TW: Mentions of depression and suicidal thoughts
Craig felt his stomach churn at his voice alone. He wanted to tell him off so badly he felt sick, but it wouldn't do Tweek any good at the moment. He casually touched Tweek's back in support, a gesture that seemed accidental as he lifted his hands to pull his jacket taught a second later. He pushed back his anger and focused on his usual nonchalance.
"Boring. Nothing special and incredibly lame," he answered, greeting him back.
"That's too bad," Mrs. Tweak said, drying her hands. "It's a shame you kids can't have fun like when you were small."
Tweek didn't say a word to either of his parents, going around the counter and dropping his backpack as he pulled his apron off the hook, pulling it over his head and tying it behind him. One of the great mysteries of Tweek was him being able to do this, yet not being able to tie his shoes.
Craig shrugged, moving to put his bag down at a table. "School gets tougher the older you get," he said, turning back to the register. "Slacking means lacking, we don't have time for fun anymore. Speaking of fun, could I have my usual, Mrs. Tweak?"
"Of course, sweetie." She rang it up, and as she handed him his receipt, Tweek set his drink in front of him, having already anticipated the order. He looked up at his secret boyfriend and smiled shyly.
Craig grinned back, his anger subdued just for the moment he could look at Tweek. He mumbled a quiet, "Thanks, babe," before taking his cup and moving to sit down.
Watching the family go about their work was bizarre. There were no signs that they felt anything but love for one another, Mr. Tweak ruffling Tweek's hair with affection when walking past him, Mrs. Tweak sneaking her son samples of the pastries she made and occasionally pulling Tweek to her side for a hug. Even Tweek. for the most part, acted normally, smiling at the dumb jokes of his parents and returning his mother's hugs. It was only thanks to Craig's practiced eye that he saw the slight tremble of fear in Tweek's hands whenever Richard got close.
All a front for the customers. Family businesses were trustworthy. It invited other families to go there, have some drinks, stay awhile and maybe become regulars. The impression of the happy family made for a great atmosphere that seemed comfortable to every customer.
Craig hated it. He still wanted to punch Tweek's father, or maybe strangle him. He despised Tweek's mother for never caring about what Richard did and he hated that both of them didn't care that they had a child and not a co-worker. He drank his hot chocolate silently in anger, looking as calm as ever to anyone passing and typing an essay on his computer that he had to finish for next week.
It was a confusing and difficult relationship for Tweek to navigate. He could never tell what his father was thinking. Tweek was pretty sure the man hated him, but the small shows of affection threw him off. He knew it was foolish to think his mother was any different, but he couldn't help but have a soft spot towards her, reveling in the love she gave him. Every hug was returned with gusto, each kiss getting him to smile. He genuinely loved her, even if her feelings towards him were lukewarm at best.
Craig spent the entire afternoon writing until his up was empty, and he waved Tweek over.
Tweek headed to his table, figuring he was going to ask for another. Not that he minded, he may or may not have been making him another already. "What's up?" he asked, standing beside him.
Craig, who held one of the menu cards in his hand, pointed to random parts of it while he talked to make it look like they were discussing the desserts. "Just wanted to check on you. Are you doing okay?"
"Uh, yeah," he said, looking surprised. "Why, do I look not okay?"
"No, you're looking tooth-achingly happy. Just checking to give you a short break." He tapped on the menu so Tweek would look down, making the charade more authentic. "And to tell you that I love you." He smiled at him once he stopped tapping. "Also, I'd love another drink and maybe some cake."
Tweek blushed and held back swatting at him. "I love you too," he whispered, then returned to the counter. A few minutes later, a fresh cup of cocoa and a slice of Craig's favorite cake were sitting in front of the teen, Tweek beginning to sweep the cafe.
Craig chewed happily on his cake while finishing the essay and, when he was done, brought the cup and plate up to the counter himself.
Mrs. Tweak smiled at him, taking them. "School work?" she asked. "Or are you getting a head start on college applications?"
He gave her a small raise of his lips, almost too small to be called a smile but at least recognizable. "School work. I don't even know what I'm looking for in a collage yet." Plus, he had really set his heart on traveling with Tweek ever since they had talked about it.
"Don't wait too long to start thinking," she laughed. "Tweek has already started looking and applying himself."
"That's neat, good for the college that takes him when it's time." Craig was surprised since Tweek hadn't mentioned anything but shrugged it off to ask about later. He looked over at Tweek who was sweeping the floor and smiled for real this time, just short enough to show that he meant his words.
"I think so too," she said. "He's a smart boy when he tries. His ADHD just makes it so difficult for him to concentrate."
Craig frowned. "He always is. It doesn't go away just because he can't concentrate on something for very long at times."
