Disclaimer: Queer as Folk isn't mine. It's ShowTime et al's. I've just
invited the boys out to play. Hopefully they won't be too damaged when I
return them.
Author's Note: The devil made me do it.
It was cool and overcast that afternoon as Ethan stepped into the diner. It wasn't very busy, and after ordering his coffee and making swift small talk with Debbie, he easily found a corner booth to himself. Sighing, he sipped the scalding coffee and pulled out a textbook. Since he'd been skipping class, he thought he should make an attempt at study before going home and crashing. In truth, he was going over the same few lines, never realizing it. His mind was otherwise occupied.
Before long he was interrupted by a briefcase set down noisily in front of him. He looked up from his book, surprised to see Brian looking back at him. "Hi, Ian. Is this seat taken?"
"It's Ethan, and no, but - "
"Right, Ethan, sorry," Brian said, smiling sardonically, as he sat down.
"I'm busy, Brian, what do you want?" Ethan said through gritted teeth.
"Just a little company, is all. You're not expecting anyone, are you?"
"No."
"Perfect."
Just then Debbie approached the table, scowling. "Is everything all right here, hon?" she said, directed at Ethan.
Brian replied, still smiling sweetly, "Everything is fine, thank you, Debbie, although I was beginning to wonder when someone would be here to take my order. It'll just be coffee for me today."
"We're all right, Debbie," Ethan said uneasily, unable to stand the scrutiny of her stare.
"All right," she said reluctantly, eyeing them both with suspicion. "I'll be right over here, within earshot, if you need me. Your coffee'll be a minute, I'm brewing a fresh pot." Hesitating, Debbie returned to her duties.
"Good help is hard to find, don't you notice that?" Brian said, casually pulling a newspaper from his briefcase.
Ethan shut his textbook and sat back in his chair. "Brian, if there's a point to this, I wish you'd get to it. I'd like to go home and get some sleep."
Brian glanced over the top of the paper. "You know, you do look awfully tired. The Boy Wonder keeping you up all night?"
Ethan got up to leave. Brian quickly interjected, "All right, that was uncalled for. Stay. You have time at least to finish your coffee."
He sat back down and stared expectantly. Debbie returned with Brian's coffee, set down wordlessly in front of him, with another suspicious glare shot at each of them. Apparently she was satisfied that everything was still civil, because she walked away. Brian took a sip. Ethan still stared.
Finally, Brian spoke. "Seriously, I want to know how things are going between the two of you."
Ethan snorted. "I really don't see how that's any of your business."
"Maybe not, but as his academic sponsor I have a personal stake in the success of his educational career. And he hasn't been looking well lately."
He raised an eyebrow. "His academic sponsor?"
"Oh, I guess he didn't tell you. But, come on, you didn't really think that Daddy had a change of heart and paid for it, did you?"
"I suspected."
"Well then, you're more than just a pretty face after all."
He took a deep breath before responding. "If you must know, Brian, I've noticed that he hasn't been himself, too. But it has nothing to do with the state of our relationship, I assure you. We're doing just fine."
Brian nodded. "So his hand hasn't been acting up, then?"
Ethan was caught off guard. "He says it gets tired, and then he has trouble controlling it." He paused, then added, "He never told me what happened."
"I see." Brian said, then looked at his watch. "I'd be happy to tell you about it, but I have an appointment at my place soon. Unless . . ." he grinned, ". . . you'd like to come with me?"
Ethan chuckled derisively. "I don't think so, I was taught never to go anywhere with strangers."
Brian shrugged. "Suit yourself." He collected his suitcase and deposited a bill on the table for the coffee. He got up and began to walk away. Ethan thought a moment, then started after him.
"Brian . . ." Brian looked back. "He has these nightmares sometimes, and he refuses to talk about them. I want to help him but he won't let me."
Brian smiled, a little more genuinely, and said, "I think you should come with me, Ethan. I can tell you everything you need to know."
* * *
"He's mostly recovered, but ever since he's had trouble with his hand. The computer helped somewhat, but his drawing has never been quite back to normal."
"I see," Ethan said quietly, overwhelmed. He didn't know what bothered him more, everything he'd just heard, or that he was hearing it from Brian instead of from his boyfriend.
Brian got up from the chair and sat next to Ethan on the couch. He reached into his coat and produced a pipe. He lit it and took a hit. Then he held it out to Ethan, who hesitated briefly before accepting. With all that he'd found out, he needed something to calm him. Moments after exhaled the smoke, his head began to swim. "Good shit," Brian said, coughing a little. They smoked together in silence.
After they finished, Ethan stood. "I don't know why you wanted to tell me all of this, Brian, but I'd better go. He'll be out of class soon, and he'll wonder where I am." Ethan dizzied a little, more affected than he realized by the weed. Brian stood up and put his hands on his shoulders, to steady him.
