It was too much fluff. We need some drama. A tiny bit...because evil author here. :)

New Account, Old Acquaintance

Justin groaned when his phone rang, interrupting him from painting. With Izzy's blessing, he'd turned his old room in her apartment in a little studio.

He accepted the call, tucking the phone between his shoulder and ear, going back to his canvas.

"Yeah, Brian?"

"Tell me you're home."

"Uh, I told you I'm catching up on painting."

"That was hours ago! Remember what you promised? We'd go meet my new client tonight."

Justin turned to look in the mirror. He had paint on his face and in his hair. "Shit. What time is it?"

"I'm coming to get you. You better be dressed and showered by the time I reach you."

With one last sorrowful look at his painting, which was going so well, Justin rushed to shower. He was lucky to keep a few clean clothes at the apartment.

By the time he was ready and trying to make his hair stay put, he heard the doorbell.

"Fuck." He breezed past Izzy. "Tell Ollie I will be late tonight. I totally forgot about Brian's date." He opened the door, smiling at Brian.

Brian saw past the innocent look. He grabbed Justin by the collar. "Hi, Izzy! Bye, Izzy!" He called to her, pulling his wayward boyfriend downstairs.

"Are you mad?" Justin asked, sliding into the Corvette.

"Mad? No. I should have known you'd forget."

"In my defense, I have two more days until my deadline. And there's Simon pestering me to enter some contest with a unique piece."

"What would that be?"

"Damn if I know. This contest is in two months in Chicago."

Brian glanced at him. "And?"

"And nothing. I'm not going. This has been dragging for too long as it is. He's driving me crazy. He wants to show me the world, to inspire me."

"Maybe you should remind him that you have a wealthy boyfriend who can show you the world whenever you want." Brian took his hand, bringing it to his lips.

Justin chuckled. "You've come to only one party. I always accompany you to your dinner or lunch dates."

"I will try to endure another party. When's the next one?"

"This Saturday, but I'm not going."

"Why the fuck not?"

"I'm meeting Gregory to talk about his commission, and I have to be available whenever he says we can meet."

"Where the fuck does Simon find them? Frederick, Gregory, Flynn, what was the other guy's name? The one who tried hitting on you with me next to you?"

Justin laughed, throwing his head back. "Benedict."

"Case in point. We're here."

They got out of the car, and Brian passed his keys to the valet.

"How do I look?" He turned to Justin, smoothing his suit jacket.

"Handsome." Justin patted his cheek, taking his hand.

Brian dropped his hand, shaking his head. "This is the guy I told you about...the WASPy type."

"So you need my good manners to win him over, while we pretend we aren't gay?"

"In a nutshell."

"God, you're crazy. I'll try, but no promises. You look damn right edible."

The host led them to the table, saying their companion would be there shortly.

"We're early. Good. Now tell me more about this WASPy guy," Justin sat down, rubbing his knee when he bumped it into the table.

"He is the representative of a construction company. Sam Diggle. He bought a few companies from the East Coast, including a few from Pittsburgh, so he'd have people everywhere. They're working on a new mall and want Kinnetik to promote it."

"Sounds interesti… Fuck." Justin's eyes widened, looking at the entrance of the restaurant.

"What's wrong?" Brian followed his gaze, freezing.

"Can't I ever get a break? What the fuck is Hobbs doing in New York?"

"Calm down. Don't mind him." Brian rubbed Justin's hand, turning his full attention on his boyfriend.

Justin gasped, staring worried as his nemesis was approaching their table. "He's headed here." His eyes met Brian's. "Fuck, Brian! Last I saw him he worked in construction. No. I'm leaving."

Slightly nervous, Hobbs stopped by their table. "Mr. Diggle had a family emergency. He sent me to this meeting."

"Tell him Brian won't work with him," Justin said, standing abruptly.

As much as Brian hated the situation and the person in front of them, it was business. Great business.

"Don't be ridiculous," he told Justin. "You can leave, if you're not okay. I won't be long." He was surprised when Justin stormed out of the restaurant. To his relief, he could see him outside, flicking at his lighter to light a cigarette.

