~o0o~
Shego lay on Kim's bed, happy with herself and the chaos she had caused. Possible dinner: one, Shego breakfast: one, she tallied to herself.
Kim was slowly pacing around the room on her crutch, scowling at Shego. She was trying to ignore the self-satisfied smile on Shego's face and, stopping, she stared out the window, but she could still feel the smugness radiating from behind. Eventually, she had had enough of her attitude, and she turned to see that Shego still had the satisfied smirk on her face.
"I don't see what you're so happy about," Kim snapped. "I'm the one that has to live with the memory that my parents have had... sex on our kitchen table." She threw her free arm in the air to emphasize her annoyance at Shego.
"Oh, come off it, you can't be that naive? If people are going to have sex, then they're going to have it everywhere. Ooh, I wonder if they've done it in your bed?" She grinned as she put her hands face down and tested the mattress.
"Shego!" Kim yelled, blanching at the thought. "How could you? Why would you?"
"Oh, Princess," Shego said as she burst out laughing, "you've got to loosen up, learn to know when people are just teasing. Besides, it's just sex, I'm sure you've done it in weirder places than a kitchen table or someone else's bed?"
The sudden silence in the room caused Shego to turn her head and look at Kim. She hasn't? the thought started. She's nineteen, she's had boyfriends. To Kim's surprise, Shego sat up, all traces of mocking and teasing gone.
"It's ok, Cupcake, it will happen when you're ready, there's never a reason to rush it." She patted the bed beside her, gesturing for Kim to come and sit down.
The look of relief and gratitude on Kim's face when no teasing came was immense, and after a slight hesitation, she walked over and sat down gingerly on the bed.
"So..."
"So..."
"Honestly, Kimmie, we can drop this, right here, right now. There are a lot of... well, almost everything that I'll pick on about you, but I won't play with your heart."
"I know." Kim dropped her head and stared at her clasped hands on her lap. "I was devastated when I thought you were involved with the whole Eric thing."
Shego grimaced. She had known it would end up here. Well, best get it out in the open.
"That's why I was so angry with you at the time," Kim said. "That you of all people had played with my emotions, when I knew you were better than that." Her head dropped even further. "I… I didn't find out til much later... you weren't involved."
"It's okay, Kimmie," Shego said into the silence, "Drew was gloating about how if I couldn't work out what his plan was, then you certainly wouldn't. I didn't know what he had planned until he sent me to pick up Eric." She sighed softly to herself, putting a hand on top of Kim's. "And for what it's worth, Pumpkin, I am truly sorry."
Kim sat there stunned, staring at the pale green hand resting on hers. This morning - in fact, the whole time Shego had been staying with them - she had felt off balance. But here, now, with this apology, all that paled into comparison.
"Thank you, Shego." She swallowed deeply at the strong emotions the apology had brought up. "I know it happened a while ago, but thank you." She raised her head and saw an honest expression on Shego's face for once. Unclenching her hands, she extricated one and placed it on top of Shego's to cement this special moment in her mind.
"I also want to apologize, Shego." She maintained their eye contact, firmly holding onto the hand in her lap. "I never should have kicked you into that electrical tower." Swallowing the lump in her throat, she forged ahead. "I was just so angry with you, and I felt so betrayed. I lost myself to the anger." She shivered at the memory. "And to say I hated you... I- I shouldn't have deliberately tried to hurt you like that, that's not me, and I should never have done it."
Shego nodded and closed her eyes, trying to forget the excruciating pain that came from the night in question. She had slammed into the tower, electricity surging through her as it knocked the breath from her body, leaving her helpless. Even now, she could still vividly remember the agony of her skin blistering and burning, the smell of her hair going up in flames, and the silent breathless screams until she had fallen unconscious. She had come so close to dying, and had been resuscitated numerous times as her heart gave out. Nothing in all her days as a hero or villain had ever hurt so much, or come so close to killing her.
