Chapter 4: Relief

Kyle

I still felt dizzy, and ill. Memories of the past weekly nights came back to me. I'd be lying in peace just trying to get back to sleep after the pain of my kidneys. When I'd hear a tap at my window. I'd try to move, but it wasn't necessary. My front door was successfully unlocked without force, and the light cat like footsteps came padding up my stairs. Soon, my bedroom door's lock would be successfully broken into, again, without signs of force, and the figure would slip quietly in. I felt reassured. Felt comfortable with this person, whoever it was. He seemed to know a lot about me, though.

"How do you feel, Kyle?" he asked in a rough drawl. The drawl sent a strange fire into my face.

This would repeat every single night. The third night after he began to come and "keep guard" over me, Cartman came again. My mom had been caught off guard, and Cartman had smashed through my brother's window, and broken our door. Mysterion somehow managed to get rid of the uncaring bastard, but to some consequences. I heard the window to my room open, and some yells. I heard the most god awful sound, and knew somehow, that Mysterion was hurt. But Cartman ended up hurt as well. Rumor had it from Ike, that he had to get five stitches in his forehead. Serves him right.

I kept on replaying the last few nights in my head.

"Why are you here?" I had asked confused as my head throbbed.

"To keep watch over you, Kyle. Don't ask questions." he said softly. "Just sleep."

"Yeah, but how?" I asked. "Back when I was nine, you showed me who you were. Remember, Craig?" I asked.

"Not Craig." he said smiling. "You saw a face, didn't you? Do you remember, it was dark in the jail cell?"

"Yeah. I guess. But what does-"

And that's when I remembered. I had thought it was Craig! Or even Token. The face looked so familiar, but the eyes. I couldn't see the eyes. It had been way too dark. So, I still didn't know who it was.

"Don't kill yourself thinking about it, Kyle." he said softly. "Just go to sleep."

"But when you came back last time, things were really bad." I said simply. "We all thought it was a game, but you took it so seriously. Things were bad, then. Does this mean, things are bad again?" I asked.

"Cartman, is after something other than killing you. Although, that is his first priority. He's after an employee at Tweek's, and after Butters." Mysterion explained. "But that isn't your concern, Kyle. That's for me to deal with, not you. You're the kid."

"But you're seventeen!" I said as he clapped a warm gloved hand to my mouth.

"You are the kid. I'm the hero, and you are the kid. Now, lie still and be quiet, you'll get us caught."

My phone vibrated. I answered at the second ring. It was Stan. I felt like I was about to talk to my long lost father or relative of some kind. Nervous, and giddy.

"Hello?" I asked into the phone.

"K-Kyle?" he stammered. "You okay?" he asked.

"Better. You guys coming over?" I asked.

"I am." he said strangely. "Ike and I'll ride home together."

"And Kenny?" I asked as my eyes filled with tears.

"I… don't… know." Stan said slowly. "I'm sure he will too."

"Stan it's been six fucking months!" I moaned. "I want some fucking god damn answers here!" I begged.

"Me too, Kyle. Look, I'll try to find him as hard as I can, okay? So will your little brother. He can find him, Kyle. Ike's a fucking genius." Stan said reassuringly.

"Mysterion's back." I said as my stomach fluttered at his name.

"Yeah. I heard. Ike told us."

"But Stan, that's really, really bad." I said as my stomach lurched. "He's only been here when necessary. He's got a life of his own." I said sighing. "How come he's back now?"

"I don't know. Kyle?" he asked. He sounded like he was or had been crying. "The bell's about to ring, but I promise I'll be over there as soon as I can with your brother. Okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. Sure." I said feeling a little better. "Thanks."

"Oh, and Kyle?" he asked.

"Yeah, Stan?"

"I love you, too." he said into the phone.

I expected him to hang up right away, but I still heard his breathing on the other line after a couple seconds. "Thanks, Stan." I said smiling. "See you soon, kay?"

"Mmmkay." he drawled pretending to be the counselor.

