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It was mid-day on Christmas Eve, snow was falling lightly, and frost was collecting on gutters of roofs. Everyone was indoors, spending quality time together, families were laughing sweetly and the seemingly dysfunctional aspects of the town dissolved into holiday cheer.
For Craig Tucker, it was just another day. His family did celebrate as they were Roman Catholics, however, Craig wasn't exactly 'religious'. He didn't care that his family celebrated or commemorated whatever they did, it just wasn't his suit. So, he was lazing around in his room, staring at glow in the dark stars that littered his roof, maybe occasionally texting Tweek or Clyde. That was, until, his little sister- Tricia- Called from downstairs.
"CRAIG! Your friend is calling! Get your ass-" She cut herself off, and Craig could hear their mother scolding her, then the resigned sigh of Tricia.
"-Butt- Down here!"
Craig grumbled and sat up, shaking off the covers and pulling on a warm jacket, that same blue he had been wearing for years, over his head. You see, their house had heating, so it wasn't exactly freezing and he could go without a jacket- and, to be completely honest, Craig had surprisingly very good temperature control. He didn't exactly feel the cool air as much as other people did. Maybe it was the sensory input side of him. Whatever. The reason he wanted to wear a jacket was just because.. It was comfy. That's it. Not because it was cold- it was comfy.
He took out his earphones, throwing them and his phone on the bed before opening the door. The smell of his mothers cooking wafting up and hitting his nostrils like a punch in the face (in a good way, of course.). He hummed, pleased, before making his way down the stairs towards the phone propped up on the wall, where Tricia waited expectantly. She pushed the phone into his hands, and walked off, probably going to watch something on TV or going to help their mom with cooking.
Craig put the phone up to his ear, "Hey."
The familiar voice of Tolkien came through from the other side, cheery. "Hey man! How are you?"
"Good, not doin' much."
Tolkien paused, before asking "You doing anything for Christmas? My parents said you could spend it over here."
Craig thought for a moment, "A party?"
"Yeah, basically. I'm inviting uh.. You, the guys, Tweek, some of the girls like Wendy and stuff-- Oh, Nichole, who then invited her friends, and then Stan and his friends."
"Let me ask if I can go."
Craig covered the microphone part of the phone and turned his head to face the kitchen door, "MOM!" He called, waiting.
His mother, Laura, with her bleached, golden hair tied back in a bun and an apron tied around her waist, peered from the kitchen. "Yes, Craigory?"
"Tolkien asked if we're doing anything tomorrow. He's hosting a Christmas party, wants me to stay over tonight then come home tomorrow before dinner. I think. I'd assume so, anyway."
Laura hummed for a second, before calling out to Thomas, Craig and Tricia's dad.
"Dear, are we doing anything? Any family coming over?"
Thomas' gruff voice carried through from the kitchen, "Not that I know of, not until dinner, atleast. Why?"
"Craigory's friend invited Craig to a party. Tolkien, I believe. The nice one!"
"Oh. Up to you, hon."
Laura turned back and gave Craig an approving and warm smile. "You can go! I can drop you off."
Craig smiled back and then turned back to the phone, uncovering it. "Yeah, man, I can go. When should I be there?"
"3 o' clock?" Tolkien asked.
"Sure."
"Alright, see you then."
"See ya'."
Three o' clock came along as soon as it could- Craig had a backpack with a change of clothes (+ his hoodie, because he knew Tweek wasn't good with the cold at ALL.) and toiletries. And alongside that, he was holding 2 bags with gifts. Some for Tweek, Clyde, Stan, Red, Kenny, a few others, some were smaller than others- others didn't get any (like Cartman.), but it was the thought that counted. Plus, he had made cards for everyone. That was enough, right?
Craig trudged down the stairs, the bags rustling and hitting against the floor, before finally reaching the bottom. "Mom!" He called, leaning against the wall.
Laura came out of the bathroom then, grabbing her purse and keys from the coffee table infront of the TV as she circled around to stand by Craig.
"Alright, come on!" She said cheerfully, opening the door and stepping out into the chilly air.
Craig followed behind her, opening the back door to the car and throwing in the bags, closing it, then circling around to the passenger seat. He got in, plugging in his seatbelt and listening to the radio start up as Laura turned the ignition on.
The car ride was relatively short, Laura speaking about work stories, which Craig listened to- surprisingly. He couldn't find it in his nature to be mean or sarcastic, his mother was one person he just couldn't do that to.
