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slashluv18
FROM:oceanreign
TITLE: Decisions
GIFT REQUEST: Fic. Angst, fluff, Hurt-comfort, Romance. Brian/Justin, Gus, Daphne. I'd be happy with pretty much any Brian/Justin story if it includes Gus and Daphne and a somewhat happy or hopeful ending."
NOTE: I’m able to give you Daphne….let’s see where it goes :)
Set during/after the engagement party where they announce the wedding is off.
Daphne stared at Justin in disbelief as he told her the story about how he and Brian had come to call off the wedding. Apparently, they had decided that Justin belonged in New York for the sake of his art, and Brian wasn’t the marrying kind. Uh, yeah, ok.
“Justin. Are you kidding me right now? New York? The last time I heard you mention New York was when you told me you were going there with Brian’s credit card!” She could barely keep her voice down.
“It’s the best place for me to get my foot in the door,” Justin explained, looking at Brian over her head.
“What door?” She screeched, grabbing Justin’s elbow and leading him to a corner of the room.
“To the art world. You know, making contacts in the city, meeting with galleries, museums, agents…” His voice trailed off as he realized he wasn’t convincing her.
“And who had this bright idea?”
“Well, me. I mean, Lindsay mentioned it after that article was published. But Brian agrees. And I think they are right.” Justin was barely taking a breath between his words.
“Justin! Are you serious? I’ve known you since we were, like, babies! You’ve never mentioned New York. And, as impressive as the review was, you’ve never wanted to be a painter either!” Daphne was getting pissed off. Mostly at Lindsay. She could see some sort of manipulation happening, although she didn’t really see a motive---yet.
“Look, Daph. I appreciate your concern. But Brian and I—we don’t want to sacrifice our lives for “love”” (he made air quotes). “I want him to do all the things he wants, which doesn’t include marriage. And he wants the same for me, which includes making my own way.”
“What is love if it isn’t sacrifice, Justin? No two people together for any length of time manage without sacrifice. You’ve sacrificed your desire for monogamy FOR YEARS because you loved him. He sacrificed his notion that relationships are bullshit for you. Hell, he asked you to MARRY him. BRIAN! Where on earth did you figure love wasn’t sacrifice?”
Justin started to speak but Daphne wasn’t done. “New York is bullshit. That was his dream, not yours. And Lindsay…she is manipulating the situation. Mark my words, Justin. You go to New York, it’ll be the biggest regret of your life!” And with that, she stormed out of the party, leaving Justin to stare after her.
Later that night.
“Hey.” Brian whispered in his ear. “You ready to get out of here?” He kissed his neck.
“Sure!” Justin replied, still deep in thought after his chat with Daphne.
“What happened with Daphne?” Brian prompted as he held the door open for Justin, leading them out to the cold night air.
“Nothing.”
“Didn’t look like nothing to me.” Jennifer appeared next to them at that moment, out of seemingly nowhere.
“Hey, mom. Thanks for coming,” Justin said, leaning over to hug her.
“Goodnight, honey. Give me a call in the morning so we can talk about your plans!” She turned to Brian. “Goodnight, Brian.”
“Goodnight, Mother Taylor,” he said. She moved to walk away, and then suddenly, as an afterthought, turned back to the boys.
“You know, when you were young, you always wanted to be an animator. Do you remember how you begged your father and me to take animation classes in high school?” When Justin didn’t answer, she went on, “well, anyway, I always thought, especially after your…injuries, that you were one of those few people who know what they want to do their whole life and end up right in that spot, you know? Seems like you surprised me.” She nodded at him, and then walked away.
“I had forgotten that,” Brian said.
“Hmm?”
“When your mom came to my office all those years ago. She told me that you wanted to be an animator. When did you decide you wanted to be a painter?” Brian asked, with genuine interest.
“Oh, well, I. . .I guess I ended up seeing what else there was when I was at PIFA.” Justin stammered, unsure in his answer.
“You drew a lot when we first met. Then there was Rage,” Brian said. “This painting thing really only started after our last….after you moved out the last time.”
“It’s cold. Let’s get out of here,” Justin replied. They got in the car and didn’t say much the rest of the night.
Two weeks later:
“Gus!” Brian called after his son, “Don’t go too far!” He sat next to Lindsay on the bench. They were at some nauseating children’s play place set up in an equally disgusting children’s themed restaurant.
“So, when does Justin leave for New York?” Lindsay said, innocently.
Brian turned and regarded her cautiously. “Why did you think he should go to New York?” he questioned.
“I told you before. It’s his chance to make something of himself in the art world.”
Brian rolled in his lips. Things had been off with them since the night of the party. “Did you tell Justin that?”
