The Candidate

Part 18

Woody's was packed.  Brian had decided to have his victory or defeat party there – whichever it turned out to be.  The whole gang had managed to assemble with the exception of Ted who was still in rehab.

 

Emmett had been hired to supply food, and drink could be had at the bar.  Charles had wanted Brian to have the party out at CLI headquarters where he could control things better.  Brian wanted the people of Liberty Avenue to share the results of the election with him.  He wanted Deb and Vic and Emmett and all the other people who had worked to get him elected to share in the outcome.  Even though he had never really considered himself part of the gay community, or any community for that matter, the campaign had changed that.  If he won, he wanted them to know that one of their own had done it.

 

Brian and Justin had spent most of the day together at the loft.  Justin had volunteered to drive one of the cars that Charles provided to chauffeur voters who needed transportation to their polling stations.  However, Brian had vetoed that idea, jokingly calling it his first official act as mayor.  He wanted Justin with him.  He had all day to wait and nothing more to do.  He knew he was going to go insane before the day was over and he needed Justin to be there with him.  Without the boy he might slit his wrists or catch a flight to Acapulco or invite the entire Pittsburgh Steelers team over and fuck his way through the backfield.

 

Justin knew he was only half kidding when Brian told him as much.  He decided that the best place for him was at the loft keeping Brian on the straight and narrow, or as close to that as was possible with the enigmatic man.

 

That morning they had gone to vote at the local polling station promptly after it opened.  The press had been swarming around when they arrived knowing this was the place where Brian would cast his ballot.  Brian held Justin's hand as they entered the building.  No actual photographs of the inside of the polling station were allowed, but there were plenty to be taken on the doorstep.

 

Once their votes had been cast Brian and Justin stepped out to a barrage of flashbulbs and a bank of microphones.  Brian held Justin's hand in a viselike grip and refused to release it.  He stepped up to the mikes.

 

"Who did you vote for?" some reporter shouted in jest.

 

"The gay guy," Brian retorted.  That earned him a round of laughter from the assembled throng.  Justin squeezed his hand in support.

 

"Do you think you have a chance of becoming Pittsburgh's next mayor?" a voice called out.

 

"If I didn't, I've wasted a month of my time and yours," Brian replied.

 

"Where are you having the party when the results are announced?"

 

Brian debated lying or refusing to answer, but he knew they would find out anyway.  "Woody's on Liberty Avenue," Brian said.

 

"Isn't that a gay bar?" someone asked.

 

"And your point would be," Brian replied with a sneer.

 

"Is Mr. Taylor going to be there with you?" another reporter asked.

 

"Of course," Brian stated raising their linked hands to show that they supported each other.  Brian could hear the cameras going off as he did that.

 

"If you win, do you think the city is ready for a gay mayor and everything that goes along with that?"

Brian stared at the man who had asked the question.  "If they're not ready for it, I won't be elected today.  And if by 'everything that goes along with it', you mean Justin, then they should know that he will be with me every step of the way."

"Will your son be at Woody's?" a female reporter asked.

 

"Why?  Do you want another picture of his tongue?"

 

Most people laughed at that one.

 

"Good luck today, Mr. Kinney," a woman called out.  "You've made this campaign interesting."

"Thanks, everyone.  It has been an interesting ride," Brian said and pulled Justin away from the mikes.  They walked towards the diner, a few people following them and some cameras going off.  Brian never relaxed his grip on the young man's hand.

 

When they stepped through the door Debbie shrieked a welcome and came over to give each of them a hug.  "Are you here for breakfast?" she asked.

 

Brian said they'd already eaten, but he headed for their usual booth.  Finally he released Justin's hand and allowed the boy to sit across from him.  "Coffee," Brian said.

 

"That's not much for Pittsburgh's next mayor," Debbie countered.

 

Justin gave her a look that said 'leave him alone'.

 

"Okaaay," Debbie said turning her full attention to Justin.  "What'll you have, Sunshine?"

"Coffee and a donut."

"Good boy!  I love people with good appetites."  She bustled away to get their order.

 

Justin waited.  He knew Brian would bite his head off if he started to say that things would be all right.  When Brian was like this, he needed to wait for the man to make the first statement.

 

"Shit!" Brian finally muttered.

 

That was Justin's opening.  "What's wrong?" he asked sympathetically.

 

"It's really happening, right now!  People are choosing.  Everything's out of my hands.  I can't believe it's finally over."

"You're going to win," Justin said quietly.

 

"Don't," Brian responded.

