Complete Combustion
VI. Black Wall
"I've become so numb I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you"
-Numb by Linkin Park
Not a lot had occurred since the day Kyle had been forced to work as a housekeeper in Cartmans barrack. The snow had stopped falling, and the remaining snow on the ground had been reduced to slush and mud.
Kyle observed this from inside the barrack, peeking through the curtains, as he had once done from the apartment in Leipzig. To think that it hadn't even been three months yet.
The first days of imprisonment in the barrack – Cartman didn't allow him to go out, and locked the door carefully when he left for work at the camp, - had been terrible, but soon enough his suffering had turned into everyday life.
Cartman would usually bring some potato soup home to Kyle, in the evening, along with some dry slices of bread for the next morning, and Kyle often argued, that Cartman could just give him some of the food the SS officers ate, but Cartman tuned it out.
The ginger often thought about Ike and his parents, but still failed to come up with a plan on how to find them. Under normal circumstances, he would have tried putting pencils in the chink of the door, stuck something in the keyhole, coaxed the lock or attempted to break the window. But this was Cartman he was dealing with, who happened to be the most suspicious and calculating person in the world. There was no way, he could get past his precautions, though Cartman kept referring to him as "sneaky Jew-rat."
The relationship between the two hadn't changed a lot, since the day they met. Cartman used every opportunity he saw, to humiliate, mock and scare Kyle, who'd gotten used to it, and his automatic reaction would be retorting with sarcasm, an insult or equal mocking, without crossing the line. Kyle had had enough of death threats, but he had noticed, how he had been able to push it to the absolute limit, before Cartman would become angry enough to seriously hurt him.
On day-two in "E. Cartmans" barrack, Cartman had been really outspoken about how he had supposedly met Kyles brother in Monowitz, and pissed him off by making him roll twenty times in the icy snow, for making a snappy comment about Cartmans weight, which, after some bickering, had resulted in a huge fight. Threats had been thrown violently, and Kyle could have sworn, Cartman had been really close to finishing him off, but like the previous day, the mood had changed, and they'd had sex. Really, really good sex if Kyle remembered right
Now that was a part of everyday life as well. When Cartman came home, him and Kyle would do it a couple of times, if Cartman had had a good day and felt like it, and then go to sleep in their respective rooms.
Man, Kyle was painfully aware that he had engaged in some pretty fucked up sex games after almost three months of living with Cartman. He often wondered if Cartman used to have other servants before him, and how their asses felt, when going to bed at night.
"Ay! Jew!" Kyle heard the door slam, and was slapped on the ass, when Cartman walked past him, to sprawl on the couch. Something he did a lot.
Kyle could still feel the warmth where Cartman had touched him, and wondered if Cartman was in the mood already. He secretly hoped so, but he would never, ever admit it. Not even to himself.
Once he came into the living room, he saw that Cartman had a bag in one hand, arm extended towards him.
"Go prepare my food." He commanded simply, nearly slinging the bag at Kyle, who caught it briefly. "and it better be real quick. Seriously, I'm so hungry. You're gonna be jealous, when you see what I'm getting today."
Kyle turned around without uttering a word at his enemy. Cartman was usually cranky, when he choose to stay home to eat. He would bring some ready-made food home, and have Kyle prepare it.
Kyle sighed too low for Cartman to hear, and rolled his eyes. There wasn't a kitchen, but in the entrance hall stood a wooden table, with a stack of plates and other kitchen kitchen equipment arranged on top of it, and Kyle usually did all the preparing there.
"Gross," he thought, when opening the bag to see some wrapped up ham, along with some potatoes. "Yeah! The envy is eating me up from inside"" He said sarcastically, cringing in disgust. "'Cept for the fact that I don't eat pork." he added in a cheerful tone, walking into the living room with the food on a tray. Cartman simulated a heart-felt smile from the couch, "...which you...know very well." Kyle realized, dead panning. Why hadn't he seen this coming?
