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Brother's Keeper
by Vamphile
Twenty-One
Justin woke up with a headache. He stumbled to the kitchen to get a bottle of water and some aspirin. Matt was sprawled on the futon. He vaguely remembered going finishing his laundry and finding Matt waiting for him. They went to see Zoë’s show, or her piece. The rest of the artwork was crap. Zoë’s sculpture wasn’t even that good. But he’d found the whole thing funny at the time.
They’d ducked out after a couple of glasses of cheap champagne and headed to Torrid. It wasn’t Justin’s favorite club, a little too dingy, a little too skanky, but the beer was cheap and there were a couple of guys worth dancing with.
Brian had called and he’d talked to him. Aaron was asleep and Brian seemed to be drunk, and morose. They’d talked for a while. He glanced at the clock. It was almost noon. He washed down the aspirin with half a bottle of water and went back to his room. He left the shades down and closed. It was dark and he liked it that way right now.
He called Brian.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
“You feeling any better?”
“Less drunk. You?”
“Still thinking I should have let you kill my dad.”
“Like you could have stopped me.”
“Brian.”
“It’s okay. I drove Aaron to school. I’m picking him up to take him to work. And I called Horvath. He said we need a lawyer.”
“Who do we use?’
“Called Mel, she recommended some dyke friend of hers. Specializes in alternative family abuse.”
“This isn’t an alternative family.”
“It is because Craig’s doesn’t have custody, but he is listed as the father on the birth certificate.”
“So what’s gonna happen?”
“Aaron's gonna have to admit it’s his dad. And Alicia has to know because he can’t file the restraining order without his mother he’s still underage.”
“What if it was his mother?”
“Then he becomes ward of the state or something.”
“That is seriously fucked.”
“This is seriously fucked.”
“You know it’s not your fault.”
“I know I didn’t hit him.”
“You know you couldn’t have stopped this.”
“Bullshit. I should have seen it. I should have known the little shit was lying.”
“Why? Did he ever make excuses?”
“No, he said thee were assholes at school. And I let it go.”
“Because we know assholes at school can do shit like that.”
“And worse.”
“Brian, we can’t lock him up and hope someday the worlds a nicer place.”
“We could try.”
“He’s a slippery motherfucker. He’d find a way out.”
Brian laughed a little. “Yeah, he would.”
“So do you want me to come back?”
“You need to be there. You’ve got a meeting in an hour.”
“And then I’m free for two weeks.”
“Free to live your life.”
“This is my life.”
“I’m okay. He’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m gonna make sure of it.”
“Not about Aaron. About you.”
“Justin. This isn’t about me.”
“Okay. I’ll be around. Call me.”
“Well if I see something that costs more than two hundred dollars.”
“Fuck you.”
“That’d be nice.”
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too. I have to go. I have a lunch meeting with your mom.”
“Why?”
“I want to ask her some more shit about Craig.”
“Fuck that, reschedule. I’ll be back there tomorrow.”
“No. And I’m sending you by bus if you come.”
“You wouldn’t even spring for a plane ticket?”
“Not if I’m not gonna even get laid.”
“Christ. I’m such a whore.”
“I kind of like that about you. But no, you really aren’t. You need to be there, working on your new business and the stuff for the show.”
“I know. I just wish I could be in both places at once.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Sure you don’t want to give up your entire life and move to New York?”
“Sure you don’t want to give up yours?”
“Stalemate.”
“Never stale.”
Justin heard matt calling for him. Brian heard it too. “Matt’s there?”
“He crashed here last night.”
Silence.
“On the futon. We went to torrid. Had a few too many. Some guy gave lousy head. Matt was really wasted. He crashed on the futon.”
“Justin, I fucking trust you.”
“You don’t trust matt.”
“I trust about three people in the world. You’re one of them.”
“Fine. Tell Paul that I finished the…”
“No.”
“No?”
“I’m not your messenger. You want to do business with Paul you tell him.”
“I hate when you’re rational.”
“I know.”
“Don’t upset my mother.”
“How would I know? She’s a better WASP than Lindsay.”
“That’s why I want to be there. I’d know.”
“I’m not sure I could upset her more than I have in the past.”
“Good point.”
“Tell her I said hi.”
“No, I’ll tell her you told her to fuck off.”
“I’m telling you to fuck off.”
“I’ve gotta go.”
“Me too.”
