*~Human Behavior~*

The colorful melange of lights hindered Brian's search through the dancing bodies for a particular young blond. The moment Justin had met his eyes in the backroom he'd realized that he had made the biggest mistake of his life. Brian had told himself that for his own good he pushed Justin away, like he did so dramatically to Michael on his thirtieth birthday last year. From the very beginning he knew that Justin would be doing himself no favors by being with him. Brian told him the night he came back to talk to him that he was nothing, just a fuck. He told himself that it was for his own good that he'd sent him away in tears. Yet, as he'd walked away something in his own mood had changed as well. It had been much more difficult that he'd imagined to send the gentle, love-struck teenager away and he found that as Justin refused to be forgotten he became less resistant. Now while he still believed that it would be better for Justin to leave and move on, he now knew that sending him away forever was a horrible mistake which would change his life like no other event, short of his son being born, had or would.

As his eyes finally spotted the familiar blond locks he began to move towards him but stopped at the sight of the dark haired man standing next to him. Ethan. Over the past few days that name had been scorched into his mind. Now, unaware that he was watched, the violinist spoke to Justin and then pulled their lips together. Brian could have sworn that his heart ceased to beat. Never before had he seen Justin kiss someone like he was kissing Ethan now, like he has kissed him so many times before. It was like being stabbed. In the midst of the crowd Debbie and Michael watched and waited for Brian's reaction that had so far not come. It was then that Ethan's dark eyes opened and he noticed Brian's penetrating stare. When Justin felt Ethan pull away he quickly followed his gaze and meet Brian's eyes as the older man lowered his head slightly and pulled off the black mask. Even though the two men were engulfed in lively music they were unable to hear any of it. For Brian, everything around him vanished and he became wholly attentive to the young man standing far from him. Ethan remained close at Justin's side and offered Brian a look of helplessness but he could not focus on him. Feeling something inside alert Brian to the serious danger of the situation he felt his mouth move almost involuntarily to silently form the three words that Justin had been starving for since the night they met.

Instantly, he saw the change in Justin's eyes and felt water fill his own. Never in his life did he feel as vulnerable as he felt now. Then, Justin gave him a sad smile and turned to Ethan before the two young men walked out of Babylon together. In that small moment Brian felt as if gravity was beating down on him. His knees trembled, his head was light and he felt as if he could curl up and wither away into nothing. The defeated man could feel his best friend's worried eyes on him but he knew that if he met his caring glance it would all be over. He would crash and burn in the middle of his domain. Turning away, he crumpled up the mask in his fist and tossed it to the floor as he made his way to the back exit. Everything was unbearably hot and when he finally reached the door the rush of cold air soothed him like a raindrop to a parched garden. Inhaling deeply he blinked to clear his eyes and turned to walk towards his jeep that seemed miles away. As he moved out of the ally and entered the desolate parking lot he turned at the sound of his name.

"Brian!"

No sooner had he rotated his body that Justin flung himself into his arms. The feeling was overwhelming and unbelievable and as Justin secured his grip on him Brian heard him cry out against him in anguish and tighten his hold as he picked the youth off his feet for a short period of time. When Brian felt his mouth on his, a feeling that he was sure he had lost forever, he kissed his as passionately as he ever had. As if he stopped Justin would fly away. When the boy pulled back, he resisted, but allowed him to do so as long as he could keep his arms tight around him.

"Was that so fucking difficult?" Justin asked in an emotional voice.

Brian blinked back the tears that still lingered on the brink.

"Why did you leave?"

Justin adoringly cupped the side of his face.

"Babylon isn't exactly the best place to end a relationship Brian," he explained softly.

"Yeah well you fuckin' scared me," Brian admitted.

Justin smiled again and kissed his warm lips once more before he stood on tiptoe and rested his chin on his shoulder as he hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry," he breathed. "I won't ever scare you again."

Brian rubbed his back as Justin kissed his ear.

"You're never leaving my sight now, you know," he continued. "I love you Brian."

Brian's entire body relaxed at the sound of those words and as a tear finally slipped free he nuzzled into Justin's hair and breathed him in.

The End