Chapter 10: Turmoil
The alarm clock at Ron Stoppable's bedside was buzzing. He lazily turned it off, already wide awake. Ron had barely slept at all that night. He couldn't get over the fact that the woman he was enamored with, Kim Possible, had kissed him. When he did sleep, he dreamt only of her. "Sweet dreams indeed." Ron said as he got out of bed. It was still dark out. Might as well go great the day properly. I haven't seen the sunrise since I left the school. He had always gotten up early enough so that he could watch the sunrise at Yamonuchi. The rising or setting sun always reminded him of Kim, as it would paint the sky red as her hair. Seeing this each day reminded him day of why he had gone there, and helped him combat any homesickness he felt. It was all for her.
Maybe I should invite her to watch it with me? Ron thought, pausing as he was getting dressed. No, its way too early for that, isn't it? Ron finished dressing and made his way toward the phone in the kitchen, pausing with his hand on the phone. 'The risk is worth the reward.' Ron started dialing as he remembered his father's words from the night before, and how right they were.
"Hello?" Kim answered the phone sleepily.
"Hey, KP." Ron answered, suddenly wandering if this was a mistake as it sounded like he had woken Kim up. She could be really crabby if she didn't get a good night's sleep.
"Ron? Is that you?" Kim asked, sounding a little more alive now.
"Yeah, it's me. I didn't wake you up did I?" Ron asked, knowing that it was a probably a pretty stupid question.
"No. I…I didn't really sleep much last night."
"Me neither." Ron admitted, and then quickly asked. "Say, since we both up, would you like to watch the sunrise with me?"
"I think I would like that." Kim answered sweetly. "But the sun's supposed to be rising in a few minutes and I don't think I have a time to get dressed.."
"You look fine to me."
Kim turned her head to her outside window, as Ron's voice hadn't come over the phone this time. Ron leaned against the trunk of the tree that was outside her window, standing on a branch that was level with the window. His hands were locked behind his head, and he had a big grin on. "Good Morning, Ms. Possible."
Kim heard the dial tone, and a look of shock was on her face as she came to a realization. He got here faster than it took for the phone to disconnect! She shook her head to clear that seemingly impossible thought out. Then she turned back towards her guest. "Good morning, Mr. Stoppable." She smiled at him, and then covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Ron, what is that you wearing?"
"You mean you don't like it?" Ron asked, looking down at his new canary yellow tracksuit. The suit had black stripes running down the sides. He left the jacket partially unzipped, showing a white t-shirt underneath. "I think it's pretty cool myself. I mean, c'mon, its Bruce Lee meets RUN DMC. You can't get any cooler than that. I even got the shoes!" Ron held up one foot to show a pair of white Adidas shoes with black stripes.
Kim giggled. "Now that I look at it again, it's definitely you."
"Are you going to join me, or make fun of me?" Ron held his hand out to her; the smile still hadn't left his face.
Kim got out of her bed and walked over to the open window. She took the offered hand, smiling. "I'm sure there will be time for both."
"Wise guy." Ron pulled her into the tree with him and then they both jumped up to the roof of the house. This wasn't an awkward jump for either of them, since they had done it many times before. They watched the sunset up here a lot when they got back late from missions.
They walked together toward the center of the house and sat down, facing the horizon. The sun was just starting to appear. The breeze started to pick up a little, and Kim in her thin pajamas, shivered.
Ron removed his jacket and placed around her shoulders. "That should help."
Kim leaned her head against his shoulder, pulling the jacket closer around her. "It does."
They sat in silence as the sun came up, painting the sky a variety of red and gold. Ron took a loose strand of Kim's red hair and held it up against the sky. "Hm." He said examining it. "Perfect."
Kim took her hair back, examining it as well. "They don't really match that well."
"I wasn't talking about them matching. I was just talking about you." Ron smiled a small smile, eyes never leaving the rising sun.
Kim giggled. "Mr. Stopable, I do believe you're trying to flatter me."
"Guilty as charged." Ron answered, tuning to look at her. "Interesting night last night, huh?"
"You could say that." Kim stood up and stretched her legs. "I can't believe that the girls did what they did."
Ron's smile faltered a little. "Yeah, it's pretty outrageous." He said in a rather flat tone. That's her first thought about last night? I mean, didn't it mean as much to her..
