Title: Sky Blue Triad III: Clear Skies
Author: astra
Rating: PG-13
Status: 3/4 Complete
Pairings: Casey/Zeke
Summary: Zeke has big plans.
Thank you: to Vshendria for wonderful beta!
Zeke leaned back against the crumbling brick wall outside the science wing. Hidden by shadows he waited and watched.
He flinched at the sight and sound of the slap and bit his lip hard. He owed Delilah for that.
She walked away, but Zeke's attention remained on Casey. He saw the trace of a smile that crossed the boy's face before Casey took on the familar mask of resigned acceptance.
Good for him.
The crowds of students moved towards the entrance reluctant to be trapped inside all day when it was so warm and sunny outside. Zeke knew Casey had a free period now and that he would spend it in the darkroom as always. But the rest of the day — it was theirs.
Finally.
Lighting a cigarette, Zeke relaxed and waited. He had no intention of sitting through an hour of Fitzsimmons' droning when there were so many things of actual importance to think about.
Like winning the bet.
Alright, technically Zeke had lost the bet since Casey and Delilah broke up before Halloween. But the prize... if Casey really wanted... both of them would win.
Today had to be perfect; he couldn't mess this up. What could he do? Of course. He'd meet Casey as they'd agreed and convince him to go off on an adventure. They'd get on the highway and drive until they found some little town worth exploring. Casey loved to do that, and Zeke was starting to like it too.
Sometimes they went to a museum or park, sometimes they just walked around looking at things. Casey had a growing collection of photos from these outings — a fascinating assortment of ordinary things somehow made interesting.
Zeke had considered getting flowers for this occasion, but decided it was too mushy. Instead, he'd found a little metal robot toy that moved in a circle and waved its arms when wound. He'd discovered it in a box at a second hand store and had taken it home and cleaned it so the metal gleamed. He'd give it to Casey tonight. After.
The bell. Finally.
Zeke pushed away from the wall, taking one last drag on his cigarette before crushing it out against the bricks. He took his time walking up the stairs and entering the school. Zeke Tyler must never appear eager.
He opened the door to his domain, smiling at the sight of Casey lost in thought. They were alone as he expected, the potheads having enough grey cells left to understand that Casey was as off-limits as Zeke. They actually seemed a bit afraid of the little guy.
The familiar greeting; casual words, then Casey in his arms. And the kiss... apparently Delilah had been good for something after all.
He had to get Casey out of here right now. He couldn't stand being in this building another minute. He hated what he was when he was here; hated having been labeled by teachers and students who had no interest in who he really was.
At least Casey understood.
They were out of breath from running and laughing as they fell into the car. Immediately Zeke felt the tension that he always carried at school ease. He could feel Casey relaxing too. This car had become their sanctuary.
Zeke loved the freedom of driving, the calming sounds of the radio and the engine, the feeling of being in control. It had been his only salvation for a long time.
He laughed as Casey twisted himself around, trying to take pictures while the car sped down the highway. He'd given the kid a hard time about it at first, but then Casey had shown him some of the photos. Sure, most of them were blurs of nothing, but every so often Casey caught something just right and the images he captured were startling, even beautiful.
Casey had given one to Zeke. He'd put it in a frame and hung it on his bedroom wall where he could look at it when he first woke up. Maybe Casey would get to see it there today.
An exit sign announced a town Zeke had never heard of. He grinned and steered them towards it. It was too nice for a museum today. Maybe a park...
They stopped for breakfast sandwiches and, because Casey liked sweets, Zeke had them throw in some pastries. The girl at the drive-through gave good directions to a local park and Zeke found it easily.
The parking lot was empty when they arrived so they commandeered the playground. They sat on the see-saw and ate their breakfast, then tried out all the other toys before Casey challenged Zeke to a race on the swings.
Casey's wide smile was something Zeke treasured. He used to think that Casey couldn't smile; all he ever saw was the pathetic whipped puppy expression. But Zeke slowly realized that it was part of Casey's armor, just as the expression of bored indifference was part of Zeke's.
The rest of the school probably wouldn't believe the carefree young man swinging beside him was the same geek that used to be rammed into the flagpole every morning. They'd been shocked that it was Casey who had saved their lives.
Morons.
Zeke shook his head, chasing away thoughts of school and refocusing on Casey. He envied how easily Casey played. He couldn't remember ever being that way; but then his parents had rarely had the time or interest in encouraging him to play. They seemed to like him best when he was silent and out of sight. As soon as he'd been old enough to fend for himself they'd taken off, one or the other stopping in for a few days now and then between trips.
