Captivated

Title: Captivated
By: Phoenix Ghost
Rating: Adults Only
Category: Fanfiction
Characters: Justin Taylor, Daphne Chanders, Other Male Character(s), Brian Kinney, Debbie Novotny, Michael Novotny, Emmett Honeycutt, Ted Schmidt, Lindsay Peterson, Melanie Marcus, Gus, Vic Grassi, Cynthia, Other female Character, Jennifer Taylor, Craig Taylor, Molly Taylor, The Chanders, Chris Hobbs
Genre: AU, Drama, General/Misc. Romance, Angst
Warnings: AU, some graphic violence, and at times OOC, with very graphic sexual descriptions
Summary: One rainy night things change when Brian tries something, a little bit different.

Disclaimer: All Characters and situations from Queer as Folk are the properties of Russell T. Davies, Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, (Cowlip) Showtime, and others. This author or this website has intended no Copyright infringement. This story has been invented for entertainment purposes only and has been rated by the author, and not by any independent body.

A/N In real life, I'm a professional phone sex operator. In the several years I've been doing it,
I have met a few 'clients' I really wouldn't of minded getting to know for real. But, in this world we live in, that would not only be very dangerous, that would not be very wise. However; for the sake of our story, well, *snickers* just read it and find out!

Beta by Mary

*Song references: 'Talk Dirty To Me' By, POISON
'Go All The Way' By, The Raspberries & The Baby's
'Baby Blue' By, Badfinger
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CHAPTER 3

One late stormy Friday night in early August Pittsburgh, PA 1998

Justin blushed, and he could feel the tips of his ears redden as the rainbow colored straw in his now empty glass of chocolate milk shake made a loud bubbling sucking noise. He was almost mortified when next his tummy let go a loud belch.

Brutis, noticing the young boy's discomfort, smiled around his own straw, and made an even louder noise. Then winked at him.

Debbie walked over to them, pulled her order pad out of her apron pocket, tore off their bill and slapped it face down on the edge of the table.

Loudly snapping her gum and gently bopping Brutis on top of his baldhead with the pad, she grinned as she wiggled her ample rear end next to him into the booth seat saying, "Budge over handsome."

Fixing a piercing stare at the scared blonde boy, she said, "Okay Shortcake, spill."

There were tears swimming in her soft violet blue eyes after the young boy had quietly finished telling her not only what had happened to him, but how he'd felt about it as well.

The deep anguish laced inside his words tore at her heartstrings, and when he broke down sobbing, she quickly got up and sat down beside him.

Gathering his slight shaking form into her arms, she slowly rocked him back and forth, smoothing his long blonde hair off of his forehead, softly murmuring words of comfort and encouragement into his little shell pink ear.

Emmett Honeycutt squirmed uncomfortably in his booth seat as the little boy's softly spoken words had pierced him to his very soul.

His eyes teared and he put his shaking hand to his mouth to stop the sobs threatening to escape.

Ted Schmidt awkwardly patted his friend's slender arm, as he silently handed Emmett another pastel Kleenex, giving Michael a dirty look when he shot them both a questioning glance.

Michael rolled his eyes, and pouted, knowing that his kind-hearted mother was going to yet again help Brutis with another nasty stray off of the streets.

Even though this one looked better than the rest, not as beat up or poorly dressed and smelly, he sighed loudly wondering again for the millionth time why his mom and Brutis just didn't call social services and let them do their damn job!

Brian Kinney felt the sterling silver coffee spoon in his hand bend as the kid behind him finished his sob story.

The muffled snuffling noises let him know that Deb was now smothering the child with the maternal goodness of her abundant chest.

Closing his eyes, he remembered his own frequent contact within her warm safe embraces and comforting loving hugs.

Brian hadn't been that much younger than this kid when it had been those same touches that had gotten him through the worst of his own personal childhood hell.

And, although he'd bust the balls of anyone admitting it, even now her smile and her hugs, yes even her shrill Italian wrath, was what kept him going still.

After all, his zombie rents from hell were still here walking around on earth.

Emmett, Ted and Michael's eyebrows rose as they watched the anger and several hidden emotions flash in his dark hazel gaze.

Only one thing could get him this worked up.

Only a ground zero could spin their normally so in control friend a bit off kilter.

It was Brian's usual reaction to yet another one of Brutis's 'ground zero's' and they all knew that it wouldn't take long, and the young ad executive would whip out his check book, generously offering Brutis whatever monitory help that was required.

Only Michael knew the true depth and reasoning behind his best friend's seemingly bizarre actions.

Oh Ted and Em knew that Brian had come from an unsavory background, but only Michael, his mother, and his uncle Vic knew just how bad it had actually been for the man when he once was a boy.

Taking the clean white napkin that Debbie had pushed into his trembling hands, Justin wiped his face, and then in a small clear voice asked her, "Where is the bathroom.”

Brutis got up from his seat and offered to show the boy where it was located.

When he returned without his charge, Debbie was now sitting next to Brian and lightly rubbing and then patting him on his arm speaking to him softly as he absently stirred his coffee with a bent spoon.

Pulling around a chair, and straddling it with the back of it facing them the tall man fixed them all with a look.

The table in front of him was silent, until the door to the restroom shut.

"MA!" Michael exploded, "You really can't afford to take in yet another one of NKC's strays again!"

Glaring hotly at the bald man he snidely spat, "The last ground zero, almost got you killed! How in the fuck can you sit there and act like nothing had happened? Jesus!"

Sighing loudly, Bruits swiped a large light brown hand down his face, then after rubbing his tired eyes he looked hard at the small black haired man sitting there with a mean smirk on his face. Murder flashing in his dark amber eyes, glaring at him, daring him to answer.

