It was mid afternoon and Kenny was almost at Stark's Pond, where the boy he had both been looking forward to and dreaded seeing was waiting for him. He was alone, his friends and other students opting to give him and Tweek their space, which Kenny was grateful, as he was not really in the mood for a large crowd to see him break down like he had with Craig, as he knew he would.
Kenny arrived at the pond and saw Tweek, true to his word, waiting for him. His back was turned and at his feet were a bunch of ducks. He was throwing what looked like popcorn unto the ground for them, which they happily ate. Kenny removed the hood from his head and cleared his throat so as not to startle Tweek, who stopped, turned, and when he saw who it was, stood up and faced him.
A small smile formed on his lips as he said, "Hey Kenny."
Kenny was struck by how warm Tweek's tone was towards him, with not a hint of hostility. And could he also hear just the hit of nervousness too?
"Hey Tweek." Kenny responded in a familiar manner.
They stood in awkward silence for a few seconds before Tweek finally broke it.
"Do you…want to feed the ducks? I've still got some popcorn." Tweek said, holding up a paper bag.
"Okay." Kenny responded, hesitant. He wasn't sure where Tweek was going with this but nonetheless, he obeyed and took his seat on the bench with Tweek sitting next to him. Then both boys grabbed fist fulls of popcorn which they threw onto the ground, which the awaiting ducks gladly gobbled up.
"You can put your hood back on if you want to." Tweek said.
"No, no I want it off. I want you to see my face when I say I'm sorry." Kenny responded, then he turned to met Tweek's gaze. "I'm so sorry for standing by and letting you go through with those drug deals." His voice started cracking as he went on. "I'm so sorry for not warning you of the danger you were walking into. I'm so so sorry."
"Kenny, It's okay. I understand why you did what you did. I'm not angry with you."
"Why the fuck not!?" Kenny shouted, hopping out of his seat and scattering the closest ducks, quacking as they went. "And why the fuck are you being so nice to me!?"
"You're my friend!"
"What kind of friend was I to let you deal with violent criminals on a daily basics and do absolutely nothing about it?"
"Kenny, please listen..."
"That in turn made it possible for your parents to continue to poison you every day!"
"You were scared!"
"That's not an excuse!"
"Didn't you feel trapped, like there was no way out, like there wasn't a better way?"
"...Yeah but..."
"But Nothing! You were a victim in all this too!"
"I'm not the one who almost died! You are!"
"Don't you think I know that!?" Tweek screamed so loud that it sent the remaining ducks flying. When the feathers cleared and the quacking ceased, Tweek continued.
"It's been made very clear to me that by all logic, I should have overdosed and died a long time ago! That the fact that I'm still alive is nothing short of a miracle! And they're right! And I think about that, every. single. day. I have nightmares about dying and I can't be anywhere near a cup of coffee or even the smell without risking a panic attack, I'm shaking even just thinking about it " Holding out his arms to show that indeed, to Kenny's alarm, they were slightly shaking. "All because my parents thought it was a good idea to use me as lab rat for their own fucked up business practices. You being a scared child afraid of going back to an abusive foster home and possibly lose not only your parents but your siblings as well, is nothing compared to them. They and your parents and the drug dealers were in full control of the situation, that they chose to rope us into. We didn't have the choice. I didn't have a choice. You didn't have a choice."
"….You have nightmares about dying?" Kenny asked with great concern.
"….Yes, I do." Tweek answered.
"Have you told anyone else this?"
"Doctors, Mr. and Mrs. Black, Token, Craig. They all know."
"Good, I'm glad. I mean, I'm not glad you having nightmares, dying, I….I'm glad you're talking to people and getting help." Kenny said, stumbling and stuttering.
"It's okay, Kenny. I know what you mean and yes, it does help. Thanks for asking." Tweek said. "That helps prove my next point. Unlike my parents, you actually give a shit about my well being. You worry, you cry, you've been checking on me, asking for updates while I was in rehab." When Tweek saw the look of surprise on Kenny's face, he said, "Yeah, the guys told that. You just asked if I was getting help for my nightmares. You care and if you ask me, it shows that you are a good person."
"...I don't feel like one. Yeah, I've talked about how guilty I feel but what have I done to make up for it? Ask how you are doing and what else?"
Tweek started to answer, then didn't and Kenny didn't say anything else so the two boys stood in silence for a few moments. Their ducks could be heard on the other side of the pond and a couple of squirrels watched them from a nearby tree and that was their only audience. Suddenly, Kenny was struck with an idea.
