All About Brian

Chapter 2

“Hey babe, how’s the convention going?” Ben asked Michael.

“It would be a lot better if you were here with me,” Michael grumbled into his phone. He was in Chicago at a national comic book convention. As a comic book store owner and one of the creators of Rage, Michael had been asked to speak about the comic business and his own humble beginnings in the business.

“Michael, you know the Spring semester is only a few weeks along, I can’t get away at this time.”

“I know. I think I’m going to suggest they change the timing of these things. If it was during the intersession, you would have been able to come with me.”

“Maybe. Do you think they’ll change the date for next year?”

“I don’t know but I’m sure as hell going to try. Anyway, I just wanted to call before I went to dinner. I’m not sure when this thing is going to end.”

“Hey, you deserve the award. Don’t sound so disappointed.”

“It won’t be the same,” Michael whined. “You’re not here, Justin just got back from England so he didn’t want to go. Brian didn’t want to leave his family, and JR is spending time with her moms.”

“Yes, but you have Lacy and the twins.”

“Oh great. An underage lesbian and the babbling boys. I still have no clue what they’re saying when they talk to each other.”

“Michael, Lacy is far from underage. And the boys, well, they’re identical twins, they can’t help it. Think of it as modern day Brian-speak. You used to be able to translate him fairly well.”

“Not that well. The boys are all right, I guess. But Lacy’s still a lesbian.”

“I’ll give you that,” Ben chuckled. “Michael, I’m very proud of you.”

“Thank you. I miss you. I wish you were here with me.”

“So do I, babe. Have someone take plenty of pictures and I’m with you in spirit.”

“I think they’re taping the whole award program. I’ll try to get us a copy. We can have a dinner party to show everyone.”

“Sounds good to me. Babe, I have some papers to grade.”

“Okay, it’s time for me to go. I think Lacy’s knocking at my door. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Okay, babe. I love you, Michael.”

“I love you too. Night, Ben.”

“Have a good night, Michael.”

 

*****
 

“Michael?”

“Hmm?” Michael snuggled down into his warm overcoat as he watched the streets go by on their way to the convention center. He decided to hire a car for them so they wouldn’t have to deal with cabs. The limo was warm inside but the frigid windy air of Chicago still chilled him. Michael missed his family.

“I just wanted to say thank you, again. I know it really should be Justin with you here, but I’m really happy that you took me,” Lacy said sincerely.

“Us too, Mr. Novotny!” Troi and Tre` chimed in. Michael gazed at the eager faces and couldn’t help but smile.

“All right, I get it. Zephyr and Sateeena will rule the day,” Michael said laughing and shaking his head. “You know, we should make the boys into superheroes too. If we can think of a good name for your characters, we can announce it at the award ceremony.” The boys beamed with delight at the thought that they might join the ranks of Rage, Zephyr and JT.

The limo pulled up to the convention center, Michael opened the door to step out. In the most gentleman-like fashion, he held out his arm for Lacy to take. She smiled as she took his arm. With the twins on their heels, the creators of Rage proudly walked into the center. Just inside the door as they were checking their coats, Lacy had a revelation.

“Let’s keep it simple, the Righteous Brothers?” Lacy suggested. The twins nodded in agreement.

“That would have been great except that name has been taken and a long time before any one of you were born,” Michael said knowingly. He had grown up listening to his mother’s albums of the singing duo. Only slightly put off, Lacy threw out another name.

“The Twins of Triumph?”

“Oooo!” Michael and the boys said at the same time and then laughed heartily knowing they just sounded so much like a certain tall queen who had a way with pastry.

“The Twins of Triumph it is. Let’s all go in and meet our public!” Michael declared as they entered the convention hall.

 

*****
 

“So how was your visit with Mrs. St. John?” Brian asked Justin as he wrapped his arms around his husband.

“Her name is Susanna,” Justin chuckled shaking his head at Brian. “Why didn’t you come in and talk to her?”

“Didn’t want to disturb you two.”

“You never disturb me,” Justin replied as he turned around in Brian’s arms. Brian raised an eyebrow. “Well, not unless we’re in bed and then you’re very … disturbing.”

“That’s better,” Brian said. “But what about in the shower?”

“Hm … disturbing.”

“At Babylon?”

“Okay, okay, you are very disturbing … everywhere!” Justin laughed.

“Good,” Brian said with satisfaction. “That’s the way I like it.”

“You might find Susanna’s piece of news a little disturbing,” Justin said rather hesitantly.

“What are you talking about?” Brian asked with a frown. “What piece of news?

“She knows.”

“Knows what?”

“About your subsidies to the camp, and to her daughter in particular.”

“How the fuck…? I’m going to fucking sue that fucking camp. They were specifically told…”

“Hold on, big guy,” Justin said grabbing Brian around the waist and holding on. “Nobody spilled the beans.”

“Then how?”

“Susanna was a teacher and some people she knows have ties to the camp. It just kind of slipped out and she put two and two together.”

“Fuck!”

“She’s a very bright woman.”

“Was she mad?” Brian asked wondering what her reaction had been.

