A/N: So if anyone is interested, I have a Tumblr under the same name as my pseudonym here that has several different pieces of fan art people have done for this story. If any of you are interested, I highly recommend you check them out because seriously, they're awesome.

Enjoy!

Tweek

HOW DID HE DO IT SO NEATLY! THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!

Dragging his trembling fingers over the faded pattern of stripes on his face, Tweek let out a soft, "Aghu~" as his fingers once again went outside of the lines. He hadn't even tried to use the coffee mix he'd made with some of the grounds that his parents had left in the basement, he was just trying to steady his hands enough to do it at all. Craig's much better at this than me…

Turning his head, Tweek looked over at said boy. Even after being wide awake, thanks to the monster incident and then running over to Tweek's house, Craig had managed to fall asleep on Tweek's bed, sitting upright with his back wedged against Tweek's headboard. It couldn't be comfortable, but like he was, still dressed up in his costume, Tweek thought that Craig looked a little like a rag doll, like if he touched the boy, he'd find fabric and stuffing instead of skin.

At the thought of the monsters, Tweek shivered and his eyes darted about his room. To the closet, to under his bed, to his underwear drawer. He knew the monsters were still there, but with Craig in the room, they were kept at bay. Remembering the roars he'd heard in Craig's house, Tweek twitched hard and bit his lip.

Craig had told him not to talk about it. Why is he hiding?! Well, obviously because the monsters would kill him if he told someone. That's so much pressure! How is he still alive? Is that why he's so scary sometimes? Because he's dealt with real monsters so all the monsters at our school look like nothing? Wrapping his arms around himself, Tweek squeezed his eyes shut tight. He hated this, but he wasn't sure what to do but listen to Craig. At least Clyde knows. That's what he said, right?

Pushing those thoughts away, keeping them from overwhelming his mind, Tweek turned back to the mirror and looked at Craig's clothes hanging off of him. Ugh, it's six in the morning, I should change. The tee-shirt he was wearing had a guinea pig on it, one that was dressed up in a pirate costume. Tweek didn't get the joke, but he supposed that it would be something Craig would wear.

Picking at the fuzzy pants he was wearing, ones that pooled over his feet and had planets all over them, Tweek smiling slightly, the expression attempting to pull his lips upward to limited success. He wished he could push the last few hours out of his mind entirely, but he couldn't. Maybe it was worse because he couldn't even ask Craig about it. And now he's seen how crazy my family is. He probably thinks I'm just like them. I'm such a screw-up, I wish he hadn't seen that.

But he had, and now Tweek supposed that both Craig and he had revealed all the horrible things that hid in their closets. Craig had his monsters and was able to feel fear, Tweek had his parents and his own monsters. Was that a good thing that they'd let all of the horrible stuff out? Was it a bad thing? Tweek didn't know.

Needing to distract himself, Tweek struggled out of the clothing Craig had lent him and opened the bag that Craig had brought over. Finding his costume stuffed into the bottom, Tweek struggled into the pants and made a fool of himself trying to get the shoulder belt secured properly. No matter how much noise he made, Craig kept sleeping, no doubt exhausted from everything that had happened.

Once he'd managed to get dressed, Tweek stood in front of his mirror and spread his arms wide. The fading stripes of coffee-stained skin stood out against the rest of his pasty flesh and the club hanging on his belt weighed his entire costume down, but he still looked cool. Like a real barbarian. Unhooking his club, Tweek raised it above his head and growled at the mirror. I could be scary, just like Craig.

Reattaching the club to his belt, Tweek stumbled over to the dresser and grabbed the cup of coffee stain. Carefully walking back to the mirror, Tweek knelt before it and tried to still his hands enough to paint his skin. I keep shaking! Maybe I should wake up and ask Craig to do it? But I've got to work on being more independent!

"Y-you're better at this," Tweek said, belatedly realizing that he was talking to a sleeping boy and an empty room. Swiveling his head quickly to make sure he hadn't woken Craig up, Tweek twitched hard and let out a soft, involuntary noise. Craig just kept sleeping, his chest rising and falling slowly, the only sign that he wasn't just a mannequin that someone had put on Tweek's bed.

"I don't have steady hands," Tweek continued softly, tentatively, as if he expected the sleeping boy to yell at him for talking to him while he was asleep. When Craig didn't even twitch, Tweek said, "I twitch and spill things, I c-can't draw on myself."

