Un-Thankful Part 4
Shego glanced at the scene before her, fighting the smirk on her face the entire time. Any given day the idea of dining with Possible and Stoppable would make her physically ill, but today...she was more interested in seeing the ridiculous chaos play out. She sat next to Drakken and looked over at him. She'd expected to see that agitated expression he'd had on his face the last half hour. She was taken aback by the smirk that had replaced it until she saw Ed grumbling through the doorway with Misty, Michelle right behind them and tossing her leather jacket aside.
Ed's expression froze in a look of confusion as he took in the two new dinner guests. She watched Drakken, who had forced a content smile on his face as if he was un-phased by their presence. She debated if she should follow his cue or push the envelope. He glanced at her as if checking to see if she was in fact following his lead. The smile, though forced to annoy Ed, did a series of things including annoy his cousin. Her stomach did that flip-thing like it had the other day. She suddenly found the silverware placement incorrect and busied herself to fix it.
What the hell was that!? Say something or he'll keep doing that.
"You look like an idiot," she whispered under her breath. "Kill the expression. You look constipated, not casual."
"Oh," was all she heard as she finished adjusting her plate.
"Seriously, what are THEY doing here?" asked Ed, he indicated to where Stoppable and Possible sat next to Nana Lois.
"Eating dinner," said Michelle, shooting a glare at Ed who sat down. "Really Eddie. You don't even get the chair for your wife? Edward—"
"She's not my wife...anymore...whatever, seriously Mom, you need to chill," snapped Ed as he aggressively pulled the chair out for Misty who had already been about to sit down and nearly fell.
Shego watched her shoot him a bitter look but sit down. Shego's amusement returned as she glanced around the dinner table. Estelle sat at one end of the table and Michelle the other. Estelle looked to be fighting a bemused smirk as she glanced at Ed. Whatever hostility the two shared about their respective sons and their social lives, it seemed Estelle was seemingly winning. Shego glanced between the two cousins.
I don't know about that per se...but at least Drakken's date isn't bought-
Shego felt her face go hot. Had she just called herself his date? That was way off-base. Her mind flashed back to the kitchen before the interruption. She suddenly wondered if he would have kissed back or if he would have panicked and shoved away from her like the night before. Drakken nudged her and she suddenly remembered she wasn't exactly alone to ponder those thoughts at the moment.
She'd missed a whole conversation and it seemed as everyone had switched spots or adjusted their seating. Ed now sat closer to his gram Beatrice, apparently deciding this angle would earn him less glares from his mother. Looking around the table, Shego felt content at her choice in seating. Drakken was on her left, next to his mother. His cousin Lydia sat to the right of her, then Lydia's friend Betty, then Misty, Ed, Ed's gram Beatrice, Michelle...and Micheal...yet again in his high-chair. Shego shook her head. Continuing around were Ed's Uncle Stew, then Stephan and Stephanie. Shego snorted. She was sure Possible didn't appreciate this arrangement as she sat next to Stephanie, who was overly close to her at the moment. Stoppable sat directly across from her, engaged in a conversation with Nana Lois who finished the strange rectangle by sitting on Estelle's left.
"So, that pet of yours, what is it?" inquired Nana Lois as said mole rat sat in between Stoppable and Possible on the table.
"Rufus isn't a pet, he's my friend," said Stoppable proudly.
"I'm having flashbacks to Drew and Stumpy," sighed Nana Lois, "but at least it's alive."
"Stumpy?" inquired Shego the same time as Stoppable and Possible.
"Whose Stumpy?" asked Shego, leaning on her hand to look at Drakken.
She was glad that the smile was completely gone from his face. It made focusing on enjoying the chaotic evening much easier. His eyes narrowed at her for a split second before glancing at his plate and deciding to adjust the scowl that was now aiming towards Possible and Stoppable. The flicker of emotions on his face made Shego want to laugh but also cringe at the internal turmoil he was clearly going through.
"Stumpy—" Drakken took a deep breath as he settled on annoyance, "was a joke Eddie started."
"You kidding? Stumpy is the stump out back where Cuz burned down the tree house. Seriously, he thought Stumpy was going to get revenge... So he brought it gifts," snarled Ed. "I couldn't have made that up if I wanted to, man, Seriously."
Shego snorted loudly and covered her face to hide the grin.
"Seriously, Shego," said Drakken, choosing to look at the lights.
"Worshiping and appeasing tree and nature deities has actually been going on for centuries," said Lydia calmly. Betty nodded.
"And Stumpy sounds like he could have been a real...dick," Betty shrugged.
"I did not worship..." Drakken glared at Ed. "You know what, I was nine and really into mythology at the time, so I'm not going to be condemned for trying to prevent more disasters."
"Cuz. You were twelve and you told me you thought Stumpy was moving closer to the house every night," said Ed with an evil grin. "Seriously, not gonna lie, for a month straight I kept sneaking over here and making drag marks in the ground."
"...You did what?" whispered Drakken, his eyes wide.
Shego still wanted to laugh at the mental image of the pre-teen Ed she'd seen in pictures doing such a task. Visualizing him sneaking into the yard in the middle of the night and making drag marks behind a stump, probably moving things around even, all to terrorize his older cousin...was something Shego could get behind, normally. It wasn't so much the look on Drakken's face that made her see things differently—he looked like he'd been betrayed and was on the fence about crying or stabbing Ed with his fork—no, it was the sudden visual of a burning tree house and wanting to prevent it from happening again, or worse. Suddenly Drakken's logic didn't seem so far-fetched.
"Really, Eddie," said Estelle angrily, "was that necessary at the time?"
"I was nine. It was absolutely necessary, seriously," snorted Ed, raising his hand to Misty for a high-five. "Come on, Babe."
"My parents once forgot me camping and I had to live in the woods for three days," Misty glared. "I'm in support of how terrifying trees can seem to a child."
"Agreed," Stoppable began, his expression gauny. "Trees can be unforgiving creatures. My Mom forced me to stay at a horrible camp for an entire summer and stopped taking my calls. If the polluted lake, the evil monkey mascot, and the vicious campers weren't enough, the trees and forest at night...were a nightmare. Once Bobo locked me out and I got lost in the forest... No one looked for me till dinner."
Shego watched Possible grab his hand in understanding. Though judging by her expression, there seemed to be something else about that story Stoppable was leaving out. Shego let out a low whistle at the silence around the table at the dark turn it had taken. Save for Stephanie and Stephan, who seemed un-phased by this.
