New day, new chapter.
As always, thanks for the favs and reviews. I apologize for the long author's note here.
So, fair warning, if you want the story to be a semi-safe little romance, I would say, just mark Chapter 12 as the 'end' of the story for you. From here on out, well...
I made a note when I first stated publishing that I wrote this story in what could basically be described as a fit of madness and passion, and it went pretty much out of my control from the start. I like romantic stories, and I like philosophical stories that examine different points of view and moralities, and this story was born from that. When it comes to fanfics, both the ones I've written and the ones I've read, as a rule I like everything to be 'in universe' and not deal with a lot of crossovers or original characters. Yet, while writing this story, and while perhaps not doing the deepest of dives possible, I was presented a problem. One that was largely ignored in all the Kim/Shego petfics that inspired this. An international government body declared Shego an animal, and a virtually omnipotent international law agency was there to enforce that. Most of the fics never really addressed that, at least that I can remember. A couple just kinda ignored it, one ended up I think having it progress so that more people were declared animals that Kim had to adopt, and at least one put it off for the sequel which never came about as far as I know. Some just stopped mid story.
So I was presented a problem, and I needed a solution. I will freely admit it has been years since I watched the show, so maybe buried in there was an answer to my question. Draken was the first option, but given he can get taken out by Kim herself while Shego is around, that wasn't very believable. The Ninja of Yamanuchi were an option, but the law of ninja-dynamics states that the more ninjas there are, the weaker they become. Plus we're talking about a school that maybe has 1-2k members, many of them students, vs an organization that probably has 30-50k members. So, again, it didn't exactly feel like a viable solution. And down the list on the Kim Possible Wiki it went.
Then I got cornered by two of my own characters that I've used in other stories and original fictions I've messed around with. One of them, Astrid, dates back all the way to 2010/11 something in her earliest forms, with an idea that was born from the Dresden Files (She's the second in the Paranet stories I have, though she's changed a fair bit over the years). Luke, who shows up here, probably came about six or seven years ago as a "therapy" project and then went off from there. Then they introduced a new character, who may get stories of her own at some point. So, if you're not a fan of OC's, I completely understand, thank you for enjoying the story up to this point, and go in peace. If, however, you'd like to see how Ron and Shego just might get their lives back, and what comes after it, then please continue with an open mind, a bit of patience and tolerance, and get ready for some pretty dark themes.
After all, if you stare into the Abyss...the Abyss will stare back.
Chapter 15
Wednesday evening found Shego and Ron taking a lazy walk around the neighborhood after dinner. Wrapped around her Master's arm, the balmy warming air of spring on her skin, the shifting colors of the sunset filling the sky, she was content. Life wasn't perfect, because life never was, but it was pretty good. She nuzzled his shoulder and smiled up at him when he smiled at her.
They were probably five blocks away from the house when the first screeching of tires reached their ears. Instantly they were on alert, shifting to be back to back as three white vans screamed around corners in front and behind them. In moments they were surrounded and men and women in blue jumpsuits started pouring out. Shego felt terror flood through her as one of them stepped forwards, a younger man with supremely confident attitude, olive complexion and dark hair.
"Agent Du," Ron said slowly, looking around at the agents of Global Justice as they all raised taser rifles and pointed them at the couple.
"Stoppable." Will Du, top agent of Global Justice said, "You're under arrest."
Shego was about to say something, but Ron's hand on hers kept her silent. He squeezed it in a brief pattern, spelling off in morse code. The idiot, he'd turned off her collar as much as he could. That was only going to get him into more trouble. Then again, they were under arrest, they were already screwed.
Ron gave a disgusted sigh. "Will," He said slowly, "What are you arresting me for? I have done literally nothing, I haven't even been on a mission or out of the area for weeks."
The Grecian pulled out a set of official looking papers and read. "Destroying Global Justice property, namely a batch of Neuro-controler 2.0 chips. Destruction of Global justice proprietary research relating to said chips. Interference in the efforts of a Global Justice Operative in the line of her duties, relating to the testing of NC chips. Assault and Battery of a Global Justice Operative. Attempted Murder of a Global Justice Operative. Refusing to give custody of one "Shego" to a duly authorized Global Justice operative. Destruction of Global Justice Property, namely a NC 1.0 chip, and related command console. And Bestiality." Will said, finally looking up. "There are other minor charges, but those are the major ones." He gave Shego a disgusted look. "I know she's attractive, but I can't believe you sank so low as to fuck an animal, Stoppable."
