Authors Note: Thanks to everyone who has cared about this story. I never would have imagined this story would be so successful. You're all awesome! Also thanks to everyone who is reading my other story, The Legionnaire. I know that some of you are reviewing both, and it truly means a lot to me that you care.

Also, those fans of a little internet series called Red vs. Blue may notice I have used some dialogue from the show for this chapter. I acknowledge that it is not mine, and it belongs to the boys at Rooster Teeth. So please don't hate me too much, it's only a little bit of dialogue!

Disclaimer: I don't own Kim Possible. Seems like I have to say it for every chapter I do.

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It was another typical day for Ron. Here he was once more at Kim's house working on their history project. So far their they had been progressing nicely. They were about halfway done with it, and Ron had done the bare minimum. That was his way after all. If someone else was willing to do the work, who was he to keep them from doing it?

This did not go unnoticed by Kim however.

"Ron, are you ever going to help me?" She asked him.

"Hey I've helped plenty." He lied.

"With what?"

"I wrote some of our dialogue for the speech."

"All you wrote was the closing line, 'thank you ladies and gentlemen, we've been great'."

"And it's a killer line. Can you imagine how well it's going to go over when I say it?"

Kim couldn't help but smile at him when her kimmunicator began to chirp. Grabbing it off the table to switched it on to reveal the face of Wade.

"What's the sitch Wade?"

"You've received a hit from a Lord Montgomery Fiske."

"Oh sounds British. Neat." Ron said.

"He says he has an important mission for you."

"What might that be?" Kim asked.

"He says that there is an important jade statue in the jungles of The Congo that needs to be recovered."

"What's so important about the statue?"

"Don't know. But according to him the museum in London wants this thing bad."

"So, what are we going to do about this?"

"I set you up with a ride from Global Justice. Your ride should be there in about an hour."

"Any idea who's flying?"

"I don't think you want to know Kim."

"Don't tell me…"

"Afraid so. Will Du."

"Will who?" Ron asked.

"Only the most pompous, arrogant jerk I've ever met." Kim answered.

"Aww, thanks."

"For what?"

"For not thinking of me as the most pompous arrogant jerk you've ever met."

That once more earned a smile from Kim. Like it or not, she was actually starting to get used to Ron. He wasn't all that bad of a guy once she got him away from his missions.

"Alright Wade, thanks for the tip." Kim said as she switched off the kimmunicator.

Ron stood up from the table and began to stretch. He knew that he was going to have to go home to change into his mission outfit, as he didn't keep a spare set at Kim's house. Then suddenly he stopped in mid motion, and looked at Kim with a look of horror on his face.

"Wait a minute Kim." He said. "Where's The Congo?"

"In Africa."

"And there are jungles there?"

"Pretty much."

"Jungles with monkeys?"

"Maybe."

"Oh no."

"What's wrong Ron? Are you afraid of monkeys or something?"

"Afraid of monkeys, no. Why would I be afraid of monkeys? Why would you even ask that question? Are there going to be monkeys there? That's kind of a thing to ask just for no reason."

"Look, I don't know if there are any freakin' monkeys there okay?" Kim said, very agitated.

"Have you ever been to The Congo before?"

"Yes, I've been there on a mission before."

"Did you hear any monkeys?"

"No."

"Did you smell any monkeys?"

"I don't know what monkeys smell like."

"And let's hope you never find out."

"Okay Ron, you obviously have some serious monkey issues. Want to talk about it?" Kim said as her compassionate side took over, putting a hand on Ron's shoulder.

Ron flinched at Kim's touch, and she immediately moved her hand away and began to blush.

"Well, it all happened a long time ago. Our class was on a field trip to the zoo. I was standing by the monkey pit, and I had a banana in my hand."

Ron took a seat as he began to sweat a bit just remembering the incident.

"One of the other kids thought it would be funny if he pushed me into it. So I fell into the pit with that banana. The monkeys… they started running over to where I was. They grabbed me, poked me, hit me, all trying to get the banana. And then they started to fling their… stuff at me."

