Disclaimer: I own nothing of Kim Possible all belongs to Disney. This story is just for my enjoyment of writing.

Turning Lemons Into Lemonade

By Imyoshi

~ Heated Touch ~

Ron Stoppable mentally noted to find a way to spike Wade's system later. And for humorous payback, steal Kim's Pandaroo as well.

It had taken three days to find out where Kim was at and all because Wade reluctantly told him a way to find her as a last solution. And boy could the teen see why he was so reluctant about it.

A tracking chip? A freaking tracking trip! Wade had planted a tiny tracking chip on him, beneath his knowledge and worse – Kim knew about it. His supposedly 'best friend' knew about it the entire time and couldn't find the time in her oh so important day to tell him? Sure when the 11 year old told Ron that Kim didn't know she had one either, it softened the blow. But only a bit, considering Kim knew about his which only strengthen his inner rage and personal judgment on her. However, differences aside, Ron didn't falter to Kim's last known location. But the teen was tweaked beyond badical and if the genius knew better, would not make eye contact with him for at least a week, at the very least.

Now sitting rather uncomfortably on Captain Louis's speedy raft, since going by plane would be suicide, Ron had some time to think before they reach a safe distance to the island. He let his head fall back next to the wind, brushing his face and his unkempt hair aside. The salty water droplets splashing on his mission outfit, skin, and mouth, happened to be very unpleasant, but Ron didn't wince. All the troubled teen could do was let his mind drift about Kim. Something he had been doing a lot recently. And neither brought him joy or discomfort, only confusion. Deep, unknown, and very new feelings of confusion.

Whenever his mind drifted, a series of odd but important questions crashed within the tides of his thoughts. How did everything go wrong? Could I ever forgive Kim? Will she ever learn what she really did to me? Do I forgive her?

No matter what, the same exact questions would be asked, and the most he could answer would be a deeply sighed shrugged. The only real way he would ever receive an answer would be to confront Kim, but Ron chose to be stubborn, and brush her away. Why should he? Over the past few years, Ron had learned one thing about Kim. The girl was unconsciously shallow.

The teen sighed under his breath, because of his kind heart, and over trusting bond he had built with her over the passing years; Ron didn't let it normally bother him whenever Kim showed a bit of her colder side. He knew that she didn't notice and usually could let it slide between them. But not this time. Kim's shallowness, her basic average teenage girl side, had asked for a price she couldn't afford to pay. And when the moment came, she had no choice but to pay with the only object she could.

Him.

Their trust.

And the second she gave that up... well. A new Ron Stoppable had been born – A new far serious and less delusional Ron Stoppable. One that wouldn't and couldn't be pushed around from anybody, be lied to, or take for granted anymore. Ron was no longer any of those. He was one that demanded equal respect, in every aspect of the way. So in a way, a more competent Ron emerged, thanks to Kim's shallowness.

Funny, Ron didn't know whether to thank or hate her for it? He could no longer be the carefree go lucky goofball he once was, who seemed to slide through life without a care. No. After that wake up call. That wasn't Ron anymore and never will be, unless around his pals Felix, Monique, or Ann of course. Those three have never treated him differently or take advantage of him no matter what! So why should they lose fun Ron?

The answer – they didn't have to. No matter what happens, Ron didn't need to change around them. And with that thought, Ron smiled a genuine warm smile, for the first time this month.

"We are reaching the destination!"

Pulled out his awkward thoughts, Ron raised his head to see Captain Louis pointing at a nearby island coming into view from the horizon? Blinking a few times, he leaned forward on his seat. Just how long, had he had been lost in his thoughts?

Resting his arms on his knees, Ron forced his eyes to focus ahead, ignoring the splash of sea salt on his unguarded pupils. When Wade had told him Kim's tracking chip's last known signal, Ron was certain an island in the middle of the ocean would be where he'll find her. It all made sense considering 'The Book of Evil' he had happened to secret borrow from Señor Senior, Senior that one time, basically spelled that villains love private islands. In fact, the book was still somewhere in his closet behind the – that's beside the point!

Picking up his mission bag, Ron shuffled his hand within the contents, checking to make sure he had all the necessary mission gear. First the Thermal Image sunglasses, then the laser pen, grappling hook, Kimmunicator, laser ring, and etc. When finished, he saw the island appear even closer, giving an ominous glow. The island itself was covered in a jungle like scenery, with a rocky mountain, but no volcano in sight. Hmph, not too cliché apparently.

"Thanks for the ride Captain Louis," thanked Ron, standing up, and throwing the bag over his shoulder.

"No problem!" Louis nodded, before remembering, "Hey whatever happened to that Ron-something you guys had? You know the one that was a bumbling buffoon? Did he ever return back?"

Ron hid his hands in his pockets, his tan eyes no longer feeling any of the stinging burning sensation from the sea water, "Oh him?" he asked uncaringly, "No, he's gone. I've replaced him."

