================================
Needful IV:  Leather Pants and
Things Done With Tongues
================================


  Steve Austin walked into his hotel room to find Shane 
McMahon sprawled out on his bed, his legs dangling over 
the sides and his arms stretched out above his head.  He 
was asleep and motionless, his lips parted and his 
eyelids fluttering.  And he wearing leather pants.

  Not sure whether this was a good thing or a bad thing, 
although certain parts of his body told him this was a very 
*very* good thing, Austin approached the bed slowly, 
trying not to make any noise.  He stood over the younger 
man, content for a moment to just watch him sleep and to 
study him closely in a way he never could while awake.

  Pretty but not in a girly way, was the first thought that 
came to mind.  Eyelashes a little too long to be masculine, 
lips too sweet not to be sinful.  His hair was meticulously 
styled, something that Austin would never understand.  
Skin that was creamy, tempting.  Long throat, cute 
dimples.

  Austin sighed, nudged Shane's ankle with his foot.  
"Wake up," he commanded.  "Nap time's over."

  The younger man stirred, blinked up at the ceiling, then 
blinked up at Austin.  He frowned, "No fair," he mumbled, 
voice thick with sleep.  "I was suppose to seduce you."

  Leather pants, Steve thought.  *Leather*.  "Seduce 
me?"

  "Yeah, that was the plan.  But I must of been more tired 
then I thought." Shane frowned and pushed himself up 
onto his elbows.  "Do you have any idea how much 
planning I put into this?  The timing that it involved?  The 
rescheduling?"

  Very nice hips, nice legs and arms.  Squeezable, 
touchable.  Austin shook his head, shrugged.

  Yawning, Shane stretched like a cat, licked his lips 
with an audible smack and grinned.  Saucily.  "What 
took you so long, Stone Cold?"

  "I went out for a beer.  But if I had known you'd be
here waiting for me, trussed up like playmate of the 
year, I would of gone home with the redhead in the 
bicycle shorts," Austin tossed off a smug smile and 
leaned over the bed to get in nice and close.  
Breathed in Shane.  "Get out of my room, kid."

  "I'm wearing leather, Steve."

  "So I've noticed."

  Shane reached out to touch the other man but Austin 
jerked out of the way, giving away a touch of his cool 
as he did so, and Shane felt his confidence kick up a 
notch.  He let his eyes roam to enjoy the view, to take 
in the tight jean pants and tight t-shirt.  "These were 
expensive pants, Steve.  Not that cheap latex/spandex 
crap the Brood or Test wears.  This is genuine *cow*, 
moo-moo right out of the GAP.  I think I look pretty 
good."

  A roll of eyes and Steve was safely across the room, 
"Can we not talk about your pants?"

  "I like my pants.  These are my 'Rattlesnake seducing' 
pants.  What are you doing all the way over there?" 
Shane let his legs swing slightly, continued to *stare*. 
Austin felt something inside him growl and whimper at
the same time.

  Oh, this was a mistake.  A big mistake.  "Get out of 
my room, Shane."

  Shane crawled out of the bed in one smooth motion 
and started across the room towards the other man, 
"Ah - your lips say 'no', but your eyes say..."

  "....fuck you."

  "Exactly." Shane chuckled and his arms were out 
and around Steve's hips before the other man fully 
realized what had happened.  He felt the warm, hard 
body press up against his and - for the love of God - 
*squirm*.

  That something inside him growled again, moaned 
and begged.  Oh _Christ_...Austin bit his lip and tried 
not to acknowledge the feeling of Shane McMahon 
moving against him, of the arms and hands playing 
with his body.  A teasing touch that was more 
satisfying then he could ever of imagined.

  Wriggle?  Was Shane *wriggling*?

  Hips pressed against his, and Steve was lost.  But 
only for a moment.  Just as he felt his head lean in for 
a kiss, his brain kicked in and made him pull back.  
The something inside him cursed at him with words he 
didn't know he knew as he put his hands on Shane's 
shoulders and pushed him away.  Little Stone Cold 
decided to let his dissatisfaction be known as the 
warm body was detached from his.

