Bull of the Woods

Part 3

With the hour of judgment rapidly approaching the eyes, and minds of the masses were all focused on Babylon's entranceway. Brian's untouched drink continued to hold his place at the bar, while Dex the bartender waited with anticipation along with everyone else to see who would be named Babylon's Bull Of The Woods. "This is fucked, this is so fucked up!" Michael was in a panic when he returned to his friends.

"What's the matter?" Ben asked.

"Brian doesn't have a date." Michael hyperventilated.

"What do you mean he doesn't have a date?" Ben asked.

"I mean he's not bringing anyone, no one is coming, he's alone!" Michael made himself clear.

"Bullshit, Brian has been auditioning guys all week. It's a wonder he's still able to stand." Ted dismissed Michael's claim.

"Are you sure?" Emmett looked at Michael. "Why would he do that?"

"I'm with Ted, I think Brian is pulling your leg." Ben chuckled.

"Brian wants to loose." Michael said. "He's been coming to Babylon every night looking for Justin. Now that he's finally decided that Justin isn't coming back, Brian doesn't want to ever come back here either. What better way to make sure that he doesn't come back than to humiliate himself in front of the whole club. It's suicide, Brian Kinney style."

"What are we going to do?" Emmett joined in Michael's panic.

"We're going to call the bet off!" Ted said.

"You can't do that." Dex interrupted. "The guys have been making bets all week. We've got people here who have never even been to Babylon. They came by word of mouth to see the showdown. If we call off the bet we'll have a small riot on our hands."

"Brandon isn't even here yet, maybe he's not going to show." Emmett's hoped.

"He'll show." Ted quickly busted Emmett's bubble.

"Then there's only one thing we can do, we have to find Brian a date right here. Babylon is the hottest nightspot in Pittsburgh, and we have the hottest guys. There must be someone already here who could challenge whoever Brandon is bringing. Emm you take the south bar, Ted you go look near the bathrooms. Ben I want you to scour the dance floor. I'm going to go check out the backroom." Michael rallied his troops, and sent them forth.

Outside Brian finished another cigarette. Oblivious of the rain that was beginning to fall again, he continued to watch the streetlight shining like a beacon from the lamppost in the distance. It had been one month, three weeks, and six days that Brian had made the lonesome nightly pilgrimage back to Babylon, back to the spot where he first saw Justin. As of tonight there hadn't been a single sighting of his baby.

Justin's earlier flight back to Pittsburgh following the fiasco in Atlanta had given him just enough time to vacate the loft before Brian's return later on that evening. By Monday morning Justin had telephoned in his resignation to Kinnetics, and by Monday evening Brian's calls to Daphne, and Jennifer's had still gone unanswered. Stakeouts in front of Pittsburgh's Institute of Fine Arts had left a cold trail, as did several stops at the diner. No one had seen Justin. It was as if his baby had somehow fallen off of the face of the earth. Out of sheer desperation Brian returned to the one place where he knew that Justin would look for him if indeed he ever wanted to find him. And so it was that tonight Brian stood once again on the sidewalk in front of Babylon. "Justin, where are you baby?" The defeated man's heart sent out yet another distress call.

"It doesn't look like he's coming sweetheart. Why don't you come inside out of the rain with me?"

Brian turned toward the unfamiliar voice, coming from the unfamiliar face affixed to the same old garden-variety, Saturday night trick……"Angel, boys don't fall in love with boys. Boys like you are for fucking." Kevin's words surfaced once again from Brian's memory.

"Well?" The trick smiled.

"Why not?" Brian grasped the stranger by his belt buckle.

Back at Brian's spot at the bar the troops were regrouping. "Any luck?" Ted asked.

"Nothing." Ben said. "It would sure help if we knew what Brandon's date looked like. As it is now, we have no idea what we're up against. How about you Emmett, any luck?"

"Nada." Emmett said.

"Where did Brian go? He's not out front anymore." Michael joined the others.

"I didn't see him come back inside. His drink is still here waiting on him." Dex noted.

"Maybe he finally realized how absurd this whole thing is, and went home." Ted hoped.

"Let's hope so, because Brandon is here, and look who's with him." Emmett motioned toward the front door.

