THE BEST YEARS
Title: The Best Years
Written By: zortrana
Timeline: Season 4
Rating: PG
Summary: At the Kinnetik launch party Vic reflects back.
Author Notes: My first fanfic. Nothing happens in it.
Inspired By Icon:
Vic looked around and laughed. "What?" Rodney asked, smiling.
"I haven't been to the baths in years and it sure has changed!" Vic took in the whirl of activity: the waiters circulating, the tables of food, all of Brian's clients and friends clustered around, drinking, and chatting. Brian was dressed to kill, or at least to conquer, and he was working the room, charming his clients.
Justin, on the other hand, looked about 12 with his vigilante hair cut. Vic smiled again, remembering the night at Woody's when he met the determined teen. He gave Justin his membership card to Babylon, partly to annoy the heck out of Brian by assisting the little stalker and partly out of sympathy for the boy, wanting Brian to crush him and for it to be done, so the kid could move on. It really hadn't gone that way though, much to Vic's surprise and endless amusement. Combined with moments of sheer horror, of course.
Vic's eye next fell on Ted, an accountant again, a true friend to Brian and a loyal employee by all accounts. Ted had been through a lot in these past few years too, and had emerged stronger. Ted was talking with Melanie, glowing with pregnancy and having just won a major case.
Rodney headed off for some food and Vic spotted Michael and Ben sitting on a couch. Vic felt sheer joy at the sight. Little Mikey, a business owner and comic book author. Who would have ever thought it? Mikey finally settled in a career and a relationship. Vic
had liked Dr. David until he realized how controlling the man could be. Still, Vic had supported the relationship, desperate for Michael to be free of Brian and other bad habits. But Ben, Ben was all that Dr. Dave wasn't: warm, caring, and accepting of Michael and of the Michael/Brian dynamic. Now, Michael had a baby on the way with Melanie and a foster son with Ben. A good, solid family.
Vic headed over to them and learned about the disappointment with Ben's new book. He heard his sister's voice in the background and looked over. She was talking with Justin and Emmett. Debbie stared back angrily. Vic turned away, shaking his head and sighing. Michael had just told him that Emmett had moved in with Debbie. Maybe that would make things better for Debbie. Emmett sure had changed and matured. Who would have pictured him as a successful business owner? And Vic working for him and feeling like a productive member of society again? Yeah, anything was possible.
Just then Brian clinked on a glass and Cynthia asked for everyone's attention. Brian climbed on stage, leading Lindsay who was stunning in burgundy. They made an amazing looking couple; it is no wonder that Gus is so beautiful, Vic thought. Brian thanked his
clients, employees, and friends for helping launch Kinnetik. Cynthia and then Justin joined Brian on stage as Brian concluded his speech "They say that the market is shrinking. They say it is the wrong time to start a new agency. Well, I say. don't believe a fucking word, especially in advertising." Brian took a sip of champagne as the crowd laughed and toasted. Then Brian turned to Justin and planted a big kiss on his mouth. The couple embraced.
Vic took in the scene of Brian Kinney engaged in a very public display of affection. He waited for the earth to stop rotating on its axis or for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to appear. Neither happened but Vic felt disoriented and light-headed anyway.
Rodney had moved to stand beside him during Brian's short speech and now Rodney looked at Vic with concern. "Are you all right?" Rodney helped Vic over to a seat and went to get some water.
The last few decades flashed by. Vic's time in New York, Debbie's first ranting phone call mentioning Michael's new friend. "The boy is trouble, nothing but trouble! And I think Michael has a crush on him."
Vic's first visit home after that call, walking into the house and seeing a tall, awkward, and angry boy curled up on the couch. In between Debbie's ranting about the trouble the boy was and the bad influence on Michael, Vic saw her concern and love for Brian. "I think he gets knocked around at home." Debbie had confided to him sadly. Watching over the years, Vic saw the boy turn into a cold, closed-off man and saw Michael, hopelessly in love, pining for Brian, year after year.
Vic remembered coming home, sick and dying. He saw Brian helping Debbie and Michael try to cope with his illness; assisting in a thousand little ways and never expecting, nor receiving, recognition. He realized that somewhere, inside, was the scared, sensitive,
lonely boy he had met all those years ago. Vic felt that Brian's walls could never be breached, that anyone could ever get close again. Vic might have been dying, but sometimes he thought Brian was already dead.
A smile came to Vic's lips as he remembered a night after he had started to feel better when that pesky blond kid showed up at Debbie's door looking for Brian. Michael had missed the significance of Justin's heated "Not just one!" in response to Michael's description of him as Brian's one night stand. Vic had heard the truth in Justin's retort and his interest was immediately piqued. The boy was so young and so not Brian's usual tall, dark and handsome type. What was going on? Vic watched with amusement and a growing sense of hope as the boy chased and Brian kept letting himself get caught. Then Justin was living with them and Vic couldn't help but be impressed by the kid's brains, courage, and relentless determination to win Brian's heart.
