A/N: Thanks to Hase Bine for the pic, and thanks to wonderful Rena for everything else *hugs* Billy, this one is for you, honey…
Chapter 18 – Prian’s Kingdom
Miss Eterson thought to get in the right mood for the holidays, everybody should draw a big turkey on his paper sheet.
Justin started with the mashed chestnuts and really made every effort to get it right, however, Miss Eterson said "Don’t worry, sweetie. Just try it again, okay?" and handed him a new piece of paper.
Justin threw it off the table and looked uninterestedly up to the ceiling. He really didn’t like Miss Eterson.
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Brian had called Cynthia twice and checked his personal organizer seven times, but as much as he searched, he couldn’t find a 'sorry but I already have other plans' appointment, that would’ve been a splendid excuse to blow off the appointment on the other side of the street.
That was enough reason, to sweep his 320 dollar leather organizer defiantly off the table and stomp angrily into the kitchen to consume an entire pot of coffee. Stupid bitch Melanie Marcus. ´I’m sorry Mister Kinney but I’m afraid such an application must contain a medical estimate of an attending therapist '. Brian dumped the remaining contents of the sugar into the coffee-pot, as he thought of Doctor Marcus' malicious intonation. He really didn’t like that cow.
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Justin wrapped a long hair strand around his finger.
Everyone painted and painted and Miss Eterson stood in front of his table and jabbered and he just wanted to go into his room and listen to the radio. „Piii-pliiine to Paa-ra-diiise…“ Justin liked his radio and Pu'ukani with the terrific voice. “Your iiiisland muuuusic co-nnnn-ection!"
“Justin?" Miss Peterson looked at her patient in amusement. “Shall we draw a new turkey now? With the brown crayon?" She held the pen in front of Justin’s face.
Justin turned his head away and started to bob up and down on his chair. He really didn’t want to listen to Miss Eterson any more.
The therapist sighed, "Justin, don’t you want to-" and turned then around as the door opened. “Brian?"
Disgusted Brian looked around from behind his Armani sunglasses.
It smelled like art lessons with Miss Appelby and for his liking there were too many people here who stared at him strangely.
“Brian!" Lindsay put the brown wax crayon on Justin's table and went towards the unexpected visitor. “Is everything all right? What are you doing here?"
Brian preferred to leave this question unanswered for the moment and walked along the patients’ tables with a straight face. Past an older man with thick glasses, who gaped at him open mouthed; a girl with wild curly hair who grinned at him infatuated, and a guy with an orange-coloured sweater who talked something about cheese and ivy.
Justin sat at a separate table on the left side and Brian caressed the back of his head as he passed by. “Hey brat."
“Yes." Justin didn’t look at the prince but nestled into his big hand. “Justin." He smiled brightly. It was so nice that the prince was here and the whole room smelled of silver sword and almond cake.
"Brian!" Lindsay tripped a little panic-stricken after the man. “Brian. You can’t just-" She grinned at her patients and changed her voice then into a discreet whisper. “You make my patients uncomfortable. We’re in the middle of therapy here."
“Hm." Mister Kinney picked up a piece of blue chalk then put it down again after three seconds and decided then to speak without really looking at Lindsay. “Are you Justin Taylor’s therapist?"
“What?" Miss Peterson looked at the boy in question briefly. “Yes, of course I am one of his therapists. Why do you want to know?" She smiled a little uneasy again. “Brian?"
Brian found a white and red stress squeeze ball on Lindsay’s desk, squished it five times and then sat down on the uncomfortable desk chair. “I need a report from one of his Therapists."
Lindsay blinked not understanding. “What for?"
“Your boss demands it, otherwise she won’t give her approval to let him leave the institution in my company." Brian grinned now, too, but rather artificially and only with the protection of his sunglasses.
“Why do you want-" Miss Peterson's forehead wrinkled in deep folds. “Where do you know Justin from?"
Brian looked in the kid’s direction. “We’re…friends."
"What? Since when? I didn’t know that you have contact with-"
“A couple of weeks now." Brian sighed and got up off the cheap piece of furniture. “Listen, can you write out such a report to support my petition, so I can take him out from time to time, or not?!"
