I'm knocked for a loop.
I posted this story on my DeviantART site (wrybread) and didn't get a nibble.
But you good folks have blown me out of the water with your praise.
I wasn't planning a chpt 2, but I found the perfect inspiration: another deviation by Ivymae; sooo...
spectre666: let me explain: Richard and Daphne Harte are two characters inspired by Richard Sirois at Richard's Page of Fanatism. Richard and Helen Lionheart (based on Richard and Helen Sirois) are a brother-and-sister mission-ing team, Team Heart; Rich is also an art exchange student at Middleton High School. They hook up with Team Possible, both as friends and as allies. Ron and Rich become the best of friends. Kim and Rich share some romance.
JPMod: I know your work; I am honored to have caught the notice of what I consider one of the premiere K.P. fanfic-ers
surforst: all the interaction between Team Possible and Rich takes place after StD. Rich's initial feelings are platonic and chivalrous, but--well, that's another story
& thank you, campy & kpandron (it took a couple days to realise that meant "kp and ron")
Kim, Ron, Wade, and Bonnie belong to Disney; Rich and Daphne are based on Richard Sirois's art work at Richard's Page of Fanatism; the plot is based on Furry by ivymae457 at DeviantART, found in her Gallery, and "furry sketch" by ivymae, found in her Scraps.
Maybe I've overwritten this story; I went far beyond the story of ivymae's picture and explored aspects of the Kim / Ron action--& aspects of the Kim / Rich and Ron / Rich action--and of course I introduced a new character--Wade Load's mother (this is your fault, campy). It's all part of the Lionheart saga; let my readers judge
Zipporahvulcan, you are correct; I have added the quotation marks
Ramonet Blade and momike, thank you for the reviews; argh, the sequel bunny (to borrow a phrase from somewhere on ffdotnet) has made this story a dry well for now; it's a fait accompli.
chpt 2
The Kimmunicator was beeping. Kim came out from under the bed covers and mumbled, "What's the sitch, Wade?"
"Guys, I'm sorry; I know Rich told me to call Daphne and him instead of you two, but they're not back yet from last night's mission."
Kim sat up in bed. "Uh, Wade--Ron isn't here--just me."--not that she didn't think about it--and dream, and hope--someday.
"Ron is on the line, K.P." Ron's voice mumbled tiredly over the speaker; "I'm on the Ronunicator; Wade called us both."
Kim blushed in the darkness; OMG, so the misunderstanding; so the embarrassment. She giggled nervously; "This is awkward, you two."
"No big, K.P. It's just us; you're among friends;" the sound of a big yawn; "Right, Wade?"
"Three alarm fire in Lowerton, guys," said Wade, dryly; "The building is going up in flames."
"Right; at your house in five or ten, K.P.; give me the address, Wade."
Ron's scooter pulled up to the Possible house in seven minutes; Kim was waiting outside. They kissed; he handed her the spare helmet; she it put, threw her leg over the back of the scooter, and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her hands moved under his jacket, under his shirt. "Damn, girl," he exclaimed, "I should razzberry you more often!"
"Keep my hands warm, boy," she purred, "and you can do what you want with me."
Booooooooooyaaaaaaaaaah.
It was hard to tell which turned faster, Ron's head or the wheels of the scooter.
Ron engaged the rocket drive and they arrived to the address of the fire in thirty minutes; it was an abandoned warehouse; the fire essentially was under control; all that was needed was some crowd control. The gawkers attracted by the fire gladly conversed with the world-famous heroes of the Little Diablo affair.
By sunrise they got the all-clear. Kim and Ron signed autographs and posed for pictures with the firefighters and finally pried themselves away.
Kim pulled Ron's arm and whispered, "Feed me;" and her wish was his command
"I know just the place." It was a little breakfast nook on a quiet street.
French toast, hast browns, pancakes, all homemade; fresh-squeezed orange juice; they gobbled hungrily. "Ron, it's delicious!" Kim exclaimed between bites. Leave it to the Buena Nacho assistant manager to know where to find a good meal.
Kim was suddenly aware that Ron had stopped eating; he was simply resting his elbows on the table, gazing at her; "Aren't you going to finish your food?" this was definitely out of character for him.
"I'm feasting my eyes; this has been the most incredible twelve hours; just being able to spend time with you last evening, going on a mission in the dead of night, watching the sun rise with you, sharing breakfast with you--I could spend the rest of my life this way."
Kim gulped her mouthful of food; she could feel her cheeks blushing; her hand reached across the table and sought his hand. "You astonish me," she said quietly. "Where have you been hiding this side of you? How could I have ever fallen for Erik Drake?"
"I've watched how you trust me to make more of the decisions for the team; you let me talk you into taking on Daphne and Rich; I've watched how you trust me with your heart. You fill me with poetry, Kimberly Ann Possible; I have feelings inside that I can't find words to express--Rich is better than me at this--I asked him for some ideas--he wrote down something from 'Romeo and Juliet'--let's see." Ron took a slip of paper out of his pocket and tried to read: "Uhh, 'She doth teach the torches to burn bright--Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear--"
Kim's other hand sought Ron's other hand. "Ron Stoppable--you don't need Richard Harte to tell you how to compliment me; your own words are just fine. C'mon, let's pay the bill; I want to go somewhere."
