Okay!~ This is going to be my second ever South Park fic. Lol. I really like Bunny. KennyxButters is just so interesting and before I could really give it much thought... I had started writing one for myself. I am a little nervous but oh well. If it's liked... it's liked. If not, well... please don't be too unkindly.

WARNING: This story contains boy love/ boyxboy actions in later chapters. This story contains a few different pairings in that nature. If you DO NOT approve, please TURN BACK NOW. This story is not for you. Thank you.

DISCLAIMER: I own neither the characters nor the series. This is purely fandom.

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Chapter 1: L Is For The Way You Look At Me

Have you ever detested something so much with your entire being that it made you physically sick? That it made you actually consider jumping out of a moving vehicle going sixty on a freeway? That you would rather burn off all of your skin, pluck out your eyeballs, and break every bone in your body just so you wouldn't have to face it? Okay... so maybe that is a little extreme, but if that's how if you felt would you really just sit and obediently go back like the pushover you are? Listen even though everything inside you is screaming not to? If you were given a choice you'd choose no?

Some might not. But I will.

And not only that I will do it with a smile. Inside while I am dying I will wear a smile and obediently listen and do as told. Help as told. Move as told. Go as told. Because that's me. Good little Butters. It's not worth the grounding I could get should I choose to follow my gut. Besides. My gut has been wrong before. Stupid gut. Why can't you ever be helpful? Oh yeah... because you're inside 'stupid Butters'.

I guess that's what you call a 'personal problem'. Or some—

"Butters! We're here! Put down that silly little journal and lets go!"

The scrawny blonde teen in the backseat jumped at the call before slamming the book he had on his lap closed. "Yes ma'am!"

The perfect little soldier.

"Ah. Breathe in that air. South Park could still kill you with it's pollution of sin and poor morals, couldn't it?"

Then why come back? He politely sighed into his journal as he closed his eyes to absorbed the peaceful darkness before opening them again to take in the town he thought he had left behind. Forever.

South Park. He and his family, consisting of his father and mother, had moved away five years ago when his parents had a falling out and thought it would be good to get out of South Park so they could work on their marriage. He hadn't seen the point. If his dad liked gay sex in South Park... he didn't see how it wouldn't be so anywhere else. Anyway, his parents had worked on their marriage and things seemed to be going great. Then his father received an excellent job opportunity that would bring them back here. In the end his mother only agreed after making him sign an agreement that he would stay faithful.

He wasn't really sure what all it covered. Just that he had to stay faithful. He hated it. South Park... it held bad memories for him. Sure, as a kid he was awful sad to have to leave but once he started his new school and the kids there were actually nice to him and wanted to be his friend... it was really hard to come back. But... he had grown up a little. Changed. Maybe they would like the new Butters. Of course... maybe not. He was still... different. Different wasn't that good here. It got you teased.

"Leopold! Stop staring into space and come help your mother before you're grounded, mister!"

Jumping once again at his father's angry call, he sighed sadly before slipping his journal into his Chococat messenger bag—more manly than Hello Kitty he thought—and climbed out of the car. Moving to the trunk of their car he held out his twiggy arms for some boxes. His mother stacked him two high before sending him on his way. He stumbled his way to the front door, pausing a second to take his new house in. They hadn't moved back into their old once since someone else was currently living there and he didn't know whether he should be happy about that... or sad. This could be viewed as a new start... but... if things went bad... it would be nice to have the familiar around him.

This new house was white, two stories, and welcoming. Unfamiliar.

It took half an hour to get everything from the car into the house and then they were allowed a small break while they waited for the moving truck to arrive with the rest of their belongings. Butters decided to check out his new room while they waited, not really wanting to listen to his mother and father talk about work and when they should get him registered for school that coming fall.

I'm happy it's summer break. It delays having to meet everyone again. I don't know if that's good or bad. I always thought those guys were my friends... I was even allowed to hang out with some of the most popular boys in school at one point. Stan, Kyle, and Cartman. I wonder what they will say when they see I am back. Stan might be nice and say hi... Kyle probably won't care... and—I HATE CARTMAN! It's wrong to hate and I am sure I will probably end up in hell for that but... he's...

Well I know I have you to write down my most private and honest feelings, but I... I don't want to share that part of my heart yet. Anyway, the house is... bigger than my last house here in South Park. And definitely bigger than the apartment we had back in _____. I don't want to name it. It might make me miss it more.

Which reminds me. I hope Penny calls like she said she would. She might not be my girlfriend anymore but she said we could always be friends. I wish we hadn't moved. Penny and I could still be together. Ha! I wonder what the fellas will say when they find out... oh gosh. There are so many changed things about me. But the biggest... I will never tell them. I will never show them. They'd tease me something awful and I'd probably get beaten up even more for it.

