For the tumblr prompt at Drakgoprompt

Eavesdropping

Drakken tapped his pen on his notebook in silence. He couldn't focus on his latest project due to discomfort. He'd tried to pretend Junior wasn't sitting in Shego's chair waiting for her... but he was. Every time Drakken wrote something or touched something. He would hear Junior make a smacking sound as if opening his mouth to ask a question... and then... stop. Drakken couldn't even remember where he was going with the scribbles he'd started.

"Dr. Drakken," came Junior's voice.

Finally.

"Uh, yes, Junior?" asked Drakken. Something about calling a grown man Junior made him cringe as he looked at the young man.

"My father was wondering if you've heard of spinning bladed tops... It has seemed that one had broken," stated Junior.

Drakken raised a brow in curiosity.

"The Death Spinner 3000's?" asked Drakken. His lips twitched.

"No... the 5000's... Father wanted an upgraded supply," said Junior casually. Drakken grinned, he'd always wanted to tinker with one of those, "So you know it. My father thought you might."

Drakken felt smug at the thought of such advanced technology being associated with him.

"He thought perhaps you knew someone who could repair it," continued Junior. Drakken scowled.

"No." He turned back around, "Aren't you and Shego running late?"

"Ah... yes. We got reservations at the most exclusive club in Spain," Junior began, "We are to be meeting with Adrena and Camille. After picking up my Bonnie."

"Sounds lovely," grumbled Drakken, "All weekend, right?"

"That is the plan," Junior's excitement died off, "Shego told me you declined her offer to come?"

Drakken raised a brow in confusion at this. Shego had not asked him to join them at all. He would have declined he supposed, but she could have pretended to want him to come for her birthday celebration. He felt his shoulders slump at this but he realized Junior was talking to him still.

"Perhaps you have changed your mind?" he still didn't look at Junior.

She clearly doesn't want you to come.

"Pasadena," Drakken cleared his throat and picked up his pen, "I can't speak Spanish and I don't think I'd enjoy all the people."

It fell silent and Drakken began fixating on things he couldn't remember. Trying to recall the thoughts he'd been having before Junior had showed up early and Shego had run off to change and grab her things. He kept wondering why Shego hadn't invited him, thought he knew why. Shego and he were friends... this he knew for sure. He told himself it was because she knew he'd get bored and whine. Admittedly he wouldn't whine, but might have left earlier than they probably planned on. Drakken heard the sound of heels on approaching and was relieved to know Junior was leaving soon.

"Que hermosa," came Junior's voice, "Shego, my friend. Exquisita."

Drakken looked around to see Shego walking through the doorway. A smug look on her face as she rolled her eyes at Junior. Drakken swallowed hard at how true Junior's statement was. Shego wore a deep red halter style dress with an intricate lace bodice structure that hugged her to the hip where the skit became more loose for dancing he was sure. An delicately places slit on either side showed hints of her legs. He knew that would only be hints until she hit the dance floor. Her black heels, while many would fall and stumble in, he knew she would gracefully move through crowds on.

"You look beautiful," stated Drakken as she tugged at her black gloves.

Shego's smirk fell away and he saw a hint of color over her cheeks before she snorted.

"Sure," she shook her head, "Okay, so remember what I told you."

Drakken's smile fell and he rolled his eyes now as he turned away.

"I wont go on any solo missions because... as you so delicately put it," Drakken mimicked Shego's voice best her could, "I'm not flying back to save your doodle when you mess something up."

"We both know I did not say doodle or mess," Shego sighed, "Remember to actually go to sleep... because if I come back on Monday and you haven't slept... I am not dealing with your emotional dramatics."

"Emotional dramatics? Dealing?" Drakken spun around in his chair to look at her, "You plasma blasted me and locked me in my bedroom... in my own lair!"

"Then... to avoid it... go to sleep," said Shego, "Alright. Junior, lets head out. Drakken, I mean it."

"Drakken I mean it," Drakken muttered under his breath. Something hit him, "Ow!"

