Songs:
Absofacto - Dissolve
Alec Benjamin - Different Kind Of Beautiful
The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand
Harry Styles - As It Was
On Monday in Science class, Craig finds his usual small talk with Kenny going as usual. There wasn't any mention of him adding him on his social at all and Craig wonders if it really even happened, or was just a dream. He watches Kenny doodle in his notebook, a thing that he found was pretty common for him to do in class. Despite it seeming like he may not be paying attention at times, it actually seemed like drawing helped him to pay more attention somehow, cause he did pretty well on a couple tests they had done. Craig couldn't help but find that part fascinating about Kenny and how his mind seemed to be able to process two things at once like that. Because he knew he certainly wouldn't be able to do that.
"Hey, I want to ask you something," Kenny says, drawing Craig's attention to him.
"What is it?"
Kenny flips through his notebook then, until coming to a stop on another page filled with an array of small cute animal sketches.
"You like any of these?"
Craig scans the page. He liked most of what he saw, so suddenly having to choose one proves hard for him. His eyes keep on scanning though, until they come across one that catches his attention the most. A small sketch of a curled up guinea pig resting in the corner of the page. The way it looked, reminded him of his own guinea pig that he used to have as a young kid.
"This one," he points at it.
Kenny looks it over silently, then looks back at Craig.
"You sure?"
"Yeah," Craig replies in thought.
Kenny studies it over in silence once more, before moving his hand to the corner of the page and slowly tears it out.
"Here," he gestures with it in his hand, "have it."
Craig's eyes widen.
"You didn't have to—" Craig shakes his head.
"It's fine, don't worry about it," Kenny tells him, "I can always just draw another one. Take it."
Craig carefully takes it from him and looks it over. A small smile can't help but spread across his lips while looking over the small gift he received from him.
"Thank you," Craig replies, a faint blush spreading across his cheeks.
"No problem," Kenny smiles, turning back to the page he had been on previously, "you can think of it as a prototype of sorts."
"Prototype?" Craig asks, curiously.
But Kenny only smiles in response and goes back to drawing. Leaving Craig to wonder what he meant.
When lunch comes, Craig puts his things away in his locker and heads to the lunchroom. On the way there however, a certain sight catches his eye, the familiar form of Kenny standing down a hallway he passes by, seeming to be in conversation with a girl. Now usually, Craig would just keep on walking by if this was any other situation, but since this was Kenny he spotted, and the halls were pretty much empty, he decides to be nosy and hides behind the corner of the hallway to eavesdrop instead.
Carefully peeking around the corner, he silently observes the two of them, only planning to stay for a short while until his curiosity on the matter had been fed.
"So about what I said before…" the girl says.
"Before?" Kenny replies.
"Yeah, how I wanted to ask you something?"
"Oh right. What's up?
"I just…"
"Hmmm?"
"Are you doing anything after school today?"
"Today? Nope, I don't think so."
"Oh really? That's great—I mean, then if you're not busy, would you like to go out then?"
"Go out? Like on a date?"
"Yeah."
Craig's heart starts to pound in his chest when overhearing this. His hearing turns up tenfold as he waits to hear Kenny's response. His pulse picks up even more, as Kenny opens his mouth to finally answer.
"Craig!" a sudden voice calls.
He just about has a heart attack when hearing it and almost has another one, when Kenny turns to look in the direction the voice came from, his direction. He just barely has time to dart back behind the corner and prays that Kenny didn't see him.
"Craig," the voice says again, and Craig looks to find Clyde approaching him. With an annoyed frown, Craig walks over to him, "Hey man, what are you doing here? The lunchroom is that way."
"Nothing," Craig replies. A puzzled look crosses Clyde's features and he goes to walk over to the corner where Craig had just been, but Craig quickly stops him, grabbing him by the arm, "I thought you wanted to get going to the lunchroom."
"Well yeah," Clyde says, glancing back at him.
"Then let's go," Craig tells him and drags him along.
There was no way in hell he was going to let Clyde know that he was eavesdropping on Kenny. No matter how much he may have wanted to know what Kenny's response was going to be, he wasn't about to let Clyde have another thing to relentlessly tease him about. He already had more than enough.
