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A/N: Tada! We've made it eight chapters in, isn't it awesome? Maybe not. I'm not sure. We've gotten a little muddled along the way, I'm sure. No worries! There's a reason for everything, I think. It'll work itself out… Well, I hope so anyways. Lol
Enjoy!
~SL
Chapter Eight
The great thing about old 'friends', the type you dropped like a hot rock when you made some better life choices, was that they didn't care much when you popped back into their lives. They knew they were being used for something and didn't care, because it was a good bet that they'd use you right back. It was a fucked up system, but it fit Ben's needs just fine. He told himself he wasn't going to stay long, just people who wouldn't ask questions would be nice to be around, have a little fun… get the fuck away from the usual scene.
He was surprised at how easy it was to fall back in. Debating for a few hours, wandering to and from the usual places to keep his mind off things before calling an old 'friend'. It was easy, so fucking easy to get caught up for a few hours over drinks in someone's shady little apartment. Even easier to get cajoled into a joint, another, someone breaking out hilarious stories with frantic voices clamoring to call more people over, make it a great time.
With new people came heavier vices, a pooling of resources. It never bothered Ben when the air got thicker with more bodies and different drugs. When a bowl full of a different assortment of pills passed his way, he didn't question it, instead picking one that look vaguely familiar. Keeping up with the party atmosphere settling in as someone found the stereo (buried under who knew what) and really got the noise going. It was hours of catching up and loud chatter before a few people started getting really… involved.
The makeshift dance floor was outlined with people seated wherever there was space, and those people were less interested in the music and heightened atmosphere and more interested in each other. Ben had enough wits about him to know what was going here, but enough to actually care?
"Honey, I'm home!" Hunter's voice rang through the house as he entered, slipping his shoes off at the door. The TV was on in the living room and there was clattering going on in the kitchen. Working at the shop was actually going great on his end, although there were a few things he wasn't too sure of yet. Michael's policies on handling purchases for the younger crowd (i.e. – when they were a little short) and holding items and ordering, but he was sure Michael would be more than happy to give him a hand.
"In here, pal," Ben called from the kitchen, leaning out the doorway. "Veggie casserole tonight. Sound good?"
"Does it ever?" Hunter asked, making a face. "Is Michael around? I have some questions."
"Living room. How was work?" Ben asked, smiling. It was amusing for Ben to say in that parental manner.
"Awesome," Hunter replied drifting towards the living room. "I'm gonna go out later, okay?"
Ben rolled his eyes. "You staying for dinner?"
"Maybe."
Michael has been more than annoyed after leaving Brian's office. He and Ben were on tense terms since he had just gotten up and left to go there to begin with… goddamnit, the whole day went to shit, honestly. There was some movie on TV he was staring at. Honestly, he was bored out of his mind. It was the kind of boredom that settled in and killed your will to do anything slowly. He was irritated with it, flopped over like a ragdoll on the arm of the couch, staring at the screen upside down.
He heard Hunter come in and couldn't avoid him when he blocked his view of the TV, looking down at him.
"You an' this upside down thing, man," he said, grinning. "Veggie casserole, huh?"
Michael made a face. "I wish I could cook like Ma. She won't give up her damn recipe for her gravy. Doesn't taste the same without it."
"Mama's boy," Hunter teased, moving to sit on the couch opposite him.
"How was the store?"
Hunter shrugged. "Good. I like it, just some questions about ordering an' holding stuff for the lil ones."
"You really like them?" Michael asked, smiling lazily as he lolled his head to look over at Hunter.
"Yeah, they're pretty cool. Kinda… makes me excited for when…" he trailed off and stared at the TV screen.
"When what?"
"What?"
"You were saying something," Michael pointed out. "And then you stopped. When what?"
Shrugged one shoulder, Hunter looked down into his lap. "Y'know, when Jen can walk an' talk an' all that."
Michael smiled. "Someone's excited to be a big brother!"
"Shut up!" Hunter tossed a pillow at Michael to drive his point home.
Michael caught it and hugged it to his chest. "Yeah, yeah. I know your sec-" he faltered for a moment before clearing his throat. "Your, uh, secret."
"You okay?"
"Yeah. I'm good. Just… having one of those days."
"You're havin' those a lot," Hunter observed, leaning back into the couch.
"Guys! Dinner's almost done," Ben called from the kitchen.
"Oh joy," Michael muttered, holding the pillow tighter. He didn't want dinner. God, he sounded like a whiney little kid and he knew it.
"Hunter?" Ben called.
"Present!" Hunter yelled back.
"Wanna clear and set the table for me?"
"No!"
Michael snickered. "What?" Ben asked, not having heard over the beeping of the oven.
"I said 'sure!'"
"Thanks, pal."
Hunter didn't get up right away. "Gonna go out tonight?" Michael asked, taking up the clicker to change channels.
"Prob'ly."
"Katie?"
"Who else, man?"
Michael rolled his eyes. "Go set the table."
"Well, what about you?" Hunter asked.
"What about me?" Michael sighed.
"You goin' out?"
"I dunno… the guys are doing the usual tonight and…"
Hunter got up off the couch with a grunt and walked by Michael patting him on the head. "You need to get out more, dude. This is gettin' sad."
"Thanks," Michael replied, voice muffled in the pillow he buried his head in.
"Well, I don't see a damn shipment, do you?" Hunter snapped, throwing himself into the old couch in the backroom of Red Cape.
"Honey, I love you cause you're Michael's family, but that has limits," Emmett said primly, running a finger along a shelf in the backroom. He made a face when it came up thick with dust. "Well, if it's not here, why don't we clean up a bit? It'll be a nice surprise."
"Why don't you just go home?"
Emmett put his hands on his hips, leaning to one side. "What the fuck is up your butt?"
"Not you," Hunter snorted, crossing his arms.
"Oh, ha ha," Emmett sighed, sitting down next to Hunter. "Hon, I don't know what wrong. I can't pretend to know. This lil diva is all about moi." He put a hand to his chest. "But I'm not blind, honey. You wanna talk?"
The bell rang outside in the store. Hunter scrambled off the couch. "Customer!"
Talking was the last thing he wanted to do. Well, he did, but none of it was his mess to talk about. It was frustrating. What was more frustrating was the fact that he knew where Michael went and left him here. Besides, he would've liked to see what happened, but that was hours ago… Michael would've-
"Oh, it's you," Hunter sighed, rolling his eyes.
Justin stopped short at Hunter's greeting, Paul bumping into his back. Rude little shit, wasn't he?
"Yeah, nice to see you, too," Justin said, moving in enough to let Paul through.
"What happened to the other guy?" Hunter asked, eyeing up Paul as he wandered through the store. He seemed intent on going through the comics everyone knew about.
Justin shook his head. "Dunno. Woke up and he was gone. What are you, my mom?"
"God, I hope not," Hunter snorted. "Whatever. Can I help you?"
"Yeah, Mike here?"
"No, he's-" Hunter caught himself before eyeing Justin up. "Why?"
"Where is he?" Justin asked, looking at Hunter just as cautiously.
Paul interrupted by clearing his throat. "Truce? Yeah, I wanted to meet him."
"Why?" Hunter asked, eyes on Paul now.
"Uh, writer of Rage? Hello!" Paul exclaimed throwing his hands up. "I've got a publishing company."
"Yeah, Ben does books. Rage is done. Have a great day," Hunter said dismissively.
"Get the bug out of your ass," Justin snapped. "Where's Mike?"
What was it with things up his ass? "Not here," Hunter replied coolly.
"Where?"
Hunter narrowed his eyes, looking Justin over carefully. "Brian's."
Justin was taken aback. "Oh. Oh, shit. One of-"
"Those days, yeah," Hunter finished. "Sure."
"And Ben?"
"Yeah, uh," Hunter waved a hand.
Justin raised an eyebrow. "The hell does that mean?"
Hunter ran a hand through his hair. "Brian's, okay? We're pretty sure Ben went to Brian's to do… I don't even know! And then Michael stuck me here and went off after them and I don't-"
"Are you serious?" Justin asked, eyes wide. "Ben found out? What happened?"
"Me and Michael got home and there was a message on the machine and Ben cut in on it and… two and two, man," Hunter said, shrugging. "But this is the la-"
"What the hell have I missed out on?" Emmett asked, coming out from the backroom, glaring at all three.
Brian was tapping his fingers impatiently at his sides as he waited for Michael to answer the door. Justin had gotten a room close enough to Liberty Ave to walk down. No one else knew the blonde was back besides Brian and Michael. Surprises were fun, weren't they? The door started to open.
"About time, Mikey," Brian chided, taking a halting step forward. It certainly wasn't Mikey. Ben was standing in the doorway, a pair of barely put on boxers that he hitched up absently as he looked at Brian.
"He's a little busy," Ben said, obviously annoyed. "Can I take a message?"
"Oh, fuck off, Benny Boy," the dark haired man snapped. "Michael knew we were going out tonight."
"I was trying to," Ben shrugged dismissively. "You've got a knack for interrupting."
"Michael!" Brian called out, leaning over Ben's shoulder. "Mikey, you bastard, you knew I was picking you up at eight!"
Michael came stumbling down the stairs, one hand running through his dark hair while the other was trying to keep himself covered with the unbuttoned jeans. He had just grabbed the first thing off the floor. "Christ, Ben, let him in before the neighbors call the fucking cops!"
Ben's intimidating form cleared the way for Brian and he crossed the threshold, giving Ben a snort of disgust as he walked by. Michael looked… well, he'd looked better. He was currently zipping up his jeans (apparently going commando for the night… Brian found that curiously exciting as he could never remember a time when Michael had been without something under his jeans) and he looked like he'd been put through the wringer. His chest and shoulders were covered in glaring red marks against the pale skin, hair spiked every which way and he looked completely disoriented.