They pulled into the Black family's driveway. Laura turned off the car and stepped out, helping Craig grab his bags. She went up to the door with him, ringing the doorbell.
Tolkien's mother opened the door, smiling and inviting them in. Laura lightly rejected it, "Oh, no, I can't stay. I need to get home and finish lunch. I have a hunch that it'll be burnt if I don't get back." She laughed softly, with a hint of frustration lacing her tone- as if she knew that it had already happened. "Well, thank you for letting my son stay! Oh, and merry Christmas, by the way."
Craig gave Laura a hug goodbye, and Laura kissed him lightly on the cheek, reminding him to call when she needed to come pick him up. Craig just nodded and smiled, taking the bags from her hands and wandering in. He kicked his shoes off, unzipping his jacket and hanging it up on a coat hanger. Tolkien was leaning against a wall with an amused smirk, Clyde besides him stifling laughter. "Softie. I knew you had some sort of sweet side, and now we have proof."
Craig could feel his cheeks burn hot, he just grumbled and walked by them, not missing his chance to flip them off. He reached the foyer where the rest the invited friends and frenemies alike were. "Oh, damn, thats a lot of people."
"Lot's of people and a big house." Tolkien responded from behind him, pushing off the wall to follow, "It's fine. My parents are chill."
Craig nodded and spotted Tweek, who spotted him and sat up quickly. "Craig!" He called, grinning and running up to him, "Hey, dude!"
"Hey, honey." Craig greeted, warmly smiling and kissing Tweek on the forehead. "I didn't think you'd be able to come, with your parents.
"They knew we wouldn't be getting too many customers since everyone will be indoors, so they let me come!"
Logical thinking from his parents for once. Craig thought, embracing Tweek before letting him lead them both to one of the seats. Around them were a few of the girls, including Wendy and Bebe, who were chatting animatedly, with Red watching them. Red caught Craig's eye and playfully flipped him off. It was their greeting, one that made people turn heads, but theirs none-the-less.
Craig had also noticed Stan and his gang huddled up. Stan and Kyle were sitting together, Cartman was complaining about something to Kenny, who was next to Butters, who had a Santa hat and some fuck-ass Christmas sweater on.
He turned his head back to Tweek, who was leaning against him with a smile. "We're all just talking, but we're going to be giving presents soon! That's what Tolkien says. After lunch, of course. I-It- ack- Smells awesome!"
Craig had only just registered the smell of food, it did, in fact, smell awesome, heavenly even. It reminded him of his mom's cooking at home. Craig smiled back down at Tweek and squeezed his shoulder.
Jimmy had entered with Tolkien and Clyde trailing behind, they all made their way to Craig. Clyde leaned against the back of the chair, while Tolkien and Jimmy settled next to Craig on the chair. The five conversed, laughing, chatting. They dogged on Craig and Tweek for being gay, though, which wasn't an issue- it was just a joke. If it was anyone else, Tweek or Craig would be at their throats.
Tweek's head was rested on Craig's shoulder as they spoke, thumb running over his knuckles. Craig felt at peace. And he could tell Tweek did too. Tweek wasn't twitching too much, he wasn't panicking, he was gently speaking, voice calm. It surprised Craig in the best way.
Lunch passed, everyone's stomach full and warm as they passed around affirming words and compliments. It felt perfect. No one was yelling, no one was mad, somehow Cartman- who everyone hated- was actually being.. Seemingly, hopefully, nice? That was what blew Craig away.
Anyway, let by-gones be by-gones. Now they were up to the presents. The girls gave their presents first, Wendy had gotten the best ones for Stan and Kyle- Some rare collectible for Stan and something Craig couldn't see for Kyle, kissing them both on the cheek happily. They were all dating? Cool. Craig didn't expect that but it was cool. If it didn't harm anyone, he didn't care. Wendy moved to Bebe, giving her an expensive kit of makeup, Red got a scarf with pockets and the end that held tiny little cat plushies. It was the same colour as the jacket she regularly wore. Nichole got a little model-kit of something she loved, whilst everyone else got a hand-written card.
