Challenge

 
A few days had passed since the revelation of the odd lunch engagement shared by Brian and Brandon with the current incumbent at Babylon. The subject had not been broached in the loft again since then – but as the guys settled down in front of their fake fireplace, it might have been on both of their minds. And it was.

"I guess the electrical work at Kinnetics is all over, Brian," Justin supposed with a smile. "You must be all rewired by now."

"Yeah it is," Brian affirmed. "They got done early this afternoon and they did a really good job too. We can get those new machines we need now and not blow any fuses or breakers."

"And I guess Brian Kinney didn't blow any fuses over any of the electricians either," Justin continued, "Or like maybe take any of them out to lunch again?"

"Nope," Brian affirmed again. "Lunch the last two days was with clients. Wanna hear about them? Might be a little boring though."

"Well you know how I'm really interested in everything you do, Bri," Justin replied, "But I don't want to pry or anything so I won't ask."

"I think that's reasonable," Brian assented, "So I guess you also wouldn't be interested in whether I talked to Oswaldo again after the big lunch date…."

"Well, you know what, I'll be glad to listen if you feel like telling me, Sweetheart," Justin told him. "That might be interesting since I know about Oswaldo and all… .So I would be glad to listen – if you want to tell me."

"That sounds pretty much like an order to me, Baby," Brian grinned. "My sweet little Justin seems to be fascinated by big brutal Oswaldo. It might be better if I talked voluntarily though – and avoided the third degree."

"Might be," Justin agreed coyly, "Oswaldo sounds like he could be a challenge. Not that I think much interesting would have occurred right there at Kinnetics. Still it might be better if…."

"OK, Baby," Brian gave in, "Oswaldo kept giving me the eye right up to the minute he walked out the door. I don't know if his intentions were good or not. He did say I should stop around Babylon more often."

"Well I don't think Oswaldo has any good intentions about anything, Bri," Justin decided with a smile. "That's my opinion if you want it. And he had a lot of nerve coming on to you too. Doesn't he know about me?"

"Yeah, you know he knows about you all right," Brian laughed. "But you may not know that he's actually seen you. He thinks you're pretty hot. That's what he said anyhow."

"Nothing the matter with Oswaldo's eyesight, I guess," Justin pointed out through a big grin. "Or his taste either. Maybe there is some hope for Oswaldo after all."

"Guess he does have a good eye," Brian joked. "He told me that if I ever wanted to get rid of you for one night sometime, he'd take you off my hands. Just for one night though. Oswaldo doesn't do repeats."

"What do you mean, Brian – take me off your hands for a night?" Justin was not smiling now. "What do you mean? Am I some kind of thing that can be lent out for the night? Maybe rented out even? Am I some kind of chattel or something?"

"Hold your horses, Baby," Brian reined him in – or at least tried to. "I didn't say that stuff. Oswaldo said it – and we know what kind of clod he is."

"Well I hope you told him off, Kinney," Justin went on unabated. "I hope you defended my honor and told that creep off. You probably told him you'd think about it. That's what you probably told him. I know you too."

"Yeah, you do know me, Sunshine," Brian laughed. "That is exactly what I told him. Wonder if he's busy tonight. I maybe could use a little peace and quiet – just for the one night though. There is such a thing as too much peace and quiet."

"OK, Kinney," Justin laughed back at him, "But that one night business could be a real challenge too. Justin Taylor loves a challenge. Oswaldo wouldn't be the first guy I ever met who didn't do repeats. It might be very interesting – yeah – a real challenge. If you would ever decide that you wanted him to take me off your hands, that is –it just might be for more than one night too. Bet I could handle that all right. Done it before. Bet I could do it again."

"You do 'fits' pretty good, Honey," Brian admitted, squeezing the kid ever so slightly, "But I don't think I can spare you – not for tonight at least. It just might be better to get this Oswaldo stuff taken care of right now and then forget about it."

"Bet you're just jealous because Oswaldo found me attractive too," Justin taunted. "Bet he'd have made eyes at me too if I had been there – so you aren't the only attractive guy in the world."

"And we aren't the only attractive guys in the world either," Brian taunted back. "Oswaldo asked me to tell Brandon that he'd be willing to take Jason off his hands for one night sometime too."

"Don't do it, Bri," Justin advised him strenuously. "Jason is not tough enough to deal with Oswaldo. Don't tell Brandon. If anybody has to go, it ought to be me. I'll face the challenge. Oswaldo will be done in. David and Goliath all over again."

"Geez, Baby," Brian recoiled. "You're really taking this challenge stuff seriously – Bible citations and all. But you don't need to do any worrying about Jason. I don't think Brandon would ever want to get Jason off his hands for even one night. He is crazy about that kid."

"And…?" Justin expected him to go on.

"And I wouldn't want to get you off my hands for even one night either, I guess," Brian did go on with faked hesitation. ."Satisfied…?"

"Because…?" Justin pushed on. "You wouldn't want to get me off your hands even for one night because…?"

"Maybe because I love you," Brian conceded. "Did I get the answer right?"

Justin snuggled up closer to Brian, indicating that Brian had indeed hit upon the exactly correct response, and bringing the conversation to a long but temporary halt.

"OK," Justin eventually resumed the chat. "I guess you're not planning to let me have my chance with Oswaldo after all."

"Guess not, Baby," Brian told him. "I think Oswaldo needs to find his own twink. You're taken."

"And you're the boss around here, Kinney," Justin ran his hand through Brian's hair. "We always do things your way – and that's what we should do this time too. BK always knows best."

"Well I just hate to deprive you of your challenge though, Kiddo," Brian told him. "I know how you love a challenge, JT."

"Gee whiz, Brian," Justin responded by placing his head on Brian's shoulder. "Don't you know you're always a bigger challenge for me than old Oswaldo could ever be? Yeah, I do love a challenge and you, Mr. Kinney, are the challenge I love the most. You're all the challenge I'll ever want – or ever need."

"You know what, Baby," Brian told Justin, pulling the kid up onto his lap and circling him with both arms. "You can be just a bit of a challenge yourself."

And Brian was thinking that he loved a challenge too.


 

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