Brian observed Justin closely as he entered the loft. Brian had been working at home, so he heard footsteps outside the door, heralding Justin's arrival. He was the only person who came to the loft who didn't use the elevator. He wondered why. Suddenly, a small voice inside Brian, one that sounded exactly like Justin's, said, "It's just one of the many small ways I keep myself thin for you, Brian. I always take the stairs, everywhere I go. That's also why I walk from the loft to the diner, Daphne's apartment, and school, even in the bitter cold. I take the bus on very long journeys, but I walk to and from the bus stop." Brian wondered whether what the inner voice had said were true. A very small part of him wished it were. He couldn't help but think that that behavior was sweet.
Justin slid the door open slowly and peeked his head in, looking around nervously. Brian chuckled and thought, "What the hell is that all about?" The strange new inner voice actually responded to his question: "I'm afraid that you brought someone back to the loft to fuck." Suddenly, Brian was overwhelmed by a feeling of desolation. A feeling that shook him to the core. The inner voice continued, "Just once, I'd like to come home without worrying that you're fucking someone in our home, in our bed. Of course, neither the bed nor the loft are really mine. I know that we will probably never share a home we chose and decorated together or a bed in which we have fucked only each other. That's too much to hope for. But that would be nice. To be able to give my address without some guy smiling at me smugly, remembering the night my boyfriend fucked him there, in the bed I sleep in every night." Brian's eyes widened. Justin didn't really have such thoughts, did he?
When Justin saw Brian sitting at his desk, alone, he walked in and smiled. He walked over to Brian and kissed him deeply, a long lingering kiss. Brian returned the kiss with equal vigor, but stiffened when that annoying inner voice breathed, "At least now, in this moment, you really are mine." Brian broke the kiss abruptly. Justin was dazed for a second, still lost in the passion of their kiss, but then looked at Brian in confusion. He asked, "Is something wrong?"
Brian replied quickly, his voice even, "Of course not, Sunshine. I just had an overwhelming urge to purchase a new bed." Brian knew that he'd go crazy if he didn't do something to quiet the inner voice or, at the very least, to change its tune. He probably wouldn't mind hearing happy thoughts.
Justin's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
Suddenly, a small voice inside Justin, one that sounded exactly like Brian's, declared, "I love making you smile. I can't help but be happy when you do." This caused his eyes to widen even more. Where had the voice come from? Was what it said true? He hoped so. The very thought sent a ripple of pleasure throughout his body.
Brian asked nonchalantly, "Do you have time to go shopping with me?"
Justin smiled brightly. "Yes! Absolutely!"
Brian couldn't help but smile back. Sometimes Justin was so easy to please.