Brian settles into his First Class seat on a Liberty Air jet with a double Jim Beam on the rocks. The flight attendant offers him a hot towel which he accepts covering his face to steam his pores as he dozes off. Inside his eyelids, the in-flight movie stars his favorite blonde boy wonder covered in paint biting his lip as he concentrates on a mural in the Kinnetic home office back in Pittsburgh. They put in some long, late hours that night getting it just right. Justin had been gone a whole month in New York trying to meet the right people so he maintained a kind of radio silence.

"You used to pride yourself on being so honest...especially when it comes to throwing your money around" Justin peels off his spattered shirt dropping it on Brian's desk.

Brian struggles with the last-minute dialogue change preferring the original moans and praise.

"I have ways of making you talk..." Justin walks over to the couch and kneels before Brian unzipping his grey trousers.

"Do your worst..." Brian mutters out loud before blindly grabbing for his drink. "My lips are sealed."

Brian watches the rest without commentary happily reliving whatever details his subconscious chose focusing primarily on the memory of Justin's face and his touch. Pausing only briefly to make his way to the lavatory.

Justin sits staring out the window composing his thoughts when a familiar voice asks "This seat taken?"

"Not at all..." Justin's face brightens as he turns to find a mop of messy curls framing a megawatt smile.

"It's been a while..." Ethan stows Mischa and takes his seat before giving Justin a peck on the cheek, "Was it..."

"That gawdawful young artists' thing at the Met..." Justin finishes his vodka and cranberry and signals the flight attendant for another.

"How is your beautiful benefactor?" Ethan watches with a sly grin as he remembers the feel of those soft lips against his.

"Brian?" Justin sips his fresh drink then sets it aside "He's great...stubborn as ever, but we've made notable progress. How about you...found a new muse?"

"Many auditioned but none as deserving of the title as you, I'm afraid" Ethan smiles admiring his lips.

"I'm sure your standards are too high and you just aren't giving them a chance" Justin makes eye contact over Ethan's shoulder exposing his perfect teeth only half listening.

"I do aim for perfection...but I can't shoulder all the blame for that, can I?"

"Hold that thought...I really have to pee" Justin stands quickly sliding past Ethan to make his way to the aisle. He makes his way back toward the bathroom.

Brian waits inside for a knock at the door and drags the small blonde inside. He pins him between the sink and relieves him of his pants letting them hit the floor as he slides his hard cock inside the smaller man's tight ass. He keeps his eyes closed as he pounds away to the images of the night before with Justin.

He blows his load quickly and helps the lookalike flight attendant re-dress for work.

Justin returns to his seat to find that Ethan is now chatting up some adoring fan from a couple rows back. Justin takes the opportunity to sketch them both in turn allowing his former lover the chance to brag on and on about how talented Justin is. It comes as a shock, however, that Ethan knows about his upcoming gallery show and insists the young girl accompany him to its opening.

"I guess that answers my next question" Justin's brow furrows as he puts the finishing touches on Ethan's longer waves and the bottom lip that used to house his cute little goatee.

"What question is that?" Ethan moves closer anticipating something not meant for public consumption.

"If you're still with that fucking agent who won't let you be yourself..."

"What would you have me do, Justin...declare my sexuality loud and proud? To hell with my career..."

"I just think he's lying his homophobia on you and no one gives two fucks that you like cock."

"Some of us have to pay our dues..." Ethan's face reddens as he struggles to keep his voice down "We can't have our rich boyfriends pay them for us." Ethan regrets his words as soon as they leave his mouth.

"Fuck you...I've paid my own dues. Sure, Brian gave me a hand up after I was bashed, but I'm paying him back every cent he spent on my education." Having spoken his peace, Justin forces his way past Ethan to walk off his rage, but gets stopped by a flight attendant instructing him to return to his seat and fasten his seatbelt.

Brian rides out the turbulence with a couple more JB's and covers his eyes with a sleep mask. Luckily there is just enough time for him to catch another quick nap and wake refreshed back home. As the bumps bounce him back to sleep, he imagines giving Justin what he wants...the unadulterated truth. That's when the second act begins...

Justin puts in his earbuds and cues up his favorite playlist and closes his eyes to discourage Ethan from trying to make conversation. As vintage Madonna plays he tries not to think about the all the bumping around and the possibility of falling out of the sky.

Am I being unfair? Am I depriving Brian of the joy of giving by returning the camera equipment? Perhaps I can repay his generosity in a method which has proven favorable in the past. Justin calls the new sushi place a few blocks from the lofty and talks his way into use of the private party room for the whole night for a small fee then sets everything up for a surprise his lover will not soon forget.

The shaking of the plane seemingly on the verge of a barrel roll stirs him back to reality. Justin takes a deep breath and grips the armrest in an attempt keep himself firmly planted in his seat and the gorgeous reverie. Ethan covers Justin's hand with his own wanting to calm his nerves. He looks over hoping a reassuring glance will serve a similar purpose but Justin's crystal blue pupils are hidden beneath his tightly-squeezed lids and tousled blonde locks.

