CHAPTER SIX

DON'T LET THE SMOOTH TASTE FOOL YA

Monday Morning (May 12th 2005)

JustinMania- Loft

Justin laid there hovering in the twilight between satisfying sleep and annoyingly awake. 'Hey Baby wake up, Come and Dance with me...Wow Yeah...' The loud lyrics of the alarm clock sung from the living room, purposely put there so he would have to roll his ass out of bed to turn it off. He reminded himself that the next time he saw Molly, she and the fucking singing clock were getting chucked off the roof. Well maybe not her but she should at least be there to witness the death of the guitar-holding, sunglasses-wearing poultry. He stalked over to the clock realizing that no matter how annoying, it served its purpose. The smell of fresh-brewed coffee pouring itself into his travel mug helped get him moving. Thank God he remembered to set the timer on the Keurig. 

Although early and a little grumpy from lack of sleep, he was still excited for the day. While the shower was heating up, Justin took care of all other preliminaries. He decided at the last minute to shave his beard which had been growing since he'd left GayHell. At first he wasn't going to because it was an act of rebellion for him. Connor had always demanded Justin be clean-shaven stating he didn't like the feel of Justin's facial hair when he blew him. Justin's youthful appearance was the envy of all Connor's associates, a fact he'd learned by being accosted over and over again. Unfortunately for Justin, Connor had also decided that Justin enticed the dirty old men and women to hit on him so of course he had to be punished. But this was a new time and place. For Justin, shaving his full beard meant something entirely different. Kinnetik was a multi-million dollar corporation and its owner and his assistant were stunningly beautiful. Justin decided, he could be no less.

While showering, Justin ran through all he needed to accomplish for his first week within the company. Past the staff meeting, there were eight interviews. The following day were interviews for five interns and by the end of the week, he would have to make a decision. Based on the work samples he'd received and looked over during the night, the candidates looked promising but it would come down to the other samples of their work brought during the actual interview itself. Justin admitted to himself that he was nervous. He'd spent the day before replaying his conversation in the park with Daphne and she was right. He needed to establish himself right away within the company. He knew in order to do that, he needed a staff which was second to none although they were an extension of the other three offices. If Justin was to succeed, his staff had to be better and more invaluable than the others who already had a rhythm going among the employees. He closed his eyes while rinsing his hair under the rainfall shower wondering if he could really make it all happen. If it was solely based on him, he would have said yes. The freelance work he'd done over the years had restored his confidence and kept his sanity in the process. But now he would be working with others, guiding their choices while staying true to Brian Kinney's vision of the product. It was daunting but yeah- he was up for the challenge. From all Cynthia had said Brian was a tough and driven employer but he also recognized the hard work of his employees.

Justin still couldn't help but wonder about the man himself. He had glimpsed him in the Diner and heard the whispers directed toward him but he wondered about the man beneath the legend. Everyone knew of Mr. Kinney's rise in the advertising world and he was to be admired. But Justin didn't want to feel like he couldn't approach his boss if something needed to be discussed regarding the campaigns. Based on what he'd noticed on Saturday, Brian Kinney possessed an untouchable aura; like he wore an invisible sign that said Stay the fuck OUT! Then to find out that Justin had damaged the man's best friend while wielding a broomstick, regardless of Daphne's assurances, Justin couldn't help but be concerned of the consequences.

He took one more look in the mirror making sure he was perfect. The Boss suit in gray and sky blue shirt set off his eyes perfectly, his matching All-Stars donning his feet for a small touch of whimsy plus comfortability and his hair for a change acted right. He tied the long tresses in a man-bun situated at the back of his head. Looking into his own eyes he was amazed to see the confident and capable creature who had disappeared for a little while. He reminded himself of ‘high school Justin' and all the hopes, dreams and aspirations he'd had back when he didn't seem to have a care in the world. Still young, still beautiful but a lot more suspicious and worldly; no longer naive. If he could say one good thing had come about in the last five years it was that he knew who he was and what he could do. And he would show Brian Kinney all he had to offer.

