Comparisons

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Brian decided to lay low until Thursday night.  He could hardly wait, but no one would know that by looking at him.  The Kinney nonchalance would be all that they would see.  But Brian knew that Thursday was significant.  Justin had specifically asked him to come to the art show.  Ethan would probably be there, and that would be interesting, and painful.  He wanted to see them together.  That would tell him a lot. 

 

Brian was proud that he had been able to help Justin break his artist’s block.  He wanted to see his work.  He wondered if it would be the self-portrait that he had suggested.

 

By Wednesday night he was getting antsy.  He had stayed away from the diner, not wanting to see Justin before the art show.  He thought maybe if he went to Babylon and spent a little time with the boys, he could get his mind off Justin and what was going to happen Thursday night.

 

Brian found Ted and Emmett near the bar.  He got a beer and walked over to them.

 

“...so I wonder what they’ll do?” Emmett was saying.

 

“Get a new character,” Ted replied.

 

“Very funny,” Emmett said, noticing Brian.

 

“Who needs a new character?” Brian asked.

 

“No one,” Emmett said hastily.

 

“Michael and Justin,” Ted couldn’t wait to tell Brian.  “They can’t seem to make Rage work anymore.  What a shame!”

 

“I heard they were stuck,” Brian said.

 

“Gonna rescue any new bashed twinkies to make a new story for them?” Ted asked.

 

“What the fuck?  You are on very shaky ground, Ted!” Brian warned.

 

“Let’s talk about something else,” Emmett interrupted, trying to smooth things over.

 

“I don’t think I want to talk to either of you.”

 

Brian headed for the backroom.  He was sorry that he had come to Babylon at all, but he might as well get something out of it.  He found a satisfactory trick and got his cock sucked.  When he returned from the backroom, Ted tried to apologize.  Emmett had apparently reamed him out for being so insensitive.

 

Brian let Ted swing in the breeze for a bit.  Then he said, “Justin’s bashing is not something to joke about.  Don’t ever do that again.”

 

“Okay, okay.  I’m sorry.”

 

“Maybe they should have Rage rescue a middle aged porno king who can’t extract his foot from his mouth.”

 

“Very droll.”

 

“Or Rage could save the same fag from his friends who are beating him to death with dildos because he doesn’t know when to shut up.”

 

“Enough, already. I get the point.”

 

“Good.”

 

Ted walked away to be replaced with Emmett.  “He was just trying to be funny.  He didn’t mean anything by it.”

 

“I know,” said Brian, “but sometimes he goes too far.”

 

“I heard what you were telling him about Rage rescuing him from a fate worse than death.  Since you are Rage, maybe you should make those suggestions for rescues and adventures to Michael and Justin.  They could use some help.”

 

“Maybe I will.”

 

“They sounded really frustrated the last time I talked to them.”

 

“When was that?”

 

“Last night, at the apartment.  Justin couldn’t stay too long because he had to finish up some big project he was working on.  He seemed really excited about it.”

 

“Was he happy with the results?”

 

“Sure seemed to be.  But they couldn’t get anywhere with “Rage” at all.”

 

“Too bad.  I may have to help them.  I wouldn’t want my alter ego to be a one hit wonder.”

 

“Great,” Emmett said, turning back to Ted.

 

Brian took that as his cue to leave.  He’d had enough of Babylon and its denizens for one night.

 

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

 

Thursday evening finally rolled around.  Brian had come home from work, showered and dressed carefully.  He wanted to look perfect.  He chose the golden brown Armani suit that almost matched his eyes.  Underneath he wore a cream cashmere sweater that fit snugly over his lean body.  He was very pleased with the results of his preparations.

 

At 8:30 he left for PIFA.  The art show started at eight, but he didn’t want to appear too eager.  Image was everything.

 

When Brian stepped into the gallery, heads turned.  He smiled to himself.  He could still cause a stir.

 

He glanced around the room, looking for Justin, and Fiddle Boy.  He saw them across the room, talking to what must be another student artist.  They were gesturing to a piece of art and talking in an animated fashion.  Ethan couldn’t take his eyes off Justin.

 

Just then Justin spotted Brian, and that familiar electric jolt passed between them as their eyes met.  Justin stopped talking, said something to Ethan and the other student, and started toward Brian.

 

Brian’s heart was thumping in his chest.  He wanted to grab Justin and smother him with kisses.  Then he would fuck his brains out right in the middle of the gallery floor.

 

“Hey,” he said, being very casual.

