4. Tenth Avenue Freeze Out
Damn that Stingray. Can I say that knowing more about her has only made her more mysterious?
Our dinner went late last night. Very late. The Princess was sort of irritated with me when I came back way after dark, I think she expected me home sooner. I don't know why she would have that impression, I never said at all when I expected to be back, and Sylia hadn't given me any indication ahead of time.
But that dinner was... unique. I admit to becoming a bit of a basket case at the start, but after a while we got to talking and it was nice. She eagerly talked to me about all sorts of racing, starting from cars and bikes and even her dreams of starting some experimental single-engine flight races to spur development in ultralights. She may look the businesswoman, but she knows her stuff. And she's friendly, despite her 'The Stoic' demeanor and her need to quantify everything and give it a number. It's a little irritating how precise and calculated she is but just when I'm about to slap her over it she breaks a smile and starts teasing me about it.
So which is she? Is she the Stoic or the Joker? Does one surface from the other or is one just a mask? I haven't figured it out yet, but I will.
I decided last night, after discussing it with Stingray, that I would give her little league a shot. She reminded me that I don't HAVE to quit my job to try it out, I could just line up a leave of absence and, if things don't work out, pick up my work again when it's over. I think a month or two will be plenty time to figure out where I stand. And since I'll be picking up a paycheck from the Foundation in addition to any purses I win, I don't even have to worry about money for a change. I can put my rig in lot with maintenance, and just travel with the Foundation for a while. Stingray even had no problem with Kim tagging along and even seeing if her account manager had some work to throw her way.
This is like the perfect storm of opportunities for me. I can't believe how lucky I am.
*** KP – KP – KP ***
"I thought we were going to talk about it," said Kim angrily as she closed her door.
"What was there to talk about?" asked Shego as she put the rig into gear. "You wanted me to take this job, and I decided I wanted to, so I went ahead and accepted."
"I wanted to discuss it," said Kim.
"Princess, you just like to be all angry and full of ire." Shego waved her off with her hand. "Chill out."
"I don't like being angry," said Kim. "I just don't want you to get into something that isn't good for you."
"Oh, so you're my parent now?" said Shego.
Kim shook her head and opened up the black folder that Shego gave her. "I haven't even had time to read this yet and you've already agreed."
"I didn't sign anything in blood," said Shego. "It's not a contract, it's a job offer. I'll be drawing a salary from the Foundation."
"Oh, the Foundation," mocked Kim.
"What the hell is your issue?" Shego said angrily.
"This!" Kim waved the folder. "This is my issue, it's too convenient. And your sudden change of heart is worrying too. I feel like we're being set up for something."
Shego sighed loudly. "This isn't your world," she said in a bored tone. "People aren't out to get us, and you're not some world renowned hero. There doesn't have to be double meanings behind everything."
"That doesn't mean you shouldn't be cautious," said Kim. "Look, I know I was all gung-ho about this before, but now that things are moving so quickly it's got me suspicious." She dropped her arms with an exasperated sigh. "You can't tell me you really understand what Ms. Stingray is thinking."
Shego grumbled something inaudible before speaking up. "No, I can't, but I have a much better idea of what she wants from me and it's not to take over the world!"
Kim froze for a second and stared at Shego. "W-why did you say that?"
"Say what?" asked Shego, surprised at Kim's sudden change of demeanor.
"'Take over the world,'" said Kim. "Why did you pick that as something she wasn't going to make you do?"
"I don't know, it just popped up in my head as a silly aspiration," said Shego slowly.
Kim bit her lip and looked around suspiciously.
"Don't start getting paranoid," said Shego.
Kim frowned and looked at Shego closely.
"Come on, now, Princess," said Shego.
Kim shook her head and her frown slowly faded. "I'm worry about you," she said softly.
"I'm worried about you," said Shego. "You seem more skittish than normal."
"Maybe," said Kim. "I just find it odd, that's all. When something feels odd, at least in my old life, it meant something bad was coming along."
