Get Back
by Shine

The phone had been ringing off the hook all morning, and Joey had finally given up and pulled the plug on the land line, then stuffed his cell in the laundry hamper. The sudden quiet was a little shocking and incredibly relieving, and he just hoped he'd remember the cell was there before he actually did the laundry. He didn't even know why everyone was calling; when he'd checked his email that morning he'd seen a message from Johnny telling him not to pick up the phone, but it hadn't said why.

When the knock came, he was writing himself a note to put on the washing machine, to remember not to launder his cell. He jogged to the door, wondering if the prohibition against phones also applied to unexpected visitors. He made sure to check the peephole before yanking the door open. "Justin? What the hell?"

"Hey," Justin said quietly, leaning against the doorframe, eyes in shades and jean jacket scuffed and dirty. With an arrogant tilt to his head, and that insouciant pose, he looked nonchalant and untroubled, but something about the line of his mouth was enough to make Joey think otherwise. His hands were shoved in the pockets of his jacket, and he was trembling slightly, although this was Florida, and even in October it still hit eighties during the day. There wasn't a car in the drive.

"Did Johnny tell you?" Justin asked, and Joey stared, shook his head no. Justin nodded and stepped past him, walking down the hall to drop onto the first chair he came to, a huge, ugly, and brutally uncomfortable straight?back that his mother had given him when he first moved out of the house. Justin fell back into it like he hadn't sat down in days, like it was one of the overstuffed recliners out in the living room that everyone fought over during movie nights. Joey shut the door slowly and moved to the wall opposite him, sliding down to sit on the floor. He hadn't been worried before, but he was now. Something was very wrong.

Justin leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together. There were times when Justin looked unexpectedly adult, and this was one of them, all hidden eyes and serious face. Justin removed the shades from his head and held them between his index finger and thumb, swinging them back and forth. Joey cleared his throat, and Justin looked at him.

"Justin, you're scaring the shit out of me here," Joey said seriously, the wall hard and cold against his back, and he pushed at it, bracing his feet against the floor just to feel the solidity of it behind him. "What happened?" Justin looked up and bit his lower lip. His eyes were scared, and his hands were clenched tightly on his thighs. "Something happened. Something. Oh fuck--Justin, what the hell is going on?"

"Yeah, something happened," Justin whispered, lifting a big hand to rub at his face. "Last night. I was, fuck. You know how you said I shouldn't drink because I'm too honest?" Joey nodded, wondering for a moment if Justin wanted him closer, but he was giving off these vibes that said to stay far, far away. "I was drinking, Joey. Not even a lot." Justin dragged a hand across his head, a nervous habit left over from the days of curls. "I screwed up, Joey."

Justin looked over at him, face etched with misery, and Joey made up his mind and stood, wincing when his knees cracked. Justin shoved over in the big old chair, making room--there wasn't much, but it didn't matter. Joey squeezed himself in, an arm tucked behind Justin and pulling him close. Justin sighed, a small aching sound, and tipped his head back on Joey's shoulder, closing his eyes. Joey touched his fingers to the line of Justin's throat, smoothing them upward. "Hey, baby, it can't be that bad, okay? Whatever it is, it's cool. So you got a little too honest while drunk. Happens to the best of us."

Justin shook his head, and his fist clenched on the old wooden arm of the chair. "You don't understand," he muttered, and for a moment his face twisted, like he might cry. He breathed harshly, blinked hard, and the moment seemed to pass, but his other hand was now on Joey's thigh, pressed hard against the muscle and so cold he could feel it through his jeans. His eyelashes were wet, brushed damply against his cheeks.

"Make me understand," Joey said softly, and moved down to rub Justin's arm, long smooth sweeps up and down, like when Justin was fourteen and miserably homesick, or seventeen and tied up in knots over Britney's mixed messages. The way he'd always done, when life was too much, when Justin was hurting and scared. "It's okay, Jup. It'll be okay, I promise."

"I didn't know he was a reporter," Justin whispered and buried his face in Joey's chest as Joey's heart stopped. He knew what Justin meant.

