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Brother's Keeper
by Vamphile
Twenty
At least Aaron didn’t mention to anyone else that he’d seen Justin in town. Saturday passed in a blissful haze of good weed, takeout, and fucking. They talked some but not about anything important. There was still a lot to be settled but they’d reached some sort of détente for the day and for the first time in a while Justin felt like maybe he could belong both here and in New York.
Sunday was a little more tense. This wasn’t surprising to either of them. Justin had to be back on a plane at midnight. Neither were particularly happy about the separation at the moment.
“You sure you have to go back tonight?”
“Yeah. I’ve got some stuff at home I have to finish up before I take it over to the gallery on Tuesday. I’m sure HikeNow wants something else changed at this point… I’ll check my messages later.”
“Fuck. I have to call Ted. The changes you made for Babylon are putting us over budget, I need to see how broke I’m going to be.”
“Pfft.”
“Hey I didn’t say the designs weren’t brilliant. I said that they’re high end.”
“I thought you wanted it high end. I can make changes. Make it less costly.”
“No… it’s good the way it is. In fact…”
“What?”
“This is that thing where I’m supposed to have asked you first…but we didn’t have that agreement then. So now I’m telling you. Next time I promise to ask.”
“Brian. What did you do?”
“Paul said that the designs were really well done. Detailed, but doable. The changes weren’t insane and kept the integrity of the original plan without putting his guys out too much.”
“Brian. What did you do?”
“I kind of…”
Justin was on his elbow looking at Brian laying his head back on the pillow and looking decidedly uncomfortable. “Just tell me.”
“Paul wants to use you to design some new projects he’s been hired to do. He’s not good at the artistic element. He can manage a project. Control a crew, deal with permit and inspectors, but he can’t come up with an original idea to save his life or his business.”
“So you decided I should start a design firm?”
“No…I… kind of.”
Justin laughed. “Classic Kinney bullshit.”
“Are you mad?”
“What’s it pay?”
“You have to negotiate that with Paul.”
“Do I charge by the hour or the job?”
“Now you want help?”
Justin pushed at Brian's shoulder with his hand. “I never said I don’t want help. I said I don’t want things handed to me.”
“Charge a basic flat rate to take on a client and then by the hour for the design work, and pad your billable hours. No one needs to know you can knock that shit out in your sleep.”
“It’s really easy once you get the dimensions right.”
“No it isn’t. It’s easy for you. You’re good at it. Oh and get a retainer.”
“A retainer?”
“Yeah, you get the flat rate, then suddenly you’re billing for hours…once they’ve got the plans, they can stiff you. Get a retainer for the first X number of billable hours.”
“This sounds like a real business.”
“It could be. You really should incorporate.”
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
“No, Rage is incorporated right?”
“Yeah, Mikey and I did that. Mel said we should. Ted said we should. Once it started making money everyone was full of advice.”
“Well Ted can help you with that.”
Justin glared at Brian. “If you want. And he can bill you for hours…although that’s stupid.”
“Why is it stupid. If I’m gonna incorporate shouldn’t I be paying the guy who does all the boring numbers work?”
Brian sighed. “He’d do it for free, or on my time.”
“If he’s doing it on your time it’s on your dime.”
“And if he’s doing it on my time and billing you too then he’s a shady bastard.”
“So why don’t I get him to recommend a good accountant who isn’t you know, part of our ridiculously complicated twisted little family.”
“If that’s what you want.”
Justin was drawing lazy circles around Brian's nipples with his fingers. “I can ask him at dinner at Deb’s tonight. I think he and Blake are gonna be there.”
Brian looked up. “Dinner at Deb’s?”
Justin smiled. “You have to go too.”
“Why?”
“Because you handed me my own business and you’re very sorry about it and the only way you know how to prove that is to show up at Deb's and get yelled at for not telling anyone I was in town.”
“Why do they always yell at me? Do they really think I run your life?”
“You like them to think that.”
“Fuck. I know.” Brian covered his face with his hands for a moment. “You’re right. We’re going to Deb's for dinner…but I can think of other ways to tell you how very sorry I am that I’ve contributed to your future immense wealth.”
Brian cocked and eyebrow and flattened Justin into the mattress. By the time they showered it was time to leave for Debbie’s.
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
They could hear the noise the moment they stepped out of the car. Brian finished his cigarette and Justin looked like he was trying to decide something.
“What?”
“I’m just trying to figure out if it’s standard cacophony or if we’re about to be mid crisis.”
Brian shrugged and tossed his finished cigarette to the side. “Whatever it is, it’s not our crisis.”
