A Balance of Harmonies: The You Underneath
Oct. 4th, 2012 02:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frogs_of_warSince the zombies have come out of the woodwork, I might be hiding for a while. But I’m trying to get all my handwritten things on the computer, so this may give you more to read.
Title: The You Underneath
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter ninety of gobs
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: shopping, gifts, a park, scars, questions, a maxim, cooking, too close to the line, a means to an end, sketches, vibrance, invitation, hot peppers, a drive, the privilege, prejudices, strays, follow his lead, setting the table, wonderful smells, obfuscation, guests, tea, tissues.
Length: about 3,400 words
Summary: Peregrine has an idea. Emil keeps Brandon busy. And Kurt has his part to play
Master list
Kurt followed Emil and Brandon up and down the aisle of the Asian grocery store. One section was devoted to rectangular sushi plates and tiny sake cups and bowls of all shapes and sizes. One wall was just tea pots. Maybe he should come back and buy that tea pot Emil looked at in particular interest. “Emil, do we have enough cups and bowls to host a dinner party?”
Emil set down the tea pot with a sigh. “No, but buying new stuff should probably wait until after the remodel. Less stuff to move.”
Brandon bit his lip. Emil patted his shoulder. “But we do have enough for six. We even have enough chairs if we take Peregrine’s paintings off the ones we are storing in his studio.”
Brandon relaxed. “I… I wasn’t worried.”
“We wouldn’t have cared if you were.” Kurt plucked the pretty tea pot back off the shelf and put it in the cart.
Emil’s eyes followed the pot’s movements. “We don’t need that.”
“Who said anything about need? Brandon, do you see any cups that match?”
Brandon’s eyes lit up and he helped Kurt look through the wide assortment. They found three that matched pretty well. Kurt picked out three of each kind. “Beautiful, if you don’t want a ‘just cause’ present, I can save them for Christmas.”
Emil smiled and shook his head. “You win.”
Kurt grinned. “I did.”
Emil busied himself looking at his list, then turned and gave Kurt one of those hot over the shoulder looks that set off the volcano in Kurt’s loins. How many hours until they were alone again?
--
Peregrine opened the café door and gestured to the right then followed Grant and Julian onto the sidewalk. Two parks were within easy walking distance. He led the way. Grant pointed at a building. “We wanted to live there. Or maybe I should say we still do. The three of us if that can ever happen.”
Julian bumped his shoulder against Grant’s. “Don’t give up hope.”
Grant nodded, sighed, and took Julian’s hand. “Some days are harder than others.”
Peregrine nodded. “When you two invited Brandon to live with you, did you plan for him to end up in your bed?”
Julian grinned. “We hoped.”
“But we really didn’t expect.” Grant brushed the hair away from his birthmark. That was probably the first thing anyone noticed about him.
“He saw the you underneath.”
Grant and Julian nodded. Julian rubbed his long scar. “He had scars too, where no one can see them, on his heart. He showed them to us.”
“Most people look at him and see the beautiful man with gorgeous eyes and perfect face, but he let us see under that. We are very grateful. It made us feel special.”
Julian nodded. “He always makes us feel special.”
“He is a special kid.”
Grant frowned. “He’s a man. Or nearly one. If you don’t mind my asking, is it the few weeks until his birthday that has you calling him a kid, or something else?”
Peregrine stopped and turned toward them. “I call all the boys at the shelter kids. Plus I’m significantly older than you. The far side of thirty and all.”
He turned back around. The light had just changed. He led them across the street and into the park.
“Um.”
Peregrine turned on the stepping stone in the park’s swamp/pond/fountain water feature.
Grant looked down and then back at him. “Do you think loving someone that much younger than us makes us bad people? Brandon is seven years younger than me.”
Peregrine hopped back across the stepping stones to them. “My younger lover is five years younger than me. The other is my age, but if he were older, if I were older, that wouldn’t necessarily make us perverts. I have a friend my age who recently decided with his girlfriend to add a young man to their household and bed. She’s ten and he’s thirteen years older than this new boy. I’ve got nothing to judge in this. It’s really none of my business, although I hope this makes him less annoying. But the main thing is that that kid is nineteen. Brandon isn’t.”
Julian covered his face with his hand, the picture of misery. “I should have been more patient.”
Grant wrapped his arms around him and sighed. “We were willfully ignorant.”
