Work Text:
Eric climbed over the overgrown, protruding roots. The mud squelched as he landed. He was glad he wore rainboots. He trekked through the woodland until he found Kyle sitting hunched over on the creek-side, fidgeting with his hair. Kyle looked up at Eric's arrival and smiled. It wasn't his usual sexy, mouth-slightly-open smile. His eyelids were heavy and his mouth was almost straight. He didn't look so clean, but who would be, after getting their house burned down?
Eric sat beside him and took the bag off his shoulder. "Are you ready?"
"I'm never gonna be ready for this," Kyle replied. "But I don't really have a choice anymore."
"Right," said Eric. Out of his bag, he pulled out scissors, shaving cream, and two razors. "I'm not very good at this," he admitted.
"Yeah, I know. We're doing this together so you can practice," Kyle said. He scooted closer to Eric. "Whenever you're ready."
Eric took a deep breath in and out. He thought, I should get started if I want to get better. He grabbed the scissors and cupped Kyle's chin, bringing the scissors closer to their faces. The scissors' blades weaved in between chunks of Kyle's sharp ginger beard as slight strands of hair fell to the ground. Eric moved at a snail's pace, paying attention to the shape he was creating.
"You don't have to try and make it look good. You're gonna shave it off anyway," Kyle said.
"Right." Eric brought the blades higher. More hair was falling off now. After a minute, he put down the scissors to see how well he did. Kyle looked ready.
"I think it's good," Eric told him.
"Cool, now we just wait a minute," Kyle replied. He leaned back, taking in the UV rays from the dry, overcast sky.
"Have you thought of where you want to stay long-term?" asked Eric.
"I think New York would be a good place for you," said Kyle thoughtfully. "You know, how they're all pacifists like you. I bet they'd support all your charities or whatever the hell you'd come up with."
"Maybe... but what about you?"
"Shayn, my reputation is ruined; I had my life destroyed a bunch of 13-year-olds. Wherever you chose to go, that'll be alright with me."
"Huh? But we're leaving South Park anyway-no, that's the reason we're leaving South Park, so why does it matter?" Eric retorted.
"Because I was one of the most dangerous kids in town. Now I'm nobody, so I really can't say," explained Kyle.
"You aren't nobody," Eric replied.
"Oh really? Why not?"
"Well..."
"Yeah, what I thought."
"I wasn't done!" said Eric. "I was going to say that the 'most dangerous kid in town' is not who you are. I mean-you were, but that's just what you thought you were, too. I've seen the real you, and even if nobody else is ever scared of you ever, you'll always intimidate me, and not because you have money or fighting skills."
Kyle chuckled. "Thanks."
They sat in silence for a moment before Kyle said, "It should be ready to shave now."
Eric picked up the shaking cream and shook it twice up and down. Kyle snickered.
"What?" asked Eric.
"You're vulgar," said Kyle.
Eric's face grew red. "That's so inappropriate!"
Kyle didn't seem sorry at all. Eric sprayed Kyle with the shaving cream, which looked good enough to eat, but made Kyle look ridiculous.
Kyle picked up the razor to demonstrate what to do. "Start at the top here and work your way down." He held the razor a few inches from his face as he dragged it down. "Use short strokes, and rinse it off each time."
Eric did exactly as Kyle told him to, but it wasn't easy. He had to hold his arm up to keep it steady. How often would he have to do this for himself? He hoped his facial hair grew slowly.
Since Kyle couldn't move his jaw, and Eric was too focused, neither one spoke. The silence was filled by the bubbling sound of the creek, bugs buzzing and ticking, and the occasional bird's caw. It felt like a breath of fresh air to be away from all the violence, crime, and chaos of South Park. He'd been sad about abandoning it, but right now, despite the unfortunate circumstances, there was nowhere else he'd rather be. Maybe nature really did heal.
"Done," said Eric.
Kyle asked, "How do I look?"
Eric stared at him. It took a minute to process the fact that he was looking at Kyle. The beardless man who stared back at him looked like a Kyle from an alternate universe. But that's the point, he supposed. He said, "Very different."
Kyle smiled. "Kick ass." He leaned over the creek and splashed water onto his face. "All gone?"
Eric nodded. "Can you shave me now?"
"Yeah," Kyle replied. Kyle took the scissors and quickly cut off Eric's beard.
"How did you do that so fast?" asked Eric. "I never see you cut your beard."
"Experience with knives, I guess."
Strange answer, but Eric didn't press further. His mind wandered to their future lives. He asked, "I know you said gang violence is off the table, but do you think you're going to be doing petty crimes?"
Kyle put his clean-shaven jaw in his palm. "Honestly, I don't know. I wanted to just start a new life and stop being everyone's target, but I've never had a real job, and now I'm not going to even be able to finish high school. Aside from crime, pretty much the only job I'll be able to get is with the government, and they need documents."
"Oh. Right. Well, we could come up with new identities," Eric suggested.
"Yeah, maybe... or just steal them," Kyle replied.
Eric made a disappointed face.
"I said, I don't know if I'll do petty crimes."
Kyle was back to his more typical, mischievous smile. Knowing it was a joke, Eric pushed him playfully. Kyle pushed back. They ended up in a hug.
"Well, even if you start doing crimes again, I'll always be with you," Eric mumbled into Kyle's neck.
Kyle didn't respond, but his heart was warmed.
After a minute, Kyle asked, "Wanna shave now?"
"Yeah," replied Eric.
Kyle applied shaving cream to Eric's face and made short strokes down. Eric thought he did it with such ease, but Kyle wasn't confident at all, he just acted like it because that's how he always had.
"Okay, looks good," said Kyle when he finished. "Put some water on it."
As Eric did as he was told, his bare skin came into contact with his hand. It was so weird. His previously luscious and carefully groomed beard was all gone, just like that. He said, "It's pretty crazy that we're doing this."
"Yeah," Kyle sighed. "I wish I could go back in time or something, to make it never happen."
"This can be our re-do," Eric replied.
Kyle nodded. "Yeah. Yeah."
"Are you ready to go?"
"I guess so."
Kyle looked smaller than usual. All his attractive confidence was somewhere else. Eric grabbed Kyle's hand, looked at him, and smiled. "It's okay, we'll support each other, right?"
Kyle squeezed Eric's hand and nodded. "Let's go."