AUTHORS NOTE: Hey Everyone! This story's been sloshing around in my head for a while I hope you enjoy, and any reviews and thoughts would be much appreciated along the way!
SUMMARY: While Kyle loved Stan, Stan lusted after Kyle, and he made it clear that once he had tied the knot with Wendy and was officially married that he wanted to put an end to their affairs and sweep them under the rug once and for all. Now with Stan out of the way, will Kenny be able to finally make the feelings he's been harboring for the redhead since high school known to him, or will Stan continue to get in the way?
"But you didn't have to cut me off,
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing."
Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
It was supposed to rain that day.
"Dearly beloved. We are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this company, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony,"
It was supposed to come down hard, like cats and dogs so to speak.
"Which is an honourable estate, instituted of God, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church,"
That didn't stop them, though. Wendy was hellbent on her wedding day being the 10th of August. She wanted a summer wedding, but had to be sure the weather would be nice enough for an outdoor ceremony, without the sun scorching the guests.
"Which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he wrought in Cana of Galilee, and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men,"
Or maybe she didn't want to spontaneously combust from all that hairspray she used. It'd explain why she insisted that the lattice arch they were getting married under was beneath a sort of white, elegant fabric tarp. Going the extra distance, just to be sure.
"And therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God."
Kyle smirked wryly at that last line. He had a feeling that Stan was definitely afraid of God, as proven by his enthusiasm to get married as soon as possible when Wendy toyed with the idea of moving the wedding date sooner. On the other hand, he didn't think Stan was afraid at all... at least, he definitely didn't seem like it all those times he'd clutched Kyle's hips with a bruising strength and shouted God's name in vain to nobody in particular.
"Into this holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace."
Stan gave a quick glance out over the audience, meeting Kyle's hurt-filled eyes. He didn't even hold his gaze for a second before turning back to his almost-wife, rolling his shoulders as if he'd just realized his suit coat was too snug. Kyle knew that Stan did that when he was nervous.
Stan did a lot of things when he was nervous, like toss his phone back and forth between his hands, or rub at his eyes, or clear his throat incessantly until his voice was hoarse and he'd be a perfect candidate for a tonsillectomy. Kyle knew him better than Stan knew himself. It's only expected when you've dedicated the past forever of your life to someone though, and Kyle didn't like to dwell on that thought much since Stan wasn't dedicated to him.
"I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it."
Stan wasn't going to confess, that was for certain. He'd take his lust-ridden nights in bed with Kyle to his grave, even if they were now definitely through with them since Stan was about to tie the knot. Kyle couldn't help but be hopeful for a split moment at the thought of him admitting, though.
"This has to stop," Stan had said while pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't want this going on when I'm married. I have to be faithful to Wendy."
They sat across from each other in that Harbucks shop, Kyle chewing on his bottom lip with his eyes focused on the square patterns of the table. He knew this was going to happen sooner or later, but he was hoping it wouldn't. He thought that, maybe, Stan would drop this dead end relationship with Wendy and be with him instead.
"Why," Kyle squeaked as he tried to choke back a sob. Kyle had given everything he possibly could to Stan, more so than Wendy, yet his feelings were still unrequited. What more could he want? "I thought we were doing good."
"We're not doing anything, Kyle. We're just messing around. That's all."
Kyle fumbled with his hands. "Oh."
"I love Wendy."
"I know."
"I love you too, man. It's just, I don't love you that way. You're my best friend, you know? I'll always care about you."
"I know."
Stan put his hand over Kyle's. "So you'll still be my best man, right?"
Kyle nodded defeatedly.
"Cool."
The branches on the trees began to whip around haphazardly as the sound of an oncoming storm brewed in the not so far off distance. Kyle looked at Clyde, who stood right behind Stan in the spot where Kyle had agreed to have been in.
Kyle tried to be Stan's best man for the wedding, he really did, but it was all just too much for him. During each trip to the tux shop, Kyle found himself crying in one of the fitting room stalls. When the wedding preparations called for rehearsals, Kyle had made sure he was at the hospital, working hard during his final years of residency. When he was tasked with the responsibility of coming up with a speech, he'd thrown up all over the wedding planner and his meticulously shined leather shoes.
"Do you take this man, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for as long as you both shall live 'till death you part?"
"I do."