Despite it though, the curiosity of wanting to know what Kenny's response was, is on his mind for the remainder of the day and well into the next.
He told himself that he shouldn't let it bother him. But it did. Because what if what Clyde had told him before was true? That he had waited too long and now he was snatched up? God, then Clyde really wouldn't let him live it down, and he'd only be met with, 'I told you so's until they got old and died. And he really hated the thought of that.
When seeing Kenny in class next, he's almost driven to want to ask him what his response was to that girl from yesterday, but to do so would be suicide for any small friendship they had built up. The last thing he needed was Kenny thinking he was following him around and listening in on his conversations, he didn't want him thinking he was some kind of creep that stalked him or something. So he just keeps it to himself, and lets it fester, because what else could he do?
For most of the class Craig just keeps to himself, he wasn't sure what the status was of Kenny and that girl right now, so he wanted to play it as safe as possible and keep his distance. Eventually though, Kenny speaks up.
"Hey Craig."
"Yeah?"
"What are you doing after school today?"
"Today? Uh, nothing, why?"
"Wanna hang out?"
Craig's eyes widened at that. He wasn't sure how to respond. He'd been trying to keep the topic minimal as best he could and now this.
"I…"
"Come on! Let's hang out today, after school, at the mall."
"The mall?"
"Yeah," Kenny grins.
Craig pauses, his pulse heavy and fast. He knew he should stick to his plan and keep his distance but, the smile on Kenny's face made his insides twirl around and his face burn.
"Sure…" he finally replies.
"Good, I look forward to it then," Kenny tells him.
As soon as the conversation ends, Craig begins to internally curse at himself for agreeing. He shouldn't have agreed to anything until he knew for sure what the situation was, otherwise he might just end up hurting himself because of it. But that smile, goddamn that beautiful smile, he just couldn't say no to it. It had way too much power over him.
The end of the day arrives and Craig enters onto the school bus. He's one of the first on today and takes a seat somewhat near the back of it. Just as he sets his bag on his lap, he spots Kenny walking down the small aisle.
"Don't forget," Kenny winks at him.
"I won't," Craig replies, shyly, " I just need to drop my things off first."
"Alright," Kenny laughs and continues on pass.
Craig had thought he may have almost sat next to him, but is relieved he doesn't. Not knowing how he'd even begin to react if he had, since the seats are shared and he'd be much closer to him than in class.
"What was that about?" Clyde asks, taking a seat next to him.
"Nothing," Craig murmurs.
"That didn't seem like nothing to me," he smirks, "have you finally—"
"Clyde, just, shut up," Craig tells him, a slight burn threatening his cheeks.
Clyde shuts up, but that doesn't stop just how talkative the expression on his face is.
When the bus arrives at his stop, he gets off and heads home. His heart raced from both excitement and anxiety at having to think just what exactly he was going to do with Kenny at the mall. Kenny made it seem so nonchalant to him, but the same definitely couldn't be said for him. He was freaking out slightly and trying to come up with a solution on how exactly he was going to remain calm around Kenny for an extended period of time. If it was just going to be the two of them, he knew he'd for sure make a fool of himself.
Entering his room, his gaze falls onto the all too familiar sight of Tweek.
An idea pops in his head.
"Your heart rate seems higher than normal, are you alright?" Tweek asks.
"Depends on what your definition of alright is," Craig replies, dropping his things.
"The definition for alright is—"
"I was being sarcastic," Craig stops him, "look, I got to head out somewhere, to meet up with somebody, and I want you to come with me, okay?"
"Who are you meeting?" Tweek asks, curiously.
"A friend," Craig replies quietly, ignoring the heat rising in his face.
"Is it Kenny?" Tweek asks and Craig looks at him.
"H-How did you—"
"Your heartbeat is irregular whenever the topic of him arises, so that's why I asked."
Craig's face reddens some more. Was it that obvious of a thing?
"Fine, you're right, okay? I'm meeting up with Kenny," Craig replies, "But I don't want to go alone."
