Let's see here now...
Okay peepers, I'm doing another set of these here code things; not bothering so much with the "codes" themselves, seeing as the codes got lost by me/other people, or just not sent but wanna do 'em up for friends. :)
Mixed bag this time; some RPS & C/Z. Now as far as I know, besides thegrapeofdeath's request (which shall be done on my site, more than likely... ;)) *this is all I have left*. But I've been searching like crazy to make SURE I haven't forgotten anyone. If I have been a callous, cruel and ebul person and *gasp* forgotten you, PLEASE lemmee know in comments. I love you guys very much. There were a few that never replied back to the six gadbillion posts I made requesting people leave a bunny that I KNOW I sent a code to. Please throw one my way, otherwise, this is IT. :O
And as ALWAYS, I forget disclaimers, leavingme out to the wolves of lawyers ready to sue my ass. So I'll put it here and now: Nothing I write below is ANYTHING but my imagination. I don't know the people I'm writing about, don't OWN any of the people I write about. So if you must sue me, do so; but you should know my tears over just having a rampant imagination, nothing more, are pain enough. :P!
Edit: Wow, the last two stories are similar. LOL...
Title: Lefty
Rating: R for language and a bitta bullying.
For: aina_baggins
Code: N/A
Ah, C/Z Zoo!fic. *giggle*
Though Herrington High had made their position on school spending clear, they couldn't hold back the students and teachers from doing as many fund raisers as they wanted. Perhaps the seniors organizing it all for their class had to work extra hard to secure funds for a special trip, much more than just tossing a ball around. But after a few months into the school year, the year and a half worth of selling candy bars, bake sales, car washes, school play cash and whatever else paid off. Perhaps they couldn't set off to New York City or Paris, but to have a special trip was a good deal for this 'football town'. Votes on 'where to go' were sent around, and the student council had announced that the seniors would be heading to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, complete with a dinner at the 'Hard Rock Cafe'.
"Clearly a total rig," Zeke mumbled to Casey as they sat in their seat on the bus.
Casey rolled his eyes and yawned. "I voted for it. I've never been to the 'Hard Rock Cafe'. It sounds really cool," he replied.
"The line'll be really fucking fun," Zeke said, looking out at the lightening sky. It was too, too early for this...
"We have reservations, stupid. I think they got the whole restaurant. We're lucky our class is small," Casey told him. Zeke shrugged and closed his eyes, hoping to get some sleep in the two hour drive they'd be taking. "So, where do you think you're gonna wanna go first? I looked the place up online, the tree frog exhibits look so cool..."
Casey, however, had other plans for the drive it'd seem. "Case?"
"Hmm?"
Zeke sneaked a hand under the jacket covering Casey's lap; it was a dangerous move, but getting a seat in the back had its advantages. He traced a finger along Casey's pelvis and smiled as the boy gasped quietly, eyes widening. "Listen to your CD player... shut up... and let me sleep," he mumbled.
~*~
Casey's number one interests didn't lie in tree frogs or bears or whatever-the-fuck-else kicked around this place; if there was one thing the boy could do, it was eat. The students were allowed to do as they pleased, so Zeke found himself trailing behind Casey as he rushed to a snack stand. "Oh my God, fried dough... I haven't had that in years," Casey declared, staring at the menu.
"Save room for dinner," Zeke said, sliding his sunglasses on to ward off the bright sunlight. At least it was a nice day for it; Zeke would've stayed home if it'd rained.
"Dinner's like, seven hours away, stupid," Casey said, getting to the counter.
"Get me a Sprite," Zeke told him. Casey nodded; Zeke went over to a picnic table and sat, rubbing his face and groaning. Sunlight or no, he didn't know why he'd bothered coming...
Oh yea.
"No! No, you HAVE to come, Zeke! Please?" Casey had begged the week before. When words didn't work, Casey tried pouting. When that didn't work, the blowjobs came into play. When THAT didn't work, the hissy-fit Casey threw was enough to wake the dead; Zeke had had no choice. Casey could be such a girl sometimes.
"Here,"
Zeke looked up, finding Casey smiling down on him, plastic cup in hand. Zeke smiled back and took it, loving Casey's silhouette.
~*~
Zeke had almost opted for a stall, his feet so sore he could barely stand. Weighing the idea of sitting down to pee and being a man, Zeke let his legs stiffen further at the urinal, relieving himself... sorta.
The small afternoon coffee Casey had drank did nothing but heighten his usual hyperactive self; they did take their trip to the tree frog exhibit, and it was pretty cool. Then it'd been onto the kangaroos, goats, a small show called "Turtle Talk", more food, and now apes and such. Zeke had finally said he needed a bathroom break, and Casey nodded as he stared at the gorilla cage.
Zeke zipped up and gave his hands a quick scrub (something he'd done before pissing; the goat that licked his hand hadn't looked that clean); sighing, he left the bathroom and headed back to stare at more caged life forms.
Only the problem presented had nothing to do with caged life forms, at the moment; perhaps Gabe and his friends needed to be pur behind bars, but that wasn't the case right now. Zeke clenched his jaw as he stepped quick, seeing Gabe and one other guys from the team bothering Casey.
"Visiting family, Connor?" Gabe teased, nodding to the large apes in front of them. His friend, Pat Davis, guffawed then shoved Casey's shoulder a bit, making the boy grab onto the small wooden fence.
"Knock it off, for fuck's sake!" Casey yelled, slapping Pat away.
"Maybe he'd like a visit with his relatives-- should we help him?" Gabe said; Zeke moved faster, seeing them start to grab at Casey's arms and waist; before they could get him up and over the fence, Zeke got next to Gabe and grabbed his arm.
"Back the fuck off," he said, voice low and menacing. Gabe turned and groaned.
"Oh it's you... Casey's fuck buddy," he taunted. Even if the guys-- or anyone at school-- didn't know about how right they were in saying that, it still made a tiny swell of panic rise in Zeke's chest. He put it aside to grab Gabe's shoulder and shove him roughly to the side.
"Leave 'im the hell alone. Jesus Christ, get a hobby," Zeke snarled. Pat let Casey go as well, now putting all attention on Zeke.
"What? You think we're afraid of some pansy ass?" he asked, eying Zeke up.
"Couldn't even hold his shit on the field," Gabe said; Zeke smirked. So he felt the need to bring up Zeke's getting kicked off the team, huh?
"I kicked your shit all over the field, Gabe. I just couldn't keep my mouth shut," Zeke told him, moving closer. Gabe looked ready to back off as Zeke continued. "'Coach is a cocksucking prick... he needed a little reminder of that. Just because I don't kiss the man's ass to wear a uniform means shit."
