Author's note:
Yay! I updated the story. Hopefully this slightly longer chapter makes up for the previously short one. I knew I had fun writing one more. I'm going to focus more on this one along with my fluff series of "Kimmie Days and Ron nights." My Star Wars fusion story has about ten chapters in it already. It could wait for a while.
Anyway.
Read, review, and enjoy.
Disney owns Kim Possible and Columbia Pictures and Jet Li own The One.
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Numero Uno
Chapter three: Anxiety comes in dreams
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Ron was racing down the dimly lit neighborhood streets now, in a whirlwind of a panic. His brown cargo pants barely up to where his waist was as he tried to continuously pull it up. Stupid button. Why'd you have to break now?! Ron cursed under his breath. All he did was fumble at it and somehow he had ripped the button completely off. Guh! This super strength thing is sooo overkill…
Ron's fearless ferret pajama top danced fiercely with the cold night wind. He did not bother changing all the way. He could not spare anymore time. He had to go see her. He had to tell her everything. He had to tell her something.
The blond boy regretted not telling Kim any sooner. But they were having so much fun and her presence was so comforting he had completely forgotten how distressed he was at his newfound situation.
That dream tonight was not helping either. In fact it was precisely because of the dream that he found himself out here in the cold streets at 2 A.M in the morning racing to his girlfriend's house on foot.
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Two days ago
As promised the moment Kim was showered, dressed, and all freshened up the two went to Bueno Nacho for a casual Friday date. Kim's Ron night to be exact. It sure was not the glamorous and romantic date life she envisioned she and her boyfriend would have.
Then again she did not envision that boyfriend sitting next to her, looking at her lovingly would be her best friend of twelve years. He was not some blond hottie whose hands painted masterpieces. He was not a tanned brown haired young man whose handsome figure and boyish good looks would have any girl swooning. Heck he was not even a member of the Oh Boyz…not officially anyway.
He was Ron Stoppable, the sidekick turned loyal partner. The goofy boy next door. A great friend…an even greater boyfriend.
Kim shook her head at the thought. Never in her entire lifetime would she had expected that confession a couple of months ago. She played it every single day in her mind.
Out there…in here.
Four little words that altered the course of their history. Deep down Kim always knew how much Ron's feelings carried for her. She never expected him to actually come through with it and opened himself to her like that. And she loved him for that. True both her and him have never said the "L" word to each other as of yet even with the current boyfriend-girlfriend status (Kim felt they were too early and too young in the relationship and to her surprise Ron agreed whole heartedly), they never needed to. They knew their feelings. And that was enough.
Words are only words after all. It was the feeling that came with those words that empowered them so.
"Ron slow down…you'll choke on your burrito." Kim took a napkin and was gently wiping her BFBF's mouth. She smiled. While certainly far from romantic it was subtle and brief moments like this that she felt how strong their closeness was to each other. It is the girlfriend's duty to take care of her boyfriend after all, no matter how ferociously big his appetite for Tex Mex food was.
Ron sheepishly grinned and blushed as he waited for Kim to finish. "S..sorry. I was just really hungry. This whole day has been kind of draining KP."
"Tell me about it." A giggle escaped from Kim's lips before she took a nacho chip and daintily took a bite.
"So how was the cheer practice anyway?…" Ron asked.
"Aside from Bonnie's little escape its all coming together actually. We are so going to win at regional this year. Tara and Hope has this grand idea about…" If there was anything Kim could talk on about for ages it was cheer leading. Actually with her unequaled drive and unrelenting attitude she could go on forever on just about everything. But cheer leading was something she was passionate about. Something she loved to do regardless of how good she was at it.
And Ron listened with care and intent. Originally he had planned to tell her about the weird phenomena happening with him but spending the lazy afternoon with Kim like this…was not bad. In fact quite the opposite. The freckled blond did not want to spoil it anymore. He decided that he would tell her eventually.
It did not seem like such a big deal now anyway.
"Sounds cool KP."
"Cool? It'll be hot! There is no way we are going to get screwed like last time."
Ron grinned. Kim's competitive side used to be that one thing that drove him crazy when they were younger, now he thought it was the cutest thing in the world.
