FULL POTENTIAL: a Kim Possible fanfiction
by Ranger Thorne
A short walk up the road led to a house next to a steep hill. As quietly as possible, Kim crept through the yard and looked down. Memories of sleigh riding down the hill with Ron made her smile. Finally, she looked around to make sure she was alone, then spread her wings.
Kim stepped back a few paces, then stood still.
The wind flashed past her face, bringing tears of joy to her eyes . . .
"I can do anything," she whispered just before she ran to the edge and threw herself into the air. The feeling of falling was missing, as Kim felt the wind catch in her wings. For a few seconds, she was content to glide, but then flapped her wings.
"Harder than I thought," she muttered as she had to keep working her wings to get them to move her through the air. Suddenly, a gust of air from below lifted her almost twenty feet higher. "An updraft," she said, exhilarated, "cool." After a few false starts, she learned how to turn to fly over the place she had gotten the lift. Her hair flying wild, Kim laughed as the ground began to recede beneath her.
After a while, she realized that the sun had risen and her parents were going to be worried about her. And, with the sun up, she could be seen. "Oh no," she muttered as she looked down, trying to find landmarks to make it home.
As she flew over a street, a head that she would recognize from any angle was walking along the sidewalk. Using Ron as a marker, she quickly found her house. She tried being gentle, but her first landing on the roof of her house ended in a tuck and roll. She glided to the ground in the back yard, then went inside.
Dana was standing at the door to the kitchen, wringing a towel in her hands while her father was sitting at the table reading the paper. When she heard the door open, Kim's mother turned. "KIM!" she exclaimed. "Where have you been, young lady?"
"I, uh . . ."
"We've been worried sick," Dana didn't give her daughter the chance to respond. "I was about to phone the police. What were you doing?"
Realizing that she was required to reply, Kim shrugged, "I went out to see if my wings really work."
In disbelief, Dana stared at her. "I thought I said to keep your feet on the ground. And you went out anyway?"
Kim managed to keep her temper from showing on her face. But, her wings bunched up tighter and higher. The tension in them distracted her for a moment, allowing her to consider her reply. Finally, she looked at he mother and said, "Mom, you know I'm not wired that way. I didn't keep my feet on the ground before I got wings. How could I not try them out?"
"I told you that's where she was," James said, lowering the paper to look at his daughter. "You okay, Kimmie-Cub?"
"I'm fine, Daddy," she said, sitting down. "I'm just a little winded."
"I'm glad you two are so at ease over this," Dana said, scowling.
"Honey," he looked at his wife, "Kimmie has been all over the world fighting people out to take over the world. How's this any worse?" He looked back at Kim, "You had your kimmunicator, right?"
"Yes, Daddy."
"See, she could call for help if she needed it."
Dana thought for a moment, then sighed. Sitting at the table, she reached out and put a hand on one of Kim's. "I'm sorry, dear. I guess I did overreact a little."
"I should have at least left a note," Kim said. "I'm sorry."
"I'm just worried about what people are going to do when they find out about you." Giving the hand she was holding a squeeze, Dana smiled, "You were always like an angel to us, and I guess I'm a little jealous that everyone else might see it, now."
Kim felt the blush as she smiled. "Mooom, that's so . . . so . . . sweet."
The moment was broken by a familiar knock followed by a head of blond hair. "Hey, Possible family."
"Hi, Ron," Kim said, waving over her shoulder at him.
"Have fun, KP?" Ron asked as he sat next to her. A series of thumping sounds could be heard from the other room.
"Saw me?"
"Only as you flew over. You had some serious height, KP."
"I learned how to use updrafts." She shrugged, "Getting that high on my own would wear me out."
"I guess that's why a lot of larger birds do it," Ron nodded.
"Do what?" Jim (or is that Tim? Ron asked himself) asked as he and his twin entered the kitchen.
"Uh," he looked at Kim, who shrugged, "use updrafts to gain altitude."
"Oh, yeah," Tim (or Jim?) Replied.
"It helps to get higher," Jim began.
"So you can see your prey better," Tim finished. He looked at Kim, "You gonna start hunting your food?"
"Hunting my food?" Kim's eyes widened, "As if, tweebs."
"Yeah," Tim scolded his twin, "Kim wouldn't hunt. Besides, she doesn't have claws."
"You mean talons," Jim corrected.
"Now, now," Ron said, grinning, "that really depends on if KP has trimmed her toenails lately."
"RON!"
"Just pulling your chain a little, KP," Ron said as he turned his grin on her.
"I'll have you know I gave myself a pedicure three days ago," she told him while keeping a straight face.
"Oh, that's okay, then." Ron nodded. "Uh," he added as his self-confident expression fled, "how often do you get a pedicure?" he asked. Kim and her mother both rolled their eyes.
