Pre-word: Get ready for enough character motivations to choke a camel. First chapter is mostly a way to ease the reader into everyone's role thus far. However, there will be something nice for the KiGo fans at the end.
Kim Possible: Necessary Changes Season 2 Chapter 1
"Good morning, Middleton," the reporter began. "This is Rebecca Chang, reporting as always for Middleton News. Top story today: rumors have been circulating about the apparent return of local teen hero Kim Possible and her team for three weeks now, ever since the destruction of a Canadian warehouse that supposedly hid the nationally reviled super villain, Professor Dementor. Only hours before this occurrence, Ms. Possible was seen saving our local derby from minor troublemaker/ villain Motor Ed. While the teen had assured everyone that Team Possible was alive and well, the group has mostly stayed out of the limelight and has only been seen sporadically doing what they do best in foreign countries. Thus far, Team Possible has been responsible for multiple rescues involving avalanches, forest fires, and other assorted natural disasters, including random villain appearances. With such villainous activity rising in number, I think it's safe to say Middleton and the rest of the world will join me in saying: Welcome back, Team Possible. We missed you."
The young woman adjusted her paperwork and turned to a separate camera, "In other news, black market sales of the now rare Drakken Brainwashing Shampoo have dramatically increased…"
Kim Possible switched off the television and fell backward onto her nice, comfortable bed. She let that feeling of accomplishment wash over her and it felt just as wonderful as every other time she experienced it. The reporter's welcome back message had tugged her heartstrings a bit and she loved the city for all they were doing to make her feel like she was making a difference.
Middleton as a whole had come together and celebrated the return of their hometown heroes with mass public admiration and even the mayor had offered to award them medals for their continued service. Of course, she'd refused; medals weren't the reason they did what they did. Still, Ron had seemed disappointed, saying that he needed all the awards he could get after having secured almost none in school.
Still, he'd understood and Yori was always one to avoid public display whenever possible. Then, there was Shego. Kim's face beamed a bit brighter at the thought of the woman. She'd been outright disgusted by the offer of awards, but the redhead knew she would have played nice had they accepted the mayor's offer.
It was easier every day to understand the green former villain and there were new things to learn the closer she allowed Kim to get. Speaking of closer, she urged her lover to speed up whatever daily errands she were working on and come to see the teen.
Kim was becoming more and more demanding of Shego's time and she knew she needed to back off else the plasma thrower might become fed up with her altogether. And that was the chief worry she held over their currently budding relationship: Kim desired the woman's company more and more and she wasn't afraid to take her attention when she wanted it.
Though Shego had seemed openly receptive to her company thus far, she still went on random trips into town without an explanation as to her whereabouts. Kim had never pried in fear that she would seem suspicious of the older woman. She trusted Shego, but she also knew the woman had a penchant for hiding things.
Unconsciously, she found the necklace underneath her shirt and grabbed it tightly. The gift reminded her that there was a sweet side to Shego she didn't like showing, even to Kim all that often, but it existed and it seemed to be reserved especially for the teen. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, telling herself that there was nothing to worry over.
Her thoughts then went to the day's plans and the activities spread amongst her new team. Dr. Director, Kim's mom, and herself were all going out to town in hopes of finding property to hopefully one day call the new Team Possible headquarters. That was going to be a mess of paperwork by itself.
Senior, Sr., Monique, and Leon were standing by at Wade's for the delivery of their first batch of merchandising. Several crates worth of clothing and memorabilia were being dropped in by Senior's private jets and Mon would have the task of sorting through and checking everything's quality before allowing it to be sold to the public. She felt nervous that soon Team Possible would be a brand for the world's consumption.
Wade and Drakken were going to be doing…whatever it was they did in Wade's room; probably something scientific. As long as it helped the team, she wasn't going to ask for much more detail. They'd soon hopefully be giving them a much bigger work area if her group succeeded.
Yori was going to be reporting to her people in Yamanouchi, though she claimed this wouldn't require traveling to Japan. Whatever it meant, the girl gave no indication she was open to explaining, which didn't sit well with Kim. Trust was a big issue and her secretive ways weren't showcasing a trustworthy atmosphere. Then again, Kim had brought the former villain onto the team, so she supposed she had no right to judge.
Surprisingly, Will Du was the wild card in the group and still hadn't dedicated his full time to Team Possible. In three weeks, he'd assisted in one mission and had done little else but settle into nearby Middleton and spend time with Dr. Director. She didn't mind having him here and he was very cordial with most everyone, but his inability to commit needed to be nipped before it became a habit.
She sighed and rolled over, found the big, stuffed toy Shego had won for her at the fair and began to strangle it with frustrated fervor. She hated thinking like she was the boss, but everyone had pretty much nominated her without her say. She'd always called the shots, but that was when it was just her and Ron. She didn't even know how to begin commanding a group of people and she didn't feel comfortable doing so. It was far too close to Global Justice's way for her tastes.
Still, she would do it. She could do anything and she believed that now more than ever. They'd effectively taken down the biggest collection of villains ever seen with next to minimal effort. Okay, Monkey Fist hadn't put up much of a fight, Gemini had scurried away before the real battle had begun, Camille and Yoko were still MIA, Drakken had been against Dementor the whole time, and David's crew weren't really villains per say…but they'd still stopped the evil master plan and that counted as a win in her book.
"Honey, I'm home!" a very familiar, heavily desired female voice called from downstairs.
Kim was up like a bolt of lightning and out her door in record time. The green woman was at the base of the stairs, in the process of beginning her ascension, when Kim practically bounded down them and tackled her to the carpeted floor.
"Good God!" Shego bellowed. "You're like a blasted puppy!"
"Woof," Kim giggled and nuzzled her.
Despite her outburst, Shego allowed a chuckle to escape before returning Kim's show of affection. With ease, she stood and lifted the teen at once, stealing a quick kiss from the nape of her neck and making Kim tingle.
"Not in front of the kids," Kim's dad mumbled as he passed and headed for the kitchen.
Kim looked in to see the tweebs making displeased faces at the show of affection, prompting her to scowl menacingly and shake a fist at them.
