Tweek
"Calm down."
"GHA! I don't know man, are you sure about this?!"
"Trust me."
"Okay, oka-" Craig's hands brushed against his skin again. "OH GOD NO, STOP!"
Catching his shirt to keep Craig from taking it away, Tweek shivered and stared up at the boy. "I –ngh- I think I want to keep my shirt on after all! I-It's not that big a deal anyway, right? We can do this without taking off my shirt, right?"
Pausing in removing the blonde's button-up, Craig took his fingers off the buttons before lifting a hand and burying it in Tweek's wild hair. "Okay," he agreed at once, blinking calm blue eyes down at the shorter boy. I'm being such a wimp, Craig must think I'm so stupid. Biting his lip, Tweek stared at the floor and shifted from foot to foot. Why am I being like this, I should just trust him!
Nervously, unable to meet Craig's eyes, Tweek muttered, "Ghn- F-fine, I'll take it off." Horribly aware of Craig's eyes on him, Tweek fumbled his shirt off, each button progressively harder than the last. As he got to the bottom, Craig knelt down and finished unbuttoning the thing for him. His big hands were so much steadier than Tweek's, it always managed to take the blond by surprise. Twitching, Tweek glanced down at his own bony and pasty torso with distaste. At least I'm not as bruised as I used to be...
"There," Craig said, removing the shirt from around Tweek's shoulders before tossing it onto an unopened sack of coffee beans. "You're ready to be a Barbarian now." Looking down at his spindly arms and all too visible ribs, Tweek reflected that if this is what barbarians looked like, then it was a wonder they'd ever beat anyone.
Just as they'd agreed before, today was the day they went to Cartman to ask if they could join the game. Currently, the Noirette was trying to coax Tweek out of the back room of Tweek Bro's, which was proving to be a task. At Craig's insistence, they'd all decided to get dressed in their costumes before going, just so they'd look properly bad-ass when facing Cartman. Jesus, he's going to think I look stupid then he's not going to let us join! Covering his bare chest with his arms, Tweek let out a soft whine.
Craig looked so much cooler than he did. What with his usual hat pulled low over his eyes and secured around his chin with several strips of brown cloth and his brown cape that fluttered around him like a stealthy cloak, the taller boy looked like a Thief. It helped that he'd traded his usual coat for a brown shirt, darker pants and sturdy shoes. The thick utility belt slung over one shoulder only added to the image.
Tweek, on the other hand, looked stupid. He only had on was a pair of gray pants he'd found in the back of his drawers, a belt to hold whatever weapons he ended up with and tall fur-lined boots that looked pretty barbarian like. At least with a shirt on, he'd felt tougher. Without his shirt, he now kind of just looked cold.
Stepping back from Tweek so he could look the boy up and down, Craig hummed under his breath before widening his eyes slightly and reaching into one of the largest pouches on his utility belt. "Hang on, I brought something for you." After a second of struggling, Craig pulled something out that Tweek couldn't see.
What is it? What if it's something dangerous? Jesus, what if it's a real weapon?! I don't think I could handle that! OH GOD, WHAT IS IT? THIS IS TOO MUCH PRESSURE! "OH MY GOD NO!" With a cry of fear, Tweek backed up to the other side of the back room they were both currently holed up in, his hands held up to shield himself from whatever Craig had brought.
Without saying a word, Craig just walked up to the cowering boy. Putting a hand on his bony shoulder, Craig pulled him away from the wall and before Tweek could shove him away, the taller boy looped something over his chest. OH JESUS, FUCK! Slowly daring to open his eyes, Tweek watched as Craig patiently looped a belt over Tweek's shoulder and through a belt loop on his pants. Catching Tweek's eyes, Craig calmly said, "Now we match."
As the Noirette stepped back, Tweek held out his arms and stared down at himself. I don't look like a barbarian at all! I need something else. "No, we don't! Ngh- Y-you look cool!" Looking himself in the distorted reflection of the coffee grinder, Tweek twitched and muttered, "I s-still need something else. I look so lame dude!"
"What about war paint?" Craig suggested, looking around the back room of Tweek Bro's Coffee, presumably for something to use as paint. "I'd say you need weapons, but I'm assuming we'll be outfitted with weapons that fit our classes once we get there."
At the words war paint Tweek let out a screech. "HANG ON! I THINK I HAVE SOMETHING!" Dashing to the back of the room, Tweek yanked open a bag of coffee beans his dad had ordered from some exotic location but never actually used. Grabbing for one of the many broken cups lining the walls, Tweek scooped some of the crushed beans out and raced towards the pot of coffee in the back. This had better work. What if it doesn't and Craig laughs at me?!
