A/N: A longer chapter, as promised! I hope you enjoy, and thank you for reading! I'd love to know your thoughts!

Saturday night, and Eric was sat in his living room, watching TV and scrolling through his phone. This was a typical Saturday for him, there weren't too many places a teenager in South Park could go except to their friends houses, a basement, or the woods, and there was nothing much to do there except drink, or get high. But nobody seemed up for doing any of those things tonight.

He was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Mom!" he called, craning his neck in the direction of the stairs. "Door!"

"Could you get it, poopsikins? I'm just getting dressed!"

Eric rolled his eyes. Apparently, some people were going to have fun tonight. His mom had a date with her lame boyfriend, and Eric did not relish the thought of making small talk with him as they waited for his mom to get ready. Still, he hauled himself off the couch and answered the door.

"Oh, hi, Eric..." Richard said, pushing his glasses further up his nose. His shaky smile barely hid his disappointment. Clearly, he didn't enjoy talking to Eric a great deal either.

"Hey."

"Your mom still getting ready?"

"Yeah, she shouldn't be too long," Eric replied, before standing aside. "Come in..."

Richard nodded, smile tight and head slightly lowered as he entered the house, like he was a lesser male intruding on another's territory. Eric's nose wrinkled when he thought of it like that. How could he ever be jealous of Richard, after all? His timid nature, and the fact that Richard felt he should be threatened by him at all made Eric dislike him even more. He flopped back onto the couch, content to ignore him.

"So... do you have any big plans for tonight?" Richard asked, perched on the armchair.

"Not really..."

"Your mom tells me you're going to the Grand Canyon in two weeks."

Eric lifted his head from his phone.

"Yeah?"

"Are you looking forward to it?"

A part of Eric was - the part of him that wanted to spend a long weekend with Kyle, that wanted to see Kyle all sun-burned in a pair of shorts. But he was trying to ignore that part of him right now, hoping that if was starved of attention it would simply fade away - just a weird crush brought on by usual teenage sexual frustration, and the boundaries of reality being muddled.

"I don't know," Eric replied, upholding the party line. "It's just a school thing."

Richard shrugged, with a smug smile.

"School things can be fun."

Eric arched an eyebrow.

Is this the kind of scintillating conversation my mom can expect tonight?

"I guess..." he mumbled, returning his attention to his phone.

He turned his head at the sound of high heels coming down the stairs, his mom in an outfit that was way too much for an evening in Buca De Faggicini. But even with a boyfriend she rarely got out, so Eric chose not to comment on it.

"Hey!" Richard said, bright eyes being drawn to the v-shaped neckline of her dress. "You look great!"

His mom actually blushed, and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you." She smiled, before turning to Eric. "Sweetie, I shouldn't be too late, and there's lasagne in the fridge if you get hungry."

"Okay..."

"Alright, well, I'll see you tonight," she added, walking to the door with Richard and letting him put her coat on for her. "I love you, poopsikins!"

"Yeah, see you later," Eric replied, rolling his eyes.

"Bye, Eric," Richard added feebly.

Eric simply nodded. If Richard saw him as the alpha male, he may as well go along with it.

Then, he was alone. This was hardly the first time, but the empty, silent house seemed to close its jaws around him, forcing him to look around the living room and ponder what exactly he wanted to do with his Saturday evening. Of course, there was one guaranteed activity that was sure to set his heart racing, his adrenaline pumping, his mind free. Sex in the game had become commonplace, but was still incredible. Eric hadn't jerked off for a week, since that dreaded dirty dream. Partly because he felt gratified enough with Kyle's touch, and with sex in a body he never knew could feel so good, but also because he was afraid of where his mind would wander if he slipped his hand into his boxers. Of course he knew where it would wander, to the person he couldn't stop thinking about, the only person he wanted to be around right now, bored, and alone in an empty house.

He chewed his lip as he contemplated asking Kyle if he wanted to come over. It may prove to be counter-productive to his mission to get over him, but he had been craving Kyle's company just as much as any virtual connection. They were friends, weren't they? Even if they didn't act like it sometimes, even if Eric was frequently pondering if they could be more than that... if he really wanted more than that.

Before he could convince himself otherwise, he text Kyle.

"you busy?"

Eric watched the screen, anticipation clutching at his chest when he saw that Kyle was typing.

"no" Kyle replied. "why?"

