Vanguard - Same Day
Brian's POV
"It makes perfect sense, if you're me."
Except I'm not you, Sunshine, so none of this makes much sense to me. What happened to you, what you're hiding, why you're hiding it, and why you so clearly want me but don't want me...
Brian turned when he heard a noise at the door.
"Brian." Ted stood at the door, and Brian motioned that he could come in. "You need to fill this form."
"Theodore, do I look like someone who fills out forms? Get Cynthia to do it, whatever it is."
"She would, if she could. This is about the art guy."
"What art guy?"
"Matt said that the visual you got done by an outside art guy got finalized. Brian, if we're using 3rd party work, we need to get them to sign a release and we need to pay them. Give me the guy's name and contact number and I'll figure the rest out."
"What are you, an accountant or a lawyer? It was Justin's visual."
"Oh..." Ted paused. "So...does that mean that we don't pay him?"
Brian smiled at Ted. "Theodore, if we normally pay 3rd parties, why would I ask you not to pay Justin?"
"Erm...er...right then. I'll call Justin and see if he can drop by and sign a release form before the artwork is released. He can pick up his cheque at the same time."
"The artwork is being released this evening."
"I'll call him right away then." Ted paused, and seemed to choose his next words carefully. "Brian, is...is Justin ok? I mean, with that cop and everything. Does it have anything to do with the bashing?"
Brian sighed. "I honestly have no clue. I don't think that it's related to the bashing, and Justin says that everything is fine, but, at this point, it's all up in the air." This was the beauty of Ted - Brian could talk to him without any of the hand wringing...Brian shook his head. He was beginning to sound like Justin.
"Well, ok then. Oh, Vance wanted me to tell you, Kip is dropping by this evening to collect his documents from HR. Vance wants to make sure that there are as few people around as possible because he doesn't want any more drama from Kip. Just letting you know."
Brian nodded thoughtfully. "Kip is coming this evening?"
Ted nodded.
"Kip will be here in the evening. As will Justin. Maybe they'll both have to wait in the lobby together? Think you can manage that, Theodore?"
"Kip and Justin? Uh...sure, but why...what's the connection?"
"I'm not sure Ted. Which is why we should make every effort to find out, don't you think?"
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Justin's POV
Justin and Daphne were lying down on the grass in the park, blowing bubbles as they stared up at the sky. It was a ritual between them - they blew bubbles together, usually in the park. It was something they had started at school, and it was a habit that had stuck.
"So what did this professor want? Exactly how annoying was he?"
"Ben? He wasn't annoying at all. He was incredibly nice...I don't think I've ever met anyone who was that chilled out and calm. That kid that was killed from Carnegie-Mellon? Apparently it was one of his students. Another victim has also been from Carnegie-Mellon. He told me about the students, and said that one of the cops - not Horvath but some other guy - had leaked my name as a potential witness and a definite victim, but had said that I wasn't cooperating.
Ben just wanted to have a chat, let me know that there people and places I could get help from, and that should I choose to help the police, I would have all the help and support I needed. He was really sweet...I really wish I could help, but they are seriously barking up the wrong tree. I just hope everyone will find another clue or witness or something and move on from me."
Daphne was silent for a while, as they continued to blow bubbles.
"What did Brian think when you woke up sweating and screaming?"
"Actually, I didn't...or I can't remember if I did. I'm pretty sure I didn't, though. I think I slept through the whole night without a single nightmare, and I wasn't even high..."
Daphne turned her head to look at him. "Justin, you've been having nightmares every day since this whole mess with Kip..."
"Well, I guess I'm all better now. Now I'll be back to having nightmares just every other week."
"Hmmmm...so you mean you and Brian didn't sleep together?"
"Nope. I kissed him though. This morning. And he would've fucked me if I had let him. You sound disappointed, Daph."
"Well, yeah, kind of...I don't get it. If you want him and he wants you, why don't you just do it? I thought you two would have had crazy rabbit sex till morning, and then you'd be a couple and then all will be well with the world again."
