Penname: TrueIllusion Real name:
Member Since: Jun 01, 2018
Membership status: Member
Bio:

I started writing fan fiction before I knew what it was, back in 1994, when my best friend and I would pass stories back and forth and work on them in all of our free time. I wrote some through high school as well, then got away from it for a long time. I recently got back into reading it again, and decided to try some writing as well.


I've been a fan of QAF since the early 2000s.


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Stories by TrueIllusion
Be There by TrueIllusion Rated: YA starstarstarstarstar [Reviews - 7]
Summary:

I sigh and tip my chair back so I can rest my back against the wall, mostly because I want to fidget. Because I’m sitting alone in an exam room in the NewYork-Presbyterian emergency room, waiting for someone to wheel Gus back in -- and for someone to tell me what the fuck’s going on.

***

Gus is admitted to the hospital. Brian and Justin clash over the best ways to be there for him.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Gus Marcus-Peterson, Justin Taylor
Tags: 10k+ Word Count, Established Relationship, Family, Post-series, Real Life Issues, Vulnerable Brian, Vulnerable Justin
Genres: Angst, Angst w/ Happy Ending, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 13825 Read Count: 830
[Report This] Published: Jul 18, 2021 Updated: Jul 18, 2021
Summary:

At first, no one knew what to do, and it seemed like we changed direction every few hours. Could we still go to work, as long as we kept our distance, or should we stay home? Should we stay three feet apart, or six? Should we wear masks, or were we okay to go without them?

Now, we’ve gone for almost a month hardly ever leaving the apartment, and the last time we went out for more than a quick errand was the day we helped Gus pack his things and move out of his dorm at NYU mid-semester. And I’m still not sure anyone truly knows what to do. But we’re all doing the best we can. For right now, that’s all we can do.

***

Brian, Justin, and Gus quarantine together in New York, trying to stay grounded amid the chaos and uncertainty.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Gus Marcus-Peterson, Justin Taylor
Tags: Established Relationship, Family, Fluff, M/M, Mental Health Issues, Post-series, Real Life Issues
Genres: Angst, Angst w/ Happy Ending, Humor, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 6451 Read Count: 666
[Report This] Published: May 12, 2020 Updated: May 12, 2020
Summary:

When you're married to Brian Kinney, you learn to expect surprises.

***

Brian surprises Justin with an anniversary gift that far exceeds expectations.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor
Tags: 10k+ Word Count, Anal Sex (Lots of it!), Anniversary, Celebratory Fuck, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Established Relationship, Fluff, M/M, One-Shot, Post-series, Real Life Issues, Vulnerable Brian
Genres: Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Porny, Romance
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 28795 Read Count: 1132
[Report This] Published: Feb 27, 2020 Updated: Feb 27, 2020
Perfect by TrueIllusion Rated: YA starstarstarstarstar [Reviews - 9]
Summary:

Everything was perfect.

Brian and I were finally together in New York, making both of our dreams come true. I was working from a spacious, comfortable studio in SoHo, and the first show of my return to the city was scheduled for the following weekend. Brian was out with a real estate broker, looking at potential office spaces for the soon-to-be New York expansion of Kinnetik. We had wedding rings on our fingers, having finally tied the knot a few years before, in front of all of our family and friends in Pittsburgh.

Our lives were full of new and exciting opportunities, both professionally and personally. I felt like everything was falling into place in a nice, neat, orderly fashion, one piece after another.

Then, I had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And the puzzle that was my life -- so carefully and painstakingly assembled over the years -- was picked up and thrown to the ground, scattering the pieces everywhere.

And everything wasn’t so perfect anymore.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor, Original Female Character
Tags: Established Relationship, Homophobia, M/M, One-Shot, Post-series, PTSD, Real Life Issues, Vulnerable Justin
Genres: Angst, Canon, Could be Canon, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: None
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 7395 Read Count: 1227
[Report This] Published: Feb 14, 2020 Updated: Feb 14, 2020
Summary:

The funny flipside of Brian's Season 4 line, "Of all the times we've fucked -- and by now it has to be well into the quadruple digits -- that has to rank in the top five." Five times when things didn't quite go as planned...

