testdog65 (testdog65) wrote in qaf_challenges, @ 2007-01-03 19:05:00 |
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Original poster: _alicesprings
Title: Advent
Written By: dxsenorita
Timeline: This is set somewhere post Season 5.
Rating: R (language and implied sex)
Author's Notes: An Advent Calendar is one of those little calendars that each date opens up as it counts down the month of December until Christmas Day. A lot of people believe in giving those they love a tiny present each day as they open the doors on the calendar.
Little packages began to appear on Brian’s desk; they were just left on top of his calendar without a card saying who they were from. None of the gifts were expensive – most of them probably didn’t cost more than $5.00, but each of them had its own intrinsic sentimental value that for a reason he couldn’t quite place, amused Brian. Today’s little package held a framed photograph of a streetlamp. It was a give away as to who was behind the little gifts – of course, he’d figured it out a few days ago but he continued to play along - and it made Brian realize how much he missed having that person with him.
In his tiny New York apartment, Justin stared at his calendar looking at the remaining dates that were blank. He’d meticulously written down each gift he’d sent to Brian or the ones he’d purchased that were ready to send. He still had four days that were blank. He just couldn’t think of what to get to send on those days. At least it was only December 10, and he had at least 10 days before he’d have to take those to either a FedEx or UPS drop to make sure that Cynthia would get them in time to put them on Brian’s desk.
Once he was home for the night, Brian looked around the loft and was again struck by how quiet and empty it felt. After sitting on the couch and looking around at the empty space, he went to the closet and dug around until he found all the boxes that Justin had labeled “CHRISMAS DECORATIONS”.. He then pulled all of them out and lined them up next to the kitchen counter before putting his coat back on and heading out to find a tree.
“I have lost my mind.” He groused to himself as he walked around the lot on the outskirts of town looking for the perfect tree.
When he found the one he thought would look best in the place that Justin always liked having it set up, he paid for it and let the guy running the lot help him tie it down before driving off. Brian stepped back into the loft with the tree to find his phone ringing.
“Yeah,” He breathed into the phone.
“Am I interrupting something?” Justin teased with a chuckle across the line.
“No, I just got in.” Brian said as he closed the door and leaned the tree up against it. “What are you up to, Sunshine?”
“Oh, the usual – freezing my ass off in a tiny apartment and trying to resist the urge to treat the cockroaches as pets.” Justin tried to tease.
Brian would’ve found it funny if he hadn’t seen Justin’s apartment and cringed as the horrid creatures skittered across the floor of the kitchen. He offered to pay the difference for Justin to move into a better place, but his offer was rebuked – more accurately the offer was openly refused.
“I offered to help you pay for a better apartment.” Brian said. “You turned me down.”
“I know I did, Brian.” Justin said with a heavy sigh. “I should be able to move into some place better in a couple of weeks though. I have a show – finally.”
“A real show – a solo show, Sunshine?” Brian asked with a smile.
“Yeah, so I guess I’m a real artist now.” Justin said brightly. “You’ll come into New York for the opening, right?”
“Send me the invitation so I can get it squeezed into my schedule – and flaunt it to all the family.” Brian said with a quietly satisfied sigh. “And even if the critics and galleries are just now realizing it, you’ve always been a real artist.”
They sat on the phone for a few more minutes in silence. Brian didn’t mention the gifts he was receiving and Justin didn’t mention that he was sending them.
“I guess you’re going to Toronto to see Gus for Christmas.” Justin whispered sadly when he broke the somewhat comfortable silence of their breathing.
“No, saw him at Thanksgiving – Mel and Linds are taking the kids to Florida to visit Mel’s family down there for Christmas, Hanukah – whatever the fuck the munchers let the kids celebrate.” Brian replied his voice slightly sad sounding as well. “So I’m free on Christmas day – but I guess I’ll probably end up pulling up a corner of the couch at Deb’s.”
“Because she’d never let you be alone for Christmas – you should be with the family that loves you, even if they aren’t the ones you were born with.” Justin replied wistfully.