Time at the popular dance club suddenly stood still as all eyes turned to Babylon's entrance. Justin paused for a moment. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Maybe he wasn't really ready to see Brian again. The nervous young man ran his fingers through his damp hair, and took a deep cleansing breath. "Are you alright doll?" Brandon took note of the color that had drained from the young man's face.

"Sure, I'm fine." Justin lied.

Justin pretended not to hear his name being whispered as he trailed Brandon across the crowded dance floor. He pretended not to see the perplexed looks on some of the faces, and the jubilant smile on others. Yes, something was definitely going on, but he didn't have a clue. Sensing a new Bull Of The Woods was about to be crowned, Brandon supporters were already celebrating with high fives. Word of challenger's arrival quickly spread throughout the club, and into the backroom where Brian was finishing up with his trick.

"Shit! What the hell is Justin doing? How could he come here with him?" Michael asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

"What are we going to do?" Emmett whined.

"We're not going to fall apart!" Ted barked. "Pull yourself together Emm. If Brian is still here we have to find him, and get him out of here before he sees this."

"I agree." Ben seconded Ted's motion.

"Good evening gentlemen." Brandon smiled as he reached the bar. "I'd like you to meet Justin."

"We've met." Michael hissed.

"Hi Michael, Emmett, Ted." Justin smiled nervously.

"Ah, I see you already know each other." Brandon slithered around behind Justin, and enfolded him in his arms. "Good, then we can dispense with the formalities, and cut to the chase. Where's Brian?"

"Brian isn't here, the bet is off." Michael said.

"What bet?" Justin turned, and looked at Brandon.

"Bullshit, the old queen couldn't find anyone to bring, just like I figured. He forfeit's the bet! " Brandon concluded.

"What bet?" Justin asked again.

Brandon kissed Justin gently on the side of his head. "Mr. Kinney, and I made a wager on who could show up the hottest date. I brought you, and he punked out like the bitch I knew he was. " Brandon chuckled.

Justin pulled from Brandon's embrace. "I'm not part of any bet. I thought this was just suppose to be a date." he said.

"It is doll, but first I need to take care of a little business." Brandon turned to the bartender. "Dex, since Brian isn't here, I guess you'll have to declare me the winner."

"I'm here." Brian appeared from out of nowhere.

Brandon turned around to face his adversary. "Well you did decide to show after all. I don't see anyone with you though. Where's your date?"

"I'm his date!" Michael stepped forward.

"You?" Brandon laughed.

"So am I, I'm Brian's date too!" Emmett said.

"Me too, I'm Brian's date." Ben added.

"I'm Brian's date as well." Ted said. "Come to think of it, who here hasn't been Brian's date at one time or another?"

"Yeah, I'm Brian's date." Someone called out from the crowd. "Me too" Yelled another, and another, and another, until soon half of the room was claiming Brian as their own. Brandon's supporters wasn't buying this sudden burst of loyalty. They demanded that Brian honored the bet. Soon tempers began to flair among the two factions. Small fights started to break out, and before long a full fledge brawl ensued.

Amidst the commotion Justin bolted for the entrance. The humiliated young man pushed his way through the escalating riot with Brian in hot pursuit. Justin had cleared the crowd, and reached the club's vestibule when Brian caught his arm. "Let go of me!" Justin struggled against his captor.

There was no way Brian was letting go. The last month, three weeks, and six days had lead up to this very moment. Brian knew that he had only one chance, one shot to find the right words to say that would make things right again, and win back the love of his lifetime. With the noise of furniture crashing, and glass breaking in the background Brian opened his mouth to plead his case, only to be silenced by a sharp slap across the face. "Fucking whore, I hate you!" Justin hissed. The furious young man was about to strike again when something no less than miraculous stopped him. With tears now streaming down his face, Brian closed his eyes, and turned the other cheek.

The rain had once again stopped when the reunited lovers stepped out of the front door of Babylon. Something was noticeably different. The normally brightly lit path to the popular nightspot was suddenly dimmed. "Liberty Avenue must have lost power. Look, some of the street lights are out." Justin pointed to the lamppost in the distance.

"We don't need it baby." Brian smiled. "We can find our way home without it."

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NEXT WEEK: Could We Start Again Please?

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