 

“Hey,” Justin replied.  “I’m glad you came.”

 

“So how did the piece turn out?’

 

“Want to see?”

 

“That’s why I’m here.”

 

“It’s over there,” Justin said, gesturing vaguely to the back of the gallery.  “But look at some of the other artwork on the way.”

 

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

 

“No, I want you to find it yourself.  You’ll know it when you see it.  Compare it to the other pieces and tell me what you think of my interpretation.”

 

“Okay.  I’ll find you when I’m done.”

 

“Later,” Justin said, and he went back to Ethan.  Brian looked at them carefully.  Ethan looked pissed, but grabbed Justin’s hand possessively.  Justin seemed mildly annoyed and embarrassed.

 

Brian was rather pleased.  Things were looking up.

 

He started along the edge of the gallery.  There were paintings of the usual symbols of strength - rocks, the sea.  There were sculptures of a mountainscape and something that looked like an ancient pyramid.  Some abstract canvasses covered with bold colours leapt out at him.  None of these were Justin.  There was a clay figure of a very muscular man with an enormous penis.  He liked that one, but he knew Justin would never have made that.

 

As he rounded a partition, there it was.  It was a pencil drawing, in the style that Justin used to do.  That pleased Brian, but it was the subject that affected him most.  It was Gus, learning to walk, with a hand on each side holding each of Gus’ hands, and helping him take his baby steps.  The hand holding Gus’ left hand was Brian’s, the cowry shell bracelet clearly visible.  The other hand had no distinguishing mark, but it was not a woman’s hand, so not Lindsay’s.  It had to be Justin’s.  He was so touched he thought he might cry.

 

He felt Justin behind him and turned around.

 

“It’s beautiful, Justin,” he said, trying to keep his voice even.

 

“Do you like it?”

 

“I can’t think of anything that would be better.  Even the self-portrait that I suggested.”

 

“I thought that would be a bit conceited.  But when you talked about taking baby steps and having people help you, I got this idea.  I’m really happy with the result.”

 

“You made the right decision.  It’s great.  How did your hand hold up drawing it?”

 

“It gets stronger all the time, but it did get pretty cramped by the end of it.  It was worth it though.”

 

“Sure was.”

 

Ethan came up behind Justin and put his arms around Justin’s shoulders.  He looked smugly at Brian.

 

Brian stared at him until Ethan had to look away.  Justin stepped out of his embrace and said to Ethan, “Brian really liked the drawing.”

 

“Good for him,” Ethan sulked.

 

“I think your interpretation of strength really hit the mark,” Brian added.

 

“What do you know about the interpretation of art?” Ethan demanded.

 

“I see what Justin wanted to say.”

 

“And what would that be?” Ethan persisted, wanting to make Brian look foolish.

 

Brian hesitated for a moment, and he could see Ethan start to gloat.

 

“That strength comes from within, but also from the support of others who help us grow and become stronger.  The little boy represents the fragility of life that, when nurtured, becomes the strength of tomorrow.”

 

Ethan swallowed a couple of times, not knowing what to say.

 

Justin beamed his sunshine smile.

 

“Did I get it right?” Brian asked.

 

“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

 

Ethan glowered at Brian, and Brian stuck his tongue in his cheek, taking his turn to gloat.

 

“Now that I have helped you get over your artist’s block, I have a few ideas that might help you with “Rage”, if you’re interested in hearing them.”

 

“That sounds great.”

 

“Give me a call, if you want to get together.”

 

“I will.”

 

Ethan looked like he wanted to puke.  The green-eyed monster was all over his face.

 

Brian was enjoying this, but he thought that was enough for one night.

 

“Congratulations, Justin.  Your work is the best.  I better be going.”

 

Without a word to Ethan, he turned and walked across the gallery.  He could feel most eyes following him, many whisperings about who he was.  He had caused quite a stir, just as he had intended.

 

Outside, Brian smiled to himself.  That couldn’t have gone better.  Ethan now knew that he was up against some serious competition.  Justin could make his own comparisons, and he was sure that Ethan wasn’t measuring up so well right now.

 

Brian had loved Justin’s drawing.  Using Gus ensured that, but the fact that it seemed to be him and Justin supporting the boy together gave him inexplicable pleasure.  It reaffirmed the bonds between them.

 

Again hope rose in his chest.  The new view of life that Lindsay had told him to find was paying off.  He could feel Justin drawing closer.  He smiled and walked to the Jeep.

 

"I may just get my Sunshine back yet,” he said to himself as he drove off.