 

"Don't what?"

 

"Don't try to make it all right.  Whatever's going to happen will happen.  I … I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin."

"Jesus Brian, you've got almost twelve more hours before we can possibly know the results."

 

"I know.  That's what's driving me crazy."

"Come on," Justin said getting up and grabbing Brian's hand.

 

"What?"

 

Justin leaned over and whispered in Brian's ear, "I'm taking you home and fucking your brains out."

Brian stared up into the blue eyes for a second, stood up, threw some money on the table, shouted goodbye to Deb and they ran out the door.

 

******************************************

 

Justin thrust into Brian again and again.  It wasn't often that Brian let Justin do this, but this was the second time today.  In between they had fucked and sucked and rimmed and kissed and caressed in every possible combination.

 

Justin could feel his orgasm nearing.  He felt a slight ringing in his ears like his brain was on overload. He grunted as he thrust with more force.  He reached under Brian and jacked him off.  The man groaned as he neared climax too. 

 

"A few more," Justin thought and tugged harder on Brian's throbbing cock.  He wanted them to come together.  He wanted Brian to know that everything they did was together, that he would always be there for him.

 

"Aaahhh!" Brian yelled and his orgasm spasmed through his body.

 

Justin felt Brian's hole constrict around his cock even more and he was lost.  Wave after wave of cum shot into the condom until he was finally spent.  He rolled off Brian sucking in air hungrily.  He lay on his back, eyes closed, willing his heart not to beat right out of his chest.  Finally he felt capable of movement.  He turned his head and looked at Brian.  The man was staring at him.

 

"I'm not going to be able to sit down for a month," he said with a wry smile.  "How am I going to explain that at council meetings?"

Justin grinned at him.  "Life's a bitch.  You'll come up with some excuse."

 

"Thanks for all your sympathy."

"Why would I be sympathetic?  You loved it, every hot and horny minute of it."

 

Brian chuckled.  "You are a cocky little so and so, aren't you?'

 

"Cock is the operative word," Justin stated as he removed the condom and cleaned them both up.

 

Brian's arm slid under Justin and pulled him against his body.  He kissed those lips that parted eagerly even after everything they had already done today.  When the kiss ended, Justin laid his head on Brian's chest feeling the rise and fall of his breathing and the steady thud of his heart.  His hand brushed over Brian's side and he sighed in contentment.

 

"Are you hungry?" Brian asked knowing that Justin was always hungry.

 

"I could eat," Justin agreed.  "Want some lunch?"

"What time is it anyway?"

 

"Almost two.  I'll make us a sandwich."

 

"Okay," Brian agreed.  "Then let's go see Gus."

"Isn't he at daycare?" Justin asked.

 

"We could spring him early and bring him here."

"Sure, if you want to.  You better call Lindsay and okay it with her.

 

Brian picked up the phone.  He needed Gus' unwavering trust and love today.  He wanted those little arms around his neck and that sweet little face with the cute smile looking at him with undisguised adoration.  That way he could avoid thinking about the election, about people weighing and judging him, and maybe deciding he wasn't good enough.

 

******************************************

 

Brian sat on the floor with Gus.  He had a cushion under his butt, but it wasn't easy finding a spot that didn't do bad things to his tender ass.  The little boy was playing with his Fisher-Price car.  He would drive it up one of his father's legs and down the other one.  When he crossed the groin each time, Justin would grin at Brian.

 

Justin sat at the computer desk tracking what information on the election he could pick up from local websites.  There wasn't much.  The polls didn't close until eight p.m., and until then no ballots would be counted.  Exit polls still indicated that it was a tight race.

 

"Daddy," Gus said, "talk to me?"

"What do you want me to talk about, Sonny Boy?"

"Why sad?"

 

"I'm not sad, Gus, just thinking."

"Oh."

The little boy stared at his father.  He knew something wasn't right.  It just wasn't the way it was supposed to be.

 

Brian took in a deep breath.  He had brought Gus here for comfort and to spend some time with the little guy.  Instead he was upsetting him.  He didn't want to ruin the afternoon for him.  He took Gus' car and began driving it up Gus' leg.  He made roaring noises like an engine working hard to get up a hill.  Gus giggled.  When he got up the leg he continued on up the chest and over Gus' shoulder.  The little boy scrunched up his neck.

 

"Tickles," he said giggling some more.

 

Brian drove up over the top of his head and down to his other shoulder.  Gus giggled again.  He continued down his chest and all the way down his other leg. 