They spent an hour or so just talking, eating, catching up on certain things, holding hands, and even a kiss or two. The two were pretty much in their own world.
"Hey girl! How you doing?" A familiar voice turned Kim and Ron's head around to find Monique, smiling mischievously at the two of them.
"Hey Monique. How's it hanging?" Kim answered casually.
"Not much. Just WTH."
"Huh?" As good of a friend Kim was with the lovely dark-skinned girl, Kim felt she would never master Monique-speak, as she called it.
"Working the hours, I think." Ron answered for her.
Kim gave her boyfriend a look that asked, how'd you know that.
"Heard it last week already. You got to keep up with our Mo, Kim. You're behind the times." Ron made a high five gesture with Monique who returned it with vigorous spirit.
"Uh-huh. Your BFBF has got a point there Kim. We haven't been spending as much time talking, other then at work."
"I know, I know…sorry about that Monique. Senior year, cheer practice, saving a piece of the Great Wall of China from Dementor…its been just kind of hectic."
Monique shook her head in disbelief. "Girl you are too much. Slow down once in awhile. Give your girl a moment or two of your time."
"I know Monique…Hey, how about tomorrow? You and I don't work and there's no cheer practice on a Saturday. You want to hang?" Suddenly the realization hit her. While today was her Ron Night, the official night where Ron pretty much had a say in what both of them were doing, tomorrow was her day. Kimmie Day, as Ron fondly called it. It was on both of these days that they treasured their time together as a couple.
She looked at Ron, almost pleadingly.
"Hey no need for the sad puppy dog pout Kimbo. I'm down." Ron shrugged.
"Are you sure? I mean weren't we suppose to go shopping tomorrow?"
"I don't want to interrupt anything special now." Monique smirked.
"Hey you're the one who wants to do that, not me. I'm at the mercy of the Kimmie day after all. So yeah it's fine. You can go ahead and chill with Monique KP. When was the last time you guys did anyway?"
For a moment Kim stared at Ron intensely before breaking out into a grin.
"You just want a way out from shopping."
"S-sha! No way!..w…what gave you that idea? Its just…bags…so many bags to carry, so many stores…I didn't know the mall had so many stores…and the prices…" Ron was trailing off as he began to recollect the various things that plagued him when he went shopping with Kim.
Kim and Monique shared a laugh.
"Okay so that settles it. Ron approves. Tomorrow it is then." Monique glanced around.
"Say I'm going to grab a bite to eat. You guys sticking around?"
"We're pretty much done here Mo. " Kim began piling up both hers and Ron's tray.
"Yeah. Kim and me are about to go watch a movie. Galactic Conflict Episode III: Vengeance of the whiny kid."
Kim placed a hand on her hip. "Ah. No. I thought we were going to watch Buccaneers of the Sea. Johnny Abyss and Orlando Blossom, Ron."
Ron only stared at Kim before looking back at Monique. "Yeah. I have a Y chromosome last time I check. So yeah Movie. You want to come?"
"I'll take a rain check." Monique passed. "I'm just here for a quick bite and then its off to work for me."
"Cool. Alright. Bathroom break time. Step aside KP." Ron made his way out of their booth and made his way to the boy's restroom, leaving Kim and Monique alone.
"Kimmie days and Ron Nights huh?" Monique grinned, folding her arms together.
Kim's cheeks were feint with red as she blushed. "Yeah…I know its weird…"
"But its so cute…" the two said in unison, which brought about a fit of laughter again.
A few moments later Ron emerged, done with his business.
"Ready to go?"
"I hope you washed your hands." Kim pointed out.
Ron gave her a look. "Don't I always?"
The couple bid farewell to their friend as they exited the fast food joint.
Monique sighed. She was insanely jealous of Kim and Ron's closeness and wished that there were someone she could call her own to do the things they did. Alas all the good ones seem to have been taken.
Quickly deciding to order something she made her way to the counter to order her usual. She would take this one to go.
"And have a Muy Bueno day!" Ned saw her off.
Monique smiled, he'd been the one whose been taking her order for the few times she dropped by. She had a gut feeling that it was not just pure coincidence. The nerdy manager does try too hard at times but he was a good person. Too bad he really was just not her type.
"Later Ned."
