Gift # 28 of 42
Dec. 31st, 2011 09:59 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
happier-bunny.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
qaf_giftxchngeTO: Sangwin
FROM: morrbran
TITLE: The Other Man In His Life
GIFT REQUEST: love Justin/Gus bonding and seeing the three of them as a family
Genre: post S5
Pairing/character/theme/focus: Brian/Justin and Gus
Gus liked Christmas. It was one of those holidays that his mother's thought they needed to be in the states. It meant big meals at Grandma Deb's, hanging out at his Uncle Mikey's and playing video games all day. It meant seeing where he was born and feeling a connection he didn't in his home in Canada.
Most importantly, he got to see his dad.
He missed him the most of anything from home. He talked to him a lot more now that he was older. When he turned ten this year, his mothers had agreed that he was old enough to make phone calls on his own. He used that to call his father as often as he needed and even if it was every day, his father didn't seem to mind.
When they were in Pittsburgh, he stayed with his father the whole time. It was their special time together that he didn't have to share with anyone.
That was until this year.
Gus had been so excited running up the stairs to the loft. His Mom couldn't keep up with him.
He knocked on the door and took several steps back when it wasn't his dad that opened his door but some blond guy.
"Hey Gus." He says smiling this big smile that Gus thought was going to split his face in half. How did this guy even know who he was?
His mom finally made it up the stairs. She stood behind him rubbing his shoulders. "Justin" She says and Gus can hear the surprise in her voice. "I didn't know you'd be here."
The guy, Justin, Gus now knew, just kept smiling like he was really pleased about something. Gus just thought he looked silly. "I just got in last week." He tells his mom. "I sort of surprised Brian too."
"I'm sure he didn't mind." Lindsay says knowingly and Gus felt left out of whatever they were sharing.
"Where's my dad?" He asks not caring about the moment the two blonds were sharing.
"He ran down to the store. He said something about needing to get juice for you for breakfast." Justin explains to him. He seemed to realize they were standing outside the loft still and moved away so they could come in.
Gus watched this man intrude his father's space, the only other person that his dad let behave like this in his loft was him. He didn't like it one bit how comfortable this Justin was here.
"I can't believe you're really here." Lindsay says sitting down on the couch with Justin. "Is this permanent?"
Justin smiles again and nods his head.
Gus rolled his eyes wandering over to the TV area. What did this mean for him? Was this Justin guy living with his dad now?
He looked up when he heard the distinctive sound of the door rolling open. His dad was there carrying a paper bag from the store down the road.
Gus jumped up and ran to his dad. He squealed as his dad picked him up into a hug.
"Gus, you're getting so big." He says setting him back down. "Or I'm getting old." Gus watched as his dad sent a warning look toward Justin. "Don’t you dare say anything."
"Who me?" Justin asks innocently.
"Dad I missed you." Gus says looking up at his father's face.
There was only a momentary hesitation before Brian replied. "Me too buddy."
"Brian, why didn't you tell us Justin was here?" Lindsay asks coming over to give him a hug.
"Because I knew you'd all be here the moment I did." He tells her revealing more in that comment than Gus could understand. How could he know how much his dad had missed Justin when he didn't even talk about him?
Lindsay smiled at Brian in a way Gus had never seen before. He hated when adults did that, like they had some secret they didn't want to share.
Gus looked back to the guy who had ruined his day. What was he doing here anyways? This was his time with his dad. He didn't want to share.
"Gus we're going to be staying at Britin this weekend." Brian tells his son. "We'll have more room to spread out there."
Gus loved going to the big house in the country. There was so much room and his dad had an amazing media room with a huge TV and seats that made it feel like he was in the theater.
He had his own room there too. His dad had let him decorate it himself unlike his mothers. It actually felt like his room. His dad always treated him like he was an actual person, not just some kid.
"Great dad." Gus was glad that they were going to leave Justin here and spend the weekend just the two of them like it should be.
"I can't wait to see the house again." Justin tells Brian. "Every time we go there it reminds me of the night you proposed."
Lindsay went over and kissed the top of his head. "I'll leave you boys alone." She turned to Gus and spoke right to him. "Call me tonight alright and I'll see you at dinner tomorrow."
"Okay Mom." Gus always hated when his mom made things a bigger deal than they really were. She always got teary eyed when she left him alone with his dad. It's not like his dad had ever done anything bad before.
"Sorry, I forgot you were so grown up." She gave him another hug before leaving
"Gus, grab what you want to bring to the house." His dad tells him already walking up the stairs to the bedroom. He heard his father in the closet and assumed he was doing the same thing.
Gus stood and stared at Justin before moving to do what his dad told him to.
"I'm really glad we get to spend some time together." Justin says trying to coax Gus out into conversation. The way Brian talked about Gus, he never stopped talking. What was with the silent treatment?
Gus huffs and turns away from Justin to grab some of the things he normally kept in the loft to take to the house. He felt Justin standing there for a moment longer before going up the stairs after his father.
He heard Justin talking to his dad. "I don’t think he likes me."
"He doesn't remember you." Brian corrects him and Gus could hear that tone where he wasn't really putting any stock in what Justin was saying. It was the same tone he used when he was brushing off something Gus would say that he would later realize was ridiculous.
Then there was quieter talking that Gus couldn't hear. He peered around the wall and saw that his dad was kissing Justin.
