A/N: Firstly, a couple of apologies. One, I'm sorry this chapter is so late. Two, I'm sorry this chapter is so short. More apologies to come at the end of the fic, pfft! But I hope you guys enjoy, no matter how late and short this chapter may be!


Kyle had become accustomed to waking up to the sound of his phone's shrill, unforgiving alarm, not gentle snoring in his ear. He stirred, bleary eyes blinking open and when he tried to roll over he met with a wide, soft chest. Eric's arm was draped over his middle, his chubby cheek squished against the pillow. Kyle froze, even though they were sleeping in his apartment, he felt like he was intruding. It was unusual to see Eric, passionate, and vivacious, and cocky, and always with an answer in his pocket, now quiet, oblivious, peaceful. But it was heartening too, when Kyle realised that perhaps not many people in Eric's life got to see him like that. Maybe some past lovers, but Kyle didn't like to think about them. Still, a lazy smile stretched across his face, privileged to glimpse such an endearing sight. Rolling over again, with his back pressed to Eric's chest, he was still smiling when his eyelids started to drift shut.

But that smile soon vanished when his phone started to buzz. Grumbling, Kyle reached over to pick the phone up from his nightstand. He couldn't afford to miss any calls relating to the team, no matter how nice it felt to lay in bed with their fullback. Instead, it was a video call from Ike, another person who he hated to let down. He never missed Ike's calls, and it was sure to draw suspicion if he did. Suspicion he couldn't afford. Wide awake immediately, Kyle reached for his boxers discarded on the floor as the phone continued to ring. He slipped them on, before hurrying over to his dresser and putting on the first crinkled t-shirt he could find. He was panting when he finally accepted Ike's call, although he guessed he was sweating in panic rather than exertion.

"Hey, man!" Ike grinned, as breezy as Kyle wished he could be.

"Uh, h-h-hey Ike," he replied, hating how he sounded. He gulped, hoping it would steady his breath and his voice. "What's up?"

"Nothing much, just wanted to congratulate you on the game yesterday. You had us all worried for a minute, it got real tense in the fourth quarter."

Kyle was nodding along, trying to pay attention and keep his eyes fixed on the screen when they so wanted to wander over to his bed. It was hard to focus when his mind was being assaulted by awful visions of Eric waking up any minute and their cover being spectacularly blown, and how hideously awkward it would be.

"Yeah, thanks," Kyle replied, coughing into his fist. "They, uh, didn't let me down..."

"They haven't let you down all season, man!" Ike grinned. "Your first year as owner and you're on one hell of a winning streak!" his smile wavered, and his eyebrows furrowed. "Uhh... are you okay?"

"What? Yeah, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

Ike shrugged.

"I don't know, you just seem a little on edge," he replied. "Like, preoccupied or something. Is now a bad time?"

Kyle could've collapsed in relief. He had an out.

"Actually, Ike, uh-"

Kyle was interrupted by a loud yawn. The noise filled the room like icy water rushing into a sinking ship, and Kyle was frozen. Eric, meanwhile, was sat up, leisurely stretching his arms.

"Morning..." he said, voice hoarse with sleep as he rubbed his eyes.

Kyle glared over his phone, it was now shaking in his slick palms.

"What are you doing over there?" Eric asked, brow creased.

Gritting his teeth and lowering his phone where Ike couldn't see his face, he shook his head at Eric, wide-eyed. Eric blinked, his brow no longer crinkled with confusion, and nodded.

"Umm... Kyle?"

In his panic, he had almost forgotten Ike was still there. He lifted his phone to his face once more, and saw Ike staring at him hard, his own eyebrows knitted together.

"Who was that you were talking to?"

"Nothing! I-I-I mean, no one!"

"Oh..." Ike murmured, before a smile stretched across his face. He laughed, quickly covering his mouth. "Oh, dude, did you hook up with someone last night?"

"What?!" Kyle exclaimed, far too shrill.

He saw Eric grinning, flushed and delighted, so obviously revelling in this. If Eric could enjoy this, then surely Kyle could just admit to it? Play along? What choice did he have?

