Leaving Home
"I'll miss you, you know" Kevin said, as he helped Kenny load all of his shit into the back of Cartman's car (said shit basically consisting of a few boxes of porn magazines, condoms, and a worn-out orange parker that Kenny couldn't bear to part with).
"You will?" Kenny replied, eyebrows raised in mock surprise.
"Sure I will, lil' bro" Kevin grinned, ruffling Kenny's messy blonde hair, laughing when he scowled in mock annoyance and batted Kevin's hand away.
"Get off, Kev, seriously" Kenny pouted. "I'm not five years old anymore, you know"
"Awww, you'll always be a kid to me, Ken" Kevin said teasingly, "which reminds me, Karen wanted me to give this to you". He pulled a crumpled piece of paper out of the pocket of his faded jeans, and handed it to Kenny.
Printed on it in sloppy, crayoned letters was "soree for geting mad at you keny I hop you and eric have fun luv karen", along with a crappy picture of two stick figures inside a wobbly heart. One of the figures was at least twice the size of the other, so Kenny guessed it was probably meant to be a picture of himself and Cartman.
"Cute" he smirked, and Kevin snickered, and said "Hey, she tried really hard on it. She was working on it all afternoon yesterday, I think she felt really bad about what she said to you when you announced you were leaving"
Kenny couldn't help but wince at the memory – Karen had yelled "I hate you, Kenny!" and then kicked him in the shin much harder than a six year old should have been capable of.
"Hey, I know she didn't really mean it", he said, folding the paper carefully and tucking it inside his own pocket, "tell her I'll come back to visit soon, will ya?"
"I will" Kevin replied seriously, "but then I'll make sure you stick to that promise, got it?"
Kenny nodded, and after Kevin shoved the last box inside the car, his mud brown eyes met Kenny's light blue ones.
"I'm really proud of you Ken" he said softly, "and I'm so glad you're getting out of this dump".
The words sound like something a parent would say, and Kenny suddenly realised that Kevin had sort of been like a parent to Karen and him, ever since his mom left South Park for good and Stuart started drinking more than ever.
He surprises himself by suddenly hugging his older brother tightly, inhaling the familiar and oddly comforting scent of sweat and cigarette smoke.
"Thanks for everything, Kevin"
"You owe me big time, you know. I'll make damn sure you come visit, and when you do, I'll have thought of all sorts of ways you can pay me back"
"We've been through this, Kev. I refuse to put on that skanky dress, even if it would help you sell more cars" Kenny deadpans.
Their laughter is interrupted when Cartman yells from up front "Kenneh, if don't get yo' poe ass in here right now, I swear I'm gonna leave without you!"
Kevin pushes him toward the passenger seat, saying "Hurry up, I don't wanna get stuck with you any longer!"
As Kenny shifts around on the seat trying to get comfortable, Kevin sticks his tongue out childishly at him through the window, and Kenny responds by flipping him off.
Kevin waves furiously as they drive off, and Kenny smiles and waves back as his brother becomes a tiny little dot in the distance. He sighs contentedly as he leans back against Cartman, who is looking at him with obvious amusement.
"What're you lookin' at Eric?" he huffs, and Cartman grins widely at him.
"That was really gay, y'know" he replies.
"You're gay"
"Shut up and kiss me, faggot"