No Mistletoe Needed

Shego looked around the high-rise platform above Ed's warehouse lair. It was quieter up there, and the table against the railing had few snacks and a lot of alcohol. She snorted at how juvenile playing spin the bottle was with all of their villain peers, but she'd be lying if she didn't feel a little excited by the idea. It was one of those cheesy lame teenager games she'd never participated in when she was in Team Go. Not that she would let anyone there know that. Not even Drakken, who seemed like she was forcing him into his worst nightmare.

She felt a tug at her hand and looked over her shoulder at Drakken in confusion. She was going to ask him 'what' when she realized she was still holding his hand. She quickly let go and hurriedly turned her attention as everyone tried to situate themselves in what she assumed was supposed to be a circle. Shego took a step back right into Drakken as someone shoved a cooler towards the railing and table. Drakken's hands braced her shoulders and she felt his breath in her ear.

"Shego, this is silly," he whispered. "Wouldn't you rather...dance?"

Shego shot him a playful smirk.

"Are you asking me to dance or just trying to get out of this?" asked Shego.

"...If we leave, you could find out," he replied.

She looked at his face over her shoulder and weighed her options. She could forgo this game and maybe get a few dances before Drakken found an excuse to leave the party. Or...

"Yeah?" she asked. He began to back step towards the stairs with a smile. "I think I like the idea of party games more."

"Do you really want to kiss anyone in this very strange circle?" Drakken gestured to where everyone was finishing grabbing drinks and filling in the circle more.

"Relax, Doc. It's just a game," sighed Shego. "It's just kissing...stop being so uptight. It's meaningless."

"Noted," Drakken muttered.

Shego headed over towards where everyone had mostly situated on the floor. She heard Drakken grumble behind her but follow. There were a few people in the circle that Shego didn't know. Shego assumed these unknown people were henchmen or 'baby villains'.

Where is Motor Ed finding these people?

She watched as Drakken sat next to Ed and gave an annoyed sigh. Shego nudged him as she sat down on his other side and next to Duff. He scrunched up his face but it fell into a more relaxed expression as he began to look around the circle. Shego shifted in trying to find a sitting position. She tugged at her short skirt. Duff gave her a raised brow as he padded his jacket placed firmly over his kilt. Shego regretted leaving hers downstairs. She heard Drakken mumble something and his coat was tossed over her lap. She smirked.

"Thanks Doc." She patted his cheek and smirked. "Such a gentleman."

"Neghn," he rubbed his face and glared before leaning to whisper in her ear. "If we weren't playing this silly game, you wouldn't need it."

"What if I got chilly?" she teased.

"You could get your own... And don't play with the sequins. Lucre already messed up a few," scoffed Drakken.

Shego rolled her eyes and placed it securely over her legs. There was a slight vibration from her phone and she glanced at it. Her focus left the game for a second as she looked at the missed call. It was from one of the ads from the magazine. She tried to remember which number it belonged to, hoping it wasn't one of the major things she needed to hijack. Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt Drakken's breath closer to her.

"Who called?" asked Drakken.

His expression was one of confusion. She looked around the circle and realized a majority of anyone she normally talked to was already in the room. Save for Junior, whom he already knew was on a date.

"Dean," lied Shego as she put her phone away quickly.

She saw Drakken's lips twitch and then he smirked.

"Now what would your boyfriend think of you kissing a bunch of people at a party?" asked Drakken. A last ditch effort to get out of the game, clearly.

"Well, he's not my boyfriend, so it's none of his concern," retorted Shego.

"So no second date in Dean's future?" Drakken smirked. "Poor Dean."

"I didn't say that." Shego saw Drakken's smirk falter. "You seem really interested in Dean... Did you want to go out with him?"

"You and I both know he would." Drakken gave a smug look. She snorted and shook her head.

She leaned on her arm and looked around the circle as everyone had seemed to find their place. Excluding the henchmen and mystery people, she followed to left from where Ed sat. Random person, Adrena, two randoms, Carmella, Cleopatra, another random, DNAmy, three randoms, Pandora, Hermes, Camille, Dementor, another random, Monkey Fist, and then Duff on her right. Shego could see everyone's eyes darting around the circle. Trying to figure out who they wanted to avoid kissing, and—she saw DNAmy wave at Monkey Fist—who they wanted to kiss.

By some of the looks she really wondered how many people in this circle knew each other better than she thought. She nudged Drakken to make eye contact to indicate a future topic about her current findings. Drakken leaned closer to her in anticipation of her whispering she was sure. She went to do so but she saw him looking around the circle and she assumed he was drawing a similar conclusion. He looked at her and she saw his eyes suddenly widen before darting around again.

She began to whisper but stopped. His expression made her stomach drop. He hadn't made that expression until he'd realized she was in the circle. He hadn't looked as unsettled about kissing one of the people in the circle he had a romantic history with... Just her. Her momentary mixture of emotions was tugged away as Ed began talking.

"All right, pretty sure everyone here's played. So seriously...let's get started," said Ed as he held the bottle.

Shego tensed. She hadn't.

She watched Ed move to the center of the circle and give the bottle a hefty spin. She wasn't too focused on the bottle as she was trying to figure out what the standards of the game were. Was there a limit? Could you pass? Would that be rude...not that she really cared about that one. The bottle slowed as it neared her and she tensed up. The sudden idea of having to kiss Ed with no clear boundaries made her regret not taking Drakken up on his offer of maybe dancing.

The bottle landed on Drakken. Shego choked on a laugh.

"Re-spin," said Ed going back to the bottle.

"Wait! What are the guidelines?" asked Camille quickly. "Like, passes...no passes... Histories? Time? Because they totally vary. Like, when I was at the Bun-Bun Mansion for my eighteenth birthday, there was like this rule about no less than five seconds but no more than ten seconds for this kiss... I mean people broke some of those rules but that's because they we're hooking up in the Grotto later."

