Seeing Clearly

Chapter 6

“Do I look all right?” Justin asked as they walked through the entrance of Babylon.

“You look grrrrreeeeeaaaaat!” Brian joked, kissing Justin’s cheek and breathing into his ear.  Justin scrunched up his shoulders and blushed.  He felt his dick start to fill.

“Stop it,” Justin chastised, trying to adjust his very tight jeans.  “Seriously, none of my clothes are suitable to wear clubbing.”

“I told you we could go shopping, but you wouldn’t get out of bed,” Brian reminded him.

“Hm, seems to me there was something heavy lying on top of me for most of the day.”

“True, but those jeans show off your ass very … pleasantly.”

“Pleasantly?” Justin laughed.  “That’s because they’re a couple of sizes too small.  I thought I had thrown these out.  I don’t know how they got into my duffel bag.”

“They’re perfect for Babylon,” Brian assured him, as they stepped through the doorway into the main part of the club.

Justin stopped short, holding onto Brian’s arm.  Brian took in the look of wonder on Justin’s face.  Brian remembered what it had been like the first time he got into Babylon.  It had been a revolutionary moment in his life.

Justin seemed mesmerized by what he saw.  He stood rooted to the spot as his eyes scanned the club, taking it all in, holding his breath as he looked at all the men, the glitter, the near nakedness surrounding him.  His chest felt the thumpa thumpa as the loud music beat against them.  The smell of sex was in the air, and Justin’s dick responded.  This was going to be a long evening.

“Wow!” Justin reacted.  “This is amazing.”

“Yeah, a-maaz-ing,” Brian laughed.

“Do you see your friends?”

“They’re probably holding up the bar.”

“Oh.”

“Wanna dance before we beard the lions in their den?”

“Sure,” Justin said happily.  He could think of nothing better than Brian’s arms around him in front of all these men.

Brian led him onto the dance floor wrapping his arms around Justin once they found a suitable spot.  Brian hunched down a bit so that they were almost the same height.  He ground his cock against Justin causing them both to throw back their heads and gasp.  Dancers all around them stopped and watched as the vertical version of the ancient horizontal dance was played out between the two men.  As the song came to an end, Brian leaned in and kissed Justin.  They held onto each other as those who had been watching started heading for the backroom or the restrooms to find some relief.

“Are you two done with your show?” a sarcastic voice asked from behind them.

“Yes, Mikey, for now,” Brian replied as he released Justin and turned around to face his friend.  “I believe you’ve already met Justin.”

“Yeah, the kid with the number one computer game,” Michael said snidely.  “Like I believed that.”

“Kudos for being so perceptive, Mikey,” Brian replied.  “Justin doesn’t have a number one computer game, but he’s number one as far as I’m concerned.  Let’s get a drink, Justin.” 

With that, Brian took Justin’s hand and guided him towards the bar.  Justin couldn’t resist looking over his shoulder at Michael seemingly paralyzed on his spot on the dance floor.  His mouth was hanging open.  Brian certainly knew how to shut his friend up.

“Two beers,” Brian said to the bartender.

“Is he old enough?” the man asked indicating Justin.

“Two beers!” Brian repeated.  “I’m thirsty.”

“Coming right up,” the bartender said popping the tops off a couple of beers.

“You can handle this, can’t you?” Brian asked as he handed a beer to Justin.

“Of course I can.”

“I don’t want to have to hold your head while you puke.”

Justin laughed.  “Aw, I bet you would if I needed you to.”  Justin took a sip of his beer.  He thought he better take it easy with the liquor when he wasn’t all that used to it.

Brian snorted.  “Don’t press your luck, Blondie.”

Justin grinned at Brian.  “I’ll take my chances.”

“My, my, my, who do we have here?” a voice cooed in Justin’s ear.

“Hands off!” Brian ordered, glaring at Emmett.  “He’s with me.”

“So I see, Mr. Kinney.  And who might this delectable morsel be?”

“Justin, this is Emmett.  Emmett, Justin.”

“Very pleased to meet ya,” Emmett said extending his hand.  He batted his eyelashes at Justin.  Emmett’s hand clasped Justin’s and held on.

“I said keep your hands off, Honeycutt,” Brian warned.

“Yes, sir, of course, sir,” Emmett said releasing Justin’s hand.  “Justin, this is another of Brian’s friends, Ted Schmidt,” Emmett added indicating Ted who was standing behind him taking this all in.

“Hello, Ted,” Justin said shaking hands with the man.

“Nice to meet you, Justin,” Ted replied and quickly released Justin’s hand as he noted the look on Brian’s face.  “We haven’t seen you here at Babylon before.”

“No, this is my first time,” Justin admitted.

“Well, I certainly hope we see more of you,” Emmett gushed.

“Honeycutt!” Brian said in a warning voice.

“In your company of course, Brian.”

“Of course,” Brian said leaving little doubt that if Emmett saw Justin again Brian would be there.

“Brian, who is this kid?  What are you doing with him?” Michael demanded as he came up to the group.  Apparently he had got his mouth closed and his brain in gear.  It had only taken a few minutes.

“Michael, I already told you that Justin and I are … together.”

“You’re insane!  What’s happened to you?” Michael demanded.

“Michael, may I talk to you alone?” Justin asked politely.

“I have nothing to say to you.  I’m talking to Brian.”

“If Justin wants to talk to you, I strongly suggest you do as he asks,” Brian stated.  “Otherwise, we’re leaving.”

“Brian…” Michael whined.  Brian glared at him, letting Michael know that he meant what he said.  “Okay, okay, where can we talk?” he asked Justin.

“Outside,” Brian said.  “Honeycutt, let’s dance while they have their little chat.”

