Archive of Our Own

“I stayed up late last night studying for this science test. I better get an A,” Kyle fiddled with the notebook in his hands. “So why are you tired?”

“Karen,” Kenny sighed. He lowered his head deeper into the warmth of his parka.

“Gotcha,” Kyle left it at that. Kenny was grateful for the lack of questions. Kyle was smart enough to know Kenny didn’t like talking about his home life.

“Are we still on for tonight? I finally have four controllers now so we can all play at the same time,” Kyle continued as he swung his backpack in front of him to put his notebook away.

“Yup, I’m down,” Kenny lifted his head again.

“Cool!”

Kenny and Kyle walked side by side down the hallway, backpacks slung over their shoulders. Kenny dragged his beat-up boots as he walked, too tired to care. He gave a big yawn. 

Getting Karen ready for school was particularly annoying today. Even though Kenny was now in middle school, Karen still went to elementary school. Kenny woke up early to ensure Karen was ready, unlike his friends who got to sleep in. Although his parents had noticeably gotten better, they still weren’t the most reliable. On mornings like these when Karen threw a fit, Kenny helped her pack her bag, brush her hair, grab a bite to eat, and walk her to the bus stop across the train station. He loved Karen, but he wished he could be a kid instead of a co-parent. It was exhausting.

“So do you know why Stan had to come here early to meet Wendy?”

Kyle rolled his eyes, “They broke up again, so they wanted to meet up before class to talk about it.”

“Oh,” Kenny shrugged. No real news there. 

It was weird seeing the bus stop so empty this morning, just him and Kyle. Cartman rode with Butters to school since the pair had a sleepover last night. As much as Cartman claimed hanging with Butters was a joke, the blonde was pretty much Cartman’s only friend outside their group of four. They seemed close. Understandably, no one else at school  could tolerate Cartman long enough to hang out with him.

“You guys!” Just as Kenny and Kyle were about to pass the hallway’s corner, Stan jumped in front of them. Kyle flinched backward.

“Dude! You can’t creep up on us like that-” 

“There’s a fight at the courtyard, come on!” Stan announced before turning away and guiding them down the hall. Kenny and Kyle chased after him towards the exit doors.

“Who!?” Kyle demanded while jogging.

“Craig and Butters!” 

“Butters?” Kyle baffled loudly. Kenny raised his brows, feeling intuition in his gut. Weirdly enough, fights were a pretty common occurrence in South Park. Maybe it was out of small-town boredom, but still, Kenny didn’t expect to hear those names.

Had Butters gotten in a fight before? He couldn’t remember. Butters was probably the most innocent kid in their year. He would consider Butters as more emotional than confrontational. Kenny recalled a few occasional outbursts, like when he beat up Dr. Oz during an interview for Stan’s bullying video and his anger issues in Hawaii, but once leaving elementary school he seemed to calm down. Man, fourth grade was weird.

Craig wasn’t much of a fighter either. Sure he had a couple throw downs in elementary school, but so did almost everyone. He seemed like the kind of kid who kept to himself, finding others annoying. He was blunt about not liking people besides Tweek, so he didn’t often get involved in other people’s business. He was deadpan most of the time and not easily riled up. So what was going on?

As they exited through the doors, Kyle passed Stan and took the lead. He pushed his way through the congregation of kids, mostly boys while leaving a path for Stan and Kenny to follow after him. Kenny recognized the argumentative yelling before he could see what was happening.

“I’ve had it up to here with you fellas!” To Kenny, the first voice sounded like he was imitating a parent disciplining their child. It was a poor interpretation as his childish pitch gave him away. “I don’t get it! What did I do!?” 

“What makes you think you could say that to Tweek?” Followed the deeper flat voice.

“I’m just tellin’ the truth! What’s wrong with that!? You’re both gay right?”

“Yeah, so!?”

They were loud. Kenny was surprised to hear so much emotion come from Craig’s normally monotone voice. When they finally weaved their way through the crowd to the front, Kenny could finally see what this commotion was all about. It was a sight to see to say the least.

The groups of middle schoolers circled the two boys, giving them enough room to beef it out. Craig’s normally bored expression wore a totally different shade of red. His raging fists were balled up and his brows were furrowed aggressively. His stance was combative like he was ready to strike as he loomed over the shorter blonde. Despite Craig’s threatening presence, Butters’ didn’t look intimidated. His chest was puffed up and his arm was outstretched to point an accusatory finger. The anger emanating from both of them was palpable.

