UN-Known Territory
Pardoned. Drakken could scarcely believe what he had been told. He'd been sitting in what was supposed to be his island lair, though it was mostly a crumpled heap at best... And by sitting...holding his knees as he stared at the phone in front of him as if it were about to blow up. Figuratively, as it had been ringing non-stop for the past few days now that the networks and cell towers were officially functioning again. He tried to think about that, how everything was seemingly getting back to normal...as if the invasion had never happened. Except. It had.
Drakken's head gave a light thump against the wall as he leaned back to further look out the broken ceiling. He took a slow breath and tried to process the words some official had spoken to him... He didn't even know if it was the president himself. He hadn't really been paying attention, more concerned with how someone had gotten his personal number outside of his villain associates and his mother.
He. Dr. Drakken. Was being pardoned.
He slunk farther into the corner and let that sit. His entire villain career was being eradicated... All his evil deeds and illegal activities. Gone. In an instant.
Should have threatened an assassination...would have changed their tune.
He knew they'd said something more, but he'd fazed it out... He may have hung up. He didn't know. He looked at the phone quickly to make sure it was hung up. It was. He looked around his lab at every scattered unopened box with his things in it. Would he have to start over? Scrape from the very bottom of the villain barrel?
Do I want to...
He growled. There was that thought again. Ever since he'd been getting calls praising him, seeing news broadcasts call him a genius...the 'hero' label had seemed a less bitter taste to him. He was so focused on the thought of what steps he would have to take that he hadn't heard the hover car land through the barely-stable wall structure, but he heard Shego.
"Drakken!" came an agitated yell.
Drakken's eyes shot open.
Shego.
He hadn't factored Shego into this. Had she been pardoned? Had she been stripped of her reputation, which was already in pieces because of the press and media? He watched her storm past before turning to look around the room and spotting him. Her eyes were narrowed and she looked flustered. Drakken cringed.
"I had to find out from Junior... Junior." She held up her phone which looked slightly melted. "Were you just going to just bring it up in casual conversation...not bring it up at all?"
Drakken looked at his phone as his brow narrowed. He gestured to it.
"I just found out," he snapped. "It wasn't my idea for a pardon... I didn't ask for that... How did Junior find out?"
"It's all over the news apparently and all villains are temporarily given diplomatic immunity if they are invited," scoffed Shego. "So naturally, Junior wanted to know why I hadn't invited...wait did you say pardoned?"
"Yes. I just...what are you talking about?" Drakken questioned. "Invited? Invited where?"
"The award ceremony...that..." Shego stared at him and sighed. "I am assuming someone called you and you fazed out what they were saying again?"
"...I plead the Fifth," Drakken muttered and looked away before it registered. "Award ceremony? For me?"
"Doy," Shego rolled her eyes. She snorted. "Apparently some global peace prize... That's not gonna look too well among all your world conquest plans—"
"Global Peace Prize?" asked Drakken. He felt his heart pick up pace. "They're awarding me the... Me. The Global Peace Prize? For my work?"
"I just said that...wait. You said pardoned...as in...no record?" asked Shego. Her eyes shot open. "Gee Doc, villain cred not cracked enough."
Drakken's feelings grew even more conflicted. Being praised for his genius alone was unknown territory...but now...global recognition...because of his work.
He was muttering his inner thoughts out loud without knowing—well, he assumed, because suddenly Shego was crouched in front of him, a soft expression on her face... It had been there off and on since they'd left the hotel after the attack. It had unsettled him at first...mostly because something about it made his stomach spin. In this case, it made his mind stop its rambling.
"Not that your cred was really that big anyway," she shrugged. "I mean at least now you'll have a shiny award to rub in their faces when you do take over."
Drakken blinked slowly at her words and felt the smile spread across his face. She was right... No matter what happened with this award or pardon...his genius was going to be globally recognized.
About time!
Shego stood up and offered her hand to him.
"Come on, Dr. D... We'd better get your guest list in order and call whoever you probably hung up on...back." Her soft expression became a devilish smirk. "Gotta make it a good list. Rub their noses in your glory, right?"
