DISCLAIMER: Firstly, I'm not a native english speaker, thank you for understanding!

This is my first fanfiction ever, I'd appreciate any comment really so I could improve, of course!

It is a personal AU of my own that I hope you will enjoy and respect the way I see the characters in this!

About updates, I will not promise anything yet, it is only a first chapter and I'll see how fast the second one comes. I'm a college student and can't predict what happens, but if you want to follow what's up with me and how much I've progressed on the story, head on over to my discord server or any other media listen on my profile, I talk mostly about it on discord!

Have fun people!

White floor tiles. White wall tiles. White ceiling and furniture. The appalling atmosphere which not only made you feel like a lunatic yourself but didn't help with his patients. It was dull, empty of any emotion or thought. Kyle, a psychiatrist, felt the sanity being drained each moment he had to work in this place. It is true white was the most sterile colour... But it drained energy from a person, which was maybe the reason itself that a place such as an asylum was barren, it gave its patients lack of energy... But it was unproductive for Kyle who needed people willing to change.

How was he supposed to normalize and make people adapt to the outside world when all you could see and feel was whiteness, engulfing you wherever you turn. And however much he understood why the patients were confined, for safety reasons, a bulletproof glass window on each holding cell and office turned towards the hallway was not the answer. He felt like a lab rat even if he was the one conducting research.

Seated across a patient in, yet again, white outfit, he could even empathize with poor man's suicidal urges on a personal level. And maybe that was the reason all his patients were compliant with his methods and quickly relax around him.. Since Kyle's blaring orange puff was like a clown's wig. And the combination of his emerald eyes along with the pine green shirt peeking through his white doctor coat and that hair colour was a wild card in this place. Almost hurtful for the sensitive, white-adjusted eyes.

And really, Riley had his eyes running from his doctor's eyes to his hair a lot ever since their first session. But Kyle hadn't minded, he got used to the looks and it simply meant that his patient's mind wasn't clouded with suicidal ideas and pessimistic thoughts. If Kyle can use that to his own advantage, he doesn't mind the piercing gazes.

Breaking both of their focuses and peaceful chat was a sudden beeping sound of doors opening, a card mechanism at work and not normal locks. This was after all the most secure asylum in the country. For better or worse, depending on who you ask.

"Broflovski, Sir. Ah, I'm sorry for the intrusion but you will have to end the session early today! There was an incident in the living quarters." It was Stotch who interrupted his time with one of the patients, a blonde assistant Kyle was assigned with, to organize his sessions and make sure he was as comfortable as he could be in this place. He entered quite abruptly but looked apologetic even if there was surely something important since Leopold was never the one to break his own plans, being the most organized person in the Asylum.

Doctor Broflovski has worked here for a small amount of time and didn't ask many personal questions about Leo, a nickname he would occasionally use in a more private atmosphere, but he knew that the young blonde fellow has worked here for 7 years now. His soft and naïve nature was a healing fountain in a place like this. Or so he heard from some of the patients that accidentally blurted out anything about Leopold. It was slightly ironic how much respect he got from both patients and staff. Some even admitted to laughing at him behind his back before they realized how essential he was to this place. And he had no connection to being any kind of mental health worker. Instead, he was almost like a nanny to each of the patients here, while simply being the Head Nurse of Male psychiatric ward.

Leopold Stotch's job was to know everyone on paper, assign their meals, organize who is allowed to leave and when, considering their state, as well as organize nurses' jobs. A truly heavy load already. However, he took on an extra 'freelance job'. He was so intuitive he knew which patients simply didn't get along with each other, and even got to know each of them personally. It made some nurses suspicious of his behaviour, they said he seemed overly-ambitious. And he was as dense and forgiving as organized and smart. Everyone, including Kyle, was grateful for his presence. Higher-ups were forgiving when it came to Leo and in return, his official job requirements suffered as he stopped nurturing patients himself, only doing the paperwork and organization under his title.

Kyle's morning shifts were always reserved for those with... Lighter problems such as anger issues, anxiety or suicidal people. They were, if he were allowed to say, easy to handle. Or, boring. An opinion he held to himself no matter who he spoke with. He was a professional and opinions like boring, too easy, dealt with through a book, were something others would look at weirdly. Almost like a doctor who wouldn't treat you unless your illness was death threatening.

