A/N: Thank you all for your reviews and comments here, on tumblr, and even some on DA. I really appreciate it more than you know!

The Gauntlets

The Next Day

Drakken cranked his arm hard and bit down on the belt in his mouth. He growled as his shoulder made an unhealthy and loud POP. His hand gripped his arm tight as the sharp pain became a dull throbbing. He spit out the belt and took deep breaths, trying to fight the pain. He got up and looked in the mirror of his broken and crushed former bedroom. His shoulder was heavily bruised and the blue skin was starting to turn a nasty shade of purple and green. He moved his arm a little, it seemed to be back into place now. He slumped in what remained of his bed and stared off into space. His mind was a spinning mess of inconsistencies and jumbles. He was replaying the last few months in his head, the last 48 hours the more pressing in the moment. He glanced at his shoulder again, he really should have gone to see a specialist or doctor, but the normal villain doctor her went to would only give him a cocky look. Another failure, per the usual Dr. Drakken? He glared, his nails digging into his pant leg now at the thought. At least when he went with Shego, she'd glare daggers for him... Don't, just stop.

"Looks like it's the spare lair until I can get this place repaired," said Drakken with a heavy sigh, "A balmy tropical lair in summer, fantastic."

3 Days Later

Drakken lay in his bed, watching the fan spin on the ceiling of the tropical lair. He'd been laying here for hours, he couldn't sleep, as usual. This time the throbbing in his arm and head were to blame however. He'd managed to keep himself focused for all of a few days, enough to get to the muggy lair, get a few Henchman back, and make a few phone calls to get his lair rebuilt. He'd busied himself, kept his thoughts at bay. This was normally why he couldn't sleep anyways, thoughts of devices, schemes, power, revenge... they'd always kept him awake. Now they were joined by familiar additions that he'd managed to keep away with the other thoughts. Joined now by hurt, betrayal, rage, depression, and his old time favorite... loneliness. He'd spent decades destroying that one, he'd done it by becoming comfortable with himself. Enjoying his own company, his own words. So much so when he'd decided to even get an Assistant, them talking to him distracted and annoyed him. How'd I let her in? He'd had his walls up for nearly twenty years, and in the matter of years she'd found a door? Years? Who was he kidding, he'd started letting her in after a few weeks at best. He sat and rubbed his head with the wrong arm and cringed, he looked at his shoulder and finally anger took its place over the internal pain that was starting.

"If she had minded her own business," he told himself as he threw back the covers, he began pacing, "If she had stayed on her stupid little vacation as she'd called it... Kim Possible would no longer be a problem and the world would be mine!"

He continued his pacing, his mind pulling at every ounce of anger he had. She thought HE needed HER? Ha, yeah right! He didn't need her at all, like he'd said. So she stolen things for him, did errands, acted as a bodyguard occasionally. He could hire any number of people... he could choose a random Henchman for crying out loud. Exactly! Drakken felt a burst of excitement, his euphoria tangoed with his anger and the other feelings cleared the dance floor. He didn't know when he'd reached his work room, but he didn't care. He froze and used his left hand to type on his computer, waiting for the webpage to come up. If there was one thing prison had taught him, apart from never trust someone, again. It was also, that inmates gossiped like mad about their plans, because they never thought anyone could beat them too it.

"Really, people shouldn't share their plans so casually, it makes it easier to foil," sighed Drakken, he slowed his typing and thought for a minute, "Where have I heard that... AH! There it is... the Gauntlet of Khaos! Believed to be cursed.. blah blah blah... where is it. Yes. Made of rare Painite, believed to help clear negative energy and bring... whatever... mineral components..."

Drakken grinned deviously as he began reading it and writing what he would need. The chemical makeup of those gemstones would be excellent for one of his older scrapped ideas from years ago. He tapped his foot impatiently, he would need to check his storage unit and see if he still had the parts. His face fell, wondering where exactly he had to travel to get these stones. All they wanted was to trade these on the market, fools. He shook his head, why anyone would simply want to use such a potentially powerful device for simple money was beyond him. If you control the world, who needs money. This would make his Tubtonic laser a reality. Able to break down molecules of water and solidify them, tweaked just right... the perfect freeze ray. Turning flesh to stone. He supposed he should make a reverse for it... just in case. He felt a giddy wave of jubilee.

