Mayor Kinney

Mayor Kinney

* 25 *

Justin met Robin at a coffee shop near PIFA.  He wasn't sure what else he could tell her about Brian that she didn't already know and that he was willing to reveal.  There were some things that were private between him and Brian.  He wasn't prepared to talk about those.  There were other things that he knew Brian would not want revealed and he had no intention of letting any of those out.

 

"Hey," Justin said seeing Robin as he came into the shop.  He went and got a coffee and joined her at her table.

 

"How are you today?" Robin asked.

 

"Fine," Justin replied wondering why she was starting like this.  He had already learned that she didn't beat around the bush.

 

"I had a chat with Brian about all the things you are doing in your life right now.  How do you juggle it all?"

"I don't know," Justin replied wondering what she was getting at.  "I just do it."  He knew Brian had talked to her about this and he had gotten his reward last night for all the things he did for the man.  A smile played at the corners of his mouth.

 

"What are you thinking about?" Robin asked with a grin.

 

"Nothing," Justin replied quickly.  "Brian told me you had talked about my … role in his life."

"Does he tell you everything?"

 

Justin almost choked on that one.  She obviously had no idea how much Brian kept to himself.  It had taken Justin the full two years that they had known each other to even scratch the surface of the enigma that was Brian Kinney, and there was a lot that he still didn't know.  "He tells me … enough," Justin said carefully.  "Nobody tells everything."

"I guess that's true.  He seems to rely on you a great deal."

"We rely on each other," Justin stated.

 

"You're a student here?" Robin asked changing the subject.

 

"Yes."

"I'd like to see some of your work later if that's all right."

"Sure, we can walk over to my studio space when we're done here."

"How old are you, Justin?"

Here it comes, he thought.  "I'm nineteen."

"Isn't that kind of young to be in such a serious relationship with the mayor?"

Justin sighed.  "I can imagine that a lot of people think so, but I don't.  I'm exactly where I want to be."

"Really?"

"You don't believe me?"

"It's not that I don't believe you.  It’s that you seem so sure.  How much experience have you had with other … men?"

"What difference does that make?" Justin asked annoyed that she was taking this tack.

 

"It's just a question.  You seem so young to be making this kind of commitment."

 

"And if I was a girl getting married at nineteen, would you ask her how much experience she had with other men?"

Robin chuckled.  "I see your point.  But does that make you the little woman in this relationship?"

Justin looked thoughtful for a moment.  "I suppose it does if you want to look at it that way.  I'm younger, I do the cooking, and I'm mostly supported by Brian."

 

"Does that bother you?"

"Of course it does.  I want to earn my own way.  It's just that this is the way things are at the moment.  Brian says I can support him in his old age," Justin chuckled.

 

"And do you think you will?  Will you still be together when he's old and you're middle aged?"

"How the fuck can anyone answer that?  I hope so, but traditional marriages barely survive anymore, so who knows where we'll be at that point."

"You seem like a level headed young man," Robin said sincerely, her admiration for Justin growing.

 

"Thanks.  I used to tell Brian I was the most mature person he knew."

"What did he say to that?"

"He just snorted."

 

Robin and Justin shared a laugh both having experienced some of Brian's snorts.

 

"Could I ask you about Gus?"

"What about Gus?" Justin asked warily.

 

"Brian doesn't want me to see him or put anything about him in the article."

 

"It's not just Brian.  His mothers stayed out of the election.  They want their privacy and don't want Gus' life disrupted."

 

"So you're telling me to leave them alone?"

Justin nodded.  "Gus is a great little kid.  He's almost like my son too.  He's happy and precocious and nobody wants to see that change."

 

Robin studied this young man.  "When I started this article it was going to be about Brian as a gay man fighting daily prejudice to do his job as mayor.  I've changed that idea.  I don't see Brian fighting prejudice every day.  He seems to have made converts of most of the people around him.  How does he do that?"

Justin looked her in the eye.  "He does it by being honest and caring deeply about people that are important to him.  He always does the best he can and now that includes the best for the city of Pittsburgh too."

 

"Did you write some of his campaign ads and speeches?" Robin laughed.  "You sure know how to sell him."

"I don't have to sell him.  He sells himself once you get to know him."

"Let's go look at some of your artwork," Robin said.  She had a lot to think about.

 

                                                              -----

 

When Justin arrived home Brian was in his jeans watching the news on TV.

 

"Hey," Justin said.

 

"Hey," Brian replied.  "How did you make out today?"

"You mean did I give Robin any incriminating information that she can use against you?"

