The Dark of the Matinee

Chapter 3

"Okay, no. You are a retard," Craig sighed. "Dragonball is one of the lamest series we could have imported. We don't even have to go into the localization of it because it was fucking butchered. However, it is hard to make shit into art, which is funny since it is supposed to be art."

The nerd across from him made a face. "If that's the case, what do you think the best one is?"

"Red Racer," he draped his arm over the back of Kyle's chair. Kyle looked on with mild amusement at Craig's completely carefree pose. He had one ankle crossed over the other knee and was slouched so far into his chair that he could rest his head against Kyle's. And he had at many points during the screenings they had just watched. The group of people in their area reacted with snickers to Craig's response and Kyle shook his head in disbelief as Craig's legs spread wider. He was purposely being a right dick at the moment which made Kyle smile to himself for completely different reasons.

"Red Racer, that sixties horse shit of a show?" A younger participant laughed wearing a tee from some anime Kyle had never heard of. "Talk about your butchering of translations."

Craig waved his free hand. "You know nothing of the original. Red Racer set the standard for companies bringing in anime State-side. Your Naruto and Bleach crap wouldn't even be here if it weren't for it. Respect the classics." He jabbed a finger in the kid's direction. Kyle almost felt sorry for him.

He himself wasn't too terribly interested in anime, but he knew Craig had an appreciation for it. It took him an entire day to deliberate whether to bring Craig to this screening for the campus anime club. He knew he would be lost in any discussions afterwards seeing as he knew very little of the culture. He settled on his decision when the faint hope of getting to see some new side of the enigma that was Craig Tucker popped into his mind.

When Craig found out what they were doing he said nothing. Kyle felt like he might have made a horrible mistake but when they got to the lecture hall the club used to play their videos over a projector Craig brought their chairs really close and adopted his current posture. It was a completely nerdy date, but Craig was enjoying himself and that was kind of the point anyway. Kyle smiled softly as their audience moved in closer with the frustrated faces of fans defending their series.

"Dragonball is a classic," the first nerd defended.

Craig laughed and shook his head. "Dragonball was animated in the late 80s. Notice how the quality of said animation is very little advanced from Red Racer. What does that tell you?"

"You can't say that since they were still doing hand drawn animation then," a third and older guy joined in.

Craig shot him a look. "The franchise spans more than one decade, asshat. Even with the introduction of computer animated ink and paint techniques in the early 90s the quality of the actual art is still shit."

"No," the younger kid shook his head. "They didn't have that for the series."

"Not the first one but the second did and it looks just as bad as the first one.

"Are you talking about character design? That's faithful to the original manga."

Craig rolled his eyes, but Kyle didn't miss the amusement in his features. "Even with poor character design you can still make the animation look nice. Red Racer has more organic animation and that was made when your daddy was a kid. That," he jabbed his finger again, "was pure art."

The group grumbled. Before they could continue the fight Kyle sat up in his seat and turned to face Craig. "You ready to head out or do you want to keep taunting these poor people?"

Craig smirked and began standing up. "Let's go. We're just walking in circles at this point." Kyle placed a hand over his mouth to hold back his laughter as they passed through the small crowd of indignant stutters. When they had successfully exited into the hall he dropped his hand and laughed. Craig put his arm around his shoulders again and the two began walking.

"I wasn't sure how that was going to go, but it was fun," Craig grinned at Kyle.

Kyle nodded, his body still shaking with laughter. "I'm glad. It was fun for me, too."

Craig took in a deep breath as they opened the doors of the building and felt the cool evening air hit their faces. Kyle shuddered slightly.

"Cold?" Craig murmured quietly in his ear. Kyle snaked an arm around Craig and pulled himself closer to him.

"Maybe a bit," Kyle grinned as he felt Craig's body heat at his side.

Craig nodded. "What are your roommates up to tonight?"

Kyle thought for a minute and looked at the time. Not even nine o'clock. He shrugged. "They're both out. Working or something." Kyle felt his face flush as he thought about how empty the apartment must be at the moment and how he'd rather keep Craig's warmth with him.

"Clyde is doing some editing project," Craig trailed off making Kyle laugh again.

"Come over then," Kyle nuzzled closer.

Craig looked at him from the corner of his eye very seriously. "If you want me to."

Kyle nodded as he pressed himself close to Craig. He felt Craig's arm tighten around him and turn to make their way to his place. They didn't exchange any words as they entered the building and up the stairs. Kyle frowned as he had to pull away from Craig to root out his key to open the door. He had just retrieved the key from the lock when Craig came up right behind him and started kissing him below his earlobe. He felt Craig's warm breath tickle his neck then something primal reared itself deep within his stomach.

Before his mind could catch up he had spun around in Craig's grip and shoved the taller of the two against the open doorframe kissing him fiercely on the mouth. Craig made a surprised sound and gripped Kyle's hips to steady him as they fought for dominance within the kiss. All it took was for Craig to lean forward just enough for Kyle's knees to bend. Craig began steering the redhead into the entryway and kicked the door closed behind them. Kyle slid both hands behind Craig's head to pull him down to his height to gain better access to his mouth. Craig shifted the back of Kyle's shirt up to press his hands against his bare back. Kyle moaned and broke the kiss, breathing heavily in Craig's ear while his own neck was being attacked.

