Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest!
Chapter 43 – The Talk, Part 4
Saturday Afternoon At Bri-tin…(Day 34)
Meanwhile at Bri-tin, Brian and Justin quickly changed clothes.
Justin went to work in his studio, stretching canvas. He had already taped to the second easel the drawing of the sleeping Brian that he had sketched yesterday.
Brian wanted to jot down a few campaign ideas so he stopped first at his study for a few moments.
Once Brian had finished in his study, he stopped in the kitchen to grab some water. There on the kitchen counter he saw the laptop and the letter. The water was quickly forgotten. Now Brian remembered only the really important things.
Brian smiled to himself as he stopped and grabbed the now fully recharged laptop and Justin’s letter from the kitchen counter and finally headed for the studio.
Brian grabbed two bottles of water from the studio refrigerator and then pretended to test out the futon for comfort…while he slid the laptop underneath it…out of the way…out of sight.
Noticing all the movement in his studio, Justin finally looked. Brian stood up, handed him a bottle of water, and innocently smiled.
“Thanks,” Justin said, accepting the water and watching Brian making himself comfortable.
Justin starting mixing small quantities of paint, when he turned around and saw Brian just watching him.
“Do you think I’ll be safe over here?” Brian asked with a smile.
“That depends,” Justin teased. “What are you trying to be safe from?”
“See these,” Brian said, motioning to his sweat pants and wife beater, “Expensive, no paint spatter allowed over here. That Prada shirt that you’re wearing is my only contribution to the your painting effort.”
Justin couldn’t resist a sinister smile.
“By the way, exactly how many of my designer shirts do you have?” Brian inquisitively asked, after noticing the Prada shirt Justin was wearing.
“Not nearly enough. I’m just thinking that as I start to have studios in Kinnetik offices all over the world, I’m going to have to stock each studio with at least one of your shirts, just so that I’ll be able to paint. You’re going to be famous. The critics will ask what is the secret to my success, and of course, I will have to tell them about your designer shirts.” Justin reminded him.
“So you’re telling me that I need to include in my expansion budget, a major shopping spree associated with the opening of each new Kinnetik office.”
“Only if you plan on continuing to wear designer shirts,” Justin teased.
“I’ll be sure to mention it to Theodore. And, by the way I have noticed that the lovely shirt of mine that you’re now wearing has very little paint spatter on it.”
“Now, that could either mean that my technique has improved, or that I’m just starting to paint in this particular shirt.” Justin explained, carefully watching for Brian’s reaction.
“Justin!”
“I didn’t have any choice. Gus insisted that he take the other shirt home with him to wear when he paints.”
“What?”
“He decided he needed one of your shirts to wear when he was painting in Toronto.”
“Lindsay didn’t mention anything about that when we talked. She only complained that Gus’s finger painting technique had gotten decidedly messier since he painted with you here in your studio.”
“It’s not good for Gus’s creativity to have be neat while he finger paints,” Justin pointed out in all seriousness.
“Thank you Dr. Taylor, for that public service announcement.”
“I’m not sure what Lindsay was thinking about when she complained about that to you in the first place.”
“She probably had a lot on her mind. Things are probably still not great between her and Melanie. Even Ben is now concerned about what’s going on in Toronto. It seems that he has picked up something, some vibe, during their recent telephone chats.”
“Well, he doesn’t know everything that you know. I’m sure Mel and Linds haven’t confided in him yet…so it must be his Zen training. Do you think Mel and Linds are going to be alright? Do you think that they might be thinking about moving back to Pittsburgh?”
“Who knows with the Munchers? I suspect that life is much harder for them in Toronto than they originally expected. Whatever Melanie hoped to accomplish with this move away from Pittsburgh, I have the feeling that it hasn’t quite worked out the way that she envisioned. Give them a few months of visiting, and I’m sure they’ll figure things out. The counseling sessions should also help.”
“I guess that I had better get to work on that painting for Gus’s room. He and I sketched out an idea when he first picked out his room. I promised that I would have it finished by the time he got back for a visit. So I guess I really have to get to work.”
“Gus is going to love whatever you paint…whenever you paint it. You know that.”
“Yeah, I know. But I still want to paint something special.”
“Do you want some help? I can make some suggestions. Where’s your sketchpad?” Brian asked always eager to help.
“Here.” Justin handed his almost-full sketchpad over the Brian, who immediately started flipping through the pages.
Brian suddenly came to one page and stopped. Then he continued flipping pages and stopped once again “How did you sketch these?” Brian asked with surprise. “I was there. You didn’t have your sketchpad with you.”
Justin leaned over to look at the pages that Brian was referring to, “Oh that one, I sketched it from memory…you and Gus on horseback. I thought that would make a great painting. What do you think?”
