Temporary
Zeke hasn't hit anyone in years. Not that he's some sort of saint. He's sat back and watched while those around him kicked the shit out of others. Casey, more often than not, only then he's been just another kid rammed balls-first into the flagpole. No one bothers Casey now, and Zeke still isn't sure he'd stop them even if they did.
It isn't his problem. Other kids could curl their fear, their desperation, confusion, self-doubt and insecurity into fists, beating someone else into dust until they could feel more solid. Casey never hit anyone, but Zeke still sees the confusion, the questions, the self-loathing in Casey's face every time the boy glances, stares, at Zeke when he thinks it's safe. The discomfort in his face every time their eyes meet. Unlike Casey, Zeke isn't afraid of who he is, never questions himself, is never afraid of the answers.
He pities Casey in a way he never did for the others, the ones who beat and taunted their way into being. He isn't afraid of Casey. Those less secure, less formed, would have hurt him, afraid that they'd see something of themselves in those longing looks. Zeke never doubts his sexuality. He never questions what it would be like to be with another boy because he never questions himself. He is whole.
In Casey he sees fragments of self, warring with each other. As often as he looks at Zeke, he still has his arms around Delilah, still hides girlie porn under his mattress. Zeke finds it one day, traces the soft curves with his fingers and imagines Casey imagining hard lines instead.
It is out of pity, he tells himself, when he kisses Casey in the car park. He's letting Casey be kissed. Casey is the one who wants it, is the one who looks and fantasises. Casey is the one who…
… pushes him away. The first push isn't hard and Zeke keep going because he doesn't want to question this. The second push knocks him on his ass.
Casey isn't afraid. He looks down at Zeke with sympathy and pity, and firm resolution. He says, "I'm sorry. I'm not like that. I'm not."
So Zeke does the only thing left.
Casey hasn't been hit in a long time, but he still bruises nicely.