The Reunion pt. 1

Justin arrived late.

"You can leave," he told the limo driver, as he hurriedly got out of the car.

"I don't mind waiting."

"I have no idea how long it will take." Justin hovered by the building's door.

"I will wait, Mr. Taylor."

"Fine. Thanks."

The elevator ride to the fourth floor seemed to last a lifetime.

There was an Asian man waiting for him by the door of the restaurant, greeting him by name and waving him inside. Overwhelmed, Justin merely nodded and walked inside on shaky legs.

The place was deserted.

Maybe Brian left, thinking he wouldn't come.

But the guy at the door told him to go right in.

Justin blinked a few times to adjust to the soft red light glow.

He spotted an alcove illuminated a little better than the rest of the restaurant and made his way there.

As he walked, he became aware of the jazzy music on background, and couldn't help but wonder if it was something the restaurant played or if Brian remembered what music he usually selected when he tried making a romantic dinner for them at home.

Sure enough the table in the alcove had two candles burning in the middle of it.

No Brian in sight.

Should he sit down? But where? On a chair? On the booth?

His questions held no meaning when a tall figure stepped out of the shadows.

There were more flowers in Brian's hands as he advanced to Justin, somewhat shyly. He was wearing a gray suit and Justin doubted he'd seen Brian look more gorgeous.

Brian stopped by their alcove, staring at Justin warily.

Justin covered the distance between them, throwing his arms around his neck. "I love you too, Brian. I forgive you. I should have been more understanding," he said into his neck.

Brian wound his arms around Justin, holding him tightly, inhaling his scent.

"Are you going to say anything?" Justin whispered after a few minutes.

"Am I really forgiven?"

They pulled apart enough to study each other's eyes.

"Yes."

A big smile broke on Brian's face. "I love you, Justin. I promise to always show you. I will never again break a promise to you."

When Justin opened his mouth to object, Brian covered it with a finger.

"I don't think I sent you tulips. I saved them for this moments."

"They're pretty," Justin said quietly.

"Let's sit down and I will explain their meaning." Brian steered him to the booth, allowing Justin to slide in the corner. Brian plucked the pink tulip from the bouquet. "This represents how much I care for you." Next, he placed the red one on Justin's lap. "This is a declaration of love. The white one if for forgiveness."

Justin sniffed, hugging the flowers to his chest.

"And this…" Brian extracted a violet from his his pocket "...it's for the faithfulness I promise you."

"I had no idea you could be so romantic."

"I have my moments." Brian shrugged, cracking a small smile.

The man who had greeted Justin at the door brought them two glasses of water, then asked if they were ready to eat.

Brian raised an eyebrow at Justin, still worried he'd flee.

"Do we order or you have something planned?" Justin asked Brian.

"I have everything ordered. I took liberties. We both like Asian cuisine."

Justin smiled softly, leaning his head to Brian's shoulder. "Sure, go ahead and bring us whatever the madman has ordered. And please bring a vase."

The man nodded, disappearing in the kitchen direction.

"I'm a madman now, huh?" Brian nudged Justin's ribs.

"You are."

Brian lifted Justin's head with a finger under his chin. "You look beautiful."

Justin beamed. "You like? I still can't believe I let Emmett talk me into cutting my hair." He touched his styled spikes gingerly. "It's his work of art."

Brian smiled indulgently, leaning closer, brushing his nose to Justin's. "I doubt he had to do much. You don't need anything to look gorgeous."

Justin could feel heat rising to his cheeks. He hadn't blushed around Brian since the first year when they met. "I have to admit you look quite handsome yourself, if we're paying compliments."

Brian peered down at his suit. "You think so? It's the new Armani spring collection."

"My, my. Fancy. I take it the Apple contract is going well."

"We sent them the mock-ups this afternoon."

"So this is a celebratory dinner as well?" Justin stroked Brian's cheek.

"I have no idea what they answered, I shut my phone. I don't want anyone to get between our time together."

By anyone it was clear he meant Evan Steele. Justin was touched by the idea.

"Don't be ridiculous. I understand it's work. You're partners. Turn your phone on and check your e-mails."

"As demanding as ever?" Brian chuckled, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

Justin couldn't help but notice he'd replaced his phone. "Now that you work for them, you had to buy the newest device?"

Brian shifted nervously, staring at the phone's screen as it came back to life. He cleared his throat, glancing at Justin. "Do you remember my phone not working when I was on the business trip?" He was afraid to bring up that time, but he had promised to never lie to Justin ever again.

"You didn't have signal."

"True, but when you called. When you heard...something."

"Oh, that." Dread filled Justin as he had tried to push that memory as far away as possible.

"When you called… Do you mind if we talk about this? If we say his name?"

Justin had no idea if it was possible to love Brian more, but he somehow fell even more in love in that moment. "Go ahead," he whispered.

