“What?” Brian shouted, the only thing preventing him from jumping out of his chair being the fact that Justin was still in hip lap. As it was, Brian was so startled by Melanie’s announcement that his grip on his young lover tightened to the point that Justin actually flinched from it. Brian noticed immediately and loosened his hold. “Sorry.”

“No problem.”

“Are you sure he said that Michael was involved with Ethan?” Brian asked, unable to believe that his best friend could betray him like that. “There’s no way that Mikey would do something like this. I mean, I know in the beginning he had a problem with Justin and mine relationship, but I thought he had gotten over that. Especially since the….last year.” The others in the group knew that Brian had been about to say since Justin had gotten bashed and knew that it was still difficult for the older man to talk about the night of the prom.

“Yeah,” Justin agreed. “And Michael’s been, I guess I can say it, a friend over the past few months. He’s always been willing to listen to me, especially when I was upset…..” Justin trailed off from whatever he had been about to say as a thought crossed his mind.

“Fuck,” he swore. “Son of a bitch, how did I miss it? All this time, I thought that bastard was just trying to be a friend. That he was concerned about me. But he was just pumping me for information. No wonder Ethan knew what to say to me all the time. Michael was telling him everything I told him. Fuck.”

“Justin?”

“Sweetie?”

“Justin, babe, what’s going on?” Brian asked, overriding Melanie and Lindsay’s concern. He could feel the tension in Justin’s body increase as the teen seemed to become more and more upset and held him closer to his chest, trying to calm him down.

“I’m so fucking stupid,” Justin continued to mutter. “I trusted him.”

“Who, Justin? Mikey?” Justin nodded his head at Brian’s questions.

“It all started when he came to me about the comic book,” Justin began. “It’s not like we were friends or anything but we had that in common. He listened to me when I talked about the bashing. He made me feel like I could open up to him when I was having problems, especially when it came to the two of us. And we were having a lot of problems. The day you destroyed all the artwork, I was so depressed. I was convinced that you didn’t love me. That I was deluding myself all along, but he was the one telling me that you did love me.”

“Oh, baby,” Brian soothed, pulling Justin closer to him. “I’m so sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am. And I know that I can’t take back what happened. I know that’s impossible. The only thing I can say is that the way I acted was because of pure jealousy on my part.”

“Brian, why did you destroy the Justin’s art work?” Lindsay asked. She and Melanie had heard about what had happened that morning in the loft and had been curious as to why Brian had done what he had. They watched as Brian squirmed in his seat beneath Justin, unable to look them in the eyes.

“Iwashmgnvho,” he mumbled.”

“What was that?” Melanie asked, a smile alighting her face.

“I said I was jealous,” Brian repeated, his voice taking on an angry tone. “Happy now?”

“Actually, yes,” she smiled back at him. “But the question is. Why were you jealous of Justin and Michael?”

“I’d like to know the answer to that myself,” Justin added, his blue eyes meeting Brian’s hazel ones. “You know that nothing ever happened between us, don’t you?” Brian nodded his head.

“I know. It was just that Ben had been going on and on about how much more intimate creating something like that was more orgasmic than sex and then I got back to the loft, after having been stood up by you.” Brian kissed the tip of Justin’s nose to take some of the sting out of his comment, “only to find you and Mikey in bed together and his hand on you and that just set me off.”

“If it makes you feel any better, I don’t know why Michael was in bed with me,” Justin offered. “I mean, he did ask me if he could spend the night, saying he was tired and shit, but the last thing I remember was him getting the couch ready to sleep on. Hell, even I’m not stupid enough to offer your side of the bed to someone else. I like my life very much, thank you.” A thought came to Justin and he squirmed on Brian’s lap. “Christ, I wonder if what happened that morning was an accident after all.”

“What happened?”

“I was still asleep and I felt someone begin to grope me. I thought it was you and I was getting into it. I turned over; wanting to get my morning kiss and it was Michael.” Justin shuddered at the memory. “We both screamed and pulled apart. I had chalked it up to us just waking up and thinking that the person in bed with us was our partner, but what if it was something else? What if he was hoping that was what you walked in on?”

“Fuck,” Brian swore. “I’m going to kill him.”

“Do you really think that’s possible?” Lindsay questioned, not wanting to believe what she was hearing about Michael. She hated the idea that someone that they were all so close to was able to do something like they were saying. It went against everything she believed in when it came to family and friends. “That doesn’t sound like something Michael would do.”

“Baby, I know you don’t want to think that someone could do this,” Melanie comforted her lover, “but from everything the investigator was able to find out, it does sound like something Michael could, and did, do.”

“It also explains how Ethan knew exactly what to say to me to get me to keep coming back to him,” Justin said, bringing their attention back to me. He looked up at Brian again, knowing that his lover was hurting not just for Justin but for himself also. “It was right after you went to Chicago instead of our trip to Vermont. I was so hurt and angry at you for doing that.”

“Justin, I told you…” Justin cut Brian off before he could continue.

