Volleyball and Vendettas
The buzzing of an alarm was the last thing Drakken wanted to hear interrupting his pleasant dreams. He debated on simply setting another one and just sleeping in instead of heading to set up early. The idea of James Possible feeling as if he was then entitled to the lead was the only motivation to crawling out of bed and not returning to his content dreamland. It was only when he grabbed his phone to turn it off did he realize it wasn't an alarm but a phone call. He squinted and saw Shego's name through the sleep in his eyes and hurriedly answered it.
"Good morning," he felt the grin on his face before he even heard her voice. He cleared his throat and shook it off, "You're up early."
"Thought I'd catch you before you had to run off," he could hear the sleep in her voice, "Unlike you, I'm going back to bed after I hang up."
Drakken rolled his eyes.
"Couldn't let me sleep in a second longer," he smirked now, "You are the one who kept me up, you know."
"I remember telling you it was one in the morning," he heard the chuckle in her voice.
"Which was followed by you asking about borrowing my black pajamas," he felt the heat return to his cheeks as he willed any mental image away.
At least for the moment.
"To be fair... I only want the shirt," teased Shego. Drakken felt the dryness in his throat.
"Shego-"
Her tone changed quickly.
"Ohm... right. You have things to do," he could hear her own concern at the statement, "I actually called for a reason."
"I'm listening," said Drakken. He stretched as he got up.
"I know your day is booked already," he heard her sigh, "So I was wondering what your tomorrow looked like?"
Drakken froze as he turned on the light to the bathroom. Flower already at the sink and turning on the faucet. He mentally told himself to not inquire or say too much, but his mouth apparently was not connecting with his thoughts.
"Busy- I mean no. Not for you," he watched Flower shake back in forth and hang its petals, "Nghn. I meant. There are things I could put off... if you need."
He smirked at his recovery.
"Well that sounded pathetic," was her snicker. Drakken's shoulder's slumped and his smirk fell away, "No! Not that- Uhg! If you have the evening free I was wondering if you want to come linger on a beach with me?"
"You're asking me to join you at the resort?" asked Drakken.
Did she not just say that? Why would you ask?
"No. Just at the beach," sarcasm dripped from her words, "Doy! Did you not just hear me ask?"
"I was just clarifying Shego, no need to be snarky," he grumbled. Flower hit him in the forehead before he could even recover his thoughts.
"Uhg, whatever," she grumbled.
Drakken put the phone down before he heard the click of her hanging up. He sighed and was in the middle of internally rambling his agitation, when he could hear faint scratching noises around him. He looked at Flower who had stopped playing in the now turned off sink.
"Drakken?" came the faint voice of Shego, clearly still on the phone.
Drakken picked it back up quickly.
"I-I thought you hung up," sputtered Drakken, "Because I annoyed you?"
"So I've been talking to myself the last what...minute?" he could hear the annoyance in her voice, "Was that your goal? I mean if you don't want to come then fine... but if you're just trying to-"
"No! No. I do want to come," he rambled, "I-I just have to clear some things... that's all. I wouldn't be imposing?"
"When has that ever stopped you?" muttered Shego. Drakken tensed before she quickly continued, "I'm kidding... well I'm not and you know that very well... but no, I'm inviting you to come..."
He heard her trail off.
"Then I will rearrange some things," said Drakken. Calculating when and where he could find a way to spend at least a few hours in Croatia.
"I'm sure its not as exciting for you," she snorted, "But it would be nice to have an intelligent conversation."
Drakken smirked.
"I mean you are attached to Flower so you have to be present during it," he could hear the amusement in her voice.
Drakken rolled his eyes.
"Oh, haha, Shego. How very funny," he grumbled and swatted Flower away from the sink, "Come up with that all on your own?"
"Jealous," he heard a door open on her end and then noise, "Uhg, Junior's guests are already on the beach."
"Does Shego have a lot of friends?" asked Drakken in shock as he began brushing his teeth.
"If you define friends by wanting free stuff with no obligations... then sure," said Shego, "Not that Junior cares. He just like attention."
"Would have never guessed," snickered Drakken.
The sound on the other end faded as he heard the door close and the sound of what he assumed was Shego flopping on the bed or a couch perhaps. There was no other sound from Shego and Drakken finished brushing his teeth with a raised brow.
"Shego?"
"Did you sleep well?" asked Shego. Clearly the question she'd been fixating on in the silence.
Drakken felt his face grow warm yet again and he cleared his throat.
"I did," he waited a beat, "And you?"
"Eh," sighed Shego. Drakken felt a wave of embarrassment come over him.
"Well I'm sorry for the disappointment-"
"Oh calm down, I was joking," snorted Shego, "I think it was abundantly clear we were both winging that conversation."
"Some more than others," muttered Drakken. The embarrassment still lingering.
"Hey! I thought I was doing pretty well there-" he cut Shego off.
"I was referring to myself," Drakken raised a brow, "I mean its not like I've ever done this phone... flirtation thing... have you?"
"Oh yeah... all the time," he heard Shego grumble. He waited, "The answer would be 'No' there, genius."
"Surprising?" said Drakken as he leaned back against the wall, "I know I found it rather delightful..."
