So I'm not dead, and I don't have a good enough excuse. Enjoy.

Kyle frowned as he dug around the couch cushions, where was it?

He stood up and sighed and went upstairs, maybe Ike had seen it. The redhead was trying to find his lighter, but it wasn't where he last had it, he could've sworn he laid it on his desk, but when he went to gather his things it was gone, so he's been looking everywhere for it. He needed to head out as he was going to meet Stan up in town and head to the movies or something, this town didn't have a lot to do and it was still cold so nothing to be done outside, so they couldn't just ride around aimlessly as he'd prefer.

He made it up the stairs and knocked on Ike's door, "Ike have ya seen my lighter?"

He then heard a crash on the other side of the door, "Ike?"

Worry crept into his chest when his brother didn't answer right away, "Ike you okay?!"

He then heard a swear on the other side of the door, starting to panic he grabbed the knob only to find it locked, "Ike!"

"Hold on!"

Kyle let out a bit of a breath that he didn't know he was holding when he heard the dook unlock and Ike open the door, but what he saw shocked him a bit, his little brother had dark circles under his eyes like he had not had a decent sleep in days if not weeks. When was the last time he spent time with Ike again?

He knew that he has been spending a lot of time with Stan as of late, and he started to see a therapist due to a doctor's order for twice a week about two weeks ago, and he's been trying to catch up with his missed school work thanks to having to be out for a week after being in and getting out of the hospital. Also, Ike had gotten busy with the school play that he's a part of and spending time with Firkle who was forced to join the drama class, even though Ike refuses to tell him anything about the play saying how he wanted it to be a surprise. So both of them have been rather busy.

"Ike, you okay?"

The younger brother nodded, "Yeah just knocked some stuff over."

"Okay, have you seen my lighter?"

Ike's blue eyes glanced down at the floor before saying, "Yeah sorry I borrowed it."

Kyle raised a brow, "You better not be smoking."

Ike shook his head, "No just had to use it for school. I'll go get it," he walked away from the door, allowing Kyle to follow, the redhead glanced around and noticed that it looked rather messy for Ike as he tends to have a fairly organized room for a teen, but clothes were thrown everywhere along with papers and books, then again he's been busy so it can be understandable. His sea-green eyes trailed back over to his brother who was at his desk moving some papers around only to pick up the half-full lighter. Only for something to catch his attention.

Since when did Ike wear long sleeves? Sure he wore them outside in the winter because of the cold, but he tended to wear short-sleeves at home, he frowned, but when he saw Ike pick up the lighter his sleeve slid up a bit, and on his barely exposed wrist were bright red angry marks.

They looked like burns. Fresh burns.

Ike turned around and handed him the lighter, but Kyle couldn't take his eyes off his little brother's wrist. This caused the younger of the two to freeze when he followed Kyle's gaze, he quickly dropped the lighter and pulled his sleeve down, but it was too late.

"Ike?"

Said teen dashed around the other, only to have his arm grabbed, causing him to hiss as pain shot through his arm. Kyle didn't let go but he heavily loosed his grip as Ike didn't try and tear his arm out of his hold, "Ike. Show me your arms."

The younger teen didn't move, he just stared at the ground and a bubble of emotions filled his chest, but he swallowed it down. "Ike, please. Whatever is wrong I want to help you."

Biting his lip he brought his free arm to his caught one and pulled up a sleeve, and he cringed when he heard Kyle gasp, "Ike..."

Kyle let go of Ike's arm and gently held Ike's outstretched arm, his arm was covered in burns both big and small, some looked old and faded, some were fresh and bright red, and some were an ugly green with scabs, how long has he these?

"Ike what happened." He was met with silence, "Ike please."

The younger finally caved, all of those bubbling emotions came to a head as tears started to well up in his eyes, he looked up and tears started to fall down his face, leaving streaks, "Ike?"

"Everything's hell!"