“I know,” he promised. “I know you had no choice but to go. Your job depended on you going to Chicago and proving yourself, but at the time I was so angry and hurt that I didn’t care. I just thought it was your way of getting out of spending the week with me. We had already been having so many problems, especially after my birthday. And I had already met Ethan and he was telling me what he would do if he were my boyfriend and it was everything that I wanted. It hurt me when it looked like you didn’t want to give those things to me. I vented to Michael, right before I left for the trip. I told him I wanted someone that put me first. That would get jealous of some guy sucking my dick in front of him. The next thing I know, a week later and Ethan says the same thing to me. We’re talking almost word for fucking word. He knew exactly what I wanted to hear to get me to keep coming back. Fuck how could I have been so stupid.”

Brian watched as Justin continued to beat himself up over what had been done to him. While he was glad that his young lover seemed to be more than willing to believe that Ethan was using him for some ulterior purpose, going to far as to already see what had been done to him in regards to the way Ethan had been treating him, he wished there was something he could do to make Justin realize that he wasn’t at fault. That there was nothing he could have done to prevent what had been going on. Everyone had been pulled into Ethan’s little trap. Brian just hoped that Justin was strong enough to deal with what he was being told and that the two of them would be able to survive what was happening to them.

Part 8

Melanie and Lindsay left the room when it became apparent that Brian and Justin needed some time alone to deal with everything that they had been told. For the first time in her life, Melanie Marcus felt sorry for Brian Kinney. To find out that your best friend, the one person who should know you better than anyone, was willing to go to such lengths to break you and your lover up had to be difficult for the man who found it hard to trust anyone. She was surprised that Brian hadn’t immediately gone after Michael, ready to do anything to get back at the other man for daring to interfere in his relationship with Justin.

When Melanie had first heard that Justin was seeing someone new, someone other than Brian, she had been happy for the teen. Over the past two years, Justin had found a path to her heart and she knew how much the young man longed to have the kind of romantic relationship that Hollywood seemed to have a fascination with and she knew that he wouldn’t find it if he stayed with Brian. Brian wasn’t the kind of man to give someone flowers for no reason. To show jealousy over Justin fucking some guy. Brian didn’t talk about his feelings, preferring to keep them locked inside him, safely hidden from anyone who might decide to use them against him.

Ethan Gold has seemed to be the answer to Justin’s prayers. Here was someone who put Justin first. Who had no problem telling Justin exactly how he felt. Someone the same age as Justin, who knew exactly what Justin was going through in regards to his relationship with Brian because he had told Justin that he had gone through the same thing with his ex-lover. Ethan made Justin feel loved and Melanie had been excited for him. Sure, Lindsay had told her that Brian loved Justin, and Melanie had to grudgingly admit that the ad exec did seem to care for the teen, but Melanie was willing to begrudge Justin his happiness and if it came at the cost of Brian, then so be it.

That had all been blown out the water the day that Brian had showed up in her office, asking her for help in finding out about Ethan’s past. At first Melanie had dismissed Brian’s claim, believing it to be some sort of last grasp at saving his relationship with Justin. Brian’s last ditch effort at keeping Justin under his control. But when she had seen the look in his eyes as he was leaving her office, she knew that Brian genuinly cared for Justin and admitted that, maybe, they had all been wrong about Ethan and had listened to Brian’s story. What she heard shocked her. She couldn’t believe that the same young man that had been so charming to her could truly be so ruthless. And then, the more her investigator discovered, the more Melanie began to become concerned over Justin’s well-being and the motives behind Ethan’s involvement with him. The fact that Ethan’s own uncle was more than willing to help her in the investigation only strengthened her resolve to help Brian get Ethan out of Justin’s life for good.

“Melanie, how could we have missed this?” Lindsay broke the uncomfortable silence. “There had to have been some kind of sign that we didn’t see. Brian saw right through him.”

“That’s because Ethan was going after something that Brian considered his,” Melanie reminded her lover.

“That and Brian’s generally untrustful nature,” Lindsay added, causing Melanie to smile. The two women moved together, holding each other close. “God, poor Justin. He’s already gone through so much and now this. He was already having a hard enough time dealing with his feelings for Ethan and Brian, but to find out that Ethan was just playing mind games with him.”

“It’s not going to be easy,” Melanie admitted, “but he’s a strong kid. And he has us and, as much as I hate to say it, Brian. I think he’ll make it. It’s Brian that I’m worried about.” Lindsay pulled back from Melanie and looked at her lover.

“Why do you say that?” Melanie just raised her eyebrow at Lindsay. “Because of Michael. I still can’t believe that he had anything to do with this. That just doesn’t sound like him.”

“I know but it’s true,” Melanie assured her. “And my investigator did give me the proof that I needed before I was even willing to believe it and I don’t think Brian will take what I have to show you guys well.”

“Brian has never been the most forgiving person,” Lindsay admitted. “And this is the ultimate betrayal, especially coming from Michael. He tried to interfere in Brian and Justin’s life and that’s what’s going to hurt. Especially because it brought someone like Ethan into their lives. That’s something that I don’t think Brian will be able to forgive anytime soon, if at ever.”

“Do you think he might do something to Michael?” Lindsay nodded her head.

“I think it’s an extreme possibility, if not a probability.”

“Shit, maybe I shouldn’t tell him what else I have then,” Melanie told her.