"Mikey, we were going out with the guys tonight, remember?" Brian asked, almost whining about it. He didn't like running into Ben and he liked seeing Michael coming from bed with Ben even less.
"You're usually late," Michael shrugged. The guys. With Justin. Just like old times, how great?
Brian straightened up. "Yeah, well, special occasion tonight. Thought we'd be on time for once."
Michael shook his head slightly, almost bewildered. Ben asked what the occasion was, not having left the room, but watching the interaction closely.
"A little Sunshine decided to stop by and brighten up the Pitts," Brian explained, smiling over his shoulder at Ben. Michael snorted derisively.
"Justin?" Ben asked, Michael rolled his eyes and nodded. "Well, that's a surprise. Baby, you want me to go with you? Haven't seen Justin since he left."
Michael looked at Brian. "Yeah. Most of us haven't."
Ben had no idea what was really going on here, he could admit to that. The tension between to the two best friends was giving him a shiver right up his spine. Michael had been prone to his mood swings and outbursts lately, but at Brian? Usually, they had been in defense of him.
Was it really just one friend trying to protect another from some big bad ex?
Guilt didn't register on this level. There was an awareness, a weighing of right and wrong but an ease into temptation that was without guilt because there were so many things right with it. Rather, him. He was cute, green eyes and light brown hair with a dazzling smile. Shirtless from when he had walked in, Ben could see a thin, but simply defined frame that really knew how to move to the music. Did that make it right? Well, it could be argued that the hand working its way up his leg was right. If it wasn't why would it be doing that? Digging deeper through the haze (maybe as deep as Ben's tongue down the shirtless guy's throat) he was allowed this. The marriage was over. Michael wouldn't be there anymore… hell, he had been doing this while the marriage was supposed to mean something, so this was just a drop in the ocean, forget the bucket.
"Whas yer name?" The guy asked, pulling away from the kiss and settling himself in Ben's lap.
"Is it important?" Ben asked, hands on the guy's hips to hold him in place as he leaned in to let his mouth play at skin over a narrow chest.
The guy leaned back teasingly, just out of reach. "M'Greg."
"Ben. We good now?"
Dumb question. Things like that left people under the influence talking more than doing. It was all depending on this guy. Greg. Was he more of a philosopher type, willing to ponder aloud anything thrown his way, or would Ben get lucky and find himself situation with the more one track type?
Greg seemed to mull the question over for a bit before letting Ben pull him closer. "Nah, we will be, though."
Ben had his answer.
"I dunno, honey," Michael said, trying to calm the dark hair down by running his hands through it. "You've got papers to grade, right?"
Ben shrugged. "I could put them off for an hour or two." Really, he didn't want Michael alone with Brian, especially if Justin was there. Things could turn out… well, he didn't really know. Michael had been too sporadic to tell as of late.
"Sorry, Prof," Brian interrupted. "I've got the Corvette. Only room for two." Yeah, cause the last person he wanted around him tonight was Ben.
Michael bristled. It was probably Brian's fault Justin was here, obviously something was going on there. If nothing, Brian was snidely accommodating with Ben. Considering this was an actual group outing, with Justin no less, why couldn't they all go? Why the fuck did Brian get to pull all the strings?
Completely forgetting that Ben had work to try and get done.
"Y'know, Brian," Michael said. "Why don't you go on ahead and we'll make our way over later?"
"Michael-" Was he really going to make this hard? And for what, Ben?
"Come off it," Michael snapped, wheeling on Brian. "Your little fucktoy is back in town, why don't you go see him already?"
"Michael," Ben stepped towards his husband, a warning tone in his voice. As much as he and Brian were at odds, Michael didn't need to fly off the handle.
"No!" Michael shouted, pointing at Brian. "This jackass just had the little shit show up today! Like it was out of the fucking blue! Like he lived down the mother fucking street!"
Brian knew this was on him. The day he agreed to Justin's plan, he knew he was going be walking a thin line with Michael. There were only a few reactions he would get. One would be the usual frustrated acceptance, which Brian figured he'd gotten back at the office. The second one would be the complete freak out, unable to take it anymore. Which he was getting now. Not that he didn't like getting reamed out once in awhile, but this was actually a little… painful.
"Mikey," Brian tried to reason gently and hesitatingly took a step forward. "It was a surprise for everyone."
"Not you!"
"No, not me," he agreed. "But I knew he was coming for a week and we decided not to tell anyone. Tonight was the surprise. We were going to surprise your mom later in the week too, or do you want me to go bring her to Woody's?"
Michael balked at this point. Why the fuck did Brian have to make him seem like the irrational one every goddamn time? How the hell did he get away with it? Ben cleared his throat and interrupted the staring contest.
"Baby, I'm just… gonna go back to bed," Ben offered, kissing Michael on the cheek. He didn't want to get involved anymore at this point. "You come upstairs and finish getting dressed… I'll help."
Michael smiled briefly over his shoulder at Ben, patting his arm before his husband went back upstairs. Now Brian and Michael were just stuck alone at a tense stalemate. Brian slipped his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and Michael scratched absently at a bare arm, not quite sure what to do.
"You didn't have to talk about me like I wasn't in the room," Michael said sullenly.
"He did that, not me," Brian defended himself. Weak excuse thought it was.
"You always let him get away with shit."
"And I don't let you?"
Michael scoffed. "Fuck no you don't! You never let me forget anything."
"That's not true, Mikey."
"The ten speed bike," Michael offered. "Borrowing the car, not coming to Hard Heroes, taking in Hunter, moving in with Ben, JR, marriage-"
"Are you coming or not?" Brian cut him off, rolling his eyes.
Michael sighed. "Fine. Give me five- no, twenty minutes. I gotta take care of… something."
Brian snorted.
"Well," Emmett said, covering his mouth with a hand, trying to think over the story he'd just been told. It was all secondhand, of course. Brian's side from Justin and what Hunter could piece together from Michael. "My God, I don't know what to say, but it explains a lot."
"Do you guys always do this?" Paul asked, leaning on the counter, grinning. "This is great! If I knew being gay meant all this drama, hell, I might've switched teams years ago."
Justin sighed. "Paul, we're people with issues like everyone else. It's not because we're gay."
"It's because we're men," Emmett said quietly, remembering what Brian had said years ago about men and relationships. What if he was right?
"What?" Hunter asked, looking at Emmett. "Michael wouldn't… look, it's not like we have t'cheat. I mean, me an' Katie… lots of people!"
"I don't know," Emmett mused. "Would Katie be more likely to cheat, or you, hon?"
Hunter kept his mouth shut, but Justin spoke up. "Okay, whatever. This debate aside, now you know, Em. Doesn't matter what happened or why, this is where we are now."
"Kid, you really know how to fuck shit up," Paul said, slapping Justin on the back.
"Why is this my fault?" Justin complained.
"Well, I can't tell if your 'plan' has worked or failed yet," Paul shrugged. "But it was your plan."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence," Justin said scathingly.
Paul laughed. "Hey, all of this would make a great book if someone wrote it down. Can I help it if I'm always looking for a great story?"
Hunter looked at Justin. "Can we send him back where he came from?"
"My mom might get really angry if you tried that," Paul shrugged, going back to flipping through the comics.
"Okay, so… what do we do now?" Emmett asked, hating to be stuck on the sidelines more than anything. That was Michael, and so help him if Brian tried anything…
Justin shrugged. "What can we do?"
"I say we all go over to Brian's place and break up whatever's going on!" Hunter exclaimed, slamming a hand on the countertop.
Emmett put a hand on Hunter's shoulder. "Honey, they need to work it out. They're adults, I'm sure they're being responsible."
Up in the bedroom, it wasn't hard to convince Ben to finish what he and Michael had started a few hours ago. Ben was expecting Michael to need more of a comforting ear, but taken by surprise when Michael climbed into his lap and pulled him in for a hard kiss. Ben didn't want to be pulled into this situation any further by appeasing Michael's annoyance with Brian with sex, but it was really hard to argue when Michael was whispering some very dirty things in his ear.
It was a quick fumble to get the pants off Michael, who stopped Ben from taking them all the way, preferring to just yank them down and lean over the bed. "Not enough time," he explained simply, barely looking over his shoulder when Ben hesitated. "Just fuck me."
The better part of Ben wanted to turn it down, but the other part wanted to get it over with, with as little a fight as possible (well, the fact that he'd be satisfied too, didn't help any). Fumbling through his bedside table, he found a condom and the lube, deciding that if Michael was going to make this quick, he could at least take his time with the preparation. Usually Michael loved that.
Moments before Michael was making up his mind to check what the holdup was behind him, two slick fingers were sliding in slowly, taking their time to feel out the well known body. Michael was torn, oddly, between impatient boredom and want. He wanted the release, he just wanted it to be over though. It was a chore right now. A chore to give his body what it wanted (and why shouldn't he? Hell, Brian had been doing it for years, at least he had a stable partner to do it with) and a chore to live with Ben's passive passion in bed.
A tingle ran up Michael's spine as a finger came close to brushing right up against the small bundle of nerves that seemed to make all this worthwhile. Fuck, he was doing it on purpose, Michael realized as he shuddered again.
Hands pulling at the sheets on the bed, Michael debated on which was the best course of action to take in this situation. He wanted it, Ben wanted it, it was just too slow.
Michael gasped loudly, raked his teeth across his bottom lip and looked over at Ben with, what he hoped, was a pleading look. "Please?" He thrust back against the fingers to drive his point home.
