AN: Sorry this chapter took longer, but life is becoming more hectic. School starts again soon, which means updates will start taking longer. I'll do my best to keep up, but, heh, life.
Northern Downpour belongs to Panic! at the Disco, though I don't use all the lyrics here. Just sorta heard it in the background of the scene…
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Shego laughed, leaning back against a wall.
"That was some fight!"
Kim couldn't help but grin, tugging the mask off and shaking out her hair. "I'll admit…it was fun." She drew a hand over her face, glancing at Shego. "You're pretty good at distracting people."
The green thief just smirked. "Um, Princess…glowing green hands? Flashy cat-suit?" She shook her head. "Weren't so bad yourself, sneaking around like that. And that toss was pretty inventive."
"I guess the years of cheer practice paid off."
"Oh, heh…yea. You were a cheerleader."
Silence fell, just shy of being uncomfortable.
"Are you hungry?"
Kim blinked, surprised at the question. "Am I…uh, yea. Kinda."
Shego nodded, and stood. "I know this pretty cool place, good food. Want to, ah…"
"Yes! I mean…uh…" Kim blushed slightly, glancing down. "Yea, that'd be cool."
"Cool." Shego scuffed her heel. "How 'bout I…swing by your place in a little bit?"
Kim nodded. "Sounds good."
"Right."
A definitely awkward silence.
"I'll just…go, then."
"Oh, right." Kim blinked, and suddenly fumbled with her mask, slipping it on again. "I'd better go, too."
They stood for a second more, and then went their separate ways.
"Okay…this'll work…right?" Kim stared into the mirror for a moment, then groaned and moved to her closet again.
She had sprinted all the way to her house, taken the fastest shower ever, and was now wasting precious time trying to decide what to wear. Part of her was irritated, wondering why it should really matter. It was just a friendly dinner. It wasn't as if it was a date or anything…
Another part of her desperately wanted to impress the super-powered thief. And unfortunately for her sanity, this part seemed to be winning out.
"Darn it…how the heck am I supposed to know what to wear!?"
The landline phone rang suddenly, and she nearly jumped. She rushed over and picked it up, just before it rang a second time.
"Hello?"
"Ah, Miss Tenson. There is a…Sandra Gold, to see you."
"Sandra G…oh! Right. I'll be right down, Walter." A pause. "Hey, ah…Walter…casual, right?"
There was a pause, and a low hum. "I would have to agree, yes."
Kim sighed. "Thank you Walter. Tell her I'll be right down."
"Of course, Miss."
She hung up, sighed, and went to make a final decision.
Shego shifted uncomfortably, glancing up at the desk manager again. The old guy seemed nice enough, but he had given her the strangest look…a sort of smile, after he'd gotten off the phone. It creeped the hell out of her…
Dammit, why was she so nervous, anyway? Sure, she was in public, but it wasn't as if the everyday person noticed her anymore. And she wasn't going to get arrested anytime soon, even if she was recognized.
It wasn't that though. It was the fact that she was going out to lunch…with Kimmie…
'As friends!' her mind chimed it. 'As fellow thieves!'
She nearly facepalmed then and there. So pathetic…why did she have to clarify these things for herself?
"Hey, ah, Sandra."
She looked up, blinking in surprise. Kim was moving towards her, from the direction of the elevators.
"Hey…Tenson." She blinked, swallowing slightly before letting her expression fall into her trademark smirk. "Ready to go?"
Kim nodded, giving a genuine smile. She'd been a little worried, coming down in her kaki cargos and converse sneakers, white T-shirt covered in an old, sky-blue, zip-up hoodie. Definitely casual.
But it fit right along-side Shego's black jeans and green top…though the darker green jacket (ala Club Banana) added a quiet maturity…It was actually kind of cool…
"Sorry, what was that?"
Shego raised an eyebrow. "I asked if you wanted to take a cab or your car."
"Oh, um…Cab'll be easier."
"Cab it is."
"Have a good day, Miss Tenson, Miss Gold."
Kim glanced over her shoulder, and gave an uncertain smile at the desk manager. "Thanks Walter."
Shego blinked, and turned. "Come on."
Kim followed, glancing over her shoulder one more time before they walked out the door.
"Oh, by the way. It's Penny Tenson." Kim muttered in an offhand manner as they slid into the cab.
Shego gave her a look, frozen for a moment…before she barked out a laugh, seemingly having trouble controlling her breathing.
Kim glared at her, before turning to stare out the window. "It's not that funny."
Shego only managed to breath long enough to tell the driver where to go, before she broke out in another bout of laughter.
Kim continued to glare out the window.