"You sure this is a good idea, KP?" Ron asked as he walked beside his friend. Kim was wearing the long coat again, despite the discomfort and the odd look it made in the back.
"We gotta go back sometime," Kim replied. "Better sooner than later."
"Well, I just don't think the wings thing is going to go over well." Ron looked ahead of them. And I'm afraid that you'll end up as either a freak or an outcast . . . like me.
"You know," Kim said, changing the topic, "I would like to know what you didn't tell Mom yesterday."
"I . . . huh?" Ron looked confused.
"You remember talking to Mom in the kitchen before we went to the hospital?" Kim stopped and faced him. "I could tell you didn't tell her everything. Now spill."
Ron's jaw worked for a few seconds. "You don't wanna know, KP," he finally said. "You'd never . . . nevermind."
"Ron," her eyes invoked images of green fire.
"I, uh," he said as his resolve crumbled, "sometimesfeelwhatyou'refeeling."
"Like if I'm angry or sad?"
"Like if you stub your toe or your sock bunches up in your shoe." Ron shrugged, "It's like I'm plugged into your five senses. Take this morning," he gestured with a hand in the direction of Kim's home, "I woke up as you said 'I can do anything,' then ran and jumped into the air."
"My five . . ." Kim blushed.
"It's only sometimes, or if I think about it." Ron slumped, then said, "Maybe it has something to do with the brain switching. You know," he went on, "it's like every weird thing that's ever happened to me has been brought back."
"The gas brought it all back, somehow?" Kim had never truly felt self-conscious around Ron. She had always trusted him to turn his head or close his eyes when she had to change into or out of her mission clothes. Suddenly, however, she was very aware that he was male and she female. And he's feeling what I'm feeling?
"KP!" Ron protested, "I'm not some kind of pervert!"
"So you're reading my thoughts again?" Her voice rose.
"No, you're blushing." Ron turned away, then dropped his head. "Kim, you know I'd never do anything to hurt or embarrass you. Well, not on purpose, anyway."
Suddenly, Kim felt a deeper embarrassment rise. "I'm sorry I doubted you, Ron."
Looking back, Ron shrugged, "I knew you'd react that way, KP. It's only natural. I mean, we've been best friends since pre-k, but you're a girl and I'm a guy."
"You just figuring that out?" Kim asked with a smirk.
"That you're a girl has been obvious for a while, KP," Ron said. As a slight pink rose on his face, Ron rolled his eyes, "That did not sound like what it sounded like. I mean --"
"I know what you mean, Ron." Putting a hand on one shoulder, she put her chin on the other. "You know, we never really cleared the air after the moodulator."
"I'd hate to think what I'd be going through if I'd had that thing on me, too," Ron grumbled.
"Sudden mood swings?" she asked.
"Ew, I'd be like Drakken." The two laughed as they continued to the school.
"Who writes those things?" Ron asked as they neared the school. He had gestured to the sign outside the school, which today had the slogan 'School for many, home to none.'
"No idea," Kim told him. "I think Bonnie knows, but I have no clue. Look," she said, serious, "I think we need to talk this over after school. I'll admit that," she frowned, "what you told me freaks me out a little. But, I trust you. It's not like you haven't had the chance to see me," she blushed, "you know. But you being in here," she tapped her head, "takes some getting use to."
"Hey," Ron said, trying to cheer her up, "maybe we can learn to communicate telepathically."
"So I can hear all about how great your last naco was?" Kim grinned.
"Hey, I eat more than nacos," Ron complained. "There's chimeritos . . ." he began to count off as they headed into the school an to their lockers.
"And what exactly do you think you're doing, young lady?"
The hard voice of Steven Barkin caused Kim to turn slowly. "Uh, hello, Mr. Barkin," she said, smiling timidly.
"Possible," the tall man said leaning only slightly, but giving the impression of massive size and power, "what are you hiding under that coat?"
"Uh . . ." Looking past Barkin, Kim could see students were stopping to watch the famous Kim Possible get into trouble. "Mr. Barkin, could we, like, do this in your office?"
"Don't want to have your popularity ruined, Possible?" He straightened up, but continued to glare. "I'm not into popularity contests. Let's see what's under the jacket."
"Uh, Mr. Barkin," Ron interjected, "that's really not a good idea."
"Stay out of this, Stoppable."
"I wish I could."
Barking whirled, "What is that supposed to mean?"
Kim's eyes widened as she realized at least a little of what Ron had meant. But, what the blond said was, "Mr. Barkin, if you make her take off that jacket in public, it could very well cost you your job."
