Chapter 53:

 

An Understanding

Kevin picked lethargically at his breakfast, his appetite gone. Finally giving up, he sighed and stood up, collecting the half-touched food from the rest of the guys to toss away. It had been a stressful morning, with AJ and Nick waking Howie and him up, informing them about Brian. Now, two hours later, and after many heated discussions, nothing had been resolved and everyone's patience was wearing thin.

Kevin sat back down, rubbing his face briskly with his hands in hope of stimulating both his weary mind and body. "Okay, looks like we're pretty much back at the beginning," he started, trying to ignore Nick's impatient glare. "Now I know it looks suspicious, but I just can't believe Brian would try to hurt Nick. It doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, come on, why would he want to?"

"Oh, maybe because I broke his hand and beat the crap outta him? Could that possibly be it?" Nick jeered.

Kevin returned the glare, pissed. "You know, I'm getting pretty sick and tired of your lip. I thought we all came here to discuss this, but I guess not. So why don't you just leave?"

Nick jumped up, his hands clenched in anger. "I'm just telling you what I saw! But I guess your loyalty lies with family rather than anyone here, doesn’t it?"

Kevin rose to match Nick, his green eyes dark with resentment. "I'm not going to take this, especially from you…" he began, only to have his vision blocked by Howie's form standing between them.

"That's it!" yelled Howie, in frustration. He pointed both to Kevin and Nick, his temper barely under control. "Sit down! What the hell is the matter with you two?" Taken aback, the two Backstreet Boys sat down hesitantly; AJ smiling in approval at Howie's forceful stance.

"You tell 'em, D!" he crowed.

Howie spun on him. "Shut up, AJ!"

AJ dropped his mouth in surprise but quickly closed it when he saw the no-nonsense look directed at him. "Okay," he agreed meekly.

"Good." Howie paced around the crowded room, rubbing his forehead as the rest watched cautiously, waiting for his opinion. After a minute, Howie threw up his hands in defeat. "I give up."

All three looked at Howie in surprise. "Huh?"

"I said, I give up! I can't figure any of this out, can you?" Three heads shook no in unison. "But I do know that for the rest of this tour, working with Brian is gonna be a bitch. My loyalty is with you guys, so I'm not going to let Brian ruin our friendship. We gotta stick together, okay? No fighting, no bickering between us, otherwise this is going to tear us apart." He glared meaningfully at Kevin and Nick "After the tour, we can figure out what to do. But for now, we're going to have to stick together and make sure Brian doesn't do something that can hurt us all."

Howie paused for a second to let his words sink in before glancing at his watch. "And speaking of sticking together, did anyone remember we have a photo shoot today?" Collective groans emitted from Kevin, Nick and AJ. "Yeah, yeah, I know," Howie agreed. "And by the looks of us, we had better get some sleep before it's time to go."

* * * * *

"Here." Brian heaved the heavy black bag as hard as he could towards Xavier who was patiently waiting outside the bank. Brian hoped it would break open and scatter its contents to the wind, but Xavier caught it deftly, raising his eyebrows in delight at the weight. "Guess you're on your way to be coming a rich ex-bodyguard."

Inspecting the money, Xavier gave a satisfied nod. "It will do…for now." He grinned at the sullen Backstreet Boy. "Come on, let's eat." He patted the overstuffed bag. "My treat, of course." Brian ignored Xavier's laugh as they headed towards the parking lot, flinching when Xavier gave him an appreciative rub on the back. "Say, who would of thought a skinny white boy from Kentucky could make so much money?" Xavier leaned in closer to Brian. "I tell ya, it's a crime," he whispered, his lips a hair's breadth away from the singer's ear. The warmth of Xavier's laughter on his neck made Brian squirm with revulsion. He shoved angrily away, hatred shining openly in his eyes.

"You've got enough money to buy whatever you want; I suggest you go find someone else," Brian spat, his tone leaving no doubt as to what he meant.

Xavier's mouth compressed into a thin line, the only emotion Brian saw displayed on the bodyguard's face. An old couple walked feebly by and Xavier kept his silence, holding Brian's gaze coolly until they had past. "And what if I want you?" he challenged, his meaning crystal clear to both of them. Brian's struggled to maintain his composure, the game now taking on a more disturbing turn. He looked squarely into the eyes of his bodyguard. "Well, I'd say your outta luck."

"Luck?" scoffed Xavier, his disbelief plain. "Since when did I need luck? I take what I want." Xavier let his eyes roam suggestively up and down Brian's form, the slightest hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.

Unnerved, Brian desperately tried to hide his growing anxiety, the swell of nausea almost overwhelming him as it gnawed in the pit of his stomach. "I thought you weren't gay," he flung back accusingly, remembering the church incident.

Xavier's faint smile grew wider and Brian suddenly found the bodyguard looming over him, Xavier's immense size overpowering. Instinctively Brian backed up, desperate for escape, only to find his freedom blocked by the side of their parked car. Slowly Xavier brought his face down, inch by inch, with such excruciatingly slowness that it froze Brian to where he stood, transfixed by Xavier's intense stare. Shaking, Brian could feel the warmth of Xavier's lips just barely graze his own mouth. Fully expecting Xavier to deepen the kiss, Brian was surprised when Xavier pulled back, a sly grin forming across the bodyguard's face.

"What makes you think I'm gay?" he asked lightly, his voice filled with amusement. "I'm not." He winked at Brian as he opened the door to their SUV. "Fear and control," he stated simply, indicating for the singer to hop in.

Brian numbly got in, stunned by Xavier's strategy. With sudden clarity he saw how easily Xavier had trapped him, using the singer's suspicions to full advantage. Xavier had played the game brilliantly. Brian turned to look at Xavier, who was watching him intently. Nodding with satisfaction that Brian now understood, Xavier turned on the ignition and skillfully drove out of the parking lot, picking up speed as they headed towards the local gym.

Brian ignored the passing scenery, his mind racing as he sat uneasily in his seat. Was Xavier gay? Would Xavier's promise to "take" what he wanted come true? Xavier's trick to make him uncertain of Xavier's sexual preference had worked. The anxiety of not knowing was the mind game Xavier was now playing with him. Brian closed his eyes, shuddering. Xavier had control. And control gave power. Deep within him he knew that Xavier had already decided. It was now not a matter of how, but a matter of when.

***

 

 

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