Not that Ben couldn't resist, but at this point he didn't want to with the way Michael acted. Back arched, body trembling just slightly… who could say no? Fingers withdrawn, Ben reached for the condom tossed on the bed and rolled it on, quick but careful movements used to smooth some of the lube over the latex encased length. Ben hesitated, weighing the options briefly. Do this and Michael was sure to go out, nothing solved and back to square one. Don't do this… and he could be in for hell for the next week.
No one man would be considered dumb enough to put themselves purposely through hell when they could get out of it with such a pleasurable experience. At the very least, Ben decided with a tight grip on Michael's hips to ease himself in, he could make it so that Brian could hear exactly what he had interrupted earlier and for once, there would be a little perverted knowing between Ben and Brian. That Michael was Ben's partner, his lover, his husband. Michael would be going out tonight as those things, not just Brian's best friend. That was wrong to give him incentive, but it worked. Michael's soft grunts of 'more' or 'harder' had trailed off to a low whine when Ben stopped and pulled Michael up so they were back to chest, Michael's weight resting back against Ben. They'd done this a few times before, Michael liked the variation on the usual style from behind, it felt like Ben slipped in just a little deeper somehow.
Ben held him close, turning his head to let his lips play with Michael's ear. "I'll give you what you want, if you do something for me."
"Bartering in bed, Bruckner?" Michael's breathy voice asked. "Shrewd. What?"
"I want you to be louder," Ben breathed softly. Before Michael could protest about company in the house, he went on. "You know I love hearing you."
"Deal," Michael agreed, smiling as he placed his hands over Ben's. One on his chest, the other on his hip as he gave his inner muscles a little squeeze to encourage Ben. "You might be louder, though."
"We don't have to leave right now," Michael said, a hand reaching out to grab hold of Brian's shirt. "He's with Em at the store. They're fine."
Brian rubbed at his forehead gently, as if he had a headache. "Michael, I can't have you here right now."
"Why not?"
"You have no idea what I want to do to you," Brian groaned as if he was in pain, eyes closing. "You just can't be here."
Michael worried his bottom lip between his teeth. "You're not mad, are you?"
Brian laughed, making Michael jump. "Angry?" He raked his hands thought his hair. "Michael… Mikey, come here." He opened his arms and Michael was all too happy to fall into an embrace. It felt like they had barely touched in months in any manner. "I want you to listen to me. Are you listening."
A muffled laugh came up from Brian's chest. "Yeah."
"Look at me."
Michael looked up expectantly, waiting for the worst. That this was bullshit, they were better off friends, nothing was worth this nonsense when there was more easily accessible cock elsewhere.
"You're here," Brian said, looking serious. "You're right here because you want to be. You chose to be in this very spot right now. It's what I wanted, and you know I love getting what I want."
Michael couldn't help but blush, just a little. It wasn't much, not even overly sentimental, but it was more than he ever wanted to hear. Still… "Are you sure? You're not getting just me."
Ah, that question. "What do you want me to say, Mikey?" he asked quietly, looking over that worried face for the right words. "That I'll love him like my own? That we'll all live happily ever after? You know I'd never promise you anything I couldn't give."
Michael couldn't help himself, his face fell and eyes lowered away from Brian's, but his arms reflexively held on tighter.
"No, don't get like that," Brian said, using his hand to nudge Michael's chin up so Michael was looking at him again. "I'm not saying I can't or won't give you those things. I'm just saying that I don't know how it'll end. You're the writer, write out the ending for me."
Brian let his hand wrap around the back of Michael's neck, thumb brushing over his cheek and pulled their foreheads together. God, just touching each other drove him insane. It wasn't enough anymore when Brian knew that they had so much more waiting in front of them. Michael lifted his head looking for a kiss and Brian pulled back just slightly.
"No, Mikey," he scolded gently. "Don't."
"Why not?" Michael asked, nearly whining.
Brian smiled briefly. "Because it won't stop there."
"You don't trust me?" Michael raised an eyebrow.
"I don't trust myself."
"You sure?" Michael asked, pulling on a faded brown t-shirt. "I'll tell him we can see them all another time. Maybe with more warning."
Ben looked up from his book, covers pulled up enough to keep him decent. "Baby, just go and have a good time and tell Justin I said hi. Maybe your mom'll do a dinner and we can all meet then."
Honestly, now Michael was looking for an excuse to stay in. Ben was just looking forward to a little peace and quiet right now. He wanted Michael to have a nice time out, but he had work to do. Papers didn't grade themselves. Maybe next year they could budget him an assistant. Well, he could hope.
Michael flopped onto the bed on his stomach. "We just haven't been able to go out much together, y'know?"
"Trust me, I know," Ben smiled thinly. "Still thinking about that weekend?"
"Still thinking of bringing your book?"
"Go have fun, Michael," Ben sighed, leaning over to kiss his husband. "And try not to get in too late, please?"
"Yeah, yeah," the shorter man agreed impatiently, rolling off the bed. "Night."
"Night, Michael."
Michael shut the bedroom door and took his time getting back downstairs. He really hoped Ben would want him to stay home. For once in this last year, he wouldn't've started a fight about being kept away from Brian. He just didn't want to see Justin. Not with his arms around Brian, or that self satisfied smile he gave everyone and especially not that adoring one he gave Brian. But that really wasn't all. Sure, Michael could imagine that ridiculous things Justin would do, but Brian? Would Brian keep his arm around Justin? Would he still give the blond that small tug at the corner of his lips while looking down at him (although, now it seemed they might be a little closer in height…)? Michael would rather lock himself in a room with Ben while he was writing for the rest of his life than watch tonight's many scenes play out.
He landed at the bottom of the stairs and didn't see Brian. Wandering over to the living room he found his best friend toying with one of his robot action figures left on a mantel on the far wall. Michael smiled, just watching as it looked like Brian was taking up another one, maybe about to do battle with each other. Brian paused, then bent one robot over, balanced precariously and arched the other one back just slightly and left it placed behind the bent over robot.
"This is why I never let you play with my toys," Michael said, irritated now as he entered the room. Brian's shoulders jerked slightly, the only way to know he was surprised and back away from his work of art with a smile.
"Aw, Mikey, you know your mom always said you needed to share more," the taller man said laughing. Served him right after what he had to suffer through the last, nearly, half hour. It irritated him to hear someone else's name out of Michael's mouth in bed, he just never realized how much it would.
Michael scowled and righted the wronged figures, adjusting them until he was satisfied. "You're still a jackass."
"That bug up your butt?" Brian asked, getting annoyed with the treatment Michael was giving him. "You should tell it to move out."
Finished rearranging the toys, Michael stepped back. "Can we just go and get this over with now? I said I'd be home early."
"You're really not gonna come to Babylon with us?"
"I have work in the morning."
"So do I."
"Brian," Michael warned in a final tone. "Don't push me. Woody's, then home."
He'd push all he wanted. Brian let himself get treated like crap when he knew he deserved it. He might be a heel for putting Michael in this position, but he didn't deserve the torture he had to listen to. And he knew it was crap to be snapped at over nothing.
"I want you," Michael said softly, pulling back from a long kiss. "We've got time."
"Mikey…," Brian was hesitant about giving in.
"Just promise to let me go in an hour."
Brian pulled Michael in for another kiss. Never. He wasn't letting go, not in an hour, not any time soon. That's what scared him. With their hesitant distance in the begging of their friendship, it was easy to essentially have his cake and eat it too. He wanted Michael, back when they were kids and hormones ruled the world. It would've been easy if he hadn't found himself caring so much about hurting someone else. He liked guys like Mikey. They were just so… naïve, innocent. They had been the best. Someone else to put his fucked up misery in, someone else to taint like he was. They wore it best, guys like Michael. Brian walked away knowing that he'd created just one more miserable soul in the world and he could watch it every day if it had been some guy from school. It eased his own pain just a little more. It was sick, twisted, but he admitted it and held no shame with it.
And then came Michael. Michael that had no clue just how cute he was when he got overexcited about… well, anything. A dog on the way home, whatever Deb was making for dinner, class (or how much he hated it)… the list went on. He just couldn't understand how someone could be so happy in this world. It didn't make sense. Brian wanted to show him (as he had with so many others) what the world was really about, but he didn't. He wanted what Michael had about him, that wide-eyed wonder at everything. So, what was just going to be a quick perusal turned into a long lasting friendship and Michael never failed to share his world with Brian when he could. There was something akin to peace in it, somewhere. Somehow, Brian found it in Michael without having to completely ruin the other man.
"Brian?"
Brian blinked, unaware that he'd been staring at Michael for what felt like hours. "Sorry, did you say something?"
"I asked you what was wrong," Michael said, looking worried. "You've been staring at me for a few minutes. Something on my face?"
Smiling slightly, he kissed Michael's cheek, as if that was the thing on his face. "You scare me," Brian admitted quietly.
"I don't bite that hard," Michael teased, poking Brian's side.
"You don't even know what you do to me," Brian muttered.
"Love you?"
Brian chuckled, hiding his face in Michael's neck. "Yeah, but I just don't-"
Michael stepped away and held Brian's face in his hands to look him in the eye. "I'm still here, right? Even after the first time?"
Mutely, Brian nodded.
"And I came back, ruined a few people, but I came back, right?"
Another nod.
"You hurt me sometimes, Brian," Michael admitted, a hand smoothing over the worried brow. "But I hurt you right back. It happens. I'm still me and you're still you and nothing changed that yet."
"But what if-"
Michael shook Brian's head gently. "Brian, listen to me. Are you listening?"
Brian rolled his eyes and Michael squished his cheeks, making his lips purse like a fish, sending a small ache through the bruise. He winced. "Yesh."
"Stop thinking. I'm not made of glass and I'm willing to risk it. Want me to sign a contract to prove it? A liability waiver?"
