Title: Just fine

Summary: Brian and Justin. It sounds like some sappy love song that plays on repeat on the radio.

Characters/Pairings: Brian Kinney/Justin Taylor, etc.

A/N: I planned on this being a chapter fic, I'm seeing where it goes. Ugh, first real try at Qaf fic. I hope it's okay, sorry it's so short.

Disclaimer: I own none of this franchise.

Michael Novonty placed the last comic on the shelf. He smiled, quite proud of himself, until an arm locked around him from behind. There were lips at his ear, "Really, Mikey, I didn't know you were into…"

Pittsburgh's Dorian Grey plucked the comic from the shelf, "Wonder woman." Michael felt the grin against his cheek, while the smell or cigarettes and cologne got sucked into Michael's nose. Brian felt warm, but still smelled like smoke. It made Michael's nose wrinkle some when the man made a face.

"Ew." Brian laughed softly into his ear, still holding onto him so tightly. They were friends, he knew Brian loved Justin and he loved Ben. Though of course, he knew Mr. Kinney would never go for double dates.

For some reason Emmett and Drew would. Emmett said it was a great clash of great fashion sense, whatever that meant really. He shook his head, forgetting about double dates and dinners.

Michael smiled some that time. He replied a moment later "And for your information, Wonder Woman is a great character in comics." It wasn't as if he was truly offended but it was a great fucking comic, and a great character. Brian was just mad that the newest issue of Rage wasn't out.

Brian laughed softly into his ear.

"Oh, is that what you and the Professor role play at night?" Michael rolled his eyes at the comment.

"Where's Justin? I thought you two would be back in West Virginia. At the great and tall Britin manor." Michael knew how to sass right back. He smiled mostly to himself when he heard his best friend laugh.

"Well, you know Sunshine." Brian let go,walking off, "Always busy being busy." Michael turned some, and saw Brian back at the front desk. The Dorian Grey wannabee was busying himself, and his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Where was Justin? Painting maybe—

His best friend was wearing that familiar leather jacket, but Brian hadn't worn that in months. Those were some tight jeans he had on—Was he going to Babylon? This early? It was barely noon!

He watched Brian some, then stacked comics that were already stacked.

"You okay?"

Brian glanced at him, then away, "Who? Me? I'm just fine, Mikey. Always am." He shrugged some, flipping through a comic from the desk, though Brian wasn't really reading it at all—Michael knew when Brian was deep in thought. Brian Kinney was a master at holding in feelings. Just look at the first five years of the Taylor Kinney train.

Justin had lately been painting a bit more, and doing shows for Pittsburgh. Ever since coming back from New York, things had seemed to going great. Justin even would come to Babylon each night, even if he had work and Brian would go into the back—Okay, maybe he didn't want the image of Brian and Justin being in the back room in his head right away, just before lunch.

Michael glanced at the comics once more before walking over. He went behind the counter. His eyes on Brian, but he pretended to be checking the resister.

"You know, if something's wrong, Brian." He began but was interrupted by Brian. Again.

"Hey, did you know that other people keep their tiny little noses in their own business?" Brian flipped through the comic in his hands.

"I bet when your superhero was saving Gaytropolis a lot of people just wanted him to mind his own business, huh, Mikey? I mean, sucking cocks can get really personal for Rage."

Michael sighed, taking the comic from Brian "I was just trying to help. That's what friends do, remember? Help each other?"

His best friend didn't seem to take any notice to what Michael said though. Brian just didn't seem to give two fucks about any of this. Maybe Brian and Justin had a fight?

Michael sighed and looked away "Did you guys fight-" Just like Michael to be nosy, to stick his nose in places that had nothing to do with him.

Somehow Brian was the voice of his subconscious. Great. Michael didn't really want Brian Kinney the King of Pittsburgh and Debauchery in his head when he was having dinner with Ben and Hunter.

"So…" Michael bit at the inside of his cheek for a moment "Hunter's doing really well in college."

"College, huh?" Brian wasn't paying attention, just flipping through the same comic. Something was bugging Kinney, and that pissed Michael off.

He wanted to know what had upset him. Brian being upset was never good, it was often a silent pain that Brian carried around on his chest and shoulders like it was a well worn jacket for him. But he knew he wasn't his mother, he wasn't Debbie, and if Brian wanted to keep something quiet for a while he would-no matter how much he trusted Michael.

"Yeah. College. Ben says he'll be the next award winning author in Pittsburgh." Michael still tried though, a small smile "I like to think he'll go on tour and write all the books and sign them special for us both."

"Sure he will, Mrs. Brunkner."

Michael's smile faded away, folding his arms again but he looked at his friend with a stern stare, rolling his eyes "Fine. Okay. So…You wanna get some lunch with Emment? He's meeting me at Ma's…"

"As much as the idea of eating pot roast and sitting by the big seventies TV at Deb's is, I will have to pass on the offer. Thanks." Brian smiled sarcastically however, and leaned over. He put a hand on the back of Michael's head, pulling him close—

"Brian—"

Brian sighed, lips going to his friend's forehead instead. It was a warm, soft kiss "Be careful, Mikey. You never know what's out in the big bad city of Gaytropolis, and Professor is no Rage." Brian pulled back, letting go and tossed the comic down. With one turn of his heel, the great Brian Kinney left the comic store.

Michael sighed, murmuring to himself "You never know what's out in the big bad city of Gaytropolis." He mocked Brian's voice, and picked up the tossed comic. He'd have to completely reorganize the shelves once again. He had just done that—! Damn it, Brian Kinney, he was going to have him spring clean with him one day.