I can't remember if I ever said that this was a slow romance, oh well. I've been meaning to say that for the past five weeks if I haven't, but look you guys stuck around through all my plot bs. This chapter has a wee bit of fluff, and maybe even some sappy moments. I hope you enjoy, and if you do let me know because nothing warms my cold heart more than reading your comments.
Oppressive darkness filled the bedroom and soaked into Tweek's skin. Cold bled under the door and through the cracks in the window. The walls breathed and hissed cold. The street lights were dead outside. For a moment Tweek wondered if he was actually awake. His dreams had been pitch black too. Tweek pushed himself upright with heavy arms, his body felt like a corpse. Cold and dead. He reached out for a nonexistent bedside lamp. In his room he had a lamp and a nightlight that his parents seemed to covertly despise. Tweek didn't like the darkness. Tweek forced himself out of the warm comforter that he so longed to cocoon himself in. His whole body reeled as his bare feet touched the hardwood floor.
The previous day ran through his mind in brief flashes that left his head spinning. Who knew that the act of merely meeting up with Craig would have such dire consequences.
"C-Craig?" Tweek's voice cautioned a whisper in the silent darkness. He felt silly for expecting Craig to stay by his bed all night. He had more interesting tasks than babysitting Tweek. For instance he had to plan a murder. That's pretty interesting. Still, Tweek wished Craig was there. He couldn't help but feel strangely warm and safe around Craig, even if he was colder than ice.
Tweek's chest squeezed and he made small steps towards where he expected the door to be. His eyes adjusted to the dimness, he could make out several dark shapes of the scarce furniture. The masses could be horrifying monsters all the same. Motivation by fear spurred Tweek to beeline for the wall. Stony hands came into contact with the smooth walls and he felt his way to the light switch. Light failed to spring to life after Tweek flicked the switch many times.
"Come on." Tweek muttered to himself. He gave up on the light and opened the door. The hallway proved to be every bit as desolate as the bedroom. The stairs were the hardest obstacle to overcome. His feet tentatively scoped out each step, a painstaking task. Even in the living room the lamps and lights didn't work. The circuit breaker was most likely tripped. The responsible thing to do would be: find a flash light, fix the problem, be a man. Tweek decided he would walk home instead and hope Craig new basic home maintenance. He couldn't see well enough to find his shoes or clothes, but he had Craig's comfortable clothes. He wouldn't be nude.
The street lamps stood tall and unyielding, dead machines in the night. Faint light glimmered from the snowy ground. Tweek couldn't seem to find any stars, or even a moon, that could act as a light source. The sky was an abyss that encompassed South Park. A perk of being a secluded mountain town was a view of the milky way so spectacular it was nearly blasphemous. Tweek enjoyed watching the elusive stars, he gazed at them every clear night. Nothing disturbed him more than the sky being empty.
Tweek hissed as the snow bit into his bare feet. Snow drifted down from the sky and covered his frame in white powder. Tweek pulled up his hood and shoved his hands into his pockets, it'd be a long walk home. Perhaps the black sky wouldn't be so unsettling if there was someone, anyone, around. The street was void of cars, every house was dark. If not for the snow that glowed with fatigue, Tweek wouldn't have even been able to see where he was going. Temptation built inside him to make sure there was someone else in South Park; to knock at one of the houses until someone answered. He pushed the feeling away as his feet led him up Main Street. By now he couldn't feel his toes and he nearly slipped on the icy pavement. All the stores were dark. Even the neon signs at the bar that stayed open late were dead.
"Think. I-it's snowing, power can go out during snow storms." Tweek muttered to himself as reassurance. But it wasn't snowing hard enough to knock down wires, and if there was a heavy snowstorm he wouldn't be walking. "Wait… Is that…" Tweek swallowed an unsteady breath. Fire. A blazing bonfire it seemed like. Barely, just barely, Tweek could see the bright light all the way from the playground.
His dead feet staggered across the iced sidewalk. Fire threw flickering shadows that danced across the ground. A large mass of bodies crowded the basketball court.
Tweek stopped behind the gates to the park. His approach had gone unnoticed despite his raspy breathing and stumbling footsteps. His hands grasped the frozen metal gate for support. His whole body ached with immense pain, but he couldn't bring himself to care as his eyes soaked in the view.
Cartman stood behind a podium on top of a makeshift stage. He looked feverish, his eyes mad with power. Tweek had seen him pull crazy stunts before, he was always diving after power, money, and attention. He had put on many campaigns and speeches for evil agendas, but none so hellish as this. On stage with him was Butters, Stan, and a couple of fey in glittering tunics. Tweek's mind swam, what was this? The people of South Park stood in a huge mass, some of them too close to the fire, while Cartman raved like a madman.
"We will have limitless power! We will control the world!" Tweek couldn't tell if Cartman's flushed face was a product of passion or just a reflection of the roaring fire. Butters' eyes gleamed with an unnatural light as he nodded along to the speech. He had always followed Cartman, but this was insanity. "First we must sacrifice our enemies, the scum of humanity. Bring out the first sacrifice!" Cartman boasted, the crowd responded with jerky applause and distorted cheers. Tweek's chest heaved, even his mind struggled to make sense with all the magic that flooded the air. He needed to locate his parents and take them to safety. but Cartman's words had seized his attention.