Kyle felt a drop of water fall onto his nose from above. All hell was about to break loose in a matter of minutes and he was sitting outside, watching onward for that final bittersweet moment, as if he were welcomely waiting for the storm to drown him in his sorrows. He wondered for a second how long it'd take for that to happen if he did go out like that.
"Do you take this woman, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for as long as you both shall live 'till death you part?"
Kyle felt his heart pounding in his throat as the priest asked those words to Stan this time. He knew that it wasn't the end of the ceremony by a longshot since the priest still had a long winded speech to plow through, but to him, it was the end of everything he knew and loved. His fingernails dug deep into his palms as he shook gently in his seat, fighting as hard as he could to hold back the river of tears that were stinging his eyes one by one.
Don't cry. Don't. Don't. Don't.
"I do."
That was the final straw that had Kyle up and fleeing for the large double doors to the recreational center, tears clouding his vision, wasting no time to look over his shoulder to see that nobody was even paying him any attention except for one person.
Kenny McCormick didn't even think about what he was doing when he hopped down from the small stage and chased after the distressed redhead, leaving the rest of the guys trailing behind Stan at the altar. The only thing on his mind was finding his old friend and comforting him to the best of his abilities. He'd kept his eyes on Kyle since the moment he came to the wedding twenty minutes late and found a seat in the far back, and it took all of his willpower to not abandon his post to engulf Kyle in a warm and loving embrace. Once he saw those tears though, he couldn't just stand there anymore as if everything was okay.
"Kyle?" he called out while looking around the huge room. It was set up for the reception that would take place soon, with names on place cards and streamers strung about. 'CONGRATULATIONS MR. AND MRS. MARSH' read across a large banner that took up half of one of the walls. Kenny frowned and shook his head as he continued his search.
The sound of muffled sobs got his attention and he pushed open the heavy door to the bathroom where he found Kyle leaning against the sink with his face in his hands, his shoulders rising and falling with each cry. It pained Kenny to see Kyle in such an emotionally stressful state, and he hurried over to his friend and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him to his chest. Kyle returned the gesture and held onto his shoulders, bawling into the crook of Kenny's neck.
"Shhh, it's alright," Kenny cooed as he rubbed circles into Kyle's upper back. He kept his eyes closed, taking in the scent of Kyle's auburn hair. He held his breath for a second before releasing it. It smelled like strawberries. He remembered that Kyle always used that berry scented Herbal Essence shampoo when they shared an apartment in New York. "It's okay."
"I can't believe h-him," Kyle whined, his words vibrating against Kenny's neck, who suppressed a shudder. "I just can't believe t-this is really happening! What am I supposed to do n-now? He was t-the only person I ever really opened up to!"
Kenny continued to hold his friend close and whispered, "He's not worth it, Kyle. You can do so much better. You deserve so much more." He felt Kyle's breath hitch in his chest for a second before continuing to sob some more into his neck, occasionally drying his eyes on Kenny's suit jacket. It was pointless though, since he just kept crying. "He's an asshole and you know it."
Kyle nodded along meekly in agreement and Kenny pulled back, wiping Kyle's tear-stained cheeks with the back of his hand. Kyle's forest-green eyes were glazed over with sadness, and Kenny wanted nothing more than to press his lips to Kyle's, but this wasn't the time to do that. He wasn't sure if there ever would be a time for that, actually. Ten years had almost completely rolled by since Kenny stumbled across his feelings for his nerdy red-haired friend, and not a day amongst that wasted time was there when Kyle would stop chasing after Stan long enough for Kenny to make his affection known. Instead, he bottled it up inside, providing a listening ear whenever Kyle needed to vent his frustrations out over the now-married man.
The sound of thunder cracked outside, and as if the floodgates opened, the sound of rain poured onto the roof above them.
"Sheesh, hope they're not still out there fucking around," Kenny laughed as he reached behind Kyle to grab a tissue from the dispenser on the wall. He held it out to his friend, who graciously took it and blew his nose.
Silence fell over them for a while before Kyle, who's breathing had finally evened out, decided to speak up.
"What are you doing here?" he questioned curiously while tossing the used tissue away. Kenny furrowed his brows.
"It's Stan's wedding?"
"I meant why did you come after me when I left."
Kenny shifted his weight from foot to foot nervously as he wracked his brain for an answer. "Just wanted to make sure you were alright."