It took everything she had not to let her plasma explode, but they were going to need every edge they could get. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flutter of black cloth slip past the opening between two of the vans. She squeezed Ron's hand to keep him from saying something in her defense.
"What agent," Shego asked, softly. Du ignored her, but she felt dread as she put the pieces together.
"What agent am I supposed to have assaulted," Ron asked, "I haven't seen any of you guys since this entire bullshit about Shego's humanity started!"
"Agent Kim Possible." Du said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "The mission to protect Dr. Bortel's research and models was her final initiation test. Initially she failed, due to the research and prototypes being lost. But once she discovered that you had deliberately destroyed them and pointed it out to us, we gave her a second final initiation test to bring in Shego. Even though you sabotaged that and attempted to kill her, the injuries she sustained proved her commitment and she was instated as a full agent."
The pair stood there, stunned. Shego had expected Kim to try and do something, but this was insane. Getting her best friend, or at least former best friend, charged with attempted murder? And the fact it was GJ pressing the charges, and the nature of the charges, meant no local law or lawyers would be able to help them.
"So, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law," Du said, motioning a pair of agents with cuffs to come forwards. Another pair came forwards with what looked like a dog-catcher's loop, but this one was clearly electrified. "Come quietly, Stoppable, don't make this any harder than it has to be."
"If I do," Ron said softly, "What happens to Shego."
Will shrugged. "She'll be contained, of course. But given she was involved in the incident where you assaulted our Operative, well..." the man shrugged. "the law is pretty clear about animals who violently attack humans."
If it was possible for ice to freeze beyond a point of ice, Shego was sure her blood was going to find it. She could see the plan now. Ron gets arrested. She got put down. Then Kim would cut a deal, probably some "work release" program so that Ron could go on missions with her to serve his sentence. Life would move on, eventually Ron would be freed, Kim would have her best friend back free from Shego's evil clutches. Sure, he'd be mad, but that would "just be the manipulations she put you through," and Kim would do her best to grind Ron down into being her happy friend again.
It wouldn't work, but she could see it the way Kim thought it would go.
"Pardon Ze," came a voice with a slight southern accent from behind one of the agents. "But are you guys wearing body cams?"
Everyone turned to look at the new comer, generally with very nonplussed expressions. She couldn't see him behind the agents. Though she thought she caught a glimpse of dark brown hair and a black baseball cap.
"Sir," Will said in a hard voice. "This is official Global Justice business. I'm kindly asking you to leave."
"I was just curious," the man said, the drawl becoming more pronounce. Shego finally got a good look at him as the agent in front of her shifted. Slightly above average height, average build, averagely attractive. Mostly kept beard. Black trench coat with odd designs of intersecting lines on the lapels. The same design, she realized, like a capital Y, but with the center line extending all the way up. Like an upside down peace sign, sans circle. It looked familiar. "I know body cams are very popular with law enforcement these days."
"Sir!" Will snapped, extending his arm and pointing his wristwatch at the man. "Step away, now."
"And I wouldn't want anyone to miss this," The black clad man said. Then he moved.
Shego tackled Ron as hard as she could, shielding him with her body from the agents as they tumbled off the sidewalk and into the grass. One of the agent's screamed, then a second, then a third. There was the sound of the taser rifles going off, then four more people were screaming.
She dragged Ron to his knees and pushed him forwards, still trying to shield him as best she could. The unmistakable sound of steel going into human flesh sounded behind them.
"SPREAD OUT!" Du was yelling repeatedly, "SPREAD OUT AND CLEAR LANES OF FIRE! YOU, YOU, YOU! AFTER STOPPABLE AND THE ANIMAL!"
"Oh come now!" the man's voice, this time sounding German rang out joyfully. "Zis is no time to leave ze party!"
Ron yelped as a severed arm, still clutching a rifle landed in front of them. "What's happening?!" he asked.
