By: Obbiejoe
Kim knew something was wrong as soon as she closed the door of her apartment behind her. There was a light on in the kitchen, a light she clearly remembered shutting off before she left that morning.
Softly setting her bag down and slipping off her shoes she cautiously approached the lit doorway even though she knew she had made enough noise opening the door to have already alerted whoever it was of her presence. As she came within a few feet of the lit doorway she sniffed the air and smelled the unmistakable odor of coffee brewing which confused her, an intruder that stopped to make coffee didn't seem normal.
Just as she braced herself to spring into the kitchen a voice issued from inside that took a few seconds for her to recognize. "Don't be shy cupcake, come on in."
When she did recognize the voice as belonging to, of all people, Shego, she added curiosity to her caution and confusion. The last time she had heard anything about Shego both she and that blue dolt she worked for had finagled some sort of pardon or something, but that was almost seven years ago and there hadn't been one mention of them since, good or bad.
Maintaining her caution she slowly peered around the corner of the doorway and her confusion increased. Sitting at her small kitchen table was a woman she at first didn't recognize. The green and black cat suit was absent and replaced with a fashionable bright red sweater and jeans and even more startling, the green cast Shego always had was gone. A totally normal looking and exotically beautiful young woman was sitting at her table with a cup of coffee in front of her and a smile on her face.
Seeing nothing immediately threatening Kim slowly entered the kitchen as the woman spoke. "Sorry for just coming in like this Kimmie, I was waiting in the hallway until one of your neighbors decided I looked like a hooker or something and asked me how much I charged. You really should move to a better neighborhood, this whole area is kind of seedy."
Kim slowly approached the table. "Where I live doesn't really concern you Shego, or at least it hasn't up to now, which makes me wonder why you're here, especially after all this time."
The anger must have shown in Kim's voice because Shego simply smiled and held her hands out in front of her. "Geeez Princess, don't get all hostile, can't an old friend just look you up to see how you're doing and catch up?"
Kim stood at the table opposite where Shego was sitting and made no attempt to sit. "First off, we were never friends Shego and somehow I get the impression you don't give a rat's ass how I'm doing. So why the fuck are you here?"
Kim saw the smile leave Shego's face. "Boy, they weren't kidding, you have changed Princess." Then Shego lowered her hands and glared at Kim over the rim of her cup as she took a sip. Setting the cup down Shego folded her hands on the table in front of her. "Look Kimmie, I'm only here to do a friend a favor, personally I don't think you deserve it but… well, I found out a few years ago that that was what friendship was all about, doing things for someone even if you really don't want to. Now sit your ass down and listen, I'm only going to say this once and if you know what's good for you you'll listen."
Kim was about to tell Shego to just get out of her house when she saw a slight flash in Shego's eyes and actually saw her complexion beginning to revert to the green shade she had always known. Not having worked out in several years Kim knew she would be no match for Shego, especially if she began to throw plasma, so wisely decided to do exactly as she was requested to do, for the moment anyway.
As soon as she slid out a chair and sat down Shego seemed to relax and her skin color reverted back to the normal flesh tone. "Good. Now how about I pour you a cup of coffee before we start, maybe it'll settle your nerves."
Without waiting for a response Shego stood and moved to the coffee pot across the kitchen. As soon as she stood Kim knew she had made the right decision. The way Shego moved told her that, unlike her, Shego still worked out, if anything she looked to be in better shape than she had been the last time they fought.
Shego began talking as she poured a cup of coffee from the waiting pot. "I was asked to make you an offer Princess, whether you take it or not is no skin off my nose and like I said, personally, I don't think you deserve it and hope you take a pass. Then I'll just tell him I made the offer and you refused and I'll hopefully never have to see you again."
By the time she finished Shego had set a cup in front of her and was moving to regain her seat. At least Kim now had some information, it wasn't much but it was more than she had a moment ago. Whoever had sent Shego to see her was male, that much was clear. She would have to ask just the right questions to gather more information and began formulating them in her head as Shego sat down.