"Okay," he pushed at one of Craig's shoulders in the direction of his room, "in here."

Craig got the picture and practically dragged Kyle with him as he stepped backwards towards his room. He refused to give up his claim on Kyle's neck and continued to bite, lick, and run his lips all over the exposed skin. Kyle stuck a hand out around Craig's side and fumbled with the knob of his bedroom door with his other hand tugging on the zipper of the blue hoodie he had asked Craig to wear. Kyle managed to twist the knob just in time for Craig's back to knock it open with enough force to slam against the wall behind it. By this point, Craig had moved from one side of Kyle's neck to the other. "I don't suppose you've made preparations for something like this?"

Kyle's brain fought momentarily between completely shutting down his thought processing skills and focusing on Craig's question.

"Um, I haven't," Kyle pulled Craig's head up, lips searching for his mouth.

Craig made a noise at the back of his throat and pulled their lips apart. "Next best thing then." He was at Kyle's neck again. Kyle successfully freed the zipper of Craig's hoodie and used both hands to claw it off of his shoulders.

Craig let Kyle free one arm of the clothing before swinging the rest of the garment off with the other. He broke away from Kyle's now very red neck to quickly slam the door closed and pull his own shirt over his head. He tossed it to the side with a smirk as Kyle looked taken aback with the sight of his exposed upper body. He thanked whatever deity inspired him to take up kickboxing freshman year and moved to wrestle Kyle's shirt over his head, palming as much skin as he could in the process. Kyle immediately felt like he was in danger of being completely devoured unless he took some sort of control back. As soon as Craig freed him of his shirt he threw himself full force at Craig's chest, causing them to stumble backwards and fall in a tangled heap on Kyle's bed.

Craig would have laughed in amusement; feeling incredibly turned on by Kyle's eagerness, but then Kyle straddled him and rotated his hips just right on top of Craig's soliciting a low groan. He glanced up as Kyle leaned over him with those green eyes darkened and piercing and somewhere near the hem of his jeans featherlike fingers ran themselves over his abdominal muscles. Craig propped himself on his elbows and fixed Kyle with his sexiest grin yet, breath hissing out between his teeth.

"Threats to steal my clothing, fond appreciation of film, pissing off dorks and now this," he slid his hand down Kyle's chest and took the fly of his jeans between two fingers. "I'm beginning to think you were totally made for me."

Kyle smirked back and simply stared at Craig as his button and zipper came apart. Craig smoothed down the edge of Kyle's jeans and boxers to sit lower at his hips then caressed his hip bone. Kyle murmured with pleasure and slowly began to grind down on top of Craig causing another hiss of breath. Kyle enjoyed his moment of dominance, knowing all too well that it would reverse soon. He lightly traced Craig's muscles with his fingertips as he made his way from his chest to his belt. He tore his eyes from Craig's to focus on unfastening the buckle then in a moment of inspiration he rotated his hips again before undoing his jeans.

Craig's head fell back with another moan and the moment he felt his zipper undone he used all the strength he had to flip their positions and slam Kyle into the mattress. He moved one leg to keep Kyle's spread and hooked around his own at the same time as he pulled out Kyle's erection. He slowly took it in his hand and began establishing a rhythm while his mouth searched out Kyle's. Their breathing came quicker under the motion and the kiss didn't last long as Kyle struggled for air.

After a few moments he looked at Craig and breathed, "You too," and reached between Craig's legs to pull out his erection. Craig took both of theirs in his hand and groaned as Kyle involuntarily bucked up into his touch. Craig set the rhythm again and panted as his lips searched for more contact with Kyle's neck, jaw, and face. They continued that way, grinding, moaning, and writhing. Kyle felt himself reaching climax and used both of his hands to pull Craig's face into view; his eyes came unfocused as he breathed his name and came between them.

Kyle's fingers wove into his hair and Craig brought his lips to Kyle's ear. He thrust into his own hand and against Kyle a few more times before groaning "Kyle' and following suit. Craig let them go and breathing very heavily shifted his lower body to the side so Kyle could stretch out his legs again. They lay like that for a few minutes as they came down; Kyle's chest heaving as his fingers ran small circles in Craig's hair and Craig laying half on top of him with one arm splayed across his chest. Kyle then looked around and lifted his towel from earlier off the back of his computer chair and did his best to clean them up before tossing the towel back to the floor.

Craig murmured pleased noises in Kyle's ear as he resumed stroking his hair. "That wasn't too bad."

"It'll do," Kyle teased and listened as Craig's breathing steadied between his soft laughter. Kyle felt very warm in his afterglow as Craig pressed his lips to his temple.

"Was that part of your nefarious plan?"

"Seduce Craig Tucker?" Kyle scoffed. "Madness, I tell you."

