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Brother's Keeper
by Vamphile
Five
Justin was quiet on the ride to the airport. He’d been quiet while packing in the loft. He had been quiet for most of the day. Well, except when he became loud and demanding. “More, harder, there, now, fuck, Brian, god!”
But they hadn’t talked much. He was thinking. Brian wasn’t too concerned. He knew the danger signs when Justin withdrew too far into himself. This wasn’t that. This was just how Justin tried to figure things out.
There was a time when he would have just talked incessantly, almost like a radio station, or at least that’s what Brian used to think. Justin didn’t care if anyone was actually listening. The broadcast would continue as he talked and talked, and talked through the issue. Justin didn’t do that anymore. He considered things carefully. He still rolled things around in his brain, spun them this way and that considering every angle, but he didn’t do it out loud anymore.
Brian missed it when it first stopped. Missed being in on the decision. Now he was far more comfortable with it. He knew that Justin would come to a decision. He knew Justin would consult him if he got stuck. And in the end, Justin would let him know what he’d decided.
All he had to decide now was how he was going to handle the situation. There was nothing he could do. The only thing he could control was his reaction. Brian wanted to remind him of this but he had faith that Justin would eventually come to the same conclusion.
He walked Justin to the gate and kissed him. “Call me when you land.”
Justin nodded.
He leaned him and kissed him again. Justin responded with a little more enthusiasm this time.
“I’m sorry about this weekend.”
“I had fun.”
“Well the end was fun.”
“Glad you thought so.”
Justin pushed his overnight bag back behind his hip so he could lean his body flush against Brian's.
“I still owe you a whole weekend.”
“In New York.”
“‘Cause I say so.”
Brian laughed. “As if you need to remind me who’s in charge.”
“I’ll call when I land.”
“Later.”
“Later.”
He watched Justin walk through the gate and head towards the plane. He didn’t turn to leave until Justin was out of sight.
There was a ticket on the car when he got back. He really had to learn to fucking park the car when he dropped Justin off. It never took less than ten minutes for him to say goodbye to that boy.
He threw the ticket in the glove compartment, making a mental note to drop it on Ted’s desk to make sue it got paid and headed back to the loft. He hated this part. The part where the loft felt empty again. But it was part of the deal. And it was a hell of a lot better than the alternative. Justin had to be in New York. That didn’t mean they had to be apart.
He pulled the loft door closed and turned on the computer. He exhaled the smoke from his cigarette and started to do some more research. He still wasn’t sure what Alicia's long term plans for the half-breed were but if she was convinced he could be “cured” Justin was going to intervene. If Justin tried to intervene he was gonna get tangled up with Craig again. Brian was going to do whatever it took to prevent that. Run ins with his father always left Justin more upset than he liked to admit.
He was still reading up on the newest methods of reversing homosexual tendencies when the phone rang.
“Hey.”
“Plane landed. I’m fine.”
“Good.”
“I’m sorry about…”
“Cut it out. We’ve covered this.”
“I’m gonna have to call my dad.”
“Why the fuck would you do that?”
“Because Alicia listens to him. He can’t seriously believe there’s a cure for being gay.”
“Justin.”
“Brian I’ll be fine. I’m not some little kid who can’t handle Craig anymore.”
“Don’t call him.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Well, I figure if just once you listen to me, it’ll save us both a lot of bullshit.”
“Yeah, but what are the odds I’m gonna listen to you.”
“Getting slimmer all the time.”
“Brian you know this can’t…”
“I know. Just don’t call him unless you have to. Alicia said she’d give it some time.”
“Fine. I’ll wait.”
“Good.”
“I’ve gotta go. I’ve got two trains and a bus to catch.”
“Have you considered taking a cab?”
“I’d rather eat this month.”
“You know I’ll help.”
“You know I won’t take it.”
“Ever get the feeling we talk in circles.”
“Beats not talking at all.”
“No shit.”
“I’ve gotta go. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“When’s your next show?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m meeting with a new gallery tomorrow.”
“Good luck with that.”
“Yeah, if I can get some sleep. I won’t be home 'til four.”
“Take a fucking cab. I’ll send you some ramen noodles.”
“It’s safe at this hour. Less crowded.”
“Call me when you get home.”
“Brian.”
“Humor me.”
“Whatever.”
“Bye.”
