~o0o~
"Where did it all start?" Kim mused out loud as she slowly sat down. Shego followed suit. "I'd have to say it began the night of my graduation." A heartfelt sigh escaped her lips. "I'm just your basic, average girl and I wanted a normal college life, but the Lowardians ruined all that. Throw in the rabid paparazzi and Global Justice wanting me to join. It was never going to happen."
Shego nodded in agreement, for better or worse the Lorwardian invasion had changed their lives forever.
"So Wade and I concocted an escape plan," Kim said, smiling wistfully for a second. "Ron couldn't stop humming the theme from the Great Escape…" Shaking her head at the fond memory, she continued, "First up we had Vivian create robot duplicates of us and then sent them off to New York as decoys, and that's when everything kicked into gear."
Shego patiently listened to Kim talk about clandestine haircuts and goodbyes, before she and Ron escaped into the night. How they had used planes, trains and automobiles to crisscross the globe over the next few weeks, all the while changing their appearance and identities. It was all quite informative to the ex-villain as she followed the trip in her mind, meticulously piecing together Kim's various destinations. She deduced that they had ended up in Australia, where there was lots of warm sun and long, sandy beaches.
"…And Uni was more than I could ever have imagined," Kim said with full-on enthusiasm. "The study, the lifestyle, all my new friends, it was so– so– everything!"
Shego cracked a smile, trying to be as attentive as she could as Kim droned on and on about college and what a fantastic, life-changing experience it had been. She tuned most of it out since she had done the higher education thing herself, it was nothing new, and her years of putting up with Drakken had made her an expert on ignoring the boring. She hardly batted an eye that Ron had been failing all his courses.
C'mon, Kimmie, what I really want to know is–
"I helped him as best I could, but I had to keep up with my own studies. In the end he just… gave up, and– I guess that's why he– I… found out he was cheating on me."
Shego blinked. Had she heard that right? It had been said so simply and without any emotion that she almost didn't believe her ears.
How the hell did he–? Who would go for him–? WHY would he cheat on Kimmie? She's one of the most caring and beautiful women on the freakin' planet! Why would he ever–
"I forgave him of course, but it was there… hanging over us." She locked her gaze with Shego's. "We… broke up," she quietly finished.
Shego's visage turned thunderous at the news, but Kim was quicker. She was up and around the table in the blink of an eye, bringing her chair with her. She plonked herself down next to Shego, a hand like warm silk resting on a pale green arm.
"I'm gonna fuck him up!" Shego growled, surprising herself.
"Hey, it's okay," Kim said, gently rubbing Shego's shoulder in an effort to calm her. "It was a few years ago now. It's all in the past."
Shego pointed a finger at Kim. "No! He doesn't get to treat you like that!"
"It's okay, really!" Kim wrapped her fingers around Shego's accusing digit and gently squeezed. "It gave me a chance to– Opportunities that I– Well, I've grown a lot, shall we say?" She smiled, her dimples in full effect. "I knew you cared."
"What? No! I just–"
Kim brought their entwined hands up to her lips and kissed a green fingertip. "Mm-hmm," she hummed, the twinkle back in her eyes.
Shego's let out a breathy gasp as the affectionate act shot along her arm and down into her chest. It was completely unexpected and her oversensitized skin trembled in reply. Kim seemed not to notice, and Shego pulled her tingling hand back to her lap, cradling it as if it had been burned.
"It's because I'm special, isn't it?" Kim said as she leaned in close, a low timbre to her voice.
"Uh-huh," Shego replied, barely paying attention.
"That I'm all yours?"
"Yeah." Wait! No! That's not what I meant! She opened her mouth to retort but stopped as someone approached their table.
"Welcome to Le Petit Jardin," a waiter said, stopping next to them. "May I take your drinks order while you peruse the Carte du Jour?"