Hands shaking, Tweek insisted, "Th-this kind of coffee is good at staining skin, I could use this!" Rushing back to where Craig was, Tweek almost tripped and fell, but Craig caught him before he could. Several spots of dark coffee splattered the ground at Tweek's feet, but none of them got on Craig's clothes. Looking down, the Noirette nodded thoughtfully before taking the cup out of Tweek's shaking hands.
"This could work. Close your eyes," he ordered blandly, dipping a finger into the piping hot mix as if it didn't bother him in the slightest. Though he hated closing his eyes, the action always leaving him feeling vulnerable, Tweek let out a soft, involuntary noise before doing as he'd been bid and letting his lids fall. Almost at once, he could feel Craig drag the calloused pad of his pointer finger over his face in a long stripe that he repeated several more times, each streak careful.
"Do you think that Cartman'll let us join?" Tweek asked nervously, clenching his hands into fists in an attempt to still his shaking as much as possible. "I mean –ngh- You kinda did b-beat him up! Jesus, what if he doesn't let you join!" Those gentle fingers brushed against his cheeks, dragging back over his jawline, causing Tweek to snap his teeth together, not wanting to ruin anything.
"Then we'll just have to work as mercenaries," Craig said flatly as if the idea didn't concern him in the slightest. Imaging himself and Craig alone against the rest of what seemed like the entire school, fighting for whoever the highest bidder was, Tweek gave a little shiver. Though he wanted desperately to be part of a faction, just so he could be truly part of the game, Tweek liked the idea of it just being Craig and him.
Unless Craig leaves so he can join a group on his own. He's so strong, I can't imagine why they wouldn't want to take him on! Twitching, unable to stop himself from the compulsive motion, Tweek gnawed on his bottom lip and rung his hands. He wished he could open his eyes so he could see Craig's face, but he didn't dare do so and ruin the boy's work. As the Noirette's fingers finally moved To Tweek's throat, he let out a soft moan.
"What if Cartman just doesn't want me!" Tweek worried aloud, struggling to keep still with all he had. "I'm n-not all that scary after all! What if he just wants you and Token because you two are cool and I'm not?" Craig let out a breath at that and his fingers stopped, right over Tweek's pulse point.
"Then fuck him, I'm not joining if you're not with me." Tweek's heart leaped and he was pretty sure his face went red with shame because Craig had no doubt felt how much those words had affected the blond. There was a moment more of silence before Craig went back to painting Tweek with war paint. "You're way cooler than Cartman," the boy reassured Tweek, his tone calm.
"I-it's still so much pressure man!" Tweek squeaked. There was the sound of Craig dipping his fingers back into the mix before they went back to dragging over Tweek's skin, this time on his arm, which he lifted. Craig made a band around his bicep before moving down to right below his elbow.
"Relax," Craig assured him, moving on to his other arm. Tweek just let out a pathetic whine. He'd felt much braver the night before when messing around with Craig and the other boys. He could still remember Craig, crouching over him, an evil smirk on his lips just after he'd flipped them. The shiver the memory caused forced Craig to pause for a moment. Oh god, he looked so dangerous. I don't look that dangerous!
Decidedly leaving a large stripe over one of Tweek's protruding hips, the Noirette suddenly announced, "Okay, you can open your eyes now." Peeling back his eyelids, which felt a little stuck together thanks to the coffee now covering them, Tweek glanced down at his arms. Just as he'd hoped, the special coffee ground had left dark brown streaks on his skin that definitely looked like war paint to Tweek. Twisting his head, the blond twitched and let out a scream at the sight of his own reflection.
"OH JESUS!" Stumbling backward into Craig, Tweek let out a whimper. "I –grr- look really scary man! Are you sure this is a good idea!?" Craig's only response was to shrug before putting an arm over Tweek's shoulder and pulling him away from the large coffee grinder.
"You look fine," he assured the blond stoically. "Now come on, Token is waiting for us outside." He started to head for the door back into the shop before Tweek let out a screech. NO! There are so many people out there! They'll all see us and they'll think I look weird and my parents will kill me! THAT'S TOO MUCH PRESSURE!
Tugging on Craig's arm, Tweek yelped, "L-let's go through the back!" Before Craig could ask why Tweek grabbed the boy's hand and tugged him back through the winding path between the coffee bags. Pushing open the back door and giving an involuntary shiver, Tweek momentarily wished for some more coffee before shaking his head. No! I'll be fine! I'm a barbarian, remember! I'm going to go up to Cartman and I'm going to prove that I can measure up to everyone else!
