A/N: Wow, I already feel ridiculous. What are we up to, three chapters?
I really hope they all turned out alright. Most of them were written on little to no sleep XD I hope it was worth it, I'm not doing that again for a while. I guess I just underestimated the power of your collective awesomeness.
Enjoy.
Tweek
Tweek was screaming even before Craig went down. He'd been watching in abject fear as Craig fought Stan and lost more and more ground every second. Every strike Stan had landed drew blood, carving Craig to pieces and yet the boy had kept fighting, determination shining in his eyes. Except Tweek knew that wasn't what was driving Craig, no, there was something else behind those blue eyes that was pushing the Noirette to do stupid things.
It had really become obvious when Craig had taken Tweek's place in the Gladiator's ring, but it had been there before, Tweek felt. There was darkness in Craig's eyes that he didn't understand and no matter what he did, he couldn't seem to make it go away. Probably, it was the reason that Craig had fought Chris Donnelly earlier, even when that boy was more powerful than him and had almost beaten him.
He'd been upset about it because he didn't want to see Craig get hurt and yet he'd been forced to let the boy go against Stan, who was clearly going to kill him. Then he'd talked to the boy and been furious because all he'd seen was Craig's stupid idea that he was somehow going to protect Tweek when the boy really should be standing up for himself. He'd tried to get Craig to understand that, screamed at him, but Craig had been so stubborn. Tweek hadn't been able to get the words out in a sensible manner and Craig seemed bent on being as obtuse as possible
And now the Noirette was laying there on the ground bleeding out and Tweek couldn't decide whether he wanted to cry, run, or scream at Craig for being an idiot. Clyde still had a hand on his shoulder, something about keeping him from running in to stop the fight. He didn't blame the boy for thinking he would, Tweek had wanted to, no matter how stupid the idea was. But now that it was over, Tweek needed to get over to Craig, needed to make his head stop spinning.
He was still so angry because if Craig had just listened, he wouldn't have gotten hurt at all, but there was nothing he could do now that it was over, no magic way to reverse what had been done. Now Craig was hurt and Tweek was powerless to help him. Why does he keep doing this? Why does he keep defending me? Why does he think I can't handle myself?! WHY DOES HE ALWAYS LOOK SO GUILTY I DON'T GET IT I DON'T GET HIM I WANT OUT!
Trembling harder, Tweek let out a strangled sound as Stan raised his sword to more cheers from the crowd and Craig coughed weakly, blood from his various injuries staining the ground. He just wanted Craig to be okay, why didn't the Noirette understand that? Tweek liked having Craig around but he didn't want the boy to put himself in unnecessary danger all the time, especially for him. There was no reason for him to practically throw himself onto Stan's blade, it was just stupidity. Just stubbornness that Tweek would never never understand.
"I think that we h-h-have a victor!" Jimmy announced, walking forward and standing beside Stan. "Th-the Elves have w-w-w-won." As the Humans booed and made disappointed or disgusted sounds, the Elves whooped and cheered, their pride in Stan clear. Even Kyle was smirking, a small smile that he seemed to be sharing only with Stan. Tweek just shook his head, trying to get it out of his head. Please, just do something about Craig!
With a great sigh, Cartman said, "Well, that was frankly disappointing. Feldspar, I expected better of you." Waving his hand, he muttered, "Someone had better get him out of there before he dies or something." Instantly, both Token and Butters strode into the ring and headed for Craig. A moment later, Tweek managed to shake Clyde's grip loose and he raced for Craig.
Almost falling face first onto the horribly injured boy, Tweek grabbed fistfuls of his hair and screeched, "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?" Pulling hard enough to make his head ache, Tweek trembled and twitched as he stared down at Craig, who gave another cough before shrugging, the action making him wince. Though his expression was as flat as ever, Tweek could see the guilt in his eyes and it pissed him off more.