"Fuck 'em, Zeke, let's go..." Casey said; he was interrupted by Gabe grabbing his arm and pulling hard.
"Where're you goin', Nancy?"
"Let him fucking GO, Santora!"
The sudden blast of movement coming from the apes made Zeke jump; it was followed by a loud screeching, grunting and... "Oh SHIT!" Pat yelled, leaping away. Zeke watched Casey duck down and dart away as the gorilla tossed...
No fucking way, Zeke thought with a growing grin. Perhaps Gabe had a beating he'd been holding onto for the 'boy hero', but it wasn't going to be doled out today. All three of them gawked at the sight of Gabe standing with his arms out, breaths coming out rapidly, staring at his 'Packers' shirt now covered in dark, earthy gorilla shit.
"Oh fucking... oh my SHIT!" he yelled. He seemed frantic as Casey bit his lip to keep from laughing.
"Actually... it was his," he remarked, pointing at the ape now hopping up and down and banging on the bars.
~*~
"Poor Gabe. I've never seen a guy throw up so much in my life."
Zeke smiled and chuckled at Casey's words, staring out the window of the bus as they made their way home. Everyone was talking excitedly and laughing about the day-- with Gabe's name coming up a few times. No one could believe it, really. This sort of thing was going to be talked about at their twentieth class reunion.
"Hey Zeke?" Casey piped up, yawning heavily.
"Hmm?"
"Can I stay at your place tonight?" the boy murmured.
"Yea, why not?" Zeke replied, smiling wider. After a day like today, Zeke was ready to curl up on the couch to watch some late night movie, order out for some pizza... have Casey close under the blankets-- closer, closer... it was hard enough to hold back right at the moment.
"The next time we go to the zoo--"
"Next time? Who says there's gonna be a next time?" Zeke interrupted. Casey rolled his eyes.
"The next time we go to the zoo, I'm bringing 'Lefty' a big bunch of bananas," Casey said. Zeke nodded and put his head back, one hand sneaking over to Casey again to pull lightly on a belt loop of his jeans. It worked, for now... "And the Hard Rock is definitely overrated,"
Zeke snorted. "Told you."
~*~*~*~*~
Title: On Set
Rating: NC-17
For: i_o_r_h_a_e_l
Code: N/A
Disclaimer: I gotta add this to EVERY story, but felt the need for this especially. I'm not used to doing RPS, so I'll say right now that NO. Do not know if this happened, it's all just bunnying about. Nothing serious or malice in this er nuttin'!!
A lil' foreboding!Karlijah... with a twist. Some dark themes, so watch out... but ends with H/C implied. ;)
"I can't do this anymore."
Karl shifted in the bed; Elijah was sitting up and facing the opposite side of the room, but he knew the man was smiling. It made Elijah take a long, hard drag from his cigarette, fingers shaking lightly as he did. "Can't do what, sweetie?" Karl asked in a sweet voice-- too sweet. Elijah held back a scowl as he turned his head to look edgewise at Karl's cocky expression.
"This," he stated simply.
"If you mean getting your ass reamed night after night, I'd say you can. You seem to be born with a natural knack for it," Karl said. Enough of this shit, Elijah thought angrily. He leaned forward fast, regretting it instantly; the sharp pains in his sides made him cringe and pause before reaching down and grabbing his boxers. Karl seemed to want to grab something as well, making Elijah slap his hand away from his hip.
"Leave me alone," he said, trying to sound tough. It didn't come out half-bad, but Karl smiled wider anyway.
"What're you gonna do? C'mon, 'Lijah... this is a good thing we got going on."
"For you-- it's a good thing you've got going on."
"I wasn't the one who got you screaming the last... what, two months?" Karl asked with a devious glint in his eye. It made Elijah rush to get his clothes on even faster, hating the sound of that voice. "Well?"
"Yea, and half the time it's me yelling 'no', or 'stop', or 'that hurts, cut it out'," Elijah rushed out, feeling his face go hot. He slipped his legs into his jeans and shook his head.
"Uh huh... it's good like that."
"Not for me, Karl, not for me. This is it, okay? I'm done," Elijah told him with a shake to his voice.
Karl sighed and stretched as Elijah looked for his shirt among the small pile in the corner. Elijah felt his eyes on him the entire time, gaging and waiting. "So whose trailer is this, Lij?" Karl asked. Elijah swallowed.
"Yours."
"So... really, who came here?"
"Look--"
"Who've you been talking to about this, huh? Bean? Vig... fuck..." Karl trailed off, chuckling heartily. "Sean?"
"Shut the fuck up."
"You have, haven't you? I'd bet my salary he'd toss Christine to the side to screw you every which way--"
"All right, STOP!" Elijah nearly screeched. "I haven't told fucking anyone on set about this, but it isn't like I can keep saying 'oh, I fell down the stairs' every time they see me all bruised up! It's gotta so damned bad, Ian took me aside to ask what the hell was going on. And no, I didn't even tell HIM, even though I wanted to."
"Hmm... and do you know why you didn't tell him? You're not trying to save MY skin here. You're so goddamned ashamed to admit that you like your ass taken the way it's been these past few months, huh? Can't spoil the image of some 'Hollywood pretty boy' everyone makes you out to be," Karl replied with malice.
"Oh, fuck you-- seriously," Elijah retorted. His shirt now buttoned up, he grabbed his bag from the desk and turned to face Karl fully. "I left a really great guy for you--"
"Pfft, more Hollywood pretty boys..."
"There I was, telling him 'I'm gonna be gone for so long, we should just cut ties', when it wasn't the fucking distance. It was you, sitting there telling me how good you could be to me. And y'now, that first night was good; now you just bore the living hell out of me."
He knew he'd crossed a line there; you didn't tell a strapping young man like Karl that he was 'boring', especially in reference to sex. It made Karl stand up out of bed and get over to Elijah; the boy froze when his hands grabbed the front of his shirt, feeling sick. "Oh yea, little man? Want me to show you how fucking boring I can get?" he asked in his fury, raising a fist.
"Go ahead, like I fucking care. Let makeup ask me why my face is all bruised up tomorrow. Let Pete make some investigation on it. Go ahead." Elijah challenged. Being tough in this or no, he was relieved to see Karl back off now. His usual cocky smile returned as he crossed his arms.
"Fine. Leave then," he said. Elijah hoisted his bag onto his shoulder and opened the bedroom door. "You'll be back soon enough."
"I won't."
"Right," Karl said just before Elijah slammed the door.
~*~
After two weeks of Elijah actually keeping to his word, Karl had had enough. Finishing the last day of shooting before the week break they had lined up, he got cleaned up, dressed, and got to his car.