He put the tray on the coffee-table in front of Cartman and placed himself in front of him, hands on his hips. "Okay, Cartman, what are you planning to put me through this time?" he said straight-forwardly, looking awaiting.
"Oh nothing." Cartman said, shaking his head to prove his point, but Kyle still saw that distant smile form on the chubbys lips. He could tell he had some kind of new torture method in mind. "Take a seat." he patted the free space next to him, and Kyle reluctantly sank onto the couch.
This was another thing Cartman had thought up, with that screwed up brain of his. Kyle supposed he had figured, that Kyle would go mad, if he watched him eat the deliciously prepared food for the SS officers, given that all Kyle ever got was potato soup, water and chunks of stony bread. Kyle had "forgot" to mention the fact, that he wasn't a food-person, dreading that Cartman would come up with something worse if he found out. Or maybe he would just stop eating at home, which wouldn't be a great loss.
Kyle would rather have the house to himself, and knew he should be grateful that he didn't need to work under the same fatiguing circumstances as all the other Jews. His parents. And brother. Cartman once in a while reminded Kyle of all the horrendous things he had been spared for, and Kyle couldn't always tell if the Nazi was joking.
Cartman had stopped eating, having only finished half of his plate to Kyles surprise. He looked up at Kyle with a simulated innocent smile.
"I'll give you 50 Reichsmark for eating this." Cartman offered him a fork with a piece of ham on.
"No way!" Kyle expelled, looking repulsed by the idea.
"All right..." Cartman shrugged. "It's just that rumour has it, Number 14 523," he began unnecessarily officially , "that kikes would do anything for money. Would you believe it?" he feigned surprise, theatrically clasping a hand over his mouth.
"I knew you would say something like that. Hell, you probably even wrote it down, and have been looking forward to say it to me all day long." Kyle ranted.
"Well, I surely did look forward." Cartman agreed cordially.
"You have such a sad life." Kyle groaned, getting up to clean the plate. Cartman caught his sleeve, before he got away.
"I know you believe that Kahl...but at least I am not the one who's been locked in a barrack for three months." He hinted nonchalantly.
Kyle couldn't tell if it was due to the hard work he'd been doing the whole day, or the fact that Cartman was annoying in general, but he became furious.
"AND WHOSE FAULT IS...wait." he paused, starring at Cartman completely dumbfounded. "Did you just call me "Kyle"?" He simply failed to comprehend this.
Cartman hesitated for a moment, before he regained his composure. "Well, sorry for calling you by your name, I see, that's real weird..."
"No..." Kyle broke him off. "It's fine." he flashed the confused SS officer a smile.
Cartmans eyebrows crept up under his uniform cap, which he hadn't taken off yet. The blankly starring skull emblem sticking onto it, resembled Cartmans confused face perfectly.
"Does it turn you on?" Cartman implied suggestively, black eyes piercing Kyles green ones.
Kyle licked his lips seductively and twisted his body. "Why don't we find out?"
Cartman got up from the couch with lightning speed, shoving Kyle into the nearest wall with such force, that whatever hung on it fell down with loud clatters.
Neither Kyle nor Cartman noticed it. Kyles hand was between Cartmans legs massaging the growing bulge in his uniform pants whispering dirty secrets into his ear. The Nazi was urgently licking and sucking the nape of Kyles neck, then he bit him till he drew blood.
Kyle gave a cry of pleasure and ground their hips together in a quick rhythm.
Cartman broke apart.
"Go fill the bathtub. I'll be there in a sec."
"What kind of creepy item are you getting this time?" Kyle asked. "You sick fuck."
"You'll have to see, Jew boy. But it ain't gonna look good, when I'm done with you." His face darkened, and Kyles whole body shook with pleasure.
"See you in a sec."
A couple of days passed and the limited life Kyle was offered within the four walls of the barrack went on completely undisturbed.
It was late afternoon and Kyle was dusting the living room unruffled.