Shego threw him the biggest fuck-off stare she could muster, but it was too late, Kim politely accepting a menu from the man. She swallowed back an expletive laden tirade and grabbed a menu, surprised to find a Mediterranean cuisine on offer. She had expected French, what with the restaurant's name and all.
"Hey, Alphonse, how's Matt and the kids?" Kim piped up.
"Miss. Possible!?" the waiter replied, clearly surprised. "I hardly recognized you with that gorgeous, new haircut. Matt and the boys are–" His eyes darted between Kim and Shego, his smile getting bigger by the second. "Wait! Is this… her?"
"It is," Kim replied, her arm wrapping around Shego to give her a quick hug.
"Oh! Oh my! You were right, you two really are adorable together!"
"We are, aren't we?"
To say that Shego's thoughts were in pieces would be an understatement. Pieces? No, rebelling! She was utterly surprised, scandalized even, that Kim would say such a thing. The way it had been said, it could easily be misconstrued as so much more. A quick look at Alphonse's face confirmed her suspicions, while Kim's possessive arm only exacerbated the problem.
Shego vigorously shook her head to say no as she shuffled forwards, opening her mouth to snarl a denial.
"My girlfriend and I could do with some water first up?" Kim said, forestalling any outburst.
Shego's eyes went wide as the simple word thundered through her.
Girlfriend…
Girlfriend…
Girlfriend…
Cheeks flushed from the heady alcohol surging through her veins, Shego tried to get a handle on the situation. Yes, they had started out as villain and hero, and sometimes professional acquaintances, but the invasion and her amnesty had changed all that. If pressed she would label Kim as a friend, a good friend, probably her one and only. But that was all there was to it. She wasn't into girls … Had never been interested, even with all the offers. Men were just easier, uncomplicated, and they were always there. She never had any room for … complications.
And Kim, she was turning out to be the biggest…
She found her gaze focusing on Kim as though seeing her for the first time, looking past the warrior spirit to the woman underneath. She knew Kim was beautiful, had noticed it long ago, but it always been through the eyes of an adversary, then friend. Tilting her head, she wondered when Kim's angelic features had become so dominant. She admired the curve of her cheeks and those soft, delicate lips, while a bewitching neckline pulled her gaze lower, following the graceful lines of the dress down into a wonderful display of tanned cleavage.
Shego's breathing increased … then she blinked.
Oh - HELL - no! Not gonna happen! No way! She wrenched her gaze back up to Kim's face, watching as Alphonse turned and walked away. Rounding on Kim, her voice was low and strained. "What the hell, Kimmie? What are you playing at?"
"Hmm?" Kim replied with overdone innocence.
"Calling me your girlfriend!"
"Your a girl, who's my friend. No big," she said nonchalantly.
"And the whole together thing?!"
"You really do have the cutest little frown when you're all flustered. I can't believe I never noticed it before."
Shego slammed her mouth shut, a deep green blush to her cheeks. She was both flattered and furious as she glowered back at Kim.
"Listen, Possible–"
"And, it's kinda crazy, but if you think about it, apart from Ron, I went out with you more than anyone else while at High School. All those midnight rendezvous atop scenic mountain peaks, where we danced the night away."
"If you mean 'trying to beat the crap out of each other in one of Dr. D's lair's, then yeah.
"Good times," they both sighed.
Those warm and fuzzy memories were not going to let Kim off the hook. Shego arranged her jumbled thoughts then opened her mouth to give Kim a piece of her mind–
"Your water," Alphonse announced as he arrived back at their table.
Is this guy for real? Shego railed as she slumped back in her seat, annoyed with his timing yet again. Still, she sculled the glass of chilled water that was placed in front of her, the cool liquid a balm for her flushed skin.
"Are you ready to order or do you need some more time?" Alphonse politely asked.
"We'll start with the chef's selection of assorted mediterranean appetizers, and I'll have the chicken tajine," Kim announced without even consulting her menu.
