A/N: TW, abuse. I'm sorry if this bothers you, but if you do not like abuse please don't read this ;;.
Kenny was never a guy for words. Well, if he was no one could understand him. Kenny always had an interest in things no one else found the slightest bit interesting. That is probably why he had this attraction to Craig Tucker. Craig was a guy of little emotion, who chose to not talk often, unless with his friends. He had black hair, piercing blue eyes, a tall, toned frame, and looks to send anyone swooning, if they took the time to pay him any mind. That's where Kenny was weird. No one paid Craig any mind, he was just some boring kid but he loved that. Today was no different. They had almost all their classes together and Kenny took this as the perfect opportunity to stare at Craig. He had placed his chin on his palm and kept his gaze on the raven-haired male. He let out a sigh and traced over the others features. This was his all-time favorite thing to do in class. But, he had noticed some changes. Craig seemed more reserved than usual and he had been hiding more skin. Needless to say, Kenny was worried. Brought back to reality as the bell rang, Kenny stood up and finally decided to talk to Craig. He put on his most confident face and approached the other.
"Hey, Craig. I have noticed you seem kinda different lately. Is everything okay?" Kenny kept his eyes locked with Craig's, he may have looked confident but inside he was freaking out.
Craig had already stood up and was staring blankly at Kenny, his eyes seemed to be blank as well. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about it. Why do you care anyway?"
Shit, Kenny didn't have an excuse as to why he even noticed the changes. "I... well, I just noticed you haven't looked the same.. If.. something is going on I can help. I have issues at home, so... if it's that... I can definitely help." He sighed, thinking that at least seemed plausible.
"Uh, okay. Thanks, McCormick. I'm fine though." Craig had just blinked as he looked at Kenny, the stoic male then moved away from the blond and left the classroom.
Kenny stared after Craig and sighed. He knew he had fucked up. Kenny decided to just skip his last class. He didn't really care about art anyhow. He made his way to his locker and pulled out his bag. He hesitated before texting Karen, telling her he was heading home. Slipping the phone into his pocket, Kenny looked around for Craig. He shook his head once he saw the male was nowhere to be found. The blond left the school and headed for his home. His eyes scanned the surroundings, he never noticed how quiet it was while school was in session. He liked it. He was one for talking and having fun, but it was nice to just hear... nothing. Well, except for a few passing cars. His mind wasn't silent for long though as it drifted back to thoughts of Craig. He thought of his rare smile, how he had seen it once or twice and it was breathtaking, or how he laughed. He also remembered back to elementary school when he chose Craig as his field trip buddy and he was able to hold his hand the entire day. Kenny smiled thinking back to that day, it was like a dream come true. Except now, he and Craig rarely spoke. A quiet sigh escaped his lips as he made it home and he walked inside.
Much to his dismay, his parents were drinking already and he had walked into a fight. Great. He sat his bag down and watched the scuffle, trying to not draw any attention to himself because if he did, it'd inevitably lead to him being beaten. Too late. His dad had immediately noticed his presence and he threw the broken beer bottle that he was holding and it managed to slice Kenny's cheek. Kenny cringed and tried to back away but his dad was already making his way to him. Stuart, Kenny's dad, had grabbed Kenny by the collar and slammed the smaller male against the wall.
"The fuck are you doing home?" Kenny could smell the alcohol on his dads breath as the grip on his collar tightened.
" I... I didn't feel well, dad.." Kenny bit his lip, knowing what would come next.
Stuart pulled away only to punch Kenny in the gut, then he repeated the action, undoubtedly leaving a large bruise. The man then slammed Kenny against the wall again before throwing him to the ground. Without hesitation, Stuart kicked Kenny in the ribs multiple times before going back to scream at his wife. Kenny coughed and slowly stood up. His body ached all over, he was used to this but it never got easier. The blond sulked off to his bedroom and shut the door, sitting on his bed as his thoughts wandered back to Craig. What if something like this was happening to him as well? Kenny couldn't even bare to think of Craig being beaten, but it seemed like the only logical answer. Why else would he try so hard to keep every bit of skin covered when he used to wear t-shirts all the time? Kenny sighed and curled up on his bed, allowing his eyes to falter shut. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
About an hour and a half later, he woke up. Kenny sat himself up and checked his phone, school had been out for about forty-five minutes. He stood up and snuck out his window, he was determined to find out what was going on with Craig. So, the blond made his way toward the Tucker household. To say he was nervous was an understatement. He knew what he'd find, but he didn't want to. A short five to ten minutes later he approached Craig's house and stopped in his tracks as he heard screaming and then a loud crash. His eyes widened and his body began to shake. Against his better judgement, Kenny ran into the house only to see Craig lying on the ground with a bloody nose, he wasn't wearing a jacket anymore and Kenny could see bruises littering his pale flesh. His dad was standing over Craig and it was apparent that Craig had been thrown against a table, breaking it into pieces. Kenny was utterly shocked, He fucking knew it. Craig's dad was staring daggers at Kenny but the blond didn't care, he went and pulled Craig to his feet before running out of the house, making sure Craig was close behind. Once they were far enough away, Kenny let go of Craig's hand.
The two made their way to Stark's Pond where they sat on the bench. Craig was staring at the ground. Kenny had no idea what to say. He was dumbfounded. Why... Why did Craig have to go through that? At this moment, he wished he could take the beatings for them both. He was used to it. Hell, even he had bruises all over his body. He looked over and noticed Craig shivering every so often and Kenny unzipped his parka, draping it over Craig.
Craig turned his gaze to Kenny's. "Thanks... Why were you there?"
Kenny bit his lip as he looked at the other, he looked pitiful. Usually his face was emotionless, but not now, Kenny could tell his eyes were pleading for help. "I.. I couldn't quit thinking of earlier.. I have been noticing changes, and I know them all too well... I.. wanted to make sure you were okay.."
Craig only nodded, returning his melancholy gaze to the ground. "He started this.. because I told him I was gay... I've dated girls, I've kissed them, but it never meant anything... I should have known he would take it badly.. I told him last month, so it has been going on since then... He doesn't want a fag for a son.. I guess I brought it on myself." He shrugged and looked back at Kenny, his own eyes tracing the bruises over Kenny's own flesh.
"Yeah... My dad is a drunk and beats the shit out of me. Which, I'm okay with because he gets it all out on me and he doesn't hurt Karen or Kevin... It's been like this since I was a kid...That's why, once I saw you changing, I immediately knew.. I mean, I didn't wanna believe it because no one should have to go through what I have.." Kenny tilted his head towards the sky, a sigh escaping his lips before he set his gaze on Craig. This is the guy he has had a crush on since elementary school and he's dealing with the same shit.
Without warning, Kenny wrapped his arms around Craig, his face burying into the others shoulder. Needless to say, Craig was confused and gained a quizzical expression but he soon lost it and turned to hug Kenny softly. Craig wasn't used to, well, any kind of affection, but even he knew that he needed this hug. Kenny pulled the male closer and tried to soothe away his pain the only way he knew how. He knew for a fact it wouldn't change anything, but, it was the best he could do. In a silent vow, Kenny promised he'd protect Craig in any way possible.