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Kyle Broflovski was extremely touch starved.
That was presumably the reason for the inexplicable new trend that had started to form in his and Cartman’s unconventional friendship. It wasn’t that he wanted Cartman to touch him, he simply leaned into the touch of anybody’s skin against his. And it just so happens that that “ anybody ” was Eric Cartman most of the time.
Eric had always been touchy-feely. Kyle assumed he was like that in general; though few were close enough to his grubby hands to fall victim. Few wise people, at least. Kyle on the other hand didn’t really have a choice, he had to be close to the fatass. How was he supposed to stop his diabolical plans while standing metres away? How was he supposed to pull away from the bastard when he excitedly dragged him with him?
Well that’s how it started at least… Then things got a bit too unjustifiable even for Kyle’s stubborn brain.
The hypothesis is that Cartman simply noticed Kyle’s reaction to his touch. He’d always been hyper observant when it came to the other (and vice versa), everything was a big competition between them. And Cartman was clearly winning this round.
It started with the usual unconscious grasps at Kyle; Eric getting in his personal space while being annoying about something, dragging Kyle with him as if he were a lapdog, leaning in to whisper a “secret”. Well, Kyle had never been against the touch, he rarely pushed the fatass away. But with time he noticed that even the faux protesting puffs, strained efforts to escape and grumbling faded.
He’d pushed his other friends away from him before, however… those hands on him were more jarring, rare, unnatural in a sense? Hesitant, pitiful. Yes, he craved physical contact, but usually only received it when people were trying to calm him down. Cartman wasn’t ever trying to do that… he was trying to rile him up .
And sometimes Kyle was grateful for that. No, not because Cartman enjoyed seeing him suffer. He wasn’t a masochist. But rather, that he got an outlet for his frustration. He finally got to feel without being disciplined for his temper.
Kyle often considers those adrenaline filled periods to be some of the realest moments of his life.
Though, he’d never admit that…
Back to the situation at hand, Cartman clearly noticed the lack of resistance. It wasn’t defeat either, no sometimes Kyle’s own touch would linger. Like a rabid cat come domesticated.
Yes, from Kyle’s perspective it might seem like Cartman was desperate for his attention, for his warm touch. In reality, Kyle grabbed onto Cartman just as much; dragging him with him, basically glued to his side, comforting him, rubbing his shoulder or holding him in his arms. Heck even saving him! Thrice now at least… he’d lost count.
Upon the clear change in demeanour however, how Kyle simply gave up on fighting against his heart every time one of Cartman’s arms so much as grazed against his, Cartman decided to hold onto him even more. Maybe it was meant as a teasing sign of acknowledgment at first. Maybe Cartman was as desperate as Kyle. Probably more… right? Who would ever hug him except his mom?
Nudges and lingering contact turned into very conscious acts of physical affection. Like that time during lunch when Cartman rested his knee against Kyle’s thigh and the other didn’t dare to move.
Or that time on the playground when Kyle had forgotten his gloves. Cartman had taken Kyle’s bare hands in his own, gloved palms and created a warming friction. So warm that it somehow warmed his whole body, from the flaming red cheeks to the buckling knees.
Of course these small interactions earned the occasional weird glances and eyebrow raises from their peers. Though eventually they realised that this was the new normal, and adapted. Kyle and Cartman had always been weird together, the real question was whether they’d kill or kiss each other first.
Either way, subtle touches turned into a necessary part of their routine. Hand holding under the benches and soft kisses in the storage closets. Punches exchanged for strokes and tackles for… loving tackles.
Kyle Broflovski was no longer extremely touch starved.
And neither was Eric Cartman.