“Well I found the damn comic book, Kiddo,” Brian was maintaining as the guys sat on a park bench – enjoying the beautiful day – after a sumptuous lunch at the diner. “And Mikey called when he found out I got it for him – and he said I was ‘one in a million’ – and Mikey knows about that kind of stuff so I guess I am….”
“Hey Kinney,” Justin held his ground. “Hunter was helping Mikey in the store when Mikey told him he just needed one more volume – Volume #3 of the 1941 World’s Finest Comic Book - to complete his set - and that having the whole set would increase the value a lot.”
“I know all that story, Taylor,” Brian told him. “So
Hunter told his boyfriend Malcolm – and Malcolm told you and….”
“And I told you,” Justin picked up the chronology. “And Ted was looking for
something for Emmett this morning on e-Bay - at the office….”
“And I, Brian Kinney – me - in a moment of great inspiration - stopped Ted - borrowed his machine,” Brian continued, “and in five minutes found the rare and very much wanted comic book – in close to mint condition too - and purchased same. Nobody else thought of e-Bay.”
“Everybody thought of e-Bay, Brian,” Justin informed him. “All of us looked for it there – with no luck. It just happened by dumb luck that it was there when you looked.”
“Nobody else could find it, Baby,” Brian reasoned. “Nobody but me, that is – so that’s dumb luck. I bet it wouldn’t have been dumb luck if was you who found it. Justin Taylor only has smart luck – no dumb luck for little old blondie.”
“Cut it out Brian,” Justin laughed. “You like – scored the goal – but there were some assists too – and in hockey they give one scoring point for assists – just like they do for goals.”
“Geez, JT,” Brian laughed back, “you’re the hockey expert all right. I remember when we went that first time and you were surprised they played on ice….”
“Was not either, Kinney,” Justin objected. “I saw lots of hockey games with my dad before I even met you, and I knew they played on ice all the time.”
“So how many assists do you think there were, Mr. Know-It-All?” Brian wanted to know – returning to the major subject of the discourse.
“Well, there’s Hunter and Malcolm and me,” Justin decided. “You wouldn’t even have known about the comic book without us. And I guess, Ted and Emmett too.”
“Like - Ted was looking for something else on e-Bay,” Brian objected. “And Emmett doesn’t even know about the great comic book discovery yet. And you think they helped?”
“Well that’s a judgment call, Bri,” Justin admitted. “Maybe just the three assists would be enough, though….”
“So that makes us four in a million,” Brian grouched. “So I am only like - one in 250,000, Baby - and I always wanted to be one in a million. You have to spoil everything.”
“Do not either, Brian Kinney. I’m just being logical. So how many people do you think there are there in the whole world, Bri?” Justin asked the still somewhat perturbed guy next to him.
“I don’t know, Taylor – how the hell would I know that? But I bet I could find out on google if I tried, “ Brian replied. “By dumb luck of course. But I’d guess about 8 billion off the top of my head.”
“Well then, Brian Kinney,” Justin cuddled himself as close to Brian as seemed seemly for an outdoor park bench. “As far as I’m concerned you’re one in 8 billion – and the very best one in the 8 billion too - and that’s a lot better than one in a million – so there.”
“No assists?” Brian grinned at him.
“No assists,” Justin confirmed. “There are some things you really don’t need any help with.”
“You going back to the Institute this afternoon, Twink?” Brian asked the kid – for some reason or other.
“Nope,” he told him. “I was gonna work at home for a while this afternoon – nothing real important though - but I’m heading back to the loft now.”
“Well you know what, JT? I could go home with you if you want,” Brian volunteered. “Maybe I could like – assist you with your work. Turns out I don’t have anything important at all on my schedule for this afternoon either.”
“Gee whiz, Kinney, “ Justin grinned a bit. “Talk about dumb luck.”
“And just whose dumb luck are you talking about, Sweetheart?” Brian asked him.
But Justin decided to let him figure out that answer for himself – which he did - unassisted.
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