Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest!
Chapter 32 – Babylon Late Evening…(Day 27) The gang has all assembled at their usual spot at the bar. Ben and Michael had already danced a few dances. Emmett had danced with both Drew Boyd and Calvin Culpepper. Ted and Blake had just arrived to join them. “So Brian and Justin aren’t here yet,” Ted commented after surveying the crowd. “After the week the two of them have had, I would understand if they didn’t make it.” “Well I wouldn’t!” Michael explained. “I talked to Justin, and he said he would be here.” Emmett was completely caught off guard by Michael’s outburst. Then he was trying to process the statement that Michael just made, and totally surprised by whom Michael was actually waiting to see. “Did you talk to Brian?” Emmett asked. “No, Brian seems to be too busy to return my phone calls,” Michael whined loudly. “Isn’t that the truth!” Ted mumbled, just above a whisper. Then Emmett started to get the picture. Brian had been busy and ignoring Michael. Emmett knew they were all in for one of Michael’s very vocal drama queen moments. “Wow sweetie, are you ok about this?” Emmett asked Michael with some concern. “No. I’m just waiting for Brian to get here so I can remind him that he has to talk to me. After all, I am his best friend.” Everyone rolled their eyes. Things appeared to have returned to normal. Everyone realized that the period of the new, improved Michael had probably ended. Everyone thought to themselves…what a pity! “I’m sure they’ll be here soon. They must be driving in from West Virginia. You forgot that it probably takes them a little longer to get here,” Ben added as the voice of calm reason to the situation. “I don’t know why they have to live so far away. What’s wrong with Pittsburgh?” Michael continued to complain. “So you haven’t been invited out the house either,” Drew commented. “You know that Brian is a very private person. And right now, no one except Justin gets Brian to do anything he doesn’t really want to do. So Michael, I guess you are going to have wait like the rest of us for the invitation to their secret hideaway.” “I don’t see what the big secret is anyway.” Michael continued to protest. “Justin is getting ready for several shows. He has a lot of painting to do. Brian is determined that no one interrupts Justin while he’s painting,” Ted was quick to point out. “Do you really think that Justin is painting? After all, he dropped into the comic book store to see me. I think Justin is just making excuses to keep Brian all to himself.” Calvin interrupted with a laugh, “Wait a minute. I thought the prevailing wisdom was that Brian was holding Justin prisoner at the mansion. When did Brian become the captive? Did I miss something?” “You know I was starting to wonder the same thing,” Blake commented with a laugh. “From what I can tell, they have both simply made the mansion their home. Oh, they still stay at the loft when they need to, but the mansion is now their home base,” Emmett added. “And I personally think it’s wonderful. Brian is even being a really good sport about all the rented furniture and all.” “See once again, Justin is costing Brian a fortune,” Michael ranted. “Michael, do you remember how much we insured your painting for?” Ted asked, hoping to intervene and return Michael to the land of reason. “At first?” “No, finally?” “Yeah.” “At this stage in Justin’s career, he can make the decision not to sell three paintings. Each painting would have probably sold for about $50,000 each. So, let’s give up the poor Justin, taking advantage of Brian routine. It’s old news,” Ted pointed out, hoping the facts would pierce the veil of whatever alternate reality Michael had drifted into. “Justin has been living on his own in New York. Taking care of himself without help from Brian,” Emmett added to the conversation. “You were there when he told us everything he had been doing this last year. Didn’t you listen?” “Do you really think that is the case? Or is that just what he has been telling everyone?” Michael still continued to protest, he just couldn’t seem to let this go. “Michael, you are unusually snippy tonight. What’s wrong?” Ben finally asked. “I don’t know. I can’t come up with the storyline for the next issue of Rage. I was hoping that Justin and I could brainstorm together tonight here at Babylon. But if he and Brian don’t show up…well then…” “Oh, the comic book. We should have known it was something like that,” Emmett added. “Well, it looks like your problems are over. I see that the super couple have just arrived,” Ben pointed out. “Good evening, twats,” Brian said, approaching the group with his arm firmly around Justin’s waist. “What did we miss?” “Brian, where have you been? You haven’t returned my calls, and I must have left you like a zillion messages.” “At least. But, I’ve been really busy at work, as Theodore can tell you. Plus I have a very demanding blond at home. It just doesn’t leave a lot of time. It’s a wonder I even manage to get any sleep.” “Brian!” Justin protested. “Don’t you and Justin ever get enough?” Michael asked. “You know Mikey you have been asking that question since the beginning. And my answer now, is still the same as it was then…There is no such thing as enough!” At that comment, everyone started choking and coughing and laughing…well except for Michael. “Well Sunshine, shall we dance?” Brian finally said, twirling Justin onto the main dance floor. “Asshole.” Michael commented, as he motioned for the bartender’s attention so he could get another beer. Emmett, Drew and Calvin remained at the bar to watch everyone’s drinks, while the others danced. A few moments later, Ben and Michael returned to join the trio at the bar. “Why are you guys back so soon?” Calvin asked them as they started to lean on the bar. “We couldn’t take the heat on the dance floor. Brian and Justin are dancing as one person. Need I say more?” Ben explained. “So I guess we should move up to the catwalk for a better view of the sizzle until the two of them wear each other out,” Drew asked with a laugh. “This is all so predictable. Tell me again why we come here?” Ben continued. “Well I was hoping to at least get one dance with my best friend, and to talk to Justin. I don’t understand why, if they are this preoccupied with each other, why did they even come out. Why didn’t they just stay home?” “I came to dance! You know how I love displays in public places,” Brian informed them with a smirk, overhearing the last part of the