Brutis took a deep breath, then let it out slowly.

It saddened him that even after all of this time, Michael still didn't really trust him.

Slowly and carefully, Brutis began enunciating every word as if he were speaking to a very ignorant child, which, in Michael Novotny's case, he was.

"You arrogant little shit." He breathed, his eyes going almost black as he ground out quietly, "You of all people Michael, YOU hateful ass, know that that was NOT what went down! Steffon and Carl were good boys! They had wanted out of that fucking gang, and Alfred and I did our damnedest to try and help them! Debbie's was the LAST place anyone would have looked! GOD IT'S BEEN A FUCKING YEAR ALREADY! So, do us all a big fat fuckin' favor huh? Get over it, and while your at it, act your fucking age for once!"

He all but growled, causing everyone but Brian to jump slightly in their seats.

Michael then crossed his arms over his skinny chest as he sank deeper down into his booth seat; mutinously pushing out his lower lip even further, glaring at the bald man even harder.

Shaking off Brian's warning hand, he shrilly spouted, "Well, yeah, of course you'd say that, NKC, and then Brian bought their, well you know, those two, um, and, and, just because they were, well...." He sputtered, too angry to put to words the hurtful sentences as his voice trailed slowly, leaving no doubt as to their nasty meanings as they were left hanging in the air unspoken, yet still painful.

The sudden hush that hovered above their booth that covered them all was cloying.

And right now, even though Michael was friends to some, and family to others, he wasn't liked very much.

But, no one dared to disagree with the hotheaded little Italian man, nor attempted to put a stop to his hateful agenda.

It had been brewing for months and like any wound, it needed to be lanced.

Well, no one would say anything, except for one man, Brian Kinney.

Brian seemed to be the only one that could defuse the whiney little man without resorting to violence.

Looking at the various unspoken pleadings etched on the other's faces, and the childish obstinate set of Michael’s jaw, Brian sighed deeply.

"Brutis has a point Michael." Brian said sweetly, although his words were full of venom.

Because while the short dark haired man sitting next to him, no make that practically on top of his lap was and had been his very best friend since they were both 14. Right now, the hurt the little fuck had just caused the others, especially Brutis, was tangible, and because of that and a million other things lately, Brian didn't like Michael very much.

'Gawd!' he thought, 'Lately, he's been acting more like an octopus, always grabbing at me and touching me in a way more than best friends should touch.'

Brian sighs heavily as he finds himself shoving Michael’s clingy slim legs off of him yet once again, and gawd but was that getting annoying!

Brian's mind played out the forbidden thoughts of shaking the other man until the hateful bigotry was shaken right out of him!

Then, maybe bitch slap him around a bit, until he figures it out that words can be just as hurtful as a smack or two.

Brian had never raised his hand in anger to anyone weaker than he, for fear of becoming a true bad apple like his father had become.

And, through the years, no matter how badly he wanted to, nor how much Michael had needed it, he'd never raised his voice to the shouting level he oh so wanted to go.

And, even though Michael had been his rock, right now all he felt was the 'moss' of their relationship as Michael got more and more clingy.

Mentally, Brian shook his own head in wonder at how such a kind and open minded woman like Debbie, could of spawned such a little hateful shit like Michael.

Instead of shaking him and screaming down the diner, Brian kept his adult physical cool by stating, "Michael, why don't you do us all a big favor and try and act like the 27 year old man that you actually are. Instead of the 7-year-old boy you pretend to be! Gawd! Just, shut the fuck up already Mikey!"


Brian growled, not wanting to re-hash something that was best left unsaid, dead and buried.

"Buuuuuuuuuuut Briiiiaann," Michael loudly whined, YOU know I'm riiiiight!"

Seeing the painful looks that his whine could render, and smug in the fact that he now had everyone's attention, selfishly he went for the big guns.

"Listen, just because they were...OW! DAMMIT! FUCK, MA!"

But, Debbie knowing all too well the hidden meaning of her rude outspoken offspring’s words, reached behind Brian's slim frame to slap her mouthy kid upside his head before Brutis AND Brian wiped the floor with him.

Ted remained silent, because this argument was one he just didn't wish to add anything to.

It broke his heart each and every time Michael brought it up because it made him realize, that that could of happened to his Em, if he hadn't helped him that long ago day, the day he first met him at that dingy bus stop.

Oh, he'd noticed the graffiti and the small groups of kids hanging around, and it didn't take a degree in child rearing to know that those kids were ALL up to no good.

Although Ted had taken a big chance in sticking out his neck and helping out the younger man, he couldn't be more pleased as to how things had panned out.

After finding out that after Emmett had graduated High School in his hometown of Hazelhurst Mississippi the boy had taken the small savings he'd managed to horde, and had spent every penny of it on a bus ticket to where ever.

Wanting a new start in his young life, the then 18 year old had actually inspired to have reached New York, but the only ticket he could afford at that time was to the Pitts.

Ted smiled as he remembered helping Emmett find a great job and the young guy had worked his perfect little ass off, and was now proudly managing Torso, a very hip clothing store.

Ted now had a best friend, someone he could count on for anything.

Emmett Honeycutt was not only a sweet human being, he was a true and loyal friend.

He had a huge heart, and it really pissed Ted off when Brian or Michael was snide or mean to Emmett in any way.

Always the peacemaker Emmett said in his soft southern drawl, "Michael that wasn't very nice hun."

"Mind your own business Em. She's not YOUR mother." Michael huffed childishly.

"Mikey, for Christ's sake, just shut the fu..." But Brutis's deep voice broke through anything Brian could finish saying.

"They were what Michael," His soft tones were silky, but dipped in steel, and his words held the promise of a swift retribution as he drawled out, "black, like me?"