The captain stared forward, not looking away from his raft steering, but could still feel and hear the cold sensation in the young blonde's words. He wanted to further press questions, but the aura coming from this boy's been eerily different from the last time he saw him. There wasn't a trace of his usual goofy cheerfulness or any bumbling between his words. The kid still looked the same, but his posture screamed out sullenness, but in a positive way. And those eyes – when he first saw him enter his raft... didn't show any weakness, anywhere. No signs of fright or confusion, just pure focus.

"Well," he thought, talking towards himself, "This new guy isn't like that old Ron-something. That's for sure."

Rather than continue their small chat, he didn't indulge him further into a conversation. Until they've reached the island, the rest of the conversation had died completely.

Finally reaching the island and reaching the sandy shores, Ron leapt off the raft swiftly, not sparing a sideways glance at the Captain. Only giving him a backwards wave, "Thanks again for the ride."

Louis watched the young man take a few steps into the unwelcoming forest, before completely disappearing into the jungle. A nasty shiver ran up his spine, thinking about the poor sucker who would wound up in his path.

…

The past few days have been almost second to hell for Kim. After having tried relentlessly to break down the glass with books and even the book case, the craze fruit loop had actually kept his promise, and didn't give her any water or food for that matter, for an entire day. And when he did, the portions were small at best. She hunched on the glass, holding her legs, and fighting off the hungry protest in her stomach. Her eyes were heavy and she wished she could get some sleep.

Too bad for her, the crazy psycho liked to toy around as well. Each time Kim planned to sleep, it took an enormous amount of effort to just drift off, since the bright white light gave her a mean headache. And whenever she finally did, the 'gentlemen' would quickly wake her up, through some loud ruckus coming from an unknown location. Kim rarely got more than a few hours of sleep.

And that wasn't the worst of it.

The British dude like to torment her. He did it in many ways too – in unconventional, cruel, and cold ways. One of first was by making loud slurpish and munching sounds coming from his mouth, whenever he ate, and when Kim was starving. The ravished hurtful sounds slowly scarred her. Or then he would play nice soothing lullaby music for her to sleep and to only rudely awake her again, a few minutes later. But worst was when he played a chorus of hateful whispers, all of them describing on how alone she was or nobody was coming to save her.

And the cold. She didn't even want to think about how cold the room was and how he 'forgot' to give her a blanket.

Of course no trophy, no person! Lasted long... If this was how he took care of them!

But she ignored it, all of it of course, for the first two days. But on day three, it all took its dreaded toll on her. Nothing in three long hellish days had anything happened and that's when the mean words finally left its bloody mark on her. To be honest she half-expected Ron to rescue her, but wouldn't entirely blame him for not. For now she knew a small bit on how he felt. To never feel trusted and being used, that's how Ron must feel, and Kim in the three days had learned that.

"Aww is my little ducky hungry?" Austin asked mockingly, his voice in all directions. Kim ignored him, "You know what? I'll give you some bread crumbs if you quack like a duck?" Nope nothing, "C'mon love, just a little quack. Don't you want any food...? I know you do."

Kim remained in a hutch position, hugging her knees closer. She wanted the food desperately, but had hero pride to maintain. She couldn't let the villain see how weak she was. The hero girl had to hold on.

"Fine then! More for me!" Thus began another round of delighted sounds of food being devoured over the cold glass room.

…

"Hn, I didn't think the villain dude would just leave the door wide open?" Ron thought, seeing a giant steel door on the side of a mountain, hanging loosely opened. Plus one to dumb skill! He wanted to enter but at the same time thought of the possibility of being a trap. But he also didn't see any other entrance around, so why not?

Silently entering the room, the sidekick could see a massive steel hallway in front of him, having beyond many doors. So many he couldn't decide which to enter first, so he went with the closet one on his right, and peered right in, slowly cracking the door open.

Nothing.

The room was bared and had nothing, but a mop. A real nice mop actually, the one high society maids would use. However, that's beside the point and he shut the door, looking at the rest in the hallway, and sighed.

"Ok that's door number one, only a hundred more to go."

This went on for a few more doors, all having next to nothing within them, except for the bare essentials. Every so often Ron would duck or hide from oncoming henchmen. Being alerted of his presence was not on his to do list today. The faster he and Kim got out of here, the better.

Groaning disappointed, Ron continued to search. All the rooms lacked something that all villains had. Seriously isn't a super villain lair suppose to have I don't know, some variety? Some lasers, some shark pits, traps... a vending machine? Apparently not - cleaning supplies, pool tables, and even a bowling lane was what was in – in Villain Monthly. Ok, maybe Ron had to admit, a bowling lane was pretty badical.

Walking towards the end of the hallway and the last steel door. Ron found the room to have a computer panel and another door to the left, leading somewhere else. He silently crept in, luckily no one was there. Checking the control panel and what was on the monitor, Ron stopped, his throat feeling dry. There was Kim, sitting in a corner of a room, in what looked liked to be a miserable position.

And she looked scared? Terrified even!

Ron gently touched the screen, "Kim?"