Kyle had to take a step back at the sudden outburst, Ike wasn't known to yell, he hardly ever did. "Filmore's been an ass to me since we got here! Mom and dad have been unbearable, breathing down my fucking neck! And you got yourself hurt! Do you know how fucking scared I was...seeing you in the hospital bed? I-I thought I lost you!"

Tears poured down his face as he hugged his arms to his chest, "I thought you going to die..." A sob escaped him pulled his sleeve back down, now the feeling of shame washing over him for appearing so weak and blowing up at his brother, he's supposed to be stronger than that, he can't go running to Kyle all the time, and now he's seen his ugly scarred arms. Why was he so pathetic?

He then felt arms wrap around him, he froze for a second only to realize it was Kyle, "Ike, I'm so sorry."

The younger teen let out a sob as he gripped Kyle's shirt and buried his face into it. The redhead ran his fingers through his brother's hair to comfort him, he stayed quiet as to let Ike cry it out, he hadn't seen his little brother so worked up in so long. He let out a sigh. He and Ike haven't hung out much since they have both been busy, but he hadn't realized how much Ike needed him, he would always come to him, but why not this time, and how long has this been going on?

He looked down when he heard Ike sniff and start to pull away, "I'm s-sorry."

Kyle's heart broke, "No Ike, no," he pulled the younger teen closer and continued to run his fingers through his hair, "You have nothing to be sorry for, nothing. If anyone should apologize it's me, I've been a shitty brother to you lately, and I'm so sorry for not seeing that you were hurtin'. I'll try harder, alright?"

Ike didn't say anything but nodded, "How about we go watch a movie?"

The younger pulled away and looked up at the redhead, "But weren't you going out to see Stan?"

"I'll text him, he'll understand."

Ike frowned and looked down, a guilty expression crossing his face, "Ike it's okay, really."

Kyle took a step back and grabbed some of the loose blankets and a familiar, yet worn-out moose stuffed animal, "Come on, you pick the movie."

Ike took a shaky step but followed after his brother, downstairs Kyle motioned for him to sit on the couch, which he did, and the elder laid the couple of blankets he grabbed on top of him and handed him the beloved stuffed toy, which Ike gripped onto tightly.

Kyle got the remote and opened it to a streaming sight, "So what will it be Ike?"

"...Leo and Stich?"

The elder nodded as he got the movie ready, "I'll go make us some popcorn, alright?"

Ike nodded, so Kyle walked into the kitchen where he grabbed a popcorn bag from the pantry and tossed it in the microwave, after setting the timer he pulled out his phone and shot Stan a message, [Sorry, last min change of plan.] He then grabbed the first aid kit from under the sink.

He quickly got a reply, [U ok?]

[Yeah, but Ike needs me rn.]

[Alright.]

The microwave then beeped, the teen pocketed his phone and got out the hot popcorn, he walked back into the living room to see Ike holding onto the moose while curled up on the couch, his eyes watching the screen as the movie was already a couple of minutes in. Kyle smiled and sat down next to the smaller boy and offered him some of the food while wrapping himself up in the blanket that rested on the back of the couch. He then asked to bandage the youth's arms, who hesitantly held them out and winced with ointment was applied to his fresh burns.

20 minutes later, once Kyle had just finished wrapping up his brother's arms, the two heard a knock at the door, Kyle got up to answer while the movie continued to play and Ike glanced over at him. They weren't expecting anyone and their parents weren't to be home until the crack of dawn, so it was a bit of a surprise who was on the other side of the door, "Stan?"

The goth nodded, "Hey, thought we'd come over to help you out."

Kyle blinked, "We?"

A figure stepped out behind the goth and it was the youngest out of the goths, "Where's Ike."

The redhead blinked but gave a small smile, "He's in there, we're watching Leo and Stich if ya wanna join?"

Firkle wasted no time ad darted in and right for the couch, "Ike?"

Said teen jumped, completely distracted by the movie, and his face dusted pink at the sight of the goth, "F-Firkle? Why are you here?"

