Shego quietly dialed herself on Kim's Kimmunicator and then quickly muted her device She placed Kim's device on the nightstand next to her bed and quietly snuck away. The intent was to use the device to monitor Kim's night terrors while she was working. As she made her way to the door of the den, she tightly grit her teeth, swallowed hard, and turned the knob. That room made every nerve and cell in her body want to retaliate. The nausea was instant as she forced herself to enter. She ignored the images of faces of those responsible for countless victims that hung on a separate board and were identified by their perverse hierarchy. She hit a button and connected with Wade through the house's secure landline.
Without a greeting, as there was no need for one, "You ready?"
She stared at a three monitor setup. The left and right screens were off at the moment and only had Wade's tired face on the center screen. The area of the den she kept as her workspace was relatively small. Shego didn't want to permanently establish her workstation in Kim's home. It occupied a corner, away from the area used to entertain guests.
He cleared his throat and answered, "Yeah. How's Kim?"
"I put her to sleep." Her voice sounded angry and having addressed her last answer with such a tone gave the phrase a different meaning.
A shocked and concerned Wade sat up, "You what?"
She looked sternly and leaned into the camera, "With a massage!"
The tenseness in his brow softened, "Oh, okay..., ohhhhhh." An embarrassed look appeared and a darkening of his cheeks revealed the meaning behind his response.
Further frustration, "A normal massage, not that it's any of your business. Argh!" she attempted to move on and back on track after a quick effort to calm herself, "Wade," she paused a moment, "could you get any other information about that leash that's around Betty?"
Wade, disappointed, shook his head 'no', "You would think, someone this powerful would leave something behind. I can't even find motive."
Shego rested her eyes a moment. She was disappointed that even Wade had no leads. Yet. She had to remind herself, Wade didn't have any leads yet. "Given what we saw, there aren't any motives. Whoever is controlling the cyclops is just doing this shit for fun. A hobby they just want to secure." Her own words affected her. What kind of psychological damage did one have to have in order to believe what they did was fun? "Don't focus on motive right now. Try finding any connection to 'Satan's Teacher'. He's the only odd one out of all these hell houses."
Wade nodded in agreement. He didn't want to tell her he was already trying to dig for information on those exact connections. That was the problem, there weren't any found yet. He had bots crawling in every wired and wireless connection he could send out. His less-than-legal methods to monitor and decrypt traffic from internet hubs still turned up nothing. Intercepting satellite communication resulted in nothing useful. He only hoped what was still being queued in his private servers would shed some light, if any at all. Terabytes of information was processed per day but petabytes worth were coming in at the same rate. There was nothing else he could do but wait.
Shego continued, "This weekend I need you to take a look at Kim's suit. It has issues."
Almost offended, "What's wrong with it?" But he remembered Drakken had helped with a lot of the tech behind the suit. Surely anything Wade did was nothing short of perfect. Then again, perhaps working on the technological architecture on nothing more than frequent power-naps could cause some problems.
"It would be better if she told you but startup and shutdown are too aggressive. It looks like it's pumping her heart too fast on startup. I don't want her having a heart attack, her blood pressure is trouble enough as it is. Shutdown is less problematic but she-"
Disturbed grunting came through the Kimmunicator. Kim was having another nightmare. Shego got up and was ready to bolt up the stairs but it soon calmed. A sniffle followed by a soft sigh seemed to indicate the end of it. Shego's heart throbbed painfully for each tortured sound Kim uttered.
"Shego?"
She sat back down, "Nothing, it's fine. Listen can you or Drakken take a look at it?" Shego had to force herself to stay focused.
"That won't be a problem. It shouldn't be affecting her heart at all except to regulate it. Anything else?"
"No, but we need to start talking protocol." What she was referring to was essentially a protocol for the lethal approach she would taking for some of her targets. Something neither of them wanted to address. They needed to answer questions like timing, witnesses, fallback plan, endgame. When they identify who they needed to target, Shego would need to go in and execute.
Wade hesitated, his stomach turning at the seriousness of what they were going to set in place, to force themselves into following to the letter. What if someone innocent witnessed? What if a child did? What if they left evidence? Did it mean more death? What did it mean for the whole operation to protect Kim? Wade sighed heavily, "Let's start with initial approach."
Shego listed off scenarios followed by both of them listing edge cases and how to handle them. This lasted a few hours before they realized they weren't really getting anywhere. "We need another approach."
Wade was getting tired, sighing with every sentence, "This isn't software Shego, somewhere in here, we're not going to win."
"I know that!," she snapped, "but if there's a way to avoid it, I'm going to find it." She released an elongated breath through her nose, "Let's take a break. Get some shut eye, we'll talk in an hour."
Another sigh and without hesitation, as it was exactly what he needed, "Wade out." The screen on Shego's computer blackened with two little words staring at her 'No signal'. She dragged her hands down her face, took a few breaths and tried to attack the problem herself for the time being. There was one thing Shego still had to tell Wade and that was Kim joining her on missions. The question was whether Shego was comfortable with Kim actually jumping in as backup or giving the illusion that Kim could and then whisking her away forcefully if anything went wrong to protect her. What would Kim do if she were tricked in such a way? Would she do something that could hurt herself after? What would I do if the roles were reversed? It was this thought that drove her decision.
An hour passed and no sign of Wade. Shego didn't mind. She thought to give him another half hour before attempting to reach him again. Roughly twenty minutes later he made contact. As soon as Shego answered, "I'm up, why didn't you wake me?"
Her tired eyes traced his, "Have you looked in the mirror lately? You need sleep. I don't want you making mistakes because you didn't get enough of it. In fact, after this call, I'm ordering you to get eight hours of rest, Ron's in charge."
"What!?" This woke him up even more, "He doesn't know about anything that's going on and he knows even less on how to automate any of my jobs!" This was a valid concern.
She wouldn't budge, "Eight hours, he can handle it. I'm getting him on the line." The line began ringing and Wade was panicking.
"How can you expect me to sleep with him in charge?" His eyes darted around searching for a solution or compromise.
"Do you prefer Drakken?" The line reached its fourth ring and Wade was dragging both hands down his face hard and then back into his scalp. Ron didn't let it go past five rings.
"F-fine! RON! BUT-"
"H-hello?" he cleared his throat, "Hello?," he said sleepily.
"Ron, Wade needs sleep, get up in two hours. You're in charge for the next eight. Your job is to make sure he gets rest. No one bothers him unless you guys or Kim is in immediate danger. You call me whenever you have a question. You call me when there's a problem. Got it?"
Snoring came back over the line and Wade only became more panicked.
She snapped, "RON!"
