I wanted to update earlier but didn't manage, sorry. I do hope this chapter compensates for the weekly wait.
I also want to express my dearest thanks to everybody that has been reviewing this story so far. You are great! I am found of reading the comments and opinions, it's not only a great and important feedback, but above all, its highly stimulating. Makes me want to to write even more ;)
Here goes a speacial thanks to those who have been really loyal and reviewing from chapter one (we'll continue PMing) and also for the Guests readers, who I am unable of replying, but never the less happy to read you comments. :-)
Warning: AU –Second World War
M-Rated!Contains coarse language, violent imaginary related to the context of war, and sex.
I do not own South Park. I do not own anything. I wish I was that f* genius!
Herr Cartman sat behind his desk.
He gestured Stan to sit opposite him and Kyle had to stand next to the desk between them. The redhead thought it ironic he should stand between the two Nazis. Between his best friend and his nemesis. Between returning to old familiar grounds and diving into new unexplored seas. Between two difficult options. The safe and wise path and the dangerous unwise one. Kyle watched the fat Nazi prepare his desk, looking serious and concentrated while he lifted some papers and tidied them properly. He had pondered well. He had made a balance of everything. He knew what the right choice should be. His mind warned him greatly. But this time he listened to his instincts. This time he followed his heart. Because it told him one option was good and right, but the other option was better and the right one. He switched nervous looks with Stan. His friend did not agree with him. He would never. But the redhead could not blame him for that. Stan had told him he was mad. And Kyle had to agree with him. Because today he chose emotion above reason. Intuition above sense. Heart above mind. Today Kyle chose for Herr Cartman. And that had to make him absolutely insane.
"So, how many Jews were you thinking to buy from this camp?" Herr Cartman broke the heavy silence while he stared directly into Stan's blue eyes. Kyle held his breath in the anticipation of how this conversation would develop.
"I'll need 82 people to work in the factory." Stan said, trying to sound neutral and businesslike, doing his best to hide his distress. He ruffled a bit on his pocket and took a paper out of it. "Let me see… I need 32 children, preferably under the age of 13. They have small fingers, you see." Stan said, forcing himself to smile, but had the feeling he had failed completely. "The rest will be adults, regardless of their ages." Herr Cartman nodded in understanding, but gave the other Nazi a mysterious smile.
"You should know meh Jews are healthy and therefore…" Herr Cartman started with a nonchalant tone, but Stan cut his words.
"I'm ready to pay you 3,000 Marks for each Jew." Stan dryly stated. Kyle gasped surprised at the large amount of money his friend was offering and Herr Cartman's eyes widened greatly from the shock.
"That's… a very generous offer." Herr Cartman almost stuttered. "Kalh, how much is that in total?"
"246.000 Marks." The redhead answered without hesitation.
"Yes, that's quite a generous offer..." Herr Cartman said thoughtfully. He wondered if Stan was bluffing or if he had indeed summoned all that money in order to guarantee his friend's freedom. He concluded bluffing was too dangerous. If Stan would be caught, he would jeopardize all the efforts he had gone through to save his little friend. It would mean his death and everybody else's that was related to him. No, Stan would never take such a great risk. It had to be real. Herr Cartman was suddenly caught in a dilemma between revenge and greedy ambition. He was not only inclined in selling these "expensive" Jews, but also felt tempted in becoming Stan's friend so he could learn his secret in making so much money in such a short time. He decided to stick to his original plan and see how things would develop. He was good in improvising and wanted to benefit as much as possible from this situation. "You'll be paying the costs for transportation too, you do realize?"
"Of course. I didn't expect otherwise." Stan said with more sureness. Herr Cartman studied his rival's face. He definitely wasn't bluffing. The guy was too confident to be lying. No, he was really telling the truth. Herr Cartman smiled. He would have both. The money and his revenge. "It's still cheaper than having paid workers. Trust me, it compensates." Stan said in a relaxed confident manner.
"Very well. I have here a list of competent Jews. Hard workers, I'll assure you." Herr Cartman said while he passed a paper with the camp's prisoners' names, birthdates and former professions.