"No idea," Shego said, "But I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth, now move!"
They scrambled to their feet and ran for the nearest house. As they rounded corner, Shego looked back.
The black clad man had a wolfish grin as he fought. He wasn't graceful, he didn't spin or twist. It wasn't a style she was familiar with. In fact, she wasn't even sure it was a style at all. He was armed with a saber of some sort, made out of some dark metal, and it moved in ruthless arcs though the air. It took her a moment, but then she realized what it made her think off.
In a state of absolute boredom one day about a month ago, she'd ended up on a history show talking about agriculture in the middle ages. One of the segments had been about how they harvested back then, namely using scythes, walking slowly, with the blades sweeping in great arcs. And that's what the man was doing. He wasn't fighting the agents.
He was harvesting them, like wheat in a field.
"Paris," she swore. That's where she'd seen that symbol before. On the two 'holy warriors.' The woman had mentioned they were part of an organization of sorts.
"Shego?" Ron said, hand on her shoulder. "Look, I know this isn't very Master of me, but I have no idea what we should do right now. I know they were going to arrest us, but should we help them? Might get us some bonus points."
She shook her head. There had been at least twenty four agents there to arrest them. They were dropping like flies, half of them on the ground bleeding, tazed, or dead. Will was screaming out panicked orders, only to just be screaming as the blade split his hand and forearm in half dorsally.
"We go out there," She said, "and that man will kill us. Assuming the agents don't get us first."
"Oh," Ron said. She caught a glimpse of his face. He looked horrified and sick. She couldn't blame him, he'd probably never seen anything like what was happening. Movies didn't do justice to what swords did to the human body. Flesh was flayed to the bone in massive chunks, organs spilled on the ground, limbs were severed. Four more agents went down. The rest broke and ran, dropping their guns, abandoning their vehicles and comrades.
The couple watched as the man in black flung the blood from his sword in a sweeping arc that painted the white truck in front of him. Then he turned, walked back to Du, and picked him up, slamming him against a van.
The agent, to his credit, tried to go for another weapon. Shego could admire that tenacity. But it was pointless, the man in black slammed the guard of his saber into Du's shoulder and the sickening crunch of the bone shattering was quickly drowned out by Will's agonized scream.
The man put away his sword, then started inspecting Will's torso. Whatever he was looking for, he found it, because he tore something off of the whimpering agent and pointed it at his face.
"Good morning!" He said cheerfully, the Southern drawl back. "To whomever is watching this, I hope ya'll are having a lovely day today. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for these agents of yours. Which is what I'm here to talk to you folks about, actually. See, there's Justice, and there's Retribution. Some folks make the laws, some folks enforce them. Folks like you. Laws are meant to protect people, to try and prevent anyone from harming anyone else too much. And those that enforce the Laws are supposed to use those laws to protect people. That's what we call justice.
"Well, I hate to say it, but you folks, well, you may call yourselves Global Justice, but you just ain't been very just lately. Doing all kinds of nasty things. Shameful things. Things a dude just cannot abide. Like just now, I came across all these agents trying to arrest a lovely young couple out for a walk. Just shameful, absolutely shameful. Can't even go for a walk in their own neighborhood. I even heard one of our agents call the lady an animal. For shame. I know not everyone can be as charming as a southern gentleman like myself, but I figured most folks could at least manage the politeness not to call a lady an animal and talk about putting her down like rabid dog. I mean really.
"So you see, when there ain't no justice to be had under the law, well, folks gotta take matters into their own hands." All pretense of pleasantness fled from his voice. "That's where I come in. See, you've perverted the law, and you've shit on justice. There's a price for that." He panned the little camera around, showing the carnage, before pointing it at himself again. "I aim to collect."
Shego pulled Ron back as the man dropped the camera and turned to Will. She wasn't sure what happened, or if the man said something, but Will screamed in absolute terror before collapsing in a gibbering mess.
Ron and Shego almost bolted when the man turned around to face them. It was only years of experience and knowing that the worst thing you can do in the face of an apex predator is run, that kept her from taking her master and lighting out of there.
"Terribly sorry about the mess," The man said, taking off his black baseball cap as a greeting, the accent fading, before setting it back on his head. "You folks alright?"