"Not to mention the fact that we kissed." Kim interrupted his thoughts, blushing as she finished her sentence. But something seemed out of place in voice.
Ron smile returned, but not as big as before. "Yes. That was rather interesting wasn't it?"
Kim looked away for a minute, and then sat back down next to him. She turned back to him looking somber. "Ron, we need to talk about this. And we need to be serious about it."
Ron's smile faded immediately. Oh no…
Kim read his facial expression like a book. "Ron, it's not like that! I liked it. I really did. It's just….I'm…I'm scared." Kim looked down, pulling the jacket tighter around her.
"Scared?" Ron Stoppable had never heard Kim Possible mention that word in regard to herself. He had always thought of her as fearless. It was the thing he admired most about her. But in this moment, she indeed not only sounded scared, she looked the part as well. Ron looked at her, and for the fist time, he didn't see the world-renowned teen hero. He saw a frightened young girl.
"Ron, what if it doesn't work out? It could ruin our friendship!" Kim said, her voice strained by her emotions. She looked liked she might cry.
"What if it works out great? What if it was meant to be?" Ron asked, his eyes and voice full of resolve. "I know that things will change. That can't be helped. But I think this is worth it. I am willing to fight for this."
"I just don't know Ron. Part of me wants this so bad, but there's another part that just screams for me to stop this. I've been up all night because of this." Kim lowered her head again, refusing to meet Ron's eyes.
"I understand that more than you think, Kim. I know that feeling. Because I felt it for years." Ron said, raising her chin to look at him. "But, I came to realize that I had to face that fear. I can't spend the rest of my life wondering 'what if?' I have to know. And you need to know that I lo.."
Kim jumped up and away from him, absolute terror on her face. "No! Don't say it!" Kim shook her head, tears now rolling down her face. "Please Ron don't say it! I can't…"
Ron slowly rose to a standing position. His face held more resolve now. "Kim.."
"No, please…"
Ron took a step closer to her. "I…"
Kim continued shaking her head, trying to stop him. "Ron you can't say it! You won't be able to take it back!"
"…love…"
Kim stood frozen as Ron spoke that word and closed the final distance between them. He put his hands on the sides of her arms to hold her in place, his brown eyes staring down into her green ones. "…you." Ron brushed a tear off of her check. "I love you, Kim."
Kim stood still. Her eyes filled with more tears. "Ron…I…I…" She couldn't respond.
Ron closed his eyes, turning his face away. "You have to know that Kim. I can't hide it anymore. It wouldn't be fair to either of us if I did." He let her arms go and started to walk towards the edge of the roof.
Kim suddenly grabbed him from behind. Kim latched herself onto him, holding him as close as she possibly could. "Don't! Don't leave me!" She wept into the back of his shirt.
Ron stopped, feeling the back of his shirt becoming damp from her tears. "I'm...I'm not going anywhere KP."
They stayed in the same position for quite some time. The sun had fully risen by the time that Kim stopped crying. She slowly let him go. He turned to her as she let him go. "I'm sorry about you're shirt Ron." Kim sniffled as she spoke.
"Don't worry about that Kim." Ron said, taking her hand. She didn't pull away. "I…didn't mean to get you so upset…I'm sorry."
"I'm the one that needs to apologize, Ron. I didn't mean to break down up here. It's just, it's so much to take in…and…I don't…I don't know what to do." She whispered the last part. She threw herself into Ron's arms, pulling herself close to him again. "Please, just hold me."
Ron obliged with out saying a word. He held her until he noticed that her breathing become low and regular. He looked down and saw that Kim had fallen asleep. She wore herself out. Ron gently picked her up in his arms and made his way back into her room. He laid her down in her bed, pulling the covers around her. He took a moment to push her hair out of her face, and then he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I love you Kim," he whispered to her, not caring if she couldn't hear him, "even if you don't feel the same way I do. And I will always be here for you, even if it's just as your friend. I promise."
Ron stood and turned to find Anne Possible. The look on her face told Ron that she had overheard him. She looked as if she were about to cry as well. "Oh, Ron. Tell me she didn't…"
Ron signaled her to follow him into the hallway. "It' my fault." He started as Mrs. Dr. Possible closed the door behind them. "I pushed this too hard, too fast. I just thought that she felt the same way." Ron looked back at the door.