"Would my presence help?" Tweek asks and Craig nods in response, "I understand. Then I'll go with you."
"Good, then let's get going," Craig says.
The two make their way through the house and out the door. While Craig had indeed not wanted to be alone with Kenny, because it meant less of a chance to make a fool out of himself, he also viewed Tweek coming along as a good way to get him out of the house and not be trapped in his room. That and the ever growing fear of his parents walking into his room and finding him also prompted him to bring him along as well.
The two walk until coming across a large building with several advertisements listed outside on a light up board. They make their way through the parking lot that surrounds the building, and Tweek looks around in silent observation with wonder as they near the main entrance of it.
Craig just about freezes on the spot when spotting the all too familiar form of Kenny exiting out of the entrance doors, with his backpack still on.
"Hey!" he calls out with a small wave. Craig returns the wave with a small shy one of his own. "I realized that I didn't say where exactly we should meet up when we got here, so I just decided to come here right away and wait by the entrance so I wouldn't miss you," Kenny explains with a small laugh. His gaze is then drawn towards Tweek.
"Oh right—" Craig quickly says, "I brought Tweek along, since he's still pretty new to the area and hasn't seen the mall yet. I hope that's alright?"
"Of course!" Kenny smiles, "No worries."
Craig can't help but feel a bit relieved at that. Some part of him was worried that Kenny may not be happy with him just suddenly turning up with someone else as well, but was glad that wasn't the case.
"So why did you want to hang out at the mall?" Craig asks, as they enter through the doors.
"Just wanted a fun place for us to hang out is all," Kenny simply replies, yet for some reason the words oddly make Craig's stomach dance. "Oh! Since Tweek is new here, why don't we show him around?" he suggests.
They both look over at Tweek, who's busy observing all the various people, stores and stalls on display as they pass by.
"Sounds like a good idea," Craig smiles, "Tweek, want us to show you around?"
Tweek looks back over at them and silently nods.
With that, the three of them set off going through various shops and such. Tweek seems to take it all in with various wonder and small questions that pop up from time to time that one of them would answer. Surprisingly, the makeshift tour around the mall ends up being quite fun. And more than a few laughs are exchanged. Eventually they decide to take a small break in the food court and eat a couple of snacks they bought.
"So many people…" Tweek says, glancing around.
"Yeah, I guess there would be, since it's after school and work hours now," Kenny says, then looks over at him, "you sure you're not hungry Tweek?"
"Oh no," Craig quickly jumps in, "Tweek has a very—particular diet, where he can only eat certain things at certain times."
"Oh? Is that so?" Kenny asks.
There's a small nod that Craig gives to Tweek when Kenny glances over at him for an answer.
"Yes," Tweek responds with a nod.
"That's too bad then," Kenny says. As they finish up, he brings up another suggestion, "You guys want to go check out the arcade?"
"Arcade?" Tweek repeats.
"Yeah, it's small but still pretty neat I think," Kenny replies.
"Sure, I'm down," Craig says.
"Great, Tweek?" Kenny asks, looking at him and Tweek nods, "Awesome, let's get going then."
Kenny and Craig toss out their garbage before exiting the area and make their way through the mall.
As the three walk, the subtle sound of music plays in the background. It draws Craig's attention for a bit, before his gaze wanders down to Kenny's hand. The faint lyrics of the song steadily grow louder in his mind as he watches Kenny's hand sway back and forth next to his. It was only a few inches away from his own and some part of him wanted to do as the song was enticing him to and hold it in his. The song draws him further into his desire as his fingers extend out towards Kenny's hand, to the point where he could almost graze the back of his hand. But as the song draws to its close, Craig is brought out of its trance and quickly moves his hand away, telling himself that he was crazy for almost giving in and doing that. If he had, Kenny surely would've thought he was weird for it. Right? Right. Hell, he didn't even know if Kenny was in a current relationship now with that girl who asked him out yesterday, because he didn't get to hear the reply, or anything else about it.
For now, all he could do was imagine Kenny's hand in his.
"What's going on there?" Tweek asks.