Brian peeled Michael's hands off his face and straightened up, pulling Michael close. "No," he said, running his hands up Michael's arms, playing with the sleeves of the shirt, lips bordering on a smile. "I want you to get in bed."
"Figured you might be picking up Justin or something instead of me," Michael said as they drove towards Liberty Ave.
"Oh, I didn't get time to tell you," Brian said as he made an easy right turn. "Justin's staying at a hotel nearby. He'll probably be there now. Actually, considering how late we are, he is."
"He's not staying with you?"
Brian lifted an eyebrow. "Why the hell would he?"
Maybe Justin had something going with this 'plan' of his. Implication seemed to be doing more for Michael than actually having to physically go through with anything. Though, Brian worried that this might drive his friend over the edge in the wrong direction.
Michael had so many half-assed answers ready for that, he couldn't decide which one to use first. He sorted through them and slowly come to the realization that Brian didn't lie. Really, he didn't. He said things he didn't mean, used things in his favor, but when it came down to it, he was always honest about most things. This probably wasn't a set up of any sort and Justin really was here to visit and surprise everyone.
"Never mind," Michael muttered, more annoyed with himself now than Brian.
There was no easy way to get back into a comfortable flow of conversation with only a minute or two left on the drive, so neither tried. Michael stared out his window and Brian kept his gaze on the traffic ahead. They had been making good time until they hit Liberty Ave and slowed immediately as queens paraded down the streets in a casual manner, not caring if the road was actually for cars and not queers. Brian huffed impatiently as he waited every few seconds for a high heeled drag queen to strut by, or a barely clothed group skittered into the road. It was annoying to drive in this area, but the tension was relieved by the time Brian had found a parking spot.
"You think this place would die down a bit on a Sunday," Michael commented, shutting the car door behind him after climbing out.
Brian locked the car and slung an arm over Michael's shoulders as they hit the sidewalk. "Mikey, any chance for those of the queer kind to get out will be taken."
"It still seems like, I dunno, they'd still be like everyone else," the shorter man contemplated.
"What? You mean like the heteros?" Brian said snidely. "Bed by nine?"
Michael sighed. "It's not just straight people that like to get to bed early, Brian."
"Oh, I'm sorry, married couples too. Stepford Fags."
"Brian," Michael warned.
"Alright, cool it," the taller man gave up, too exasperated to get into another fight so soon. The walk towards the bar was fairly content after that, just enjoying the usual sights and sounds.
A realization dawned on Michael. "Y'know what, Brian?"
"No, what?"
"Ass. I think this is probably the first time we've been to Woody's in awhile."
"You mean together."
"Even as a group."
"Nope."
"What?" Michael looked up questioningly.
"We've been going every once in awhile, guess who's been missing?"
"You guys have been leaving me out?"
"No, Mikey, you pulled yourself away. The guys ask about you, but I just stopped trying after awhile."
"Maybe I'm just getting old," Michael groused.
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that," Brian agreed, ready to drop the subject as they came to the brightly lit entrance of Woody's. They headed up the short steps and into the bar, finding no one with their group at the bar, tables or pool tables. The place wasn't empty, but one might think it a slow night until they heard the clapping and cheers from the area that was slightly downstairs. The second bar, pool tables and… oh crap, the stage.
"Karaoke," they both sighed.
"Brian?" Michael asked, wondering if he heard right. Didn't Brian say they weren't going to do that? Hell, didn't Michael say he wasn't here for that?
Brian wrapped his arms around Michael, cradling the back of his head, fingers tangling in the dark hair and pulling gently to get the smaller man to tilt his head back before Brian kissed him. That was the one way they always knew what was going on. This time, Michael was just too befuddled to work it out. He wasn't sure if Brian was truly happy with the outcome of today, annoyed there were still things to settle or just pure want. Once they crossed that line, it was hard not to think there was just that connection lit on fire, burning out every other emotion Michael was usually able to decipher.
Tender wouldn't be the right word, if Michael had to pick one. He still felt that raw, hard emotion breaking through, it was just disguised with soft lips on his. His arms went around Brian's waist, eyes shut tight and brow furrowed as he tried to figure it out. This was how they said what they couldn't. How they were sorry or happy, annoyed or unable. Why was this so hard to figure out now?
Michael pulled away, thinking he had it figured out. "Brian… are you sure?" Don't put it all on me, he thought. Don't break yourself, in a few months…
Hazel eyes alight with something close to his usual self satisfied look. Pleased, it seemed (maybe relieved), that Michael might've figured it out.
"I don't think I've ever been this sure," Brian admitted, absently running his fingers through Michael's hair. "It hurts to think about you, like I can't give you enough. That I'm already so limited. I'm gonna try, Mikey. Promise me, though?"
"Anything."
"Mm, that'll get you in trouble," Brian teased. "Promise me that I don't have to let you go in an hour."
"But I have to-" Michael was quieted with another kiss that left him wondering for a moment. "Oh." He smiled brightly. "Why would I turn that down? You haven't let me go in nearly twenty years, why let you do it now?"
"You'd let me get away with murder," Brian said voice low, but obviously happy as he taunted Michael with the same words he used.
Michael laughed. "I'd help you bury the bodies."
Ted had picked Emmett up earlier, meeting for a quick bite to eat before going to Woody's. The diner made the perfect place. They walked in to a lightly busy crowd, Deb controlling the whole situation and seating them at the counter, rather than a booth. They were just looking to kill some time before showing up at the bar.
"Any idea why Brian was so insistent on going out tonight?" Emmett asked flipping open a menu absently.
"Ah, you got the same 'show up or else' feeling from him?" Ted chuckled, eyes scanning his own menu.
Emmett smiled. "He is such a drama queen sometimes, I swear."
"Well, all the world trembles when Kinney is unhappy," Ted sighed. "You know that."
"Oh, I know, honey. I just don't know why… Mm, I get the feeling we're in for something tonight," Emmett said, snapping his menu closed.
"Hey, boys!" Debbie greeted, leaning on the counter, smiling at them. "Out on the prowl tonight?"
"Nah, Deb, you know my luck," Ted teased.
"Ted, you got the great guy at home," Deb told him sternly. "You don't need to look anywhere else."
Emmett rolled his eyes. "Mr. Brian Kinney has insisted we go out tonight. The whole gang. I guess Michael must be coming."
Debbie shook her head. "That son of mine is too old to be out like this. Roamin' the streets with-"
"Hey, Deb," Ted interrupted. "Give him a break. He hasn't been out with us… well, I dunno how long. Brian made it sound important, give him some credit."
Debbie pushed off the counter, putting her hands on her hips. "Brian Kinney always makes it sound important."
"Deb-"
"What'll ya have?" she asked again, cutting off Emmett.
They beat a hasty retreat from the diner, away from Deb's scathing looks and silent criticism to Woody's. There was something unsettling about the walk to the bar, feeling as if they just tattled on Michael or something. Debbie made it really hard to enjoy a night out with their friend that they hadn't seen in forever (or so it felt). What could they do, though? Maybe just apologize to Michael in advance if Deb reamed him out.
"So, you know what tonight is, right?" Emmett asked Ted, breaking the silence.
"Sunday?"
"No, Teddy," Emmett sighed. "It's Karaoke tonight!"
"How could I forget?" Ted asked, smacking his forehead gently. "And what will her highness be performing tonight?"
"I don't know," Emmett drawled, finger tapping on his chin. "I was thinking something fun, y'know? Something I haven't done before."
"It will be a wonderful performance, my dear," Ted said encouragingly. Emmett slapped him on the shoulder playfully.
"Don't let Blake hear you talking like that," Emmett laughed.
"Ted?" A voice called out from the crowds walking the sidewalks. "Emmett? It is you guys! Hey!"
Both men stopped to see Justin walking towards them from the front of Woody's where he had been smoking, keeping an eye out for Brian and Michael. They were running late, it seemed. He was just wondering what could be keeping them.
"Emmett, are you on anything?" Ted asked cautiously, watching the blond walk towards them.
"Only if you're smoking again," Emmett replied, mouth agape.
"I'm not," Ted said.
"Me either," Emmett replied.
"Ted? Em?" Justin asked, waving a hand in front of their faces. "You alright?"
"Who are you?" Emmett blurted out, one hand coming up to cover his mouth.
Ted looked Justin over. "I think what he means is, what are you doing back here?"
Justin shrugged and smiled. "Um, surprise?"
There was something different as Brian and Michael made their way to the bedroom in Brian's Loft. Something reminiscent of their teen years as Michael sat Brian down on the edge of his bed. His hands gripped the sides next to his legs, looking up at Michael. The smaller man had done this times before, years ago when he had nowhere to go, beaten, broken and bruised inside and out. Michael would sit him down on the edge of his bed and take inventory on the new additions to his body before running off to get water (sometimes Brian could talk Michael into a few shots from a hidden stash of alcohol Deb kept for company) and ice, clean him up and take him to the bathroom for a shower and sit him right back down on the edge of the bed, dressing him in something comfortable to spend the night in.
It was almost like that, the same tender care Michael applied back then being used now. The bruise wasn't any worse, but it wouldn't be pretty for awhile, Michael kept in mind. He kissed the top of Brian's head gently before kneeling on the low wooden bench between Brian's legs, reaching for the edge of the shirt. Brian grabbed onto Michael's wrists, unsure of what they'd both find. Ben did get in a nice punch there and he didn't want Michael upset.
"Mikey, don't," Brian said, looking down at their hands instead of in the face. There was something almost shy about how Brian was acting.
"It's okay," Michael told him, wondering just what Brian was hiding now. "We'll be okay."
"No, it's not-" Michael edged the shirt up over his abdomen and Brian held his breath.
