A/N: Sorry it was late, but next weekend I will be flooding with more updates. Promise.

I also would like to thank all my Guest reviewers (normally I reply back to reviews individually but as I can't with them) Thank you so much for your reviews! I adored them, all of them. You know who you are.


Stormy Tides (Drakken)


He felt like he'd been run over or been a victim of one of Shego's plasma blasts. Her felt a nauseating dizziness inside him as he came too. It was like his mind and his stomach were battling it out as images raced in his head. He remembered staring at the vaulted ceiling telling himself to stand up, but then feeling it better to lay there. He wasn't sure what was going on with him, if the poison was sinking in, if he had just fainted because of the heat. You should just lay here and let the heat consume you. He felt his chest hurt, but he didn't know why he'd just thought that. You did this to yourself. He willed himself upwards, the numbness of his hands made it hard to grasp anything, let alone steady himself on the ground. His mind was scrambling images as he looked at the gloves, and sounds. The snapping sound of Hermes wrist echoed again. He barely steadied himself before he felt the sickness again and lunged to the trashcan near his dresser. His head was spinning.

"What...the hell," he gasped as he caught his breath and looked at the gloves, he pulled himself up off the floor and weakly began heading to her workroom, he needed to know more.

You didn't read the dangers. You deserve whatever happens. He shook his head, the heat and whatever infection he was getting from these gloves were messing with his head. Who read silly superstitions, he just needed the gemstones. He was certain they would tell how to get them off, there was probably some release, there had to be. You can break them like you did Hermes, he was only trying to help... He shook his head, how long had he been passed out, he was probably dehydrated. He could barely type on the computer, and even when he hit the button he hit it harder than he meant too. His hands shook and twitched but he wasn't sure if it was his hands. You're being paranoid. Their not possessed or something. He finally read the parts he'd skipped over about the gloves, skimming past the stones, past the weight, the historical value, and to the supposed curse.

"Okay, okay," said Drakken, he started reading it, "The Curse of Khaos, oh how original. Khaos was the deity... blah blah... Okay, I should stop doing that... could be relevant. The supposed curse of Khaos."

The article itself was lengthy, a reason why he had skipped over it before. It listed historically the amount of thefts, losses, and mishaps of it's known existence. Reading it blindly one would think that the thieves and careless caretakers were just unlucky and needed to blame something for their misfortunes. It painted that as a general picture of the curse of the gauntlets. Drakken looked at his hands, his left seemed to twitch on it's own, almost like a tap, he kept reading. He was about the give up when he came across picture's he'd scrolled passed just above the announcement of them being at the museum. It was depictions of the gauntlets throughout time, and small descriptions under them.

"Some believe the deity of Khaos to reside inside the gauntlets. One driving your emotions, the other your actions. Creating chaos internally and physically. Many who were foolish enough to meddle with them never fared well. Many reported voices, erratic behavior, paranoia, emotional imprinting... well that's not helpful... Shego would say that's me everyday," scoffed Drakken, he looked at the words and knew he would have still put these on even if he had taken the time to read it, "What's emotional imprinting..."

You're an idiot. He shook his head and looked at the gauntlets, he scrolled to see anything about removing them, apart from the gruesome depictions in some of the images. There was nothing, no words, no advice. Because those stupid enough to put them on are thieves... thieves lose their hands. The dark thought made Drakken sit back away from the computer. He took a deep breath, he was feeding his own fears, that was it. He was thinking it because he'd read it. That's why. His left hand twitched again almost like a jolt. He felt it up his arm otherwise he wouldn't even had noticed. He glared at the screen, there had to be a way. As he searched he became annoyed and without warning. His left hand went through the monitor and he jumped up as if trying to escape his own hand. It twitched and fell slack as he pulled to look at it.

"I didn't... maybe I did... but," Drakken took a few steps back from the sparking monitor and looked at his hand.


A Few Days Later


Curse or not curse, there was something not right about these things. His left hand kept acting off and his head was killing him. Every-time something came up, a thought, a feeling, it felt... deeper than it should. He'd tried figuring out another way out of these, but every-time he started it was like the energy was drained from him. It had been two days and he lay in bed, trying to force sleep. He focused on the darkness, the heat, anything. Just something to keep his mind from drifting. His mind fell back to the museum again, to Possible's expression. You are pitiful, she was pitting your stupidity. Drakken glared, he'd not been pitiful, he'd been smart, removing her normal snatch and toss maneuvers by putting them on. Now you can't get them off. He scoffed at himself, no she'd just been shocked he'd deflected her. How? He looked at the gauntlets again. Imagine what else they can do. Drakken stared at them and remembered the pull, the fluid motions. Maybe keeping them... His mind flashed to Hermes again, his cries of agony, the look in his eyes. He was trying to take them... No, he wasn't. He was trying to help. Really? Where was he when James and your so-called friends betrayed you. Drakken's eyes narrowed, but he felt his angrer flit away. He hadn't been there those months, he'd been home dealing with.. Drakken didn't remember. Pitiful excuse, he was supposed to be your friend.