Mrs. Tweak hummed. "Can I get you anything before my husband and I go, sweetie? Tweek isn't allowed to use the ovens if we're not here."
Craig shook his head. "Nah, I'm good, thanks. I'll just wait for Tweek now." He told her to have a good evening and went back to his laptop, watching Tweek every now and then and waiting for his parents to go. An hour later, the Tweaks left, leaving Tweek to run the cafe.
He stretched, finally able to relax a bit more. "What a day..." he mumbled, thoughts flicking back to his run in with Nathan for the umpteenth time that afternoon. Tweek didn't answer, seeming lost in thought.
Craig let his arms fall back to his sides. "Are you alright, babe?"
"Yeah," he said lowly.
Craig slowly walked over to Tweek, lifting his chin with the lightest touch of his fingers. "What's on your mind?"
Tweek's eyes bored into his, filled with confusion and pain. "Do my parents love me?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "Do they even like me?"
Craig felt a pang in his chest, Tweek's hurt obvious and painful to see. "Do you really want an answer to that?" he asked softly, the hand he had held his chin with now resting on his cheek.
He sniffed. "I don't know," he said honestly. "I want you to say yes, but I don't know if that will be a lie or not." He looked down, tears slipping down his cheeks. "I want them to love me."
Craig pulled him into a tight hug, resting his chin on Tweek's head. "I don't know how to answer you. Maybe they do love you in a sick and twisted way, but none of it excuses how they treat you." He gently ran a hand through his blond hair in a petting motion. "I don't know if your father is capable of loving anything but this shop." Tweek let out a tiny sniff, hugging Craig tightly and hiding his face against him.
Craig felt like his heart bled at the sound. He didn't stop the hugging or the petting. "It's really not fair to you. You deserve so much better," he mumbled into his hair. He knew this wasn't very helpful, that saying what he deserved changed nothing about what was happening, but he never knew what to say in these kinds of situations. He kissed his head as he spoke quietly. "I know it's not the same and that I can't replace any of this, but I love you so much, Tweek. So fucking much."
Tweek broke. He began to sob loudly, his entire body shaking with the force. He gripped Craig's shirt tightly, soaking the front with his tears.
It was just... so unfair. All he wanted was for his parents to love him without a hidden agenda. To hug and kiss him when they saw him, ask him about his day, his friends, his life. He wanted his father to help him with homework and give him relationship advice, and his mother to hold him when he was sad and look after him when he was sick. It felt like a ragged, gaping wound in his soul that hurt so badly, sometimes he couldn't help but want to end it all. He wanted to die. Maybe then they would realize they should have loved him.
Then they would actually care.
Hearing him cry like this made Craig wish he could take Tweek and bundle him up in blankets somewhere nobody would be able to hurt him, where he would be happy and safe and didn't have to worry about any of this. He really didn't know what to do this time, so he just wrapped his other arm around him again and pulled Tweek as close to him as possible without suffocating or hurting him. He hoped Tweek could feel all the things he didn't know how to say through his hug, but mostly his support and promise to be there.
Luckily, no one came into the shop, allowing Tweek to cry his heart out. It took a solid hour before he finally began settling down to quiet whimpers.
Craig kept hugging him, waiting for Tweek to show him when he didn't need it anymore, until eventually, he got to the point of hiccups and occasional sniffs, staring at the ground exhaustedly and Craig let go hesitantly, cupping his face instead, lifting it up and gently wiped away some last tears with his thumb. Tweek brushed his face with his arm, then pulled away and went into the backroom.
He didn't know how to respond to being left standing without any words, but he guessed there weren't a lot of things that could be said in the first place, so he followed him with some space between them in case Tweek needed it.
When he entered, Tweek was at the back sink, bent over the basin and filling his hands with cool water and pressing it to his face, so Craig waited until he was sure Tweek had noticed his presence before speaking up. "Want to stay home rather than go to Token's? I can understand if that's too much today."
He gripped the counter tightly, taking a deep breath. "I... I should go," he said. "I need to make up for having to ditch everyone last week."
"You don't have to make up for anything. The guys would be happy to see you, but they also know that you're not having the easiest time at the moment. I'm sure they'd understand if you said you didn't want to. Don't go just because you feel like you have to."
"I said I'll go so I'll go," he snapped, whipping around. As fast as the burst of anger had come, it left, and he covered his mouth as his eyes widened.
"C-Craig, I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I didn't mean to yell."
Craig blinked owlishly but shrugged it off. It's not like he wasn't used to it. His family could get very loud in fights. "No harm done. I didn't want to push you. Sorry."
Tweek's shoulders hunched and he bit his lip. Craig didn't deserve that. God, why couldn't he just control himself?! "I'm gonna go home," he said softly. "Tell everyone I'm sorry I couldn't make it."