"It's okay, Princess, it's all water under the bridge now," she finally replied, opening her eyes and finding a pair of olive green eyes watching her. Breaking her gaze from Kim's, she stared at the floor while she locked the painful memories away.
"No! It's not, Shego! I… I… was sick for days over how close I came to killing you." Tears slowly welled up in Kim's eyes as she remembered, but she did not stop, she needed Shego to know this. "That night... I was so angry... felt so betrayed, and because of that I- I almost became a worse villain than you. I wanted to hurt you... so I did. I risked killing you, not for justice, or the good of the world, but because I wanted to. And- and- just for that moment... it felt good."
"Kimmie, it's okay, we all have our moments of pain and betrayal. Succumbing to the darkness is almost inevitable, it's how you handle it when you come back, if ever." She reached up to brush away the tears running down Kim's face, hands that had in the past tried to burn her, break her, now offering comfort and support.
"Thank you," Kim whispered, leaning into Shego's hand, feeling it cup her cheek.
"So," Shego said into the silence as she wiped the last of Kim's tears away. "This all got rather serious, shall we go back to the sex?" But the smirk on her face was only half-hearted, and Kim knew she had an out if she really wanted it.
Well, I'm already down the rabbit hole. She bit her lip while resting her hands back in her lap. I know she'll never tease me about it, so why not? I don't have Monique here, and it's not like I could talk with mom about this. Just like a big sister.
Kim slowly recovered from the emotional roller coaster, and with a sigh, she lay down on the bed. Turning her head to look at Shego, she was surprised when she lay down as well, propping her head up on her hand and facing Kim.
No, Kim thought. If she really was a big sister, then there would be two-way conversations. Not just me talking to her and nothing coming back. Yes, we talk, and it's a start, so maybe one day? But for now, let's start with the basics.
"Shego... are we friends?"
The question caught Shego off-guard. She had expected Kim to drop the whole conversation or to spill her guts, but this, this came at her sideways.
"I'm not sure, Kimmie. I'm not really a friend making person, so I'm not the best at judging what we are. I'm just here to get you better so we can go back to sparing."
Gawd! Kim screamed mentally. Why can't she just come out and say she likes me? That we could be friends? All right, enough playing around, I'm meant to be the people person, so here goes everything.
She slowly moved towards Shego, glacially slow, sliding one arm under an arched arm, and the other around a waist. Shego lay there stone still, staring blankly at Kim, but neither did she back away or say anything as Kim brought her arms together, gently hugging her. Bringing her face up so their cheeks were touching, she whispered into Shego's ear as if the secret was for her and her alone.
"I like you, Shego, I think we're friends, and I really enjoy having you in my life."
With a small tightening of her arms to emphasize the hug, she relaxed her arms and scooted back from Shego, who still hadn't moved a muscle.
Okay, don't force it, Kim thought. I've shown my feelings and now the ball's in her court, for better or worse.
Kim stood up and hobbled over to the footstool they'd used for her bath the previous day, gingerly sitting down. Shego still had not moved or said a word, but Kim was not worried. It took us years to even be in the same room talking together, friends could take... who knows? Next she took off her shoes and socks, wiggled out of her pants, and carefully removed her sweater and shirt. Still no movement on the Shego front, so she set about unraveling some of her bandages.
"Shego, bath time," Kim said, but there was still no response from her.
Guess that was a bit more than she was expecting. Kim shook her head. Well, I sure know what that's like with everything she's put me through recently. Hmm... what would Monique do? Soon, a small mischievous smile played across her lips.
Kim positioned herself just so, and then whispered in a husky voice, "Sheeego, I neeeed you!"
The response from Shego was instantaneous. She started, looked around as if wondering where she was. Then, the words sunk in, as did the sight of Kim sitting there in just her bra and panties, her hair draped over one shoulder while she struck a seductive pose. Shego's eyes went oh so wide as she took in the scene, her whole face turning a vivid dark green. With a strangled, "urk," she turned her head and stared at the wall.
Oh yes! Kim fist pumped in her mind. "Shego, I need you to bathe me, I can't do it myself."
