Fandom - and they were roommates (South Park | Stan x Butters)

[anomalousanalogy]

It's a little bit unnerving, having a house to himself. The emptiness feels more extreme like this - it made no sense, he'd been home alone a lot growing up, but there was something about knowing that no one else was going to show up that left Butters feeling almost hysterical. Every time he thought about it, he could feel a panic begin to well in his chest, and he'd have to immediately head out and find someone to talk to.

In his latest near-panic-attack, he had the bright idea to invite his pal to stay over with him. "Just for a while," he pleaded. "A few days, a few weeks- I dunno, wuh-whatever it takes to get me used to it. I'll buy the food and you don't haveta pay rent or anything!"

His blubbering finally gets results, and Butters offers to run out for snacks while his friend brings their stuff over. He hands over the spare key he'd been carrying with him and instructs that they let themselves in if he's not back after shopping.

He doesn't have a guest room, but he has a comfy futon that either he or his friend can stay on, and after getting the place cleaned and space cleared, he jots off to the store, grabbing just about every snack and comfort food he can think of.

Butters arrives home an hour later, hands gripping several bags of various treats and bottled drinks. There wasn't a fridge in his room, but he could always put the unopened containers in the kitchen for later. He happily stomps up the stairs, holding the bags high so they don't get crushed against the wall or railing, before body-checking the door to his room to peer inside. "Hey, you in yet?"

 

[Yerdle]

Stan was sure that Butters had only moved in recently, but after letting himself into the empty home and taking a quick peek around, he couldn't help but think that it was all so... him. Like he'd be able to guess who lived here even without knowing. He suddenly felt self-conscious standing in the empty home idly and set his things down before beginning to take off his jacket.

He picked at the strings of his frayed T-shirt, eyebrows pinched. Was it right for him to accept Butter's request so easily? Sure, they were sorta friends, but they didn't hang out one on one super often. Yet Butters had happily offered him free food and a rent-free stay anyways. Stan hadn't put up much of a fight to offer compensation, although he probably should have. Any good friend would.

He didn't have much more time to ponder the ethics of this situation before he heard the 'thunk' of the front door opening behind him. He turned an appraised the blond boy walking in with bags of treats. "Yeah. I'm here. Hey." Stan said, blinking a few times before belatedly realizing that he should help Butters with all those bags.

He reached forward and slid some of the plastic grocery bags into his own hands, awkwardly following Butters to the kitchen area. "Don't you think you went a little overboard with the snacks? We're only two people." He said with a confused smile as they set things down on the countertop. He had agreed to stay a week and see how Butters felt afterwards. The blond had insisted it was a big favor, but really Stan was just grateful for a reason to be out of his own house.

 

[anomalousanalogy]

Of all the people Butters might've expected to accept, Stan was... well he wasn't that low on the list, but he wasn't particularly high either. The two of them got along well enough, for sure! But Butters never really thought Stan felt that close to him. All that was fine, though! And Butters is just glad to have someone to come home to; the emptiness of the house was practically tangible, like when you spoke in a big open area and could hear the echo even when you were being quiet.

But that would all change now that there's someone else sticking around, and the thought made Butters ecstatic! (Probably even a little hysterical, but he's not letting himself think about that.) He lights up when Stan answers, even more so when his friend silently helps with the bags (already they were working together like a well-oiled machine, this was great!), and Butters asks, eager to keep the quiet away, "You get everything moved in easy? N-need to swing by and pick anything else up?"

He starts grouping the food in little piles arranged by where they had to be put, lifting his shoulder with a self-conscious smile. "Yeah I know, I just got a li'l carried away. I'm real glad you're here, Stan! Means an awful lot to me," he laughs. "So, y'know, go ahead and help yourself! Wanted to give ya some options, and they'll last a while anyway if it's too much for the week."

He frowns to himself, thinking, before whirling on the other man, "Aw heck, I forgot to ask about actual groceries," he chides himself. "Ah-are there any dinners're anythin' else you specifically want? I got a tidy li'l sum saved away so I don't mind headin' back out!"

 

[Yerdle]

Stan could practically feel the excess energy radiating off of Butters in that moment, whether it was normal excitement or something else he wasn't sure. Most people, even his closest friends, were rarely 'excited' to see him. He could be a bit of a buzz-kill and didn't hide away from that fact. Looking at Butters' face again, he was probably just relieved to have someone in the house. Stan would kill to live alone, what made Butters so desperate for a temporary roommate?

