AN: I JUST WANT TO SEND ALL MY LOVE TO ALL THE READERS AND REVIEWERS! BOTH ANON AND LINKED!
I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME AND LOVE FOR RTD!
EDIT:: An old version of the chapter's first four paragraphs and dialogue got uploaded and was corrected.
Interruptions
The flight home had been long and silent, even before Shego had managed to doze off for a few hours... only woken up when Drakken too had drifted off and the autopilot had given a warning indicator of low land. They'd both been startled awake and had avoided a crash. It had been enough to knock any need for sleep out of Shego's mind as they finally reached the lair. She didn't know it it was the small rise of adrenaline from the near-crash or residual from the evening's chaos... perhaps even the rambling chatter of Drakken as they'd gotten into the elevator of the parking garage... but Shego was sure the images of their evening playing out as she'd tried to listen had been the main reason for the aggressive kiss she had given Drakken.
"I was-" What Drakken had been about to say died as their lips met.
Shego's mind was focused on what had been interrupted, especially with the knowledge it was just she and Drakken in their own residence now. There would, hopefully, be nothing catastrophic to interrupt them if the evening got picked up now in the early morning hours. Despite it feeling like an equal tango of affection, something felt slightly off.
Why is he hesitating?
It wasn't just where his hands were placed now, chastely on her waist... but his kissing felt almost appeasing unlike earlier. Shego pulled back and raised her brow as she heard the door open to the main floor. He grinned, but there was a nervousness to it as he found her hand and they walked into the hallway of their living area. He looked as if he wanted to say something and Shego wondered how much of the evening was simply adrenaline induced.
"What's with the face?" asked Shego as she leaned against the hallway wall.
"What face?" was Drakken's response as he tried to school his expression, "This is just my everyday face."
Shego stared at him ready to argue when he kissed her again.
It was better than the moments prior, and she was deciding she'd caught him off-guard when an attempt to pull him closer was met with resistance.
"What gives?" asked Shego in annoyance, "Did something happen between the Villain's Inn and here I don't know about."
"No," said Drakken with a confused look.
Shego squinted and tried to read his eyes. They were nervous and kept looking around her face ever so slightly. The groan that escaped her lips was one of frustration.
"What could you have possibly overthought about now?" sighed Shego, "We were asleep half the flight."
He looked slightly flustered now before he sighed.
"I didn't overthink anything..." he began. Shego crossed her arms and he let out a defeated sigh, "Shego... I'm worried—Mother?"
"What about your mother?" asked Shego.
Drakken didn't respond and simply pulled away from her and headed to the kitchen. She rolled her eyes in annoyance at him not finishing what he had been saying, but as she followed him she realized that it wasn't what he'd been about to say. On the small island was a brightly colored purse and bag, the large yellow and blue colors were familiar to the typical palette Estelle often wore. Shego's eyes looked out towards the plants outside as they shifted around as if disturbed, clearly if Estelle was in the lair, the flowers were aware of it.
"How did she get in?" asked Shego as she looked back down the hall.
"Its Mother, I don't even know how she finds me," hissed Drakken, "Mother!"
"I'll check the lab," sighed Shego, "You check upstairs."
"What if she went out by the flowers," Drakken looked suddenly alarmed.
"Just go look upstairs," was Shego's response as she headed back to the elevator.
Drakken hurried down the stairs, muttering under his breath as he finished searching the upstairs. He moved quickly to the living room and turned on the camera monitor extension to their personal television. Knowing his mother she could be anywhere, wandering storage room after storage room. The security camera showed that it was already in use and only sent fragmented parts of the video. The frustrated growl under his breath was a reminder he'd yet to order another proper modem for the security use... he turned it off, assuming the other in-use was Shego in the lab. As he walked back to the kitchen he noticed the purse was gone.
"Mother?" called Drakken.
"Oh Drewbie, you're home," her voice came from behind him.
"Gah! Mother!" he spun around and fought the whine in his voice, "You know how that bothers me."
"It wouldn't if you used those listening ears," countered Estelle as she patted his cheek, "Where were you two all night. I've been here for hours and even found the guest room- Oh that's a fancy jacket."
Drakken looked at himself and sighed.
"It's a lab coat, Mother," he sighed, "How did you get in here?"
