Disclaimer: I do not own the Mighty Ducks, or any of the characters. However I do own my characters Lis, Stealth, and Crystal. So please do not sue me.

Author's note: A story of the Brotherhood of The Blade. It is about Duke and Lis. Another romance I have created for the two. This has nothing to do with the series I am putting up, but I thought it was a sweet story and I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think of it, okay? It would mean a lot to me. Not for those who do not like romance.

Chapter Two

The next morning, Lis awoke late in the afternoon, and hurried out to the galley where she found Duke having breakfast. He seemed a lot better now; but she couldn't help but wonder how he felt deep down.

Why did she care so much? He was a thief, wasn't he?! So why was she looking at him like he was someone much more than a fugitive? Did she even care about that honestly?

"Hey Duke," she greeted hesitantly.

Duke looked up from his breakfast and smiled, "Mornin' sweetheart."

Lis blushed, and then shook her head; why was she letting him charm her so much. He was just joking with her, he wasn't being serious.

"Duke, you know I have a name right?" She asked firmly.

Duke laughed, "Yes, it's Lis isn't it?"

Lis smiled with a nod.

"See, I know your name," Duke teased as he got up and used his height to look down at her.

She stepped back, trying to make herself feel a little stronger against his charm and the fact that he was much stronger than her in many ways.

"Why is he doing this?!" Her mind screamed, "Does he know what am I thinking?! No, he couldn't!"

Lis looked up at him and the playful smirk he had over his face as she bravely quested, "Duke, why are you playing with me like this?"

Duke now let his smirk become a smile as he laughed lightly while resting a hand on her shoulder, "It was jus' a test Lis, ta see if ya could handle bein' charmed by someone an' keep a cool head. A lot of thieves will lye to those younger or less experienced than them, especially girls. So, I thought it best ta test ya wit' my own charm."

Lis couldn't help but laugh, "And I take it you are supposed to be the most charming?"

"Am I not?" He questioned her while sliding the hand on her shoulder slowly to her cheek.

"Duke?!"

"Well, ya wanted ta know," he reminded her in a calm and cool tone.

His other hand had snaked around her waist now as he drew closer to her. His mouth about to close over hers.

Lis was so confused, what was going on?! Last night he had seemed so withdrawn from emotion like this; or was he still playing with her.

Then they were locked in a kiss that Lis couldn't help but surrender to. Her will weak, but her heart strong.

"Lis....Lis...wake up...."Duke spoke gently as he shook Lis's shoulder gently to awaken her.

Lis looked up at the young man that was smiling down at her.

Duke's test, his charm, him pulling her closer to him, their kiss.....it had all been a painfully sweet dream.

Disappointment and embarrassment overwhelmed her. How could she have dreamt about a man that she had just met last night?!

Duke sat on the edge of the bed waiting for her to sit up. When she did he handed her a package.

"Here, I got this for you this mornin'," he told her as she opened it to find a uniform exactly like his.

She looked up at him surprised, "Thank you Duke, but you didn't have to."

Duke smiled, "I know, but I thought maybe it would help ya ta feel more like one of us."

Lis smiled in return; although fighting the wanting to hug him.

Duke sat up now as he started to leave, "Well, I'll see ya at breakfast."

"Okay, thank you again Duke," she said as he left and she got dressed.

Soon Lis was dressed and heading out to the galley when Falcone pulled her aside, "Hello brat; of you think you can survive here, think again! Without Duke babysitting you, you may as well be back on the streets starving to death. If you slip up once, I'll-."

"Falcone!" Duke's voiced growled from behind.

Falcone turned to the younger thief and growled beneath his breath, "Just making sure she knew there isn't an escape from us."

With that he shoved Lis against the wall, who grimaced as her shoulder hit the hard surface. Then he walked away in disgust, "Pathetic!"

Lis was looking at the ground now, feeling helpless and weak, when Duke walked over to her and took her by the other hand.

She looked up bewildered as he smiled, "Don't worry hun', he's just tying to make himself feel better after nearly getting caught last night before we found ya."

"Oh? I see," Lis said doubtfully, as she looked over her shoulder to find Falcone glaring at her.

Duke, however; saw this, and gave the falcon a warning glance; which made him leave the hall completely this time.