Justin nodded and Brian draped an arm over his shoulders. Justin wrapped an arm around Brian's waist and they both mentally steeled themselves for whatever was inside the gaudy kitschy home of the adopted mother of their entire clan.
They tried to slip in quietly. It worked…sort of. Everyone fell silent. Justin smiled and waved.“Hi.”
“Sunshine! When the fuck did you get into town? And why didn’t you tell me he was coming asshole?”
Justin and Brian shot each other a glance, smiled and extracted themselves so that Debbie could smother Justin for a few moments.
Brian rescued him before he blacked out. “Deb, give the kid some air.”
“Justin, I didn’t know you were coming home.”
Justin turned his attention to his mom and gave a slight shrug to Brian. They separated. Brian to talk to Michael, Justin to give his mea culpa to his mother.
“Sorry mom. I had um…”
“Some sort of important business at the loft.”
“Let’s go with that.”
“You’re still coming in for Thanksgiving right?”
“As far as I know. If plans change I’ll tell you.”
“You look tired. Are you eating?”
”Mom…”
“Sorry, of course you’re eating. I’ll stop being your mother some day. Oh wait. No I won’t.”
Justin laughed. “It’s okay. I’m fine. Had some free time and came to visit Brian. And then we thought we’d branch out before I left.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Plan leaves tonight.”
“Oh.”
“Stop. I promise I’ll tell you the next time I’m in town.”
“It’s up to you. It’s just so lonely without you around.”
Justin rolled his eyes. “You suck at guilt mom. Maybe you should ask Debbie for some pointers.”
She laughed again. “Maybe I will.”
Justin pulled a beer out of the refrigerator and was cornered by Aaron. “You said not to tell anyone you were here.”
“And I meant it.”
“But then you go public?”
“Man can not live by takeout alone.”
“Pfft. Bored with him already.”
“Aaron, you know how you talk about shit you can’t begin to understand? You’re doing it again.”
“Whatever. He misses you. He’s glad you’re here.”
Justin gave him a look. “Duh.”
“Seriously, he gets mopey sometimes when you’re like really busy.”
“How the fuck do you know.”
“I’ve seen it. But then he usually picks a really violent game and kills something.”
“Well, that’s healthy.”
“Better than…”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“What.”
“Nothing. Just… he misses you. I can tell.”
Justin pulled Aaron outside and handed him a cigarette. “Talk.”
“Nothing.”
“Say nothing again, see what happens.”
“He goes to a lot of clubs.”
“So?”
“I just thought you guys were like a couple or something.”
Justin suddenly understood and laughed. “Aaron. Do you go out with him to make sure he’s not cheating on me?”
“What? I didn’t say he… I mean…you…”
Justin was laughing too hard to stop now. Brian joined them. He wrapped an arm around Justin and noticed that Aaron was bright red. “What’d you do now princess?”
Justin couldn’t stop laughing long enough to tell him.
“I swear Brian I didn’t say anything. I mean. I didn’t. I just said you missed him.”
Justin was still laughing. Brian did the only thing he could think of to stop him. He spun him around and kissed him. Pushing his tongue inside his mouth. Justin sighed into him.
“Okay, now what’s so funny?”
“Half-breed has been keeping an eye on you so you don’t cheat on me.”
It was Brian's turn to laugh. “Well you know I’m incorrigible but you’d forgive me a slip now and then right?”
“I suppose. But only if you promise never ever to do it again.”
“Well, I won’t…um, unless you know, I can’t control myself.”
Aaron was staring at the two of them. “You know?” He glared accusingly at Justin.
“Aaron. You don’t know anything. And I’m not going to be the one who explains it to you. Go inside.”
“But he fucks other guys.”
“How many times to I have to say ‘duh’ to you today.”
“But… you’re a couple.”
“Who fuck other people.” Brian added.
“Oh holy shit you two are twisted.” Aaron stalked off throwing his hands in the air as if he had given up on both of them completely.
“I think we’re warping him.”
“I think he’s already warped.”
“He thinks you’d cheat on me.”
“I can’t. I’m trying to think of what I’d have to do that would constitute cheating and I don’t think even I’m that kinky.”
“Kink equals cheating? I’m in trouble. My leather daddy’s gonna be pissed.”
“Yeah, cause you’re that stupid.”
“Lately, apparently.”
”Stop it.”
“Right, not supposed to be hating myself.”
“Are you still?”
“Not as much as I hate you.’
“Well good. Then we’re back to status quo.”
“Get your asses in here for dinner.”
“I think we’re being graciously called to the table.”