The sudden question startles Craig, thinking that Tweek may have seen what he was doing and was asking about it. Which causes Craig to accidentally bump his hand into the back of Kenny's. He quickly puts his hands into his pockets, just as Kenny looks over at him—or Tweek, he wasn't sure and to hell wasn't going to look at him to find out. Refusing to have his face betray him if he did.
"That's the arcade," Kenny replies, as they come to a stop.
Craig looks up at it, he hadn't even noticed they were this close to it, since his thoughts were so preoccupied. Fascinated by the sounds and the flashing lights coming from it, Tweek starts to wander over to it. Thinking it's safe to take a quick peek now, Craig chances a small glance at Kenny, hoping he was watching Tweek as well. He's not. Craig's face burns the moment his eyes meet Kenny's and he quickly pretends like he didn't just look at him and walks off to catch up with Tweek.
They all enter the arcade and take a look around it. Craig hadn't actually been to it for at least the past five years, despite visiting the mall many times since, he just never found the interest in wanting to come back here. Hell, he was surprised it even still existed with how things were advancing in modern gaming now.
Oddly though, being here again gave him a strange sense of nostalgia.
While Tweek looks around, the other two buy a few tokens and decide to play a few games. At first Tweek just watches from the side, but when he shows interest in a few of the games, they decide to let him play. It's about as entertaining as you'd think it would be, watching an android trying to play a game. The added context from Craig knowing this, can't help but make him laugh while watching Tweek play the various games and try not to die by crashing into things, or jumping off the platforms.
As evening falls, they decide to wrap it up and ready to leave. Gathering the tickets they received from the game machines, Craig gives his to Kenny, telling him that there wasn't really anything that he wanted from the selection of prizes.
"You sure?" Kenny asks.
"Yeah, you go ahead and take them," Craig tells him, handing them over, "pick out something for your clubhouse."
"That's actually a good idea," Kenny laughs. After looking over the prizes briefly, he ends up choosing a small deck of cards. "I'm sure this will be a great addition to the games section."
With that, they make their way through the mall, and back to the entrance.
"Well, today was certainly eventful," Kenny says as they exit.
"Very," Craig chuckles.
They walk through the parking lot and the streets heading home. Kenny accompanies them part of the way before needing to take his leave.
"Well, this is where I take my leave," Kenny says, gesturing with his head. Craig can't help a sad feeling from creeping in, not wanting this time with him to end just yet. "Let's hang out again soon."
Kenny smiles and Craig's chest flutters.
"Yeah," he smiles back.
Kenny parts from them and Craig watches as he goes, while Tweek silently observes from the side.
"Why don't you tell him how he makes you feel?" Tweek asks, curiously.
"Because it's not that simple…" Craig replies, his face heating.
"How come?"
"It just isn't…" Craig mumbles then turns to head off, "anyways, let's head home."
Craig takes a few steps, but stops when noticing that Tweek hasn't moved from his spot and was watching Kenny walk away in the growing distance.
"Should I tell him for you?" he asks.
"Wh—" Craig doesn't even get the chance to reply, before Tweek starts to walk in Kenny's direction. Panic sets in and Craig's chest tightens immensely, wanting to prevent that from happening. Quickly, he grabs Tweek by the wrist in order to stop him. "No! You can't tell him!"
"Why? Wouldn't that make it easier for you—"
" You can't! " Craig yells, his face now burning with such ferocity in it, "No matter what, you can't tell him," Tweek watches him in silence, until Craig lets out a sigh, "come on, let's just head back, alright? I'm getting tired."
His hand slides down to Tweek's and tightly grips it, not wanting him to risk trying something like that again. He had no idea where this had come from. Maybe Tweek thought he was being helpful in some way? But he wasn't and would only make things much more complicated.
Craig's gaze follows down the street Kenny was on. He pauses. There's another tightness in his chest when catching the sight of Kenny now looking back at them. Had he heard him yell? He couldn't have. Could he? The thought makes his heart rate faster and he quickly faces away, guiding Tweek to follow along behind him. His pace stays quickened, until they turn down the street and out of sight from him.
