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cmk418Title: Impossible Things
Fandom: OZ
Rating: R
Word Count: 1316
Summary: Kareem's guilt does a number on him and Robson becomes his new special project
Written for the Rare Pairs Challenge at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
1_million_words
A/N: Please be advised that characters remain true to form and the very raw, politically incorrect, racist, and homophobic language that the characters express in this prison drama are found in this work.
At Ryan's pronouncement, Kareem smiled. It was nice to see one of the Brotherhood get what was coming to him and in such a creative way.
Within moments though, the elation faded and the guilt began to settle in. Kareem glanced toward Robson and saw that he was excluded from sitting with the rest of the Aryans. It was too easy to be excluded from a tribe and Kareem saw it happening every day around here. It had even happened to him.
The proper thing to do then, the thing that would set his soul right with Allah (even if it alienated him from his own brothers), would be to reach out and offer his support to Robson. He was fairly certain that Robson wouldn't take him up on it, but he needed to make the offer.
He saw Robson in the library a couple of days later. Arif had looked at him with some confusion when Kareem told him, “Give us a moment” and sat down across from the other man.
“What the fuck do you want?” asked Robson, earning him a stern look from the librarian.
“To see if you needed anything.”
“Yeah, I need you to get the fuck out of here.”
Those words would have deterred most people, but Said was resolute. “I have been where you are, ostracized by my people.”
“And you thought that would make us best friends?” Robson sneered. “They only got my gums. My brain's still white, asshole.”
“I found that turning to a higher power at times like these can help.”
“I ain't someone you can prag out to your nigger god. So just... fuck off.”
Arif had returned to Kareem's side. “Let's go,” he whispered.
Kareem rose from the chair. “As-salamu alaikum.”
Robson flipped him off.
Kareem smiled, content that his mission had been fulfilled. He'd made the offer. Robson had rejected it. Nothing more could be done.
That night he slept fitfully, dreaming dreams of things that were always a step away from completion. He awakened seeking peace and could not find contentment during his prayers.
“You are troubled,” observed Arif.
“Yes, I fear I haven't gone far enough to assist Robson.”
“This again? The man is vile. He's a white supremacist.”
“Was a white supremacist. Allah has given us an opportunity to turn his heart.”
“There are some hearts that cannot be turned. Like Adebisi.”
Kareem leveled him with a look. “I must continue.”
“Continuing may get you killed. I cannot support you in this endeavor.”
“And that is why you will never lead,” Kareem said, leaving Arif staring after him.
“ As-salamu alaikum,” Kareem said. Robson was in the gym lifting weights.
“Will you fuck off?”
“No.”
“What do you keep saying? Is that some kind of Muslim voodoo shit?”
“It's a Muslim greeting. It means 'Peace be upon you.'”
“Peace? In Oz? That's rich.”
“You'd be amazed where you can find peace if you just allow yourself to experience it.”
“Well, it's apparently not in the gym, since you're disturbing mine.”
“Sometimes Allah disturbs our peace in order to teach us a greater lesson.”
“Comparing yourself to Allah, Said? That sounds a bit sacrilegious. What would the other Muslims say if they heard you talk like that?”
“My brothers would say many things if they heard me speak of Allah to you.”
“Maybe they have a point,” Robson struggled with the weight and Kareem stepped forward to assist him. “Thanks,” Robson muttered under his breath.
“You're welcome,” Kareem said, smiling warmly at him.
Robson stared at his shoes. “How do you find it? Peace?”
“Prayer. Study. Living life according the teachings of the Prophet.”
“So basically by doing nothing fun.”
“That depends on your definition.”
“Fun is fun.”
“I find that enhancing one's wisdom is very enriching.”
“And yet, you're here in a gym talking to me.”
“I also find that enhancing other's wisdom is also enriching.”
“I'm not going to be one of your converts, Said.”
“Perhaps not.”
“Definitely not.”
Kareem gave Robson a slight smile. He knew better than to push his luck at this point. A second overture had been made. The next move would be Robson's.
Robson next spoke to Kareem when Said came forward to get his mail. “Seems like your boy, Arif, has a bee in his bonnet about me.”
“I cannot control Arif. He must look inside himself.”
“A simple 'you piss him off' would do. He doesn't seem real happy with you either.”
“Must be Tuesday,” Kareem said, which startled a laugh out of Robson.
A dozen heads turned toward them.
“That's all I got for you,” Robson said loudly, then mumbled, “Asala- whatever,” under his breath to Said.
“ As-salamu alaikum,” Kareem said.