“At this point, I don’t think you have a choice,” Lindsay said. “No matter what you tell Brian now, he is going to do whatever he thinks is necessary to punish Ethan, and Michael, for daring to hurt Justin.”

In the living room, Brian and Justin continued to hold each other, comforting themselves in their lover’s arms. Brian could feel the tension radiating through the younger man’s body and wished there was something he could do to help Justin deal with everything that he was being told but knew that only time would be able to do that. Hell, time would be the only thing that would get either of them through this. Time and each other because Brian wasn’t sure that they could count on their friends, especially if what Melanie was telling him was true.

‘Fuck, Mikey,’ Brian thought. ‘How the hell could he do this? The little twat. What the fuck was going through his mind?’

“Brian,” Justin ventured, talking into Brian’s chest. “Are you okay?

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?” Brian joked feebly. “You’re the one this kid is going after.”

“Somehow I think he’s going after both of us,” Justin countered, smiling up at Brian before turning serious again. “But I was talking about what Melanie said about Michael. He is your best friend.”

“If what Mel’s saying is true, then I’m not sure what I’m going to do,” Brian admitted. “I’ve known Mikey a long time. He’s the closest thing to a brother that I’ve ever had. Fuck, what the hell was he thinking getting involved in this. I can’t believe he could be that stupid.”

“He was probably thinking he could protect you,” Justin said, defending Michael. He knew how much the friendship with Michael meant to his lover and didn’t want to see Brian lost it if there was a reason behind Michael’s betrayal. “You know. Something along of lines of showing you that maybe I didn’t love you like I said I did if Ethan could pull me away so easily. He probably didn’t think you would fight to keep me. That’s not the Brian Kinney he knows.”

“That’s not the Bran Kinney he fucking wants to know,” Brian swore. “And I don’t care what his excuses might be, what he did was over the line and I can’t believe that you’re actually defending him. Fuck, he gave that bastard the information he needed to get you away from me. Aren’t you even a little angry about that?”

“Fuck yes I’m angry,” Justin shouted, jumping out of Brian’s lap for the first time in awhile. “I’m fucking pissed. Because of what Michael did I might have lost my one chance at happiness because I was too busy being played for a god damn fool. He caused me to question everything that I had believed in because of some stupid reason that only he knows and I’m so angry that I want nothing more than to kill him for doing that. But what I’m the most pissed about is the fact that he might have caused me to lose you and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.” Brian stood up and walked over to a pacing Justin, taking the younger man into his arms and holding him tightly.

“You haven’t lost me,” Brian whispered, causing the blonde to look up at him.

“Really?” Brian nodded his head, leaning down to place a kiss on Justin’s lips. “How can you ever forgive me for Ethan?”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” Brian promised. “Just don’t it again.”

“Promise.” Justin smiled up at Brian and the two men kissed again, reveling in the taste of the other man, both knowing that, while damage had been done to their relationship, they were secure in the knowledge that they could overcome this and any other hurdle that crossed their paths.

Part 9

Thirty minutes passed by before Melanie and Lindsay made their way back into their living room. The women stood in the doorway between the dining room and living room, smiling at the picture in front of them. Brian and Justin, cuddling together on the chair, holding onto each other like their lives depended on it and sharing sweet and loving kisses that left no question as to how they felt towards each other. Finally, when it became apparent that Brian and Justin hadn’t notice their entrance, or were choosing to ignore it, Melanie cleared her throat, causing the two men to look up at her. Melanie and Lindsay’s hearts broke when they noticed that Justin had been crying.

“Sorry,” she apologized.

“That’s okay,” Justin sniffed, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. The two women made their way into the living room, resuming their places on the couch. “We didn’t mean to force you guys into leaving.”

“You didn’t sweetie,” Lindsay promised, smiling at the teen. “We know how much this must be hurting you.” Justin nodded, burrowing further into Brian’s chest, who had no problem with it. The women wouldn’t have believed it if they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes. Brian Kinney doing the whole supportive, loving, caring thing. It was something they would never thought was possible.

“Do you have any proof to back up the claims that….” Brian couldn’t even finish his question. The thought that his best friend could betray him the way he did still too painful for him. Melanie looked between the two men nodding as she removed a tape from the file.

“When I had the investigation started and it became apparent that Ethan wasn’t as perfect as he claimed, my guy decided to put a tap on his phone line,” she explained. “He didn’t really expect to get anything from it so he didn’t pay too close of attention to what was being said. That is, until this conversation. It’s obviously between Ethan and his cohort and I’ll think you’ll agree with me, there is no mistaking the voice. It is Michael’s.”

Melanie reached over to the table where she had previously set down that tape recorder, pulling it closer to her. She put in the tape, looking over at Brian and Justin. She waited until they both gave their silent permission before she pressed play. She watched Brian and Justin closely as the tape began and noticed the moment they recognized the two voices.

M-“We have a problem. I think we might have to push up the time table.”

E-“What are you talking about?”

M-“Brian and Justin are planning a trip to Vermont. A nice, romantic trip filled with snowboarding and fucking.”

E-“Shit. How the hell did that happen? I thought you said that the two of them were drifting apart after the birthday fiasco.”