"Um, yeah, all right, Pumpkin," she muttered. God! What is it with me and finding redheads that want to torture me?! With a sigh she stood up. Slowly getting her blush under control, she made sure that she prudently avoided looking anywhere near the posing Kim. Still grumbling to herself about redheads, she wandered around the room, gathering up all the necessary items for bathing.
Shego's right, Kim thought as she sat there enjoying her victory. I have to stop being such a prude. Learn to handle being teased, and come out of my shell more. I know can give as good as I get. I've just got to be willing to put it out there.
Still feeling impish, she could not resist pushing.
"Shego, I enjoyed the bath yesterday, especially at the end, that was very relaxing. I was wondering if you could do it again. You're very good with your hands, but I'm sure a really good mistress could have done better... a lot better."
What?! In Shego's mind, there was an almost audible crack as she recovered. Fuck! Never thought she had it in her, she's as bad as Faux when she puts her mind to it. And now she's ribbing me about my washing and massaging, well screw that. If she wants to play...
"Oh, how so, Princess?" Shego inquired as she knelt in front of Kim, ready to wash her.
"Well, it was just so ordinary, I expected more." Kim threw out her lip and gave a small playful pout as their gazes locked.
She does want to play. Well, all right then, Shego thought. "Oh, Pumpkin, I was just being gentle with you yesterday, trying to relax you. After all, you're so tense. But if you're, as you say, ready for something more intense." She leaned towards Kim. "Then I'm more than happy to oblige." An evil twinkle in her eyes.
Oh darn, I really should have thought this through. Kim realized the implications of what she may have unleashed, but maintained the smile on her face. If she's able to make it more intense, there's no way I'll be able to handle it. No! Not going to happen! I won't let her win, no matter how good it feels. After all, anything possible for a Possible, so yes, I can do this.
It was not the first time that her Kimness, as Ron would like to say, had gotten her in trouble. And with the way Shego was staring at her now, she was in big trouble. So she dug deep, and brought out her best meditation technique to control her body as she watched Shego warm the wet wipe with her hand and place it against her arm.
"There we go, Cupcake, all done," Shego announced a few short minutes after she had started.
What the? Kim opened her eyes, clearly confused. Where were the warmed plasma hands, the sensual washing and massaging, and more importantly, the nearly orgasmic pulses that Shego had used last time?
"C'mon, Princess, you don't think I'm that easy to manipulate, do you?" She laughed at Kim who was clearly confused. "If you want to get off, just let me know and I'll give you some alone time with Mrs. Palm and her five daughters." She held up her hand and wiggled her fingers at her.
"What? I never," Kim spluttered.
Shego snorted at the look of embarrassment and annoyance on Kim's face.
She stood up, still chuckling to herself. Oh, that face will keep me warm and happy on cold nights. Then, the fanfics reared their ugly head again as she remembered the two of them on a bearskin rug in front of a roaring fire. Argh! Bloody Faux. Suppressing the mental image, she distracted herself by going through Kim's drawers. She tossed some underwear and a tee-shirt onto the bed, and left the room without another word.
What happened there?! Kim wondered.
~o0o~
"Bloody fanfics," Shego growled, once she was safely ensconced in her room. "Last thing I need to see is Kimmie in her bathing suit with them running through my head." Pacing around the room, she made a gun with her index finger and thumb and mocked a gunshot to the head in an attempt to rid herself of the images. She continued to pace as her gaze drifted towards the bed, her tired body hearing its siren call even with its hideous powder blue sheets and comforter. Taking an involuntary step towards the bed, she stopped herself. "No!" she stated, shaking her head, "not going to happen." I've gotta wash first, but I'm too fucking tired for a shower. So plasma it is then. Quickly stripping, she ran her plasma charged hands over her body, burning away the sweat from the mornings exercises. "It'll do for now," she sighed. Throwing on some fresh clothes, she felt a little better, and made her way back to the stairs leading to Kim's loft.
"All done?" she called out.
"All done, come on up."