"Bah! I'm in charge in two hours for the next eight! Wade rest, call you, make sure he gets it!"
"Good. I'll check-in in four hours. You can go back to sleep."
"Okay!" He hung up.
Her look was nearing a scowl, "Eight hours Wade, if you're up, the clock resets."
"Sh-Shego! Come on!" He flung his hands at the camera in a panic.
"Deal with it, look," a moment to give herself to courage to get it out, "
there's something I need to tell you and you're not going to like it."
He rested his forehead in his palms, "And you think I liked this? What is it?"
"Kim won't permit me to go on a mission alone."
"O...kay, just get one of our guys. Some of them, at least, have training."
"This is why you need those eight hours. Kim is coming with me."
"No."
"I said that. She said-"
"No." He wouldn't even look up at her.
"Damn it, listen to me! She said only as backup. Think about who we're talking about here. I don't have a choice. If something goes wrong, she IS the best person to jump in. It's her call. Think about what would happen if we denied her the opportunity. I go out, something went wrong. Whether you like it or not, she's already on her way to my last known location. If you try to stop her and something does happen to me, she'll hate all of you and solve her suffering permanently."
"It's too soon, from what you've told me, it's too soon." He shook his head, disapproving everything she was saying.
"No shit! This is the best we can do. She doesn't take part in the mission, just backup. We just focus on not fucking up. We plan it right, reduce risks, and she takes no part in it…, for as long we can, even if she thinks she's ready."
They both fell silent a moment. Shego hated herself. She kept forgetting how young Wade was. And while he was forced into a maturity no one should be forced into, Shego only saw and spoke to him as an adult. Genius or not, his body and brain were still developing.
"I know I'm going off topic but I need you to know, I regret your participation in this. I'm thankful, appreciative, grateful, but I regret needing you. You shouldn't be a part of any of this. I don't..., I can't trust anyone else. Not when it comes to Kim."
"It's fine, anything else you want to tell me?"
This miffed her slightly. She was trying to be sympathetic, "Just get some rest. We'll talk later."
"Fine. Wade ou-"
"Wait. Do you need something? You know, to put you out?"
"I don't know, maybe." Wade didn't like taking medication for anything more than just a headache. He valued his brain to a point of being overcautious. The last thing he wanted was to be unfocused with clouded or disorganized thoughts.
"Go to the kitchen, third cabinet from the right, there's a tin taped to the right wall of the top shelf. Take a third of one pill. It… it's helped a few henchmen in the past. Last I checked there's seven pills, if I see any more of what I told you to take missing, you will be removed from operation and I'll let the world burn, got it?"
"I got it Shego, calm down. Why is it even hidden?"
The subtlest of smirks came and vanished, "Believe it or not, Dr. D. didn't like narcotics in his lairs. His big ideas came at night when all the henches were sleeping. When he got excited, he was obnoxiously loud for several nights. It was killing his contractors. So, pills went around where people could get 'em without being noticed. Anyway, that's where it is. Now catch some shut eye." He nodded and signed off.
Shego stared at the walls of the room, hating it more and more every second. She put her feet up on the desk and tried to think of where to find more allies. She ruminated over political members and global leaders that could help. She thought about manipulating unstable governments to her advantage but there were obvious drastic repercussions. She was jumping ahead of herself. She absolutely needed to know every head involved before she could act. She rubbed her tired eyes with the palms of her hands. She wished this just ended with Betty. She wish none of it existed. Her mind trailed off and wondered if she would put in this much effort if Kim wasn't involved. If she had known, would she had taken the steps to eradicate this type of evil from the world? Would she have been complacent? Just thoughts and prayers, right? I'm a fucking monster. Rustling came from the Kimmunicator again. Shego stood up and hoped it would just settle like it did before. Then it escalated to something shattering causing her to rush back upstairs.
At the doorway of Kim's bedroom, "Pumpkin?"
"WHERE'S SHEGO!?" Kim screamed at her holding a broken lamp as a weapon.
Shego was baffled for a moment, she thought Kim might still be dreaming. She kept her voice calm, "I'm here, Kim. I'm right here."
Kim's voice growled angrily, "LIAR! YOU'RE CAMILLE LEON! DON'T FUCK WITH ME! I SHOULD HAVE… I SH-" her mind scattered, she couldn't remember why Camille might want Shego but she was convinced she did something, "WHERE IS SHE!?"
Shego's arms and chest tingled with a tinge of fear. "Kimmie, calm down. Okay? Look," she engulfed her hands with her glow. The green flame-like cloud lit the dark room, "Camille can't do that."
"IT'S A TRICK!" she gasped and lunged. She swung at Shego forcing her to dodge. "I'M NOT FUCKING STUPID!" She tried again, more forceful than her first attempt, swinging high to low and then ending her attack with a swift stab, missing Shego only by a hair. Shego rolled away and then backpedaled on the floor into the hallway nearly falling down the stairs. Kim stared down at her, "I swear if you hurt her, I'LL MASSACRE YOU!" The throaty growl with each emphasized word was chilling.
That deadly look with every intent to harm actually instilled a new type of terror in Shego. Kim was ready to attack again until Shego did the only thing she could to convince her, "Kim stop! Look at me!" She put her hands up and engulfed her entire body in her glow. Shego's clothes were beginning to smoke and quickly did it flicker to a flame. Her t-shirt was pushed outwards by the force of her own glow and luckily, incinerated before it could start another fire. Her shorts, while thicker, suffered the same fate. Kim could feel the heat radiating and the fire alarms went off. Shego didn't react to them. After a couple seconds, she extinguished herself and left the floor, the railing, and the wall an ashy black. "Pumpkin, please, put the lamp down. You know no one else knows of my full body glow."
Kim hesitated with a shudder and dropped the lamp. Reality rushed in and Kim could hardly contain the immense sorrow for her mistake. She cringed immediately, "I'm-I'm s-sorry. I just thought-" the intensity of her emotions made her so certain Shego was in danger but she couldn't remember why or how. She couldn't connect how she was in her home or how someone could enter it at all. But that feeling was too convincing, "I don't know-I don't know … I don't know." She backed herself into a wall and slid to the floor. She clutched her hair with a lost expression on her face.
Shego approached her, "I'm here and I'll never be away from you. I promise." She cautiously took her into a hug while Kim swallowed her tears. Kim could feel the heat still dissipating off Shego's skin like a full body fever.
She gulped and took a breath, "It felt real. I don't know. It just felt re-" her breath faded and shook, "I was just thinking-" another sharp gasp, "that she got out of prison and- ...I don't know." Her voice cracked with a soft crying groan.