Twenty minutes later sat one slightly bewildered looking Miss Peterson in the art room together with her patient Justin Taylor and the father of her child.
“So…” She tried to smile somewhat friendly but failed miserably. "Brian. You’ve known Justin for a while now?"
"Few weeks." Mister Kinney laid his right leg on top of his left and looked clearly bored at the dark spot on the wall, behind Lindsay's desk.
“Ah." She nodded, deliberated briefly and then turned to her patient. “Good. And Justin….you get along well with Brian?"
“Yes.” Justin scratched his forehead as a little black fly flew past him and landed on the red paint tube. “Of course no brush."
“Of course no…ah." Miss Peterson blinked and sat up straight. “Okay Brian, why…” She looked at him seriously. “Why are you interested in spending time with a boy like Justin?"
Brian stared back blankly. “Well, he is not as irritating as I thought he would be in the beginning."
“Brian! I’m serious!"
Brian grinned briefly and then looked to the side where Justin chattered quietly with himself and curled a thin hair strand around his finger. “He needs new shoes. Right, brat?"
“Yeah. Justin."
“How old are your shoes? Seven hundred days?"
“Yes." Justin looked up to the ceiling while he was wiggling his toes in his shoes. “Seven…sevenhundredthirty…thirty three."
"Hm." Brian leaned back, relaxed, and folded his hands in front of his chest. “You heard it. They’re seven hundred and thirty-three days old. A new pair of shoes is required urgently."
Lindsay got a slightly pitying expression. “Brian. You can’t just go shopping with him. Justin is not a normal boy.”
Brian blinked four times before his face darkened. “Justin is a young man who has a right to see more of the world than the two square meters of living space he is provided with in here."
Miss Peterson shook her head. “It’s not your concern to look after Justin’s interests."
"No. You’re absolutely right. It’s not." Brian looked at her directly. “Will you do it then?"
“What? Brian I-"
“One of the incompetent nurses? The non-existent cleaning lady? Your boss?"
“It is not-"
“Who of these people gives a flying fuck about what Justin wants and or needs?!"
“Everybody gives his best in here, Brian. Everything is done for the patient’s health and well-being."
"Oh. Then in here it is expected that the patients feel good about being locked up in stinking rooms with unpalatable food and shabby clothing!"
“Justin's room was not always locked. It is a new arrangement!"
“Right. Before he could stay away all night without anybody even noticing. That’s what I call exemplary care!"
“Brian!" Lindsay got up from her chair. “The staff here tries to create a pleasant and safe environment for Justin! And you are-“ She shook her head again and looked at the man seriously. “You’re simply not the right person to be in regular contact with a boy with his medical history. To care for his needs and concerns. I’m truly sorry."
Brian drew his lips inside and stared at her for a moment. Then he nodded once and got up. “Yes, I’m sure you are." And he turned to Justin and leaned down to plant a kiss on his pale forehead. “Later."
“Yeah." Justin didn’t want the prince to leave and he didn’t like for Miss Eterson to speak with Prian so…
“…very loud."
Brian whispered in Justin’s ear. “It will be quiet now." And he left the stinking art room without a backward glance.
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At 10 p.m. in evening Brian had already sat alone on the sofa for three hours, consumed half a bottle of Jim Beam and stared pointlessly into the emptiness, while outside in front of the terrace door, an irritating frog croaked along... as someplace next to him the phone rang.
He ignored it for almost a minute. Then his head started to hurt and he reached blindly after the receiver. “Kinney."
“Brian, It’s me, Lindz. Did I wake you?"
“Yes."
“That’s not true."
"Why did you ask then?!" Brian took another sip from the half empty bottle. “What do you want."
“To ask you a question."
He didn’t respond.
“I’ve talked with Justin. After you left this afternoon."
Brian remained silent.
“And I really would like to know… Brian, what is the real reason. Why are you interested in this boy of all people?"
Brian played with his middle finger at the bottle opening and stared to the opposite wall. “He needs… he deserves more than he has at the moment."
"Why haven’t you ever told me that you know him? The nurses on his ward even told me that you visit him."
“There was nothing to tell."
It was quiet for a while before Lindsay said something again. “He likes you."