"Uh, yeah?" Shego said, "We're great?"
Ron ruined it by doubling over and vomiting. She gently patted his back, shifting to be ready if the sign of weakness sparked the psychopath in front of them to attack.
Instead he looked embarrassed, and suddenly several years younger, as he started digging around his coat. Shego got ready in case it was a weapon, but then his hand came out with a Sprite of all things and held it out.
"Don't feel bad dude," he said, accent fading completely, "Man, I'm pretty sure I threw up everything I'd eaten for two days my first time."
Ron stood up weakly and hesitantly took the sprite, popping the cap off with a hiss. "Just sip it slow," the man said, "Breath easy." Police sirens sounded in the distance and he looked off in their direction. "Look, I know it's a bit much to ask, but do you think we could head back to your place? It should be safe for the moment."
"Excuse me?" Shego asked, stepping in front of Ron. "Look, I'm grateful for the help, though you've probably fucked us over even worse than we already were. And now you want us to take you back to our home!"
"Basically?" the guy answered, looking sheepish. "Look, I stopped by it and set up some extra protections before coming after you guys. I can explain, but honestly I don't wanna be here when the cops show up, and I don't think you two do either. Besides, I can get you guys somewhere safe, at least for a bit, and I'm sure there's things you'd like to pack and take with you."
Shego supposed he had a point. It wasn't a great point in her book, but it was a point. None of them wanted to be here when the cops showed up. It wasn't like GJ was gonna just give up either. She wasn't sure about going anywhere with him either, but they certainly couldn't stick around here at the moment. And the Jarls he reminded her of had been honorable at least.
Ron was still in shock, but he kept jostling her in their mutual attempts to potentially shield the each other from the man, who seemed to be completely unphased by their antics, lighting up a cigarette and smoking it as they jogged back to Ron's house. No one said anything.
When they got back to the house, there were several long stakes driving into the ground around the lawn and side of the house, all bearing the same marking as the man's coat. Shego wasn't sure what "extra protections" meant, or what sticks were supposed to do, but honestly they were screwed either way so what did it matter about a little redecorating.
"Does that fancy collar have a tracking device in it?" The man asked.
"Y-yeah," Ron said. "Pretty sure it does. GJ made it."
"Great," the man said as they entered the house. He shut the door behind them and made a gesture with his hand. "You two hurry up and pack. I don't know how much time we have, and the longer we take the closer fresh agents get."
Shego and Ron froze as he pulled out the saber. "Do you have a way to take that off her, or am I going to have to cut it off." He asked plainly. Ron quickly held up the wrist he wore the bracelet on. The sword stayed down, and the couple sighed in relief. Moments later, both the bracelet and the collar lay on the kitchen table.
As much as she hated it, her neck suddenly felt bare and exposed without the collar. Part of her worried that taking it off meant Ron no longer owned her. On impulse, she stripped her ownership tags off it and stuffed them in a pocket, before following Ron upstairs to pack.
Ron was on his computer, sending a message to Wade. "GJ tried to arrest. Kim is an agent. Going dark," was all it said.
"Slag it." Ron said softly. "We don't know what they might find, or use against us." Shego nodded, and melted the tower with a blast of plasma.
They quickly put a couple backpacks together, fitting in what clothes and toiletries they could. She packed her tail and ears. Not only did she not want them found, but they were precious mementos she found she didn't want to lose.
Fifteen minutes later, they were back downstairs with the unnamed man. He looked them over and nodded. "Just to be clear, no cellphones, no credit cards, nothing electronic?" he asked.
"No," Shego said, "I know the drill. Cash only. Nothing that can be traced."
"Good," the man said, "let's go."
They ran through the growing dusk, heading several blocks in the opposite direction from the massacre, till they came across a plain black van that had its license plate covered in mud. "Get in." He said. When they hesitated he sighed. "Look, I know this looks absolutely terrible, but please? I swear to you, in Hela's name, I am not leading you into a trap."
Shego had no idea why that was supposed to be important, or make them trust him, but apparently it worked for Ron, who merely nodded and climbed in the back. And where her master went, she went, so she followed him in. The door slid shut, and a moment later they heard him get in and start the van.
