Gift #27

[mander3-swish.livejournal.com]

TO:wren_kt7oz
FROM:daisybelle
TITLE:Three Cabs
GIFT REQUEST:Definitely warm and fuzzies at Christmas. BJ - if you can throw in Gus and Daphne, that's all good.
NOTE:Alternative Meeting

One week before Christmas

“Fuck!”

Startled by the outburst Daphne looked up from her coffee mug just in time to see her best friend and roommate slash angry stripes of black paint over the canvas. She sighed. Not only because of the additional layer of paint splashes in their living room / Justin’s studio, it was also way too early to deal with one of Justin’s drama queen spectacles. Especially after only five hours of sleep after a night shift that once again had proved to her that interns were indeed ranked at the bottom of the hospital food chain.

“What happened?”

“My fucking gimp hand. It’s acting up again. And I still have to finish two paintings for the show which is now in a week,” Justin almost yelled.

Daphne knew better than to show her sympathy. Ever since Justin had been bashed at their prom, his hand tended to cramp whenever he was exhausted. It had taken him a long time of therapy to get this far - not only physically but also psychologically. She was aware that he still had nightmares sometimes, but right now he was as close to the Justin pre-bashing as he would probably get. It hadn't had helped that his father had turned out a major homophobe who had disowned his son after he had found out that his son was gay. She was also certain that Justin still felt responsible for his parents’ divorce although Daphne was convinced that his mother was now better off without her ex. But all that meant that Justin wouldn’t take her sympathy well.

“So, you take a break and start again this afternoon. As you said, it’s still a week. Enough time for you to finish your masterpieces.”

“Except for the fact that I have no idea what I’m gonna paint,” Justin responded gloomily.

Daphne frowned. Justin had to be more freaked out than she realized. Probably understandable since this would be his first solo show after several group shows. She knew that his paintings were successful enough that he could live mostly from his commissions in New York with only the occasional waiter job at a nearby diner. This solo show could mean the final breakthrough for him. If he finished all of his pieces.

“I have an idea. We could go to ‘Colors’.”

“They are called ‘Coleur’,” Justin protested automatically.

“They are as American as you and I, they are just pretentious,” Daphne replied effortlessly. It was a standing argument between them. “But they have the best art stuff in town and I know that you are always inspired when you shop there.”

Justin looked at her undecided.

“I also know that your blue color is almost finished,” Daphne added.

“Azure,” Justin corrected. He still didn’t seem convinced.

“Come on, it will be fun.”

“Not with you tapping impatiently with your foot next to me while I try to decide between two colors.”

“Because you always take ages to decide.” It was another standing argument. Justin could compare different shades of paint for hours, but for her they always looked the same. She took a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll wait in the cab and you can thank me with a sandwich later. Deal?”

Justin grinned at her. “Deal. Let’s go.”

---

“Daddy!”

Brian’s contemplation of the billboards at the arrivals of JFK airport was interrupted by the enthusiastic scream of his son. He had barely enough time to prepare himself before Gus flung himself into his arms.

“Hey buddy,” he greeted his son, inhaling the smell of the boy and revelling in the eager hold Gus had on him, “where are your mommies and JR?”

“Only mommy.” The boy’s answer was muffled against Brian’s coat.

“Only mommy?” Brian frowned. It had been planned that Lindsay, Mel, Gus and JR would be staying with him a few days before they would continue their journey to Pittsburgh. From there the whole family would return to Toronto on New Year. He hadn’t heard about any change of plans, although if this was true he was not unhappy that he wouldn’t need to spend time with Mel and JR. His relationship with Mel had improved with an international border between them, but they still only managed some civilized behaviour towards each other for a certain amount of time.

“Hello Brian!” He was greeted by Lindsay, one of his oldest friends and mother of his son. He offered his cheek for kiss and attempted a hug, Gus still holding on to him.

“What about Mel and JR?”

“JR got sick,” Lindsay sighed, “only the flu, but the doctors said she couldn’t fly. So Mel stayed in Toronto with her. She has already changed their tickets for Pittsburgh in a few days.”

“Well, I’m sorry that JR is sick, but I’m glad you still could make it.”

“Of course, there was no way Gus would have allowed us to stay in Toronto.” Lindsay smiled.

Brian hugged his son harder before he released him.

“What do you think, buddy? Let’s get your bags and get out of here.”

Finding the right bags and more importantly getting a cab was a matter of moments and soon they were heading to Manhattan.

“Do you mind if we make a short stop along the way?” Lindsay asked suddenly, interrupting the excited chatter of her son who was describing everything he could see through the windows in great detail.

“Sure,” Brian threw her an investigating glance, “where do you want to go?”

“‘Couleur’, it’s one of the best art shops in the world,” Lindsay explained. “JR is right now really into art and sketching. If she gets some material from there, she might be not so sad that she missed New York.”

Brian just nodded and informed the driver about the change. Just a few minutes later they stopped behind another cab in front of the store. Lindsay and Gus went in and Brian started writing Cynthia which of the companies with billboards at JFK were in dire need of Kinney Advertising while waiting for their return.

