Title: Stolen Moments
By: Bridget McKennitt
Pairing: RPS - Dirk Nowitzki/Steve Nash, implied one way Shaquille O'Neal/Steve Nash
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1083
Summary: In Steve's mind and heart, there can only be Dirk.
Contains: No warnings in as far I know that can't be extrapolated from the header itself.
Disclaimer: Any real person, location, or organization mentioned in the story below own themselves. This is only a fictional story meant for entertainment and not intended for profit or believing the real people mentioned are like this in real life.
Author's Notes: Timeline is right after the 4/6/08 Mavericks vs Suns game.
Steve Nash headed towards the locker room, trying to block out the noise of the crowd and the flashing lights. His team lost, and against his old team, no less. He was so certain that the Suns would win, they were up by twelve points at one point, but he blew it.
A strong hand wrapped around Steve's waist, pulling him in. Steve looked up and gave Shaq a tired smile. "Sup?" he asked.
"It was a close game. Stop thinking it was your fault. It wasn't."
Steve shrugged. "I could have hit more of those three pointers."
"Maybe, and I could have made more of my shots. We all could have."
Shaq led them into the locker room where the rest of their team were undressing or talking with reporters. He did not release Steve, instead tightening his hold around him. Steve was grateful for the support.
Steve didn't know how Shaq did it, but the reporters kept away from them as they made their way to Steve's locker. He stripped off his shirt and grabbed at his towel. He just wanted to clean up and head home as soon as possible, forgetting about tonight's game.
"You feel like going out tonight?" whispered Shaq as he leaned his massive body down so he could get his mouth near Steve's ear. "We could go to the bar up the street from here and get a few drinks."
Steve gave a slight head shake. "No can do. I need to find Dirk so we can get home. He's staying at my place for the next few days."
Shaq took a step away, and while Steve did not turn around to look at his teammate's expression, he knew the big guy was frowning.
"I didn't realize the Mavs were staying in Phoenix for that long."
"They're not, but Dirk got permission to stay here until his next game on Tuesday. He wants to spend some time with his goddaughters."
Shaq reached up to squeeze Steve's shoulder in a supportive manner before letting go. "Tell Nowitzki hello for me, will you?" His voice was gruff, as if he had to drag the words out from his lips.
"Yeah, I'll do that." He slung his towel over his shoulder and headed for the showers. He didn't notice Shaq's yearning look focused in his direction.
***
Steve ducked into the guest locker rooms, his hair still wet from his shower, looking for Dirk. It wasn't hard to find the German, as tall as he was, standing near the lockers talking with Jason Kidd. Steve forced a grin on his face, he never liked Jason all that much, and marched towards the pair.
Jason's chuckled died away as he noticed him first. Dirk turned towards what Jason was looking at and he grinned, opening his arms to embrace Steve. Steve accepted the embrace, as well as the lift off the ground, before wriggling out of Dirk's arms.
"You ready to go? Alejandra's waiting and I don't want to keep her up."
"Let me grab my bag." Dirk lifted his duffel bag from the bench, waved to Jason, and left with Steve.
Every bump Dirk would do against Steve, made him aware how badly the Maverick wanted to hold him. He'd have to give Dirk a barely visible shake of the head every time to veto that idea. They were people still milling around the hallways and while hundreds of pictures were taken of the two of them touching and hugging in ways that were a shade too intimate, Steve didn't need anymore press like that.
However, once they got into Steve's car, Dirk couldn't hold back. He pulled Steve, tangling his hands in Steve's shirt, as he smashed their lips together. "I've missed this," said Dirk, his voice heavy with longing.
Steve gave Dirk a little peck before nuzzling his cheek against Dirk's. "I did too. Think you can wait until we head home before you ravish me? I don't want Alejandra to scold me for being so late."
Dirk chuckled and pulled away. "Of course."
Steve started the ignition and pulled the car out of the parking space. As they waited behind another car, Dirk slid his hand over Steve's thigh, alternating between squeezing and releasing the flesh under his large palm.
"Jerk," muttered Steve and Dirk grinned in response.
"Just reminding you of your promise."
Steve found himself tightening as he recalled what he had promised Dirk over the phone. "I won't forget."
"Good." Dirk paused before squeezing Steve's thigh one more time. "Think you can tell Shaq to stop touching you?"
"What?" Steve stepped lightly on the breaks before glancing over at Dirk. His friend had his arms folded across his chest with a stubborn tilt to his chin. "Shaq isn't like that."
"You're an idiot. He wants you. I can tell. Why else would he have fouled me so many times?"
Steve laughed. "Because you're a big guy and so is he. It's bound to happen. You got a foul because of me tonight, or did you forget that?"
"I remember." Dirk's bottom lip puffed out as he began to pout. "Still doesn't change my mind. He wants you," Dirk insisted. "I saw the looks he gave you on the court."
"It doesn't matter if he does or doesn't want me. My heart's already claimed and if you're too dimwitted to get that, I love you."
"Good." A big grin emerged on Dirk's face and the tenseness in his shoulders slowly faded away as he leaned back in his chair. "Think you can get us out of this lot any faster? I want to see my goddaughters before they go to bed. I don't want them to forget about me."
"Never fear. I'm sure Alejandra's been pointing out their crazy uncle on tv for them." Steve took a hand off the steering wheel to squeeze Dirk's shoulder. "Shaq has nothing on you. You've been entwined in my life for so long, I don't know how to separate us and I never want to."
Dirk leaned over, his hot breath against Steve's temple as he began murmuring in his native tongue. Steve could only catch a few words, like love and need and forever that Dirk taught him while they were tangled in a bed years ago when they were both teammates on the Mavericks, and he shivered.
No, Shaq could never compete against Dirk. The Suns may have lost, but tonight, Steve was a winner.
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