Back to the house—sorry I get so sidetracked sometimes! I like that there is now two bathrooms. Mom and dad said I could have one all to myself! Well, I have to share it with guests and stuff but otherwise it's all mine. I really like that. It will probably be less cluttered without having to share it with two other people. My room is bigger than my last two rooms too. It kind of makes me wonder what I am going to do with all of the extra space.

Maybe I will get a job and fill it with cool stuff like other people do. Posters and clothes and... I don't know. It's a little scary. My room and the house are just one problem though. It's the fellas I am scared of. Once summer break is over—in two weeks actually—I am going to have to go back to school. High school! I'll be starting my Junior year. A part of me hopes that I won't be recognized. Because then I won't be targeted... but I also don't want to be missed because... it will really prove people don't care. And... there are just so many feelings!

I never really had any true friends so I—

"Butters! Come do mommy a favor!"

Brows furrowing slightly, he looked up from where he had been writing. A favor? Stopping the frown that was forming he set his pen aside and closed his journal before putting both back into his messenger bag. Getting to his feet he walked back into the light hallway done with white paint and grey carpet. Walking down the wooden stairs he found his mother in the bright kitchen, bent over what appeared to be a list.

"Yes?" He said politely, wondering if his father was going to make him alphabetize the pantry again.

"Butters, darling, will you run to the little store for mommy and pick up some things for a light lunch? The movers have been delayed and now that we have time for a bite to eat..." She trailed off, smiling lightly.

He stared. Why was his mother in such a good mood?

"Hey, se—ah. He's still here? Butters! Didn't your mother tell you—" His father asked angrily as he caught sight of his son.

"I was just telling him now, Stephen. Calm down." His mother cut her husband off before returning her attention to her son. "Can you do that for mommy?"

Butters bit back his frown before suddenly turning red. His parents wanted him out of the house! Because they were going to—eww! "O-Of course mom!"

He held his hand out for the list, doing his best not to catch either of their eyes. When he was handed the paper he fled the house. He didn't need to worry about keys since his parents were home... doing the nasty. He shuddered. At least they were kind enough to get him out of the house first. He didn't need to worry about it being cold since it was still pretty warm in the early fall. Why he was even wearing a t-shirt and capris to prove this. But there was the issue of—nope. That was covered too, he saw, when he looked down at the list to see his mom's credit card folded in the paper.

Looking around it took him a moment to get his bearings before he started off toward the nearest convenience store. It felt like forever since he had last been in South Park... but it also felt like it was just yesterday the way his memory had preserved everything so well. Once he came to familiar streets he was able to find his way like he had just walked them not too long ago. Along the way he hummed to himself, catching sight of a few familiar faces here and there. He took interest in a few of the new stores that had popped up in the five years he had been gone.

He nearly squealed with joy when he saw that a Sanrio store had been added to the little strip mall by his house. He'd definitely have to stop there—

"Ah!" Gasping as he was suddenly bumped into forcefully, he stumbled a little until his foot slipped off of the curb on the sidewalk and fell down.

"Ah! I'm sorry miss! I didn't mean to—here, let me help you up!"

"Way to go!" A kid laughed from somewhere to his right as a warm hand took his elbow and pulled him to his feet.

"Shut up! Are you okay?" His accidental assailant asked with a worried tone.

Checking his body for cuts or bleeding he was happy to see he only had a small scrape on his palm from when he had fallen. Smiling he turned to the one questioning him, taking in black hair and dark eyes. Something about him was familiar. "I'm fine... it's okay."

"Oh! You're a... boy—I'm so sorry again! I thought..." The dark haired boy flushed brightly, his friend laughing at him again.

Butters smiled. Yes... sometimes people thought he was a girl now. Penny was partially to blame for that. "It's okay... really."

He watched as the kid arched an eyebrow at him in such a familiar way that he—

"Ike?" He breathed in surprise, hoping his was right. Dark hair... and that brow that reminded him of Kyle. But... Kyle's family had red hair, though he thought his father's was brown—of course... his adopted brother had black! Ike Broflovski.

He received a surprised look in return. "Have we met?"

He instantly regretted his loose tongue. Now he would have to tell who he was... and then he was sure Ike would tell Kyle. It just seemed the kind of thing he would do. And then Kyle would tell Stan and Cartman and then they would know he was here... and he didn't want that yet. "Uh! I—well, no... um actually... yes. Once. But it was a while ago. I'm... surprised I remembered.

He laughed nervously. There was truth there so it wasn't like he was totally lying. Ike seemed to pick up on his discomfort and didn't question him.

"Well... okay. I'm really sorry I ran you down. Are you sure you're okay?" He asked politely, arching his brow once more.

He nodded.

"Okay... cool! I have to get going so... later!" Ike smiled then took off with his friend again.

Butters sighed. That had been close. Brushing lose dirt from his pants he located his list and continued on his way, figuring he could buy himself a band aid from the store. During the rest of his walk he was greeted by a few of the friendly town folk and was happy when he finally made it to his destination. Walking into the artificially lit store he nodded to the owner, smiling lightly, and got a leer in return.

