Stan leaned his head on Kyle's shoulder in the back seat of the cramped truck, with his uncle and his uncle's friend sitting in the front. The windows were rolled down since the air conditioner was busted, warm air blowing in their faces as they drove down the road. Kyle's fingers intertwined with Stan's, lightly squeezing every now and then. It has just been over a full day since the incident, and Kyle has not left his sight other than going to the bathroom. What happened to him was terrifying, no one should have to go through that, almost being killed for the sake of a cult with a vague idea of what they were worshiping, it was sick. He's kept constant touch with him, just to let him know that he was there, it was a comfort thing.

During the goths and the others' stay, Stan got a text from his uncle, asking if he wanted to go camping for a couple of days with him and his friend. The goth explained that it was a yearly thing for them, that although he wasn't the biggest fan of the hunting part of the trip, he did like being out in nature. He asked Kyle if he wanted to come and if his Uncle Jimbo was okay with it. Kyle will admit, he's not a fan of camping, but for the sake of Stan's safety and emotional wellbeing, he said he'd go. His boyfriend was really fragile at the moment and he needed to be there for him.

Kyle told his parents that he was going, but didn't hear their response. He's fully distanced himself from them, it's for the best, and didn't really listen to them or what they have to say. Although they didn't really talk to him much either. When he told Ike his younger brother only shrugged and said that he was going to stay at Firkle's place. They headed out this morning, it was disgustingly early when Stan dragged him out of bed to meet his uncle at his truck with their bags.

The plan was that they would arrive in a couple of hours, set up and do whatever, be there for the whole day, the next, and then leave early Tuesday morning. The redhead's eyes drooped closed a bit, tired from being forced awake so early in the morning as he leaned his head against Stan's.

They had arrived and set up camp, Jimbo, and Kyle learned that his friend's name was Ned, would be sharing a tent, and Kyle and Stan would get their own. They were small, but not horrifically cramped, and at least the door zipped shut to keep out bugs. Ned and Jimbo said that they were going to go fishing by the nearby lake, so that left the two boys alone. It was getting to be around noon and Kyle heard a rumbling sound, glancing over at his boyfriend he saw the goth glaring at his stomach before sighing, "I'm going to go get some food."

He started to make his way to the tree line, past their packed bags that held many snacks, "Where are you going, we got food?"

Stan stopped and looked over his shoulder before replying, "There's a berry bush not far from here. Been craving some since we got here."

Kyle moved to stand, "I'll go with you," only to be stopped by Stan's word, "No. It's fine."

The redhead looked at Stan with concern, he was about to say something but was beat by the goth, "I'm not a piece of glass Kyle, I know you're worried, but I'll be fine. Been in these woods several times, nothing has happened."

"But-"

"I'll be fine for five minutes. Just wait here," Stan then turned back around and stalked off into the forest, leaving Kyle alone at the camp sitting on an overturned log. Five minutes. Sure, he could do that. He tried to distract himself using his phone, but the silence of nature was too loud for him to focus on the game he attempted to play. How many minutes has it been, he glanced at the phone clock—a minute.

He sighed and buried his face in his hands, this was going to take forever. He got up and paced the campsite, checked their packed food, double-checked for supplies, and even checked to make sure that the tents were secured. Surely that had to have been-what do you mean it's only been another two minutes?!

In total Stan has been gone for three in total. Kyle groaned as he kicked a rock, why was this taking so long? Shouldn't it take long to pick some berries right? He should be fine, Stan's been here plenty of times, he knows what he's doing.

Despite trying to reassure himself, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, or at least could go wrong, after all, it's not even been a few days since Stan was abducted and almost pushed into a death hole in some woods for a psychotic cult.

Calm down, Kyle. He's fine. He's fine, he went to check his phone, and it's now been five minutes.

And he wasn't back.

"Stan? Stan!" He got no response. Chewing his lip he stalked towards the trees that he saw Stan walk through, "Stan where are-," he was cut off when he heard some leaves shifting. His eyes darted in that direction, and now that he wasn't shouting he could hear something. A voice. STAN! But who was he talking to?

He crouched down and followed his boyfriend's voice on the other side of a bush, he could see a slight opening and he peeked through. His eyes widen at the sight.

His goth boyfriend sat in the middle of a small clearing by a blackberry bush, he was sitting crisscross as he held a hand full of acorns and berries towards a squirrel that took one of the nuts and chowed down. He had a bluejay on his shoulder, and while the squirrel was eating the nut it picked, Stan picked up a berry with his free hand and offered it up to the bird. They happily took it into its beak.