"Well, this isn't your old life," said Shego. "This is a whole new one, where we're going to take the world by storm."
Kim stared at her again.
"Figuratively!" Shego stressed. "Geeze, this is starting to become a thing with you."
"Sorry," Kim said and then smiled a bit. "I am glad to see you excited about this."
"Of course I'm excited," said Shego. "I'm getting what I want and I don't even have to risk anything to get it."
"Not even falling into the clutches of the 'Stoic'?" teased Kim.
"Ah, she's not so bad," Shego said.
Kim's smile faltered for just a second.
*** KP – KP – KP ***
Kim stared at her phone intensely as Shego drove them through Kentucky on their way to Nashville to make one of their last drop-offs. Kim hadn't said very much over the last couple hours and Shego was starting to wonder if there was something wrong with the normally energetic girl.
Just as Shego was about to ask, however, Kim turned to look at her.
"Do you know how the Foundation makes its money?" asked Kim.
Ah, this again, thought Shego. "Yes, they broker deals between companies to exchange proprietary information."
"That's what the Foundation itself does," said Kim. "But there are a bunch of companies that are owned by or partially owned by Stingray."
"Like the motorcycle companies?" asked Shego.
"Beyond that," said Kim. "She has invested in a number of semi-conductor companies, some robotics firms, and aside from her motorcycle conglomerate, she owns three other businesses. One makes lenses for cameras, another makes computer parts, and the third ... well, it's a lingerie line."
"Lingerie?" asked Shego, surprised.
"Well, lingerie among other things," Kim amended. "Although the focus is clearly lingerie. It's called – hah!" She laughed shortly. "Sorry, it's called the 'Silky Doll.'"
"Well, that's kind of on the nose," said Shego.
"No kidding! Apparently it's big in Japan though there are a few stores in the outlet malls across America."
"Well, she likes to diversify, apparently," said Shego.
"All in the last six years," said Kim. "She's like an entrepreneurial powerhouse. The net worth of the Foundation when her father was in charge ten years ago was around $120 million. Today the Foundation, combined with Stingray's holdings, has a net worth of over $1.6 billion. That's incredible."
Shego frowned. "And she spends her time having dinner with me."
"This motorcycle thing must be very important to her," said Kim.
Shego shook her head. "Why are you looking into this anyway? Still trying to find the evil scheme?"
"Just wanted to know who we're getting involved with," said Kim. "With so many things vying for her attention, I'm worried this might just be a whim to her. If it all falls apart, what happens to you?"
"Severance check, I suppose," said Shego. "Probably better than I'll get from my current boss."
"And you're out looking for a job again," said Kim.
"Look, Princess, I've thought about that, which is why I'm not making any decisions yet." Shego pointed at the phone in Kim's hands. "We'll get a couple months to figure out whether Stingray's actually interested in this league and then I can back out if I don't like what I hear."
"I suppose," said Kim.
"God, I should be paid by her PR department for how much time I spend defending her," Shego said.
"Why are you defending her?" asked Kim.
"Because I don't see why you're attacking her," said Shego. "She isn't that bad, just brusque."
Kim shook her head. "That wasn't what you said before having 'dinner' with her. And then showing up really late." She frowned then looked at Shego suspiciously.
"Don't start," said Shego. "I don't like her that much." She paused. "Besides, what are you? Jealous?"
"What? No," said Kim. "I'm... protective."
Shego started to smile. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that."
"Forget I said anything," said Kim.
"Not likely."
*** KP – KP – KP **
"Yeah, I'm wrapping up soon, so I'd say Sunday is probably when I'll be done," said Shego into the phone at the unloading dock in Richmond, Virginia. "We'll be up in Massachusetts area, so maybe Boston Logan is where you should get the tickets from."
Kim stood nearby making sure everything got loaded and unloaded from the truck. She'd gotten pretty adept at keeping track of the manifest on the rig ever since Shego started letting her do more than idle around during stops. Given how little was left in the truck now, it was easy to keep track of the packages, so she let herself eavesdrop on Shego's call with the Stoic.