"She abandoned you at a hellish summer camp?" asked Nana Lois. "What did your father do?"
"I didn't really mention it to him, he was always working and was too busy to take a call...even if I had remembered his work number," said Stoppable, who as he looked at Drakken suddenly remembered the ruse.
"Why didn't you just send a letter? If it was all summer..." Drakken seemed to have forgotten the ruse until Shego kicked his foot. "What...oh... Why not...say something after.. to me.. when I saw you… after?"
"It was done, the trauma was already there... Luckily the camp got closed down...until the whole trap... Ow," said Stoppable; Possible had kicked him. "Kim, why did you kick me? Oh...never mind. We we're talking about Rufus, right?"
"It's a naked mole rat, right?" muttered Stephanie as she leaned over Possible to get close to the pink companion of Stoppable. "How old is he?"
"Ohm, he's five," stated Stoppable as he moved the pink thing away from Stephanie. Rightfully so, thought Shego.
"Oh pity he's so young. My brother and I could have offered our services," remarked Stephanie, gesturing to her taxidermy hat. "Family discount applied."
"We're good, thanks," said Possible, who moved her chair closer to the table as if to give distance between Stoppable and Stephanie.
"Seriously, Steph, can you not be creepy for one evening? Seriously," scoffed Ed, "not everyone is obsessed with death."
"I appreciate healthy death obsession," said Lydia casually. "Right Betty?"
"It's the root of our very friendship, Lyd," snickered Betty. The two giggled.
"Thank you. Also, it's Stephanie, Edward," said Stephan with narrowed dark eyes and agitated grimace.
"It's Ed, Steve," said Ed with a mocking gesture.
"Eddie, can you pass the gravy," sighed Drakken. Ed did so.
"He just called you Eddie," glared Stephanie.
"He's family," retorted Ed, nearly tossing the gravy at Drakken.
"What are we?" hissed the twins.
"Creepy?" suggested Stoppable. Ed nodded.
"Creepy," agreed Ed.
"Eddie, stop picking on your cousins," sighed Michelle. "They're...different, and take after your Aunt Esther. May she rest in peace."
"She's not resting, she's literally another taxidermy project in the window of their shop. Seriously," muttered Ed under his breath.
"What?" choked Shego on her drink, she looked at Drakken for validation.
"I'm hoping it's a joke... I didn't even know she died," muttered Drakken back to her.
"My wife isn't dead... She just chooses to pretend to be," said Stew as he put more turkey on his plate. "She likes to make herself into the display animals in our shop window."
"That's just sick and wrong," whispered Stoppable.
"Michelle's family is disturbing," said Nana Lois calmly. "I blame Beatrice. I grew up with her. Barely a screw in the head."
"Mother," was all Estelle said as she put more potatoes on Shego's plate.
"Ohm, I'm—" Shego didn't get to finish as Drakken smugly added gravy. "Excuse you."
"You're not leaving me alone at this table," he whispered as he went back to eating his stuffing.
"That's all you're going to say to her?" snapped Michelle at Estelle. "Your mother has always trash talked me and mine, and you never say anything about it, Estelle."
"It's not like she says anything that isn't true, Michelle," sighed Estelle, her eyes narrowing behind her green-tinted glasses.
"I'm sorry, why is Red's blond friend getting a family discount?" inquired Ed, cutting the ladies off.
He put his fork down. Either he had just registered Stephanie's statement or he was trying to defuse the growing hostility. Shego seriously doubted it was the latter of the two. She leaned forward to see Ed's expression as he waited for the answer. She heard Drakken take a deep inhale but she already knew his expressions. There was a second where she could have said something snide about how they let Ed dine at the table; the side-kick was at least clean. Instead she pushed the buttons of the person on her left if only to push her own thoughts about the previous conversation further from her head.
"I don't know Dr. D, why is Stoppable here again?" asked Shego smugly. She could picture his anger and forced smile without even looking. "Ed wasn't here for the big reveal."
"Stoppable?" asked Nana Lois. Stoppable grinned nervously.
"My...ohm," Stoppable began.
"His mother's last name," said Drakken quickly.
"Yes, it was a whole 'trying to appease her' thing, right?" asked Stoppable looking back at Drakken.
"Sure," said Drakken with a nod, putting far too much cranberry sauce on his plate.
"Ohm, that doesn't answer my question," groaned Ed. "Are we related to Red's side-kick?"
"Boyfriend," sighed Kim.
"Apparently he's your cousin's son," said Michelle with a forced grin on her face. "The family is full of secrets tonight. More so than usual."
"What?" laughed Ed loudly. "Seriously...Drew...a parent. Oh that's as believable as his show— Ow Green!"
"I'm sorry, I was aiming to toss the fork back on the turkey plate," replied Shego, putting on her best apologetic face.
"The fork is still on the plate," said Betty with a raised brow. Lydia's leg moved. "Ow! What was...oh... It's that thing where we try to help turn an awkward situation by blindly accepting it."
"That was the plan, yes," whispered Lydia. Shego sympathized with the young girl's expression.
"Well we can't all be aspiring villains, can we," muttered Estelle. Shego saw Drakken's eyes shoot open.
"Nah, some of us actually are," said Ed.
His eyes were still narrowed at Shego as he rubbed his arm where the fork had hit. The conversation should have ended there and they could have moved on with this awkward dinner, made a few more cracks about funny stories, poked a few buttons...and still kept up the everyday ruse. However, the look of agitation on Ed's face from Shego not doing so a step before...meant it wasn't over.
"Right, Green," finished Ed, and Shego suddenly lost all amusement at the evening as she glanced at Estelle and then to Ed.
"Excuse me?" asked Shego, trying her best to keep from glaring back at him. "What's that statement supposed to mean?"
"I think Eddie is referring to your moonlighting after office hours," said Michelle, not even looking up from her plate as she ate.
"Shego?" asked Estelle, and Shego noticed all eyes were on her.
"Ohm, I don't know what you are implying Mrs. Lipsky," said Shego. Her chest was pounding as she tried to figure out her angle.
"I'm talking about the last time you worked with my son," said Michelle, dropping her fork and leaning on her hands.
