Justin couldn't believe he was doing this. He always tried to avoid meeting new people nowadays, and he certainly never trusted them, well, not anymore. But none of them had ever, to his knowledge, been Aidan come to life. Justin knew that this would be a major turning point for him. He didn't know exactly what the consequences would be, but this was the first time in three years that he'd left the apartment alone, and one of the handful of times in three years that he'd left the apartment at all.

He rushed. He didn't want to give himself the chance to lose his nerve. The first year he and Ethan were together, he'd tried to leave the apartment by himself on several occasions. There were art exhibits he was dying to see. But every time, the same thing happened. He'd take a long shower, dress carefully, and gather everything he could possibly need. Then, he'd get halfway out the door and freeze. He'd spend the next hour sitting in his nice clothes trying to work up the courage to go, but to no avail. Eventually, he'd change into sweatpants and a T-shirt and cry bitter tears.

But that was not going to happen this time. Justin wouldn't let it. He showered quickly, threw on a black sweater and dark blue jeans, grabbed Ethan's car keys, and ran out the door. A surge of panic hit him the second his feet touched pavement, but he kept on walking. Ethan never parked far away, at least, he hadn't the last time he'd dragged Justin to a concert. He'd guess that the car was twenty feet away. His feet were about nine inches long (he'd measured them once), but, of course, his strides were longer, weren't they? Maybe he'd make it in exactly twenty footsteps, rather than the twenty-six-ish footsteps required otherwise. Justin tried to count his steps rather than looking around nervously, but he felt so exposed, as though someone might attack him at any moment. His heart was pounding hard in his chest, but not in a positive life-affirming way, like when Enigma was making sexual innuendoes. He could see the car. Just a few feet left. When he finally reached the door, his hands were shaking so badly that it took him three tries to unlock it. But at long last, he was inside. He locked the door and rested his head on the steering wheel, trying to even out his breathing and slow his heart rate. Once he had recovered a bit, he smiled. He'd made it. Now all he needed to do was find the Liberty Diner in the next twenty minutes.

*****

Brian couldn't believe that Buttercup lived in Pittsburgh. He was also a little shocked that he'd actually invited him over, even offering to go to him, if necessary. Finding tricks online wasn't unusual for him, but Buttercup was no trick. In the short time they'd been corresponding, he'd shared more with him than he had with people he'd known for years. Most of what his closest friends and family knew about him had been disclosed without his consent, that is, they'd been there, and what few emotions he'd actually shown or what little he had told others was usually done at the worst of times when he was shitfaced. He'd never voluntarily offered up so much while sober before and in the absence of traumatic events. Brian couldn't explain it. There was something different about Buttercup. Brian just knew that he was never judging him, no matter what Brian said. He also never pitied him. He didn't simply cluck his tongue and walk away…he wanted to make Brian feel better about himself, and not in a lame preachy way…He just genuinely enjoyed their time together and wanted Brian to be happy, or so it seemed. On top of that, he didn't come off as a person who had all his shit together and was kindly trying to help out one of the less fortunate. Best yet, he sounded cuter than hell. Normally, Brian didn't like adorable, but, on Buttercup, it was hot. Brian got a little thrill every time he made Buttercup blush or shiver or bite various parts of himself, e.g., his lip and his thumbnail. If he was that responsive to words, Brian couldn't imagine how responsive he'd be to touch. He was eager to find out. After showering, and relieving himself of the throbbing erection Buttercup had left him with, he decided to go for a slightly different look, throwing on a brown sweater vest and light blue jeans before heading to the diner.

*****

Justin had arrived a few minutes early, which was fortunate because the Liberty Diner was swarming with people. He wasn't sure he could handle the nervous tension of meeting Enigma and negotiating the crowds. But he'd come all this way alone, so he didn't want to give up yet. Thus, he was sitting in the car, trying to work up the nerve to get out. He sighed. He really didn't want to be sitting in a car, clenching and unclenching his fists like a freak when Enigma got his first look at him. Justin laid his head against the steering wheel and then wiped away a tear as he moved to start the car again.

Little did he know that Brian had come early and saw him park. In less than a minute, he'd pegged him as Buttercup. Brian had seen everything: the terror in his eyes, his determination rising and falling, and the tear that had rolled down his cheek. Brian was starting to understand why the blond admired Buttercup so much. He was clearly suffering from social anxiety disorder, maybe post-traumatic stress, too. If possible, Brian liked him all the better for it. Buttercup was clearly frightened, but he'd come to meet him anyway. Whether or not Buttercup could see it, coming here had been brave, even if he couldn't get out of the car. Brian shook his head. He was as damaged as they come, so he wasn't about to let Buttercup's people problem prevent them from meeting, especially since he was just plain beautiful. He had skin like porcelain, crystal blue eyes, luscious lips, and silky blond hair. No way in hell was he letting him get away. He walked around the back-end of the car, opened the passenger door, and got in.

He drawled, "Hey Sunshine."

Justin's eyes widened in surprise, not only at the man's sudden and unexpected entrance (leave it to Ethan to lock the driver's side and leave the passenger's side open) but also at his beauty. In particular, he had the deepest hazel eyes. They drew Justin like a magnet. What was most astounding was the fact that he looked exactly like Aidan. Justin swallowed hard and trembled a little.

When he finally found his voice, he whispered, "Fuck, you're beautiful." His eyes teared up a little.

Brian could never have expected the effect Buttercup would have on him. His beautiful trembling body, his soft whispering voice, his awe, and the recognition Brian could see in his eyes, as though they'd met in dreams or some such lesbianic thing…overwhelmed him. Suddenly, Brian did something he couldn't explain, would never be able to explain…he took the blond's hand and placed it on his chest as he gazed into his eyes. Justin felt Enigma's pounding heart and was drawn as if pulled into his lap. Justin did something he couldn't explain, would never be able to explain…straddling him, nudging his nose against the brunet's as they breathed the same air, and, then, thrusting his tongue into the brunet's mouth. Brian grabbed the blond's face, pulled him closer, tilted his head, and, then, deepened the kiss, moving his arms down so they circled the blond's waist. He explored the blond's mouth and licked, sucked, and nibbled his plump lips, all the while squeezing and caressing his incredible ass. Justin rubbed his painfully erect cock against Enigma's and moaned low in his throat. Brian couldn't take much more sweet torture.

He whispered in the blond's ear, "Sunshine, you wanna come over to my house and play?"

Justin pulled back so that he could see the brunet's face. He was blushing, but he flashed the brunet a million-watt smile and answered, "Yes!"

Brian grabbed the keys from the ignition, lifted the blond into his arms as he exited the car, hit the all door lock, and carried him to his jeep. Halfway there, he couldn't help but moan…loudly. The blond had been enthusiastically licking, sucking, and nibbling on his neck the entire time.

Brian half-stated, half-moaned, "You really are a natural, Sunshine," as he deposited him into the passenger seat.