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He sits down, trying not to show how much it hurts.

After rushing in like an idiot and knocking out one of the guys who was beating up N-Zee, N-Zee had managed to take the other one.

But that didn't mean he wasn't hurt. But so was N-Zee.

"You OK?" AJ asks, for the tenth time in two minutes.

"I'm fine. Couple of broken ribs. Nothing that won't heal. Why?"

AJ looks at him, but doesn't say a word.

The last hours had been kinda blury.

First he had sung the song he had written, telling the world how he felt about N-Zee. He had even mentioned the name, but he guessed they all thought it was some girl.

Then he had seen N-Zee, if only for a second. Not believing that he would come to see them, he had gone backstage to lick his wounds, metaphoracly speaking.

But something had told him to go into that alley, and he was glad he had done so. If he hadn't, N-Zee might be dead right now.

It had only been two guys, but even if it had been ten, he would have helped N-Zee.

His hand still hurt from knocking the guy without the bat out. N-Zee had gotten to his feet rather quickly, and kicked the other one over, pretty much knocking him out cold. AJ suspected that the guy might have a serious neck injury, but he didn't really care.

That guy had wanted to kill his N-Zee.

Why?

"Why did they do that to you?"

"This is Lion territory AJ, what.."

"I know that. Why were you there, and how come you let them sneak up on you?"

N-Zee looks at him.

He had wanted to tell AJ this a long time ago, but he had thought that all AJ wanted was to be friends. But now, after hearing the song, he knew the truth.

AJ felt the same way he did.

"Things have gotten worse between Lions and Stars lately. They get our guys, we get theirs. They seek revenge, we seek revenge."

AJ's eyes stays on him. His face is blank. No feelings showing.

Nothing.

"I know that. The papers say that it is close to a war out there, unless you do something to stop it."

"The war started about a month ago. We just don't kill each other openly. We're not stupid. That would bring in cops. One cop killed, and we'd all be on their first priority list. Those guys tonight surprised me. Hit me from behind. Before I knew it I was lying face down, getting kicked in the ribs."

"How did they sneak up on you? And don't come up with some lame lie. I know you, and you don't let that happen."

N-Zee's eyes meet AJ's, and he sees something in there that make him realize something.

He can tell AJ everything now.

He can trust him.

He loves him.

"I heard the song, heard what you feel. I..I came to tell you how I felt...but ...I heard the song and I couldn't. How could I ever match that. How could the words I was going to say make you feel like I did when I heard that song."

AJ looks at him, smiling now.

His eyes are shining.

Could it be true, could N-Zee love him as much as he loved him?

"Just say it" he said, staring into those blue eys.

"I love you"

********************

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

The words kept repeating themselves inside AJ's head.

"You there?" N-Zee asks, putting his hand on AJ's shoulder, slowly moving to sit next to him.

There was so much he had to tell AJ. He didn't know where to begin. He didn't have to decide.

"N-Zee. I know you never really liked to talk about your past, but. I know I have no right to ask, but I am curious"

He stops as N-Zee grabs his face, and pulls it so close to his own that their noses meet.

"You have a right to know AJ."

He lets go, and goes on.

"Nothing much to tell though. I was born in Jamestown, New York. My parents were ok I guess. We were supposed to move to Tampa, but my dad got a better deal, so we went to New York City. I pretty much grew up there. It's where I learned to live on my own, how to survive on my own. I took off a couple of years back, and here I am."

AJ looks at him and smiles, leaning in and giving him a soft kiss.

"You say I have a right to know, and you give me the short version. N-Zee, N-Zee, we have gotta talk man."

N-Zee kisses him back.

"I'll tell you more later. My life story is way to complicated to tell in one night. Besides, there is something else I have to tell you."

"What is it?" AJ asked, suddenly starting to feel worried, as N-Zee's face had suddenly changed.

He looked dead serious.

"Because of the war that is going on, nobody I know is safe. Luckily all of my friends are Stars, except for you and the boys. I fear that they might go for you to get to me. And if they ever find out how I feel about you, you are a dead man."

"I hear you. We just have to be careful"

"It's not that simple. You just knocked out one of theirs. You're on their list now. You and everyone you know."

"What do we do?"

"Warn the others. I'll have someone follow you guys 24/7. Don't worry, they'll stay hidden."

AJ nods, and gets up. This was bad. He could handle it though, he could handle anything with N-Zee at his side.

But he would not let anything happen to the others.

As they walked out the door, he asked the one question he had been wanting to ask N-Zee from the very beginning.

"What's your real name?"

N-Zee stops and looks at him, smiling again.

"My parents named me Nickolas Gene Carter"

 

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