A.N- Sorry I'm a slow uploader you guys… I can only write like 1K words per day if it goes to plan, and these chapters are long, so once every two weeks is about my most comfortable… Hope it's worth waiting.
Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! It was interesting hearing your thoughts, and was happy to hear that you didn't mind my very slow development of relationships. I haven't even mentioned Damien for ages, and was glad that one of you remembered him:) psst. He is coming soon.
Anyway, thank you! Here's the longest chapter I've ever written.
Hope you enjoy~
12
Craig slipped out of his bed and Kyle leaned over to catch him, but he was pushed aside by Craig's hand.
'Just because I've been in the infirmary for two weeks down's mean I haven't walked in two weeks,' the brunet said, placing his feet firm on the ground. He got up, stretched his back, and sighed. 'Fuck, it feels good that I'm finally getting out of here. I don't wanna lie down for another week.'
Kyle laughed, patting Craig's back.
'You'll be missing your bed in no time.'
Craig scoffed at Kyle's knowing words and shrugged his hand off, which only made Kyle laugh even more and wrap his whole arm around Craig's shoulders. He was pushed off again, chuckling.
'Remember, don't push yourself, and do the exercises, and keep your foot secure. Keep it tied,' the nurse said, opening the door for them as they left the infirmary. 'And keep on learning how to read. You can become my assistant then, and repay the favour.'
Craig showed his middle finger to the nurse and turned around as the door shut behind them.
'What does that mean, exactly?' Kyle asked, indicating Craig's gesture.
'What, this? This means, "Fuck you".' Craig flicked the middle finger of his right hand. 'And this means, "Fuck off".' He did the same with his left.
Kyle shook his head at Craig's explanation, but there was a soft smile on his lips. He knew what "fuck" meant now. He looked it up in the library.
Fuck you, you fat fuck.
'I went to talk to Cartman today,' he opened up to Craig. The brunet pierced his gaze through Kyle at the sudden confession, accusingly or in fear. 'I told him I won't sell myself to him, and that I would never submit to him.'
Craig slightly relaxed at what Kyle said, although he still wore a tight frown.
'I don't know why you would bother… So? What did the fucker say to you after that?'
'He said he would make my life a living Hell. Mine, and yours,' Kyle looked at Craig, but he only smirked, although with a hint of hesitance. Kyle continued: 'He said he would throw us into the very pits of it. So deep that we wouldn't be able to get out. Look, I'm not saying that I'm being affected by what he said to me, it's just… be careful, Craig. I don't know what he would do.'
'Well, I have a few ideas. But they're nothing special. Nothing more special than the risks we take by surviving each day in here. Pain. Death. Rape. What more could a fat fuck do?'
'I don't know…' Kyle's heart sank as he tried to imagine, tried to get into Cartman's head. Craig saw this, and shoved Kyle with his shoulder, making the redhead tumble over his own feet.
'Hey!' Kyle shoved Craig right back, but not too fiercely for the injured boy.
'Lost my balance. That's what happens when you try and look too far ahead. Best to focus on what's in front of you.'
Kyle scoffed at first, but the smile gently sank onto his lips as he did agree with Craig's words. Lingering on helpless thoughts never helped, and he always thought too much.
'Hey, by the way,' Craig began as they made their way to the cafeteria, 'I was wondering, but forgot to ask you over all the other fucked up shit that was going on… How did you find out that I was getting, like, beaten… in the bathroom? Did someone tell you or, do you have the shining or something?'
'No, I was told, by— it's funny, I had completely forgotten about it until now.' Kyle lightly sucked his tongue, the name hesitating to come out. 'I was told by Butters that you were being attacked. He came to my cell to take me to you. He said he would take me to you but I ran ahead after he told me where you were. He was tired and couldn't keep up, and I was desperate.' He looked up, forcing his eyes and voice brighten. 'So it was Butters. I haven't seen him in a while; I forgot to thank him. Maybe you would want to too?'
'Urgh, no thanks,' Craig scrunched up his nose. But his expression began to loosen as he remembered something. Butters' name reminded him: of the short blond with puffy cheeks… The boy who had taken him to the bathroom Cartman had attacked him in. Craig had a strange feeling when the boy approached him a week ago, but couldn't grasp what it was. But now he knew, and he couldn't believe he hadn't realised it earlier. The boy who took him to the bathroom was the boy who had bumped into him weeks ago when Kyle was being attacked by Trent's gang. It was Butters.
'What's wrong?' Kyle asked as he noticed the hint of shock on Craig's face.
'The guy who took me to the bathroom where Cartman attacked me, that was Butters. He told me that the bathroom needed cleaning and took me there. And then… he went to call you. It's as if—'
'That makes sense,' Kyle interrupted Craig's words, his voice so light that it made Craig widen his eyes.
'What?'
'Well, at first I didn't know how Butters knew that you were being attacked. It was a place where people would rarely go without a reason, like you being ordered to clean it, so I didn't understand why Butters would be there. But if he was the one who took you to the bathroom, then it makes sense that he would have gone there and would know that you were being attacked. He could have passed Cartman on the way back or could have seen him go into the bathroom after he left. He could have gone back with suspicion and witnessed you being attacked.'
'Or there could be another possibility,' Craig said with a firm gaze. Kyle looked at him, and his smile dropped at Craig's disapproving look. The brunet continued to state the more likely, yet painful option: 'Butters could have joined hands with Cartman to get to you. He could have taken me to a secluded bathroom, where Cartman attacked me, and then go call you so you would come and "rescue" me. Then you were to make a deal with Cartman, which he succeeded, originally.'
Kyle looked shocked at Craig's words, as if he hadn't even considered the possibility. But that was a lie: it was an expression of hurt from denial.
