by Kenovay
"Ju?" Justin cast him a glance. "Can I just speak to you outside?" JC rose, not waiting for an answer, and Justin, with an apologetically raised eyebrow at his friend, followed him.
Once they were in the dark alleyway behind the bar, Justin burst out. "What the hell, man? She was about to come back to-"
"Justin, I'm fucking pissed off with you. Don't make it worse." JC's voice was slightly raised.
"Yeah? What for? I've done nothing. It's you who dragged me back-"
"Justin, shut up for a second." JC waited until Justin had closed his mouth. "I appreciate that compared to you, my career is not very impressive. That's fine. But it's my career, and I'd like it if you didn't take the piss the whole time."
"I wasn't taking the piss!" Justin was scowling. "You are having fun!"
"The way you said it was disparaging, Justin, you can't deny that."
"It really wasn't. JC, I was just saying." JC stared at Justin, and for a second, under the surface of the smooth skin, there was a flicker of something.
"Is it that you don't think I'm adult enough to have my own career?"
"JC, that's bullshit." Justin's protest sounded uncomfortable. "You're way older than me."
"Yeah, but I'm na�ve, aren't I? Head in the clouds?" JC moved soundlessly towards Justin, who took a step back. "All about the music? Can't survive in this business?"
"JC�"
JC dropped his voice. "Not man enough?" he purred, crowding Justin back against the wall. "That's what you think, isn't it, Ju? Poor JC, he's an artist." He stared straight into Justin's eyes.
Justin was the first to look away. "JC, you know I love you," he muttered.
"But?" JC's voice was soft, and he leaned a little closer.
"But� JC, you're kind, and sweet. You're not� not cut out � mph!" It wasn't a kind kiss. JC was fed up with being kind. He was harsh, and merciless, and he didn't let up until he needed to breathe. When he stepped away, Justin was staring at him with dazed eyes.
"I'm not man enough, am I, Ju?" He turned and went back into the bar, leaving Justin slumped against the wall. Justin gazed, unseeing, at the trashcans ahead of him and focused on breathing.
When he gathered himself enough to go back inside, he found that JC had left with the brunette.