Craig stepped from one foot to the other, suddenly nervous. "I'll stay with you."
"No," he said, rubbing his arms. "It's okay. You go."
Craig shook his head. "No, I'm staying with you. I don't want to leave you alone." Leaving Tweek after his boyfriend had cried himself empty for an hour and after his father locked him up prior just seemed wrong to him.
"I don't want you to come to my house." Tweek hated the place. Usually he would jump at an opportunity to get away for awhile, but now... He just wanted to go to his room.
Craig started scratching his cheek, slightly hurt at the words. "Come to mine?"
If Tweek wanted to be alone, then Craig couldn't stop him, but he still hoped he would go for it. Leaving Tweek to himself made Craig feel... he needed a short while to realize the word he was looking for was anxious. But Tweek shook his head slightly, staring at the ground.
"I need to go back..." Maybe if he secluded himself for a while, he'd get his act together. Maybe Butters' parents had been onto something with the grounding thing.
Craig took a deep breath and wanted to tell him okay when he realized that maybe Tweek didn't want to specifically hang with him. Was an hour too long for someone to calm down? Should he have said something different and Tweek was hurt that he hadn't? Craig felt himself get nervous, fragments of past conversations and fights replayed in the back of his mind, making him think of all the accusations of being too cold and distanced from emotion and how he wasn't what they needed and seemingly couldn't change and didn't care enough.
He felt panic crawl up his throat and closed his mouth again, nodding instead of talking. Unsure of what to do, he managed an only slightly strangled sounding, "Okay. I'll wait in the shop," before he turned and walked out, keeping his calm to not make Tweek think he was fleeing even if he was.
Tweek stayed in the back for a few more minutes before returning to the front. He made one last drink, then turned off the machines, wiping them down. He moved sluggishly to Craig's table, setting the drink in front of him.
"Thank you for listening to me cry," he murmured, watching the floor. "And for taking care of me the last few days. I... I'm sorry I yelled at you. You don't deserve that." He swallowed the "And I don't deserve you" that got stuck in his throat.
Craig looked at the drink in surprise and then to Tweek. Maybe he hadn't fucked up as badly as he thought. He took a deep breath to test if his lungs still felt closed up, but it seemed better.
"Don't worry about that. I should be the one apologizing for bugging you like that. I'm just... worried. About you. It feels wrong to leave you to yourself after today and yesterday." He took a sip from the hot chocolate and looked up at Tweek, before patting on the chair next to his own.
He hugged himself instead, taking a slight step back. "I need to just... be alone. I'm going to just sit in my room for a while..."
Craig frowned, insecurity back where it was, step back making him feel like he had done something wrong. But he'd get over it. He wouldn't bother Tweek with that right now, that'd be as if he was making this all about himself and he didn't want to make Tweek feel even worse.
"Okay, but text me every now and then so I know you're alright? I'll be on my phone all evening anyways."
"Okay..." He soon closed up the cafe, then headed the opposite direction of his boyfriend. It was snowing again, but he couldn't feel the cold. He never could.
Craig arrived at Token's soaking wet, music blasting so loud out of his headphones that Token could hear it before he opened the door. He looked normal except for a single wrinkle between his eyebrows that had been there since he left the shop. The music drowned out most of his thoughts but not all.
"Hey, Token."
"Craig! Where's Tweek?"
"Not coming. Stuff happened and he needs some rest. He says sorry."
Token couldn't hide the slight disappointment on his face but told him it was alright, stepping aside to let Craig in. He was still dripping on the floor when they entered Token's room where the others were playing video games.
Clyde hit pause and bounced up, grabbing his friend in a hug. "Best buddy!" he cheered. "What's up?"
"Hey, Clyde." Craig hugged back a bit stronger than usual with one pat on Clyde's back and then plopped down next to Jimmy, giving him a fist bump. "I missed the bus and had to walk all the way."
"No Tweek? Bummer," he said, grabbing the towel Token tossed him and sitting on the bed behind Craig, wrapping him up with it.
Craig snorted. "Are you mom-ing me?"
"You bet your soaked ass I am," he laughed.
Craig leaned back to shove Clyde's face away, grinning, but missed since he couldn't see.
Token wrote Tweek a short text, telling him he hoped he could come next time and that they missed him but that no one was upset at him since he knew Tweek was quick to assume things like that.
"What are we playing?" Craig asked.
"W-We just fin… fiiiiiin… we just finnnn… We just got done w-with S-Smash Bros. Token said we c-could play CoD or H-Halo next or somethhhh- or something." Craig nodded, pitying having missed their Smash Bros session.
"Well, I voted we watch some really bad horror movies, but the others said we should wait for you." Clyde explained, shooting Jimmy and Token an over-exaggerated glare.