Kim, now dressed, had stretched out on the bed with her eyes half-closed and her fiery red hair surrounded her head like a crimson halo. The sight caused a slight flutter in Shego chest, which she promptly squashed as she plopped herself down on Kim's computer chair.
"What would you like to do now, Princess? Since your parents are going to be away, does Kimmie feel up for some play? Or more movies? How about going for a drive in your car?" She began poking around the desk, more out of idleness than any real interest.
"Actually, I'm still feeling a little sore from this morning's workout, so I'm going to take it easy. Gives me the perfect chance to go over my university applications that I've been putting off for far too long." Then it occurred to Kim, she had seen this scenario before. "Shego, is this what it was like when you worked for Drakken, just waiting around for him to think of something?"
"Spot on, Princess." She gave Kim a small applause. "I'd be sitting around bored to tears, just waiting for his mind to bubble up some insane scheme that I needed to go and steal stuff for." Finding a pencil on the desk, she started twirling it around her fingers for amusement.
Kim's eyes opened and she grinned at Shego. "Ooh, you're right. I have my very own super-powered woman to do my bidding, don't I?"
"Provided, Kimmie, all you wanted was a plasma burn to your ass." She lit up her middle finger and gestured at Kim, the pencil in her hand bursting into flames.
Watching one of her pencils turn to ash, Kim could not help herself. "You think you're all that, but you're not," she said in a nasally voice, laughing at the look on Shego's face.
Shego scowled at the laughing redhead and her use of Drakken's catch phrase. God, I'd forgotten how much that annoyed me. She rolled her eyes and leaned back in the chair. Sitting in silence for a while, she found her mind coming around to last night and how the world had changed. Klones, surrogates, and fanfics all clamored for her attention, and she had to know.
"Hey, Kimmie."
"Yeah?"
"What do you know of the Kim Klones and the Shego Surrogates?"
"Oh them," Kim replied, staring up at her ceiling. "Well, I don't have much to do with either group, but I have to say they're just what the world needs right now. People willingly looking after others and with no ulterior motives. I'm quite proud of the Klones, and while the Surrogates walk a fine line, they're only going after criminals, so that's okay in my books. I even went to one of their conventions once, but they're a bit fanatical in their hero worship. I've found it best if I keep my distance and let them get on with helping the world, while I keep on saving it."
"That's all you know about them? Nothing else they get up to, real or imaginary?"
"Yes, why? What are you getting at Shego?" She turned her head to look at her, wondering what was up.
"Calm down, Pumpkin, just curious is all. I hadn't heard about them until last night. I'm just catching up with the news of the world." Grabbing another pencil from the desk, she spun it around in her fingers while she pondered Kim's response. Well, well, well, looks like Miss Priss is in the dark about the fanfictions and this KiGo shit. They'd certainly be an eye opener for her, break her out of her little cocoon; another time, though.
She knows something, Kim realized, looking back at Shego. And she's not telling. She pursed her lips. Klones, Surrogates, and imaginary, is it? Let's see what Wade has to say when I've got some privacy.
Kim stared at Shego, and Shego returned the stare. Their thoughts ran, I know you know something, I know you're hiding something; I know, you know, I know. Nothing was said, but both girls knew.
"Going back to what you asked earlier," Kim said as she slowly sat up and stretched, feeling her tender muscles groan in protest, "I'm just going to be going over university applications, so if there's anything else you want to do, then you should."
"You just going to be sitting on your bed for all this?"
"Sure am, I've got everything in the drawer next to you." She threw a huge smile at Shego, and asked, "Don't suppose you feel like passing it all over?"
"I'm not your beast of burden, Possible." Still, she did reach into the drawer Kim had indicated and pulled out three massive folders filled with applications, invitations, and leaflets. "Geez, how many universities did you apply to?" Walking over to the bed, she dumped the great stack of papers next to Kim.