His cell phone rang as he was grabbing his coffee and heading out the door. Hooking his portfolio case around his body, he smiled as he looked down at it.

Aiden: Good luck with you new job, today.

While balancing the coffee and keys in one hand, he typed back:

Blue: Thanks! I'm going to need it. Has the staffing for your new office been fully picked yet?

Aiden: Not yet but I'm hoping we'll get it done soon. If we could reopen the doors by next Monday, that would be a plus.

Blue: You'll get it all done. But what happens if you don't.

Aiden: In my line of work, time is money so I won't even tolerate failure. But my staff is pretty competent so maybe I'm just being neurotic.

Blue: LOL. You? Neurotic? Somehow I can't see that but then again I don't know you very well....Yet

Aiden: Well thanks to Little Boy Blue's schedule, I have to wait an entire week to rectify that, now don't I?

Blue: :-( Sadly yes but... Just to clarify one thing... Blue ain't so little.. ;-)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kickass Kinney

Brian once again smiled down at his cell phone reading the words: Blue ain't so little. The innuendo behind the ambiguous statement made him laugh out loud... and his metaphorical horns raise. Although he knew Blue was starting a new job and it wouldn't do to show up with a noticeable boner, he couldn't help but want to be the cause of it.

Aiden: Watch it, Blue. Not sure you could handle all that statement could mean or the things it could lead to.

Blue: What makes you think I'm not ready?

Holy shit... how to answer that question. Brian was no stranger to sex for sex sake. Nor was he one to over analyze and wrestle with his conscience about a trick. He'd fucked for the first time in a month while visiting the backroom of Babylon for the first time in over five years. He'd picked a blond guy automatically knowing that it wasn't the blond whose company he'd been craving since the moment they met. But it didn't stop him from fantasizing that it was Blue he was balls deep in.

Aiden: Are you trying to make me late for work? What are you doing?

Blue: Just stopped in the local diner for breakfast before heading to the office. What are you doing?

Aiden: Trying to drive into work while keeping my eyes on the damn road. Thankfully traffic is light today. You're making me want to pull off on the side of the road though.

Blue: You know.... You probably should NOT text and drive. Then we'd never meet or we'd be delayed in meeting or some other shit. As far as pulling over to the side of the road...you wouldn't want to be late now would you? Although I'll admit I'm feeling calmer with you talking to me.

Brian felt a little giddy at Blue's admission. The truth was he didn't want to stop talking with Blue either.

Aiden: Okay my little Public Service Announcement, I won't text and drive. And although I hate to be late, I'll only stay here on the side of the road for five minutes. What are you having for breakfast?

Blue: Bacon, scrambled eggs and a side of hash browns, toast and pancakes.

Aiden: Damn! First, bacon will kill you- all that grease! How the fuck do you stay so slender eating all that shit? I think I just gained five pounds reading all that.

Blue: Hey- I happen to like grease...LOL Food always taste better with it. Please don't tell me you're one of those over-conscious health nuts otherwise I will have to make it my mission in life to tempt you with carbs every time I see you. As far as my weight, I guess it just gets spread evenly to all the right places.

Aiden: You're tempting enough without adding food to the mix. And yes, I do watch what I put in my mouth. Take that last statement how ever the mood suits you. Are you turning red?

Blue: I'll never tell you which way I took that statement or if I'm blushing. A man has to have his secrets.

Aiden: I'll take that as a ‘yes' on the blushing and a big LOL on the way you took my last statement. I'd better get back on the road before I really am late. Later

Blue: Later

Brian pulled back onto the interstate in a better mood than he'd woken up. After the weekend he'd had with Michael and Lindsey, talking with Blue had definitely taken a load off. He knew that he needed to tell Cynthia the specialized instructions for controlling the in-office visits especially since he'd refused to tell the both of them where he lived regardless of their attempts. He also couldn't wait to tell her about Michael's meeting with a broomstick which still caused him to break out into laughter every time he pictured the incident. 