Suddenly, Michelle wasn't being subtle by pretending she wasn't trying to get some form of revenge on Shego. They may have decided not to out Drakken, but she was fair game tonight. Shego momentarily wondered what she'd told Estelle about the whole cop car situation and sending Ed back to prison after his misogynistic blunder. Had she told Estelle the truth and she'd thought she was just trying to stir up drama? Had she made it seem like she'd been dating Ed? Shego felt her stomach churn at the idea. If she knew what tales had been woven she could keep up, but she was at a loss about where to go with it. She glanced at Drakken, who seemed to be thinking about the same thing, and then to Estelle. She'd expected shocked eyes on herself, but her gaze was narrowed eyes at Michelle.
"I think Shego has more self-respect then to work with Eddie," said Estelle sharply. Michelle's eyes narrowed.
"You know what Estelle, this is getting old. Be as blind as you want to Drew...but Shego's not some sweet assistant. She helped steal a missile and kicked my son into a cop car when he didn't go with her plan ideas. She's just a hired hand and wannabe Villain Ho—" Shego stood and shot a blast past Michelle. "Hit a nerve?"
"Before you finish that statement, maybe you need to get an update on what you're talking about," growled Shego. She knew what Michelle was about to say, and indeed a nerve had been struck.
Shego suddenly felt Drakken stand beside her. She couldn't tell if he was trying to defuse her anger or stand beside her. She felt a swirl of anger towards Michelle about to turn against him. However as she saw his clenched fist out of the corner of her eye she felt it resolve back to Michelle, knowing he was standing in her defense.
"Chill it Shego. Mom, watch it." Ed looked at Drakken as Shego's hands flared green again. "Green and I are over that, right? I was just riffing."
"You leave Shego out of whatever convoluted drama you have going on," glared Estelle. "You're still bitter that she wouldn't go out with a hoodlum like Eddie."
"Hoodlum? As if that's the issue with that," snapped Michelle. She was still standing, her fists clenched. "She kicked my son into a cop car when they were supposed to be working together."
"In Shego's defense, that's not the worst she could have done. I've seen her roundhouse kick a person into the ocean..." said Stoppable calmly. Possible nudged him. "What, she has?"
"I want to hear more about that," said Betty with a wide grin. Lydia nodded and put her camera down.
"It involved a demon pirate," muttered Stoppable, he was nudged again by Possible.
"Ron—" hissed Possible, though she was focused on the potential fight at hand.
"Been there," said Lydia as she nodded and ate her cranberry sauce.
"You know what. Enlighten me. What's the update?" asked Michelle with crossed arms, "Why did you run off and back-stab my son?"
"If you must know, because his epic plan was to steal a missile and go cruising across country. Real winner on the brains there, Mrs. Lipsky," snapped Shego. Her anger faded to concern at Estelle's expression out of the corner of her eye.
"You stole a missile with Eddie? Drew did you know this?" asked Estelle in shock.
Shego glanced at the look on Estelle's face and her stomach knotted. She'd been so wound up in her words she'd momentarily forgotten where they were. She wasn't defending herself against some random person. It was Motor Ed's Mom and they were at Drakken's family Thanksgiving dinner. Shego glanced around the table at the expressions and then finally back to Drakken. He seemed to have remembered the same thing as he looked at his mother and then to Shego and around the room. Shego could not fault any words he might say, even if they weren't in her favor.
"Ohm…well..." he looked at Shego and let out a defeated sigh. "Yes, I did."
"Drew Lipsky, what is going on?" said Estelle, disappointment on her face. Shego took a step back if only to avoid the expression.
"Why don't we finally hear the truth?" said Michelle as she crossed her arms.
"Allow me, Mrs. Lipsky," sighed Possible as she stood. Shego's hands turned towards her. "Or by all means...ruin another family dinner."
*"...I was trying to help make that pot roast, I'm sorry my powers burned it," snapped Shego, recalling a suppressed memory from months ago at the Possible house.
"Oh, why not. Mother the truth is...I'm not...I don't have a radio show—" Drakken was cut off by Possible.
"Shego was working with us," said Possible. Stoppable nodded along. "They're not running a radio show. I'm not his patient."
"Yeah. Shego helps us out from time to time. The show is just a cover up for helping stop criminals. Like Motor Ed. Often they go undercover as villains to do so," said Stoppable, with a nervous grin.
Shego and Drakken both turned to look at each other. It was clear to Shego neither had expected this sudden shift in the table, especially the whispers going around. Shego was impressed by the lie the two had spun and with such confidence that even Motor Ed looked at she and Drakken in shock.
"So what I saw on that train—" Estelle began.
"Training exercise," said Shego and Drakken at the same time.
"This is a lot to take in," said Estelle with wide eyes.
"It's definitely a pungent smell for sure," scoffed Michelle, but at Ed's expression, sat back down.
"Wait. You're Kim Possible," exclaimed Nana Lois. Everyone turned to her. "I've seen you on the news."
"I'm on there a bit, yes," said Possible. She looked uncomfortable.
"So just to clarify... Drew isn't a radio doctor and Shego isn't his assistant. They work as crime stoppers...which includes Edward as someone who is frequently foiled," said Stephanie. There was a moment of silence.
"Yes," said Misty after no one responded. Ed shrugged and stabbed his plate.
"All right, good we have that all squared up then," said Stephanie, "Can someone pass the cranberry sauce...wait, is it all gone?"
"My grandson stops criminals...and I have a great-grandson," said Nana Lois. "How wonderful."
"I don't..." sighed Estelle, who looked done with the whole evening. "Drew can you just tell her?"
"Ohm," Drakken looked at Stoppable who shrugged, "He is..."
Nana Lois's smile faded and she looked at Stoppable, who looked very uncomfortable.
"Of course...my...son," breathed Drakken as he tossed down his napkin and mirrored Possible's expression.
"I also help save the world and stop crime," said Stoppable. Nana Lois was beaming.
"Oh, you must be so proud Drew," grinned Nana Lois. Shego looked at Drakken.
"Sure," muttered Drakken.
He handed his plate across the table to Stephanie who was eyeing all the missing cranberry sauce on his plate. Shego sat back down along with Possible. She looked towards Estelle who seemed to be smiling at her. She still didn't know a year later just how much Estelle "Mama Lipsky" knew about her son and his life...but whichever lies she chose to believe were probably for the best at the time. She saw her glance at Ed and shake her head at Shego. Shego gave a half smirk and shook her head in return as if stating 'no idea.' Whether it was for Shego actually working with Ed or at Ed's insane idea, she didn't know and she didn't care. Shego looked at Drakken and saw the nod of gratitude towards Possible. She followed his eyes to her shrug and eye-roll towards the table as if saying, "No big."
