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Superstar
by Vamphile
For Paddies
Chapter Nine
Brian was trying to keep his focus but his mind kept drifting back to the loft, to the blonde in his loft. He shook his head to clear it and put on his professional demeanor. Things went back to normal on the set and Chaz let out a long breath of relief. It had been a rough week, and for a few desperate days he thought he might have lost his most profitable leading man.
The producer knew he was being ridiculous, Brian didn’t give a fuck, he’d proven that time and again, sure things had been different with the kid, but it was a couple of days, a couple of nights. Brian was obviously back, and things could return to normal.
~*~*~*~*~
Justin was silent on the ride home. Jennifer wanted to ask him a million questions, where had he been what had he done, how had he gotten by, but she was too happy to have him back, and too scared that he’d run again to say anything yet.
Justin watched blankly as the city disappeared and the roads and houses became more familiar. He was going home. He could put the last week behind him. He briefly thought about what he had left back in Pittsburgh, Brian, the loft, the new clothes, his money… but that was gone now, lost to him, through his own actions. He’d go home, he’d be the son his parents wanted, he wasn’t cut out for living on the street, or fucking for money, he thought he could do it, but he couldn’t. He thought he had loved Brian, but that was probably drugs, and sex, and stupid teenage hormones. How could he love someone who didn’t even like him?
He was jerked out of his thoughts when the car pulled into the driveway. He walked, still in a daze into the house, surprised to find it exactly as he’d left it a little less than a month ago. He didn’t know what he’d expected but it was a strange feeling to be back. He wiped his sweating palms on his jeans and gazed around as if he’d never seen his own home before.
“Are you hungry sweetie?”
Justin nodded and Jennifer smiled, “I’ll make you something.”
Justin followed her into the kitchen and watched the familiar sight of his mother, boiling pasta, heating up sauce, putting garlic bread into the oven.
When everything was on the table she called for Molly and Justin started again, it all seemed so fucking normal. Well, it seemed normal until Molly came barreling down the stairs and when she saw Justin she launched herself into his arms.
“Justin!”
”Hey Molly.”
“Where were you?”
”At Daph’s.”
”But why didn’t you come home?”
”I was busy.”
Molly shrugged “I missed you.”
“You probably already took all the cool stuff out of my room.”
Molly gave him a sly smile, not ALL of it. Justin ran a hand through her hair playfully and they sat down to dinner.
“Where’s dad?”
Justin froze again, in all his desperation to get out of the city he’d forgotten about dealing with his father, about the angry words, and the angrier fists.
“He’s away for the night on business, he’ll be back tomorrow.”
Justin nodded, still not speaking, and dug into the plate in front of him, hungrier than he’d thought. Sap was going to be mad that he wasn’t there tonight but he shook his head, trying to shake the thought completely, he didn’t work there anymore.
“Molly, do you have homework?” Jennifer asked
Molly shrugged, which they all knew meant yes.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and finish it, call me if you need help.”
Molly went back upstairs but not to her room, she sat at the top of the steps listening, she wanted to know where her brother had really been.
Jennifer was clearing the table as she talked, hoping that keeping it casual would get Justin to open up.
“It really is great to have you back sweetie. So where did you stay?”
Justin shrugged, “With a friend in the city.”
“Do I know them?”
”No mom you don’t”
“I picked up your assignments, you’re a little behind but there’s time for you to make up most of the work, you can probably even graduate on time.”
“I don’t want to go back to school.”
“Justin.”
“Mom, I really don’t…”
“Justin, it’s not an option, you have to finish school, you’ve already sent in your college applications.”
“But that was before.”
“Honey nothing has changed.”
”Does dad think that?”
“Your father was worried about you.”
Justin snorted.
“He was, he was beside himself when you disappeared, we looked everywhere, but you just vanished, I was scared, your father was scared, we…”
“Yeah well I’m back now, can we not talk about it?”
“Okay, if you don’t want to talk we won’t now, but eventually Justin…”
Justin got up and walked away, he was tired, “I’m going to my room.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Brian got home a little after nine, and the loft was empty, he assumed Justin was at Babylon, working. He would not, he told himself, as he changed into suitable club clothes, go to check on him.
He continued to tell himself this as he drove to the club. He reminded himself that he often went to Babylon after work and Justin’s employment there was not going to change that. He was not looking for the kid as his eyes scanned the room. He was not concerned when he couldn’t find him. He was not going to ask anyone if they’d seen him.
