Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a typical Wednesday.

They met at Craig’s house (the two deciding that it was best to alter who walked to who’s house despite it probably being better if Craig just went to Tweeks everyday since the twitchy blonde, didn’t like walking alone. But Tweek was stubborn) Rode the bus together. Tweek content to lean on Craig with headphones playing music, classical since Tweek claimed it helped to calm him down while Craig chatted with Jimmy and Clyde who almost always sat in front of him. Tolkien the traitor always sits with Nichole (not like Craig can complain since he also sits with his boyfriend…)

They walked to their lockers hand in hand and went their separate ways to class. They went out of their way to always make it a point to hold hands when they could. Typically, Craig waiting outside Tweek’s class for him. They chat about Stripe #3, the two talking about how he’s getting old for a guinea pig and wondering how long is appropriate before getting a new one when Stripe #3 inevitably dies. It led to some surprisingly deep conversations involving existential dread.

Craig looked forward to these small moments the two shared. Tweek was interesting, with outlandish thoughts and always had so much on his mind. Some days Tweek would spend all their time together talking non-stop about anything and everything. Just to make his mind slow down before class. When they met at the bus stop after school Tweek would always thank Craig for listening since he insisted that they really helped him to focus. But Craig never minded, usually when people didn’t know when to shut up it annoyed him. Never with Tweek though.

Examples being when Clyde didn’t know when to stop bragging about Bebe Stevens. His girlfriend that would occasionally breakup with the crybaby and leave Clyde not shutting up about her for a different reason that irked Craig to no end. He loved his best friend, but damn if he listened to his relationship woes when it always seemed to go the same way. They were happy, a fight over something stupid caused a breakup leading to Clyde crying to spend some time at their houses for much needed bro-time. He’d always go to Jimmy first since him and the comedian seemed to be on the same wavelength and were always talking about girl problems at lunch. Craig tuned them out whenever he could.

Then he’d bug Tolkien until the other relented and got everyone together to spend the night at his house, usually a movie night followed by a sleep over where Clyde would annoyingly talk over most of the movie anyways to talk about school and of course girls. Then they’d try and bug Craig into dragging Tweek into these messes. Expressing worry that Craig was embarrassed of his friends, which was a silly notion.

Craig wasn’t embarrassed of his friends; hell, he wasn’t even embarrassed he was dating Tweek. It just seemed troublesome to mix the two since Tweek was sensitive and prone to have negative thoughts, think of the worst-case scenario and over think things, mix him in with assholes was bound to be a disaster. Not that he thought his friends would go out of their way to make the spaz freak out. Just that Craig still didn’t know how to stop the others anxiety attacks enough to want to deal with the fallouts that would happen by accident.

“Waiting for Tweek?” A voice asked when Craig was leaning against the wall. He didn’t bother looking up. He instantly recognized the voice and flipped the other off.

“Dick” Kyle muttered before scoffing “Tweek was dragged off by Stan to the cafeteria.”

That made Craig look up from his phone “Why?” his skepticism poorly concealed. Craig knew Tweek had a short past with the asshole but they didn’t act like old friends and Tweek seemed to be actively avoiding the group of friends since he admitted that they made him way too stressed. Something Craig understood, Peru he shudders.

“He wouldn’t tell me why. But he said he had his reasons. He’s expecting you to join them” Kyle explained, already walking away. Craig flipped off the redhead behind his back, not really knowing why asides from feeling like it.

Craig didn’t want to eat with Stan Marsh of all people, something about him just annoyed Craig. But he was curious as to why Stan dragged Tweek along.

“God damnit” he muttered, already resigning himself to whatever bullshit the other had planned for them.

Craig got to the cafeteria doors when Wendy Testaburger seemed to perk up although waiting for him. Already alarm bells were ringing. Wendy seemed to have some kind of resentment towards Craig (probably from Craig’s antagonistic attitude towards her boyfriend) that lead to her always siding with Tweek (Craig recalls Wendy standing on Tweek’s side when the two fought. And her glare from their staged breakup)

“Hey Craig” she greeted amicably a friendly smile on her face that didn’t feel forced at least.

“Hey” Craig greeted back 

Stan dragged Tweek off, Wendy was waiting for him. Didn’t seem to be coincidence “What do you want?” He asked as he walked in, Wendy following at his heels as Craig scanned the room for Tweek.