Okay... that's a little creepy. He shuddered inwardly as he turned his attention to the list to see what his mother had wanted him to pick up—also hoping he wasn't the only shopper. To his relief he wasn't. Good. Now he wouldn't have to worry about the possibility of being raped. Again he inwardly shuddered.

Looking over the list he tried to hurry and yet take his time at picking the items out and putting them into the little basket he had found at the start of the first isle. He was in no hurry to get back home in case his parents were still doing it... but he didn't want to find himself left alone here either. If only he had brought his bag with him! He had pepper spray in there. Of course... Penny had—well, he was sure it wouldn't go that far. Hopefully?

"Hey Old man C!" A voice called loudly as it entered the store.

"You're late! Even when it's coming in to pick up your last paycheck you're late, asshole." The owner replied gruffly, but it wasn't hard to tell the man wasn't really sore.

"Well... I know how you've come to expect certain things from me... so I decided not to let you down." The loud voice responded and they shared a laugh.

Butters found himself rolling his eyes before blushing lightly when he realized he was rudely eavesdropping. Even though it seemed to be a pretty harmless conversation... it was still not a good idea to invade their privacy.

"I hope you know that not everyone will be as lenient as me. Moving on to bigger and better things means you have to work harder too." The man snorted after a minute.

"Whatever..." Typical teenage reply.

Butters was straightening up from retrieving the cereal his mom wanted him to get when someone suddenly crashed into him again, sending him sprawling to the floor. Gosh! Had everyone in South Park gone blind while he had been away?

"Ouch! Hey! Wa—oh! I'm... sorry..."

He blinked back a few tears that had sprung in his eyes when he landed hard on his elbow. Looking to the person at the apology he felt his breath hitch as he met warm chocolatey brown eyes attached to the most handsome face he had ever seen on a male not in a magazine.

"Eck..." He turned redder at his smooth reply.

There were a soft laugh—was he laughing at him?!— before an inviting hand was held out to him. He took it and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.

"Are you okay?" A slightly amused voice asked as his hand was released.

"Um..." He found it hard to concentrate as hungry eyes seemed to devour his face—eep! Was this guy checking him out?! When he spoke again he was embarrassed to find that his voice was slightly high pitched with nerves. "Y-Yeah. I've... already been knocked down once today. No biggie."

He watched honey blonde eyebrows rise in surprise. "You have...?"

"Yeah... Ike accidentally ran into me when I was—" He was cut off from his unnecessary explanation.

"Ike? You know Ike?" He was questioned with surprise.

"Ye—well, no. We met today when he... ran into me." Butters frowned. "I just moved here."

"Oh. Really? What's your name?" He was flashed a bright smile that made his breath hitch again as he felt blinded.

"Le—" He started to answer, slightly dazed, until he stopped himself from finishing. If he told him his name was Leopold... but... he didn't seem familiar. Was he new to South Park too?

"Lee? That's cute—"

"Hey man! Lets go!"

Both jumped lightly at the sight of a black haired teen as he walked into the store, standing impatiently at the door.

"Ah right. Friends. Sorry... but maybe we can talk later, Lee." The boy smirked with interest before saluting and taking off. "Keep my munchies stocked for me old man!"

"Stock 'em yourself, brat!" The owner called after the blonde and his friend as they ran out.

Butters stared, trying to figure out... if the boy was just being friendly... or... if there was the slightest chance possible... that he had been... flirting. Cheeks turning pink he found... that he wouldn't really mind if that was the case. Aww, Butters you're being weird again! he chided himself as he clutched at his basket. But...

"You alright cutie?"

He jumped at the voice, looking into the lined face of the owner as he frowned at him before smiling suggestively.

"I-I'm a boy..." He replied automatically. That usually got the perverted old men who wanted hot teen girl ass off of his back, but sometimes... he came across the weirdo who liked teen boys. Hopefully he was not one of them.

"Aww, is that so? That's too bad..." The smiled turned into a friendly one. "Still, a customer is a customer. Need any help?"

"I—" He didn't know why this idea popped into his head... but in it did and before he could think on it... he shot his mouth off. Some things he had learned from Penny... really would do well to be forgotten. "Actually... I heard... that you... um—well, I was—d-do you need... a hand here at the store?"

The owner arched a brow as he studied his face. "Need a hand?"

"Um... well... I thought about getting a job because my family just moved here and I find I have a larger room than previously and thought it would be nice to fill it with stuff I couldn't before—ah! I'm sorry! I'm rambling..." He blushed as he looked away. Well. That was odd.

The man stared before laughing heartily. "You're a strange kid, you know that? Well... I just lost a night worker and it would be nice not having to look for someone new if such a cute kid wants the position. I'd say you have the face to bring in boys and girls alike... yeah. Okay. You want a job here, you can have it."

