The first thing that really caught his attention was the water that had soaked through his hair and was now slowly trickling down his face as the snow slowly began to melt in the warmth of the house. Kenny had been pulled inside the moment the door was open, and then obeyed when Kyle told him to take of his shoes. The whole process felt surreal to him; like the cold outside numbed everything he was feeling now. Or maybe that was him just coming down off his high – he couldn't tell, nor did he care. He was just so tired, his cold and pale hands having curled during their walk over so he was holding the Jewish boy's hand. And he hadn't let go, the cold, trembling limb still holding on as if for dear life.
Vaguely, the blonde could hear Kyle's mother, Sheila, call a greeting from the kitchen, which in response he was being pulled down the hall and into the brightly lit room. Kenny felt a little weird, being presented in this manner, but he didn't pay much it much of a thought, his cerulean orbs resting on the way that their hands were connected – the way that the ginger's warm fingers tensed around his hand.
"Hey Mom, is it alright if Kenny spends the night?" Kyle's question was soft, holding that undercurrent of concern as, Kenny was sure, his head turned slightly to glance at the zoned out blonde.
Mrs. Brofloski seemed to consider this a moment, her brows furrowing slightly. "Alright Kyle, but next time try to let me know ahead of time." This drew Kenny's attention, his gaze shifting to her in an almost lazy manner. Her eyes were trained on him, and he couldn't decide if she looked annoyed, or her expression was that of pity – he could never tell with that woman. But before he could let his thoughts linger, he was being pulled again, this time past the living room where Ike had settled on the couch next to Gerald, whom was watching the news, and upstairs and to Kyle's room.
His gaze didn't even really have time to settle on anything, the light being flicked on and him being momentarily blinded. His wrist was released and as his eyes got use to the sudden onslaught of harsh light; his ears were assaulted by the sound of a dresser drawer being open. The blonde turned his head to the source of noise in the otherwise silent room, gaze catching the clothing that was thrown his way. Barely catching the pyjamas thrown at him, Kenny cocked his head slightly, blue eyes questioning the ginger.
Kyle frowned at him a little, making a little 'shoo' gesture towards the bathroom. "Go take a shower dude; you look like you could use one." He tried to offer a small smile, but Kenny could only frown. He wasn't sure if he should figure that the prim and proper near-rich Jew didn't want the poor little rat sleeping in clean sheets and spreading his germs and stink or if he was really deeply concerned. Turning with little more than a disapproving semi-glare at Kyle, he went the bathroom, stripping down and stepping into the shower, turning on the water.
The warm water felt like a blessing to his skin though, and it gave him the silence he needed to just stop and think – with no outside interference to affect his thoughts. He felt a little guilty, having broken down like he had, but he more so felt tired. It had been a very long time since he had really just let it all out, and the strain, coupled with the soothing feel of hot water riveting down his body made the weariness peak.
Tense muscles relaxed and his cerulean eyes lulled shut for a moment, and in that moment there was no immortality, no pity complex – just an urge to curl up and sleep with no worries, only that momentary contentment.
But as his skin began to redden from the heat, Kenny soon came more aware of how long he had been in the shower, giving an almost disappointed sigh. Quickly he finished up before turning off the taps and grabbing a towel, drying and changing into the pyjama's that Kyle had given him.
Usually Kenny would bring his own, but because of his occasional unexpected visits when his home had become too unbearable, both Stan and Kyle's parents had invested in a minimal amount of spare clothing – just in case. At first he had been a little cross at the idea; he hated it when they took pity and spent money on him, but after having arrived one too many times soaking wet from rain or snow he had learned that having back-ups elsewhere was a blessing.
After getting dressed, he gathered up his dirty clothes, hanging the damp towel over the shower to dry, and went back to Kyle's room, pausing outside the door only when he heard the ginger's voice from inside.