The ride lasted for what felt like hours. At one point, curled up in Ron's arms, she fell asleep. Later, she watched over him as he slept. Finally, the van turned off and the door opened.
"Alright," the man said, "We're here."
'Here' turned out to be a trailer in the middle of a dense woods, with a long dirt road stretching off into the distance. Shego slowly stretched, her legs cramped from trying to stay steady in the back of the van.
"So..." Ron said awkwardly, "Do we get to know your name?"
"Blackwolf," the man said. Shego couldn't help it, she snorted. He sighed. "Look, I didn't pick it, okay?"
"You're a Jarl," Shego said, leaning against the van, "Right?"
The man gave her an appraising look. "No," he said, "But I work for...related interests doing basically the same job. Not many have heard of them."
"I met two of them a few years ago," Shego said, "A woman with a hammer, and a man with a spear."
"Ah, Astrid and Thomas." Blackwolf said, "You certainly could have done worse. Couple of those guys are real assholes. Those two are okay, most of the time." He slammed the van shut. "Come on, I'll get you settled in, then I need to head back out."
The trailer, it turned out, was a two bedroom, two bathroom deal, about eight hundred and fifty square feet, with the bedrooms and bathrooms on each end, and a kitchen/dinning/living/utility area in the middle. Cozy, much smaller than Ron's house, but clean and simply appointed. The fridge was empty, but the freezer and cabinets were stocked with frozen and canned goods that looked to be still good. There some pots and pans, but nothing compared to what Ron was used to.
"Is this your place?" Ron asked as he finished looking around.
"Nah," Blackwolf said, "This place is more a safe house the Jarls have set up, but most of them are happy enough to let me use it." He pointed to an alarm box by the door. "There's a warning system set up on the road and with some sensors in the woods. It's not perfect, but it should give you warning if someone shows up. The trees will keep them from just being able to drop in or come in via a way other than the road, in most cases. I wouldn't rest on your laurels, but I wouldn't panic either."
He started to move for the door, but Shego blocked it. "Okay," she said, "What's the deal."
Blackwolf looked like he wanted to keep quiet, but sighed and relented. He walked over to one of the cheap, but fluffy chairs, and sat down, adjusting his saber out of his way.
"Alright, no bullshiting I guess," he said, tiredly. "I know who you are. I know what's been done to you. I could make a big speech about how I'm heroically trying to do the right thing and help you, and neither of you would believe me."
Ron moved to sit on a sofa across from the man and Shego knelt on the cushion beside her Master. "You're probably right about that," Ron said, "Lot of unbelievable stuff going on today."
Blackwolf let out a snort. "Good point, kid." he said, looking at Shego. "You've met some Jarls, right? What do you know about them."
Shego shrugged. "I know they claimed to be holy warriors of the Norse Gods, given magic weapons." she said, "I don't know that I believed them, and their weapons could have been science rather than magic, but...Astrid was it? I saw her take down an entire swat team almost a brutally as you took down those agents."
Blackwolf nodded, "Fair enough. Well, to put it in terms you guys would probably understand, the Jarls serve the Gods of Asgard, the lords and ladies of life. I, on the other hand, serve their opposite, Hel, the Goddess of Death. Mostly do the same job, but with a different focus and occasionally for different reasons."
"Okay," Ron said skeptically, "But what's that have to do with us?"
Blackwolf studied Ron for a moment, then looked at Shego. "How much does he know?" He asked.
"Know about what?" Ron asked, sounding slightly offended. He stilled when Blackwolf's stare bored into him.
"About how this world really works." the man said, his voice, while a light tenor, sounded dangerous. "About what really goes on in the shadow and behind closed doors. Where screams are ignored and prayers go unanswered."
"Enough!" Shego snapped, resting her hand on Ron's thigh. "That's enough."
The man sighed. "Well, that answers my question." he said softly. He looked truly sad as he stared at Ron. He looked at Shego. "You know he's gonna learn it. I can see you want to protect him, but he's gonna learn. He's in it now, same as us."
