#lostcol

[eusuntgratie]

🖤 stisaac

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57644686

There’s blood everywhere. So much blood.

Isaac knows that Stiles isn’t a wolf, that he can’t heal the way he can, but he forgets most of the time. Stiles is brave. Fearless and fierce and he ran into this fight the way he always does; determined to fight for the people he loves and unconcerned for his own safety.

But Isaac’s never ended up with a motionless, bloody body in his lap afterwards.

Lydia barks something at him and he growls at her, pulling Stiles closer. Something flipped in him when he saw the monster’s claws swipe through Stiles’ pale, vulnerable skin. It’s dead now. Isaac doesn’t remember deciding to kill it, but he remembers how good it felt to wrap his hand around its throat and squeeze until his claws punctured the skin. He remembers its face when he realized Isaac had sliced through its carotid. How good it felt to let go and watch it slump down onto the ground in an undignified and unremarkable death.

But mostly he remembers how when he turned back to Stiles, he’d had his hand clutched to his belly. Isaac had caught him before he hit the ground, but barely.

He holds Stiles close, the pressure he’s putting on his belly enough to stop the bleeding but probably not enough to save him.

“Isaac!” Lydia says sharply.

“Call Derek,” he barks. “And Deaton.”

“What about—?”

“No,” he growls. “Not yet.”

Lydia sighs but backs off a bit and pulls out her phone.

“Fuck,” Isaac says into the space between them, hauling Stiles even closer while keeping the pressure on his wound. “Why the fuck did you do that?”

He leans close so he can smell his breath, his blood. He’s still breathing. “Goddammit, Stiles. I haven’t even—fuck. I was gonna tell you so many times but you scare the shit out of me. I’m a goddamn monster and I’m scared shitless by a skinny sarcastic asshole who’s mean to me. Why do I like it when you’re mean to me?”

Stiles coughs, and then a gurgling sound escapes him.

“Because you like me, you insufferable idiot,” he wheezes.

Isaac’s eyes go wide as Stiles smirks up at him.

“Oh, I’m insufferable?”

“Yeah. You haven’t even kissed me yet.”

Isaac leans down and brushes his lips against Stiles’. He means to be gentle, but Stiles works the hand not keeping him from bleeding out into Isaac’s curls and tugs, and this might be his only chance, so he can’t really be blamed for the way he licks the blood from Stiles’ face and then kisses him desperately. It’s a strange sensation, Stiles’ tongue in his mouth and butterflies in his stomach and blood on his lips and pain he can barely stand snaking up his arm.

But the more pain he takes the harder Stiles clings to him and the harder he kisses back. Their teeth knock together and Stiles bites as his lip. Stiles moans as Isaac sways a little, a spot of pain so bad it nearly makes him pass out, and then they’re kissing desperately and hungrily, holding each other so tight they’ll leave bruises.

A noise from Lydia startles them both. When they pull back, Stiles’ face is still smeared with blood and his lips are swollen, but there’s a little more color in his face than before.

“Derek and Scott are coming. Deaton and Melissa will meet us at the hospital.”

Stiles coughs and Isaac winces.

“It’s alright, I’m not gonna die.”

“Stiles—”

“I won’t. Now let’s go, please, before my guts fall out.”

Isaac rolls his eyes and hauls Stiles off the ground and into his arms.

[lostcol]

"You feeling good?"

Baby's first Roswell New Mexico fic! 👽🤠

Chapters: 1/1

Fandom: Roswell New Mexico (TV 2019)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Michael Guerin/Alex Manes

Additional Tags: Smut, alex has some feelings, Alex is in love, Dom/sub Undertones, Sub Michael Guerin, Dom Alex Manes, but that's not really part of it, it's just their dynamic here, more like, subby michael, dommy alex, Cock Warming, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, POV Alex Manes

Summary:

Michael shows up on Alex's doorstep horny and sad, and Alex makes him feel better.

[winderlylandchime]

9 Fandom Peeps to Get to Know Better:

thank you for the tag @lostcol 🩷

3 ships I like: brian/justin from qaf, aziraphale/crowley from good omens, and spin a wheel and pick one because they're all sexy from iwtv

first ship ever: thank gods that my early lois/clark fanfiction has been lost to the early internet sands of time

last song you heard: oh god, look, i found a recording of david tennant singing sunshine on leith on spotify and i have listened to it an embarrassing number times since then. i would blame my period for making me emotional but we would all know that's a lie.

favorite childhood book: anne of green gables (the entire series) by l.m. montgomery and up from jericho tel by e.l. konigsburg

currently reading: lots of fic, the vampire armand, and i just got the black unicorn out of the library

currently watching: abbott elementary, what we do in the shadows, somebody, somewhere, DRUK5, DRDU4

currently consuming: water and i just had some chips and salsa

currently craving: a bowl of chocolate frosted flakes and sex <- prev

no pressure tagging: @sheisraging @maryp50 @madsworld15 @bumblegremlin @toddisawarlock

[bigassbowlingballhead]

I really want to ask you something about Shane calling himself stupid and having low (intellegence-related) self esteem, and Alex telling him to stop that and he's not stupid, but I can't think of an actual question, so?? Tell us about this!

