If anyone ever asked Kenny to rate his top ten worst and most tiring days in history he would've put today on the eminent 3rd place. It was emotionally and physically exhausting, a combo he rarely got to experience. Although, usually he had the luxury of allowing his weaknesses to come forth, so he had less pent up frustration suffocating him from the inside. Maybe based on this, today did deserve being number one.
After walking around aimlessly in South Park his mind kept going back to a crucial event of the day; Kyle's accident. While the boy was somewhat calmer about it after they left the school, Kenny faced another problem that kept inching closer as the sun slowly sank under the horizon colouring the town in orange hues. Night was closer than ever and he still had no idea about what he should do in a situation like this.
Kyle was a gh… supernatural entity so he probably wouldn't sleep like any human. On the other hand, Kenny still needed minimal amount of sleep in order to work properly. Four hours at least.
And on top of this, Kyle had to stay somewhere. He couldn't let him wander around at night even if nobody could see him.
Going back to the Broflovski's was a terrible idea for countless reasons. They both agreed on that for once. While he obviously wouldn't want Kyle to be alone, but him being in Kyle's room would be trespassing the least and Sheila would end him for sure. 'Your son is here but he is invisible, wouldn't really work on her and maybe it would anger Sheila to the point of throwing Kenny out of a window. If he dies, Kyle would still be alone for a night and that's one thing he wouldn't want to risk.
His new goal was to stay alive as long as it takes to solve this puzzle, which considering how many of his deaths were connected to a certain group of friends, probably won't be a chore as long as he is extra careful about his own actions and makes sure he avoids every possible source of danger.
For example he won't go waltzing into the lion's den.
Stan wasn't the best option either. Furthermore, if Stan was around he'd have to act like Kyle was truly invisible.
Explaining wouldn't work, he was too old for imaginary friends and the boy is still probably floored from the accident and his recent trip to the hospital. This was among the reasons why he decided against calling Stan to ask about Kyle's condition. None of them really needed that kind of stress right now.
The last place on his list was actually his own home. He claimed his house to be unfit for inviting guests over and he wasn't ready to let Kyle know more about his family other than that they were poor and couldn't afford to pay all bills, unless Kenny did something from the shadows. Even if he managed to collect some money from odd jobs around town, it went for Karen and their bills.
His parents never noticed the fact that some of their bills went disappearing and it didn't result with the service provider cutting off electricity or water. Asif it was the most natural thing in the world. However, this was among the things he didn't want to share with his group of friends, even though he sometimes desperately felt the need to rant about it.
Along with how his parents were not famous about being terribly supportive.
"Let me get this straight," Kyle paced in front of the bench Kenny was sitting on. In the end they decided to stop for a strategy meeting at the playground. "We can't go to my place because my mother would tear your head off. Stan and everyone else are out of question because we couldn't communicate when they are around. That leaves us with only one possible option. Your place. What's wrong with that again?"
Kenny looked up at Kyle clearly not expecting a question aimed at him.
"It's kind of a long story. Really," he told Kyle gravely.
"Ken, I know you don't have money."
"It's not about money," he admitted, looking at a patch of grass at the feet of the bench. "It's about everything else. I'm just not comfortable letting anyone know about my family. It's already a big problem that we are the kids who can't afford shit."
Oh, so that what it was about.
"Kenny, do you realize you are telling this to the person who is labelled as the money hungry jew fag since he was 6 or so? Or pretty much since Cartman had a concept of different religions and sexualities. I won't think less of you because your family doesn't live like the Buckets from Charlie and the Chocolate factory." he stopped for a moment, when he saw Kenny's puzzled expression. "I meant, that living in love and warmth despite being poor. I won't think less of you for not living in an ideal family."
Kenny sat in silence. Quietly rethinking what Kyle just told him. If only he knew their reality at home, he wouldn't be preaching about fictional poor people he met, because the teacher told him to read a book.
"You know, some people get poor because they make some bad decisions or life fucks up their plans, but the still try to stand up. My family... " he let out a barely audible sigh. "My family belongs to an entire different category. They dig themselves deeper and deeper, prioritizing person over family. My own father straight up told me to quit my job, because nothing will get better and giving up is easier! I know you wouldn't think less of me, but I also know that you would pity me and that's one of the things I hate the most."
Kyle was speechless. He didn't even notice, but he stopped walking back and forth as he focused his attention on Kenny. He felt, that after many years they arrive to a standstill in their friendship, everything depending on his answer. Like he got all the information about Kenny McCormick in a single day.
He hesitated, seemingly shifting weight from one leg to another. Something he'd do in person too if he had his body.
"This might sound stupid… But..." he bent down until his eyes met with Kenny's. "Have you ever thought about, that perhaps I wouldn't pity you? Instead I'd try to shoulder some of that weight you have to carry around."
Kenny let out a half-hearted scoff. "Back then all of you made fun of me. Even you, Kyle. It's not easy to talk about how fucked up my life got after all of that."