While he was at Woody's he'd found himself initiating the text with Blue which again put him at ease in a place where expectations were high, not only from Mikey but other tricks as well. He'd told Blue about his best friend's boyfriend whom he'd fucked three times in one night at the White Party a few years back. Instead of being judgmental and disgusted, Blue had asked how he was and wanted names of positions. Blue kept him laughing and intrigued by turns. Moreover, he seemed to understand a great deal about Brian's- or Aiden's- complicated feelings about his family and those he considered family. Although Brian had refrained from mentioning names, Blue seemed offer comfort and sympathize with his misplaced guilt. He was impartial and provided a fresh outlook. He thought briefly back to the day back in January when he was waiting for Cynthia to arrive at Jennifer Taylor's office. He'd felt like the winds in his life were shifting; that he was on the cusp of something huge. All he could think in that moment of recollection was that he hoped Blue would be a part of it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Coffee and Confrontation- Staff Meeting - Kinnetik

Cynthia paced the interior of the conference room waiting for her boss and the new Art Director to arrive. Brian had phoned in to say that he was running about five minutes behind schedule. She didn't think anything of it considering where he lived in Squirrel Hill and just chalked it up to interstate traffic during rush hour. It was her rationale until she saw the sparkle in the most gorgeous blue eyes she'd ever seen which belonged to a slender blond young man. Justin raced through the main doors of Kinnetik with a smile that could light up the darkest night. He handed her one of the coffees he toted while placing the other at the head of the conference table.

Watching his perky ass flit in the room and then to his office and back to the conference room again, she couldn't stand the suspense any longer. "Justin, what the hell has you so chipper this early in the morning?"

"New job, new city, possibly a new man," he said beaming. "What's not to be happy about?"

His smile was infectious and she couldn't contain hers. "So things are going okay with..."

"Aiden. Yeah, things seem to be going okay. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop but after this morning, I'm not sure there is one."

He sat her down and told her about the weekend after she and he left each other on Saturday. The story itself was unbelievable but had to be true even if it was Brian Kinney. He told her how he'd seen Brian but not the other way around and how Brian had basically told Michael that he was wrong for going to the loft. He had escaped narrowly from being discovered as the one who had nearly broken his best friend's hand. Then his eyes softened when he told her about the text messages he and ‘Aiden' had been having nightly and several times during the day. To say Cynthia was shocked would be the understatement of the fucking year. Blue- she meant Justin- was practically bouncing up and down in chair; his energy palpable and radiating, warming her from the inside. She couldn't wait to hear more but just then a whirling dervish of a six-foot-two man zoomed passed her and Justin like a heat-seeking missile.

"Thank god, coffee!" Brian took a long draught. "And it's fucking perfect."

"Glad you think so," Cynthia said smirking as Brian continued to nurse the coffee with his eyes closed as if he'd found the fountain of youth. She cleared her throat. "You might want to thank Justin for being so thoughtful in bringing you a cup."

"Sure. Where is he and who the fuck is this?" Brian said pointing to the blond sitting quietly with wide eyes. Why is he looking at me like that? We didn't fuck; I would have remembered that.

Cynthia covered her laugh with a slight cough. "Brian Kinney, I would like to introduce you to Justin Taylor."

Justin rose from his seat and walked over to Brian, hand extended. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Kinney."

"The pleasure-" he gripped the hand in return.

Cynthia held her breath. She could tell when both men felt it- that spark which held them both momentarily speechless at the GLC Gala. Justin blinked and tried to free his hand but Brian wide-eyed couldn't seem to let it go. The chemistry rolled off of them in waves as looks of curiosity and recognition passed between their joined palms while both men absorbed the shock. Finally Brian managed to let go of Justin, blinking rapidly to clear his head.

"You didn't tell me your real name," Brian said inanely.

"You didn't tell me your either," Justin said, biting his bottom lip and shifting his eyes.

"Why?" Brian asked the one question he needed to know more than anything in that moment.

"Didn't seem to matter then. I actually am called Blue by my family and close friends."

"Am I close friend then?"

Justin smiled shyly. "That remains to be seen but right now I think we'd better get to work."

"Excellent idea, Gentlemen," Cynthia said. She'd seen all she needed to see in that moment. "So far there are eight interviews today, right Justin?"