Why couldn't I have just called Brian and had him wait for me at the airport? Who am I kidding? He still would have left without me to avoid that conversation. I'll bet his at Babylon shaking his well-toned ass right now or getting sucked off in the back room.

Justin returns the gentle pressure applied by Ethan keeping his eyes shut to preserve the romantic picture of his one true love...those eyes almost hazel with flecks of chocolate...his perfectly kissable lips...the magnificent sculpting of his body that seemed to repel the fat.

"Brian..." Justin mumbles squeezing Ethan's hand tighter as they take a particularly nasty dip.

Brian finishes his final drink and returns his seat to the upright position waiting for the jet to come to a stop. Through the window, he can see that it has been snowing rather heavily. He takes out his iPhone 6 and checks the forecast for home and notices that he has just five minutes to catch his connecting flight to Pittsburgh. Despite the warnings from a leggy brunette flight attendant, he checks his voicemail- Ted called to check in and let him know things are running smoothly, Cynthia reminding him about a meeting with Brown Athletics at 8:00 AM, Emmett confirming lunch to discuss his new business venture. Nothing from Justin.

Probably for the best until he gets over his little tantrum. He can be such a little twat when he's gnawing some insignificant drama.

Justin finally forces himself when the plane takes a hard landing and the captain has considerable difficulty keeping it on the runway. They swerve to the right taking out a cluster of landing lights and bounce back to the left. Ethan tries to hold onto his hand, but it's futile at this point. Justin watched out the window as the aircraft reluctantly comes to an abrupt stop after sliding off the runway in the ice. He takes in several deep soothing breaths thankful Brian wasn't here to see him acting like a complete and utter basketcase. The captain makes An announcement no one pays attention to as they all rush the door. The flight attendants struggle to keep passengers in their seats to no avail. Justin pushes his way out leaving Ethan behind as he takes three steps two at a time.

"Wait up..." Ethan calls after him bringing Justin's carry on "You might need this."

"Thanks" Justin accepts the grey bag slinging it over his shoulder once his breathing regulates.

"Where are you headed?" Ethan half smiles tightening his grip on Mischa as they walk toward the doors out of the cold.

"Headed back to the Pitts" he quips sarcastically as his face shapes into a slight frown.

"That's in the morning..." Ethan mirrors his expression adding a smile "What about tonight?" Anticipating the obvious question, he adds "There are no more flights out tonight because the landing lights are busted."

Justin shakes his head trying to process and starts walking again. There are hoards of passengers surrounding the information desks everywhere. Justin overhears an airport employee tell a large group of people that there are no flights until 10 tomorrow and offers vouchers for a nearby motel. Ethan grabs for two but manages only one.

Justin takes out his phone and switches off Airplane mode and opens a new text screen.

Stuck in Harrisburg. No flights until the morning. Have fun being wicked. :)

Justin taps Send and slides the goldtone device back on his jeans pocket. Ethan is staring at him teeth showing a little. "What?"

"I spoke with the lady at the desk and there are no other vacancies...something about a convention."

"Meaning?"

"Unless you plan to sleep here, I have the only room left in town. Care to bunk with me for the night...that is if you can keep your hands off me?"

Justin smiles brightly for the first time since this ordeal began and gives Ethan a little nudge. "I'm sure I can control myself."

As they leave, Justin feels his phone vibrate but doesn't check it because they have to hurry for the shuttle.

Brian tries pulling every string possible before giving in to the inevitable and calling a cab. If he can't get a flight until the morning, he might as well sleep in a luxurious suite in a real hotel. He charges the room to his brand new Kinnetic corporate credit card and takes a hot shower. Only after he has ordered room service and serviced the waiter does he remember to call Cynthia to have the Brown meeting switched then Ted to look into purchasing a company jet. It isn't until he sets his phone on the bedside table that he sees the waiting message from Justin. He reads it and smiles realizing they are both stranded. He dials his lover's phone and prepared an elaborate ruse.

"Hello...you've reached Justin. I'm screening my calls so you better have a good reason I should call you back."

"Hey, Sunshine...I'm at the Hilton. As soon as you collect yourself, come join me." Brian hangs up and steps out onto the balcony where he lights his emergency joint. As he takes on the sickly sweet aroma, he watches the people below milling about. He assumes that Justin has found other accommodations given the time of night, but decided to remain optimistic that he'll join him after.

Justin and Ethan arrive at the motel and check in. Ethan takes first crack at the shower while Justin searches for something on tv.

"It's all yours" Ethan steps out with a towel around his waist. His chestnut curls barely waves with the weight of the water. Justin doesn't look up or even acknowledge him as he settles on an old movie.

"Hey" Ethan tries again touching Justin's leg to get his attention. "Did you hear me? The shower is all yours."

"Thanks" Justin stands grabbing underwear from his duffel.

"I want to apologise for what I said before about you and Brian " Ethan places his hands on Justin's shoulders.

"Forget it" he ignores the gesture "Your career is none of my business."

"Your opinion is always welcome" Ethan starts massaging Justin "After all, you are my muse."

Justin turns taking Ethan's towel and pushes him onto the bed. He looks down on him with a vicious little smirk then their bodies collide lips first.