Alex doesn't want to hear anyone ever be mean to themself. The world is already a harsh place for most so he hates when people make it harder for themselves.

He builds them up, he takes care of them, he treats them with kindness. Everything his mother ever taught him.

Alexander Gabriel Claremont Diaz is nothing if not a nurturer.

sleepover weekend | Ask

[getmehighonmagic]

“You don’t look like you’re having a very good time,” a soft voice suddenly startles him from his thoughts. Henry’s entire body jerks and he spills some of his drink down the front of his shirt. “Oh, bloody-” He leans over to put his drink on the table and starts wiping at his shirt. “No, I’m- It’s not that, it’s-” He glances fleetingly at the stranger and then down at his shirt again, before his brain finally registers that oh, glasses, dark curls, white smile, exposed chest. Henry’s head snaps back up and his lips part in astonishment. Handsome doesn’t even begin to cover it. Him. “Hi,” the man says, then chuckles. He hands Henry a napkin and gestures towards one of the other chairs at the table. “Would you mind?” or, Henry and Alex meet on vacation in San Francisco and an instant spark between them has both of them unable to let the other go. With only two weeks to spend together and the knowledge that it can't last beyond that, it's just a massive, insurmountable recipe for disaster. Or is it?

Hiiiiii omg! ♥

So it's been so long since I posted anything, including WIP Wednesdays or Sentences Sundays, but it's because I was working so hard on this and I didn't want to spoil too much, haha! Anyway, here I am!

This is probably my proudest, most beloved work I've ever written. I'm so excited to finally share it with the world and I really hope you'll love it too!

I'll just tag my usual list of people below :) Have so much fun reading it and thank you so so so much for being patient with me ♥

@blueeyedgrlwrites @bigassbowlingballhead @eusuntgratie @sparklepocalypse @kiwiana-writes

@happiness-of-the-pursuit @affectionatelyrs @indomitable-love @heysweetheart-writes @wordsofhoneydew

@firenati0n @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @anchoredarchangel

@clottedcreamfudge @anincompletelist @cricketnationrise @violetbaudelaire-quagmire @lostcol

@matherines @captainjunglegym @thinkof-england

@inexplicablymine @three-drink-amy @priincebutt @nocoastposts @littlemisskittentoes

@cha-melodius @i-am-freyja @itsmaybitheway

@saturntheday @bitbybitwrites @cactusdragon517

@ninzied @porcelainmortal @firstsprinces @suseagull04

[sparklepocalypse]

Happy Sunday!

Thanks to @onthewaytosomewhere, @kiwiana-writes, @faketrex, @blueeyedgrlwrites, @myheartalivewrites, aaaaand

@thesleepyskipper and @stellarmeadow for the tags! (Is Tumblr still doing the only 5 tags per line thing? So dumb.)

As of this weekend, I have tentatively dusted off the @aroyallybigbangrwrb document after a month and a half of absolute brainfarts! There are currently 700-ish more words in the doc than yesterday morning, but I'm trying not to be too loud and scare the muse back to the decidedly easier-to-write smut epic I've been speed-running through recently. So, six seven sentences from Meet Me on the other Side (and some tags!) comin' atcha under the jump.

Henry is many things, but getting married is decidedly not one of them. He’s known this since Eton, and suspects his mother and grandmother have known even longer. This hasn’t, of course, prevented Her Majesty the Queen from pressing him into an engagement with an unsuspecting mining heiress in the American West who’d romanticized the notion of being a princess, after it’d become clear that none of the eligible society women of Great Britain would debase themselves by marrying a reputed navigator of the windward passage. The Americans’ transcontinental railroad is truly a marvel of modern engineering. But to Henry, the private rail car that followed the private and cramped saloon class berth aboard the Britannic may as well be a military transport sending him to the front lines of one of Her Majesty’s several colonial wars.  “You needn’t look so glum, Henry,” Philip says from behind his newspaper with a tone of barely restrained botheration. “This time next week, you’ll be a husband and heir to a mining fortune through your wife, and once you’ve got her in the family way, you can fritter away your time at the gentlemen’s club like all the other married men with similar… inclinations.”

If there's something less than no pressure, that's what I'm applying when I call on @hgejfmw-hgejhsf, @priincebutt, @whimsymanaged, @gayrootvegetable, @rockyroadkylers,

@duchessdepolignaca03, @porcelainmortal, @wordsofhoneydew, @lostcol, @thinkof-england,

@orchidscript, @cha-melodius, @thesleepyskipper, @firenati0n, and literally anyone who would like an open tag to show me what you got!

[madsworld15]

New Fic Alert! once you know you can never go back (Brian/Justin)

This one answers the prompt: hogging the blankets (Prompt #19) [13/21 for me personally] for the QaF Prompt Challenge 2024. This is also part of the Diabetes Chronicles series and serves as a follow-up to you're still the one that i love I want to give a shout-out to my discord pals for always reading and supporting my works when they can: @maryp50, @lostcol, and @winderlylandchime

Justin was already in bed by the time Brian finished his paperwork from the latest campaign he was overseeing. After 11 years together in New York, they’d slipped into a well-oiled routine. Most nights, they went to bed together. But on occasion, Justin had to stay up writing lesson plans or grading, or Brian had last-minute rewrites or contract negotiations to go over.