“To talk. Over here” Wendy said in a business-like manner. Craig seeing where she pointed to find who he was looking for. Tweek looking nervous sitting across from Stan. Poking at his lunch but not eating as his eye twitched and a jerk of his head to the right in his telling nervous tic.

Craig swears to god if Stan was picking on Tweek… He’d have to ask Tweek about it later.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Craig took his time coming to the cafeteria.” Craig scoffed at that. Wendy made it seem like his fault when he wasn’t aware that this was even happening. And didn’t even bother to wonder why he took so long when she probably got her boyfriend to snatch his and didn’t bother to connect the inciting incident to his tardiness.

“It’s fine” Stan smiled over at his girlfriend, Tweek giving Craig an awkward wave when Wendy took the seat beside him leaving Craig to sit by Stan.

“What is this?!” Tweek pretty much demanded, letting out a Gah! Before he tugged at his misbuttoned shirt. Something the blonde said was a suitable way to prevent him from tugging at his hair when Craig tried to get him to break that habit.

“I know how hard it must be to be outed as South Park’s first openly gay couple” Wendy took Tweek’s hand in hers, Tweek jumped at the sudden contact but didn’t pull away as Wendy turned her supportive smile towards the nervous twitchy blonde.

“Okay?” Tweek asked lost and confused.

“I’m just worried that you guys keep to yourselves because your scared of being marginalized” Wendy answered, not bothering to look over at Craig at all. “So, Stan and I discussed and figured we’d ask for a double date” Craig already hated the suggestion. Craig could stand Wendy and Stan individually (barely) but together? Craig doubts he’d last.

“Is she serious?” Craig whispered over at Stan who looked just as put-off by this decision as he was.

“Look man, I’m not thrilled about it either. But Wendy wants to help” Stan whispered back “And I agreed since at least Tweek’s not a total asshole” noted, Craig gave a quick finger to Stan, the other ignoring it. Bastard.

“A double date?” Even Tweek seemed to sense how awful that’d go “That’s way too much pressure!”

“I can see how it would be” Wendy sympathized with a nod of her head “But you can’t call going over to Craig’s house once a week to game a date.”

Craig almost wanted to be offended. But he knew Wendy was right, a girl would be upset that the dates were the same every single time. Tweek didn’t say he hated them, but the other also knew that they weren’t dating for real and probably seen these meetups as necessary and not worth getting angry over.

It wasn’t like Craig asked what Tweek thought of these so-called dates.

“I-I like those dates” Tweek actually sounded offended, surprising Craig a bit “And Ngh!... Craig and I aren’t people persons” Craig had to admit that was true “We aren’t staying inside because we’re scared. We just like it better” And Craig was impressed at Tweek’s improv. He knew Tweek was a good actor, the other even getting into drama club. But it was always something else to witness his acting in person. 

“You can’t get too comfortable in a relationship Tweek” Wendy stated, matching Tweek’s offended expression but held a tone of knowing. Craig wanted to laugh. No way Wendy and Stan sustained a relationship long enough to be considered comfortable. If Craig thought Clyde and Bebe were bad, these two held the title for on-again off-again relationships.

Craig and Stan both shared a look as Wendy and Tweek fell into a back-and-forth banter. Craig didn’t know how to interject himself into the increasingly raising volume the two had as they passionately tried to convince the other about their viewpoints.

Never had Craig heard people get winded when arguing, yet he silently watched as Tweek and Wendy both panted like they fought with fists instead of words before Stan decided now was a good time to insert himself into the mess by suggesting “How about we try a coffee date? Wendy, you liked Harbucks when it came to town that one time right? And Tweek likes coffee.”

Craig hated coffee. He liked the smell, freshly brewed has this homey feeling despite both his parents not touching the stuff. But even after Tweek convinced him to try many different types from black coffee (something Tweek liked, claiming it was pure coffee) espresso, americano, Galão, macchiato to mocha and latte. Craig didn’t care how many fancy names that coffee took on; he still did not care for the stuff. He still listened as Tweek explained how each was different and why. Tweek even went into talking about the coffee beans itself. From arabica to robusta. How arabica was more popular due to it’s sweeter more complex flavor despite robusta having more flavors and how he preferred it since it was cheaper and stronger.