"Fucking Mackey, I swear." I said laughing. "I'll see yuh later, Stanley. Mmmkay?" I drawled.

"Mmmkay, Kyle!" he said artfully.

Stan and I left on good terms. We had both been about to bust a rib laughing as we hung up. I felt so much better. I had to get ready for my friends to come over! I had to!

Mom helped me jump into the shower. My fever was ebbing away slightly, but I still felt sick. So, I laid back down when I was dressed in a pair of pajama bottoms and looked presentable enough. And soon enough, the doorbell rang. Mom was talking quietly, and I heard a pair of feet climb the stairs. There was a gentle tap on my door, and I jumped. The door was pushed open, and Kenny came walking in.

"Hey, you alive in there?" he asked through his hooded mouth.

"Ken?" I asked sounding like a total dork who was just getting over a cold. Maybe that's because you are, Kyle, you stupid Jew. Kyle! Don't belittle your own people. I was starting to sound like my mom.

"May I?" Kenny asked closing the door a little bit.

"Yeah. Sit down, Ken." I said sighing and trying to sit up.

"Stay down, Kyle. You'll make things a little worse for yourself." he said pushing me back down. His hand was soft against my bear chest as he pushed me down on to the bed and covered me up. "Still have a fever, huh?" he asked.

"Sort of. Have you talked with Stan lately?" I asked.

"No. Why?"

"Mysterion."

"What about him." Kenny said stretching out beside me on top of the blankets.

"He's back." I said simply. "Have you seen the news?"

"Naw. I've been busy." he said seriously.

"Yeah? With?" I asked.

"I brought in a lot of cash." he said with a chuckle.

"Oh." I said as my heart sort of sank. "You hear what everyone in school calls you, right?" I asked.

"Which one?" he asked. "I've got like hundreds of nicknames."

"Sex god, Prince, The golden Twink." I stopped not really wanting to go on.

"You forgot my favorite. Plain ol' Kenny." he said smirking.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Butters called me that once a couple weeks ago. He asked me what I wanted him to call me, and I said just call me plain old Kenny. He says, "Hey plane old Kenny." Cracked me up."

"So, are you gonna just lay there?" I asked.

"What? You need water? Food? Can _I, go get water, food?" he asked.

"It's been six months, Kenny." I said sadly. "Aren't you gonna at least greet a super best friend?"

He gave me the biggest sigh in the world. It sounded so loaded with burden, and so heavy. He pulled me on to my side, and I gasped as his arms wrapped around my waist. He wrapped me up in blankets, and held me really tight.

"You warm enough?" he asked.

"Hmm." I said nodding as I closed my eyes. "I missed you, Ken." I said laying my head against his chest.

"Me too, Kyle." he said still through his hood. "Sorry it's been so long."

I don't know how long Kenny lay on the bed holding me like this. But soon, I drifted off to sleep. I felt peace for the first time in ages. I was safe. Stan and Ike would be here. I don't know when, or how it happened, but Wendy seemed to have replaced Cartman as the fourth member of our group. I found I really didn't have a problem with it, and it seemed neither did Kenny. Wendy was a shit load better to be around than the lard ass. I felt myself being shifted, and I opened my eyes. There was a lot of commotion down stairs.

"What the hell?" Kenny asked as he lifted me into his arms. "What the fuck are you doing with a newspaper clipping under your pillow, Kyle?" he asked.

"Shut up, Kenny." I moaned trying to wake up. "He saved me."

"So?" Kenny said laughing.

"So, I think he's really sweet to me."

"Kyle, we all know you're gay, but a kid in tights and purple jump suit?" he asked laughing.

"I don't know, Kenny. Okay? I just feel safe with him around. Please, put the paper back."

Kenny's face came into my line of vision as he dragged me up to his chest, clearing a space on the bed for the next herd of people that was about to enter. Kenny smirked at me, and stuffed my news clip into the blanket he had wrapped around me.

"There. Now, should anything bad happen to you, he'll come alive, rip the blanket apart, and save all our asses." Kenny said smirking.

