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Brother's Keeper
by Vamphile
Eight
Justin dropped Aaron off at school with a promise/threat to pick him back up at three. He put on the insanely unnecessary blue tooth headset Brian had insisted upon to go with his phone.
Justin had told him to return it. Brian had told him that it was cheaper than the cost of replacing the car when he totaled it because he was on the phone. Justin told him to stop spending insane amounts of money on him. Brian told Justin that there was no one else on whom he’d like to spend insane amounts of money.
Justin let the whole thing go and took the headphone. Brian pretended it was a favor to him and that he hadn’t already known where the conversation would end when it started.
Justin was still smiling about it when Molly answered the phone.
“Hey Molly, is mom around?”
“I think she left for work already.”
“I’ll call her there. Why aren’t you in school?”
“Why aren’t you in New York?”
“Bite me.”
“I’m leaving now. Stop acting like you’re a grown up.”
“I am.”
“Whatever.”
Molly hung up and Justin laughed. Apparently that attitude was either simply a teenage thing or a Taylor trait, he couldn’t decide which.
He called his mothers office. “Hi mom.”
“Justin, I was about to call you.”
“Why?”
“Rumor has it you’re in town for the week.”
“I was calling to let you know.”
“On Wednesday.”
“I thought I stopped having to give you my daily itinerary once I moved out.”
“You thought wrong.”
“Fine, I’m here, in Pittsburgh, that’s why I called. I was wondering if you were free for lunch.”
“Let me see. I’ve got an appointment at two. Can we meet at twelve thirty?”
“Sure, where?”
“I found this great Italian place…”
“Had Italian for dinner last night. Indian?”
“I can’t smell like curry while I’m showing million dollar houses.”
“Mexican?”
“How ‘bout the diner?”
“Too busy, you know we’ll be interrupted constantly.”
“So this isn’t just a friendly visit.”
“I kind of wanted to talk to you.”
“Fine, why don’t I pick up some sandwiches and we’ll meet at the loft.”
“Twelve thirty.”
“Brian going to be there?”
“No clue.”
“I’ll bring enough for three, if he’s not there I’m sure you’ll put it to good use.”
“Mom, I’m not exactly a starving artist.”
“And I’m still a mother.”
“Oh yeah, moms and food.”
“Well I’m not as bad as Debbie.”
“No one’s as bad as Debbie.”
“I’ve got to go. If I don’t finish this paperwork they’re not gonna close on time.”
“See you soon.”
“Bye sweetie.”
Justin hung up and called Brian. “I’m meeting my mother for lunch, wanna come?”
“No.”
“Okay. See you tonight.”
“Wait. Where?”
“At the loft.” Justin smiled. Brian was so easy sometimes.
“Yeah, I’ll be there. What time?”
“Twelve thirty. And don’t come earlier hoping for a quickie, I’ll be at the studio. I’m expecting deliveries.”
“Twelve thirty.”
“Bye.”
“Later.”
Justin had one last call to make. He called the Swintovly-Jacobson Gallery. He spoke to some assistant who was handling the show and they discussed a few details. He gave them the loft number in case they couldn’t reach him on his cell and he hung up. He was singing loudly when he drove up to what used to be Babylon. It had been several days and he was anxious to get back to work.
He came up to the gallery and was immediately pissed off.
He dialed quickly.
“What the fuck?”
“Yes Sunshine?”
“Brian.”
…………………
…………………
“Brian.”
…………………………….
…………………………….
“I’m sorry, you’re going to have to tell me why you’re upset.”
“Like you don’t fucking know.”
“Give me a hint.”
“It begins with a C and costs thousands of dollars.”
“My cock?”
“No, I get that for free.”
Brian laughed. “Hardly, I think you pay pretty heavily.”
“I think you’re fucking insane.”
“You know you need one in the studio. And I know you took the other one to New York.”
“So you just happened to buy me the most ridiculously expensive computer system you could find?”
“No. I just had it transferred from the art department when I upgraded their systems.”
“If I call Ted…is he gonna back up that lie?”
“Yes.”
