InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I love the White Party!"

Britin (_alicesprings) wrote in qaf_challenges,
@ 2008-02-25 18:59:00

SECOND CHANCE
Title: Second Chance
Written By:

hounded
Timeline: post-513
Rating: G
Author's Notes: Thank you

buster_cat for the beta.
Theme: Second Chance

Brian was sitting at his computer when Justin stuck his head in the door of the media room, mumbled something, and left.

Brian pretended nothing had happened. He pretended for one minute, then two minutes, and then three minutes. And then he got up and followed Justin to his studio.

Justin was painting and pretended not to see Brian come in.

"What the fuck did you just say?"

Justin didn't even glance at him. "I. Have. An. Exhibit. Tonight. I'd. Like. You. To. Come."

Brian contemplated this information for a moment. "What exhibit?"

Justin looked at him then, and flashed a big smile. "You'll see."

_______________

"Turn in here." Justin hadn't really told Brian where they were going, just given him directions.

"The POUND?" Brian stared at Justin like he'd lost his mind. "There's an art exhibit at the pound?"

"It's an animal shelter. Daphne volunteers here. And she asked me and Michael if we'd do something for their campaign against animal cruelty, which launches tonight."

Brian tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, and then, as if there had actually been any question, turned into the parking lot. "You tricked me."

Justin patted his knee. "Yes. Yes, I did."

Brian glowered and glared at everyone, particularly Daphne and that traitor, Michael, but everyone cheerfully ignored him. After some truly ghastly vegetarian appetizers and bad wine, the head of the animal shelter got up on the stage and blah-blah-blahed for a while about giving abandoned dogs and cats a second chance, and something she called, tearily, the "human-animal bond."

Brian let his eyes wander the room, and was trying to decide if it was bad enough to fake having a heart attack so he could leave when he felt Justin's elbow drive into his ribs. Everyone was applauding, so Brian politely clapped.

Once.

They all trooped into the next room to see the artwork, and then Brian thought he might actually have that heart attack after all.

"What the fuck," he began, eloquently. "What the fuck, Justin?"

There on the wall was a much-more-than-life-sized drawing of Rage, flying away from a city street, a wriggling yellow puppy in his arms. Two teenaged boys were being led away in handcuffs by the police, a container of gasoline and a box of matches on the sidewalk at their feet.

Justin smiled. "Cool, huh?"

Brian stalked over and looked at the painting. "Rage saved a puppy? A puppy?"

Justin frowned. "What, Rage is too good to save an animal? Virtually all serial killers started out abusing animals, Brian. I'm sure Rage knows that and is trying to prevent violence against people, too." Then he glanced up at Brian. "Although I think Rage would have saved the puppy no matter what. He just wouldn't want anyone to know."

Brian snorted, but didn't say anything.

Justin's face brightened. "Hey! There's one of my models. Want to meet him?"

Brian looked at the cops and thugs in the painting, and shook his head. "I don’t think…"

"He's blond," Justin interrupted. "And really cute."

Brian sighed and followed after him, mumbling, "You really, really owe me," under his breath.

____________________________

Justin was lying in bed with his head on Brian's chest. Brian was almost asleep.

Justin sighed. "I'm so glad we brought him home with us."

Brian stroked Justin's hair but didn't say anything.

"I knew you'd like him." Justin snuggled in closer.

Brian wondered if Justin would shut up if he started snoring.

"I mean, have you ever seen…"

Brian peeled open one eye, and looked at their guest. Then he glanced back at Justin. "He's eating your sneaker."

Justin stopped rhapsodizing and sat up. "He's what?"

Brian lay back against the pillows and pulled the duvet over his head. Justin climbed out of bed. Brian heard him gently scolding the little yellow dog, and then putting him in his crate. "Here, puppy… have a nice chew toy and leave my shoes alone."

Brian looked out through his eyelashes to make sure the "chew toy" wasn't one of his Prada loafers, then snapped his lids shut before Justin got back in bed. Justin tangled his legs up with Brian's, snuggled into his side, and then planted his cold, bare feet against Brian's calves.

When Brian finally relented and moved his arm around him, Justin pressed a kiss onto Brian's shoulder before lying down with a contented sigh.

In his crate, Brian and Justin's new dog put his chin on his paws, and gave a happy sigh of his own.

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(Post a new comment)

	gmta_nz 2008-02-25 08:11 am UTC (link)
	Rebel, you made my day! :) (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Poor Brian! (Anonymous) 2008-02-25 03:32 pm UTC (link)
	Suckered again! You just know that that puppy is going to latch onto Brian as his hero and follow him everywhere, causing Brian a great deal of annoyance and (super-seecrit) happiness. Loved it...obviously. FanSee (Reply to this) (Thread)

	vamphile 2008-02-26 02:39 am UTC (link)
	Brian's transformation into a food person was a lovely thing to watch, throughout the seasons. A wriggly yellow haired puppy is exactly what they need, (and a professional dog walker, and groomer and a doggie door and a grounds keeper and...) (Reply to this) (Thread)

	flashfly 2008-02-26 08:22 am UTC (link)
	If I had a tail, I'd thump thump thump it on the ground! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	sexy_pumpkin 2008-02-26 10:32 am UTC (link)
	Really cute, such a happy totally schmoopy fic, is there nothing JT can't have, loved this so much, am smiling "big time",,thanks again. (Reply to this) (Thread)