An Unexpected Development

The guys were settling down in front of the blazing fake flames in their fake fireplace. Justin was wondering how to tell Brian something he thought he needed to tell him, but it was Brian who actually began the conversation, asking exactly the question that Justin was wondering how to answer.

“OK, Baby,” he began. “It’s been a week since I told you about Alan and Oswaldo. I know you – so I know you’ve been investigating the situation – but you haven’t said a word to me about it. I think that’s a little bit strange. So is there anything you want to tell me?”

“Yeah I guess there is, Brian,” Justin admitted with a trace of hesitation. “Well - there is an Alan all right – and he’s kind of cute - and blond too - and he’s studying at Carnegie-Mellon – but he spends a good bit of time at Babylon….”

“Because he’s chasing Oswaldo” Brian interrupted. “We already knew all that. I don’t need you tell me what I already know. I guess what I really want to know is how the Association is helping that new blond twink trap the unsuspecting – or maybe in this case, suspecting – ogre.”

“It’s not all that simple. Bri,” Justin replied carefully. “It’s not exactly what you thought was going on. Maybe not at all what we thought actually. I don’t think Alan is in love with Oswaldo – certainly not like Jason and me were …. But never mind that. Remember when we watched that crazy British TV series – you liked it better than me – I forget the name. Remember how that Nathan kid was like - chasing after Stuart – but not to actually catch him – like just to learn how to be the biggest stud around….”

“Are you telling me this blond twink from St. Louis is setting Oswaldo up?” Brian interrupted with a laugh. “To do him in? A beautiful blond out-of-town twink trying to take over at Babylon. Now that’s really funny. I’m glad you never thought of that or maybe ….”

“Cut it out, Brian,” Justin returned the interruption. “And this is not all that funny either.”

“No, I guess it isn’t funny,” Brian was still laughing. “A rogue blond twink. Geez. Defies the imagination. That’s what it does all right. Kind of puts the Association in a tough spot too, n’est-ce pas. Actually, though, there is an element of humor….”

“Somehow I thought that was how you’d take the news, Kinney,” Justin grouched mildly “Probably why I didn’t tell you till now. Well you’ve still got some of the stuff wrong though. Alan does not want to take over Babylon at all. Oh he wants to be the big stud all right – but not in Pittsburgh – back home in St. Louis. He says there’s some old guy there who used to be the hottest stud in St. Louis – used to be anyhow – he’s still the big guy there but getting old and on borrowed time - and Alan wants to be the one to take over. He figures there’s stuff he could learn from Oswaldo that would help.”

“Well then maybe he’d want to interview me, Baby?” Brian suggested, still seeing more humor in the situation than Justin did. “And maybe Brandon too. Oswaldo isn’t the only guy in town who could give him some advice ….”

“OK, Kinney,” Justin stopped him. “Have your fun if you need to – but you are to stay completely away from Alan - unless I need you for something. No advice. None. Get it. I’ll take care of this situation – if I can figure out what to do – with no help from my loving partner either. So if you’re not gonna help….”

“Hey, Baby,” Brian squeezed the kid slightly but reassuringly. “Maybe you just shouldn’t get involved at all. Maybe it isn’t any of our business…. But I guess you won’t stay out of it – so I’ll help if I can – if I know what we’re trying to do….”

“Brian,” Justin told him. “Alan is not really that bad of a guy at all – actually I think he’s a pretty nice guy - just maybe a bit confused about what he wants out of life. Yeah - I met him. Hix brought him over to the Institute for lunch a couple of days ago and I met him. Talked to him for over an hour. He doesn’t want to do Oswaldo any harm. He thinks Oswaldo’s OK. He just wants to learn how to be mean from him – he thinks the biggest stud around has to be pretty mean - and I would have thought Oswaldo wouldn’t have a problem with that – not that he’d be of much help either – except to show Alan what mean really is - but after what you told me last week. What if Oswaldo…?”

“And Justin Taylor is worried about Oswaldo getting hurt?” Brian conjectured. “Won’t the Association see that as treason – not helping the beautiful blond twink get exactly what he wants?”

“But what if this particular beautiful blond twink doesn’t really want what he thinks he wants?” Justin conjectured back. “Brian, Alan doesn’t want what he thinks he does. I don’t know if he wants Oswaldo or not – but I’m dead sure he doesn’t want to be some heartless stud. He wants some guy to love – one who’ll love him back. I don’t know if that guy’s Oswaldo or not. That is entirely their own business. But you’re right. I don’t want either of them to get hurt – and we don’t really know how Oswaldo feels….”

“Baby,” Brian cut him off. “I think maybe we do know how Oswaldo feels – or maybe thinks he might feel anyhow. I guess I should have told you this before. The reason that I asked you about Alan is because I got a call from Oswaldo this morning at the office. He actually was suspecting something like what you just told me. Oswaldo is not very experienced with stuff like this so he’s a bit lost – but I can tell you this – he is confused about his feelings concerning Alan – and Oswaldo is not used to being mixed up. I’m worried about Oswaldo, Baby.”

“So I suppose you don’t really think we should stay out of it at all, do you, Sweetheart?” Justin smiled at him. “You’re getting to be kind of a meddler too, Brian Kinney – not that I’m complaining.”

“Cause you don’t see me as any competition in the meddling department yet, Baby,” Brian smiled back at the kid. “Yeah, I don’t want to see either of them get hurt – but I have no idea what to do – and my bet is that you will eventually come up with the exact right thing too. Want some inspiration?”

“Yeah, Honey,” Justin decided rather quickly. “That’s exactly what I want. Any inspiration you could provide would be greatly appreciated….”

So the discussion ceased at this point for a considerable period of time while Brian tried to provide that promised inspiration. It took a long time but the proffered inspiration eventually fulfilled its promise – and the conversation was able to resume.

“Brian,” Justin said, “I think we both need to see Alan and Oswaldo together. I want to invite them here to dinner sometime soon if that’s all right with you. I’ll invite Alan and you should invite Oswaldo. But I don’t want them to be surprised. You tell Oz that Alan will be here and I’ll tell Alan that Oswaldo is coming. I think they’ll both want to come all right. And then we’ll see what happens….”

“Do you think we should ask Brandon and Jason too?” Brian wondered. “They’d probably show up anyways – but maybe they could help. What do you think?”

“That’s a great idea, Brian,” Justin quickly agreed. “I would have thought of it tomorrow but it’s a great idea. Maybe you are going to be some competition as a meddler – but I don’t really mind….”

Brian must have thought of some more inspiration right then – even though a decision had already been made - because the discussion went into “pause” mode again – for more than a little while too.

And it was Brian who resumed their chat this time. “Hey, Baby,” he asked. “Did it ever even cross your mind that you’d maybe like to be the big stud at Babylon?”

“Nope, Bri, it never did,” Justin assured him. “There was only one thing I ever wanted from Babylon – there was this guy – I really wanted him - and I got him – and everything turned out better even than I ever hoped it would.”

“And this guy from Babylon – the guy that you got,” Brian wanted to know, “was he getting old - and on borrowed time?”

“Nope,” Justin responded. “He was absolutely in his prime. Had a lot of good years ahead there – but he gave them up - for me. I’m not sure why he did. Sometimes I wonder if he’s ever sorry….”

“He isn’t ever sorry,” Brian told him. “He’s the happiest guy in the whole world, Baby. And if they’re smart, Alan and Oswaldo will see that too.”

Justin rolled his head onto Brian’s shoulder and snuggled closer. “You’re the second happiest,” he told Brian. Justin liked to get the last word in.

Brian was content to let him.
 

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