#kitenny

And it wasn’t like it was something he could just ignore either. Normally getting attention from someone did not involve putting yourself in life threatening situations.

Well, maybe it did. But not to the extent that Kenny did. “Okay, to be fair, I didn’t plan on that one happening,” Kenny replied as Kite managed to touch down on the ground. “Someone ran into me, and I fell. Happens all the time, trust me.”

Kite gave him a look. “You falling off buildings “happens all the time”.” It was more of a confirmation than a question, but nevertheless, it made Kenny laugh once more.

“Yeah.”

“Jesus Christ, how haven’t you died yet?”

Kenny grinned, and Kite realized too late how damning his words had been. “Well, I gots me a hot superhero to save me, of course! I mean damn, most people woulda given up on me by now, but you just keep rescuin’ me all the-”

He stopped when something gently whapped him on the side of the head. Kenny barely blinked and caught the slightest glance at a long tail slithering out of sight. “Whoa. I forgot you had a tail, dude.”

Kite rose a brow. “How the ever-loving fuck do you forget something like that?”

“What can I say?” Kenny managed to shrug while still holding onto Kite’s shoulders. “I’m talented.”

“You’re something, alright.” Kite rolled his eyes. “And anyway, do you realize how retarded you sound? You get in life-threatening situations all the time? For real dude, you need to stop doing this. What if something happens to you and I’m not there to help? What if I’m on the other side of the city?”

“I told you, I can’t help it. Shit just happens to me.” Kenny winked, and Kite was taken aback at how nonchalant Kenny sounded. Like he didn’t care about his wellbeing at all. “That’s why I’m glad you’re here to save my accident-prone ass.”

Just as Kite was about to throw another retort, Kenny cut him off by continuing. “Besides, s’not like I can just call you or whatever whenever I wanna see you or chat. This is the next best thing, right? Might as well use my shitty luck to my advantage for once and talk to a superhero cutie~”

Kite, embarrassedly, felt himself flush. And for once, he was speechless. Kenny looked far too pleased with himself. “Nobody’s ever hit on you like that before, huh?”

“Nobody’s-?” Kite stopped himself there before he said something ridiculous. “Do you even listen to yourself? You’re hitting on someone in costume? Are you nuts or something? You don’t even know who I am!”

“No, but I know enough t’know you’re a good person.” Kenny smiled warmly at his savior, and Kite’s stomach starting doing circus acts. “You gotta be if you keep saving someone as unlucky as me. And I mean…”

He looked down at the both of them, smile turning into a full-blown smirk. “You’re still holding me. That’s gotta mean somethin’, right?”

Kite flushed even more and immediately dropped Kenny, huffing and looking away. He gritted his teeth when Kenny merely laughed. “Aw c’mon Kite, don’t play with my heart like that,” he joked cheerily.

“You’re fucking impossible,” Kite groaned. “I can’t – I don’t even know how to respond to that.”

“Oh?~ Do I take your breath away?~”

Goddammit he walked right into that one. “Shut the hell up, dude.”

He didn’t exactly find himself…repulsed by the idea, despite his bitching. Kenny was sweet, if not completely insufferable, and Kite couldn’t lie and say his laugh was bad. It was almost cute, actually.

Plus it just seemed like this guy really needed a friend. Kite almost wished he wasn’t in costume…almost. “So…” Kenny spoke up again, obviously ignoring Kite’s half-hearted complaint. “Think I could see you again this Friday?” He asked with a cheeky grin.

Kite blankly stared at him. “Uh…” he stammered. “I mean…if I’m around where you are, yeah.”

His laugh took Kite by surprise. “Wow, that’s cold, dude.” Kenny walked over and brushed an escaped strand of red hair out from Kite’s face. “I’m trying to ask you out on a date, genius.”

That certainly caught Kite’s attention. “Wha-what?!”

He could tell Kenny’s confidence wavered a little. “A date. You know what a date is, right?”

His little tease seemed to snap Kite out of it. If there was one thing Kenny had learned about his superhero crush, it was the fact that Kite didn’t take being told he didn’t know something very well, especially when he really did have the knowledge. “Fuck you, that’s not what I meant!” He spat. “I just – are you serious?”