Billy hadn't been eager to let Karl know where Elijah was staying that week, giving shrugs and telling him to "ask Lij himself". After going through Dom, Sean, and even Elijah's makeup artist, he'd almost given up. Yet all he knew was that if he didn't rein in that boy soon, Karl would lose all the control he'd had all this time.
Karl had finally found his answer; it came from a very tired Orlando, who blabbed about "getting smashed at 'Lijah's place" that next Monday, when apparently he was having a small get together. Before Karl could burn up with rage at not getting an invite, he asked Orlando where he was, and got his answer... not just the place, but the fact that Elijah had rented it all by himself.
Should've stayed with your 'lads', Karl thought, grinning to himself as he drove along. The cabin Elijah was staying at was only about a half an hour away, but Karl knew these roads enough to shorten that. Perhaps he'd get the boy to cave completely; if they didn't need to work that week, why hold back? Why worry about hiding the results of their 'play'? Surely Elijah couldn't turn that down... Karl would help him see things his way, no problem.
~*~
The lights were on in the bottom floor's windows, casting an orange haze onto the porch and frosty ground. Karl shut the door to the car and pulled his coat closer against the chill; he'd been thankful for the scenes he'd been in being indoors lately; some people weren't as lucky... Elijah being one of those unfortunate few. Maybe he needs a little warming up, the man thought, making a sly grin.
Karl walked up the porch steps, taking light, unhurried footsteps as he rose. Now under the pale yellow shine of the porch light, Karl pushed the doorbell and waited. He almost considered moving away from the window in the door, not letting Elijah see who it was... not that he was tall enough to look out them, high as they were. Karl deduced that it didn't matter; he'd go the 'big bad wolf' route if he had to.
So he was very surprised when a pair of dark eyes peered through the glass, looking out at him with suspicion. Karl frowned the tiniest bit as the door opened, a tall young man stepping forth. Focusing on who it was, Karl almost laughed. Wonderful, the OTHER Hollywood pretty boy...
"Oh... hello, Josh," he said, trying to keep his snarl down.
"Hey. You must be Karl, huh?" Josh answered, leaning against the door frame and crossing his arms.
"Pleased to meet you. 'Lij around?" Karl asked outright.
"Uh huh," Josh answered, but remained unmoved. A moment of silence fell between them, before Karl cleared his throat.
"I'd like to see him, if you don't mind."
"I do, though-- there's the problem," Josh answered, his voice getting grittier. Karl let his famous 'really boy, don't fuck with me' smile on and shook his head.
"I don't mean to get personal, here-- I really don't. But... aren't you yesterday's news?" Karl asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"I was... but now I'm front page, if you catch my fucking drift," Josh answered dryly. "Check the last page where the obits are-- you might be mentioned there."
Karl thought back quick to their last conversation; Elijah had lied, saying he hadn't told anyone--
He smiled slowly, recalling exactly what Elijah had said.
'I haven't told fucking anyone on set about this'...
"You with me?"
Karl turned back to Josh and sighed. He clucked his tongue, sizing him up. "We'll see," he said.
"Nah, maybe not," Josh shot back. Karl nodded and bowed slightly, still smiling devilishly. Once Josh's hand went to the door to shut it, Karl turned away and left the porch. He expected a dramatic slam of the door, but heard just a gentle shut... along with a click.
Karl rolled his eyes and got in his car; looking back to the house he saw a shadow going past the front window through the sheer curtain. Another shadow followed, and then nothing at all.
He's not fucking worth it, Karl thought, closing the book instantly.
~*~*~*~*~
Title: Imprint
Rating: R for some violence
For: naemi
Code: N/A
She wanted a C/Z meanie!fic... there are some dark themes, but nothing terribly explicit. Ends as an H/C again. :)
Zeke sees it in the very first minute he sets eyes on the boy; after not seeing him for months, it's actually hard to look Casey in the eye. But when Zeke finally does and mutters a "Hey," he doesn't like what he sees.
Everyone at Stokely's Christmas party is excited to be here. The first semester of their separation has passed, letting them all come together to relive good times. Casey didn't make it a secret, his new life, at least to some people; especially Stokely, who back at the end of September had let it slip to Zeke that Casey was seeing someone at his college. She'd immediately bit her lip when she realized what she'd done, asking Zeke to not tell Casey she'd accidentally let him know. Zeke was fine with it... bygones were bygones, and he and Casey were more than that. But when he found out that Stan-- and even fucking Delilah knew about the 'new Boston boyfriend', he felt livid.
It'd been obvious as to why Casey didn't want Zeke to know. It had only been a week since Casey left for school when he'd called, telling Zeke that he didn't think it was going to work. Whether it was excessive amounts of schoolwork or how he'd not be coming home for Thanksgiving, Casey didn't want to 'let down' his hometown boyfriend. Zeke had done his best pretending it was okay, but the minute he hung up, he'd went downstairs to his punching bag without gloves and made him knuckles bloody.
Schoolwork must have eased up, though... and maybe Casey hadn't planned on coming home for Thanksgiving for a reason. Lord knew his parents were sad that he wasn't coming home, but Casey had told them that it wasn't practical. In talking to Mrs. Connor a week after Casey had broken it off with him, he found out from her that he'd 'already made plans'. There was more gloveless anger, more bloody knuckles-- that time produced a broken finger, but Zeke didn't care.
The worst part, right now, is that Casey is sitting over by Stan talking, with this... guy, scrunched up next to the boy on the small love seat. Everyone's being gracious to him, seeing as this IS Casey's new guy. Delilah was having a few extra margaritas, her thin-lipped smile speaking volumes about her ex (looks Zeke had gotten himself, many times), but she's calm, cool, and collected. Maybe it's just Zeke's imagination, but he swears he's seen 'Matt' looking at him with a sort of amused, cocky expression a few times.
Maybe the bruises on Casey's arm are his imagination as well... he doesn't like what he sees.
~*~
Two mornings before Spring Break starts, Zeke gets a call from Stokely; she's worried about something.
"I dunno... he was so weird on the phone. He kept saying that Matt would be really angry if he didn't get to stay in Boston for Spring break," she says. It makes Zeke's hand clench on the phone as she continues. "His parents won't let him, though. His dad doesn't... well, you know how he is about Casey being what he is."
Zeke sighs and nods; of course he does. He remembers back at the end of last spring when he'd been caught with Casey on the couch, kissing themselves into oblivion while expecting Casey's parents to be out until midnight. They hadn't even heard the door open at ten-thirty, being so enraptured as they were. But Zeke had heard the bellows from Casey's father, Mrs. Connor trying to calm him down and get him in the kitchen. Casey had started crying when pots and pans were being thrown into the floor, his father's rage making it hard to hear. Casey hadn't looked Zeke's way when Mrs. Connor came back, telling Zeke that it was best for him to leave.
