Thanks once again to bcbdrums for both editing and with the chapter title. Much appreciated.
Inescapable
Shego idly moved clothes on the rack in front of her, not even looking at them. Her mind wasn't exactly focused on her current setting. It was fading in and out of the memory of her and Drakken watching Christmas movies till the sun came up the day before. She heard a shrill giggle and a shriek from her current shopping companion.
She looked from where the cashier was laughing with her co-worker to where Junior had found the men's sale rack. She wasn't really in the mood to go shopping at all but it had seemed a good idea at the time, when Junior had called her to hit up some seasonal sales. Forgoing sleeping in, getting out of the lair, and having space away from Drakken... She hadn't even hesitated. Besides, when she was out with Junior he tended to be the one paying, so it worked well for her.
She grinned at an excited Junior as he held up a pair of black leather pants in his size. She sighed. Junior had no interest in the American holiday, but he sure did love flying here for the sales.
"Why are we at a mall again?" asked Shego as she adjusted her sunglasses and picked up a top casually.
"Because, this mall had a better sale than the one I planned on us flying to," said Junior with a shrug. "Father is having a dinner party so I must be home by tomorrow."
"Is it—"
"No, not the poker one," said Junior. "That's only around his birthday. Did you find anything?"
Shego shrugged and picked up a jacket she fancied and looked around the store, her eyes naturally darting to the exits, cameras, and staff. She didn't have to swipe anything but it was her normal default in this setting. She watched the male clerk glance over at the female clerk as she clearly flirted with some guy leaning against the counter. The male clerk continued to fold clothes and glare at the sweater that was far too fluffy to fold.
"Poor kid," scoffed Shego. Junior followed her eyes.
"Yes, that sweater should really be hung," nodded Junior.
"No. I meant the girl he's clearly into who's flirting with the wannabe thug," snorted Shego.
"How do you know?" asked Junior with a raised brow.
"He keeps glancing over at her and when we came in the two were making sarcastic comments about their weekend plans," Shego put the jacket back and grabbed a blouse. "Something tells me she's going to be making out with Slick over there versus her movie plans with her co-worker."
"Perhaps he should have expressed interest in her. If I am interested in someone I simply tell them they and I are both beautiful people and we should be beautiful together," said Junior confidently.
"How's that working for you?" asked Shego.
"About fifty percent of the time," shrugged Junior. "Father tells me it gives mixed signals if you are not the one to state things... He also tells me I shouldn't state things as much."
"And?" smirked Shego as she picked up another top.
"I am shopping with you and calculating if we are going out to do the dancing tonight," grinned Junior. "It's been a while since you and I went in hunt of beautiful people together."
"I was actually planning on heading back to the lair tonight," responded Shego. "I'm sure Drakken's come up with some hair-brained scheme."
"That sounds like a Monday problem," said Junior. "Tonight's problem is where shall we go?"
"Maybe dinner," shrugged Shego.
"Shego, my love. When was the last time you went out and had some fun," pouted Junior, "because it's been ages since it was you and I."
"Drakken keeps me busy." She wished Junior would wander off. "We went out for your birthday?"
"Ohm, is he keeping you busy now?" He indicated to the store they stood in. "That didn't count. There were others there."
"He might. No telling when he's going to...have trouble opening a jar of pickles or something," she replied distractedly. She cringed at an olive green top. "We still went out."
"Needy villain or not, we are both good looking and single. We should both be out looking for equally qualified people to spend our time with...besides each other," he pouted.
"I'm good," said Shego. Junior crossed his arms and gave her a questioning look.
Wouldn't be the worst thing...
Shego moved a few items around on the rack with her hand as she mulled it over. Why was she in such a hurry to get back to the lair? All she would do is sit around listening to Drakken rant or watch more movies if he didn't have an idea yet. She tapped the rack with her nails as she realized what she would actually do. She would sit around listening to him, over-thinking the last week, and feeling like she had when she'd seen his relieved face from lying about why she kissed him. She felt her chest strain and her stomach restrict at the feeling again.
She sighed. "I will be your wing-woman."
"And I shall be your wing-man," he grinned happily.
"Junior I..." Shego stopped talking as he wandered off towards the back of the store.
She really wasn't in the mood to go out and flirt with nobodies just so Junior could insult someone on accident or ditch her. It would be different if they were both going on the prowl, but she had zero interest. While she was in fact trying to give herself mental space to deal with her thoughts and emotions, she didn't think that space needed another person.
