Chapter Ten: Campaign

Sunday November 18 1999

Justin pressed close to Brian as people milled about. Music played over the speakers, just loud enough for him to feel the vibrations in his chest. It was comforting, even though the crowd wasn't.

"You sure you want to be here?" Brian asked as Debbie took center stage. Justin nodded. "Okay, just tell me if you change your mind."

"You know I will." Debbie was – thankfully – replaced by dancer number one. "Who would have thought… a strip show for charity." Justin was mildly amused.

"Me." Brian said teasingly. "But in all seriousness, Sunshine, the breeders have been doing it just as long as we have." Justin gave a shudder. Dancer number one was replaced. "Back when I was just out of college, one of my first clients invited me to a strip bar."

"Shit, no!"

"Yeah. It was a lot like this… just way more boring. And a bit gross." Justin made a face.

"I don't get why it's okay for THEM to do that and not us." Justin said with a sigh. "Stockwell is getting stronger."

"Unfortunately." Brian grimaced in distaste. "I think this is the first time in my life I ever regretted something." Justin twisted in his stool to wrap an arm around Brian's waist.

"It's a job. You need the money unless you want to end up bunking with me at Deb's because you couldn't finish paying off the Loft." They both shuddered. Then Justin became thoughtful. "You know, I could do my internship for PIFE before I start classes."

"Hm?"

"It was one of the options I was given – when I talked to the Dean about payments. He said I could get an internship somewhere under PIFA if I can manage to bring up a littler over half of tuition. IF I make it through a semester, they would use that money earned to pay off another ¼ of the bill and look into financial aide or scholarship for the rest."

"That sounds like a good plan." Brian agreed.

"I was thinking of doing that internship at Vangard." Brian looked down at him. "I could use the art room and resources to help…"

"No." Justin blinked. "I won't have you ruin your college career like that." Justin bit his lip. "Even if you don't work directly under me OR anyone linked to Stockwell, it would be Vangard agency stock."

"But…"

"No." Brian wasn't even going to consider it. He gave Justin a small smile. "But I'm sure the competition under Deacon could use your… expertise." Brian said slyly. Justin's eyes lit up.

"That's a good idea!" Brian reached around Justin to snag the pants of a guy heading towards the stage, while Justin pondered. Brian smirked and pulled a bill out of his pocket.

"Hundred buck if you show your cock… on stage." He stage-whispered. Justin turned around. The guy smirked and nodded.

"You're horrible." Justin muttered, relaxing against Brian's chest. Catcalls could be heard seconds later as the hot stud dropped his pants, leaving Debbie screeching – half in laughter and half in outrage. Then there was a bang and dead silence.

"Pittsburg PD!" Brian groaned. "This establishment has been closed due to violation of…" Everyone was moving, so Justin leaned closer to Brian. "You need to vacate the premises…" Brian pulled Justin away from the swarming crowd and out the back.

"Fuck!" Brian pouted when they were clear. "It was just getting fun." The exited the alley and turned right, closer to the heart of Liberty. "Want to go see if anything is going on at one of the other bars?"

"Sure." Justin agreed. As they walked they became increasingly aware that the normal hustle and bustle was flowing AWAY from their direction. Lights were out – or going out – up and down the street, and cops were patrolling.

"What the fuck?" Brian paused to look at a shop door – a big bold sign proclaimed the store 'closed.' Justin was trembling next to him. "Justin…"

"That homophobic little FUCK." Brian pulled Justin away, turning them back towards the other end of the street. And towards the Loft. Brian couldn't say anything as they walked.

He was too pissed off. At Stockwell for thinking he was God, at himself for bowing down to the rat-faced Gardner Vance, at the world for thinking hate was the answer…

There had to be something he could do…

The next day during his lunch break, Brian stopped by Liberty Baths. Only to find a 'closed until further notice' sign on the door. Curious, he drove to all of his old haunts – the other bathhouse, two of the gyms, a couple clubs….

All closed along with most of Liberty Avenue. It was beginning to look like NON-Liberty Avenue… and with that thought in mind he returned to work. Only to sit at his desk in thought…

"Brian Kinney." It was nearing three when Jim Stockwell himself appeared at the doorway with Gardner Vance. Brian glanced between the two, taking note of the guilty look on Gardner's face.

"Can I help you Chief?"

"Have you by any chance read the paper this morning?" Brian shook his head and Stockwell slammed it down on his desk. Brian narrowed his eyes. "Well, read it!"

Brian took in the circle article. Big bold letters, proclaiming - "Homophobic ec-cop Running for Mayor", subtitled "What is the World Coming to?" Brian held back a laugh.

"Well, I warned you about playing with fire." Brian cleared his throat. "You go in with guns blazing and you will get burned." Stockwell's face went red.

"I don't suppose your faggot friends had anything to do with this? Or do you even care? Of course not, you're a faggot yourself – one of my men saw you at that bar…" Brian stood up abruptly.

"What I do with my free time has nothing to do with you or my job unless it's YOUR dick I'm sucking." Brian hissed. "And for a self proclaimed non-homophobe you sure aren't going about it the right way: faggot is not an acceptable term to use when describing me OR my community."

"So you admit it?"

"I'm queer, yes – never bothered to hide it. Vance knows, Cynthia knows, my partner sure as hell knows…" He ignored the act he called Justin his partner. "Why YOU have to know is beyond me – I'm the one winning you this campaign, am I not?"

"Well.."

"That is, until you jumped the gun. Increased the police presence on Liberty – which achieved the opposite of what you claim to be trying to do, by the way – and shut down the "questionable establishments. Unfortunately you forgot to do the same thing on Lindon Ave – ah, I see you've heard of it."

"There is nothing wrong with…"

"Lindon Ave is the breeder version of Liberty." Brian interrupted. "Unless you want to alienate a majority of the Pitts, I would work on making ALL avenues a safe place. Not just the one where us queers hang out."

"He has a point." Gardner murmured softly. Stockwell looked apoplectic.

"Now unless you have something important to say, get out." Brian sat back down and proceeded to ignore the pair. Gardner tugged on Stockwell's arm to lead him out and Brian sighed. "Shit."

TBC