Author's Note:
Next instalment! I want to thank my reviewers first. Especially 'KimxRonWHEE!()' (XD?) whose review cheered me up and made me smile with delight (thank-you for the compliments on my artwork 3)! And 'Ace Lannigan' whose in-depth reviews are very important to me and I value immensely. And to everyone who reviewed the story!! You guys totally put me at ease about uploading this story.
Anyway read on and enjoy!
-A.KiNG!
Instalment 03 »» "Turbulence Before Sanction"
Coming in!
Hold on tight!
Power of our teamwork
Overcomes all
-SonicTeam, 'We Are Burning Rangers'
Still holding hands, Kim and Ron (with Rufus on his shoulder) stalked warily down the dank and murky streets, eyeing everything in sight with utmost trepidation. The rain continued to mercilessly dance down on them from the dull blue skies. In fact, everything around them gave off a bleak blueish hue, much reflecting how the pair of them felt. Each step they took in their socked feet splashed into puddles that soaked them to their already drenched feet; every step they made landed with a splash.
Kim pushed her dripping wet hair out of her eyes. This mission had to be the most horrible one so far.
"My feet are wet," Ron stated, his obvious statement only irking Kim more. He turned his head to face Kim, his blonde bangs clung to his forehead, his eyes half-open, trying to peer at Kim through the constant rain. "I'm miserable."
Kim's teeth chattered in an immediate response. "So am I; we've never had to wait this long for a ride…" Kim cast an agonized glance at the unfamiliar cityscape entrapping them. Her worry was beginning to overwhelm her irritability, something that wasn't common in Kim, now Ron had a sure reason to worry.
Kim continued, "Just so long as I get back in time for my date with Josh Mankey…"
Ron blinked at her through the rain, his vision slightly blurred. He brought a hand up to clear his eyes. "Well… Well, Wade promised, right? He knows his stuff, I give him reliability. First off, we've got to find that airport, otherwise we're going nowhere, whether our ride arrived on time or not. What street did the map say, do you remember?"
"Yea," Kim replied, putting a hand under her wet hair in her face, "It should be up the next couple of streets…"
The two trudged through the streets looking at each worn-down store that they passed with curious interest. The neighbourhood they were in wasn't what Kim would call Middleton or even Lowerton. Quite, it was a very shady community. She wondered why an airport would be located here of all places, and further more why Wade would have any contact with anyone here.
Bright lights shone through the windows, glimmering and blurring through the rain drops. Inside could be seen rowdy silhouettes and heard raucous voices. All Kim wanted was to be warm and dry like those people, but didn't necessarily want to be warm and dry with those people.
"Hey, Kim," Ron called softly, "Look out." With her hand already in his, he pulled her gently to the left side, out of the gravel path they walked, close to the buildings.
Looking up, Kim saw two bright lights ahead of them coming closer as the lights tumbled down the street. The vehicle they belonged too tore past them, splashing them with unneeded water. They were already wet enough that they barely noticed the extra water (or cared).
Together, they stood under a protruding roof, rain water pattering down on the plastic cover. They watched the truck roll past and out of view. Kim and Ron stood, blinking, watching the rain fall down, neither one of them wanting to go back out into the rain once they had just sought shelter. Rufus scampered down Ron's arm to reside in his pant pocket, not that it was any dryer, mind you.
From behind them, they heard laughter and the door to the, well, whatever place it was, swung open. Kim turned around to face two young women who were definitely not dressed for the current state of weather. She felt Ron edge closer to her.
The two women craned their necks and leaned to peer at the weather outside the plastic cover. Kim snorted at the indecency of their clothes, or rather what they lacked, especially when they leaned forward like that… She couldn't help herself—she had to steal a look at Ron, although she wasn't sure why she felt compelled to. He was watching the silhouettes in the window, probably longing to be inside and dry.
The two recoiled, looking sour and progressed into to talk with one another in a language Kim didn't know.
"Excuse me," Kim gathered up courage and a false smile, attempting to speak. Hopefully they also knew English. "-But do you know where the airport is? My friend and I are a bit lost."
Ron blinked, rain water running down his cheek, turning to face the conversation.
At that point, a man came out of the … place, intoxicated with laughter. He was Caucasian; Kim repeated her question to him knowing he would speak her language.
