The Reunion pt. 2

"That was delicious," Justin said, finishing his beef. He leaned back into the booth, wine glass in hand.

Having eaten red meat, Brian had to go overboard and associate it with some other crazy expensive red wine. This time it was Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945.

Justin savored it better after finishing his steak.

"Good?" Brian inquired.

"Delicious."

"We have more at home."

"Why doesn't it surprise me?"

Brian leaned to steal a kiss. "Dessert is waiting for us at home. I think we overstayed our welcome here. It's near midnight."

"Do you have to pay, or do you have an open tab?"

"I've already paid. If you're ready to go, we could leave."

"If I could move." Justin laughed, standing up after downing his glass. "God, I haven't eaten so much in...I don't even remember."

"Debbie's right. You look too thin." Brian eyed him worried.

"Says the stick on legs."

"Hey!" Brian pinched his side.

"Don't. Unless you want to see what I just ate. Can you act gentle, not like a brute that I know?"

Chuckling, Brian led Justin to where Chef Takayama waited to bid his farewell to one of his faithful customers.

In the elevator, Justin leaned into Brian, yawning. "Holy shit! The limo driver is probably still waiting. I totally forgot about him."

"Don't worry. I made sure he had something to eat."

"Aren't you a sweetheart?" Justin nipped at Brian's jaw, placing a hand on Brian's chest. "Why are you vibrating?"

"I think you had too much wine. It's my phone, ringing. Do you mind if I answer?"

They stepped out of the building into the cool spring air.

"It's him?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe he has good news about your business." Justin shrugged, taking Brian's hand in his.

With one hand, Brian answered his phone, sliding next to Justin in the back of the limousine. "Home," he told the driver, who'd been given the address hours earlier. "Yes, Evan," he said into the phone.

"Just got the confirmation e-mail. We're rich!"

"Did they like it?"

"Like it? They said it's the best ad they'd seen in their lives! You, my friend, are a genius!"

Justin turned Brian's head to him, kissing him soundly on the mouth. He'd heard the good news and the euphoria of being back in his arms made him act on impulse.

"So lunch tomorrow to celebrate?" Evan asked.

Brian stared at Justin, not seeing any hint of jealousy or uneasiness. "Uh, I'm not so sure. I might be busy." Brian grinned at Justin, kissing his brow. "I'll let you know, but most probably after Monday I'd be available."

"All right then. We have tons to do on Monday. Yours or mine?"

"Mine, if you don't mind. I have everyone working on this. You can bring some of your best people too."

"See you on Monday at seven."

"Make it eight," Brian said, inhaling sharply when Justin's hand brushed the bulge in his dress pants.

"Oh! It's Saturday. That much awaited Saturday. Let me guess." Evan laughed.

"Good night, Evan," Brian muttered, ending the call.

"That was so rude of you." Justin tsked under his breath.

"Like you care." Brian shut his phone off. "Now we have something to celebrate. I have a bottle of Champagne cooling."

"You live here?" Justin gasped when they pulled up in front of the building overlooking the Central Park. "Don't tell me. You're next door neighbors," he added mockingly.

"I live in this building, he in the other. Penthouse. I'll let you be the judge, but I have to say my place is better than his."

"Ever the arrogant." Justin chuckled, hanging on Brian's arm as they went to the front door.

Brian greeted the doorman, heading to the last elevator, using a card.

"Fancy." Justin whistled.

In the hallway above, Brian turned to face Justin. "Are you sure?"

"We don't have to do anything, Brian. This evening has been beautiful, magical."

"I don't want you too shocked at what you'll find inside."

"My paintings? I figured you bought some, including that exaggeratedly pricey one."

Brian cracked a small smile, unlocking the door and opening it. "After you."

Justin took small steps, waiting for Brian to follow him and turn the lights on. He heard the door shutting, and before he could ask Brian to turn the lights on, he stepped on something soft that screeched, making him jump back, bumping into Brian.

"Shit. What was that?" Justin gasped, clinging to Brian.

It was finally light in the penthouse, and Justin focused on something small and black a foot in front of him. It took him a moment to realize he was staring at a kitten, licking its leg.

"Fuck. Did I hurt him? Why didn't you say you have a cat?"

"I honestly thought he was fucking asleep." Brian picked the cat. "I think he's okay." He held the kitten to his chest, grinning at Justin. "He was supposed to be one of your presents, but Evan talked sense into me. He said I'd end up with it dumped on my desk like with the brushes."

"I had no idea it was you until tonight. I entertained the thought once or twice. Besides, I doubt UPS would have delivered a cat."

"Come closer. Meet the purring machine."

Justin smiled, extending a hand to touch the cat, earning a hiss from it, and if he hadn't retracted his hand, he'd be the proud owner of a claw mark.

"Hey! Don't be hostile. We don't attack guests," Brian told the cat. "Let's try again." He brought the cat closer to Justin, only for him to try scratching him again. "Okay, I guess you need a good night sleep."

