MADE FOR EACH OTHER

Brian was faking discontent as he and the blond twink settled themselves in front of the fake flames in the fake fireplace. Brian knew he was faking and so did Justin.

"I guess you're satisfied now," Brian growled at the kid who was nestling in beside him.

"Of course I'm satisfied," Justin retaliated. "Why wouldn't I be satisfied? I got my way again. You didn't want to go to the wedding. But you needed to be there and you went. Another victory for J. T."

"Shouldn't you be tired of winning by now?" Brian asked him.

"Never," Justin assured him in return.

"Maybe we'll see about that," Brian vowed. "I intend to let you keep winning until you get sick of it. It may take some time but just wait and see. I'm determined and I am Brian Kinney, you know."

"Trying to take the pleasure out of my victories is mean-spirited, Brian, and it won't work either," Justin countered with a smile. "Not a chance."

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?" Brian maintained, messing up the kid's blond locks and bringing the argument to a temporary halt - but only temporary.

"Gay weddings don't count." It was Brian who broke the silence eventually. "They're not legal in this state, you know. They are just meaningless exercises in futility."

"They have meaning for the couple," Justin pontificated in return. "And if I recall correctly, you have mentioned that possibility for us on an occasion or two."

"And you turned me down every time," Brian laughed. "At least a couple of victories for B. K."

"Quit picking on me, Brian," Justin retorted. "You know you needed to be at Alex Wilder's wedding, and thanks to me you were. He wanted you there and you've known him a long time. And I'll bet you really are glad you went."

"I have known Alex for a long time," Brian admitted. "Actually since he was in medical school. We have hung out at Babylon a lot and we've been friends and maybe just a little bit more than that, but that's not why he wanted me there. It wasn't even me he wanted there. It was us."

"Because?" Justin queried.

"You know 'because' as well as I do," Brian delivered a light tap to Justin's head. "Alex is a couple of years older than me and Brad is a couple of years younger than you. The age difference is too great. Alex wanted us there to convince himself that he wasn't too old to be taking up with Brad."

"Because we're so happy and get along so well despite my young years and your senior citizenship?" Justin smiled at the guy he adored.

"He doesn't realize the problems we have because of your immature need to win all the time," Brian came back. "And him a psychiatrist yet - and a darn good one too. I guess psychiatrists can't help themselves like they can help other people. He still has a lot to learn."

"Like you did, I guess," Justin returned the tap on the head. "What he'll learn is that if two people are made for each other, like you and me, love conquers all."

"When will we be learning that?" Brian laughed.

"Cut it out Brian," Justin demanded. "You're trying to win this one. That's not fair."

"Sorry, Baby," Brian smiled, caressing the twink and initiating another pause in the discussion.

It was not usual for Brian to be the one to reinstigate conversation, but he did it again this time. "So you think we were made for each other?" he asked the kid. "What if you had been 29 when we met and I had been 17. I'll bet you wouldn't have given me a second look even if I chased you around like you chased me."

"Excuse me, Mr. Kinney," Justin corrected him. "I did not 'chase you around.' What I did was simply to make myself available. That's all I needed to do since we were made for each other. And yes, I would have fallen for you if I had been 29 and you had been 17. Age in immaterial when people are made for each other like we are. I would have fallen in love with you if you had been 74 when I met you." And that's just how it is."

"If you say so," Brian told him mockingly. Then he noticed an odd look on the twink's face. "What the hell are you thinking now?" he asked.

"Nothing," Justin told him.

"You don't get that look for nothing," Brian insisted. "We were made for each other so I know. Just spill it, Kiddo."

"I was just wondering what a challenge a psychiatrist would have been?" Justin badgered.

"You little brat," Brian elbowed the twink in the ribs. "You weren't made for a psychiatrist and I was made for a bratty manipulator. So we're both stuck with what we've got."

"Suits me fine," Justin allowed, reaching over and kissing the big guy.

"Do you think this is a strange conversation we're having?" Brian partially changed the subject.

"Not at all," Justin answered. "Haven't you ever had a conversation like this before?"

"Yeah, I think I have," Brian remembered, "But never without a joint or a pill to bring it on."

"Are you insinuating that I'm a kind of dope?" Justin feigned insult.

"Some kind of a dope, Baby," Brian responded. "Yeah maybe I am."

"Do you love me?" Justin wanted to know - not that he didn't know.

"Yeah, I do," Brian admitted. "Sometimes it's not easy, but yeah, I guess I do." That satisfied the kid and the ensuing silence was longer than the earlier ones.

It was Justin who revived the conversation this time. "You are glad you went to the wedding, aren't you, Bri?" he asked.

"Yes, Baby," Brian replied. "I am glad I went to the wedding. Alex did want us there, and I owed him a favor. He helped me out a lot once when I really needed him."

"You needed help from a psychiatrist?" Justin cajoled. "Must have been before you met me."

"Yeah," Brian said, remembering things he did not want to bring up to Justin then or ever, and ending with a white lie. "It must have been before I met you."

"Brian," Justin protested mildly. "Why are you squeezing me so hard?"

"Sorry, Baby," Brian apologized. "Probably just because we were made for each other."

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