When Craig gets home, he goes about the same routine as last when it came to sneaking Tweek into the house again. At a certain point while passively talking with his parents, he ends up being very glad that he'd taken Tweek out with him that day, after his father tells him that he went into his room to get him for dinner when he didn't respond. His relief is only short-lived though, since things were really starting to get too close for comfort now. He didn't know how many chances left he had to get away with this, and needed some kind of solution fast. He tries to go over some ideas in his head for what he could possibly do for a while, before growing tired and drifting off to sleep.
When the next day comes, there's a blanket wrapped around him, despite knowing he hadn't fallen asleep under the covers. His gaze drifts over to Tweek, who's sitting in the computer chair, facing the monitor, which isn't on.
"Tweek?" Craig asks, a bit hesitant.
"Yes?"
"Why are you sitting in front of the dark monitor?"
"You didn't put on a playlist last night," Tweek replies, "and you told me not to watch you sleep."
Craig chuckles a bit at that, finding it kind of funny that Tweek had chosen to just stare at a black screen all night, in order to make him feel more comfortable.
"I'm guessing you put this blanket on me?" Craig asks, sitting up.
"Yes," Tweek replies, "is it not what you usually do when going to bed?"
"Thanks," Craig chuckles, "by the way you can look at me now, I'm not asleep anymore."
There's a brief silence, then slowly, Tweek turns in the seat to look at him. Craig only smiles then gets up.
"I'm going to get ready for school. I'll set up a quick playlist for the day before I leave," he tells Tweek, as he walks over to the computer and turns it on.
Silently, Tweek observes him, but Craig pays it no mind. This was per usual of him now anyways, so he ignores it. Once he puts together a string of playlists, he goes off to get ready for the day.
The morning passes by like usual for Craig, only paying more attention when Science arrives, because of Kenny. However this time, there's a heavy feeling that fills Craig's chest when recalling what had happened before he ran off with Tweek. Praying to god that he didn't hear him shouting.
"Hey," Kenny greets, as Craig takes a seat next to him.
"Hey," Craig greets back.
So far, everything was going as usual, which relieves Craig a bit. Kenny silently draws for a bit in his notebook, before speaking up once more.
"Yesterday was pretty fun, right?" he asks.
"Yeah, totally," Craig replies, heart starting to race and praying that he doesn't say something stupid.
"You and Tweek seem pretty close."
Craig pauses, he supposed in some ways they were and in others they weren't. He definitely had to be close to him, although that was more so to keep an eye on him than anything else. Not that he minded it much, but part of him wished he could also let him be free as well.
"It's complicated," Craig replies, "but I guess you could say we're close."
Kenny's hand stops sketching.
"I'm a bit jealous," he chuckles lightly. Craig's heart skips. What did Kenny mean by that exactly? Why was he jealous? He wanted to ask, but at the same time was much too afraid to. Either way, he doesn't get the chance to, since Kenny decides to speak up once more. "Hey, wanna hang out again today, after school?"
"Sure," Craig replies with a slight nod.
"Cool," Kenny smiles, then resumes sketching.
The class proceeds and nothing of Kenny possibly overhearing what he had said is brought up or mentioned, so Craig figures that it meant that he hadn't heard him. Instead the topic is more focused on the details of where they were gonna hang out, listing a few places, before deciding on the club shack that Craig had visited before. Kenny telling him that his friends aren't going to be there today. Which Craig is thrilled of at first, before it sets in that it's just going to be the two of them, and just like last time he slowly starts to panic again. He tells him that he'll need to drop some things off at home again, before the lunch bell rings and he heads off.
During lunch, Clyde starts to probe, wondering what the two of them were talking about in class, while they wait for Token to join them.
"You two seem to have gotten pretty close lately. What were you guys talking about in class?" he asks.
"It's nothing, we were just talking about hanging out is all," Craig tells him.
"Hanging out, huh? Just the two of you? Aloooonnneeeeee?"
"It's not that big of a deal. We hung out yesterday too."
