Druid II

Chapter 1

“Brian, I finished the boards for the…” Justin stopped when he saw Brian raise his hand. He could see that Brian was on the phone with someone.

“Okay, I’ll see you day after tomorrow.” Brian set the phone back in the cradle.

“Who was that?” Justin asked.

“Thierry Desmarais. He’s coming to Dublin tomorrow, and he wants to talk to me about … advertising.”

“Advertising?” Justin asked with a quizzical look. Justin knew the name Thierry. He had been one of Brian’s clients when Druid, as Brian had called himself back then, was working at the quoin. Justin was never happy when one of Brian’s former clients turned up. This one in particular bothered Justin. Thierry had been a friend of Brendan Reilly’s, the man who had sold this advertising agency to Brian, who had left his townhouse to Brian when he died, and the man who had sent Thierry to become a client of Brian’s at the quoin. Justin did not associate Thierry with advertising or their future. He was someone from Brian’s past, someone better forgotten. At least that was Justin’s opinion.

“He’s decided that he’s not happy with his advertising firm,” Brian said.

“And he wants you.”

The way Justin said wants was not lost on Brian. “He wants to talk to me about possibly bringing his advertising account to our company. We can always use new clients,” Brian said reasonably.

“We’re doing okay,” Justin replied. The company they had taken over from Brendan was prospering. It had been almost six months since Brendan’s death, and they had managed to turn the company around. It wasn’t exactly doing great, but it was heading in that direction.

“When has okay ever been enough for me?” Brian asked.

“Brian, it’s just…”

“I’m not going to let anything happen with Thierry, Justin,” Brian declared solemnly. “Nothing ever did happen between us. Thierry was just another client.”

“I would hope nothing would happen, but do we need…”

“Thierry has a chain of shoe stores in France. He said he’s thinking about expanding into England and maybe Ireland. This could be a big account.”

Justin shook his head. He knew he was being silly, jealous, unreasonable, all the things he had vowed he would never be. He knew all about Brian’s past at the quoin, but he still didn’t like it when that past crept into their present.

“It’s a business meeting,” Brian repeated.

“Yeah, okay, I understand,” Justin said, but his tone of voice and body posture said that he didn’t understand … or approve.

Brian got up from his desk and walked around to where Justin stood. “It will be fine. Stop worrying.”

“I wish I could.”

Brian pulled Justin into a warm hug. “I won’t let anything happen.”

Justin nodded against Brian’s chest. He had a bad feeling about this.

 

*****
 

“You done for the day?” Justin asked as he entered Brian’s office. It was almost seven and he was beat. He didn’t know how Brian could work such long hours. But then, that was Brian. He was totally determined to make a success of Triskele Advertising, as they had renamed Brendan’s company. They had decided to rename the company after a few months of ownership. They didn’t want to forget Brendan, but they both thought the company needed a new image and a new direction.

When they had been contemplating different names, Justin had pushed Brian’s bracelet aside one night after they had fucked themselves into a sated haze. Justin had stared at the tattoo on Brian’s wrist – the triskele. Brian saw each leg of the triskele as representing one of the three phases of his life – his past, present and future. The next day Justin had researched triskele on the internet, where he had found that the ancient Celtic symbol had many possible interpretations. One in particular had caught his eye. It said the triskele was related to the sun, afterlife and reincarnation.

Both Justin and Brian saw the advertising company as Brian’s rebirth into a more normal life than he had ever had until he turned thirty. It was the reincarnation of Druid as the true Brian Kinney. In advertising they could use the idea of reincarnation to mean a new approach for the company they were working with. And the fact that Brian occasionally called Justin “sunshine” was an added bonus. It linked them together through the company. Not that they needed linking in that way. They did plenty of linking at home. Justin smiled to himself as these thoughts ran through his mind.

“Justin, I said I’m ready. Are you coming?” Brian asked. This was the second time that Brian had asked that question. He had been standing by the door for more than a minute waiting for Justin to come with him. He wondered what had Justin so preoccupied. Then it dawned on him that Justin was probably still brooding about Brian’s upcoming meeting with Thierry Desmarais the next day.

