It was almost as though Craig had been taken back in time, having to go to briefings. Back to when he had first started in Kupa, in what seemed like forever ago. Boring meetings about things outside of his control that he had been swept up in.

The biggest difference was in the rooms and dress of the people briefing him. Aesthetically, Kupa was very brown, particularly amplified by its brown buildings made of wood and stone. The dull fabrics people wore and the foggy silver of the knights' uniforms also played into it. Not like the elves world. There it was bright with soft colors and more decorated. The people wore more intricate and less gaudy clothing. But beyond the huge difference in aesthetics and the swapping out of Wendy for Stan, it surprised Craig how little different he felt.

Stan droned on and on about ways for soldiers to defend themselves. How to attack. How to understand elven culture. He would also explain to Craig that if he helped them, they would help him in return. Craig expected him to ask about insider knowledge on Kupa, but that wasn't the case. It seemed La Resistance's reach was wide enough that they already knew almost everything anyway. Instead, more training about how he was to become a perfect little helper for a kingdom he felt little connection to.

"You seem bored," Stan commented.

"I am bored," Craig responded, "I can't really pretend like I've ever been interested in this sorta shit."

"Well, you still gotta put up with it," Stan said, "Everyone else has to."

"I'm here, aren't I?" Craig raised an eyebrow, "I came down. I'm sitting in this chair listening to you drone on about how to properly kill someone or whatever. Just like your little ex-fiance Wendy did before I left."

"Well, given what I've seen of your fighting? Clearly she didn't do well enough."

"I'm a thief, not a fighter," Craig furrowed his brows and crossed his arms as he leaned back in his chair, "I don't know why everyone thinks I'm some soldier. I've never claimed to be."

"If you're just a thief, then that means you're just a criminal," Stan crossed his arms as well, "And if that's the case, you know that I wouldn't mind throwing you in a dungeon."

"Yeah, but you're not going to," Craig rolled his eyes.

"Are you really pushing your luck?" he narrowed his eyes.

"Yep," Craig answered curtly, fighting to hold back a smirk.

Stan walked over to the edge of the room, looking out the window. Although Craig couldn't see his face, he let out a sigh that seemed more contemplative than irritated as he stared outside towards the sunny courtyard. Craig wondered if his snarky comment actually upset him. "Hey-"

"Did Wendy put up with you?" Stan asked. It was a rude question, yet asked with genuine curiosity.

"No way," he couldn't help but laugh, "She tried to get me arrested all the time. Mostly for things I never even did." He decided to leave out the context of Lady McDaniels. "Though I guess she helped me out in the end. I probably avoided being drawn and quartered back in Kupa due to her sticking up for me for whatever reason. Is she part of La Resistance or something? Because then that would make a lot of things make more sense."

"No," Stan shook his head, turning back around, "I know Red considered recruiting her, but she's too loyal to Kupa and all of its tradition for us to trust her enough to reach out. Even if she doesn't like the Wizard."

"She was loyal to Red, I guess."

"I guess," Stan shrugged. His face grew more serious, "But that's not what matters now. Kyle wanted me to explain to you how to properly hold an elven longsword."

Craig groaned. It was going to be a long day.

It was, in fact, a very long day. Craig figured his morning meeting with Stan was going to be just that-a morning meeting. Alas, however, lunch came and went when the two were served by an elven servant who delivered their food and it was clear Stan expected him to stay after they ate. In the afternoon, Stan guided him out into the palace courtyard where they were to practice sword fighting.

He was much better than Craig, of course. He had years of training experience while Craig had none. Yet every time he fell, Stan would order him to stand back up.

"Are you trying to kill me or something?" Craig groaned as he pushed his tired body up off the ground.

"Technically, the opposite," Stan looked down at him.

"Why do I have to use a longsword anyway?" Craig slowly pushed himself up, "I'm not a swordsman. Hell, even Kupa figured that out quickly and decided it was better to teach me how to uppercut someone with my fist."

"Which hasn't helped you at all."

"Okay, whatever," he rolled his eyes, "Why not archery or something?"

"Archery is for long distance," Stan said, "Swords are for close combat."

"And your point is…?"

"You're a target," Stan tossed Craig his sword that fell away from him to his feet for him to pick up, "Meaning, you need to defend yourself up close."

"I'm sure there are other ways," Craig frowned, picking up the sword. It was awkwardly long and overly heavy, much to his distaste, "Long swords aren't the only way to defend yourself."