The comfort level of the entire diner hit zero, and all of it's occupants but Brutis and especially Mikey breathed a huge sigh of relief as the young blonde boy slowly walked back over to them, a questioning look on his angelic face as he timidly asked, "Um, Brutis? Where am I gonna go? I mean, what happens next? If I can't stay at the Joker's erm, Debbie's house ah, I guess I, well can you please drop me off at a hotel somewhere close by?"

"Sure thing kid," Michael spat. "And just who in the fuck do you expect to pay for it, HUH?"

His dark hateful gaze was slowly raking over his new prey.

Michael glared rudely, too happy to have someone else to rag at, knowing he'd pushed Brutis and Brian a bit too far tonight.

A self-satisfied smirk played on his full red lips as he heard Brian drawl, "So, Sonny Boy, just how old are you anyway? Are you old enough to stay all by yourself? Don't you think staying with Deb would be what's best for you for now? What's a matter, cat got your tongue?"

Ignoring Michael's annoying whine of, "BRiiiiAN!" He stuck his tongue in his cheek as he watched the blushing boy struggle to figure out which question to answer first.

Justin Taylor looked down at his shoes, then stared hard at the uninteresting floor.

Peeking up at the well-dressed smart assed hazel eyed man from underneath his long lashes, he's left wondering, 'just what the fuck was the guy's damage any way?'

'Shit,' he thought, 'hadn't he been through enough crap already for one night?'

Sighing, he finds himself also questioning just why the Joker's son the small sarcastic black haired guy seemed to have it in for him even though he'd didn't even know him at all.

'Well fuck it,' Justin decided to take the bull by the horns and just answer the man's fucking nosey questions.

'Damn, this was really starting to suck all around.' He thought as he slowly raised his head.

Looking them all in the face, but training his answers to the hazel-eyed god he coolly replied, "The name's J. Not Sonny Boy. And I'm 18, so yeah, I guess that makes me old enough to be alone. And, look, I don't want to put anyone out, and although I appreciate the Joker's offer, Brutis here can just drop me off at a hotel or something. I've got some money of my own, not much but it'll have to do until I can get a job. I guess that's what would be best for me for now, until I can decide what to do next,"

The young boy's voice got stronger and louder with each word as he lifted his chin up and set his slender jaw saying, "because I'm NOT going back home, I just can't, and I won't and you can't make me!"

The childish unspoken 'so there' hung in the air, as his slender hands curved around his slim hips and glared at them all.

Brian had to hand it to the kid.

While he may look like just a pretty little drama princess, it was obvious to him and he was pretty sure the others would agree the boy sure seemed to be tough as well.

Which, in Brian's opinion was a good thing. Especially after the curve ball life just hit the kid with tonight, he'd have to be strong, to survive in this new world, his world.

Knowing he was bating the little blonde angel boy, Brian decided to step up the heat a bit, to test the kids' true mettle.

Lying was NOT the way for this kid to win friends and influence people, so, he'd just have to teach junior her a little lesson, or two.

Plus, the challenging sapphire glow to the kid's eyes was hot. Too bad he was obviously just too fucking young.

Crossing his legs and trying to adjust himself without being noticed, Brian waited for the boys' honest answers to spill forth from those full cherry-red lips.

While Justin was carefully watching the different ranges of emotions play over all of their faces, only one remained still.

No change what so ever.

It was the Armani clad dreamy hazel-eyed guy.

If there was any emotion this man was showing, it had to have been one of sly amusement as he softly said,
"Hmm, I just don't know, 18 ya say? Hmm, well to me you look more like 12. So, spit it out Sonny Boy, just how old are you, really? " The man said deceptively soft.

Looking back down at his shoes, Justin turned the toes of his sneakers in, then out on the edges and then back again, shifting his feet as he mumbled uncomfortably, "Um, 17?"

Feeling now the penetrating stares of all six adults, especially the heated one from the hazel eyed man's dubious look and slightly raised dark brow, he looked up again as he quickly added, "Erm, 16?"

As Justin said the number, his young voice quivered and elongated on the word, sixteen.

The man he was slowly becoming fixated on turned slightly toward him in his seat, then crossed his slender arms and gave him a level look as he tauntingly snickered, "What is this Sonny Boy, a rocket launch?"

Blushing a bright rose color, Justin heavily sighed as the truth tumbled out.

"FUCK IT! Okay, I'm 15!" He loudly blurted. "I'm fuckin 15 years old! There, are ya fuckin' happy now, huh?"

"Rude little shit, isn't he?" The Joker said to no one in particular.

"Lady and gents, we have lift off!" The hazel-eyed man declared loudly, his slender arms upraised along with his voice like an evangelist.

At their cynical looks, and the hazel-eyed man's amused one, Justin hastily added, "But, I'm ah, I'm almost 16, so there!"

Pointing an accusing finger over at Brutis he blurted," Look, I didn't ask to be brought here! HE suggested it! And, since I was hungry too, I agreed." He said, poking his thumb backward to his own chest.

Glaring at the five shocked faces and the smirking one, now in full drama princess mode, Justin spat, "Now? I wish to HELL I hadn't!" His small hands went up then down as he yelled. "If I'd wanted to be treated this way," He fumed, looking pointedly right at the squirming small dark haired man now staring openly back at him with a disgusted look on his pixie face, Justin snarled, "Fuck it, I'd of just as soon stayed home with Daddy dearest! Besides, who in the fuck are YOU to judge me?" He yelled.

"SCREW YOU, you obnoxious little jerk!" He sneered at the Joker's son as he spat, "You don't FUCKIN' even know me!"

