Disclaimer: All Kim Possible characters are the copyright of Walt Disney Corporation. I'm just borrowing them to write up a story with no intention of making any money. This is for fun. All other characters in my stories, that Disney doesn't own, are mine. :)
A snappy salute and high-five goes to campy for again doing excellent proofreading/betaing for me! You rock on! (big grin)
Big thanks go to all who read and left reviews for Chapter 15: Zaratan, continental-line, Kitsune6, Bubbahotek, AtomicFire, ZK Chromedragozoid, Mr. Average, ri100014, htrhrt, milordo-z 2.0, Goinghome, and Leon.
And thanks go to all who read Chapter 15. :)
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A Bond of Honor
Chapter 16 – Knowing You Better
By JuPMod (aka JPMod)
It was his domain, and he always felt like it was since he first started the job. It had its downsides, like dealing with rude customers and other problems, but the upsides were that he had a good salary and run of the place. After all, being assistant manager of the Middleton Bueno Nacho branch was something one shouldn't sneeze at. Running a fast-food restaurant was not easy regardless what people think.
For Ned, as he surveyed the place from behind the counter, he couldn't help but feel proud. He was not just the assistant manager of any BN branch, but the branch, which served a loyal customer who invented the naco. Not only that but also this branch was known for being the favorite hangout of Team Possible.
Ned didn't quite at first think much about Kim and Ron as heroes. They did work, for a time, for the restaurant, and he had thought they weren't very bright. Yet after that incident when that green-clad woman nearly destroyed the place, he pretty much changed his views regarding Kim and Ron, for he saw them as the heroes they were.
However as brown eyes looked over at the table his two favorite customers usual sat at, he didn't see the fiery red hair of Possible nor the blond locks of Stoppable, but the raven hair of Kim's best friend and the brown hair of Ron's best friend. Ned knew whom they were and thought they pretty much had the rights to sit at that booth, for after all, he couldn't think of anyone else sitting in Kim and Ron's booth other than Kim, Ron, and Ron's Japanese girlfriend.
Over in the booth in question, the two individuals were conversing as they ate. The boy in the wheelchair chuckled upon seeing how the African-American girl ate her nachos.
"You sure love Bueno Nacho as much as Ron does, Monique," Felix Renton grinned after witnessing the girl gulp down food like a steam shovel.
The teenage girl chuckled in return. "Ron does know his food, Felix, and he is one smart cookie to know good food when he tastes it. I will not be surprised if that boy opens his own restaurant. After tasting his cooking last year, when he took over the cafeteria, I'm willing to eat at his place any time."
Felix smirked. "I don't know whether Ron's folks would mind you going over to his house often for dinner."
Monique reached over to gently slap his arm prompting him to snicker. "I was talking about his restaurant, you video gaming fool!" she softly laughed before settling back onto her seat. "I know only two girls have the rights to enter Ron's home now."
"Yeah," Felix nodded in agreement. "Kim and Yori." He took a bite out of his burrito. "I'm glad Ron's folks like Yori after she attended dinner with them two days ago."
"Who wouldn't like that girl?" Monique amusedly scoffed before sipping her soda.
An ironic smirk curled up on Felix's face. "Well, there is Bonnie."
Face turning sour, Monique dismissed the name with a wave. "I don't know why Bon-Bon has such an attitude. I understand from Kim that she has a miserable family life, but that's no excuse to have a stick up your ass."
The brown-haired boy couldn't argue with that, yet he gave an apologetic grin for what he was going to say next. "There is also Kim. She's not really trustful of Yori."
His words deflated Monique with a simple sigh. "Who does Kim girl think she's fooling? She acts like she can get along with Yori for Ron's sake, but I wonder how much longer it will be before Mt. Saint Kim will blow its top."
Finishing his burrito, Felix shrugged. "Can't tell for sure. We do know Ron and Yori seem to not notice it."