"You're right," Stan nodded sternly, "There's also magic. You could be learning that instead."

Craig laughed. "That's not happening," he began to walk towards Stan, "But either way, I've had enough."

"We're not done yet," Stan protested, raising his sword to try and block him from passing him.

"I'm tired," Craig narrowed his eyes, "We've been doing this training shit all day."

"Hey listen, it's only because you've refused to cooperate until today," Stan frowned, still keeping his sword up, "If you actually listened and did as we asked you, the two of us wouldn't have to be stuck together all day."

"Well that's too bad, because I have what the posh like to call 'other engagements'," Craig said as he dropped his sword back to the ground.

"What 'other engagements' could you possibly have?" Stan rolled his eyes.

"With a certain prince," Craig smirked as he stopped in front of where Stan's blade stopped his path, "Who I'm pretty sure outranks you."

Stan groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand. "Fine. One more time, and then I'll let you go."

"Alright," Craig grinned.

"So go back and grab your swo-"

Within a blink of an eye, Craig grabbed his short blade and swung it up towards Stan's longsword. It wasn't suitable for a direct sword-to-sword battle, but the unexpectedness caused Stan to lose his stance, sending his arm back and sword flying behind him. Before Stan could correct himself, Craig flipped his short blade up and nicked the side of Stan's face. A small trail of blood came down from his jaw and earlobe.

"I think that should count," Craig said. Stan's blue eyes grew large, his hand quickly going to the small cut along his face. "It's not a longsword, but I stole it from a knight in Kupa, so I think it counts as a sufficient weapon by your standards."

Stan stared at him bewildered. After a few moments, he frowned. "Just get out of here," he spat.

Craig could hear Stan still grumbling under his breath as he walked past him, leaving him behind, but he was thankful that he was allowed to leave at all. It was already late afternoon, and he knew that it wasn't long until sunset. He wiped the small trickles of blood from his blade onto his cape. "You really have come in handy," he said to it as he put it back on his belt.

As he walked around the castle towards the exit of its grounds, he realized he wasn't really sure why he had so suddenly insisted that Tweek and him go out on a date. Dates weren't really the sort of thing he ever did. Sure, he'd been with people before, but it was always such a casual, short lasting thing that didn't require formalities such as dates.

Perhaps it was because although those past relationships, if he could call them that, were fleeting, it was by a mutual choice. He could probably have stayed in a long term relationship with any one of them, had he wanted to. But with Tweek...the fleetingness wasn't a decision. It was something that couldn't be. Perhaps that was why he masochistically wanted to hang onto this and make the most of it for the short time he had. Perhaps it was because….

He decided he didn't want to think about it.

He made his way out of the castle gates and onto the pristine streets of the High Elf City. Being connected to the rest of the city, it didn't take long for him to make his way into the square he promised to meet Tweek in. He chose to find an uncrowded spot and leaned against the marble outer walls of a sweet smelling bakery as he waited.

The city itself was bustling with people going home for the day or heading out for the evening. He noticed that unlike Kupa, people went out of their way to not bump into people and quickly apologized if they accidentally did so. A much friendlier, happier atmosphere.

"A little happy for a city with an imminent war, aren't you?" he rhetorically asked the passer bys under his breath.

He narrowed his eyes. It was odd, wasn't it? Tweek had pointed out the day before that it was odd for them to decide to go on a date like this with everything going on. And yet, the people of Kupa seemed to go about as usual. It was-

"Craig," a voice called out, interrupting him from his train of thought.

"Tweek," he responded, turning around. Tweek stood directly in front of the lowering sun, the beams of light almost appearing to radiate from him.

"Are you alright?" Tweek's eyes suddenly widened in worry.

"Yeah, why?" Craig blinked.

"You look like you've been in a fight," he said, sounding genuinely concerned.

"Oh right. I have," he frowned, hand instinctively going to where he could feel a bruise had formed on his cheekbone, "I think that Stan guy is actually trying to get me killed and is just painting it off as 'training'."

Tweek laughed, "I doubt that." Unlike Craig, who probably should have cleaned himself up a little bit more, he was dressed like a proper person in the High Elf City. He wore a green shirt similar to the first one he had been given, although the detailing was clearly different. He also wore the hat Craig had given him, blond hair uncontrollably sticking out from around it.

