It Don't Matter to Me 5
Author's Note: I'm done........I think.
EMMETT:
"Ted-ddy! I thought we were going someplace fabulous for lunch. This doesn't look all that fabulous." Ted and Emmett were pulling up in front of Brian's building on Tremont.
"We will be going someplace fabulous but I have a job for you," Ted said as he parked his car.
"You have a job for me?!" Emmett asked in surprise as Ted let them into the building with a spare key.
"Yes, I do. We do...I mean Brian and me. I mean..." Teddy was sputtering.
"Ted, honey, why don't you start from the beginning?" The elevator stopped on Brian's floor, Ted lifted the gate and Emmett walked toward Brian's door.
"This way, Em." Ted indicated the door on the other side of the hall. Emmett cocked his head to one side but followed his friend.
"What are we doing here?" Emmett asked as Ted opened the door to the smaller loft and found a light switch.
"Brian wants you to decorate this apartment. I mean he wants to hire your talents."
"Me? Decorate for Brian Kinney and what the fuck is wrong with his loft? Ted, I don't understand."
Ted walked around to throw open the black out curtains that hid the large windows. Then he pressed a button and they watched the cover to the skylight whirl away.
"My god, Ted, all of this light, you'd have to be crazy to want to live here. You wouldn't be able to sleep! The sunlight will wake you at the crack of dawn. Why did Brian lease this? It would be better off going to an artist or something. And why would he think I'd decorate this place when I don't know who it's for. The decor should reflect the person that lives here. I'd need to know his personal tastes, his coloring, his..."
"Forgotten me already, Emmett? Guess I didn't make that much of an impression on you." Justin had come through the door and stood quietly as Emmett went on his little tirade.
"Justin? Justin, sweetie, is that really you?" The tall queen nearly shrieked with happiness. Then he threw himself at Justin and swung him around.
"It's me, Emmett, it's me." Justin laughed in Emmett's arms.
"Oh Justin, you look so beautiful! Our little boy is all grown up, and looking so fine! But what are you doing here?"
"Let's go next door and I'll explain. I have lunch ready." Justin waved his arm toward Brian's loft.
"Next door." Emmett looked pensive.
"It's okay, Emmett. I live here now."
"Live here. In the loft. With Brian?" Emmett was not convinced.
"Emmett, I swear to you, Brian knows I'm here."
"Honey, someone better explain things to me and quick."
Justin and Ted each took an arm, then guided the bewildered queen to the loft.
*****
"So let me get this straight," Emmett began. "You go off to New York to find fame, fortune and yourself but you found Brian instead."
"That's not quite how it happened."
"Enlighten me, honey."
"I was in New York for about two years before Brian found me. I was never really lost but we agreed to keep a certain distance so I could do what I had to do. It was the hardest, loneliest time of my life. But I, we, needed the time to grow up. You know what I mean?"
Ted and Emmett both nodded. Ted remembered that Brian had been exceptionally evil to work with during that time. As it turned out, it was also a highly profitable time. Brian threw himself into his work and not just at Kinnetik. He revamped Babylon, turned the mansion into the spa then plotted out a course to invade New York. He worked like a dog. And it paid off. As for his apparent disappearance from the backroom, everyone assumed Brian found another place to trick and/or Brian didn't want to shit where he ate, so to speak. Let it not be said the owner of Babylon was taking advantage of his position of power.
"Brian came to all my shows. He was so polite and gallant. It was so nice. After each show, a little note or small token gift would be delivered to the gallery. I knew Brian could have easily found out my address, and I never changed my cell number but he kept his distance. Just a little something to let me know he was thinking of me. It was nice. Normal. Well, normal for Brian kind of normal. But I knew he loved me and he'd wait."
"Oh, sweetie!" Emmett sobbed. "That's so beautiful. Like Romeo and Juliet. Torval and Dean; Rowan and Martin, Martin and Lewis, Burns and..."
"Emmett!" Ted held up his hand. "We get it, Em, we get it. Justin, did he tell you that you're his partner in the spa?"
"Yes, the big lug. He didn't have to do that. But that's Brian, same with this place and the studio."
"Studio?"
"Yes, Emmett. Brian knew I needed a studio and you know how possessive he gets. Next door was empty for months. Brian saw the windows from the street. He contacted the management company and voila! I have a studio."
"That's so sweet! Um, Justin, were you serious about me decorating your new place? I'd love to that is if you still want me to."
"Yes, Em, I'd love it if you'd help me. Brian is still so busy."
"Justin, he's going to work himself into an early grave." Ted was truly concerned for his boss and friend.