“I know."
“He says you are his Prian."
“We’ve introduced each other." Brian raised the bottle and took another gulp.
“Brian, you know I love you. But I know you very well, too. And I really don’t know whether you are the right contact for this boy. He needs stability and safety more than anything else."
Brian said nothing and looked down.
“And I will revoke my report immediately if Justin’s condition changes negatively."
Brian looked up to the wall again.
“But I really hope that it will never be necessary."
“What does your boss say about all this."
“I’ll talk to Doctor Marcus tomorrow morning. You’ll hear from her."
She waited unavailingly for an answer. “You know, you never cease to amaze me, Brian Kinney."
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On Saturday morning Justin was busy impaling baked bean number 12 on his fork when the thick wall door opened and the beautiful prince suddenly stood in his tower room.
“Finish your bacon, brat. There is only one acceptable shoe shop in this damned town and it closes in four hours."
Thirty minutes later, Justin had a thick silver jacket, walked down a stinking stairwell on Prian’s hand and was so excited about it that his whole belly was full of fluttering butterflies. He wanted to go onto the other side of the street so badly, to see the castle with the beautiful name and the frog in the blue well water.
But then, the fast car vehicle stood directly in front of the tower and the prince opened the door with a little key.
“Come on, get in."
“Yes." Justin turned around to look at the wonderful castle. “Certainly watch TV with Prian."
“Not today." Brian took the boy by the arm and led him in the direction of the passenger seat. ”We go shopping."
“Yes." Justin crawled awkwardly on the high seat. “Shopping with Prian. Certainly at Wal-Mart."
Brian closed Justin's seat belt, "Surely not." and went to the other side of the car to sit down behind the steering wheel.
“We want to buy shoes. There are no real shoes at Wal-Mart."
"Yes. Certainly glass slippers." Justin smiled blissfully.
Brian started the car. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”
The car drove off and Justin looked with big eyes out of the side window. Everything was so fast and he was sure that soon they would be again in...
“…Harrisburg."
“Pittsburgh. We’re not driving very far." Brian changed gears at traffic lights and then turned right. “Were you ever in downtown before?"
“Ha!" Justin pressed his nose against the cold plate and laughed. Everything was so beautiful here. And everywhere were people and houses and trees. He liked Prian’s kingdom so much.
Brian smiled briefly in the direction of the passenger seat and then remained silent till he parked the car two streets over from Haley’s shoe paradise. He removed the key, opened Justin's seat belt and got out.
Justin didn’t move, with his nose at the windowpane, looking fascinated to the outside.
Everything had stopped now. Hmm. He poked the tip of his tongue against the car window and then squeaked in alarm as the prince opened the door.
“You can’t lick everything you see. It’s unhygienic. Don’t do it again."
“Yes." A little clumsily the boy slipped off the seat and looked up to the sky. “Of course lick…lick Prian’s mouth.”
Brian locked the car, put on his sunglasses and took Justin by the hand. “That’s different."
“Yes. Certainly kiss Prian." Justin toddled a little stiffly beside the prince. It didn’t look like Harrisburg and he didn’t know whether he liked the air-smell here or not. Everything was quite loud and he didn’t know the way stones at all. They were smooth and black and black and completely without slits.
Brian rubbed Justin’s thin knuckles with his thumb. “Maybe later."
„Yes. Sleep with Prian."
“Shopping."
“Yes. Of course at Wal-Mart." Justin saw a fantastic little fire stick lying on the ground and bent down to pick it up.
Brian pulled at Justin's hand. “What are you doing?"
“Yes." The boy held the thrown away cigarette-end up and looked at the prince with innocent blue eyes. “Certainly for Prian."
Brian snatched the cigarette butt out from his fingers and threw it on the street. “Don’t touch dirt!"
“Oh oh." Justin retracted his neck as the prince pulled him further along the sidewalk and a big white car vehicle drove over the beautiful fire stick. “Certainly broken. Thousand…one thousand shards."
Brian stopped and pushed open a shop door.
“Ha!" Somewhere rang a bell and Justin laughed. Then he made big eyes as he looked around in the strange house. “Oooh!" Everywhere were shoes and shoes and everything smelled like the wonderful prince jacket.