Gus quickly backed behind the wall. He had never seen his dad kiss anyone before. He knew he probably did like his mom's did, but he had never done it around him. It was funny seeing his dad with another man. He just never thought of him being affectionate like that.
A moment later, he heard footsteps coming towards him and pretended to be busy. He picked up a book as if contemplating taking it or not.
"Gus, you ready yet?" Brian asks impatiently as he set his bag by the door.
"Yeah. I'm coming." Gus couldn't look at Justin now without seeing him kissing his dad. It was weird.
When they got out to the car, Gus went to sit up front with his dad, but Justin beat him to it. Grownups always did that. They just assumed that it was okay to take their seat. He always sat with his dad up front when it was the two of them. Now Justin was in his spot.
He rode in the back silently to the house. His dad usually didn't talk much in the car anyways, but Justin did enough talking for all of them. Gus wondered how his dad could put up with it.
Gus was glad when they got to the house. He barely waited for the car to stop before running out and around the back. His dad called after him, but he kept on running back to the barn. He wanted to see the horses in the stables. His dad never told him why they were there, they never rode them and he never talked about them. They were cared for by Jenny, along with the house when they weren't there. He would always get this lost look and for the rest of the day it would be like he was in another world. Gus stopped asking about them
"Gus, get back here." Gus ducked behind the barn looking for a place to hide when he felt something rub up against his leg. He nearly jumped in fright until he looked down and saw it was a tiny kitten.
Gus scooped the kitten into his arms not caring if it tried to scratch him.
"Gus?" Justin came around the corner and stopped when he saw him standing there. "Who do you have there?" He asks reaching forward to pet the cat.
Gus shrugged. "I just found her." He answers looking down at the frightened cat.
"Gus." They both looked up when they heard Brian's voice getting closer.
"He's over here." Justin called out and turned back to get a death stare from Gus. It was so like Brian that Justin's breath caught. "I had to tell him Gus. He was worried."
Brian came up behind Justin and glared when he saw what was in Gus's arms. "What is that?" He asks pointing at the grey and white striped ball of fur in Gus's arms.
"I found her." Gus answers as sweetly as he could. "She's cold and lonely."
"No way Gus." Brian shook his head and shot Justin a warning look to stay out of it. "What's going to happen to it when you go home?"
"Please dad. I'll find a home for it. I promise." Gus looked at the baby kitten in his arms and refused to leave it out in the cold all alone.
Brian sighed knowing he might as well give in now since between Justin and Gus he would eventually anyways. He just didn't stand a chance and could save himself a lot of trouble and just let it happen. "Fine but that thing better not shed on the furniture."
"Thank you dad." Gus says like he had gotten the best gift in the whole world.
"Justin why don’t you go to the store and get some stuff for the thing." Brian says tossing the blond his car keys. He had no idea what he had gotten himself into.
They took the cat into the house and Brian poured it some milk. He could tell it had been starving by the voracious way it cleaned the bowl.
Gus was laying on the floor in the living room playing with the cat when Justin returned. He watched the boy wondering if that was what Brian looked like when he was a kid. It was sad that he had a hard time picturing Brian being that happy and playful.
"He's happy." Justin says finding Brian in the kitchen.
"The thing peed on my floor." Brian grumbles tossing soiled paper towels into the trash.
"She's got her litter box now." Justin assures him. "She'll know how to use it."
Brian shakes his head wondering how he got conned into this mess. It felt as if Justin and Gus were ganging up on him and he didn't stand a chance.
Justin kissed him on the chin knowing what he was thinking. "You made him happy." He tells him before filling a bowl with kitten food and taking it into the living room where Gus was still playing with the kitten.
"Justin look." Gus calls forgetting for a moment that he wasn't supposed to like the new guy.
Justin laughed watching the cat chase after a string that Gus had found. "Here kitty, I bet you're starving." He says setting the bowl down. The cat immediately stopped the game and dived into the food putting its paws into the large bowl.
"What do you think we should name her?" Gus asks Justin, his temporary ally.
Justin smiled and looked up at Brian both remembering the night Gus was born and he had asked Justin the same thing about Gus's name.
"Well we really should make sure she's a girl before we name her." Justin suggests.
"Oh yeah it would be so tragic to name it something silly." Brian snarks still not sold on the kitten. Sure it was cute and it made Gus smile, but he knew the responsibility of the thing would eventually fall to him and he had never taken care of an animal in his life. Pets were strictly forbidden in the Kinney household.
But he did remember being Gus's age and desperately wanting a pet. Could he really have said no to his son when he felt so crushed when his parents didn't even considered it?
"How about Nala, like in the Lion King?" Justin asks knowing Gus had just seen it performed on stage.
Gus grinned. "Yeah and we can use Simba if it’s a boy." He says excitedly. "Will you check Justin?"
Justin picked up the cat feeling a little strange since he never had a cat either. He set her back down so she could go back to eating. "Definitely a Nala." He announces.
"Dad, did you hear?" Gus couldn't keep his excitement in. "It’s a girl."
"Well that girl better learn to use its litter box." Was all he said before sulking out of the room. He was stuck with it now. It had a name.
*
That night after dinner, the three plus the cat sat down to watch a movie. Gus picked out How The Grinch Stole Christmas at Justin's suggestion. It was probably the only movie Brian wouldn't pick apart the entire time.