"A sacrifice…" Tweek's stomach lurched, he had a sick feeling of who that might be. And as he was obviously the only one who was thinking straight, it was his duty to save the damsel in distress. The nervous, barefoot, freak happened to be the hero in this situation.
He'd never get through the crowd in time, his eyes scanned the playground for any alternate route. A cloaked figure on the pirate ship caught Tweek's eye before it disappeared into the shadows. Tweek blinked rapidly. Had he imagined the figure? If Cartman had men patrolling the perimeter. Tweek wouldn't even be able to set foot into the park without capture.
"The first sacrifice, a devious Jew!" A familiar redhead appeared on the stage with his arms bound behind his back. Two police officers passed him to Stan and Butters. Kyle's head lolled to the side, his hair resembling fire more than ever. His feet stumbled and he fell to his knees. Abducted from his bed, Kyle was still in his pajamas. Tweek surged forward as Cartman began prattling on about public enemy number one. He desperately clawed through the mass of unyielding bodies. His breathing hitched as the atmosphere grew more intense, he wasn't going to get there in time. A large body shifted and knocked him over. Tweek flailed to grab onto the nearest person, an old lady, which brought them both cascading down. This, at least, caused a distraction. The packed crowd acted like dominoes, person after person stumbling.
Cartman stopped talking, his furious eyes scanned the crowd for whoever dared to interrupt his speech. Tweek ducked behind the old woman and held his breath. It's possible Cartman didn't see him.
"Tweek! The Dark King promised me control of South Park if I brought him your head, I hope you understand!" Cartman smiled, his voice dripping false amity. "But don't worry, you'll still get to see the first sacrifice."
With a snap of his fingers, the guards began storming down the rickety stage. The crowd parted like the red sea to allow them the most direct path to Tweek. Glassy eyes watched the ethereal soldiers with awe. Tweek struggled to his feet, the old woman had grabbed onto his arm and refused to let go.
"For the Dark King." She murmured.
Tweek shoved her off and forced his frozen feet to propel him towards the stage. Stan and Butters were hauling Kyle closer and closer to the bonfire, it was only a matter of time. Tweek was streaming curses under his breath. The stress of soldiers chasing him, and having to stop a human sacrifice, was getting to him. He stumbled to the left in time for an angry fey with jangling metal armor to tackle Mr. Mackey.
"M'kay." Mr. Mackey droned on as his limbs tangled with the soldier's.
He broke through the crowd after what seemed like hours of a terrifying chase. He was a rabbit, a rabbit charging into a den of magical, power hungry wolves.
Stan and Butters yanked Kyle to his feet, causing his eyes to flutter open. His face was palid and sweat shone on his forehead.
"God damn it Cartman…" He muttered and gave a weak attempt to shake the hands off his shoulders. "Stan, please…"
"Stop it!" Tweek screamed. The stage still felt miles away, his legs swayed with every step. Behind him fey soldiers were shoving citizens to the ground to get at Tweek. He'd need a miracle.
"Drop him!" Cartman screamed with joy, a few lackeys in the crowd cheered along.
Tweek gaped, he begged himself to look away. The fire grew hotter, heating up Tweek to an uncomfortable warmth. He missed the cold.
Stan let go and Butters followed, Kyle's weight pushed him forward. Tweek lurched forward in some desperate attempt at a heroic ending.
Kyle's hair burned like fire, but never actually touched the flames. A body collided with Kyle's and sent them both tumbling to the snow. A few feet away a painful death awaited them both.
Cartman stopped, his face twisted with anger. Kyle groaned, proving he was still alive and kicking.
The mysterious hero stood up, and faced Cartman.
"You'll pay for this, fatass." The cloak figures deep voice was strong enough to boom across the park without the need to yell. Silence followed, silence and the sound of crackling fire. Tweek took this opportunity to run forward. Sure, he could've been smart and ran in the opposite direction. He could find a new town without a monster infestation, live long enough to finish high school, get a job. But something kept him here. Some invisible strings, and secrets so secret he hid them from himself. Tweek found himself standing beside the masked hero. Shoe-less, and weaponless, he was facing an impossible challenge. Yet his masked counterpart was not scared at all despite the certainty of their failure. Additionally he wore a mask, gloves, dark cargo pants, boots, and a purple shirt with an 'M' sloppily painted onto it.
His dark eyes flashed to Tweek and widened. Tweek knew those eyes.
"Kenny?" He breathed, a whisper loud enough for only himself to hear. His mind fumbled over the idea, the joy, and the impossibility of it all in the few seconds he had.
"AY! Get him, idiots!" Cartman screamed to his henchmen, yet his voice wavered with fear. His eyes darted to Kenny before he turned and ran off the stage.
Kenny attempted to make a go for him, but was pushed back by the two guards surrounding him. He backed up towards Tweek.
"Tweek, I have a plan." Kenny whispered under his breath. His eyes flicked from one enemy to another. "Take this," he pulled a knife with a blade about seven inches long from his belt, now he pressed it into Tweek's hand. "Stab, don't get stabbed."
