Chapter 14

"Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?"

To say that Cartman had grown accustomed to Kyle sleeping on his couch was an understatement. He had come to enjoy the smile that curled his lips whenever he would see Kyle still asleep each morning, wrapped securely in the confines of his grandmother's blanket and his red curls splayed over his pillow; he secretly found comfort that he could sleep with his things. Kyle's very presence in the Villa soothed the Commandant in a way nothing ever had, so when Cartman had to tell Kyle the previous night that he was well enough to return to the barracks the next morning, he would not deny the sting in his chest, but of course out loud he would. Maybe some time away from Kyle would be a good thing for him, that way he could sort out these foreign feelings and get back to doing what made him happy the most-punishing Jews. However, watching Kyle fold up his grandmother's quilt, knowing he was leaving in only moments, told him this wouldn't actually be the best for him.

"Just because you have been sick, Jew, is no excuse for your work to be sloppy so I expect you to work flawlessly as you always have," Cartman said sternly to Kyle, who picked up his quilt and pillow.

"Is that a compliment sir?" Color rushed to Cartman's cheeks instantly. Yes, it had been a compliment, but damn Kyle had been too smart to see through his bitterness, he should have known of course.

"Of course it wasn't Kahl, just an observation and my point remains that you are expected to work as you normally would. No free passes just because you were sick." Cartman rolled his eyes at the smirk Kyle gave him. What's he so happy about? Is he that happy about going back to work? There was the sting in his chest again. The thought about Kyle being more happy about work than being with him at the Villa was almost a slap to the face. But Cartman had to act like it didn't bother him in the least.

"Don't worry sir, I won't let my workload slip," Kyle offered the blanket and pillow to the Commandant and he took them in his arms. "Thank you again, for helping me and my family." Cartman rolled his eyes again and let out a sigh.

"I told you Kahl, it was in my best interest, not yours. I honestly don't care what happens to your family, or even you for that matter,"

"I know, thank you sir." So then Kyle believed him to be in this for himself, good. But then, why did he long for Kyle to know that he did care? About him, and even his family? Shit Eric what is wrong with you?! Kick him out now before he ruins everything!

Eric, it's okay to care.

Shut up, caring is not an advantage!

"Just hurry up and get to work Jew," he said with bitterness as he turned to set his things down on his chair; he'd put them up later. While his back was still turned, his felt a hand being pressed gently between his shoulder blades.

"Thank you."

Cartman said nothing to his whisper of gratitude, but his body stiffened in response to being touched; just as it did when Kyle hugged him two nights prior. Physical contact, in the intimate way of a hug or a gentle hand, was foreign to Cartman. The first day of their dance lessons when Cartman pulled Kyle against him had been nearly unbearable. He had openly been angry that Kyle pulled away and left immediately, but he was secretly relieved because the physical contact had terrified him.

"Get out Kahl," he did not yell, but with as much venom as he said it with he might as well have. Kyle said nothing more and took his leave. Knowing Kyle was gone, Cartman took a few moments to calm the range of emotions he was feeling because of the Jew. He hated that Kyle was causing a cyclone of emotions that he didn't understand, but he couldn't bring himself to hurt the Jew. Why?

Eric, don't you realize-

No, stop it. Nothing has changed. Kyle is a Jew, and he is a Nazi, polar opposites, sworn enemies and that's how it'll stay. Cartman made his way to the window just in time to see Kyle enter the yard. He watched as Kyle ran into a tight embrace between Tweek and his brother Ike.

Why are you jealous Eric?

Jealous? He wasn't jealous and had absolutely no reason to be.

Are you sure? Don't you want someone to care about you like that? Don't you want another embrace from the Jew?

"Shut up!" Cartman cried out and decided he needed to return to the yard as well.

/

"Kyle!" Ike yelled the second he saw his brother come back to the yard. Ike ran into his brother's open embrace and Kyle wrapped him in a vice grip.

"Oh Ike." Kyle was so thankful to be holding and talking to his brother again. Tweek came right up beside Kyle and looked between them with a smile.

"Get your ass in here Tweek," Kyle nearly cried grabbing Tweek's shirt and yanking him into the hug. "Thank you, thank you Tweek for helping them," Kyle whispered against his ear. He heard Tweek make a noise, but he still clung to Kyle.

