Author notes: This story was pre-KP movie "A Sitch in Time," just so you guys know. So anything that may conflict with or go with is completely due to a coincidence. I had no prior knowledge of the movie or the way it'd change the KP story line and I swear to stick with my intended plotline. Also I include some lyrics by Tool near the end. It's in context, not like a songfic.

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End of Resistance

Chapter Five

            Ron stared up at his ceiling before glancing over at tiny "Cage of Love" he had set up for Rufus and Ruby. It was covered since it was night, but also for the fact Ron respected their privacy. The vet sent Ron an interesting book about Naked Mole Rats, filled with information. Like that they live a lot like bees, wasps, ants and termites with a queen, workers, and soldiers. Underground, in Africa, they live colonies populations of 20-300 mole rats. The queen is the only one allowed to mate.  He was warned to expect anywhere from 1 to 27 per litter and they mate up to 5 times a year. Ron's mother stated that after the first litter they'd bring both Rufus and Ruby to get fixed which Ron wasn't exactly all for. He couldn't imagine doing that to any boy, much less his best little buddy. But then again 27 times 5 is too many mole rats to take care of. The only other alternative is getting rid of either Rufus or Ruby, which Ron had decided was not a possibility at all. How could he separate them like that…?

He sighed and sat up from his comfy bed knowing it was hopeless. Everything he thought of seemed to be about love. He was letting what Enda say get to him, he shouldn't have listened to her, shouldn't have acknowledged her at all. He figured this was supposed to be part of some diabolical plot Enda cooked up, but he couldn't help it. It was as if her question was like some magical password. Maybe it was just that the question never crossed his mind before. For as long as he could remember it was him and Kim, he never thought or felt he needed anything more than that. With her there he could be happy, but now, now that the question was there he had to know. He opened his window and rested head on hands, elbows on windowsill. Why did his heart act so differently now? Because some stupid question his new foe asked him? Or…or did he love her all along and never realized or thought to question it? Was that it?

What are all the reasons a person falls in love? He thought back to the movies. Jack and Rose fell in love because one trusted and believed in each other even though they seemed worlds apart in status. Rose was popular, rich and well mannered. Jack seemed like the exact opposite…but then again he died in the end. Ok, what about Romeo and Juliet? Two different worlds, despite conflict they- Ron shook his head. No, they died in the end too. What about Peter Parker and Mary Jane? He liked her since…well forever and was there for her even though she had some bad boyfriends…and he saved her a lot too. Wow. Ok that was creepy. Then again comics, book and movies aren't always accurate. He closed the window and left to find his mom.

Sure enough she was in the kitchen busy with the dishes.

"Mom," Ron asked as he walked in and grabbed a chair to sit in backwards. He crossed his arms on the back of the chair. "Why did you and dad get married?" Mrs. Stoppable stopped and turned to her son, a bit surprised.

"Well, I married him because I loved your father very much."

"I get that. But what told you that you loved him? And why?"  She studied his face and knew that he was asking for a reason, but asking would only drive him away. So she toweled off her hands and pulled up a chair of her own.

"I knew I loved your father when ever he'd greet me with his big goofy grin. He made me the happiest when I was with him and I felt sad without him…Ronald," She placed a slightly damp hand on his shoulder. "No one can tell you if you're in love or not. There's no test you can take, it's just something you know. It goes beyond looks, beyond anything they wear or have. And it's not something to take lightly." He nodded, already knowing everything she had told him. He wasn't sure what he had wanted her to tell him, but he was hoping it would have been a bit clearer.

"Thanks mom." He said simply as he stood.

"Who ever she…or he is, they're lucky. You're a wonderful young man, Ronald." He smiled and grabbed his coat. "Where are you going?"

"I'm just going for a walk. I'll be back soon." He said and then left.

The night was chilly and the promise of snow hung heavy in the air. Sure enough a few flakes fell as if called by his mere thought. Ron zipped up his jacket and continued on his way. He wasn't sure where exactly he was walking, but he was walking. It was something he was sure of. One of the only things…

"You mean I gotta shovel all of this?" Ron's voice shook some snow from the gutter, which fell on Mr. Stoppable's head. He wiped it from his glasses.