Drakken mirrored her expression as he took her offered hand and stood.
"Well clearly Dementor must be invited." He felt any concerns fade away completely as he walked with Shego to the desk to begin writing his guest list.
"I would expect nothing less," snorted Shego as she snatched the paper from his hand. "First. The nose-rubbers and then...the actual guests... Do we invite Possible and Stoppable?"
"Hmm, I suppose," muttered Drakken.
"I'm pretty sure that little miss press conference is the one who blabbed," Shego stated. Drakken glared slightly.
"Yes...but I want them to sit in the far back if we have a say," he grumbled.
"Maybe they can sit outside," snickered Shego.
Drakken was more than enjoying this new activity.
Shego would be lying if she said she wasn't on edge. Since the announcement a day ago, she hadn't slept... Not that she had been before, anyway. She kept seeing images of alien ships, an explosion blowing up the planet...and not making it to the spaceship. Now, she had a new fear: that they and their villain friends were walking right into an elaborate trap. All the villains in one place after a global disaster... It would be a cakewalk to spin it on them.
She wasn't about to vent that concern to Drakken, who since her small pep talk had been in better spirits than she'd seen him in...well, she didn't know when. Not surprisingly a majority of those invited hadn't hesitated to agree to accept, some in a dramatic begrudging manor. Frugal Lucre had seemed very excited, and Shego had relished in inviting him against Drakken's wishes. She frowned.
"He didn't have to retaliate and invite my brothers," she scoffed.
She was just about to calculate a plan of emergency escape if needed when Drakken's voice cut through her musings.
"Shego?" He was standing in her opened doorway. "I was thinking—"
"Listen, don't wear yourself out... You already expended yourself on your pollinator serum," Shego teased.
Drakken rolled his eyes but she could see some form of nerves were at the forefront of his features. He was rubbing his hands and not really looking at her as he took a step in the room.
"Yes...well...noted," he grumbled and then cleared his throat. "Ohm. Shego. It seems that I ohm...neglected to invite you to the uh...ceremony."
Shego raised a brow in confusion.
"Drakken... I heard you say my name no less than seven times when you were reciting the guest list on the phone," she sighed.
"...You...you heard that?" he sputtered.
"...I was in the room," Shego crossed her arms. "I was reading you the list... Okay what's up? If you're forgetting—"
"Shego I was sort of...hoping instead of just attending," she watched him swallow, "if you'd go as my...my date?"
Shego's eyes shot open at his words. She could feel her heart beating rapidly in her throat. She fought the tug at the corners of her lips as she gave a curious smirk.
"As platonic friends of course. I wouldn't want anyone thinking more than that," Drakken sputtered out quickly.
Shego's heart plummeted hard into her gut. She gave a soft forced smile and shrugged.
Should have known better.
"Sure," she cleared her throat. "I mean, beats sitting next to Motor Ed or something."
She didn't look at Drakken as she began absently digging in a box for pajamas.
"Well...I wasn't about to make you sit next to him anyway," muttered Drakken hurriedly. "I assumed you'd be on stage with me but at least this way they won't argue."
Shego nodded and listened to him rant about his speech and the award...focusing more on the fact that since they'd left the hotel her mind had been back and forth and her emotions unstable. She didn't like this...lack of control over her thoughts. Sleepless nights, random fits of terror that her nightmares when she finally got sleep were real... She'd barely left the other day when they got the other news, almost not taking Junior's call because she had been rushing back to the broken lair. She wanted everything to work out, craved it even if it meant Drakken being unbearable after...but she'd be lying to herself for the hundredth time this week that when Drakken had asked her to stand with him as his date...that all her concerns had vanished due to the swirl in her stomach... Now they came smacking back as he ranted...with a touch of pathetic being the cherry on top of her melancholy mental sundae.
Uhg, this thing needs to just get over with.
Drakken wasn't sure what he was feeling... It was familiar, but he couldn't place it. His chest was pounding and his throat felt tight like he couldn't catch a breath. He was currently crouched in the shadows behind the stage he was supposed to be going up on for some speech being given by world leaders on the alien invasion and his work in stopping it.