"Don't you two have better things to do that watch us? The faster you fix the Sloth, the faster you can go places."
"We're trying," Tim said, sounding rather annoyed.
"We didn't expect the thing to shut down completely after your little after graduation party," Jim added.
"Besides, who can work around here with you two sucking face. You've got a bigger room now. Use it!"
Shego grinned and lit her hand, "Sounds like somebody thinks they're tough. Let's test that."
With Kim still in her arms, she managed to leap into the kitchen and swing her plasma engulfed hand menacingly, prompting the tweebs to yell in fear and make a mad dash for the back door opposite the kitchen entrance. The redhead laughed joyfully at her brothers' honest fear over Shego.
"Have I ever told you how much I adore you?" Kim whispered with a chuckle.
"I could stand to hear it more," she gripped the girl a bit tighter, refusing to relinquish her hold, much to Kim's pleasure.
James cleared his throat, never pulling his eyes from his paper, "Kimmie-cub, please don't encourage violence against your siblings. And Shego, stop letting my daughter be a bad influence."
"Hey!" Kim pouted, having never been called a bad influence.
Shego smiled coyly, "Don't worry James, I wouldn't do anything to them I wouldn't do to my own brothers."
Kim stifled a laugh, but her dad let it go, clearly not knowing enough about Shego's family issues to get the joke.
"Come on," Kim fell from the woman's arms and grabbed her hand. "Let's go before I get grounded. Besides, Mom will be here soon and I need to ask a favor of you."
She led her upstairs and to her room, closing the door quickly behind them and pushing Shego just hard enough to send her falling onto the bed. The raven haired beauty cocked an eyebrow at Kim's forceful attitude.
"Right here, with your dad in the house? How scandalous, Kimmie."
"You wish," the teen mounted her and leaned into her lovely face.
"You have no clue what I wish," she purred and that drew a blush from Kim.
Kim kissed her, as much to change the subject as to feel her lips, "One day. For today, however, I have to ask you to do something…you're not going to like."
Kim hesitated as Shego looked her over thoughtfully, finally prompting a "Well?" from her.
"I need you…to train Ron."
"Nonononononono," Shego was somehow out from underneath the teen and walking for the door.
Kimmie followed close behind, "You could at least hear me out before shutting me down."
"Look, Cupcake, I don't know how to say this without sounding like a bitch, so here goes: I didn't join this team to make friends with your friends. They're tolerable; some of them are actually okay to be around for a day, but the buffoon is off limits when it comes to personal time. I don't like him and I never will."
"You don't have to be his friend and you don't have to like him. All I'm asking is for you to help him for all our sakes."
"Why me?"
"Because only you can. Look, he told me Monkey Fist has the power of the Yono now. That means we need something equally as effective to combat him. Ron's latent Mystical Monkey Power is there, we've both seen it, and we have to help him get it out."
Shego looked the girl over thoughtfully, "You think his powers might be similar to my Go Glow."
Kim smiled and nodded, "And you can help him understand it, to harness it. Please, Shego."
Kim stepped into her and wrapped an arm sensually around her. Shego grinned past her increased heart rate, proud of Kimmie for putting that sex appeal at full force. It certainly did make it hard to deny her request, not to mention the begrudging amount of sense it made.
With a growl, Shego relented, "Fine! I'll give him two hours of tutoring, but no more."
"Thank you," Kim said softly and kissed her again.
"In return," the green woman pulled her closer suddenly, trapping her in her super powered grip, "I have my own deal to make. I help the buffoon and I get you tonight. And I can do whatever I want."
The look of nervous shock that slammed across her Princess' face thrilled her like nothing else.
"What do you have in mind?" the teen asked hesitantly.
"Whatever…I…want," Shego said, leaning into her face with every word.
Kim was immediately at odds, though she held her silence and visibly weighed her options. Shego couldn't help but feel satisfied that she could hold this much sway over the girl's emotions. Though they hadn't fought in so long, she knew that the woman could still be dangerous on levels beyond violence.
And oh did Kimmie have no clue how "dangerous" she could be. The sexual tension between the two had been coming to a head for the last three weeks and the only thing holding her back from jumping the teen was her fear that the chaste young hero would be scared witless. While Kimmie was untouchable in a fight, she knew next to nothing about being with someone on that level.
Shego had her dalliances, but even those were few and more akin to using the partner for her own devices. Kim was different by every stretch of the imagination. Shego's previous encounters were about making her own self feel good. With Kim, it was going to be an exercise in rocking the teen's world.
"Okay," Kim finally spoke. "Deal."
The former villain kissed her in return, letting it linger as long as she could, and then slipped a bit of tongue into her mouth. Kim allowed the invading appendage and added her own as she gripped the woman tighter. It was a euphoric experience knowing just how much the hero wanted her.
She released their kiss and let their mouths brush against one another, enticing her and giving her a slight preview of what she could expect later. Kim's sporadic breathing amused her and she couldn't wait for tonight.
Ron threw a few mock punches, limbering his body up for the coming session. He still couldn't believe he'd allowed Kim to talk him into this and he still held some semblance of hope that Shego would turn her down and he'd be spared her presence. Of course, that wasn't his luck and Kim had sent him to their training center to prepare.
Across the room, closer to the door, he saw Monique, Leon, Rufus and Senior standing by as a delivery man carted two large crates in. Their merch was here and he couldn't have been more excited.
"We're celebrities now!" he'd told Kim earlier.
"We were already celebrities," she'd said.
"KP, everyone knows you aren't famous until you have your own line. Now we're legit."
She rolled her eyes, but he hadn't minded her skepticism. She wasn't into the whole celebrity thing, though he knew she enjoyed the praise her clientele provided. Personally, he couldn't wait to see what Senior's people had cooked up.
"Daydreaming, Ron?" Yori's sweet voice came from behind and pulled him from his musings.
She was just approaching, giving him that pearly white, loving beam she used whenever she knew she were about to tell him something he wasn't going to like. She knew him so well and she was correct in assuming that he was unhappy with her having to leave. As much as he cared for her and as much as he respected the Yamanouchi and all they'd done for him, he still didn't appreciate the fact that there were things being said that they felt he wasn't privy to hear.
