A/N: Again, thanks so much to ALL my readers and everyone who reviews this story. Your words of encouragement give me reason to write everyday!

And again, a huge thanks to bcbdrums. Go check out their amazing writing here on FFn

NOTE: If you are interested in illustrations and other information on RTD check out my tumblr (mostly) and DeviantArt

Discontented

"So we are broke?" asked Shego as she looked around the desolate lair.

"We are not broke." Drakken glared and then sighed. "Just on a tight budget."

"How much do we have?" Shego raised a brow and Drakken grabbed a piece of paper. "It's just us in here... literally there are NO henchmen... You even let the ones by your mother's go."

"That was less financial and more … no longer needed," said Drakken with a shrug as he handed her the paper. "Here."

"Are you kidding me? We are broke," she tossed the paper down. "What expenses can we cut?"

"We are not broke... There are funds," he hissed. "My investments and stocks filter enough in—"

"No. Drakken. We are broke. For a college student...we're loaded. For a typical middle class citizen...we're decent... For villains bent on world domination or a politician running for an office...we are very broke," she ranted. "Why didn't you tell me the funds were this low? I'll run down to the bank and transfer—"

"No!" he snapped quickly. "I've paid you back already. No more borrows. I will figure it out."

"Doy! It's not a loan. We're partners. I can at least match this so we at least...have decently acceptable villain funds," she sighed and looked at the crumpled paper again.

"I suppose that makes sense," he sighed. "I mean I have paid you...a lot."

"I know," she nodded.

"Like...A LOT," he cringed. "Honestly if I calculate all your shopping excursions on my credit card before—"

"If you are about to say I owe you I will plasma blast you into the SAD thing you've lost interest in," glared Shego.

"I wasn't about to say that. I was simply about to agree that you should put more funds in since we are partners," he looked towards where she indicated. His eyes shifted nervously.

"I should also have more control over its distribution, then." She narrowed her eyes. "I doubt my credit card purchases barely put a dent in your little excessive projects and toys we never need."

"Don't you dare bring up—"

"Like the moon laser," she crossed her arms.

"Shego! That was years ago, are you ever going to drop it!?" he snarled.

"Okay. Why don't we work on acquiring funds before we start fighting over what should be done with them... Since we're strapped for cash and we've worn out our welcome tabs at most places we shop at—"

"Maybe if you hadn't threatened so many people..." Drakken muttered under his breath. Shego glared as she continued.

"Why don't we look at something to steal? You've clearly run out of ideas..." He made no expression and Shego felt a quick wave of concern. "At least, we can get some funds."

"I don't have anything I want to steal. I have been up looking all over the internet and in the market. Nothing tickles my fancy," sighed Drakken as he slumped over the table.

"Uhg, stop being so dramatic and let's go take a look together," she got up and yanked him with her to the extremely large computer. "You spent enough on this thing..."

"So what are you two... friends now? An hour ago you wanted me to toss him out a window," asked Shego as they landed the hovercar in a deserted lot.

"Don't be jealous Shego. I am only being a good mentor," grinned Drakken. "Come Lucre, let's get the URC."

"Are we just walking in?" asked Shego as the two men walked ahead of her.

"You know, Drakken. We could just walk in casually. My time at Smarty Mart taught me many important things. One being...no one asks you a thing if you act like you own what you're stealing," said Lucre.

"Wait...are you suggesting...just walk in and walk out like nothing is happening?" asked Shego. She rolled her eyes. "That is the dumbest—"

"Great idea, Lucre!" Drakken put his arm around him. "I've never thought about that... Just act like it's mine already. Perfect. So simple."

"Are you kidding me?" asked Shego. She stepped in front of Drakken. "Are you planning on going quietly when the police come too?"

"Well no that's silly. We run... Actually. Shego, why don't you wait in the hovercar? I think Lucre and I can handle this," said Drakken in a casual, dismissive manner. "We won't take long."

"Should I just park outside the jail and cut to the chase?" asked Shego.

Shego glared as the two walked off. She leaned against the hovercar for what felt like hours, but it was minutes really. She sighed and stormed off in the direction the two had vanished. She didn't know much about Lucre, and as friendly and fond as he was of Drakken...she wasn't about to just let the guy weasel his way into their partnership. For all she knew, Drakken had been the annoying one in prison and Lucre was plotting against him. She nodded to herself. That's why she needed to keep a close eye on them, not because of how much the two were bonding.

