#//i pointedly refuse to call tourettes thomas thomas

[troublcmakcrs]

   Craig grimaced when Pip brought up the time he offered to do a kids’ laundry for him because he thought he was cool.  “Who told you about that?” he demanded.  Somewhere in late fourth grade or early fifth grade, Thomas—Tom, as he liked to be called, and thank god because Thomas was Craig’s dad’s name as well, and that would have gotten confusing pretty fast—transferred to South Park Elementary.  He was in most of the special ed classes with Jimmy and Timmy, and Craig was delighted to see him there and immediately tried to make friends with him.  However, Tom saw through him pretty damn quick and called him cocksucker, making a point to say that swear was intentional.  It didn’t really chase Craig off, and he still admired Tom, thinking he was one of the coolest kids in school, but he could never get too close to the guy after that, as much as he tried.

   He and Tweek fought about it once, too, with Tweek getting jealous or something that Craig was so affectionate and admiring of Tom.  Or maybe he just wanted to make sure Craig was sticking to the script and selling their perfect gay relationship to the masses.  That wasn’t fair because Tweek went ‘off script’ as it were all the time, and Craig constantly had to remind him that being in a relationship was Tweek’s own idea whenever the guy expressed that he wanted out of it.  He suspected Tweek even went behind his back and cheated on him sometimes—not that the cheating itself hurt his feelings because he was constantly wishing someone would take the guy off his hands, but it was the principle.  Craig never got with anyone when he was with Tweek, even though he probably could have.

   He didn’t even know if he had a romantic interest in Tom back then, and he didn’t want to examine it now.  He just thought he was cool, that was all.  And anyway, Tom was clearly uninterested in even entertaining a normal broship with Craig.  He supposed it wasn’t out of the question that Tom had told Pip about Craig’s weird laundry offer that made him cringe when he thought about it now.  He could have offered to do anything, something more normal like video games, and instead he said laundry?

   “Well, no, I don’t do that shit anymore, and it was only the one time, anyway.”  This part of the discussion had decimated his more jovial mood, and he frowned deeply, his forehead creased.  “So, nice try, if you’re hoping I’ll offer for you.”  Besides, if he was going to offer, he would only do it for cool people, which didn’t include Pip, at least not yet.

   “I wished I could swear at teachers and get away with it, you know, instead of ending up in Mackey’s office every day.”  He huffed, thinking about Mackey, the world’s most incompetent counselor.  He could never get Craig under control, and their bouts usually ended with Mackey getting frustrated and kicking Craig back out of his office, only to repeat the exact same process the next day.  “I flipped plenty of them off, though, but I’d always end up in detention for it.  But I’d do it all again if you made me go back.”

The eye roll is almost loud and Pip lets out an irritated grunt that follows Craig's words. He shouldn't be expecting that much from him, he thought. The other had always a different approach to people, it wasn't exactly easy to deal with him on his good day, let alone when he was already annoyed. Pip should give him some credit for being this decent, even if it was low by his own standard. The Craig he knew from middle school would have already given him a beautiful bouquet of slurs and offensive words, together with mean and unpleasant names. It was a big progress, now that Pip thought about it. This, and he was still standing on the bridge, Craig was yet to push him off of it.

"You know what, fine. You deserve some credit." he finally gives in. Pip had to admit that he was too strict a moment ago; Craig really didn't curse all that much. Even if Pip still considered his tongue to be foul, he had to admit that it was an achievement for Craig. He also stayed rather calm and collected through his annoyance and Pip remembered how keen Craig was on using his fists when he found fitting. Well, he was glad he didn't have to get into a fight with him now, the perspective of falling off the bridge was actually scary and he didn't want Craig to get any stupid ideas. "I can see you're 'dicking' around. That part you did not grow out of." he teased him back. It felt good to bicker like that when it wasn't anything remotely serious. Maybe Craig was right, he probably should relax and be more open towards people. Even if it was Craig.

"Oh, I believe I do have a sense of humour, but please, do teach me your ways." The blond smirked at him and leaned against the railing again, looking down the bridge briefly. It wasn't that high, but it was unlikely he would survive a fall like this. "What do you find funny anyway? The last thing I remember is you getting excited over swearing at a teacher, but I don't think I remember you actually doing it." he mused, thinking back to that time. Right, Thomas. The one that Craig got so interested in simply because he was free, or rather doomed to swear uncontrollably. Of course, neither of the kids knew better at the time and everyone found it to be very cool. Pip didn't, back then he was afraid he would go to Hell for as much as hearing someone curse.

"Do you still offer to make laundry to people you've just met?"