"That's correct. I've looked over all of the samples and they all seem qualified but I'm looking for something more."

"First you seem kind of young to be running the art department of Kinnetik. But out of curiosity, what more could you be looking for if they're qualified?" Brian asked.

Justin took a deep breath. Somehow he was expecting a vague reference to his age but he was hoping it would just be a moot point. "Considering that my artwork is hanging in various places around this office, I'd say that you at least believe in my work. As far as my experience running an art department, I don't have any. However, I have successfully directed the upward mobility of my own career thus far although through another party which includes but is not limited to quite a few successful campaigns with Kinnetik while I was a freelance artist. Third, I am looking for people who create with the same passion that this company was founded. It is okay to have talent, Mr. Kinney; in fact it's highly recommended. But it takes a helluva lot more heart to implement it. I will be completely honest with you..."

"Oh that's a first," Brian said snidely.

Justin went on as if he hadn't spoken, determined to finish his thought. "Your other art departments are established and have had years to build and create with each other. This one needs to be just as essential to the organization otherwise its existence becomes pointless. I personally do not like to deal with mediocrity and I don't believe you would tolerate it either. So that being said, I want us to be the best at what we do; I want our work to have its own signature. If you give me my head and take my lead on who we hire, I can assure that. Now to address your other comment while the three of us are alone. I did NOT lie to you at any time. For the second time, I didn't think it was important for you to know me as Justin Taylor, Art Director and Painter. I just wanted to be Blue. It's who those close to me or those I let close know me as. If you can't or won't continue to want to know me as such, I'll respect your decision but be advised I don't give second chances." He kept his face serene but inside he was screaming. He hated the thought of losing what was beginning to be something promising. He had already been through and seen too much and had been alone for so fucking long. He was hoping Aiden- now Brian- could change that. At Brian's continued silence, Justin got up from his seat. "Well I guess I have my answer. If you'll both excuse me, I need to make sure all of my notes for the interviews are correct." He left the conference room, walking sedately and not looking back but willing the tears which were welling in his eyes not to fall.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Shots Fired

Brian and Cynthia watched the dignified retreat of the young man who only a little while ago radiated excitement and warmth. The room felt immediately colder upon his departure.

"Not a fucking word, Cynthia."

She swallowed hard. This was one of those times she hated her boss. But she still loved her friend. "You will have my resignation letter on your desk as soon as I finish saying this."

"What part of 'not another word' aren't you getting? I said I don't want to talk about this."

"Well you're in luck because I want you to shut the hell up and listen." She crossed over to close the conference room door. "You are the biggest asshole I have ever met. Not only that but you're a deaf, dumb and blind one as well if you let him go."

"How long have you known?"

"Since Saturday. What the fuck does it matter? He's still the same man you met on Friday night and you're about to blow it for what?"

"You know how I feel about secrets. They're just lies by omission."

She rolled her eyes. "Lies by omission....you are so full of shit, Brian or should we call you Aiden. You lied too."

 "No I didn't. I just gave him one of my names."

 "And so did he. Let me tell you one good goddamn thing, Brian Aiden Kinney. That man in there was bouncing off the fucking walls this morning and it wasn't because of a caffeine rush. He was happy to have had another conversation with the man he'd been getting to know as Aiden. And you have the audacity to sit there like some fucking King of the motherfucking hill because he dared to claim a bit of happiness under an alias. I swear for someone so head smart you really are heart dumb."

"What do you want me to do, Cyn? You know my policy on office romances. I will not have another office torn up because of star-crossed lover bullshit. Need I remind you what happened with one of Ted's ex-lovers?"

She knew he was referring to Thad Ramos. He was obsessed and psychotic where Ted was concerned. Any conversation Ted had with anyone that wasn't him resulted in a tantrum which ultimately destroyed the original accounting offices. "You can't compare the two situations, Brian. Thad was a fucking head case; Justin is not. Secondly, your story began outside of the vaunted halls of Kinnetik PA so technically the rules don't apply here. You're a damn fool to sacrifice your own happiness for some misguided notions or fear that things will end badly. They will if you end them now but who knows what the future holds for the two of you. You sure as hell don't so don't you think you owe it to yourself to take a chance?"

