Chapter XIV: Ron's Light
Ron sighed as he tried to absorb the information he had just learned.
Vincent Credible was the Wraith, a highly skilled thief.
He was infected by killer nanobots which Vincent somehow controlled or destroyed.
Vincent was blind.
But so was he.
Shego helped them escape the Hunters and was apparently living with Vincent.
Was there something he was missing?
"So... what are you?" Ron heard Kim ask.
"Basically a holographic projection," Sheila said as if the question did not bother her. "Actually, I'm an avatar. The real me is hidden away for security reasons."
"I think Wade did something like that before," Ron said. Sheila glared at the teen and Kim noticed the anger in her eyes.
"Guys, I think you should refrain from mentioning the guy's name in her presence," Felix said as he wheeled himself out of the range of Sheila's gaze.
"Why?" Kim asked.
"It's personal," Sheila said, her anger beginning to ebb. "I'm sorry. There are things that are sensitive to talk about. If you would excuse me," Sheila bowed and left the three friends to ponder at what just happened.
"I noticed that Vincent has the same aversion against Wade that Sheila has," Felix said in a whisper. "I think Wade must have done something to them."
"I don't know," Kim said, prepared to defend one of her friends.
"If he did, he may not know it," Ron said with a sigh. "Even though he's a genius, he's still a kid after all. He could be easily misled."
"Until we know more, we'll respect Sheila's wishes," Kim said as she shook her head. "She looks like Shego, only younger."
"Bet that she has her temperament as well," Ron smirked but the others agreed.
Shego didn't like to feel helpless.
But seeing Vincent lying on his bed almost on the verge of death made her feel so. Even though Sheila assured her that he was going to be all right, she couldn't stop the feeling that this was somehow all her fault.
If she hadn't punched the truck filled with hazardous waste, Vincent wouldn't have to save her from its burning touch.
Her life for what? A time of suffering and pain? A time of denials and doubts?
Was it worth it? Was she worth it?
"Shego?" Sheila's reluctant voice called her. Turning around, Shego didn't see her so she assumed that she was still outside, respecting their privacy.
"Come in," Shego said tiredly. Sheila suddenly materialized in front of the door, looking at her with sad eyes.
"How are you holding up?" Sheila asked as she walked towards her.
"I don't know," Shego said truthfully. "I'll tell you when he wakes up."
"The waiting is the hardest," Sheila nodded and smiled sadly. "For a computer, it's hell."
"I've never felt anything like I feel for him," Shego admitted to the hologram. "Took me a while to figure it out."
"It always does," Sheila said as she went to Vincent's closet and looked into it. "You'd better rest."
"I'd rest better knowing that he would really be fine," Shego said. She blinked when Sheila gave her a white shirt from Vincent's closet. "What's this for?"
"Hang up the battle suit and go to bed," Sheila said with a smile. "Use this, you may feel better afterwards."
"I don't want to leave him," Shego said, taking the offered shirt.
"Do you sleep on the left side of the bed or the right?" Sheila asked much to Shego's confusion.
"Right," Shego said as she watched Sheila gently position Vincent to the left side of the bed.
"Perfect," Sheila smiled. "He always slept nearer to the left." Sheila looked up expectantly at Shego and frowned when she saw her still in the battle suit. "What are you waiting for?"
"What exactly are you doing?" Shego asked as Sheila, with a huff of irritation, went towards her and began to remove Shego's suit.
"Logic," Sheila said as she slapped Shego's protesting hands. "You need rest but you don't want to leave Vin, ergo you sleep with him." Shego immediately flushed at the innuendo. "Oh, come on! Don't tell me you never thought of it!"
"Of course I did!" Shego hissed. "Who in their right mind wouldn't?"
"Would it help if he was topless?" Sheila suggested, finally getting Shego's suit off, surprisingly and to Sheila's delight, without much reluctance than before.
Shego found herself actually considering the proposal but then shook herself to clear her thoughts. Vincent was wearing just a shirt and god knows what under the sheets. Sheila had helped him out of his clothes when Shego went to get something to clean him. So far, she only knew that he was wearing a shirt.
As if reading her mind, Sheila said, "He's wearing boxers." Shego found herself swallowing at the thought of sleeping beside Vincent. This never happened before. She never felt nervous sleeping with anyone. So why was she?
"It would make him more comfortable if he felt you beside him," Sheila said without malice and without tease. Her solemn voice removed all hesitation in Shego's head.
Looking at Vincent and letting Sheila's words sink in, Shego smiled softly. All nervousness, all shyness and all hesitation left her.
She saw a friend that needed her warmth, her comfort and perhaps something that she had been denying herself that she felt for him.
Shego sighed and wore the shirt. Looking at it, it was big and came to her knees. "This couldn't be Vin's."
"It's not," Shelia said. "That's yours. I actually begged Vin to wear it once so..." Shego blushed as she sniffed the shirt. It actually smelled like Vincent.
Taking a deep breath, Shego removed her brassier and entered the sheets.
"Are you sure about this?" Shego asked the hologram as she tucked them in.
"He wouldn't mind," Sheila smiled. "Waking up next to you... he'll recover faster. Goodnight," Sheila kissed Shego on the forehead, like a mother would do for a child. Sheila disappeared, leaving them alone.
With a nervous sigh, Shego snuggled closer to Vincent. To her surprise and concern, Vincent lifted his arm, groaning as he did, to accommodate her. Gently, she laid her head on his shoulder and he closed his arm around her. She then wrapped her arm across his abs, smiling to find it well defined as she imagined it to be.
Taking a deep breath to relax herself, Shego closed her eyes and prepared to sleep.
