City Escape Part 1


Shego flattened out the short cap sleeve of her black dress as she walked toward the nightclub nestled into the lavish European city. The sight of the upscale building and its thumping bass-driven music would have normally excited her. She'd be lying to herself if she didn't say that the flight over had only given her time to focus on Drakken's dismissive behavior toward the idea of her going out and flirting for drinks. She shook her head as she headed towards the bouncers. She was going to have a good time and ignore the plaguing thoughts in her head.

"Shego!" came the jovial accented voice of Junior.

She looked up behind the bouncer to see the young man waving excitedly towards her, the vibrant teal shimmer of his shirt standing out in the sea of black behind him. Shego felt the rest of her thoughts settle and the confident smirk instinctively pull itself across her face. She merely waved at the bouncers who didn't hesitate to let her in to join her waiting party. The dim lights surrounding the different colors of the dance floor made Shego squint her eyes for a second before looking at Junior.

"Branching out from yellow and gold?" smirked Shego as she indicated to Junior's shirt, overly shiny with embellishments down the buttoned up portion. "No leather pants even?"

Junior looked aghast.

"Silk and leather... What kind of club do you think we are at?" Junior shook his head but grinned. "Come on. Camille has got us a private balcony seating."

"Who exactly is all here?" asked Shego as she followed him through the crowd.

"Only Adrena, Camille, myself, and my Bonnie," said Junior. "I do not want to overwhelm my love... She has had such a trying summer so far... I still do not understand summer school... Though she explained...not everyone has private tutors."

"No, Junior. They don't," snorted Shego.

Shego took a deep breath and grimaced at the scents of overpowering perfumes and colognes as they ascended the stairs. She hoped she could maintain the mental energy through what would only be described as Adrena and Camille. Though memory serving, Camille hadn't been too unbearable on the first villainess's night out...minus ditching them when the danger got to be too much.

The sound was louder up on the balcony but the perfume smell not nearly as potent as that of other substances in further areas of the balcony seating. Junior navigated them to a luxury table made of elegant bronze-colored wood where three others sat. The brilliant champagne shimmer of Camille's thin-strapped and overly clingy wrap dress was the first thing Shego saw.

"Shego!" yelled Adrena excitedly, clearly a few drinks in for the night.

"How many?" snickered Shego to Junior.

Shego watched as Adrena nearly spilled a bottle of champagne on her dark red fitted dress, its open deep sweetheart cut out the only thing making it more club appropriate despite its otherwise simple cocktail dress appearance. The only thing that stopped the drink spilling was Bonnie, who hastily grabbed the bottle and placed it back in a safe position. Shego had expected Bonnie to wear a matching color to Junior but she did still fit the palette. She wore a magenta one-shoulder dress with a ruffle along the neckline. It screamed high school girl wanting to seem sophisticated. It made Shego cringe to know that the young woman clearly had yet to discover Villainess Weekly and was still reading basic magazine trends.

"Camille ordered the bottle. Adrena has had three shots... I am not familiar with Adrena and clubs... Should this be of concern?" whispered Junior. Shego snorted but gave no response as she joined the table.

"Shego, loving the LBD," smirked Bonnie. Shego heard a hint of nervous inflection in her voice.

"Can't go wrong with classic," shrugged Shego. "All right, what's on the table and when's the good music gonna start?"

"We got about twenty before the music really picks up," stated Camille. "My friend DJ Tarro takes over for the night. Thank goodness. It's gonna be steamy."

"I have been eyeing up those guys over there," grinned Adrena, practically shoving Camille over as she leaned across her to reach Shego. "I call dibs on the brunet in the middle."

Shego followed her gaze to where three well-built men laughed in the corner. One of the blonde men winked to where Shego knew Adrena was waving. She ignored Camille yelling at Adrena for almost squishing Debutante in the satchel next to her. One of the muscle-bound blonde was a familiar face.

"Camille. Isn't that Midas?" asked Shego. Camille followed her gaze.

"Ooo. It is," she chuckled. Her brow furrowed. "It's been ages since I managed to book him. Last time I spaced out and missed my appointment."

