Good Intentions Ch. 04

Before Quinten could react to the sound of racing footsteps behind him, Brian wrapped his arms around him in a bearhug.

"Gah!"

"Hey, Quin," Brian chortled, his lips stretched wide with a smile. "I missed you!"

Quinten stiffened before relaxing once he caught on that he wasn't being molested by a complete stranger, and much to Brian's joy, leaned back into his arms without another moment's hesitation. He turned his head to regard Brian's cheery face, his expression much warmer than it'd been that morning. Brian took comfort in that. When he pecked his brother on the cheek, Quinten blushed but didn't try and get away. Yes, much, much better.

"Hey," Quinten greeted, then blushing just a bit hotter, added, "I missed you, too."

Brian squeezed him before letting go, his heart close to bursting. The transformation Quinten went through in the span of a matter of hours tugged at his consciousness a little, but he didn't want to compromise anything by asking about it. If Quinten really wanted to discuss it, he would have to do it on his own time.

Quinten turned to face him properly, his cheeks back to their normal hue. "Where'd you go anyway?" His nose scrunched up right after, having caught a strong whiff of Brian's odor. "You smell like dad after a business meeting."

A corner of Brian's lips twitched with the want to smile; what an apt description. "Went to spend some time with Garret, since I stood him up the other night. What about you?" He indicated towards the shopping bag. "What'd you get?"

Suspiciously, Quinten paled and swung the bag behind his back with all the decorum of a schoolboy lying straight to a teacher's face. "N-nothing." His stuttering did not help his case at all. "Nothing you'd be interested in, I mean. Un-unless, um..."

Concern had Brian furrowing his brow. "Unless what?" he asked extra slowly.

Quinten bit into his bottom lip and turned away. "Er, let's go inside."

Brian didn't argue and patiently waited for his brother to finish unlocking the door. Their mother greeted them like she'd been waiting at the window for them to come home, her eyes sparkling in a way that Brian recognized as meaning your father and I took advantage of the two of you being out of the house and boinked like rabbits. It was a look he unfortunately knew all too well but one Quinten seemed annoyingly innocent of.

She took the grocery bag from Quinten and asked if they wanted anything at all to eat since they had both skipped out on lunch, her smile warm and loving towards her two sons. Brian briefly mused over the desire to fill his empty, alcohol-soaked belly with a snack, but when Quinten declined and took off up the stairs, he followed right on his heels with a promise of 'maybe later'.

Quinten led him into his bedroom, shut the door behind them with a smart snap, then lingered. The bag crinkled in his hand as he absentmindedly toyed with it, his eyes skittishly looking everywhere other than at his curious brother. Tension permeated throughout the room the longer the silence stretched on between them; they were off to a great start.

Brian broke through it by pointedly coughing. "You good?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes," Quinten answered much too quickly. He plastered on a bright, fake smile that made Brian's teeth feel on edge. "I've never been better!"

"...right."

Quinten swallowed before stiffly walking over to his bed and depositing the bag. He stared at it for a moment in mute debate before tilting his head and looking at Brian from his periphery. His body language was giving off waves of what Brian sensed was fear. Whether that was fear towards his reaction or something else entirely, he honestly wasn't sure. It saddened him; he thought that he'd done a passable enough job for Quinten to know that he could talk to him about anything.

"Brian, um... about last night."

Brian perked up. "Yeah?"

"I was..." He paused to take a deep breath then spun around, determined. "I'm sorry I was short with you, I was just a little overwhelmed with everything."

"Understandable."

Quinten's shoulders relaxed. "Yeah. Thanks. Anyway, our practices paid off. After you," he said slyly, "Cal was easy."

A thrill went through Brian at those words, and he couldn't help but puff his chest up. He knew his dick was so much better than his crappy boyfriend's, he just knew it. He opened his mouth to say something, to congratulate him or something, but Quinten talked over him, each word causing Brian's smile to drip off his face.

"Now that I've proven myself to him, I don't really have any reason to continue blowing you."

Brian stared, blindsighted. "But... but you said you liked doing that..." He didn't mean to sound like a petulant child, but Quinten managed to take him up and down several notches in the span of five seconds.

Quinten looked away, his mouth tight. "I know. I do. But I need to start focusing my attention elsewhere."