Justin looked at Daphne and they both burst out laughing.
"Daph, first off, Brian doesn't do couples or relationships or anything of the sort. He abides by strange rules, it seems. Melanie mentioned it when I was over there. Secondly, we'll have crazy rabbit sex and then he'll just pick up some trick at Babylon by the next evening! I don't want to sleep with Brian, because I'm afraid. We'll do it, and then he'll move on to the next guy and I'll be back to square one, just like in high school...fuck, I don't know what I want!"
"Justin, you're not in high school. How long do you think you can notsleep with Brian, all the while him knowing that you want him like some kind of crack addict?" She giggled as Justin shoved her.
"So what? I'm supposed to waltz into his place, have crazy rabbit sex, and walk out?"
It took a few moments before Daphne answered, and she yelped so loud that Justin started. "That's it! Jus, I'm brilliant!"
"Huh? What? You're brilliant because...?" Justin loved Daphne dearly, but sometimes, she just made no sense whatsoever.
"Duh! I just came up with your new plan. This whole no sex plan is not going to work. Brian will soon end up thinking that you're some kind of schizo."
"Yeah...with this whole Horvath thing, I think he already thinks that."
"Whatever. This no sex plan? Out the window. We have a brand new, revamped, sizzling sex plan!"
Justin laughed and rolled onto his side, and looked at Daphne. "Tell me, oh fairy godmother, what is this new plan?"
"Ew. I don't want to be some old, frumpy fairy godmother. I want to be a sexy fairy, like Tinkerbell. Or those super sexy fairies from some anime. But not the porn fairy kind, just the really sexy mainstream anime - "
Justin rolled his eyes and cut her off. "Ok, ok, ok, Super Sexy Anime Fairy - tell me the plan already!"
"You need to have sex with Brian. Hot, sizzling, it-makes-you-forget-the-world-outside crazy rabbit sex. But on your terms. So you walk into his loft, have hot, sizzling, it-makes-you-forget-the-world-outside crazy rabbit sex and walk out. Then it becomes sex on your terms."
"What? Daph, are you high?"
It was her turn to shove him. "Idiot! Think about it. You've been in love with him for ten years. At least we know he cares about you. Let's not make him care about you enough to have you institutionalized, which is where your schizo behavior will lead! And if that doesn't happen, he's going to figure out that the torch you're carrying around can set whole rainforests on fire." Daphne yelped again as Justin shoved her harder this time.
"Daphne, you're crazy! He doesn't even do the same guy twice! Besides...your plan is...crazy!"
"Crazy smart, you mean. Make sure the sex is fabulous, and he'll be salivating for more! Make him break his rules. Sex can be the doggie treat you give him each time he is nicer to you, and the two of you get closer! Except it's more a crazy rabbit treat...Justin, I'm brilliant!"
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At Vanguard, Same Day in the Evening
Brian's POV
It was almost six thirty, and between Ted and Cynthia and Vance's orders, they had managed to clear out most of the staff. Brian wasn't sure what he was expecting to happen between Justin and Kip when the two of them met. As long as they weren't friends, Brian would have been happy with anything. Justin being friends with the likes of Kip was unthinkable.
"Brian?" It was Ted. Cynthia was standing right behind him.
"Got anything?"
"Hurry up! Justin's waiting for Cynthia at the reception, and security called to say that Kip is on his way up. Whatever it is that you're expecting, it's about to start!"
Brian rolled his eyes. "We're not going to watch the 4th of July fireworks. I just want to know what their relationship is."
"Well, whatever, just hurry it up, and everyone keep quiet ok? We can hear them if we stand at the corner, but we won't see them."
Brian couldn't believe the eagerness in Cynthia's voice. "What are you two doing?"
Cynthia gave him a long-suffering look. "Brian, hard as it is to believe, we care about you, and would like to know the connection between your two-night stand and your potential blackmailer as well." Ted. Of course.