"Hello." An older man with white hair and a kind face appeared behind the shop counter. ”May I help?"
“You may." Brian removed his sunglasses and looked around searchingly. “Mister Taylor here is in urgent need of a new pair of shoes."
The shoe seller looked a little critically at Justin’s worn down gym shoes. “I see. If you please would follow me? I would like to take your measurements first."
Justin extended his fingers after a pair of red shiny ball shoes with very high heels but the prince only held his hand firmer and dragged him away.
“Justin. Sit down."
“Yes." Justin looked up to the ceiling.
"Here." Brian guided him on a blue chair. “Take off your shoes."
“No." Justin wrapped a hair strand around his finger. He really would’ve preferred not to take his shoes off. Of course it was…
“…not bedtime."
“Excuse me, Sir?" The seller approached his customer with a confused look.
And Brian fell sighing on his knees, to untie Justin's shoes.
The older man came with a pre-war leather measuring tape and a little clumsily got in a squatting position too.
Justin blinked nervously when he felt strange fingers on his feet. It tickled and he wriggled his toes. He really would’ve preferred to…
“…put on the shoes again."
“Later. Keep still." Brian went and stood behind Justin's chair to observe things with eagle eyes.
The seller noted down a couple of measures on his memo pad. “You have exceptionally slender feet, Sir." He smiled at Justin.
And the boy’s eyes flickered restlessly from left to the right. He certainly didn’t know this man on the ground and he really wanted to have his…
“…book."
Brian put a hand in Justin's neck. “You’ve put it under your pillow. We’re buying shoes now. You do not need a book to buy shoes."
He didn’t? Justin tipped his head a little aside as he felt the gentle fingers stroking his head. He liked Prian’s hands.
“So." The shoe seller got up and smiled friendly again. “Which shoes do you have in mind, Sir? Something casual or rather for the formal affair? You are welcome to look around and I’ll bring the suitable size from the stock."
"Two pairs. Something warm and sturdy for the winter and a pair of every day shoes." Brian raised his eyebrow in a subliminal warning. “But in style."
“Of course, Sir. I’ll fetch a couple of our newest designs." The seller disappeared through the thick curtain and came back with a stack of boxes some minutes later.
“Yes.” Justin found the boxes terrific. Probably there were many way stones in them or leave munching…
“…caterpillars.”
Quite tensely, he watched as the salesman sat down in front of him and raised the first box lid. “Ha!" It was…
“…seven league boots!"
The seller smiled. “They certainly are, Sir. It is our newest laced boot model. Smooth leather in Moccasin optics, non-slip sole and textile comfort lining. Would you like to try them on?" He began to undo one of the high shoes to make room for Justin's foot, while Brian was watching the scene critically.
“Tommy Hilfiger? I believe I said in style!"
The older man remained calm and took the liberty to wink at his sceptical customer. “Now, I thought something a little fresh and youthful would be more to Mister Taylor’s liking."
Pfft. Fresh and youthful. Brian folded his arms, sulking. After all, it wasn’t as if Justin were still in High School or anything…
"Oooh!" Justin watched fascinated as the salesman carefully put the long boot on his right foot. It felt so nice and he knew exactly that he would be able to run faster than the wind.
The shoe seller moved a step back after putting the first shoe properly on his young customer’s foot, to give him some space to get up.
But Justin only stretched the second foot forward, too, and looked at the man expectantly.
“You’re completely right, Sir. It is always the best to try on both shoes. I mean there is no foot like the other."
"Yes." Justin looked apatheticly up to the ceiling as the second boot was put on his left foot and Mister Kinney rolled his eyes enervated. The boy really was worse than the pasha of South Arabia…
“So." This time the seller got up. “If you would like to walk for a couple of steps now?"
“Yes." Justin kept his seated position and wriggled his toes in the boots.
“Justin." Brian smacked the boy’s arm lightly. “Stand up."
“Yes." A little awkwardly the kid climbed out of his chair and stood stiffly in front of it. The shoes were very big and he didn’t know how one should walk like that.
"Please, Sir. Go ahead. Just a couple of steps through the store."
