A/N: Hi guys! This is my first long fic for the South Park Fandom, so I'll try to update as fast as possible. This is just a prologue of sorts, because I really like fantasy and focus in Kenny's immortality and identity as mysterion. Here we'll see some of his reasons to become a vigilante as we stir up the storm that's going to be the plot :)
The main pairing is Bunny, of course, but there will be more along the way, most of them slash/yaoi; other warnings include violence, blood, mild gore, maybe sexual content later on, use of Lovecraftian mythology (MISUSE of Lovecraftian mythology) and flashbacks, a lot of them. Hopefully next chapters will focus more in the main story rather than in the flashbacks.
And about the title... Is kind of an spoiler, but try to read it and find the hidden word ;)
PS: I am working on a cover image for this, so stay tuned!
Nothing else to say, please enjoy!
As a child, Kenny tried to keep his features mostly hidden for the sake of his friends. All of them understood he was poor and his life was shitty, yet they didn't need to see the bags under his eyes, or his bruised face, or his greasy hair, no, they were fine with seeing his eyes, at most. Anyways most his friends were able to tell the way he felt just by seeing his face. So many years led them to know Kenny more than he knew himself, and honestly, he was perfectly okay with that. Because right now, he didn't want anyone to really see every ounce of shame on his features, so he just pulled the hood tightly on his face and hoped Butters could understand. Butters always understood.
"I am so sorry Butters, I really am sorry about your eye"
He stared down, pain and regret in his voice as he apologized for the umpteenth time. Butters smiled softly, like it wasn't a big deal at all. The gauze and bandages still covering his left eye after the ninja shuriken incident, today the Doctor announced it was time to finally remove the bandage. As relieved as Kenny was, he couldn't help but feel terrified as well. What if the scar was too big? What if they couldn't save his eye and he would need to wear an eyepatch or some fake glass eye? He couldn't live knowing that he did that to Butters.
"It's okay, I know you didn't mean to"
That's what Butters always said. And it didn't made Kenny feel any better. No matter if he didn't mean to, he did it and for that he couldn't forgive himself.
"Mom and Dad are going to ground me if I pretend to be a ninja again, though"
Kenny sighed; above his eye he worried way more about being grounded. He sometimes wondered if Butters' family was worst than his; sure enough he was poor and shitty but the boy is always grounded, his father is a closeted bisexual that's on the verge of leaving his mother and his grandma is an old ass bitch. So much for a family.
"I really wanted to play with you guys"
His voice sounded so small, and Kenny couldn't help but smile a little at how sheepish the smaller blond was. The only thing he wanted was to fit and be accepted by the group, in the end.
"Next time you'll play with us, Leo"
His good eye widened and Kenny could see how it wrinkled under the dim lights of the hospital.
"Really?"
"Of course, Buttercup. But this time I'll protect you, so you don't have to worry about shurikens"
Mysterion's cape rustled with the wind as he stood on a tall building, staring down at South park and trying to get some warm out of his superhero outfit. In times like this he wished he could have his damned parka, the thing was so bright and ugly as hell itself but it worked at keeping him warm, at least. Yet he could still keep himself warm by the way his body burned with adrenaline every time he fought bad guys in alleyways, but today was quite uneventful, though. That was nice at some extent, it meant people was safe but generally something always came up and caught his attention even when there was no crime.
"Mysterion"
There he is.
Like always, professor Chaos would always come and taunt him or ramble about some new evil plant of sorts he stole from TV cartoons- which one he chose this time? Rick & Morty? Big hero 6?
Nevertheless he wasn't a menace of sorts, and as funny as it was to kill time with him Kenny knew he had to focus in the real crime. He tried to talk things out with him, to convince him to quit or something but it was futile. At this rate the villain wannabe would end injuring himself, he had already injured himself quite a lot in every encounter, yet he always came back. Kenny started to really consider if he was the only one with powers out there.
"You're late today, Chaos. And here I though you were a professional"
Said the purple robbed vigilante with sarcasm, it was pretty dark but he could almost see the pout on Doctor Chaos' face.
"It's quite late, why don't you go home and we start over tomorrow?"
As much as he loved to tease Chaos and picture how his frown deepened, Kenny really wanted him to scram and go home. He could injure himself really bad one of these days, and of course it would be his fault because running around with a cape and a mask encouraged guys like him to dress up as super villains. Even when his only purpose in doing this was to protect people. Protect his friends, his sister, to protect innocent people like Chaos himself, because he was truly an innocent and naive fellow that pretended to be a villain.
"Enough with your sass, Mysterion!"