"Lab-coat. Jacket," she dismissed, "Remember how you'd get all out of shape when I used to say Duster and you just called it a fancy robe. Where's my hug?"
Drakken didn't get much of a choice as his mother pulled him into a strong hug.
"I was seven," Drakken rolled his eyes before his mother finally let go, "Seriously Mother, not that I'm not glad to see you... why are you here?"
"I came to visit you, since like always you just seem too busy to return my calls," Estelle gave him a side-eye, "So when Shego gave me your new address-"
"Shego," whispered Drakken under his breath as he looked towards the hallway.
"I thought I'd pay you a visit since you can't be bothered to visit me," finished Estelle, "So were you out at some fancy awards?"
"We went to a Halloween party," sighed Drakken. He looked outside, "How did you get past the flowers?"
"Oh, I see... so you can go to parties but not call me?" she narrowed her eyes before giving a dramatic sigh, "Why, I didn't know I was such an inconvenience."
"No! Mother... its... well it wasn't really that planned and I am busy... and, "Drakken watched the flowers outside swat away a few birds, "Seriously Mother, how did you get past the flowers?"
"You're certainly saying the word 'seriously' a lot... have you been hanging with your cousin Eddie?" asked Estelle.
"I am not saying- Nighn... he was at the party," Drakken had stopped himself from saying it again, "Flowers?"
"What is your obsession with flowers all of a sudden?" asked Estelle. She seemed to stop whatever she'd been about to say before gesturing outside, "Those ones need to be taught some manners. So rude and handsy. I think they learned after a solid lecture, but if you're going to have dangerous angry flowers, you should be careful and train them."
"They're- yes Mother," sighed Drakken. He heard the elevator moving, "So, Shego gave you the address?"
"Of course," said Estelle with a smile before she put her hands on her hips, "Drew Lipsky, did you not want me to have your address?"
Drakken waved his hands dismissively.
"No Mother, of course not. I love it when you visit," he hastened, "A phone call would be nice so we can be here... that's all."
"Why bother?" sniffed Estelle, "The only one who takes my calls around here is Shego... and she doesn't seem to mind when I drop in."
"That's because she uses information gathered to harass me," muttered Drakken, "Listen, Mother... calling ahead means we can plan for your visit."
"Oh there's no need to plan," she continued, "If your too busy for your only loving Mother-"
"Mother," Drakken huffed but smiled, "Mother... how long is this visit?"
"Why, do you want me to leave?" asked Estelle.
"Never."
Drakken heard Shego say behind him. His shoulder's slumped and before he could backtrack or argue this, he was pushed aside.
"Shego!" beamed Estelle as Drakken regained his footing, "You look lovely."
"Thank you, Mama Lipsky," was Shego's response. Drakken looked at the smile on Shego's face as Estelle hugged her, "This is a surprise."
"Well, when you were telling me about your birthday and that you two had no plans... I took it as an invite," smiled Estelle, "I know the second is a few days away yet... but I figured we could fix those lack of plans then. Besides I need to make sure Drewbie actually listens to me about the family cabin."
"What about the family cabin?" asked Drakken. Estelle waved him off.
"We can talk about that over breakfast," she smiled, "Have you two eaten yet?"
"No-" they were both cut off.
"Oh good... I think we should all change- Do you know how long the flight was here... not to mention the drive..." Estelle trailed off talking Shego's ear off.
The wide-eyed looked had not left Shego's face since Estelle had mentioned plans. Which she'd yet to disclose to him, but it was a welcomed reward. He felt slightly smug that Shego had caused her own problem and she couldn't blame it on him, any subscriptions, or letting it slip about their whereabouts. He watched as Shego and Estelle began walking off down the hall, a clear look of concern on Shego's face as they locked eyes... he simply waved and let out a deep sigh as they went out of view.
He ran his hand over his face as he leaned against the island, fully awake and going through a list in his head. There were several things he needed to work on... as well as figure out a key time to have a conversation with Shego. The distraction had been mildly welcome as he had no idea what had been about to fall out of his mouth before he saw his mother's bag. A conversation that would be on hold knowing how nosy his mother was. He wasn't exactly keen to have such an intimate conversation with Shego in case it took a turn... he wasn't about to risk his mother eavesdropping.
No. Not risking that.
He pushed off the island and began the trek upstairs to change out of his clothes.