"Sheila? Lights out please," the room's lights dimmed and then were extinguished. She thought that sleep would not be easy to attain, but she was wrong.
Cuddling on Vincent's body, Shego slept restfully for the first time in years.
>>>>>>>>>
Ron was having trouble accepting what was happening.
A few months ago he was just delivering a package for Mr. Possible when he met Vincent and now he found himself blind and feeling helpless.
He knew he was weak. He wanted to be strong to be able to protect Kim. But how could he protect Kim if he couldn't protect himself?
He almost died but Vincent used his body to shield him from the hunter's blast.
And now, Vincent was almost killed because of him.
"Hitting yourself on the head will not speed Vin's recovery," Sheila said making Ron jump up in surprise.
"You scared me," Ron said, holding his heart to calm it down. "I didn't hear you."
"Get used to it," Sheila said. Ron frowned in confusion. Sheila sounded like she was everywhere. Was the room bouncing her voice around?
"I'm not materialized," Sheila explained. "I'm using the room's speakers. So, why the self pity?"
"Because I'm pitiful," Ron sighed. He heard Sheila growl and was suddenly afraid for his life.
"I wonder what Kimmy would say if she heard you talk like that?" to Ron, it sounded like a threat. And from her tone, she would tell Kim herself.
"She would probably agree with me," Ron sadly said.
"Oh, Ron" he suddenly stiffened when he heard Kim. "You're my best friend. I like you for you." Something was off. With Vincent's training, he should have sensed her near. He couldn't even smell her.
"How was that?" Sheila said, waiting for him to respond. Usually, Ron didn't get things at the rate the others did but he got it all the same.
Sheila pretended to be Kim.
"That's not funny," Ron said frowning.
"I'm not laughing," Sheila said sincerely. "Talk to her, Ron. Tell her how you feel. What's the worst that could go wrong?"
"That I'd lose her friendship?"
"Don't take this the wrong way, Ron, but you're an idiot," Sheila said in frustration. "I could see sparks."
"Really?" Ron said hopefully.
"Actually no," Sheila said to Ron's disappointment. "But I have studied human psychology and by observing you two... I think you could pull it off."
"Thanks," Ron sighed. "What if..."
"No what ifs. Know for certain," and with that, Sheila was silent.
Ron let out a breath to calm himself. It wouldn't do him good to second guess. He needed to know.
When Ron was sure he was calm, he went to find the answer he was looking for.
>>>>>>>>>>>
Kim was lounging in the living room. She couldn't believe that Vincent had a place like this. It looked like a bachelor pad than anything else. It probably was.
What mystified her was that there was a widescreen TV and an entertainment system. She could understand the audio system but a video system?
"KP?" Kim heard Ron say reluctantly as he entered the living room.
"I'm over here Ron," Kim said as she patted the space on the sofa next to her.
"Hey," Ron smiled as he made his way towards her. "Can we talk?" Kim instantly had her defenses up. Was there something wrong? Why was Ron all too serious?"
"Uh, sure. What up?" she asked. Ron sat beside her and took deep breaths. Not a good sign. It meant that what they were going to talk about was serious.
"What do you think of me?" Ron asked without preamble. This was new. Ron usually beat around the bush before getting to the point.
"You're my best friend," Kim said. It was not quite true. They were best friends but Kim wanted it to be more.
"As a sidekick," Ron waited. Kim took a deep breath. Ron deserved the truth.
"I think of you as a partner, not a sidekick," Kim said stopping Rom before he could interrupt. "You're thinking that you're not good enough to be my partner. Ron, you had my back ever since pre-k. That's how I'm always confident that we'll get the job done."
"But..."
"Ron, what's this really about?" Kim asked kindly. How could he respond to her kindness? She was always there for him. The only one who truly liked him the way he was.
"I was just thinking that if I'm not good enough to be your side... partner, I would not be good enough to be your... for... something else."
"Something else?" it took Kim a moment to realize what he was saying. When she did, she blushed. "Oh," she said softly.
"Yeah," Ron smirked and slumped on the sofa's rest.
Kim closed her eyes. She was waiting for something like this in a long time. She realized that Ron had feelings for her. But how to respond?
Smiling mischievously, she got up and sat on Ron's lap. Surprised, Ron wrapped his arms around her waist and blinked confusingly.
"Ron," Kim softly said as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Slowly, she bent over, meeting her lips with his. At first, Ron was shocked but when he felt the heat, the warmth and her love, he gave in.
At first it was a soft kiss. Then, when they were sure of each other, the kiss deepened. This was better that the kiss he had received from the Moodulator incident and for Kim, it was the best one she had.
When they parted, they were out of breath. Kim leaned towards him, resting her head on his shoulder. Ron could smell her shampoo as he breathed through her hair.
In the past few days his world went dark. With Kim in his arms he just realized something. Kim would always be there for him. To catch him when he stumbles, to be his savior when he falls.
His Light in the Darkness.
Regeneration Complete: Ron blinked when he heard those words.
"Did you hear that KP?" he asked. Sitting up, Kim also blinked.
"Yeah," she said.
All systems functional. Rebooting... Reboot complete. Activating optics. Adjusting visual settings. Normal vision achieved.
Slowly, Ron could see light. His eyes began focusing, adjusting to the light. And in a while, Ron blinked in surprise as the first thing he saw was Kim's surprised face.
"Hey, KP," Ron smiled hugely. "You're a sight for sore eyes." Kim, blinking her tears, embraced him as hard as she could.
And they stayed that way for a while.
All systems are operational
(End of XIV)
Next Chapter: Kim was happy for Ron but the attempt on her Family's lives got her on edge. And a secret from the past would be revealed.
Chapter XV: Kim's Family