Night had set in, a diamond studded blanket of darkness falling over the peaceful gardens. A cool breeze blew, giving an icy edge to the air as it rustled through the hedges. Every shrubbery had been perfectly trimmed, every mint green block an exact clone of the one next to it lining the smooth pearly garden path. A display of topiaries was situated near the fountain, some looking like zoo animals, others like former rulers, and even one or two Stars of David mixed in. The water from the fountain spurted from the top, the droplets making trickling sounds as they merged with the body below and created little ripples that kept the pool moving. The water's trickles and the wind's whisper made for the idyllic undertones for the otherwise silent night.
Kenny and Kyle walked out through the enormous archway, having ceased their spinning by the time the party was just a speck of light and sound at the end of a long tunnel. They walked side by side, neither quite ready to say anything. They were close to one another, feeling the other's body heat, hands brushing against one another every so often, though any contact usually led to a bit of awkward blushing from both parties.
Fucking hormones... Kenny muttered every time he felt his cheeks heat up even the slightest fraction of a degree, It must be a full moon tonight... Weird shit happens on a full moon... Like gay little pixies with the magic of crossdressing...
Kyle stole a quick glimpse at Kenny every so often, the duo walking down the steps and onto the winding path through the maze of plants and sculptures. He could tell that the blond was preoccupied with some other thoughts, only making him even more curious.
What is she thinking...? Kyle wondered, shifting his eyes back to the courtyard as soon as Kenny was about to look back in his direction, Aw Christ how do I even start a conversation? Clyde would use a pick up line that'd usually get him slapped... Stan would think of something though he had a natural social charm I don't possess... And a cliché prince in a fairytale would say some random suave line that'd make his ditzy princess swoon...
He glanced back at the blond once more, smiling a bit as he saw Kenny's eyes wander around the garden in childlike awe that only highlighted the other's natural sweetness, I'm not dealing with some ditz though... So that would probably fail either way... Like I'm going to do well anyway... For once he was actually regretting stating the socially awkward caterpillar and not transforming into the social butterfly he was apparently supposed to be. Aw shit...
Kenny wasn't entirely unaware of Kyle's periodic staring, though he didn't fully notice until after absorbing the majesty of the royal gardens. Everything was just so...pretty. Almost romantic even.
Speaking of romance, what the hell is lover boy waiting for...? Kenny thought, sensing Kyle's stare even though he was looking at the topiary of a cow, seriously, this guy is too shy for his own good... Well, I shouldn't expect him to say much since he was nearly pissing himself asking me to dance... Fuck he's probably pissed about how I sorta owned him at dancing... And kinda laughed at him... And probably made all the hardass snobs think he was a pussy...
Kenny lowered his head a tad more with each reason being stacked against him. I am such a fucking retard if I were him I'd give me the silent treatment too... His eyes flickered over to the redhead, watching as Kyle bit his lip, obviously struggling to come up with an ice breaker. The blond let out a sigh, Well... Much as I hate to do it, I should fucking apologise for once in my smartass life... Even if I did save our asses I suppose I wasn't being 'lady-like' or whatever bullshit chicks go by...
"Kyle..." Kenny said, trying to formulate a good apology. Saying sorry wasn't really his forte.
The prince looked over at Kenny, practically afraid of his own name. Part of him feared what Kenny was going to say, thinking that the blond would start criticising his horrid social skills. Another part of him was relieved, glad that the silence was broken-and by such a heavenly voice no less-to save him from his internal demoralisation. Then there was the part of him that was just surprised that all of this was actually happening, still wondering whether this was real life or fantasy. However, every part of him was interested in what Kenny had to say, whether it be good or bad. Just the fact that the blond was speaking to him was good news in his mind.
"Look..." Kenny sighed again, lowly looking into the redhead's eyes, "I'm sorry I kinda...took the lead dancing and stuff... I dunno... You were kinda really fucking up out there and I thought I could give it a whirl so you wouldn't look like an epic fail... But I guess I kinda made you look like a pansy..." He paused, realising that he likely wasn't doing too well calling the boy a screw up while apologising, "I suck at saying sorry so I guess I'll just shut up now... Yeah..." He slowly looked away, staring at the fountain as they neared it. Oh how he wanted to just dunk his head under the water until his stupidity washed away.
Kyle blinked, listening pensively to the apology. He wasn't expecting one at all—he was an epic failure on the dance floor—and never had he heard on so 'differently' worded. She honestly thinks I'm mad at her...? He had to admit he was a bit annoyed that Kenny hijacked the lead; but it turned out a lot better because of it.