After a bit the three of them separated and Kyle rubbed Tweek's face gently, almost caressing the healing bruises. "Tweek what happened?" But Tweek shook his head.

"Later," so in other words, he didn't want to say it in front of Ike, for which Kyle was grateful.

"Kyle, something happened while you were gone. Papa was taken away! We have no idea where he went! Kyle I'm so scared!" Ike cried out in a panic and Kyle brought him back into his arms.

"Shh, Ike, it's okay. I know where Papa is and I promise you he is okay. But I can't explain right now, we need to work do you understand?" Thankfully Ike nodded and dried his tears. "Good boy Ike."

Kyle looked between his brother and Tweek and smiled as best he could. "Let's get back to work before we draw too much attention," and that was all the talking they were able to do for a while because the guards kept a close watch on them after that. Shortly after Kyle returned to the yard, he noticed that the Commandant returned as well. He was almost surprised by the smile that rose from his own lips when he saw Cartman, but he was still so grateful he saved his father and actually took him out of the hard labor he had been doing. While he didn't like the idea of being separated from his father, he knew he was safe and would from now on have a warm meal every day and the Commandant was to thank for that.

Kyle noticed that Cartman didn't seek him out, or even look at him like he normally would and Kyle found that he was slightly bothered by it. He remembered that he had been bothered by it once before, after he returned days later after Tweek's whipping, but then he was upset and angry over what he had done. Now, was he actually growing fond of the Commandant's attention? No that was crazy, wanting a Nazi's attention...laughable.

During their "lunch" hour, Kyle informed Ike about their father and that from now on he would be safe and they wouldn't have to be worried about being separated. "What if the Commandant changes his mind?" Ike asked sounding unsure of the situation. That thought had occurred to Kyle as well, but he needed Kyle and he had proven he could keep his promise. So Kyle responded by taking his brothers hand with a smile.

"He won't, I trust him Ike, please have faith." Did Kyle just really say that? Had he finally accepted in his heart that he could in fact trust Cartman? He assumed that he should feel revolted at this revelation, but he didn't, he actually felt secure and happy. In fact he even smiled realizing that he now trusted the Commandant. Kyle sensed eyes on him and looked to the side to see Tweek eyeing him as if he was contemplating something. "What?" Kyle asked matching his almost confused expression. Tweek blinked a few times and shook his head.

"Gah! Nothing!" He knew Tweek was avoiding to tell Kyle whatever he was thinking about, and Kyle respected his reasoning and left it alone. He would never force Tweek with anything, even talking; he wanted him to always feel comfortable around Kyle.

The three of them continued their work after "lunch" ended. Almost an hour later Kyle heard screaming from behind them, followed by the familiar sound of a whip. Kyle saw behind them a soldier whipping a prisoner in the dirt, rather than on display for everyone to watch like the Commandant had done. "Ike, Tweek don't look," Kyle warned them, especially to Tweek; who knows how seeing, let alone hearing, the whip would affect him.

"L-listen to your brother Ike," Tweek said turning Ike away from the scene, for which Kyle was grateful. If the whipping was affecting Tweek, he didn't let it show. Just as Kyle was about to look away from the whipping, and it did bother him to look away because he knew how wrong it was and would love nothing more than to stop it, someone pushed past him nearly knocking him over.

"Ay! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Cartman shouted in anger approaching the soldier and yanked the whip from his grasp.

"This prisoner wasn't working fast enough, even when I told him to sir!" the soldier shouted, seeming offended that the Commandant had yelled at him and took his whip. Cartman glared at his soldier and pushed him backwards, almost knocking him over.

"Only the Commandant can order punishments like whipping! You have disrespected my authoritah soldier! Do not let it happen again!" The soldier scurried to his feet in a fit of fear.

"I'm sorry Commandant, it won't happen again." The soldier gave him a salute and Cartman threw the whip at him.

"See that it doesn't. And you," Cartman yelled looking down at the male prisoner. "Get back to work and see that you do it efficiently." The prisoner was shaking, but stood up and ran the other way. "Back to your post soldier," Cartman then walked away, out of sight.