Who lets someone walk into their lair and just accepts them at their word... What kind of villain—

Shego's eyes shot open and then narrowed.

Drakken. That's who.

They could have their fun and mess up a caper, that was fine. She was not about to become a trio with an internet nerd that worshiped her partner. She'd play along with the little plan. Eventually Lucre would wear out his welcome when it failed. She'd just be there to watch it happen... But she really didn't want to do a jailbreak today. She walked up behind where the two had simply walked into a private laboratory as if they worked there. She rolled her eyes as the two and grabbed lab-coats off the wall.

"Yeah, you guys don't stand out at all," sighed Shego.

"Eee!" Drakken jumped and then swung around to glare at her. "What have I told you about doing that?"

"Wasn't she supposed to wait in the hovercar?" asked Lucre. Shego narrowed her eyes and tossed the lab-coat at him. "Oh, that's a good idea."

"I've been at this game longer than you," hissed Shego. Lucre seemed not to notice and smiled at her.

"It must have been so great learning from a villain like Dr. Drakken for so long," he said with a smile of contentment. "I can't wait to reach my full potential."

"...All right, I'm not even dignifying that statement," sighed Shego as she shoved one of the coats on. "Where's this thing located?"

Shego looked at herself in the bathroom mirror with wide eyes. This was the most cliché thing she had ever done... And Drakken had asked her to do it, no less. She had no idea when Drakken had purchased the dress. Shockingly it fit better than half her own wardrobe. But the fact it had been purchased by Drakken caused a series of twists in her gut. It wasn't like she hadn't worn far more revealing clothing. She held the blonde wig and glared at it. It was the fact he was actively asking her to distract a man with seduction.

She knew where the wig came from at least. It was one of the old Bebe wigs, she'd seen a few of them in an old storage room ages ago. As she held it there was a sudden dawning realization that he and Lucre would have had to talk about this plan before they left the lair in order for him to get both these items. Her brows furrowed.

I am his partner! Not that idiot! How dare...

She shook off her thoughts and focused. She wasn't about to take this personal, even though everything in her being told her to do so. Drakken was caught up on a plan and, like always, wasn't using the common sense part of his brain. Just like walking into the lab for the device. Obviously she'd had to fight their way out of that little faux-pas. It hadn't been hard; the security was weak.

She yanked on the wig and fluffed it out around her. She rolled her eyes and yanked open the bathroom door to hunt down Martin Smarty's office.

"After this is over I'm plasma blasting both those idiots," she muttered under her breath as she walked down the hall.

Shego hung up her phone as Drakken ranted from the police station. He'd used his one call to let her know he needed her to pick him up. Which she would...later. She would let him sit for a few hours, maybe a day. Teach him a lesson in plotting with others and not consulting her in plans involving her. She sat on the swing that she'd wandered behind Smarty Mart headquarters. Why there was a random swing set was beyond her, but she'd been able to hear the police sirens that had apprehended Lucre and Drakken.

She smoothed out the skirt potion of her dress as she made to get up. She heard the sound of a skateboard in the distance and raised a brow as she saw Martin Smarty returning to his office riding on a skateboard instead of the luxury car he'd left in. She wondered just how much he was actually worth, recalling Lucre's ranting about stats and locations. Another thought came to mind—how desperate was this guy? He knew she'd tried to hold him for ransom and yet he'd wanted her to call him.

Didn't Junior say he was one of the wealthiest men in the world?

Shego looked down at her dress and back up at the building. If he had gone through all the trouble of a flower wall and flirting with her when she barely smiled at the guy... She began to imagine what she might get if she turned up the charm on the lonely bachelor. She should have paid more attention to his ranting when she'd been distracting him. He definitely wouldn't ignore her charms if she laid them on him, and, most importantly... Desperate and wealthy meant easy money and ignorant of funds. It would be a cakewalk to seduce the guy. And if money started vanishing for personal reasons...he'd be none the wiser.

We are broke... And this would be the easiest way for me to get funds. A little batting of the eye here and there...

She crossed her arms and weighed the pros and cons. It was simply a financial pursuit. Some feminine attention given...some evil funds gained. Women, especially villainesses, had been doing it for centuries. She felt the internal struggle tug at her chest and stomach as she thought on the decision she was making. She'd already started walking towards the building as she saw Martin Smarty leaving again. The beeping sound of yet another luxury car greeted him as he walked to a parking lot.

