Universal Inconstants

Chapter 23

The other Freedom Pals may have been in Tolkien's basement, away from all the clamoring and yelling aside from the crab people that'd broken into the house and were trying to break down the basement door, but they still felt the explosion. 

It'd scared them, honestly, especially Tweek who was extremely afraid of being bombed due to North Korea's threats a few years ago. 

Luckily Craig was there now, and as he wrapped his arms around the boy he instantly seemed to calm down.

A sudden banging occurred upstairs, a war cry audible as people revolted and chased the crab people out of the house. 

While they waited for the scrambling to stop, Craig and Tweek talked quietly over their recent conversation and thought about what they wanted to do. They both still loved each other. 

Craig admitted that he was an asshole that day a few months ago. He told the shorter he'd thought at the time that breaking up with him would help him be more independent. 

Tweek made it very clear that he was wrong.

"You should have just- HNG- talked to me," Tweek said to him.

Craig nodded quietly, looking away before responding. "I'm a dumbass," he admitted, picking up a random object beside him. 

He handed Tweek the book silently. 

Tweek just looked confused. 

"I give you full permission to murder me with that book for hurting you," Craig said. 

Tweek stared blankly at him before promptly bopping him on the head with the object once, tossing it to the side afterward.

He couldn't help but giggle at Craig's reaction, a quick "oof" and a feigned offended expression. Craig smiled softly after a moment as Tweek's face brightened, then stared at the floor once again, slipping into comfortable silence. 

A few moments later, Craig spoke up again. "Tweek... I really am sorry," he said quietly, and Tweek looked at him.

"I-it's okay Craig, really," Tweek said in response, smiling.

Craig took a breath in. "You know that one song you like? 'Brother' or something?" He asked, and as he looked up Tweek nodded. "There's this one line- 'If I was dying on my knees, you would be the one to rescue me.'" Tweek felt like he knew where he was going with this. "Tweek... I was dying out there. And you saved me," he continued, tearing up. 

"Even when I didn't want to be saved."

Tweek silently pulled the taller into a hug as he let tears fall quietly down his face. 

"C-Craig... Can we try this again?" He asked, hopefully.

Craig gave a nod, wiping tears from his eyes with his uninjured arm. 

"I-I promise I won't make the same dumb mistakes. I won't hurt you again, Coffee Bean," he said, and Tweek smiled brightly at the sorely missed pet name.

While they talked things over, so did everyone else. Scott and Sophie were in a conversation as Sophie scolded the other for scaring her half to death while he hugged her, just happy she was safe. Analiza was talking to Wyatt, actively downplaying her role in the salvation of the Earth despite her being one of the most prominent people in the event. Wyatt wasn't having any of it.

A few minutes later it was dead silent upstairs, and Stan and Butters instantly left, splitting off into two different directions. 

Butters took off in the direction of Kenny's house, desperate to make sure the other was alive and okay once again.