"Did he just help that man?" Tweek whispered to Kyle in disbelief that matched the look on Kyle's face.

"I think he did." Kyle wondered why Cartman would save a random prisoner, one who had nothing tied to him, absolutely no obligation to save him.

"Do you think he even knew he saved him?" Tweek asked and Kyle internally groaned. Surely he was aware wasn't he?

"I don't know Tweek," but he hoped.

Just before the prisoners evening dinner, Kyle was returning from using the restroom, or what qualified as a restroom in a concentration camp, when something caught his eye. Two of the chefs from the cafeteria were crouched over something on the ground. "Maybe we could cook it," one said and the other looked at the other in revulsion.

"That's sick, we can't cook it," the chef rolled his eyes.

"Like the prisoners could tell, I mean we barely have food as it is. At least this way we can have a little meat," the other chef sighed.

"This thing barely has any meat on its bones, but I guess we could work with it,"

"Ay! You're supposed to be in the kitchens! What are you doing back here?!" Cartman demanded, appearing out of nowhere. Kyle realized Cartman was pretty good at appearing out of nowhere, he did it often when he would watch Kyle in the yard. For a heavy set guy he moves around really quietly.

"Nothing Commandant! We'll get back to the kitchens right away!" Those two seemed to fear the Commandant more than the soldier he reprimanded earlier. The two chefs bowed to the Commandant and ran off towards the cafeteria. Cartman didn't hesitate to walk over to whatever they were crouching over, scooped it up and seemed to coddle it.

"It's okay little guy, I got you," Cartman turned just enough for Kyle to see that it was a cat, if it was full grown he couldn't tell, for it looked so skinny and tiny in Cartman's arms. Kyle watched as Cartman looked around, coddled the cat once more, and then headed in the direction of the Villa. He really does like cats. With a smile on his face Kyle entered the mess hall to find Tweek and his brother.

Even though Kyle had just left the Villa that morning, he found himself walking the trail back to it this evening for a dance lesson with the Commandant. Once inside the Villa he had made his way to the shower, as he always did per his lesson routine; his clothes were already laid out on the counter waiting for him. When he was dressed and satisfied that his unruly curls were dry enough, he made his way to the living room to meet up with the Commandant. But while still in the hallway something stopped him in his tracks.

Moonlight Sonata?

Kyle stood frozen in his place, his heart racing with anxiety but yet his mind was confused. He could distinctly hear Moonlight Sonata being played, not on a record player, but in the Villa on a piano.

During the time he stayed at the Villa while he was sick, he heard Moonlight Sonata quite often, but he just assumed he was asleep; it had helped him sleep and had eased his nightmares. He never imagined someone was actually playing it; he would have never guessed that there would be a piano anywhere near a concentration camp. With quiet footsteps he followed the beautiful music until he noticed a door adjacent to the living room was open, he always assumed that door led to a bedroom.

As he approached the room he wondered who was playing the piano and the only logical person that came to mind was Craig, he could see Craig learning to play the piano if even for his sister. But when he peeked around the open door, he was shocked to find the Commandant at the piano, not Craig. Kyle would have never imagine in his most bizarre fantasies that someone as evil and sadistic as Cartman could play such beautiful music. But then again, his perception of the Commandant had been changing and he was no longer seeing Cartman as the monster he so often called him.

A monster would not save his father, even with their agreement, and allow him a more safe and secure role in the Villa. A monster would not stop a whipping of a prisoner, even if he didn't order it; Kyle saw right past that façade. A monster would not save a helpless cat and talk to it as if it were a scared helpless creature. And a monster woulddefinitely not nurse Kyle back to health when he had pneumonia, not even with as much as Cartman needed Kyle. He could easily get someone else if something happened to Kyle, the question Kyle asked himself was 'Why him? Why Kyle?' Well, he hadn't any idea and he decided to not dwell on it, it's not like he would get any answers from Cartman if he asked him.