They were inching closer to a new decade of life; for Justin, it was his 40s, and for Brian, it was his 50s. However, a conversation Brian had with Michael and Ben during their visit a few days prior was sitting heavily on his brain. Michael and Ben had adopted Hunter in 2005, had J.R. in 2004, and added another little girl to their family in 2010. Now, their daughter was 7, and the couple had been gushing about how wonderful their lives were. Brian had surreptitiously watched Justin during the conversation and noticed his partner had gone quiet. 

The old Brian would’ve ignored the elephant clearly in the room, but Brian had become a much better communicator in the past decade or so. His relationship with Justin grew stronger every year because they were both willing to voice their concerns as they arose instead of waiting for them to fester and create tension. In the early days, the family had always blamed Brian for the lack of communication in their relationship. Still, they always failed to see how much Justin also failed to voice specific desires until it was a mountain of an issue instead of a molehill.

Brian sighed, shut off his computer, and walked through their brownstone, checking each room for stray lights or electronics that might still be on. He quietly opened the door to Gus’ room and checked to see if the teen was still sleeping. Since Brian’s recent hospital stay last month, things have been tense between them. But Justin assured Brian it would eventually blow over once Gus had time to process everything.

Once he was sure Gus was okay, Brian crossed the hall to the room where Isaac stayed most nights. The kid was still living with his parents full time, but at least once or twice a week, he spent the night with the Taylor-Kinneys. Tonight was one such night. Isaac could be found crashed asleep on his stomach with his arms wrapped around the pillow his head laid on. Brian smiled at the young boy, picturing another boy who had used his best friend to escape the stress of his home life.

Finally, Brian made his way to the bedroom he shared with Justin. He took his glasses off and folded them as he approached the bed. Only the lamp on his side of the bed was lit. Justin was turned on his side, facing away from Brian’s side. It was half past 11, meaning his partner was probably sleeping soundly already. However, when Brian pulled his shirt off and tossed it toward the laundry organizer, Justin rolled over with a groan. 

“Warn a guy next time. I might have a heart attack waking up to a sight that gorgeous.” Justin mumbled with a lustful twinkle in his eyes.

“I didn’t mean to wake you up. Go back to sleep. I’ll only be a minute.” Brian smiled at Justin as he threw on a white undershirt and slipped off his jeans.

“You didn’t. After almost two decades with you, my body just innately senses when you are nearby and becomes alert.” Justin smiled sleepily up at Brian.

Brian pulled on sleep pants and climbed into bed. He scooted close to Justin and kissed him on the lips.

“Is that so.” Brian whispered, “Does that include all parts?” He gave a mischievous look, his lips tucked behind his teeth in anticipation.

“Bri, I’m half asleep and 34 years old. I can’t just turn things on that quickly anymore.” Justin sighed and tried to act like having sex was the furthest thing from his brain.

Brian’s hand wandered down toward Justin’s crotch and lightly cupped his half-hard dick. “Really? I guess he didn’t get the memo.” 

Brian chuckled and then quickly kissed Justin’s lips once again. “I’m kidding. I actually think we should talk about something.”

He then grabbed the blankets and pulled them onto himself and away from Justin.

“Well, first, you can give me back the covers.” Justin grabbed the blanket, attempting to pull it back to his side.

“But, Sunshine,” Brian jokingly pouted, “I’m cold.”

Justin rolled over and wrapped his leg over Brian’s, “Well, I can warm you up. That way, you don’t hog all the covers.”

Brian pulled Justin down into another kiss. This time, their tongues danced in each other’s mouths, fighting for dominance. Even after all these years, Brian and Justin still found kissing one of the most intoxicating things they could do together. It was one of their favorite activities inside and out of the bedroom.

“What did you want to talk about.” Justin finally broke away, giving Brian his full attention.

“I was thinking.” Brian started, but then he stalled, unsure how to start the conversation in the first place. He pulled away from physical contact with Justin, hoping it would help organize his thoughts. Justin sat up and watched him, waiting.

Brian sighed and rubbed his temples. He worried that bringing up the subject after all these years might cause discord in their relationship. Things had been miraculously happy between them for many years. Do I really want to mess that up?

“When we were out to dinner with Michael and Ben the other day, I noticed your expression changed when they started talking about the joys of raising J.R. and Violet.” Brian looked toward Justin, who was sitting stone-still and silent. He reached over and grabbed the blond’s hand into his own.

“You looked like you were sad or like you regretted something. And in the days since then, you’ve been somewhat quiet.” Brian squeezed Justin’s hand. “I’m worried I’ve done something wrong.”

Justin shook his head and gave Brian one of his smiles that didn’t quite reach his eyes, “No, just my brain being stupid. That’s all.”

“Justin.” Brian’s tone was gentle but stern. He needed Justin to tell him what was on his mind. “Whatever it is, we can talk it through and find a solution.”

“It just made me regret all the time we lost out on with Gus. It would’ve been fun to see him discover new things about the world when he was younger.” Justin shrugged. “Told you. Just my brain being stupid.”