"Is that a threat, Stoppable?" Barkin leaned in close. Unlike before, however, the small-boned teen met his gaze.
"No, sir. It is a statement of fact. Take Kim into your office and learn what is going on. It's better all around. Trust me."
It was the final two words that got Barkin's attention. He straightened, then turned to the girl. "Okay, we'll play this your way," he glanced at Ron, "for now." He turned back to Kim, "Let's go see what secrets lie beneath."
Kim slipped the coat from her shoulders and off of her wings. As she worked the kinks out of them, she saw Barkin's jaw drop. She spread them as much as she dared in the small office, then asked, "See why I didn't want to do this in the hall?"
"They're, they're," was all he could say.
"Wing. Yes, I know." Kim took a deep breath, "Look, Mr. Barkin, I know that everybody is going learn about them sooner or later, but I really need some time to come to terms with this myself."
"They're beautiful," Barkin said in a voice as soft voice. Well, soft for Barkin.
"Uhm," Kim blushed, "thanks."
Pulling himself together, Barkin frowned, "I can see that you've been busy over the weekend. I take it they're real?"
"Yes, sir. Genetic mutation."
"Not catching, I hope."
"No sir. It uh," she shrugged, "happened in the womb. My parents had a compound to keep it from developing this far, but someone gave me an antidote over the weekend."
Nodding, Barkin said, "I'll give you a note for gym." Scowling, he asked, "What are you going to do about cheerleading?"
"Oh, no," Kim slapped her forehead. "I can't do cheerleading without everybody seeing me."
"I think," Barkin said, moving to sit behind his desk, "it's time you took a little break from cheerleading." Frowning, he went on, "Bringing more attention onto your . . ." he looked over her shoulder at the wings she was folding back behind her, "wings . . . would only bring the kind of publicity that brings tabloids to your door and parking in your yard. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to make Miss Rockwaller acting captain."
"Bonnie?"
"It's that or you walk out of here without that coat and accept the consequences now." His face was set in his normal 'resistance is useless' mode. "You can't have it both ways, Possible."
After searching her mind frantically for an answer, she settled for grabbing her coat and putting it carefully over her wings. She took the note from Barkin without a word, then swallowed hard once before leaving the room.
"That reeked," Kim mumbled as she opened her locker.
"KIM!" Wade looked out at her. "Where have you been? I haven't been able to get you on the kimmunicator since Ron's rescue."
"What?" Pulling the device from her pocket, she tried to activate it. "It's not coming on," she reported.
"Here," A small cable came from the computer, "plug it in and let me check it out." Kim complied, and Wade began to tap keys. "I'm not getting anything," he told her. "It's like the . . . wait a minute." He tapped a few more keys. Frowning, he said, "I'm running a test charge through the battery. It looks like it's dead."
"I thought the batteries were good for a long time," Kim said, confused.
"I guess the sonic laser took more out of it than I thought," Wade said, looking annoyed.
"Wait," Kim looked at him in confusion, "what sonic laser?"
"Didn't Ron tell you how he got you out of Drakken's lair?"
"No, he didn't." Kim frowned, "But he's going to."
"Yeah, well," Wade tried not to smirk at Ron's upcoming lecture, "put the kimmunicator on the charger when you get home and it should be okay. Call me tomorrow so we'll know it's working again."
"Can do, Wade."
"Oh," the computer guru said before Kim could close the door, "how are you doing?"
After glancing around, Kim leaned forward and whispered, "It's over. I'll show you sometime." Then, carefully, she closed the door.
Kim tried to ignore the looks she got from the other students. A couple even whispered references to the Hunchback of Notre Dam loud enough for her to hear. To her surprise, one of the few people other than Ron and Monique to not give her either a hard time or a wide berth was Bonnie. In the few classes they had together, she would occasionally glance around at her in surprise, then look at a piece of paper in her hand. Kim swallowed hard when she realized it was the note form Barkin telling Bonnie that she was now the head cheerleader.
By the time she got to her locker at the end of the day, Kim was drained. Not only that, but her wings hurt from being constricted by the coat. "This is coming off as soon as I get in the house," she promised.
"Sounds like a plan, KP," Ron said as he leaned against the next locker.
"Hey, Ron." Suddenly remembering, she looked at him, "I talked to Wade. It looks like whatever you did to get us away from Drakken drained the batteries on the kimmunicator."
"Oh." He looked away, nervous, "Sorry about that."
"I'm glad you did it," she told him. "I just wish I knew what 'it' is." Scowling slightly, she asked, "You were planning on telling me how we got out of there, right?"
He chuckled once, "Honestly, KP, I've been a little distracted. But, hey," he shrugged, "I'll tell you on the way home."