"Oh, uh... yeah," he nodded. A smile was pulling at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, I did. I have, um..."

"It's cool, man." Ike chuckled, waving him off. "I'm just sorry I interrupted. I'll leave you alone."

Kyle shook his head, still a little flustered.

"Don't apologise, Ike, really, it's fine."

"I'll call you later. Congrats again, dude." He smiled. "That final minute was just something else!"

"Sure was..." Kyle agreed, succumbing to the smile dying to spread across his face.

"That Eric Cartman may be an asshole, but he's a hell of player!"

His smile was soon extinguished. He prickled from head to toe in embarrassment, but soon heard Eric chuckling to himself.

"Y-y-yeah, I guess," Kyle replied, fidgeting. "Talk to you soon, Ike."

"Bye!" Ike said, hanging up without another word.

Kyle sighed, his shoulders slumped and his head thrown back against the wall. He stood there for a few minutes with his eyes closed as he tried to steady his breathing, tried to cool down when he was sure he was still an unflattering shade of pink. His eyes opened at the sound of Eric's laughter, and it was too contagious and somewhat comforting not to crack a smile at.

"God, Eric, I'm so sorry..."

Eric shrugged, with a wide, amused grin.

"It's cool. He wouldn't be the first person to call me an asshole."

Kyle chuckled in helpless agreement and rolled his eyes. Sighing once more, Eric's bright eyes and wicked grin coaxed him back to bed. He flopped down beside him, and Eric joined him on the pillows.

"Who was that, anyway?"

"My brother. He's, uh, in college in California so we try to talk every week."

Eric hummed, a short snicker like such a pact between siblings was unusual.

"Fuck," he said with a sigh, staring up at the ceiling. "I can't remember the last time I talked to my brother..."

Kyle blinked at the mention of Eric's brother. It was certainly a first, and he certainly wasn't expecting such an admission.

"Why?" he asked, out of his mouth before he could stop it.

Still, Eric had heard it. He turned his head, arching an eyebrow at Kyle.

Despite how burning his curiosity was, it couldn't take precedence over Eric's comfort, especially when they were still rather recent presences in each other's lives even after everything they had shared so far.

"I mean, uh..."

Eric's eyes wandered to the foot of the bed, but not before Kyle saw his gaze harden. It wasn't bitter, but guarded, not inspiring much hope in Kyle that Eric would share more.

"S-s-sorry," Kyle continued. "I shouldn't have asked but-"

"It's fine," Eric cut in shortly.

Frowning, Kyle shifted a little closer.

"You can tell me, if you want?"

Eric's shoulders fell, a near silent conflicted breath leaving his lips.

"No..." he murmured, shaking his head. "No, I just..." he met Kyle's eyes again, and he stared softly, imploringly. "It's not a big deal, Kyle, really. We've just never got on, we've never been close... it's nothing. I'm cool with it."

Eric smiled tightly, and Kyle nodded in acquiescence if only to make him feel better. It seemed this particular subject smothered all conversation, or rather infected it. Only a few words spoken before it was killed again. It was not a silence Kyle was used to with Eric. He was used to flirtatious, electric, sultry silences that were soaked in desire, and were brimming with anticipation. He was even used to fiery silences that frothed with words left un-yelled. But he could never have imagined a silence as stifled as this. When they had vowed to keep their relationship so casual Kyle couldn't have anticipated it. Just like that, a new term to their arrangement was disclosed. Kisses, and beds could be shared, it seemed, but not fractious family histories. Kyle wasn't sure if it was a term he could agree with.


It was an unusually quiet breakfast eaten quickly, and Kyle felt that Eric was buried so deep in his thoughts he couldn't reach him. Thinking about matters, Kyle guessed, he would never know about. He had no idea how to clear the air, or lift the pensive fog from Eric's eyes. He was actually relieved when Eric announced he was leaving, but it was a bittersweet relief. The kind of relief you could only appreciate following an exchange or encounter that was particularly painful.