His displeasure immediately evaporated as he realized she was holding her hands behind her back in that coy way a child would hide something they intended to reveal. The surprise came in the form of a bag proudly displaying the Bueno Nacho logo. Considering its size, she'd effectively bought him three meals worth of nacos.
He chuckled, grabbing the bag but not pulling it away. Instead, he leaned in and gave her a deep smooch, as much thanks as he could offer at the moment.
"You're too good at this relationship thing," he said and hefted the bag away,
"Leaving you behind does not feel like a good thing," she seemed distracted.
"Well, since it wasn't your decision, you'll get no animosity from me."
She frowned at his lack of control over his clear dislike of the situation, but he forced a smirk to alleviate her worries.
"Just be careful, hon," he winked at her. "And don't stay gone too long. I have a feeling I'm gonna' need some loving arms to retreat to after mine and Shego's training session."
"She is a powerful warrior, albeit a very crass one. She has much to teach, assuming she cares enough to do so. Remember, this is for the sake of unlocking your power. Every advantage helps keep Possible-san safe."
"And you," he added.
She merely nodded and he got the distinct feeling that she didn't quite agree with his last assessment. She'd always been very secretive about everything, except her feelings for him, and he wished he was talented enough to pull her hidden worries from her.
With a last peck on the cheek, she wished him goodbye and good luck before exiting out the way she came. He wanted to worry over her, but the sudden scent of nacos overpowered all else and soon he was voraciously tearing through the bag.
"Ugh, you're a lost cause," a dry, female voice called and he almost lost his appetite.
Shego walked with that overconfident waggle she always used, sizing up his eating habits as she closed in. The look on her face was unmistakably annoyance, but she was dressed in loose fitting, workout clothes and seemed raring to start.
"Don't judge me," he said between chewing. "I had to go without these the entire trip to Japan. You'd be amazed how little fast food exists over there."
"Gee, probably because it's bad for you, maybe?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm sure you don't have any vices to speak of."
She sighed suddenly and dropped down into a meditative position, "It's probably best if we don't talk outside of necessity. Now, drop the grease pit and sit."
He complied, but just slowly enough to warrant an irritated huff from the waiting she beast. He knew it was immature, but he found such pleasure in barbing the older woman. He couldn't believe that he'd once had a crush on her at one time; of course, that was before she'd opened her mouth.
He watched her close her eyes and inhale deeply multiple times. It was a classic calming mantra and he mimicked her. He'd done it enough times at Yamanouchi that it'd become second nature and he soon found a rhythm that centered him. They kept this up for some time before Shego finally spoke.
Shego began almost politely, "Kim says your monkey power is a foreign energy, one that your body didn't develop naturally."
"I was zapped by the four jade idols the Order used to study Tai Shing Pek Kwar," he answered just as calmly.
"So our powers aren't so different. A meteor gave me mine. It seems we were both victims of circumstance. This may actually work. What do you feel when you summon the power?"
Ron hesitated as he thought, "Warmth. Calmness beyond any I've felt before. It's overwhelming, but also nurturing."
Shego was silent for several seconds, "Mine is chaotic, almost bursting at the seams at all times."
"I've felt that. When the aliens invaded and they almost killed Kim…I let the rage fuel the power and it helped us win. But, it seems like I've been locked out of most of it since then."
"You forced it. You made it a tool instead of what it truly is: an extension. Our powers are not simply items that we can discard when we aren't using them. The Glow is a part of me; it swims through my body at all times. Your power seems the same."
Ron opened his eyes and gave the unseeing woman a thoughtful smirk. She was probably right, though he hated to admit it. The power he'd used to defeat Warhok and Warmonga was familiar, but it was more his rage than its power.
Shego opened her eyes and glowered at him, "See something you like?"
"Honestly, not a chance. But, I see something I may have been mistaken about."
"Don't misunderstand, Stoppable, everything you think about me is right. I'm not doing this for your sake, so don't get all mushy on me."
"I hope I'm not right about you. Kim's let you in deep and the last thing I want is for you to do what I think you'll do."
"Which is?"
"Like you said," he closed his eyes, "let's just stick to necessary conversation."
He could feel the woman's desire to smart mouth him, but something held her from her usual catty demeanor. He had little doubt that it was Kim's example that had calmed the woman considerably since they'd last been enemies. He chuckled to himself the idea that anyone could domesticate someone as unpredictably wild as Shego.
"So," he continued, "how do you manipulate your Glow?"
"Have you ever seen Jurassic Park?" she asked.
"Heck yeah! I love that movie!"
"Remember the scene where Jeff Goldblum lets the drip of water run down his arm? He explained that the drip is chaotic, since minute skin details and hairs cause it to change direction every time it's dropped. Imagine your power is that drip and the arm is your body. It flows naturally, but you can manipulate its movements by adjusting your arm. See that drop in your mind and imagine it running a straight course. Don't let the imperfections alter its course."
It was original, he'd give her that. He had the feeling that she was putting this in terms he would understand more easily. Strangely, it was working. He imagined that drop as a glowing, blue monkey as it traveled across the surface of his arm. He worked it towards his hand, forcing it towards that outlet the same way Shego would expel her plasma blasts.
His even breaths and his clear mental image succeeded in bringing forth a tingle in his chest. The familiar sensation was a small portion of the power he'd felt when they'd beaten the Lorwardians, but it was there and he could almost communicate his desires towards it.
"I've got it," he spoke softly.
"Don't let it go, but don't force its movement. It's not a weapon or a tool to wield; it's just as natural an extension as an arm or leg. Now, raise it like you're raising an arm to the sky."
He concentrated, but he wasn't feeling it change past the small tingle. After a few moments of silence, Shego huffed audibly.
"Pretend it's holding a naco and put it in your mouth," she struggled to say.
He wanted to snicker with pleasure from her forced imagery, but he instead felt a rumble in his gut. It felt like a hunger pain at first, until the rumble turned into a pulsing throb. He inhaled from the familiar sensation and he felt his very spirit begin to blaze.
"Imagine something you cherish," Shego spoke seriously now. "Imagine that thing was in danger. Its safety relies on your ability to control. You have five seconds."
