Kyle was curled into himself, his hair wet and flat from the shower he just took. The fresh linen bed set was nice against his clean skin. His eyes were trained at the door as he found himself reflecting on the past few weeks. Conflicting feelings and reflections weighed on the redhead like an iron press.
He was sure he had hated Cartman, though after spending weeks stuck in the same house he realized it might not be the case. It was the little things at first, his gestures of kindness and genuinely making sure he was taken care of. Then it was the little touches that sent shockwaves up his spine. They were light brushes, but it was just enough to make him realize that he loved it.
Maybe he was just going insane from being stuck in this house, he did have the ability to leave at any given time and he often did go to school. It wasn't like he was trapped. He just found himself enjoying the mafia don's company. It soon came to his attention that what he felt was love. He was in love with Eric Cartman, and that much was clear, but he was sure the other didn't feel the same, so he would just push those feelings down and work with him like normal.
Is this what it feels like to love what you can't have?
His eyes fluttered closed and he buried his face into the cotton pillow. Floating off to sleep he only stirred when the door opened.
Cartman stood at the door with a solemn expression, he was watching the sleeping man, eyes tracing his body that was only clad in a pair of boxers. His heart stirred and he stepped forward and sat down on the bed, it dipping with his weight. When Kyle was sleeping he looked so at peace, rather than the angry spitfire he was half of the time. Cartman bit his lip as he reached up and ran his fingers through Kyle's curls. The only time he could touch the man too, lest he ends up raged at.
Kyle subconsciously leaned into the tender touch in his sleep. Cartman froze for a moment when he saw those green eyes opening and then they stared at each other for a moment. Then Kyle broke the silence with a single question.
"What are you doing Cartman?"
What was he doing? That was the million-dollar question, those tender touches spoke volumes for the feelings he didn't know how to vocalize. He grit his teeth and removed his hand like it touched a hot surface.
The silence stretched between them and Kyle was looking straight at Cartman with a confused expression. Why was Cartman touching his hair anyway? He reached up and touched where the hand once was and sat up next to Cartman and scooted to the edge so he was right next to the man.
Kyle eyed him with a curious expression, his full attention on Cartman. His mouth was dry as he watched the larger man conflict with himself. He could tell just by the way Cartman's eyebrows were knitted together and there was a frown on his face. After years of knowing each other, Kyle realized he could somewhat tell the body language of his friend. Even if in many ways the man was still a mystery.
"Is something bothering you?" Kyle pressed.
Cartman's lips parted to answer but Kyle wasn't expecting the words that came from his mouth.
"I love you. Ever since middle school, I did a damn good job of hiding it but I realize now, I can't anymore." Cartman admitted.
He was met with shocked silence, Kyle heard that right, right? Eric Cartman loved him, that was something he thought he'd never hear. His heart was fluttering as he realized this was the chance to say he felt the same. He knew the way their eyes met a few hours ago wasn't a coincidence.
"God damn, I knew I shouldn't have said anything." and he was standing up and ready to walk out the door, the silence to him was deafening, and it made him feel as though his feelings weren't returned.
He was met by Kyle grabbing the back of his shirt and pulling him back to sit down.
"Damn it Cartman, you don't just get to confess and run away!" Kyle said rather aggressively and stared Cartman straight in the eyes.
"The feeling is mutual, I've been in love with you for the same amount of time. I just repressed it because I thought you hated me." Kyle confessed.
"I guess I was wrong for once."
He gave Cartman a small smile and in return got a grin.
"So you like me Kahl~?"
"Really I was surprised myself." came the reply with a smirk
Kyle thought for a moment if their feelings were mutual, what did that make them? He looked at Cartman and gave him a small smile.
"Does that make us boyfriends now?" he asked.
"Yeah, whether you like it or not." Cartman grinned. They stared at each other in silence for a moment, processing the situation, maybe the staring was a little too long as he looked down and then back up.
He caught Cartman staring at his lips and let out a tiny sigh before in a bold move pressed his lips against Cartman's. He felt the other stiffen and wondered if he made a mistake, that was until Cartman was kissing back.
The kiss was euphoric, he felt electric shocks down his spine, it felt just right. He felt himself being pulled into Cartman's lap and he wasted no time wrapping his arms around his neck. He parted his lips to let out a breath and Cartman wasted no time pressing his tongue into Kyle's mouth. Cartman tasted like mint candy and a hint of something sweet, it was just Cartman. Kyle moved his head in time with the other man's. Soon they had a good rhythm going as one hand of Cartman's dug into Kyle's thigh while the other tangled in his damp locks. Soon the need for air was too necessary and they pulled apart. A trail of saliva connecting them, Kyle's heart was beating fast as he stared into the blue and brown eyes of his lover.