The waiter brought their entree. There were nori rolls and various sushi pieces, along with a couple special spicy sauces.

"Thank you," Brian told him. "Also bring the bottle of Domaine Ramonet Montrachet Grand Cru."

"Right away, sir."

"Chopsticks." Justin sighed.

"Don't be a sissy. You know how to use them. And if you don't, I'll feed you."

Justin scowled. "We aren't one of those couples."

"We could be," Brian said, taking both of them by surprise. "I mean it. Let me show you how much you mean to me."

"If you turn into a hopeless romantic, I'm demanding the aliens to bring my unforgiving bastard boyfriend back."

Brian laughed loudly. "Fine, no lovey dovey stuff."

"For my sanity's sake."

With the wine in their glasses, they sampled the food on the plate.

"You were telling me about your phone," Justin prompted.

"Right. When you called then, Evan wanted to get me the phone. He managed to send it flying to the hardwood. I saw the screen was still lit up, but I couldn't hear you...I thought you couldn't hear us, either."

"I could hear everything. I was too shocked to talk."

"Yeah, after we lost connection…"

"I threw my phone to the wall," Justin admitted.

"What do you know? I wanted to throw it to the ground too, but Evan saved it from such a horrible death. It eventually ceased working in my hand."

They stared at each other for a few quiet minutes, both trying not to think of why Evan was with Brian.

"In the airport, he surprised me with this new phone as a forgive me gift."

"Wow."

"Yeah. I've tried returning it a couple of times, but he told me it's the least he could do after doing irreparable damage."

Justin snuggled closer. "I guess it can be repaired. You knew how to win me back." He sipped from the wine, coughing at the heavy aroma. "It's so strong."

"It's a few years old, and imported from France."

"Of course. Do I even want to know how much you spent on this dinner tonight?"

"Every penny is worth it if I go back home with you in my arms."

"Ah, so you're that kind of guy. Wine and dine then get in bed with your date?" Justin teased. "We haven't even kissed yet."

"Anyone told you lately what a twat you are?"

"Not especially." Justin giggled.

Brian cupped a hand on the back of Justin's head, pressing his lips to Justin's. It was an innocent kiss, almost tentative.

"Have you forgotten how to kiss?" Justin wound his hand around Brian's tie, pulling him closer and devouring his mouth.

Justin had missed Brian's taste, the way his breath hitched when their tongues met for the first time, the battle for dominance easily won by Justin, the way Brian held him when they kissed. He moaned wantonly, nearly climbing on Brian's lap, before he remembered where they were.

As he pulled away, breathing harshly, he smiled when he saw Brian's flushed face and his equally heavy breathing.

"Good evening."

Justin turned to stare at the bald man standing in front of them. He wondered how much he'd seen.

Brian stood, extending his hand. "Good evening. Justin, this is Chef Masa Takayama. He graciously kept his restaurant open for us until this late hour."

Justin's eyes widened. "Oh. Thank you so much. I hope this isn't too much trouble."

Brian smirked. "It's all business, Sunshine. I also promised him a grand ad."

"Of course. I should have know." Justin wrapped his arms around Brian.

"We are ready for the main course."

"Of course, sir. Two Kobe beef steaks, medium rare?" The Chef checked.

"Mine well done, please," Justin said quietly.

The Chef nodded, returning to the kitchen.

"I see you've already made friends in the big bad city," Justin joked, taking his seat next to Brian in the booth.

"I had to do my research well. I had a snob of a client a month ago. We went to Le Bernadin. It's top class. He didn't like it, and found fault in everything from the silverware to the staff. So I asked Evan for a list of high class restaurants in the city and since then I've been sampling them with my clients. This is the fifth time I've been here. I fucking love this place."

"Do I want to know how much a dish costs?"

"No."

Justin snorted at the simple answer. "I could help you pay. You wouldn't believe at what price I sold a painting tonight!"

Brian rolled his lips inside his mouth, regarding his partner carefully.

"It was my favorite painting. It meant a lot to me...and now it's gone...but I'm about five million dollars richer."

Brian stifled a smile.

Justin dropped the chopsticks as he took in his reaction. His hands went to his mouth, staring at Brian in shock.

"Took you long enough to figure it out."

"You! It was you! Are you absolutely insane?"

"I couldn't have anyone else buy that gorgeous painting. It had your very soul bleeding all over the canvas."

"Of course, you'd be the only one to understand it." Tears rolled down Justin's cheeks, but he made no attempt to wipe them. "Tucker had the audacity to say he liked the horse painting."

"The nerve," Brian said slightly amused.

"Is there anything else extravagant that you've done lately and I should know of?"

"I'll let you discover on your own when we get home tonight."

"Pretty confident I'm going home with you?"

"You are."

"Yes, I am." Justin leaned into Brian, enjoying his warmth as they waited for their food.