~o0o~
Shego floated above the hallway, the dreamscape of her adoptive parents mansion an indistinct haze around her. She smiled at Wesley and Wendell in their cute, matching bear costumes as she passed them by, and snickered at the vibrant pink tutu Hego was decked out in; ballet shoes and all as he pirouetted on a table. It all meant something to her, but right now she couldn't think of what because of her concern for Kim.
She landed outside her bedroom, or Kim's, or maybe theirs, and flung the door open, but there was no sign of Kim. Frowning, she marched over to the bathroom door and banged on it.
"You done?" she called out. "How's the damage?"
"I'm fine. Never better," Kim replied.
"I'll be the judge of that!" she said, throwing up her hands in annoyance. She sat on the edge of the bed and glared at the barrier separating the two of them, It bothered her more than she could put into words. A whole ten seconds passed before she leaped to her feet and moved back to the door, the situation intolerable
"You coming out or not?" she growled.
"Some of us need to get dressed, and to look after our wounds," Kim replied. "Be patient."
Shego snorted in frustration and began to pace back and forth.
"Look, just open the door and I'll help," she snapped.
She raised a glowing fist as she gauged the strength of the door. Kim's injuries, the unknown, they were too close to the bottomless pit of pain that was her loss of Rachel. She needed to know that Kim was truly okay, bombarded by the knowledge that this was how Kim had ended up after their past fights.
"Hang on a sec," Kim called out.
Shego sighed in relief as the handle turned, then she shoved the door open and stepped inside. She relaxed a little at seeing Kim, or as much as she could see with a fluffy white towel in the way. It hid more than she wanted, more than she needed, her chest tightening at all the colorful bruises that marred Kim's skin.
"Dammit, Kimmie! You shouldn't have to be my punching bag!"
"I get to decide that," Kim replied.
Shego stepped forwards. Kim met her step for step, glare for glare. She would never back down when Kim was involved, no matter how complicated it made everything. Even if she did retreat, Kim would immediately know something was up. Right now, she ached to reach out and take Kim's hand. All these months of being apart and here they were, so close. She needed to be strong, but the want building within could only be denied for so long.
"You. Bed," she said, grabbing the medical kit and pointing over her shoulder.
"I'm fine. I can look after myself," Kim replied.
"No, you can't." She dropped to her knees and gently lifted one of Kim's ankles. "Look, for this you'll need a delicate touch."
She paused and looked up into wide eyes, warm, delectable skin beneath her fingertips. It was a trap, and one that she had set and sprung herself.
She wanted Kim.
Kim wanted her.
Consequences be damned.
The dream world faded away, leaving only the bench that Kim was leaning against.
Shego shuffled closer and ran her hand up Kim's leg, then past her knee to the soft, silken skin of her inner thigh. Kim shivered beneath her, offering no complaint. Slowly, as if expecting resistance, she parted the towel to reveal Kim's slim waist, perfect abs, and panties, the underwear plain white, functional and very much in the way. They needed to go, now. She hooked her fingers under their waistband, Kim's fingers curling in her hair as she inched them down. She pulled them to Kim's knees and drank in the sight of her arousal, then slid the underwear the rest of the way down and tossed them aside.
Biting her lip, she eagerly positioned herself between Kim's parting legs.
"Shego, yes!" Kim begged, arching back.
Shego needed no further urging as she placed tender, needy kisses along Kim's stomach, bringing breathless whimpers from above. She made her way down … down … as she savored the heady smell of Kim's excitement, inhaling deeply. It was a scent she remembered well, the tantalizing aroma shifting her libido into overdrive. And the memory of that taste, it called to her.
An exploratory kiss disappeared between velvety folds, turning into deep, fervent licks.
"Ohhh…! Oh God! Oh God! Oh! Oh…!" Kim softly cried as she pulled Shego closer.
Shego suddenly found her head held in a vice-like grip as Kim ground against her face, her lover's need superseding her own. She no longer knew who was doing who, and didn't care. The sweat, the heat, the aphrodisiac taste on her tongue, it was all as intoxicating as fuck. She willingly surrendered as Kim increased her tempo, her face soaked in Kim's arousal.
A low, deep moan escaped her throat.
"D-Don't– Gawd! P-Please don't stooop!" Kim softly cried as she continued to grind her hips into Shego.
Shego held on tight as she sucked on those beautiful, swollen lips, her rapidly flicking tongue eliciting a chorus of breathless exclamations from above. She raked her nails down Kim's ass even as she undid her own shorts, a hand disappearing between her legs to pleasure herself. This was going to be good. This was going to be big. And this time there was no annoying brother to stop–
"Shez?"
That name, that voice, it thundered through her dream world, yet she resisted the call to wake.
"Shez, you okay?"
Shego opened her eyes and looked up into worried face of Hego, his hand gently shaking her shoulder.
"Mmnwutizzit…?" she croaked, more asleep than awake.
