Vice-Versa

Justin had doubts as he got himself into position in front of the flames in the fake fireplace. There was something that Brian wasn't telling him. He was hoping that by the fire's light, Brian would open up. He was also hoping that what Brian had to tell him wouldn't be so bad - Justin had a tendency to expect the worst. So he let Brian put his arm around him and he took Brian's hand in his and waited.

"Baby," Brian began the discussion, "Remember, we deliberately didn't schedule anything for next Tuesday so we could just have the whole night together."

"Of course, I remember Brian," Justin answered. "That's the only way I could make sure not to schedule anything."

"Would you mind a lot if I did schedule something for next Tuesday. You're included of course," Brian asked him. "If it really bothers you though we can reschedule. I don't want you to be upset."

"Don't be crazy, Bri," Justin answered. "Of course I'm not upset. You wouldn't schedule anything for next Tuesday if you didn't think it was important, and since I'm included, why would I mind? I'm kind of intrigued though. Where are we going?"

"We're not going anywhere," Brian stated. "We'll be right here. And there's more. Do you think you could put your culinary skills to work? I'll be glad to help but we both know you're the master chef around here."

"Some big client?" Justin figured.

"Not exactly, Honey," Brian responded.

"Now," Justin told him, "I'm not only intrigues, I'm a little suspicious too. You know I'll do whatever you want but you seem to be pussyfooting around this business, and you know I have a suspicious mind."

"Yeah, I know you do," Brian laughed, "And mostly when you have no reason to be suspicious. Now I'm going to pull a Justin on you. Will you let me get this whole story out before you interrupt?"

Justin had to laugh too. "I'll be at least as good as you are when I want to tell you something," he promised.

"What if that's not good enough?" Brian challenged.

"Talk Kinney," Justin ordered. "I'll do the best I can."

"Your mother called me today," Brian began.

"My mother called you," Justin wondered. "She hardly calls me since she got mixed up with that Walter guy."

"That Walter," Brian echoed, "Remember when I was 'that Brian'."

"Yeah," Justin recalled. "I'm sorry. Go on. I'll try to keep quiet."

"Your mother is concerned that maybe you don't like Walter," Brian continued. "It has been bothering her. She doesn't think you were particularly friendly the couple of times you've seen him. You know, Baby, I think she might be right. You can talk to me about it if you want to."

"I don't know, Bri," Justin responded. "It seems really odd to me - my mother with some guy."

"It seemed odd to your mother when you got mixed up with some guy, Kiddo," Brian reminded him, "But she came through for you."

"She didn't know you, Bri," Justin said. "She didn't know you then but she loves you now that she's got to know you."

"Think about that for a minute, Baby," Brian suggested.

"OK, I get your point," Justin admitted. "Maybe I haven't given Walter a chance. I think I was afraid he wouldn't approve of us. I don't know. But why didn't she just call me. Shouldn't she have just called me and told me what you're telling me now?"

"Sonny Boy," Brian pointed out, "Do you have any idea how many times people have called you when they wanted me to do something? Why do you suppose they did that?"

"So that I could talk some sense into you?" Justin posited. "And maybe because they thought you'd listen to me. Oh Oh. Is this a case of vice-versa?"

"I think that's exactly what this might be," Brian smiled at him, "A great big case of vice-versa."

"So?" Justin asked.

"So I told your mother she was wrong," Brian told him. "I told her that you liked Walter and that we were hoping they could have dinner with us over here some night soon. Tuesday was the only day I could remember that was open for sure and so I asked them over for next Tuesday. She seemed very pleased, and I guess that's just about the whole story."

"Except that you're my hero, Brian Kinney," Justin replied. "That you made me look better than I deserved to look and that makes you my hero."

"So who was your hero up till now?" Brian wanted to know.

"You were, of course," Justin laughed. "You're just a bigger hero now than before."

"So it's OK with you then," Brian wanted to make sure.

"Of course, it's all right with me. I'm happy you made me look good," Justin assured him, "And we'll really make Tuesday special. We'll plan the menu - tomorrow. I just want to sit here with you tonight. I don't want to think about anything but you."

"That's OK with me," Brian told him, "If that's what you want to do." Actually it was a lot more than OK with Brian. Brian was in love.

Silence was golden in the loft, but not usually long-lived.

"Brian," Justin asked," Why didn't you tell me I was being such a jerk? You knew it, didn't you?"

"Because I knew you weren't a jerk and that you'd figure it out for yourself sooner or later," Brian told him. "Then when your mother called, I figured I had to do something. You would have figured it out yourself though. I know you would have. You always do the right thing."

"Brian," Justin told him, "If you're trying to make me cry, you're going to succeed."

"Actually I think I was trying to say I love you but you know how bad I am at that," Brian responded.

"Now I know you're trying to make me cry," Justin said.

"That's what I've got a shoulder for," Brian assured him.

"Brian," Justin told him, "I love you. I can't believe how much."

"You know what I think we have here, Sunshine," Brian told him back, "Another great big case of vice-versa."

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