"Keep it up and someone might let your mother know the new lair address," threatened Shego. Drakken's eyes shot open.

"Don't you have a party to go too!" snapped Drakken. Shego snorted as she headed towards the door.

Drakken watched as Junior followed Shego out the door, a curious expression on the young man's face as he looked between he and Shego. Drakken looked back at his papers and sighed. He was completely unfocused this evening and knew it would only lead to frustrations. He wasn't sure how long he spun in his chair before getting up and deciding on just watching some television that Shego normally scoffed at. Or rather... waited for him to leave for her to enjoy in secret.

He was halfway down the hall when he heard voices... or rather arguing. He froze and waited around the corner as he heard Junior and Shego in a heated conversation.

"Junior... I am not having this discussion," hissed Shego, "I didn't invite him for a reason."

"Celos?" sighed Junior. He heard Shego growl.

"Why would I be?"

"Shego, my dearest friend," Junior sounded like he was fighting a laugh, "No quieres que otra mujer baile con el."

"Are you- pfft he could dance with whoever he wanted," Shego sounded off.

"Ah, so your not in love with him then?" asked Junior, "Could have fooled me."

"A plastic bag fools you, Junior," snapped Shego, "I never said anything like that."

"I see it in your movements, Shego... and words," Junior continued.

Drakken's heart sank as he heard this. While he was aware of his feelings towards his companion and aware she didn't feel the same... he didn't want to hear about a man who was interested in her or who she was interested in. He began to step away.

"Shego?" Junior was pushing.

"It doesn't matter if I'm in love with him or not... he doesn't see me that way," snarled Shego, "I'm his former side kick and friend at best... are you done?"

Drakken's eyes shot open and his chest began pounding. Suddenly he didn't want to leave his spot and he listened even more.

"It might be mutual-"

"It's not," huffed Shego, "It never will be... Drakken doesn't see me... like I see him."

Drakken felt a wave of emotions flipping through his body as the words all began to click. Confusion, jovial hope, a swell of euphoria. He couldn't mentally narrow down all his thoughts. He wanted to walk out there and say something, wanted to run and hide... he didn't know what to do or say.

"Ask him to come with us... see where the evening goes," said Junior, "Could be a great birthday weekend."

"I'm not feeling festive right now," Shego sounded put out, "I'll catch up later."

"Shego-"

"You know what. Fine. I'm in love with him, okay," hissed Shego, "Thank you for reminding me. I'll catch up in a few hours."

Drakken heard the front entrance open and close. He was frozen, his mind still swirling with the words he'd just heard. Then the sound of heels fast approaching made him very aware he was hiding around a corner eavesdropping from the shadows. An accident it may have started off as, but incriminating it looked. He ran, and darted through his lab door.

"Drakken?"

He froze and turned around, attempting to school his face but the grin was hard to force away.

"Ah, Shego? What are you still doing here?" He cleared his throat. She was looking at him sternly, "I uh... heard you and Junior arguing... is everything... okay?"

Shego looked at him skeptically at first before rolling her eyes.

"I'm meeting them later. These shoes are killing me," she muttered as she walked but towards her room.

Drakken said nothing and watched her walk off. His chest still thumping as her words came fluttering back to him. He felt unease waver momentarily as he watched Shego's form turn the corner and vanish.

What are you doing?

Drakken shook his head.

You just heard her... say something... do something.

He swallowed hard and found himself slowly following after her. He was mentally going through all the pros and cons... the concerns and excitement. Each con was toppled by a giddy feeling he was vaguely familiar with. His mind playing back the years of swallowing down his own feelings for Shego now all bubbling to the top with renewed vigor. He was at her door before he knew it, which she was just about to close.

"Did you need something?" Shego's voice cut through the noise in his head.

"Uh... ohm," Drakken bit his lip before clearing his throat, "I uh... heard the argument."

Shego's face became blank as she looked at him before glaring and crossing her arms.