"I'll be fast," Hobbs said in a shaky voice.

"You have five minutes," Brian snapped, keeping his eyes on Justin.

"I tried to tell Mr. Diggle to find someone else for this meeting. I recognized your name."

"Spare me this bullshit. Let's talk business."

They were in the middle of running over the ideas when Justin returned with the waiter by his side. He was holding a bottle of wine, smiling the fakest smile Brian had seen in his life.

"I'll pour the wine," Justin told the waiter. "Bring another bottle in the meantime."

"Anything you'd like to order to eat?" The waiter asked.

"Nope, just the wine." Justin winked. "Want some?" He poured a little in two glasses, passing them to his companions. "Oh, you started the meeting without me." He gulped from the bottle.

Brian had no idea how to react. He hadn't seen Justin in that state before, and on his previous encounters with Hobbs, he was usually hit by a panic attack.

Justin leaned over the table to look at the files in front of Hobbs. "Oh, the new mall in East Village! Your people are driving me crazy. I can't concentrate on painting because of the noise."

"I think we better reschedule and you tell Mr. Diggle to give me a call," Brian said thoughtfully.

Justin waved a hand around, making wine fly out of the bottle. "Ooops! Nonsense! You said this meeting is important and that you need to sign with them."

"Yeah, but considering who they sent to the meeting…"

"Oh, ph-lease! You think I care? We're even now. Right, Hobbs?" Justin smiled sweetly.

Hobbs, who could still remember his last encounter with Justin, nodded shakily.

"See? No problemo, Brian. Anything I can help with? I'm here after all to help you conduct a polite, WASPy conversation."

Brian pinched the bridge of his nose. It was going to be a long evening.

Justin downed two bottles of wine by the time Brian had a signed contract with Hobbs' boss, and an idea of what exactly they wanted for promoting.

"Oh, we're leaving already?" Justin asked, put out when Brian pulled him to the car, one hour later.

"Yes. Despite the fact that he was there, you didn't have to make a spectacle of yourself."

"I don't give a fuck about him. He was the one scared. Did you see that?" Justin asked proudly.

"I wonder why that is. Are you working tonight?"

"Yup. Would you drive me to the bar?" Justin batted his eyelashes. "And I'll tell you why he was afraid of me. Remember Cody?"

"Who?" Brian frowned, peeling off from in front of the restaurant.

"Cody...the guy from Pink Posse. My glory days."

"Oh, right. The one who gave you a gun," Brian acknowledged, cringing.

"That gun scared Hobbs," Justin explained, grinning.

Brian swerved the car, but managed to keep it right in the end. "What?" His eyes shot to Justin. "Did you threaten him with that gun? Are you fucking insane, Justin?"

"I didn't pull the trigger like Cody wanted. I wanted to scare him. I wanted him to feel as terrified as I felt every time I was on the street after the bashing."

"My God, you're… You never told me."

"There was no need. I joined that gang for revenge, and I got it. After putting the gun in his mouth, I sort of made peace with myself. I knew he wouldn't dare to even think of hurting a queer after that."

"You put the gun in his mouth," Brian repeated in disbelief.

"Yeah, and I made him apologize. He was pathetic."

"Get out."

"What? Are we seriously fighting over this?"

"We're at Raging Bull," Brian said pointedly. "And I'm coming in with you. I have a feeling Oliver won't allow you to work in your state."

"I'm fine." Justin marched inside with Brian hot on his heels. "Oh, lookie who's here!" He pointed to Evan, sitting at the bar deep in conversation with a man next to him.

Going behind the counter, Justin greeted Luke, before pouring Brian a double JB.

"I didn't order it," Brian said amused, accepting the glass.

"As a forgive me. It doesn't matter we have history with Hobbs, but he was there as your potential client. I hope he won't tell his boss what a twat of boyfriend you have."

Brian smiled, stroking Justin's cheek. "We established that he was scared of you. Now, go do your job."

The confession about the gun threatening was long overdue, I think.