The Offer Still Stands... ~ Chapter 3

[7wildwaysup]

Title: The Offer Still Stands…
Story Type: AU
Word Count: 4660
Rating: R, Porn…
Warnings: Anti-Michael, Passion and Lust…
Beta Queen:  bigj52
Banner:  yvonnereid

Summary:  Michael ponders his future after losing everything….

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, plot, etc. are property of their respective owners, including, but not limited to Russell T. Davies, Cowlip, and Showtime. The author of this story is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended…

Chapter 3 ~ Going for Broke…

Brian can’t focus at work; he’s still thinking about how upset Michael was when he stormed out of Babylon the other night. He knows that he should have been more sensitive about Michael’s feelings and everything he’s going through, even if it wasn’t really his fault. It’s only ten forty-five in the morning but he doesn’t have any appointments so he tells Cynthia that he’s leaving early for lunch. As Brian walks down Liberty Avenue, lost in his thoughts he knows that he’ll eventually end up at Red Cape Comics.

Michael’s behind the counter reading the latest and final copy of Rage to be published. He can’t really blame Justin for deciding to not continue producing the comic with him, considering the way Michael has been acting recently. “Yo’ shopkeep,” Brian yells when he walks in the door. Michael barely looks up saying, “What do you want?”

Brian walks over to the counter and hands Michael a cup of Starbucks. “Here. I had them make it with extra whipped cream - just the way you like it.”

Michael reluctantly takes the cup and sits back down on his stool behind the counter. “So business has been rather slow these days?”

“What do you care?”

“Gees, Mikey, cheer up. It’s not the end of the world.”

“Maybe for you it isn’t, but for me it is. Things have been slow for a while now and Ben was helping me out with the rent. But now that we broke up I’m going to have to close the store; there’s no way I can cover all my bills.”

“Maybe you don’t have to? Have you thought about sitting down with Ted and having him go over your books, see if there’s some way you can work things out?”

“No… It’s not like I have this secret bank account or anything.”

“Well, actually you do. I mean, if you really wanted to make this business work you could sell off all those action figures that you’re always telling me are worth a fortune.”

“What? No… No, those are my prized possessions. I could never sell them.”

“Well, it’s your call, but if you really want to make this business work you need to start thinking of it as a business and not a hobby. You need to update the interior and think about expanding, maybe selling video games and MP3 players and more electronics. You know carrying high-end merchandise turns more profit.”

“I don’t really know anything about that stuff so I don’t think that would work.”

“Well it’s not like you’re sitting here all day long doing anything important; you could read up on all that stuff, maybe take some electronics classes. Become knowledgeable about the trade.”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been very good at school or learning new things.”

“With that attitude, no. But have you ever really tried? I bet you’d be surprised at how well you might do if you put your mind to it.”

“Electronics? Really? All that stuff confuses me; I can’t even program my DVD player.”

“God, Michael, I’m really trying here. You could at least consider it or maybe pick a trade and go to school for that. Hell, I bet if you really tried you could get some training at the local community college in eighteen months to two years.”

“Duh… I don’t have that kind of time…”

“If you don’t do something, you’re going to have all the time in the world.”

“Great, Brian. Remind me that I don’t have anything, why don’t you? I’m not rich like you.”

“Michael, in case you forgot I came from nothing myself. But I put my mind to it and decided to make a name for myself. So I suggest you get up off your ass and do something with your life.”

“You just don’t get it. I’m not as smart as you; I won’t be able to make it.”

“You’ll never know unless you try.”

“It’s just that I never thought I’d have to, you know. I always figured that eventually we’d be together and I wouldn’t have to work.”

“Yeah… About that, Michael. You know that’s never going to happen. Right? I can’t believe that you really thought it would. I’ve never shown any interest in you except for friendship.”

“That’s not true… When we were just out of high school you used to kid around about us becoming two old queens living in Florida.”

“Michael, the important part of that statement is used to kid around ; I was never serious about that and you know it.”

“Yeah, but I wanted to believe that you weren’t just kidding. We would be so good together. And I really love you; I always have and I know you love me too. If you’d just give us a chance…”

Brian just stares at Michael, shaking his head, not knowing how he could be any clearer about the situation.