It was what Justin wasn’t saying that had alarm bells going off in Brian’s brain. He moved so that he was flush against Justin and pulled the younger man against his chest. 

“Justin, do you wish you hadn’t sacrificed having kids by being with me?” Brian’s voice was barely audible. He held back the emotion that threatened to seep through. 

Justin is still young enough. He can go somewhere else if he wants kids. Maybe that’s why he’s been distant. Maybe he’s thinking about leaving me.

“I didn’t.” Justin placed his hand on Brian’s chest and drew soft circles there. “Brian, just because I thought I wanted kids when I was younger doesn’t mean I sacrificed that dream by being with you. I just followed a different, more important one.”

Justin placed a kiss on Brian’s chest. Brian tangled his hand in Justin’s hair and rubbed his scalp. He still wasn’t convinced Justin was simply trying to placate him. They’d been down this road before, years ago, where Justin wouldn’t say that he wanted a marriage and a family because he loved Brian so much and couldn’t see a feasible way of having both.

“We broke up before the bombing because I wasn’t willing to give you a family or marriage.” Brian’s words choked their way out of his swelling throat. “So, I’d understand if that conversation reminded you what you gave up.”

Justin positioned himself so that he was supported on his elbows as he hovered over Brian. “Bri, are you not hearing me? I don’t want kids if it means I don’t get to have you.”

“But that doesn’t mean you don’t want them at all,” Brian argued.

“Why are you being like this? Is it because Gus is still upset with you about sleeping with guys outside of our partnership?” Justin looked Brian up and down, trying to understand, “I’m not going to leave you. I love you. We have a commitment to each other.”

“But, you still want kids. Deep down.” Brian wanted to reciprocate the declaration of love Justin had just given him, but he needed Justin to settle his mind first.

“Brian. We have kids, two of them.” Justin pointed out. “Gus lives with us full-time now, and Isaac is practically ours at this point, too.”

“But, you didn’t get to raise a child from the start. I know that’s been in your heart. I see it in your eyes whenever someone you know has a baby.” Brian squeezes Justin’s arm and gazes discerningly into his eyes.

Justin’s eyes widened when he finally realized what Brian was trying to propose indirectly. “Are you seriously telling me you’d consider adding a baby to this at your age?” Justin’s eyes were a mix of shock and teasing.

“I’m not that old yet, and you definitely aren’t too old. If it’s something you really want.” Brian paused, “I’d do anything to make you happy.”

“Bri, I am happy with you, Gus, and Isaac. I am happy being the fun gay uncle to my sister’s and Daphne’s kids. I don’t need a baby to make me happy.” Justin reached out and cupped Brian’s cheek.

“Please trust me on this.” Justin kissed Brian, quickly grabbed the blanket, and rolled away from the brunet.

Brian chuckled and rolled his eyes. He loved Justin more than words could ever express. While his mind wasn’t entirely convinced about Justin giving up children, he could let the issue drop for now. Justin grinned at him and challenged him to reach over and steal the covers back. So Brian did. He turned off the lamp and laughed at himself as Justin adjusted both of their bodies to their typical sleeping position. 

They always started with Brian on his back, arms wrapped around Justin, cuddled against his side, his head on Brian’s chest. By morning, they would both be a mess of tangled limbs and pillows, but it was always agreed that their nights would start with intimate touches and gentle kisses. 

Once Justin had settled for good, Brian brought his lips to the top of Justin’s head and whispered, “I love you.”

[thedoctorajcrowley]

People You’d Like to Get to Know Better

tagged by @skinnyscottishbloke 💜

3 Ships

Britin (Brian/Justin, QAF US 2000)

Ineffable Spouses (Aziraphale/Crowley, Good Omens)

FirstPrince (Alex/Henry, RWRB)

First Ship

Ya girl was writing Lois/Clark fics on Yahoo listservs back in the late 1900s

Last Song

Love Story (TV)

Currently Reading

Just finished

Melt You Down Into The Stars (Just You and I) (Good Omens)

Current WIPs

Ricochet by @naromoreau (Good Omens)

There’s Beauty When It’s Bleak @madsworld15 (QAF)

Starting doing a sensitivity read of Alter Ego (forthcoming sequel to Secret Identity by Alex Segura) (actual book)

Last Film

Cassandro

Currently Craving

Just finished an excellent snack plate so only water. Oooh and maybe something sweet.

no pressure tagging: @ad-astra13 @kiranerysed @lostcol @eusuntgratie @getmehighonmagic @magicandarchery @maryp50 @sophsun1 @petitmonde @bigassbowlingballhead (and uh, hi, if you’re not following my side blog it’s me @winderlylandchime ) also anyone else who sees this and wants to play! tag me so I can see your answers

[sophsun1]

do u have any good qaf fic recs that takes place after the show ended. either bri going to nyc to see justin, or justin coming home

Hey anon!

These are some of my most favourite fics to read for britin in this qaf universe, I have tagged one story but please check out their story archive to see what else they've written. Some are continuing on from canon and some become AU. All these wonderfully talented writers capture their voices so, so well and for me it feels very realistic and true to how their story would continue. So I wish you well on your reading endeavour and make sure to give these amazing people lots of love in their comments because fic writing and all writing in general is such an art form and definitely not something I could do!

