Title: The Gift
Character: Casey Connor, Zeke Tyler
Word Count: 200
Prompt: key
Finished: 06.07.2022

Note: Dialogue only

:::

„What's this? I've told you not to buy me a gift. It always makes me feel so uncomfortable.“

„Oh, c'mon! It's your 18th birthday; I guess that's an excellent reason for overstepping the lines a bit.“

„You can invite me to Annie's.“

„You are such a geek. You want to celebrate at a milkbar?“

„Annie makes the most delicious blueberry muffins. So, yes!“

„I love you!“

„You... WHAT???“

„You've heard me. Don't know how this could happen, but you sneaked into my heart before I even noticed it.
And now open this fucking thing.“

„If you... if you buy me a ring, I'm gonna kill you.“

„One ring to rule them all, one ring to bind them... no, thanks. I love my freedom, too. Go ahead, open it.“

„Oh. It's a key.“

„The key to my garage. My refuge. The only place I feel at home. Where I don't need to hide who I am.
I've never thought I would want to share it with someone else one day. But you have chan... Hey, if you start crying now, I might change my mind and take it back.“

Title: As ever?!
Character: Zeke Tyler, Casey Connor
Word Count: 200
Prompt: staying at home
Finished: 03.06.2022

:::

„Any plans for tonight,“ Zeke asked.

Casey shrugged. „Staying at home, I guess, as ever. Maybe I will help my dad in the garden, and later we'll put some burgers on the grill.“

„Woah, sounds very interesting.“

„Pfft. Not everyone can be a big party king.“

„Hey, calm down.“ Zeke laughed. „I'm just wondering if you would be interested in hanging out a bit. I know a drive-in cinema which shows classics every Friday night. Clockwork Orange. Crazy shit. Ever watched it?“

Casey blinked dumbfounded. „You and me? Going to a movie?“

„Why not? Anything wrong with it?“

„No, of course not. It's just... I am not one of the cool guys.“

Zeke smirked. „Believe me, hanging around with the cool guys gets boring very quickly."

„You don't try to fool me, do you?“

„I would never dare to do that.“ Zeke winked at him. „So, is this a yes? I could come around at 7 o'clock, and we make a short stop at Joe's for some snacks. Just in case we decide to stay for the second movie, too.“

A wide grin showed up on Casey's face. „Okay. This sounds great!“

Title: Love or Lust
Character: Zeke Tyler, Casey Connor
Word Count: 205 (200 for Drabble Weekly)
Prompt: love or lust
Finished: 13.04.2022

:::

„You could stay overnight,“ Zeke suggested, letting his fingers wander over Casey's back.

The boy shuddered but sat up anyway. „Curfew,“ was all he said.

„That sucks!“ Sometimes Zeke still couldn't get how deep this little geek had gotten under his skin. Usually, he preferred one-time sex without too many feelings. Starting to flirt with Casey had been just for fun at the beginning and curiosity about how far this would go.

But he had to admit that it had long gotten out of control. They had met for almost two months, and the disappointment he felt right now, because of another weekend he would have to spend alone, was somewhat disturbing. What was wrong with him?

A romantic guy who did believe in serious relationships might call it... love. Zeke felt panic creeping into his body. No way! It was lust. Intense lust, like he had never felt before. Which was strange enough.

Casey smiled, wearing his too wide jeans now and this ridiculous checked shirt, which turned him back into the school's geek. But his blue eyes were sparkling provocatively. „Next weekend, my parents are out of town,“ he murmured, bending forward for a last kiss. Zeke's mouth got dry instantly.

Title: Under the weather
Character: Kurdy Malloy, Mr. Smith
Word Count: 100
Prompt: under the weather
Finished: 27.02.2022

:::

Smith eyed his partner, frowning. „You are a tiny bit under the weather today, aren't you?“

Kurdy huffed. „Only because Markus made you my partner until Jeremiah will be back again doesn't mean that you are my babysitter now. So just shut up, okay? We have a job to do.“

„That's what I am worried about. It's a dangerous one, and I'm not sure if I will be able to save your life once again.“

„No shit!“ Kurdy rolled his eyes. „One day, I'm going to kill you!“

Smith shrugged. „Well, you are not the first one.“

Title: The letter
Character: Zeke Tyler, OFC
Word Count: 200
Prompt: in the post
Finished: 17.02.2022

:::

The nurse entered the room with the usual „Good morning, Mr. Tyler, how are we today?“

He didn't look up from his magazine. „Never was better,“ he snarled. „The doc just told me that I will be your guest for at least one more week. Sounds great, doesn't it?“

She laughed, waving with an envelope in her hands. „Maybe this can lift your mood.“

Zeke frowned. „For me?“

„That's what the name says. Ezekiel Tyler, that's you, isn't it?“

Finally, he let the magazine sink. „That's ridiculous. No one knows that I am here, and even if, no one would care.“

„Well, obviously, someone does. Why don't you risk a look?“

„Not interested. Just throw it in the bin and leave me alone.“

Despite Zeke's snippy tone, the nurse still smiled. „Okay, but I will put it here, just in case you change your mind later.“

He huffed annoyed; what the heck was she thinking that she was talking with him as if he was a toddler? His eyes wandered over to the envelope on the small side table. When he recognized the accurate handwriting, he couldn't help but grin. Casey Conner. He should have known it.