Kim noticed a look of fear in his eyes as he told his story. Truth be told she actually felt a little sorry for him. It wasn't every day that someone shared their deepest and most personal fears with someone who they considered to be an enemy. But that's exactly what Ron had just done. Kim didn't know if she should feel honored about this. But it was at least one piece to the puzzle known as Ron Stoppable's mind.

"Look, it's okay Ron. I'm sure we won't run into any monkeys on our mission."

"Yeah. I hope not."

With that Ron stood up once more and let himself out of Kim's house. As he walked home he thought about what he had told her. Surely it wasn't a mistake, was it? She wouldn't use this information against him. She was a good guy. And no matter how much she may have disliked him, Ron couldn't imagine her using personal information like that against him in any way. It just wouldn't be very hero-like.

When Ron got home he immediately went up to his room and changed into his mission outfit. It had been a while since he had worn his black cargo pants. They were like a second skin to him. It reminded him of all the good times he had on missions. But then he thought about something. Maybe, just maybe, he would have some good times again, just in a different way.

XXXXXXXXXX

The Global Justice hover jet wasn't very well lit, nor was it very comfortable. But it would just have to do. Kim and Ron sat in the back with their backs against the walls facing each other. Neither was willing to make eye contact with each other as the flight progressed.

Ron tilted his head back and rested it against the wall of the aircraft. He closed his eyes and began thinking of the things that made him happy. Money. Food. Girls. He had plenty of the first due to his missions. Food was always plentiful in his house. Girls on the other hand, were not. Ron Stoppable had never had a girlfriend. Like it or not, he was a loser at his old school. He had hoped to change things once he started attending Middleton High School, but thanks to Bonnie Rockwaller he had already been branded a loser.

The truth of the matter is though, he was just a goofy kid. He was afraid to let his guard down around people that he did not know. This was due to years of torment from those who had always called him a loser. Over time he had learned not to trust in others, and only in himself. He began to build up a wall around himself, and put up a false front. This is the reason why he acted so cocky and confident around people such as Kim. If she ever found out that it was just an act, who knows what ramifications it might have for him.

As Ron sat back and daydreamed, Kim reached over to her backpack she had brought along and produced a series of books and papers.

"Ron. Wake up." She told him.

"Huh, what?"

"I figured that rather than sleeping, we could work on our project on our way to the mission."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"Wow. You are such a textbook blue fox." He told her.

"A what?"

"Blue fox. Animology. Haven't you ever done it?"

"Oh that? Yeah right. That fad was so lame."

"It's not lame! It let's you peer deep inside yourself to find out the true you!"

"Uh huh, right. So what did that stupid test say you-"

"I am not a pink sloth!"

"Excuse me?"

"What? Oh nothing."

"Right…"

Ron began to fidget around uneasily at this. Surely Kim didn't even know what a pink sloth was, as she didn't ever get into animology. So why was he so worried? Was he that concerned that she not find out that he was nothing but a loser?

In the end, Ron relented and the two began to work on their project once more. At least Kim worked on it while Ron drew more doodles and one bad attempt at poetry about Rufus. But at least Kim thought he was working. And that was all that mattered to him at the moment.

XXXXXXXXXX

The Congo. The steamy jungles stank of overripe bananas. At least that's what Ron thought. This was one place he had never expected to be. His missions were confined to the United States, mostly in urban areas. He never dreamed of going around the world as Kim Possible's partner, especially in a place where a bunch of tree-swinging, banana eating freaks of animals lived.

Ron looked around warily every few seconds expecting a monkey to just jump out of the trees and attack them. Kim had tried to convince him that his fears were all in his head, but he would have none of it. His fears were real darn it! According to him every single monkey on the planet was an evil being that was sent to make his life miserable.

Kim led the way through the jungle, machete in hand slashing through the thick vines and leaves that blocked their path. Ron had no such tools in his grasp. Kim not only didn't trust him with one, but she saw little point in him having one considering he would be following her the entire way.

