A/N Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed, and Eddy13 for beta reading.
Kim Possible: A Monkey's Tail
Chapter 5: Barking Barkin
A few minutes before Ron found himself in the vice principle's office...
Barkin looked over the sea of kids-and one monkey-sitting before him. "All right, listen up. History time." His eyes seemed to scan the crowd as he reached for the text book, getting ready to start his lecture. He paused mid motion as he seemed to sense a disturbance in the natural order of things. The Vice Principle's gaze quickly settled on the monkey sitting next to Ron, and the teacher quickly narrowed his eyes.
"You, furry thing." He glared at the creature. "I don't like that look you're giving me."
In point of fact, Kim had actually been focused on the colorful charts behind the teacher, but at the tone, the monkey had quickly diverted its attention, staring back at the vice principle. Her stare quickly turned into a glare back, as she realized Barking was watching her. It quickly became a staring contest.
Ron looked back and forth between his friend and teacher, feeling himself start to get nervous. He leaned over, slowly, until he could talk to Kim. "Ix-Nay on the airing-stay, KP, you'll make Barkin give us a..."
"Pop Quiz everyone!" The teacher barked, inwardly grinning with glee.
"Aw, man, come on, because she was staring at you? You started it!" Ron crossed his arms.
The vice principle looked at the teen dangerously. "Stoppable, are you questioning me?" The blond quickly shook his head, gulping. "Good, because I'd hate to have to give you extra homework on top of the quiz." He finally devoted his attention back to the class. "Alright, clear your desks, and we'll get started. Remember, no talking."
While Ron and the rest of the class hastened to comply, the monkey grinned mischievously, her eyes narrowing slightly as she decided that she was going to have some fun with the stern teacher. Inwardly, Kim winced, knowing what the monkey was going to do...and realizing that she really had no way to stop it.
The quiz started quietly, each student focused on what they were doing. As Barkin passed out the last few paged, he turned, looking the class over from the back, eyeing them all to ensure that none of them were cheating, or planning to cheat. Finally satisfied, he made his way back towards the front, passing between Kim and Ron's desks. Just as soon as he passed them, the monkey made a low hooting, cooing sound, and Barkin whipped around, looking to see who was mocking him. The monkey closed her mouth quickly, grinning widely at the teacher, looking as innocent as she possibly could.
Barking grumbled, glaring at her, but after a second of hesitation, he turned back around, moving away from her. He reached his desk and sat down, pulling out some homework that he could grade while the class was taking the quiz. Every thirty seconds, with military precision, he would lift his head, scanning the room for treacherous cheaters, then go back to his grading. Kim watched him, and soon figured out his timing. The monkey grinned.
Fthp! Barkin blinked and looked up, anger written on his face, the small, balled up piece of paper that had nailed him in the forehead sitting on the desk. He glared across the room, studying everyone, trying to figure out who it had been; everyone seemed to be focused on their work, however, and he decided to let it slide just this one time as he went back to grading.
The monkey frowned to herself. That hadn't been the reaction she wanted. She quickly crumpled up another sheet of paper, grinning evilly to herself as she leaned forward, chucking the next piece of paper at the vice principle. It was a very accurate toss, again aimed perfectly at his head. Only this time, his hand shot out, catching the paper tightly. He gripped it, crunching it loudly as he stood and approached the desks.
Students quickly scooted their desks away from the center of the room, and Kim and Ron were left exposed, alone. The vice principle stepped right in front of them, slamming his hands down on their separate desks. "You think that's funny, do you, monkey?" The furry creature shook her head. "No, too bad, it's hilarious. Why don't you go tell it to the principle. And then, you can explain how funny it is to me in detention!" He pointed towards the door, glaring at the monkey.
"And Stoppable, you're going too."
"What! But I..." His mouth closed with a click as he tried to stop himself, too late.
"Yep, you get detention too, for bringing that monkey in. And for arguing with me..."
"Extra homework?"
Barking gave him the three pages of work, then pointed out the door again. Ron quickly shuffled off, taking Kim in hand, doing his best to get out of there before the monkey did something else that they would regret.
X X X X
Finally, a few hours later after he was finished with the detention, Ron walked out of the school, still a little angry at Kim. The monkey must have picked up on the feelings, because she was being very well behaved. She hesitated, staying a little behind Ron, watching him stalk down the hall, lost in his thoughts. Finally gathering her courage, Kim moved forward beside Ron, grabbing his hand and squeezing it. Her best friend paused in surprise, looking down at her, still frowning.