Leopold left the room as quick as he entered, waiting outside, Kyle had no doubt. He took a look at his papers and notes he'd written down and gave a business-like smile to his patient. "Really, I am sorry we have to shorten our time together, but we've made some nice progress."

He was already getting up and gathering his papers, then offered a hand across the table. It was met by the brunette and a sheepish smile. They both left the room and the man was taken by a guard, led down the hall as Kyle watched his walk, noting if anything has changed in the depressed person.

"What happened?" Without a warning he turned to Leo and expected an immediate answer, not a moment of surprise.

"Oh jeez! Do you have to surprise me like this every time, doctor?" His voice jumped but he quickly gathered himself and his thoughts. "Khm... There was a fight during free time, and Dany Hower attacked Tod. Somehow Tod got hold of a knife and cut his wrists. I received the patient and nurse Adam is taking care of him as we speak." Kyle didn't need more, it was a very obvious situation. Dany was an aggressive person, besides physically, he likes to bully people verbally as well, and Tod was always a sensitive soul. Something must've touched Tod enough to grab a knife and do the deed. Kyle couldn't help but sigh, knowing his disappointment was so very obvious. He was working on Tod for weeks now and they were finally getting somewhere…

Leopold saw the change in his expression and interrupted his train of thoughts. "I'm sorry, doctor-"
But Kyle gave him a soft, warning frown. "Did I not tell you to quit it with 'doctor'? It's Kyle."

''O-oh I'm sorry Doc-, Kyle. I just can't seem to get used to calling you by your name. Sir." Letting out a long breath, both for the title Leopold gave him in the end and for a thought of how he should tackle this problem.

He still had time to think this through as they walked towards Dany's holding cell. Usually, they'd take him to one of the offices Kyle was in right now, but if you were dangerous like the situation was right now, the conversation would happen inside their assigned cells. After all, there were wards in this institution that held criminals far worse than a normal state prison. And even entering their cells pose a threat to everyone in case they somehow managed to escape. Those kinds of patients have special therapy rooms with two-sided mirrors, cameras and chairs screwed into the floor.

Passing through the living quarters, they looked at the blood on the floor, now being cleaned by a janitor. All patients were returned to their rooms and they continued towards that place. Sector B patient rooms. A painfully quiet place since all rooms were soundproof. Every stomp of Kyle's and Leo's shoes was intimidating as it echoed through the hallway.

They halted in front of room 421 and took a glance through the mentioned window. Dany was surprisingly calm, sitting on his bed... But the position, the slow and deep inhales Kyle took notice of, were a troublesome sign for someone who just had an anger fit and won against a person. And Leopold had told him they didn't inject anything into his system.. Yet.

That was Kyle's demand when he took up this job. He wanted his patients raw, instinctive and honest. Even if it poses a high risk because a drugged person's mind was clouded and worked differently. Drugs could antagonize a doctor who is supposed to help him.

Due to his demand, asylum head warden made it compulsory for Kyle to know some form of self-defence, a requirement he made sure to have on his own since he even thought of studying psychiatry. Kyle Broflovski took up many fighting sports during his high school and college years, mostly so he could face patients such as Dany without fear.

His job resume, besides having the obvious basic knowledge of psychiatry and specializing in forensic, neuropsychiatry and addiction psychiatry consisted of several degrees in martial arts.

A reason why he was lacking in relationships and friendships for years.

Kyle was kind enough to knock onto the doors before Leopold put his card onto the sensor. The room, even if it was truthfully a holding cell, was still an intimate place, and Kyle wanted to offer some respect to each of them, as if asking if he's allowed into the room. Details like these were what softened people to trust him. A strictly business approach was smart in some but can backfire in other instances.

What both of them didn't expect as the door opened was a fist, reaching for either one of them. But Kyle was faster and managed to push at least Leo out of the way and into the wall as the fist just passed between two of them.

And before Dany had time to retreat when his mind recognized what happened, the doctor of all people grabbed his wrist and tugged him quickly towards him so the man lost his balance and leaned forwards. His other hand grabbed the door frame to not fall onto Kyle, who simply offered a forgiving smile.