Shego rolled her eyes as she looked down at her own menu. Kim's comments and her own questions would have to wait, at least until Alphonse had gone. Perusing all the dishes on offer she was spoilt for choice. It all looked delicious and she wasn't sure what to pick. Trying to decide also had the byproduct of making Kim and Alphonse wait. It was petty, but she felt it was needed.
She smirked as Kim's quietly tapping finger increased in pace.
"Oh, for Pete's sake!" Kim eventually huffed, standing up and moving around behind Shego. "Let me help."
Before Shego could snap that she was perfectly capable of choosing her own meal, an indescribable softness pressed against her back. She stiffened, the warmth of Kim's body like a blast furnace. She closed her eyes at the closeness, but it was no good, her nostrils flaring at the strawberry scented body wash. Shapely arms surrounded her as Kim inched closer, her chin resting on a pale green shoulder as she looked at the menu in Shego's hands.
When had Kim gained this power over her, Shego didn't know. The effects of the champagne could only be blamed so far. She opened her mouth to growl, chastise, to say something, but nothing came out. She was just too scatterbrained
Her breath hitched in her throat as Kim somehow moved closer, the two of them molded together as one.
"Here, this one!" Kim said, poking at a dish on the menu, decision made.
Shego opened her eyes, only to come face to face with Kim's sparkling olive-green irises. Kim's gaze was intense, and she shivered, mesmerized by the twinkling orbs. Drowning in an endless ocean of green … helpless … a feeling she hated. In the past she would have said something snarky or thrown a punch, but tonight…
Kim's lips opened and a warm breath accosted her cheek as something was said, the words lost on her.
"Kimmie?" Shego whispered.
Kim searched her face before a victorious little smile crossed her lips, then she was coming closer, a soft peck placed on the side of Shego's cheek before she slid back into her chair. Brushing a stray lock back behind an ear she looked up at Alphonse.
"My date will have the grilled filet mignon in espagnole sauce."
Somewhere in the background Shego heard Alphonse comment on Kim's excellent choice, the forgotten menu deftly plucked from her frozen hands before he made his exit. With an audible groan she faceplanted the table, and safe behind her curtain of raven-black hair she could pretend Kim hadn't said … that. It shouldn't worry her. It had never worried her. Why now?
"Do you need me to hold your hand?" Kim asked mischievously, her arm on the table, hand awaiting.
Shego replied with a raised middle finger.
"Aww, don't be like that. I just hadta seen that cute little frown again," Kim's voice wafted past her ear, so close it raised goosebumps. "I'll let you choose … the dessert!"
Angry, cheerful, and everything in-between Kim, Shego could handle, but this playful, flirty Kim was a different beast altogether. Trying to mask her bafflement with faux anger she sat up, her face thunderous as she spun to face Kim. Their small, intimate table was definitely not big enough for the coming storm, especially with Kim right beside her.
"Alright, Possible, you're cruisin' for a bruisin!" Shego growled, a hint of flames dancing around her fingertips.
Kim clearly wasn't buying it, her playful smile remaining unchanged as she shifted, their knees interlocking. "Not happening, Shego. It'd ruin all my fun for the evening."
Fun? Shego suddenly felt vulnerable, her hackles rising. It's a trap! And I walked right into it! She resisted the urge to stand, refusing to take her eyes off Kim. "Try anything and I'll fuck you up!"
"That's the whole idea."
What? "What on earth are you on about?" She grabbed her glass of water and sipped, her expression daring Kim not to reply.
"Why, I'm seducing you of course," Kim said, her hand coming down on Shego's exposed knee.
~o0o~ ~o0o~ ~o0o~
Kim truly had a mind-expanding time at University. Now what's poor Shego to do when a girl who can do anything sets her sights on her. Looks like Shego's night is packed full of adventure.
Flirting, not my forte. Still, I hope Kim's antics came across as such. Now that the cats out of the bag, fun and frivolity should hopefully soon follow.
~o0o~