Lately Cartman had been rambling on about some air-raid on Hamburg and how it was all "those god-damned Brits' faults for being Jews in disguise," so Kyle was exceptionally pleased with not having him around. Though he wanted to know, what went on in Germany, he had abandoned the idea of prying information from Cartman. Sure Cartman would talk, but he wouldn't give Kyle any useful information, and if Kyle asked, he would insult him, or keep talking about the subject in riddles to annoy Kyle.
Kyle was fed up with the childish behaviour, but had learned to cope some way or another. He had grown resistant to the many insults. Except of course, when Cartman really decided to be hurtful, because then he would succeed.
Then without warning Kyle heard a hollow knocking sound coming from Cartmans bedroom. Kyle threw the wet wash cloth into a bucket, creating a loud splash, but his attention was fully focused on the insisting knocking sound, which grew larger in every second.
It sounded like someone knocked at the window in there.
He didn't quite understand, why someone had suddenly decided to visit. Since he arrived there had been no visitors coming by.
Kyle had secretly deliberated whether it was due to the late working hours of the SS officers, or if it could be, that Cartman was as much of an ignorant jerk at work as he was at home.
Now the knocking sounded really urgent, and Kyles curiosity exceeded his restraints.
Kyle wasn't allowed to go into the bedroom under any circumstances, and keeping with his usually incurious character, he hadn't even put his hand on the doorknob. Simply because he did not care what Cartman kept in there. Yet he did care that someone was knocking on the window, and with a resolute mien he grabbed the doorknob, swinging the door open. His eyes scanned the room, but there was nothing out of the ordinary about it. Except that it was messy, but Kyle didn't exactly expect Cartman to be meticulousness itself.
At first he didn't recognize the scraggy teenager outside his window. It was only when he gazed upon the familiar, brash face of the boy that realization hit him.
"Ike!" He cried out, quickly rushing across the room to open the window, just to find out it was locked. He stared at Ike, with a bewildered expression, whilst attempting to yank open the window, completely in vain. Ike pointed impatiently at a lock, located on the right corner of the windowstill
, his now deep-set, brown eyes glaring from past the hollowed cheekbones flickered uneasily.
Kyle clumsily worked the lock, and managed to open the window. It couldn't be opened entirely, so Ike couldn't get in, and Kyle couldn't get out.
"Ike!" He repeated, his voice growing shrill. "What the hell's happened to you."
Ike had brought his head close to the pane, and Ikes change of appearance was striking. Not only was he absolutely scrawny, but dirt had literally bored into his every wrinkle and feature, causing him to look tired and worn out. The strong smell of rot and God-knew-what reached Kyles nostrils the second he leaned close to the pane as well.
"Kyle." Ike whispered in a voice which appeared strained. "I've joined a resistance group, and we're trying to find a way to escape."
Kyle hardly cared about escaping at that moment. All he wanted to do, was find out what his run-down brother had gone through, and apparently Ike noticed.
"I'm fine!" Ike mumbled, with a shrug.
"You look terrible." Kyle objected in the same high-pitched voice. "Don't try to fool me on this one. What the hell are they doing to you, Ike?"
"Oh, you noticed this?" The black haired boy asked, holding up his hand, revealing a large, festering wound on the back of it. Lymph and inflammation still pouring out.
"No! I was referring to your overall look." Kyle said slowly, shaking his head in refusal. "Ike... what happened to your hand?"
Ike shrugged it off, casting yet another anxious look at the area.
"Seriously, tell me!" He ordered in shock.
"It happened during work," Ike answered in a sincere and reliable voice of surrender. "Actually it was back when it still froze outside. Approximately a month ago I suppose..." He broke off.
"Continue." Kyle said demandingly.
He was shocked. It was as though Ike didn't even care about being hurt. Sometimes he reminded Kyle too much of himself.
"We were carrying heavy metal pillars, that were to be piled up outside the factory. Well... Since it was degrees below freezing-point, our hands stuck onto the metal, but we were ordered to continue..." he gazed down at his feet. "and when we pulled our hands from the pillars, the skin came off."