"Well, now we can. Craig is here now after all. What do you wanna-"
"G-Ghost Shhh- Shark!" The other three groaned, but accepted their defeat. They just couldn't tell the other 'no'.
Halfway through movie number two, a cheap rip off of Saw, Token had had enough of Craig's fidgeting and constant looking at his phone. "Dude. Are you alright?"
Craig looked up, seeming careful. "Yeah."
"You've been looking at your phone every five minutes and Tweek probably has eighty messages from you by now."
Craig raised his middle finger, but now the other guys were also looking at him. "I only sent three messages. He doesn't like to be spammed, it stresses him."
Clyde frowned at the vague answer. "What happened? Did you have a fight?"
"No, he's just upset about his parents. He wanted to come but I told him not to, since he wasn't doing well at all."
"Yeah, good that he listened," Token said. "We can be very…"
"E-Exssss- Exhausting."
"Exactly."
Craig nodded. "I just don't know how to react sometimes. I only deal with Tricia crying and she doesn't need much, just someone who listens."
"Hey! I cry all the time!" Clyde said indignantly.
Token snorted. "You say that as if you take pride in that."
"Crying is a very good outlet for negative emotions and it makes you feel better. Look at Craig. Does he seem like never crying is doing him any good?" Craig looked at Clyde in mild offense, and Token shook his head and pushed him from the bed, making him yell in surprise.
"We're talking about Tweek now, not about Craig's lack of emotionally correct responses."
"Wow, thanks," he said, rolling his eyes.
Token shrugged. "I think, from what I know about Tweek, just being there and listening is already enough, too. Remember that fight you had in elementary, where you finally figured out that nobody wants you fixing our problems when we complain about them because Tweek got angry at you? Listening is already the best option."
Craig shrugged. "I just hope he doesn't think I don't care enough."
Jimmy hummed. "S-stop b-bathing in self-pity ab-about your e-exssss- your exssssssss… about your exes."
Clyde looked at Jimmy and then at Craig in surprise. "Dude, are you still hung up on Heidi and Ana? You didn't even like them!" Token threw a pillow at his face, which the other barely caught.
"Hearing that you're not worth someone's time or that you're too emotionally stunted to like someone back still isn't something you want to hear from anyone, dick," Token huffed.
Craig shrugged. "I guess it does worry me a bit."
"D-Dude, you are so obv-viously all o-over Tweek, I d-don't think that it's g-gonna be a problem." When he still looked wary, Jimmy shook his head. "You're w-willingly talking ab-bout your crush and problems to u-us. You've n-never done that before. Isn't that p-proof enough?"
Craig shook his head slightly, then turned his attention back to his phone.
Across town, Tweek was sitting on his porch, watching the stars. He checked his phone when it buzzed with Token's message but felt too guilty to respond. He let out a sigh, then got to his feet and went inside.
It was dark, not a single light having been left on for him. Again, he felt the crushing weight of reality settle on him, and he shut the door behind him, leaving in unlocked. He didn't bother to take off his shoes, trudging upstairs to his room. He didn't try to be quiet. He could be screaming bloody murder in his room across the hall from his parents and they'd never check on him. He'd learned quickly crying for them after a nightmare was never going to end in comfort.
The door to his room swung open easily. It was the only spot in the room where the floor wasn't buried in something, be it books, Legos, drawing paper, or anything else. It closed behind him and he decided not to lock it either. If someone broke in and killed him, it would be for the best.
Tweek dropped his bag on top of a Lego heap, then fell face first onto his bed. The frame shook at the sudden, jarring movement, but didn't squeak. Again, he didn't bother to take off his shoes, but he also didn't move to lay down fully, draping himself across the narrow part. He stared up at the night sky outside his window, and found himself wondering if when you died, you became a star.
Craig would probably like that.
Tweek had wanted to write him. Really, he had intended to. He laid in bed with the text screen open for hours until his phone finally died around 3 in the morning. Aside from the moonlight coming in, it was pitch black.
Craig stayed with the guys until most of them slept, then grabbed his bag and said bye to Clyde, who was the last one standing besides himself.
"I'm gonna check on Tweek," he mumbled since his last message to him didn't even arrive and he was worried sick by now.
"Text me when you get there so I know you're safe," he said.
Craig nodded, amused at the amount of mom-ness in that sentence but also touched, and gave Clyde a pat on the back, then snuck out of the house.
The walk to Tweek's from Token's took twenty minutes since at almost four in the morning and there were no buses. Once outside his boyfriend's house, he didn't quite know what to do, since Tweek's window was on the upper floor. Sure, the house wasn't that high and he could probably climb on the trash can, but if it fell and made noise, there was the possibility half the neighborhood would wake on high alert.