Rolling her dark eyes, Monique shook her head before raising a finger for each point she made. "Because Ron trusts Kim, thinking she will be accepting of Yori. Yori trusts Ron, thus she accepts his word that Kim would okay with their relationship. In the end, both lovebirds are blind to Kim's feelings, not to mention Kim girl herself is blind to her own feelings," she finished with four raised fingers.
Felix frowned. "Boy, talk about a hodgepodge of a triangle."
"You got it in one, Zombie Boy," Monique concurred, "especially now that Yori is a member of Kim's crime-fighting team."
After drinking the last of his soda, the wheel-chaired young man spoke out his thoughts. "Does this mean Kim might follow Ron and Yori everywhere they go?"
The question made Monique a bit fearful for her best friend. "I hope not. She should be smart enough not to become a raving stalker." The African-American beauty shuddered a bit from the mental image of a Kim acting loony and crazy as she tailed Ron and Yori on a date.
Giving a teasing grin, Felix opted to ease the tension in the air. "Well, Kim wouldn't be silly to do such a thing at Smarty Mart unless she wants to burn the place down to the ground."
Monique chuckled, making Felix feel better to help lift her sour mood over the Kim's jealousy of Yori. "I certainly think Smarty Mart should be burn down to the ground. Their clothing is not Club Banana," she smirked.
Felix snorted a laugh as he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah," he said as he waved his hand in dismissal to Monique's words. "Same clothing except for the label. I agree with the Ron-man. Why pay more for a fashion label?"
Shaking her head slightly with a tiny smirk, Monique pointed to the boy. "You and Ron just do not know anything regarding fashion."
Picking up his tray, Felix rolled his wheelchair toward the nearest trashcan with Monique right behind him. "Maybe. Least we saved money though in the clothing compared to you and Kim."
"Huh-uh," Monique devilishly grinned. "You saved that money to buy video games."
"Ouch," the wheel-chaired teen chuckled as he dumped his trash and returned the serving tray. His dark-skinned companion likewise chuckled, and after dumping her trash and returning the tray, she followed him out of the fast-food place.
Looking around as vehicles and pedestrians moved about, Monique placed a hand on Felix's shoulder. "So, you think Kim girl will not likely burn down Smarty Mart given we know she's there now with Ron and Yori?"
Felix produced a tiny shrug and sly grin. "Well, it's likely she would burn down Smarty Mart, but given her rep, she wouldn't dare do so even if she does not like that store."
"My thoughts exactly, Zombie Boy," Monique agreed, matching his expression.
Letting go of his shoulder, the African-American girl began to walk away. "I'll see you in school tomorrow, Felix."
"Monique, wait!" Felix called out, causing her to stop and turned around to face him. "How about I give you a lift home?"
Monique blinked in surprise, and also she was quite flattered. "Give me a lift, Zombie Boy?" Her lips quirked into a smirk. "I didn't see you come here in a car. How you suppose to give a girl a lift home then?"
Instead of saying words, Felix grinned knowingly and just activated his chair's hover ability. She immediately knew the answer.
She grinned, for she had heard and seen about the cyber-robotics in Felix's chair. It was one of the coolest gadgets the entire student body of Middleton High couldn't stop talking about. Next to Kim's own gadgets, many thought Felix could make a good hero himself if he could stop bad guys with those robotic arms in his chair.
"You expect me to fly there, Zombie Boy?" Monique teased, her face showing she had no fears of doing what Ron's best male friend was suggesting.
"Hey, it's faster than walking," he countered with a grin. With that said, he reached out and pulled her into his lap, making her squeak in pleasant surprise. Before she could say or do anything, Felix piloted the chair away from Bueno Nacho, high enough to avoid the various cars, trucks, and people below.
Feeling his free arm holding her around the waist, Monique gave a mock disapproving look. "Don't get any fresh ideas, Zombie Boy."
Felix could tell she was just ribbing him, given she placed a hand on over his and was squeezing it. "Who me?" he flaunted shock. "Never." He dropped the act and grinned. "Just sit back and relax, Club Banana Girl. I'll get you home."
