Chapter Text
Mysterion had a job the next night and it was a success, but it didn't go without a hitch. The hitch being that he was probably going to die soon, and if he didn't he would probably take the easy way out and made sure it happened so he wouldn't have to deal with his injuries. That's the one thing that's convenient about the whole immortality thing.
He'd been tossed around an awful lot tonight, surely dealing with internal bleeding, and he might have a concussion. There's definitely blood leaking out of one of his ears from where the side of his head had been slammed into a wall and he can't hear out of it. The other ear is filled with a slight ringing and it's honestly kind of annoying. This last perp had the upper hand on him when it came to strength but he was able to slip away once backup arrived.
He decides to make the last minute decision to not opt for dying in a back alley this time, making his way to Kyle's. Even though his thoughts are a little fuzzy and he hasn't gone to see him when in such a state in so long, it always makes things a little bit easier. He still feels a sharp pain in his gut when he thinks of how Kyle will react to this since he remembers now (or maybe one of his organs is ruptured) but he'd promised. So everything should be okay, right?
When he manages to somehow climb up the side of his house (he's done it with multiple gunshot wounds and broken bones before, no biggie) he startles the shit out of Kyle. Even though he had half a mind to at least throw a rock at his open window first this time, it still somehow spooks him. It has Kenny laughing even as he flops down onto his floor, hearing Kyle starting to fuss over him.
"...Gonna be okay, right?” Kenny hasn't heard the first part of the question but he mumbles out a "yeah," feeling Kyle touch his shoulders. He doesn't realize that he's closed his eyes until he feels someone touching his neck and hears a sigh of relief, so he reopens them, looking up to see Kyle looking down at him. It takes him a moment to realize Kyle's sitting on the floor and he's maneuvered Kenny so his head is on his lap, having been checking for a pulse when he had his lapse in consciousness. Shit, maybe he's in even worse shape than he thought.
Maybe it's just the head trauma but Kyle looks so cute right now. His hair looks wet from the shower and his eyebrows are furrowed in concern but he's not crying. This is the first time that Kyle hasn't lost his shit when he's come in wounded like this. Maybe Kyle was right about not being so fragile- if anything, now that he remembers, he's able to keep his cool. That's all he could've hoped for, because he was so worried about Kyle just getting more and more traumatized as this went on.
He sees Kyle looking him over, trying to pick out what injuries he has. Most of the damage is inside of his body so he wouldn't be able to tell. When he speaks up next Kenny tries his best to hear him, but he can feel eyes on him from the corner of the room.
Give me a few more minutes, he thinks, willing the reaper to just wait for one god damn second.
"Can you hear me, Ken? Your ear is bleeding."
Kenny hums in affirmation, unable to nod when his brain feels like it would explode if he did. His skull feels like it's on fire even though the rest of his body feels like it's growing colder by the second. Maybe because his blood is leaking out of the places it's supposed to be staying in. Oh yeah, he's slipping.
He's heard talk about how when people are dying, they get a burst of energy. A last hurrah of sorts. Kenny doesn't shoot up and start running around the room like everything is fine but he can feel his voice starting to work again, just long enough for him to make a fool out of himself.
"So nice being held by a hot babe when I'm croaking," he manages to slur out. "Missed it."
Kyle blinks, understandably looking very taken back that Kenny could possibly be flirting right now. Is he blushing? That's adorable. But Kyle is usually pretty good at brushing off his wooing like nothing. "You got hit on the head really damn hard, didn't you?"
Kenny pouts because that's not the damn point. Just because it's true and it's the reason his judgement is clouded right now...well, whatever. His point still stands, fully conscious or not. There's a small part of Kenny's brain that's still functioning and yelling at him to just shut up and die already because Kyle will actually remember all of this shit tomorrow, but he doesn't listen and keeps mumbling. He's flirted with him while dying before and he's not about to stop now, apparently. If his dying words are directed towards the object of his affections then so be it.