Looks like sleep will have to wait.
Somewhere between breakfast and later afternoon, Shego may have barely paid attention to the conversations at hand. She was heavily distracted and listening to Drakken whine about why his mother was shoving responsibility on cleaning out a dusty old cabin... was starting to make her debate sneaking off for a nap. Several times she could have done so, but she'd stayed. She zoned back from her thoughts to see Estelle had wandered off somewhere out of the lab. She looked at Drakken, who was glaring at his desk and grumbling. Shego rolled her eyes.
"Not really becoming to pout, you know," she teased. Drakken rolled his eyes and she snorted, "Oh come on, it's just cleaning out an old cabin. Make the henchmen do it."
"Not an option," sighed Drakken as he relaxed, "There are too many things that I don't need the henchmen touching... my grandmother's cabin-"
"Would this be the grandmother on your father's side?" asked Shego as she sat on the edge of the desk.
"Yes it would be," he sat back in his chair.
"Ah, so worried there might be some family history laying around?" she watched him nod, "The alternative is you could let Motor Ed clean it-"
"Absolutely not!" snapped Drakken.
"Well then stop pouting and just tell your Mom you'll do it," shrugged Shego. Drakken glared at her before his shoulder's slumped, "Done pouting?"
"Brooding now," he stated. His posture slumped but tense.
"Unless there's some underlining issue with cleaning this place out... I think you need a nap," she smirked. Drakken repeated her in a silent mocking tone.
It was Shego's turn to roll her eyes before sliding off the desk and aggressively grabbing his shoulders to pull him back against the chair. The fact he made little change to his posture or demeanor meant there was probably a mixture of the two reasons. She dug her fingers along his shoulder and fought a snicker as his body began to relax in her hands. Her own arms began to relax with the rhythmic motion and it suddenly felt like a surreal moment as the sleepy fog attempted to return and the previous night played through her mind like a very disturbing dream. People turning into fish monsters like on the island, the young man in the cast, the old sweets, all swirled to a delirious adrenaline-fueled moment interrupted.
She wasn't exactly not used to strange and unusual chaos... it was normal honestly. It was the series of events that transpired and the emotions finding their way to her all at once. The wave of exhaustion hit her and she was self-aware of the fact the overwhelming feeling she was having was mostly due to that. Her hands slid for her arms to wrap around Drakken who seemed to have started to doze off.
"Care to join me for a nap?" she stifled a yawn.
She felt him tense again.
"I'm too tired for a nap," was a sputtered answer.
Shego pulled away from him and raised a brow as she attempted to make eye contact.
"Fine. You can sleep longer," she rolled her eyes.
"What?" asked Drakken. Shego leaned around to look at him more directly, "I mean... My mother is here and she might assume-"
"We shared a room at your mother's house," she raised a brow, "You're worried about what your mother thinks now that we're in a relationship?"
She watched his expression shift several times as he thought this over. Normally she would press this or even make a well-placed snarky rebuttal, but she was too tired herself to reply. She waved her hand with a yawn as she headed towards the elevator platform.
"If you figure out what's going on in that head of yours... I'll be catching some shut-eye," she trailed off, "So I won't be able to keep your mother occupied."
"So... you're taking a nap?" came Drakken's voice as she hit the elevator button. She turned around to look at him.
"Did you not listen to- I'm getting some sleep... I strongly suggest you do too," scoffed Shego as she stepped into the elevator.
She shook her head as the doors closed. Debating on forcing Drakken to get some rest if he was that out of it. The thought drifted away as the doors opened again as she reached the living area level. If he was tired, he would eventually fall asleep at his desk if he chose to be illogical. Shego took two steps and nearly walked right into Estelle who looked to have come from outside.
"I am amazed at how you two get mail here... that poor delivery man made it all the way down here only to be chased off by those flowers you two have," said Estelle as she held a few items.
"Eh, they get compensated," yawned Shego, "I'm going to lay down. If Dra-Drew is too preoccupied. Lucius and Mitchell are rearranging one of the storage rooms-"
"Oh good! Mitchell still owes me from that poker game and I did pack the blanket I knitted for Lucius," grinned Estelle as she headed quickly to the guest room.
Shego would have inquired further about how often she spoke to their henchmen... but her bed was calling her.