Shego had a sudden recollection of telling Camille the wrong time to steal an appointment from Midas... Clearly she'd never concluded as much. Shego nodded and chose to roll with the young woman's assessment.

Before any further conversation could take place Midas and his friends began making their way over to them. Shego moved out of the way as Camille shoved Adrena back into her seat. Junior had retaken his seat next to Bonnie and the two seemed oblivious to the new guests coming over to them. Shego felt a bitter pang in her gut as she watched the two holding hands under the table.

"Hello familiar faces," laughed Midas. He grinned at Shego and Camille. "Long time no see... Love so see the old face Ms. Leon. Much better than the last one... Nose was not right for you."

"I'm sure it wasn't hers either way," chimed in Bonnie. Camille shot her a look that only deepened as Adrena snorted and Junior chuckled.

"Thank you, Midas," smiled Camille. "You look as handsome as ever... Finally let you out of your golden palace to grace mere mortals?"

Midas's friends laughed, and his smile flickered.

"They act like you're a god," snorted the brunet Adrena had been eyeing. "He may have the golden touch but he bleeds no different than anyone here."

"You never said you had such gorgeous clients," said an older blond with them. He was smiling at Shego. "Should have gone into...whatever you do just for that."

"Dion Lavish," grinned the brunet who'd first spoken. "Such class should have heard of my family business."

"Dionysus Winery." Camille's eyes lit up. "I think we've met before at a charity event."

"I said dibs," hissed Adrena under her breath. Camille shot her a look.

"You look familiar," Dion spoke. He glanced over at the friend with blond curls who'd been smiling in Shego's direction. "Sal... You're better at remembering faces."

"Oh, but she's had so many," whispered Bonnie. Shego chuckled.

"Camille Leon," stated Midas. "The smartest of the Leon family."

"Oh yes... The disgraced heiress turned villain," grinned Dion. It was clear he had drunk more than it first appeared by his stumble. "I mean that with respect mind you."

The introductions made their way around at his words. The stiff expression of forced amusement on Camille's face finally faded to one of elation as the music changed on the dance floor.

"Finally. Some quality music," sighed Dion. "Would any of you ladies care to dance—"

"Oh yeah," Adrena practically stepped over Camille to join Dion. "Hope you like dancing because once I start...it's over."

"Ms. Leon?" asked Midas.

"Maybe a little later. Someone owes me a dance already," smiled Camille as she yanked Junior's hand from Bonnie's. "Excuse us, Bailey."

Shego watched the icy glares that passed between the two and a very confused Junior being yanked away towards the stairs. The two men looked at them and Shego shook her head.

That was how a few minutes later Shego found herself at the small bar near the dance floor with Bonnie for company. Three songs in, and it looked like Junior wasn't escaping dancing with Camille... Shego knew she could have assisted but it wasn't her place. It was clear there was some sort of strange triangle happening that Shego wanted no part of. She took a drink of what she'd ordered and sighed. She was debating on going out on the dance floor but she wasn't exactly in the mood.

She pulled out her phone and paused as she saw a missed message. She felt a flare of excitement rush through her as she opened it. She didn't know what she was hoping for if she was honest. A text of distress, or asking her to come back to the lair... Anything that would end the weird fog in the back of her head that was keeping her from enjoying her evening. But the message didn't come as any relief. The time was from hours ago with a simple statement of 'Have fun' accompanied by a smiley face. She felt anger if anything as she shoved her phone away and began on her second drink.

He doesn't even care...

She suddenly wished someone would stroll by that she could dance with, or that she'd ordered a very strong tequila.

No. No tequila.

She nodded to herself and debated pulling out her phone to send Drakken a snarky text... She didn't. She couldn't place the feelings she was having... He'd given her free reign to have fun and do anything she wanted. Hadn't cared if she'd flirted with others... She just didn't know if it was because he lacked any feelings and had...as she feared...simply been exaggerating things to keep her there... Or did he just...not care at all. She remembered back to when Steve Barkin had come to the lair to serenade her. Drakken had only seemed annoyed and there had been nothing between them at all then... He'd stared with narrowed eyes when she'd taken that convertible out for a spin with that idiot salesman to pick him up... And yet... Now he didn't seem to care.