"O yea," the man replied, standing between the two women and drawing them close. "You're not that far off. Keep going down the street, then turn left. It'll be on the right."
"Thanks."
The man looked down near Kim, curious as to what he might be looking at, she realised it was her hand, actually, her holding Ron's hand. This time, the man looked at Ron, giving him a wink. "A bit young to be far from home, hah?"
Kim narrowed her eyes. Was he suggesting what she thought he was? How dare this stranger assume things between her and her best friend! It was obvious he was aiming his question at Ron, but she wanted to interject anyway.
Too late, Ron was already responding. He shrugged, "It's not that unusual."
Kim wanted to slap herself. No. She wanted to slap Ron. He was thinking about their missions, completely missing the point this stranger was suggesting, Ron obviously had no clue what the man was hinting at.
The man grinned, "Is that so? Well, don't rent a room at this place. The walls are thin and the land-owner is cranky; you do the math." Ron furrowed his brow in confusion.
The man suddenly looked down again, "Lost your shoes, huh, kid?" he remarked.
Ron looked down at his dirty, soaked socks and Kim down at hers. The women giggled. "Yea," Ron replied reluctantly.
"Well, maybe you should have waited until you got inside, huh? But I remember what I was like at your age too."
"Ok." Ron slid Kim a curious look, a silent plea for help to understand why the man would make a remark as such.
"Have fun, you two," were the man's parting words.
Taking the hands of the two women, they dashed out from the cover, into the rain and to an automobile on the other side of the street.
Before Kim had a chance to spaz at Ron (one look at him told Kim that he still didn't understand what the man said, couldn't 'do the math', as he insulated.), he said, excitement creeping into his voice, "Can we stop here for a bit, KP? I'm hungry and-"
"NO!" Kim snapped, "Let's just… go."
"But-" Ron protested in vain.
With the advantage of already having his hand in hers, Kim dragged him into the rain and once again down the grovel path, splashing excessively through the puddles. Kim heard Ron yelp the instant he was cascaded in rain water.
To be truthful, Kim did not like this neighbourhood at all, and she hadn't even needed that 'little' encounter to set her mind. More suspiciously now, her eyes darted from one side of the street to the other, darkness shrouding the alley ways. What was that?! She'd ask herself after being startled that she might have heard something.
Ron, beside her, was looking through squinted eyes that were set ahead, watching where he was going and yet not quite looking at anything in particular, more like looking through the scenery. He appeared miserable and pathetic as a drenched and sulking lark. Suddenly her previous anger for him vanished. She felt sorry for him, in the rain, having to endure this with her.
Heck, I feel sorry for myself! She looked down at their joined hands. What if Wade couldn't find a cure… and in time for her date with Josh?
Mortified, she began to dwell on the 'what ifs'. What if she had to cancel and Josh never asked her out again? Sure, she'd have tons of embarrassing moments in front of him before, and many of them weren't what the average teenage girl would experience as embarrassing moments (for example: slowly disappearing, transforming into a hideous monkey, etc.). But this sitch would be a 10 on the embarrassment scale… her friend coming with her on a date? A friend that happened to have a very Ron-ish personality? And what kind of message would Josh perceive from their constant hand holding with this 'friend'.
No, that simply would not do. She could tell Josh the truth, there was always that option… But what if that made her appeal weird to him? To back up this possible scenario, Kim though that this sitch was, after all, not exactly the same as the time she and Ron swapped bodies. That time, no-one at school knew about the swap. Well, if they were still stuck like this on Tuesday, they'd have to tell everyone, wouldn't they? Kim couldn't have people going about assuming things and spreading rumours, could she? At least they had all their classes together…
Through her constant stream of worries, she looked at Ron, biting her lower lip, wondering where his thoughts were. Especially on this insane matter.
Before she could start her worry cycle over again, something caught her eye. With lightning fast reflexes, she whipped around, squinting into the nearby alley where she thought she saw movement. Nothing.
"KP?" Ron inquired softly, his sudden speech startling her further.
"It's nothing," she said aloud, more to herself for comfort rather than to answer Ron. "Just thought I saw… something." That made Ron peer nervously into the same alley. "Hey," Kim grabbed his attention, "We turn here, right?" and she pointed to the street on their left.