"I think you were having a nightmare?" Hego said.
She blinked a few times before the full force of her erotic dream hit her, then she turned a brilliant shade of green. Sitting up, she pulled the sheet around herself. She tingled all over, a tight, needy heat that ached to be released, made even worse by the fact that Kim was just upstairs.
Hego backed away at her frustrated glare.
"Breakfast will be ready soon," he said, from behind the safety of a chair. "Margaret says you should go wake Kim."
She didn't know what expression she gave him, but it was enough to make him leave the room in a hurry.
Why? she thought.
She collapsed against the sofa, staring at the ceiling.
Why'd he have to wake me?
She adjusted her position, biting her lip at the delicious sensations running through her. She had been so close in the dream, and so much closer in real life. If she had her own room or bathroom right now, she would be a very happy person with only a few moments of frantic activity. Unfortunately, she didn't have any privacy. Kim occupied her room and her her life for the next few weeks.
Maybe a shower? Even if Kimmie is outside? She pondered this option. No. No way. Not happening.
She cleared her mind as best she could, then headed upstairs. Behind her, she listened to the happy, family sounds coming from the kitchen. That wasn't her, not for years. Not since the meteor. However, it did mean she had the whole upstairs to herself. Well, herself and Kim.
She walked along the hallway and stopped at her bedroom door, a hand on the doorknob.
She could've just hopped out of the shower… The erotic dream was suddenly there. Or changing… Again with the sexy dream. Or sleeping in that negligee…
She dragged her hands down her face to rid herself of the provocative images. It didn't work, but her annoyance with everything else did. She glared at the door as if it was somehow personally responsible for her woes, then knocked. There was no immediate answer, so she opened it and stepped inside. It was dark and quiet in her room, a sleeping shape curled up under the sheet on the bed.
"Wake up, sleepyhead," she quietly called out.
There was no response.
"Kimmie, time to wake up."
Still no response.
She rolled her eyes and walked over to the bed, a feeling of déjà vu washing over her. She had been here before, Kim injured and needing to be woken. With how Kim had been after yesterday's scuffle, she was betting that Kim would barely be able to move this morning.
I heal fast, she doesn't. Hm… maybe she'll be out of it for the whole week?
She perked up at the prospect. Looking after Kim for a few days or more left her in the dominant role, and that was a situation she could handle. She hummed a happy little ditty as she sat on the edge of the bed
"Kimmie," she said, reaching over and resting a hand on her side.
There was no reaction.
She let her amused gaze roam over Kim's sheet-covered form as she pondered her options. There was a time when the mere sound of her voice had sent Kim into a defensive stance, ready for action. And now here they were sleeping in the same house, potentially the same bed.
How the mighty have fallen.
She was never one to let her dreams and nightmares dictate her actions, well not for long anyways. Besides, it would be much more fun to wake Kim face to face. She nimbly shuffled across the bed and sat cross-legged next to Kim, a hand ending up on Kim's hip.
"Kimmie, time to wake up," she said, gently prodding Kim's side.
"Five more minutes…" Kim mumbled, clutching her pillow tighter.
"Up, now!"
"One more minute…"
"How about ten seconds? Then I drag your sorry ass outta bed."
"But I'm on holiday?" Kim whined, cracking open an eye.
"Don't care."
She removed her hand as Kim rolled onto her back, offering no complaint as Kim ended up against her. One small body shouldn't produce so much heat, and it seared into her. Kim stretched beneath the sheet then smiled at her, Kim's hair a disheveled mess. She looked incredibly cute, wild, and untamed, and everything that Shego was trying to resist. Desire, want, need, all rolled up into a cute little ball of kryptonite called Kim Possible.
"Wow, I didn't even hear you get up," Kim said, rubbing her eyes.
Um? Shego thought.
"Didn't hear you come to bed, either."
"You didn't?" Shego's said, surprised.
"Yeah, I was out like a light as soon as my head hit the pillow."
She didn't wait up for me?
"Had more jet lag than I thought. And after that impromptu sparring match… Well, I was running on fumes."
Ah, Shego thought, understanding kicking in.
"I love your pajamas," Kim stated.
Shego glanced down at her overly large Wham! t-shirt then back at Kim. Even though the shirt was a dirty white, its image faded, it was a favorite of hers. It begged the question, what had Kim slept in – the negligee or something more mundane. Her question was answered as Kim freed her arms from beneath the sheet, and Shego was relieved to see regular pajamas.
"Knock Wham! and we're gonna have words!" Shego stated.
"Oh, I wouldn't. I just never pegged you for a fan?"
"I'm an eighties girl by accident, so George is my boy." She straightened her shirt to give Kim a better view. It felt nice just sitting here and chatting, no sex or relationship questions in the way, and no world ending dilemmas for either of them to worry about. "After the meteor, there was this scientist who loved playing their songs every chance she got. They were so different to everything I had grown up with."