"Hey, have you seen my jacket?" Eric asked as Kyle, for the sake of being polite, walked him to the door.

"Yeah, it should be..."

The sentence drifted off as Kyle wandered over to the couch, remembering where he had tugged the jacket off Eric's shoulders and discarded it on the floor. There it still lay, slumped on the carpet.

"Here," he said, handing it to Eric.

He smiled, and Kyle's breath caught on the wicked glint in his eyes, delighted at its reappearance. With a tug, Eric pulled Kyle to his lips, one hand sliding into his still bed-mussed hair, tilting his head to deepen their mouths' clasp. But the kiss crumbled when Kyle couldn't help but smirk, and pulled back when he remembered something.

"Wait, wait, I haven't-"

"God damn it, Kyle, I don't fucking care," Eric interrupted, low and husky, and staring at Kyle's mouth.

Kyle chuckled, convinced, and reached up to connect their lips again. His hands wandered up Eric's shirt and pulled at the material, the sleeves straining between his eager fingers.

"So, I'll, uh, see you at practice later?" Eric asked when they finally relinquished each other.

His tone was soft, and searching for an affirmative. Still drawn into his hypnotic golden eyes, and the press of his lips still fresh, Kyle wanted to give him that affirmative. He nodded.

"Sure..." he smiled, forgetting himself. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "I mean, no! No, sorry, I won't be there. I, uh, have a meeting with the board of our charity, and President Principal..." He interrupted himself with an exasperated chuckle. He rolled his eyes. "God, I still can't say his name with a straight face..."

"Is it because he has the stupidest name in history or because he's such an obnoxious tool that if you didn't laugh you'd punch him in the mouth?" Eric asked, putting his jacket on.

Kyle laughed despite his better - professional - instincts.

"Yeah, he's a little intense..."

"A little?" Eric replied, eyebrows raised incredulously. "He's the most aggressive hippie I've ever had the misfortune to meet."

Suddenly, Eric adopted President Principal's defensive, alpha-male stance. One foot in front of the other, body tilted, and arms raised ever so slightly from his sides and frozen, as if ready to tackle anybody thinking about making an offensive, derogatory comment to the ground. He tightened his upper lip, almost crinkled to reveal his teeth. There was a small dent in his brow, and his alert stare was hardened. Kyle laughed so hard he snorted, and he clamped a hand over his mouth to smother his chuckles.

"You assholes better buy our recyclable Mustangs beer cups or I'll shove those motherfuckers so far down your throat you'll be choking on my fucking watch, bro!"

However, it was useless trying to contain his laughter at Eric's spot-on impression. Eric chuckled, delighted as he watched Kyle laugh.

"What the hell does P.C. even stand for, anyway?" he asked.

"It's something, like, Phil Collin..."

"Seriously?"

Kyle nodded, still chuckling.

"I'm pretty sure," he replied, he wouldn't have forgotten a name as silly as that.

Eric shook his head, tucking his hands into his pockets as he laughed to himself.

"Oh, man... as if he couldn't get more ridiculous."

"I know," Kyle replied with a groan. "Plus, it's our first meeting with the board since I was appointed as owner, and the first meeting with the board since he was elected president so it needs to go well-"

"Come on, you're a natural," Eric cut in, slipping one hand out of his pocket to clap Kyle's shoulder. "You'll be great. What's the charity, anyway?"

Kyle smiled, sheepish, and appreciative.

"The ' D.M.T.I.P.C.E.'" he replied.

"The huh?"

"The ' Denver Mustangs Trust for Infants with Prenatal Cocaine Exposure.'"

"Catchy," Eric replied, nodding. "So... it's a charity for crack babies?"

Kyle rolled his eyes, and narrowed them at Eric.

"While that is a very derogatory way to put it... yes, it is." He sighed. "It's a cause I've always been passionate about, ever since I volunteered at the NICU in college."

Eric arched his eyebrow, and he smiled.

"What did you study?"

