A Different Viewpoint

The guys had just got themselves into position in front of the fireplace. They had eaten dinner in the loft with just some small talk between them. Justin had been late coming home and Brian surmised the reason but Justin had not broached the subject.

"I got your message about having to stop at Ben and Mikey's on your way home," Brian began the conversation. "Something about Rage I guess. Hollywood want to make a movie?"

"Not much chance of that," Justin laughed. "I don't think Hollywood is ready for a gay super-hero yet. But sometimes you have some good ideas, Kinney. Actually I was just doing a favor for Hunter."

"Lemme guess," Brian laughed back at him. "Hunter wanted to do something that he thought Ben and Mike wouldn't like so he called on you to do your specialty act - getting people to do what they don't want to do."

"Brian, you're always saying that and it's not true," Justin complained. "I don't try to get people to do what they don't want to do. Sometimes though, I do present them with a different viewpoint and they change their minds."

"So were you presenting Ben and Mikey with a different viewpoint and did they change their minds?" Brian wanted to know.

"Yeah," Justin had to smile at Brian, "I did and they did."

"And I know you're going to tell Brian all about it," Brian responded, "But only when you're good and ready, so I'm not going to give you the pleasure of acting like I want to know."

"Brian Kinney," Justin retorted, "Are you trying to start an argument? You know very well I have no secrets from you. Of course I'm going to tell you all about it. I would tell you anyway but I'm sure Michael would tell you if I didn't."

"You're so right, Sunshine," Brian jibed, "Mikey really doesn't have any secrets he won't tell me. He might have even called me and told me the whole story after you left over there and before you got back here."

"He didn't though," Justin murmured with some uncertainty, "Did he?"

"No but the telephone might ring before you decide to tell me," Brian warned Justin, "And then I'll get the story without your spin on it."

"There's this big football game at Ohio State, Honey. A week from Saturday," Justin gave up, "Abe is playing first-team on defense, and it is also his birthday. His parents and his sister, Penelope, and his girl friend, Martha, are coming up from Cincinnati for the game and a birthday party afterwards. Malcolm wants to go too, but he wants Hunter to go with him. Hunter really wants to go and he thought it would be better if I were along when he broke the news to Ben and Mike."

"And Ben and Mikey said OK?" Brian sounded surprised. "I guess they figured they had no other choice with you there to present another viewpoint."

"Wrong as usual, Sweetheart," Justin grinned. "Actually they said 'No' at first and they didn't change their mind until after I had presented a different viewpoint."

"You are really something," Brian mused at him.

"I'm glad you think so," Justin cajoled, "That's really romantic."

"I'm not sure I meant it to be romantic," Brian said.

"Well I guess I have a different viewpoint," Justin answered as he ran his hand through Brian's hair, ending the conversation for a while.

"You know, Brian," Justin eventually broke the silence. "I may as well tell you the whole story even if it does sound maybe a little bit like bragging. Abelard wanted you and me to go to the game too, but I saved you from that. I said I thought we were busy that weekend so you're off the hook."

"Well you know me and Abe got to be pretty good friends that weekend he was in Pittsburgh," Brian replied, but he was interrupted before he could continue.

"Brian," Justin stared at him. "Something's up. I can see it in your face. You were talking about secrets just then. Are you keeping something from me? After accusing me of not telling you everything."

"Not at all, Baby," Brian assured him, "Just waiting for my turn to talk. Actually you told Malcolm a few days ago that we couldn't go to Columbus, I think. Abe called me yesterday to see if he couldn't change our minds. He presented a different viewpoint, I guess. He said I could bring that blond cousin of mine who is staying with me along, so I guess I told him we'd try to make it."

"Brian," Justin protested, "You conned Abe in Pittsburgh but you won't be able to do that all weekend. And I don't want him fawning all over you either." Justin would probably have rephrased that last remark if he had thought more about it, but it was too late.

"Are you jealous?" Brian laughed at the twink. "Abe's straight and his girl friend is going to be there and you're jealous?"

"I am not jealous, Brian," Justin maintained, "And I am not your cousin either. What if Abe finds out."

"Abe's a big boy, Honey," Brian told him. "Everybody there but Abe will know that we're not cousins, and maybe he'll figure it out too. That'll be OK."

Justin held out his hand. "See this ring I'm wearing, the one you gave me last Christmas. Well you have a matching one," Justin threatened, "And I'm going to make sure Abelard notices them. Then he's sure to figure it out and you'll have the problem of explaining it all to him. I don't think I'll be much help."

Brian smiled at Justin and took both of Justin's hands into his. That gesture touched Justin even though he thought Brian was holding his hands a little tightly. "Oh," Brian remarked off-handedly, "Those family rings that granddad gave to all the cousins."

"Shit, Brian," Justin exclaimed, "You're just holding my hands so I don't slug you. And I thought it was because you wanted to."

"I did want to," Brian told him. "I always want to. From a different viewpoint though, I guess I don't want to get slugged either."

Both of the guys dissolved into uncontrollable laughter. Justin threw his arms around Brian's neck and Brian pulled the kid as close to him as he could. It was a while before the conversation continued.

"Baby, we don't have to go to Columbus if you don't want to," Brian told him. "I thought it would be a good chance for us to meet the Shellcoffs. You don't know Malcolm's family and it's time you did. We can also look after Malcolm and Hunter. Mikey and Ben would like that. We just need to let Malcolm know in the next few days if we're going, but that's your call."

"We'll go," Justin decided without hesitation. "You want to go so we're going."

It was a little later when an idea popped into Justin's head. "Bri, did Mikey and Ben know we were going when they gave Hunter permission to go?"

"Do I have to answer that?" Brian asked.

"No," Justin told him.

A little later another question popped into Justin's head. "Brian, Mikey and Ben could not have known we were going to Columbus if it was up to me. Unless you knew I'd go. Did you know you could get me to go?"

"Do I have to answer that?" Brian asked.

"No," Justin answered, " But, you know, Honey, I think I'm getting a different viewpoint on some things."

They were both smiling.

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