'But… that doesn't make sense—'
'It makes a lot of sense,' Craig slammed down on Kyle's words without raising his voice. 'It makes sense how Cartman knew that I was in that bathroom, it makes sense why Butters would call you for help instead of a close by guard or anyone… Hell, it even makes sense why I needed to clean a bathroom that wasn't so dirty to begin with. Kyle, Cartman attacked me to get to you, I saw it in his eyes. He wants you, for some fucked up reason. That's another reason why I can't stand you giving in to him, taking his deals, selling yourself to him for me. Because you're giving him what he wants. You're making all his plans come together. Well, until yesterday, at least,' he grinned at the last sentence. But Kyle didn't. Too many cold ideas had speared into his head and it was hard to accept them or to even think them through straight.
'Butters might be behind this? Cartman did all of that just to get to me?'
'Well, I don't have proof for Butters, but I definitely wouldn't trust him. As for Cartman? I am sure of him. That's why I'm more concerned for you than me. He might find me irritating, or hell, amusing… but not as much as you. He wants you. That's why I would be more worried for you. And I am. Kyle, just because I promised that I wouldn't sacrifice myself for you again doesn't mean that I wouldn't do all I can to help you. It means no secrets between us that would get either of us hurt.'
Kyle looked down, his heart aching at the thought that Butters may have betrayed him. But would it be betrayal if the person only came close to you to in the beginning to hurt you? To think that all those times Butters was kind and friendly to him, talked to him and smiled at him, was him pretending to like Kyle so that he could hurt him in the end… The thought hurt, like splinters digging into his heart. Kyle didn't know if his disbelief for Craig's theory was denial or trust, but Kyle couldn't accuse Butters. Not without talking to him first.
.
Butters wasn't surprised that he got his old job back. He knew he would, once his little game with fucking Kyle up ended. He was glad to be back too. He didn't have many people working with him, but he liked being alone for the most. He didn't have to smile and suck up to all those idiots. But there was one downfall this time. One annoying little shit that slapped him right in the face. Kyle was his partner, and this time it was completely coincidental.
Kyle, on the other hand, couldn't have been more grateful. He had been in "Outside Work C" for over a month now and was glad for a bit of a change, although he didn't except a great change for being in "Outside Work B". Maybe he had to dig somewhere else. He didn't know. But when he heard Butters' name being called out in his small group, his heart jumped. After his talk with Craig yesterday about Butters he didn't know if he could see Butters the same way as he used to. He didn't want to doubt Butters though, at least, without proof. And he knew he had to. He just… didn't know how to confront someone for being a backstabbing traitor.
'Just because you're in Outside Work B doesn't mean you can go slacking off. There's plenty to do for all of you.'
The officer was big and fat, but he didn't seem so strict or mean like Cartman. He stated what he wanted from the inmates without any threats or insults and moved on. 'Now Butters, you're on gardening again, you know what you're doing. And take one of the new ones with you. Let's say— Kyle Broflovski.'
Kyle looked up at the call of his name, and then looked to Butters. For a second he thought the beady blue eyes were glaring back at him, but relaxed as he heard Butters' gentle voice ring out.
'Buh- But sir, I don't need anyone. There's not enough work—'
'I will not repeat myself, Butters.'
'Y- yes sir…'
The officer nodded. He then resumed to divide the rest of the group into two: one to follow him to the river, and the other to follow the other officer to the solar panels on the red wall. Kyle had never been to the river or the red wall, although he could see them in the distance from the rooftop of prison. The red wall was more like a risen plate than a wall. It was a couple kilometres away to the north, ending the forest with a chop of a cliff. It wasn't very tall and it had hand-dug steps to climb up with, but it was still a pain to climb in the blazing sun. The sun's light made it glow red during the day, and that is where it got its name.
The river was to the west of prison, like a great, immortal serpent that crossed through the forest and flowed beyond the desert. The red wall made a great waterfall that divided into three levels, each level having a small pool as the water continued to flow to the bottom. It was amazing how the river kept on flowing even through weeks without rain. The river and the red wall were crucial elements to the prison, as the river provided water and hydropower, although most of the electricity came from the solar panels built on top of the red wall.
There were only two guards and one took the group to the river while the other to the top of the wall. Apparently the guards trusted Butters enough not to put a guard on him, even if he had a partner.
'Well, it's nice to be working with you again,' Butters said, giving Kyle a smile.
'Me too…' Kyle returned the smile, although his lips were lightly quivering from mixed emotions. Alone with Butters… He had no excuse to not talk to him now. And Butters' hesitation to take him as his partner wasn't very encouraging.
Butters led the way to the garden. It wasn't far, and Kyle knew where it was. If you stood on the western side of the rooftop and looked down, it was just there, near the border of the trees. It was fenced out though, so nobody could get in. Not that anybody was desperate enough to risk stealing a tomato. They weren't that underfed.
'What is this garden for?' Kyle asked as Butters opened the gate. 'There's not enough here to feed even a fracture of us.'
'Oh, these aren't for us,' Butters chuckled, locking the gate behind them. 'These are for the higher officers. Mummified vegetables that travelled the desert aren't good enough for them… I'm not complainin' though! Gardening is a very relaxing job, I love it! Even if I don't get to eat any of them.' The brightness of his voice was forcefully lifted at the end.
'What are we meant to do?'
'Just… water them and make sure the bugs aren't gettin' them and stuff… It's not much. I'll water them. Can you check if they're any bugs around? And pull out the weeds.'
'What are weeds?'
For a second, Butters seemed to make a bitter expression, but he quickly showed Kyle which ones were weeds and which weren't.
'Is this one?' Kyle asked, showing a thin, small grass.
'Yup! Don't forget to take out the roots.' Butters smiled and went to the end of the garden with his hose.
Kyle continued on looking for bugs and taking out the weeds, occasionally asking Butters if the plant was a weed or not before taking it out. Kyle could tell that he was avoiding asking Butters about his connection with Cartman. It was as if he really doubted Butters and he didn't want an answer. No. He should get it over with. But how should he put it?
'Butters?'
'Hm?' The boy hummed as he turned the tap of the hose.
'Remember two weeks ago when you told me that Craig was being attacked in the bathroom? …By Cartman?'