Title: I am fine!
Character: Casey Connor, Mrs. Connor
Word Count: 200
Prompt: fine
Finished: 12.02.2022

:::

„Really, mom!“ Cassy rolled his eyes. „I am fine!“

Mrs. Connor scrutinized him. „I know you for almost eighteen years now, son. There are no bruises, so I hope the football players finally leave you alone. But something is going on.“

He smirked. „I will go to college next autumn, don't you think, some little secrets are okay?“

„You might be right,“ she admitted. „But after what happened at school last year... I am worried, okay?“

„I know, mom.“ Casey put his arms around her. He wished to tell her the truth; she won't faint right away when he told her that he was gay. And in love with the school's rebel. She was open enough to give Zeke a fair chance at first before she judged him.

But he had promised it after noticing the panic in Zeke's eyes when he had suggested a coming out at least to his parents. Later, when they would be in Boston, building their new life together, then there would be no need anymore to hide it longer.

Casey placed a kiss on his mom's cheek. „But I promise, it's nothing. At the moment, my life is just perfect.“

Title: Like a Nightmare
Character: Mr. Smith
Word Count: 200
Prompt: quiet
Finished: 29.01.2022

:::

Smith leaned back against the old tree, closing his eyes. So quiet, not even the muted sounds the woods always made; no birds were flying through the night, the wind had stopped blowing. Maybe even the world had stopped to turn around.

At the moment he had killed Libby. The woman with the hilarious laughter, who loved music, and dancing. He had trusted her as everyone did. No one had had an uneasy sense, not even Lee, the always distrustful safety deputy of the Mountain.

His wounded arm started to throb even more, and the pain reminded him of the truth. Libby had betrayed all of them. First of all, Jeremiah, the man who had loved her more than anyone else.

Smith had seen endless pain in his eyes when he pulled the lifeless body in his arms, carrying her away to bury her. And the hate. Grim. Mercyless. Ready to bring to an end what Libby couldn't do anymore. Because he had been quicker. Instinct. Pure luck. Maybe God. Who had decided that his time hadn't come yet.

A blood-curdling scream broke the silence, and it took a while to make Smith realize that it was his own voice.

Title: In another life
Character: Casey Connor
Word Count: 200
Prompt: in another life
Finished: 08.01.2022

:::

Sleeplessly, Casey tossed and turned around in bed. What a shitty day. In a row of even more shitty days.

In another life, his parents wouldn't fight all day long because his dad spent too much time in his office... and with his secretary, who was not much older than his son.

In another life the students at school would respect him and not use him as a punching ball every lunchbreak.

In another life, his art teacher would notice his talent and not look pitiful at his photos, only because he was not interested in taking boring pictures of flowers and trees.

In another life, his college fund would be big enough to allow him to follow his dreams. MIT, New York maybe, not a pathetic city college at the end of the world.

In another life...

Casey breathed in deeply; the thought alone made his heart beat quicker, and hot shivers were running through his body.

In another life, he would find the courage to tell Zeke about his deepest feelings. And Zeke would not look at him full of disgust but smile his irresistible smile before he would pull him into his arms for a long kiss.

Title: Goodbye
Character: Casey Connor, Zeke Tyler
Word Count: 200
Prompt: try to remember
Finished: 09.05.2021

:::

„Hey, what's wrong?“ Zeke scrutinized Casey thoughtfully; the boy was cowering on the wooden bench of the bleachers, sniffing slightly.

„Why do you care?“

When he looked up, Zeke could see tears running over his face. Inwardly he cringed; okay, he was the jock's favorite victim, but he had never seen him cry before. It seemed as if things got out of control. „Maybe you should learn to stand up against these fuckers,“ he murmured.

Casey frowned. „What are you talking about?“

„Gabe and the others. What did they do this time?“

„I couldn't care less about them at the moment.“ He wiped some tears away. „It's my grandpa. He's in a nursing home for quite a while already but... but he was doing well so far. Until last weekend...“

„Understand,“ Zeke murmured, suddenly feeling uneasy. This was not what he had expected, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to deal with it.

Casey sobbed uncontrolled now. „I can't believe that he's gone forever. We were soulmates.“

Without thinking longer about it, Zeke put his arm around Casey's shoulder. „You still are because you will always remember the good times you have had together.“

Title: Fighting for the underdogs
Character: Casey Connor, Zeke Tyler
Challenge: do something!
Word Count: 200
Finished: 06.04.2021

:::

„We need to do something!“

Zeke looked up from his car magazine. „Hm?“

„Jason, the new one at school. The jocks start watching him; guess it's only a matter of time.“

Zeke pulled his face but shrugged. „None of our business, right?“

„You can't be serious! Remember what they did to me all the time?“

How could he not? Too long he had turned his eyes away, had ignored bullying and bruises. Though Casey was a friend, they shared a lab table and the bleachers at lunch break. So he had finally overstepped his lines and had had a serious talk with Gabe. Doesn't mean, though, that he had turned into a golden knight now, ready to fight for all underdogs.

Casey eyed him with narrowed eyes. „You're still the same shallow prick.“

„It's impossible to save the whole world,“ Zeke murmured, avoiding to look at the boy. „Stay out of this, okay? It will only bring you into trouble again.“

„I can't!“

Zeke groaned. „You are the most stubborn shit I've ever met. Fine, I will keep an eye on him, okay. That's all I can promise!“

Casey smiled. „That's all I ask for!“