Ain't No Sunshine Part 4

[elwinglyre]

Title: Ain't No Sunshine 4/?
Author: el_wing
Rating: R
Warning: graphic sex and language
Timeline: One plus years post 513
Disclaimer: QaF is owned by Showtime. I'm just taking creative license.
Summary: Brian visits Justin in NYC and finds that something isn't right with Sunshine.
Author note: It's been almost two years since I updated. Just goes to show, nothing is forever!

New:  Part 4

Previous chapters: Part 1  Part 2  Part 3

Part 4

It was hard to admit to myself how much I missed him. I missed moments like this most all-- I let the subject drop on our walk to the deli. I wrapped my arm around his shoulder and let his blond hair tickle my neck. I liked it longer and I liked him close. Despite how lesbeonic is sounded, I missed the way he teased me, pleased me, and yeah, squeezed me. Especially my dick. Nothing lesbeonic about that part. Most of all, I missed his fucking sunshine smile, so much that I hardly noticed the hot man who bumped into us. Hardly. He was really hot after all.

The shadows grew long as we walked. We didn't talk, and he avoided my gaze. A quiet Justin is a worried Justin-- I guess he'd learned too much from me as far avoidance. I was relieved to know he never learned how to completely close himself off-- shut out feeling, go cold inside. He tried to learn it, but he never could make his face go blank. I was glad about that although I would never admit it to anyone. Being true to his sunshine self, one big sigh from him told me that he was resigned to fact that he was going to spill it all regarding luverboy. I grudgingly admitted to myself how happy I was that this luverboy was no real luverboy, but I was terrified that some freak might be out there after Sunshine.

As he walked, he studied his beat-up Converses he'd colored on with permanent markers like they were the most fascinating work since the Sistine Chapel.  Another big sigh from him, and I pulled him closer and kissed his forehead-- I felt him melt into me, and he smiled that smile I knew so well. I told myself, you can do this. You needed to do this. We both need to do this. He me gave a knowing nod, as we walked down the sidewalk in step, ignoring a disgusted look or two from those who passed us by. I kept his face snug against my neck. We fit together, always did.

Justin stopped. "Here it is. My favorite place," he said, pointing to the shop in front of us.

I looked up at the sign and thought, you've got to be kidding. "Dixon's: The Delightfull Deli," I read aloud. I'd never seen anything as garish as the front of the building and its blood-red and purple sign that jutted out above the window.

"I know," he said. "It's bad. The overly ornate font clashes with the colors and juxtaposed with the bad pun in the name, the overall effect is amateurish. My guess is that the owner's granddaughter came up with the design, and the grandparents think it's brilliant."

"I've lost my appetite."

Justin laughed. "What appetite?"

I licked my lips and looked him up and down. "Well, maybe not."

Justin punched me in the arm. "Ouch!"

"I saw that leer at the hot brunette on Baker Street." We both looked up at the sign again-- it was like looking at a fucking road-side accident-- you couldn't take your eyes off the horror of it.

"I have it," he said, throwing his arms in front of me to illustrate. "White sign, Dick-some Deli in black, bold, block font. Left justified, of course."

"Of course," I smiled and added, "Everything goes better with some dick."

Justin laughed and licked his plump lips. "Of course!" 

"And on the right corner a large, yellow sun bleeds off the corner. Under the name: Where Sunshine eats. Same font, small caps. Eating dick is implied of course."

"Of course."

I couldn't take my eyes off those lips, and I thought about where they'd been just minutes before. What an arrousing conversation. I gave Justin a sly look as I adjusted myself. "Maybe we should forgo lunch here and get a nice, clean hotel room and partake something more paletable?"

He crossed his arms but smiled brightly at me, then stuck out his tongue at me and opened the door.

"We're staying at my place and that's final. Besides,I need something with more sustenance," he shot back at me. His eyes soften and he smiled. "Besides, you can give the owner some ideas for his sorry store front."

"I have ideas, but they don't involve a store front."

"Promises, promises. I'll make sure you keep each one of them later," he winked at me over his shoulder. "And shouldn't that sign read some dick? You know, to go with the slogan? Dick some, eats some dick?"

The bell on the door jingled as we stepped inside. He stood in front of me, his back-side always a nice view, and I made sure that I "accidentally" rubbed against it.

At first glance, the place was like any old deli on just any old street. Shiny black and white tiled floors, limited seating, the walls laminated with tacky faux-marble, but the wrought iron tables and chairs were obviously high-end, mostly likely custom made and each was draped with fine-linen tablecloths. All the tables were perfectly aligned against the inside wall.

As we inched along in line, Justin tapped his fingers on the wall, then cooler, then counter. It was quite a wait with Justin tapping all over every flat surface-- the place was backed up with takeout orders since few customers stuck around to eat. Must be the ambiance, I smirked. The steady jingle of the door, brought in more customers behind us. A popular place. I hoped the wait was worth it, and I had to admit that the aromas in the place made my stomach rumble. Each item under the glass case looked like eight extra hours in the gym. On second inspection, the place reminded me of the diner. Neat and clean with a few regulars milling around, talking to the help behind the counter. Justin smiled at me as he pointed to some of the soups.

The bell rang again and the hot brunette walked in, then just like that Justin's smile turned off.

"The muffeletta-- with extra salami and cream cheese," Justin said stiffly, grabbing two bags of chips off the rack. "And two-- no make that three chocolate-pecan cookies."

His attitude obviously hadn't affected his appetite. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. Extra salami and cream cheese. All that fat. Like he needed sodium on top of all that artery-clogging fat!  He'd need breath mints, too.

"The cucumber and watercress wrap, no cream cheese," I said.

"That's all you're getting, Brian?" Justin asked. "Come on, live a little. At least try the soup. The creamy, baby Portobello mushroom is sinful."