I would also suggest checking out the writers bookmarks where you can find other stories and fellow writers they love so you discover new stuff that way also.

I'm actually so behind in reading myself as I'm usually too busy giffing them I haven't had time to catch up, so I will be flooding their comments as soon as I can. I will tag some of the writers that I know are here on tumblr and if anyone else has any recs or wants to plug their own stories please do!

@ivysunna

@winderlylandchime

@lostcol

https://archiveofourown.org/users/orphan_account/pseuds/orphan_account

[maryp50]

first celebrity, outfit, quote, and aesthetic pic on pinterest is your vibe✨

Thank you for tagging me @saraminia 💙

Tagging @noahreids @winderlylandchime @lostcol @k-pepp @alinelovelace @ohyoufool @cricketnationrise @swearphil @roguebebe @books-books-smolderinglooks @substantialdistractions

[eusuntgratie]

😘

DAMMIT WOMAN

(look at them oh fuck oh no DON'T DO IT GRACE)

[lostcol]

WIP Wednesday (2.28.2024)

Why do I feel like every time I turn around it's Wednesday or Sunday?? Guys, I can't keep up with the tumbling, but I'm trying 😂

Thank you thank you for the continued tags @eusuntgratie @getmehighonmagic @bigassbowlingballhead @winderlylandchime 😘😘

(And thank you for the last line tag @eusuntgratie 🥰)

Nolan held Travis's arms above his head, his big hand wrapped around Travis's wrists where they rested on the pillow, sinking in when Nolan pressed down lightly. He ran his hand slowly down Travis's side on the way to his waistband, brushing over the soft skin stretched over his ribs and making him shiver. Travis huffed a breath across his face, his eyes flicking to Nolan's, then away, and then back again. "Hey," Nolan said softly, bringing his hand back up to tilt Travis's face toward him. He swiped his thumb across Travis's cheekbone, and made the kind of eye contact that would make him want to crawl out of his skin with anyone else.

Posting this without even rereading it so apologies if it's a mess 😎

Open tag! <3

[winderlylandchime]

tagged by @lostcol 🩷 to share 5 boring facts about me:

every so often i remember that i graduated high school 25 years ago

salad and pasta are my two favorite things to eat but i don't love pasta salad

sleep in the morning feels better than sleep at night

i can wiggle my ears

i can be extremely goofy but only around people i feel very comfortable with

zero pressure tagging: @sheisraging @toddisawarlock @haxprocess

[bigassbowlingballhead]

Headcanon time. At what point do Henry and Alex stop using condoms, and what goes into that decision?

I think after alex storms kensington. At that point they know they're never going to be with anyone else, and haven't been. They trade parts of them and give themselves to each other fully.

sleepover weekend | Ask

[getmehighonmagic]

“Hi, Mister Henry!” Rory shrieks. “Papi said you’re alone and we don’t want you to be alone, because it’s Christmas, so now we brought you dinner! Can I play with your doggy?” Henry’s eyes widen the longer Rory yaps at him. His mouth opens and closes a few times, before he helplessly looks up at Alex. Alex smiles sheepishly. “Yeah, what she said,” he says like a total dork, because Henry’s eyes are really fucking blue and Alex is really fucking screwed.

Merry Christmas, friends! Chapter two is coming in the upcoming days ♥

@blueeyedgrlwrites @sparklepocalypse @kiwiana-writes @happiness-of-the-pursuit @affectionatelyrs

@indomitable-love @heysweetheart-writes @orchidscript @wordsofhoneydew @firenati0n

@hgejfmw-hgejhsf @anchoredarchangel @clottedcreamfudge @anincompletelist @cricketnationrise

@lostcol @matherines @thinkof-england @inexplicablymine @three-drink-amy

@priincebutt @nocoastposts @littlemisskittentoes @cha-melodius @freyjaexplores

@itsmaybitheway @saturntheday @bitbybitwrites @ninzied @porcelainmortal

@firstsprinces @suseagull5914 @thesleepyskipper

[madsworld15]

I Am Still Right Here Chapter 2 Part 2 (Brian x Justin, QAF, Support Group AU)

I have uploaded all of Chapter 1 on AO3. And you can find Part 1 of Chapter 2 here.

As always, I wouldn't be here today writing for the QAF fandom if it weren't for the support of @winderlylandchime @maryp50 and @lostcol

Two Days Later

Brian sat on the edge of his bed. The doctors had decided that he could go home, provided he rested in bed for the next two days, possibly three. Brian knew he needed to address the elephant in the room at Kinnetik sooner or later, but for the first time since his diagnosis, he actually felt compelled to do what the doctors said. 

Emmett came flitting into the room with sunglasses perched on his face and a sweater half off his shoulders. Brian grinned and shook his head. Something about how bright and sunny his best friend was gave Brian hope that he’d actually be okay. 

“So, I borrowed your Jeep to bring you home in. Hope you don’t mind.” Emmett wiggled his eyebrows.

“And to think most people in the family think you can’t drive.” Brian laughed. Then he stood up and slowly strode across the room.

“Shh. Let that be our little secret.” Emmett wrapped his arm around Brian’s shoulder, “Now, let's get you home.”