"Well, what about you? You really seem to have given in to the shirt life," Craig said.

Tweek chuckled. "I guess," he admitted, "I have to be appropriate while I'm here."

"But you couldn't wear appropriate clothing on a freezing mountain?" Craig asked skeptically.

"That's different," Tweek's smile faded, "Here I'm…Well..."

"Supposed to?" he asked, "You're supposed to in freezing weather."

"Asked to," he answered.

"I asked you to."

"That's different," Tweek insisted, furrowing his brows, "Here, shirtlessness is considered extremely rude to High Elves. Plus, you're not a king with politeness norms who I'm trying to make peace with."

"Oh, so if I was a king, you'd have listened?"

"Why are you being this way?" Tweek nearly yelled, walking closer to him, "You're the one who asked me on this date."

Craig cracked a grin. "I'm just messing with you."

"Oh," Tweek turned pink, "W-Well, anyway. We're on a date now. Both of us are in shirts. What do you want to do?"

"I dunno," he shrugged, gesturing out to the streets and buildings in front of them, "You know far more about this place than me. I was hoping you'd lead the way."

"I say again. You're who invited me."

"C'mon," Craig rolled his eyes and playfully hit Tweek's shoulder, "There's gotta be something you've wanted to do in this place."

Tweek sighed, defeated. "Well, are you hungry?"

"A little."

"Why don't we go into that bakery and get something?" Tweek motioned his head towards the building they'd been standing next to.

"Is it open?"

"It is," Tweek nodded, "I saw people inside on my way here."

"Then that sounds good," Craig smirked, gesturing out his arms, "After you, Your Highness."

Craig didn't want to say it to Tweek, but he assumed it would be closed this late in the day. In Kupa anyway, the baker would make his bread and sweets in the early morning, and by lunchtime he would sell everything and close up. Yet Tweek was right-as they went from the side of the building to the storefront, it was clear that it was still very much open and full of customers sitting about at dainty little tables. Tables to eat at were also a thing that bakeries in Kupa lacked.

"We don't have anything like this back home," Tweek confessed as they stood at the door.

"Right," Craig said, "I guess you don't have baking in the middle of the woods."

"Over a fire or raw is pretty much it," he smirked as he pushed open the door, "What about Kupa?"

"Well, in the city they have shit like this, though maybe not as fancy," he shrugged as they walked over to a display lined with more types of breads and pastries than he had ever seen in his life, "And they sure didn't have the resources to make this much."

"I see," Tweek answered airily, his now large eyes were far more focused on all of the foods in front of them than anything Craig had to say.

"None in my village, though," he continued, even though the other was hardly listening, "We just had barley bread we'd cook at home. Pretty tasteless rock-like stuff that we'd make from what we grew."

"What do you like?" Tweek asked in a childlike voice.

Craig blinked. "Well, this is elven stuff, so I don't know how different it is. But, uh, I always liked things with honey?"

"Oh, me too!" Tweek beamed, "Let's get something with honey!"

It was hard for Craig to tell what actually had honey in it, but Tweek was effortlessly able to read the labels carefully written in the elven script. There were apparently quite a few with it, as Tweek carefully pondered over what two things to get them before deciding.

Tweek was also thankfully able to buy everything with the coins he had been given. Craig had some allotted to him, but he could tell right away that Tweek was given far more. As they paid, the elf who worked there noticed an imperfection in one of their pastries-the honey that latticed the top of the pastry in an overly complicated design was slightly smeared. The elf quickly threw it away to grab them another. Tweek thanked him, and the two took a seat on two intricate, almost woven looking chairs.

"This seems delicious!" Tweek said, his grin still wide as he quickly grabbed his pastry with both hands.

"Yeah," Craig answered neutrally as he brought his own to his mouth. The bun surprisingly wasn't sticky to the touch as they were back in Kupa. As he took a bite he could tell it was also much softer, seeming to fall apart in his mouth. Much better than anything in the bakery back in Kupa City, he had to admit. And yet-

"This is amazing!" Tweek said, his mouth still partly full.

"I guess," Craig replied, wiping the crumbs off his face.

"You guess?" he asked, "Is this normal for you back in Kupa?"

"No," he shook his head, "It's-It's better than Kupa's. Definitely. I just...dunno."

"You don't know?" Tweek tilted his head, brushing off crumbs with the back of his wrist.

"It's great," Craig assured him, "It's… Something feels off."