"Hey, you remember yesterday, when you said that you were going through some adjustments?" Kenny asked.
"Yeah." Tweek answered, confused at first, then he started to see where Kenny might be going with this.
"And you suggested we talk about it, right?" Kenny finished.
"Yes, I did." Tweek said, knowing for sure where this was going.
"I mean, i know it's not much but...we could talk about that and...I could maybe help you in that way since I've been with Big Gay Al and Mr. Slave a little longer then you and the Blacks and...again, it's not much but...um..."
"I think that's a great idea."
"Wait, so how much candy did he let you two take?"
"Way more then I know he should have and I know he wanted to stop us but he didn't and he bought it and I think we have enough candy to last us to Halloween."
"Oh my god." Tweek said with a giggle.
"But like I said, he and Mr. Slave have gotten a little better at saying no to us."
Just the, Tweek's phone dinged.
"You mind?" Tweek asked.
"No, go ahead." Kenny said.
Tweek got out his phone and saw that it was a text message.
"Oh shit!" He exclaimed.
"What?"
"It's 5:30 and Token says dinner will be ready soon. I gotta go." Tweek said, standing up.
"Shit, really? It's that late? I better head home too." Kenny said, getting up as well.
"Thanks for coming, Kenny. I needed this talk." Tweek said with full sincerity.
"Yeah, me too, thank you." Kenny responded.
Suddenly, Kenny found himself being enveloped in a hug. After a stunned moment, Kenny slowly wrapped his arms around Tweek and the two boys stayed in each other's embrace for a few moments. Kenny could feel the beginnings of tears well up in his eyes and when the hug was done, he could see Tweek's eyes were shining as well.
"I..I thought maybe we could both use that." Tweek explained sheepishly, to which Kenny nodded in agreement.
The two boys then rushed off to their respective houses, which were in the same direction and not that far from each other, so for most of the way, they stayed together. When they got to the intersection where their paths split, Tweek asked, "Hang out again soon?"
"...Y-yeah, definitely." Kenny responded and with that, they went their separate ways.
"Where have you been, man? You didn't respond to my text. Dinners almost ready." Kevin said when Kenny came through the front door, then he saw the tears now streaming down his little brother's face.
"Shit, you alright Ken?" Kevin asked. He could see Kenny was not only crying but trembling as well, so much so that he was leaning against the door for support.
"I talked to Tweek."
"You did? How did it go?"
"Wonderful."
"Is that Kenny?" said Karen as she entered the room, having heard the door slamming and rushing to meet her brother. Then she saw the state he was in. "Kenny!" and rushed to him.
"He talked to Tweek." Kevin explained to her.
"He did?" She asked, then turned back to Kenny. "You did?"
"Yeah. Like I told Kevin, it went wonderfully."
"Then why are you crying?" Karen asked with concern.
"Cause I'm starting to believe that maybe Tweek doesn't hate me and I'm not such a douche in all this mess after all."
"Kenny..." Kevin said as he and Karen wrapped Kenny up in a group hug, which he gladly returned.
Meanwhile, Tweek got back to his house where Token was waiting for him.
"Well, how did it go?" Token asked, then he noticed the tears running down Tweek's cheeks. "Shit man." he rushed to Tweek's side.
"It was a great talk. I think i was able to make Kenny feel at least a little better." Tweek answered.
"Really? That's wonderful dude." Token said before hugging Tweek, who hugged him back.
"Yeah, it is."
After a few seconds, Token pulled away and asked, "And what about you? Do you feel better?"
"Yeah, I do." Tweek answered and that was the truth.
"Good."
One of the things that Kenny had told Tweek was that Mr. and Mrs. Black would likely lighten up on the over attentiveness in time, he and Token just had to be patient and firm with them. So Token and Tweek discussed the issue with them later that night and for Mr. and Mrs. Black's part, they had been so clingy because they knew how much Mr. and Mrs. Tweak had made their son work and how they often left him alone to sort things out himself, even when he needed someone to be there for him the most. They just wanted to make Tweek feel appreciated and give him a break. Tweek understood this and was grateful but explained to them that he still needed some space and still wanted to be of some help around the house. So they ended up letting Tweek have a few chores, which Tweek had to keep reassuring them were a breeze compared to his old ones.
"Are you sure that bag isn't too heavy, Tweek?" Mrs. Black asked as Tweek was taking out the trash a few days later.
