Reawoken Flames 《{ CraigxTweek }》

Chapter 6: The Day After

December 16th

"Good morning, Tweek." I groaned as I wobbled down the stairs. I had spotted Tweek sitting on the couch from the balcony above the first floor.

Tweek barely looked up at me. "Morning. D-Did you sleep okay?"

"Once the headache went away, I slept like a baby." I cracked my back and walked to the couch, but I stopped in my tracks. Tweek had his sleeves rolled up looking through a magazine. His wrists were covered in cuts, little slices in his soft and delicate skin.

Tweek looked up at me to say something, then followed my eyes to his wrists. He quickly threw down the magazine and pulled down his sleeves. He stood up and tried to walk away but I quickly grabbed his shirt tail. "Tweek, hold on."

Tweek shook his head and turned to look at me. "Please d-don't say anything to a-anyone."

"It's not my place to tell. Sit down and talk to me, please." I begged him. "I'd never forgive myself if I didn't talk to you about... this."

Tweek looked away and covered his face. "Okay..." I sat Tweek down and let go of his shirt tail.

"So... I just don't understand. Why are you cutting again?"

Tweek rubbed the back of his neck. "I-I'm under a l-lot of pressure, I-I need the r-release."

I put my hands on his face, hopelessness filling me like rain in a bucket. "Why do I feel like this is my fault?"

"I-it's not."

"But it is Tweek. I promised you years ago that I would take care of you, that I wouldn't let you hurt yourself, but here we are." I looked away from Tweek. "I've failed you."

Tweek didn't respond, but he shook his head in response.

"Let me see them, please." I reached out my hand, keeping it flat. "I won't grab, I know that upsets you."

Tweek hesitated, then reached out his hand upside down.

I slowly pulled his hand closer to me, keeping it flat and still. I reached for the white sleeve of the shirt, noticing red splotches forming on the material. I pushed back the sleeve and covered my mouth. "My God, Tweek. You just made these."

Before Tweek could open his mouth, I gently let go of Tweek's hand slipped my own t-shirt off. 

I pressed it against the cuts, hoping to stop the blood. "When is Stan getting home?"

Tweek cleared his throat. "He u-usually l-leaves work at e-eight o'clock." He stared at my handiwork. "Y-you know w-we have t-towels, r-right?"

"Then I'll take care of you until then and yes I do. It was the first thing I thought of, wanted to save your shirt as much as possible. Let me see your other arm."

Tweek reached his other arm out. I pushed back the sleeve and sure enough, his arm was dripping with streams of red, sparkling blood.

I moved his arms together and covered both arms with the shirt. "There." Looking up at Tweek, I noticed he was staring at me. "You okay?"

Tweak nodded and smiled. "Yes, actually." He scooted closer. "I just... Needed a friend."

Smiling, I put my arm around him and looked down at him. "I'll be your friend, Tweek. I'll be better than I had been when we were kids."

"Can you keep that promise?" He looked up into my eyes.

It took every ounce of strength I had not to wrap my arms around him and kiss him. I couldn't though, Tweek is married and if I'm right about Stan hurting Tweek, this would only make it worse on him. "Yes, I can keep that promise."

Tweek smiled and leaned against me, sending shivers up my spine. "You're warm, Craig. You're different than before."

I cleared my throat. "How so?"

"All through high school, you acted so differently." Tweek looked at his arms. "You cut yourself off from everyone except Cartman, and you didn't wanna be anybody's friend, even after you and Sadie stopped talking."

I looked away and Tweek seemed to notice my hesitancy. "O-oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have s-said anything."

Looking back at him I smiled and ruffled his hair. "No, it's okay. I'm just trying to think of the best response to that." I thought for a moment longer and sighed. "After what I did to you, nobody wanted to be my friend. Trust me, I know I deserved every bit of it. Sadie didn't want me making friends with anybody either, " I could feel Tweek's sad eyes on me. "I lied about not being gay, Tweek. I just didn't want to believe I was. I thought there was something wrong with me because I was gay, but I was wrong."

Tweek perked up. "So, I didn't turn you straight then?"

I couldn't hold back my chuckle. "No Tweek, you didn't turn me straight. However, I guess I identify better as a bisexual. I can look at Wendy and go 'damn girl'," This made Tweek laugh. "But then I could look at y-" I coughed to cover up my word-vomit. "I mean, Kyle, and still think he's pretty good looking."

I think Tweek caught me since he looked away and blushed before I had even finished my sentence.

"I-I'm sorry, did I make you uncomfortable?" I moved to take my arm back, but he grabbed it and held it close. I wasn't sure what to say or do, so I didn't say or do anything.

Tweek held me there for a while, and I felt his warm tears hit my arm and fall to the couch between us. I think I had given him some partial closure by telling him this. I just hope I haven't hurt him in the promise. After a minute or so, he finally let my arm go. He gasped suddenly. "Oh my g-g-goodness, I-I'm so s-sorry."

I wrapped my arms around him and held him tightly, every fiber of my being telling me to never let go. "No, I'm sorry. I messed up and I'll never be able to make up for it." I squeezed tighter.

Tweek wrapped his arms around me, and it wracked my whole body. I felt sadness overwhelm me and tears stream down my face. He slipped his fingers into my shaggy hair, latching on to me like he needed me to survive. "D-damn you, Craig. Why now, when I thought I moved on... why do you come back and say all the right things now?"

A chuckle escaped me, then a sniff. "Never thought I'd hear that I said the right thing."

Tweek hold on tighter. "You're an idiot, Craig."

"I know."

We finally let go of each other. He pulled away from me a little to look at me, and I knew what he was thinking. I could see every bit of pain and pleasure in his eyes, everything that he's built in his life reflecting through the watery green orbs shining back at me.

If I acted on my impulses, would he be okay with the consequences? Could I live with the potential punishment that Tweek would receive if anyone found out? I knew he was thinking the exact same thing as me. He was scared, but I saw every bit of determination he had in him. I had made up my mind, but I needed his confirmation. A nod, a smile, anything. I didn't expect what did happen.