Peregrine nodded. “When you don’t want to know the most is when your need to know is the greatest.”
Julian stepped back. “That sounds like a maxim. We should have that in cross-stitch in our kitchen.”
He smiled, which was really the only expression that fit well on his face.
Grant took his hand again. Peregrine gave them a little privacy. He needed a little space himself.
--
Emil set his bag of groceries on the table. “Now, Brandon, since we have everything, how about we do a trail run? I have never made enchilada soup before.”
Brandon readily agreed. The work would keep him busy.
Emil set Brandon washing the new dishes and sent a text to Peregrine to say that if Peregrine had the inclination to bring them over, Julian and Grant would have some Brandon cooking to eat.
And if he didn’t, Brandon could consol himself by filling his stomach with food he liked.
--
Peregrine looked up from his phone. He wanted to invite Julian and Grant over. He needed more time with them before he could come up with a conclusion and he might need a different perspective. He trusted Kurt and Emil’s opinions. To Peregrine, Grant and Julian were just two boys who had walked a little too close to the line on something, much like almost every boy in the shelter. Sure they were a bit older, but no less young and much more naïve than most young people Peregrine came across.
He picked up his notebook and added a few stray hairs to the sketch of Julian. Grant was almost perfect, but Peregrine wasn’t going to add anything until he knew what was missing. He started another sketch of Brandon.
“If you don’t mind?”
Peregrine pulled himself away from his sketchbook. Grant had spoken while Julian looked over Peregrine’s shoulder at his art. Peregrine had missed part of the conversation. “Sorry, what?”
“Julian would like to see what you’re drawing.”
Peregrine passed Julian the book. “Feel free.”
Julian sat down and ran his fingers just above the lines of Brandon’s face.
Peregrine turned to Grant. “And what can I do for you?”
Grant sighed and looked around then back at Peregrine. “Why are we here? I mean, is this a means to an end? Did we come all the way here for nothing?”
“Grant, look.” Julian turned the sketch book around. “It’s me.”
Grant smiled at Julian. “It’s a nice sketch, but I like the real you better.”
Peregrine nodded. “I had a hard time getting his vibrance on paper. But to answer the other question: I’m getting to know you.”
“But why are you getting to know us?”
“Because…” Peregrine sighed. “I… I am going to… I want to defend you.” Why weren’t the words coming out the way he wanted them to?
“From who?”
Peregrine breathed in slowly. “Andre runs the shelter. He is a nice guy. A really nice guy, but… but he doesn’t understand sexual needs. He just doesn’t get it. Or, well, only as much as someone who has never had the urges himself. But he’s a good man and I hope he listens to me.”
“What will you say?”
“It’s you, Grant.” Julian showed off the page. “Can I have this picture?”
Peregrine held out his hand. “It’s not quite done yet. Let me add a little something.”
He took his time. He needed the break to figure out what he was going to tell Grant. He looked Grant over and added the worry lines around his eyes. Julian laughed. “Now you have him.”
Peregrine ripped out the picture and handed it over. “How would you two like to come over for dinner?”
Grant pressed his lips together.
“Sure.” Julian smiled. “Your boyfriends will be there?”
Peregrine nodded. “My men.”
“How long have you been together?”
“All three of us? Just since August, but I’ve been with Emil for six and was with Kurt for two years a decade ago.”
Grant frowned. “You really are thirty?”
Julian patted Grant’s back. “We’ve been together longer than you. With Brandon for a year and a half. Not all in our bed you understand, but with us. And six months more while we work on our long-distant relationship. Just because we’re apart doesn’t mean we aren’t together.”
Peregrine grinned. “I totally understand. I like you guys. Come over for dinner.”
Grant looked at the ground. “We hoped.” He looked at Peregrine. “We hoped to go by the shelter. Not to go in or anything, but just to walk by. He wouldn’t be outside, but maybe he could see us.”
Peregrine spun and looked at them. “I happen to know that Brandon is not at the shelter.”
Julian’s shoulders sagged. “And I can’t get a hold of him.”
“But I think going by the shelter might be a great idea.” Peregrine wanted Andre to meet these two and still think they were terrible people. He might, but it was still worth a try.
--
Kurt smiled as he put his phone away. He kissed the back of Emil’s head. “I’m going out for a moment.”
Emil gave Kurt his cheek and lifted his latex-gloved hands way from the hot peppers on the cutting board. “Keep me informed.”