"I meant how was your day, but that other stuff, yeah, that too," Brian grinned.

 

"I did my very best not to reveal too much."

"Justin, I didn’t think you were going to give anything away.  I trust you," Brian said seriously.

 

"I know, but it is a little nerve wracking dealing with Robin.  She jumps all over the place with her questions, and I'm never sure exactly what she's after."

"You too?  I thought it was just me."

 

Justin giggled and came over to sit down beside Brian.  "She asked about Gus," Justin said quietly.

 

"I told her he was off limits," Brian said with a frown.

 

"I told her the same thing.  I made it clear that it wasn't just you saying that, but his mothers wanted to keep him out of the spotlight too."

"Did she agree?"

"I think so."

"What else did she want to know?"

"She actually came back to my space to see my art.  I was kind of surprised that she was interested."

"Why?  You're very good."

"Thanks," Justin said with a smile.  "She said Frank had told her what a good artist I am."

"Frank should go into promotion," Brian chuckled.

 

"I hope I did all right with her, Brian.  I don't want to let you down."

"You never let me down.  I know you did your best."

"Thanks.  She says she's changing the focus of the article."

"She told me that too.  I'm not really sure what that means."

"I think it means she didn't find what she expected when she came here."

"I wonder if that's a good thing or a bad one," Brian mused.

 

"Can we order dinner?  I'm starved."

"Sure, and then let's go to Babylon," Brian suggested.

 

"Are you kidding?  We haven't been there since you got elected."

"I know.  We're a bit overdue, don't you think?"

 

"Brian, you're not supposed to go out on your own without Chuck or Phy.  Do you think this is wise?"

"I don't care whether it's wise or not.  I want to go … and I want to dance with you."

That earned him a big smile from Justin.  "Chinese?" he asked.

 

"Sure," Brian replied and Justin went to place the order.

 

                                                               -----

 

When they arrived at Babylon Justin looked around nervously.  He didn't know how they'd be received and he wasn't sure that somebody might not try to take another round out of Brian.

 

"It's fine, Justin.  We're among our own people," Brian said with a grin.

 

He pulled Justin onto the dance floor and they started moving to the music.  They had been dancing for awhile, foreheads touching, staring into each other's eyes, when they realized there was way too much room around them.  Usually the dance floor was packed and it had been when they started to dance.

 

They looked up to see most of the people present standing back watching them.  Brian frowned and glared at anyone who chose to notice.

 

"Let's hear it for the mayor!" someone yelled.

 

A loud round of applause and whistles broke out.  Justin could tell that Brian was embarrassed and he thought he might bolt out of there any second.  He was ready to follow him.

 

"I'm not the mayor tonight," Brian yelled to be heard.  "I'm wearing my fag clothes just like all of you."

There was another round of whistles and the dance floor filled up and they were once again surrounded by a sea of sweaty male bodies.

 

They danced for a long time enjoying the feel of being in familiar surroundings and moving together.  When they finally found their way to the bar, they noticed Emmett leaning against it sipping a cosmo.

 

"Hey, Emm," Justin said.

 

"Hi guys."

"Why didn't you join us out on the floor?"

"You two were enjoying yourselves.  I didn't want to intrude."

"You wouldn't be intruding," Justin told him.

 

"Yes he would," Brian stated.

 

Emmett chuckled.  Trust Brian to be blunt.  "You haven't been here in ages," Emmett told them.

 

"I was too busy getting beat up and run over," Brian said ruefully.

 

"Have they got that all settled now?"

"Not exactly," Brian replied, "but they're working on it.  I just got sick of being cooped up.  Come dance with us."

"If you wouldn't mind, that would be nice," Emmett said slowly.  He finished his drink and they made their way out onto the floor. 

 

Several dances later they returned to the bar. 

"That felt great," Emmett told them.  "I haven't felt much like dancing since Ted…"  He didn't finish that statement.  They all knew Ted was in rehab.

 

"How is your business going?" Brian asked to change the subject.

 

"Vic and I are doing great.  We're booked up for several weeks," Emmett said proudly.

 

"That's great, Emm," Justin said.  I'm glad Vic is working with you."

"So am I.  I'd never be able to do it all without him."

 "Justin, I think maybe we better get going.  I have an early meeting with Robin in the morning," Brian said.

 

"Who's Robin?" Emmett asked.

 

"Um…no one, no one that you'd know.  Bye, Emmett," Brian said and pulled Justin away from the bar.  They made their way out to the Corvette. 

 

Once they were seated inside Justin had to ask, "Aren't you going to tell the gang about the Newsweek article?  They'll be so proud."

