I Own Nothing
AN: This is something I came up with when asked about the family finding out about Justin and Brian being together in another story I wrote. However, this isn't a sequel to He Got His Dream. This is just a story where the family finds out Justin and Brian did get married along with a few other surprises. I wrote this orginially in November of 2019 so it's been a few years.
Summary: It's opening night at Justin's new art gallery Britin Art. The family doesn't know anything about what Justin's been doing since they mostly thought he was in New York. They get a reality check however.
Title: Not Selling Out, But Sold Out
Justin was nervous looking around at all the people that had shown up. He had his first solo gallery showing in his own gallery. It was still hard to believe the place was his, but only a few people knew it belonged to him. Besides his mom, sister, Daphne, Emmett, Ted and their partners no one else knew the place was his. There was also the part that no one knew that instead of going to New York and making it there he'd stayed home. Home was in West Virginia of course at Britin that Brian had bought them. He loved the place so much and it meant the world to him like Brian did.
They'd gotten married in West Virginia six months ago. He had agreed to Brian's proposal, but he'd wanted to wait until they could get married at Britin. It had been freezing cold back when Brian proposed. They'd gotten married the first day of spring and the weather had been so beautiful. The same people that knew about him staying knew that Brian and he had gotten married. However, they'd had Gus there as well because he'd been visiting over spring break from school. Gus had kept their secret even if he was little and most children couldn't. They hadn't told him to lie about it, but his moms never had asked. They had just thought he'd also been visiting that week from New York.
Justin knew part of his nervousness was that the family was going to find out that he hadn't gone to New York tonight. They were also going to find out they were married too. It was a lot to get in one night plus find out that he had this huge opening that he'd gotten. He'd tried finding an agent and Brian had helped him out big time. He'd done some sneaky moves and gotten a hold of Lindsay's gallery connections for him. He'd gone to see if they needed new advertisings done up. Brian had not only secured the new client for himself, but he'd gotten him connections that day.
It had gone like crazy in the last three months getting ready for the showing. He had worked hard, but Brian made sure he didn't overdo it. He worked at Britin on all the projects and when they'd been ready Brian had helped him set everything up at the gallery a week ago. He was forever grateful for the engagement present Brian had given him. He'd known he needed his own wheels and bought a four-wheel drive truck for him. He said it would help when he was transporting the paintings. It had come with a camper that could be removed if they wanted to do so. They may have used the bed of the truck a few times when they'd wanted to be a little bit adventurous on where they had sex. After all you couldn't see exactly what they were doing in there if everything was locked up. They even had a comfortable portable brow up air mattress that they would use.
"Relax, Sunshine this is going to go over well." Brian said wrapping his arms around Justin from behind. He kissed his husband's neck knowing Justin needed to relax his nerves. "You are a brilliant and talented artist. You have accomplished so much here, and you did it all on your own. Not a single person, minus us hanging the paintings, helped you." Brian said.
"You helped more than hanging the paintings. Give yourself some credit because you deserve it. You found me this gallery and my agent. I might have taken over, but you helped me find what I needed. You've given me so much and I never had to leave our home." Justin said relaxing some against Brian. "I'm just worried that it won't be the wisest idea to tell the family everything along with the ones coming to the gallery." He said knowing a few people that might take serious objections to this bomb shell.
"If they can't handle the fact, you are successful, then fuck them. You're not some starving artist in New York where I'd be the one a nervous wreck not knowing if you were okay. No one can decide your future but you, Justin. Now do I need to blow you before we walk out there or you okay?" Brian asked.
"I'm okay and we don't got time. You're fast, when need be, but I can already hear Ted talking at the microphone. Let's go." Justin said turning around giving Brian a searing kiss. They walked out together holding hands when Justin's name was announced.
~BJ JB BJ JB~
To say that the family members that hadn't known were shocked to say the least was an understatement. Justin and Brian had gotten a hush to come over the crowd from all that hadn't known. Thankfully there were no comments during the speech that Justin had delivered. A speech where he had thanked Brian multiple times for all he had done for him. He'd thanked his agent who he liked and hadn't tried to screw him over. During the showing Justin had been so busy with artists, critics, and other agents wanting to talk about his work he didn't get much time with the 'family'.
Jennifer, Emmett, and Ted had made sure that no one from the rest of the family had gotten to corner Justin when he did seem to be alone for a moment. They refused to let them ruin the night for Justin since it was his. They had heard comments among the four that usually did the bad mouthing and pushing. It would come later, but at least not during Justin's time to shine with so many people around. They were so proud of Justin and what he had done for himself. What he had done after all that he'd been through. Justin's art spoke volumes on how rough things had been at times. Some of the art seemed dark, but a lot of it wasn't. It all came from his heart.