Generating a large smile, Monique looked forward and enjoyed the ride with a thrill as she watched the landscape fly by below her.
It's not everyday a girl gets a lift home quite literally, she mentally mused as she squeezed his hand, taking pleasure in his touch. I think I just found my Baby Boy.
Along the way to her house, Monique thought of what other things she and her new BF could do together.
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Smarty Mart. For many years now, this chain of stores has provided goods at affordable prices. For many people with tight budgets, this store was a lifesaver if they needed food, clothing, and other essentials in their everyday lives. It was this main reason why it was one of the most popular stores in the country as well as other parts of the world.
It was no surprise to Yori Takana that her blond boyfriend and his parents would normally shop at this discount store. When she first met him at Yamanouchi, he didn't come across to her as someone with a lot of money on hand, and when he had introduced her to the store a week ago, she knew the Stoppables were reasonable people when it came to spending money, for why spend more at other stores for the same items?
Yori had been chagrined then upon seeing the clothing she bought at Club Banana was cheaper at Smart Mart. As much as she enjoyed wearing good fashion, she, much like her boyfriend, just didn't see the wisdom of spending more just for a label, regardless that Yamanouchi could afford the higher prices.
So thus the Japanese teenager was currently walking down the aisles of the Middleton Smarty Mart with her boyfriend and his best female friend. Ron insisted after school they stop by the discount store, which he hoped would help inspire him to write up his autobiographical paper. Yori couldn't see how this little trip would help motivate him, but at least she made him promise for them to stop by the women's clothing section for her to check out. She felt her American wardrobe was still lacking.
Wearing her gold shirt and tight blue slacks, Kim Possible frowned and wondered why she even bothered to accompany her best male friend to Smarty Mart after school. This morning when Ron had told her that he was going to the store and Yori was going to be with him, she asked to come along. Ron had no problems with Kim tagging along, and Yori didn't mind either. After school, Yori dropped off some spare clothing at the Stoppables' and Possibles' houses before the three of them and one naked mole rat headed toward Smarty Mart.
The redheaded cheerleader knew her long-time best male friend loved this store. After the incident with Frugal Lucre, she did somewhat gain some positive attitude about the place, but she still wouldn't shop here for clothing and such. As far as she was concerned, Smart Mart wouldn't replace Club Banana for clothing no matter what.
As the trio walked down the center aisle, connecting one side of the store to other, Yori once more voiced her thoughts regarding this little trip. "With all due respect, Ron-kun, why are we here if we are not here to shop?"
"My thoughts precisely," Kim agreed as her green eyes focused on her blond friend.
"Research, ladies," Ron answered with a grin. "Research. Gotta recreate the event up here," he said as he pointed to his head." He pressed the button on the hand-held tape recorder in his palm. "When Ron met Rufus. Notes…"
Sighing, Yori and Kim watched the boy as he thought and thought and still would not add anything more into the recorder. Producing a frown, the Japanese girl shook her head a bit. "Again, I don't see why you need to be inspired, Ron-kun. The event in question must be easy to remember or else you wouldn't have had the inspiration for the idea to start with. Possible-san and I would perhaps be better checking the women's clothing department."
Blinking a bit, Kim eyed the other girl, who wore simple hip-hugging blue jeans, sneakers, and a button-up, long-sleeved, white blouse with lacy frills on the cuffs and neckline. The redhead had to admit that Yori sure had a knack for tasteful clothing, and despite the fact that Kim wouldn't buy clothing from Smarty Mart, she wouldn't mind checking out the women's clothes instead of walking around doing nothing.
It was then that tinkling music alerted the three to look down to see a see-through plastic ball heading toward them, and Rufus happened to be inside the ball, running to make the ball roll down the aisle.
After the ball came to a stop against Ron's feet, the blond picked up the ball and popped it open, releasing a nearly suffocating mole rat from his confinement. "Rufus," Ron berated, "I told you we're not here for toys. This is for art."
"Least Rufus-san has the wisdom to seek entertainment rather than be bored," Yori quipped with a teasing tone.