They had been mostly silent since the hover jet landed and let them off. Ron considered this for a moment. Did they really have much to discuss? Other than their history project and the fact that they were on a mission, they didn't really have much to talk about. But still it would have been nice to talk about something. The silence only made his monkey fears more real. Without talking he could hear the sounds of the jungle, sounds that quite frankly disturbed him.

Deciding to break the silence, Ron spoke up.

"So Kim. About this mission. What exactly are we looking for?"

Kim didn't bother turning around to see him when she responded.

"I told you already. Some jade statue."

"Any idea what it looks like?"

"Well according to Wade it looks like a monkey."

"Monkeys!" Ron screamed. "What is it with these darn creatures? Why must they always haunt me!"

"Amp down the drama Ron. I told you before, I didn't see any monkeys on my last mission here."

"I know I know. But still, it doesn't mean I'm wrong!"

"Whatever." Kim said nonchalantly.

"Oh don't you whatever me." Ron bit back. "You're lucky I'm coming along to help you on this stupid mission anyway."

"As if I wanted your help. Remember, we're only doing this to maintain my public image. Can't let the media think I'm dumping you because you got hurt."

"Well if you hadn't told that lie in the first place we wouldn't be in this mess."

This on the other hand did prompt Kim to stop and turn around to face Ron.

"Oh and I suppose you would rather be in a Global Justice holding cell right now? Because that's what would have happened if I told them the truth about who you are."

Ron didn't reply to that, at least not with any words. He mumbled something under his breath, knowing that he was defeated.

"Okay new question Kim." He said. "Where exactly are we looking for this horrible little monkey statue thing?"

"Well, Lord Fiske said it would be somewhere in a cave. He also said that normally these things would be housed in temples, like the one he found in Cambodia. But for this particular one there aren't any temples built for it. It was just stored in a cave."

"So the people behind this got lazy. I can understand that."

"Yeah Ron, I know first hand just how lazy you can be." Kim smiled.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" He asked.

"I bring up the fact once more, that you have written exactly one line for our project. One!"

"It takes time for The Rondo to get his creative juices flowing. Calm yourself Kim."

"Again with 'The Rondo' stuff. Will you just get over yourself?"

"You're impossible."

"Check my name."

"Ugh." He said. "What is it with you and those catch phrases anyway. 'What's the sitch Wade?'. 'I can do anything!'. They are so freakin' annoying!"

"Uh huh. This coming from a guy who thinks 'Boo yah' is cool."

"Hey!" Ron protested. "Boo yah is not a catch phrase. It's a state of mind, a way of life. You should try it out, you'll live longer."

"I would prefer not to."

"So a blue fox…" He trailed off.

The two continued to slash their way through the jungle for what seemed like hours. At least that's what Ron thought. In actuality it had probably only been about twenty minutes. But in the blistering heat of the jungle and the horrendous humidity, it didn't seem like it. Finally Kim decided that they could take a break. Ron was happy to hear this.

Sitting down on a fallen tree trunk, Ron took a sip of his canteen with delight. The cool water slid down his throat. After all the walking, it just felt so refreshing. Kim was doing the same, and even took the opportunity to spill some onto her head to help keep cool.

They sat for about five minutes in silence. As Ron thought about this, he couldn't help but begin to laugh. There was just something about the uncomfortable silence between the two that made him start to smile and giggle. Kim only looked at him with a slightly confused look on her face.

"What's so funny?" She asked.

"Nothing." Ron said.

"Spill."

"It's nothing really."

"People don't just laugh at nothing for no reason Ron." She countered.

"Okay okay. It's just that sitting here with you-"

Kim cut him off.

"Oh what, am I being funny?"

"No no!" He said truthfully.

"Then what?"

"It's just that sitting here saying nothing. It makes me laugh. The uncomfortable silence between the two of us is hilarious."

Kim wasn't seeing the humor in it all.

"Okay…" She said.

"I told you it was nothing."

"Yeah. It really was. Come on let's get going."

The two teens stood up and once more began their trek into the steamy jungle. Ron was once more looking around and could have sworn he saw a monkey. But he dismissed it to his overheated brain. He couldn't believe that he had told Kim about his monkey phobia. This would just not do. How could he have been so stupid as to tell his arch nemesis about his biggest fear in the world? That was just not good super villain form.