Elsewhere? "Wait, are we breaking up?" He meant to sound teasing, but his voice cracked at the last moment and Quinten was looking at him like he wished he hadn't said anything at all. "We- we are, aren't we?"

Quinten shook his head, his eyes softening at the way Brian stared at him like he had just told him to go jump off a cliff. "Don't be stupid. I still wa- need you."

In what way? Brian wanted to ask, because yesterday he'd been getting the strong vibe that Quinten would rather stay caged up in his arms than venture out into the wide open world anymore. There was more than brotherly affection in their interactions yesterday than there'd ever been in their entire lives, the blowjob notwithstanding.

Quinten turned back to his bag and reached inside it. He faltered before turning around, his arms outstretched to show off the items he was clutching. Brian stared at the box in his left hand and the bottle in his right before raising his eyes and locking them with his brother's. His mouth suddenly felt like a desert, his face and lower extremities heating up before he could coax his tongue into forming coherent words. The whole time he struggled, Quinten watched him with wide, timid eyes, his bottom lip tucked between his teeth.

Brian took in a breath and felt it bursting his lungs. It shouldn't have surprised him. He already knew what Quinten had been trying to tell him last night, but to have the evidence presented to him like this turned his entire world upside down. If Garret were here, he'd probably laugh and nudge his arm and tell him that that 'eventually' would be happening much sooner than he'd realized, and that 'shouldn't you be jumping for joy?'

But Brian couldn't jump for joy. It all seemed to be happening too fast. He had expected a few more weeks, honestly, or a month, not... not right freaking now!

"What," he croaked. He shook his head and tried again. "What do you expect me to do with that?"

"Um." Quinten's eyes lowered to the items he had purchased, namely an anal douche kit and flavored lube. His own cheeks were bright pink, and he looked small, so much smaller than his normal diminutive stature. "W-well, it's like I was t-trying to tell you last night. Cal, uh, he wants to er... fuck me?"

Finally hearing him say it put Brian into a state of fight or flight. Cal wanting to fuck him was perfectly logical. Normal, even. His brother had a cute butt, one that was utterly squeezable and much like his mouth, a cozy fit for any cock. His boyfriend would be an utter moron to skip out on it.

But that wasn't the scary part. The scary part was that he knew exactly what Quinten was gearing up to say next.

"But I have no experience and... and I need to practice."

And there it was.

Brian nodded absently along. "Mhm," he said noncommittedly.

Quinten's ears burned red hot and his next words came out in a fluster. "Will you help me? You're much bigger than him but I think that's a plus. It just means that if I can take you, I can take him and it'd be perf-"

"No."

Quinten's jaw snapped shut with a loud click of his teeth that sounded painful.

"No?" he repeated, sounding like his soul had vacated his body.

Brian wanted to flee like the coward he was deep down inside. He stood his ground instead, his arms crossed to take on a dominant posture that he hoped got through to him. He prided himself on his voice not quivering. "Yes, I said no. And you want to know why? Because humping your face is one thing but to take your virginity? That's going a step too far."

"I..."

"I'd do anything for you, but don't ask me to fuck you."

Quinten's eyes turned glassy, his face otherwise going blank. "Okay," he murmured, making Brian feel even worse. "I'm sorry. I can deal with it on my own." He returned the products to the bag and neatly tied off the handles. He then deposited it in the top drawer of his dresser and slammed it shut.

Brian felt a lump lurch up his throat. He ignored it and tried smiling, saying in false cheer, "Hey, so, I was thinking... Christmas is this coming weekend and the tree's barely decorated. I think it'd be fun if we did that."

Quinten barely reacted to the abrupt change in topic, but he offered a one shoulder shrug and took to gazing out his window. "Yeah, sure, sounds fun."

Brian took in a deep breath. "I'll go pester mom for the box of decorations." He took off right after, needing to be as far away from his brother's morose attitude as quickly as possible before he wound up vomiting all over the floor.

**

Decorating the tree hadn't been as mood lifting as Brian had hoped it would be.

He and Quinten worked in absolute silence aside from the cheerful music their mother had put on for them, the merry singing and lively instruments a constant hum in the background. Thankfully neither she nor their father had stuck around to help or watch; it would have proved even more stressful if they had.