'Oh, well, yes I do. It was terrible what that officer was doing to him. If only I- I had more strength and courage I would have popped him on the nose my self. You were too fast though, I couldn't keep up with you. Were you able to save him?'
Kyle nodded hesitantly.
'Oh, that's good,' the blond replied cheerily and turned back to watering the plants. The water sank into the special soil, turning it moist and dark as if giving it instant life. But Kyle wasn't done yet.
'How did you find out that Cartman was attacking Craig?' Butters paused at Kyle's question, and looked up.
'I passed the guard on my way from showing Craig which bathroom needed cleaning. I thought it was strange, so I followed him, and then I saw your friend being attacked.'
The story made sense and he didn't try to hide the fact that it was him that took Craig to that bathroom, but it wasn't enough to ease all doubt.
'Why did you take Craig to that bathroom? He said it seemed clean enough, with not many people using it.'
'Kyle, if I didn't know better ah- I would say that you were interrogating me, or something,' Butters chuckled.
'I was just wondering,' Kyle smiled reassuringly.
'Well, it was just an excuse, honestly. To give Craig an easy job for his special exception. Apparently he was injured, so he was given light work, and I found one for him.'
'You chose that place for him?'
'It was relatively clean. I thought it would be an easy job so he could finish earlier. I guess it was a bad decision in the end though…'
'Did you tell anyone about the change?' Kyle asked before he could sympathise with Butters' guilt. This would be his final question, he thought.
'No— I didn't tell anyone. I didn't think it was necessary.'
Doubt finally settled on Kyle's face. His smile slowly dropped even as he looked at Butters' innocent smile.
'Then… how did Cartman find out that Craig was there then?'
The blond's smile finally quivered, and gradually, his lips relaxed into a frown. Before Kyle could recognise the cold expression, he felt a sudden burst of water shoot at him. He coughed and put his arms up to his face, trying to avoid the water from getting into his nose and mouth, but the water kept on blasting at him, drenching him from head to toe.
'What—' he coughed as the water came down his face. 'Butters, stop!'
The blast of water finally stopped, and Kyle was left standing there, dripping as if he was just pulled out from sea. He stared at Butters, dumb-founded and confused. The blond wasn't smiling anymore. There was hatred and disgust in his eyes, but after a second, he let out a condescending smirk.
'Congratulations! I'm officially too sick and tired of acting like a retard to match your level. I can't stand another minute of pretending to even care about you,' he said, turning off the tap. 'So you know what? Fuck it. You survived this much, you at least deserve to know the truth, I guess.'
Water continued to flow down his face, running down his cheek and dripping from his nose and lips. Kyle heard his heavy breathing and he wasn't sure if it was because of the water or because of the extreme change in Butters' attitude, even his face, as if he had literally taken off a mask.
'What? What are you talking about, Butters?'
'Come on, Kyle get over the fucking denial. You aren't that stupid. I hope. Ew.'
Kyle's heart sank, but not as much as it should have. Other than his denial and refusal to accuse someone without proof, he didn't have much reason to believe the short blond to be the kind and innocent boy he pretended to be. Craig knew it, and deep down, Kyle knew it too.
'Why?'
'Oh, before you say anything, can I just ask— Has Eric fucked you yet?'
'What?'
'Eric, you know— the fat guard. Cartman.'
The blood rushed from Kyle's face, turning his skin blue. And Butters sniggered at this, until Kyle answered his question.
'No!'
The blond frowned again, as if confused.
'Why not? Is he waiting for something?'
'No! I haven't let him fuck me, and I won't!'
'Didn't he propose a deal to you?'
'Yes, and I didn't take it. …You know about the deal?'
'Of course. I thought of it after all. Well, most of it.'
It was an instant change. Kyle was furious now. His heart that was sinking a minute ago was now rattling and fuming in his chest like a boiling kettle.
'You… told Cartman to attack Craig, and to threat me that he would do it again unless I had sex with him?'
Butters shrugged with a smug smile.
'I told him that attacking your dear raven would be the quickest way of making you submit to him. You proved you had a weak soft for those you care about. Remember? When you sold yourself to Trent for me?' The memory ripped Kyle's stomach in horror, and made the blond chuckle with delight. 'Yes, princess. It was all a set up. You came this close to getting gang-banged for someone who hated you. And you would have been if it wasn't for…'
'Kenny…' Kyle finished, as Butters' mouth seemed to find it difficult to say the name. Butters glared, but didn't deny his answer.
'So. Why didn't you take the deal?'
'I did. Initially. But I found out that it was wrong.'
'Wrong? More wrong than to stand back and let Eric fuck up your friend again?'
'…Yes,' Kyle squeezed out through a tensing throat. 'I can't have a relationship built on sacrifice and secrets.'
'So even if I said, "I'll make Trent's gang rape Craig to death tonight unless you let me fuck you to the ground right now" you wouldn't do it?'
'I wouldn't,' Kyle growled, eyes blazing at the horrendous idea. 'I would go to Craig's aid and fight for him. Right beside him. No deals. No acting behind his back.'
Butters hummed.
'Huh... bummer. Not that I'd want to fuck you. You're too... sissy. It's a bummer my plan didn't work out. And probably a bummer for you too.'
'What do you mean?'
'It would have been much easier for you if you just let him fuck you. But now— you probably angered a guy with arrogance and power. Well… enough power to change your life in here at least. An arrogant, sadistic jerk with a libido as big as his belly. Although, that's what I like about him.'
'Are you planning something with him again?' Kyle asked sharply.
'No. I'm done. I'm out. You're fucked anyway, no need to waste my time on you. Maybe I'll play the game again if I'm bored but— nuh. I'll just get a bucket of popcorn and watch from the sidelines.'
Despite Butters' nonchalant attitude and light voice, Kyle couldn't shrug off the dark content of his words. He didn't expect Cartman to simply back away now, but the reminder of the pain that may come simmered down Kyle's anger into cool doubt and anxiousness. He turned quiet and still.
'Why do you hate me so much Butters? Did I do anything to you?'