Rolling his dark eyes, Brutis sighed loudly, once again rubbing his big hand over his face. He'd already heard Mr. Taylor's loud rendition of this particular subject in the cab earlier tonight.

'DaHmn,' He thought, 'This little slip of a kid could give even Michael a run for his money in the princess bitch out department!'

Emmett, carefully watching the bristling young boy and then the glowering Michael, felt the growing animosity sprouting like dandelion weeds between the two of them.

Now, dandelion weeds were poisonous, so he decided that some good old-fashioned southern interference was needed and soon, before an all out hellcat fight was soon started.

Snickering inside, he'd not missed the spark of interest in the blonde bombshell's bright sparkling sapphire blue eyes, nor the flicker in Brian's honey hazel stare as the two had begun their verbal dance.

And, he quickly summarized, it could be that fact, or a number of things that suddenly had Michael's little pink panties in a nut bunch.

But, whatever the fuck it was, one thing was for sure, he'd never seen his little Italian friend have such a cat hissy prissy fit, like the one Michael was showing now.

But, to be fair, Emmett respected the kid, and he personally knew what it felt like first hand to be treated poorly by your family and so called friends, just like the way the boy had oh so obviously been treated tonight.

He wanted to help, and now, thanks to so many things good in his life, he was in the position that he could do so, and do it with style!

Sending the frustrated youth who looked like he was about 10 seconds away from his own all out hissy fit a sly tiny smile, Emmett took a dainty sip of his coffee.

Settling back in his booth seat, his long graceful fingers curled around the cup, he looked over the rim and drawled,
"Well, I for one sure could use some help on Saturday's when the new inventory comes out." Looking at the boy the older queen carefully sat his cup back down as he said with a big gap toothed grin, "So, J. baby, what do you say? Would you like to work with me on Saturday's sweetie?"

The infectious grin widened as he added with a big wink, "And, if that worked out for you, I'm sure I could get you a few more extra hours by training you for the sales floor too! Payday is once a week every Saturday at Torso, that's the name of the store I manage." He proudly said as he winked again adding, " We offer ALL of our employees a 25% discount on all items in the store, as well as a full medical and dental health package, AND, you get commission for ALL sales over $45.00! I for one just love it! And, of course, if you work really hard like I did, they even offer lower and upper management training too, as well as several wonderful and unique scholarships! That is of course, IF you’re interested?"

Biting his bottom lip impishly Emmett's baby blue eyes were dancing and as he awaited the stunned boys reply, he heard Michael's sharp intake of breath.
.
Rolling his lips to smother a bubbling snort of amusement, Emmett simpered airily twirling one slender hand saying, "And, since tomorrow is Saturday." He sing sang quickly, ignoring Michael’s heavily increased sputtering, Emmett went in for the kill as he dropped the bomb by saying, "I'd personally simply love, love, LOVE, for you, Baby J. to start working for me then!"

Before the bewildered boy could reply, Michael loudly piped up, "Emmett Honeycutt! I swear to GOD, what IN the FUCK is the matter with you?" He demanded, glaring first at his friend, then at the scrap of blond boy ass in front of him as he screamed, "You idiot! He could be a fucking thief! His whole 'oh poor whittle me' pity fuck bullshit story could just be that, one big fat fuckin' lie! Why, you don't even know this damn kid Em!"

Then, before Emmett could retort, Debbie AKA The Joker, ignored her rude son as she loudly squealed, "Oh that would be SO great Em! Just fuckin' perfect!" Practically beaming, she too shrilly sings sang, "That's settled! Shortcake here is moving in tonight with me and Vic!"

She happily crowed, leaning over the tabletop to smack hands with a beaming Emmett in a high-five.

Gesturing to the stunned young blonde, she said, "Turn sideways honey," As he obediently did as she requested, the older women arched her dark eyebrows up to her red wig line as she declared, "And with that perfect little bubble butt he'd be making killer tips here at the diner to!"

Everyone in the diner except her surly son was wearing an amused yet perplexed look, when smiling a large toothy grin Debbie heartily bitched, "Ya see boys, I need a new busboy. Since my last one that little shit Anthony left me high and dry tonight, the little twat!" She huffed loudly, making a rude noise with her lips as she explained, "Calling in last minute to tell me he has a hot date! Well, I've warned him a million fuckin' times, and so, fuck it, now he's history!"

Grinning over at the still stunned boy she loudly proclaimed, "So, Shortcake here can take his place!" The grin got bigger like her namesake as she was now happily beaming over at the startled boy.

Michael was now turning a lovely shade of raw deep plum as he loudly blurted, "What THE FUCK? MA! HELL NO! NO FUCKIN' WAY!"

And, looking across the table at his flamboyant friend he shrilly squawked, "So tell me what's so special about him, huh Emmett? You've never hired any of NKC's little lost boy's before? So I demand to know, Why this one? Hmm! Why him?"

Pushing Brian backwards, Michael glared at his mother's surprised face as he grouched, "And you Ma, you never wanted the other stupid stray's to work here at the diner before, so why him? Huh? Why this twink? Huh Ma? What's so damn fucking special about his blonde boy ass huh?"

He hatefully sneered, gesturing rudely at the boy's more than ample behind like he was something Michael had found on the bottom of his shoe.

In full pout mode now Michael wildly shook his dark head, as he bellowed, “NO I don't want this kid staying with MY mother, and, and with MY uncle Vic, and I sure as fuck don't want him working here where I eat! No, NO NO!" He all but childishly shouted.

"Mikey, shut the fuck up." Drawled Brian softly as he turned in his seat to glare pointedly at his long time friend.

Finding a perverse satisfaction when he heard the hard audible gulp.