She answered the knock at the door. Justin peeked his head in. "The first of the interview candidates have arrived. I'd like to know if you both would care to sit in?"

"I have to go type up a letter but I'm sure Mr. Kinney would have a few questions for the candidates so I think it's best to conduct them in here."

"Cynthia?"

"Yes, Brian."

"You know you weren't fucking serious so sit your ass in a chair and let's get on with the show. Justin you can show the first one in."

"Sure, Brian," Justin said as he walked back to his office. Brian smiled to himself. That boy was all WASP manners.

"For the record, Brian, I was absolutely fucking serious," Cynthia said. And watched with satisfaction as he swallowed hard.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A Truce Between Tyrants

Justin sat on the rooftop deck, watching the sunset and nursing a tall glass of Beam. The water from the swimming pool glistened with all the colors disappearing onto the horizon, giving a soft benediction to end his perfect day of hell. First had been the shock of finding out the man he had been having a ‘like-affair' with was his boss also known as the Stud of Liberty Avenue and a host of other epithets associated with his prowess. His ability to run Kinnetik's art department in Pittsburgh had been questioned, which he thought he'd handled rather well under the circumstances. 

Then the icing on the proverbial cake was to have his position threatened by none other than William Wainwright, his biggest rival in art school and the man who outright expressed that he was going to take Justin's job away from him. It was then that he regretted his upbringing, wanting nothing more than to deck the idiot for all his asides and innuendos. The reason he'd chosen to hire William was for one reason and one reason alone... his skill. He was very vocal in his disappointment about not being hired as the Art Director or even the Assistant AD. Justin instead gave the job to an emerging artist named Cassandra Mills. If nothing else, he could trust her not to undermine his orders. With all of that going on was it any wonder why he was contemplating quitting. But he wouldn't do it. He wouldn't give Brian nor William the satisfaction of knowing they had gotten to him.

He heard the buzzer to his loft and automatically knew who it was. The text message on his phone which he read but didn't respond to told him.

Aiden: Justin I know you're up there. Your car is parked in the garage and I'm not leaving until we've talked. Face-to-face, no bullshit, no code names- just you and me.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Aiden: I'm going to keep ringing this damn buzzer until you let me up. You're not due in the office until 12 tomorrow and I can take the day if I want so we can play this game all night if I have to. You won't sleep and neither will I. Is that what you want?

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

Aiden: Seriously Justin? That buzzing isn't getting on your fucking nerves? Okay....

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Aiden: come on, Blue. I wanna talk to you. Please.

Justin looked at the last text. It pissed him off that Brian would choose to use that name; the same name he'd been pissed off that Justin had given. Of all the fucking nerve! So he was more surprised than Brian was when he heard the loud buzz granting access to the building and even more surprised at himself when Brian made his way to the roof. He watched Brian look around in amazement at the work he'd had done up there. It added more living space to the more than adequate living area in the apartment. Justin resumed his seat poolside under the glass dome which could be enclosed and heated during the winter months so he would still be able to use what had become his paradise. He waited for Brian to take it all in. The sooner he said what he'd come to say, the sooner he could fucking leave.

"I love what you've done with the place, Justin."

He sat silent, still watching the sun disappear, pretending he wasn't pleased by Brian's praise. But in the end, it didn't matter as much as Justin finding his own pleasure in it.

"Are you just going to sit there and not acknowledge that I'm here?" Brian asked while taking the seat directly next to him.

"What would you like me to say, Mr. Kinney?" Justin let his voice drip with all the venom he was feeling at the moment; the venom he'd been feeling all day.

"Look. I bought pizza and beer. I was hoping we could get a few things straight."

"I thought we'd already done that, Brian."

"Bullshit. You know nothing has been decided just as I do."

Justin reached over grabbing the bottle of Beam to refill his glass. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say just then. Brian had made him feel like shit for protecting himself all day and yet... Yet with the man he'd known as Aiden, he'd been the most unguarded he'd been in years. How was he supposed to feel?