Shego looked at her sweet, innocent Master and felt the same sorrow. She didn't want the bright, joyfulness that was her Master to dim and make her world dark once again. Ron looked at her, worried and confused. "I know," she said hoarsely, "I know. But I'm his hound and it's my job to protect him as long as I can."
"Well, do as you please, and pray it doesn't bite you in the ass," Blackwolf said sagely. "To try and answer your question without enraging your guard dog there, it's got to do with you because GJ has to do with you. See, you got involved in all this cause they screwed your pooch, literally in this case. It ain't the first time they've pulled shady shit like this, probably won't be the last. And frankly I'm tired of them screwing decent folks like you, ignoring folks in need, and serving as unjust, jackbooted thugs for pieces of shit who do nothing but exploit people for their own pleasure and power."
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked. "Yeah, GJ is trying to screw me and hurt Shego, but I haven't heard of them acting like what you just said."
Blackwolf gave Ron a baleful look. "You're in the hero biz, you ever wonder why so many villains have self destruct buttons?" He asked.
"I figured it was kind of a traditional thing," Ron said. "Bad guys make lairs and evil plans, heroes or GJ show up, world get saved, lab gets destroyed, villains go to jail, break out, and everyone shows up same time next week."
Blackwolf stared at Ron, then Shego, then back at Ron. "Mordgud's tits you're innocent," he groaned and covered his face with a hand. "It's more like this, kid. Villains get a lair and come up with some evil plan and the machines to pull it off. GJ or some related agency lets them carry on inventing and building, right up until the plan is about to go off. Then they swoop in to "save the day" and get their hands on all that fancy new tech. Tech which, in most cases, can't be developed under normal circumstances for legal or ethical reasons. The kind of tech that lets you take over the planet, or destroy entire nations."
"Sure," Ron said, "But they lock it away and keep everyone safe."
Blackwolf gave him a flat look, then spared one for Shego, before turning back to Ron. "Kid, a nuke is 'locked away' to keep everyone safe." He said, "it doesn't mean shit. Villains as a rule are pretty crazy, but most of them aren't completely stupid. They know what their tech can do. They know the power it can give someone. And they know what people in power are like and what they'll do with that tech."
Ron looked troubled, and like he didn't believe the other man. Shego pressed close, knowing how he felt. She'd become a villain for a number of reasons, but she'd still been innocent, still thought of the world in terms of "good guys" and "bad guys," and just wanted to be one of the bad ones. Later she'd learned the truth. There weren't good guys and bad guys, there were just guys. They all used pretty much the same methods, with the same outcomes, the only difference is some of them were Legitimate and others weren't. The only difference between a mercenary like her, and some guy in the army, is that one had the legitimacy of a government behind them and paying their checks, rather than someone with a checkbook.
"Think about it kid," Blackwolf said. "They made a law that made folks like Shego here an animal because of her dna. Now imagine if they got their hands on gene-tech, the kind where you could just inject someone and change their DNA, mutate it at will."
"Like DNAmy?" Ron asked, latching onto the familiar.
"Sure, like her," Blackwolf replied with a nod. "So let's say you've got some political dissident. A quick injection, disguised as a vaccine, or in a trick ring, or shot via a dart, and boom. Suddenly they're no longer human. Shockingly a test reveals this fact. Then someone who is threatening the system is no longer even a person and poof. Put down like a dog. Shego was probably chosen as the base line. No one is going to complain about a mutant super villain getting the ax. No courts over turn anything to do with it. So the next time it happens, 'oh, look, everything we did was perfectly legal,' and anyone who protests can be shut down by pointing out they didn't protest before. And that's just one possible example out of thousands."
Ron looked incredibly troubled, his gaze moving between the floor, Blackwolf, Shego, and back to the floor. The silence dragged on. Shego squeezed Ron's leg, trying to comfort him as best she could. She might have challenged his moral outlook slightly, but this was literally ripping his world apart.
Blackwolf sighed and stood up, making them both look at him. "Look," he said, "I don't know how well I can explain it without going too far for your guard dog, kid, and I need to get going, so she can take it from here. You guys have the run of the place and I'll try to be back in a few days to check on you and see if you folks need anything."