"Damn," he breathed.
Cartman's chest rumbled with laughter, "Did I really knock the words out of you, Jew?"
Kyle was silent for a moment before cupping Cartman's cheek, "Don't ruin the moment, Eric."
Eric's cheeks flushed for a moment and he averted his gaze, Kyle knew he was the only one that could make that expression appear on Cartman's face. It caused Kyle to hum in satisfaction and feel prideful. Though that turned on him real quick, Cartman grabbed his hips and squeezed. Cartman's hips snapped up and ground against Kyle.
"O-oh god," he yelped in surprise cheeks turning red.
"Wrong, but close enough," Cartman said slyly.
Kyle looked at Cartman with an unimpressed expression, "Dude."
"What?" He had a fake innocent expression on his face, pouted lips at all.
"Just shut up and kiss me again," Kyle said and Cartman obliged.
That's where they found themselves throughout the rest of the night, in each other's arms.
Bleary eyes opened and stared at the empty space beside him, it was still warm and had the imprint of Cartman's body. Blankets carefully removed and placed on top of Kyle to make sure the man wouldn't be woken up. Kyle groaned softly as he sat up and rubbed at his arm, The night before was something unreal to Kyle and it made him feel lighter, he didn't have to hide his feelings anymore.
Standing up he realized a few things, he was still clad in boxers, his clothes were missing, and there was a note on the closet door. He narrowed his eyes in confusion and headed over to the closet to take a good look at the note, with one swift move he removed the note and read it.
'I took your clothes to be washed, you can't wear the same three sets of clothes, check in the closet and thank me later.' - Cartman.
He really wasn't going to question why Eric kept buying him clothes, but honestly, he wasn't going to complain, one of his pairs of clothes had holes in it - bullet holes. He wasn't able to get any of his belongings from home, he wanted to give his mother space but it seemed to only be hurting things in the long run.
He remembered what Ike said at school and let out a groan, he really needed to talk to his mother. He'd try to figure out how he'd do that a bit later, now he needed to get dressed and eat some sort of breakfast. Pulling out a pair of jeans and a heavy-looking forest green sweater he went to the bathroom to change.
Emerging moments later he left his room and headed down the hall and the stairs. He was greeted with the smell of breakfast and a humming Cartman cooking in the kitchen. Nearby was Stan and Kenny, he grinned seeing all his friends together. He was getting used to seeing them rather often now.
"Hey dude," he said and sat in the chair across from the other two.
"Hey Ky, It's so weird seeing you without a hat," Stan said looking at him directly.
Kyle touched his hair and realized he left his room without a hat.
"Don't get used to it, I just forgot it upstairs,"
Kenny then spoke up after eyeing him for a few moments, "So, is it true that Cartman has a fetish for buying you clothes?" he grinned.
"Shut up, Kenny!" came Cartman's voice from the kitchen.
A wry smile was on Kyle's face, "So what if he does? These clothes are comfy, I appreciate it."
They eyed him weirdly for a second, "Since when do you defend Cartman?" Kenny seemed to echo what Stan thought.
Before Kyle could answer Cartman came around into the living room and placed a plate on Kyle's lap and got a strange glint in his eye. He leaned down and kissed Kyle softly.
"Since we started dating," Kyle said with a soft smile.
The room was silent with conflicting emotions going through Stan and Kenny's heads and a smug smile on Cartman's face.
"Dude," Stan started, "I mean I knew it would happen eventually but damn."
"Butters owes me like ten bucks now." Kenny snorted.
"How did you even know?" Kyle asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's fucking obvious, the two of you had been going at it since elementary school, it was only more obvious when this shit started, Cartman wouldn't stop complaining that you didn't join us and all he would talk about is you, well, when business wasn't being discussed. He was a salty bitch." Stan explained.
"Hey, I was not!" Cartman protested.
"Sure, Jan," Kenny snarked as he looked up from the magazine he picked up from the table.
Kyle smiled lightly at their antics and picked up an apple slice from his plate and took a bite.
"So, Cartman, sorry I made you a salty bitch, but I'm here now," he winked sarcastically.
"Fuck you guys." Cartman scowled into his food. They set to their breakfasts, Cartman pretty much made the other two get their own plates, just for the fetish comment.
The rest of breakfast was uneventful and Kyle found himself with his knees pulled up to his chest as he stared at Cartman cleaning up the kitchen. Stan and Kenny had already left and it was just the two of them now. A frown was on his face as he parted his lips slightly and licked at their dryness.
"Hey, Eric,"
"Yeah?"