As they popped out from behind Tweek Bro's, Tweek let out a shriek. "Token!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening as he let go of Craig's hand and ran over to the black boy. Token turned around and raised his eyebrows. The boy had dressed up as well, his usual clothing exchanged for a white shirt, purple vest, brown belt, and dark orange pants. Tugging at the red scarf that covered his mouth, Token nodded in approval.
"Wow, I didn't think you'd manage it, Craig," Token said, looking behind the blond at Craig, who was ambling after him. Manage what? Suddenly worried, Tweek jerked his head back and forth between the two of them, trying to figure out what Token was talking about. Oh god, did they make a bet!? I HATE BETS! Oh Jesus, what did he manage? WHAT HAPPENED!?
"Yeah, I didn't think I'd manage to get him out of his shirt either," Craig commented, looking down at Tweek with a gleam in his eyes that was almost teasing. OH GOD, THEY WERE BETTING ON THAT?! FUCK WHY? With a scream, Tweek fisted hands in his hair and pulled hard, trying to drown out the screaming in his own mind.
"No, I figured you'd manage that, I'm surprised you got him to part with his coffee," Token answered back blandly, chuckling softly as Tweek let out a moan at the word coffee. I should have brought some with me. Oh god, I'm going to go crazy and no one is going to want me on their side! As a hand settled in his hair, Craig stepped up beside the blond, flipping Token off as he did so.
"Fuck you man," he complained in a monotone. Though he sounded annoyed, the fingers in Tweek's hair were as gentle as ever. Looking between the two, Token was silent for a moment before seemingly settling something in his own mind and moving on. Tweek wished he could understand what was going through the black boy's mind, but he'd mastered being unreadable even more so than Craig.
"Clyde should be waiting for us outside of Cartman's house," he said, fiddling with the plastic knives he'd affixed to his belt. "He said he'd already spoken to Cartman and chances are pretty good we'll get in, but it's still up to the Grand Wizard in the end." Looking at Craig, Token said, "Just… Don't punch him this time, okay?"
Eyes flying open, Tweek let out a screech. "OH GOD MAN, DON'T HURT HIM, THAT'S TOO MUCH PRESSURE!" Scrambling away from Craig, the blond grabbed fistfuls of his hair and twitched hard. "W-we really have to make a good impression, okay?" The idea of getting thrown out before they'd even had a chance to join terrified Tweek to no end. All he wanted was to have fun with his friends, he couldn't handle the pressure of also worrying whether Craig was going to cause everyone to turn against them.
"As long as he doesn't piss me off," Craig said with a shrug. Before Tweek had a chance to freak out about this, he stepped into line beside Token. "Come on, Clyde'll get mopey if we take too long." With those words, he decidedly started walking. With a squeak, Tweek rushed to catch up, his hand tangling itself in Craig's cloak, entirely on instinct.
As Token started talking, something about the strategies he'd been working out the night before, Tweek realized how close to Craig he was huddling. Though usually he didn't care, mostly because Craig didn't care either, right now, all the blond could think about was how pathetic he looked. God, I'm a barbarian berserker! What am I doing, clinging to Craig like this? Ugh, I look lame hanging off of him like a barnacle or something, I need to be stronger, how else am I going to be a good warrior?!
"-but if you were to figure out a good way to sneak up the tree from the other side, then we'd have a foolproof plan to get the stick if the elves take it again," Token was saying, drawing his finger through the air, conjuring up battle plans as they walked. "Of course, they probably have every angle protected, however pathetically."
Craig hummed under his breath, before glancing over at Tweek, who yelped. "Are you any good at climbing?" he asked, his eyebrows raising slightly. With his hat pulled down so low, they disappeared beneath the brim, making him look even more emotionless than usual. Am I any good at climbing?! If I climb, what if I fall? What if I broke my back and couldn't talk for the rest of my life? What if I died?!
"N-no way man!" Tweek squeaked, shaking his head rapidly. "I can't climb things, it's too dangerous." Letting out a slight sigh, Craig turned away. Oh god, I've made him mad haven't I? What was I supposed to say!? He already thinks I'm pathetic, I'm making it even worse! Through chattering teeth, Tweek pushed out, "B-But I could –ngh- learn!"
"It's fine," Craig said flatly. "I can teach you." As they turned left, Tweek all but buried his head in Craig's cloak as they crossed the street. Like not being able to see it is going to get rid of the cars that could run us over. Feeling horribly stupid, Tweek forced himself to let go of Craig's clothes the moment they reached the other side of the street.
Twitching hard, Tweek yanked on his hair and stifled his own whimpers before hurrying to keep up with the boys, who kept talking, oblivious to his distress. Craig was passionately arguing whether dragons could or couldn't exist in a fantasy game and Tweek didn't want to interrupt him with his own insecurities. That's all I ever do, isn't it?