The clattering of metal on heavy flooring jolted Drakken awake. He sat up frantically from where he'd fallen asleep at his desk... day three he might add. He looked to where he'd knocked down a prototype he'd been working on fell back against his chair with a slump. He knew he should have gone to his room, but he had been trying to preoccupy his time in an attempt at avoiding both his mother and the temptation of sleep heavy snuggles with Shego... mainly the last one was things getting close to what had started at the Inn. His mind began to wander to that memory pleasantly... he shook his head as he began imagining more than he should.
He picked up the fallen prototype and looked at the notes he'd written... and his new note key-card. It had dawned on him somewhere around one in the morning that he hadn't created a new key list to his notes. A running thing he'd given Shego over the years... just in case something went wrong and she or someone needed to decipher his ever-changing coded work. Her constant annoyance at being given them had always been followed with a lecture of who was going to break in and steal his work... he smirked at this now... looking at all the projects he had taken on and was given access to... because now he didn't even have to use the time twelve-year-old Ed had stolen his notes and modified Drakken's old bike... Drakken's brow furrowed.
He did improve the design...
With a stretch, he began working on the project at hand. This was yet another prototype of his own if he was being honest... while the ozone patch he had tinkered with, he'd been on a small kick of nature planning... he knew it was driven by the flowers... or really the success in his plans with the flowers. Not that it was wholly intentional, but when he wasn't working on projects he'd been offered... its where his mind kept going. His eyes glanced at the list of projects he'd scratched down from Shego's computer calendar...
Shego.
His thoughts switched back to the very real fact he was avoiding her.
Not her per say...
No, he was back on how to word the conversation, replaying the idea of just ignoring the conversation and hope for the best... which was smacked down with a very long list of failures and disappointments. He looked at the date on the wall calendar his mother had hung up yesterday. Even without the note of Shego's birthday, he'd put on a computer alarm... but the plans he'd been debating over for it were hitting a wall... his mother being one of the dampers... and the other his own personal hang up.
It's not here yet anyway-
Drakken's eyes shot open and he hastily pushed his chair towards the computer. His hand reached for the power button which made it... only because the chair had flipped and he'd half fallen on it before hitting the ground.
"Ow." He whined to himself as he lay on the floor.
He shot up as Shego's voice cut through the lab.
"Do you just wait for me not to be around to do dumb stuff?" she scoffed. Drakken looked to see her standing on the platform as the elevator closed behind her, "Know that if you get taken out by an office chair, the headlines will not be kind."
"Shego- I don't wait..." he grumbled as he got up, "And I'm perfectly alright."
Shego paused halfway down the stairs to smirk and tilt her head.
He could hear the comment without her saying it.
"Really-"
He cut her off.
"Mock my sanity and mentality all you want," grumbled Drakken. He smirked back at her, "You're the one dating me."
"Touché," she snorted and continued down the stairs, "So Dr. Graceful... are you living in the lab now?"
Drakken looked at his mess and the food containers and water jugs.
"No," he said as he casually hid a toothbrush, "Did you need something?"
Shego slowed her pace before she reached his work desk and leaned her hip against it.
"Am I unwelcome?" her brows narrowed.
"I didn't say that!" Drakken hurried before clearing his throat, "I just assumed you were off galivanting with my mother... that's all."
"It's four in the morning," said Shego.
"Oh... is it?" asked Drakken as he moved a paper away from a small clock, "What are you doing up?"
Drakken watched as Shego didn't make eye contact for a second and a small flush reached her cheeks.
"I couldn't sleep and I knew you were down here goofing off," she finally settled on.
Drakken tried to read her posture. It was awkward and she was playing with her hair.
"So... you didn't set an alarm to come down here before mother woke up?" he guessed. He felt his chest flutter as her flush deepened and she shrugged, "Aw-"
"Oh zip it," she rolled her eyes. Her posture quickly shifted again, "Since you've been held up in here and avoiding most meals for three days. Is there a reason for this?"
Drakken sat back in his chair.
"Ohm" he began, "A reason? No."
Shego walked over to him, scanning his face which only made him shift slightly under her gaze. She gave a defeated sigh that he couldn't place.
"I'm socially drained from that party thing," she said calmly, "What even happened?"
"Fish people Shego... Fish people," nodded Drakken. Choosing to move with this topic choice, "Which is very unusual... That seemed more an Amy thing rather than Carmella."