Maybe that's exactly what I do need— Nope. No.
She rubbed the back of her neck and tried to clear her head. But no amount of clothes-shifting and neck-rubbing helped her as she looked at the male clerk watch the female one. Her mind replayed Drakken cuddling that pillow, contentedly watching a Christmas movie, and happy that she didn't have feelings for him. Unfortunately for both of them, she did. She'd told herself all of Friday and this morning that she was just sleep-deprived. She supposed Junior's idea wasn't the worst. Maybe a night out with other options would get her to focus. She couldn't really be in love with Drakken...right? She thought about the last time she'd actually gone out for a weekend alone even. Her supposed weekends off never seemed to happen... She always found herself back at the lair or doing something with or for Drakken. He was probably sitting around watching some stupid television show.
"Crap. Forgotten is on tonight," scoffed Shego. "He'd better not watch it without me."
Shego pulled her phone out and paused. Froze was actually more like it. She was about to call Drakken to tell him not to watch a show about people surviving on an island without her. She had momentarily considered telling Junior it was an emergency and she needed to go. Because she—Shego—was more concerned about watching a television show with Drakken on a Saturday night than being out dancing with Junior. Drakken, who had made it blatantly clear he had zero interest in her other than his partner, versus a night of physical contact and dancing. She shoved her phone back in her pocket and took a deep breath.
This can't be healthy. I'm only hurting myself by spending so much time with Drakken. I need to get him out of my head for one night.
"Shego!" gasped Junior.
Shego looked over to where he stood near the more adult end of the store judging by some of the very mature displays she now noticed in the back. He was looking down at a half-shelf with wide eyes, his hands over his grinning face as he looked at whatever it was and then to her. Shego sighed and walked over, because if she didn't Junior would bring it over to her...and she really wasn't in the mood to get kicked out yet. She had some really cute tops for once.
"What did you find?" she watched his grin become devious. "What?"
"Shego. My luncheon companion, wing-woman, inspiration in evil, and fellow deviant..." Junior's grin deepened.
"I'm losing interest," she crossed her arms as she reached the back of the shelf.
"You know him more than anyone," he held up a red slender box and swiftly turned it around. "What do you think the odds are of its similarities?"
Shego wasn't sure what she expected knowing where Junior had been standing. She'd assumed it would be some outlandishly over-sized appendage that no one on planet earth could possibly have. She'd readied a snarky comeback that vanished at what he held. Junior gestured to the box that held a rather shapely and attractively-sized phallus like she'd originally thought it might be... She had not been prepared for the strikingly familiar blue color. Nor the apparent name of said toy.
"According to the box, the 'Draken' can also be turned into a sword... Hey," Junior jumped as Shego yanked the box out of his hand and slammed it back on the shelf.
"Well I'm ready to check out," said Shego. She felt very warm all of a sudden.
"Why, Shego. You look very flustered," stated Junior, and that devious grin sharpened as he slowly held up the box. "Is it because of this?" He spun it around again.
"P-put that down," said Shego sharply.
"Shego it is only a joke and..." Junior paused and put the box down. "Shego, my friend, is there something going on you have not included me in?"
"No," snapped Shego, "I'd just rather not play a game about mentally comparing odds about those things with someone I work with every day."
"Hmm," said Junior with a disturbed look. "One would think it is the only way to get through work is to do so."
"Well, it's not," said Shego as she headed to the checkout.
"Thank god, I was worried you might have started to have the feelings for Drakken," laughed Junior. "I would have had my Father pay for the nearest head doctor."
"That's a bit extreme," scoffed Shego as they walked to the checkout.
"I think it is not," said Junior, "with all the complaining you've done about him. It would seem a great concern. Not to mention his horrible engagement credentials. Cheap rings or now rings at all. Uhg. The horror."
"There's nothing wrong with Drakken," muttered Shego. Junior raised a brow. "Well there clearly is a lot wrong with him. Simply stating that it's not worth a head exam if I did..."
"So you don't or you do?" asked Junior, his hand on his hip.
"Do what?" asked Shego as she tossed the items on the counter.
"Is there something going on between you and Drakken?" asked Junior. His face looked disturbed at his own statement.
"There is nothing going on between us. It is clearly a platonic-work relationship," stated Shego as Junior put his things up on the counter and handed over his credit card. She felt her stomach sour at her own statement.
