Kim Possible
Broken
Prologue
"Of course I need it today!" Ron stated with annoyance. "If I needed it tomorrow, I'd order it tomorrow!" he continued before dropping the phone receiver onto its base. "Rufus, has that shipment of hay come in for the elephants yet?"
The naked mole rat was wearing a tiny green sunshade, and he checked a list, shaking his head. "Nu-huh."
"Great! We're going to have a stampede soon!" Ron said, throwing his hands in the air in frustration. "Lurman! Get in here!" he shouted.
"Right here, boss!" Francis Lurman said with too much enthusiasm for Ron's taste at the moment.
"Did you order the elephant feed like I asked you to?" Ron asked.
"I thought you had asked me to see if it had been ordered." Francis replied in his naturally whiney voice. "It wasn't."
Ron rubbed his forehead. "I can't believe it. A stock person for thirteen years before going all supervillain. Then after getting out of jail... twice, Mr. Smarty hires you back. Did you not think that if the elephants were out of feed, to order more?"
Francis grinned. "Since the great Doctor Drakken became a super hero, I have pledged my life to do the same!"
"Lurman... order feed! Now!" Ron shouted.
"Ron?" came Kim's voice.
"Kim!" Ron said, a smile instantly brightening his tired face. "What are you doing here? You would not believe the day I've been having! First, the manager calls in sick. The manager, Kim! Then I find we're out of chew toys for the gators and hay for the elephants. To top it off, a gorilla got sick last night. Have you ever had to clean up after a sick Gorilla? It's ain't pretty. Oh, and don't get me started on the mice!"
"Ron..." Kim began, interrupting before he could go into any more details. "I have to go to Florida."
"A mission?" Ron asked, both hope and worry leaving their touch on his voice.
"No. Just going to visit Nana. I can see you're busy, and uh, stressed." she said, forcing a smile. "I shouldn't be too long."
Ron looked from Kim to Rufus, who shrugged, and back again. "You okay, KP?"
Kim straightened her posture and laughed lightly. "Yeah, Ron. You guys enjoy your freedom the next few days, okay?"
"Okay, Kim. I'll see you in a few then." Ron smiled. "Have a good time down south." he said, brushing past her as Rufus climbed up onto his shoulder. "Lurman! No, come on! That one goes here, that one goes there!" he shouted, pointing at various stock items in the pet department.
Kim watched after him and sighed. She had silently hoped that he would have come with her, but she knew that it was his Smarty Mart job that was keeping them afloat. She smiled, glad that after their friendship, they had decided to become more than friends. As she walked out of the Smarty Mart to her car, she said to herself, "Hold on, Nana. I'm coming."