She grimaced as she remembered the fateful day that she and her brothers had escaped the government facility.
"Dr. Patterson, Jane, she was–"
That last bit had just slipped out.
She could see that Kim desperately wanted to question her on that name, but she didn't.
"So," Kim said, breaking the silence between them.
"So?" Shego replied.
"What are our plans for the day?"
"Well, right now, breakfast. So hurry up and get dressed, or I'm throwing you under the bus for why we're late."
They sat there and looked at each other for a few seconds before Shego realized that she was the one stopping Kim from getting up. She hadn't moved from Kim's side since she had sat down. She feigned ignorance as she admired her nails, no reason to make things easy for Kim; at least until she was asked. Kim huffed as she tugged the sheet aside and sat up, then she did an almighty stretch. It pulled her top up, and Shego's gaze naturally drifted back to what was on display: a perfect waist and cute, little belly button.
She bit her lip then frowned, something wrong.
Where are the bruises? She should be black and blue all over. She looked at Kim's bare arms, neck and face, no evidence of yesterday's tussle. She scooted closer and grabbed the hem of Kim's shirt, Kim grabbing her wrist.
"Kimmie, what that hell?"
"What?!" Kim replied, holding on tight to Shego's hand.
"Your bruises?" Shego snapped. "Where are they?"
"Oh! Um, would you believe a miracle?"
"No!"
"Then how about DNAmy?"
Shego stopped in mid-tirade. It made perfect sense, and at the same time it didn't.
"Take your top off! Lemme see!" she demanded.
Kim's wide eyes were accompanied by a gasp from behind, and Shego turned to see Wendell standing in the doorway.
"Henry was right," Wendell whispered, breaking into a smile. He grabbed the door and started to pull it shut. "Breakfast is ready, better hurry."
"Wen, it's not–" The door closed. It's not what you think. She stared at the wooden barrier for a few seconds before rounding on Kim. "This is all your fault!"
"Me?" Kim squeaked.
~o0o~
Time to face the music, Kim thought, looking out the car window.
She had not planned for this day to happen, but things had snowballed over breakfast. The trip to San Siro had started out as a simple question about the picturesque town by herself, then a suggestion by Hego, followed by an enthusiastic chorus from Wesley and Wendell, and finally an emphatic 'yes' by Mrs. Sacks. After that there had been a whirlwind of activity, and before Kim knew it they were all headed into town. All except Shego. Now it was late in the evening, and Kim knew that Shego would be really annoyed with her.
She'll think I spent the entire day trying to avoid her questioning me about my healing.
She glanced at the large takeaway meal in her lap, then back at the unlit mansion before them. While spending time at the local festival had followed her plan of being aloof but friendly, Shego had emphatically told her 'We'll talk about you and your healing after breakfast' – and then they hadn't.
Yeah, the local cuisine ain't gonna smooth this one over.
She sighed and leaned against the window, looking up at the approaching mansion. It looked even more impressive in just the moonlight, its architecture doing strange things to the eye. She put it down to her mindset and who would be waiting for her.
In the old days we'd just throw some punches and kicks at each other when we had a problem. She sighed in fond remembrance. Never thought words would be so much more complicated than a flaming fist.
She exited the car and headed inside with everyone else, a few Wesley and Wendell copies turning on the lights ahead of them. In a few moments the house went from dark and foreboding to warm and welcoming, Kim looking around for Shego. She wasn't in the lounge or the living room, so Kim trotted into the kitchen to put the takeaway in the oven.
Guess she's up in her room. I'll just–
"She'll be out by the pool," Mr. Sacks said from behind.
"The pool?" Kim replied.
"I know my daughter, so that's where she'll be. There's a lot of happy memories for her out there."
Kim had learned quite a few things over the last day and a half, and the most surprising fact was that she was not the world's foremost expert on Shego like she had believed. Shego had a family, had grown up with them, while Kim had only known her for a few years. Intense, dramatic years, but not that long in the scheme of things. She thanked Mr. Sacks and headed out into the backyard, easily spotting Shego on a deckchair by the pool. Shego had her eyes closed and some headphones on, and was still in the same shirt as this morning, but with the addition of her denim shorts from yesterday. She looked asleep or at least very relaxed, and Kim found herself loathe to disturb her.
She looks fine. Guess I was overreacting for no reason.
"How was your day?" Shego asked, opening her eyes. "Did you have a nice time?"
"It was great,"Kim replied, her Spidey senses tingling.
"That's wonderful," Shego exclaimed, her expression warm and friendly. "You'll have to tell me all about it over dinner?"
Ohhh, geeez! This is bad! She could see behind the veil. She's being waaay too nice. She's super mega-pissed.