Justin could hear Brian smirking. He wanted to throw the phone at him. I hate that I can’t hit you right now.
“I don’t. You’ve gotten pretty fucking strong.”
“Brian, you can’t keep doing this.”
“One reason why not and I’ll stop.”
“Um… because I’m not a prostitute.”
“That’s a factual statement. It’s not a reason why I can’t buy you shit.”
“Because I’m an adult who can take care of myself.”
“Also a factual statement. But that means you can’t accept a gift, given with love from your partner?”
“Don’t use that word I hate it.”
“Since when?”
“Since this is starting to feel like a business proposition.”
He heard Brian sigh on the other end of the phone. “Justin. I want you to succeed. Can’t I just be a patron of the arts…and if you’ll look closely, which I know you haven’t. It’s a fucking laptop, connected to that big ass monitor. You can take it with you when you go back to New York. I’m not trying to keep you here.”
“You’re not?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Like I fucking know what I want right now.”
“Do you want the computer?”
Justin laughed. “You know I do, it happens to be the one we were talking about online the other day. The one I was drooling over.
“Is it?”
“So there’s no bookmark on your computer saving the page?”
He heard the click of the keyboard. “Nope.”
“You’re a lousy liar.”
“When I want to be.”
“I’m keeping the computer.”
“Good.”
“I’m taking it back home when I go.”
“You’re supposed to.”
“And I’m taking the jeans and shirt too.”
“The fuck you are.”
Justin sighed. “Lunch. Loft. Twelve thirty.”
“With you and your mommy.”
“I’ve got to go to work now.”
“I’m already at work. But some twink keeps interrupting me.”
“I’ll get him to stop.”
“Good. I’ve got very important plans for him this evening and I’ll be late if I don’t finish all this bullshit.”
“Go.”
“Bye.”
Justin pulled the earpiece off of his head and wanted to scream, or cry, or… kiss Brian hard. It was a really really nice machine and he’d be able to get twice as much done now that he had it here.
He tried not to be impressed with the exorbitant amount of software already loaded on it. Instead he started on the video editing he’d wanted to work on. He had planned to appropriate one of the art department’s computers for a little while after hours tonight. But now he didn’t have to.
Yeah, he owed Brian something but fuck, he was starting to owe him too much again. He let the anger wash over him… repeated the mantra that had gotten him through this many years… “That’s how Brian does things, that’s how Brian does things thatshowbriandoesthingsthatshowbriandoesthings”, and eventually he was calm enough to focus.
He was running late. He’d gotten lost in his work.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**
Jennifer walked hesitantly up the stairs. She had a pretty good idea what Justin wanted to talk about. And while she wasn’t sure if Brian was going to be there or not, at this point, it didn’t matter. Anything she said would get back to him anyway, and anything he thought would end up coming out of Justin’s mouth. He was almost Machiavellian that way.
She sighed and knocked on the door. Brian opened.
“Jennifer.”
“Hi Brian.”
“Cheese steaks. Good choice.”
“I brought a salad, if you don’t….” Brian had already unwrapped his and taken a bite.
“I didn’t know you ate real food.”
Brian shrugged. “Man can’t live on Jim Beam and cigarettes alone.”
Jennifer sat down across from Brian at the table. “Where’s Justin.”
“I think he’s running late. He probably got sucked into some art thing. You know how he gets when he’s working.”
She looked around… where’s he working?”
“Babylon. Set up a studio there, so he wouldn’t get paint all over the floors.”
“You know, Ted’s called me three times about what the options are for that building.”
“No actually I didn’t. What are the options, as you see them?”
“Well, I’ve talked to you about renting it out as flex office space. You’d cover your costs and make a decent profit but then you’d be the landlord. Which means you’d have to have a building manager to handle all the maintenance.”
“Not my favorite idea.”
“It’s still zoned as commercial space, and the liquor license hasn’t expired, so… there’s always the return to Babylon option.”
“I’ve been considering that one.”
“There’s a developer who’s expressed interest in turning it into an upscale mall now that the neighborhood is becoming so gentrified.”
