Disclaimer - I don't own south park, never will...don't sue me bro…

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I am a madman, three updates in one weekend? Almost like I don't have anything else to do!

Chapter 29

The following day at the Marsh's…

Sharon still hadn't woken up the following day. Her breathing had stabilized and she was resting peacefully in bed. Only the Broflovski parents had gone home the night before. Wendy told Kyle that, since they hadn't been touched by magic, they would eventually forget the events of the night before completely, thinking of it only as a bad dream. Ike and Karen however had now been touched by magic the same way he had.

"I'm sorry, both of you. They won't be able to live entirely ordinary lives now. They don't have to become hunters, but they'll need to learn enough to defend themselves. Shells and Revenants will be drawn to their inherent magic." Randy said as he picked a the eggs and sausage Mr. Testaburger had cooked up for everyone.

"What are they Mr. Marsh?" Ike asked. He looked tired, bags under his eyes. And to Kyle he seemed older than he had the night before, he wondered if he'd gone through the same thing. Randy began to tell Ike and Karen everything. Although he was sugar coating it and trying not to scare them. Stan got up and walked out of the room without speaking, he hadn't slept the night before. He just stared out the repaired window of his room while Kyle tried to get at least a little sleep for the both of them. Wendy, Kenny and Butters all looked at him as Stan left the room. He nodded and got up to follow his best friend.

"Hey, Stan wait up." Kyle called as he walked quickly across the living room to Stan who seemed about to walk out the door.

"Yea? Whats up?" Stan asked flatly looking at Kyle with sunken eyes. He looked even more tired than Ike, though Kyle knew it was more than that. He was hurting.

"I don't think you should go out there right now…" Kyle said gently putting his hand on Stan's shoulder and giving him a look of sympathy.

"Yea, because I'm so useful here." Stan spat, his voice full of self-pity and frustration.

"Yes, you are actually. But that's not why I don't want you out there." Kyle said crossing his arms, thoroughly fed up with Stan putting himself down. "You're exhausted, and you're upset. You shouldn't be alone right now." Any retort Stan had been preparing left him as he felt just how exhausted he really was.

"I know, you're right. I'm sorry dude. I just feel so..." Stan struggled to find the words.

"Come with me." Kyle grabbed his friend's hand and pulled him upstairs to Stan's room. The dark haired boy shuffled into the room like a zombie. Kyle pulled the door shut but didn't turn around to face Stan.

"Kyle I'm sorry about-" Stan tried to apologize before being cut off.

"About what? That you keep disregarding my feelings?" Kyle snapped, still not turning around. He was shaking slightly.

"What? How did I disregard your feelings?" Stan said getting angry himself.

"I told you that you weren't useless. I told you that I need you. That you were important. And still you continue to put yourself down." Kyle said sadly pressing his forehead against the door.

"Kyle, that had nothing to do with you-" Stan said taking a step forward intending to pull his friend into a hug.

"IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH ME!" Kyle shouted into the door causing Stan to stop cold. "You have the same look on your face that you did when we fought the shells together for the first time, and again last night when you wanted me to just leave you behind if things got bad!" Kyle was crying now and Stan could see his body shaking from the multitude of emotions going through him now.

"Kyle, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you like this. I'm just tired and sad. My grandpa, he's gone, and I can't help but feel that if I had stopped Cartman, if I had been stronger he wouldn't have felt the need to go off on his own like that. He'd still be here!" Stan cried, his own tears finally flowing again after feeling despondent for the entire night.

"So what? You thought you'd do the same thing? Go off on your own and die? Leave me behind to wonder if there was anything I could have done to change things? Is that what you want?"

"Kyle, you know that isn't what I want!" Stan snapped now, he was tired and losing his patience.

"Then show me what you want." Kyle said softly, the anger and sadness in his voice replaced with something else.

"Show you how?" Stan asked confused at Kyle's sudden change in tone.

"Take your clothes off." Kyle said demandingly as Stan heard the door lock. His eyes went wide and his heart began to pound. He had to have heard that wrong.

"Uhh what...?" He asked as Kyle turned around and pulled his own shirt off with one quick motion.

"Do you think I forgot what we talked about last night? Before the Attack?" His friend said as he kicked off his shoes, Stan's eyes followed as the redhead's jeans dropped to the floor around his ankles. Kyle was soon standing in nothing but his boxers, Stan licked his lips unconsciously. And in his mind flashed the word "Mine".

"No, I didn't think you'd forget something like that…" Stan said sheepishly. Kyle looked at him expectantly.