Butters turned to look at the man with shock. Had he heard him correctly? He was going to be given a position? Just like that? Oh no! He didn't even stop to think what his parents might say... maybe... they wouldn't want him to. "Ah—c-could I maybe... get an application... just for... appearance sake?"

"I suppose..." The owner turned and walked back to the counter, Butters following after he had retrieved the cereal he had been reaching for when he was knocked down by... he hadn't gotten his name. "Here ya go."

"T-Thank you." He smiled as he placed his basket on the counter and watched as his items were rung up.

"No problem." The owner finally replied after he had given Butters his receipt for the card. "Listen. Why don't you come by tomorrow and we can go over the ropes. Need your parents to call? The number is on the top of the sheet. My name is Carl but everyone calls me 'Old Man C' who knows me."

"My name is... Leopold but everyone just c-calls me Butters." He replied with an embarrassed smile.

"Butters?" The man asked with interest.

"That's me! Err... it's a play on of my surname... Stotch. Butters Stotch... butterscotch? I sometimes think my parents are..." He stopped there. It was rude to speak so of his life givers.

Old man C laughed. "Butterscotch! That's real cute! But... Buttercup sounds more tasty."

Butters groaned, making C laugh again. "My ex calls me that..."

C just smiled. "Is that so?"

"Yeah..." He answered a little awkwardly. Apparently C didn't care. "Um... I should get going. My mom wanted lunch before the movers came..."

"Yeah, okay. See you tomorrow kid." C said gruffly as he waved him off.

Butters walked out of the store carrying his bag with a thoughtful frown. Hopefully his parents would accept him working there. He would hate to have to go back and tell Old man C he couldn't work there after all. He still didn't know what had made him volunteer. On his way back home he slowly figured it out, though, and he blushed with shame at the reason.

The boy. He made it sound like... he would continue to frequent that store. And if he did... and if he worked there... there was a chance he would get to see him. Sighing deeply at his silly ideas he pushed all of those thoughts from his mind as his house slowly came into view. He really hoped his parents were done...

* * *

"I don't know Butters... working at a place like that seems a bit... dangerous." His mother said slowly with a frown over dinner of take out Chinese. They had thought about going to Bennigans but decided to stay in their first night there.

"Don't worry... I'm sure it will be okay. If it becomes too much I promise to quit right away. It's not much but it's a start mom. And I... I really want to... contribute to society. I am going to be eighteen next year and... well, golly. Please?" He pouted lightly, his light blue eyes staring into his mother's while his father watched silently.

She didn't look pacified. "I... Butters you could be robbed. Or shot. You could be taken hostage and raped and then what?

"That could happen... even if he's not working there. I don't know. I think we ought to let Butters have a go. It'd give us some free time to ourselves..." His father said suggestively to his mother making him gag internally.

"Oh Stephen..." His mother sighed. "Okay Butters. You can... test it out. But if there is any trouble quit right away and come home."

"Yes ma'am! Thank you!" He smiled happily before asking to be excused.

I did it! I go my very first job! It's at a little convenience store down by the strip mall. It's small and stuff but I think it will be a good start. I hear that in the working world you need experience and good recommendations to get hired. This should be a nice start and it was easy to get... plus...

Oh journal! As I was trying to say before I got called to dinner... I met this really cute boy today! He actually... bumped into me and knocked me down. But then he helped me back up. I know... boys... Butters shouldn't like boys... but Penny... Penny said it was okay. It was okay to like boys like I liked girls. It means I'm not a slave to gender or something. She said a lot of things on that subject. I've seen cute boys... and I think I might have liked some... but this one...

He used to work at the place I am now going to work at. Before he left he said... 'maybe we can talk later'. I hope so. That would be nice. And maybe, if I work at the store, I will get to see him soon. He seems to visit that place a lot. Of course... I could have misunderstood. If that's the case... well, at least I still have a job. I am excited, but a little scared. The owner, Mr. Carl, seems nice. He thought I was a girl at first! And flirted a little... such a dirty old man. But I think... he is also a good person.

Oh! Did I mention this cute boy thinks my name is Lee? What a misunderstanding! It's a little funny. Actually... you know what. I think... he thinks I am a girl! Or maybe... he knows I am a boy. Oh, now I am worried. What if... what if he thinks I am a girl—and if he WAS flirting... it was only because of that? That would... make me sad. But maybe it would be for the best. I really shouldn't like boys... at least not now. I think it would make my mom awful sore at me since it will remind her of my father's past demons.

Now I feel confused. Oh yeah. I should also mention that I bumped into someone familiar today. Ike Broflovski. He is Kyle's younger adopted brother. I've told you about Kyle... Ike sure has grown a lot. I am guessing he is now eleven or twelve. I wonder if he and Kyle get along more smoothly now. Before they would bicker a little and Kyle would always kick him around like a football. I wonder if he still tries... and if so... if Ike fights back. That would be interesting to see.