"It's not real, but I am." Shego tried to stay calm and composed. "Pumpkin, I'm going to turn off the alarm. It's a voice command, okay?" Kim nodded and held Shego tight. "Echoe one, fire, re-arm!" The fire alarm shut off immediately. "We have a couple hours, let's get you back to bed. I'll be right next to you." Shego lifted and carried her to bed. The action made Kim feel a little conflicted. She was grateful but felt pathetic.
Kim covered her eyes with her hands as Shego laid her down. Kim kept whispering, "I'll get better, I'll get better…"
"There's nothing wrong with you." Shego simply held Kim until she was asleep. No glow, no heated massage, just pure and simple contact. When she was sure Kim was asleep again, she took a moment to examine Kim's hands. They were healing quickly but her grip alone could tear ligaments. She checked for any swelling and didn't see any immediately. She would need to confirm with Kim later.
~oO0Oo~
Morning quickly came and Kim's alarm went off. Shego went to grab her Kimmunicator but realized she left it in the den. She cringed knowing that she had a call going the entire time. What she said only hours earlier. The line was secure, that wasn't the problem. The problem was that the fire alarm went off and alerted Wade. He probably forced a call in.
"Stay in bed for a little longer and I'll get breakfast ready." Kim nodded silently to Shego's request. Shego got out of bed and quickly to the den. She picked up her Kimmunicator and ended the ongoing call. She immediately dialed Ron. He was, after all, in charge.
First ring, "What's up?"
A tone of anger escaped her voice, "Is Wade asleep?"
"Yes."
"Do you know when he went to bed?"
"About twenty minutes ago." Shego sighed, nearly a growl, to this.
"Alright. I'll call you later."
"Ron ou-" Shego hung up before he could finish.
She dialed Wade immediately after.
Two rings, "I thought you wanted me to-"
Shego took a tone that shook Wade to his bones, "What… DID… YOU… HEAR!?"
Wade woke immediately to this, swallowing hard before speaking, "If Kim can trust me y-you can trust me."
"FUCK!," Her eyes were terrifying, "Do you understand the consequences if you leak any of this to anyone?" She spoke entirely through gritted teeth.
"I-I understand. I do. I am a lock without a key. I won't tell anyone. I kind of suspected. I-I-I mean with the suit, why else would you need the entire suit to withstand…, I haven't said a thing, I won't!"
Her eyes flexed with irritation, frustration, and anger, "Not even my brothers, Wade, no one knows but you... and Kim. I will go full NUCLEAR on everyone before they have a chance to prepare to fight me."
"Sh-Shego, I swear!" It had been quite a long time since Wade felt fear of Shego.
"GO TO SLEEP!" she finally growled. She was about to hang up just before he snuck in a sentence.
"Shego, tell her she's still in prison. I checked. Everyone. I checked everyone, it's why I didn't go to sleep until now. We need to talk but it can wait. Just, she's safe. Tell her that."
Shego was still in a rage, more at herself than at Wade. She took a long deep breath, "Okay," and hung up. Shego tried to calm herself but realized she was raging not too quietly. She looked to the ceiling with eyes closed and raised her voice, "Pumpkin, everything's fine. It's not your fault, it's mine. I just get nervous, I shouldn't have reacted that way. I trust him. I do." Shego sighed, bringing her head back down, and walked up the stairs locking the door. She didn't see Kim waiting for breakfast and hoped she only spoke to the air. She went ahead and started cooking something quick and brought it to Kim. "Breakfast in bed?"
"I'm sorry," came the weak reply.
Disappointed that Kim heard, "It's not your fault."
Kim stuffed her face into the pillow, "I'm sorry," came another apology, muffled through the pillows.
Shego set the breakfast aside and sat on the bed with her, "Kim? If I can't hate myself for all the bad I've done to you, you can't be sorry for things that aren't your fault." Kim lifted her head from the pillows but remained quiet. She stroked her hair, "Do you want to talk about it? I'm here for you." Kim shook her head 'no'. "Okay," a beat, "Wade wanted me to assure you, she's still in prison. He checked the statuses of everyone, no one can touch you."
Kim nodded subtly and sighed deeply. "I really don't know how much longer I can do this. I just feel… I am… helpless," her voice became weak and void of any confidence, "...useless."
Shego had every intent to correct that train of thought, "I can put you to work, if you want. You wouldn't be part of the overall missions yet."
"You aren't going alone," she was stern with her reply, commanding, suddenly. Kim could only assert herself if there was a need for it. Otherwise, she regressed.
"I know, I know. That's not what I meant. You'll be training my brothers, like we talked about before, but you're in no condition now - soon."
Kim bounced between helplessness and forced determination, "I need to see the team. I need to see Ron, Wade, even Drakken. I need to talk with them."
Shego almost cringed but had remained neutral, "Kimmie, can we revisit this topic over the weekend? I just don't think… right now… is a good time." Her eyes pleaded with Kim's. They tried not to be offensive but it was clear to Kim that Shego didn't trust her stability.
Kim hung her head low, "Fine, okay. You probably won't let me go to class either."
Shego rubbed her back, "I never said that. We may be a little late, but I can get you there. That is, if you really want to go."
Kim was silent, not really sure of herself. All she could think about was how her life felt it had been defecated from the deep bowels of a hydra. She wanted to feel sorry for herself but the notion made her think she was pathetic. She thought she had nothing to truly complain about when she saw who the real victims were. A disgusted whisper lurched from her throat, "I don't know."
Every saddened pain from Kim squeezed Shego's heart but she remained composed, she had to be. "Well, here's what I think we should do. Today, we're going to take a personal day. We're going to work out, with extra towels, extra clothes, and maybe even spar a little. I'll pack lunch. Ooo and," her eyes widened, "over lunch we can talk about Monday," she offered a smile in hopes Kim would return one as well. Kim only deadpanned a nod. "Okay then, I'll start packing, you eat breakfast, and we'll head out." Shego kissed her head and brought the breakfast table to Kim. She tried to act brightly while leaving the room in hopes to brighten her mood, but she felt self-conscious about it, thinking that it was inappropriate when someone was feeling so terrible. Luckily, if you could call it lucky, Kim thought nothing of it.
~oO0Oo~
A quick glance at Kim, "You wanna fly?" Shego spoke mid flight as no conversation had been going. Kim shook her head 'no'. "'Kay." Shego really wanted to get her talking so she wouldn't focus too much on what happened. A nice smile, "Hey, who was your most irritating villain? I remember mine, he called himself The Contronyminator." Shego waved her hands in outward arc to stress the silliness of his name.
"Shego, I know what you're doing. Thank you, I just can't right now."
"Okay, I'll let you be." Shego did even though she felt a little defeated. Fortunately, about a few minutes passed and Kim got curious.