After whisper-shouting Tweek's name a few times he gave up on that, not having expected it to work anyways, and started looking for small pebbles, which he carefully threw, aimed at Tweek's window. He hoped he wasn't scaring him too much and that he was actually there.
The soft clacks on the glass roused Tweek from his depressing thoughts. He sat up and looked outside, then unlatched the window and opened it, leaning out. "What are you doing?" he asked in confusion.
Craig almost threw another pebble before stopping himself, not expecting this to work either. "Succeeding in getting you to come to the window?" he asked, a bit unsure of the answer himself.
Tweek blinked down at him before saying, "The door's unlocked." He retreated into his room, closing the window, though a second later, the light in his room turned on.
An invitation to come up.
Craig sprinted around to get inside, cold as all hell. The snow hadn't stopped falling since they closed the shop. He snuck up the stairs and into Tweek's room, almost stepping on Legos once he arrived. He grinned at the piece while he shoved it away with his foot. It was familiar enough to feel almost homey.
Tweek was sitting on his bed, knees pulled up his chin. He still had his shoes on. On the bedside table, his phone was connected to the charger, the display reading 2%.
Craig nodded to himself when he got that it had probably died. He stood there awkwardly, having not really thought this through. "How're you doing?" he asked lamely.
"Why did you come here?" Tweek asked back instead of answering. He wasn't angry or upset, just perplexed.
"You didn't answer any of my messages and then your phone was just off and I got... uh..." Craig shuffled from one foot to the other. "Scared. For a second," he added. "I guess I just needed to know that you were still there and all."
"Still-? Did you think I was going to off myself?"
"What?! No! I-" Craig gestured something with his arms that he didn't really get himself. "What the- no! I meant there as in-. this room! I-" Craig wanted to say that he was scared Tweek could get locked up somewhere again, but he couldn't. Not after that afternoon. Tweek's assumption had him reeling.
Tweek sighed, taking Craig's panic to mean he had guessed correctly. "Don't worry," he said. "Just because I think about it doesn't mean I plan to. The pills help with that."
Craig blanched. "What?"
Tweek stood up and grabbed his bag, unzipping the front pouch and tossing Craig an orange bottle. "My anti-anxiety and depression med," he said.
He caught it but didn't look at it. "Depr- Tweek, you think about killing yourself?" Craig really didn't expect this visit to go like it was going, actually didn't even expect to be let in, and he hated how thin his voice sounded.
"Yes," he said blandly. "Not as much as I used to, though." He sat back down, finally kicking off his shoes and crossing his legs under him.
Craig finally looked at the small bottle, not knowing what else to do. "I didn't know. Sorry to barge in on you like that," he mumbled, still sorting everything in his head.
The label on the front read, in bold letters: VENLAFAXINE - ONE (1) PILL BY MOUTH A DAY 270 MG.
"You're fine. It's not like I was doing anything," Tweek said, scratching the back of his head.
He read the list of ingredients, not that most of it helped him any with dealing with this information. After he was done, he said, "Catch," before carefully throwing it so that, even if Tweek missed it, it would still land on the bed.
Craig wanted to ask why he hadn't told them, but the longer he didn't speak, the more he could guess that it might be because of reactions like this. He cleared throat, shaking the initial shock. "Can I sit?" He pointed to the space next to his boyfriend.
Tweek had caught the bottle, and he nodded, turning it over in his hands, watching the capsules inside shift with the movement.
Craig sat down next to him and gently bumped their shoulders. "Thanks for telling me. I appreciate it. I did actually come by because I got worried about you, but not because I thought you would do something to yourself."
He snorted, setting the bottle on the table by his phone. "Right. You didn't have the slightest suspicion that I didn't do something to make this worse." He stared down at his bandaged hands, frowning. "It's fine if you did. I heard mom tell you earlier that I can't use the oven when they aren't there. I don't mind you being curious."
Craig leaned forward. "I'm not lying, I promise! I really didn't. I guess I should have, looking back at the signs now, but I actually just got scared you'd get locked up somewhere again. I was ready to break into the closest garage and get a pry bar, hah... Probably stupid, sorry."
"No need to put me in the garage when my door has a lock." He slipped off the bed onto the floor, crawling over to a Lego pile. He began to click pieces together, making no attempts to be quiet.
"I meant for the pry bar, since people keep them- never mind, forget that." Craig sat up against the headboard, pretty sure he had just fucked up. Again.
Tweek ran his hand over the mess of tiny colorful blocks, the clinks of the pieces hitting each other filling the room. "Thank you."
Craig, focused on his own hands before, looked up. "For what?"
"For thinking about me... for caring enough to come check even though you didn't have to," he murmured.