"I um, I talked to my brother the other day and he said my mother isn't doing very well with me being gone. He wants me to talk to her," He stopped talking for a moment and looked at the ground, "in person."
"It's not a good idea, Kyle, you don't know who is out there looking for you." He had stopped cleaning and turned around to look at the redhead.
Kyle let out a soft breath, "I know, I just need to talk to her, maybe she could come here?"
"Alright, see if she even picks up the phone and invite her over here. It's probably safer in the long run."
Kyle nodded, he was right after all.
He picked up his phone that he had left on the coffee table and opened his contacts. Scrolling down to the Ms, he picked out his mother's contact info and pressed the big green call button. A few rings later he was almost sure she wasn't even going to pick up.
"Hello, Kyle," came Sheila Broflovski's voice.
"Hey, mom…"
"Finally decide you've had enough of the mob life and want to come home?" the question caught him off guard to say the least.
"No, I just wanted to talk to you about this whole thing. The only reason I'm doing this is I need you to know everything. Ike is pretty upset and wants me to fix things," He said and shifted in his seat.
"I want you to come over to Eric Cartman's house and we can talk."
She was silent for a moment before contemplating her next words
"You can tell me over the phone, I don't want to be anywhere near that place."
Kyle stared at the floor, he wasn't sure how to phrase what he wanted to say on the spot. It would probably be hard either way.
"Alright. Just let me speak and don't interrupt." He set his teeth hard before speaking again. He needed her to know, it would probably make things worse but it was too late to back out now.
"For the past few years after dad died, I've been working with a mercenary guild. They came to me at his funeral and recruited me, I was lost on how to support us now that he was gone and the money was good. All I needed to do was get rid of whoever they wanted me to and I got paid, I'm not proud of it, I'm no better than the mafia, mom, so joining them wasn't something too far fetched." He could hear her breath hitch throughout the conversation, he knew she was getting upset, honestly who wouldn't.
"I joined Eric because I got caught red-handed killing people on his territory. I guess I was always meant to join them eventually. It wasn't anything I could avoid for too long, when Cartman wants something he always is going to get it." He eyed the male that had moved to the couch and was watching him with an even gaze. Though he had a small smile on his face, almost smug as he listened to Kyle talk about him.
"Can I talk now?"
"Yeah,"
"You're sick Kyle, you need serious help. I didn't raise you to be this - this monster! You could have figured out a way to help support us without killing people! Just come home, we can get you the help you need if you just admit to all of your crimes."
Kyle scowled, anger bubbling up, "I'm not sick or a monster mom, and I'm not going to prison, I'm staying right where I am!" he shouted. His hand was clenching the phone so tightly that his knuckles were turning whiter, he knew this was a bad idea, he knew she wouldn't take it well. He shouldn't have even told her.
"Then stay away from us then, Kyle," Her voice was scary calm, it was like sharp icicles on a winter morning, but it was almost like a storm that hadn't reached its peak destruction yet. He knew this tone of voice from all the times he'd gotten into stupid shit.
"I don't want you near me or Ike, you're dangerous just like the rest of them," she snarled.
Tears threatened to spill out of Kyle's eyes, his mother had just disowned him, there was the telltale sound of the dial tone as the other had hung up on him. She always had to get the last word - and she did. It was probably the last words his mother would ever say to him. In a fit of sadness and a mixture of anger, he threw his phone across the room and it hit the kitchen island just right enough to crack the screen and bust the phone open.
He pushed his palms into his face and let out a wracked sob. He hardly registered the couch dip beside him and a pair of large arms wrapping around him and pulling him close to their chest. He pressed his face into Cartman's chest, the other not even caring that he was getting tear stains on his shirt, just focused on rubbing circles on Kyle's back.
Though deep down Cartman was furious, he hated Kyle's mother for making him break like this. He was really never fond of her to begin with, to him she was a stupid bitch that had a large mouth and didn't think of the consequences of her actions.
"You were right," came the soft reply, "mom really is a bitch," Kyle's reply was masked in just a burst of choked laughter.
"I usually am glad to be told I'm right, but this time I wish I wasn't right," Cartman replied.
"I was so stupid...so stupid, I shouldn't have told her anything."
"No, you did what needed to be done," Cartman said and placed his chin on top of Kyle's head. Cartman grabbed Kyle's shoulders lightly and pushed him up, he stared at the fat tears coming out of Kyle's eyes and used one of his palms to wipe away the tears and give him a soft smile.
"Tears don't look good on you,"
"What do you prefer then?"
"A smile."
Kyle just let out a small laugh with a smile, "You're such a sap, asshole. I think I'll be okay, I'm with friends."
"We should just call the others, I can order pizza and we can have a pity party."
"Sounds like a plan."