Craig grinned against his ear and sighed contentedly as Kyle moved his hand to a new spot. "That feels absolutely amazing, by the way."

Kyle laughed. "I like your hair."

"It's making me sleepy," Craig mumbled.

"Now that is part of my plan," Kyle grinned. "Get you to sleep in my bed so I can have that scent all to myself." Kyle moved his nose to Craig's scalp and inhaled. "Yes, very nice."

Craig laughed softly again. "I don't suppose you want to move under the covers?"

"Quandary." Kyle pondered this. "On the one hand it requires us to move and I'm quite relaxed. On the other hand, that's more saturation of eau de Craig."

Craig lifted his head slightly and sighed. "I can't sleep in jeans so let's get it over with and back to that." Kyle laughed and sat up just enough to wriggle out of his own jeans and fussed with the blankets while Craig kicked his own off. They resumed their positions from before, much to Kyle's pleasure, except Craig shifted much closer. Kyle wove his hand into Craig's hair again and shut his eyes as he listened to the contented sounds his movements solicited.

He felt warm, excited, and a little scared as he took stock of Craig dozing off beside him. Just a few weeks ago he had been fending off his friends' attempts to get him into a relationship and here he was; possibly already in one. He pulled the covers tighter around them and twisted some more of Craig's hair in his fingers.

He really did like Craig's hair.

Before he even opened his eyes he knew that Craig was gone. He rolled over and sighed into his pillow before leaving the warmth of his bed to get ready for the day. It wasn't until he padded back into his room after his shower that he saw the hoodie folded on his desk with a note on top of it.

Payment for refill received.

He laughed and threw on a pair of jeans and a clean shirt. Kenny and Stan were both up and devouring bowls of cereal. Kyle maneuvered around Stan to retrieve the loaf of bread to make toast. He was waiting for the toaster to finish the bread when he realized it was eerily quiet. He looked towards his friends who were staring at him, Stan had a confused expression on his face and Kenny was biting back a smile.

"What?" He patted his face. "Is there toothpaste or something?"

"How did your date with Craig go," Stan asked suspiciously.

Kyle shrugged. "He pissed off a bunch of nerds with his love for Red Racer." He turned his attention to the toaster and fished out the bread. "It was actually very amusing."

"Did you and Tucker have sex last night?" Kenny grinned from the other side of the bar.

"No!" Stan and Kyle shouted at the same time. Kenny broke into laughter.

Stan shook his head, "I don't want that mental image."

Kyle rolled his eyes and turned away to spread some jelly on his toast and hide his embarrassment. "Even if we did I wouldn't talk about it."

Stan sighed and slapped Kenny on top of his head. "Seriously, it's too early for that."

"In the day or just in general?"

"In ever," Stan grumbled and turned back to his bowl.

"Wow, way to make your friend feel confident, Stan," Kyle shook his head.

"It's not you; it's just… weird still."

Kyle calmly set down his knife and gave Stan a narrow look.

"So it's fine for you to fuck some random girl you've never met but god forbid I fool around a little with someone I've known for years and actually took out on a date first? You know, instead of just ripping off their panties an hour after sucking off their face in the back of a movie theatre?"

"Hey, Kenny did it too," Stan started throwing Kyle his own threatening look.

Kenny held up his hands. "Whoa, whoa, don't get me in the middle of this."

"Kenny isn't judging," Kyle put a hand on his hip. "In fact, he's been a hell of a lot more supportive than you."

Stan shot Kyle a glare then turned to Kenny. "Didn't I say it was fine?"

"Listen," Kenny leaned over the bar to drop his bowl in the sink, "I don't want to go over this again. It's Kyle's business, but I think it's great that Craig can get him off." He looked at Kyle with a grin. "He did, right?"

"Argh," Stan abandoned his breakfast and covered his ears as he retreated to his room.

"Jesus Christ, man," Kenny threw out his arms at Stan's open door, his grin more self-centered than ever. "He's got to have someone do it for him; he can't always hole himself up in his room going at it solo."

"Thanks, Kenny," Kyle muttered sarcastically. He picked at his toast having completely lost his appetite.

"No problem. When it comes to sex, I've got your back."

Kyle rolled his eyes as Stan came back into view, leaning in his door frame. "So this means we have all new rules. I mean… guys going at it…" he squeezed his eyes shut "… there are different rules."

"I cannot believe this discussion is happening."

"Don't fret Kyle, but Stan's right," Kenny still faced Stan but slapped his hand on the bar counter top. "Kyle needs supplies."

"Oh sweet Jesus," Kyle lowered himself into a crouched position in front of the refrigerator.

"It's our job as his friends to help him be responsible."

Stan shook his head, "I'm not helping him buy whatever… products… he needs for this."

Kyle buried his head in his arms and wanted to die.

"Kyle's income is fixed. He's the primary budget keeper around here and our cook. We owe him."

"We chip in for groceries," Stan said indignantly. "That does not need to include condoms for sex with Craig Tucker." He spat out the name with the same strange facial expression from before.

