Who's Grumpy

They sat down in front of their fake fireplace as they often did. Brian put his arm around Justin and Justin had his head on Brian's shoulder as usual. Everything seemed normal but it wasn't. Justin had a job to do and he wasn't sure about how to proceed.

Brian helped him out by starting the discussion, "There's something wrong, Baby. Something's bothering you. You feel different tonight, like a little bit tense or something. Can I help?"

"No, it's OK," Justin replied, not very convincingly.

"No, it's not," Brian insisted. "I'm pulling rank on you. Talk."

"You won't get mad?" Justin wanted to make sure.

"I don't get mad at you," Brian assured him, "I think you know that. If there's anything I can do to help, I want to. You ought to know that too. I'm not going to drop this till you tell me what's the matter so you may as well just let it out."

"This is hard for me, Bri," Justin pleaded. "I don't want to do it."

"Just do it, Kid," Brian reiterated, "There isn't anything we can't talk about."

"Brian, Honey," Justin reluctantly told him, "You've been pretty grouchy the last few days."

"Me, grumpy," Brian couldn't believe his ears. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Not grumpy, Bri," Justin explained. "Grumpy is what you always are. It's your way of dealing with the world. That's not a problem. I can deal with that. I actually think that's one of your most lovable traits. Grouchy is when something happens that you don't like and you're stuck with it."

"I think the dictionary will tell you grouchy and grumpy mean the same thing," Brian insisted.

"Well they don't to me," Justin insisted back. "I know the difference.'

"OK, Dr. Justin T. Freud," Brian responded, "I guess you already know why I'm grouchy, or should I lie down on the couch."

"Lie down on the couch any time you want to, Honey, or on the floor if you'd rather," Justin grinned a semi- leer. "But, of course, I already know why you're grouchy. You're grouchy because Cynthia is getting engaged."

"Why the hell should I be grouchy because Cynthia is getting engaged?" Brian wanted to know. "I don't see any reason why she shouldn't get engaged."

"That's exactly what's making you grouchy, Honey," Justin reasoned. "You love Cynthia and you want her to be happy, and you want to be happy for her. But you think of Cynthia as part of the office too. And she is. And she's loyal to you . She went with you when you left Vanguard to start Kinnetics. She's an important part of your operation, and you want her to stay, but she's not leaving, Bri. She'll still be there. Still, she has a life outside the office too, just like you do. That doesn't mean she'll be less help to you."

"I have a life outside of the office?" Brian mused.

"A few comments like that and maybe you won't," Justin told him laughingly, "You're not the only guy in the world who can get grouchy. You do have a life away from the office, Brian Kinney. You don't sleep there."

"But I could if I had to," Brian pointed out.

"And you may have to if you don't quit being so grouchy," Justin pointed out in return.

Brian laughed at him. "You know, maybe that engagement stuff has been bothering me a little bit," he admitted. "You know I do love Cynthia and I want her to be happy, but I just never thought of her as getting married. I just wonder how it will affect the operation of the office. But I still don't think I've been the least bit grouchy."

"Well you have," Justin explained. "I was talking to Cynthia today and she says you've been biting off the heads of all the people in the office, and Mikey wanted to know if I had done something to you because you were kind of short with him on the phone when he called you this morning."

"Why does everybody have to talk to you when they think there's something the matter with me?" Brian complained. "Don't I have ears?"

"Sweetheart, you are not easy to talk to when you're grouchy," Justin said, "People are afraid of you."

"You aren't afraid of me though," Brian smiled at the twink.

"Yeah, I am too," Justin responded, "But I love you and I think you love me, and like you said, you never get mad at me."

"Well I'm gonna get Cynthia to remind me to get mad at you once a week at least," Brian laughed, "I don't like the idea that you might not be afraid of me like everybody else."

Justin felt relieved. He thought the worst was over and it was. "You can try, Mr. Kinney, but I'm pretty tough, and confidentially, I think I've got your number," Justin told him.

"OK," Brian challenged him, "If you know so much, what do I do to get over these mixed feelings that are supposed to be making me grouchy? You always have some plan. What is it this time?"

"Well," Justin conjectured, "I think you'd feel better if you met Harold. If Cynthia is going to marry him, he's probably pretty nice, and I think you'll feel a lot better about the engagement if you get to know him."

"That's what you think, eh?" Brian echoed.

"That's what I think," Justin responded, "But the final decision is up to you like it always is."

Always up to me?" Brian said, "Like I guess I get to choose the night we take them to Gino's? Right?"

"Actually Cynthia and I were hoping you'd pick Wednesday," Justin told him.

"Did you order for me already?" Brian laughed, "Or will I get to pick what I want to eat?"

"Geez, Bri," Justin complained. "You're always trying to make it look like I make decisions for you, and you know darn well I don't."

"When I do that, am I being grouchy or am I being grumpy?" Brian wanted to know.

"That's grumpy, Brian," Justin informed him. "You're always like that."

The conversation tailed off and all was well in front of the blazing flitting fake flames. Brian could feel the tension ebbing in Justin's body, and he was feeling better himself.

"Baby," Brian eventually asked Justin, "Do you think it's OK to be scared of somebody you really love?"

"I can't help it, Bri," Justin responded just a bit defensively. "That's how I am. That doesn't make me love you any less."

"You know," Brian concluded, "I'm glad that's your answer, because sometimes you scare me to death."

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