"Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate." – Sun Tzu
Crisp fall weather brought colored leaves all across the Middleton High School campus. It also brought a seasonal activity that Ron Stoppable always enjoyed watching, even if it was at a cost to his masculine reputation, which was barely existent as it was, to admit to.
Cheerleader practice.
Ron's own routine as the Middleton Mad Dog didn't change much from game to game. He moved around like a dog, let out rough barks, and occasionally foamed at the mouth. Kim had light heartidely joked once that he was at his most charming when exhibiting this behavior. Bonnie had made a similar statement once, though much less playfully than Kim. However, Ron always enjoyed watching the cheer squard practice a new routine, as they did today.
Ron felt a great peace flow through his being as he watched Kim work with the cheer squad. He had always loved watching her durring their practices. It wasn't the cheer outfits. Sure they worked wonders with a young man's imagination, and even Ron could bring himself to admire Kim's amazing form as revealed by the outfits petite size, but that wasn't it.
It was the way Kim moved during the routines. So naturally, so magnificently. She possesed incredible grace, almost as if she were ready to leap into the air at a moment's notice and never return to the ground again. She could leap on top of a cheer pyramid as if she had learned how to do it the same day she had discovered how to walk.
"Alright girls. One more time and we'll call it a day."
As Ron heard Kim call out, he seized his opprotunity to head in to the lockers. He knew what would happen next. Bonnie would start chewing out Kim for wasting the team's time on a stupid routine in the first place, Kim would argue back, the cheer squad would end up practicing the routine once more anyway, and then they would all head in. That gave Ron just enough time to rush back and change into his own clothes before the ladies swarmed the locker rooms. If there was one thing every guy at Middleton High knew, it was that being caught anywhere near the cheer lockers when the team was changing was a risk simply not worth taking, at least not if one valued his ability to proclaim himself a man.
Ron was in and out of the showers and into his clothes in record time. He came out of the locker room just as he finished pulling his shirt down over his chest. As Ron pulled his head out from beneath his shirt, he found himself face to face with a familiar blonde cheerleader that he remember all too well.
"Tara!"
"Hey Ron. I heard you left for the summer. Some of the girls said you had even moved away. I'm glad you're still here." Tara's smile was wide, and her eyes dug deep.
"Oh, yeah. Just spent a lot of time traveling. Looking at colleges and seeing the world and all." Ron recalled his cover story. It was a lot more plausible than a summer spent at an ancient secret ninja school.
"Wherever you went seems to agree with you. You're looking buff." Tara left hand wrapped itself around Ron's bicep, gentle squeezing the firm muscles.
"Just staying in shape. So how are you and Josh doing?"
"Oh we broke up a few months ago." She replied simply.
"Aww. That's too bad." Ron replied sympathetically.
"It's no big deal. We just kinda went our separate ways. Say Ron, are you doing anything Saturday night?" Tara's voice raised slightly as she gave voice to her thoughts.
"Saturday?" Ron's voice became a little uneasy as he suddenly became aware that he was tredding in dangerous territory. "Uhh, Saturday, Saturday, Saturday…. I've… uhh… got … cartoons… with Kim. I mean, I've got cartoons, and then I'm going out with Kim." Ron was suddenly wishing that he had paid more attention in classes when the teachers were discussing the ability to disappear before another person's very eyes.
"Oh. Well if you change your plans, call me." Tara said simply, before turning around and walking away.
Ron let out a sigh of relief before turning around, coming face to face with a sight that seized his chest tightly.
"Cartoons?" Kim asked, her eyebrows raised expectantly, a look of amusment on her face.
"KP!" Ron shouted anxiously. "Uhhmm, how long have you been there?" Ron rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Relax Ron. It's no big, so long as you have something more planned for Saturday than just cartoons."
"Well, I wasn't going to spoil anything, but since it has technically been months since our last date, I was kinda hoping to make up for lost time this Saturday." Ron relaxed as he explained.
"Oh really!" A smile grew across Kim's face. "Do tell."