“Yes. Around the time you and I discussed the article. He said New York wasn’t his opportunity of a lifetime, you were.” To that, Brian’s head snapped toward her. Recognizing the look on his face, she scrambled to quickly cover her tracks. “Well, Brian, you weren’t going to be happy married to him. My nudge toward New York was really preventing him from being hurt by you –again—when you realized that.”
At that moment, Gus bounded over and jumped into his father’s lap. “Hey, Sonny Boy, are you about ready to go?” Gus nodded.
“Lindsay,” Brian stated, as he lifted Gus into his arms. “I don’t know what you think you know, but I would have married him. I still would marry him. And never regret it. I do not do regrets.” And with that, he walked toward the exit, holding on to the precious few moments he had left with his son in Pittsburgh.
Three months passed before the subject came up again. Justin was standing in the kitchen, reaching up for something in a high cupboard, giving Brian a glimpse of his bare stomach.
“Justin?” Brian said quietly. Justin grabbed the box he had been reaching for, and looked over, waiting. “I would have, you know. I still would.”
Justin closed his eyes. “I know.”
“I don’t want to hold you back.”
“I know.”
“It’s not a sacrifice. Marriage to you. Not for me.”
“It’s not the time, Brian,” Justin said, halting Brian’s words. Brian came up to him, grabbing his hand. “To get married.” Brian nodded, kissed Justin’s cheek and went to go back to the bedroom.
“I mean, I don’t want to get married out of fear. I know you wouldn’t regret it. I know you aren’t sacrificing.”
“It’s not fear. Fear may have caused me to see what was always there, but it’s not why I want to marry you.” Brian said, rolling his lips in.
“I don’t want to be a painter. Or live in New York. Well, ok, New York sounds exciting. But that’s your dream. Not mine.” Justin said.
“So where does that leave us?” Brian asked.
“With a lot to figure out. Together.” Said Justin.
--
To the recipient: Couldn’t figure out the perfect ending. So I thought this was nice enough to start your imagination in the right direction.
slashluv18FROM:
oceanreignTITLE: Decisions
GIFT REQUEST: Fic. Angst, fluff, Hurt-comfort, Romance. Brian/Justin, Gus, Daphne. I'd be happy with pretty much any Brian/Justin story if it includes Gus and Daphne and a somewhat happy or hopeful ending."
NOTE: I’m able to give you Daphne….let’s see where it goes :)
Set during/after the engagement party where they announce the wedding is off.
Daphne stared at Justin in disbelief as he told her the story about how he and Brian had come to call off the wedding. Apparently, they had decided that Justin belonged in New York for the sake of his art, and Brian wasn’t the marrying kind. Uh, yeah, ok.
“Justin. Are you kidding me right now? New York? The last time I heard you mention New York was when you told me you were going there with Brian’s credit card!” She could barely keep her voice down.
“It’s the best place for me to get my foot in the door,” Justin explained, looking at Brian over her head.
“What door?” She screeched, grabbing Justin’s elbow and leading him to a corner of the room.
“To the art world. You know, making contacts in the city, meeting with galleries, museums, agents…” His voice trailed off as he realized he wasn’t convincing her.
“And who had this bright idea?”
“Well, me. I mean, Lindsay mentioned it after that article was published. But Brian agrees. And I think they are right.” Justin was barely taking a breath between his words.
“Justin! Are you serious? I’ve known you since we were, like, babies! You’ve never mentioned New York. And, as impressive as the review was, you’ve never wanted to be a painter either!” Daphne was getting pissed off. Mostly at Lindsay. She could see some sort of manipulation happening, although she didn’t really see a motive---yet.
“Look, Daph. I appreciate your concern. But Brian and I—we don’t want to sacrifice our lives for “love”” (he made air quotes). “I want him to do all the things he wants, which doesn’t include marriage. And he wants the same for me, which includes making my own way.”
“What is love if it isn’t sacrifice, Justin? No two people together for any length of time manage without sacrifice. You’ve sacrificed your desire for monogamy FOR YEARS because you loved him. He sacrificed his notion that relationships are bullshit for you. Hell, he asked you to MARRY him. BRIAN! Where on earth did you figure love wasn’t sacrifice?”
Justin started to speak but Daphne wasn’t done. “New York is bullshit. That was his dream, not yours. And Lindsay…she is manipulating the situation. Mark my words, Justin. You go to New York, it’ll be the biggest regret of your life!” And with that, she stormed out of the party, leaving Justin to stare after her.
Later that night.
“Hey.” Brian whispered in his ear. “You ready to get out of here?” He kissed his neck.
“Sure!” Justin replied, still deep in thought after his chat with Daphne.
“What happened with Daphne?” Brian prompted as he held the door open for Justin, leading them out to the cold night air.
“Nothing.”
“Didn’t look like nothing to me.” Jennifer appeared next to them at that moment, out of seemingly nowhere.