"It wasn't her," sighed Shego, "According to Adrena they all ended up at her place to question her... apparently she loved the idea, but not her."
"It's a good thing we didn't join them then," Drakken grumbled, "I don't think I ever want to see that Centi-weenie again."
"What?" chuckled Shego.
"Dauchpede... whatever cuddle monster she's manifested," Drakken shrugged.
"It's been three days and I still haven't processed that day... I've avoided processing that nightmare fuel you've mentioned... I'll keep doing that," Shego looked at his desk and groaned, "Are you seriously making another deciphering code?"
"It's been a year Shego, I think its due," he moved his chair back to the desk, "They're essential if something goes wrong-"
"I told you... I will forge documents and no one will question it," Shego gestured to the lair. She gave him a playful smirk.
"Regardless of your nefarious plans... it's also so no one can steal my work," said Drakken, "Especially now... last thing I need is to hand in one of these projects and some bumbling buffoon claim it."
"Fine," sighed Shego, "I'll put it with the rest of them."
Drakken watched her gesture to the filing cabinet.
"Shego! You filed them... if someone looks under key-card-" She cut him off.
"It's not," she grinned, "I have my own secret code for the key-card of yours."
Drakken opened his mouth to inquire, but by her look... he knew it was under something insulting or annoying. He glared.
"Mock it all you want, but one day it will come in handy," he muttered.
"Like the robotic you we had in case you met an untimely end and the world needed you," smirked Shego. Drakken glared, "You didn't think I read that did you?"
"It was merely an idea- It's really angersome that you will read those notes but not these," he gestured to his hasty decipher notes.
"The word you are looking for is either bothersome or irksome," said Shego as she moved towards him.
"You know what I mean," he whined, "At least mock me on-"
He was cut off as Shego kissed him. There was a momentary second when he kissed her back before pulling away with mixed emotions about this distraction.
"Are you trying to distract from this conversation?" he asked.
"Of coarse," smirked Shego, "How about more kissy face... less yelly face."
"Yelly face..." Drakken trailed off as Shego slid onto his lap.
Just zip it!
Drakken chose to listen to his own advice as his arm wrapped around Shego while his other found her hip as she kissed him. He found it easy to focus on the moment he was in versus the thoughts that normally intruded. At least he had until he began thinking about that fact, suddenly he was pulled out of the moment he was enjoying. He then became hyper-aware of the scent of Shego's hair, the time, the projects in front of them, Shego's hand had slid down the back of his coat and under his shirt, if he should bother with the deciphering codes, that Shego's kissing was causing a strong reaction to the rest of his body, and finally... to the very reason he'd been avoiding this very situation with Shego.
"Shego," he pulled away reluctantly, "I... ohm... I."
He sputtered and no sound came out.
"Are you okay?" asked Shego, her hand running through his hair not helping his focus.
"There is something..." he trailed off.
Spit it out!
Drakken couldn't figure out why he was so hesitant to say something so simple... but he felt his stomach flipping for a whole other reason than what had been transpiring seconds prior.
"Drakken, what's up?" she sat up straighter, "You not talking is starting to concern me?"
Drakken sighed.
"If I-"
The sound of the elevator opening cut him off.
"Oh good you're both up!" came his mother as she stepped on the platform, "I was hoping- Oh my... am I interrupting something."
Drakken looked at Shego still straddling his lap. The two made eye contact and Shego, red-faced, leapt off his lap in embarrassment.
"Ahem... no," Drakken said quickly.
"Oh... shame," he swore he heard his mother mutter.
"You were saying," said Shego.
"Oh... I heard one of the boys say there's a farmer's market," said Estelle rather softly, "Thought we could go get fresh food for breakfast... maybe Drew can get out of the lab?"
"Sure Mother," sighed Drakken, "We'll meet you upstairs."
Drakken watched his mother slowly recede back into the elevator and waited for the sound of it going upward. Drakken looked at Shego and they wordlessly stared at each other for a few seconds.
"While my mother is here-" he was cut off.
"Yeah, no, got it," hastened Shego. She was clearly more affected than he had been, "We should... get dressed for this farmer's market."
Drakken nodded and the two-headed towards the elevator. It was an awkward start to the morning, to say the least.
MORE Awkwardness AWAITS!