"Oh, yes. Which reminds me. I'll be needing a bookkeeper and a lawyer too." Stan added. Kyle looked at him pale, starting to feel sick from the nerves. He hoped Stan wouldn't insist too much in buying him. He hoped he would respect his wishes. But above all, that he wouldn't make Herr Cartman suspicious about anything. The redhead continued following the conversation silently. Kyle looked calm from the outside, but he could already feel the cold sweat spread on his skin from the anxiety that consumed him.
"Why don't you hire them? I'm sure the Party can recommend you some good professionals." Herr Cartman said with a grin. This was a game he loved playing and he was enjoying the fact both teenagers were oblivious of his revengeful plan.
"You're kidding, right? I don't get to pay them! Besides, like this I'll be in better control of their work." Stan clarified, hoping the fat Nazi would fall to his lies.
"Yes. I understand perfectly." Herr Cartman said with a growing smile. "Kalh, wasn't your father a lawyer?"
"Yes, he was." Kyle said surprised at his father's mention.
"Where did he have his office again? Frankfurt wasn't it? Must have been fine living in such a prestigious city." The fat Nazi said in an overly kind and interested tone. Kyle immediately sensed something odd was going on. But was oblivious to the SS's intentions, so he decided to give him the honest answer. The fat Nazi grinned, knowing exactly what the Jew would say next. Stan looked at Herr Cartman with an expression of fear when he suddenly remembered telling him about his hometown, the day before. He witnessed the grin in the fat Nazi's face grow evil and immediately realized what was going on. He quickly understood he and Kyle were in danger. They were falling into a well prepared trap. And Kyle, ignorant of the danger, was going to say the words that would bring them to certain doom. And so he paled.
"Actually we lived just outside Frankfurt, in a small town…" Kyle casually said but Stan interrupted him by pretending to have a loud cough attack. Herr Cartman's face almost contorted from disgust and triumph at the same time.
"My, my. Looks like our friend is not feeling all right." The SS said in a giggle and Kyle looked from his friend to the fat Nazi in shock.
"It's not funny! I think he's chocking!" Kyle scolded half in panic.
"No, he's not. It's just an act, because he knew you were going to say you lived in Offenbach!" Herr Cartman coldly said and Stan stopped with the fake coughing right away. There was no sense in continuing pretending. Kyle stared confused from one to the other and Herr Cartman gave Stan the chilliest look. "You should have used a fake name and fake background." The fat Nazi told the raven haired boy and Kyle became white as a sheet, finally understanding. Herr Cartman had somehow discovered he and Stan were friends. Suddenly, Stan got up and pointed a gun at Herr Cartman's face.
"Stan! What the hell are you doing?!" Kyle shouted and immediately put himself between the fat Nazi and his friend.
"He knows, Kyle. Get out of the way!" Stan said with a shaky voice, while he continued pointing his gun, this time against Kyle's chest. There was a clicking sound behind the redhead and Kyle turned around to see Herr Cartman had meanwhile stood up and was pointing a gun at his forehead.
"So you thought you could trick me, you filthy Jew? Did you really think I'm stupid?" Herr Cartman said with his teeth clenched. Kyle stared at him petrified and could feel the adrenaline make his blood drum loudly in his ears. He could hear Stan call out for him, but he ignored. He could see the cold steel pointing death at him, but he ignored. Because, right now, all that mattered was what was going on behind those brown eyes.
"You think I planned this? It may sound unbelievable, but I didn't." Kyle plainly said, with an uncharacteristic calm voice, certainly for somebody who had a gun pointed to his head. Fat trembling fingers grasped the weapon with more force. The SS's face contorted from pain and distrust. "But believe me or not, today, I was choosing you." Kyle said in a shaky voice, a soft regretful smile, his eyes mirroring the pain the fat Nazi felt. For Stan's despair and Herr Cartman's utter surprise, Kyle fearlessly took a step forward, so the tip of the gun was pressed against his temple's skin. The redhead ignored his best friend's increasingly desperate pleas. Ignored the words that begged him to stop and get away from that gun. Because, right now, nothing mattered than the anger and hatred fueled by pain reigning in those brown eyes. "If you want you kill me, then just get on with it." Kyle said with security and Herr Cartman stared paralyzed at him. "Pull the trigger, if you don't believe me. Because right now, I'd rather die than know you don't trust me."