“This painting would silence all the nay sayers, who think that I can’t ride. I have to admit that with you around, I seem to be having quite a few new experiences,” Brian smirked. “And, they’re all well-documented for everyone to see.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet!” Justin assured him with a smile.
“That’s precisely what I was afraid of.” Brian said with a laugh.
Justin took back the sketchpad and flipped through it once again. “I just can’t figure out what to paint first.”
“Just dip your paintbrush into the paint, miraculously a painting will appear! So are you going to turn my sketch into a painting? I see it taped up there?” Brian said pointing to the image of himself.
“I was thinking about it? Starting it at least.”
“How much canvas did you stretch? Do you need any help?”
“No, I’m fine. I’m just trying to think about what I really want to paint.”
“Well, while you’re having your painting dilemma, how about answering a few questions for me?”
“Sure, what’s on your mind?”
“I want to talk about my letter.”
“Brian, the letter was self-explanatory. It was written to drive home the simple point that it was time for us to be together. Don’t tell me you’re going to try to pull it apart like the painting? You keep looking for phantoms that just aren’t there!”
“Oh, I don’t know. Like your paintings, your letters always tend to have so many layers to them. Poor Mikey’s little head almost exploded in response to the letter that you attached to his painting. Melanie and I seemed to have fared a little better with our letters. Still, I don’t know…” Brian started to ponder. “There still seems to be so much here.”
Justin looked at the reclining Brian, with that innocent expression on his face. Justin smiled as he began to wonder what Brian was up to now.
Legends have told us that the Ancients would craft a Talisman, a sacred object forged at the astrologically auspicious time when all the forces of the universe converged, to consecrate the energy of the spirit within the object. For the Talisman could only be created at this one moment in time and space.
“Justin, do you think that the moment we met under that street light was one of those moments in time and space?” Brian quietly asked.
“What?”
“I was just wondering if you thought when we met was one of those moments in time and space?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You have to admit it was pretty amazing that out of all the people on Liberty Avenue that night that you and I even met.” Brian pointed out thinking back to that moment.
Beginning of Flashback.
“Had a busy night?” Brian asked, moving in closer after first seeing Justin standing there.
“Just checking things out. You know Boytoy, Meathook.” Justin responded confidently.
“Meathook? So you’re into leather?”
“Sure...”
“Where are you headed?”
“No place special…”Justin said nonchalantly.
“I can change that!” Brian insisted with confidence.
End of Flashback.
“I should have known that you wouldn’t just go away after we met. I should have known something was different about you. But no, I was so blinded by your … Little did I know how much trouble you were actually going to cause me,” Brian conceded with a laugh.
“Yeah, but I was so worth it!” Justin said, giving Brian one of his the full-wattage Sunshine smiles.
“That remains to be seen,” Brian quipped, trying not to be blinded by THAT smile.
“I can still see you standing in the loft asking me, ‘Are you coming or going…or are you coming and then going…or are you coming and staying.’ I can still see you, with open arms, waiting for my answer,” Justin said, with wistful remembrance.
“I think I might have given you too many choices…I’ll definitely have to work on that pitch,” Brian teased. “Yes, it definitely needs some work.”
“Brian!”
“Don’t worry. After all the trouble I got myself into the last time I presented it. I pretty much think…we can safely say…that I have put that whole line of questioning to rest,” Brian affirmed with a laugh.
Brian’s tone became more serious. “You know once upon a time, I actually liked living alone. Then, you came along. And now things are never right when you aren’t around,” he quietly admitted.
“So our actually living together seems to make more and more sense, don’t you see? Justin asked, joining Brian on the futon.
Justin lay down, inclining his body to cover Brian’s. “And don’t you think that you might give up working on that pitch thing too?”
“You’re not painting,” Brian commented, rather than answer the question at hand.
“I got distracted.” Justin said, sliding up to give Brian a kiss.
Brian wrapped his arms around Justin, but carefully raised the letter up to eye level, so he could continue to read it while holding Justin.
“Don’t tell me you would rather spend time on the letter rather than be in me? Are you sure you’re ok?” Justin teased.
“Now that you’re going to probably be around all the time, I can fuck you anytime. Right now I’ve got you almost focused on the letter. This is probably my only chance to get you to talk about it…so back to the task at hand…now stop procrastinating!”
“Brian!”
“You know time and space MUST have converged at the moment we met!” Brian insisted, still trying to resist Justin’s kissing him in that certain spot on his neck.
“Why do you say that?” Justin paused to consider what Brian was saying.
“Because you and Gus arrived at the same time. That must obviously prove your point...that night was ‘one moment in time and space’. How else do you explain everything that happened?”