Gus moved to the floor with his kitten while he snacked on popcorn. About twenty minutes in, he turned around to ask his dad something and nearly choked on the popcorn in his mouth. There was Justin, pushed up against his dad on the couch and they were making out. To Gus it was completely gross.
It was like they didn't even remember he was there with Justin nearly on top of his dad. He remembered why he didn't like the blond.
When he got up to go to the bathroom, Gus jumped up on the couch next to his dad taking his place. It was like his dad didn't even care that Justin was gone.
Justin came back and stopped suddenly when he went to go sit down and Gus was there. He didn't say anything, just sat down on the floor in front of his dad. Gus's triumphant grin was short lived when he saw his dad start to put his fingers through Justin's hair and the guy just melted right back against his dad.
Gus just couldn't understand why they always had to be touching.
He watched the rest of the movie with a pout on his face and didn't say anything to them when he went upstairs to his bed.
*
In the morning, he peaked into his dad's room to wake him up but stopped short at the sight before him. Justin was all wrapped around his dad as if he was a favorite stuffed animal. His dad probably hated having the blond hanging all over him.
He went down stairs to play video games until his dad woke up. He heard the shower go on, but it took a really long time for it to go off that Gus thought his dad might have fallen or something. He heard that happened to older people.
Just when he was going to go knock on the door, it went off and Justin came downstairs with wet hair and a stupid look on his face like he was pleased about something. Gus just knew his dad was going to be mad about Justin wasting so much water when Brian came down with the same wet hair and the same stupid look.
He didn't get it.
"Dad, I'm hungry." He calls to his dad.
Justin grinned up at his dad. "I'll make those waffles you love." He says knowing how much Brian loved them despite his protests that they had too many calories. It was the same with the way he would steal fries off his plate. "Remember when I made those for you in New York?" There was a twinkle in his eye as he looked up at Brian.
"Yeah." Brian says with a sigh.
"Dad." Gus says interrupting his memory. "I don’t want stupid waffles." He practically whines. "Why can't you make me your special eggs?" He asks wanting one of the few things his dad could make well.
"Gus, Justin offered to make us breakfast." Brian says not liking the way his son was acting. "Trust me, they are much better than my eggs." Brian assures him.
Gus frowned knowing he wasn't going to get his way. His dad always gave him what he wanted if it wasn't something big.
His dad read the newspaper while Justin cooked so Gus was left on his own. He picked up his kitten and slunk off to the media room to be alone away from that stupid singing of Justin's. His dad hated Christmas songs so why was he putting up with Justin's stupid singing?
His dad called him when the waffles were done. Gus took his time walking back to the kitchen. It was his way of trying to show Justin he didn't appreciate his efforts. When he walked in, he frowned to see that they hadn't waited for him. It felt as if he wouldn't even be missed if he wasn't there.
Justin jumped up when he saw Gus. "Let me get you a plate Gus."
"I can get one myself." He snaps at him softly so his dad didn't hear.
Justin stepped back. "Okay." He acquiesces. "I just thought you might have needed help. I keep forgetting how big you are now. In my mind you're still the little boy I last saw before I left."
Gus didn't say anything to him, just ignored his presence in the kitchen and purposely walked around the long way to avoid him as he joined his dad at the table.
"You dad always had pictures of you to show me when he visited." Justin says trying to get some reaction from Gus other than silence.
Gus just gave him a mumbled response.
Gus took a bite of the waffles and hated that they were really good. He wasn't going to tell Justin that. "What are we doing today Dad?" Gus asks him.
Brian looked at him apologetically. "I've got to go into the office for a couple of hours." He tells him. "Justin's going to hang out with you."
Gus frowned. "I don’t want to hang out with him." Gus whines. "I wanted to spend time with you. Why do you have to leave?"
"I have to Gus. It's important." Brian tries to get him to understand. "Justin will do whatever you wanted to do with me."
Gus glared at him before stomping up to his room.
"I don’t think he likes me." Justin says upset as he started clearing the plates.
"He's a kid Justin." Brian says like it's no big deal. "Besides I don't think anyone has ever not liked you."
"He's your son Brian." Justin reminds him. "I just want him to like me." He says feeling like Brian wasn't putting any stock into his concerns. How could he not see the way Gus felt towards him?
After Brian left, Justin was at a loss. What was he supposed to do with a ten year old boy? He couldn't remember the last time he had spent a considerable amount of time alone with a kid. It was probably when Molly was younger.
The only time he ever watched Gus alone it had turned into a disaster when Brian wanted to go out and Melanie showed up out of nowhere. Gus had been a baby then and even that seemed easier than now.
When twenty minutes went by, he was beginning to think maybe Gus would just stay in his room all day.
At thirty minutes, Gus stuck his head into the kitchen where Justin was finishing cleaning up. "Are we going to do anything today?" He asks with a sigh that had that same Kinney carelessness that Justin knew in his father.
"I have to go to the store to get some groceries." Justin tells him knowing it probably wasn't a ten year olds idea of a good time. "We can go where you want after."
Gus huffs. "Whatever."
Justin was about to give up. He really wanted Gus to like him though. He knew it wouldn't matter to Brian and it wouldn't change how Brian felt about him, but Justin knew how much Gus meant to him. He didn't want to be the reason their relationship became strained.
