ALL IN A DAY'S WORK
By Wren & PIG

“Hey.”

Brian looked up from his computer screen to find his blond lover standing before him, an expression of doom on his face.

“What?” Brian asked, wondering what scheme Justin was up to now.

“I need your help,” Justin said sweetly.

At Brian’s “I’m busy, go away” look, Justin pressed himself closer to the older man, so his dick was inches away from Brian’s face. Luckily for him, Brian was a sucker for that cock. The brunet quickly saved his computer document and switched off the monitor.

“How can I help you, Mr. Taylor?” Brian asked smartly, a grin taking over his face.

He wondered if Justin was up for any of their sex toys this time? They hadn’t brought out the collection for quite some time. Brian would be glad to - help - Justin direct his dick into his mouth… or - help - the boy get *reacquainted* with his favourite dildo.

With his thoughts firmly fixed in one direction, he was more than a little surprised to find Justin dragging his own desk chair over, so he could sit opposite Brian.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Brian wanted to know.

Justin sat and gave Brian a knowing look. “You said you would help me.”

“Yeah, but I was under the impression it would somehow involve my dick and -”

“Brian.” Justin stopped him in his tracks. “Cut it out. I’ve got that job interview tomorrow and I’m nervous as hell.”

Justin had managed to get a call back from an Ad agency looking for student interns for the summer.

“So what the fuck do you want me to do?” Brian grumbled, disappointed that he wasn’t going to get any ass anytime soon.

“Run through some lines with me, you know,” Justin replied. “Do whatever it is you do when you hire someone.”

Brian cocked a brow.

Justin sighed. “Oh come on, Brian. Stop giving me a hard time.”

“Are you hard?” Brian asked. “Because if you are…”

At Justin’s disappointed look, Brian reluctantly conceded.

“Mr. Taylor, please have a seat.”

Considering he was already sitting, Justin wasn’t amused. His button nose flared slightly.

“Knock it off with the attitude, young man.” Brian returned sharply.

Justin sighed. “Let’s start over.”

“Why?”

“I need you to be serious, dammit.”

“Who’s not being serious?”

Justin gritted his teeth.

“Ok, ok.” Brian grinned. “Mr. Taylor, right on time.”

Justin smiled.

“I’ll just have my assistant bring in your resume and we can get started.”

At Brian’s pointed look, Justin got up to get the resume, handing it over to Brian.

“Thank you, dear,” Brian teased.

When Justin was seated in front of him again, he added, “Isn’t he adorable? He gives great head too. Speaking of great head…”

“BRIAN!”

Brian gave him a sheepish grin. “Fuck you, that was funny! Didn’t you think that was funny?”

At Justin’s blank look, Brian said, “You have no goddamn sense of humour. That’s your problem. We don’t need anymore snooty assed kids working for us. You’re fired.”

“I’m here for a fucking interview!” Justin snapped. “You can’t fire me if I don’t even work for you!”

“Minor detail.” Brian snorted. “I’m calling security.”

Justin picked up an eraser from the desk and threw it at Brian’s head. “You don’t want me to get that job do you?”

Brian ducked as the eraser went flying past his ear. “Now why would you think such a thing, Sunshine?”

“’Cos I won’t be around as much and you’d miss me.”

Brian's tongue dug into his cheek. “Won’t be around much? Hey, I’m convinced. Let’s take another crack at this.”

Justin mentally prepared himself again.

“Mr. Taylor,” Brian started. “This is quite an impressive resume you have here.”

“Thank you,” Justin responded politely. He didn't care that Brian was more or less complimenting himself, considering that *he* had prepared and formatted the so-called *impressive* resume.

Brian flipped through a couple of pages before returning to the front, where he began going through it again.

“Something wrong?” Justin wondered aloud.

Brian looked up at him. “Something’s missing.”

At Justin’s confused look, Brian said, “Experience. You do have experience don’t you?”

Justin shifted in his seat. “To be quite honest, I don’t have all that much experience, but I’m a fast learner and I can train quickly.”

“I see.”