  "Shane," the name came out as more a sigh then 
anything else, and Austin almost smiled at the 
knowing, weary look on the heir apparent's face.  He 
just shook his head, "Like I said, you just..."

  "Come with too much baggage, I know," Shane 
rolled his eyes and took a few steps back.  "You know, 
I'm not your fucking *Grandma*, it's not as if I'm looking 
to spend the weekend.  I just want one night."  He 
smirked, "I can do this thing with my tongue, Steve...
I heard that Christian can tie a cherry stem with his 
tongue."  Shane leaned in to whisper in the other man's
ear.  "I can tie one with yours."  

  Austin was silent for a long while.  Debating, arguing, 
thinking.  "That's just it, Shane," Steve said, his voice 
hesitant.  "You come with too much baggage because 
with you...it'd never be just a one night stand."

  There was unveiled surprise on the younger man's 
face, and Steve just met his gaze steadily.  And for a 
moment, for a reason Shane wasn't quite sure of, he 
felt the need to apologize.  Felt a little ashamed.

  He turned to leave, got as far as putting his hand on 
the doorknob before he turned to face the Rattlesnake 
once again.  "You just had to make things complicated, 
didn't you?"  He left.




===============================
Needful V:  A Greenwich Thing
===============================


    "Really, Shane - it doesn't bug me that you're queer."

    The heir apparent rolled his eyes and rested his chin on his 
hand.  He tried to look innocent even as a not-so-innocent idea 
formed.  He blinked up at his childhood friend, "Gee, Joe,
*thanks*."

    The other man shifted in his seat, shuffled his hands and 
feet.  He was screaming 'I'm uncomfortable!!!' without so much as 
a flicker of his mouth.  Joey frowned, "You're being sarcastic 
with me.  Fine, I'm leaving." He stood to do so, but stopped when 
Shane's hand reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him back 
down into his chair.

    "You want to talk," Shane said, voice losing it's amused tone.
"OK.  That's good, Joe - because you're my buddy and I know that 
you've always been uncomfortable about this whole bisexual thing,"
Shane waved his hand, "Really.  It's good to talk, I want to talk 
about this with you.  'Cause I'm thinking you're worried about 
stuff that you don't need to be worried about.  Like that I'm 
gonna suddenly get the urge to jump your bones or something,"
Shane smiled at Joey's sudden blush.  "Hey, man, don't sweat it.  
I won't, you know."

    "I know," he said, voice a little quieter then normal.

    "Why are you suddenly so uptight now?  You've known I was bi 
since highschool," Shane snickered.  "I wish I had a camera to 
catch that look on your face when I told you, man, that was 
priceless."

    Joey growled, "You *knew* I was uncomfortable with that sort 
of thing so you told me in the most - most - flaming way 
possible!"

    A raised eyebrow and Shane's smirk made his eyes spark
with amuesment, "'Flaming'?  So now I'm not only *queer*, I'm 
*flaming*?"

    "You know what I mean.  You took me to a MALE strip club!" 
Joey still looked mortified from the memory.  "You napalmed me, 
dude!"

    Laughter bubbled up and Shane couldn't help but laugh out 
loud, grabbing his sides as his body shook from the effort to hold
it in.  Which he did try to do, but everytime he caught a glimpse 
of his friend's face he couldn't help but crack up again.

    "I'm glad I amuse you," Joey snapped.

    Finally, Shane started to calm down.  His laughter bubbling 
away to snickers and then soft chuckles.  He punched Joey on the 
shoulder lightly, "I don't actually go to those places you know," 
he said, offering a kind smile.  "They smell, they're foul, and 
the talent isn't very...talented."  He got a thoughtful look and 
shrugged, "Then again, I guess the same could be said for female 
strip clubs too.  Look, Abbs - so I - " a swallowed snicker " - 
swing both ways, tell me why you want to talk now.  You've known
for years."

    "I've never actually seen you...go after...another guy 
before," Joey said.  "You know, like you're doing that pu - Steve 
Austin.  It's...weird to see."  Other then Hunter, he added 
silently, but didn't say out loud.  The subject of Triple H was
something that neither man wanted to discuss, he knew.