"Mhm. If I hadn't seen heaven that one time, I woulda thought the angels would look like you." No, stop it. He briefly wonders if Kyle also wishes he would just shut up and die already.
"Yeah, you're definitely out of it. You're way more handsome than me. They should be modeled after you, if they're not already."
Huh?
He totally didn't hear that right. His injuries are messing with his hearing. Or his mind is playing tricks on him and he's hallucinating. Did Kyle just fucking uno reverse him?
Kenny gurgles on a little bit of blood when he speaks next. "The fuck?" This is so not romantic at all. But he can't help but feel just a little bit flattered. Kyle could've just laughed him off, ignored his delirious ramblings. Why did he humor him this time? Come to think of it, every time he flirts with him when he's Mysterion, Kyle always gets more flustered than he normally would. But he still brushes him off, he doesn't say shit like that back to him. What's with that? His vision is starting to darken around the edges but he has more questions, damn it.
"Shh. I'll see you later." Kyle must be noticing that he's on his way out. Kenny's eyes slip closed against his will again but he swears he feels Kyle pressing his lips to his forehead, and even though his heartbeat stutters to a halt within mere seconds of it, his chest briefly feels warm inside. He's never had a literal kiss of death before. That's kind of sweet, actually.
--
What the fuck is the point in coming back from the dead if you still wake up feeling like you got hit by a truck?
Kenny rolls over in his bed so he could mush his face into his pillow. If he smothers himself, can he come back without this headache? At least he doesn't hear ringing anymore. Just his brain throbbing.
He's not sure how long he stays like that but he eventually hears a small ping coming from his phone. Then a second one. Kenny pats around on his bed until he finds it, wincing at the brightness and having to lower it all the way down first.
Let me know when you're back.
Followed up immediately with:
Please.
Kenny feels his stomach flip as he pieces together what happened the night before. There was a tiny part of him that hoped Kyle wouldn't remember last night for old times sake, just this once, but that didn't happen. He can't really complain but he made a fool of himself.
And yet Kyle was here messaging him because...why? Why did Kyle care so much? Obviously because they're friends, but Kenny's been nothing but selfish, seeking him out for comfort and intel on cases without warning whenever he damn well pleases. But Kyle doesn't complain when he's fully capable of doing so and has a good reason to be. And he knows now Kenny will come back anyway. But then he remembers that part of their conversation where Kyle voiced his fear that any death could be the last one, and that "please" proved how desperate he was to know that Kenny really did come back.
Kenny sighs and shoots back a quick text, consisting of just, "im back 🎉," like a jackass. How else would one announce their return to the world of the living? His phone buzzes in his hand again before the screen can go black on its own.
That's a relief. How are you feeling?
Kenny's so tempted to just not reply and fall back asleep. But his head is pounding too much for that to happen anyway.
like shit. things still hurt for a while sumtimes.
Shit dude, that must really suck. Do you have work today?
nah. Thank fucking god.
Cool. Let me know if you need anything :)
Kenny types out and sends the next message without thinking about it, and then immediately slams his face back into his pillow. What the literal fuck is wrong with him?
my head rly hurts maybe another kiss would make it better
Smothering himself does sound like a good idea right about now. He shouldn't be doing this, this is so stupid. He's just coping in his usual silly way. But his phone pings again and he groans.
I don't think so. Aside from a few exceptions, I like to save those for dates.
Kenny can't help himself. It's so easy, it's over text and even if Kyle could just be joking, he could also play it off as a joke. Even if it would suck, he could do it.
is that an offer? ;)
Maybe.
Kenny swears he just felt his heart drop into his stomach. That doesn't sound like joking. Kyle sends another message at lightning speed but it feels like years have passed.
Meet me outside your house when you're feeling better. Just let me know.
k.
This doesn't mean anything, Kenny keeps repeating to himself like a mantra. Kyle is just humoring him somehow, he's probably bored and doesn't have plans with anyone else this weekend. He's probably just checking up on Kenny like any good friend would. He's not responding to his weird flirting with sincerity a second time. That'd be ridiculous.