Still formulating her questions Kim lifted her cup and took a sip to give herself a bit more time. As soon as she did she knew she wouldn't have to ask many questions, maybe even none. There was only one person on the face of the earth that made coffee this way. She hadn't tasted it in years but when she glanced at the counter and saw the nutmeg and cinnamon sitting next to the coffee pot she smiled inwardly.
Deciding it was time for her to be the surprising one she spoke as soon as she set the cup down. "And how is Ron Shego, does his arm still hurt?"
If Shego was surprised at all she didn't show it, instead she took a sip before answering. "Oh, he's just dandy Kimmie and his arm is just fine, he took care of that a long time ago." Then with a smirk on her face that Kim recognized she added. "I'm sure he'll be glad to know you asked though, I'll be sure to tell him."
Kim recognized Shego's comment for exactly what it was and knew she'd repeat her remarks to Ron but add her own snide twist to them. Kim seriously doubted Ron had full use of his arm since almost every bone had been shattered, and she should know since she was the one who shattered them.
Then Shego chuckled and leaned forward. "Just out of curiosity Cupcake, how did you figure out it was Ronnie that sent me?"
Kim sneered and lifted the cup. "I wasn't sure until just now, but I figured you had to at least know him, no one else makes coffee this way that I know of so I took a stab in the dark."
She sat back with a look of grudging respect on her face. "Well, at least you haven't lost all your skills Princess. So, now that you know who sent me are you still willing to listen or have you still got that chip on your shoulder?"
Kim smiled back at her but it was a calculated smile. "Oh I'll listen. But I can't imagine that looser could offer me anything better than what I already have."
Kim saw anger in Shego's eyes as soon as she said the word 'looser' but it was quickly replaced with another smile. "You might be surprised Cupcake, that 'Looser' could very well offer you your life back and you could stop living in pig sty's like this."
Kim simply stared back at Shego, she had to admit that after the falling out between her and Ron her life had taken a definite turn for the worse. She was no longer welcome at GJ, hell she wasn't even truly welcome in her own parents home. She hadn't even spoken to her mother and father in almost three years and when her family life had crumbled so had any chance she had at a decent education or a decent job.
Not one of the colleges she had applied to for scholarships had accepted her, most hadn't even replied to her applications, Dr. Director made sure of that, and with no education her chances of finding a decent job, regardless of her past reputation, were nil to none.
What really confused her was the timing of the entire thing. Why, after almost seven years, was Shego showing up now, why hadn't this offer, whatever it was, been made earlier. Looking across the table Kim simply had to ask. "Why now Shego, what's changed that you're here to make this offer or whatever it is now instead of years ago?"
Shego actually smiled as she responded. "Good question Princess, real good question, and the answer is actually kind of simple, I'm the reason things changed."
Now Shego had her attention. "And just what is that supposed to mean, how did you change things?"
The sneer Kim was used to seeing on Shego's face was suddenly there in full force. "I quit lying to him."
This statement confused Kim more than a little. "Quit lying to who, and about what?"
Shego leaned in a little closer. "Well, first off, it's whom not who and the 'whom' is Ronnie, the what, on the other hand, is you."
Kim narrowed her eyes slightly. "And just what have you been telling him about me Shego?"
Shego leaned back and, picking up her cup, took a sip of coffee before she answered. "Well, that's kind of a long story Princess and I should probably start at the beginning."
Still holding her cup in her hands Kim responded quickly. "By all means, start wherever you feel you need to."
After taking another sip Shego set her cup down. "Well, it started almost six years ago when Ronnie and I first hooked up…" Kim raised one eyebrow which was apparently noticed by Shego. "… not like that cupcake, although I really wouldn't mind, I just mean Ronnie found me wandering around Europe looking for something to do and…well, he offered me a job."
Kim had to respond to that one. "A job? What kind of job?"