"No problem, I guess. I hope it's not too much of an invasion. I actually expected to get the window slammed in front of my face instead of being invited inside." Craig grinned sheepishly.
"I would never turn you away like that," he said seriously, turning to face him. "If I do, assume something is wrong."
Craig smiled. "You are allowed too, though. I can be nosy as fuck and I have a bit of trouble with seeing the lines I shouldn't cross. But I'll remember to be suspicious if you do." Today it definitely had been.
"Since you're here... do you want to stay the night?" he offered.
Craig beamed. "I'd love to."
Tweek rubbed his face tiredly and stood up. He flicked off the light, then walked to the bed and collapsed beside Craig. He didn't bother trying to hide his desire for affection, immediately snuggling into him
Craig hugged him, feeling a bit guilty as he realized he had wanted this the entire evening. He shrugged off his jacket, throwing it on the floor, and sent Clyde a quick 'I live and so does Tweek', then put his phone away to give Tweek his full attention. He carded his fingers through his hair like he had gotten used to and for the first time, the day seemed to be okay, worries forgotten, as he calmed down. Tweek sighed softly, relaxing into him at the touch.
"This is amazing. Every time I touch your hair you practically melt." Craig grinned. "I feel so powerful." He was obviously joking but he wasn't lying. It was still a very amazing fact to him and it made him feel special.
"You're also the only person I let touch my hair," he said. "Should I revoke that privilege?" He raised an eyebrow, showing he was teasing back.
"No, you definitely shouldn't. I promise I'll feel blessed enough so you can let me have this privilege," Craig snorted.
"You're also the only person I let touch me at all," Tweek pointed out.
"And I do enjoy doing so very much," he replied, poking Tweek's waist. "I don't completely get why, but I'm very happy about that," he added matter of factly.
He yelped, then glared at him. "A fall onto my floor is going to hurt a lot more than on yours," he threatened.
Craig gurgled something like a hysteric giggle as he thought about all the small pieces of Lego on the floor. "Please, don't."
"No more pokes. I will end you," he huffed.
"Aw, but your reactions are so funny..." Craig pulled a fake pout that was almost Clyde worthy, but didn't poke any more since he did value his bones as whole.
Tweek pushed him down and sat up, shifting over so he was straddling him, looking down. "I don't trust you, Tucker," he said, his hands pinning Craig's wrists down. "Once a tickler, always a tickler."
Craig laughed shortly, for once ignoring the tingling and the speed up of his heart beat even if color shot into his cheeks. It was too dark to see, anyway. "You caught me," he gave back, grinning. "I'll very likely do it again."
"I know. So now I've gotta do... something. I haven't thought out that far, I didn't think I'd even get to this point," he said conversationally.
Craig snorted and testingly pulled on his wrists only to realize that Tweek was, in fact, holding them down too hard to get free. He wiggled a bit but stopped immediately when he realized that continuing this would probably end in a boner. He pulled a face when he realized he wasn't getting out of Tweek's trap.
"How about mercy...?" Craig asked, looking up with innocence on his face that just didn't fit his character at all.
"Interesting, but not a chance," he said with a grin.
"Well, worth a shot," he resigned.
Tweek hummed thoughtfully, then shifted his grip so he was holding both of Craig's wrists in one hand. "I guess it's your weak spot then," he said, running his fingers teasingly over his neck.
Craig shivered involuntary as soon as Tweek touched him. He started wiggling under Tweek again. "Man, come on, I just poked you!" he let out, sounding slightly desperate to get away from Tweek's fingers.
"After being warned time and time against such an action. Measures must be taken."
Craig felt heat pool from his face into his entire body. This shouldn't be as attractive as it was. "So, you're gonna sit on me to death?"
"No. I'm gonna mess with your neck until your dead," he laughed.
"Why did you have to find out about that spot, you are RUINING me, Tweak." Craig was grinning to not make Tweek think he was actually upset about it.
"You can only blame yourself." He leaned down to whisper in his ear. "Seeing as you're the one who told me."
Craig drew in a sharp breath, suppressing a yelp and softly groaning a quiet "fuck" while another shiver shot down his spine. "You're really one for playing dirty, huh?" he whispered back.
"Says the one who lulls me into relaxing then tickles me." He pressed a light kiss on his jaw, his breath warm on Craig's skin.
Craig felt his legs twitch lightly and then grinned, breathing shakily and putting one leg up so it was propped up between Tweek's, who had shifted his weight while leaning forward, making it possibly. It gave Craig slightly more steadiness but still not enough to free his hands. Tweek gasped, having to quickly release his hold to plant his hands on either side of Craig's head to keep from falling when he moved unexpectedly.