"I bet he hates me, Brian. I nearly killed him." Justin eyed the black furball sorrowfully. "Does he have a name?"

"Not really. He answers to kitty. I thought of naming him Coal, but it doesn't sound like a cat name."

"I'm still not over the shock that you have a cat."

"It's yours, though it seems he doesn't like you."

"Maybe we should give him time. I bet he'll forgive me eventually." Justin wished he could hold the small furball without the cat attempting to claw at him.

"Living room is that way. Why don't you make yourself comfortable? I'll put him in his basket and bring the cake and Champagne."

"Where's the bathroom?"

"Behind the stairs."

Justin noticed on the wall next to the kitchen one of his early paintings, something he'd done in Pittsburgh.

The bathroom was luxurious made of black marble. There was a big sink, a toilet, and one of the biggest shower cabins Justin had seen.

When he returned to the living room, he took in its grandeur for the first time. There was a large, white, leather L-couch and in front of it was a model of Brian's favorite Mies Van der Rohe tables. Brian was slouched on the couch, hands linked behind his head, so much at ease that Justin thought he'd fallen asleep.

"Finally." He sprung up when he noticed Justin. "Do you mind if we eat in the kitchen? I'm too fond of this sofa."

Justin chuckled. "I figured. Sure. Lead the way." He couldn't help but notice a painting right across from the couch. He stared at it in disbelief. "Printemps Newcrophilique," he blurted out.

"Sorry?" Brian stopped in his tracks, turning to Justin.

Justin pointed to the Dali painting. "You didn't!"

"Oh, that."

"Brian!" He threw his arms in the air. "Have you been stalking me? Never mind. This is insane. This thing costs over sixteen million dollars! It's obscene."

"It's common knowledge that people do crazy things when they're in love," Brian whispered, taking Justin's hand, pulling him to the kitchen. "And I love you more than ever. I plan to show you every moment of every day for the rest of my life."

"I only need you, Brian. You make me happy. Please, I don't need you to spend so much money on things…"

"I have the money. Besides, giving you such presents makes me happy. I love seeing you smile."

Justin shook his head, knowing he wasn't going to win that argument. His eyes fell on the cake sitting on the island counter.

"Raspberry chocolate cake? You remember my favorite?"

"I know everything about you, Justin. Do you mind cutting it, while I open the bottle?"

"Sure."

The popping sound startled both of them, but what made them laugh was the cat jumping a foot in the air.

"Did you see that?" Brian bent over the counter, wiping his eyes.

"I think he hates you too." They watched as the furball made a beeline to Brian, nearly climbing on his pant leg. "Or not," Justin mumbled.

Brian picked him up, stroking between his ears. "Jeez. You should feel his little heart."

"I'd rather not. I need my hands." Justin laughed. "I can tell he's scared, though. Look at his ears plastered to his head."

"How do you know that?"

"Uh, you sure you wanna know?" When he got an affirmative nod, Justin sighed heavily. "Ethan had a cat. I don't think I ever mentioned that. We knocked over a lamp once when we made the bed. God, the cat was on the top of the closet within a second, hissing and with his ears glued to his head, pretty much like this. It took us hours, no joke, to get him to climb down."

"I've learned a lot about cats in the past few weeks. And about myself. Apparently, I'm not so much anti-pets."

"I see you don't have a problem with him rubbing over your Armani suit."

Brian shrugged, hugging the cat closer.

"Do you mind if we share a piece of cake? As much as I want to taste it, I'm so full," Justin pleaded.

"Cake? After midnight?"

"Come on, Brian. You ate a couple hours ago, and it was well past your seven o'clock rule."

"There were no carbs."

Justin scooped cake on a dessert fork, bringing it to Brian's mouth. "Open up."

Brian narrowed his eyes, accepting the piece. "Thank God, you didn't add honey boo-boo or some other horrid nickname."

Justin savored a piece of raspberry cake, smiling innocently. "Do you want me to call you honey boo-boo?"

Brian handed him a flute of Champagne. "To us!"

"To your new account!"

Brian beamed, leaning to kiss Justin. "Love you."

"Mhmm, I could get used to this. Ouch." He cupped a hand to his chin. "Can you put the cat down? I think he's a tad too territorial."

"Did he scratch you? Let me see." Brian deposited the cat on the bar stool, dabbing a paper tissue to Justin's chin. "Sorry."

"Figures you'd get a cat with jealousy issues."

"What can I say? I'm lovable like that." He chuckled, peering at the cat, rubbing his head to Brian's stomach, purring loudly.

"Christ. Tell me, he doesn't sleep with you in bed."

"Of course not! His basket is right there." Brian pointed over his shoulder somewhere. "Hurt?" Brian kissed the spot the cat had scratched.

"I'm good. Thanks."

They finished the piece of cake, and even the cat had some cream from Brian's finger. Justin had to admit that this was a new side of Brian, and he liked it very much.