Eric rolled his eyes and snickered at Kyle's suspicion, but thought carefully about his response.

"i'm so bored i actually wanna hang out with you," he decided on sending.

"just me?"

Eric deflated a little, dread creeping in when he realised that he could scare Kyle off, confirm his suspicions. He gritted his teeth as he typed his reply, compromising with his pride.

"idk invite the guys too if u want." He didn't even wait for Kyle to answer when he sent another message. "are you coming over or not?"

Kyle replied straight away.

"yeah, i'll be 5 mins."

Eric grinned, wriggling in his seat. His evening was about to get interesting.

By the time the credits for IT Chapter 2 had rolled around, Eric and Kyle had almost polished off the lasagne his mom left for him in the fridge. He felt a little bloated, but content too, like pleased cats who roll around on the floor with eyes closed, showing their full bellies. It was a different kind of contentment than he was used to feeling around Kyle. His throat wasn't scratchy, his mind wasn't thrumming with insults, or the echoes of Kyle's razored voice. He wasn't panting, or sweating, descending from a keen, virtual high in a body that didn't belong to him. He was just lounging on his couch, gently prodding Kyle with his bickering and enjoying the rolls of his eyes and the exasperated smiles he replied with. It was almost as if when they were alone, they were okay with each other, able to enjoy their dynamic, to deal softer blows. It was like when they were in public, they knew their friendship was unusual, and unorthodox and while Eric didn't give a shit, Kyle did. So he had to scream at Eric, snap at him, and seethe to drown out his embarrassment, to channel his frustration that Eric could rile him up so spectacularly. Just the two of them, Kyle could be himself and even when he had Paul's muscles, and handsome face, and gorgeous beard that scraped against Eric's face, neck, thighs when he kissed him, Eric was slowly discovering how much he appreciated Kyle just the way he was.

"That was kinda anti-climactic..." Kyle said.

Eric nodded in agreement, taking a sip of his soda.

"First one was better."

"The book is better."

Eric rolled his eyes, making sure to exaggerate it.

"Oh God, of course you're one of those dickheads. Like, cool, you read, good for you, Kyle..."

Kyle shook his head.

"If that's meant to insult me, then it doesn't. But the book really is better. This is just a pandering, bland version of the story. I hate how Hollywood treats us all like we're stupid." Eric noticed the tone of Kyle's voice shift into rant mode. "It doesn't challenge us, at all. I mean, in the book those characters are meant to look ordinary, not like movie stars. Why not cast regular people-"

"Because regular people aren't movie stars, and nobody wants to watch a movie full of ugly people."

"I would!" Kyle argued. "At least that would be real..."

His voice trailed off wisely. Eric would've made a comment about how Kyle clearly had no problem indulging in made-up things, in hedonistic worlds but knew Kyle would just accuse him of being a hypocrite.

"Anyway, what time is it?" Kyle asked, shifting in his seat as he changed the subject.

Eric looked at his phone.

"Eleven thirty?" Disappointment needled his voice when he asked: "Do you need to go home?"

"No, I can hang out a little longer..." Kyle looked at him. "That's okay, isn't it?"

Eric shrugged, in an attempt to hide his delight.

"Well, I've got nothing better to do."

"Okay... you wanna watch another movie?"

"Nah," Eric replied. "We could play a game?"

Kyle frowned, his eyes flashing, wary. His reluctance dawned on Eric, and panic rushed through him. His face was probably as red as a blaring police siren.

"Fuck, Kyle, I didn't mean that game!"

Kyle sighed with his whole body.

"Alright, good-"

"What would be the point?" Eric cut in, unable to stop rambling. "We're in the same room..."

"Yeah, that would be pretty stupid..." Kyle murmured.

The beat soon passed, breaths slowing down to a normal pace, lowering to a normal, less anxious volume. Eric's face felt cooler, and his face was probably more on the pink side now. The mention of the game still hung in the air, and Eric realised they hadn't talked about it since that stiff, awkward kiss under the bleachers. Maybe they should talk about it now? The evening had been so easy and comfortable, and the conversation had been the same.

"I've been thinking, when you leave the game..." he flicked some dust off the arm of the couch as he geared himself up for what he was about to ask. "Do you cum in real life?"

Kyle blinked, frowning again. But his eyes weren't so wary.

"What?"

Eric found himself smirking.