The cabbie wished that, for once, he wouldn't pick up the crazies…
"Wow."
"Yea." Shego looked up. "Cool, huh?"
Kim looked around, eyes wide. The restaurant was pretty big, and…well, odd. In the best way.
The floors and tables were polished wood, reflecting the dim light, various greens and blues, some soft-white lighting a few spots. Booths lined the walls, comfortable looking chairs and square tables scattered around the rest of the floor. There was a spiral stairway in one corner, leading up to a second level, almost like a balcony. Music played audibly from hidden speakers, very up to date. The walls were decorated with various posters, drawings, paintings, photographs…
It was an interesting atmosphere, to say the least.
"Huh…"
Shego smirked, motioning for Kim to follow. There was a podium to the right, a young man with a computer standing there. He looked up as they approached, raising an eyebrow.
"Reservations, under Gold."
The guy tapped a couple of keys, staring at the screen. "ID?"
Shego didn't hesitate, pulling out a small wallet and slipping out the card. The man looked it over, nodded, and handed it back. "Alright then…"
He waved a waitress over, taking a moment to direct her. The waitress led the way across the restaurant, up the stairway, to a small table near the back. A booth. They ordered drinks, and the waitress walked away.
Kim focused carefully on the menu, trying to narrow down what she might like…but the restaurant seemed to serve everything, and it all sounded so good…
"Hey, Shego?"
"Mm?"
"What're you ordering?"
Shego blinked, but flipped her menu open. "I dunno…kinda hard to decide. Down between the...chicken and rice, and…the steak…mreh."
"Those sound good." Kim tapped the table. "Hey, if you can't decide, how about we each order one, and split'em?"
Shego paused, lowered her menu, and raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
Kim faltered, looking quickly to her menu. "I dunno, just sounded like a good idea…we don't have to, if you don't…"
"Actually, that's not half bad." Shego nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me."
Kim just nodded.
"So…you come here very often?"
Shego nodded as she cut the steak, separating it easily. "When I can. I found it last year, but only managed a few trips."
Kim nodded, pushing her plate forward. A moment's work, and they managed to divide each dish equally. "I think it's pretty cool." She took a deep breath. "And this food smells delicious."
"Mmm, it is." Shego sighed, twirling her fork easily between her fingers. "It's all fresh, too. I love it." A moment to take a bite of her steak, and she smiled. "Very nice…try it."
"Alright…" Kim cut into the steak, bringing it carefully to her mouth.
"Ohmigod." She smiled, chewing slowly and swallowing before continuing. "This is great!"
"I told you." There was a hint of laughter in Shego's voice.
There was a comfortable quiet for a time, as they ate. Surprisingly, it was Shego who chose to break it.
"So you got into this whole…business…why again?" She tilted her head. "Doesn't really seem like the hero-cheerleader you."
Kim paused for thought, and took a drink before answering. "I dunno, really. I guess…it was sorta familiar."
Shego raised an eyebrow. "Really? How?"
Kim shrugged. "Well…I used to sneak into lairs all the time. Avoid alarms, guards…and if there was something stolen, I'd usually find a way to…reclaim it."
"Huh…" Shego smiled. "Guess I never really thought about it that way." She paused for a couple bites of her food, then nodded. "Okay, so I get that part…but why not just retire? Why go into crime at all?"
"Um…well, I couldn't just retire." Kim shook her head. "I…don't think I could do quiet. I managed it…for about a week."
Shego snickered. "Bit of an adrenaline junkie?"
The former-hero blushed, reaching up to scratch her cheek. "I guess…so anyway, at a certain point, it was either masked vigilante, or thief."
"So why not vigilante?"
Kim sighed. "I guess…it was just…to close to what I used to do."
There was a long silence, and then Shego nodded. "I know that feeling."
"Y-you do?"
Shego shrugged. "Back when I left Team Go. Only had so many options, and went with the one that matched me." A smirk. "Mercenary."
Kim smiled. "That's what fit you?"
"At the time, yea." Shego smirked. "Getting paid to break things and fight? It was awesome."
"So what happened?"
Kim's innocent question made Shego blink, her expression turning a little sad. "Well…I grew up, to tell the truth." She sighed. "Kimmie…when I made that decision, I was trying to get back at my brothers. I mean, I don't regret it, but, if I'd thought about it more, I would have taken a different road."
Kim was…surprised.
"Really?"
Shego nodded, pausing for a moment to listen to the music, quiet guitar…
"Really, Princess." A sudden smirk. "Can't say I don't enjoy being a thief though…"
If all our life is but a dream,
Fantastic posing greed,
Then we should feed our jewelry to the sea.
For diamonds do appear to be…
Just like broken glass to me.