Justin hung up and Brian lit another cigarette. He knew he should get some sleep. But until Justin called he wasn’t gonna be able to stop thinking about him on the train and the subway in the middle of the night. He knew he was being ridiculous. That Justin had, in the ten months since he’d been living there, gotten quite adept at finding his way around. And he was a confident little fucker too. Didn’t stop Brian from worrying more than he’d like to, or more than he’d admit.
He sighed and turned off the computer. He hadn’t found anything new, just the same horror stories he’d already seen.
He was in bed, trying to convince himself that he was not waiting for Justin’s call when the phone rang.
“You okay?”
“Go to sleep. I’m back in my apartment safe and sound.”
“Let me know how the meeting goes.”
“I will.”
Brian fell asleep quickly. He was tired and knowing Justin was safe and in bed, he could finally relax.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**
Aaron was screaming but his mother was ignoring him. He had to go to school.
“I can’t go back their mom. Everyone knows.”
“Well I can’t afford for you to change schools so you’re going to have to just deal with it. Aaron, you need to graduate.”
“Why? It’s not like I’ve got a shot at college now. Dad’s not gonna help, and we can’t afford it without him.”
“We’ll figure something out. And even if you don’t go to college, you are NOT dropping out of high school.”
“What’s the difference? My life is over anyway. None of my friends are gonna talk to me. Dad refuses to look at me. You think I’m a freak.”
“Not a freak Aaron. I just think you’re confused.”
Aaron opened his mouth to argue but shut it again. He didn’t see the point in going over this again. She wasn’t going to change her mind. And he knew he wasn’t the least bit confused. He’d hoped this entire issue could have waited. He’d planned on maybe telling her, but once he was done with school. Once his father had paid for his education, and he was able to support himself and his mother. Then he could tell Craig to fuck off. Then he’d be able to show his mother that he was a success, and it didn’t matter who he fucked.
He hated Justin so much. He’d managed to do all of that. But then he’d also managed to find someone to help him. He’d managed to glide through undamaged…well, except for that prom thing, but that was ancient history.
Justin didn’t know how fucking lucky he was.
Aaron was riding his skateboard and getting more and more angry at his half brother as he headed towards school. He got as far as the soccer field across the street before he realized that there was no fucking way he was going back into that building.
He turned around and pushed of on his board, heading anywhere but school.
He was almost a half a mile away before he realized he had no idea how to kill an entire day if he wasn’t in class. On the rare occasions he had cut school it had always been with Joey, or Dennis, or some other friend with a car. Without a car he was kind of stuck.
He ducked into a local convenience store and bought himself a pack of cigarettes. He lit one and exhaled slowly as he contemplated his options.
He knew how to get into the city but what was the point, it was midday. But then again he’d never actually seen Liberty Avenue in the light of day. Sure, he’d seen it as the sun was just coming up, but by then he was usually too wasted to notice anything much.
Making his decision he headed towards the train station. It was a couple of miles, and would cost him a couple of bucks but surely there was something to do. Maybe he’d find some rich bored guy to kill the afternoon with.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**
Justin grabbed his book and his keys. He looked for his phone. He’d put it down somewhere last night before bed. It wasn’t on the charger. He looked on the nightstand, and the floor… the shades were still pulled and the room was dark. He turned around to see if it had fallen behind something when he heard the crunch. FUCK. He picked it up, hoping it could be salvaged, but he’d left it open last night and the screen was now disconnected from the keypad by all but a few wires. Goddammit. He didn’t have the money for this.
He couldn’t do anything about it now, he was running late. Already aggravated he pulled the door shut and locked it behind him. Then he put his game face on. This show would be a real coup.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**
Brian tried to concentrate on what Ted was telling him but he couldn’t. It was too boring.
“Ted. Point. Soon.”
“Right, Brian, it’s simple, you need to decide what you’re doing with the building.”
“Fuck. Ted, I don’t know.”
“The work’s completed. It’s up to code and saleable. But the inside is still pretty much a blank canvas. Do you want to sell it as business space, rebuild Babylon, or just lease it out?”
“I’ll let you know.”
“It’s just, we’re carrying the cost of the mortgage on the building, plus general insurance, and there’s more to be done depending on your plans. So I need to make some calls, but it’s all kind of stalled until you let me know what you want.”
