"Is that all you've got Princess?" the smug looking green-tinted ex-villain asked. She sent a kick spiraling towards the younger girl's chest, sending her flying a few feet away.
The red-headed hero smirked as she picked herself up from the gym mats. "Oh I'm just getting started," she grinned as she charged after her ex-foe. She somersaulted into the air and brought her knee down upon the older woman, who grunted as she put up her arms to block the attack and push the girl back.
It was like a little game they played. They always bantered back and forth, they always seemed to be going all out, but no matter what they did they always had a smile on their face. They didn't know when it'd started, the rush of fighting with one another, but it could only be described as euphoric.
Their fights had begun when they were on opposite sides. One was the hero, the other a villain. It was their job to take down the other, but at some point along the way it'd changed. They found the fighting fun, ignoring the pain when blows were landed. They'd ignore their counterparts in the business just for the thrill of the fight. There was no way to really explain it. The rush they felt was more than just adrenaline, but neither could put a finger on it. That never stopped them.
Now at the gym, the two had been fighting for over an hour. Before they would always be interrupted by the buffoon or the blue idiot, but now, now they had all the time in the world and no one dared interrupt them for fear of getting their heads bitten off.
"Come on Kimmie, what happened to you saying you'd wipe the floor with me today, hmm?" the older woman smiled. Sweat dripped down her cheek as she took a quick gulp of air before an equally tired red-head came after her.
"Oh it'll happen one day Shego, you know it!" she managed to pant out. "I used to beat you all the time!" It was supposed to be said in a more convincing manner, but neither sounded very dangerous with how they were now trying to catch their breath while continuing their fighting.
"Hah! Our fights were always interrupted? How could you possibly beat me?" Shego said with a bark of laughter.
Their fighting could only go on so long before the both sprawled out on the mat next to each other.
"Continue this tomorrow?" Shego asked with a toothy grin.
"You know it," Kim replied with a chuckle.
They stayed on the ground for a good ten minutes before they groaned and helped one another up. Both were sore all over from the fighting, as they always were after their intense workout. They then headed for the showers before going out to lunch, happy for the warm water which helped soothe their tense muscles.
The two groaned when they sat down at a café, both moving in a slightly jerky fashion from their weary bones. They ached all over, but neither was going to admit that they wanted to just collapse and go to sleep.
After ordering they sat in silence, both deep in thought.
Shego was the first to speak after it felt like a century of silence had passed.
"Say… Princess… how did we end up sparring everyday again?" the green woman asked, a slight frown on her face and her eyes slightly glazed over.
Kim was silent for a moment, wondering why the sudden question. Then she replied in a confused tone, conveying how she felt, "Because we wanted to continue fighting, even if you weren't working for Drakken anymore."
Shego waved the comment away with a dismissive gesture and said, "That isn't what I meant. After Drakken was awarded and our records were wiped clean… he went to work for GJ, and I sort of wandered. How did I end up being your sparring partner?"
Kim shrugged. "Well, I remember after a few months of no contact you suddenly appeared and asked for a fight. Then… for the past two months we've fought practically every day."
Shego's frown didn't disappear as she muttered, "Where the hell did I go wrong?"
Kim was slightly taken aback. She didn't think anything was wrong. She was almost hurt that Shego felt that they're sparring was wrong, and it clearly showed on her face.
When the ex-villain noticed the look on the red-head's face she quickly said, "Don't take it the wrong way Kimmie. I meant in my career. I was a villain remember? Just because Drakken went straight didn't mean I necessarily had to. I was just wondering why I ever decided to come back when I could've found villain work elsewhere or tried to rule on my own. You may not know this, but I have everything I need to live a perfectly nice life. I could easily pay to spar with professionals, and yet here I am, day after day in this town just so we can fight every day."
The hero seemed confused and stopped listening after a point. "Wait, what do you mean you have everything you need?"
"It may not seem like it, but villainy pays… well that and being smart with your money. Drakken may have been an idiot, but he paid well. Why else would I work for him for so long? At first I doubted I would be able to stand the guy for a long period of time and would need some reserve money, so I invested and also saved up. Who knew I would work for him for a couple years? I realized that I could also get vacation with him easily since I could beat the shit out of him in an instant, and he knew it. It wasn't hard to get him to up my pay whenever I wanted a bonus. Well, with all my accumulating money, I found out that I was already a multibillionaire."
Kim's jaw dropped. "Y-You're a multibillionaire?" she asked with disbelief.
Shego nodded slowly. "I have my own island, a nice little house on it, a jet, and a couple other assets. I'm rich Kimmie, way beyond what you could comprehend."
The older woman was right. Kim really couldn't comprehend it. Her arch foe was a multibillionaire yet she stayed there just to spar. Not only that, but she was rich because she used to be a villain. Would that money still be considered hers or what?
Shego could see some of the questions in Kim's eyes and chuckled saying, "Just so you know, I got that money fair and square. Even if Drakken didn't, I did. Hell, I even paid taxes on it. I figured it'd be easier to just pay it since I was already pretty rich. I follow some rules you know? I don't just sit down and say that I'm going to break every law out there."
The food came out just in time to interrupt their conversation and they both dug in, savoring each bite. Both were somewhat glad for the break in the conversation. It was getting a bit too deep for a lunch time conversation.
When the meal was done, Kim just had to ask, "So… you own an island?" That one little fact had yet to leave her mind.
Shego cocked an eyebrow, feeling like she knew where this was going, "Yeah… I do. Why?"
With a beaming smile the red-head asked, "Can we go?" She was practically bouncing up and down in her seat trying to contain her excitement. If this were two years ago she would never have suggested it, but that just went to show how close the two had gotten. It was a scary thought that two arch-enemies could become such good… well… friends.
A small smile tugged at the corner of the older woman's lips as she said, "Sure, why not? The house is probably in need of some caretaking anyways." She figured that she could get the red-head to help her clean the place up since it'd be covered by dust and such since it'd been a while.
The 20 year old crime fighter grinned stupidly as she said, "I'll request time off from GJ. When's good for you?"
Shego shrugged, "I could have my jet ready to go tomorrow if you like."
Kim grinned, "How about in two days on Sunday? That way we can spend a week there and I have time to pack."
"Works for me," Shego replied easily.
The two paid and walked out of the small café, parting to head their separate ways, both needing to prepare for the week ahead of them. Neither realized the adventure they were in for.