She steeled herself for the oncoming storm and headed around the pool, meeting Shego halfway. They ended up only a foot apart, Shego's hands on her hips. Kim found it totally unfair that she couldn't just take Shego's hand or give her a hug without everything else coming into play, since Shego looked absolutely stunning in this light. Then there was the heat radiating from her body, totally compounding Kim's issues. She made sure she kept her eyes up, knowing she would be lost if she admired those long legs.
"Cute," Shego said, pointing at Kim's face.
"Isn't it?" Kim replied, touching her cheek where she'd had some face painting done.
"A cat?"
"Uh-huh, a black one. I'm actually thinking about adopting a kitty."
"S'funny."
"What's that?"
"I'm a cat person too."
Kim felt the enormous possibilities opening up around them with that simple connection, but there was still Shego's suppressed anger to worry about. She held back a happy gasp as Shego lightly touched the artwork on her cheek, then Shego seemed to realize what she was doing and quickly pulled her hand back. Kim pushed her giddy emotions down, watching as Shego rubbed her paint-tinted fingers together.
"Kimmie–"
"Shego–"
Before Kim could continue, Shego's gaze narrowed over her shoulder.
"I'll meet you inside, I need to have a talk with my brother, "Shego said, her voice filled with menacing overtones. "
Kim turned to find Hego out by the pool in his swimming trunks, a towel over his broad shoulders. They had all talked about a late night swim once they got home, Hego the first to arrive on this balmy summer's eve. Kim's gaze darted between Shego and Hego, seeing all of Shego's bottled up anger coming into play.
She's actually angry at Hego, not me? But why? We've been in town all day.
Kim found Shego's hand on her shoulder as she was gently but firmly ushered inside, then she was left to stare out through the window as Shego went and talked with Hego. Kim could not hear what was being said, but the conversation seemed to start out friendly enough. That did not last long. The exasperation in Hego's body language became obvious, as was the annoyance in Shego's. And as biased as Kim was towards Shego, she was proud that Hego was standing up to his sister.
Should I intervene? she thought as Shego's and Hego's gestures became even more emphatic.
"It's interesting, isn't it?" Mrs. Sacks said from behind.
"Pardon?" Kim said, glancing over her shoulder.
"The way she fights over you."
Is she? No way! But is she? They're certainly arguing, but is it really about me?
"She just doesn't realize it," Mrs. Sacks said, moving up next to Kim. "I love her dearly, and all I want is for her to be happy again. But she's been through so much."
"I know she lost someone," Kim said, her fingers touching the image of Shego through the glass.
"What happened to her was horrible, horrendous. As was everything else they went through."
Oh? Her brothers as well? Geez, what actually happened after the meteor? I have pieces of the puzzle, but still know so little.
"She was so angry with the world for so long," Mrs. Sacks said, staring out the window. "Then one day she shows up out of the blue, and tells me she's going into villainy."
That topic certainly caught Kim's attention, pulling her away from the shenanigans going on outside.
"In a roundabout way she wanted my understanding, and for everything to be okay between us," Mrs. Sacks said. "I'd just been confirmed as the head of a U.N department tasked with meta-human, super-villain, and human interaction, and she knew her actions would raise a serious conflict of interest for me."
"What did you do?" Kim asked, softly.
"As a mother, her mother." She gave Kim a tight smile. "I gave her my blessing."
Wow!
"And I've never regretted it."
Kim squeezed Mrs. Sacks hands in support. She could see the strong emotions in the woman's eyes even after all these years, and it was the decision she hoped her own mother would make if their roles were reversed. That her mom had already backed her on her same sex relationship brought up a sense of kinship with Mrs. Sacks. She decided that now was the perfect time to ask a certain question, one that she knew Shego would never answer.
"Team Go, the real reason it fell apart, was it because of what happened between her and Henry?" Kim asked.
"Interesting question," Mrs. Sacks replied. She pursed her lips as she studied Kim. "You're quite astute, I'll have to remember that."
Kim flashed her a smile, then returned to watching the goings on outside. She was just in time to see Shego poke Hego in the shoulder with a glowing finger which resulted in an eruption of blue and green sparks and a loud crack. Kim jumped and came down in a fighting stance, but she quickly registered that Mrs. Sacks hadn't reacted at all. Clearly she was used to the unique and violent interaction of her adopted children's glows.
~o0o~
Kim sat in her bed, or Shego's, or possible theirs as she not-so-patiently waited to see if Shego would join her tonight. She understood why Shego had played hooky last night, yet she felt things were different now. Shego had returned to her normal snarky self after her explosive talk with Hego, so the rest of the evening had been fairly relaxed between everyone involved.
Why am I even bothering to read?
She huffed and dropped her book onto her lap, realizing that she wasn't taking a thing in. She had far too much nervous energy running through her system right now.
Lesbian erotica's probably not the best thing to be reading, anyways.
She put her book aside and reached for her tablet. It was time to distract herself with the internet.
Let's see what's on MyTube.
She was one cat video in when the door opened, Shego stepping inside.