Brian was pissed now. “Ted I promise to inform you as soon as I know what the fuck I want.”
Ted wasn’t stupid enough to continue. He left quickly and Brian sat back on the sofa wondering what he should do. What he wanted to do. He looked at the clock, almost one. Justin should be done with that meeting by now. He called him and got his voicemail.
“Hey, I’ve got a question, call me.”
He walked out of the office and headed to the diner for lunch.
Michael and Emmett were talking about something. He slid in next to Michael, nodding a greeting to Emmett who didn’t even pause from his story.
“Electrodes… down there, and every time you look at a picture that makes you hot they go off…can you imagine?”
Michael shuddered.
“New toy Emmett?”
Emmett glared at him. “I was telling Michael what some of those places that swear that they cure gay men do.”
“I think you’re exaggerating.”
“I was talking to Frankie, you know him… blonde, hangs out with the Todds a lot, used to be with what’s his name… Jamie, your old bartender, for like a week or something.”
Brian smiled. “Yeah, I’ve had him. Not bad.”
“Well, when he first came out, his parents sent him to one of those places. He told me all about it.”
“Brian nodded. “Why the fuck are we talking about this?”
“Because of Aaron.”
Brian cocked an eyebrow at Michael. “You and Ben taking in another foundling?”
“No I just don’t think that torture is the answer.”
“Relax, Frankie seemed to recover nicely.”
“Brian, how can you pretend you don’t care?”
“Who’s pretending?”
Michael sighed dramatically and Brian finally got Kiki’s attention. He ordered and then turned back to Michael and Emmett. “Alicia can’t afford one of those places, and even Craig isn’t gonna do that to the kid.”
“If you say so.”
Brian shrugged. “Not my call. But hell, if it comes to that, we can sic Justin on him. He’s having his own hissy fit over the little half-breed.”
“Well can you blame him?”
Brian took a sip of his coffee, grimaced and added more sugar. “No. I still blame Craig.”
“So what’s going on with Babylon renovations?” Emmett asked, changing the subject.
“No clue. Still debating.”
“You should re open. Don’t let those fuckers win.”
Brian nodded. “That’s one side.”
“And the other?”
Brian was relieved when his food arrived and the subject changed to Emmett’s newest encounter with some seemingly straight guy who turned out to be a bigger perv than dungeon master Don.
He tried to call Justin again on the way back to his office but the phone still went directly to voicemail.
“I’m taking this as a sign the interview went well and you’re now planning how to spend all your money and not that you’re ignoring me. Answer your fucking phone.”
He slid the phone back in his pocket and let his eyes follow a hot guy who was obviously cruising him.
He followed the guy for a block or two and saw him turn down an alley.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~***~**~**~**~*~*
Aaron was surprised at how quickly he made it to Liberty Avenue, but then again, the busses ran more regularly during the day.
He was walking aimlessly, smoking a cigarette when he heard a few catcalls. He turned and saw a group of kids about his age hanging out between two buildings. He moved hesitantly closer. Not joining them. Simply standing nearby, leaning against the wall and lighting another cigarette. Trying to look like he belonged.
He watched in awe as some guy wandered down towards the group. He made eye contact with Aaron first but Aaron dropped his eyes. The guy was too old, and too ugly. Even if it did look like he might have money.
Eventually after a few of kids had made some crude comments he pulled one of them back behind a stack of old wooden pallets.
When he walked back out several minutes later Aaron kept his eyes down, trying not to look shocked.
A car pulled up and a few jokes were made to some kid apparently called “Merk.” He approached the car and a few words were exchanged. Then “Merk” got in.
Aaron’s attention was now focused entirely on the conversation going on between the kids near him.
“Fucking lucky asshole to have a regular like that.”
“Heard he actually springs for a hotel.”
“No fucking way dude, he’ll be back in 45 minutes. Who gets a hotel room and only uses it for 45 minutes.”
“A guy who can afford it.”
“I’m not buying it, besides, his car is big enough to fuck in.”
“Merk says he’s a bottom.”
“You’re shitting me. You see that guy?”
“One of them shrugged, stubbing out a cigarette. “You know you can never really tell.”
Until now the boys had been ignoring Aaron. But one of them, apparently some sort of leader turned his attention to him. “How bout you chicken? You a top or a bottom.”