Yet despite the fear of it all, Casey had sneaked out of his room that very night and went to Zeke's, pleading with him to stay with him. "I don't care what my dad says or thinks. I'm not gonna live a lie," he'd said. The boy was brave-- always had been. Eager to please and playing a doormat sometimes, but brave. Zeke had gone to his house after all that, usually just to pick him up and go somewhere. Mr. Connor would give him looks, but said nothing.
"He still talks about you-- maybe you could see what's going on with him. Do you have his number?" Stokely says, bringing Zeke back into the present. He tells her no, to which she sighs and relays the number to him. After Zeke hangs up with Stokely, he picks up the phone again and dials.
"Hello?"
The voice is familiar. "Hi... Casey there?"
"Who's this?" the voice asks, obviously suspicious. Zeke frowns.
"Um, Zeke-- is this Matt?" Zeke says. His question is never answered; the phone slams so hard, Zeke's ear rings. Angry, Zeke picks up the phone and dials again. It kept ringing and ringing and ringing, until the voice mail came on.
"You've reached Matthew Anderson; I can't come to the phone right now..."
Zeke swallows and hangs up. Last he'd known, Casey lived in a dorm room with some guy named Chuck.
~*~
Three days after Spring Break's started, everyone home again, Zeke rushes inside of his house, fury filling his every pore. He doesn't know what to do first... he doesn't know what to do.
Pack my shit, drive to Boston. Rip the guy's throat out with my bared hands. Maybe take Stan with me.
Casey hadn't expected Zeke to come by; when he'd opened the door, he froze, looking to Zeke as if he were an axe murderer.
He could say as many times as he liked that he fell into the corner of his desk, but the imprint of a ring was clear as sunshine, sitting in plain sight on his cheek. No wonder the little fuck didn't want to come to another party at Stokely's. Everyone had missed him, asking her if his 'really nice boyfriend' had come with him to Herrington again. She'd shrugged and said she didn't think he had... well, he hadn't... and he had.
"Wanted a chance to heal, huh, before seeing all your friends...?" Zeke mutters angrily to himself as he rushes upstairs to find his suitcase. Yea, he's going, all right; he's out for 'rich-boy-bastard' blood, ready and willing to spend a few years in jail over it if he has to.
When Zeke can't find his suitcase, he thinks about tossing his stuff in the car without worrying about organization. He thinks about how many times he'd tossed Gabe to a locker when he'd try to start shit with Casey, even after the boy 'saved the world'. He thinks about how much of an idiot he was for doing that.
"Do you LIKE getting beat, would you have stayed with me if I'd kicked the SHIT out of you, you fucking bastard!?" he yells to no one, feeling sick. He punches the wall of his bedroom until he can't feel his fingers anymore.
~*~
"Um... what're you doing here?"
Zeke snarls, looking to the sandy-blond haired young man with barely-hidden malice in his eyes. "I'm taking him home," Zeke says, and without pause passes through the ornate doorway of this disgustingly rich looking mansion.
"Hey... hey, WAIT a fucking minute!" Matthew yells, slamming the door and following him. Zeke turns before the guy can lay a hand on him, trying to remind Matt that Zeke's about six inches taller, and carries the air of someone who could kill a man for just looking at him the wrong way.
"He called two days ago... betcha didn't know that, huh?" Zeke tells Matt, whose face is now stony and cold. "He said he had to use a phone card, so you wouldn't see it on the bill."
"Yea? So I don't like him calling long distance seven-hundred times a day, expecting me to pay for it. What of it?" Matt answers.
"You fucker, he hasn't called anyone since he came back here after Spring Break. Not even his parents... that was two fucking months ago, you twat," Zeke growls out. He moves in closer, pleased to see Matt take a step back. "Even his fucking father called me, asking if I'd heard from him. Told him I hadn't, and the man almost started crying. That and Casey's begging me to come get him led me here, you goddamned prick."
"So you think you can just barge in here... whisk the lil' bitch away like some medieval knight?"
Zeke's tempted to grab the fucker's neck, bring him up and pin him to the wall; it'd make a lovely picture seeing Matt gasp and beg for breath... but he leans in close, hissing hot breath through his nostrils like an animal enraged. "You bet your fuckin' ass I think I can. I could snap your neck with a flick of my goddamned wrist if I wanted to, too-- and believe the fuck outta me, I'm fucking dying to do that," Zeke explains with all accuracy and intent. "I wouldn't doubt me. You have no idea what I'd do for that boy. No fucking idea. You calling him a 'bitch' is enough to cripple you."
"Zeke?"
The small voice from behind comes like an angel's song, sad and light. Zeke glances over; the heavy bruising on Casey's arms, shoulders and cheek make his scarred fists clench. "Get your stuff, Casey. I'm taking you home."
"Casey, don't you fucking dare--"
Matt's angered demand disappears instantly, replaced with a violent choke as Zeke forces him down with a vicious hand, knocking his back to the floor and pinning him down by his neck. Matt's arms thrash, trying to grab onto Zeke to get him to stop. "Y-Y-ou... ff-u..."
"Zeke... stop. Please stop," Casey's soft, unemotional words sound off in Zeke's brain. He eases a little to allow Matt breath, but keeps him held to the floor. Matt's eyes are wide with terror as Zeke looks to Casey again.
"Go on, hon-- get your things. I'll wait."
~*~
Zeke feels a bittersweet-pride, watching Casey getting his things together. In four days, Casey's getting on a plane and heading back for school. "I'm not afraid of him," Casey told him the week before, easing Zeke's mind... a little.
Casey finishes a bag and looks to Zeke with a small smile. He stands up from the floor, walks over to the bed and crawls up next to Zeke, curling into his side like a kitten. Zeke wraps an arm around his back and pulls him in closer, loving the feel of Casey's soft skin on the small of his back. His fingers swirl in circles over the patch of cooled skin, making Casey hum low in his throat.
"I'm sorry," Casey murmurs.
"For...?" Zeke answers, trailing off as Casey nuzzles his cheek to Zeke's chest.
"Will you stay with me?"
Zeke blinks and looks down, lips parting in wonder. Casey looks so easy-to-hurt, making him slide a hand into the boy's hair. "Yea... yea, of course."
"I'm gonna miss you so much," Casey then says; Zeke frowns.
"Wait... I thought..."
"What?"
Zeke grins, realizing his mistake. "I thought you'd meant 'stay', like come with you," he says, chuckling a little. For a moment, Casey's face is blank, until a small smile curls up.
"I'd love that."
"I will...?" Zeke murmurs back. Casey's body stills as his head jerks up to meet Zeke's eyes again.
"Y...Yea?" he stammers out, seeming to be in disbelief. Zeke smiles and pulls Casey in for a long, slow kiss.
