Work Text:
2:24pm
Stan started taking his things out of his backpack, setting them next to Kyle's bed. "Thanks for offering to let me sleep over for the break, dude."
"Of course, man! My mom loves having you over, you're always welcome," Kyle smiled warmly. "I mean, obviously I love having you over too.”
Stan laughed. “Well, who wouldn't love having me over? I'm the best," he jokes.
Stan pulled a huge case out of his bag. Kyle leaned over to see over his friend's shoulder, watching as he pulled a guitar out of its case.
"Woah, you play guitar? I had no idea," Kyle marveled.
Stan's guitar was covered in various stickers and doodles of all sorts of things. It was a typical light wood color with other colors Stan had painted onto it and dotted with stickers. It was definitely Stan’s.
Stan grinned. "Yeah, I got it a few months ago. I wanted to surprise you with a song." Kyle perked up.
"Really? Can I hear it?" Kyle asked enthusiastically. His face of excitement made it hard for Stan to say no.
“C’mon, dude, I just got here. Gimme a minute," Stan teased, elbowing his friend lightly.
Kyle giggled in response. “Alright, fine. I'll ask my mom to make us a snack in the meantime.”
5:47pm
Stan plucked at one of his guitar strings in an attempt to get it in tune. He adjusted the knobs, frustrated. Kyle sat on his bed while Stan sat on the floor.
"So, what are you trying to show me again?" Kyle let his head fall to the side, like a confused puppy.
"Dude, just hold on! I've almost got it." Stan strummed the guitar, satisfied when it played a clean sound. "Finally, there we go."
Kyle sat up in anticipation as Stan began strumming a gentle melody. Kyle swayed his body slowly to the melody.
The melody was soft and gentle. Stan looked so at peace while playing. Kyle imagined himself sitting beside Stan, softly singing with his head on his friend’s shoulder. He wanted to do nothing but listen to him play forever. When Kyle realized what song Stan was playing, he started quietly humming the words.
Stan came to a stop earlier than Kyle expected. “That's all I've learned so far. I'm still working on it, but I thought you'd like to hear it– I know how much you love that song."
"Did you learn my favorite song just for me?" Kyle asked, his expression softening.
Stan stopped playing, simply frozen looking at Kyle. He was completely enamored with Kyle's smile. Stan shook himself back to reality. "Uh, yeah. I thought you'd like it," he said awkwardly.
"Of course I do, dude! I love everything you do. You're the best," Kyle smiled. It took him a second to realize what he said. "No homo, though."
Stan chuckled. "Yeah, of course." He averted Kyle's gaze, his face flushed red.
8:13pm
Kyle chewed the eraser on his pencil as he stared down at his homework. Stan let out a loud groan.
Half of Stan's body was slipping off of Kyle’s bed due to him hanging off the edge while upside-down. “Dude, this is supposed to be our super awesome spring break sleepover. Why the fuck are you doing homework?!”
“Because they gave us homework over the break, Stan. I have to do it or my grades will drop," Kyle sighed. He scribbled an answer on the paper.
“Weak, dude. Why don't you play some video games with me instead?” Stan slipped off the bed, his head lightly thunking on the ground. He slithered onto the floor and flipped himself upright, crawling over to where Kyle sat on the floor. He looked over Kyle's shoulder to see what he was working on.
Kyle, absorbed in his work, didn't even notice the boy behind him. He hunched over, growing bored of his work. He started mindlessly doodling in the margins of his paper, adding stars and hearts along with little drawings.
Stan took interest in his friend's sketching, leaning closer. He stayed craning his neck over Kyle's shoulder for a few quiet minutes before he rested his head on the ginger’s shoulder. Stan was already getting tired, so he couldn't bother to force himself to lean uncomfortably for longer than he wanted to. His friend’s shoulder was much more appealing to him.
Kyle however, felt otherwise. The feeling of Stan's head on his shoulder startled him out of his doodling. He tried to turn his focus back to his schoolwork, but the feeling of Stan’s hot breath on his neck was sending chills down his spine he couldn't ignore.
