TRUTH, DARE & THE SUNSHINE WAR

Sep 01, 2006 22:43

Title: Truth, Dare & The Sunshine War
Written By: lipsofpoison
Timeline: Gap filler (kind of) for 303
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: J/E seen, but it is B/J.
Summary: After a game of Truth or Dare, Justin is apologetic, Ethan's annoyed, Brian's insightful and Michael's high.
Author Notes: A little dialogue heavy.



'Why did I think this was a good idea again?'

There was no answer to the thought as Justin stepped into the loft. He still felt bombarded by the smells and feelings that struck him with familiarity. It was so comfortable that he felt uncomfortable. He pushed his head up, defiant to ignore that familiarity, to ignore the feeling of wanting to kick of his shoes and fall into -

"Brian?"

The older man turned around, stopping on his way to the kitchen island. He could have asked a thousand questions. Why are you doing this? Does this feel familiar to you too? Does this feel so comfortable too? Is there a reason you smell amazing?

Wait, where did that come from?

Well, he does smell different, anyway. He smells more...tropical? More so than usual. He must've switched shampoo or body wash or something. I guess he can't commit to a brand, much less a person.

His resolve hardened.

"When is Michael getting here?"

He cocked his head, "Any minute."

"I'll start setting up then?"

Brian had invited - make that insisted - that he and Michael, going through a rough patch creatively when it came to Rage, come over to the loft, where Rage had really come about. Both of them, still awkward, had accepted, hoping it would help.

Hearing the strained tones between Brian and Michael as his lovers' - ex lovers' - best friend arrived, he knew he was in for a long night.

---

Brian cast a look over to the white couch where Michael was sitting and where Justin was lying against. It was bizarre, really, because even before - well, just before - they were rarely here with him alone at the same time.

And you could tell.

They were supposed to be brain storming, not just sitting there looking extremely awkward and barely saying two words beyond the Pittsburgh weather report to each other. Nothing would be getting done at this rate.

Sighing, Brian decided something had to be done, if only for the sake of what little sanity he had left. He picked up the little clear bag with crushed pills inside, emptying them into two beers. After all, this was how it all began.

"Sorry, girls," Brian said, slipping a cigarette into his mouth, "This is for my comic book alter ego."

That and he felt like a buzz himself.

---

Two hours later and laughter filled the loft.

Brian was draped on the couch, his hand hanging off the side. Michael and Justin and been relegated to the floor, leaning against the couch and next to the joint in Brian's draped fingers. The topics shifted quickly and the laughter grew with every one, regardless of whether the latter was funnier the topic before.

Currently, Justin was regaling them with an infamous high school past time - Truth Or Dare.

"And then she flashed him!" Justin laughed, "I almost lost my chips."

"Because you were drunk!" Michael reminded him.

"Noooooo...." Justin said, and then cracked up laughing. "Well, yeah! But I was Justin drunk, not Brian drunk."

"What's a difference?"

Brian smirked, "Less fucking."

Michael cracked up as well, them all laughing as if it was much funnier than it actually was. He went for his drink, which Brian promptly stole, eyes shining. "So Mikey - Truth or Dare?"

Michael rolled his eyes, as Justin started giggling again. "Truth."

"Pathetic." Brian said, thoughtfully. "So what's it really like to wear a dress?"

"I never did!"

"Pride, Michael." Justin reminded him.

"Oh, yeah..."

Brian looked at him expectantly.

"Well, great!" The laughter resumed, renewed by the enthused reply. "Well, there's a whole air flow..." he descended into laughter too.

"Alright, alright," Michael laughed, "You know."

"Dare."

Justin snorted, "What a surprise."

Michael looked thoughtful, "Hmm...What is there that he wouldn't do anyway?"

Brian grinned proudly, "It's true."

Justin shrugged, "Call his mother and invite her over?"

"While we're high?"

"Fine," Brian said. "Truth."

In their heightened mood, Justin and Michael high fived. Getting him to tell the absolute truth about something was an amazing feat, not to be wasted.

But Michael got there first.

"So when you and Lindsey fucked -"

"You fucked Linds?" Justin asked.

"I was confirming dick vs. pussy."

"And Mel won?"

Brian narrowed his eyes, "I was doing her a favour."

"You ever did anyone else in the 'gang' a favour?"

Brian grinned, "Yes."

"Who?"

"That's a story for another day." Brian said, turning his attention to the young blonde. "So sunshine. Truth or-"

He was interrupted by Justin's phone ringing and him getting it out, still in giggles as he answered. "Hi!" His demeanour softened, meaning it was the fiddler. Joy. "Hey..."

He went for the chips, taking them from Justin's hand as he batted Brian.

"No, we're still working on it…." Justin said, "Yes, until this time…it is not one am…oops….I guess it's been four hours, not two!"

"Noooo," Brain said, doing a fairly decent impression of Justin.

"Stop that!" Justin laughed, hitting his arm. "No, that wasn't Michael….no, E, Ethan, no…"

"What's up?" Michael asked.