“But you don’t even want to try.”

“You’re right, Michael. I don’t. I never did. You have to understand that Justin is it for me. Sure we’ve had our moments but it’s always going to come back to him. I love him, Michael. I really love him…”

Brian’s frustrated and doesn’t know what more he can say; he turns to go to the door and sees tears in Michael’s eyes. It makes him sad but all he can do is leave and let Michael come to grips with reality on his own. He’s not sure if their conversation was successful or detrimental to their friendship; only time will tell.

Brian feels awful as he walks down the street; he really needs to clear his mind before he goes back to work. After about an hour of walking around he finds himself climbing the stairs to the loft. As he pulls the door back he sees Justin standing in front of a blank canvas, brush in hand as he primes it. He turns and smiles at Brian as Brian makes his way over to him, leaving the Chinese takeout on the counter.

Brian runs his hands around Justin’s waist as Justin leans back into his embrace; Brian rests his chin on the top of his head and sighs, letting all his frustration go. Justin notices how stressed Brian is as he turns around in his arms and lowers himself down on his knees. He reaches for Brian’s waistband, and then pulls his zipper down. Brian relaxes as he plays with Justin’s hair as Justin takes him into his wet warm mouth. Brian releases a deep moan as some of the stress of the day dissipates; Justin’s extremely talented lips encompass Brian cock as Justin’s head bobs up and down on his firm member. It isn’t long before Justin’s brought Brian to the brink of his orgasm as he swishes his tongue across Brian’s slit and then he explodes down Justin’s throat, crying out Justin’s name.

Once Brian finishes, Justin leans back and grins up at him, asking, “All better now?”

Brian reaches down and pulls Justin up saying, “Come here, you brat.”

Justin runs his arms around Brian’s neck leaning up to kiss him and then asks, “Do I smell Chinese?”

Brian smiles and says, “Well at least you have your priorities right.”

Justin retrieves the takeout and brings it over to the sofa where he proceeds to feed Brian using chop sticks, being sure to get the sauce all over Brian’s lips so he can lean in and lick it off. “Be careful there, little boy. I’m going to have to spank you if you drip any of that on my Armani suit.”

“Yes, Sir. Promise?”

“You are so bad.”

“I try my best.”

After the two of them have devoured their lunch Brian stands up and pulls Justin towards the bed, peeling his clothes off as he goes. Justin bounces down, naked in the middle of the bed, watching Brian slowly remove his own clothes. He meticulously lays his suit and dress shirt across the chair next to the bed. Justin smiles up at Brian, still amazed at just how beautiful Brian’s body is after all this time.

Brian stands at the bottom of the bed and reaches down and pulls Justin to him by his ankles. Justin can’t help the giggles that escape his lips, he’s so excited by Brian’s touch. Brian starts by running kisses up Justin’s legs from his toes to his hips, alternating between each leg as he goes. Justin squirms as he feels especially ticklish today from Brian’s wet lips and warm tongue as he climbs his body.

Brian finally reaches his groin and licks down his cock to his balls, gently sucking on one and then the other driving Justin crazy with need. Justin can’t help panting as he hears Brian say, “Roll over.” Justin immediately does as he’s told as Brian pulls him up onto all fours and spreads his legs, admiring his beautiful plump cock as it bounces out in front of him. Justin leans his head down on the mattress pushing his ass out to meet Brian’s wet lips as he kisses Justin’s pucker. He can’t help the moans that escape him as he floats off to heaven from Brian’s pointed tongue. Brian licks and nips at Justin’s opening, driving him crazy as he starts delving his tongue deeper into Justin’s sweet rosebud.

Brian clicks the top of the lube open and squirts some onto his fingers then penetrates Justin, stretching him open; Brian’s not surprised to find that Justin’s still rather wet and slippery from their previous fuck that morning. So he pulls Justin close to him and pushes into to him, breaching his tight ring of muscle. Justin pushes back trying to take all of Brian into him; he’s more than ready and he’s so horny. He loves it when Brian surprises him by showing up unexpectedly in the middle of the day.