“Tell me what you find out.”
“Okay.”
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**
Brian met Jennifer at a place near her office.”
They made pleasantries until they ordered. Then Jennifer took his hand. He resisted the impulse to pull away. “What’s wrong?”
He did pull his hand away then and sat back, putting as much distance between them as possible. “Craig’s fucked up.”
“Brian I already told you I don’t have any sway over Craig anymore.”
“He’s hurting Aaron.”
“Physically?”
Brian nodded.
“Fucking asshole. Why are you telling me this?”
“Couple reasons. I’ve gotta tell Alicia. You two seem tight. Thought you might help. And I’m worried about what he’s gonna do financially if he ends up with a bunch of legal shit. I don’t want molly to get fucked out of going to college.”
“Brian, I can afford…”
“I’ll give her the same deal I did Justin. Well, actually she’d really have to pay me back. I never expect to see a scent from him. And if she doesn’t finish I’ll charge double.”
Jennifer laughed. “Brian. I can afford to send her anywhere she wants to go…well, within reason but trust me; I’ve seen her grades. She’s a little too into other things to get into Dartmouth.”
“You sure?”
“I’ll be fine without his child support if it comes to that. I was only gonna have it for another couple of years anyway.”
“So Alicia”
“You’re sure she doesn’t know?”
“Has she said anything to you?”
“No Brian, she hasn’t but it’s not the kind of thing we’d share.”
“What is?”
Jennifer called the waiter over and ordered a vodka tonic. “It’s really none of your business.”
“How the fuck do I tell her this?”
“Aaron has to tell her.”
“He hasn’t told me.”
“Then how are you so sure.”
“He told Justin.”
“Then he’s told you. He’s a kid. He’s not stupid. He knows that anything he tells Justin gets back to you.”
“He actually… I’m not sure. Aaron has to… fuck. Can I just kill Craig?”
Jennifer sipped at her drink. And then munched on a breadstick. She seemed to be considering her options. “It won’t solve the problem.”
“Sure it will. Craig can’t hurt anyone from a box buried six feet underground.”
“Neither can jack.”
Brian flinched. “Not about him.”
“Okay. But you still can’t kill him and you know it. I’ll go with you to talk to Alicia if you want.”
“Can’t you just do it and let me know how it goes?”
Their food arrived and they were silent for a few moments.
“I can’t do that Brian. And you know it as well as I do. And really you shouldn’t be the one doing this either.”
“Well Justin’s out of town.”
“No, not Justin. He’s got enough to deal with.”
“Meaning me.”
“No. I think actually you’re more a help than a hindrance these days.”
“Opinions vary.”
“I hear Babylon is coming along nicely.”
Brian wasn’t blind to the change of subject but he let it go for the moment.
“Justin’s plans were pretty amazing.”
“You know, the loft below yours is for sale.”
“No. I didn’t.”
“Just thought I’d mention it. I have the listing. You were smart to buy when you did. And not to sell last year.”
“Brilliant.”
“You want to put a bid in on it?”
“I don’t need more space.”
“Is Gus coming for Christmas?”
“Yeah, for a week or two.”
“Where’s he gonna sleep?”
Brian shrugged.
“He’s five years old. Little pitchers big ears…”
“Jenn, do you really think I’d do anything with my son in the loft?”
“No. But I know Justin’s coming in for the holidays as well, at least for a weekend.”
“And you think I can’t go two days without fucking your son?”
“I think you can when you’re in separate cities.”
Brian missed when Jennifer used to get flummoxed at the concept. Now she seemed amused by it at best. When she was at her worst she had a tendency to try to flummox Brian. Sometimes it worked, but only because she was his whatthefuckever in-law.
“Mother Taylor.”
“They’re selling cheap Brian. They broke up and they’re both trying to stiff each other on the equity.”
“Shel and Mort broke up?”
“You know them?”
“They’ve lived in space under mine for nine years. We’ve met. They seemed so right for each other. Both accountants…”
Jennifer laughed. “Sheldon is a periodontist, and Morton restores old books.”
“Like I said, accountants.”
“Brian. Do you want to make an offer on the place?”
“What are they asking?”
“They’re asking four fifty. They’ll take four.”
“That’s insane, the place is worth twice that.”
“Your place is worth twice that. They didn’t go as high end as you did on the upgrades, but it’s still pretty nice. And yes. I could get five for it, but they’re looking to sell fast.”