"You don't have to say you're sorry, ya know," Kyle said snappily, "A little warning would've been nice, though."
Kenny looked back at Kyle. He didn't sound angry... But he was still snippy.
"Hey! I did!" Kenny retorted with a pout.
"Yeah, like five seconds before spinning me like a dreidel," Kyle rolled his eyes.
"Well I still warned ya, ain't my fault your reflexes are slow." He rolled his eyes as well.
"My reflexes aren't slow! I just can't think as quickly when the entire royal court is watching."
Damn, the whole court...? I must've really made him look like a pussy... "Hey gimme props for thinking of that anyway! Come on, everyone loved us."
"Yeah, some only loved it because it looked bad for the Crown..." Kyle's tone dropped, a few worries about what his parents—namely his mother—would say to the gender reverse of the lead and follow floating in the back of his mind.
Kenny pursed his lips, thoughts of Cartman's jeers coming to mind. He knew there had to have been others who disliked the royals just as Cartman did, only to a lesser extent. Still, they had to have gotten a kick out of that scene...
"I...I guess I didn't help your royal rep much...did I?" He muttered, a few spectres of guilt creeping up on him. He could tell that Kyle's reputation wasn't exactly perfect to start with; he Kenny's stunt just made it worse.
Kyle hesitated, not wanting to upset Kenny by telling her that it would likely lower his reputation even more, but also having no way around it. Even if he denied it, it was clear that Kenny would call him out for lying.
"Well...I did dance with a girl..." He answered softly, "That's a new one for me..."
Psh, you that's what you think... Kenny thought, smirking to himself. Tricking people was pretty fun, after all. But then, Kyle's words really set in.
"Wait...you...never danced with a girl before...?" Not that you did tonight either...
The prince shook his head, "I usually don't even attend the parties...and if I do I make an appearance for five minutes and then go back to my room..." Kyle looked to gaze out at the vast gardens to his side, looking over the hedge lining the path and out at all the vast span of verdant gardens, "Parties are just...stupid."
"Yeah, I never really went to parties myself," Kenny shrugged, although he more never went because he was never allowed, "Too many snobby rich folk."
"Snobby rich folk? More like conceited toffee-nosed assholes with airheads the size of their vaults of money and the caring capacity of a pea." The redhead grumbled, narrowing his eyes at some far off statue of a past king.
"...Dude, you sound like you really hate your life..." The blond said bluntly.
"So what if I do, it's not like that changes anything," Kyle shrugged, "I'm still a prince, I still have to act like a figurehead for the moronic aristocracy, and I still have to listen to what my stupid 'legacy' states."
"Legacy...?" Kenny raised a brow. Whatever that was, it already sounded really lame and boring.
"Yeah, the one that says that I need to go to parties and talk to everyone and marry a random girl and then have a son so I can treat him the way my parents treat me. That legacy." Bitterness coated every one of his words.
"Ouch..." Kenny may have had it rough with physical abuse and maltreatment, but any guy under pressure like that definitely wasn't living the stereotypical laid back royal life, "That's gotta suck major balls, man."
"It does..." Kyle agreed, giving Kenny a bit of an odd look. Weren't girls not allowed to swear or something?
Kenny blankly stared at Kyle, not sure how to respond to his look. Shit what if he's onto me... He thought, knowing that he wasn't exactly a prim and proper noble lady.
"UH..." Change the subject, Ken, just think of something else to say... FUCK WHAT DO I SAY?
"You know..." Kyle said, tilting his head, "You aren't like all the other girls."
Kenny blinked. That was it? No accusation? Or maybe this was a lead up... Better make myself look convincing to make sure he doesn't fuck me over finding out his 'chick' has a dick...
"Well... I'm new here!" He said, making everything up on the fly, "You know... From the far off kingdom of...Fort Collins... Yeah, shit goes down differently there..."
"I can tell..." Kyle nodded slowly, "I'm guessing the mannerisms are a lot different?" Swearing wasn't usually allowed in the higher aristocracy (like anyone paid attention to that rule).
"Yeah, they letcha curse and all that shit, even if you're a girl," The blond fibbed, "It's just a fucking word anyway, so what does it matter. Just comes out without us really giving a damn."
"I see..." The redhead still had a sceptic edge to his voice, a perplexed sheen to his eyes as he tried to figure Kenny out, "Sounds a lot nicer than here."
"Well your place is a hell of a lot nicer than mine," Kenny wasn't lying about that.
