Work Text:
Every winter, when the Stark’s pond froze, the kids used to ice skate. It was a kind of yearly tradition at this point. Eventually it got so crowded that there’s barely any space to skate on. So, the boys, cunning as they were, decided to claim the pond by arriving there way earlier than everybody else.
Well, that was the plan anyway.
Kenny was sitting on the bench, with his pair of ice skates, watching Kyle and Cartman skate freely on the pond, without a care in the world.
“What’s the matter, Kyle? Can’t keep steady?” Cartman teased his friend, as he slid on the ice with long movements. He was surprisingly graceful for such a fat bulk of flesh. “Told you Jews had no rhythm!”
“It’s not about rhythm, fatass! The blades of my skates are dull!” Kyle retorted, moving stiffly. Kenny had to admit the contrast between them was pretty funny to witness. Kyle was skating like a fucking robot.
“Excuses, excuses…” Cartman surrounded Kyle at incredible speed for his weight . “Weren’t you on the ice hockey team back then? How the mighty have fallen!”
“I was 4 years old, asshole! And I told you, it’s the fucking- “ Cartman grabbed Kyle’s hat. “Hey gimme that!”
“Come and get it, Ugly Duckling!” The brunette skated at full speed with it.
“I’m not joking, Cartman! Give my fucking hat!” Kyle tried to go after him and fell on his knees instead. “Ah, fuck!” He whined. “God damn it, Cartman!”
“Kyle can’t get his ha-at! Nya, nya, nya, nya, nya, nya! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!” The fat boy mocked him while getting closer, yet still maintaining a cautious distance.
“I’m gonna kill you, Cartman!” Kyle tried to catch him and Cartman sped away with a boisterous laugh. Dramatically, he punched the ice with his fist.
Kenny had to admit it, he never wanted to be the target of Kyle’s anger but seeing him angry was weirdly entertaining. And now that he was hatless, even more. He looked like a sentient red bush on the ice. Or more like a red broccoli? The occurrence made him giggle and Kyle noticed.
Staring at him like a hawk, the boy demanded. “Kenny, take my hat away from Cartman!”
“No fucking way!” Kenny mumbled under his parka. He detested getting involved in the two’s arguments. And this time he had even less desire to do so after watching them have fun without caring he couldn’t skate. Also, he had been sitting for enough time that his spot was warm. He wasn’t going to sacrifice that for a petty fight that had nothing to do with him.
“Aghh!” Kyle growled as he struggled to get on his feet.
Undeterred, Cartman sang Danny Kaye’s Ugly Duckling while he pranced around, changing the lyrics so it would fit Kyle better.
As Kenny observed the scuffle, he ended thinking about how, if it were other time, he might have helped Kyle. However, as things stood, he was more likely to support Cartman, even if he didn’t voice it.
Cartman might be one irredeemable piece of shit but at least he didn’t hide it. Everything he did, he did it for his own enjoyment and it was no secret. Kyle, though? Kenny had yet to understand his motivations after all this time. He based his entire identity on being this moral guy that stood up against all evil. However, if the roles were reversed, he would be making fun of Cartman’s inability to skate and calling him names without remorse.
And that would be fine if he genuinely hated Cartman. The problem was, that no matter how many times Kyle had claimed to despise the guy, he always ended up drawn to him. Even picking Cartman’s side over Stan and Kenny’s. At this point Kyle hung out more with his declared enemy than his supposed best friend. Kenny might be immortal but that shit truly escaped him. Where was the logic in Kyle’s actions?
So no, he wasn’t going to help Kyle retrieve his dumb hat, he was in this situation because he fucking wanted to.
“Kenny?” A familiar voice called him. He turned to see Stan next to the bench, head tilted in confusion. “Why aren’t you skating?”
