Labels and Drinks Part 2

Shego rolled her eyes as she danced with Summer. She wasn't exactly sure how much time had passed. Only that and the mixture of alcohol was definitely the reason she had been talked into participating when a line-dance song began playing. Somewhere, Dean was dancing with Duff the last she saw. She felt she'd had way too many drinks to continue participating, but no one else seemed fazed by a bunch of villains currently square-dancing. She had a strong suspicion that the ones requesting the songs were a couple dressed like Wild West bandits...but one could never be sure.

She had only a few seconds of clarity at the insanity of it, especially if they were to be raided by Global Justice or Kim Possible. As they switched partners again she decided to sneak off back to their table, but an arm caught her around the waist too quickly.

"Howdy there partner," came the tipsy voice of Drakken as he faked a southern accent.

Shego raised a brow as she was pulled back into the song's fast-paced dancing in the small break before they were to switch again. It was abundantly clear Drakken may have reached his limit early for the evening, but she found herself more concerned with where he'd managed to acquire a cowboy hat than his consumption limits. She yelped as he spun her around, despite the song clearly indicating to do so.

"How drunk are you?" laughed Shego as his arm hooked her waist again and they skipped in a circle.

He continued his horrible fake accent.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, little lady," grinned Drakken.

"It's clear you are done for the evening," snorted Shego as she spun again and they stepped in tune to the fast beat.

"Oh no Shego, the evening is still young," replied Drakken.

He shoved the hat on her head and with a small spin, she was dancing with Dean as the partners switched again. Drakken resumed dancing with Cleopatra who had somehow acquired a hat of her own. Shego rolled her eyes but grinned as she watched them dance off into the middle of the floor. She felt her hat tipped up and looked to Dean as the song began to fade out and the dancing slowed.

"Having fun? I remember someone protesting when it started," said Dean as a slow dance started. "Nice hat."

Shego shrugged as she felt her wide grin fade into a smile as she patted his shoulder and pulled him away from the dance.

"Yeah, well. I need a drink after that," sighed Shego as she headed towards their table. Dean hesitantly followed.

Shego pulled the hat off her head as she managed to get through the crowd of dancers. Overall the patrons had started to filter out. Shego looked at a few slumped at tables...or passed out it seemed. Shego sat down and Dean sat next to her. He played with the hat she'd tossed on the table. Shego couldn't quite place the expression on Dean's face before he smiled over at her. There was something about that fleeting look and the way he looked at the hat that caught her attention. Before she could pursue what it might be DNAmy came cheerfully back to the table.

"Would you two be interested in joining Summer and I at for pool?" asked DNAmy. "Those silly guys ran off to play with fire for money and we'd rather do doubles."

"For fun?" asked Shego. "Or..."

"We're playing one of those fun drinking games like we did at Eddie's," laughed DNAmy. "Another reason we want doubles."

"What do you think Dean?" asked Shego, "A few games and we hit the dance floor?"

"I do like pool," nodded Dean. Shego raised a brow at the slight smirk he had.

"Play often?" asked Shego as they got up.

"For fun," he replied as they followed DNAmy over to the pool tables.

Drakken nearly choked as the burning liquid went down his throat. It subsided in seconds and diminished to a tickle. He looked at the small, empty glasses, mentally trying to count if they were equal or more to the limit he'd set for himself... But he couldn't remember if he'd already had the limit yet. He was sure he hadn't or the others would have said something. Carmella was giggling against his arm but he couldn't figure out if someone had said something amusing or if she'd seen something.

"Did someone say a funny?" snickered Drakken. Carmella looked at him in amused confusion.

"It's just us here Drakky," she replied.

Drakken looked across from them at the empty booth.

"When did they leave?" asked Drakken. He squinted into the crowd to look for them.

"Well, Motor man said, 'Seriously, let's get a pitcher,' and Cleo replied, 'Hell yes!' and then...they left...two shots ago." There was a slight slur in her overly-cheerful tone.

