Let's Do It Again
 

Brian noticed a particular gleam in the blond twink’s eye as the guys settled themselves onto the floor of the loft facing the shooting flames of the fake fireplace. That amused Brian some - as that twinkle usually meant that Justin had some new idea in his head – or maybe in some cases – in somebody else’s head.

“Hey, Brian,” Justin began immediately, “Jason was watching Channel 13 a couple of days ago and he got this idea….”

“Geez, Baby,” Brian smiled at him. “I knew someday Jason was gonna get an idea. It was just inevitable – and I didn’t even know he watched the pledge weeks on educational TV either.”

“Cut it out, Brian Kinney,” Justin objected. “You always make fun of Jason. Well Jason is real smart and he has a lot of good ideas of his own - but he did get this one from an expert on relationships on WQED.”

“You know, Babe,” Brian persisted, “I don’t watch all that much educational TV, but I never thought their experts were so….”

“That’s because you’re such an expert on everything yourself, Bri,” Justin offered an explanation, “that everybody else’s ideas always seem dumb to you. You even think some of my ideas are dumb - so that’s how I know.”

Brian himself seemed to come up with an idea at this point – an idea which - perhaps he thought - might cut this discussion short. He tried it out and it did delay further conversation for a good while – long enough for Brian to think it was indeed a worthwhile idea – but alas – it did not end the discussion.

“So this expert was saying,” Justin continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted at all, “that couples ought to like – recreate the way they first met – every once in a while. It’s supposed to remind them of why they liked each other in the first place.”

“I dunno, JT,” Brian smiled. “I know some couples who didn’t like each other when they first met. It wasn’t like – love at first sight – like us.”

“Yeah,” Justin reminisced. “It was love at first sight for us – even if you didn’t know it till I told you.”

“And told me and told me and told me,” Brian laughed. “ Talk about brain-washing….”

“Sometimes you aren’t very romantic at all, Mr. Kinney,” Justin pointed out with a smile. “Which proves the expert’s point. Maybe you need to be reminded….”

“Sweetheart,” Brian remembered, “we didn’t know Jason and Brandon all that well when they met but, as I remember the story, Brandon didn’t fall for Jason right away.”

“I think I remember it that way too, Brian,” Justin had to admit, “but it’s not important how we remember it for them. It’s only important how they remember it themselves and Jason remembers.”

“What about Brandon though?” Brian wondered. “Maybe he remembers it more like we do than like Jason does.”

“Well Jason told him about his idea, Kinney,” Justin told him imperiously, “and Brandon said he thought it would be a good thing to try. Hey, Brian. Brandon didn’t like – already mention this to you, did he? It was like – supposed to be their secret ….”

“Well maybe he did, Sweetheart,” Brian hedged, “but how was that so much different from Jason mentioning it to you…?”

“Of course there’s a difference, Brian,” Justin insisted. “A big difference too. Jason told me about it because he knew I’d understand. If Brandon told you about it, it was because he knew you’d think it was funny – so it was all right for Jason to tell me but it was wrong for Brandon to tell you….”

“Well you told me, Baby,” Brian reasoned, “so did you expect me to scoff at poor Jason like you’re accusing Brandon of doing?”

“No, I wasn’t telling you cause I wanted you to be sarcastic, Kinney,” Justin defended himself. “I told you about it because I thought maybe you’d want to try it.”

“You want us to copy Brandon and Jason?” Brian seemed surprised.

“Well it seems like something we could try,” Justin repeated. “Like – doesn’t it seem like a good idea? What harm could it do?””

“I don’t know, JT,” Brian admitted, “but what exactly are you talking about. Are you just thinking about the scene outside of Babylon. All we’d need then would be a rainy night – and I’d have to go to Babylon with the guys and revert to my old ways – just temporarily of course. But if you’re talking about the whole night, we’d have to rent a hospital room and poor Gus would give a new meaning to being ‘born again’…..”

“I don’t know why I keep trying, Kinney,” Justin seemed to give up. “I know how you are. You would not be going to Babylon with the guys – no way - and you would definitely not be reverting to your old ways either.”

“Well if we were gonna recreate the time we first met…” Brian interjected.

“Well I don’t see why we have to be so damn literal about it, Brian,” Justin persisted. “You always have to be so literal….”

“So you’re suggesting that we like – make up a version of how we met?” Brian laughed. “OK with me. It was in a dimly-lit but very elegant supper club. We were at different tables but our eyes met across the crowded room and you knew right then….”

“We both knew right then, BK,” Justin improved the description, “not just me. And you – like came over to my table and introduced yourself…..”

“Worst mistake of my life, Sweetheart,” Brian laughed. “I should have run like hell. Maybe it would be better if you came over and introduced yourself to me.”

“Well I guess we could do it that way, Mr. Kinney,” Justin decided, “if you’d rather have it that way.”

“You know what, Baby,” Brian recalled. “I think Brandon and Jason met outside of Babylon too.”

“Nope,” Justin corrected him, “inside. You got them mixed up with us.”

“Nope,” Brian replied definitely. “I do not ever get Jason and Brandon mixed up with us. They get themselves mixed up with us. But I do have an idea – didn’t get it from Channel 13 either – Seems to me that we can’t be sitting alone in that dimly-lit but elegant supper club. What about if Brandon is there with me and Jason is there with you – and when you come over and introduce yourself to me, Brandon can go over to your table and introduce himself to Jason? Whattaya think?”

“Well that’s a wonderful idea, Brian,” Justin laughed, “But I don’t think so. Jason and Brandon already tried to relive their first meeting. It didn’t go all that well. They like – went to Babylon and some new guys over there hit on Brandon and Brandon like – flirted back at them a little – and Jason got mad and….”

“And you had to fix things up for them….” Brian guessed correctly. “So why were you telling me about it anyway?”

“I was like – just wondering what would happen if we tried….” Justin told him.

“Shut up Twink,” Brian commanded as he squeezed the kid closer – which might have ended the conversation – but didn’t.

After a few quiet minutes, Brian began to croon – and almost on key: “Some enchanted evening – You may see a stranger – You may see a stranger – Across a crowded room….”

“I hate you, Brian Kinney,” Justin complained as he rubbed his nose across Brian’s cheek.

“No you don’t, “ Brian told him.

And Justin decided not to argue the point.

 

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