Mechanical Michelangelo part 26
TWENTY SIX Friends: That one with the henna
Brian clutched the tiny hand of his son as they crossed the road. The two adults were content to listen to his childish chatter until they reached the park.
Brian knew this would change once Gus was distracted by the adventure climbing frame. Michael would not be able to keep his mouth shut. He’d say it was the Italian Drag Queen in him, but Brian knew it was a Debbie thing, neither could keep their traps shut.
As they reached the park Gus pulled away from him, running as fast as his little legs would carry him over the grass and woodchips, to the slide. “So,” Mikey started, “You’ve been visiting Justin all this time and you never told me?”
Brian shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. Outwardly calm, as if this conversation wasn’t important. “You’re not my mother, Mikey, and I am a big boy.”
“I am your best friend though, it hurts that you kept it from me.”
“Maybe I didn’t want to jinx it before it had even started. You know what this fucking family is like; no one can keep out of anyone’s business.” And Mikey was the worst. Brian hadn’t noticed it until recently; he’d probably even revelled in the attention, but not anymore.
He was a grown man, and grown men had friends, even friends they’d had since childhood, but unlike the two of them, most men had grown out of the ‘best’ stage long ago.
“You’ve been visiting practically every weekend, it just doesn’t seem, I don’t know, very Brian-like.”
Brian raised an eyebrow and took one eye off his son to look at his best friend, trying not to seem offended. “And what is Brian-like?”
“Being an asshole, only thinking of himself, no regrets, no repeats, no boyfriends.”
“Yeah, that sounds pretty much like me, but who did that change for? I’m not saying I want a monogamous relationship, I’m not saying we have much of a relationship at all, but we have something, and no matter what it is, it’s ours and we both want it.”
This must be the longest conversation they’d had in a long time, Brian briefly wondered when they had turned to superficial banter and couldn’t remember.
Mikey nodded. “I understand, you deserve to be happy. But I still don’t get it. How did one seventeen year old twink change it for you? I mean, he’s not even your type.”
“Isn’t he? Maybe he is my type and all the others aren’t. He’s the only one still around after all.” It had taken Brian a long time to admit it. He’d often wondered why he found Justin so appealing, wondered why he kept going back for more, he’d finally acknowledged the truth after Justin returned and Brian found himself seeking him out. The tricks were eye candy, good to look at, good to taste, but you didn’t want more than one of the same kind, and they were forgotten soon after.
Justin had an inner strength, even at seventeen, an inner beauty that complemented his delicate frame and blond hair, blue eyed good looks. Even now, with the tattoos, and the harsh life reflected in his eyes he was innocent and beautiful in a way Brian had never been and never could be.
“Daddy, push me!” Gus called as he climbed onto the swings. Brian walked over, Mikey slowly following.
“Sit down properly Gus,” he said before gently pushing his son, watching as Gus pushed out his legs, trying to touch the sky with his toes.
“It’s kinda funny really, Brian Kinney, choosing brain over brawn.”
Brian smirked. “Justin may be compact, but he’s very easy on the eye.” Mikey was beginning to get on his nerves, he shouldn’t have to explain his actions. “Is it so foreign to you that I’d choose Justin or are you pissed off that I didn’t choose another, small compact man to try my relationship skills on?” He raised an eyebrow and turned to Mikey, noticing the slight blush cover his cheeks.
“Maybe once I might have thought that. Not anymore though, you’d be too hard to keep up with, I’d have to be on my toes 24/7. I love what I have with Ben and Hunter.” He paused slightly, cocking his head to the side. “Justin isn’t that much older than Hunter. He was still a kid when you first fucked him, what could a seventeen year old and a thirty year old--.”
“Twenty nine.”
“Twenty nine year old man, have in common?”
Brian looked down at his son, happily swinging back and forth, totally unaware of the conversation going on above him. Justin had come into his life the same night as Gus, and no matter how much Brian shrugged it off as unimportant, part of him thought there must be more to it than that.
“Apart from the, fucking, fantastic sex, you mean?”
