Considerate and Sensitive

"I was talking to Mikey today," Brian told Justin as they settled themselves in front of the fireplace. "He wanted me to find out if you had been talking to Hunter lately."

"Well he's been in Cincinnati for the past few days visiting Malcolm's family," Justin replied, "But I talked to him a day or so before he left. Let me guess, Bri, Mikey is worried again that they're going to elope, isn't he?"

"Would Hunter be likely to tell you if they were?" Brian asked, "I didn't think you were that tight with Hunter."

"Actually he might, Honey," Justin informed him. "Hunter talks to me about stuff. But I'm pretty sure Malcolm would have told me if that's what they were planning. Neither of them mentioned it to me, but knowing them, something like that could come up on the spur of the moment. I don't really think so though. I haven't heard about any gay marriages in Ohio."

"I don't know if that will satisfy Mikey or not," Brian smiled, "But I'll convey the word. Actually, would you tell me if either of them had told you they were planning to elope?"

"Yeah," Justin assured him, "I'd tell you, but I don't think I'd allow you to tell Michael. I'm not a tattle-tale and those guys trust me. I'd advise them not to do any eloping though. I think it would be kind of dumb. They're too young. They need more time to really get to know each other."

The conversation hit a lull at this point, which gave the guys a chance just to stare at the heatless flames, now on the summer setting, as they enjoyed each other's company.

"Brian," Justin asked after a while, "Did Mikey mention anything to you about maybe him and Ben going someplace where they're doing gay weddings? Linz and Mel figure maybe they're thinking about that."

"Baby, you got me this time," Brian admitted, "But no yelling about me not telling you. I was going to tell you before we got up."

"OK, then why didn't you?" Justin smiled as he challenged him.

"Because I was having such a good time sitting here hanging on to you that I didn't want to break the spell," Brian told him.

"Chalk one up for Kinney," Justin laughed. "You're off the hook, but you are getting either more romantic or sneakier, Brian. Either way, I guess I like it."

"They're just thinking about the possibility, Sunshine," Brian went on, "Nothing is decided. Mike wondered what I thought about it. I don't think it's a secret though. They'd probably be interested in what you thought about it too. What do you think?"

"You first, Brian." Justin decided, "What did you tell Mikey?"

"I told him about Freddy and Chuck. I don't think you know either of them. They were living together for eight years with never a problem," Brian related, "So they flew out to somewhere where they're doing gay weddings and got themselves married. In less than a month after they got back here, it was all over with them. They decided to get a divorce but then they found out that there weren't any provisions for gay divorce so now they're stuck."

"You have to be kidding, Honey," Justin surmised.

"No, I'm not," Brian insisted. "That's just the way it happened. Freddy told me himself. Society will let us get married some places but not divorced."

"I'll bet Mikey was happy to get all that information, Brian," Justin laughed, "I don't think that was what he was looking for though."

"I don't think it was," Brian admitted, "But he asked and I thought I ought to tell him. OK, now what would you have told him?"

"I would have told him that he and Ben should decide for themselves," Justin said, "They're old enough and they know each other and they know what they want. If marriage is what they want, they should go for it. But I wouldn't want to tell them what to decide."

"Too bad they don't have gay marriages in Las Vegas yet," Brian smiled, "They could go out there and get married and try it for a couple of hours and then get an annulment if they didn't like it. Just like straight people do."

"You are cynical, Brian Kinney," Justin told him, "But I knew that when I fell for you so I guess I can't complain."

"Baby?" Brian began a new tack.

"We've had this talk before, Brian," Justin smiled at him. "We are together forever and we both know that. So we don't have any legal document that tells us that but we know it. Someday we'll probably get that document but not yet. Our time will come."

"Yeah, it will, I guess," Brian answered him, "When the world is ready for us."

"Do you think the world will ever be ready for us?" Justin had to laugh. "I don't mean just any two gay guys. I mean us, like with a capital U."

"The world does not have a choice, Baby," Brian assured him, "We're here."

"Maybe we'd be better off," Justin concluded, "If the world didn't notice."

The conversation trailed off at this point and the guys just sat there kind of wrapped up in each other.

"Brian," Justin eventually said, "I know you think I'm more conventional than you are and I guess I am, but I don't think I'm as conventional as you think I am. I do appreciate your bringing up the subject because you figure it's something I might want. And I do want it. But I told you before, I want us to make public vows when we can do it legally right here in front of our friends. I know somebody has to push the envelope on this but I don't want to be the one. I have you and that's enough for me."

"Thanks for giving me so much credit for being sensitive to your needs, Baby," Brian replied, "But there's a little more that I didn't mention and I guess I have to tell you now. Mikey and Ben are actually talking about going to Toronto the weekend after next. It's not definite yet but Mikey wanted to know if we'd come with them as witnesses if they go. Believe me, I really was being sensitive, just like you thought I was, but I also wondered how safe it was to take you to Ontario."

"Brian Kinney, you're a rat," Justin reacted, "I wouldn't marry you now if you got down on both knees and asked me."

"Bet you would," Brian gloated.

"Well I don't think I would," Justin had to laugh, "But it might be safer if you didn't try it."

"So it's OK that I told Mikey we would go with them if that's what they decided. Of course Hunter will be going too," Brian informed Justin.

"Wait a minute, Brian," Justin responded, "If you already told him that, you didn't know then how I was going to react. What if I did want to get married?"

"Well," Brian started, then he paused.

"You'd do it if I wanted, wouldn't you?" Justin gushed, "You are considerate and sensitive, Brian Kinney."

"Not so loud," Brian answered him, "I don't care if you know that but I don't want it to be public knowledge. Nobody else would want a sensitive and considerate Brian Kinney."

"Brian," Justin teased, "If you really want to get married…."

"Actually, I do," Brian teased him back, "But not on this trip to Toronto, if we go. I'd rather wait until they get better divorce arrangements set up."

"So much for considerate and sensitive," Justin told him.

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