Listening to Tweek rant about coffee really made you think he was a coffee expert. A connoisseur that specialized in coffee specifically. Since he seemed the most confident when it came to coffee. Craig wouldn’t doubt that Tweek bleeds the stuff for how often he’s seen with his trusty thermos on his person at any given time.

“Craig doesn’t like coffee” Tweek was thankfully the one to supply. Craig for his no-fucks attitude wasn’t one to reveal shit about himself. Too vulnerable. Craig had a hard time opening to Tweek and he felt like he could just be himself with the other, he even recently admitted his love of red racer to his boyfriend. Glad the other didn’t make fun of him for liking a campy cartoon from the 90’s.

“If you two aren’t people persons, how about something more low-key?” Wendy suggested reasonably “But still makes us get out of the house?” she contemplated, leaving the table in silence as she wondered what there was to do in South Park (there wasn’t much.) before she let out an “Ah-ha” in a moment of eureka “A study group!” The boys of the table shared a glance with one another “That way we can keep ahead of our studies!”

Craig inwardly scowled. Craig was smart, but studious? Sure, he tended to fixate on subjects that interested him personally. Like hell Craig would commit to a study group. That sounds like a gate way to one of those book clubs middle aged married couples partook in to have something to do in a sexless marriage. No thank-you.

Wendy sensing the apprehension on it sighed as she looked between Tweek and Craig “Think about it okay?” before she left the table to join the girl’s table. Stan looking to follow his girlfriend as he patted Tweek on the back on his way “No pressure” he added.

Leaving the two alone as Tweek made a noise of discomfort. Probably sensing that they’d need to talk about it.

“Should we?” Craig asked awkwardly once he couldn’t bare the heavy silence. He knew Tweek would never break it himself, content to suffer in silence than to talk about uncomfortable topics.

“We don’t have too” Tweek stated confidently “Wendy won’t force us” Craig wanted to argue as Wendy was adamant enough that she might be willing to, but Tweek seemed to know her better than he did. Craig got up to sit beside Tweek, plopping into the now open seat.

“She’s right about us not really doing much with our boyfriend status though” Craig admitted. Whispering in case anyone could hear.

Craig didn’t like this whole situation. Being forced with someone because of outside forces wasn’t an ideal way to be with anyone.

Tweek was cool enough that it didn’t bother him as much like if Craig were paired together with someone like say Kyle, he’d probably transfer schools. Kyle always felt like he had to be right, talked like a know it all and got on Craigs nerves. Although he respected him some for sticking to his beliefs to the bitter end even when evidence showed him as being wrong. He had a kind of tenacity that was hard to hate but was easy to be very annoyed with.

Craig’s only problem with Tweek didn’t have anything to do with Tweek at all. It had to do with himself.

Craig wasn’t even sure if he was gay, never thought he’d have to figure it out until they started this fake relationship.

Tweek never said he was gay, although it was very likely. Tweek blushed at the small things Craig did, opening a door, pulling out a chair to standing up for him now that they were ‘dating’. It was honestly flattering that Craig’s minimum got such positive reactions from the other, it almost made the apathy clear away and make him want to try and be a better boyfriend. Keyword almost.

Craig had complex emotions towards this whole thing. He wanted to try, but he also was too scared to. He was so uncertain that he sometimes let his emotions detach from it all. Leaving that familiar apathy. A perpetual cycle. It was why he didn’t bother to include his boyfriend in his friend group, it’s why he acted like the relationship was work. It wasn’t fair to Tweek, he was roped into the mess as much as Craig was. But Craig couldn’t help it.

Craig sighed. He figured he might as well try and make this work. He’s only going to make himself miserable if he focusses on the negative and the confusing. He liked being with Tweek. Weather it was platonic or not remains to be seen. Craig never allowed himself to dwell on it before.

Maybe it was time.

It was asking for a lot. Craig considered a relationship a commitment. He’d have to put his all into it and make it work. For Tweek he thinks he can. He’s been nothing but understanding so far.

“Should we go on a date? For the town… for now?” Craig almost left out the implied ‘for now’ but he wanted Tweek to know he was ready.