Michael and Justin were eating dessert in a corner plotting out the next issue of Rage. Ben and Hunter were arguing about his course schedule for the next semester at Allegheny community college. Ted and Blake were talking to Debbie and Emmett about some bullshit Brian didn’t care about and Jenn and Alicia were laughing like old girlfriends, probably comparing notes on Craig. Brian was very happy not to be privy to those shared details.
Aaron sat next to him. “I can’t believe you.”
“What?”
“You fuck around on my brother.”
“He made the rules I just follow them.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Aaron. This is not your business.”
“But he knows.”
“And again. Not your concern.”
“I’ll never understand the two of you.”
“Few will.”
“You’re twisted.”
“You’ve mentioned that.”
“Why doesn’t he just leave you and find someone normal?”
Brian stood up to get another beer. “Fuck off Aaron.”
Aaron was left sitting alone on the sofa and Brian noticed a lull in conversation around the table. He decided to talk to Ted about an accountant for Justin and then remembered. Fuck.
“Justin.”
“What?”
They were yelling across the room and everyone’s heads were following like a tennis match. “Can I ask Ted about accountants?”
Justin sighed. “Get numbers but I’m calling them.”
“Fine.”
He stared to talk to Ted and realized the room was once again silent. Michael spoke first. “What the fuck was that?”
“What?”
“He’s asking you permission?”
“What can I say, I’ve got him on a short leash.”
“Justin you can’t make Brian…”
“Michael. Are you really gonna go into the what Brian Kinney does and doesn’t do thing with me?”
Michael’s mouth snapped shut. “You can get him to do fucking anything.”
Justin smiled “yeah I can. But see, I don’t abuse the privilege…that’s why it still works.”
“Opinions vary.” Michael muttered.
“Email me the new ideas Michael. I don’t have time for your bullshit.”
Michael put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry. I just… it’s weird. You’re not here most of the time and he’s like the old Brian…kinda. And then you’re back and he’s like this new Brian volume Two.”
“We’re twisted.”
“No shit.”
“So what were we talking about before the conversation predictably returned Brian?”
“Rage.”
“Oh yeah, that’s totally different than Brian.”
Michael laughed. “So I’m thinking in this next one rage is trying to teach JT how to use his new powers.”
“JT has new powers?”
“Yeah, it’s really cool. He’s met this other band of like sidekicks and they decide that with their powers combined they could be, you know…superheros.”
“But they fail and rage rescues them all?”
“Something like that.”
“Michael, you really need to stop stealing every plot from my arguments with Brian.”
“But those work best.”
Justin tilted his head, conceding the point. “So what powers did JT get?”
Brian launched into a monologue that bordered on squeeing geeker joy. Justin had some ideas for the storyboards and he had to admit, Michael was an idiot savant. He didn’t understand much about Justin and Brian’s relationship, but he did somehow manage to turn it all into a compelling graphic novel.
When they finally slipped away, Justin with a loaded bag of food to take back to New York with him Brian drove straight to the airport. “We paying for parking again?”
“Looks that way.”
“Fuck, Aaron’s funny.”
“You think it’s funny?”
“He wants to keep you from cheating on me. That’s funny.”
“Well, you know, he buys into society’s bullshit about what a relationship SHOULD be. Good thing neither of us do that.”
“Fuck you.”
Brian laughed.
“Hey did you get a name of someone from Ted?”
“Yeah a couple…here.”
“Thanks.” Justin took the paper.
“So what should we name my new company?”
“We?”
“You started the whole thing. And now I have to incorporate. So yeah, what do you think it should be called?”
“Twink, Inc.”
“Wow…that plan to kill you is looking better and better.”
“You never did tell me the plan.”
“Because I might need it someday.”
“So I don’t even get a clue?”
“Nope.”
Brian lit a cigarette and offered one to Justin who took it. They drove in comfortable silence.
Parking cost another forty bucks but the fact that the seats in the new jeep were so versatile was greatly appreciated by them both.
~*~**~**~**~*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*
Justin slept for a few hours once he got home and called Brian to inform him that he was in fact home safe and sound.
He went down to the coffee shop and Matt was there.
“You’re back.”
“You’re surprised?”
“Last time you left it took you a week to come home.”
“That was about other bullshit…this was just about some R&R”
“Did you get any of either?”
“Actually yeah.”
“Good for you.”
“Very good for me.”
“So what the fuck’s going on?”
“Huh?”
“With you and what’s his name?”
“Brian? It’s complicated.”
“Do you know you say that every time anyone asks you about him.”
“Because it doesn’t get less complicated.”
“Someday you’re gonna have to tell me.”
