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.

Chapter Three

That night at dinner, Lis was introduced to the rest of the Brotherhood Of The Blade. Though despite how cheerful Duke tried to be for her; they both knew that the others were frowning upon the new girl. They saw her as a strange outcast, a freak. To them, she didn't belong on their planet, let alone in their lair of thieves.

Also, Lis couldn't sit beside Duke, for he had to sit near the head of the table, beside the current leader. Duke was his apprentice, and had to learn from this man. Duke had told her that there was only one more week left; and then he would be the leader of The Brotherhood Of The Blade.

So Lis sat between two other members who easily showed their lack of enthusiasm towards the new member. She felt lonesome and unwanted.

Seeing this Duke turned to the leader, and spoke to him quietly. All Lis could tell from where she sat was that the leader nodded and Duke stood up. Then he walked over to Lis, took her by the hand, and lead her to the empty seat beside his. Usually no one was allowed to sit beside the apprentice, unless it was a family member, best friend, fiancé, or wife. Lis was none of these; so the others wondered why she was allowed to sit by Duke. Even Lis was bewildered as well, probably more than they were.

"Duke? Am I supposed to sit here?" She asked him.

Duke smiled at her, "Don't worry sweetheart, I want you're allowed. Besides, why can't you enjoy dinner like everyone else?"

"Thank you Duke," was all she could say.

"You're welcome hun'," Duke told her as he squeezed her hand a little.

Not too much longer later, and everyone was either going to sleep, or going on a mission. Duke and the leader had disappeared for a private meeting; leaving Lis alone again.

So she wandered around the lair, exploring before turning in for the night. That's when a women pulled her into a room and slammed her against a wall, hurting her shoulder.

Lis winced as she looked up at the stranger, who was smirking and glaring at her at the same time.

"Who are you?" Lis questioned, trying to hide her fear.

"Listen girl, you stay away from Duke! He's not interested in a runt like you! You're just a child, and could never make him happy the way I can! You understand?!" The girl hissed with her dark green eyes growing even darker somehow.

"I-."

"If I see you near him again, you'll regret it!" The girl spat as she shoved her against the wall once more and then left.

Now Lis sat alone in the dark, with her head in her hands. She was trying so hard not to break down in tears. The one and only friend she had made, and she couldn't be near him. Lis felt very much alone again, and wondered if she should try to make a run for it; before Duke saw her and stopped her from leaving again. Yet a thought stopped her from running; she remembered how Duke had come to her for comfort and help. He had told her something that she knew he hadn't told anyone else. He needed a friend as much as she did; but could they still be friends?

With that Lis got up and went to her room, where she pondered what she should do. Then she fell fast asleep.

The next morning, Lis woke up; this time without Duke there. He and the leader had gone on a mission, and hadn't returned. Lis hoped that they were safe and coming back soon.

Not too much longer, Lis was in the library; where Duke found her after he had slept for a an hour or so.

When Lis saw him, she tried to leave so the other girl wouldn't know that they had been in the same room. Though Duke noticed Lis's attempt to avoid him, and he stopped her by grabbing her by the arm.

"Hey, where ya goin'?" Duke asked curiously.

She didn't face him. She couldn't tell what had happened while he was away.

"Lis, tell me. Why were ya tryin' ta avoid me?" He questioned now as his grip on her arm grew tighter.

She winced as his grip grew too tight, and she tried to pull away.

"Stop Lis, it's only gonna get tighter," he assured as he placed his hand beneath her chin and had her look up into his dark brown eyes.

"Lis, if I hadn't brought ya here, you'd still be on the streets starvin' ta death. I thought I shown ya that I'm your friend; so why ya treatin' me like dirt?"

Lis's eyes swelled with tears now that she had forced back the night before. He was her friend, and she knew that. She just didn't want to make anyone else upset with her. Though this included Duke more than anyone else.

Soon Lis found herself crying into Duke's hard chest. Her tears soaked into his soft black and burgundy turtleneck. Duke couldn't help but hold her, trying his best to comfort her.

"Lis, hun', what's wrong?"

"I was told to stay away from you, or else I'd regret it. So I tried to avoid you, so she wouldn't be upset. I just wanted to fit in here, without anyone else hating me; but I can't stay away from you! You're the only friend I have!"

Now Duke was unknowingly stroking her soft brown hair as she sobbed. He had never seen her cry before; it was the first time in a long while that he had seen someone cry. Though this time, he felt his own heart hurting a little. Though it wasn't pity that he felt, it was understanding.

Not having a friend to turn to; Duke knew how that felt all too well. His only friend in the Brotherhood had become his rival for leadership, and now he had no one to talk to that really knew him. Though now, as he hugged Lis tight; Duke could tell that Lis was his friend, and she shared the pain that he had once felt. Though he did wonder how a girl so sweet to others could have ended up all alone on the streets in the first place?

"Lis," he now said gently, "don't worry about what the others have said ta ya. I'm not goin' ta stop bein' your friend. An' no one is goin' ta hurt ya. I'm here ta look out for ya. Alright, Angel?"

Lis nodded silently as she pulled away and dried her tears.

"Now?" Duke began, "Why was I lookin' for ya again? Oh yeah! Lis I wanted ta ask ya somethin'."

"What is it?" She inquired.

"Well, our leader, Stealth, has advised that I should find a partner for my own missions. An' I was wonderin' if you would be my partner?" He asked her.

"You..want me to be your partner?!" Lis exclaimed.

He nodded, "Of coarse you, silly. I'm lookin' at you aren't I?" He reminded as he kissed her four head lightly.

Lis blushed again, and he chuckled when she did. He thought it was cute, and wondered if he should tease her a little.