“My ice skates are too small for me now.” Kenny explained while frowning. “They don’t fit me anymore.” Needless to say, he had only realized this when he tried them on this morning, right at this spot. However, even if he had noticed earlier like, say, yesterday, it would’ve made no difference. His family wasn’t exactly in the position to buy him a new pair at the moment.
Stan let out a deflated “Oh…” and Kenny was ready for him to ditch him and join the others. It’s not like anyone would sacrifice themselves to keep company to the poor kid. Instead, Stan asked. “What’s your current shoe size?”
“Eight.” The blond replied. His current boots were a loose six so he had managed to use them even when he was a seven but now that his feet were two sizes bigger it physically hurt to try them on.
His friend sat next to him. “I actually just got a new pair. They’re seven and a half because my dad is mad my feet haven’t really grown since fourth grade.” He snorted. “I’m barely a seven, though.”
Not sure what Stan was getting at, Kenny contemplated him in silence. Stan opened the bag he was holding in his right hand, showing a brand new pair of ice skates. They were beautiful, with a shiny blade and a luscious black leather.
“You think you can manage with a seven and a half?
Eyes going wide, Kenny shouted. “What?!”
The black haired kid grabbed the shoes resting on the snow. “These are yours right?” He inspected them. “I think I can manage.”
“Huh?!”
“I’m saying you should use mine and I’ll use yours.” Stan declared as if he was stating the obvious. Right after, he took off his sneakers, under Kenny’s perplexed stare. He tried one of the worn out boots. “Hmm…” He put on the other one. “It’s kinda tight but for today they’re good.” Seeing Kenny wasn’t moving, he scolded him. “What are you waiting for, Ken?”
“Uh…”
“Put on my shoes!” Stan placed the box on Kenny’s lap. The latter blinked in bewilderment. “Kenny!” His friend exclaimed in irritation.
“O-Okay!” Kenny stammered as he undid the shoelace of his boots. He couldn’t help gaping as the unblemished pair. Even when he got new clothes or shoes, they were never in great condition. His mom used to buy them second-hand stuff.
“Jesus Christ, Kenny, hurry up or I’ll leave you behind.” The youngest Marsh announced as he stood up, walking around on the snow. “Not bad…”
Finally accepting this wasn’t a dream, the kid put on the ice skates on his feet. As Stan had warned him, they weren’t quite his size. Nothing he hadn’t dealt with in the past, though. Plus, the coziness of the fabric compensated for it. Furthermore, the shoelaces felt smooth on his gloved fingers.
“Let’s go.” Stan gestured at him and Kenny finally got up. His friend took his hand impatiently. “Come on.”
He let himself be dragged as they set foot on the frozen pond. When their hands separated, he suddenly grew conscious of how cold he was.
Cartman skated towards them, that stupid smirk of his at display. “Aww, aren’t Cinderella and her prince cute!” He cooed sarcastically. “When’s the wedding, guys?”
“Shut up, Cartman.” Stan yapped at him in a tired fashion.
Normally, Kenny would’ve said something too yet he was currently fixated on how easy it was to move with Stan’s shoes. Was this how all his friends felt? No wonder they liked skating so much. He was sliding so easily, so agilely…
“Cartman!” Kyle yelled in the background, trying to catch up to them. “Stop fucking around!” His gigantic hair bounced with every one of his erratic movements.
The fat jester winked at Stan and Kenny before leaving them to approach Kyle. “What is it, Kyle? You seem stressed.” He faked concern as he made eights on the ice.
To no avail, Kyle tried to catch him, stumbling over every time because Cartman was surprisingly fast. “I’m gonna kill you, Cartman!” He shrieked in fury.
“How are they?” Stan addressed Kenny, distracting him from watching the other two.
“They’re great!” Kenny vocalized instinctively. “Thank you, Stan.” His smile wasn’t visible but he hoped the other could tell.
“No problem, buddy.” His friend replied as he attempted to move around. The stiffness was notable although he didn’t seem too bothered. “Man, you’ve been using these the whole time?”
