A Rose By Any Other Name



 

Brian continued to rub Justin’s back as he coughed and Emmett urged him to drink the water Brian handed him. Justin sipped from the bottle and finally got his breathing under control. He handed the bottle back with a shy smile. “Thanks.”
 

“I haven’t seen you choke like that since your first blowjob,” Brian smirked.

“Tasted just as bad,” Justin shot back.

Everyone else let out the collective breath they held and laughed, helping ease the tension a little more.

When Brian first saw Justin at the bar, he almost left. He figured he could go home and find a trick online. He’d been frequenting the backroom so much lately he was getting bored with the prospects anyway. Then he saw Michael appear next to Justin and hand him a drink. Michael said something to the teen and Justin stuck out his tongue, which spurred Michael to pelt him with ice. Finally, Ted stepped in to break it up. Brian was relieved they were back to normal, although he wasn’t sure how it would affect him.

Brian was still intending to leave when he saw everyone laughing at something Ted said. Ted? Wonder Whacker never ceased to amaze him. Then he saw Justin raise his glass and he knew the kid was going to choke. Justin had a lot of book smarts, but sometimes he had the common sense of a doorstop. Brian was instantly at the boy’s side before he realized what he was doing.

“Ooh, I love this song!” Emmett squealed before anyone could say anything else. He gave Justin a questioning look. Justin glanced quickly at Brian, unsure what to do, but Brian gave him a friendly nudge and he followed Emmett and Ted into the mass of writhing bodies.

Justin tried to clear his mind and ignore the fact that Brian was watching him from the bar. He didn’t look over his shoulder but he could feel the older man’s eyes burning into him. Should they talk? What would he say? He wondered if Brian would stick around or if he would just disappear into the backroom. After a few minutes, he dared to glance back at the bar and saw Brian still there talking to Michael.

“Brian,” Michael whined, “if you don’t show up Ma is going to make me suffer a fate worse than Captain Astro!”

“Finally, someone will put me out of my misery,” Brian replied dryly.

Michael stepped in front of Brian trying to block his attention from his latest trick. He didn’t realize Brian had been watching Justin. Brian wanted to push him out of the way but kept his demeanor unaffected. “Everyone knows you two want to be together, so just suck it up,” at Brian’s sly smile he amended, “suck him up, and drag him back home where he belongs.”

Brian eyed Michael wearily. “Since when have you become the stalker’s greatest fan? Oh, I get it. You’re taking lessons to get Ben back. Well, worry about the professor and leave me alone.”

“Asshole,” Michael muttered. “Why can’t you just show up for a few minutes to show there are no hard feelings?”

Brian raised an eyebrow. “Mikey, you know the only feelings I have are hard.”

Michael rolled his eyes. “Except where he’s concerned. He makes you feel something else and you’re scared.”

Brian was starting to lose patience with his friend. “When did you become a warm-fuzzy lezzie?” he sneered.

“Lesbians aren’t the only one’s with feelings. It’s part of being human and I thought we finally established you’re human too. Why won’t you just talk to him?”

“He told me to stay away from him,” Brian snapped.

“Since when have you ever done anything he wanted?” Michael scoffed.

“I don’t do anything but what I want,” Brian said angrily as he slammed his glass down on the bar before storming off.

 

***
 

Lindsay and Melanie were taking Justin to a violin recital at PIFA for his birthday. It was their gift to him and it got him out of the apartment while the others set up for the surprise party. On their way to pick Justin up they stopped at the loft to drop off Gus for the afternoon.

“Brian, it would really help us out if you brought Gus to Justin’s later,” Lindsay suggested.

“Justin told me to stay away from him, and I’m sure Jennifer doesn’t want me anywhere near him either.” Brian pushed the memory of Justin at Babylon out of his mind. Watching him dance, all Brian could think about was pressing himself against that writhing body, feeling it respond to his touch and open for him until he was buried deep inside, warm and safe and lov--It was definitely better if he stayed away from the kid. He had no self-control when he was around Justin. If he was ever going to get him out of his system, he had to remain in control.

“I’m sure he didn’t mean it. He was angry. It’s his birthday and I know he’ll be disappointed if you’re not there.”

He chose to ignore her opinion of Justin’s state of mind. He didn’t dare let himself think Justin wanted to see him. "I don’t do birthdays. Anybody can get born. The only thing worth celebrating is achievement.”

“It’s obvious you love him, yet you won’t celebrate his birthday because you don’t think it’s an accomplishment? Isn’t it an accomplishment that he’s alive and well? Isn’t that worth celebrating?” Lindsay pressed.

