Title: Innocence Lost
Author: GW Katrina
Beta: Rebecca. Anything wrong is my own fault.
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Slash. Death, but not character
Archive: Anywhere, just tell me so I can go look.
Disclaimer: Don't own them. I try to return them in semi good
condition.
Summary: The boys set to traveling.
Notes: Sequel to Fallen and Shattered Dreams, in an unnamed series.
Any suggestions? I'll give a prize to the one that's best. Please?

Innocence Lost

Dark eyes watched the sky, waiting impatiently. Any sign of movement
caught their owner's attention, but was quickly dismissed. Finally,
something held them.

The sun reflected brightly off white streaks, which occasionally
arched up and down gracefully. As the shape drew nearer, one could
tell that the white streaks were wings. What lay between them wasn't
a bird, though. It was shaped wrong, and something dangled from it,
held by two thin limbs.

Slowly, the thing drew near enough that Zeke could see Casey's dark
hair ruffling in the wind. Watching the slender boy soar through the
air did strange things to Zeke's insides, things he liked. A lot.

Casey twisted as he came in to land lightly on the ground, duffle
bags in hand. Zeke could see there was an unhappy look on his newly
returned lover's face, but still let out a wolf-whistle.

"Case, I don't know how you do it, but you look even hotter when you
fly."

That coaxed a smile and a kiss from Casey, but he soon frowned again.

"These," he held out the bags. "Are all that's left of our supplies."
Blue eyes narrowed. "You won't believe why, either."

Zeke rolled his eyes. "You've been right, so far, Case. I finally
believed you about the aliens. Try me. I'll believe you."

Giving his own eye roll at Zeke's dramatics, Casey snorted. "Only
after one tried to take you over. And I doubt you'll believe me. A
fucking bear trashed most of our stuff."

That got his a satisfyingly stunned look, then Zeke nodded. "You're
right. I don't believe that. Ohio isn't known for its bears."

"Yah, well it wasn't known for its alien invasions, either. It didn't
seem too worried about me, though. Maybe it was raised by humans."
Casey paused, thinking about it. "There was one of those preserve
places not too far from Herrington. You know, one of the places that
take in pets people don't want anymore. The big pets." He
smirked. "Like lions, and tigers, and bears."

"Oh, my." Zeke pretended to gag. "That was really bad, Case." Now the
older teen eyed the area warily. "If there's a chance of big
predators around, we should get going." He shivered. "I'm not going
to like walking to town. Tigers attack from behind." Noticing Casey's
look of amusement, Zeke growled. "I know, too much Discovery Channel.
Don't laugh."

Now Casey's look turned thoughtful. "Don't want to walk, hmm?" His
eyes lit up. "I have and idea."

***

Someday, he was just going to start hiding when Casey said those four
words.

Someway, somehow, Casey had convinced him to go along with this crazy
plan. That was how Zeke found himself on the roof, duffle bag in each
hand, and looking down at the ground, which seemed really far down.

Arms wrapped lightly around his waist, and a warm body was pressed
against his. The line of heat shifted as Casey rose to his toes. "We
don't have to do this, if you don't want to," said a soft voice.

On one hand, Zeke really didn't want to do this. What if they fell?
What if Casey couldn't hold him? On the hand of 'don't', there was a
hundred 'what ifs.'

On the other hand, Zeke wanted to fly.

Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly. Then he grinned. "Let's
fly."

The arms tightened around him, and he could see the wings spread out
partially. "Don't worry. I won't let you fall. Just close your eyes
and lean forward."

Zeke complied, taking a deep breath as he shut his eyes. Letting it
go, he went against every instinct he had and let himself fall
forward.

As his feet left the roof, Zeke felt a moment of panic. He almost
struggled, but Casey pressed hard against his back, and Zeke relaxed
some. There was a split second of free fall, then a loud 'snap.'
Casey's arms cut painfully into his waist for a second, then Zeke
felt himself lift. Opening his eyes, he gasped.

Below him, the ground raced by. He had never been at this angle
before, and everything looked different.

"Hold on," said Casey. "I'm going to go up, so we clear those trees."

Looking ahead, Zeke saw tall trees speeding towards them. Then,
Casey's wings began to beat pump powerful strokes, ones that Zeke
could feel though Casey's chest. They moved upward, and Zeke could
see the tops of the trees move with their passing.

"Wow," he whispered. This was the neatest thing he had ever done. The
feeling of freedom, of being able to go anywhere he wanted, was
exhilarating. For just a moment, he felt jealous of Casey and his
beautiful wings. Then he realized something.

He could do this anytime.

Casey was the most loving person he had ever known. Once someone got
past that attitude of his, Casey would do anything for them. If he
asked, Zeke was sure that Casey would take him flying again.

With a laugh, Zeke surrendered himself to the sensation.

***

Hearing Zeke's laughter, Casey grinned. He just knew that once they
were in the air, Zeke would love it.

Casey sought and found an updraft, and the pair shot upwards. Zeke
yelped, then turned his head so he could see Casey.

"That wasn't funny," he yelled over the wind, scowling at Casey's
laughter. "Warn me next time."

"Sorry," replied Casey. "Less work this way. More gliding, less
flapping." He nodded down. "Road's down there. Should take us
directly to town."

As they glided forward, occasionally lifted by a strong wing beat,
Casey began to smell something.

It was sickly sweet, and coated the inside of his throat. The scent
was growing stronger, and it was familiar, but Casey couldn't place
it.

In his arms, Zeke gagged.

"Do you want me to land?" asked Casey. Then the smell was brought
full force by the wind, and Casey's head swam. "Never mind," he
gasped. "We're landing."

They descended a little too fast, and they hit the road hard enough
to stumble. "Sorry," muttered Casey, his eyes still watering from the
smell, which was mostly blocked by the trees.

"No problem," Zeke gasped. "That was foul. Smelt like something....
Fuck."

"Like something died?" Sinking to the ground, Casey leaned forward,
propping his forearms on his knees. "Damnit, we should have realized
that there might be...remains."

Zeke nodded. "It's been what, a week since Marybeth died?"

"A little over that. Plenty of time for the virus to.... For it to
kill everyone." Swallowing hard, Casey rose to his feet. "I can't fly
with that. It's too strong, and I can't see. Looks like we're hoofing
it."

"Lovely." With that, Zeke dropped the bags and pulled Casey to his
feet, then wrapped his arms about the smaller boy. It turned into a
tight hug, and Zeke buried his face in Casey's hair. Leaning forward,
Casey laid his head against Zeke's chest.

It felt good. He could hear and feel Zeke's heartbeat, and the scent
of the older boy washed the last of the death smell from his nose.
Why couldn't they stay like this forever? It beat the alternative.

They must have stood there for ten minutes, reminding each other that
they were alive, and then he felt Zeke pull away slowly. He pressed a
kiss against the top of Casey's head, then stepped back. Picking up
the duffle bags, he handed one to Casey.

"Now you get to hold a duffle, instead of making me hold both."

"Hey." Casey's expression was mock indignation. "I was carrying one.
Hell, I was carrying both of them. And you."

Zeke brushed away the comment. "But they were in my hands, so,
technically, I was holding them."

The banter continued as they turned and started towards the car.

TBC