Summary: Kim's done her best to leave her past behind her, running from it in a desperate bid for both physical and mental survival. But now it seems her past is closer than ever, and that she's been the one clinging to it. AU. Kigo.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kim Possible or anything not an original character. Story idea is mine.
A/N: This is an AU, very. And yet…not. Yes, names and histories are changed. It's for a good reason. I'll leave it up to you to guess why, but I can't guarantee I'll give you an answer. You'll just have to read the fanfic. There are no superheroes or superpowers. Yes, it will eventually be Kigo. And for anyone wondering in these first chapters about the rating, it is 'M' for a reason as will be shown in later chapters for violence, language, trauma, dark themes, etc. I do not know at this point how detailed I will get with the Kigo, so for now just assume it will be 'M' rated. You have been warned. If you have any questions, feel free to review and I will respond as quickly and as best as I can. Thank you, and enjoy.
Chapter 1: Suspended
"Officer Johnson, you are hereby temporarily relieved of duty for the remainder of the week and the duration of the next on the grounds of physical and mental wellbeing," the sharply dressed woman behind the desk said firmly, a commanding air about her that invited no protests. Not that the officer before her paid any mind.
"But Chief-!"
"No buts, Johnson." The Chief of Police for the Go City Police Department ignored the way the infuriated officer's olive eyes flashed when her protest was cut off. "Your actions today proved that a short R and R assignment is necessary. And given the reports I've gotten over the years on your behavior leading up until today's incident, you have needed to take a break for quite some time."
The officer snorted angrily. "Then why haven't you forced me take this…this…" she gestured sharply, searching for a word horrid enough to describe the enormous distaste she felt this forced break was.
"Because you're the best of us in the field."
If the Chief thought that that statement would head the fuming officer in front of her off at the pass, she was sorely mistaken. Instead, the woman promptly exploded.
"Which is exactly why I SHOULDN'T take a week-and-a-half of so-called 'R and R'," as she parroted the phrase back at her, the officer's face twisted in disgust, fingers forming air-quotations. "I'm the best you have! No one has put as many criminals behind bars as I have! You need me! There's no way I can take a break now, not with how the crime-rate is rising! I can't afford to rest now! I've seen EXACTLY what these pieces of utter filth are capable of, and—"
"Which is EXACTLY why I'm suspending you from duty, Kimberly!" If the situation weren't so serious, the Chief of Police would have laughed at the flabbergasted look on the striking red-head's face. Instead, she took the moment afforded her by the woman's shock to get her thoughts in order, the fingers of her right hand gently massaging her temple and forehead around the eye patch she wore where, for whatever reason, most all of her headaches took root. "Look at yourself, Johnson," she said softly. "You're angry and not thinking clearly. You're letting your emotions override how you as an experienced officer know to act. You're behaving irrationally and belligerently. I'm sorry, but you're getting too involved in your work. Just… take this time to get your head on straight. You'll be back on your beat in no time."
The fiery-headed woman simply narrowed her eyes angrily before snapping at her superior. "Are you trying to tell me that the little prick didn't deserve what he got? That just because I take my job seriously I'm too serious? This is what being a police officer is all about! Stopping the bastards making our lives hell and locking them away! And here you are, telling me I'm wrong? What the hell kind of person are you, Betty? You don't give a shit about—"
"Johnson!" Betty finally yelled, cutting her off. Kimberly snapped her mouth shut, glaring murderously at her boss. Betty lowered her voice beseechingly. "Kim."
Kim didn't show any sign of acknowledgement, jaw clenched tight as her eyes burned with barely contained fury. The Police Chief knew she had to do something to cool her best officer's temper down before it got out of hand—again. Letting the officer leave in her current state would only worsen matters as she had the remarkable ability to keep the flames of her anger burning hotly for an indefinite amount of time.
"…Possible." Betty hadn't moved, her voice still soft, but Kimberly twitched as if she had suddenly brandished a burning brand in her face.
"You promised you'd never call me that."
Betty nearly flinched when Kim spoke, a flash of guilt burning through her at the heaviness in the younger woman's voice and the terrible shadow that passed over her expression however glad she was to have a reaction beyond volcanic, which was what she was looking for. Instead, she nodded slightly in acknowledgement, continuing smoothly. "Kim, the way you're going…you're making enemies. Dangerous enemies who would love nothing more than to see you broken or dead."
"I can protect myself just fine."
That was the opening the Chief had been looking for. "But what about you're brothers? What'll happen to the twins when you're not around to protect them?"
Kim opened her mouth to retort but faltered for a moment before shutting it again, worry turning her previously flushed features ghostly pale.
"Exactly. So just…use this time to get your head on straight. And God knows you deserve a break the most out of everybody on this force."
Kim didn't move for a minute, features stony and unreadable, before standing abruptly and turning sharply. Striding towards the door to the office, she paused for a brief moment as she rested her hand on the sterling knob as if to turn and say something but instead just barely shook her head, the just perceptible movement of her red mane the only evidence to the fact.
And then she was gone, not quite storming past the desks of her fellow officers, her peers just barely—for the most part—managing to make their dives to get out of her way appear somewhat dignified. In her wake was a tense silence as every set of eyes turned to gaze back towards their Chief through her open door before immediately returning to their work at a sharp look from her.
Betty, for her part, tried to reconcile the glimpse of weariness she wasn't quite sure she'd even seen when the younger woman paused before exiting her office with the unyielding and cold demeanor she wore that constantly kept those around her at a distance. For such a charismatic, smart, witty, and beautiful woman, she had surprisingly few friends that the one-eyed woman knew of—and given how much she'd been involved in the redhead's life, it would be a far stretch to think that Kimberly Johnson, had any friends she was unaware of.
Gazing at the gun and badge the young woman had somehow managed to slip onto her desk without her being aware of it, Betty reluctantly had to admit that there were probably a great number of things about Kim she didn't know. But there was one thing Betty Director did know for certain: Kimberly Johnson, once a lively girl Betty had first known as Kimberly Possible, didn't want any friends.
Even if she needed them.