"That was a good 'Eddie,'" nodded Drakken. "Kinda creepy...wait...what was funny?"

"You. You keep muttering numbers and then they change as you drink," snorted Carmella. "I was picturing this big notebook in your head with little cartoon versions of you doing math with a giant pencil...like on School House Jam? Did you watch that?"

"I loved that," sputtered Drakken. His rants were cut off as a bright blue pitcher was set down in front of them.

"All right, let's seriously get this started," grinned Ed.

Drakken looked at the sloshing blue liquid and had a very patchy memory of a sandy beach, a bar fight, and a strip-club wedding. Drakken wasn't so far gone as to not associate the drink with a very foggy week of debauchery and other concerns.

"Is it drugged this time?" Drakken tried to sneer, but it came out like he was about to sneeze.

"No," laughed Ed. His smile faded. "Bartender babe refused."

"This time?" asked Carmella.

"It was a fun week and you know it," said Ed as he struggled to slide in the booth. "I mean, I got shot twice and it was still a fun time."

"You got shot?" asked Cleopatra with a broad grin. "By who?"

Ed looked at Drakken who was wondering the same thing. It took him what felt like a solid minute to remember.

"Oh! I shot you," stated Drakken. He started laughing. "I forgot."

"How do you forget shooting someone?" giggled Carmella.

"In his defense he was drugged and had flown through a windshield a few hours prior," said Ed calmly. "It wasn't the first time. Probably not the last."

"Shooting you or flying through a windshield after being drugged?" smirked Cleopatra as she took a glass.

"Both," shrugged Ed. Drakken snickered. "All right, seriously, grab a glass."

"Pass," responded Drakken. He thought for a few seconds. "I think...I think I had my limit."

"What was your limit?" sighed Ed.

"Three," nodded Drakken. He looked at his empty glasses and began counting.

"Shots don't count, so you only had two," snickered Ed as he poured a rather large glass.

Drakken stared at the glasses on the table and then to the one that was filled rather high. He tried desperately to do the math and tell himself that shots did count. He stopped this as he took a drink. One more drink couldn't really make a big difference, right?

A dagger whizzed past Ed's head, who jumped and then laughed hysterically.

"Should have aimed more to the left," snorted Drakken.

Ed yanked the dagger out of the wall and stabbed the board with it, acting as if it had actually made it. Drakken grabbed another dagger and did his best to aim where Cleopatra's darts had hit, hoping to knock them out or split them. His slight stumble only embedded his dagger into the floor as he hadn't put enough force into his throw. He felt a clap on his shoulder and the snickering of his cousin.

"You lose Cuz," Ed chortled. "At least you hit the board most of this round."

"True," snorted Drakken as he grabbed his glass. "This thing sure lasts a long time."

Ed looked at the empty pitcher with narrowed eyes.

"Which is seriously weird because...this doesn't," snorted Ed. "Babes! What's the plan?"

"I wanna do another round," clapped Carmella cheerfully. She had won two games.

"We can't, remember? Conner said it was our last round," glared Cleopatra as she sipped her drink.

"Oh..." nodded Carmella slowly. "He was really mad when he caught the dagger with his tray. But it was his fault for dropping those glasses."

"Might have been because it was heading towards his head," said Cleopatra. "Probably the reason he chose to drop the glasses."

"You did learn you can throw backwards," stated Drakken confidently as he pointed at Carmella. She grinned and pointed back.

"See! A new talent was discovered," she smiled and made an animated gesture as she nearly slipped off her seat.

"We could play exploding pool," said Drakken as he heard a blast through the crowd.

"Seriously," said Ed as he put his glass down. "I know you're used to losing, but have some restraint, seriously."

The pleasant swirls that Drakken had been enjoying in his head suddenly stopped. He glared at Ed and wished he had a laser gun or something to blast him. A part of him said that was an overreaction, but instinct was favoring the former. He wondered if Shego was still there; she could do so for him. He looked over the crowd, not really hearing what they had started talking about. As if by chance, he saw exactly who he was looking for a few tables over.