"That's i-it? That's your plan!" Tweek couldn't even force himself to sound mad, Kenny was alive! A twitchy smile and scowl were fighting for dominance on his face. On one hand Kenny had somehow survived a stab through the chest, on the other it didn't matter seeing as how they were both about to die.
Kenny ignored him and charged the nearest fey, a tall man easily twice Kenny's size. He wasn't buff or scary like the hulk, more like a tall, angry, Olympic swimmer. Kenny dodged his block in a swirl of fabric and punched upwards. He resembled a young, poor batman.
The crowd seemed to regained some control now that the manipulative fey focused on Tweek and Kenny. Confusion swept through the crowd.
"There is nothing to see, head home." The larger fey boomed. Many citizens turned around and walked towards their homes. A few straggled to watch the fight.
The knife suddenly felt like it was made of osmium instead of carbon steel, it weighed down Tweek's whole arm. He fought the intense urge to drop the vile thing, he knew what was happening. The smaller fey, with onyx eyes and sculpted features, took slow steps forward.
"There is no need to fight." His words washed over Tweek like silk. "Give me your weapon."
Tweek felt his arm lift up involuntarily. He forced it back down with his other arm and scowled at the fey.
He smiled back, cruel and growing impatient. "Come, make friends. The King will spare you, you will see your co-conspirator once more."
Tweek backed up, the park courtyard was now barren aside from the fight and Kyle. Tweek saw Kenny take a staggering hit from the corner of his eye. Kenny wouldn't be able to last much longer, his labored breath filled the courtyard. Tweek could only imagine the mental strain he was enduring, fey mind tricks were powerful.
"My conspirator? D-do you mean Craig, is he with the King?" Anguish flooded Tweek's veins. The most rational answer was that Craig had always been working behind their backs. The way he had treated Tweek the night before proved that Craig cared. If he wanted Tweek dead he would've finished him when he was lying on that forest floor. Or when Tweek was helpless on his couch, or even when Tweek was asleep in his bed.
"Prince Craig," A cruel smirk drew itself across the handsome fey's lips, "I can tell you have… feelings for him. Would it help to know he will be executed for treason?"
"Shut up!" Tweek pointed the knife out, he had no intention to use the blade but now rage was boiling his blood. "You're l-lying!"
"I should not even be saying 'Prince', that traitor has been stripped of his title and power." The fey drew closer step by step. "He will be executed in South Park as soon as we have killed every last human here."
Tweek snapped and rushed forward, he thrust the knife into the fey's chest. An explosion of dust and snow blew into Tweek's eyes and mouth. No blood, no body. Twigs and berries dropped to the ground. Tweek backed up dazed, is that how faeries die?
The hairs on his neck stood up straight, instincts took over forcing him to duck.
"Humans always fall for that." A heavy foot kicked Tweek in the back. He fell to the snow and flipped over onto his back. He scuttled away, the knife clenched uselessly in one fist. The dark fey stood above him with cold eyes. Vicious, yet beautiful. Cold, but not in the way as Craig. Small tendrils of ice crept over Tweek's hands and legs they fastened him to the ground with incredible strength.
A long, thin sword formed in the fey's slender hand as Tweek futility pulled at his bonds. The frost sword glittered red firelight as it was drawn back, the fey's eyes and smile glinted with madness. Tweek braced himself and squeezed his eyes shut.
Thwack!
Tweek flinched, his neck fully prepared for the pain of the upcoming decapitation.
Thud!
Wait, wasn't he supposed to make that noise. More specific, his detached head when it hit the ground. His eyes fluttered open. The dark faery was splayed out in the snow, his sword dissolved into ice particles. Perhaps he was just making a face-down snow angel, as you do. Kenny dropped the thick log, that he had somehow found on a playground, and spit blood onto the ground.
"Come on, Tweek! I give you the knife and I end up taking out both dudes." Tweek's eyes darted to the other body slumped over across the court.
"H-how?" Tweek stammered. His icy shackles were quickly dissolving into snow and dirt.
"Well, while you were over here monologuing, I used a choke hold on that big Popsicle monster." Kenny grinned and demonstrated a choke hold on the fey he'd hit in the head. "The perks of being smaller and faster than that dude over there." Kenny nodded to the large form a few meters away that was either unconscious or dead. "are that I can easily get around him and jump on his back."
Tweek took a moment to breath, a laugh forced itself from his frozen lips.
Kenny chuckled and held out a hand. Tweek took it and got to his throbbing feet.
"I was reaching for my knife." Kenny pointed to the steel knife still trapped in Tweek's clamped hand. "It was hella expensive."
"O-oh, sorry." Tweek held out the knife.
A smile spread across Kenny's face, showing off his bloodied teeth. "You idiot." He grabbed Tweek and pulled him into an embrace.
Tweek hugged back, throwing his whole body into it. Relief was finally allowed to settle in his mind. Kenny was here, he was alive. A soft sob escaped Tweek's lips as he grinned. Kenny patted him on the back, he squeezed his eyes shut and sent a small thank you to any god that happened to be up there. He had died in that forest. He knew he'd come back, but he came back without the knowledge of what happened to Tweek. For all he knew Tweek had been ripped to shreds. When he woke up in his bed the whole town was acting strange, there was no sign or Tweek or Craig. His first thought was that they had failed, Tweek was dead and everything was up to him. He squeezed Tweek one more time to make sure the warm body was actually real before releasing him.
