Disclaimer: Disney owns, I don't. Kim and the gang come out to play with me and my character friends. I don't get payed for my efforts. (If I did... segue into dream sequence # 1. I'm sitting poolside behind my bungalow in the Hollywood hills, whacking away at my laptop, sipping my single malt scotch...)
A/N: Did you guess? Wade sets Kim and Ron up with a "new villain" to chase around the world, but the threats never develop, so our two teen heroes get to see the sights. If you had a Summer to travel the World, free of cost, where would you go? They'll make that decision next chapter. I feel a good fight scene is needed right now.
Chapter 18 Rome Part 4 The Fight
Destinations?
Where to go? What to do? Who to see?
Both Kim and Ron tossed and turned in bed for over an hour before they silently got up and grabbed pen and paper. Not a word was spoken between the two, but they knew what they had to be done before they could get any rest that night. Ron laid on the bed, thinking and making notes, clad in his boxer shorts with pink hearts. Kim sat at the desk doing the same. She wore only a robe.
Fifteen minutes later Ron got up and, ripping the paper from the notepad, slapped the page on the table in the main room. He turned silently, walked to the bed and crawled under the covers. Kim wrote one more item at the top of the page and circled it a couple of times. She reread her scribblings, got up and threw the whole pad of paper onto the table next to Ron's single sheet. Kim walked to the bed shedding the robe as she went, slid between the sheets, and kissed Ron. She spooned back into Ron's loving embrace and the two fell asleep.
The teddy bear alarm clock clanged away at 7:00 A.M. Kim groaned and slapped at it. She missed only once before it was finally silenced. She twisted in Ron's embrace to face him. "Good Morning," she cooed and kissed him full on the lips.
After a minute Ron grinned his way out of the kiss saying, Good Morning to you too. Sleep well?"
Kim gave him another peck on the lips. "Yeah, after I got the list off my mind and onto paper. You?"
"Same here." He preformed a backwards rolling somersault that landed him on his feet beside the bed. "I'm ready for a good workout. How about you?"
Kim giggled. "You know, I think I'm ready for anything right now."
"Does that include going up against the best Kung Fu Artist in Vatican City?" Ron quipped.
Kim rolled out of bed and stretched. "Lead me to the gym!"
The two quickly dressed in sweats and, grabbing their gis and backpacks, headed out the door. They meandered through the streets, arm in arm and heads together, for a couple of minutes before finally turning a corner and headed for the gym.
When they arrived they found the place full of activity. Francesca spotted the teens as they came in and greeted them. "Hi you two," she said cheerfully then turned serious. "Did you make the call? What happened."
Kim and Ron smiled. "It was just like we thought," Ron started.
"Wade had set the whole thing up at our parents suggestion," Kim continued.
"And now we get to make our own itinerary for the rest of the trip," Ron concluded.
Fran's head bounced between the two teens in front of her. "I wish you two would stop doing that."
"What?" Kim and Ron chimed together.
Fran shook her head violently. "Completing each others sentences. It's like watching a tennis match. I think I'm getting whiplash." She frowned for a whole five seconds before a wide smile broke and she fell into a fit of laughter.
Kim smiled knowingly. Frowning Ron, sometimes a bit slow on the uptake, finally grinned and laughed with her. "He he, Good one."
Kim waited patiently, until the laughter subsided. "Where can I go and change?" She held up her gi.
Fran led the two to the other side of the gym and pointed at a door. "Ron can change in there. Kim, follow me to the Ladies Locker room." Ron went in the door.
"So, do you have some places in mind?" Fran said as she led Kim through the next door. "I mean to see. I can think of a dozen cities I'd like to see off the top of my head."
"We each wrote out a list last night," Kim said, taking off her sweats, "but we haven't compared them yet. We'll probably do that later today." Kim slipped on her sports bra and smiled. "We have all summer to wander the World. No bad guys or school to worry about." She sighed. "Just the two of us."
"Sound romantic!" Fran enthused.
Kim tied her gi and stood. "Yeah," she half-smiled. "But I am getting a little homesick right now. This is the longest I've ever been away from Middleton and the family."