"Shego!" he yelled. It might have been louder than he planned it to be.

He only knew this because Shego practically dropped her drink and looked around frantically. He almost laughed at how she took a mild fighting stance. Her narrowed eyes found him and he waved over to her, letting her know he was there. He vaguely noted the eye-roll and the slight relief in her features before she glared at him.

"What?" she yelled over the crowd. Drakken gave a scathing look towards Ed before marching over to her. Her eyes widened. "Oh man, how much have you had?"

"Shego," began Drakken. He found leaning against the beam much nicer than standing. "Eddie says I will lose at exploding pool... I know I would."

Shego was still staring at him and suddenly he noticed Dean next to her. He hadn't seen him there before, yet there he was. Drakken raised a brow and tried to look for where he had been hiding. Dean gave him a friendly smile and waved.

"Hi Drakken," grinned Dean. "Did you say pool?"

"I did!" Drakken leaned forward and used a chair to stand as he felt heavy for a second. "Do you play pool Dean?"

"We just finished beating the others," said Shego. Dean nodded but Drakken's attention was back on Shego who was surveying him critically. "You are loaded," she said.

"I am fine, Shego," said Drakken. "But, Eddie is being mean and I don't like it."

"Motor Ed is always mean...or annoying...or obnoxious...or a combination," shrugged Shego. "Do you want me to hit him for you?"

"Yes please," said Drakken as he crossed his arms smugly. He didn't notice Shego's dramatic eye-roll.

"I am not hitting Motor Ed because he won't let you play pool," said Shego. "I will hit him because he is Motor Ed."

"Well then it defeats the point," sputtered Drakken. He looked at Dean. "Dean, you wanna play pool?"

"We just—"

Shego's response was cut off.

"Yes!" grinned Dean. "I would love to play pool with you."

"Hah! Dean will play with me," snapped Drakken before yelling over his shoulder. "Eddie! We're playing pool!"

Drakken stuck his tongue out at Shego as he walked around the table and put his arm around Dean. He was going to continue over to the pool tables without breaking eye-contact with Shego, but he tripped over something on the ground. He missed Shego's head shake as he tried not to fall, mostly with the help of Dean.

"Someone dropped a gun," said Dean. His wide eyes were comical as Drakken picked it up.

Drakken looked at the small, cheaply-made thing. He knew it was a Hencho reject. He had a dozen of them in a box somewhere from 'lost shipment.' Drakken gave an evil chuckle at that fact. He tossed it at Dean who yelped and tried either not to drop it or not catch it, Drakken wasn't sure which. It went off, sending a laser blast at the bar. Drakken watched Gina jump out of the way and glare in their direction. Drakken threw his hands up and pointed at Dean who dropped the laser gun, soon following Drakken's lead and backing away towards the pool area.

"What does that gesture mean?" whispered Dean as he looked over at the bar. "Why did she write something on a board?"

"It's your first warning," shrugged Drakken. "I'm on my second."

"How many do you get?" asked Dean. "What happens if you exceed your warnings?"

"Three," laughed Drakken. He gestured to the bouncers playing pool. "They toss you out... If you really annoy them you end up in a different state...naked, according to Pyro Pete... But he exaggerates."

"You don't seem worried," said Dean as Drakken stumbled over to the cue sticks.

"Gina and Conner like me, I'm fine," snickered Drakken. He looked at Dean. "You may need that laser gun."

"I uh...dropped it," said Dean. Drakken noted his concerned look behind him.

"Shego really needs to train you better," snorted Drakken. "You find a laser gun...you keep the laser gun. Unless you kill someone... Then ditch the laser gun."

"Excuse me?" asked Dean. Drakken found his features comical and familiar, but he couldn't place why.

Drakken brushed it off and tried to make a soothing hand gesture.

"Relax, we haven't killed anyone," snorted Drakken. He gave an evil chuckle. "Yet."