Justin tried to get up then, but Joey was wrapped around him and wasn't going to let him go. "Shh," Joey whispered in his ear, trying to stay calm and in control of this. Justin shifted against him, and Joey could feel the heat of his breath through his shirt, the way it was panicked and quick. "You knew this was a risk. We all knew it. We'll deal with it, okay? It'll be fine."

"They're going to roast us alive, and it's all my fault," Justin muttered, his hand tight on Joey's leg then moved up abruptly, thumping helplessly against Joey's stomach. Joey gently folded his hand over Justin, holding him there. "It's all over the place, Joey. I wrecked everything. We were so close, we had everything, and I just destroyed it."

"No." Joey pressed a soft kiss to the top of Justin's head, holding his lips there for a long, long time. Justin made soft sounds his throat, the breath wafting in steady damp puffs over Joey's chest, and Joey held him tighter, wedged in the chair and being cut in half by the unforgiving wooden arm and not caring how uncomfortable it was. "You just changed things, Justin. That's all. You didn't ruin anything."

"Goddammit." Justin shuddered hard, and Joey wondered if he was trying to get away, but then he felt wetness seep through his shirt and understood. "Goddammit," Justin said again, thickly.

"What happened, J?" Joey asked quietly. He didn't want to ask; god, he really didn't. But he needed to know, and he thought Justin needed to tell him.

"I didn't know he was a reporter," Justin repeated, and Joey nodded against his hair. Like pop stars, reporters had regular lives too??and unfortunately, like pop stars, their work never really ended when they went home. "He was??he looked nice, Joe. He was talking to this guy, and I just went up, bought him a drink??we were talking and he didn't recognize me, I thought. He asked my name. Asked what I did." Joey nodded. The guys were always less likely to recognize them than the girls, even the gay ones. The reporter must have known that.

"And then we went back to my place, just to talk, and he saw the stuff on the mantel, the--" Justin stopped, took a huge breath, "the awards and shit, and the pictures of you and me and, yeah. He saw everything," and Joey could barely hear him. "He told me, Joey, he told me what he was. And he said he was sorry, and he left."

Joey closed his eyes and breathed deeply through his nose. There was no point in getting mad at some ratfink bastard of an entertainment reporter desperate for a byline. There were so many things to say, some that would help, some that would make it all worse. Joey knew better than to say any of them. They'd been through a lot together already, seen each other at their respective worst, and Joey knew that sometimes all Justin could bear was a tight hug and the knowledge of someone near him, understanding.

"I should have put them away," Justin muttered, speaking carefully like he did when he was trying not to cry, trying to control himself. But when he choked back a harsh, wet sound, Joey knew he wasn't being terribly successful. "I should have thrown those pictures up in the attic and forgotten about us, but I miss us, Joey. I just. I wanted them there, just for awhile. I wasn't even going to sleep with him. I was just lonely."

Joey nodded. He wasn't even sure why they broke up, couldn't remember any real reason for it, and they'd snapped back to friendship quickly, like nothing had ever happened in the first place. Joey was Justin's first boyfriend--first everything, really--and it was hard if only because of that, of the pressure and expectation, of the unknownness of the whole situation. Joey hadn't blamed Justin when they finally split apart.

"I know," he murmured, unable to think of anything better to say. "You're not like that, I know that, it's okay." Justin was slowly starting to calm, and he held him a little closer, knowing right now what he said was less important than the contact, the comfort of touch, the tone of voice. Justin leaned closer into him, and some more of that brittle tension seeped out of him.

"Johnny knows?" It was a dumb question, Johnny obviously knew, but it moved the conversation out of an area Joey wasn't quite ready to handle yet, and he didn't think Justin was ready to either. Soon, maybe even today, but not right now. Justin seemed to agree, because he nodded, and didn't protest the change.

"Yeah. I called him, like, first thing. Well, maybe second thing," and there was just a hint of humour, the first sign that the Justin he knew and loved was coming back. "Told him what happened, and he tried to do damage control, but. It's out there, the Times published it in the Entertainment section. Page six," he added, and was that a hint of??wryness? Indignance? Joey almost laughed. Trust Justin. One thing the kid had never lacked was a healthy sense of self-esteem.