Standalone one-shot.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor
Tags: Anal Sex (Lots of it!), Bottom Brian, Established Relationship, Fluff, M/M, One-Shot, Oral Sex, PWP (Plot? What Plot?), Rimming, Sex Toys, Toppy Justin, Vulnerable Brian, Vulnerable Justin
Genres: Canon, Could be Canon, Humor, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: None
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 7108 Read Count: 707
[Report This] Published: Jan 03, 2020 Updated: Jan 03, 2020
Summary:

Justin and Brian surprise the family with big news on Christmas Eve. Standalone one shot.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor, Other Cast Regulars
Tags: Christmas, Christmas Eve, Established Relationship, Family, Fluff, Friendship, M/M, One-Shot, Post-series
Genres: Canon, Could be Canon, Humor
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: None
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 5240 Read Count: 1246
[Report This] Published: Jan 03, 2020 Updated: Jan 03, 2020
Summary:

No one had been more shocked than Brian when Melanie, of all people, had suggested that, since she didn't really celebrate Christmas, but J.R. was heading to Pittsburgh to be with her dads, perhaps Brian and Justin would rather come to Toronto to have a more subdued celebration with Lindsay and Gus.

"Lindsay never really gets to enjoy the decorations she puts up, since we're rushing around and then traveling during this time," Mel had explained. "I just thought it would be nice if you and Justin wanted to come to our place instead… You know, let Linds and Gus go all out, and then have a nice quiet holiday at home." 

"Quiet" was all Brian needed to hear before he agreed. 

***

Brian and Justin travel to Toronto to spend Christmas with a small part of their chosen family.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Gus Marcus-Peterson, Jennifer Taylor, Justin Taylor, Lindsay Peterson, Melanie Marcus
Tags: Christmas, Christmas Eve, Established Relationship, F/F, Family, Fluff, Friendship, M/M, Post-series
Genres: Angst w/ Happy Ending, Canon, Could be Canon, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Brian/Justin, Melanie/Lindsay
Series: Fatherhood
Chapters: 11 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 33508 Read Count: 32492
[Report This] Published: Jul 30, 2019 Updated: Dec 25, 2019
Summary:

It’s funny how life works sometimes -- in cycles, repeating the same themes in different ways with different situations. Leaving it up to us to recognize a familiar situation and call on our past experience to get through it. But sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees.

***

Justin decides to make a huge transition in his career, but things are not always what they seem.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor, Original Character
Tags: 10k+ Word Count, Established Relationship, Friendship, M/M, Mental Health Issues, Post-series, Real Life Issues, Tearjerker, Vulnerable Justin
Genres: Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 19 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 65677 Read Count: 17392
[Report This] Published: Aug 16, 2019 Updated: Nov 02, 2019
Summary:

I know what Brian is doing -- he’s being protective of me, the same way he always has been. That’s just his nature; he’ll do anything for his friends, and he never wants to see anyone he cares about get hurt, physically or otherwise. But I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself.

***

Cynthia and Brian are more than just co-workers; they're friends. Family, really. But how will they support one another when push comes to shove?

This story fits into the "Changed" verse.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Cynthia, Original Male Character
Tags: 10k+ Word Count, Bisexual, Business Brian, F/M, Fluff, Friendship, M/M, Non-Monogamous Pairings, Post-series, Real Life Issues
Genres: Angst, Angst w/ Happy Ending, Drama, Humor, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: None
Series: Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 9 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 33271 Read Count: 9793
[Report This] Published: Jul 03, 2019 Updated: Aug 07, 2019
Summary:

For some reason, being in Pittsburgh always got me thinking about all of the ways in which our lives had changed over the years, and all of the things that added up to make us into who we eventually became -- the version of us that has been married for close to twelve years now.
***
Brian and Justin take a few days in Pittsburgh to just relax and be with each other. However, with Brian's birthday and the anniversary of his accident fast approaching, there's a lot going on in Brian's head.

