I worship this fic -- definitely in my top five in the fandom! Thank you so much for these thoughtful discussion points.
And while it's subtle, drawn out and patient, I definitely feel that Brian is pursuing more than a friendship with Justin from a very early point in this story. Do you agree? Or do you think that Brian was just going with the flow, spending time with Justin because he enjoyed being with him, but wasn't consciously playing the part of pursuer?
Hmm. For most of the fic I don't think he was consciously pursuing Justin, at least not in the sense that he was looking for a particular outcome. But I do think he let himself be open with Justin, let himself be affectionate and show the love that I think he finally acknowledged (to himself) he felt -- but only in a way that would be acceptable to Justin (who was sending loud and clear "JUST FRIENDS" signals). I don't know if that distinction makes sense -- I don't think he was actively pursuing but just letting himself be open and letting Justin come to him in his own time.
That changed little by little though:
Before Justin walks out the door, Brian kisses him softly on the lips, slips him a little tongue. “Have a good time,” he says.
Justin leaves Brian sitting on the kitchen bench. When he comes home, his entire apartment will be clean.
Here I can really feel Brian holding himself back, throwing his frustration and jealousy into cleaning Justin's apartment -- but he's unable to resist that kiss, that little taste (literally!) of "here's what you're missing." I think Brian is trying hard not to actively pursue, or to hold Justin back in any way, but he can't help it just a little. :-)
I think the six years that Brian and Justin have spent apart, coupled with the lengthy foreplay of their developing friendship results in a much more "balanced" relationship between the two of them. Justin's had some time to gain some life experience (and a great deal of cynicism), and Brian's had the opportunity to mellow and to allow himself to believe in love. I hesitate to say that they are in a better place here than in canon, but it certainly is different. Agree or Disagree? And are there aspects of the relationship in this story that you prefer to canon? Aspects that you like less?
I absolutely agree that they're in a more balanced place, and quite honestly I don't think they work as a couple until they get to this place. Part of what causes so much trouble for them in canon is Justin's relative lack of experience -- in life, in love, in his career -- vs. Brian's position as the jaded, established older man. Brian is set in his ways to some extent after having spent all his life getting by on his own. For him, falling in love/being in a relationship are what he needs to grow. Meanwhile, Justin has a certain level of growing he has to do on his own, outside of his relationship with Brian.
In this fic, we see both of these things happen; even though they're apart, Brian has had the experience of love and enough time without it to process and accept what it's brought to him. Meanwhile, Justin has worked on his career and tried different kind of relationships and is now in a much better place emotionally to be in a relationship with Brian. And the fact that they're friends first, without the confusion of sexual chemistry, differing relationship expectations or financial dependency, makes this nearly as satisfying as canon for me. (Perhaps more so because I get to SEE the happy ending!)