"Guess we're not that important, huh?" Joey asked, trying to grin, and Justin shrugged, a small rueful smile on his lips as he pulled back, looking up at Joey regretfully. Joey sighed deeply, couldn't help himself, and trailed his knuckles down Justin's face, lingering on his cheek.

"It will be okay, Justin," Joey said seriously, and Justin nodded, still that trusting eighteen year old who confessed maybe Britney wasn't who he really wanted and maybe he really wanted Joey instead, breath smelling like limes and tequila when he finally whispered it out. Joey still remembered how wide Justin's eyes grew, like he hadn't realised that particular truth was even in him, and how Joey had just smiled and kissed him gently, making sure Justin knew he was something infinitely special and precious.

Now, with Justin in his arms and looking at him, bright-eyed and still with fear lurking behind the bravado, he did the same thing. Justin didn't even move when Joey pressed his lips to Justin's dry mouth, kissing him briefly but lovingly, and when he raised his head Justin smiled at him, a tiny crinkle of flesh between his brows. With a press of his thumb, Joey wiped the worry away and assured him, "It'll be fine. I promise."

Justin smiled for real then, face lightening into a slightly shaky grin, and Joey grinned back at him, feeling the release of the rest of the tension in Justin's shoulders, the softening of Justin's body against his. Joey wanted to sing, he was so glad. He didn't know what he'd have done if Justin hadn't calmed down, come back from his panic.

"So what do you want to do?" he asked, and Justin pulled away finally, just a little bit, tilted his head to meet Joey's gaze. His face was damp, but his eyes were clear and bright. And for the first time in a long time, without secrets.

"I want to have a press conference," he said quietly, but firmly, and Joey couldn't help it; he smirked, elated; felt his eyes light up, joy fizzing through him like champagne bubbles. Justin bit his lip, half?laughing at Joey's obvious approval, and nodded definitely. "Yeah. Like, I want to come out. I'm sick of this??this shit, you know? It's going to end, now. You guys know, and Mom knows, and now everyone knows, and I'm not going to let our fans scare me into hiding for the rest of my life. This is my chance." He laughed at what Joey guessed was probably a really goofy expression on his face.

"You want to borrow my phone to call Johnny?" Joey asked, and Justin nodded, letting Joey pry them apart, but even when they were standing, Justin stayed close. They looked at each for a second, then Justin took his hand, folding his long fingers with Joey's and squeezing. Joey never broke eye contact. "It's in the laundry."

Justin blinked, his face twisting up in confusion, and Joey laughed loudly, pulling him along. Upstairs, Joey rooted around until he found it and waited patiently while Justin dialled the numbers, one by one by one, then smiled shakily as it started to ring. Their hands stayed latched together the whole time, and when Justin started to talk, Joey held it as tightly as he could without causing pain. The conversation was short, and went as well as could be expected--Joey could hear Johnny yelling incredulously from where he stood, but at least he didn't say anything *too* critical--and when it was done Justin pressed the end button with a look of relief, handing Joey back his phone.

"Thank you," Justin said quietly, standing tall and proud. Finally proud, Joey thought gladly, pressing a kiss to the back of Justin's hand, finally proud about himself. Justin smiled shyly and ducked his head, going freely when Joey pulled him close for a one-armed hug. "I feel all right, you know? Better than last night and this morning, so thank you for that, too."

Joey laughed again, and pretended to buff his nails on his shirt. "It's a gift," he said loftily, and was rewarded with Justin's snicker, and a quick jab to his stomach. By the time the wrestling match was over??Justin clinging to Joey's back like a limpet and yelling his head off, feet flying in arcs as Joey swore loudly and with poorly-disguised amusement and swung him around in circles, trying to shake him off??they were in the hall outside the laundry room, Joey pinning Justin against the wall with hands and body, grinning into his face.

"So you think you can take me, Timba?timba?timbalake?" he growled gleefully, evading Justin's attempts to get to his ribs and bringing one thigh up to pin Justin's hips down. Justin was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe, and Joey took shameless advantage of that, catching his arms when he tried to break loose.