"What?" whispered Dean. Drakken burst into laughter at his expression again.

"Your face is so funny, I can't stop," snorted Drakken as he grabbed the pool rack.

"Stop it," stated Shego as she walked behind Dean. Drakken rolled his eyes but felt no less amused. "All right, pairs against pairs. We break first."

"Hey," snapped Drakken. "You didn't want to play. Dean is with me."

"Doy," sighed Shego. "I got a new partner."

Ed stumbled slightly behind Shego before putting his arm around her smugly. Drakken felt yet another sudden shift in his mood. He glared at Dean and really wished he hadn't dropped the laser gun. He shook his head in disappointment towards the other man. Dean however looked slightly agitated himself. That was until Ed yelped and Shego's green hand dwindled as Ed's arm retreated quickly from her shoulder. The sound of laughter caught Drakken's attention as he saw Cleopatra and Carmella had found some stools nearby to watch.

"Ow, Green," mumbled Ed. "Seriously, chill out. I ain't hitting on you. I mean seriously like I wanna wake up in a tomb or some shit."

"And he would," giggled Cleopatra proudly.

"All right, let's play before one of you pass out," sighed Shego. "And Dean. Can we keep the exploding balls...on the table? We don't have Duff to take the fall this time."

Drakken looked at Dean who was sheepishly chalking his cue and looking at the table.

"He told me it was a dud, I didn't mean to hit Giraffe and cause a fight," muttered Dean.

"You're just lucky Duff thought he did it because he hit his ball the same time and didn't notice it go in," smirked Shego.

"Huh, suspicious," muttered Ed. Drakken stared at his cousin who was squinting at Dean. "It wasn't intentional? Interesting... It's Dean, right?"

"Yes?" asked Dean as he looked up towards Ed.

Ed gave him a suspicious look but simply snatched the chalk and addressed his cue. Drakken felt a nudge to his left and saw Shego had moved closer towards him. He found himself leaning closer towards her without meaning to. This seemed to be what she had intended as she smirked at him.

"Wanna make it interesting Dr. D?" asked Shego smugly. "Play for cash?"

Drakken felt a little of his cheerful fog settle and nodded. Her eyes darted over to Dean and then back to him. Something about the glint in her eyes made him want to lean closer. A small wave of excitement at the idea was pulled away by a sudden jolt of panic. He took a quick step back, so rapidly he felt slightly dizzy for a second and was grateful for his pool cue for support. He must have still been leaning back as Shego gave his arm a quick tug and things then appeared more aligned.

"Hey babes, wanna get us some more drinks, seriously?" laughed Ed. He was looking towards where Carmella and Cleopatra sat.

Drakken wondered if his wavering cheerfulness was in part due to his lack of consumption. There was a small voice in his head telling him he didn't need anymore, that he was well-past his limit. But his own voice overpowered it.

"Yes," he grinned. "We should get more of the pitcher."

"Whoa there, Drakken," Shego was next to him again. "I think you should take a break. Maybe some food instead."

"Nonsense Shego, I'm fine," snorted Drakken. "Just one more won't hurt."

"Whatever, it's your choice," mumbled Shego. There was a pause. "But you're eating something with it."

"You just said it's my choice," whined Drakken.

"Yeah and it's my choice to force you to eat something if you're choosing to be difficult," she retorted.

Shego removed the rack for the final game. Six games in, she and Ed had won the majority and had a pretty good sum of cash acquired. She heard Drakken giggle and rolled her eyes. He had been on an emotional roller coaster the entire time. She didn't mind his giddy obnoxious moods, nor his apparent need to be extremely close when talking to her. It was the whining, and—she watched him nearly stumble as he flirted with Carmella—that. She fought the sneer on her face as Dean broke. She was just glad Drakken was eating the snacks they'd managed to get from Gina.

I have to remember to threaten her about Go City before tonight ends.

Shego made note of this as Dean nearly scratched and missed the ball, only moving it an inch on the table.