He'd gone through an array of emotions all day, excitement and smugness being at the forefront. He was elated that he was finally getting his recognition after so many years. Everyone who had ever doubted him would be proven wrong. But somewhere between waiting for Shego and glancing through a crack in the door at the audience gathering something had clicked in his head.
He had thousands of speeches for world domination, for his eventual global conquest, all smug and condescending...like he had planned on giving. He'd barely practiced his speech because he knew all of them like the back of his hand. But now there was...nothing. That's when he'd started feeling this way. As he leaned his head forward he realized it was a panic attack. Something he'd scarcely had since he left college.
"What are you doing?" came Shego's voice as he saw black heels.
He didn't look up.
"I don't know what to say," he said softly. He wasn't about to tell her he could barely breathe and felt suddenly sick.
"Pfft, Mr. Monologue doesn't have a speech," she snorted. Drakken rolled his eyes at the ground. There was a pause. "Drakken?"
"Shego, I have nothing—" Drakken looked up at her and stopped talking. "You're not in your suit."
If Drakken was already feeling unfocused, Shego was not helping as she leaned over him. His eyes darted back to his boots. Shego was wearing that dress again... The dress he had gotten her for sheer distraction...and it really did work well.
"Did you want me to change?" she sounded uncertain.
"No... I just...should I have worn something else?" he muttered, a new wave of concern rushing through him as he let out a whine. "This was a mistake... I shouldn't be here."
"Why?" asked Shego. She was crouched down now, her hand on his arm. "Because you can't think of a speech? You can always play it off as mysterious and nod...or just tell them all to kiss your blue—"
"Shego," Drakken cut in, "I meant...this isn't what any of my speeches are for... They're for world conquest...not world-saving... That's how I'll be introduced... Oh...oh no. What if they use my name?"
Back was the heavy breathing that had started to subside. The idea of walking on stage for saving the world without a proper smug speech paled at the thought of being announced as Drew Lipsky...publicly...among his peers and a very disturbing amount of cameras.
"If you mean call you Drew...I can threaten some officials?" he knew Shego was smirking. Her words calmed him a little. "Okay, here's the deal. You have one minute for whatever this is."
Drakken narrowed his eyes but didn't look up.
"I am not about to walk on that stage with you muttering to yourself and all sweaty," sighed Shego as she continued. "While I am very aware I am always surrounded by nerds...you being the king of all nerds that I associate myself with..."
Drakken glared at her. She rolled her eyes and gave a vague agitated expression at this.
"But I will be damned if you look like some sputtering, sweaty, clammy nerd with me...in front of the entire world," she finished. "So pull yourself together and save the breakdown and shadow-hiding until after you get the money and pretty necklace."
Drakken was fully scowling at her now. He felt anger rush through him at her mockery. A series of choice retorts ran through his head as he stood up ready to argue with her...but the words died in his throat at her smug expression and crossed arms as she looked at him. It confused him until he realized his chest was no longer pounding out of panic, the dizziness was gone for the most part, and while his throat was still tight there was no tightening pain in his chest like he'd had moments ago.
He pursed his lips in annoyance at how well she seemed to know him but that too fell away as she smoothed out his coat and patted his cheek, still looking at him smugly.
"Now that you've pulled yourself together," her expression fell into a calm smile that made his stomach tighten. "Relax. You will be fine... If this whole thing proves anything...apparently last minute and winging it is more your wheelhouse than any well thought out plan."
Drakken grumbled.
"Was that a thank you?" asked Shego. She leaned towards him and cupped her ear. "I couldn't hear it over the whine."
Drakken wanted to make a witty retort equally as snide or smug but instead he gave her a slight smile.
"Thank you." His words seemed to shock Shego by her wide eyes.
He fought the smug smirk on his face as that had done more than any snarky comment he could have mustered. Shego had no response but to simply nod and take a step back as she fixed her hair. Drakken felt a tingle up his spine as he watched this, his eyes fixated on her expression. He could swear there was a tint to her cheeks but it was interrupted by security coming over to tell them they needed to get on the stage.
