The airport terminal at the dead of night was always filled with odd noises and that familiar scent. The scent of unused air, of vendors closed and held the noise of distant vacuums and announcements of baggage carousels. Justin walked beside his large guard, clutching his leather bag he had carried on with him and he let out a deep breath as he remembered the course of his life over the past twelve hours.
He didn't know why he smiled a quick grin hours before then letting a frown appear on his face. Well, maybe he did but guilt filled his stomach when he heard JC was crying at Lance's apartment. He thanked Chris softly before hanging up and making plans to fly back. His friend needed someone to talk to and with Lance's way of talking, he knew JC wouldn't want to go to a strip club to get over his so-called broken heart.
He wasn't comfortable in the studio knowing he wanted to be there for JC and having to trust his friends to do something he wanted to. Console him.
The drive seemed shorter from the interstate to Lance's place when his eyes were closed and he swore the jetlag was hours behind him. The stairs though he had to climb made him remember the exhaustion and when he reached the door and knocked, his breath was coming out in deep gasps.
"Justin?" Lance asked through squinted eyes and Justin let out a last breath before biting his lip. "You're here to see JC."
He nodded.
"Come in," Lance sighed and opened the door farther, turning on the living room light. "He's in the guest room. You know where it is."
"Thanks," Justin said slowly, scratching the back of his head like his nervousness always forced him to. He watched Lance walk back to his room and he looked to the kitchen clock, noting it was still the early, early morning hours. There was a faint light under the doorway and he walked to it slowly, almost wanting to hear JC's sobs to know he was still awake.
A soft knock sufficed and he waited for a small grunt before he opened the door slowly.
"I'm going to bed Lance," JC called before Justin opened the door completely seeing his friend with tissues surrounding him on the bed. Godiva chocolate should have been around him to complete the picture but Justin only smiled crookedly to him when JC's wide eyes blinked over him. "What are you doing here?"
"I was in the neighborhood."
"Oh," JC said simply, looking down over his pajamas and back up nervously. "I don't care if I look bad."
"I don't care if I smell bad then," Justin said slowly and received a quick smile from JC when he took the seat by the bed. He picked at the bedspread JC was sitting on and looked up to him, organizing the crumpled tissues into a small pile. "So what happened?"
"You ask such general questions," JC said and matched his smile and Justin looked down nervously when he saw his bloodshot eyes. Even more guilt filled into him from the small grin he had had hours before. "His old boyfriend came to him and said he loved him and I lost him to the old one."
"I can kill him for you," Justin said, taking JC's hand without rejecting the idea. "I know some people, or I could do it myself."
"No, it's fine," JC sighed, curling his fingers around Justin's. "I was okay with breaking up with him."
"The tissues JC."
"Love just isn't for me," JC whispered and bit his bottom lip as another tear escaped and he shook his head. His other hand came up, wiping the tear away before laughing lightly at himself as Justin looked on concerned. "I can never love someone and have them love me in return and whenever I feel love, even if it's slightly, something comes along and tells me 'no JC, love just isn't for you.'"
"That's not true," Justin squeezed his hand over JC's as he leaned forward. Enough to catch JC's eyes and they stared at each other. "I love you."
JC rolled his eyes before looking away from him, taking his hand away as well. "I'm tired Justin."
"Me too," Justin breathed out, feeling a slight weight lift off his shoulders, only to be filled with more. He watched JC for a moment before helping him under the covers and turning the light off. "I'll call tomorrow."
"I'll answer," JC said slowly and Justin nodded before walking out of the room