    Shane nodded understandingly.  He *did* understand, and he 
felt bad that he had made his good friend uncomfortable.  But he 
wasn't about to change his lifestyle for Joey, or anybody else.  
He wasn't the type to tiptoe or pussy-foot around anything, and he
said so.  "I won't change, Joey.  I'm sorry."

    "I'm not asking you too, I like you the way you are.  That's 
why I wanted to talk, I thought then maybe I'd feel better about 
it, 'cause I still like hanging out with ya, Shane.  So - I'll 
learn to deal.  You're my buddy, I won't bail on ya now."

    Feeling oddly touched by his honesty, Shane smiled and looked 
away for a moment.  "You're a good man, Joey.  And thanks."  He 
extended his fist which was hit a little harder then necessary.  
"I don't think it's going to be a problem anymore though."

    Joey inclined his head slightly, a confused look crossed his 
face, "What do you mean?"

    Hesitant, Shane bit his lip.  "You probably don't want to hear
it..."

    Looking impatient, Joey's frown deepened, "Just tell me.  
What's wrong?"

    "Well...Austin, he - " Shane paused, considered what to say.  
Somehow, as open minded as Joey was trying to be, he didn't think 
that full details of the previous night would go over very well.  
"He..."

    "Did he hurt you?" Joey snapped, angry but not at Shane.  
"I'll pound the bastard..."

    "No!  No - nothing like that.  Nothing happened.  Which is 
sort of the problem.  I want something to happen, but he doesn't.
At least, not in the same way *I* do.  It's...confusing," Shane 
said, and offered an awkward shrug.

    Joey sighed, leaned back and shook his head.  An unspoken 'tsk
tsk' in the air.

    "What?" Shane asked.

    "And here I thought at least if you were gay, relationships 
would be easier.  It just sounds more complicated to me."

    Shane smiled, "Oh yeah.  Hey - so we're okay, right?"

    Joey nodded, "Yeah, Shane.  We're cool.  Just..." his voice 
trailed off.  "Um...I'm gonna offer you some advise, okay?  About 
this Austin thing?"

    The heir apparent couldn't hide his amused expression,  or his
interest.  "Really?"

    "You come on too strong," Joey said confidently.  "It may work
with women, but knowing Austin...he won't like feeling like he's 
the bitch in the relationship.  Why don't you just...I don't know,
ask him ... out or something."  Joey blushed again, "I may not be 
an expert or anything, but that's just how I see it."

    The idea at first seemed ridiculous.  Ask Austin out?  To 
what?  Bowling and a chillidog?  But slowly, Shane realized that 
it made more sense then leather pants and unexpected ambushes.  
Maybe he *had* been coming on a little too strong.  "Whoa, Joe.  
You should, like, get your own hotline or something."  Shane 
nodded and cuffed his friend's shoulder, "Thanks, man.  I think I'll 
try that."

    "And, uh - Shane?" Joey cleared his throat, seemed to look 
everywhere but at the man he was talking to.  "You'll talk to me, 
right?  If you, you know...need to?  I know you always went to the
other guys first, because you didn't want to make me feel 
uncomfortable.  But I'd rather be a little uncomfortable then 
worry about you."

    Now Shane couldn't help himself, he reached across and hugged 
the other man, his hand patting him on the back.  He nearly let 
out a breath of relief when Joey didn't flinch, hugged back 
without hesitation.  "Joey, you're one fucking amazing bastard, 
you know?"

    "Hey - it must be a Greenwich thing."

     The two friends smiled.




========================
Needful VI:  Low-Rider
========================


    "So what do you say, Steve?  Some cheap beer, some bad music, 
and some very good burgers.  We can talk, we can have fun."

    He had him backed into a corner, literally.  Steve Austin felt
the wall behind him, and all he could see was Shane McMahon - 
standing really, really close.  "Are you asking me out on a date?"
he asked.  "What am I?  A *girl*?"

    Joey's comment about Austin not wanting to be the "bitch in 
the relationship" rang in his ears, and Shane frowned inwardly,
tried not to let his displeasure show through on his face.  This 
was not going right at all.  "Not a date, Steve," he amended, 
thinking on his feet.  "Just two guys, who work together but don't
really know each other, going to the same place at the same time. 
Maybe even sharing the same table."  Shane offered up his best 
'charming' smile.  The one that never failed.