"Bun-Bun Mansion?" asked Adrena as she coughed on her own drink. "What were you doing there?"

"Rue's an old family friend. My parents actually met at one of his parties... It's also how my dad met all his wives and girlfriends," said Camille. Her smile became more serious and she rolled her eyes. "It's super lame."

"Right...rules," said Ed. He rubbed his chin in thought. "The second one makes sense... I mean, seriously, we don't need people turning a quick mack into a dry hump. Seriously, save that for after."

"Aye, are lads kissing lads...lasses kissing lasses... Or is that a re-spin?" asked Duff. There were a few shrugs.

"Well if ladies are kissing ladies...then guys kiss guys," said Cleopatra with an airy wave. "Only fair, loves."

"Well then we could do the re-spins for both—" Lucre was cut off by Ed.

"Seriously? I am more than comfortable in my love for the babes. Seriously, if kissing any of you dudes means I can see two babes mack, you best pucker up, seriously."

"Aw...how very...modern," said Carmella who rolled her eyes at Cleopatra's grin.

"Well then it's gotta be a no-pass game," said Lucre. "Otherwise it gets too favoritest. What about the tongue rule?"

"Tongue rule?" asked Dementor with a cringe. "Mein Gott? How many rules does this game have?"

"I am not frenching anyone in this circle," hissed Drakken to Shego. She nodded.

"And a collective sigh of relief goes across the room," muttered Ed. Shego watched Drakken elbow him. "Ow! Seriously. I was joking. All right rule applies. If you feel the need to be frisky the kisser then gets to choose their next tongue wrestler, seriously. You all need to know. I'm totally game."

"Cue to the collective groan," stated Drakken casually. Ed rolled his eyes.

"What about...histories?" asked Pandora. Shego saw her glance her way and she nodded at that.

"Seriously... Like exes and hookups?" asked Ed. He rolled his eyes. "Come on, you lip-locked with them before. Seriously. Just mack and move on. We ain't kids."

Shego leaned towards Drakken and grinned.

"He says sternly as he advocates a game for high school children," she whispered to him. Drakken masked a snort.

"While the man in question undoubtedly reminisces his lack of invites to such games," he retorted. Shego covered her own laugh.

"Which is interrupted by the image of throwing the two narrating idiots next to him...over the railing," hissed Ed at them. They both froze. "Yeah. Seriously. I can hear you...and I can narrate too."

Drakken and Shego looked at each other and Shego saw Drakken lean back towards her while looking at Ed.

"States the man. Confirming the narrator's declaration of his internal thoughts were correct," said Drakken calmly. Shego laughed.

"See, seriously! This is why you two got separated at Thanksgiving," glared Ed as he tried to regain the topic.

"I hope you are not referring to when we got separated in the kitchen?" asked Drakken. "That was because someone's cooking skills were in question and it was taking too long."

"Maybe it was because someone else was being an irritating know-it-all," said Shego. Drakken glared at her, "Don't give me that look. You know you were."

"Seriously. It had less to do with him being his annoying self and more to do with you two narrating everyone's actions," said Ed with an eye roll. "Did you wonder why no one came in there for cookies?"

"This is weird."

Shego looked to see Camille whispering to Dementor, who nodded. Everyone had focused on the conversation.

"I like it," nodded Adrena.

"All right, here's the rules—" began Ed, deciding to move on as Shego shrugged at Drakken.

"Well there goes story time," pouted DNAmy.

"How annoying does someone have to be toward people from cookies?" asked Hermes under his breath.

"Gee. I don't know? They could talk about rocks and sediments for two hours," replied Pandora. Hermes narrowed his eyes and slumped.

"Okay. Here's the rules. We play till everyone has spun four times. Everyone lip locks with everyone. No passes. Seriously, only losers pass," stated Ed. "No less than five seconds and no more than ten seconds. Tongue rule applies...and... Chill I'm about to explain. Seriously, people act like they never played before. If you use your tongue even for one second, the person whose turn it is to spin...can choose who to kiss. All right. Are we done?"

No one said anything and Ed grabbed the bottle again.

"Wait, why are you spinning again?" asked Adrena, indicating to the bottle.

"Because it landed on him," said Ed with a disgusted look as he pointed at Drakken. An equal disturbed look.

"And?" asked Adrena.

"They're cousins," said Lucre. There were a few raised brows. "It is shocking someone as wonderful as Dr. Drakken is related to Motor Ed."

"Who's even better," finished Ed. Shego saw Lucre roll his eyes. "All right, time to spin."

"But...like how close of cousins?" asked Adrena.

Shego's eyes shot open and Drakken shook his head and looked upward. Ed gave Adrena a serious look.

"No more alcohol," said Ed as he spun the bottle.

"Aww," pouted Adrena as Ed took her bottle away. The bottle spin landed on her. "Oh yay!"

"This is going to be a very weird evening," sighed Drakken.

Drakken was very right. At least in his own mind. He had seen people kiss he could have gone his whole life never witnessing. One in question being Lucre and Ed. Five seconds was far too long to witness that crime scene. Though judging by Lucre's expression... Lucre was regretting this party even more than Drakken. He glanced at Shego who still had an annoyed expression on her face after having to kiss Monkey Fist. He smirked at this. She'd practically sat on him when she'd sprung back to her seat. Drakken's irritation and internal tangling at having witnessed it had vanished instantly. He looked over at Duff and Monkey Fist who were looking at them and muttering. Drakken raised a brow.

What are they gossiping about?