Kyle searched his younger brothers face, but not the slightest trace of a lie could be found.
"No way." Kyle said quietly after a moment. "Do they do that a lot?"
Ike shook his head. "Well, not exactly. They beat us up, when we disobey or try to rebellion, and they have the right to shoot us, or torture us in whichever way they see fitting."
Kyle hid his face in his hands, to hide the pain etched into his features. So what Cartman said was true. Every bit of it. And to think, that he had fucked with that murderous psycho just about every single night since they came here... He felt so guilty.
"Is that the bastard you are living with?" Ike asked.
Kyle nodded. "I do the household chores," he replied, "so don't be concerned about me. I'm getting off easier than the rest of you... not that I want to stay here of course!" He quickly added.
"I know." Ike sighted. "That's why I came. To get you out."
"Wait..." Kyle said. "First you have to fill me in on this place. I'm locked up here, so I don't know anything, besides what that douchebag Cartman tells me. And his credibility isn't too good. Are there only Jews here?"
"Well no, there are lots of different people. In my barrack, we are only Jews though. The soldiers divide us really carefully, to not "mix the races" or something. My block, which is number 13, is over flooded with Poles, and some homosexuals..." Kyle twitched, "...but the Poles aren't treated half as bad, as the Jews. We get all the crappy jobs, and they tend to beat us up more often."
"What kind of job do you have?"
"I've had several. Right now, I'm in the factory IG Farben."
Kyle looked at him in confusion.
"Synthetic rubber and liquid fuel plant." The younger boy quickly explained, "but it could be worse. I've managed to work my way up, and get better jobs 'cos I'm young."
"Good," Kyle said with a half hearted smile. "and... mum and dad?"
Ike shook his head, looking pained. "I don't know." He said simply. "I've tried asking the other inmates if they knew anybody else by the name Broflovski, but I didn't have much luck. But then again... this whole system of camps is huge like hell, and you can't move to other camps on your own."
Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"Oh well... long story how I got here, but let's discuss the escape."
Kyle nodded in agreement.
"Look, the thing is, the entire Auschwitz is encircled by an electrified barbed wire entanglement. One touch is deadly. I've seen people throw themselves directly at them, to commit suicide." He paused, his expression beyond comparison."so that possibility is out of question. The only way to get in and out is through the gates, and to get through them, you need to have connections to people on the outside."
Kyle shook his head hopelessly. How in the world could they get out through the main gates. It sounded downright stupid. "But there's no way..."
"Other people have done it." Ike proclaimed to Kyles surprise. "Right now our group is searching for someone who knows people outside the camp. But we have to be really careful, since the camp is full of betrayers."
"In what way?" Kyle asked baffled.
"The Nazi regime is turning people against each other. Some inmates will do anything – stab a fellow inmate in the back – to get extra bread or a better job. Most people go crazy or become animals." The absolute repulsion was painted all over Ikes face, but Kyle knew this was a façade. Ike wanted to remain strong, and not loose dignity and break down in front of his brother. Kyle was like that too. He hated to appear weak.
"So, anyway, we have to go now Kyle. Come on." Ike had already spun around, ready to leave. "Just break the window or something.
"What- now?" Kyle asked taken by surprise. "No, that's irrational. They'll begin a search for me and before we know it, we'll all be dead." Kyle argued, painfully aware of how much it sounded like some lame excuse. Maybe it was, but it was true that he didn't want his brother to get hurt, he justified.
Ike didn't seem to view the argument as an excuse, as he nodded silently.
"Right." He agreed. "I'll notify you when a plan is developed."
"Okay."
The two boys looked at each other for a long time, neither one breaking the silence, that had descended upon them. Ike squeezed his hand in through the narrow opening of the window, and Kyle patted it.
"Don't worry Kyle." Ike assured his brother, sending him a cheeky smile. "I won't let them get to me, or let them turn me into an animal."