“I’ll bomb it again first.”
“You could turn it into a bath house.”
Brian looked up and saw the familiar teasing expression on Jennifer's face. “Think I’d rather have Justin still speaking to me.”
“So what do you want to do with it?”
Brian seemed to be considering his answer when Justin walked in. “Sorry I’m late.”
He kissed his mother on the cheek and kissed Brian in a less familial fashion.
“You’re not covered in paint.”
“Was doing some editing on a video piece I’m gonna be incorporating into one of the multimedia things they want.”
“So the computer’s working?”
Justin glared at Brian and unwrapped his own sandwich. “How are you mom?”
“Fine.”
“What are we going to do about dad?”
“Well, no point in small talk.”
Justin took a large bite of his sandwich and chewed slowly. When he finished he repeated the question.
“What is there to do?”
“Well, we could kill him.”
“Brian stop offering that.”
Justin looked at Jennifer. “He’s offered you that option before?”
“Every time his name comes up.”
“You want to have my dad killed?”
“He ran into my jeep.”
“Six years ago.”
“I liked that jeep.”
“Brian.” Jennifer and Justin had matching aggravated tones.
“Wow, disapproval in stereo. It’s been a while.”
Justin turned his attention back to his mother. “He showed up here the other night.”
“What did he want?”
“Aaron.”
“Why did he come here?”
Justin launched into the whole story while Brian pretended to be completely focused on getting everyone a drink.
When they were all playing with their food or water or beer bottles Brian finally spoke. “Anything you can do Jennifer?”
Jennifer sighed and pushed her half eaten cheese steak away from her. Justin who’d finished his own, took it and started to eat. “I’m not sure. I stopped him from doing it to Justin. But…”
“Wait. What?” Justin’s mouth was full but he didn’t care. “Stopped him from doing it to me? He was gonna send me there?”
“Justin it was a long time ago.”
Brian’s eyes were dark. His expression blank. “But he was gonna send Justin to the holy…”
“Brian!”
Brian stopped talking. His face didn’t show any amusement.
“He wanted to Justin. He was worried about you. And then you ran away. And he was more worried about you. He had… I don’t know, this idea that you’d been… influenced. He thought the right influence could…”
“Fix me.”
“He’s a shit Justin. We already knew that.”
“But he wanted to send me to some religious torture camp.”
“I wouldn’t let him.”
“Well, thanks. But why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you were dealing with enough. And I was afraid you’d disappear.”
“Fucking should have.”
“Justin. He can’t do it without both parents permission if they both have custody. He tried to convince me again after the… after you were bashed. He thought once you were out of rehab we should send you there.”
Brian stood up and walked away from the table. Too angry to think.
“We could kill Craig.”
“Brian stop offering to kill my father.”
“No.”
“It’s not helping.”
“Fine, so he couldn’t go if you said no. Which you did, because you’re sane.”
“What if Alicia says yes.”
“I don’t think Alicia knows what’s involved.”
“Mom you have to tell her.”
“I can’t honey. I can’t just walk up to your fathers… whatever the fuck she is, and tell her what I saw.”
“What you saw? You went there?”
“Justin this is ancient history.”
“Not to me, I’m just finding out.” Justin was pacing now, his food forgotten.
“Justin I went so that your father knew I was making an informed decision not to send you there.”
“Did you consider it?”
“Not for a second. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“So you have to talk to Alicia.”
“Justin… I’m not the one.”
“Who is?”
“You?”
“Fuck that.”
Justin was still pacing. Brian handed him a cigarette. They calmed Justin down when he was on the verge of a massive fit. “Justin calm down.” Those words didn’t Brian remembered that part too late.
“Fuck that.”
Brian sat down. “Jenn, do you think Alicia will listen to Justin? More importantly, do you think she’ll listen to Craig?”
“I have no clue. Why do you both assume I know so much more about this than I do? I’ve met the woman three times in my life, and not under the best of circumstances. I can’t do anything about this. And Brian… I can see you about to say it and don’t. Because if you offer to have Craig killed right now, I’m going to take you up on it.”