The monkey almost flinched, but Kim held a steely grip over it, as she looked up at Ron, chittering at him, doing her best to look cute, trying to cheer him up. She tugged on his hand twice, chittering some more, giving a monkey version of the puppydog pout. While not quite as devastating as Kim's normal version, this cute attack was still enough to make Ron's anger disappear. He went down on one knee, looking at her, shaking his head.
"Sorry, Kim, you know how frustrated I get with Barkin. It's no big, I'm sorry I was angry with you, you're just acting like a monkey does." Realizing she was being forgiven, the monkey chittered again and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. The blond hugged her back, then stood up, hearing a noise as he turned.
"Ron, glad I caught you before you left." Felix wheeled up, looking at his friends. "Listen, you want to come over tonight? My mom's working late and I figured we could hang out for a couple of hours." He looked at the monkey. "I'll help you watch Kim, too, maybe give you a little break."
Ron grabbed Felix's arm, looking him dead in the eyes. "Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me."
The wheelchair bound teen blinked, looking at the smiling monkey standing next to his friend. He was afraid that before the night was over, he would know how big a deal it was.
X X X X
Ron spent almost four hours at Felix's house, and most of that time was actually spent playing games with his friend, and not watching Kim. The transformed teen was having a good time playing with some old toys that Felix had gotten out of storage. That left the two other teen a chance to relax and do pretty much whatever they wanted.
After getting trounced yet again by his friend, Ron tossed his controller onto the small table in front of him, then laid back, spread his arms wide. He groaned. "Stupid controller, never wants to work right."
Felix grinned and motioned to Rufus, watching as the mole rat took Ron's place at the controls. "Sure, it's always the controller, never the controllee." He laughed as Rufus chittered too. "Even Rufus agrees-Zombie Mayhem VI is just not your game."
Ron rolled his eyes, finally sitting up. "I can't help it that I've only played this game a few times, it's just out." He motioned with his hand to the screen. "I mean, look at how Rufus plays." Contrary to Ron's statement, the mole rat was doing much better than Ron had, at points doing even better than Felix-despite the fact he had to back flip and stretch his body just to hit certain keys. "Fine, bad example."
The blond leaned forward, swiping his hand over the controller, forcing Rufus to hop off. The mole rat stuck his tongue out at Ron, then scampered off the coffee table, down over to where Kim was playing. About the same time, Felix finished the level. He set his controller down, and looked over his best friend, who was still staring at the monkey.
"It's more than just the game isn't it?" Felix shifted in his wheelchair so he could look at his friend. "You've been really distracted tonight."
"Felix, I just..." Ron looked at Felix, then turned back towards Kim, who was now playing quietly with Rufus. For some reason that he hadn't figured out, the mole rat was hitting it off with the monkeyed Kim much better than he had with the normal one. "...what if she's this way forever? What if Wade can't figure it out? It's been almost two days!"
His wheelchair bound friend shook his head. "Ron, if anyone can figure these things out, it's Wade. But if she is stuck, that's not going to change the way you feel about her, is it?"
Kim's ears had perked up at the conversation, although neither of the teens noticed. Her hands, moving around in their game with the little mole rat, slowed as she let the words hit her. Rufus paused too, diverting his attention to the humans' conversation, as well; Kim had completely forgotten about him by this point, looking at Ron curiously, instead. She was surprised at the lengthy pause, expecting him to say something about how he was her best friend-instead, he looked as if he was contemplating something else entirely.
"Her..." Ron licked his lips, his voice barely a whisper. "Her eyes, I can't get them out of my head, that last look she gave me before she got turned into a monkey. I can't stop thinking about how terrified she was, how I failed to keep her safe, to stop what happened. I see those eyes, full of fear, and can't help but think about when those eyes are full of joy, or mischief, or even when she's narrowed them at me because I've done something annoying."
He wasn't even looking at anything now, instead focused on his memories of his best friend. "When I think of all the times we've gone to movies, or swam at the pool, or gone to the park, or any of the hundreds of activities we do together, it's her eyes that captivate me, draw me in, those expressive green emeralds that have always beckoned me, convinced me that I can do more. It's those same eyes that I see each night before bed, telling me that no matter what comes in the days ahead, she'll be there with me, helping me, just like I help her."
