Wednesday…
Clean
Chapter three
Thankfully Middleton wasn't experiencing the same chaos other cities were, and although everyone knew of the war, none knew how soon it would end. Kim smiled half-heartedly at the decorations. Tomorrow morning, the morn of the 6th day, the Possibles would be gone. Tonight was her last night in this world, this home of hers. This was her last dance with everything she loved. It…it had to be the best yet. Stretching on her footstool, Kim tried to hang the last line of lanterns, only for the stool to give out sending her backwards and into his arms.
"That was a close one, KP. You'd think a cheerleader would have more balance."
"Is that coming from one cheerleader to another?" Ron scoffed and stood Kim upright.
"Mascot, Kim. Not cheerleader." She smiled at him before turning to the string of half hung lanterns. With him steadying her, Kim successfully finished the line and plugged it in. There was a slight warm breeze that swayed the paper glowing decorations that not only surrounded the Possible home but adorned the interior of the house as well. The sun was just setting; the smell of honey sickles from the right side of the house filled the air. She sighed before turning back to him.
"What do you think?" Ron grinned up at Kim before taking her hand, helping her down.
"It's beautiful."
"I have to agree." Both Kim and Ron spun to see a fearful woman behind them. Benchmark grinned slyly at Kim before crossing her arms. "So you have decided to go, Ms. Possible?"
"What do you want?" Kim stepped forward, placing Ron safely behind her.
"I came to offer you something…out of kindness. He knows, yes?" Kim glanced over her shoulder at Ron, his eyes full of confusion.
"Yes, he knows."
"Then give this to him. The Hooban's methods are unknown. Consume this liquid and the taker goes into a deep sleep. It does not kill the taker, mind you. It puts them asleep for 5 days and by then they won't feel the pain of death. It's the next merciful thing to killing him yourself." Kim snatched the bottle, glaring at the woman with no fear.
"Is this all you came here for?"
"No, I came to pick you all up."
"What? It's only Wednesday! We're not-." Benchmark put a hand on Kim's shoulder, the sudden weight causing Kim to falter.
"I hate to ruin your party, Kim, but there was a leak in our branch. In fifteen minuets when the six o'clock news comes on everyone will march up here and there will be trouble. How do you think they'll take the fact that they all have to die while their hero, their savor runs away?" Ron stepped out from behind Kim, his hands on his hips. It was enough for Benchmark to remove her hand to stop herself from laughing at his sudden display.
"Kim doesn't want to go. I don't know who you are, but you must not know you're talking to a Possible. A riot or two is nothing we can't handle." Benchmark couldn't restrain her laughter.
"You have no idea, little boy. This 'riot' won't just be a riot. This is a city of people coming to this house. To them she'll no longer be a hero; she'll be a traitor, a coward. And when they all die it'll be the Possibles they curse. Listen, the ship's location is also in the leak so if we're to lift off at all we need to leave. Now." Kim's eyes were locked on the woman, every bit of her fury radiating from the glossy green. A gentle hand fell on her shoulder.
"You should go, Kim."
"I'll go gather your family" Benchmark said as she marched up the yard and into the decorated house. Kim stood there as the wind again picked up, his warm hand's grip squeezing her shoulder gently, reassuring her. The sun had finally sunk below the earth, the hanging lanterns glowing soft hues of peach and pink. Her hand went to the one on her shoulder as a shiver shook her body. She couldn't face him, she couldn't move.
"Ron…I don't want to go. I can't…I can't say goodbye."
"Then don't." His arms surrounded her, the quick beating of his heart pounding in her ears. She savored this pulse that wouldn't exist in two day's time.
"Are we ready?" Benchmark asked as 3 black SUVs pulled up. "Mr. And Mrs. Possible, you will travel in the first SUV. Jim and Tim in the second. Kim…and Ronald in the third." They both stared at the woman in surprise. "The ride is 4 hours, I thought it would be no harm to let the boy ride with you. He will never board the Eternity. Three cars will travel 3 different routes incase there is trouble on the way. Now, please get in." 5 men in the same black suit Benchmark wore carried the luggage, one coming to Kim handing her a smaller bag.
"Objects from your room you might want to keep by you side." Kim nodded and took it.
"Hey Kim, wait!" Monique ran headlong up the yard, in her arms a wrapped present. When she finally reached them she leaned on the vehicle, holding out the package. "You don't think you could just leave without saying goodbye?" Kim wrapped her arms around her friend, tears finally making its way to her eyes. Monique pulled back, wiping tears from her own eyes. "Go ahead open it."
She tore the bright pink paper to find a photo album. In it were pictures of just about anything Kim could think of, not just images of the three of them, but of Middleton and clippings of places such as Pairs and Rome.
"That way, when you're rebuilding humanity and all, you can show them how beautiful the world used to be." Monique's attention turned to Ron who was looking at the album over Kim's shoulder. "Are you leaving too, Ron?" He shook his head before going to give Monique a hug as well.
