Author's note:
Ok, chapter five of six. Not much to say about this one either, other than the title, Dragons and fables, is a track by Hawkwind, from their Earth Ritual EP and later their Chronicle of the black sword live show. The reason for this title will become apparent once you have read the chapter. So, enjoy.
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Chapter Twenty: Dragons and fables
Kim flopped back amidst the fresh sheets of her old bed. It had been a very long day and the energy she had been exuding that morning was now well and truly spent. With no adrenaline or alcohol in her system and the codeine from the morning having worn off by lunchtime, she had slowly started to feel a heavy discomfort set in, as one by one, her injuries started to ache. The toll, despite how much she had tried to hide it, had not gone unnoticed by her mother. Initially, she'd tried to fob it off and refused the offer of the singular codeine. However, a polite reminder of the house's intruder disabling devices and that the drugs also came in hypodermic form, had convinced her to see the error in her judgement. That had occurred early evening.
Her dad had arrived home from the lab and the whole family had sat down to dinner together for the first time in well over a month. They'd all taken their turn to talk about their recent activities and it been a rather relaxed affair. She'd even had the Tweebs captivated when giving an account of chasing the man claiming to be thee Grigori Rasputin over the rooftops of St Petersburg. However, when asked for a blow by blow account of yesterday's fight with Shego, she'd tried to dissuade her brothers by saying that it wasn't anything special. When they'd pushed her on the matter, her mom, who had been carefully studying her, came to her rescue by telling them that they'd seen more than enough of it over the course of HeroTV's three-hour dissection. She'd given her mom a thankful smile, but received a look in return that said, "I'll be asking you later about that one."
Kim's mind had been in turmoil throughout the remainder of dinner; frantically screening their conversation from earlier in the day for anything that might have hinted at the train wreck that her recent engagements with the villainess had become. It was only when back in the living room, with a large bowl of rocky-road ice-cream, that her brain had been dragged back into the conversation by her dad and his talk about a conversation he'd recently had with the Dean of M.I.S.T. Apparently, the man had been keen to know what her dad's brilliant young daughter was up to, had then been shocked to learn that she was not at college and then said that M.I.S.T. would welcome her with open arms, should she wish to attend in the forthcoming academic year. Kim had rolled her eyes at that point and quickly shot the idea and the subject as a whole down with a firm statement that she was happy with her life choices and had no desire to go to any college, period. After that, they'd sat and watched a film before bed.
Kim stared up at the ceiling and winced when a slight movement of her torso caused her ribs to hurt. The codeine having worn off over an hour ago. Fuck I hurt. I guess there'll be no missions for me for the next few days… assuming mom doesn't keep the house on lockdown until she decides I'm fully healed. She shuddered at the thought of how stir-crazy she would go if she were to be stuck inside her parents' house with the Tweebs for any length of time.
From downstairs, she heard the sound of footsteps on the wooden steps that led up to her old bedroom. She craned her neck to look at the rectangular hole in the floor and soon saw the red hair that told her it was her mom. "Hey, mom," she said as she stiffly sat up, wincing as another stab of pain shot through her ribs.
"Sorry to bother you, Kimmie, but I thought you might like a mug of cocoa," her mom said as she walked over to the nightstand and set down a steaming mug.
"Thanks," she replied, having to stifle another grimace. Her eyes then caught sight of the small glass of water in her mom's other hand. "You're also here to check me over and make me take more painkillers, aren't you?"
"I did warn you that I wanted you to stay so that I could keep an eye on you," her mom replied and placed the glass down beside the mug of cocoa. She then went over to the desk and fetched the bag containing her medical supplies. Withdrawing the thermometer, she then said, "hold still, Kimmie."
Kim rolled her eyes but did as she was told. She felt the plastic device slide into her ear and listened to it give off a high-pitched beep before it was withdrawn.
"While you still have a slight fever, your temperature has come down, Honey. I think the antibiotics are working."
"Does that mean I get to go home tomorrow?" Kim asked, feeling like she was stuck in hospital.
"It means I won't be calling Monique to cancel your night out tomorrow," her mom replied firmly.
After telling her about their plans to go out to Heartbeats tomorrow night, her mom had told Kim that she wouldn't be going anywhere other than the hospital if there was no sign that the antibiotics were working come morning. Needless to say, both her car and door keys had been confiscated; along with the Kimmunicator. Why do I have a suspicion that had I not emphasised the search for a boyfriend part, that mom would have put the kybosh on tomorrow night, regardless of my condition come morning? Does she think that I might eventually decide to settle down if I meet someone that I like?