M-“They were. Everything was going perfectly. Justin hated the fact that Brian got him a hustler for his birthday.”

E-“And he never said anything about it being your idea?”

M-“Hell no. I don’t even think Brian realized that I was the one that planted that seed in his head when I found out what he really wanted to do.”

“Mel, stop the tape,” Justin ordered, turning to Brian as he did so. “Michael was the one that suggested the hustler?” Brian thought back to when he had been discussing getting something for Justin and remembered how Michael began talking about Brian’s own nineteenth birthday and how their friends had gotten Brian a hustler. Brian had laughed it off but from that moment on, it had been in the back of his mind and for some reason that was what he went with, and even then knowing it wasn’t something that Justin would like.

“Yeah he was,” Brian finally answered. “We had been talking about our nineteenth birthdays and he reminded me about the presents we each got.”

“But it wasn’t what you wanted to get me?” Brian shook his head. “What did you want to get me?”

“I was going to surprise you with some new art supplies,” Brian answered softly. “I had noticed you were really low, and I knew that even the things you were buying were on the low end of the scale because you didn’t have a job so I thought you would like getting some of the things that you really liked.”

“It would have been a wonderful present,” Justin murmured, touched by the thought that Brian paid enough attention to his art that he knew which supplies he preferred. The younger man cursed silently the person that had prevented him from getting his very special gift from Brian. “I’m sorry I never got them.”

“I’m sorry for getting you what I did.” Justin kissed Brian softly.

“It’s in the past,” he told him. “Let’s forget about it.” Brian nodded his head and Justin turned back to Melanie. “Okay, you can restart it.”

E-“What brought up this trip to Vermont?”

M-“Who fucking knows. All I know is that Justin was going on and on about this great little Bed and Breakfast place he found up in Sugarbush and how he couldn’t wait for him and Bran. It was completely disgusting.”

E-“And Brian was okay with this? We are talking about the same man that doesn’t do romance right?”

M-“MMhmmm.”

E-“Fuck, this is not good.”

M-“What makes this even worse is that Brian’s boss just sold his agency and he doesn’t even know what’s going on with it.”

E-“Really? Interesting. Do you know who bought it?”

M-“Some guy name Vance.”

E-“Gardner Vance?”

M-“Yeah, that’s it. You know him?”

E-“Yeah. He and my Dad go way back. His agency does that advertising for my Dad’s company. Maybe this could work out for us.”

M-“How?”

E-“Maybe we can get him to convince Brian that he’s job is on the line unless he does something drastic.”

M-“Making it so Brian can’t go on the trip….”

E-“Exactly. And in not going on the trip, he’ll end up pushing Justin away…”

M-“And into your waiting arms.”

E-“That would be the plan.”

M-“Yeah, but how can you be so sure that Justin will go after you when Brian blows him off.”

E-“Easy. I’ll just make sure that he has no problem running into me and then I’ll just make sure that I say all the right things to get him interested and have him keep coming back for more.”

M-“Are you sure he will. I mean, no matter what Brian has thrown at the little shit, he keeps coming back for me. It might not be that easy to lead him astray.”

E-“Are you having second thoughts about this?”

M-“Hell no. The quicker we can get Justin and Brian apart, the better.”

E-Laughing “You that sure you can get Brian interested in you?”

M-“Of course. Hell, if it hadn’t been for that interfering little stalker, Brian and I would have been together a long time ago.”

E-“Well, just make sure to stick to the plan and we’ll both get what we want. I’ll get my revenge and you’ll get your Brian.”

“And that’s the end of the tape,” Melanie said once the tape ended

“Mother Fucker, I’m going to kill him,” Brian swore, pushing Justin off his lap and he stood up, his stance radiating anger. “That fucking son of a bitch. And he’s supposed to be my best friend. Damn it, with friends like him, who the hell needs enemies.”

“Brian,” Justin started, causing Brian to go over to him and take him into his arms.

“He’s going to pay, Justin,” Brian swore. “They’re both going to pay for what they did to you. To us.” And Justin knew it was true and couldn’t find it in himself to feel any pity for either man and was looking forward to helping.

Part 10

“Brian,” Justin hesitantly called out to his lover when they returned to the loft. The older man had been uncommonly silent on the drive back to their home and Justin had been able to feel the tension running through Brian’s body. After listening to the phone call that had been between Michael and Ethan, things had only gotten progressively worse. Brian had pointed out to Melanie that there was no way the phone call could have been for real because it would have taken place before Justin and Ethan had even gotten together. Long before the investigation had been started. Melanie squirmed a bit before admitting that the tape was real and that the call had taken place but her investigator hadn’t been the one to record it.

It turned out that at the same time that Ethan and Michael were conspiring against Brian and Justin, Ethan was also harassing his former roommate Matt. The violinist had been making repeated phone calls to Matt, threatening bodily harm if Matt didn’t drop his plans to sure Ethan for the damage to the apartment that he had caused and the back rent he had owed. Matt reported the harassment to his father, who was friends with the Chief of Police and the police had put a phone tap on Ethan’s line, hoping to get enough proof to at least get a restraining order against him, even if they couldn’t prosecute him. And they did get the proof; they had also recorded the conversation that Melanie had given them. The investigator had discovered it when he had mentioned his investigation to a detective friend of his who had been in on the surveillance in the first place and had given him a copy of the tape.

