Cutting My Losses
Cutting My Losses 12/14
Off To Battle
When things get too hard to handle in Vegas, Greg runs to Pittsburgh and the person that knows him best, his longtime friend, Justin Taylor. Little does he know, running away will have serious consequences.
Cutting My Losses
Chapter 12
Justin closed the platform screens so he and Brian would have a little privacy. "Brian, I need you to kick Greg out."
Brian didn't bother looking up from the magazine he was flipping through. "Yeah. I'll get right on that." He didn't make a move.
"I'm serious. I've been talking to his friend back in Vegas, Nick. And we've got a plan to get Greg out of his funk."
Brian continued flipping through his magazine. "You're meddling. Weren't you the one that was pissed when Mikey tried to interfere?"
Justin's mouth turned down in a frown just at the thought. "This is different. My intentions are completely benevolent. I'm trying to get Greg and Warrick back together. Warrick's flying into Pittsburgh today for a conference. I just have to get the two of them in the same room."
Brian didn't even have to think about it. "Warrick's going to be pissed."
Justin knelt down on the bed next to Brian. "No, he'll be just like you when I showed up out of the blue at Vangaurd. He'll pretend to be pissed for a little bit just for show, but like you, he'll be secretly thrilled that Greg's back in his life even if it's just for a moment."
"Wow, I think the size of your ego is beginning to rival mine."
"It's why you love me. So are you in or what?"
Brian gave a little martyr sigh and stood up. "Fine. I just have to kick him out, right? What for?"
Justin shrugged his shoulders. "Tell him you want to fuck me on the kitchen table without someone watching."
"At least I don't have to lie." And with that, Brian walked into the living room.
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"You're not pissed, are you? It's only for tonight." Justin stopped at the red light.
"No, I totally understand, Jus. I know I haven't been all that much fun this past week. I've been thinking I might just stay here for the rest of my vacation. Hell, I don't even know if I'm going back to Vegas. I guess I'll have to go back to pack my stuff and all. Maybe I could just--"
Justin cut off his friend mid-ramble. "You can't leave Vegas, Greg. What about your job? You love it."
"There's crime everywhere."
"What about your friends? You'd miss them."
Greg slumped in his seat, more dejected than before. "They're all friends with Warrick too, and he wants nothing to do with me."
"How do you know? Maybe he'll change his mind. Maybe you could change his mind."
"You've obviously never met Warrick. He's just so fucking stubborn...and his temper. When he makes up his mind, that's it. When we were just friends, he dated a few chicks. As soon as they did something wrong he would drop them, just like that." Greg snapped his fingers to make his point. "Brandy was too clingy, Lisa cheated on him and Rachel stood him up once. He never gave them a chance to explain. Brandy found him at a bar one night when we were all hanging out. She was in fucking tears, Jus, begging him to take her back. He barely gave her a glance, told her to go home." Greg huffed a laugh and shook his head. "God, I'm so stupid. I never thought I'd be one of them. I never thought...maybe because I was a guy or...we were friends first..." Greg's voice was getting thick with approaching tears. "He told me he loved me. He never said that to them. I thought it meant something." Greg turned toward the car window, trying to get a reign on his emotions.
Justin was having a mini panic attack in the driver's seat. Suddenly the big plan didn't seem like such a good idea. What the fuck had that cowboy talked him into? Warrick sounded like an asshole. "Hey, Greg?"
"Yeah?" Greg's eyes were glued to the passing scenery.
"Maybe we should go back. I could convince Brian to let you stay. We'll just fuck in the bathroom, it's no big deal. And, you know, the kitchen table thing, so uncomfortable. So, yeah, we'll just turn back around and--" Justin already had his blinker on, ready to pull into the first lot he could use to turn around.
Greg interrupted his friend mid-ramble. "No, Justin. I just dropped in on you guys and I've overstayed my welcome. Plus, we're already here."