"Easy, maybe I should give you a ride home."
"No, I'm fine. I need to get out of here."
Looking around for his book bag and violin case, Ethan didn't notice as Brian checked his watch for the third or fourth time since their meeting. And it took him a moment to realize what was happening as Brian suddenly pulled him close and began kissing him.
He pulled back, angry. "What are you doing?" he demanded.
"Relax," Brian cooed, gently pushing Ethan down onto the couch. "No one is going to find out."
A protest stuck in his throat as Brian swiftly unzipped Ethan's pants and pulled out his cock, hard despite himself. The expertise of Brian's lips and tongue were persuasive. His head dropped back in confused ecstasy.
Distracted as he was, Ethan didn't hear the click of the door as it opened, and the soft, padding footsteps as they halted in the entryway.
"Brian? Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you had . . . Oh my god."
Brian stood and turned to face his visitor. Ethan stared up at him and followed his bemused gaze to the doorway.
His breath stopped short as he met Justin's wide-eyed, jaw-dropped expression.
Brian broke the silence. "Justin, what a coincidence, your friend and I were just talking about you."
His eyes flew back and forth between Brian's malicious smile and Ethan's pale-faced horror. He shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut, forcing two heavy tears to drop. Then, quickly, he turned and left.
The footsteps were vanishing down the stairwell when Ethan snapped out of his shock. He searched Brian's face, pained and enraged, to find him grinning, satisfied. Tears fell from his own eyes as he zipped his pants, grabbed his things, and chased after Justin.
Brian went over and closed the door after him, then returned to his chair. He lit a cigarette, put his feet up, and laughed out loud. He remained there for a while, contemplating the enormity of what he'd just done.
* * *
He didn't catch up to Justin until he reached the apartment. There he found him, crying, throwing some things into a bag. He didn't look up when Ethan burst through the door. "Justin . . ." he began, not knowing what he could possibly say.
"I can't believe you have the nerve to even look at me right now."
"I - I don't know what to say, but please -" He reached for Justin's arm, and was shrugged off violently.
"Don't touch me." Justin said coolly, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.
Ethan stood back, tears flowing freely now. "Where will you go?"
"Not that you have any right to ask, but I'm going to Debbie's. I don't know if I'll be back. Don't follow me."
Ethan was silent as Justin zipped his bag and walked out the door, never meeting his eyes. The door slammed shut and Ethan didn't follow. Reeling, he fell backwards onto the bed. The ceiling spun. Crying, he passed out.
end Part One
Author's Note: The devil made me do it.
It was cool and overcast that afternoon as Ethan stepped into the diner. It wasn't very busy, and after ordering his coffee and making swift small talk with Debbie, he easily found a corner booth to himself. Sighing, he sipped the scalding coffee and pulled out a textbook. Since he'd been skipping class, he thought he should make an attempt at study before going home and crashing. In truth, he was going over the same few lines, never realizing it. His mind was otherwise occupied.
Before long he was interrupted by a briefcase set down noisily in front of him. He looked up from his book, surprised to see Brian looking back at him. "Hi, Ian. Is this seat taken?"
"It's Ethan, and no, but - "
"Right, Ethan, sorry," Brian said, smiling sardonically, as he sat down.
"I'm busy, Brian, what do you want?" Ethan said through gritted teeth.
"Just a little company, is all. You're not expecting anyone, are you?"
"No."
"Perfect."
Just then Debbie approached the table, scowling. "Is everything all right here, hon?" she said, directed at Ethan.
Brian replied, still smiling sweetly, "Everything is fine, thank you, Debbie, although I was beginning to wonder when someone would be here to take my order. It'll just be coffee for me today."
"We're all right, Debbie," Ethan said uneasily, unable to stand the scrutiny of her stare.
"All right," she said reluctantly, eyeing them both with suspicion. "I'll be right over here, within earshot, if you need me. Your coffee'll be a minute, I'm brewing a fresh pot." Hesitating, Debbie returned to her duties.
"Good help is hard to find, don't you notice that?" Brian said, casually pulling a newspaper from his briefcase.
Ethan shut his textbook and sat back in his chair. "Brian, if there's a point to this, I wish you'd get to it. I'd like to go home and get some sleep."
Brian glanced over the top of the paper. "You know, you do look awfully tired. The Boy Wonder keeping you up all night?"
Ethan got up to leave. Brian quickly interjected, "All right, that was uncalled for. Stay. You have time at least to finish your coffee."
He sat back down and stared expectantly. Debbie returned with Brian's coffee, set down wordlessly in front of him, with another suspicious glare shot at each of them. Apparently she was satisfied that everything was still civil, because she walked away. Brian took a sip. Ethan still stared.
Finally, Brian spoke. "Seriously, I want to know how things are going between the two of you."
Ethan snorted. "I really don't see how that's any of your business."