Kurt promised with a kiss.
Brandon didn’t even look up.
Peregrine was easy to find. The men with him must be Grant and Julian. Kurt pulled over and waved. Peregrine opened the back for the two men. “Get in.”
“I don’t…” said the blonder one.
“We brought a car,” said the other.
“Get in.” Peregrine shooed them inside. “We’ll talk on the way.”
He got into the front seat. “Kurt, this is Julian and Grant.”
Kurt grinned into the rearview mirror and pulled into traffic. “Julian is the blonder one who makes great cookies and Grant makes a killer breakfast.”
Julian leaned forward in his seat. “You know Brandon?”
“I have the privilege.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Fine. He misses you though.”
Julian leaned back. “I’m glad he’s fine, but I’m also glad me misses us. We miss him.”
Grant nodded.
Kurt turned to Peregrine. “What’s the plan?”
“We are going to take them by the shelter, but not connect them to Brandon in any way and let Andre meet them.”
Kurt glanced into the back seat when he stopped at a red light.
Grant leaned forward. “Why not say who we are?”
Peregrine stared out the side window. He wasn’t going to answer, was he? Kurt turned into traffic. “Andre should meet you without any preconceived notions.”
Grand leaned forward. “But if we really were child abusers, then he couldn’t tell by meeting us. They don’t look any different.”
His face looked so wretched, that really must have hurt him to say it.
Peregrine held up his hand. “Andre relies a lot on his feelings. He’s good at spotting hidden things. How else could he control, even marginally, so many young people? But he has prejudices just like everyone else. He thinks I’m crazy now that I have two boyfriends.”
Julian nodded. “My aunt used to think I was crazy too. She raised me for the most part and I want her to like Grant and Brandon. Grant she was fine with, because he takes such good care of me, but it wasn’t until Brandon was taken from us that she realized how much I relied on him. I’ve lost twenty pounds since he left. Aunt Pattie says I’ve lost my glow.”
Kurt glanced in the rearview mirror. “So you’ve talked to your family?”
“Of course.”
Kurt hadn’t and he felt wretched about it, even knowing that a word whispered in the wrong place could ruin his happiness.
Grant nodded. “My mother wasn’t surprised. She says I’ve always taken in strays. But Julian and Brandon don’t feel the same as the squirrel with the broken foot or the crow that couldn’t fly or the malnourished puppy. I knew they would leave eventually, to better homes more suited to them, but Julian and Brandon are supposed to stay with me forever. I know this.”
Julian took Grant’s hand. “He’s a veterinarian. A very good one.”
Grant looked at Julian fondly.
“So,” said Peregrine, “we are going to bring you in as friends of ours. I teach hands-on art, while Kurt, here, explains things. Another friend did a lecture and a demonstration. We can say we are branching out. As a vet, you could talk about caring for animals and what to do if the boys find a stray, and maybe bring in some puppies to play with.”
“But I can’t. Not in front of so many people.”
Julian patted Grants arm. “You’ll be fine.”
Kurt waited at a light. “No need to actually do the class. We just need and excuse to bring you by.”
“But…”
Kurt pulled into a parking spot. “Just follow Peregrine’s lead.”
Julian grinned and opened the door. “You always do?”
Kurt nodded. “It’s led me to places I’d never have expected, but it’s never led me wrong.”
And it probably never would.
--
Emil stirred the pot and then looked at all the food they’d made. “We have enough for a hundred.”
Brandon laughed then sighed. “Thanks. I feel much better.”
Emil patted his back. “Should we set the table?”
Brandon’s eyes lit up. “With linen napkins and everything?”
Emil smiled at his enthusiasm. “I’ll see if we have what you need. The closet’s this way.”
Emil left Brandon to dig while he stepped into his bedroom to read his texts. Kurt’s made him shiver and Peregrine’s made him blush, but they both said that they were bringing company home.
“Emil?”
Brandon stood in the doorway with a pile of placemats Emil hadn’t even remembered they owned. He held them up, his face sad again. “How many should I set it for?”
“We went all out on the food. Why don’t we go all out on the table and set for six? Show me how it’s done.”
Brandon smiled again. All was right with the world.
--
Kurt pulled into his parking space, got out of the car, and took his leave. Peregrine was going to give Grant and Julian the full tour. The elevator was occupied, so Kurt took the stairs. He stopped to straighten his tie outside the condo. He didn’t want to seem rushed. He opened the door to the most wonderful smells he’d ever imagined. “Beautiful, what sort of food did you make me?”
