 Ben and Brian are generally cordial to one another, although they occasionally clash over their conflicting values and mutual interest in Michael.It is revealed in Season 2 that Ben and Brian shared a brief prior sexual encounter, which initially disturbs Michael.However, unlike Michael's ex-boyfriend, David Cameron, Ben does not openly resent Michael's and Brian's close and somewhat co-dependent friendship and he calmly acknowledges that when two people enter a relationship, they each bring his own history.