"When I look into those eyes, I see our past, the friendship we've forged, the good and bad times that we've shared. I remember all the times I've seen her smile reflected there, and the times that I've seen her cry, every time wishing that there was something that I could do to take away that pain. Even when she's can't keep hold of her emotions like that, letting her sadness take her, I see the strength hiding behind those eyes, ready to assert itself as soon as she regains her control."
"And sometimes, sometimes I see something else there, her future, a glimpse in her eyes that tells me the life she's living, that she is going to live will be anything but normal, and I know that she will be out there, every day, doing her best to make the world a better place for everyone." He lowered his gaze. "And...and I just hope to myself that somehow, I'm a part of that future, too."
Ron blinked, seeming to refocus his eyes back on his friend's face. Felix wasn't surprised as the revelation; even though he had only known the two for a short time, the teen had always known that there was more going on between his two friends, and this just cemented his belief that the two of them were meant to be more than 'just friends.' He had kept his mouth shut, though, knowing that it was something that the two would have to figure out on their own. Finally after a second to digest Ron's words, he nodded. "Sounds to me like it doesn't matter if she's a monkey or not, Ron, you'll just take care of her like always."
Kim, on the other hand, was completely shell-shocked. That was the sweetest, most romantic thing I've ever heard. The monkeyed teen sat in a dreamy haze for almost a minute before reality snapped back into place. Wait, am I thinking that Ron is romantic? Ron? No, no way, he's my best friend, I mean, he can't have feelings for me like that...can he? She looked towards her best friend, letting her gaze travel over her face as she considered him. I guess he is kinda cute...
Whoa, hold on, get a hold of yourself, Possible, this is Ron we're talking about, Mr. Never-Be-Normal, I mean he keeps a mole rat in his pocket for crying out loud, he's so totally not boyfriend material.
Sure, pumpkin, he's not at all worth your time. Suddenly another voice entered Kim's mind, and she realized that it was her conscience, questioning her own decisions. By some wicked twist of fate, her conscience sounded like a certain green skinned villainess. It's not like he saves your life, or goes with you on your missions, or has been your faithful sidekick for years, and your best friend since before that. No, you don't have anything in common with him.
Besides, the voice continued its relentless dialogue, you heard him yourself, how he talked about your eyes, your face, the things you do. When was the last time you heard someone talk about you that way, with that much emotion, that much passion, in just describing you? Not boyfriend material... She laughed. Seriously, you consider Josh Mankey to be your boyfriend, or at least you want him to be, but you wouldn't consider Ron at all.
Kim fought back at the words. Josh is golden, so totally the perfect guy for me, I mean he's sweet, kind, and Ron's just...Ron.
'Sweet.' 'Kind.' The voice mocked her. You don't even know the kid. So he's a painter, big deal. Ron will fight villain with you, and you're totally comfortable around him-when was the last time you spoke a coherent sentence around Mankey? And has he ever even given any interest in you? Heck, you've never even been on a date, and you're already already dismissing Ron?
Josh...he's just waiting his time, waiting until he has a good chance to ask me, he's always so busy and everything, with his painting, and I'm busy with school work, it just isn't easy for the two of us to talk. And, well, he's interested in me, at least from what I've seen, and what Tara has told me.
Right, we've got your crush on Josh talking, and hearsay from a friend. And on the other side, we have Ron, who just totally bared his heart to you without you even knowing it, telling you 'the most romantic thing you've ever heard,' and you completely dismiss him? What about the fact that he's taking care of you, even though he hates monkey, terrified of them, yet he's put all that fear behind him, just to take care of his best friend, the one person that he has shown time and again he cares about more than himself.
Sounds to me like he's better than you deserve. The thought came unbidden, and Kim wasn't sure whether it came from her subconscious, or something that she'd just realized herself. She quickly buried it deep, denying everything.
No. NO! Just...just shut up, shut up! Mercifully, the voice in her head finally quieted.
Kim looked over to the two teens, then felt herself drawn over to them; she wasn't sure whether it was her or the monkey acting, and by this point, she really didn't care. She approached slowly, hesitantly, and realized that the boys weren't paying her any attention. The monkey carefully climbed up onto the couch beside Ron, then slipped into his lap, curling up and resting her head against his chest. She felt him start under her, but he relaxed, lightly wrapping his arms around her. Kim warbled contently, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Ron looked down at his transformed best friend, and realized that Felix was right. Monkey or not, human or not, it didn't change the fact that Kim was his best friend, the one person he could be totally honest with, the one person he trusted over everything. Whether Wade figured things out or not, he knew that he would never be able to abandon her, even if she was never able to return to normal.