"We need to talk!" Shego stated, before Kim could offer a greeting.
Uh-oh! Kim thought. Those were not the sort of words you wanted to hear and certainly not in that tone. She crossed her legs to make more room on the bed, but got a shaken head of no in return.
"Get dressed," Shego said, her gaze lingering on the bathroom door. "We're going out!"
"Where– I mean, okay. What should I wear?" Kim called out as Shego left the room.
"Something comfortable," came the reply as the door closed.
Well, that was strange, Kim thought.
She jumped out of bed and rummaged through her suitcase for something appropriate. Comfortable covered most of what she had brought, so she was spoilt for choice. Shego's ominous wording had already been pushed aside, and now she was wholly focused on this late light, clandestine rendezvous with her paramour. It all sounded so mysterious, and she couldn't change fast enough. She almost fell over a few times as she hurriedly pulled on her shorts, a top chosen completely at random. She added some deodorant, and put her hair up in a ponytail, then gave herself the once over in a mirror.
Yep, this'll do, she thought, and reached for the door.
~o~
I should've brought all this picnic stuff up with me the first time, Shego thought, a picnic basket and an outdoor blanket in her hands. I knew she'd be awake, waiting for me. She continued to grumble to herself as she marched along the hallway, Kim foremost in her thoughts. She didn't want her to be, but a sexy morning dream will do that to you. Her weakening resolve clashed with the fantasy as it blossomed into something new.
So she buys me dinner, and expects me to sleep with her– Sleep in the bed with her! Sleep in the bed!
She dragged a hand down her face.
Argh! Head out of the gutter, girl. Get yer head out of the gutter, and in the game.
She stopped at her bedroom door and adjusted her load.
Kimmie in some sweats, and then we can hash things out. Grill her on why the hell she can heal, and stuff. Margaret's always said that talking's the best, and Dr. Erikson's wanted me to open up with Kimmie for a while now. She patted the basket, the clink of bottles coming from inside. But I'm gonna do it my way. Some liquid courage for me, and it'll be fun to boot.
We'll talk, and then we can–
The door opened before she could knock, her jaw dropping.
Then we can–
Kim stood before her in a sexy crop top and shorts, her cheeks lightly flushed.
We can–
Fuck!
Yes, she had said 'something comfortable', but she had not expected this. Somewhere in the background she acknowledged that Kim's outfit wasn't that revealing, but those mostly bare shoulders and toned abs screamed at her to climb them. She dragged her eyes back up to Kim's face, that taught, bare midriff and cute, little belly button - well, they took her breath away. She quickly brushed past Kim and energetically kicked the door shut, receiving a quizzical look in return. It was too cute, her resistance crumbling once again. She smiled as she brushed her hair back, Kim smiling in return. Having miles of ocean between the two of them had been her saving grace, now here they were. Real life, it was far more alluring than any lonely island fantasy.
I didn't think this plan through!
"Here, let me help," Kim said, moving in close to relieve Shego of the blanket.
Damn, she smells good!
"That looks heavy?" Kim said, pointing at the basket. "What's in it?"
"Yeah, it's– You should get it pierced," Shego blurted out.
She had said it without thinking, no way to take it back. She had an up close view as her meaning sunk in, Kim's eyes going wide as she protectively covered her navel.
"Oh, I-I couldn't. It'd hurt too much," Kim said.
It'd hurt? That's bullshit! "Kimmie, you fight super-villains, aliens, and giant robots, and you're worried about a piercing?"
"They're different! Getting a piercing would be way worse!"
Shego stared dumbfoundedly at Kim. She had always assumed that the reason was because of Kim's hero work, not a silly little thing like this. An idea came to her, and she liked it. Kim needed a piercing, and she was just the one to make it happen. And since Kim was currently staying with her, she had the perfect opportunity.
Where to start? She pictured Kim with pierced ears. Or… lower?
"Not happening, Shego!"
"Hey, I didn't say a thing."
"I know you, and that's your plotting face!" She crossed her arms. "I've already gotten you a present, so forget it!"
"Whatever you say, Cupcake."
Kim frowned at her with suspicion, and she had every right to do so.
Yeah, she's so getting a navel ring, Shego thought. "Shall we get this party started, Princess?" She pointed at the balcony doors. "'Cause we're going thataway."
"The veranda?"
"Even better."
She walked over to the double doors and threw them open, then leaped over the railing. She nimbly landed on a small section of the roof and with a quick backflip she was on the ground.
"Don't fall behind," she called out.
She didn't wait for a reply, instead she ignited her free hand and sprinted off into the dark. With a full moon and a cool breeze off the lake, it was the perfect evening to be outside – and she knew exactly where she wanted to be. She leaped over hedges and flowerbeds, and darted around trees, knowing that Kim would be close behind. Her destination was a small copse of trees down by the lake. A hideaway of sorts, where she had spent many hours after she and her brothers had first moved here. It wasn't a secret, but it was hers.
