Darling, I Want to Destroy You

Chapter 10

By: StalkerDex

(Author's Note: This isn't the last chapter. I hope you guys are still enjoying this story!)

"Hey, Mom," Kyle said, stress hanging heavy in his voice.

"Hi, Bubbala. When are you going to be home?" Sheila asked.

She had called him because she was starting to get worried. It was already ten o' clock and he hadn't come home.

"I'm, uh…I'm not coming home tonight, Ma. Something happened…"

"What happened?" She asked, a little worry creeping into her tone. It wasn't like Kyle to just tell her he wasn't going to come home. He always asked.

Kyle looked at Cartman, who was sitting on the couch staring into space. He wasn't really tuned in to what was happening, but he figured he should leave the room while he talked anyway. He walked towards the front door and stepped outside quietly.

"It's Mrs. Cartman…"

Sheila felt her stomach drop. She hadn't really liked how much time Kyle had spent with Liane while Eric was gone, and it seemed he spent even more for a while there while he was back. That woman was bad news. The Cartmans in general were bad news.

"What happened, Kyle?"

Kyle felt sick to his stomach. He wasn't sure how to break the news. There really wasn't a tasteful way to say what had happened, so he figured he should probably just be blunt about it. He swallowed hard before letting out a deep sigh.

"She, uh…she's dead…"

"What?" Sheila asked, suddenly feeling very heartbroken and concerned. She had never liked Eric, but the kid certainly didn't deserve to live without a mother, who was pretty much the only family he had, "What happened?"

"I took Eric home today because she didn't show up to take him home and, um…well, we got to his house and found her on the couch. She overdosed…there's a note on the table but Eric hasn't touched it. The police read it and put it back."

Sheila quietly stood in her kitchen, unsure what to say. Her eyes darted around the kitchen before landing on her husband, who was sitting at their table watching her conversation. He clearly could see something was wrong.

"Okay…you can stay. But we should talk about tomorrow…I don't think Eric should be at that house by himself. Why don't you tell him to come and stay with us tomorrow?"

She felt stupid talking so practically about it, but just like Kyle, she wasn't sure how to appropriately handle the situation. Death, especially when so sudden, never seemed like it could be handled properly.

Kyle, in a moment of utter confusion and haste, answered abruptly.

"Yeah, okay…I'll tell him to come stay with us."

"Okay Bubbie. Are you going to be alright?"

Her red headed son choked back the tears; he was going to miss Liane, too. They'd grown pretty close over the last few years.

"Yeah…I'm okay."

Sheila clicked her tongue, saddened and unsure what really to do. She felt helpless.

"Okay. Call me tomorrow. You don't have to go to school…I think you should just bring Eric over in the morning."

Kyle nodded, not even thinking of the fact that his mom couldn't see him.

"Yeah, alright…I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay Kyle. I love you."

He swallowed hard, "I love you, too Mom. I really, really do."

Sheila half smiled, filled with sadness, though happy to hear the sincerity in her son's voice. They acknowledged their affection for each other before hanging up. Kyle sighed, feeling overwhelmed, before walking back into the house.

Eric hadn't moved. He wasn't even sure if he had blinked. It was so heartbreaking to look at him. He was leaning forward, his arms leaned on his legs as he grasped onto each of his opposite arms. He was staring at the TV, which wasn't on, and rocking a little bit here and there. His face was reddened from having cried so heavily and his eyes were bloodshot. His brown hair was tossled from when he'd cried into Kyle's shoulder. He was a complete wreck.

The Jewish boy slowly and quietly made his way over to the couch and had a seat beside him, putting his arm around his shoulders. Eric sat, unmoving, for quite a few minutes before Kyle found the nerve to speak.

"My mom said you should come over in the morning tomorrow. We don't have to go to school."

Eric stared blankly before slowly turning his head and making eye contact with Kyle. He looked so adult while his face was worn as it was, and it took Kyle back for a moment.

"You want me to stay at your house…?"

Kyle looked down, a little guilt ridden. He had been so cruel to Eric for no real reason other than the fact that he was being a fucking pansy about the whole situation.

"Yeah," he spoke up as he stared at the floor. He didn't have the courage to look Eric in his eyes.

"Kyle…" Eric said quietly, his voice filled with pain.

"What, baby?" he said, involuntarily throwing out a pet name. Eric didn't seem to notice the affectionate term.

"I…uh…I really don't want to be alone…" he admitted, pushing his hands in between his legs and stretching his arms out. It narrowed his shoulders, making him look small and weak, which Kyle found strange. Eric had never been this fragile; not ever.

Kyle put his hand to Eric's cheek and looked him firmly in his eyes as he spoke, "You're not alone. I'm here. I'm never going to leave you again, you understand? We're in this together Eric…"

Cartman swallowed hard, the stress very obvious on his face.

"I read her note…" he suddenly admitted, his expression almost breathing shame.

Kyle looked at him questioningly, "are you okay? What did it say…?"

"Nothing…nothing that can really make it any better, anyway," he sighed, wiping a tear off of his cheek. He was trying so hard not to cry anymore.

Kyle nodded, not sure what he should say. They sat in a few more minutes of silence before Eric spoke up again.

"Can we go to your house tonight? I don't want to be here…"

Kyle smirked at him sympathetically, "of course. I'll text my mom and tell her we're coming now."

Eric nodded, watching Kyle pull his phone out of his pocket to start texting.

"Kyle…" he interrupted, once more sounding vulnerable. Kyle could tell he was about to say something important, so he stopped texting and looked him in his hazel eyes.