"You can get those at the student health services building," Kyle mumbled weakly knowing he was going to be ignored. "It's covered in your tuition."

"Condoms are nothing. We have spares we can give him. He needs something else."

"Please stop this discussion, it's just as bad as when my mother talked to me about sex," Kyle groaned from the floor.

Kenny laughed and walked around the counter to stand in front of Kyle. "If you don't have the right stuff it won't be as awesome as it should."

Kyle chanced a peek at Kenny from behind his arms. "Do… do I want to know…"

Kenny's face became solemn and he waved a hand. "Not really, but if it's done right it can be the best."

Stan made a gagging sound somewhere outside of Kyle's line of sight.

"Grow up, Stan," Kenny grinned and winked at Kyle. "Tell you what, you do my laundry for the week and I'll buy what you need."

Kyle felt drained. "I still haven't even wrapped my mind completely around the logistics of this. I do not want a lesson," he held up a finger as Kenny was about to speak. He sighed and scratched his scalp. "But I have the feeling you'll keep up at this so… agreed."

Kenny bounced and grinned while Stan groaned in the living room.

"I really don't want to think about that," Stan's voice was muffled as he retreated deeper into his room.

Kenny clicked his tongue in Stan's direction then lowered his voice. "Don't worry about him. You do know it isn't the whole gay thing, right?"

Kyle nodded. "I know. He's always been pretty tolerant. I ought to be making it easier for him."

Kenny shook his head furiously. "No. If he doesn't approve of your happiness then fuck him." He paused and broke out into a grin again. "I mean, Craig. Fuck Craig. In Stan's room."

Kyle couldn't help but laugh at that. "Oh God this all happened so fast."

Kenny tilted his head from side to side. "Maybe, but you've been ten times happier since it started."

Kyle studied Kenny. He seemed genuinely happy for Kyle, which made him feel less embarrassed, and relaxed his posture.

Kenny kneeled down to Kyle's level, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Seriously, you're in for a ride and from what I've seen of Tucker at the gym…" he laughed as his sentence trailed off.

"Sometimes, you are just as foreign to me as he is." Kyle was smiling now.

"I'm man enough to appreciate all kinds of physical beauty," Kenny shrugged. "I think he's a good match." He tapped Kyle's forehead with two fingers. "Up here, too."

Kyle nodded and took in a deep breath. He rose from the ground and spotted the toast on the counter. It was cold. He stared at it for a few moments while Kenny wove his way into his own room to get ready for the day. He was singing some song they had heard from a very disturbing porno they watched at Cartman's in high school. Kyle's mind drifted to certain parts of the conversation that just took place then focused on the image of Craig from last night. Lights leaking through the blinds on his window, casting stripes on Craig's bared chest. The piercing gaze of his eyes veiled by strands of his hair in his face and his jeans hanging low and completely undone…

"Fuck it," he muttered as he bit into the bread.

"So admit it. How many times did you think about me today?"

Kyle laughed sardonically. "You are such an egotist."

Craig smirked and turned back to his work. Kyle pulled his legs up in his seat, rested his head on his knees, and watched Craig's back. He didn't entirely understand the mechanics of what Craig was doing, but he did find the process fascinating. It was only half an hour ago that Craig had called him and invited him to visit while he was working. Obviously, Craig wanted to show off the projection area to him and it really was cool. He was watching him mess with a projector at the theatre for the second time since Craig had ushered him in up the back stairs amid whistles and finger pointing by some of the other staff. True to form, Craig had flipped them all off before closing the booth door behind them.

Kyle cleared his throat to get Craig's attention. "Talk me through what you're doing again?"

"Serious Student didn't catch it before?" Craig teased.

"Serious Student was otherwise preoccupied with you bending and reaching and the like," Kyle smirked back.

Craig bit his lip and stepped away from the foreign looking machine slipping his hands inside his pockets and sauntering over to Kyle. Kyle's eyes surveyed Craig causing him to smirk predatorily.

"Serious Student," Craig sing-songed, "it isn't polite to stare."

"You look really good in that uniform," Kyle sighed, gazing longingly at Craig's torso.

Craig raised a finger and smiled in amusement. "Pay attention."

Kyle blinked and sat up straight.

Craig raised an eyebrow then turned back to the machine. "This is a 35mm projector."

Kyle nodded, determined to properly focus this time.

"Now that we're in a digital age these creatures are obsolete."

Kyle raised his eyebrows. "Respect the classics?"

Craig grinned. "You learn quickly."

Kyle grinned back.

"All right, the movie is wound into this big circle. And we have this special piece we attach when we assemble the whole thing that we use to guide the film into the projector." He demonstrated and smiled as Kyle flinched at the terribly loud noise emitted from Craig pulling from the center of the circle. He held the film with one hand and leaned over a large silver plate looking object and tapped on a series of rollers in the middle. "This is the brain."

Kyle screwed his face up as he watched Craig fit the film in the object then run it over a series of other rollers trying not to let the sight of Craig reaching above his head distract him. He disappeared behind the main portion of the projector only to reappear on the other side of the set of plates on Kyle's side. He then secured the end of the film in a ring on a different plate and turned to face Kyle.