Barked Chaos.
"Can't you take me seriously for once?"
Mysterion hummed, pretending he was actually thinking about it.
"I don't know. Can I?"
Chaos sighed, but lifted his gaze to meet Kenny's ocean blue eyes with his own sky blue ones. Kenny couldn't help but notice there was something weird about them, something that made Chaos' eyes seem mismatched, like one of them had something the other lacked, but he couldn't stop and watch long enough to figure what it was.
"I think you can, after everything I planned for you"
Even in the darkness, Kenny could see the forced smirk Chaos had. He always had that smirk when he was about to talk about his newest plan, the blond guessed it must be because Chaos tried to force himself to believe that this plan was actually going to succeed.
"So, you want me to explain everything? Or you'd rather see it yourself when I finally rip you off my way?"
Snow was falling, like every night. The police patrol in front of the McCormick's house finally parted as both Stuart and Carol were finally released after their meth lab was found. By some miracle their small daughter was allowed to stay with them rather than with a foster family, even when a foster family had more money and means to take care of her, she has lived with her troubled parents during all her short life. It would somehow affect her greatly to be apart from them.
"Are you okay, sweety? Did they treat you well?"
Carol crouched beside her daughter, putting a reassuring hand in her shoulder. Karen just blinked, and continued to look around. Like she was waiting for someone else to arrive.
"I am okay. My Guardian angel saved me"
Stuart immediately scoffed, rolling his eyes at his daughter's naivety.
"Yeah, of course. Don't worry Karen, I also see angels when I am high on meth"
He walked inside the house, uncaring of his wife and child and probably going to check his meth lab. This only made the small girl pout, the tiniest of tears in the corners of her eyes and her tiny hands balled into fists.
"It's true!" she yelled. "He's dressed in purple, and he saved you from the jail and he took me away from the family they put me with!"
Karen cried out, her anger finally being released as the tears streamed down her cheeks, her body shaking slightly. She didn't know why she felt so much anger, maybe because her guardian angel was always there for her, even more than her family, yet no one believed. No one gave her the benefit of doubt, his father wasn't even a bit grateful that said angel freed him from jail and saved his daughter. Her mother wiped away some of her tears and the strands of lose hair that fell over her eyes, trying to be as gentle as she could with the child.
"Why won't you believe me?"
The blonde glared at her mother; despite the tenderness she was sure Carol didn't believe her as well, why would she? She always sided with Stuart in everything, had she said she knew nothing about the meth lab, the police would have allowed her to stay with her daughter and son. Yet, no matter what, she always supported her husband. No matter if he was an abusive asshole ever since they met, she'll always side with him. It made Karen feel a bit jealous and think that maybe, just maybe things would be a little different if she could chose to live for her children. After a moment, the woman just smiled slightly. It wasn't a happy smile.
"The fact that we don't believe in your angel doesn't mean he isn't real, Karen"
She rubbed her daughter's cheek, like it could somehow soothe her.
"It just means we can't understand, but that's how adults are"
She stood and offered her hand for Karen to take, but the small girl didn't move or say a thing. Trying to process that her parents will most likely never take her seriously. No one is ever going to take her seriously.
"Let's go inside, sweetheart. Is freezing out here"
Carol walked inside the house, motioning Karen to follow, but the girl didn't even flinch. Inside the house or out in the snow, it didn't really matter. It was freezing in both places and Karen just wasn't ready to hear her father shout bad words when he finds that the cops dismantled his meth lab. Yet, as soon her mother was out of sigh she felt something soft covering her shoulders and wrapping itself around her, she quickly turned around, to find the purple robbed angel gently covering her with his cape to shield her from the cold.
"You're here!"
A few tears escaped her eyes as she instantly jumped to hug her guardian angel, who received her with open arms.
"The fact that they don't believe in me doesn't mean I don't exist"
He repeated Carol's words softly, caressing the girl's dirty hair and pulling her close. He didn't care if the police found him or shot him, Mysterion just wanted to return Karen to her family, to see her smile again. Yet it seemed that his guardian angel was the only one that could make her smile. Well, he wasn't sure of that; maybe her brother could make her smile as well. But right now she needed Mysterion, she needed the superhero that saved her and her family.
"You saved them, but they still don't believe in you"
Said the girl between sobs, her face buried in the vigilante's chest.
"They'll end doing the same mistakes over and over again"
Of course they'll do, Mysterion was aware that Carol and Stuart were dumbasses and because of it their family will end divided once again, but there was nothing he could about them. No matter how many times they screwed things, he'll always come and help Karen. He didn't care about them, or about the police, he just cared about Karen.