Michael surprised him by leaning in and kissing over the tense abs on Brian's stomach. Brian let go of Michael's hands, letting him take the advantage he wanted. He'd already done what Brian didn't want him to do, why bother stopping him the rest of the way? Michael was easing up the shirt to give him more and more access to exposed, heated skin. He couldn't help but relax, leaning back on his hands. There probably wasn't even a single mark there if Michael hadn't stopped. The hit really had been so quick (not light, but you didn't need much to knock the wind out of someone by surprise) that there wouldn't be a sign of it.
Michael sat up when he couldn't comfortably lift the shirt anymore, tugged it upwards. "Lift."
Brian did as he was told, finding it… kind of nice not to be making the first moves for once. Anticipating motions and needs, basic desires and wants. Not that he didn't mind the payoff any, but relaxing was hard in the moment when everything had to be thought of. Even with Michael, some things didn't come naturally between them, like the rest of their relationship seemingly had. Now, they would actually have the time to learn how, not just the best way to get it done.
"Mikey?"
Michael looked over from where he was tossing Brian's shirt aside. "You okay?"
Brian reached over to pull Michael in his lap, settling Michael's legs on either side of his hips. "Better now," Brian said, kissing Michael. "We've got time."
"Not that much," Michael reminded him, placing his hands on Brian's chest.
"You're a mood killer," Brian huffed, trying not to make a face.
Michael shrugged one shoulder and smiled. "It's a talent. You've got to let me leave, though. Hunter probably thinks I'm dead or-"
"Y'know what?" Brian asked, cocking an eyebrow. "I've got this crazy idea here. Try to follow me, now. I think I recall some awesome invention, called a… Damn, what was it? Phone! And it comes in neat things, like a telephone or a portable invention of something called a cell phone. Have you heard of it?"
"You… are an asshole," Michael laughed. "You want me to call?"
"Well, sounds like you want to let him know you're okay. I don't want you to leave anytime soon and I don't think you do either," Brian told him, running his hands up Michael's jean clad thighs, almost to the point where they met, barely brushing up against a hidden, hardened length.
"And you're a tease," Michael complained. "Fine, but not the night. A few hours, understand?"
"Yes, sir," Brian said, snapping a small salute as Michael climbed off to find a phone, any phone, it didn't matter.
"This is more than a surprise, sweetie!" Emmett exclaimed, hugging Justin. "What in the world are you doing here?"
"I think he needs to breathe, Em," Ted suggested, watching Justin's face squish up against Emmett's chest. Emmett gasped and let the blond go.
"Thanks," Justin said, taking in a breath, but smiling. "I'm just here for a week. Needed a break, and I hadn't seen you guys in forever, so I decided to drop in. And… here I am!"
"You just came to Woody's right off the bat?" Ted asked.
"Oh, ah, no. I was here in the late afternoon, I went to see Brian-"
Ted rolled his eyes. "Of course."
Emmett slapped his chest. "Teddy, shush. So you went to see Brian?"
"Mmhm, he was working. Something got messed up and then he suggested Woody's and Babylon tonight, with all of you," Justin explained, not sure if he should keep the part about Michael being there or not to himself.
"Ah, so you're the reason we're being forced out on a Sunday," Ted said, putting the pieces together.
"Oh, like we wouldn't be here anyway," Emmett sighed.
Ted snorted. "I don't know about you, but Blake usually makes dinner on Sunday night. Candles, wine-"
"Opera and sex, sounds lovely," Emmett brushed off. "This is more fun."
"Why isn't Blake with you?" Justin asked, shrugging. The tension was kind of obvious, but he couldn't help but ask.
"He tries to avoid the club scene these days," Ted explained. "It was fun for awhile, but he's ready to move on completely from it. Now that I know you're the reason we're here though, I can call and see, y'know, just drinks or something."
Justin shook his head. "No, no. Don't. We all do lunch or something later, it's not a problem." He could understand and respect the choice Blake made. Besides, it's not like he didn't have time to fill while he was here. The trip was mostly just making his presence known. Spending time with Michael's other friends was a good enough way.
Emmett clapped his hands together. "Well, we're here now! How about we get in and get some drinks? I had to prepare my singing voice."
"Lead the way your highness," Ted said, letting Emmett brush past him and Justin. Justin snickered into his hand as Ted made a face behind Emmett's back.
"How are you and Blake?" Justin asked as he and Ted walked into the bar behind Emmett's sashaying behind.
"Great, actually," Ted said, brightening. "We're thinking of getting a house together soon since Kinnetik is doing so well and Blake would really like to be a little closer to work."
"That really is great. How do you guys do it?"
"What do you mean?"
Justin shrugged. "It's just… with the past you two both have and all the, I don't know, temptation? How do you do it?"
Ted laughed. "I may be tempted, but I don't tempt anyone."
"Ted, c'mon, you know you're better than that," Justin argued.
"No, no. It's true," he said shaking his head. "Blake turns more heads than I ever did. But, I don't think he'd leave for a piece of ass. We talk, we do other things. If one of us isn't happy in bed, we talk about it. Like, last night I did this thing where-"
"How about drink?!" Justin asked, cutting Ted off. He really didn't want to hear about Ted and Blake's sex life. He had his limits.
"Boys!" Emmett called out from the stairs leading towards the downstairs bar and stage. "I'm putting my name on the list to sing, are you coming?"
"We're gonna get drinks, you want anything?" Ted questioned.
"Cosmo! You're a sweetheart, Teddy," Emmett said, waving at the two of them before disappearing downstairs.
"So, Brian?" Ted asked, raising an eyebrow at Justin as they went to the bar.
"Should be on his way," was all Justin said. "What about Michael, though?"
Ted shrugged. "He's just… been busy. Barely see him anymore, never comes out… only seems to keep in touch with Brian. Guess being a fulltime business owner and family man keeps you at home."
"Uh-huh… sounds busy, busy, busy," Justin agreed, staring at the bartender instead until he came over. Goddamnit, was everyone that clueless? Surely they wouldn't let a long time friend just drop off the face of the Earth. Well, maybe once they saw Michael and Brian together, they would figure it out. There's no way they could be their usual selves in public. This was Liberty Ave, Woody's! Everyone would be able to notices the changes, especially with Michael having disappeared for this long.
Right?
"Can we get lunch?" Hunter asked, bored out of his mind. With nothing else to do, Justin and Paul had taken to the backroom going over comics and issues of Rage. He thought he heard mutters of new ideas for Rage. Yeah right, like that would happen.
Emmett had given up on cleaning when the news had gotten everyone in a tizzy and spent his time looking through Michael's favorite comic, Captain Astro. He wanted to see if those gay rumors were true or not. So far, it seemed to be very true, but what a cute sub-plot it was, really. If he had to guess, he'd say the writer did it on purpose. Who said things like that to their 'sidekick'?
"Hm, I dunno, hon," Emmett said. "What time is it?"
"Lunch time," Hunter whined. "Please? I'll go down to the diner or something. C'mon!"
Emmett sighed, debating on letting Hunter leave or not. Apparently he was here as a glorified babysitter for the day. Hunter's phone rang in his back pocket and he turned his back on Emmett to answer it.
"Hungry, bored teenager speaking," Hunter answered, not checking the name.
"Hey, kid," Michael said, sounding out of breath. His search for a phone had been incessantly interrupted by Brian's roaming hands. "How's everything holding up?"
"Michael! Where the fuck are you? What happened? Is everything okay?" Hunter asked in quick succession loudly, drawing Paul and Justin out of the backroom and Emmett up from his chair and over to the counter where Hunter was.
"Put him on speaker!" Emmett hissed while Hunter waved a hand at him.
"Tell him I said sorry," Justin whispered.
"Oh, my turn!" Paul said, something childlike in his voice. "Tell him I need to meet him!"
"Hunter? Who else is there?"
"A bunch of freaks."
"Is Emmett still there?"
"Unfortunately," Hunter muttered.
"Hi, honey!" Emmett said loudly.
Michael laughed on the other end. "Put me on speaker, Hunter."
"Wait, Justin is here, too," Hunter confessed.
There was a slight pause. "Okay."
"He's got some guy with him."
"Paul!" Paul supplied.
"Yeah, Paul. He needs to meet you soon."
"What the fuck happened, Hunter?" It seemed like this day had gone ten kinds of wrong.
"Let me put you on speaker," Hunter sighed, hitting the button and leaving the phone on the countertop. "Can you hear me?"
"Yeah, now what's going on?"
"Well, I was here with Emmett," Hunter explained. "Then Justin comes in with Paul cause he wants to meet you. You're not here and they want me to tell them where you are and I-"
"He blurted the whole thing out," Justin said, cutting in. "I pushed him into it though and he just wanted to know you were okay. He was frustrated about being here with Em."
"Hey!" Emmett squawked. "At least I didn't leak the biggest piece of news ever!"
A long suffering sigh was heard over the phone. "Enough, please. Emmett, I assume you know then?"
"What?!" A distant voice in the background was heard yelling from somewhere far off. "You fuckin' kiddin' me, Mikey? It'll be all over the goddamn place in no time, flat. Fuck."
A click was heard as Michael, presumably, covered the mouthpiece of his phone. "Why are you complaining about this now? After all this bullshit? Which was your fault by the way! No… don't you dare… Kinney, you try anything and I'll… NO! STAY!" Michael came back on the line. "Sorry, okay. Emmett, I trust you. We just… don't know what we're doing with this right now, so if you could?"
Emmett made a zipping motion across his lips. "My lips are sealed, if only just to spite Brian."
"Thanks? Okay, I just wanted to let you know-"
"What about me?" Paul asked, leaning closer to the phone. "Can I have a turn?"