She slid to a stop amongst a circle of trees, Kim arriving a second later. They stood in the small clearing, moonlight filtering down through the leaves and sparkling off the lake. Glow bugs danced in the air, accompanied by the soft sound of crickets all around. It felt like they were the only two on earth, a magical place just for them. She was quite aware of the romantic connotations of her spot, but that wasn't why they were here. She wanted privacy, true privacy, somewhere where people wouldn't hear them talking.
"Shego, it's beautiful," Kim said, turning around in wonder.
Shego grunted in acknowledgement as she put the picnic basket down, then she relieved Kim of the blanket and unfurled it over the grassy ground.
"Shall we play a game?" she asked, sitting down.
Kim sat beside her in a heartbeat. "What sort of game?"
"Truth and truth." She held up a finger as Kim opened her mouth. "We take turns asking each other questions, and we have to answer them honestly. The trick is." She opened up the picnic basket and lifted out a bottle of vodka. "The trick is you have to take a shot before asking."
"But I'm–"
"Old enough to drink in Italy," Shego said, cutting Kim off. She put the bottle of vodka down and pulled out another. "Kimmie, you're a girl of the world, and you know perfectly well that you're allowed to drink in most countries. But hey, if you don't wanna play." She leaned back on her hands. "You can head back to the house, and I'll see you in the morning."
She had her, she knew it the moment that Kim did not raise another objection. Now she just had to wait while Kim justified it all to herself. Kim's ideals were what made her the hero she was, but Shego knew that Kim loosening up could only be good for her.
A drink here, a piercing there, and a maybe cute little tattoo… down… there.
~o~
Anything? Kim thought. I can ask her anything? I just have to– have to– Ohh, geez. I am in so much trouble.
Shego had once again opened up the Pandora's box of her life, but this time there was a gatekeeper. Kim stared out over the lake as her need to know warred with her inner-self. Not too long ago it would have been an easy choice, but now…
Can I have a drink?
Can I really?
It's totally legal, here.
With that sentence, she had lost. She was going to drink – and lots of it too. She had so many questions that needed to be asked. That Shego had once promised to get her drunk did not escape her either. She chewed on her lip as Shego brought out more bottles of alcohol, along with cheese, nuts, salami, and loads of fruit.
She knew I'd stay. She leaned forwards and picked up a bottle of vodka. "Your evil," she stated.
"And don't you forget it, Cupcake."
"I can ask you anything?"
"Yep"
"And a drink on every question, even the follow-up ones?"
"That's for the questionee to decide."
"So how… do we do this?"
"Like this."
Shego dropped a few shot glasses onto the blanket in-between them, picked one up, filled it from an unlabeled bottle, then sculled it. She grimaced, shaking her head.
"Fuck your dad's stuff is disgusting, I love it!"
"My dad's?" She looked at the bottle, no way to tell if it was or not. "How'd you get more of it?"
"Uh-uh-ah, I'm asking the first question, remember?" She settled herself in and poured herself a scotch, then saluted Kim with her drink and downed it. "And I'm having a second because of my glow. But you… since when do you fucking heal?"
"Really, it's not that complicated," Kim replied.
"Uh-huh."
"You and Mom healed me in DNAmy's machine, and it left me with some weird regenerative powers."
"Weird how?"
"As in some injurues it heals, and others it doesn't. I'm pretty sure it's wearing off as well. So I'm guessing I'll be back to being a normal, everyday girl in no time at all."
"Kimmie, I'm not even going to touch on you and normal. But I saw Amy's and Drew's notes, and there was nothing in there about healing. Whatever this is." She waved her hand over Kim. "It's not from what they did to you."
They didn't? Ohh, shoot! I really shoulda told Mom, and I shouldn't have hidden it from Wade.
"I bet you haven't even told anyone? Wait, don't answer that. I already know the answer."
Kim poked her tongue out as she digested Shego's revelation.
"Look, talk to Wade and get yourself checked out, or I'm telling your mom. But for now." She pushed the bottle of vodka closer to Kim. "It's your turn."
Oh.
"I snagged it from Alan's liquor cabinet, so it's the good stuff."
Well, here I go, Kim thought. She poured herself a drink, the liquid making far more sound than it should have to her ears. Lifting the glass, she stared at it for a moment. I gave her my virginity, and now she's taking my virginity. She glanced at Shego who was watching her intently.
Honestly, I'd give her almost anything.
So she sculled her drink.
"Ohh!" she gasped in a wheezy, breathless voice, eyes wide.
"Still with me?" Shego asked.
"Ye-yeah," she replied, licking her lips. It was unlike anything she had ever tried. Almost no taste, but she could certainly feel its warmth in her throat and flowing through her body. She shivered at the sensation and put her glass down. Now, where do I even begin? She had names, dates and actions that she needed to know about.
"Shego–"
"Yes?"