A heavy expectant silence filled the room. Stan was unable to produce any other sound after listening to his best friend's suicidal words. He still had his gun in his hand, but there was nothing he could do, so he lowered it in defeat and prayed God would have mercy on his friend. Stan remained rooted to the floor, paralyzed by fear during long torturous seconds. And during these excruciating seconds, green eyes were locked on brown ones. It was like if the SS and the Jew had travelled back in time and space. It was like if they were back in the camp about a year ago. They were back in the day their eyes met for the very first time. A time when they were perfect strangers. A time when they were enemies. And just like in that day, green eyes showed no fear. Herr Cartman dwelled in the depths of forest green and found the same courage, determinacy, confidence and trust as in that decisive day. But, in opposition to their first meeting, he failed in finding any hatred, anger or disgust. And so, Herr Cartman's trembling thumb reconnected the safety trigger. Stan sighed heavily from relieve when he heard the blessed sound and watched the fat Nazi slowly lower his arm, without taking his eyes from Kyle's.
"Stan, leave the room." Herr Cartman said in a strangled voice.
"No way am I leaving you alone with Kyle!" Stan retorted revolted.
"Please, do as he says." Kyle calmly uttered, without facing his friend. Stan looked absolutely horrified.
"But Kyle, …"
"Fuck off, Stan! Just leave the damn room!" Kyle spat, while he turned around. Stan stared at him in pure shock. He looked hurt for some moments and then shook his head in defeat. He knew too well that look his best friend was giving him right now. There was no way he could convince Kyle of anything. It was a lost cause. Kyle was too headstrong. So he regretfully consented and headed to the door. Just before he left the room, he turned to face his best friend, one last time.
"I'll be right here, if you need me."
"Thank you." Kyle said in sincere gratitude. Stan nodded and exited the room silently, closing the door behind him.
Another heavy silence filled the room. Nazi and Jew stared at each other. Herr Cartman couldn't understand Kyle's words from moments ago.
Today, I was choosing you.
The fat Nazi stared suspiciously at the Jew he had become so attached to. Kyle doesn't want to leave me. He chooses to stay. But why? Herr Cartman asked himself while he studied Kyle's paled face. Read his determined but hurt look in his eyes. Herr Cartman realized this was the chance Kyle should have been waiting for. He could simply leave me. Why doesn't he take the chance and escape with his friend? Be free, away from this prison?
Kyle had to be sick. Something had to be wrong. Unless he feels safe with me? But does he think I'll protect him? Would he truly trust me? But then the memories from the day Craig tried to rape Kyle returned to him. It had happened only months ago. That day, Herr Cartman had asked himself the very same questions as today. And had understood back then, he already knew the redhead trusted him. Just like he trusted Kyle back. And from that day on, whatever existed between them, only seemed to intensify, solidify and grow stronger. Then suddenly, realization hit him. He stopped hating me and then started caring for me… Nobody ever cared for me. There was a pang in his heart. An explainable fear took hold of his being. Herr Cartman longed so much for his conclusion to be true, but found it too good to be real. He preferred to believe it was a lie instead of falling in the false illusion that somebody could actually like him and get himself badly hurt.
"I know you and Stan are friends." Herr Cartman stated in a chilled voice. "You really didn't think I would have a Jew living under the same roof as me without knowing anything about his past, did you?"
"I guess I should have known that." Kyle admitted with a sad smile. He looked awkwardly to the papers and then back to the Nazi. "So, what happens now?" There was a short hesitation from the SS at the question, a short pause that tortured Kyle's soul. He wanted so badly to save the little that still could be saved. His family, his friend, himself. They were truly doomed if Cartman would believe he had schemed he whole thing.
"What is it you really want?" Herr Cartman decided to go straight to the point. He wanted to put all the cards on the table. And finally understand once and for all what was going on. He stared right into the Jews eyes demanding the truth and nothing but the truth. Kyle sighed nervously.