Kyle nodded, sniffled, and ran a hand up and down his arm uncomfortably. He didn't know what to say. It'd been months since they'd last crossed paths just barely at the Marsh's annual spring barbeque. "I haven't heard from you in a while. What's been up?"
"That's because nobody calls me to hang out."
"You still live around here?"
"Of course I still live around here," Kenny answered sharply, feeling offended and forgotten about. "I live in the same exact apartment since I dropped out and moved back. You know that." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Or maybe you don't, since I don't exist to you guys anymore apparently."
Kyle chewed the inside of his lip. "I know I've been a bit distant,"
"Distant is when someone doesn't answer your call for a few days." Kenny interrupted. "You haven't returned a single one of my calls since November, and that was when you were freaking out because Stan proposed to Wendy. You don't stop by to see if I'm alright, or even invite me over when there's something going on. You forgot about me. You both did."
It was Kenny's turn to be hurt now. Kyle straightened himself up, trying not to show the feeling of guilt that was beginning to wash over him as those words rolled off Kenny's tongue. Kyle had to admit that he hadn't been the best friend he could possible be for Kenny, and he might have been really selfish. "I'm sorry."
Kenny sighed and ran a hand through his messy blonde hair. He didn't mean to snap at Kyle like he had done. Now wasn't the time to voice his hurt feelings, but to be there for Kyle instead. "Just forget about it, that's not the reason why I'm in here with you right now." The redhead nodded and looked at the floor. Kenny took a deep breath. "I know it's been a long time since we really talked or even hung out, but I want you to know that I'm here for you, alright?" He placed his hands on Kyle's shoulders, who looked up to meet his stare. "If you need anything—anything—Don't hesitate to give me a call or even come over. No matter what it is. I don't care if you need another fucking kidney—I'm here."
For the first time since the whole wedding fiasco began, Kyle felt a smile tug at his lips. It was small, but it was still there. "Thanks, Kenny... You're a great friend. I really appreciate it."
Kenny just hummed and pulled him back in for another hug. Closing his eyes and breathing in the scent of Kyle's strawberry shampoo, he quietly and desperately hoped for the boy to get in touch with him soon, even if it was just to listen to him whine about Stan.
Cheering and champagne bottles popping could be heard outside the bathroom door, making Kyle cringe. Kenny just rubbed his back once more. The reception must have started.
"Let's go finish this stupid wedding," Kenny said while pulling away. Kyle nodded glumly and kept hot on Kenny's heel as they exited the bathroom, finding that the reception was in full swing and speeches were being given. Clyde had his glass lifted in air, giving a toast to the newlyweds, who sat above everyone else at an elevated table at the front of the room. Stan was wearing the biggest smile that Kyle had ever seen, and it made him feel horrible at the fact it wasn't him that put it there.
Kenny looked for a table with two empty spots and dragged Kyle along with him, ignoring the place cards that had names printed across them in some sort of fancy script writing. He wasn't in the mood to bullshit around with reserved seating.
Stan's smile and Wendy's glow made Kyle feel sick to his stomach. He wanted to shrink in his seat as much as possible and prayed to God that Stan wouldn't look at him, reducing him to tears. When Kyle felt Kenny's hand grab his under the table though, he calmed down considerably. He looked over to his blonde counterpart who had just let him cry on his shoulder in the bathroom and nodded as a sort of thanks. Kenny gave him a small smile in return.
The speeches seemed to drag on forever, and the first dance was no more bearable. Kyle managed to push through it all though, even through the heart-wrenching scene where Stan shoved his piece of wedding cake into Wendy's face with a gleeful chuckle, making everyone laugh along as he licked some of the icing off of her cheek.
Kenny stood besides Kyle the whole night, giving him reassurance when he needed it and even helping to keep him distracted while Stan and Wendy danced happily together. When the wedding was finally over and everyone was standing around outside giving their final goodbyes and congratulations, Kyle ran, wanting to get as far away as he possibly could. Kenny had went back inside to look for a Dr. Pepper at Kyle's request, only to return to find Kyle gone from their spot near the curb.
"Well at least I tried," Kenny groaned as his shoulders dropped. He threw the can of soda into the parking lot with all the strength he could muster up, making sure not to hit one of the cars in fear of having to pay for the damages, and sat down with a hand pressed to his forehead. He wasn't exactly sure what he was expecting to happen after all of that, so it was stupid of him to have gotten his hopes up, even if just a little bit.