"Oh no, kid, you aren't getting away as easy as that," he chuckled, and the moment was so comfortable, so affectionate, Justin's warm body pressed all up and down his. It wasn't even a shock to find himself growing hard, and Justin's eyes were growing darker, his pupils dilating, laughter slowly trailing off, leaving behind parted lips and a steadily-thrumming tension. Joey's hips moved forward subtly, almost against his will, and when they came into contact with Justin's body, Justin arched to meet him.

There was a moment, a brief flicker of question, before it was gone, and Joey didn't know what to do next. Laugh it off, or kiss him, take one road or the other, Joey knew it was all a matter of choice and whatever he picked would change everything. He vividly remembered Justin in his bed for the first time, the dizziness, the heady pleasure, Justin laughing in amazed discovery as Joey crawled over him, bringing him into the world of pleasure and lust, of love. It was like that now, but not quite as new, as pretty or innocent. Justin hadn't been his for quite some time.

Justin gasped, a tiny involuntary sound deep in his throat, and Joey made his decision. He bent down, swiping his tongue over the swell of exposed throat, circling the bob of Adam's apple hotly with a wet, desperate tongue. Dragging Justin's arms upwards, big hands barely circling Justin's wrists, Joey held him there, flush against the wall, body long and trembling beneath him.

Leaving one hand to hold Justin's arms, Joey brought the other down and trailed it along his side, the familiar path sparking sweet memories in Joey's mind. Justin shivered hard and bucked against him, sweet and burning and uninhibited. Smoothly, Joey slipped his hand under Justin's jacket and his tight white t-shirt to his skin, warm and smooth under Joey's palm. Justin shivered and mewled high and thin, eyes falling closed.

"Justin," Joey sighed, and his head spun wildly with sensation: the hot sleek skin under his palm, the firm press of Justin's thigh between his legs, the eager way Justin lifted his head, met Joey's mouth and licked at his tongue. God, it felt so good, and it had been so long. He knew Justin, knew him so well, but at the same time he barely recognized the man beneath him, and he wanted to know him, desperately; wanted to learn if this Justin would moan and rise to the same touch as before. "Justin, god."

"…god," Justin echoed, and his hips rolled forward to press his cock hard against Joey's body. Joey dropped his head to Justin's shoulder, and then pulled away, shaking hard, releasing Justin's hands. Justin looked dazed for a second, almost lost, and then smiled slowly and arched his back, hands still held to the wall above his head. Showing off, Joey realized, not quite before he groaned. Justin's cock looked huge and tempting from where he was, heat and hardness cruelly trapped behind the denim of his jeans.

"Hey," he said hoarsely, "um. Not here." Justin nodded, still not opening his eyes, which was a good thing, Joey knew. One look at those eyes and he'd probably lose it a hell of a lot sooner than he wanted. He still didn't know if this was a good idea, but Justin obviously didn't mind, and to tell the truth neither did he. He'd missed Justin after they broke up, and while he'd never let Justin know how much, all those feelings were coming back to him now. The way Justin panted quietly, the way he shivered when he was stroked, responsive as hell??the way he smiled when he woke up, head next to Joey's on the pillow. The way his hand felt on his shoulder, when they were watching a movie on the bus.

Not one foot through the door to Joey's spacious bedroom, and Justin was against him, shrugging off his jacket before looping his arms loosely around Joey's neck. They were walking backward, legs tangling with each step, and Joey was amazed they hadn't fallen. This Justin was surer of his place in Joey's room, sliding out of his shirt when Joey blindly tugged it up Justin's body and breaking the hold only to climb onto Joey's bed.

"God, so sexy," Joey breathed as Justin reached out with one hand, folding his fingers into the waistband of Joey's jeans and tugging him forward. Justin looked up, his eyes old and wise in his young face, and Joey tugged off his own shirt, lolling his head back when Justin pressed a wide, open-mouthed kiss to his belly, fingers pressed to the small of Joey's back.

