Author: Tina
Homepage: http://www.oocities.org/weird4182/index.html
Live Journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/weirdqafan/
Pairing: Brian and Justin
Rating: PG-13 (only for language)
Category: Romance/Humor
Summary: The boys celebrate a February holiday their way.
Archived at: Bjfic.net, ATP; anyone else is welcome to, just please let me know
Disclaimer: If this were a utopian world they could belong to all of us, but it’s not, so they don’t. Sadly, they belong to Cowlip.
Feedback: Yes, please. Send it to Weird4182@yahoo.com
Compromise.
Brian had really learned the meaning of that word. Of course it had taken 4 years, one break-up & numerous fights, but he eventually learned. Hey, he never claimed to be the smartest of the group or even the most mature. Just the hottest and the best fuck. But he finally learned. He also learned that it was probably the most crucial part of being in a relationship.
Relationship.
He learned all about that too. He’s even at the point now, where he can say the word without cringing, smirking, wincing or rolling his eyes. Hell, he has even admitted that he is in a relationship, and has been for the past 4 years. In front of witnesses no less!
So after learning what he had, was it any wonder that Brian was standing in a fucking florist shop freezing his fucking balls off this fucking day of February?
“What can I put together for you sir?”
Brian suppressed a sigh and looked again at the elaborate floral arrangements behind the counter.
“What kind of roses do you have?”
The gray-haired man squinted slightly at the bins of flowers that lined the shop behind Brian.
“We have just about every color. Pink, red, yellow, purple, white, orange. Sterling roses that are a pinkish-gray. We even have specialty colors, such as blue or…”
“No, nothing weird like that. But um…” Brian hesitated.
“Why don’t you look around a little more? Take your time.” The man smiled soothingly.
Having been in the floral business for 30 years, he could recognize the nervousness & discomfort that the man in the expensive suit was projecting, just like a spooked animal. He was mostly likely afraid of screwing up, picking out the wrong thing and upsetting his better half, the shop owner mused to himself.
After having apparently calmed himself, Brian returned to the counter.
“I’d like a bouquet of roses.” There. Said it. Wasn’t too hard.
“Sure. How many?” The man asked, taking out his order pad.
“Ahh…a dozen. No! Make that two dozen.”
“OK, two dozen roses. What kind?”
Brian glanced behind himself at the multicolored flowers. “A dozen red & a dozen white…wait, is that too much?”
“What do you mean by ‘too much’?”
Brian shifted uncomfortably. “Just, will it be…ahh…to large an arrangement?”
The man smiled gently. “No. I’ll cut the stems down a bit. Since there will be 24 roses, greenery & baby’s breath, I’ll make the stems shorter. Is it ok with you, if they’re not long stems?”
“Yeah, no problem.” Keep breathing.
“How would you like those wrapped?”
Brian looked at the section behind the counter that held the wrapping materials. Boxes, cellophane in every imaginable color, from clear to iridescent to white with red hearts and ribbons to match.
“Um, I don’t want them in a box. How about that wrapping and that ribbon?” Brian pointed to his choices, ice blue cellophane and an almost midnight blue ribbon and then looked to the shop owner, uncertainty in his eyes.
“Those are lovely choices sir.” The man gathered his supplies from around the shop, and quickly set to work making the arrangement.
Brian watched with interest as the flowers began to take shape. He never realized what an art this was. When the man finished, Brian smiled at his choice, especially in the wrapping. The colors reminded him of eyes that he often stared into.
~*~
Justin knew that if he didn’t slow down, he’d wind up ruining something. And today of all days that was not something he wanted to do. He smiled. Brian had tried to drag his feet on this, but Justin was firm.
He had told Brian in no uncertain terms, that they were going to celebrate this year, whether he liked it or not. And he better like it, or Justin would make his life miserable. Luckily, Brian quickly realized that not only was Justin intentioned to make good on his threat, but he also had the resources to do just that. After cursing all of the people in his life, Cynthia, Lindsey, Mel, Deb (especially Deb), hell even Michael, that would help Justin torture him, Brian agreed to Justin’s demand of a nice evening for two, with one minor stipulation.
Justin checked over what he had cooking. The sourdough rolls, were coming along nicely. This being the first time that Justin had ever made bread from scratch, he was nervous, but when Vic gave him the recipe, he had assured him that he would do fine. The Caesar salad was chilling and all ready to go. All he had to do was add the dressing and toss it when Brian got home. The main course, grilled salmon and garlic with steamed vegetables, was grilling and steaming perfectly. Cheesecake adorned with fresh raspberries was also waiting in the fridge to be served. So far so good.
Justin checked his reflection in the mirror. He was wearing an outfit that drove Brian insane, but he rarely had an occasion to wear it. Black linen pants that hugged his ass just so and an indigo silk, button-down shirt that seemed to make his eyes shimmer. Topped with nicely tousled, a bit on the longish side, hair. No matter what Brian said about getting a shorter cut, Justin knew that he loved it when he kept his hair longer.
This wasn’t going to be too elaborate of an evening. A nice meal and then a couple of old movies to watch snuggled up together. Of course, if Brian knew Justin was thinking about it that way, he would tease him for being so girly. Oh, well. Justin rechecked his rental selection. Since they both had a secret infatuation with Cary Grant, Justin rented what he liked to think of as the ABC’s of Grant’s movies. “Arsenic & Old Lace”, “Bringing Up Baby” & “Charade”. No really cheesy romancey chick flicks, just a couple of really funny romantic comedies & one adventure, ok kind of a romantic, movie.
Just as Justin was checking the time on the food, the door to the loft slid open. He looked up at Brian and his breath caught in his throat. He knew that Brian had planned to stop at Mel & Lindsey’s to change after work, but he hadn’t been prepared for how gorgeous he’d look.
Brian was also wearing black linen pants, but his emphasized his long, lean, strong legs. Legs that lead up to his muscular chest that was covered in silk of his own. Red silk, to be exact. A color that looked absolutely mouthwatering on him.
As Justin was staring at Brian, he failed to notice that he was receiving a similar reaction from Brian. He loved it when Justin wore blue. It made his beautiful eyes really stand out.
Justin’s eyes traveled down Brian’s body and his smile grew even bigger. In one hand Brian was carrying a bottle of wine. In the other, a striking bouquet of red and white roses.
Brian placed his items on the counter and pulled Justin into a deep, toe-curling kiss. Once they’d broken apart, the smiled goofily at one another and Brian presented Justin with the roses and wine.
“Brian” Justin murmured softly, smelling the flowers. He moved to arrange them in his grandmother’s crystal vase, securing the bow to the outside, while Brian opened the bottle of wine. Soon, they were both settled at the table with a serving of salad, rolls and a glass of the wine Brian had imported from Italy, just for this dinner.
Brian raised his glass in a toast.
“Happy Presidents’ Day, Justin.”
Ok, so maybe it wasn’t the traditional holiday in February that most people celebrated with a romantic evening, but fuck it. Since when did they do what everyone else did anyway? As Brian once so eloquently put it, they were unconventional. And unconventional romance, was still romance. Justin looked at the floral arrangement. Red, white and blue and he just shook his head, smiling. Justin knew that compromise worked both ways. And as long as Brian was willing to work with him, Justin would put up with the conditions Brian made.
Justin gently tapped his glass against Brian’s.
“Happy Presidents’ Day, Brian.”
2/14/04
Happy President’s Day!
Oh, ok…
Happy Valentine’s Day, too!
