Intrepid Traveler - Part 19

“You look like you’re going to a funeral,” Justin noted, sitting on the bed and watching Brian put finishing touches on his ‘fool Lindsay’s parents into thinking we’re a couple’ outfit.  The events of the previous night were not mentioned, not even in passing, both of them pretending as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. 

They woke up early, ate breakfast and then headed upstairs for Brian to get ready for the big brunch. 

“Actually, the last time I wore this suit was to a funeral,” Brian replied, tightening the tie around his neck.  He turned to Justin.  “My uncle’s.”

Justin snickered.  “I’m sure Lindsay’s parents would be touched to know you think of brunch with them as a funeral.”

“Who gives a shit what they think?  It’s not like I actually need to impress them.”

“So, you and Lindsay do that a lot?”

“Pretend we’re straight?”

Justin nodded.

“Holidays only.  She was here last Easter.  Now it’s my turn to play a nice straight boy,” Brian replied.  He closed the closet door and walked over to the bed, leaning down to plant a kiss on his lover’s lips.  “Sorry I can’t take you with me.”

Justin smiled reassuringly.  “Don’t worry about it.  Besides, I have some place I need to go anyway.”

Brian’s eyebrow arched with curiosity.  “Really?  It wouldn’t by any chance be the Liberty Baths,” he asked, smirking.

“No,” Justin laughed softly.  “Just…some place.  It’s no big deal.”

“Well, then,” Brian walked over to the desk and picked up his leather jacket that hung over the back of the chair, his hand briefly disappearing in the pocket of the jacket.  “Why don’t you take the car?” he pulled out the keys and tossed them to Justin.

“Are you sure?” Justin asked, surprised by the offer.  “I mean, I can just take the bus.”

“You don’t have to take the bus.  Just drop me off at Lindsay’s and she’ll drive me back.  Peterson brunches tend to get long, so you have plenty of time to go wherever it is you need to go and still visit the Baths,” Brian smirked.

Rising from his bed, Justin crossed the room and wrapped his arms around his lover.  “It’s so nice to have such a caring, considerate boyfriend,” he said sweetly, grinning when, as predicted, Brian rolled his eyes.

“I’m just making sure you don’t get lost in the dangerous streets of this big city,” Brian replied, mocking.  “Driving back to the campus for three hours alone is nauseatingly boring.  You’ll keep me awake.”

“So, you’re just keeping me around for entertainment value?”

“Exactly.”

Justin chuckled.  “Sure, Mr. Kinney.  Whatever you say.”  He moved out of Brian’s arms, grinning wider when the taller man frowned. 

Moving forward, Brian wrapped his arms around Justin’s waist once again, dipping his head to engulf Justin’s mouth with his.  “I wish we were back in our room,” he breathed.

“Fucking like rabbits,” Justin added.

“Or like two horny gay teenagers,” Brian corrected him before placing one last peck on Justin’s lips. 

Laughing quietly, Justin followed Brian out the door and down the stairs.

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

A little over an hour later Justin found himself in the familiar neighborhood.  He was surprised to find that just like Liberty, the place where he grew up looked exactly the same as he remembered.  He hadn’t been there since his parents had gotten a divorce.  Even though by that time Justin wasn’t living there anymore, it was still a shock when his mother informed him that they were selling the house.  He grew up there.  Knew every inch of the place, every stone, all the secret hideouts in the backyard that he and Daphne had built. 

Surprisingly, he still remembered each and every one of them.  And as he watched a father teach a seven-year old boy ride a bike, Justin was flooded with other memories as well.  Memories of birthday parties, and playing catch with Craig, and the day his parents brought Molly home from the hospital – his childhood memories that, unlike Brian’s, were filled with love and warmth and a sense of belonging. 

“Taking in the sights?”

Justin jumped at the sound of the voice.  Looking over to his right, blue eyes met a pair of brown ones.  “What are you doing here?” he asked the timekeeper.

“I think I should be asking you the same question,” Nathan replied, motioning at the father and son across the street.

Justin looked back at himself trying to learn how to ride a two-wheeler.  He remembered that day.  Remembered how scared he was of falling.  But his father insisted that he could do it.  That he was old enough for a big boys’ bike.  Craig promised him he wouldn’t let him fall.  He didn’t.  Not once.  At least, not that day.

“I just…”

“Taking a trip down memory lane?” Nathan answered when Justin didn’t say anything.

“No, I just…” He sighed.  “I’m not sure.  I guess I just wanted to see it again, to remember.”

“Is this why you came back here?” Nathan asked.  “Why you traveled thirteen years back?  To remember?  If you wanted memories, Justin, photo albums work just as well.”