Shego fingers had twisted in her hair more this last week than she could recall doing in times past. It was either that or picking at her nails, but the manicure she'd just gotten for this event was too expensive to ruin. Drakken and she had walked off stage and said nothing, both playing it off like they hadn't just been tangled in vines together as cameras flashed like crazy. She could have done without a few whistles. Though, Drakken had played it off smoother than she'd known he could. She didn't know if he'd planned it, though she doubted it...but everyone else thought he had as he'd put his hand on her shoulder and the vines retreated as he started his speech with praising her as his partner and assistant in his work.
He'd either hammed it up or legitimately meant it, as if he was blind that the past few months she'd been practically ignoring any of his plans. Sure she'd run and get him what he needed or would go on capers...but she had done very little to help with his pollinator save for everything after the Lorwardians showed up. She'd felt more guilty during his speech about all her own concerns and emotions towards their villainous work as of late...so much that she'd not even said anything as they walked towards the exit to go to the nearby cafe.
Drakken had been ranting to her about anything and everything, ignoring the stage and speech...which he had of course...winged flawlessly with only a few faults. She'd known he'd softened some of the phrases meant for world conquest but only because she'd heard them all over the years. His ranting had continued until they stood in front of the counter and Drakken had told her he'd meet her at the table as she waited for her drink.
She didn't even remember walking across the street let alone ordering. She raised a brow as she looked at the barista making whatever she had ordered. Had she ordered? Had Drakken ordered for her? He must have because she'd only been nodding for most of what he had said. She rubbed her temples and tried to focus. It was clear she'd chosen the wrong moment to focus because she felt someone nudge her.
"Hey Green," Ed's voice made her groan. "So when were you two gonna spill, seriously? I mean...I don't get it but...eh."
"Spill what?" Shego rolled her eyes.
"Seriously, I mean like there was talk, but I mean...you're you and Drew is well...seriously, it's Drew," Ed rolled his eyes.
"Uhg, whatever you're rambling about today, I am not in the mood," grumbled Shego as she snatched her drink from the barista.
She scanned over the cafe to see where Drakken had sat and had to take a moment to grasp its other occupants. While it appeared that the whole thing had not been a trap, the brief diplomatic immunity seemed to have been taken to heart by all who casually dined and chatted around them. Not that it was overly shocking; none of their villain acquaintances ever went to great length to hide in public for the most part. But knowing they were all seen on camera on a live broadcast a few moments prior, their location known...which they had all been very salty about...now seemed to not bother them in the slightest.
DNAmy and Adrena were chatting around the petrified statue of Monkey Fist, which had caused Shego to pause when she'd first seen it. She didn't doubt DNAmy had actually used some creature to find the statue... She looked at Duff at the table next to them glaring between them and Lucre ranting across from him... Shego wondered if perhaps Buttercup had been used in the search for the statue... DNAmy and Duff seemed to have formed some sort of friendship or bond and both had strange creatures. Shego shook her head, not wanting to dwell any further on that.
She glanced to where Camille was sprinting to quickly sit by Adrena, Bonnie glaring after her from a table in the back by a confused and horrified looking Senior and Junior to finally rest on Drakken and Dementor seated by the window. Shego sighed and took a few steps before Ed's voice alerted her.
"Seriously though, who are they?" asked Ed. "I mean they dress like you—"
"Shego!" boomed Hego's voice.
"No," whispered Shego under her breath as Hego's arm wrapped around her.
"So glad to see you back on the side of justice—"
"Hey, seriously...hands off Green," snapped Ed as he yanked Shego away from Hego.
Shego nearly spilt her drink and glared at Ed in confusion before it clicked and she rolled her eyes. She was about to correct the issue but Mego had already intentionally escalated the situation.
"Totally inappropriate Hego, learn some manners," scoffed Mego as he ignored Hego's confused and annoyed glare.
"Yeah, seriously, some manners," scoffed Ed. "What are you all some weird fanboys of Green?"