It was true. The first lot Justin found to turn into was the hotel's. He parked the car and put his hand on Greg's knee to stop him from getting out of the car. "Greg, I don't know what's going to happen with Warrick. But, you deserve the best. If Warrick isn't it, then--"
"He ''is'' it."
Justin looked at his friend who still wasn't making eye contact with him. Greg was sitting there fingering the hem of the hoodie Justin had loaned him. The man Justin had looked up to for as long as he can remember. Unofficially adopted brothers. Justin smiled at the memory of Greg coining that phrase for their relationship. Greg had been everything Justin wanted to become. Intelligent, funny, popular. Unlike him, Greg had made friends easily during his summer months in Pittsburgh. Other kids were drawn to him. Not only was he entertaining, he was the best friend a guy could have. Still was.
He put his entire heart into every one of his relationships. The love Greg had for the people in his life was obvious. It was in his eyes when he saw them, in his voice when he talked about them, in his touch when he caressed them. Justin remembered the way Greg's eyes lit up when they saw each other for the first time in a year. He remembered Greg talking about Warrick with affection in his voice and love in his eyes. He remembered being in the hospital, and Greg's hand holding his, touching his brow. The only person Justin wanted touching him. The only person Justin trusted. Even now, out of all of his relationships, his with Greg is and will always be the most solid. Every person should have one person they can always depend on. For Justin, Greg was it. The one love Justin never had to doubt.
Justin impulsively hugged his friend. "I love you, Greg."
Greg was shocked by the sudden attack. He patted his friends back. "Uh...I love you too." Greg tried to joke. "But just because I'm on the rebound doesn't mean--"
Justin smiled into Greg's neck. "Shut up." He pulled away. "You know, you'll always have home at my home." Justin continued at Greg's pointed look. "Yeah, I know I'm staying with Brian now..." Justin joked, "but hell, if you really want to live with me and he doesn't want you there, I'll shell out for a cardboard box. We'll live on the streets. It'll do wonders for my art."
That got a smile out of Greg. Justin continued, seriously, "I guess I'm just trying to say, I'm always here for you."
"I know, bro." A term of affection Greg saved only for Justin. He looked out the window at the hotel. "So, did you guys get me a good room?"
Justin frowned and opened his door, ready to step out. He answered dryly. "Yeah, it's great." They got out of the car and walked into the hotel. A few steps into the lobby, Justin stopped and turned to Greg. "Wait, I left my wallet in the car. Could you get it for me?" Justin handed Greg the key, and started reaching for his friend's duffel bag. "Here, I'll take your bag and start checking you in." Justin walked toward the check-in desk, while Greg walked out.
"Hi, I have a reservation under Justin Taylor and Warrick Brown." When Justin had made the reservation, he told the receptionist that he was surprising his boyfriend. He made sure that Warrick would be given a key without knowing the other half of his reservation.
"Here's your keycard, Mr. Taylor. Enjoy your stay."
"Thank you." Justin looked back toward the doors and saw Greg walking in. He met him halfway. "Hey, sorry. I found my wallet. It was in my pocket. Imagine that. Here's your key." Justin walked Greg to the elevators at the back of the lobby and handed Greg his bag. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow morning, probably 10ish. Call me if you have any problems. My cell phone's on." Greg was just standing there with his bag, looking a little lost in his thoughts. Unpleasant thoughts, if his expression was anything to go by. Justin felt like he was sending his best friend off to battle. There was an open elevator. He gave Greg one last hard hug. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow." He watched Greg step on the elevator and the doors close.
Justin walked out the side doors by the elevators to avoid the front desk and explaining why he was leaving minutes after checking in. As he walked around the building back to the parking lot, he couldn't help thinking that he sometimes hated how Greg was, how ''he'' was. When you wear your heart on your sleeve, it's bound to get hurt over and over again. And it seemed like you never learned. You just kept on hoping and wanting and loving. He wondered what it would be like to be Brian or this Warrick guy, to have a wall around your heart with a door that you could open and shut as you please.
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Author's Notes: Gotta thank vanna12 for the beta job.