Making the Rounds
 

Thank god for small favors, like hotels in other cities that needed to be checked in on. Tony called it "making the rounds" when he would show up unannounced, and inevitably shake up the staff at The Plaza New York, and The Plaza Atlanta. With Mysterious Marilyn's prophesy still looming over his head, Brian was grateful for the well timed inspection. The separation would give him time to think. Should he tell Tony about the trick in New York, or continue to maintain his silence? According to Marilyn, Tony was already aware of the one-night-stand. If that was the case, then why hadn't he mentioned it? What was he waiting for? Could it be that Marilyn was wrong? Maybe the future wasn't written in stone. Maybe Tony had chosen to accept the incident for what it was, a one time indiscretion. Surely this must be how a man condemned to death feels. He knows that his time is coming, but he doesn't know when. All he can do is wait.

Unaware of Brian's anguish, Justin was wrestling with an angst of his own. They had just moved into their permanent home, and were finally starting to gel as a family. Now business was pulling his Tony away. The binding member of the royal trio sat on the edge of the bed to watch his husband pack. "How long are you going to be gone?" Justin asked.

"A couple of weeks, maybe three. It all depends on how badly things are fucked up at the hotels," Tony said.

"It's going to feel strange waking up with you not here," Justin said.

Tony stopped packing, and looked over at Justin. "You should come with me, princess," he said.

"He can't," Brian intervened from the doorway.

"Why...not?" Tony looked over at Brian.

"Because we still have to finish the layout for the Brown Athletics fall collection. I need Justin's input on the graphics," Brian lied. Hell no! There was no way he was going to let Justin go anywhere alone with Tony. Not after what Marilyn had said.

Tony resumed packing.

Justin thought for a moment. "What about this weekend? Tony, you could get tickets for a show for all three of us," he suggested.

"I still have a lot of work to do before Monday's presentation. That's probably going to take up most of my weekend," Brian said.

"That doesn't mean I can't go," Justin whined.

"That might not be such a good idea. I may need your help this weekend, Justin," Brian lied again.

"Some other time, princess." Tony zipped his bag.

Brian pretended not to notice the menacing side-eye glance Tony flashed him as he exited the bedroom. It was then that he knew for sure that the jig was up. If ever there had been a doubt in Brian's mind that Tony was aware of what had taken place in New York, that death-look had just erased it. Marilyn was right. He knew.

Tony proceeded to the front door of the loft, with Justin in tow. He was about to leave when he turned to his princess with a request. "I've got a splitting headache, baby. Would you mind getting me some aspirin before I go?" he said.

"Aspirin? It's kind of early for a headache, isn't it?" Justin noted. "Maybe you should postpone making the rounds. You've been pushing yourself too hard lately. I think you should stay here, and get some rest."

"I'm fine," Tony assured him. "You'll find the aspirin on the middle shelf of my medicine cabinet. Hurry up, princess. My car is probably downstairs waiting."

Brian waited until Justin was out of hearing range before approaching Tony. "How long have you known?" he asked.

"Long enough for you to have told me," Tony said.

"How did you find out?" Brian asked.

"It doesn't matter." Tony sighed.

"Does Justin know?" Brian shuttered to think.

"No, and I don't want him to know. It would break his heart." Tony kept his voice down.

Brian swallowed hard. "Tony..... I'm sorry...."

"Yes you are." Tony was quick to agree.

"I didn't mean to hurt you...." Brian continued.

"Oh, but you did," Tony stopped him.

"So what happens now?" Brian dared ask.

"I don't know. I don't know what happens now," Tony said. "I gave you my best, Brian. Obviously it wasn't good enough. I don't know what else to do. I just know that the sight of you makes me ill, and I can't keep this charade up any longer. Not for Justin, not for Gus, or anybody else. It's killing me. I have to go."

Brian searched his mental Kardex for something crafty to say, anything that could justify breaching the bond that the royal trio had established. Of course there was the old standby excuse. Blondie was just a trick, and it didn't mean anything. That one always worked with Justin. Then there was the ever popular, I was drunk, and I didn't know what I was doing. No, Tony definitely wasn't going to buy that one. Perhaps the sympathy route would be Brian's best bet. "Tony...it was just one mistake," Brian whispered.

"Oh, is that all?" Tony half chuckled. "Exactly how many mistakes are you allowed, Brian? How many mistakes did Justin allow you, one hundred, one thousand? Well, I'm not Justin. I'm not going to turn my head while you're out whoring, then allow you to climb back into my bed. Dirty bitch. How dare you?"

"It's too early for aspirin," Justin reiterated as he walked back with the medicine. "Early morning headaches are usually a sign that something else is wrong. Promise me that you'll get some rest when you're not terrorizing your staff."

"I promise." Tony forced a smile.

"And don't forget to call as soon as you get to New York. I expect to hear from you everyday," Justin added.

"I'll call." Tony took his aspirin. "Now give me a smile, princess. A big one that I can take with me."

Justin was more than happy to oblige. The binding member of the royal trio wrapped his arms around Tony's waist, and pulled him close. "I love you," he beamed.

"That smile. It never gets old." Tony kissed him.

Brian watched from the sidelines as Justin, and Tony said their goodbyes. This couldn't be happening. Surely Tony wouldn't throw away everything they had built together over a fuck. A fuck? Come on, that's all it was. No big deal. Tony of all people should understand that. Anthony Massey's reputation may not have been as obvious as Brian's, but it was no less notorious. Why was he carrying on like Michael after he found out about David's circle jerk at the baths? Brian knew the answer to his own question, even though he was hesitant to admit it. Every hook-up, every one- night-stand, every nameless trick, no matter how brief the encounter, it always meant something. For Brian Kinney it meant validation that he was still desired. For Tony, it meant that his love for Brian wasn't enough to hold him. What a crushing blow for any man.

Tony turned to Brian for a ceremonious goodbye, one that wouldn't alert Justin of his intention to never return to Camelot. If Brian had any sense at all he would take the generous advantage he had been given, and move on with a life with Justin. Hopefully he had learned from his mistake, and maybe one day Justin would understand that his lion loved him enough not to make him choose between his two princes. And then there was Gus. Tony quickly dismissed that last thought. "Come here, precious." He reached for Brian.

Brian kept up the facade, and walked over into Tony's arms. Dirty bitch. The words never resonated so loudly in his head as when he wrapped his arms around Tony's waist for what could conceivably be the last time. Daddy please, please don't leave me. I was wrong, and I know it. You know I love you. You know I'm your man. Please give me one more chance was what Brian wanted to say. "Finish making your rounds, and hurry back home to us," Brian said.

"You take care of my princess." Tony kissed him.
 

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