“Yeah” Tweek sighed, looking nervous as he nodded his head “We can start small. If Wendy sees us trying, she’ll leave us be” Tweek nodded his head with more conviction, determination steeling his baby blue eyes.

“We could have a lunch and playground date? That way we don’t have to go out of our way. It’ll be right here at school. If someone asks, it could be because I have Ngh… work and can’t go over to your house this week?” Craig nodded, once again impressed at how much Tweek thought this through. It was sound and plausible enough to buy. And all Craig would have to do is hang out with Tweek at school tomorrow.

“Alright” Craig agreed. He’d have to look up dating tips online when he got home. He didn’t want the first date to be filled with awkward silences.

“I can bring the lunch. Make it a sort of picnic. Ngh… Any allergies?” Tweek asked, finally digging into his sandwich that was forgotten.

“Nope. Although, I’m not a fan of sea foods” Craig answered honestly.

When Tweek laughed, Craig looked over at him “Don't get your expectations up. I’m not going to make a fancy meal Craig” Tweek explained with an airy giggle as the blonde failed to supress his amusement. Craig scoffed before snorting himself “Just covering my bases."

Chapter Text

Craig was usually a heavy sleeper, he slept through alarms and needed to be physically shook to wake up most mornings. But certain things woke him up no problem. His mothers voice calling from the bottom of the stairs being one, a certain ringtone that alerted him of his boyfriends’ messages being another.

Worried that the other was texting him an emergency, a panic attack. But the buzz rang throughout his silent room and Craig was still half asleep when he patted blindly on his nightstand for the device. Groaning into his pillow as he recalls a pleasant dream but couldn’t for the life of him remember what it was about. Craig without reading what Tweek texted, called him. Eyes having a hard time opening, he debated splashing water on his face but that would involve getting up and going to the bathroom. His bed was nice, warm and inviting. His answer was to stay in his bed for as long as he could. 

“Craig?” Tweek asked.

“Tweek” Craig cleared his throat, his voice odd from waking up. He coughed a couple of times before asking “What time is it?” Tweek had no apparent sleep schedule. He slept whenever he was able and lived off odd hours to get through the day (and coffee) So it really could be any hour in the morning. 2AM, 3AM with talks of underwear stealing gnomes, 4, 5, 6 and if he was lucky an early 7. Craig wanted a shower today.

“6:30” Tweek answered as Craig managed to open his eyes. Greeted with the glow-in-the-dark stars sticking to his ceiling.

“It’s early dude.” Craig stretched a bit in hopes of waking his body up, since heaven knows his mind was doing an awful job at getting the memo. He felt his eyelids closing without his say.

“I know” Tweek admitted guiltily, no doubt choosing to text Craig as a last resort, the thought had Craig’s groggy mind clear some. On the verge of waking up “But I’m outside” Tweek added nervously, Craig’s mind snapped awake at that.

“I didn’t want to knock and thought I should text you” Tweek was rambling, a nervous tic. As Craig, before he could comprehend what his body was doing was standing up. Falling in his haste. Ignoring Tweek’s question if he was okay as he went out to his hall. Cursing his sleep heavy limbs as he all but leaned his full weight onto the railing of his stairs and clumsily made his way down the stairs.

“Wait a sec” Craig decided to say despite already being at the door. Struggling with the lock on the door before throwing it open. The cold air washing over him and making him shiver, if he wasn’t awake before- that did the trick. Tweek let out a "Gah!" from Craig's sudden appearance, almost falling from the small steps of the house from his shock. His oversized bag on his back almost tipping him over.

“What the heck dude?” Craig asked as he grabbed the flailing arm of the blonde. Dragging the other into the warmth of the house “Weren’t you scared of walking alone so early in the morning?” Tweek despite his fear of people, found the dead silence of being alone even scarier as it made his anxiety flare up and freak him out. Playing into his more paranoid side.

“I do!” Tweek insisted as he took his bag off to leave near the door. Climbing out of his shoes “But I had to leave the house man!” Tweek whisper shouted, conscious enough to not wake the house in his panic “If I didn’t my mom was going to pack us an entire meal! We can’t finish an entire thing or mac n cheese and salad man! Lunch isn’t that long, and I don’t Gah! Eat much. I tried to tell her, but she kept insisting!”