Aaron exhaled the smoke from his own cigarette and shrugged. “Depends on who’s asking.”
They all laughed at that. “You new?”
Aaron kept his head down. “I guess.”
“Where you staying?”
“Around.”
“Next one’s yours, call it a gift.”
There was some obvious resentment at the gesture from a few of the other kids but Aaron nodded just a little. His heart was racing.
This was NOT why he’d come here but what if…
It beat school. A couple of blowjobs. Maybe letting some gross older guy paw at him, and he’d be making more money than he made roping in grocery carts at the Giant Eagle. Hell, maybe he’d be able to afford a car.
The next guy who headed down the alley wasn’t gross or that old. The grumbling from the other boys got louder but Aaron knew it was pretty much now or never. If he didn’t prove himself here…then it would be the last time he could show his face in this alley, or possibly in daylight on Liberty Avenue again.
He moved a little, putting his body between the man’s and the rest of the group. He looked the taller guy right in the eye.
“Looking for a date?”
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
Brian kept walking, heading back to KinnetiK. He turned his head slightly to see what the guy had passed him up for and his anger flared.
He stormed down the alley quickly and heard Aaron ask the question.
“No. I Am.” Brian growled, grabbing Aaron by the shirt and dragging him back to the main street.
“Hey, what the fuck are you doing.”
Brian wasn’t talking. He wasn’t sure exactly what he was doing. He kept walking, dragging Aaron with him. He pulled him into KinnetiK and threw him down on the sofa, locking the door to his office behind him.
He hit the button on his phone. “Hold all calls but Justin. And fucking call the kid, he’s not answering his goddamned phone.”
Cynthia had no idea what was going on, but if Brian was that angry, and calling Justin “the kid” she’d call him. She only hoped he picked up…she didn’t want to be the one to tell him that she couldn’t find him.
Aaron stood up and tried to act casual. He failed.
“You’re a pain in the ass you know that?”
Brian sneered. “What the fuck were you doing?”
“What did it look like?”
“Is that what you do all day. No wonder your mother thinks you’re a freak.”
“Fuck you.”
“I don’t know… I don’t have any cash on me, what’s the going rate these days?”
Aaron moved closer. He’d learned a couple of things from his time in the clubs. The fact that older men found him hot was one he’d used to his advantage quite a bit. “ I’d give you a discount.”
Brian pushed him back. “What, the family rate?”
“We’re not family.”
Brian shook his head. “No, but I have an entire family that would disagree with us so back the fuck off.”
“You know you like ‘em young. You must if you’ve been with Justin so long. He still looks like a kid. Would it be so bad?”
Brian laughed. He tried to think of something snarky, or witty, or angry to say. And in truth, he was pissed to hell. Right now all he could think was that his magnetism to wayward boys was not a superpower he wished on Rage, or anyone else for that matter. He’d only recently got Hunter to stop propositioning him, and that kid was straight. Now he’s got Justin’s half-breed looking for it?
He sat down behind his desk. “Bad isn’t the word.”
“Then what is?” Aaron moved closer, still trying to work the seduction angle.
Brian ignored his blatant attempts at changing the direction of the conversation.
“Doesn’t matter. Sit down 'til I figure out what the fuck I’m gonna do about you.”
“Just let me go. I’m fine.”
“Yeah, you’re an angel.”
“Hey, I’m not just some fucking hustler.”
Brian lifted an eyebrow. “Don’t mean to belabor the point but…”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“What was it like?”
“I don’t… I mean I’ve never… I mean I haven’t”
Brian didn’t believe him. “Mmmmmm hmmmm.”
“Fuck you.”
Aaron started to storm off, in a bizarrely familiar tone of voice. His stride toward the door was reminiscent of someone they both knew as well. Brian moved faster than Aaron and grabbed him by the shirt, throwing him back into the chair across from his desk. “Sit there and don’t move.”
He hit the intercom button again. “Cynthia, where the fuck is Justin?”
“How the fuck should I know? I keep getting voicemail too. Try emailing him.”
Brian growled and punched the phone again.
He logged on and saw the Justin was online.
Bkinnetikcorp: where the fuck are you?
Fcukthesunshine: in the middle of the MOMA looking at art… I’m at home where the fuck do you think?
Bkinnetikcorp: Answer your fucking phone.
Fcukthesunshine: can’t it’s broken.