"So, Edward. You said you are over Shego and Drew betraying you?" asked Stew with a raised brow at his sister Michelle before coming back to his nephew.
"Seriously, after the whole resort thing and being attacked by wannabe fem-bots, yeah...kind of over it," shrugged Ed, clearly trying to end this argument before another one started. "You know...family and all that, seriously."
"Seriously?" asked Stew.
"Seriously," stated Drakken and Ed sharply.
"Wait…fem-bots? Like the ones at the beach house with the crazy doctor?" asked Misty quickly. "That's what you meant when you asked if Eddie had told me?"
"Yes," said Shego. Drakken raised a brow. "We had a chat on the stairs before I went by you in the kitchen..."
Shego trailed off and looked away from him as her thoughts glossed over the kitchen kiss again.
"She knows...you know about...?" Ed looked from Misty to Shego, then glared at Drakken. "Cuz, are you serious? How many people know that nutcase is back...that I just found out about? This is a family matter, seriously."
"Now is not the time," said Drakken quickly, looking around. "Later."
"What are you all talking about?" asked Michelle as she looked between all of them.
"Nothing," stated Drakken and Ed. Ed glared at Drakken and Shego.
"Wait...beach house. Shego," Possible looked around, "is that the event my mom was at? Your friend broke her leg or something escaping some mad scientist guy?"
"Are you kidding me... Possible's mom knows?" said Ed, his eyes narrowed. "All right, seriously Cuz, now I'm not over it."
"Didn't know this was a touchy subject," said Misty under her breath. "Eddie...maybe we should go."
"Good idea," said Ed as he stood up and threw down his napkin.
"Wait, so then when you crashed in here...it wasn't because of Ron, it was because you were looking for something Eddie took? Are you on a mission, right now?" asked Betty, and everyone turned to look at Stoppable and Possible.
"KP, I completely forgot, we are," said Stoppable as he put down his spoon of potatoes.
"I didn't," said Possible as she pulled up her Kimmunicator. "Surprised you two didn't ditch TERA somewhere before you came back. It shows it's still in the house."
"That would have been...a good idea," muttered Misty.
"Yeah, well...why didn't you?" scoffed Ed. Misty looked annoyed and then shocked.
"You...don't have it?" asked Misty in a low whisper.
"I thought you had it?" he groaned and slapped his hand to his face. "Are you seriously...great!"
"Hey Kim... It shows it never left the house," said Stoppable, pointing on the device.
"Eddie, did you bring something dangerous into this house?" snapped Estelle.
"Apart from these guns on my arms...not today Aunt Estelle," said Ed with a shrug. "Seriously it's only dangerous if it's used in an engine."
"TERA is a vehicle accessory that produces clean air when attached to an exhaust pipe. It stands for Toxicity Exhaust Routing Attribute," Possible calmly stated. "It's a thin black circle with a vent system attached. No bigger than a baseball."
"Seriously Red. In the right hands, sure. But it can create a toxic poison strong enough to render a person or people unconscious... Long enough to...oh say…do some damage," shrugged Ed. He looked at Michelle. "I mean, I'm not going to but it's nice to add to my collection."
"Yeah well this one's not exactly collector's edition," said Possible, "So you don't know where it is?"
"What are we looking for?" Gram Beatrice suddenly spoke. Clearly she'd just woken up.
"Nothing, Gram," said Ed, his eyes narrowed at Possible.
"A black flat circular-thing with a vent," sighed Stephanie. She grabbed Possible's device and showed a picture.
"Oh that... I found that laying on the ground in the hallway after the kids dropped by," said Gram Beatrice, squinting her eyes. "I put it away."
"Where?" asked Possible, Stoppable, Misty, and Ed at the same time.
"Ohm… Oh dear. I don't remember," said Gram Beatrice, chewing at her nail. "Perhaps Micheal will remember—"
"Mrs. Lipsky, may we have permission to find the device," asked Possible quickly. "It would really help us out."
"I..." Estelle looked at Michelle and then around the room, "You know...I'm going to just let all of you figure this out."
"Seriously?" asked Michelle and Ed.
"Honestly, I don't care who finds whatever that stolen thing is. So long as it's out of my house," huffed Estelle. "Eddie should have learned after last year to not bring such things to family dinners."
"In my defense I didn't steal anything last year. Seriously Aunt Estelle. My date did... I mean that's how blonde babe and I met up before this. Seriously. Both trying to steal the same thing..." shrugged Ed.
"It was what I was hired to steal... No idea why," shrugged Misty.
"I thought you two were here together?" said Gram Beatrice.
"You missed a lot of lies and questions," said Stew. He looked at his nephew and Misty. "Eddie. You're here solo aren't you."
"...Okay," said Ed with an agitated look. "If Red and blondie are looking, so are we."
"His name is Ron," said Lydia. "Although you called me Goth Chick earlier so I am to assume you're not the name type."
"It's Lacey," Ed rolled his eyes.
"Lydia," stated Drakken quickly. Shego raised a brow.
"...Seriously, how about a family scavenger hunt then. It would help me...ohm…help Aunt Estelle to get TERA out of here and you know...family and all, right? Seriously help a member out," said Ed with a wide grin.
"A family scavenger hunt to find the device you stole and lost," nodded Stephan. He looked at his sister and then to Stoppable and Possible. "We're on Ron's side. We'll help him and Kim find it."
"Really?" grinned Stoppable. Possible smiled.
"Are you kidding me, seriously? You're my family," glared Ed.
"So's Ron," said the twins. Stoppable gave a nervous grin.
"First off... Seriously. You know what even if he is Drew's son…that sounded weird," grimaced Ed. "Even if he is. Technically man, you two aren't related to him."
"Yeah, but we like him more," said Stephanie.
"He also has a naked mole rat," stated Stephan.
"You called us creepy," glared Stephanie.
"You are and so did he," scoffed Misty. Ed nodded.
"You know instead of arguing allegiances and fighting. Why don't we actually find the thing?" sighed Shego as she stood.
"All right, a scavenger hunt for a possibly dangerous and toxic hidden item. These family things are a hoot," said Betty as everyone got up. "Way better than the ones your parents throw, Lydia."
"That's mostly because people talk to us here," nodded Lydia. Shego raised a brow at Drakken. He shrugged.
