Brian walked into the loft, smiling. And it wasn't a smirk. He was just happy. The assault charge had been dismissed, Brian had knocked another presentation out of the park, and…and he was coming home to Justin. Brian fucking loved coming home to Justin. He wasn't even ashamed of loving it, not anymore. He was actually starting to believe that he was getting his "happy ending." He was pretty sure he didn't deserve it, but he'd take it just the same.

Brian smiled more brightly, his eyes shining, when he caught sight of Justin. He was sitting at Brian's desk, staring at his laptop. He was wearing a pair of tight shorts and nothing else. Brian let his eyes travel slowly up Justin's body. Justin's nipples were hard. Brian decided that that's where he'd start. He set his briefcase on the floor and pulled the knot of his tie loose as he slowly approached Justin. Once he was behind Justin, he slid the tie off his neck fast, making a soft zipping sound. But Justin didn't move or make a sound. Brian frowned and peered over Justin's shoulder. Justin was staring at an open email.

Justin,

How've you been? I'm back in the States. We should get together. Catch up.

Daphne

The email didn't seem that interesting, certainly less interesting than a stripping Brian. Brian shrugged off his jacket and started unbuttoning his shirt. When he reached the third button, he leaned in and placed an open-mouthed kiss on Justin's neck, while also tracing Justin's left nipple lightly with a finger. Justin jumped (bumping Brian's nose with his shoulder) and turned.

Brian leaned back up and stared at Justin, a half-smile, half-frown now gracing his lips.

Justin colored. "Oh Brian…I'm sorry. I didn't see you come in…"

Brian's half-smile became a full smile then. He'd never get enough of Justin's blushing. But his smile faded again when he saw Justin's face. His eyes were empty. Brian furrowed his brow and ran his fingers lightly through Justin's hair. "What's wrong?"

Justin shook his head and turned back to the computer. "I'm just tired."

Brian clenched his jaw. He looked down at himself and sighed. His chest was bare, his belt unbuckled, and his pants button undone. No way was Justin too tired to notice a half-naked horny Brian. He was never too tired for that. Brian walked around to the front of the desk and stared at Justin, partly hoping Justin would notice his state of undress. But mostly he did so in the hopes of getting a clue as to what was going on with Justin from a closer examination of his expression. The email had seemed harmless to Brian, but Justin was looking at it like it contained the most offensive slur. When Justin finally noticed Brian standing in front of him, he stood, dodged Brian (who'd tried to slide his arms around Justin's waist), and headed quickly toward the bedroom.

"Sunshine, whatcha doing?

"I think I'll go to bed."

"…it's 5 o'clock…"

Justin wheeled around. "So fucking what? If I want to go to bed at 5, what's it to you?"

Brian rolled his lips into his mouth and regarded Justin coolly. Then he grinned. "I get it. You're a bad ass. Now tell me what's wrong."

Justin's fierce expression softened, but that didn't make Brian any happier. Justin no longer looked pissed, but now he looked nauseous. And he'd dropped his head. Brian was starting to get frustrated. He couldn't figure out what had Justin all in a tizzy if he couldn't see his eyes. Justin's eyes were truly mirrors. Every feeling he had was expressed in them, always. If only for a moment. Brian was a little annoyed that he'd need to use such a coarse instrument (questions or, more specifically, words), but he wasn't going to get into Justin's ass until whatever this was blew over…so...

"Who's Daphne?"

Justin's head still down, he muttered softly, "No one."

"She can't be no one. She emailed you."

Justin looked up then, his eyes glinting steel. "Seriously, she's nothing to me."

"That is something else altogether."

"Huh?"

"Her being no one and nothing are very different."

Justin just stared.

"Her being no one suggests that she never mattered to you. Her being nothing suggests that she used to matter to you. A great deal."

Justin hung his head once more and sighed. Then he walked over to the couch and threw himself back on it. "She was my girlfriend in high school. We were going to get married."

Brian quirked an eyebrow and walked over to the coffee table. He considered sitting next to Justin (he suddenly had a lesbianic urge to put his arms around Justin), but he decided being able to see Justin's face would be more helpful. So he sat in the chair across from the couch. It seemed stupid to ask, but Brian had to keep Justin talking…

"What happened?"

Justin laughed. "Uh…I realized I was gay."

"Ah." Now they were getting somewhere. "So…"

Justin crossed his arms. In a monotone, he replied, "So…she left for Europe shortly after I told her."

"I gather she didn't take it too well."

Justin shrugged. "Actually…she did. I mean, she cried, but she wasn't angry." He swallowed hard and looked down. More softly, he continued, "She said we'd always be friends. That she'd always be there for me."

"And then…"

Justin shook his head. He was still looking at the floor. "Then she went to Europe, and I…"

"And you…"

"I…nothing."

"There's that word again."

Justin took a shuddery breath. "And I…I was bashed. At my prom. I was in a coma for a week."

TBC (in a few hours…sorry I'm writing slow, but I want to post something before midnight)