“Brian, are you okay?” Justin watched as Brian went over to the refrigerator and grabbed a beer, opening it and downing half of the bottle in one gulp. “Brian?”

“I’m fine, Justin,” he finally told him. “I’m just trying to process everything.” Brian turned to face his young lover, taking in the disheveled appearance and held out his arms, which Justin instantly filled. The two men stood in the kitchen like that for awhile, taking comfort in the love that the other person felt for them.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Justin muttered against Brian’s chest. “It all seems like a bad dream and I want nothing more than to wake up from it.”

“I know, baby. I feel the same way.”

“And the way the two of them could get everyone else to do their dirty work, including your boss.” Justin shuddered at the thought of how far Michael and Ethan were willing to go and who they had no problem using to get there. Melanie had told her about the meeting she had with Brian’s partner/boss, Gardner Vance, and how she got him to admit that he had been lying to Brian about his job ever being in jeopardy. In fact, just the opposite had been true. Vance had lied to Brian about everything, including the fact that the clients that Brian had brought in, like Liberty Air, would stay if the advertising exec left.

“What are you going to do about work?”

“I’m not sure,” Brian admitted. “You know I’ve been unhappy since Vance took over the agency. If it wasn’t for the fact that he made me a partner, something I don’t think he was too fucking happy about, and I really don’t want to start at the bottom somewhere else I would have been long gone. I just can’t believe I bought into his bullshit.”

“Brian there’s no way you could have known,” Justin said as the two men made their way over to the couch. “He was playing along with Ethan and he knew exactly what to tell you to make you believe it.”

“You mean, like Ethan did to you,” Brian reminded the younger man, who looked away from him. Brian took Justin’s chin in his hand, gently forcing him to look into his eyes. “Justin, stop blaming yourself.”

“But if I had only stayed away….,” Brian cut off Justin by kissing him.

“He would have found another way of getting your attention,” Brian told him. “And with Mikey,” Brian had to swallow hard at the mention of his now former friend, “helping him, it would have only been a matter of time. I don’t want you to think that any of this was your fault. It wasn’t. Melanie showed you, showed us, that Ethan and Michael were very determined to get between us and break us apart.”

“And they almost did,” Justin cried. “God, Brian, that night in Babylon I walked away from you. I saw the smug look on Michael’s face but I didn’t even think about it. I was just so hurt when I saw you with that trick and then Ethan was there telling me all this shit about how I was his inspiration and all.” Tears began to roll down Justin’s cheek as he remembered the night he had walked away from Brian and the emotions he had felt at the time.

“I thought I had lost you for good that night,” Brian finally admitted, talking about the night his world had ended. “When I saw the two of you kissing, I thought it was over between us. And then when I didn’t hear from you for a week and finding out you were staying at Debbie’s again. Everyone thought you’re leaving was for the best. That now you would be able to live some kind of normal life. Only Michael seemed to understand how hurt I had been at the time.”

“And I’m sure he used it to his advantage,” Justin hissed. “He sure made no secret about how he felt about me whenever I saw him. It pissed him off to no end when he found out the Debbie was letting me stay with her again.”

“Why did you decide to go back to Debbie’s instead of moving in with Ethan?” Brian asked the question that had been foremost on his mind for the past month and a half.

“Because I didn’t love him,” Justin told him. “And it was too soon. I thought it wouldn’t be fair to any of us if I moved right in with him from you. And I was so confused. I was so in love with you and so hurt because I didn’t think you cared for me. And I think a part of me knew that Ethan wasn’t going to be the right answer, even then, but he was what I needed at the time. Said the things I needed to be said.”

“And now we know why.” Justin nodded his head.

“Can you ever forgive me?”

“For what, baby?”

“For doubting you,” Justin answered. “For doubting your feelings towards me. For walking away from us.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Justin,” Brian told him. “We both fucked up and fucked up big. You had every reason to doubt me. I never gave you any clue how I felt. I refused to tell you how much you meant to me.”

“But I never pushed you to tell me until Ethan came into the picture,” Justin rebuked. “I should have known that would have only put up those defensive walls you have.”

“I only wanted you to be happy, Justin.” Justin snuggled closer to Brian, enjoying the closeness of the older man. “And if Ethan was the one who made you that way, then you had every right to pursue your relationship with him.”

“He never made me truly happy, Brian,” the blonde admitted. “He couldn’t because he wasn’t you.” Justin and Brian fell silent again for a few minutes.

“Brian,” Justin hesitantly began.

“Hmmm.”

“Can we try again?”

“Try what again?”

“Us.” Brian didn’t answer right away.

“No.” Justin nodded numbly, keeping the tears in this time. “This time, we try it right.” Justin popped up, looking at Brian and quietly asking him to elaborate. “This time, no rules. They were a bunch of bullshit and didn’t work anyway. And we don’t listen to what everyone says or tells us how our relationship should be. We do it for ourselves.” Justin nodded his head, a smile taking over his face. “And, I can’t believe I’m about to say this. No more tricking. For either of us.”