Kyle nodded. "Pretty dance?"

Craig laughed and held out his hand. "Come over here."

Kyle rolled his eyes slightly and grabbed Craig's hand, letting him pull him to his feet and lead him to the opposite side where the actual projector was. It was a lot smaller than Kyle thought but it was attached to a large metal box that reached from the floor to two feet from the ceiling.

"The bulb is in there," Craig squeezed Kyle's hand before letting it go to gesture at the box. "We weave the film in here," he pulled at the film and Kyle watched in fascination as deft fingers tucked and snapped the film in various gears and traps. "Then make sure it's centered," Craig's hand disappeared as he leaned in front of Kyle and peered at some part of one of the traps. Kyle was not too proud or ashamed to lean in for a quick sniff. "Then it's done." He closed a small door that had two objects that looked like telescopes sticking out of it and smirked at Kyle.

"And you have to do that for each show?"

Craig nodded.

"What a pain," Kyle grinned. "But you like it, right?"

"It's a different kind of job," Craig propped his arm against the wall behind Kyle's head and leaned in close.

Kyle stilled, his stare fixed directly at Craig. "It isn't fair to pin me between some dangerous machinery and a wall."

Craig laughed and brushed his lips against Kyle's as he spoke. "Succumb to me then."

Kyle felt his breath hitch and fought against the short circuiting of his brain. "Shouldn't you be working?"

Craig breathed softly in his face. "I have some time to spare."

"Better make full use of it, then," Kyle smiled.

Craig hummed and stepped backward, "Your turn to sweat."

Kyle laughed in shock as Craig walked away and followed him around the rest of the projection booth. "What time are you off?"

Craig readied the last projector and faced him. "My shift ends after this set of shows."

Kyle nodded and stood next to a large workbench, idly playing with a pen. "Cool."

Craig laughed and rubbed Kyle's arm. "Dinner?"

Kyle studied Craig for a moment and broke into a smile. "I'll cook."

Craig wrapped his arms around Kyle's waist with a pleasantly surprised look on his face. "Part two of the nefarious plan?"

"Perhaps," Kyle grinned. "After all, the way to a man's heart is his stomach, right?"

"You alha-," Craig caught himself and gave Kyle an amused look in response to Kyle's questioning stare. "Sounds good. What's on the menu?"

Kyle turned his eyes towards the ceiling and twisted his mouth as he thought. Craig leaned in and kissed Kyle's jaw line. "Lasagna?"

Craig pulled back and laughed. "Now I'm crazy hungry."

Kyle sighed and looked around. "That means I'd better go get it ready."

Craig nodded and glanced at his watch. "I have movies to start. Let me walk you out."

Kyle hummed happily and followed Craig as he led him down the stairs and out of the building. Craig watched as Kyle turned and waved before heading down the sidewalk. He turned a few blocks towards the campus and ducked into the grocery store nearest to the apartment. He whistled to himself as he circled the aisles picking up ingredients when he wondered if the apartment was occupied. He furrowed his brow and dug out his cell phone then scrolled through his contacts. Stan picked up on the third ring.

"Hey dude."

"Hey," Kyle smiled. "Are you at home?"

"Yeah."

"Ken?"

"He's here, too. Ow. Fuck, dude!"

Kyle frowned. "What's up?"

"We're playing Code of Honor. You coming back soon?"

"Yeah," Kyle headed towards the produce section. "Hey, I'm at the store getting stuff for lasagna, have you guys eaten?"

"The left, the left, you stupid mother-," Stan huffed. "Huh? Lasagna? No, we're starved. Feed us."

"Food," Kenny groaned from the distance. Kyle laughed.

"Okay, but, Stan? I need you to focus for a second."

Buttons of a controller clicked. "Yeah."

"Craig is eating with us," Kyle sighed.

"Yeah, yeah… Craig?" Kyle heard Kenny's expletive as Stan hit the pause button. "What?"

"I invited Craig over for dinner," Kyle rolled his eyes. "I just thought I'd be courteous enough to give you a heads up."

There was hissing and a scrambling sound then Kenny's voice came over the phone. "Craig for dinner, that's great. I want garlic bread."

"And are you going to make it?" Kyle shook his head as he went towards the bakery.

"Fuck no, you know I'll burn it."

"All right, I got it and I'll be back in a few. Try to make some room for him, okay?"

"Sure thing," Kenny disconnected the call. Kyle frowned at the phone as he pocketed it then finished up his shopping and headed back to the apartment. Once inside, he saw that the two were still going at the game so Kyle turned his attention towards getting dinner together. Half an hour later his phone rang.

"Hey," Kyle rolled his eyes at Kenny's kissing noises.

"I'm clocking out now. Do I have time to shower?"

"And change out of your uniform? I wish you wouldn't," Kyle laughed. "But you might as well, and bring Clyde along if he's free. Stan and Kenny have been marathoning Code of Honor for hours apparently." He pulled the phone slightly away from him and raised his voice. "It'd be nice to use the television for something else with company over."

