Craig's POV
It's going through the same routine every single day. Dad finds something new to be mad at me for. He finds some way to get away with disciplining me. At first it was just yelling. Maybe a stern talking to at best; recently it has been a... forceful punch. It's like the man got addicted to disciplining me and he just needed more of it after getting used to a certain amount.
Craig- Run away with me.
Stan- What the fuck are you talking about?
Craig- I want to run away, and I want to take you with me.
Stan- Why?
Craig- I'm tired of hiding my bruises. Of living in this god-awful house. Leave with me. We can run to the forest and find a nice resting spot, get drunk, maybe uh... kiss a little... 😙😊
Stan- You're gonna push away my efforts to get you until you wanna run away with me?
Craig- Aren't I romantic?
Stan- Oh just the most romantic guy ever.
Craig- So are you gonna run with me?
Stan- Is that kiss guaranteed?
Craig- As soon as I get there.
Stan- Fine. I will. Just. Give me some time to pack.
Craig- I'll be outside of your house @10:30pm.
Stan- Alright, honey.
Craig- Don't push it, Marsh.
I put my phone down and begin packing my bag. Anything I'll need, and I put my phone on the charger. I'm not gonna need it, but just encase. It's always nice to have.
"Big brother? What are you doing?" Tricia is in the doorway. Fuck.
"Nothing. I'm just going to stay with a friend." I lie, she's the biggest snitch in the world. She walks over and picks up my phone. "Hey give that to me!" I exclaim
"You're gay?!" She exclaims as I snatch the phone back before she could see anything.
"No! What did you see?" How did she know my phone password?!
"Just that you were talking about going over to Stan's at ten-thirty and kissing on him. Is he your boyfriend?!" She exclaims
I rush to my feet to cover her mouth "Yes. But don't say ANYTHING to mom and dad. I'm serious, Tricia" I push her lightly back, looking at my phone.
Stan- Whatever you say, Big Cat.
"Big Cat?!" She exclaims
I blush "Yeah that's his uh... nickname for me..." I chuckle, he's been calling me Big Cat for a long time.
"Adorable! I wanna see you guys kiss!" She exclaims
"Don't tell mom and dad I'm going over there and I will." I hold my pinky up. She intertwines them and giggles as she runs off.
I get the bag and finish packing, shoving a charger in my bag as I open my window. I drop my bag into the Bush by my house and I jump into it. Getting a bit scratched up, but I'm not as hurt as I would've been hitting the ground. I walk a few houses down to Stan's and I go into his backyard. Sparky sees and recognizes me after a couple barks he stops and runs over excitedly to me. I pet him as I text Stan.
Craig- I'm in your backyard.
A few minutes later Stan walks out and sees me, having a light smile on his face.
"Gonna give me my hello kiss?" He asks
I roll my eyes and lean up to peck his lips. He tries to make it longer, but I pull away before he has a chance to react.
"Oh c'mon babe, it's gotta be at least a bit better than that..." he teases
"We aren't even dating. Don't call me babe." I glare slightly at him.
"But you like me, and I like you." He states
"I don't care about that right now. Just... go get your things. We'll worry about boyfriend stuff later." I'm just in a hurry to leave. I don't have time for his fuckin games.
"Alright, I'll be back in a moment, Big Cat." He rushes back into the house. I roll my eyes. Big Cat is the only thing I won't complain about right now.
A few minutes later he comes back with a ton of fucking survival shit. A tent, water, food, matches, an axe. He's better prepared than I am.
"Fuckin hell man..." I am in awe.
"What? Dad taught me how to use all this stuff, and I figured we'd need some sort of shelter. So I brought blankets, pillows, food, water, a fuckton of money, encase we run out of food... Craig I'm so prepared I even know exactly where we're going. I'm go glad you gave me as long as you did, so I could go out there and get everything set up." He states
My surprised face is replaced my dull emotionless face "We're running away, this isn't some romantic getaway." I roll my eyes.
"There's a difference between a romantic getaway and basic survival. What I'm doing is a mix of both" he winks as he begins to walk. "Now C'mon, lets go before it gets too late." He holds his hand out.
I run up and walk next to him. Not taking his hand, but he keeps it left out and offered to me. After a bit I get so cold that I take it. He chuckles as we walk along.
Once we get to the edge of the forest he lets go of my hand and grabs a flashlight, handing it to me. He has a bag on, the tent all packed up and around one of his shoulders, as well as having a suitcase he has dragged along with him. I hold it out as he takes my hand and leads me to the nice spot he has picked.
"Wanna hold the flashlight up so I can set up the tent?" Stan asks, I nod and hold it as he starts getting it set up, I put my hood up so the bugs don't get me.
Once he gets it set up we take all our stuff inside the tent and shield ourselves from the outdoors. He gets a blanket and two pillows out.