“Then I don’t understand! I didn’t tell no stinking lie! Why should I apologize for sayin’ things how they are!?”

Barely giving enough time for Butters to finish, Craig cocked his fist high in the air. For a half second, Kenny screamed in his head, Dodge! But Butters didn’t. Craig’s punch hit straight across Butters’ jaw, sending the boy back a few steps. It pulled a grunt out of Butters and a cheer from the crowd in reaction. 

“Fight! Fight! Fight!” Cartman started the chant standing behind Butters like a coach outside a boxing ring. Kenny easily picked out the fat boy’s childish voice.

“Stop! Stop it!” Kyle shouted through. Kyle tried making his way over, but the cheering circle of boys closed in, wanting to see the action.

Butters swung back at Craig three times; the first hitting his jaw, the second grazing his cheek, and the third missing him completely. His arms flailed with a mess of uncoordinated fury instead of concentrated power, so Craig easily dodged. Butters threw his weight into the last swing, but only met open air. He was sent off balance and Craig took advantage of it. Craig struck him again, this time on his ribs. The blonde managed to catch himself on his knees and forearm, but not long before Craig bent down to land another punch to his face. Butters tried blocking himself with his skinny arms but wasn’t successful. Landing on his back, Butters hit the concrete hard. Now down on the ground, his head whipped side to side at the contact of Craig’s continuous strikes across his face. 

It all happened so quickly, only now was Kyle able to step between them and pull Craig off of him. A few of the kids booed obnoxiously in response, most notably Cartman.

“What’s the meaning of this!?” Kyle demanded, voice booming and arms outstretched, glare bouncing back and forth between them. Craig and Butters were panting alike. The ravenette’s eyes were wild, clearly still wound up. Kenny couldn’t see Butters’ face from his angle, but he imagined he probably wore a similar expression. 

“Butters called Tweek a fag!” Craig accused furiously. Kenny’s eyes grew wide. He could see the surprise in Kyle’s expression too as his mouth fell open, loss of words. 

“It’s true!” Butters sat up, leaning on his hands behind him, and cocked his head.

“You made him cry, you dickhead!” Craig attempted to lunge forward, causing Butters to flinch and Kyle to push him back again. Craig gave up quickly, crossing his arms with an annoyed huff.

“Butters, you can’t say that to people!” Kyle whipped around fiercely. 

“Shut up and let them fight, you fucking Jew!” Cartman hollered while stepping to Butters’ side.

“Yeah shut up and let me at em!” Butters joined in, despite being out of breath and clearly down for the count. His words mimicked Cartman’s usual cadence, which Kenny immediately recognized. It raised suspicion in his mind.

“You can’t be going around and starting shit like this, Butters! What’s gotten into you!?” Kyle continued scolding, sounding ashamed of the boy. When Butters didn’t answer, body unmoving, Kyle just sighed in defeat and turned to the crowd. “Everyone, just go to first period! The fights over!” 

The group gave a series of disappointed awes and boos before dispersing inside. 

“You okay, dude? Do you need to go to the nurse?” Kyle leaned down to the boy on the ground.

“He’s fine now that you ruined everything! Fuck you, Kyle!” Cartman sounded over the commerce. He stepped between them, rustling Butters’ hair.

“Uh huh, fuck you, Kyle!” Butters echoed immediately after. Again, to Kenny, it sounded more like an imitation more than anything the blonde would say out of his own volition. 

“Fuck you, fatass!” Kyle said before Stan put a hand on his shoulder to turn him towards the school. They started walking back to the double doors as a pair. 

Kenny watched as Kyle crossed his arms frustratedly and Stan padded him on the back. He gave Kyle a little, “Dude, you did good.”

Focusing back on the center of the courtyard, Kenny watched the two fighters still in ready positions. Craig’s focus was trained on his opponent.

“Don’t you dare talk to my boyfriend like that ever again,” Craig retorted, voice low and serious.

“I just told the truth!” Butters whined, voice rising in childlike defensiveness. Craig’s expression remained deadly stoic as he took a step forward and started shaking his fist. Kenny didn’t miss how Butters instinctually moved his forearm to protect his head.