"It's going to be on display in Upperton! Things are turning in my favor, you hear..." Drakken froze and looked around the lair, his chest twisted only for a second as his eyes narrowed, he gave a half smirk, "You hear that, Shego, things are finally going to go my way...and I didn't even need you."

Two Weeks Later

Drakken looked at the portable laser gun in his hand, with some minor adjustments, the old laser he'd tinkered with a few years back. He'd glared at it for an entire hour when he'd opened up the box of junk from the currently disassembled lair. Not because it was unfinished at the time, but because of the junk that had been with it. The broken remains of the Moodulator that Shego had crushed, bits of the old necklace prototype he'd tossed aside, the shield belt clip he'd started playing around with again. It was his junk drawer, everything he had scraps and parts left over. He was angry, angry that all these were reminders of failures. Except the Obsidian Diamond... He felt his shoulder's slump and a half smirk. Remembering the adrenaline and excitement of that night. His smile fell as he remembered the dancing, the laughter, the freedom. For one night, he had stepped into someone elses shoes, for days after he'd wondered about the Drew Lipsky he'd imagined. He gripped the gun tighter, he'd done that whole elaborate thing for Shego. He rolled his eyes at the thought, what had he been

He crept along the shadows of the museum, he knew where the cameras were, not that was an issue. He smirked his new laser gun was proving to be quite handy. Who cared if it was considered old school, he liked to think of them as classics and under-rated. He looked at the multiple traveling displays until he saw one. A large poster of a Greek God... or Goddess, he was sure, was displayed. The glass case beside it held various artifacts that depicted the goddess in some way, vases, tablets, jewelry. He grinned and rubbed his hands together as he saw the gauntlets. They looked to be made of bronze, faded ancient paint showed they had once been painted black in some parts. The hand part held fingers like a glove, but were opened underneath, showing slots for fingers to be placed. The arm part held carvings that were somehow related to the Goddess/God they were supposedly blessed by. In the center of the back of the hand were large black stones, that looked to have a reddish color in the light.

"Well, this is different," Drakken growled as he heard a voice, Possible, "Since when are you and Shego blue collar?"

"We're not," said Drakken as he yanked open the case casually and picked up the gauntlets, "In fact, there is no Shego and I, just so you don't make the mistake of saying that again."

"Wait, no Shego?" asked Stoppable, he looked around and squinted his eyes with a smirk, "She's hiding isn't she. Kim, I got your back."

"I don't think she is," said Possible, Drakken saw her brows furrow and he wanted to ask what she knew, but instead he began taking off his gloves, "Alright, Drakken, put the antique gloves down."

"There not gloves, their gauntlets, and no," chuckled Drakken as he latched one on, the metal locking over his wrist, "You see, I need these... you know what, no. I'm not going to tell you."

"Okay, now that's freaking me out," said Kim, her brow furrowed, "Put those bedazzled Gauntlet's back, it clashes with your outfit anyways."

"Oh no, I think they will go quite nicely," smirked Drakken as he slipped one on.

"Dude! Haven't you ever read a comic book? You never put on a gauntlet with gemstones!" said Stoppable, he looked distressed, Possible raised a brow but Drakken cut in.

"Yes, I have read comic books... the villain always wears the gauntlet with gemstones," snapped Drakken, as he clipped the second one on, he grinned deviously, it would be much harder for Possible to take them if they were locked on him, "Besides, I'm not leaving without them."

"Why would you do that?" asked Stoppable, he was indicating to the large painting of the curse next to where Drakken had been standing, Drakken rolled his eyes, "Do you know what possible chaos you might have just... I mean, her name is KHAOS!"

"Ron, that's not real, it's just a gimmick to draw attention," said Possible, she took a stance, "But I'm going to need those back."

"Not this time, Possible," said Drakken, he held up his laser and shot at her, a silent buzzing noise erupted and as she ran at him, the flair of bright blue sent her flying backwards with a loud snap sound, "The gauntlets are mine."

"Whoa," said Possible as she looked at him with wide eyes, she got up in shock, her narrowed eyes suddenly looked alert, "Ohm, Dr. Drakken?"

"Like the new equipment," smirked Drakken as he aimed it again, he glared at the annoying teens who had foiled all his hard work, No one's stopping me this time.

"K-Kim?" Stoppable stammered, he took a step back and Drakken grinned at the fear in his eyes.