"I didn't call him and tell him, he wouldn't have known," scoffed Drakken, he came back didn't he, why not then, "I was gone..."

Drakken expected more argument, more internal struggle about how he was defending himself and he'd not known his own strength when his thoughts changed again. Look what you did. You broke his wrist and all he did was try and help. You left him there for the police to find. Coward. Loser. Drakken felt his insides twist. No wonder you're alone. Look what happens to people who try and stand by you. Broken. Betrayed. Drakken shook his head, that wasn't true. Yes it is. It's why you're here all by yourself. Where is everyone? You're Mother? You're lies push her away, don't they. Drakken rubbed his head and cringed at the metal's hot touch as he turned to try and sleep. Where's Shego? Oh wait, she's gone too. Got sick of your idiocy and petty failures didn't she? Drakken glared, she betrayed him. He told her to leave. She was going anyways. She chose to work with Eddie over you, someone she'd blatantly told you she disliked. She must have hated you. Drakken felt his chest hurt, he wasn't going there. He was just tired. He'd pushed these thoughts away before and he would do it again, this was nothing new. He was just stressed, that's all. He focused on the void of darkness in the room. Willing his thoughts to sleep. It was silent and he could feel himself begin to drift off. How stupid not to realize the only reason she stuck around was because she was a hired hand. Did you think she was a friend? Did you think it was more? Pathetic. Drakken's head began an internal battle of reason and emotion and he shoved himself out of bed. There was one thing that always made this stop. Work.


Shego is with Henchmen


He fiddled with the tiny micro laser as focused as he could, this was taking forever and he felt his stomach twist from hunger. He ignored it again, he wanted this finished so he could pry the gemstones out of these fowl things, perhaps he'd be able to get them off. All he knew was that if he didn't think about them, didn't try and sleep, didn't try and think beyond his tasks... they didn't hurt, they didn't react. His lair was in ruins already, he didn't need to add to it. He felt a twinge in his shoulder and moved his left hand to message it, but froze, it was the reason it hurt in the first place. The image of his left hand trying to attack his right caused unease. He stood slowly, he was tired.. he was hungry. He looked at the flickering clock that still had yet to be destroyed. Had he really been up that long, when had he eaten last. What about your work. Drakken ignored the voice that wasn't his and made his way to the kitchen, it too was in ruins. There wasn't much left for food and Drakken had dismissed his henchman. He couldn't risk being around anyone until he found a way to get the gloves off. Don't you trust yourself... Drakken swallowed hard and looked at his twitching hand. You can trust us. We're here for you. Drakken glared now and grabbed a quick granola bar, he didn't have time for much else, he needed to focus. Needed to get these... his phone rang.

"Who..." Drakken had already told his Mother he was unavailable and no one else called him, Why would they want too?

Drakken felt his stomach twist. Who would indeed? He shook his head, he couldn't let them win. He grabbed the phone ready to answer when he saw Shego's number on the screen. She'd been calling for days looking at his missed call log. Hermes said she and Pandora had been double-crossed. His finger went to the answer button. Pathetic. She betrayed you, humiliated you in front of Possible. She stopped you from victory... and you're going to answer he call because... what... you're lonely. Drakken tightened his jaw. What if something happened... what if... Drakken's thoughts shifted and played back to Warmonga, Prison, and he felt a rush of anger. Why should he be concerned, she hadn't ever been concerned about him then. He remembered her voice on the beach when he'd been laying there injured. Her almost smile. He glared. She was only calling like she always did, she just needed someone to bail her out. Now you see. Now you understand. Others out there... they don't care... we do. We'll make you better. We'll help you. Drakken didn't have time to clear his thoughts or his anger, as his left hand crushed his phone. It's just us. His eyes shot open in terror. His hands had already destroyed the Hover Car's ability to fly... and now his means of contact was gone. A sense of dread overcame him. Just us now.


Nearly over Two Weeks with Gauntlets


Drakken looked at the table in front of him and took a deep breath. He needed these things off, even if it was a bit... extreme. He had his right hand, it seemed to be the only one he held some control over. Minus the voices and emotional turmoil it caused. At least it wasn't acting out, Drakken looked around his trashed lair as he tightened the restraints on his left hand. You don't have to do this... you can use this power. You can become powerful and feared. Drakken glared at his right hand and his left pulled at the bindings. It wasn't like he was getting rid of his hand, he was simply making it easier to get the gauntlet off. Broken bones is your answer? What if it doesn't work... you'll give it more power. Drakken froze at the thought, he looked at his array of tools and to his hand. He had to try something. If it didn't kill him eventually, the emotional strains would. He picked up one of his tools just as a knock came at the door. A wave of panic rushed over him at who would be here. He hoped none of the Henchman came... or his mother. She doesn't know where you are, remember. Drakken nodded, he told her he was going to be unreachable for a few months. Or longer. Drakken reluctantly unstrapped his hand, which kept twitching as he opened the door.