"Medicine," Kyle replied. "I was all set to go to medical school but... I chose to help my dad run the team. The Mustangs always come first. It's what I was meant to do."

Kyle always thought the more times he said that, the less it would sting and the more he would start to believe it.


With his mocking of President Principal it were as though Eric had broken the professional seal Kyle had tried hard to maintain when working so closely with someone so outlandish and ridiculous. One smile cracked, one laugh quickly clamped by a scolding hand, and now Kyle was pursing his lips and avoiding the glass of water on the boardroom table lest Eric's impression enter his mind and he sprayed it all over his notes.

"... And will the team be in attendance for the ribbon cutting ceremony as well as the gala?" Miss Perry, a hospital board member and one of the most generous donators to the NICU, asked.

Despite her generosity, she only flooded the hospital with such wealth after shrewdly examining every detail of every proposal brought to her. Kyle was beyond grateful that she had seen the specialised wing for the infants with PCE as a worthwhile cause.

"Oh totally, ma'am," President Principal replied.

Kyle was sure tears were pricking his eyes as he swallowed yet another suppressed laugh. He nodded.

"Um, yes, they'll all be in attendance."

"Excellent!" Mrs Horton, the CEO of the D.M.T.I.P.C.E. grinned. "It's wonderful press for the charity-"

"And for the hospital..." the hospital's Chief of Medicine, Doctor Roberts, noted.

"Speaking of press, I've been thinking an even greater publicity opportunity would be to focus on Eric Cartman," Bebe Stevens, the head of the Denver Mustangs' PR piped up. Kyle was indebted to her for not only sticking with the team during the PR nightmare that was the summer, but maintaining a composure he was undeniably envious of. "Perhaps invite him to cut the ribbon? Of course, every team member is valuable to drawing in interest and the more players we see in the papers the better, but since Eric is the newest player, and the most talked about in the AFA right now we really should make use of his star power."

The room was silent with agreement and cursory glances of approval, heads gently bobbing.

"Sounds great to me," Doctor Roberts eventually replied.

"Me too," Mrs Horton added. "It's a grand idea! Kyle, President Principal, what do you think?"

They both glanced at each other and nodded.

"We'll certainly have a conversation with Eric and get back to you as soon as possible, but I see no reason why he would turn this opportunity down," Kyle replied.

"Wonderful!" Mrs Horton grinned, clapping her hands together and resting them under her chin. She glanced around the table. "And I think we're done for today, yes? No more items on the agenda?"

Bebe flicked through her notes, and her blond curls bounced as she shook her head.

"Nope, that's pretty much it," she replied.

Kyle stood up, smoothing his tie.

"Well, thank you for coming everyone."

After doling out the obligatory handshakes as everybody made their exit, Kyle was alone in the boardroom when he pulled his phoned out of his pocket and texted Eric.

"We want you to cut the ribbon at the opening of the new NICU wing. Interested?"

Kyle was gathering his notes when his phone buzzed on the table.

"Sure. Anything for a good cause."

Kyle grinned, biting his lip to control his delight even though Eric's reply was coated in saccharin.

"Anything to make you look good, you mean?"

"Yeah, that's what I said," Eric replied. "A good cause."


A/N: So there's a couple of reasons why this chapter took so long to get out. Firstly, is that I've just started a new job and that's taking up a lot of time and energy for me at the moment. Secondly... well, I hate to say it (but it's good to be honest) but I'm sort of losing a lot of momentum, and spark, and motivation for this story. Maybe it's because I have been preoccupied with other things, have taken too long a break, or because I have got other fic ideas that I'm excited about but am reluctant to start right now when this one is still incomplete. Although I have pretty much every detail of this story planned out, its future is a little uncertain right now. I'm so sorry. I don't want to let you guys down, because you've been so supportive and patient! I appreciate that so much, as well as all the lovely, inspiring feedback! I'm trying not to think too far ahead with this story, because I honestly don't know how I'm going to proceed with it for now. But if you could be patient with me, I would really appreciate it. And thank you so much again! For reading, favouriting, following, and reviewing. You're all brilliant.