He saw many things in his mind, almost unconsciously as the power surged inside him. He saw Kim, Yori, Wade, Rufus, his parents all tied up and being lowered into a deathtrap. Beside them, Monkey Fist laughed maniacally, staring Ron down and challenging him.
He grit his teeth and felt the power intensify as his anger made the pulse quiver inside him.
"No anger!" Shego barked.
He was startled from his fantasy, but he somehow held the power.
"Your anger makes you sloppy, wasteful; the energy isn't bottomless, so don't force it out all at once. Preserve it and learn to channel it in short bursts. Your anger will fade in no time and your power along with it. Find something else besides the rage to fuel it."
He chose the only other emotion he held as passionately as anger and that was hope. Hope had seen them through so much in their young lives and sometimes it was all they had to rely on. A burst of energy made him shiver slightly and he cracked his eyes open to look down at his hands.
Blue energy coursed up his arms, up to his elbows, and he somehow willed it to stay. Confidence burned beneath his skin and he pushed it just enough to brighten the glow noticeably. It didn't extend any further, but he was definitely manipulating its intensity.
He looked up to show Shego…and felt his mouth hang open at the image before him. Shego was very still, eyes closed, still sitting with perfect posture. Green flames danced around her entirety, engulfing her and wavering in long arcs as it pulsed over her. She looked as though she were peacefully on fire.
"Whoa," he whispered.
She furrowed her brow at his response and opened her eyes. A look of surprised shock came over her and the flames doused instantly. She breathed evenly as she stared at the floor.
"What was that?" he asked.
"It's…been a while since I've done that," she breathed and added quickly, "Lesson's over."
She stood quickly and stretched to loosen her muscles. Ron felt his own powers douse as he stood and kept her in his view.
"What were you thinking about?" he asked hesitantly.
"None of your business," she growled.
"It was Kim, then."
She spun and began to leave, irritation clear on her features.
"Why did you never use your full power when fighting us?" he called after her. "You could have killed Kim with that much energy."
She spun back and shot him a death glare, "Because I never intended to kill her. Doy!"
He closed the distance between them with renewed focus, "Where did this caring for KP come from? Since when do…"
She placed a finger in his face to cut him off, "No sharing, buffoon! I'll work with you and your little cheer squad, but I'll be damned if you and I will have a heart to heart ever!"
"Because I hurt her," he guessed.
"Because you abandoned her. You left and then had the audacity to not only come back, but bring your new girlfriend with you. You caused her so much pain and I…I can't take it away from her."
He felt any hint of anger he felt swelling diminish as her words hit him harder than he'd anticipated.
"She's forgiven you completely," Shego's voice lowered. "She's still in pain from that day you left, because she doesn't know who to blame for you two failing. And she just lets it eat her from inside, because she refuses to take her pain out on the world. Whether you or anyone else believes it or not, I want to take that pain from her…because I hate seeing her in pain. I don't know when I started bothering to care, but it's there now and I can't ignore it."
"Okay, okay," Ron held up his hands in defeat. "We'll never do the bonding thing and you have no idea how glad I am over that. Still, I'm her friend and I always will be. And I will try to make up what I did to her until the day I die. I'm not going anywhere, so I suggest we find a way to coexist for her sake."
He moved into her personal space and faced her almost eye to eye, "If you ever do anything to hurt her like I did, or worse, then there is no limit to how much I will trash you."
His threat made her chuckle, but she held his stare almost out of respect. He tried to find something relatable in those emerald orbs, but she had locked off her inner thoughts long ago. He wanted to understand, he'd even spoken with KP about the two women before, but his difficulty comprehending their attraction and her inability to explain it competently had left him frustrated. Still, even he wasn't that dense.
"She cares about you," he added. "She's never had much luck with relationships, but she looks so happy when you're around. She deserves something solid, something dependable. I hope you can do that for her."
She didn't respond, but she didn't smart mouth him either, which in his opinion was a good first step. He thanked her for her training and she only nodded as she exited past the other group.
Monique watched the green woman go, wondering if she should say anything friendly to her, but deciding against it due to the near argument she and Ron had just experienced. Monique had a desire to befriend the older woman, but she was so purposefully hard to approach that the ice was nearly impossible to break.
While Shego was cordial, especially towards Monique herself, she made it quite clear her want for friends was nonexistent. On the flip, the mood alteration she experienced whenever Kim was around was proof that that spiky exterior wasn't as sturdy as she wanted everyone to believe.
In all, she decided it would be better to simply allow the woman to open up in her own time. As long as Shego didn't interfere with Kim's current relationships, there were no problems to be had. Speaking of problems, the teen turned her attention back to the clothes she held and grimaced as openly as she could manage. She held a girls sized tee in her hands, all white save for an image ironed onto the front. The image was of Kim's head and a single arm in frame, holding her kimmunicator. The quote below the image read: "What's the Sitch, Ron?"
"Exactly how much research was put into these things?" Monique groaned.
Senior pursed his lips, "Data from Ms. Possible's extensive career was procured by multiple sources, most from the villain community I still have good faith with."
"Then they're research is faulty," Leon said whilst rummaging through the box. "Wade is the one they always speak to over the kimmunicator. Ron is in the field, so why would he know the sitch?"
"Is this really something the common consumer would know?"
"You'd be surprised just how much her fans investigate," Leon said and saw Mon give him a slight eyebrow raise. "What? My investigations are purely for educational purposes."
She chuckled and turned back to Senior, "Also, these iron-on images are garbage. They're going to start crumbling after the third or fourth wash. We need the logos and images sewn directly into the fabric. I know it's more costly, but we're going for quality here."
"Very well," the old man seemed displeased, but at least he was hearing them out. "What of the memorabilia?"
"Now those are top notch," she smiled and held up a handful of trinkets adorned with her BFF's face, along with a few for the rest of the team. "Purses, handbags, book bags, school supplies; you've pretty much nailed the major demographic. They're good quality too."
"And they are only the beginning," Senior beamed and spread his arms dramatically. "Soon, all households will be filled with Team Possible dishes, silverware, computer accessories, and everything else the youth of today could ever waste their hard earned money on."