Brian walked with Emmett’s arm around his shoulder in silence for a few feet. They made it all the way to the nurses’ station before Brian spoke up.

“Actually, could you take me by the Bloom Gallery first?” 

Emmett gave him an inquisitive look. “Missing Lindsay?”

“No, that’s where Justin works.” Brian shrugged but gave Emmett a pointed look.

“And he didn’t come by to see you yesterday, so you want to check on him.” Emmett gave a nod and directed his friend to the elevator without another word. 

Brian appreciated that beyond words. If he’d been with Michael, he never would’ve asked because Michael would then pepper him with questions until Brian couldn’t stand it any longer and snapped at him. In the end, they would both wind up irritated with each other, and Brian would be begging for death to just take him. Emmett was always the friend who would hear what Brian was saying or see what he was doing and never question or judge him.

Emmett drove him over to the Bloom Gallery without a sound. Once they pulled up on the street, he turned to Brian. That’s how he knew Emmett wanted to say a few things. So, Brian let out his breath in a huff and turned to make eye contact with his friend.

“I just want to give you a bit of a heads up.” Emmett bit the side of his lip, his eyes flitting about nervously. “There’s a reason Justin didn’t come by the hospital yesterday.”

“I figured he gets nervous in hospitals.” Brian shrugged.

“Not exactly.” Emmett started. He then waved his hands animatedly. “Not that he probably doesn’t have a fear of hospitals, but this time it was all Michael.”

“Fuck!” Brian exclaimed. “What did he do now?”

“Let’s just say he was extremely rude and territorial once he found out that Justin was there to see you. He basically called him a stalker. Justin left right after so I’m not sure where his head is at.” Emmett gave Brian a sympathetic look. He then reached out and placed his hand on Brian’s shoulder.

“I’m going to kill Mikey.” Brian hissed. Then he gave Emmett a reassuring smile before climbing out of the Jeep. 

Emmett followed suit soon after. The two friends walked up the block in silence. Brian couldn’t stop thinking about how Michael’s words to Justin could seriously hinder the progress the blond had made toward trusting himself and others. It didn’t make sense why Michael would still act this way about Brian when he’d been in a committed relationship with the professor for almost two years now. 

“Honestly, I will never understand Michael’s jealousy. He has a hunk of a man at home, and yet, a little blond cutie in your life sends him over the edge.” Emmett remarked as if he could read Brian’s thoughts.

Brian smirked, “It’s a mystery.”

The two walked into the gallery smiling at one another, in a great mood. Brian actually felt better than he had in days, still tired but no longer feeling like his own body was trying to kill him. They were so wrapped up in their own conversation that they didn’t notice Gus until he had launched himself at Brian’s legs.

“DADDY!” Gus exclaimed, wrapping his little arms around as much of Brian’s legs as he could.

At 3 years old, the kid was almost a spitting image of Brian himself. With his mischievous eyes and brunette hair, Gus constantly gave his moms a run for their money. While Brian constantly told people he’d much rather keep to his “uncredited guest appearances” in Gus’ life, anyone with eyes could see the sun rose and set on that child. Brian went out of his way to be sure Gus never knew the disappointment of a father like Brian had.

“Hey, Sonny Boy!” Brian gingerly leaned over and scooped the kid up into his arms.

“Gus, I told you no running in the gallery.” An exasperated voice carried over the open space as Lindsay approached, looking put out. “Brian!” Her face lit up the moment she saw him.

“Hey, Wendy.” Brian leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek.

“Debbie called and told me you were in the hospital. Is everything okay?” Lindsay’s eyes roamed the length of Brian’s body, just to be sure.

“I’m fine. I just got a bit dehydrated is all. Couldn’t keep anything down.” Brian scratched his nose, “But the doctor put me on an anti-nausea medicine that he said should help. So, who knows.”

“But, the cancer?” Lindsay whispered, covering up Gus’ ears. The kid was too busy clinging to Brian to notice anyway.

“It hasn’t spread if that’s what you mean.” Brian shrugged. He then surreptitiously looked around for a place to sit. He found a bench near one of the gallery walls nearby and moved toward it.

“That’s good to hear.” Lindsay gave a huge sigh of relief, following Brian and her son. “So, what brings you here? You never visit me at work.”

Brian remained silent, choosing to focus on Gus instead. He ran his hand along the top of Gus’ hair and thought about how much he loved his son. Something about his innocence and wide-eyed wonder about the world made Brian grateful he chose to help Lindsay and Melanie out all those years ago. He sniffed, trying to keep the tears at bay. Then with a kiss to Gus’ head, he looked up to address Lindsay’s question.

“I, umm, actually didn’t come by to see you. I was looking for Justin.” Brian glanced around.

“Justin? Blond, early twenties, quiet, loner?” Lindsay looked befuddled, “You are looking for him?”

Brian didn’t have the energy to fight off Lindsay’s jealousy or resentment. So, instead, he set her straight.

“Did I stutter?” Brian fixed her with his signature, no-bullshit stare.

“No, I just didn’t figure you’d even know he existed. It’s not like he’s a party boy.” Lindsay made reference to Brian’s proclivity for spending nights dancing at Babylon while high on drugs.