"No, since I left my baby girl with you we really aren't going to be getting around much," said Shego. She paused again. "No, we don't but—" Another pause. "You don't have to do that, it's just overnight. We can manage."
Kim raised an eyebrow, wondering what was being offered.
"Hey, is this all?"
Kim turned to see a man holding a box and looking confusingly at its label. She rolled her eyes and walked over to compare the box to her manifest.
"You with Gemini Health Systems?" asked Kim. The man nodded. "Then that's it. Sign here please." The man signed the manifest under the appropriate line and she ushered him out. As she was pulling shut the door to the trailer and locking it, Shego walked up.
"We've..." she sighed suddenly. "Stingray has made hotel reservations for us in Boston and set us up with a car service to take us to Logan."
"Really," said Kim, flatly.
"What does it matter? We get to sleep in real beds for a change."
"If it doesn't bother you, then it doesn't bother me," said Kim turning towards the front of the rig. "I just thought you'd put more of a fight over someone making decisions for you."
"It's not like that!" Shego called out.
"Okay!" Kim called back, sounding unconvinced.
"You're being a real jerk about this," Shego pointed out.
"Okay!" repeated Kim in the same tone.
Shego growled and stormed around the rig to climb into the driver's seat. She started to put the truck in gear but stopped and then snapped her head around to look at Kim and glare.
"What is your problem?" Shego said loudly.
"My problem is that you're letting her walk all over you!" said Kim, just as loud.
"So what? It's a job, it's not a lifestyle change!"
"Damn right it's a lifestyle change, and you're just letting her make all the decisions for you."
"And that's suddenly not allowed? Or are you the only one allowed to do that?"
"I don't want to decide anything for you. I just want to be part of the conversation!"
"Who says you get to be? It's my life! Not yours and not Stingray's. Mine."
"Then don't let her push you around," said Kim sharply.
"Maybe I want her to push me around? You ever think of that?" said Shego. "Maybe I like being pursued by a gorgeous, powerful woman." She pointed between Kim's eyes. "Maybe I'm tired of offering myself to someone only to get silence as a response!"
Kim opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She looked stricken.
"Well that sounds familiar," Shego said angrily.
Kim looked down and breathed heavily. "It's just not like you to just let this happen."
Shego scowled. "Not like me, or some imagined version of me from your world?"
Kim looked up again with surprise. "What do you mean?" she asked slowly.
"I'm asking you if you're still comparing me to the woman from your world that used to beat you up and work with criminals?" said Shego clearly.
"How do you know about that?" demanded Kim. Her eyes widened. "You read my journals!"
"Damn right I did," said Shego. "After that lunatic doctor tried to drag you off I wanted to know just how much of a psycho you were. Well, I got my answer."
Kim grit her teeth so hard she felt like they were generating sparks. "You bitch!" she spat. Then she jumped out of her seat, kicked open her door, and leapt out, grabbing her bag on the way down.
"Where the hell are you going?" yelled Shego.
"It's NOT your concern," shouted Kim before slamming shut the passenger door and stomping off.
"Fine!" said Shego. She put the rig into gear and drove off.
*** KP – KP – KP ***
After a few hours had passed Kim began to feel the weight of what she'd done on her shoulders. She was back to being alone, and had ended up back on the east coast again, with no plan, no resources, and nowhere to spend the night. At least it was summertime and she probably wouldn't freeze to death at night, but what was going to do now? Where was supposed to be going?
She also felt guilty about how she'd reacted towards Shego. Here was a woman who had no reason to hide anything from her, who had in fact gone out of her way to expose her vulnerabilities to Kim, and yet the former hero could do nothing but treat her with skepticism. What kind of a friend was that? Were they even friends at all?
Kim wanted to believe they were, that they had been though the last few months together and had grown close. She knew that the trucker's attraction to her had been a source of tension, but she figured it would eventually pass, and it seemed like it did for a while.