“She said she was when she first found out. She wanted to tell you to stick your charitable offerings.” Brian snorted. “And then she realized she would be depriving not only Ashley but several other children of a wonderful summer experience.”

“As you said, smart woman,” Brian said with a nod.

Justin was about to reveal what else Susanna had found out about Brian, but then thought better of it. “She’s interested in Kinney, the artist, and has done some research on him,” Justin said instead. “We’re going to share what we’ve found.”

“I thought we knew everything that was possible to find out,” Brian said.

Justin shrugged. “You never know. With a different set of eyes, Susanna may have seen something we missed … or she might have found a source we didn’t uncover.”

“Hm,” Brian replied. “Good luck.”

Justin smiled. “I don’t need luck. Anything else we find is gravy.”

“You’re very optimistic.”

“I feel like I made a new friend in Susanna. We should have got together a lot sooner. If she’s anything like her daughter, she’s wonderful,” Justin said confidently.

“And you seem to think she’s a lot like her daughter.”

“I guess.”

“Well, Bree certainly thinks the world of Ashley.”

“I can’t say that about Susanna,” Justin replied. “At least not yet.”

Brian released Justin from their embrace and walked over to the coffeepot. As he poured a mug for himself and one for Justin, he remembered how close Justin and Daphne used to be. Justin had missed his best friend since their lives had grown apart. Their meeting with Daphne in New York had been less than satisfying. Daphne had changed a lot, and she had made a way of life for herself in New York, a way of life that didn’t have room for her old friend, certainly not in the way they had once been so close. The old Daphne, Justin’s best friend, didn’t exist anymore. If Justin could find a new friend in Susanna, then that would be a good thing. Brian handed the mug of coffee to his husband.

“So what’s on the agenda for tonight?” he asked.

 

*****
 

“Jason Kemp Center,” Hunter said into the phone as he picked it up. “Hunter Bruckner-Novotny speaking.”

“Hunter,” the man said familiarly, “just the person I need to speak to.”

“Oh?” Hunter replied. He wondered who he was talking to.

“I guess I should introduce myself,” the man said with a chuckle which held no humor.

“That would be helpful.”

“My name is Dennis Hawk. I’m a reporter with the Tribune. I’d like to talk to you about doing a story on the Center.”

“Really? Well, I’d certainly be interested. Any publicity we get usually helps in our fundraising.”

“Yes, it’s always good to raise the public’s consciousness.”

Hunter frowned as he listened to the man. Something seemed just slightly off in the man’s voice. “Um … what sort of angle were you planning to use in this article?”

“Angle?”

Hunter frowned even more. “Every article has an angle. Charities are a dime a dozen. Why do you want to write about the Jason Kemp Center?” Hunter wanted some answers.

“Well … I…”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of the angle you’re going to use.” Or maybe you don’t want to tell me what it is, Hunter thought to himself.

“I know the angle,” Dennis replied. “But you may not like it.”

“Oh?”

“I want to tie the murder of Jason Kemp to the lot of gay street kids. I want to show what can happen to them, and therefore, why the Jason Kemp Center is so important in the community.”

Hunter felt the knot in his stomach loosen just a bit. That sounded right. And it would be nice to have Jason remembered once again. His life had been too short and tragic. If retelling Jason’s story could help some other kids then it was worth a try.

“Are you still there?” Dennis asked when Hunter didn’t respond.

“I’m here, just thinking about what you said.”

“So, are you up for the article?”

In his head Hunter could hear Brian Kinney saying, “I’m always up.” He smiled to himself as he said, “Come on over to the Center and we’ll talk. This sounds like a story that could do a lot of good.”

“I guess it could,” Dennis replied smugly.

Hunter felt his hackles go up once again. This guy had a way of saying things that caused Hunter to have some second thoughts. “Let’s meet face to face and see where things go,” Hunter suggested. Maybe meeting Dennis Hawk would put his concerns to rest.

“How about tomorrow morning?” Dennis asked. “Say at ten?”

“I’ll be here. You know where we’re located?’

“I sure do. See you then.”

The line went dead. Hunter set the phone back on its base. He was going to be very interested in meeting this Dennis Hawk. He couldn’t put his finger on what troubled him about the man, but he knew there was something. He’d have to be very cautious and aware of what the reporter was doing and recording.

 

******
 

Michael was sitting on a chair across from one of the young hosts of the comic convention, being interviewed as part of the Q and A portion of the awards dinner. The audience and guests were all enjoying dessert and coffee.

“So Mr. Novotny...”

“Michael, please.”

“Michael, when did your fascination with comics begin?”

“I guess like most kids who grew up with not much money, buying comics was something I could afford. The stories took me away to another time and place.”

“And when you got older you opened your own store?”

“It wasn’t that easy.”

“Tell us about it.”

“One day I went to my favorite comic book store only to find out that my favorite hero was being killed off and the store owner was selling out so he could retire. I was devastated.”

“So then you bought the store?”

“Not hardly. Buzzy, that’s the guy who owned the store, wanted a lot of money. He was going to sell his whole inventory with the shop.”

“So how did you arrange it?”