"Yeah!" Rufus glared at Ron from inside the toy before hopping off it to land on Yori's right shoulder.
Kim rolled her eyes but couldn't help but produce an amused smirk to match Yori's. There were times Rufus seemed to have more brains than his owner; not even counting that time Rufus's mind was enhanced thanks to that brain-boosting machine Drakken tried to get from the US Army.
Her eyes once more centered on her best friend, Kim sighed. "Can we go now?" she nearly whined, her patience wearing thin.
Unperturbed, Ron simply grinned. "Oh, and I need to get some ointment for toenail fungus. Yeah." He began to walk away down the health care aisle, not noticing the shocked, sick expressions appearing on both girls' faces.
Kim felt like she was turning green. "Need I bother with the…" her face scrunched up into a gagging look, tongue sticking out, "Euh-ahe!" Shaking her head, she followed Ron. "Or is it a given?"
Yori's look became one of concern, although she was still a bit sick on the mental picture, and she immediately sped up a bit to catch up with her boyfriend. "Ron-kun!" she placed a hand on his right arm while Kim walked along his other side. "You didn't say anything that you have this health dilemma!"
Hearing her words and seeing her worried face, Ron immediately spoke out to reassure her. "Oh! It's not for me, Yori. Mom told me to buy some ointment for Dad." He watched as both girls let out breaths of relief. "I still don't know what toenail fungus is. I keep picturing mushrooms growing on toes."
It was then they all heard the familiar sound of the Kimmunicator coming from Kim's pants pocket but not from Yori's purse. Beep-beep-be-beep. They all knew that Wade wouldn't bother to contact Yori's PDA if he detected both at the same place thanks to the built-in tracking chips. It didn't pay to call both devices if both girls happened to be together.
As Kim reached down to pick up the Kimmunicator, Yori happened to notice a particular shampoo that she hadn't seen before. Her almond-shaped eyes went wide before she nudged her boyfriend with her elbow. Turning to face her, Ron noticed the shampoo as well and was surprised as well.
"Sitch me, Wade," Kim said, hoping for a mission to get her out of the store. The next moment, she felt a finger tapping her shoulder. She turned to face Ron; only to see what was on the shelves, making her green eyes go wide.
"Kim," Wade began just as she had turned, "Drakken's up to something huge, he's selling a –"
"Shampoo?" the redhead interrupted, her eyes still on the shelves of shampoo with Drakken's smiling face on the bottles.
Wade was taken aback that Kim knew. "Yeah. You heard?"
Kim picked up a bottle of shampoo and showed it in front of the PDA so her tech man could see. "I see."
Yori frowned, her arms crossed. "This is quite odd. Why would a villain be selling shampoo?"
Wade answered. "It's supposed to hypnotize anyone who uses it. To do what whatever Drakken says."
Ron read the shampoo's title. "Lather, Rinse, Obey." He chuckled. "Points for full disclosure."
"The good news is," Wade continued, a grin forming on his face, "nobody's buying it. The product is a bomb."
Yori snorted a laugh. "Drakken doesn't know how to market. Such a title would be quite obvious to anyone."
"Not to mention the picture on the bottle," Ron added as he picked up the bottle from Kim's hand to show the smiling face. Such a malicious face would definitely make anyone avoid the shampoo like it was the plague.
Kim brought the conversation back on topic. "So, what do we do?" She didn't want people buying this shampoo and becoming mindless zombies under her arch foe's will.
The grin on Wade's face broadened. "If the shampoo doesn't start selling soon, the stores will return their stock. End of plot." With that said, he closed his laptop with a satisfied click.
Hearing this news made all three teenagers and one mole rat smile.
"Wow," Kim blinked in amused amazement. "Drakken's self-foiling now. Spankin'!"
"Indeed," Yori agreed, smirking. "It's quite funny that a villain is defeating his own evil plan."
"Huh-uh, huh-uh!" Rufus bobbed his head in concurrence.