"Off?" Tweek asked, "Do you think yours is spoiled?"

"No, not that," he shook his head, placing his pastry on his plate, "I just… I know we're out here enjoying everything, it's just… sort of odd. We're about to have a war, and everything is so…"

"The people here have faith in their warriors," Tweek said as he reached for one of Craig's hands.

"You're probably right," Craig forced a smile, "Anyway, what did you want to do after this?"

"Oh," Tweek suddenly changed his expression and placed the remaining half of his pastry on the gold trimmed plate, "Well, there was… one place I was interested in visiting, though I'm not sure if you'd be against the idea."

"Well, what is it?" he asked after he shoved another large bite into his mouth.

"I'm interested in visiting the Great Temple," Tweek sounded nearly embarrassed to admit, "I-Well, neither of us follow the High Elf religion, but I was thinking that it sounds fascinating culturally and I heard that it's really beautiful. I know you don't care about their culture or anything but-"

"Alright," Craig cut him off.

"Really?" Tweek's eyes grew large.

"Why not?" he asked, "I mean, it's not like we'd spontaneously combust walking into it or anything."

"Right," Tweek smiled.

And so it was decided. After they finished their pastries, they returned their overly fancy gold rimmed plates to the bakery's clerk. Craig dropped his, shattering it on the ground. He told Tweek to tell them to just bill their King. The elf clerk merely fixed it with magic.

It wasn't that far of a walk from the bakery. Unlike the dead tree that was a little ways outside of the city, the temple was within its limits. Craig didn't understand why they didn't build it beside the tree, but Tweek insisted that the tree, when it was still alive, needed space of its own to grow and not be crowded by mortal-made objects. Craig thought that sounded like a dumb excuse.

When they approached the temple, he realized that it was actually a building that he had seen countless times already without knowing what it was. It was hard to miss, being probably the tallest building in the city, only rivaled perhaps by the castle. It was quite similar in aesthetic to the castle as well. It didn't have the many towers and spires as the castle did, but still had the same intricate and heavily detailed architecture that shot up to the sky. It was one single building, though it still had many twisting columns that seemed almost sculpture-like. It was light and soft in color, much like most of the High Elf City, though it glowed slightly orange in the sunset's glow.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Tweek asked, "Barbarians used to have impressive buildings before we were shoved into the forest, but nothing like this."

"Yeah well, elves all have magic to do things," Craig pointed out, "If anything, the fact that your people do everything by hand is more impressive."

"Thank you," Tweek smiled, "That is exactly what our mindset is, and I don't disagree with it completely. But still, magic or not, great minds still had to design it."

"I guess," Craig allowed.

They had to walk up about ten or so stairs to get to the actual entrance. There were a good number of elves going in and out, although it was not too terribly crowded. Some of them looked at the two humans with curiosity, largely children holding a parent's hand, but most kept their heads low with looks of serious contemplation on their faces.

The grand doors were impossibly high and wide open for visitors to come in and out. It was odd to Craig how there was no security, no knight stopping or at all limiting people from going in or out. Was no one going to question what two unfamiliar humans were doing in an elven holy building? Nonetheless, they easily entered.

The inside also reminded him heavily of the castle in terms of shared aesthetic. Yet in other ways it was...different. Sure, it was still full of opulence, yet somehow more simplistic. There was art, but much less in number and extravagance. It also felt much more peaceful. In fact, more peaceful than anywhere else in elven territory he had been thus far.

The height of the building, not to his surprise, was seemingly in vain. From where they entered, Craig lifted his head and could see all the way to the massively high ceiling. There were still stairs on the side, they appeared carved into the sides of the walls themselves, possibly for cleaning or other forms of housekeeping. In a way, it reminded him of the gnomes' tree.

"It's beautiful," Tweek said. He spoke in a hushed voice out of respect.

"Yeah," Craig couldn't help but admit, still looking up at the impossibly high ceiling "I guess it is."

Tweek gently tugged Craig's arm to have him follow along. They trailed down a long silky rug that led towards an archway, into another room. Craig figured immediately it was the main location of the temple. As they walked towards it, he could hear the sound of a voice singing a hauntingly beautiful acapella song in the distance. He couldn't tell where it was coming from, but definitely not the probable main room. Perhaps the singer was high up, on the platform of one of the winding staircases. The melody was very typical of other High Elf music, but for once he didn't feel sick to his stomach. It was...calming. As if it were calling to him, almost like a siren.