 

"Again," Gus demanded as Brian reached his foot.

 

Brian turned the vehicle around and revved the engine.  Gus made more giggles.  Brian shot the car up his leg, along his chest, across his shoulder, down his arm and leg and onto his foot.  Gus laughed hysterically falling over as the gales of laughter swept through him.  Brian found himself laughing just as hard, caught up in the infectious quality of the little boy's laugh.  He leaned over and gave Gus a huge raspberry on his tummy.  Gus giggled and giggled and Brian did it some more.

 

That was how Lindsay found them when she arrived from work to pick Gus up.  Justin let her in and the two watched father and son rolling around on the floor and laughing like they didn't have a care in the world.

 

"Sorry to interrupt, but I need to take Gus home and get him fed and ready for the babysitter," Lindsay said.

 

"Can't you bring him tonight?" Brian asked giving Gus a hug and trying to calm him down a little before he handed him over to his mother.

 

"I thought you wanted him kept out of it?"

 

"I do, but he's so much fun to play with," Brian joked.

 

"I can't bring him to a bar, Brian."

"You're right," Brian agreed sadly.

 

"Wish daddy luck, Gus," Lindsay said getting Gus into his coat.

 

"Luck, Daddy," Gus said.  "Love you."

"Love you too, Sonny Boy."

"See you at Woody's," Lindsay said as she left.

 

"You two were so cute together," Justin said closing the loft door behind them.

 

"He's a good kid.  I like playing with him.  He took my mind off … things," Brian said getting up rather gingerly from the floor.

 

"Should I make us some dinner?" Justin asked.

 

"I'm not sure I could eat.  Let's order pizza or something really fattening, then if I lose I can clog my arteries with the leftovers.  On second thought if I win, I'll clog my arteries and kick off like Deakins."

"Brian, don't even joke about that," Justin said picking up the phone to order takeout.

 

******************************************

 

A little before eight o'clock Justin and Brian walked into Woody's.  The packed house stopped in their tracks and started to applaud the pair. 

 

"What are you two doing here?" Debbie asked giving each of them a kiss.  "You're supposed to make a grand entrance after it's announced that you have won."

 

"I couldn't stay in the loft with him any longer," Justin explained.  "He's like a caged animal.  I thought he was going to start gnawing off his foot if I didn't get him out of there.  This was the only place I could think to bring him."

Brian was already at the bar and had downed half of a double Beam while Justin talked to Debbie.

 

"You better stick close to him.  Don't let him get drunk.  The polls close in ten minutes and the results will start coming in shortly after that," Debbie explained.

 

"I'll do my best, but I can't control him when he gets like this.  Is Charles here?  Maybe he can help."

 

"He's around somewhere.  I saw him a while ago."

Justin looked around but didn't see Charles.  He went over to Brian.  "Brian," he said gently.

 

"Don't start in on me!" Brian ordered.  "I just needed one to calm my nerves.  I won't get plastered."

"Good," Justin said.

 

"Brian," Vic said behind him, "I want you to know how proud I am of you and the way you've conducted this campaign."

 

Brian turned around slowly.  He knew Vic really meant that.  "Thanks Vic.  I always value your opinion."  He gave the older man a hug that was heartily returned. 

 

"You're going to make a great mayor," Vic added.

 

Brian shook his head just as Michael, Ben and Hunter came over to them.  Michael reached up and squeezed Brian's shoulder.  The man leaned down and briefly kissed Michael's lips.

 

"Are you nervous?" Michael asked.

 

Justin rolled his eyes.  Of course Brian was nervous.

 

"No, not at all," Brian lied.  He held out his hand allowing it to shake noticeably.  "See, steady as a rock."

 

"It'll all be over in an hour or two," Ben said philosophically.

 

Brian looked at Hunter whose eyes were riveted on Brian's crotch.  "I'm up here, Hunter," Brian said.

 

The boy looked up and grinned.  "I'll let you do me if you win," he announced.

 

Brian snorted.  "I'll be otherwise occupied," Brian said giving Justin a kiss.

 

Hunter made a face.  "You don't know what you're missing," he said.

 

"He's not missing anything," Justin said possessively.

 

"Hey, guys," Lindsay and Melanie interrupted.  "We just got here.  Are there any results yet?" Melanie asked.

 

Charles came up to the group.  "Brian, I have a booth in the back where you can have some privacy.  Turn up the TV; the results should be coming soon."