"Do you have plates up here or do I need to run back down to the kitchen?"

 "There's a full hidden kitchen up here equipped with silverware and a microwave if you're hungry," Justin stated.

 "You're not?"

 "Look Brian, why don't you just say what it is you want and then leave."

 "Is that what you want?"

 "Yes...I mean no...you know what I don't know."

 "Well that's too bad, Justin because I know I don't want to leave until we iron all this out."

"What exactly is there to ‘iron out?' You've made your point of view perfectly clear."

 "What if I didn't? What if I wanted to start over?"

 "You can't go back. I told you-"

 "Yeah, I know. You don't give second chances."

 "That's right, I don't."

 "Well technically your point is moot since you didn't give me the first one."

 "What the hell are you talking about, Brian? I've been more open with you than I have anyone."

 "No you haven't but I would like you to. I want to know Justin Taylor and if I have to call you Blue in order to do that then so be it."

Justin looked into Brian's eyes trying to gauge the sincerity of his words. No one had ever asked him that before. Hell no one had ever asked him anything. They just took and he accepted because he had no choice. That was the scariest thing of being involved with someone like Brian Kinney. If he chose to explore what was happening when they were just Aiden and Blue, it could make their professional life complicated. But if he didn't take the chance he knew he would regret it for the rest of his life. He was definitely tired of living with regrets.

"We need rules." Justin said.

 "What kind?"

 "The kind that separates work from home. I won't be undermined or challenged at work because I'm jumping on the boss' bones."

 "But you're not jumping me...yet." Brian smiled and waggled his eyebrows.

 Justin chuckled. "You know what I mean, Brian."

 "I think when we're not at work and it's just the two of us, you should call me Aiden."

 "Only if you call me Blue. Besides, I was beginning to like Aiden. He was fun."

 "You made him want to have fun, Blue. I haven't had that feeling in...well in a very long time."

 "Jeez, you really sound old when you say that."

 Brian playfully punched him in the arm. "Fuck you. I do not."

 "Yeah you do. But I seem to be developing a thing for well-seasoned men so I guess it's okay."

 Brian rolled his eyes. "You're making me sound like I'm Colonel Sanders or some shit. Do I look like a bucket of chicken?"

Before Justin could answer he found his lips otherwise engaged by the sensual ones of the brunet beauty across from him. His breath left him immediately at the first contact. Brian explored his mouth, kissing him deeply while Justin tangled his tongue with the older man's in return. A soft moan escaped Justin as Brian bought their mouths even closer and he entangled his fingers in Justin's hair. Justin could feel the strain against his sweatpants as Brian continued to devour him. He was disappointed when Brian ended the exchange but delighted that he hadn't moved away from him. Justin got lost in the hazel orbs staring at him as if seeing him for the first time. Perhaps he was.

"What is it?" Justin asked softly.

"I want to know all your secrets, Blue and strangely I want you to know mine."

"Give it some time, Aiden." When he began to move away, Justin held him in place. "It's not that I don't trust you. It's that saying it all out loud to you, makes them all too real to me. I need a little time that's all."

Brian understood what he was trying to convey and Justin was overjoyed that he wouldn't push the issue. "Any more rules you can think of?"

"How about we discuss it over dinner. Do you want to eat here or inside?"

"I guess inside since it's getting pretty dark out here." Justin touched a small section on the wall by his chair and Brian watched again in amazement as everything lit up."You know, I'm almost tempted to move back in here just for this."

Justin laughed. "No you wouldn't. Then you would have Michael and Lindsey breathing down your neck again and God knows what else. But I might be willing to share it from time to time."

"Tonight?"

Justin blushed while answering. "How about this? We have dinner, discuss the terms and agreements and then I give you the grand tour. In the meantime, we just go with it."

"Sounds like a plan to me. But can we add a stubbornness clause or the right to veto an idea...something?"

"Why?" Justin was genuinely curious.

"Because although you look innocent and taste great, you can be a sour son of a bitch sometimes."

Justin laughed. "You just don't know the half of it Aiden."