The second chapter of my story that is starting to develop a plot. I even think I know where I'm going with this. Enjoy!

blah thoughts

"blah" talking


Lee sighed as he separated ways with Michael knowing that his eagle wasn't fond of showing off their relationship. If that's what you could call it. He rubbed his eyes and joined his team after taking once last glance at the American. Mariah raised a questioning eyebrow at him. He simply shook his head to signal that now was not the time or the place for the conversation that she wanted to have.

Tyson was the one to draw his attention back to the whole group when he started complaining about when the tournament was going to start. "Day after tomorrow" was all the response he got from his team captain.

"Then why are we here?" Daichi promptly whined.

"This is merely a two hour get together for you bladers so that you can catch up on what everyone else has been doing. It is also designed to give you a break in your training schedules since I know how hard you all have been working for this tournament." Mr. Dickenson's reply got several groans as well as cheers.

Mariah promptly dragged Lee back outside to have a conversation with him about what was going on between him and Michael. "Spill big brother. I know that you're with Michael so why are you two doing everything to avoid each other?"

"We're not avoiding each other Mariah. Michael isn't the kind of guy who likes the whole world to know about his personal life. Sometimes I have to pester him for hours to find out what's bugging him. It's not like we're an official couple anyway. We date whenever we're in the same city, but otherwise we consider ourselves single."

"That's not what you want though is it? You want to be so much more to him even though you're not willing to make any more sacrifices." Mariah had that look in her eyes that screamed she knew exactly what was going on and there was no way for Lee to get out of this questioning session.

"I can't live here in New York. It's just not possible. I always end up feeling like I'm suffocating. I need to be able to leave when I want to. I need to be away from here and get in touch with nature again. We weren't raised to handle this kind of life Mariah. You know that." Mariah was stressing her brother and she knew it. She also knew that if she didn't ask questions about their relationship Lee wouldn't think about it.

"Maybe you don't have to live in New York. Maybe you can live outside the city. It's just a suggestion." She left him to think it over for a few minutes. Lee, however, did everything in his power not to consider her questions or suggestion. He was perfectly fine with how his relationship with Michael was going because it let him keep from committing too seriously.

"Now if only I hadn't fallen in love with him."

Michael walked outside for a cigarette before the All-Starz went back to their penthouse and the other teams to their hotel. The event had been stressful or so he was telling himself. He refused to admit that the distant look on Lee's face and the lack of interaction with the lion was the reason he was lighting up his fifth cigarette of the day. His brain registered the strong arms that looped around his waist as he took a deep drag. "You coming home with me tonight?"

"You want me to?"

"What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I want you to come home with me. I haven't seen you in months."

"Then I'll go home with you. Will Judy and the others be alright with it?"

"They've yet to complain. I highly doubt that they'll start now." Michael sighed before continuing on. "Do you want to go out to dinner or just get take-out and hibernate in my bedroom for the rest of the day?"

"Take-out and hibernation sounds good" he replied with a soft chuckle. "Why don't you put that out and we can go back to the penthouse early?" Michael took one last long drag before tossing the finished cigarette on the ground and stepping on it.

Lee woke up slightly sore and freezing. They had kicked off all the covers earlier in the evening but now that he wasn't sweating the air felt cold on his bare skin. He shifted to grab the blankets from the bottom of the bed and promptly noticed his lover's absence. With a soft sigh he climbed off the bed and found his boxers to slip into before wandering out of the bedroom. He found Michael exactly where he expected to find the eagle, sitting on the balcony rail smoking a cigarette. "The bed isn't nearly as warm without you in it."

Michael looked up slightly startled by Lee's voice. "You were sound asleep when I came out here two minutes ago. If you're cold you don't want to be standing out here. The wind is a bit chilly." Lee sighed as he wandered over to wrap his arms around the smoker's waist and bury his face between his shoulder blades. "Go back to bed lion. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"It's lonely without you. Do you really need to smoke that badly?" Much to Lee's surprise Michael stubbed the cigarette out and climbed off the balcony railing. Lee smiled up at him and pulled him back toward the bedroom. Once inside both stripped down before climbing in under the covers.

Lee fell asleep almost immediately, but Michael laid awake thinking about addiction for a while longer. Is it possible that I'm beginning to become as addicted to Lee as I am to cigarettes? It's becoming harder and harder to say 'no' to him. Hell, maybe I'm even more addicted to him. He's the only person I'd put out a cig for early without a good reason. I'll have to talk to Meko about this tomorrow. For a 16-year-old she certainly seems to have a better understanding of emotions and life than I do. Hmm, Lee's purr is intoxicating. With that last thought the eagle joined his lion in the realm of dreams.


And there you have it. I hope you're enjoying this story because it's been very interesting to write. If you would be so kind as to do me a favor of reviewing and telling me if you actually like this I'd be forever grateful. Once again, any suggestions as to plot, other pairings, or things I might want to work on would be wonderful and considered.