Before exiting she spotted another familiar face she had not seen in awhile.
"Tara! Tara!"
The wavy blonde's face looked up. As the self-proclaimed fashion diva of Middleton Monique could not help but notice what the girl was wearing. Tight black pants, a long sleeved shirt that matched the pants, and a pair of sunglasses that was tucked above her forehead. It looked more of a uniform rather then an outfit. Still…she seemed to have pulled it off.
"Who? Me?" The blonde pointed at herself.
"Yeah girl! Who else? I thought you were hanging out with Bonnie today. What are you doing here in Bueno Nacho?"
"What?…Bonnie? Who-" The girl looked puzzled. Then she calmly replied. "Oh yeah. That Bonnie. Um…she had something else to take care of. Said it was urgent or something."
Monique eyed her. It did sound like Bonnie, but the way Tara was acting… She shook her head. It must have been just her imagination.
"Alright. You take care now. I've got to scram." Monique waved at her, Tara absently returned it back.
The doors closed behind Monique, yet she did not move from her spot. There was just something about Tara today. "Probably the burrito." Monique finally concluded.
"Good thing I'm a salad person."
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The wavy haired blond sighed. She did not expect a person to recognize her right there on the spot. She had to be extra careful in the future. Nevertheless she was relieved about the incident, glad she handled the situation like a pro.
"Kara…Kara…Come in." The small almost microscopic device plugged in her right ear sounded off.
"I'm a go Phoenix." She whispered as she sat down lower on her booth.
"What happened right there?" The voice asked.
"Someone recognized me. She mistook me for the other me here. Don't worry though. I'm pretty sure she never suspected a thing."
"She shouldn't. Guh…Kara, we're supposed to be undercover. This is SO not normal procedure."
"I don't think there IS a normal procedure for something like this Phoenix." Gradually Kara's voice rose. Noticing some people staring at her she swore under her breath for causing such an attention.
"Besides it was your idea that we split up anyway." She covered her mouth to deafen her sound.
"My idea? All I said was 'why don't you scout around'. Not leave me here at the designated point while I try to fix our vortex watches. I didn't tell you to find this world's R."
"Hey now THAT was a coincidence. I just happen to run into him. How was I suppose to know he eats at this…Bueno nacho place."
The voice went silent for a while before replying back.
" For a seasoned Multi-verse Agent you sure don't do things by the book."
"Shut up. Anyway Magna universe's R has started to move. He's with some Redhead. I'm gonna follow them."
"Wait Kara I-" she deliberately turned off her communication device and stood up. Picking her tray with her as she came out of her booth she placed it near the pile with the other trays and went out the door.
This world was not bad.
The food was quite excellent.
But she had a job to do.
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Finally Ron found himself at the foot of his destination. The Possible house loomed up ahead. While it was never truly a big house the way the shadows danced with what little light the streets gave out made it seem a lot bigger then usual.
While he knew no one could have possibly heard him at this time of night he felt compelled to be as sneaky as he could. Ron tiptoed his way towards Kim's window. She never left it open of course but he always came through it whenever he wanted to surprise her.
This time it seemed to be more of a necessity rather then choice. He looked back at the tall tree that he would usually use to climb up to her window. Readying himself he bent his knees as he prepared for a good jump up. The higher he jumped and caught himself on the tree the less he had to actually climb on.
Although it never occurred to him to factor in his newfound abilities. Shooting himself straight up he managed to jump all the way up to the top branch, that made its way to Kim's window.
"Whoa!" Ron slowly tried to balance his weight. It took a few moments but he was solid after that. "Okay that was pretty cool." He admitted to himself.
Slowly creeping his way down the large and strong tree branch he knocked on Kim's window gently.
"C'mon Kim…c'mon…its cold out here." He shivered.
He heard shuffling inside and a light turning on answered his prayer.
A groggy, grumpy Kim with pillow hair opened the window slowly.
"Ron?…"She yawned.
"Hey Kimbo." Ron gently smiled at her innocently. Man is she beautiful…
"What are you doing here?…Do you know what time it is?…" She looked at her wall clock. "Its 2 A.M Ron."
"I know. I know. I'm sorry. But I really needed to talk to you." He pleaded.