"As you want it to be," nodded Junior. She didn't like the questioning look he was giving her.
"What is this, twenty questions? We're shopping at the mall. I don't like to talk about work," glared Shego.
"You're right... Normally you talk about Drakken...whom up until a few moments ago...you hadn't mentioned once..." Junior trailed off in thought. "One must wonder. Why that is?"
"Because I just spent a holiday with him and his insane family... When did you get all observant a philosophical?" smirked Shego nervously. "Change hair gel?"
"Father says if I wish to find a lasting relationship. I must also be concerned about others around me. It is proving most annoying and tedious," said Junior with a sigh. "I'm mostly hoping whomever they are will be as beautiful, self-centered, and evil as me...so I don't have to do this as much."
"Charming," sighed Shego as she grabbed her bag. "Don't change on me now. How can we be spiteful and judge others over coffee if you start being empathetic?"
"You're deflecting the conversation to avoid the topic," glared Junior. Shego froze.
"Sometimes I forget you're not as stupid as you look," Shego rolled her eyes and smirked, hoping it would be enough to move on.
"...Shego," Junior's hand touched her shoulder and he took a deep breath. "Do you want me to be your friend or evil friend right now?"
"Evil... So let's go get coffee and judge the latest horrible trends," said Shego as she held up a magazine. "It's the haircut issue."
"Okay. I will be your evil friend right now...at your request," said Junior as he began walking backwards into the shop.
"What are you doing?" hissed Shego as Junior reached around the half-wall in the back of the shop. "Put that back."
"I don't know what you're talking about," said Junior as he grabbed the box without breaking eye contact.
"Junior...I swear..." Shego's hand flared. Junior tried to fight his grin as he placed the box on the counter, "Señor Senior...Junior... Don't you give that lady your credit card."
"Do you think the sword attachment would be too much for a coffee shop centerpiece?" said Junior as he handed the card over.
"It's not cute of you to mess with me," scowled Shego.
"It's not. You are right," he smirked, "It is as beautiful as I am."
The thumping of the bass at the club shook the floor and aided in making Shego's thoughts more skewed. The quietest place was the bar and that was saying something. She massaged her leg from where a girl's heel had clipped her on the dance floor. She'd nearly plasma-blasted the ditz, but Junior had swept in to flirt with said girl. Not good form for a wing-woman to physically fight the interest of the person you were winging for.
She'd spent the last thirty minutes having a few shots, relaxing her leg, and staring at her phone. She flipped it open again and debated on calling Drakken. Clearly the alcohol level she had consumed was just enough to make her aware she should put the phone away. Especially as the screen highlighted Drakken's number. She shook her head and tossed it in her purse. She'd never had trouble shoving things out of her head when she was out with Junior. Yet here she was, sitting at the bar while Junior was out dancing with the girl who she still wanted to smack. She decided to make use of Senior's credit card tab and decided to kill her thoughts all together.
Two shots later.
Maybe if I just told him...
Three shots of something that tasted like garbage.
I should march into the lab and—
An hour and far too much alcohol later and Shego could feel it fading away just as fast as she drank it.
I should be dancing and making out with strangers. Not musing over Drakken. Uhg. Drakken. He's an infuriating, megalomaniac, self-centered, childish, whiny...
She took a deep breath. She had told herself these exact things on repeat in the subconscious of her mind. She knew that. Yet, she had mentally concluded that she might be in love with the blue-skinned villain. As she watched everyone around her and put another shot back her thoughts changed. Perhaps it was just that thing she feared but now accepted. Comfortable.
There's no harm in that.
She smirked to herself and took the last shot she'd ordered and walked off around the dance club. Her slight fog seemed to win her thoughts over on that statement. She wasn't in love with Drakken. No. She was comfortable. That had to be it. She should tell him that. She should head home right now and tell him such. That it didn't matter that he claimed to be immune to her femininity...because she was immune to him as a whole.
He can find my nose-blowing, habits, and moody antics disturbing and disgusting all he wants because I don't care.
Her smile fell before she reached the dance floor and her stomach felt cold and her face hot. She couldn't decide if it was her thoughts or the shots that was doing it but either way...she felt her shoulder's drop. Something about the idea of Drakken finding her unappealing suddenly made her less angry and more depressed. That could also be the nasty-tasting shots she'd had earlier finally sinking in. She looked around as her chest pounded and her emotions triggered defiance and anger. There were plenty of people here who would love to have her feminine charms around them.
