Where Did the Time Go? : Part XXIII
"Okay, Ron, you can turn around now."
Ron untwisted his upper torso. Even though Kim had her changing screen out, his habit of turning away was so ingrained they both knew he'd actually have a little bit of trouble overcoming it when it was proper and expected for him to actually watch. When they infiltrated the Bermuda Triangle Club last spring, he had done the same thing when she stripped out of her wetsuit even though they both knew she was fully clothed underneath it.
"Wow, KP! That is absolutely badical!"
Kim twirled around once, ending with her hands splayed on her slightly cocked hips. If one casually glanced at her, they would think she was wearing her old traditional mission gear. All the colors were the same, with one important difference. Her old pants had been baggy enough she could have put both her muscular legs down just one of the pant's. This new pair, being comprised of the self-healing fabric from the super-suits, clung to her figure and legs almost skin tight. It was like someone had taken an olive green battle-suit and chopped it off a couple inches below her belly button.
The differences in her top weren't as obvious. It was the same shape and style of crop top mock turtleneck she had always worn, except there were slightly shinier panels at the shoulders and neck, as well as a stripe running down the middle, concealing a micro-zipper. Like her new pants, it was made of the self-healing fabric.
The first think Kim noticed was that Ron couldn't take his eyes off her legs. "I take it you like?" She ran her hands down over her thighs. Her feet were still bare and there were a couple more accessories lying on the bed but her boyfriend had not noticed. Turning around, the wiggled her backside just slightly. "Or is that what you like."
Considering his grin, she figured it was.
"Isn't that a bit on the tight side, at least for you?" He asked finally.
"Actually, they're not tight at all." She did a quick high kick, then landed on the floor in a split. "I've got better freedom of movement than I even had in the baggy cargos and besides…" She walked up to him and lifted his chin with her fingertips, "…it gives you more opportunities to see my legs."
"Among other things." He reached up and caressed her hip. "So what is this meeting at GJ all about?"
"I don't know. I just hope it's not some kind of extended mission or something. I was looking forward to a nice long weekend with my lover." Sitting down beside him, she gave him a tender kiss. For once, they didn't have any definite plans for the weekend, though his parents were leaving in the morning for a nice, romantic getaway to celebrate the good news they had shared earlier in the week. Not that they wanted to stay cooped up in the house all day long. The forecast was almost spring-like and they wanted to take full advantage of that.
"Lover? That sounds a little…I dunno…dirty?"
Kim wrinkled her nose slightly. "Too much? I just thought boyfriend just sounds a little…kinda not enough."
Ron pulled her legs across his, rubbing her knees. "Doesn't matter what we call it. Boyfriend is fine by me. I always thought it went boyfriend, fiancé, husband, so there's nothing wrong with calling me that. Lover sounds like it's one step removed from, well, if you're talking about a woman, mistress."
"Yeah." She swung her legs back to the floor. "I've got something for you."
"Oh? I thought Valentines wasn't until Tuesday."
Kim opened the vault in the back of her closet. There was already a new black super-suit hanging beside the old white one. Wade had obviously been busy. She patted the sleeve of the new one. "This one, he can track whether somebody is wearing it or not." There still hadn't been any evidence of what became of the old one, but the fact it hadn't shown up on Wade's system meant it had not been worn, if it was even still intact.
Stooping down (which really captured Ron's attention) she brought out a metal box about the size of a medium suitcase. Dialing the combination lock, she opened it up on the bed right beside Ron.
He picked up the boots that were sitting on top of the folded black material. They were a lot like the ones he had on, more sneaker than boot, but the tops were made to merge with the material of the other contents.
Kim pulled it up by its shoulders. It was the same muted black as her top, but the details were shiny goldenrod, just slightly darker than Ron's hair. Pulling it free from its container, she held it up against him.
Ron looked at the outfit dubiously. "I hope this one isn't like my white one?"
Kim walked her fingers up his chest, then touched his nose. "I didn't mind it."
"KP, you could see everything in that thing."
"Yes…I could." She gave him a sly smile. "You do have the cutest butt."
"It's not my butt I was worried about."
"Don't be a baby, Ron. Nobody noticed. It's like wearing a sports bathing suit, people just look away."
"But KP, I wear trunks."
"Ronnie, if anybody starts staring, it's not because they're about to break out laughing." She leaned closer. "Turnabout's fair play. You can see my butt in mine, I can see your butt in yours." She gave him a light pat on his backside. "Now go put that on so I can see you in it."
A few minutes later he stepped out from behind the modesty screen.
"Mmmm. Turn around. See, it looks just fine on you."
"You sure it doesn't make me look, you know, beefy in the bootie?"
"Ron, with your narrow hips, you need some beefy, maybe that'd keep your danged pants up." She laughed. Getting up from her seat on the bed, she wrapped her arms around him and drew him close for a kiss. Right as their lips met, her hands drifted down and took a good handful of the body part they had been discussing.