"Ohhhhhh, reallyyyyyy?" Clyde smirks, "So that's what that was about yesterday on the bus."
"It's nothing," Craig dismisses, trying to ignore the subtle burn creeping across his face.
"Did he ask you to hang out?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Sounds like a date to me," Clyde says, taking a bite of his food.
Craig's face burns.
"It wasn't a date!" he quickly says.
"Mhmmm, sureeee, whatever you say man," Clyde smirks again.
Craig wanted nothing more than to smack that stupid ass smug smirk off his face and tell him it wasn't like that. That it wasn't just him and Kenny yesterday, but that would also mean having to possibly reveal Tweek's existence to him by accident and that was a can of worms that he wasn't ready to get into yet.
"Really, it isn't like that," he murmurs instead, "besides, I don't even know if he's into…"
"Hmm?"
"Nevermind."
Clyde pauses, examining him over.
"Well, you never know unless you try, right?"
Craig falls silent at that, not really wanting to talk about it anymore. A short while later, Token joins them and they continue on with lunch.
The end of the school day arrives. Craig heads home first to put his things away, like he said he would. He spends several minutes debating on what he should say when meeting up with Kenny, before his gaze glides over to Tweek, who is silently watching him.
"I need you to come with me again," he tells him.
"Is it about Kenny?"
"…Yes," Craig murmurs, with slight heat.
Tweek pauses.
"Are you sure it's a good idea if I go with you?"
"Yeah, it's fine. Kenny won't mind… I think," Craig replies in thought, but shakes any doubts away, "I just need someone there as support, that's all, please come with me."
"If it will help you, then I shall go with you," Tweek replies after a few seconds.
"Thanks Tweek," Craig smiles.
A short while later the two leave, and make their way to the designated destination. While on the walk there, Craig tries to come up with an excuse as to why Tweek was with him again. Thinking of going with what he used last time, about Tweek being new and everything. He finalizes his thoughts, just as they reach the club shack.
Tweek examines the shack curiously, while Craig walks up to the makeshift door and knocks lightly on it, not wanting to just barge on in. There's no response however, so slowly he opens the door to peer inside.
"Hello? Kenny?" Craig asks, but there's no one there.
He shuts the door and begins to wonder if maybe he took too long to get here and if Kenny left or something. Or on the flip side, if he may not have arrived yet somehow. Which he found unlikely, since he told him that he was coming here straight away after school. As he ponders on what to do, a voice draws his attention.
"Craig!" He turns around to find Kenny making his way over, "Sorry for the wait, I was out looking for some sturdy branches I thought could be used for an idea I have."
"It's fine, I wasn't waiting that long," Craig replies with a small smile, he notices Kenny's gaze shift over to Tweek, "I brought Tweek again, cause I thought it would be fun to show him this cool place while visiting. I hope that's okay?"
"Yeah it's fine, no worries," Kenny replies and makes his way to the door, "well, come on in, no need to stand around out here all day," he laughs.
"How has your progress been going with this place?" Craig asks as they enter.
"Slow," Kenny replies, tossing the small bundle of branches in his arms onto the floor.
"Think you guys will finish before school ends?"
"Probably not, but it'd be nice."
"What will you guys do with this place once school ends?"
"I don't know," Kenny says in thought, "maybe it will become a memorial or something."
As Craig and Kenny talk about the place some more, Tweek looks around at everything in it with intrigue, until coming across a small wooden cube with various patterns carved into it.
"What's this?" Tweek asks, holding it up.
"Oh that's…" Kenny starts, "to be honest, I'm not too sure what it is. My friends, Stan and Cartman, made it. I think Stan wanted it to be some kind of game, but Cartman kind of just… turned it into something else. Now it's mainly just here as some kind of weird decoration," he laughs, seeming amused by the memory it was invoking in him.
Tweek moves the cube around at various angles in his grasp, examining its strange patterns, as if they will somehow reveal some sort of strange hidden secret to him or something.
A smile can't help but make its way across Craig's lips while watching him trying to figure out the strange small cube with so much interest. It grows more into a softer one, as he watches Tweek wander around and take in even more of an interest at the other mundane things scattered about.