"Well, I never got to respond to what you said. But I'm responding now." Kyle stepped forward and began lifting Stan's shirt up over his head. The dark haired boy let it happen, he was shaking with anticipation and nerves now.

"Respond how?" Stan asked, maybe he was misreading the situation but this felt like a wet dream. Kyle's hands began to work on the front of Stan's jeans and even though the touch was light, his body reacted immediately. Kyle smirked for a moment before he looked up at Stan with an expression he couldn't identify. Desire? Affection?

"I'm not just yours Stan." Kyle said wrapping his hands around the back of Stan's neck having finished with his pants. He leaned up to whisper into his ear. "You're mine". Stan's eyes fluttered feeling Kyle's warm breath in his ear. He couldn't contain himself anymore. He grabbed Kyle around the waist and captured his lips hungrily. Kyle didn't hesitate in kissing back, he was up on his toes trying to push himself into Stan even more.

He'd been suppressing this desire for so long, he'd day dreamed about kissing Stan since the beginning of middle school. His imagination hadn't done it justice. He shivered from the touch of Stan's touch on his bare waist.

Stan paused from kissing his redhead only to gasp for air. He had no idea what he was doing, their kisses were messy and awkward and perfect. He'd only kissed Wendy a handful of times the whole time they'd been together, and it was nothing like this! He let his hands slide down trying to find a better purchase.

"Stan!" Kyle gasped quietly as Stan's hands found their way to his butt and squeezed gently. The way Kyle said his name made him want to hear it again. He squeezed and lifted Kyle off the ground. Kyle was surprised for a moment but quickly wrapped his legs around Stan's waist. The redhead had to admit he'd fantasized about Stan handling him like this, pressed against him feeling his muscles.

Stan tried to kick his shoes and pants from around his ankles and stumbled, he recovered well though and they landed with him on top of Kyle on his bed. This caused them to pause for a moment just staring at each other. "Kyle, I want this so bad, I don't think I can stop if we go any further..."

Kyle pulled Stan's head down so that he could whisper into his ear again. "Don't you dare stop." That was all the encouragement he needed.

A few minutes later…

Stan and Kyle were wrapped around each other under his covers, their boxers flung somewhere else in the room. Stan was sound asleep while Kyle was using his chest as a pillow. The dark haired boy had a content smile on his face as he breathed easily. Kyle couldn't take his eyes off of him.

He'd had feelings for Stan for as long as he could remember. He'd obsessed about his friend, studied his face every chance he'd gotten. Although he felt a little guilty, this wasn't the first time he'd stayed up just to watch Stan sleep. He couldn't put his finger on it, but somehow Stan was even more attractive to him now. And he was pretty sure it wasn't just afterglow from the sex, although Kyle had to admit he'd liked it and was looking forward to doing that again soon.

"I love you...Kyle…" Stan mumbled in his sleep causing Kyle to snuggle in closer. Kyle knew what it was now, it wasn't just Stan that was different, it was him. He'd been able to share his everything with Stan, who in turn had shared his everything.

"I love you too Stan." Kyle murmured as his own eyelids became heavy. Moments later he was asleep.

Downstairs in the Marsh's house…

Kenny and Butters were sitting on the floor leaning against the couch where Ike and Karen were asleep at either end. They talked quietly while watching whatever movie they'd found first. Kenny wasn't paying attention but it had Vin Diesel in it. Wendy was talking to her mother in the kitchen while Randy was out on the back porch smoking and drinking with Jimbo, Ned and Mr. Testaburger.

"How are you holding up Randy?" Came the buzzing voice of Ned. Randy looked over at his friend of many years. His missing arm, his inability to talk without the small device he carried everywhere. Those outside the hunting community believed he had suffered his injuries fighting for the country. In a way they weren't wrong, but they weren't injuries inflicted by other humans.

"I'm a mess. My dad was ancient, I wasn't sure he'd even live long enough to meet my children, let alone get to know them. You'd think I'd be ready for this." He rubbed his eyes as he finished his third beer.

"No one is ever ready to lose someone Randy." Mr. Testaburger piped up.

"I suppose that's true." The oldest Marsh replied. "He did good."

"He really did." Jimbo finished, handing out a new beer to each man, opening Ned's for him.

"But it's not over, the one who attacked us is still out there. I can feel it." Randy said matter-of-factly. "He'll be back, and he's gunning for our kids. I never intended to let them fight this out alone, but now I don't even want them here for it."

"You're talking about sending them away?" Mr. Testaburger asked. "To where? Denver HQ?"

