There's Still Fireworks: Part X
"Oh Relax, I'm a Doctor"
Standing upright while joined at the hip wasn't quite as bad as trying to sit together in the seat of Steve Barkin's pickup truck, but it still wasn't as comfortable as the teens would have preferred. Kim was having the worst of it, since she was normally the more active of the two, and their sitch wasn't two different than a three-legged race like the pair used to participate during Field Day back in elementary school. As a matter of fact, it was slightly worse, since Kim's longer legs forced Ron to try and keep up.
Oddly enough, they had more problems trying to get from the office out to the parking lot than they had earlier when the gruff educator ordered them to his office. At least then they were still running on adrenaline and it wasn't until they both had time to think about what was happening to them that they realized their gaits were different. It was akin to the old joke about stopping a centipede in its tracks by asking it what order it moved its legs in.
Both of them had their hearts in their throats when they got home and saw both Kim's Mom's mini-van and her Dad's bronze luxury car sitting in the drive. Kim, at least, was sure that neither would be overly concerned about them being glued together like that. After all, they had been through worse, such as the time they switched brains. No, the problem wasn't the what…but the why.
They were both in uncharted territory, at least as far as their personal lives were concerned. She was reasonably sure that her Mom would be understanding about how they ended up stuck together, but that wasn't the biggest problem. It wasn't her Dad either, though he would probably want to have another 'Fam-to-Ron' chat about what a young man and his girlfriend should properly be doing.
No, the worst of it was that they were both breaking the rules at the time. Kim wasn't perfect, in fact, she was far from it, but she always prided herself in being rather conscientious about following the proper path. She fully expected the words 'you are grounded' to be spoken once the dust settled.
Ron, on the other hand, was just about beside himself, worrying exactly what her Dad would have in store for him. Only a very short week had gone by since he was told what kind of trouble he would be in, so the concept of being launched in a deep space probe to the nearest black hole weighed heavily on his normally unfocused mind.
They both felt about three feet tall as the large man led them toward the front door of her house. So far they had heard him give a rather terse explanation of their general situation, not yet mentioning the part about them kissing in the hallway. That seemed to lend some credence to the supposed vindictive nature of the teacher Ron was so convinced about. It was as if he wanted to be there in person to deliver the 'bad' news.
"Drs Possible." He said calmly as they opened the door, both of them looking concerned, though for all intents and purposes, nothing seemed amiss other than the fact the teens were standing side-by-side on the stoop. A very slight smile and a roll of the eyes from Kim's Mom told her that the concern didn't go too deep, at least at the moment.
"Okay, kids, I've got a microscope set up in the kitchen. Let's take a look at what's going on." The older red-head turned to Barkin. "Thanks for bringing them home."
"Don't mention it, Dr. Possible." He leveled his gaze on the couple, who were still standing immovable on the stoop, making them shrink even further. "I'll see the two of you in my office first thing Monday morning."
Ron looked like he was about to speak, but either had the presence of mind not to, or simply was frozen like a deer in the headlights. All Kim could muster was a tiny, embarrassed smile.
"I'll let you take it from here. I'm due at a rugby match. Good afternoon."
Kim and Ron looked each other in the eye, then watched as Mr. Barkin got back into his pickup and drove off. Neither could believe what had just happened.
"He didn't mention…" Ron started, only to have Kim pinch his waist slightly.
"Ixnay on the issingkay." She whispered. Slowly it dawned on her boyfriend that they were actually given some kind of reprieve, though for what reason, neither of them could fathom.
They followed Kim's parents into the kitchen, still moving as if they were learning to walk all over again. Every so often they would put some stress on the bond, and it would glow blue for just a moment, but they remained resolutely stuck together all the same. The agent wasn't showing any signs of weakening.
"How did this happen?" Kim's Mom asked, sitting down behind a compact electronic microscope set up on the kitchen table.
"I had this thingy we must have accidentally gotten from Professor Dementor, filled with whatever has us stuck together, and it went off." She bit her lower lip slightly, a tiny bit ashamed for leaving off the other important factor.
She had them stand in front of the device, looking closely at the small screen.