He hopes Casey hears that as a 'yes'.
Mixed bag this time; some RPS & C/Z. Now as far as I know, besides thegrapeofdeath's request (which shall be done on my site, more than likely... ;)) *this is all I have left*. But I've been searching like crazy to make SURE I haven't forgotten anyone. If I have been a callous, cruel and ebul person and *gasp* forgotten you, PLEASE lemmee know in comments. I love you guys very much. There were a few that never replied back to the six gadbillion posts I made requesting people leave a bunny that I KNOW I sent a code to. Please throw one my way, otherwise, this is IT. :O
And as ALWAYS, I forget disclaimers, leavingme out to the wolves of lawyers ready to sue my ass. So I'll put it here and now: Nothing I write below is ANYTHING but my imagination. I don't know the people I'm writing about, don't OWN any of the people I write about. So if you must sue me, do so; but you should know my tears over just having a rampant imagination, nothing more, are pain enough. :P!
Edit: Wow, the last two stories are similar. LOL...
Title: Lefty
Rating: R for language and a bitta bullying.
For: aina_baggins
Code: N/A
Ah, C/Z Zoo!fic. *giggle*
Though Herrington High had made their position on school spending clear, they couldn't hold back the students and teachers from doing as many fund raisers as they wanted. Perhaps the seniors organizing it all for their class had to work extra hard to secure funds for a special trip, much more than just tossing a ball around. But after a few months into the school year, the year and a half worth of selling candy bars, bake sales, car washes, school play cash and whatever else paid off. Perhaps they couldn't set off to New York City or Paris, but to have a special trip was a good deal for this 'football town'. Votes on 'where to go' were sent around, and the student council had announced that the seniors would be heading to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, complete with a dinner at the 'Hard Rock Cafe'.
"Clearly a total rig," Zeke mumbled to Casey as they sat in their seat on the bus.
Casey rolled his eyes and yawned. "I voted for it. I've never been to the 'Hard Rock Cafe'. It sounds really cool," he replied.
"The line'll be really fucking fun," Zeke said, looking out at the lightening sky. It was too, too early for this...
"We have reservations, stupid. I think they got the whole restaurant. We're lucky our class is small," Casey told him. Zeke shrugged and closed his eyes, hoping to get some sleep in the two hour drive they'd be taking. "So, where do you think you're gonna wanna go first? I looked the place up online, the tree frog exhibits look so cool..."
Casey, however, had other plans for the drive it'd seem. "Case?"
"Hmm?"
Zeke sneaked a hand under the jacket covering Casey's lap; it was a dangerous move, but getting a seat in the back had its advantages. He traced a finger along Casey's pelvis and smiled as the boy gasped quietly, eyes widening. "Listen to your CD player... shut up... and let me sleep," he mumbled.
~*~
Casey's number one interests didn't lie in tree frogs or bears or whatever-the-fuck-else kicked around this place; if there was one thing the boy could do, it was eat. The students were allowed to do as they pleased, so Zeke found himself trailing behind Casey as he rushed to a snack stand. "Oh my God, fried dough... I haven't had that in years," Casey declared, staring at the menu.
"Save room for dinner," Zeke said, sliding his sunglasses on to ward off the bright sunlight. At least it was a nice day for it; Zeke would've stayed home if it'd rained.
"Dinner's like, seven hours away, stupid," Casey said, getting to the counter.
"Get me a Sprite," Zeke told him. Casey nodded; Zeke went over to a picnic table and sat, rubbing his face and groaning. Sunlight or no, he didn't know why he'd bothered coming...
Oh yea.
"No! No, you HAVE to come, Zeke! Please?" Casey had begged the week before. When words didn't work, Casey tried pouting. When that didn't work, the blowjobs came into play. When THAT didn't work, the hissy-fit Casey threw was enough to wake the dead; Zeke had had no choice. Casey could be such a girl sometimes.
"Here,"
Zeke looked up, finding Casey smiling down on him, plastic cup in hand. Zeke smiled back and took it, loving Casey's silhouette.
~*~
Zeke had almost opted for a stall, his feet so sore he could barely stand. Weighing the idea of sitting down to pee and being a man, Zeke let his legs stiffen further at the urinal, relieving himself... sorta.
The small afternoon coffee Casey had drank did nothing but heighten his usual hyperactive self; they did take their trip to the tree frog exhibit, and it was pretty cool. Then it'd been onto the kangaroos, goats, a small show called "Turtle Talk", more food, and now apes and such. Zeke had finally said he needed a bathroom break, and Casey nodded as he stared at the gorilla cage.
Zeke zipped up and gave his hands a quick scrub (something he'd done before pissing; the goat that licked his hand hadn't looked that clean); sighing, he left the bathroom and headed back to stare at more caged life forms.
Only the problem presented had nothing to do with caged life forms, at the moment; perhaps Gabe and his friends needed to be pur behind bars, but that wasn't the case right now. Zeke clenched his jaw as he stepped quick, seeing Gabe and one other guys from the team bothering Casey.
"Visiting family, Connor?" Gabe teased, nodding to the large apes in front of them. His friend, Pat Davis, guffawed then shoved Casey's shoulder a bit, making the boy grab onto the small wooden fence.
"Knock it off, for fuck's sake!" Casey yelled, slapping Pat away.
"Maybe he'd like a visit with his relatives-- should we help him?" Gabe said; Zeke moved faster, seeing them start to grab at Casey's arms and waist; before they could get him up and over the fence, Zeke got next to Gabe and grabbed his arm.
"Back the fuck off," he said, voice low and menacing. Gabe turned and groaned.
"Oh it's you... Casey's fuck buddy," he taunted. Even if the guys-- or anyone at school-- didn't know about how right they were in saying that, it still made a tiny swell of panic rise in Zeke's chest. He put it aside to grab Gabe's shoulder and shove him roughly to the side.
"Leave 'im the hell alone. Jesus Christ, get a hobby," Zeke snarled. Pat let Casey go as well, now putting all attention on Zeke.
"What? You think we're afraid of some pansy ass?" he asked, eying Zeke up.
"Couldn't even hold his shit on the field," Gabe said; Zeke smirked. So he felt the need to bring up Zeke's getting kicked off the team, huh?
"I kicked your shit all over the field, Gabe. I just couldn't keep my mouth shut," Zeke told him, moving closer. Gabe looked ready to back off as Zeke continued. "'Coach is a cocksucking prick... he needed a little reminder of that. Just because I don't kiss the man's ass to wear a uniform means shit."
"Fuck 'em, Zeke, let's go..." Casey said; he was interrupted by Gabe grabbing his arm and pulling hard.
"Where're you goin', Nancy?"
