Chapter Text
Yesssss. Yes yes helll yes. Someday soon, that was happening.
Kenny was currently sitting in homeroom and ignoring morning announcements to stare at Butters’ ass while he sharpened his pencil in the corner. Ohhh man.
Okay, so YES, objectively he knew that at 15 he and Butters were technically kind of young to be getting sexual. But honestly? He also knew that subjectively they were both the healthiest thing in each others’ lives and, God, sometimes it felt like they had been nine year olds FOREVER, and frankly, they’d had worse done to them by worse people. It was nice to be in a mutually happy relationship where both people wanted the best for each other.
So, mostly these days he just felt like if he and his hot, hot boyfriend didn’t at least exchange a handy soon, he might die of it. (If anyone else said they might die from lack of sex, Kenny would roll his eyes at their stupidity so hard he nearly broke something. But with Kenny’s track record for death? Yeah, the universe could probably make it happen. He died of laughing once.)
So instead of pretending he gave a shit about the droning voice over the school intercom, he’d mostly been thinking about how nicely Butters’ tidy new pants fit his taller frame, and how much Kenny wanted to climb that like a tree.
Yeah, a week after being reunited, and the novelty of Butters’ new height still hadn’t worn off. Not all their classmates had gotten back from vacation in time for the first week of school, but everyone who had clearly noticed the changes to Butters, too. Some of them noticed it very favorably- much to Kenny’s mingled pleasure and smug satisfaction.
He was pleased that Butters’ new height meant that fewer people were trying to pick on him, but Kenny couldn’t help smirking whenever someone who had ignored Butters before tried to flirt with him now. Like, hahaha, no. You wish. MY Butters.
Kenny’s eyes glazed over a little at that thought and he shifted in his seat. MY Butters. Whenever I want. He was willing to skip for me. Butters was not usually the “skipping class” type, so it spoke volumes to Kenny that Butters was willing to go that far to get them alone. But even if that wouldn’t attract unwanted attention from teachers and school officials, there was also this other someone who had it out for them.
Someone, Kenny thought with his eyebrows drawn tight and angry, who thought it was a great idea to get Butters sent to hell for the summer. Kenny had refused to make out with Butters on school grounds since that first day back in case the same asshole was still watching them. But Butters also had to go home straight after classes- so that had meant no kissing at all. No touching, even though they both badly needed it.
So, to date, whoever had informed on them to the Stotches had three strikes against them: they’d gotten Butters hurt, they’d separated Butters and Kenny all summer- and they’d indirectly forced Kenny to be complicit in hurting Butters too.
Even though he knew he HAD to avoid public affection with Butters to protect him, Kenny felt like it was the only part of this mess even slightly in his control, and was therefore his “fault”. Butters was just so relieved and happy to be back near Kenny again that he wanted to enjoy their new closeness and forget about what he suffered through all summer.
Butters had explained that that was his usual way of coping- trying to forget upsetting things so they couldn’t weigh him down, and moving on. So, sometimes he would forget their predicament for a moment and try to cuddle close in an empty classroom, or subtly suggest they go somewhere during study hall.
Then Kenny had to be the one to remind him that they were in danger, and watch the memories flood back on his boyfriend’s face. The poor guy was clearly traumatized by the past summer, and who could blame him? But not letting him cope in his usual way was making it worse- his sunshiny boyfriend had become more jittery and withdrawn. Butters wasn’t bouncing back.
Kenny felt like a tool being used to harm someone he loved, and it was fucking twisting him up inside. He could barely sneak in a hug to make it better, and it just... it wasn’t fucking cutting it. Affection was important to both of them, really, and physical intimacy was one ways they best liked to share that. It wasn’t the only way they showed they cared, but a lot of their other options weren’t really viable, especially now.
Butters’ groundings also meant a freeze on his allowance, so Kenny wasn’t the only one who lacked the money to go out a lot or buy meaningful little gifts. Neither of them was really great at articulating how they felt with words yet. Kenny liked drawing things for Butters, and Butters liked sneaking an extra lunch out of his house for Kenny. But with how strict Butters’ parents were, even some of those gestures weren’t feasible anymore- they were naturally suspicious of everything Butters brought into or out of their house.
They liked to do nice little things for each other, like holding doors and all that, but also things that eased the other person’s emotional welfare. Butters tried to steer group activities (as much as anyone listened to him) towards things Kenny might enjoy and be able to afford. Kenny tried to make sure that when the boys ignored Butters in a conversation that he drew attention to him again, or at least kept listening himself so Butters didn’t feel neglected.
It made for a good relationship, but they were both really physically oriented, and they needed that too. Plus, now that Butters’ parents were looking extra-close at his relationships with people, the two of them were wary of treating each other in any special, different way in public. At least they’d been best friends before they dated, so spending time together wasn’t too suspicious, but this pretending was killing them.
So that was the crux of matter. Touching and kissing were important to Butters and Kenny because it made them both feel taken care of, wanted, loved. But it was also one of the only things they could do to show each other they cared that didn’t leave any evidence.
Butters could kiss Kenny senseless and Kenny would feel the ghost of his touch even hours later in his ratty bedroom with the soundtrack of his parents screaming at each other downstairs. And over in Butters’ house after a painfully silent dinner, as night fell in his lonely bedroom, he could still feel Kenny’s steady hands on his shoulders, consoling him. They would have wanted to be close and physical anyway, but given their current restrictions, secret make-outs had been their best chance to give each other comfort.
And this shadowy figure watching their lives had taken that option away from them, and left it up to Kenny to enforce it. The sad eyes and brave smile Butters was wearing around these days was partially because of Kenny and that made Kenny furious.
Three strikes, jerkoff. He’d made himself a promise that there was going to be no mercy no matter who was behind this; no taking into account whatever “good intentions” their tormentor thought they had for outing Butters. This was the modern fucking age, and that shit didn’t fly on his watch.
He glanced to the front, where Butters was fretfully making his way back to his seat- being unused to his new size meant he kept nearly knocking into people’s desks. Butters finally reached his seat and sat very still for a moment before a shudder rolled through his shoulders and he slumped down in his chair.
Plus, Kenny thought darkly as he watched Butters trying to control his nervous trembles, you made my baby cry, asshole. He cracked his neck and glanced around the room with narrowed eyes. No. When I find you this is OVER. There’s just no saving grace for you.