"I missed you so much," Justin whispered, sliding his hands to Joey's zipper, tugging it slowly, slowly down. Joey leaned over slightly, ran his palms over the naked expanse of Justin's sculpted back, causing him to arch--and that was familiar, that was the way Justin always moved when petted. Joey hadn't come across anyone else who loved the sheer physicality of touch as much as Justin did, but he also knew Justin only allowed those he loved to have the pleasure of getting so close.

When Justin's hand slipped into his open fly, Joey had to bite his tongue to stop the rolling tide of pleasure carrying him too far, too fast. "Jesus," he breathed, teetering on the balls of his feet, his hips trying desperately to move in ways his feet weren't ready for. He kneeled quickly, heavily on the bed, wildly off balance, and Justin took advantage of it, grabbing his arms and pulling him down. Joey yielded to him easily, rolled over to his back and grinned up at Justin, who loomed over him smug and dazzling, licking his lips with anticipation.

"Gotcha," Justin said, grinning, and Joey laughed, running his hands up Justin's arms, braced on either side of his chest, feeling the coarse brush of hair scrape his palms until he reached the smoothly freckled skin of Justin's shoulders.

"Yeah, yeah," he said. "That's what you think, kid." But he didn't move, and when Justin came down to kiss him he lifted up eagerly, loving the confident, slick glide of Justin's tongue in his mouth. Justin's body was heavy and hard against his, one knee tight against his side supporting Justin's weight, and it was all so sexy he could barely stand it. God, he'd missed this so bad. Right now, he thought dazedly, he wanted to kiss that reporter. But he wanted to kiss Justin more.

Joey fumbled at the clasp of Justin's jeans like a virgin then managed to grip the zipper and slide it down, running his palm flush against damp skin until his fingertips brushed the dark, kinky hair between Justin's legs. Justin hummed urgently and kissed him deeper, an desperate flicking of his tongue against Joey's. Smiling, Joey pulled his hand back and waited for the moan, and Justin gave it, just like Joey thought he would.

Joey slid his hands down the back of Justin's jeans, pushing them down his thighs as far as he could, then cupped Justin's ass, squeezing the swells of flesh between his hands. Justin's entire body bore down, hard cock sliding against Joey's belly and leaving a trail of gleaming wetness behind. Bending his calf against the back of Justin's knee, Joey pulled him closer, mouth wide as Justin kissed inside, deep and hot.

"Fuck, I missed this," Justin breathed, struggling back onto his knees to strip away Joey's jeans, Joey lifting his hips quickly to help him. When they were off Joey slid his hands down to grip Justin's ass, flexing his fingers, and Justin came back close, ground against him, dragging that lethal mouth of his all over Joey's jaw, neck, shoulders. "You were so good to me, and--oh, oh," he whimpered as Joey's fingers squeezed, "God, I was such an idiot not to see that."

"No," Joey managed, and yelped breathlessly as Justin's mouth closed over his collarbone. "Not...idiot...fuck," he breathed, gritting his teeth at Justin's hand sliding along his skin, finding a nipple and rolling it tightly between callused fingertips. He took a deep breath and tried again.

"Not an idiot. What??oh christ," he breathed, and fought to find words as Justin did something with his tongue that made him see double. "What. You wanted, back then. Fuck. Something. 'Sokay--I knew...oh god," he had to stop there because Justin was walking his clever fingers with delicate care all the way up, and skating the heel of his hand across his nipple. Sensation twisted through him, making him dizzy, and "Love you," he gave up trying to explain. Plenty of time for that later. Sex made Justin responsive and vocal; it made him incoherent, unable to say even the simplest things. But Justin was nodding, and some of the guilt that had crept into his eyes was gone.

"Okay," Justin said, and slid against him in a way that made Joey shake and his hands convulsively close. He dragged them away from Justin's tantalizing skin, and twisted them into the sheets to avoid drawing blood. "Okay," and Justin kissed him again before pulling back and frantically shoving at his jeans to get them the rest of the way off. Joey yelped when Justin finally managed to extract himself from the denim, kicking him in the knee, but when Justin's head snapped back to look at him, worry in his face, Joey was laughing, and sliding his hand up the hair?dusted back of Justin's thighs.