"I brought a thick blanket for us to share" Stan states. I have a thin blanket but... we live in South Park. It's gonna get cold. I get my thin blanket and shiver as the breeze comes through the shitty screen windows. After my shiver, Stan puts his arm around me, I'm about to push him away but his warmth hits and I find my arms around his waist. I feel his lips against my forehead.
"Don't push it, Marsh." I warn
"Well, it seems as though I was better prepared than you were, without me you'd be freezing your ass off, so I should be allowed to push it as far as I want to." He argues
"As long as it isn't sex." I state
"Craig. I just want a relationship with you." Stan Sighs "I've been trying to court you for five years. You've always just pushed me away, said you were after someone else, yet you never got with anyone. You've never been with anyone, except Tweek in fourth grade. Can I at least get an explanation?" Stan asks.
I sigh "I'm just afraid... afraid of letting myself get so close to someone, like I did with Tweek, only to have him suddenly taken from me." I feel tears brim my eyes. I'm pulled closer to Stan, and I'm resting against his chest.
"I understand Craig, you don't have to say anymore." Stan says
"I don't know if I could allow myself to get in another relationship... I mean... it's obvious I like you back but... I don't want to lose you too..." I admit, blushing lightly.
"You don't have to be afraid, I'm not going anywhere, if my... love for you... hasn't gone away after five years... the chance of it going away is rather slim, besides, how do you know if you don't try?" Stan asks
I nod slightly and look up at him, he makes eye contact with me and I see a slight sparkle in his eyes. My mind instantly goes to "fuck it" as I lean up and connect our lips. I'm not the best at this; I'm a bit rusty. Stan returns this kiss and helps guide me to what I'm supposed to be doing and how I'm supposed to be moving my lips. We pull away after a few seconds. Which actually turned out to be minutes. I look down to find Stan's hand and take it. Looking him back in the eye.
"Let's be boyfriends." I state
"You're... you're serious this time?" Stan asks
"Yes. I want to be your boyfriend; I want to give this whole 'relationship' thing another try." I answer
"Alright, I agree, let's be boyfriends." Stan responds
I feel a hammer against my chest, though it's not bad, nor good. It's just... neutral. I pull myself from his grasp to get under my thin blanket and under his thick blanket. Laying down, he gets under his blanket and lays so he's facing me.
"Hi" I can't help but have a smile as he says this
"Hey" I say, in a soft and slightly nervous tone.
He moves closer to me and taps my nose. I can't help but giggle, suddenly feeling very silly. I look at his surprised and happy face.
"I can't believe you've been hiding that giggle from me." He maintains his look, just seeming rather happy to have heard it.
My phone goes off and I look at it. Fuck. I forgot about the fucking photo I'm supposed to get to her. She said five minutes or she's telling. I groan and look at Stan.
"My sister wants a photo of us kissing"
"You already told her about us?"
"I lied before I left because she was being a little snitch."
"Alright."
He allows me to get my camera open and he turns on the flashlight. I sigh before I reconnect our lips. I angle the camera correctly and take a picture. Looking at it after wards. Hmm. It isn't too bad. I send it to Tricia to get her off my back. I then put my phone back over to the other side of the tent.
"No more phone, Craig. Just focus on me." Stan says
"The purpose of getting away was to not have to worry about anything or anyone else." He adds
"You're right..." I sigh and lay back down, trying to get comfortable.
"Hey... Big Cat..? Can we cuddle?" Stan asks
"What position?" I ask
"Uh... spooning..." Stan answers.
"Alright" I turn around and allow him to spoon me, we're sharing body warmth. It's cold out here. "You can... uh... get under my thin blanket if you'd like." I add, he takes me up on that offer. I feel his body press against mine. He's rather fit. He has a nice warm body. He's keeping me warm but I start to wonder if he's warm as well... these blankets have warmed up though... so he shouldn't be too cold. I turn toward him and put one of my legs in between both of his.
"I thought we were spooning and going to sleep." Stan states.
"Well the plans have changed." I look up at him, he makes eye contact with me.
"Don't worry, Craig. I'm gonna take very good care of you." He puts his hand on my cheek "I love you." He admits.
I'd usually think him saying that would be too soon, but I know he's had feelings for me for years now, so for him to come to the conclusion that he loves me isn't odd.
I nod against him "I love you too" I feel bad not saying it back, though I'm not sure that I love him just yet. It's still far to soon for me to be using those words and mean them, but I'm sure the... infatuation I feel for him will grow into love eventually.
"Get some rest, you've had a long day..." Stan kisses my forehead.
"Okay... goodnight honey..." I yawn out, stretching and whimpering as I cuddle him closer to him.
"Goodnight, Big Cat." Stan responds