“Craig, wait!” Tweek quickly stepped to Craig’s side, grabbing his hand and pulling him back. Kenny didn’t even notice Tweek was there. The skinny blonde was a shaking mess, hair sticking up in every direction and pupils tiny, riddled with anxiety. Craig didn’t react to the touch, until Tweek stepped in front of him, taking his attention away from Butters.

“Please, let’s go! I-I - AH- wanna get outta here!” Tweek begged, aggressively opening and closing his fingers into his palms like a nervous tic. His boyfriend then softened. Craig released an aggravated exhale before reaching out to run his fingers through the Tweek’s hair. Just then Kenny noticed for the first time there was blood smudged across Craig’s knuckles. It raised alarm bells in Kenny’s mind. 

“Let’s go,” Craig spoke, voice back to his typical monotone. He led Tweek towards the school with intertwined hands as they followed the last few kids heading inside. At the loud slam of the double doors, Kenny blinked back to reality. Often caught up in simply observing others, he forgot he was still here in the present moment. He was standing outside in the cold along with one last boy. He cringed realizing Butters hadn’t gotten up from the courtyard pavement. He was hunched over and wiping his face.

Kenny steadily made his way around Butters to face him. He could hear Butters’ uneven breathing. As Kenny circled around to the front of the boy, more and more of Craig’s damage was slowly revealed. Kenny’s feet moved, but his attention stayed glued on the platinum blonde.

A gash of bright red bloomed across his face. His skin was puffy, showing signs of bruising along his cheeks, eye, and the bridge of his nose. It marked the pathway that Craig’s fists across his features. There was a smear of blood staining his upper lip and a few small droplets scattered on his face. All the blood seemed to stream from his nose, as Butters’ clumsily attempted to wipe it away. Kenny cringed.

Now that Kenny was in Butters’ line of sight, the blonde perked up. 

“Kenny, I didn't know you were here!” Butters straightened his posture and drew his legs in from being outstretched. His voice sounded worn out and watery.

“That was pretty rough. You okay, dude?” Kenny muffled through his parka, pulling down his hood. They stood at an awkward distance like Kenny was circling a wild animal. Kenny couldn’t help it though as this whole scenario seemed so unlike Butters. He didn’t know what the platinum blonde’s next move would be.

“I’m fine. Just a little scuffed up,” Butters forced a smile and tried to sound assuring, but his dilated pupils mixed with pain and adrenaline gave him away. Kenny wasn’t convinced in the slightest.

As a new trickle of blood poured out from his nose, Butters quickly moved his head forward, away from his jacket. He frantically wiped his nose again, staining his hands with scarlet. Kenny instantly moved in, but Butters held out a hand in front of him, which signaled Kenny to stop. 

“I’m okay! I’m okay. I need to learn to stop being such a baby,” Butters’ voice was stern as he spoke, differing greatly from his normal upbeat tone. Kenny clenched his teeth. He noticed some blood splattered onto the blacktop, channeling through the ground’s grooves and edges.

After a moment of collecting himself, Butters rigidly lifted himself onto his feet with a hiss. Kenny felt his heart speed up at the sight. Butters rested one hand on his knee and the other still covering his nose. His eyes were shut tightly and his nose scrunched up. Kenny just stared, half expecting the blonde to collapse. 

“Just take it easy, man,” Kenny held out a hand, which Butters stubbornly avoided. The platinum blonde walked past him in a choppy movement. “You should see the nurse.”

“It’s nothing I can’t handle. Honest!” Butters already sounded out of breath by the time they approached the school. Kenny hurriedly held the door open for him.

Now making their way down the hall, Kenny kept a steady pace behind Butters. He watched the boy, feeling a sense of intuition and unease. Kenny’s gut wouldn’t let him walk away. He needed to make sure Butters was okay, especially if he wasn’t taking himself to the nurse. He made note of the way Butters’ feet stumbled, decreasing in coordination. Squeaks of sneakers on tile sounded through the empty halls. There were a few movements where Butters tripped over his shoes making Kenny reach his hands out in case he had to catch him. 

When they approached the main hallway, Butters slowly came to a halt. Kenny sensed something was wrong right before the platinum blonde started falling. He didn’t topple forward, instead, he just crumbled downward onto himself. Just as his knees buckled, Kenny moved quickly and grabbed him by the waist. 