"I guess we've both been a little distracted," Kim admitted. "Okay, you tell me on the way and I won't hurt you."
"Whew," Ron said wiping his brow, "that's a load off my mind." Suddenly scowling, he shifted his shoulders as if working out a kink. "My back has hurt all day," he told her. "It's like I'm carrying a big weight or something."
Raising an eyebrow, Kim said, "Or a pair of wings?"
"Huh? Oh." Ron turned pink, "I, uh, hadn't thought of that."
"Possible!"
"When did Bonnie start calling you by your last name?" Ron asked her as they turned to see the cheerleader heading toward them with the rest of the team in tow.
"Why not," Kim replied, "you did, Zorpox."
"I wasn't myself," He added.
Before Kim could reply to him, however, the group was in front of them. Bonnie held up the note as she said, "How could you just up and quit the squad like this?"
"I thought you always wanted the job of head cheerleader, Bonnie," Kim said, forcing herself to stay cool.
"I wanted to be the head cheerleader with you on the squad," Bonnie growled.
"Sorry," Kim forced herself not to shrug, "but I can't."
Tara spoke up, "It's something to do with that coat, right? I mean, you haven't taken it off all day."
Through their link, Ron felt the chill run down Kim's spine as clearly as if it had been his own. His mind raced as he tried to think of something to help his friend. Then, a calm came over him.
"It does," Kim said, "but I can't tell you any more than that. I'm sorry." The former head cheerleader turned and walked away, her head almost invisible to the squad due to the hump formed by the jacket.
Vaguely, she was aware of Ron catching up to her, but his attempts to cheer her fell on deaf ears. Finally, he stepped in front of her, forcing her to stop. "You could just tell them the truth," he said.
"And end up either a freak or a science experiment," she replied. "I've been thinking about it all day, Ron. And just wearing this outfit makes me an outcast." Kim shook her head, "I don't want to think of what will happen if everyone knew." A figure stepped out from between two parked cars to block the sidewalk. "Shego."
"What? Where?" Ron turned to see the villainess grinning at them. Looking back at Kim, he grinned, "Leave her to me."
"Have you lost your mind?" She asked.
"No. Just watch." Ron's grin took on a demented slant as he whirled toward the woman in green and black. "So," he said, rubbing his hands together, "you came back."
"Huh?" Shego was thrown off guard when the 'buffoon' began walking toward her.
"Boo-ya-ha-ha," Ron laughed. "The sidekick has returned. And you remember what happens to sidekicks, right?"
Kim was stunned when the color drained from Shego's face as she glanced quickly at the ground behind her. What is that about? She wondered.
"Look," Shego began, firing up her hands, "why don't you get out of the way and I'll just take care of miss perfect once and for all."
"Now, what happened the last time you tried that?" Ron asked.
"Uh," Shego's hands flickered once, then went out.
"That's right," Ron said, still approaching. "You learned your place, didn't you? Boo-ya-ha," the last syllables being uttered in an amused whisper.
"I don't . . ." Shego began to back away, her resolve slipping quickly into fear. "I didn't . . ."
Ron raised one hand as he neared. As he did, Shego's eyes grew. "I'm very disappointed, Shego."
Kim was amazed. The villain she had fought time and again without ever seeing a spark of fear was now backing away from Ron as if he was the devil himself. Finally, Shego gave off a small "Eep!" turned and ran.
The two teens watched her flee until she went around the corner. Then, as Ron turned back to Kim, she started to speak, only to be stopped by the sudden look of fear that came over his face.
"KP, look out!" Ron called, pointing behind her.
"Gotcha!" Before Kim could turn, she felt someone grab the top of the coat and try to pull it off. You idiot, she thought as she tried to shake them off, it's buttoned up!
"Let go, Drakken," Kim ordered, still trying to get free.
"Why," Drakken was jerked to his left, "won't," now back to the right, "this thing," two good shakes, "come off?"
"It's buttoned," she told him, finally throwing herself backward on top of him. "Oh, nooo," she called out as the two of them rolled over the side and down a small hill.
As series of "ow's" and "ouch's" joined a few "oof's" as the two made their way to the bottom. But what concerned Ron was the sound of ripping fabric. He had made his way almost halfway down the hill when a figure stood up. Even if Ron hadn't recognized her from her size, shape or hair, the two wings that were now freed from their prison would have been a dead giveaway.
Drakken rose from where he had landed with scraps of brown cloth in his hand. His jaw was open as he stared. He stood there until Kim whirled on him.
"You just had to do this, didn't you?" she snarled. "You couldn't leave well enough alone! What ever made you think that gassing me was a good idea?"
"I, uh," Drakken backed away.
"ANSWER ME!"
