Work Text:
Moving in with the Marsh's was the last thing on Kenny's list. Truthfully it wasn't on the list at all. Kenny assumed when he finally got out of his parents house, it would be to go to college or maybe even an apartment of his own. Certainly not to move in with one of his friends. Especially this spontaneously.
For the last month Kenny had been fighting with his family, more frequently than usual that is. He hated doing that, in front of Karen no less. His fathers recklessness was to blame for it all, really.
He lost his shit paying job after his lame excuses for lateness and not being able to stay sobber on the job. So, in turn his responsibilities fell on Kevin and Kenny. Of course.
His mom was stuck dealing with the three kids and actually keeping the family together as best she could. Kenny couldn't say he was surprised she hasn't done the best job at it. Kevin got a job at some gas station outside of town, though it didn't bring in the income they needed. Kenny decided to help by getting in good with Tweek's parents and working at the café.
Not only did it give him more time away from the house but gave him an opportunity to save up what little money he had left after baying bills. The plan was to use that money to get him and Karen out of there. Guess that's not the plan anymore.
It was inevitable that this would happen, Kenny realized. Kevin would piss dad off, as usual and Kenny would get involved. It happened everytime and there was nothing stopping it from happening again.
After a long day of school and work, Kenny decided it was best to avoid his family as much as possible. As soon as his shift ended he marches his way to Kyle's where his friends agreed to meet. They hung out, played on Kyle's console and even smoked a little. Though, they had to be very careful not to leave a smell, otherwise Mrs. Broflovski would have an aneurysm.
When Kyle decided it was time to crash at 12am, the gang split. Cartman's mom picked him up and offered Stan and Kenny a ride, they politely declined, they really didn't want to spend any more time with Eric.
Kenny, being a gentleman(and wanting to delay his return), walked Stan home. Stan offered to hangout further, but Kenny decided he needed sleep for his shift in the morning and to check on Karen at home. They waved their goodbyes and Kenny begrudgingly started his trek home.
He sighed as reached his front door. He debated going through his window at first, but seeing all the lights out and hearing no movement within, he stepped up to the door and quietly opened it. Stepping through into the living room, all was still and he almost fist pumped the air in celebration. He set his bookbag next to the couch and as soon as it hit the ground, the old shadeless lamp next to the couch flipped on.
Kenny looked up in surprise, seeing his Dad sat on his beat up old recliner and behind him, his mother. Of course this would happen eventually. Kenny knew that. He tried so hard to avoid his parents for this reason. Only ever being around to hand a wad of cash to his mom wasn't gonna fly. He knew that.
"Where the fuck have you been, boy?"
God, if looks could kill, Kenny would have died for the millionth time. His fathers rage was felt from across the room and Kenny knew it wasn't all directed at him, but that didn't stop his dad from taking it out on him. Kenny could only pray his mom was there to back him up and not add fuel to this garbage fire.
" Kyle's" Was all Kenny could manage, and he knew it was the wrong thing to say.
"Oh really? You've been out fucking around with your friends all day?" Came back the angry response.
Kenny knew he was fucked. As soon as his dad stood up fron that chair and his mom looked at him with desperation. He knew. There were many times Kenny was scared of his dad. Many years of running and hiding and over those years Kenny learned to stick up for him and his siblings, but now he felt that fear. Just like he was a kid again.
"No! I went to school and then work! Unlike some of us."
Now that was certainly the wrong thing to say.
" What did you say, boy!" His dad stepped forward and Kenny backed into the front door. His mother stepped forward, pleading with his dad, only to be pushed aside.
" Do you know how hard I work for this family! You ungrateful ass-"
" You wouldn't know hard work if it slapped you in the dick! You got fired for being late and so drunk you couldn't see straight! Don't talk to me abo-"
Kenny hit the ground with a thud. His hand resting over his cheek and tears pricking in his eyes. He didn't want to look up, but he did anyway. His father stood over him with the most ferocious look he's ever seen and when he looked to his mom for help, she just stood there with her hands over her mouth and mascara running down her cheeks.
"I want you out of my house, you hear? You ungrateful little bastard! If you're such a hard working man now, go live somewhere else! If I see you in the morning boy, your ass is grass."
His dad turned and sat back down in his chair, picking up a can of beef and downing half of it. Kenny stayed sat with his back to the door for a few more seconds, regaining what little dignity he had left. When he stood, wiping the tears from his eyes and the handprint from his cheek, he grabbed his book bag and made his was to his room.
As he passed his mother, she made an attempt to grab his arm and pull him back, but he shrugged her off and shut his door behind him. Seeing his siblings in their beds, magically Kevin had slept through the the whole ordeal, unfortunately, Karen had not.
His sister was sitting next to Kevin's snoring body, head buried in her knees and arms wrapped around her. It broke Kenny's heart to see her in any sort of distress, much less distress caused by him.
"Hey" He whispers to her.
Her head shot up from her knees and she let out a little gasp. Seeing her face covered in tears and snot pulled further at Kenny's heart strings and he set his bag down and walked over. He sat next to her and pulled her into his side.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that. I should have remembered you were a light sleeper." He chuckled sadly and laid his head on top of hers. She leaned into him and wiped her face.
"Are you really leaving?" Her quiet broken response did nothing to help the cracking of Kenny's heart.
"...Yeah. Yeah I am. I have to. He won't let me stay anyway."
He didn't want to admit it, but he couldn't lie to himself and especially not to Karen. He had no plan of action, no plan b. He never thought he'd actually get kicked out. Not before Kevin anyway.
"Can I come too?"
God, he wanted to take her with him. He would have given life and limb to do so, but he knew he couldn't. He hadn't even though of a place to stay yet. He could end up sleeping in the street's tonight. He just couldn't do that to her.
"I really wish you could, but no. I'm sorry."
She sobbed and shoved her head into his chest. He wrapped his arms fully around her and pulled her tight against him. They cried in each other's arms, whispering sorrys and I love yous. He rocked her back and forth, fighting the erge to fall asleep right there with her.
Eventually, he got her to fall asleep again and gently laid her down next to Kevin. He gathered himself, clearing his face of tears and regrets. Standing, Kenny grabbed his bag and stuffed what little clothes he had in it. Opened his underwear drawer and pulled a wad of saved up cash and buried it deep under his clothes and books.
By the time he left his siblings room the house was dead silent. As usual his father had passed out on his recliner, surrounded by beer cans and smelling heavily of harder substances. It took everything within Kenny to not take advantage of his fathers poor state and beat the life out of him. What little was left anyway, but he knew he couldn't do that with the rest of his family there.
He was determined to prove he wasn't his father and that meant learning how to take a loss and move on. The blonde crept quietly through the living room and out the front door into the cold. Unsure of his next step, he pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the first number in his contacts.