"So," Fran said knowingly.
"So our first stop will be home." Kim's full smile came out. "Thanks for letting me voice that." She paused. "I'm sure Ron is having a great time and wants to continue on all summer before heading for home."
"Are you sure," Fran posed. "Have you talked about it yet? You two seem to be of one mind most of the time."
"Nope," Kim grabbed her bag off the floor and headed for the door. "We didn't say word one when we wrote out our lists."
Fran smiled. "I'm sure wherever you two go you'll be happy, because you'll be together."
"That is so true." Kim sighed, opened the door, and looked out at the bustling gym floor. "Is this place always so busy at this time of the morning?"
Fran giggled. "No. I think half of the guys want to see you fight and the other half want to see me get my butt kicked."
"They want to see you get beat?" Kim said in astonishment. "Why?"
"Cause I can whoop their collective asses every time we spar." Fran laughed. "They won't take me on one at a time anymore. It always has to be three or four and even then it's not much of a challenge."
Kim looked impressed. "So are you all warmed up?"
"Not really," Francesca said. "I usually stretch and work out for a half hour before I'm ready. How about you?"
Kim slyly smiled. "I'm ready to go now. When you freak fight, you don't have time to warm up." She thought for a moment. "I have an idea so you can warm up properly." Kim looked around the gym. "Who's the best fighter here, after you?"
Fran scanned the crowd and pointed. "Over there, Giovanni." She indicated a huge guy in sweats that didn't fit his physique. The tight garments rippled as he punched the speed bag.
Ron came up and said. "What's up ladies?"
Kim turned to Ron and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Could you do us a favor?"
"What cha want me to do?" Ron said warily.
Kim smiled. "Fran's not ready to spar yet. She needs a half hour to warm up. Could you go a few rounds with someone else so she can warm up properly?"
Fran was shocked. "You want Ron to go up against Giovanni?"
"Why not?" Ron grinned.
"He'll tear you to shreds!" Fran said shuddering.
Kim slyly smiled. "You've never seen Ron in action."
"Do you need the whole half hour or can I just take him down quickly," Ron said with his goofy grin firmly plastered across his face.
Francesca was dumbstruck. Kim smiled and said, "Play with him for a few minutes, then take him out. If Fran needs more time you can always get a few more guys into the ring."
Kim and Ron walked towards the man at the speed bag. Fran followed. "So who do I get to fight?" Ron said flippantly.
Kim pointed to the man in front of them. "Giovanni?"
Giovanni stopped and looked at the two people in front of him. "Yes."
"Hi," Kim said, extending her hand. "I'm Kim and this is Ron."
The big man smiled. "I know, Team Possible. Pleasure to meet you." He shook both their hands.
"Fran said you're the best fighter next to her," Kim started, "and we were wondering..."
Giovanni cut her off. "I would never fight you Kim. I've seen some footage of you fighting abilities, I'm no match for you."
"How about me?" Ron chimed in.
Giovanni took a step forward. He towered over Ron. "You want to fight me?"
Ron grinned. "Just a few round until Francesca is warmed up for her bout with Kim. What cha say?"
Giovanni turned to Francesca. "I don't want to hurt Kim Possible's sidekick."
"Partner!" Kim barked between clenched teeth.
"Kim, amp," Ron said smoothly and turned to the big man in front of him. "I won't get hurt. I'd wager you can't even lay a finger on me."
Giovanni laughed. "You say that, and you haven't seen me fight?"
"I've seen you on the speed bag." Ron smiled wickedly. "That's all I need."
Giovanni shrugged. "O.K. how you want to play it?"
Ron thought for a moment as a crowd gathered around them.. "I'm mainly a street fighter. How about no holds barred? The gym is the battlefield."
"Are you kidding?" Francesca shrieked. "Giovanni's the best street fighter in Rome!"
Ron shrugged. "The ring is too confining for me." He looked over the pack of people surrounding them and raised his voice. "And if you think Giovanni here is in trouble, don't hesitate to join in."