A quick breath and a short sigh, "Alright, who's The Contronym-whatever."
Shego smirked a bit, glad to have started something, "Nuh uh, he was The Contronyminator." She scrunched her nose with another subtle smile as she pronounced the name with emphasis.
"Okay then, ControNYMINATOR." Kim subtly mocked in the same manner, "What did he do? Some kind of 'fun with words' guy?"
Shego's smile grew, "Something like that. You know those really annoying people that like to use a pun with every sentence? This guy used contronyms any chance he got. This one time he had this high velocity stapler thing, managed to get my hair, he wouldn't shut up about how he 'clipped my hair'. Or this one time he dropped this ridiculously large belt buckle on top of Mego and couldn't stop cackling. It was how we caught him too. The idiot just couldn't stop laughing."
Kim huffed a little, "What happened to him?"
Shego celebrated internally for heading in the right direction, "The guy tried to do something with common household dust - he just collected dirty vacuum cleaner bags - and almost died breathing it in; laughing. He's in Go Asylum probably still cackling. Worst… supervillain… ever. What about you?" Shego was glad to get her talking this far but she was on the edge of her seat to see if she would take the bait and continue.
Kim hesitated, "I would have said Aviarious, but that's more your enemy than mine…, also some good memories there." She smirked a little, "I bet you wish I had Wego's powers then, huh. You know, with your little vacation you had by yourself afterwards."
Shego dropped her shoulders, "Oh shuuut uuup! Yes, I wanted you bad," she explained, "yes it was probably really wrong at the time," she reasoned, "and yes that was a fantasy, but ugh, first time we fought together, so good! I got so close to you, I was in your house! I couldn't take it, so I… went on vacation."
"To be massaged by me-copies?"
"There weren't any! It's why I threw a fit! I was frustrated… staahp, you're killing me! AND I am ABSOLUTELY sure I would have stopped myself had they done what was asked!" Shego pouted. Kim managed to let out a small laugh. Shego looked at her with begging eyes and tried to get back on topic, "You still haven't answered the question."
"Fine, fine, um… I don't know, Drakken kind of comes to mind… sorry."
"No no, that's fair. He may be a friend, but he's definitely either irritating or boring. Hey, how are your hands?"
"Better." Kim flexed her fingers slowly, "I could, but probably shouldn't, grip anything. Especially after-" she stopped herself and sighed, "I guess that means the bike again."
"We can work out your arms too, safely. And, if you think you can withstand this," she motioned a hand over her own body causing Kim to snort, "I can spot you."
"No dancing."
"No promises."
~oO0Oo~
Will Du felt the additional ten minutes he gave was enough time for anyone to be appropriately late. And, given how punctual Kim usually was, it was enough to justify rushing to Dr. Director's office with a new status. Betty's door was open and Will promptly knocked on the doorframe which caused Betty's head to rise. He gave his brief report, "Ma'am, there has been no sign of Kim at her university today. Shego is also missing."
A subtle clenching of her teeth, "When was the last sight of them?"
Promptly, "Yesterday, Kim was found entering the library at the end of her classes. She did not appear to exit the building. Our assumptions are that she exited under cloak as usual. We… have not been able to follow Shego since her public appearance."
Betty ground her teeth a bit more noticeably but didn't add any further tension in her face to hide her frustration. "Inform me the moment either of them make an appearance."
"Of course." Will exited with a nod and could feel the pressure on him to find them. He left, returning to his desk with the thought of what Cynthia had said to him. Why is it so important to her? He attempted to shake the thought away so he could focus on his task at hand but Cynthia literally nudged him.
Quietly, "Sooo… how'd she take it?" Will only looked at her with pursed lips. "That doesn't make this feeling I've got any better."
Dismissive, "It doesn't mean anything."
"Guessing we need to find them?"
His voice as stoic as ever, "You guessed right."
~oO0Oo~
Hego's hands began to hurt as he tried to slam them together as hard as he could to create the devastating shockwave he had done once before. "Argh! DAMN IT!" He gave up, exhausted from his numerous attempts, "I can't do it again," he ended up sitting on the floor to rest. He stared at his and around the empty room with his brother.
"I'm in the same boat big guy." Mego shrank down as small as he could, "Do I look smaller to you?'
Hego's looked down at him, "Eh, about the same."
He grew back to his original size, "Yeah, figured," he joined his brother on the floor. "Sis' said to focus on the glow inside us. She made it sound so easy."
A part of them thought they were doing the same thing they had last time when Shego instructed them. Imagine the glow and grab it was a simple enough concept. Another part of them, however, felt fear. Tapping into their power as they did before completely drained them. But this wasn't what stopped them. They were prepared to go as far as Shego needed them. It was the pressure. Getting to where they needed to be when Shego needed them.
"I'm going to break my hands if I try again." He groaned trying to ball them into a fist, "They're throbbing."
"I know, you'll heal. But we gotta tap into it soon."
"Yeah." How much longer would it be before they understood the power within them?
~oO0Oo~
Kim had already started her workout with Shego spotting her. The burning in her muscles made Kim smile and kept her mind focused at the task at hand. Shego leaned over from behind Kim bench pressing, "See? Behaving." Shego was ready to protect Kim from the large weights she was pressing without any funny business.
"For now."
Shego smiled, "For now," she turned on workout mode, "Give me five of these and we'll work on your legs next."
Kim was ambitious as always, "Fuck your five, I'll give you fifteen."
Shego shook her head at her, "There's no turning back now Cupcake and I'll make you eat those words." Kim got past her five, her ten, even her thirteenth, but fourteen was only half way. "Come on, POSSIBLE!" Fourteen. Kim took a few needed breaths before pursuing her final push. Kim's face was a bright red and she tried focused on her breathing. She blew in big huffs. "How do your words taste?," Shego taunted, "Are they a little salty? They seemed a little salty to me," she chuckled. Kim's heart throbbed in her head but that determination was something to admire. Shego continued to mock, "I thought anything was possible, Kimmie." Fifteen. Shego caught the weight and set it. Shego shook her head in disbelief, "Pff. You are one amazing woman, you know that?"
Kim was breathless and could only heave her reply in one big exhaling huff, "I think my arms are broken." A quick chuckle followed.
Shego leaned on the weight and looked down at her, "Did you learn your lesson?"
The blood from her face finally receded to the rest of her body, "You know…," a breath, "I…" another, "haven't." They both laughed. "I think I'm going to throw up."
"Alright, time to get hydrated. Stay there, I'll get some juice." She quickly went to the fridge and came back. "Drink it slow."
Kim was still breathing heavily and weakly raised a hand to grab the drink as Shego helped sit her upright. "I want to um," a sip taken, "I want to skip our session today."