He cowered, grinned and brought up his hands as he tried to act innocent. "I just wanted to see if, you know, your mutation would make you something that would get you cast out of society. You know," he gave a fake chuckle, "so you'd stop keeping me from taking over the world."
"And this is better?" she asked as her wings swept around her like a cloak. "Seeing me like this make you feel like a real man?" Suddenly, her wings swept out to the sides. "Get a good look, Drakken. Because if you ever give me a reason to come after you again, you're gonna swear that I'm an avenging angel coming to bring you your own personal doomsday. YOU GOT THAT!"
"Uh," he shivered, "I understood that quite well." He grinned a little wider. "Excuse me." Then, he turned and ran.
Kim glared at his back until she heard Ron say, "Uh, KP . . ." Turning, she saw him pointing up the hill. At the top of the hill, a small crowd of people were staring down at her. Among them, she noticed, were Josh Mankey and Tara, as well as other students she couldn't name immediately.
"Just great," she muttered. "So much for giving myself time."
"We should go, KP," Ron told her.
"Yeah." Frowning, she said, "Ron, I dropped my books at the top of the hill. Would you mind carrying them home for me?"
"Uh, sure," Ron agreed. "Are you hurt or something?"
"No," she shook her head as she approached him. "I just want to get away from them as soon as I can." Tucking her wings in tight, she ran up the hill as fast as she could. Reaching the top, she scooped up her books and handed them to Ron, who was right behind her. "Later," she told him as she turned toward the hill and spread her wings.
"Wait," Ron began. But he was too late. After a few running steps, Kim Possible was doing something she'd have sworn was IMpossible just a few days before.
She flew.
Using the updrafts, Kim was soon able to circle back around to make sure Ron had gotten away from the crowd okay. She saw him almost a block away from the scene of the fight. Looking up and directly at her, he gave a thumbs up. He said he can feel what I'm feeling, she thought. I hope he can feel how wonderful this is. Ron deserves a feeling like this a lot more than I do.
Below, Ron smiled as he felt the thrill of the wind rushing by wings. I hope she doesn't mind me doing this, he thought. But I just wanted to know what it felt like. Boy, if anyone deserves to look like an angel, it's Kim. Oh, yeah, he dropped his arm and turned to continue walking, she deserves that feeling of freedom. Nobody more than KP.
"Shego!" Drakken stormed into the lair and began to look for the raven-haired woman. Finally, he found her sitting in a small room, staring at the wall.
"What happened out there?" he demanded.
"He," she shook her head, "he surprised me, that's all."
"Surprise is jumping in the air, not turning and running," He growled.
"Are," she swallowed, "are you mad at me?"
"Mad?" He leaned in close, "I'm a mad scientist, remember? YOU FIGURE IT OUT!" As her hair stopped blowing from the verbal assault, Drakken saw her shaking. Shego never shakes, he thought. "What did that buffoon do to you?"
"He almost dumped me in a pool of sharks, for one," Shego told him.
"Oh, the sharks," he brightened slightly. "I hope someone fed them," he said, tapping his chin.
"He almost fed them me!"
"Oh, come on," Drakken smiled, "you can take a mere half dozen sharks."
"Well," she scowled, "I guess."
"What's really bothering you?" He asked kneeling next to her.
"He . . ." She closed her eyes and shook her head. "He found a way to block my plasma."
"Ah," Drakken nodded, "that explains where the belt went."
"You had that all along and didn't tell me?" She looked at him in surprise.
"I never needed it," he told her. "I knew that, despite everything, you'd never kill me." The grin faded, "Hurt me, yeah. Insult me," he went on, his face darkening, "sure. Even tell me that I'm not evil enough. But you'd never kill me."
Confused, she looked at him, "What makes you so sure?"
"Hypnotic mind control," Drakken said as he stood and walked away.
"Mind control?" Shego scowled. Then, she stood and followed him.
A green light flickered on the chair just before Drakken started yelling, "I'm kidding! I'm kidding! Can't you take a joke? Ahh!"
Kim landed outside the back door to her house. She nodded to herself on how much easier it was getting as she went in through the back door. The remains of the coat were dropped into the trash can in the kitchen as she made her way up the stairs to her room.
"About time," came Ron's voice from the chair. "I put your books by the desk," he said, gesturing.
"Sorry to bail on your like that," she said, sitting on the end of the bed.
"Eh," he grinned, "it gave me an excuse to sit up here and wait like some kind of bad guy."
"Speaking of bad guys," Kim said, reaching out to hook a foot under the end of Ron's seat and pulling him closer, "what happened with Shego back there?"
Ron grinned even more, "It'll probably only work once, but I just reminded her of how close I came to dumping her in a tank of sharks when she took me to the lair."