"What's u-up with…" Tweek motioned to Kenny's outfit. "The get-up?"
Kenny looked down embarrassed and flipped his cloak around idly. "It's, uh, something I wore as a kid to make Karen happy. She thought I was her guardian Angel, Mysterion." Kenny hid that fact that he still donned the alias of Mysterion to beat up bullies for his younger sister.
"That's r-really sweet." Tweek admitted.
"Enough of that. More fey will come. Speaking of fey, did you ever find Craig?" Kenny gritted out with slight hostility as he began wrapping up the wrists and ankles of the unconscious faery with duct tape. Tweek wondered if he had any food in those seemingly endless pockets.
"I d-did. He- he's a good guy, Kenny." Tweek wrapped his arms around himself. Kenny's eyes slid over Tweek's outfit; a blue hoodie and pants that definitely didn't being to him, and no shoes or socks.
"Uh-huh…" Kenny quirked an eyebrow. "What did he do to get you to say that?"
"He rescued me from the forest and patched me up." Tweek lifted up his borrowed hoodie to show off his bandages. The white cloth wrapped around his chest was stained with some tiny lines of crimson red. The cuts probably needed stitches, yet he didn't imagine he'd get to the hospital anytime soon. His bruise from earlier in the week was deep purple mixed with sickly green around the edges. Against his snow white skin, the bruise looked horrifying. "He was a-also very nice and c-caring." Tweek's voice cracked and he swallowed.
"Fine, maybe he isn't a total dick." Kenny begrudgingly sighed. "But he's still like 80 percent dick."
Tweek smiled softly, "Yeah, well we have to rescue that dick."
"Before we go rescuing anyone, you're gonna help me tape these two together. Then we're making sure Kyle isn't dead over there."
Tweek and Kenny dragged the small fey over to the larger one and bound the two together back to back. Tweek assumed they'd be fine out in the cold night, after all they lived in a freezing cold world. The bonfire was slowly dying as the thick logs burned into ash. The streetlights were still dead.
"What h-happened to the power?" Tweek chattered out between his clacking teeth. Craig's sweater wasn't doing him much good ever since he'd lifted up his shirt. He had let all the cold air in and was now paying the price.
"As far as I can tell Cartman and his goons shut it off. The electrical grid is being protected by a big troll, trust me I tried to get past it." Kenny shuddered as he crouched down to feel Kyle's pulse. "The smell was the worst part. Like rotten eggs farted into a hobo's shoe during summer in Arizona."
"... Alright. So that's their plan, m-make the whole town defenseless and freeze them. Taking over the town will be easier than taking c-candy from a dead body." Tweek pulled at his hair in slow motions. "We have to get power b-back on. Even I'm f-freezing my ass off."
"That's because you're not wearing shoes, idiot." Kenny shook Kyle's shoulders. "Wake up, sleepy head."
Kyle muttered something about thermodynamics under his breath. His eyes remained shut.
"Wow, what a nerd." Kenny leaned back and thought for a moment. "Do you think slapping someone conscious actually works?"
"I f-feel like that would just make them more unconscious."
Kenny shrugged and rubbed his gloved hands together. "It's worth a shot." he brought back his hand. "This is for your own good."
Tweek flinched as the slap echoed through the park. "You didn't h-have to bitch slap him."
"I have some pent up anger. Plus he's not awake to feel it." Kenny sighed and hung his head. "Grab his feet."
After a couple of hurried minutes, Tweek and Kenny managed to pick Kyle. The red head was thin and athletic, but boy was he heavy. They scurried across the park like two crabs trying to move a couch. Kenny led the way, which meant Tweek had to tell him when he was about to run into things. Kenny hit two trees and one bench before they made it to the street south of the park. The shady part of town was briefly nice about ten years ago. The 'shady' part of town consisted of Kenny's house and the abandoned city project of SoDoSoPa. Now all the windows were broken, the once pristine walls defiled with bad graffiti and water damage. Junkies often inhabited the abandoned buildings, making this part of town worse than before.
Tweek was huffing by the time they reached Kenny's small house. Like every other house, his was dark and impossible to tell if it was empty or not. Tweek had a feeling that Mr. And Mrs. McCormick wouldn't like them showing up in the middle of the night with an unconscious classmate. But then again they were most likely still under that strange spell.
Kenny didn't go for the front door, instead he headed for the backyard.
"I fixed up the shed into a little hang out. My dad never comes back here anyways." Kenny huffed out between strained breaths. "There's a gas generator. If we can get that going we'll have power and heat."
Kenny bashed the door open with his back and they dropped Kyle onto the dirty floor. He probably would've been better off if they had left him at the park.
The shed was tiny, but three people could be comfortable in there. Very cozy, but comfortable.
Kenny went outside and to the back of the shed to mess with the generator. Tweek took the moment to sit down and tuck his feet under his legs. He rubbed at his toes and hoped they wouldn't fall off.