"Ms. Wobakoff, you're still here?" asked Martin Smarty, grinning at her. "I thought you'd be breaking your companions out about now."

"Let them sit," she smirked and took a chance. "You asked me to call you... But I didn't get your number."

"Oh trust me, you call any Smarty Mart number and I'd make sure you were patched through," he smirked. "Besides, I'd think you'd be able to find my number in seconds."

"You don't seem too worried about that aspect of my life," she snorted and leaned towards him.

"You mean that you are as dangerous as you are beautiful?" he laughed. "You sound like my ex-wives, minus that they pale in comparison to you. Free for dinner?"

Shego gave him a devious look as he opened the luxury car door for her.

Like taking candy from a baby...

Shego sighed as she pulled into the lair. Drakken had been silently brooding the entire ride from the jail where she'd "bailed" him out via a plasma blast and some keys. She wasn't exactly sure what had transpired between Lucre and Drakken since she'd last left them. All she knew was Drakken shoving the stone wall back in place so Lucre couldn't follow was an extra step he normally wouldn't have taken. She'd raised a brow but he'd chose to star gaze as she drove the rest of the way. Drakken slid out of the hover car and began walking through the door without even indicating he knew Shego was there. She glared.

"What's your problem? I'd expect you to rant and rave about whatever happened after I left," said Shego as she followed him up the steps. "Still blaming me?"

"No. Clearly it was Lucre's fault for the whole thing," said Drakken casually, "...Which you could have helped with by tossing him out when I asked."

"And...thus...my fault?" she glared.

"...We'll call it even," shrugged Drakken. Shego rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, whatever you say Doc." Shego was not in the mood to argue. This day had gone downhill fast and she wanted it to be over.

"I actually thought you were going to leave me there till morning," yawned Drakken.

"Thought about it," sighed Shego as they walked down the hallway. "I—"

"You don't have to explain," Drakken looked towards her and shook his head. "I shouldn't have told you to flirt with Smarty as a distraction. I don't know what I was thinking."

"You weren't," she shrugged. "What's new."

"I got carried away with the whole thing, and when Lucre and I were making the plan..." Drakken sighed. "Honestly I'm surprised you went along with it."

"I'm more irritated I was included at the last minute," she shrugged. "We all have to do our part in evil, right? It's not like it was the craziest thing I've done for one of your schemes. If I'm being honest, it was probably the easiest. Didn't mind having a guy fawning over me, either."

"Hmm," he looked bitter for a second before smirking. "Does someone have a crush? Should I make sure you have time off for romantic cruises in your future?"

"Uhg, no thanks," Shego rolled her eyes. "That's why I was late. I had dinner at his house and that—"

"You... You did what?" Drakken's voice was barely a whisper. "You went to his house?"

"I was hoping to continue the little flirtation and secure us some goods," shrugged Shego.

"You...went to his home...and continued flirting with him?" Drakken's expression was unreadable. Shego continued.

"Guy's worth billions...and has real-estate. It would not only be an answer to our funds but also new lair opportunities," grinned Shego. She felt her shoulders stiffen as she said it.

"Shego. You don't know anything about this man. It wasn't like I was in the same building in case he tried something," he looked panicked. Shego let out a slight laugh. "What's so funny?"

"The idea that if I got into a situation that I couldn't blast my way out of...you'd somehow be able to." Her grin faded a little at his slightly hurt expression. "Listen, Dr. D. I appreciate it, but I can handle myself."

"I am aware of that," he sighed. His expression becoming agitated. "But I don't think it wise to test that theory without backup."

"Noted," smiled Shego as they walked down the hall. "So this dress?"

"You don't like it?" he inquired.

"I didn't say that," she indicated to the dress and smirked. "Clearly you do since you bought it... I'm assuming for me?"

"It was supposed to be a Christmas gift," she saw him look her up and down. "I'm glad I got the right size. It was a guess really."

"Pretty good guess," she nudged him. "Fits like a glove."

He looked at her again out of the corner of his eye and she saw the smirk ghost across his face.