“Justin." Brian pointed to a stand mirror at the other end of the salesroom. “Walk over there to the mirror."
“Yes." With large, awkward steps Justin stalked over the noble shop floor, his gaze highly concentrated on his feet.
The seller blinked a little irritated and turned to Brian. “Well, perhaps it’s not the right size after all."
Brian watched the boy’s stilt walk in slight amusement. “I’m sure they fit perfectly.”
Justin arrived in front of the big mirror and stared into it. Then he felt his hair with one finger. It was really beautiful and also very long.
"Justin." Brian raised his voice. “Come back. You have to try another pair."
Justin heard the prince very well, but however, ignored the words and went with his nose very close to the mirror glass. He breathed noisily against it three times and touched the slippery surface with his tongue, while he was trying to watch himself.
The old salesman cleared his throat and fumbled embarrassed with a shoe box.
And Brian rubbed his forehead, before he went to collect the blonde. “Hey. Didn’t we just have a conversation about licking things?"
Justin said nothing. He had never seen himself with the beautiful silver jacket in a mirror and found he looked really wonderful. So shiny.
Brian shook his head as he saw the kid’s narcissistic expressions and stood close behind the boy to whisper into his ear. “Do you like the shoes?"
“Yeah." Justin looked away from the mirror and up to the ceiling. The prince was so close and said beautiful whispering words.
“Justin." Brian nudged with his nose against the boy’s neck. “Look into the mirror."
“Yes." Justin looked at the reflection. It was like a picture with a frame. Justin and Prian.
Brian nodded down to the new boots. “You want to buy them? Are they good?"
Were they? Justin looked on his feet and wiggled his toes in the shoes. Yes, he liked the beautiful boots. They were big and warm and also...
“…very fast."
“Hmm." Brian took Justin's hand and led him back to the blue fitting chair. “Sit down."
The seller came back and smiled friendly again. “So then we’ll try on the other shoes, too. A beautiful pair. Very light, slender Sneakers, high-quality Nubuk leather." He pointed at a pair of flat shoes and started to unlace Justin’s boots.
“Naaah!" Justin yelled and looked up to the ceiling.
The seller pulled his hand back, alarmed. “Is anything wrong, Sir?"
“Everything’s fine.” explained Brian and put both hands on Justin's shoulders.
The older man took hold of the shoelace once more and Justin immediately yelled again in protest.
"Naah!"
“Justin!" Brian's fingers squeezed in warning. “Cut it out!”
“Naah!" Justin began to bob up and down and pulled firmly at the long strand behind his ear.
The old seller got up uneasily. “Perhaps you would prefer to do it by yourself?"
“Naaah-naaah!" Justin rocked back and forth so strongly that the chair began to sway dangerously.
“Justin!" Mister Kinney went and stood directly in front of the boy and took hold of the thin chin. “What the fuck are you doing?! You have to take off your shoes!"
“Yes!" Justin tried to escape from the prince’s solid grip. “Certainly seven…seven league boots!" He pulled at his hair once again. “Of course for Justin Taylor!"
"We’ll buy the damn boots. But you have to put on another pair, first!"
Justin squinted his eyes. “Naaah!"
“Fuck!" Brian let go of Justin's chin, kicked an empty shoe carton and then snatched the disdained Sneakers to slam them in front of the seller’s nose on the shop counter. “We take these and the ones on his feet! And those-" he gripped Justin's old Wal-Mart gym shoes, “you can dispose!"
“Yes, Sir." The old man typed slightly anxious into his till, while Justin on his chair changed into soft rocking motions, quietly counting the rubber boots on the shelf.
He really would’ve preferred to never take off his beautiful new boots again.
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Brian dragged the boy with the big bag in his hand a little roughly over the sidewalk. “340 fucking dollars for two pairs of fucking Tommy Hilfiger shoes! I Swear you will wear these stupid sneakers every day even if you get splayfeet, got it?"
“Yes." Justin looked up into the sky, while stumbling a bit stiffly behind the prince in his new boots. The bag was very big and Prian’s fingers held his hand tight and tight. He really would’ve preferred to…
“…drink water?"