Then Duke lead Lis to the galley where they had breakfast.

Lis noticed that Duke was barely touching his meal, in fact; he had only taken one bite of it before pushing it away as though he weren't feeling well.

After seeing this, without thinking, Lis got up and walked over to Duke as she felt his four head worriedly.

Duke stared at her bewildered, "Hun', what are ya doin'?"

Startled Lis, pulled her hand back; realizing what she was doing. Now her face was completely red, and she just wanted to retreat back to her bedroom, where she could scream into a pillow or something.

Instead she just looked away from Duke, biting her lip a little.

Duke chuckled as he stood up and brought their plates to the sink and washed them.

"Duke, I could have done that for you," Lis told him when he was finished.

"It's alright, Lis; don't worry about it,' Duke replied as he sat back down at the table.

"Now," he started, "why were ya feelin' my head?"

Lis let out a sigh, "I didn't mean too if you didn't want me to, I just thought that maybe you weren't feeling well; because you weren't eating."

Duke looked at her for a moment and chuckled, "Aw sweetheart, I'm jus' goin' through a lot of stress and other messes that ya don't have ta worry your kind pretty self about."

There was that charm again. That very charm that she couldn't resist. The charm that would probably hurt her if she weren't careful.

"No, I can't help but worry, Duke; you saved my life last night."

"Well Lis, I don't feel like talkin' about it alright?!" Duke snapped.

Lis jumped slightly at Duke's verbal bite; she hadn't meant to make him upset. No, she had just wanted to talk to him. Now she'd made a mess of it.

Lis looked at her hands that gripped her pant legs tightly, "I'm sorry, Duke. I didn't mean to make you angry with me. I'll leave you alone."

With that Lis stood up, looked at him once more, and then left the galley. While Duke looked after her, feeling bad for losing his temper; but just wanting to be alone at the same time.

"Sorry hun'," was all he could say, but she didn't hear him.

Lis was in her room now as she lay on her bed looking up at the ceiling.

"I've already made him upset, what good am I here to him if I keep prying into his life?" She wondered.

Then there was a knock on the door, "Lis?"

Lis answered the door to find Duke standing before her.

"Duke?!"

"Hey sweetheart; I think we need ta talk," he said.

Lis froze for a moment; was he going to yell at her now?! Her complex had grown worse in such short time.

The two sat on her bed as Duke sighed, "Well, I guess I should start by sayin' sorry."

Lis looked at him surprised, "Sorry?!"

Duke nodded, "Yeah. I should have just asked ya ta let me be on the subject, not snap at ya like I was a monster frightening a young girl. I guess, I jus' have a lot of feelin's mixed up right now; I don't think or feel anymore. I feel pain, an' that's about it."

Lis was overcome by shock as he said this.

"My life's been a mess lately. I'm about ta become leader of the Brotherhood, an' I've lost someone very dear ta me. I normally lock everythin' up inside of me; but for some strange reason," he stopped and looked at Lis as he continued, "I feel as though I can talk ta you. I don't have to stay so strong an' tough around ya, an' ya still see me as a man who takes everythin' without steppin' back. Though that may jus' be 'cause you've only known me for a short time. I don't know anymore..."

Duke ran his hand trough his white streaked hair as he sighed, "I don't know who or what I am anymore. Maybe I've forgotten what it's like ta feel?"

"Duke," Lis whispered.

Tears stung her eyes now; for some reason, Lis knew this was the real Duke. The side of him that he hid from the world. Even if she had only known him for one night, she felt so connected with him. Though why was he telling her all this?

"I haven't been able ta feel for a month; tell me what is it like again?"

"It hurts right now," was the thought in her mind; but she told him, "You do have feelings, Duke; if you didn't, would you be telling me this right now?"

Duke looked at her surprised, but then asked, "How do ya know that I'm not lyin' ta ya ta get ya ta forgive me."

"Because then, I wouldn't be able to trust you at all, when you are the only one I know I can trust right now. Please don't take that away," she told him.

Duke smiled slightly as he hugged her, "Ya see right through me, Angel; an' don't worry, ya can always trust me."

Lis felt herself growing warm as she allowed herself to hug him in return.

It was then and there that Lis knew she had a friend at last!