You don’t have a relationship with Justin.” Brandon smirked and then motioned the bartender. Brian grit his teeth, trying to remain calm. “He’s more than just a piece of ass. He deserves to be treated better.” “Yeah. His cock’s something to admire, too. But you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?” Brian didn’t answer, and Brandon seemed all too happy to explain. “I know you fucked him. I also know how you fucked with his head afterward, too.” Brian’s eyebrow rose as his tongue slid against the inside of his cheek, trying not to fall for the bait. “Or don’t you remember how informative Justin is when he’s high.” Brian still managed to say nothing. “All I had to do was ask and he filled me in on all the grizzly details. How you fucked him, and then told him he was no more than just another trick. He was in love with you, did you know that? He was in love with you and you crushed him. And you have the right to stand here and judge me about how I’m treating him? I don’t fucking think so.” Brandon picked up the shot the bartender had been placed in front of him, finished it off and slammed it down onto the bar before he turned and sauntered off in the other direction. Watching him leave, Brian forced himself to calm down, proud of the control he’d kept during the conversation. It was time to contemplate his next course of action. No matter what he had to do or how long it took, he was getting Justin away from that asshole and back where he belonged. But where was that exactly? Back with him? Living together as friends? Given the circumstances, Brian didn’t see that as a possibility. No, it’d have to be more. He’d have to be willing to give more if Justin would just give him a chance to prove his intentions, even if he had no fucking clue right now what those intentions were. Whatever he was planning, he’d have to take it one step at a time. ~*~ First step- Friendship Sitting alone inside the Liberty diner, Brian waited for Justin to come in for his morning cup of coffee. He was pretty sure this routine hadn’t changed. He’d been coming here most mornings for the past two years and with any luck, that didn’t change when the new beau came into the picture. Sure enough, ten minutes later, Justin walked in, immediately spotting Brian in the corner booth he usually occupied. Brian caught the quick smile before the mask took over and Justin’s face became neutral. “What are you doing here?” “This is a diner, isn’t it?” Justin glanced around. “Yeah, but...” “I was hungry.” Laughing slightly, he slid into the booth across from Brian, pushing his messenger bag off his shoulder. “You’d starve before you’d eat anything from here.” Brian gave in. “Okay, so I came to see you.” Justin hesitated. “Why?” “Do I have to have a reason?” “There does typically tend to be one, yes. Especially since we’re barely on speaking terms.” Brian sighed. Heavily. “I came to say that it’s fucking ridiculous for us to not be able to get past one fucked up night.” “Is that what you think it was? One fucked up night?” “Well wasn’t it?” “I bet you think that’s why I moved out, too, don’t you?” Brian shrugged. “The two did coincide.” Justin shook his head and then pushed his face into his hands, clearly agitated. He ran his fingers through his hair and then looked up at Brian. “No. I moved out because you’re a fucking son of a bitch.” “But you knew that, even before we fucked.” “Well, after that night, I stopped trying to make excuses for it. You acted like a fucking prick.” Brian’s gaze fell on his coffee cup, his hands fidgeting with the handle until he could figure out what to say. He really couldn’t deny it, and that was what was making this so hard. “I had to.” “Had to?” Brian nodded after a moment. “I didn’t know what to do, Justin. It was easier to let you be pissed off. I didn’t think you would actually leave.” “Easier than what? What was so hard that you had to bring fucking Michael into it?! And you told him! Everything!” “I know,” Brian answered softly. “I shouldn’t have.” “You’re damn right you shouldn’t have?! Do you know how humiliated I was?! How that made me feel?!” “I’m sorry.” Justin’s head shot up quickly. “What?” “I said I’m sorry.” Confused, he replied, “Brian Kinney doesn’t do sorry.” “Since when did you ever listen to my bullshit? Look, Justin… I didn’t know what to do when I woke up and you were lying there. All I kept thinking was that I was going to fuck things up between us. You could never be just a trick, and you know that.” “You made me feel like one.” “That’s why I’m saying I’m sorry.” Justin thought about it for a moment and then said, “I don’t know if we’ll ever be friends like that again.” “I’m willing to work at it, if there’s a chance.” Brian never ceased to amaze him. “I’ve gotta go.” Justin stood up, wrapping his scarf around his neck. “I’ll see you, okay?” “Later.” Things didn’t go as bad as Brian thought they would. At least Justin was open to the idea of reconciling. For now, it was all he could ask for.