Anne looked at the boy, her heart breaking for him, imaging what he must be feeling. "Ronald, she just needs time. She told me what happened last night. She is just struggling with these feelings. She's kept them inside so long she doesn't know how to deal with them. Please, don't give up on her."
Ron looked back at the older woman, trying hard not to notice how much her daughter resembled her. "Are you saying that she feels…"
Anne held her hand up to stop him. "I can't answer for her, Ron. But, I hope she does."
She looked at him. "I've always hoped you two would come together. Just like Judy, Dean and James hope too. To be honest Ron Stoppable, I think the whole world is rooting for you to be the one who wins her heart."
Ron smiled ever so slightly. "Thanks, Mrs. Dr. P. That really means a lot to me." But then the smile was replaced by a deep frown. "But it looks like the odds might be against me on this one. She begged me not to say it Dr. P, and she cried when I did. To say the least it wasn't what I was expecting when I told her I loved her."
Anne mulled over Ron's statement for a moment before quietly asking. "Do you know what I think?"
Ron shook his head.
"I think you surprised her Ron. You took her illusions away about what you felt. And that scared her too, because she couldn't hide behind them anymore, and then she had to evaluate her own feelings. Those tears were probably an equal mix of relief, happiness, fear, and frustration. It's like I said earlier. It's going to take her some time to process all that. Will you wait for her to sort those feelings out Ron?" Anne asked, her eyes almost pleading with him.
"As I told Kim, I think this would be worth fighting for. I'll wait forever for her Mrs. Dr. Possible." Ron said, some of his earlier resolve coming back into his voice.
Anne hugged him. "Good." She let him go. "Give her a few days Ron, let her come to you. It will be worth the wait. Just have faith."
Ron Stoppable nodded said goodbye to Anne. He walked out of the front door and down the street, suddenly feeling very drained. His sweet dream looked like it might be turning into a nightmare. But he would not give up hope. Kim Possible had never let him down in anything. In the deepest part of his heart, he felt that she wouldn't this time either.
All the while, a little bird was watching Ron Stoppable as he walked down the sidewalk. It had been watching him since he had arrived at the Possible's home and had listened in as well as the two teens had their emotional exchange. And while it was eaves dropping, it was also transmitting signals to a satellite high above Middleton, which beamed these signals back to a castle in Europe. Inside this castle six individuals watched the drama unfold. Most were pleased with what they saw, but one harbored their own opinion that differed from the group.
"This is going to be easier that I thought." Monkey Fist said as he placed his fingertips together an evil smile appearing on his face.
"Oh, poor little buffoon! She didn't return his heartfelt sentiment." Dr. Drakken scoffed.
"She was harsh. Seriously." Motor Ed said, turning back to a component of his robot he was working. Duff Killiagan and Professor Dementor laughed at Ed's comment.
Shego remained silent. She was raging internally. She was starting to hate this plan. She didn't like toying with people's emotions. She had her own toyed with over the course of her life. She could sympathize with Stoppable and Possible. Once, a lifetime ago, she had been in a similar situation. However, the main reason she was feeling uncomfortable was in the other room. All four of her brothers were standing outside this room, hypnotized by Fist's genjustsu. They stood there with the most expressionless look on the faces. But it was their eyes that bothered her the most. They appeared to be expressionless as well, but when Shego looked deeper she saw sadness. They knew what was going on, and they knew that she was the one that had brought this upon them.
She had called Henry, also known as the superhero Hego, and told them that she was in trouble. He had hesitated, but said that he and her brothers would be there to help. The villains had arranged for it to look like they had turned on Shego. Team Go had arrived in what appeared to be just the nick of time to save their sister.
'Gentleman, we've been expecting you' Monkey Fist had smiled at them, readying himself to spring the trap.
'Get away from her you villains!' Hego had called out, his brothers and himself taking defensive positions.
The villains laughed, with the exception of Shego. "Now, that's no way to talk to your new employers is it? We would never hurt our partner!" Drakken smirked at the leader of Team Go face came to realization.
'Shego…' He called out quietly, a look of shock plastered on his face.
Mego grabbed his brother's shoulder, trying to snap his brother back into reality. 'It's a trap! We've got to get out of here!' He had looked down at Shego with pure contempt.