Butters blinked, and then laughed loudly at Kyle's soft question.
'No, you didn't do nothing. I just hate you. Everything about you. The way you talk, your posture, your skin, your teeth, your big round puppy-dog eyes… A little preppy that doesn't know the real world.'
'Is that why you do this? To teach me the "real world"?'
'Maybe. Or maybe it's just fun. Don't think I'm anything special, princess. They're plenty of people out there who would want to hurt you just for kicks. What would be more fun than to drag a princess down to the level of a broken whore? And it would have happened by now, if it weren't for a certain fucking rumour.'
'Rumour?'
'Don't you pay any attention to the world around you at all?' Butters asked with a raised brow. 'The rumour that… the Prince has taken a liking to you. And all because he saved you from Trent's gang once.'
Butters spat the words out as if it stang his mouth to say them.
Kyle stayed quiet. He was getting close to Kenny, but as close as such a rumour implied. But there was no need to tell the little blond anything. He was done, and apparently, Butters was too.
The blond turned the tap on again and went back to watering the plants.
'Go back to pulling out the weeds and looking for bugs,' he said. 'But if you ask me whether something's a weed or not one more time, I'll knock your fucking teeth out. It would make it easier for you to suck Eric's cock.'
Kyle gave Butters a last glare, but did as he was told. Just after Cartman, Butters was someone Kyle hated now. Hated, for going to depths to hurt him even though Kyle hadn't done anything to hurt him. But Kyle also felt sad: a single drop to his simmering anger. Butters was the first person that was nice to Kyle, the first "friend" he thought he had made in the grey prison. But it was all a lie. A lie that was made to hurt him. Kyle didn't want this revelation to change who he was, and it wouldn't change his relationship with Craig or Stan, or Kenny even… He didn't want to view everyone as a potential threat to him, but maybe he should be a bit more cautious from now on. People wanted to hurt him, even if he had done nothing. There were people who hated someone for just being alive.
.
'You were right,' Kyle told Craig at dinner.
'Which time are we talking about here?' the brunet asked with his monotonous voice, making Kyle smirk weakly.
'About Butters.' Craig's face didn't change, but his shoulders slightly dropped and he looked down at his dinner. 'I became partners with Butters again for work. Just light work at the garden. So I took the chance to confront him and… he told me everything. Just like that, he didn't even try to hide it. Everything was a lie. He did everything as a means to hurt me. But I still don't get it… I haven't done anything to him, and he still hates me.'
Craig took a drink, contemplating Kyle words. He put the cup down with a quiet sigh.
'He hates you because you have everything he doesn't have.' Kyle looked up at Craig's sudden words, surprised that the brunet seemed to know what he didn't. 'You are innocent, naïve, honest, good-hearted… all qualities of a good upbringing, although I don't understand why you aren't more of an arrogant, spoilt breat. You can read, you have white teeth and clean skin. You don't know how to doubt people, you don't know your place in the world… You don't know how to survive, because you never had to, and yet… here you are, still in one piece. And you have Kenny, the Prince, on your side.' Craig took another drink and looked back at Kyle. 'You came from a good home. A good family. A good life. And you just threw it all away and came here. He's jealous of you, everyone is. They don't know you, and still they can't forgive you for throwing away what you had. They're all just so fucking jealous, it burns.'
'Even you?' Kyle asked doubtingly, making the brunet smirk.
'A bit, sure. Who wouldn't be? But right now, you have nothing. Just like the rest of us. We're all empty handed here, and the only thing we have to judge is what is inside us.'
'Well… we're not completely empty handed,' Kyle smiled suggestively. Craig shook his head, trying to hide his own creeping smile, and pushed Kyle with his shoulder. Kyle laughed and nudged back.
Jealous, huh? Kyle thought, his smile disappearing as Craig went back to finishing his dinner. Jealous… of food and a home, an education, a warm bed, a hot bath, clean clothes… of course. Who wouldn't want that? But Kyle wondered if people would still want what he had if they knew what it came with. Kyle wondered if anyone ever thought of why Kyle would give it all up. If anyone wondered what drove Kyle to throw it all away. But he guessed it didn't matter. Maybe his pains were nothing compared to what everyone in prison went through. Maybe… But Kyle couldn't tell. He didn't know the real world. He didn't' know what was normal. The only thing Kyle knew was that he couldn't take it anymore. It was wrong. And that was why he threw it all away.
.
Kyle lightly leaned over Craig's shoulder as he struggled to get the words out of his mouth. They were in the library again, continuing Craig's reading lessons. For an expression-less, monotonous, sarcastic boy, Craig was a terrific student, as far as Kyle could tell. Dedicated and rarely complained. And he was a fast learner too.
'"C" is for c-c-cat. "D" is for d-dog. "E" is for… Eh, eh… eh-leh-p… What the fuck is that?'
'Elephant,' Kyle told him, looking at the picture of the strange grey animal with a long nose and big ears.
'Oh, yeah "P""H" makes "F" for some fucked up reason. Anyway. "F" is for f-fr-'
'France,' Christophe finished from above him.
'Frog,' Craig spat back. Christophe smirked. He knew how to read.
After they finished the book Kyle congratulated Craig. That was enough for the day and Kyle returned the book back to its shelf. He could rent and return books on his own now. Gregory trusted him enough.
'Hey, I was wondering— it's just an idea but— why don't you get more people to teach?' Craig asked Kyle as they made their way through the hallway.
'What?'
'I mean, you're a good teacher. It'll be a shame just to waste it on me.'
'Craig, if you become able to read, and you're doing really well, nothing would be a waste. It would be— one of the greatest thing's I have ever done and could wish to do.'
'Don't be dramatic. I'm not saying you should get a random bunch of people and teach them. Just like— maybe invite Tweek or something. I don't know. People you trust.'
Kyle's eyes widened in realisation.
'Tweek. Yeah, we should invite him! Do you think he can't read?'
'Dude, other than the guards— hardly anyone can read here. Probably not even some of the guards; they always mumble through their mouth when they're trying to read something. Not quiet, like you.'