The 12-year-old super genius, still smiling, posed his hand over his keyboard, about to end the transmission. "Well, that's all I have to report. I'll talk to you guys later."
Ron reached over immediately to grab Kim's hand with the Kimmunicator. "Wade, wait!" Seeing Wade had frozen his hand over his keyboard, the blond boy commenced. "Tell me. What do you know about toenail fungus?"
The African-American's face scrunched up in disgust. "Euh-ahe!" he said as he stuck out his tongue.
Both Yori and Kim nearly creased their faces as well, for once more they were reminded of something that they didn't want pictured in their heads. "Yeah, that's what I said," Kim sympathetically answered to her young friend's reaction.
The Japanese girl clamped a hand over her American suitor's arm. "Wade-san, why do not you just send an email to Ron-kun's address with links to the information he desires. You do not need to explain everything to Ron-kun regarding his father's toenail infection."
Wade displayed a mixture of relief and curiosity. "Oh, so you're not the one who's infected, Ron? That's good to hear. Send my sympathies to your dad. Wade out." His finger came down onto a keyboard button, and afterward the PDA screen went blank.
As Kim pushed her communication device into her pants pocket, Yori began dragging Ron down the aisle. "Come now, Ron-kun. We'll find the ointment for Stoppable-otousan, and then we'll head over to the women's clothing department."
"Do I have to watch you and KP try on clothes?" Ron whined. He remembered the last time he watched Yori try on clothes at Club Banana and it had taken her quite some time to not only try the clothes but to decide what to buy.
Yori giggled, remembering that time at Club Banana. "Maybe, or maybe not, Ron-kun. I'm not going to buy anything. Just check out what they have in stock." Her grin turned sly. "Then we'll head over the men's clothing department."
This made Ron confused and definitely caught Kim's attention as she walked just behind the couple. "Uh, Yori?" Ron asked. "Why should we go to the men's clothing department?"
Ron's girlfriend locked her dark eyes with his brown ones. "So you can try on some clothes."
"Say what?" the blond nearly cried out, flabbergasted. "I already have clothes, Yori. I don't need any more."
"Who says you have to buy anything, Ron-kun?" Yori grinned almost like a predator. "We're just going to get you to try on some clothes. Nothing more."
He turned to face his long-time best friend, who only gave tiny smirk. No help, he realized, would be coming from her. Ron knew that both girls had him cornered, and they would not be satisfied until he did as he was told.
After picking up the ointment, the two girls headed toward the clothing section with a nearly whimpering boy being dragged along.
As Kim followed the other two toward the clothing department, she couldn't help but feel irritated toward the Japanese girl. For years she tried to get Ron to try on clothes but he managed to weasel out regardless of her intentions. Yori however managed to do so easily without a major complaint.
Once more, the redheaded leader of Team Possible wondered whether her new raven-haired teammate was trying to upstage her at everything she did.
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TBC (End of Chapter 16)
A/Ns:
1) The following are my responses to htrhrt and Leon's reviews of Chapter 15:
- A legend? Me? I'm flattered to be called that. I do the best I can to get chapters out, but Real Life comes first. I like writing this story as a hobby, yet what good is writing if I starve or don't get sleep, etc.? Know what I mean? ;)
- Leon, this will be going to be a long story, and surely even you can tell from the hints Kim is throwing out regarding how she feels about Yori at the moment. How will all this turn out? Well, I'm not going to tell. That's spoiling. ;-p
2) Sorry that this chapter took so long to come out. As I said in the last chapter, I have the burden of moving, adjusting, etc. Things have not totally settled down yet, but least I found some time to get this chapter written up.
3) I want to give a big 'Thank you' to wallaceb over at the RonStoppable Net board for providing me with the entire transcript of "Rappin' Drakken" for me to use for this story and future chapters.
4) Given how Ron doesn't know about toenail fungus, I have a feeling his dad has it and not him. I find it odd that Ron would have it and not even know about it, so I presumed Mrs. S told him to buy the ointment for Mr. S since Ron didn't say the ointment was for him in the episode.