"Yeah, a beautiful cage." He rolled his eyes.
"Guess ya got a point there..." The blond trailed off, having no further argument. I think all I've managed to do is make him even MORE PISSY than before... Good fucking job, me...
Silence befell the pair again, both of them looking to their sides. Tension hung in the air, a hint of a slight strawberry aroma drifting in the wind. The clink of the blond's heels along with the water's sprinkles and wind's whistle kept the two from reaching complete awkward silence, though they still felt its full effects. Several long moments passed, Kenny and Kyle both thinking as they stared out in opposite directions, the question of what to say ringing in both their minds.
"You know..." Kyle broke the silence, switching his gaze back to the blond, "I don't even know your name..."
"Oh," He glanced back over at the redhead, "It's Ken-" He stopped dead short, nearly saying his real name, "Der..." Shit shit shit something girly something girly... Kenny panicked, "Ell...a..."
"Kenderella?" Kyle raised a brow. Well that's a unique name...
"I go by Kenny for short," He gave the prince a cheesy grin, a rose tinge appearing on his cheeks. Just keep smiling and he'll believe you, Ken... You bullshitted your way this far...
"Kenny..." Kyle repeated, "I like it," A crooked smile piqued at his lips. Sure the name wasn't that of a typical girl, but this orange blossom wasn't just a typical girl.
"Hell of a lot easier to say than Kenderella," Kenny said, "You'd run outta breath saying that too many times," And any child with a shitty name like that would kill itself...Least I would... "Kenny trims it down a good two syllables."
"Yeah, Kenny is a bit simpler. Though I never heard a name like Kenderella before."
"It's Canadian, eh! My parents' friend came up with it. Or maybe it was their buddy... Definitely not their guy."
"Pfft, that explains it," Kyle's smile widened a little more, "Though it's still...pretty unique."
"If by unique you mean stupid," Kenny muttered, thanking the lord that he didn't actually have a name like that.
"Well I think it's nice," Kyle said as-a-matter-of-factly, "I mean...it's fitting for you."
"Hey...are you callin' me stupid?" Kenny narrowed his eyes at the redhead, forgetting that he was the one who called the name stupid instead of Kyle, who danced with him out of all the girls at the party.
"No, I'm calling you pretty unique," The redhead said, "I already said that you weren't like any of the other girls, so it's fitting that you have a nice name to help you stick out from the crowd. You know...in a good way."
Kenny opened his mouth to come up with a remark to that, only for nothing to come out. He was getting compliments now? Compliments? As in, nice things to being said to him about him? This guy doesn't even know what he's fucking talking about... Kenny thought, a blush slowly colouring his cheeks, God there's something wrong with me if I'm blushing like a fucking pansy... But it is nicer than being called 'shithead' and 'pussy turd' and 'assfuck'...
Kyle couldn't help but laugh a bit. He honestly didn't think that would work so well to make the blond speechless. Plus the blush was adorable...
"H-h-hey!" Kenny pouted, "Don't you fucking laugh at me! Even if you are a damn prince!" The blush really wasn't helping. Why was it even there?
"Calm down, I just didn't expect you to go speechless over a little compliment," Kyle rolled his eyes playfully.
"Well it's the first time I've ever been complimented before!" Almost as soon as the words left his lips, he regretted saying that.
"What?" Kyle stopped walking, not believing the words he was hearing.
Kenny took another few steps, and then came to a stop as well, glaring at the ground. I had to open my big fucking mouth again... He thought, I'll never hear the end of it from this guy now...
"Ya heard me. I've. Never. Been. Complimented. Before."
Kyle didn't reply at first, simply staring at the blond. How could she not get compliments...? He thought. The entire time he'd been with this 'girl', he couldn't stop thinking of compliments—like he'd say any of them—from corny to cheesy to cliché and all in between. As far as Kyle was concerned, Kenny won appearance-wise, from the long flowing golden hair, to the childish expression on 'her' face, to her brilliant jewel-like eyes. The dress may have been nice, but it wasn't as magnificent as the blond's natural beauty. And then there was the personality to take into account; a strong mannerism that was firm and resolute to most tradition yet still sweet and charming in its bluntness. Even if there were a few language issues, that didn't alter the meaning of the words spoken by that sweet voice or make it any less than the symphony of speech.
She had all the potential to be a femme fatale, leading Kyle down some spiralling path of danger any moment; but he didn't care. As far as he was concerned, Kenny was pretty much perfect without being perfect at all by the status quo. Kyle thought 'she' was perfect, and that was all that was important to him.