"Oh, crap. Yeah, uh, Paul?"
"Yeah, that's me. I just wanted to meet you. You're the writer of Rage, right?"
"Yeah, you need something signed or… I have no idea. Comics? I'm good with comics," Michael said, wondering what this guy wanted.
"No, no. I met Justin on the way here. We had the same flight," Paul explained. "I found out he was the artist and he must know you and, well, I'm starting my own publishing company… this is my last piece of business to get it set up. I wasn't going to get into comics, but if we could talk-"
"Oh… oh, man, Paul…" Michael bit his lip on the other end of the phone, breathing heavily out his nose. "I don't think Rage can make a comeback, Paul. Justin lives so far away, and… it wouldn't feel right doing the story without the right artist…"
Justin felt something like pride swell in him when he heard that. He hadn't fucked it all up, had he?
"That's why I wanted to meet you. Let me take care of your baby, guys. My biggest move would be bringing Rage back, new and improved, to the masses. All new stories, all new ideas!" Paul hesitated. "Maybe… an all new romance?"
"Mikey?" Everyone waited to see what happened, there was another click as Michael covered the mouthpiece again. "Mikey, it shouldn't take this long to say 'hi, everything's good'. What's going on?"
"Someone wants… Rage."
"For?" Brian asked. "Because I'm not dressing up again, if that's what they want… maybe if you're good…"
Michael laughed. "Stop it! No, some guy wants me an Justin to bring Rage back, new and improved or some shit."
"Mikey, everyone wants you to bring him back. That ending fucking sucked."
"Shh! Justin's there, too. Keep it down."
Justin rolled his eyes. He was over it.
"Well, what are you going to do?" Brian questioned, honestly curious. "You could actually write what you wanted to."
"Yeah, but… Rage is kind of… done, isn't it?"
"Mikey, how many alternate universes do Marvel and DC have? C'mon, you could recite the annoying bullshit they pull with that loophole."
"Do I want to be that kind of writer?"
"Hey, only you can answer it, but think of how much you loved it, too. Can we meet the guy? Talk it over?"
"Yeah he… hold on," Michael uncovered the mouthpiece. "Paul?"
"Still here!" Paul announced. "Is that… Rage?"
Michael couldn't help but giggle. "Yeah, it is. His real name is Brian, though. He'd appreciate it if you'd call him that. Can we meet you sometime? When are you flying home?"
"I'm gone on Friday," Paul said, hoping that there might be time to meet. "Can we do dinner tonight? Anything, any time you two can meet with Justin and I."
There was a sound of the phone changing hands before Brian's voice came on. "Paul, it's Brian. Can I take your information down? Michael's prone to losing things." He motioned for Michael to get him pen and paper.
Paul recited his name, number, company he was with now and the one he would be starting. "Checking up on me?"
"Wouldn't be good at my job if I didn't," Brian said, putting the pen down. Wouldn't be doing a good job of watching out for Michael if he didn't. "We'll call."
"Can I talk to Michael now?" Hunter whined, getting really agitated with this conversation.
"Yeah, yeah," Brian huffed and pulled the phone away, handing it towards Michael, but pulled it back to his ear at the last minute. "Wait, Hunter?"
Hunter sighed. "Yes?"
"We're gonna have a talk, too. You and me, kid," Brian said. "Sound good?"
No one expected that at all. All eyes trained on Hunter at this point. "Uh… yeah, dude." He tried to laugh it off. "But fuck with Michael and you deal with me."
"It's why you two stick together, dude," Brian told him, and everyone could hear the roll of his eyes. "Here's Mikey."
"Hunter?" Michael asked, sniffling.
"You okay?" Hunter asked, scooping up the phone, taking it off speaker in time to hear Michael say that he was. "What happened?"
"Ben and Brian kinda got in a fight, nothing serious, no bleeding that I saw and then I showed up," Michael said, wiping at his eyes. "And Ben left, I dunno where to. I'm with Brian at the Loft, we're okay. I just wanted to check in."
"Are you happy?"
"Kiddo, after what Brian just did… you won't understand, but I couldn't be happier," Michael explained, laughing. "I haven't had much time to figure things out yet, do you want to go back to the house tonight?"
Hunter scuffed his shoes on the floor. "Not really. Not yet."
"Okay, you wanna go to my mom's for the night then?"
Emmett tapped Hunter on the shoulder, motioning towards himself. He was willing to be an option for Hunter if he didn't want to go to Deb's. Hunter nodded and smiled gratefully.
"She might wonder what's going on… Can I stay with Emmett?"
"Is he okay with it?"
"I suggested it, sweetie," Emmett said, leaning close to the phone. "Justin, why don't you come over, too? It'll be like a sleepover!"
Justin looked over at Paul. "Where are you staying?"
"Didn't get time to get a room yet, was planning on whatever was nearby," Paul shrugged.
Emmett clapped his hands. "Honey, you're invited. Oh, we can watch some old movies, the classics, y'know? That means shopping. Have to get snacks…" Emmett wandered off to make a mental list.
"You need a change of clothes," Michael said, listening on the chatter. "Meds, toothbrush… I'll stop by the house and get some things to get you settled. Could you put Em on?"
"Yeah," Hunter sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Michael?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
"Hunter," he said sharply. "None of this is your fault. You have nothing to apologize for. Things happen and if anyone has to be blamed, it's everyone but you."
"Hey!" Brian yelled in the background.
"You shut up, you know I'm right. You get part of the blame!" Michael yelled back at Brian. "Anyway, it's not your fault. But it's gonna be a little confusing for awhile. You wanna stick with this?"
As long as you want me, Hunter thought. "Yeah, dude! All the way, right? Lemme get Emmett."
He passed the phone off to Emmett. "Hey, honey! So… you and Brian?"
"It's a long story, Em," Michael sighed. "I just wanted to say thank you for helping me so much right now. The store and Hunter. He can take care of himself with the meds and everything, I just have to get his stuff and he'll be set, I promise."
"Don't worry about a thing," Emmett brushed off. "You're welcome to join us, you and Brian."
"I… don't think we'll be making it tonight," Michael chuckled. Brian had wrapped his arms around Michael's slim waist from behind, breathing in his ear that this call was taking entirely too long. "I'll be with Brian tonight, tomorrow I'll be dealing with a bunch of things. I'll get Hunter for school and everything and he'll be at Ma's tomorrow night until. We'll be out of your hair in no time."
"If you need a place, Michael, I've got room," Emmett offered.
"No, no. Thank you, but we'll handle it just fine," Michael assured his friend. "I'll be over later tonight."
"Oh, before I forget! It's been a slow day… should we…"
"Shut it down, Hunter knows what to do. Can I get Hunter one more time?"
"Sure, sweetie," Emmett said, waving Hunter over.
"Hey, Michael, what's goin' on?" Hunter asked, taking the phone from Emmett.
"Kid, you're closing down for the day," Michael said. "I'll be over Em's later to drop some things off and I'll get you to school in the morning. Sound good?"
"Yeah, sure. Gonna be up all night?" Hunter teased.
"Not all night," Michael corrected, smiling. "Do me a favor, though? If Ben calls, let me know, okay?"
"Can do," Hunter agreed. "I'll see you later."
"Be good!"
"Scouts honor."
"Love you."
"Aw, Michael," Hunter drawled, ducking his head. "Love you, too."
Downstairs in Woody's, Ted and Justin found Emmett flipping through the song book. Justin in hand with a beer and Emmett's Cosmo and Ted with his own beer. Justin presented the blue drink with a flourish.
"For the stah, dahling," Justin announced, handing over the drink.
"Mm, sweetie, you are a life saver," Emmett said taking a sip. "Now, can you help me with a song?"
"Why don't you just do one of your usual ones?" Ted asked with a shrug.
Emmett looked offended. "Teddy, it's obviously a special night! We should do something to commemorate it! Now, help me pick or I'm doing it blind."
Justin and Ted took over the book, looking down the lists. After a few minutes, Justin stopped on a page. "Em? Have you ever heard of this one? It's really nice, romantic. Right up your alley."
Emmett looked it over. "Oh, honey, I don't know if I could do it justice."
"Em, you do a black woman just fine, why not a flaming white boy?" Ted snickered.
"I heard he was bi," Justin commented, drinking from his beer. "Lived with some girl for years before they ended it. Think they wound up with a common law marriage or something."
"You've got to be kidding me," Emmett scoffed. "Him?"
"Well, they do say love knows no bounds," Ted countered.
Emmett paused to think about it. "Y'know, you're right, Teddy. Alright, boys, this song will be in dedication of tonight and love."
Ted rolled his eyes. "Always the dramatics."
"You love it," Emmett said haughtily, taking a scrap of paper to write his name and song on and handing it in to the person controlling the karaoke machine for the night.
"So, why that song?" Ted asked, curious.
Justin shrugged nonchalantly. "It's a good song. Reminds me of something."
"Mmhm," Ted hummed. "Well, let's hope he can do it."
"He's got a decent voice to start with," Justin reminded him. "It'll never be the exact same, but it'll be good."
"Did I hear something about you going back to the house?" Brian asked, slipping the phone out from Michael's hand.
Michael nodded. "Hunter's staying with Em, he needs some stuff."
"I don't think it's a good idea," Brian warned, setting the phone down on his desk.
"I don't care, he needs his meds, he's going to get them."
There's was a slight silence where Brian looked ashamed for a second, still thinking about keeping Michael to himself for a night. He'd forgotten that Hunter was Poz, that he needed things in general that most teens didn't. Fuck, he felt like an ass.
"Okay, let's do this," Brian offered, taking up the phone again and calling Michael's house.