"NO! Y-You don't get to do things like this!" Tweek screeched, his glare full of all the force he could through behind it. "I t-told you that Stan was way stronger than you!" Dropping to his knees beside Craig, hardly caring when he got in Butters' way, Tweek trembled as he looked over the boy spread out over the ground. "Y-You're almost dead!"
Craig's eyes just got that much more guilty and Tweek hated it. He had so much anger building up in his body and he had no idea what to do with it. Slowly, Craig reached a hand up but lying on the ground like he was, he couldn't reach Tweek's hair. Just that action alone made Tweek want to scream. HOW CAN YOU ACT LIKE EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT!? "WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE THIS?!" Tweek demanded, biting his lip until it started to bleed. "YOU'RE SO S-STUPID!"
"Tweek, we need to move him out of the ring." At the sound of Token's calm voice, Tweek's head flew up and he twitched hard to one side. He wanted to bang his head on something, just to dislodge the terrified and angry thoughts racing about up there. "Tweek, it's over. Once I've healed him, he'll be fine."
"NO! IT'S NOT –RRR- FINE!" Tweek yelled, frantic. Why am I the only one who understands that? Why am I the only one who understands how not okay this whole thing is?! "HE KEEPS DOING STUPID THINGS! WHY DOES HE K-KEEP DOING STUPID THINGS?!" Tweek wasn't sure if he was going to cry or tear something apart. But he didn't want it to be Craig so he scrambled back, hating himself and hating the Noirette for acting like an idiot.
"At least your fine," Craig said softly, his voice surprising Tweek out of some of his wild thoughts. Twitching hard, staring down at the boy, Tweek felt his mouth fall open in absolute disbelief. Why is that the only thing he cares about? Doesn't he care about himself? Why is it just me? Why can't he go back to how it used to be! I don't need him to throw himself in front of me to keep me safe, I need him to stand beside me and make me strong! THIS ISN'T HELPING!
"THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE!" Tweek shrieked. Tearing at his hair, Tweek let out a moan of pure frustration and pushed out, "YOU'RE HURT BECAUSE OF –NGH- ME! I j-just want you to go back to normal Craig! S-stop doing stupid things!" Getting to his feet, needing to get some air, Tweek stumbled away from Craig, who stared after him, which didn't help a damn thing.
As Token and Butters both started casting spells over Craig, Tweek clenched the handle of his club. He just wished he could show Craig that he didn't need to be protected like this! He'd broken the boy out of school! He'd fought the Elves and saved Craig's life! And yet when it came to something like this, Craig thought he was helpless. WHY DOES HE THINK I'M HELPLESS?! As golden magic enveloped Craig, Tweek drew in a shuddering breath. At least the boy wasn't dying anymore.
Though admittedly, what was left behind didn't look much better. Craig looked battered and bruised in all kinds of ways, the lack of bloody gashes really didn't make much of a difference. As Butters attempted to help Craig out of the ring before the boy shook him off and limped towards Tweek, the blond shivered and trembled. He didn't want this. He didn't want Craig to think that this was okay. He couldn't handle watching Craig end up a bloody mess again, not when it was his fault. It wasn't fair! Craig shouldn't be allowed to do this to him!
"Look," Craig said softly, spreading out his arms, even though it made him wince to do so. "I'm fine." He looked so unaffected that Tweek really did scream. The sound made Craig's brows furrow, which only pissed Tweek off more because why couldn't the boy show more emotion!? Why did Tweek have to be the only one losing his mind while Craig could look like he was fine except for the guilt in his eyes which was still there!
"Y-you're not fine!" Tweek snapped, backing away from Craig, unable to help himself from being furious. He needed to get this out somehow and he didn't know how. "I'M NOT FINE!" Shivering, grabbing the handle of his club in an attempt to steady himself, Tweek pushed out, "Why do you keep doing this?"