So why had this perfect pretty never gotten a compliment? And where exactly was Kyle supposed to start?
"But..." A sea of possible compliments flooded the redhead's mind, giving him infinite options he just couldn't pick from and was too shy to say from the start. He'd need to say something; he already started talking. But what, what, WHAT? "Um..." Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? No, no, that's too cliché... Thine hair is as radiant as the sun? No, that wouldn't work... Thou art as sweet as a—wait why am I thinking in Shakespearean? Ugh, I'd be better off speaking French... God why the fuck is it so hard to say something nice without sounding like a dork?
Kenny sighed, turning around to tell Kyle that he didn't have to say anything nice to him. The boy was struggling enough; he didn't need to think up a flowery sentence on top of that. "Ky—"
"A charm invests a face, Imperfectly beheld," Kyle blurted out, going with the first thing that came to mind when his eyes met the sapphires once again, "The lady dare not lift her veil, For fear it be dispelled..."
Kenny remained silent, listening to the poetry leaking from the prince's mouth. Whatever it was it sounded flattering, whatever it meant. Poetry was a funny chick thing, something Kenny thought was best left for the bitches to learn and then fawn over on their own time.
"But peers beyond her mesh, And wishes, and denies, Lest interview annul a want, That image satisfies..." He finished, heaving a sigh, "Emily Dickinson, 'A charm invests a face'."
"You...memorise poetry...?" The blond asked, tilting his head a bit. That was all he could really say, too over taken by the words to give an exact 'thank you' for the recitation.
"I have a lot of my time on my hands while evading parties," The redhead smiled, "To drift with every passion till my soul, Is a stringed lute on which all winds can play, Is it for this that I have given away, Mine ancient wisdom, and austere control? Methinks my life is a twice-written scroll, scrawled over on some boyish holiday, with idle songs of pipe and virelay, Which do but mar the secret of the whole. Surely there was a time I might have trod, the sunlit heights, and form life's dissonance, struck one clear chord to reach the ears of God. Is that time dead? Lo! with a little rod, I did but touch the honey of romance, And must I lose a soul's inheritance? 'Helas!', Oscar Wilde."
"Damn, you're like a human poetry book," Kenny smirked, "Impressive."
"Impressive? More like my duty..." Kyle groaned, "'A prince is to be well educated in all subject areas in order to be a fit ruler', I have to know this crap... Though English isn't so bad..." Not to mention it came in handy...
"So? It's my 'duty' to clean and I still suck at it!" He was so glad that it wasn't completely out of place for a woman to clean; otherwise he would've been screwed, "Quit being so goddamn modest."
"I'm not being modest! I'm just being..." He paused, trying to think of the best word, "practical."
"How the fuck is reciting a fucking poetry book practical?" Kenny shouted, seeing not the slightest practicality at all, "Just take the fucking compliment."
"But I'm the one who's supposed to be complimenting you!" Kyle grumbled.
"I really don't give a fuck about pretty words, Kyle," Kenny said, "I'm more a man of action," A little alarm went off in his head when he realised what slipped out, "As the saying says... Since they don't apply it to women..." Not that I am one even...
"It's kinda stupid that I had enough time on my hands to know that crap by heart..." Kyle huffed, "Though I suppose it kinda came in handy..." His sheepish smile returned as he gazed at the blond.
Aw fuck he's staring at me again... Kenny thought, And hitting on me... No one starts reciting fucking poetry to a chick unless they want somethin'... Though he seems too damn innocent to know what he's doing...
"Damn, you pick up by the book." Kenny said bluntly.
"Wh-what?" Kyle piped, blush returning to his face. God, I'm that easy to read...?
"I know when guys are trying to win a bitch over, Princey," Kenny went on, "Seriously; poetry is one of the sappiest tricks in the book."
"S-so what if I am being a bit...Coquettish?" Kyle asked nervously, "Something wrong with that?"
"Well..." Kenny actually didn't know how to answer that. Technically it was wrong because Kenny wasn't Kenderella the beauty of Fort Collins but rather Kenny the abused slave and stepbrother of Lord Eric Cartman. But there was something about Kyle that...just didn't make it wrong. Kenny didn't know just how it made sense, but there was somehow something so right about Kyle that nothing seemed like he was doing something wrong but more the circumstances made it appear so. Though what was truly wrong with a sweet, cute, reserved prince pulling out a cliché or two to get the girl?