"Maybe not, but as his academic sponsor I have a personal stake in the success of his educational career. And he hasn't been looking well lately."
He raised an eyebrow. "His academic sponsor?"
"Oh, I guess he didn't tell you. But, come on, you didn't really think that Daddy had a change of heart and paid for it, did you?"
"I suspected."
"Well then, you're more than just a pretty face after all."
He took a deep breath before responding. "If you must know, Brian, I've noticed that he hasn't been himself, too. But it has nothing to do with the state of our relationship, I assure you. We're doing just fine."
Brian nodded. "So his hand hasn't been acting up, then?"
Ethan was caught off guard. "He says it gets tired, and then he has trouble controlling it." He paused, then added, "He never told me what happened."
"I see." Brian said, then looked at his watch. "I'd be happy to tell you about it, but I have an appointment at my place soon. Unless . . ." he grinned, ". . . you'd like to come with me?"
Ethan chuckled derisively. "I don't think so, I was taught never to go anywhere with strangers."
Brian shrugged. "Suit yourself." He collected his suitcase and deposited a bill on the table for the coffee. He got up and began to walk away. Ethan thought a moment, then started after him.
"Brian . . ." Brian looked back. "He has these nightmares sometimes, and he refuses to talk about them. I want to help him but he won't let me."
Brian smiled, a little more genuinely, and said, "I think you should come with me, Ethan. I can tell you everything you need to know."
* * *
"He's mostly recovered, but ever since he's had trouble with his hand. The computer helped somewhat, but his drawing has never been quite back to normal."
"I see," Ethan said quietly, overwhelmed. He didn't know what bothered him more, everything he'd just heard, or that he was hearing it from Brian instead of from his boyfriend.
Brian got up from the chair and sat next to Ethan on the couch. He reached into his coat and produced a pipe. He lit it and took a hit. Then he held it out to Ethan, who hesitated briefly before accepting. With all that he'd found out, he needed something to calm him. Moments after exhaled the smoke, his head began to swim. "Good shit," Brian said, coughing a little. They smoked together in silence.
After they finished, Ethan stood. "I don't know why you wanted to tell me all of this, Brian, but I'd better go. He'll be out of class soon, and he'll wonder where I am." Ethan dizzied a little, more affected than he realized by the weed. Brian stood up and put his hands on his shoulders, to steady him.
"Easy, maybe I should give you a ride home."
"No, I'm fine. I need to get out of here."
Looking around for his book bag and violin case, Ethan didn't notice as Brian checked his watch for the third or fourth time since their meeting. And it took him a moment to realize what was happening as Brian suddenly pulled him close and began kissing him.
He pulled back, angry. "What are you doing?" he demanded.
"Relax," Brian cooed, gently pushing Ethan down onto the couch. "No one is going to find out."
A protest stuck in his throat as Brian swiftly unzipped Ethan's pants and pulled out his cock, hard despite himself. The expertise of Brian's lips and tongue were persuasive. His head dropped back in confused ecstasy.
Distracted as he was, Ethan didn't hear the click of the door as it opened, and the soft, padding footsteps as they halted in the entryway.
"Brian? Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you had . . . Oh my god."
Brian stood and turned to face his visitor. Ethan stared up at him and followed his bemused gaze to the doorway.
His breath stopped short as he met Justin's wide-eyed, jaw-dropped expression.
Brian broke the silence. "Justin, what a coincidence, your friend and I were just talking about you."
His eyes flew back and forth between Brian's malicious smile and Ethan's pale-faced horror. He shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut, forcing two heavy tears to drop. Then, quickly, he turned and left.
The footsteps were vanishing down the stairwell when Ethan snapped out of his shock. He searched Brian's face, pained and enraged, to find him grinning, satisfied. Tears fell from his own eyes as he zipped his pants, grabbed his things, and chased after Justin.
Brian went over and closed the door after him, then returned to his chair. He lit a cigarette, put his feet up, and laughed out loud. He remained there for a while, contemplating the enormity of what he'd just done.
* * *
He didn't catch up to Justin until he reached the apartment. There he found him, crying, throwing some things into a bag. He didn't look up when Ethan burst through the door. "Justin . . ." he began, not knowing what he could possibly say.
"I can't believe you have the nerve to even look at me right now."
"I - I don't know what to say, but please -" He reached for Justin's arm, and was shrugged off violently.
"Don't touch me." Justin said coolly, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.
Ethan stood back, tears flowing freely now. "Where will you go?"
"Not that you have any right to ask, but I'm going to Debbie's. I don't know if I'll be back. Don't follow me."
Ethan was silent as Justin zipped his bag and walked out the door, never meeting his eyes. The door slammed shut and Ethan didn't follow. Reeling, he fell backwards onto the bed. The ceiling spun. Crying, he passed out.
end Part One