"Pfft, yeah, so?" she asked, "Nothing exciting... we were arguing about a bartender-"

"You were talking about me," Drakken cut in boldly. Shego's face tinted as she looked away from him.

"How much did you hear?" she asked sternly.

Drakken swallowed hard.

"How you feel about me," he answered. He watched Shego's brows furrow further and her eyes dart anywhere but at him.

There was a heavy silence between the two until they both spoke at the exact same time.

"I'm in love with you, too-"

"I only told him that to shut him... up."

Drakken felt ice run through his veins and bleed into his stomach as his profess if love was eclipsed. Her words reverberated in his head and he prayed she hadn't heard it in her own admission. Her green eyes went wide and Drakken felt searing pain in his chest. She heard.

"W-What did you just say," Shego's voice was barely a whisper.

"I uh... ohm..." Drakken felt suddenly ill.

"Did... did you just say your... in love... with me?" her brow furrowed.

"Shego I..." Drakken felt his throat tighten.

I made a mistake... I shouldn't have-

"Well?" demanded Shego.

Drakken watched her expression closely. Her narrowed eyes and agitated expression made it very clear he had made a dire mistake. He wanted to say he was kidding... but as he stood in her doorway, having deliberately come to confess this to her after eavesdropping... he nodded instead. The snort Shego gave cut him deeper than any words she could have used. The laugh she let out as she spun away from him felt like a thousand paper cuts to his very soul.

"Are you kidding me, Drakken..." her voice wavered as he watched her shoulders shake.

Laughter he decided. Drakken felt his eyes sting but dismissed it as he narrowed his own eyes and headed towards the door.

"After-" Drakken cut her off as he made his way through the door.

"You don't have to mock, Shego," he practically hissed as he stalked out her room.

She didn't call after him or say anything as he cleared the hallway to his own room. His stomach swirling as his chest tightened. By the time he made his way through his own bedroom door... he could scarcely breath as he fell back against the closed metal. He was a mixture of emotions now... hurt, embarrassed, angry. How starkly contrast to his earlier feelings of hope, excitement, and joy. He growled at himself in frustration.

"How could you have been so stupid. Of coarse she was only telling him so he would leave," he grumbled as he clutched his head.

His emotions stilled and his thoughts froze for only a second.

"How do I fix it?" he asked allowed.

He let his head fall back as he slid down into a crouching position against the frame. He started to mentally calculate time travel, memory interference, faining head trauma and pretend it never happened. Something. Anything.

"Why?" he asked himself.

He debated on racing to the lab to start working on some project to undue his dilemma, when a new one occurred. In a split second, the door slid open and he fell backwards. His tailbone being the casualty as he did so. He let out a hiss or pain and was about to yell at the door when he saw Shego. She was standing with her hand on his keypad and looking at him. He glared and looked away.

"Shego, I really don't want to hear it," he stated, "Forget I said anything."

He hated how his voice quivered instead of sounded commanding. He scowled and stood, ready to walk back in his room. Instead, he was pushed hard into the hallway wall. He heard the yelp of surprise come out his mouth before he could stop it. Shego's fists clutched the front of his coat as she looked at him.

"You said you loved me," she said firmly. Drakken felt his face grow warm as he tried to look away, "Do you?"

Drakken wanted to make a zippy comeback and dismiss it all... but his brain and mouth didn't always see eye to eye in times he wish they did.

"Yes," he scoffed, "Alright... mock-"

Lips smacked into his at lightening speed. His head bumped into the stone behind him at the sudden pressure. Shego's lips were a firm hunger against his and it took him longer to register than it should have. Her lips were pulling away from his by the time it set in. Sudden panic at missing this moment coarse through him and he kissed back with the same hunger, barely letting her lips part from his in that time. The grip on the front of his coat fell away as they slid up his chest to wrap around his neck. Her lips pulled away from his for air and the soft hum of her voice against them made his heart pound. Her emerald eyes met his as she let the words fall from her lips.

"I love you, too."

Fin