"I kinda like it." Kim smiled, attempting to lighten the mood. "I mean, there's perks."
"Like that huge ruby?"
Kim's smile grew.
And then she said she can't believe.
Genius only comes along in storms of fabled foreign tongues.
Tripping eyes, and flooded lungs.
Northern downpour sends its love.
"Hey, Shego?"
"Mm?"
"Why're you so interested in how I'm doing?"
Shego tilted her head, keeping her expression level. "Care to elaborate?"
Kim traced a finger along the grain of the wood table, thinking. "Well…you keep talking about testing me. What for?"
"Ah…well…" Shego smiled. "You'll have to wait to know that. I'm not ready to tell you."
"Awe…Shego…"
The ink is running toward the page,
It's chasing' off the days,
Look back at both feet and that winding knee.
I missed your skin when you were east.
You clicked your heels and wished for me.
"Please?"
"Nope."
"Please?"
"No."
"Pleeeeeeease?"
"Nooooo…"
Kim sighed, watched Shego. Only one way to get the answer. It was underhanded, and she was a little rusty, but…it was just like riding a bike.
"Shego…"
The piteous whine in her voice made the green-skinned thief look up.
She instantly regretted it.
"GAH!" She threw her hands up, attempting to cover her eyes. "What the hell is that!?"
Kim Possible just leaned forward, moving beneath Shego's guard. She pushed the expression a bit further.
"Please tell me?"
"No! Now…stop that! Stop it now!"
"Please?"
Shego growled, attempting to turn away…but…those eyes…
"Gah! Fine!" She threw up her hands in surrender, scowling. "But you have to stop that…right now."
Kim straightened out her expression, turning it into a smile. "Alright."
"Jeez…what was that, Princess?"
Kim looked a little smug. "Possible family secret, passed down for generations." She leaned back and took a bite of her chicken, the picture of innocence.
Shego looked a little wary, and shook her head. "Okay…"
Sugarcane in the easy morning.
Weathervanes my one and lonely.
Sugarcane in the easy morning.
Weathervanes my one and lonely…
"The thing is…well…" Shego sighed.
Kim tilted her head.
"I wanted to ask you…if you were interested in…sort of a…partnership."
"…partnership?"
"Yea…like…partners in crime."
Hey moon, please forget to fall down.
Hey moon, don't you go down.
You are at the top of my lungs.
Drawn to the ones who never yawn.
Hey moon, please forget to fall down.
Hey moon, don't you go down.
You are at the top of my lungs.
Drawn to the ones who never yawn.
"…Kim?"
"Hmm?"
"You're, ah…supposed to answer now?"
"Oh…right." Kim blinked, a little shell-shocked. "Um…yea."
"That a yes?"
Kim nodded. "Yes." She smiled suddenly. "Definitely, yes."
Shego grinned. "Yes it is." She grabbed her drink. "Thick as Thieves, then?"
"What?"
Shego rolled her eyes and lowered her glass. "Just take a drink." She sighed, and shook her head. "We have a lot to cover…"
Kim just smiled. "I'm a quick learner."
They finished their meals, made small talk, walked through a hypothetical heist, and got the check, which Kim insisted on splitting.
The cab ride back to her apartment was quiet, and quick. Not too bad, really…
"Hey, you wanna come up?"
Shego blinked, glancing back at the cab. "Well, I do have some things to take care of…"
"Oh…right…" Kim shoved her hands in her pockets. "Heh. Sorry, I just figured we could, I dunno, talk...some more…"
"No reason to apologize, Princess." Shego chuckled, and shook her head. "I'll get in touch with you later. We can talk then, huh?"
"Sounds cool. So…later, then?"
"Yea, later."
Shego turned, sliding back into the cab.
Kim sighed as the vehicle pulled away, and made her way inside.
"Did you have a good time, Miss?"
Kim glanced up, pressing the button for the elevator. "Yea, Walter." She smiled. "Had a great time."
"Good to know." The elderly gentleman nodded. "Good day, Miss."
"Later, Walter."
The elevator beeped, and she stepped into the empty car.
Shego sighed, leaning her forehead against the window. She'd been pretty worried about the reaction she'd get.
"No worries though." She muttered to herself.
She had a partner now. The thought brought a smile to her face. Someone to help with the thievery…and a friend. Who could keep up, and share the adrenaline rush.
It'd be great…
"Drop me here." She said suddenly. The cab pulled over.
She hopped out and ran, ignoring the shouting cabbie.
She needed to run, blow off some steam. And then she had a job to plan.
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AN: Yes! I did indeed finish! Is nice, I know.
Please R&R. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.