He swept Emil up in his arms. Emil laughed. “Brandon did most of the cooking.”
Kurt grinned at Brandon. “Have you taught him more tasty dishes?”
Brandon grinned and looked up from setting a swan shaped napkin on a plate. “You’ll have to eat it and see.”
“Would you mind too much if I gave my beautiful his reward early?”
Brandon shook his head. Kurt carried Emil into the bedroom and pressed him against the door. Kurt growled, “Beautiful.”
Emil laughed. He was so gorgeous. Kurt kissed him until he had no breath. Their phones went off. Kurt set Emil down. “It’s time.”
Peregrine had a plan. Kurt’s turn had come again. He squared his shoulders. “Kiss me for luck.”
Emil did.
Kurt opened the door for him. “Brandon, are you almost finished here?”
Brandon looked at his feet.
“Because I was just thinking that I haven’t shown you around the other condo. We can do that real quick before Peregrine gets back.”
Brandon looked into the kitchen, out the large windows, and back at his feet.
“Go on,” said Emil. “I got all whole hours with you. Give Kurt a few minutes.”
Brandon nodded. He dragged his feet across the floor as he followed Kurt out. Once Kurt unlocked the other condo, he texted Peregrine. Like Kurt expected, Brandon was no interested at all in the empty rooms. “If you three lived here, how would you decorate?”
Brandon looked around the front room again. “Julian decorates the best.”
“How would he decorate?”
Brandon sighed. “He likes yellow.”
“Bright yellow, pastel, orangey, or almost green?”
Brandon shrugged. “Why were you trying to get me out of the house?”
Kurt leaned against the wall. He’d known Brandon was too smart to not see through their little obfuscation.
--
Emil handed cups of tea to Grant and Julian. Julian looked around the room, but Grant eyed the food. “I haven’t smelled anything this good since Brandon was taken from us.”
Emil smiled at Peregrine and gave him his cup. Peregrine looked at it. “Is this new?”
“Kurt treated me today.” He lifted his own cup and traced the design.
“Very pretty.”
From the look in Peregrine’s eye, Emil couldn’t tell if he meant the cup or Emil. Maybe both.
“Sit, sit.” Emil gestured Grant and Julian to the couch with its back to the kitchen. He asked them about their work and school and talked about a few of his books. Grant was really interested. Peregrine walked over to the front door, but instead of slipping out he came back into the dining room. Kurt and Brandon followed him. Brandon spared a glance at his men. His eyes were red, but dry. Then he turned the stove back on. A few things had to wait until the very last moment.
Peregrine sat down by Emil and joined the conversation. Kurt stayed in the dining room and leaned back on the kitchen counter.
Emil wanted to get up and help, but as he was the center of conversation, he couldn’t really without drawing attention to Brandon. He smiled and tried not to look over Grant’s and Brandon’s shoulders.
Kurt helped Brandon take plates to the table. Once he was done, he slipped into Peregrine’s studio. Peregrine stood up. “That food smells so good. Maybe we should eat it.”
They all walked to the table. Grant looked at the intricate settings. “Six.”
He looked around the room. “Are we waiting for someone?”
Brandon stepped out of the studio. His face was washed and he wore the most beautiful smile. Grant froze, but Julian raced around the table. He stopped in front of Brandon and held out his hand. “Is it all right to touch you?”
Brandon took his hand.
Emil wiped his eyes. Where had he put the tissues?
Peregrine handed him the box. He took a tissue and passed it to Kurt. Grant’s tears flowed freely, but he didn’t take a step closer to Julian and Brandon. Julian tugged Brandon to Grant. Grant shook his head. “If I touch him, this will all be a dream. My heart can’t take that.”
Julian pressed Brandon’s hand against Grant’s chest. Brandon’s hand convulsed around Grant’s shirt. Grant turned to Peregrine. “If I hug him will I be a bad person?”
“If you don’t hug him,” Peregrine wiped his cheek, “your heart is already dead.”
“You won’t take him away from us?”
Peregrine straightened his shoulder. “Well, you can’t have sex until his eighteen.”
“But,” Kurt set the box of tissue beside the three, “that is a long way from a hug.”