Brian wastes no time as he pulls back and plunges into Justin again, starting a rough and steady pace; this is just what Brian needs to release some of his pent-up frustration and anger. How could he be so stupid to think that trying to talk with Michael would do any good? Justin’s getting the brunt of Brian’s anger as he increases his pace, slamming into him rapidly as if he were trying to win a race. Justin’s prostate is taking a beating as Brian continues to pound it continuously.

Justin tries to hold on as long as he can, but he’s already teetering on the edge, about to crash down. Justin shoots across his stomach and drenches the duvet under him. Brian feels Justin’s muscles clamp down and squeeze the shit out of him until he’s lost in his own paradise.

Brian slips out of Justin’s tight bottom, discarding the condom and quickly rolls another one down his cock swiftly penetrating his sweet Sunshine again, barely taking a breath and he’s right back to drilling for oil. Justin’s slightly overcome with sensation as he’s hardly had time to come down from his previous high. Brian’s completely lost in the fuck when he finally feels Justin’s slick walls close down on his pulsating dick, practically pulling his orgasm out of him. This time they reach climax together and collapse down on the mattress, panting hard to try to catch their breath.

Justin rolls onto his back as Brian settles down with his head on Justin’s chest, while Justin plays with his sweat-soaked hair. When they’re finally able to breathe again Justin asks, “Feel better now that you’ve gotten that out of your system?”

“No, but I’m getting there.”

“Want to tell me what’s bothering you so much?”

Brian takes a deep breath, knowing that Justin isn’t going to be happy with him and starts with, “I stopped by to see Mikey this morning.”

He can feel Justin tense up underneath him, letting out a deep breath. “I know you think I should leave it alone; that Michael has to come around in his own time. I just thought I could make him see how ridiculous he’s been acting and maybe I could help him figure out how to save the store.”

“I trust that things didn’t go as planned?”

“That’s an understatement… He couldn’t or wouldn’t even consider any of the suggestions I had for him to try and advance his future.”

“You know, Brian, sometimes people have to hit rock bottom before they’re willing to admit failure and be open to new suggestions.”

“I know, and I know that it really isn’t my fault. But why does it feel like it is? Deb’s furious with me, thinking that I’ve led Michael on all this years, never encouraging him to be independent. Like his survival is my responsibility or something. I mean she’s just as much to blame; she never acknowledged Michael’s fuck-ups in the past. She always blames me, never making him take responsibility for his own actions, expecting me to always bail him out.”

“I know you’re right. She’s never been able to see any of the flaws in her son even though there are many. It’s always been so much easier to blame someone else; otherwise she would have to acknowledge that some of this is her own fault. Maybe if she hadn’t always made excuses for him all these years and let him stumble and fall once in a while he might have learned how to make it in the real world.”

“You’re right; in her eyes Michael can do no wrong. It was always me being the bad influence on her son. Damn, I just wish there was some way to make things right.”

“Yeah, but this time you really need to step back and let him do this on his own. No matter how hard it is to watch, he’ll be a better man in the long run.”

“I know. It’s just that I hate to see him lose the shop. But you’re right. I can’t bail him out financially, no matter how hard it is to watch him fail.”

“Hush. Just relax, otherwise you’re going to give yourself a heart attack.”

Justin continues to run his fingers through Brian’s hair as he slowly settles down and falls asleep. They lie there together for the next hour until Justin hears Brian’s cell ringing and he slips out from under him and answers it in the living room. It’s Cynthia, of course, asking where Brian is, saying that Brown Athletics called and they want Brian to fly to Chicago tomorrow and meet with the new head of productions about their new line of women’s sportswear. Justin tells her to schedule his flight and to gather all the research he has completed; that he’ll be in later this afternoon to review everything.

Justin’s surprised how long Brian has slept this afternoon but at least it’s a relief that he didn’t reach for alcohol as a way to cope with his stress. Cynthia clears his schedule for most of the afternoon and sets up a meeting with his staff for three-thirty to review the new Brown Athletics campaign.