He went into one of the bedrooms, then came back out with a green backpack slung over his shoulder. At the door he paused and looked back at them. "Is there anyone you would like me to contact? Family, Friends, lawyers, that kind of thing?" He asked, "This place is completely isolated as long as you guys didn't bring anything with you to compromise it, so..."
"Yeah," Shego said, "Do you have anything to write with?"
The man nodded and vanished into the other bedroom, coming back with a box of envelopes, a notebook, and a couple pens. He waited patiently as she and Ron wrote out brief letters explaining what had happened to Felix, Zita, Ron's parents, and the lawyer's office who had consulted with them after the incident with Kim and the chip. Hopefully one of them would be able to get a lawyer that could handle things internationally and settle things with Global Justice, but considering all the dead and maimed agents, Shego wasn't personally that hopeful.
They were on borrowed time, even if this Blackwolf guy could be trusted.
He accepted the letters and slipped them into his backpack, his eyes sad. He knew the truth, same as she did. "May the grace of Hela be upon you," he said softly, and left.
They listened morosely as the van drove away. Ron made them a dinner of canned spagettios and she washed the dishes afterwords. There wasn't a tv, and all the FM stations on the radio they found produced static. There was a modest selection of cd's though, ranging from classical music to Scandinavian black metal, though it was generally limited to one cd per genre. In one bedroom she found a bookshelf with a variety of books as well. The place was clearly meant for short term, deep hiding.
Shego decided to walk around the outside of the trailer. It was dark, and her only light was a flashlight she found, but she didn't fully trust Blackwolf about how secure the place was and wanted to at least know what she could now in case something went wrong. The walk didn't last long, as it became very obvious her flashlight wasn't going to cut it.
Coming back inside she found Ron walking out of the bedroom they'd thrown their stuff with his backpack slung over his shoulder.
"Did you decide to switch our room?" She teased with a smile, "I know that one isn't five star, but the other one isn't any different." She stilled as he just looked at her sadly and her heart stopped.
"Shego...you don't have to pretend anymore," he said softly.
"Pretend what?" She asked, feeling cold.
Ron sighed painfully, running his hand through his hair nervously. "Look, Shego, I fucked up. I fucked up bad and I know it. I couldn't keep you safe, and now my actions are going to get you killed if you stick with me. I know you only got into the pet thing and this relationship with me because I was keeping you safe, and I can't do that anymore." He looked at her, like he was ripping out his own heart, "I know you, you're skilled. You can probably make it if you run, or at least make it longer than if I'm slowing you down."
"Master..." she said, her breath catching in her throat, "Ron..."
"I'm not your Master anymore Shego," he said, miserably, "You're free. You don't need to stick around here for me. Go..."
She stepped forwards, reaching out to him.
"GO, SHEGO!" Ron yelled, before diving across the trailer and sealing himself in the other room.
She sat out on the front steps of the trailer, sobbing for at least half an hour. It felt like she was losing everything. Never in a million years would she have wanted her life to be destroyed like it had been by that law. But she'd built a new life for herself. She'd found someone she actually loved, something she'd given up on ever happening, and built an odd little life with him. Now she was going to lose that. Was losing it.
'I'm free,' She thought. She'd always wanted to be free. It was part of why she'd turned villain, to be as absolutely free as she could be. Admittedly, it hadn't worked out exactly as her naive teenage self had thought it would, but it had been close enough that she rolled with it. Plus going back would have been even less free than she was before. Her entire life had been about being as true to herself, her own absolute woman, answering to no one except who she chose, and even then able to walk away if she wanted.
She had her life back. Sure, it was a life of being hunted like an animal again, but it was hers. Right?
Right?
Except it wasn't hers anymore. In spite of herself, she loved that innocent idiot inside the trailer. He had her heart. She could leave, she could run. Hell, she might even be able to make it, at least for a while. Get back to Draken, where ever he was hiding, and help him, really help him, pull off some world domination plan, one that would actually let them get the power needed to make themselves safe or die trying. But even if she did...her heart wouldn't be with her anymore. It would be with Ron. And as much as she might want to run, as much as she might want to get back to what her life was before, the thing she wanted most in this life was something she'd never even thought existed.