“I’m ready,” Justin said finally.

“About time. Where were you?”

“Um, just thinking,” Justin replied. He didn’t really want to explain that he had been thinking about Brian’s reincarnation as an ad exec.

Brian gave him a look, but decided not to pursue the topic of Thierry Desmarais. They walked out of the building, locking the office behind them.

When they arrived at what had been Brendan Reilly’s townhouse, now theirs, they parked the Renault they had purchased together and headed into the house. They couldn’t believe that Brendan had left them the gorgeous Georgian townhouse in his will. He truly had been a great friend to Brian, and then to Justin, as they had come to know each other in the all too short time before Brendan’s death.

“Good evening, Mr. Kinney, Mr. Taylor,” Mrs. Hopkins said in her very formal manner. She had been the housekeeper for Brendan. Brian and Justin had decided to keep her on when they learned that she had no other income or prospect for a job, aside from the generous amount that Brendan had left her. She lived in a small apartment off the kitchen in the townhouse. If they had let her go, she would have lost both her job and her home. It had meant they had to be very careful with their finances, but she was a gem, keeping the house immaculate and the larder stocked. She also cooked for them and usually managed to have an evening meal ready when they arrived home. “Dinner’s in the oven,” she said. “I think I’ll retire to my rooms unless you need anything else.

“Nothing at the moment,” Brian replied. They’d come to this agreement with Mrs. Hopkins where she would greet them when they came home from work and then disappear. Both men liked eating informally in the kitchen and they liked to do so alone. That way they could talk frankly without worrying about how their words might affect Mrs. Hopkins.

“Then I’ll say goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” they both said as she headed for her room.

“I wonder what she made us tonight,” Justin asked.

“It will be good whatever it is,” Brian replied as they headed for the kitchen. Mrs. Hopkins’ cooking could not be faulted.
Justin dished up the pork chops with roasted potatoes and vegetables. They sat down at the small table in a corner of the kitchen.

“You know…” Brian said after he took a few mouthfuls of the food.

“What?” Justin asked as he chewed on some pork chop.

“What do you think about asking Quinn and Pats and Maggie up here for our next get together?” Brian put the idea out to his partner.

Justin smiled. They hadn’t done any entertaining since they had got the advertising company and the townhouse. They had both been so busy with the business and Justin with his schooling. It would be nice for Brian to see his old friends again. They had promised to keep in touch. Really the only one who did keep in touch was Pats, who was like a sister to Brian, and she was Justin’s cousin.

“I think that’s a great idea, but would they want to come all this way?” Justin speculated.

“It’s not so far, but Maggie might have trouble leaving the pub.”

“Maybe her husband could run it for the night and she could come up with Pats or Quinn.”

“That might work,” Brian said with a sly smile.

“We can show them all what a success you’ve become.”

Brian glanced up at Justin. It always made him feel good when someone, especially Justin, thought he was making a success of his life. He had lived for so many years, finding his identity in his sexual prowess. No one, not even Justin, knew how hard and how scary it had been for him to change his life completely. Hearing that he had done so made Brian feel like a million dollars. He thought having the get together with his old friends at their home was a great idea. He’d get to work on it right away.

“What do you think about having this shindig on the weekend?”

“You mean this weekend?” Justin asked. Brian nodded. “Isn’t that kind of short notice?”

“Yeah, but we have nothing planned for the weekend and it’s supposed to be nice weather.”

“When did you become a weather reporter,” Justin asked with a smile.

“Has your mother made any decisions about when she might come visit us?” Brian asked, changing the subject. He didn’t want Justin to know that he already the invitations prepared to be sent out for the coming weekend.
Justin shook his head. They had sent Jennifer money for airline tickets at Christmas, hoping she and Justin’s sister Molly would come for the holiday. That had not happened. Justin had been very disappointed. Mrs. Taylor had made excuses about Molly having commitments through her school, but Brian suspected that Justin’s mother did not approve of her son’s choice to stay in Ireland.

“She’s trying to organize things to come in a few weeks. It will be spring break for Molly,” Justin explained.