"Fanboys," Hego raised a brow and then turned to Shego. "You have fanboys? I know you are on the right track again, but do villains have fans?"
Shego glanced around the cafe to Lucre who was still holding his foam finger. She gestured in his direction.
"Apparently," she shrugged. "Motor Ed, these are my brothers...unfortunately."
"Why did you spoil the fun, I was hoping for a brawl," sighed Mego.
The Wegos pushed Mego aside, earning a glare in their motion.
"Can we hug you?"
"Or is your friend going to go postal?"
Shego sighed and opened her arms. The sooner the family fest happened, the sooner she could get out of there and avoid them. She smiled as her two younger brothers hugged her. She almost forgot she was in a cafe filled with her peers and in a split second she shoved the two away.
"All right, that's enough of that," scoffed Shego. "Don't you all have a city you should be at?"
"We'd much rather trash your cred by showing hero support," smirked Wego with his arms crossed.
"Why you frontin' Sis, it's all over the news, anyway," the other Wego continued.
"Huh, seriously...you all are Green's brothers?" asked Ed with a raised brow. "I don't think I ever knew she had any, seriously... Drew's never even said anything."
"Who's Drew?" asked Hego. "And I assure you we are her brothers...despite what she tries to tell others when we are present."
"She once said we were carnival folks she picked up on the side of the road," scoffed Mego.
"At a press conference, it was whack," said Wego.
"Right in front of all the homies," sighed the other. Shego felt a pain starting in the front of her head.
"I see you two actually used the books Drakken sent you," sighed Shego.
"Word! We were totes stoked about it," grinned Wego.
"For sure! Turns out we were trippin' on some of the lingo," frowned the other.
They both finished in unison.
"So not fetch to seize up on us," they both frowned.
Shego looked at her other two brothers who shared a similar pained expression. Mego shook his head slowly.
"Try living with them," he sighed.
"In that case, my bad, seriously," stated Ed. "I mean I seriously don't get she and Drew, but family is family. Can't have someone hanging on Green, seriously. "
Shego's eyes shot open and she looked at Ed and then over to Drakken, mentally cursing the vines' actions from a short while ago. She was about to correct him if only for an excuse to threaten Ed...which she could always find an excuse for if she really wanted. But she didn't get a chance as Hego had continued.
"Ah! Dr. Drakken...his name is Drew?" asked Hego, "That would have been good to know when I was running checks on him..."
"You were doing what?" asked Shego. "What would even be the point of that, he's a known villain."
"Yes, but on what charges?" asked Hego calmly. "Needed to know the sort my little sister was living with, big brother and all."
"He got frustrated and broke the keyboard because he couldn't find his real name," cut in Mego. "I mean I could have told him when we got the hospital bills...but his frustration brought joy to us."
"Excuse me?" Hego's eyes narrowed. "You know what, you're paying me back for that keyboard. I wouldn't have had to buy a new one if you weren't being...well you."
"Not pitching a fit would have been a better alternative," snorted Wego.
"Hego doesn't chillax," responded the other.
"You seriously wouldn't have found anything under his name," said Ed. "Seriously, my cuz's record is as vanilla as that soy bean latte that the purple dude has. Seriously."
"It has cinnamon," glared Mego. "Geesh."
"Dr. Drakken is your cousin?" asked Hego. Ed nodded. "Are you here as kin or are you too a fiendish friend of Shego's?"
"Fiendish... Oh seriously. You mean a fellow villain? Pssh, yeah," snorted Ed. "Motor Ed's the name."
"Well I am Hego. This is Mego and the Wegos and...did you say Motor Ed?" Hego's eyes narrowed. "Wait...did you steal a converter from the Go City Space museum a month ago?"
Ed looked deep in thought before letting out a loud snort.
"Oh yeah, seriously, that thing. I needed it for my latest tricked-out ride, it's gonna be sweet," grinned Ed. "It's not as fast as a rocket, but it's going to be seriously amped."
Hego's eyes narrowed but whatever conversation was about to take place was interrupted as Drakken had left the table he'd been at with Dementor and came over. Shego looked towards the window to see Dementor holding his nose and Camille cringing next to him. Shego raised a brow at Drakken.
