Title: Desperation
Characters: Walter, Paige, Sylvester
Prompts: 15-minute-fic steel (Monthly super go)
Word Count: 246
Finished: 15.06.2020

:::

„Who do you think you are,“ Paige asked, watching Walter thoughtfully. „The man, made out of steel?“

Frowning, the young man looked up from his computer screen. „Hmm?“

„Superman,“ Sylvester dropped in.

„Oh. Understand. This was supposed to be a joke.“

Paige shook her head. „No, it wasn't. I'm worried about you; we all are. You always was a very rational guy who knew to judge a situation. For every risk you took, there was a good reason. But since Megan died, you seem to be wildly resolved to break your neck. It was pretty dangerous what you did today, not to mention that it was totally needless. Toby and Happy already have had the situation under control.“

Walter pulled his face. „You try to tell me that I put the whole team into serious trouble? Then maybe I should take a break for a while, you all are better of without me.“

„Walt. No one says...“ Paige tried to reach out for him when he jumped up from his desk chair. But he shook her hand off. „No one needs to tell me that I am failing much too often lately,“ he hissed. „I wasn't there for Megan when she needed me most. And I wasn't there for the team today. I'm not a good leader at the moment.“

When the door fall shut behind him, Paige looked at Sylvester, but the young man only shrugged helplessly. It was hard to help someone who wasn't ready to accept any help.

Title: Memories
Characters: Markus Alexander, Meghan (the woman behind glass)
Prompt: spring
Words: 287
Finished: 14.02.2020

:::

"I remember how much I've loved spring, "Meghan murmured, burying his face into the colorful bunch of flowers. "The sun warmed up everything, that last snow was melting. The grass turned green again, the birds were singing in the trees. And the fresh smell in the air... "She looked up, tears sparkling in her eyes. "Tell me, Markus, is it still like this? "

The young man cringed inwardly; the pity he felt was beyond words. So desperately he wished to be able to give her back what she had lost a long time ago. Fifteen years locked in behind glass and the knowledge that it would stay like this for the rest of her life. Because she carried the dead inside her, one touch of her hand could mean the end of the menkind.

Markus had always done his best to make it as comfortable as possible for her, but in moments like these, he realized that he was not more than her guardsman, denying her what she wanted most. Her old life, her freedom. The sun burning on her face, the wind in her hair. The bouquet had been only the pathic try to sooth his bad conscience.

"Sorry! "He forced his eyes back to her; she was standing close to the window now, one hand resting on the glass as if she wanted to touch him, to reassure him that everything was okay. "Just a tiny moment of melancholy. It's already over. Thank you for the flowers; they are lovely. "She smiled. "You are lovely. I was supposed to die about fifteen years ago, but I am glad I didn't because I would have missed so many wonderful moments together with you."

Title: Supper at the Connor's home
Characters: Zeke Tyler, Casey Connor, Mrs. Connor
Prompt: supper
Words: 692
Finished: 10.02.2020

:::

Zeke had only agreed hesitating when Mrs. Connor invited him over for supper on Friday. It was not that he mistrusted Casey's parents; they seemed to be okay and they loved Casey enough to allow him to go his own way. But he had always known to avoid too much family stuff. Too many curious questions he wasn't willing to answer, too many expectations which would only put him under pressure. He knew he would hate it. But he loved Casey, and Casey loved his parents, and he had put it off for much too long already.

The evening ran much more stress-free than expected. Mrs. C. was nice, greeted him with a hearty hug, and told him that she was glad to welcome him in the Connor's family. Maybe this was a touch too much, but Casey had already warned him that this could happen. So he had been prepared and played along with a smile. Mr. Connor turned out to be interested not only in baseball but in oldtimer cars, too. A familiar subject Zeke knew a lot about. Casey was only sitting there, watching them chatting lively, a wide grin on his face.

Then Mrs. Connor told them that supper was served. „It's ginger glazed Mahi Mahi with rice,“ she told Zeke. „I hope you eat fish?“

He cringed inwardly. The word alone made him feel queazy. Remembered him of long-forgotten times when his foster dad had insisted to go fishing together with him every weekend. He had taught him to disembowel the fishes, had laughed about him when he had started to retch every time. Later they had grilled the fishes on a campfire, and he had been forced to eat them. „It's either that, or you will go to bed hungry tonight,“ his foster dad had told him. Back then he had been about six years old, and he had had no other choice than to obey. Though he often had thrown up secretly afterward.

„Zeke? You okay?“ Casey watched him slightly worried, and he forced himself to smile. „Yeah, sure.“ And he dropped down onto a chair at the dining table. No way that he would ruin this evening, no way. But the moment Mr. C. served the plate with the fish, he knew it wouldn't work. Instantly he felt sick, and it got worse with every second he tried to fight it. Finally, he gave up, rushed to the bathroom.

:::

Shaking all over he was cowering on the ground in front of the toilet, his stomach empty, but the nasty feeling still in his mouth. Like through a haze, he could hear Casey talking to him. „...okay?“ „What's...“ „... call a doctor?“

Exhausted he looked up. „God, no, don't make such a fuss.“ Casey winced and he knew, his words had been too hard. Suddenly Mrs. C. was there, too, and Zeke squeezed his eyes shut in the useless try to escape this embarrassing situation.

„Casey, give Zeke some room to breathe.“

„But, mom...“

„Go back to your father, please."

Finally silence. He forced himself to breathe steadily, but it still took a while until he felt ready to open his eyes again. Mrs. C. was still there, sitting on a little chair in front of the mirror. Her eyes resting on him; but there was no anger, no disdain, only genuine sympathy.

„I'm sorry,“ he murmured weakly. „I didn't mean to ruin this evening. You are so nice, and...“

„Zeke, Honey.“ She knelt down beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder. „No need to worry about this. I'm sure there is a good reason for what has happened. Do you want to talk about it? It might help."

He hesitated, not used to it, that someone cared for him in this way. No one but Casey, who had shown him a way out of his loneliness. Who had taught him that he didn't have to deal with everything alone. Finally he gave in. „Okay. But let's go back into the living room. I guess, Casey and Mr. C. should also hear about it.“

Title: Breakfast in bed
Characters: Casey Connor, Zeke Tyler
Prompt: breakfast
Words: 265
Finished: 08.02.2020

:::

„Hey, sleepyhead.“ Zeke's cheery voice tore Casey out of his dream. „Time to weak up.“

„Uhh.“ He tried to pull the blanket over his head again, but Zeke chuckled. „C'mon, it's a wonderful morning. What do you think about starting it with breakfast in bed? Scrambled eggs and muffins.“

A delicious smell crawled up Casey's nose, and he finally opened his eyes. A tray, filled with all kinds of deliciousness, was placed at the small box beside the old couch in Zeke's garage. So much yummier than the healthy breakfast he always got at home. He grinned wide. „Woah.“

„It's said that my eggs with bacon are top-class. But I have to admit that I'm a miserable baker, so I made a short trip to Annie's, to get your favorite muffins. Chocolate and hazelnut, right?“

Casey blinked again. „Since when you are into such romantic stuff?“

„It's all your fault. Before I met you, I had my feelings under control.“ Then he noticed the affected look in Casey's eyes and pulled him into his arms. „Hey, sorry, I didn't mean it that way. You know, I am not good with words. What I wanted to say is, that you make my life so much better. And I would like to spoil you much more often.“

Smiling again Casey shook his head. „I'm not together with you because you get a generous check from your parents every month.“

„I know.“ Zeke placed a fleeting kiss on Casey's lips. „So, coffee? With milk and tons of sugar for your sweet tooth?“