Bkinnetikcorp: what the fuck, use your landline.
Fcukthesunshine: you know I don’t have one.
Bkinnetikcorp: Need to talk. Half-breed’s a hustler.
Fcukthesunshine: WTF??? Hustler, liar, or hustler rent boy?
Bkinnetikcorp: rent boy
Fcukthesunshine: kill him
Bkinnetikcorp: You won’t get mad? He’s here now. I’m pretty sure I can get Cyn to hide the body for a while.
Fcukthesunshine: I’m coming back.
Bkinnetikcorp: Probably best.
Fcukthesunshine: fuck.
Bkinnetikcorp: I’ll keep him within reach, and at arms length 'til you get here. Cyn will email you the ticket info.
Fcukthesunshine: I’m sorry you have to deal with this.
Bkinnetikcorp: I’ll think of some way for you to repay me.
Fcukthesunshine: I’m sure. Gotta go now. Apparently have to pack.
Bkinnetikcorp: See you soon
Fcukthesunshine: I’ll take a cab from the airport.
Bkinnetikcorp: I’ll be at the loft. Can’t kept he kid here.
Fcukthesunshine: k bye, later.
**Fcukthesunshine has logged off**
Brian hit the intercom button again, rapid firing directions to Cynthia who decided now was not the time to remind him that he’d promoted her six months ago and had a perfectly competent person to do shit like this.
When it came to Justin related crises he turned to her for logistical maneuvering. He trusted her.
She booked Justin on the first commuter flight Liberty Aair had. It was two o’clock. The pane left at four. She hoped Justin had time to make it. Concerned he wouldn’t she arranged for a car and driver for him in New York to get him to the airport. And one at the Pittsburgh airport to get him to the loft.
She was pretty confident Brian wasn’t gonna say a word about the cost.
She had no idea what was going on, but from Brian’s reaction… and Justin’s immediate and grateful email reply…she knew it was big. She just hoped they were both okay.
~**~**~**~**~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~
Justin jotted down the confirmation number and grabbed his overnight bag…again. He still hadn’t unpacked it from the previous evening and now he was headed back. He was furious with Aaron. And worried. What had he been doing? What had Brian seen? What the fuck was going on?
He couldn’t get a satisfying response via email and with no phone… he headed down to the street hoping the car was there soon. He wanted to figure this out and get the fuck back to his life.
The flight was uneventful. He searched automatically for Brian at the Pittsburgh airport but then remembered he had the half-breed with him and Cynthia had sent a car.
He saw a man holding a sign with his name. He introduced himself and followed him asking him to drive quickly.
The driver tried to make small talk. Justin wasn’t in the mood to be polite. He grunted acknowledgement about the mans weather observations and assessment of traffic conditions and he eventually seemed to get the point and shut up.
By six thirty he was inside the loft.
Brian kissed him hello. He kissed him back perfunctorily. “What the fuck’s going on?”
“How did the gallery meeting go?”
“Fine, I’ve got a show in two months. They want to feature my multi-media pieces and a couple of the larger paintings. What the fuck’s going on?”
“Calm down. This won’t go better if you lose it.”
“What won’t go better?”
“Relax.”
“Shut the fuck up. Where is he?”
“He’s asleep.”
“Asleep?”
Brian shrugged. “He fell asleep.”
Justin looked over at the sofa. It was empty. “IN OUR BED?”
“Shhhh, he’s sleeping. And I put him there after he fell asleep.”
Justin closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the door, banging it a couple of times. Brian put a hand on either side of Justin’s head to stop it. “Hey.”
“Brian.”
“It’ll be okay.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Let’s assume I do. Now sit down. Have a drink, or three, and I’ll tell you the whole story.”
Justin dropped his bag and threw his jacket over it. He kicked off his shoes and dropped himself onto the sofa.
“What do you want, hard stuff, beer or milk?”
“Stop trying to get rid of the fucking milk. Gimme a scotch.”
Brian poured them each one and handed a glass to Justin. He headed to the fridge for a couple of beers and put them on the table as well. Then he sat on the opposite end of the sofa. He put his feet up and Justin made room to accommodate him. They drank in silence for a moment. Their legs comfortably tangled.
When Justin had finished his drink and started on his beer he finally seemed ready to rationally discuss the situation.
