Ballpark Memories (Casey/Zeke) PG
Title: Ballpark Memories
Author: moit
Fandom: Faculty
Pairing: Casey/Zeke
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance
Warnings: schmoop, fluff
Summary: Zeke takes Casey to see the Cincinnati Reds play.
Word Count: 1474
Author's Note: This is dedicated to one of my favourite writers, one who inspires me like crazy, one who teaches me so much, honeyandvinegar. One thing I've learned from her is the notion of having a "concept" to your fic, not just a story line. Your story begins and ends with complimentary pieces like book ends. That's what I was trying to do here.
Zeke hated baseball. He hated it more than school. More than Burke's class even. Well, maybe not more than Burke herself, but baseball never ranked very high on his list. Maybe it was because he never did well in little league, or maybe it was because baseball players were so damn cocky. It was probably because his dad promised to take him to a game, then bailed. His dad had even gone so far as to buy tickets.
I'll be home at noon, Ezekiel, then we'll go, he told Zeke.
Zeke never saw his dad again. He hated baseball ever since. Zeke pushed the memory out of his mind. No time for that, now.
He wouldn't say anything to Casey, of course. The boy was completely mad for baseball, despite having two left feet and being unable to throw a ball if he tried.
Casey thought they were going to the zoo for his birthday; instead, Zeke planned to surprise him with tickets to see his favourite team. Once upon a time, the Reds had been Zeke's favorite team, too.
Zeke pocketed his car keys and knocked on the Connor's front door. Mrs. Connor opened it and invited him inside. This was the drill; he was used to it by now.
Mr. Connor put down the paper he'd been pretending to read. "Well, hello, Zeke. How are you this afternoon?"
Casey's parents knew of Zeke's plans, of course. It wouldn't impress them if Zeke suddenly hauled Casey off to Cincinnati without telling them.
"I'm fine, Sir. And yourself?"
"Doing well," Mr. Connor said, slapping his knee as though he'd made a joke.
"Casey will be down in a minute," Mrs. Connor supplied helpfully.
Zeke nodded.
Next came the usual awkward silence preceding Casey's entrance. Like clockwork, the Connor family.
Casey's appearance made Zeke's heart swell with affection. Casey hadn't done anything special--same Wal-Mart brand jeans and too-large button-down plain shirt (in blue today). He wore his camera around his neck like a medal of honor. He looked like he had every day since Zeke met him, but that's what made him special. He was the only constant in Zeke's life.
"Ready?" Casey asked, all dimples and gapped teeth.
And just like that, Zeke was happy to go to a Red's game if it meant he got to see Casey smile. "Yeah," was all he said.
When they got into the car, Casey leaned over for a kiss.
"Happy birthday," Zeke said softly as they parted.
"Thanks. I'm sorry my parents are such prudes, making you come in and everything."
"No big deal." Zeke put the car in gear and they were off.
Casey started chattering about the animals he was going to photograph at the zoo. Zeke had to lick his lips several times to keep from grinning. Casey was adorable when he got excited--especially when he had no idea where they were really going.
"Case, can you reach into the glovebox and get my sunglasses?" Zeke asked, pretending to squint into the sunlight.
"Sure." Casey leaned down. He flipped the handle on the glovebox. Zeke fought to keep his eyes on the road.
Casey's shriek echoed over the sound of Zeke's radio. "Reds tickets! When are we going? This weekend? Tell me I don't have to wait longer than that. They're playing in Pittsburgh this weekend."
"But they're playing in Cincinnati today."
"We're going today?" Casey squinted at the tickets and crowed again. "Have I ever told you you're the best boyfriend ever?"
"Not since yesterday," Zeke smirked.
"You're the best." Casey leaned over and gave Zeke a quick kiss on the cheek.
The ride from Herrington to Cincinnati took a little over forty-five minutes. Great American Ball Park was already teeming with people when they got inside. Zeke led them to their seats because Casey was too busy snapping photos of every conceivable subject to pay attention to where he was going. He was even more excited once they got to their seats.
"Zeke, look at the view of the river! Just look at it!"