She smirked a little to herself at that, even though she knew that his glance didn't mean the same as Martin Smarty's had. She felt that swirl again at the attention she'd had from Smarty, and how she'd spent the last few weeks wishing the man walking down the hall next to her would view her that way. She shook it off as they turned into the lab area and she noticed the unfinished projects and lack of people. The failure of her own plan to get them funds and lairs settled back in.

"Too bad he had a kid," she muttered as she flopped in her normal seat and began taking off her heels. "We could have used the money."

"When's that ever stopped you from a mild robbery?" Drakken laughed and Shego nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, but if my plan had panned out, I could have gotten us secured funds and locations at the drop of a hat with only a few bats of the eye," smirked Shego. "I can do the gold-digging girlfriend and wife. Not really into the whole step-mother card. Yeah, that's a pass."

"You what?" Drakken had been about to sit down but instead stood back up. "What happened?"

"Well clearly the guy's a sap. All I had to do was show him some interest and he would have given me anything. I figured, what if I pretended to be into him for longer? He's worth billions and he confirmed his real-estate. Easy, right?" smiled Shego.

"You planned on what...actually seducing him?" asked Drakken with wide eyes.

"Drakken? What's the big deal? There's no difference in me seducing him so you can steal what we need and me seducing him to get us money and new locations," Shego sighed as she stood up. The cool ground felt good on her sore feet.

She looked up and watched Drakken's expressions shift and she couldn't figure out where he was going to land. She imagined it was the same internal struggle she'd had before she'd decided to attempt her foiled quest. She felt her arms cross as if hugging herself. It shouldn't matter to him either way. It would be a means to an end, and if she had been able to play it right they could have had access to new lair locations whenever she wanted. It was the oldest trick in the villainess handbook, but most only used it when they were getting ready to retire from villainy.

"Drakken, I don't know what the big deal is. It's the easiest and quickest play for any villain, male or female, to do." She smirked but it made her stomach grow cold again.

His expression settled on disgust. She held herself tighter.

"I don't care what others have done. You're my...partner, and that's not something that should even be entertained," glared Drakken.

"Well we need the funds and as your partner...it can get us what we need for world domination," she snapped and shook her head. "Doesn't matter. I don't do kids and I was already on the fence about it—"

"Stay off that fence, Shego." He stepped towards her. His voice was dark.

Shego's eyes shot open but she glared back.

"First of all, don't tell me what to do. Secondly, I was trying to figure out a way to fix your problems." Her hands uncrossed now and felt warm as if they were about to ignite.

"I didn't ask you to fix anything. I asked you to distract a man while I was in the other part of the same building. I didn't ask you to sleep with him to get us a new lair." She saw something ghost over his eyes but his brow was still narrowed.

"I didn't sleep with him." She didn't like how his implications were making her feel.

"Well what did you think your idea would lead to? You think he'd just hand over the money and places because you're a beautiful woman flirting with him?" His jaw kept shifting as he talked as if he was fighting an expression.

"Clearly," she rolled her eyes and looked at the cave wall. "I would have crossed that bridge when I came to it... It doesn't matter, I didn't do it."

"That's not the point, Shego." He seemed to deflate. "Is... Is that what you want to do?"

"No, but it was an opportunity that was available." She let her shoulders fall. "Why should you care so long as we get the funds?"

"...I..." Drakken's frame slacked as well, and his hands were placed on her shoulders. "I... I think you're better than that. You're intelligent...resourceful... Just because you can turn a man to putty with your beauty...doesn't mean you need to for our world domination plans... I'll take care of that."

"I see." She felt her face grow warm. "Well, no worries Doc. I have no plans of attempting it again. Too many variables... And the thought of you needing to be around in case I get in danger... Yeah that's just more than a little awkward."

"Yes...it would be," he looked uneasy. His hands lingered on her shoulders.

"So when you decide to seduce someone for money...I'll wait in the hovercar," Shego said with a slight smile.

Drakken's look of confusion fell into an eye roll as his hands fell away from her shoulders and he turned to leave the lab.

"Drakken... Drakken? Do you want me to start looking up wealthy single woman over 80?" He continued walking. "It's a very small market, but if you got game—well that gesture was unnecessary."

"Good night, Shego!" she heard him yell from down the hall.

Shego laughed silently to herself as she headed to her own room. She tapped her fingers on the door panel and smiled.

"Good night, Drakken," she called out, she heard him mutter something from behind the door.

Take Your Broke... Anyway. -