Turning back around, Brian moved his tongue slowly to the tip of his full lips.

Looking the now trembling boy up and then slowly down he said, "I for one think it's a fabulous idea. It will give Sonny Boy here three squares and a roof over his pretty little blonde head. Not to mention that he'll have some pocket money, which will keep his little bubble butt safe and off of the streets, and give Emmett and Deb some much needed summertime help. Yeah, this could definitely be a win win situation." He added with a nod.

"And," Brian said as he smiled at Emmett and then at Debbie, "I'm sure between the two of you, you can work out a schedule for the boy that's mutually workable for the both of you, as well as beneficial for him."

Taking out his thick black leather checkbook, he flipped it open as he pulled a gold designer pen out of his coat pocket and uncapped it.

Looking up at Brutis he asked, "The usual amount, with a 12 month clothing and personal items, as well as school allowance?"

At the large stunned mans' nod, he again smiled, as he quickly and happily wrote out a bit more than the usual amount, then signed his name with a flourish.

Carefully tearing out the check by the perforation line at the top, Brian then handed it to his friend, who took the check in his brown hands; big hands that as he looked down at the check from his dear friend began to slightly tremble.

Reaching up to brush at the threatening tears at the edge of his dark eyes, Brutis simply said, "Thank you Brian."

Brian pleasantly flushed slightly, re-capped his pen and then put it back into his coat pocket.

He smiled again and said, "You and Deb fill him in on how this all works, get him all set up at our Bank with his own account on Monday, and then let me know if there is anything else that I can do for the GZ cause, okay?"

Brutis brightly smiled back, his handsome face a wreath of pure happiness as he carefully folded the check and placed it into his worn brown wallet.

"You got it man. Ya know Brian, you're one in a million, Batman. " He said softly, leaning over to lightly punch Brian's shoulder.

Brian smirked. Then smacked him back playfully saying, "It's only money Brutis. Besides," He shrugged good naturally, "Ryder and I both get a nice little tax break, courtesy of our favorite charity, as well as a little warm fuzzy or two."

Michael almost choked on his coffee when he saw Brian add more zeros than normal.

'Yeah, tax break my ass,' he snarked to himself. 'More like he wants to check out the kids' little 'warm fuzzy'. The big pervert.' He steamed.

Brian Kinney was HIS BEST FRIEND! And he didn't want to share! He'd seen all of those hot steamy looks the stupid little kid had been sending out to his best friend. Then, fuck, the check Brian had just wrote out for the brats' welfare!

It was way more zero's than he'd ever seen Brian use on any of Brutis' other GZ strays.

Rudely shoving Brian out of the way, and when the other man wouldn't budge, Michael instead clamored over the back of the booth seat.

Uncaring of his best friend or the young boys feelings he hotly stated, "Oh yeah? Well fuck you Kinney! You're only being oh so nice to him so that when he's legal in a couple of years, you can fuck him up his wide fat ass like the trick of the night he'll probably and without a doubt most likely end up becoming!"

Raking his hateful gaze up and down the trembling boy's slight body, he sneered," "Although I'm sure with such a wide load like that, he'd pull in much more on the streets!" He finished smugly.

While Debbie, Emmett, Ted, Brutis and Brian's eyes all went wide at Michael’s hateful rant, their jaws dropped at what quickly happened next.

"SMMMMACK!"

When Michael opened his shocked eyes, he found he was looking into the infuriated sapphire stormy blue eyes of the kid he'd been badmouthing.

But, before he could utter a single word, or even attempt to rub at his stinging cheek, the kid had him pulled him up tightly by his shirtfront.

Now, held so close to the blonde boy's pretty angelic face, Michael could even smell what the little fuck had eaten earlier. 'Onions,' He grimaced, 'Phew!'

His head swam, and his stomach lurched as now nose to nose and oh my god, breath to breath with the obnoxious jerk, Justin was almost cross eyed.

'Eww!' He thought, 'does this dork even know HOW to floss? Because peeeeu! Hello! Halitosis!'

Ignoring the sudden gasps and murmuring of other adults in the room, Justin smiled grimly.

Now that he had the odious little rat man right where he wanted him, he took a real good look.

While the others had not so fondly called this man 'Mikey' although it was obvious to Justin, who really WAS just a kid, this so called adult, Michael seemed to Justin more like a Mickey, as in mouse.

But, as he now noticed up close and personal the mans' beady little dark eyes, pointy facial features, and big ears, Justin had to chuckle, wondering if he should instead refer to the jerk as 'Chucky' the famous rat of a well known pizza chain.

'Well', Justin quickly decided, seeing the growing defiance in the older mans' darkening eyes, and the tell tale hint of a smirk as Michael now glared at him, those beady eyes daring him. Justin had decided then and there, 'whoeverthefuck this dork thought he was, this dumb ass was now in for a world of a surprise.' He thought darkly.

Softly Justin all but growled, "I am going to say this once and only once, Mikey. I am no one's kept boy, I am NOT a piece of meat to be sold on the streets, and I sure as fuck am NO ONE’S punching bag, verbally or physically. Not my father's and most certainly NOT yours you pathetic sad little man. What I am is a boy that has been pushed to his very limits, pushed to his very brink of reality and, if you keep on pushing me, Mikey, I can assure you that you will find out first hand just like my father did tonight, how and why I've been the top black belt in my self defense class for the last 3 years. Soooooooooo, ya see Mikey,"

Justin snickered softly as he deftly twisted his slight body and swept the surprised older man's feet out from under him with his slender leg stating, "Looks can be deceiving. And, you really shouldn't go running your annoying big mouth unless you can back it up with facts or fists."

