the conversation (6/?)

[amelialourdes]

Need to start updating this more than once every ... three months. Little thing I did before writing for my other favorite fandom.

Refresher links:
The Conversation 1/?
The Conversation 2/?
The Conversation 3/?
The Conversation 4/?
The Conversation 5/?

Fic: The Conversation
Fandom: QaF
Word Count: 1,170
Summary: Justin's got a decision to make.
Notes: All mistakes are mine (feel free to point them out!), characters belong to their respective owners, and that's about it.



"Mikey," Brian looks at Justin, hands on his hips before he takes a seat on the couch, looking both dominant and sexy. Damn him. "Can't keep his mouth shut. Second I walk in, he tells me he just got off the phone with Brett."

Brian made a comment a couple of minutes ago about finding fame and fortune in LA. Justin's question had been, "How'd you find out?" Brian obviously already knows.

"I haven't even talked to him yet. Is he saying he's gonna do it?"

"Are you saying you're not?"

They both stare at one another from across the couch. This is all too familiar. Except the last time they had this talk, Justin had been sitting on the couch, and Brian was across from him standing next to the stove. At least they're even closer in proximity this time.

"Brian, I'm not gonna do this with you. We've done this."

"I haven't changed my mind since then, you know."

"There's absolutely no reason why I can't consult from here. I can't see why Michael has to be there either. That's why they invented cell phones and web cameras and Skype. They can do without us."

Justin's pretty adamant about this. After the phone call with Brett and leaving Daphne, it was an easy decision for him. He's finally beginning to really start his life with Brian and there's no way that he could give up on it now and take off for the unknown (again). It's not sacrifice. It's love. If this were Brian, he'd find a way to make it work to be with him. Of course, he'd never tell him that, let him find out, and make him continue to think that that was the choice he was going to make the whole time. Justin knows better.

"Technology has improved since then," Brian reluctantly admits but Justin can read between the lines and he smiles.

Justin crawls from his side of the couch to Brian's, moving on top of him as he leans down for a kiss. Brian's hair moves into his hair, fingers sliding through the long strands. Just as Brian shifts underneath him to get a little more comfortable, Justin pulls away.

"I have to go talk to Michael," he speaks before it's too late to move. They're on their way there.

"Now?" Brian whines. Brian Kinney does whine.

"Yes, now. I'm surprised he hasn't called me yet."

"You haven't called him either," Brian so helpfully observes.

"Yeah, well," Justin shrugs, unable to think of an excuse. He hadn't planned on telling Brian either but it's something that he found out on his own.

One more kiss and Justin forces himself away, standing up, and checking his cell phone. No new calls, no missed calls. He sends Michael a text, letting him know that he wants to talk, and asking where he can meet him. Michael quickly replies that he's at work.

Brian has the remote in hand and is already flipping through the channels.

He doesn't seem mad or appear upset but Justin is still hesitant to leave for some reason. They've just talked about something big but he wants to tell Michael so that they can call Brett together to give him their decision.

Justin keeps staring at the couch, waiting for ... something, backlash, a shove out the door, he doesn't know.

Brian turns off the television and stands up, walking in his direction. He stands close, looking down at him, and without any words, leans in to kiss him. It's one of those kisses that make Justin weak in the knees. His arms wrap around Brian's neck just for something to stabilize him, keep him standing.

"I love you," Justin speaks against his lips.

"Go talk to Mikey," Brian says in reply. Justin nods and slowly untangles himself from Brian. Picking up his backpack, he turns to smile at him one more time before he walks out the loft door.

When he arrives at the comic book shop, Michael's behind the counter and talking to some kid about his choices in comic books. Waiting patiently for him to finish, Justin takes a look around the shop, and sees that the rack that held the latest issues of Rage was almost completely empty. It had been a while since they last published an issue but he didn't think that they'd sell this quickly.

"Cool, huh?" Michael asks, motioning to the nearly empty rack.

"Yeah, it's amazing. Who knew that taking an 8 month hiatus would increase sales." Justin puts his backpack on the ground and walks toward the counter. "So, did you talk to Brett yet?"

"Only when he called me and I said I'd think about it."

"Have you thought about it?"

Michael hesitates and then nods. "It's a really great opportunity, Justin. I didn't get to go to LA with you last time and I think ... I think this might be my chance."

"If that's what you wanna do, then I'll support that."

"They need us both there."

"I'm not going."

"Justin, I don't think that they'll just take me without you."