Brian smiled at that and sat down. Justin continued to pace and smoke, flicking the ashes on the floor.
Jenn turned her attention to Brian. “What’s he doing?”
“Figuring out what to do.”
“Justin.”
“Don’t Jenn. I’m not even fucking sure if he can hear you. He’ll pace, and fuck up my floors. And then he’ll rant, and then he’ll actually come up with a pretty brilliant course of action.”
“Stop fucking talking about me like I’m not here.”
“What did I just say?”
“I don’t fucking know, but I know you’re talking about me.”
“You’re fucking up my floors again.”
“Fuck you.”
“Jenn almost laughed. “How often does he do this?”
Brian put his finger to his lips. “Don’t talk about him like he’s not here.” He whispered
“Fuck the both of you.”
“Yes dear.”
Justin shot him another look. “I’m going out.”
Brian moved more quickly than Justin and blocked the door. “Keys.”
“Brian.”
“Not driving like this. Keys.”
“Justin handed him the keys, taking the one to Babylon and showing it to him. Brian nodded and Justin left, slamming the door behind him.
“That was…”
“Justin.”
“But he’s so…”
“Jennifer, do you remember when you…I don’t know…gave him to me… the second time, because he was pitching fits and you didn’t know how to deal with it?”
Jennifer nodded. “I remember.”
“Well, I got it down…correction, WE got it down from throwing shit and breaking stuff I liked to pacing and fucking up my floors… but there’s no point talking or trying to be rational with him when he’s like that. He’ll walk…far. He’ll come home covered in paint, or dirt, or stoned off his ass, and then he’ll be fine.”
“Fine?”
“More than fine because he’ll know what he thinks he’s going to do.”
“Thinks he’s gonna do?”
“Yeah. His plans aren’t always brilliant. Sometimes they need some polishing.”
“But he’ll be okay? I don’t think I’ve seen him this angry since…”
“Since he flipped out and threw you into a dresser?”
“He told you about that?”
“Going on six years here mother Taylor. Does the whole world really think we do nothing but fuck and fight?”
Jennifer laughed. “You know, I’m sure your ego thinks it’s the whole world, but it’s really just a few people.”
“Who think he and I do nothing but fuck and fight.”
“Well, that’s all we see.”
“That’s all that’s any of your fucking business.”
“Brian you know…”
“Yeah, I know, you’re fine with me, it’s all okay, you’re glad I’m taking care of your baby boy. Got it.”
“I was going to say I think you’re good for him.”
“Yeah, fucking great. He’s out there pacing and storming around Pittsburgh with no idea what to do and I’m gonna have to sweep the floor.”
Jennifer laughed. “If you need help…not with the sweeping…with Craig, you’ll call me?”
“If there’s anything we think you can do.”
“Aaron’s worse than Justin was isn’t he?”
“I don’t honestly remember. But he’s got a certain stubbornness to him that seems familiar.”
“Thank you.” Jennifer leaned in to kiss Brian on the cheek. He didn’t pull his head away.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**
Justin lit another cigarette and kept walking. He was furious. His mother hadn’t told him. Brian treating him like a fucking kid, talking about him like he wasn’t in the room.
He exhaled and kept walking.
He ended up in his new studio but he wasn’t in the mood to work on anything. He sat, he finished the six-pack in the ‘fridge and smoked some more. Finally, a little calmer, or just buzzed from the beer he’d downed so quickly he headed back to the loft. It was after two. Brian should be back at the office. Justin knew he wouldn’t be.
He slammed the door shut behind him, Brian stood up and started to say something but Justin wasn’t in the mood to talk.
He pushed Brian backwards towards the bedroom unbuttoning his shirt and yanking at his tie. Not letting their lips lose contact.
He pushed Brian down on the bed roughly, still not speaking.
He was straddling him, unzipping his pants. He raised himself up on his knees long enough to pull Brian's pants down and then leaned forward grabbing a condom and the lube.
Brian’s hands were reaching for him. He pushed them away, took off his own shirt and kicked his jeans across the loft somewhere.