After a few moments a dinky light bulb buzzed to life, and a small space heater close to the center of the room came to life with a warm glow. Tweek scooched closer to the heater and allowed the warmth to drive away the biting cold.
Kenny disappeared for a short while, but he came back with gifts. He had gone inside and brought Tweek socks and shoes as well as a couple of blankets, a pillow, and food and water. He had changed into his neon orange parka and jeans. His hood was down, allowing his hair to glow like spun gold into the dim yellow light.
Tweek covered his feet, thankful the shoes fit, and opened himself a bag of knock off Doritos. Kenny slid the pillow under Kyle's head and set a blanket over him.
"What next." Kenny's voice was weary as he slid next to Tweek. His hand played with the threads of his jeans.
Tweek explained what the fey had told him at the playground; Craig's treason, his imprisonment, and ultimately his execution. Kenny's shoulders slumped in with the bad news.
"Okay, so magical faery rescue?" Kenny ran a hand through his shaggy hair.
Kyle stirred and opened his eyes. He peered at Kenny, then at Tweek.
"Dear God, where am I?" He pushed himself up and looked around the small shed. "Why does my face hurt?"
"The power's out and we saved you from being burned alive in a huge bonfire." Kenny tossed Kyle a chocolate bar.
"I remember that. Cartman tried to kill me!" Kyle growled. "I can't believe this! I'm calling the police." He patted at his pajama pockets. "Does anyone have a phone?"
"The power is out." Kenny stated. "Our only cell phone tower is probably down."
"Well there's only one power distribution grid here, there should be back up generators to get the main generator going. We just have to get there and start them up." Kyle began muttering plans to himself and drew out some lines in the dust on the floor.
Maybe Kyle being a huge science nerd would come in handy.
"H-he could get the power back o-on." Tweek muttered to Kenny.
"Yeah, but what about that troll." Kenny whispered back.
"Trolls are afraid of lightning. They're also dim-witted and slow. We could trick it into thinking there's lightning, spook it off." Kyle spoke up. He flushed when Kenny and Tweek gaped at him. "I can like stuff other than math and science."
"I could kiss you right now." Kenny offered with a smile. "You're a genius!"
"I'd rather if you didn't."
"Okay, y-you two go do t-that." Tweek stood up. The feeling had returned to his hands and feet, and those Doritos had given him strength. Now he needed to rescue his fey Prince.
"Where are you going?" Kenny blocked the door.
"I'm going home to get a h-hat and a thicker jacket, then I'm going to find Craig." Tweek attempted to dodge around Kenny.
"No you aren't, that's a suicide mission! You don't know where he's at or how to get there!" Kenny pushed Tweek back into the room.
"I'm g-going!" Tweek didn't feel like screaming and arguing, but he had to do this. And if he died trying to save Craig, well in his mind it was worth it.
"Why? For some fey bastard? You'll get yourself killed!" Tweek shoved Kenny off of him.
"I'm with Kenny, faeries aren't nice. They're tricksters, they play with emotions and usually it ends with humans dying or getting hurt." Kyle interjected. Tweek scowled at him and his knowledge of mythological creatures.
"I don't c-care! He'd do the same for me and I a-am going to find him, just try and stop me!" Tweek stormed towards the shack door and threw it open. Craig stared at him, his crystal blue eyes wide and his mouth slightly parted in awe. His gloved fist was held up as if he was about to knock.
"C-Craig!" Tweek stammered. That was easy.
"What?!" Kenny peeked over Tweek's shoulder.
Craig licked his lips and opened them again as if to say something. He pressed them together and instead dove on Tweek. Tweek stumbled back as Craig's arms wrapped around his waist and fastened there as if he expected Tweek to evaporate. His head burrowed against Tweek's neck, his inky hair rustling against Tweek's chin. Tweek immediately felt embarrassed, embarrassed at how happy he was. He couldn't keep his smile hidden. Tweek hugged back, the frost from Craig's clothes melted under his warm skin. Craig mumbled something, his lips brushing over Tweek's skin, and the vibrations buzzed against Tweek's collar bone. Craig's body wasn't warm, the coolness from his skin sparked across Tweek's bare neck and sent a shiver down his spine. It felt right.
"I thought I was too late." Tweek could just faintly make out the whisper. Craig breathed in one more shaky breath before slowly releasing Tweek and straightening his tunic. He gave a small cough and looked anywhere but Tweek's face. His pale cheeks were dashed with redness, but his lips were tugged up at the sides. Tweek moved to the side and allowed Craig to come in.
"Thank you." He nodded.
Kenny held up his arms. "Do I get the same treatment?"
"Aren't you supposed to be dead?" Craig replied in a slightly breathless voice.
"Wow, icy." Kenny looked at the floor. "Um, yeah, no. I don't die. Or actually I do die, I've died about one hundred times, yet here I am."
Tweek reeled at the thought, he had held onto the distant hope that Kenny had somehow made it out of Algrid alive. "That's impossible." Tweek muttered.
"Yeah, well I can prove it. I have a gun if you to see." Kenny patted his pocket with a lazy grin.
"N-no! God!" Tweek held up his hands. "Please don't."