Kenny debates just laying there all day and not getting up but he needs to get up and take something for the headache, maybe have a snack. He sets about doing that while his mind continues to race, so much so that he doesn't notice when Karen enters the kitchen until he hears her speaking.
"Kenny? Why are you napping at the table?"
He's sat himself down with his head in his arms after chugging two full glasses of water with some pain killers, shielding his eyes from the light bleeding in from the windows. "Headache. I need to borrow some clothes."
Karen scoffs and pulls up a chair to sit across from him. "You have your own clothes."
"I just wanna wear a skirt today. Don't be so greedy."
Karen groans and pokes him in the arm. "You need to start saving up from your job so you can get your own already. You keep stinking up my stuff with cigarette smoke and then don't even wash them."
"I'm not gonna smoke today." Maybe. "Just wanna feel comfortable."
Karen sighs and gives in. They can't ever say no to each other. "You'd better not. Take whatever you want. Why do you need a skirt today?"
Kenny doesn't feel like going into the complexities of his gender expression with her right now and how sometimes he needs to wear an emotional support skirt. It just helps when he's feeling like shit. "Gonna see a friend today."
"Uh huh. You need to dress up to see a friend?" There's something accusing in her tone and he peeks up at her. Why is she smirking? Can't he have days where he wants to be pretty without it being anything more than that?
"Stop that. I'm just going to hang out with Kyle later."
He shouldn't have name-dropped. She's grinning now.
"Just Kyle?"
"Yeah. I'm allowed to hang out with friends on my days off."
"If you say so." She gets up then and stretches her arms over her head. "Let me know how the date goes."
"Wh-" He watches as she practically skips back out of the kitchen. "It's not like that!"
"Sure, Ken!"
--
Kenny stands outside of his house after texting Kyle, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets because Karen doesn't own skirts with real pockets. Which is really stupid. Anyone that designs a long denim skirt with fake pockets should be given the electric chair.
His headache seems to be mostly gone by this point so he felt it was fine to pull his hair into a messy low ponytail to pretend he didn't have the craziest bed head ever, but his nerves aren't. Just two friends hanging out, nothing to it. They've hung out plenty of times before, just the two of them.
... Mostly as Mysterion breaking into his room but it counts, right?
Kyle finally strolls up and gives him a little wave. "Hey."
Kenny nods, popping his gum between his teeth. "Hey. You didn't have anything to do today?"
Kyle shrugs and Kenny feels himself shrinking a bit as he's being looked over. But he doesn't comment on anything. He has no idea that Kyle thinks he looks really cute today. "I figured my plans involved taking you to get something to eat since you probably haven't felt up to it yet."
Kenny nearly swallows his gum but he straightens up and clears his throat. He's not wrong- he'd foregone a snack completely when he stood from the table and felt the world spinning for a moment. "Yeah. That sounds good."
Kyle smiles and turns to lead him back down the street. "There's a new place that looks pretty good. Stan's been there with Wendy a few times."
Nothing weird. Not really a date. Just hanging out where his best friend and his girlfriend go on dates. So normal.
"It better be. My life is in your hands here."
Kyle chuckles softly. There's a silence afterwards that feels comfortable, until Kyle speaks up again.
"So...do you always wake up feeling awful afterwards? I feel kind of bad that I've never noticed before."
Kenny shrugs, idly kicking a pebble along the sidewalk. "Sometimes. The faster I come back, the fresher everything feels."
"What's the longest it's taken you to come back?" Kyle's looking at him with his head tilted in genuine curiosity.
"Uh..." Kenny mulls that over. He's died a fuckton of times. "Days? Weeks sometimes, but that doesn't happen super often."
"Jesus," Kyle breathes out. "Where do you...go? During that time?”