"He insulted me and I am not in the mood," was the only response Shego got.
"Oh so it couldn't wait until I escaped this idiocy," she muttered. "Maybe I wanted a show."
"Next time," responded Drakken.
"Hey Dr. Drakken!" smiled the Wegos.
Shego zoned out of the conversations taking place. Mostly just to stop the throbbing as her brother interrogated Ed who looked amused more than anything as he rambled about his plans for some stolen item. Mego and Drakken were chatting away as the Wegos ranted about something she vaguely understood by the slang they were using. Drakken seemed to be the only one understanding them if she was being honest. Her eyes trailed over the cafe and let the surreal feeling sink in again.
The sound came back as Drakken's hand touched her shoulder and she focused back in on the voices.
"All right, seriously, hear me out... Let me make it...and then tell me it's seriously not the sickest ride...and I'll give it back," shrugged Ed. "Only because your Green's brothers though, seriously... I mean it was trash before I got it."
"That...that is not how justice works." Hego was pinching the bridge of his nose. It appeared Ed was getting under his skin the only way Ed could.
"So then Shego found the power core..." Drakken trailed off to her brothers. They held a smug smirk as they looked at her.
"All that Team Go hero training still Hego washed in your head there Sis?" asked Mego. "Good thing he's too engrossed in justice speech to hear that."
"No, you can just...oh I heard that," smirked Hego at Shego before glaring back at Ed. "You can't just borrow 'for, seriously, a few more weeks.' That's not okay!"
"What was it like in space? I bet it was lit...I mean minus scramming on aliens," said Wego. "How mega was their ship? Solid?"
"The tech must have been off the chain," grinned the other.
"It was indeed, for sure, off the heezy," smirked Drakken. "Of course we were chill the entire time."
"My head hurts from the slang," whined Mego. "This is mild even."
"Mego's not hip on the drip," said the Wegos.
Mego looked at Drakken.
"This is your fault... You sent them those books," glared Mego.
"Couldn't have them using the lingo wrong," shrugged Drakken.
"Straight up," said Wego.
"Drakken catches it," said the other.
Mego rolled his eyes and Shego rubbed her temples.
"They're just jealous of our swagger, yo," muttered Drakken.
"Word," responded the Wegos.
"Okay, yeah, time to go," hastened Shego.
She didn't wait for a response and grabbed Drakken's hand and headed out the glass door. The fear of leaving her brothers among her villain peers was outweighed by the migraine starting and the mental strain of the whole day. It only dawned on her she was still holding Drakken's hand, who had remained silent, when they reached the end of the block. Mostly because she went to hit the traffic button with his hand in hers. She let go quickly and hit the button, crossing her arms tightly as they waited.
"Shego, where are we going?" asked Drakken as the lights began to change.
Shego's shoulders slumped and she looked around them before letting out an annoyed growl.
"Anywhere away from a migraine filled cafe... Somewhere with actual food. I don't know," she sighed.
Her eyes shot open as she looked at Drakken. His expression was blank and he kept looking back down the street. She bit her lip and uncrossed her arms as her actions caught up with her.
"Unless you wanted to go back to the cafe and grab a muffin... I could meet you later?" she suggested.
It's his day...
Drakken was staring down the street as the light turned green for them to walk. Shego took his silence as a yes to wanting to go back to where he could rub his success gleefully in their peers' faces. She walked across the street before the light could change again, as much as she would have loved to plasma blast the light and cause some minor chaos, she wasn't completely in the mood. She heard running and a horn beeping behind her as she cleared the street and stepped onto the other sidewalk.
"You could have told me it was green," grumbled Drakken. "I almost got hit by a cab... I would hate to escape aliens only to be taken out by a common vehicle at an intersection called...Cupcake Lane."
Shego looked at the street sign and snorted.
"I'd drag you to a more dignified street name," smirked Shego. She looked across the street. "You sure you don't want to be cocky some more? Punch Dementor again?"