“No…I’m not. Matt it would take hours… days… millennia for anyone to understand and truthfully, I’m really not interested in what anyone else understands.”
“All we understand is that you’re a nice guy and he’s a big question mark.”
“Who’d you fuck this weekend?”
“What?”
“Simple question matt. Who’d you fuck?”
“None of your business.”
“So why Brian yours?”
“Cause who I fucked doesn’t make a bit of difference and something was bugging you before you left.”
“Yeah. And I worked it out.”
“On half the guys at Scenic.”
“Whatever you want to think.”
“Just don’t get how it’s true love and all that bullshit if you’re fucking around on him.”
“You and my brother should get together and go bowling.”
“What?”
“Nothing, old movie reference. I’m tired of this. Matt, we’re friends right?”
“Yeah.”
“So can you trust me and not ask me to justify something that’s too complicated for anyone to comprehend, even us?”
“Us, you and Brian?”
“Yeah.”
“You two don’t know what the deal is?”
“Half the time we’re just… you know what, you should be a fucking therapist. Or a lawyer. I’m sick of this. Can I NOT talk about Brian for today.”
“Sure, no problem. If that’s what you really want.”
“It is.”
Justin's phone rang. “Yes?”
“I was gonna order that new program we talked about.”
“So?”
“So I need approval.”
Justin rolled his eyes. “Order it.”
“You sure?”
“Fuck you.”
“Just checking.”
“Bite me.”
“Working on the anger Sunshine?”
“Anything for you dear.”
He turned back to Matt. “Sorry.”
“‘S’okay. Hey Zoë got a piece in some rinky dink show, wanna go?”
“Sure what time?”
“I don’t know, say tennish?”
“See you then.”
Justin finished his coffee and headed back home to work.
A few hours later the phone rang again. “Can I buy you a shirt?”
“What?”
“There’s this shirt. You’d look hot in it. Can I buy you a shirt?”
“Does it require ironing?”
“No, it’s a pullover.”
“Fine. Buy me a shirt.”
Justin hung up the phone and bit at his thumbnail he wasn’t sure whether Brian was being purposely annoying or not. He decided not to worry about it for the moment.
He was using the graphics program to design business cards and think up a name for his company when the phone rang again. “They’re having a sale on that coffee you like and I hate. If I buy it for the loft, do I still have to check with you?”
“Yes. And stop this.”
“Stop what?’
“Nothing. Buy the fucking coffee.”
He’d lost his train of thought and was trying to regroup when the phone rang again. “If I order lube in bulk is that for you or me?”
“Brian.”
“Okay, me, right. I don’t have to check on that.”
Justin wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or scream. He went with laughing for the moment as he worked again on the business card, which was somewhat difficult to do without a name for the company.
The phone rang “leather jacket.”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Now he was really laughing. Brian could be such an asshole. But he was good at following rules.
The day went on like that. Brian emailed him links with the simple text of a question mark.
Justin gave a simple Y or N answer to each one and tried to get on with his day.
Finally after about seven hours of the constant barrage of phone calls and emails…many with some really explicitly fascinating links to some seriously amazing toys Justin called him.
“I get it.”
“Get what?”
“You think about me.”
“I’m just trying to follow the rules.”
“Purchases over two hundred dollars.”
“Combined or per item?”
Justin had to think about that. “Two hundred per single item five hundred combined.”
“So if it stays below 199.99 I can buy it with no consequence.
“But I expect receipts. If you but two thousand dollars worth of stuff just at different registers…that’s cheating.”
“Yeah wouldn’t want Aaron on my ass for cheating.”
“Shut up, he’s retarded.”
“I know. You’re not really mad I hired him are you?”
“No…it’s probably for the best. And I have a feeling that Craig would end up in pieces if he tried to hurt Aaron in front of the entire construction crew.”
Brian laughed. “Kid flirts almost as well as you do. You’re probably right. Do you care that he’s at the loft?”
“No. Not really. I’m just worried about Craig. And if he sees Aaron at the loft all the time… you know what he’d gonna think.”
“He’d be wrong.”
“I know that, you know that…Aaron knows that…Craig, not the most rational man I’ve ever met, especially when it comes to you.”
“What’s he gonna do?”
“Um, accuse you of child molestation.”
“Which he can’t prove and Aaron would deny.”You denied it too if you’ll recall.”
“You so didn’t molest me. I was looking for it.”
“You were looking to be molested.”
“You were really good at it.”
“Still am.”
“I know.”
“Fuck.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
Promise you won’t start banging your head against a wall?”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“So what’s wrong?”
“Aaron’s here. Craig's hot on his heels.”