Turning back to the mirror, Tweek dipped his fingers in the stain again and very slowly dragged his fingers over his hip and up his stomach. "You're really steady all the time Craig," he commented, unsure why he was still talking but not about to stop. "Even when scary people –ngh- get upset with you, you just flip them off."

I wish I wasn't so pathetic, I wish I could be strong, like Craig. "I'm sorry I'm not as strong as you." Finishing the stripe he was working on, Tweek was absently surprised to find that it had turned out alright. Moving on to the stripe just below his elbow, Tweek muttered, "I'm trying, b-but I'm not very good at it."

It was weird, it felt good to say those things to Craig, like he was finally able to get his concerns off of his chest. While he spoke, his hands didn't shake as much and he was able to get his lines almost as straight as Craig's. Dipping his fingers back in the coffee, Tweek stared at his own reflection in the mirror and said, "If I was strong, then you wouldn't have had to protect me from your monsters like that."

The moment he mentioned them, Tweek snapped his mouth shut, remembering what Craig had said about talking about the monsters. But Craig was asleep right now and he wouldn't hear it, so Tweek figured he might as well. Besides, he had to familiarize his own monsters with Craig's demons, just in case they came after him. Then they'd know to keep them away. So as he dragged his fingers over his bicep, Tweek started talking again.

"Your monsters are really scary Craig, I w-wish you could tell someone about them." More coffee, more skin re-stained. "But I guess you don't want to die, so you don't tell your parents. I wish you could tell them anyway." Tweek had only met Craig's mom before, so he really didn't know much about his parents, but she'd seemed okay. She seemed normal, unlike my mom. But she'd also seemed stiff, like she held her head high because she thought that everyone else would judge her if she didn't.

"But maybe your parents would be like mine and wouldn't believe your monsters are real, so it's better n-not to –ghn- t-tell them," Tweek said in a rush, closing his eyes as he remembered his own disastrous attempts to explain to his parents that there were things out to kill him. "Th-they never listen, Craig, which doesn't make sense, b-because they all have monsters too." He knew it was true, he'd seen the way his mother did certain things like if she didn't, something horrible would happen. He'd seen the way his father refused to walk into a room if the lights weren't on. Everyone had monsters.

Tipping his head back so he could draw over the stripes on his neck, Tweek continued, "I guess they think that they're grown up, s-so they're not allowed to have monsters anymore." Turning around to Craig, Tweek twitched slightly and said, "I don't think anyone around here is grown up, they're all just better at pretending than we are." Shivering, he jerked his head back around to the mirror and once again tried to draw across his face.

He couldn't talk while he did this, but he kept thinking, his mind running a million miles a minute. You don't understand the depths of the crazy that exists in this house, but that's okay because I don't understand what goes on inside your house. I don't know what makes the walls feel like they're screaming and I don't know why your parents don't wake up when the monsters start throwing things around. But you will never understand why my dad can't remember how old I am and why my mom forgets to be human sometimes.

Tweek was pretty sure that everyone had problems like that, but they also had closets to hide things in. Tweek's closet was already full of monsters, so he couldn't put anything else in there. And maybe that was why Craig's monsters were so loud, because he kept Stripe in the closet and he didn't want to freak out his guinea pig with those demons that haunted him. Finishing the stripes along either side of his jaw, Tweek sat back and looked himself over. "You're still better and drawing than I am," he informed the sleeping boy behind him. "Even if you do have monsters."

Turning his head, Tweek very carefully re-did the stripe across his face. Now that he'd let out all of his worries and thoughts, his fingers were almost steady. He could still feel pressure building up in his head, but at least he could finish his war paint. Closing his eyes, Tweek finished it off by dabbing his eyelids with the stain then leaving them closed. He didn't like sitting here like this, vulnerable while he let his stain dry, but he supposed that Craig was still on the bed so the boy would wake up if anything came out to attack Tweek.

Suddenly, there was a squeaking sound and Tweek's eyes flew open as he tumbled backward, trying to see what was going on. "ACK!" Slapping a hand over his mouth to stifle the cry of surprise, Tweek twitched hard and turned to find Kenny sitting on his window ledge, smoothing out his princess skirts as he did so.

"Tweekers! Already dressed up for battle! My my, just look at you~" Grinning from ear to ear, Kenny slipped off the window ledge and leaned over Craig, a mischievous look on his face. "Aww, Tucker's all tuckered out. Must've been hard, carrying you all the way here." Picking at Craig's cloak, much to Tweek's distress, Kenny muttered, "Didn't even have time to change before he conked out, poor lad."

Scrambling backward over his lego-strewn floor, Tweek squawked, "H-How did you know we were here?!" Oh God, why does he always do this?! Can't he ever stop, just once?!