Drakken looked at himself and then Shego. He looked at his coat on her lap and wondered if she'd not fixed it, but it was fine. He made a gesture that indicated his confusion. They both shook their heads and he assumed they were making fun of the matching attire he and Shego wore. He rolled his eyes. How they'd both missed that was beyond him. He turned to whisper this to Shego and was suddenly aware that she was leaning her shoulder in the same direction as him which made her face less than an inch from his. It dawned on Drakken this position was what the two had been gossiping about.

Well if they're worried about anyone hearing them whisper they should do the same.

Drakken rolled his eyes and was about to tell Shego this when the bottle landed on him. He'd managed to avoid the spins up this point. He'd missed Lucre kiss Pandora completely as he looked across the circle to the woman in question. He felt Shego's shoulder hit his as if she thought he hadn't noticed. He saw Pandora glance at Hermes but Drakken didn't focus on this as he turned to Shego. He could sense her discomfort but didn't really have time to inquire about it. The typical cat calling that seemed to be on trend for each spin started and Drakken sighed and moved forward.

Drakken mentally began the countdown to five as his lips touched Pandora's. There was something about this game he never really liked. He kept picturing Shego's face and wondering what her look meant...but that wasn't something he should be thinking while kissing someone. Drakken's thoughts quickly reminded him he was kissing Shego's one-time romantic partner...and a person who had drunkenly told one of Shego's secrets to everyone there. He wasn't sure which one of them moved faster but it was clear she'd been counting too.

Five.

Drakken slid back to his spot and quickly looked over at Shego. It would be his luck she'd be annoyed by him kissing someone he knew she had a vendetta against, game or not. He looked towards Shego and saw her tight jaw as her hand was tugging at a few sequins at his coat. Her hands stopped as she looked up at him and then back to the jacket. She gave a forced apologetic smile at having removed a few threads from the coat. Drakken felt like he should make a comment at the coat destruction but he was certain that he'd be in a sour mood if his friend and partner kissed someone he'd had a falling out with... He'd do the same.

"I see why it ended...not a good kisser," said Drakken. He hoped she got his intent at the joke.

She smirked and rolled her eyes at him. Her jaw relaxed.

"Your spin, genius," Shego shoved him and pointed to the bottle.

Drakken darted quickly and spun it before sitting back on his haunches. His eyes darted around the circle. He saw it slow as it approached the final spin and moved closer towards him. It seemed to slow and dwindle in its roll before landing on Monkey Fist. Drakken sighed and looked at Monkey Fist who put his drink down. Drakken indicated to the bottle and Monkey Fist seemed unfazed as he moved towards the circle with Drakken.

"Aw, Moe and Larry are kissing," he heard Shego snort as his lips met Monkey Fist's. He shot her a sideways glare from where she smirked.

"Zip it...Shemp," said Drakken as the kiss ended. Shego's shocked look fade into an eye-roll at his statement.

Drakken slid back into his spot next to Shego who was now glaring at him.

"Shemp?" she asked. "I can't believe you just called me Shemp."

"You started the Three Stooges thing," he replied.

He felt a full body cringe come across him as he looked at Monkey Fist spin the bottle. Friend or not he couldn't help feeling uncomfortable about kissing him. Drakken watched Monkey Fist scratch behind his head before moving to the bottle. He had a mental flashback to the Villain Fails show reruns the other night. He leaned towards Shego.

"What if I got fleas?" asked Drakken.

Shego's sour expression turned to wide eyed fear.

"Ew. Get away from me," she shoved him away from her.

Drakken looked around the room and saw everyone's eyes on Monkey Fist. He smirked and leaned his head against Shego's.

"Sharing is caring," he snickered.

"Do you have a death wish," she hissed and scooted away from him.

She practically sat on Duff's lap in her shift. He jumped and Drakken chose to pretend he'd been fixated on the spinning bottle the entire time. He waited to see a green light come flying at him but it never did. Shego's arm collided hard with his own as she resumed her spot next to him. He fought the urge to shoot her a scathing look as he rubbed his arm but found her embarrassed expression satisfactory.

He scratched his head and froze. All joking aside...he was suddenly a little concerned.

"Ay, what kind of spin was that?" scoffed Duff as the bottle landed on him.

"Oh can it," Monkey First rolled his eyes as he took a drink and kissed Duff.

"Is anyone but me going to use their tongue?" sighed Adrena. "You're all so lame."

"Yeah, well you didn't even do it right. You still spun," said Camille. "You were supposed to choose."

"I chose with the bottle," replied Adrena.

She looked around and then attempted to slide her confiscated bottle of alcohol back from behind Ed. He didn't even look towards her as he reached behind the man sitting in between them and took it right back.

"Damn it," pouted Adrena.

"All right, who's the lucky lass...or lad," shrugged Duff as he spun the bottle.

"Whoever it doesn't land on," smirked Monkey Fist. Duff shot him a glare as everyone laughed.

"Well if no one's using tongue, can you guys at least put some effort into the kiss?" pouted Adrena. "For a little eye-candy."

Drakken watched it land on DNAmy who he noted had a glint in her eyes. Shego's voice hit his ear.

"Wanna bet she slips him the tongue just to get to Fist?" asked Shego.

"That's not a bet...that's a guarantee," he whispered back.

"Monster babe got the hots for monkey man?" Drakken jumped as Ed's voice came near his other ear.

"You have no idea," said Drakken and Shego at the same time.

Drakken moved a little away from Ed, he didn't like the moist breath in his ear and he wasn't keen on a repeat. Drakken leaned towards Shego and nodded his head at Ed. She shook her head indicating that she agreed with his statement from eavesdropping on their conversation. His focus fell back on the center of the circle where Duff looked between Monkey Fist and DNAmy as she moved to the center of the circle.