"You sure?" Shego shared her concern.
"Yeah, I'll tell her about what happened tomorrow. Right now, I just want this," Kim motioned to the area they were in, "I'm sorry, you can go if you want," she took a few moment to drink the cool fluid, "I can stay here. I don't want to stop your appointment too."
"Told you this spot was nice. Tell you what, today let's skip, beat each other up, and watch the sun go down. But I want you to be a little weaker, so leg press is next," Shego smirked gingerly.
Kim gave a nod, "I'll be ready in five minutes."
"In a rush to get beat?"
A little huff, "I need to stay in the zone."
"Ha! Sounds good. I'm gonna make a quick call to Ron."
"Ron?" Kim's head quickly snapped towards Shego's direction. A minor mistake on her part as the world still spun around her.
"I put him in charge for today. Was giving Wade a break. You want to talk to him?"
Kim blinked, "In charge?"
Shego looked to Kim while getting her Kimmunicator ready to call, "Not liking my management skills, Pumpkin?"
"I mean, it's just, you and Ron… does not compute."
"Pff, neither did your relationship with him either."
"Don't be mean, you know why that is, anyway."
Shego hummed a smug chuckle, "Hmm, yeah, that I do. Anyway, talk? No talk?"
"I'll peek over your shoulder to say 'hi'," she smiled.
"'Kay," she dialed.
He picked up quickly, "Hello, Shego," he said weakly, "What do you need?"
"Kim wants to say 'hi'."
She peeked over, "Hi, Ron."
"KP! HOW'S-how's it goin'?"
"I'm a little worn out from my workout, how's leadership?"
Far more chipper now that he was able to talk to Kim, "I have NO IDEA what I'm doing, KP, but nothing had gone on fire yet, I mean except for Drakken I guess, but they're out now… I think… let me check." He hit a button on a console, "Drakken, are the fires out?"
An exasperated, "YeeeEEEeeess… and it's DOCTOR DRA-," came over the Kimmunicator before Ron cut him off.
"Yeah, it's out."
Shego jumped in, "Wade is taking his needed rest?"
Ron rolled his eyes, reluctant to speak with her, "Yes, still resting."
"Ron?," not believing him
"Yes!"
"Alright, fine… thank you." Her thank you to Ron creased a corner of his mouth. Ron didn't believe a bit of Shego's politeness. She quickly concluded, "We'll talk later."
"Mm fine. Bye KP."
"Bye."
"Ron out."
Shego let out a heavy sigh. "I don't care if he hates me but I need him to trust me." It was more than just a little hampering. Shego had so many moving parts to think about. And while she reasoned Ron was an important priority, it was just so much lower than all the others. Maybe after she helps Kim become more stable, after she maintains her threats to keep global justice away, after she manages the teams responsible for tracking the ugly heads responsible for the living nightmare that GJ is connected to, after managing the teams responsible for developing new defensive and offensive tech, after she settles in as an acting teacher that was right around the corner, after she tries to train her brothers with Kim, and after she attempts to maintain her own sanity, maybe she'll squeeze in some time to have a long talk with Ron about her past.
Kim tried to assure her, "He will, in time. He trusts Wade."
"I suppose that's enough right now," a brief moment of realization, "Wait, you make it sound like he doesn't trust you."
Kim looked away a moment. A brief memory of his hurt face affirmed her feelings, "It's complicated. It involves our breakup. He didn't want our past relationship to end… he didn't take it so well and doesn't understand why I was with him in the first place and feels… I guess… emasculated." Shego was a little surprised and respectfully didn't comment. "And well, you know what happened when I told him about you. He likely doesn't trust my judgment. He says he does but," she sighed, "I can tell. And, he loves me and I do love him, but not the way he wants. He just doesn't understand and I know he's hurting… Sorry, I'm unloading on you."
She put a defensive hand up, "I get it, Pumpkin. I normally wouldn't care, but I do pity the guy. And you aren't unloading; I asked." A beat, "I really didn't get why he hated me so much… Wait, let me rephrase. I didn't understand why he hated me so much more than Drakken or any other villain. I do now." Shego didn't know how to follow up. She wasn't sure what she wanted to communicate, but Ron was a topic that lingered on her mind since the start. His hatred was something she didn't understand fully nor was she fully prepared to handle it. He was just a buffoon after all. A buffoon she needed his cooperation with. "I don't want to give him special treatment but I don't know how else to get him trust me. I'm not atoning the actions of my past for him. I'm doing it for you. AND, before you say anything, I'm working on forgiving myself. No more baggage." She smiled at Kim.
"I feel you have more to tell."
Shego smirked and thought her point got through. She felt bad for Ron. She cared. That's it. No more to add. "No. Leg press. Don't even try to wiggle out of," she finger quoted, "your zone, five minutes were up five minutes ago."
Kim smiled to herself. She knew Shego found Ron annoying but to see she didn't actually hate him was uplifting. "Fine fine, let's do it."
~oO0Oo~
Kim and Shego were in the middle of sparring. Shego took a stance, "Come on Princess, come at me!" Kim went charging at her from the other side of the room and was already heavily out of breath. Shego took a sudden change in her stance, held out her hands in a panic, and yelled, "WAIT!"
Kim tried to stop her momentum and stumbled a bit, "What? What is it?"
"Lunch," she snickered.
Kim flopped to her knees and then to her back, "You suck! Don't do that… What did you bring?" She stared at the woman standing over her and took the time to catch her breath.
"Sandwich stuff with some different spreads."
Shego made her signature sandwiches and set two large pillows on the floor from the bedroom. With only one chair at the kitchen table they would have had to take turns eating or have at least one of them standing. This was an easy-enough-to-do compromise. They sat back-to-back and ate with their side facing the large window viewing the pond.
"You wanna tell your Monique friend about Monday?" Shego quickly finished her first sandwich before Kim could even get through half of hers.
Kim took a moment to chew the mouthful she had before speaking, "You're really okay with bringing her?"
Shego shrugged, "Why not? Not like it'll be awkward or anything, right?," Shego huffed lightly, "It'll give her a chance to trust me, not that I expect any of that, but sooner we get through the awkward bits, the better. I want to be part of your life and if that means being with your friends sometimes, I'm actually glad to do that." She became a bit sarcastic, "It'll be great!"
Kim munched on another bite and swallowed, "I really appreciate it." Kim turned to hug from behind with part of a sandwich in her hand, "Thanks." She leaned her head on Shego's back, "Should I call, now?"
Shego could feel Kim's excitement and snorted, "Sure. Or I could call," she grinned.