"Sorry KP. I've said too much already. You are definitely not breaking the Stoppable fortress of endurance on this one." Ron beamed almost smuggly.
For a moment, Kim considered releasing her dreaded Puppy Dog Pout, but decided that she liked the idea of waiting till Saturday for the surprise, and so resisted the temptation.
"Till Saturday then."
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Eric navigated the familiar halls of Middleton High school, a wave of revulsion coming over him. There had been no greater agony for him, no nightmare that he could concieve of, that would ever compare to his first setting foot within these halls, smiling in the faces of so many worthless brats. Having to smile at some hairless rodent, listen to that whiney blonde haired dork… and that cheerleader… Nothing could ever compare to having to hold her hand, pretending to lock eyes while sharing a soda with her, having to chase after her pretending not to dream of the day when his master would finally grind her and that stupid lovesick puppy she called a sidekick into the ground beneath his feet.
The thought of getting a second chance sent a smile across Eric's face. Oh there had been nothing so satisfing as the moment when he finally burst her bubble, knocking that stupid dreamy smile off her face. Seeing the soul crushing look of defeat on her face when she realized that she was even more of a fake than he was.
As Eric readied himself, he made a vow; before this was was over, he would see that look again in her face.
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"Homework KP. Homework! And homework yesterday! It was only the first day of school yesterday! Being a senior tanks." Ron Stoppable said dejectidly as he shoved his books into his locker.
"So that 'awesome senior power' of yours doesn't work on your math teacher?" Kim asked with mock surprise.
"I swear, she doubled the length of the assignment as soon as I mentioned the words. It's a vicious conspiracy Kim. The Teacher is trying to keep the seniors down. It's an injustice KP. We have to do something." Ron's words became hushed with importance and determination.
"I'll be sure to alert Global Justice." Kim rolled her eyes with a smile, causing her to look up at the clock. "I gotta go. See ya after last period." Kim leaned forward, trading a light kiss with Ron.
"Boo-yah." Ron replied. Ron took a second longer to admire the view of Kim walking off before turning back to his locker.
"Stoppable!" A thunderous voice, far more intimidating than that of any super villain, roared with authority.
"Mr. Barkin!" Ron snapped to attention. "Uhh, how are you sir?"
"Stoppable, don't play games with me. I expect to see you in detention after school today. Three PM sharp, don't be late." Barkin leaned in, glaring fiercely at Ron.
"Detention?" Ron's face cracked into a state of confusion. "But Mr. Barkin, I didn't do anything… I don't think." Ron paused to consider the matter.
"Ignorance is not an excuse at this school mister. You do have detention. If I have to recite why, you will have two of them. Now I expect to see you in the library immediately after school or else there will be… consequences." Barkin leaned, bringing himself face to face with Ron. "I trust I need not elaborate further."
Ron let out a slight gulp. "B-but isn't detention in your office?" He asked weakly.
"There have been some changes to the way things are done around. I apologize for not informing you earlier." Barkin's gaze could have melted steel.
"Really?"
"NO! Now get moving Stoppable. We don't tolerate loitering, not in my halls." Barkin backed away just enough to stand upright, back at attention.
"Yes sir." Ron replied defeatidely as he walked away.
The figure of Mr. Barkin waited until the hallways were completely clear, before letting out a sigh. As he did, his features began to change and morph back into those of Drakken's newest monstrosity.
"That's for thinking you ever mattered to anyone." Eric sneered.
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"Detention?" Kim asked incredulously. "What did you do?"
"Probably breathed in restricted area. I'm telling you KP, the Teachers are out to oppress the seniors and keep us from realizing our potential." Ron shouted out, as if to rally support to his cause.
"Come on Ron, be serious. Think now, what did you do?" Kim's gaze narrowed in on Ron's face.
"Nothing! I swear, I was just done talking to you, and all of a sudden, Barkin shows up and tells me I have to report to the library after school." Ron recited the still painful memory fresh in his mind.
"I thought detentions were in the principle's office."