"I don't think the youth buy silverware," Leon laughed. "BTW, I've dug through three piles now and I've found a ton of Rufus related stuff."
He held out a small blanket for them to see, adorned with Rufus' face. The mole rat scurried up to the picture and wiggled his little, bald eyelids.
"Ooooh, handsome," he squeaked.
"Online polls have yielded a high response in favor of the little creature," Senior leaned on his cane. "Kim is still highest, but Rufus is not far behind."
Rufus wiggled his fists in a celebratory manner.
"I'm noticing a high number of Shego related stuff, too," Mon said without much surprise.
"Shego's popularity is already palpable in her home of Go City. It merely took her turn back to good to encourage her previous fans to renew their faith in her. However, there are the rumors…"
Mon furrowed her brow as she remembered the reports many tabloids had been running these past few weeks. Pictures of Kim and Shego out and about, holding hands and behaving like a couple, had made the rounds to the point that most everyone knew what was going on between the women.
Shockingly, there had been very little backlash against them. Whether it was due to a real lack of evidence or perhaps the world simply didn't care to make a stink about a former villain romantically involved with the world's hero, people seemed respectful of the two's privacy.
Within their own group, there was even less drama. Kim's family was cool with everything, she, Wade and Leon were happy for them, Ron was slowly beginning to accept them, and Yori was too much of a team player to make waves. Drakken had been shocked when he'd had it explained to him, but that had soon worn off and he was overly encouraging of the duo. This led to very severe threats from Shego, but it was obvious the woman liked the blue dolt and was pleased he understood. Even Senior seemed uninterested after his initial surprise.
The only ones who seemed against the idea were Dr. Director and Will Du. Though Betty had been respectfully silent, it was obvious she didn't approve of the two and it stemmed completely from her distaste for Shego. Still, her respect for Kim kept her from saying something regretful.
That was reserved for Will, who'd not only openly stated that the relationship was a terrible idea, he'd gone AWOL for the past week or so and didn't seem interested in returning anytime soon. She wanted to say he'd overreacted, but she understood his hesitance to accept that Shego had anyone's best interests at heart besides her own. Still, the woman had earned the right to try and God help you if you tried to pry her away from Kim. That girl had it BAD.
A sudden ringtone snapped her from her thoughts and Senior slowly answered his ancient cell with an excited look.
"Junior!" he answered. "It is wonderful to hear from you. How has your vacation been? Yes, I'm currently at the young genius' home, looking through our new merchandise. Excellent! I look forward to seeing you soon. Goodbye, my son."
He hung up and stood, "It seems Junior has arrived in the city. I will go to welcome him home while you two continue your analysis. Have your report written up as soon as you're able, dear Monique."
"Got it, boss," she grinned, which he returned before exiting the room.
"The old guy's taking a shine to you," Leon said.
"He's actually really great to work for," she unfurled a pair of hip hugger jeans as she spoke. "He doesn't believe in work schedules, so he basically just calls me when I'm needed. Plus, he pays well."
"He isn't paying you enough," the boy shook his head at the next shirt he held: an image of the full team in action poses with the phrase "Failure is imPOSSIBLE". That one was a groaner. "These things are mostly awful."
"Alpha batches are usually pretty bad. They aren't meant for sale, just for giving us an idea of where they're going creatively. Clearly, some changes will have to be made."
"The sooner the better. So, does it ever bug you that you aren't' on these shirts?"
"What do you mean?"
He shrugged, "You've been a big part of the team for years. Why aren't you an official Team Possible member?"
"My contributions have been minimal. They're the ones who risk their lives; they can have all the glory. No, I'm just glad that they're finally getting the recognition they really deserve."
She started as she felt the boy grasp her from behind in a strong embrace, "They're lucky to have you."
He nibbled her ear a bit and she almost melted in his arms. The guy had talent for making a girl feel wanted, no doubt. She slipped around just enough to kiss him and let it hold for long enough to showcase how much she enjoyed it. A lingering kiss did wonders for a relationship.
"Save that for later," she whispered. "We have work to do."
"Later can't come soon enough."
She giggled a bit, which very few men have been able to make her do. It was a nice feeling and she let it wash over her as she attempted to focus on her job.
Drakken marveled over the costume before him with all the scientific curiosity he possessed. Possible's blue and white battle suit had been a thorn in villainous sides everywhere and none of them had been able to crack how the thing functioned, save for Dementor's short lived possession of it a year back. The fact that he now was able to add things to the uniform was a dream come true.
"What problems were you having with it?" he asked the rotund young boy behind him.
Wade was currently making a ruckus on his new treadmill, his hollow footfalls echoing in his small room, so he answered the blue scientist between breaths.
"It worked fine…when it was first made, but…consistent use has been pulling more power from it than it can handle."
Drakken interrupted to save the boy from continuing, worried he might pass out at this rate, "So all we need is a power source stronger than the current one, but still light enough to not impede Possible's work."
"Basically," the boy finished, powering down the treadmill and resting his hands on his knees.
The last few weeks had been rough for the lad, physically. He'd recently made it a point to begin exercising, much to the approval of his friends. He'd leapt into it with admirable gusto, but he had underestimated just how difficult his goal would be.
"Perhaps a bulkier build is inevitable. Your work has been impressively thorough. I fear you've already exhausted all options."
"I hope not, but that's why I have you here," Wade sat at his computer. "Maybe there's no other choice but to start from scratch. The current model's been customized so much, I'm nervous we might be overloading it."
"If only they'd allow me to use my control chips in its design," Drakken almost whined. "Imagine being able to control it with mere thought."
"Kim says no mind control. Period."
"Yes, yes, I'm well aware of her distaste for them. She and Shego share similar hatreds, it seems."
Drakken pondered to himself for a moment. It was true the suits was multifunctional, which gave it far more of a possibility to malfunction. Like with computers, cell phones, and vehicles, the more the device did the more that could possibly go wrong with it.