"Well, they all sorta applied to me, as much as I applied to them. I've got all the big names after me, like Harvard, Yale, and MIT. Unfortunately, with all my helping with the reconstruction efforts and the world-saving from all the new villains popping up, my plans to go to a university in the foreseeable future are sort of shot. So, my aim is to find some prospective programs with the right universities and to do them online at my own pace."
"Gee, Kimmie, I always pictured you signing up with GJ, being their poster girl and all." After a quick glance at some of the names on the leaflets, she went back to her chair and swung her legs up onto the desk.
"To be honest, this was always a hobby." She watched as Shego pulled a nail file out of her pocket and started to sharpen her nails. "I started out helping people and it just snowballed into saving the world from super-villains. It was never my aim to make a career out of it." She sighed. "Also, I've learnt from personal experience that Global Justice isn't as squeaky clean as I'd dreamed. I've even been burnt by them, but I'd prefer not to go into that."
"Yeah, Kimmie, they're not the cleanest of the law agencies, but they are the biggest. I'm glad you found out before you joined. Well, since you're going to be working on your future." She leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling while she decided what to do. Read more fanfictions? Or grab some new sheets for the bed? Enough with the Possibles' color schemes, so shopping it is. "I'm going to go shopping for some new sheets, your colors are driving me crazy."
"Well gee, Shego, whenever we go shopping, a green and black motif is the last thing on our minds."
"You should give it a try one day." She stood up and stretched. "You'll find it better than you think."
Kim snorted at the suggestion, but she was already sorting through the stack of college applications on the bed, her attention now firmly on her future, rather than on what Shego was saying.
~o0o~
Kim was so engrossed in her applications that she never heard Shego leave. She gasped in surprise when a large box, neatly gift wrapped, suddenly dropped onto the bed in front of her.
"All for you, Pumpkin, you're going to need it before too long."
"You're back already? That was quick." Kim glanced at her clock, seeing that three hours had flown by. She then ran back through what Shego had said while looking at the box in front of her. "You bought me a present?" she asked, surprise in her voice, already shuffling papers to the side with an excited smile on her face.
"No, Kimmie," Shego snapped, "it's a necessity, not a present. Now, open it up so I can check the fit. I had to go on memory." She sat down on the bed in her riding leathers and waited.
I don't care what Shego thinks, this is a present, 'cause you only wrap presents. With papers moved to the side, she attacked the box with a vengeance. She soon held in her hands a brand new motorcycle helmet in vibrant red with exquisite angel wings in gold along the sides.
"Shego, it's gorgeous, why?"
"Well, give it one or two more days and you'll be strong enough to hold on. So I've decided we'll go riding to get you out of the house. While your car is cute with all its gadgets, nothing beats the feel of tearing along on a bike."
Kim enthusiastically donned the helmet, a thousand watt smile across her face. She looked across at Shego to garner her reaction. A simple nod from her and Kim knew it was a perfect fit. Slipping the helmet off and placing it in her lap, she could not stop the huge smile on her face.
This is big, friendship big. She so needs a thank you hug. Kim leaned across the bed to show her appreciation, trying to give Shego a hug, but before she could, Shego deftly moved just out of reach. Play time, she decided, grinning to herself. Making a large play of putting her new helmet on a pillow, she suddenly rolled across the bed and tried to wrap an arm around her.
"Hey now!" Shego exclaimed, rolling off the bed and leaping to her feet, eyes shining with excitement.
"You're getting a thank you hug whether you like it or not," Kim said as she slowly got to her feet, being very mindful of her injuries. Positioning herself between Shego and the door, she focused her eyes on her target. "After all, your bitch wants to show her appreciation."
Shego blinked, she almost could not believe her ears when she heard her Princess swear. That small distraction was what Kim had been waiting for. She pushed off with her good leg, arms extended to grapple and hug. Shego instinctively back-flipped out of the way and landed on the other side of the bed, facing her. She grinned, the same expression on both their face as Kim moved towards her, eyes glittering with excitement.
"Give it up, Shego, there's no way you can win."