"You do know that doing that means your father is bound to be walking up the steps right now." He said as her hands lingered there.
"Well good. We got him used to us kissing, maybe it's time to get him used to other things." Smiling she kissed him again, her hands clasping behind his back.
Letting go of him, she reached under her bed. "Okay, the suit was really from Wade but this is from me." She handed him a flat box with a Club Banana logo.
"KP, like I said, Valentines isn't until Tuesday. You're gonna make me look bad."
"I hope not." Her expression started bordering on her famous pout. "Anyway, this isn't a Valentine's gift. It's a practical everyday gift."
Inside was a pair of charcoal colored cargos. They were a tad longer than his old ones, which was nice considering most of his new height was in his legs. The cargo pockets were the deeper, military style and it also had zip-off legs, just below the knees.
"It's a material called rip-stop." Kim giggled.
"I love it." He started stepping into them, pulling them right over his super-suit.
"Hey, you're cutting off the view." She sulked.
Ron shrugged. "It's not my butt I'm worried about showing off. The black helps, but, well, anybody would know which side I dress on…" he held up a finger. "Don't you dare say 'no big.'"
Kim helped him clip the fastex buckle of his utility belt. "Can't, that would just be lying." She gave him another quick kiss. "Now finish dressing, we're supposed to be there in thirty minutes."
She pulled on thickly treaded tan boots that matched her tool belt, then clipped an external cargo pouch around her legs. Without the suit's full power system, the self-healing material didn't lend itself to pockets.
Ron looked her up and down once more. "Bon-diggity." He said, his eyes lingering a bit lower than usual. "Um, KP, I know it's in the high forties outside right now, but don't you think a crop-top is going to be a little cool?"
"Already taken care of." Touching a hidden control on her collar, the arms and stomach portion of her top extended all the way to her gloves and pants. "No big for a guy who can make a formal gown turn into a stealth suit."
"I should have guessed." He held up one finger. "Be right back."
She could hear the inside door to the garage open and close and moments later he reappeared, not even breathing hard from running down and up two flights of stairs. He had a tan plastic shipping bag in his hands. She recognized them immediately as coming from R.R. Boston clothing company.
"I know you like Club Banana, but they didn't have these in black." Opening the bag with a small pocket knife, he pulled out two solid black commando style sweaters. They had a heavy cable knit with nylon reinforcements on the elbows and shoulders.
"Oh, it's perfect." She said as she pulled her hair free from the collar. "Thank you, Baby."
Most likely responding to the noise, James Possible stuck his head through the hatch, just in time to see his daughter kissing her boyfriend. He had gotten to the point where seeing that brought a smile to his face, though Kim was sure he wouldn't have been smiling if she had seen them a little bit earlier.
"Playing dress-up, Kimmie-cub?"
"Just getting ready for a meeting with GJ, Dad."
Noting the dressing screen was out, he nodded. "Okay, you kids have a good time." He started back down the stairs, then paused. "Oh, Ron. About what you asked me earlier. I talked to Kim's Mom and we both agreed. It'll be just fine."
Looking slightly nervous, Ron said. "Okay, thanks MrDrP. Really."
"What was that about?" Kim eyed him dubiously.
"Oh, nothing. Just some stuff your Dad and I were discussing."
"Ron?" Her voice dropped an octave and her hands went to her hips. "That sounded a lot like you asked him permission for something."
"It's nothing, KP."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. He suddenly wasn't meeting her eyes and while he wasn't rubbing his nose, he looked like he was fighting to keep his hand from going to the back of his neck, a sure sign he was keeping something secret.
With Valentines just a few days away and him asking her parent's permission for something?
"Ronald Eugene Stoppable, what are you up to?" She asked, a small smile forming.
"Nothing."
Curiosity was starting to burn her up. Moments later her lower lip quivered out as she put on her Puppy-dog-pout, full power.
Instead of breaking down, Ron just got a look of extreme confidence on his face. "When you look like that, it's so cute. I just want to grab a hold of you and snuggle you like you were my own little Pandaroo." For effect, he picked up the old stuffed Cuddlebuddy and gave it a crushing hug.
Kim just sat there stunned. Only her parents had successfully resisted the PDP, and it was only because her mother could do it as well.
"Ronald, you're forcing me to take drastic measures." She grabbing her around the waist with one hand, the other reaching for his head. Moments later she had him pinned to the bed.
With one hand she started caressing his ear. Then she kissed the outer edge and nibbled on his earlobe.
"It's not working, KP. Okay, it's working a little, but I'm not talking."
Kim sat up and rolled off him. "It's a good think my father is home, or I'd have to pull out my secret weapon."
Ron's eyes lit up. "Oh, and what would that be?"
"Tell me what I want to know and you'll find out, buster." She got up and headed for the hatch. "Come on, it's time to go."