But no, Shego was just hiding it. Trying not to seem overbearing. Exactly what Kim was afraid of happening happened. The resentment of not having what you want turned into anger and now she was walking alone through the streets of Richmond. Perhaps more alone than she'd been since arriving in this world because now she knew; she'd experienced friendship here and now its absence was chilling.
It was late night before Kim found a place to rest, a relatively quiet park on the riverside. She didn't imagine too many cops patrolled it at night so she propped herself up on a bench and stared at the stars, trying to figure out her next move.
Where did she go now? Should she go after Shego and apologize? Or was that too little too late? The Shego she knew from her world held grudges, and it was possible this Shego did too. There was also the matter of Shego's attraction to her. Was there any way to deal with that in a forthright manner without making things even worse? Kim realized that saying nothing was clearly the wrong choice, and she'd like to apologize for that as well, but she didn't know how. What do you say to someone who's attracted to you but you can't reciprocate?
Kim sighed and turned to look out over the river. A few boats with party lights were gently sailing through. The barest hint of their music carried over the waves to reach her ears. They were playing 'Lime in the Coconut.' She smiled slightly.
She missed Shego already. How strange was that? The bossy trucker wasn't friendly ... except when she was helping Kim out and paying for her things and taking her on fun excursions. She wasn't very delicate... except when they were talking about what happened with Dr. Possible, and the times she tried to help Kim deal with her feelings of isolation. She also wasn't gentle... except when she had carried her back to the truck when she fell asleep, and the soft touches on her hand when got to thinking about her world, and the hug when she was feeling particularly depressed in Seattle.
Kim bolted upright suddenly. Had she really been thinking of her as the Shego of her world? In retrospect, they hardly seemed similar at all. The Shego from home was always spouting insults, trying to hurt her, gloating, seeking power to better crush those in her way. This Shego - this world's Shego - had gone out on a limb for her several times, and had asked for nothing in return for the help. All she ever asked for, in fact, was companionship.
With a shiver, Kim felt a new wave of depression wash over her. She had been so rude to Shego and hadn't even realized it. How could she only have realized it now? After Shego had driven off?
She was an awful person.
*** KP – KP – KP ***
Traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike was obscene. Every damn time Shego ran through this state she ended up stuck in some traffic jam or stopped at an accident miles up ahead. It was enough to drive a person to murder.
As a result she ended up with a lot of time to herself and her thoughts. It was terrible.
She didn't like what happened, and she really didn't like that she'd left Kim behind back there, but what could she do now? It's not like she could go back or that Kim would even be there if she did. The little hero had managed on her own for over a year before Shego picked her up, she could do it again.
Of course, without Shego where would she go? Would she go back to Dr. Possible? That was a nightmare scenario to consider. The crackpot would probably dissolve her in acid to figure out how to extract his miracle cure.
But no, Shego couldn't bother herself worrying about it now because there was simply nothing she could do. They were separate now, and there was no way for them to meet up again.
For a few minutes, she could focus on that, and thought instead about her soon to be pro racing career. Without Kim around, however, it seemed sort of flat. Unexciting. It was the Princess who started this whole process in the first place, it seemed wrong that she wouldn't be around to see it happen. Then Shego would worry again what Kim was doing without her around and the cycle restarted.
All the way up to Newark, Shego kept going in circles, even as she supervised the unloading of her truck. Still her thoughts were stuck on it as she loaded on a few more boxes and headed off towards Vermont. By the time she arrived there, she felt tired, for perhaps the first time she could recall, and was begging for something else to occupy her thoughts as she swapped cargo again. She even tried to sleep it off that day but couldn't calm her mind.
Finally, she arrived in Framingham, Massachusetts and empted her rig, feeling almost like a zombie as she signed off on the last manifest and then took the truck one last time to a long term service station in Quincy. There she got into a taxi to take her to the hotel in Boston.
Whether it was out of force of will or exhaustion alone she fell asleep during the taxi drive only to be jostled awake by a suited woman in front of the hotel.
"Ms. Hedge," said the woman kindly as she gently shook Shego's arm.
