Well, uh. I start a lot of these chapters with apologies, but it really has been a while since I updated... I don't know how often I'll be updating but I still want to finish this. If I ever do, I might even write another Kigo fic. But who knows? (It'll be much more AU and villain oriented, if I do write it.)
But hey. Here's another chapter. I'm going to sit and try to write up some of the next chapter.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Inevitable and Constant
"So, any other concerns?"
Shego shook her head. "Nope. Can we get this over with?"
"We kinda have to." Kim was standing a few feet from where Shego sat. Her arms were crossed and she had a worried look about her. They were in Kim's apartment, preparing for the video they were going to put on the site. "At least we can have more control over how they find out, right? But... crazy fans are crazy fans. Are you sure we shouldn't just give you a new persona to use?"
Shego snorted. "Some mild-mannered alter ego who people will immediately question? I'd rather just let them know it's me." With a sigh, she began to tap her foot. "That way there's a connection, right? They know who I am and that we don't always fight. Not at all now, unless it's for fun."
Kim hummed, feeling a sudden burst of anxiety. She took a deep breath, hoping to calm herself down. "Yeah. I guess you're right."
It didn't take long for Shego to notice the slight shake to Kim's hands. "You okay, Pumpkin?"
With a gulp, the redhead replied. "Yeah. Just nervous, but I'll get over it."
Shego gave her a long look. "Why don't we go over what we need to say once more? Will that help?"
Kim shrugged. "Maybe? I don't know..."
"Let's try, alright, Cupcake?" Shego got a nod in reply. "What are we starting with?"
After a pause and a deep breath, Kim answered. "The camera is just gonna be on me... I'm just going to say hi, tell them that something has changed, and then I... I need to mention how Ron won't be going on missions with me anymore. After that, I say that I will have help, but a partner- though maybe I should avoid that wording?- instead of a sidekick." She gave Shego a small smile then. "And after that, I'll shift the camera so everyone can see you sitting next to me. You say hi, and we explain a watered down reason of why we're working together."
"Right."
Kim finally grinned, though a bit uneasily. "And we can even spend some time on you claiming it doesn't mean you're going good."
A soft huff left Shego. "Because I'm not. I'm watching out for you, dumbass."
The grin on Kim's face grew. "You care about me."
Shego let out a disgusted noise and rolled her eyes. It wasn't until Kim started setting up the camera that Shego looked back. "Kimmie, I have a question."
"Shoot."
"I call you pet names a lot, and there's no way in hell you're permanently getting out of them. But I was wondering if you wanted me to just call you Kim for the video?" Shego's voice was hiding how much caring the question held, but Kim still noticed. "I didn't want to use them if you weren't comfortable with more than our general families and your friends knowing about them." Admitting that much was a big step, but Kim just smiled. Her hands were becoming steadier, though she still seemed nervous.
"Honestly? It would feel weird if you called me Kim. And I'm sure it's already out in the fan base. More obscure things than that have gotten out." She sighed. "Luckily, not the big secret... But someone did once find out my favourite underwear brand."
Shego snorted. "Priorities."
Kim shrugged, a soft grin on her face, and took a seat on the couch. "Well... Let's get started."
Joss Possible stood by her computer, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Kim had texted her an hour earlier that there was going to be a video update on her site. "Mostly things you know," Kim had said. "But it's probably stuff you'll be interested in."
Despite everything, Joss was still a big fan of her cousin. Kim was someone to look up to, someone who knew what justice was and how to help it along. Joss had dreams of being like Kim, of performing acts like saving the day, helping Global Justice, and more. Keeping up to date with Kim's missions was just one way to prepare her for a similar career path. Hopefully.
Joss let herself fall into her computer chair and refreshed the web page. Nothing yet. She sighed.
She knew the video update had to do with Shego. Nothing else made as much sense. Kim and Shego partnering up was a big change from Kim and Ron. Shego was quite literally the enemy, or… Well, she had been. Her sudden change of heart, if it could be called that, was going to be big news.
That "change" of heart had also made Joss think. Shego had power, and a whole lot of it. That plasma could kill a person in seconds, if she wanted it to. And yet Kim was still very much alive, despite years of fighting Shego. In all honesty, Joss wasn't sure what that meant.