“My best friend had given me a very special comic, a mint 1st edition of Captain Astro, for my birthday.” The whole audience let out a collective gasp at the name of the legendary comic book hero. “He helped me to auction it off for the down payment on the store.”

“Wow! I’m not sure if I’d be able to give up Captain Astro, Number One,” the interviewer commented as many in the audience nodded.

“I know, I almost couldn’t do it myself but it was worth it,” Michael said with a huge grin. The audience applauded. “Without giving up Captain Astro, we might not have Rage.” The audience went wild at the sound of one of their favorite heroes.

“Tell us about Rage. Is it true that he’s based on your real life friend?”

“Yes, it’s true. We met in high school. He was my hero back then as well as my best friend. I guess he’s still my hero, but he’d kill me if he heard me say that.” The audience laughed as Michael did. “Seriously, he’s a good friend. He’s always been there for me and has never let me down. And when things look bad, he’s there to help.”

“Kinda like Rage?”

“Exactly like Rage.” The audience cheered.

“And some of our audience wants to know...” the interviewer held up some cards. “Is the real Rage as good looking as his counterpart?”

“Better...waaaay better. And he only gets better as he gets older! But seriously, the real Rage doesn’t run around Gayopolis in tights, he has a longtime life partner and a couple of kids. He does contribute to several charities, is responsible for helping to get homeless kids off the streets and helps his family when any of us need him. He’s not a saint, just a man with a really big...heart,” Michael said, giggling with the audience at the innuendo.
“I’m proud to call him my friend and grateful too.” The audience applauded at Michael’s obvious sincerity.

“Any words of advice for our audience? There may be some young entrepreneurs out there.”

“I’ve been very lucky. My only advice is to never give up. Find a way to follow your dream if you believe that dream worthy. And don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s okay not to have all the answers because there’s a good chance someone you know may just have the answer you’re looking for.” The interviewer and audience clapped loudly.

“Any last words before your fans and fans of Rage get to meet you and our other honored guests?” There were tables and kiosks set up for each award winner and special guest.

“Um, yes. You’ll be the first to hear about Rage’s latest and new superhero friends, The Twins of Triumph! They’ll be winging their way through Gayopolis soon.” The audience jumped to their feet and the room shook with their applause.

“You heard it first! The Twins of Triumph!” the interviewer shouted above the crowd, before he shook Michael’s hand and they walked off the dais so that Michael could meet his fans.

 

*****
 

“Ungh!” Brian came with a satisfied groan, collapsing down on Justin’s back. Justin squeezed Brian’s hand, their fingers entwined during their lovemaking.

“Mmm, that was great,” Justin purred as he settled down onto his pillow. He loved the feel of Brian’s solid weight on him. Brian kissed his shoulder.

“I’m not too heavy?” They were still connected but Justin could feel Brian slowly slipping out.

“Unh unh,” Justin sighed. He loved it; he held Brian’s hand closer to his body. “Love you,” Justin mumbled as he felt himself drifting off.

“Me too. You going to sleep.”

“Maybe. Why?” Justin perked up slightly.

“I thought maybe you could...”

“Could what?” Justin was wide awake now and intrigued.

“Reciprocate,” Brian murmured.

“You have an itch that needs to be scratched?” Justin asked. Since returning from London, Brian had felt the need to be the dominant during their lovemaking. Justin understood and never complained. He knew it was only a matter of time until Brian relaxed enough to want to bottom again.

“Yeah,” Brian whispered almost too softly to be heard even though he was inches away from Justin’s ear.

Justin slowly ground his ass against Brian. With the weight of Brian on top of him and the friction of the sheet against his dick, Justin was beginning to get hard. Brian kissed Justin’s back in between his shoulder blades. Brian was still soft but it didn’t matter to Brian. It wasn’t his dick he was concerned with at the moment. Justin loosened his grip on Brian’s hand so that he could roll over.

With their positions now reversed, Justin on top of Brian’s back, Justin found their convenient tube of lube in the bedside table. He efficiently but gently prepared Brian then entered him in one slicked up move. Brian groaned with pain and pleasure as he and Justin entwined their fingers.

Brian was remarkably tight. Justin didn’t waste any stroke, angling himself to hit Brian’s sweet spot time and time again. Brian shuddered as he quietly came. With his spouse completely relaxed, Justin leaned back then grabbed Brian’s hips to pull him up higher. Justin’s thrusts came faster and stronger until he felt his balls draw up. He came with a grunt. Holding Brian steady, Justin gently withdrew from his lover.

When his brain began to function and he stopped chanting the “I fucked Brian Kinney” mantra, Justin got out of their bed to get a cloth to clean his already sleeping spouse. Justin smiled at Brian’s telltale wheezes that indicated he was deep in slumber land. Justin ran the damp warm cloth over Brian’s skin cleaning away the majority of the evidence of their loving. Justin returned the cloth to their bathroom then crawled back into bed.

As Justin covered them both with their thick warm blankets, the sleeping Brian snuggled closer to Justin.

“I love you,” Justin whispered as his eyelids began to droop. He softly smiled as Brian murmured something unintelligible in response as he gave Justin a gentle squeeze.

 

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