Pain shot up Kyle's legs as he held them close to his chest. He hid his face in his knees, he had allowed for Cartman to see him so vulnerable, the asshole would probably taunt him about it, he had no boundaries when it came to something like that. Though why, instead of taunting for crying, did he show a gesture of care? Kyle plucked a tissue out of the patterned box and wiped away any evidence that he was crying moments before. Other than the puffy red rings around his eyes and the dullness in his green orbs was there any indication.
It made no sense to Kyle whatsoever. Maybe even the fatass could feel sympathy, though he wasn't sure that was so likely because he never did before. He threw the tissues away in a nearby waste bin and stared at the direction Cartman went in. Swallowing his sadness and pushing it away for later, he needed to worry about what was going on now, his mother would always be there and he'd have to talk to her eventually. Sighing as he headed down the hallway, it had turned from hardwood to carpet and the floor felt plush underneath his socks.
He saw a door that was slightly ajar and the light was filtering out. He figured that had to be the study. He knocked and waited, his eyes locked on the doorknob, he was half tempted just to walk in without permission. It kind of reminded him of all the times he and the guys were sent to wait outside the councilor's office, that sense of uncertainty of what the hell was going to happen.
"Come in." came the voice from the other side. He let out a shaky breath and turned the brass doorknob and stepped into a rather warm room. The fireplace was going and crackling with low pops and cracks. Kyle stepped in front of the desk and looked down at Cartman who was sitting behind the desk messing with paperwork. He was surprised at how much paperwork covered the desk. Some covered in highlighters and colorful paperclips.
"Take a picture it lasts longer." came the sarcastic quip.
Kyle rolled his eyes and took a seat in the chair that was placed in front of the desk. "Shut up." he grits out.
Cartman stacked the papers and placed them in a file organizer. Then he turned to face Kyle who was watching each one of the movements with a trained eye. His jaw set as the silence stretched across the room. For Kyle the silence was suffocating, the only sound after the sarcasm in the room was the fireplace.
"We have things to discuss, so listen closely." Cartman finally spoke.
"And what would that be?" Kyle replied, breaking the silence with a quirked eyebrow.
Cartman laced his fingers together and rested his chin on them with a small smile. "Things pertaining to how things work around here, Kahl."
"You got me off the couch, where I needed to be resting so I don't bleed out on your couch, to talk about mafia business?"
Cartman shrugged, "You seem fine to me."
Kyle threw up his arms in frustration, "Unbelievable."
"It's my couch anyways, you're lucky I'm allowing your ass to be in my house, now shut up and listen." Cartman's smile never left his face.
"I expect you to treat me with respect as your boss and the one with your ass on the line, you follow my orders. If I say jump you ask how high, it's how it's going to go. Following?" he said with a sharp tone.
Kyle was gritting down a sharp retort, he didn't like how Cartman was talking to him. Though in a sense he might as well get used to it. He huffed out a shaky breath and eyed Cartman with something akin to pure annoyance.
"Yeah, I'm following," Kyle replied, "Where am I in this scheme of things? Other than a puppet?" he asked.
"I'm glad you asked, Jew." he sat up straighter as he continued, "You're one of my underbosses. That was the plan from the start. You were supposed to work with Kenny as a hitman. I'm sure you remember that."
"That plan was absolute shit, do you think I would have gone along with it once you put it like that." Kyle rolled his eyes with a scowl.
"It was a great plan, asshole, you just never listened to me, now look where it's gotten you. Besides, you ended up on the same type of job." Cartman taunted.
It was like Cartman knew ahead of time what kind of person Kyle would become. Though that would be unlikely, Cartman didn't have psychic powers or anything of the sorts. The silence stretched on as Kyle let out an exhausted sigh.
"Cartman, when have I ever in our life, listened to you?" he pointed out.
"Never, that's why you're fucked." came the reply with a snort.
Kyle glared at Cartman and the other just grinned before sitting up straighter. God, he hated this man with every fiber of his being. Kyle knew that the grin meant nothing good and he braced himself for whatever Cartman was going to say next.
Soon the smile was off Cartman's face and was placed with a hard expression. Kyle wasn't sure how he liked the change of mood in the room. He tensed ready to ether bolt or fight.