"Out of all the people in the world, Ken. I thought you'd be more understanding of not being a rude fuck." I muttered.

"Come on, Kyle. It's just a joke. Simmer down." he said settling back against the wall with his feet firmly on the ground.

The door opened, and three people came walking in. Mom followed behind them.

"Boys?" she said looking in on us. "I'm going to the store to buy food. You be careful. Wendy, make sure you take care of them. They can be immature."

"Oh, ca'mon, ma." I said yawning. "It's not like we'll burn down the fucking house or something."

"Language, young man!" she bellowed in her trade mark yell.

I felt at peace. Ike came and kissed my forehead gently. He hugged me a little, and made room for Stan.

"Hey, you two." he said as he spotted Kenny.

"Hey." Ken said as they hugged over me.

Stan leaned down and hugged me, too. "You're so tiny, Kyle." he said seriously.

We both looked into each other's eyes, and started laughing as hard as ever.

"You feeling okay?" Wendy asked as she too gave me a gentle hug.

"Fever's going away steadily." I said as she reclaimed her seat next to Stan.

Was it me, or did Kenny's arms tighten up around me when Wendy put me down? Naw. It had to be me. But wait, I thought I could feel him shaking a little bit. What?

Wendy took her seat at my desk, and opened her bag. My mom made sure Ike and I kept neat rooms, and so my desk had been clean of any object. Accept my books, which were piled on one corner against the wall. But Wendy took ownership and poured all her contents on to it. She caught my eye, and I simply smiled at her. I didn't feel awkward about it at all. Soon, she was buried in her homework, while Stan and Kenny talked with Ike over me. The atmosphere was amiable. I just felt happy that my best friends were here. My brother seemed to fit into this somehow, too, but I didn't know how. All I know is that I was glad as hell that Ike was with me, and Stan, and Kenny. Oh, Kenny.

My mom came home just as dad did, and soon, they both got dinner started. It would be a matter of time before I'd have to be left alone. I still didn't know if I could handle moving without throwing up.

I found it easy to stay out of the conversations. I didn't need to be involved. It was nice, because I could just sit back and relax. Stan and Kenny seemed to be really happy to see each other. Soon, somehow, all of us managed to change positions. Kenny was lying on my twin bed against the wall with me still curled up on top of him, Stan was beside him, and Ike was beside Stan. Wendy was working away, and it seemed cruising along with whatever she was doing. I don't know when I managed to fall asleep.

"Come on, boys!" my mom said in her boom. "All of you staying for dinner?" she asked.

"No, Mrs. Broflovski." Stan said sighing. "Wendy and I have to go. I need to get started on some work that I can't put off anymore."

"Really?" I asked a little disappointed. "Hopefully, I can go to school tomorrow, huh Stan?"

"Hopefully not, Kyle. Tomorrow's Saturday." Stan said laughing as he slid into his shoes.

"You, Kenny dear? You can't turn a free meal down, now." my mom said smiling over at me and Kenny.

"Are you sure?" Kenny asked softly. I noticed he'd removed his hood sometime during our visit.

"Of course, dear!" my mom said with true kindness in her face.

"Thank you, Mrs. Broff. I really am sorry." he said uncomfortably.

"Ken, there is no need for it!" my mom said seriously. "Really, dear. You are welcome to stay with us for as long as you need."

"See you guys later, Kyle." Wendy said as they all stood up to go.

Kenny put me down. Was that disappointment I felt? I saw him slip back into his shoes, and Stan and he hugged.

"Don't fucking do that!" Stan said with tears in his eyes as he held Kenny.

"Do what?" Ken asked confused.

"Not show your face to your best friends for six months at a time." Wendy said as Stan wept into the boy's shoulder.

"Sorry, Stan. You know how life goes." Ken said sighing.

"You-yeah." Stan stuttered as he looked Kenny straight in the eyes. "Love you."

"I love you too, man." Kenny said passively as they let go gently.

Kenny

I watched as Kyle and Stan both said their goodbyes. Wendy hugged me, and whispered into my ear.