DNAmy didn't even give Duff a chance to reach her before she yanked him into a kiss. Drakken felt Shego thump him in her effort not to laugh at Duff's flailing. Drakken covered his own mouth to do the same. The circle was alive with cheering and a few bursts of hysteria. There was not a doubt in anyone's mind, Drakken was sure, that tongue was involved...which Duff did not look keen on. Drakken was certain it had been exactly five when Duff practically flew away from her and back to his spot. His face bright red and his eyes wide.

"Finally!" laughed Adrena who high-fived DNAmy. "Let's get this game amped up and freaky!"

"Moment of truth," whispered Shego as DNAmy looked around the circle.

As he said it, there was a weird unsettling in his stomach he wasn't sure about. He didn't have much time to really try and figure out if it was something he ate or not because DNAmy...not surprisingly...chose her target. Drakken felt a wave of discomfort surge through him as DNAmy pulled Monkey Fist into a dip. He tried to push aside that feeling, as Shego's statement about him avoiding DNAmy, Carmella, and Hermes came back. He didn't care about that, did he? Why would he, it was years ago... He watched as Monkey Fist tried desperately to escape her grasp. He glared.

She rejected you for the person she's kissing...who doesn't want to kiss her.

Drakken decided that was the feeling. Resentment. That had to be it.

It's just a game.

He suddenly hoped he didn't have to kiss DNAmy in this silly game...and he wondered what exactly was at the bar near the railing just in case he did. His musings were interrupted as he heard Duff whine. Apparently he'd zoned out and missed another spin in which Monkey Fist had kissed Duff and Duff had spun to DNAmy again.

"What is this? Some sort of weird threesome? Ain't there a rule for this?" whined Duff as DNAmy smiled at him.

"Well there's the image..." Camille sighed. "That's not going anywhere soon."

"I'd watch," shrugged Pandora.

"Same!" yelled Adrena.

Drakken wished he'd stayed lost in his own thoughts. He looked at Shego, a grimace on her face.

"Seriously, Duffy can re-spin," said Ed loudly as he put his drink down. "So declares the rule master. Which is me."

"Seems fair," said DNAmy as she fell back into her spot.

Duff spun and landed on Carmella. The visual exchange between the two was nothing short of contemptuous. Drakken wondered if he'd missed something between the two of them. He looked at Shego to see her expression to see if she knew something he didn't. Shego was staring ahead, a smirk spread across her face and she gaze Duff a favorable look. Drakken chose the awkward moment of the kiss to escape and grab something to drink. His stomach still wasn't listening. Shego yanked his sleeve and made a motion to the table.

"Hey Cuz—" Ed began.

"I am grabbing whatever...fight for it," muttered Drakken as Adrena gave him a hopeful look. "Not you."

"I'll make out with you. No spin needed," she winked.

"They have meetings that you should attend," Drakken shook his head and continued to the table.

He looked over at Shego to give her a disapproving head shake about her friend. Shego wasn't looking as she was glaring daggers at Adrena. Apparently, Shego was already concerned for her friend's mental state... Either that or homicide was in the air. He picked up a drink for Shego and paused. He strongly debated giving Shego alcohol if she was already leaning towards hostile solutions to small irritations. He looked back at her and shrugged.

He headed back only to watch the bottle spinning rapidly. He handed Ed a random bottle and sat back down. He handed something that was named strawberry towards Shego but she was staring ahead in horror. Drakken followed her direction to a stone face Carmella looking between him and Shego. It took Drakken exactly one deep inhale to make eye-contact with Cleopatra who was looking between Shego and Carmella with her drink frozen in mid sip. Carmella's eye gave a slight twitch as she gave a polite smile.

"Shego!" she gave a forced giggle. "How fun!"

Shego yanked the bottle out of Drakken's hands and took a large drink before heading into the circle. Drakken didn't even question the knot in his stomach this time. It had nothing to do with any food he'd eaten or hadn't eaten. He just couldn't decide if it was from the fact it was Carmella and Shego about to kiss or the fact he knew how much hostility was on the blonde's end. He could argue he was being a tad conceited...but Cleopatra's wide-eyed lock with his was proving him right. Drakken chose to be fixated on his own drink as the cat calling began.

He took a really long drink before Shego slid next to him and yanked the coat back. She gave him a hostile look as she took her drink back and nearly chugged it before rubbing her bottom lip. Drakken looked at Carmella who was giving an apologetic look that was on the fence of genuine or forced.

"What happened—"

"Your psycho ex bit me," she hissed back at him. "Is my lip bleeding?"

"No—"

"Hers will be before the night's over," snapped Shego.

Drakken fought the urge to say he told her they shouldn't have come to the party. But he was in no way about to get added to the list that he knew Shego was starting to form in her head of people to maim tonight. He watched Shego aggressively spin the bottle and told himself it could have been worse... The bottle landed on Ed. Drakken internally cringed as Ed grinned like an idiot.

"All right, Green. Let's check those sparks I wondered about, seriously," said Ed. Shego's hand flared. "Oh damn...not those ones!"

"Game or not. If I feel tongue you won't have one," said Shego. Relaxed-Shego was gone for the evening, for sure.

Shego let out a sigh as she kissed his cousin who looked far too happy about it. Drakken's stomach knot turned into a an entire net of knots and his fist tightened on the jacket Shego had put in his lap when she'd remembered she had to spin. He had a mental flash of wanting to shove his cousin over the railing himself now.

Five.

Shego shoved away from Ed and reclaimed her seat. Drakken hadn't even been aware he'd been counting in his own head. Shego let out a sigh next to him and shook her head. She gave a half shrug and a partial smile. Drakken liked this less than her hostile manner, considering it came after kissing Ed. A mental image of Ed and her traveling down the interstate after her break out forced its way in.