Ron said nothing, is sombre nod was response enough.
Continuing to slop through the water, Kim saw the airport sign as they approached. Good, Kim thought miserably. I can't wait to get out of this rain and into dry clothes and into a warm bed… Maybe a hot shower to boot!
But that thought was quickly extinguished. O, right, she grumbled, feeling Ron's hand in hers. She could feel droplets of rain trickle in the crevasses between her hand and his, felt his cold flesh against her equally cold skin. Her fingers were becoming sore, not that Ron had a tight grip.
And so are my feet. Every new step was becoming painful, with every placement of her foot, she thought she felt the grovel and stones penetrate the fibres in her socks and ache her feet more and more. Water's everywhere, she mused grimly, falling on my head, swarming my feet. Fun.
Finally they were in a close enough range to the run-down airport (she'd never have guessed it was one if Wade hadn't had told her), one look at it told her it was not the kind you'd see the major airlines stop at, for sure. Kim and Ron turned to grin at each other, both with the same thought. Together, they sprinted across the remaining ground to the airport, kicking up gravel and splashing water everywhere as they made their mad dash for shelter.
They bee-lined for the inside, stopping to catch their breaths just inside the doors. Hunched over, a hand on their knee, both panted for air (Ron more than Kim) from the sudden bolt. Their cheeks were alighted with red from the flush, a bright contrast from their cold, colourless skin from the run in the cold.
Kim pushed herself to a standing stance, one hand still on her side. Now that she had taken in some breaths, she could survey the state of the airport from the inside. And it wasn't much better off. Basically, the airport was entirely one room. It had the waiting room and the reception desk for its only one port. The place gleamed a dull grey and smelled stagnant, it certainly was an unappealing place; it fit right in with this bleak city… village… place…
"You sure this is the right place?" Ron asked with anxiety as he too eyed the place with as much dislike as she. Their minds were thinking the same.
Kim took in a heavy sigh, "Yup. What time is it?"
Ron pointed to a nearby wall clock which Kim must have missed. "Ok," Kim said with much thought on her mind, "So we have about… maybe an hour before our ride should get here."
"We don't need a ticket, right?"
"No, why?"
"No-one's here to sell us any."
Looking up, Kim was shocked to see no-one at the reception desk, just as Ron had implied. In fact, now that Kim truly took in their surroundings and not with just a distaste to the décor, she came to realise the two of them were quite alone. Odd.
"No-one's here…" Ron echoed her thoughts. (Did he just squeeze her hand?) "You sure this place is open?"
Kim walked back over to the front doors, forgetting Ron was still attached, he followed. Kim flipped the dusty sign to read: 'OPEN'.
"Guess they're just in the back somewhere, I suppose…" Kim shrugged, she lead Ron to the rows of cushioned seats in the middle of the room. Taking a seat, she couldn't help but look around again precariously.
Ron stood beside Kim, also looking around before taking his own seat next to Kim. "O!" Hey, Kim, I'm still hungry," he poked her in the shoulder to be sure he had her attention for such a dire matter. "There's a vending machine over there, I wanna see what they got and-" He raised their hands, showing her that he couldn't go anywhere without her.
"Tchach, Ron!" But before she could scold him for always thinking about his stomach, her own betrayed her by protesting loudly.
Ron grinned. He had this battle won.
"Let's go take a look," Kim replied with a laugh, admitting defeat.
Ambling over to the broken down poor excuse for a non-essential provision machine, they found their choices were slim.
"Do you know any of these brands?" Ron looked nonplussed.
"I might have heard of Olde Rutch."
"What's that..?" Ron asked pointing to something near the bottom of the machine, "Is that, like, gum in a box or something..?"
Kim and Ron leaned forward as close to the glass as their faces allowed.
Kim poked her nose and tried to read the label on the rectangular box, "I… don't think that's food… I think that says…"
"… Never mind!" Ron stood up abruptly, some colour rising to his cheeks and avoiding any eye contact.
Kim began to blush, rubbing her hair while looking at something in Ron's opposite direction. "I guess this vending machine isn't just for food..."
After a few more moments of awkward silence, Ron said: "Well, I'm so hungry, I could even eat Dringles," he clicked his tongue. Automatically, he brought up his hands to clap them together when he realised… he couldn't. Kim blushed, but wasn't aware of her doing so. "So." Ron stated. "Got any cashola? Coins, specifically?"