Taking a deep breath, Craig asked, "Doing what," as if he didn't know what he was doing. Shaking, Tweek shook his head, trying to force the words to order themselves. They wouldn't, Tweek didn't know what he was supposed to say. He just wanted Craig to be okay and he wanted the boy to stop acting like he was Tweek's savior when all he was doing was getting hurt over and over and over again. Looking into Craig's eyes, Tweek searched for the strength and calm he needed from the boy.
But all he found was that horrible, clawing guilty. "That!" Tweek screeched, pointing a shivering finger at Craig. "L-looking at me like you're guilty w-when you haven't done anything wrong! Throwing yourself in front of me when I don't need you to! Acting stupid and getting hurt! I can't handle it! I can't handle you getting h-hurt it's too mUCH PRESSURE!" The words seemed to trigger something in Craig, which made the boy's eyes go from guilty to guarded. WHY CAN'T HE JUST UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY?! DO I HAVE TO SHOW HIM?!
"I'm not acting stupid, I'm not guilty," Craig countered, even though he very clearly was on both counts. It was so infuriating that Tweek almost let out another scream. Vaguely, he was aware that the two of them were drawing attention to themselves, including Stan's. Kyle and Cartman were too busy arguing about something to pay attention, but everyone else was staring and it only made Tweek panic more. "I know that you're capable, I've seen you."
"THEN WHY DON'T YOU ACT LIKE IT!?" Shaking his head like a dog, Tweek glared at Craig, who just stared back with that same flat blank expression like nothing got through to him. But it wasn't calming, it was infuriating because Craig's calm was gone, there was something wrong and he wouldn't tell Tweek and he kept getting hurt and Tweek just wanted to prove that he was okay on his own. "Why won't you –rrr- let me fight my own battles? Why!?"
"I do," Craig argued. "But this wasn't your battle. This was a fucking stupid-"
"The only one b-being stupid is you!" Focusing in on Stan, who was still standing there, still bleeding from his own injuries, a dumbfounded look on his face, Tweek knew what he had to do. If Craig can't admit that he can't take me seriously, if Craig has to protect me from things that I don't need to be protected from, then I'm going to prove to him that I'm fine! Clenching his fists, Tweek walked forward, pushing past Craig when the boy tried to get in his way.
Drawing his short sword, Tweek twitched as he pointed it at Stan, who just blinked at him. "I WANT TO FIGHT YOU!" Tweek announced, his voice as loud as he could make it. He didn't care that it sounded horribly high pitched and squeaky, it did what he wanted because at once, everyone started to murmur and Kyle and Cartman finally stopped arguing so they could look at him. When no one else said anything, Tweek continued, "I was supposed to fight you in th-the first place so let me fight you for real!"
"Tweek, the fight is over," Stan pointed out, looking down at him with furrowed brows. Tweek couldn't tell what was going on behind the boy's eyes but he could guess. He thinks I'm crazy, they all think I'm crazy! Even Craig must think I'm crazy by now. I don't care! I'm going to fight him. Screw everyone else! Isn't that what Craig always says? Why can't I say it too? "Dude, Craig lost, I'm not going to fight you."
Of all people, it was Kyle who spoke up. "Hold on, Tweek's right. It was supposed to be him against Stan." There was more murmuring from the other kids, though Tweek couldn't make out what they were saying. The blood rushing in his ears was too loud, it drowned everything else out. Unwilling to back down or be cowed, Tweek summoned up more of that seemingly endless anger that Craig had created within him and stood strong, even though he twitched as he did so.
"But Feldspar kind of did step in," Cartman pointed out, crossing his arms and staring at Kyle with a glare as if his only objective was to be contrary. "I don't know, I think I'd rather listen to some bardic music or something." Feeling worry start to creep into his mind, Tweek forced it out and instead glared at Stan, not letting Cartman's words take away his determination.