The next day at dinner, Kyle brought the invitation to Tweek. The blond didn't seem to understand what Kyle was proposing at first, but he slowly began to listen more carefully. Especially once Kyle said that he was already teaching Craig.
'You don't have to come; it's just a suggestion. I teach Craig at the library from the fourth bell in the afternoon, after an hour's break from work, unless you're a cook or a cleaner… I teach him some nights after dinner too, but we have no set time for that. Just when he doesn't have anything else to do.'
'Oh, God! Jesus Christ! The –ngh- library?'
'Tweek, it's not such a bad place.'
'But the librarians!'
'The librarians are two assholes,' Craig interrupted from the other side of Kyle. 'They aren't monsters. You'll wonder why they even have such a reputation.'
Tweek twitched and shook beside Kyle but didn't say anything, as if contemplating the idea.
'Jesus! Okay— I'll, agh, try it out. Just once. But if those librarians try to kill me I'm not going, man.'
'Good,' Kyle smiled and looked at Craig. He shrugged and went back to eating his dinner.
.
Teaching Tweek was much harder than teaching Craig, by a mile. He wouldn't sit still (not that he ever did), he screamed almost every time Kyle asked him a question, his attention span was a blink of an eye… not to mention his anxiety towards Christophe's presence. But Kyle was grateful of Christophe's presence. With a single gaze, Christophe was able to silence Tweek, like Craig, only in a more electrifying way. Craig's quiet concentration on his picture books also helped as well. Maybe his dedication was inspiring. Every time Tweek looked at Craig struggling to read his book, Tweek would settle down and pick up Kyle's hand-made cards and concentrate for a few minutes, until he had his next out-burst and Christophe had to glare at him again.
But with just a few days, Tweek was able to learn most of the alphabet. It was amazing, considering how little he could get through in class. But the truth was, he would spend most of the day and as much of night as possible trying to learn. He had the time, since he didn't have the common job, and had the strange urge to learn (not that he had anything else to do). But Kyle never saw this secretly hardworking side of Tweek and only saw the results. It confused and amazed him at first, but he soon detected Tweek's secret dedication. He didn't say anything though, only smiled and praised him (which Tweek didn't take very well).
Kyle, Craig and Tweek were walking back from their session when the door of the infirmary opened to let the nurse pop out from behind it.
'I thought I heard your voices,' he said, looking at Kyle and Craig. 'You have a minute to spare? I need an extra hand, or two, or three, if you want.'
The nurse looked at Tweek and the blond jolted his back into a straight plank.
'I'm not hurt!' he burst out.
'I know, I—'
'I'm not sick either!' he interrupted the nurse. 'I don't need to go to the infirmary! Just—'
'Tweek, it's okay he just wants us to lend a hand,' Kyle tried to calm Tweek, but the blond only jumped more as Kyle tried to rub his shoulder for comfort. Craig sighed quietly through his nose.
'Go, if you want. He doesn't need all of us anyway.'
Tweek paused and made a last twitch before he took the offer and left with quick feet.
'He really doesn't like the infirmary, does he?' Kyle said, watching the blond rush through the hallway.
'Nobody does,' the nurse replied. 'Come on.'
Kyle and Craig followed the nurse inside and as the smell of mint and medicine stang their nostrils, found that two of the ten beds were occupied, one on the each side of the wall, facing each other.
'Can you treat these two idiots? You know what to do Kyle, and tell Craig. While I do s'more paper work.'
The nurse retreated to his room and Kyle followed him to get the first aid kit, leaving Craig in the bed room. The brunet looked around at the two injured inmates and approached the one to his left. He poked the inmate's foot, making him moan.
'Does that hurt?' the raven asked and poked the leg again, making him moan once more.
'Craig, stop that. We're meant to help them, not hurt them,' Kyle told the bored raven, continuing to poke the injured boy. 'I've got some icepacks for the bruises and swells. We need to clean the cuts and use the cream. Hey,' Kyle approached the lying boy closer to him. His handsome features were crooked in pain and his blond hair carried some dirt. 'What happened?'
The boy grunted, but began to speak:
'That asshole was pushing me out the window on the first floor, thinking it was funny. But then he pushed me out too far and I fell, so I took him down with me.'
Kyle looked back at Craig with a raised brow and Craig gave him a shrug. The raven poked the boy lying next to him one last time.
'They didn't break anything though,' the nurse said, leaning out the door. 'The blond has a sprained wrist and the other had a dislocated shoulder, but other than that it's mainly bruises.'
Kyle tried to treat his patient as gently as possible but Craig didn't seem to give two shits about his patient moaning in pain. He poked the boy on a bruise when he complained and slapped a wound when he finished treating it.
'Why can't you be more gentle like that peach over there!'
'You're the closest one to a peach in here, kid. A fugly bruised one.'
'Ow!' the boy exclaimed as Craig slapped him on his shoulder.
Kyle's patient, on the other hand, was much quieter: enough to drive Kyle to want to try and start a conversation.
'Where are you from?' he asked, wrapping up the blond's sprained wrist.
'Why do you care?'
'I'm from the West Wing,' Kyle said, showing that he had no ill intention behind the question.
The boy tensed his nose with distaste, but answered:
'East.'
'Oh, so you know Token, then?'
'You know Token?' The boy asked in disbelief.
'I only met him once. He seemed nice.'
The boy scoffed and looked away, but he seemed to realise something and looked back at Kyle.
'You're that princess aren't you? The Western Prince's little bitch people talk about.'
'My name is Kyle,' the redhead glared, making the bandage extra tight around the boy's hand. 'And I'm not Kenny's bitch.'
'…So you are the princess, huh. I'm not surprised. But you're not as girly as I thought you'd be.'
'Sorry to disappoint,' Kyle said sarcastically, finishing up the bandaging. 'There.'
'Huh. You're more like Mother Teresa than a princess,' the boy said, inspecting his newly bandaged hand.
'You're lucky it wasn't your leg, or you would have had to stay here for at least a week. What's your name?'