"I know they will"
He wasn't about to lie to the girl. She already knew there was nothing Mysterion could do about her parents. When she was younger, Kenny could protect her from everything. Shield her from the world, but she wasn't a dumb child; she understood her parents' situation and as much as she tried to ignore it and be happy, there were some things one can't just ignore.
"But even when they keep making the same mistakes, you have to forgive them"
Karen separated from him, and the vigilante wiped the droplets from her face with tenderness. She could get sick if she continued crying out in this cold weather.
"Why?"
There was genuine curiosity in that one question, and Mysterion smiled gently as he tied his purple cape around the girl to keep her warm. That piece of cloth was pretty cheap, but he wanted her to have it as her blanket. A blanket from her guardian angel that could protect her from the harsh world.
"Because if no one else is able to forgive them, they at least have you"
Kenny knew that their parents wouldn't be forgiven next time the police catches them, he knew that Kevin was already sick of Stuart and would most likely never come back, Kenny himself couldn't bring himself to forgive his parents not for himself but for everything they have put Karen through, but he didn't want the girl to feel that way. Her heart was full of dreams, and love towards her family even when they didn't deserve it, Kenny wouldn't want her to suffer and keep that much hatred in her small heart. No, she deserved to be happy and grow without keeping any grudge. It was too late for Kenny, but his sister had always been a forgiving, understanding, dreaming little bird. He didn't want that to change, he didn't want anyone or anything to force her into changing.
She nodded slowly, and Mysterion patted her in the head and gestured the place she called home.
"Now go inside, a pretty girl shouldn't stay outside in the cold"
She smiled at that. But before he could turn around to leave, she spoke up.
"Next time are you going to be there? Are you going to help us again?"
He turned around and looked at her over his shoulder.
"I'm always here, little bird. I'm always beside you"
With that said, he disappeared in the falling snow. Karen watched him go, but immediately ran inside his house. There was so much she wanted to tell her big brother, she was sure he'll believe her no matter what.
Mysterion couldn't help but feel bad about Chaos, during their fight he accidentally punched the slightly shorter boy a little harder than intended. Now that he finally gave up on his plan he just sat on the rim of the building, dangling his legs over the edge and rubbing the black eye the vigilante left him. Kenny was sure he didn't use enough force to leave it black; maybe Chaos just bruised easily, he reasoned, it would make sense since he always ended injured in a way or another.
"It's late, you should really go home and have that treated"
He pointed, and Chaos immediately stopped rubbing his eye. Like that could convince Mysterion that it wasn't bothering him at all. Kenny could see how his scowl deepened, but he wasn't backing this time. No matter what it took, he'll convince Chaos to go home.
"Shut up"
Retorted flatly the Professor Chaos, but it only made the vigilante roll his eyes. Stubborn as always.
"You don't get to tell me what to do! Maybe everyone else in this town is willing to listen to you, but I don't! That's why I fight you, that's why-"
He stood over the edge, stumbling a bit as he moved from his sitting position. It made Kenny nervous; his clumsy movements could get him to fall from the building to his death. Kenny knew that pretty well; he has died a few times after falling from that same building.
"Chaos- be careful or you'll-"
The smaller one cut him out, still not realizing his situation.
"That's why I-"
Before he could finish, he stumbled and fell backwards from the building. Screaming all the way down, Mysterion tried to reach and grab him, but it was too late.
"CHAOS!"
He looked over the edge, and breathed a deep sigh of relief after he saw that luckily, Chaos fell into a garbage container. The trash bags took in his fall, so he must be okay.
...Or so Kenny hoped.
"Are you okay?"
There was a loud groan that echoed through the dark alley in which the trash container was, but he eventually lifted his hand to give a thumbs up. Mysterion wiped the sweat from his forehead, such a fright Chaos have him out there. Hopefully, he'll finally go home now, the vigilante wanted to do more for the small villain, but he was like a rabid cat trying to scratch him every time Kenny tried to help, and of course he would never tell Mysterion; his arch enemy, where he lived, so he just hoped the boy would sulk a few moments about the fall and then go home.
"Do you want me to take you home or something?"
He yelled, still in the top of the building, and another groan came from Chaos. Kenny translated it as "Screw off, I don't need your help"
"Okay, but go home. This is not the safest place"
Mysterion turned to leave, even when he wanted to help in some other way, the night was still young and more criminals could pop there and there. He needed to move on.