“Lowball them. Offer them three fifty.”
“You’re going to profit from their petty money squabbles?”
“Is it your commission, your listing?”
“Yes.”
“Then so are you.”
Jennifer smiled. “The commission will go toward Molly’s college fund.”
“See, so it all works out. And you’ll talk to Alicia.”
“Fuck no.”
“Please?”
“I’m sorry, fuck no. Thank you.”
Brian laughed. I could get Horvath to tell her.”
“Yes because it will be less traumatic with a police officer at her door.”
“So it has to be Aaron.”
“If it were I. Yes. I’d want Justin to tell me.”
“Then what would you do?”
“Call you and give you the go ahead to kill him.”
Brian laughed. “You just need to ask. FUCK!”
“What?”
“Don’t’ make an offer yet. I have to ask Justin.”
“What’s that about?”
“Your son is twisted.”
“I’ve known that since he was five and thought his skin would look better blue.”
Brian just stared at her.
“He never told you that? He said that since everyone said he had great blue eyes he decided at five he wanted blue skin too. He dumped everything blue he could find into the tub…including some calligraphy ink, and two bottles of my mother’s hair dye and the stuff I used to um…touch up my roots.
Brian was laughing now. So how blue did he turn?
“Months Brian. For MONTHS I was still finding little blue spots. We had to have the tub refinished. Craig was pissed.”
“And you?”
“I was just worried about his skin. He ended up allergic to something and needing a steroid shot. And then months of finding blue between his fingers, or on the back of his knee.”
“The kid is twisted. He wanted to be a smurf.”
That’s what Craig called him for a year 'til I made him stop.
“That’s probably a good thing.”
“Better than the names he has for him now.”
“That’s true.”
The check came and Jennifer picked up the tab. “Call Justin and ask him. This was a business lunch.”
Brian nodded and allowed her to kiss his cheek before he left.
He called Justin.
“What did my mom say?”
“That you’re a freak who tried to dye yourself blue.”
“Oh fucking Christ. I thought maybe I could keep that one from you.”
“I don’t know… you look hot in blue.”
“I was five.”
“Christ, Gus is five. Is he gonna do something that fucking stupid?”
“Probably. But he’s not allergic to everything… so he won’t almost die.”
“Hey, do you realize this really does make you allergic to certain shades of blue?”
“Fuck you.”
“I will but listen, Shel and Mort broke up.”
“The accountants who live downstairs from you.”
Brian laughed. “I’m not sure they’re actually accountants.”
“You said they were.”
“How the fuck would I know? I barely speak to them.”
“Then why are we talking about them now?”
“They’re selling their place.”
“And?”
“And I’m not supposed to make major purchasing decisions without you.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It’s what I heard.”
“You’re not supposed to buy things for ME without asking.”
“Justin, the loft is your home too. If I buy this it’s as much for you as it is for me. Should I make an offer?”
“Can you afford it?”
“Yeah, really not the issue.”
“Make the offer. But…”
“I know, doesn’t mean you’re moving back, you get to design the space and you want a bathtub.”
Justin smiled and Brian could hear it over the phone. “A big bathtub.”
“Okay, so I’ll tell your mother to put in the offer.”
“Yeah. If they’re breaking up they’re gonna be in a hurry, lowball them.”
Brian laughed. “Christ I love you.”
“What was that for?”
“You’re mercenary. It’s cute.”
“I’m practical. It’s business. Oh and I figured out what I’m calling my company.”
“Mm hmm?”
“Taylormade graphic and designs.”
“I like it. Taylor made.”
“So if you buy the new space when can you send me dimensions? I want to figure out where to put in a room for Gus.”
“And that big tub.”
“And walls. The new place needs walls.”
“Why?”
Because there’s something to be said for being able to shut a fucking door and have some privacy.”
“I think Shel an Mort had a less open floor plan to start.”
“I want to start working on this.”
“I don’t own it yet.”
“You will.”
“You’re so sure.”
You always get what you want.”
“It’s a gift.”
“Whatever. Are you on your way to pick up Matt? What else did my mother have to say?”
Brian lit a cigarette and exhaled into the headset.
“Don’t do that.”
“What?”
“It sounds weird when you blow into the headset.”
“You think the sound of my blowing is weird?”
“Stop making lame sexual innuendos to avoid the topic.”