"Dany... We did talk about this." It wasn't the first time this had happened. Dany had done this first four times they had a session, every time pulling a different prank. But no one ever got hurt and Kyle calmed him with ease so there were no consequences for him. And Dany learned that he couldn't hurt Kyle. Although it was a bit dense of him to try it even after the third time...

Dany was obviously still angry. His failed attempt at an attack would usually leave him unmotivated... But after his successful anger fit, this small setback with his therapist only angered him more. So instead of the usual puff and defeated look, he attacked again.. And again, Kyle simply redirected his fist into empty space. But this time, instead of hoping he would stop, Dany's hand was twisted onto his back into an unnatural position and it forced a shriek out of him. Kyle simply grabbed the other wrist as well and pulled that arm to his other so the man could do nothing but complain and grumble in defeat.

"Dany. Breathing." Kyle's voice was like a warning, calm but stern and with a hint of compassion. He wasn't warning him that he would hurt him, but that he would get in trouble if he didn't back off of Kyle.

And the man did grouch through next inhale, still slightly tugging on his arms to test the waters and if he could escape, on which Kyle simply tightened his grip and pushed the man to walk forwards. "We don't need trouble now, after all the progress we've had? Isn't that right Dany?" He almost growled at Kyle but nodded.

Still, Kyle wasn't sure if he should let go of him and only loosened the grip slightly. Patients like him were pure instinct, almost like an animal. If he wanted to fight more he would've tugged his arms the moment he felt the grip softening. He didn't. And so both Leo and Kyle let him off the hook.

"What got you so fired up, Dany?" Once free he took his usual seat at the bed but kept a frown and tightly gripped fists. Leo has already left and locked the room behind him.

-X-X-

Barely passing a mark of thirty minutes and Kyle was already knocking on doors to be let out. The reason why he didn't have a card of his own was due to the risk it posed. If, in some way, Kyle was knocked down and his card was taken, not only could a patient nonchalantly walk out, but they could access dangerous areas. One of those being the pharmacy. Kyle, after all, has permission to enter almost any area in the male ward.

For today, that was enough with a patient who was still under the impact of his adrenaline. They were getting nowhere like this and it was only a matter of time when he'd blow a fuse again. So Kyle left before it happened.

He took a glance at his wristwatch and realized there wasn't enough time for another patient... Yet it was still too early to simply leave his work. And Kyle definitely didn't want to rush any sessions and make his clients feel like they are just a number. It was unproductive and rude.

Finally, he settled on one thought. 'Paperwork it is.' Since he had quite a hefty amount to go through and it would mean he didn't have to come in early tomorrow.

By the time he went through his plans and looked around the notes in his arms and patients he visited in his eight-hour shift, they already reached his office. Kyle saw an expression so painfully obvious on Leopold's face just before they were about to separate. Reluctance, as if a question hung in the air above his head and he didn't know whether to word it out or not.

But the world turned upside down before he had a chance to as the sickly white halls filled with redness. A blaring sign of trouble, followed by loud sounds of fire alarms.

It was too early for anyone to be in their offices, definitely the worst timing for a hazard. They were all separated, probably working with patients or were on pauses. It was a mess itself... But that's why there were protocols. There was always a guard or more in each psychiatric ward, from Sector A to Sector F and the first order of business was to evacuate the wards in imminent danger and try to stop the fire from spreading. They would release the patients into the small yards connected to the assigned ward and wait for the firefighters to arrive and the fire to get subdued.

Kyle and Leopold were separated from any action. The offices were in a separate wing and they couldn't do much but evacuate themselves. Except this was the first time in years a fire has started...

"Hamburgers!" Was a typical phrase the blondie would use in a state of panic or confusion. But this was no time for phrases or panic. Kyle grabbed his assistant's shoulders and squeezed them to bring his focus back. "You know this place as if it were your own pocket. Relax and lead the way. There may be more people on our way who are in danger." Kyle always took a calm and quiet approach with Leopold, asserting his own relaxed state onto Leo. It worked like a charm and Leo nodded, showing that confident, frowning expression, like a child that's suddenly sure of himself. It was kind of cute how such a naive and light-hearted person could exist, at his age that is.

With his newfound confidence, he took off towards the fire escape, a pretty straightforward way, since the asylum was big but with a simplistic design. But as soon as they left the first hallway, an explosion knocked them backwards, erupting only a twenty meters away, just enough for them to not get knocked over into unconscious state. Their skins, however, were prickled to blood from the impact of wall shards and wood on hands, legs and anywhere they didn't manage to protect themselves.