“That would be nice,” Brian said unenthusiastically. He certainly had the feeling that Mrs. Taylor didn’t approve of him, and he knew for sure that Mr. Taylor didn’t. Maybe she was stalling coming to see Justin because she’d also have to see Brian.

“Yeah, I hope they come. I miss both of them.”

“Would you like to go to Primavera tomorrow tonight … or tonight?” Brian asked out of the blue.

“Clubbing?” Justin was surprised. They had done little else than work and fuck for the last many months as they tried to get Brendan’s business back on solid footing.

“Yes, clubbing. You know that place with the dim lights and the sparkly mirror ball and mostly naked men who gyrate against each other until they get all hot and sweaty and …”

“Yeah, I know what clubbing is,” Justin chuckled. “I’m just surprised that you’re suggesting it.”

“I am too.”

Justin looked into Brian’s eyes. “Then why…?”

Brian shrugged. “We haven’t done anything but work for months. I just thought you might enjoy it.”

A little smile tugged at the corners of Justin’s mouth. “I think I might.”

“Then let’s get ready and go.”

“You mean it?”

Brian nodded again. He did mean it. It would be good for both of them to have some time outside of work. Dancing and drinking would be fun.

Justin finished off his pork chop and stood up. He walked around the table and leaned down to kiss Brian gently on the lips.

“What was that for?” Brian asked when Justin ended the kiss.

“For being you.”

“Shit! If all I have to do is be me then let’s just go to bed.”

Justin swatted him and Brian laughed. “You better be kidding,” Justin warned.

“Yes, Sunshine, I’m kidding. I … want you to be happy. Do you want to go to Primavera? We don’t have to go if you’re too tired.”

Justin smiled a smile that radiated sunshine just as Brian had nicknamed him. “You know, I am kind of tired, now that I think about it. Maybe we should have an early night and go to Primavera tomorrow.” He winked at Brian.

“Sounds good to me,” Brian said as he got up from the table and loaded his dishes into the dishwasher. He was already planning what he wanted to do to Justin once they were in bed.

 

*****
 

The following day passed uneventfully at work. Brian got his receptionist to send out the invitations to his friends for the get together in Dublin. He really hoped they’d all come.

Once work was over, they headed home, had Mrs. Hopkins delicious dinner and got ready to go clubbing.

Primavera hadn’t changed much since the last time they were there. The music was loud and throbbing, but that was the way they liked it. The men were mostly young and half naked, but that was the way they liked it. They put on their usual show in the middle of the dance floor, and that seemed to be the way all the other men liked it.

Sweating and somewhat aroused they made their way to the bar after a few dances. Brian indicated that he wanted two beers. Once their order was filled they leaned against the bar and surveyed the dance floor.

“I think we still have it,” Justin said.

Brian snorted almost choking on his beer. “You thought you’d lose it after a few months?” he asked cocking his eyebrow and chuckling at Justin.

“I meant you,” Justin said keeping his face straight.

“Not too bad for an over-the-hill quoin boy,” Brian said as one of the young men walked past him and made it very clear the Brian was welcome to follow him to the restrooms or the backroom or anywhere.

“Mr. Over-The-Hill-Quoin-Boy, you are mighty fine. But, you’re also mine, so behave yourself while I use the restroom,” Justin instructed. He gave Brian a kiss on the lips before leaving the bar.

Brian watched the mighty fine bottom of his partner disappear into the crowd before he felt a bump to his shoulder. He turned to see a dark haired young man whom he knew had been eyeing him on the dance floor.

“Now that he’s gone…” the young man said.

Brian shook his head. However, that didn’t seem to be much of a deterrent to the dark haired beauty.

“I’m Liam.”

“Good for you,” Brian said sarcastically.

Again undeterred by that response, Liam continued, “I haven’t seen you here before.” Brian remained silent but signaled the bartender for another beer. “I think we could have a really good time together.”

“Is that right?” Brian asked taking the new beer from the bartender but not turning to look at the persistent young man.

“I’m game for anything,” Liam told this good looking older man.

“I have the only game I want,” Brian said again refusing to make eye contact.