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Justin's POV
Justin was hoping that he would bump into Brian, even though it had been his assistant, Cynthia, who had called him. He had really enjoyed himself at the diner - even Michael had been unusually quiet, and being at the park with Daphne had really been the icing on the cake. He flipped through a magazine, and thought about dropping by Lindsay's afterwards. He missed seeing Gus.
"Oh my god! YOU! It's YOU!"
Kip Thomas. Holy fuck.Breathe, Justin. Just stay calm.
"Kip. What an unpleasant surprise. I thought you resigned. What the fuck are you doing here?"
"What the fuck are you doing here? Who the fuck are you? Is your psycho friend here too?"
Justin sighed, but inside, he could hear blood pounding in his ears. Kip was blocking the only exit. Maybe if I stay silent long enough, he'll just disappear.
Kip didn't disappear.
"Who the fuck ARE you?"
"At this point, I don't think that's really relevant."
"Relevant? Look, Blondie, haven't you had enough? You ruined my fucking life! My career! What more do you want?"
"Jeez, Kip, get a grip! People can hear you, you dumb fuck! I'm not here for you; I didn't know you still had any business at Vanguard. Let's just pretend we don't know each other, finish our work here and hope to never see each other again as long as we live. Can you do that?"
"You work here? With your psycho friend? That's why you did all this? To steal my fucking job?"
"I don't work here Kip, and if I wanted to work here, I could get a job based on my talent. I wouldn't have to resort to this cloak and dagger melodrama." Maybe if I stay calm, he'll calm down? Please Brian, be on your way to Woody's.
"Kinney! Of course! You're fucking him! Or is it your psycho friend? Or both of you?"
"Neither of us are fucking Brian -"
'You did this to me so you could fuck him!"
"If I wanted to sleep with Brian, I'd walk up to him and ask him to fuck me. I don't need -"
"Are the three of you laughing at me every night? Did you come here just to mock me? You ruin my life and now you want to rub my face in it? So where is Kinney? I'm going to tell him what a fucked up - "
Kip was hysterical, and Justin could feel a migraine coming on in full force. He had get Kip to shut up.
"Kip. KIP! Shut up!"
"Who the fuck do you -"
"I'm the one who can make sure that you'll be wearing orange for the next twelve years. So when I say shut up, you shut the fuck up. Got it? Now listen to me very carefully, because you don't seem to be too clear on the rules. And if I have to explain this to you a second time, I'll get my psycho friend to do it, and we both know that that won't be pretty.
First off, your immoral high ground notwithstanding, the state of your life is not my fault. Nor is it the fault of my friend, nor the fault of Brian. You chose to sleep with Brian, and then blackmail him. None of us forced you to do that. All this is a result of your actions, so if you want to blame someone, look in the fucking mirror. Besides, you resigned. Just find another job at another agency - how hard is that? Second - "
"He's the one who -"
"Did I ask you to talk? Shut the fuck up. You don't breathe unless I tell you to breathe. Now. Second point: you're not telling anybody anything. That includes Kinney. Brian doesn't know about this, and we're all going to keep it that way, understand? I really have better things to do with my life than to keep haunting you, but if you so much as hint about this with anyone, especially Brian, the police will have some really interesting photos and a blood test to analyze. Are you following me, Kip? And if you so much as lookat Brian the wrong way, you're a dead man.
Don't push me Kip; we both know that I play this game way better than you. Now talk. Why are you here?"
Kip looked t him with a mixture of fear and hate in his eyes. "To pick up my ROE from HR."
Justin did not look forward to staying here alone with Kip for a second longer than necessary, but he didn't really trust Kip enough to leave him alone, despite all his threats.
"Fine. Sit there, shut up, and don't utter another word until you leave this building. And don't test my patience."
Brian, Ted and Cynthia stood in the corner, shocked beyond belief. Whatever they had expected, it was not this.