He felt a small tingle of guilt burn in his chest at the mere sight of Kim. He never thought he would see her so helpless and alone. Now the sidekick felt some regret for not getting here sooner, but shook his head. Now was not the time to be feeling guilty, now was the time to save her, time to act like a hero. A late hero that is.

Ron observed the control panel, looking for something to help him, but was cut off quickly from a batch of voices coming from behind.

Startled, he swiftly hid behind the steel door hatch, and waited for whoever it was to come in. Moments passed and the voices grew quieter, until the sound of what he guessed to be the bowling alley hatch open and shut. Ok the bowling the alley, way badical.

Slowly checking behind the door, Ron gently shut the steel door, and returned back to the control system. The buttons and levels were all foreign to him like usual and he didn't feel like guessing at this particular second. He searched for any clues to finding a way to Kim, but again was cut short to another group of voices and footsteps, this time sounding much louder and heading right for this room. Panicking, he decided to run towards the other steel hatch and shut if fast behind him.

What Ron came in contact with was a flight of stairs, leading downwards. The stairs led down to a dark room where he could not make out any source of light. The teen didn't know whether to go down or not, but really didn't have a choice, since henchmen resided in the next room beside him. Their voices actually echoed away again, but Ron was already moving down. Why not?

Taking caution on each step down, Ron's hand rubbed the wall, not wanting to lose footing. His steps both heavy and slow, eventually he makes his way down to the total black abyss where the only source of light came from a white glass room in the center. The very same room Ron saw Kim in and currently can see her in. She was still hunched against the wall, shielding her eyes.

A small amount of fire burned in his chest. Seeing Kim so defeated, didn't bold to well with the sidekick, and he silently stepped towards the glass room, ready to break her out. During the small walk, Ron pulled out the laser pen from his bag and set the settings to cut through glass.

His 'best friend' still hadn't yet notice his presence, she just remained blocked out to the world.

Reaching the glass room, Ron carefully laser cut through the walls, slicing silently through the tough glass. Inch by inch a make shift pathway appeared. He slowly held the glass as it fell onto his grasp and he placed the separate wall on the floor. The entire time Kim hadn't notice his presence yet.

Shuffling inside, Ron coughed abruptly, beside her, staring at the mane of red hair that hid her face. Gosh she looked defeated.

"Go away; I don't want your food." Kim stated in a weak voice. The hero girl was determined not to show weakness, even in a pathetic attempt.

For once in front of her since the entire diary problem, Ron chuckled dryly, "Really? Too bad. I thought you could use a hero with rescue on the side?"

Kim's face froze up to see Ron standing beside her. Her eyes flew open at the sight of his mockish smirk. Were her eyes deceiving her? Was this another one of Austin's cruel tricks? Was Ron really here? She just couldn't believe it, there was no way that Ron was here! Her senses then fell to the opened draft coming in from behind him; there in plain sight the scars and scent of a laser that had cut through material! Small embers of cut glass and smell of fumes eluded the air.

She stood up quickly, he was here!

"Ron!" Kim attempted to run and hug him, but Ron held his one arm out, stopping her, and his smirk gone.

"I'm telling you this right now Kimberly," he started, in a cold voice, "I only came to save you for everyone else. Not cause I wanted to. But because of promises I made. And if we are going to be stuck together until this mission is over, then fine. But we get out fast and quick got it? And after that go our separate ways."

Kim stood there and heard every word. Every single rule he had. And understood what he completely meant... but ignored all of it. Those were the first words he's spoken to her, in over a month and she didn't care what he would do next. Kim just lunged at him – Embracing him in a tight fierce hug before he could even protest. She wrapped her arms around his back and pressed her small frame onto his, rubbing her face on his black mission shirt, tears streaking down her cheeks.

Ron stood there, eyes shaking, not sure what to do. Kim had surprised him so suddenly with the hug that he didn't much time to react. He didn't return the hug, just figured she needed it. After all, Ron didn't know what she had been through the past few days. And if the tears proved to be real... didn't want to know.

"Ki–?"

"Ron," Kim softly murmured through her tears, "I-I'm sorry. Not just about t-the diary, but everything," she rubbed her face, pressing as hard as possible against Ron's body, desperate for warmth, "For n-never thinking about y-your feelings," a quick sniff, "For a-always taking you for granted. For everything! P-Please forgive me?" she begged in her most desperate voice. "I'm so sorry! P-Please!"

The air left his lungs, when Ron finally heard the words he waited to hear from her. He felt warm tears wet his shirt and his arms hung loosely on his sides. The pressure Kim put into her hug, made him stare down at her messy dull auburn hair, the cold mean demeanor he had was replaced with some sympathy, as Kim crushed him in a ferociously yet weak hug. All the strength she had was surprisingly lacking and he could feel her heart race at incredible speeds. At a loss of words, the sidekick didn't know how what to say.

Ron waited for her to lessen her crying before speaking to her in a soft hushed tone, "I don't know."

Author Notes: Sorry for the over use of description and blandness of this chapter. I was on a tight deadline and didn't have time to make this chapter really pop. Sorry about that.

Slurpish is not a word by the way, but I'm sure you readers got that.