“Aaron has to tell Alicia.”
“No shit.”
“What exactly did he tell you?”
“Same thing he told you. Denying things too fucking adamantly for my liking.”
“Gonna offer again.”
“Don’t.”
“So I’ll get him to tell me.”
“And then you’ll get him to tell her.”
“And then we’ll meet with the lawyer.”
“I wish I were there.”
“We covered this.”
“I know.”
“Taylormade designs. I like it.”
“It’ll do.”
“I’m at the school.”
“Is Craig there?”
“Hope so.”
“Brian.”
“What?”
“Get him to the worksite. Talk to him after work. Don’t fuck with my father.”
“I’ll call you once I know something.”
“Okay.”
“Hey.”
“What?”
“Don’t want to make a huge issue of this.”
“Brian.”
“But just know that I’m not in favor of you being a crystal queen.”
“Go get Aaron.”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
Aaron slid into the car, fished a cigarette out of Brian’s pack and lit it as he pulled off. Brian glared at him. “Christ, can’t you wait until we’re off school grounds?”
“Why?”
“So I don’t get arrested. Put your seatbelt on.”
“Sheesh.”
“Shut up.”
“You didn’t have to come get me.”
“Okay.”
“I didn’t have to sleep there last night.”
“It was late. But we finally beat level 14”
“The all weapons cheat code helped.”
“Yeah it did.”
“It’s not Craig.”
“Yeah it is.”
“Brian. I…”
“Stop lying about it.”
“I just…”
“Are you protecting him?”
“Why the fuck would I do that?”
“Because he’s your father.”
“Some father.”
“No shit. How often?”
“It’s not Craig.”
“Then who?”
“No one. Kids at school.”
“You’re lying.”
Brian looked over. Aaron seemed to be close to tears. He pinched the bridge of his nose and fought back the urge to kill Craig a little bit harder than he had planned. “Call your brother.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
Aaron dialed Justin's number while Brian made a quick phone call to get Ted to cover for him at the site if Paul called. He called Paul himself to tell him they’d be without Aaron or himself for the day.
“That guy still lurking around him?”
“What?”
“That guy that you were glaring at yesterday. He’s a fucking perv. Always hanging around Aaron. Kids smart, usually stays away from him.”
“And you didn’t do anything.”
“What the fuck was I supposed to do?”
Brian sighed. “Nothing I guess. Is he there now?”
“No. At least I don’t think so.”
“If you see him…scare the shit out of him.”
“Not a problem. Should I call the cops?”
“No. He’s not a perv. Well, maybe he is, but not the way you mean.”
“What’s he want with the kid?”
“I’ll figure it out. It’s not cloak and dagger shit. It’s his father.”
“Fuck, Brian, you can’t go fucking around with the kid’s dad.”
“Not planning to. Just keep him off the site. Away from the club.”
“Sure.”
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Oh tell Justin…”
“No.”
“What?”
“It’s his business not mine. If you need to talk to him about another project you call him.”
“Okay man whatever.”
“Bye Paul.”
Brian heard Aaron talking in low tones to Justin. He could pretty much guess the conversation but he’d let Aaron tell him in his own time…as long as his own time was today.
Aaron handed the phone to Brian who took off his earpiece so he could hear Justin on Aaron's phone.
“Well?”
“I was right, he doesn’t want to tell you.”
“He will.”
“I know. Be nice.”
“To whom?”
“For right now… everyone.”
“Okay.”
“And one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“You ever drop something like that crystal queen comment on me when you know we can’t talk about it right then and I will go through with my plans and kill you painfully you asshole.”
“Just wanted you to have time to get your story straight before I talked to you again.”
“I wasn’t’ tweaked last night.”
“Liar.”
“Vaguely tweaked.”
“Thought so.”
“Not a crystal queen.”
“Hope not.”
“Can we drop the conversation now?”
“For the moment.”
“For good.”
“Sure. Stop it.”
“I have.”
“Good.”
“You’re the hypocrite you know.”
“I’m not allergic to some shades of blue.”
“Why a I in love with an asshole?”
“Because you’re smart enough to know that everyone’s an asshole and at least I’m honest about it?”
“Oh yeah, that.”
“Call you tonight.”
“I know.”
He closed the phone and handed it back to Aaron as they pulled in to park by the loft. “I have to go to work.”