Suddenly she wondered why she'd even hesitated to come out to the club. It was a hunting ground of 'feel good' assistants. She moved through the crowd in search of someone that piqued her interest. She smirked at where Junior was now dancing with someone else and mentally added a malicious target to her hunt. It didn't take long at all to find a few different dancing partners. The first, a tall muscular fitness instructor, had politely asked her to dance. Everything had been going swimmingly until he'd kissed her.
Uhg. Who taught that beach gorilla how to kiss?
The next two had done nothing but sour her mood. An attractive woman who Shego hadn't even tried to kiss had been her next dance partner. Unfortunately she was there with the ditz who had kicked Shego. Shego smirked to herself at the fact she'd at least gotten to plasma-blast the ditz because of her dancing partner. Though said dance partner had bounced with her friend and called her a freak. That had only spurred Shego on to her current dance partner: a decent-looking guy who honestly dripped 'sleaze ball'. But it wasn't like Shego had any intentions of forging any type of relationship with the guy.
"So what's a hot babe like you doing here?" asked the guy as they danced. "Shouldn't you be in someone's bed at this hour?"
"Maybe I'm planning on it," smirked Shego. Her stomach twisted at her own words.
"Well if locations help, mine's in an uptown penthouse," he winked.
Shego smiled but her thoughts ran rapidly in her head. She was mentally calculating what this place would look like, how far a travel it would be, and how they would get there. If she could get back to his place and rob him blind while he was in the bathroom. Clearly the guy had money, and she and Drakken needed money. She mentally pushed Drakken from her thoughts and responded.
"Location is always a bonus," she leaned in towards him. "How about we head there?"
Shego stomped back into the club with even more agitation than she had before. Her emotions were on high and she needed to get out of there. Unfortunately she'd apparently dropped her wallet and she was honestly hoping someone had taken it...because she could really use a plasma-blast target right now. She could always go back and blast the idiot now unconscious in the parking lot. She glared up at the multi-colored lights on the dance floor. Apparently green wasn't everyone's favorite color. Her chest hurt and she just wanted out of there.
"Excuse me. I think this is yours?"
Shego spun around aggressively as she felt a hand touch her shoulder. Her fist was balled and ready to strike. A dark haired man with thick glasses took a step back as he held out her purse. She looked at him with a raised brow. His tan pants and polo were as far as un-club wear that one could be. He followed her gaze as she snatched his purse.
"Office party took an unexpected turn," he sighed, and gestured to himself. "So someone had to be the designated driver."
"Sounds like you got the raw deal in that arrangement," scoffed Shego as she pulled her purse closer to her.
"Not if you enjoy making up outlandish stories about what they might have done when you see them Monday," he shrugged and headed off towards where he apparently was waiting for his co-workers.
Shego looked at her purse and headed towards the door before doubling back. She could feel the last of the alcohol in her system fading, but still present enough to make her emotional. She knew if she got back to the lair she would undoubtedly say something she didn't mean to when she saw Drakken. That's when a thought occurred to her. This guy wasn't doing anything and she'd never see him again. She grabbed someone's drink as she walked by the bar and sat at the small table with the guy.
"So a guy I was leaving with freaked out because I'm green. My friend convinced me to go out even though I didn't want to...because I am trying to push other thoughts from my mind. I'm telling you this because I don't know you...and you apparently make up outlandish stories so I doubt anyone would care or believe you," Shego downed the drink. "Damn it...this is that garbage drink again."
"...Well... I'm Dean. None of these people here are my friends. I doubt they even know my name. In fact sometimes they call me Dennis. It's close but it's not right. I don't want to be here or have to wait for them. Unfortunately one is my boss...and I can be very convincing in my story-telling thank you very much. Personally I like green. It's a calming color," ranted Dean as he took her empty glass. "And I think that drink is called Garbage actually."
A fading buzz, some heavy flirting, and a few dances later... Shego and Dean had made their way behind the DJ booth and away from everyone else. She yanked him into a kiss in the corner, hoping that his nerdy attire was just that. After a sudden shocked intake of air, she was rewarded with some rather skilled lips. Her nails dug into the back of his head and neck as he was pressed against her.
The sound of the speakers drowned out his voice as he said something to her. She pulled him back into the kiss as his hand wandered her thigh. She felt nauseous as he did so. She shook it off as the alcohol faded off and she pulled him into a deeper kiss, so hard she may leave a bruise. Her mind was swirling now with the scent of hair gel, cologne, sweat, and mint.