People never gave a second thought to just how intricate technology had become these days. They drove their cars every single day, but few took the time to think of just how many simultaneously moving parts were at work keeping the thing running. It was a daunting task for scientists and engineers and Drakken was always willing to solve a problem. He knew he was considered a joke by most, but he was an expert in his field without question.
""Perhaps overspecialization is the weakness," the blue man said.
Wade swiveled to face him, "Meaning?"
"You've focused on protecting Possible from every type of attack. The suit has so many variables to defend against that it's overcompensating. Perhaps, instead of one suit to encompass all, we create multiple suits specialized for individual tasks."
"One for stealth, one for fighting…yeah, that could work. We'd have to design them to be changed quickly. I don't like the idea of her going into something underequipped."
Drakken turned to him, "Don't underestimate the girl. Your suit has done wonders for her, but never forget that she was formidable even before its design. The suit is only as useful as the person wearing it."
"Is that why we're not designing suits for everyone?"
He detected a drop in the boy's mood, clearly from the difficult subject. They'd discussed it at length days ago, but Wade was clearly hoping there would be a way around it. Sadly, Drakken could see no alternative.
"Shego outright refuses such things, the buffo…Ron?" he waited for the boy to nod. "Ron's increased monkey whatsit power has already shown to have strange effects on the suit, and Yori "honorably" refuses anything not of her original ninja roots."
"And focusing on so many different builds will add months to our workload," Wade finished for him. "I know, it's just…
Drakken walked over and placed a calming hand on the boy's shoulder, "You're brilliant, but you can only work within the confines of what science allows. We can't be perfect, so don't attempt it. Focus less on what we can't do and more on what we can."
Wade nodded and he saw determination in those young eyes. He grinned as the boy spun and began his task. The older man liked the boy and he continued to grow on him by the day. While young, he had the makings of brilliance and he was honestly already smarter than Drakken. All he lacked was experience and even that was a narrowing gap.
He thought he would have been jealous of his intelligence, but he rationalized that he no longer worked for his own gain. As a man in his forties, Drakken knew that this was the time he should focus on leaving a legacy. Without children of his own, Wade was the closest thing he had to an apprentice.
He'd be lying to himself if he thought he was completely done with mad science. After all, the boy's room was a smorgasbord of technology, some of it going woefully unused. Drakken grinned at the prospect: what was the harm in a little experimentation? After all, it was all to help Team Possible. He could get away with a few side projects.
"Thank you for your time," the overly friendly saleswoman said and shook Betty's hand.
Director nodded and the woman left the room. They currently sat inside an office building on the outskirts of Middleton, close to the city's east boundary. Unsurprisingly, there were very few buildings up for sale large enough for what Betty had planned for Team Possible's base, as their unsuccessful day could attest.
The amount of floors was irrelevant, since the office would be minimally staffed. No, the main amount of space was to be set aside for the training equipment that Wade had somehow procured from the military. She still couldn't figure out how that had happened and she certainly wasn't buying his computer analysis excuse. The boy wasn't exactly respectful of the law and now Drakken was around to be an even worse influence.
She patted her temple, reminding herself that she was thinking like a Director again. These things were no longer her concern, so she brushed them out like the pointless dust it was.
"This is certainly more difficult than buying a house," Ann stretched and Betty chuckled.
Kim stood and paced the room, "Why does there have to be so much paperwork?"
"Get used to it, Bubble butt. It's only going to get worse as you age. Plus, you've got college to prepare for as well."
"First, please don't call me that. Second, I don't even know what I want to do in college."
Betty stood as well and walked closer to the teen, "If Senior's brand nonsense takes off you won't even need to go to school. Team Possible is just as good of a career choice as anything else."
Kim stopped and gave her a strange look before walking to the large windowed wall beside them. She glanced out it for a moment without speaking, clearly in the midst of important thought and Betty had a good idea what she were thinking about.
"I…never imagined myself doing this forever," Kim said, almost introspectively. "I love it and I hope I can for years to come, but I'm just human. I'll fall apart eventually and I'll need something to fall back on. After all, there are more ways than fighting that can help people."
She smiled back at her mom, who returned it with all the pride she should feel for her daughter. Betty knew there was no reason to worry. Kim was brilliant and had so many opportunities in the world. Plus, she had the desire and spirit to grasp them.
Kim sighed, "And I still have to find a new apartment."
"I assumed you'd be moving in with Shego any day now," her mother laughed.
Kim could only whisper in reply, "I don't know how to ask her."
Betty grimaced, but made sure the other woman didn't notice. Kim's relationship with the former villain was the one facet of the redhead that the former director simply couldn't comprehend. She'd watched them at Ann's as they flirted and held hands. Though they didn't show off often in front of others, it was wholly obvious that they were enamored with one another.
At least, Kim was enamored and that was disconcerting to Betty. Kim was far too trusting and Shego had a history of manipulation. It had only been Ann and James' assurances that had calmed her severe initial dislike of the pairing. While she was protective of Kim, she never over stepped her boundaries as a simple coworker and she wasn't the kind of woman to tell other people how to raise their children.
"Excuse me, ladies," Ann stood and walked for the exit. "I have business to attend to. Hopefully we'll be gone soon, though they like to keep customers waiting."
Betty watched her go and was soon alone with the teen hero.
"So, you and Shego living together," Betty shivered slightly.
"I know," Kim chuckled. "It's bizarre."
"To say the least. She'll be lucky to have you, that's for sure."
"I'm the lucky one."
Betty almost whipped her head back, unsure if she'd heard such impossible words. The girl made no effort to explain herself and Betty was strangely struck silent by her ludicrous claim.
"You're…lucky…to have Shego?" Betty almost denied the words as they left her lips.
Kim didn't answer but simply walked back to the small table from before and folded her arms across it, sitting down and resting her head wearily on them.
"Explain yourself," Betty tried to avoid sounding demanding, but it barely escaped her.
"It wouldn't do any good," Kim's muffled voice said. "I know how you feel about Shego and you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"You're probably the only person I would believe," the older woman softened her tone and took the chair opposite the teen. "Talk to me, Kim."
Kim raised her head just enough to look at her with the saddest expression. It actually caught Betty off guard, but her poker face reigned in the reaction.
