Oh god, oh god. This hurt so much and I loved every single word of it. (I knew you could do it! *waves pompoms* Are you in therapy now to recover?)
I'm trying to think of the right word for Brian in this fic. What keeps coming to mind is "lost," though I'm not sure that's exactly right. I felt it particularly in the ILY scene, but it's really the whole thing, the way he really has no clue what he's doing or why. Or no, that's not quite right either, because he's not a stupid man and he knows how he feels and who what he wants, but he doesn't know how to get it, how to be happy in a way that will let Justin be happy too.
And I think he's paralyzed by that not knowing, until finally, finally he learns he doesn't have to know. The way he fumbles his way to Justin and just offers himself, no plan, no control, just hope and that little "we"...gah. Such a powerful moment. And Justin recognizes it: we could see if we can figure it out together. What I love about that line is that Justin doesn't have all the answers either. I mean, yes yes, Justin knows everything and always wins and whatever, but I like him better when he's human, and doesn't know everything, and doesn't have to know everything because the two of them are in this together.
I shouldn't have sent him away marked like that, but in the end, I couldn't help it.
If I had to pick one line to describe this fic, this would be it. It says it all, really.
"If you ever figure out how to resist the combined force of my mom, Deb, and Michael, let me know."
♥
There were guys dancing nearby whose mouths I'd turned away from. I doubted anyone there that night knew why, though. Fuck, these days, even I didn't know why.
I know this is technically fanon (isn't it?), Brian following this particular rule even when he and Justin are apart, but I truly can't see him behaving any other way.
Finally, I caught a teeny typo as I read this the third time: I didn't look away, and after I minute, I just said it.