"I dunno. I guess it's kind of like limbo? I just sit around waiting for them to check my file or whatever and then they send me back. It feels like minutes but I'll wake up and realized I died three days ago. It's a good thing my boss doesn't notice, he thinks I've just called out sick or something. And he doesn't question it happening all the time. But not getting paid during that time sucks. So like...don't get too freaked out if you don't hear back from me right away."
Kyle nods and thinks that over, leading him to their destination. Nothing fancy, it looks like a quaint family-owned diner. Kenny knows that Kyle must have endless questions for him but he puts them on pause so they can get seated and order their burgers. Kenny thinks that he might be more inclined to be open about this stuff now that he's not trying to avoid the topic altogether.
"It's just so crazy, you know?" Kyle starts up again as they start digging in, waving a fry around as he speaks. "Like, I just can't imagine what this must be like for you. To have to keep going through this shit over and over again."
Kenny makes sure his mouth isn't full before he answers. "I hope you don't ever have to know. But I guess it makes the superhero thing easier. I don't think I would be nearly as successful otherwise."
"Because you're so reckless," Kyle snorts. "You really don't know how to hold yourself back."
"I guess not," he smirks. "Somebody's gotta show those bad guys what's up every now and then."
"Mhm. You could afford to at least be a little more careful."
"What's the point in that? Then I wouldn't be able to bug you after. You're great dying company, you know."
He can swear he sees the faintest blush dusting across Kyle's cheeks as he takes a sip of his soda. "Yeah, sure. Why's that?"
Kenny hesitates for a bit, dipping his fry in his ketchup for way too long as he contemplates his next words. "Cuz...I think you always kind of knew. That I'd come back. Even when you were panicking, you...always said the nicest things to me. Always made me feel comfortable. Nobody's ever made me feel like I was special before." That's only partially untrue- Karen obviously has, but that's different. She's obligated to (not really.)
He watches Kyle as his eyes flicker over his face, blinking a few times. "You are special, Kenny."
Huh?
"I mean-" Kyle waves his hands, and now he knows for a fact that he's blushing. "You're seriously one of the coolest people I've ever known. And it took me way too long to see it. I really look up to you, you know?"
"Me??"
"Yes, you!" He huffs. "You're the most selfless, caring person I know and that might not be saying much since everyone else we know is so full of themselves, but it's true. You don't have to be putting yourself at risk just because you'll come right back. You do it because you care so much about fixing this shit town and that's really admirable."
Kenny flounders a bit, that feeling that he got hit by a truck coming back again but for a completely different reason. Kyle doesn't just say shit to be nice. He's blunt whether he's being mean or kind to somebody. "Oh...thanks," he replies dumbly, resting his chin in his hand.
The silence isn't quite as comfortable this time, neither of them speaking up for a good while. But while Kenny's good with silence, Kyle isn't one to let it drag on for too long. "You know...I really like you, Kenny. Not just as..."
Another truck, hurdling at the speed of light. Right at him.
"I don't...agh." Kyle pinches the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "I suck at this shit."
Maybe Kenny's hearing hasn't fully come back yet, because he can't believe the words coming out of Kyle's mouth. But he's not going to chicken out anymore.
"You scored a date with me, dude. I think that counts for something."
"I-" Kyle sputters, and Kenny can't help but chuckle at how red Kyle is turning. "Does it?"
"I mean, I don't drag myself out of bed and get dressed up for just anyone. You're pretty special to me, too."
Kyle's the one that looks like he's struggling to understand what's happening now, torn between looking at Kenny and tearing his gaze away. "I didn't...I never would've thought..."
"Why not?"
Kyle chews on the inside of his cheek, looking back down at his food. "Because you're...you. You could totally pull anybody else."
Kenny frowns then, leaning closer the tiniest bit with his chin still in his hand. The last bits of their food have totally gone cold by now. "I don't really want to. Like you said, everyone else here kind of sucks."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Kyle laughs, and his smile makes Kenny feel warm and gooey inside in such a gross cheesy way. He dropped his hand from his face to rest it on top of Kyle's and it just feels so right.