The boy gave Kyle a hard stare but didn't show any sign of opening his mouth. But Craig's patient called out form the other side instead:
'His name is Chris Donnely!'
'Shut up Clyde!' The boy spat back. Kyle chuckled above him and Chris stopped glaring at Clyde to look at the redhead laughing above him. He tensed at the soft sound, but slowly relaxed back into his bed, a soft colour tinting his cheeks.
Once he stopped laughing, Kyle slowly contemplated an idea that popped into his head.
'Hey Chris… Can you read?'
The blond boy's expression tightened again at the question, glaring at Kyle.
'Is that some sort of joke?'
'No.'
Chris huffed and looked away.
'I never needed to, and I never will.'
Kyle smiled weakly and closed the lid of the first aid kit.
'Well, if you ever want to learn, tell me. I'm teaching my friend here right now. I teach every day on the forth bell in the afternoon.'
'The library?'
'It's not a trick!' Kyle reassured as the boy reacted to the infamous place. 'It's safe. You can come when you like, just don't insult the librarians.'
'Can I come?' Clyde called from beside Craig, smiling excitedly. 'I always wanted to learn how to read. It seems cool!'
Craig poked his shoulder again annoyingly, making the boy wince again.
'It's not easy, you wimp,' he said.
'Well if you can do it,' the boy sneered, earning another poke from the raven.
'Of course you can come,' Kyle told the wimping boy, and turned back to the stern blond, giving him a reassuring look. 'You're welcome, any time.'
Craig didn't seem so happy about the offer. He looked at Kyle disapprovingly as they returned to the West Wing.
'Are you sure that was a good idea?'
'What was?'
'Inviting those douchebags to your reading lessons.'
'It was your idea to get more students,' Kyle pointed out challengingly.
'Yeah, I said people you could trust. You don't know those guys. And they're from the East Wing. You can't trust them.'
'I don't trust them.'
Craig looked at Kyle with wide eyes, surprised at the blunt statement. He was expecting Kyle give him a short naïve lecture about how "trusting others was the first step to being trusted", or that "doubting every road will lead you nowhere". But no. And then Kyle smiled up to him, brightly.
'They think that I'm Kenny's bitch and they know that I am acquaintances with Token, the Eastern King. They would think twice before hurting me. Like everyone else seems to…'
Kyle's voice lowered by the end and it was hard to pick up, but Craig did, with his alert ears. He didn't think that Kyle was aware of his own situation: how he was the greatest temptation, a walking target for trouble, protected only by the stupid rumour of his relationship with Kenny. (If there was anything between them it would be pretty one-sided on Kenny's part, Craig thought. Not that he believed that the Prince could have such devoted feelings for the redhead.) The rumour probably came from the fact that they shared the same cell, and because Kenny bashed Trent's gang up for Kyle's sake, oh, and the fact Kenny didn't want the compony of whores anymore, but that was about it. Heh. That'll do it, Craig thought. But then Kyle's bright voice stopped his cynical thoughts crossing his mind.
'And besides,' the redhead said, 'how can I expect them to trust me if I don't trust them?'
'So you do trust them?' Craig asked with a smirk.
'I only trust that they wouldn't hurt me,' Kyle smirked right back. But it soon dropped along with the brightness in his eyes. 'Unlike Butters…'
'He's a cunning bastard with a few tricks and connections up his sleeve. I don't think there'd be many like him around.'
Kyle smiled again, lifting the heavy air he brought down.
'I trust that you wouldn't hurt me though. Even if you could.'
'Nah. I'm just scared that your pretty little prince might kill me if I do. With every day, I'm plotting how to get past him to hurt you.'
Kyle laughed out loud with Craig's sarcasm, making the raven snort at his own joke as well. The ironic thing though, was that the ones who cared for each other were the ones who could hurt each other, most deeply than anyone else. Craig knew it, and it was what made him hesitant to become close to anyone. But Kyle… he either didn't know, or didn't care. Either way, he didn't have boundaries to keep him safe.
.
Working with Butters was awkward, to say the least. Ever since they had their little chat, Butters didn't bother with any more facades, ignoring Kyle's existence unless he felt like teasing the redhead with sardonic words. Like it was now at the end of the week. Kyle was finishing checking the first row of plants for bugs and pulling out the weeds while Butters sat in the shade next to the tap, leaning against the fence.
'So, if you didn't let Eric fuck you, and Trent's gang failed to get you, does that mean you're still a sweet, plump, cherry boy, or has Kenny popped it for you?' Kyle tilted his head up, just enough to show an eye from under his wide straw hat that covered his whole crouching body in shadow. He frowned in confusion, not understanding Butters' words. The small blond clicked his tongue before continuing: 'Has Kenny fucked you already?'
'No!' Kyle exclaimed, the question almost a zap to the heart. 'Why do you keep on asking me if I had sex with someone? It's none of your business even if I did!'
But Butters ignored the second part of Kyle's answer, focusing on the single "No" that he said. The answer made Butters frown, taken aback, as if his question wasn't a foul joke.
'So, what? You two aren't fucking? Why would he protect you then, if it wasn't for a good, free fuck?'
'Has the idea "having a decent heart" come to your mind at all?'
Butters paused, and then let out a loud, comical cackle as he held his stomach.
'You're almost too stupid to hate, princess, although I do,' Butters said, finishing his cackling. Then he said to himself: 'But then why would he stop buying from me? He wouldn't go underground…'
'What?' Kyle asked. Butters hummed. 'What did he stop buying?'
'Whores.'
Kyle's eyes widened as Butters answered so lightly. Kyle remembered a memory from the first day. When he first met Kenny in their cell, the blond pushed him down and began to attack him on his bed, but with confusion towards Kyle's resistance. He finally stopped when a boy knocked on their door: "Leo sent me," he said. And then at dinner, Kenny whispered something to Butters. If that boy was a prostitute sent from "Leo", and Kenny stopped buying prostitutes from Butters then—
'Are you Leo?'
The blond smirked.