With a laugh, Kenny grabbed the footboard of Tweek's bed and swung himself around, hanging off of the thing after doing so. The hair of his wing trailed out beneath him, like a sparkling wave. "I had it on good authority where you'd be. I checked out little Thief's house first but, alas, no luck. Thankfully, I came here next and voila~ Both of you at once!" Giggling girlishly, Kenny said, "Didn't get any more sleep after stargazing with Craig, right?"

So that wasn't a dream after all. Trying to get his heart rate to go back to normal after it had confusingly jumped up, Tweek insisted, "I s-slept!" Struggling to his feet, Tweek leaned against the wall as his vision blurred before stumbling forward. "W-why are you here?"

Twirling the fingers of his free hand, Kenny spun off of the footboard of Tweek's bed and exclaimed, "Why, I've come to get you and Feldspar here! The Grand Wizard requires your presence immediately~" Twirling a piece of his hair between thumb and forefinger, Kenny added, "We are attacking the Elves after all. I'm sure you know that Craig is leading the charge."

Nodding nervously, Tweek gnawed on his bottom lip and shuffled his feet before muttering, "I heard I'm n-not part of the assault." He hated how he sounded like a winy child saying that, but he couldn't help it. Even though he'd told Craig he was fine with it, Tweek didn't like that the boy was going off on his own, he felt like he should be there too, even though he was technically the weaker of the two.

Floating over to him, Kenny tutted softly. "Oh Tweeky, come now, do you really think you and Feldspar are going to be sent on every mission together? Don't be ridiculous." Circling the boy, Kenny hummed under his breath and picked at the belt slung over Tweek's shoulder. "You look so unarmed like this, you need a bow, something barbarian-esque. Wouldn't you agree, Tweek?"

Stumbling away from the Princess, Tweek twitched to the right and insisted, "B-But you're a princess! Can't you convince the Grand Wizard to let me go too! I can help and –ngh- be useful and stuff!" When Kenny only gave him a pitying look, Tweek let out an, "Augh! Y-You're useless!" Clenching his fists, Tweek glared at the floor, wishing he could think of something to say that would change Kenny's mind, but he came up with nothing.

Thankfully, he didn't have to come up with anything, because it was at that moment that Craig's low, irritable voice bit out, "What are you doing here, McCormick?" Turning, Tweek found Craig getting up out of his bed, already wide awake and glaring at Kenny. He looked frightening, not that Kenny seemed to care. All the Princess did was giggle brightly.

"Look who has awakened," Kenny commented, breezing past Craig so he could throw an arm over Tweek's shoulder. The shorter blond instantly squawked and struggled to escape, but Kenny's arm around his neck was like a vice. "Tweekers and I were just talking about the fact that the Grand Wizard has summoned you for battle!"

Glancing at Tweek's clock, which was shaped like a mug of coffee, Craig rubbed his face with a hand and groaned softly. "It's seven," he muttered, his face smoothing out into his usual flat expression. "Are we really attacking this early?" Looking over Kenny, who was still leaning on Tweek, and then to Tweek himself, Craig raised an eyebrow.

"Well, far be it from me, a mere Princess, to question what the will of the Wizard is," Kenny commented, catching the expression on Craig's face and decidedly letting Tweek escape. The moment he was able to get away, Tweek hurried over to near where Craig was standing and grabbed his boots. "I would get going. In fact, since you're both ready, I'll escort you there."

Turning to look at Kenny once his boots were on, Tweek squeaked, "Did they really p-plan this out last night?" The moment he tried to get up, he found Craig's hand there, offering him help. Taking the assistance, Tweek let the taller boy help him to his feet.

Shrugging, Kenny picked at his skirts as if there was something wrong with them before sighing. "Well, this is plan A. There is a plan B that Token created with my help, but I think Cartman hopes that plan A will suffice." Looking between Craig and Tweek, Kenny clapped his hands together. "Now, let's get going! We don't want to be late~"

Slipping into his own shoes, Craig caught Tweek's hand and pulled him along, his face calm as always. Tripping on a few of the legos scattered about his own floor, Tweek hurried to keep up with the other boys as they left his room and started down his hallway. Glancing down at him, Craig was silent for a moment before asking, "Do you want to grab some coffee first?"