It was at that point that he had to remind himself that he was not a villain. He had said it all along. He sometimes did bad things for bad people. But he was done doing that. He had told that to Kim herself, as well as her mother. Ron was a man of his word too. If he said he was going to do something, he made it a point to go and do it. So there would be no more working for villains, no more easy cash. Ron would miss it though. There was a definite level of excitement that came with that he used to do. Maybe he would ask Kim to go on more missions, at least when the exciting ones came up.

As Ron thought about these things, he realized that they had come to a clearing in the jungle. Before them stood a massive mountain with a water fall flowing off to the side. In the middle of the mountain was an entrance. This was no doubt what they were searching for. Ron looked at the mountain with awe. He had never been so close one. And they couldn't have seen it from a distance do to the thick jungle canopy overhead.

Kim was looking equally as impressed with the mountain as Ron took a few steps forward to be next to her.

"So…" He began. "This is it."

"Yup. This is it."

"So do we just walk in and find it?" He asked.

"Guess so."

The pair walked over to the entrance as Kim took out her flashlight. Ron was thankful to be out of the jungle. There was less of a chance for a troop of monkeys to ambush them in this way. But this did not mean that all of his fears were dispelled.

The two walked through the cave with flashlights in hand, searching for the jade monkey statue. That's when Ron started hearing funny noises.

"Kim I heard something!" He yelped.

"You didn't hear anything."

Another noise.

"There, did you hear that?"

"Yes, I heard water dripping."

"Sounds like monkeys!"

"Ron, monkeys aren't made of water. Monkeys don't drip!"

"Monkey water!" He whined.

"There are no monkeys!"

"You don't know that. What if you're wrong?"

"Okay, let's say I'm wrong. "Let's say there are monkeys? We have a machete. I'm also trained in sixteen styles of kung fu. You're not so bad in martial arts yourself. What could a little monkey possibly do to us?"

There was a brief moment of silence as Kim and Ron looked each other in the eyes.

"So basically you're saying you think there are monkeys here!" He said pointing a finger at her accusingly.

"My goodness." Kim sighed. "You're the impossible one."

"I'm getting out of here!"

"Oh really? It's at least a half hours walk back to the hover jet. And you wouldn't want to be all alone if some rabid monkeys decided to attack, would you?"

That alone stopped Ron in his tracks and caused him to look at Kim with a dirty look on his face.

"That was just cruel." He said.

"Yeah, it was wasn't it." Kim agreed.

"Oh yeah, Kim Possible sure can do anything. Including scaring people!" He complained.

Kim didn't respond as she started walking once more.

"Lousy monkeys…" Ron grumbled as he followed her.

The two walked only a few more seconds, and both were surprised that there were no traps of any kind in the cave. Kim figured that it would have been hard to plant any kind of traps in a natural cave such as this. It was not carved by human hands as a temple would have been.

That was when she saw a glimmer of greenish light. The flashlight had struck the jade statue, and lit it up like a beacon.

"There it is." Ron said.

"Thank you captain obvious." Kim retorted.

"You know Kim, you don't need to be so snippy."

"You've been snippy with me all day. Why can't I be snippy back?"

"Because you don't have the voice for it."

"Oh and what exactly is wrong with my voice?" She asked, quite annoyed at what she perceived to be an insult.

"Nothing. You just can't be snippy."

"I think you're making this all up as you go along Ron."

"Yeah, I tend to do stuff like that don't I?"

Kim only rolled her eyes as she reached out and grabbed the monkey idol and put it in her back pack.

"Darn it, this thing is heavy." She grunted as she put the pack back on.

"Want me to be a gentleman and carry it for you?" Ron asked.

"No."

Quite frankly, Kim saw that as another insult. Needing a man to do something for her so stereotypical offended her. Just because something was dirty or heavy didn't mean that a woman couldn't handle it.

The two made their was back out of the cave and once again into the jungle. They had survived their first mission together. Now all they had to do was survive the rest of their high school careers.