Once on the scooter, she asked, "You know where that little park is near the town square?" He nodded. "Let's go there."
She led him by the hand to the crest of a hill. No one else was vislble in the park at that hour of the morning. "Put your arms around me," she said; he did, and she put hers around him.
"Ron Stoppable, I want you to remember what I told you on Prom night: you've won my heart." She looked up at him, and he felt something big coming. "I want to tell you something else--the biggest thing that's ever happened to me--I've thought a lot about it, because you fill me with poetry, too." She sighed. "I love you--and I mean that in every way I can--a friend, a steady, a mate." Ron was looking stunned. "There's more; tell me you want me, and I'm yours--now, today."
Boo-yah
Oy Vay
For a moment he looked like the old Ron: panic-stricken and jumpy; but he became thoughtful.
"Kimberly Ann Possible--Kim--K.P.--uhh--; I love you, too...I kind of thought I would be the first to say it; I figured I would plan this big romantic evening with dinner and flowers. I've even thought about our first time together--wow--and when I think about it, I think about everything else that goes with it, like marriage, children, our first house--I think about my Jewish heritage--what that means for us--how important is it to me?--I can't believe I'm about to say this--I want our first time together to be so right--I want it to be the first of an entire lifetime of together's--am I making sense?"
Kim was now stunned; the one thing he could have said that would make her even more happy than if he simply said "yes". He was looking out for her as well as himself; he was thinking of them, their whole lives together; he was usurping her usual role, being the planner, thinking about the big picture; again she was mystified; where had this new Ron been hiding all their lives? Or had he been there all along, waiting for her eyes to be opened? She spoke with some difficulty: "Ronald Adrian Stoppable; in a minute I'm going to start bawling; you make me feel so safe and so loved. I can so trust you with my heart and life." It was almost like a sign that the heavens approved of their love, that they were intended to be together.
She embraced his neck with such force and planted such a kiss on his lips that he felt the earth tilt under his feet.
For the rest of the day they played hookey.
They stopped at Mother Load's street mission in Lowerton. Ophelia Mahalia Load was an ordained minister, gospel preacher, choir director, community activist, and soup kitchen founder. With Rev. Leo Harte she had established a number of community centers and thrift stores around the Tri-City area. She dearly loved all her children, none more than her gifted agoraphobic son Wade; and everyone she ever met still young enough to be alive became her child--but that is another story. She brightened like a beacon when she saw her son's friends; "Kimberly Ann! Ronald Adrian! Y'all come here; give your mama some love!" She smothered them both in her ample embrace. "Now tell me what you're doing here in Lowerton." They mentioned the warehouse fire. "Why, bless your hearts; out doing good, as usual. Children, you don't know what hope you give to an old workhorse like me, to see young people who will fight the good fight when I'm gone--now where are my other two children, Daphne and Richard?"
"Well--they're on their own mission--we haven't heard from them since yesterday," explained Ron.
A twinkle came to Mother Load's eye; "Why, let me guess: they gave you two the night off, so you could be alone. That Richard; he's been hoping for years that you two would find each other." Kim had assumed that it was her and Ron's good luck, or angels, or whatever, that finally guided them together; she began to envision a giant conspiracy of family and friends that were rooting for them both, and had subtly--or not so subtly--arraigned circumstances.
"Mother Load, could we help serve lunch today?" Kim asked. Ophelia Load clucked her tongue; that girl needed lunch; she was as skinny as a rail; but of course they could help serve.
As they took their leave she caught them in another loving embrace: "Oh, babies, bless your hearts; come again soon!"
They gradually made their way back to Middleton and their special spot in the park. They parked the scooter and dismounted; "Here we are, babe; now, will you tell me why we're visiting the Middleton Park after we were at the Lowerton Park this morning?"
Kim's pout appeared; "Ron! I thought you liked being with me."
His conscience struck him hard; "K.P.; I didn't mean it that way; I just thought--well, we left your place at three o'clock this morning--I thought you might want to get home."
Her pout became more pronounced and she turned away; "Are you that eager to get rid of me?" He could hear the hurt in her voice.
"Kim! Of course I'm eager--I mean, to be with you, not to take you home--I mean, I want to take you home sometime!'' She walked slowly away with bowed head. "K.P.--for God's sake--I feel like scum--whatever it is, I apologize!"
She whirled around, grinning mischievously. "Good!" She leapt full upon him, grabbing him in both arms, tackling him. "Psych!" she yelled triumphantly.
"Damn--you scared me, girl! I thought I did something awful--I don't know what--and just pissed you off!" He looked up, both relieved and irritated, as she lay upon him.
She grinned more. "I figured you deserve this for that razzberry you gave me last night; I was all set to give you a hug and kiss and you blew your spit in my navel."
And he himself began to grin, and even chuckle. "That was a good time; you're right, I deserve to have my ass kicked--pardon my language--for that trick."