“Start at the beginning, leave out a detail and I’ll kill you.”
Brian decided to let the comment pass and told Justin what he knew.
“So do you believe him?’
“Which part?”
Justin took a moment as if deciding. “All of it I guess. The part where he’s never really done that before. The part where he won’t go back to school… all of it.”
“I don’t know… I didn’t get a good look at his face when he was talking to that guy.”
“Fucking pervert.”
“Yeah, older guys who like teenagers are twisted.”
“Shut up.”
“You do recognize the hypocrisy of your stance though?”
“You do recognize you’ve pointed it out to me about a hundred times in the last three days.”
“I’m just reminding you that he’s not twelve, he’s sixteen.”
“Brian he was selling his ass in an alley.”
“Yeah, that’s the one that got me too.”
“So now what?
“Why the fuck are you asking me?”
“You’re the one who always has some subtle evil master plan.”
“Yeah, that’s me, future evil overlord.”
“Brian. What. Do. We. Do?”
“Take him home to mommy?”
“If you thought that’s what we should do I wouldn’t be here right now.”
“I know.”
“So.”
“So?”
Justin stood up and poured himself another scotch. He refilled Brian’s glass and left the bottle on the table. Brian moved his legs and waited until Justin settled to re-entangle themselves…
“We’re never having children.”
Justin raised an eyebrow.
“We can’t figure out what to do with one kid we barely care about. What the fuck would we do with a kid we liked?”
“You think about shit like that?”
“When I’m drunk enough.”
“How much did you drink before I got here?”
“What do you want to do with the half-breed?” Brian deftly steered the topic back to the matter at hand.
“We could buy one of those chest freezers.”
It was Brian’s turn to raise an eyebrow.
Justin explained. “I don’t think he’d fit in your freezer, and even if he did, no room for ice. So we buy a chest freezer, kill him, and keep him in there.”
“If all we wanted was him dead I could have left him on the street.”
“How the fuck are we gonna tell his mother about this? Fuck, Brian, where does she think he is now?”
Brian shrugged. There was a knock on the door. “Apparently she thinks he’s here.”
Justin sighed. “I’ll get it.”
He walked slowly towards the door drink still in hand. His jaw tightened and his stomach turned when he slid the door open.
“Dad.”
“Justin!”
Brian was up and standing behind Justin within seconds.
The three men stood glaring at each other 'til Craig pushed Justin aside and tried to barrel past Brian into the loft. Brian held his ground not allowing Craig to pass. He wanted to reach for Justin. He wanted to push Craig out the door physically and lock it. But he just stood there, waiting for the bastard to say something.
“I came for my son.”
“He’s right here but I’m not sure he wants to see you.” he glanced towards Justin
Craig sneered a little. “Not him. Aaron.”
“Oh, you have to be more specific. Seems you have a lot of sons. I can’t keep track of them all.”
Craig’s face was bright red, and, Brian noticed, Justin was right. The vein in his forehead did look frighteningly close to bursting when he got like this. Brian remained calm. “I didn’t know you had custody of Aaron.”
Craig sputtered a little. “I…I…I… don’t.”
Oh, then unless there’s an under aged Taylor child I’m unaware of. One that you do have custody of, there’s no one here for you to retrieve.”
“Dad.”
Brian and Justin’s head both snapped to look at Justin. “Dad just… just go.”
“I’m not fucking leaving another one of my kids with this sick bastard!”
Brian took a menacing step forward. Craig stepped back and then stopped himself. He pulled himself up to full height. “Are you threatening me?”
Brian shook his head, his eyes never leaving Craig's. “I’m protecting what’s mine.”
“My son is not yours.”
Brian pulled Justin towards him now. Wrapping an arm around his waist. He tilted his head and smiled a little. “I’m a part of the family Craig. More than you can say. Which makes both of them far more my responsibility than yours.”
Justin was leaning against Brian a little but he met Craig's gaze. “You really should leave.”
“Fuck the both of you.”
Aaron chose that moment to stumble down the steps, bleary eyed, shirtless, wearing only his jeans.
“What’s going on? You woke me up.”
As Aaron rubbed at his eyes in a manner so like Justin’s it was eerie Brian started to laugh.
Justin’s laughter joined his and the two of them were holding each other and laughing 'til tears came while Aaron and Craig both looked on, perplexed and aggravated.
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