"Last game," snorted Shego. "This is getting pathetic."

"We won a game," replied Drakken. He leaned on Dean with a broad grin. "And...no one caught fire."

"Seriously? Pyro Pete doesn't count," scoffed Ed. "He chose to catch that ball knowing full well he is flammable, I mean seriously."

"You two should be sick of losing," shrugged Shego. "How broke do you two want to be?"

"It's not that much," shrugged Dean as he nodded at the cash. "A mild inconvenience at best for a fun time."

"Big talk for an impostor," muttered Ed as he took another drink.

Shego rolled her eyes at the nickname Ed had chosen to give Dean. She assumed it was because Dean wasn't technically a villain. Shego smirked to herself.

Yet.

"Wanna double it?" asked Dean. "And if we lose I'll also buy the drinks."

"Pfft, joke's on you. You already did," smirked Shego. Dean raised a brow. "Never give your credit card to a villain Dean."

"Not interested," smirked Ed. "Dean... What's your last name?"

"It's—"

"Ignore him," grinned Drakken as he leaned on the table. "He will only use it to antagonize...bother... Those aren't the words..."

"Those are the words," whispered Shego. Drakken waved a hand at her.

"Shh, no they're not," giggled Drakken as he leaned on Dean. "Besides, Eddie talks a big game but he doesn't have the funds to back it up."

"Seriously?" snapped Ed as he slammed his glass down.

"Hey!" came a yell from the bar.

"Sorry," cringed Ed as he looked back at the group. "I'm not ending up in Arizona again...seriously. All right, you wanna put your money where your mouth is? Fine by me, seriously... Make it triple. But you better pay up when Green and I win."

"Re-break or as is?" asked Shego. She looked at the barely-touched table.

"Re-break," snorted Ed. "Might as well give them a serious chance...to lose...again."

Shego grabbed the rack again and stood in silence as Dean waved her off. She saw a glance exchanged between Drakken and Dean and had to fight a smirk at Ed's smug look. She watched Dean cue up and a number one made its way into a pocket.

"My go again," smirked Dean. "Left corner pocket."

Dean hit it in. Shego watched Ed's brow furrow.

"Where are you from, Dean?" asked Ed as he crossed his arms.

"Upstate," replied Dean. "Right center."

He sunk it.

Three games, several explosions, and far too many drinks later, Drakken and Dean were winning. Shego scratched again and got a suspicious glare from Ed as she rubbed her arm and glared back.

"I hurt my elbow," snapped Shego as she rubbed it.

Drakken toasted the air with a tipsy grin.

"She did," he nodded. "Getting me things for the uh...what did you call it?" Drakken looked at Cleopatra who looked to be falling asleep.

"Medusa," she yawned. "I'm bored... Eddie can you lose already so we can dance?"

"Babe, I...am going to win," grumbled Ed. "Seriously...all or nothing, this last shot."

"What shot?" asked Dean. All the balls were scattered around.

"The whole thing, seriously," smirked Ed. "Otherwise game over...Dean from upstate...born in an untraceable year."

"I said 1973," muttered Dean with a raised brow.

"Which is unhelpful," snapped Ed as he took another drink.

Dean looked at Drakken and Shego.

"I know he's drunk, but is he okay?" asked Dean.

"Ignore him, he's an idiot," scoffed Shego. "He was dropped as a child I'm sure."

Drakken snorted.

"He was thrown," cackled Drakken. Shego smirked.

"Gee I wonder by who?" She rolled her eyes and Drakken glared.

"He bit me," stated Drakken.

"Wait?" asked Dean. He gestured between Drakken and Ed. "Are you two related."

"Don't act shocked, we're cousins," scoffed Ed. He gave another curious look at Dean. "Ever time-traveled?"

"All right. Someone make the shot," sighed Shego. "This is getting redundant and Motor Ed's eighty-two question game to Dean is giving me a headache."

"I found it informative and interesting," said Carmella cheerfully. "I never would have thought Dean did competitive horse shows as a teen."