“Woah, Butters, stay with me.” Studying his pale expression and failing concentration, Kenny’s concern grew to panic levels. Butters blinked slowly, before shaking his head and shutting his eyes. 

“I… I’m all good, I just need a minute.”

“You’re anything but good! You gotta clean yourself up,” Kenny looped Butters’ arm around his parka-covered shoulder. Then he hooked his arm around Butters’ waist for added support. Butters whined in protest at the jostle, but ultimately let Kenny carry his weight as they set pace down the hall again. The added weight was uncomfortable and awkward to maneuver, but it wasn’t anything Kenny couldn’t handle. Luckily, the boy’s bathroom wasn’t too far away.

Kenny kicked open the door with his foot and helped Butters lean against the wall. Butters sank to the floor with ease as Kenny held his shoulders steady. He stretched out his legs in front of him and pressed his back against the wall. Kenny watched in solemn sympathy as Butters threw his head back and scrunched up in pain.  

“I know it hurts, but try to relax,” Kenny grimaced, kneeling next to him.

“Mm not supposed to be like this,” Butters groaned. Kenny raised a brow, not sure if he heard Butters properly.

“What?”

“I’m supposed to be tougher than this,” Butters spoke in self hatred. Kenny sensed he was treading into deeper waters, realms of intimacy that too felt uncomfortable to witness. He wasn’t close with Butters. The poor boy was probably delirious. Kenny wasn’t sure he should be hearing his personal issues. Kenny twisted his mouth to the side, not sure what to say. 

“Let’s clean you up,” Kenny rose to his feet and approached the sinks. He glanced around the bathroom, happy to see they were the only ones occupying the space. He bunched up a generous handful of paper towels and rinsed them under the faucet’s water. The towels were cheaply thin, so he grabbed some extras and shoved them into his parka pocket.

Kenny turned back to see that Butters hadn’t moved. With his chin in the air and neck exposed, Kenny noticed another mark on the boy where his jawline met his ear. The darker discoloration suggested it had to be one of Craig’s first hits. Sighing with remorse, he kneeled back down to Butters’ level. 

“Here, look at me.” Butters looked wearily at the wet paper towels in Kenny’s hands. “I’ll be gentle. Just let me help.”

Butters was hesitant, flattening his lips in unease. Kenny took the lack of response as a yes and cautiously brought the towel to his cheek. Butters winced at the touch, but soon closed his eyes tiredly.

Kenny started by wiping the wet paper towel to remove the blood from his nosebleed. He was gentler over the spots that were growing into squeamish undertones of purple.

“Aw, hamburgers. This won’t be coming out.” Butters sulked over the sleeves of his jacket. The blue teddy bear fabric was dyed with streaks of scarlet where Butters had wiped his nose. Kenny didn’t have the heart to tell him there were more stains smeared on the jacket’s collar and jeans too. Butters seemed more stressed over his clothes than his actual injuries.

“My dad won’t like this.”

“It’s just clothes, it’s not a big deal,” Kenny said, brushing it off as he continued examining Butters’ skin.

“No. It is ,” Butters shot Kenny a dire expression, taking Kenny off guard. Kenny frowned. Sensing more vulnerability, he changed the subject to focus on the task at hand.

“Do you feel dizzy at all?” 

“No. I should be getting the class. If I’m late I’m gonna get in trouble,” he started shuffling up to his feet. Kenny reached for his bicep to still the boy.

“Hey, hold on a minute,” Kenny gently brought Butters back to the floor. Butters groaned stubbornly but didn't get up again. Kenny took off his backpack and reaching inside to retrieve an ice pack. 

“You’re really prepared, Kenny,” Butters observed in a way that sounded like a compliment.

“Glad my turkey sandwich cooler could come in handy.” At that, Butters chuckled a little. His goofy laugh didn’t change much from elementary school, which made Kenny smile. 

“You don’t have to do this,” Butters spoke gently, expression lining with guilt.

“I want to,” Kenny answered easily, locking eyes with the other blonde. “I couldn’t just leave you like this.” Butters looked surprised at Kenny’s response with a glimmer in his eye. Kenny pressed the cold pack against the side of Butters’ jaw. Kenny never told anyone that he always packed an ice compress for his near-death experiences, but for some reason, a part of him wanted to tell Butters. Weird. Kenny buried the emotion deep down. 