Murmurs ran through the crowd. "You talk the talk." Giovanni said as he crouched, letting his right foot slid in front of him. His hands, one arched above his heads and the other stretched out towards Ron, went to the ready. "Let's see if you can walk the walk?" He beckoned Ron with the out stretched hand.
The crowd backed up giving the two fighter room. Kim kissed Ron on the cheek. "Go get him," she said, then grabbed Fran and led her to a bench along the wall. "We'll be over here."
"Hey," Ron yelled to Kim. "I thought I was doing this so you two could warm up?" Kim just blew him a kiss.
"O.K.," Ron turned to opponent. He sighed and stood with his fists on his hips. "Let's do this."
The two stood there. Giovanni in a classic Kung Fu pose, Ron nonchalant. Ten, twenty, then thirty seconds went by before Ron spoke. "So, are you gonna attack?"
"Are you ready? Your defenses aren't up," the big man growled.
"Dude," Ron said folding his arms, "My defenses are always up. Make your move."
"Kiai!" Giovanni yelled and charged. He preformed a perfect flying front kick aimed at Ron's head. Ron side stepped and whipped an arm up and into the leading leg. Giovanni unceremoniously landed on his back but got up quickly and spun to face Ron.
Ron shook his head. "Saw that one coming a mile away."
Fran gasped. "Ron. Don't taunt him," she yelled. "You'll only make him mad."
Kim whispered, "That's the whole point."
Fran looked at Kim. "But I fight better when I'm angry. I'm more focused."
"Angry, yes." Kim smiled. "But Ron has a way of getting his opponents so upset they can't think straight. It's a gift."
Giovanni charged and threw a right fist at Ron. Ron ducked to the left and ended up behind the bigger man. Giovanni shot his left foot out behind him. Ron parried the blow and brought an elbow down on Giovanni's thigh. Swiftly, Ron kicked his left foot into the back of Giovanni's right knee. The big man fell again. "Nice back kick," Ron commented. "Too bad it was way too slow." Ron looked around to the crowd. "Is he just off today or does he always fight like this?"
Giovanni got into a crouch and tried a leg sweep. Ron hopped over it and turned his back to his foe. "Please tell me this is not one of your best fighters!" he pleaded to the pack of people in front of him. Giovanni roared and lunged at Ron's back. Ron did the splits and flattened himself to the floor, letting the big guy sail over him. Ron rolled back onto his shoulders and flipped up to a standing position. "Come on big guy," Ron said, watching Giovanni stand and walk towards him. "You can do better that that." Giovanni let loose a flurry of fists and feet that Ron dodged, weaving and bobbing. Suddenly Ron's hand flew out and landed squarely in Giovanni's bread basket. The big man crumpled into a ball on the floor. "Ooh, sorry about that. I tried to pull that punch."
He turned to Kim. "How long do you want me to do this?"
Kim shrugged. "If he's not a challenge, why not let all the others join in?"
Ron shrugged. "Who else wants to play?" he yelled, looking over the crowd. Everyone took a collective step back. Ron turned back to the two girls sitting on the sideline and shrugged, "No takers." He bent over to minister to Giovanni.
Fran's eyes were as big as dinner plates and her jaw was almost on the floor. Kim stood up and walked over to Ron, tossing him a towel. "Will he be O.K.?" Kim asked.
"Yeah, he'll be fine," Ron said assuredly. "He's just got the wind knocked out of him." He beamed. "I hit him in the solar plexus but I was aiming a little higher."
Ron stood and toweled off. Kim wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a big kiss.
Francesca joined the two. "That was amazing. I've never seen anyone move so fast."
Ron giggled, "Thank you. Now when are you two going to fight? I love to see two girls going at it." Kim slapped him on the butt.
Kim turned in Ron's arms and asked, "Are you ready, Fran?"
Fran pointed at Kim. "You're better than Ron?"
Kim and Ron nodded. "She's about ten time better than I am," Ron said, matter of factly.
Kim slapped Ron's arm. "No. I'm not that far ahead of you. Maybe five or six times."
"I'm not even in Ron's league!" Fran cried.
Kim giggled. "You gotta remember, Ron is usually taking on ten or twelve henchmen at a time. He has to be good and fast."