Brian's cell phone rang and he rummaged around in the pockets of his jacket a while until he found it. “Yes. Kinney. Hmm. Hmm. Why? Yes."
Justin didn’t know with whom the prince talked and really wanted to …
“…drink water?”
“No. He will do it the way we discussed it. Hmm." Brian stopped in front of a bakery’s shop window and let go of Justin's hand to cover his free ear in the noise of the street. “What? What the fuck has that to do with it?"
“Yes." Justin rocked back and forth a little, while he was looking at the expenses behind the pane. There was pie with cherries and cake with fluffy white cream and little round chocolate balls in colourful wrappings. “Oooh!" He let go of the bag and put both hands flatly to the polished window glass. He wanted to have a little cake too.
"Well then tell him he takes it that way or gets nothing!" Mister Kinney gesticulated outraged with his free hand. “I don’t have time for this bullshit!"
“Yes." Justin licked at the pane. “Certainly a cookie."
“Hmm. Hmm.” Brian saw it from the corner of his eye, stuck the little cell phone between chin and shoulder and pulled Justin one step back from the bakery window. “Of course I’m fucking serious. And tell him I want the files on my desk, first thing Monday morning.”
Justin looked at the prince with big blue eyes. “Of course a cookie."
Brian held his extended forefinger over Justin’s lips. “Yes. Just fax it."
Justin blinked innocently to Prian and licked a little at the long prince finger.
Brian grinned briefly, "Yes. Ok, bye.”, snapped his phone shut, put it away and shook his head. "What is this with you and your tongue, hu?"
“Yes." Justin batted his eyelashes in Prian’s direction. “Certainly drink lots…lots of water."
“Hff…" Brian patted his jacket after cigarettes and lighter and lit one a moment later. “Are you hungry, too?" He took a deep drag and blew the smoke aside.
“Yes." Justin reached for Prian’s lips. He wanted to eat a fire stick, too. “Certainly toast."
"Hmm." Brian caught Justin's wrist and held it tight. “Take your bag."
“Yes." The boy grabbed the bag at the wrong end and the shoe carton fell on the street. “Oh oh. Of course all broken."
The older man took the cigarette between hips lips, collected the carton off the asphalt, stuck the bag under his arm and took Justin by the hand. “Have you ever been to a Diner?"
“Yes." Justin trudged a bit gawkily next to the prince and watched his feet at every step. He really liked his new boots.
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It smelled of fried bird and noodle sauce and Justin felt a bit shy. All the people chattered and ate and looked at him and he didn’t like it.
“Sit down here." Brian directed Justin to an available booth in the back of the room and sat down beside him. “What do you want to drink? Water?"
Justin stared at a man with black hair at a near table, who grinned like the big bad wolf.
“Look at your fucking plate!" Brian growled at the stranger and then held the menu card in front of Justin’s nose.
“Here. Read what you can get to drink here."
"Yes." It rattled and clattered from the side and Justin looked around concerned. “Of course many people."
“Don’t look at the other people, read the menu." Brian put a hand on Justin's thigh. “What do you want to drink?"
“I just wanted to ask the same question!" A man with bright colored clothing and red hair stopped in front of the table and chewed and chewed without having food in his mouth.
“Hey Deb. Two waters with lemon. No ice." Brian ordered without looking up and then gazed at Justin. “What do you want to eat, brat?"
“Yes." Justin looked up to the ceiling. “Of course Saturday. Pea… pea soup with bread. Always on Saturday."
"And you like pea soup?"
“Yes." The boy rocked a bit back and forth and wrapped blond hair around his finger. There were many dirty spots on the ceiling and he counted them all. “Five…fifteen."
Without further comment, Brian held the menu card out towards Debbie. “Two turkey on whole wheat, no mayo."
Debbie grinned as if she had seen the Easter bunny itself and didn’t even think to write something on her memo pad. “Who’s the little one?! He’s fucking gorgeous!"
“We bought shoes together."
“Shoes, hm?” Without losing her grin Debbie disappeared in the direction of the kitchen and yelled the order through the serving hatch. Barely two minutes later she came back to serve two glasses of mineral water with lemon slices and a huge caramel-vanilla-chocolate sundae with whipped cream, coloured sprinkles, a candied cherry and a pink paper umbrella, which she put, together with a bright smile, in front of Justin's nose. “For you sweetie. Enjoy!"