It was surprisingly Leopold who pulled Kyle out of the sudden shock and towards another pathway. Soft fella worked fast when he knew what he absolutely had to do and especially if it was related to his job. A dependence they obviously valued at this place to keep someone like Leopold Stotch working in such a demented environment.

They were quickly approaching the B sector with more unstable patients… Except the passage was blocked and for some reason, Leo's card didn't work. And through the cocktail of sounds surrounding them, of alarms, fire, explosions and ringing in their ears from adrenaline came another horrifying sound… Screams.

Sector C was purposely locked... As tortured screeches filled the halls. There were scorched bodies, melting skins, a sector filled with burned bones, bubbling blood and people dying in pure anguish. And all of it was visible through the bulletproof glass, palms sticking to the glass, banging against it and sliding down as pieces of… Something, something red and shaped like disfigured shapes stuck to the glass.

'They didn't deserve this.' Was Kyle's first thought before a nauseating feeling filled his whole body and the only thing holding his insides from spilling was his pure will and a held breath. He could only imagine a softer version of it all, how the skin would just fall in chunks, revealing red muscles underneath... How blood vessels would burst under the heat, muscles bloated and bursting as well… And the temperature, the fire tongues reaching up towards you, onto you, shackling you until you can't feel anything besides that. Pure pain. But the thing happening behind the doors in front of them was so much worse than his imagination. It was real.

And that is when Kyle realized that the fire sprinklers never turned on.

And the rest of the hallways were too devoid of any souls.

His eyes still stuck on the glass pane, now clouded by dark smoke and traces of black from charred flesh, he wondered.. 'Has everyone already evacuated? Are we the only ones left behind?'

"Kyle!" A crying, high pitched voice called him out of his disgust. Leopold? Kyle unglued his gaze from the agony in front of them and met the baby blue eyes, as panicked and afraid as his green ones. But his were filled with tears. "We have to help them, Kyle!" He was almost yelling. Unlike Kyle, whose first thought wasn't generous, but only fearful and filled with pity, Leopold actually wanted to help. He had the need to save those lives. And as if the redhead didn't have enough feelings clouding his thoughts, guilty claw grabbed at his heart. So much for him being a doctor. When he didn't even give these people a chance!

But as much as he now wanted to help… They would've been engulfed by those flames, already leaking through the hinges, instead of being able to save anyone. Unlike the blondie, tortured by all the guilt, Kyle thought with his head first. Sometimes that brought him trouble but right now that was just what they needed, not reckless heroism.

Biting his lip and fighting his way through his storm of a mind was a survival instinct. He knew he wanted to live. And so he grabbed Leo's arm and almost ran. He didn't care where. He just pulled his coworker... A friend towards any path that wasn't engulfed in flames or locked…

He heard Leopold complaining, yelling something at him, but Kyle's ears were ringing so loudly he couldn't understand a word of it. It felt like ages passed as they tried to find a safe exit. And the more they ran, pulled one another from danger's grasp and into the next hallway… Kyle felt like they were purposely led away from something, towards something else…

More and more it felt like all of this was-

"Doctor?!"

-a plan.

Both groups came to a halt. Both Kyle and Leopold's eyes focused on the three figures ahead of them.

Kenneth McCormick, Stanley Marsh and Eric Cartman were loose and on the run.

That was when it all made sense for Kyle. The explosions, locked sectors, lack of panic on hallways and life. Kyle Broflovski didn't have any proof, but the existence of Eric Cartman outside of his bondage and chair was a sign something was very much wrong. Along with the presence of the other two, they made the most dangerous team in this Asylum... If not the whole world.

For a split moment he felt a pang of relief, a gruesome memory that would stay with him forever.

Of all the appropriate emotions and thoughts for this moment, Kyle's first was to feel relief at the sight of the most dangerous person in the whole world. But as quickly as it came it was replaced by despair. These three should not be allowed to go out.

"Butters!" Kenny excitedly trumpeted through the hall. Leopold's expression though only turned into that of a horror-struck.

While Kenny was looking at the pair as if he could jump out of his skin from excitement, it was Stanley who simply grouched towards the floor, dissatisfied with this development.