"Good, because it hurts like hell for about five seconds."
"That's amazing." Craig examined Kenny like a scientific specimen. "How? I've never seen anything with that power."
"I don't know." Kenny swatted Craig's hand away from his ear. "Let's get back to the plan-"
"The King is preparing to march to South Park, now is the time to attack." Craig started as if only now remembering.
"We need to get the power back on or the citizens will freeze to death." Kyle stood up and cleared his throat.
"I'll go with Kyle." Kenny forced a grin from his face. "If I die it'll be easier to meet up in town than in another world. Go with Craig, Tweek." He winked at Tweek.
"Good idea, we need to leave soon-" Craig straightened, his hand reaching towards his side. "Wait, I hear someone." His serious demeanor quieted everyone.
Tweek shifted on his feet, he was right next to the door and didn't want to be the first one stabbed.
The door slammed open. A flash of metal darted across Tweek's vision. The fey didn't make it a foot in before screaming in pain, a dagger embedded deep in his shoulder. Craig had one hand extended outward, his other held an identical dagger. The fey pulled at the weapon in his shoulder, silvery blood cascading from his wound.
"Run!" Craig commanded Kyle and Kenny as ice formed around their attackers legs and torso. "Get that power on!"
Kenny grabbed Kyle.s arm and pulled him to a loose board. He moved it and shoved Kyle through, he gave Tweek one last grin before disappearing.
Tweek backed up towards the wall as Craig grabbed his dagger from the incapacitated fey.
"Tweek, come with me." Craig held out his hand. He looked more royal with his dark cloak and tunic. His black hair was tousled, yet that didn't stop his sharp jaw and intense eyes from making him strangely alluring.
Tweek swallowed his apprehension and grabbed Craig's hand. Craig ran his fingers over Tweek's palm and tightened his grip. Together they ran out of the shed, past the rotting wooden fence and into the dark street.
"Can I ask, how did y-you escape?" Tweek puffed as they ducked into a roadside ditch to avoid oncoming headlights. Someone was driving.
"Well…"
Craig's breath hung in the air in thick puffs. His cell was only a few feet wide with a straw bed and a small bucket as a restroom. His daggers had been taken. Clamped on his wrists were leather restraints embedded with magical symbols. Those symbols blocked Craig's natural powers, they violated his very being. He let out a shaky breath and rested his head against the stone wall behind him. In his small prison he had all the time in the world to think about escaping. Although he didn't have any actual tools. He couldn't even use himself as a tool anymore.
There was one ironclad door, which was barred and guarded from the outside. The only light came from a small slit underneath the door. Craig's eyes had adjusted to the scarce light and allowed him to trace nonsensical patterns on the dirt floor.
He could attempt to bribe a guard. But his throat felt like sandpaper, he definitely wasn't at his most charming. And there wasn't any guard in Algrid who would betray the King.
"So what? You're just going to give up?" Craig muttered to himself with a sigh.
A loud clunk bounced off the stone as metal locks disengaged. The dim torch light that flooded his cell was blinding. Craig stood and glared at his captors, he wouldn't be going down without a fight.
"Relax." A scared voice whispered. The small fey that had guarded with Tanz glanced nervously over his shoulder. "My name is Lapis, I'm here to rescue you." He shook his head as if he didn't believe himself, his white hair sparkled in the torch light.
"Rescue?" Craig stood up straighter, his shoulders tense. This could easily be a trap.
"Hurry, the next guard shift will be here any moment. We have to go." Lapis's large eyes watched Craig carefully as he stepped out from the cell. He looked scared, like he expected Craig to attack him. Once Craig was out of the way he locked the dark prison once again.
"Take off these binds." Craig held up his wrists.
"I-I can't, those are guarded with powerful magic. But Tanz can, She is an amazing mage." Lapis hurried down the corridor. His small foot taps reminded Craig of a mouse as they walked.
Craig moved silently, his dark aura blending in perfectly with the shadows.
Lapis stopped in the middle of a hallway and touched the stone wall. "Here." He whispered and pressed his nail against the wall. Tap, tap, tap. The stones rumbled and began moving like gears to reveal a secret staircase leading upwards. Once they were safely inside, Lapis allowed himself to breathe. His legs were shaking and Craig had a sudden urge to comfort him.
"Come on, Tanz will get you out of here." Lapis started up the stairs on unsteady feet.
The problem with going far underground is that to get back up you have to climb a lot of stairs, a lot. Craig thought he was fit, hell he could outrun wolves, but by the time he reached the top of the stairs his thighs were burning with a vengeance. His calves felt like jelly so he allowed himself to lean against the wall. A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead despite the frigid air.
"Elevators. When I'm King… There'll be elevators." Craig huffed out between breathes.
Lapis chuckled and grabbed Craig's arm.
"There is still more to go, in the other room Tanz has gathered." Lapis pried him from the wall and led him to a large meeting room. A long, oak table spanned the length of the room. Obviously it hadn't been used in years, aside from the station of alchemy ingredients and books that had been set up. Tanz was nose deep in a leather bound book the size of a pillow.
"Tanz, I've got him!" Lapis smiled and pushed Craig into the room.