"Yeah, yeah," Stan waved his hand at Kyle before returning to his button mashing.

"We should have the movie for our project in the mail," Craig offered.

"That sounds like a good idea," Kyle mused as he put the bread in the oven. "I hate to ask for a favor since I offered to cook and all, but I didn't realize we were out of drinks."

"Getting me to run errands for you now?" Craig laughed. "Since you've gone through the trouble of preparing a meal I'll do you the favor."

"Thanks, I'll pay you back."

"I'm sure you will," Craig murmured suggestively.

Kyle laughed and felt his face turning red. "Yeah, so… dinner will be done in twenty?"

"We'll be there." Craig disconnected the call.

Kyle smiled to himself before getting a salad ready. He felt ridiculously domestic each time he bothered to make dinner but very appreciative for his mother and Mrs. Marsh taking the time to show him some recipes over the summer. He had felt horrified their first summer back home to find they'd gained the infamous freshman fifteen and spent the next year getting the three of them back in shape. Clearly they couldn't keep eating out all the time so he decided it was time to learn to cook. He just hoped it suited everyone's tastes.

He placed the salad in the fridge to crisp without adding the dressing and began pulling out plates. He thought for a moment about seating arrangements and retrieved his computer chair from his room. He had to kick Kenny three times to get him to power down their game and rolled Stan out of the way when he sprawled out on the floor in defiance of doing homework on a Friday night.

"Lard ass," Kyle teased his best friend and motioned for him to help Kenny clear out some room for two more. He checked on the oven, deciding the lasagna was done but the bread needed a little more time just as they heard a knock on the door. Kenny ran to the door and flung it open with a flourish.

"Craig, save us! He's forcing us to do manual labor."

Kyle arched an eyebrow as he began slicing up the lasagna.

Clyde stepped inside and sniffed audibly. "Smells good." He came towards the kitchen and nodded at Kyle.

Kyle smiled, "Hey Clyde."

Clyde hovered as Kyle checked up on the bread continuously remarking on how everything looked and smelled. Craig nodded to Kenny and smirked at Stan before following into the kitchen with a twelve pack of Coke and a bag of ice. He kicked Clyde in the back of the leg, causing him to buckle slightly and grab the counter top for support.

"Put this in the fridge," he purposely shoved the ice in Clyde's face. Clyde took the bag and made a face at Craig before stowing it and the soda away after having it handed off to him, too.

"I'm famished, when's dinner?" Kenny and Stan leaned over the bar and watched as Kyle turned off the oven and pulled out the bread. Clyde was hovering again and Craig looked on in amusement. Kyle pulled off his oven mitts and sighed.

"Okay, it's getting a little crowded," Kyle elbowed Clyde and Craig out of the kitchen. "No wonder Mrs. Marsh has that rule…"

"What rule," Stan blinked in surprise.

"Always make dinner before five so you can just pop it in the oven ten minutes before suppertime to keep people from hovering," he instinctively slapped Kenny's hand away from reaching out towards the bread.

Craig laughed softly causing Kyle to flush again from all the extra attention.

"Right, go make room and make sure the movie's ready," he waved the four of them away. "I'll tell you when you can fill your plates."

"He cooks, cleans, and manages money," Kenny wiggled his eyebrows and threw an arm around Craig's shoulders with a grin. "He'd make a swell bride. I'm selling him cheap."

"Kenny McCormick," Kyle warned as he cut the bread.

"I'll take it under consideration," Craig's voice came low and deep. He shot Kyle a smirk.

Kyle sighed and pulled out the salad to add the dressing. He sliced up the bread and began portioning out the meal. He set out the dishes and chopped up some ice into five glasses. "All right, come on."

Kenny and Clyde scrambled to load their plates first while Stan stood far enough away to keep a watchful eye on Craig. Craig seemed amused by this but paid him no attention as he fixed a plate with deliberation and then slid it to the side to fix a second one. He winked at Kyle and carried them both into the living room leaving Stan to make a face as he piled up his plate.

"Are you going to be okay?" Kyle looked genuinely concerned as he asked his best friend the question that had been nagging at his mind for the past half hour.

Stan looked up and slightly shook his head as though he were clearing a thought. "Yeah, honest. I'll behave. Just don't expect us to be all goody-goody pals."

Kyle smiled and set some silverware on Stan's plate before handing over a glass of ice and can of soda. "That would be very uncharacteristic of you, Stan, and I'd be forced to have you committed."

Stan laughed and headed off to the living room. Kyle fished out cans of soda for himself and Craig before snatching the last two glasses of ice and following Stan. Kenny was sitting backwards in Kyle's computer chair, talking animatedly to Clyde about the game he and Stan had been playing earlier. Stan nudged Clyde over to the middle of the couch so he could sit on one end and Craig on the other. Craig looked about ready to say something but Kyle shot him a pleading look and migrated to the floor between Craig's feet. Craig seemed mollified and traded Kyle his plate for a glass and can.