"Yeah, Ron, I see it," said Possible, Drakken was curious why she looked concerned rather then terrified, "Drakken..."

"You are not going to distract me," said Drakken as he cued up the laser, his anger seemed to waver and his hand shook, he felt a sudden twisting in his abdomen and he was finding it hard to hold onto his rage, Now is not the time for an emotional moment, get your shit together, Man. He wasn't failing.

"This is why you don't put on gemstone laden gauntlets," said Stoppable with an audible gulp.

Drakken felt a hard tug on his hands and looked at his wrists , in shock he dropped the laser. The black stones were glowing a dark crimson blood red, as if pulsating; growing faster as he looked on in panic. There was a stinging feeling in his fingertips and suddenly the over-sized gauntlets felt as tight as a second skin. The stinging pulsated with the gemstones light, her nearly doubled over, trying to undo the clasp of the gloves.

"What... the," Drakken tried to pull them off, but they wouldn't budge, his mind was spinning, but as Possible ran towards him, he went to reach for his laser gun.

Kim's attempt at kicking it out of reach was foiled as his arm elbowed her leg hard, causing her to flip backwards and rub her leg. Drakken looked at his own arm, when had he gained that reflex. Kim's eyes glared at him and she was ready to fight rather than dissarm, Drakken forwent taking off the gauntlets, and stood his ground. As he ducked a kick from her he noticed Stoppable cautiously looking around before pulling out one of their own little gadgets.

"So.. seriously, no Shego?" asked Stoppable as he looked around, Drakken dodging Kim's hits, best he could, one hit his shoulder, and he growled in pain.

"No! There is NO Shego," snapped Drakken, and the gauntlet made contact, or something, there was a light and Possible flew into Stoppable, "I work alone."

"KP!" yelled Ron as he ran to her side, "Kim, you okay?"

"I..." was all she said and her eyes changed, they looked sad, but her expression held no other emotion, it was unsettling, if he didn't know better it looked like pity, but for what.

"Kim?" asked Stoppable, he looked torn between checking on the well being of Possible and going after him.

Drakken took his chance and grabbed his laser and fled, the gauntlets still pulsing from whatever had just happened. He knew police were outside, and something seemed to be egging him to hide versus trying to reach the Hover Car. He ducked into the first door he tried, it opened. With relief he ducked inside, his back against the door only for a second before ducking to hide under a desk. It was horribly cliche, but it was all he had at the moment. He glanced at the window, trying to remember what side he was facing to the building. If it was the wooded area, he would be able to get enough distance to get the Hover Car without being detected. Who am I kidding, I could never be that lucky. He looked down at his hands, there was no pulsating pain this time, but he didn't get much time to try and figure them out as he heard a commotion and whispers from farther in the room, he tried to quite his breathing to hear.

"Yes, well, kind of surrounded by police at the moment... no I didn't trip anything... what do you mean an hour... Pandora.."

"Great," grumbled Drakken, well this night was turning slowly to hell in a hand basket.

"I..." it was silent and Drakken heard slow movements, he tried to move deeper under the desk.

"Drakken?" came the shocked voice of Hermes, Drakken cursed internally, how had he seen him, "You know the back of the desk is clear, right?"

"... why would they..." Drakken looked behind him to see Hermes in all black, looking at him with a raised brow and smug smirk, "I do now."

"Well, now I can tell Pandora that it was you who caused this, saves me a migraine," said Hermes with a grimace, "Are you here to infringe on our turf, again?"

"Depends, what are you stealing?" asked Drakken with a groan as he slid out from under the desk.

"Cheyenne Crystal," said Hermes, Drakken held up his hands and Hermes eyes shot open, "Are those the Gauntlet's of Khaos?"

"I already got what I came for, what's your excuse?" asked Drakken, trying to sound smug, but he was disturbed by the horrified look on Hermes face.

"Give me those, " said Hermes and he lunged forward, Drakken glared and without trying to his hands shoved forward, knocking Hermes into the desk.

"Your not getting them," growled Drakken, his arms hurt again but his anger was fading as he looked at a wide eyed Hermes, something else; his throat tightened and his body relaxed into twinge up his spine... remorse? Why?

"I don't want them," said Hermes, he glared, "You need to get those off... they are highly unstable, Drew."

