Here in this labyrinth (I'm trapped)

Part 5

Warnings:

Being outed (mentioned)

The ride to Stan's house is horribly awkward, to say the least. No one spoke the entire time.

When they finally arrive at Stan's house he quickly grabs his stuff and leaves the car. He walks a few steps before turning around and giving Kyle an embarrassed wave. Kyle give a small wave back before his car zooms away. Stan turns back around and walks to his house. He grabs his key and unlocks the front door, walking into his living room and slumping his overnight bag off his shoulder onto the couch. He sits down and sighs, turning on his TV, trying to focus on the horrible show that was on, but his thoughts being overrun by guilt, remembering the fear Kyle's face showed when his mom walked in.________________Kyle's car drives back to his house as he looks out the window, staring at himself in the car's side mirror.

"Kyle."

Kyle realizes he's been zoning out, and he turns his head quickly to his mom. "Yeah?" "I... I know I overreacted about you and Stan. I'm sorry, bubbie. I'm just trying to protect you." Kyle sighs. "I know, Ma." They didn't talk the rest of the drive back.________________"Stanley? I didn't hear you come in." Sharon says, walking into the living room. Stan just replies with a monotone "Oh." Sharon notices something off with her son, so she sits down next to him. "Are you alright, honey?" Stan considers not telling her, he was actually waiting until he was much older  to come out, but he can't tell his mom what happened without doing it and he really needs to get it off his chest. He turns to face his mom on the couch."Well, I need to tell you something. So umm... yeah, Kyle... uh..." Sharon covers her mouth with her hand. "I heard what happened to him through Liane just recently! Good thing no one has acted violent towards him." "So... you heard he was outed as transgender right?" Sharon nods, silently signaling Stan to go on. "That wasn't the only thing he was outed as. He was also outed as gay." Sharon's jaw drops when she hears the words come out of Stan's mouth. "And that," Stan breathes in, and then out. "And that he likes me." His mother's gaze softens. "And I" Stan pauses again, looking down at his hands in his lap. "I like him too." He looks back up at his mom. He sees tears forming in her eyes. Fear suddenly enters Stan as he waits for something. Anything."Well... I can't say I didn't see this coming. You liked Wendy though, didn't you?" She asks calmly. Stan looks at her for a few seconds, trying to find a trace of insincerity. He doesn't. "I did like Wendy, I'm bi. Also, what do you mean you 'saw this coming?'" Sharon laughs warmly. "Stanley, I've seen the way you look at him." Stan covers his red face with his hands and groans. "Moooom..."________________As soon as Kyle and his mother get home, he storms up to his room. While they were gone, Ike and Gerald had arrived back home, and Ike was sitting in his room with the door open. He heard the redheaded boy stomping up the stairs, and peeked out his door. "Kyle? Are you alright?" Kyle sees his confused little brother, and all his anger dissipates. "Mom's just being difficult again. You wanna know what happened?" Ike nods his head, and Kyle walks into his bedroom. They both sit, facing each other on his bed. "So, my mom kind of saw me and Stan kissing." Ike gasps. "You and Stan?! Aren't you both... boys?" Kyle smiles at his innocence. "Yes. Sometimes two boys can be boyfriends and two girls can be girlfriends." Ike's eyes light up. "That's so cool! So you and Stan are boyfriends?" Kyle thinks it's weird to hear someone else say it. Not in a bad way, just sounds... different. Freeing.

"Yeah, we are. And mom found out... so... yeah you can imagine how that went." Ike's excitement levels lower as he imagines his mom yelling at him and Stan. He frowns. "Is she mad at Stan? I hope not. He's so cool." "He is, isn't he?" Kyle laughs. "I think she's pretty mad at him. She must have thought it was all his fault and that I had no part in it, because how could her 'sweet and perfect son' have a boyfriend." Ike laughs at Kyle's impression of their mom. For a while longer, Ike and Kyle continue talking about things their mom does that annoy them, until they hear her voice.

"Boys, dinner!" Sheila yells from downstairs, and Ike and Kyle both grumble and eyeroll as they trudge down the steps. When the Broflovski family all sits down at the table, there seems to be so much tension you could cut it with a knife. They eat in silence, until Gerald has the bright idea to open his mouth. "So, Kyle, I heard Stan spent the night last night and you guys hung out today. Did you guys have fun?" Sheila's head turns quickly to Gerald, and he just shrugs in response.

Kyle realizes what's going on here. "You told him?!" He questions louder than he wanted to. "Bubbie, I had to." Sheila defends herself. "You didn't." Kyle snaps, and his mother can't come up with a good response to that. She tries, though. "You're right, but he's your father. He should know when you get a... boyfriend?" Kyle rests his head in his hands as he becomes extremely embarrassed. "Can we just not talk about this? I feel like the fact that I got OUTED AS TRANS to my ENTIRE SCHOOL yesterday is a bigger deal than the fact that me and Stan kissed ONCE." The room goes silent for a second. "Wait, what?" Ike asks, and Kyle realizes Ike didn't know that he was outed yesterday. "Yeah, Ike. Cartman outed me to the entire school, and the only thing Ma wants to worry about is the fact I kissed a boy."