Joey touched as much of Justin as he could, tracing every inch of bared skin and feeling it under his skin, so much deeper than just the surface of his palm. Justin twisted against him, back arched as Joey ran his fingers over his side, and caught Joey's earlobe in his teeth before sucking gently, licking at the whorls of Joey's ear. Joey tipped his head, breathing deeply, and let him.

"Oh, that's. Uh-huh," Joey murmured, skirting a hand down the centre of Justin's chest before sliding the soft inner skin of his wrist against Justin's cock and pulling back quickly. Justin squeezed his thighs together, knees digging into the bed between Joey's splayed legs. He rolled his hips forward, and Joey slid his hand back around, fingertips sliding over Justin's shoulder blades. Gasping, Justin pumped his dick over Joey's stomach, biting at his jaw, and Joey groaned, "yeah, that's just. Yeah," bucking against him.

"I love you," Justin whispered, low in Joey's ear, and Joey nodded, grunting and grappling at this body so long denied to him. Justin seemed eager and willing to give, purring against his neck while he licked and kissed, all twisty and slippery hot, and Joey could only think of how beautiful he was because the words were just gone, just vanished from his lips. All Joey could taste was Justin dipping a tongue into his mouth, dancing against him.

Justin was whining softly, making constant tiny sounds deep in the back of his throat, and it was one of the hottest things he'd ever heard in his life, Joey decided, nipping at Justin's tongue and feeling him frantic and sweaty above him. He reached back down, trailed a finger along Justin's cock, and felt the whimper that it produced spark shimmering pleasure from his ears to his gut, making him ache and burn. Justin's legs were clamped tightly together, in a way Joey knew helped him stay in control, prolong the pleasure.

It was scary in a way, knowing Justin so well. It was like they'd never been apart; so many of the old signals were still there, some modified or matured, but still eerily familiar. When Justin shuddered in a certain way, Joey knew to slide his hand down Justin's ass and run his thumb teasingly along the taut cleft. When Justin pushed against him abruptly, Joey knew he was craving a firmer touch on his cock, and when Justin squeaked suddenly and bit down hard on his lower lip, he knew that he'd hit the sweet spot, off to the side and right underneath the crown.

And when Justin started panting, his hips suddenly fluid motion above him, and his mouth opened wide and licked at Joey's lips, Joey knew what was coming, and he brought up a knee, pushed it hard between Justin's legs, spreading them wide and slipping a single finger down to press firmly against the tight, fluttering muscle there. Not entering, just touching??Justin was incredibly sensitive there on the surface, and he cried out now, twitching his hips into the pressure. Joey closed his eyes, sucked at Justin's tongue, and felt the slow burn of his own orgasm start to rise, fanned into flame by Justin's lithe abandon.

"Oh," Justin whispered and bowed his hips down again, spreading his legs wider, pushing his ass back. Justin's hand returned to Joey's chest, rubbing at his nipples as he moved against Joey, his other arm taut and braced to keep his full weight off Joey's body, and Joey thrust up, using his hand on Justin's ass to push him down, and there it was, right there. Joey pivoted his hips again, feeling heat spread like wildfire through his lower belly and between his thighs, and Justin chuckled breathlessly, lips trembling lightly against Joey's mouth.

The fury of motion was coming at Joey from all directions, but it all centred in Justin, in his hips rocking against Joey's cock, in his free hand teasing Joey's nipples, in his ass pushing against Joey's finger while he circled the sensitive ring, in his mouth licking at Joey's lips and letting forth sounds that drove Joey wild with need. Justin was just everywhere, heavy and strong and powerful and beautiful and that was how it was supposed to be, Joey knew, this was exactly how it was all supposedly to be.