Vic watched Brian closely and saw his softening around Justin, the obvious interest and affection that Brian felt for this teenager. Even as Vic found himself rooting for the kid, he remembered the sadness he felt for Michael as his nephew continued to be
jealous of Justin even as Mikey's own relationship with Dr. David grew more serious. Vic went back and forth between sorrow for Justin at Brian's impending move to New York and relief that Mikey would go to Portland and at long last be free of the hold Brian
had on him. But Brian didn't go, and Justin's smile lit the whole room when he told Vic and Debbie the news. That was on Brian's 30th birthday, just a few days before . the Prom.
Vic had never really been able to buy into Brian's "no regrets" philosophy. Rarely a day goes by that Vic hasn't regretted that ill-fated conversation where he, Debbie, and Jenn talked Justin into going to the Prom. Rite of passage and all that crap. It turned out to be closer to last rites for both Justin and Brian. Justin with brain injuries that he would never recover from and Brian, so emotionally damaged that he went into a suicidal tailspin. It made the scene tonight even more incredible.
But although incredible, it was also true: these people, his family by blood and by love, were flourishing. No one more so than Brian. After all Brian had been through, his childhood, his not always healthy relationship with Michael, the ups and downs with Justin, and the Stockwell mess, Brian was more than a survivor. He was happy and loved and judging by tonight's very public display of affection, he finally had the trust and the strength to acknowledge it.
"Shrimp ball for your thoughts?" It was Rodney, back from the food tables. Vic looked at the man, feeling the love and joy that he thought would never be a part of his life again. And Vic knew; he finally got it, that no matter how tough the past had been none of them would change a thing if it got them where they are today.
"I was thinking that these are the best years of our lives, the times we will look back on as the 'good old days'."
Rodney looked at him curiously. "Those are pretty deep thoughts for a party. Especially with the way things are with your sister." Rodney trailed off sadly.
"Ah" Vic said, "we fight, we make up. It will be okay".
"She's still hurting from your moving out." Rodney said softly. "She understands, but it still feels like rejection."
"Jesus", Vic said, "all that time at the AIDS support group has turned us all into shrinks!" He grabbed a shrimp ball from Rodney's plate and they laughed.
Written By: zortrana
Timeline: Season 4
Rating: PG
Summary: At the Kinnetik launch party Vic reflects back.
Author Notes: My first fanfic. Nothing happens in it.
Inspired By Icon:
Vic looked around and laughed. "What?" Rodney asked, smiling.
"I haven't been to the baths in years and it sure has changed!" Vic took in the whirl of activity: the waiters circulating, the tables of food, all of Brian's clients and friends clustered around, drinking, and chatting. Brian was dressed to kill, or at least to conquer, and he was working the room, charming his clients.
Justin, on the other hand, looked about 12 with his vigilante hair cut. Vic smiled again, remembering the night at Woody's when he met the determined teen. He gave Justin his membership card to Babylon, partly to annoy the heck out of Brian by assisting the little stalker and partly out of sympathy for the boy, wanting Brian to crush him and for it to be done, so the kid could move on. It really hadn't gone that way though, much to Vic's surprise and endless amusement. Combined with moments of sheer horror, of course.
Vic's eye next fell on Ted, an accountant again, a true friend to Brian and a loyal employee by all accounts. Ted had been through a lot in these past few years too, and had emerged stronger. Ted was talking with Melanie, glowing with pregnancy and having just won a major case.
Rodney headed off for some food and Vic spotted Michael and Ben sitting on a couch. Vic felt sheer joy at the sight. Little Mikey, a business owner and comic book author. Who would have ever thought it? Mikey finally settled in a career and a relationship. Vic
had liked Dr. David until he realized how controlling the man could be. Still, Vic had supported the relationship, desperate for Michael to be free of Brian and other bad habits. But Ben, Ben was all that Dr. Dave wasn't: warm, caring, and accepting of Michael and of the Michael/Brian dynamic. Now, Michael had a baby on the way with Melanie and a foster son with Ben. A good, solid family.
Vic headed over to them and learned about the disappointment with Ben's new book. He heard his sister's voice in the background and looked over. She was talking with Justin and Emmett. Debbie stared back angrily. Vic turned away, shaking his head and sighing. Michael had just told him that Emmett had moved in with Debbie. Maybe that would make things better for Debbie. Emmett sure had changed and matured. Who would have pictured him as a successful business owner? And Vic working for him and feeling like a productive member of society again? Yeah, anything was possible.