"Let's wait till I see the fucking article.  It may not be something to be proud of."

"Oh," Justin said in surprise.  He hadn't thought about that.

 

                                                                -----

 

When Newsweek containing the article about Brian hit the stands some time later, everyone was surprised.  On the cover was a picture of Brian with the Pittsburgh skyline behind him and the title "Winds of Change, Pittsburgh's First Gay Mayor Wins Election".

Brian had not expected to be on the cover and he wasn't too thrilled about it either.

 

"Fuck, Justin, now everyone is going to know.  More shit will hit the fan.  I thought most of Pittsburgh wouldn't even notice the article, but it's my picture right on the fucking cover!"

 

"But it's a great article.  I can't believe that Robin had such nice things to say about you.  There's hardly anything negative in it at all."

"I know.  I saw the drafts, but they didn't tell me about the cover."

"I bet they thought it would be a nice surprise."

"Fuck!  Why do things always happen to me?"

"Because people like you when they get to know you."

Brian made a face.  "I have to get out of this popularity contest.  I'm losing my edge.  Too many people like me … and on the flip side too many people hate me."

"You never did inspire the middle ground," Justin said with a chuckle.

 

Brian made another face at him.  "I can hardly wait to see what kind of demonstration awaits me tomorrow morning when I get to fucking work."

"Come to bed and I'll make it all better," Justin said in a husky voice.  Brian knew that he could too.

 

                                                               -----

 

Chuck pulled up in front of City Hall.  "They're baaaack!" he chanted.

 

"Oh, fuck!  I knew it," Brian replied. 

He sucked in a deep breath and mentally girded himself for the onslaught.  He waited for Chuck to open the door knowing that he might want to keep Chuck between himself and the angry mob as he made his way into the building.  There would be no chat with the protesters today.

 

Brian stepped out and the crowd erupted, not in boos or taunts, but in cheers and whistles.  He looked around stunned at this response.

 

"What's going on?" he asked Chuck.

 

"Fuck if I know!  Hey, look at that placard over there," Chuck said pointing to a large sign that said 'Thanks for putting Pittsburgh on the map'.

 

Brian glanced around.  There were some other signs basically saying the same thing and congratulating him on the article.  "Where are the protesters?" Brian asked somewhat confused.

 

"There are no protesters, Mr. Mayor.  We drove the two of them away," someone yelled at him.

 

"That's not very nice," Brian said with a smirk.  "I was getting to know some of them really well."

 

"We figured you deserved some positive feedback for bringing Pittsburgh to the attention of the whole nation," the same man called to him.

 

"And just when I was getting used to being screamed at and criticized."

"There's a lot of us who think you're doing a good job and we don't care whether you're gay or not."

"That's about the nicest thing you could tell me," Brian said genuinely.  That resulted in a round of applause.  "Thank you all for doing this, but I better get to work."

 

As he turned to enter the building someone started a chorus of "Hip, hip, hooray!"  Brian smiled to himself and waved as he went through the door.

 

Cynthia was all smiles as she flashed a copy of Newsweek at him.  "You done good, boss," she said with a laugh.  "It's a great article, although I hardly recognized this kind, gentle, caring mayor that they were describing."  She grinned with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek.

 

"Neither did I," Brian chuckled.

 

Brian went into his office.  Justin had asked him to call when he arrived at work.  Brian was sure he thought somebody would attack him as a result of the article.  He was going to be so surprised.

 

"Brian," Justin answered on the first ring.  "What happened?"

"I was welcomed with open arms," Brian laughed.

 

"What?  What do you mean?"

"There were a ton of people waiting when I got here and they had signs thanking me for putting Pittsburgh on the map and for doing a good job as mayor."  Brian couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face.

 

"Oh, Brian," Justin half moaned.  Brian could hear the tears in his voice.

 

"Sunshine, what's wrong?  It was good."

"I know," Justin choked back a sob.  "I'm so happy and relieved.  I was expecting the worst.  I braced myself for another attack and I didn't know how much more you could stand and I was so worried and then this and I just can't help it." 

Brian could hear him gulping through his tears.  "It's all right, Justin.  Calm down, baby."

 

"I'm sorry.  I'm just so relieved."

"So am I."

"Let's go out tonight and celebrate.  Go to dinner somewhere nice?" Justin requested.

 

"That sounds good to me.  Like a date?" Brian said knowing that would cheer him up.

 

"Yeah, like a date," Justin replied and now Brian could hear the smile in his voice.

 

"I can hardly wait."

"Later."

"Later."

Things were definitely looking up.


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