"Let him fucking GO, Santora!"
The sudden blast of movement coming from the apes made Zeke jump; it was followed by a loud screeching, grunting and... "Oh SHIT!" Pat yelled, leaping away. Zeke watched Casey duck down and dart away as the gorilla tossed...
No fucking way, Zeke thought with a growing grin. Perhaps Gabe had a beating he'd been holding onto for the 'boy hero', but it wasn't going to be doled out today. All three of them gawked at the sight of Gabe standing with his arms out, breaths coming out rapidly, staring at his 'Packers' shirt now covered in dark, earthy gorilla shit.
"Oh fucking... oh my SHIT!" he yelled. He seemed frantic as Casey bit his lip to keep from laughing.
"Actually... it was his," he remarked, pointing at the ape now hopping up and down and banging on the bars.
~*~
"Poor Gabe. I've never seen a guy throw up so much in my life."
Zeke smiled and chuckled at Casey's words, staring out the window of the bus as they made their way home. Everyone was talking excitedly and laughing about the day-- with Gabe's name coming up a few times. No one could believe it, really. This sort of thing was going to be talked about at their twentieth class reunion.
"Hey Zeke?" Casey piped up, yawning heavily.
"Hmm?"
"Can I stay at your place tonight?" the boy murmured.
"Yea, why not?" Zeke replied, smiling wider. After a day like today, Zeke was ready to curl up on the couch to watch some late night movie, order out for some pizza... have Casey close under the blankets-- closer, closer... it was hard enough to hold back right at the moment.
"The next time we go to the zoo--"
"Next time? Who says there's gonna be a next time?" Zeke interrupted. Casey rolled his eyes.
"The next time we go to the zoo, I'm bringing 'Lefty' a big bunch of bananas," Casey said. Zeke nodded and put his head back, one hand sneaking over to Casey again to pull lightly on a belt loop of his jeans. It worked, for now... "And the Hard Rock is definitely overrated,"
Zeke snorted. "Told you."
~*~*~*~*~
Title: On Set
Rating: NC-17
For: i_o_r_h_a_e_l
Code: N/A
Disclaimer: I gotta add this to EVERY story, but felt the need for this especially. I'm not used to doing RPS, so I'll say right now that NO. Do not know if this happened, it's all just bunnying about. Nothing serious or malice in this er nuttin'!!
A lil' foreboding!Karlijah... with a twist. Some dark themes, so watch out... but ends with H/C implied. ;)
"I can't do this anymore."
Karl shifted in the bed; Elijah was sitting up and facing the opposite side of the room, but he knew the man was smiling. It made Elijah take a long, hard drag from his cigarette, fingers shaking lightly as he did. "Can't do what, sweetie?" Karl asked in a sweet voice-- too sweet. Elijah held back a scowl as he turned his head to look edgewise at Karl's cocky expression.
"This," he stated simply.
"If you mean getting your ass reamed night after night, I'd say you can. You seem to be born with a natural knack for it," Karl said. Enough of this shit, Elijah thought angrily. He leaned forward fast, regretting it instantly; the sharp pains in his sides made him cringe and pause before reaching down and grabbing his boxers. Karl seemed to want to grab something as well, making Elijah slap his hand away from his hip.
"Leave me alone," he said, trying to sound tough. It didn't come out half-bad, but Karl smiled wider anyway.
"What're you gonna do? C'mon, 'Lijah... this is a good thing we got going on."
"For you-- it's a good thing you've got going on."
"I wasn't the one who got you screaming the last... what, two months?" Karl asked with a devious glint in his eye. It made Elijah rush to get his clothes on even faster, hating the sound of that voice. "Well?"
"Yea, and half the time it's me yelling 'no', or 'stop', or 'that hurts, cut it out'," Elijah rushed out, feeling his face go hot. He slipped his legs into his jeans and shook his head.
"Uh huh... it's good like that."
"Not for me, Karl, not for me. This is it, okay? I'm done," Elijah told him with a shake to his voice.
Karl sighed and stretched as Elijah looked for his shirt among the small pile in the corner. Elijah felt his eyes on him the entire time, gaging and waiting. "So whose trailer is this, Lij?" Karl asked. Elijah swallowed.
"Yours."
"So... really, who came here?"
"Look--"
"Who've you been talking to about this, huh? Bean? Vig... fuck..." Karl trailed off, chuckling heartily. "Sean?"
"Shut the fuck up."
"You have, haven't you? I'd bet my salary he'd toss Christine to the side to screw you every which way--"
"All right, STOP!" Elijah nearly screeched. "I haven't told fucking anyone on set about this, but it isn't like I can keep saying 'oh, I fell down the stairs' every time they see me all bruised up! It's gotta so damned bad, Ian took me aside to ask what the hell was going on. And no, I didn't even tell HIM, even though I wanted to."
"Hmm... and do you know why you didn't tell him? You're not trying to save MY skin here. You're so goddamned ashamed to admit that you like your ass taken the way it's been these past few months, huh? Can't spoil the image of some 'Hollywood pretty boy' everyone makes you out to be," Karl replied with malice.
"Oh, fuck you-- seriously," Elijah retorted. His shirt now buttoned up, he grabbed his bag from the desk and turned to face Karl fully. "I left a really great guy for you--"
"Pfft, more Hollywood pretty boys..."
"There I was, telling him 'I'm gonna be gone for so long, we should just cut ties', when it wasn't the fucking distance. It was you, sitting there telling me how good you could be to me. And y'now, that first night was good; now you just bore the living hell out of me."
He knew he'd crossed a line there; you didn't tell a strapping young man like Karl that he was 'boring', especially in reference to sex. It made Karl stand up out of bed and get over to Elijah; the boy froze when his hands grabbed the front of his shirt, feeling sick. "Oh yea, little man? Want me to show you how fucking boring I can get?" he asked in his fury, raising a fist.
"Go ahead, like I fucking care. Let makeup ask me why my face is all bruised up tomorrow. Let Pete make some investigation on it. Go ahead." Elijah challenged. Being tough in this or no, he was relieved to see Karl back off now. His usual cocky smile returned as he crossed his arms.
"Fine. Leave then," he said. Elijah hoisted his bag onto his shoulder and opened the bedroom door. "You'll be back soon enough."
"I won't."
"Right," Karl said just before Elijah slammed the door.
~*~
After two weeks of Elijah actually keeping to his word, Karl had had enough. Finishing the last day of shooting before the week break they had lined up, he got cleaned up, dressed, and got to his car.
Billy hadn't been eager to let Karl know where Elijah was staying that week, giving shrugs and telling him to "ask Lij himself". After going through Dom, Sean, and even Elijah's makeup artist, he'd almost given up. Yet all he knew was that if he didn't rein in that boy soon, Karl would lose all the control he'd had all this time.