He was glad that they'd both been away when the alien had tried to take over the town. Not that he would have worried about them or anything.
Casey tackled him, hanging onto Zeke's back and giggling, trying to draw him out of his introspection.
Zeke smiled and went for the ticklish spot on Casey's right side. They rolled in the leaves together, then chased each other around the wooden train and up into the fort. They were leaning against each other, breathless, when the preschoolers invaded.
Grabbing Casey's hand, Zeke led him along the nature trail he'd noticed earlier. He hoped the kiddies would be too busy at the playground to follow them here.
Perfect.
It was quiet and secluded here, and Zeke had to have Casey in his arms. He heard the words and his heart almost stopped. Was Casey really ready? Was he sure?
They returned to the car and it took everything Zeke had not to take hold of Casey and never let go. But he couldn't. He had to be sure that this wasn't because of the stupid bet or some odd sense of obligation. Leave it to Casey to make everything so complicated.
They laughed and talked, and somehow Zeke managed not to make a total idiot of himself. At least he thought he had managed it. Casey had a way of getting him to say and do things he never would have imagined.
Like that bet.
It had been a stupid idea, but Zeke couldn't stand seeing Casey with Delilah, knowing she would use him and discard him as soon as someone more interesting came along. He and Casey had been eating pizza and watching old movies late one night when the words just came out of his mouth, no brain involved.
"So, Casey, you sleep with her yet?"
"Who, Delilah?" Casey had asked around a mouthful of cheese and pepperoni, blinking his surprise.
"No, Stokely." Zeke had teased, reaching over and stealing a pepperoni slice off Casey's pizza, holding it out of reach, then putting it between his teeth as a challenge.
Zeke had watched as Casey set his pizza carefully aside then sprang, knocking Zeke onto his back and straddling him. He felt Casey's teeth brush against his lip before catching a bit of the pepperoni and taking a bite. They finished the pepperoni and Casey went back to his seat looking thoughtful.
"I don't think I want to," Casey finally admitted, blushing a little.
"Why not?" Zeke fought to suppress the surge of joy.
Casey shrugged and picked up his half-eaten pizza slice.
"I bet you will."
"What makes you so sure?"
"She's your dream girl," Zeke taunted, rolling onto his side and poking Casey in the knee. "Herrington High's answer to perfection."
Casey snorted. "Right. Ever watch her eat?" He shuddered. "She'd be ok if she wasn't such a control freak."
"Okay, so it's a bet then." Zeke sat up hoping that he didn't look or sound too eager. "If you sleep with Delilah by Halloween, I win. If not, you win."
"What do I win?"
"You get to sleep with me." As soon as the words left his mouth, Zeke was mortified. He could feel the burn of embarassment heating his face and he never blushed. He stuttered, trying to turn it into a joke. He could feel Casey's eyes on him but he couldn't meet them.
The silence stretched out into agony.
A movement startled him and Zeke blinked down at the hand reaching out to him.
"Deal." Casey said quietly. He took Zeke's hand and shook it. "Although..."
Zeke looked up, uncertain of what Casey meant.
"Shouldn't we seal this with a kiss?" And Casey was suddenly pressed against him, their lips moving as they kissed awkwardly.
"Mmmm." Zeke felt the hum of Casey's voice against his skin. "I think we need more practice."
So they did. A lot.
Zeke looked over at Casey, pulling himself back into the present. It had been hard waiting, watching Delilah lead Casey around for weeks, knowing she would hurt him. She had even tried to keep Casey away from him. Funny how everyone kept forgetting how strong Casey was.
And how determined.
They pulled into the driveway and he turned off the engine, giving Casey the speech he'd rehearsed for days. He was pretty sure the words were wasted, but he needed Casey to hear them, as much as he needed to say them.
He was right, of course.
Casey nodded and looked serious, following Zeke into the house and helping him make sandwiches. They sat together on the sofa and talked and ate until they could no longer pretend they were delaying the inevitable.
Zeke watched as Casey took their plates and carried them to the kitchen. A moment later he was back, his hand reaching out, waiting.
Zeke accepted it.
Afterwards he was struck by how perfect it all was; the blue sky... the warm October day... Casey.
He cast a glance over at the little robot on the shelf by the window, sunlight slanting across it, making it glow. Like Casey glowed, pale gold and warm with the blue sky dancing in his eyes.
Zeke drew him close and held him, drifting off into peaceful dreams.