Stan had a soft smile on his face as he offered his hand to the squirrel again, "More?" It took a berry this time.

Kyle couldn't believe his eyes.

His boyfriend was a fucking princess!

As quietly as he could he pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of the scene, the sunlight hitting just right for it to look perfect. Kyle smiled to himself as he stared at the picture. He looked back over at his boyfriend and let out a breath, his shoulders relaxing. Stan was okay.

He pulled away from the bush, got up, and walked back towards the campsite. He'll let him be for another few minutes.

—-

It was dinner time the night before they were due to head back home. And Kyle couldn't have been any more grateful, he hardly got any sleep the night before and it was surprisingly warm which drew in bugs that kept biting him! He felt gross without a shower, and his hair was a disaster, as soon as he got back he needed a bath.

As he ate by the fireplace next to Stan, eating some of the fresh deer meat they got from Jimbo and Ned's hunt, he noticed that Stan didn't have any of it on his plate. Thinking about it now, he doesn't think he's ever seen Stan eat meat in general.

"You sure you don't want any Stan?" Jimbo asked as he ripped into a chunk of the meat

Stan looked up at his uncle with a blank look, and before he could respond Ned spoke, "Jimbo."

The said man rolled his eyes, "Alright Ned."

Kyle blinked, confused at the interaction but didn't speak about it. It wasn't his place, but he kept that in mind.

Soon the sun went down and bugs and birds could be heard echoing in the night sky, Jimbo and Ned, who Kyle was now convinced were indeed a couple, turned in for the night. Leaving Stan and Kyle by the dying fireplace. "Make sure you put that out before going to bed," Jimbo called out before turning in.

"Will do," Stan replied with a mock salute, watching the tent door zip shut. He sighed and leaned forward, watching the fire.

Kyle watched Stan and smiled, the fire's light making the raven practically glow in the darkness. Kyle leaned back on the log, and asked, "So you don't eat meat?"

Stan cast him a glance before replying, "Yeah, went vegetarian in middle school, Randy threw a fit about it though."

"God what didn't he throw a fit about, he sounds like a Karen."

Stan laughed, "Oh he is," only to trail off. "He honestly made me feel bad about it since once I tried to go vegetarian but got sick, but then again I and others stole a bunch of baby cows."

Kyle tilted his head, "Huh?"

"Class trip learned where veal came from, went to protect them. Got sick, it was a whole thing."

The redhead only nodded, another crazy adventure he'd have to hear about later, and said, "Alright, why would he want you to feel bad?"

Stan shrugged, "He's just an ass...after that, he also started to say shit about my appearance..." he started to trail off, his hands wrapping his midsection.

Kyle got worried, "Stan?"

"I..had an eating disorder. I'm better now, but it's easy to slip..." Stan said softly as he picked at his nails avoiding Kyle's gaze. Not wanting to see his reaction.

"Fuck dude."

Stan shook his head, "The others helped as soon as they found out. But shit happens, Randy found out, made it worse for awhile, but I'm doing better."

Kyle stared, remembering what the nurse said when Stan took him to the nurse's office when he got sick, "So when the nurse said...?"

"It was because of the disorder, passed out in class, don't think I ate for a few days, that's how he and mom found out."

"Stan..."

"But as I said, I'm doing better now, so there's nothing to worry about," Stan finally turned and looked at the taller teen and saw worried sea-green eyes, he was about to say something but Kyle cut him off, "Wanna go burn down your dad's farm?"

Stan blinked for a moment before smiling at the sudden ask, "Maybe we should wait until we can skip town. That way the cops can't pin it on us."

Kyle smirked and wrapped his arm around Stan's shoulder, "Sounds like a plan!"

Stan giggled and leaned against the other, he could smell the other's stench from his lack of bathing, not like he is one to talk, but relaxed in Kyle's hold as he watched the burning embers fade. One of the best endings out of all of his camping trips.

Couple notes. My friend and I thought that goth Stan would work well as a Disney Princess, due to his love of animals.

And Stan's eating disorder, okay so originally it was going to play a bigger role, but other things got away from it, but it was always just going to be part of Stan's past. Sorry if it's clunky with it being revealed. Many of the final chapters may feel rushed and I apologize for that since I did want to finish it as soon as I got a bit of motivation for it back.

Also, Ned and Jimbo are definitely not straight, but I can also see them pull that 'They were roommates' card.

Tell me what you thought, and I hope you enjoy the next chapter.