"Nice try, I know what they're worth and your looking for a cash grab," sneered Drakken, though he found his own hand trying to undo the bindings that refused to budge, Just let him help... no.

"That's why I'm here for the crystal," said Hermes with an eyeroll, "The only person stupid enough to buy those would be Cleopatra... and were not exactly on good terms with her at the moment since last weekend. I'm sure you've heard."

"I'm so sure," said Drakken, he tried to listen outside the door, wondering if he could make a break for it by blasting Hermes with the laser, he was doing the math for how many police cruisers he might need to take out before he could get to his Hover Car, when Hermes last word made his brow raise, "Heard what?"

"Shego, didn't tell you? That's why I'm here alone, she and Pandora got double crossed working for Dementor," asked Hermes with a raised brow, Drakken felt like cold ice flooded him and he glared, grabbing his laser, he saw Hermes eyes go wide as pain shot through his hands and body again, "What the..."

"What Shego does, is none of my concern," snapped Drakken, though his stomach was knotting, What happened? Double-crossed? Why was she working for...

"Give me those," said Hermes, Drakken heard the quiver in his voice as he once again reached for the gauntlet's.

When he grabbed at them, his hand reacted like another hand was over his, he yanked Hermes hand in an unnatural angle and Hermes let out a pained yell. Drakken used his other hand to pry his left off of Hermes. Drakken looked at the glowing red stone, its his pain pulsating with it again. He attempted to yank them off again, but they seemed to hurt more. The sound of pained grunts tore him from his own panic. Hermes was clutching his wrist, having scooted towards the wall, utter horror on his face as he looked at Drakken, not at the Gauntlets, but at him. Drakken's pain subsided in a nauseating wave again, swirling without any reason, chaotic and unsteady. His own mind told him to run, get out of here, it was screaming at him. But something else wasn't letting him, a strange forced grief hit him as flashes flew in front of his eyes. He looked at Hermes, unsure what was happening, his head was spinning as grief turned into sadness. He didn't know why, but the look on Hermes face mirrored what he was feeling, and the images weren't his own. He looked at the gauntlets as they stopped glowing, he needed to get out of here now, because as his sadness faded to fear, he saw the gauntlet's finger's twitch.

"I was just trying to help," the pained voice of Hermes made Drakken freeze, Hermes' expression was still downfallen, "Nothing ever changes with you, does it."

"I..." Drakken was confused by that statement, but as the gauntlet's faintly glowed, he yanked open the door and was off, curiously making it without problem to the Hover Car and blasted home.

When Drakken entered his lair, the sudden waves of tonight and the emotions got to him, he barely made it to the bathroom before the ill feeling prevailed. The cold feeling he'd had running through him was gone, the muggy weather mixed with his nausea. He tossed his coat aside, willing the heat to stop, he felt like he was boiling. The gauntlet's flickered again and he slowed his breathing and tried to control the panic what wanted to take over. The glowing stopped, he tried to keep calm as he slowly got up from the floor, his eyes focused on the contraptions on his hands. He needed to get these off, the aches in his fingertips started and as he looked below them, there was a blackness that seemed to make the veins in his arm stand out.

"It's poisoning me?" he stared at it, perhaps the actions were just that, delusion from whatever was making him sick, it wasn't cured, it was toxic, But it was glowing...

He'd done everything to get them off, but to no avail, the idea of these things being stuck to him was starting to cause panic. He couldn't believe he'd been stupid enough to put them on. Next time something even hints at a curse just play it safe. He told himself that there was no curse, it was just stuck, that was all. It broke someone's wrist! Did I want to hurt him? Reflexes, that was all, they'd gotten better. He argued with himself about what to do, it would be his luck that he'd accidentally poisoned himself. Shego would know.. Drakken shook his head, he had other things to worry about. He needed to get these things off so he could harvest the stones for his laser. He tugged at the bindings again, willing them to move or be cut, but the metal seemed to have lost its hinge. He didn't know if it was the heat, lack of sleep, or the frustration, but he felt that twist in his stomach again. His emotions were boiling once more, and it was getting harder to suppress. The sharp pain shot through his fingers again from whatever was in the tips of the gauntlets. With the pain came a wave of unexplained emotions, he felt suddenly ill and even hotter than he had been. Before his mind could sort out a single one, the gauntlet's started glowing, and everything went dark.

Well, let's see what's going on with Shego, shall we -