"What are you doing?" Michael asked, trying to reach for the phone. Later, Hunter needed them later.
Brian batted his hands away. "Big Ben should be at work, which means he's not home now. We can get the stuff now and bring it over later. And some things for you. Maybe even start packing up a bit."
"Thanks, but I've got nowhere to move it to," Michael argued. "I just want to make sure I've got what he needs now."
Brian listened to the answering machine come on from Michael and Ben's house and hung up without leaving a message. He set the phone back down on the desk and ran a hand through his hair.
"Mikey, you know you can stay here."
"Hunter can't."
"Why not? I've got a couch, just until w- You, find something," Brian corrected himself mid sentence.
Michael smiled, catching on. "That's be fine… but this place isn't set up for privacy outside the bedroom."
"We can shut the doors," Brian countered.
"Are they soundproofed?" Michael asked, crossing his arms.
"Are you really this prude?" Brian questioned with a raised eyebrow.
Michael laughed. "When Hunter first moved in with me an' Ben, we had to run around like crazy people to find time alone in the apartment. I couldn't stand the thought of someone else hearing me."
"Nothing he hasn't heard before," Brian said with a hopeful smile.
"Nothing he should have to hear," Michael told him, closing the subject with a shake of his head. "It's not going to happen. Thank you, though."
"What about until then?"
"I… don't know," Michael confessed. "This bullshit just happened so fast and Hunter won't go back to the house anytime soon. I can't make him, but he's my priority."
"Okay, alright," Brian sighed, giving up. "Get my shirt? Let's get the stuff now while the house is empty, can we at least do that? We'll work on the rest in the morning."
We will? Michael's look seemed to ask, but went to the bedroom to get a shirt for Brian.
When Emmett got on stage, the crowd cheered. Most regulars to Karaoke night knew him, and if not, they were just excited to be watching the show. He loved the attention, and was willing to admit it, basking in it for a few seconds before clearing his throat away from the microphone. He wasn't the person to make this song what it could be, but damned if he wouldn't try anyway.
Justin and Ted where busy cheering and waving and nearly missed Brian and Michael coming in. They waved over at them as they hung in the back, near the stairway. It was pretty crowded, so going over after the song was finished seemed like a good idea. But the way Michael looked, so tense, pulled up against Brian didn't sit well. Where was Ben? Maybe something changed? Justin wanted to corner Brian and find out what stunt he pulled now, but couldn't.
"We can get them later," Ted said, taking the blond's attention away from their two friends in the back.
"Oh, yeah, I know," Justin replied hastily.
"Justin, don't get involved again," Ted warned, serious. "It won't do you any good."
"Oh, no. No, I know." Justin sighed, looking back over at them. "Does Michael look weird to you?"
Ted looked over again and shrugged. "Dunno. Haven't seen him in so long, I couldn't tell you. Why?"
"He looks… upset."
"Looks like Brian dragged him out. Why wouldn't he be pissed?"
"They're talking," Justin said, poking Ted. "Look."
"So they're talking. Justin, give it a rest. We'll say hi after," Ted said, attention on Emmett on the stage.
Well, so much for everyone figuring out just what happened between the two best friends.
Ben was still preoccupied, no real idea what he'd been taking for the last few hours, but it was good. Or maybe it was Greg. Either way, he wasn't hearing any complaints from the other man under him. It seemed odd how easy it was to fall back into a lost pattern of habit, because he was getting bored thinking of what to do next. Clubs sounded good, the backrooms seemed beyond appealing right now. It had been years since he last visited that area and why shouldn't he go?
Michael was probably getting fucked by Brian right now. Maybe he was just like Greg, on his back on the bed, legs held out to the side by Brian, like Ben was doing with Greg, and just a merciless rhythm being pounded into him. He'd probably be scrambling to find something to hold on to, anything. Christ, probably biting at his bottom lip, like he used to do (or maybe that was fake, too). Oh, but then again, Brian was different. Brian fucking Kinney was special.
He probably had Michael bent over the nearest stable surface. He seemed to like the impersonal touch of sex. From behind or keeping distance at arm's length, preferring to watch his own handiwork than enjoy what was going on with his own partner in bed. How could Michael stand it? Michael liked the closeness, the emotional aspect that it produced. Then again, he could be wrong. Michael and Brian had been making something work for the last fucking year.
Greg hadn't even paid attention to the absentminded look on Ben's face, the bored one. He was in his own headspace, too caught up in feeling rather than what Ben was doing. As long as he didn't stop doing it, Greg didn't care. Ben liked that in a bedwarmer, really he did, but a glance over at a bedside table where digital numbers glared at him, told Ben that this had gone on far too long for a newly revealed sexual want. It was funny really, he thought smiling, how easy it was to fall back in. Though, he had to wonder, was it really so bad living this life if he was safe?
Ben turned his head, trying to stifle his snicker into his shoulder so Greg wouldn't be too disrupted. He'd have to ask Brian about it later, and the idea of that happening was too funny.
"Hey, we almost didn't see you from back there," Ted said, giving Michael a kiss on the cheek and Brian an offhanded pat on the arm. Emmett practically squealed, diving for Michael, mouth going a mile a minute about how great it was to be on stage, how wonderful the song was and on and on. Emmett could talk circles around anyone when he was really going.
"And, oh my god, honey," Emmett exclaimed, hands fluttering as he leaned back and tittered. "Did you see that cutie in the front row?"
"The one with the boyfriend?" Michael asked wryly.
Emmett made a noise like air escaping, clearly blowing off the supposed boyfriend. "Please, Michael. If that's his boyfriend, then he's doing something wrong cause that hottie had wandering eyes and they were all over this body."
"What's it like to be back after getting all famous on us poor schmucks?" Ted laughed, sipping his beer while Justin gave him a smile.
"It's… weird," the blond admitted. "Not like I expect instant recognition or anything, but… it's like stepping back in time. I almost feel seventeen again."
"Sunshine, you will never be seventeen again," Brian stated firmly. "You're already getting wrinkles."
"Asshole!" Justin said, hitting Brian in the arm. "I'm still just as perfect as I was the night you met me, admit it." He lifted his chin in classic teenage-like defiance. Was that too much? He glanced over at Michael, who seemed like he was trying to enjoy himself, but his eyes were lingering on Brian, as if trying to gauge what the situation really was.
"Oh, sweetie," Emmett gushed, putting an arm over Justin's shoulders. "I know we raised you to have a high opinion of yourself, but… tone it down? Just a little?"
All five men laughed before heading upstairs to the main bar as the next singer was starting. They were better for it as the poor guy sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Glancing back, Emmett and Michael laughed, holding on to each other when they realized it was the boyfriend trying to sing a love song to the cutie in the front row, who was obviously embarrassed.
"Beers all around," Brian told the bartender while Emmett and Ted went to line up a pool table. The two of them didn't play much, but they knew Brian and Michael would wander over to it at some point, maybe Justin, depending. The three men let a silence fall over them as they shared a drink, clearly an uncomfortable point settled in between them as they realized that each of them had no idea what to say.
For Justin, he wasn't sure what was going on with anyone anymore besides the basics. Who worked where, who was with who, etc. Not much conversation fodder in the long run. Michael wanted to be home, for once, pretending none of this was really happening. That he was just as happily married as he was a year ago, too mature now to be going out with the guys. Brian wasn't sure what was going to happen with tonight and was more caught up in the fact that Michael had caught wind of his and Justin's mutual friendship of sorts on some level or another. Whether just knowing he visited or sleeping with the young man, it didn't matter. Michael knew. Ted and Emmett could tell the three other men were in some odd sort of position which left them wondering what might be a good conversation started. Just minutes ago they were laughing.
"Sorry for being late," Michael said finally, looking at Justin. "Brian was-"
"Don't you put this on me, Mikey," Brian shook his head, turning to Justin. "He was busy spending 'quality time' with the hubby."
The blond was obviously confused. With all the phone calls and emails and drunk dials (and there had been quite a few of those), he was left looking at one and then the other, smiling in that slightly confused manner. Justin had assumed that the two would be more… couple like in person without Ben around. Michael's face fell and he looked at Brian.
"He knows?" Michael demanded.
"Mikey-"
"Was I not supposed to?" Justin asked, shrugging. Of course he wasn't supposed to, that's what made this work, he reminded himself. He expected more of a sense of being together with the two best friends, but since they weren't, he had to do something. That was the plan. Unfortunately, all of it meant thinking on his feet.
"Brian, you're a fucking moron!"
"Hey, c'mon Mich-"
"Sunshine," Brian said and that shut him up, focused back on Michael now. "I was down a best friend, what was I supposed to do?"
"I was here!" Michael insisted.
Brian sighed, closed his eyes and tried to remember to be patient. "Mikey, you were what I needed to talk about. How could I do that with you?"
Justin was surprised. Brian didn't usually explain himself to anyone. Why he did the things he did was for reasons unknown to the rest of the world. But to watch him stand there and take the time to help Michael understand what had been going on… maybe he was changed (a part of Justin had doubted, as if Michael was just something he didn't want to let go of for now, possible because someone else had him).
"I-" Michael paused to think about it. He didn't want to get replaced in any sense with Brian, especially with the title that he held for so long. "Yeah."
Brian rolled his eyes and pulled Michael over to him, arm around his shoulders. "You're still my best friend, Michael. Stop pouting."
"I'm not pouting," the shorter man muttered and Justin tried to hide a smile by taking a sip of his beer. Michael was pouting.
"So… I take it no one else knows, then?" Justin asked cautiously this time. He already knew the answer to that.
Brian shook his head. "Not a chance. I was betting on the wrong horse when I said Mikey would spill it."