"I'm going to need more of these," said Shego as she drank the rest of the bottle he'd gotten her. "This is going to be a loooong game."

Shego got up to get more drinks. Drakken looked at his own drink and nodded.

It's just a game.

He took another swig and cringed at its sour taste. He was going to need a few more himself if this game continued down that path. There were only so many visuals he could handle sober in this game and he'd exceeded them. He looked around the circle and there was a dawning panic of Shego kissing Dementor before this game ended. Drakken took a deep breath and took one of Shego's collected bottles as she sat back down.

"Someone's finally letting loose," she snorted. "That was mine. These are strong you know and these aren't peppermint patties."

"I'm just taking your advice," said Drakken. He didn't like the taste of the drink.

"I don't think I told you to drink," said Shego. "It's not your wheelhouse."

"It is tonight," said Drakken. "Just...getting into the game."

Drakken may have had too much. A little over an hour in and he was certain if it wasn't for the effect of the strong buzz he was still riding...he wouldn't have made out with Cleopatra for nearly ten seconds. The death glare he was getting from Ed wasn't completely warranted in his own thoughts...but Shego taking his drink away from him was telling him otherwise. He looked around the circle as Cleopatra chose who to kiss next, since it was in the rules for the type of kiss Drakken had given her. Drakken saw her glance at Ed whose angry glare at him had now turned into a cocky smirk at Cleopatra.

Drakken looked around the circle. No one else had seemed fazed and some had been doing far more in the circle than he had. He knew Ed and Cleopatra had a history, but it was only a game. His eyes landed on Adrena who held up her water bottle in cheers to him as Shego slapped his hand away from the drink again. Drakken sobered up a little at that action. Not a lot, but a little. He knew he hadn't done anything wrong, but he felt like he had. Cleopatra had initiated it.

He was about to say so when he was yanked forward by his tie back into yet another kiss from Cleopatra. He laughed into the kiss this time because judging by her own snicker and the way she'd glanced around the circle this was just to annoy his cousin. The image of Shego and Ed kissing came flooding back and he fed into this stunt. He took a page out of DNAmy's book and pulled Cleopatra around into a dip for the kiss. Both were fighting laughter and were more putting their faces together than actually kissing.

"I think we're good," said Ed. "Seriously. TEN!"

"Why thank you. I know it was a ten," said Drakken as Cleopatra and he stopped kissing.

He heard Cleopatra's loud laugh at his statement. He slid back into his spot and looked to see Cleopatra was covering her mouth and glancing at a smiling Carmella. Ed was back to glaring aggressively at him and the bottle. He looked at Shego, but her annoyed look was gone. Shego was rolling her eyes with a hint of a smirk on her face. He practically hit his head against hers as he went to whisper in her ear.

"She's trying to make Eddie mad," said Drakken. Shego nodded and pushed him away with a small snort.

"Yah think?" asked Shego. "You have had way too much."

"I'm fine," laughed Drakken. He noticed a tint to Shego's complexion. "Why is your face red?"

"...I was laughing," she said with a clearing of her throat. "I'm getting water. It's your spin, Dorkken."

"Why thank you...She-She," he retorted. Her narrowed eyes wiped the smile from his face.

Shego snatched the drink with more aggression than she probably should have. She glanced towards where Cleopatra sat next to Carmella. If there was any satisfaction gained from what she'd just been forced to watch, it was the angry look on Carmella's face that had washed away Cleopatra's jovial one. As if on cue Cleopatra looked behind her and at Shego. Shego chose to look back at the water. Carmella could glare and harass her without question. Shego shooting her daggers would have been over-analyzed at the least.

She could feel her face was still warm from the anger she'd felt from the spin. Cleopatra was clearly trying to irk Ed, which she'd already known by the dress alone. She'd have been blind to not realize that the other villainess wouldn't use this game to further her childish form of revenge. So her kissing Drakken as aggressively as she did...hadn't really surprised Shego. It was the fact Drakken was more than willing to feed into it.

Shego grabbed a few waters and headed back to her seat. The glare on Ed's face as he looked at Drakken made her change her seating. She sat in between Ed and Drakken and shoved a water into his lap. She glanced up at him but the dark blood-red lipstick on his face made her skin crawl again. She carelessly indicated to his mouth and glared at the bottle spinning in the center. She watched it slide past Carmella and there was a weird sense of relief washing over her. It slowed as it went to her and there was a weird mixture of emotions swarming her.

A mixture of agitation, excitement, and fear were the main ones. She didn't have to process all three as the bottle found its way to Adrena. Shego was starting to regret this stupid game. She had no idea why playing this game had seemed so appealing. Just because she hadn't played it before? She didn't regret having to save the city versus playing this game in college now. She glanced at Pandora, and for a moment, was grateful she'd been the one to convince her to go with her brothers rather than the party it had been at. Her grateful feelings of the past fell away rather quickly as Drakken moved to kiss Adrena.

It's just a game...

She wished she'd taken up Drakken on his dancing offer now. At least there she wouldn't feel as uncomfortable as she felt now. She saw Drakken glance at her out of the corner of his eye, undoubtedly worried about her handsy, intoxicated friend. She fought an eye-roll; she was not in the mood for another visual car crash. She looked at her water and wondered if Drakken hadn't been on to something in drinking far more than she would normally allow herself. He'd been in pretty good spirits when he'd pulled Cleopatra into a dip. She glared.

This game's fu—

Her thoughts swam together as Drakken sat back next to her grinning drunkenly. She handed him the bottle and heard Adrena give an excited laugh. She looked up to see the bottle was on her again. Shego gave a forced smile and slid into the circle, tossing the coat back at Drakken each time she had to do this. Adrena must have read her body posture pretty well for once as she didn't make the mistake of trying to deepen the kiss...this time. Shego ended the kiss as soon as she felt the five seconds fade and spun the bottle carelessly and fixed her skirt as she waited for it to stop.