“You mean it?” Justin’s smile got even bigger. Brian nodded his head and Justin threw himself into Brian’s arms again, the two men kissing passionately and losing themselves in each other and, for a moment, forgetting about the two men that had tried to separate them and the plans they needed to make in order for them to pay for that interference.

Part 11

Justin and Brian spent the weekend together, avoiding both Ethan and Michael as much as possible while, at the same time, not allowing either man to know they were back together. They decided that, until they could figure out a way to make sure that Michael and Ethan pay for what they did to the two of them, they didn’t want to arouse a lot of suspicion, although they knew that the first part of their plan would bring some to be thrown their way. So each night, Justin returned to Debbie’s and placed his nightly call to Ethan, while Brian remained at the loft, alone. Neither man liked the separation, not wanting to part from their lover now that they were back together, but they knew it was necessary if they wanted their plan to work. They had even made Melanie and Lindsay promise not to say anything to any of their other friends and, while the women didn’t like it, they had agreed knowing that Brian and Justin had to deal with the betrayal in their own way.

Monday had begun the first part of their plan, although to the outside world it just seemed like any other day. Brian had spent most of the day on the phone with his clients. That is, the clients he had brought to the agency back when Marty Ryder was still in charge and a few, very few, clients that he had gone after himself when Gardner Vance had taken over the company. Once the final call had been completed, he had Cynthia arrange a formal meeting with Vance for the following morning. He also explained to his assistant what he was planning on doing and the reason behind it. Once Cynthia heard what was going on, she whole heartedly agreed to help Brian any way she could. She had become fond of Justin over the past few months, having talked to him a few times, both on the phone a couple of times when she had to come by the loft to drop something off. She knew how much Justin’s leaving had affected Brian, even if her boss never admitted it, but she could tell just by the long hours that the executive had taken to spending in his office. In fact, there had been mornings when she had come to the office and found Brian asleep on the couch in his office, even if he had no projects on his desk at the time. Cynthia was glad that the teen was back in Brian’s life as something other than a distant friend because when Brian and Justin were together, Brian was a much better person to be around.

Tuesday morning, ten A.M. found Brian sitting in a chair opposite the man that had played a part in separating him and Justin. Gardner Vance was on the phone and Brian waited patiently, anticipating the reaction to his announcement, knowing that Vance would not be happy about it and Brian couldn’t wait to see what the other man would do to prevent what he was going to do.

“So, what can I do for you today, Brian? What was so important that you had to have Cynthia schedule an actual appointment?” Vance asked, once his phone call had ended. The other man had been surprised when Cynthia had requested the meeting. Usually when either of the partners wanted to discuss something, they just went to the others office and the fact that Brian was going against this practice had the older man curious.

“I’ve been thinking about our deal and it’s not working.”

“What’s not working?”

“Our partnership,” Brian began. “It was a mistake.”

“What are you talking about? It seems to be working perfectly from where I sit,” the smug man replied. “What exactly do you have a problem with?”

“You mean other than the fact that I seem to be doing all of the work while you sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labors.” Vance’s smug look didn’t disappear from his face. “My main problem is the type of accounts that you and the rest of your people seem to be concentrating on.”

“A client is a client, Brian,” Vance patiently reminded the younger man. “As long as they have the money, who cares what they want to sell. It’s not our job to be picky about it, just to help them sell it.”

“I care,” Brian said. “And there used to be a time when this agency cared. It was one of the reasons the Ryder Agency was the best in town and, I thought, one of the reasons you bought Marty out. But now it seems that we go after whatever account if up for grabs, no matter what crap is being sold, and that’s not how I work. Not how I want to work. “Vance leaned forward, his expression blank and he stared at Brian.

“What exactly are you trying to say, Brian?”

“I’m saying, I’m leaving the agency,” Brian announced flatly, causing the other man to stare at him in shock.

“You’re what?”

“I said. I’m. Leaving. The agency,” Brian repeated slowly, enjoying the look of stunned amazement on Vance’s face.

“Where…where do you plan on going? What…what agency?”

“None. “I’ve decided to go out on my own. Start my own agency.” Brian watched as a smile crossed Vance’s face and was curious as to why it was there. “Did I say something amusing?”

“No,” Vance said. “It’s just that, do you really believe that you can go out on your own? Just like that? It’s not as easy as it sounds.”

“I know that,” Brian admitted. “And I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but I’m willing to take that chance. And it isn’t like I’m going to be going into this blindly. I do have my clients, course.” The stunned look returned to Vance’s features as well as another look. One that Brian would term as something akin to fear and this time he was the one who smiled.

“Your clients? What clients?”

“Liberty Air. Brown Athletics.” Brian’s smile became predatory as he watched Vance squirm in his chair. “They’re, of course, two of the man companies that have already signed contracts with me, but I also have a number of other clients I’ll be taking with me.”

“What makes you so sure that they’ll go with you?” Vance took a last stab at trying to get Brian to change his mind. He had no idea what had happened to cause Brian to want to go out on his own but he knew he had to do something to prevent it from happening.