Somehow it felt funny being 'in uniform' walking the streets of Middleton. Their best guess on how to get to Global Justice was the head for Bueno Nacho and take the tube way from there. That was certainly easier than retracing their steps in the warehouse district where they had pursued a robotic ninja into the underground network a couple years earlier.
Neither of them were quite surprised when the sidewalk gave way beneath them right in front of Kim's house. Well, Ron was. He quit screaming just as the capsule landed in the control room, unwrapping himself from her.
His hand lingered on the small of her back and he could feel her muscles tense up as they recognized their welcoming committee.
"Kim Possible, welcome back to Global Justice." Wil Du announced as stiffly as ever. "If you'll follow me."
They both started after him, though he suddenly turned on his heel. "This is a private meeting for Miss Possible." He held up a hand, blocking Ron's way.
"Now you listen to me, Agent Du." Kim growled. "If you people want to deal with me, Ron's part of the deal. He's my partner. If you've got business with Team Possible, that means both of us."
Rufus popped out of Ron's pocket, chittering angrily at her.
"Make that all three of us." She amended. Rufus smugly crossed his arms.
"Come on." Wil husked as the trio followed him once more. "I thought you were on injured reserve." He cast a withering glance at Ron.
He held up his gloved right hand, wiggling his wrist. "Nope. When the cast came off it was completely healed. My doc cleared me for action. Guess it wasn't as broken as they thought."
Wil just grunted and led them to the same large conference room they had used the first time Kim was here.
Dr. Betty Director stood as they entered. Much to Kim's delight, Wil Du didn't follow them into the room.
"Welcome Team Possible." Her emphasis on 'team' told them both she had been watching their entrance. The older woman smiled at Kim's opportunity to take the overconfident agent down a small peg once again. Her review of the last mission the two of them had gone on revealed that most of its shortcomings stemmed from Wil's participation.
"What's this about?" Kim asked as she took her seat. Ron quietly sat down beside her. Full partner or not, he knew who really wore the pants when it came to the world-saving business.
"Mostly good news. First of all, our teams have scoured Gottagrin Resort within a ten mile radius. Now that we know the all the compounds we are looking for, we can now assure the current owners the property is fully cleared of the toxic runoff from science camp."
Kim laid a hand on Ron's leg, feeling a slight shudder going through him. He may have beaten the place three times now, but there were still some deep-rooted feelings associated with it.
"Along those lines, the company who owns it has changed their plans for the property. They're now going to raze it and return it to a fully natural area."
Kim grinned. "That's good to know. I'd hate to get stuck spending the night there again out of the blue."
Dr. Director nodded. "We're running some final tests on the materials we recovered from the ravine. Once those are done, we plan on incinerating the remains of the creature. Hopefully that will put an end to the horrors of Lake Wannaweep, at least if Mr. Moss can fully recover.
"On to other topics. It has taken far longer than I liked, but we have finally made a breakthrough with the school board concerning the new rules they implemented this school year." She handed Kim a letter.
She scanned it, a wide smile breaking out as she did so. "Does this mean what I think it does?"
"Yes, Kim. You've been granted a full exemption from the cell-phone ban. Your circumstance is…unique and it took a great deal of discussion with the new board to convince them of that."
She took two envelopes from her briefcase and handed one to each of them. "These are documents establishing Team Possible as legitimate independent contractors in the employ of Global Justice. It doesn't mean anything is really different, only that now the two of you are no longer working for us for free. I know it won't be much and I could not convince my superiors to pay you for your past services, but I hope this goes toward making things a little easier on both of you. I expect, in the coming months, the two of you should be quite busy."
Kim regarded the sealed envelope for a moment. "What about while we're at school?"
Betty Director shook her head. "I had a very lengthy…discussion with my sister about that. I'm afraid she is not willing to budge on her position. She is still afraid that she will be the one at fault if something happens to you if she releases you for a mission while you are under her authority. I couldn't get the board to overrule her either on this matter."
Kim looked at Ron, then back to the operational head of Global Justice. "That just means if I get a call while we're there, I'm still going to have to wait until the end of the day. That's going to ferociously drive me crazy knowing somebody needs my help."
Dr. Director shrugged. "It's out of our hands. I'm sorry." She brought one more thing out of her satchel. "This was found in an abandoned lab in Upperton." She handed her what looked like a small circuit board, only it was far more flexible.
"What is this?"
Betty Director pursed her lips. "It is the locator transponder from your missing Battle Suit." She paused. "That can only mean one thing."
Kim frowned, staring at the wafer thin module. "It means somebody has the suit."
"Not only that, but whoever has it knows what that technology does."
Kim's frown deepened, knowing full well what that meant.
A/N - If you'd like to see what Kim's and Ron's new outfits look like, I've posted a picture at DevArt, which can be accesses through my profile page. There's also a picture of Kim in her snow suit from the Mt Middleton chapters, as well as a picture that gives you an idea of why Ron was so uncomfortable in his 'Too Tight' white super-suit.
Kim Possible and all related characters © Disney