“Hey, mom. Thanks for coming,” Justin said, leaning over to hug her.
“Goodnight, honey. Give me a call in the morning so we can talk about your plans!” She turned to Brian. “Goodnight, Brian.”
“Goodnight, Mother Taylor,” he said. She moved to walk away, and then suddenly, as an afterthought, turned back to the boys.
“You know, when you were young, you always wanted to be an animator. Do you remember how you begged your father and me to take animation classes in high school?” When Justin didn’t answer, she went on, “well, anyway, I always thought, especially after your…injuries, that you were one of those few people who know what they want to do their whole life and end up right in that spot, you know? Seems like you surprised me.” She nodded at him, and then walked away.
“I had forgotten that,” Brian said.
“Hmm?”
“When your mom came to my office all those years ago. She told me that you wanted to be an animator. When did you decide you wanted to be a painter?” Brian asked, with genuine interest.
“Oh, well, I. . .I guess I ended up seeing what else there was when I was at PIFA.” Justin stammered, unsure in his answer.
“You drew a lot when we first met. Then there was Rage,” Brian said. “This painting thing really only started after our last….after you moved out the last time.”
“It’s cold. Let’s get out of here,” Justin replied. They got in the car and didn’t say much the rest of the night.
Two weeks later:
“Gus!” Brian called after his son, “Don’t go too far!” He sat next to Lindsay on the bench. They were at some nauseating children’s play place set up in an equally disgusting children’s themed restaurant.
“So, when does Justin leave for New York?” Lindsay said, innocently.
Brian turned and regarded her cautiously. “Why did you think he should go to New York?” he questioned.
“I told you before. It’s his chance to make something of himself in the art world.”
Brian rolled in his lips. Things had been off with them since the night of the party. “Did you tell Justin that?”
“Yes. Around the time you and I discussed the article. He said New York wasn’t his opportunity of a lifetime, you were.” To that, Brian’s head snapped toward her. Recognizing the look on his face, she scrambled to quickly cover her tracks. “Well, Brian, you weren’t going to be happy married to him. My nudge toward New York was really preventing him from being hurt by you –again—when you realized that.”
At that moment, Gus bounded over and jumped into his father’s lap. “Hey, Sonny Boy, are you about ready to go?” Gus nodded.
“Lindsay,” Brian stated, as he lifted Gus into his arms. “I don’t know what you think you know, but I would have married him. I still would marry him. And never regret it. I do not do regrets.” And with that, he walked toward the exit, holding on to the precious few moments he had left with his son in Pittsburgh.
Three months passed before the subject came up again. Justin was standing in the kitchen, reaching up for something in a high cupboard, giving Brian a glimpse of his bare stomach.
“Justin?” Brian said quietly. Justin grabbed the box he had been reaching for, and looked over, waiting. “I would have, you know. I still would.”
Justin closed his eyes. “I know.”
“I don’t want to hold you back.”
“I know.”
“It’s not a sacrifice. Marriage to you. Not for me.”
“It’s not the time, Brian,” Justin said, halting Brian’s words. Brian came up to him, grabbing his hand. “To get married.” Brian nodded, kissed Justin’s cheek and went to go back to the bedroom.
“I mean, I don’t want to get married out of fear. I know you wouldn’t regret it. I know you aren’t sacrificing.”
“It’s not fear. Fear may have caused me to see what was always there, but it’s not why I want to marry you.” Brian said, rolling his lips in.
“I don’t want to be a painter. Or live in New York. Well, ok, New York sounds exciting. But that’s your dream. Not mine.” Justin said.
“So where does that leave us?” Brian asked.
“With a lot to figure out. Together.” Said Justin.
--
To the recipient: Couldn’t figure out the perfect ending. So I thought this was nice enough to start your imagination in the right direction.
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Date: 2014-12-31 10:22 pm (UTC)Hugs ~ Kathleen
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Date: 2015-01-01 12:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-01 01:03 am (UTC)Later Hon ~ Kathleen
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Date: 2014-12-31 10:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-01 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-01 04:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-01 08:57 pm (UTC)Dee Dee
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Date: 2015-01-02 07:27 am (UTC)Why, oh why, didn't Daphne speak up like this in canon?
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Date: 2015-01-08 09:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-02 01:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-08 09:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-02 10:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-08 09:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-03 04:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-04 10:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-01-08 06:53 am (UTC)I absolutely loved the divergence from canon. I liked how you fixed it. Love Daphne's speech. I remember Justin wanting to be an animator, too. Always wondered when he decided he wanted to a painter and go to work. Though Lindsay manipulated him into thinking that's what he wanted.
Really great story. Great ending, too.
no subject
Date: 2015-01-08 09:16 pm (UTC)