Feeling sick to his stomach, Tweek wished desperately for his coffee as he wrapped his arms around his chest and kept his eyes trained on the ground. His vision felt weird, what with the dark coffee stains streaked over his face. Remembering how patient Craig had been with him about the whole thing, even when he'd been acting up the entire time, Tweek clenched his teeth.
Ahead, Token said something to Craig and the taller boy pushed him lightly in return. Biting his lip, Tweek felt his heart sink. Why can't I be like all of Craig's other friends? Why do I have to be so stupid and weird? I'm so… so clingy! It's stupid, Token and Clyde don't act like that around Craig, why do I?! Tweek kept trying to find a good answer for it but he came up with nothing. All he had was the simple fact that he did act clingy, always feeling the need to keep a hold of the Noirette in some way. I'm supposed to be tough! I can't act like this if I'm a barbarian!
But Craig never stops me, so does that mean he doesn't mind? Maybe Craig just didn't care at all! Tweek let out a soft whine as they turned right, his short legs making it more difficult to keep up with Craig and Token, who were both taller than he was. Maybe that's just how friends act… Stan and Kyle do it sometimes, maybe it's not weird at all. But what if it is and everyone is laughing at us and that's why Token is always staring at us! Because I'm being weird and Craig doesn't care enough to make me stop.
Tweek's head started to pound as the thoughts raced around in his head. Wrapping his fingers around the belt Craig had looped over his chest, Tweek shut his eyes tightly as if he could drive the headache away just by not looking at anything. Almost the moment he did, something caught his foot, causing him to stumble. OH JESUS! "AUGH!" Tweek wailed, his hands flying out as the ground suddenly came rushing towards him a lot faster than he'd expected.
"Fuck." The expletive was followed by hands grabbing his upper arms and pulling up sharply, keeping him from face-planting on the sidewalk. Shaking violently, Tweek looked up to find Craig looking down at him with a frown on his face. OH GOD, I MADE HIM UPSET! WHY AM I SUCH A SCREW-UP!? Tweek would have pulled on his hair if his arms weren't currently being held by the boy above him.
"I'M SORRY!" Tweek screeched, twitching hard and trying to look anywhere but into those blue eyes that were staring down at him. Craig didn't speak, which only made it worse. Tweek was pretty sure Token was saying something, but he couldn't make it out through the screaming in his own skull. He's going to kill me now for sure!
Suddenly, there was a flash of brown and Tweek found Craig's cloak wrapped around his shoulders. Pressed up against the Noirette's side, Tweek could feel his twitching subside into a simple tremble. Catching the edge of Craig's cloak, the blond gave up on trying to be tough and just let Craig's presence calm him down. "Are you okay?" Token asked, his voice breaking through the static that had filled Tweek's mind in place of the shrieking.
As Tweek opened his mouth to attempt a response that wasn't an incoherent whimper, Craig cut him off. "He'll be fine," he said gruffly, wrapping an arm around Tweek's shoulders so he couldn't wander off and drag the cloak with him. Still shaking, Tweek nodded several times against Craig's side. From here, he could see the shiny handle of the butter knife Craig had been using as a weapon the night before. It made something in his throat tighten. Recalling what he'd been worried about before, the shorter boy put his head up and looked at the silent Noirette.
Though it terrified him to ask the question at all, Tweek quietly bit out the words, "Craig –ghn- A-am I clingy?" Oh, Jesus, he's going to never talk to me again, why did I have to open my mouth?! He's going to think I'm weird and then he's never going to talk to me and Cartman is going to start hurting me again!
Slowly glancing down at the blond, Craig's face was flat for a moment before something in his intensely blue eyes softened, became that side of Craig that Tweek saw whenever the boy was holding Stripe or talking about Space. Lifting his free hand, the boy placed it in the blonde's hair. Tweek could practically feel all of the worry and self-deprecating thoughts being soaked up and drawn out of him through that point of contact.
"No," Craig answered simply, his voice just as soft. Then, as though it had been decided, he went back to his conversation with Token. Tweek was simply content to huddle up against Craig's side, carefully putting one foot in front of the other. If Craig thinks I'm fine, then I am. Because when had Craig ever been wrong before?
Besides, it was a lot warmer under Craig's cloak than without it. Ruefully, Tweek decided, I can be a scary barbarian later…
A/N: To be fair, I had to have their conversation with Cartman from Craig's perspective anyway.
And you know, fluff, so...
In all seriousness though, I love it when you people try to predict where the story is going. I just love hearing your thoughts, it fills me with joy!