"Yes, Ronald. And don't come back in till it's done, understood?"

"But da-"

"No buts, young man. You can have hot chocolate and lay around all day after the sidewalk and driveway is shoveled. This was too much work for a ten-year-old Ron concluded as he dug his shovel into the four feet of snow. He picked up the heavy load and tossed it behind him.

"Hey! Watch where you toss that!" He turned to see Kim standing there, a shovel in her own hand. "That's no way to thank someone who came to help."

"You mean you're going to help me? Shovel all of this?" He asked, throwing his arms out to his sides emphasizing the size of the workload. She just nodded.

"Sure, why not? That way we'll get done faster and then we can play. Besides, we're friends, aren't we?" He smiled and dug his shovel into the snow.

"Yea. We are. Forever, right?"

"Of course, forever." She put down her shovel and quickly made a snowball and hit Ron.

Ever since then Kim had always came by to help Ron shovel the walk. And each time they always had a snowball fight to see who had to shovel the expansive driveway and who got the tiny walk. And like every year Ron lost that battle.  He smiled at the warm memories. 'He made me the happiest when we were together,' he recalled his mother say. 'And I felt sad without him.'

Ron could easily remember his horrible summer. He felt empty and alone except for the rare missions that they did. It was true that Kim made him happy, truly happy. He could be him around her, and no one else…well besides Rufus. He could also tell her anything, not to mention all the times they had risked their lives for each other on missions. He would do anything for her. And she was beautiful. He had always thought that and assured her plenty of times when she felt insecure.  The missions and cheerleading kept her in great shape and her smile… Ron sighed and he felt a lot calmer, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His mind settled into a dull warmness and he knew it would be all right. He knew the answer.

It was the next day and Ron had gotten to class, taking his seat in the back as always. When he saw Kim walk in he greeted her with his smile as always, but this time she sat next to him.

"KP, what's up? Isn't your seat up front?"

"New change in plans, Ron. Enda can sit up front for all I care. I'm sitting back here with you." Did Ron here that right?

"Why the change in plans? She'll catch on that we know if she sees you back here."

"What? You don't want me back here?" Ron was surprised by Kim's response.

"No way, KP. Its just that…you're not jealous are you?"

"No! Why would you think that?" Kim sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I'm just worried that she'll say or do something to you. I don't trust her."

"You don't need to protect me KP, the Ron-man is in control. She could never do anything to change anything." Kim gave him an unsure look.

"I dunno, Ron. You've been acting strange since yesterday." Ron's eyes feel downcast at the mention.

"Yea, well I…"

"Enda said something that you didn't tell me about. I knew it! Ron, you gotta understand that we need to be completely honest with each other in order for this to work."

"I know, KP, it's just that…"

"Just what?" Did she have to lean so close? Ron could feel himself blush as she neared, those emerald eyes filled with concern. His mouth ran dry.

"Excuse me, Kim. You're in my seat," came a soft yet authoritive voice. Kim got up in a flash to allow Enda to seat herself next to Ron.

"I'll just go…take my seat now." Kim said before shooting Enda another glare.

"She's acting over-protective," Enda said to Ron without looking at him. "Like as if you're 'Her Ron' or something." Ron blinked. Enda was right, Kim had been acting that way. He grinned though after all, he was her Ron. But again he played it cool with Enda.

"Yea. What's her deal? I'm my own man and I can do whatever I want."

"Then you'll go out with me tonight?"

"What?!" Ron almost fell out of his chair. "Did you just-"

"Yes. I asked you out, do you want to go or are you going out with your girlfriend tonight?" Enda motioned towards Kim who was watching from her seat. Ron swung back in a reclined fashion and regained his cool façade.

"Tonight at 8 then?"

"I'll meet you at your house. I just need directions." Ron wrote out the directions and gave it to her right before Mr. Noble came in.

"Class, today we will pick up on the usage of emotion in stories. To fully understand a character in a story you must understand the human nature that drives them. Lets take love for instance. Both empowering and crippling. If returned that character can do anything, if denied they become powerless.  Let us begin with some notes…"

Ron sank in his chair. How in the world was he going to tell Kim?

"So, what up, Ron? What did she say?" Ron looked about, still a little uneasy.

