Disclaimer - I don't own ZOMBIES or any of the characters involved. Copyright to Walt Disney Studios. Names of BG zombies are mine, characters themselves aren't.
After struggling to find the motivation to write (again) for a while, and then getting myself back into this whole storyline by re-reading the entire fic series (Limelight, BtB, History Lesson, AGAZ and the multichaps) and doing some commentaries/reviews on them (which you can find on my Tumblr blog unusual-ly), I'm finally back! And hopefully this time, I'll be able to stick to it. I already have the next Limelight finished and the next BtB halfway done, and I'm also working on episode 4 of the TV series fic! I'm aiming to post at least 2 one-shots (Limelight, BtB, History Lesson and/or AGAZ) a month
There's a lot of one-shots I've had planned for months, some even for over a year. This one's been sitting in my notes app for a while. Let's hope I can clear out most of those ideas~! Anyway, let's get back to Zaz!
Zach, Diaz and Zeke
Caught
Only a couple of weeks had passed since Zophia found out, and Zeke was still completely in the dark. Fritz cast a quick, questioning look at Diaz while Zeke was turned away only to get a simple shake of the head in response. Before Fritz could say anything, Diaz had raced off ahead, zipping right past Zeke.
The three of them were on one of their usual runs through Zombie Town and not one of them was in the mood to rest just yet. The only reason for the pause was to dish out more challenges; jump the highest part of the fence at the parking lot, reach the window on the second floor of the plant, beat Zeke's record for the fastest route to the next block.
Diaz cleared the fence with ease, with Zeke hot on his heels and Fritz bringing up the rear. At first, they were warming up, eventually building speed and momentum for the more advanced stunts. The familiar rush of adrenaline drove them up, over and around every obstacle, until Diaz spotted movement a little ways down the street from them. Another zombie just walking through town. He watched them linger on a corner for a moment, then look up. The distance didn't keep them from locking eyes and he glanced back at his friends.
Diaz heaved an exaggerated breath as he slowed to a stop, "Hey," he called and Zeke and Fritz looked back at him, "I'm gonna take a break. You guys go on ahead, I'll catch up in a minute."
That was a lie. Fritz was sure of it. And it looked like Zeke was a little suspicious, too, but before he could voice it, Fritz gave him a light shove and ran ahead of him, "Come on, you want to keep your record or not?" he laughed and Zeke scowled, flipping the switch to competitive mode. Fritz spun back around to Diaz and waved, "Don't take too long!"
Diaz just waved back, giving him a grateful smile. Fritz knew for sure that he would absolutely take too long, and he would have to keep Zeke distracted. The best way to do so was to make him focus on a challenge. As much as he was kind and caring and gentle when he wanted to be, Zeke still had a need to prove people wrong, which he often did in bets and races. Fritz could keep him occupied with that until Diaz returned from his 'break'.
And Diaz was taking his time, having coincidently bumped into a certain other zombie.
Zach smiled when he saw Diaz approaching, took his hand, and led him away somewhere safer. Where they wouldn't be seen.
– LIMELIGHT –
"Where the hell is he?" Zeke was getting more and more agitated the longer he had to wait. Fritz shrugged.
"I dunno. He's taking a break, he'll catch up" he looked around for a possible diversion and pointed towards a railing, "Hey, I bet you can't ge-"
Zeke, for once, wasn't having it. He shook his head, "He never sits it out for this long, I'm gonna go check on him."
Fritz groaned inwardly. It wasn't just the fact that he could stumble across Diaz's little secret. Zeke could be... overprotective of his friends. Sometimes even controlling.
"Zeke, you're not the boss of him. Come on, let's just keep going, he'll be fine!"
He gave in when Zeke ran off anyway and followed, only to find that, as Fritz had expected, Diaz was not where they left him. He stood there, not sure what to say, while Zeke looked around, then started down the street.
"Diaz...?" he called out but got no reply.