That brings me to an inevitable truth... that I am going to have to see my old classmates soon. Kyle and Stan and Cartman and Craig and Token and Clyde... Bebe and Wendy. They kind of scare me. Especially Wendy. She once smacked the crap out of Cartman. It was nice to see... but... made one have more respect for her and how vicious she can be. I bet she has only gotten tougher.

Well, I suppose there is always—

"Butters, darling. I think you should retire early. Tomorrow we have a lot of unpacking to do between running errands and you're going to need your rest." His mother's voice called from the doorway, bringing him from his thoughts.

Looking at her over his shoulder he nodded his understanding before turning back to his journal.

I have to go to bed before I get grounded.

Tucking his journal away under his spare pillow he climbed off of his bed to shut his room's door before climbing into his warm ducky blankets and curling up onto his side. Hopefully tomorrow would bring a ray of light to the dark storm he felt brewing with his fears. A nice bright light... like the beautiful blonde of that totally hot boy's hair.

* * *

"And put that over there by the bookshelf. I will stack the books tomorrow when I have some free time, Butters darling."

He nodded his understanding before going to the box his mother had pointed to and moved it over by the bookshelf before bringing the boxes she had wanted move upstairs up to where they belonged. They had been working since 9 am and it was now going on 2 o'clock in the afternoon. They had only stopped for a light lunch break around 11:30 and now Butters was starting to feel hungry. And tired. His body was starting to ache from moving so many heavy boxes.

He supposed it wouldn't be so bad... if he actually had muscles like most boys of seventeen did. But... well... Penny thought he was more cute with a more feminine physique. And so... together they strived to prefect that. Now, that he thought on it, he really didn't know why he let her talk him into doing that.

As he made his way back down the stairs he was halted when his father came in, nodding once at him, before going to where his mother was putting things away in the kitchen. He followed along, wondering what had taken his father so long.

"Well, Butters is now signed up at the high school and my affairs are all sorted. I can go in tomorrow." He announced to his wife when she looked up at him from the box she was elbow deep in. "I also stopped at the store you wanted to work at Butters. I met with the owner... it'll be relatively safe, Linda. They have cameras and Butters will be taught the proper ways to deal with robbers and the like. Butters should stop by soon to get the info he needs so he can start when needed."

He felt his eyebrows rise in surprise. His father had checked out the place? He was sure... his mother had something to do with that. But he was okaying it? He would be allowed to work there? He smiled. "Oh, can I go now?"

His mother frowned for a moment before sighing. "I suppose. We should be pretty much done for today... tomorrow we should be able to finish."

"Okay! Thank you!" He smiled happily as he left the kitchen and raced up to his room to grab his messenger bag and anything else he thought he might need. Like a social security card and such.

* * *

It was warm again. And sunny. It was actually kind of weird to remember that South Park had more than one season when all you usually see or remember about the town is the mountains of pure white snow. Lots of the kids were so use to the long winters in South Park that they actually seemed to dislike the other seasons. Although... as they got older he was sure they came to like Spring and Summer as much as Winter. Because of hormones. Girls in short skirts and tights shirts for the boys and guys in their beaters and swimming shorts for the girls.

Butters wasn't really one for shorts though. And he didn't have the toned body girls went for anyway so there was no reason to dress in those favorable clothes. Instead he wore what he thought suited him and he was comfortable in. Today he was dressed in sea green formfitting capris that came down to the top of his calf but he had folded the hems so they ended just above his knees. One would think the pants were more for girl... but they could be suited for boys too. With that he wore a white t-shirt that had 'Angel' spray painted prettily onto it in sea green letters. Penny had given it to him for his birthday. She always said he was like an angel sometimes in his temperament and appearance.

His butter blonde hair, which had grown since his childhood days, was pulled away from his face into a stubby little ponytail at the back of his head. On his feet he wore black flip flops. He liked the sound they made as the clopped with every step he took, his bag bouncing off of his left thigh in a comforting way. He hummed happily as the sun warmed him nicely and the breeze danced about.

He had a job! He would get to work! It would be nice not having to be around the house all the time. And soon they would be finished moving in... and he wouldn't have to lift another heavy box! And maybe he would get to see that cute boy soon. He didn't know why... but... he really couldn't stop thinking about him. A part of him worried if he was so stuck on him because he was so handsome. It was wrong to like people for that reason... there was more to people than that.

But... being nice looking helped, he supposed. He blushed at that thought before smiling. Penny hadn't been able to call the previous night because she had been busy helping the neighbors with a garage sale, but she had called first thing that morning wanting to know everything that had happened since they had gotten to their new house. Before he could stop himself he told her about the boy and she squealed in girly delight. She seemed to love him most when he became a 'gal pal' for her.

One thing she had made clear was that he shouldn't like a boy for looks alone—girls either but boys seemed to be more of a handful. Most of them seemed to be players and just wanted one thing. Well... hopefully that wasn't the case here... but... what if it was? Although that really didn't matter at all if the boy thought he was a girl... and only liked girls.