conversation. “And Justin says it helps him to paint better, and you know what a supporter of the arts I am?” Brian made suggestive eyebrow motions at Michael. Then, he continued again, “Besides Mikey, we’re queer. We’re not breeders. We don’t always want to fuck at home in our beds.” “Brian!” Michael complained. “Also, I have to go back New York next week,” Justin added. “And I wanted to see you guys before I left.” “Well if that’s the case, I had better get my dance in now,” Emmett said, tugging Justin back onto the dance floor. “He said he was going to be here for three months! Now he’s leaving already!” Michael complained. “It’s only for a few days. He’ll be back within the week. So you can relax Mikey, we’re not breaking up,” Brian assured him. “Who can figure out the fucked up relationship that you and Justin have? You two don’t look like any couple I know.” “Why Mikey, that’s the nicest thing you have ever said to me,” Brian said, planting a kiss on his best friend. “I didn’t mean it as a compliment.” Michael hissed, pulling away from Brian. “Drew, I’m glad you’re back in town. Brown Athletics is coming into town next week. Will you have time to drop by Kinnetik to see them?” “I think that can be arranged. Especially since you did such a great job on the new contract,” Drew commented. “You’re welcome,” Brian smirked. “So Mikey, except for the fact that I haven’t returned your calls, what has you so upset?” Brian asked in his most supportive manner. Before Michael could answer, Ben tried to explain things calmly, “It seems that Michael is having trouble with the story line for next issue of Rage. As a result, he is snipping at everyone. But, I wouldn’t pay too much attention to him. He’s just having a bad day.” “I see.” Brian cast his eyes onto the dance floor. He observed that Emmett was just a little too close to Justin for his taste. “Let me go rescue Justin from Emmett. I’ll be right back.” Everyone else rolled their eyes. Emmett suddenly returned to the bar alone, as expected. “All right Michael, now that Brian and Justin have shown up, you can relax and get rid of that foul attitude,” Emmett whispered so that only Michael could hear. “Be careful, Ben is only going to put up with so much from you, and Brian has already made it clear he doesn’t want to deal with this. So…” “I know you’re right. I’m sorry,” Michael finally admitted. He then excused himself to go to the bathroom so he could get himself together. Ted also headed away from the bar to check on a few things. “Well that was surreal,” Blake said to Calvin while they were left standing together. “I wonder what that was really all about?” “I’ve never seen Michael quiet like that before,” Calvin added. “Thank goodness,” Blake responded. *** Brian and Justin decided to take a break from dance floor. They took a glance at the crowd in the backroom on their way back to join their friends. “Theodore, I see the backroom is unusually busy tonight,” Brian commented. “With you and Justin steaming up the dance floor, what did you expect?” Ted explained. “The only thing that will draw a bigger crowd is when you and Justin are actually IN the backroom.” “Why don’t I show you my renovated VIP lounge?” Brian whispered to Justin, trying to ignore Ted’s remark. “Brian!” Michael interrupted, and Brian just rolled his eyes. “What now, Mikey?” “I still need Justin’s help to brainstorm story ideas for the next issue of Rage.” “Mikey you are so pathetic. Not tonight!” “Michael, I’ll call you. We can do it by phone when I’m in New York…like we always do,” Justin finally said, which seemed to finally placate Michael. Justin just shook his head. Michael finally let out a sigh of acceptance, “Ok.” “I’m glad that’s finally settled,” Brian added, pulling Justin again away from the group. “Now about that VIP lounge.” “And, there they go again,” Emmett quipped with a laugh. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Brian happier,” Drew commented. “How long did you say they have been together?” Calvin asked. “Six years,” Emmett answered with a sigh. “I hope I meet someone who is still that hot for me after six years,” Calvin added. “One can only hope,” said a stranger as he approached and extended his hand toward Calvin. “I’m Trace. Would you like to dance?” “I’m Cal. Sure, why not.” Calvin followed Trace to the dance floor, while the others smiled their approval as they considered the new coupling. When Brian and Justin returned shortly, Emmett started to tease. “That was quick.” “Even the VIP lounge is packed. What is going on?” Brian asked with a smirk. “Well Sunshine, it looks like I’m going to have to take you home to fuck you all night long.” “The sacrifices you make,” Justin teased, leaning up to give Brian a gentle kiss. “Brian, don’t you own Babylon?” Blake sheepishly asked. “Yeah, Why?” “Don’t they HAVE to make room for you?” Brian laughed. “Justin and I like to have room to maneuver. The lounge was just too crowded. Another time, perhaps.” Brian teased, once again sliding his arm around Justin’s waist and pulling Justin towards him. Justin leaned into the hug, but blushed at the attention. Brian then looked over at Michael, “All right Mikey, now that you have stopped being a drama queen, how about a dance, if that’s ok with the professor.” Ben nodded his agreement, and Michael broke into a big smile. Brian and Michael headed to the dance floor. Justin took this opportunity to move in closer to Ted and Blake and grab a beer. “How are you doing, kiddo?” Ted gently asked. “How are you dealing with everything?” “Still trying to get used to it all. You know?” Justin said just above a whisper. “Yeah, I do. You know we’re all here for you.” “Yeah, I know. Thanks.” Blake looked at Justin and Ted and realized that they shared more things than he could ever begin to understand. Blake noticed the gentleness with which Ted talked to Justin, and he knew that the brief conversation spoke volumes. Blake found the interchange to be interesting, and he wanted to ask Ted about it later when they got home. Brian and a smiling Michael returned back after their dance. “Well Sunshine, how about one more dance before we go?” Brian asked. “You mean The Last Dance?” “Yeah, I saved that one especially for you.” “I think that will be perfect,” Justin said, standing up and joining Brian. “We’ll see you guys later.” “Yeah later,” Brian said to everyone. Then he sang into Justin ear as they were walking, “Now, don’t forget who’s taking you home, and in whose arms you’re gonna be…” And, Justin just smiled.