Broken Toys

Chapter 52

"And you must be Casey." The short, slightly rumpled woman swooped in and gathered Casey in a tight hug. "Billy has told us so much about you, dear." Over her shoulder Casey made a face at Zeke who was trying to conceal a smirk.

"Mother... oxygen," Billy teased in a voice full of mock annoyance.

The ex-Mrs. Tepper tightened her grip one last time before letting Casey go. She stepped back and smiled warmly at him. "Nonsense, Billy. He needed a good hug. You all do." And before he could react, it was Zeke's turn. He leaned into the embrace, smiling a little despite himself.

"Lovely to meet you, Zeke." Billy's mother released Zeke and turned back to Billy who got another hug. Billy's step-dad arrived and she finally let go.

"Look at you, so grown up." She shook her head, obviously trying not to get too emotional. "Thomas, come meet Billy's friends."

Billy's step-dad shook hands with the three young men, smiling pleasantly and repeating their names. He accepted Billy's offer and took a seat on one of the desk chairs while Billy's mom sat next to Billy on his bed.

"Looks like you've already moved out, this room is so empty." She turned to Casey. "Will we get to see your house? I'd like to see where Billy will be living." She leaned forward and lowered her voice to a stage whisper. "In case I need to drop in unannounced or something."

"Mom!" Billy protested. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked like an outraged three-year-old. "You still gonna be doing sneak attacks when I'm 30?"

"Of course, Billy. You'd be disappointed if I didn't. Wouldn't he, Casey?"

Casey just laughed and shook his head, looking like he did not want to get in the middle of that discussion.

"So Zeke, Billy tells us that you're going to working at a music store this summer. Think you can keep an ear out for any interesting new jazz? I'm always looking for new artists."

"Sure, Mr...."

"Matthews, Zeke. Thomas Matthews. Only been married to Billy's Mom for about a year now so he's still not used to introducing us." He looked over at Billy and laughed. "Right, Billy?"

Billy nodded and looked towards the door as if he were measuring his chances for escape.

"So you'll keep your ears open for me?"

"Ah... sure."

Casey looked over at Zeke, his smile fading just a bit. Despite his smile and casual pose, Zeke looked tense. He was leaning against the desk, but his shoulders were held taut and his eyes were dark. Casey shifted and gave Zeke a look that clearly meant he wanted out.

The clatter of high-heeled shoes crossing the wooden floor echoed in the sudden, awkward silence.

"There you are!" The new voice was high-pitched and falsely cheerful and Zeke flinched as if someone had scratched fingernails across a chalkboard. Despite himself, he almost laughed at Billy's expression.

"William, you look wonderful!" the new arrival chirped, brushing past Billy's mother and grabbing Billy's face in a pinch. "You've grown." She turned back towards the doorway where Billy's father waited, looking less than willing to enter the crowded room.

"Look how he's grown, dear." Billy's dad just nodded. Zeke could see Casey struggling not to laugh at the range of expressions on Billy and his parents. Definitely time to get out of there, before Case broke out into giggles or something.

Billy's description of the step-mother from Hades wasn't too far off; she was petite, with a mass of elaborately coiffed blonde hair and at least five pounds of jewelry. She was overdressed in expensive clothes and she had on a bit too much makeup to look elegant. She reminded Zeke of his mother in those portraits of his parents that arrived every Christmas along with a gift check.

Standing so close together, it was startling how different Billy's mother and step-mother were. His mother was a bit dowdy, but smiled warmly while the step-mom was almost magazine perfect with a smile as artificial as her hair-color.

"Why, these adorable boys must be the roommates." The step-mother swooped towards Zeke and he flinched.

"Perhaps we should visit later?" Billy's father offered mildly. He was broad-shouldered and imposing but his face was kind, with lots of laugh lines around his eyes, and he spoke softly. Zeke could imagine Billy looking a lot like that in the distant future.