'Oh, so you know that name? Leopold. Such a grand name, isn't it, for poor little me? If you ever need a good fuck or a good fix, I'm the man for you. The innocent little dealer of the West Wing.'
Kyle looked at Butters in disgust, surprised that he could think even lower of the manipulative blond. But Butters didn't blink at Kyle's expression. He played with the sand on the ground, moving it and crushing it with his foot.
'I would have recruited you to become one of my whores, you know? If you didn't end up in Kenny's cell,' Butters continued to talk, killing some time by continuing to harass Kyle. 'I would have drugged you up and sold you over and over again for a few favours and you would have enjoyed it, until the drugs broke your body and you become useless even for a hole. But you ended up on a different road. …And you know what? It doesn't matter. Because you will always end up in the same place, broken and rotting away on some cold floor. The road doesn't matter. There's only one destination.'
Kyle didn't say anything, but glared at the ground and pulled out more weeds violently, ripping up the soil. He heard Butters hum a merry song from the shadows. Lu lu lu. Lu lu lu.
.
'Are you going to do anything about him?' Craig asked Kyle from across the library table. The redhead frowned, as if he just chewed on something bitter.
'And what am I supposed to do? Ask him to "please stop harassing me"? Ask very nicely perhaps?'
'No, you fucking pussy. Threat him or something. He's a fucking midget. Even your puny fists could scare him.'
'I very much doubt that,' a clear voice said from above. The duo looked up, and found Gregory leaning off from the first balcony with a smug grin on his mouth.
'Why? Because he has that fat guard behind him?' Craig sneered.
'Well, that is an asset. But there is a reason why that fat guard would be behind him, wouldn't there?'
'And what's that?'
Gregory took out a long pole with a hand-made hook on the end, extending it towards the rope tied to the chandelier to pull it towards him. He grabbed the rope and swang down to the ground like Christophe usually did, although with more grace and much less spectacle. He patted his chest when he landed as if to flick away any invisible dust before he walked towards Craig and Kyle.
'Excuse me, that wasn't a very proper way of coming down. But it is quicker than using the stairs, isn't it?'
'It's not any less proper than having a huge stick up your ass,' Craig muttered, but Gregory only smiled at this. He didn't bother with insults from ignorant people, unlike Christophe, which made it very difficult for him to lose his temper.
'You make fun of Leo, or Butters, for being small, but height is probably one of the only things he doesn't have. That, and decency. But he is at least a year younger than both of you, so it's hard to say that he won't outgrow the weakness concerning height.' Gregory pulled out a file and cleared his throat. 'Leopold "Butters" Stotch. Fourteen. In for drug and child trafficking and prostitution: twelve years. Funny thing is, keeps on doing what he did on the outside in here, and it's what keeps him safe and lets him get what he wants. Leo is the most popular dealer in the West Wing, possibly in the whole prison. Drugs, and whores of course, for those who don't want to go underground or rape some random person.'
'Underground?' Kyle asked in confusion. Craig also showed a hint of confusion in his eyes, but didn't bother to ask. Gregory paused and his smiled faded at Kyle's question.
'You wouldn't want to know,' the blond stated bluntly, and went back to Butters' file. 'There are many people who owe him favours: nothing drastic, but still enough to protect him. Two little chooks like yourselves won't even make him sweat a single drop. You're lucky he only enjoys harassing you.'
The two became silent, exchanging awkward glances with each other.
'Do you have a file of everyone?' Kyle asked the blond, wanted to change the subject.
'Of everyone interesting,' Gregory smiled.
'Even us?' Craig asked with a tensed nose. Gregory smiled and took out another piece of paper from the file.
'Craig Tucker. Sixteen. In for stealing a loaf of bread: three years. I hope it was worth it. Good at poker, but that's pretty much it. And is currently in the library learning how to read from his best friend: Kyle Broflovski. Kyle Broflovski—' Gregory continued as he took out a new piece of paper, 'Sixteen, in for…'
Kyle froze. His heart was racing as Gregory began to read his file. But the blond stopped. He looked at Kyle, and then closed the file.
'I'm sorry, I shouldn't brag about my information gathering skills,' Gregory said. 'Please, continue your lesson.'
Craig scoffed and turned back to his book, but Kyle kept his eyes on Gregory, unable to move. Maybe the blond had noticed the redhead's eyes, but he looked back, and smiled.
'One last thing: please don't talk about the unfortunates that happened to you in front of Christophe. I don't want him getting mixed up in external affairs. He likes you, like a dog to its owner. He would probably wring Leo and Cartman's neck if he heard that they were… discomforting you.'
Before Kyle could reply, the library doors burst open, letting in a streak of bright light reflecting on sharp blond hair.
'Gah! Sorry I'm late!' Tweek shrieked, freezing at the entrance, 'I got— ngh— things!'
'He means me,' a nasally voice said, and a new head popped up behind Tweek. Kyle's mouth opened as he saw that it was the boy Craig "treated" a few days ago, but Kyle's smile didn't widen when he found that the one he treated wasn't there. Kyle wondered why he cared for the blond to come. Maybe he reminded him of Craig a little, the way he glared as if warning him to keep a distance, like Craig when they first met: the glare of an anxious, hurt animal.
'Oh, Jesus! I'm sorry, I couldn't shake him off!' Tweek cried as he hurried to take a seat across from Craig.
'I only asked where the library was, but then he shrieked and ran! So I followed him. But I ended up in the right place.'
Tweek was muttering and twitching as Clyde explained what happened.
'It's okay Tweek,' Kyle reassured the squinting blond. 'I invited him here.'
'Yeah, you psycho,' Clyde muttered as he took the seat next to Craig, which was a mistake, because Craig jammed his finger right into the boy's ribs the second he insulted his studying partner. The boy wasn't injured anymore, but Craig's poke was merciless, making him squeal.
'I'll fucking end you,' the short brunet croaked with tears in his eyes. Craig responded with a smirk, which made Tweek freeze and Kyle raise his brows.