"She's just as crass and rude and hateful as we all know her," the teen said. "But, she changes when she's with me. I don't know why, but I get to see the sweet Shego and I love every second of it. I love it when she holds me, I love it when she kisses me…I can only hope she feels the same."
"Why wouldn't she?" Betty didn't like where this was going.
"Every day I spend with her, I think about what she gave up to be with me and Team Possible. She gave up her entire life, everything she'd done and known since she was younger than me. She chose me over everything else she used to love…and I don't think I would have done the same for her."
That last bit was almost choked out and Betty instinctively reached out a comforting hand. The teen took it without hesitation.
"If she had asked me," Kim almost choked again, but she was too tough to break down in public, "to stop being a hero to be with her…I don't think I would have said yes."
"She was evil, you're good. It's an unfair comparison."
Kim shook her head, "Not to her, it isn't. She loves being evil. She loves being the bad guy and she turned her back on it…because she cares about me more than all of that. I don't think I could have made the same decision. I don't think I deserve what she gives to me."
This was bad. Betty knew that look that swam through the girl's eyes and it was the last thing she wanted or expected to see when Shego was mentioned. Kim had no idea how the opposite was true of her situation. The green woman had never done anything in her existence to earn someone as loyal and righteous as Kim Possible.
Kim squeezed Betty's hand in thanks and inhaled to keep the tears from escaping. She'd allowed the older woman to see that side of her and it was a show of trust that Betty felt she'd always wanted from her. However, with that trust emerged a very protective instinct that the woman had never known she had. It was that maternal side of her she'd abandoned long ago, but it was now on overdrive and there was only one thing to do with it.
Shego's doorbell buzzed, pulling her from her magazine she'd been lost in for some time now. It was all just a way to avoid thinking about her training session earlier, not to mention a good time waster until Kimmie arrived.
She walked to the door and opened it, expecting to see her princess' beautiful face. It was there, happy to see her as it always was, but behind her stood a one eyed annoyance that she hadn't been expecting. Betty's good eye narrowed at the sight of her.
Kim hugged her, though less enthusiastically than the morning tackle, "Betty offered to bring me here. She wants to talk to you."
"Joy," she mumbled, but stepped past Kim to the Cyclops. "What can I do you for?"
She cringed from the wordplay, "Alone, if you don't mind."
Shego shrugged and told Kim she'd be right back as she followed the older woman down the hallway and towards the staircase that led below.
"How'd the base shopping go?" Shego attempted small talk.
"Nothing yet," Betty scoffed. "I didn't expect anything in a single day, anyways."
"Okay, small talk's over. What do you want?"
That slightly angered the woman and Shego smirked, always entertained by her ability to push someone's buttons effectively. Betty hadn't exactly ingratiated herself to the former thief, so she received no slack from the green woman's barbed mouth.
"You and Kim are a mistake," she said outright.
Shego felt her jaw clench, "See, this is why no one likes you. You can't just gung ho into being a bitch. You have to work up to it."
"This isn't a game!" she growled, but kept it low. "You treat everything like its inconsequential, but that crap isn't going to fly anymore. I don't know how serious you are about Kim, but she's damn serious about you."
Shego raised an eyebrow, but allowed the woman her words while she could still be bothered to listen.
"I don't know you and I don't care to, but I know enough to be fearful of what you're going to do to that girl if this relationship continues."
"Enlighten me."
"What's her college major?" Betty suddenly asked.
Shego blinked from confusion, "I don't know. She's never mentioned it."
"You didn't think to ask? What profession does she want to go into after college? What are her plans for the future?"
"I…don't…know."
"Does she want children?"
Shego's eyes nearly popped from her head and she suddenly forgot how to answer questions.
Betty continued, "What about marriage? Living arrangements? Answer me!"
"What does any of that matter?!" Shego hissed back. "Marriage, kids, a future: that's for people who are in love!"
In a lower voice she added, "Kim doesn't love me. What reason could she have?"
Betty gaped, "You clueless idiot."
"Don't get me wrong, she's got taste and I am quite the catch, but I know what this is," Shego lost some of her fire. "Kimmie cares about me; I don't doubt that for a second. And I refuse to let her get away if there's even an inkling that we can work. But I know it'll end one day and she'll find someone better suited for her. Until then, there's nothing any of you can say that will make me leave her."
"Do you love her?"
Shego took on a visage of absolute evil, "That's none of your God damn business."
Betty looked like she wanted to say more, but something was stopping her. All the well, since the plasma thrower was about to live up to that apt description and start setting things on fire. She'd already shared too much with a woman she had literally no acceptance for.
After almost a minute of silence, Shego finally turned away and made for her home, not even bothering to bid the woman farewell.
"Shego," came an almost whisper, but she stopped without turning. Betty didn't give chase, but simply continued from afar, "You clearly don't know her as well as you think you do."
Shego's breath caught, but she didn't show any outward response. What could the Cyclops know about such things? She waited for more, but then she heard the sounds of footsteps on metal and soon Director was gone.
Kim stared at the ceiling and tried to allow Shego's comfortable bed to calm her. Sadly, the cool sheets and memory foam mattress did little to stem the nervous tension growing in her stomach. Betty had refused to divulge what she intended to speak with Shego about, but Kim knew it had something to do with their heart to heart earlier.
However, that was nothing compared to the panic inducing fear that gripped her now. She'd called Ron earlier and the blonde had mostly positive things to say with how his training session had played out. This meant that her green lover had held up her end of their deal and now it was time for Kim to hold up hers.
Shego had promised to do "whatever she wanted" with the teen and Kim was fully intent on allowing her full trespass. Kim wasn't so innocent that she wasn't at least mostly aware of the way Shego looked at her. Her intentions were hard to miss and Kim would be lying if she thought she didn't reciprocate those desires.
The main question was: was Kim ready to go that far? Her brain said no, but her body most fervently said yes. Her heart was torn between the two and she was running out of time to really finalize her decision.
Shego's door suddenly opening and slamming shut startled her heart into an echoing thud. She listened as the woman stalked up the staircase that led to her bedroom and stopped at the top of them. Kim could tell something was wrong upon seeing her. Hints of anger played across her lovely features and she didn't make eye contact with the teen.