She did not get the chance to ask, as her mom then produced her stethoscope and indicated for her to sit forward. The bell of the medical implement felt cold against her warm skin.
"Ok, Kimmie, breathe in for me…"
She took in as deep a breath as she could, tried to hold it, but wound up taking a mild coughing fit. Her ribs shooting her with stabs of pain with each and every one. Ok, note to self, don't try to hold onto that much air. Once she had stopped, she tried again with a smaller breath and made it through the rest of the examination without coughing again.
"Your lungs sound slightly weaker than they did earlier, but that's to be expected, as the antibiotics will have gone after the infection in your leg first," her mom said. "However, I'll be checking again in the morning. Now, roll over for me."
"Why?" Kim asked, having a bad feeling about what was going to happen.
"Because you're getting another dose of antibiotics now."
She let out a deflated moan, but under a stern look from her mom, rolled over and slipped down her pyjama trousers.
The sound of the hypodermic being unpackaged filled her ears, before her mom then said, "just hold still, Kimmie."
Like with the first one that afternoon, her body involuntarily tensed before the needle had even pierced her flesh. "Oww," she cried out, a testament to how tired and sore she felt, as this one punctured her left glute and her eyes screwed up. She felt a cold sensation that lasted far too long spread through the left half of her backside.
"Sorry, Kimmie," her mom apologised when she finally removed the hypodermic. "Unfortunately, you'll be getting another one in the morning after breakfast."
"You kept that fact quiet this afternoon," Kim grumbled as she pulled up her trousers.
"If I hadn't, I would have needed to lock down the house there and then as you would have bolted at the first opportunity."
She opened her mouth to say that she wouldn't have, but her mom caught her gaze and dared her to utter the rebuttal. Instead, she said, "I really am ok, honest."
This was met with just as much disdain as if she had said she wouldn't have run away. "Kim, you might be able to pull the wool over your father's eyes, but I've been watching you wincing all night. I know you're not ok, even if you don't." Her mom then held out two small round tablets. "These will help."
"Not more codeine," she moaned. "One of those is bad enough, two will make me loopy."
"Then it's a good thing you're going to bed then, isn't it?" Her mom then picked up the glass of water and fixed an expression on her face that said, "take them or I'll get another hypodermic out."
Grudgingly, she sat up, took the two pills and swallowed them with a mouthful of water. "Happy?" she asked, opening her mouth wide and sticking out her tongue to prove that she had indeed swallowed them.
"I'll be happy…"
"When my daughter starts taking her health seriously," Kim said in unison with her mom. She let out a laugh but received a look that said it had not been amusing.
However, instead of chastising her, the woman sat down on the end of the bed. "So, what's going on between you and Shego?"
The question caught her off-guard as an image of the green-skinned woman danced through her mind. "What makes you think something is going on between us?" Nice one, Possible. You might as well have just told her that something's going on between the two of you.
Inside her head, the Barkin-dragon barked, "there's nothing going on between you and Shego. Now, just stay calm and I'll have that distraction back in her box in no time. And remember, you like boys."
I like boys…
"Kim," her mom said with a pointed look, "how many battles have you had with her?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "I've no idea. Try a lot."
"Exactly," her mom replied, "and I can count on one hand how many of those you don't like talking about and on the other, how many of them went on for almost an hour. So, what's happened this time?"
She took as deep a breath as she dared, lest she start to cough again. Ok, Kim, you need to lie and you need to lie well. "She's upped her game recently and I can't defeat her as easily as before. I guess with Drakken being unable to take over the world every few days, she's had plenty of time to train." Ok, that sounds plausible and at least covers half of her observations without revealing any of the truth. She gazed at her mom's face to see how it had gone down but knew she needed to cover the woman's other observation too. "I also don't like talking about the ones where she saved my life. It both confuses me and reminds me that…"
"…That you'd be dead otherwise," her mom finished for her. "Maybe you need to be reminded about that sometimes, Kim."
Great, so at best that's her way of saying I need to be more careful and at worst that I should quit while I'm still alive and in one piece. Careful, maybe. Quit? Sorry, Mom, but no dice. I love what I do far too much to let one near-miss deter me. However, she did not say this out loud. Instead, she simply said, "I'll be more careful in future, promise."
Her mom, seemingly satisfied with her response, leaned in to give her a hug. "Goodnight, Kimmie-cub."
"Goodnight, Mom," she replied as they embraced.
"Now, drink that coco then go to sleep, doctor's orders," her mom said as they separated.
"I will."