Ron's goofy grin showed up. "On a good day I can take on twenty."
"Now you're just bragging," Kim chided him. She gave him a peck on the lips. "Deservedly so."
Fran fainted.
Ten minutes later Fran awoke sitting on the bench. Ron was sitting next to her. There were screams and hollers coming from the ruckus in front of them. She looked on as Kim was being attacked by a host of men and Kim was winning.
"So, you're finally awake," Ron said gently, patting her hand.
"What?" Francesca blurted out as she sat up.
"You fainted," Ron said as he handed her a bottled water. "Kim came here for a workout, so she had to take on everyone else. You can join in, if you feel up to it."
"Ron, how's she doing," Kim yelled as she tossed a guy into three others.
"She's fine, KP. Just getting her wits about her!" Ron yelled back.
Fran watched as Kim, in what seemed to be one continuous move, flipped and side kicked one man, cartwheeled into a second and back flipped into two more. Fran turned to Ron. "I hardly recognize any of her moves. What style is she using?"
"I guess it could be called KimStyle." Ron thought for a moment. "But I think that names been Trademarked." Ron shook his head and returned his attention to Fran. "Kim knows sixteen styles of Kung Fu. She's combined them all, then thrown in her cheer leading skills to get what you're seeing now."
Fran's head jerked from one point to another to another as she followed Kim's moves. There were six or seven guys left standing. At least twenty were on the ground, moaning or out cold.
Ron yelled, "How's the workout going?"
"Best I've had in weeks!" Kim grunted as she took out two more opponents. The remaining four took a step back, bowed to Kim and collapsed in exhaustion. Kim bowed to the four corners of the gym and walked over to the bench.
Ron lobbed a bottle of water to Kim as she approached. Kim took a big swig and dumped the rest over her head. Ron handed her a towel.
"You two are..." Fran jabbered. "I mean, I've won in all my tournaments but what I just saw was..." She flung herself back against the wall. "I'm not worthy to be in the same room as you two," she sobbed.
Kim sat down and put her arm around Fran. "Don't say that. You're used to tournaments. That's all form and formality. What you saw here this morning was street fighting. It's free flow and do what you have to do. I'm not that good in tournaments." Kim winked at Ron. Ron wagged a finger at her.
"Yeah," Ron chimed in. "You have to be one of the best in Kung Fu if you've won all your fights."
Fran hung her head. "I don't know."
"Come on," Kim said. "You still need to get in your workout. I promise not to use any of my cheer skills."
Ron shook his head at Kim. She shrugged and waved a hand at him to take over.
Ron stood, grabbed Fran by the shoulders and lifted her up to eye level. "What's the matter with you girl?" he said forcefully. "So you've met a couple of people who are better than you. Big Whoop! What cha gonna do, quit?" Ron set her down on her feet, still supporting her by the shoulders. His voice softened. "How long have you trained in Kung Fu?"
"Ten years," Fran said weakly.
"Kim's been in cheer leading all her life," Ron explained. "She's trained daily in Kung Fu for almost as long. She's better than you because she's been doing it longer than you. It also comes naturally because of her cheer skills. The freak fighting has only upped her skill level a hundred times because she fights the meanest villains in the World. If you went up against Shego every month, you'd be ten, twenty, no fifty time better by now."
"What about you Ron?" Francesca looked into his eyes.
"Me?" Ron pondered for a second. "I gotten as good as I am because I've been going up against henchmen for the last ten or twelve years. If I didn't improve fast, I'd be a puddle of goo and Drakken or Dementor would be ruling the World. Plus, I never want to let Kim down. That's great motivation."
"I thought I was at the top. No one was better than me," Fran said half heartedly.
Ron sighed and shook his head. "And what, you thought you had nothing to gain by training harder?"
Kim put a hand on the girls shoulder. "There's always someone out there better than you."
Fran turned to Kim. "Better than you?"
"I believe so." Kim paused. "If I didn't, I'd get complacent. Shego and I are evenly matched right now. If I didn't train hard she would become better and beat my brains in."
"This morning," Ron said brightly, "you've seen the reason to push on with your training."