“That blond! He doesn’t look like much.”

“I’d be very careful what you say about him,” Brian said with a definite edge to his voice. He stood up and turned to glare at the nuisance who was bothering him. “Very careful!” Brian repeated more forcefully.

“Sure, man, no problem,” Liam began to backtrack. “I just thought you might want something better.”

Brian felt his fist ball up. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll walk away right now.”

“I can’t believe he’s better than me. He looks like a dumb kid. Nobody’s better…” That was as far as he got as Brian’s fist connected with his jaw. Liam stumbled backwards, but didn’t fall.

“Hey!” the bartender interrupted. “Take the fighting outside.”

“There’s no fighting, is there?” Brian asked Liam with a glare.

Liam shook his head and rubbed his jaw. “Nothing worth fighting for here,” he added before walking away.

Brian felt the throb in his knuckles as soon as Liam disappeared. He supposed that it was the adrenalin wearing off. Brian felt himself shiver. He had vowed never to hit anyone, but he couldn’t just stand there and let this Liam bad mouth Justin. He brought his knuckles up to see what he had done. One was skinned and they ached like crazy. He stuck the raw one in his mouth hoping that would help. It didn’t.

“Here,” the bartender said. He handed Brian a plastic bag with a few ice cubes in it.

“Thanks,” Brian said placing it over his bruised knuckles.

“That Liam’s a pain in my ass,” the bartender explained. “It was nice to see someone put him in his place.”

“Tell that to my knuckles tomorrow,” Brian said ruefully. The ice was helping a bit, but they still hurt.

The bartender gave Brian a grin before he moved away to serve another customer. Just then Brian could feel his cell phone vibrating in his jeans pocket.

 

*****
 

Justin came out of the restroom fending off some dark haired guy who had come in some time after he did. He was putting cold water on his face. The blossoming dark area on the man’s chin made Justin realize that someone had probably punched him. Justin had made the mistake of asking if he could help. Now he couldn’t get rid of the stupid ass.

“Look, buddy,” Justin said as he turned to find the guy following him. “I really suggest you take off. My boyfriend isn’t going to like it that you’re following me around.”

“What will he do? Punch me?” the guy asked sarcastically. He knew exactly who the boyfriend was. If he couldn’t have one, he’d have the other.

“Brian would never punch anyone.”

“Is that right?” Liam asked rubbing his sore jaw.

“Yeah, that’s right, but he’ll have you thrown out of here,” Justin averred.

“Fuck the both of you!” Liam reacted, realizing that he wasn’t getting anywhere with this one either. “There’s better fish in the sea.” He walked away knowing that if he pushed too hard, he would be tossed out of the club. The bartender didn’t like him.

Justin breathed a sigh of relief. He walked across the dance floor towards the bar. He could see Brian talking on his cell phone. He wondered who he was talking to.

“Okay,” Brian said snapping his phone shut and shoving it in his pocket. That action hurt like hell as his sore knuckles came into contact with the fabric of his pocket. He grimaced, but put on a brave face as he felt Justin’s hand on his back. “Did you decide to come back?” Brian asked raising an eyebrow.

“I wasn’t gone that long,” Justin said not wanting to explain about the dark haired annoyance that he had been dealing with.

“Let’s get out of here,” Brian said. He had set the ice bag on the bar while he took the phone call. It was still laying there, and he didn’t want to have to explain what he had been doing while Justin was in the restroom.

“Sure,” Justin agreed. They headed outside.

“I’m going back to Triskele for an hour or so,” Brian said as he watched Justin get in a cab.

“What? Why?” Justin asked as Brian closed the taxi door on him.

“That was the account manager for Morton Foods on the phone. They have a new idea of what they want to see tomorrow. I’m going to work on it for a bit. I had a brainwave.”

“But…” Justin said. This was weird. Why would the Morton manager be calling Brian at this time of night? “I could come with you,” Justin volunteered.

“No, you get some sleep. I’ll be home in an hour or two,” Brian stated. Justin’s cab pulled away, as Brian climbed into the next one in line and gave the driver an address.

 

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