"Nah, this is nothing." Tweek answered. The trash bag he carried felt lighter then air compared to some of the coffee bean bags he used to have to lug around for Tweek Bros. "Why, I could carry one more if you wanted."
"No, that one is more then enough. I don't want you straining yourself. Now, go and take that one out, then you and Token can go play with your friends."
So Tweek went, dumped the bag into the trash can, then he and Token went on over to the Cartman house for video games.
Sometime later, they and a bunch of their friends were sitting around the Cartman living room, playing away when Cartman suddenly barked, "Hey, watch it Granola Boy!" Cartman barked at Kenny as his character had almost gotten the other killed.
"Wow Cartman, already have new insults, huh?" Tweek said from where he was sitting on the floor.
"He does now but when he first figured out that all his poor jokes weren't going to work anymore, Cartman was totally lost on what to do." Kyle piped in next to him.
"Shut up, Kahl!"
"Heh heh really?" Tweek asked.
"Shut up Tweek!"
"But it's true, Eric. At first, you had no idea what to call Kenny, well, besides just his name." Butters pointed out.
"But then I saw just how much he was into his salad and I was back in business." Cartman said with a smug grin, then turned back to Kenny, elbowing his shoulder. "Isn't that right, Veggie Boy?"
"Yep." Kenny answered, slight amusement in his tone. "Can always count on you for the charming nicknames."
"Just one of my many specialties." Cartman responded with that same self satisfied grin on his face.
Kenny knew that he should have been more annoyed but he wasn't. The new names were so like his old ones that they also brought a sense of familiarity that was oddly comforting in a way. Like, no matter how crazy things had gotten or how much his and other people's worlds had been turned upside down, Cartman could still be counted on for insults. A strange thing to find comfort in, Kenny knew, but times were strange.
"You also specialize in hogging all the snacks. Hand them over." Clyde said, reaching across Cartman's lap and snatching the bowl of Cheesy Poofs on the other side.
"Hey, those are my Cheesy Poofs." Cartman whined.
"Not anymore." Clyde responded, grabbing a fist full of the crunchy orange snack and shoving them into his mouth.
"God damn it, Clyde. Give them back."
"You've had enough, Fatass." Craig piped in, reaching to grab a fist full himself when Cartman grabbed the bowl and started to tug it out of Clyde's hands. Clyde tugged back and Craig joined him.
"Don't call me fat, Buttfucker!"
"God damn it, Cartman! You have to share!' Stan stated, grabbing the bowl as well, helping Craig and Clyde pull.
"My house, my snacks!"
"Fuck that!" Craig said, pulling harder.
The tug of war over the delicious treats waged on until such time that the bowl containing said treats slipped out of the boy's grasps, flew through the air for a moment or two, then descended down unto the floor, it's contents spilling all over the place. The dusty poofs were all over the rug, the television, the couch and the boys themselves. All of this seeming to be happening in slow motion but really was only a few seconds.
"Nice job, asshole!" Kyle said, eyes on Cartman.
"Hey, it's not my fault Clyde is a snack thief!" Cartman said, pointing to Clyde.
"They were supposed to be for everyone, you fat fuck!" Clyde responded.
"Gee, we sure made a mess here, didn't we?" Butters pointed out.
"No shit, Sherlock! Look at this!" Cartman yelled, turning his head around and spreading his arms to indicate said mess. "It's gonna take my mom forever to clean this shit up!"
Suddenly, Kenny burst out into a fit of laughter. The real deep hearty kind from the pit of your belly.
"What the hell?" Kyle asked. While on the one hand, he was happy to see his friend in such high spirits (something that had been a rare occurrence those past few months, on the other hand, he was also confused. "Dude, what's so funny?"
"To-Token...his his hair...the Cheesy Poofs..they they look like ha-hair curlers." Kenny shrugged to say through the giggles.
Several Cheesy Poofs had landed in Token's hair and now that they saw it, they did kinda make it look like Token was wearing orange hair curlers. A few of the boys started to giggle, then Token reached up, felt his hair, took a Cheesy Poof off, stared at it for a second before he started laughing too. And soon, one by one, others followed suit, until everyone in the room was howling with laughter.
"You look like a mom." Kyle said.
"Or a gra-grandma." Jimmy piped in.
"Oh, look how big you're getting. Let Grandma pinch those chubby little cheeks." Token said in his best grandma voice and making pinching motions with his hands, which got more laughs.
Amid the glee, Tweek and Kenny shared a knowing look with each other, one that said, "It's great to be home."
The End