"Excellent. Prince Craig, allow me to remove your restraints."
Craig slipped into one of the many wooden chairs and held up his wrists. Tanz carried over a small crucible filled with a mushed up mixture that gave off the strong scent of iron. Craig's nose crinkled in disgust.
"This should work." She grabbed a good sized blob and lathered it over the leather bonds. After she decided they were completely lathered, she gave them a nod and reached into her pocket. She brought out a small, dry branch. Craig didn't see how making his wrist cuffs smell bad would free him, but he held his tongue as the small branch sprung to life. The fire wasn't hues of orange and red, it flickered grey and gave off no observable heat. "If this burns tell me, because it's not supposed to." Tanz flicked the branch onto the sticky mixture and the whole thing exploded in a flash of green light.
Craig yelped and waved his fiery arms away from his face. The fire faded as fast as it had begun. The once beautiful, engraved leather was now a mess of grayish, scorched fabric that Craig slapped away. It crumbled and fell to the floor with a plop.
Craig held up his unscathed hands and examined as they faded from pitch black to a pale tan.
Tanz and Lapis both saluted Craig when he turned to them.
"My liege, we will help you defeat the false King. His reign has cost many lives, and there is a fire among the people. They are unhappy." Tanz spoke in a soldier's voice, but she smiled faintly. "You have allies." She added. Lapis held up a sheath and presented it to Craig, his weapons.
Craig smiled back, his power was returning. He had allies. And now he had his deadly daggers back.
"I have to get to South Park." Craig hastily wrapped the leather around his waist and fastened it. "My friend, he-"
"Is in danger, no doubt. We can escort you to the forest." Tanz nodded.
"We must hurry."
Tanz, Lapis, and Craig sneaked into the main hall courtesy of another hidden passage. The main door was a straight shot to freedom, but the wrong shot. The most obvious path out of the castle was through the front gate, the heavily guarded front gate. And there would be even more guards crawling over the grounds as soon as Craig was discovered missing.
"We cannot go through the front door. The kitchen has an exit." Lapis whispered.
"It's a dangerous risk to head deeper into the castle." Tanz murmured back.
"We have to try. I will fight a whole army to get out if I must." Craig strode down the hall. He knew the layout of the castle by memory. He knew of closets, dark corners, and heavy tapestries they could take cover in. The walls loomed like watchful giants, the floor seemed to stretch on forever like no man's land. Adrenaline rushed through Craig's body and heightened his senses. He had dreadful anticipation for a battle he hoped would not occur.
The kitchen was close to the help's living quarters. Brownies and house gnomes did most (all) of the cleaning and cooking. They enjoyed their privacy and worked in peace. Hopefully they weren't aware of Craig's current fugitive status. Brownie bites hurt like a mother.
They rounded the bend to the kitchen door. Craig stopped and quickly back peddled straight into Lapis.
"Guard." He hissed quietly and held a finger to his lips.
"Did they see you?" Lapis asked with worried eyes.
Craig peeked his head around the corner and peered at the guard. She appeared to be sleeping while leaning against the wall. "I don't think so. She's asleep."
A devious smile spread across Tanz's face. "Leave this to me."
Tanz strode up to the kitchen with heavy set eyes. "Soldier! Asleep on the job?" The poor fey girl sprang awake, nearly knocking her helmet off in the process. "A troll could've got past you!" Tanz yelled.
"I was resting my eyes, I swear." The girl stood up straight, fear evident in her eyes.
"It's time to switch guards. Move along!" Craig wasn't sure if the fey girl actually believed that, but she was intimidated enough to scamper away as fast as she could.
They entered the kitchens and blocked the door with a barrel.
"Guards don't change for another hour, they'll know something is up. We have to move." Tanz stacked a box of glowing apples on top of the barrel and nodded.
The kitchen has three parts, washing and preparation, cooking stations, and storage. The three separate rooms were large enough to feed a castle. They were running through lines of magical ovens when the door to prep burst down with a large boom.
Craig forced his legs to go faster, storage housed delivery docks, a.k.a their exit.
"Stop them!" A voice rang out.
As Craig ducked into storage the tiled wall by his head exploded in a shower of ceramic. A sharp knife impaled deep in the wall.
"We aren't going to make it." Tanz huffed. She pulled Craig into a mop closet and locked the door.
"What are you doing? We're trapped in here!" Craig hissed.
"Lapis will distract them for a moment, I know a spell that can get you to South Park." Tanz grabbed a bottle of cleaner off the wall and dipped her fingers into it. She began sprawling archaic signs onto the wall. "Just put your heart in the right place."
"Why didn't we do this earlier?" Craig didn't mean to sound pushy, but that would've been much easier.
"The spell is exhausting, I'll be out be out for a while after I cast it. I didn't want to do it soon after that unbinding spell, but desperate times." Tanz shrugged her shoulders and dropped the cleaner. That meant she would be captured in Craig's place.
Craig opened his mouth to protest, but she shut him up with a glare.
"The fate of the kingdom rests in your hands." She moved Craig into the middle of the room. The hum of low chanting filled the room and vibrated off the walls. From the wall, the symbols began to emit a languid red glow that cast Craig's face in a warm bath of light. His stomach felt heavy as the chanting grew louder.