"Heal Stan and let me fight him!" Tweek demanded, loud enough so that everyone could hear him. Kyle was nodding slowly, and Stan was looking at him as though Tweek was a weird thing someone might find at the circus, but the blond cared about neither of them. All he thought about was the guilt in Craig's eyes and the helpless anger that watching the Noirette take his place in the fight against Stan had brought him.
"You know," started the playful voice of Princess Kenny, who had somehow found his way back up onto the dais with Kyle and Cartman. "In the interests of keeping the peace, I think that we should let Tweek and Stan fight. After all, we wouldn't want this to turn into some kind of war or something." The way he said it, it was clear he was mocking Cartman and Kyle, but Tweek seized onto the boy's words regardless. Yes, just let me fight Stan and prove to Craig that I'm not helpless!
Letting out a huff, Cartman drawled, "Well, I suppose it wouldn't be the worst use of our time. What do you think, oh High Jew Elf?" He sneered at Kyle, but Tweek just fixed his eyes on a point above the horizon and struggled to keep from shaking too hard.
"I say they should fight," Kyle muttered, sounding disgruntled. Looking down at Stan, the boy asked, "Stan? Are you willing to fight Tweek?"
Frowning at Tweek, Stan said, "Yeah, I guess. It's stupid but whatever."
"Well then, get him healed then let the fight begin!" Kenny announced, grinning widely behind a dainty hand.
Now that he was certain of getting what he wanted, Tweek turned to look at Craig. The boy was staring at him, his mouth open and his eyes full of emotions that Tweek couldn't name. Feeling his irritation well up once more, Tweek walked over to him, his footsteps sure. Looking up at Craig, Tweek said in as firm a voice as he could manage, "Watch m-me, Craig. Watch me."
Without waiting for the boy to respond, Tweek turned around jerkily and walked towards the middle of the ring, drawing his club as he went. He was going to fight and he was going to win and then Craig would never be able to say that he was helpless again. Never! Then maybe Tweek could have back the old Craig back who let him be strong and was there to keep him from falling over when he started to get scared. Right now though, that felt hopeless, so Tweek was prepared to settle with proving himself once and for all.
As Stan walked forward, his sword already drawn, Tweek narrowed his eyes and let out a growl. Stan was bruised a bit, but he looked much better than Craig did, which made Tweek feel like this was a fair fight. He'd been through one battle today and so had Stan. It was as even as it was going to get and it was about all he could hope for. Letting the frustration that had been building up fill him, Tweek tightened his grip on his club and stared at Stan, not an ounce of fear in his body.
Not anymore. There wasn't any room for it. Just like the time he'd faced Craig in a fight, Tweek felt nothing but frustration and stress from the whole situation and he was ready to let it out. Walking forward, Jimmy said, "Well, it l-l-looks like we get some m-more entertainment. How unexp-p-p- How unexpec- c- What a happy coincidence." Looking between both Tweek and Stan, Jimmy said, "Now, if you're both r-r-r-ready. One, Two, Th-thr-r-r- Three."
Tweek struck.
Swinging his club up with a scream of frustration, Tweek though, HE NEVER LISTENS WHEN I NEED HIM TOO! As Stan raised his sword to block him, Tweek changed directions and pulled his blow, aiming instead for Stan's unprotected side. The club connected, knocking Stan back several paces. Feeling satisfaction shoot through him, Tweek lunged forward again, all of his stress translating into quick movements.
I just want to show him that I'm worth something! Stan's sharp blade nicked Tweek's cheek but he was already moving, swinging at the Ranger's head this time. I just want things to go back to the way they used to be! When the Elven boy blocked his strike, Tweek let out another growl and swung to the other side, managing to hit Stan's head, even though the boy was fast enough to avoid the worst of it.
Refusing to look at Craig, even though he could see the familiar blue chullo and cloak out of the corner of his eye, Tweek danced around Stan, each blow carrying vast quantities of stress that had been building up since lunch. Since the sixth-grader attacked me! The moment he realized it, Tweek's mind started to understand. He's guilty because he couldn't protect me then. He's trying to protect me now! Well Tweek had forgiven Craig for that and he wasn't going to let the Noirette screw everything up now.