Drakken rolled his eyes at himself and gestured angrily to himself in the mirror. Swatting off Flower who was aiming to smack him again.
"Interesting word choice," she snorted, "Personally I-"
Whatever Shego was going to say was cut off by the sound of her door banging open and a female voice coming from what he could only assume was whoever entered.
"Midas got the jet ski's-"
"Adrena! Get out!" yelled Shego, "Drakken, I have to go."
The phone clicked.
Drakken stared at the phone and then to Flower before said Flower splashed him with water.
"Pfft! Alright, I get it!" snapped Drakken, "I'm getting some water- Knock it off!"
The curiosity about what Shego had intended to say faded quickly as mere moments later a pounding at his door signified that the busy day had officially began.
The shrill sound of the jet across the water barely overpowered the sound of the seabirds overhead. Shego debated on actually going and sleeping back in her room, but the warm sun was far too inciting to move.
"Do you think we should go back to the island?" came Camille's voice next to her.
The company... not so enticing.
"What?" asked Shego as she slightly turned to look at her.
"Ohm, Camille... not sure your hair dye had gotten to your brain... but did you forget the freaky monster thing that tried to sabotage and chased us?" asked Adrena as she leaned over to look at Camille from the other side of Shego.
"Well that means its clearly intelligent... maybe it misunderstood us being there-" Camille was cut off by Adrena again.
"Yes. It saw us as food and we did not share the same view point," Adrena rolled her eyes, "Why on earth would we need to go back there?"
Shego watched Camille's far off expression before her normal pursed lips and annoyed expression returned.
"I was just thinking there might be valuable information in there we could sell or extort, but whatever," Camille fell back against her chair.
Shego watched her a second longer than she normally would as the paper she'd watched Camille snatch came back to her mind. She knew there was much more Camille was interested on that island, but wasn't about to bring it up or show interest in it. There was something in Shego's gut that told her to stay away from that place, and better yet... not to trust the group she was with going back. Her eyes drifted over to where Junior sped across the water with Bonnie clung behind him. She knew Junior would never willingly cross or betray her, and even Lucre had seemed to at least wait for her... but the others? She wasn't a villain anymore... and she never trusted them then... but she had no doubt in her mind that had Bonnie not pointed out to Junior that she and Lucre were not on the boat... the others would have encouraged him to take off without a second thought.
She'd been the last one to leave that bunker simply because they'd raced ahead of her and if not for Lucre she feared the door would have been closed behind them. Her mind told her she was being paranoid, and she probably was... but it felt like a familiar instinct she'd forgotten or rather ignored over the years.
I am not their equal.
She wasn't their enemy, but who knows what they actually thought of her presence. She was by no means a hero, and while retired from villainy and living a neutral lifestyle... it meant what very little villain loyalties they all had, might not apply to her. There was a hopeful logical side to her, simply stating they had fled out of fear and assumed, like always, she would be fine... as her thoughts ran she felt strangely exposed as she was supposed to be relaxing between Adrena and Camille.
"Shego," whispered Adrena. Shego looked at her, "Are you still mad?"
"What?" asked Shego in confusion.
"Because if you are... I don't want to ask you to race on the jet ski, but if you're not... do you wanna race on the jet ski and mess with some of the boats?" smiled Adrena hopefully.
Shego shook her previous thoughts away for the moment as she stared at Adrena. Attempting to figure out what she meant... Shego's brow shot up as she began wondering if Camille's suggestion had triggered Adrena having realized the same thing Shego had been thinking.
"I mean I'm not sure your heard me apologize what with all the yelling and running," shrugged Adrena.
Shego smiled.
"I really am sorry I interrupted you and Drakken having phone sex-"
Shego cut her off with a mixture of rage and heat pooling into her face.
"That was not what we were doing!" snapped Shego.
"Well you reacted like it was," grumbled Adrena. Shego glared, "I mean screaming and blasting at people for coming through a door when there was a normal conversation is not a typical reaction-"
"You burst into my room," hissed Shego.
"Wait? Whose having phone sex?" asked Camille, apparently coming out of whatever lost thought she'd been in.
"Apparently not Shego with Dr. Drakken," said Adrena with a thumbs up at Shego.
"Have I done something to offend you?" asked Shego. Adrena shook her head in confusion, "Can I? So you get away from me?"
Adrena held up her hands and Shego saw her nervous smile and eyes flicker to Shego's hands.
"So that's a negative on the racing, got it," shrugged Adrena as she got up, "Maybe I can convince Lucre to drop his safety argument about jet ski's and actually get on one."
Shego shook her head as Adrena wondered off towards where the jet ski in question remained. Shego readjusted in her seat and closed her eyes, mildly content that at least Adrena seemed to remember she wasn't a push over... the brief fear and glance at Shego's hands had pushed her prior concerns completely to the back of her mind.
"Adrena interrupt your morning plans too?" asked Camille after a silent second.
Shego growled and slid out her chair and grabbed her towel.
"What?" Camille protested, "She interrupted mine too... though it was not the same as yours, I was going to go to the spa-"
"There was no phone sex," Shego argued, "I like my personal space uninterrupted by people running in when I'm on a call."