“Yeah dude, completely.” Kenny tried one of his blinding smiles, which he had been told could either make someone fall head-over-heels for him (Tammy), or make someone want to sock him in the face (Cartman). He was hoping it was the former.

And from the flustered look on Kite’s face, maaaaaybe he was getting the desired effect? God he hoped so, Kite could probably punch really hard. “I – you – dude…” He seemed speechless, and Kenny took some pride in that. “I’m – you don’t even know who I am! I can’t just – are you seriously asking me to tell you who I am just so you can go on a date with me?!”

Ah, and there was the big question. Kenny shook his head. “Nah, not at all,” he replied easily.

Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to make Kite feel any better. “Then what-?”

“Let me finish.” Kenny cut him off before Kite got too far, and swallowed nervously. A bold move; Kenny put his hand on Kite’s arm. “I know how secret identities work, dude. I’m not saying to tell me your real name or whatever. I just…wanna hang out with you. Maybe get some take-out or something. We don’t gotta do anything crazy, just go somewhere private and…talk.”

“Talk.” Kite was almost deadpan. He honestly couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “I…you’re just…you’re crazy, you know?”

Kenny’s smile fell, and his gaze went to his feet. “So…is that a no?”

“I didn’t say that.” Surprised, Kenny’s eyes shot up to Kite’s face. He wasn’t looking at Ken, but from the blush on his cheeks that he could see even under his goggles…Kenny’s heart fluttered in his chest. “Fine. I think I can make some time to just…hang out, or whatever with you. It’ll at least make me feel better that your life’s not in danger every night.”

Kenny felt warm, and his smile nearly knocked Kite off his feet. “Dude,” he started. “You just made my day. Hell, my fucking week.”

That still didn’t explain how he survived though.

Kenny was interrupted from his thoughts and turned his head when he heard a soft groan beside him. His eyes widened again at who he saw. Not Human Kite, but…

That kid. That ginger kid from a few weeks ago, the one that sat with him until the rain stopped. His eyes were closed and he was fast asleep in the chair beside Kenny’s bed. The one he hadn’t even asked his name.

What the absolute hell?

“Mr. McCormick?” Kenny’s head turned again to the sound of an unfamiliar voice. A nurse, probably, poked his head through the open door. “You’re awake, good.”

There wasn’t even any need to ask what happened. One look at Kenny told him everything he needed so know, so he got to work on refilling the painkillers pumping into Kenny’s arm. He went onto describing Kenny’s exact injuries; shot in the side and the bullet went completely through (as if that wasn’t obvious), barely missing some vital organs, lucky to be alive, whatever.

His sudden movements from earlier made his wound open up a little, so when the nurse started working on that as well, Kenny tuned him out. He was talking quietly so he didn’t wake the visitor, and Kenny was barely paying attention anyway, taken to staring at the ginger the entire time instead. He’d heard it all before, although it had been a while since he’d been brought here. Not since he was a kid and had broken his arms.

The nurse seemed to notice where Kenny’s attention was, and he smiled warmly. “You’re lucky to have someone like him,” he remarked, making Kenny’s eyes shift to him finally. “He was in near hysterics when he came to visit you, I heard. And he hasn’t left since. We tried to get him to leave so he could get some proper rest, but he wouldn’t I’m glad he’s finally fallen asleep.”

Kenny didn’t have the heart to tell the nurse that he had no idea who this guy even was.

“Just take it easy, Mr. McCormick. I’ll be back to check on you later.”

He barely noticed the nurse leaving, too entranced by the stranger beside him.

Why?

Kenny couldn’t help himself. Ignoring the pain (since it really didn’t matter), he reached over with his good arm and gently shook the ginger. It took a few tries, but eventually radiant green eyes slowly opened.

Maybe it was the drugs fucking with him, but Kenny swore he knew those eyes. Right? Did he notice them the last time the two of them talked? He couldn’t remember anymore.

“You’re awake!” Green eyes sounded relieved. “Thank god…I was scared I didn’t make it in time.”

Kenny was starting to feel lightheaded. He was so confused. “What…why are you…?”

“Because you’re a fucking idiot, that’s why!” He shot back. “What the hell were you thinking? You almost – you almost died! Like for real! If I hadn’t healed you, then…” He drifted off, not wanting to finish that sentence.