Drakken slammed the drawer in the downstairs bathroom shut. He honestly hadn't even planned on looking, but Shego had started and he'd simply followed. He couldn't remember why he had continued after she'd gone off upstairs. He lifted up the empty tissue box and rolled his eyes as he put it down. There was no telling where Gram Beatrice might have put the thing and he honestly didn't care. He glared around the pastel pink bathroom and sighed. Originally he'd started in the kitchen but after he'd closed the stove and opened up the island his head went elsewhere.
Shego kissed me?
He wanted to take it at face value and erase her comment. But she could have said it had been the punch and boredom just to deflect the awkward moment. He tried thinking about the night prior and her hand on his shoulder pulling him forward. But then there was her statement this morning about being over it. He wanted to smile, thinking perhaps he'd read it all wrong. Maybe Shego's feelings had shifted over the last few months...
There was that small bubble he'd had when she'd kissed him in the photo-booth—those fluttering feelings that both confused and delighted him. As suddenly as the bubble seemed to grow, it deflated as his thoughts took over again. The way he'd originally viewed everything came back. He was so often reading too much into actions, words, touches... The kiss may have thrown him...but there was another possibility. He couldn't put it past Shego to have done it to mess with him or poke fun at the other night. There was no telling what she would have said or done if he'd leaned in or if they hadn't been interrupted.
The only way to know was to talk to her about it. He'd hoped this searching would have given them time, but she seemed focused on actually finding the thing. His stomach twisted at the idea of bringing it up himself. It opened up a window to getting an answer... But it could be a door to a world of hurt and rejection.
He looked at his reflection in the long bathroom mirror and fought his own mental battle, weighing all the options, answers, actions, and everything in between...
Once. One time. He would ask her when he got the chance, and whatever her answer was, that was it. He wasn't going to try to see things that weren't there... He was going to ask her outright about the kiss and whatever answer she gave him… that would be it. He wouldn't wonder, inquire, or over-think anymore from that point on.
The sooner someone finds this stupid device the sooner I can actually get an answer.
Drakken rubbed his temples as if trying to physically push his personal thoughts aside. He needed to focus on where an elderly woman in a walker would have shoved a random unknown device. He also needed to figure out what he would do with it if he found it. He wasn't about to take it and leave, even though he could find a use for it. No, at the moment things were working in his favor this holiday. Slightly, but still.
Eddie is family…and he is annoyed at me... He also tried to out Shego...
He slammed the bathroom light off as if to send a message to focus to his own head. He needed to find the thing first or have someone else find it. He didn't honestly care who found it so long as it was quick and he could get out of there. Drakken knew the longer he put off talking to Shego the more likely he'd just avoid it all together. He walked into the kitchen to see Possible opening drawers.
"I already checked the kitchen," stated Drakken. Possible stood up and raised a brow. "You can look again if you want. Just thought I'd save you time."
"No offense but I'm not too keen to trust you at your word, Drakken," said Possible as she opened another drawer.
"No offense taken. I wouldn't trust me either," he nodded.
He stood there for a few minutes as Possible looked through cabinets. Internal struggles and arguments seemed to be this evening's theme for him. He could just keep walking and find somewhere else to search. The pantry perhaps. However, the fact she'd covered for him and Shego just to salvage his family dinner... He felt like he needed to say something. The idea of actually thanking Possible made his stomach turn. Though doing so would free up his conscience about if he decided to give the device to Eddie to appease his cousin.
"Uhg," groaned Drakken, "I suppose you want a thank you for helping Shego and I out?"
"It's appreciated, but I wouldn't want you to strain your evil to say something nice," smirked Possible, but she paused and waited.
"Thank you," he responded with great strain.
"You are welcome," she smiled. "That took a lot of courage for you."
"Not as much as it should have," he shrugged and headed towards the pantry.
"You're going to have to tell your family the truth eventually," said Possible with a sigh. "Because they're going to wonder why Ron never comes to any future family gatherings."
"I will cross that bridge when I come to it," glared Drakken. "Thanks for the pointers, but I have ways of getting around that topic."
"Of having a 'son' that never reappears?" Possible made air quotes. "That only works in bad sitcoms and soap operas. I know you're not above making robots and syntho-creeps. But I'd hoped you'd learned from those situations. Granted Eric was way more convincing than the Bebes."
"Thank you for your insight," snapped Drakken with more venom than usual. It startled even him. "It's none of your concern."
"Whoa... Sorry if I hit a nerve," Possible's expression shifted through an array of feelings before settling on calm. "But you're right. That's not my sitch... Finding TERA is."
Possible left the kitchen as Drakken glared after her. He stormed to the pantry before she was even fully out of sight. His chest felt very tight at her words. He hadn't given much thought to the future plans of escaping the lie Stoppable had woven and he'd chosen not to correct when he had the chance. Those were concerns for the future, he could write bad letters and cards if need be... He'd avoided his family for over a decade. Playing Stoppable off as being the same aloof and busy person he was could work.
Yes, those thoughts were the first ones darting. The last was the Bebes and Eric. He'd given up on his robot ladies. Their AI system was too advanced and dangerous. They were perfectly flawed and he didn't need a reminder of that in itself. But then Eric. Eric's only flaw had been Drakken's failure at re-enforcing his synthetic skin so it wasn't realistic and susceptible to harm.
It was always one minor thing... One minor flaw that hurt him. His mind hovered far too long on replaying what he could have done. Then like all the other failures that caused his mind to turn on him, he shoved them back in his head where they belonged. Where they needed to be.
"One migraine at a time today, please," he grumbled to himself.
"Cousin Drew?"
Drakken nearly screamed at the sudden voice behind him in the small space. He spun around and smacked his head on a shelf as he saw Lydia standing barely a foot behind him. His chest was tight and pounding for a whole other reason now.
"Fu-dge," choked out Drakken as he rubbed his head. "Uhg, Lydia, what is it?"
"Are you okay?" she asked with a raised brow. "That looked like it hurt."
"It did... Did you need something?" he sighed.
"I found the TERA thing," shrugged Lydia as she held out the black item in question. "It was sitting on the mantel. I watched everyone walk past it for ten minutes. Sad really."
"You did?" asked Drakken as he held it. "Why are you giving it to me?"
"You're the only one who remembered my name," shrugged Lydia as she left the pantry.
"Huh," Drakken looked at the device and smirked.
He made his way through the living room and passed Stoppable and Betty. He'd grab his and Shego's things and put them in the hover car for a quick getaway. Then they wouldn't have to stick around and deal with whatever took place between his cousin and Possible.