He nagged me-- and since it was the healthiest sounding soup on the menu, I ordered it.

And carried the drinks.

Normally I won't sit down to eat in a place like this, but the alternative was Justin's place. I let Justin choose a quiet spot in the back.

I have a healthy fascination with his mouth, and I watched as he tore open the bag of salt and vinegar chips with his teeth, pulled out a chip, then licked each finger clean with his clever tongue, then pulled out each finger with a pop of his lips.

"So," he said as he raised an eye bow at me. I smirked back-- who gives a fuck is I was indiscreetly adjusting my aching cock under the table? It was his fault for licking his fingers. "What juncture in the interview made you decide not to bolt? Or was it that you were standing behind Penis Envy?"

"You obviously don't know me as well as you think, Sunshine--I've never envied anyone else's penis," I smiled as Justin rolled his eyes. "I've admired yours on plenty of occasions though-- besides, I thought the name of the piece was Ben Dover."

 "Yes, that's the real name, but Penis Envy is what I call it. And Jill said it's true. She fucked the artist."

"An un-grand, firsthand experience. Mmmm," I tasted the soup. "This is fantastic."

"It's sin in bowl-- real cream and butter."

I thought of the extra hours I'd need to put in on the NordicTrack. What the hell-- I was hooked. Justin smiled brightly at me as I ate another big spoonful. For a change, I was on to him though. Enough about the show at the Whitney Museum.

"Tell me about your secret admirer."

"First you tell me," Justin said. "Tell me why you decided to stay."

"I had to. You caught me behind the dick, remember?"

"Come on, it was too easy-- I'd know that Armani Code cologne anywhere."

Mr. Hot Brunette took a seat at the table next to ours with his back to me. Nice view. I turned my attention back to Justin. "Enough of the bait and switch. What's up, Sunshine? Who's the bad man?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know? Explain."

"Explain what!?" his voice raising. "You explain. I know you were snooping on my computer."

"I was admiring your artwork. You left your email open. I read it," I said, taking a bite of watercress. "So what."

"It wasn't an email. It was a post forwarded from the message board on my website." I noticed he was studying my face like he was sketching me. "I already looked into the IP address. It's from here in NYC. That's all I know."

I leaned back in the chair and watched as Justin bit a chunk out of his sandwich and rolled his eyes. I reached over the table and swiped one of his chips. He was such a terrible liar; I didn't believe him for one instant. I took another chip.

"Hey! Those are homemade!"
 
"Remember, sharing is caring," I smiled, then bit into it.

"I can share-- just not deep-fried russet potatoes with sea salt. Besides, you're the one with the sharing issues."

I dropped the remaining chip. "Depends on what I'm sharing."

"Pl-l-e-e-ease! Only if it's your dick!" he said nodding over at the next table.

"Don't talk with your mouth full." I smiled lasciviously at him. He blushed. God, I loved it when he blushed. I pushed the bowl over to him. "Here, have some of my soup. It's soooo creamy and smooth."

"It's always about sex with you."

"Exactly, Sunshine." He got all sullen on me. I thought we were through all this, but I guess not. He likes to pout, and he's hot when he does it, but not at a Mom and Pop deli.

Then his blue eyes looked up at me through those fine wisps of blond lashes. "Do you still have them?"

It took me a few moments to get what he meant. The look on his face gave it away: that sad, soulful smile with his brows furrowed and eyes flickering with a hint of regret.

I looked down at my napkin. Something in me couldn't look back up at his eyes and admit it. "Yeah," I said, "they're in the bottom drawer."

-------------------------

On the walk home, Justin asked me if I intended to play hide and seek or if I just intended to keep hidden and walk away without ever letting him know I was there at his art show. I admitted I'd thought of just leaving. Truth was I changed my mind half way through the interview. Glad I trusted my instincts that something wasn't right in New York. Now that I knew about this threat to Justin, I'm glad I stayed.

"So, you have no idea who your stalker might be?" I asked.

"No...well, maybe...it's just not right, you know, to go throwing around accusations like that."

"Why the hell not? How the hell else am I supposed to find out who's doing this to you?"

Justin stopped, grabbed my arm and spun me around. "You! No way! That's exactly why I didn't want you find out about this! You always have to get in the middle of everything, always be in control, but that's not how the world works, Brian. You can't fix everything."

"Don't you think I know that, Sunshine?" I said gently. "Don't you think I understand that I can't fix everything? I wish to God I could."

I watched him blink at me and chew on his lip.

"Let me put you up in a room at a hotel-- it's safer there."

"You make it sound like I'm in dire danger. I'm not. Just stop it."

"Sun's going down, and it's getting chilly." I touched his elbow and gave it a tender squeeze. I saw his resolve desolve in his eyes. "Do it. For me."

"Just while you're here," he said. "And that would be how long?"

That little shit always manages to get me in the end.

Comments

[rulisteningbj.livejournal.com]

I have only been on LJ since March 2010 so I missed your earlier chapters. Went back and read all of them this evening. I am so hooked. A little scared for Justin though. Big Bad Brian wants to come to the rescue. I look forward to more, hopefully soon.

Dee Dee

[elwings-things.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading. I'm sorry it's taken so long to get back to this, but I'm planning on doing regular updates again to finish all my old stories (in other fandoms too)

[(Anonymous)]

this story is brilliant. your characters are spot on and looking forward to your next chapter hope it won't be too long

[elwings-things.livejournal.com]

Why thanks! I appreciate the compliment. Working on the next chapter already.

[7wildwaysup.livejournal.com]

I just stumbled onto this story today and I'm loving it... Hope you update often...

Later Darling ~ Kathleen

[elwings-things.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope to update often too. Tell RL to get out of the way!