Attacking Stan with newfound vigor, Tweek poured all the fear he'd felt when facing the sixth-grader into these moments, using that manic energy to strike harder, fight better. Stan kept blocking him, but he slipped up every now and then and Tweek was always there, dealing harsh blows to the boy. He could feel Stan's blade biting into his skin but it wasn't enough to stop him, not when he was so determined, so focused.
Managing to deal several quick hits to Stan's ribs, Tweek darted back to avoid the slash to his chest. It was clear that Stan was getting desperate but that just meant that Tweek was winning. His hands were full of power and his mind was nothing but a constant stream of frustration and stress. Releasing it felt good, fighting felt good and Tweek felt vindicated as he realized that he was winning. See Craig! If you'd have just let me fight, everything would have been fine!
Though he knew full well he shouldn't, the blond turned towards Craig for the barest fraction of a second. Tweek half expected to see pride on the boy's face, maybe even a look of understanding as it dawned on him why Tweek could handle himself. But what he found instead made something in him want to tear everything apart. Craig wasn't even looking at him, instead, the boy's eyes were fixed on the ground, a frustrated look in his gaze.
You aren't even watching? As the injustice of it all pressed down on him, Tweek let out another banshee screech and launched himself at Stan. He didn't mean to take out his anger on the boy but it had been this whole stupid fight that had made everything so terrible so Tweek felt justified. Even if Stan was good, there was no way he would have been able to protect himself against Tweek at that moment. Stan might have had experience, but Tweek had pure, unadulterated rage.
Striking at him relentlessly, Tweek managed to hit Stan's hand with his club, causing him to lose his hold on his sword. Suddenly rendered defenseless, Stan could only attempt to retreat as Tweek advanced towards him. With two short bursts of angered grows, Tweek struck out one of Stan's legs then the other, driving the boy to the ground. Drawing his short sword with his free hand, Tweek swung it around and stopped it just short of taking Stan's head off.
For a moment, he stood there panting, standing over the thoroughly beaten Stan, a furious scowl still on his face. Did you see that Craig? Did you see me that time? Do you believe that I can handle myself now? Around them, the other kids were silent. Unlike when Stan had beaten Craig, no one cheered for Tweek, everyone just stared, silent.
With a growl, Tweek pulled his sword back from Stan's throat. Turning away from the Elf, the blond stalked over to the edge of the ring, heading straight towards Craig. The boy was staring at him, conflicting emotions warring for control over his expression. Before the boy could even begin to open his mouth Tweek twitched hard and hissed, "Never never fight my fights for me again."
Craig looked like he wanted to say something, but Tweek didn't want to hear it. He just pushed past all of them, sheading his weapons as he went. Dropping the belt that had his Mongorian bow and quiver full of arrows, Tweek took a moment more to undo the belt that held his club and sword, but managed it too at last. Letting that fall to the ground as well, Tweek just kept walking, right through the gate and out of the park. The moment he was out, he felt a horrible, miserable and tearing sensation well up in his throat and without another word he broke into a run, slipping and skidding on the ground as he put as much distance between himself and the others as possible.
I screwed everything up, he's going to hate me forever. Squishing his eyes closed against the thought, Tweek ran harder, no rhyme or reason to his direction, just the need to get away driving him. Craig is going to hate me and it's all my fault. I made him upset, I acted horribly. He's going to never talk to me again.
All Tweek had wanted was the old Craig back, the one who stood beside him and caught him when he was about to fall down, the one who was strong when he wasn't and inspired him to be brave by doing so.
But he wasn't going to get him back now.
A/N: HAHAHAHAHA! Angst.
Sorry, it had to happen. Tweek needed to show he was an independent young coffee bean.