"–When did you know you liked girls, as well?"
Shego stared at her for a moment before she burst out laughing, rolling onto her back.
"What? What's so funny?" Kim demanded.
"Kimmie– Princess, I only like girls. Always have."
"But– No! That can't be– I mean– You said you wouldn't lie?"
"I didn't," Shego said, a hand over her heart.
"But I've seen you with guys, like all the time."
"That was back when I was working for Drew, and it's called acting. I was playing a part or being undercover, and I'm damn good at it," she added with pride. "Fooled you, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you really did."
"Plus, I'd given up on dating way before I signed on with Drew, so there was no reason for you to know."
Wow! All this time, and she's only been interested in– Her eyes went wide. "Wait! The Amazon, and Drakken's neuro-compliance chip! The mind control debacle. You undressed me and bathed me! What were you thinking?"
"That I was in heaven, and I was going to Hell for it." She held up her hands. "Hey, blame Drew, I had to follow his stupid orders."
"I know, but…" She sat there, blushing. She had always considered the Amazon mission an innocuous encounter, but now she was seeing it in an entirely new light. Being felt up by her nemesis, who actually liked girls … how did she even begin to compute such a thing.
"What about Barkin?" she asked, moving on for now.
"Best guess? Attitudinator screwed up my sexual orientation. I'm just glad it's all a blur." She took a drink straight from the bottle. "My turn. You still like me, right?"
Kim nodded in the affirmative.
"So how the fuck did that happen? You were into guys. Had no interest in girls. Then suddenly you're jumping me."
"I like to think we made love."
"Don't kid yourself. We fucked like rabbits. Before, you know…"
Before you ran off and exploded half a hilltop. She stared at the ground as she remembered that night, Shego apparently doing the same. It had been a wild, exciting evening, Shego her first and only lover. That it had been with a girl did not even come into the equation. It had been with the only person it could have been. "Anyways, it wasn't all of a sudden. We'd kinda been seeing each other for years. You know, a fight here, a mission against each other there, plus the occasional team up to make things interesting. And after all that, you spent the week with me. Looking back, there were so many little things that drew me to you, and in the end I couldn't deny them."
Shego grunted a reluctant acknowledgement as she ate some fruit.
"My turn," Kim said, downing her next drink. "Who's Rachel?" She felt the companionable mood between them just evaporate, Shego's face going stony. I know this is a big one. That it's painful for you. But please, please, please open up to me.
"That question," Shego said, her voice dull and lifeless. "That's why I brought the drinks." She took a swig from her bottle. "There's no way I'd tell you otherwise."
Kim ached to take Shego's hand at the pain in her voice, but she knew it would be the wrong thing to do. She had to let Shego get there in her own time, and could only be a passenger along for the ride. She turned her head as Shego flared her hand, the bright light ruining her night vision. It was gone just as quickly as it had come. When her eyesight returned, Shego was a dim shape in front of her, head bowed, hair framing her face.
Shego took drink, then looked at her.
"The meteor, it changed us, more than you'll ever know. This–" She pinched the pale green skin of her arm. "This is only what you see. On a cellular level, a subatomic level we're no longer human. Whatever the meteor was, its energies wrapped us up in a crystalline cocoon; held us in a kind of stasis for years, decades even, as our bodies slowly dissolved and reformed into what we are now."
She raised her bottle and took a large mouthful.
"It was more painful than you'll ever know."
Gods! Kim thought, in horror.
"When we emerged from our chrysalis, we learned that everyone and everything we knew were gone, dead. We were now wards of the state, with super powers. The U.S. Government had already sequestered us in an underground facility, and it now doubled as our home. The lead scientist in charge of acclimatizing and studying us was a man called–" She swallowed, gripping the bottle. "A man called Dr. Mendelos."
I know that name, Kim thought, then she remembered from where. Her fever dream at the Omega Lair, after she saved me. She cried out his name and National Justice's.
"We eventually tired of the constant poking and prodding, and went to leave. That's when we found out what a sick, twisted and sadistic monster he really was. What he'd done to us without our knowledge. We escaped, but not before he blew himself and the base up rather than let us go free. That's why we assumed he was dead."
Oh no! Kim thought, the ominous overtones of that last sentence sending a chill down her spine.
"So there we were, five kids lost and alone in the American wilderness. It took us days to find a road, and the first car we flagged down… well, it was Alan."
Yeah, that's pretty much how Alan described it to me, Kim thought.
"He's a scarily effective lawyer, and he made sure that there was hell to pay over what had been done to us. We got a blank cheque from the government, part compensation and part hush money. That's how Henry was able to build Go Tower. Which in turn led me to Rachel." She snorted. "I say led, but she was the one who lured me to her place with a fake distress call then proceeded to seduce me. Honestly, I can't say I fought too hard, she was beautiful." A smile fleetingly graced her lips. "I loved her."