"You know, after we've..." he made some vague hand gesture that could've meant anything, but he knew Kyle was smart enough to pick up on what he was trying to say. "Have you jizzed in your pants?"

Kyle laughed.

"No... " he grinned, shaking his head. He arched his eyebrow at Eric. "You don't, do you?"

Eric fidgeted and swallowed, but shook his head.

"No... "

Kyle shifted his body so his shoulder was pressed into the couch cushion, his whole body facing Eric directly.

"What does it feel like for you?" he asked, still smiling. But his voice was soft and curious. "In the game? Does it feel different to real life?"

Eric's throat felt tight, like even if he knew how to answer his mouth wouldn't let him. Of course it was different, but besides the obvious reasons, he hadn't figured out why it felt different, better. Was it because his body was different? Because the world was different? Or were all those things inconsequential, the only thing that was familiar responsible for making him feel so incredible?

"Yeah... like, when I cum in real life, it feels pretty great. You know, you jerk off, and it's hot, and its relentless, but when you cum it's like this awesome release. Like, crashing on your bed at the end of the day. It just feels good."

Kyle snickered, eyes never leaving Eric's face.

"But when I cum in the game, it's like lightning coursing through me, you know?" Eric added, smile growing wider and he could feel excitement brimming in his chest. "And that's hot too, so hot it burns... and it's sweet, and it takes a lot out of me, but then I'm just... melting, and it feels fucking amazing."

In the wake of his admission, his unfiltered description, he felt embarrassed. But Kyle didn't rip on him, scoff, or roll his eyes. He was still smiling, fond and hazy. He had never looked at Eric that way before, and it made his cock twitch, his mouth feel dry.

"Does it feel like that for you?" he asked, thankful his voice hadn't yet disintegrated into a whisper.

Kyle nodded, eyes wandering away from Eric's face as he contemplated his answer.

"A little. It sort of feels like getting off in real life but more intense... sort of pure, and raw, and I just enjoy it more. I guess it feels better because I'm not thinking about anything else-"

"Is that what it was like with Heidi?"

Kyle frowned, eyes lowered.

"She said I was in my head too much. She thought I wasn't into her..."

"Were you?"

Kyle's brow was creased when he looked up at Eric, frowning even harder.

"Yeah, of course I was!"

"But you're into Amber more?" Eric pressed, undeterred. His palms were damp, his heart was pounding, everything in his body was telling him to stop pushing but he really didn't want to.

"I..." Kyle blinked, the crease in his brow growing deeper as he thought. He gulped. "I, um..."

"It's okay if you are..." Eric whispered, not knowing if that was true.

Kyle huffed, rolled his eyes.

"I-I-I know, it's just..." he shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut as if it could help him concentrate, or push out his thoughts all together.

Eric didn't want him to bottle anything up, he wanted to hear him say how much he was into Amber, how much he thought about her, how much he wanted her more than anybody else.

"It's okay if you think about her, Kyle..."

Kyle softened, a sigh escaping his nostrils. His eyes were still closed, gentler than before, as if he were sleeping, daydreaming about her.

"Her hair... and her mouth... and her hot, wet pussy..." Eric whispered, voice low and humid.

Kyle gulped, and his eyebrows twitched. Eric noticed a bulge in his jeans and had to smother a pathetic, weird whimper from leaving his lips. He leaned forward, and could feel the heat coming off Kyle's face. Kyle opened his eyes, dark and bewildered, but Eric didn't move. Their breathing was coming hard and hot between them, and Eric could see his reflection in Kyle's eyes.

"I think about you too..." he murmured, he might as well.

Kyle blinked, and he made a stifled, confused - but adorable - sound. His eyes searched Eric's face, wandering down his brow, his nose, and then finally landing on his lips. He closed his eyes when reached that spot, leaning forward. Eric's heart was pounding in his ears harder and faster than an enthusiastic drum solo. The anticipation, and disbelief, and arousal was asphyxiating, nauseating, but it was a rush he didn't want to relinquish. He closed his eyes, his quivering lips parting, believing more than anything that this kiss would be a thousand times better than the first one they shared.

Or, at least, it would've been if they weren't snapped out of their reverie by the front door opening, and his drunken mom and Richard stumbling in. The sound of their giggles, and smacking smooches killed the mood instantly.

"Oh! Sorry, sweetie, I didn't think you'd still be down here..." his mom said, unembarrassed. "Or that you'd have a friend over! Hello, Kyle!"

