A/N: I'm back. And still working on Red and Black. However, in these last few months, I got a new job, went on our honeymoon, and moved across country with my husband for said job. So, I unfortunately have not had any real time to dedicate to continuing that story. That and, I must admit, have had some writer's block and lack of motivation to try and push through it.
Which brings us to this series of one shots. As a an attempt to get me writing again, I've had a couple plot bunnies hop into my head while listening to music and have decided to write them down. Music in itself is a big inspiration for , it will light the fire under my butt to get Red and Black back on track.
As mentioned earlier, this 'book' will be a series of one shots inspired by different pieces of music. Darken and/or Shego will appear in all of them (since my focus is on them), and revolves around their relationship - both in romantic and platonic senses. But let's be serious, mostly with a romantic edge. Some one shots may involve them and their relationships with other characters in the KP-verse, too.
As of right now, this series will not be connected with my other books.
Stories will take place at various points throughout the series, which I will point out prior to the one-shot. As a general rating I'll go with 'T', but there may be a . . . er . . . hot and heavy story here and there . . . Whatever the music inspires. I'll be sure to put a disclaimer if/when that one-shot comes about.
Go forth and Read (and review, please)!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything
I hate it here
When you're gone
...
I take out the trash
I sweep the floor
Try to keep myself occupied
Cause I know you don't live here anymore
-Wilco, Sky Blue Sky
This one-shot can take place at any point in the series, really. Rated K.
They had had another fight. A big one. They had had big fights before, but this one had ended differently.
"Whatever, Drew," Shego had spat acidly, heading for the lair door. "I'm out."
"NO!" Drakken yelled. "You know what? I'm leaving! You always leave, it's my turn to walk out on you!"
He shoved past her and disappeared beyond the door. She heard the hovercraft start up, and watched as it streaked across the sky from a nearby window. Shego stood at the window for a full five minutes, staring at the space in the sky where the hovercraft was last visible. She was floored and annoyed; he'd never left before. That was her schtick. Shego scowled.
Whatta baby.
He would come back, groveling and apologizing. Then she would leave.
That was one month ago. And he was still gone. Shego was still waiting.
After a day, the henchmen stopped showing up for work. That didn't bother Shego any. She didn't pay them and she didn't like them. After three days, Shego considered leaving herself. But it was too satisfying to walk out on him; too satisfying to hear him behind her begging her to stay. She could wait a little longer . . . After all, she had disappeared for longer than a month before.
Five weeks.
Shego was beginning to get bored of sunbathing, and had started to reread magazines. Itching for something new to occupy her time, she stripped the sheets off her bed, and did the laundry herself. Usually, she would take her belongings to a cleaners (or if she had waited too long and was desperate, would let Drakken do it). Shego was in no way domestic. However, she found the washing and drying machines a surprisingly welcome challenge.
Later that week, after discovering an old sticky spot on the counter, she broke out rubber gloves and a bucket, and cleaned the lair's kitchen.
Six weeks he had been gone. Still no word.
In that time, Shego had mastered the washer and dryer, cleaned the kitchen, cleaned her bathroom and bedroom, organized her closet, and straightened up the living area. She checked the mail regularly, stacking bills on the counter and throwing out junk pieces. She monitored her and the lair's phone, too. She was surprised to feel a small pang of discontent resonate in her when there was (and continued to be) no correspondence from him.
Seven weeks.
Six weeks had been the longest she had ever left him – whether it had been for a side job, or as a response to an argument. The ball of disappointment was firmly settling deep in her gut. And she couldn't shake it.
She should just leave, no matter how satisfying it was to do so in front of him. This was getting ridiculous. Shego stormed into her room and pulled a large duffle out from under her bed. She through a few pairs of underwear into the bag, and stopped suddenly. She picked up her cell phone, and selected his contact information. She lifted the phone to her ear as it began to ring. Frustration grasped her throat as his voicemail picked up. She thought briefly about leaving him a scathing message, but hung up before the machine toned. She tossed her phone of the bed.
Was he really so upset with her that he wouldn't take her call seven weeks later? He was typically pretty quick to try and appease her. Her brain paused. What if he had gotten into trouble since his departure? That would be the more likely scenario. Why should she care at this point? Served him right, didn't it? Despite her stony thoughts about the theory, an almost instinctual need to go and rescue him filled her. She squashed it down, took up her phone, and headed for Drakken's office.
There was another possibility. The thought made Shego cringe internally, but she felt she had to try. Drakken's office was a mess, and she wasn't about to tackle it. For one, she was too furious with him to do him any 'favor'. Second, he was very particular about his organization (or lack there of, Shego thought bitterly as she sifted through desk drawers). Finally, she located the Rolodex she had been searching for and flipped through it. She stopped at the card for his mother. Sucking in a deep, mind-clearing breath, Shego typed in the numbers. Mama Lipsky picked up after two rings.
"Hello?"
"H-hey, Ms. Lipsky," Shego said quickly. "This is Shego."
"Who?"
"Shego. I work for Dr. Dr – Drew. You're son."
"Oh!" the old woman trilled. "The pretty one!"
Shego crossed her eyes, "Sure."
"How are you, dear?"
"I'm fine," Shego hastily answered. "Listen, I have a question: Drew wouldn't happen to be visiting you, would he?"
"Oh no, dear – "
"Have you heard from him lately?"
"No I haven't," Ms. Lipsky responded, a worried edge creeping into her voice. "Why? Is something wrong? Did something happen?"
"No," Shego blurted. "Nothing's wrong. He just . . . He had a work trip, and he was supposed to be back at the lai – office this morning. I haven't been able to reach him on his phone, so I thought I'd call you to see if you'd heard anything."
"No I haven't, dear," Drakken's mother said regretfully. "If I hear anything, do you want me to call you?"
"Uh, no. That's okay," Shego hurriedly said, not wanting to give the old bat her phone number. "I'm sure it's nothing. His flight . . . probably got delayed."
"Can't you check that on the internets?"
"Yes. Yes I can," Shego sighed. "Okay. Thanks, Ms. Lipsky."
"You're welcome, dear. You're such a good secretary. Take care!"
Mama Lipsky hung up before Shego could correct the 'secretary' mistake. Sighing, Shego set her phone on the desk and flopped into Drakken's high-backed desk chair. As her form sank into the fabric, old molecules of scent burst into the air around her. Unsurprisingly, it smelt like him: soap and sugar cookies. Surprisingly, the smell upset her in a saddening kind of way.
Eight weeks.
He was still gone. Still no contact. Shego was still at the lair. As week eight began to draw to a close, she realized something. When she left, she always came back; when he left, she waited for him to return. She hated being separated from him for too long, a notion that horrified her. Was she really so . . . dependent on him? It was fine if she left him, but him doing the same to her was . . . eye opening. She had gotten a taste of her own medicine. And, whaddya know, it was pretty bitter.
She hated it here when he was gone.
A/N: Good song. Good band. Look 'em up. Thanks for reading. Please leave a review.