He traced the outlines of Butters’ bruises with his eyes. The question he had since the very beginning nagged at him. Kenny lowered the ice pack.

“Is what Craig said true? You called Tweek a fag?” Kenny was careful with his words, trying not to rile him up again. Butters sulked, frustration evident.

“Yes! We were walking in the hall and he dropped his papers everywhere so I called him a fag. He freaked out, so I kept asking what’s wrong. He told me to take it back. But Eric said a fag just means someone’s gay, so why should I take it back? Tweek is gay! I wasn’t telling a stinky no-good lie! I was just sayin’ the truth, so don’t see the problem!” Butters ranted.

Kenny felt his eyes grow wide. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Butters seemed so genuinely confused why they were mad at him. Butters thought he was in right. He didn’t even know where to begin in explaining how wrong Butters was.

“Dude… calling someone a fag isn’t calling someone gay. It's a really bad thing to say and offensive to gay people. You shouldn’t be saying it,” Kenny glowered. 

“R-really?” Butters‘ pupils shrunk smaller with anxiety, probably realizing the severity of his actions. Kenny nodded curtly.

“But…” Butters played with his knuckles. “But we used to say it all the time,” he observed, much to Kenny’s dismay.

“We were such stupid kids. It was shitty, but now we know better. Well, those of us who aren’t douchebags or named Eric Cartman,” Kenny rolled his eyes at the thought.

“Eric says it all the time. He says it’s okay.” Butters tilted his head like a dog. Kenny hated how trusting the blonde was.

“That’s because Cartman’s an idiot. Don’t listen to him otherwise, you’ll be manipulated or humiliated,” Kenny scoffed. He only realized after he spoke that Butters had already suffered the wrath of Eric Cartman before. Many times.

“But my dad calls me one all the time. He says I should say it when I see it. And Eric agreed,” Butters pondered aloud. Kenny shot his head up to meet Butters face to face. Surely he must have heard him wrong.

“He calls you what?”

“He calls me a fag when I’m in trouble. Being a homo is wrong and I-I need to be put in my place,” Butters spoke matter of factly. Kenny didn’t like anything about this. He felt alarm bells blare through his skull and his throat go dry.

“What the fuck? That… that’s not right! He shouldn’t be saying that to you,” Kenny frowned.

“No, It’s on me. I just need to learn to behave myself,” Butters tried to reassure.

“No, Butters! He shouldn’t be saying that shit. You’re like the most well-behaved kid,” Kenny stated before lilting his eyes back down onto the bruises littering the platinum blonde’s features. “Well, most of the time.” 

Kenny recalled the other times when Butters took a stand against other people. Butters wasn’t a huge fighter, but put great value on his moral compass and hated lying. He always followed what he believed was right, whether it was more out of care or orders from other people, Kenny wasn’t quite sure. Maybe a mix of both because Butters got grounded all the time as a kid. When Butters fucked up it was often from naivety opposed to malition. He glanced down at Butters’ knuckles, hands dried of cracked blood. 

“Do your knuckles hurt?” He stood up to grab more wet paper towels by the sink.

“N-no. I didn’t really land any good hits.” He watched Butters insecurely peel at the flakey blood that coated his fingers. 

“Maybe that’s a good thing,” Kenny suggested. He sat down next to Butters and began rubbing off the blood.

“I n-need to get better. Dad says I need to fight back.” Kenny stilled his hands. Anytime Butters’ brought up his dad seemed to lead to bad things. But maybe Kenny was misinterpreting it?

“You mean like standing up against bullies?” He raised a brow. Butters shrugged.

“I guess? I don’t know. He just says I’m weak and need to be stronger,” Butters’ voice hitched. Kenny was really starting to hate Butters’ dad. Stephen Stotch was it? What the fuck was wrong with this man.

“Like when he and I are fighting. He’s all up on me and says I s-should be hitting back, but I‘m always too scared to,” Butters avoided eye contact, staring at the floor and shrinking in on himself. Kenny stared at him, dumbfounded.

He had that feeling again that he shouldn’t be prying on Butters’ personal matters, but didn’t care anymore. He needed to know what the hell was going on. ‘Hitting back?’ Kenny repeated the phrase in his head. That implies Butters is hitting in defense and Stephen is hitting first, right?

Kenny felt sick.