“Heal me?” This was going completely over Kenny’s drugged head.

Green eyes gave him a look. “Yeah? I’ve done it before, you know. When – oh wait. I don’t think you were there for that. But the point is, my healing can only do so much, dude. I thought you really were a goner this time.”

He still had no idea what the other was talking about. Thankfully, the ginger seemed to gather that, and sighed. “Look…I didn’t know if you wanted to know or not. But I couldn’t exactly visit you in costume, so…”

It finally clicked. Kenny’s eyes widened and he sat up once again. “K…Kite?”

The ginger smiled warmly, and Kenny’s heart fluttered. He’d know that smile anywhere. And those familiar eyes he’d fallen absolutely head-over-heels for… How could he not have recognized them? “Kyle,” the other clarified. “My name’s Kyle.”

“Kyle…” The name left Kenny’s lips so easily.

A gentle hand cupped Kenny’s cheek. “I’m sorry,” Kyle said softly.

“Why?”

“That bullet was meant for me. I tracked down the dick that shot you after the ambulance came, and beat his ass into the ground. Hopefully he’ll rot in jail soon or something.” Kyle brushed under Kenny’s eye with his thumb. “But still. You got hurt, really hurt, because of me this time. And I’m sorry.”

Kenny smiled and placed his hand over Kyle’s. “What do you mean? I always get hurt, but you always save me.” He gave Kyle a cheeky grin, and was pleased when he laughed in return. “It was about time I returned the favor, don’t you think? I’d gladly do it again too, if it was for you.”

“You goddam idiot…” Kyle leaned in a little closer so their foreheads were touching. “You scared the shit outta me. Please don’t do that again. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you, Ken. In or out of costume, I care about you.”

“But you’d do the same for me. That’s just how it gotta be sometimes.” Kenny’s cheeky grin faded only slightly, and he was more than tired of waiting. Kyle wanted to know if Kenny cared about who was under the mask?

“Listen, Ma, I’ll call you back later, okay?” Kyle spoke quickly. “Something came up. Talk to you later.” And ignoring his mother’s protests of doing any kind of superhero nonsense tonight, Kyle hung up on her.

Oh, he’d pay for that later. Right now though, Kyle couldn’t care less. This was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

Kenny was facing away from him, hadn’t even realized he was there. Kyle’s breath hitched when he realized he was softly singing a familiar tune, the same one Kite had heard the first time Kenny had sung for him.

Kyle took the moment to listen, still loving his voice even now. The rain only enhanced it. And yet it had a soft somber tone to it this time…

He’d heard of singing in the rain before, but this was ridiculous. Kenny could be mistaken for a drowned opossum at this point.

Kyle slowly walked over and moved his umbrella so it covered Kenny too. It wouldn’t matter much since Kenny was already soaked, but it was the thought that counted, right?

He watched Kenny jump in his seat when the downpour suddenly stopped over him. Kenny looked up at the umbrella, and then turned around to stare at him.

It was…weird to not see recognition in his eyes. It was suspicion instead. Kyle bit his lip; they were strangers. Kenny knew Human Kite, not Kyle. He had to remember that. “Hey,” he started with a small smile. “What the hell’re you doing out here? You’ll catch a cold, you know.”

Kenny stared at him, like he was reaching deep into his soul, untrusting. “…Thanks,” he finally replied, turning back around. “So will you if you stay out here.”

Touché, but still. Kyle moved a little closer. “Yeah, I’m on my way home. You should do the same.”

Kenny was silent, and Kyle almost thought he missed his answer because of the rain, but a single word soon caught his attention. “Can’t.”

One word that held so many implications. Human Kite could never get Kenny to open up about his home life, barring his siblings. Maybe Kyle could. “Why not?”

“I just can’t.” Still just as tight-lipped as ever. Kyle sighed and invited himself to sit next to his…friend? Crush? Boyfriend? He still wasn’t exactly sure where they stood, at least when he had his “mask” on.

He ignored the look Kenny gave him from behind his soggy hood. It would probably be funny if the situation didn’t feel so serious. “Come on,” Kyle urged. “That’s not an answer.”