It was confusing.

"Uhg. It's bad enough she's over at the Seniors' place all the time," glared Bonnie. "Can she be any more desperate?"

It was a welcomed distraction as Shego looked at Bonnie. Her eyes turned to the dance floor.

"Camille have a thing for Junior?" Shego raised a brow.

"She has a thing for money... Which I mean...I totally get," Bonnie rolled her eyes. "But Junior is my boyfriend and it's just trashy."

"Surprised Senior lets Junior have friends over to play," muttered Shego.

"Senior invites her... I don't think he likes me much." Bonnie glared at the drink she'd barely touched. "Junior says he does, but why does he keep inviting Camille over to talk about...yacht emissions and stuff... Can't he just...look that up online?"

"Interesting," Shego nodded and watched where Camille and Junior danced, Junior looking very off put by it. "It's clear Junior adores you so you don't have to worry."

"Yeah but what if Senior starts trying to set them up," glared Bonnie. "She's a pretentious, evil, shape-shifting, heiress... Honestly I'm a little jealous...not of the shape-shifting. I know I don't have to worry about my looks."

Shego looked at her a second and thought.

"Assert yourself," Shego shrugged as she sipped her drink.

"Huh?" asked Bonnie. She scoffed. "Pfft, easy for you to say. I'm still getting used to all of this."

"Bonnie. Do you want to be a villain?" asked Shego as she leaned against the wall. "Because if so there's some things you should know."

"Like?" asked Bonnie.

"When another villain is after your man...either assert yourself or get rid of her," continued Shego. Bonnie raised a brow.

"Like...kill her?" She saw the fear flash behind Bonnie's eyes.

"No. Drop her from a jet into a lake or something," snorted Shego.

Bonnie was looking over to where Junior and Camille danced with narrowed eyes. Shego could see the wheels turning as she turned back to her.

"What kind of backlash does that have?" asked Bonnie.

"There's always repercussions... Part of being a villain...is knowing that and not caring," she snickered. "Imagine it's high school... Just a different setting and higher stakes."

Shego watched the devious smirk slowly spread across Bonnie's face before the young woman turned and headed to the dance floor with a casual air of confidence. Shego choked on her drink, fighting a laugh as she watched Bonnie casually shove Camille into the crowd and take over dancing with Junior. She finished her drink just as one of the men from upstairs tapped her on the shoulder. She raised a brow at the tall man with dark blond curls. Sal if she remembered correctly...not that she honestly cared.

"Free to dance?" he smirked.

"No. I charge," she retorted. "Might cost you a hefty price. I don't drink the cheap stuff."

"Good. I only pay for the most expensive."

She took his hand.


The dancing lasted for a few hours and the drinks were becoming more elaborately costly. As she ditched the dance floor she made a mental note that slow dances were not going to be tempting her anymore that night. She ordered another expensive drink just to kill the thoughts in her head. She'd avoided them all night so far, but the feeling of someone being so physically close to her made her heart pound and brought a swell of anxiety she'd seldom felt dancing. She mentally cursed her confused jumble of emotions.

"You okay?" asked Sal. "Too many drinks?"

"Yeah," she snorted. "Uhg and the smell of all the body sweat so close was getting disgusting. I swear, does anyone wear antiperspirant around here?"

Sal laughed and grimaced.

"Faster songs make it easier to ignore..." Sal looked around. "This place is pathetic... Slums, really."

Shego raised a brow and looked around the expensive nightclub.

"If it's the slums, why are you and your friends here?" scoffed Shego.

"Passover before heading to the real party," shrugged Sal. "Hold on... Let me get my friends.