Spearmint? Drakken chews that gum... Didn't he...at the ball?
Her stomach flipped again. His hand slid up her ribs and chest and she dug her nails into his polo collar. His hand slid around her waist and meshed them closer together. Mint. Something about the back of the stage brought a new scent to her. Oil? Grease. Ink. It smelt like Drakken's lab.
The image in her head changed and she was suddenly at a ball, the music playing an upbeat waltz. The smell of mint and oil, the taste of wine and spearmint on her lips... She furrowed her brow and kissed the guy as hard as she could. Willing the thought away. Her mind focused as his hand found her breast over her dress and she moaned at the touch. She needed to get out of there and away from the scent. She pushed the guy away and gave him a flirty smirk.
"Let's get out of here," she whispered loudly for him to hear over the music.
"I can't—" he began.
"You have a car don't you?" she held up his keys and he looked confused for a second.
Then he smiled and nodded before taking them out of her hand.
Dean's mix CD was a much better sound than the thumping beat of the club. She had never done this sort of hasty meeting or car hookup before. But it was drawing away other thoughts as she now felt juvenile and silly at doing so. Dean's hands slid up her body and it was a sudden reminder that it had been some time since she had been touched that way. She'd been so busy with world take over schemes, Drakken's needy—
No. I am not thinking about him right now.
She could feel the effect she was having on Dean because of how she straddled him. Her chest pounded as she thought about what was to come. It was a swirl of excitement and nerves. But it was a welcome flip in her stomach to see how much this man craved her. He wasn't immune to her charms. He lapped them up with every kiss and sultry glance she gave him. He'd been putty in her hands the moment she gave him a flirty smile and whispered in his ear, feigned interest in whatever accounting job he had...
"God, you are beautiful," Dean muttered as she pulled back from this kiss. "Damn, how is a woman like you here alone?"
"Some don't know what they're missing out on," she smirked. Dean flipped her onto his seat.
"Their loss," he grinned as he kissed down her neck.
His loss for sure.
She hissed to herself at the thought. She needed to stop thinking and just let it happen. She could have a good night with a decent guy and not have to think about Drakken till work on Monday. She would be in good spirits, no doubt, and would finally put whatever misguided thoughts about their relationship she had out of her mind. She listened to Dean's praise, the feel of his hands sliding her dress slowly upwards as he kissed down her neck, she sound of the leather fabric creaking below her, the sound of Drakken's voice saying her name.
Her eyes shot open. The fear she'd dialed him when she'd tossed her purse was her first thought. But then the CD's music hit her. It was Drakken. More importantly it had been Drakken rapping her name.
"Dr. D!?" yelled Shego as she shoved the guy off her.
"Yeah! You know it. God I wish he'd made more," said the guy happily as he jumped up and restarted the track.
Shego sat up as the song played. Her stomach flipping and swirling as Dean grinned at her.
"Yeah...I know it," said Shego in a low voice. "Word for word."
Shego looked at the guy grin, listening to the song and muttering the words. All thoughts of what they had been about to do had been put aside. Her stomach knotted and she rolled her eyes and looked out the tinted window. She smoothed out her dress as the guy rapped next to her, his voice off key and sometimes saying the wrong word in an attempt to keep beat. Her mind finally grew sick of shoving Drakken from her thoughts as she finally let herself see it. She'd gone out to a club to make Junior happy, was attempting to beat her emotions down by telling herself things to make her feel better...to only feel worse. And there were the ill feelings she'd had from kissing the guy next to her...and the fact that the stupid song on the radio was making her smile against her will.
Why am I lying to myself?
She glanced at Dean and sighed. If only Drakken could be as interested in her as Dean had been... Before Drakken's rapping interrupted them. But he didn't see her that way. She shook her head, trying to figure out why Drakken couldn't?
You don't flirt with him in alcohol induced dance clubs.
She sat up straight. She didn't flirt with him at all. He liked attention, so why had it never dawned on her to give him a little attention other than the occasional nod or sarcastic thumbs-up. Shego looked upwards and shook her head.
"Don't you just love Dr. D!?"
"Yeah... Yeah I do," she sighed heavily as she opened the car door.
"Hey, where are you going?" asked Dean.
"Home. I'm going home. I have something to try," she smirked deviously as she closed the door and headed off.
Sashay this Way -