It wasn't necessarily a bad feeling– Kyle had always thought Stan's touch felt very welcoming. It always comforted him, but lately, the feeling of relaxation came along with a fluttering sensation. Kyle stiffened, trying to not be too obvious about how distracting Stan’s touch actually was. For some reason, despite the fact it unnerved him so much, Kyle couldn't bring himself to try to get his friend off. Instead, without giving a second thought (He wishes he did), Kyle cocked his head to the side so that it rested on top of Stan’s. Stan let out a small hum of satisfaction, making Kyle realize how much he regretted what he just did.
The fluttering sensation spiked, growing even stronger. Kyle felt like he could burst at any second, given how much his body was heating up and how much his chest was tightening.
He glanced over to Stan, praying that the other didn't notice how flustered he was. Kyle swore he felt bile shoot up his throat when his eyes were met.
Stan's expression was sweet– really sweet. His eyes were full of an emotion Kyle couldn't quite place. (Affection? Admiration? Adoration? Whatever it was, it was driving Kyle insane.) Stan's eyes were practically sparkling, and he was smiling so wide that Kyle was afraid his face would burst. Stan was practically radiating with joy. He tilted his head ever-so-slightly when he noticed Kyle looking at him. Kyle couldn't handle it.
Kyle turned his head away, much quicker than he wanted to. He tried his hardest to get back to his schoolwork, but all he could do was tap his pencil against the paper while his mind focused on the feeling of Stan's weight.
Kyle suddenly sat up, unable to handle the tense feeling any longer. It caught Stan off guard, as he fell over onto his back. He giggled at himself, which Kyle found strangely endearing. He shook off the feeling immediately.
“I'm gonna, uh, get myself a snack. Do you want anything?" Kyle said, trying his hardest to not let his voice crack.
“Can you just get me a cup of water?” Stan asked, now sprawled out on the floor in starfish position.
“Yeah, sure,” Kyle cringed as he heard his voice shake.
Kyle shuffled out of his room, shutting the door behind him. He let his back hit the door and slide down into a position where he sat with his knees up. He dropped his head into his hands and huffed, “Fuck.”
11:51pm
Despite the fact Sheila told them to go to bed 2 hours ago, the duo sat huddled in front of the small TV Kyle had in his room, watching some shitty horror movie Stan found. Stan had also pulled a pack of beers out of his bag about an hour ago, when he was sure Kyle's parents were asleep. Kyle decided it was best he didn't question how or why Stan brought them.
They had both already downed a couple beers. Kyle, who was a very lightweight, was already feeling tipsy. His eyes were glued to the screen, but the alcohol made it next-to-impossible for him to comprehend what was happening in the movie.
Kyle shifted his eyes to the boy next to him, who was shuffling around in his backpack. Kyle watched as Stan pulled out a bottle.
“Wuh- dude, is ‘at whiskey?" Kyle squinted. He paused for a second before asking, ”Can I have some?”
“Pfft, nah dude. This is for me," Stan grinned, proceeding to pop the lid and downing a good amount of the whiskey. "Man, that's the shit. Hell fucking yes."
Kyle giggled. “You're a goof, y'know that?”
“What's that supposed to mean?” Stan raised his eyebrow, still grinning.
“It means you're a goofball! What's there to explain about that?”
“How am I a goofball? Honestly, if anyone is a goofball it's you !”
Kyle gasped, pretending to be offended. “Why I never . You're such a dick! I can't believe you,” Kyle slurred, smiling. He pointed his finger right in Stan's face.
“You're an asshole and a goofball!” As soon as Kyle processed Stan's words, he wasted no time before tackling him. The two of them rolled around on Kyle's floor, play-fighting and laughing. They wrestled with each other for a few minutes before Kyle paused.
“What were we fighting about again?" Kyle blinked.
“Man, I don't know."
