A/N: Edit 11-14-11. No big changes. ~VLU
Standard Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Kim Possible, the character, or any characters from the series. All is copyrighted by Disney, I'm writing this without express permission, but am not making a profit at all.
The wipers beat against the pouring rain, no more water than a smoggy soup that would leave a chalky aftertaste. It was one of the few and rare hard rains that Go City received. After just an hour it was already pooling up at curb sides and falling off the old Crown Vic in sheets.
Besides the rain and the heavy slog being moved with the wipers, the only sound inside was the crinkle of a wrapper as one of the car's occupants bit into a hot dog. The other occupant, the driver, was watching with interest as their redhead mark stepped out of the cab, ignoring the rain and starting off into the dimly lit alley, the pursuing Crown Vic idling just a block down the road.
"He'a we go," He whispered, grabbing the pair of binoculars from the dash and turning them onto their mark as the door in the alley swung open.
Shego, now standing visibly in the doorway, felt her mouth run dry and her pulse flutter erratically as she looked out to Kim. Half of her wanted to pretend that her pants were still buttoned all the way, and that the drunk Amber was not attempting to lick her neck as she was. But, as much as time tried to stop between the two, their gazes locked entirely on each other, it was happening, and mix of surprise, hurt, and disgust reflected in Kim's eyes just made sure of that.
"Kim…"
"I'm sorry-" Kim blurted in response, rushing back into the rain and towards the street.
Shego was just two steps behind her, shoving Amber back and awkwardly jogging after her. "Wait! This isn't-"
"What it looks like?" Kim asked, tone uncharacteristically bitter and sharp.
"God damn it, Princess, would you just listen to me?" As soon as she caught up, Shego grabbed Kim by the shoulder, roughly twisting her around. She instantly regretted it.
Her eyes, even obscured by rain, darkness, and damp hair, they were something Shego had never seen from the girl before. They were so entirely full of hatred, a hatred she'd never witnessed before, not through all the fights they'd been through, or even when the girl had said straight up that she didn't even like her. Hatred tinged with pain, overlapped by a red puffiness that revealed the tears hidden by rain.
"Listen to what? More lies?" She growled, words sharp as her eyes.
Even as the redhead turned and stomped back towards the road, Shego felt her mood sour. What right did Kim have to be angry? She didn't want any of this; Shego was doing her a favor.
"All I needed was for you to trust me, Kim!" Kim shouted back angrily.
"You can't just do this, okay? You can't say get lost and be mad when I listen!" Shego screamed, voice rising above even the rain that separated and pooled between them.
Kim found herself facing her rival, her wife, neither of them moving, neither choosing to close or increase the gap separating them. She narrowed her eyes through the rain that was soaking them both and growled, "I trusted you, Shego. Just once in my life-"
"You spit me out, Princess." Shego returned, in kind. "You have no right blaming me!"
"No right? 'Til death is my right!"
"No right!" Every word rose, each shout growing more and more into a spitting match, and the anger flared between both women. Their eyes were locked on each other, regardless of the rain that poured on them or anyone who might have braved the elements of the Go City night. "You think I can afford to sit around while you make up your mind?
"You walked out that door telling me you'd never love me, and you were the only one who ever could! You think it's easy being green? You think I don't need comfort too? That I'm fine alone or in the dark? Huh? Never rely on anyone?" Shego shouted. It was the first time Kim had ever heard any sort of confession out of the villainess, and she felt her anger recede into confusion. She didn't know what to think, what to say, even. "Well, I needed you! And you weren't there for me!" Shego shouted, nearly seething now.
"Who have I got now but myself, huh? And now I feel like you're taking that even, and what does that leave me?"
That was the last word Shego felt like saying, and she felt better for it. Despite everything Kim wanted and she had done, she actually felt a little better. It was only a matter of time until the reality set in and she felt sick.
She'd practically cheated on Kim. The one chance Kim had given her, and what was she doing?
Kim was just as torn. The hero couldn't find the black and white anymore, no more good and evil, right and wrong. I needed you?
Their eyes refused to turn, refused to look away from each other. Even when a shelf clattered to the ground back in the apartment, and Amber fell outside the doorway, splashing audibly in a pool of rain that was making its trek to the street.
Bleh. That was the only way to really describe Shego's mood. She was still quite angry at Kim, but she'd also had enough time to see that the girl was also quite hurt, and angry herself. Pride alone dictated that she not give in, and it seemed that Kim felt the exact same way.
Though, driving to the hospital at three in the morning trying to keep a woman from choking on her own vomit had a way of putting their problems on hold for a while. It was nearing morning when Kim finally found Shego out near the vending machines, and the two let the awkward silence reign in. Neither of them was sure what had happened, or what was supposed to happen, or even how they'd let it get to this point. Standing in the parking lot outside a hospital at four in the morning wasn't the way either had seen this happening. Nor waiting awkwardly for the other to say their part.
Finally, and with much awkwardness, it was Shego who broke the silence. "Is she-?"