He remembered when his mother first started dating after the divorce. Part of the problem he had was how young the guy was that she chose, but really he had to admit he didn't like another man in his mother's life. He could understand how Gus felt. He was threatened. He wasn't sure where he stood in his father's life now that another man was around.
*
"How much longer do we have to be here?" Gus complains dragging his feet behind Justin as he pushed the shopping cart.
"This would go a lot faster if you would tell me what you liked and I didn't have to ask every single time." Justin grits out, his patience finally running thin.
Gus was taken aback. He didn't think Justin would actually snap at him. He was always so just nice that he didn't think there was another side to him.
By the time they got home, neither was in much of a good mood.
They stayed apart for most of the day until Brian came home. Even he wasn't oblivious to the tension in the air.
"Gus get ready to go" Brian says sticking his head into the boy's room.
"Where are we going?" He asks getting out of his bed.
"You told me earlier we needed to get a tree so we're getting a tree." Brian says like he was so put off by the idea of shopping for a tree. Really he did it every year when Gus came to stay over with him. Even he knew it wasn't Christmas without a tree.
Gus grinned. Usually he had to convince his dad to get a tree even if he knew they would get one anyways.
"Hurry up. Justin is waiting for you." Brian lets him know.
Gus's smile turned into a frown. "Why does he have to go everywhere we go?" He whines.
Brian had picked up on Gus's attitude, but figured Justin was making too big a deal out of the boy not liking him. He could see that maybe there was more to it than he had been aware of.
"Gus, Justin's spending Christmas with us." Brian's tone took on a disapproval that Gus recognized. He hated hearing it directed at him
"But why? It's always been just us." Gus demands to know why this blond stranger had to interrupt his life.
"Justin's my partner." Brian tells him very serious to get the point across. "He's not going anywhere. He's going to be in my life for a long time and you're just going to have to accept that. You don’t have to like him, but I expect you to show him respect until he does something that justifies the way you've treated him."
Gus didn't feel much like going to pick out a tree anymore and was in a bad mood the entire time that Brian just grabbed the first tree Justin approved of.
"Maybe I should go spend the rest of the holiday with my mom." Justin suggests once Gus went up to bed for the night.
"Why would you do that?" Brian snaps well aware of the reason.
"Come on Brian. He doesn't want me here." Justin states annoyed with the man. "I don’t want to ruin everyone's Christmas."
"Justin, he's a kid. He'll get used to it."
Justin shakes his head. "He's jealous. He's always had you to himself when he stayed over. Now he has to share and he's not used to that."
"All the more reason for you to stay." Brian argues pulling Justin down onto the couch next to him. "I don’t plan on letting you spend another Christmas without me."
Justin smiled at him his biggest grin. He couldn't get used to Brian expressing himself so much. It wasn't exactly perfect, but he had grown so much since the days he would never say how he felt.
"I just want him to like me." Justin says resting his head on Brian's shoulder.
"Why is that so important? I like you." He teases.
Justin looked up at him. "Because he's important to you."
*
Gus came down the stairs to hear his Dad and Justin arguing.
He crept closer, but stayed out of sight. He knew his dad could get worked up rather easily. There were many calls from the office that Gus witnessed where his dad ended the call by shouting.
This was different though.
"I told you I would take care of it." Justin shouts at him. Gus could see he was cradling something in his arms. It was Nala.
"This is why I don’t like animals." His dad shouts back waving around his leather jacket.
Justin frowned. "It's not that big of deal Brian. She doesn't know any better."
"There's fur all over it." Brian groaned. "I'll never get that cat smell out of it."
"Maybe you shouldn't have left it lying around then." Justin accuses petting the nervous kitten.
"In my own house?" Brian asks. "She can't stay here."
Gus was about to add his own opinion when Justin's voice stopped him. "She means a lot to Gus. Have you seen how happy he is playing with her?" He asks, but didn't wait for an answer. "I'm not going to let you take that away from him."
"Fine. She's all your responsibility." Brian says before stalking out of the room.
Gus was confused. Why would Justin go to all that trouble and argue with his dad for him. He hadn't made it secret that he didn't like the blond. Maybe he judged him wrong.
After breakfast, Gus pulled the decorations out of the closet to get ready to finish the tree.
"Gus, do you want me to help you get those down?" Brian asks lowering the newspaper he was reading to look at his struggling son.
"No." He answers.
Brian shrugs and went back to reading. His son was just as independent as he always was.
"Justin, will you help me decorate the tree." Gus asks surprising both men.
Justin looked at him confused. "You want me to help?"
"Yeah." He says like it was obvious Justin should have been helping all along. "You're an artist aren't you?"
Justin shared a look with Brian then shrugged. He wasn't going to question this sudden turn around. "Yeah I am." He answered sitting on the floor with Gus as they sorted through the boxes.
"How did you meet my dad?" Gus asks suddenly interested in Justin.
Justin smiled over at Brian. "It was actually the night you were born." He begins to tell him. "I helped name you."
"If it wasn't for Justin, you'd be Abraham." Brian adds with a shudder.
Gus grimaced. "I'm glad you were there Justin."
"Me too Gus, me too." Justin never meant that more than he did just then. He didn't just meet the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, he got the bonus of having Gus in his life as well.