"Oh, sweet Jesus!" Leo jumped in place as quickly as Kenny started approaching them and instinctively walked behind Kyle whose gaze was stuck on one figure only.

There was a pressure tangible enough to be cut with a knife between the redhead and brunette. Kyle's head clashed between logic where Eric was supposed to be on a safe distance and unable to hurt anyone... And what was really happening. Their gazes locked, and neither said anything for a while. The silence and blankness in this man's face could mean only one thing.

Eric Cartman was thinking. 'And that was never a good fucking thing.'

It was the sudden change in his expression, a small tick of his muscle, forming the softest of smirks that sent a dreadful wave through Kyle's body and gave him goosebumps. "Doc, never thought I'd see you in panic." Sure thing, Kyle was panicking. For fuck's sake he was horrified.

It was the last thing you should do in front of him, show any reaction, yet redhead's face contorted into one. The whole bizarreness of the situation was simply too much even for Kyle.

"Fuck you, Cartman." It slid off of Kyle's tongue without any reluctance as his brows furrowed. But that was a big mistake as well, and Kyle noticed it painfully hard. The disappointment in himself made him want to swear yet again. He noted it as a misstep from all the bullshit that happened in the last fifteen minutes only. It was just so goddamn hard not to reply... And Eric arched his brow in a wider smile... An eerily comforting grin.

"Kenny, Stan." It was like a leash he pulled on them in the form of a simple call. Kenny stopped walking towards Leopold and paid attention to Eric, although Kyle was already in a defensive stance.

Through experience, he knew Kenny stood no chance against him, but the doctor was still cautious. The lack of focus and his gaze directed towards the other figure didn't matter, since Kyle's body was ready to fight.

"Get the doctor, two of you can do it." Eric wasn't underestimating Kyle's abilities even if he hadn't ever felt them or seen them himself, but someone told him enough.

It was obvious that Eric was the leader, naturally so, owing to his talents, if they could be called that. Kenny aside, it was hard to believe Stan would simply listen to anyone else besides himself, much less letting them boss him around.

A discontent gruntle escaped through Stanley's tightly pressed lips and he was showing signs of defiance. Kyle expected Eric to show his own dissatisfaction or use his aptitudes... And he even managed to surprise Kyle when the cool, empty Cartman rolled his eyes.

"They would snitch on us, Stan. Besides, he'd make a good hostage." There was even a subtle tone of whine by the end in his usual cold voice when he noticed Stan wasn't paying any attention towards him. "Don't you miss Wendy?" It was then that Stan's lifeless and devoid eyes lightened up with a spark and another gruntle escaped his throat as he landed his gaze onto the redhead. Eric had stepped on a switch like always. He knew exactly what to say, and Stan was aware of it but couldn't deny the said fact. So he simply complied and listened...

Before Kyle really had any say in this, Kenny's louder voice interrupted him. "Why can't we take Butters?! I don't care about the shrink... That much." He made sure to give Kyle an apologetic look, as if offending him was the worst thing he had ever done. Kyle always thought Kenneth was a bizarrely nice fellow. Bat-shit crazy kind of nice.

Eric's turn to grumble into the floor and let out an exhale. It was like he was dealing with children here who wouldn't listen without a bribe.

"Kinny." A disappointed low tone, one you'd use while trying to explain an adult thing to a toddler. "He is a nurse, he'd be a great help. But since you're so short-sighted, you forgot I can't exactly fight. Our dear shrink would kick my ass and then yours. I'll take care of the softie and you two get the doc." He seemed to dumb his words down so Kenny, or well Kinny, could understand it.

"Woohoo!" The cheerful blondie didn't seem to mind the way Eric talked to him as he rose his arms in glee. While the scared nurse was still behind Kyle, muttering consistently under his breath, "Oh Jesus!", on any idea they'd share between themselves. His blue eyes kept running from each figure, almost like he was expecting a moment when one of them would say something.. Normal, or reasonable enough to not do anything evil. He kept his naivety even in a situation such as this.

"You think I'd just let you take us... Or even let you run?" Kyle finally said something but Leopold just repeated his sentence as if in a daze. He wasn't going to be of much help it seems.