"Hi, Miss Cartman..." Kyle replied, still breathless.

"Kyle, this is Richard..."

"Hi, Kyle," Richard replied with a short wave. "Nice to meet you."

"Hi..." Kyle nodded, with a tight, polite smile.

"Mom, what the hell?!" Eric snapped.

"We'll just leave you two alone," his mom said, but the moment was long gone.

She led Richard up the stairs, both of them giggling like horny teenagers when the actual horny teenagers in the house were left deflated and confused on the couch. They watched them go up the stairs in silence, as it seemed less excruciating than meeting each other's eyes. They chuckled, quiet and shy when they eventually did look at each other though. Maybe the moment could be salvaged after all? But then Kyle noticed the obvious bulge still in his pants and froze up.

"I, um, should go..." he muttered, scrambling to get off the couch.

Eric suppressed a sigh.

"Okay, sure..." he replied, lightheaded and still reeling when he got up off the couch too. He followed Kyle to the door.

"Unless..." Kyle said, turning around. But he soon shook his head, as if the suggestion could fall out of his mind and drop to the floor, as if it had never existed. "No, forget it..."

"What?" Eric asked, stepping forward. "What were you gonna say?"

"I was just..." Kyle rolled his eyes, a shy smile on his face. "If you wanted to get away from your mom and her boyfriend, you could crash at my place?"

Eric blinked, prickling with hope.

"Really?"

"Yeah, but... that's weird, isn't it?" Kyle asked, face a little scrunched up as if the idea was indeed weird and icky.

"Maybe..." Eric whispered, nodding so perhaps he would believe it too. "Yeah, maybe you're right."

"Okay, well, see you later..."

"Yeah..."

Eric watched Kyle leave. One chance had slipped away, but he prayed there would be more.

Half an hour later, and Eric was lying wide awake in bed, trying to blot out the memory of his and Kyle's almost-kiss, the invitation he let go too easily, and the sounds of his mom and Richard fucking. He grumbled, turning over and grabbing his pillow, pressing it to his ear. He thought he couldn't be more pissed off with his mom after she ruined his moment with Kyle, but she was practically driving him out of the house with her gross, drunk moans and Richard's even more disgusting panting. How had his evening ended on such a sour, uncomfortable note? He was still clinging to the promise of another chance with Kyle, but that didn't placate his restless mind when he wanted Kyle now.

He smiled when he realised that his mom and Richard may have given him the perfect excuse to extend his evening with Kyle. After all, why wait on freak chances? He grabbed his phone from the nightstand.

"hey you up?"

Eric stared at the screen until that lonely little message started to piss him off. He placed it on his chest, staring up at the ceiling with his jaw pulled tight. He flinched when the phone vibrated.

"yeah"

Eric gnawed at his lip, the screen felt slippery beneath his thumbs as he typed his reply.

"does your offer still stand? i need to get out of here."

Eric didn't look away this time, watching Kyle type.

"sure. I'll let you in."

A grin spread across his face, and he threw back the covers, slipping a jacket over his shoulders, and sneakers on his feet.

His cheeks were aching as he walked the short distance to Kyle's house, hoping his smile would evaporate when Kyle opened the door. All the lights were off at the Broflovski residence, and Eric hoped Kyle hadn't forgotten about him and drifted back off to sleep. He shoved his hands into his pockets and shivered as he waited, the night air sharp and chilly. His chattering teeth were a good remedy to his grin. But they were no match for Kyle, all poofy-haired and wearing plaid pyjama bottoms.

"You look... non-threatening," Eric decided on.

Kyle gave him a tired, exasperated smirk.

"Come on, get in here," he replied. "It's freezing."

Eric brushed past him, and he headed on up the stairs. It had been a while since he had been in Kyle's room, invited or not. Kyle's lamp was switched on, illuminating the room that hadn't changed, much to Eric's delight. His anticipation for all that could evolve between them was tempered by a stinging, bittersweet nostalgia. He looked at the window he had climbed through countless times throughout his childhood, and remembered the crushing realisation he had a few years ago of being too tall to slip through silently now. The layout of Kyle's room was knowledge stuffed in the back of his mind, as was the memory of Kyle's sleeping face.

He still walked around the room like it was partially his, having no problem peeling off his jacket, kicking off his shoes and flopping down on the mattress.