"You don't think I could keep a secret?" Michael asked, still irked. "Especially one that would rui- Hey, guys!" Emmett and Ted came back over to the bar and took the two beers left on the bar top. Emmett made a dramatic role of his eyes. He'd rather a Cosmo, of course.
"We got a table," Ted explained their return, eyebrow raised. The conversation between the three had looked interesting from a distance at least.
Emmett did a happy wiggle of his hips. "And a number," he added in a singsong voice.
"Who's the poor sap this time, Honeycutt?" Brian asked, letting Michael go.
"My name is not Honeycutt," the taller man said, giving Brian a glare with eyeliner enhanced eyes. "And it's not me. It's Teddy!"
"What about Blake?" Michael asked.
"Oh, honey, as soon as a man is taken, the rest of them just wanna eat him up!" Emmett exclaimed, rubbing Ted's back affectionately as he laughed.
Ted gave an awkward shrug. "The attention's nice, but I like what I've got."
"I still can't believe you two are together," Justin said in an admiring tone. "Think you'll get married?"
"What do you think they're doing?" Emmett asked as the group left the store for the night. Paul had a rental car for his trip and offered it to everyone else freely. After all, they were letting him stick around until he got to talk to Michael. It was an odd circumstance, but he felt strangely welcomed.
Hunter made a face. "Dude, do you really want me to answer that?"
Justin and Paul snickered at the conversation behind them. This could only end with everyone laughing.
Emmett sighed. "No, I mean… this is it! Their big moment, isn't it? After all this time and sneaky business that they left us out of, now they're together."
"Only you could imagine Brian as a romantic," Justin commented over his shoulder. "Don't get your hopes up, Em. He's probably fucking Mike's brains out and calling it a night."
Emmett seemed to ignore Justin's remark as Hunter covered his ears with his hands. He did not need to hear that.
"He may not be, but still," Emmett huffed. "This moment should be special, shouldn't it? I'd like to think he could realize that. Michael deserves it."
"What if he doesn't care?" Paul asked. "Maybe he doesn't want all that mushy bullshit."
Justin rolled his eyes. "I used to tell myself the same thing, but that 'mushy bullshit' lets us know that the other person cares. Michael would need it more than I did."
"Why?" Hunter questioned. "He's been friends with Brian since before you were born, right? Doesn't he understand what he means without any of that?"
"But wouldn't that mean he needs more from Brian?" Paul tossed back. "To define where the 'friendship' love ends and the 'relationship' love starts?"
"Hunter might be on to something," Justin said thoughtfully. "Brian always knew how to take care of him, he held on to those little gestures like they were gold."
Paul continued on his point. "Which is more of a reason he would need something more now, isn't it? He doesn't have to love his best friend from afar, so those little things that left him hoping or clinging aren't going to do much now, are they?"
"Guys, this is seriously weird," Hunter interrupted. "That's… Michael. Can we just… leave him alone?"
"Honey, it's just talk," Emmett consoled with a hand on his shoulder. "This is exciting! Two best friends found love together after so many years."
Home alone again. Ben sighed, rubbing at his eyes as he set his glasses down on the bedside table. He should be used to it. Not even, he wanted it this way. Was it wrong to want the time apart after watching Michael's violent reaction to Brian? That he wanted the space from all of the out of character things Michael was doing lately?
He felt like a horrible spouse for it. He really wasn't sure just how much more he could take. There were only so many hours he could spend working on his book at the office after hours, or excuses he could make to come home late. He was running out of both while Michael was just becoming more and more… difficult. Ben had to admit the truth to himself if no one else. His husband was becoming increasingly difficult to handle. He wasn't sure what to do. Michael wasn't opening up about anything and he was tired of making the effort to get him to do so.
It felt like this weekend was a last shot sort of deal. He wished Michael would just say yes and they could be off. Why did he want to make it so hard, though? He needed to bring his book. That was a weekend, a free weekend, he could use to work on it. It was rare to get that much time for anything these days between the family schedule and work schedules. But nicely balanced between Michael and the book… he could make some real progress.
Ben sighed, glancing over the graded papers. He'd been staring at the same one for hours it felt like. Great thing about college. You could tell the students the papers would be done, but if they weren't, oh well. Next class. He hated being that type of professor. The kids were good enough to finish and hand the work in on time, why could he do the same? Sometimes, other things just sidetracked him, though. Like tonight.
Maybe Michael was on something? It didn't seem likely. He used to be a casual user of anything, and nothing serious. Now, since he was barely going out at it was, what could he possibly be taking? It was always Brian's drugs he was dipping into. The behavior was erratic, though. Maybe he was thinking too much on it.
Ben set the papers down on the table, moving his glasses to sit on top of them. Maybe he'd get up early and finish the grading. He was feeling too restless to actually sleep, but maybe an hour or two. He couldn't fix any problems now
"It's an old redundant story," Paul conceded. "But one that works. Never mess with a good formula. This one keeps people on the edge of their seats wondering."
"This isn't a book!" Hunter snapped. "It's real life an' you guys are way too into it."
"Can you blame us?" Justin asked with a shrug. "Besides Paul, we're all connected to them somehow, kid. We've all had our issues with them."
Hunter snorted. "Yeah, like you losing out to Michael, right?"
Justin waved it off. "It's not an issue."
"Puh-leez, you hated that he was between you an' Brian," Hunter countered. "That he ran to Michael, that he called Michael, that he was there before you-"
"But I was with Brian," Justin snapped. "I was living with him, I was fucking him, I was closer physically. Michael couldn't do that."
"I thought it wasn't an issue," Paul commented.
Justin stopped in his tracks. Fuck, what was he doing? He wasn't a kid anymore and this was beyond nuts to him. He was here to help Brian, Michael was just the addition of that. There was nothing to fight over anymore. No reason to argue this. Hunter was grinning, watching Justin.
Justin held his hands up, palms facing Hunter. "Hey, y'know what? Believe what you want. I'm here for a week and then I'm gone. My job was to help Brian get Michael and I did. I'm a friend whether you see me that way or not. Maybe you're just pissed I had Brian and he wouldn't take you."
Hunter rolled his eyes. "Get over it. He was hot and loaded. Was I not supposed to hit on him and hate the competition?"
"Competition?" Justin laughed. "You couldn't even compete with me."
"Boys!" Emmett interrupted, clapping his hands. "Why don't we just get to my place and settle in. We can talk about this later."
Ben sighed, taking his glasses off and setting them down on the bedside table to rub his tired eyes. He was sick of grading essays, honestly. Not that the work wasn't good, but after awhile, they all seemed to sound the same. Michael usually made it interesting. It was the only reason he had taken to the habit of grading in bed.
Michael was just distracting him right now, even though he wasn't here. Ben couldn't help but be worried, especially after that outburst with Brian here. His husband's behavior was just getting more and more oddly erratic, and now against his best friend? Could someone really be that angry about a best friend's ex coming to town? Sure, Michael and Justin weren't the best of friends, but Ben had assumed that Michael was at some sort of understanding with the young man. Could it just be simple worry for Brian?
Ben didn't know what to think anymore. He'd run ideas from caring too much for Brian to Michael using drugs on a regular basis. Which wasn't like him at all. Then again, none of this was. His husband was just becoming increasingly difficult. He had to admit that to himself if no one else. Difficult was the perfect word for it. Gone seemed to be the relaxing days off they could share together, or the easygoing family outings they'd take with Hunter. No more were they intimate on more of that… emotional level Ben loved. Sex had been frenzied, hurried or tense, as if Michael was trying to forget something or get away from it.
Ben was at his wits end when he had suggested the weekend, but Michael was being difficult again. He wanted the book to be left home. Didn't he understand, considering all of their schedules, how hard it was to have time to work on it? Michael didn't like his longer hours at the office now working on it and the house was always busy. What was he supposed to do? There was no middle ground for him. But a full weekend of Michael and his work? It would be perfect, if Michael would let it happen.
He didn't think he was doing anything wrong. How much more could he try and get Michael to settle down? Talking didn't help, sex didn't help, leaving him alone didn't help and pestering him didn't help. He didn't know what else to try short of counseling and he could just imagine Michael's reaction to that idea.
Ben picked his glasses back up and put them on, sighing as he quickly flipped through the papers left. A few more and maybe he'd call it a night. The great thing about college classes was that he could say the grades would be in on a certain day, but if they didn't, oh well. What could the class do about it? He never wanted to be that teacher, after all, the kids had been good enough to hand their work in on time, shouldn't he be able to do the same?
There was too much to think about to get this done right, though. He needed a break. Maybe some tea, working a little on his story. Just a break, an hour maybe. He didn't know when Michael would be home, he'd probably feel better, have the papers graded and be asleep by then.
Maybe they'd even wake up on somewhat normal terms. Michael was cute in the mornings, that much hadn't changed, at least.
A/N: Oh my god, I'm late. I'm pretty damn sure I'm late on this one. I am SO sorry to leave it hanging, I am. I've got no excuse, I was just getting caught up in random bullshit, what can ya do?
On the bright side, I bought myself a lil netbook (it's red! It matches my phone and my camera and my room… are we sensing a pattern? Lol) so I finally have a personal computer once again. I dunno how, but over the years my last laptop became the family computer, thereby limiting my time to work with it (and learning how to hide dirty, dirty things). So now I seriously have no excuse for lateness on things. Hm, might not be a good thing, actually. Lol
Um… yep! That's this chapter! We're getting to stuff, I promise. But I'm really digging Paul for the time being and the whole gossip conversation makes me giggle. Thinking about the 'Boys Night Sleepover' is positively giggle worthy for me, I can't wait to see how it goes!
I swear there's more Michael and Brian stuff soon, I swear. Lol
Well, as always, reviews are appreciated!
~SL
