Ding!
"We got it!"
"Jim and Tim ran to the door, followed quickly by Mr. and Mrs. Possible, fully expecting to see their daughter. Instead, a woman with an eyepatch and wearing a blue uniform was standing on the doorstep, flanked by men in similar uniforms. She paused to look down at the twins before addressing their parents.
"Doctors Possible, do you know who I am?"
"Yes, Kim told us about you. You work for Global Justice, correct? Wait, Kim…did something happen to her? We haven't heard-"
"Please, I'll explain what I can. May I?"
They waved her in while the other agents waited outside. Sitting down around the kitchen table, Dr. Director placed a duffel bag on the table before sitting herself.
"This…is Kim's…please, where did you find this?"
"Firstly, to your knowledge, where was Ms. Possible these past few day?"
"Doing consulting work for a research company, why?"
Dr. Director's one eye slid between the two parents. Kim's father had been the one to answer, and his concern showed clearly. But Kim's mother had a look she had seen all to often, usually after Dr. Director first asked someone to sit down before giving bad news.
She's nervous…the kind of expectant nervous when you know something's coming that you don't want to hear. Which means…
"Mrs. Possible, where did you think she was?"
"I…don't know, exactly. W-why?"
"This bag…was found at a resort cottage in brazil."
"Our Kimmie? Using missions as an excuse to skip school? I don't believe it."
"After…Kim beat her way through a squad of GJ agents."
"Wh-at? Kim wouldn't…wait, why were GJ agents after Kim in the first place?"
"They were there…to arrest Shego and Dr. Drakken. Except, the two thermal signatures our satellites read were Shego and Kim. So I'll ask again, Mrs. Possible, why was Kim Possible at a private resort with her arch-nemesis?"
"Honey…what is she talking about?"
"Kim was…has been…seeing Shego for several months, using consulting work as a cover."
"But…why?
"Yes, they're enemies, aren't they?"
"No, at least, not anymore. Several nights ago, I was outside Kim's door, and I overheard…"
"What?"
"Shego…confessed her love to my daughter."
Dr. Director and her husband stared at her in complete shock.
"For Kimmie? Our Kimmie?"
"I…this is…unexpected."
"I…spoke to Wade the next morning. He said he had monitored them from the very beginning, to make sure Shego wasn't trying to trap her somehow. After I heard what Shego said… after I realized just how bad Kim's health had slipped, and how she suddenly turned herself around after meeting with her that first time…and I saw the way Kim acted when she looked forward to another e-mail from her…I couldn't bring myself to stop her… but I was still so worried…I wanted to sit down with her when she came back…please, where is my daughter?"
"I…don't know. After Kim and Shego escaped, Kim used a favor with a shipping company to get transport to California. After that, however…we're still searching."
"Oh, Kim...you'll tell us, when you find her?"
"Of course. Also, please let me know if she contacts you, we may be able to trace her back to her location."
"Y-yes, we will."
You will…you're both feeling so confused right now…your first reaction as parents would be to get your daughter home, safe, away from Shego, no matter how willful she is or what she says.
"Then I'll return to GJ headquarters and continue co-ordinating the search from there. Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Possible."
She walked herself to the door and let herself out, motioning for the agents to follow.
That's one…now for the other…as much as I would prefer to do this in person, that might be too intimidating…he's not a fighter like Ms Possible. A videoconference should suffice...
"Hello?"
"Mr. Load?"
Even through a video screen in Wade's home turf, Dr. Director's glare transmitted quite well, the boy shifting in his seat the moment he recognized the figure on-screen.
Good. Now…you probably don't like the idea of Kim and Shego together anymore than the rest of us do. I just have to get you to admit it…all in Ms. Possible's best interests, of course.
"In deference to your assistance to Kim's work towards crime-fighting, I will not be arresting you for aiding and abetting a fugitive escape law enforcement."
"Ahh…what do you-"
"Ten minutes after I contact you with the details of the EM field, Shego and Kim dispose of the hoverpod, and catch a ship, the computer that stored the shipping destinations suddenly contracting a virus.
Years of experience more than made up for being able to glare at someone with only one eye. Wade practically danced in his seat.
"Oh, yeah…funny thing, that…"
"Where are they, Mr. Load? You don't honestly believe Kim is safe in Shego's…care."