"She'll be fine. The doctors say it was a drug overdose, and we were lucky to get her here when we did." Kim replied. She wasn't quite sure how to sound or act, so she just came off as tired, which seemed perfectly understandable.
"I should have figured she'd be using again…" Shego murmured. For a second it seemed like Kim would say something, would act on the anger and hurt she still felt when she saw Shego, but she just nodded.
As if their speech could only come in short, awkward or angry bursts, the silence closed in over them again. Shego, sitting on the bench between a pair of soda machines, had been looking away the entire time, not willing to meet Kim's gaze, for once. Though, whether it was out of guilt or anger Kim couldn't quite tell. Maybe, she figured, it was because every time they looked each other in the eye it turned into a fight.
"Shego…" She started, twiddling her fingers out of nervousness and confusion. "I just- I need time." The redhead turned, as soon as Shego moved to look at her. "Time to think. I'm going home."
"Okay, yeah." Shego answered, nodding and watching as the heroine shoved her hands in her pockets and stepped out into the rain.
"Just don't do anything stupid?" She asked as she disappeared into the shadows beyond the hospital lights.
"Whatever…"
Shego settled in, letting an indecisiveness that was entirely against her character grip her. Part of her wanted to see how her old 'friend' was doing in the Emergency Room. Part of her wanted to go home and sleep. The biggest part of her wanted to run after her wife, stop her cab, and take the breath from her lungs.
A half hour later she found herself back at her apartment, wringing the water from her hair. The shelf had been tidied up and her clothes had been cleaned and hung, which just reminded her of how filthy and exhausted she felt. After all the rain, her jacket was probably ruined, her hair felt like it was covered in sand, and a grimy film was present on her skin that would take time to scrub out.
"Jarvis!" The butler stood off to the side, practically appearing in the edge of her vision. He bowed, weathered features accepting her back with the same amiable look he'd held forever.
"Yes, Madam?" He asked in greeting.
"I'm going to bed," She stated, heading up the stairs away from him. "Don't wake me."
Jarvis, though displaying nothing but his kindly metered personality, opened his mouth to stop her. "Madam, if I may be so bold?"
"What" The annoyance was present in her tone, but she stopped in mid-step regardless.
"When you won my services from Sir Senior, I saw a great potential in you, a potential to recognize your mistakes and correct them." She frowned, but he pressed on. "May I just say, Madam, that you fucked up, and you know what to do."
Shego wheeled around, a growl and a retort on her lips, but the butler was nowhere to be found. After a few seconds her snarl ebbed, replaced by a grim smirk. "That bad, huh?" For the third time that night alone, she set her features in determination, jogged down the stairs, and grabbed her jacket. "Jarvis! I'm going out, I'll be gone for a while."
"Very well, Madam." She didn't bother to ask how he appeared this time.
"Get on the line with an attorney, get him to set up a document for Amber." She ordered and she got ready again.
Jarvis could only raise an eyebrow in confusion. "Madam?"
"If she stays clean, give her a couple million or something." That said, the door swung closed behind her and she disappeared into the night.
It was morning when a man, dressed neat, yet powerful, walked up the round-stone path towards the house. No one was watching, but he exuded a presence that announced his purpose, from his shined shoes to his holster.
He stopped before the door, looking up for any hint of the sun, but finding none at such an early hour of the morning. With a calculated smile the man slipped a pair of shades from his suit-jacket's pocket, slipping them on for added effect. Finally, he turned to the door, which pulsed with a raucous medley of music even at such an early hour, and knocked.
A few minutes passed, then he knocked again. A few more passed before he pounded on the door.
It took almost half an hour and most of his self control before the door swung open and six feet of muscle found itself before a bleary-eyed girl. He stood at attention, looking down his shades at her.
"Huh?" She managed.
"Monique Delaforte?" He questioned in greeting. "My name is Charlie Wilks," With practiced precision a badge was flipped open, "Global Justice. If you would come with me?"
Across town Kim stumbled out of her cab, almost, just almost, having let herself drift off along the way. Her hair was a mess, she felt like shit, she'd been up well over a day, exhaustion dulling her senses and emotions. The heroine couldn't even bring herself to be mad at the cabby for talking so tirelessly about his life while she was in such a mood.
She thanked him, closing the door behind her, and looking up to the precious house that held her bed, only to find herself watching as two men spoke in low tones to her mother. Anne watched as the cab deposited her daughter, and the two turned to regard her as well.
One was a mountain of a man, unshaven, dirty, with a pig nose and squat features. A dirty brown jacket sat over a stretched white shirt, and blue jeans finished off his plain-clothes ensemble. A cop, announced by the badge hung around his neck. The other was dressed almost similarly, but was taller, lankier, and had an average, almost handsome, face. Personable, she would call him.
"Kimmie, welcome home. Did you take care of your business?" Anne asked with a smile. Kim could only nod, not trusting herself to speak. "I'm sorry, I know you're tired, but these two said they need to talk to you down at their headquarters. They're with Global Justice."
Both men, now watching Kim openly, smiled.