“You guys done with your love fest?” Ryan O'Reily interjected as he stepped forward. “Beecher might be getting a little jealous. Did my magazine come?”
“Nothing here for you, O'Reily,” said Robson. Said nodded at Robson and walked away, feeling a bit triumphant.
“I've seen that look,” said Beecher.
“What look is that?”
“You're wanting to do the impossible. There's no winning over Robson.”
“Impossible things happen every day due to the will of Allah.”
“Not in Oz. Robson isn't some kind of pet project. Not unless that pet is a viper. Your incessant need to save everyone is clouding your judgment.”
“And what would you have me do? Let a man suffer?”
“When it comes to Robson and the Aryans? Yes.”
“The cycle needs to stop at some point. It may as well with me.”
Beecher sighed. “Same old Kareem.”
Robson took a seat across from Said in the library. The librarian looked at them askance, uncertain if she should get the attention of the guard that patrolled the space.
Said didn't look up from his book. “How are you?” he asked.
“I've been better.”
Said pushed a book across the table at Robson, who picked it up and turned it over in his hands.
“The Bible?”
“Yes.”
“I have one of these.”
“When was the last time you looked at it?”
“When have you?”
“My father was a preacher. I could quote chapter and verse of this book when I was just a boy.”
“You must have been a disappointment.”
“Some would say I was. We were both men of God, although on different paths. I saw that too late.”
“I think it's probably too late for me and God. I think this whole shit with my gums and everything that happened after was probably just getting back at me for what happened to...”
“What happened to who, Robson?”
Robson blinked, opened his mouth, then closed it again.
“Robson?”
“That's enough,” said Robson, slamming the Bible back down on the table.
“You alright, Said?” the hack patrolling the library asked.
“Just a disagreement between friends.”
The hack nodded and walked away.
“Nobody ever asks if I'm alright,” pouted Robson.
“I think they know you can hold your own. And I did.”
“You did what?”
“Ask. When you sat down.”
“Why?”
“Because I have a genuine concern for you.”
“You turning fag?”
“My religion sees homosexuality as an abomination.”
Robson gave him a crooked grin. “See? Nothing fun. I've got to get back.”
“I do as well.”
“Take care of yourself, Said.”
“You too.”
Kareem walked out of the library, a deep sense of satisfaction filling him. It may have taken a bit of work but sometimes the impossible became possible.
Fandom: OZ
Rating: R
Word Count: 1316
Summary: Kareem's guilt does a number on him and Robson becomes his new special project
Written for the Rare Pairs Challenge at
1_million_wordsA/N: Please be advised that characters remain true to form and the very raw, politically incorrect, racist, and homophobic language that the characters express in this prison drama are found in this work.
At Ryan's pronouncement, Kareem smiled. It was nice to see one of the Brotherhood get what was coming to him and in such a creative way.
Within moments though, the elation faded and the guilt began to settle in. Kareem glanced toward Robson and saw that he was excluded from sitting with the rest of the Aryans. It was too easy to be excluded from a tribe and Kareem saw it happening every day around here. It had even happened to him.
The proper thing to do then, the thing that would set his soul right with Allah (even if it alienated him from his own brothers), would be to reach out and offer his support to Robson. He was fairly certain that Robson wouldn't take him up on it, but he needed to make the offer.
He saw Robson in the library a couple of days later. Arif had looked at him with some confusion when Kareem told him, “Give us a moment” and sat down across from the other man.
“What the fuck do you want?” asked Robson, earning him a stern look from the librarian.
“To see if you needed anything.”
“Yeah, I need you to get the fuck out of here.”
Those words would have deterred most people, but Said was resolute. “I have been where you are, ostracized by my people.”
“And you thought that would make us best friends?” Robson sneered. “They only got my gums. My brain's still white, asshole.”
“I found that turning to a higher power at times like these can help.”
“I ain't someone you can prag out to your nigger god. So just... fuck off.”
Arif had returned to Kareem's side. “Let's go,” he whispered.
Kareem rose from the chair. “As-salamu alaikum.”
Robson flipped him off.
Kareem smiled, content that his mission had been fulfilled. He'd made the offer. Robson had rejected it. Nothing more could be done.
That night he slept fitfully, dreaming dreams of things that were always a step away from completion. He awakened seeking peace and could not find contentment during his prayers.
“You are troubled,” observed Arif.
“Yes, I fear I haven't gone far enough to assist Robson.”
“This again? The man is vile. He's a white supremacist.”
“Was a white supremacist. Allah has given us an opportunity to turn his heart.”
“There are some hearts that cannot be turned. Like Adebisi.”