Grant and Julian enveloped Brandon between them. Emil buried his face in Kurt’s chest to keep from joining the sobs. He’d never seen anything like this reunion. If someone tried to keep these three apart, he’d have something to say about it.
Title: The You Underneath
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter ninety of gobs
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: shopping, gifts, a park, scars, questions, a maxim, cooking, too close to the line, a means to an end, sketches, vibrance, invitation, hot peppers, a drive, the privilege, prejudices, strays, follow his lead, setting the table, wonderful smells, obfuscation, guests, tea, tissues.
Length: about 3,400 words
Summary: Peregrine has an idea. Emil keeps Brandon busy. And Kurt has his part to play
Master list
Kurt followed Emil and Brandon up and down the aisle of the Asian grocery store. One section was devoted to rectangular sushi plates and tiny sake cups and bowls of all shapes and sizes. One wall was just tea pots. Maybe he should come back and buy that tea pot Emil looked at in particular interest. “Emil, do we have enough cups and bowls to host a dinner party?”
Emil set down the tea pot with a sigh. “No, but buying new stuff should probably wait until after the remodel. Less stuff to move.”
Brandon bit his lip. Emil patted his shoulder. “But we do have enough for six. We even have enough chairs if we take Peregrine’s paintings off the ones we are storing in his studio.”
Brandon relaxed. “I… I wasn’t worried.”
“We wouldn’t have cared if you were.” Kurt plucked the pretty tea pot back off the shelf and put it in the cart.
Emil’s eyes followed the pot’s movements. “We don’t need that.”
“Who said anything about need? Brandon, do you see any cups that match?”
Brandon’s eyes lit up and he helped Kurt look through the wide assortment. They found three that matched pretty well. Kurt picked out three of each kind. “Beautiful, if you don’t want a ‘just cause’ present, I can save them for Christmas.”
Emil smiled and shook his head. “You win.”
Kurt grinned. “I did.”
Emil busied himself looking at his list, then turned and gave Kurt one of those hot over the shoulder looks that set off the volcano in Kurt’s loins. How many hours until they were alone again?
--
Peregrine opened the café door and gestured to the right then followed Grant and Julian onto the sidewalk. Two parks were within easy walking distance. He led the way. Grant pointed at a building. “We wanted to live there. Or maybe I should say we still do. The three of us if that can ever happen.”
Julian bumped his shoulder against Grant’s. “Don’t give up hope.”
Grant nodded, sighed, and took Julian’s hand. “Some days are harder than others.”
Peregrine nodded. “When you two invited Brandon to live with you, did you plan for him to end up in your bed?”
Julian grinned. “We hoped.”
“But we really didn’t expect.” Grant brushed the hair away from his birthmark. That was probably the first thing anyone noticed about him.
“He saw the you underneath.”
Grant and Julian nodded. Julian rubbed his long scar. “He had scars too, where no one can see them, on his heart. He showed them to us.”
“Most people look at him and see the beautiful man with gorgeous eyes and perfect face, but he let us see under that. We are very grateful. It made us feel special.”
Julian nodded. “He always makes us feel special.”
“He is a special kid.”
Grant frowned. “He’s a man. Or nearly one. If you don’t mind my asking, is it the few weeks until his birthday that has you calling him a kid, or something else?”
Peregrine stopped and turned toward them. “I call all the boys at the shelter kids. Plus I’m significantly older than you. The far side of thirty and all.”
He turned back around. The light had just changed. He led them across the street and into the park.
“Um.”
Peregrine turned on the stepping stone in the park’s swamp/pond/fountain water feature.
Grant looked down and then back at him. “Do you think loving someone that much younger than us makes us bad people? Brandon is seven years younger than me.”
Peregrine hopped back across the stepping stones to them. “My younger lover is five years younger than me. The other is my age, but if he were older, if I were older, that wouldn’t necessarily make us perverts. I have a friend my age who recently decided with his girlfriend to add a young man to their household and bed. She’s ten and he’s thirteen years older than this new boy. I’ve got nothing to judge in this. It’s really none of my business, although I hope this makes him less annoying. But the main thing is that that kid is nineteen. Brandon isn’t.”
Julian covered his face with his hand, the picture of misery. “I should have been more patient.”
Grant wrapped his arms around him and sighed. “We were willfully ignorant.”
Peregrine nodded. “When you don’t want to know the most is when your need to know is the greatest.”
Julian stepped back. “That sounds like a maxim. We should have that in cross-stitch in our kitchen.”