    "No."

    Well, almost never.  "'No'?  What do you mean, 'no'?"

    A look of distaste came over Austin's face, and he pushed 
Shane away to walk past him and to his locker, gave him only a 
half-hearted glare before yanking out his gym bag.  "So much for 
those Ivy league educations.  I mean, *no*.   I don't go out.  I 
... hang."

    "And you do it so very nicely," Shane smiled, crossed his arms
across his chest and leaned up against the wall Ausitn had 
vacated.  "I'm thinking low and to the left?"

    "You must write Val Venis' material."

    "That crap?  Nah.  Come on, Steve, let's *hang* together."  
Shane's eyes seemed to glow with anticipation, "It'll be fun.  I 
promise!"

    Austin slammed his locker shut, his frown not letting up in 
the slightest.  Shane couldn't help but think that the other man 
looked kind of cute when he was pissed off.  The idea that he 
thought so both disgusted and amused him.

    "I choose the place," Austin finally said, breaking into 
Shane's thoughts.  "Tonight.  Nine.  We can meet in the lobby of 
the hotel."

    Shane nodded, "Sounds like a plan to me."  Thank you Joey!  
"See you later."

    "Hey, Shane?  Wear the leather pants," Austin grinned, and 
Shane's answering chuckle followed him out the door.




    "Joey, you're a genius."

    "I've always thought so.  It worked then, I take it."

    Shane smiled in content and sprawled back onto the couch in 
the Posse's dressing, kicked his feet up.  "Oh yeah, it worked."

    Pete shook his head, "Shane - I've never seen you this hung up
on someone in a long time.  And Austin...*Steve* Austin, of all 
people.  I never would of guessed, dude.  Wasn't this the guy that
you were *hating* just a few weeks ago?  Remember?  Master Plan, 
screwing over of the non-sexual kind?  Why do you suddenly want 
him now?"

    Beers were passed around with a box of pizza as Shane 
considered the question, and was surprised to find himself caught 
off guard.  It wasn't something that happened often either, he 
didn't like the feeling.  Where had this sudden attraction to 
Steve Austin come from?  Back in the bar that night?

    "I don't know," Shane admitted.  He just knew it felt 
wonderful.  A hot lust that he hadn't felt in a long time and 
planned to enjoy every minute of.  Why didn't seem to 
matter so much when it came to how it felt.  It just felt *good*. 
And the fact that Austin returned his attraction only made it 
better.  If only he wasn't so stand offish about it.

    Already working on his second slice of pizza, Joey munched on 
the crust and gestured with his beer bottle.  "Just be careful, 
man, this is still Steve Austin we're talking about here.  The guy
that use to beat you up every week.  The guy that *hated* you just
as much as you hated him."

    "But it's different now," Shane said.  "I don't know how or 
why, I just know that it is.  I feel it.  And - and it makes me 
happy."  Shane smiled and Joey returned it, added a shrug.

    "Okay, Shane."

    Pete swallowed a gulp of beer and tossed his friend a teasing 
glance, "So what are you going to wear on your *date*, Shane?  And
remember just 'cause he buys you dinner doesn't mean you have to 
put out."

    "You're just jealous 'cause the last time you had a date it 
was with Mae Young." Shane smirked.

    "Fruit."

    "Fat-ass."

    Joey couldn't help but laugh, "It's shameless the way you two 
flirt."

    A simultaneous "shut up" caused all three men to break into 
chuckles and Pete shook his head as he raised his beer bottle in a
impromptu toast.  "To our buddy, Shane," he said.  "May he get the
snake without feeling the bite."

    "That was oddly poetic, Gas," Shane said dryly.  "You been 
reading T.S. Eliot in the bathroom again?"

    "Shut-up, I'm trying to make a toast here," Pete snapped, then 
blinked and squared his shoulders.  "Now where was I?  Oh yeah...
booya!"

    "Booya!"  Bottle necks clinked and the three friends drank.