Kim's heart swelled at the warmth in Shego's voice, then watched a cloud of pain darken her face.
"So yeah, Mendelos didn't die, but the toxic fallout from the base's explosion had mutated him into something else, something inhuman." Her voice dropped to a mere whisper, "He- He killed Rachel in front of me. So I left him to die under a collapsing building! That's when Global Justice swooped in. They covered it all up, then said I was to blame for all the civilian deaths. Unless– Unless! I signed up with them! Henry, the useless piece of shit that he was, actually sided with them. He didn't believe me, and was willing to look past their blackmail as long as he kept his precious Team Go." She clenched and unclenched her hands. "I quit the fuckin' team, and the rest is history."
Kim had tears in her eyes as she threw herself at Shego, giving her a massive hug.
~o0o~
The cloaked hovercraft zipped its way over the Atlantic Ocean, and nearing the archipelago of Puerto Rico it speared into the turbulent waters. It spiraled down, down, and into an undersea trench, and miles beneath the crushing depths it leveled out, its lights illuminating the desolate ocean floor; a wasteland of pale ooze. Silent and unseen it travelled over the alien vista, eventually shuddering as it was grabbed by an outside force. Pulled along, a monstrous structure appeared out of the inky darkness, the undersea lair lurking on the seabed like some great beast.
A dimly lit opening beckoned like some hideous maw, the hovercraft sucked inside.
John Blake, former head of Global Justice and current U.N Power Broker stepped out of the hovercraft, flanked by two neatly dressed cyborgs. He had been summoned and that was never a good sign. He had a brief chance to survey the hive of activity in the hangar bay before he was unceremoniously grabbed and led through the base at a brisk walk. Henchmen were everywhere as they went, the red-suited minions all going about their tasks with grim efficiency. Here and there they passed a window, but all they did was remind him of where he was.
He was deposited before a foreboding black door, his escorts stepping back.
"Thank you," he said with feigned civility.
He straightened his suit and tie and walked forwards, the door silently sliding up then closing behind him. He had never been in the inner sanctum before, and he looked around with nervous curiosity. Multiple workbenches were scattered about the room, all covered with technologies that defied description, or even his ability to comprehend their most basic function. Along one wall were dozens of disassembled cyborgs, while the far wall was one massive window.
He shuffled further in, then spotted the lair's master.
Janus was leaning over a large, black hemisphere, the top half of the sphere hanging from the ceiling. Dozens of thick cables ran from its base like tentacles, the whole thing humming with power. John looked inside the device as Janus stood up, the interior filled with high-tech electronics. None of that interested him, but the football sized device floating prominently in the center did.
"My God! That's a pan-dimensional vortex inducer!" John exclaimed.
"It is," Janus replied, without turning. "Now stand there and be quiet, I do not wish to remove myself and half the planet from existence."
John stood still and shut up, but it wasn't of his own volition. The compliance chip deep within his brain dictated his actions these days. He glanced at a screwdriver on a nearby bench, and at the villain's unprotected back, but his days of free will were long gone. He watched Janus work tirelessly on the sphere, the villain eventually stepping back and sealing the two halves together.
"John, good of you to join me," Janus said, turning around. He was resplendent in his usual blue double-breasted coat and trousers, and accompanying black gloves and boots. His jet-black hair cut short and styled to compliment his evil ensemble.
"You know I can't refuse, not after what you put in my head," John replied, his hand running through his grey streaked hair.
"No, you can't."
"That sphere, the vortex inducer, what are you planning on doing with it?"
"It is the first of many, actually. The beginning of my endgame. As for my plans, they are none of your concern." He strode up to John and stood in front of him, hands clasped behind his back. "It has come to my attention that you are holding out on me."
"I wouldn't! I can't!" John replied, breaking into a sweat.
"Then why did I learn of Global Justice's deep-storage facility in the Antarctic from a subordinate, and not you?"
"The Antarctic Base? But it's purely for archival storage, nothing to do with targeting Shego."
"That is not your decision to make. My wayward sidekick has been untethered for too long, and your continued incompetence has only increased this." He raised a gloved hand. "You have disappointed me for the last time, Mr. Blake."
"No! Please–!"
"Pain!" Janus whispered, his lips curling in a sinister sneer.
John dropped to the ground spasming, his mouth open in a silent scream.
"My neuro-compliance chip is far superior to my predecessors, wouldn't you agree? You'll have time to appreciate it over the next few days." He walked away, disinterest in his eyes. "It is a most unpleasant way to die!"
~o0o~
There you go, I managed to summarize Shego's backstory in only a few paragraphs. You're welcome. If you're wanting a full-refresher on Shego's whole base debacle, that's back in chapter twenty-eight of Home is where the Heart is. Chapter forty-six has flashback moments that cover bits of her history as well.
Yes, Janus is moving ahead with his plans, and they're about to collide with our two girls in a most unexpected way.
~o0o~