"I…I want my family to be safe. I want them to go with Stan to the factory. They'll be protected there." Kyle explained. "And remember you sealed the promise you would do anything to protect them!"
"Is that all that you want?" Herr Cartman asked suspiciously.
Kyle nodded decisively. It made no sense. Herr Cartman stared in amazement at the redhead. Is this a sacrifice he's doing to spare them? He knew he shouldn't be surprised Kylewould do anything in his power to save his parents and brother. Is this why he said he chooses me? The fat Nazi somehow envied Kyle for having such a strong bond with his family. Because, as much as he loved his mother, he hated her too. He felt humiliated for her reputation, for the things she did and said. Unlike him, Kyle's relationship with his family was special. Is this all because of that damn contract? He had witnessed the interaction between the three male Broflovskis, the support and sacrifices they made for each other. They were loyal to each other. Just like Kyle's loyalty to his family was impressive.
Loyal.
Herr Cartman realized this was the word that described Kyle Broflovski the best. And perhaps, just perhaps, he was loyal to him too. Could it be he just wants his family to be safe, that he's just making sure they'll be protected? Does he truly want to stay with me? The need, the longing to be wanted and the fear of rejection consumed his heart like a disease. He needed to know for sure. He needed to know where Kyle's heart truly lied on. And there was only one way in knowing this. Herr Cartman took out a key hidden under his clothing and unlocked a drawer in the desk, while Kyle eyed him curiously. He stared for some moments at the paper that sealed the deal he and the Jew had made last summer. He picked it up and looked at the two signatures. His and Kyle's. The contract. The object that obliged them to fulfill each other's needs. Kyle's prison. But no longer. Today Herr Cartman choose Kyle too. Today he set him free.
The redhead's eyes grew wide in shock when he watched fat fingers tear off the piece of paper first in two, then in four and drop them carelessly on the desk. Kyle stared paralyzed, failing in understanding what was going on. Then, as his mind started working, a horrible feeling spread over his body. He stared at the four shredded pieces of paper spread on the wood. He lifted his head to look at Herr Cartman. The Nazi wore an impassive expression. His brown eyes were unreadable. And then Kyle saw red.
In an unexpected swift move, Kyle jumped over the desk, knocking down papers, the telephone and pens. He practically flew on Herr Cartman, when he threw himself at him, so the Nazi hit hard against the bookshelf. Several books fell on both teenagers from the impact, as they hit the hard floor, Herr Cartman on his back and Kyle on top of him.
"You fucking bastard!" Kyle screamed furiously, while he punched Herr Cartman right on his face. "You promised you'd protect them! You promised!" The fat Nazi was startled for a few seconds from the sudden attack. But the force of Kyle's fist on his face shook him out of this daze and he quickly avoided a second blow, and managed to grasp Kyle by the wrists instead. The redhead released a yell of war, when the SS managed to switch their positions quite swiftly. The redhead was pinned under the weight of the other, immobile by the strong grasp around his wrists. "Let go off me!"
"Fuck Jew! I didn't tear the contract to free myself from any obligation! I didn't tear it off to hurt your stupid family!" Herr Cartman shouted enraged, his warm breath traveling to Kyle's face. "I can care less if they stay in Dachau or go away with your fag friend!" Herr Cartman screamed back. "I tore the contract because I don't want you to feel obliged to do stuff for me anymore!"
Hearing these words Kyle froze and stopped with his restless squirming to, instead, stare in pure surprise at the fat Nazi. He locked his eyes with Herr Cartman's and read the sincerity in them. It took him some seconds to process those words. And then he understood the Nazi's gesture. He understood the meaning of this action. And was lost for words. Kyle was unable to verbalize the wonderful intense feelings that invaded his heart. So, he lifted his head and crushed his lips against the Nazi's. The kiss was returned with the same ferocity and need. The fingers around his wrists loosened themselves and Kyle desperately wrapped his arms around the Nazi's back. Their kiss translated the desperate need they felt for being together. For being close and united. They clung their bodies madly and kissed wonderfully, until a repulsive sound of vomiting was heard in the room.