"I know, baby."
Zeke just eat back, enjoying Casey's excitement. The light in Casey's eyes told him he could not have chosen a better birthday gift.
"I'm going to get something to drink. Do you need anything?" Zeke asked.
"I'm good," Casey said without taking his camera away from his face.
Zeke returned with a large soda and a Reds cap he tossed in Casey's lap. "Don't say I never gave you anything."
This finally got Casey's attention. "Awe, Zeke," he cooed. "Bringing me to the game was enough."
"It's not like I don't have the money," Zeke answered with a shrug.
Casey put his hat on. "How do I look?"
In the safety of his mind, Zeke thought he looked good enough to eat. But to Casey, he just said, "Looks good." Casey smiled again and Zeke's insides turned to butter.
"Would you please rise for the playing of the national anthem," the announcer said.
Casey and Zeke dutifully stood. Casey put his hat over his heart like the players on the field. Zeke resisted the urge to bend him backwards and kiss him like mad.
When the vocalist finished, they took their seats, and the game started.
Casey kept up a steady stream of commentary for what Zeke assumed was his benefit, as though the information on the jumbo screen wasn't enough.
"That's Matt Maloney, the pitcher. He just got off the DL. He was recovering from a broken rib. He's been gone since May." All of this was said with Casey's eyes firmly planted on Maloney. Then he added, "DL means disabled list, not down low."
Zeke knew what the DL was, of course, but he wasn't going to douse Casey's fire by telling him that.
The man at bat hit a pop fly straight to the left outfield.
"Catch it!" Casey screamed.
The left-fielder opened his glove and the ball dropped right in it.
Casey relaxed back into his seat. "That was close," Casey said, smiling at Zeke like he'd been in the outfield.
Zeke just grinned in reply.
Maloney let one man on base, but then a double-play quickly switched the inning. Casey pulled his camera back up as the first Red's player came up to bat.
"Man, I'm glad I brought my zoom lens. I thought I'd be using it to zero in on polar bears--this is so much better!"
"Does he have a big dick?" Zeke asked, leaning over Casey's shoulder.
"Zeke, seriously?"
"Just kidding, baby." Zeke slung an arm over the back of Casey's chair and relaxed into his own.
Casey's shooting alternated, depending on which team was at bat. He seemed hell-bent on getting a shot of every Red's player's hit. Zeke couldn't blame him, he was an amazing photographer, he just thought Casey's arms might be getting tired. Zeke did know, without a doubt, that every time Maloney trotted out to the pitcher's mound, Casey's camera was at the ready.
The game lasted about three and a half hours, with the Reds winning 5-1.
Zeke stood up, yawning. "You ready?"
Casey glanced back over the field, where various players were trailing back to the clubhouse. "Yeah," he said, a strange expression on his face.
"Casey?" Zeke asked. "Everything okay?"
Casey nodded. He looked one last time over the field and it clicked in Zeke's mind.
"Come on." Zeke pulled a slightly-resistant Casey to the first row, where a group of kids had gathered to beg autographs.
"Zeke, this is silly--"
"Mr. Maloney!" Zeke called, his voice carrying over the field.
The pitcher looked up at the sound of his name and headed towards them.
"My boyfriend, Casey, is too shy to ask, but do you think he could take your picture?"
Maloney shrugged. "Sure."
"Go ahead, Casey," Zeke said, nudging him.
Casey's hands were shaking as he raised the camera. Maloney even pulled his arm back like he was pitching.
Casey clicked the shutter and lowered the camera. His face was beet red. "Thank you, Sir."
"No problem, kid." Maloney headed toward the clubhouse with the other players.
Casey looked at Zeke, his eyes alight. "Now we can go."
On the way out of the ballpark, Casey reached out and took Zeke's hand. "This really is the best birthday ever."
"Well, I knew you wanted to see the Reds play live."
"Not just that." Casey stopped, causing Zeke to stop as well. "It's because I'm with you." Casey had to stand on his toes, but he managed to kiss Zeke without the other boy leaning down.
There may have been a bad episode involving baseball before, Zeke supposed, but this was the best replacement memory he could ask for.