A perverse satisfaction swept through his entire small body as Justin heard the 'thonk' of the older man's skull and body kissing the hard floor.

Tisking down at him Justin smirked, "Ouch, that hada hurt huh? Sure sucks to be you right now don't it Mickey?"

Ruefully shaking his shaggy silky blonde head, Justin snarked, "Sooooooooooo, I'd suggest from now on, you keep your big fat trap shut where I'm concerned, and don't misjudge me ever again."

"Because," He leered disgustedly down, looking at the small man in the same offended manner that Michael had viewed him earlier, "unless I'm sucking your dick, or you're sucking mine, which, by the way big mouth that would sooooooooooooo, never ever happen, MY life, and my affairs are NONE of your fucking business, Mikey mouse. "

Justin smirked as in a sudden move, he now settled lightly on top of the small slightly squirming man, his deceptively strong thighs holding Michael tightly and painfully in place.

"What?" He smirked into the mans' confused face, "Did you honestly actually think that I didn't hear what you were saying earlier, huh?"

And as the bewildered look stayed put he spat, "Puhlease! Don't let yourself be further fooled."

With one swift hand, Justin caught up both of the man's wrists, and then in the blink of an eye, with his other hand, he grabbed Michael's pointy weak jaw forcing the older man to look up at him as he darkly told him, "Just don't fuck with me Michael, and we'll get along just fine."

Releasing his grip, he smartly patted him on both cheeks as he added to the embarrassed adults lesson, "Got it little man?"

At Michael’s terrified barely perceived nod, Justin smiled a huge bright smile that lit up the gloomy diner as he purred, "Good."

Winking down at him he added, "By the way? As much as you've mentioned my ass tonight little man, one would think you were possibly interested in it. Can I just say ewww? And, another thing," Justin smirked, "MY ass is just perfect, and SO NOT wide nor fat, you pathetic, jealous little jerk."

In another smooth and swift move, he was once more quietly standing back to where he'd first been.

Michael Novotny laid there for a minute or so, trying to get his mind around what had just taken place.

And, once he did, he then found himself even more pissed off when he realized, not one of his so called friends or even his so called best friend, hell not even his own mother had even attempted to pull the fucking snot nosed blonde brat off of him! Shit!

Rolling quickly to his side, and mortified beyond his wildest dreams, he scrambled up declaring to the open mouthed and stunned five other adults in the room, "Well, and a great big fuck you all too!" He bellowed, walking quickly away from his small blonde nemesis to stand in front of his asshole family.

'Damn, but this smart assed kid was fuckin' creepy! Like the little shit was an alien with super powers!' He thought.

Hand on hips he spat, "Ya know, I sure hope you all enjoyed the fuckin' show! Assholes!"

Thumbing his hand backwards he shouted, looking first at Brutis and then pointedly at his shocked mother,
"THERE IS NO FUCKIN' WAY THIS KID IS STAYING WITH MY FAMILY, YOU IDIOT! DIDN'T YOU SEE WHAT HE JUST DID TO ME?! WHAT IF MA, OR GOD FORBID UNCLE VIC PISSED HIM OFF? SHIT! HE'S A MENIS! A DANGER TO SOCIETY AND TO MY FAMILY, SO, FUCK. YOU. NKC, YOU WANNA HELP HIM SO FUCKIN' BAD, LET HIM LIVE WITH YOU AND YOUR SIDE KICK, CAUSE OVER MY DEAD BODY, IS THIS LITTLE EVIL SHIT GOONA STAY IN MY HOME! DO YOU HEAR ME MA? NO. FUCKIN'.WAY!"

Brian could feel the anger bouncing off of his best friend, but more than that, he could feel and almost touch the fury enumerating in large waves from the bristling Mrs. Novotny.

Common sense and self-preservation steered the young Ad executive as he quickly hopped up and then just as quickly settled back down into the garish green booth seat behind him to enjoy the fireworks.

'Shit!' he thought as he watched the older woman quickly slide across her booth seat and then bounce up and smack her son upside his head so hard, even Brian felt stars.

Getting into his face she spat, "Michael Andrew Novotny, just who in the fuck do YOU think you are speaking to? I am your mother, you little asshole, and you will never ever in my presence speak to me in that tone again, do you hear me?" She screeched.

Roughly grabbing onto one of Michael’s' protruding ears and twisting it she bellowed, "I said, DO YOU FUCKIN' HEAR ME, YOU LITTLE SHIT?! “

But, Michael, never knowing when to quit, even when dealing with his own mother, smartly shot back, "Christ ma, I think even Jesus could hear you! Fuck, I think you busted my eardrums!" he pouted, as tears began to form.

Grimly Debbie smiled as she said, " That's not all I'm gonna bust you little asshole, if I ever hear you speak to me or to your friends like that again!"

"Now," Dragging her stubborn son over to the quiet blonde she snarled, "you apologize to Shortcake here, or I swear to all that's holy Michael, I'm gonna turn you over my knee and give you bare assed all of the spankings you deserved as a kid that I was too damn tired to give to you back then, RIGHT now!"

Twisting out of her reach, Michael shouted, "NO, YOU'RE NOT! I'M AN ADULT NOW MA, AND AS AN ADULT, I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SPEAK MY MIND!"

Glaring over at his roommate Emmett, and then at both of their ride home Ted, he blustered, "Em, Ted, I wish to leave, RIGHT NOW!"

At their stony silence, he snorted, "Fine, FUCK YOU BOTH TOO!"

Turning to the one person he knew would back him up and would never ever choose a stupid little piece of blonde boy ass over him, he sweetly asked his best friend, "Bri? Since those two assholes sitting there won't give me a lift home, will you? Because I'm ready to leave, NOW!"