"… I know, but I'm really worried." Kenny could practically hear the frown just in the red head's tone, the anxiousness strong in the silence. "Dude – Stan, I've never seen him like that though. You sure you haven't noticed anything off? I mean you and Fat-ass hang out with him more than me… So y'know." Another pause, this one shorter and accompanied by a small huff from the ginger as Kenny peaked around the open door, taking in how frustrated Kyle looked. "Yeah, I get it. Bye Stan."
The Jewish boy hung up and gave a soft sigh, setting his phone on the nightstand beside the bed, completely oblivious to Kenny's watching eyes. But that was fine to the blonde – he wouldn't wish anyone to see the shocked expression he bore at that moment. To say the least that he hadn't been expecting actual deep concern from anyone, and now that he had seen just how earnest Kyle was he couldn't help but feel bad for getting pissed off at Kyle earlier. Then again, Kenny had sobered up a bit and was thinking a lot better now so that probably helped.
Slowly, Kenny entered the room, drawing Kyle's attention to the blonde. Immediately he wiped the frown from his face, drawing an uneasy smile upon his lips. "Ah, Kenny you've finished." He seemed to aimlessly wander around the bed, walking as if he were stepping on glass. The blonde could only figure that the ginger's apprehensive movements came from his desire to avoid Kenny's previous mood – not that he could blame the Jewish boy. But as the ginger's head turned, Kenny's gaze shifted to follow to where Kyle was looking to. "I've made up a bed for you. You're probably tired so you can go to bed now if you want – I'll be up finishing off some homework so if you need me I'll be down stairs."
To the blonde, it was obvious that Kyle wanted to ask him about earlier and yet at the same time he was abashed and perhaps even a little frightened.
Attention snapping back to the shorter boy, Kenny watched him approach slowly, green eyes avoiding his own as he attempted to walk past the blonde who remained right in front of the door way. But on impulse, he reached his arm out to bar his friend's way. Immediately the Jewish boy stopped and returned his gaze, although questioning and nervous.
"Kenny, I—"
"I'm sorry." Kenny cut off the ginger quickly, glancing away to hide his look of shame. Just because he was not exactly sober didn't mean that Kyle should have been subjected to his break down.
When he finally gained the courage to look at Kyle once again, he was a little shocked to find the nervousness replaced by a small smile. "It's alright Kenny. I didn't notice that something was wrong so it's alright that you were pissed off. But next time tell me if something's up so you don't end up having a Tweek spaz attack in front of Ike, 'kay?"
He was surprised at the ginger's forgiveness, but then again Kyle always did take friendship fairly seriously, though for once it was nice – almost a welcome feeling of warmth in Kenny's cold little world of isolation. So slowly, in return, Kenny gave a now, smile ghosting over the edges of his lips; Kyle's words put him at ease, his arm lowering along with the build of tension that had risen within his gut. Kyle too seemed relieved when he noticed the intense glint in Kenny's eyes fade, slowly going to move past the blonde once again, though this time with less hesitance.
Kenny didn't bother to watch the Jew walk down the hall, instead turning his attention to his make shift bed on the floor which seemed suddenly so inviting. Giving it little to no thought he walked around Kyle's bed sluggishly, his feet shuffling over the floor like he was a zombie, and knelt down into the blankets and pillows that padded the floor. Not even taking the time to flick off the light, Kenny slid under a layer of blankets and laid on his side, head nestled against the pillow as his cerulean eyes slid shut. Despite having to sleep on the floor, it was still more comfortable than his bed – it had no loose springs popping out into his side, nor did it smell of pot or booze. Instead he was greeting by a soft smell of vanilla and lavender detergent and another more familiar scent.
Dimly, Kenny wondered what he recognized the scent from, forcing his sleepy mind to concentrate. But despite the blonde's sudden desire to figure out what it was, the scent made him feel secure enough that eventually his mind wandered off into a content sleep, his mouth going slightly ajar as he cuddled more into the puddle of blankets and pillows. He didn't even wake when the red head finally came upstairs to the bedroom, or did he wake when Kyle knelt by him to brush his unruly blonde hair from his face before switching off the light and heading to bed himself.
A/N: Thank you all for your favourites and positive feedback! I hope I can get the next chapter up as soon as I can!