---

Justin practically bounced out of the store. Daphne had been right. For some reason the floors full of paint, charcoals, canvases, brushes, pencils and what else any artist could need always filled him with ideas and he couldn’t wait to start sketching. Thankfully Daphne was used to his artistic frenzies by now, so she wouldn’t mind eating her sandwich while he was filling up his sketchbook.

With a few steps he reached their cab, trying to arrange himself and his purchases carefully on the backseat of the cab, grinning widely.

“You were right, I could kiss you right now,” he exclaimed.

“As you wish,” answered a voice that was definitely not Daphne and a large hand settled on his neck turning his head and drawing it closer to the source of the voice. Justin had a few precious seconds to stare at the most beautiful man he had ever seen. He lost himself in hazel eyes until his mouth was caught and he was expertly kissed. A gentle nib on his upper lip, another one on his lower lip, before the stranger’s mouth ended fully on his, massaging his lips with just the right amount of pressure.

Justin sighed as the other man broke the kiss, chasing the tempting mouth. He could almost taste the satisfied smirk as their lips touched again. Had the first kiss been almost chaste, so was this far from it. A heated tongue demanded entrance and he opened his mouth eagerly, shivering uncontrollably as it explored his mouth. Heat pooled in his stomach and nothing seemed more important than this kiss. Impatiently he started his own exploration of the other man’s mouth, only half aware that his hand had found its way under the other man’s shirt.

It took him a moment to understand that the outraged ‘Brian’ was meant for his kissing partner. But once the realization penetrated his hazy brain, it was like a bucket of cold water. Justin tried to pull away but the other man took his time ending the kiss properly, even leaving a small kiss on the corner of Justin’s mouth. Embarrassed Justin avoided the gaze of the woman and just collected hastily his purchases before he fled the cab.

---

One week later / Christmas Eve

“Justin, you need to get up!”

Daphne’s call took a while to penetrate his sleep-adled mind. When he finally opened his eyes, she was already in his room, looking at him questioningly.

“I would have thought with your show opening today, you’d be up and running by now.”

“Couldn’t sleep,” he shrugged, trying for nonchalance.

She nodded understandingly and handed him a mug with coffee.

“Your first solo show,” she took a sip from her own mug. “By the way, it’s 9.30. You have one hour to meet your agent at the gallery.”

He took one sip of his coffee before her words registered and he jumped out of the bed. “One hour, oh my god, Daphne why didn’t you wake me earlier.”

“As I said I thought you’d be already up.”

With one last large gulp he went to their miniscule bathroom to shower and hopefully waking himself. It usually did the trick since the water took ages to heat up and most of the time he was impatient enough to jump under the cold water. It also helped with the main reason why he couldn’t sleep. Of course he was excited about his first solo show, but the memories of the kiss one week ago had usually woken him hard and aching. Every time he thought of it (and it was way more often than he would be comfortable to admit), he once again felt the heat, the lust pooling in his stomach. It was only in the loneliness of his bed that he allowed himself to think about what such a talented tongue could do to him elsewhere and unfortunately those thoughts followed him into his dreams.

He and Daphne had discussed the kiss at lengths, the implications of the woman and apparently a small child (he hadn’t noticed it but he had still suffered from the aftermath of the best kiss of his life and its abrupt ending; Daphne had a much better view from her cab), but Justin just knew that no straight man kissed this way. He deeply regretted not having asked for a name, well at least more than ‘Brian’ since the New York phonebook was full of Brians (not that he had looked).

In an attempt to get the incident out of his mind he had even painted the other man. His ‘Studies of beauty and hazel’ had been the final pieces for his show and he felt grateful for the inspiration. Very grateful.

Daphne’s insistent knocking on the door interrupted his debate how grateful he would be if he ever encountered Brian again.

“Don’t use all the warm water.”

He finally started washing himself, deliberately turning the temperature back to cold and pushing all thoughts of the stranger named Brian aside. He had a solo show to open tonight.

---

On Christmas Eve Brian was again at the airport, unfortunately this time to say goodbye to his son and to put him and his mother on their flight to Pittsburgh. He knew he would follow them in a day, a conference call from one his major clients had changed his flight schedule, that’s why their leaving didn’t cause the usual amount of tears on Gus’s side and sadness on his.

“We’ll see each other tomorrow,” Brian whispered to his son, hugging him closely. Gus waved him goodbye, obviously very hard trying not to cry.

“Only one time sleeping,” Lindsay explained, noticing her son’s struggles.

She also gave Brian a warm hug before grabbing Gus’ hand and turning to leave, just stopping at the last minute.

“By the way, I have an idea for your lobby.”

Brian raised a questioning eyebrow. While they were in New York, Gus had insisted to see his father’s office. Brian’s advertising agency had just expanded their New York office and needed new rooms. Since the move had been shortly before Christmas, most of the walls were still very bare. He intended to put art on them but neither he nor Cynthia had had the time to go looking for something suitable.