"Oh I'm sure you won't, doctor.~" Kyle hated the way he rolled the title on his tongue. He despised how it resonated through Kyle's ears like a tempting curse. But he knew why it clung to him and it had almost no efficient impact on him, besides creeping him out. That was Kyle's advantage over Cartman.

"Leo, keep Cartman at bay." Kyle only took a glance at the blonde man behind him, not letting the other two jump him in that split second. The blonde, luckily, immediately knew what Kyle meant and nodded even through shock and his fear. He pulled through when it was needed. He couldn't fight, but he could lessen Kyle's burden.

As the other two approached and surrounded Kyle cautiously, Leopold walked couple meters away, as much as the hallway and their positions allowed, trying to keep Cartman away from sneak attacking Kyle.

Even as a fist approached his face he kept his glances running towards Leo to make sure he was safe. It wasn't the first time he had to evade, look around and fight with multiple people. But Kyle wasn't a professional fighter, he simply trained a lot, and he had no real experiences... While clearly, Stanley had.

Kenny's punches were raw, instinct filled and predictive. He planned a punch to his face, but Kyle just moved away from it enough to grab his forearm and pull the thin person straight in front of Stanley who was getting ready to land a punch himself. He stopped more experienced one's intentions and used their numbers against them.

Another glance at Leopold who was still just walking on the safe distance from Cartman. Kyle knew Cartman rarely attacked but it was still suspiciously calm even for him.

That's when Stanley pushed Kenny, straight into Kyle. But he stepped away from the diversion, not taking the bait and Kenny finally spoke out. "Fuck you, asshole! I'm not your plaything." Stanley just clicked his tongue, not even acknowledging Kenny's complaints, only angry he was stopped in his attempts for the second time.

Kyle took a swing when he saw a chance and landed a fist straight into Kenny's sternum, with experience and precision. The tall man stumbled backwards and before Kyle could revel in his victory, his shirt was tugged and his body lost balance for a split second, being pulled towards the front. Stan liked playing dirty it seems, using others and moments of weakness. Kyle was ready for a punch, seeing the fist nearing his face and both of his palms rose up to meet it. 'Crazy motherfu-'

Instead, a knee kick met his bowels and he almost spat his lunch all over his attacker.

It seems Kyle's instincts were offbeat as well... When he coughed and brightly grinned. "Not..kugh- bad." His teeth might've glistened as strongly as his eyes as he complimented Stan's ability.

'Definitely a sneaky fucker.' He thought to himself. Stanley was the exploitative type. He knew street fights, he had experience and he knew which body signs to look for during a fight.

"Uh, thanks?" A sheepish, conflicted reply came from the black-haired boy. He saw Kyle's eyes and a quick glimmer of something familiar to Stan. Something a psychiatrist shouldn't indulge in like this.

Before he really had time to think about what he exactly saw, Kyle used Stan's awkwardness against him. He reacted in a moment of other's hesitance. And his fist connected with Stan's face.

"Holy-" Unfinished, but enough to drag Kyle's, still adrenaline-filled, gaze towards the sound coming from Cartman. 'You thought I couldn't take them both on?' Kyle's right side twisted into a smirk, a rare and weird electrical feeling buzzing through his body. He was feeding on it.

Stanley was still shaken, with palm leaned against the impact. It was spot on, on a temple, enough to make your head buzz and leave u defenceless for a fair amount of time. Enough to deal with Kenny who came to his senses and was ready to return Kyle's favour. But Kyle's senses were a bit shaken up as well. It was just one, but a strong hit. It wasn't during training, and it's been a while since he had a proper fight.

Redhead had to hurry. Not only did they need to get out of here, smoke already filling their lungs and the sweat forced by nearing fire, but Leopold was in danger as well…

'Where is Leo?' Only now did Kyle notice... Cartman was observing the fight. Alone.

Just when did Kyle lose sight of the blonde man? When did he stop glancing and listening to Leopold's steps?

Just fucking when did Leopold get a fire extinguisher and made Kyle's head ring from its hit.

In the end, two people attacking head-on truly wasn't enough to deal with Kyle Broflovski.

His body banging against the floor and the last thing he saw was Eric Cartman's cocky smirk, a boastful sign of victory and strong, thumping steps approaching Kyle's already ringing head.

"Good thing I didn't leave him only to you guys." Scornful and pompous to the core. Kyle knew since their first meeting.