He lowered himself onto Brian quickly, and moved forward, holding the man’s forearms against the bed, riding him. Sucking his tongue into his own mouth and enjoying the deep moans that Brian was breathing into him.
He clenched his ass around Brian's dick and smiled wickedly when Brian cursed out his name.
“Fuck Justin.”
Justin did it again.
“She should have fucking told me.”
Brian nodded. And Justin leaned down to plunder his mouth again. “You should have fucking told me.”
“I didn’t know.”
“That’s no excuse.”
Brian laughed and Justin began to move faster, his hands roughly pulling at Brian’s nipples.
He felt Brian plant his feet on the mattress. Knees bent, and leaned against them using the leverage to pull all the way out off before impaling himself again. He let himself moan this time.
“Fucking Craig.”
“No, you’re fucking me.”
“Whatever.”
Brian could taste the beer on Justin's breath. Could smell it. He was halfway to drunk, and still pretty fucking angry. Brian was okay with that as long as he didn’t stop.
Justin did stop. He felt Brian’s body contract. Saw his face and knew he was about to come. He stopped moving. Stopped touching. “Not yet.”
Brian flopped his head back onto the bed, trying to reach for a pillow but Justin’s hands were back on his forearms holding him still. He started to move again. Slowly, contracting his muscles on the down stroke. Squeezing his ass against the base of Brian's cock.
“Goddamned asshole.”
“Me or Craig?”
“Both of you.”
Brian nodded, letting Justin work out his aggression…he really didn’t mind.
Justin's hands were on his body again, reaching behind him and stroking his thighs.
He tentatively moved his own hands towards Justin, but as his long fingers reached to encircle his cock Justin pushed his hands away.
“I said not yet.”
Brian gave up and just let the boy ride him. He watched as Justin’s eyes went from sharply focused and angry to hazy and half closed. He did take Justin's hips in his hand then, and Justin's fingers gripped his as he started to move even faster. Twisting his hips to make sure Brian’s shaft was stroking just where he wanted.
“Okay. Now.” Justin's voice was deep and breathy and Brian’s hand moved to his leaking erection, stroking it in time to Justin’s movements. Swiping his thumb over his slit, letting a finger skim around the sensitive spot where the shaft became the head of his cock. And he felt him come into his hand. Felt the pulsing sensation around his own dick as Justin threw his head back and let his body shudder.
Brian thrust his hips, pushing himself deeper and came as Justin’s body milked the orgasm from him.
Justin collapsed on top of him then. His head on his chest, his legs still on either side. Brian still inside him.
“Will you really kill my dad for me?”
Brian shook his head. “No, only for your mom”
“You’re an asshole.”
“You already said that.”
“This is bullshit.”
“I know.”
“I can’t believe he wanted to do that to me.”
“I wouldn’t have let him.”
“Do you have to go back to work?”
“Not yet.”
Justin smiled. “Just stay here for a little bit.”
“Okay.”
“I have to go get Aaron soon anyway.”
“Are you gonna talk to Alicia?”
He felt Justin shrug against him. “I don’t know yet.”
“Yes you do.”
“I’m sorry I fucked up the floors.”
“They’re good as new.”
“Why do you put up with me?”
“Mostly cause it usually ends like this.”
“Oh, yeah, you keep me around for the sex.”
Justin’s eyes were closed and Brian ran a hand through his hair. He was asleep. He wrapped his arms around him and closed his eyes. Twenty minutes then they both had to face the world again.
A half hour later Justin woke up cursing. Shit I’m gonna be late getting Aaron.
“He’ll be fine.”
Justin shot him a look.
“Okay, he’ll be sucking some guy off in public but, it’s not like that’s the worst thing in the world.”
“Fuck. Brian, keys.”
Brian handed him his keys back.
“Where are my pants?”
Brian found them and held them out to him.
“Thanks.”
“I’ll be home for dinner.”
“We’ll go out.”
“Okay.”
They kissed and Brian watched him leave realizing he’d never said whether he was going to talk to Alicia or not.
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