It was rather common knowledge that stress was one of the top causes of fatigue. In the mind of Tezuka Kunimitsu, this directly translated to Atobe Keigo was the cause of his exhaustion. Sometimes it could be so difficult being in love with an egotistical diva who was too damn sexy for his own good. And it didn't help that Atobe's libido was always on high gear, leaving Tezuka as the victim of regular pawing. Not that he completely minded his long-time partner's constant attentions - he loved taking, and being taken by the beautiful man - but there were times when it was just not in his best interest to be up all hours of the night.

Especially when he was in the midst of preparations for an important jury trial.

Though Tezuka was skilled enough to do his work as an attorney at a prestigious law firm with only a few hours of sleep, it was not the preferred way to operate. So when his pro-tennis playing lover announced he was gong out of country for a week to participate in a large tournament, he couldn't help but look a bit forward to a small break for himself. Of course he would miss Atobe all kinds while he was gone, but the chance to spend some quality alone time and catch up on some sleep gave him peace of mind.

Doubtless, Atobe made sure he would be missed while away, carving his presence into Tezuka's back the night before he left.

A few days passed without any word from the athlete, which was no big surprise since he'd have to get settled in and signed up and recover from jet-lag before showing his stuff to the world. But eventually the day came when among the many voice mails on Tezuka's office phone came a message from Atobe. He said he'd arrived safely and was settling in fine and that because of the time difference he didn't want to call home and wake him, so opted to call the office instead. He missed him and loved him and couldn't wait to return home and show Tezuka just how much he was missed. The message went on to describe all the ways he was going to demonstrate this, and Tezuka found himself wondering how Atobe managed to do this to him even from half-way around the world.

He was left...frustrated. Reminded of the eve of Atobe's departure, his body responded to the recollection brought on by his lover's descriptive message. So even though he was more rested now than normal, he was still working half distracted.

If he were someone other than Tezuka Kunimitsu, this would be a real problem. For him, it was more like a real annoyance.

He did the best that he could to keep his mind on his work. The work he could do alone, anyway, because meeting with and talking to people while an erection faded in and out was not high on his list of favorite situations to be in. So he drowned himself in the little things - typing motions, sending out subpoenas to be served, researching case files, and reviewing evidence. Things that would keep him behind his desk.

For a while he considered taking care of his...problem...himself. But he wasn't so far gone that he was beyond decency; he was still in the workplace after all. And though it'd be easy to lock his office door and quietly stroke himself to release, he preferred to think he had enough will to at least hold off until he was home, where the scent of Atobe still clung to their bed.

Work helped. For a while he was able to lose himself in a difficult trial brief and by the time he finished it he realized the day had passed along with most of his sexual need. As he stretched and began packing up his things he decided what he really wanted to do right then was make a trip to the gym. The business complex his firm was in featured a full fitness center, complete with swimming pool and hot tub, on the second floor. It stayed open pretty late, to catch those business men who worked into the evening hours and wanted to get in a workout or hit up the sauna before heading home. It was convenient.

So it wasn't unusual in the very least when Tezuka ran into some co-workers there. His firm was a big name for a reason - a good most of the attorneys there worked long hours, as he did. He nodded in greeting at the fellow lawyers he spotted as he exited the locker room, then took an empty weight machine to do some reps.

The workout was exactly what he needed; the second best thing he could have done to relieve his pent-up frustration. Even though he'd quit playing tennis competitively many years ago, when he began high school and turned all his focus on his studies, he still liked to keep his body in top form. And Atobe made sure he kept his skills finely honed; they continued to play each other regularly, when Tezuka had the time, and they always had a good match. And afterward they would continue the battle for top in the bedroom, burning up the adrenaline they'd acquired on the court.

Now, the flexing and extending of his muscles relieved him of Atobe's games once again, but in a different way.

When finished, he returned to the locker room to change into his swim trunks, intending to top the workout off with a few laps around the pool. He had changed his shorts and removed his shirt just as the few co-workers he'd seen earlier entered from the pool area. Their wet hair and towels were signs that they'd just finished up getting in their own swim laps. And their gasps and mutterings of "oh my" were evidence of them having noticed the claw marks that ran down Tezuka's back.

"Well now," one of the louder of the group spoke up. "Looks like someone's been getting some."

Tezuka raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"Atobe-san must be wild in the sack to tear you up like that."

And Tezuka twitched. He generally didn't care who knew about his relationship, which was a good thing since it was pretty impossible to hide with someone like Atobe as his partner. If his frequent visits to the office didn't give them away, his winking at news cameras and dedicating every trophy won to his "sexiest lover, Tezuka" surely would. But he'd been able to take everything in stride, and rarely let people's reactions when they found out his sexual preference get to him.

There were times, though, when he was just not in the mood for even light-hearted teasing.

"Well, he is pretty attractive." Some people obviously didn't know when to quit. "I'm not into guys but, shit, I'd do him!"

The loudmouth didn't see it coming, but next thing he knew he'd been slammed up against the lockers by the throat. There was a dangerous gleam in Tezuka's eyes as he said "talk about my husband that way again, and I'll make you regret it." Then he dropped him and walked away.

As he headed toward the pool area, heedless of the eyes that followed his scratched back, he decided that had been the most stress-relieving part of the day yet.