Just then Brian clinked on a glass and Cynthia asked for everyone's attention. Brian climbed on stage, leading Lindsay who was stunning in burgundy. They made an amazing looking couple; it is no wonder that Gus is so beautiful, Vic thought. Brian thanked his
clients, employees, and friends for helping launch Kinnetik. Cynthia and then Justin joined Brian on stage as Brian concluded his speech "They say that the market is shrinking. They say it is the wrong time to start a new agency. Well, I say. don't believe a fucking word, especially in advertising." Brian took a sip of champagne as the crowd laughed and toasted. Then Brian turned to Justin and planted a big kiss on his mouth. The couple embraced.
Vic took in the scene of Brian Kinney engaged in a very public display of affection. He waited for the earth to stop rotating on its axis or for the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse to appear. Neither happened but Vic felt disoriented and light-headed anyway.
Rodney had moved to stand beside him during Brian's short speech and now Rodney looked at Vic with concern. "Are you all right?" Rodney helped Vic over to a seat and went to get some water.
The last few decades flashed by. Vic's time in New York, Debbie's first ranting phone call mentioning Michael's new friend. "The boy is trouble, nothing but trouble! And I think Michael has a crush on him."
Vic's first visit home after that call, walking into the house and seeing a tall, awkward, and angry boy curled up on the couch. In between Debbie's ranting about the trouble the boy was and the bad influence on Michael, Vic saw her concern and love for Brian. "I think he gets knocked around at home." Debbie had confided to him sadly. Watching over the years, Vic saw the boy turn into a cold, closed-off man and saw Michael, hopelessly in love, pining for Brian, year after year.
Vic remembered coming home, sick and dying. He saw Brian helping Debbie and Michael try to cope with his illness; assisting in a thousand little ways and never expecting, nor receiving, recognition. He realized that somewhere, inside, was the scared, sensitive,
lonely boy he had met all those years ago. Vic felt that Brian's walls could never be breached, that anyone could ever get close again. Vic might have been dying, but sometimes he thought Brian was already dead.
A smile came to Vic's lips as he remembered a night after he had started to feel better when that pesky blond kid showed up at Debbie's door looking for Brian. Michael had missed the significance of Justin's heated "Not just one!" in response to Michael's description of him as Brian's one night stand. Vic had heard the truth in Justin's retort and his interest was immediately piqued. The boy was so young and so not Brian's usual tall, dark and handsome type. What was going on? Vic watched with amusement and a growing sense of hope as the boy chased and Brian kept letting himself get caught. Then Justin was living with them and Vic couldn't help but be impressed by the kid's brains, courage, and relentless determination to win Brian's heart.
Vic watched Brian closely and saw his softening around Justin, the obvious interest and affection that Brian felt for this teenager. Even as Vic found himself rooting for the kid, he remembered the sadness he felt for Michael as his nephew continued to be
jealous of Justin even as Mikey's own relationship with Dr. David grew more serious. Vic went back and forth between sorrow for Justin at Brian's impending move to New York and relief that Mikey would go to Portland and at long last be free of the hold Brian
had on him. But Brian didn't go, and Justin's smile lit the whole room when he told Vic and Debbie the news. That was on Brian's 30th birthday, just a few days before . the Prom.
Vic had never really been able to buy into Brian's "no regrets" philosophy. Rarely a day goes by that Vic hasn't regretted that ill-fated conversation where he, Debbie, and Jenn talked Justin into going to the Prom. Rite of passage and all that crap. It turned out to be closer to last rites for both Justin and Brian. Justin with brain injuries that he would never recover from and Brian, so emotionally damaged that he went into a suicidal tailspin. It made the scene tonight even more incredible.
But although incredible, it was also true: these people, his family by blood and by love, were flourishing. No one more so than Brian. After all Brian had been through, his childhood, his not always healthy relationship with Michael, the ups and downs with Justin, and the Stockwell mess, Brian was more than a survivor. He was happy and loved and judging by tonight's very public display of affection, he finally had the trust and the strength to acknowledge it.
"Shrimp ball for your thoughts?" It was Rodney, back from the food tables. Vic looked at the man, feeling the love and joy that he thought would never be a part of his life again. And Vic knew; he finally got it, that no matter how tough the past had been none of them would change a thing if it got them where they are today.
"I was thinking that these are the best years of our lives, the times we will look back on as the 'good old days'."
Rodney looked at him curiously. "Those are pretty deep thoughts for a party. Especially with the way things are with your sister." Rodney trailed off sadly.
"Ah" Vic said, "we fight, we make up. It will be okay".
"She's still hurting from your moving out." Rodney said softly. "She understands, but it still feels like rejection."
"Jesus", Vic said, "all that time at the AIDS support group has turned us all into shrinks!" He grabbed a shrimp ball from Rodney's plate and they laughed.