"Drakken, you are a genius," he chuckled to himself as he sprinted up the staircase.
Shego watched the star-painted fan spin in circles on the ceiling. She had fully intended on finding that...whatever they had called it...and giving it to Misty and Ed just to get them and Team Possible out of their hair. Instead, she found herself laying in Drakken's room thinking. Overthinking was more like it. She'd only darted in here because she didn't want to deal with Michelle who was looking in Nana Lois's room at the moment.
She could hear Drakken's family members chatting and moving about beyond the door. She'd had the presence of mind to lock the door when she got in there. The moment she'd closed the door and looked at the bed, her mind fell back on what happened in the kitchen earlier. She knew she would be the one to have to bring it up or he'd pretend nothing happened. The real question was...should she?
As she turned her head to look at the pillow next to her head...she didn't know the answer. What had she been aiming at when she'd kissed him? She normally didn't do that spur of the moment kind of thing, so why had she? All night she had lain awake trying to piece her emotions and reactions together from Drakken rejecting her attempt to kiss him the night prior. So...she'd decided to kiss him because he couldn't back away this time?
Drakken would overreact like normal if she brought it up. What would she even tell him? She didn't even know completely what she was going for. She could tell him it was supposed to be a joke or that she wanted to bug him. He'd believe it. She groaned into the pillow in frustration. She couldn't go and confuse the idiot if she was still confused herself. This was new territory even for her, and Drakken would be no help in sorting that out until she did on her own.
Yeah, way to go. Finally get comfortable, smooth out all the bumps, become Partners in Crime...and then throw it all in a blender!
She slid off the bed and smoothed out her dress. She needed to get into gear if she wanted to get out of here and away from the distractions she was using as a crutch to avoid her own emotional sorting. She slid out of the doorway and jumped as Stoppable darted by with Lydia's friend Betty. Clearly they had turned this scavenger hunt into some sort of challenge between the two of them.
"Sorry, Shego," laughed Stoppable as the two sprinted down the stairs.
"...Yeah that's still weird," said Shego as she watched them disappear out of view.
I don't know how Drakken's getting out of this family lie.
She was not going to spend every holiday with Stoppable and Possible just because Drakken didn't nip the lie in the bud when he had the chance. She shook her head imagining Christmas with them...again. As amusing as Drakken's forced smile could be, she would be the one to deal with it after. No doubt he was going to be whining until Christmas because of this evening. She couldn't blame him either; his family was already chaotic and odd.
Aren't all families?
Shego smirked as she thought about it. She recalled some vague memories of family gatherings... Her smirk fell. She could barely recall faces... Just voices... A few words... She shook her head and turned to head downstairs. Instead her eyes fell back to the wall Drakken had pulled her away from yesterday when they'd first arrived that was decorated with pictures and photographs. There weren't nearly as many as at Michelle's home last Christmas.
It was less of a variant for sure because every photo on the wall held a young Drakken somewhere in it. There was a middle school science fair where he'd made something that looked like a metal dog creature. There was one with him and Ed's cousin, Denise, dressed in formal. Shego snorted. It was the cotillion his mother had told him he'd learned to dance for. He looked so uncomfortable and awkward with his crooked thick glasses and slicked hair. Denise was standing very close to him and looked far more into it.
The ones with Drakken and Ed in them were her favorites. It was more evident than ever that the two seemed to have been raised more like brothers than most cousins. She glanced over a picture of a fair-skinned older woman with dark eyes. Her skin was so white it looked like glass. Ed and Drakken stood on either side of her, grinning away. Judging by her arm pulling Drakken closer than Ed...he was her favorite. Her features looked more along the Lipsky line than like Estelle's. A grandmother perhaps?
Shego's hand was just on the railing when she back-stepped completely to grab a photo off the wall. "When did someone take this?" asked Shego to herself as she looked at it.
It was from last Christmas. She doubted either of them had even known someone had taken a picture. At least at the time. It was when she and Estelle had been walking back with Drakken after he'd wandered off during their argument. They were a few feet from the driveway in the photograph and Estelle was beaming. Though there was snow falling, it did little to obscure them. Something in the pit of her stomach twisted as she looked at her and Drakken. Her arm was tightly wrapped around his as they walked, the two of them in some conversation she couldn't recall.
A loud thump from above her stopped her musing further at the picture. She saw the attic door was ajar and heard things being moved around. She rolled her eyes, wondering what idiot thought an elderly woman in a walker would have ventured to the attic. As she hung the photo back up, she heard familiar voices whispering away.
"Did you find the box?" It was Misty as more shifting was apparent.
"Yeah, I think so. Seriously. I can't believe neither of us thought to look in here," came Ed's voice as Shego walked up the stairs of the attic.
"I still don't understand why this Taxley is so concerning," responded Misty as Shego walked through the hall of discarded boxes.
"What are you two doing up here?" asked Shego.
"Shit! You scared the hell out of me," jumped Ed. His eyes narrowed. "That's none of your concern, Green."
"Well it kind of is," said Misty with a shrug. "Didn't Cleopatra say Taxley was after her?"
"Seriously Misty. You never know with them. Always spinning tales," scoffed Ed. "Women, seriously."
"What is all this?" asked Shego, choosing to ignore and not blast Ed.
"This stuff is all... Well it's family stuff," said Ed. He looked apprehensive.
"Wait...is this...?" Shego grabbed a leather book from the box Ed was looking at. "Are these The Company ledgers?"
"So, Taxley worked with your family?" asked Misty, clearly unaware of what exactly they were looking at.
"Sure... Wait...Drew told you?" asked Ed with a shocked look. "Seriously. What is really going on between you two?"
"Nothing," scoffed Shego. Her stomach twisted for a second before she opened the journal. "I figured it out. He just confirmed. I used to spend hours reading about this stuff... All hearsay and theories. This is the real thing?"
"I mean...I guess," shrugged Ed. "I was thinking that Botox might've been in there... You know, location-wise. Seriously you know. My Pop used to tell me they had mad tech, seriously. Apart from the creepy stuff like experimental fem-bot wannabes and that stuff Cleopatra's crazy friend uses in her candies—"
"What did you just say?" Shego's eyes shot open. "You mean Sweets?"