"I don't usually plan on that. It's just easier to do so when you're half asleep." Craig made a weird noise that sounded a bit like "he he" as he managed to hook his leg under Tweek's and flipped them around, so he was on top even if Tweek wasn't actually as trapped as he had been.
Tweek blinked up at him, then pouted, his cheeks puffing up.
"What? Don't like the taste of your own medicine?" Craig grinned, looking a bit too cocky for his own good since he was somewhat proud of himself for having managed to do this.
"Craig, I could flip us back if I wanted," he huffed. "But I think your pride can only take so much damage."
Craig laughed, sounding exceptionally bubbly. "I know you could." He bent down a bit, lips touching Tweek's barely. "I still think that's really hot."
He flushed but lifted his head to kiss him. Craig kissed back gently, shifting his weight so he could cup Tweek's face with one hand, stroking his cheek at the same time. Tweek let out a soft sigh, the gentle touch soothing.
Craig felt his heart swell at the small noise, taking pride in being the reason he made it. The realization that Tweek was his boyfriend and that no one else got to see him like this once again made his head spin a bit and got him to smile into the kiss.
Tweek laid back, looking up at him. "I love you, Craig," he said. "With all of my heart."
His smile, impossibly, got even wider. "I love you, too. More than I actually know how to express." He lifted his hand, slightly shaky, and brushed the few strands of hair in his face away.
"You are wonderful, Tweek Tweak, and I am incredibly lucky that you like me back."
He laughed, covering Craig's hand with his. "I'm the lucky one."
Craig kissed him again. "Yeah, maybe we both are. We'll probably break half the school's hearts when we come out as a couple," he said jokingly.
"Poor girls who can't fulfill the dream of having Craig Tucker sweep them off their feet," Tweek laughed.
"What a loss," he snorted. Not like he would have done that with any of them anyways. "I just shut up and don't talk as much crap as Stan and his gang. That's why they like me probably."
"And you're way cuter," Tweek giggled.
"Pft. Me, cute? I am an isolated, stoic, asshole if you believe Bebe and a few others." He stuck his tongue out.
"Bebe doesn't know everything. I happen to know first-hand that you're actually incredibly amazing."
Craig hummed, flopping down when balancing on three limbs got exhausting, half lying between Tweek's legs, half on his stomach. He propped his head up with a palm, the other sneaking under Tweek's shirt to draw patterns on parts that wouldn't tickle him. "That's YOUR privilege, I guess. Only you get to see this me."
"And I love it." He closed his eyes, falling quiet, simply enjoying being near the other.
Craig watched him for a while before starting to follow his own finger movements. He pressed a soft kiss to the light skin that was free since the shirt had slipped higher. Tweek couldn't help but giggle at the feeling.
"I love it when you giggle," Craig mumbled with a dopey smile on his face.
"You're welcome, I guess," he said, looking down at him.
Craig let his head fall onto Tweek's stomach completely, carefully of course, where he stayed, mumbling compliments against his skin. "Honestly, you're beautiful. "
Tweek turned red and pushed his hands under Craig's hat to run his fingers through his hair lightly. "Listen, it's okay," he said. "You don't have to say stuff like that. I know it's not true." How could anyone think he was attractive, honestly?
Craig frowned despite the nice feeling of Tweek's hands in his hair. "Tweek, you've known me for a loooong time now. You know I wouldn't lie about this just for the sake of it. Or at all."
He bit his lip. "I... I know... but I think you're wrong."
"Well, good that it's MY opinion and not yours then." Craig smiled. "Everyone sees themselves differently than others do. You couldn't stop me from finding you the most beautiful person I have ever looked at even if I wanted you to."
Tweek whined, grabbing another pillow and pressing it into Craig's face.
Craig started laughing after an initial shocked second and pushed the pillow away again. "Are you trying to kill me because I like you?"
"Yes!" he pouted.
"Wow, Tweek. Murder is rude, didn't you know?" He was still laughing, though his hand had stopped drawing patterns on Tweek's stomach and just lay there.
He crossed his arms, blocking Craig's face from his view.
Craig ducked away, resting his head on Tweek's stomach. He was still giggling a bit. "You're beautiful, Tweek. And cute. And attractive. And funny. And nothing can stop me thinking this." He stuck his tongue out at him again.
"Hush, you," he said, refusing to look at the other, his face burning.
"No chance, babe. I'm never sappy anywhere, now you get to live through this." He kissed his stomach again.
"Craaaaig," he whined.
"Tweeeeeek," he mimicked him.
"I can't reach you from here, come closer so I can smack you," he demanded.
Craig snorted. "Kinky," he commented but didn't move. "Interesting suggestion. I'm comfortable though, thank you very much."
He shrieked in a mixture of surprise and embarrassment, then covered his face.