As he started cutting up bites of lasagna, Kyle did a quick mental recap of the book's major points. He was able to think about it for five minutes before Stan got Kenny and Clyde to quiet down enough to start the movie. For a while they sat eating and watching the movie. It was much more amusing to Kyle than he remembered and as soon as he had finished his dinner, he set the plate aside and leaned into the couch. He eventually forgot to analyze the film and rested his head against the inside of Craig's knee. Kenny coughed at one point and Kyle caught him making some face at him from the corner of his eye, but other than that Kyle was completely immersed in the film. Once it ended, Stan switched on the lamp next to him and powered down the DVD.

"Oh man, that was great, Kyle," Clyde stretched and patted his stomach. "Much better than the sandwich I was about to make before Craig got back." He turned to grin at Craig but looked surprised instead. Kyle twisted his head around to look only to see Craig had fallen asleep.

"Wow, he's completely conked out," Kenny whispered and helped Stan collect all their plates.

"He should be he's been up since real early this morning."

Kyle frowned at Clyde. "He has an early class?"

Clyde shook his head. "No, he's working on a short film right now. He gets up early to shoot before writing class and then takes off to work right afterwards."

"Plus he didn't get much sleep last night?" Kenny grinned hopefully.

Kyle ignored him and studied Craig's sleeping face. He looked peaceful but now that he was paying attention he could see some signs of fatigue. He mentally chided himself for not noticing earlier and suggesting he get some sleep.

"Clyde, what gaming system you guys got?" Stan waved his hand for Kyle and Craig's plates.

"Wii and PlayStation 2 I'm afraid," Clyde sighed and helped pass the plates over as Kyle handed them to him.

Stan nodded and piled the dishes together. "I've got a bottle of tequila and Street Fighter. Let's go to your place and do shots every time we see one of the girls' panties."

Clyde laughed and stood up. "Sounds like as good a Friday night as any."

Kyle scrambled to his feet, too, feeling completely useless and headed into the kitchen to start cleaning up the dishes. Stan set the last of the ones in his hand down and retreated to his room only to come back a few seconds later with an already opened bottle and video game in his hand.

"Shall we, then?"

Clyde laughed quietly and nodded at Kyle. "Thanks again for dinner and," he gestured helplessly towards Craig, "take care?"

Kyle nodded and smiled. "Any time."

Kenny grinned and wiggled his eyebrows before following Clyde out the door. Stan moved to follow before Kyle called out to him.

"I really appreciate it, Stan," he smiled at his best friend.

Stan rubbed at his nose and nodded. "Sure." Then they were gone.

Kyle stared at the door for a moment, letting the quiet set in, then began scrubbing at the dishes and loading the dishwasher. Once he had finished he cleaned up the countertops and dried his hands before checking up on Craig in the living room. He was still asleep, sitting with his legs apart enough for Kyle to sit in front of him. Both of his arms were resting at his sides and his head was leaned back but tilted towards the right. Kyle had to blink a few times to keep himself from simply staring.

He then made a decision and quietly went to his room to retrieve his pillow, comforter, and notebook for the film class. He padded back into the living room, making sure to shut off all the lights in the apartment on his way. He tossed the pillow to one side of the couch, just in case, and carefully settled on the couch next to Craig then covered them up. He made sure he was comfortable and restarted the movie, determined to take proper notes. By the time the movie had ended for the second time Kyle had four pages of notes. Craig was still out and Kyle was feeling very content so he switched over to live television to lull him to sleep.

The first thing that crossed Craig's sleep-heavy mind was that it was too. fucking. hot. He sighed and rolled his head over to the side and instantly groaned as pain shot down the muscles in his shoulders. He blearily cracked open his eyes and realized he wasn't in his own home. He fought against the crick in his neck and looked down at the source of the scorching heat.

Kyle was sleeping at his left with his head tucked between his shoulder and chest. Craig's arm was pinned to his side as Kyle had wormed his arms around his midsection. It was kind of… cute, actually, seeing him curled up half on his lap with his comforter draped across them. He watched Kyle's sleeping face for a few moments before sighing and resting his cheek on top of Kyle's head. His hair was very soft and smelled like soap and sleep and Craig really wished his arms weren't being restricted at the moment.

This was nice, he had to admit. He wasn't really much for cuddling or spooning but it kept feeling like Kyle just naturally belonged at his side. It was also the slightest bit frustrating. It had been two years since he figured out he was into Kyle Broflovski and at the moment it seemed like he had wasted a lot of time. He was normally much more assertive and made it perfectly clear what he expected out of a relationship. Christ, it had only been two weeks and he just knew this was going to be long-term. He imagined briefly where they would be if he had propositioned him as soon as he could have.

No, it wouldn't have worked then. It wasn't like he had spent every waking minute pining for 'the one that got away' or some shit. There had been others who caught his eye but every time it came to crossing that line of definition he'd recall the scene on the bench and bail. Something better was out there and now it was here at his side. He knew he was invested enough in this to not run away. Hell, they hadn't gotten to the sex yet and Craig Tucker always went to the sex first. He sighed and nestled deeper into the couch and closed his eyes again.