“Dance?” Emmett asked in surprise.

“Yes, you know when you shake your ass to the music, and you raise your hand over your head in that ridiculous move of yours,” Brian explained facetiously.

“I know what dancing is.  What I don’t know is why you’re sending Michael outside with the blond guy while you dance with me.”

Brian dragged Emmett onto the dance floor.  “Justin will straighten out Michael.”

“He will?” Emmett asked.

“Just dance,” Brian instructed as the two tall men began to move to the music.

*****

“What the fuck have you done to Brian?” Michael demanded as he and Justin walked out into the alley near the entrance to Babylon.

“I haven’t done anything to Brian, and I’m going to ask you not to do anything to hurt him.  He’s been through enough.”

“Enough?  What does that mean?  What are you talking about?”

“If you’ll stop ranting for a couple of minutes, I’ll explain.”

Michael folded his arms across his chest.  “Okay, explain.”

“I met Brian under unusual circumstances.”

“Such as…”

“Let’s just say that we connected almost immediately.”

“Brian doesn’t connect with guys, especially infants like you,” Michael said nastily.

“Well, he connected with me.  We’ve been together ever since.  We’re in love.”

“Love?  Brian Kinney doesn’t do love!”

“From what I’ve learned the Brian Kinney you used to know didn’t do love.  This Brian Kinney loves me, and I love him.  I’m asking you, Michael, as Brian’s best friend, not to ruin this for us.”

“Ruin it for you,” Michael parroted.  He was having a lot of trouble fathoming what this blond kid was telling him.

“Brian has changed.  He keeps telling me that.  He even said you would try to convince me that he couldn’t possibly love me.  You won’t be able to do that, Michael, because I know he loves me.  He has changed.  He wants a different life.  That life includes me.  If you try to stop him from having it, you won’t be his friend much longer.”

“Is that a threat?” Michael asked.

“It’s not a threat.  I’m just telling you how it is.  I want Brian to have his friends, but I also want them to have his best interests at heart.  I look out for him now.”

“You sound like you’re married.”

Justin shook his head.  “We can’t marry even if we wanted to, but I am living at the loft with Brian.  We’re together.”

“Is that why he wouldn’t let me come up the other day – because you were there?”

“That was part of the reason.  We’re still getting to know each other.  He wanted some privacy while we do that.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about Brian,” Michael said.

“Probably, but if you mean the reputation he has, and his one time only policy and the hundreds of men he’s been with, I know all about that.  And I don’t give a fuck.”

“But…”

“Michael, I’m sure there’s much more that will come out as time goes on, but I don’t care.  I love him … just as he is.  So, I’m asking you, can you be happy for us?”

“I only want the best for Brian.”

“I hoped you’d say that.”

“And you think you’re what’s best for him?”

“I’m going to do my very best to be just that.  I won’t hurt him, Michael.  I promise.  And I would like your promise that you won’t hurt him either.”  Justin held out his hand to Michael.

“You and Brian, you’re really a couple?” Michael asked.

“We’re really a couple,” Justin said still extending his hand towards Michael.

Finally Michael reached out and they shook.

“Thank you, Michael.  You won’t be sorry.”

“I better not be,” Michael averred.  Then he shook his head.  “I’m sorry that sounded so harsh.  I’m having a little trouble getting my head around this new Brian Kinney.”

“So’s he,” Justin chuckled.

“Really?”

“Yep.  He doesn’t quite know what’s happened to him, but I think between the two of us we’ll figure it out.”

Michael shook his head.  “I don’t know what to make of all this.”

“Just be his friend.  Cut him some slack.  He’ll tell you all about it as time goes on.”

“Okay, I’ll try,” Michael agreed.  “Let’s go back inside.”

“And Michael, thanks.  This means a lot to me … and to him.”

Michael nodded and they walked back inside Babylon.

When Brian saw them he stopped dancing with Emmett and walked over to the bar where they were heading.  “So how did you ladies make out?” he asked.

“Just fine,” Justin replied looking at Michael for confirmation.

“Fine,” Michael agreed.

“You didn’t come to blows or a shoving match?” Brian asked.

“You wish,” Justin laughed.  “Two men fighting over you.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time.”  Brian grabbed Justin and pulled him against his body.  He kissed Justin’s cheek.  “Let’s dance,” Brian said.

“Sounds good to me.”  Brian led him back onto the dance floor.

Emmett, Ted and Michael stood at the bar watching Brian and Justin move together to the music.

“What did you and Justin talk about?” Emmett asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

“About how Brian has changed,” Michael said simply.

“Brian has changed?” Ted asked.

“In case you haven’t noticed,” Michael said looking at his best friend, “Brian is in a relationship with this Justin Taylor.  They’re in love.”

“Oooh,” Emmett responded.  “I think they’re as cute as can be.  I can’t believe Brian Kinney has a boyfriend.”

“You would think they were cute,” Michael laughed.  “I’ll be sure to tell Brian that.  He’ll smack you upside the head.”

“The new and improved Brian Kinney wouldn’t think of doing that,” Emmett stated.  “Would he?” he added with a frown.

“Apparently not,” Michael agreed.  He watched the two men on the dance floor.  He intended to keep an eye on this young kid who had apparently stolen Brian’s heart.  The blond better handle that heart with care.  Michael still had severe misgivings about this so called relationship.  He’d give them a few days, and by that time, Brian would be tired of the kid and back to his usual self.  Michael nodded his head.  He knew he was right.

*****

Justin’s eyes caught Michael’s as he danced with Brian.  He saw a momentary glimmer in them that made him shiver.  He thought he had settled things with Michael, but maybe he had been hasty in that assumption.

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