Author: moit
Fandom: Faculty
Pairing: Casey/Zeke
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance
Warnings: schmoop, fluff
Summary: Zeke takes Casey to see the Cincinnati Reds play.
Word Count: 1474
Author's Note: This is dedicated to one of my favourite writers, one who inspires me like crazy, one who teaches me so much, honeyandvinegar. One thing I've learned from her is the notion of having a "concept" to your fic, not just a story line. Your story begins and ends with complimentary pieces like book ends. That's what I was trying to do here.
Zeke hated baseball. He hated it more than school. More than Burke's class even. Well, maybe not more than Burke herself, but baseball never ranked very high on his list. Maybe it was because he never did well in little league, or maybe it was because baseball players were so damn cocky. It was probably because his dad promised to take him to a game, then bailed. His dad had even gone so far as to buy tickets.
I'll be home at noon, Ezekiel, then we'll go, he told Zeke.
Zeke never saw his dad again. He hated baseball ever since. Zeke pushed the memory out of his mind. No time for that, now.
He wouldn't say anything to Casey, of course. The boy was completely mad for baseball, despite having two left feet and being unable to throw a ball if he tried.
Casey thought they were going to the zoo for his birthday; instead, Zeke planned to surprise him with tickets to see his favourite team. Once upon a time, the Reds had been Zeke's favorite team, too.
Zeke pocketed his car keys and knocked on the Connor's front door. Mrs. Connor opened it and invited him inside. This was the drill; he was used to it by now.
Mr. Connor put down the paper he'd been pretending to read. "Well, hello, Zeke. How are you this afternoon?"
Casey's parents knew of Zeke's plans, of course. It wouldn't impress them if Zeke suddenly hauled Casey off to Cincinnati without telling them.
"I'm fine, Sir. And yourself?"
"Doing well," Mr. Connor said, slapping his knee as though he'd made a joke.
"Casey will be down in a minute," Mrs. Connor supplied helpfully.
Zeke nodded.
Next came the usual awkward silence preceding Casey's entrance. Like clockwork, the Connor family.
Casey's appearance made Zeke's heart swell with affection. Casey hadn't done anything special--same Wal-Mart brand jeans and too-large button-down plain shirt (in blue today). He wore his camera around his neck like a medal of honor. He looked like he had every day since Zeke met him, but that's what made him special. He was the only constant in Zeke's life.
"Ready?" Casey asked, all dimples and gapped teeth.
And just like that, Zeke was happy to go to a Red's game if it meant he got to see Casey smile. "Yeah," was all he said.
When they got into the car, Casey leaned over for a kiss.
"Happy birthday," Zeke said softly as they parted.
"Thanks. I'm sorry my parents are such prudes, making you come in and everything."
"No big deal." Zeke put the car in gear and they were off.
Casey started chattering about the animals he was going to photograph at the zoo. Zeke had to lick his lips several times to keep from grinning. Casey was adorable when he got excited--especially when he had no idea where they were really going.
"Case, can you reach into the glovebox and get my sunglasses?" Zeke asked, pretending to squint into the sunlight.
"Sure." Casey leaned down. He flipped the handle on the glovebox. Zeke fought to keep his eyes on the road.
Casey's shriek echoed over the sound of Zeke's radio. "Reds tickets! When are we going? This weekend? Tell me I don't have to wait longer than that. They're playing in Pittsburgh this weekend."
"But they're playing in Cincinnati today."
"We're going today?" Casey squinted at the tickets and crowed again. "Have I ever told you you're the best boyfriend ever?"
"Not since yesterday," Zeke smirked.
"You're the best." Casey leaned over and gave Zeke a quick kiss on the cheek.
The ride from Herrington to Cincinnati took a little over forty-five minutes. Great American Ball Park was already teeming with people when they got inside. Zeke led them to their seats because Casey was too busy snapping photos of every conceivable subject to pay attention to where he was going. He was even more excited once they got to their seats.
"Zeke, look at the view of the river! Just look at it!"
"I know, baby."