With a smile on his face Kyle quietly turned away from the door to make his way over to the couch and sit down; he didn't want Cartman to see him staring at him. When on the couch he noticed that Cartman's pillow and the quilt his grandmother made was still on it; as if Kyle never left. Or like Kyle was welcomed back. Kyle unfolded the quilt and placed it over his lap and traced his fingers over the pattern. A monster would not willingly give Kyle his personal pillow, or blanket that his grandmother made; a monster would have let Kyle freeze to death. "You're not a monster," Kyle whispered aloud picking up Cartman's pillow and hugging it to his chest. He had said the same words to him a few days prior when he saved his father, but he realized now he meant them. To Kyle, Cartman was many things, but he wasn't a monster and he promised himself to stop calling him one.

While Kyle held the pillow against his chest he noticed something that he never had before, it had a sent, the Commandant's scent. He would have guessed that Cartman would smell like blood and gunpowder, so he was surprised that he had a natural male scent to him, but there was more to it-campfire and cinnamon? Kyle inhaled it with a smile and allowed it to invade his senses.

A while later he was snapped back to reality by a soft meow at his feet. "Oh, hey there little guy," Kyle said to the cat who rubbed against his legs. "So he kept you?" Kyle didn't see a monster keeping said cat in his Villa like a pet. The cat meowed again and hopped in Kyle's lap, demanding to be pet and Kyle happily obliged. "Has he named you yet? Let me guess, Mrs. Kitty,"

"Actually it's Sabrina," the grey and white cat jumped from Kyle's lap and pranced his way over to rub against Cartman's legs until he finally picked him up.

"Giving a male cat a female name, I should expect nothing less." Kyle smiled whereas Cartman had a look of annoyance on his face.

"What are you doing here Kahl?" he asked scratching behind the cat's ears. Kyle stood from the couch and placed the pillow and quilt neatly back on the end of it.

"It's Friday sir, I have scheduled lessons with the Commandant, don't I?" Cartman gave Kyle a confused look, but it was quickly replaced by surprise.

"I didn't think you'd be back tonight since you only left this morning,"

"We had an agreement didn't we, James?" This sent the Commandant in a fit of laughter.

"Wrong. Two left today." Kyle rolled his eyes with a sigh.

"I'll eventually guess your name you know." Cartman gave the cat one last rub and placed him in his chair.

"Sure you will Kahl, since you're here we may as well go on with the lesson then." Kyle nodded and without a word of argument, Kyle went right into the lesson.

Cartman had been practicing, that was clear to Kyle, but he was nowhere near perfect. Kyle gave Cartman pointers on how to keep his legs straight and his toes pointed as he moved, and he would try again, taking the advice Kyle gave him. Kyle found himself demonstrating every turn of the box set several times because the turns seemed to be the hardest for Cartman. "Edward, you look like an octopus when you turn," Kyle sighed the fourth time Cartman tripped over his feet while making a turn.

"Okay Kahl, I'm seriously, first off wrong name again, you have one left. Two, octopus have eight legs, last I checked I have two so your joke is invalid," Kyle pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to contain himself.

"Okay how about a pretzel fatass?"

"Is it salted?" Kyle threw his arms in the air.

"Reset the box, fatass, and try again!" And the Commandant did, several times he tried and after two hours he was finally making progress. "Yes, good! Much better sir." Kyle didn't miss the look of pride that came from the Commandant, he really liked praise and being complimented but Kyle could tell it wasn't in a self-indulgent way.

They continued on for another half hour until Cartman demanded that they needed to take a break. Cartman made them both glasses of iced tea and for a bit they sat together in silence, Cartman in his chair and Kyle on the couch. Kyle was never comfortable in silence, but when it came to the Commandant it felt wrong, like they were supposed to be talking together. "You really are improving."

Cartman smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "Of course, I'm the Commandant. I have to be perfect at everything." Kyle couldn't help but snort. "What's your problem, Jew?" Kyle shook his head.

"Nothing, sir." Kyle watched as Sabrina jumped on the back of Cartman's chair and laid down just above his head. "Did you go out and adopt him?" Cartman rolled his eyes.

"Don't play dumb Kahl, I know you were watching me like the sneaky Jew you are." Kyle rolled his eyes, why didn't that surprise him. "I don't know how he got in the camp, he could have come on one of the delivery trucks and got stuck here. But I wasn't about to let him get cooked by those greedy chefs," Cartman reached up to pet Sabrina's head and then lowered it. Kyle started to smile again and quickly took a sip of tea to hide it.