"...Super annoying blonde that Drew dated... She uses something like Botox did as a sedative or something. Seriously, I only know this because Cleo was bitching about how Blondie got all pissed when she broke a bottle. I guess it's hard to make and she needs it for the Hench Co line," shrugged Ed as he grabbed another journal. "Hey, you think if we can find an old lair there might be some of that stuff there? Maybe Cleo will chill if we replace Sweets's stash."
"Doubtful," said Misty. Ed raised a brow at her.
Shego didn't pay attention as the two talked, her mind flying elsewhere. While she knew Drakken had been under the influence of Sweets's stuff for a time, she'd never asked him about what it had actually done to him or what it felt like. Somehow, Carmella had gotten ahold of and replicated that awful tonic of Dr. Botox's. The same one Dollmaker used on his victims...and her.
It wasn't surprising that a few things would be in circulation as most old lairs had been re-furbished and resold from the darker days of villainy. She felt her veins run cold at the thought that that stuff was not only being replicated but repurposed. And there was very real possibility that the stuff wasn't exactly old. Taxley had been in hiding for decades and had only come out to try to lure she or her siblings to figure out a way to use their DNA to stop aging...among other things she was sure.
That meant Taxley had to still have connections and be making money somehow. There was the villain black market of course, but there might be an even deeper hidden one that she wasn't even aware of. The idea of an old network of the long-forgotten villains she'd spent hours in Go Tower reading about was striking some sort of curious chord in her chest. But the ledger seemed to be cryptic and in code... She doubted anything in the box would even be of use.
Her curiosity faded as she opened the ledger and looked at the writing. Pages were ripped out in various places... Glancing in the box again her stomach began to twist. This had been The Company. Suddenly that image of she and Drakken last Christmas rewound to them sitting in the cold outside, and Drakken's expression and discomfort as he'd left to end the conversation about his father... About this part of his family history. She dropped the book like it had burned her and suddenly the sound came back.
"Are you kidding me? Seriously? Cleo's the one who paid you to steal TERA?" barked Ed. "Because she's mad? She dumped me!"
"I thought you said it wasn't like that, Eddie." They all looked to see that Drakken had joined them in the attic.
"You also pretty much called her a hussy from what I gathered," finished Misty. Ed looked shocked.
"Whoa… So did not," scoffed Ed.
"No, you kind of did. Shego made a direct jab at her flirtatious nature in the villain world...and you agreed. You might as well have called her a trollop," nodded Drakken. "What are you all doing up here?"
"Nothing," said Shego as she stepped as far away from the box as she could.
"Well I was kind of hoping to find something besides useless notes in this box. Seriously. Maybe some old lairs for some sick retro equipment to trick my rides out with," shrugged Ed as he closed up the box. "Unfortunately...nothing but gibberish."
"You... You were going through my father's things..." Drakken's face was blank as he looked at Ed.
Shego tried to gauge anything Drakken may be thinking as Ed ranted about whatever ideas he had about making a profit on this or that. She felt a wave of nausea hit her, hoping he didn't see her as riffling through his father's things too. While she had momentarily thought about it, she hadn't. The range of emotions his face didn't display was a stark contrast to the emotions his eyes did.
"I mean, seriously, what's the big deal? All they're doing is collecting—"
Ed didn't get to finish his statement as Drakken lunged at him, both toppling over a pile of boxes. Shego glanced at a wide-eyed Misty before they both moved to try and defuse the cousins. Drakken's leg kicked a stack of boxes that Misty tripped over. Shego dodged the two that Ed's arm knocked over as he slapped Drakken. Drakken in return did the same and got one-up by yanking Ed's hair.
"Are you serious!? Ow! Low blow Cuz! Seriously. You don't touch—ow! The mane!" Ed put Drakken in a headlock as he continued yanking the former's hair. "Will you—OW!"
"You had no business— Gahg!" Before Shego could aid in yanking Ed's arm back from around Drakken's neck, Drakken bit him.
"Ow! What the fu—" Drakken kicked Ed in the gut from where he was stuck below him. "I swear... I am...seriously...gonna... kill you!"
"You can blame yourself for that hit, Eddie. You had no right digging in my things!" snapped Drakken as he dodged Ed.
"First off. It's OUR family. You don't get to claim all that stuff," responded Ed as he lunged and hit a box.
"Then why didn't Uncle Bart take it? No. Instead he left all that garbage for my mother. Your family didn't want it. So it's mine. Not OURS," hissed Drakken.
"If it's garbage, then I'll take it." Ed threw a box, and Drakken hit him with a lamp in the face. "Son of a—"
"Okay...that was a bit more than I intended," grimaced Drakken as Ed's lip bled. Ed growled. "We can talk about this."
"All right, I think that's enough," said Shego, trying to be diplomatic as she helped Misty up.
"Not until Blue Boy turns purple!" Ed lunged at Drakken, who was stuck in a pile of shifting boxes as he tried to run.
Shego and Misty stood by this time as the two cousins attempted to fight each other. Rather, Drakken trying to escape the box avalanche he had made while Ed tried to avoid being taken out by it and reach his older cousin. Shego took a deep breath before looking at Misty. Misty was watching with a saddened expression as she shook her head.
"Can you believe we almost married those two? I mean, I did, but...wow," sighed Misty as Ed screamed like a girl when Drakken grabbed his hair again.
"Yeah...what?" asked Shego with wide eyes.
"In Vegas. The chapel only had one opening and we took it... You were really upset. So you two wandered off to an all-you-can-eat shrimp bar and plotted a robbery to make you feel better." Misty raised a brow. "Regardless...glad I dodged that bullet."
"I'm sorry, I almost married Drakken and am just being informed about this now? While this is happening?" asked Shego, waving her hand as the two men fought in the boxes.
"You had the videos... I thought you knew?" asked Misty in confusion. Then she smirked. "I mean, they had to be great."
"Drakken. Did you know we almost got married in Vegas?" snapped Shego as said man kicked his cousin in the face.
"Thank god we didn't. Uhg. How tacky would that have been?" Drakken glared over a box before being yanked out of view.
"Hey! I got married in Vegas," snapped Ed, Drakken's hand in his face.
"Thank you for making my point," sneered Drakken.
"I bet Green's relieved. You wouldn't even know what to do with a woman if she ain't made of bolts, seriously," snarled Ed.
"Clearly you don't know what to do with a woman. As your ex-wife is standing here working for the woman who dumped you. A woman by the way who in your own sentiment...isn't very selective...dumped...you," smirked Drakken. His face fell at Ed's wide eyes. "Ohm...that... That was..."