Mikey nodded, “Yeah, apart from that.”
“He’s intelligent, he has his own opinions. We drink beer and smoke cigarettes, we can be loud, drunk, and talk about utter crap, or we can talk intellectually, he knows about art, he likes old Cary Grant movies, though don’t ask me why, and he’s strong. Age doesn’t come into it. Is that enough of a reason?”
“I suppose it is. I’m not trying to put a damper on things or anything. I just don’t want you to get hurt. We’ve been friends too long for me not to interrogate the boyfriend.”
Brian groaned and bumped his shoulder to Mikey’s. “I hate that word, never use it again.”
“What should I use then? Partner, lover, other half?” Mikey laughed.
“Why do you have to call it anything?”
***
Molly looked wide eyed as Justin carefully drew a Celtic pattern on her upper arm in henna. He chuckled slightly to himself, he’d never seen his sister so quiet. The thick paste came out of the paper funnel in small, smooth lines, marking the skin perfectly. He kept the design simple and delicate.
Henna didn’t allow for different shadings like tattoos did, but he was pretty sure Molly would be happy with the end result, and his mom would be happy that it wouldn’t last.
“So, how long do I have to stay still like this?” Daphne asked, holding her hands stiffly. Justin looked up from Molly’s arm. “At least thirty minutes. Don’t smudge it.”
Daphne had gone for the more traditional hand patterns, wanting to show off the designs on their night out, but if she wasn’t careful she’d end up with a large brown splodge instead.
“My friends are gonna be so jealous.” Molly said happily.
Daphne went to pick up a cushion, wanting to get comfier on the hard floor. “Don’t you dare get henna over one of Brian’s cushions. And get your butt back onto the newspaper.” She rolled here eyes and shuffled back onto the paper Justin had placed all over the floor in the loft.
“So, is it serious with you and Brian?”
Justin concentrated on his work, uncomfortable talking about this in front of Molly. “We’re friends.”
“With benefits?” She smirked and blew on her hands, trying to dry the henna.
“What’s a friend with benefits?” Molly asked. Justin sent Daphne an evil glare.
“Yes Daph, what is a friend with benefits?” He smiled sweetly, blue eyes twinkling.
“It’s what two adults are before they decide to be boyfriend and girlfriend, or in your brother’s case, boyfriend and boyfriend.”
“Will people stop using that awful word,” Brian said as he walked through the front door. “Especially when in reference to me.”
“Or me. We’re not five years old.” Their eyes met briefly and they smiled.
“Then…what do I call you?” Daphne frowned.
“Why do you have to call them anything?” Michael said, with a slight smile in Brian’s direction.
“We’re not lesbians,” Brian added.
“Thank god. There you go, Mol. All done, but be careful not to smudge it.”
“What are you doing? This is nothing like the makeover parties Emmett made us have when we were roommates.”
“It’s henna. You want one?” Justin waved the tube in front of Michael, happy that Brian’s best friend was at least attempting to be pleasant.
“I don’t think so…I think flowers and swirls will ruin my big butch image.”
“Oh go on, Mikey, I’m sure Ben will find it hot.” Brian smirked and flopped onto the sofa, away from the newspaper.
“I promise not to draw anything too butch for you.” Justin bit the corner of his lip to stop from laughing and was surprised when Mikey relented and took off his jumper.
“Just a small one then…it’s not permanent is it?”
“No, they fade after a couple of weeks. Promise.” Justin went to work quickly, worried he might change his mind.
“What are you doing?”
“Stop moving, or you’ll just have a blob.”
Within five minutes a crude pasted on image of the Superman symbol appeared. “Superman! See, Brian?” Mikey showed him his arm before battling with Molly for the hand held mirror to get a better look. “It’s my turn now, you’ve had it for ages.”
“It’s my mirror.” Molly pouted and held on for dear life.
Justin ignored them and started to clear away their mess. “In about thirty minutes you can pick it off, and you’ll be left with a dark yellowish design.”
“And then we’ll get ready for the ball.” Daphne said, obviously excited to have Justin back like old times.