"Since you supposedly know when I'm watching you sir, I assume you know that I heard you on the piano." The look of panic on the Commandant's face told Kyle that he in fact hadn't and now Cartman looked petrified and embarrassed.

"So I play the piano, big deal, go ahead and make fun of me." That comment shocked Kyle, was he genuinely insecure?

"I was going to say that you play beautifully and you just so happen to be playing my favorite piece," Cartman blushed and looked at him.

"Really? Don't play me, Kahl." Kyle held his hands up in surrender.

"I mean it sir. I've danced to many different scores, but Moonlight Sonata was always my favorite. It's beautiful and elegant, like a waltz." They both chuckled at the irony of that statement. "You know sir, while I was sick I could have sworn I heard Moonlight Sonata while I was sleeping, was that you?" Cartman rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks flushed.

"It was me Kahl, I was just bored since you were sleeping so much," and again, Kyle could see right through him.

"Of course sir, I'm sorry I was so boring. Not that you care, but thank you. The song did help me sleep, and it actually chased away my nightmares." Cartman did not answer, but Kyle noted the smile he was trying to force off his face. Had he played the song on purpose? To help Kyle? That smile certainly told him so. "David?" Cartman laughed and shook his head. "Dammit, well I tried." A few more minutes passed in silence. Kyle noticed that Cartman was struggling with something, like he wanted to say something to Kyle but he couldn't. "Sir if you have something to say just say it, you're the Commandant after all," and that seemed to give Cartman the boost he needed and he sat up straighter in his chair.

"Did you mean what you said the other day, that I'm not a monster?" Cartman wasn't looking at him, like he was afraid of the answer Kyle would give him, perhaps he even expected Kyle to laugh at him; but he wasn't about to do that.

"Despite what you believe about Jews, sir, we're not all liars, I for one am not. I meant what I said, you're not a monster," Cartman blushed and licked his lips with a smile, as if satisfied with Kyle's answer. But just as quick as the smile came, it faded.

"You say that now, but you'll change your mind. Everyone always does." Kyle was shocked at how much vulnerability Cartman was showing, especially in front of him-a Jew. Right now Cartman looked so meek, so exposed, it almost saddened Kyle to see.

Without even thinking about what he was doing, Kyle approached the Commandant's chair, got on his knees and took his hands in his own. "You're not a monster, sir, I think that deep down you don't believe yourself to be one either. I feel like that's what people have called you and that's what you became. You're a lot of things sir, an inconsiderate jerk, a smartass, and an insensitive asshole, but you're not a monster." Cartman said nothing, he didn't even reprimand Kyle for outwardly insulting him. Kyle thought he would be angry at his bluntness, but Cartman actually looked touched by Kyle's words. "You don't give anyone the chance to get to know you, the real you do you?" Again Cartman seemed to be at a loss for words. "What about me? I may die by the end of this war anyway, what would be the harm in allowing me to see the man behind the monster everyone else sees?"

For several moments Cartman said nothing, like he was processing everything Kyle said. Kyle did mean every word, he wanted to get to know the real Commandant, but even more so he wanted to know what made him into this so called monster, after all, evil is created, it wasn't born.

"Kyle…" Cartman whispered his name, his real name and when he did Kyle instantly got butterflies in his stomach and his heart fluttered; it actually sounded wonderful coming from his lips. Cartman then gripped Kyle's pale hands and brought them up to his cheeks and nuzzled into Kyle's palms. The Jew instantly blushed, so much that he was sure his face would ignite, but he didn't pull away. Cartman's cheeks were so smooth in his rough hands, and he wasn't sure he even wanted the Commandant to stop. It was like Cartman was thanking him in his own way, like he was unable to say the words and instead thanked him through a small intimate gesture.

Eventually he stopped and their eyes locked, Cartman had a smile, and Kyle was sure he looked panicked because he was. Kyle actually liked being so close and intimate with Cartman and found that he wanted more, but it would be idiotic to say so. "Shall we continue the lesson Jew?"