Karl had finally found his answer; it came from a very tired Orlando, who blabbed about "getting smashed at 'Lijah's place" that next Monday, when apparently he was having a small get together. Before Karl could burn up with rage at not getting an invite, he asked Orlando where he was, and got his answer... not just the place, but the fact that Elijah had rented it all by himself.
Should've stayed with your 'lads', Karl thought, grinning to himself as he drove along. The cabin Elijah was staying at was only about a half an hour away, but Karl knew these roads enough to shorten that. Perhaps he'd get the boy to cave completely; if they didn't need to work that week, why hold back? Why worry about hiding the results of their 'play'? Surely Elijah couldn't turn that down... Karl would help him see things his way, no problem.
~*~
The lights were on in the bottom floor's windows, casting an orange haze onto the porch and frosty ground. Karl shut the door to the car and pulled his coat closer against the chill; he'd been thankful for the scenes he'd been in being indoors lately; some people weren't as lucky... Elijah being one of those unfortunate few. Maybe he needs a little warming up, the man thought, making a sly grin.
Karl walked up the porch steps, taking light, unhurried footsteps as he rose. Now under the pale yellow shine of the porch light, Karl pushed the doorbell and waited. He almost considered moving away from the window in the door, not letting Elijah see who it was... not that he was tall enough to look out them, high as they were. Karl deduced that it didn't matter; he'd go the 'big bad wolf' route if he had to.
So he was very surprised when a pair of dark eyes peered through the glass, looking out at him with suspicion. Karl frowned the tiniest bit as the door opened, a tall young man stepping forth. Focusing on who it was, Karl almost laughed. Wonderful, the OTHER Hollywood pretty boy...
"Oh... hello, Josh," he said, trying to keep his snarl down.
"Hey. You must be Karl, huh?" Josh answered, leaning against the door frame and crossing his arms.
"Pleased to meet you. 'Lij around?" Karl asked outright.
"Uh huh," Josh answered, but remained unmoved. A moment of silence fell between them, before Karl cleared his throat.
"I'd like to see him, if you don't mind."
"I do, though-- there's the problem," Josh answered, his voice getting grittier. Karl let his famous 'really boy, don't fuck with me' smile on and shook his head.
"I don't mean to get personal, here-- I really don't. But... aren't you yesterday's news?" Karl asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"I was... but now I'm front page, if you catch my fucking drift," Josh answered dryly. "Check the last page where the obits are-- you might be mentioned there."
Karl thought back quick to their last conversation; Elijah had lied, saying he hadn't told anyone--
He smiled slowly, recalling exactly what Elijah had said.
'I haven't told fucking anyone on set about this'...
"You with me?"
Karl turned back to Josh and sighed. He clucked his tongue, sizing him up. "We'll see," he said.
"Nah, maybe not," Josh shot back. Karl nodded and bowed slightly, still smiling devilishly. Once Josh's hand went to the door to shut it, Karl turned away and left the porch. He expected a dramatic slam of the door, but heard just a gentle shut... along with a click.
Karl rolled his eyes and got in his car; looking back to the house he saw a shadow going past the front window through the sheer curtain. Another shadow followed, and then nothing at all.
He's not fucking worth it, Karl thought, closing the book instantly.
~*~*~*~*~
Title: Imprint
Rating: R for some violence
For: naemi
Code: N/A
She wanted a C/Z meanie!fic... there are some dark themes, but nothing terribly explicit. Ends as an H/C again. :)
Zeke sees it in the very first minute he sets eyes on the boy; after not seeing him for months, it's actually hard to look Casey in the eye. But when Zeke finally does and mutters a "Hey," he doesn't like what he sees.
Everyone at Stokely's Christmas party is excited to be here. The first semester of their separation has passed, letting them all come together to relive good times. Casey didn't make it a secret, his new life, at least to some people; especially Stokely, who back at the end of September had let it slip to Zeke that Casey was seeing someone at his college. She'd immediately bit her lip when she realized what she'd done, asking Zeke to not tell Casey she'd accidentally let him know. Zeke was fine with it... bygones were bygones, and he and Casey were more than that. But when he found out that Stan-- and even fucking Delilah knew about the 'new Boston boyfriend', he felt livid.
It'd been obvious as to why Casey didn't want Zeke to know. It had only been a week since Casey left for school when he'd called, telling Zeke that he didn't think it was going to work. Whether it was excessive amounts of schoolwork or how he'd not be coming home for Thanksgiving, Casey didn't want to 'let down' his hometown boyfriend. Zeke had done his best pretending it was okay, but the minute he hung up, he'd went downstairs to his punching bag without gloves and made him knuckles bloody.
Schoolwork must have eased up, though... and maybe Casey hadn't planned on coming home for Thanksgiving for a reason. Lord knew his parents were sad that he wasn't coming home, but Casey had told them that it wasn't practical. In talking to Mrs. Connor a week after Casey had broken it off with him, he found out from her that he'd 'already made plans'. There was more gloveless anger, more bloody knuckles-- that time produced a broken finger, but Zeke didn't care.
The worst part, right now, is that Casey is sitting over by Stan talking, with this... guy, scrunched up next to the boy on the small love seat. Everyone's being gracious to him, seeing as this IS Casey's new guy. Delilah was having a few extra margaritas, her thin-lipped smile speaking volumes about her ex (looks Zeke had gotten himself, many times), but she's calm, cool, and collected. Maybe it's just Zeke's imagination, but he swears he's seen 'Matt' looking at him with a sort of amused, cocky expression a few times.
Maybe the bruises on Casey's arm are his imagination as well... he doesn't like what he sees.
~*~
Two mornings before Spring Break starts, Zeke gets a call from Stokely; she's worried about something.
"I dunno... he was so weird on the phone. He kept saying that Matt would be really angry if he didn't get to stay in Boston for Spring break," she says. It makes Zeke's hand clench on the phone as she continues. "His parents won't let him, though. His dad doesn't... well, you know how he is about Casey being what he is."
Zeke sighs and nods; of course he does. He remembers back at the end of last spring when he'd been caught with Casey on the couch, kissing themselves into oblivion while expecting Casey's parents to be out until midnight. They hadn't even heard the door open at ten-thirty, being so enraptured as they were. But Zeke had heard the bellows from Casey's father, Mrs. Connor trying to calm him down and get him in the kitchen. Casey had started crying when pots and pans were being thrown into the floor, his father's rage making it hard to hear. Casey hadn't looked Zeke's way when Mrs. Connor came back, telling Zeke that it was best for him to leave.