How long does this game go for again?

She looked at Drakken who was drinking his water but she saw him glance towards his confiscated drink. Shego almost snorted as she saw Adrena had shifted behind Ed and was reaching for the drink herself. She was actually finding her annoyance fade as she watched as Drakken slid the drink to the blonde who vanished back to her own spot. She watched his dopey grin fade into wide-eyed horror as he looked across the circle. Shego looked at the bottle and then to Dementor on the other end.

I hate this game...

–

Drakken drank his water and watched as Adrena and Lucre went well-past ten seconds. He would have nudged Shego but she'd been a little moody the last hour and his dwindling alcohol buzz was making him more irritated with it. He could only assume it was because Ed had been glaring their way since his kiss with Cleopatra. Why that affected Shego's mood was beyond him. He shot a look at her as she cheered Lucre and Adrena on. Her eyes locked with his and he leaned on his knee and looked at the ground.

I didn't even want to play this stupid thing.

Drakken looked around the circle. Some had practically been overly indecent in the circle. He didn't think he nor Cleopatra warranted certain looks. He really didn't care if Cleopatra was getting scathing looks, but it was the principle. He watched as Shego kissed Lucre when the bottle spun to her. He chose to look at the jacket on the ground next to him. He found it less disturbing to do so.

Shego seemed fine before she got us water.

At least he knew why it made him uncomfortable; he didn't need alcohol to understand that. That being said, he wasn't angry about it... Just...plotting whoever she kissed, death. Internally. He watched Shego spin the bottle and watch the glass spin. He hoped it didn't land on Dementor again; he might not be able to internalize his wishes of murder. He took another drink of water as Shego's bottle landed on Hermes.

Drakken felt that annoying tug he had from earlier with Carmella and Shego...and DNAmy and Monkey Fist. He glared at the jacket now.

This is all Shego's fault for putting that in my head. I don't care about what they're all doing.

He hated this game.

He hadn't even liked it in middle school, definitely not in high school, and college...yeah that was a nightmare. Why he hadn't just left when Ed had suggested it was beyond his own reasoning. He'd thought about it when they'd first sat down and he realized Shego was in the circle and would be kissing a number of their peers. He wasn't stupid. He knew nothing would ever go past friends and partners between them... He didn't have to have visuals. He looked towards where Shego quickly pulled away from Hermes and he felt the discomfort move away a little.

His thoughts didn't.

His mind was thinking about their partnership, her date with the nerdy accountant who reminded him of the loser he'd once been... Then to the magazine with the circled jobs. He knew if he asked her about it she would have a reasonable excuse... Whether she was being honest or not would be up for debate. Sure, they were short on funds... He had this gnawing internal fear that she wouldn't come back.

Why would she?

Drakken must have zoned out a lot longer than he'd thought because he was being nudged by Ed this time rather than Shego. He looked at the circle and the bottle pointing at him. He looked across, and wondered what exactly he'd missed. Dementor was looking at him as if this was the worst-case scenario. Drakken looked at the bottle again. It really was. Drakken's eyes shot open and they both looked towards Ed.

"How many turns are left?" asked Drakken and Dementor at the same time.

"Aren't we done yet?" asked Dementor quickly. "Rule master?'

Ed froze. He had not been paying attention.

"I think...Hermes has one spin left," said DNAmy with a shrug.

"Yeah... Seriously, that's what I thought. Yeah?" asked Ed with a fake confident smile. Hermes shrugged, clearly not paying attention either.

"Just kiss and get it over with," said Camille with an eye roll.

"We're going," both Dementor and Drakken responded.

Drakken could have lived his whole life never having Dementor so close to his face and yet there he was. He also really wanted something more than water after that, but he knew that wasn't a good idea... And he was certain Shego would hinder him from doing so.

Drakken slid back into his spot. Honestly he wasn't even sure if it had been five seconds or less but no one said anything so he went with it. Shego was shaking and desperately trying to hide her face. He glared at her but it turned into an eye-roll as he reached for the bottle.

Drakken watched the bottle spin and when it stopped he thought it had landed on himself. Then he watched it move the extra inch to his left. He'd gone over the circle and thought about who would be most awkward to kiss...had factored in who he had kissed and who he'd been lucky enough to avoid.

He'd dwelled on the annoyance of watching Shego kiss others and his own internal dealings with emotions... But for some reason...he'd forgotten to fathom the idea of his bottle ever landing on Shego. He looked at her, her eyes fixed on the bottle and her expression neutral. Her shaking giggles from him kissing Dementor, gone. His mind began racing a mile a minute trying to think of every possible outcome.

It doesn't mean anything...

It was just a game and kissing her would be no different than her stunt at Thanksgiving. He suddenly realized that if he hesitated any longer the others would think there was something up and he wasn't keen on dealing with an angry Shego for helping spread rumors. They were both well aware just how many were already going to come from that circle. He looked at Shego and she turned towards him and opened her mouth. He could sense the sarcastic comment coming at how long he was taking.

Just get it over with!

Her exhale of breath was his cue to act. He moved quickly to cut her off before she made it even more awkward. His hand slid behind her head and pulled her into a kiss. The sharp intake of breath she took through her nose tickled slightly. He tried to think that he wasn't kissing Shego right now in front of all their fellow villains. He began the mental countdown.

One... Two.

Why are her lips so soft... Don't go there.

Three... Four...

He was about to pull away but she shifted. Her lips pushed back against his and her hand gripped his shoulder. It was his turn to take a sharp breath through his nose. There was more of a shift in the movement of her lips, which he matched.

What am I doing? What is she doing!

Six... Seven.

Does... Does she want to kiss me?