"Doesn't matter. What's wrong?"

The two older teens watched as the younger ones talked, Kyle, closing the door to keep the cold out after Stan came in, they watched as Ike reluctantly admitted about the burns. Stan was shocked by this, and Firkle frowned, especially when Ike's eyes watered, and the young goth wrapped his arms around him in a hug, running his hand through Ike's black hair like Kyle was doing earlier. "Next time I see Filmore I'm gonna kill him."

"Please don't."

Firkle sighed but sat next to the slightly taller boy, despite him being a year younger than him, his arms still around him. Kyle's green eyes glanced over at Stan who watched the scene with perplexed eyes, "Somethin' wrong Stan?" He whispered so as to not alert the boys.

"Never seen Firkle like that, he's not a touchy-feely guy."

Kyle gave his boyfriend a smirk, "Unless he's in love."

Stan sighed with an eye roll, "Of course."

The redhead gave a chuckle as he wrapped his arm around Stan's shoulder and led him to the couch where Ike and Firkle sat, already curled up around each other with the goth still running his fingers through Ike's hair. They sat on the other side, not crowded but not uncomfortable, and Kyle wrapped him and Stan up in the blanket. They all sat and watched the movie while eating popcorn.

Once the movie was over and the popcorn was gone Kyle and Stan went to the kitchen to make more and grab more snacks and some drinks while Ike and Firkle were looking for a new movie, so they returned with armloads full of snacks, and Kyle left to get more blankets to stay even warmer.

The day soon turned to night and the four were still watching movies, many of them being Disney, Ike let out a yawn, and Firkle followed after, the two elders glanced at one another and shared a giggle as the two younger teens fell asleep.

As the next movie played, guilt began to eat at Kyle, he felt as if he's failed his little brother, the only one in his family he really loves and would do anything for. He's wanted to be better for him so their parents don't place so many expectations on him just because Kyle was considered a failure, despite making some of the best grades in his schools. They would tell each other everything since they couldn't tell their parents, and yet, Ike didn't tell him about what has been going on and has gone to self-harm. He let out a sigh and curled his legs onto the cramped couch, catching Stan's attention. "Something wrong?"

He let out a sigh and shook his head, he looked at his boyfriend and whispered, "What did I do wrong?"

"What?"

"Ike would tell me everything...but he didn't for this, and he's hurt and stressed...how didn't I notice?"

Stan frowned at the redhead, "Dude, you shouldn't beat yourself up over this."

"I'm supposed to be the big brother, I'm supposed to protect him..." he glanced over at the sleeping ravens and looked back over at Stan, "I've failed him..."

The goth grabbed Kyle's shoulders and shook him a bit, making their eyes meet, "No, you're a great brother to him, and you shouldn't do this to yourself because of this. He cares about you too, and your parents suck, so he probably didn't want to burden you when you were already having them breathing down your neck about being perfect or they'd send you to Military school."

"But-"

"No, stop it. You both need therapy, next time, bring Ike."

Kyle blinked, "Can I do that?"

"It's South Park, regular laws don't apply."

The redhead blinked again but then gave a quiet laugh, "Alright."

He then had a thought cross his mind, he wanted to be better, even better for his brother who needed him, so he asked, "Do you think you can help me?"

"With what?"

"I want to stop smoking weed?"

"What?"

"I want to be better for him, and you, and I can't do that when I get high just because of inconveniencies or life gets shitty, I want to stop."

Stan stared at the other for a moment before giving him a small smile, "Sure dude, and that'd take some businesses away from Randy."

Kyle let out a laugh, "You really want anyway to spite him don't ya?"

The goth laughed as well, and leaned his head on Kyle's shoulder, "But for real dude, I'll help you."

The redhead smiled and leaned on Stan, "Thanks."

A couple of hours later the redhead and raven fell asleep themselves, all cuddled up against each other as another movie continued to play.

It's been a while, hasn't it?