Kyle sighed and nodded emitting a deep sigh, and forced a smile to his lips. "Give 'em hell. And see you soon."
Kyle watched then Ike left, staggering away on those thin sticks that were now his legs, through the snow. His determined attitude reminded Kyle of that little girl, he had encountered in front of the red brick house. He knew what happened to kids like those, and it was as though, his heart was being squeezed by an icy cold hand.
He got out of the room, and threw himself onto the couch in a Cartman-like fashion, staring straight ahead.
How could people bring themselves to force children to work like that? It was so very wrong, and he couldn't believe Cartman had engaged in these abominations. He paused this train of thoughts for a seconds. Maybe it wasn't all the SS officers that cruelly tortured the inmates, like Ike had described. Or maybe they all did, and Cartman was the one exception.
Kyle couldn't really justify why he stuck up for Cartman all of a sudden, but it just seemed so unlikely for someone Kyle had slept with, talked to, prepared food for, could be a murderer. Besides his sadistic behaviour, he was really just a normal guy, right? Kyle mentally slapped himself. That was probably the biggest lie ever. Cartman was nothing that even came near to normal. He was self-occupied, bigoted, insensitive and obtrusive and nothing would prevent him from cruelly torturing people. But was he really a killer?
"Hey Kahl." came a cheerful greeting from the hall. Apparently Cartman was in a good mood today. Kyle was suddenly relieved that Ike had not stayed longer. They had been so reckless. Cartman could have showed up any second.
"Oh, hey Cartman." He greeted back, watching the SS'er flop onto the sofa next to him.
Cartman started staring at him completely unhampered. Kyle furrowed his brows.
"'Sup?"
Cartman shrugged, "Nothing much."
"What is it? Got anything I should take care of." Kyle teased, sliding a hand down Cartmans thigh, to his crotch.
Cartman jumped slightly, at the touch,"Jeez, no Kahl." he said in a reproaching tone "We have to to something about those sordid thoughts in your head. Like, take 'em away or something."
"Yeah?" Kyle snickered, leaning closer to Cartman. "How do you intend to do that?"
Cartman roughly pulled Kyle into his lap, and slid his hands down the gingers chest. "Well..." he began, "the only way to get rid of such thoughts is to... Carry them out, right."
Kyle nodded, and put his hands around Cartmans neck. "Indeed it is."
Cartman took Kyles face between his hands, bringing it closer to his own face. Kyle was a bit confused at this. Cartman usually didn't waste any time when it came to sex, and would only drag it out, with the purpose of torturing Kyle. What did Cartman intend to do now?
His eyes met Cartmans, and to his surprise he saw a slight hint of insecurity, and was pretty sure his own eyes mirrored Cartmans right now.
Now Cartman let a thumb ghost across Kyles lower lip, barely touching the skin, but didn't say anything. He slowly, moved closer, giving Kyle a soft and affectionate peck on the lips. It wasn't open-mouthed or anything, but the soft brush of Cartmans lips, that felt silky on Kyles own, made the ginger shiver and blush. It actually felt really good, but why would Cartman do something of that sort.
"Liking the taste of Kosher, are we?" Kyle didn't even mean to say it, but the sarcastic remark just flew out his mouth, because he had grown used to scorn Cartman whatever he did.
Cartman didn't look hurt. Rather teasing. "One: don't turn me off, and two: you know you liked it." He note, absent-mindedly sliding his hand, under Kyles shirt, to play with a nipple.
"But why?" Kyle asked asked deeply. "You never do something I like."
"Well... "
This was the first time, Kyle ever saw Cartman flustered. He insecurely wrung his hands, and his eyes flickered from Kyles face to his feet, reminding Kyle of a schoolboy.
"'Cos I'm generous like that?" It was a question rather than a statement, and Kyle answered by raising his eyebrows.
"Look kike, I dunno why I kissed you, okay! But I don't really care what you think, 'cos I do what I want. Got a problem with it?" Cartman had regained his composure and was back in attack-mode.
