Kim Possible: Betrayal
-Chapter 2-
By Geor-sama
(Original idea by Ron Stoppable)

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Dark gray rain clouds hung over the land, pregnant with the threat of even more rain. The wind which had died down during the night was filled with a chill that promised nothing of the warmth that should accompany this time of year, creating an over all feeling oppression and despair. Weakly, for brief moments in time a pale beam of sunlight would struggle its way through the clouds only to be choked off indifferently.

With both beast and man driven into their selected shelters the world was silent, allowing those that were asleep precious extra minutes of sleep. This, perhaps, was of no great comfort to the young woman with flowing red hair and an expression of discomfort on her face as she tossed and turned under her blankets, wrapping them tighter and tighter around her lithe body.

Finally an arm broke free of the twisted blankets, snaking out toward the picture on her night stand as her grimace grew even more pronounced. Rolling over in her disquieted sleep her fingers came into contact with the precariously balanced frame, knocking it off the stand so that landed on the floor face down with a softened crack of glass breaking. Amazingly her eyes snapped at this sound and she stared slowly along the path her arm had taken to see what had fallen.

Realizing that it was the picture she closed her eyes, considering that having broken that picture frame her life had come full circle. After a minute of laying there she opened her eyes and slowly began to untangle herself from the cocoon she'd made from her blankets. Free she slid out of the left side of her bed then padded barefoot back to the right, kneeling down to pick up the picture.

After a moment of studying it she placed it carefully on her bed and turned her attention to gathering up the broken pieces of glass. Growing careless she sliced her finger on a piece, wincing as she let out a soft curse. Annoyed she put her finger in her mouth, sucking on it out of instinct. The coppery tang of her own blood seemed to punctuate the reality she was living now and she sighed gathering up the remaining pieces of glass with her free hand.

Tossing them into the nearby garbage can she glared impotently at the offending piece of glass. Following a moments consideration she tossed it into the can to join its brothers and stood sitting back on the bed. Removing the remaining glass she stared at the picture, memorizing all the details despite knowing that the image was already in her mind in near perfect detail.

Hesitantly she removed her bleeding finger from her lips, touching the goofy blond boy's forehead softly. It was all she could do to keep from crying but she was saved such a titanic fight of power when the floor door to her loft eased open a hesitant voice speaking up.

"Kim?"

Kim turned her head at the sound of her name, finger pulling away the only evidence that it had ever been there a tiny bead of blood. She stared blankly at the dark skinned woman entering her room form a moment then gave a weak smile "Hey Mon,". Setting the picture frame back on the night stand and then rose to her feet, blocking Monique's gaze of the picture "I thought you were going to spend the day visiting your mom and dad."

Monique waved a hand, her clothes both stylish and functional considering the nature of the world outside the house. "Nah, I figured you'd like some help unpacking." she smiled reassuringly "I figure I can even treat you to lunch if you want."

Kim was silent for a moment then nodded, glancing around at her room "That'd be nice...though I doubt I'll be much fun to be around right now." That said she led the way to her bags, Monique at her side, neither saying a word while the set about to putting Kim's stuff away.

The soft bubble of hushed conversations drifted through the quaint restaurant, each table a private island of pleasantness in spite of the horrible weather outside of the large picture window. The air was alive with competing aromas from the kitchen hinting at the wonderful meals being prepared behind its closed door. Today was one of the slower days, very few people were willing to brave the so far forestalled storm.

With a tingling of a bell the door eased open and all eyes turned to the two attractive women walking inside. Satisfied that they were harmless girls who were barely twenty the patrons returned to their private islands allowing the two young women to find their own privacy. The dark haired girl seemed to spot at a table and snagging the red headed girls hand lead her toward the table located in a corner near the kitchen.

Silently they slipped into their seats, purses finding a place beside them in the empty chairs. Within seconds of settling in a younger woman, with chestnut brown hair and a white waitresses apron appeared at their table side. "Would you like-"

"I'd like some hot chocolate," the dark haired girl said softly overriding the waitress "Kim would like sweet tea...we'll order in a minute Heather."

The girl stared at the two then smiled "Oh, its you two...sorry, I gotta start paying attention to whose sitting at my tables from now on." Then laughing softly she turned hurrying off to the counter, scribbling on her pad.

Monique watched her go, a slightly bemused smile on her face then turned her full attention back to Kim "So, you have any idea what you'd like?"

Kim opened her mouth as if to respond then seemed to think better of it and sighed, shaking her head "No Mon, nothing..."

"Oh." Monique muttered then taking her drink from Heather allowed silence to settle between them. Having placed her order she took a sip, studying Kim out of the corner of her eye.

"Why'd things have to get so cock-eyed?" Kim asked suddenly, staring hard at her friend "Josh was so...everything was...perfect. That's the only word for how things were going. Perfect. Then he, everything, just changed." Heather returned moments later with the meal Monique had ordered and Kim waited until they were alone before continuing "Why Monique?"