He smiled, which was really the only expression that fit well on his face.
Grant took his hand again. Peregrine gave them a little privacy. He needed a little space himself.
--
Emil set his bag of groceries on the table. “Now, Brandon, since we have everything, how about we do a trail run? I have never made enchilada soup before.”
Brandon readily agreed. The work would keep him busy.
Emil set Brandon washing the new dishes and sent a text to Peregrine to say that if Peregrine had the inclination to bring them over, Julian and Grant would have some Brandon cooking to eat.
And if he didn’t, Brandon could consol himself by filling his stomach with food he liked.
--
Peregrine looked up from his phone. He wanted to invite Julian and Grant over. He needed more time with them before he could come up with a conclusion and he might need a different perspective. He trusted Kurt and Emil’s opinions. To Peregrine, Grant and Julian were just two boys who had walked a little too close to the line on something, much like almost every boy in the shelter. Sure they were a bit older, but no less young and much more naïve than most young people Peregrine came across.
He picked up his notebook and added a few stray hairs to the sketch of Julian. Grant was almost perfect, but Peregrine wasn’t going to add anything until he knew what was missing. He started another sketch of Brandon.
“If you don’t mind?”
Peregrine pulled himself away from his sketchbook. Grant had spoken while Julian looked over Peregrine’s shoulder at his art. Peregrine had missed part of the conversation. “Sorry, what?”
“Julian would like to see what you’re drawing.”
Peregrine passed Julian the book. “Feel free.”
Julian sat down and ran his fingers just above the lines of Brandon’s face.
Peregrine turned to Grant. “And what can I do for you?”
Grant sighed and looked around then back at Peregrine. “Why are we here? I mean, is this a means to an end? Did we come all the way here for nothing?”
“Grant, look.” Julian turned the sketch book around. “It’s me.”
Grant smiled at Julian. “It’s a nice sketch, but I like the real you better.”
Peregrine nodded. “I had a hard time getting his vibrance on paper. But to answer the other question: I’m getting to know you.”
“But why are you getting to know us?”
“Because…” Peregrine sighed. “I… I am going to… I want to defend you.” Why weren’t the words coming out the way he wanted them to?
“From who?”
Peregrine breathed in slowly. “Andre runs the shelter. He is a nice guy. A really nice guy, but… but he doesn’t understand sexual needs. He just doesn’t get it. Or, well, only as much as someone who has never had the urges himself. But he’s a good man and I hope he listens to me.”
“What will you say?”
“It’s you, Grant.” Julian showed off the page. “Can I have this picture?”
Peregrine held out his hand. “It’s not quite done yet. Let me add a little something.”
He took his time. He needed the break to figure out what he was going to tell Grant. He looked Grant over and added the worry lines around his eyes. Julian laughed. “Now you have him.”
Peregrine ripped out the picture and handed it over. “How would you two like to come over for dinner?”
Grant pressed his lips together.
“Sure.” Julian smiled. “Your boyfriends will be there?”
Peregrine nodded. “My men.”
“How long have you been together?”
“All three of us? Just since August, but I’ve been with Emil for six and was with Kurt for two years a decade ago.”
Grant frowned. “You really are thirty?”
Julian patted Grant’s back. “We’ve been together longer than you. With Brandon for a year and a half. Not all in our bed you understand, but with us. And six months more while we work on our long-distant relationship. Just because we’re apart doesn’t mean we aren’t together.”
Peregrine grinned. “I totally understand. I like you guys. Come over for dinner.”
Grant looked at the ground. “We hoped.” He looked at Peregrine. “We hoped to go by the shelter. Not to go in or anything, but just to walk by. He wouldn’t be outside, but maybe he could see us.”
Peregrine spun and looked at them. “I happen to know that Brandon is not at the shelter.”
Julian’s shoulders sagged. “And I can’t get a hold of him.”
“But I think going by the shelter might be a great idea.” Peregrine wanted Andre to meet these two and still think they were terrible people. He might, but it was still worth a try.
--
Kurt smiled as he put his phone away. He kissed the back of Emil’s head. “I’m going out for a moment.”
Emil gave Kurt his cheek and lifted his latex-gloved hands way from the hot peppers on the cutting board. “Keep me informed.”
Kurt promised with a kiss.
Brandon didn’t even look up.