“You have the day off.”
“Brian.”
“With pay if you want, but I need to get through level fifteen and you have the grenade launcher and the cheat codes.”
“Fine. But I’m not telling you anything.”
“About what?”
“You really think I’m as blonde as my brother.”
“Your brother is pretty fucking smart.”
“Then what’s he doing with you?”
“He’s got his blind spots.”
Aaron shook his head. “Whatever let’s go. And I want Chinese not Thai food that shit’s too spicy.”
“Baby.”
“Old man.”
“Fuck you.”
“Fuck you.”
And they bickered in the elevator like eleven year olds until Brian got them each a beer from the fridge and called and placed the order for lunch, or dinner or what the fuck ever. He wasn’t hungry, but Aaron still ate like a sixteen-year-old boy.
They played Halo 2 while Brian tried to figure out how to get Aaron to talk. He glances over at him and saw a bruise on his wrist. He paused the game.
“That’s new.”
“No it isn’t”
“Aaron, just tell me what the fuck’s going on.”
“Nothing.”
“Stop fucking lying.”
“If I tell you it’s Craig you’re gonna kill him.”
“So?”
“So he’s tried to kill you before.”
“Justin told you about that?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think he was trying to kill me.”
“This time he would. And you don’t actually have it in you to kill someone. He might.”
“So it is him.”
Aaron was quiet. “Yeah.”
“You have to tell your mom.”
Aaron looked up. He was scared. “Why?”
“Because there’s some legal bullshit we can do to keep him away from you but your mother has to sign the papers too. You’re not eighteen yet.”
“Wish I was.”
“That would make this a little easier.”
“Why can’t you sign the stuff?”
“Because I’m nothing to you.”
“You’re my sugardaddyclubfreakchildmolester in-law.”
“Yeah, they don’t have a spot for that on those forms. Notaries don’t take that title as legally binding.”
“I can’t tell her.”
“Why not?”
“She’ll tell him to stay away.”
“That’s good.”
“He won’t help her financially. He’s still doing that cause he thinks that then he has some say.”
“Money doesn’t give him a right to do this.”
“She needs that money Brian.”
“He can be legally forced to give it to her.”
“He can?”
“Yeah, he’s listed on your birth certificate. She can get child support.”
“But he’d stop talking to her.”
“Good.”
“I think she still likes him.”
“And you’re willing to put up with his bullshit to make her happy?”
“I guess.”
“You think she’d be willing to put up with it?”
“No. She’d be pissed.”
“Aaron.”
“Brian this is way more complicated than you think.”
“Why?”
“Cause you don’t have to worry about money and Justin loves you and you’re not alone and lonely all the time.”
Brian thought he might scream. He was not in the mood to have the same conversation with Aaron that he’d just had with Justin.”
“Let your mom worry about her own happiness.”
“It doesn’t work that way. We’re a team. We work together.”
“You and your mom?”
“Yeah, it’s always been just the two of us.”
“What would you do if he was hurting her?”
“Kill him.”
“So as a team… tell her what you’re both up against.”
“Brian…”
“No shit, you don’t’ want to. Guess what. Life is full of shit you have to do even if you don’t want to.”
“Bullshit. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want?”
Brian looked at him. Really looked at him. “Christ. You’re such a fucking kid.”
“Fuck you.”
“You’re gonna tell your mother.”
“It’s gonna hurt her.”
Brian gently pulled the back of Aaron's shirt up and saw a few healing bruises. “This is gonna hurt her more.”
Aaron pulled the shirt down quickly. “Get off me you perv.”
“Aaron…”
“I mean it.” Aaron was pacing now and Brian considered handing him a cigarette and reminding him not to throw anything. He really was Justin’s fucking little brother.
“Aaron. Calm the fuck down. I’ll go with you if you want.”
“No I can do it myself.”
“Rephrase. I’ll go with you to make sure you tell her.”
“You suck.”
“Expertly.”
“You’re a twisted freak.”
“Part of my charm.”
“Do I have to tell her tonight?”
“No. You can wait 'til tomorrow. I’ll drive you home after work. But I’m picking you up from school tomorrow.”
Aaron was about to say something when the buzzer announced that their food had arrived.
They didn’t talk about it again that day. But Justin was relieved to hear progress was getting made and Brian made an appointment with the lawyer Lindsay had recommended.
None of them slept particularly well that night.
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