"When you got Dr. Drakken's evil energy," Kim rested an elbow on her knee, then put her chin on her hand.
"You got it." He shrugged, "I did the evil laugh thing and told her that," he grinned manically and his voice rose in pitch, "'sidekicks should be seen and not heard.'"
"I really hated the way you sounded," Kim told him.
"You just don't like your middle name," Ron replied.
"That was so overkill," she said, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, so you scared Shego? I'm surprised she didn't blast you."
"She tried," Ron shrugged again. "But I found a forcefield belt in Drakken's stuff. I don't think he even knew what it did. So, when she tried to zap me, the forcefield protected me. I think it scared her."
"You found a forcefield belt?" Kim leaned forward, "What happened to it?"
"I gave it to Wade." Ron put his feet up on the bed, then put his arms behind his head, "He said something about working on a more functional version. I know it made my skin tingle when I used it."
"Ooh," she scowled, "that isn't good." She looked out the window as her expression darkened. "They saw me, Ron."
"I know, KP." Pulling his feet from the bed, Ron leaned forward and took one of his friend's hands in his own. "You knew it was going to happen."
"Yeah," she nodded, then dropped her head, "but I'm not use to this myself. What are other people going to think?"
"Who cares?" Ron said, sounding bitter.
"What?" She looked up.
"If, after all you've done, people can't accept you for who you are, then forget about them." He scowled, "There are already people who can't accept you, Kim. And there will be more. But the important ones will stand by you." He put a thumb to his chest, "Like me."
Kim smiled, "Thanks, Ron. It means a lot to know I've still got my best friend."
"Always, KP."
"And me," Rufus said, popping up from his pocket.
"And you, too, Rufus," Kim reached out to pet the naked mole rat. When he vanished back into his pocket, Kim rested her hand on Ron's leg. Then, realizing where it was, she pulled it away.
"Uh," Ron looked away, nervous, "I hope you don't mind, but I kinda gotta taste of what it felt like when you were flying today."
Seeing him blush, Kim smiled as she felt her own cheeks turn pink. "I was kinda hoping you would. That way I can share it with you."
"Too bad I can't just go flying with you sometime."
Kim glanced at her wings, "I don't think I've got enough wingspan for that, Ron."
"I know." Ron glanced from one wing to another, "You know, now that you mention it, you barely have enough wingspan for you to fly, much less to carry passengers."
"So much for starting my own airline," she quipped.
"What are we gonna do, KP?" Ron asked her.
"Keep on, I guess," she said, sounding a little depressed. "I mean, it's not like we got a choice, right?"
"Yeah." Leaning forward, he put his forehead against hers. "Just remember that you always got me, okay?"
"Yeah." They set there for a few minutes before Kim sighed. "You know," she muttered, "we should probably do that homework."
"Uh, huh."
Neither moved until the call came from downstairs for Kim to come to dinner.
As the two approached the school, Kim frowned into her kimmunicator. "Are you sure they left last night?" she asked Wade. She had given up on the coat, now letting her wings catch the morning breeze. Her outfit was as close to normal as she could find, with her usual jeans and sneakers joined by a green top with an open back.
"It looks like it," he replied. "They didn't stay long, either." Tapping some keys, he smirked, "I've hacked into the management company for the time-share lair. If they try to get their deposit back, I might be able to get their address."
"Wade, you rock," Kim said just before turning off the device and putting it in her pocket.
"I wonder what's going on," Ron asked, looking ahead.
"I guess you scared Shego worse than you thought," Kim replied.
"No," he pointed, "I meant at the school."
"Isn't that the superintendent?" Kim asked.
Superintendent Kevin Burger was indeed standing by the front door of the school, with three police officers next to him.
"I've got a really bad feeling here, KP," Ron told her.
"You too?" Nervous but trying to be calm, she walked beside Ron as they neared the door.
"Miss Possible," Burger said stepping in front of her, "we need to talk."
"About what?" she asked.
Burger turned to Ron, "This doesn't concern you. Go on to class."
"Sorry," Ron said, unmoving, "but I'm not going anywhere without my partner. We're a team."
"It's okay, Ron," she told him. "I'll catch up."
"Nothing doing, KP. Remember what I said about always being there?" He set his feet, "This is part of it. Nope, not moving." Besides, he thought to himself, you're so nervous I can feel you shaking.
"Very well," Burger growled before turning to Kim. "Miss Possible, I became aware of your, uh," he motioned with his nose toward Kim's wings, "additions when I received a phone call yesterday."
"'Additions?'" Ron asked.
"Quiet!"
"Sorry."
"Anyway," the superintendent went on, "after some consideration, I'm afraid that I cannot allow you to continue to attend classes at Middleton High."