There were paintings and drawings both hanging all over the gallery. Every single wall was covered with work that Justin had done. It wasn't just the last three months either, it was all the pieces he'd wanted to show. There were a couple from high school pre-bashing that he'd hung up because Brian had told him it should be displayed as well. He had come a long way and deserved to put what he loved out there for the world to see. Most of the works were post high school, however.
The last year had the most of his creativity showing. The days that his hand didn't cramp up he had put a lot of work into drawing and painting. There was one area that he had made for Gus. The little boy loved dinosaurs and he'd created multiple paintings with them looking alive. Those weren't for sell because they had Gus in them. He looked like he was playing with baby dinosaurs. Gus had requested them along with dragons which were also on display. When the showing was over, he'd already planned to make sure some would go back with Gus. Others would stay in the room they had for Gus at Britin.
Brian had kept near Justin, but he hadn't said a word unless Justin brought him up. It was Justin's night to be in the spotlight, so he was playing the quiet husband proud of his man. The few times that he wasn't with Justin he was talking to one of his clients about Justin. He'd planned the entire event even if he was letting Justin take the credit. Ted and Cynthia had helped him out with all the details. Emmett had put it all together talking with Ted and Cynthia after he'd given all the things he'd wanted. It wasn't a small opening either because he had wanted Justin to succeed in everything he did. He wanted him to be happy and he saw that watching his husband all night.
Besides the items that weren't for sale everything had sold that they hung. It was what had shocked Justin when a few people came up to him wanting to know when he'd have more art to sale. He had also made more connections with galleries in other states. Cynthia and Ted had sent invites to all the major critics all the way to the west coast. He had about cried knowing Brian had done all of that for him. He'd kept himself in check though not wanting to embarrass himself in front of all the people. He hadn't missed the fact his mom and others were keeping the 'family' from him during the showing. He could tell they were chomping at the bit to get at him. It was just a relief when the last person left after giving him yet another card to call them. It was also when the wolves descended on him.
~BJ JB BJ JB~
"How could you do this to yourself. New York was your dream and you settled for here?" Lindsay was the first one to comment. "You could have made it big there instead in this small place."
"You never left and you fucking got married. Why the hell weren't we there if we're family? You were supposed to be gone and you claimed you were too busy to help on Rage right now. However, you found time to do all of this." Michael said next pointing around the room.
"You should be so ashamed of yourself ruining, Sunshine's future like this. He was going to make it big out there." Debbie said looking at Brian. "His life would have been so much better."
"You got married six months ago, you told Gus to lie to us about you getting married didn't you?" Melanie asked after figuring up the date. "Justin should have gone to New York to get away from you. He'd be better off there and happy." She added.
~BJ JB BJ JB~
"What the fuck is the matter with all of you?" Justin shouted looking around at the ones who had just said what they had. They'd all talked at once, but he'd heard every word they said. "I ruined my life because I didn't go to New York. FUCK New York and if you can't see the fact, I sold everything out tonight and that I'm the happiest I have ever been WITH BRIAN then fuck you."
He wouldn't have gone off months ago on them. He would have just taken it turning the other cheek or ignored it. This time he couldn't do it and he wasn't going to just let them walk all over him or Brian for that matter. New York had never been his dream it was what they had all pushed on him. They wanted him to get out of their lives and away from Brian was how he saw it. They wanted Brian to be that same juvenile they all knew partying and going to clubs never growing up.
"Lindsay, New York is your dream. Yet you kept trying to live through me as an artist pushing me to go. You wouldn't even help me sell my art anymore telling me to go to New York so I could make a name for myself there. Well guess what, this fucking gallery is all mine. We left that little part out in the speech tonight." Justin said looking at Lindsay. She'd once been nice to him even tried to get Brian to admit he loved him. He didn't know when things changed though, and she wanted him away from Brian.
"Michael, I have been busy because I put this together in the last three months. Before that I was trying to find a place to have my art. I was also helping Brian at Kinnetic when I could. I also finally finished the last semester of art school I needed to graduate and get my degree. I had worked on Rage some also, but if I recall you told Brian when he gave them to you it wasn't my best work. You wanted the pages redone twice and I did them, but the third time that reason was stupid. You have more than enough pages to do another two comics of Rage. I was never going to New York and family was at our wedding." Justin said finally taking a breath glaring daggers at Michael.