As the silence deepened, he glared, stomped his foot and then turned to the last person in the room for help as he pleaded, "NKC?"

Brutis was the only one that spoke as he quietly said, "No Michael, you won't find any help from me either. After I drop J. off at ma's and help get him settled in, I'm off duty and heading home."

Looking pointedly out at the still heavily falling rain he smirked, "Looks like your gonna have to hoof it little man."

Grabbing up his coat, Michael slammed it on as he stalked to the front door.

Spinning around he snidely said, "Fine. Great. Listen Em, I'll see you at home. Brian, and Ted, fuck you, you too Brutis, oh and Ma, I'll call you when you come to your fuckin' senses."

Pointedly he ignored the young blonde, who stood there steadily staring back at him, his bright dark blue gaze never wavering.

Emmett, surprising not only himself, but Ted, Brutis, Debbie and Brian replied, "No, I really don't think so Michael. I'm going home with Ted tonight, and then tomorrow, I'm going to start looking for my own apartment. I'm very tired of your bigoted attitude, and frankly, I'm appalled at your lack of respect for your own mother."

Taking a deep breath, Emmett could feel the shackles lifting free with each word as he said, "If anything, tonight has shown me that you really are not the person I thought you were. I think you need to get help Michael, and, for your sake, and your family’s', I feel you should get it soon too."

When he noticed them all now nodding, even the fuckin' blonde kid, Michael flipped them all the bird, then stalked out into the wet night, heading for home.

"Well," Emmett said brightly, wiggling his way out of the booth seat and bumping into Brutis, as he stood and stretched.

Slipping on his own colorful rainbow raincoat and gathering up his matching satchel, the slim man motioned to his best friend.

"Come along Teddy my Luv, I want to stop by the grocery store on the way to your house. This has been one bitch of a night, and Ben and Jerry's are just screaming my name!" He said dramatically.

Smiling at his friend's wit, Ted just nodded his head, smiled at Debbie, and Brutis, then shyly at the blonde boy, and then glared at Brian as he darkly thought, 'Asshole! Phone sex my butt!'

Mentally he stuck his tongue out at the handsome younger man as he cheerfully said, "Sure Em, let's get going."

"See Ya Em, see ya Theobore! " Brian chirped happily.

While Teddy took care of their check, Emmett paused before the blonde boy and started rummaging through his colorful bag.

"Ah ha! Here it is!" He crowed in triumph as he thrust a folded slim newspaper at him.

Turning, he walked over and linked arms with his friend then told the young boy, "Now Baby J. The truck comes at 9:00am sharp. I'll need you there by no later than 8:00am, okay? Oh, and on page 5 of that paper, is the Torso ad for this week! I need you to study it and familiarize yourself with it, because tomorrow you're gonna be selling a butt load of the stuff!"

At the young boys' stunned look, he walked over to him, dragging Ted with him.

As he gave the boy a little frown he asked, "You did want the job, right?"

The boy almost blinded him with his pearly sunshine smile as he happily nodded and said, "Yes, and thank you Mr.?" He enquired politely.

"Just call me Auntie Em sugar. Mr. Honeycutt is my father, Baby J." The tall slim man cooed, lightly pinching the blushing boys' reddening cheeks.

"You ready to go Em?" Ted asked.

Wiggling his long slim fingers, Emmett sang, "Toodles everyone!" And both he and Ted walked out into the messy night.

"Well," Debbie announced in an authoritarian voice, "boys' we're staff members short tonight, and I'm tired and I wanna get home! Shortcake, if you want the busboy job, you can start right now! Brian, roll up those fancy sleeves and show Shortcake here what to do! Brutis, ya big lug, get your fine bubble butt into the kitchen and help me clean up, so we can close up the joint! Fuck, my fuckin' dogs are not just barkin' their howling!"

Brian grinned at the man he considered as close as a brother as he said, "Well NKC, you heard Ma, mush! Butthead!" He said fondly.

Laughing, as he watched the tall man grumble his way into the back, slipping out of his charcoal colored Armani Jacket and quickly rolling up his red silk shirt sleeves. Brian then tucked in his black satin tie into his shirt, winking at the still blushing boy, he said, "Mosey on over here Shortcake, and let me give you the 'Kinney skinny' on the fine art of bussing tables!"

'The 'Kinney skinny'?' Debbie thought, rolling her eyes. 'That little shit is flirting with Shortcake!'

Glaring at the man she thought of fondly as a second son she quipped, "Keep it clean Kinney! And just bus the damn fuckin' tables! Pick up the dirty dishes, NOT the new teen help, you little asshole!"

Between the four of them quickly working as a team, soon they were finished with all of the necessary cleaning up and getting things stocked up and then set up for the morning shift.

Before they knew it, they were soon locking up the spotless diner, and taking their turn to brave the hostile elements home.

After a hastily farewell, Brian Kinney in his black Jeep went one way, and Brutis, Debbie and Justin in the yellow cab, went the other.

They soon pulled along side the curb outside of a brightly-lit older style two story home.

Brutis helped Justin with his luggage, and Justin and Debbie both held on and tried not to be blown away as they ran-walked toward the front door.

Once all three were safely inside, their steps were suddenly halted by a high pitched sarcastic nasal voice that snarled, "Well lookie look what the cat dragged in!" The tone became harsher as the voice demanded to know,
"MA! What the fuck is HE doing here?!"

Ignoring her shitty son's bossy arrogant attitude, Debbie shrugged out of her rain soaked jacket, then helped her Shortcake out of his, who was helping Brutis out of his.