“Coincidence?”
“Two people who would make such a big impact on my life, arriving at the same time. No, it’s too big to be simply a coincidence.”
“I guess you’re right. I hadn’t thought about it that way.”
“Everything changed for me that night…in ways I’m only now beginning to understand,” Brian whispered. Justin resumed nibbling on Brian’s ear. “Will you stop that? I’m having trouble formulating my next question when you do that.”
“Hmmmmmm,” Justin responded, while continuing to nibble.
“Is that the reason that I’m eluding time?” Brian struggled to finally ask.
“What?” Justin asked in between nibbles. “Where did you get the idea that you were eluding time?”
It was said that with the proper Talisman, time could be eluded.
Some have said that with the proper talisman, time would have no meaning…one could travel at will…back in time to the past… or forward in time into the future.
Still others have said that the talisman can be used only once…one time to change a moment of the past or one time to change an instant of future.
“You know…I hoped that I would achieve that…somehow elude time…when I came to your prom. I guess I had hoped to recapture part of my youth…to forget that I was getting older. But no, in truth, I think the eluding time thing really happened much later. I think it was about the time that Stockwell was defeated.”
“When you lost everything?”
“Not everything,” Brian said with a smile. “I sort of realized then, that time wasn’t so bad, if I could spend it with you.”
“Really?”
How often have we wished to go back in time to change the outcome of a moment? How often have we asked “what if”? And how often have we desperately clung to some single moment hoping it would never end?
We have had our moments, you and I…moments when all the forces of the universe converge. We have known both moments of extreme joy and moments of utter despair. And through it all…through all the ups and downs…we come here to this moment in time…here in the present…when We are still US…when we are still together.
“Really. Now, that doesn’t mean that I’m eager to grow old or anything… But somehow with you around, it doesn’t seem like such an unbearable prospect.”
“Brian, I think that’s probably the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Well, don’t repeat it. I still have a reputation to consider.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” Justin said, sliding his hands under Brian’s top and coming in contact with his skin. Justin began kissing a path down Brian’s chest.
Brian tried to pretend that he was ignoring whatever Justin was doing, but as always, he was having some difficulty ignoring Justin.
“I’m really having trouble concentrating here,” Brian admitted, hoping that Justin would take pity on him.
By this time Justin had slid down to Brian’s waist, lowering Brian’s sweatpants just far enough to reach his cock, and Justin simply whispered, “That’s the general idea,” as he slid his mouth over Brian’s cock.
Brian groaned with pleasure and dropped the letter, choosing instead to grab Justin’s hair as he thrust himself forward. Brian groaned and writhed beneath him as Justin administered one of his slow, protracted blow jobs until he finally allowed Brian release, and he came down the back of Justin’s throat.
Brian finally collapsed completely spent, as Justin slid back up Brian and kissed him, allowing Brian to taste himself. Brian tightened his arms around Justin, holding him in the confined space that was the futon.
“That was hot,” Brian finally whispered, leaning in to give Justin a gentle kiss. “But, you made me drop my letter.”
The shadow of the lovers’ embrace is the ultimate Talisman of Time, for the love that is shared is transcendent.
We choose what we’ll do with the time that has been given to us.
“Imagine that?” commented Justin with a victorious smile, shifting his position a bit trying to make himself more comfortable.
Brian carefully rolled them both over in the confined space of the futon, reversing their positions, placing Justin on his back the on the futon looking up at him. “Did you really think that I was going to let you get away with that?” Brian coyly asked with a smile. “No matter how much I enjoyed it.”
“Brian! I can’t paint from this position!”
Brian leaned down to kiss Justin gently, “Obviously,” he whispered.
Finally Brian retrieved his letter from the floor, where it had previously been tossed. He smiled the knowing smile of victory when he said, “Now back to my letter.”
Can’t we simply choose to find some way to share a love without sacrificing a life? Can’t we find some compromise? Can’t we find some way to be together?
‘It’s only time, isn’t good enough, Brian.
This is the moment for which our Talisman of Time was forged. Now is the time!
“It’s going to be interesting living with you in New York.” Brian quietly said, leaning down to kiss Justin gently. “Are you sure that this is what you want?”
“It doesn’t matter where we live as long as we’re together.” Justin reassured him. “Brian, even if we’re simply vagabonds and move from place to place, as long as we’re together, that’s all I care about.”
“Vagabonds…huh?”
“So we can move from place to place, and it’s ok with you as long as we’re together?”
“Yes!”
“And, you have a place to paint no matter where we are?”
“Well…”
“Promise me something?”
“What?”