Yet despite the fear of it all, Casey had sneaked out of his room that very night and went to Zeke's, pleading with him to stay with him. "I don't care what my dad says or thinks. I'm not gonna live a lie," he'd said. The boy was brave-- always had been. Eager to please and playing a doormat sometimes, but brave. Zeke had gone to his house after all that, usually just to pick him up and go somewhere. Mr. Connor would give him looks, but said nothing.
"He still talks about you-- maybe you could see what's going on with him. Do you have his number?" Stokely says, bringing Zeke back into the present. He tells her no, to which she sighs and relays the number to him. After Zeke hangs up with Stokely, he picks up the phone again and dials.
"Hello?"
The voice is familiar. "Hi... Casey there?"
"Who's this?" the voice asks, obviously suspicious. Zeke frowns.
"Um, Zeke-- is this Matt?" Zeke says. His question is never answered; the phone slams so hard, Zeke's ear rings. Angry, Zeke picks up the phone and dials again. It kept ringing and ringing and ringing, until the voice mail came on.
"You've reached Matthew Anderson; I can't come to the phone right now..."
Zeke swallows and hangs up. Last he'd known, Casey lived in a dorm room with some guy named Chuck.
~*~
Three days after Spring Break's started, everyone home again, Zeke rushes inside of his house, fury filling his every pore. He doesn't know what to do first... he doesn't know what to do.
Pack my shit, drive to Boston. Rip the guy's throat out with my bared hands. Maybe take Stan with me.
Casey hadn't expected Zeke to come by; when he'd opened the door, he froze, looking to Zeke as if he were an axe murderer.
He could say as many times as he liked that he fell into the corner of his desk, but the imprint of a ring was clear as sunshine, sitting in plain sight on his cheek. No wonder the little fuck didn't want to come to another party at Stokely's. Everyone had missed him, asking her if his 'really nice boyfriend' had come with him to Herrington again. She'd shrugged and said she didn't think he had... well, he hadn't... and he had.
"Wanted a chance to heal, huh, before seeing all your friends...?" Zeke mutters angrily to himself as he rushes upstairs to find his suitcase. Yea, he's going, all right; he's out for 'rich-boy-bastard' blood, ready and willing to spend a few years in jail over it if he has to.
When Zeke can't find his suitcase, he thinks about tossing his stuff in the car without worrying about organization. He thinks about how many times he'd tossed Gabe to a locker when he'd try to start shit with Casey, even after the boy 'saved the world'. He thinks about how much of an idiot he was for doing that.
"Do you LIKE getting beat, would you have stayed with me if I'd kicked the SHIT out of you, you fucking bastard!?" he yells to no one, feeling sick. He punches the wall of his bedroom until he can't feel his fingers anymore.
~*~
"Um... what're you doing here?"
Zeke snarls, looking to the sandy-blond haired young man with barely-hidden malice in his eyes. "I'm taking him home," Zeke says, and without pause passes through the ornate doorway of this disgustingly rich looking mansion.
"Hey... hey, WAIT a fucking minute!" Matthew yells, slamming the door and following him. Zeke turns before the guy can lay a hand on him, trying to remind Matt that Zeke's about six inches taller, and carries the air of someone who could kill a man for just looking at him the wrong way.
"He called two days ago... betcha didn't know that, huh?" Zeke tells Matt, whose face is now stony and cold. "He said he had to use a phone card, so you wouldn't see it on the bill."
"Yea? So I don't like him calling long distance seven-hundred times a day, expecting me to pay for it. What of it?" Matt answers.
"You fucker, he hasn't called anyone since he came back here after Spring Break. Not even his parents... that was two fucking months ago, you twat," Zeke growls out. He moves in closer, pleased to see Matt take a step back. "Even his fucking father called me, asking if I'd heard from him. Told him I hadn't, and the man almost started crying. That and Casey's begging me to come get him led me here, you goddamned prick."
"So you think you can just barge in here... whisk the lil' bitch away like some medieval knight?"
Zeke's tempted to grab the fucker's neck, bring him up and pin him to the wall; it'd make a lovely picture seeing Matt gasp and beg for breath... but he leans in close, hissing hot breath through his nostrils like an animal enraged. "You bet your fuckin' ass I think I can. I could snap your neck with a flick of my goddamned wrist if I wanted to, too-- and believe the fuck outta me, I'm fucking dying to do that," Zeke explains with all accuracy and intent. "I wouldn't doubt me. You have no idea what I'd do for that boy. No fucking idea. You calling him a 'bitch' is enough to cripple you."
"Zeke?"
The small voice from behind comes like an angel's song, sad and light. Zeke glances over; the heavy bruising on Casey's arms, shoulders and cheek make his scarred fists clench. "Get your stuff, Casey. I'm taking you home."
"Casey, don't you fucking dare--"
Matt's angered demand disappears instantly, replaced with a violent choke as Zeke forces him down with a vicious hand, knocking his back to the floor and pinning him down by his neck. Matt's arms thrash, trying to grab onto Zeke to get him to stop. "Y-Y-ou... ff-u..."
"Zeke... stop. Please stop," Casey's soft, unemotional words sound off in Zeke's brain. He eases a little to allow Matt breath, but keeps him held to the floor. Matt's eyes are wide with terror as Zeke looks to Casey again.
"Go on, hon-- get your things. I'll wait."
~*~
Zeke feels a bittersweet-pride, watching Casey getting his things together. In four days, Casey's getting on a plane and heading back for school. "I'm not afraid of him," Casey told him the week before, easing Zeke's mind... a little.
Casey finishes a bag and looks to Zeke with a small smile. He stands up from the floor, walks over to the bed and crawls up next to Zeke, curling into his side like a kitten. Zeke wraps an arm around his back and pulls him in closer, loving the feel of Casey's soft skin on the small of his back. His fingers swirl in circles over the patch of cooled skin, making Casey hum low in his throat.
"I'm sorry," Casey murmurs.
"For...?" Zeke answers, trailing off as Casey nuzzles his cheek to Zeke's chest.
"Will you stay with me?"
Zeke blinks and looks down, lips parting in wonder. Casey looks so easy-to-hurt, making him slide a hand into the boy's hair. "Yea... yea, of course."
"I'm gonna miss you so much," Casey then says; Zeke frowns.
"Wait... I thought..."
"What?"
Zeke grins, realizing his mistake. "I thought you'd meant 'stay', like come with you," he says, chuckling a little. For a moment, Casey's face is blank, until a small smile curls up.
"I'd love that."
"I will...?" Zeke murmurs back. Casey's body stills as his head jerks up to meet Zeke's eyes again.
"Y...Yea?" he stammers out, seeming to be in disbelief. Zeke smiles and pulls Casey in for a long, slow kiss.
He hopes Casey hears that as a 'yes'.