Kenny rolled his eyes. He was almost a completely different person when he wasn’t sure if he liked you, Kyle observed. “Look, I don’t talk about my personal life with strangers, okay? I appreciate the concern, but-”

“How about this?” Kyle cut him off. He knew how Kenny’s mind worked by now. “I’ll tell you what I’m doing out here if you tell me why you are?” He smiled at him kindly. Why not use Kenny’s own tactic against him for once? “Someone who sings as well as you should be practicing somewhere nice, not out here.”

Even behind the hood, Kyle could tell he flattered Kenny at least a little. “You heard that?”

“Yeah. You’re really good, dude.”

“Thanks.” Wow, gratitude. Kyle considered that a step in the right direction. “You first.”

Oh? And he was complying? Kyle didn’t want this chance to pass him by. “I kinda spent way too much time at the library,” he explained. “My class is weird, and I needed to find a specific book because we have to “use a source that isn’t the internet” or whatever. So I lost track of time.”

Kyle laughed, and was pleased when he saw a ghost of a smile on Kenny’s face. “Then my mom calls me in a panic, like I wasn’t fifteen minutes from home. I swear she worries as a hobby or something.”

Then Kenny laughed. Kyle had missed it dearly. “Hey dude, at least your mom cares enough to worry.”

He probably meant it as a joke or something, but the implications of that sentence hit Kyle like a fucking truck. “What?”

Kenny looked as if he’d been caught doing something wrong. “Uh…”

“What’s that mean?”

“Oh nothing. Really, it’s-”

“Dude…” Kyle was concerned. He showed it, and Kenny paused in his excuse.

Was genuine care seriously that foreign to him that he had to pass all his troubles as nothing? Kyle felt his heart go even more out to this guy. It was unreal.

“Seriously…” Kenny looked away. “I’m just out here ‘cause my parents are wasted off their asses. Dad kicked me out of the house again.”

Kyle felt his heart drop at the nonchalant tone. “Again?”

“Yeah. Happens all the time.”

“Dude.” Kyle leaned forward. He was speaking before he even realized what he was saying. “If you need a place to at least keep dry-”

Kenny laughed again. “Sorry. My mom at least taught me not to go into strangers’ houses,” he chuckled. “But really, it’s fine. Like I said, happens all the time, and I’d rather be away from all the yelling anyway. My brother’s gonna text me when they’re all calmed down. Dad never remembers kicking me out, so.”

That didn’t make things much better, at least not where Kyle was concerned. “Dude, that…”

“It’s not a big deal.” Kenny shrugged. “I’ve been out here for like an hour, he’ll probably pass out soon and I’ll be outta here.” He nudged Kyle playfully. “Go home before you mom calls the cops or something.”

“She’ll be fine,” Kyle replied almost immediately. If Kenny wouldn’t come home with him, he could at least keep him company for a while.

It made Kenny smirk a little. “Wow, you’re a worrywart too. I guess you got your mom’s genes somethin’ fierce, huh?”

Kyle winced. He hated being compared to his mom, but he let it slide this time. It wasn’t like Kenny knew his mom anyway. “This happens a lot?” He asked a question of his own, ignoring Kenny’s.

It didn’t faze him, at least. “Mhm,” Kenny replied with a nod. “I’m just glad it’s me and not my sister, you know? I’d kick Dad’s ass if he made her come out here.”

He was such a fucking martyr, and Kyle found himself annoyed. Human Kite had told Kenny he’d make a good hero, sure, but there were lines to be drawn, and Kenny was already crossing them without looking back. “You keep saying shit like that. “It’s no big deal, happens all the time, glad it’s me and not someone else.” Jesus dude, don’t you care about yourself at all?”

Kenny stared at him, and Kyle stared right back, awaiting his answer. Neither of them noticed the rain slowly coming to a stop, and it felt like forever before a small ‘ping’ from Kenny’s phone broke the tense atmosphere.

They finally broke eye contact as Kenny checked his phone. “That’s him…” he mumbled as he pocketed the device. “Dad passed out like five minutes ago. I’d…better get going.”

The fact that Kenny hadn’t answered him troubled Kyle more than he would have liked to admit. “You-”

“Thanks for hanging out with me.” Kenny cut him off with a weak smile. “Take care of yourself. Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”