To live her life as Ron's pet, to sleep in his arms, to eat his cooking till she lost the battle and got fat, and fuck him so much she stayed skinny, to bear him puppies and watch the love that filled his whole being as she raised them into strong children he could be proud of, to grow old with him and be buried beside him when the time came. It was bullshit, they probably going to be dead or in prison in weeks, or months, but if that was the case, she wanted to die trying to protect him, and to live as much of that dream as she could until the bullet entered her brain and took everything away forever.
She went inside silently and into the bedroom she'd thrown her backpack. The water ran hot in the attached bathroom, and she washed herself, then shaved, and made herself as fresh and clean as she could be. The bathroom was stocked with at least small amounts of almost anything one could need, and she even found some lube, which she used to help seat her tail. She'd only gotten to wear it their first night, so it still was uncomfortable, but she didn't care. She settled her ears on her head. Then, remembering at the last moment, she got her tags out of her shorts.
'Last chance,' a little voice said. "Yes," she answered, "My last chance." She gripped the tags in her lips, got down on her hands and knees, and crawled the last few feet to Ron's door. She started scratching it, gently at first, then with more force. She let out a whimper, then another, and as the silence stretched out her emotions and fear as he ignored her overwhelmed and the whimpers became sounds of true pain and loneliness as she desperately pawed at the door. Begging, pleading, for him to let her in. Once again she was a lost and desperate pup and she needed a home.
'Please, Ron!' she screamed internally, tears flowing down her face as she whimpered and pawed ever more desperately, 'Please, Master, let me in!'
The door opened and she was framed in the light from the door and covered by his shadow. "Shego..." Ron said, his face a mess from where he'd been crying as hard as she was, "I said..."
She didn't give him a chance. Tackling him with all her strength she pinned him down, pressing close and hard, nuzzling into his neck. The tags slipped away from her, but she didn't care.
"Please, Master!" she begged, "Please, don't throw me away. I wasn't faking anything! I love you! I need you! The only life I want to live is one where I'm with you! I want you! I want your puppies! I wanna give you children and grow old together and die with you and even if that can't happen then I wanna spend however much time we have left with you and I never want to leave your side and I promise I'll be the best puppy there ever was in the world! Just please don't throw me away!"
She broke down sobbing, clutching him, pressing as close as she could.
"But you'll die..." Ron said brokenly.
"Then I'll die!" she screamed, "But I'll die by your side, with my beloved master, rather than a stray on the street who gets put down with no one to love her, you stupid asshole!" She shifted so she could look him in the eyes, tears of rage and pain and love streaming down her face. "Where do you think a dog like me would rather die? Alone on the street or protecting her beloved Master?"
She broke, burring her face in his neck and sobbing with everything she had left. "Please...please don't throw me away Master, I'm sorry if I'm a bad dog for not following your orders, for begging you to drag me everywhere, but I can't live without my Master!"
Ron's arms wrapped around her tightly and he broke down sobbing in her hair. They clung to each other as the full ruin of their lives finally collapsed on them and they clung to the only solid things they had left in each other. She started kissing him passionately, madly, desperately, trying to reassure herself he was there and he was keeping her. He returned it, desperate to hang onto the woman he loved, that she truly wanted to stay.
Then he was inside her, and she wrapped her arms and legs around him in an inescapable grip, afraid he would vanish in a moment. In their desperation, completion came swiftly, but they didn't pause for a moment. She had given herself completely to him now, not because of some law, or desperation. They were both criminals, there was no law for them to obey, no law to keep her trapped with him, and she had chosen him freely. So he took it, all, completely, as he took her as if trying to fuck and impregnate her very souls with him. And she accepted it all, drawing as much of him into her, body, mind, soul, and heart, as she possibly could. A second climax for him, echoed by the repeated shocks that claimed her over and over and over again. She howled as he took her from behind, mounting, claiming her even more, body collapsing under the waves of pleasure she couldn't escape even if she wanted too while he bred her with his third completion.
They lay there, him pinning her down, still inside as they cried. Cried with pain, and relief, and happiness, and sorrow, and ultimately with love. His arms held close, his face nuzzled her neck, and as much as they both wanted to continue, they had nothing left, so they lay there, pressed close, and cherished ever second of what they had.