FROM: morrbran
TITLE: The Other Man In His Life
GIFT REQUEST: love Justin/Gus bonding and seeing the three of them as a family
Genre: post S5
Pairing/character/theme/focus: Brian/Justin and Gus
Gus liked Christmas. It was one of those holidays that his mother's thought they needed to be in the states. It meant big meals at Grandma Deb's, hanging out at his Uncle Mikey's and playing video games all day. It meant seeing where he was born and feeling a connection he didn't in his home in Canada.
Most importantly, he got to see his dad.
He missed him the most of anything from home. He talked to him a lot more now that he was older. When he turned ten this year, his mothers had agreed that he was old enough to make phone calls on his own. He used that to call his father as often as he needed and even if it was every day, his father didn't seem to mind.
When they were in Pittsburgh, he stayed with his father the whole time. It was their special time together that he didn't have to share with anyone.
That was until this year.
Gus had been so excited running up the stairs to the loft. His Mom couldn't keep up with him.
He knocked on the door and took several steps back when it wasn't his dad that opened his door but some blond guy.
"Hey Gus." He says smiling this big smile that Gus thought was going to split his face in half. How did this guy even know who he was?
His mom finally made it up the stairs. She stood behind him rubbing his shoulders. "Justin" She says and Gus can hear the surprise in her voice. "I didn't know you'd be here."
The guy, Justin, Gus now knew, just kept smiling like he was really pleased about something. Gus just thought he looked silly. "I just got in last week." He tells his mom. "I sort of surprised Brian too."
"I'm sure he didn't mind." Lindsay says knowingly and Gus felt left out of whatever they were sharing.
"Where's my dad?" He asks not caring about the moment the two blonds were sharing.
"He ran down to the store. He said something about needing to get juice for you for breakfast." Justin explains to him. He seemed to realize they were standing outside the loft still and moved away so they could come in.
Gus watched this man intrude his father's space, the only other person that his dad let behave like this in his loft was him. He didn't like it one bit how comfortable this Justin was here.
"I can't believe you're really here." Lindsay says sitting down on the couch with Justin. "Is this permanent?"
Justin smiles again and nods his head.
Gus rolled his eyes wandering over to the TV area. What did this mean for him? Was this Justin guy living with his dad now?
He looked up when he heard the distinctive sound of the door rolling open. His dad was there carrying a paper bag from the store down the road.
Gus jumped up and ran to his dad. He squealed as his dad picked him up into a hug.
"Gus, you're getting so big." He says setting him back down. "Or I'm getting old." Gus watched as his dad sent a warning look toward Justin. "Don’t you dare say anything."
"Who me?" Justin asks innocently.
"Dad I missed you." Gus says looking up at his father's face.
There was only a momentary hesitation before Brian replied. "Me too buddy."
"Brian, why didn't you tell us Justin was here?" Lindsay asks coming over to give him a hug.
"Because I knew you'd all be here the moment I did." He tells her revealing more in that comment than Gus could understand. How could he know how much his dad had missed Justin when he didn't even talk about him?
Lindsay smiled at Brian in a way Gus had never seen before. He hated when adults did that, like they had some secret they didn't want to share.
Gus looked back to the guy who had ruined his day. What was he doing here anyways? This was his time with his dad. He didn't want to share.
"Gus we're going to be staying at Britin this weekend." Brian tells his son. "We'll have more room to spread out there."
Gus loved going to the big house in the country. There was so much room and his dad had an amazing media room with a huge TV and seats that made it feel like he was in the theater.
He had his own room there too. His dad had let him decorate it himself unlike his mothers. It actually felt like his room. His dad always treated him like he was an actual person, not just some kid.
"Great dad." Gus was glad that they were going to leave Justin here and spend the weekend just the two of them like it should be.
"I can't wait to see the house again." Justin tells Brian. "Every time we go there it reminds me of the night you proposed."
Lindsay went over and kissed the top of his head. "I'll leave you boys alone." She turned to Gus and spoke right to him. "Call me tonight alright and I'll see you at dinner tomorrow."
"Okay Mom." Gus always hated when his mom made things a bigger deal than they really were. She always got teary eyed when she left him alone with his dad. It's not like his dad had ever done anything bad before.
"Sorry, I forgot you were so grown up." She gave him another hug before leaving
"Gus, grab what you want to bring to the house." His dad tells him already walking up the stairs to the bedroom. He heard his father in the closet and assumed he was doing the same thing.
Gus stood and stared at Justin before moving to do what his dad told him to.
"I'm really glad we get to spend some time together." Justin says trying to coax Gus out into conversation. The way Brian talked about Gus, he never stopped talking. What was with the silent treatment?
Gus huffs and turns away from Justin to grab some of the things he normally kept in the loft to take to the house. He felt Justin standing there for a moment longer before going up the stairs after his father.
He heard Justin talking to his dad. "I don’t think he likes me."
"He doesn't remember you." Brian corrects him and Gus could hear that tone where he wasn't really putting any stock in what Justin was saying. It was the same tone he used when he was brushing off something Gus would say that he would later realize was ridiculous.
Then there was quieter talking that Gus couldn't hear. He peered around the wall and saw that his dad was kissing Justin.
Gus quickly backed behind the wall. He had never seen his dad kiss anyone before. He knew he probably did like his mom's did, but he had never done it around him. It was funny seeing his dad with another man. He just never thought of him being affectionate like that.