"I'll put us on speaker so we can be clear on the plan." Shego was a little surprised and had not expected to talk to Monique but hadn't said anything. Her reply wasn't meant to be taken seriously. All the same, Kim dialed.
After a few rings, "Kim? Hey, what's up?" Shego swallowed nervously, already feeling awkward.
"Hey, Shego had an idea, are you free Monday?"
"Woah, you know how I don't like those two words so close together. 'Shego' and 'idea' usually isn't safe, Kim." Shego immediately rolled her eyes.
Kim snickered, "It's a really good idea, I approved. Also, you're on speaker."
"Wait, you mean she's-"
"Um, hi," Shego reluctantly greeted.
"Oh." Her voice carried a little bit of worry.
Shego just continued on, "Yeah. Anyway, the idea Monique, is take you guys out on a shopping spree, all expenses paid at a place you wouldn't normally be allowed in."
"What she talkin' 'bout Kim?"
"Well…, Shego wanted to do something nice-" she was suddenly cut off.
"Not possible, but go on."
Shego facepalmed and shook her head.
"Monique!" Kim admonished.
"Alright, alright. What's the deal?"
Kim relaxed her voice to something more cheerful, "Just out to give me a new wardrobe, you to give an additional opinion, and we'll get you something too if you want. Come on, come join us."
"So like Club Banana?" She lingered on the last word a bit.
Shego couldn't hold back a laugh, "Try Rodeo Drive, heard of it?"
"You're lying."
Shego merely teased, "Well, if you don't want to go, you don't want to go."
"Kim, is she for real?"
"She is, Mon."
Monique squealed, "YES I WANT TO GO! MONDAY JUST BECAME FREE!" Kim had to hold the Kimmunicator back to withstand Monique excitement. It didn't occur to Monique how she would get their but she supposed, with Kim, anything was possible.
"Hmm, great," Shego became a bit more serious, "Monique, how much had Kim told you about our situation?"
"Only that it's serious."
"And it is. And that means we need you to do exactly as we say to keep Kim and everyone safe. Do you understand?"
Monique's tone became wrought with worry, "Kim, am I going to be a risk here? I don't want to do this then."
Kim sensed Monique was calculating different ways the day could go wrong. She encouraged, "Monique, come on, it's fine. Shego, tell her it's fine."
"It's fine…," she continued, "as long as she does what we say."
"Kim?," she whined.
Kim looked at Shego with a disapproving look, "Shego, just tell her what she needs to do."
"Alright, listen. There are some very bad people after Kim. I've got some good old fashioned blackmail that keeps them away but I still don't want any of them tracking us. So we're doing our best to keep out of view with stealth. You don't have that option. So, if anyone follows you to us, our cover is pretty much blown. BUT, no one should be looking in your direction anyway. I'd just rather take the precaution."
This hadn't made Monique feel any better but she wanted to know what to expect, "What do you need me to do?"
Shego continued, "I need you to be sick on Monday. Buy some soup, more tissues, cold and flu medicine, anything that leaves a paper trail for not following your usual routine. Then, all I need you to do is wait. I will take you to Kim's ship, and we'll be off to a girls day out. How's that sound, hmm?"
"Kim, I don't know about this."
"Monique-"
Shego interrupted, "Look, this is your once in a lifetime chance to see some of the real me, which is way out of my comfort zone. This can be the start of numerous occasions where we splurge and possibly have a good time. Lastly, Kim wants you to come which essentially means you're coming!"
"Okay! Okay. W-when should I start buying stuff?" Monique was forcing herself to trust Kim. The thought of being near Shego was still a concern. It was surreal.
"You act like you never faked being sick before."
"I haven't!"
Shego rolled her eyes with emphasis, "Just start coughing and clearing your throat around the end of day Friday. Saturday, buy some tissues, Sunday get the medicine, and doy, call out on Monday. We're likely being over cautious but this removes any suspicion if someone looks into what you've been doing. We'll call you in the morning."
"Okay."
Kim smiled, "Great!"
"Kim?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay?"
"I'm with Shego, so yes. We can talk more on Monday. We'll have a lot of fun, I promise."
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous," a beat, "but excited. And… thanks Shego- oof that felt weird to say."
"Um yeah… Sure."
"See you Monday."
"Bye guys."
Kim looked to Shego with a smirk, "That wasn't so bad."
Shego gave a little eye-roll and mocked Monique's voice, "OOF that felt weird to say," she returned to her normal voice, "Pff whatever."
"Could have been much worse."
"I thought you told her about me."
"I did, but one conversation does not equal, you know, our history. Just needs time and Monday will help."
She sighed, "If you say so, Kimmie. Hey, you wanna just relax for a bit?"
Kim shrugged, "Sure. My muscles could certainly use the break."
"I'll start some music, I'll be right back." Shego walked to her bedroom.
Kim shouted from the gym, "I said no dancing!"
"I said no promises!"
Kim was relieved to hear familiar ambient music, not something you could bring a dancer's pole out for.
Shego came back, "I meant it when I said I wanted to relax."
"Hmm, so you did."
Shego sat down behind Kim, "Lean forward, I'm gonna massage your neck and shoulders, no funny business… unless I feel like it."
"Hmm, 'kay." She leaned forward and had instant gratification from the hands upon her neck.
"Why do you push yourself so hard?"
"Because, mmm, I can. And this, what you're doing, is another good reason to."
Shego shook her head at her, "You're crazy, Pumpkin."
"Mm hmm, more rubbing." Shego pushed her playfully to retaliate but resumed. Kim chuckled. She enjoyed several minutes of the massage until she just leaned back into the woman behind her.
"Hey, I'm not done." She couldn't help but wrap her arms around her. Kim didn't respond and just enjoyed being held. "You're gonna be sore as hell tomorrow." Kim shrugged. "Alright, alright, I'll shut up." Kim nodded which earned her a gentle slap on the arm.
A few songs came and went and then a waltz began which surprised Kim, "Um?"
"Ooh, get up. We're dancing to this."
A brief blink in confusion, "What? We are? Really?"
Shego seemed too excited, "Yes, up! I'll lead, come on!" Shego ran to her bedroom and increased the volume so the room seemed filled with nothing but sound.
"O...kay." Kim got up, surprised that Shego, of all people, would listen to ballroom music. Kim gave a confused laugh as she placed her hand in Shego's.
"Okay, here we go," she grasped Kim's hand gently and smiled brightly to the classical tempo. They spun around the floor with Kim lagging only a little. Shego almost wished Kim was in a formal dress to see it flow as they danced. Kim was happy to see the bliss and excitement from her but her confusion was further added when Shego said, "It's coming."