"Low blow Drew. Seriously," glared Ed.
Shego readied her plasma blast in case it took an ugly turn, but she didn't have to. A series of screams came from downstairs, followed by a lot of commotion and a smoke alarm. The four looked at each other before moving quickly. Ed dove out of the box pile and sprinted down the stairs after Misty. Shego darted to help Drakken up. He swatted her hand away and got up on his own. Shego took a step back, his narrowed eyes falling on her before he began limping down the stairs. She put her own rising anger aside and followed after him. Clearly there was something more chaotic happening below.
Drakken managed to hit the landing as Possible held out a fire extinguisher and put out a flame in the dining room. Everyone was gathered in the living room watching the scene play out in front of them. Possible sighed and placed the used canister down and turned to look at all of them. Her eyes fixed on Stoppable who was clung to Betty against the fireplace. Betty looked both uncomfortable and nervous as she scanned the room for her dark-haired companion near Estelle.
"What happened?" asked Estelle. "What could have possibly caught fire in the dining room?"
"There was a candle..." muttered Betty.
"Micheal... Micheal...the candle... Fwoosh! Fire!" Stoppable made motions as Possible pulled him off Betty.
"Micheal started the fire?" asked Stew with a raised brow.
"It wouldn't be the first time," said Stephanie and Stephan in unison.
"What did I tell you two about blaming your pyromaniac tendencies on him?" replied Stew.
"I ohm...think he hit his head when we ran out," said Betty, patting Stoppable's head and then moving away from him quickly.
"I know what I saw," muttered Stoppable as he clung to Possible.
"It's okay. Micheal is fine," called Gram Beatrice from the dining room.
"God forbid," Nana Lois shook her head. "Ron, dear, are you okay?"
"He'll be fine," sighed Drakken, "but we should be heading out. It's late and I should get him home to his mother."
"We can't leave..." Possible began.
Drakken looked at his cousin and glared. He wasn't about to give him that TERA contraption now. He made eye contact with Possible and darted his eyes to outside. He half expected her to give him a disbelieving look. Instead she nodded and hid a faint smile. Drakken felt queasy at the idea of helping Possible with anything. But it was outweighed by the fact that she'd assisted him at dinner, had just stopped his mother's house from burning down, and that he was currently angry with Ed. It was timing really.
"Without saying proper goodbyes and letting Motor Ed know that TERA's long gone," smirked Possible towards Ed. "Found it in the closet and had Wade drone-carry it out before the fire broke out. But as promised, I'm turning the other cheek to calling the authorities. Just this once."
"Pfft, yeah, whatever," scoffed Ed as he flopped on the couch. "There's always next week, seriously."
"Eddie. Could you not warn your enemy when you're planning another caper?" groaned Michelle.
"Geesh Ma. I didn't tell her it was going to be Tuesday. Chill. Seriously," said Ed.
Drakken glanced at his mother who shared a questioning and disappointing eye exchange with Michelle. Drakken put his head into focus. He needed to get out of here while there was a chance. Put this evening behind him, avoid his family for another decade or so, and get as far away from that attic as possible. He glared at Shego for a second. He wanted to believe she wasn't snooping around up there with his cousin...but he'd leave that mental yo-yo for later.
"Well Mother. On that note, we're off," said Drakken, his forced grin returning. "I'm sorry to say, I don't think we'll be making it to Christmas... Plenty of work with...the things we do."
"Solid description," nodded Shego with a small smirk.
"But Micheal...and the fire," whispered Stoppable.
Drakken looked around the room for a moment and sighed. He put his arm around Stoppable and directed him out of the house and through the pleasantries and farewells. The hover car was a welcome sight as they made it out the door. Drakken stepped as far away from Stoppable as he could before leaping into his vehicle. He sat there waiting as no one else got in.
"Are we seriously riding with them?" asked Shego. "When did you get our stuff?"
"After I got that TERA thing," stated Drakken, nodding at the house. "We're giving them a ride because everyone is watching."
"Wait...you got the TERA?" asked Shego as she jumped in. "But...wait, so... Did you two just conspire against Motor Ed?"
Drakken put the hover car in gear as the two teens climbed in the back and he hit the gas to take him as far and as fast from his childhood home as he could.
"It appears so," said Kim, equally as shocked.
"Then there were flames... Wait, what? Drakken and Kim conspired...just now...? Hey the Tara thing—"
"TERA," responded Drakken and Possible.
"But we're not keeping it?" asked Shego. "You actually gave it them?"
"A bit of gratitude for Possible helping us out this evening you might say," shrugged Drakken. "I have no use for it."
"It was no big... Families can be stressful and no one should be outed on the holiday," smiled Possible. "Besides, they have all year to figure that out on their own."
"Drakken has paid henchman that prevent that," said Stoppable.
"We do?" asked Shego with wide eyes. Drakken froze.
"Did... Did I not tell you about them?" Drakken felt suddenly bold. "You probably wouldn't have listened anyways."
"I wasn't snooping," snapped Shego. Drakken leaned away at her expression. "I mean, it's not like you tell me anything anyways."
"Before this escalates: I just wanted to finish saying, I really appreciate this," said Possible, holding TERA and attempting to redirect the argument that was beginning.
"Well. I am very thankful for all you've done today," sighed Drakken as he looked at the lake they were flying over.
"Also thanks for the ride," said Stoppable with a wide grin.
"Yeah...about that," sighed Drakken.
In one fluid motion Drakken flipped the hover car and grinned as he heard the splash of the teens hitting the water below. He leaned over the edge as he flipped it right-side up to see Possible and Stoppable gasping as they swam to the surface. Possible took a deep breath and went under again to retrieve the TERA device most likely. His nausea from helping Possible disappeared in that one fluid moment.
"That's not really thankful...that's the opposite," snapped Stoppable as his mole rat ran on his head for safety. "This is un-thankful."
"Oh I'm thankful... Just not THAT thankful," laughed Drakken.
He hit the gas and sped off. A perfect end to a strange evening. He looked over at Shego to see the smirk as he didn't hear her laughter at his antics. He blinked as she wasn't there. He spun around and hoped that he hadn't done what he feared he did. He saw Stoppable and Possible swimming to the shore...where a sopping-wet Shego stood, her hands aglow. His moment of joy and amusement vanished.
"This isn't going to go over well," muttered Drakken to himself.
That Went Swimmingly -