A moment later, he heard footsteps coming towards him and pretended to be busy. He picked up a book as if contemplating taking it or not.
"Gus, you ready yet?" Brian asks impatiently as he set his bag by the door.
"Yeah. I'm coming." Gus couldn't look at Justin now without seeing him kissing his dad. It was weird.
When they got out to the car, Gus went to sit up front with his dad, but Justin beat him to it. Grownups always did that. They just assumed that it was okay to take their seat. He always sat with his dad up front when it was the two of them. Now Justin was in his spot.
He rode in the back silently to the house. His dad usually didn't talk much in the car anyways, but Justin did enough talking for all of them. Gus wondered how his dad could put up with it.
Gus was glad when they got to the house. He barely waited for the car to stop before running out and around the back. His dad called after him, but he kept on running back to the barn. He wanted to see the horses in the stables. His dad never told him why they were there, they never rode them and he never talked about them. They were cared for by Jenny, along with the house when they weren't there. He would always get this lost look and for the rest of the day it would be like he was in another world. Gus stopped asking about them
"Gus, get back here." Gus ducked behind the barn looking for a place to hide when he felt something rub up against his leg. He nearly jumped in fright until he looked down and saw it was a tiny kitten.
Gus scooped the kitten into his arms not caring if it tried to scratch him.
"Gus?" Justin came around the corner and stopped when he saw him standing there. "Who do you have there?" He asks reaching forward to pet the cat.
Gus shrugged. "I just found her." He answers looking down at the frightened cat.
"Gus." They both looked up when they heard Brian's voice getting closer.
"He's over here." Justin called out and turned back to get a death stare from Gus. It was so like Brian that Justin's breath caught. "I had to tell him Gus. He was worried."
Brian came up behind Justin and glared when he saw what was in Gus's arms. "What is that?" He asks pointing at the grey and white striped ball of fur in Gus's arms.
"I found her." Gus answers as sweetly as he could. "She's cold and lonely."
"No way Gus." Brian shook his head and shot Justin a warning look to stay out of it. "What's going to happen to it when you go home?"
"Please dad. I'll find a home for it. I promise." Gus looked at the baby kitten in his arms and refused to leave it out in the cold all alone.
Brian sighed knowing he might as well give in now since between Justin and Gus he would eventually anyways. He just didn't stand a chance and could save himself a lot of trouble and just let it happen. "Fine but that thing better not shed on the furniture."
"Thank you dad." Gus says like he had gotten the best gift in the whole world.
"Justin why don’t you go to the store and get some stuff for the thing." Brian says tossing the blond his car keys. He had no idea what he had gotten himself into.
They took the cat into the house and Brian poured it some milk. He could tell it had been starving by the voracious way it cleaned the bowl.
Gus was laying on the floor in the living room playing with the cat when Justin returned. He watched the boy wondering if that was what Brian looked like when he was a kid. It was sad that he had a hard time picturing Brian being that happy and playful.
"He's happy." Justin says finding Brian in the kitchen.
"The thing peed on my floor." Brian grumbles tossing soiled paper towels into the trash.
"She's got her litter box now." Justin assures him. "She'll know how to use it."
Brian shakes his head wondering how he got conned into this mess. It felt as if Justin and Gus were ganging up on him and he didn't stand a chance.
Justin kissed him on the chin knowing what he was thinking. "You made him happy." He tells him before filling a bowl with kitten food and taking it into the living room where Gus was still playing with the kitten.
"Justin look." Gus calls forgetting for a moment that he wasn't supposed to like the new guy.
Justin laughed watching the cat chase after a string that Gus had found. "Here kitty, I bet you're starving." He says setting the bowl down. The cat immediately stopped the game and dived into the food putting its paws into the large bowl.
"What do you think we should name her?" Gus asks Justin, his temporary ally.
Justin smiled and looked up at Brian both remembering the night Gus was born and he had asked Justin the same thing about Gus's name.
"Well we really should make sure she's a girl before we name her." Justin suggests.
"Oh yeah it would be so tragic to name it something silly." Brian snarks still not sold on the kitten. Sure it was cute and it made Gus smile, but he knew the responsibility of the thing would eventually fall to him and he had never taken care of an animal in his life. Pets were strictly forbidden in the Kinney household.
But he did remember being Gus's age and desperately wanting a pet. Could he really have said no to his son when he felt so crushed when his parents didn't even considered it?
"How about Nala, like in the Lion King?" Justin asks knowing Gus had just seen it performed on stage.
Gus grinned. "Yeah and we can use Simba if it’s a boy." He says excitedly. "Will you check Justin?"
Justin picked up the cat feeling a little strange since he never had a cat either. He set her back down so she could go back to eating. "Definitely a Nala." He announces.
"Dad, did you hear?" Gus couldn't keep his excitement in. "It’s a girl."
"Well that girl better learn to use its litter box." Was all he said before sulking out of the room. He was stuck with it now. It had a name.
*
That night after dinner, the three plus the cat sat down to watch a movie. Gus picked out How The Grinch Stole Christmas at Justin's suggestion. It was probably the only movie Brian wouldn't pick apart the entire time.
Gus moved to the floor with his kitten while he snacked on popcorn. About twenty minutes in, he turned around to ask his dad something and nearly choked on the popcorn in his mouth. There was Justin, pushed up against his dad on the couch and they were making out. To Gus it was completely gross.