“Calm down” Craig patted his shoulder, turning him towards the couch and took a seat. Patting the empty space beside him to signal Tweek to do the same. A nervous “Ngh…” as he did.

“It’s okay” Craig reassured as he took the other’s hand in his and giving a light squeeze “Who was trying to…” Craig blanked for a bit “Pack us an entire meal?” it was only as he muttered it that Craig remembered today was their first official date. That huge bag he realized as being their lunch.

“My mom” Tweek answered, a light flush of his cheeks that Craig doubted was from the cold. Tweek never seemed to get cold “Gah! I told her about our date, wanting help for a simple meal. But she kept trying to up the ante like we were locked in some hostage situation??” Tweek’s eyebrows furrowed at that before raising his voice a octave to mimic who Craig could only assume to be his mother “You can have the tortilla bites or something more filling like mac n cheese. Why not throw in some salad? Did you want some chicken fingers to go with it?"

“Gah! It was never ending!”

“Alright. I got it” Craig didn’t, not really. But the words calmed Tweek down enough that he looked over at the other with a ghost of a smile “Sorry you went through that?” He asked confused as he patted the others shoulder for good measure

“Thanks man. It was ngh… stressful” Tweek admitted as he slumped deeper into the couch cushions.

Craig noticed the sleeve of his red racer pajamas and remembered that in his haste to let the other in, he neglected to change. Craig suddenly felt self-conscious. For some reason? Craig really wasn’t sure why, it wasn’t the first time Tweek seen them, hell Tweek knew he loved the red racer series. But for some reason the fact that they were going to have an actual date today made it embarrassing?

“You can watch TV if you want… I’m going to shower. Hide in my room if my family tries to bug you” His mother and sister loved bugging the nervous spaz. His mother and her inner mother instincts fretted over him. She’d rebutton his shirt and play with his hair picking which hair stuck up and running her hand through his blonde locks to get it to look a certain way. Tricia would poke and prod at the blonde, poking his cheek and bugging the other to fix her hair ever since Tweek helped her retie her hair that one time.

His dad had the courtesy to pretend Tweek wasn’t an intruder in the house, simply acted as he always did. But even he’d occasionally bug Tweek, asking the boy to get him his slippers or the newspaper if he was over before breakfast. Tweek, still kind of scared of the other would jump to comply. Craig always flipped his dad off when he would which his dad easily returned.

“Alright” Tweek gave a grateful smile before he perked up “Can I play with Stipe?”

“Of course. You know he loves you” He answered as he headed upstairs, grateful he wouldn’t have to fight his sister for the bathroom. Tweek jogged up the stairs until he came behind Craig. The two of them going into his room. Craig for his clothes for the day and Tweek to play with Stripe.

As Craig rummaged through his closet, he paused to look over at Tweek who carefully placed the guinea pig onto Craig’s unmade bed “Tweek.”

“Yeah?” Tweek’s head shot up, a little nervous in case he did something wrong.

“Help me choose something?” He asked as he opened his closet fully. Tweek gave him a confused look before letting Stripe run around in his cage and joining Craig at his closet.

“You’re supposed to wear something for a date, right?” Craig recalls the many times Clyde sent pics of what he’s planning to wear for his dates with Bebe to their group chat asking Jimmy and Tolkien if it looked alright and he’d asked again before he left.

“Gah! You are?!” Tweek panicked as he looked down at what he normally wore “No one told me?!” He exclaimed, verging on too loud for this time of day, but Craig let him have this.

“You could borrow something of mine if you want?” Craig asked as they both looked lost as they scanned the contents of his closet. It was moments like this that Craig cursed his limited options. He usually wore the same things. A blue hoodie, black pants and his favorite chullo. He only had a few articles of clothing that differentiated from the norm. A black dress shirt for special occasions, a white button up he used for church and baggy black pants he never used.

Embarrassingly enough he also sported some space themed shirts he got from last year. A graphic T of a rocket, A standard NASA, a realistic depiction of a space shuttle and some with planets… And of course, Red Racer. Some were less cringe than others. The shirts with the car were fine if a bit childish. But then staring back at him was of the main characters in all it’s animated glory.

“Ngh… Oh god this is too much pressure” and for once Craig agreed.