“What do you have in mind?”

“Today opens an art show from Justin Taylor. He is a young artist who was featured in several art magazines. From what I’ve seen his style should fit right in with your design preferences. And as far as I know he is also from Pittsburgh, I know how much you like to support local talents. Here,” she started searching in her handbag until she pulled out a small brochure and handed it to Brian. “Just have a look.”

Brian took the brochure, just glancing at it before he folded it and put it in his coat. He lowered himself to give his son one last kiss, before they both disappeared in the security check area.

---

Later that evening Brian found himself standing in front of the gallery. He hadn’t planned going there, but the emptiness of his apartment was suddenly too much after a week of Gus’ laughter and explaining the world to him. Usually he would have donned his favorite club clothes and tried to fuck away the loneliness in one of New York’s backrooms. However this time he didn’t feel like it. Instead he had taken a closer look at the brochure Lindsay had given him. The featured paintings indeed looked like they might be a match for his office, but even more importantly the brochure had also included a picture of the artist. And although it had only been black and white Brian recognised those eyes in an instant, knew they were blue, and could almost taste those lush lips on his tongue.

And now he stared through the windows of the gallery. His gaze went superficially over the paintings, but his main focus was on the crowd. It seemed that he had missed the start and the opening was slowly winding down. But it still took him several minutes until he could find the blond head he was looking for and whose memory had haunted him the last week.

Although Gus had occupied his time pretty thoroughly there were moments when he had found himself looking for exactly this shade of blond. There were also times when Gus and Lindsay had already slept in their guest rooms that he had found his cock hard remembering the kiss in the cab and his fantasy had no problem conjuring several very intriguing scenarios how the kiss in the cab should have ended. Maybe this was the opportunity to let some of these fantasies come true. He opened the door and entered the gallery.

Brian circled the room carefully, but making his way closer and closer to the blond man - Justin Taylor as he had learned from Lindsay’s brochure. He waited until the other man was alone, before he approached him. He could pinpoint the exact moment when Justin Taylor recognized him, a blush appearing on the fair skin, his blue eyes darkening and a tongue unconsciously wetting his lips.

“Justin Taylor? I’m Brian Kinney,” Brian introduced himself, “I think we have some unfinished business.” And he let his gaze wander down appreciatively, lingering pointedly at the other man’s crotch.

“It would be a pleasure to finish business with you.” Tayor’s answer surprised him, but only for a moment.

“How long do you have to stay?”

“I can go as soon as I find my manager.”

“I’ll find a cab.”

Luck was on Brian’s side. Only moments later he was sitting in a cab, the cab driver had already received his directions. When the door opened he appreciated for a moment the beauty of the man in front of him, before he drew him into a heated kiss, just as good as their last one in a cab.

---

The next morning it took Justin a few moments to realize where he was. Of course he was severely handicapped because Brian was currently sucking his dick expertly and he was soon completely unable of coherent thoughts. A mind shattering orgasm and returning the favor later, he was much more capable of taking in his surroundings, but most of his attention was drawn by the man next to him.

The night before had been magical. He hadn’t expected to see the man from the cab again, but seeing him and spending the night with him after the successful opening of his show was practically a Christmas miracle. He wondered if he was due for another miracle or if this was just one night. They hadn’t really talked last night, besides ‘harder’, ‘there’, ‘oh god’ and similar exclamations. And he was unsure how to start a conversation that had the potential to turn this wonderful lazy morning into something serious that would stop the pleasantness.

“So, what are your plans for Christmas Day?” Brian surprised him with the question.

“I have to show up at the gallery sometime during the day and tonight I’ll be flying to Pittsburgh, meeting my mother and my sister. What about you?”

“I have a conference call at 12 and then I will be also flying to Pittsburgh,” Brian smiled and Justin’s heart fluttered excitedly.

“Which flight?”

“Liberty Air, 5 pm.”

“That’s … that’s my flight.” Suddenly Justin’s throat was dry.

“Is that so?” Brian leaned over him and caught his lips in an almost chaste kiss.

“So, wanna share a cab to the airport?”

Comments

[koalared.livejournal.com]

Love it! <3

[wren-kt7oz.livejournal.com]

What a great way for them to meet! I loved it.

This was a lovely gift, and I'm very grateful.

It was fun and sweet and kind of hot all that the same time

And adding Gus into any fic (especially a Christmas fic) is always a bonus for me.

Plus you used the "as you wish" line. I love the Princess Bride and the "This true love; do you think this happens every day?" line has always seemed just right for Brian and Justin.

Thank you so much. I love it and will re-read it many times.

[chadmom.livejournal.com]

Lovely!

3 cabs

[sfscarlet.livejournal.com]

Great way for them to meet and fun way to continue the story.

[mander3-swish.livejournal.com]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Great scenario for brian & and justin to meet :)

[rulisteningbj.livejournal.com]

What a great idea for their first meeting. I enjoyed this so much.

Dee Dee