"Look, I…I gave her a full scan every time she got back from her…trips. Nothing I could detect in her body or affecting her mind…so…I thought…if it was her choice, I shouldn't interfere."
"Methods of extracting information involving pain, for instance, may be effective, but there are other, more…subtle…methods for getting people to do what you want. Kim's mother mentioned her health slipping."
"Yeah, Kim was crashing from overworking herself."
"And Shego came to her rescue. Out of the kindness of her heart."
"Well, not exactly…"
"Somehow getting through to her over the course of, what? A day? Two? And now Kim is all better, all in thanks to Shego's charming personality?"
"Ahh…"
"I'm not faulting you, Wade. You did everything you could with what you had at your disposal. But as I said, there are some methods of manipulation a bio-scanner cannot detect. At the very least, don't you want to be absolutely sure this isn't a trick, for Kim's sake? If she falls in love with Shego, and it turns out to be a deception…"
She allowed herself to trail off, waiting for the implications to fully sink in. Wade's movements slowed as the image of a worst-case scenario began to form in his mind.
"I…"
Of course you'll...
"Agree."
Because…
"If…this is all just some elaborate game Shego is playing, it would destroy Kim."
And so…
"We should…at least get her somewhere we can observe them. Discreetly, of course."
"Of course. If Kim and Shego's relationship is genuine, well…even GJ doesn't have jurisdiction over that."
"I'll…see what I can do."
"Thank you, Mr. Load. I'm sure Ms Possible would understand our concern."
Closing the connection, she leaned back into the seat as the jet made it's way back to GJ headquarters, wondering what Shego had planned for the finale of her performance.
Kim opened her eyes to see Shego's face inches from hers, still fast asleep.
Shego looks so…peaceful when she's sleeping…not like when she's awake…and not just because of her standoffish personality…I wish I had a camera…it's just too cute!
Kim carefully untangled herself from Shego and moved back for a better look. Shego had always awoken before Kim, and Kim always expected to see her sleep like she acted when she was awake, sprawled out, always moving around, tossing sheets off and pulling them back on. Instead, she was curled up, quite still, until a hand, then another, began reaching out. Shego moaned in her sleep as her unconscious mind realized what she wanted wasn't to be found. Shego moaned again, louder, twitching and beginning to flail aimlessly. Kim rolled back towards her, the moment her arm touched Shego's side, Shego lunged, still asleep, wrapping her arms around Kim and squeezing her tightly, nuzzling her face into Kim's chest, whispering to herself in her sleep.
"My Kimmie…all mine…"
If this is a trick then it's a very good one, Shego…but what if it isn't? How long has Shego been away from her family, anyone she could call a friend? Shego said she only helped me out because it was in her own best interests…she's so strong-willed, she'd never admit…Shego, just how long have you wanted someone you could be close to?
"Shego…I'm all yours…"
A happy moan this time, and an all-too-rare genuine smile, followed by a tiny flash of light and a quiet click. Kim lowered her arm and looked at the image she had captured with the Kimmunicator's digital camera.
Ohhhhh…she's soooo cute when she smiles!
Seeing the clock still showed a few hours till' morning, Kim nuzzled right and drifted back to sleep in Shego's arms.
"Mmm…C'mon, we've done it before…"
"In a hot tub wearing swimsuits, not naked in a shower."
"So? Our relationship is progressing, that's all."
"Not. That. Fast. Wait, you just said 'relationship."
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Did not."
"Well we are in a relationship, aren't we?"
Shego froze as Kim's face twisted into the most sickeningly cute yet sad pout she had ever seen. Shego tried to speak, slowly forming a retort in her brain, her mouth trying to move, just as Kim's lower lip began to quiver. Shego was a deer in the world's largest headlights. She reeled in place, finally averting her gaze and bringing her arms up to protect her eyes.
Shego peeked out between her arms, and seeing the pout gone, crossed her arms in front of her chest, trying to pretend like she was unaffected.
"I…guess."
"You guess? Am I…just another cute girl to you? Just a fling?"
"Wha-NO! I need you, Kim, and I'm never letting you go. That's something I've never said for anything else in my life. Oh no…"
"What?"