"Now, the elephant in the room. Tell me everything you know about the Agency and I'm not even joking around, Jewboy." Those next words were sharper than knives and Kyle set his jaw. "They're after you and I want to know why." Cartman finished and looked at Kyle with an expression that left no room for anything other than straightforward answers.
A sigh escaped Kyle's lips. He tended to sigh a lot ever since this bullshit started. He guessed it was probably a good idea to come clean about what he knew. It only made sense since Cartman seemed to have his eyes deadset on the mercenaries. Though you would figure as the most powerful man in South Park he would know a thing or two. Kyle clamped his jaw tightly and looked to the side, the tension in the air was so thick that it could be cut with a butter knife.
"I'm waiting ." came the sharp tone.
"Alright. I don't know much about the inner workings, but I know where their hideouts are, and who the bosses are. I'm under contract not to fraternize with gangs and well… you, they probably saw me that day in the school. Someone reported back to the boss and now they want my blood for breaking a contract." Kyle spoke and then stared straight into Cartman's eyes.
"If I die, it'll be your fault."
"You're not dying on my watch, Jewboy."
Kyle supposed he could believe Cartman, he had to the man was the only thing standing between his safety and a bullet in the back of his head. How the fuck did this even happen, relying on Cartman of all people?
Cartman rolled his eyes and crossed his broad arms in amusement, here the Jewrat was at his mercy and he loved it. "Looks like a little schoolboy is in over his head, it's okay Kahl I'll make sure you get out alive~. You'll just be indebted to me for the rest of your life." he grinned.
Kyle was holding back his anger rather well until now, he clenched his fists and glared daggers at Cartman. "You're just treating it like a fucking game , asshole!" Kyle snarled.
"Believe it or not I'm not !" Cartman stood up and glowered down at Kyle. Kyle sighed and the anger was slowly dissipating from his body. He knew Cartman was right, he needed the other man's help. Even if it meant he had to work for his enemy it was probably his best shot for survival.
"You're one of my men now, Kahl, whether you like it or not, which means you have my protection."
Cartman had Kyle right where he wanted him, right in his grasp and under his thumb. It shot sick glee through the Don's veins as he saw the redhead conflict with his emotions within himself. He loved making Kyle angry, he always thought he looked better with a flush of red on his face.
Cartman wasn't sure without a question when he started feeling differently about the other man, it was probably about the same time they parted ways and Cartman always kept a close eye on him. The hatred turned into pure infatuation, that's probably why it made him angry to see Kyle crying because of his mother. He was sure the tender gesture of bringing tissues was lost on Kyle but he knew Kyle never needed to find out about his conflicting feelings.
"You're right."
Those words shocked Cartman, Kyle Broflovski was admitting that he, Eric Cartman was right?
"What?"
"I said you were right, I do need your help." This was shocking to the Mafia Don, Kyle never, repeat never admitted those words ever.
Kyle realized that he wasn't going to make this out of this alive if he didn't join up with Cartman as one of his men. They were all his friends, so why not join them? He had already agreed back in the classroom with some hesitation, that was when prison time was being blackmailed against him. Now, he was doing it on his own free will.
Kyle reached out his hand and swallowed, a grin spreading on his face. This was going to be his life now. His mother had screamed at him for being a mobster, so why not just prove her right?
"I guess it won't be too bad working with you, boss."
Cartman stared at the outstretched hand for a moment. He had just completed his plan, he got Kyle to join him. It was kind of easier than he thought it would be. He grasped the outstretched hand and gave it a firm shake.
"Likewise, Jewboy."
Just like that, a partnership was solidified and Kyle Broflovski became a top-ranking mafioso. Kyle wondered how that even happened, but he knew it had everything to do with Eric Cartman, the man always had a way of getting his own way.
The door opened to show a rather annoyed looking Butters. The two broke their handshake, phantom touch burning on Kyle's palm. Why did it feel so nice?
"Now, why is it that I come in and see my patient, not on the couch where he needs to be, but in your office, Eric?"
Kyle never saw Butters look so menacing before, other than the times while he was Professor Chaos.
"Just business." Cartman shrugged.