"You do realize we changed over the years, right?" Kyle looked at him in disbelief.
"Yeah."
"And that I wouldn't pity you. I think, instead I would be angry because we never really tried to help you in any way." Kenny was about to open his mouth, but Kyle halted him. "I'm not talking about money, but emotional support. Something friends are supposed to give each other on a regular basis"
Supposed. That word rang painfully in his memory because truth to be told, Kyle was never really a role model friend and he was terrible at tackling new problems. He usually tried to put everything new within the limits of what he already knew about the world. Failed, but kept to this bad habit like his life depended on it. Even after it almost destroyed Stan, his super best friend, in the process.
What made him change was the night he had to spend at the detox-centre at Stan's side after he destroyed Randy's stash of drinks and ending up with alcohol poisoning. On that night something clicked inside him and that shapeless mess made of thoughts and feelings ordered him to understand. To understand more and strive to know more about the world.
Because the think about Kyle Broflovski, he cared about his friends, but he was terrible at catching the sign when their life went downhill, unless they spelled out for him.
"I wish it was easy as that." Kenny smiled at him. "We could cuddle up on my bed to magically solve all of my problems!"
However, the last sentence went over Kyle's head.
"Well, talking helps as long as there is someone willing to listen." the redhead nodded to himself. "Yeah, next time we have to talk it out!"
"Kyle, it's not... Nevermind." He'd lost. He didn't notice it at first, but Kyle slowly cut all of his escape routes right in front of him and any further excuse would only lengthen a pointless discussion. That clever bastard.
"I have to warn you, whatever you had in that red head right now, it's ten times worse. Are you sure about this?"
"To be frank, no."
But they had no other options.
Kenny could only hope that shit didn't hit the fans yet as he crossed the train tracks to reach the abandoned corner of Sodosopa. He hated what the citizens of South Park did to his home. It used to be a cesspit even when he was little, but thanks to the patchwork buildings they built around their house, even ruining the roofing with a bar, it looked like a dystopian town out of a horror movie. Life just loved dark humour if it involved the McCormick name.
He opened the door with a hint of hesitation.
The coast was clear.
However, as he stepped inside, he heard footsteps echoing through the house, floor creaking beneath some of the steps and before he realized arms wrapped around him and something pushed the air out of his lungs.
"Karen, what has gotten into you? Did someone hurt you?"
She only shook her head as her grip in him became tighter. "I've heard what happened… Thought you might need a hug... Or two."
Kenny instinctively hugged her back.
"Are you going to be okay?" came her muffled question through his orange coat.
"Yeah... Everything is going to be okay, so don't you go worry about us." he chuckled, feeling Kyle's gaze on his back. "However, you should worry about that book you have to read for class. Have you finished it already?"
She stepped away. "Almost. Almost."
"I'll question you later!" he warned Karen.
"You didn't even read it, Kenny!" Karen only shrugged, but Kenny was already on his way to his room.
"I'll go to bed, forget myself in sleep," he told Karen from the hallway. Kyle followed in his wake like a lost and endlessly confused puppy.
"Kenny, knowing one quote from a book doesn't prove that you read it!" Karen called after him.
"We will see, sis!"
As Kenny closed the door behind them, Kyle looked at him in disbelief.
"Do you read?" he asked with a dumbfounded expression.
"You look at me like I killed a person." he countered. He only realized that due to him only tagging along with Cartman and Co. there was no way for anyone to know what he did when he wasn't part of the group. "Library is free. And you can find random shit online. They help a lot when Karen has to write a book report also earns you some extra points at flirting if you sound bookish."
Kyle sat down on his bed, still looking at him. "I think I already see some silver lining at the end of this shitstorm… A much needed one."
"Just because I read? Dude, I never knew that the thing with flirting will truly work."
"What?!" he was sure he'd seen Kyle's face get at least a shad darker. "I meant, that at least the only person who can see me has a brain."
"Good." he sat down next to him. "Also, I'm not sure about you, but I think we should lie back for tonight in order for a fresh start tomorrow. We will have tons of shit to do and knowing South Park, even crabmen will crawl out of the sewers just to stop us."
"Yeah." Kyle nodded.
They sat in the silence of Kenny's room. Kyle only noticed it how nothing has changed since he last visited. The green walls still had paint crumbling; new posters were put up to cover the missing layers. The mattress was the same as it was ten years ago, with a clean sheet pulled over it.
The room gave home to an old CRT television, but probably none of them really felt like watching tv. Kyle couldn't help but wonder if it was only a decoration as everything went digital few years before. He should ask about it later.
As he looked over to Kenny, the boy's face was paler than usually and worry clouded his expression. He sat there, seemingly lost in the chaos of his own thoughts, despite recommending them to give his case a rest for the day.
"I'm glad that I'm stuck with you." he admitted under his breath. A tiny smile flashed through Kenny's face, but disappeared almost instantly.
I just wish it had been under different circumstances, Kenny thought to himself bitterly.