Brian clutched the tiny hand of his son as they crossed the road. The two adults were content to listen to his childish chatter until they reached the park.
Brian knew this would change once Gus was distracted by the adventure climbing frame. Michael would not be able to keep his mouth shut. He’d say it was the Italian Drag Queen in him, but Brian knew it was a Debbie thing, neither could keep their traps shut.
As they reached the park Gus pulled away from him, running as fast as his little legs would carry him over the grass and woodchips, to the slide. “So,” Mikey started, “You’ve been visiting Justin all this time and you never told me?”
Brian shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. Outwardly calm, as if this conversation wasn’t important. “You’re not my mother, Mikey, and I am a big boy.”
“I am your best friend though, it hurts that you kept it from me.”
“Maybe I didn’t want to jinx it before it had even started. You know what this fucking family is like; no one can keep out of anyone’s business.” And Mikey was the worst. Brian hadn’t noticed it until recently; he’d probably even revelled in the attention, but not anymore.
He was a grown man, and grown men had friends, even friends they’d had since childhood, but unlike the two of them, most men had grown out of the ‘best’ stage long ago.
“You’ve been visiting practically every weekend, it just doesn’t seem, I don’t know, very Brian-like.”
Brian raised an eyebrow and took one eye off his son to look at his best friend, trying not to seem offended. “And what is Brian-like?”
“Being an asshole, only thinking of himself, no regrets, no repeats, no boyfriends.”
“Yeah, that sounds pretty much like me, but who did that change for? I’m not saying I want a monogamous relationship, I’m not saying we have much of a relationship at all, but we have something, and no matter what it is, it’s ours and we both want it.”
This must be the longest conversation they’d had in a long time, Brian briefly wondered when they had turned to superficial banter and couldn’t remember.
Mikey nodded. “I understand, you deserve to be happy. But I still don’t get it. How did one seventeen year old twink change it for you? I mean, he’s not even your type.”
“Isn’t he? Maybe he is my type and all the others aren’t. He’s the only one still around after all.” It had taken Brian a long time to admit it. He’d often wondered why he found Justin so appealing, wondered why he kept going back for more, he’d finally acknowledged the truth after Justin returned and Brian found himself seeking him out. The tricks were eye candy, good to look at, good to taste, but you didn’t want more than one of the same kind, and they were forgotten soon after.
Justin had an inner strength, even at seventeen, an inner beauty that complemented his delicate frame and blond hair, blue eyed good looks. Even now, with the tattoos, and the harsh life reflected in his eyes he was innocent and beautiful in a way Brian had never been and never could be.
“Daddy, push me!” Gus called as he climbed onto the swings. Brian walked over, Mikey slowly following.
“Sit down properly Gus,” he said before gently pushing his son, watching as Gus pushed out his legs, trying to touch the sky with his toes.
“It’s kinda funny really, Brian Kinney, choosing brain over brawn.”
Brian smirked. “Justin may be compact, but he’s very easy on the eye.” Mikey was beginning to get on his nerves, he shouldn’t have to explain his actions. “Is it so foreign to you that I’d choose Justin or are you pissed off that I didn’t choose another, small compact man to try my relationship skills on?” He raised an eyebrow and turned to Mikey, noticing the slight blush cover his cheeks.
“Maybe once I might have thought that. Not anymore though, you’d be too hard to keep up with, I’d have to be on my toes 24/7. I love what I have with Ben and Hunter.” He paused slightly, cocking his head to the side. “Justin isn’t that much older than Hunter. He was still a kid when you first fucked him, what could a seventeen year old and a thirty year old--.”
“Twenty nine.”
“Twenty nine year old man, have in common?”
Brian looked down at his son, happily swinging back and forth, totally unaware of the conversation going on above him. Justin had come into his life the same night as Gus, and no matter how much Brian shrugged it off as unimportant, part of him thought there must be more to it than that.
“Apart from the, fucking, fantastic sex, you mean?”
Mikey nodded, “Yeah, apart from that.”