Slowing in his step he brought his hands up and did what his parents had tried forever to get him to stop doing. He nervously rubbed his knuckles together until he realized he was doing it and instantly desisted. Looking around he was surprised to see he was at the convenience store. Taking a deep breath and forgetting the boy for now he placed a bright smile on his features and stepped inside.

When he walked in it was to see C talking to a tall ivory skinned boy around his age with shaggy black hair. A Goth? Thinking back to the goths he had attended school with previously he tried to recall if this boy was familiar.

"Ah! New kid! I see you finally made it in. And I thought you were going to stand me up after your father came in here..." C said with a grin as he noticed the new arrival. "Come here Buttercup."

Butters wrinkled his nose cutely at the nickname, deciding to keep his mouth closed on the subject for now, and walked over to the counter where C and the other teen stood. "Good afternoon Mr. Carl."

"Aww, now... none of that! Mister makes me sound like a geezer." C complained as he wrinkled his nose.

"And 'Old Man' doesn't?" Butters questioned before gasping. That was probably very rude.

But Old man C just laughed... and the other kid turned and looked at him with an arched brow before smiling. Butters looked back before blinking in surprise when he took in the handsome face and the—did he have red eyes?! Surely his were playing tricks on him!

"Ah! Buttercup, this is Damien. He is applying here too. I was thinking of pairing you two together for nights sometimes. He assures me that with him on duty no robber will succeed here." C introduced as he watched the two looking at each other. "Damien, this is Buttercu—"

"I-It's Butters..." He cut in over C, clutching nervously at his bag's strap as he stared at the floor.

"Butters..." Damien recited making Butters internally tense as his smooth voice washed over him, stroking his insides and doing something funny to... well, it felt like his soul. Looking back into Damien's red eyes he saw them spark with curiosity before darkening with a light smirk.

As swiftly as it had come it had passed making Butters feel awkward. "Um..."

"Lets get down to business, shall we? I will tell you what to do and then we can figure out what the best hours for you two to work are." C cut in, not noticing the exchange between the two.

They both nodded and listened to what the old man had to tell them.

* * *

"And... I guess that's that. So... I will see you tomorrow afternoon Buttercup and Damien the following night." C said as he looked over the schedule they had agreed upon for the next two weeks. They would come back to review it again once school had started but until then what they had would work with what they could do now.

"Thank you Mr. Ca—" Butters started until he was cut off.

"Now, now. As I've said—none of that. If anything... call me Papa. Yes, I think I should like that since you're a bit girly." C smirked as he looked his new worker up and down.

Butters stared before blushing. What? Okay... he knew that the old man was... perverted but now he was just being a little weird. Shaking his head when he saw C was just being... himself he smiled a little. "Papa C?"

The old man laughed. "Well now! I didn't actually think you would! What about you, Damien? Wanna call me Papa too?"

Damien arched a brow before frowning. "No, I don't think so."

For some reason that made Butters laugh until Damien looked at him. He blushed as his laugh turned into a nervous giggle. Then they both said their good byes and left together. They had barely made it two steps before Damien was jumped by a blonde and hugged tightly.

"How did it go? Did you get it?" Was asked to the dark haired teen.

Butters listened before frowning lightly. An accent. A British accent. And it seemed familiar... even though he hadn't heard it in five years. Ah!

"Yeah... and I am going to be working with that kid... Butters—" Damien was cut off when the blonde in his arms gasped.

"Butters Stotch?! Really?" He asked with excited interest as he turned to face the boy.

Butters turned to look at the blonde. He was a little different but... after a few seconds of looking he could see some resemblances since he hadn't really changed much. It was Pip Pirrup. "T-That's... me..."

"Oh! When I saw you walk into the store... and before—when you paused outside and did that nervous tick with your knuckles... I thought... but then I wasn't sure as I knew you had moved... actually, I heard that you had been eaten by bears—or maybe it was... raped by lumbermen and fed to their dogs—" Pip started happily until he was cut off.

"Pip!" Damien hushed him up as he watched Butters stare in shock, paling and reddening at the same time so he looked quite odd.

Pip turned his attention to the other blonde before laughing lightly. "Sorry old chap! I didn't mean... well, obviously it must have been... are you alright?"

"Raped... by lumbermen? Who told you that?" Butters asked slowly, his color slowly returning now that Pip had stop sharing the horrors that he had believed had befallen him after he had moved.

"It was—well, now that I think on it I know I shouldn't have listened but... never mind. It's not important. I'm sorry I even brought it up. Butters! But... why are you here now then if you had moved away?" Pip asked in a friendly kind of way that made Butters blink.

Cartman. It was probably Cartman. "Oh! I—um... my family moved back here because my father got a job opportunity..."

"Really? That's swell! A lot has changed since you left... you have changed too. Have you seen any of the—" Pip started to ask until cut off as Butters became slightly panicked.

