Pairing: Justin and Joey
Words: brazen; intuitive; eulogy; bail


It's not so much that Justin's brazen as that some things are
intuitive, Joey thinks.  Justin's not a slut-in-training, he's just
very aware of his body on a subconscious level.  Joey watches as
Justin dances in some small club.  He watches everyone be drawn to
Justin whether they swing that way or not.  Sometimes it's just
that your eyes keep wandering back to him and sometimes it's more. 
Joey thinks at least one girl has her hands down Justin's pants
right now.

Justin grins at the girl currently trying to get her hands in his
pants.  She's not succeeding, but only because the leather's too
tight for anything else to get in there with him.

It doesn't matter, not really.  Justin doesn't dance to attract
girls.  That's just a side effect.  He dances for an audience.  He
*lives* for an audience.  Without people watching him, what's the
point?

If someone gave Joey's eulogy, it would probably include asking God
to forgive him for being such a lech.  Justin, however, is a lech
in the good way, and his eulogy would thank God for sharing that. 
Also, Joey may've had too many drinks, if he's thinking of
eulogies.

Justin notices that Joey's beginning to look a little glazed. 
Justin notices everybody.  He dances over and shouts into Joey's
ear, "You thinking about bailing?"

Joey stares at Justin for a long moment.  "Thinking, yeah," he says
finally.

"We can head back if you want!"

"Nah, man!  You're having too much fun."

"I can have fun anytime anywhere!"  Justin starts dancing with
Joey.

Joey laughs because that's so far from true.  But he dances with
Justin, just because it's hard for Justin to really have fun.  He's
too worried about things, most of the time.  Besides, Justin's good
to dance with.

Justin grins when Joey starts dancing with him.  Any audience will
do, but people who really know what he can do appreciate him
better.

Joey keeps his hands to himself, mostly.  He's still got a beer in
one, which helps him remember.  This is not one of his secret
forays into gay bars, and he does not not *not* get to touch
Justin.

Justin is under no such restrictions.  He touches Joey freely. 
When he senses other people watching, he gets a leg between Joey's
and pretends to grind.

Joey tosses his head back and laughs, trying not to moan.  Justin's
a huge tease, but he's also completely clueless about these things,
at least where his friends are concerned.

Justin grins wider when Joey starts laughing.  He stretches his
arms over his head and shimmies against Joey.  "Hey, big boy. Wanna
go home with me?"

Joey keeps his eyes on the ceiling.  "Sure, when you're ready. 
I'll call a cab."

"I'm good.  Let's head out."

Joey calls for a cab on the way to the door, while he's waiting for
Justin to find his coat.  The car isn't there when they step out,
but it's on the way.  "Gonna be a couple minutes, I think."

"No problem.  I can use the cool air.  It was hot in there."

"It was, yeah."  Joey rocks on his heels.

"Have a good time?  It didn't seem like you were really into
anyone."

"Nah, I wasn't.  Not really in the mood for a casual pickup
tonight."

Justin frowns.  "You know, you don't have to let me drag you out if
you don't wanna go.  I can always get JC to go with me instead." 
JC likes dancing, like Justin does.  Joey likes people.

"You didn't drag me," Joey says.  But he knows that Justin probably
won't ask him again for a long time, now.

"Yeah, but."  Justin shrugs.  "I just don't wanna force you into
doing stuff you don't wanna do just because I don't like being out
on my own."

"Justin, I like going out with you."

"Really?  You had an okay time even though you didn't pick up?"

"Sure!  I got to drink and dance and watch y-you surrounded by
people.  People watching, I mean."  Not Justin watching, nope,
never, not Joey, no way, that'd be wrong.

"You like watching me?" Justin asks slyly.  He teases, "Good to
know I'm sexy even to guys."

"You are," Joey says, because he's drunk and his mouth is way
faster than his brain.  Justin looks at him strangely, but the cab
pulls up and Joey's saved from further stupidity.

It's not like Joey to say he's sexy.  Justin gives Joey a measuring
look as he gets into the cab.  Oh, sure, Joey'll say nice things
any time to make him feel better -- Joey's real sweet like that. 
But sexy?  In that husky, heartfelt tone?  Nope.

Joey gives the cabbie directions to Justin's house.  He can get
home from there, or go crash at Chris's.  It probably isn't a good
idea to stay in the house with Justin tonight.

"Gonna spend the night at my place?" Justin asks casually.  "Got
plenty of room."

"Uh.  Not sure yet," Joey replies.

"Not sure?"  Justin's brow furrows.  "Why?  You thinking of maybe
heading somewhere else to score?  I'll go with you unless I'm
interfering with your action."  That's not likely though.  The kind
of chicks Joey digs are different than the ones Justin digs. 
Justin can't really get into the kind of girls who go to clubs.

"No, I don't know.  I don't know."  Joey rubs his forehead against
to coolness of the window.

"Sorry," Justin says, meaning it.  He doesn't know what's wrong,
but he wants to fix it.  "Is there anything I can do?"