'Enough talk.' Fist said as he went through some hand signs. "Genjutsu-Mind control!"
Shego watched as her brother's flinched and then stood very still. Except one. Will, one part of the twins no as Wego, was still reeling.
'Ah, one has a little more willpower than the others. He's fighting it' Fist smiled a predatory smile. 'Never the less, he will serve us as well. Seize him.'
Will didn't have time to fight back as his brothers grabbed him. He looked up at Shego. 'Shego…Shelia…please.' His eyes pleaded more to her than his words.
Of all her brothers, Shego had always been fondest of Will. He had always been more like her. Michael, Henry, and Walter were all very similar. But Will had always been different, quite surprising since he was a twin. He was jovial and sometimes sarcastic, and didn't view the crime fighting that his family did as seriously as his brothers did. He found it to be an amusing game. That's why she bonded with him so well. She didn't take the superhero business seriously either, and they would often joke around about how the other acted.
Shego watched as Fist started his hand signs again, and then looked back at her brother. They locked eyes, and Shego whispered. 'I'm so sorry.' Will shuddered as the genjustu took over his mind. Then he stood still just like his brothers.
Shego shook her head to clear the memory, realizing that someone was talking to her. She looked up at Drakken.
"Are you alright Shego?" The blue man asked her.
"Yeah, Doc." Shego responded in a quiet voice. "I'm fine."
Dr. Drakken looked at her a moment before clearing his throat. "Yes, well, Monkey Fist says that were going to take this advantage and make our first move against Stoppable. You and your brothers are going to rob a bank in Upperton as a ploy to lure the buffoon to you. Fist will be nearby but will have to stay out the fight to control Hego and the rest. You're to do all the damage you can to Stoppable, and Possible if she shows. But remember we're wearing them down. We don't want you to finish them just yet." Drakken started to walk away, back to his lab to finish his part of the master plan. He called back over his shoulder. "You're leaving in five minutes."
Shego nodded and walked outside the room to meet Fist. He was loading one of Drakken's hovercrafts with the members of Team Go. Shego moved toward the hovercraft, watching as Walter was getting in, leaving Will and herself as the last ones outside the hovercraft. The boy turned around and bowed to Shego, letting her go first. She walked past him and got in the hovercraft.
"Isn't it wonderful to see youth showing such respect?" Fist smirked as she sat down next to him.
"Yeah," Shego said looking out of the corner of her eye as the last member of the assault team got in as the craft took off. "It's just peachy."
Ron arrived home and went to up to his bedroom. He opened the drawer on his nightstand. He pulled out a communicator just like Kim's. He flipped the device on.
Within a second Wade Lode's face appeared on the screen.
"Hey, Ron. What's up?" The computer genius said taking a sip of his soda.
"Nothing much. I need you to do me a favor. For the next few days, send any requests or missions from the website to me and me alone." Ron said, looking back at his friend with a friendly face, trying to sound as if nothing was wrong.
"Okay. Why?" Wade took another sip, raising his eyebrow at the strange request.
"Kim's needing a little time to herself. That's all."
"If you say so."
"Thanks buddy." Ron switched the device off and lay back on his bed. About an hour passed and the device rang out a familiar tone.
"Wade?" Ron asked as he flipped the device back on.
Wade was typing furiously on his keyboard. "We've got a sitch in Upperton, Ron. Bank robbery at the 1st Bank of Upperton."
Ron was already up and walking out the door. He was walking towards the garage of his parent's house. "I can be there in about five minutes."
Ron flipped the garage door open and pulled out a sleek black sports motorcycle. He had bought this right before leaving for the summer, and had rode it only one time before taking Kim to and from school.
"Ron, you're going to need back up for this one. The banks being robbed by Team Go!"
Ron looked down at the screen, preparing to put on his helmet. "Did you just say Team Go?"
"Yeah, the full team with Shego. You can't handle that much raw power by yourself." Wade said worriedly.
Ron glared at his friend. "You are not to signal Kim under any circumstances. Do you understand me?" Ron left no room for argument with the tone of his voice. "I can handle them." Wade's retort was cut off as Ron switched off the communicator. "Besides, I really feel like hitting something right now." Ron mumbled as he revved the engine on his bike and road off towards Upperton.