Kyle had never seen Craig make a facial expression to someone he didn't know, most likely out of his defensive nature. But Kyle could understand why Craig wouldn't need to be defensive towards Clyde; he seemed harmless. And it's not the harmlessness Kyle felt with Butters, because, thinking back, Kyle had always had a strange feeling about that little blond. He just never wanted to admit it.
.
Stan laughed softly as Kyle described to him the comical atmosphere of his study sessions in the library. How Clyde would always come in with an arrogant smile, which Craig would instantly wipe off with a small poke or a pinch; how Tweek would continue to twitch and squirm (more now it seemed with Clyde in the group); and how Christophe would watch over them, warning them of making too much unneeded noise (which was mostly directed at Clyde and Tweek, since Craig hardly talked).
Stan and Kyle were in a deserted hallway, leaning against the wall, side-by-side as they talked. They always chose to hang around close to the Southern border wall were no one bothered to come, despite it being close to the bathroom where Cartman attacked Craig.
As Stan's laughter began to subside, Kyle let out a soft breath, and gently tilted his head to rest on Stan's shoulder. The brunet twitched slightly before letting out a weak cough.
'I better get going soon… Patrolling and all.'
'Just another minute,' Kyle murmured, his eyes closed as he felt Stan's warmth beneath his ear.
He hadn't told Stan about Butters or Cartman, and his chest felt heavy for it. He wanted to tell Stan everything, he didn't want to hide anything from his long-lost friend. But he also didn't want Stan to bare any of his burdens, especially since he already had quite a heavy job. He was looking after all of them, with a sense of responsibility, and if Kyle told him about his troubles, he would definitely try and do something about it. Stan's little talk with Craig in the infirmary proved it. But Kyle didn't want Stan to do anything for him. He just wanted to talk, and knew that he couldn't have one without having the other, so he chose not to say anything.
Kyle opened his eyes and took another heavy breath before dragging his head off of Stan's shoulder.
'Sorry,' he said. 'I shouldn't distract you from your work…'
'No, I mean, it's fine what we do,' Stan quickly said, not wanting Kyle to get the wrong idea. 'We chat during my breaks, so it's fine! Other than the fact that— you know— I'm an officer, and you're an inmate… But I dunno. Is that a crime?'
Kyle chuckled.
'It probably won't make you change uniforms,' he said, indicating Stan's professional uniform with a collar and belt, and then to his own oversized dark-grey outfit that was coarse on the skin. Stan smiled weakly at this, with slight helplessness.
'I better go. You can get back yourself, right?'
'What do you think I always do?' Kyle teased. Stan's smile brightened and he lifted his hand in a salute as his feet began to catch speed, jogging through the hallway. Kyle sighed and leaned against the wall again, looking up at the ceiling, before finally making his own way back. He lightly wondered what he should do for the rest of the day, having the hours off after dinner.
But Kyle didn't make it very far.
He was making his way down the stairs, thinking about maybe challenging himself by going to the cinema for once, when two unknown figures blocked his way. At first Kyle moved to the side, hoping they would pass by, but they didn't, stepping in front of Kyle again. The redhead felt cold sweat form on his chest and carefully looked up, keeping his eyes strong.
They were two faces that Kyle had never seen before, one as long and skinny as a stick yet without a hint of frailty, and the other was shorter and stout, standing a couple steps behind him. They weren't sniggering like the bored inmates usually did when they were out to torment someone for fun. They both looked at Kyle with stern faces, with only their eyes moving up and down, observing Kyle from head to toe. Kyle finally opened his mouth to speak, but one of them beat him to it.
'Are you Kyle Broflosvki?' the one closest to him asked, making Kyle's heart shrink a little. But Kyle wasn't about to deny his own name.
'Yes,' he said, and the two exchanged glances with each other, finally putting on a smile, or a smirk.
'We want you to come with us,' the tall, skinny boy said.
'To where?' Kyle asked, confused.
'To the South Wing.'
Kyle's eyes widened, and the two were sniggering now, although it was more like a condescending breath through their noses.
'Why?' Kyle demanded, hovering a foot behind him, wanting to take a step back, but the boy grabbed at his arm, stopping him from where he was. His grip was firm, but his eyes kept their amusement.
'Our boss wants to see you,' the stranger said.
Kyle glared, snatching his arm out of the boy's grip. The boy was looking up at Kyle, but the couple extra steps of stairs Kyle had on him didn't make him feel any superior. The boy was watching Kyle as if he were a bird in a cage, while the redhead could only glare, having trouble trying to comprehend the situation. This was all too sudden.
'Your boss?' he asked, taking an extra step towards the two strangers, hoping that it showed that he wasn't afraid. Their smiles only grew.
'Yes. The Southern Boss.'
The two boys stepped out to the side, indicating Kyle to go first. Kyle did so, eyeing them carefully as he past them. They followed closely behind him, making sure Kyle wouldn't lose his way or try to run.
Kyle's heart was thumping in his chest, although he kept his breath as calm as possible. Kenny was the Western Prince, Token was the Eastern King, and now, Kyle was going to see the Southern Boss. He couldn't imagine why such a person would want to see him. He had nothing, except for a couple of friends, a small study group, and a stupid rumour.
With each step he took, Butter's words began to echo louder in his head. People wanted to hurt Kyle, but the rumour of his relationship with Kenny kept him safe. But what if that rumour flipped its side and pointed its claws at Kyle? The rumour was the only thing Kyle could imagine that would make a leader interested in his existence, and what if the rumour didn't protect Kyle this time, but was the actual threat?
The face in his mind changed from Butters to Kenny: those cool blue eyes and his lop-sided grin on his symmetrical face. Remembering that face was strangely reassuring to him, somehow giving him strength as he made his way to the South Wing.
A.N- Thanks for reading!
I changed the direction of this episode (with the Southern Boss) last minute, and now it's going to be much more exciting than intended… but that's okay! I wasn't even gonna bother with the South Wing, but now… hehe.
Please leave a review! Would love to hear your thoughts.