"I was thinking even further. I still have a few favors with hunters outside the country. We send them all away where they'll be safe, guarded by an army of hunters. We will stay here and end this." Randy finished by guzzling down his new beer. The other older hunters were quiet for a while.

"Randy, we've been brothers for decades. I would back you on any plan, no matter the risk. But this isn't a fight we can win by ourselves." Jimbo said stepping out so that he was facing the other three. "Maybe if Sharon was at full strength, and maybe if we had the perfect plan. But we've got five hunters including the Testaburgers, with barely more magical aptitude than Stan, and far less combat skill."

"So what? We run away? Leave the town and just let this guy win?" Mr. Testaburger said, now siding with Randy.

"No, we don't let him win. But we can't beat him without the kids." Jimbo said defeated. "We've got the experience, they've got the power. Two gods, two powerful mages in training, Stan's raw fighting ability."

"You want to bring our kids into this?" Randy said jumping to his feet angrily. "You want to risk their lives to save our own?!" He pushed Jimbo back off the patio.

"Hey! Don't give me that crap Randy. You took Stan and Shelly out on their first hunts before they were teenagers." Jimbo shouted pushing Randy back. Inside both Mrs. Testaburger and Wendy were looking through the window in the kitchen at them.

"That was different and you know it! They needed to know how to fend for themselves. Their magic would draw shells to them!" Randy said throwing a punch at Jimbo, which he blocked.

"Maybe for Shelly that was true. But for Stan? He's hardly got any magic to speak of. He could have lived a normal life if you had let him!" Jimbo shouted landing a punch of his own in Randy's gut. His words though had been far more painful. But Randy leapt at Jimbo, tackling him to the ground and throwing punches.

They began fighting in earnest, cursing at and beating each other. Shouting erupted all around them. The back door slammed open and Wendy and Mrs. Testaburger were outside trying to talk sense into them. Mr. Testaburger and Ned were trying to pull the two adult men apart.

Back in Stan's room…

Stan and Kyle were started awake by yelling and cursing. They both flew out of bed and threw just their pants on. Stan grabbed his sword and Kyle his cane and rushed downstairs to see Kenny and Butters rushing out the back door. They followed as fast as they could, Stan drawing his sword as he passed through the kitchen.

"What's happened? What's going on!?" Stan asked as he rushed out into the yard barefoot, skidding to a halt. "Dad! What the hell are you doing!?" Stan shouted at his idiot father who was on top of Jimbo punching his friend repeatedly. The two men were too engrossed in their fight and didn't even register the newcomers.

"Jesus christ!" Kenny and Butters said together, covering Ike and Karen's eyes as blood started to flow from both fighters. Stan was feeling much better than earlier but he still had zero patience for this crap.

"That's enough! Both of you!" He shouted, sheathing his sword and setting the sheath and attached belt on the patio table. He moved to pry his father off of his uncle when he caught an elbow in the chin. His head snapped back and he took a few steps back. Randy must have been surprised to hit something behind him because he whirled to see Stan stumbling away from him.

"Stan I'm-" He was cut off as Jimbo, seeing an opening, punched him hard enough to send him sprawling. Jimbo scrambled to his feet and took a boxing stance as Randy did the same. "Looks like you can't do a damn thing without the kids taking hits for you!"

"Enough!" Stan shouted, stepping between the two adults and catching both punches thrown. Stan didn't move a millimeter. "You are grown ass men! You're family! Have we not had enough pain in the last twenty four hours? What the hell were you two thinking?" He looked at both of them expecting an explanation.

"I wanted to send you and your friends away. So that we could fight the Warlock and keep you safe." Randy said looking around at everyone gathered. "It's our job to protect you all, you're just children, and we forget that sometimes." Stan just shook his head, looking for the words. Kyle was the first to speak though.

"First, that isn't your decision to make. Second, if you think you could send us away, you're insane. Third, we aren't children, not anymore." Kyle said stepping up next to Stan and giving his own glare to the two adults in front of him. Randy had to admit, The boy's didn't seem like children at this moment.

"So you did fuck!" Kenny exclaimed, pointing to Stan and Kyle, both of whom still had no shirts on and extremely messy hair.

"Wha- no! I mean that's not what I meant!" Kyle said, suddenly turning as red as his hair. "Stan, back me up here!" He said turning to Stan who was avoiding eye contact with everyone, also very red in the face.

AN - REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Broke 100k words with this chapter! Let me know what ya think please! Hoping to have chapter 30 out tomorrow for the five year anniversary of the story. Definitely more likely to happen if I get reviews, good or bad!