"Hnng?" Shego blearily said.
"You're at the hotel, it's time to get out," said the woman.
Shego opened her eyes and blinked several times to clear them before she could focus on the woman in front of her. She at first thought she was a bellhop but as the shoulder length hair and green eyes came into focus she finally connected the face to a name.
"Yamazaki?" Shego said, confused.
Linna nodded at her and took her arm to gently help her out of the cab and onto her feet. Once the suited woman was convinced Shego wouldn't come toppling down, she stepped away and unloaded the trunk. Finally she paid the taxi driver and sent him away.
"Why are you here?" asked Shego as she slowly came back to her senses.
"Ms. Stingray wanted to meet you out here and fly back to Elkhart Lake together," said Linna.
Shego stared. "Stingray is here too?"
Linna made a small smile and nodded. "Yes. She's upstairs in the suite."
Shego felt Linna gently urging her forward and she began walking where she was being ushered. They ended up in an elevator where Linna used a key to get the penthouse floors to light up. They ascended swiftly but gently, and with a loud ping, the doors opened onto the penthouse villa.
Shego stepped off in awe of the suite. She found it hard to believe it was a hotel, it seemed like the condo for some rich foreign dignitary. She felt like she had no place in such an establishment, especially in her t-shirt and jeans.
"Shego!" called a melodic voice and Shego turned to see Sylia getting up from the couch in front of the windows to slowly walk over. She was, again, dressed to the nines, in a bronze colored dress with glittering sequins scattered across it.
Shego quickly gathered her wits about her and cleared her throat. "Stingray," she said with a nod. "Why did you come out here just to fly back?"
"To have dinner with you, of course," she said with a smile. She looked behind Shego and then at Linna, who shook her head. "Where is Ms. Possible?"
"Uh," started Shego. "We had a... you know, it doesn't matter. She's gone."
"Oh," said Sylia. "I'm sorry to hear that. Should I assume that is why you look so beaten?"
Shego shook her head. "I'm just a little tired," she said with a smile. "I could use a distraction though."
"Well, I've got a number of distractions lined up if you're interested." Sylia clasped her hands together. "Why don't you freshen up first? Have a shower and enjoy the services. I've brought you some clothes to pick from as well. They're lined up in your room."
"Okay," said Shego in a subdued manner. Sylia pointed towards the stairs leading up to the rooms and Shego dutifully began ascending them.
Sylia watched Shego go and once she heard the sound of the shower running she turned to Linna. "Do you have any idea what's going on?"
Linna shook her head. "Your toy broke herself, it seems."
"Hrm," said Sylia. "See what you can dig up about Ms. Possible, I'll get what I can out of Shego. If she's this despondent without her, we may need to make sure she's brought in and kept happy."
"Lotta work for just another girl who caught your eye," said Linna.
"She DID post the closest times to Priss I've ever seen." Sylia looked at her sternly. "But, I have the freedom to pursue who I want, do I not?"
Linna held up a hand. "It's fine by me; just don't bankrupt the foundation chasing tail."
Sylia grinned. "Would I do that?"
"Yes. Yes you would, Syl," said Linna. "Should I have Possible brought in if I can find her?"
"Not yet," said Sylia. "Keep the option open. But I'll see if I can raise Shego's spirits another way."
Linna looked pained. "Someone so lecherous should not have so much money."
"Oh, shoo, and do your job," Sylia waved her off. Linna bowed and stepped back into the elevator.
*** End Part Four
A/N: Kim and Shego are splitzville! What will our girls do and how will Sylia try to serve her own means?
I noticed that a few people are making predictions regarding the future of this story based on assumptions that Sylia is a villain. She's not a villain, I'm sorry to say, she's just a very opportunistic character. She has goals and objectives that you may or may not agree with, and we may see more of them in the future. But this series has, thus far, been squarely centered on Kim and Shego, so I've been intentionally leaving out some of the details regarding Sylia until such time that either Kim or Shego become aware of them.
Next chapter is on Tuesday!