A New Hat for Brian       

 

“Fuck, my goddam fingers are frozen off,” Brian said as he walked into the loft, slamming the heavy sliding door as hard as he could.

Justin looked up. “Well, it is -21 degrees out there.”

“I don’t need a weather report, I need a drink,” Brian griped. “My fucking ears are numb. Are they still attached?” Brian asked as he rubbed them gingerly.

“If you’d wear a hat and better gloves, you wouldn’t suffer from frostbite,” Justin counseled.

“But I’d look like a dork just like you.”

“Thanks ever so much, your Bitchiness.”

“I can’t help it, I’m fucking frozen.”

“What are you going to do on the weekend when you promised to take Gus tobogganing?”

“Surely to Christ it will warm up by then,” Brian said still rubbing his ears trying to get some feeling back into them.

“Not according to the Weather Channel.”

“Fuck!”

“Didn’t you drive home?” Justin asked realizing how cold Brian really seemed to be.

“Yeah, but I had to park two blocks away.”

“How come?”

“Some asshole was in my spot, and with all this snow, there’s no parking anywhere.”

“Must be your day for frostbite,” Justin chuckled.

“When they find your lifeless body in the Susquehanna, don’t come crying to me,” Brian said bitterly as he poured himself a shot of Beam.

Justin laughed again, making Brian glare even more. Brian threw back his drink relishing the warmth that flooded through him.

“I need a nice hot shower,” Brian said after a minute, when feeling began to return to his extremities. “Care to join me?”

Justin smiled to himself. It seemed that Brian had other ideas for Justin’s body than throwing it in the Susquehanna. Justin quickly got up and followed Brian to the bathroom.

*****

“I feel like a fucking idiot!” Brian griped, as his hands gripped the wheel of the Corvette tighter.

“You look … adorable,” Justin replied smugly.

“I don’t do adorable.”

“Yes you do. It’s just that most people are afraid to tell you so.”

“And you’re not?” Brian asked with an arched brow, as he took his eyes from the road long enough to make a point with his ever so smug boyfriend.

“I’m onto you, Kinney. You’re all flap and no throttle,” Justin said with a chuckle.

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“One of the guys at PIFA was taking flying lessons, and he used to say that.”

“So?”

“It means that you’re … all bark and no bite.”

“I bite.”

Justin looked thoughtful for a moment. “Maybe I overstated the case a little.”

“A little?”

“Well, I never had an opportunity to use that saying before, and I thought I’d jump right in,” Justin said with a sly grin.

“Remember that body floating in the Susquehanna…?” Brian asked ominously.

“Um, yeah. I won’t mention the hat again,” Justin promised, deciding he had taken his gloating as far as he could. He looked at Brian with his new toque planted firmly on his head, the edge just covering his ears. Brian did look adorable, even if he didn’t want to hear it. “At least you won’t get frostbite while you’re tobogganing with Gus.”

“Not while I have my widdle mittens on,” Brian said sarcastically, letting go of the steering wheel and holding up his mitten clad hands.

“Hey, hands on the wheel,” Justin reminded his smartass partner. “And mittens are much warmer than gloves, so there.”

“Especially when they’re part of a fucking matched set,” Brian griped. He felt like a two year old with his matching toque and mittens. The huge pompom on top of the toque was ridiculous. All he needed was idiot strings to make the ensemble complete.

“They were the warmest ones I could find. I don’t want your ears falling off from frostbite, or your fingers or … anything else for that matter.”

“I didn’t see a cock sock when I opened your most thoughtful gift bag,” Brian said tongue in cheek.

“Oooh, I should have got you one,” Justin laughed. “I wouldn’t want anything happening to that appendage.” Justin let his hand slide down between Brian’s legs. He rubbed appreciatively on said appendage.

“What are you doing?”

“Keeping it warm,” Justin grinned.

“Well, stop it. We’re here,” Brian said, as he pulled the Corvette to a stop at the curb of Muncherville.

“Too bad,” Justin replied with a suggestive smile.

“Let’s get this fucking fiasco over with,” Brian said as he hauled his ass out of the car.

“You and Gus will have fun tobogganing, if you just let yourself.”

“Riiight,” Brian replied sarcastically as he rang the bell with his mittened hand.

The door flew open and Gus stared up at his father and Justin. He already had a snowsuit, boots, and his own hat and mittens on. “Oh, Daddy!” he said. “You look just like Wembley.”

“Wembley?” Brian replied in bewilderment.

“Yeah, you know, Wembley from Fraggle Rock. He’s yellow and he has hair just like your hat.”

Justin stifled a laugh. He knew if he laughed, Brian would turn around, throw the hat at him and go back home … without him. He waited.

“Wembley’s the cute and smart one, isn’t he?” Brian asked.

Gus was about to say that Wembley was the little worrier who was always conned into Gobo’s schemes, but the look Justin shot him made him reconsider.

“Oh yes, Daddy,” Gus said trying to sound very sincere. “Wembley’s very smart and he’s the cutest of them all.” Gus noted the thumbs up from Justin and smiled.

“Good, then let’s go,” Brian said quickly. “We’re leaving, Lindsay,” he called into the house. Not waiting for anyone else to see him in his hat and mitts, he walked over to the garage to grab the toboggan.”

Gus was all ready to go and ran after his father. His toque and mittens were much like his father’s, but without the Fraggle Rock topknot. Justin was left to say goodbye to Lindsay and Melanie.

Brian was dragging the toboggan down the sidewalk towards the park, when Justin finally caught up to him. Gus was skipping along just ahead of them.

“So, how’s it going, Wembley?” Justin asked. He just couldn’t resist.

“Not bad at all, Gobo. I guess I fell for another one of your schemes.”

“How did you…?”

“I watch Fraggle Rock too when Gus comes over,” Brian replied.

“No you don’t. I watch with him.”

Brian glared at Justin. He didn’t say anything.

“So, you’ve been watching all this time?”

“I like to see what drivel they’re foisting off on kids these days. It’s good research for future advertising.”

“Of course,” Justin said shaking his head. It was pretty hard to put one over on Brian Kinney.

“Hey, speed it up, Gobo,” Brian ordered as he walked faster to catch up to Gus.

“Yes, Wembley,” Justin chuckled as he linked his arm around Brian’s, and they hurried after Gus.

 

Feedback for Thyme

or email to thymewriter@gmail.com

 

Return to Hat Challenge

 

 

 

Wembley at the left with Gobo behind him.