She refreshed the page again. There it was! Already at twenty thousand views too! She hit play.
At first, she couldn't see much. But then the camera focused and Kim came into view. She was in the process of sitting back on a couch. She wore her usual mission outfit, but she had a longer shirt than usual. Joss could only think it was because of the scarring on her stomach, but she focused back on the video.
Kim spoke. "Hey, guys! I know it's been a while, but I'm back! I wanted to do this video for a few reasons…" She took a deep breath and continued. "As most of you probably know, I haven't been around lately. I had Wade tell you I had been injured and was on the mend." She gave the camera a small smile and a shrug. "I wanted to apologize for holding back details, and also thank everyone who left get well comments for me! I read through all the ones I could and I'm so thankful I have such a supportive community of fans."
Joss chewed her lip. Kim wasn't giving any details on how she got hurt. She hadn't even told Joss anything more than Shego helped. Joss was, of course, curious, but she respected the fact Kim obviously didn't want to talk about it.
"But thanking you isn't all I needed this video for. There have been some… changes, to the goings on in my immediate vicinity." There was some sort of chuckle, or perhaps a half-amused snort from off camera. Kim turned her head to the side and uttered a quick "shh, give me a minute" before turning her gaze back to the camera. "Okay. First off, is, well…" She seemed uncomfortable. "Ron is no longer working with me on any of my missions. He's moved on to other things, which I ask everyone to respect. It's his choice and he deserves to have at least that." Her expression seemed stony. Joss wasn't surprised.
Kim sighed, eyes slipping closed for a few moments. Once she reopened them, she smiled. "So. That leads to a really big bit of information that I need you all to know. It might be a bit of a surprise, but I'm sure everyone will understand when I explain." She rubbed the back of her neck with one hand; a nervous gesture. "I have a new teammate working with me. She's incredibly capable and while some of you may have doubts, I personally trust her with my life."
There was a mutter from off camera that sounded suspiciously like "don't keep them waiting, Cupcake".
Kim huffed, but smiled and moved the camera so more of the couch could be seen. Sitting next to her, of course, was Shego. She wore a dark green shirt and a pair of tight jeans. Her expression was enigmatic at best. "Without further ado: Shego!"
Joss had expected as much. But she couldn't help but wonder how the fan base would react. Not everyone agreed on how to interpret Shego and Kim's relationship. Some only saw the good versus evil portion of it. Others were more concerned with focusing on the few times Shego had helped rather than hindered Kim. A few radicals even believed that the two had some sort of secret relationship. Joss was sure she knew the truth (now that Kim had told her); Shego and Kim were friends, and good ones at that. It confused Joss, but she had decided she had no issue with it.
The video played on.
"What's up?" was Shego's simple greeting.
Kim smiled- the first one that looked truly genuine, Joss noted. "Shego helped me out a while back, and since I needed someone to watch my back... I asked."
"More like I offered."
Kim rolled her eyes, but still wore a grin. "We came to an agreement. She's going to help me out when I need it and make sure I don't get in over my head."
"Believe it or not, even the great Kim Possible can get overwhelmed. That's why I'm around now." Shego crossed her arms and leaned back on the couch. Joss couldn't help but notice that she was leaning closer to Kim now.
"I know it's a big change, but like I said. I'd appreciate if everyone approached this with an open mind. While she'll vehemently deny being good-"
"I'm not."
"- and deny even worse that she might be any kind of similar to a hero-"
"Hell no!"
"- she's still my good friend and I need people to respect that." Kim touched Shego's arm. "She's helped me out more than you might think over the years, and I'm happy to partner up with her for my missions."
Shego rolled her eyes but Joss caught the small smirk she held too.
"A bit of additional information," Kim continued. "Tomorrow, Shego and I will be answering a few questions posted in the forums. We'll get to what we can. Wade will also be helping with it all." She smiled and glanced over to Shego. "Have I forgotten anything?"
"Nope, Kimmie, you got it all." She waved her hand a bit, as though shooing something away. "Me helping, questions, answers, blah blah blah. You got it."
"Great!" Kim smiled at the camera. "Be safe out there! Bye!"
The video ended.
Hope you enjoyed!