"Perhaps later," shrugged Drakken. "I'm feeling more room service and government paid movies?"
"Calling it a day at three to sit in a luxury hotel and milk Uncle Sam for every penny?" asked Shego. Drakken smirked and nodded. "Well count me in... Wonder how expensive their menu goes."
"Since it typically caters to wealthy travelers and diplomats...I can safely assume...we can reach triple digits rather easily." Drakken's smug expression brought a grin to Shego's face. "If you find a wine you like...we could possibly double the numbers."
"I like the way you think," snickered Shego as she walked beside him.
She felt the awkwardness and conversations from the ceremony and cafe fade away as they strolled down the paved streets towards the luxury hotel provided for them by the UN. Tomorrow they would head back to what remained of their lair and perhaps make headway on getting the structure fixed...or find a new lair. Who knew. She ignored the sinking feeling in her gut as she saw the rounded lump on Drakken's chest under his coat, dismissing the fact he had a medal and a pardon...they both had a pardon. She didn't want to dwell in the slightest on the fact that tomorrow, no matter what, was going to be different.
She slid her arm through Drakken's as they walked. She fought the smile on her face as he reciprocated the gesture. For the first time in a week, she felt calm.
The sun had started to set as the second movie played on the oversized television. It could be seen through the giant glass window overlooking the city that was currently thriving, as if a week ago there hadn't been mass chaos. Drakken turned his head back to the television as he felt shifting of the pillows as Shego dropped a large bowl in between them. He glanced past her to the doors that adjoined their suites, wide open as they had decided to enjoy the films and room service in his suite which Shego had remarked was bigger than hers and had a nicer bed anyway. Drakken shifted the pillows behind his head and the sun reflected in his eye. He looked at his medal on the nightstand and picked it up.
He felt his mouth grow dry at its weight. His chest wanted to start its painful tango again like before he'd gone on stage. He wanted to tell himself nothing was different...but it was. His mind ran back to stepping off the stage...the people talking to him as Shego stared off into space. Not merely press, but those on the names of the cards that now sat in the pocket of his lab coat. Offers. Some questionable... Others... Others that once upon a time he might have killed for...all because of one small thing. Shego hadn't said anything when the conversation had taken place.
This caused his stomach to turn cold. Did it mean she was indifferent towards it...or was she already one step in a different direction? Even though he wasn't sure of the direction he was going himself.
Drakken looked down at the medal in his hands and the low volume of the television faded out of his head as he looked at Shego curled up next to him and pleasantly eating popcorn. He glanced around the plush hotel room where the adjoining door to her suite was still open. He thought back to the lair where they'd made it almost routine staying up watching movies and recalled the hours and days spent sitting around in the lair. She, always a few feet away while he worked... Flipping through a magazine...filing her nails... All the times they'd argued or silently fumed after failed plans.
He swallowed hard as he looked at the medal yet again. All the opportunities meant...recognition, and access to things he'd only dreamed about. He looked over towards where Shego snuggled a pillow next to him, her green eyes fixed on the movie, a soft smile on her face. He was suddenly imagining all the great things he could do...and if she would be there or not. He looked back at the movie, trying to figure out what he wanted to do...where he wanted to go...some way to have a middle ground if he could. He focused on the movie, but not so much what was going on but on the location. Coliseums, architecture...beaches...
"Greece," said Drakken.
"Yeah, it's set in Greece... It's called When In Greece. I'd hoped you got that," snorted Shego.
"No... Greece," Drakken turned to look at her. "How about a lair in Greece?"
Shego stared at him and he saw a slow curl of her lips.
"I thought you didn't like Greece?" She tilted her head and raised a brow. "What's changed your mind?"
"Well...I recall you telling me that you'd change my mind," smirked Drakken. "Any lairs in mind?"
He watched Shego's eyes practically sparkle with excitement. Drakken felt his smirk fade to a smile as Shego grabbed her phone to make whatever phone calls she needed. He was taking a big risk, some sort of twisted leap of faith...that if the location was right...it might not matter what option he took... Shego might stay.
New Lair This Way!