Brian had sobered up the second the first punch had been thrown. Well, he'd sobered up enough to run in a straight line, hurl abuse and throw a punch, okay several punches, in the direction of Justin's attacker. He'd recognised him of course. It was that boy who'd turned up to his flat a few weeks ago, the one who'd threatened them. Brian realised now that'd he'd been fatally naïve to ignore the warnings as he left Chris Hobbs rolling around on the floor screaming like a fucking faggot.

He ran to Justin's side and pulled the blonde twink into in his arms. There was sweat or anger or something that definitely wasn't tears blurring his vision as he saw the purple and blue bruises starting to appear across his face. The blood that was pouring from the gashes to his face. Brian screamed at people nearby to call an ambulance and cradled the kid in his arms. He was too drunk to realised the ramifications of his actions, or maybe he just didn't care whether or not Vance saw him kissing the injured student on the forehead or rocking him back and forth or begging him to open his goddamn eyes and be okay. People were gathering round but he ignored them. They weren't important. Nothing was. It was all about Justin and Brian just kept repeating one word over and over again … "Please."

It was whispered like a prayer as he used his sleeve to wipe the blood from Justin's split lip and the cut near his right eye.

"Please," he begged.

Brian could hear the gossiping students. He could hear Vance losing his temper. He could hear Chris Hobbs telling a warped version of the truth to anyone who would listen but he didn't care because at that moment, Justin's eyes fluttered open and a feeling of weakness flooding over him and he knew it was relief.

"Oh, thank god!" Brian breathed, combing his fingers through the blonde hair.

"W-what happened?" Justin croaked, blinking and looking around dumbly.

Brian just shook his head gently and kissed Justin's forehead gently, careful to avoid causing more pain. Then, spotting Vance's bright red face, he answered,

"I think we both just got kicked out of college."

Epilogue

"He's hot."

"Too young."

"I thought you liked younger guys."

"Not that young."

"Fine."

"What about him?"

"Too hairy. Him?"

"Just … no."

"Brian," Justin whined, thumping him gently in the chest. "You're being so picky tonight."

"Mmm, well, why would I want these second rate 'roid-cases, when I could have perfection." He pulled Justin towards him by his t-shirt and kissed him deeply. When they pulled away, Justin looked up at him strangely for a couple of seconds before bursting out laughing.

"Romance doesn't suit you," he chuckled.

"I tried," Brian shrugged to their audience of three nonchalantly as he took another swig of his beer. Ted and Emmett just shook their heads like fond, but disapproving, parents. Michael, on the other hand, seemed livid and the frown on his face was impossible to miss. But Justin did miss it and shouted excitedly,

"Ooo! Him?" And pointed at a young twink, who was giving them both the eye.

"What is this?" Michael asked bitterly. "A fucking trick-auction?"

Brian and Justin both turned to look at him with angry glares making Michael feel immediately uncomfortable. And he didn't feel any more comfortable when Brian wrapped one arm around Justin's chest and placed the other in the hair at back of the kid's head.

"You're just annoyed because he's not checking you out," Justin grinned, trapping his tongue between his teeth, making himself look about seven years old.

"Now, now, Sunshine," Brian said in the younger man's ear. "Let's not rub it in because little Mikey's jealous."

Michael scowled back but Brian just gave him a look which said, 'stop'. It didn't need to be said out loud again. Just like the obvious double meaning of Michael being jealous didn't need attention drawn to it. Michael had had to learn the hard way that Justin was different. Over the last few months, Brian had spelt it out to him as bluntly as was possible in his own discrete I-don't-give-a-shit-about-anyone kind of way but the only time he'd really said it was almost straight after the attack as they sat in hospital, whilst Justin underwent a whole load of tests to make sure his brain wasn't damaged.

Michael and Brian had talked a lot after Brian had lost his job. Because, even after everything that happened, Michael was still the person Brian turned to when things went wrong. Michael had listened as Brian had ranted and shouted about how he was going to kill Chris fucking Hobbs. And he'd listened as Brian claimed he hated Justin for making him lose his job. Then, after a few Jim Beams, he'd listened to him claiming that maybe it was worth it because he'd hated that fucking job anyway. And, when they were both full of junk food, high as kites and wasted off their faces, he listened as Brian claimed the whole thing had been fate and that he was meant to meet Justin because now he was free from all the shit he hated about his life.

That was when Michael had decided it was enough … in more ways than one. Firstly, it was enough drugs and drink but secondly it was enough following his friend around like a love struck puppy because it was clear Brian had found a new puppy to devote all his attention too and quite frankly Justin seemed to be able to keep Brian guessing, keep him on his toes and keep him interested in a way Michael knew he never would. And although a part of Michael would always want Brian for himself, he knew he wouldn't be able to put up with Brian's tricking and he wouldn't keep him satisfied enough to lure him into coming back time and time again … it was clear this kid was special though Michael would never understand why but what he did realise was that the pang of jealousy was lessening. He hardly minded at all as he watched his best friend and the boy wonder disappear into the sea of sweaty bodies.

Michael could see them talking to each other and he saw Brian laughing like he'd never seen him before, like something was actually funny and not in a bitterly ironic way but just genuinely amusing. Then he saw them kissing and had to look away. Emmett nudged him in the back and pointed towards the dance floor.

"Come on baby, this is my song."

"You say that about every song."

"Well, what can I say, when you look this fabulous, every song is your song. Come on Teddy," he grinned, grabbing the accountants hand and making to join their friends.

"Hey guys, hope you don't mind if we join you," Ted said almost nervously.

"Well actually, you are cramping my style," Brian said but seeing the angry glares he added, "but I guess, as we're celebrating, we can make some kind of exception."

Michael almost snorted. He hardly felt that the fact Brian Kinney was finally getting out of college and starting out in the real working world of advertising tomorrow or that Justin had decided to go against his parents wishes and try his hand at becoming an artist at Pittsburgh's Institute of Fine Arts was a good enough reason to celebrate. Maybe that was because it wasn't easy for Michael to accept that Brian was moving on and even growing up but he was trying to get his head around it because, as unbelievable as it sounded, the perpetual Peter Pan seemed to have found a reason to grow up.

Just want to say ... Thanks to EVERYONE who's reviewed this story and also thanks to everyone who's read it. I hope you liked it.
I.B...xx