Widening his eyes at the idea of being allowed to bring coffee with him, Tweek nodded his head and squeaked, "Hang on!" Letting go of Craig's hand, the boy darted back into his room and grabbed his silver thermos off of his table. It was empty at the moment, but he could remedy that pretty quickly. Dashing back out into the hallway, Tweek screeched, "I'LL BE READY IN A MOMENT!" before almost falling down the stairs in his haste to get to the kitchen.

As he set the pot of coffee up and waited for it to brew, Tweek listened to the bits of conversation Craig and Kenny were having drift in from the living room. "Come on Craig, do you think Cartman cares what you think? If you do, you're sorely mistaken."

"He could at least try not to make such horrible decisions," Craig said, his voice flat and calm. Tweek wondered why what bad decision they were talking about, but the coffee pot dinged, bringing him back to the present abruptly. Fumbling with the pot, Tweek emptied the whole thing into his thermos before dragging out the cream and sugar.

"He wouldn't have been able to wait till Monday to do something, he's not that patient," Kenny was telling Craig just as Tweek finally managed to get his thermos lid back on and raced into the living room. Grinning widely, Kenny clapped his hands together and announced, "Look at you Tweeky, a veritable barbarian with your weapons and a skein of the bitter, boiling, ruthless and depraved blood of tired men."

Nodding, unsure what else he was supposed to say to that, Tweek squeaked, "Aren't we g-gonna go now?!"

"But of course Tweekers, we do have a Grand Wizard to see!" Breezing past Tweek, Kenny opened his front door and walked out of it. Coming up beside Tweek, Craig put a hand in his hair for a brief moment and ruffled his wild mane before grabbing his hand and leading him out of the house, closing the door behind them both.

Surprisingly enough, the moment they'd stepped out of the house, they were met with a panting Butters, who looked like he'd run all the way here. Upon seeing Kenny, he let out a breath of relief and said, "Th-the Grand Wizard me down t'find you, Princess! He said the mean ol' Drow Elves might've gotcha or somethin' an'that's why you were taking' so long!" Looking behind Kenny, Butter's face split into a grin. "Well heya fellas!"

With a sigh and an eye roll, Kenny patted Butters' arm and said, "The Grand Wizard clearly grows impatient. At least we'll have a strong Paladin to accompany us back to the Kingdom." As Butters blushed and tried to stammer out something, Kenny looped his arm around the boy's and beckoned Tweek and Craig forward. "Well, let's not make him wait any longer."

Craig started forward and Tweek hurried after him a moment later. Even though he wasn't supposed to be fighting today, he could feel his body thrumming with excitement. He wasn't sure what he'd overheard Craig and Kenny talking about while he'd been making coffee but Tweek wasn't worried. After all, why would they send them into a pointless battle? I'm so glad we joined the game! I thought maybe we'd never join, but now that we have, it's so exciting. I wonder if Craig's having fun, he seems like he is. I hope he's enjoying himself.

As they reached Kupa Keep, Butters ushered them into the backyard, which was a flurry of activity. Swords were being cleaned and sharpened, Archers were practicing, and even the Stables seemed to busy. Eyes widening, Tweek found Clyde, who spotted him at almost the same moment. Letting go of Craig's hand, Tweek squeaked, "Clyde!" and waved his hands over his head.

A grin spreading across his face, Clyde bounced over to Tweek, his helmet going lopsided with the motion. "Teacup! You're here! And you even brought Craig!" Catching Tweek in a hug, Clyde exclaimed, "Are you excited?! We're totally going to kick those Drow Elves' asses!" Looking at Craig, Clyde bounced on the balls of his feet. "You're going to get to put those Thief skills to good use and get that Stick back!"

"Yes indeed!" Stepping out of the castle, Token in tow, Cartman planted his staff on the ground before him and leaned forward, looking their group over. "Today Feldspar, you will bring glory to Kupa Keep with your superior skills. It is my hope that you can retrieve the Stick and right the wrongs which were committed against us last night. Do you think you're up to the task?"

Stepping forward, walking away from Tweek so he could draw in front of Kenny and Butters, Craig tilted his head up and clearly said, "Yes, Grand Wizard. I think that I am up to the task." Tweek watched him with wide eyes. After everything he'd see the night before, the blond couldn't help but be awed with how easily Craig pushed his monsters aside and stood tall and fearless. He's so strong, I wish I were that strong. I wish I could be like Craig.

Watching him silently for a moment, Cartman lowered his head in a nod before raising his head and calling, "Those who have been tasked with attacking the Elves, gather and go! The Kingdom of Kupa Keep will be great once again!" If Craig's leading them, Tweek thought, feeling emboldened at the sounds of the gathered soldiers cheering. Then of course it will.