“How about you pick out what I wear?” Craig questioned “The whole point of a date is to have you like what I wear right?” Clyde always stressed ‘Would Bebe like this?’. So, Craig pondered what Tweek should have. A standard black shirt on the blond would feel a bit weird. Craig wanted him to be warm so should he lend him his hoodie?

Craig was slightly taller than the blond so it might be a bit big on him. But Craig liked his hoodies loose so maybe it’d be a bit too big for him? Screw it “Here” Craig said as he handed a black T and one of his hoodies to Tweek.

“R-Really?” Tweek asked as he looked at what was in his hands with wide eyes “Y-You don’t ngh… have to. It’s my fault for not knowing to dress up a bit. I might need to go shopping for stuff” Tweek admitted sheepishly “I literally only have this” He tugged on his green button up for emphasis.

Craig smiled with a chuckle “I would only have what I usually wear if I could.” Craig admitted honestly, Tweek finding some cold comfort in his admittance as he smiled back “Looks like we both could shop for stuff” with a chuckle.

“Sounds like a date” Craig said without thinking, jolting but not taking it back. They could make a date of it if they wanted to, it’d make them leave the house and could be fun? His parents might even give him extra money for food afterwards.

“Sounds good” Tweek agreed with a light laugh. And some of the tension in his shoulders relaxed.

“Ngh! I don’t mind if you wear what you usually wear? I think you’d look like a goth if you wore this black hoodie” Tweek smiled as he held up the mentioned hoodie. Craig rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it. It’s why he put that near the back of his closet, he never intended on wearing it for that exact reason.

“You sure you don’t want me to wear it? It’d really make my blue chullo stand out” he teased back, Tweek scoffing before pushing him out of his own room with a sarcastic “Ha. Ha. Go shower already.”

Freshly showered, Craig dressed in the bathroom in case Tweek was still hanging out in his room. It was understandable, Tweek felt out of place and awkward in this house still. Not quite used to his parents but warming up to Tricia. More like Tricia breaking the blonde’s wall down by force as she went out of her way to be by him.

Craig didn’t bother brushing his teeth yet since he hasn’t had breakfast but rinsing his mouth to be rid of that morning breath smell before heading out. His hair still wet as he worked on towelling it off.

Craig checked in his room, finding it surprisingly empty, Stripe’s squeaks as he ran around his enclosure, running off any excess energy from what Craig could only assume was Tweek accidentally working the small rodent up during their play. So Tweek went downstairs recently.

Walking down the stairs he knew why when the smell of pancakes and cooked eggs hit his nose. The sound of talking the closer he got “May I ask what you plan on having for this little lunch date?” His mother asked in a semi-patronizing voice. Probably thinking it cute. Craig huffed.

“Fucking finally” Tricia was the first to acknowledge him. When Craig threw her a look of confusion she sighed “I thought Tweek would leave you since your date nights consist of gaming and you hogging the controller like a dork” Craig flipped her off instead of responding. Bitterly wondering what was so wrong with gaming but keeping it to himself.

“And you took forever in the shower. But I’ll let it slide since you have an actual date.” Tricia pushed from her chair to jog up the stairs to get ready for the day.

Tweek was wearing his hoodie. Craig doesn't know why that's so surprising. He told him to wear it. But it looked odd on him? In a nice way? Blue was a good colour on him.

“Did you want a ride to school son? I’d feel bad that Tweek has to carry that big bag of his” His dad piped up from behind the newspaper he was reading. Craig taking the seat next to Tweek as his mother placed his food down in front of him.

“If you’ve got the time I don’t mind” Craig noticed a guilty look sweep over Tweek’s face at that, no doubt placing imaginary blame onto himself, stressing that his father could wind up late and lose his job or something “Don’t worry about it Tweek” Craig reassured with a pat on his head before he started digging into his food “My dad wouldn’t offer if he didn’t want to.”

“Exactly, could you be a dear and fetch me my keys? They should be on my dresser in my room. I'm going to heat my car up” Craig knew his dad wasn’t talking to him, Craig would just flip his dad off if he was. So he looked over at Tweek who jumped from his chair. He gave a couple of quick nods before running out of the room.