This story fits into the "Changed" verse.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor
Tags: Birthday, Bottom Brian, Established Relationship, Fluff, M/M, One-Shot, Post-series, Raw Sex, Vulnerable Brian
Genres: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Porny
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 9520 Read Count: 1006
[Report This] Published: Jun 23, 2019 Updated: Jun 23, 2019
Summary:

I really do have the best dad in the entire world.

I know a lot of kids say that -- and they give their dads coffee mugs and t-shirts and dorky-looking ties that say it -- but I feel like for me, it really is true.

My dad kicks more ass than any other dad I know, even though he hasn’t used his legs in almost thirteen years.

***

As Gus prepares for his high school graduation, he reflects back on his life so far, and his relationship with Brian.

***

This story fits into the "Changed" verse. Thanks to SandiD for the lovely banner!


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Gus Marcus-Peterson, Justin Taylor, Lindsay Peterson, Melanie Marcus, Original Male Character
Tags: Established Relationship, Family, Fluff, Friendship, One-Shot, Post-series
Genres: Alternate Canon
Pairings: Brian/Justin, Melanie/Lindsay
Series: Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 7926 Read Count: 731
[Report This] Published: Jun 16, 2019 Updated: Jun 16, 2019
Summary:

I was in Atlanta when I first started noticing the strange, intermittent numbness and tingling in the fingers of my right hand. I was finishing up some paperwork, and I was having a hard time holding onto the pen, though at the time I thought it was just because I couldn't feel my fingers in the way that I was used to. I knew I'd been pushing myself too hard, spending too much time working on my laptop and not enough time doing yoga, so I thought it was probably just stress. I needed a break, although I wasn't sure when I was going to get one, because I was only scheduled to have two days at home before I had to leave again to travel to Dallas.

***

Rob has a health scare that leads him to reevaluate his life. Brian helps support him along the way.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Original Male Character
Tags: 10k+ Word Count, Friendship, M/M, Post-series, Real Life Issues, Tearjerker
Genres: Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: None
Series: Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 8 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 18720 Read Count: 9225
[Report This] Published: May 25, 2019 Updated: Jun 09, 2019
Summary:

Gus’ lips rolled inward, a carbon copy of Brian’s signature contemplative look. “I just like…” he sighed again, more heavily this time. “I just wish I could forget about this for, like, an hour or something.” 

Brian made a small noise of realization that made Justin look toward him, and as soon as he registered the intention on his husband’s face, he moved closer to Brian and hissed, “No. Brian, you can’t.” 

Brian gave Justin his most charming smile and said, “Oh, but I can!”

***

A heartbroken Gus spends a weekend in New York with Brian and Justin. In an effort to help his son, Brian turns to a tried-and-true method.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Gus Marcus-Peterson, Justin Taylor
Tags: 10k+ Word Count, Drug Use - Recreational, Established Relationship, Family, M/M, One-Shot, Post-series
Genres: Angst, Angst w/ Happy Ending, Canon, Could be Canon, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: Fatherhood
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 17410 Read Count: 1206
[Report This] Published: Jun 04, 2019 Updated: Jun 04, 2019
Full Circle by TrueIllusion Rated: YA starstarstarstarstar [Reviews - 4]
Summary:

Never in my life did I ever think I’d find myself on a business trip with Ted Schmidt, of all people. Actually, never in my life did I think I’d ever find myself in business with Ted Schmidt at all. But, alas, here I am, nearly fifteen years into owning my own business, and nearly fifteen years into being in that business with one Ted Schmidt.

***

Brian and Ted go to Chicago for a business meeting that has the potential to change Kinnetik's future, and reflect on the past and their unlikely friendship in the process.