He kept walking, scanning the area, until he passed by a short alleyway. He briefly spotted a couple clearly wanting some privacy down it and wasn't about to interrupt, but then he realised. That was Diaz with his back against the wall.
With Zach Fairmourn's hand in his hair.
The instant he laid eyes on the scene, Zeke saw red.
He was behind them in a matter of seconds and tore Zach away from Diaz, giving neither of them a chance to speak. Diaz knew exactly what was coming, but he also knew there was no way of stopping him. He could only flinch when Zeke's punch hit and he watched Zach stumble back, his face contorting in pain as his hand flew to his stinging jaw.
"Zeke!" Diaz all but screamed, then his hands were on Zach's face, gently turning him around to assess the damage and forgetting Zeke. For now, at least.
"I'm alright..." he assured him, not wanting to escalate the situation any more, but Diaz was frowning.
"No, there's a bruise."
A bruise on a zombie.
Zach failed to stop Diaz in time as he swung around, stormed over to Zeke and threw a punch right back at him. Zeke, of course, was far more resilient than Zach. He was used to fights and he easily took it, but that didn't mean he wasn't shocked. Before he could respond, however, Diaz had already started shouting.
"What is wrong with you?"
Zeke gaped at him, "What's wrong with me? I warned you about him, didn't I?" he turned to Zach, who was cradling his chin, "What, did you luck out on somebody else again? He's not just some-"
Zach didn't know what to do. Diaz got in between them before Zeke could do any more damage and interrupted him.
"Zeke!" he firmly pushed him back, "There hasn't even been anybody else! We're dating."
A silence fell over them and Zeke looked from Diaz to Zach and back again.
"Dating?" he echoed in disbelief and Diaz nodded, "... How long has this been going on?"
"You sound like you caught me cheating on you or something," Diaz said flatly but Zeke wasn't amused.
"Answer the question."
"A few weeks," he shrugged, "Maybe a month."
Zach suddenly spoke up from behind him, "Almost. Three weeks and five days."
Diaz softened just at the fact that he was keeping track but Zeke scoffed.
"I'm surprised you'd actually stick it out for this long."
At that, Zach's attitude changed. He narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, are you?" he snapped back at Zeke.
"Zach..." Diaz warned and they exchanged a look, but Zach wasn't going to completely back down. He held up his hands, turning his attention to back Zeke.
"Look, all I wanna know is what is your problem with me? What did I ever do to you? Or anybody?"
"It's nothing you did to me, it's what you do to everyone. You go around shamelessly hitting on pretty much every person you meet and-"
"And what? I always backed off when they said 'no'. I never pushed anyone. And that's over, anyway. I'm not gonna go around flirting with people when I've got a boyfriend."
"That's not the point-"
Diaz stepped in before he could continue, "Then what is? 'Cause I don't see anything wrong. He hasn't tried to flirt with other people since we started dating. What else is there to worry about?"
Zeke growled under his breath in frustration, "If you'd just listen...!"
"If you can't just let me be happy, then I don't want to hear anything you have to say."
With that, Diaz took Zach's hand, shot one last glare at Zeke, and walked out of the alley. Zeke stood, stunned, for a moment or two, then slowly followed suit. They were already some distance away, and Zeke watched them go. Then Fritz appeared from the other direction, looking somewhat guilty, and Zeke furrowed his brow.
"... Did you know about that?"
Fritz nodded, not quite meeting his eyes, "Yeah."
"Why didn't you say anything? Why'd you just let it happen?"
He finally looked at him, "It's not up to me! If Dee didn't want me to tell you, I wasn't gonna tell you. Zach's not as bad as you think, it's been almost a month and things are fine."
"Maybe it's been fine so far, but that doesn't mean it's gonna stay like that!" Zeke looked genuinely concerned now and Fritz paused.
"... I think you both need to cool off a little. Then you can talk it out. But you should give Zach a chance. He really likes Dee."
Zeke just huffed.
That wasn't the problem...