Brian's head shot up with a nauseated look. “What the fuck is that?! I didn’t order this crap!"
“I know." Debbie smacked her gum happily and stuck the empty tray under her arm. “This one’s on the house.”
“Justin is not a pre-schooler!"
"Justin, hu?" Debbie grinned contently, "Well, enjoy your meal, gorgeous Justin." and then disappeared again.
Brian gesticulated in pure disgust to the monstrous mass of calories. “You don’t have to eat this."
“Yes." Justin bobbed from the left butt cheek to the right. He had never seen such a little umbrella before. “Certainly no rain."
Brian smiled briefly. “Why are you all fidgety again? Do you have to take a piss?"
Justin looked down and touched himself between the legs. “No."
“You want to drink now?"
Did he? Yes, he was very thirsty and looked first longingly at the waterglass, then at the prince.
Brian took the glass and held it in front of the boy’s nose. “Then drink."
“Thank you!" He said it wrongly emphatic and eagerly grabbed for the glass with both hands, before he drank with large gulps; watching Prian the whole time over the brim.
Brian didn’t look away and grinned as Justin, a moment later, let out a pleased sigh and put an empty glass back on the table.
“Good?"
“Na." Justin licked his lips. “Certainly puddle water."
A little spark of pure pride fluttered through Mister Kinney’s luxury spoiled heart, which encouraged him to pat Justin's thigh in reward. “Good boy."
“Yes. Justin."
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45 minutes later Justin sat on the passenger seat of a fast car vehicle with an ice cream smeared face and nibbled at one of five lemon bars that the man with the curly hair had given to him.
Brian changed gears at the crossroad and looked at his blond companion in deep disapproval. “If you puke in my car, you can walk the rest of the way, understood?"
Two blue eyes looked at the beautiful prince, while it was tested how much of the wonderful cake one could put into the mouth at once.
Only a half fitted and the rest was generously held out for Prian.
“Uh." Brian turned his head away. “You’re not serious, are you?!"
"Certainly a cookie." Explained Justin with full cheeks and held his hand even closer to Prian’s mouth.
And after ten seconds of a half-hearted fight Brian actually ate a half, salivated, lemon bar out of the boy’s fingers. “It’s a lemon bar."
It was? Justin looked at the remaining cake slices in the styrofoam box. Hmm. He liked fruit salad cookies.
“So." Brian turned around the corner and drove in the direction of Pri-Tin/tower. “You have one hour left. Do you want to go back to your room, anyway?"
“Yes." Justin looked at the big tower as it came in sight in front of the car window. “Of course into the castle. Sleep with Prian."
Brian didn’t want to smile at this statement and even if he did, it was only very briefly.
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Justin had Cognac-colored Tommy Hilfiger seven league laced boots on, a freshly washed face and sat a bit sluggish on the white prince sofa because his belly was very full.
Brian leaned relaxed in the couch cushions and followed the silly kids show on television only with half an eye while he was drawing little circles on Justin's back with two fingers.
Justin watched attentively as the gray rabbit disappeared with three big carrots and a picnic basket in his rabbit hole.
But after four minutes he scratched himself at the ear, yawned after seven minutes, and in the eleventh minute got up to wander around for a couple of steps, before he finally came back to crawl on Prian’s lap without any comment.
He still looked silently on the television and needed a while to find a comfortable position, but then, he yawned once again and put his head tiredly on Prian’s chest.
Brian didn’t know what to think about it, and after a moment decided that there was nothing to think about.
He moved a bit deeper into the sofa, wrapped an arm loosely around Justin's small frame and rubbed his chin evenly over soft blond hair.
“Are you going to sleep now?" He asked it quietly and then kissed a warm temple.
“Yeah." Five dainty fingers found their way in Brian’s neck. “With Prian."
And after five minutes, or perhaps twenty-five, there was nothing more to hear of Justin Taylor than quiet wheezing sounds. And Brian combed his fingers through long fair princess hair and didn’t smile because of Bugs Bunny...
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