Justin didn't like the way this was going. He was quick to point out a few more of his better traits.

“I’m very efficient and always give one hundred percent,” he said.

“We demand one hundred and ten from our employees,” Brian countered.

“Not a problem. I know all about working hard to get good results,” Justin calmly responded.

Brian scanned Justin’s portfolio. “These are really good. Impressive for someone your age.”

“Thank you,” Justin replied. “I love to draw.”

Brian looked up at the teen. “If this works out, when can you be expected to start?”

“Give me the rest of the week to clear out my schedule. I'd be here bright and early Monday morning,” Justin replied automatically.

Brian nodded. “You’d be expected to work long, hard hours… sometimes deep into the night.”

Justin ignored the sexual overtone, trying to keep a straight face. “Not a problem. In fact, it would be my pleasure to work under you, Sir.”

Brian leaned back in his chair, cocked a brow. “Why is that?”

“I’ve done my research on the company,” Justin replied. “And its art department… I know you’re one of the best in the business. I feel I’d be able to learn a lot from you.”

Brian pressed his lips together. “You know what they say, flattery gets a boy everywhere.”

Justin returned Brian’s grin.

“Well, I’m going to be straight with you,” Brian said, eyes now fully directed on the blond in front of him. “There are several other candidates under consideration for the position. I like you, but I can’t hire you based solely on my preferences.”

Justin chewed on his lower lip.

“I’m going to need you to tell me why you’re the best man for the job,” Brian continued. “Unless…”

Justin frowned. “Unless?”

Brian leaned forward, a smug smile in place. “Unless you want to show me … in some other way or form… how good you are… at the job.”

Justin swallowed. “Brian.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry, my mistake.”

Brian shrugged. “So, do we understand what is necessary to give you the edge over the other men?”

Justin nodded. “You’re telling me, if I’m good… the best even, I get the job, hands down?”

Brian laughed. “We’re in agreement.”

Leaning closer, he asked, “You are… aren’t you?”

Justin nodded. “So I've been told.”

“Stop.” Brian raised a palm.

“What?”

“Don’t even think about admitting that you’re gay.”

“Why not? I'm not ashamed of it!”

Brian looked at the blond as if he’d gone mad. “What the fuck? Have you got shit for brains?”

Justin was offended. “Oh fuck off, Brian!”

“That’s Mr. Kinney to you!” Brian snapped back, throwing the resume roughly on the desk. “And don’t think I don’t know you were flirting with me too! Is that how you expect to get the job?”

Justin rolled his eyes heavenward. “Here we go again.”

“Don’t mock me, you little shit,” Brian spat out. “You asked ME for help, not the other way around.”

Justin stood up angrily. “I’m beginning to regret it!”

“Keep it up,” Brian said. “Cocky little assholes are really in demand right now!”

Justin grinned. “Then I guess I should consider myself lucky, huh?”

Brian didn’t respond, he was too angry.

Justin sighed. “Brian, I’m sorry.”

“Go fuck yourself.”

“Not possible.”

Brian ignored him and returned to his work, switching the computer monitor back on. Justin got up and stood beside the desk, unsure of what to say next.

He didn't know exactly what had just happened here. Surely Brian didn’t think he’d be dumb enough to engage in sex just to get a job. He would never do that.

Suddenly his stomach lurched. But he had done that. Once. Before. Before Ethan. Before that whole sad sorry mess. He’d done it. He’d let someone use him for sex just to get a job ­ just to dance on the bar. Sapperstein.

He felt sick at the memory. And even sicker when he realized what it had done to Brian ­ to Brian’s opinion of him. How could Brian ever trust him now? Ever have faith that he would do the right thing? When he’d so often done the wrong thing...

Justin took a deep breath.  “Bri…”

“Save it, Sunshine. I’ve got work to do.”

Justin pushed the monitor aside and sat on the edge of the desk. He touched Brian’s face, gently urging the man to meet his eyes.

“Look at me.”

When Brian tried to jerk his head away, Justin took his face between his hands.

“Brian, look at me.”