"Really wish I wouldn't have answered that honestly," whispered Dean as a random eavesdropper made a horse sound in the distance.

"All right horse-boy, make the shot," said Ed with a cocky smirk. Shego watched a glare flicker across Dean's face.

Dean looked at the table and circled around it. He took a deep sigh and muttered under his breath before he hit the ball with his cue. Shego expected it to be at least a few shots to sink the balls. Instead in one solid hit, one by one the final balls sunk. The smug look he shot Ed made it difficult not to laugh and feign anger at she and Ed losing the cash they'd already won.

"You played me, didn't you," glared Ed. "Seriously, no way you could sink those in one shot."

"Maybe you shouldn't call people you don't know names," shrugged Dean.

"Ugh, it's over," sighed Cleopatra. "Let's dance."

"I just—" Ed didn't get to continue as he was yanked away from the area by Cleopatra.

Shego's glare faded into a smirk as she turned to look at Dean and Drakken. Drakken was leaning on the table with a broad grin as Carmella practically skipped over, clearly having had consumed more during the games' play. Her energy brought back a familiar skin-crawl as she imagined hearing her own name in a sing-song manner through the lair again.

"All right, here's your money back," smirked Shego as she handed the money to Dean. "And our new funds."

She held it up to Drakken who nodded. His cheerful smile failing to form the smirk he was clearly attempting to make. Carmella seemed not to notice the three of them finishing up their non-verbal agreement. She was more eager to follow Cleopatra's lead and whisk Drakken off to dance. Drakken barely got any words out as he cheerfully abandoned the table to follow her lead.

"That was fun," smiled Dean. "Do you guys do pool schemes often?"

"No," sighed Shego as she put her cue away. "Normally that's a Motor Ed thing, so it was nice to pull one over on him."

"So, ready for some dancing?" asked Dean after they made their way back towards their table.

"Fine, but if another hoedown starts—" She was cut off by a buzzing sound.

Dean looked confused for a second before pulling out his phone.

"Hold on just one second," said Dean. He held up the phone and glared at it. "Work."

Shego rolled her eyes but gave a slight smirk as he took a step over towards a more quiet area. Shego looked around her. The crowd had thinned out, most likely having gone elsewhere to drink or to another's lair for a more private New Year's Eve. Her eyes ghosted the still-packed dance floor and she had to stifle a laugh as she glimpsed Drakken dancing erratically. Despite his clear inebriation, he at least kept the beat...though a little outlandish in his moves.

She was just about to look away but Drakken saw her and waved cheerfully towards her. Shego snorted now at his antics. She waved back lazily as he vanished from sight and she glanced at Carmella pulling him farther into the dancing circle. She looked around again and suddenly wondered what Drakken was planning after the ball dropped for the New Year. Was he headed back to the lair? Was he even going back to the lair? Her stomach twisted and she was glad that Dean had ended his call.

"How's that new promotion feeling now?" asked Shego with a casual smirk.

"Like garbage," groaned Dean. Shego brow furrowed. "Apparently something came up that can't wait till morning."

"You're ditching me?" snorted Shego. She felt a bitter taste start in her mouth.

"No! I have to run downtown," Dean gave her a panicked look. "Shouldn't take more than an hour since I just have to authorize a few things. Maybe you could come with?"

"You want me...a wanted person...to go walking into a federal building at nine at night?" asked Shego with a raised brow. Dean's face fell.

"Yes...that would be...stupid," he shook his head. "I will be back as soon as possible."

"So long as you're back by New Year's... I wouldn't want to find someone else to kiss," smirked Shego. Dean nodded and practically sprinted out the door.

Shego plopped in her seat and looked around as everyone drank and danced. She scanned over the bar and saw that it was pretty light in traffic. A few stools had even cleared. She decided now would be as good a chance as any to deter anyone from the Villain's Inn taking a job among the Go City villains. If not just for her own reputation... Who was she kidding, that was the only reason.