"Nah, I got everything in already." He gestured towards his guitar case and backpack resting on the floor. Looking at his miniscule belongings suddenly made him a bit sheepish. "I uh, didn't really have much to bring." He chuckled, fingers itching at the overgrown hair hanging by the nape of his neck. There were still the remnants of the time he had bleached it on the tips of his hair, but by now it had almost all grown back out to his natural black hair.

He follows Butters' movements in arranging all the snack foods and drinks on the counter. He was overwhelmed by the sheer number of snacks, but he did look grateful for his favorites that were purchased. As well as cheesepuffs, he remembered eating so much of those when they all used to hang out at Cartman's place. So they were a pretty nostalgic snack. Maybe they should invite the gang over sometime this week to enjoy some of these snacks (If he could get a hold of all of them). It would certainly make Stan feel a little less awkward about spending so much alone time with Butters. Though Cartman would definitely find something rude to say.

"I can usually eat anything but- hey hold on." His eyebrows raised at Butters' insistence. "I'm not gonna make you run back to the grocery store after just getting back. How about we just go tomorrow or something? And tonight, for dinner I'll get us take-out." It was a pretty simple solution in his eyes, an alternative to making Butters run all frantically to get groceries, then cook something. Stan would rather they just chill out.

 

[anomalousanalogy]

"That's no problem at all," he chirps, dismissing the worry with a wave of his hand as he starts carrying the Cabinet Foods to the cabinets. "You can go ahead and take 'em up to my- to the room if ya want! I dunno if you want the bed or the futon or anything so it's up to you." He starts stacking boxes and sliding bags into place, ducking around the open cabinet doors to find a place for everything - he really had gone pretty overboard.

Stan calls for his attention again, and Butters turns to him before shrugging. "I really don't mind, got a little carried away with the junk and totally forgot about actual food," he jokes. "I still got some stuff for meals but I won't argue if you wanna order out!" Once his latest armful of food is put away, Butters returns to the table and rests both hands on it for a moment, thinking.

"He-hey, Stan... Listen, I just wanted ta say thanks again. It's probably a li'l weird and all, I know, but I really appreciate it. It means a lot to me that you're stickin' around for a bit."

 

[Yerdle]

He nods, leaving the snacks to Butters as he moves to pick up his things. "I can take the futon. I'm pretty good at sleeping on the floor. And couches." he said bluntly. He listens to the response about dinner as he opens the door to the bedroom and finds an unobtrusive place to set down his stuff. Maybe he shouldn't have brought his guitar, he wanted to practice but it might bother his temporary roommate. He'd have to ask about that later. Yet another reason why Stan would love to live alone. However, he was positive living with a friend would already suit him better than still being stuck at his parent's stupid farm.

"I'll make a call to that Chinese food place nearby. Kenny says I can pretend to be him and get a worker's discount." He hums, that settles that. He wouldn't mind just using what they had in the house for now, until Butters was up to going to the store again. He'd even pretend to be a good roommate and come with. He notices a slight change in Butter's demeanor, becoming more thoughtful, so he listens carefully as he speaks.

"Oh? Yeah man, it's really no trouble at all. You don't have to say thank you so much." He looked awkward but smiled and gave a thumbs up anyway. Stan wasn't used to being thanked or appreciated so openly and earnestly, but this was Butters they were talking about so it came with the territory. "In a normal situation I'd be the one thanking you, for letting me crash here for a week. I'm actually benefiting from this, but I can't really see how you'd get anything out of me living with you." He said thoughtfully, not wanting the ask the obvious question he had in case it was personal but showing that he was curious as to why Butters really wanted him here.

 

[anomalousanalogy]

Butters' smile turns a little wry - he might be pretty naive at times, but he can see the bait for what it is. "Yeah," he hedges, and Butters feels himself doing his usual nervous tic, knuckles brushing together and hands wringing over one another before he makes himself stop by grabbing the last of the snacks and drinks.