"He wants to come and get me," Justin frowned, "I don't need you to come and get me; I'm not a baby…"

Not anymore, Brian thought.

"…Ethan, I'm fine."

Brian took the phone from him, "He's fine. Bye now." He said, hanging up the phone.

Justin's mouth widened as much as his eyes and suddenly he missed him. No, he corrected himself. You miss his mouth. Not him.

"That was mean," Justin grinned.

"It was Brian," Michael pointed out.

"Yeah," Justin giggles, again. He took a few more drags while they ended up having another beer together and entertaining the idea of having an evil Rage. But then, Justin pointed out, how would you tell the difference?

About ten minutes later, as Brian headed to get another drink, Justin frowned. "Who took my chips?"

Brian looked back from the kitchen island and put one in his mouth, grinning. "No idea."

Justin got up after them, "Give them back."

"Make me."

Justin picked up the joint, "Trade."

"I could get that back any time I wanted," Brian said.

"Prove it."

Then Justin caught the look in his eyes and took a run to the couch, screaming "No!"

Brian pulled Justin down on the couch and they playfully wrestled on the couch, laughing.

Michael just rolled his eyes, retrieving another bag of chips. He heard the buzz go, and thought that it had to be the takeaway. He buzzed them in, heading back to the floor.

"You two should really cut it out."

"Better than cutting off."

"Same to you, sunshine." Brian said, moving off him, leaving Justin to sit up and look straight at his boyfriend.

"Ethan?"

The brunette headed straight out and Justin sobered instantly, looking between Brian and Michael and the door Ethan headed out of the loft at top speed.

Commitment won.

He grabbed his bag and ran out of the door.

---

The next morning, things in Ethan's apartment, things were relatively back to normal after many apologies and promises to call next time and not get involved with stupid dares and truths with Brian and Michael. And not let Brian get his phone. And not get that high with his ex. Well, whatever Brian was.

In fact, about eight that next night while Ethan was looking at compositions and he was drawing, Ethan suddenly spoke.

"If I were you, I'd be offended."

Justin frowned, and looked up. "What?"

"Being defined by someone by your hair."

He frowned again, "By my hair?"

"Brian," Ethan said. "Calling you sunshine."

Justin smiled lightly, "That's not why he calls me that."

"Then why?"

Justin smiled, but it wasn't a patch on the actual one he was named after. "When you see, you'll understand."

If you ever see, he added sadly and silently.

Then forgot about it.

---

Two days after, Emmett invited him out.

Ethan had a party to go to and he didn't want to attend so he said yes and headed out to Babylon.

He smiled as he entered, loving the feeling and the old music. One thing you do learn hanging with the 'gang', you learn the oldest and cheesiest music.

Emmett waved at him, where he was sitting with Ted and Michael.

"Hey, Em."

Hugs were exchanged, drinks were bought and chatting resumed, although still strained between he and Michael. Looks like things weren't so different.

Well, they were about to get different as Ethan walked in.

He came up, kissing Justin.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself," Justin smiled.

"I thought you'd be here."

"Regular home from home."

"Having fun?"

"Sure."

"Want to dance?"

"Uh-kay."

Justin led him to the dance floor, which had become Justin's Mecca and stage over the years. Rhythm and beat becoming one, or something else poetical. Unfortunately, it was never the same with other people. And as long as he was getting drunk, he may as well admit, at least for now, Ethan still felt like 'other people'.

"Your boyfriend can't dance for shit."

He turned to face Brian and smiled, hitting him on the arm. Even low wattage, it was that smile.

"Come on, I can show him a few tricks."

"You have plenty of tricks."

"And maybe he'll pick a few up."

"Brian…."

"Remember, sunshine. You owe me."

Justin frowned, "For saving my life?"

"For not giving me that dare."

"I could have chosen truth," Justin said.

"No, you wouldn't."

He was right, but he still wasn't sure.

"I'll be fine," His boyfriend said.

"I'll be gentle." Brian promised. "Why don't you go and get a drink?"

Justin looked on warily, but lifted his chin and vacated the main dance floor, leaving the other two men to dance, if the shuffling could be called that.

"Don't you have other things to do?" Ethan said, looking around. "Guys to fuck, people to screw."

"The two aren't mutually exclusive." Brian grinned. "Where as what, it's home to Vivaldi and cuddling up for you?"

"It's comfortable," He said. "It's happy."

"Yeah, well don't get too comfortable." Brian snorted.

"Excuse me?"

"He's fickle, and let's face it, Ian; you're just a trick that's over staying his welcome."

"And isn't that all he is to you?" He said, sharply.

"Yeah," Brian said, leaning over darkly. "But he's my trick. And he'll be mine long after you're gone."

Brian stopped dancing, pushing past him and heading past the bar and downing a drink.

Justin stared at him, "Are you done?"

Brian grinned on the way past Justin to the back room, "He's a lost cause."
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