Casey took advantage of the sudden lull to cross the room and grab Zeke's arm. "It was very nice to meet all of you. I'm sure we will see you tomorrow. Zeke and I had better go or we'll be late. We're staying at the house tonight, Billy. See you back here tomorrow at nine."

Mr. Tepper stepped aside and allowed their retreat before anyone could protest. As they passed, he grinned.

*****

The music was loud enough to rattle the car windows, making it impossible to talk. Casey was pretty sure Zeke wanted it that way. He leaned back in the seat and tried to relax despite the fact that he was getting a headache.

It wasn't a stretch to figure that Zeke's mood was a result of the Invasion of the Parents. Snuffy had been joking about it last night, but even then Zeke hadn't been amused.

Casey wondered how they would get Zeke through the next few days; both sets of Billy's parents had decided to stay for a visit.

Well, at least the house was clean.

*****

"Want a sandwich? We've got ham and turkey."

"No, thanks." Zeke paced the floor restlessly, seemingly unable to find anything to do. Casey tried to ignore it, hoping he would settle down on the porch with a book or go work in his "studio" as Casey insisted on calling it.

They'd fooled around a little when they first got to the house, but Zeke had been edgy and it was over too quickly. Casey missed Billy's playfulness and odd sense of humor; he was really good at drawing Zeke out of a dark mood.

They had both been unsatisfied and irritable when they got out of bed and wandered back downstairs. Casey was determined to get them back on track and thought food might help. If he could get Zeke to eat without irritating him. Which didn't seem likely.

With a sigh, Casey built his sandwich and put the fixings away. Snagging an apple from the basket on the counter he took his plate out to the porch to eat.

The rocking chair was old but it was more comfortable than it looked. Casey rocked slowly as he ate, enjoying the gentle breeze; it was sunny and nicely warm. He stayed on the porch for a while after eating, letting his mind drift.

Zeke had retreated to his studio in the barn and there were distant thumps and bumps that Casey decided not to think about. He closed his eyes and tried to relax, slipping into one of his favorite daydreams.

Eyes closed and thoughts far away, Casey didn't realize that Zeke was approaching until he stomped up the porch steps and past, letting the screen door slam.

Cautiously Casey followed, hoping he could read his lover well enough to find a way to calm him. He approached slowly, studying the tension in Zeke's back and neck as the older man looked down at the piano, one hand hovering over the keys.

Without speaking, Casey reached out to lightly touch Zeke's arm. When he wasn't rejected, he moved closer.

"Case." Was it a warning or a plea? Taking a chance, Casey leaned up and pressed a kiss to Zeke's shoulder. The muscles were like steel.

"Zeke." An invocation.

For just a second the tension eased and Casey pressed closer, wanting to hold Zeke. He didn't feel the change until almost too late.

Startled when Zeke pulled away sharply, Casey took a step back. For a few seconds he didn't register the anger on his lover's face.

"Don't." Zeke snapped at him, fury radiating from his rigid body. He looked around as if caged.

Ignoring his instincts, Casey reached out to him; Zeke's reaction proved that it was a mistake. Fear turned Casey's blood cold.

Strong fingers curled into the fabric of Casey's shirt and immediately he responded. He hunched his shoulders protectively and lifted his head, careful to keep his gaze down. Long years had trained him and he reacted without hesitation. Better to get this over with than prolong the pain.

It registered only dimly in the back of his brain that the fingers holding him at striking distance belonged to his lover. He could feel the anger radiating from the other man.

Perhaps it wouldn't hurt too much.

But... something was wrong. There was too much time and no pain. Startled, he looked up.

"F---!"

The fingers holding him let go and Casey stumbled backwards, bumping into a chair and almost falling. At the last instant, he caught himself, grabbing blindly at the furniture while his eyes locked onto Zeke's.

Time stopped, suspended, then moved forward again, seemingly at the wrong speed.

Casey watched as Zeke dropped the hand that had been raised to strike and turned, storming out of the house. He listened as the stream of obscenities receded, punctuated by the slamming of a car door and then the roar of the GTO as it left him behind.

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