Shrugging Monique picked up her utensils, as if trying to figure out the answer for Kim. Shaking her head she glanced up at her friend oddly "He didn't change Kim. I think he was always like this, stringing you along. He just fooled everyone."

Kim lowered her gaze, taking a sip of her sweet tear before speaking "He didn't fool everybody..." her tone was mournful but she quickly shrugged it off looking back up at Monique "Can we go do something? If I can just stop thinking about everything I'll feel better."

Monique reluctantly nodded, putting her utensils down leaving her barely touched meal alone "Sure...how's the mall sound?"

At this Kim nodded and picking up her purse placed the tip on the table standing as if expectant that her friend would follow. Monique obliged, picking up her on purse "I'll take care of the bill, meet you outside." Sighing Kim reluctantly strode through the restaurant and then with a jingling bell disappeared out into the bitter day.

Kim quietly ascended the stairs to her room, the only sound in the dark house that of the steps creaking. Emerging into her room she looked around, hands filled with shopping bags from Club Banana. Sighing she navigated the darkened room toward her closet, any signs of forced pleasantest fading away. Easing the closet door open with her foot she tossed the bags inside, then turned making her way back to her bed both cursing and praising Monique silently.

It wasn't as if Monique could know just how much she really wanted to be alone right now, her efforts to cheer Kim up seemed almost hollow. Laying down on her bed she pulled a pillow down to her, trembling at how cool and soft it felt. Then she realized that this pillow was from her past, back when she was a child. Realizing this she remembered pieces of her lost childhood each time her gaze settled on an object in her room.

Snuggling against the pillow she closed her eyes, fighting desperately block the flow of now bitter-sweet pleasant memories from her past. It proved unsuccessful and she opened her eyes once more to stare hopelessly at the picture on the nightstand, now stained with a drop of her blood which had dried to a darker color. It seemed to taunt her to say what she felt, what she understood now and she gave in "We lied," her voiced hitched as she continued "and I just now realized it."

Thankfully no tears came and this time she rolled over, leaving the comfort of her bed descending back into the house. Her emerald eyes drifted from picture to picture as she descended the stairs to the ground floor, noting the absence of certain ones. Turning she entered the living room and paused, face with the abruptness of how few pictures remained. No traces were left of him, only the picture on her nightstand showed that he had ever existed in her life.

Her face showed the pain she felt that, then she forced it away walking over the wrap around couch taking her traditional seat. Normally it was very comfortable, but now to Kim it felt like sitting on a rock. Yet she remained there, not staring at the blank TV, but at the missing pictures unable to believe how easily she had erased any record of him being in her life. Morosely she scooped up the remote, holding it loosely in her hand as if intent on turning on the TV.

She had meant to, to loose herself in its luminescent glow it would provide but instead found herself sitting quietly in the dark living room alone and silent. Seconds later the silence was shattered as the front door opened and two very loud, energetic twins came bounding into the house arguing over something.

Then much to Kim's displeasure they were in the living room, jumping over the back of the couch to land with bounces snatching the remote from Kim's loose hold. Blinking Kim sat there, staring at the now blaring to life TV until it sank in that she was no longer really alone. Letting out a disgruntled sound she stood and turned, stalking out of the room, heading for the kitchen ignoring her brothers questions about what was wrong.

Pushing the door open she came to an abrupt halt, staring at her mother and father talking quietly. Giving them a weak smile she moved toward the refrigerator, scavenging for food. Giving up on her search she stood and turned, only to find herself alone with her mother. Sighing Kim moved toward kitchen table as her mother did, each sliding into the booth at the same moment.

Kim locked her eyes with the crystal blue ones of her mother, as if silently challenging her to speak first. Mrs. Possible seemed to get the message and obligingly spoke "Kimmie, do you want to talk about what happened between you and Josh?" Her tone grew even more worried when Kim shook her head resolutely no "Alright, what would you like me to tell him when he shows up?"

"What!" Kim almost shrieked and her mother sighed crossing her arms.

"He's already called Kim, I doubt he'll stay away for long." at this the elder red head shook her head "The more I know about what happened between you two, the more I can suggest."

Kim glanced at the tables smooth surface then looked back up at her mother, voice calm "I already told you. I caught him cheating on me so we broke up. So if he does show up just send him away, I don't want to see him ever again."

"Kim," Mrs. Possible said slowly "you can't hide from this problem. Maybe if you two talked things out-"

"No!" Kim hissed dangerously "He's a bastard mom, I don't care what you think there's no way he can convince me what he did was an accident or a mistake. He's done it before and he'd do it again if I gave him the chance." Taking a breath Kim looked down at the table "I don't have a choice mom, not after what he did..." She trailed off closing her eyes.

Seconds later she heard the sound of her mom standing up from the table and starting across the linoleum floor only to stop at the doorway. Lifting her head Kim found herself staring across the great distance at her mother who was frowning "You need him." Shaking her head she turned away, pushing the door open "Now maybe you understand that your choices affect everything you do."

Kim shook her head as her mother left, then in frustration she smashed her open palm onto the table top and stood, storming out of the kitchen and up the stairs heading back to the solace of her room.