He'd wanted to strangle the man when he'd called him up the last time suggesting they kill JT off. He'd told Brian too because they kept no secrets between them. Brian had told him not to worry about the comic anymore. He had been relieved even if he had loved drawing the comics. There was no way he was going to kill his character off just for Michael to get what he wanted. There was also the fact he looked into that he could buy him out. He'd already talked it over with Brian about doing it too. If Michael wanted to be that horrible to him then he'd take it over. The fucking story line was his life after all, Michael just put words to what had already happened in his life adding the superhero twists.
"Debbie, you took me in when I needed it years ago. I love you for watching out for me then, I do. However, how dare you make Brian think he should be ashamed of ANYTHING. All you have done is try and blame him for every fucking thing that goes wrong in Michael's life or mine or your own. Do you think it's not some kind of emotional abuse the way you treated him? You in some ways did worse than his parents did to him. Every time your precious son went crying to you about Brian you blamed Brian. Reality check, Brian ISN'T the center of the universe or the cause of Michael's problems. He needs to grow up and grow a set of real balls instead of borrowing yours." Justin said.
He hated that Brian always got blamed for Michael's shit. Brian had done his best to go to Michael's rescue every time too. It was the stupid leash that was wrapped around Brian's neck from them. The second Brian had some kind of lead and was doing great they yanked him right back down. The only time he could think of that they'd really helped Brian was the Stockwell thing. He'd been the one that told them Brian needed the help though and at first, they'd said Brian would be fine. He'd known the truth then like he knew it now. In the last six months since they'd mostly stayed away from the 'family' Brian had been doing perfect. Brian had been the happiest he'd been since he'd met him years ago. When Gus was visiting, he was even happier, it was also why he was thinking of asking Brian about kids again. He really wanted them.
"Melanie, you wanted me to be happy where Brian wasn't at? Where I would have been all alone in a strange new city? How the fuck could I be happy not waking up or going to sleep beside the man I love? Gus didn't lie to you and we didn't tell him to lie either. You were never going to ask about any wedding that might happen since you all just thought I was in New York. You wouldn't have guest we could get married and not say anything. You act like you're all high and mighty because you're a lawyer and you got Gus. Well guess what anyone that really knows anything knows that Gus will always be Brian's son too. Just because Brian signed over his rights didn't mean he wanted to. He did it to make sure that fucking asshole Lindsay tried to marry didn't get Gus." Justin knew it was the reason Brian had done it. "You should get on your knees and thank him for what he did instead of tearing him down."
~BJ JB BJ JB~
There were so many other things he wanted to say and he was on a roll. However, he was tired and wanted to celebrate with the ones that actually cared about him. For the last six months he'd been happy not talking to the fake people in his life. He'd felt so good about himself too. He had sold out on the opening night, but there was still four more nights that people could come see the work before it was given to the ones that bought them. He wished now that they hadn't invited certain people. He'd wanted them to see that he had the best life now with Brian and far away from them. He had done better for himself than they had ever tried to see he could do alone.
"You're just going to let him talk to us like that?" Michael asked looking at Brian. "I bet he had people come here to act as if they were buying the stuff to seem like its worth anything. Half of the stuff is just paint tossed on canvas and smeared over it." He said with his usual hatred of anything Justin did. "You probably married Brian so you wouldn't have to actually get a real job; live off him."
"You are the most ungrateful person out there. All of you are horrible people for the way you act towards my sons." Jennifer said. She'd planned on saying something sooner, but she'd thought Justin had done an excellent job. "You have no respect for either of them. I am proud to call Brian my son in-law and if any of you had actual eyes, you'd see how happy they are together. Don't worry though, you want need to come to anything else. I'll personally make sure you're not on the guest list." She finished looking at all of the ones that had said something bad about Brian and Justin. "I don't even know how I even considered you people friends. If anything you've done more harm to them than anything."
She'd once thought Brian was the bad guy, but watching Justin and him together she knew it had been her blinders not seeing it. It was also her worry for her son, but she never had to worry now when it came to Justin. She was happy to call Brian her son like she had said. She loved him just as much as Justin and Molly. He'd given her son back when no one else could help. He'd saved Justin and their family.