"He seems really interested in the stuff here," Kenny says, as he stands next to Craig.
"Yeah," Craig chuckles.
His gaze drifts back over to Tweek when he starts to feel nervous under Kenny's gaze, trying his best to stay calm.
"Can I ask you something?" Kenny asks.
"Sure."
"…Are you and Tweek dating?"
Craig's heart stops and his eyes widen, instantly he looks back at Kenny in utter shock.
"What…?" is the only word he can whisper out in response.
"It's just that I saw you two holding hands yesterday, when you walked off together. So I thought that maybe you two were dating or something, but just wanted to keep it under wraps for whatever reason," Kenny explains.
Something in the pit of Craig's stomach drops.
"N—no! We're not dating!" Craig quickly tells him, shaking his head.
"Really?" Kenny asks, seeming a bit surprised, "But you two seem so close."
"We're not dating," Craig repeats, then sighs, "it's just that… we have a complicated relationship."
"How so?"
Craig falls silent. It was a question that would be hard for him to answer without outright telling him what Tweek is. But at the same time, if he didn't answer then Kenny would undoubtedly think the two were secretly dating, which was not something he wanted to have happen either. But, would telling him really be that bad of an idea now? Kenny and him had grown closer over the past few weeks, and he definitely seemed like he could trust him. And it certainly would be nice for him to have someone else he could trust with this, since keeping this secret to himself was starting to weigh on him a bit.
"It's alright," Kenny says, clearly noticing the look on Craig's face for how to respond, "you don't have to tell me, if you don't want—"
"Can you keep a secret?" Craig interrupts, having made up his mind now.
Kenny is a bit taken back by the sudden response, but nods.
"Yes. Why?"
"Remember that time I went with you and your friends to the junkyard?"
"Yeah?"
"Well… I found something there."
"What did you find?" Kenny asks, curious.
Craig remains silent though, only his gaze moves to the other side of the shack, where Tweek stood examining things. Kenny follows his gaze, then looks back at him confused.
"I don't understand," Kenny says, "is he homeless or something then? Are you helping him?"
"Yes, in a way."
This response only further pushes Kenny's confusion however. Craig sighs, knowing how all of this sounded.
"It would probably be easier if I just showed you," he tells him. He makes his way over to Tweek then. Tweek's attention is drawn to him as he nears, seeming curious as to what he wants. "Tweek, I need to show Kenny something, so try not to move too much, alright?"
"What do you need to show him?" Tweek asks.
Craig's gaze falls, he goes silent for a moment in thought.
"…I need to show him what you are," Craig replies quietly. Tweek doesn't respond, but stays in place. Craig breathes in and out slowly, preparing for whatever outcome may come. He stands next to Tweek and faces back to Kenny, "Promise me that you'll try not to freak out too much, okay?"
"Sure?" Kenny says, although still clearly confused about what's happening.
Craig turns to Tweek and grabs the bottom of his sweater and shirt and pulls them up, revealing his whole chest. This of course only raises more confusion in Kenny's expression, especially when Craig is certain he notices the lack of nipples on his chest as well. Craig then moves his other hand to the small faint patch on his chest and digs a nail under its side. A hint of…Worry? Seems to almost cross Tweek's face and one of his hands lifts a bit, as if to stop Craig.
"It's okay," Craig reassures him softly.
Tweek observes him for a few seconds, then lowers his hand back down. Craig smiles, then proceeds to open the patch and reveal the white panel behind it. He looks back at Kenny's now very shocked expression and goes to explain.
"Tweek's an android," Craig tells him.
Kenny looks between him, the panel and Tweek repeatedly, obviously trying to process everything.
"Wait, he's a what?" Kenny says, trying to comprehend it.
"An android," Craig repeats.
There's a small shake of the head as Kenny tries to wrap his brain around it.
"An android? Like the ones you'd see in movies and stuff?" he asks, walking over to get a better look at the panel.
"Pretty much," Craig replies, "I know it's a lot to take in, it was for me as well."
Kenny looks at him briefly, then goes back to examining Tweek again.