“You should be here too, then.” Brian replied.
“Oh, I will – at least in spirit.” Justin offered. “Well, I have a couple of things to finish up before I go to bed.”
“Sleep well.” Brian replied. “I’ll see you in your dreams.”
“Yeah, you’re always there.” Justin whispered, his voice holding a smile that then began to tug at the corners of Brian’s mouth as well. “Good night, Brian.”
After hanging up the phone, Brian spent the rest of the night putting up the tree and doing his best to decorate it the way Justin would. He’d be dead on his feet at the office the following day, but he couldn’t be asked to give a shit about tiny details like that. The tree shimmered with hundreds of tiny multi-colored lights, gleaming strands of silver tinsel and all of the bright glass ornaments that Justin found so perfectly beautiful. A simple golden glittered star topped the tree, catching and refracting light around the loft.
When Brian arrived at the office the following morning Cynthia was just slipping away from his desk after setting another tiny package on top of his calendar. He bit back a smile as he took a seat and looked at the tiny package wrapped in gleaming silver paper. He left it alone for all of about 20 minutes until the suspense of not knowing what was in the package became too great for him and he tore into the paper. When he opened the box he grinned and shook his head as he found a miniature Rage mask cut from what appeared to be a scrap of black velvet. Brian sucked his lips into his mouth as he thought about where he was afraid that the velvet came from. Before tackling anything on his schedule for the day, Brian logged on and ordered a one way ticket from LaGuardia to Pittsburgh for Christmas Eve. He knew that Justin would use it – even if it didn’t come with a personal spoken or written invitation.
The days toward Christmas continued to countdown in this manner. On Christmas Eve when Brian left the office for the night, he gathered all the tiny gifts and put them into his brief case to take them home with him. Once he got to the loft, he meticulously lined the gifts up along the counter in the kitchen in the same order as he’d lined them up across his desk. Before he could get anymore absorbed into his thoughts, he got a phone call.
“Kinney,” He answered the phone gruffly.
“Mr. Kinney, this is Patrick, the driver from Three Rivers Limo service.” A young male voice greeted his ear. “Sir, I’ve just turned onto your street with Mr. Taylor.”
“Perfect – thanks for calling.” Brian said before hanging up and turning out all the lights except for those on the Christmas tree.
He was waiting in the virtual darkness trying to be absolutely quiet, rolling his eyes as the ice clinked in his glass when Justin slid open the loft door to find him stretched out on the floor beneath the Christmas tree. Justin stood in the doorway staring at Brian with his jaw hanging open. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he looked at the way Brian was laying amongst the packages – his own package perfectly exposed for Justin’s viewing.
“Close the door, Sunshine.” Brian commanded softly as he smirked at Justin’s slack-jawed expression.
Justin complied, unable to hide the huge smile on his face. He walked back over toward the Christmas tree, stripping off his coat, scarf and gloves on his way.
“You can keep going – I want you to finish unwrapping the gift I bought for myself.” Brian teased.
Justin finished stripping down, turning and looking over his shoulder and noticing the tiny gifts lined up along the counter.
“You got them all I see.” He whispered as he knelt down on the floor next to Brian.
“Yeah, I got them – figured out where they were coming from as soon as I saw them too.” Brian replied pulling Justin in for a scorching kiss. “Why was the last one a copy of the key to your apartment in New York? That’s the only one I couldn’t figure out.”
“I saved the biggest present for last, Brian.” Justin beamed as he pressed his lips to Brian’s. “Eventually, my landlord there will charge me for not returning that one, but I don’t give a fuck. If you’ll have me, I’m home to stay.”
“I think we need to seal the deal on that, Sunshine.” Brian moaned as Justin nibbled his way across the older man’s collarbone. “So get up and let’s go up to bed so I can fuck your ass into the mattress.”
“Ever the romantic, Brian,” Justin teased as he got up and lead Brian up to bed.