I Own Nothing

AN: I read something that gave me this thought. Can't even remember what it was now, but this came from it.

Summary: Justin knows he made the right decision in staying with Brian after something simple reminds him of another day when he could have been really hurt from someone not caring enough when he asked for help.

Title: The Simple Things Can Let You Know

Brian looked at Justin knowing that he wasn't feeling good, at least his hand wasn't. He was keeping it close to his side or stomach. It was a tale tale sign that it was acting up. The doctor said it would always do that so instead of saying something he just shooed Justin out of the way. He hadn't wanted to cook, but he wasn't stupid enough to let Justin touch the pot of boiling water like he was. He was not under any circumstances going to let Justin end up with burns all over him if his hand gave out. There was already one burn on his wrist that Justin didn't want to talk about.

Justin didn't say anything when Brian told him to move over. He did it and went to get the plates and silverware down instead. He smiled to his self because Brian had said over and over he wasn't doing anything to help. The second he saw his hand was messing up he did help. He loved that side of Brian so much. It was what had him realizing he'd made the right choice of staying. It was the small things that Brian would do that he'd missed from all the times he gave him mixed signals.

He'd had a chance to leave, almost had, but it hadn't been what he had needed in the end. He'd been in the same position he was now two weeks ago. It was just at another place and Brian hadn't been there. He'd been at a so called friend's place or maybe a fuck buddy's since it was what he'd been doing with him. He'd been trying to be nice since Ethan asked if he could make something. He had been nice and cooked the meal, but like now his hand had been acting up from drawing all day. He hadn't been able to lift the pot of boiling water then either. Instead of helping when he'd asked Ethan told him he was doing fine. Fine had ended with him almost dumping the whole pot of water and spaghetti on his self. Instead of asking if he was okay Ethan had complained. He had spilt some of the water though. The mark on his wrist was almost gone as proof that he'd stepped out.

It hadn't been his fault he got bashed in the head and couldn't do everything right anymore. He had figured it out right then that Brian was the guy that he was supposed to be with. Brian didn't tell him to do it his self. Brian knew when he needed the help without asking or if he asked then Brian helped no questions asked. It was other little things too and the bigger things as well. It had fucked with his mind when Brian did stupid things giving him mixed signals, but right now is when it mattered he knew. How he could have been stupid he didn't know, but that had definitely been a wake up call on where he shouldn't be.

"Thank you for the things you do even if I have never said it or been able to see it for a while now." Justin said because he wanted Brian to know. "I guess I got lost and I'm still not all the way able to know like I used to. I'm trying and I wish I could read you like a book like I used to. I just can't and I fucked up, but I swear I didn't go back after the second time. He wasn't you, he wouldn't help when I needed it like now." Justin confessed knowing that he needed to get it off his chest. "He told me all this shit and I believed it until it was clear it was only lies. You never have said you loved me, but at least you fucking took the pot so I didn't drop it on myself to get burned."

He hadn't said everything about what he'd done or that he'd silently picked Brian over the option of being with Ethan. He couldn't look up at Brian when he said it. He knew that he'd see something there even if he wasn't sure what it would be. He didn't want to see hurt like when he'd kissed the virgin. This time it had been worse and he'd broken the rules again; the ones he had added onto Brian's. There was the ache he'd been feeling for the last two weeks knowing he'd hurt what they had. Brian hadn't known, but he had so it was still cheating.

Brian sat the pot, he'd already emptied of it's water, back down looking at Justin. He'd already known what he'd been doing or had done. He saw the way Justin was avoiding him now not wanting to look up. He had been shocked as hell when the fucking asshole had come in the diner looking for Justin. Debbie had asked who he was and why he wanted to know about Justin. The last thing he was expecting was for the B bomb to drop. He'd asked why he wanted to know about Justin. It was how he found out just where Justin had gotten the burn on his left hand. It hadn't been bad not even first degree, but Justin hadn't wanted to talk about it. He'd seemed upset so he let it go even when he'd been told he hadn't brought it up.

"I know, about all of it. He showed up looking for you a week ago. I said you moved to Texas. I doubt he's going to show up anymore, but he could see you some time." Brian replied tilting Justin's head up when he got to him. "I haven't let you touch anything hot enough to hurt you since you started living here. I will not have you back in a hospital because you burn yourself." He said. "I went through hell last time not knowing if you were going to live or not. I suck at these things, but I care." He added moving his hand up to cup Justin's face.

Justin smiled even though he had been worried at first when Brian said he knew. He leaned into Brian's hand before he gave in hugging him. He wasn't disappointed when Brian hugged him back. Brian had finally said something out loud instead of just showing that he cared. He knew there wasn't going to be a drop of the L word yet. It didn't matter because Brian had said he moved to Texas to keep Ethan from coming back near him. He had been surprised that no one had brought up that he'd come looking for him at the diner. He figured that Brian had warned them against it though.

Brian hugged him back and he felt him kiss the top of his head. Brian pulled back finally going back to getting the rest of their dinner on the table. Justin got them their choice beverage out before sitting down at the table. Every so often they'd look up at the other while eating grinning or smirking. It was the comfortable silence for a while before they thought of something to talk about. After they'd finished Justin had started cleaning up, but Brian put the pots and dishes in the dishwasher. He figured since Justin had done all the cooking he deserved a break. They ended up on the couch with the TV going not even watching it. Instead he was lying against Brian who's arms were around him the sounds of just the TV and their hearts beating.

It was moments like this that Justin knew he made the right choice by staying. He didn't want to know what things could have been if he hadn't spilt the little amount of boiling water against his wrist. If he hadn't had just that little bit of sense to move back in time before the pot went all over the floor. He hadn't moved so fast in his life avoiding the boiling water as it splattered. If he hadn't had his shoes on he knew it would have been worse. They had kept it off his feet so the only thing that had gotten injured was the one spot on his wrist. It had been like a mild sunburn, but make him wake up and realize where he belonged was where he was now, with Brian.

~THE END~