Kim scooted off the bed and met her halfway, "Everything alright?"
Shego finally gazed at her and sadness danced across her eyes at the sight. She pushed past the redhead and sat on her bed, looking as despondent as Kim had ever seen.
"Kimmie…," she began, but stopped suddenly.
"What did Betty say?" Kim asked.
"Nothing I didn't already know. Sorry, Pumpkin, but we may have to call this a short night."
Kim's mood sank at that. The woman rarely ever outright refused to speak with her and now she was shooing her away. Kim wasn't used to being dismissed so completely and she felt a bit indignant towards it. Shego expected her to just be okay with leaving, but clearly the woman didn't know who she was dealing with.
Shego eventually lay out across her bed and closed her eyes, brows furrowed from intense thought. Kim took this opportunity to run downstairs and fetch something from the fridge and return with it hidden behind her back.
Quietly, she removed her shirt but left her bra on, shook the cold can liberally, and pointed the nozzle at her stomach. A burst of air echoed slightly in the upper floor as whipped cream slid across her skin. It was cool, making her shiver, but she still expertly fashioned the desired shape.
"What are you doing?" Shego asked, but didn't bother looking back.
Kim responded by sneaking up to her and placing the nozzle directly at the base of her neck. A shot of cream stuck to her skin and she was up and yelling in surprise.
"What in the fu-," she began, but stopped as she realized the redhead was almost topless.
"Oh no," Kim gave her best attempt at sounding sultry. "I got whipped cream all over me. What ever shall I do?"
Shego's eyes slowly raked over the image, settling on the cream that formed a haphazard smiley face across Kim's stomach. Kim held her arms upward, entangling her fingers and cocking a hip to one side. She had no skill in being sexy, but she was trying her hardest at the moment.
The corner of Shego's mouth rose ever so slightly. Then, with a loud snort, she lost herself in a fit of open laughter. She held her sides and rolled across the bed as Kim's shoulders sagged from this rather undesired response. She felt embarrassed and was about to wipe the food stuff from her body when Shego spoke.
"How do you do that?" she said between chuckles. "I just want to pout and simmer over here and you just make it all go away."
Kim smiled, "It hurts me to see you hurt. Why wouldn't I make it go away?"
"Just one of the many things you can give me weighed against all the things I can't give you."
Kim stepped up to her and knelt next to the bed, laying her head in Shego's now exposed lap, "I have an idea: how about you stop focusing on what you can't give me and focus on what you can."
"As if you'd ever ask for anything you really deserved," the plasma thrower ran her fingers through the girl's fiery mane. "You'd go without before putting someone else out. It's how you are. It's why I…"
The woman clammed up but Kim was having none of that. She was so close to opening up and there would be no running away. Shego was better than that. Kim gripped one of her hands and kissed one of her extended fingers. A visible chill ran through the older woman.
"It's why you what?" Kim said in between finger kissing.
Shego denied her with silence, but the teen wasn't finished yet. She looked into Shego's eyes and gave her a look of utmost earnestness. There was no puppy dog pout; that was a manipulative tactic and she refused to use it on the woman she'd grown to adore these past few weeks.
Shego leaned in close, almost as if she was going for a kiss, but she stopped centimeters away. There was fear in her eyes and it was a foreign existence on the former villain's face. She pulled up every visible hint of bravery she was capable of and whispered to the teen.
"It's why I fell in love with you."
Kim's brain stopped, along with her heart and the very act of breathing. She didn't blink, only stared into those emerald eyes that acted as windows to the soul the woman had just bared to the redhead.
"I can't give you a happy, apple pie, All-American, fairytale life," Shego continued. "All I'll ever be able to give you is myself. I don't know how strong it is, but I love you, Princess. If that's enough for you…"
Kim didn't even allow her to finish before she was tackling her bodily to the bed, forcing her lips upon the still painted black ones.
"You love me," Kim gasped between kissing, not a question but a statement.
"You got whipped cream on me," Shego deadpanned.
Kim looked down to see the stuff had been sandwiched between them and had splattered around where they lay. Both girls chuckled to themselves over the ludicrousness of the situation. Kim saw relief in the woman's eyes, but they weren't finished yet. Kim lay atop her, felt her heart beating madly and felt the warmth of her body, and placed their foreheads together.
"I love you, too."
"Don't play with me, Kim," her eyes dampened slightly.
"No play, no joke. You protected me, you took care of me, and you saved my best friend's life; why wouldn't I be in love with you?"
Shego's arms were around her like lightning and she was suffocated by whatever emotion was fueling the woman. She allowed her whatever she wished, riding the sudden high of hearing those words from Shego of all people.
Doubt didn't exist in Kim's mind about how she felt. She wasn't exactly thinking about marriage or anything serious, but she knew the last thing she wanted was for Shego to be anywhere but with her.
Shego kissed her again, "Do I still get my part of the deal tonight?"
Kim held her breath, "It's only fair. What do you want to do?"
"What do you want me to do?"
Her question was full of softness, as she clearly understood what she was asking of the teen.
"I trust you."
Shego laughed and flipped them both over, pinning the young girl to the mattress, "Then I think I'll just give you a preview for now. Think of it as a glimpse of pleasures to come."
Kim smiled, reached down, and skillfully unbuttoned Shego's shorts with one motion, which sent an almost visible wave of anticipation through the green woman.
"Show me what you've got."
Author's Notes: I always tell myself these won't be so long, but here we are 10,000 words later. Oh well, great to be back and writing again. Just flows out of me when I'm in the zone.
I did a ton of soul searching to decide just how physical I wanted to write the end. I'm no stranger to detailed love making, as my third book features a love scene with little unwritten. Still, this is a teen rating and some people are already freaked out over the sudden inclusion of swearing. Hopefully, everyone understands why I did that. Perhaps, if everyone is cool with it, I could do a more detailed scene in a later chapter.
My updates won't be as frequent as my last Season and I apologize for that. I'm going through some difficult times now and there may be significant changes in my life soon. It greatly raises my mood to write and hear from all of you. Thanks once again for your support and understanding.