"She said you were being over protective, KP. Like you owned me or something."

"I'm so not over protective." Kim crossed her arms over her chest. "Who does she think she is?"

"And then she asked me out."

"What?" Kim could hardly restrain her shock. "You didn't agree did you?"

"Well…I kinda…" He sighed and figured it was hopeless. "I'm meeting her tonight at 8. At my house. But Kim, before you think she has some mind control over me I want you to know I agreed on my own will."

"Ron how could you?"

"I had to, KP! If I turned her down who knows what she might resort to. Besides, you can wire me if you want, that way you're right there with me, ok? Look, don't be mad, we want her to think she's still in control, right? What was I supposed to do? Put her into a figure 8 head lock?"

 Kim sighed. Ron was right, besides she might be able to use this to her advantage. Enda surely had to have a weakness, one Kim could exploit. But one question kept bothering her. Why did Enda target Ron? Maybe it was something in this "new-aged villainy" thing that made them go after the sidekicks first.

No…there was more to it than that. Surely Enda didn't have a thing for Ron. It was obvious by the way she acted. Even though Kim couldn't hear what they were saying she could see Enda spent more time analyzing Ron then drooling. She was memorizing him, his weaknesses, and his strengths. Not on a fighting level but of the mind. Throwing a calculated move with words was much harder to counter than one with death beams and pit falls. Worse of all, if Ron was walking into a trap, there'd be no way she'd be able to push him out of the way. She had to trust he saw Enda for who she really was, and trust he'd be able to react in time to save himself. Kim couldn't protect him and it was killing her.

"KP, Yo, Kim! Bell rang, we gotta go!" Ron snapped his fingers and Kim blinked.

"Yea, thanks. I'll see you at lunch?"

"Favorite period of the day." Ron said with a grin before running off.

Scrika-scrika. Enda cringed at the noise. Mechanical pencil on lined paper made a whole symphony of torture in audio. Perhaps she could use it in a future scheme. Till then there had to be a way to drown out that horrid noise that filled the classroom. She picked a song and hummed it from memory, singing quiet enough not to draw attention.

"I know the pieces fit cuz I watched them fall away. Mildewed and smoldering fundamental differing, pure intention juxtaposed, will set two lovers souls in motion. Disintegrating as it goes, testing our communication" She then wrote down Ron and Kim's names before running lines thru them, continuing her song.

"The light that fueled our fire then has burned a hole between us so we cannot seem to reach an end; crippling our communication. The poetry that comes from the squaring off between, and the circling is worth it. Finding beauty in the dissonance."

She realized her scribbling was childish, but there was simply something irreplaceable about taking your anger out on a piece of paper. How stupid did they think she was? Of course she knew that they knew whom she was related to. Tonight was her big chance and she'd have to make it good, after all it wasn't easy to live up to the name of evil prodigy. It wasn't anything personal, after all the two of them were annoying at best. Reminding her of all the close-knit friendships she could never get anyone to share. And living with Alreta Came, her and Shego's Grandmother, was not easy. The woman had hardened her with harsh words and physical abuse. Now it was time she made Alreta proud or be forced to go back. There was no way Kim Possible and her silly sidekick would send her back to that hell. She'd rather burn. Wait a second. Enda's pen made mad dashes as she mapped out an ingenious plan. Yes. Yes! Finishing she looked up at the clock relived to find only 3 minuets remained.

"Cold silence has a tendency to atrophy any sense of compassion. Between supposed lovers, between supposed lovers. And I know the pieces fit."

Tonight would be to die for.

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jao: How was Ron? I mean, I've read plenty of K/R and I find a lot of the time it's already a known fact that he likes Kim, or he might fall pretty fast. I tried to make it a bit realistic, but from by point of view it's hard to tell if I had the wrong pace, or made him out of character. Another thing, If you read the dialog in a monotone way it seems off, but if you imagine the character's voices and the way that the actors would perform the lines they fit better. I think it sounds best when read out loud anyways, but that's probably just me. The song Enda sings during the class is Schism by Tool on their Lateralus album. I seriously suggest you guys check it out. I put it in simply because I love music and couldn't resist the urge to put some lyrics in. Besides I think it reflects Enda's personality a bit.