“You mean, why am I so sure they’ll go with me after you made sure to make me believe otherwise when you took over this agency.” Brian watched as Vance’s pallor got considerably paler. “You thought I had forgotten about that? You said you did your homework on me. If you did, you would have realized I have a very long memory and I never forget when someone fucks me over, which is what you tried to do. But, unfortunately for you, I’m patient. I’ve already talked to all of my clients, the ones that you said wouldn’t leave if I did and, surprise, surprise, they all said they would be more than willing to go with me to my new agency. They told me that the only reason they had even agreed to stay with this agency when you took over was because you had to agree that I would continue to be in charge of their campaigns. Imagine their surprise when they found out the only reason I had stayed was because you had told me that they would stay.”

“Brian, I can explain….”

“Save it,” Brian cut Vance off. “I’m not interested in anything you have to say.” Vance nodded his head, knowing that there was nothing that he could do to prevent Brian from leaving. The only thing he could do was try and make sure that Brian didn’t destroy his company because of what had been done, because he knew that Brian had the power, and talent, to do so. Once again, Vance wondered why he had agreed to his friend’s son’s request to threaten Kinney’s job.

“When are you leaving?”

“Cynthia is packing up my office as we speak,” Brian informed his former partner, standing and walking towards the door. “And yes, she will be going with me. She’s the only one that’s worth anything here and she’s been with me too long to make her stay here and suffer from this company’s downfall.”

“You make it sound like this is a war.” Brian smirked at Vance.

“Oh it is, and it’s one I don’t intend to lose.” And with that last pronouncement, Brian walked out of Vance’s office. He arrived at his soon to be former office, commenting on how quickly Cynthia had been able to pack up both of their belongings.

“How did it go?” His assistant asked from her spot by the couch where she was going through Brian’s files.

“Just like I thought it would,” Brian told at her as he went over to the phone. He dialed a number from memory and waited for the other person to pick up.

“Hello.”

“Hey. Can you talk?”

“Not right now.”

“Gotcha. Just wanted to tell you that step one was a success.”

“That’s good to know.”

“See you at the loft later.”

“Yes.”

“Love you.”

“Same here. Later.

“Later.”

Part 12

Justin and Ethan were walking along Liberty Avenue, holding hands and enjoying the weather. They were talking about their plans for the following day that included Ethan giving a concert for some kind of benefit that Justin couldn’t remember. For all intent and purpose, they looked like a couple in love. It made Justin feel sick. The artist had no idea what was preventing him from getting sick from the touch of the man that had planned his own seduction. Ethan had set out to separate Brian and Justin and had almost succeeded. If it wasn’t for Brian’s distrust of Ethan’s intentions, and hatred of anything of his being taken away, the other teen would have succeeded and that tore at Justin’s heart. The fact that he had been so desperate, for something that he could now see was bullshit, bothered him. He knew now that the words didn’t mean shit, even if the actions were there too. They could all be faked. Ethan always knew what to say to Justin. Had been more than willing to be sweet and romantic and it had all been lies. Sure, Justin’s life with Brian might not have been easy. Hell, even before Ethan came into the picture he had already gotten tired of the tricking and everything, but at least Brian never lied to him. The older man had never made it a secret of whom and what he was. He was Brian Kinney and Brian Kinney didn’t do boyfriends. Didn’t do relationships. Didn’t do someone twice. Except with Justin.

Emmett and Ted had told him that Brian had even referred to Justin as his boyfriend and what they had as a relationship and yet he still didn’t appreciate it. Brian had taken him into his loft, into his life, and yet Justin still hadn’t been happy. Instead, Justin had allowed himself to be lead away by the first boy to come by and spout of all the romantic bullshit that he had always been lead to believe should be in a romance. Hell, if Justin was honest, he had no idea how Brian could even look at him, let alone forgive him for what he did. He knew how much it took for Brian to trust someone. To let them into his heart and he broken that trust. But instead of turning his back on him, Brian and Justin had remained semi-friends, talking occasionally both on the phone and in the diner whenever the older man went in while Justin was working. Sure, it was awkward, especially if Ethan was present. Or Michael.

Justin shivered as he thought of Brian’s best friend. ‘Well, ex-best friend would be more appropriate I would guess.’ He couldn’t believe that Michael had been so willing to help Ethan get between Justin and Brian. He didn’t understand the other man’s reasoning for it. They had all thought that Michael had finally gotten over his infatuation with Brian, especially now that he and Ben had seemed so happy. Could that have all been a ruse? Could Michael be using Ben as a cover so that no one will suspect that he was now actively pursuing a relationship with Brian? Brian had mentioned that Michael had been trying to spend more time with him lately, since the break up. Offering a shoulder to cry on, if Brian needed it. Trying to encourage him to go to Woodys or Babylon. Hell, Brian even said that Michael was trying to get him to trick again, almost like he wanted the old Brian back. The one that didn’t do relationship and was more than willing to lose himself in a warm body. Brian hadn’t understood it at the time. Why his best friend was encouraging him to return to his old ways. Justin was interrupted from his musings when his cell phone rang. He saw the phone number and smiled inwardly when he saw that it was Brian’s office number.