"And I'm never letting you go?' I feel like I'm one step away from reciting bad poetry or singing under your bedroom window at night."
"Oh, you can sing? I never-"
"No, I can't. So don't expect me to."
"Aww…If you were, we could've done a duet together sometime. Something romantic…"
Shego shuddered, and Kim took the opportunity to jump past her and lock the bathroom door behind her, talking to Shego through the door as she undressed.
"Shego, when we're…together together…we're gonna do a lot more than just see each other naked, right?"
"Yeah…"
"So just…relax, ok?"
"Alright, alright…you don't want me seeing you naked…I get it."
As Kim let the hot water pour over her, Shego went to work. The sounds of the shower masked the expert at work as she picked the bathroom lock and snuck inside, closing and locking the door behind her, pulling off what little she had worn to bed, and pulling the shower curtain aside. Kim turned at the sound and shrieked, turning away and covering herself with her arms.
"SHEG-"
Kim stopped, mid-word. Shego wasn't leering, she was smirking, though. She was also completely naked. Kim tried, but couldn't resist letting her eyes wander. The suit Shego wore hugged her body somewhat, but now her curves didn't have anything hiding them at all. Kim finally managed to pull her eyes back to Shego's face, and prepared to tell Shego off in no uncertain terms, when she stopped again. Kim realized Shego was wearing something after all. A blindfold. Shego's smirk grew as she stepped forward into the shower.
"S-S-S-Shego!"
"What? It's not like I can see you."
"That's not the point!"
"You want me to leave?"
Shego didn't have a puppy-dog pout. Instead, she stepped into the path of the water to let it run over her, breathed in, shifted her hips and tilted her head. The effect was the same. Kim was frozen. Shego, not hearing any reply, slowly twisted her body under the showerhead, showing off all the best angles and poses she could think of, a slow, sinuous dance under the falling water. She did that for at least ten minutes, listening to Kim's breathing grow faster and deeper.
"Shego…"
"Yes?"
"I'm…going to…get you…for this…"
"Then come get me."
Shego turned just as Kim pressed herself into her back, yanking her head back to clamp onto her lips, harder than Shego ever remembered, as a hand snaked across her stomach, Kim's nails scratching Shego's skin and making her legs shake. Shego reached back and grabbed Kim's hips with both hands, pulling her forward. Kim paused in her kiss to take a breath, now going for Shego's neck, both arms now wrapped around her, squeezing and rubbing everywhere but where Shego really wanted. Kim's motions began to slow, and she pulled herself away from her, out of breath.
"S…Shego…"
"Y-yeah?"
"That…was…it was…"
"Was it good?"
"Yes."
"I thought you'd like it. More?"
"I…can't. I want to…but…if I don't stop now…I'm just…"
"Not ready."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Regrets suck, trust me on that."
"Thank you. For…umm…everything Just, please, if you're serious about us, don't tempt me like this again."
"Kim…you want to trust me?"
"Of course!"
"Then name your conditions. Anything, any time. I'll do whatever it takes."
"Shego…you'd…anything? Give up stealing?"
"Just a thrill to keep me occupied. Won't need it if I have you."
"You'd…even be a hero again?"
Shego winced.
"I…tried being a hero once, remember. You might not be famous or as public as I was in my hometown, but it got to you once, and sooner or later, it'll get to you again. It'll be worse next time, once bigger and bigger things are expected of you."
"No…because you taught me how to step back and take a breather."
"I…alright. I'll try it for you. On one condition, non negotiable."
"What?"
"I won't stop being me."
"I wouldn't have you any other way."
"Even if slap around villains more than I have too, cause unnecessary property damage, beat up annoying reporters and be a total bitch?"
"If that's you, fine, I won't care, cause you'll be my bitch. OhnowaitImean-"
Shego's cheeks puffing up for a moment was the only warning before she burst out into wild laughter, falling to the ground and clutching her sides as she rolled back and forth inside the tub, gasping for breath between laughs, pounding the sides of the tub with her fists.
"Oh…oh Kimmie…I didn't know…you had it in you…"
"Shego..."
"It's…it's just…too funny…"
"I'm getting out. You hurry up so we can figure out how to make this work."
"Yeah! Yeah, I'm just…gonna lie here a moment…Mistress."
"Shego!"