Brian kept sneaking glances at his brother while they worked, but Quinten was laser focused on his task, the speed in which he moved signaling that he wanted to get it done as soon as possible so that he could go hide in his room. Brian didn't blame him. He kinda wanted to run away too, but since this had been his idea, he had to stick it out til the end.

Eventually they ran out of ornaments and tinsel and were left with the star, which Quinten clutched in his hands as he tilted his head up to scrutinize the top of the tree. Brian stood next to him, pleased with their work. He couldn't wait until it got darker so that they could turn the tiny little lights on. It wouldn't rival Garret's tree (no one's could, it was honestly amazing how the poor thing didn't topple over with one wrong glance), but he knew it'd be pretty nonetheless.

"Here."

Brian lowered his eyes to find that Quinten was attempting to pass the star off to him. He looked at it with a quirked eyebrow. "I thought you wanted to do it. I mean, it's kinda been your job since you were two years old."

Quinten huffed and nudged it incessantly against his chest. "Yeah but I'm too short and too lazy to get the step ladder."

Ah, that made sense. Still, Brian refused it and pushed it away. It wouldn't feel right. Like stomping all over a tradition set in place by their ancestors.

"No problem," he said happily, and much to Quinten's dawning horror, knelt down and offered his back to him. "C'mon, I'll hoist you up."

"Uh, no thanks! You'll drop me!"

"I won't. I promise."

"I'll break your back."

"Dude you're what, fifty pounds soaking wet? Just shut up and hop on."

Quinten huffed, then after taking a stiff step forward, squat down behind him and hooked his arms around Brian's neck. Brian shot up without warning, causing his brother to squeal at the abrupt change in height and cling to him with all four limbs, the star very nearly taking out his eye.

Brian hid his pain from the sudden chokehold by letting out a strained laugh and tightening his arms around Quinten's clutching thighs. "Oh c'mon you big baby. It's not that bad." He carefully stepped closer to the tree and with a heft, urged Quinten higher up his shoulders.

Quinten grunted, the nails in his left hand digging painfully into Brian's collarbone as he balanced himself. He swiped almost drunkenly with the star to get the base over the bundle of branches at the very top, and once he did, he let out a relieved sigh. Brian snorted.

"It's crooked."

"What, no it's not."

"Straighten it up."

Quinten let out a long suffering sigh and reached out to fix it. Brian gave him directions, until after much fumbling and a few choice words that would have made their mother faint, he deemed it acceptable. With Quinten still clinging onto him, he stepped backwards to admire their hard work in all its glory. The decorations were a hodgepodge of new and old things, of elementary school arts and crafts and nostalgic figurines that Brian remembered his parents buying when he could barely spell his own name, Quinten's own existence something he couldn't fathom at the time even as his mother's belly grew bigger and bigger. The tree skirt was askew and some of the baubles had scrapes that revealed the clear plastic beneath their jaunty colors, but Brian really, really liked how it turned out.

Quinten set his chin amongst Brian's curls, the prolonged stay having calmed him down. His arms were crossed loosely around his neck like a cowl, the modified hug doing wonders of filling Brian's heart with satisfaction at the blatant show of trust.

"It does look nice," Quinten said, quietly like he was afraid of shattering the peace.

Brian didn't have that fear. He spoke with his entire chest. "It's going to look spectacular once we light her up tonight. I'm so freaking excited!"

Quinten hummed his agreement. "I'm glad you asked me to do this," he murmured, putting a smile on Brian's face. "You know, I'm still a little upset that you won't help me."

"Quin..."

"But I get why you won't," he added hastily. "It's a big ask and I'm really sorry if I made things awkward. Can we just, I don't know, pretend that I never said anything? And continue doing what we're doing?"

"Of course..." Brian agreed quietly, then he laughed, the sound coming out gruff. "Now my back really is hurting," he said, hefting his brother's weight again. "Ready to get down?"

Quinten slid off without answering, then much to Brian's joy, buried his face in his chest and gave him a proper full-fledged hug. Brian ran a hand through his curls and tilted his head to rest his cheek on top of his head with a sigh. No more words were shared, the embrace saying everything that needed to be said.