 “It’s not like that,” Justin tried to defend himself.  “It’s…” he exhaled sharply.  “I just…I needed to see this.”

“It’s never a good idea to dwell on what was,” Nathan told him, his voice softening. 

Looking away, Justin sighed.  “I know.  I just…” He turned to look at the timekeeper again.  “If I change this…” This was something that had been bothering him since he came to 1990 – the thought that had been on his mind nonstop since the beginning of this insanity.  “If I change Brian, change the future…things are going to be different, aren’t they?”

Nathan nodded silently.

“And what about…” Justin paused, afraid of what the answer would bring, what it would mean.  But he still needed to know.  “What about Brian and me?  Would we…will we meet?  In the future, I mean.  Will we be together?”

Nathan looked away, methodically avoiding Justin’s gaze.  “I told you before, you’re not here to change Brian,” he finally replied.  “You’re not here to mold him into the perfect boyfriend and then enjoy the results.”  The angel turned back to Justin.  “That’s not how this works.  He’s not a puppy that can be trained.  You’re here to teach him things.  About life.  About love.  Will it change him?  Yes.  How?  I don’t know.”

Justin cleared his throat, trying to get rid of the lump in his throat that was threatening to suffocate him.  “Will…will I know him?” he asked with a quivering voice.  He at least had to know that much. 

Nathan sighed, an apologetic look on his face.  “Sorry, kid.”  He shook his head and Justin felt his heart skip a beat.  “I can’t tell you that.”

Fighting back the burning tears that filled his eyes, Justin nodded and looked away.  He saw a young blond-haired woman walk out of the front door, smiling at the father and son.  And Justin just stood frozen, watching his family.

The father let go of the bike and the little boy sped away from the two parents. 

He felt a lone tear roll down his cheek when he saw his father jump up in joy and then hug him.  Justin wondered if his father was ever again as proud of him as he was in that moment.

“Nice family,” Nathan said.

“Yeah,” Justin replied.  “So, how does a man go from that to hating his son?”

“Your father doesn’t hate you, Justin,” the angel said.  “He just…he doesn’t understand.  It’s hard for parents when their kids grow up to be someone other than what they hoped and planned for them to be.  You had a few years to think about your future.  Your father had your whole life.”

“Well, it is MY life.”

“I know that.  And you know that.  And deep down he knows that as well.”

Justin shook his head.  He knew he had to stop trying to understand his father, just like his father had stopped trying to understand him.  There was no point in that.  Things would never go back to the way they were.  His life would never again be the white picket fence and a bunny named Gordon.  He had other things in his life now, other people. 

“I should get back,” Justin finally said, realizing that it was getting late.  Brian should be home soon and they still had to make it through the Thanksgiving dinner with Brian’s family. 

“Good idea,” Nathan replied.

Turning away, Justin moved toward the car parked a little to the side.  Stopping, he looked over his shoulder.  “Don’t disappear on me, ok?”

Nathan smiled, “Wouldn’t dream of it.”  He winked at the blond before dissolving into thin air.

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

It was already starting to get dark when Justin pulled into the driveway of Brian’s house.  He wasn’t sure whether Brian would be back from brunch at Lindsay’s yet, but he hoped that was the case since he wasn’t entirely sure how to even act around Brian’s parents. 

It wasn’t, however, something he had to worry about, because the moment he opened the door, he heard his lover’s voice.

“Don’t you get it?  This is a huge opportunity for me,” Justin heard Brian say as he walked inside and closed the door behind him. 

He considered staying in the hall and remaining invisible for the time being, but Justin had a creeping sense of dread that something bad was happening, and he needed to make sure Brian was alright, or at least somehow give Brian his support.

So, wearily he made his way toward the living room, stopping in the doorway, still unnoticed by the other occupants.

“Now, you listen to me, Sonnyboy,” Jack Kinney growled, “You will spend the summer working for me.  That’s the end of the discussion.  This job is just a waste of your time.”

“Why?  Because it will actually mean that I can get the hell out of here?” Brian challenged his father.  “And you’re just fucking bitter because you never could.  Get away from Pittsburgh and this fucking family!” Brian shouted.

In the next moment Justin watched in horror as Jack swung, his fist connecting with Brian’s jaw.  He wanted to run to Brian, to make sure the other teen was alright, but Justin quickly realized that it would only make things worse. 

Brian spat out blood that formed on his now broken lip and sneered at his father.  “Is this the best you can do, pop?”

The older man swung again, but this time Brian caught his arm before it could do any damage, gripping it tightly in his hand.  “Sonnyboy grew up, Jack,” Brian ground out.  “You can’t hit me anymore.  Can’t hurt me anymore.”