"I'm just here for the ride."
"I understand. Well, Kim…just-just don't forget about us, ok?" She took her friend into a last embrace as Ron opened the black door of the SUV.
"I could never forget, Monique. Never."
It was hard to stand there on the lawn as the vehicles drove off. The bright beautiful decorations that fluttered abandoned in the breeze only reminded Monique of the happy times they were promised…the ones that would never come.
Kim clung to Ron as the cars pulled away from her home and through Middleton. It felt like something deep in her was being torn away so forcefully. The pain was almost too much to bare, and would be if his warmth wasn't there to surround her. His gentle hands stroking her hair, a soft hum calming her as she cried. It wasn't long before she fell asleep, Ron himself a little tired but he dared not fall asleep as well. This could be the very last time in his entire life he'd see her, the last time he'd ever get to hold her in his arms.
"Aren't you scared?" Ron blinked in surprise.
"I thought you were asleep."
"I'd be scared." He sighed and shifted a bit, to keep his legs from falling asleep.
"I am. It's even scarier knowing that I'll have to face these aliens alone, but I figure it'll be ok." She sat up, her body slightly aching, her head feeling so heavy.
"How can you be so sure?" He took her hand, their eyes finally meeting.
"Because you believe in me. Because…because of all the things I've learned from you, I'm sure I can help everyone at least a little. Kim Possible is no traitor, I'll make sure everyone remembers that."
She sat dumbfounded, her heart barely beating at all. This was Ron? He suddenly seemed so strong…so calm. Her free hand found it's way to his cheek, her fingers brushing past his fading freckles. This man, this human. For the first time, under this touch she connected the body to the person. This was his skin, her best friend's flesh. Under this chest beat the heart she had grown so attached to, and it was like meeting him for the first time. It seemed so simple, before, for all these years her memories of him was of his words, his actions, but this moment, with her hand so gently resting on his skin, it connected it to the corporeal. It was like…magic.
A hand of his own touched the hand that laid on his face, moving it gently aside, his eyes adverting to the floor.
"We shouldn't make this any harder, KP." Kim nodded and returned both hands to her lap, her eyes falling outside the window.
"I understand." What was happening? Why did her face feel so hot? Surely she didn't love him, this was Ron. You just don't…don't fall in love with someone in a car ride. No. It had to be just the fact that everything was happening so fast. His comfort was just that, and nothing more. And her desire to hold on to him was what she was quickly confusing with something else. But she smiled…even as the world was coming to an end he was still there by her side. It was more than anyone else could give her, and far more than she could ever ask. Perhaps…perhaps it was love after all.
Almost 2 hours had passed, each moment adding weight to her chest. Leaning back, Kim rested her head on his shoulder; Rufus had climbed out from Ron's pocket and sat comfortably on Kim's lap. Her fingers entwined with Ron's and at first he was hesitant, but let her after a moment's pause. Kim took in a deep quivering breath.
"Ron…I-I think I-" His finger on her lips cut her off.
"Please Kim. Don't." She sat up, looking at him with confusion, meeting his misting eyes. "I-if you say it, I'll lose all the strength to let you go." His grip tightened as his composure crumbled before her. "I don't want you to go—I don't want to die here alone-" Her lips on his hushed his shaking voice, her body pressing closer. Ron was the one who pulled away only to feel Kim wipe the moisture from under his wide eyes.
"Promise me something." Kim's words were whispers, a hand still lingering, palm on his cheek, fingers resting on the sensitive skin behind his ear. "Promise me you'll stay alive, that you'll be right here, waiting for me." He closed chocolate eyes.
"I promise." Again Ron felt her kiss but with it came a strange taste. It was sweet and numbing, the liquid just sliding back before his consciousness passed. Kim pulled back, wiping her mouth clean of the red-ish liquid Benchmark had provided. It was only a small amount of the vile, enough to let him sleep through the night. Kim herself felt dizzy, the effects of the liquid settling into her as well. She reclined back, curling up next to him closing her eyes to this world. This home and the life she once had.
Rufus sighed and went into Ron's pocket, pulling out a small package, the one he had meant to give to Kim before she boarded. Pushing it along the rodent tucked it into the bag of personal items the man from before had given Kim before returning to his place on her lap and fell asleep.
Jao: I'll be honest. I made myself cry with this one. Not sure if it was the writing, or the very vivid image of it all in my mind, or my music, but it broke my heart.
If you're interested, this was the play list I had for the entire 7 hours it took to write this.
T.a.T.u.- Stars
Hillary Duff- Come Clean
Linkin Park- My December
T.a.T.u.- 30 Minuets
Brandy- Have You Ever
Evanesence- Goodnight
Bjork- Pagan Poetry
Bjork- Play Dead
Pagan Poetry is exceptional for this chapter, the melody; the emotion in the song is idea.