"So I guess I'm sharing?" Kyle asked, arms folded across his chest as he approached his bed.

Eric sighed sweetly.

"It would appear so."

Kyle grumbled under his breath, and got into bed, pulling the covers up over his chest.

Eric grimaced at the narrow space. Kyle's bed was a double, but smaller than his and pushed up right against the wall. Not even Kyle's body heat could make up for the lack of space.

"Your bed is tiny..."

"My bed is fine! You just have to keep your big, stupid limbs to yourself."

"Is that fat-shaming, Kyle?"

"We can talk about this tomorrow..." Kyle replied, still trying to get himself comfortable. "Besides, if you don't like my bed you're more than welcome to go back to your own."

"I can't. My mom is fucking her boyfriend way too loud and if I have to hear one more second of her moaning and him panting and whining then I'll shoot myself."

Kyle snorted with laughter, looking up at the ceiling.

"That sucks..."

"Tell me about it..." he raked his gaze over Kyle. "Were you and Heidi ever loud?"

Kyle closed his eyes and sighed, but his smile hadn't wavered.

"No..."

The corners of Eric's mouth piqued upward, and a tooth grazed his lip again, gearing himself up some classic teasing.

"It was really that bad with her, huh?"

Kyle huffed, glaring at him.

"Sex doesn't have to be loud to be good! And the reason we kept the volume down is because we didn't want our parents to hear!"

"So if you were home alone she'd be like..." Eric closed his eyes and threw his head back, lifting his voice to a whiny, needy octave. "Oh! Oh fuck, yeah!"

He could feel Kyle freeze beside him, before he shoved his arm.

"Shut up!" he said, but Eric was still laughing.

He bit his lip again, and began to writhe.

"Ohhh, your big, fat cock feels so good inside me!"

"What do you think Heidi is, a porn star?!"

Eric chuckled, almost breaking character.

"Mmm, Kyle, I want it har-"

He was interrupted by a hand clamping his mouth. He opened his eyes and saw Kyle staring down at him, eyes wild and serious.

"Shut the fuck up!" he hissed.

Eric waited for Kyle to release him, and when he didn't he swiped his tongue across his palm. He was cackling when Kyle's hand flew away from his mouth, his horrified grimace was too funny.

"God, you're so gross!" Kyle exclaimed, before wiping his wet hand on Eric's shirt with his own wicked grin.

"What the fuck, man?!"

"Relax, it's your own saliva," Kyle replied, still mildly irritated. "It's fine."

Eric laughed, a soft hum under his breath, and the noise seemed to be enough to unwind all of Kyle's knotted, tense muscles, soothe his nerves that Eric never failed to get on. Kyle smiled, exasperated and sleepy still, but it didn't make Eric feel any less peaceful. He felt small pressure above his beating heart, and realised that Kyle's hand was still resting on his chest. Kyle's eyes must have followed Eric's like magnets, noticing too, and his smile vanished, but his hand still remained. Eric blinked, he didn't need to wonder why Kyle hadn't moved his hand. Honestly, he didn't care. This was an opportunity, and there was no fucking way he wasn't taking it.

Kyle's gaze was faraway, but still Eric leaned forward. He had just slipped his eyes shut, could feel Kyle's hot breath against his lips before he felt.. nothing, a lack.

"No..." Kyle murmured.

"Huh?" Eric asked, blinking his eyes open. "Kyle, what-"

"We're not doing that," Kyle cut in, sharp enough to tear through Eric's confused haze.

He opened his mouth to speak, but Kyle was done talking. His mouth was clamped shut, and he turned his back on Eric. His duvet hid his hunched, rigid shoulders.

Eric just stared, a wave of disappointment crashing over him and leaving him staring at Kyle, slack-jawed.

"I, I-I don't-"

"Just go to sleep, Cartman!" Kyle snapped.

Eric scowled, glowered at the back of Kyle's head like his stare emitted anger so powerful Kyle could sense it.

Without another word, he turned his back on Kyle, and scooched as far away as he could from him. His nose was practically touching the wall in Kyle's dumb, fucking tiny bed, and as he fumed with anger and embarrassment, he considered just leaving and going back home. But he didn't want to be alone right now, and when he felt like this, there was no other person he would rather be with. Even if he was the cause of all his fucking grief, even if they didn't want to talk to each other, even if Eric hated him a little.

He was starting to wonder if that was their problem all along.