He wasn't sure how long he had been asleep but it was significantly cooler when he woke again. He got up off the couch with a groan and stretched his back, grimacing when he heard a crack.

"That sounded painful," Kyle's voice drifted into the living room slightly muffled by toothpaste.

Craig whipped around a little too fast to see Kyle standing in the doorframe of what he assumed was the bathroom. Kyle held up a finger and disappeared to finish brushing his teeth. Craig did some more stretches until he felt his muscles loosen up. He idly wondered when it was he last went to the gym.

"Sorry I didn't wake you," Kyle smiled and padded into the kitchen. "You looked exhausted and I was afraid if you got up you'd want to leave." Craig smirked slightly at the blush on his face.

"It's fine."

Kyle smiled shyly and Craig's curiosity was starting to pique.

"What's the deal?"

Kyle blinked and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. He seemed to be deliberating something.

"Um, I was actually just thinking about how incredibly effeminate it makes me sound to say that I had a good nights sleep on a couch of all places." He looked away at something near the ceiling with a small smile on his face. Craig appeared impassive on the surface but deep inside some emotion was forming in hazy wisps from his stomach just as Kyle seemed highlighted by some unknown light source. Kyle's eyes were sparkling emeralds as they focused back on Craig. "I had a good dream."

That was when the floor seemed to fall out beneath him and his mouth parted slightly as he stared at Kyle with an expression akin more to awe than anything else.

"Camera."

Kyle blinked in surprise. "What?"

"I want – no – need to film you. Right now." Craig felt breathless, as though he had just run a marathon. His fingers itched to have his camera in his hands; even though he didn't know what it was exactly that he wanted to capture, he just knew he wanted to film Kyle as soon as humanly possible.

"Uh," Kyle looked uncertain but that light was still there and Craig was mesmerized. "Where is this coming from suddenly?"

Craig felt like he was moving in slow motion as he walked towards Kyle and placed his hands on both of Kyle's arms. He studied him with an amazed sort of expression on his face.

"We have to go," he gently tugged on Kyle's arms as he backed out of the kitchen. "Back to my place."

Kyle blinked and staggered a little. "Craig, the others are over there. They kind of cleared out of here on purpose last night?"

"I have to film you," Craig responded automatically and blinked slowly as Kyle's shocked expression and insinuating tone of voice began to register with him. He closed his eyes and exhaled softly as he rested his forehead against Kyle's. "I just turned down sex..."

"Uh-huh," Kyle raised his eyebrows.

"For art?"

Kyle laughed softly and twisted strands of Craig's hair in his hands. "At least you're back to normal. You were kind of freaking me out with the way you were looking at me a moment ago."

Craig gave a small smile and wrapped his arms around Kyle's waist. "I was inspired."

Kyle buried his face in Craig's shoulder and laughed disbelievingly. "Okay, that's… different…"

Craig nodded slightly and squeezed Kyle's waist. He pulled his head back so Kyle was forced to look at him, red face and all. "That hasn't happened before."

"Seriously?" Kyle nervously licked his lips.

"Ever," Craig looked at Kyle thoughtfully. Kyle waited for him to say something and tucked some hair behind his ear, which only revived the itch for his camera. "No one has ever inspired me." This simple fact cemented what he errantly thought earlier. He needed Kyle.

"That's… flattering and very embarrassing." Kyle gave him a searching look and Craig felt determination course through his veins.

"I know it's really soon," Craig's eyes became soft as he studied Kyle's face, "but I think you should be my-"

"Oh god, don't say it," Kyle cringed.

"-boyfriend."

Kyle groaned and flushed again. "That sounds so homosexual."

Craig laughed and cupped Kyle's face with his hands. "That's kind of the idea."

Kyle sighed and looked up at Craig's amused face. Craig waited patiently, rubbing circles with his thumbs on Kyle's jaw while his green eyes looked wildly around the room and back at him again. He gave Craig an encouraging smile. "…okay."

Craig smirked. "I knew I'd get you eventually."

Kyle laughed at this and raised an eyebrow playfully.

"Now about that sex…"

Craig was feeling pretty good. He hadn't actually slept with another man before, and clearly neither had Kyle, but they both found the experience fairly satisfying. It was mostly due to the fact that Kyle had finally gotten rid of his inhibitions and Craig was more than happy to acquiesce to his pleas for more of this and slower of that. Some time in the middle of it all, when Kyle was looking at him with drooping, lustful eyes and pushing himself back onto him, Craig felt that hazy emotion solidify itself.

He was amazed their first time happened during the day. They could see everything of each other. Before he climaxed, he wanted to remember the few glimmering threads of Kyle's hair and the glow of the sun playing off the skin of his back. Once they had calmed down, he felt those familiar fingers in his hair and pulled Kyle closer to his chest. Kyle was a godsend and he cursed himself for not having his camera.