The commentator on the TV was describing the close election that was expected.  She went over the candidates running for mayor, talking about Brian being openly gay, and whether or not the city was ready for that.  She said Allan Billings had run a forceful campaign and it would probably come down to a race between Billings and Kinney. 

"The first results are beginning to come in," she announced.  "With three polls reporting Brian Kinney has a five vote lead over Allan Billings."

A cheer went up in the bar.  Brian turned around to see everyone smiling at him.  "It's not over yet," he said and followed Charles back to the booth.  Brian found Deb and Emmett sitting there.  They had a view of the TV and Deb seemed to have chewed away most of her fingernails.

 

"Easy, Deb," Brian admonished her. "There's a lot more results to come.  At the rate you're chewing your fingers; you'll be past your elbows by the time the results are all in."

 

"I can't help it," she replied.  "I know you're going to win, but I can't stand the suspense."

For the next two hours results kept coming in.  One set of numbers Billings would be ahead and there would be a collective groan from all assembled.  The next announcement would have Brian in front and there would be a loud cheer.  Brian stopped listening to the numbers, hearing only the cheer or the groan.

 

Many people came and went from the booth.  Brian sat on his coat still trying to provide comfort for his sore ass.  Terry from Robert Morris University was there with a group of other student volunteers.  Brian thanked them for their hard work.  He talked to Lindsay for awhile.  She told him that Gus was a cranky little cuss, wanting to come with them tonight and see his daddy.  That made Brian smile.  He talked to Charles for a bit going over the list of people who had helped in the campaign.  He wanted to thank them publicly whether he won or lost.  He held on to Justin most of the time needing the warm hand in his to steady him.  Sometimes Justin would move away to talk to some of the student volunteers he had met or to meet other people who came in.  Emmett came and sat with him for awhile.  He was all weepy and gushy about Brian being the new mayor.  Brian knew he meant well but he wasn't in the mood for Emmett's histrionics.

 

Over the last while Brian realized that he had heard many cheers but no groans.  He began to wonder if he was in the lead for good, and decided that he better listen to the next set of numbers.

 

The woman on the TV was talking again and someone turned it up.  "With eighty-eight percent of the polling stations reporting we can finally declare that the new mayor of Pittsburgh is … Brian Kinney."

 

The room at Woody's erupted.  Suddenly Brian was surrounded.  People grabbed his hand to shake, others clapped him on the back, and others still kissed him, both male and female.

 

After a few minutes things calmed down a bit.  Brian looked for Justin but he seemed to be trapped across the room and was slowly making his way to Brian.  Charles took Brian's elbow and steered him towards the TV mikes set up at one side of the room.  Bright lights went on and Brian knew he was supposed to make his victory speech.

 

Suddenly Brian felt a hand in his.  He turned to find Justin smiling up at him and the next thing he knew he had the young man in his arms and was kissing him with such fervor.  When he let him go, he could hear the cheers and screams from everyone in the room.  Justin was blushing and Brian thought he might be too.  He had totally forgotten where he was, caught up in the celebration with the man he loved.

 

Brian cleared his throat.  "Ladies and gentlemen, I want to thanks you all for being here tonight.  It's been a long and sometimes bitter campaign.  I want to wish all my opponents well in their future endeavors.  I couldn't have done any of this without all of you.  I want to especially thank all the volunteers who have worked so tirelessly, and with such lucrative pay."  That got him a laugh.  "I don't like long speeches, but I do have some specific people to thank."  Brian went over the list including Charles and all the people from CLI who had assisted him, Debbie and Vic, Emmett and all the student volunteers who did the door to door grunt work., and all the citizens of Pittsburgh who had found him worthy of their vote.  "Finally there's one more person I have to mention, my partner, Justin Taylor."  Brian was still holding Justin's hand and he pulled Justin into the shot with him.  "Without Justin I could never have done this.  He is my support and strength when I need it."  He pulled Justin against his body in a hug.  When he released the boy there were tears in both their eyes.  "That's all she wrote, boys and girls.  Tomorrow I have to figure out how the f…, how to run this city.  I hope to do a good job for all of you."

The room erupted in cheers and chants of "Mayor Kinney!"

 

"Son of a bitch!" a man near the door muttered.  He glared at Kinney and slowly slipped out of Woody's.  He had been there for hours hoping that the results would turn out differently.  He wanted to rub Kinney's face in it when they announced that he had lost.  He grimaced knowing all of his efforts had been for naught.  Stockwell pulled the collar of his coat up close to his face and marched off down the street.  He was already plotting ways to make the life of the new mayor a complete misery.

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