Chapter Text
He knew there was going to be a complication when Damien sought him out. Stan Marsh was a thorn on his side for decades now. It started out with nonsensical games, things only children could come up with to Kyle.
Kyle was his best friend and the love of his life. Although Kyle wasn’t aware of that yet. It was only a matter of time. Unfortunately Stan Marsh was in his life before Craig was and so Kyle’s heart eyes were always in Stan’s direction.
“When Kyle takes this, your cherub-he will do what’s in your heart.” said Damien. He gave him a bottle that appeared red and an aroma that could only be the scent of death. “Your blood will need to be inside, of course, “ he said casually.
Craig smiled faintly at the words. In his heart? What’s in heart was a domestic scene: a giggling and smiling Kyle in his arms as they watch the stars and go to his room and make love. Gentle love that only his Kyle would deserve, over and over again until he’s breathless-until Stan comes and-
Fucking Stan. What’s he going to do about that imbecile?
“What about Stan?” he asked distastefully, taking the potion and putting it in his pocket. “He’s not going to like this.”
Damien looked at him with an inquisitive expression before smiling darkly. “Not unless you do it right.” he stated. He was slowly drinking his Manhattan. Something Craig notices he always does when he plans on talking for a while.
Craig sighed. “Stan is an idiot, but he’s not such an idiot he won’t notice something is wrong. When it comes to Kyle he goes to crazy lengths to make things right. He tricked a guy to give Kyle his kidney, for fucks sakes, “ he said with exasperation.
Damien drank a sip of his drink before looking at him with a smirk. “What would you be willing to do to get the obstacle out?” he said slowly.
Craig thought of late night movie marathons. Kyle was always scared and jumped constantly when he saw the inevitable murder scene. He never meant to, but he ended up in his lap almost immediately in fear . He remembered the concern in his eyes when Craig bruised his arms from fighting Cartman, the asshole with a twisted fixation on Kyle. Kyle always was concerned about his ability to play the piano. The last thing he remembered was their discussion on The Picture of Dorian Grey.
“I don’t understand how Dorian could go so far. He didn’t need that improvement.” Kyle ranted.
Craig shrugged. He was never into the themes of media and literature as much as Kyle was but he was willing to humor it. He had to catch himself from looking deeply into Kyle’s eyes as he spoke so passionately.
“Beauty means a lot to people.” he said slowly, trying to put his thoughts into the best words. “People admire it. Treat others differently. If Dorian could be that ambitious and make it real, whose he hurting?”
Kyle sighed. “I guess you have a point.” he said uncertainly, before rolling his eyes. “I’m going to be so happy when we are done with this book,” he complained.
Craig snapped out of his memories and looked at Damien. His brown eyes darkened. “Whatever I have to do,” he replied.
Damien’s eyes flickered to red and his smile looked slightly fanged. “Excellent.”
————————————————————
It took time to execute what Damien asked of him. Despite what he said, there were some lines he never thought he would cross.
What he was asking wouldn’t affect Kyle. But it would affect others. Craig didn’t know what would happen at the end of this. Would he even deserve Kyle after this?
“Why do you want me to do this?” he asked again, trying to not let his frustration show more than it already has.
Damien appeared amused, just sipping on his signature drink. “Consider it a fee for the extra work I’m willing to do, “ he said smoothly.
Craig looked over. He didn’t know the girl really well. Her brother went to school with them very briefly in elementary school. What was his name? Jeremy? He guessed it didn’t matter.
Rebecca looked to be laughing with a couple girls. Her brother wasn’t there to watch over. Craig didn’t know if that was better or worse for him at this point. He served them some drinks earlier. Most of them already appear to be too intoxicated to focus properly.
Damien rolled his eyes. “Honestly, Tucker. I’m only giving a little edge to someone who is in a similar spot as you.” he stated. He looked at Craig and gestured over to the man in the background. Craig didn’t remember his name, but he knew him from somewhere. His whole demeanor reeked of awkwardness. The man was smiling nervously and drinking his drink frantically. His hair was long and somewhat disheveled.
Craig lightly gulped. He supposed that he could relate to the sentiment, and this man didn’t look like he would do any real harm.
“Whatever, Damien, but all I know is Stan better be out of the picture after this.” he said coldly.