Kim blinked back at Ron. "I thought you had money. You suggested it."
"I suggested food."
"I don't think I have anything," Kim padded her pockets doubtfully, feeling for change. She felt her stomach surge, now that her mind was focused on food, her stomach cried for it.
Ron opened a few flaps on his belt, peering inside. He moaned, "Doesn't look like we'll be eating until we get back to Middleton. I hope Bueno Nacho is still open… Unless the airplane has free roasted peanuts!" He arched his eyebrows, indicating at his surroundings. "But even that looks dim."
"Clearly…" Kim concurred. "Let's just go back and sit the wait out."
Ron blew strands of wet hair out of his eyes moodily, not before giving the vending machine a farewell hug and sob. Kim had to pry Ron away with force.
Making their way through the rows of seats, Kim located a new place to sit so she could keep an eye on the wall clock. Ron sat down beside her, not that he had much of a choice anyway.
Wiggling in his seat, Ron said sourly, "My butt's slippery."
"Gee, that's nice to know," Kim retorted.
Ron pushed himself out of his seat and sat cross-legged on the floor near the base of Kim's seat.
"And is that any better?" Kim asked dryly.
"Somewhat," Ron answered with a shrug. He patted the hard carpeted floor with his hands, remarking, "Feels like I'm sitting at circle time back in Pre-K." Then, "At least I don't slide off my seat now."
Kim genuinely understood what Ron meant as she herself began to slide, the water on her khaki pants being slippery on the plastic seats. She tried to orientate herself into a comfortable, preferably in a non-slippery, position. In the end after much frustrated tossing and shifting (much to Ron's exasperation of having his arm being sorely waved about by Kim's own movements), she decided to reside sitting in the seat sideways so she could sort of lie down, casting her legs over the armrest onto the next seat.
The two friends sat in silence for a long time, each finally allowing the fatigue to overwhelm them. The entire exhaustion of this mission was intense and the both of them, Rufus included, longed for the comforts of home. The more they thought wistfully of the pleasures home brought, the more they began to drift into the fantasies, bringing them into a drowse. Kim could barely keep her eyes on the clock. She turned to face the back rest of the seat, cushioning her cheek into the plastic, a poor substitute for her soft, pink pillow at home.
She had to keep her mind off Josh and their current predicament; had to think of other things, like how nice home would feel. Although, thinking of Josh would have lead to stressful thoughts, it would have at least kept her awake.
Kim tried to lift a dreary eye, looking down at Ron on the floor. He was no longer sitting, rather lying down, Rufus still in his pocket. His hand that was attached to Kim's actually hung some in the air, but not by very much. By the looks of it, he, unlike Kim, had managed to fall asleep already- on the hard floor all wet too!
Ron, Kim was somewhat amused, you can fall asleep anywhere! She chuckled to herself, at least he could get away with falling asleep. Now that she was the only one left awake it was her duty to watch the time. Seeing him so much at peace in his sleep, Kim didn't have the have the heart to awaken him.
She sighed heavily to herself, time always went by slower when you watched the clock. With nothing to occupy her thoughts, not even any background noise (except for Ron's breathing if she listened real closely), she began to yawn and find herself easing effortlessly into sleep. There was no way for her to fight it anymore.
It doesn't matter, Kim reassured herself, Gustavo will wake us when he gets here. Her stomach growled. And hopefully with some of those free roasted peanuts.
And Kim nearly made it to sleep as too, it would have passed the time by, if she'd been able too. If it weren't for what was to happen next.
From the entrance to Kim's right, she barely managed to see a blurry view of a group making their way into the airport. Suspicion immediately caught a hold of her, shooting her eyes wide awake, reflexes preparing for anything.
She was just about to scold herself for being so jumpy and grant herself another passage to sleep when she decided against such an idea. The group unnerved Kim too much, so she thought better to keep a watchful eye on them.
The group was comprised of three boys, probably a year or two older than Kim. They were locals, speaking in low voices amongst themselves. Just their behaviour alone spelt trouble (and perhaps the way they were dressed); in they swaggered, not looking like they came in for an air lift at all. Continuing to watch them from the corner of her eye carefully, she watched them meander through the seats. Feeling increasingly disconcerted, Kim readied herself as they walked down the aisle next to her… past her…
No. Up to her.
