#kn replies

[knifenotes]

how does [redacted] realize that he has feelings for csk? does he do anything about it?

to quote a very important tweet:

it's not anything about anthony being attractive or sexy. it's small gestures towards [redacted] that show him how invested he is in getting to know him again. after pushing everyone away for so long, [redacted] is finally willing to let his friend back in and the feelings are overwhelming. anthony remembers small specific things about him that he hasn't even spoken about for 10 years. it makes these stupid little butterflies bubble up in his chest until he realizes how inevitable the feelings are

[redacted] doesn't handle it well when he's identified what those feelings are. he simply feels too much all at once and maybe it comes out in bursts of rage that scare anthony a bit. but [redacted] would never hurt him, he just doesn't know how to cope with how pretty anthony has become all of a sudden

[knifenotes]

do csk and [redacted] ever call each other by their real names?

so of course they call each other ian and anthony as teens, but even then, ian is a bit hesitant to be called that in public/in writing.

jumping to the adult timeline, [redacted] always calls him anthony. he might call him the creekside killer for dramatic effect, but otherwise he doesn't mind using his name. it's a very different story the other way around though. anthony knows better than to call [redacted] by his real name, even though he still knows him by ian in his head. but eventually, it just slips out. anthony is very apologetic and [redacted] just freezes in his tracks, hearing his own name for the first time in years. csk expects [redacted] to be livid at him, but ian only quietly asks him to say it again. he realizes how much he actually enjoys hearing that word from anthony's mouth. how in a way, his name belongs to only him.

[knifenotes]

Post reunion CSK and redacted, does Redacted at some point try to track down CSK? Has CSK been keeping tabs on him and watched him from a distance from time to time?

post-reunion, CSK gives [redacted] ways to keep in touch with him (likely through a burner phone or similar) and [redacted] is hesitant to use it because he's suspicious of ALL technology, especially that gifted to him. but eventually he reaches out because it is entirely too tempting

but before the reunion, CSK absolutely keeps tabs on [redacted]. he's been lightly stalking him for years, and is the only person who's been successful at doing so.

for a while, [redacted] hates the idea that CSK knows so much about him and can likely locate him that way, considering their breakup (for lack of a better term) was so bitter. but as the years go on, maybe a sense of loneliness (or perhaps nostalgia) sweeps over [redacted] and he wonders if maybe it's not such a terrible fate to be perceived by an old friend.

[knifenotes]

How early does redacted know Anthony being CSK? Early into their young years or does he connect the dots pre or post reunion?

in this au, anthony doesn't become the creekside killer until after him and ian are separated (following an argument after highschool).

[redacted] connects the dots pre-reuinion and is pretty damn certain that the killer he keeps hearing about is his old friend anthony. but it's only when they meet up for the first time that it's actually confirmed for him.

[knifenotes]

how does csk finally get [redacted] to trust him? also do they end up together (like romantically)?

[redacted] ends up trusting csk much more easily than either of them would've expected. anthony offering to kill [redacted]'s nemesis right in front of him goes a LONG way as far as him trusting the killer. there's something about him being his childhood best friend that undeniably tugs at his heartstrings and makes the offer to team back up with csk irresistible.

as far as them ending up together.. there's certainly something there. it might not be labeled as a relationship in a traditional sense but, partnership maybe? the feelings between them are intense and messy and they're obsessed with each other in the most toxic (yet passionate) way. and you know what? good for them

[knifenotes]

how do [redacted] and csk feel about each other as teens? like are there any feelings there or do they only come after they reunite?

anthony definitely has some kind of feelings for him. he would never admit that it's a crush but he's unhealthily obsessed with him and maybe part of that is happening to find that he's very pretty.

[redacted] on the other hand doesn't really feel anything for anthony (or for anyone, for that matter). he finds the idea of relationships and love to be kinda annoying and to only get in the way of his projects.

[knifenotes]

does Sarah ever forgive [redacted] for seeing csk behind her back? does she ever accept their relationship?

she never truly forgives him, although there is always a tiny part of her that is soft for him. even when he has dished out the worst towards her, sarah is willing to let him live at the very least. [redacted] has betrayed sarah in perhaps the worst way possible, fully corrupted by csk, so she's certainly not a fan of their relationship.

after the betrayal is revealed and csk and [redacted] are fully open about their relationship, it is a long game of cat and mouse between them. but now sarah has to keep up with both of them and it's exhausting.

[knifenotes]

does [redacted] know about csk leaving stuff behind for sarah to find? also what lead [redacted] to show csk where he lives?

[redacted] does notice, because csk doesn't mind doing it in front of him with a shit-eating grin. [redacted] will just roll his eyes at him, telling him to stop teasing sarah. he feels a little bad about it because he knows how much it's driving his roommate insane, but a tiny part of him does find it amusing as well.

[redacted] isn't super enthusiastic about showing csk where he lives, but he has to one day in an emergency. either he drags csk into his apartment, and into his secret hideout, or sarah WILL catch him, and it's wayy too early for that confrontation.

the second anthony is in his place, [redacted] takes a moment to frantically hide bits of paper that were strewn about his desk (undoubtedly papers about anthony) but csk just chuckles at him and tells him he promises he won't look. after all, he's grateful he let him in at all and he wouldn't want to immediately ruin that trust.