"I haven't really seen or talked to anyone yet! I don't really want to until I have to... I don't know how much has changed but I bet the fellas are still... well, I don't want to get picked on none before I have to. I know I have changed... but I bet they'll just seen the same old Butters. Which is okay I guess... I bet they'd pick on me even more if they knew about the 'new Butters'." He frowned as he clutched tightly to his bag again, looking off to the side.

"What ever do you mean?" Pip frowned lightly as he watched the other with curiosity.

"Oh! I... um, it's nothing really..." Butters smiled, trying to distract the other.

Pip arched a worried brow before looking to Damien who just shrugged. Looking back to Butters he smiled lightly. "I know! Why don't... we become mates! I know... we were never close when we were younger... but—as we have said—things have changed... and I know the others will leave you alone if you're with Damien!"

Butters turned raised eyebrows to Damien who, in turn, glared at Pip. "O-Oh?"

"Pip..." Damien warned smoothly, his voice washing over Butters again making him shudder and his soul felt like it would be set on fire.

"Oh Damien! Look at him... he's just so cute and all alone—can I please keep him?" Pip pouted cutely at the dark haired teen, batting his eyelashes playfully.

Butters grabbed at his chest as it grew uncomfortably warm, catching the attention of the two standing near him. Pip frowned before gasping in realization.

"Damien! You're doing it again!" Pip scolded lightly before reaching out to touch Butters' arm. "Butters? Breathe deeply... and think of God."

"G-God?" Butters rasped as Damien hissed lowly.

Pip laughed. "I know it seems queer, but it does help considering it's Damien. Trust me."

Butters' brows furrowed at that before doing as told, thinking of Jesus and God and how they were suppose to make the pain in his chest go away. He was amazed when it worked.

"Don't worry... it'll fade when you're more use to being around Damien." Pip smiled when he saw the other blonde ease in his breathing.

Well... Butters hoped so. He didn't know that was about... but he could see how it would affect his ability to work with the other teen if whatever it was that happened to him kept happening to him whenever he talked around him. "I... d-don't know if we should be friends. Like I said... I'm different now. And different here is bad... sometimes."

Pip frowned at that before looking to Damien. When he said nothing he looked back to Butters. "Different how? Nothing about being different is bad."

Butters shrugged. Only Penny and his parents knew. Penny thought it was cute and helped him be comfortable with it... and his parents thought it was just... well, he wasn't quite sure. But his mother seemed to be a little bothered by it, though she didn't say anything when she found out he was dating Penny.

"Well... we don't have to be mates if you don't want to—" Pip started slowly. He was use to people not wanting to be friends with him... well, back then. Now he...

"I-It's not that I don't want to... it's just... well... actually... I don't know. I know the fellas use to pick on you too and if they bully me again, well I don't want to get you involved." Butters replied slowly, his hands coming up to rub his knuckles together nervously again.

"Oh, is that all? Well... I don't think that will be a problem this time around really. Like I said... with Damien around I don't think they will—" Pip was cut off when Damien gave a pained kind of sigh, frowning in annoyance as he looked off to the side. "Well, really Damien! It wouldn't hurt to be friends. You'll be working together won't you? Also... you know no one will pick on him if they think he's your friend and you'll kick their arse for it."

"Whatever..." Damien mumbled as he looked down at his nails.

Pip beamed before turning back to Butters. "See? So... what do you say? Shall we be mates?"

"I—" Butters bit his lip, not knowing why he was hesitating. Things were changed... he was changed... and here he was being offered a new hand in friendship. He had never really paid Pip any attention before... but he had always been a nice kid. Quiet and polite, kind of like him... only he had been bit more popular than the Brit. "Okay. L-Lets be friends."

"Best friends!" Pip happily agreed as he took his hands and squeezed them warmly. "As a first order of friendship... are you doing anything? Because Damien and I were about to head off to the mall to do some school shopping—would you like to come?"

Butters groaned at the mention of school. But... it had been a while since he had last been to the South Park mall—five years!—and he thought if he was going to visit it it would be nice to have a recent native to go with. "Um, well... maybe I should ask my parents. I don't want to get grounded or nothing."

They waited while Butters used his cell to call home and asked his mom and dad if it would be okay to go to the mall with some old friends he had met up with. His mother said it was fine as long as he was home by 7 pm. With the okay they all climbed into Damien's car and while he drove Pip and Butters exchanged cell numbers and a bit of their past history.

* * *

The mall hadn't changed as much as he thought it might have. It was still the same size and many of the same stores were still there. He was amused to see another Hot Topic and remembered the time when it had caused some grief to the Goth Kids when the 'Vamp Kids' had become popular. Some other new stores were added but... still basically the same. He wasn't sure if that was good or not, like most things in South Park now.

Butters was quick to realize that Damien was pretty quiet and only really talked when spoken to. Pip had called him a 'social retard' to which the dark clad teen scowled and Butters wasn't sure if he should laugh or not. Apparently Damien was the same kid from the time long ago when they were in the third grade. Butters didn't really remember him. But that was okay. Like everything else he, too, was different from his eight year old self. It was better to get to know the new than to try to remember the old.