Very interesting, boys, Kim thought grimly, resisting every urge to curl her upper lip in disgust. Interesting how you three choose to sit behind me in the next aisle… trouble is a brewing… And how!
"Got the time?" One of them grinned, turning around in his seat to face Kim. She was a bit startled that they spoke English since the two young local women they encountered hadn't.
Kim was reluctant to talk to these guys, yet replied haughtily, "There's a clock on the wall."
Two of the three turned to look at the supposed clock, the third (the same one who had asked for the time) raised his hands defensively, reacting to her tone of voice. "Whoah, chica, calm down there. Meant no harm ask'n. Got a name?" He couldn't take that grin off his face, and Kim wanted to slap it off so badly…
"Duh."
The three boys 'oo'ed and then laughed, "Look girlie, we don't want to smack a barking bitch."
Kim's eyes flared at the insult and threat. Never in her life had she been called such a word! It angered her so that flames danced about in the pupils of her eyes… She shifted herself aggressively, surely if she were a cat, her hackles would have raised and her fangs glinting deadly.
"Look," Kim snapped, temper flaring, "I don't have time for you and whatever you're thinking is going to happen, so don't waste your time."
The one who spoke narrowed his eyes at Kim, she didn't flinch, but felt an urge to spit in his face. "I already gave you a fair warning…" Abruptly, his dangerous expression was gone, replaced by his previous false grinning one. "My friend and I like rare birdies-"
"-Especially red ones," the friend cut in.
"Especially the red ones," the talkative one repeated. "We saw you walk in here with some guy. Us guys were thinkin' bout taking you to one of the clubs you passed. I know some cheap places with thick walls…"
At that point, Kim's eyes had flown open wide in shock, but not at the last comments, she didn't even acknowledge those. It was something else he had said that caught her attention. That they saw her and Ron come into the airport, saw them on the street… that meant it was these hooligans she thought she saw and heard in the alley! They'd been stalking them! Kim glared at them menacingly.
If she thought this would deter them, she was greatly mistaken. The talkative guy in the group mistook her wide-eyed look of realisation for something else…
"Hey-hey, don't worry. Your friend can come along too; my other friend here has a thing for little blonde ponies."
Now THAT had pushed Kim beyond her limits, there's was no turning back. That was Ron they were talking about!? The corner's of Kim's mouth twitched in repulsion. Alright, this little 'chat' has gone on far too long.
Just before she could put her thoughts into action, showing them who they were really messing with, the talkative one put a hand on her shoulder. Instinctively, Kim bounced back, leaping from her seat to stand defensively, facing the intruding three. She'd completely forgotten Ron was still holding her hand and in her leap, she yanked him backwards, he hit his left side, but didn't wake. Only Rufus made a little squeak.
The guy who had spoken to her crept out of his seat, his friends doing the same. He punched a fist into a flat hand, "Don't make me drag you to that bathroom over there. We're just looking for a free meal."
Kim snorted, "So NOT." She backed up a little, prepared to take these ass-men on. In backing up, she had dragged Ron on the floor, finally awaking him.
Looking up at Kim, he yawned his sleep away, rubbing his nose while standing up. He said typically, "What's going on?"
"Hah!" The guy crowed, "Gonna get the scrawny pony to fight for you?" The three laughed as one.
Ron's ears must not have been fully functional yet, he didn't react to the comment. He next looked at the three, then back at Kim. "Are they our ride?"
Kim almost fell over.
"Oo, we sure are!"
"Called that one," Kim muttered. "Alright, the metaphors, similes and innuendoes stop here and NOW. I'm giving you a chance to get out of here free of bruises. Stay… and we're prepared to open a can of whip-ass on all three of you!"
Ron's eyes, and ears for that matter, popped open. " 'We'? 'We' fight 'them'? As in, all three of them?!"
The three howled with laughter, "You two? Fight us? That's a riot! Ok, I tried being polite, looks like we'll have to take you the hard way."
"Bring it on!" Kim challenged.
"No!" Ron cried, trying to hide himself behind Kim. "Don't bring it! Keep it off!!"