***

This story fits into the "Changed" verse.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Ted Schmidt
Tags: Business Brian, Established Relationship, Fluff, Friendship, M/M, One-Shot, Post-series
Genres: None
Pairings: Brian/Justin, Ted/Blake
Series: Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 7617 Read Count: 861
[Report This] Published: May 19, 2019 Updated: May 19, 2019
Summary:

Leaning back against the leather headrest, Brian let out a shaky breath, already feeling sweaty and a little disoriented. He realized he had two choices here, both potentially impacting his dignity in a major way. As much as he wanted to try to tough it out the additional half hour, to endure whatever happened next in the comfort of a Four Seasons Hotel suite, the reality of the situation was that Lindsay and Melanie’s neighborhood was much closer. And it was absolutely inevitable that Brian's body was going to revolt sooner than later.

Well, fuck.

***

Brian's planned trip to Toronto to spend time with Gus is interrupted by a very-much-unplanned illness, which gives him a lot of time to think, and leads to some unexpected revelations.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Gus Marcus-Peterson, Jenny Rebecca Marcus-Peterson, Justin Taylor, Lindsay Peterson, Melanie Marcus
Tags: Anal Sex (Lots of it!), Established Relationship, F/F, Family, Fluff, Friendship, M/M, One-Shot, Post-series, Vulnerable Brian
Genres: Canon, Could be Canon, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Brian/Justin, Melanie/Lindsay
Series: Fatherhood
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 22462 Read Count: 1251
[Report This] Published: May 13, 2019 Updated: May 13, 2019
Summary:

This story fits into the "Changed" verse.

“Who the fuck is calling me now?” Brian muttered as he rubbed his eyes and tried to focus on the clock. It was 2:16 a.m., and this call had better not be a client with some so-called emergency, because Brian had people who were supposed to deal with that, whom he’d hired in an effort to keep late night phone calls from happening. He was more than a little perturbed at having been woken up and was ready to give the person on the other end a piece of his mind, until he saw the caller’s name on the display. It was Rob, and that realization sent Brian’s heart into his throat. Rob was an “early to bed, early to rise” sort of guy, and would definitely not be calling at 2 a.m. unless something was seriously wrong.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor, Original Character
Tags: 10k+ Word Count, Established Relationship, Fluff, Friendship, M/M, One-Shot, Post-series
Genres: Angst w/ Happy Ending, Humor
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 20957 Read Count: 1310
[Report This] Published: May 08, 2019 Updated: May 08, 2019
Matriarch by TrueIllusion Rated: A starstarstarstarstar [Reviews - 51]
Summary:

Justin's in his studio, working on a painting, when he gets an upsetting phone call from Brian.

This story fits into the "Changed" verse.

Thanks to SandiD and PrettyTheWorld for helping me make this story the best it could be, and SandiD for the banner!


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor, Original Character, Other Cast Regulars
Tags: Abuse/Child Abuse, Established Relationship, Friendship, M/M, Minor Character Death, Post-series
Genres: Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Tragedy
Pairings: Brian/Justin, Michael/Ben, Other Cast Pairing
Series: Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 12 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 29114 Read Count: 12138
[Report This] Published: Apr 05, 2019 Updated: May 03, 2019
Summary:

“Sonny Boy--” Brian began, intentionally ignoring Justin’s question.

“--You had no idea why she sent me down,” Gus interrupted, his words more of a statement.

Brian shook his head. “Your mother neglected to inform me of her intentions.”

***

Lindsay has ulterior motives when she sends Gus for an unscheduled weekend visit with Brian and Justin.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Gus Marcus-Peterson, Justin Taylor, Lindsay Peterson
Tags: 10k+ Word Count, Bottom Brian, Established Relationship, Family, Fluff, M/M, One-Shot, Post-series, Raw Sex
Genres: Angst, Canon, Humor
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: Fatherhood
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 11391 Read Count: 1509
[Report This] Published: Apr 23, 2019 Updated: Apr 23, 2019
Summary:

When Justin came home from his studio and found Brian in the kitchen making dinner, he knew something was wrong.

Brian didn’t cook. Even after 15 years of knowing the man and spending most of them in a relationship with him, Justin could count the times Brian had made them dinner on one hand. Apparently, tonight he was adding one more to the tally.