That didn't seem to be the right thing to say as Butters glared venom at Eric and grabbed Kyle's hand in a vice grip and dragged him back into the living room. God, he didn't know how strong he was either. Kyle was placed back on the couch with his legs back on the pillows. A huff escaping his lips as the pain hit him full force, he didn't realize he was putting a strain on his injuries until he saw the bloodied bandages.
"You two have always been so careless but this is on a-another level." came Butters's voice as he slowly unwrapped the bandages. Kyle hissed as the air met his wounds, it was like a sawing motion on his skin. He bit his lips so hard he felt coppery liquid fill his mouth. Shit. He tried to think of other things as the smell of peroxide filled his nostrils as Butters cleaned the stitched wounds and placed fresh bandages around them.
He just had to get shot in both legs, right? That was his luck, or just them saying they never wanted him to walk again.
He draped his arm over his eyes and let out a sigh.
"That should be good enough Kyle, just make sure to stay off of it." the stern voice came and Kyle removed his arm to give Butters a thankful glance.
"Thanks, Butters."
Kyle frowned at his new life of immobility and turned on his side to stare at the television in the center of the room. The lull of quiet and scuffling sounds from Cartman in his office down the call made his eyes heavy. He had a rough morning and it was all crashing down at him at once. It did hit him that he hadn't eaten anything since the previous night and he glanced around before taking a spare granola bar out of his backpack that was placed against the couch.
"Is that all you're going to eat?" came the voice from the mouth of the hallway.
Kyle's head snapped up and saw Cartman standing in the doorway eyeing him with narrowed eyes. He shrugged and chewed and swallowed the bite of the granola bar. "It would have been rude to raid your fridge," he said pointedly.
"Yeah, but I don't need your Jew ass passing out on my floor in Diabetic shock either." Cartman snorted and waltzed into the adjoining kitchen next to the living room.
"I have an insulin pump…" he muttered.
"What's that, I didn't hear over you trying to be an anorexic, asshole," Cartman called back, starting to pull out pancake mix.
"Fuck you, I'm not anorexic!" Kyle growled.
"Sure, Kahl."
Soon, the room was filled with the smell of breakfast food and it reminded him of the night before at Denny's. Only the smell of stale coffee was absent, which Kyle didn't mind at all; he didn't care for coffee.
Cartman came out of the kitchen with two plates and handed one to Kyle who was apprehensive.
"C'mon just take the damn plate, if I wanted to kill you I would have done so already," Cartman said shoving the plate at Kyle who took it and muttered a thank you. He was shocked that the plate was absent of bacon. Cartman remembered, and didn't even boast about being able to eat bacon. This kindness was foreign to Kyle, maybe those words rang true and Cartman really wasn't the same person as he was before.
"Just gonna stare at it? Eat before I shove it down your throat," Cartman said, swinging a slice of bacon around.
Maybe not so much changed as matured.
Kyle ate the pancakes slowly, savoring the taste. They both ate in relative quiet with only the mumblings of the TV in the background. It was peaceful and he didn't even register that he was finished eating until he was met with an empty plate.
"Thanks, Cartman," Kyle said after a moment.
"Don't mention it, though you can do the dishes, I'm tired." He said and leaned back and grinned.
A lazy-ass as always , Kyle mused to himself. Kyle huffed and stood up, he wasn't even supposed to be on his feet but Cartman seemed to be forgetting that, or simply didn't care. He moved over towards the other loveseat that sat Cartman and took his plate. He went into the kitchen and turned on the tap and started to clean the dishes and the rest of the mess that Cartman had made while cooking, his brows furrowed on concentration.
He heard the tap shut off and Kyle shuffling in the kitchen and opened his eyes he didn't realize had fallen and saw Kyle move towards him. He sat down next to Cartman and stared at the TV.
"Don't get any stupid ideas, the TV is just easier to see here," Kyle affirmed. Kyle hadn't realized he'd been dozing off until he felt himself slipping into slumber, his body leaning on something soft as he drifted away into sleep.
Cartman looked in shock as Kyle had fallen asleep on him. He didn't think it was intentional, but he wasn't going to be moving for a while so he might as well just find something long and interesting to watch.
"Crazy ass Jew," he muttered.