But he was ignored by both parties. The gang advanced, Kim knew they were going to leap over the chairs and at her and Ron. She'd given Drakken a flying Kung Fu wedgie before, she could certainly handle this.
Quickly, the group advanced, leaping onto the seats and bounding over them in the same narrow aisle where Kim and Ron held their ground as anticipated. Kim backed up further down the aisle, not out of fear, but to put some space between them where she intended to duke it out.
The three guys chuckled some more, mistaking her backing up for uneasy evasiveness. The lead gang member stepped forward first, reaching out aggressively for Kim, but she was prepared and lashed out, giving him a swift kick with her right leg in his gut. He stumbled backwards, landing hard on the floor.
The other two members looked purely stunned at her 'unexpected' lash out, but not as stunned as the one who fell down.
He struggled to stand back up. Once or twice he blinked to clear the shock. All too soon, he was prepared for another go, but this time, "C'mon boys! They can't take on all of us!"
Ha! Kim wanted to laugh out loud. Says you! I've taken on twenty of Drakken's buffed up goons at once. This'll be easy.
The three of them charged at Kim and Ron, and right as they did, Kim suddenly remembered she was still holding hands with Ron! How could she dance about, doing her flips, cartwheels and high kicks when stuck to Ron?! This is going to be harder than I thought.
But it turned out Kim wasn't the only one thinking about how they were going to go about teaching these fools a lesson.
"KP!" Ron called Kim's attention forward, he steadied his hands, with one of hers already in his; he speedily took her other. Kim quickly caught on, without the time of a sturdiness test, Kim put faith in Ron's strength and allowed him to bare her weight in his hands as she bounced off the floor, delivered a two foot kick to the leader who was charging in the middle. Still baring her weight, she again stretched her arms and bounced again, this time each foot made a blow to the remaining two thugs.
Before being able to thank Ron for the unusually quick thinking, the lead gang member leapt up again with a growl, he hadn't prophesied this much trouble.
"Look out, Kim!" Ron alerted.
Kim swerved, trying the same method, holding Ron's hands as he steadied her for another attack. But their attacker was a fast learner and grabbed both of Kim's legs before they could connect.
"Aa!" Kim cried out, startled.
"The fight ends here, babe!" The lead gang member grinned, pulling her closer as she struggled frantically to wiggle her legs out of his tightening grasp.
But she was soon freed as Ron put pressure on Kim's hand where they were attached and she did what he was subliminally suggesting. This time, Kim held Ron's weight in her hand while he pushed himself off the ground and kicked the guy right in his face sharply.
The guy cried out, clutching his face, dropping Kim who was caught by Ron.
Yet again, they weren't given a chance to take a breather for the other two were advancing again and the leader would recover again soon.
Ron launched Kim like a speeding torpedo, running with her so he wouldn't be forcefully yanked forwards. A fist connected with a crack to the one who 'prefers little blonde ponies', she had a special vengeance for this creep.
Kim didn't feel like she had to worry about the member right behind her; she knew Ron would deal with him. He did.
On the other side, Ron viciously side –swiped the guy off his feet, but wasn't prepared when the gang member grasped Ron's shirt and tossed him over his head as he fell. Of course, this meant Kim went flying along with Ron, both friends absolutely shocked.
The impact with the wall was more than evident to Kim, it sent her mind reeling as she tried to push herself off the carpet and start fighting again. But she was a lot dizzier than she supposed for she soon found herself back on the ground again when she was sure she had stood up. Her vision swam, how much time was passing? She couldn't be sure.
It took her awhile for the numbness to pass and feel Ron's hand in hers again. He was conscious, for he was holding her hand tightly, almost so it pained Kim. The squeeze he gave her jolted her eyes wide, focusing on the people surrounding them…
Hastily aware, Kim couldn't help but back up against the wall, the three attackers leered over her and Ron, grinning ear to ear. The leader looked tired and he was sweating profusely, even his eyes looked like they were having trouble focusing; this gave Kim some hope.
This isn't over… Kim glanced at Ron, her teeth clenched, to check his status. Ron's eyes were in slits, and he glared menacingly like a corned cat, ignoring the blood running into his mouth from his nose.