Bebe had went around, gifting most of the people there some sort of gift or card. Wendy got a couple books she'd wanted, Red got one of those book-nook things, or something, Nichole got a card and money (assumingly thats what she said she wanted!). She gifted Clyde something he had been wanting for ages, Craig didn't see what, but he could tell by the way Clyde practically screamed out 'I love you'. He embraced Bebe tightly, who grinned and giggled. Then, she moved onto Tweek, gifting him a little hand-made keychain. Tweek hugged her tightly, grinning as if he was a cat who got the cream.
That went on until it got to Craig's turn. Craig had gifted as many people as he could something big or small, cards to those who couldn't. But the most heartfelt ones were for Tweek and Clyde.
Tweek's gift was a scrapbook, of photos of both of them. Craig wasn't the most creatively inclined person, Tweek could tell that most of it was done by Tricia or his mom and him, but the sentiment hit him like a truck. Tweek literally yelled, which made Craig wince, but still grin sheepishly.
The pages were filled with things like Tweek and Craig on their first date, a LOT of Stripe photos, a few sneaky photos Tweek didn't even know Craig had taken. Each flip of the book made Tweek's crumple more into some sad-grin. Craig could swear he heard sniffling. As if Tweek had never gotten something so sentimental or close to home ever.
The second gift he got Tweek was the spin-off to his favourite DS game. Tweek clutched that and the scrapbook to his chest, before standing up and squeezing Craig, tightly, Craig gasped but returned it with a wry chuckle. "Oh my gosh, thank you, Craig!" He repeated. THne he pulled away and sat back down, looking through the scrapbook again.
Finally, Tweek handed out his gifts. Handmade artworks for everyone, Craig was surprised on how well they all were. Portraits, pottery, dioramas or things. He turned to Craig and gave him a Christmas themed bag, littered with Reindeers and snowflakes on it. Craig cautiously opened it and pulled out a framed photo. It was a portrait of him and Tweek, with constellations like Cygnus and Pegasus. Craig felt his heart clench and cheeks warm, he had no words. He had no remark, he had nothing.
He didn't even process the words Tweek was saying, like- "Oh, it glows in the dark! The constellations, that is. It's glow in the dark paint. Took me forever to layer and get right! But-"
"Took me a bit, I couldn't capture your expression right.."
"-Had to buy a lot of paint..."
Craig simply stared up and him and kissed him, there and then. It wasn't their first kiss, but it felt like it. He swore he heard the click of a camera, probably Clyde, he assumed. He had no words. Everyone knew he wasn't good at expressing stuff, so this was an immense jump.
Tweek looked dumbly at Craig, before giggling softly. "You like it? I didn't think it was-"
"Shut up." Craig said simply. "It's fucking beautiful!" He said, way louder than expected. "Tweek, this is so good!"
Tweek just laughed, awkward, like he wasn't used to this amount of praise. He urged Craig to keep looking.
"Um, theres more..."
Craig put the photo down and rummaged in the bag, pulling out a small clay figurine of Stripe. In a Santa hat. Stripe. In. A. Christmas. Hat. Craig could squeal like a child all over again, but he didn't. He just kept digging, pulling out a card that was made from card-stock, decorated with a small painting at the bottom. he opened it, and read the whole thing quickly. When he finished, just just stared at Tweek, jaw dropped. Gone was that 'nonchalant' guy they knew, replaced by some child-like wonder. "Oh. My. Fucking. God." He simply said.
Tweek let out a huff as Craig pulled him into the tightest hug he could give, spinning him slightly. Tweek yelped, "Craig!" He yelled, but made no move to pull away.
"Thank you, thank you so much!" Craig said simply, his tone blunt yet the joy in his eyes palpable.
The rest of the room watched, hearing the commotion and just watching. Wendy piped up, "I've never seen you so happy, Craig!"
"Is he okay?" Stan said to Kenny, who muffled a laugh. "Drunk, or something?"
"Hey, don't be a dick- Let him savour this!" Clyde called out, laughing softly, in awe of his suddenly joyful friend.
That's how the rest of the afternoon went. Cookies were passed around, warm drinks were made and drunk, words and sentiments were said to each other. The air was filled with holiday cheer and something warm, something gentle. Nothing like the frenemy stuff a few of the people here had, or the rivalry. It felt so unnatural in the best way.
By night, everyone was tuckered out, resting on inflatable mattresses, on the couches, maybe. Tweek and Craig decided to share a mattress to make space for everyone else. As the light was shut off and they were plunged into darkness, Craig squeezed Tweek just a little bit tighter, still riding his happy-high as he fell into a comfortable sleep.