Kim watched as her mom disappeared down the stairs. She did as instructed and drank the mug of cocoa. By the time she had finished, the room had a slight rosy tinge to its edges. Lying back amidst the sheets she closed her eyes. Unfortunately, the brief conversation with her mom had put a certain green-skinned woman front and centre of her mind again. Or at least as front and centre as one could be when being chased around by a fire breathing dragon that resembled your old school teacher. With all the skill and grace of the real thing, Shego danced around and dodged the attacks of the lumbering creature that hounded her.
"What's the problem, Stevie boy? Barkin worse than your bite," Shego laughed as she expertly evaded a lunge from the dragon's head.
Kim settled down to watch. This is so the drugs at work, she giggled. Damn, they hit me fast tonight. Perhaps they stacked with the antibiotics? Heh, heh, heh, look out Stevie boy!
The Barkin-dragon, who had failed in a second lunge, could do nothing as Shego landed on his head and slammed it into the ground. The creature roared and snapped its head around with a vicious bite, but ate nothing except air, as its target had already jumped well clear.
"She likes boys, Wench!" the Barkin-dragon barked as it spewed a mouthful of flame after the green-skinned woman.
Yeah, you tell her Mr B, Kim said internally.
"Hate to break it to you, Stevie-boy, but Kimmie much prefers the fairer sex," Shego replied.
Do not!
The Barkin-dragon lashed out with its tail and swatted Shego out of the air. "She likes boys!"
The green-skinned woman hit the ground hard and grunted, "son of a…"
The creature advanced, reared up on its hind legs and drove its head downwards.
Look out, Mr B, Kim yelled, but either it did not hear her or the fight was going on independently from the part of her brain that was her; like she was watching a movie.
Shego backflipped off the ground and caught the Barkin-dragon in the snout with a vicious twin-footed kick. It roared in pain as it was sent hurtling through the air and crashed down on the ground in a heap. The woman then looked Kim directly in the eye and gave her a sassy smirk as she stretched off. "Want me to change into something more comfortable, Princess?"
Yes, please!
Instantaneously, Shego's catsuit melted away in a sea of green flames and left the woman in her bathing suit. Kim's eyes almost popped out of her head as she stared at those long supple legs, smooth midriff and voluptuous breasts. "Now, why don't you give that mean 'ol Mr B the boot and we can get down to business."
Um…
"She likes boys!" the Barkin-dragon roared as it thundered at Shego, flames spewing from its mouth.
The green-skinned woman had to throw herself to the dirt and roll to avoid being turned into BBQ.
Kim shook her head. I like boys, I like boys…
"Urgh, little help, Kimmie?" Shego yelled as she had to roll again in order to evade being eviscerated by a claw.
"You like boys," the Barkin-dragon boomed again, louder this time.
She closed her eyes. I like boys, I like boys…
"ARGH!" Shego screamed as she failed to move quickly enough and a second claw attack tore through the skin on her left shoulder blade; leaving three bloody lines in its wake. "Kim…mie… help…"
Though she'd closed her eyes, Kim still saw everything that was happening in front of her. The Barkin-dragon reached out with one clawed appendage, seized the green-skinned woman and hoisted her up off the ground. "She likes boys," it barked yet again.
The words echoed around Kim's brain like a heavy drumbeat. I like boys, I like boys…
"Don't… listen… to… him… Kimmie…" Shego said through loud, painful winces. "You… don't… have… to… ARGH!"
Shego! Kim yelled, but before she could do anything, found herself face to snout with the Barkin-dragon.
"You like boys, Possible. End of discussion," the creature barked.
The words rooted her to the spot. I like boys, I like boys, I like boys.
"Now then. I'd best be getting this trouble maker out of here," the Barkin-dragon said as the chest it had been guarding earlier in the day magically popped into existence. The locks clicked and the lid sprang open.
"Kimmie," Shego then gasped as she was held over the chest. "It's ok for you to like girls!"
THUD! The green-skinned woman was shoved inside with such ferocity by the Barkin-dragon that she would be lucky to have any bones left intact. The lid slammed shut and all the locks clicked back into place. "Villains, you can't trust them to not try and mess things up."
Kim could only nod robotically as she watched the Barkin-dragon coil itself around the chest.
"Remember, Possible, boys kiss girls. End of discussion," the creature said as its eyes closed.
Boys kiss girls, she repeated… boys kiss girls… and I like boys.
This time when Kim's eyes closed, she saw nothing but a sea of black. She was asleep within minutes. And when she next awoke, she would likely only remember one thing from the whole drug-induced hallucination, or whatever it had been; I like boys.