The leader, his forehead layered covered in sweat more than the other two, grinned maliciously, his face inches away from Kim. She curled her lip in repulsion. "Nice ballet tricks, birdie. But don't mess with us, we've been in a lot more fights than you have. Now we're gonna have to teach you two a lesson…"
All that buff-talk went in one ear and out the other for Kim, her mind was feverish for a way out. She didn't have enough room to bounce off the wall and over their heads. Did she have enough room to slide under them? She'd have to try it, but how to communicate that to Ron? If a sudden pull down came unexpected to him, he might resist, foiling her plan of escape.
But that didn't happen. Kim's eyes flew open, a jolt of shock speeding across her brain. The leader and just reached out and… and… grabbed her! Fire inside of her eyes almost burned through the thin layer of her pupils. She looked down at his hand on her chest, WRONG MOVE!
The two 'buddies' laughed dorkily, they wouldn't be for long. Kim snapped her arm out and clutched the guy's wrist, bending it backwards and backwards… so backwards that there was bound to be a crack and it would no longer be in a position that a wrist ought to be in.
A smile danced across her lips when she saw the frightened reaction of the leader… but it the feeling was soon reversed! The other two reached out at Kim, grabbing her wrist and began to twist her arm.
"Aurgh!" whe cried out, slowly sinking onto the floor. She wanted to tell Ron to get Wade, to do something, but the pain was so intense…
Ron must have been psychic.
There was an abrupt sound, the mix of a yowl and a hissing spit, Kim was positive that a tiger had just bounded into the airport. But it was Ron! He impulsively launched forwards at the leaders arm who was continuing the job of twisting Kim's arm. With his legs, he lashed out, kicking the partner in front of him so his foot dug up and in between his rib cage. Then he did the same to the one behind him, while continuing with his teeth… gnawing away at the leader's flesh.
Kim was astounded. Utterly blown away by Ron's unforeseen ferocity!
The two partners backed away, clutching their diaphragms where Ron had knocked them breathless, Kim could hear them begin to hyperventilate. Then there was the blood! The leader howled as Ron tore away at the man's flesh, so much blood began to spray that Kim felt herself actually growing worried for the guy.
"Ron!" she cried out, placing a hand on his shoulder tentatively.
"Let GO!!" the leader cried out, tears of pain forming in his eyes.
He did. Ron sprang backwards, continuing to give the leader the evil eye as blood masked his face. Ron took a step forwards. The leader took a step backwards.
"You're no pony, you're a wildcat! Let's high-tail it outta here guys!" Eyeing Kim and Ron nervously (Kim did her best to look just as deadly as Ron), he backed up some more before he dashed out of the airport, his buddies tumbling out after him; neither of them looked over the shoulders during the retreat.
Kim strained up, looking at her arm that they had twisted. "I'm gonna feel that in the morning," she muttered.
Turning now to look at Ron, she was anxious to see what kind of expression he'd be wearing. His sudden attack, although valiant, some-what disturbed Kim. Perhaps it was the blood Ron had spewed.
"Ron..?" she asked. He was staring at their retreating backs. She wondered that if they were not attached, would he go run after them? Come on, Kim, she told herself, he so wouldn't. You're just spooking yourself.
"Huh, wha?" Ron asked. He too straightened up, looking like he had just snapped out of a stupor. He wiped a hand over his mouth, looking at the blood. "Ew! Oh, dude, that's just plain sick and wrong!"
"You totally frightened me back there, what was up with that?"
Ron looked about himself at the scenery as if he was lost. "I dunno." They walked together to find some seats and sat themselves down. Ron shrugged, continuing with his response, "Just protected you…"
"Protect me? What am I- a damsel in distress?"
Ron gave her a pitying look, "Well if memory serves me correctly, I do believe he had your arm in a lock and very well might have popped the precious ligament out of your socket if I didn't do something!" Ron looked in his pocket for Rufus' condition, a stream of angry chatters ensued; Ron closed the flap.
The sudden ache in her arm helped to remind Kim. "You're right. Sorry, I guess I'm just… wanting to get home." She shifted in her seat. Kim could still feel the touch… she almost reached up, but Ron interrupted her.
"But that was some fight, huh? We made a pretty good team there, didn't we?"
"Yes, we did, didn't we? That was some slick thinking you did, Ron! You see those moves in a movie or something?"