"What's coming?" A grin was her reply. The music distorted with a chaotic melody of sounds which soon became a recognizable beat. A strong bass flooded the room and the percussion, similar to the waltz, set the new tempo. Kim giggled, relieved there was some secret meaning behind Shego's excitement.
Shego shouted over the volume of the music, "Thought I was bat-shit crazy, didn't you!?"
Kim twirled around and danced with the beat, "I'll say you had me a little worried!" Shego cackled a laugh jokingly. Kim was enjoying it fully, letting herself go to the music and danced with Shego.
"Here comes another!"
"I don't know what that means!" They were then rushed with a rapidly increasing percussion followed by a booming beat that caused them to jump in unison. The sound chased and shook Kim through her feet and up her back.
"You like it!?"
Kim shouted with glee, "I love it!"
Shego shouted her laughter. When the music was reaching its end, it regressed to its original waltz gradually and both adapted to the change. The song ended with them together in arms again.
Kim's heart was still beating hard and her smile hadn't been that bright in a long time, "That was… really amazing." Every good deed flooded Kim's mind as she stared at Shego. She didn't just protect her, she arranged protection for her family and friends. She made every effort to make Kim happy. She made every effort to support Kim.
Shego giggled her reply, "Thanks. Took me a couple months to compose that. But hey, I had the time." The next track went back to the smooth ambience, calming the room.
Kim looked at Shego lovingly and took her into a hug, "UGH! I love you so much!"
Without hesitation, Shego returned the hug and spoke the same heartfelt words in reply. They decided to sit, Kim in Shego's arms again, and watched snow fall lightly through the large window. It was only a dusting but had the same calming effect as watching flames roll in a fireplace. Kim began chuckling a little.
"What's funny?"
Kim shook her head dismissively and sniffed, "N-nothing," came a weeping whisper.
"Kim?" What was thought to be fine became an immediate worry.
Silent tears fell, "I don't know, I'm just… it's so romantic…, nothing, it's stupid…," she wiped a few tears from her cheeks and shook her head, "Every-everything you do. I don't know, I'm just," she took a shaky breath, "overwhelmed."
"I didn't mean to make you-"
"You didn't, I'm actually really happy, I just," she whined quietly, "I just can't help it. I don't know what's wrong with me. This is really really nice." Another whisper, "I'm sorry. I'm okay, really, it just won't stop."
"Really?" Shego rubbed Kim's shoulders and down the sides of her arms.
Kim nodded and took a few breaths, "Yeah. Ugh, you must think I'm so crazy." She sniffed hard.
"You aren't crazy Kim. Stressed, tired, and maybe a little worn out, but not crazy. You wanna take a nap? I could use one myself." Kim turned and looked at her with misty eyes and tried to judge if Shego was being serious. She looked back at Kim, "I haven't really slept in thirty-something hours."
"O-oh, sure." Kim sniffled and wiped her tears away, still quite emotional.
~oO0Oo~
Kim laid awake next to a softly breathing Shego. An arm draped over Kim's waist that would occasionally tighten unconsciously and was followed by brief, soft pecks on her shoulder. It seemed Shego was having pleasant dreams. Kim smiled each time she felt a squeeze but was left alone with her thoughts as sleep was not on its way. Kim's body clock wouldn't allow it.
Her thoughts lingered on Ron. Her best friend and assumed soulmate since childhood. She worried about him. She worried about his worries with no resolution to abate them. She knew, and it was obvious, that she couldn't reset the past. The best Kim could do is understand. Acknowledge Ron's experience of almost losing his best friend to Shego's claws and then suffer an abrupt breakup. And then, as if to sautée his heart with coarse salt, lemon, and hot pepper, throw it in a fire to the news of her attraction and love for Shego. The very same woman that took his heart on this culinary journey to begin with. Maybe it was to be expected, Shego was a wonderful chef.
She felt she had been selfish, thinking of her own desires. But she didn't regret what she did, at least not with how her relationship with Shego turned out. And now, with Shego pressed against her side, she couldn't be more happy with her decision to have pursued her.
Shego took a deep breath, waking slightly, and snuggled close to Kim's ear. She whispered, "Did you sleep?"
Kim recoiled with a smile from Shego's tickling breath, "I rested. Pleasant dreams?"
"Mm, yeah," she smiled. "You must have been bored."
"You kept me entertained."
Shego woke a little more quickly to this, "Oh no, what did I do?"
Kim smirked, "What didn't you do?"
"Kimmie, was it that bad?" The look of concern was funny to Kim.
Kim softly chuckled, "You didn't do anything except make me feel loved."
"Good… good."
Now she was curious, "What do you think you did?"
While Kim didn't really prod, Shego know that if she didn't tell her, Kim was going to persist until she got an answer. Shego just gave in, "Sometimes… when I have a good dream… I'm, you know, active in bed. I didn't want to do that to you without you being okay with it… Also, sometimes things get singed." Kim raised a concerned eyebrow to this. "It's okay, you'll know it before it happens. Just push my arms up and away." Kim had no words. "I've kept it under control for years, okay? Mostly happened during my teens, and couple times with my last girlfriend. It's fine, she's fine, you're fine, everyone's fine!"
Kim could see her obvious embarrassment, "Shego, it's okay, it's not your fault. Seems like an autonomous reaction to a delightfully unconscious activity. I'll be sure to wake you up before it gets to that point… and then you'll be conscious of the things I'm going to do to you."
"Oh yeah? And what are you going to do to me?"
"I guess we'll have to see during your next nap," a small grin graced Kim's lips.
Shego chuckled, "And everyone thinks I'm evil. So what were you thinking about?"
Kim sighed, "Ron, actually."
Shego deadpanned, "What?"
"No no, I mean, I'm worried. I'm afraid he's going to try to do something to you and it's my fault. He's not that type of person, but, I don't know. Maybe I'm just overthinking."
Shego sighed back, "First off, no. We can safely conclude the buffoo-, the… Ron's hate for me is definitely not your fault. It's pretty damn obvious it's mine. Look, Kimmie, I'll deal with him. You don't have to worry."
Kim tried to warn, "Ron's not weak, he really isn't."
"I know, Princess. He's amazed me more than once. "
Kim tried to keep the topic serious, "I want you to be careful. There's just so much he doesn't understand and I think we need to start talking to him."
Shego tries to push back, knowing where the conversation was heading, "I don't want to make you relive-"
"The longer we wait… I don't want to torment him any more than I already have. He's my best friend." Kim's eyes begged. She knew she wasn't completely ready but she needed to try to loop Ron in even if it was going to open wounds that haven't even healed yet.