“I barely even grazed Craig. Just like when I’m with my dad, I couldn’t fight back. I couldn’t even do that right,” he brought his knees to his chest. 

“No one should be beating up anyone,” Kenny claimed while watching Butters bury his head into his knees.

“I thought that being a fag means you’re gay. Isn’t being gay a sin?” Butters looked fearfully up at Kenny, like everything he once believed was in jeopardy.

“It’s not. People just love whoever they love. And there’s nothing wrong with that,” Kenny spoke firmly, but carefully. Butters was quiet for a while. Kenny patiently watched.

“S-so…,” Butters voice broke as he started slowly. “T-there’s nothing wrong w-with me?” His voice was small and scared. Kenny was once again surprised. He softened his gaze and smiled.

“Are you gay?” He asked warily.

“No! I mean- I don’t know. Maybe? I-I think certain boys can be pretty but I don’t know if that means I’m a homo! My dad says I’m bi-curious,” Butters dropped his knees and spoke fast like he was holding in these thoughts for a long time. Was he also blushing?

“Don’t think about what your dad said,” Kenny reached for Butters' shaky hand. “What do you think?” Butters’ blue eyes looked into his, shining a new brightness that Kenny hadn’t noticed before. Butters flattened his lips and sucked in some air.

“I… I don’t know,” he spoke genuinely.

“That’s okay you don’t need to know yet. Just know that whoever you love is okay,” Kenny smiled. Butters’ flashed unsure eyes for a moment, like his mind was at war. Then after some silent contemplation, he smiled. Butters grabbed the forgotten ice pack and pressed it to his jaw. 

“I gotta apologize to Tweek and Craig. I messed up real bad, Ken,” Butters gulped. Humiliation and guilt sprawled across his features.

“Yeah you do,” Kenny agreed, pressing his own tired back against the cold brick wall. He stared into space until he heard a hitch to his left. He looked over to see Butters’ expression crumbling.

“Oh god. I messed up real bad, Ken,” Butters teared up miserably. At the sight, Kenny didn’t think twice before reaching his arms around Butters’ shoulders. Butters sulked his head into the touch. The sound of whimpers filled the bathroom walls. Kenny’s mind felt blank, hand moving up and down Butters’ back on autopilot.

“What came over me!? I made Tweek cry. I was awful. I didn’t notice he was c-cryin’ until I was already squaring up with C-Craig,” Butters sobbed like his initial shock wore off and the realization sunk in. Butters was in a fight over calling Tweek a fag.

Kenny felt like he should feel uncomfortable by their closeness, but all he could focus on was trying to put out the fire that was Butters’ breakdown.

“W-when Craig showed up I just had to fight h-him. I kept h-hearing my dad sayin’ to stand my g-ground. To fight b-back.” Kenny held Butters for a while. 

Butters was such a sweet and friendly kid growing up. How was he the same person fighting in the courtyard over calling someone a fag? What or who had influenced him to act this way? He let Butters wallow for a while before the platinum blonde eventually pulled away. His eyes were stinging with a guilty red making his blue irises look electric. 

“Sorry you got involved, I didn’t mean to be a bother,” Butters sniffed as he talked. His words sounded authentic, yet rehearsed like he’d said it a million times in his life before. “You should really be comforting Tweek and Craig. I’m the villain here.”

“They have each other,” Kenny thought back over the day’s events, realizing not even Cartman had stayed back to check on Butters. “You’re not a burden. It’s fine, really,” Kenny let his heavy lids fall during a slow blink.

“Aw, I made ya all tired.”

“Nah. It wasn’t you.”

“What was it then?”

For a moment Kenny debated on what he wanted to share. He didn’t like talking about it much, but for some reason, he wanted to tell Butters. “My sister Karen threw a fit this morning since she didn’t want to go to school. I had to calm her down, get her all ready, and drag her to the bus stop.”

“That’s a lot Kenny! You had to do that all by yourself? Where were your parents?” Butters sounded baffled, with his corny accent on full display. 

“In their room. They don’t like dealing with her when she’s being difficult,” Kenny groaned. He normally dreaded the subject of his parents and avoided it at all costs, but it felt relieving to say it out loud. His friends typically didn’t question him and when it was brought up they quickly changed the subject. Kenny normally appreciated the ignorance, but talking through it with Butters felt better. He felt like he could trust him. “I’ve never really told anyone that.”