It was like they didn't even remember he was there with Justin nearly on top of his dad. He remembered why he didn't like the blond.
When he got up to go to the bathroom, Gus jumped up on the couch next to his dad taking his place. It was like his dad didn't even care that Justin was gone.
Justin came back and stopped suddenly when he went to go sit down and Gus was there. He didn't say anything, just sat down on the floor in front of his dad. Gus's triumphant grin was short lived when he saw his dad start to put his fingers through Justin's hair and the guy just melted right back against his dad.
Gus just couldn't understand why they always had to be touching.
He watched the rest of the movie with a pout on his face and didn't say anything to them when he went upstairs to his bed.
*
In the morning, he peaked into his dad's room to wake him up but stopped short at the sight before him. Justin was all wrapped around his dad as if he was a favorite stuffed animal. His dad probably hated having the blond hanging all over him.
He went down stairs to play video games until his dad woke up. He heard the shower go on, but it took a really long time for it to go off that Gus thought his dad might have fallen or something. He heard that happened to older people.
Just when he was going to go knock on the door, it went off and Justin came downstairs with wet hair and a stupid look on his face like he was pleased about something. Gus just knew his dad was going to be mad about Justin wasting so much water when Brian came down with the same wet hair and the same stupid look.
He didn't get it.
"Dad, I'm hungry." He calls to his dad.
Justin grinned up at his dad. "I'll make those waffles you love." He says knowing how much Brian loved them despite his protests that they had too many calories. It was the same with the way he would steal fries off his plate. "Remember when I made those for you in New York?" There was a twinkle in his eye as he looked up at Brian.
"Yeah." Brian says with a sigh.
"Dad." Gus says interrupting his memory. "I don’t want stupid waffles." He practically whines. "Why can't you make me your special eggs?" He asks wanting one of the few things his dad could make well.
"Gus, Justin offered to make us breakfast." Brian says not liking the way his son was acting. "Trust me, they are much better than my eggs." Brian assures him.
Gus frowned knowing he wasn't going to get his way. His dad always gave him what he wanted if it wasn't something big.
His dad read the newspaper while Justin cooked so Gus was left on his own. He picked up his kitten and slunk off to the media room to be alone away from that stupid singing of Justin's. His dad hated Christmas songs so why was he putting up with Justin's stupid singing?
His dad called him when the waffles were done. Gus took his time walking back to the kitchen. It was his way of trying to show Justin he didn't appreciate his efforts. When he walked in, he frowned to see that they hadn't waited for him. It felt as if he wouldn't even be missed if he wasn't there.
Justin jumped up when he saw Gus. "Let me get you a plate Gus."
"I can get one myself." He snaps at him softly so his dad didn't hear.
Justin stepped back. "Okay." He acquiesces. "I just thought you might have needed help. I keep forgetting how big you are now. In my mind you're still the little boy I last saw before I left."
Gus didn't say anything to him, just ignored his presence in the kitchen and purposely walked around the long way to avoid him as he joined his dad at the table.
"You dad always had pictures of you to show me when he visited." Justin says trying to get some reaction from Gus other than silence.
Gus just gave him a mumbled response.
Gus took a bite of the waffles and hated that they were really good. He wasn't going to tell Justin that. "What are we doing today Dad?" Gus asks him.
Brian looked at him apologetically. "I've got to go into the office for a couple of hours." He tells him. "Justin's going to hang out with you."
Gus frowned. "I don’t want to hang out with him." Gus whines. "I wanted to spend time with you. Why do you have to leave?"
"I have to Gus. It's important." Brian tries to get him to understand. "Justin will do whatever you wanted to do with me."
Gus glared at him before stomping up to his room.
"I don’t think he likes me." Justin says upset as he started clearing the plates.
"He's a kid Justin." Brian says like it's no big deal. "Besides I don't think anyone has ever not liked you."
"He's your son Brian." Justin reminds him. "I just want him to like me." He says feeling like Brian wasn't putting any stock into his concerns. How could he not see the way Gus felt towards him?
After Brian left, Justin was at a loss. What was he supposed to do with a ten year old boy? He couldn't remember the last time he had spent a considerable amount of time alone with a kid. It was probably when Molly was younger.
The only time he ever watched Gus alone it had turned into a disaster when Brian wanted to go out and Melanie showed up out of nowhere. Gus had been a baby then and even that seemed easier than now.
When twenty minutes went by, he was beginning to think maybe Gus would just stay in his room all day.
At thirty minutes, Gus stuck his head into the kitchen where Justin was finishing cleaning up. "Are we going to do anything today?" He asks with a sigh that had that same Kinney carelessness that Justin knew in his father.
"I have to go to the store to get some groceries." Justin tells him knowing it probably wasn't a ten year olds idea of a good time. "We can go where you want after."
Gus huffs. "Whatever."
Justin was about to give up. He really wanted Gus to like him though. He knew it wouldn't matter to Brian and it wouldn't change how Brian felt about him, but Justin knew how much Gus meant to him. He didn't want to be the reason their relationship became strained.
He remembered when his mother first started dating after the divorce. Part of the problem he had was how young the guy was that she chose, but really he had to admit he didn't like another man in his mother's life. He could understand how Gus felt. He was threatened. He wasn't sure where he stood in his father's life now that another man was around.