“Hello.”

“Hey. Can you talk?”

“Not right now.”

“Gotcha. Just wanted to tell you that step one was a success.”

“That’s good to know.”

“See you at the loft later.”

“Yes.”

“Love you.”

“Same here. Later.”

“Later.”

Justin closed the phone, his smile remaining on his face. He couldn’t wait to get to Brian’s and find out how well his meeting with his now ex-partner had gone. He almost wished he could have been there when Brian informed the bastard that had prevented Brian from going on their trip that he was leaving the agency and taking his clients with him. The biggest clients that the agency had, let alone the most prestigious. And the fact that Brian was doing it to start his own agency was just another nail in the proverbial coffin.

“Who was that?” Ethan asked, seeing the smile on his lover’s face. He loved the way it made Justin’s whole face light up. He shook his head. He couldn’t believe it. He had gone and fallen in love with Justin. His mark. Ethan had no idea when or how it happened, but his revenge for Kip had become personal. He had gone and done something that he swore he would never do, fall in love.

“Oh, it was Daphne,” Justin lied.

“Really. What did she want?” Ethan bristled at the mention of Justin’s best friend. There was something about her that he just didn’t like and he wasn’t sure what it was. Then again, he had the same feeling about most of Justin’s friends. They meant that there was a part of Justin that he didn’t have. Couldn’t have because they had a history with Justin and he was slowly trying to wean Justin away from them all. At first, he didn’t think it would be too difficult, especially since they were also friends of Brian’s, and older, but he was finding that once you became a member of the tight knit group, it wasn’t easy to leave and Justin was no exception. What made it even worse was the fact that Justin and Brian still talked. Ethan didn’t want that to happen, even when he knew nothing was going on. He didn’t want to take the chance that Brian might try to get his old lover back and he knew that, if Brian wanted to, he could still get Justin back because, no matter what Justin said, Ethan knew he was still in love with the older man.

“Oh, she wanted to remind me that I’m supposed to meet her downtown later today,” Justin replied. “We have to get the office ready for business next week.”

“What office?” Ethan inquired. “What business?” Justin stopped and looked at Ethan.

“Didn’t I tell you?” Ethan shook his head. “Oh, damn. I thought I did. Well, anyway, Brian decided to go out on his own. Start his old advertising agency and he asked for our help. You know, to help keep a pulse on what the younger generation wants.” Justin smiled as he said that knowing that Brian would kick his ass if he heard him explain it like that. “I’m going to work on the graphics and stuff like that. I even got Professor Johnson to let me get some extra credits for school for it since I’ll basically be doing everything I do in class there.”

“Wait a fucking minute,” Ethan stopped, pulling his hand away from Justin’s. “What the hell do you mean you’ll be working for Brian? I don’t fucking think so.”

“Excuse me?” Justin’s eyebrow rose.

“I said, there is no way in hell I’ll let you work for Brian fucking Kinney,” Ethan shouted, causing a few heads to turn, which he pointedly ignored. “You are not going to work for your ex-boyfriend. I won’t allow it.”

“You won’t allow it. Since when was it your decision who I did or did not work for?” Justin’s smile disappeared from his face, but on the inside he was laughing his ass off.

“Since you and I became lovers.”

“And that gives you the right to dictate to me?” Ethan nodded his head. “That’s bullshit. Even Brian didn’t try that shit with me when I went to work at Babylon, even though he made no secret of how he felt about that. Besides, I need the money. The diner barely pays my bills. If it wasn’t for Brian having already agreed to pay my tuition I wouldn’t even be able to go to school. This is just my way of paying his back for that.”

“You could always go back and work on the comic book,” Ethan suggested. “I’m sure Michael would love that.”

“You know how I feel about Michael,” Justin said. “He and I were never super close and after what he did…”

“He was only looking after his best friend,” Ethan defended the other man. “I would have done the same thing.”

“Yeah, well, that doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it, now does it? Besides, I want to help Brian. He’s done a lot for me and I want to repay him.” Ethan could tell that there was no way that he was going to be able to talk Justin out of his decision. He just was going to have to make it plain to Brian, and Justin, that Justin was his and that he didn’t share his toys. He pulled Justin close to him, leaning over and giving him a kiss.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Ethan didn’t feel the shiver that ran through Justin at the nickname. “It’s just that I’m afraid that Brian will decide to go after you again.”

“We’re just friends now,” Justin told him. “Besides, he knows I’m with you.”

“Doesn’t meant he had to accept it thought does it?” Justin shrugged. “Just promise me that you won’t let him make you do something that you don’t want.”

“I promise.” Justin said smoothly, glad to see that his part of the plan was working just fine. He had anticipated his announcement that he would be working for Brian was going to anger his young lover and was glad that he hadn’t been disappointed. And the reasons he gave for working with Brian were valid. He did want to help the other man out for all that he had done for Justin, but it also gave the two of them an excuse to spend time together. While Ethan might not be happy about all the hours Brian and Justin would have to be together, he couldn’t prove that it wasn’t work related. Now for the next part.

“But if it makes you feel better, I’ll talk to Michael and see if he wants to work on the comic thing again.”