“Hey Brian, where’s that beautiful co-star slash go-go boy of yours?”
Brian shrugged, “Thought he was working tonight, and he’s not mine.”
”I haven’t seen him, and believe me, I’ve been looking sweetie.”
Brian looked at Emmett as if hearing him for the first time, “He’s not here?”
Emmett shrugged, “Figured you two might be spending the night in.”
“He’s not at the loft.”
“Well maybe the twink found himself something more interesting to do, or maybe Gary’s got him working a private party.” Emmett said, unaware of the effect the words had on his friend.
Brian felt ice grip him, another private party. He scanned the room for a flash of blonde hair or the greasy pate of the Sap. He found Gary first. The shorter man was heading towards him obviously upset.
“Where the fuck is your little twink Kinney? He was supposed to be here at nine.”
Brian shrugged, for a brief moment relieved that he wasn’t at one of The Sap’s infamous private parties, but then the ice cold panic filled him again, if he wasn’t at the loft, and he wasn’t at work, where the fuck was that kid?
“Boy toy wonder? He went home.”
”Home?”
Both Gary and Sap looked at Michael who had arrived to hear the last half of the conversation.
“Yeah, his mom came into the diner, and according to Ma it was quite the tearful reunion. She took her little boy back to the country club I guess.”
Brian ordered a double beam and drank it, hoping it would melt the ice, or put out the fire. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling at the moment but he knew it was visceral, and unfamiliar, and unpleasant.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bullet, giving himself a bump before offering it to Michael, who declined.
“I’m probably gonna end up driving you home tonight, one of us has to be able to keep the Jeep in a straight line.”
Brian shrugged and ordered another double and a beer. He straightened his shoulders and spotted his prey, “Be back later boys.” he said as he walked away from the his bemused friends. Whatever the twink had done to Brian, it was over, he’d gone home and Brian had come back to them, the same as always. They watched in barely disguised awe as he whispered something into the hot guy’s ear, and was followed to the back room.
The scene was repeated several times over the night, followed by a couple more drinks, and a hit of something or other. Brian was well and truly wasted by the time Michael managed to get him up to the loft and onto his bed.
He pulled off the mans shoes and pants, and threw the duvet over him, locking the door behind him. He thought he heard Brian mumble the word Justin, but he shook his head, this was Brian fucking Kinney, he didn’t get fucked up over a stupid twink. Michael sighed, as he headed back to his own apartment.
~*~*~*~*~*
Jennifer didn’t want to push it, so she didn’t force Justin to return to school the following morning, but she did leave his books and lists of assignments on his desk when she opened the curtains and woke him up a little before noon.
“Christ, mom, I’m tired.”
”I know, but you can’t sleep all day.”
Justin hadn’t slept well the previous night; all he’d been able to think about was Brian. The feel of him, the taste of him, the way he kissed, the way he fucked, the way he held him. He jerked off, whispering Brian's name as he came, but he couldn’t clear his head of those hazel eyes, those deep red full lips, his scent. He’d finally drifted off fitfully only to wake to his mother flooding the room with light. He cursed, but then kept silent, he knew he was probably best off at home.
Jennifer was relieved when she brought a sandwich and soda up to Justin later in the day and saw him actually working on some of his schoolwork. Her son was back.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Brian awoke at nine the next morning, grimacing. He started the coffee, and got in the shower, by the time he was clean, and feeling a little more human, the coffee was done, a couple aspirin later and he headed back to the studio. It was a short day today because Chaz had rented the set to a smaller company for a ridiculous profit margin. Brian figured it was just as well, the new film was crap, his costars were trolls and generally speaking, Brian was experiencing something new, he wasn’t in the mood.
He performed, he said his lines, but he didn’t give a fuck about any of it and as soon as Chaz wrapped for the day he headed to Woody’s for a drink and whatever else he could find.
~*~*~*~*~*~
When Jennifer saw Craig’s car pull up she was hesitant. She knew he wouldn’t be as happy as she was to have their son back in the house, but she also knew that he had been worried about the boy, and would be relieved to know he was okay.
“So he’s upstairs now?” Craig asked once Jennifer had related to him the events of the previous day.
“Yes, he’s healthy, he’s fine, and he’s home, working on homework last time I checked.” Jennifer couldn’t keep the smile off of her face.
“Justin!” Craig called, summoning his son.