He shook his head, "Naw, just intuition. It was cool how I didn't have to tell you what I was thinking! You were just, like, right on track."
Kim laughed, "Oo" she wiggled her fingers and waved her hand, mimicking a gypsy psychic gazing into a crystal ball. "Maybe we have a psychic liiiink"
Ron's smile was huge although his teeth still had some blood on them… "Oo-oo, tell me what I'm thinking!" He closed his eyes and thought hard.
Laughing, Kim pretended to ponder, "You're thinking… that you need to find a washroom to clean that blood off."
Ron opened his eyes, a look of upset. "Aww, that's not what I was thinking. I was thinking of some snackage."
"Ya, but that's what I'm thinking. Besides, if you're coming over to my house, I don't want my parents to see the blood, they might think we're out killing people or something."
Ron blinked, "Your house?"
"Duh," Kim lifted up their attached hands. "Just a hunch, but I figure you'll be staying the night."
"Riiight."
"Now. Let's go find that washroom to clean up in."
They stood up and meandered towards the washrooms. Ron squinted at the beaten up shape of the walls, "If this place has running water…"
"Uh-oh." Kim stopped walking.
"Ugh, now what?"
Kim pointed to two doors in front of them.
"What?" Ron questioned. "Does one, like, lead to certain doom and the other to the castle in the centre of the labyrinth?"
"What?" Kim cocked an eyebrow at Ron and pointed up. "I'm talking about that."
Looking up, Ron saw that Kim was pointing to two signs, one on either door.
"O-boy."
Male washroom of female washroom? Kim and Ron exchanged blank stares.
"Well, I'm not going into the fem-room. You'll just have to come along with me. I'm just using the sink."
"No-way, Ron!" Kim cried out.
Ron grinned slyly at her, "Kiiim, what does it matter to you" she glared at him. "You've already been into the guy's washroom before at school when you mistook one for the other"
"Ron, you didn't see that… I only wrote that in my diary… !! Wait! Did Wade tell you that?!"
"Hey, Wade hacks and tells."
"Errgh!" Kim clenched a fist and gritted her teeth. She really needed to boost the security on her diary. Or revert to the good old fashioned book and pen.
"Come on!" Ron flew into the male-washroom, tugging Kim along who hadn't even had the moment to resist.
Kim found herself standing next to Ron as he plugged the sink, filling it to the brim with water. Dunking his head in numerous times he scrubbed the blood off his face and teeth with his hands. Ron had to ask Kim numerous times if he'd gotten it all off for the mirror was much too dirty to see a reflection and neither one of them wanted to scrub it clean…
"Did I ever thank-you?" Kim asked thoughtfully.
"What for?"
"For saving me, duh. That was brave of you, thanks. I don't know what I would have done if you'd been knocked unconscious."
Ron lifted his head from the sink, his bangs spraying Kim with water. "No big, KP. He just… he was a jerk. Didn't want him to… to hurt you." He looked at Kim from the corner of his eyes, "Or me."
"I guess it was a good thing our hands are stuck. You might have run away if given the chance!"
Ron rolled his eyes, "Perhaps…" He grinned, dipping his hand in the water then flicked Kim with more water.
"Hey!" Kim laughed out, shielding herself too late. Kim dipped her hand in the water and began flicking Ron in revenge. The two laughed as they sprayed themselves with water. They had heated up so much during the fight that their clothes had practically dried. That didn't matter anymore.
"Anyone here?" A voice called.
Kim and Ron snapped out of their playfulness, turning their heads towards the sound. With a quick exchange of smiles, they dashed out together.
"Kim Possible!" It was a short portly man with droopy eyes and a moustache. "I am sorry I am late. The rain held me back."
"Gustavo!" Kim cried out happily, finally their ride had arrived!
"Gustavo?" Ron whispered to Kim.
"From the flood, remember?"
"O-ya… I'll never forget those piranhas."
They caught up with Gustavo, trotting beside him as he led them to his landed airplane. Together, Kim and Ron clambered onto the steps. This time, Kim had to sit in the back with Ron. It would be rather strenuous if they had to stretch their arms out if Ron sat in the back and Kim in the front with Gustavo.
Buckling their seatbelts, Kim wiped the window she sat beside clean to view out, rain still lashing at the glass.
"Alright, Ron, let's ace this place!"