"I dunno. Just feels weird knowing no one's coming home, I guess. Makes me feel a-all antsy. Hard to relax." He shakes his head, more to clear his thoughts than anything, and toes open the fridge to put things away. "S-so are you wantin' yer own shelf, or would it be easier to do left side, right side?" He gestures to the open fridge and freezer with his elbow, clearly waiting for an answer before he can divvy up the goods between them.

 

[Yerdle]

Stan's eyes darted down subtly to where Butters' knuckles briefly brushed, humming softly to himself. That definitely brought him back. He remembered sitting in class, sometimes with his head resting on top of the desk and watching Butters do that movement with his hands over and over again. Man, it was nice knowing someone from so young, watching how they've changed and how they haven't. But that was just Stan's more wistful side speaking, probably.

"Hm. I guess I get it." He didn't really, but he understood the feeling of something small making you feel anxious. Clearly an empty home just bothered the other boy, he could see that. "I hope I can help." He murmured, unexpectedly genuine as Butters popped open the fridge.

He steps over to stand beside Butters, bending his tall form and peering into the icy cool fridge. "You can split it into left side right side if you want. But you bought all the food, so I really don't care if you end up eating something you intended to be 'mine'." he said with a lopsided smile, mostly meaning he thought they could share. He grabbed some of the drinks and reached over Butters to place them in their proper places.

"What's your Chinese food order by the way?" he hummed, able to feel a little bit more casual and relaxed about this situation now that he knew partially why Butters had asked for it.

 

[anomalousanalogy]

"Wuh-well you're already helpin', buddy! Even better knowin' we're both gettin' some good out of it," he replies. He returns Stan's little grin and goes back to the fridge, splitting the food with a couple inches between the sides, ducking out of the way when Stan helps. He also doesn't really mind if Stan takes more than half - he bought it *for* him, after all, but something tells him if he says that right now Stan might double down. He'll slip it in later on to make it seem more casual.

"Mmh," he muses at the question, tilting his head as he straightens up to close the fridge. "You c'n surprise me, I think! Just somethin' with a lotta roasted sesame seeds! Anything you wanna do tonight, or do ya wanna just settle in?"

 

[Yerdle]

Stan seemed pleased enough by that response. He always tended to be a little stubborn when it came to making sure things were fair, at least in theory. So if he had his way, he'd probably be more of a shadow in Butters' home, present enough to give the other man some comfort, but distant enough to not be in the way at all.

"Alright then." he took a mental note of what he wanted, arms moving over Butters' ducked head. He was used to being roommates with more... disorganized or uncaring guys. His current roommates Clyde and Craig were both assholes in their own right, Craig thankfully kept his shit to himself, but Clyde on the other hand left his things everywhere and very often took stuff from the fridge not intended for him. To say that Butters' polite and careful tendencies were a huge change, would be an understatement.

Considering for a moment, he actually found himself wanting to hang out a bit with Butters. Why not? "You wanna watch a movie..?" he asked tentatively, reaching for his phone so he could make the order for food.

 

[anomalousanalogy]

A movie was exactly what he'd been fishing for, and it's pretty obvious with the way Butters stands a little straighter, smiles a little brighter. "Yeah! A movie sounds great," he enthuses. "I can queue it up so we can watch when the food gets here - I'm gonna take a quick shower, you need to go?" It's less of a question and more of a heads-up, especially when Butters doesn't wait for an answer as he heads to his room to get a change of clothes.

He sits on the edge of his bed for a few minutes more, checking his phone as he waits just in case Stan needed to use the restroom. There's a strong urge to open the guitar case and pluck the strings a little, but that felt like an invasion of privacy. He misses playing with his friends for the few times it ever happened, but while music was fun, it was never more than a casual hobby.

Instead, he shouts from his room, "Hey, when was the last time you played?"

 

[Yerdle]

Stan looks surprised by how quickly and eagerly Butters seemed to agree. It stroked his ego a little bit if he was honest. He hummed lowly and nodded at the heads up, trailing a bit behind and brushing past the other so he could quickly use the restroom.

He washed his hands and heard Butters' shout from inside the bathroom. He opened the door once finished and looked over to see his guitar case being admired. "Oh uhm. Well, I play pretty much every day. But I haven't really performed since the old high school band fell apart. I still busk in town sometimes though for a little extra cash." He said with a small shrug, pretending like he didn't spend every waking moment of his life wishing he was still in a band. It made him feel cool, as lame as it seems to phrase it that way.