Moments later Shego found herself outside the club doors with her fellow club goers and their new associates, listening to them talk of their evening plans and grand weekend events that were going on. The one, Dion, fancied himself above the law it seemed but not a villain in any way Shego could find... A spoiled heir at best. Shego had fought an eye-roll as he rambled on about his family's winery business and the extensive list of parties they had to attend. Some sounded appealing based on who might be attending. Diplomats, scientists, celebrities... Shego couldn't help but wonder what connections may be gained or even what things might be able to be of good use if stolen for the right buyer. Halfway through the rambling she reminded herself that she didn't exactly need to do any of that... But the company she was with were all ears.

"We are actually headed to Athens tonight," said Midas as Camille leaned on him. "You should all join us. It's the new Olympia."

"It's a bit more...high quality," smirked Dion, his attention mainly on Adrena.

"You should join us," continued Sal. "It's invite only."

"I'm assuming these invites are extended to us?" asked Camille calmly. "Or are you just bragging."

"Both," laughed Dion. "My family supplies for it...so I can invite whomever I want."

Shego noted how close to the lair they would be if they all decided to take up the invite to a private club, which she knew they would. She looked up to see Bonnie and Junior looking at her, which quickly ended. She raised a curious brow at the two but her dance partner for the last hour was leaning against the wall next to her. It brought her back into focus as she looked to see Adrena still flirting with the clear partier of the group that had meshed with theirs. Camille's eyes darted towards the same man but Midas seemed not to notice. Shego took the moment to speak up.

"We'll think about it," she smirked. "Maybe we will see you all later...maybe we won't."

"Hope it's the first choice," smirked Sal as he winked at Shego. She felt her stomach twist but returned a flirtatious smirk.

Shego watched as the three men left their group and headed towards a waiting luxurious vehicle where a driver stood. There was a silent pause before Camille glared at Bonnie.

"Really? We could have gotten a jet ride to Greece," she said and rolled her eyes. "Just because your boyfriend has transportation of his own...networking is essential... And the perks are the best part. Get with the villain program."

"That's one way," cut in Shego. "Another is showing self-reliance and power play. We have the invite...and if we show or not...we're not a point of conversation their whole flight there."

"Thank you Shego," huffed Bonnie, her eyes narrowed at Camille.

"Still...there are better ways of phrasing it," continued Shego. "Question now is...are we going?"

"Well we can't go in these," scoffed Camille. She held up the ruffle of Bonnie's dress collar.

The teen glared at Camille and stepped away and closer to Junior.

"Are there places to go shopping at midnight around here?" asked Adrena.

"No, but there are plenty of designers I can make a phone call to," cut in Junior. Bonnie grinned at him.

"Uhg, you are so resourceful," she cooed. "How'd I get so lucky to find you?"

Shego noted Camille's eye-roll before the blonde spoke.

"Uhg, hello. We're villains? Why toss cash when we can long-term borrow," sighed Camille. "There are always originals lying around a studio for a fashion show. Let's hit up a venue and do a little late night shopping."

"Ooo," Adrena grinned. "Some freaky fashion villainy! Let's do it!"

"Wait," said Bonnie. "You mean just...take designer clothes worth hundreds of dollars...to go to a fancy exclusive party?"

"Uh...yeah," Camille snickered. "Junior, you sure she's as smart as you claim? We're villains, Bailey."

"It's Bonnie," corrected Junior first. Bonnie's eyes narrowed at the other woman as he continued. "You are correct... It would be more evil to simply...take them."

Shego watched as the conversation played out and her mind wandered back to Athens. If they headed that way it would save her having to ditch a drunk guy with his stolen credit card to get a hotel room for the night... She reminded herself she was supposed to be out for the weekend. As if in thought, she looked at her phone... There had been no missed calls or prior texts since the 'Have fun' from earlier. She felt her jaw tighten as she put her phone away in her small bag.

"Well instead of talking about it...let's go shopping." Shego gave a devious smirk to the group. "I've got the hover car, so where are we meeting?"

As the excitement picked up and they headed away from the loud bass at the club, Shego felt the tug of thoughts at the back of her head trying to trickle in for another reason... The turning inside her was something she hoped would finally fade as the night wore on.

She knew it wouldn't.


What shinnanigans await...