“Are you still here?” he snapped.

“So don’t stay for the fucking party!” Melanie snapped back. “But we need you to do us this favor. We obviously can’t come back and get Gus with Justin and we can’t get him after we drop Justin off or we’ll miss the surprise.”

“So, leave him here until after the party.”

“Justin will be disappointed if Gus isn’t there,” Lindsay said.

Brian glared at her. “Then have someone else pick him up on their way.”

“Everyone else is already running other errands. You’re the only one who won’t cooperate, asshole.” Melanie sighed at Lindsay’s disapproving look. “I just thought you’d be more thoughtful, considering it’s Justin.”

“Save the Jewish guilt trip for my son,” Brian replied dryly.

“Fuck off, Brian!” Melanie yelled.

“He left me, so why should I be thinking of him at all?” Brian yelled back.

“We’re just trying to help,” Lindsay interjected. “If you’d be a little more romantic Justin would probably respond.”

“Maybe I should send him a dozen roses,” Brian sneered.

“Why not?” she challenged.

“Because we’re not dykes, oh, and we’re not together.”

Melanie glared at him. “Couldn’t you just--”

Lindsay cut her off. “We’re going to be late, hon.” She kissed Gus and led Melanie out. Melanie followed mutely, fuming under her breath.

“You let him get away with too much,” she grumbled as they waited for the elevator.

Lindsay smiled sweetly. “He’s not getting away with anything. I got the information I wanted.”

“And what was that?” Melanie barked as she punched the button for the ground floor.

“He didn’t deny he wants Justin back.”

“Jesus,” Melanie muttered. Ever the optimist.

“He’ll show up,” Lindsay confirmed, ignoring Melanie’s dark look.

 

***
 

“Is he amazing or what?” Lindsay gushed as they stopped at the refreshment table after the recital.

“And he’s so young,” Melanie added.

“He started playing when he was four,” Justin informed them.

“I thought you didn’t know anything about him,” Lindsay said.

“I read the program.”

“And redesigned the artwork by the looks of it,” Lindsay observed, studying his sketches of the violinist.

Justin blushed a little. “I’ve seen him around school. He’s hot.”

“Why don’t you go say hi,” Melanie suggested.

Justin finished his glass of punch of headed over to the man.

This was a lovely idea,” Melanie said as she toasted her wife. She hoped Justin hit it off with the little hottie and forgot all about Brian Kinney.

“I just wanted to say I thought you were great,” Justin said to the artist.

“The Revel was passable but the Brahms was for shit,” he replied as he signed another copy of his CD.

Justin was taken aback. “I didn’t notice.”

“But you should’ve, it was all your fault,” the violinist said, but still didn’t look up.

Justin’s mouth dropped open. “Me?”

Warm chocolate eyes locked on his. “Yes. The way you were staring at me was very distracting.”

“I’m sorry,” Justin stammered.

He received a sly smile. “Although not necessarily in a bad way.”

Justin felt his pulse race. “I’m Justin,” he finally managed.

“Ethan,” the artist replied as he shook Justin’s hand and held it a moment longer than usual.

“I know,” Justin replied, reflexively waving the program at the other man.

“What’s this?” Ethan asked reaching for the program. “Let me see.”

Justin reluctantly handed him the program. Ethan studied the sketches and his eyes widened in amazement. “It’s me in five variations.”

Justin shuffled uncomfortably. “It’s a habit, I can’t stop myself.”

“It’s a sign of a true artist. I play in my sleep. You go to school here, right?”

Justin nodded. “Visual Arts.”

“I thought I recognized you,” Ethan said warmly.

Justin flushed a little. “Um, some friends brought me for my birthday.” He turned and pointed to Lindsay and Melanie waiting near the door. They waved on cue and Ethan smiled and waved back.

“So, what else does the birthday boy have planned?”

Justin shook his head. “Nothing. Well, dinner with my family. Otherwise, it’s going to be pretty low-key. This was the highlight.”

“I’m honored. And would be even more so if you’d allow me to take you out later to celebrate. You shouldn’t do anything low-key, Justin. I don’t believe it’s your nature. You should be celebrating your life.”

A moment later Justin rejoined his friends. “You two seemed to hit it off,” Melanie remarked.

“Justin beamed with a sunshine smile. “He’s taking me out after dinner to celebrate my birthday.” His smile brightened even more. “Thanks for bringing me,” he added and gave each woman a peck on the cheek.

As he led the way to the car, Lindsay shot her wife a worried look. Melanie just shrugged. For the first time all afternoon, she really hoped Brian showed up for the party.