Shego hesitated. She damned herself internally for not being able to say 'no' to Kim. "Alright, Pumpkin, but I need to talk to him first. One last attempt to show him I'm not the person he thinks I am." Kim nodded, but not so confidently. "Hey, so far, no problems."
"Except for the nacco incident."
Shego sighed, "Except for the nacco incident."
~oO0Oo~
As they exited the safe house, "Oh hell. That's something to keep in mind in the future. Damn it." Shego cursed at the sight of the cloaked ship covered with a thin layer of snow.
"I'm sure it's fine. An aerial view wouldn't show up. It's still white on white."
"Yeah… maybe. This location can't be picked up either. It's fine." She repeated to herself, "It's fine." She began clearing off as much snow as she could, "Start it up, we'll melt what's left."
Kim went in and started the ship, letting it warm up quickly. She encouraged Shego to give up on her efforts to clear the white frozen dust, "Come on, you brushing a few snowflakes off isn't worth the effort."
"You're right, you're right." Shego went in and waited a couple minutes.
"Dinner and a movie?" Kim asked, hoping for approval.
"Dinner and back to study, Kim," she said disapprovingly. "Come on, we had a pretty good day, besides, think about how great Monday is going to be, that is, if your friend doesn't make it weird."
Kim snickered, "That's what's going to make it great." Shego grunted. "It'll be fine, just remember, she doesn't know you like I do. No one does, except, maybe, for Wade." Kim thought a moment, "How have you two been working?"
The ship accelerated upwards and they were on their way back to the Possible's home.
"Well, if it weren't for our goal, we probably wouldn't be." Shego quickly tried to skip over that detail quickly in hopes not to trigger anything. "I think we're actually friends. I don't know."
"Aww, that's adorable. My girlfriend's making friends!"
"Shut up, Kim. You know, only a few years ago I'd have no problem leaving all your friends alone in a snake pit. This is hard for me."
Kim didn't believe it for a moment, "Would you really?"
Shego muttered quietly, "I would if I'd known you were going to be right there to rescue them." She looked at a smirking Kim. "Hey, don't act like I never had a dark past." She spoke more quietly again, "I still have trouble with it."
"Shegooo…"
"I know you meant nothing by it. No more baggage."
"And forgiving yourself."
"Yeah, I-I am."
"Good."
~oO0Oo~
Another full day passed and Will Du rushed to Dr. Director's office, pausing just briefly before knocking on the door. He was asked to enter.
"Report."
"Kim was sighted with Shego on school grounds seven minutes ago. Kim was found exiting the Library at 8:45AM this morning."
"Where have they been for the past thirty-two hours?"
"That time slot is still under investigation…, ma'am."
A long silence was held between them. She turned to face him. "Dismissed."
Will left, unsure exactly how to take that encounter. Anything involving Kim or Shego changed how he saw his superior. Despite her strong composure, every engaged conversation about the subject seemed to invoke some sense of fear or tension in her.
~oO0Oo~
Shego snuggled close to Kim under the covers of her bed. Shego thought it wise to only work half nights until she was more confident Kim could sleep alone without succumbing to a night terror. Strangely enough, Kim suffered less of those with Shego near. Work, as quick as she needed to give it attention, was not going to go any faster by being awake without any ideas than being asleep with the same sum of ideas. Another day had passed and come morning, Kim was going to see the lair, the team, and perhaps everyone's progress in the short time it's been to prepare for the war ahead.
Shego was restless as she had two major problems to deal with. The unknown of how Kim was going to handle everything that's going on, and Ron. A man pent up with so much hatred of her that it takes every ounce of his energy from trying to lash out at the very sight of her. Kim said he'd try to give me a chance. Argh, I really wish I didn't need him.
She buried her nose under Kim's hair into the back of her neck. Today's is going to be a shit day when it starts. She forced her mind to drift towards Kim, You smell so good. Her mind slowly relaxed to Kim's scent and consciousness eventually slipped away.
Kim spoke suddenly, "I'm nervous."
I JUST got to sleep. "We can skip, Kimmie. We don't have to-"
"No. I need to do this. I'm just-"
"Nervous."
"Yeah."
"See Wade first. I'll talk to Ron. Maybe see Dr. D. and we'll talk to Ron in my office afterwards."
"I don't feel good. I completely forgot about Drakken."
If Shego's hands weren't wrapped around Kim she would have facepalmed at the mention of Drakken. "He's helping because he wants to. I don't suppose you'd like to sleep now?"
"Right, sorry. Okay, let's sleep."
Shego gave her a kiss and closed her eyes.
"Should I wear my cheerleader uniform? You said he wanted an apology in a cheer."
Shego grumbled a moment, "I won't allow that. If he gives you trouble, you tell me."
"But I really-"
"Kimmie, he's helping. The man is a little misunderstood, maybe not a great guy, but he isn't the worst. Even I don't get his deal with the world. As far as I know, he's just a guy looking for respect. Just give him that and you're all set."
"But you disrespected him all the time."
"I also did everything he asked."
"He just wants people to do what he asks?"
"Uh doy, you didn't get that from the numerous times he tried to take over the world?"
"Alright, fine, whatever."
"Sleep?"
"Yeah. Sorry…, again."
"It's okay, Pumpkin." Shego snuggled close again and tried to relax. Then Kim whined a noise. Shego raised her hand and set it aflame above Kim's head.
"Okay, okay, okaaay!"
Shego smiled, extinguished her hand, and let the radiating heat roll over Kim's shoulders and down her back. Kim gave a soft moan to her touch. Shego spoke quietly, "Sleeeep."
Kim whispered back, "Okaaay."
I don't know how I feel about this chapter. I worked hard on the first scene because it was important to me and there were some other bits I tried to really tweak. Other scenes I just wanted some status of 'how the other guys are doing' but I didn't want them to be a focus. I'm also not sure how well people can relate to Kim chuckling into a tearful cry. That level of overwhelming emotion is hard for me to translate. That level of being so stressed and then just chuckling beyond your control and then crying. But, that's the point of crying, no matter if it's pain, joy, stress, what have you, crying is what your body does to handle being overwhelmed.
Next chapter, Kim visits the lair and we get some good angry Ron action.
Chapter 14 is our midway point to which I am going to beg for reviews - something that will help me gauge if I'm keeping you engaged, kinda engaged, you're reading cuz it's here kind of thing. Or if you have any questions, I want to be sure I answer them in a future chapter if I hadn't already.
UPDATE: Just a note - this will be the last of Kim's random trauma. I know I beat this dead horse too much but it IS trauma. It's not really uphill here from here, it's still a roller coaster until the end but hey, those peaks at the top are really great. Also, it's gonna be a couple weeks until I can get the next chapter out. Work has me workin' and my next chapter is tough for me to edit.