Kyle considered his answer for a second. "No. I don't mind."
Cartman stared at Kyle for a second, thrown off by his blunt answer.
"In fact," Kyle continued, "I think I would like it, if you did it again." Kyle had no idea, what he was doing. Disregarding the outside world of the camp: the torture, the shootings, the suffering, everything, the fact was, that he had liked the small sign of affection.
"Okay then." Cartman said, once again bringing their lips together. This time the kiss was open-mouthed, needy and full of passion. Kyle gently caressed Cartmans soft hair, and the nape of his neck, with light touches, while Cartman ran his hands down Kyles side, resting them on his hips, while their tongues played with each other. Kyle moaned, when Cartman nibbled his lower lip, in a way that felt particularly good. He suckled at Cartmans lower lip in return, one hand reaching for his crotch, to massage it at the same time.
The kiss quickly grew heated, and the two guys tasted each other urgently, swollen lips colliding in heated passion, while their hands were all over each other. They fell down on the sofa, Cartman on top, kissing lustily. A moan of pleasure escaped Kyles lips, as Cartman turned his attention to his partners neck, kissing at sucking it.
It felt so good and he threw his head back, accidentally banging it against the wall. There was a loud thud, and then a sharp pain shot through the back of Kyles head.
"What the fuck?" Cartman looked up, from Kyles neck. There was a short silence, and then, all of a sudden, they laughed together. There was no telling why this moment of awkwardness seemed so funny, but both guys practically roared with laughter, Cartman buried his head the nape of Kyles neck, tickling it, with his laughing, which caused Kyle to laugh even more in powerlessness.
When the laughter had subsided and the last chuckles disappeared, they looked at each other, a faint smile tracing their lips.
"Only a Jew would do something that awkward during foreplay." Cartman teased.
"Well, only a fatass like you would laugh at it." Kyle argued lightly.
"Suppose we should move this into the bed." Cartman suggested."If the Jew, can control its spasm, and not hurt itself further."
"Hey shut it, you bastard!"
Cartman picked Kyle up, wrapping the gingers legs around his waste, bringing their lips together again, as he carried Kyle into the bedroom.
Kyle could be imagining this, but it seemed as though something changed between them, after that night. They would still call each other names, rip on each other and so on. Cartman would still force Kyle into humiliating sex games, and just humiliations in general, but for some reason, it seemed more harmless than before.
He knew he was despicable for being reduced to a bundle of snickers or a hissy fit, each time Cartman came near him, but he couldn't help the way he reacted to Cartmans schemes to manipulate him.
The night after the laughing, Kyle dreamt of the little girl in the snow. He saw it from the dogs point of view. How it leaped through the snow, the little girl coming closer and closer. As she turned around, with terror written all over her face, he saw, that it wasn't her. It was Ikes pale and skinny face he saw, and then he awoke with a scream, drenched in sweat.
By God, if something happened to Ike, he would never look at Cartman again. Never ever. He would hate him forever, and ever.
Kyle knew he was playing with death. Cartman was unreliable and suspicious, but he couldn't help being drawn to him.
Had he really become that apathetic?
A/N: Okay , this chap is all centered on the relationship between Cartman and Kyle. It's pretty obvious that they are growing on each other, right?
Actually I had a hard time finding out how to break the ice between them. It complicated when you have a Nazi and a Jew, that hate each other, and only have sex to fulfill their own needs, to get them on the same wavelenght. But then I thought about those situations when you experience something really funny with people. I mean, you don't have to like them, it's just that what you experience is so funny or awkward you can't help but laugh, and feel totally connected at that moment. That's the mood I wanted to create in the laughing scene. Hope it worked out all right.
And it'll probably take some time for me to update, hence I'll be working on a school project for the next two weaks. It's gonna be really intense and exhausting, since the grade I recieve is gonna be on my diploma, so I have to do good.
Bye~~