Who's Flying the Plane

The guys had positioned themselves on the floor of the loft and were gazing at the fake flames in silence – but not for long.

Brian opened with a single word. "Abelard," he said.

"Abelard?" Justin echoed. "What about Abe? Is he in town?"

"I don't know, Baby," Brian replied. "How would I know? Would you tell me if he was?"

"Hey, Brian," Justin said. "Something's wrong. I can tell. You're mad at me about something that has to do with Abelard. I don't know what you're talking about though. I don't. Will you please tell me what the problem is? There has to be some mistake."

"Well Kiddo, it's just that I was over to Mikey's store this afternoon and he told me that he had forbidden Hunter to fly with Abelard but he was still afraid that Hunter might sneak out to the county airport when Abelard comes in,” Brian told him. "Abelard has a pilot's license. I can't believe you didn't know it – and I'm damn sure you didn't tell me about it. At least Hunter told Mikey. You never even told me. So were you maybe planning to end up at the county airport too and me not know anything about it?"

"Gee whiz, Brian Kinney," Justin complained. "How come you always think the worst about me? OK, but I did tell you that Abelard is working for AHB Corp in Columbus and you know they have an office here.'

"Yeah, you did tell me that – but that was a good while back - and that's not what I'm talking about now," Brian came back. "And you know it's not too."

"Well Malcolm told me maybe six months ago that they wanted Abelard to get a pilot's license so he could ferry equipment and other stuff back and forth. Abe always wanted to fly – to get a pilot's license, that is. I think that's why he took the AHB job in the first place. He thought that might happen. Anyhow, Malcolm said we all might take a hop with Abelard when he's in town. It was kind of a natural thing for him to say."

"And you decided that Brian didn't need to know anything about that," Brian presumed. "I just wonder why."

"Give me a chance to tell you what I decided, Brian," Justin asked. "Please. What I decided was that you wouldn't let me do any flying with Abelard – at least for about ten years – I know how you are - so I told Malcolm I didn't want to know any more about the flight training. It might not have even worked out. So I decided I'd tell you whenever Abe ever flew in, and I'd also tell you then that I wouldn't fly with him unless you were OK with it – and I knew you wouldn't be OK with it. And Abelard hasn't flown in yet – so I didn't tell you. I didn't even know he had his license. And that’s the whole story too."

"But you'd go up with him if I thought it was OK?" Brian assumed.

"Yeah, probably," Justin said. "I bet Abelard will be a good pilot. He's good at everything he does."

"And so I guess you also think that I worry more about you than you do?" Brian surmised.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I think all right, Bri," Justin rested his head on Brian's shoulder and grabbed his hand. "And that is not a complaint, Brian. It's not a complaint at all."

The conversation stopped at this point for a considerable period. The subject was not finished though so it eventually continued.

"Then you really did want to go flying with Abelard?" Brian resumed the discussion.

"No, I didn't, Bri," Justin responded. "Not if you didn't want me to. I don't want you to be worried. You are more important to me than flying with Abelard. You are more important to me than anything."

"You know, Twink." Brian was smiling and he squeezed Justin slightly. "Sometimes I believe that."

"What do you mean sometimes, Brian," Justin demanded. "Pretty soon you may not be the only one who’s mad around here."

"Figure of speech, Baby," Brian said. "Just a figure of speech. Remember our rule that we don't both be mad at the same time. And I was mad first."

"Well you shouldn't be mad at all now, Kinney. I've explained what happened," Justin retorted, "so I guess it would be all right if I got mad – since you shouldn't be still mad and all."

"That's a good point, Baby," Brian conceded with another slight squeeze. "But are you sure you really want to be mad?"

"No," Justin broke into a smile. "Maybe I'm not so sure at all – or maybe I am sure – and maybe I don't want to be mad."

So the discussion was held up again, slightly more resolved than at the last interruption, but for every bit as long a time.

"So is Mikey right, Sunshine?" Brian wondered. "Will Hunter sneak out to the airport and fly away with Abelard like Mikey thinks he might?"

"I'm not sure but I don't think so," Justin suspected. "I think Hunter might do it on his own but I warned Malcolm that if he did, Mikey might blame Malcolm and that could cause trouble. A little sky time is not worth all the trouble it could cause."

"So I guess that's the real reason you won't go up unless I approve," Brian grinned. "Too much trouble. Not worth it, eh?"

"Brian Kinney," Justin groused without rancor. "You refuse to give me any credit no matter how much I try to please you. I may as well just do as I please. I never get any credit whatever I do."

"Sorry, Baby," Brian apologized. "I guess I'm just mean. No insult intended. Really. But I guess that Malcolm will be only one going up for a spin with Abelard then. I presume he'll go."

"Well his parents don't want him to," Justin revealed, "And Hunter doesn't want him to go if he can't go too – so I don't know…."

"You know what, Sweetheart," Brian pointed out. "Abelard will likely be very disappointed if nobody will go up with him. He's probably real happy about his pilot's license and he'll be real disappointed. Maybe I should take a ride with him. I like Abelard and I don't want him to be disappointed. What do you think?"

Justin answered by not answering.

"What's the problem, Baby?" Brian asked again. "Don't I have your permission to go a-flying with our pal? Do I need your permission to fly away with Abe?"

"Guess you won't know till you ask?" Justin replied suggestively.

Brian decided to ask later. There were more important things than flying with Abelard.
 

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