Craig started laughing again. "Tweek, babe, I'm joking!"
"I change my mind, I don't like you anymore," he groaned behind his hands.
"You signed up for this, Tweekers."
"Unsubscribed."
Craig gasped in mock offense. "Wow, now I don't have any followers on my YouTube anymore. You killed my channel, Tweek. How could you."
"Perish."
Craig looked up. "Did you just meme at me?"
Tweek peeked at him. "Maybe."
Craig let out a long breath. "Oh no. Tweek. Can you live with the consequences of memeing Craig Tucker?"
"I... no?" he asked nervously.
"Heh. Thought so." He propped up his head on his arm again, looking thoughtful. "Hmn... what now. This begs for those consequences, but then again... hm..."
"I can't really sit up right now. Does that count?"
"Nope." Craig popped the 'p'. "I guess I could just lower the price you have to pay a bit..."
"I swear to God if you tickle me again-"
Craig grinned widely. "Then what? Are you threatening me?"
"Yes," he said, narrowing his eyes.
"Guess you'll have to go to the planetarium with me then as a second date as punishment", he responded matter of factly.
"You mean the plane'arium?:
Craig blinked. "Plane aquarium?"
Tweek snorted. "Sure, close enough."
"Most people are super bored when I ask them to go, Clyde actually refuses by now, so that should be a good punishment." He shrugged, smiling at Tweek before the smile turned into a grin. "Oh. And also." Craig quickly ducked his head, pressing his lips to Tweek's bare skin again and blew a raspberry.
Tweek squealed, wiggling in place though he was trapped.
Craig stopped when he didn't have any air left, laughing until he was wheezing. "Got you," he managed to say in between breaths.
Tweek grabbed him and yanked him up so they were finally face to face. He gave Craig about two seconds, then kissed him.
Craig yelped in surprised, still wheezing for air in that moment before he realized what was happening. He tried to kiss back but it was hard to actually do so when he was still laughing. He managed after another few moments, dizzy from the lack of oxygen and grinning happily.
Tweek freed him shortly, rolling over so his back was to him.
Craig gave himself the time to stop choking on held back laughter and air before poking his back. "Tweek. Tweeeek. Tweeeeeeeeek."
He shivered from the pokes but refused to turn back.
"Tweeeeeeeeeeeeeek." Craig wasn't specifically whining, but he was pulling the word for dramatic effect.
"Whaaaaaat?" he asked.
"Are you mad at me."
"Why would I be mad at you?" He glanced over his shoulder.
"Well, you're definitely pouting."
Tweek blinked at him, then rolled on top of him. Craig made a small "oof" sound, then looked up at him, completely confused.
"I'm in a weird mood," he admitted, looking down at him.
"That's alright. Good to know though." After a bit of silence, he added: "Weird good or weird bad?"
"I dunno yet."
Craig tried to wrap his arms around him, managing to free only one, but it worked with one arm anyway. "Okay. Tell me if I can help somehow right now."
"I always feel weird after crying for a long time. I'll be alright," he said, settling down on him.
Craig started petting his hair again. "Alright." Tweek sighed, letting his eyes close.
Craig smiled fondly before looking up at the dark ceiling, letting his thoughts drift and then focusing on the patterns he was drawing on Tweek's back after he managed to free his second arm.
"I have to go to work in a few hours," he murmured into the quiet air. "You can stay and sleep if you want."
Craig hummed as confirmation, not stopping his hands. "Don't worry about wakin' me when you do. I fall back asleep easily. I'll come by once I'm more awake," he answered.
Tweek nodded slightly. "Sleep tight, Craig."
Craig grinned, eyes still focused on the ceiling. "Not sleeping yet."
"You should." He nuzzled his face against his chest. "It's late."
"You, too. You're the one that has to work."
"I don't need sleep. I'll be fine. No point now anyway," he said, looking at his clock. The little red numbers read 3 AM.
"Hmn, gotta live with me using you as blanket, though," he replied pulling on the strap of his chullo like he was only now realizing it was still there before looking back at Tweek and putting his hand back into his hair.
"I can do that," he chuckled softly, then gave him a soft kiss. "Good night."
"Night, Tweek," he mumbled back and closed his eyes. It didn't take five minutes before he was asleep, hands both stopping to rest loosely on the small of Tweek's back. Tweek laid still for the next four hours, listening to Craig breath. When seven came, he reluctantly got up, changed his clothes, then left for the cafe.
Craig slept until half past ten, tired enough to not even wake up when Tweek moved down from him. It felt weird to be in Tweek's room, knowing that he wasn't even in the house, so he got dressed and did the necessary wash up before heading out towards the coffee shop to get breakfast, ready for the day.