Both Butters and Kenny dangled their feet as they held onto the lollipops the Doctor gave them for having been such good kids when he removed the bandages from Butters' eye. Kenny had to admit, the Doctor had to be a badass if he managed to save the smaller blond's eye by his own, a pink scar still ran down his eyebrow and it could be seen inside his eye as well, but he had no problems to see and that's what matters. He's still same old Butters, he didn't seemed to mind the scar at all as he happily licked his lollipop and squeezed Kenny's hand. The taller blond knew that his friend was still scared when the Doctor and nurses were about to remove the gauze, so he offered him his hand to hold. Since then, he hasn't let go and Kenny was glad he could be of help. At least, he could help this way.
It would never make up for what he did, though.
"It feels a little funny"
Said Butters, snapping Kenny out of his thoughts. He was touching lightly the rim of the scar, Kenny had to move his hand away to stop him from scratching it. Sticking the lollipop in his mouth, he used his own hand to touch the scar with the tips of his fingertips, trying to be as soft as possible with the sensitive skin.
"It tickles!"
Butters giggled a bit. Tracing his finger from the eyebrow to where it ended almost in the cheek, Kenny found out that it was really soft, as it was newly formed skin. Butters had to take extreme care of it, because it could bruise or break easily.
"Yeah, it feels funny"
He chimed, smiling along Butters. He didn't want to worry his friends with that, the Doctor will most likely tell Butters' parents how to take care of it during the incoming weeks. Besides, if he started worrying so early it would bring Butters down. He had to take off the hood of his parka and smile, smile and keep his small Buttercup happy no matter what. After everything he and the guys put him through, that's the only thing he could do.
"Ham... Burgers"
Groaned the small villain as he crawled out of the garbage container, Mysterion walked away a few hours ago and he still couldn't bring himself to get out of that container and go home. He didn't want to, his parents will most likely ground him after seeing his black eye. He started to rub it again, now that Mysterion was gone he could finally show how much it was bothering him. Mostly because it was the eye with the scar, but he was used to injure himself more often than not. That's why he was a super villain, no one else could take the burden of fighting Mysterion and punishing this society that deserves no mercy.
Stumbling forward, he tripped and fell, kissing the floor instantly. Luckily the helmet protected him a bit. As much as Butters wished to just stay there, looking at the ants, Mysterion was right about this area of town being really unsafe; so he pushed himself to his feet and took off the damaged helmet, he had to restore it later but now he just wanted to go home and sleep. Yet, as he started to walk away, a small voice stopped him on his tracks.
"You're finally awake"
Looking around, Butters noticed the small figure walking out of the shadows. The blond recognized the kid in black; he was part of the goth guys. He couldn't quite remember his name; though. Was it Firkle? Or Georgie?
"Took you long enough"
Suddenly, Henrietta was beside him. She was taller, staring down at him with her black rimmed eyes and long eyelashes, a cigarette between her fingers as she blew smoke directly on Butters' face, making him wince a bit.
"We though you died"
They were all there. Michael, Pete, they all seemed to blend in the shadows with their dark clothing, the only one that seemed to outstand a bit was Pete because of his red highlights. They practically surrounded him, and Butters could only rub his knuckles, feeling nervous. They already saw him on his Professor Chaos outfit, but it seemed like they simply didn't care. So he tried to act casual, like he simply took a nap in the garbage container at 1:00 am in the morning. Not weird at all.
"Mm, well... Hello, guys"
They moved a little closer, a eerie sound as Michael dragged his cane over the concrete surface.
"I am sorry if I bothered you" he scratched the back of his neck with awkwardness.
"I'll be leaving now"
He hadn't moved an inch, when Firkle immediately grabbed his wrist. It wasn't a strong grip, but it wasn't gentle, either. It was meant to scare Butters enough to keep him in place, as the goth boy's eyes vore deep into his skull.
"Actually, we wanted to talk with you"
Henrietta dangled her cigarette in front of Butters again, and soon enough Pete was beside him as well.
"Come with us, we have a more private place to talk"
Butters couldn't muster another word, he tried to keep himself under control but he was scared. These guys were dangerous, he heard in school about the things they did just for fun, but they were generally against the vampires or overly optimistic people, so if he stayed quiet and listened to what they had to say, things would be alright.
"Dont worry, we'll take care of that as well"
Said Firkle, pointing at his black eye. "Follow me"
Removing his hand from his wrist, the small boy took Butters' hand into his and started to lead him. His black eyes half closed and the tiniest, mischievous smile on his black lips. Like he was amused of something, Butters couldn't point out what as he was dragged by the boy, the rest of the goths following closely as they headed towards their hideout, where they planned to have a long chat with Leo.