James cast a baleful glance at Ron. "The two of you weren't doing anything…inappropriate, were you?"
"Inna…us? Nooooo!" Ron said quickly, sweating profusely as the graying scientist narrowed his eyes at him. "What would make you think that?"
"Call it a father's intuition." He said easily.
"Dear, if you think by scaring him you'll make him sweat enough to make the glue come off, it won't work." Kim's Mom said as she studied the image.
James' face lost its intensity, letting Ron relax just slightly. "Sorry, honey, I just saw this thing once on the television where a doctor scared a little boy with a big needle so the things he super-glued to his face would fall off. Just trying to help."
"James, that was a cartoon, this is real life. Interesting. There's a high density molecular process involved in this bonding agent."
"What does that mean?" Kim asked, peering over the device so she could see what her Mom was looking at.
"It's a sticky situation." Her Dad said with a slight chuckle.
"Ha! Good one!" His wife laughed.
"Thanks."
"So not helping." Kim gruffed, slowly getting past their near miss involving their kiss.
Her Mom just shook her head. "Sorry, dear. We deal in science…"
"…not mad science." James finished for her.
Kim pulled out a chair and started to sit down, momentarily forgetting the extra one hundred forty pounds attached to her side. She slumped slightly and pulled another chair alongside with her foot so they could both sit down.
"What are we going to do?" She asked, almost whining.
"I'm certain you and your new beau will think of something." Her Mom said, trying to be helpful. "A little togetherness isn't going to hurt you, especially now."
That caused her husband to look Ron in the eye once more, making it clear there were limits to what 'togetherness' would mean for the two sixteen-year-olds.
"This isn't exactly what I had in mind." She gave Ron a sidelong glance, smiling ironically.
"We were going to the movies tonight." Ron suggested.
Kim just shook her head. "Nuh-uh. I'm so not going out dressed like this. I'm not even sure how we're going to change our clothes."
Her Mom leaned closer, sniffing the air ever so slightly. "Among other things."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron asked.
"What it means," her Mom started, "Is that, based on the rate of decay of the molecular bonds in the formula, is that the two of you are stuck together for the foreseeable future, unless Wade can come up with some kind of solvent that will work on it, or he can locate the villain who did this to you, you are both going to have to live with each other. That means there are certain…issues that are going to have to be dealt with." She leveled her gaze at her daughter's eyes. "For instance, somebody is in desperate need of a shower."
"Ugh!" Kim planted her face on the table top, her hair spilling all around it.
"What's the big deal? I can go a couple days…" Ron started.
"Ron, she means me." Kim moaned, not raising her head. "I didn't shower after practice. You mean you haven't noticed?"
He just shrugged. "Uh, no, not really. I still don't see what the big deal is."
Kim looked up at him with an arched eyebrow. "The big deal is you're going to be right there in the shower with me."
"I…ohhhhh." His eyes lit up as the implications sank in.
"I'm not sure I'm all that happy with the way this conversation is turning." James said coldly, crossing his arms and once again locking the younger man with his disapproving stare.
"I think in this case, necessity overrides propriety." Kim's Mom said, laying a comforting hand on her husband's arm. "Just like when they switched brains."
Kim turned deep crimson. There were certain…problems that arose during that crisis, not the least of which were situations very similar to what they were experiencing then. She had been a fifteen year old girl inside a fifteen year old boy's body. At first she had secretly been delighted to learn that he was in much better shape than she imagined. He was nearly as strong as she was, which helped tremendously when it came to fighting Shego and Drakken's goons.
No, the problems came when she got back home, and realized that her long-time best friend had downed quite a large quantity of pop before they brains got switched, and as a result, she ended up having to consult her mother on the problem.
Ron obviously had similar issues, but he never actually spoke of them. Fortunately, that sitch only lasted overnight, and they were back in their proper bodies the very next.
Kim had considered how the more physical aspects of their new relationship might unfold, not so much about 'if' certain things were going to happen, but when. In her mind, she was planning for their relationship to be around for the long-haul, regardless of what she had already told him about 'testing the waters.' Thinking along those lines was like planning to break up, and that kind of negative thinking couldn't be healthy for them.
