A Knight to Behold
Author's Note: A birthday fic for O.G. Walton
*****
“What the fuck is that?” Brian swore as he entered the loft
and nearly ran smack into a shiny, silvery knight. He knocked on the chest then
lifted the faceplate to make sure it was unoccupied. The gesture reminded Brian
of the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz. He knocked on it one more time as if to make
himself truly believe that a full sized suit of armor was really standing just
inside his door.
“Uh, Sunshine, are you home?” Brian called out as he peered around his shiny new
friend.
“Oh hey, Bri,” Justin greeted Brian as he nonchalantly walked down the bedroom
steps. “How was work?” he casually asked.
“Just peachy. You mind explaining why Sir Arthur is standing in my doorway?”
“I didn’t have enough money to pay the movers to bring it all the way in. I
figured it can go in the alcove, just to the left of the TV. He isn’t too heavy
but I didn’t want to move him by myself and then have to move him again if you
didn’t want him there. What do you think?” Justin asked in all innocence, his
blue eyes shining up at Brian just as brightly as the knight.
“Uh sure,” Brian replied wondering what alternate universe he just walked into.
“I’ll go change and then we can find a home for your friend,” Brian said as he
made his way across the loft and to the bedroom. He was wondering if he should
call a doctor or Jennifer or someone.
As he pondered the question of the knight in his loft, Brian changed his clothes
then went back to the doorway. “Yup, still here,” he murmured to himself.
“Wasn’t a dream.”
“Hey, Sunshine, you ready to move this sucker?” Brian called out.
“Be right there,” came Justin’s reply somewhere from the vicinity of the alcove.
He had a tape measure in his hand. “Just checking that’ll it fit,” he said by
way of explanation as he waved the tape measure in the air.
“And does it?” Brian ventured.
“Perfectly,” Justin exclaimed with a sunny smile.
“Then lets move this puppy into place,” Brian said, almost
with enthusiasm.
Together they maneuvred the cumbersome but not heavy knight to its place of
honor. When they had it just right the boys sat together on one of the oversized
chairs.
“So what do you think?” Justin asked.
“He’s growing on me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. But where did you find him and why did you bring him home?”
“I was coming back from Mom’s house and saw him standing by a pile of trash.
Someone was moving and didn’t want him anymore. I offered to pay but the guy
said no and he was happy that someone could give the knight a home.”
“Okay, that explains how you got him but not the why.” Justin snuggled closer
into Brian’s chest and whispered. “What?” Brian gently asked.
“He reminds me of you,” Justin murmured. Brian arched a brow with an unspoken
question. “Standing tall and alone but always there to save me and those you
love when there’s trouble,” Justin explained as his eyes glittered with unshed
tears. Brian gave Justin a shy smile then snaked his arms tightly around the
younger man.
And there they sat as the last rays of the setting sun shone through the loft
windows reflecting back off the knight in the corner. Justin’s silent beacon of
strength firmly within his arms.
-end-
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