"What is it?"

A few more stray tears made their way down his pale face as he replied, "I love you Kyle. You don't have to say anything…it's okay…I just really wanted to tell you that I love you."

Kyle felt his stomach start to ache. Why would he tell him he didn't have to say anything? Did he really think that he didn't care?

"I love you, too, Eric," he responded leaning in and kissing Cartman's forehead affectionately.

That was about all Eric could handle. He couldn't hold it back anymore and, as he started to cry hysterically, Kyle couldn't either. They grabbed onto each other and cried heavily together, letting it all out. Liane, Eric, Kyle, all of the stress, all of the pain, it all just came flooding out of them. It was at that moment that they knew, together, this too would pass.

…

"Gerald," Sheila said as she hung up the phone.

"What?" he asked, turning to face her. They had discussed what had happened already before Kyle had called again. They'd already come to the conclusion that they were going to offer Eric the opportunity to finish out his senior year with them. It was important the kid had some guidance and a safe, warm place to live while finishing high school and Kyle was such good friends with him they really felt like it was their responsibility to take Eric under their wing. Besides, who else in that town would take him? He had always been such a trouble maker, which was no surprise considering the lack of parental guidance he'd had his entire life. It wasn't his fault he was the way he was, and Sheila and Gerald were both caring enough people to see that and accept Eric.

"They've decided to come over here tonight. Kyle said he has something he needs to talk to us about when they get here."

Gerald looked at his wife questioningly. What else could possibly be going on? Liane's death was bad enough news, he wasn't sure how much else he could handle. He was basically adopting another kid for the next three or four months, at the very least. That was assuming Eric decided to move out after high school had finished. He wasn't so sure that would happen either because there wasn't much prospects for that kid to go to college, that was for sure.

"Okay…are they on their way?"

"They should be here any…" as she was answering, they heard the front door open. Sheila and Gerald both rushed out of the kitchen and into the living room to see the two young men. They both had flushed, tear stained faces and Eric, of course, looked an absolute fright. The Broflovski's hearts really went out to him, especially once they both set eyes on him.

"Oh, Eric…I'm so sorry," Sheila said as she walked up and gave him a warm hug. Eric looked a little put off for a second, though not irritated. He was just surprised. Sheila was never affectionate with him. He warmed up quickly though and put his arm around her and nuzzled her neck. Fuck…he had to keep himself from crying again. He didn't even like Sheila, but her warmth and sincerity made him feel like he had to.

As they broke their embrace Eric tried to smile at her, but couldn't. Instead, a small amount of salty tears came out of his eyes as he nodded at her to show her his appreciation. She nodded back before stepping back beside her husband.

"Can I get you boys anything? Do you want some tea?"

"No…it's okay…thank you," Eric replied, setting down a night bag he'd packed himself beside the door.

Kyle, seemingly out of nowhere, stepped up beside Eric and grabbed his hand, lacing his fingers between his. Eric, stunned, managed to grasp his hand firmly. Sheila and Gerald looked at their son questioningly as he swallowed hard and struggled to find his voice.

"Mom…Dad…before we let this happen, there's something you need to know."

Eric's tired eyes widened a bit as he looked at his boyfriend, not really sure if he was actually going to do this.

Sheila and Gerald both stood, frozen, eyes on Kyle wide with confusion. He was shocking everyone.

He took in a deep breath before continuing, "Eric is my boyfriend. We've been together for a while now, and I'm sorry I hid it from you. I'm sorry to you and I'm sorry to you," he said as he looked between his parents and Eric. Everyone stood quietly, giving him their full attention, "and it's okay if you don't like it. I don't expect you to be happy with this, but it's the truth. I'm in love with him and I can't help it…it's just the way I feel," he finished, tightening his grip on Eric's hand.

Eric was tense as he looked the Broflovski's over, unsure what they were going to do. He hoped they didn't kick them both out; he really didn't want to be in that godforsaken house of his.

Sheila finally put her hand to her mouth and gasped and Gerald put his arm on her shoulder, seemingly trying to keep her calm. She wasn't really sure what to do. Kyle was gay? And not only gay, but in love with Eric Cartman? She wasn't really sure how to process it. She didn't even really feel like any of the events of the night were real. She felt her stomach lurch as she simply turned and walked up the stairs. The boys stood in quiet fear as they heard her bedroom door shut behind her. Gerald looked at them sympathetically.

"Are you mad?" Kyle finally asked, not so worried about his father. He was far less oppressive than his mother was and he had always been more comfortable dealing with him.

"No, Kyle. I'm not mad…it's okay."

He let out a breath of relief and felt Eric squeeze his hand comfortingly. He was being supportive, and it felt good to have that.

"Okay…" was all he could manage to reply.

Gerald shifted uncomfortably before clearing his throat, "well…I'm going to go ahead and talk with your mother. You guys have got to be tired…go on and go to bed," he insisted before walking up to his son and embracing him. Eric let go of his hand and felt a profound sadness as he watched Kyle receive his father's comfort. He would never have that again…ever. He choked back the tears once more. Fuck…he wished he could stop crying. He hated it.

As Kyle and Gerald broke their embrace they smiled warmly at one another before Gerald disappeared upstairs. Kyle turned to Eric and offered him a half-hearted smile. Eric knew he really didn't know what to say or do and he was okay with that. He didn't expect him to have some sort of magic fix all.

Eric smiled back at him before walking up and giving him a sincere kiss.

"Thank you…"

Kyle nodded before bending over and grabbing Eric's night bag, "c'mon…let's go to bed."