**

Later, after dinner was eaten and the sky had darkened into a velvety night, the four family members gathered in the living room to turn off all the lights so that they could admire the brothers' hard work in its entirety. Their mother clapped happily as the living room became awash with red, blue, and green while their father proudly told them that it was the prettiest tree he'd ever seen (which, Brian knew to be a lie because he said it every year, regardless of the amount of effort put into it).

Quinten didn't say anything as he stood at Brian's side, though when Brian snuck a glance at him, he could see the white lights of the star shimmering in his eyes like crystals, turning them a dulcet green and softening the panes of his face, his lips curved into a smile. When he discreetly wrapped an arm around his waist, Quinten tilted his head towards him, his eyelids suddenly heavy and full of growing suggestion. Brian pretended not to notice, but the moment their parents left them alone in order to wind down for the night, he turned towards Quinten and loosely wrapped his arms around his waist, his hands gently pressing against the small of his back.

His heart pounded as they stared at one another in the near darkness, the Christmas music once again a hum in the background. It was intimate and cozy, like they'd been enveloped by a bubble that kept them together and safe from prying eyes. It was then that Brian realized that Quinten was the greatest gift he could have ever received. Nothing in the entire world would equate to the love he had towards his brother, and frankly, he wouldn't have it any other way.

"I love you," he said emphatically, feeling the familiar ache that he felt two nights ago, when he had told him so after they'd brought each other to orgasm.

An easy smile erupted on Quinten's face, his eyes glittering twice as bright. "I love you back."

One of them began to move forward, maybe they both did, until their mouths were lightly touching, almost hesitant, then with growing persistence, and before Brian could blink their lips were slicking together as their tongues gently mingled.

Brian pulled him in by the waist as his eyes closed in bliss, and in return Quinten set his palms against his bearded cheeks, holding him steady as their making out turned more and more passionate. Their moans and the wet smacks of their lips carried under the twinkling music, the gentle shuffling of their jeans as they began grinding against one another just another cacophony of sound.

When they broke apart in so many minutes to take in a breath, Brian moved his hands down to grope his brother's ass while also lowering his puckering lips to his neck to kiss and nuzzle against the warmth he found there. He flicked his tongue out on a whim to taste him, and at Quinten's little gasp, he suctioned his mouth above his left collarbone, suddenly eager to give him a hickey. It wasn't the smartest idea as his boyfriend would see it, but in the moment he just had to mark his brother as his.

"Brian, don't," Quinten stuttered, his voice weak. Brian reaffirmed his hold, feeling justified when he quieted almost immediately and shifted in a certain way to give him more room. Quinten's breathing thundered in his ears in a laboring pant, his body going limp until Brian found himself supporting more than half of his weight.

He didn't mind, and by the time he leaned back to admire the vivid red mark marring Quinten's pale neck, Quinten was clinging to him like he was a lifeline, his eyes wide and nostrils rapidly flaring. He looked so young. Innocent. Not at all like the brooding teenager Brian had known for years and years.

Something lurched in his gut, and he realized with dawning clarity that he couldn't just turn his back on his baby brother and make him figure it out all by himself. He had told Garret earlier that he was a monster for feeling a certain way for his sibling, but if he turned his back on Quinten when he needed help getting over a rather terrifying hurdle, he'd be an even worse manner of creature. And he could not accept that.

"I'll help you," Brian whispered.

Quinten blinked rapidly up at him, slow on the uptake. "With what?"

"Preparing you, for Cal. But," he added at the way Quinten snapped to attention, "I'll only do it with a dildo. I won't be doing it directly. Deal?"

The disappointment on Quinten's face could be seen from outer space, but Brian refused to budge. It was a fair compromise, he thought.

"Okay, fine. Deal." Quinten sighed and lowered his eyes to his hand, planted on Brian's chest sometime during their kissing. His fingers curled into the supple fabric of his sweater. "Do you... do you think we can... get started? Tonight?" he added hopefully.

Brian hesitated. In a way he wasn't surprised. Quinten had gone out and gotten supplies not even a full day after his date with his boyfriend. He could only deduce that they'd be meeting back up before the week was out, so time was of the essence. For all he knew, they could have another date tomorrow night.

"Yeah, we can." He stood back and held out his hand, which Quinten immediately took. "C'mon."

**

"How was it?"

"Awful. Wet. Gross. Awful."