Sighing, Brian sat back a little, regarding Justin angrily. He didn’t know why he suddenly felt so pissed off.  He didn’t want to think about it.  One moment they were going along happily, and the next minute he felt … he felt threatened.  But there was no way he was ever going to admit that.  He tilted his chin up and met Justin’s eyes defiantly.

“Would you say that I’m reasonably intelligent?”

Brian, unsure where this was going, shrugged.

“Would you say that I’m a fast learner?”

Brian was suddenly overcome with memories of Justin’s first lessons in the loft.  Despite himself, his lips twisted into a slight smile and his eyes gleamed. He stuck his tongue in his cheek and nodded.

“I guess I would have to say that, yes.”

Justin, recognizing that look, gleamed back at him, suddenly feeling he was on much safer ground.

“So you think I … pick things up quickly?”

As he spoke he rubbed his knee against Brian’s thigh.

The older man shifted in his seat, his pants suddenly uncomfortably tight over his swelling cock. Determined not to let his … whatever he was, have all the fun, he ran his hands over Justin’s thighs. As the blond took in a deep, suddenly none too steady breath, Brian drew his lips in, and, eyes locked on Justin’s, gently spread Justin’s knees to either side of his own. Teasingly, he stroked again up the insides of the young man’s thighs.

Justin ran his tongue over his suddenly dry lips. It would be so easy right now to be distracted, but this needed to be said. He needed to be sure that Brian understood. They couldn’t have this always hanging between them.

He sucked in a steadying breath, and caught Brian’s hands in his own.  “So, if I’m smart, and a quick learner, is it fair to say that we should both be reasonably confident that, although I make mistakes, I’m going to learn from them?”

Brian tensed.  He didn’t want to have this conversation.  Why couldn’t they just go on from where they had been only seconds ago?  Then he met Justin’s eyes once more and saw there, not only determination, but also the underlying anxiety. Sucking his lips in once more, he forced himself not to pull away. Not to run. Not to hide. He kept eye contact with the young man, whose blue eyes looked into his so intensely.

“Everyone makes mistakes, Justin.”  The words came out hoarsely.

Justin nodded. “And I made some bad ones. But I HAVE learned from them, Brian. I won’t make the same mistakes again.”

Suddenly, gently, the man smiled, and leaning forward, touched his … lover’s … face.

“Nor will I,” he said softly. “At least ­ I’ll try. I’m trying, Justin.”

His voice cracked and Justin slid off the desk and onto his lap, wrapping both arms round his neck and kissing him deeply. Then he leant his forehead against Brian’s.

“I know,” he whispered.

Pressed close to each other, hearts beating together, they silently shared the recognition that they had both learned from their mistakes. This time they were both trying, this time they both knew what they wanted - THEM, together. And understanding that getting what you want in life usually takes hard work, they were prepared to work as hard as it took. No more taking things for granted, and no more running away when things got tough.

For a few moments they simply sat there holding each other. Then Brian tangled his fingers in the younger man’s hair and tugged it gently.

“So, about this interview ..”

Justin grinned at him.

“I think we should do some revision,” he said. “Just to make sure that I can honestly say that I pick up skills quickly and don’t forget what I’ve been taught.”

Brian, tongue planted firmly in cheek once more, regarded him in mock reproof.

“Are you saying you expect me to drop my important work and take time out to assess your skill level and retention?” he asked sternly.

Giggling, Justin slid off his knee to stand beside the desk and, taking Brian’s hand, drew him to his feet also.

“Well, I thought that was part of your job.”

“My job?” Brian queried.

“Yes, you know ­ the job of making me the best homosexual I can be,” Justin grinned at him mischievously.

“Well, it’s a tough job,” Brian sighed, “but I guess someone’s …”

The rest of his words were lost in laughter as he scooped Justin up over his shoulder and carried him off to the bedroom to face his “assessment.”

Suffice to say that Brian made sure it was a most thorough examination of all Justin’s acquired skills, and neither of them got much other work done for the day. And, of course, the job satisfaction was high all round.

25/05/03