"Couldn't you have done that on the phone?…"
In his haste Ron did forget about the options modern technology gave him. "Oh yeah…hehehe…I kind of forgot. But I'm here now. Can I come in?"
Kim rubbed her eyes gently. She looked at Ron for a moment then nodded her head.
Ron came in slowly while Kim closed the window behind him. She hated the cold nights. Tonight was definitely cold.
"Mission cargo pants and a fearless ferret jammie top?" Kim might be sleepy but she was awake enough to notice his mismatched outfit.
"Yeah…I know. Didn't have time to change." Ron was embarrass at that. While Kim knew of his Fearless Ferret obsession he still did not want her to notice he slept in FF merchandise as well.
"Well it's a good thing you left some of your mission clothes here too." She gestured at one of her drawers.
"What was so important that you couldn't wait till tomorrow Ron? Wrangling with the Chupacabra today was kind of exhausting. Do you really need to tell me now?" Kim gave out another dainty yawn.
"Yeah! It was just so weird! So many things are happening and stuff and I don't know what to do!" Ron paced back and forth as he continued to mumble on and on. "And then I had this dream tonight! I don't know…it kind of freaked me out. Not to say that I'm not freaked out by most of my dreams cause they do…sometimes I even dream about you…those are always nice. Anyway what I was trying to say is that…Kim?…Kim?…"
He turned around to find the figure of his girlfriend sound asleep. Her arms wrapped around her Pandaroo. Her chest rose slightly with every breath she took. Her auburn mane shone in the fluorescent light.
The scene tugged at his heart. He felt foolish and ashamed. Here he was interrupting and annoying the most beautiful girl in the world with his problems at such an ungodly hour and not once did he took notice of how tired she really was. Kim was not kidding about the Chupacabra mission earlier today too. That flight back home from South America was not something he would call relaxing either. She might be the girl who can do anything but even she was push to her limits sometimes.
"KP?…" He gently kneeled down and touched her lightly on her shoulder.
"Mmmm…Five more minutes Ron….I hate goats…are we home yet?…"
He could not help but smile as she talked in her sleep, her words a jumble of the things she had done earlier today.
"Yeah…we're home KP." He picked her up gently, careful not to drop the pandaroo in her arms and tucked her inside her blanket. Covering her up he bent over and kissed her softly on her forehead.
"Goodnight Kim…I'll see you in the morning…and I'm sorry…" He whispered in her ear, smiling as he smelled Kim's wonderful strawberry like scent.
Opening her closet slightly Ron took out the faithful sleeping bag she always had ready for him whenever he slept over and tiptoed his way out of her room, gently closing the door behind him.
He hoped Mr. and Mrs. Dr. P wouldn't mind him crashing down on the couch again.
Making his way down towards the den he crept up slowly on the couch, and wrapped himself up in a cocoon like state with the sleeping bag.
Soon fatigue took over and the sandman finally came to visit him as his world turned black.
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Where was he?…what was that sound?…Animals?…the sound of the river? It was all too familiar to Ron, yet he fiercely denied it. It couldn't be. Lightning should not strike twice at the very same place. Yet here he was…reliving a déjà vuexperience. He looked at his hands.
Sure enough it was hairy. Why was it hairy?
Looking back he found he had a tail…a monkey tail…
He found himself deep in a sprint, running, climbing, swinging as fast as he could, his heart beat racing faster then ever before.
For what reason he was running or where he was running to he did not know. He felt being watch. The stagnant air, hot and humid like the jungle he was in, gave him a dangerous vibe.
Eyes...he felt eyes watching him.
Dangerous eyes.
Predatory eyes.
Hungry eyes.
And no matter how high he climbed, how fast he quickly swung from vine to vine, it was always there. Never loosing sight of him. His heart was beating fiercely.
Still he would not give up.
He found one giant rope that would swing him across a giant gap. It would be there where he would lose those eyes. He felt it. All he needed was to get there.
And then it came.
A growl, a force so strong, and claws so sharp it dragged him away from his vines and pulled him down to the jungle grounds.
A sleek, and powerful figure.
Striped and stalking.
Hungry and yearning.
The Tiger circled around his battered body. Finally it leapt at him. Fangs open wide.