Justin heard his father come in and had been bracing himself for this the entire day. He had tried to work on a little homework, but had ended up sketching Brian, sleeping, talking, reading, walking, dancing, fucking. He’d tried to capture his every expression while they were still fresh.
He reluctantly left his room to face his father, not sure what came next.
“Where were you?” his fathers voice was gruff, but Justin sensed some concern behind it, and hoped that the time he’d been away from the house had given him a chance to process the information, to deal, to accept.
”With a friend.”
Craig sneered, “I’ll bet.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t like that.” Jennifer broke in.
“I’m sure it was. This friend, was he…like you?”
”You mean queer?”
Craig leaned back as if he’d been slapped. “Well was he?”
“What difference does it make, you wanted me home and I’m home.”
Craig nodded, trying to block out the parts of his son he didn’t want to know about. “You belong here, home, with us, your family.”
Justin exhaled, relieved, he’d half expected his father to tell him to leave again.
“But we have to establish some rules.”
Justin said nothing, waiting.
“We have to consider your sister, your friends, your school, so as long as you’re living here, under this roof, you won’t be like that.”
Justin looked at him, trying to understand. “I won’t be like what?”
”Like you said you were, disgusting, with…boys.”
“I won’t be gay.”
“Not here.”
Justin laughed, there was no joy in it. “You think it’s something I can choose? Something I decided to be?”
”Justin, you know what your father means.”
“No mom, I don’t, what is it you mean dad?” he said the word with all the venom of an insult.
“I mean that while you’re living here, with your sister and your mother and me, you will not go to those clubs, or be with those people or…” his fathers voice trailed off.
“You know, you can tell me what to do, you can tell me not to do it here, but no matter what happens dad, I’ll always be your queer son.” Justin was angry now, furious. Yes it had been rough but he’d survived on his own, (well with Brian’s help), and he’d do it again if he had to. He’d rather live like that then pretend to be something he wasn’t. He had done that for too long. He wouldn’t do it again.
He was too lost in thought to see his fathers face turn an angry shade of purple, to see his quick movements or to duck before the blow hit.
He heard his mother calling for Craig to stop but Justin couldn’t focus as the blows came one after another, fists and feet, pummeling him. He curled up, trying to protect himself but his father’s anger was unavoidable and unstoppable. When his mother finally managed to calm the man down, to pull him off of her son Justin lay there dazed, feeling the world spinning.
He had to leave, that’s all he knew, he had to get out of here. He tried to stand, but he stumbled, he crawled out of the house, hearing his father’s threats regarding his return.
He pulled himself up, catching his breath, able to stand at the end of the driveway. He called Daphne. She was there in minutes, and was obviously upset. She tried to take him to her place but Justin shook his head. “Brian, I need Brian.”
Daphne nodded, afraid that Craig would find him at her parent’s house, or worse that her parent’s would return him to his own home. She drove towards the city.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was still early when Brian left Woody’s, he’d had a few drinks, taken someone to the back room, fucked them hard, come and then left. He was headed back to the loft when a blue car pulled up in front of his building.
“Brian.” He heard the sound and saw the flash of blonde hair as he stepped closer. He was about to say something snide to the little runaway when he noticed the limp, and as he walked closer to him, moving under the streetlight Brian saw the bruises and the blood.
“Mother fucker.” He muttered to himself as he pulled the kid to him, wanting to crush him in a protective hold, but afraid of causing further damage. “C’mon.” He nodded at Daphne who only nodded back and drove off; somehow sure her friend was in safe hands.
Brian maneuvered the kid into his Jeep. “I’m sorry.” Justin said, feeling like the worlds biggest fool.
“Sorry’s bullshit.”
“I just need…” Justin seemed to be fading in and out of consciousness.
Justin! He opened his eyes and Brian sighed
“We’ve got to get you to the hospital”
Justin tried to protest but his nose was bleeding again and he felt the blood running down the back of his throat making him want to gag, he leaned his head forward but that hurt too.
Brian gritted his teeth and drove fast, fighting down the urge to kill whoever had done this, and silently berating himself for letting the kid get hurt again. He wondered if he’d ever feel okay without the blonde directly within his line of vision, but right now, he just had to get him to the hospital, get him checked out. He felt Justin lose consciousness completely and cursed as he drove faster, pulling up to the emergency entrance and gathering Justin into his arms as he walked into the bright lights and horrible smells that only a hospital can provide.
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