“Really? I’m honored you told me. And Kenny, you should talk about it more if you want to. That’s a lot of work you’re doing, I’m sure it weighs on you.” Butters reached out to rest his hand on top of Kenny’s. Kenny felt the ends of his mouth curl up authentically.

“Maybe I will,” he looked over with the back of his head still pressed against the wall. Butters beamed back happily. 

“I’ve never really told anyone that stuff about my dad if that makes you feel better. No one really asked. Well, besides Eric but he only knows a little,” Butters explained. Kenny gazed upon the puffiness on his face again. His eye was swelling, no doubtably obscuring his vision a bit. The rest of his marks were blossoming pigments of purple and blue.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?”

“My side is kinda sore from where Craig hit, but it’s not bad,” Butters stood up making his way to the sink mirrors. He lifted his shirt to look at the damage. Luckily there wasn’t a bruise and he was just a little red. With his question, Kenny wasn’t really implying the Craig-related injuries, instead he was more worried about injuries from another individual.

“When was the last time your dad hit you?” He blurted out. Butters raised his shoulders as a reaction. 

“Not in the last month! And it’s nothing bad, it doesn’t even leave marks. See? I promise!” Butters reassured him by pulling his shirt up all the way. He covered his face with the fabric while his arms stuck straight into the air. Kenny blinked in surprise. 

“Still, he shouldn’t be doing that.” When Kenny woke up this morning, he did not think he would be seeing a shirtless Butters. The blonde then pulled down his shirt. He looked over to the mirror and his brows raised to his hairline. 

“Oh gee, this is all so awful,” Butters instantly raised a hand to his cheek. He inspected the bumps and discoloration, causing himself to wince when reaching his nose. He held a long look, unforgiving eyes full of disappointment staring back at him. Kenny watched sadly. 

“If you need to talk again or get away, swing by my place anytime. And if you never want to… like get real help from an adult that can change things I can help make that happen,” he paused for a second relishing in the smile that spread through Butters’ features. “Oh and take this,” he unzipped his parka and handed it to Butters. 

“I can’t take this! What if you get cold!?” Butters looked shocked and taken aback putting his hands up.

“You said you were worried about your dad seeing your jacket,” Kenny shook the parka in his hands. He couldn’t deny the air made his normally bundled-up skin cold, but he knew Butters needed it more than him. Butters stared unsurely but ultimately accepted it. He hesitantly took the jacket and began putting it on. His parka was already oversized on him, so Butters practically drowned in it. 

“Thanks, Kenny! It means a lot, really!” Butters smiled at the boy next to him. He reached his hand out holding the ice pack out to Kenny. “Here.”

“No, you take it,” Kenny put his hands up in resignation. Butters frowned, looking worried.

“No, I can’t take everything of yours! What if your sandwich gets cold?” Kenny laughed at that.

“I’ll just get it from you next time we get together, the parka and the ice pack. Did you wanna spend the night actually? I don’t think you should be going home like this,” Kenny asked carefully, he knew this was a big step. He barely knew Butters apart from when they were kids, but a sense of dread overwhelmed him thinking of him going home to his father.

“R-really like a sleepover? You really mean it!?” Butters sounded shocked yet eager. His fists bounced up and down with excitement.

“Sure,” Kenny nodded nonchalantly. He didn’t wear many emotions on his face, but on the inside, he reciprocated the shorter blonde’s contagious enthusiasm. He told himself he was doing this for Butters as he desperately needed another influence in his life that wasn’t his father or Cartman. However, he couldn’t help feeling excited over the prospect of spending more time with Butters. The thought made his chest glow for some reason he didn’t quite understand.

“Oh boy! That’ll be great, Kenny!” Butters beamed, holding the ice pack close to his heart.

“Maybe we can think of something nice to do for Tweek and Craig,” Kenny suggested.

“Definitely!” I can’t wait,” he grinned ear to ear. Kenny reveled in the sight, tracing each smile line on his face. 

“You ready to head to class then? Are you sure you don’t wanna stop by the nurse?” Kenny asked. Butters thought for a moment, giving the mirror one last glance before siding with Kenny towards the door. The platinum blonde boldly interlocked his hand with Kenny’s as he took the lead down the hall

“Let's head to class! I hope we didn’t miss too much!