He screamed out in pain and in terror.
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Slowly she stirred from what seemed to be a very deep slumber. She felt her shoulder's pain…although not quite as painful as the first time but the sting was definitely still there. She did not know where she was. Looking around she felt she was in a bed, the white sheets enveloping around her. The room was stark white. She was not in her skintight cat suit but rather she was all wrapped up in bandages and gauss.
Shego shuddered. She hated the feeling of such medical aids. If she had them on she must have been severely injured. Her head was still groggy. The fierce green woman had been in worse bar fights before but never had she felt so…tossed aside. Slowly she tried to remember what happened as she continued to stare at the ceiling. There was an intruder…a fight…she lost…and…
Shego shot up quickly from her bed, Pain emitting from her shoulder, her ribs, and her joints. She grunted loudly.
"Ah…you're finally awake sweet cheeks." That voice. It was all too familiar to her. It was the last thing she heard before passing out.
She found him, a few feet away from her bed. He was rigorously practicing what seemed to be some martial kata. No doubt from the same style he had used on her earlier.
She eyed him suspiciously. "What's going on here? What the hell are you doing?" She asked warily, despite her voice lacking the same strength it always had.
R smiled triumphantly, as he continued to practice his exercise. "Why… is that anyway to talk to the guy who spared your life?…You've got guts. No wonder that Drakken dork is afraid of you."
"Dr. D?" Shego was alarmed at that comment. She found no sign of her idiotic employer anywhere.
"Where is he?" She glared.
"Relax Shego. I didn't do anything to him. Yet. The good doctor and I just had a little chat is all." He flexed a fist and shot it out.
Silently she continued to watch him closely. He'd move his hands and feet gently, in a trance like state. Then as fast as lightning he would strike out. He'd repeat the process over and over again.
"Do you have to do that?…" She asked.
"Only when I'm bored. Keeps me focus." He grunted as he flipped backwards before catching himself with his hands on the ground. Slowly he pushed all the effort into one finger, and was doing some push-ups.
"Does this impress you?" R asked amusingly while he was upside down.
"Oh please. I've seen better." She lied. What this guy was doing was completely inhuman. She racked her brain trying to make sense of the situation. Did he have super powers like herself and her brothers? Who was he? Why did he look like Stoppable? How did he beat me? Questions raced through Shego's mind and she had no answer to any of them.
"How you feeling? I'm not entirely an expert on medical practices but I bandaged you to the best of my abilities. I'm surprised someone was competent enough around here to keep some first aid guide. That doctor title your friend has is really just for show after all."
Alright now Shego was officially freaked.
"Alright…R, was it? What's the big deal? You come in here in Doctor D's lair, mop the floor with his goons, fought me to a stand still before pummeling me completely, spared my life, and now you're telling me you fixed me up?"
R pushed himself up in the air and landed back on his feet. "I'm not one to complain. You are one sexy minx after all."
Shego's cheeks was flushed, immediately remembering she did not wear undergarments underneath the cat suit. Her left hand powered up, its green glow brimmed with unbridled fury.
"You sure you want to do this dance again?…Cause I'm game for it. I could keep this up all night you know. It'll be the same result either way." R's smirk did not show just for amusement. She felt he would definitely follow up on his promise.
She stopped and calmed herself down.
"That's better." He folded his hands together, there he stood directly in front of her.
This guy is crazy…Shego thought. But there was something about him…that she could not turn away from. "WHO are you really? What do you want? Why do you have…that face?…"
R's eyebrow cocked upward as he had heard what he wanted to hear. "So what Drakken said IS true. You do know me here in this universe."
Universe? Shego suddenly remembered he did say something along that line as he gloated triumphantly before him.
"Alright…I could answer those questions. But I got a riddle for you first Shego…"
He slowly took a few steps away from her.
"How…"
R threw a high kick, the force so strong Shego felt the air move like a gust of wind.
"Do you…"
He resumed back into his martial stance.
"Murder yourself…"
His body a blur of motion.
"One hundred and twenty three times?…"
He ended with his hands reaching out like claws, stopping a few inches away from her.
Dangerous and unpredictable. Shego mused. This R was the living personification of both of them.
She did not know whether he fascinated her…
Or frightened her.