Her blood ran cold. "I'm," she struggled for the word, "I'm expelled?"
"You can't kick KP out!" Ron barked.
"I can," Burger said, getting in Ron's face, "and I have." Turning back to the girl, he held out an envelope. "These are the papers. These police officers will escort you to your locker and see to it that you do not leave with any school property. Good day." Turning, left.
"They can't do that!" Ron complained.
Kim sighed as she looked at the envelope. "I guess he can."
"Ma'am," one of the officers said, "I'm real sorry about this."
"You're just doing your job," Kim told him, smiling a little.
"Doesn't mean we have to like it," another said.
"I'd rather tell him where to stuff this duty," the third, a woman, said as she glared at the retreating back of the bureaucrat. "But I've got a kid to think about."
"It's no big," she said, forcing herself to perk up. "At least I won't have to worry about a pop quiz from Mr. Barkin."
The other students stared as Kim, her escort, and Ron came through the halls. They stopped at her locker, where a small cart was sitting. As the three officers watched, Kim opened her locker.
"Kim," Wade appeared on the computer, "I just got word that Superintendent Burger is going to try to . . ." He saw the crowd. "Oh, I guess he did."
"This a school computer?" the female officer asked.
"No, it's mine," Kim told her, sounding tired. She didn't notice Ron looking around angrily. As quickly as she could, Kim emptied the locker of everything but the computer. Her personal effects she placed in her backpack, with the school supplies going on the cart. "I'll come back for the computer," she said.
"I'm afraid there's a restraining order against you entering school property," another officer said.
"What?" Kim's eyes widened. "A restraining order? On me?"
"The, uh," the first officer swallowed, then went on, "superintendent thought that, with your history of aggressive behavior --"
"Also known as saving the world!" Ron chimed in.
Ignoring the remark, the officer went on, "you might try to exact some kind of revenge on the school."
"It's not the school I'm mad at," she remarked. Seeing the crowd, she sighed and stepped forward.
"Uh, hi. Yes, this is what it looks like. Well," she shrugged, "almost. I'm not being arrested, just being kicked out. I guess they have a thing about wings," she added as she spread them. "Maybe I'll see you around." No one would have guessed from the way she calmly fold her wings and walked out of the school that all she wanted to do was go home and hide until the humiliation was gone.
No one but Ron Stoppable. At the door, he said, "I'll be over as soon as I can, KP."
"It's no big, Ron," she lied. The look in his eye, however, told her that he didn't believe it any more than she did. But he knew she needed to play it this way, so he grinned, nodded, then walked away.
No sooner had Kim been escorted off the campus than Ron was in the office demanding to see the principal. Normally, the receptionist would have been able to give him a stern look and the boy would have backed down. This time, however, she could see a blaze in his usually calm eyes that made her nervous. "I, I'm afraid he isn't in today."
"Then who's in charge?"
"Assistant principal Gilley."
"Where is he?"
"In his office."
Three seconds later, the door to Gilley's office flew open as Ron walked in. Gilley was a thin man with the look of an accountant. He had been Barkin's assistant for several years, although they couldn't be any different. His hair had been reduced to a thin gray strip around his head from his temples back. He was usually without his jacket and with his sleeves rolled up. His blue eyes looked up form his paperwork to glare at the student standing before him.
"I prefer people knock before they rip my door off of its hinges," he told Ron.
"Why did they kick out Kim Possible?"
"Kim Possible is a threat to the safety of the other students." Gilley leaned back, "Her wings could create dangerous situations that the school is not insured for."
"Dangerous situation?" Ron shook his head, "who came up with this line of balogna?"
"The superintendent . . ."
"Is a moron," Ron cut in. "Where's Barkin? I can't believe he'd stand for this."
"Mr. Barkin put in his resignation this morning." Gilley held up the paper he was holding, "Effective immediately."
Ron swallowed. "Well," he muttered, "I guess he didn't stand for it."
"Anything else before I give you detention, Mr. Possible?"
"Don't bother," Ron told him. "I won't be there." Turning on his heal, Ron left the office.
"They expelled you for having wings?" Dana Possible asked her daughter over the phone.
Kim looked at the paper in front of her. "They say I create a 'dangerous environment for the other students.'"
"I'll have our lawyer look at that." Frowning, the mother made a small mark on an x-ray as she held the phone with the other hand. "I don't think there's a leg for them to stand on."
"It doesn't matter, Mom," Kim said, dropping her head. "I can't go back, now."
"Kim, the other students have already seen them."
"It's not that," the girl protested, "it's how they expelled me. They could have just called me into an office, but it's like they wanted a scene."