*
"How much longer do we have to be here?" Gus complains dragging his feet behind Justin as he pushed the shopping cart.
"This would go a lot faster if you would tell me what you liked and I didn't have to ask every single time." Justin grits out, his patience finally running thin.
Gus was taken aback. He didn't think Justin would actually snap at him. He was always so just nice that he didn't think there was another side to him.
By the time they got home, neither was in much of a good mood.
They stayed apart for most of the day until Brian came home. Even he wasn't oblivious to the tension in the air.
"Gus get ready to go" Brian says sticking his head into the boy's room.
"Where are we going?" He asks getting out of his bed.
"You told me earlier we needed to get a tree so we're getting a tree." Brian says like he was so put off by the idea of shopping for a tree. Really he did it every year when Gus came to stay over with him. Even he knew it wasn't Christmas without a tree.
Gus grinned. Usually he had to convince his dad to get a tree even if he knew they would get one anyways.
"Hurry up. Justin is waiting for you." Brian lets him know.
Gus's smile turned into a frown. "Why does he have to go everywhere we go?" He whines.
Brian had picked up on Gus's attitude, but figured Justin was making too big a deal out of the boy not liking him. He could see that maybe there was more to it than he had been aware of.
"Gus, Justin's spending Christmas with us." Brian's tone took on a disapproval that Gus recognized. He hated hearing it directed at him
"But why? It's always been just us." Gus demands to know why this blond stranger had to interrupt his life.
"Justin's my partner." Brian tells him very serious to get the point across. "He's not going anywhere. He's going to be in my life for a long time and you're just going to have to accept that. You don’t have to like him, but I expect you to show him respect until he does something that justifies the way you've treated him."
Gus didn't feel much like going to pick out a tree anymore and was in a bad mood the entire time that Brian just grabbed the first tree Justin approved of.
"Maybe I should go spend the rest of the holiday with my mom." Justin suggests once Gus went up to bed for the night.
"Why would you do that?" Brian snaps well aware of the reason.
"Come on Brian. He doesn't want me here." Justin states annoyed with the man. "I don’t want to ruin everyone's Christmas."
"Justin, he's a kid. He'll get used to it."
Justin shakes his head. "He's jealous. He's always had you to himself when he stayed over. Now he has to share and he's not used to that."
"All the more reason for you to stay." Brian argues pulling Justin down onto the couch next to him. "I don’t plan on letting you spend another Christmas without me."
Justin smiled at him his biggest grin. He couldn't get used to Brian expressing himself so much. It wasn't exactly perfect, but he had grown so much since the days he would never say how he felt.
"I just want him to like me." Justin says resting his head on Brian's shoulder.
"Why is that so important? I like you." He teases.
Justin looked up at him. "Because he's important to you."
*
Gus came down the stairs to hear his Dad and Justin arguing.
He crept closer, but stayed out of sight. He knew his dad could get worked up rather easily. There were many calls from the office that Gus witnessed where his dad ended the call by shouting.
This was different though.
"I told you I would take care of it." Justin shouts at him. Gus could see he was cradling something in his arms. It was Nala.
"This is why I don’t like animals." His dad shouts back waving around his leather jacket.
Justin frowned. "It's not that big of deal Brian. She doesn't know any better."
"There's fur all over it." Brian groaned. "I'll never get that cat smell out of it."
"Maybe you shouldn't have left it lying around then." Justin accuses petting the nervous kitten.
"In my own house?" Brian asks. "She can't stay here."
Gus was about to add his own opinion when Justin's voice stopped him. "She means a lot to Gus. Have you seen how happy he is playing with her?" He asks, but didn't wait for an answer. "I'm not going to let you take that away from him."
"Fine. She's all your responsibility." Brian says before stalking out of the room.
Gus was confused. Why would Justin go to all that trouble and argue with his dad for him. He hadn't made it secret that he didn't like the blond. Maybe he judged him wrong.
After breakfast, Gus pulled the decorations out of the closet to get ready to finish the tree.
"Gus, do you want me to help you get those down?" Brian asks lowering the newspaper he was reading to look at his struggling son.
"No." He answers.
Brian shrugs and went back to reading. His son was just as independent as he always was.
"Justin, will you help me decorate the tree." Gus asks surprising both men.
Justin looked at him confused. "You want me to help?"
"Yeah." He says like it was obvious Justin should have been helping all along. "You're an artist aren't you?"
Justin shared a look with Brian then shrugged. He wasn't going to question this sudden turn around. "Yeah I am." He answered sitting on the floor with Gus as they sorted through the boxes.
"How did you meet my dad?" Gus asks suddenly interested in Justin.
Justin smiled over at Brian. "It was actually the night you were born." He begins to tell him. "I helped name you."
"If it wasn't for Justin, you'd be Abraham." Brian adds with a shudder.
Gus grimaced. "I'm glad you were there Justin."
"Me too Gus, me too." Justin never meant that more than he did just then. He didn't just meet the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, he got the bonus of having Gus in his life as well.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-12-31 04:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-31 06:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-31 06:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-01 10:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-02 01:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-02 02:18 am (UTC)♥
no subject
Date: 2012-01-03 11:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-05 02:15 am (UTC)The ending where you suggest the tide has turned is subtle and nice. :)
no subject
Date: 2012-01-10 07:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-06 05:47 am (UTC)