"Be less incredibly attractive and sweet?" Joey mutters under his
breath.  "Make me want you hold you less?"  He snorts and raises
his voice to say, "I'm just weird.  Too many drinks."

"I can make coffee," Justin says.  "I'm really good at it.  Lots of
practice and a totally cool espresso machine."

"Espresso machines make coffee?" Joey asks.

"Espresso machines don't make coffee.  People make coffee."

"Then why're you talking about making coffee with your espresso
machine?" Joey asks, totally lost.

"It was a joke, Joey.  I think maybe I should take you home.  I
don't like the idea of letting you head out on your own.  What if
no one's at home?  It just doesn't sound smart."

"You can't take me home, we're already at your house, and you're
drunk, too."  Joey reaches up and pays the driver, then opens his
door and starts climbing out.

Justin doesn't argue.  They're at his place and Joey's heading
toward his house, which is what he wanted.

Joey watches Justin punch in the security code.  "You finally
memorized it," he notes.  Really, he's looking at the curve of
Justin's lips in the moonlight.

"Just changed it to a number I already knew by heart," Justin says,
opening the door and standing beside it, waiting for Joey to come
in.

Joey slides through the door and waits for Justin.  "That's a good
idea."

"I thought so."  Justin comes in and closes the door behind him. 
"You want me to make you some coffee, or do you wanna just go lie
down?"

"I'm good without coffee, actually.  Maybe in the morning?" he
leaves it hanging.  Justin's choice as to whether he wants to hang
out tomorrow.

"Sure.  No problem.  C'mon.  Let's pick out a room for you.  You're
gonna wanna sleep in, I bet."

"Okay."  Joey stays behind Justin and keeps his hands to himself. 
Justin keeps remodelling with these impossibly arty things, and
Joey's afraid he'll break them just with a touch.

Justin finds a room on the west side of the house.  He's got more
rooms than he has things to do with them, but they're really handy
for guests.  "This one okay with you?"

"It's got a bed.  Looks perfect to me."  Joey grins.

"Good."  Justin hovers by the door.

Joey turns to look at Justin.  "What's wrong, Jup?"

"Nothing.  I'm just worried about you.  I wanna do something to
make you feel better, but you don't seem to think there's even
anything wrong."

"It's just the drink, Justin.  I'm just feeling sort of, like,
melancholy.  Lonely.  It'll pass."

"I'm here," Justin offers diffidently.  He's pretty sure Joey
doesn't want him around.  If he did, Joey wouldn't be so depressed,
because Justin *is* right there and all.

Joey smiles.  He can't stop himself from reaching out and pulling
Justin close for a brief, tight hug.  "I know."  He releases Justin
and steps back.

Justin follows him and hugs him again, not letting go. 
"Seriously."

Joey sighs shakily.  He holds Justin close and then lets his body
get the best of him.  He kisses Justin.

Justin sucks in his breath when Joey kisses him.  Oh!  He thinks
maybe he gets it now.  Why Joey's feeling depressed, especially
around him, and why Joey's afraid to be alone with him.

When Joey pulls away from him and looks away, Justin hugs him
again, more tightly.  "It's okay.  I don't mind.  And I'm not mad. 
I started it by dancing up on you.  I shoulda realized it was doing
stuff to you.  I didn't mean to play with your head."

Joey nods and kisses Justin's forehead.  "I don't mean to do this
to you, to put you in this situation.  I'm sorry."

"It's okay.  I get it.  I think you're pretty sexy, too."

"What?"

"You.  You're sexy.  I like you."

"I like you, too, Justin.  I think you're sexy.  But I want you,
also, and I don't mean to make you feel awkward about it."

"S'cool.  I'm used to it.  I think you're more upset than me."

"I think you shouldn't have to be used to it.  Also, I want you to
know that I really do see you as more than a sex symbol.  I want
you for your body, yeah, but also because of who you are.  And,
um."  Joey frowns.  "I'm going to shut up and let you go now..." he
does, though it takes thought, "and go to bed, like a good boy."

"Like a good boy?" Justin asks, amused.  "I'm not a good boy, Joe. 
I'm a man, and I can take care of myself.  I'm worried about you. 
You're a lot more drunk than me.  I think you need to get some
sleep."

"That's what I said.  I'll be a good boy and go to bed now."  Joey
sits on the foot of the bed in demonstration.

"Okay."  Justin pats Joey on the shoulder.  "It'll all make more
sense tomorrow."

"Sure."  Joey watches Justin leave.  He's nowhere near as drunk as
Justin's treating him, really, but it's a good excuse.

Justin heads to his own room to take a shower.  He's not all that
tired yet, but he's still gonna head to bed himself.  He wants to
be awake tomorrow whenever Joey decides to get up.  Not to talk. 
Just to be there and make it clear that nothing's changed and he's
not at all upset at Joey.  And make it all right if Joey's not.

Joey jerks off into his undershirt.  He doesn't even pretend he's
not thinking of Justin.