He moved out of the way with a gesturing motion that Butters could go take his shower now. "I'll call the place and go pick it up while you shower." he said casually, stepping out of the bedroom now for extra privacy despite the bathroom being its own room separated by a door.

 

[anomalousanalogy]

"I know what you mean," he murmurs. "I think for me it was more just the belonging, y'know? All the parts comin' together to make something really cool." He splays the fingers of both hands and interlaces them, curling them down in what would be a pleading gesture without the context. "... But that might just be me. I'm not really, uh. Fit for the arts, I guess," Butters huffs, not-quite-laughter for a moment.

"Thanks! I'll only be a tick, should be gettin' out about the same time you get back if I hurry!" And he does exactly that, slipping into the restroom quick and jumping into the shower. The sound of the water blocks out any sounds from around the house, so he doesn't hear Stan place the call or even if the other man has already left, but his shower is a good twenty minutes before he's stumbling over the tub and drying off.

He winds the towel around his waist and pokes his head out the door, letting the steam escape. "You back yet?"

 

[Yerdle]

There is a moment, after Butters huffs out his not-laugh and there is a beat of silence, that Stan feels like maybe he should say something. To say that anyone can be suited for the arts if they try. He had wanted someone to say that to him when he was young and frankly not good at anything he played, that his desire to do it was enough. But the moment is fleeting, and Stan simply nods in place like he knows what he means.

"See ya." He says and wanders towards where he'd left his shoes while Butters goes to shower, dialing the number of the restaurant. He can feel an embarrassed flush coloring the tips of his ears. How stupid would it have been if he'd said all that and Butters had just brushed him off? He always got too carried away, and for the moment he was glad he kept quiet. But a part of him wondered if what Butters had said was what he really felt.

Twenty minutes later Stan was walking back into the home, tapping dirt off his shoes before sliding them off at the door. He heard Butters' voice as he was setting the bag of hot food on the table. It made his truck smell delicious. "Yeah, just got back!" He responded from the living room area, his voice loud enough to carry to the bedroom. "I got you sesame chicken and rice."

 

[anomalousanalogy]

Perfect timing! Butters dries off and finger combs his undercut before dressing and practically hopping down the stairs. "Sounds great," he finally responds. "I could smell it from upstairs! I haven't had Chinese in a long time, feels like. Thanks, Stan!" He brushes his fingers through his hair again, this time to shake out any lingering water before swerving into the kitchen. "You need utensils or dishes or anything, or are ya good with eatin' outta the container?"

He grabs himself a drink while he waits. "You can pick whatever movie you want, by the way. I don't got a preference."

 

[Yerdle]

"No problem." A small smile lifted his lips as he pulled out their separate boxes of food, "I'm good eating out of the container." he hummed, not eager to use up any dishes that they'd have to wash later. He pushed the box of chicken and rice over to Butters as well as some plastic cutlery. He nodded at being the one to pick the movie. He lifted his container into his hands and walked towards the couch before hesitating.

"Um, can we eat on the couch or is that too messy?" Normally Stan would just do whatever at any other friend's house, he wasn't sure why he felt the need to ask Butters. Maybe to match his over politeness. He sets his food down nonetheless and grabs the remote. He looks through what services Butters has before choosing a sort of cheesy alien movie that he remembered watching when he was a kid. His nostalgia convinced him the production value and writing weren't as bad as it actually was.

 

[anomalousanalogy]

There's the smallest little flinch as Butters considers the question until he remembers this was his place and he made the rules, and being stupid about cleaning and chores wasn't something he wanted to follow him through his life. And if a mess happened, who cared! ... It was going to take a lot of weaning to get himself out of these forcefully learned habits, but he's determined to start now. "Yeah, no problem!" There's still the smallest bit of anxiety noticeable as he follows Stan to the couch, but it fades pretty easily once they're both sitting comfortably.

"Oh hey, I remember this one!"

 

[Yerdle]

Stan grins in an unnatural way that shows all his teeth and pulls his lips, flashing Butters a thumbs up at the approval. He let out a subtle huff from his nose as he collapses onto the couch. He hoped after a few days living with Butters he could become more relaxed and comfortable in his presence, and maybe get to know him more too. Despite being considered a part of the same friend group from all the way back in elementary school, he felt like he didn't understand how the blond worked at all. Was that his own fault for not putting in the effort?