Justin almost cheered at the look of shock and surprise on Jack Kinney’s face - the surprise of having somebody finally stand up to him, somebody who was his own size for a change.

“Get out of my house,” Jack hissed, taking a step away from Brian.

“Already gone,” Brian replied, his voice barely audible.

Brian cast one last glance at his mother and sister, who remained silent during the entire exchange.  Turning in his heels, Brian finally noticed Justin, their eyes locking.  Brian picked up his jacket from the back of the couch and walked out of the room without another word.

Getting over the shock, Justin quickly followed his boyfriend out of the house.  By the time Justin was outside, Brian was already in the car.  Justin climbed inside and Brian pulled out of the driveway with a screech of the tires. 

Justin remained silent as Brian drove them farther and farther away from the house of doom.  He wanted to ask Brian if he was ok, to say something, but no words came to mind.  So, he remained silent, carefully sneaking glances at his lover’s somber face while Brian stared straight ahead.

About half an hour later Brian pulled the car into an empty gas station and parked, turning off the ignition.  Justin waited for him to say something, but the brunet remained silent, looking out the window at the cars that passed by them.

“Brian?” Justin winced at how shaky his voice sounded.

The brunet finally met his eyes and Justin felt his heart breaking all over again at the amount of pain he could see in his lover’s eyes. 

Brian licked his lower lip, his tongue pausing over the gash from where Jack’s fist connected with it. 

“Are…are you ok?” Justin tried again.

Brian raised his eyes to Justin’s again.  “This is the first time I’ve stood up to him.”  He shook his head, laughing nervously.  “All this time…and I never…not even once…I…”

“You’re gonna be ok, Brian,” Justin sounded a little more convincing this time.  “You’ll be just fine.  Better than fine.  You’ll be great.”

Brian’s lips spread into a thin line.  “Is this one of your predictions again, Sunshine?”

Justin smiled.  “Yeah.  Something like that.”

“Ahh, I see,” Brian’s smiled faded as he stared out into the dark again.  “Sorry you’re missing the Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Forget about it,” Justin replied.  “I wasn’t in the mood for turkey anyway.”  He sighed in relief when he heard Brian laugh softly.  Justin looked out the window, not having anything else to say.  What could one say in this situation?  Nothing could make it better.  Not words, anyway.  His eyes lit up when he caught a sign in the window of the little convenience store.  “Come on,” he said excitedly, opening the door to get out.

Brian silently questioned him with his eyes, but followed him out of the car nonetheless.

Walking inside the small store, Justin headed directly for the hot dog stand in the corner.  Picking up a paper plate, he handed it to Brian.  The brunet took the plate in his hands as the realization of what Justin was doing finally dawned on him, his lips spreading into a smile. 

Justin, meanwhile, took a bun and opening it placed it on the plate, took a hotdog and put it on the bun, covering it heavily with ketchup and mustard.  He then repeated the process with his own plate.  On the way to the register the two picked up a few bags of chips and a couple cups of Coke.

The two were almost giddy by the time they returned to the car, hungrily attacking the hotdogs.

“This is so much better than turkey,” Justin commented, licking traces of ketchup and mustard off his lips.  “Turkeys are always so fucking dry.”

“Yeah, especially the way my mother makes it.  It’s like she tries to kill the turkey all over again,” Brian replied.

“Well, then I am thankful that we have hotdogs to eat tonight,” Justin offered, smiling widely.

“And I am thankful…” Brian paused, pondering on the question.  “I’m thankful for not having to spend another Thanksgiving listening to Joannie moan about how hard she worked to make the food as tasteless as possible and watch Jack drink himself into a stupor and then pass out in front of the TV.”

Justin frowned briefly, making himself smile again moments later.  Picking up his cup, he held it up.  “Cheers.”

Brian snorted a laugh.  “Cheers,” he responded, bringing his own cup to his lips.

“You know,” Justin said when he finished off his hotdog.  “I think this is the best Thanksgiving I’ve ever had.”

“Really?” Brian asked incredulously.

“Well,” Justin cocked his head to the side.  “There was this one Thanksgiving when my alcoholic grandmother got so drunk she nearly burned the house down.  But I think this one – it’s definitely better.”

Brian laughed quietly as he wrapped his arm around Justin’s neck and pulled him toward him, covering Justin’s lips as hungrily as he attacked the hotdog moments before.

“Thanks,” he whispered when they pulled apart.

“Any time,” Justin replied, his unwavering smile shining brightly on his face. 

“I guess we should head home,” Brian said, settling back in his seat.

Turning the ignition on, Brian pulled the car out of the gas station and directed it toward the interstate.

Go to Part 20

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