Peregrine was easy to find. The men with him must be Grant and Julian. Kurt pulled over and waved. Peregrine opened the back for the two men. “Get in.”
“I don’t…” said the blonder one.
“We brought a car,” said the other.
“Get in.” Peregrine shooed them inside. “We’ll talk on the way.”
He got into the front seat. “Kurt, this is Julian and Grant.”
Kurt grinned into the rearview mirror and pulled into traffic. “Julian is the blonder one who makes great cookies and Grant makes a killer breakfast.”
Julian leaned forward in his seat. “You know Brandon?”
“I have the privilege.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Fine. He misses you though.”
Julian leaned back. “I’m glad he’s fine, but I’m also glad me misses us. We miss him.”
Grant nodded.
Kurt turned to Peregrine. “What’s the plan?”
“We are going to take them by the shelter, but not connect them to Brandon in any way and let Andre meet them.”
Kurt glanced into the back seat when he stopped at a red light.
Grant leaned forward. “Why not say who we are?”
Peregrine stared out the side window. He wasn’t going to answer, was he? Kurt turned into traffic. “Andre should meet you without any preconceived notions.”
Grand leaned forward. “But if we really were child abusers, then he couldn’t tell by meeting us. They don’t look any different.”
His face looked so wretched, that really must have hurt him to say it.
Peregrine held up his hand. “Andre relies a lot on his feelings. He’s good at spotting hidden things. How else could he control, even marginally, so many young people? But he has prejudices just like everyone else. He thinks I’m crazy now that I have two boyfriends.”
Julian nodded. “My aunt used to think I was crazy too. She raised me for the most part and I want her to like Grant and Brandon. Grant she was fine with, because he takes such good care of me, but it wasn’t until Brandon was taken from us that she realized how much I relied on him. I’ve lost twenty pounds since he left. Aunt Pattie says I’ve lost my glow.”
Kurt glanced in the rearview mirror. “So you’ve talked to your family?”
“Of course.”
Kurt hadn’t and he felt wretched about it, even knowing that a word whispered in the wrong place could ruin his happiness.
Grant nodded. “My mother wasn’t surprised. She says I’ve always taken in strays. But Julian and Brandon don’t feel the same as the squirrel with the broken foot or the crow that couldn’t fly or the malnourished puppy. I knew they would leave eventually, to better homes more suited to them, but Julian and Brandon are supposed to stay with me forever. I know this.”
Julian took Grant’s hand. “He’s a veterinarian. A very good one.”
Grant looked at Julian fondly.
“So,” said Peregrine, “we are going to bring you in as friends of ours. I teach hands-on art, while Kurt, here, explains things. Another friend did a lecture and a demonstration. We can say we are branching out. As a vet, you could talk about caring for animals and what to do if the boys find a stray, and maybe bring in some puppies to play with.”
“But I can’t. Not in front of so many people.”
Julian patted Grants arm. “You’ll be fine.”
Kurt waited at a light. “No need to actually do the class. We just need and excuse to bring you by.”
“But…”
Kurt pulled into a parking spot. “Just follow Peregrine’s lead.”
Julian grinned and opened the door. “You always do?”
Kurt nodded. “It’s led me to places I’d never have expected, but it’s never led me wrong.”
And it probably never would.
--
Emil stirred the pot and then looked at all the food they’d made. “We have enough for a hundred.”
Brandon laughed then sighed. “Thanks. I feel much better.”
Emil patted his back. “Should we set the table?”
Brandon’s eyes lit up. “With linen napkins and everything?”
Emil smiled at his enthusiasm. “I’ll see if we have what you need. The closet’s this way.”
Emil left Brandon to dig while he stepped into his bedroom to read his texts. Kurt’s made him shiver and Peregrine’s made him blush, but they both said that they were bringing company home.
“Emil?”
Brandon stood in the doorway with a pile of placemats Emil hadn’t even remembered they owned. He held them up, his face sad again. “How many should I set it for?”
“We went all out on the food. Why don’t we go all out on the table and set for six? Show me how it’s done.”
Brandon smiled again. All was right with the world.
--
Kurt pulled into his parking space, got out of the car, and took his leave. Peregrine was going to give Grant and Julian the full tour. The elevator was occupied, so Kurt took the stairs. He stopped to straighten his tie outside the condo. He didn’t want to seem rushed. He opened the door to the most wonderful smells he’d ever imagined. “Beautiful, what sort of food did you make me?”