“And? Is he here or not?” Brian sighed.

“Let me go find him. He’s probably in the back, painting.” Lindsay sighed and rolled her eyes.

Brian smirked and then turned his attention back to his son. “Mommy doesn’t seem to like Justin. But she doesn’t know how funny he can be. I bet Mommy is jealous of his talent.” 

“I’m not jealous, Brian.” Lindsay returned with an exasperated tone. She then grabbed Gus from him, “Jesus. Why must you always be an asshole.”

Gus cried and reached for Brian, who stood up and took him back into his arms. “I’m not being any more of an asshole to you as you are being to me. Look in a mirror, Linds; your green eyes are glowing.”

“Hey, Lindsay, what did you need?” Justin’s voice proceeded him. Brian smiled the minute he saw the blond appear.

“Hey,” Brian replied just above a whisper.

Justin glanced at Brian and gave a shy smile. “You’re out of the hospital.”

“I am. I thought I’d come by and see if you wanted to have a coffee with me.” Brian hugged Gus a bit tighter to himself as a human shield from Justin’s possible rejection.

Instead of answering Brian right away, Justin locked eyes on Emmett. “Em! It’s great to see you.”

Emmett laughed, pulled Justin into a hug, and kissed him on the cheek. “Of course, baby. I missed you too.”

“More like Brian dragged you with him.” Justin laughed.

“Guilty.” Emmett winked at Brian.

“Justin.” Brian cut in, enjoying that his friend and the guy he liked (What?! Okay gonna have to unpack that thought later) were getting along.

Justin looked at him. 

“Coffee?” Brian asked again. This time, he gave Justin an earnest look.

“Oh, right. Well, that depends on Lindsay. She’s my boss.”

“Lindsay, can I take Justin for a few minutes? I promise to have him back before he turns into a pumpkin.” Brian put his tongue into his cheek and gave Lindsay his best soft eyes. They always worked on her.

“Half hour, that is it. We have to get the displays ready for the gala tonight.” Lindsay gave Justin a fixed look, and he nodded in understanding.

“Now, Bri, give me back my kid and get out of here.” She chuckled to show she wasn’t being petty, but Brian saw right through it. Lindsay was marking her territory against a perceived threat despite not needing to.

“Sonny Boy, do you wanna go get a muffin with Daddy?” Brian pulled Gus around so that his legs were around his waist and his face was level with Brian’s.

Gus cackled with delight and screamed, “YES!” 

“Don’t worry, Mommy. We will be back before you know it.” Brian addressed Lindsay.

“Brian.” She warned.

“Linds, it's been ages since I’ve seen him. Please, just let me have this.”

“Fine. But, Brian. I swear. Half-hour. No more.” Lindsay’s look was stern but loving. He knew he’d won her over.

Brian smiled back at her and then left the gallery with Emmett and Justin in tow.

The group made their way down the block. Brian desperately wanted to talk to Justin, but Gus kept demanding his attention. 

“Daddy, daddy, daddy!” Gus shook Brian out of his reverie, watching Justin walk ahead of him, chatting with Emmett.

“What, Gus?” Brian turned to his son with a smile.

“Can I’s have a bwobewwy muffin?” Gus gave him a toothy grin, his eyes alight with excitement.

“Sure, you can have anything you want. What about a chocolate milk?” Brian grinned and gave Gus a conspiratorial look.

“Mommy and Mama don’t like when I drink chocowite milk.” Gus gave Brian the most serious look the man had ever seen, which caused him to laugh out loud.

“Well, Daddy says you can. So what do you say, share a chocolate milk with me?” Gus nodded in response. Brian gave him a kiss on his cheek.

Brian tuned back to the pair ahead of them just in time to see Justin stop, dead in his tracks, at the sight of a street performer. Brian picked up his pace a bit in order to be there for Justin. He walked up just in time to hear the street performer address the blond.

“Hey, Justin. It’s been a while. How are you?” The young man, who had wavy black locks and dark bedroom eyes, reached out to touch Justin, who jumped backward, running into Brian.

“I’m –” Justin stumbled. Brian couldn’t see the young man’s face, but he could tell from the tension in Justin’s body, which was still leaning against him, that he wasn’t okay.

“I’m Brian. And you are?” Brian decided to save Justin from having to speak. 

“Ethan Gold. Justin is my boyfriend.” Ethan gave Brian a winning smile that harbored jealousy underneath.

“Ex,” Justin mumbled. Brian tucked his lips between his teeth and smiled. 

“Ohhh, Ian. So you’re the guy who saw Justin getting bashed and ran away. Did you even call the cops? Or did you just leave him lying there?” Brian left no doubt about his feelings for Justin’s shitty ex-boyfriend.

“Ethan.” The performer gritted between his teeth. “And I apologized to Justin months ago. He understood.”

“Something tells me he didn’t.” Brian shrugged. Then, he shifted Gus back to his hip once more, squeezed Justin’s shoulder, and directed the group to walk past the musician and into the coffee shop.

Once they were sat down at a table, Justin seemed to relax. He still only fiddled with his iced coffee, but Brian wasn’t as concerned because the kid’s features had definitely eased up. Something about seeing his ex, really rattled Justin to his core. Brian knew some of the story, but he felt as though there was more Justin wasn’t saying.