Eight.

Before his heart could start racing at even hoping that was true...Shego's tongue traced over his lip and everything came rushing back. They were playing a game. She was just trying to gain the ability to choose the next person she could kiss. She didn't want to kiss him.

He felt annoyance hit him as he broke the kiss and gestured to the bottle. He swallowed hard and waited for her to spin. He glanced at Shego, expecting to see her roll her eyes and smirk before spinning the bottle. What he saw instead was an unreadable expression that ghosted a series of other expressions before her eyes darted to the bottle with wide eyes. She grabbed it at lightning speed and spun it.

Drakken was mentally scolding himself for letting himself wonder if Shego's feelings might have changed for him, for even a second. He'd already had the conversation with himself after Thanksgiving and he was only causing himself more problems by letting it pop up like that. It was just a stupid game. He looked up to see Shego kissing Hermes and really wanted the night to be over. He remembered DNAmy's comment. Hermes next spin would end the game. There was a rush of relief as he watched the bottle make its final spin.

"Finally. My legs are getting sore," grumbled Shego.

Drakken looked at her uncomfortable expression.

"We've been sitting here for at least two hours," said Drakken. He watched her rub her leg and found an out. "Perhaps we should get out of here when Hermes is done."

Shego gave him a long and expressionless look. Then her shoulders slumped as she shrugged and looked ahead at the spinning bottle.

"I was just suggesting..." Drakken trailed off as the bottle found its target.

He didn't know what he'd expected, honestly. It only made sense that luck would befall him this way. The bottle landed firmly on him. He looked at Hermes and felt a wave of anxiety at the expression the other man had on his face. Hermes face was wide-eyed and stiff-jawed. Drakken looked at the bottle and then back at Hermes. He saw the forced smile on Hermes's face as he wrung his hands together.

There was a mental image of the gauntlets in Drakken's mind. It was the last time he'd physically spoken to Hermes...and that had not gone well in the slightest. Hermes moved first and Drakken followed. He imagined how off this might look to everyone considering how everyone else hadn't taken nearly as long to move. Drakken looked around the circle trying to see if anyone noticed. They didn't seem to have. He looked back at Hermes who had clearly been doing the same.

How do I manage to avoid all three...but then kiss Shego and now THIS?

Drakken really...really—and he was very serious—hated this game.

Drakken's anxiety and nerves didn't vanish as he mentally made the countdown as he kissed Hermes. He was extremely grateful that this kiss ended the game but he found his mind wandering to all the variables of how he'd managed to avoid an awkward first kiss with DNAmy, a woman he'd considered marrying, though she'd seemed completely unfazed by the whole gravity of that situation. Or a, based on Shego's experience, violent kiss with Carmella... Which held some minor contempt he was sure towards him ending their relationship when he'd been leaning towards a proposal.

He should have felt relief in avoiding two of the three most awkward ones but he did not. He kept picturing the gauntlets again and the mental anguish he'd dealt with under their hold. The first thing he associated with them was the museum and the cracking sound of Hermes's wrist in his metal-clad hand; his last conscious thought in them before things had started to shift. He wasn't even sure it had been five seconds but he pulled away as fast as he could. His hands felt a phantom ache that he wanted gone.

He grabbed the bottle and tossed it away without really paying attention as everyone started to stand up and stretch. He momentarily wondered what kissing the other two might have triggered...but it faded quickly as he finally managed to feel some relief at the game finally being over. He wanted to go back to his lair and work or maybe just escape the tense feelings he was having.

He watched as a few people left the landing and saw Shego drifting towards the exit as well. Drakken headed towards where she stood but an arm wrapped around his shoulder. He groaned as Ed pulled him next to him. He assumed this was going to be about that ill-fated scene between he and Cleopatra. Instead he saw Ed look between he and Shego.

"You two seriously aren't about to bail are you?" he snorted. "The night's still early and I got some radical games, seriously."

"There are more games?" asked Monkey Fist, his foot on the stair. "What kind of games?"

"Drinking games," said Ed firmly.

"Killigan, we're not leaving," said Monkey Fist as he pivoted back to perch on the railing. "It got interesting."

"Hmm, the dance floor seems more interesting," said Drakken. Ed didn't loosen his grip.

"Seriously... I got this book... It's worth it," grinned Ed. "I doubt most will get that trashed...so we will have to actually do some normal ones, seriously."

"A book?" asked Dementor. He and Camille looked at each other with raised brows.

"Yeah I came across it when I was at Bookapalooza last week," said Ed casually.

"Did you go in there by accident?" asked Lucre.

"No, they had a huge sale," shrugged Ed. "Fifty percent off on hardcover classics. I was not missing that, seriously."

Drakken saw the confused looks and snorts of some of their peers. He glared at Dementor's and Lucre's shared snort. Ed seemed oblivious or he just was ignoring it as he finally let go of Drakken. He took one step towards Shego only for Ed to be right behind him.

"Come on Cuz, you can help me get more booze while I grab the book. This is going to be a riot. I mean, seriously," grinned Ed as he made a guitar solo as he hit the staircase.

"Actually Eddie... Hey!" Drakken was yanked down the stairs by his cousin.

Drakken followed his cousin bitterly as they made their way from the stairs and towards the back part of the warehouse where his actual working area was blocked off. Drakken wondered why he'd been chosen to help Ed get more alcohol and a book. They walked through a back work room filled with car parts and a lot of things Drakken really wanted to touch. Drakken looked at Ed and then back towards the door.

"So...what's with all the decorations?" asked Drakken.

"Feeling festive," grinned Ed. Drakken thought about it and then raised a brow. "Fine. Seriously. My rides deff impress my normal crew, but since I was having a total rock-out party... I seriously needed to add a few classy touches. I was thinking about that Christmas walk our moms forced us on every year."