Justin makes Brian’s favorite coffee - grinding the beans just the way he likes them, good and strong, then starts the coffee maker. It’s only two o’clock but he figures that Brian needs some time to wake up and gather his thoughts before he leaves to gather his troops. It’s only a couple of minutes before Justin feels Brian standing behind him, resting his head on his shoulders as he wakes up. Justin tells Brian about his unexpected trip he’ll be making to Chicago then just waits for Brian to completely freak out.

Surprisingly Brian is relatively calm upon hearing the news, after giving it some serious consideration. Or maybe he’s trying to wake up? He smiles down at Justin and asks him if he’s up for spending the weekend in Chicago. A huge smile spreads across Justin’s face. He’s excited that Brian has included him in his travels, especially after what happened the first time Brian had to fly to Chicago on short notice.

Once Brian’s more awake he calls Cynthia and has her book another ticket for Justin and makes sure that she’s made reservations at the Four Seasons. Justin starts running around, pulling out his dress clothes and shoes because he knows that Brian will be taking him out to some fancy restaurants. His pile of things on the bed seems to keep growing. By the time Brian comes in he chuckles and says, “Hold on there, you know we’re only going for the weekend?”

Brian reaches down and sets aside a pair of jeans, a pair of dress slacks, two dress shirts, dress shoes, a sweater, a couple of t-shirts and some socks and underwear. “There. Now if you need anything else we’ll pick it up while we’re out and about.”

“I’m so excited. You know this is the first time we’ve been away together; I can hardly believe you asked me to go.”

“There isn’t anyone I’d rather be going with. Now gather your toiletries and your sketch book and pencils. You’re going to have a bit of free time while I’m in meetings all day.”

Justin’s floating on cloud nine as he stumbles around the loft, collecting his things, while daydreaming about going to the many museums and galleries. Brian pulls up the Brown Athletics account on his laptop, reviewing the research they have compiled. Instead of changing back into his suit he puts on a pair of 501 jeans and pulls a red cashmere sweater over his head then he puts on his Prada boots and his black Boss leather jacket. He leans down and kisses Justin on the top of his head, saying that he’ll probably be working late to complete the campaign for Brown Athletics.

~~~

Meanwhile back on Liberty Avenue D-Day has come sooner than expected at Red Cape Comics as a very professionally dressed man in a suit, carrying a briefcase enters the shop and inquires if the owner is in. He proceeds to inform Michael that he has a ‘Seize and Desist’ warrant and that he has been served. Michael looks truly puzzled and asks what this is about. He’s told that his shop has now been closed - the property seized and that he can no longer continue operating his business. i.e. Desist.

Michael stammers, “But I don’t understand?”

“Your landlord has issued a court order against your business for lack of rent payments. Your continuation to ignore all his formal requests to make arrangements to resolve this problem has resulted in a court order against your business.”

Michael thinks to himself that he should have called the landlord instead of just ignoring all those letters he’d received just because he couldn’t understand the language in them.

He now realizes that because of his poor judgment in taking a trip to Florida to attend that Comic-con, and his purchase of more vintage Caption Astro action figures, instead of paying his rent was a bad choice. He tries to justify his actions by telling himself that he needed to go as a business expense even if it put his store’s rent behind by ninety days.