"Amazing," Kenny says in awe, "he looks just like us."
"Right? I couldn't believe it either when I found him…"
Craig closes the patch then and lowers Tweek's clothing back down, while Kenny carries on staring in amazement.
"Does anyone else know?" Kenny asks.
"No. Just you," Craig tells him.
Kenny looks at him, causing Craig to shyly look away from his gaze.
"I'd uh, prefer if this was continued to be kept between us," Craig tells him.
"Sure," Kenny smiles, "yours and Tweek's secret is safe with me."
"Thanks," Craig smiles back.
"I do have to wonder though, where has Tweek been staying? Since you're the only one that knows about him?" Kenny asks, looking back at Tweek.
"At my place," Craig replies.
"Your place? But what about your parents?"
"I've been keeping him in my room."
Kenny looks back at him.
"Your room? And he hasn't gotten caught yet?"
"Not yet, but there have been some close calls," Craig tells him, then sighs, "to be honest, I've been trying my best to look for a new place for him to stay but… no luck yet."
"I see…" Kenny says in thought, there's a pause, then an idea seems to cross his mind, "he could stay here if you want."
Craig's eyes widen in surprise.
"Oh—no, I don't want to trouble you—"
"It's fine," Kenny reassures him, "the others only come here sometimes after school, since they usually get busy with school and family stuff. I'll tell them Tweek is a friend of mine from out of town and will be hanging around here with me for a while, it's not that big of a deal."
"But…"
"Besides, you can't keep hiding him in your room forever now, can you? Didn't you say you had some close calls already?"
Craig falls silent, thinking it over in his head, before eventually giving a small nod.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it," Kenny chuckles.
"Is that alright with you, Tweek?" Craig asks, turning to him.
"If you think it is the best option for me, then I shall agree with it too," Tweek replies.
"But I'm asking if you're alright with it, not me."
"I am fine with it."
"Alright," Craig nods, accepting it, although not fully sure if Tweek is being honest or not, "I'll be sure to stop by after school, and come see you then."
"I'll stop by as well, just to make sure Tweek is doing alright too," Kenny says.
"You don't have to go so far out of your way to…"
"I want to," Kenny smiles.
There's a look in his eyes when saying that, that makes Craig's chest oddly flutter for some reason.
"Alright…" Craig says quietly.
"Great! Now that that's all sorted out, why don't I show you guys Cartman's hidden stash of snacks, because I'm hungry," Kenny laughs.
He makes his way over to a small wooden crate and takes out a small bag of chips.
The conversation over the next few hours sticks to school, friends, some questions Kenny has about Tweek here and there and occasionally the odd reference to a show or movie. They talk until the sun inevitably begins to set, and they need to head home.
"You going to be okay here? Alone?" Craig asks Tweek, as he readies to leave.
"I'll be fine," Tweek tells him.
"Don't worry, he should be safe as long as he stays in here," Kenny tells him, then glances around the shack, "for the most part anyways."
"I'll bring a flashlight or something for you tomorrow, so you can have some light, okay? But for tonight you'll have to bear with the dark."
"I'll be alright Craig," Tweek tells him, "go home and get some rest."
"Alright then, guess I'll be off. See you tomorrow Tweek," Craig says, giving him a small smile and wave before exiting the shack.
"See ya later Tweek," Kenny says, and exits behind Craig, shutting the makeshift door.
The two walk for a while in silence, Craig's thoughts preoccupied with concern for leaving Tweek behind and wondering if he'll be alright in the woods or not. He glances back in the direction they had come from when they near the edge of the woods, still worried.
"He'll be okay," Kenny speaks up and Craig looks at him, "I know he'll be, you just got to trust him and not worry so much. We'll be back to see him tomorrow, right?"
There's still some worry that flows in Craig, but he feels more at ease when hearing that and his worry fades more when Kenny places a hand on his shoulder reassuringly.
"You're right," Craig nods, "I have to trust that things will be okay."
Kenny smiles and moves his hand away, as the two continue their walk back to town. They stay together until their eventual parting comes, and head their separate ways home.