"Michael, are you really gonna leave Ben here? Hunter? Jenny Rebecca?"

"Ben will understand. Hunter's not gonna miss me. Jenny Rebecca can come visit me out there. Everyone can visit us out there!"

Michael's looking at him with those puppy dog eyes, wide, excited, and if he had a tail, it'd be wagging. Justin sighs and places his hands on the counter. "I just got back here. I'm not leaving again. I can't establish myself here if I'm not here."

"You're doing this for Brian? He already waited for you for ---"

"Michael," Justin's voice is stern. "I'm not gonna change my mind. We have cell phones and web cameras attached to our computers. There's nothing that we can do there that we can't do here. Meetings? We can sit in on them with laptops. If Brett wants us that badly, and I think he does, he'll do this for us."

"I just think that ---"

"I've done this before. Trust me, you don't want to be away from everyone that you love when you get some of the most disappointing news in your life." Justin's barely shared that with anyone. He doesn't even talk about it with Brian.

It's not as if his lifelong dream was to create a film or make it out to Hollywood. But, he'd been caught up in the hype, the excitement, and the thought that he'd be contributing to a major Hollywood movie in some form, it was exciting. He helped to create it and it was coming to life all around him. Then it all came crashing down just as quickly.

"Just ... give it some more thought and we'll call Brett tomorrow."

Michael crosses his arms over his chest and nods, diverting his gaze to the floor. Not wanting to say anything more, Justin leaves the store. He only hopes that Michael makes the right choice.

Comments

[wrstlgirl.livejournal.com]

I hadn't read these before. I love it. Keep 'em coming.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Definitely gonna work on keeping it up and finishing it.

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

I love this and hope you'll write some more soon. :D

I'll still be here reading.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you! I need to stop guessing myself and just buckle down and do it. Ha.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alicesprings/]

Yay, update!

Go Justin!

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Thank you, bb!

[sevigny7.livejournal.com]

Nice update - I like these a lot.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[colleen2328.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you're continuing this story. You have their voices and their take on the world down so well. Great point about being so far away from those you love when you get really crushing news. And lol at "Brian Kinney does whine."

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Oh man. Belated comment, apologies!

I'll definitely be continuing this one. I said that I'd update soon but unfortunately that's been extended. But, there's another one coming up soon. Thank you so much for your feedback! I appreciate it and I'm glad to hear that you think it's IC. :)

[lemondrop34.livejournal.com]

So I was reading "A Beautiful Mess" and I dug around to see what other LuRe you've written 'cuz I couldnn't remember and, HOLYMOLEY, you write QaF!!!! '

*clicks heels*

Post-513 is my sweet spot so this fic in particular caught my eye. I read all the chapters practically at once and, my oh my, is this fic about perfect! I love dialogue-rich fic so all the taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalking here between them (and Emmett, Daphne and Michael) made me just so damn happy!

I hope you consider continuing. I would like to see how Brian handles Justin's decision, as well hear what Brian would like from their relationship. Is Brian even capable of answering such a question? Gadzooks, I would love to see him struggle through it!

For the record, I heartily agree with your choice to have Justin want his own space. I think canon!Justin would agree that a taste of real independence in NY would bleed into a renewed life in Pittsburg. I LIKE independent!Justin very much - he keeps Brian on his toes and that's a very good thing!

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

I do! I'm a QaF fan from way back, haha.

Thank you so much for your awesome feedback! I'm definitely going to continue this. Between all the Lure things, it's difficult keeping up with this one but I'm going to try to do just that.

I also agree with you that Justin needs that bit of space and independence that he wasn't able to get on the show. I always figured he'd get it in New York and come back when he was ready.

Thank you again!

[lemondrop34.livejournal.com]

Between all the Lure things, it's difficult keeping up with this one but I'm going to try to do just that.

Aw, thanks! I'm sure I'm not the only one who is a big fan of this fic! Like I said before, I LOVE all the taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalking - it makes me feel like I'm watching the show all over again.

*happy sigh*

[luvflix.livejournal.com]

As I was reading this part, all I kept on picturing in my head was Reid (yeah, weird crossover I know) saying the whole enchilada speech, about if he was going to put himself out there, that he wanted to know that Luke was going to be there too. I can kind of see Brian going through the same motions, making sure in his own heart that he can trust Justin not to leave him. I can just imagine what he thought/felt when he heard the news from Michael, that gut wrenching thought of perhaps he's going to lose him again.

I hope there's more to this...