He looks back at the law clerk standing in front of him. “Well, I need more time to pack my things. Can’t I have until next Monday morning?”

“You don’t seem to understand the gravity of this situation. You no longer own anything in this shop. All your property has been seized. Now if you don’t mind vacating the premises I just need to change the locks. All the contents of the store will be packed and removed within the next twenty-four hours.”

“But… you don’t understand. Some of these posters and action figures I’ve had since I was a kid; they belong to me personally.”

“Not anymore they don’t. Now if you would please go, otherwise I’ll have to call the police.”

Michael pulls his hooded sweatshirt off the back of his chair and leaves the shop, spending the next couple of hours roaming the streets on this cold rainy afternoon. He finally ends up at the diner where he sees Ted and joins him. Ted says he can’t stay long, that he’s taking a late lunch and has to be back at Kinnetik shortly.

Ted can’t help but notice Michael’s solemn expression and asks him what’s wrong. Michael’s eyes fill with tears as he starts to tell Ted about what happened at the shop today. Ted’s at a loss for words, trying to find a bright side to Michael’s misery. Finally Ted asks why he didn’t ask for help before this; that he’s sure he or Mel could have explained what the letters from his landlord meant.

“I guess I never really thought that he’d actually go to court; it was only a few months’ rent.”

“Michael, you must realize that once you’re that far behind it’s almost impossible to get caught up with your payments. Besides, if you don’t make your rent payments, then the landlord can’t make his mortgage payment. It’s not like he has extra money lying around to cover his tenants’ back rent.”

“I guess… But how do I get my stuff back? I realize I’m going to lose the business but I had a lot of valuable comics and vintage action figures. I can’t afford to just give them up.”

“I’m sorry, Michael, but there’s really nothing you can do. Did you read the fine print of your lease? I think you forfeit all property at the time of foreclosure.”

“God, I’m totally screwed. There’s no way for me to get that kind of money. Well, unless I ask Brian for help.”

“I don’t really think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not? He can afford it. After all, I’m his best friend.”

“Well, because even if he did pay your back rent your business isn’t making a profit. You’d still have to close the store eventually, then you’d owe Brian for the loan which you will have no way of repaying.”

“What? No. No way. Brian wouldn’t make me pay him back; I’ve never paid him back before.”

“Michael, as Brian’s business manager I’d have to advise him against it; it’s not a sound investment.”

“Oh, so now you’re against me too?”

“It’s not like that and you know it. You have to admit you don’t make the best decisions when it comes to managing your money.”

“I know but this wouldn’t be my money…”

Ted just looks at him and suggests he starts searching the want ads; that he really needs to find a job.”

“I’m not really trained to do anything and I’m over thirty years old. Who’s going to hire me?”

“I’m sorry, Michael. I really have to get back to work. Good luck with everything.”

“You’re just leaving me here by myself?”

“No, not really. Look, here’s your mom. She’s just starting her shift.”

With that Ted walks to the door waving to Michael as he goes. Once he’s on the street he shakes his head, wondering just what the hell Michael has gotten himself into. Ted looks up at the sky just as it starts to pour down rain again; Ted can’t help thinking ‘when it rains, it pours’.