Kissing her grinning younger brother Vic on the cheek she then patted it affectionately as she cooed, "Sweetie, I know it's late, and I'm sorry but, half the shift didn't show up for work, and if it hadn't been for NKC, Brian and Shortcake here, I'd still be back at the fuckin' diner, scrubbing fuckin' dishes and fillin' fuckin sugar containers! Hey, you got those hot toddies fixed that I asked you for?"

Smiling and shaking his blonde head at his older sisters' antics, Vic Grassi walked into his kitchen to fetch the large silver tray of treats he'd just finished fixing for them.

Rolling his eyes in disgust at his sprawled out lazy nephew, now planted on the couch, scowl in place, Vic was hurt that the selfish boy didn't even offer to help him with the heavily laden tray.

Sighing, he sadly resigned himself.

Michael would never change. He would always be a self centered spoiled child.

No, the only other boy Vic could really count on besides Brutis, was...

Looking hopefully around he asked, "Where's Brian?"

Vic smirked when the tall handsome young man walked through their front door pausing long enough to shrug out of his soaking wet heavy designer rain coat and hang it up on the now full coat tree.

Not missing a beat, he then swooped over and took the heavy tray from the older man's shaky grip.

Kissing his HIV weathered cheek saying, "What's wrong old man? Didja miss me?" He snickered as he carefully sat the fully loaded tray carefully down in the middle of the coffee table, then gave the blushing older man a big hug.

Turning around and glaring at Michael he said, "So Mikey, I thought you said you were going home?"

"This IS my home, you asshole!"

"No, It's your mothers' and your Uncles home. I think you've upset your family enough for one day don't you?"
Brian asked, as he struggled to control his temper at the spoilt man still sprawled out on the couch, thus making it almost impossible for anyone else to sit down. Not waiting for any other reply, taking out his slim silver cell phone, he paged through it, pressed a few buttons then said, "Keith, hi, yeah, it's Kinney. Look, I need ya to get over here to ma's. Yep, I'll owe ya, haha, okay then, thanks, bye."

Looking pointedly at his so-called best friend, he coldly said, "While I do love you Michael, right now, I just don't like you very much. What you said and did tonight at the diner was not only hurtful, it was damn thoughtless and cruel.
We all were put through hell with those two boys, and you sure seemed to care then, but after all of the hateful crap that fell from your lips tonight, I'm ashamed to admit you're a friend of mine. Now, I just called Keith and he's on his way to come and get you and drive you home."

"Fuck you Brian, I ain't going anywhere but up to MY bed in MY fuckin' room and goin' to sleep!"

"Michael," Debbie said dangerously, as she was tired, and also sick of all of the shit her stubborn offspring was sending her way.

She was thankful for Brutis and Brian's trust in her and Vic to sponsor a GZ kid.

They were hand picked by either Brutis or Brian or Fred, and then entrusted to her and Vic. Some of their former GZ had gone on to do great things with their lives, and the boys always knew they were loved in the fold of the Novotny-Grassi household.

The monies paid to her and Vic had helped with the high cost of his HIV meds, and their house mortgage as well as some extra spending money for them both.

But, the priceless thing was just knowing they had saved a life.

"That room is now Shortcakes' room." Debbie patiently explained to her jealous son yet once again, as they had this argument everytime a GZ moved in.

"And he is our new GZ. Christ, honey, you have your own bed in your own apartment!" She told him, and she watched as he ignored her.

"Tell ma I ain't movin'." Michael stubbornly informed Brian as he glared daggers at the blonde boy who stared right back at him.

Looking over at Vic who was now looking at the floor, and at Debbie, who was wiping away tears, 'or were they rain drops'? Brian wondered.

Then, he looked down at Michael.

The spoiled man was just sitting there, being rude by still not moving to make room for anyone else to sit down, and acting like he'd done nothing wrong, as usual.

It really pissed off Brian and Brutis and Alfred when Mikey pulled this shit.

Vic and Debbie were very proud Italian people, and the high cost of his HIV meds, coupled with their home mortgage, had about bankrupted them.

By hosting a special GZ once a year, it gave them the funds to supplement their income, which due to the fact that Vic couldn't work, was Debbie's diner position.

A few moments had passed, and when the harsh *HONK* of a car horn was heard, Brian, Debbie and Vic breathed a sigh of relief.

But, Michael made no move to leave.

Instead he just crossed his arms and then glared hatefully at his mother.

"So," he snarked gesturing at the young boy, "You tellin' me ma that you choose this blonde boy whore over your own son? This dangerous kid who even his own parents didn't want and just tossed him out tonight like the garbage that he is?"

The car honked again.

Justin Taylor had reached his limit with this rude arrogant fucknut.

Before Debbie could reply, before Vic could blink, or Brutis or Brian could even move, Justin was jerking Michael up and off of the couch with one hand, then spinning him swiftly around, he pulled his arm up high against his back, and proceeded to frog march the older man toward the front door.

Pausing long enough to swoop down and snatch up the only jacket on the floor, which was of course the property of the lazy asshole he now was pushing out of the open front door, head first.

When Michael started to fight him, Justin tightened his hold and whispered menacingly, "If you don't move your stupid ass you selfish prick, I'm gonna rip your fucking arm off and beat you over your fat head with it! We've all had enough of your shit, so leave! NOW, put your coat on, and get your ass out into that car, NOW!"

Thrusting the wet garment at the furious older man, Justin glared at him, crossed his arms and waited.

Michael, remembering what had happened at the diner earlier and realizing that the crazy teen might just make true his threat, slammed on his wet coat, and ran for the cover of Keith's car.

Not until he saw the other man actually enter the car, shut the door and be driven away, did Justin relax.

"Come on back inside Shortcake, your toddy's getting cold." Said the smooth sexy voice that he was sure would be haunting his dreams later tonight.