Kareem leveled him with a look. “I must continue.”
“Continuing may get you killed. I cannot support you in this endeavor.”
“And that is why you will never lead,” Kareem said, leaving Arif staring after him.
“ As-salamu alaikum,” Kareem said. Robson was in the gym lifting weights.
“Will you fuck off?”
“No.”
“What do you keep saying? Is that some kind of Muslim voodoo shit?”
“It's a Muslim greeting. It means 'Peace be upon you.'”
“Peace? In Oz? That's rich.”
“You'd be amazed where you can find peace if you just allow yourself to experience it.”
“Well, it's apparently not in the gym, since you're disturbing mine.”
“Sometimes Allah disturbs our peace in order to teach us a greater lesson.”
“Comparing yourself to Allah, Said? That sounds a bit sacrilegious. What would the other Muslims say if they heard you talk like that?”
“My brothers would say many things if they heard me speak of Allah to you.”
“Maybe they have a point,” Robson struggled with the weight and Kareem stepped forward to assist him. “Thanks,” Robson muttered under his breath.
“You're welcome,” Kareem said, smiling warmly at him.
Robson stared at his shoes. “How do you find it? Peace?”
“Prayer. Study. Living life according the teachings of the Prophet.”
“So basically by doing nothing fun.”
“That depends on your definition.”
“Fun is fun.”
“I find that enhancing one's wisdom is very enriching.”
“And yet, you're here in a gym talking to me.”
“I also find that enhancing other's wisdom is also enriching.”
“I'm not going to be one of your converts, Said.”
“Perhaps not.”
“Definitely not.”
Kareem gave Robson a slight smile. He knew better than to push his luck at this point. A second overture had been made. The next move would be Robson's.
Robson next spoke to Kareem when Said came forward to get his mail. “Seems like your boy, Arif, has a bee in his bonnet about me.”
“I cannot control Arif. He must look inside himself.”
“A simple 'you piss him off' would do. He doesn't seem real happy with you either.”
“Must be Tuesday,” Kareem said, which startled a laugh out of Robson.
A dozen heads turned toward them.
“That's all I got for you,” Robson said loudly, then mumbled, “Asala- whatever,” under his breath to Said.
“ As-salamu alaikum,” Kareem said.
“You guys done with your love fest?” Ryan O'Reily interjected as he stepped forward. “Beecher might be getting a little jealous. Did my magazine come?”
“Nothing here for you, O'Reily,” said Robson. Said nodded at Robson and walked away, feeling a bit triumphant.
“I've seen that look,” said Beecher.
“What look is that?”
“You're wanting to do the impossible. There's no winning over Robson.”
“Impossible things happen every day due to the will of Allah.”
“Not in Oz. Robson isn't some kind of pet project. Not unless that pet is a viper. Your incessant need to save everyone is clouding your judgment.”
“And what would you have me do? Let a man suffer?”
“When it comes to Robson and the Aryans? Yes.”
“The cycle needs to stop at some point. It may as well with me.”
Beecher sighed. “Same old Kareem.”
Robson took a seat across from Said in the library. The librarian looked at them askance, uncertain if she should get the attention of the guard that patrolled the space.
Said didn't look up from his book. “How are you?” he asked.
“I've been better.”
Said pushed a book across the table at Robson, who picked it up and turned it over in his hands.
“The Bible?”
“Yes.”
“I have one of these.”
“When was the last time you looked at it?”
“When have you?”
“My father was a preacher. I could quote chapter and verse of this book when I was just a boy.”
“You must have been a disappointment.”
“Some would say I was. We were both men of God, although on different paths. I saw that too late.”
“I think it's probably too late for me and God. I think this whole shit with my gums and everything that happened after was probably just getting back at me for what happened to...”
“What happened to who, Robson?”
Robson blinked, opened his mouth, then closed it again.
“Robson?”
“That's enough,” said Robson, slamming the Bible back down on the table.
“You alright, Said?” the hack patrolling the library asked.
“Just a disagreement between friends.”
The hack nodded and walked away.
“Nobody ever asks if I'm alright,” pouted Robson.
“I think they know you can hold your own. And I did.”
“You did what?”
“Ask. When you sat down.”
“Why?”
“Because I have a genuine concern for you.”
“You turning fag?”
“My religion sees homosexuality as an abomination.”
Robson gave him a crooked grin. “See? Nothing fun. I've got to get back.”
“I do as well.”
“Take care of yourself, Said.”
“You too.”
Kareem walked out of the library, a deep sense of satisfaction filling him. It may have taken a bit of work but sometimes the impossible became possible.