"You okay, Ken?"

"It's my life, Wendy." I said briskly. "It could always do with a little improvement."

I couldn't help closing my eyes as I leaned into her arms. She stroked my hair, and held me really tight. I sighed as I felt a tear slide down my cheek.

"If you need any of us, Kenny." she said softly. "You know where we all are."

"Thanks, Wend." I said smiling up at her and opening my eyes. "See you guys soon."

"Please, try to stay in school, and stay in touch. You're messing Stan up when you don't at least drop in and say things are okay." she said still holding on to me. "Promise?"

"Yeah." I said as we both pulled away.

Ike and Stan had said goodbye, and so did Wendy and Ike. Soon, it was just Kyle, Ike, and I in the room. I felt okay, I guess.

Kyle

"Are you three coming?" my mom yelled from somewhere out there.

"I'm gonna go wash up, and save you two seats." Ike said gently. "Can you handle him, Kenny?"

"What the hell are you guys talking about? I can handle me." I said smiling.

"I got him." Kenny said as Ike stepped out of the room.

Kenny turned into my closet, and came back with a pair of jeans and a white T. He set them down on the desk chair and grabbed me a pair of briefs.

"Kenny, I can handle it." I said gently.

"But if Mysterion were to help you out with this?" he asked giving me that all too familiar smirk. "I bet you'd let him dress you and everything."

"N-no." I said accidentally stammering. "I got it."

I sat up and realized that's as far as I could go. How the hell did Kenny wrap me up?

"Can you at least undo me?" I asked as I sat in a tight cuckoon.

"I thought you could handle it." he said smiling.

"Fuck you." I muttered.

"Yeah? I bet you'd enjoy it if Mysterion fucked you." he said smirking.

"Kenny!"

"Tell the truth, Kyle." he said giving me a knowing smile. "Newspaper under your pillow. A blush every time someone says his name. You're so in love with him. You don't even know the first thing about him. For all you know, he could be a girl."

"Fuck off, Kenny." I said sighing. "Or I'll call you the M word."

"Kyle, you can call me McCormick all you want. The thought of you and Mysterion is cute." he said laughing a little.

"Will you undo me, or do I call Ike?"

"I'll undo you. If you beg for it!" he said bursting into laughter.

"Cartman style?" I asked glumly.

"No." he said as his laughter was cut off. "Just say please." he said in a whisper. "That's all."

"Please, undo me, right… fucking… now." I said as my temper got the better of me.

Soon, the blanket fell off of me, and I was completely uncovered. Because of how nice I had felt, I forgot I had only pajama bottoms on. My bear chest and part of my stomach showed themselves to Kenny's staring eyes.

"Go on." Kenny said smirking.

"Go on what?" I asked.

"Dress yourself, Kyle." he said looking as if I'd just asked him what one plus one is. "You said you could handle it."

"Now?" I asked confused. "I mean, aren't you leaving?"

"Want me to wait outside your door?" he asked standing up.

"I don't care. If you're not uncomfortable with me."

"I'd rather see for myself that you can handle it." he said seriously as all smirks and smiles faded off his face.

I swung my legs off the bed, and tried to stand up. My eyes fell shut, and I swayed a little bit.

"Wait." I said as I heard him coming over to me. "I'm adjusting to myself."

I tried as hard as I could to get dressed on my own, but it all fell apart on me. I couldn't find my center enough to stay balanced.

"Fuck you!" I said as my eyes filled with tears as Kenny rushed over and helped me. He had me into the outfit in no less than three minutes.

I fucking hated my emotions right now. I felt weak, and small. I _was weak, and small! But that's no reason for everyone to swarm around me thinking that I can't take care of my own ass. Even if I couldn't take care of my own ass at this very moment.

"Don't, Kyle." Kenny said smiling at me. "You're sick. It's okay for you to be all out of it."

"Yeah, but I fucking hate it when you guys are all right!" I said loudly. "I can take care of my own shit."

"Yeah." Kenny said gently. "We know you can. But there's nothing wrong with a little help."