He swept Emil up in his arms. Emil laughed. “Brandon did most of the cooking.”
Kurt grinned at Brandon. “Have you taught him more tasty dishes?”
Brandon grinned and looked up from setting a swan shaped napkin on a plate. “You’ll have to eat it and see.”
“Would you mind too much if I gave my beautiful his reward early?”
Brandon shook his head. Kurt carried Emil into the bedroom and pressed him against the door. Kurt growled, “Beautiful.”
Emil laughed. He was so gorgeous. Kurt kissed him until he had no breath. Their phones went off. Kurt set Emil down. “It’s time.”
Peregrine had a plan. Kurt’s turn had come again. He squared his shoulders. “Kiss me for luck.”
Emil did.
Kurt opened the door for him. “Brandon, are you almost finished here?”
Brandon looked at his feet.
“Because I was just thinking that I haven’t shown you around the other condo. We can do that real quick before Peregrine gets back.”
Brandon looked into the kitchen, out the large windows, and back at his feet.
“Go on,” said Emil. “I got all whole hours with you. Give Kurt a few minutes.”
Brandon nodded. He dragged his feet across the floor as he followed Kurt out. Once Kurt unlocked the other condo, he texted Peregrine. Like Kurt expected, Brandon was no interested at all in the empty rooms. “If you three lived here, how would you decorate?”
Brandon looked around the front room again. “Julian decorates the best.”
“How would he decorate?”
Brandon sighed. “He likes yellow.”
“Bright yellow, pastel, orangey, or almost green?”
Brandon shrugged. “Why were you trying to get me out of the house?”
Kurt leaned against the wall. He’d known Brandon was too smart to not see through their little obfuscation.
--
Emil handed cups of tea to Grant and Julian. Julian looked around the room, but Grant eyed the food. “I haven’t smelled anything this good since Brandon was taken from us.”
Emil smiled at Peregrine and gave him his cup. Peregrine looked at it. “Is this new?”
“Kurt treated me today.” He lifted his own cup and traced the design.
“Very pretty.”
From the look in Peregrine’s eye, Emil couldn’t tell if he meant the cup or Emil. Maybe both.
“Sit, sit.” Emil gestured Grant and Julian to the couch with its back to the kitchen. He asked them about their work and school and talked about a few of his books. Grant was really interested. Peregrine walked over to the front door, but instead of slipping out he came back into the dining room. Kurt and Brandon followed him. Brandon spared a glance at his men. His eyes were red, but dry. Then he turned the stove back on. A few things had to wait until the very last moment.
Peregrine sat down by Emil and joined the conversation. Kurt stayed in the dining room and leaned back on the kitchen counter.
Emil wanted to get up and help, but as he was the center of conversation, he couldn’t really without drawing attention to Brandon. He smiled and tried not to look over Grant’s and Brandon’s shoulders.
Kurt helped Brandon take plates to the table. Once he was done, he slipped into Peregrine’s studio. Peregrine stood up. “That food smells so good. Maybe we should eat it.”
They all walked to the table. Grant looked at the intricate settings. “Six.”
He looked around the room. “Are we waiting for someone?”
Brandon stepped out of the studio. His face was washed and he wore the most beautiful smile. Grant froze, but Julian raced around the table. He stopped in front of Brandon and held out his hand. “Is it all right to touch you?”
Brandon took his hand.
Emil wiped his eyes. Where had he put the tissues?
Peregrine handed him the box. He took a tissue and passed it to Kurt. Grant’s tears flowed freely, but he didn’t take a step closer to Julian and Brandon. Julian tugged Brandon to Grant. Grant shook his head. “If I touch him, this will all be a dream. My heart can’t take that.”
Julian pressed Brandon’s hand against Grant’s chest. Brandon’s hand convulsed around Grant’s shirt. Grant turned to Peregrine. “If I hug him will I be a bad person?”
“If you don’t hug him,” Peregrine wiped his cheek, “your heart is already dead.”
“You won’t take him away from us?”
Peregrine straightened his shoulder. “Well, you can’t have sex until his eighteen.”
“But,” Kurt set the box of tissue beside the three, “that is a long way from a hug.”
Grant and Julian enveloped Brandon between them. Emil buried his face in Kurt’s chest to keep from joining the sobs. He’d never seen anything like this reunion. If someone tried to keep these three apart, he’d have something to say about it.