The sneer came back quickly. "That's not really any of your business Kimmie but... well, let's just say I couldn't turn him down." When Kim remained silent Shego continued. "Anyway, one of the things I was supposed to do was keep and eye on you, you know, make sure you were alright and stuff like that. Ronnie couldn't seem to bring himself to do it personally, I don't know if he was worried about finding out what kind of jerks you hooked up with or what. He just told me that since he didn't like spying and since I had so much experience at it… well, I guess he figured it was a job I could do."
Shego paused, apparently waiting for Kim to comment but when she heard nothing she shrugged her shoulders and continued. "Anyway, I guess I kind of… well, I told him you were fine. I never mentioned you were and having a hard time finding a job and I sure never told him you were living in dives like this."
The look on Shego's face told Kim just how much she disliked the look of her small, and honestly, shabby apartment. "Then, well, Ronnie did something for me, something I really didn't deserve and I started to rethink things, that's when I decided to tell him the truth, the real truth."
Shego looked down into her cup for a moment before she stood and moved back to the pot on the counter. As she refilled her cup she spoke over her shoulder. "Ronnie was a little pissed that I'd been lying to him, that's why he not only gave me the job of making you this offer, but told me I'd have to set the whole thing up personally if you agreed."
Shego was making her way back to the table as she finished. "That's another reason I hope you take a pass Princess, the less I have to do with you the better I'll like it… but, well, if that's what Ronnie wants that's what I'll do."
Kim had to admit, having Shego do something for her, what ever it might be, was an interesting proposition and she was tempted to accept what ever this offer was just on those grounds but knew she better find out just what she was offering before jumping into anything. "And just what is this offer Shego, I still can't imagine anything you, or Ron, could have to offer me."
Shego sat back down before she replied. "Look Kimmie, I still don't think you deserve a thing but Ronnie is willing to send you to school, the whole nine yards, all the way to a PhD if you want. And he'll pay your expenses, housing and everything, he's even willing to toss in an allowance if you can't find a job." Then Shego smirked. "That last part is mine Kimmie, he was just going to give you an allowance but I convinced him you should work for it if you could."
Kim was stunned, there was no way Shego's offer… or rather Ron's offer, was serious. Not with the price of college nowadays. But she had to find out more before she even thought about accepting or rejecting the offer. "And just what college did he want to send me to, some little jerkwater place where any degree I got wouldn't be worth a plug nickel?"
Kim saw the anger rising in Shego's eyes again and her reply was not friendly. "He wants you to pick the college Kimmie, like I said you don't deserve it but he's willing to send you anywhere you want to go. So get that chip off your shoulder before I'm tempted to knock it off."
Kim saw the green tint starting to surface again and decided to reign in her distaste about having anything to do with her, or Ron but couldn't resist on last dig. "And just what would I have to do for this Shego, what does Ron want in return?"
The green tint quickly faded away and Shego sat back in her chair. "Nothing Cupcake, absolutely nothing." Then Shego leaned forward again and her eyes narrowed. "But if you want this to go down quickly and easily there is one thing I want. I want you to stay away from Ron, as far away as possible, don't even attempt to contact him to say thank you."
After a brief pause Shego sat back again. "You already had your shot with him Princess, now it's my turn. And the less you have to do with him the better as far as I'm concerned."
Kim sat there contemplating what was just offered to her when Shego spoke again. "He was right to stop you Princess, you know that don't you?"
Kim felt a jolt of shock. As far as she knew the only people who knew what had happened were her and Ron and she never expected Ron to ever say anything about it, especially to Shego of all people. "So, Ron told you what happened huh?"
Shego sneered again. "Hell no Princess, he won't even talk about it. I got it right from the horse's mouth so to speak; I got it from the guys you almost killed."
Kim still had many sleepless nights when that day came back to haunt her dreams. She knew Shego was right; Ron did do the right thing when he stopped her. If he hadn't things might even be worse than they were, she would be a murderer.