***

Fifteen-year-old Gus is spending the summer with Brian and Justin in New York. He decides to test the limits of Brian's relatively lenient parenting style, with unintended consequences.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Gus Marcus-Peterson, Justin Taylor
Tags: 10k+ Word Count, Abuse/Child Abuse, Established Relationship, Fluff, M/M, One-Shot, Post-series
Genres: Angst, Angst w/ Happy Ending, Could be Canon, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: Fatherhood
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 11576 Read Count: 2301
[Report This] Published: Apr 02, 2019 Updated: Apr 02, 2019
Summary:

Brian asked Justin a very important question when the "Changed" series concluded. What will his answer be? Where will they go from here?


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor
Tags: Bashing, Established Relationship, Friendship, Mental Health Issues, Post-series, PTSD, Real Life Issues, Tearjerker, Vulnerable Brian, Vulnerable Justin
Genres: Angst, Canon, Could be Canon, Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: The Changed Series, Stories from the "Changed" Verse
Chapters: 30 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 263228 Read Count: 48412
[Report This] Published: Oct 22, 2018 Updated: Mar 17, 2019
Summary:

One shot. Standalone fic. Introspective S4/S5 gap filler from Lindsay's point-of-view.

Written for the 2018 QaF Gift Exchange as a gift for TheaPink on LJ. Request was a story about the girls breaking up and getting back together in canon time, with the song "Just Hold On" as a prompt. The song immediately made me think of their S4/S5 breakup. This is a peek into Lindsay's thoughts during that time.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Lindsay Peterson, Melanie Marcus
Tags: Established Relationship, F/F, F/M, Infidelity, One-Shot, Season 4, Season 5
Genres: Angst, Angst w/ Happy Ending, Canon, Could be Canon, Gap-Filler
Pairings: Brian/Lindsay, Melanie/Lindsay, Other Cast Pairing
Series: None
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 2112 Read Count: 531
[Report This] Published: Jan 08, 2019 Updated: Jan 08, 2019
Summary:

One shot. Standalone fic. Post-513.

Justin comes home for the holidays. For good.

Plot bunny by BritinManor.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor
Tags: Christmas, Christmas Eve, Established Relationship, One-Shot, Post-series
Genres: Angst w/ Happy Ending, Canon, Could be Canon
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: None
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 4303 Read Count: 1639
[Report This] Published: Dec 25, 2018 Updated: Dec 25, 2018
Summary:

One shot. Set 25 years post-series. Standalone fic.

How do you feel your way through the darkness once the sun has gone out?

Brian's journey into the light.

Major character death. You'll want some tissues.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor
Tags: Death, Established Relationship, Major Character Death, One-Shot, Post-series, Tearjerker, Vulnerable Brian, Vulnerable Justin
Genres: Angst, Canon, Could be Canon, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Tragedy
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: None
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 4552 Read Count: 1246
[Report This] Published: Dec 03, 2018 Updated: Dec 03, 2018
Summary:

One shot standalone fic.

There's more than meets the eye when it comes to Brian's ever-present food rule, "no carbs after seven."

Plot bunny by Sally. Thanks to SandiD for beta reading.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney
Tags: Abuse/Child Abuse, Mental Health Issues, One-Shot, Pre-series, Real Life Issues, Vulnerable Brian, What if...
Genres: Angst, Could be Canon
Pairings: None
Series: None
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 3229 Read Count: 690
[Report This] Published: Nov 26, 2018 Updated: Nov 26, 2018
Summary:

Sickfic without plot. Justin gets sick. Brian takes care of him.

One-shot.

Set late season 4, post-cancer, pre-Liberty Ride.


Categories: QAF US
Characters: Brian Kinney, Justin Taylor
Tags: Allergies , Established Relationship, Fluff, One-Shot, Real Life Issues, Season 4, Vulnerable Justin
Genres: Canon, Could be Canon, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Brian/Justin
Series: None
Chapters: 1 Table of Contents
Completed: Yes Word count: 3610 Read Count: 1042
[Report This] Published: Nov 01, 2018 Updated: Nov 01, 2018