He half expected to tell someone to beat it, but he froze. Shego stood there as rain came down. Her smile faltered and he knew she was assessing him right now, he felt a wash of emotions run through him. Whether it was himself of his right hand, he wasn't about to spend time analyzing it. Relief and anger warred with each other as she stood there. Drakken could feel the rhythmic tapping of his hand beyond the door. He couldn't trust it, You can't trust her either. Drakken opened his mouth but Shego beat him to it, she held up slightly soggy boxes of Chinese food and her smile was weak, her voice sounded off for her.

"I'm over this," she said, Drakken felt his stomach knot, Invite her in, his hand tapped his finger's more rabidly and a wash of fear came over him.

"Please, go," said Drakken, and before she could say anything more, he slammed the door and locked it.

Drakken's mind swam with images of Shego, her laugh, her eyes, her snide comments, her betrayal. Make her pay. Drakken's eyes shot open as his hands lunged forward an to the security controls. His left hand was aiming, firing, he could see her dodge in the cameras. His right hand seemed to be listening to him for once, he didn't have time to analyze why it was, he just did his best to yank his hand off the control. Panic was rushing through him, his chest was pounding. The idea of hurting Shego, They say there helping but their now. The gauntlets will help... they always help. Drakken became desperate as he saw Shego hit the ground, had he hit her? He didn't know. He glanced around him and saw the scalpel he'd been eyeing, his right hand reacted for him. In one swift jab upwards he screamed in agony. The left hand let go and the bladed knife was yanked out with another sharp hit. He held his bleeding hand close to him as he stumbled his way to the door. Shego wasn't getting up. He yanked the door open and kept his hand clutched as he looked towards Shego. He squinted through the rain and made eye contract with her as she stood up. She began moving towards him and he felt his injured hand twitch. Look what she made you do... she hurt you again. Drakken took a labored breath, the voices weren't his, he knew that... but as it twitched again, he took a step back. I'm not going to let it hurt her... She betrayed you. She came back. She's just bored, she'll hurt you again. We can stop the pain.

"I'm sorry," and Drakken looked towards her, her face fallen, soaking wet, she meant it, "I get it, I deserved that. Just... I..."

No she doesn't. She needs to go away, we can make her go away...

"Leave Shego," said Drakken, he couldn't look at her, he wanted so badly to tell her what was going on, but he couldn't trust the gauntlets, he had no control, "Just, go, don't come back here."

"I said I was sorry," said Shego, she glared, but he could tell there was no anger, "The least you can go is talk to me like an adult. Your being childish. Dodging my calls... shooting lasers."

Childish? She called you childish... she who went on vacation and left you... who foiled your plans.

"I..." He cringed and tried to ignore the voices, but his chest hurt, and they twitched again, "I have nothing left to say. I'm sorry."

"Fine," he could barely hear her reply as he stepped back into the house.

He slammed his back against it and his right hand fumbled for the locks. What if she busted in, what if she surprised him again. He couldn't control his on actions, he didn't want her to be a victim of his instability. He looked around his trashed lair, his broken projects, the only sound was the howling storm and rain outside. The weather forecast muffled about the approaching hurricane winds. Alone. Everyone's better off without you. Stay alone. Failure. Solitude is best... isolation. No one to hurt, no one to hurt you. He looked out the window again, watching as Shego stumbled through the rain and sand towards the crappy Hover Car. She can't drive in this... Drakken looked at his hand and then towards his bedroom door. If she flies, she'll crash and get killed... if she stays... He looked at the gauntlets, one he could at least try and control. He yanked open the door and called out her name, but she didn't respond. A reverse image flew back to him of him walking away from her on the beach as she called out. He had been so buried in his thoughts he hadn't heard her, and he was certain the weather wasn't helping. He looked at his hand and ran towards her, his right grabbed hers. Before it could squeeze, he yanked it back behind him, forcing the others to squeeze his own wrist, he cringed at the pain, she turned to him, her wide green eyes locked on his.

"The weather is too dangerous... just... just stay until the storm let's up," said Drakken, the hands separated and he sprinted before they could act on any emotion that were being triggered by it.

"Drakken?" he heard her call out, but he was sprinting to his room, there he could lock himself away and she would be safe, For now.


More Khaos awaits →