"...The one where we walked through a decorated pseudo-forest with cheesy lights and fire hazards..." Drakken shrugged. "Well in that case you nailed it."

"Score!" grinned Ed. "I thought about decorating Cupid and Rudolf."

"They're going to kill you and make you a focal point in their store you know," said Drakken.

"Stephan and Stephanie?" snored Ed. "Nah. They'll think someone stole them again, seriously. It happens every year this time... They always show back up."

"Eddie?" asked Drakken with a smirk.

"...I steal them every year," groaned Ed. "Hey, seriously, can you blame me. They're hella cool."

"So, this party isn't some cheap way of impressing people?" asked Drakken. He saw Ed shrug. "A girl? Adrena? Because I'm pretty sure you just need something sparkly and a bottle of alcohol."

"Pft. I don't need anything to impress a babe, Drew. Seriously Cuz, you know I got game," snorted Ed. "Despite your little dig about my ex-wife...which I was informed by Misty not to call her..."

"So?" asked Drakken.

"Seriously. I'm sending her anniversary cards every year and signing it, 'To my ex-wife from your seriously killer ex-hubby' ...for like...ever," said Ed cheerfully. "Could have gone my whole life without Mom knowing."

"Yeah, about that comment. I may have gone a smidge too far," grinned Drakken apologetically. "You'll find the one... I'm sure... Maybe at a tractor pull or a brothel. Ow!"

Drakken laughed as Ed threw a book at him.

"I'm only kidding," snickered Drakken. "...Maybe."

"What if...you could help me out with that?" Ed's tone was serious. "Seriously. The Cuz code."

"What?" asked Drakken.

"The Cuz code? Seriously, you gotta remember it," said Ed with a groan. "Our list of rules..."

"That we made as teens?" asked Drakken. He rolled her eyes but raised a brow. "Which one."

"I need you to be my...seriously can't believe I'm saying this...my wingman," said Ed. "I'm trying to win over a select babe but you have more pull in the matter."

Drakken's whole core tensed up and he glared.

"It better not be Shego," Drakken shook his expression to neutral. "Because as she is my partner I am not about to be put into a position where your failing would cost—"

"Geesh, chill. Green's hot and all...and seriously I would totally go for her, seriously," said Ed. Drakken clenched his fist in his pocket. "But Shego would murder me first chance she got and black widow the hell out...I mean, great way to go I'm sure—"

"Let's not discuss that," said Drakken. A small relief at least. "Who?"

"Cleo," said Ed casually. "I mean what you said in the attic brawl seriously got me thinking...and clearly I know I'm still running through a babe's head since she keeps trying to steal shit out from under me... Gotta respect a woman who will go out of her way to sabotage."

"Well, it's honestly not the weirdest pairing here tonight," said Drakken. "I don't see how you'd need a wingman. This seems more of a just do your...strange charm that worked before."

"Duh, like seriously Cuz I know that," Ed rolled his eye, "But I can't with Candy Queen around. Seriously, you know how babes are. Clearly bats-for-brains blondie has been mother-henning her since they arrived."

"Does Carmella know you call her that?" asked Drakken.

"...I haven't been poisoned yet...so who knows," shrugged Ed as he handed a cooler handle to Drakken. "But if someone distracted her..."

"There are dozens of people here you could ask to distract her," responded Drakken. He felt uncomfortable. "Why me?"

"Seriously. Who? Lucre?" asked Ed. "Don't get me wrong, I seriously was going to ask him but he seems really off since prison. I think he's depressed. You know he didn't even want to come. Poor dude seriously does need a woman...or whatever."

"...Right," Drakken shook his head. "I wouldn't know the first thing to do to distract her."

"...Tell her she looks hot. I dunno. How'd you hook up with her before?" shrugged Ed.

"I tried to trick her by pretending to flirt... She put me under mind control...and threatened others so I would bow to her whims," said Drakken. Saying it out loud seemed more unstable then he'd thought. "Something about her evil ways was very captivating."

"Not gonna lie...that sounds kinda hot," smirked Ed. "I see the appeal...just do that again."

"Oh absolutely not. That was a nightmare," gulped Drakken. "We're not exactly on terms of any kind. I'm not keen on poking a sleeping bear and being turned into a puppet again."

"I'm not asking you to marry her. Seriously," Ed rolled his eyes. "Help me out and just distract her enough for me to kidnap Cleo."

"Excuse me?" stated Drakken.

"It's a metaphor," replied Ed. "Come on...ten minutes, tops. We play the game...a little dancing...use your Cotillion crap to get her away, seriously. Might as well use it for something."

"You went to the same one with that weird friend of Stephanie's," said Drakken.

"Yeah, seriously, no one can out foxtrot me," grinned Ed.

"I'm not doing it. I didn't even want to do this," said Drakken as he pulled the cooler.

"If you don't I will tell everyone here that Stoppable is your son," Ed said quickly.

Drakken dropped the cooler and crossed his arms.

"That is an outright...insane lie," glared Drakken. "No one would believe you."

"You're right...no one would believe you procreated," said Ed with a sigh.

Drakken wondered if killing his cousin would be more unfavorable with his family or with his peers. He was tempted to find out. Ed gave an evil grin. Drakken might actually find out the answer depending on Ed's next statement.

"I can explain it away. Seriously. You did donate in college...some poor woman chose yours... Boom. Blondie is your spawn...and I can sell that pretty well, seriously." said Ed.

"Do you want 'Seriously' on your tombstone?" asked Drakken.

"Pfft, I'd like to see you try," Ed pushed past him. "Okay, fine. Seriously chill. I was only joking."

"Good," glared Drakken.

"Maybe," smirked Ed.

Bad Things to Come →