Still, the 'when' that involved such things as taking a shower or bath together was a long, long way off…as in when they got married many years later, or at least when they were properly adults.
A whole plethora of uncomfortable situations were laid out in front of them. Besides her need for a shower, there were more immediate needs to think of, needs she didn't even know if she could accomplish given their predicament. She didn't even know if they would even be able to change clothes, let alone do things like go take care of 'business.'
James finally excused himself and basically made himself scarce as Kim's Mom put on her 'doctor's' hat and let the two upstairs to ponder exactly how they would accomplish the feat. They looked at each other, her Mom, the wall, even the beckoning tub, until finally Kim had to admit defeat, at least for the moment.
"I got nothin." She moaned, sitting down on the edge of the tub, taking Ron down with her.
"Maybe we could wear bathing suits?" Ron ventured.
"Now there is a capital idea." Kim's Mom replied.
"Uh, hello." Kim muttered. "That still means we have to change clothes. Exactly how are we supposed to do that?"
"It's nothing both of you haven't seen before, and in this case, I'm sure the both of you can be mature enough to behave properly." The older Possible said, looking her distraught daughter in the eye.
"Mom!"
"KP, how about this." He got her to stand back up, and with a little doing, he managed to shift the point their bodies were joined together to their upper backs.
"That is certainly interesting." Her Mom said. "Are you sure if you keep moving it around it simply won't let go?"
"We tried that, Mom. No dice."
"Hmmm. Well, at least let me go get your suits…if you can still wear the one we have here, Ronald."
Kim made a slight noise. "Big as they are, he could down nothing but Bueno Nacho and Cow and Chow for weeks and he could still wear them."
"Right." She left and moments later returned with the suits. "If you feel more comfortable, I can act as a chaperone."
"Uh…" It was Ron's turn to blush crimson.
"Oh relax. After all, I am a doctor."
"No offense, Mrs. Dr. P, but it's not my brain your gonna be looking at." He sputtered out.
"Suit yourself." She chuckled slightly.
"What's so funny?" He asked, craning his neck to he could see Kim, though just barely.
Kim rolled her eyes. "You're putting your suit on, yourself."
"Still got it." She said as she closed the door on the two of them.
It still was more difficult than they realized. Kim went first, Ron keeping his hands firmly clamped over his eyes lest he see something she didn't want him to in the mirror. Rufus, who had taken up station on the counter, did the same. He had to fight down the notion that, for a moment, Kim was partially naked as she slipped into a two-piece suit. She got him to help her shift their connection to their backsides so she could change tops, all the while with him shielding his eyes.
Kim returned the favor as he changed into the long board shorts.
"Well, we survived that ordeal." He said, letting out a huge sigh as he tied the string at his waist.
Kim favored him with a slight grin, even though he wasn't in a position to see it. "So me being naked in the same room with you is an ordeal?"
"Yes, I mean, no, I…mean. KP, you're beautiful, but I just don't think we're ready and all."
"I know, I'm just playing you, Ronnie. At least now we know we're not stuck in the same clothes. Not that it matters all that much for you." She picked up his red jersey, which had been discarded in a pile of clothes on the floor.
"Uh huh, yeah, so says the girl who wore the same lime-green tank top almost every day last year."
"Touché. So, you ready to take our first shower together?"
"Uh, sure?" He replied, not quite so sure he was 'sure.' "Hey, I just realized, I don't think I've ever seen you in a two-piece before."
Kim blushed slightly. "Monique talked me into buying it a couple days ago. I was hoping to let you see it the first time when the beach at Lake Middleton opens."
"Badical." He twisted around, trying to get a good look at it in the bathroom mirror. "I can't wait to see it on you, you know, without being stuck to your back."
"So, how do we do this?" She asked, pondering the tub.
"We uh, get wet?"
"Thank you, Captain Obvious." She reached back and gave his hand a slight squeeze. "Think we should wiggle around and face each other?"
He considered that for a moment, then shook his head. "Um, I don't think now's a good time, KP. Better stay back to back."
"Okay." She was slightly disappointed, until she realized...
...Ron probably had a good reason to be facing away from her, given the involuntary reaction his body must be having to their sitch.
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