“Promise me that you won’t stop trying to take the art world by storm just because we’re together. Conquering the art world has been something that you have always talked about. You’ve worked so hard. I don’t want you to give up.”
“I don’t plan to give up. I just want to be able to do other things besides painting nonstop…”
“You mean like Kinnetik projects?”
“Among other things…”
“I’ll put Theodore to work figuring out how to make our living together happen. Now are you going to promise me that you’ll continue to take the art world by storm?”
“I promise,” Justin whispered.
“Ok.”
“And…”
“What do you mean ‘and’? I thought we were done.”
“Not quite.”
“What now?”
“No more making decisions about us without me…we figure things out together.”
“Even the hypothetical and the speculative?”
“Especially the hypothetical and the speculative! Brian, we aren’t always going to agree on everything, but we should at least talk about stuff,” Justin pointed out.
“Preferably in the hot tub,” Brian commented. “Look, I get it! No more decisions without you, and we’ll figure things out together. I promise.”
“Now will you release me so can I get back to painting?”
“I don’t think so, Sunshine. We just made a pact! I think that’s cause for me to at least fuck you into the mattress…a mattress, which by the way, we spent the night away from last night because we stayed at the loft.” Brian pointed out with a smile.
“Ever the romantic!” Justin said with smile.
The ringing of Brian’s cell phone interrupted this tender moment. Brian noticed the caller ID and decided to answer, “Lindsay?”
“Dad? Hi,” the little voice on the line said.
“Well hello, Sonny Boy. How’s it going?”
“Ok, I guess. Dad, is Justin there?”
“Yes, he’s right here. Why Gus?”
“Can Justin come and get me?”
“Come and get you? Where are you, Gus?”
“My house.”
“Why do you want Justin to come and get you?”
“I want Justin to come and play with me,” Gus said sadly.
“But you’ll be back here to play with Justin in less than two weeks, did you forget?”
“No…it’s just that…” Brian could hear Gus sound as if he was starting to cry.
“Gus what’s the matter. Talk to me.”
“Dad, can I talk to Justin?”
Brian handed his cell phone to Justin. “Hey Gus, what’s going on?” Justin immediately asked.
“Jus, can you come and play with me?” Gus asked in reply.
Justin heard the request and realized that even at six years old, Gus already spoke Kinney-speak. Being well versed in the language, Justin knew just how to respond. “I miss you too, Gus,” he said.
“I don’t have anyone to play with. Come and play with me! Please!”
“Where are your mommies?”
“They only play with Jenny. They don’t have time to play with me anymore. Justin, can you and Dad come and play with me?”
“Is it really that bad, Gus?”
“Please come play with me Jus?” Gus pleaded, sounding as if he was going to cry.
“Gus, don’t cry. Give your Dad and me some time to work on this. Ok?”
“Ok.”
“We’ll talk to your mommies, and we’ll see what we can do. Ok?”
“Ok. I love you, Jus.”
“I love you too, Gus. Now, here’s your Dad.”
“Gus, are your mommies home?”
“No, Mommie went out. Mama’s here, but she’s with Jenny. Is Justin going to come and play with me?”
“We’ll see, Gus. I’m going to hang up and call Mommie on her cell phone. We’ll see what we can do. Ok?”
“Ok, Dad.”
“I love you, Sonny Boy.”
“I love you too, Dad.”
“Later, Gus.”
“Bye, Dad.”
Brian closed his cell phone and looked at Justin. “What the fuck is going on? Why is Gus asking that you come and pick him up in Toronto?”
“I don’t know. He just asked me to come and play with him. He just sounded so sad and so alone.”
“Lindsay told me that she marked off the days on the calendar so that Gus could see when everyone was coming back to Pittsburgh for a visit. I thought he was ok with everything. I’ve talked to him every week since he left, and he seemed ok. What happened?”
“Brian, he’s six years old. A month must seem like an eternity to him. Why don’t you call Lindsay, while I see about reservations? It’s only an hour flight. We can fly into Toronto tonight, visit with Gus, and fly back home tomorrow night.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” Brian said sadly. “Gus was supposed to be happy. What am I going to do?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. Just call Lindsay on her cell phone and find out what’s going on.”
Brian reached under the futon and retrieved the laptop from its hiding place. He unceremoniously handed the laptop to Justin.
“And just what is that doing here?” Justin asked with some surprise. Then, he turned on the screen, and the image of the painting reappeared. “Brian!” he said, glaring at his partner.
“Not now, Sunshine,” Brian said, trying to deflect the potential drama princess moment about to happen. “You have work to do,” he said with a smile, tapping the edge of laptop for emphasis
Brian decided that a little distance was probably a good idea at this point too; so he grabbed his cell phone and moved into the study to call Lindsay.