Kenny nodded. “I think they were my dad’s or something.” He added.
“Shit, Ken, I had no idea…” Stan commented. “These are like having rocks attached to your feet.”
“You don’t have to-”
“Nah, it’s fine.” The boy attempted to do a spin and fell on his ass disastrously. “Ouch!” He whined.
“Stan!” Kenny approached him, mortified that his lousy equipment had hurt his friend. “I’m sorry, I’ll just give them back.”
“I told you it’s okay.” Stan grinned, albeit embarrassedly so. “Just give me a hand.”
Not quite convinced, the blond offered his hand and Stan grabbed it. Using all his strength, he pulled him up. “Seriously, I just-”
“Kenny, it’s seriously no big deal.” The child seemed mildly exasperated. “My stupid dad didn’t even buy me the right size anyway.”
That was a good point but Kenny still felt guilty. Though, truth to be told, he didn’t want to take these shoes off. They were so goddamn comfortable.
“I’ll get you a new pair for your birthday.” Stan said and, almost immediately, grimaced. “It might be too late to use them this winter though...but at least for the next one?”
Kenny knew.
Kenny knew that Stan only said that because affording a pair of ice skates for a friend’s birthday wasn’t that much of a big deal. He wasn’t even the one paying them but his parents. In the same vein, Kenny also knew that Stan lending him his recently bought shoes only happened because they happened to be closer to each other’s size. The guy wouldn’t have gone that far if it meant staying on the bench and watching them play. It was simply convenient and he didn’t mind helping Kenny on the way.
He knew all that and yet that couldn’t stop the warmth spreading inside his chest and all the way to his face so that he found himself smiling without realizing. He was rarely spared these kinds of thoughts from his friends so it was impossible not to want to treasure this moment, maybe overdramatically so.
“Stan…” He started, his fingers grabbing his parka’s zipper, right at the top of it
His friend gazed at him for a moment before his expression changed into panic. “Look out!” He cried out, pointing behind Kenny.
Turning, Kenny saw Cartman being tossed in his direction at alarming speed. If he didn’t have experience avoiding death, he might have been killed by the impact then and there. Fortunately, he was wearing Stan’s ice skates so he could easily move to the side and watch Cartman crash against the ice with a loud thud. Kyle followed soon after, throwing himself at the fat one with a war cry.
“Dude, be careful!” Stan reprimanded his best friend. “You almost hit Kenny!”
Blind with anger, Kyle ignored him to grab Cartman by the collar. “I fucking told you to give me back my hat!”
“Okay, okay, here it is, Jesus!” Cartman meekly pushed the green ushanka against Kyle’s chest.
“I fell like 10 times because of you!” The redhead continued, his hat falling to the side.
“Now, Kyle, it’s not really my fault your shoes suck-” Kyle shook Cartman’s body, interrupting his sentence. “Kyle what the fuck-” Another shaking. “Kyle, stop it!” Helplessly, he tried to pull away from the ginger, only to be shaken again, except more violently this time.
“How do you like this now, fatass?” Kyle grinned maniacally as Cartman’s head bobbed like a doll.
“G-G-Get the fuck off me! My ass is freezing!”
“Your ass deserves to freeze!” The other retorted, shaking him savagely. “Freeze your ass off!”
“Guys, Jesus Christ, help me! The Jew’s gone insane! Guys!” The douchebag looked over to Stan and Kenny viewing the spectacle.
“No way.” Stan blurted as Kyle pulled down Cartman’s hat to his face and placed his hand over it to blind him. It was childish, yet it made Stan and Kenny begin cackling over the sight.
As he laughed, Kenny peered at Stan, who seemed to be having the time of his life watching Cartman be ridiculed. If before he had felt warmth in his chest, now he felt some sort of heat. For a second, he worried he was about to die when Stan smiled back at him and the heat expanded across his body. He was fine, he wasn’t going to die.
He was just in love.