In the main room itself, once one entered it was impossible to miss five large statues in the center. They were surrounded by elven worshipers, praying to them at a respectful distance, implying their religious importance. They were all large, though not all of the same height. Their ears were all covered by their hair, making it impossible to clearly distinguish whether they were supposed to be elves or humans. Perhaps, Craig thought, they were neither.

In the middle was the largest statue. A massive, ethereal woman with long flowing hair decorated in flowers that caught up in a fictional wind blowing it. She wore a dress similar to the airy, flowing style that was popular among elven women. To her right, there were two female statues. One, although not nearly as large as she, was clearly an adult, while the other appeared to be a child. On her left two male statues, much like the other side having an adult man next to her and a boy on the end.

"Elves believe there are five gods," Tweek explained in the same respectfully soft voice.

"I take it that those are them?"

"Right," Tweek nodded, "The one in the middle, she's the most powerful. The sort of God of gods, I guess."

"And so what, the other ones just kinda suck?"

"No," Tweek frowned disapprovingly, "Of course not. They're all important. Elves, they believe that magic is of the gods, and that magic is a gift from them."

"But mainly the big lady."

"Actually, I believe elves believe that magic was gifted to mortals from one of the minor gods," Tweek sighed in disapproval at Craig's dismissive tone, "Tricia explained it to me briefly, though we didn't have a lot of time and it was kind of confusing to me."

"Of course she'd drone on about it to you," Craig chuckled, "Knowing her, she probably got a lot of it wrong, though."

"I wouldn't know," Tweek confessed.

"So, what?" Craig asked, "Do you believe this elven five god religion thing now? Did my sister convert you?"

"No," Tweek shook his head, "I still believe in the Barbarian religion. It's just fascinating, and in weird ways somewhat similar."

"Oh?" Craig asked, though he wasn't sure if he was interested enough to hear the long spiel Tweek was likely to give him on it.

"Yeah," Tweek nodded, "Like elves, we believe that gods-though in our case more like spirits-are the source of magic. Though we believe that there are thousands of them, maybe more."

"Sounds annoying to memorize."

"Well we don't," Tweek couldn't help but chuckle at Craig's assumption, "Only the important ones. And even then, we don't really worship and revere them as much as this."

"They just kinda passively exist to you, then?"

"Kind of," he shrugged, "Sometimes we'll pay attention to them. It's not that we don't like them, though. It's more like...they're just their own separate world. Elves long to connect to their gods, while we respect them by letting them do their own thing. Magic isn't for us, we don't need it."

"Elves use magic to respect gods, you ignore it to respect them."

"That's an oversimplification, but sure."

"Well, what if you said fuck that religion?" Craig asked, "Could you just like...use it? Presuming you have that connection."

"That's the interesting thing though," Tweek explained, "Although we're just as human as any other, well, group of humans, we're more like dwarves in that way. No Barbarian, myself included, has been given the ability to use magic for countless generations."

"Weird," Craig commented, "Maybe it's a genetic thing."

"Maybe," he shrugged, "But anyway, we don't want to use it. So it all works out."

"If only people in Kupa were the same. It's nothing but trouble there. Societally, though, not for some deeply held belief system or anything. I mean after all, religion or god worship is banned completely in Kupa," Craig said in a low voice.

"I've heard," Tweek lowered his head, "Since the Wizard banned it a hundred or so years ago."

"He claims it's because of association with places like the Dark Kingdom. Can't be like those 'religious zealots' he'd say," Craig couldn't help but laugh darly, "But really, everyone knows it's just an ego thing, same with how he scoops up magical kids. He just can't deal with anyone being considered higher or more revered than himself."

"That's what I've been told."

"But it's always been whatever-the religion thing, anyway. I don't think I'd be religious. The whole concept of gods existing is too strange for me."

"I think that's okay, too. As long as it's by choice."

"So you won't be forcing your religion on your people, then?" Craig gave a half smirk.

"Of course not," Tweek sounded insulted, "You know I-"

"As far as kings go, I think you'll make a good one."

"Oh. Thank you," Tweek blushed.

"Anyway, not to rush us and our enlightening experience here, but sunlight's almost completely gone now," he nudged his head towards the darkening windows.

"Right," Tweek nodded, "We'll go back soon. But first, if it's okay, I'd like to quickly read the inscriptions on the walls."

