TITLE : Sweet Sixteen - Chapter Two
AUTHOR : Flor
PAIRING : Milan Baros/Michael Owen
RATING : PG-13
DISCLAIMER : This story does not represent the persons named in any way or reflect their sexuality. It is a total work of fantasy.
AUTHOR'S NOTES : I'm not English and I always find mistakes in my texts...don't care, I'm sorry...

CHAPTER TWO

"How is Mike?"
"As always...now he's spitting a hair ball."
"Oh...don't let him choking!"
"Don't worry, he's stronger than he seems to be."
"But he's still a kitten."
"He's one hell of a smart kitten..."

Milan got used to this sort of conversations...Michael always phones him. Everyday.
He has become a part of his life. Not only because of the phone calls.
Because they talk about things they've never told anyone. They feel comfortable with each other.

"He's also a cheeky kitten. He reminds me of someone..."
"Whom are you talking about? I'm not cheeky...you know..."
"Actually I don't know if you are...do you have a guilty conscience, mate?"
"Not of course."
"I never talked about you...."

Milan loves when Michael takes umbrage. He can picture in his mind the boy's frowning face which soon turns in a smile.

"Touche."

Michael actually is a bit cheeky, but never with Milan. When he's with Milan, Michael is as tender as possible, and he feels like a child even if he's trying hard to impose himself as a man. But he knows that he'll be forever Little Baby Michael Owen for everyone. Everyone but Milan. Milan understands him, and though he makes Mike feel like a baby, he's the only one who sees him for what he really is. A man in baby's shoes.

Time runs and Michael grows. They met a year ago. Next week will be Michael's birthday. He'll be seventeen. But he's still sixteen.
Steve Gerrard has organized a party for his own birthday, close to Mike's. Obviously Milan and Michael are invited, Milan only hopes it won't be "terrible" as he expects...

"Who is on fire?"
"OWEN'S ON FIRE!"

And then they did it. They made Michael get drunken.

Milan has told them a hundred times not to, but they understand a fuck.
Michael really seems to be sick besides drunken and gone mad. Milan understands he has to take Mikey outside for some fresh air.
They are at Steve Gerrard's home: full of booze. Probably, if the police comes, they'll be all arrested. Even if the policemen are Liverpool supporters...this is really too much.
And little Mike doesn't stand alcohol, he's just sixteen, he should neither drink a glass of wine.

"Mike, come outside. You need some fresh air."
"Oh- ...God, Milan, I feel so bad...I think I'll vomit..."
"Not here, Mike. Please, come with me. You should not have drunk so much. You're just a little boy."
"Not a boy, Milan, you know I'm grown-up."
"Well, what you've done is such a childishness...why did you drink so much?"
"They gave me and....and...God, Milan, I feel so sick...Please, take me to the bathroom..."
"Oh, damn, Mikey, you're just a fucking child, you know? You can get drunk, everyone does it in his life, but not when you're sixteen and you still live at your parents' house. What will I tell them?"
"...no, please, can I stay with you tonight? Don't take me home...Phone them and tell them I sleep at your house..."
"Better to."
"Thanks, Milan, thanks...Ohmygod,ohmygod...where's the toilet???"

The party has finished, everyone returns home. Milan is getting Michael into his car, since Mikey doesn't understand a lot and just can't stand up. Then go, bound for Milan's house.

"Christ, Milan, I'm sorry...don't tell my parents, they'd kill me..."
"I won't, stupid boy...are you ok, now?"
"Do you think I am?"
"Oh, you are humorous...shut up or I'll leave you at the first service station."

"Michael?"
"Yes..."
"Mmmh....do you have a girlfriend? I never asked you...if it doesn't bother you..."
"..."

Michael looks out of the window, like he's looking for something.

"So?"
"Never thought there was a reason if I didn't tell you?"
"What...?"
"Nothing....anyway I don't have..."
"Too busy?"
"...too confused..."

Milan understands there's more to this than meets the eye. Mikey's nervous, but he never is. He's also silent, and it's not because of the bender.

"Confused?"
"Yeah..."
"And why?"
"Because I don't know who I want..."
"No one does."

Mike seems thoughtful. Well, he is. Then, he turns towards Milan, his eyes glistening.

"Do you?"
"No. Maybe. I'm confused too."
"Who is?"
"A beautiful person."
"Thanks for the explanation..."
"Curious, Mike?"
"...yes."
"Why?"
"You started this, so why where you eager to know about my girlfriend?"
"I asked first."
"Fuck up..."
"Think you should drink again. You were so nice when you were asleep...and silent."

They've arrived; Milan is putting the car in the garage.

And then, it's again as always. Michael not silent but cheeky, Milan getting shirty, then laughter and patting on the shoulder and smiles. Most of all smiles.
Even if this night they smile to each other a bit more than usually. Maybe even the atmosphere is a bit different. Their hands accidentally touch. They look at each other, but there's no light since they're still in the garage.
Yes, they just smiling too much and maybe Milan's hand should leave Michael's.
Then his mobile rings.

"It's Milan....oh, Steve...I left my jumper at your house?...are you sure it's mine? Wait, I look if I have it here...no, I haven't...ok, can you take it Monday at the training? Thanks...see you!"

The magic moment has gone.
They go into Milan's flat, it's four o'clock, but neither of them wants to go bed. Adrenaline's still running. But for what, then?

Michael sits on the couch, Milan on his armchair. They turn the tv on, just to watch if there's something interesting on the sport channel.
Actually Milan isn't interested in the tv programs but in Mikey. He's studying his childish face. His, Milan thinks, beautiful face. What if I'd go and kiss him?
Yes, he knows. He knows he likes him. Maybe he even loves him. He doesn't know this. But he knows enough to be sure that he wants no one but Michael. His Michael.

Then Mikey turns towards Milan.

"Thanks again."
"Don't bother, Mikey."
"Ehm...Milan?"
"Yes?"
"About your...uhm...beautiful person."
"Tell me."
"Who is?"

The curmudgeonly question. Milan knows Mikey would be frightened by the answer, but he also understands that not to tell him would sound like a refusal of friendship.

Milan looks at Michael. He's just a baby. He's only sixteen. But soon will be seventeen. And things will change, Milan thinks smiling.

"What's amusing?"
"Nothing, my little one."

Mikey slightly blushes.
Milan knows what to do. He's only sixteen. He's too young. Too innocent. Too cute. Too sweet. But soon he'll be seventeen.

It's a matter of a few days....

THE END