She laid her head on his chest. "Ron, this has been the most incredible day; and we didn't do anything big; we just did what we always do--help people." She raised her head and gazed into his eyes; "And we both said the big thing, didn't we? We really love each other."
Ron propped himself up on his elbow. "Is it really only a month ago that you came up to the treehouse? K.P, what if--I dunno--we get tired of each other? It feels like a long time until we're done with college."
Kim ruffled his hair and kissed him; "I have faith in us; I have faith in you, because you were there all along; I have faith in me, because I'm so stubborn; I'm not caught in the food chain any more; you deserve me and I deserve you; I have faith in our friends and families because they believe in us: your dad, my mom, Brick, Felix, Monique, Rich, Daphne, Wade, Mom Load--we're not in this alone." She rolled him over face down on the grass. "Come on, hero, we gotta lighten up. It's getting too serious; just relax;" and she proceeded to give him such a backrub that he felt like a limp noodle.
He rolled onto his back and gazed into her eyes; she pulled up his shirt and exposed his waist. "Are you gonna razzberry me?"
"If I did, you would so deserve it; you just have to trust me." She traced lightly on his bare waist with her forefinger.
A throaty chuckle escaped his lips: "That tickles, K.P."
"I like your tummy."
"Do you?"
She nodded: "Mmhmm; it's furry and sexy."
"What are you writing?"
"Oh, your name--my name--'I love you'--stuff like that." Her hair half veiled her face, obscuring her sultry gaze.
They heard a familiar voice, laden with scorn: "Kimmie and Ronnie--so this is where you spend your day--and we had to manage without you at cheerleading practice..." Bonnie Rockwaller's voice trailed off, her jaw hung down, and her eyes bulged: "Ewww!" She stuck her forefinger in her mouth: "Aaackpth!"
She went through an elaborate pantomime: "Gross! Puke! Gag! Ron Stoppable is not sexy! Kim that is totally sick! Eww!"
She covered her eyes and shook her head. "Ew ew ew--bad mental picture--yuck--eww!"
She saw Daphne and Rich approaching in their mission suits. "Look; it's the Jesus Freaks! Hey, Rich, got the hormones for belly hair? Does Daphne get off on tickling your tummy?"
"I wouldn't know," Daphne said flatly; "Does Brick like to rub your belly hair?"
"Up yours, bitch!" Bonnie shot a venomous glance, thrust her middle finger upward, and stomped away furiously.
Rich nudged Daphne: "Good comeback, sis."
"That was very offensive of me; I should apologize to Bonnie--sometime."
"She's going to be hell to live with for the next week," Kim called out.
"Sorry, Kim," Daphne called back.
"No big, Daphne; I didn't know you had it in you," she said admiringly; "it was so worth it."
Brother and sister approached boyfriend and girlfriend. Ron pulled his shirt down and started to stand up.
Rich held up his hand: "As you were, you two; we're just here to chase Bonnie away; I have a pocket full of garlic."
Rich knelt beside the couple; "Hey, Bro."
Ron high-fived Rich and gripped his hand; "Busy night, Bro?"
"Busy night; you, too?"
"Yeah; Kim and I took an R and R day. We won't bother you any more."
"Buena Nacho, usual time."
"Sounds good; we'll trade stories."
"Rich--!" said Kim abruptly.
"Kismet?" It was Rich's nickname for Kim, as surely as "K.P." was Ron's nickname for her, and only Team Possible knew the story.
"Thank you both for giving Ron and I last night off," she said warmly.
Rich merely smiled; only Daphne knew what was in his heart for Kim; chivalrous adoration was too weak a term.
"Later, you two."
"Later."
When they were away, Daphne mentioned uneasily, "Ricky, I'm concerned." Rich would tolerate his childhood name only from his sister. "You remember when we first joined Team Possible, Kim and I would quarrel about her attire, the whole crop top thing; I came to see it your way; I laugh at it now; it's so unimportant."
"Okay--."
"Tell me I'm being small-minded when I say that I'm concerned if Kim and Ron are sleeping together."
Rich thought a moment. "You are not small-minded; you're concerned about how we look. We have a strong Christian faith and people know it. The problem is we're caught in the middle; other Christians will look at us as compromising on morality for the reason you mentioned, and they are going to be less tolerant than you and I. Other people are going to look at our beliefs about those hot button issues, like gay marriage and abortion on demand; we'll be called biased and gay-bashers, and they won't care that we feel the same way they do about world hunger, conserving natural resources, freedom of the press, alternate fuel sources, and all that. Will Kim and Ron wait until marriage? If I read Ron right, probably. Could I be wrong? Yes, I could. Will that matter when we face someone like Dr. Dementor or Monkey Fist? No. Do they know how we feel about marriage? Unless they live on the moon, yes. Whatever happens, we're all Team; on missions and in battle, we have their backs, and they have our backs. Remembering the vow we made at Mom's grave, defending the innocent, battling evil, keeping our promise to our friends; that's our true Christian duty.."
Daphne nodded; spoken like the true knight in shining armor that he was. She put her arm through his as they walked; "Love you, brother."
"Love you, too, sis; are you hungry?" She nodded again. "Let's head for Buena Nacho."