"You don't have to ask me for permission, your highness."

"R-Right."

As Tweek went to read the inscriptions in the weird curvy elven script, Craig took a few steps forward to casually look at the statues. He had to admit that Tweek was right about one thing-even if they were easily made via magic, the way the artist designed them so beautifully with such detail in their clothing and hair took a mind more creative than his own would ever be. Even their faces, although clearly humanoid, were so flawless in a way he couldn't describe. It made sense to him that from these statues alone someone might agree to worship the gods they were said to represent.

Of course the woman in the middle was the most beautiful and otherworldly with her stoic, unreadable expression, but the others seemed to have their own distinct personalities as well. The other woman seemed to have a sly twinkle in her eye, as if she was scheming something. The young girl appeared excited, as if something great was about to happen. The man was serious and determined, as if he were ready for battle. The boy's expression made him appear deep in thought, as if his mind was far away.

The more he looked at them in the backdrop of the continuing eerily beautiful song, the more he realized that they were odd. Very odd. In a way that almost felt off to him.

Suddenly a pain shot into his head. Like a sudden sharp headache, but worse. He had the sensation of a bright light flashing into his eyes, so he quickly squeezed his shut. He clutched his head and gritted his teeth so as to not scream out.

"Sorry about that!" Tweek called out. Craig jumped, turning around to see the other standing behind him.

As quickly as it came, the pain was instantly gone. Probably just a sudden triggered headache. Or maybe Stan gave him a concussion.

"That didn't take long," Craig commented, casually moving his hand through his hair, "Was it interesting?"

"I guess," he said, "Though it wasn't as much about their history or the lore behind them as I had hoped. More just their names and construction of this building."

The song from the unseen person grew louder. Craig bit the corner of his mouth. "Let's get outta here. This place is starting to give me the creeps."

The two quickly yet orderly exited the building and went back onto the main street of the High Elf City, ever dimmer in the twilight. Several groups of elves were laughing together, clearly ready to go out and enjoy the evening, some casually using magic along the way. Perhaps, Craig considered briefly, he shouldn't have insisted they go back this early. If there was in fact a nightlife in this city, the night was still young, not even completely dark yet. But when Tweek didn't make any further comments and merely headed on the path towards the castle, he let it be.

"I'm sorry this was hardly a date," Craig broke the silence along the way, "It ended up being us just sorta hanging out like we had in the past."

"Don't apologize," Tweek smiled at him, "I like being with you." Craig felt his face grow hot and instantly looked away. Tweek chuckled, gently brushing his hand against Craig's. Ever so slowly, Craig gripped his hand, and the two continued to walk in silence.

"At least that song in the temple was nice, even if creepy," he commented, "Probably going to have that tune stuck in my head for a while."

"What song?" Tweek asked.

"You didn't hear it?" Craig asked, "Someone was singing the whole time we were there."

"Probably just wasn't paying enough attention," Tweek shrugged. Craig found that odd, but didn't press further. The two merely continued on in more silence.

"Hey, listen," Craig said a few moments later, looking down at his feet, "Things are going to...Well, they're going to change real soon."

"I know."

"Right. I know I've said that a lot."

"You have."

"I just… Maybe I'm wrong to be here with you. Maybe I'm selfish-maybe we're both selfish, but… I dunno, I just…. Honestly, from the beginning I tried to avoid the topic in my head for as long as I could, but… I guess I just couldn't. I just, for whatever reason, can't stop being, you know… attracted to you. Or whatever you wanna call it."

They continued walking the street. The castle wasn't far now.

"I feel the same way," Tweek finally said, "Though maybe with less guilt."

"Well, I think you have less reason to feel guilt over this. Maybe."

"Why?"

Craig took a deep breath. "I don't know," he lied.

"I see," Tweek's face looked troubled, "Well, anyway. We like each other, right?"

"We do. Yeah."

"Good," Tweek smiled, stopping in his tracks. He brought his free hand up to Craig's face and gently kissed him.

It was as if the kiss awoke something in Craig. In contrast to Tweek's gentleness, he couldn't help but tighten his grip and bring his unoccupied arm around the back of Tweek's head into a possessive hug. Although his lungs protested for him to let go to breathe, Craig didn't want to.

But at last he did. The two loosened their grips and merely looked at each other's barely moonlit face in the night.

"Well?" Tweek asked.