“Dude, why would I fight you? You're like, way too pretty to beat up. That's crazy,” Kyle chuckled, the alcohol making him slur his words even more.
“Woah dude. That's kinda gay."
“Hehe, maybe."
“You're so stupid."
“So are you!"
The two playfully argued with each other for the next hour, drunk and aloof. Even though neither of them would remember it in the morning, it was probably the most fun they had had all day. Playful shoves and elbows were exchanged as they laughed and teased.
4:39am
Kyle blinked sleep out his eyes. He already knew it was the middle of the night– it wasn't rare for him to wake up at ungodly hours. It had practically become routine at that point. He'd usually get up, go to the bathroom, get a cup of water, then go back to bed. However, he was unable to do that, because as soon as Kyle tried to get up from his bed he felt the weight of his friend holding him down. Stan laid a bit lower than Kyle, his just underneath Kyle's chin. His free arm was wrapped around the redhead’s torso, lightly gripping the back of his shirt.
What the fuck was Kyle's only thought before static filled his brain. The feeling from earlier returned; the tightening, the body heating up, the butterflies in his stomach. He took a deep breath.
“Don't freak out, Kyle, it's fine. You're fine. Calm down,” he whispered to himself. It worked for a moment, only for him to be absolutely shattered by the sound of Stan.
It wasn't much– all Stan did was hum very quietly and shift himself a bit. Kyle probably wouldn't have even noticed if it wasn't for the fact his mind was hyper-focused on his friend.
Kyle's breath hitched. Oh my fucking god. He sighed heavily, accepting his fate.
He shifted his own body closer to Stan to the point where their faces were barely inches apart. Kyle gulped. He must've still been a bit drunk and still tired as hell, because Kyle's impulses took over as he cupped the side of Stan's head and kissed his forehead. His forehead was soft and warm and Kyle thought he could kiss it forever, but that thought was cut short as his logic caught up with his emotions.
What the fuck? Why did I do that? Super best friends don't kiss each other, that's gay . Unless I am gay? No, that's ridiculous. I like girls. Stan's just my friend. Friends can be affectionate with each other, right? Yeah, that makes sense. I can live with being a little too affectionate. It's not like it's gay or anything.
Kyle squeezed his eyes shut, doing everything in his power to fall asleep again. Fortunately, Stan's body heat was relaxing enough for him to drift off to sleep.
10:30am
Loud beeping awoke Stan. “5 more minutes,” he groaned, burying his face in the pillow in his arms.
“Ah shit, I forgot to turn off my alarm, sorry Stan."
Stan's eyes flew open. After processing for a moment, he realized that apparently he did not have to go to school, and the pillow he was holding was actually his best friend. Before he could react to that discovery, his head caught up with him.
“Agh, holy shit," he hissed, immediately moving his hand off of Kyle and onto his head.
“Yeah dude, you drank a shit ton last night," Kyle said, combing his hand through Stan's hair, like he was petting a cat. "Do you need some Advil or something?"
Stan leaned into the feeling of Kyle’s hand. “Nah, I'm fine.” He paused. “Do you think we could just, like, stay here for a bit longer?"
Kyle didn't respond for a moment. "Uh- yeah dude, of course.”
Kyle leaned in closer to Stan, bending his neck down a bit and scooting himself closer so that their bodies were nearly touching. Stan took it upon himself to close the gap, wrapping his arm around Kyle once again and burying his face in his chest while Kyle continued raking his hand through Stan’s soft hair. Stan felt like he could stay in this moment forever as he nuzzled deeper into Kyle's grasp.
The two of them ignored the inevitable awkwardness that would come after this, both of them too high on Cloud 9 to care. Kyle’s heartbeat drowned out his own thoughts telling him he was probably crossing a line, his mind instead flooded with thoughts of affection; things he wished he could tell Stan.