He perked up a little hearing the recognition in Butters' voice. His eyes were a little brighter. "Really? Were you with us when we all went to see It in theaters?" He asked, trying to search through his memories and recall it. He popped open his container and hungrily eyed his vegetable Lo mein. He wasn't fully a vegetarian, but he tried to avoid meat when he could and rarely ate beef.

 

[anomalousanalogy]

Butters crosses his legs to have a more stable way to support the container in his lap before lifting the flaps and giving it a good stir. He takes a bite and tilts his head, thinking. He'd only the faintest memory of the movie, but it still held a nostalgia for him. "I don't remember," he finally answers, before shaking his head. "Musta been that, though - can't think of any other way I woulda caught the film!"

He looks at Stan a couple moments longer; he wanted to thank the man for wanting to do things together instead of just being in the same place without interaction, but he's already overdone it with the gratitude tonight, he figures. So he just smiles and turns back to his food, leaning a little clumsily for the coffee table to grab his drink.

 

[Yerdle]

Stan eagerly takes a plastic fork to his Lo mein and stuffs a good amount into his mouth. He felt a bit bad that he couldn't remember if Butters was there or not, but the man in question didn't seem to mind and the food was too good to feel bad while eating, so he nodded in easy agreement.

"Musta been." he echoed after chewing. "I love this movie. Kyle says it's ass, but he's wrong. The cheesy parts are obviously satire." he stated firmly, like this was an argument he'd had before. Considering the time the movie had come out, it wasn't easy to believe it was written with satire in mind, but that seemed to be how Stan stubbornly enjoyed it. The movie had a rather cliche opening of a couple making out in a car and getting startled by a UFO and screaming. Stan popped some edamame into his mouth and smirked. Classic. The movie was pretty easy to laugh at, since most parts were over acted or stupid. And Stan also found himself getting wrapped up in the nostalgia of it all, as he often did.

 

[anomalousanalogy]

"Mmh. Mhm," he hums politely, hiding his smile behind his fork. He's starting to realize just why he didn't remember anything about the movie. It was incredibly hammy, and that's coming from someone like Butters of all people. Still, it's an enjoyable watch solely for the theatrics and nostalgia. And Stan was having such a good time watching it that Butters didn't have the heart to tease him. Not yet anyway.

"Satire, yeah," he pretends to agree, biting his lip to stop from laughing. This was some Trolls 2 level acting and writing, but Stan has high esteem for it and Butters is determined to respect that.

 

[Yerdle]

Stan found himself fully wrapped up in the film, openly grinning at parts he liked and talking aloud to the stupid characters as if they could hear him. He seemed to like the poorly done gore parts the most, finding the use of glow in the dark goo as alien blood to be particularly fun. It was probably a good thing he didn't realize Butters was humoring him partially.

"Can you believe they're making out again? as if every time they do it, one of them doesn't get almost killed." he scoffed, lazily gesturing at the screen with his whole arm. By this point in the movie he had already finished what he wanted to eat of his food and set it aside on the coffee table, his body now fully succumbing to the comfort of Butters' couch.

 

[anomalousanalogy]

"We-well yeah, obviously, it's a staple for these kinda films," he laughs. He's still got about a third to go with his own meal but by now it's just mostly rice. "Every thriller flick from around then just has to have huh-horny hot co-eds sneakin' away and goin' at it." He waves his fork as he talks, shifting to lean against the padded arm of the couch.

"I bet they think they're bein' sneaky, tryin' to convince teens not to fool around or something like that. Pfff," he scoffs, rolling his eyes and uncrossing his legs to get comfortable in place. "Never even works, anyways."

 

[Yerdle]

Stan raked his fingers through his dark hair, itching at his scalp for a moment before ruffling it again into the messy style he liked. "True, I can't remember the last thriller movie I watched that didn't have a steamy shower scene." he hummed thoughtfully, letting his hand drop. He looked over at Butters and snorted out a laugh at his comment, it being the first time he looked away from the movie in a while.

"Yeah no shit, dude. There were probably teens 'fooling around' in the literal theater we first watched this in." He joked, though being able to believe it was true easily.