86 Feelings (Stan x Kenny)[Completed]

28

(Day 535)

Kyle had seen him do this many times before, it's why he didn't panic like everyone else did the first day. By the end of the second day, he was beginning to be just as worried as the rest of their friends.

If Stan didn't want to be found though, Kyle knew he wouldn't be. And, after what happened between him and Kenny? He didn't blame his best friend for disappearing. It wasn't like Stan to not say where he was going, however, and it was all the more concerning to Kyle that he didn't take anything with him.

Luckily, that morning, the ginger happened to be the opener. He was guaranteed to be out by about four, so Kyle was going to search for Stan. Randy would kill him if something happened to his son, and the guilt of not watching his super best friend more carefully was weighing on him, too. Kyle swore his customers knew something was wrong.

When it came to the rest of the kitchen, most of them didn't dare ask him about Stan. Uttering the questions would make it a reality.

Except Kenny, who should've known better than to have the audacity to ask Kyle about him. The stupid blonde just had to corner him as soon as he got there: "Is he okay?"

Protective and anxious over Stan, Kyle took an aggressive step towards him. "Don't know! That's kind of the fucking problem! Why are you even asking?"

Not oblivious to the blame he was receiving, Kenny scowled deeply, and covered his head with his jacket hood. It was something he'd been doing more frequently. "Ky," He fought back an unknown emotion. "I.. I hope you find him."

Kyle really tried not to get angry, but it was inevitable at this point. He clenched his fists at his side, holding back, maybe even subconsciously begging Kenny to make a move, so he had an excuse to use them: "As his best-fucking-friend, you've pissed me the fuck off!" The blonde peered at him through the edge of his hoodie with surprise. "Oh! Don't look so surprised! Why wouldn't I be pissed at you?! Who do you think you are, playing with someone's feelings like this?!"

Since they were at work, Kenny was shifting from foot to foot uncomfortably; Kyle was scolding him like a child, and on purpose, too. They were all adults at this point, what was the excuse this time?

"Ky, I wasn't-"

"It doesn't even matter what kind of bullshit excuse you give to me, dude!" Kyle finally punched out, flaring his nostrils at Kenny, who insisted on taking up more of his time. "Stan is the one you hurt - not me! You need to figure out what the fuck you want, or just leave him alone. Do you even have feelings for him, or was this all some sort of twisted game for you? Because to him, it was everything!"

He'd never seen Kenny look so disturbed before; he pulled at the roots of his hair with a wild, undetermined look fixated upon the usually inviting demeanor of his face. There were tears threatening to build too, with every head shake he dared to release, they were closer to falling.

He was terrified, Kyle realized.

It stopped his justified fury - why was Kenny so upset?

Since he didn't know Kenny like Stan did, Kyle had no idea what to do, other than protect him from the curious eyes of the rest of the line. He did his best to casually lead Kenny somewhere more private to release everything he needed to. There was way more going on than anyone knew.

Kyle didn't like it.

Kenny dropped to the floor of the back room as soon as they were out of sight. He held his chest firmly in an attempt to slow the hyperventilating that was finally overtaking him. Kenny couldn't contain it anymore: "K-Karen!" He shuddered out, grasping at the wall next to him for any support. Kyle gave him no remorse, only standing over him with all of the fury of judgment day. "A few nights ago.. Karen, my sister, called me while I was closing, and told me Tammy was staying with them. She said that Tammy and my parents were arguing about money when my mom snapped, and just.. beat her ass."

Kyle went pale as he noticed Kenny's conflicting emotions.

"Um, so, Karen is probably getting taken to foster care, and Tammy is in a coma at the hospital. My mom is going back to jail for who knows how long.. Again."

What was he supposed to say to all that? Kyle didn't have a single damn clue. This really was more complicated than Stan knew. But, standing by his friend, Kenny was still in the wrong on some things. "Look," He started after a reasonable pause. "You're obviously dealing with a lot of messed up shit right now, and I get why you're conflicted. You still owe it to Stan to be honest with him, though. He's your friend, dude! I-I know what happened between you two was a lot, but don't you care about him? In any way?"

Kenny fumed. "Of fucking course I do!" It was louder than he meant it, and he bit his thumb harshly to punish himself. "Kyle, I just.. Can't hurt him. This wasn't supposed to happen. We were supposed to have time."

"What?" Kyle tilted his head in disbelief. "Are you seriously saying you can't be with Stan? What fucking reason do you possibly have?!"

"Tammy needs me!"

"To what?! Nurse her back to health, put your life on pause, and then fall back into that cycle of abuse?!" Kyle's face was becoming red to match his curls. "When are you going to choose happiness, Kenny?!"

He stayed silent. Kyle figured he would. As much as he didn't want to be right in this situation, he knew that he was, and Kenny was making the wrong choices.

Kyle had to give him a little bit of credit, however, since he wasn't purposefully trying to hurt Stan. He was just an idiot. They were both idiots. He still had to search for the other idiot, too.

"I have to go." Kyle offered flatly. He didn't necessarily like the guy right then. "Stan would kill me if he knew I said this to you, but," The pause made Kenny look up at him again. "When I find him, I'll text you so you can come over, and explain everything to him. I swear to god, Kenny, if you fucking make it worse though, I will bash your brains in!"

A hint of what could've been hope flashed in his eyes for a moment. He stood up, lazily brushing the dust off of his clothes in attempts to steady his mind. "Okay."

And, with his threat lingering between them like a death sentence, Kyle began his journey to look for Stan.

Although, it wasn't much of a journey when he drove around for about ten minutes, and spotted Stan walking back into town. It still didn't answer the question of where he had been, but Kyle dramatically screeched the car to a halt anyway. There were too many things that Kyle wanted to scold his best friend for, and he hopped out of the car with all intentions of ripping him apart before he welcomed him home. When he lifted his face to the ginger's, though, those complaints, and lectures suddenly never existed.

His super best friend needed him.

Stan wobbled in his stride to meet Kyle, obviously inebriated from the way he tripped over his feet, and nearly cracked open his skull on the frame of the car. Luckily, Kyle caught him at the right moment.

"Stan!" Kyle cringed a little - he smelled. He smelled like someone who hadn't showered in too long, and went on a drinking binge. "Dude, you reek! Where have you been?!"

Mumbling something incoherent, Stan couldn't lift his head anymore. This was beyond what Kyle had seen before. It made sense, he was hurt. And now, he really regretted telling Kenny he could come over, and fix this tonight.

It would have to wait.