You’re so pretty. I love being here with you. Your eyes are gorgeous. “Your hair is so soft,” he whispered, not realizing he accidentally let his thought escape his lips. It took a moment for Kyle’s mistake to occur to him. “Er- I mean-”
He was cut off by a mix of a soft hum and a chuckle. God, hearing that made Kyle feel like he would melt. “Thanks. I think your hair is really pretty too, y’know,” Stan said, his voice hushed and raspy.
“R-really?” Kyle sputtered. He had expected Stan to respond by making fun of him.
“Yeah,” Stan huffed. “I’ll never understand why you always insist on covering it with your hat. I think it’s gorgeous.”
Kyle thought he was going to burst into tears and pass out simultaneously. Stan thought he was pretty? Kyle wasn’t sure what the hell was happening, but whatever it was, he knew there wouldn’t be any coming back from it. He may as well go along with it.
“I think your eyes are pretty too. They’re like the ocean,” Kyle murmured. “And your hands. They’re always cold for some reason, so you always hold mine because they make yours warmer. I love when you do that.”
Stan moves his head off of Kyle’s chest, and Kyle fears he scared him off. Stan instead adjusts his body so that he’s laying on his back. He rests the side of his head on Kyle’s chest, looking up at him with a sleepy but soft expression. “Yeah?”
“Mhm,” Kyle nods, his eyes meeting Stan’s. He didn’t lie— looking at Stan’s eyes really did resemble the ocean. With the morning sun shining through the blinds, it was like the sun rising over the water. Kyle wished he could kiss his eyelids.
“Your eyes… they’re like the forest,” Stan starts. “And your freckles are like the beach sand. Like we line up perfectly. It makes me wonder if we were born to meet each other, y'know?”
There’s a pause of silence. The two gaze into each other’s eyes, admiring them. Kyle speaks first. “Like… soulmates?”
“Yeah. Would that make us, like… star-crossed lovers?” Stan giggles a bit.
“Do you think that we are?”
Stan hesitated. Kyle feared he crossed a line (again), but Stan responds before he can overthink any more. “Yeah, I do.” Stan adjusts himself so that he’s on his side again, now face-to-face with Kyle. He brings up his free hand to cup Kyle’s face. “Do you want to be?”
Kyle couldn’t speak. All he could do was nod, which Stan responded to with a smile. Before Kyle could process what that meant, Stan was pulling him in, pressing his lips onto Kyle’s. Kyle was stunned for a moment. He tried to kiss back, but Stan pulled away. Stan’s eyes were just as wide as the redhead’s.
“Shit— I’m sorry, I don’t why I did that, I-” Stan stammered, but Kyle grabbed Stan’s face with both hands and connected their lips again, refusing to bottle his desires for any longer. Stan’s breath hitched for a moment, shocked, but he kissed Kyle back.
It was sloppy, but all that mattered to the two was that it was happening at all. Kyle pulled Stan’s face closer as Stan’s hand slid into his hair. Kyle kisses him over and over, Stan emitting soft noises each time their lips connect. They kissed roughly, yet it still felt so gentle. It all felt so surreal— Kyle finally doing what he’d dreamed of doing for months, maybe years. They were both practically melting into each other when the sound of the bedroom door opening snaps them back to reality. Kyle's instincts kick in; he pulls away from Stan and repositions his hands onto the other’s chest and pushes him away.
“Hey boys! Breakfast is ready," Sheila announced, completely unaware of what she had interrupted. “Come down before it gets cold."
“Alright Ma, just give us a minute," Kyle responds nervously. He's relieved when Sheila closes the door, presumably to wake up Ike.
Kyle returns his attention to the boy next to him, who was smiling at him. “Talk about this later?"
“Later," Kyle parrots, nodding. “Just one more."
Stan giggles as Kyle presses a quick kiss to his lips. “You're such a dork, dude."
“I'm a dork?! You're the one who got all dorky after you kissed me , dude!” Kyle pointed out.
“You're such an asshole,” Stan scoffs as he gives Kyle a shove, but his words are laced with a tone of affection that says he doesn't mean it.
Kyle chuckled. “C'mon dork, let's get some breakfast.”