"We won't let that happen. He wanted to have a few things in place so we can take some time off to get reacquainted. He was going to tell you, Ted. I have a new show in a few months but after that we're going on a cruise. A very long cruise."
"Honey, I am so happy for you!" Emmett gushed. "Now, didn't someone mention lunch?"
*****
MICHAEL:
"Brian, what are we doing?"
"Having lunch. I thought that it was obvious."
"Brian, as long as I've known you, obvious is not as obvious as it seems."
"Ya know something, Mikey? I actually understood that. Here, eat your sandwich. It's your favorite."
"Pastrami on white with mayo!"
"Yes. How can you eat that vile combination?"
"What's wrong with pastrami on white with mayo?"
"Be-cauusse! It's supposed to be pastrami on rye with mustard. Sheesh, Mikey, don't you know anything?"
"Like you should talk. You've been eating turkey on whole wheat, hold the mayo for your whole life. Talk about boring. Brian, why are you here?"
"Can't a guy have lunch with an old friend?"
"Sure, but when the great god Kinney comes to the comic store bearing sandwiches, I can't help it if I'm a little suspicious."
"I need to tell you something, Mikey, but I don't want you to get all pissy on me or yell at me."
"I don't yell at you."
"Michael."
"Sometimes I do, but it's for your own good. What do you have to tell me? You're not sick again, are you?"
"No, Michael, I'm fine. Very healthy and I hope I stay that way after I tell you what I have to tell you."
"Brian, I have never known you to ramble. Come to think about it, you barely talk. What's going on, Bri?"
"Mikey..."
"Does this have anything to do with your new boyfriend?"
Brian nodded.
"I'm not going to like this, am I?"
Brian shook his head no.
"This is serious, right?"
A nod.
"Very serious?"
Another nod.
"Someone I know?"
"Yes."
"Shit, Brian. I'm not in the mood for twenty questions. Wouldya tell me for fuck's sake!"
"Justin."
"Justin!"
"Yes, Justin."
"Justin Taylor, Justin?!"
"Yes, Mikey, that Justin. He's the only Justin I know."
"Thank God for small favors. Brian? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND?"
"You're yelling, Mikey."
"You're goddamn right, I'm yelling. He hurt you! He left you, more times than I can count. He totally used you! And now you're going to take him back? You need to have your head examined. Brian, I know you think he's a good fuck but..."
"Michael! He's more than a good fuck and that was never the point."
"Not the point? To Brian Kinney, a good fuck IS the point. It's always been the point."
"Not this time. Mikey, do you think I'm stupid?"
"No, most of the time I think you're a genius. Except when it comes to that blond freeloader. Brian, he'll take all of your money, hurt you then leave."
"He doesn't need my money. The little shit probably has more money than I do."
"You're dicking me around, right?"
"No, Mikey. Justin's done well for himself. He's all grown up. He doesn't need my money, he can go where he wants, be wherever he wants. And now he wants to be with me. I want him, Mikey. I'm ready to be the man he saw in me, the man that can give him what he needs."
"But you'll get hurt."
"Michael, in all the years you've been with Ben, can you honestly say you've never hurt each other? Not intentionally but you did get hurt. That steroid thing comes to mind. It's all a part of it. All I know is that wherever I am, whoever I'm with, no one will ever be as good as him."
"Brian."
"Michael, please! Just be happy for me."
"I can't, Brian. I'll always love you but I don't believe you'll ever be happy with him."
"Then I guess we don't have anything left to talk about."
"You're leaving?"
"Yes, Michael, I'm leaving."
"Will I see you at Woody's Wednesday night?"
"Not sure, Michael, Justin and I have plans."
"Bri, I will see you, right?"
"Yeah, sure. I'll see you around."
"Okay, Bri. Oh and Brian?"
"Yeah?"
"How much do I owe you for lunch?"
"It don't matter. Goodbye, Michael."
It Don't Matter To Me
It don't matter to me
If you really feel that
You need sometime to be free
Time to go out searching for yourself
Hoping to find time to go to find
And it don't matter to me
If you take up with someone
Who's better than me
'Cause your happiness is all I want
For you to find peace your piece of mind
Lotta people have an ego hang-up
'Cause they want to be the only one
How many came before, it really doesn't matter
Just as long as you're the last
Everybody's moving on and trying to find out
What's been missing in the past
And it don't matter to me
If your searching brings you back together with me
'Cause there'll always be
An empty room waiting for you
An open heart waiting for you
Time is on my side
'Cause it don't matter to me
It don't matter to me
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