“Tweek is such a little helper” His mother laughed as she took her seat next to her husband “He even helped me with the eggs” Craig hummed at that. Tweek did like helping when he could. Tweek knew how to cook. That one-time Tweek was left home alone when his parents took off without telling him anything, Craig and Tricia spent the night and the two gushed over his food much to Tweek's embarrassment- Craig wouldn’t doubt if Tweek made breakfast over at his place.

Craig rushed to finish his food and brush his teeth, making a note to apologize to Tweek for having to endure his family. Tricia predictably got him to fix her hair. But thankfully him and his dad were getting along. Both complaining about the news and all the awful things they reported on while they waited for the weather.

As Craig rinsed his mouth and put his toothbrush away. Craig wondered how the date would go. They both decided to skip out on lunch and eat outside if it was sunny and relatively nice out.

Craig was a bit anxious about it though. All the online dating tips he got were kind of crap, always along the lines of eye contact, compliment, flirt and ask a bunch of questions. Eye contact probably wouldn’t be a problem, and asking questions while awkward may let him know more about Tweek? So, it might be worth it to try. But flirting? Craig doesn’t think he could do that. He’d look like an idiot.

Taking a deep breath he made his way downstairs, (gently) kicking Trish from his spot next to Tweek as she yelled out a “Hey!”

“Get your own boyfriend” Craig retorted.

“Tricia, not until your 16” His father stated while getting up to get his coat and put his shoes on “Much too young” His mother agreed from the kitchen as she rinsed and placed the dishes into the dishrack "I want to leave soon kids, get ready."

Tricia moodily crossing her arms before she went upstairs to get her bag with a “Whatever.”

“It wasn’t too bad, was it?” Craig asked as the two continued to sit close to one another. Tweek shook his head “Awkward because of me. But not a traumatic experience” Tweek giggled. “Good” Craig smiled before getting to his feet and helping Tweek to his.

Tweek sat down to put his shoes on before hefting the large bag onto his back before they went outside.

The sky was a gradient of pink, yellows and blues. The sky bleeding from night to morning and the cool fresh air-filled Craig’s lungs “Is it going to be sunny today?”

Tweek made an affirmative noise in the back of his throat “Yeah. It’ll actually be warm today” Craig somehow doubted that and wasn’t inclined to believe Tweek. Not that he thought he’d lie. Just they had very different ideas of what warm meant.

“Could one of you boys clear a path real quick? It’ll save time.” His dad asked, not pausing in scrapping frost and ice from the windows on the car “The shovel’s there” he informed with a simple point of his finger. Tweek wordlessly taking on the task himself as he put the bag gently onto the snow-covered ground to get to work.

Tricia came out to stand next to Craig as she let out a “Fuck yeah” at the notion of getting a ride to school “You should drive us more often dad. I hate how the bus always smells of BO and morning breath” Thomas only laughed at that “If you think it’s bad now, wait until you kids get to high school.”

Ugh Craig didn’t want to think about growing up. And the prospect of the thing he hated most worsening over time sounded like a pain in the ass. God, Craig even realizes he’ll be stuck with the same assholes until they graduated.

Tweek finished quickly, Craig respecting that Tweek didn’t clear the whole driveway like he was expecting. Rather a simple clear way for the car to back up.

“Alright kids, get in” Thomas said as he cracked his back. Craig sitting in the front and flipping Tricia off when she almost beat him to it.

“I’ll steal your boyfriend!” she tried to threaten as she climbed in the back. Craig laughing “We're gay. You’ve got no chance brat.”

The car ride was pleasant enough. A silence that wasn’t deafening or awkward, but nice.

“Bye daddy!” Tricia waved before running off “Thanks for the ride” Craig added, waiting for Tweek as he climbed out.

“I really appreciate it” Tweek said with blushing cheeks. Looking like he wanted to bow but remembered his bag and thought better of it “Have a great day at work.”

Thomas laughed, ruffling Tweek’s hair before he took off.

“Do you think he likes me?” Tweek naturally stressed. Watching the car fade into the distance.

“Dude, he laughed. My dad never laughs.”

“But a laugh could be bad. What if he was making fun of me?!”

Craig sighed, grabbing the others hand “I’m sure he wasn’t making fun of you. My father may be an asshole, but he’s an asshole with no sense of humour.”

“Cool” Tweek dismissed easily as he gave Craig’s hand a squeeze “You nervous about the date?”

“Fuck yeah dude”