“He’s intelligent, he has his own opinions. We drink beer and smoke cigarettes, we can be loud, drunk, and talk about utter crap, or we can talk intellectually, he knows about art, he likes old Cary Grant movies, though don’t ask me why, and he’s strong. Age doesn’t come into it. Is that enough of a reason?”
“I suppose it is. I’m not trying to put a damper on things or anything. I just don’t want you to get hurt. We’ve been friends too long for me not to interrogate the boyfriend.”
Brian groaned and bumped his shoulder to Mikey’s. “I hate that word, never use it again.”
“What should I use then? Partner, lover, other half?” Mikey laughed.
“Why do you have to call it anything?”
***
Molly looked wide eyed as Justin carefully drew a Celtic pattern on her upper arm in henna. He chuckled slightly to himself, he’d never seen his sister so quiet. The thick paste came out of the paper funnel in small, smooth lines, marking the skin perfectly. He kept the design simple and delicate.
Henna didn’t allow for different shadings like tattoos did, but he was pretty sure Molly would be happy with the end result, and his mom would be happy that it wouldn’t last.
“So, how long do I have to stay still like this?” Daphne asked, holding her hands stiffly. Justin looked up from Molly’s arm. “At least thirty minutes. Don’t smudge it.”
Daphne had gone for the more traditional hand patterns, wanting to show off the designs on their night out, but if she wasn’t careful she’d end up with a large brown splodge instead.
“My friends are gonna be so jealous.” Molly said happily.
Daphne went to pick up a cushion, wanting to get comfier on the hard floor. “Don’t you dare get henna over one of Brian’s cushions. And get your butt back onto the newspaper.” She rolled here eyes and shuffled back onto the paper Justin had placed all over the floor in the loft.
“So, is it serious with you and Brian?”
Justin concentrated on his work, uncomfortable talking about this in front of Molly. “We’re friends.”
“With benefits?” She smirked and blew on her hands, trying to dry the henna.
“What’s a friend with benefits?” Molly asked. Justin sent Daphne an evil glare.
“Yes Daph, what is a friend with benefits?” He smiled sweetly, blue eyes twinkling.
“It’s what two adults are before they decide to be boyfriend and girlfriend, or in your brother’s case, boyfriend and boyfriend.”
“Will people stop using that awful word,” Brian said as he walked through the front door. “Especially when in reference to me.”
“Or me. We’re not five years old.” Their eyes met briefly and they smiled.
“Then…what do I call you?” Daphne frowned.
“Why do you have to call them anything?” Michael said, with a slight smile in Brian’s direction.
“We’re not lesbians,” Brian added.
“Thank god. There you go, Mol. All done, but be careful not to smudge it.”
“What are you doing? This is nothing like the makeover parties Emmett made us have when we were roommates.”
“It’s henna. You want one?” Justin waved the tube in front of Michael, happy that Brian’s best friend was at least attempting to be pleasant.
“I don’t think so…I think flowers and swirls will ruin my big butch image.”
“Oh go on, Mikey, I’m sure Ben will find it hot.” Brian smirked and flopped onto the sofa, away from the newspaper.
“I promise not to draw anything too butch for you.” Justin bit the corner of his lip to stop from laughing and was surprised when Mikey relented and took off his jumper.
“Just a small one then…it’s not permanent is it?”
“No, they fade after a couple of weeks. Promise.” Justin went to work quickly, worried he might change his mind.
“What are you doing?”
“Stop moving, or you’ll just have a blob.”
Within five minutes a crude pasted on image of the Superman symbol appeared. “Superman! See, Brian?” Mikey showed him his arm before battling with Molly for the hand held mirror to get a better look. “It’s my turn now, you’ve had it for ages.”
“It’s my mirror.” Molly pouted and held on for dear life.
Justin ignored them and started to clear away their mess. “In about thirty minutes you can pick it off, and you’ll be left with a dark yellowish design.”
“And then we’ll get ready for the ball.” Daphne said, obviously excited to have Justin back like old times.