Damien said nothing, before handing him another bottle. It was purple vital and the scent was such a drastic one from the red vital he gained previously. All he could feel was a sense of hopelessness and despair. It almost made him want to give up on everything. Craig quickly put the top back on. He didn’t know what it was and he didn’t want to know.
It’s not your problem after tonight, he told himself. It doesn’t matter.
“She’s going to get a shot of whiskey in exactly three minutes. Better get to it, Tucker.” Damien responded, sliding his Manhattan to him.
Craig didn’t know how he managed it, but he was able to slip the vital in the whiskey bottle without anyone noticing. He supposed there was more than one pro to this job. Everyone’s too plastered off their asses to care about anything, he thought sardonically.
Rebecca came up with another girl. The girl next to her was giggling obnoxiously. Craig hated this part. If people couldn’t handle their liquor they should go home.
“Hi, could I have a shot of whiskey and a fluffy navel, please?” asked Rebecca, her smile polite.
Her friend giggled some more. “Yesss! Our girl just got accepted to Harvard. She needs to have fun before she has to be responsible.” slurred the girl, before giving an annoying whoop. “Isn’t that amazing?” she chirped, flipping her blonde hair.
Craig smiled politely, grabbing the necessary ingredients and pouring it in respective glasses. “Yes, congratulations.” he said, giving Rebecca a nod.
Rebecca laughed nervously, before lighting slapping her friend's hand. “It’s not that big of a deal, Mercedes.” she said, before taking a big shot of her whiskey. She finished it quickly. “Sorry about that.” she told Craig, before going back to her group.
Craig thought nothing of that interaction until later that evening. He saw the unknown man leave with Rebecca. He was groping her, kissing her passionately leaving the bar. She appeared to reciprocate just as much. But he couldn’t help but notice the light was gone in her eyes.
The uneasy feeling stayed in his chest till he went home that night and went into dreamless sleep, forgetting about it the next day.
———————————————————
Craig didn’t know how long he was supposed to wait. Damien implored him to be patient.
“You waited this long, didn’t you?” he pointed out.
So Craig continued to wait. Damien didn’t give him any details on what he was going to do to Stan. Just that whatever it was, it would make him a non-factor soon enough.
After six months of playing the best friend, he finally saw some signs of discord. Kyle was home from his regular weekend from Stan’s. He usually wasn’t home this early, he noticed.
Craig just got off from his shift from the bar and noticed Kyle. Kyle smiled at him but it appeared to be weak, with a hint of wetness in his eyes. “Hey dude, what’s up?” he said cheerfully.
Craig narrowed his eyes. He knew how Kyle could be. Talking about things that bothered him or other people was like pulling teeth. A part of it came from his mother, he knew. She preached decorum and responsibility constantly. The other was the fact in Kyle’s eyes Craig went too far in his pitbull tendencies sometimes and in his words,”want to avoid you fucking up your hands over some stupid drama that I can deal with, dude.” But Craig was never good at listening.
“What’s up with me?” he asked incredulously in response. “How about you, dude?”
Kyle held his hand up, in an attempt to dismiss his worry. “Nothing, nothing. I’m fine.” His chest raised up for a moment before a hiccup came from his mouth. An obvious sign of distress that Kyle couldn’t hide.
Craig only raised his eyebrows. Kyle looked at him for a couple seconds, looking at him with stubborn eyes before finally sighing. “Okay, okay. Stan and I had a fight.”
Craig didn’t say much after that. He knew that Kyle would only voice what he was comfortable with so he didn’t push more than what’s necessary. Hope blossomed in his chest at Kyle’s final words.
Kyle’s eyes began to well again. He tried to wipe it off with his sleeve but it helped little. “I just don’t know what to do, man. He started drinking and h-he’s lashing out.” he hiccuped again.
Was this Damien’s work, he wondered. Or was God finally giving Kyle the push he needed to break away from someone who didn’t deserve him?
“Dude, you guys will figure it out.” reassured Craig, grabbing Kyle and pulling him in a hug. Kyle accepted it with no argument. He only continued to sob in his arms, letting Craig’s hold tighten.
Kyle looked at him, his green eyes looking up at him uncertainly. “But what if we don’t? He-he’s always been there. I don’t want to lose him.” he cried.
Craig only grabbed his chin, looking at him with intensity. For a moment Kyle looked a bit put off and that concerned him, but he relaxed when Kyle’s expression did. “You’ll have me, man.”
Forever.