In The Silence

Sequel to my first fan fic "All These Things". Reactions are unfavorable to say the least.

You kinda need to read the first one to really get the second one. It's PG-13 for now but it will slowly work it's way up. All the mistakes are mine. I own nothing. Read then Review. If I get feedback I finish the story. Hope you like my little story. XOXOXO

Chapter 1: So they know. Now what?

Slowly Michael felt himself being pulled away from the comforting dark of sleep by voices that he couldn't place yet both were vaguely familiar. He could recognize the tone, angry but hushed in an attempt he assumed to prevent waking him. He drifted between awake and asleep for what seemed like hours but what was more likely minutes. Through it all the hushed voices never stopped until finally it was blissfully quiet and he allowed himself to reflect on the events of the previous night with a fondness twinged slightly by regret.

Flashback

The ride back to the loft was made in comfortable silence. They held hands the entire time, not even unlocking their fingers when Brian needed to shift gears. The silence was time tested hence the comfort of it. Most people can't spend seconds, minutes, hours even in complete silence and hear every word. Sixteen years of friendship will afford you that luxury. The decidedly unexpected aspect was the undercurrent of lust and anticipation. Both had experienced similar feelings before but never this strong or in regards to the other. For the first time in their entire relationship it wasn't , Will they? Won't they, it was all a matter of getting to the loft before they both spontaneously combusted. So much so that neither noticed when they had made it to said loft because they were so enraptured by the feeling. The knowledge that they were finally going to happen. Before getting out of the jeep they both locked eyes and asked if they were sure. Everything up to then had been talk, this made it real. And finally they were ready to be real. In the elevator Michael stood with his back against the far wall with Brian hovering over him. Close enough to sense each other but not quite touching. With hands planted on either side of Michael's head Brian really looked at his friend, his lover, his future husband and for what felt like the first time saw him. No longer was he that scrawny fourteen year old he had fallen for or the insecure creature he had once been. He looked and saw a man. His man. Breathing hitched, eyes blazing with lust he finally understood the meaning of the word soul mate. Which surprisingly enough isn't quite the four letter word he believed it to be. Both were broken out of the reverence by the creaking of the elevator coming to a stop and bolted into the frantic action for trying to get inside while fighting the urge to touch each other. Wanting to delay the inevitable. They were surprisingly not surprised when the flaming red of a wig caught both their eyes. The wig which was of course attached to the charming Debbie Novotny, who for the moment can be called the queen of bad timing. A collective deep breath was observed then the fun had truly started. Bodies both humming with lust they waited for an attack and Debbie was never no to disappoint. Her voice boomed in an condescending tone from Brian's sofa.

"Sooooo Michael how was work?"

"Great, Ma what are you doing here?"

"Just came to see my baby. Apparently I'm going to have a son-in-law, which let me tell you is news to me."

"Ma I really didn't want you to find out this way but Brian's asked me to marry him."

"I know. I had to find out from that Marley person you work with. You couldn't have come to me first?"

"No I couldn't seeing as though he only asked me twenty minutes ago."

Brian was stoic and quiet standing behind his love waiting to jump in if need be.

"So I assume you came back here to what? Fuck?"

She let the responding blush that covered his cheek be her answer.

"You do realize that once he's had you that will be it. He'll move to the next."

"Hey Deb, you know that is not true." Brian interjected in a hushed angry tone.

"Don't I. You've strung him along for years. You expect me to believe that this isn't another one of your attempts to control him. I need to protect him from that."

Before Brian had the chance to defend himself Michael did it for him.

"The him you need to protect is standing right here telling you that no he doesn't need protecting. At least not from the one man, the only man he's ever really loved. Now I think it's time you leave before things are said that will be regretted later."

His tone was firm laced with pleading. Deb walked over to her only son, placed his face in her hands and pulled the last punch. Hit the one nerve she knew was already exposed and in a tone so soft it made him question everything, including his existence She planted the seed of doubt.

"He doesn't love you like you love him. He loves Justin. You're just the best friend, baby. I'm sorry."

And with that she was out the door, leaving only the faint scent of her knock-off Chanel and a son whose body was still humming. Only with an emotion far from lust. Pain and confusion permeated is being. Without a word Brian understood to stay silent as Michael made his way to the bed and lay down as close to the edge as possible. Hours later when the soft snoring could be heard from the couch where he was scratching the label off his beer Brian knew he had heard every word. Every doubt and every horrible thing he'd ever done. His Mikey needed time, so time he would get. It's not like Michael hadn't waited for him. He let his head fall against the back of the couch and drifted to sleep. For once not caring that beer might be spilt on his expensive sofa, he had bigger things on his mind.

Michael's eyes shot open when a crash rang out from the other room followed by the sliding loft door being slammed shut so hard it bounced back and came off the track. It was then that the comforting dark was replaced by the harsh blinding light of awake and scared. He bolted from Brian's bed and saw the owner of that bed hunched over picking up the shattered shards of a broken bottle. His nose was assaulted by the smell of warm stale beer. Brian. The man he love and the man that could sense him as soon as he entered the room. When he spoke his voice was cold and hollow.

"Justin knows."

"Is everything okay? What happened?"

He let the silence speak for itself and place what he hoped was a comforting hand on Brian's sweaty, heaving back. Only to have the person he wanted to comfort pull away and storm towards the bathroom. He sat staring shocked at his hand until he heard the water of the shower boom forth from the bathroom. It was then that he carefully cleaned the glass and fixed the door before slipping out. In the silence he had heard every word. Brian needed time. That was something Michael would always give him. They both had plenty of time.