Bam!
A body thudded against the wooden door. Tanz's voice wavered, the glow flickered. She squared her shoulders and put more force into her words.
The symbols erupted in dazzling white light as the door burst inwards. Tanz collapsed underneath the weight of the door and the exertion of the spell. Guards burst in and then everything went white.
Put your heart in the right place.
The sentence floated through Craig's mind. Where was his heart? If you asked he would say his home, Algrid. The spell fought that. Craig forced himself to think, he was burning away. The spell couldn't transport him without a destination. Angelic blonde hair flashed through his mind, soft green eyes.
There, Craig whispered to the light.
He hit the ground, his stomach churning and his eyes on fire. He gasped in a breath of air.
A small shack sat in front of him, arguing could be heard inside.
"This isn't exactly what I pictured." Craig pushed himself up and took unsteady steps toward the shack.
"- that's when you opened the door." Craig whispered. They had made it deep into the forest, yet a manhunt was still going on as far as they could tell. They needed to remain as quiet as possible.
Tweek stopped underneath a tall blue spruce and absorbed the story. Part of him wanted to blurt out his genius mission to save Craig, but embarrassment won over. Instead he let out a low chuckle.
"What?" Craig leaned next to Tweek and stared at him with a soft smile.
"It's j-just, I was going to rescue you." Tweek laughed. "No plan, or supplies, I don't even know where the castle is at!" Tweek clamped a hand over his mouth to stifle his growing laughter.
Craig pulled his wrist away from his mouth and met Tweek's eyes. "I don't think that's funny, that is the bravest thing anyone's ever thought about doing for me." He whispered earnestly.
Tweek's heart squeezed, Craig was staring up at him with those large eyes.
"Is there a b-bug on my face?" Tweek breathed as Craig's eyes gingerly grazed over his features.
"You're beautiful." Craig whispered and freed Tweek's wrist.
Tweek's back dug into the tree, bark caught on his hoodie and poked through in sharp pinches. His heart stopped and then started again ten times faster, his mind was absolutely blank. Had he just been called beautiful? By a prince? No, not by a prince. It didn't matter that Craig was a prince, it mattered that Craig was Craig. Craig had called him beautiful.
Tweek licked his lips and smiled softly, "Craig, you're insane." he whispered.
"Definitely, because I wouldn't have the guts to say this if I wasn't. In Algrid I realized where my heart is, and it's not with the throne. It's with you." Craig voice was soft as he ran his fingers over Tweek's hand. "You make me feel weird, and scared, and I don't want to lose you."
Tweek shivered, Craig was so close. If he just bent his head down their foreheads would touch. That's what he did, he closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to Craig's. If he was reading the situation wrong this would all blow up in his face.
Craig leaned his head upwards and faintly smiled. "Please don't tease me, Tweek. I can handle rejection."
"I'm n-not rejecting you." Tweek quirked his lips and peeked his eyes open. The words came out choppy and nervous.
Craig breathed a soft sigh of release and shut his eyes. He brushed Tweek's hand and their fingers intertwined. Craig ran his other hand up Tweek's arm and around his shoulder.
Tweek's breathing hitched and his cheeks heated up as Craig's fingers danced across the back of his neck and tangled into his hair.
"Craig." Tweek croaked out. His mind was running wild with every soft caress, every time Craig brushed his skin it conjured tingles that scorched his nerves.
"Mmm?" Craig gazed up at Tweek, his pupils were endless. His eyes like small solar eclipses. A ring of baby blue shone around the edges of his pupils and made them infinitely more dark.
Craig's shallow breathing brushed against Tweek's cheek, mixed with the cold air it felt as if the night was caressing him.
Craig leaned in and drew his lips across Tweek's cheek. The small gesture tore at Tweek's heart. Cold spread across Tweek's flushed cheek, the two temperatures caused a flurry of butterflies to come alive in his stomach.
Craig had intended for it to end there, yet he found himself wandering closer to Tweek's lips. He tightened his grip on Tweek's hand and brought it up to his chest.
"P-please…" Tweek whispered and leaned his head against Craig's cheek, he was a mess of emotions and gooey anticipation.
Craig pulled back, just short of Tweek's lips, and covered his mouth with the back of his palm.
"I'm sorry." His voice trembled. He wasn't going to force this. "I should have asked for your permission. I will do this courtship correct." He pulled Tweek's hand up to his lips and gently kissed it.
Tweek rubbed his cheek where the zing of Craig's kiss still lingered in faint wisps. "I would've said y-yes."
Craig gleamed and ran his hand down Tweek's shoulder, he allowed it to drop by his side. "I don't mean to cut this short, but we must be going. I don't think I can fight well enough to protect you with how distracted I am."
"I could protect y-you just as easily." Tweek added with playful grinned.
"I know you could," Craig said with such honesty it surprised Tweek, "are you ready?" Craig ran his thumb over the palm of Tweek's hand in a soothing motion.
Tweek nodded, his stomach clenched with nerves and alleviation every time he met Craig's eyes.
Craig swept over the forest around them for enemies. Then, with Tweek's hand held tightly in his, he led them into a different world.