“Go. Don’t hit him.”
“Which one?”
“Either, but specifically Craig.”
“I’m calling Horvath tomorrow.”
“Why?”
“To find out what my options are.”
“Your options?”
“The options. Whatever. This has to stop.”
“Does Alicia know?”
“I don’t think so. Aaron doesn’t want to upset her.”
“You he’s willing to upset.”
“I never thought I was in love with the guy.”
“Great, now I’m nauseated.”
“I’m sorry, would you rather have a mental image of me fucking Craig.”
“Great…now we’re both nauseated.”
Brian laughed. I don’t know…he’s got that certain Taylor something.”
“Brian. You’re about to lose a certain Taylor something.”
“Sorry. Can’t help fucking with you.”
“Yes you can you just don’t want to.”
“Six of one…”
“Go get Craig away from Aaron.”
“Not a problem. Wait. One question.”
“Yes?”
“Light filtration system for the windows in your Pittsburgh studio.”
“Brian! That’s what all these fucking phone calls were about?”
“Well, Paul’s about to do the windows for the rest of the place and…”
“Fine…I already accepted the studio. You might as well put some fucking window treatment thing on it.”
“Just checking.”
“Yes, you’re a wonderful what the fuck ever boyfriend or something. Go rescue my half-breed and get in a pissing contest with my father. You know you want to.”
“I really do. Here, talk to Aaron.”
Justin heard a few raised voices and some shuffling.
“Hi.”
“What’s going on?”
“Brian’s doing that glaring intimidation thing.”
“Is it working?”
“I think dad’s gonna wet himself.”
“Good.”
“Brian gets off on this you know.”
“No, I actually know what he gets off on…but he does hate Craig.”
“So do I.”
“Probably best.”
“I wish he’d just go away.”
“We’re gonna work on that.”
“You are?”
“Yeah, we are…he’s an asshole.”
“Know what he said to me?”
“I told you not to talk to him.”
“I have to. If I try to walk away…”
“What?”
“Nothing, it just makes him madder.”
“Aaron. The kids at school.”
“Yeah?”
“Are they the ones leaving the bruises?”
“What?”
“Brian said it was just bully stuff.”
“Brian’s an asshole. It’s none of your business.”
“So it’s him.”
“No.”
“You’re lying.”
“NO!”
“Aaron…what the fuck.”
“Justin, it’s just some kids at school.”
“If you say so.”
“Here. Talk to Brian. You’re pissing me off and I have to go to work.”
“Your father is an asshole.”
“And he’s hitting Aaron.”
“What?”
“I don’t think it’s school bully bullshit. I think Craig's getting dangerous.”
“More dangerous.”
“Whatever.”
“What the fuck? Craig has no custody, so it’s not like social services can remove him from the house.”
“Call Horvath. Call Melanie if you have to find out what our options are.”
“He said it was just normal kids at school shit.”
“What did you say when people asked?”
There was silence on the other end. Justin knew they hadn’t been disconnected he could still hear the power tools and general construction sounds in the background. “Brian.”
“I’m a fucking idiot.” Justin barely heard it. He knew that tone. Fuck.
“Brian you’re not.”
“You realize I’m going to have to kill your father.”
“Don’t talk about it on an open line.”
“So you’re not saying no.”
“Fuck. Yes. I am. Don’t fucking kill Craig. You’re too pretty to go to jail.”
“I have to go Justin.”
“I know. Don’t do ANYTHING…. Just make the calls.”
“Okay.”
“Promise me Brian.”
……………………..
…………………….
“Brian.”
“He’s sleeping at the loft tonight.”
“Fine. I’ll call you both later.”
Brian hung up the phone. His hands were shaking. He wanted to grab Aaron and shake him for lying but more he wanted to shake himself for believing him. This was completely fucked. He’d lied to Justin. It was easier when he had no one to answer to but himself.
Justin hung up the phone. His hands were shaking. He knew Brian wasn’t okay. He knew this was fucked. He knew that he was keeping Aaron at the loft because he didn’t want to be alone tonight.
Justin wanted to head back to Pittsburgh. He wanted to sleep next to Brian and remind him that this wasn’t within his control. The whole world was not in his fucking control.
He knew there was nothing he could do there. He just wanted to be there. He pushed the thought away and walked away from the computer and the work he was doing. He started to grab some stuff for the laundry. He was emptying the pockets of the jeans he’d been wearing the night before he left. There was still some in the vial. He took a quick snort, knowing I was probably a bad fucking idea. But he felt better. More focused. He headed down to the basement to do a load of laundry and consider newer and more creative methods of killing Craig.
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