~~~

Brian and Justin caught the early-bird flight to Chicago which put Brian at Brown Athletics at eight-thirty that morning. Justin on the other hand promptly fell back asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow in their deluxe suite at the Four Seasons. When he awoke several hours later it was almost noon so he ordered room service, and lounged around for the next couple of hours researching the local museums he wanted to check out.

Brian called just after his waffles with strawberries, real maple syrup and an extra side of bacon was delivered to their suite. He updated Justin on the day’s progress and told him that Leo Brown had asked them to join him for dinner tonight at Gibson Steakhouse - one of Chicago’s best fine dining establishments. He told Justin to expect the concierge to come and assist him in picking out a finely tailored suit. He told him he’d be back at the Four Seasons by six pm to get ready for the evening, and that they were meeting Leo at seven-thirty sharp.

Justin couldn’t help but get butterflies in his stomach as this was the first time he had ever been included in one of Brian’s business dinners. He hung up and quickly ate his breakfast and when he was finished he went to put the service tray in the hall. The concierge was just about to knock on the suite’s door; he had several suits hanging on the dress rack, ready for Justin’s fitting.

~~~

Michael sat on Debbie’s sofa with his arms folded across his chest like a petulant child as she chided him, telling him that of all his fuck-ups this had to be the stupidest thing he’d ever done. She just couldn’t conceive how he could have let things get so out of control, reminding him that in the last week he had lost his husband, the house, his foster child, his best friend and now his business.

“What in the world could you possibly be thinking? Do you think that money grows on trees?”

“I thought that I’d have the time. I didn’t expect the landlord to press charges. After all I’ve been behind before and he always waited for his money.”

Granted, Michael was never this far in debt before and Brian was always there to bail him out.

“Ma, would you please stop yelling at me? God! After all there’s nothing I can do about it now. Although I still think it’s unfair that they get to keep my vintage collection.”

“Christ, Michael, that’s the least of your problems. You have to find a job right away because there’s no way I can afford to support you. It’s all I can do to keep up with my own bills. And I absolutely refuse to ask Carl for help. Have you looked in the paper at the want ads?”

“I wouldn’t even know what to look under. Besides, after talking to Ted he said that most people post their ads online and I don’t know what to do. I don’t even have a resume.”

“Okay, okay, let me think for a minute. Oh I know. You can get a shift at the diner. It’s not a lot of money but it’s a start.”

“No… Absolutely not. I can’t let everyone see me working there. They’ll know I fucked up.”

“Oh, so now you’re all mister high and mighty. Let me tell you, kiddo, it’s that job at the diner that paid my bills the whole time you were growing up and if it’s good enough for me, it’s good enough for you.”

“Ma, I really can’t. I just can’t.”

“Why? Justin did it and it wasn’t beneath him.”

“That’s different. He’s just a kid.”

“No, Michael. I won’t take no for an answer. I’m putting you on the schedule starting tomorrow and that’s final.”

“No, Ma, tomorrow is Saturday. I can’t work on Saturdays. Everyone will be coming in for breakfast and lunch. How do I explain it?”

“I’d be more worried about the eviction notice on the front of the now defunct comic book store.”

“Can you please stop rubbing that in my face?”

Debbie storms out of the living room, smacking Michael across the back of his head on the way upstairs. Michael can’t believe that this is happening to him and he doesn’t understand why Brian hasn’t returned any of his calls. After all, he’s left him about twenty messages. He can’t help thinking that Justin must have listened to them and deleted them on purpose.

TBC…

Comments

[rulisteningbj.livejournal.com]

I love this story and so glad you decided to continue it. I am not a Mikey lover so I am enjoying his short comings. Ha!

Dee Dee

[7wildwaysup.livejournal.com]

That makes me so happy! It seems to be the consensus, I guess he just rubbed most of us the wrong way... It's good to know so now I don't have to worry about offending anyone... He, he, he... Later Darling ~ Kathleen

[balrogtweety.livejournal.com]

This is one of the few stories I have read while you are still writing. This is wonderful. I couldn't stop reading since I read Ch 1. I love reading anti-Mikey. Great job!!!

[7wildwaysup.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much Jane, I'm doing my damn-est to create a delusional Michael... He, he, he...

Later Darling ~ Kathleen

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

Powerful chapter! I'm glad Deb realized her son's screw-ups and that Brian didn't back down.

It was great that Ted even backed Brian up without realizing it.

[7wildwaysup.livejournal.com]

Yeah I think everybody has had enough of Micheal's whiny and delusional behavior... Thanks for commenting...

Later Sweetheart ~ Kathleen

[later2nite.livejournal.com]

God! Michael is really a piece of work, isn't he? LOL

I'm liking this story a lot. Hot scenes with B and J, as always!

[7wildwaysup.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much I glad you're enjoying it... I know I'm making Michael out to be a complete idiot/psycho. But if the shoe fits... He, he, he...

Later Darling ~ Kathleen

[sjmpets.livejournal.com]

Maybe living in his delusional world will wind him up in a psych ward. No worries for him, they'll train him for job placement, feed him three squares, and he wouldn't have to pay rent. Win win for him all around.
I can't believe after Brian spoke with him he still expects Brian to get him out of trouble. Even Ted was honest and told him Brian wouldn't help. What doesn't he understand? He's on his own for the first time in his life and doesn't like it. Did he really think that if he and Brian got together he would just live off Brian and never have to work. Yeah like Brian would allow that.

[7wildwaysup.livejournal.com]

Actually that's not a bad idea...

Except that I'm writing chapter six right now and I'm afraid he might end up in jail, although the psych ward is a close second...

Yeah, everybody seems to be telling him he doesn't have a chance with Brian, but he just doesn't believe them...

Thanks for reading Darling ~ Kathleen

♥

[hikinggirl70.livejournal.com]

That was terrific!

Re: ♥

[7wildwaysup.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you're enjoying this one...

Later Sweetheart ~ Kathleen