"I want to. I need to touch you," Justin murmured, and his hand abandoned Joey's chest to sneak down between them, grabbing Joey's cock and his own, barely able to hold them with Joey's thrusting and Justin's own sinuous motions. Joey stilled, made it easier for him and there it was, a hot, hot palm around his aching cock. Joey whimpered and bucked up sharply, unable to help himself, trying desperately to get deeper into the hold, and Justin squeezed, rolling his hips and arching his back, and only he could do that gracefully, only Justin could move so effortlessly. Liquid. Joey could be blind, and he would still recognise the fluid twist of Justin's body in heat.

When it started, he almost missed it??he was so absorbed in the feel of Justin writhing against him, he nearly missed the surge of tension in his body, the trembling jagged edges of pleasure from every touch, every kiss, every thrust coalescing deep inside, tendrils of raw need slithering from every nerve to ground in his aching cock. He only noticed it when it was too far along to stop, and by then he could only moan helplessly and let it happen.

"Fuck," he whispered, ground harder into Justin's heat and felt the shudders take him. White?hot light behind his eyes blinding him, skin screaming with sensitivity, feeling like he came a thousand times every time Justin's sleek body scraped roughly across his. He yelled, and Justin breathed in the sound, and then it was there, wetness between them, and Joey was trembling and Justin was groaning.

"Fuck, oh god, Joey, beautiful, you're so beautiful," Justin was on the edge himself, quivering and legs spread wide and dick like a brand against Joey's hip, slicked with Joey's come. Joey kissed his cheekbone, his eyelids, his earlobe, and pulled him closer, hooking a hand between Justin's legs to bring him tightly up against his body. Justin made a noise closer to a scream than a groan, both arms braced now on either side of Joey's shoulders, the muscles standing out in clear relief and trembling with strain.

When Joey's finger found his body and pushed dry and tight inside, just a fraction of an inch, it was over, he was coming, vague?eyed and mouth open and shaking, making harsh sounds with every uneven breath he took. Beautiful, Joey thought, dizzily. Beautiful, and he kissed that open mouth above his, felt the last of Justin's orgasm work out under his hand.

Justin folded against him, breathing heavily and wet against Joey's neck, and Joey petted his back clumsily, his heart beating furiously inside his chest. Throaty sounds left Justin's mouth, and he sighed happily, relaxing against Joey completely, uncoordinated only now that he'd come, too dazed and sated to properly organize his coltish bundle of long, strong limbs. Joey hugged him close and pressed his mouth to the top of his head, holding it there.

For a long time, the world was the two of them, the scent of sweat and sex, the rumpled sheets, Justin was warm and pliant, and Joey felt content, drunk on the richness of Justin's skin, his eyes, the soft burr of his hair against his mouth. The light from the window was clean and pure, and etched brilliant arcs across the hardwood floor. He could hear his cellphone ringing again, tinny and muffled and very far away, but he didn't care. Justin was heavy, but Joey didn't care.

The sunshine had crept almost a foot across the floor before Justin spoke.

"This makes it all worth it, you know," Justin said quietly, stirring and sliding to the side just a bit so his head could rest on the pillow beside Joey, and Joey turned his head to the left, looking him in the eyes. Up close, they were almost a dark grey, blue like a cloudy sky, and Joey could see every mark, every imperfection on Justin's skin, but Joey only loved him more for it. "You. And back then, even when I hated myself completely, I just needed to think of you, and it somehow didn't matter anymore. That scared me so much." It didn't make much sense, but Joey had been interpreting Justin for six years, and he knew what he meant.

"You just weren't ready for it," Joey said, brushing a hand against Justin's forehead, thumbing the edge of his hair gently before swooping down the bridge of his nose. Eventually he rested his hand on Justin's back, tracing circles on his skin. "You were just a kid, Justin. I knew that, but I also knew someday you'd grow up, and if I was lucky, you'd find your way back here, to me."

"And I have," Justin said, and rested his hand on Joey's chest, a leg thrown with casual grace over his. And there was something different there, some steel in his voice, a confidence and certainty and strength in the way he said it that hadn't ever been there before. The sound of someone who knew who they were. What they wanted. Who they wanted. And it was something Joey had waited a long time to hear.

"Yeah," Joey whispered, covering Justin's hand with his. "Yeah, you have."

Fin.