"Me too! Sorry Kim, I guess I'll have to catch up with you after practice." Ron offered sympathetically.
Kim let out a brief sigh before finally answering. "Ok. Look, why don't I go talk to Barkin about this. There's got to be some mistake here. As bad as he is, I don't think he'd give you detention without a reason."
"Appreciate the thought KP, but I'm telling you, the Teachers…" Ron moved to renew his rant when Kim silenced him with a finger over his lips.
"I'll go talk to him. In the meantime, be good, stay out of trouble, and keep your awesome senior powers to yourself till I get this worked out."
"You're the best KP." Ron leaned forward, kissing Kim lightly on the lips.
"And don't you forget it, especially not this Saturday." Kim smiled before leaning in to share another kiss.
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Kim eventually found her way to Barkin's office. It was the only principle's office in the history of the world with a hand made sign saying "No Joy Allowed" over the front door. Of course, the sign was actually a mock gift from a previous graduating class, but Barkin had kept it up there for many years now. No one had ever bothered to inquire just how old the sign really was.
As Kim knocked, she was beckoned inside by a familiar voice.
"Possible" Barkin spoke in acknowledgement. "If this is about extracaricular activities, I've told you, the school just doesn't have any more for you to join."
"No, that's ok." Kim replied. "I was wondering if I could talk to you about Ron."
"Oh, Stoppable." Barkin's voiced a sigh as he sat down in his chair. "Ok, what did he do now?"
"Well that's what I wanted to ask you."
"I beg your pardon."
"You gave him detention. You told him to report to the library after school." Kim replied with hestiation in her voice.
"Don't be foolish Possible. Detention's always in my office. It lets me keep an eye on the misfits and rejects while catching up on my paperwork. In fact, the first of them should be arriving shortly." Barkin stated as he looked down at his watch.
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Kim rushed down the hallway, anxious to tell Ron the news, even as she struggled to ponder this little mystery. Was Barkin just trying to scare Ron to keep him from getting caught up on this whole senior trip that he had been on? It did seem to make sense, but that didn't explain why Barkin wouldn't admit to it. Lying wasn't really consistent with his personality.
Sadly, a much more horrible explanation offered itself as Kim rounded the corner. She turned about just in time to see Ron, his lips locked tightly with Tara's, his hands running down her backside, dangerously close to her buttocks.
Words failed her. Kim found herself struggling to fight back the urge to choke right on the spot. Her eyes shot wide, and she froze in space, unable to move, or even think. She remained this way until the pair finally noticed her.
"Kim!" Tara turned a deep red across the cheeks as she pushed herself away from Ron, her hands moving to recompose herself as best they could. Ron, on the other hand, merely smiled at the realization that he had been caught in the act.
"Hey KP." Ron's voice was smooth and slick as grease. It reminded her of Bonnie. "Well, I gotta say, this is akward."
Kim couldn't speak. She could barely even breath as she struggled to hold back a damn of tears, mere seconds from bursting behind her eyes.
"I'm sorry Kim. I've been very insentive, but hey, there's plenty of Ron to go around." Ron wore an arrogant grin as he strode up to Kim, his lips moving to kiss her.
Rage burned through Kim as her hands shot out, pushing Ron into the side of a nearby locker.
"Get away from me." Kim let out in a cold whisper, even as tears began streaking down her cheeks.
"Now Kim, I know you're being very emotional, and I forgive you." His arrogant smile never faded for a second as he moved towards Kim again.
"I SAID GET AWAY FROM ME!" Kim shouted in blinding rage as she pressed hard again, slamming him loudly back into the locker, leaving an impression in the metal door.
"Alright Kim. I'll give you some time to cool off. When you're ready to calm down, we'll talk some more." Ron replied in mock surrender as he took off casually down the hall, heading down the very way that Kim had come.
Kim's enraged visage turned to Tara, who merely wore a horrified look of shock and embarassment as she ran down the hallway as well, leaving Kim to crumble to the ground in tears.