He also realized Pip seemed more happy than before. He talked a lot more... and just seemed more confident in himself and the things he did. Pip didn't care what people thought of him... unless it was Damien. Butters briefly wondered if they were... together but when they never really showed any kind of affection for each other he thought that maybe he was just being silly.

While at the mall he saw Wendy and Bebe. Both girls had grown into beautiful young women and seemed to be typical teen girls as they walked by with their arms loaded in shopping bags, talking about the latest romance movies and whose boyfriend wasn't putting out enough. Butters kind of wished he hadn't heard that part... but luckily he couldn't really tell if it was Bebe or Wendy who had said it. Which made Butters wonder if Stan and Wendy were still together. A thought he shared with Pip.

"Wendy and Stan? No, no, no! Oh, you don't know yet do you... Stan and Kyle are—well, they..." Pip frowned. He wasn't sure if he should openly announce other people's private affairs. Of course it wasn't like they were very private about it... but...

"They're together." Damien cut in, not the least bit abashed.

Butters tripped in his surprise, stumbling into Damien who steadied him gently before pulling away from the contact. "Together?"

"Yes... it only happened about a year ago... but... they are together." Pip said lightly, watching Butters' face. "Erm... you don't... you're not..."

Butters blinked at Pip, not understanding what he was trying to ask.

"Not a homophobe. A gay basher. A close minded asshole." Damien supplied coolly, turning red eyes on Butters with a dark stare.

"Of course not!" Butters replied instantly with a light frown. "Why should I care what other people do with their lives?"

Pip smiled at that reply before grabbing Butters by the hand and dragging him toward the food court. "Lets get a giant pretzel!"

Butters allowed himself to be pulled some of the way before voicing he didn't really like pretzels and got in the pizza line instead. Damien decided he wanted a taco. They all agreed to get their food of choice and meet up at a small three person table. It would be a nice snack. As he got into line behind two girls he found himself pulled into their conversation as they giggled and whispered to each other while they waited for the people before them to get their order.

"Look at him!" The red head of the two said excitedly.

"I know! He's so hot! And he still won't go out with me!" The brunette sighed with a pout in her tone.

"Really? I wonder why... you're pretty enough. Although I heard he really only takes an interest in girls for the sex." The red haired gossiped as she kept her eye on the boy they were talking about.

Curious against his will at those words he turned to see who they were talking about and nearly fell over in surprise. It was him! The boy from before! From the convenience store. He was sitting with a brunette and a black haired boy, laughing about something the black haired boy had said.

"Yeah, well I heard that he met a really cute girl yesterday at work and has taken an interest in her and that when he gets the chance he'll probably ask her out." The brunette sighed as she took a step toward the counter as the people before her and her friend got their order and left.

Butters felt his heart clench. The guy... had found a girl he liked? At work? A girl. Of course it would be a girl... because... well, that's how it was. It wasn't like they had even really talked and yet he still felt crushed. Okay... he was letting himself get carried away. These feelings were his fault because he was... so stupid. Stomach hurting he decided to forgo the pizza and went to sit down.

"Didn't you want the pizza?" Pip asked as he met up with him halfway to the table, pretzel in one hand and a plastic tub of melted cheese in the other.

Butters shook his head silently, his eyes trailing back to the boy against his will. He was still sitting there with his friends. Laughing. Crushing on a girl. Pip followed where he was looking and frowned.

"Were one of them mean to you?" He asked lightly.

"Huh? No—I... do you... know who the blonde is?" He suddenly asked before he could stop himself. Pip might know him. And if... any of the gossip about him was true.

"Who, Kenny?" Damien asked as he walked up behind the two, making them jump.

At the mention of the name the blonde Butters had been watching suddenly turned to their little group as if he had been called. His eyes fell on Damien with recognition before moving to where he stood, widening slightly in surprise.

"Kenny?" Butters asked distractedly as he watched the blonde say something to his friends before getting up and moving toward where he, Pip, and Damien were, eyes solely on him. It felt like he was pinning him in place, silently telling him not to move until he got there. Until they properly met. Until they fell in l—

"Yeah, Kenny McCormick, remember?" Pip said with slight confusion as he watched his new blonde friend.

Butters felt his heart skip a beat at that. What? Was he serious? But... how could that be? Wasn't he... hadn't he... that was Kenny?!

-Chapter 1 End-

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Author's Notes: Well there you have it. The first chapter to my first Bunny story. Lol. I will admit when I first started writing it it was a bit random... but then a workable plot started to form... so I have things to work with.

A review or comment of any kind would be nice if you'd like to leave one. Have a question, please don't hesitate to ask. I think I will explain a few things next chapter...

Which should be posted this coming Tuesday since I already have it written out.

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NEXT CHAPTER: O Is For The Only One I See