Zeke just eat back, enjoying Casey's excitement. The light in Casey's eyes told him he could not have chosen a better birthday gift.
"I'm going to get something to drink. Do you need anything?" Zeke asked.
"I'm good," Casey said without taking his camera away from his face.
Zeke returned with a large soda and a Reds cap he tossed in Casey's lap. "Don't say I never gave you anything."
This finally got Casey's attention. "Awe, Zeke," he cooed. "Bringing me to the game was enough."
"It's not like I don't have the money," Zeke answered with a shrug.
Casey put his hat on. "How do I look?"
In the safety of his mind, Zeke thought he looked good enough to eat. But to Casey, he just said, "Looks good." Casey smiled again and Zeke's insides turned to butter.
"Would you please rise for the playing of the national anthem," the announcer said.
Casey and Zeke dutifully stood. Casey put his hat over his heart like the players on the field. Zeke resisted the urge to bend him backwards and kiss him like mad.
When the vocalist finished, they took their seats, and the game started.
Casey kept up a steady stream of commentary for what Zeke assumed was his benefit, as though the information on the jumbo screen wasn't enough.
"That's Matt Maloney, the pitcher. He just got off the DL. He was recovering from a broken rib. He's been gone since May." All of this was said with Casey's eyes firmly planted on Maloney. Then he added, "DL means disabled list, not down low."
Zeke knew what the DL was, of course, but he wasn't going to douse Casey's fire by telling him that.
The man at bat hit a pop fly straight to the left outfield.
"Catch it!" Casey screamed.
The left-fielder opened his glove and the ball dropped right in it.
Casey relaxed back into his seat. "That was close," Casey said, smiling at Zeke like he'd been in the outfield.
Zeke just grinned in reply.
Maloney let one man on base, but then a double-play quickly switched the inning. Casey pulled his camera back up as the first Red's player came up to bat.
"Man, I'm glad I brought my zoom lens. I thought I'd be using it to zero in on polar bears--this is so much better!"
"Does he have a big dick?" Zeke asked, leaning over Casey's shoulder.
"Zeke, seriously?"
"Just kidding, baby." Zeke slung an arm over the back of Casey's chair and relaxed into his own.
Casey's shooting alternated, depending on which team was at bat. He seemed hell-bent on getting a shot of every Red's player's hit. Zeke couldn't blame him, he was an amazing photographer, he just thought Casey's arms might be getting tired. Zeke did know, without a doubt, that every time Maloney trotted out to the pitcher's mound, Casey's camera was at the ready.
The game lasted about three and a half hours, with the Reds winning 5-1.
Zeke stood up, yawning. "You ready?"
Casey glanced back over the field, where various players were trailing back to the clubhouse. "Yeah," he said, a strange expression on his face.
"Casey?" Zeke asked. "Everything okay?"
Casey nodded. He looked one last time over the field and it clicked in Zeke's mind.
"Come on." Zeke pulled a slightly-resistant Casey to the first row, where a group of kids had gathered to beg autographs.
"Zeke, this is silly--"
"Mr. Maloney!" Zeke called, his voice carrying over the field.
The pitcher looked up at the sound of his name and headed towards them.
"My boyfriend, Casey, is too shy to ask, but do you think he could take your picture?"
Maloney shrugged. "Sure."
"Go ahead, Casey," Zeke said, nudging him.
Casey's hands were shaking as he raised the camera. Maloney even pulled his arm back like he was pitching.
Casey clicked the shutter and lowered the camera. His face was beet red. "Thank you, Sir."
"No problem, kid." Maloney headed toward the clubhouse with the other players.
Casey looked at Zeke, his eyes alight. "Now we can go."
On the way out of the ballpark, Casey reached out and took Zeke's hand. "This really is the best birthday ever."
"Well, I knew you wanted to see the Reds play live."
"Not just that." Casey stopped, causing Zeke to stop as well. "It's because I'm with you." Casey had to stand on his toes, but he managed to kiss Zeke without the other boy leaning down.
There may have been a bad episode involving baseball before, Zeke supposed, but this was the best replacement memory he could ask for.