coda

Jennifer dies on one of Justin's monthly Pittsburgh visits. Justin thinks he was told what happened, but he can only see Molly's hair in her eyes and her knees tight against her chest as she was balled up on his mother's couch. He thinks he saw Craig – but he doesn't know if the grim face was actually present or if the mention of his name evoked the image.

Justin feels static and immobile and despite the hand on his back and the movement of his own feet he doesn't understand how he ends up at the loft or how the sun can be setting when everything is standing still.

He crawls into bed pressing his spine agains Brian's chest. Feet practically sock clad ice cubes despite the 20 minute shower they'd shared.

Brian's lips dig into the back of Justin's neck, trailing soft kisses to his ear before a barely audible whisper reaches Justin's conscious.

”You don't have to be brave.”

Justin's chest rises, deep breath instead of shallow, and his eyes close and he lets his nody go limp against Brian's. His goose bump covered skin soothed by Brian's secure strokes on his arm. The however many thread count sheets cocoon them and Justin doesn't feel the burning behind his eyes, silently shivering as the duvet is stained.