"Hmm," the brain surgeon and former geneticist turned from the x-ray. "It does sound like this was done for a reason." There was a sound on the other end of the line. "Kimmie, are you okay?"
Kim shook her head as Ron climbed back to his feet. "It's okay, Ron just tripped over the entryway."
"What's he doing there? Shouldn't he still be in school?"
"I'll ask him." Kim covered the mouthpiece, "What are you doing here?"
"As if I could stay there today?" Ron asked, looking offended. "The only thing I'd be thinking about would be how you're doing. So," he shrugged, "I decided to save myself the frustration factor."
"He's here because he's worried about me," she said into the phone.
"Well," Dana shook her head, "tell him to call his mother. I'm sure she'll make sure he doesn't do it again."
"Uh," Kim rolled her eyes, "okay."
"And Kimmie," her mother said, "I'll call the lawyer. He'll want to see those papers. But, in any case, I'm sure that when this gets out other schools will stand in line to have you attend."
"I hope so, Mom," Kim told her. "I was looking forward to so much stuff."
"Like homework?" Ron asked, sitting across from her.
"So not funny, Ron," Kim glared despite the chuckle she could hear from her mother.
"I'll see you tonight, Kimmie," her mother told her. "Be careful, okay?"
"I will. Love you, Mom."
"Love you, too. Bye."
"Bye." Kim hung up the phone, then seemed to shrink slightly. "I can't believe it. One day I'm the head cheerleader and two days later I'm kicked out of school. Oh," she added, "Mom said for you to call your mom."
"I will," he promised. "Just so you know, Barkin resigned."
"He did?" Kim stared. "They didn't put Gilley in charge?"
"It looks that way." Ron leaned back in his chair, "So, KP, what are we gonna do, now?"
"'We,' Ron?"
"Hey," he frowned, "you know wherever you go, I go. Uh," he shrugged, "except the ladies room, of course."
"I would hope not," she replied. "Ron, you can still go back to school."
"Not after the conversation I had with Principal De Sade."
"You called him that?" Kim asked, stunned.
"No, but he's still not gonna want me back after I called the superintendent a moron."
"You didn't."
"Yeah," he looked away, embarrassed.
"Ron, what were you thinking?"
"I was angry over what they did to you!" He leaped to his feet and, to Kim's continued surprise, began to pace. "You've saved the world time and again, and they have the nerve to do this? I can't believe that guy!"
"Ron," Kim reached a hand up toward him, "you're freaking me out, here."
Seeing her hand, Ron took it in one of his own. "Sorry, KP," he said, immediately calmer. Sitting down again, he frowned, "Man, what am I gonna tell Mom and Dad?"
"They haven't kicked you out yet, Ron," Kim told him. Looking in disgust at the papers on the table, she frowned, "Unlike me."
"You know," Ron said, frowning, "this really takes 'sick and wrong' to a whole new level."
"I can't argue with that," she replied.
Drakken was looking in a microscope when the phone next to him rang. After the first ring caused him to jump enough to drop the microscope on his toe, he spent the next minute hopping around and holding his foot. Shego answered the phone as she watched him finally lose his balance and fall onto his backside.
"Drakken's lair," she said into the receiver. "No," she shook her head, "we didn't move in on your time. We've got it for another week."
Having gotten back on his feet, Drakken leaned close and said, "Who's on the phone?"
Shego covered the mouthpiece, "It's Monkey Fist. He thinks we're here early."
"We've got the place for another week," Drakken said, frowning.
"That's what I told him." Uncovering the receiver, she said, "No, another week. Not another day." She covered the phone again, rolled her eyes, then told Drakken, "He's saying we need to be out by tomorrow."
"Not likely," Drakken stood straight and crossed his arms.
"Not likely," she repeated to Monkey Fist. Her eyes widened, "What? Where'd you hear that? Oh," she nodded. "Well, the buffoon had Dr. D's evil energy in him." She listened, then grinned, "Actually, he was very good at it. Almost fed me to some sharks. No, sharks."
"Those were my sharks," Drakken pointed out.
"Yeah," she told him, "I know." Turning back to the phone, she laughed, "Oh, we've done even better since then." She paused as she listened, then said, "No, he's back to normal. Or he was."
"Who are you talking about?" Drakken said, jealous that he couldn't hear what was being said.
"No, we hit both of them with a gas to make Kimmie mutate." She flinched as the volume increased. "What are you yelling for?"
"Give me the phone," Drakken demanded.
"Eh," Shego handed it to him, "he's getting all animal-like." She walked away, leaving Drakken with the phone and the broken microscope.
"So," Drakken said into the phone, "why are you yelling at Shego?" He looked confused. "Hello? Hello?" Pulling the phone away from his ear, Drakken stared at it. "He hung up."