~BJ JB BJ JB~
After Jennifer's speech Justin and Brian walked out with her not waiting for anyone else to have a comeback. They had things to do that weren't stand around and be yelled out for loving each other. There was also the fact that Justin hadn't wanted another fight and he'd seen Brian about to take a swing at Michael. He was saving them the energy of wasting another second on them. The ones that actually mattered were the ones that were in there lives because they wanted to be. The ones that loved them and didn't just contact them when it was on their terms. The ones that had just assumed Brian was tricking, drinking, and getting high when he wasn't around them.
Neither of them had tricked since before the bombing over seven months ago. They had been busy getting ready for this night they hadn't bothered going out either. Their sex lives were great with just each other. It sure as hell didn't get dull and it was hot as hell being fucked with no barriers. They had already been doing it for three months now and he enjoyed the after just as much as during. Brian or himself eating the other's cum from their asses. It made him hard all over every single time. Sometimes they'd stay inside of each other for a while, snuggled up together.
The family members that actually did care that Brian and Justin were happy together had greeted them once they'd left the others. Emmett had a huge cake and some champaign waiting to celebrate the success of Justin's opening. It had part of one of his paintings on it like the invitations had. It was also where Justin found out just how much he had taken in for the night. He hadn't known what to ask for his works, but Brian had helped him in setting the price. A couple of the buyers had thought the paintings could have gone for twice as much; they were that good. It was why he hadn't let Michael's comment get to him. Brian's opinion was the one that counted, and he knew his husband loved them.
"Here's to you, baby. You did good tonight, and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks; you are wonderful. We are the ones that love you and know that you don't live off Brian. We know how hard you work every day to get where you are now." Emmett said. "We're proud of you and I'm sure Brian's going to show you how much when he gets you to himself." He grinned which got a laugh from the others.
"Thanks Em, I needed that even if I know I'm doing okay still helps to know I do have people behind me." Justin smiled looking around the room.
He let out a sigh feeling Brian's arms around him. He loved feeling Brian holding him knowing that even if he was trying to make it, he still had Brian to help him if things got rough. He used to think he wasn't enough of a man if he needed to ask for help. He'd seen that light though and was thankful every day that he had Brian in his life. He was also thankful for when he'd stayed and fought for their relationship instead of walking away from Brian.
He could have left more than once, but he hadn't. It was why he couldn't see why he was resented so much for loving Brian. He'd never left him, he'd been there for him through the cancer, Stockwell they'd taken down together, and even now when Brian was there for support at the opening. It had been his turn to feel Brian support him in what he wanted to do with his life. The same support that he'd given him when Michael tried accusing him of cheating on Brian. He hadn't been, which Brian had known. He'd a fucking stalker that wouldn't leave him alone, but Brian had helped him get rid of the guy. It had scared the hell out of him, but they dealt with it together.
"To Britin Art for doing so good. And to the six months that you two have been happily married." Ted said smiling at his friends knowing he got to see how far the two had come. He was happy himself with the life he had now working for Brian and Justin both. He also had Blake in his life again who he wasn't about to let go of.
Justin smiled taking a drink from his glass before he turned facing Brian. "Thank you for tonight and every night you are with me. You gave me the best birthday gift when I turned nineteen and haven't stopped surprising me since." He wrapped his arms around Brian pulling him in for a kiss.
Brian had bitched about birthday's meaning nothing only to surprise him by taking him out of town for the weekend. It was years later now and they'd gotten officially married as much as the law would allow. However, that weekend Brian had added his name to the loft and all the other things that mattered the most. It was another one of the reasons he had just taken the crap he'd been given back then. He knew that if anything happened, he was the one that got to decide on Brian's behalf. He would have been the one that got everything, minus Gus' part. They would have been fucked over and he'd been fine with it.
"I love you, for now and always, you are going to take the world by storm from right here." Brian said not caring how mushy it sounded or making a comment with the awes it got.
Justin gave him the biggest smile before kissing his husband. He was the happiest he could be even after the drama they'd dealt with earlier. "I love you now and forever too. I got you even if I hadn't of sold out tonight. I'd know that I was worth something to you."
He had sold all of his work tonight, but he hadn't sold out by not going to New York. He had just made his own plans, his own future, and Brian had helped. He hadn't needed to leave the man he loved to find himself. He never wanted to be away from Brian a single day. He got the man he had seen inside of Brian when no one else had. That fourteen-year-old that a certain person was stuck on keeping had gone probably the night Gus was born; the night he met Brian too.
~THE END~
EN: Hope you enjoyed and thanks in advanced for reviews and kudos. This was extreme AU since Ian was only a stalker as you read and Justin never once thought about getting with him.