Why am I fucking thinking like this? He thought, a few legitimately romantic thoughts flashing through his mind, I...What the fuck am I on? Common sense kept telling him that things were wrong—that the thoughts were wrong—but each one sent such a warm fuzzy feeling through him... That couldn't be wrong, could it?
Alright, let's see... I'm in a dress posing as a girl gettin' sweet talked by the prince of social fuck ups... He thought, Well, I know that the part about me acting like a chick is fucked up, so let's see about Ky here... He sucks at social skills... he's never picked up a chick before... he's corny as hell when he does try to pick up bitches... he's probably the smartest fucking person I've ever met... he's modest as fuck though... he hates being a prince because he's socially abused... he's actually nice and can give a fuck about another human being... he gets embarrassed easily, he blushes a lot... he looks cute when his cheeks turn all red... He has really really amazing eyes... His ass is pretty fine too... He basically admitted that he has a thing for me...
Somehow, as he kept thinking, Kenny noticed how loudly—at least he thought it was pretty loud—his heart was beating. The thuds kept breaking up his train of thought, making it harder and harder to concentrate. God fucking Dammit! I need to think this damn thing out! He mentally moaned, trying harder to think through the boisterous beats, I mean who the hell can think logically with a fucking 'BOOM BOOM' after every fucking word?
Kyle watched Kenny's inner struggle, that nervous cockiness swiftly melting into anxious guilt. Of course I say the wrong thing! Of course I do! He scolded himself, Kenny's no less nervous as I am... I mean, what fucking business did I have saying that? She can't even answer! For the love of Moses, Kyle, why do you have to be so fucking stupid in the subject of romance and women? IDIOT...
"K-Kenny..." The redhead muttered, "You...you don't have to answer..."
The blond blinked, train of thought completely derailed by the sound of Kyle's voice. He blankly stared at the Semite, too lost in his jumbled thoughts to be able to formulate a coherent reply.
"I mean..." The prince went on, glancing down at his feet, shuffling them a bit, "That was really out of place... It isn't polite to ask that... And..." He let out an aggravated sigh, the reddish shade of his cheeks only deepening, "Oh I fucking give up..."
Kenny frowned. God he's got low self esteem... Though I guess being a social fail in a social world helped... I still feel bad for the fucker... Well... Bad and somethin' else... What that 'else' was he was a bit uneasy about.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up over lil' shit like this..." Kenny said softly, trying his hand at comforting despite the fact that he was bullshitting it (then again, what wasn't he bullshitting?), "I ain't saying ya don't got a right to pick up a gal..."
"Yeah, you're just saying that it shouldn't be you..." Kyle murmured, slurring his words to try to mask what he was saying. It didn't work well.
Kenny wasn't sure how to answer. Part of him wanted to agree with Kyle; but that was a surprisingly small part. Mostly, he didn't care and actually liked it.
OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? The boy's mind was going crazy with these games. He never liked being toyed with, especially by his emotions. But this was the first time that ever happened on such a large scale... AW CHRIST WHAT'S GOING ON? THIS IS ALL SO FUCKED UP! I MEAN I'M ACTING LIKE I'M ABOUT TO GET A BONER FOR THIS KID OR SOMETHI—wait... That posed an interesting question. AW FUCK I REALLY AM TURNING INTO A FAGGOT!
A/N: Are you all pleased? I know this chapter was shorter and a hell of a lot more awkward than planned... But I tried all damn week! Stupid shit kept getting in the way, and it was getting a bit hard to find the flow in the awkward. BLECH! Next chapter's gonna be better and be even MORE just K2. I seem to enjoy splitting a lot of my planned chapters up, now don't I? I must since otherwise this would be a lot longer.
Eeh gads Kenny's having an epiphany! Or something. Next time we get to see how he deals with it. And Kyle can try and work up the courage to do something. HE'S GOTTA BE A MAN TO GET HIS 'WOMAN' DAMMIT. Did you all like my poetry usage? I'm not a poetry buff, but I did like some of Emily's stuff. Some. Okay very little. And then there was Oscar Wilde who I just love to pieces! Plus I had to put him in to make a literary joke. HOPE YOU ALL KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT HIM TO GET WHY IT'S FUNNY KYLE USED ONE OF HIS POEMS!
Okay I don't know I'm derpy since this is the first morning I haven't woken up with the same continuous headache I've had all week so none of this makes much sense. Thanks for reading! Leave a review and I'll love you forever! I'll start work on the next instalment when I can! Uh...s'all I have to say. Ehehe :D ~CQO