"You done? We should probably bounce."
"Yeah!" Kyle blinks and seems to hesitate before he pulls his hand back to get up. Kenny waits until they're outside to test the waters by taking Kyle's hand in his own, and it takes a second before he feels Kyle's fingers curling around his hand in response.
"Y'know, Kyle." Kenny hums, not sure where they're heading but walking nonetheless. "It's kind of impressive how you manage to be the dumbest nerd I know."
"Wh- hey! What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Everybody with eyes knows I've been trying to woo you for like, ever."
Kyle stops walking then, his eyebrows shooting up comically high. "You flirt with everybody!"
"Mm. But I didn't really mean it most of the time with them."
Kenny gives his hand a little tug and they start walking again, and he can tell Kyle is trying so hard to pick out the pieces of the puzzle that he's been missing. "Yeah, well. You're pretty stupid too, if you didn't notice my feelings for you."
"Kyle, babe," Kenny sighs. "You do kind of suck at this shit, no offense."
Kyle grumbles then, letting Kenny lead him to the park down the street. They didn't really plan anything else after this so he just opts for sitting on a bench with him, soaking in the sunlight. It's a nice day out, after all. "Well, like you said. I managed to get a date with the Kenneth McCormick. I think that counts as a point for me."
"True," Kenny hums, watching the leaves shake as the breeze blows through the trees. This scene couldn't possibly get any gayer.
"By the way," Kenny smirks at him. "You said you save your kisses for dates." Apparently it could get gayer. "Not saying you owe me anything, but if you're feeling generous..."
He's decided that it's going to be his life mission to get Kyle to blush whenever he can because it makes his freckles stand out so beautifully against his skin. Kyle gapes at him for a moment, his voice coming out as a whisper. "Does your head still hurt?"
"Not really." Kenny's grinning now, knowing it looks a little devious. "My mouth kind of does. Whatever sauce they put on my burger was kind of spicy."
He snaps a photo of Kyle's face in his mind to keep close to his heart because he looks so flustered and it's the fucking cutest thing he's ever seen.
"You're unbelievable."
Kenny shrugs, giving Kyle's hand a little squeeze. "Part of my charm, I guess."
Kyle rolls his eyes, groaning. "Oh my god, shut up."
Kenny steals a long glance at his lips before looking back up at his eyes and he doesn't miss the way it makes Kyle swallow thickly. "Make me."
Kyle takes a moment to think before he reaches up to cup Kenny's face in his free hand and it takes everything in him to not melt at that touch alone.
When Kyle finally dares to close the distance between them, Kenny's thankful he didn't have a single cigarette today. The last thing he needed was Kyle backing away in disgust. Kenny sighs as Kyle kisses him, and even though it's brief and he can feel the nervousness bleeding out of Kyle, it's the best damn kiss he's had in his life. Nothing else could ever compare to this. Shit, he might drop that habit completely if it means he could always have this.
Kenny's hand also comes up to hold his face as they pull back, relishing in just how warm he is. He brushes his thumb along his cheek and Kyle's eyes flutter for a moment. "Was that generous enough?"
"Mm." Kenny pouts slightly, pretending to really think about it. "Super generous."
Kenny pulls back to look at him, humming. "I dunno man. About what you said? You're totally prettier than me."
Kyle blinks, chuckling softly. "Agree to disagree. Except I'm right." Kenny scoffs at that and presses a kiss to Kyle's cheek and relishing in the way he sucks a soft breath in.
Kyle rearranges their held hands so he can link his pinky with his, and it makes Kenny's heart do a backflip. "What's that for?"
Kyle shrugs with one shoulder, looking over Kenny's face as if he's a work of art. As if he's his entire world right now. "Just...a reminder. That I'm not leaving your side so easily."
Kenny smiles and gives his pinky a squeeze with his own, using his other arm to pull him into a hug.
"Same here."