Emmett gracefully swooped into the last remaining chair at their table. He held his signature Macchiato in his hand, and a smile lit up his face. 

“Brian, could you lend me your phone for a moment?” Emmett put his hand out to receive the device.

“Why?” Brian squinted at his best friend before turning to Gus, who delicately ate each blueberry out of his muffin. 

“Because I asked for it.” Emmett shrugged, “And you owe me for making sure Justin knew you were in the hospital and for dragging your ass home.”

“So, because you’re a good friend I have to surrender my phone?” Brian smirked, already pulling the device out of his pocket.

“Yes!” Emmett tittered. He then took Brian’s phone and pushed a few buttons before handing it to Justin. “Here, baby. Put your number in.”

Justin looked from Emmett to Brian. The latter just shrugged in acceptance. So, he took the device and put his number into it. Then, he handed it back to Emmett, a question on his lips.

“What was that for?”

“You two need to be able to contact each other. I’m done being a go-between.” Emmett replied as he typed on Brian’s phone a bit more before handing it back to Brian.

Just then, Justin’s phone went off in his pocket. 

“Now, you both have each other’s numbers. Use them!” Emmett gave his friends a stern look. Then he took a dramatic drink from his coffee cup.

Justin grinned at his lap and shook his head. This wasn’t exactly how he’d expected his day to go, but he wasn’t upset by it.

“Now that’s out of the way, I need the word.” Emmett placed his hands under his chin, leaned on them to get closer to Justin, and gave the blond a meaningful look. “What was all that?”

Justin bit his lip and looked at Brian. Brian wished he could save Justin from talking about it, but Emmett was relentless when it came to gossip. Brian shook his head to indicate Justin would have to reveal the story whether he wanted to or not.

“Ethan is my ex. Seven months ago, we were standing outside the small concert hall downtown after he’d performed in a prestigious competition. We were making out when two assholes came along and started giving us shit. At first, it was just slurs and nasty comments.” Justin took a deep breath and sipped his coffee.

“Then Ethan pulled away from me completely and shrunk back in fear of these guys. But I wasn’t afraid. I simply told them to fuck off. Well, that’s when they decided to attack me. And one of them must’ve had a bat because next thing I know I wake up in the hospital three days later and the doctors tell me I have brain damage.” Justin bit his lip. Brian reached out and grabbed his hand in solidarity.

“I don’t remember much of it. What I just told you is from what others told me happened.”

“And Ethan?” Emmett’s voice was small and filled with compassion and sympathy.

“This is the first time I’ve seen him since that night.” Justin finally admitted. The confession made Brian’s blood boil.

“What kind of boyfriend doesn’t even come to the hospital to check on you after witnessing you getting beat up?” Emmett asked incredulously.

“The kind who was offered a tour contract the next day as long as he pretended to be straight.” Justin shrugged. “Or at least that’s what Daphne told me.”

“Fuck.” Brian let out under his breath. 

“FUCK!” Gus said a little bit louder.

The three adults looked at each other, then at Gus, and laughed. What else could they do? The subject of their current conversation was depressing enough. Funny child outbursts were necessary at a time like this.

“How come you never told me you had a kid?” Justin finally came down from laughing. 

Brian shrugged, “At what point would it have come up?” 

“That’s completely fair.” Justin agreed, sipping his coffee once more. “Though, when I mentioned that I worked for the Bloom Gallery, you could’ve told me you knew Lindsay Peterson-Marcus.”

Brian smirked and nodded, “You’re right. I could’ve.” He then looked at Gus again and ran his hand over his head, “But if I’m being dead honest, I really enjoyed having a part of my life, the cancer part, be separate from the drama of my family life.”

“I get that,” Justin responded, watching Brian watch Gus. “Sometimes, you need a break from it all. It’s nice to have someone who isn’t part of your history so you can focus on your future.”

Brian nodded and met Justin’s gaze. The two of them stared into the other’s eyes, unblinking, until Gus accidentally spilled his milk, breaking the moment.

Ten minutes later, the group had returned to the Bloom Gallery. Gus wiggled out of Brian’s arms and ran back to his Mommy. Emmett made an excuse to go back to the Jeep, blowing a kiss toward Lindsay and Gus. Before he left, Emmett wrapped Justin up in a hug and told him to take care.

Brian bit his lip, and an awkward silence fell between the two men. Brian wanted to ask Justin about the kiss that had occurred in his hospital room, but he wasn’t sure Justin wanted to. He cleared his throat. Justin met his gaze.

“I should get back to work.” Justin’s voice was barely audible. 

Then, without thinking about it or even checking to see if Justin would approve, Brian leaned forward and placed his lips on Justin’s. For a beat and a half, Justin tensed up, but then his mouth relaxed, and he reciprocated the kiss. Justin brought his hand up to cup the back of Brian’s head, and their kiss deepened. It was like nothing Brian had ever experienced before. Sure, he had kissed more men than he could count, but none of them had made his heart beat this fast or caused the world to fade away. Something about Justin’s kiss made Brian feel like the world was right again.