Lis felt surprised again. Duke was still the only man that had ever kissed her, and now he had twice! She wondered if he were just playing with her, or if he actually felt something towards her. She shook that idea away, it was not likely at all.

"Duke, why would you want me for a partner? I've never stolen anything in my life; so what good am I to you?" She questioned.

"You're my friend, and I trust ya more than anyone else here. An' I'll teach ya ta thieve, I promise," Duke assured, "I want ya ta be my partner. Please Lis?"

"We'll get caught if I'm your partner," she said meekly.

"I don't think so; I've never been caught before, so with me at your side, you won't be caught," he assured her as he gave her a charming smile.

That charm again, was he toying with her? She realized that acting like he had been towards her was making her feel very self conscious, and it had her wondering if he were going to hurt one day with that charm. If she fell for him someday, and it turned out that his sweet talk, was just talk, she'd be crushed. So, she agreed silently to herself that she would talk to him about it later, and ask him to stop.

Though not now for some odd reason.

"So, what do ya say hun'?" Duke asked hopefully.

Lis looked at him, unsure of how to answer. She wondered if being his partner would make his charm harder to resist.

Duke was disappointed now, and he began to turn away, "Never mind Kid, I understand if you'd rather stay here. If you're more comfortable staying here where they laugh at ya, while I've been everythin' but cruel and cold towards ya!"

Lis looked after him as he began to leave, then realized that he was right. He had been very kind to her, a true friend in every way; even if he did play with her heart a little. She was still confused and nervous; but she wanted to be around him anyway.

"Duke!" Lis cried softly as she grabbed his dark hand.

Startled, he turned and looked at her, "Lis?"

"I want to be your partner," Lis told him.

He smiled now, "I hoped so; now our first mission is tonight, so be ready, okay?"

She nodded, and he kissed her once again on her cheek.

So that night, they were on the roof of a museum, about to steal a very rare ruby, that had been recently found and displayed.

"Now, we need to be extremely silent, okay sweetheart?" He said while shutting off the security system.

Lis nodded nervously.

Then they went inside. Lis was so uneasy, and she had a overpowering feeling that something was going to go wrong.

"Lis," duke whispered almost soundlessly while looking over his shoulder at her, "Ya alright?"

She just nodded, but he still noticed her uptight expression, even in near pitch black; for he took her hand and held it while they walked through the barely moon lighted hallow halls that were decorated with many priceless paintings. Though they weren't the prize for this night.

"Don't worry sweetheart, nothin's gonna happen," he assured quietly.

Soon they ha found the room with the beautiful red gem.

Though just as Duke reached for the case, an alarm ripped through the silence! A metal door slammed shut behind them, and they could hear footsteps coming closer, and fast!

Lis was scared, and couldn't help but cling to Duke's muscular arm.

Then she watched as Duke opened the case, took the crimson rare stone, and placed it in the pouch that hung from his belt and rested against his hip.

Now Duke looked around for an escape, there was only the one door that was slammed shut before them; trapping them inside!

Just then Duke looked up and smiled. Lis glanced up, a glass window, Their only chance! Yet it was closed; but that didn't stop Duke as he looped and arm around Lis's thin waist, and shot a grappling puck up at the window, and began to pull them up quickly.

"Hang on sweetheart!" Duke yelled as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Duke, we'll either get killed or get really hurt!" She shouted in protest.

"Just hang on!" Duke ordered.

Soon enough the security guards came in and began to shoot at them. Lis burried her face beneath Duke's chin, and into his chest, as Duke shot at the window. The glass came crashing down around them, but didn't seem to cut them.

About two minutes later they were on the roof of a building nearly a block away; too far for them to get caught as they collapsed tiredly. He fell exuastedly on his back, while she dropped to her knees; both gasping for breath.

"You okay sweetheart?" Duke panted as he lay on the rough surface of the roof catching his breath.

Lis sat close to him, on her knees, trying to retrieve air as well.

"I'm okay," she finally answered as she allowed herself to lay beside him; her lungs aching.

Just then he turned on his side and looked at her with concern, and yet some relief as well.

"I'm sorry I risked your freedom; I should have started ya wit' a smaller assignment."

"It's okay," She told him as she fought the urge to hug him, "We're safe; that's all that matters to me."

He smiled while he tried to stand up; but he stopped with a sudden yelp of pain.

"Duke?!" Lis exclaimed as she rushed to his side.

Duke was looking at his leg, it had a long slash across it, and was bleeding quickly down his leg. It soaked into his burgundy pant leg.

Lis immediately, and carefully, took the glass out and then tore off a sleeve of her shirt so she could wrap it around his leg.

Duke looked at her nearly speechless, but managed to ask, "Lis...why did ya...?"

Lis looked at him, and her heart jumped with pain when she realized that she had grown to have feelings for the young thief. Even if she had known him for a short time, she loved him!

Lis recoiled as her eyes widened with hurt, when she realized that he probably didn't feel the same for her; and knew that she should have listened to her first instinct to not become his partner. For now his damage had been done, he had charmed her to where she had fallen for him. Lis now felt the greatest pain she had ever endured as she looked at him, longing for him.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" He asked with concern when he noticed a glimpse of tears in her eyes.

When Duke went to brush the tears away, Lis pulled away, and whipped them away herself.

"Nothing's wrong, I was just worried, that's all!" She told him quickly.

Duke knew Lis lying to him; but he let her be. He thought that she would tell him when she was ready too. He had learned to let a woman talk when she wanted to, and not force her to be silent or to just tell him what was on her mind. Yet, when it came to Lis for some reason, he couldn't help but worry about what was bothering her. Especially when she had been crying.