Justin gazed out the window of the plane as it circles over Pittsburg. He couldn't believe he was back. Sure, he'd visited from New York plenty of times, had his fair share of one night stands with Brian and planning sessions with Michael so he could do the art for Rage from New York, but this time he was really back.
He'd loved New York, of course, but when his publicist told him that things could slow down for a while, he couldn't get the idea of going home out of his head.
"That's good! You'll finally get a chance to really see New York, not just the inside of your studio," Lindsay smiled as she sat across from Justin in his New York apartment.
Justin shook his head, swallowing his coffee quickly and setting down his cup, "I don't think so. I still have to paint; I just won't be doing interviews every other day."
"Still, you should get out, party, meet some boys," Lindsay emphasized the last part, raising her eyebrows suggestively.
Justin smiled, but shook his head again, "Actually…" Justin sighed, uncrossing his legs and leaning forward with his hand on his chin. Lindsay couldn't help thinking how much it made him look like Brian. "Actually, I was thinking of going home."
"What? Why?" Lindsay had to stop herself from spitting coffee all over the boy's living room. "I mean, you've spent four years here, you've finally established yourself."
"Which is exactly why I can go home. I can paint in Pittsburg, and Michael and I have the comic, and…" Justin broke off with a cough.
Lindsay sighed, "Because Brian is there."
"Yeah," Justin muttered.
"I can't blame you. And, I mean, It's not like he's moved on either," Lindsay gave one of her patent soft, understanding smile and laughed, "Gus said that Brian didn't shirk him off on Michael once the whole month he was out there. It seems that the mighty have fallen." Lindsay laughed softly and Justin joined in, reaching one again for his coffee.
Justin smiled at the sign above the former Bath House as he tossed cash at the cab driver and mumbled out a 'thank you'. He stepped out of the car and smiled up at the Kinnetik headquarters. He thought, for a moment, that he seemed to have a hand in naming everything important in Brian's life.
"Mr. Taylor," the girl at the front desk greeted him, "Mr. Kinney didn't mention you'd be coming in."
"I wanted to surprise him," Justin smiled warmly as he leaned on the desk, "Is he available?"
She opened her mouth to speak but was quickly cut off by another female voice shouting, "Justin!"
He turned to see Brian's assistant and caught her hug, "Cynthia, hey!" He laughed, partly at the show of affection she would never put forth in front of Brian.
"You look good," She enthused and Justin shrugged.
"It's all that New York air," She 'uh-huh'-ed sarcastically and they both laughed, "Where's Brian?"
"Oh," she furrowed her eyebrows, "He went up to Britin for a long weekend. Left yesterday."
"Britin?" Justin gave her a matching look of confusion, "Wait, the manor?" Cynthia nodded, "I thought he sold it."
"Sold it?" she scoffed, "He bought it for you. I don't think he'd sell it even if you moved to Japan and never saw him again."
He laughed half-heartedly, "There's not much of a scene for American art in japan."
She smiled back softly, "Do you want me to call him? Have him come out?"
"No, no. I want to surprise him. But you could call me a car."
Justin swallowed as the house came into view. When he'd left Brian for new York, he thought he'd never see it again.
"We've arrived, Mr. Taylor," the driver informed him.
"Thanks," Justin got out of the car, just his duffel bag over his shoulder. The rest of his stuff was to be shipped in later in the week.
As he neared the door, the whole situation seemed less and less real. A tight feeling formed in the pit of his stomach. He prepared himself for the fact that Brian might have someone else inside. Justin had no reason to expect him to be spending his weekend getaway alone, no right even. He reached the door, pressing the doorbell which gave a shrill old fashioned ring..
He shifted awkwardly, his grip on the strap of his bag white knuckled. After what felt like minutes, but most likely wasn't, he rang it again.
"Damnit, I'm coming!" Brian's undeniably familiar voice came muffled through the door moments before it swung open.
Justin caught whatever annoyed expression had been on his face slip away as he saw the blonde boy standing before him. The amazing Brian Kinney was dumb struck. "Hey," Justin muttered, but within seconds he was slammed against Brian's chest, his lips forcing his apart as he struggled to balance on the threshold of the door. Brian's hands tangled in his hair, which he'd allowed to grow shaggy, and his tongue explored his mouth just like that first night, like he'd never tasted him before. Justin's hands gathered the fabric of Brian's shirt as he kissed him back with similar aggression. His fingered skillfully popped the buttons on Brian's shirt until he could push it off his shoulders.
Brian began to pull him down the hall, leaving his shirt and Justin's duffel abandoned by the open front door. Justin's shirt was gone soon enough and they stumbled into the living room, Brian catching his balance on the couch. They both chuckled breathlessly, their eyes meeting before Justin lowered himself slowly to his knees, pasting kisses down Brian's still perfectly toned form. Justin gave his a lopsided smile, and the sound of the zipper on Brian's pants broke the silence before they both let out a groan.