"Sorry, Kimmie, there's no Buffoon to help you this time." Unfortunately, the mention of Ron's name only focused Kim even more on the task at hand.
"Ohhh... I don't need Ron here to help me win this, I just need…" she murmured, slowly inching forwards, their bodies perfectly in sync with each other.
"Need what, Pumpkin?" Shego had a huge grin on her face as she reacted to each and every move and twitch from Kim. Then she felt something behind her. Fuck! The computer desk, was her first thought, then, oh sh-
"That!" yelled Kim, leaping at her. This time, Shego did not have the space to maneuver, and since Kim was injured, she could not go on the offensive. Hemmed in and with Kim flying at her, all she could do was brace herself. Kim impacted with a cry of victory and both girls fell to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs, Shego on the bottom and Kim on top.
Shego could only lie there as she mentally cursed all redheads and their insane desire to hug her. Feeling that the so called hug was going on a bit too long, she became increasingly aware of exactly how soft and warm and good Kim's body felt when pressed against hers.
"Umm, Princess, I think that's long enough for a hug," she finally said as she realized she had nowhere to put her hands that did not involve a small, lithe body. Bloody Faux, bloody fanfics, bloody redheads, she cursed while waiting for Kim to move.
"Sorry, Shego, seems I hurt myself a bit when we landed, soft as you may be. Just gimme a sec' to recover, 'kay?"
Shego closed her eyes and groaned as she lay there, her cursing petering out. She realized this was new, how often they had fought… and yet a situation like this had never occurred.
Gawd I may hurt so much at the moment, Kim thought, grimacing in pain, but that was fun. "I have to say Shego, you really are comfortable to lie on." She grinned to herself as she waited for the shooting pains down her left-hand side to subside. Nestling herself in a bit more, she unknowingly molded her body to Shego's, her head comfortably resting on Shego's chest.
"Uh... yeah, thanks, I've been told that," a flustered Shego replied. Fuck! She's almost nuzzling! She's got to be doing this on purpose. Thirty more seconds, and injured or not, she's off.
So she's been close to someone before, I wonder who? "Was this someone special to you?" Kim asked before she could stop herself, full of curiosity.
She immediately knew she had pushed the bounds of their budding friendship when she felt Shego go stiff beneath her. Knowing that she had best give her some space, she gently eased her way to the side and rolled off onto the floor. She lay there on her back and winced in pain, as she looked at the woman beside her.
"I'm going to regret that tomorrow, Shego, but you have to admit, that was hella fun."
"Perhaps," Shego finally responded after a few seconds. "You sure you're all right, nothing bleeding?" she muttered. She slowly got up off the floor and ran her fingers through her hair, trying to convince herself to relax.
Why the fuck does everyone want to know about my god damned past? Shego thought angrily. Just leave me the hell alone, I don't need anyone! Memories from last night with Faux, and today with how close Kim had gotten, threatened to derail her thoughts. I'm best alone.
"Nope, nothing showing," Kim said, smiling up at the frowning woman.
"You've got to be more careful, Possible," Shego muttered as she knelt down and picked Kim up. She carried her over to the bed and sat her down on the end, then moved to the far side of the room near the window. "You know if you rip open those stitches you're in a world of trouble, and not just from me, but your mom," she said in a dull voice, stripped of all emotion.
"Yeah, I wasn't really thinking. I just went with what felt right, and that was giving you a hug." She's gone all defensive, this is bad, need to change the topic. "Well, Shego, I love the helmet, so how about we go have some lunch and celebrate?" She beamed a huge smile at her as she counted off the seconds, waiting to see if she would bite or run.
"Okay, lunch." Shego sighed as her dour mood slowly evaporated under the huge smile coming from her Princess. She even found herself adding, "I also bought some fresh bread, ham, chicken, and other extras while out today, so we can super-size our sandwiches."
"Spankin'!" Kim now excited at the prospect of fresh made sandwiches for lunch, but happier still that Shego had kicked her sullen mood. Standing up, she picked up her crutch from the floor and waited for her Shego carriage.
~o0o~