"Whoa, relax there Ms. Defensive," snorted Camille as she relaxed back in her chair, "If you weren't you weren't... nothing to overreact too. It's not even a big deal if it was, that's lame anyway... Hello it's the twenty first century... Sexting is where it's at."
Shego was about to continue her argument when she stopped herself. Camille dismissive behavior instead catching her off guard.
"Sexting?" asked Shego.
"Uh yeah. I mean sure phone sexy is hot, but it can be so... awkward, " shuttered Camille, "Sexting is the new thing... I mean not my thing... but to eaches own. I'm more an upfront public display of interest person. Let the person know you know there wanted."
Shego found her hand making a gesture and her mouth open and close with no words... but she was having difficulty processing Camille at the moment. While Shego had no interest in either topics, especially with Camille being to one wanting to talk about it. Her almost calm uncaring demeanor about it was... conflicting. Shego crossed her arms and quickly put up her defense before Camille realized she'd taken her off guard.
"Thank you for your words of wisdom," scoffed Shego, "No digs?"
"At what?" asked Camille, "Oh! You mean you and Drakken? Nah, I'm over that... Don't get it, but whatever... besides my new focus is... whatever that is."
Camille vaguely gestured to where Adrena was dragging Lucre to the jet ski, clearly against his will.
"I don't even want to know about that," Shego shook her head.
"You know she goes over to his mother's for movie night?" asked Camille.
Shego sighed before deciding to end the conversation with Camille by finding the nearest drink stand and perhaps revisit that sleep she was still interested in.
Drakken grumbled to himself as he refastened the brace support of the armor in frustration. Due to the prototypes constant use the last three days, including its overexertion testing in an impromptu battle at the start of the week... the last flight example this afternoon had finally caused it to give. Luckily it didn't do so until after the demonstration and speech. Drakken was even more relieved that James hadn't noticed, thus avoiding any ridicule about his work he was certain would have come.
He felt a rush of anxiety flood him as he took out the soldering gun for the small repairs... anxiety at the thought of people's words and stares had it malfunctioned during his speech. While James had been the one demonstrating the features, he couldn't help but feel the eyes would have been on him. He had been met with very little to no animosity thus far, but this feeling in his stomach was... they were just waiting.
Waiting for you to mess up.
Imagined visions of people laughing and mocking him mingled with taunting and anger... he shook his head and took a deep breath. While it had been avoided, the only thing keeping him even remotely calm was strangely, DNAmy. There was some sort of solace in a familiar face who was far more unwanted then he probably was... or at least he told himself. A person who was known for unethical and illegal experiments on people... was something to be more concerned about than the mad scientist tinkering with battle armor... wasn't it?
I'm neutral.
He nodded to himself, and mentally checked off all the many projects he had back at the lair... all things he had done, technically, legitimately. The problem was, only he knew that... for all anyone knew he was the same villain who had stolen from them and sabotaged them.
Honestly some I did multiple times so that's on them.
He nodded to himself as he stepped away from the armor. The sound of voices coming closer caused him to hasten putting his tools away... he froze as the voices hit a note of familiarity.
"Boy am I glad you two could make it, wait till you see this armor. The formulas were-" James words stopped as he saw Drakken, "Hey, Drew, didn't expect you to still be back here."
"I was reinforcing some of the mechanisms from your last overdone display," Drakken narrowed his eyes at the two men flanking behind James, "Have to make sure my work is unfallened."
He ignored the smirks of Chen and Ramesh, all three standing near the entrance as if they were all back in college. Drakken pushed the memories aside of long suppressed memories of him working on projects late at night and the other three chatting and commentating.
"You mean infallible?" asked Ramesh as he followed James towards the armor.
"I take it you never did read those thesaurus' that you borrowed in college?" smirked Chen.
Drakken clenched his fists as he quickly closed the tool case.
"You clearly knew what I meant," stated Drakken. He put on a smug smirk as they looked at the armor, "Come to admire the prototype for the perfect defensive military grade armor."
"James was telling us about his development process for its original toned down version," shrugged Chen.
"You're correct James... I think that would have been a less overstated version," Ramesh walked around the armor, "This is thin but all the extra features would need more maintenance."
"Case in point... Didn't you just say you were maintaining the armor?" asked James. Drakken fought to keep the smirk from turning to a scowl on his face.
"Any form of the armor would need inspection from several consecutive uses," said Drakken, "Besides the added features make it more versatile... as I'm sure you found when fighting Monday's adversary with it... as I have also stated... in the presentation."
"But it's supposed to be defense, not tactical," said Chen as he looked at James, "Isn't that what you told us months ago."
"Yes, well... Drew decided too... embellish it," James response was casual, "Kind of like Stabby Five back at MIST."
Drakken raised a brow at a vague memory of a destruction robot from Freshmen year of college. It took him a moment to recall it completely before rolling his eyes.
"It was called Stabby... not Slicey... The blades needed proper pistons to make it actually... stab," Drakken cleared his throat, "I'm sorry you all lack vision... If you'll excuse me..."
Drakken didn't bother giving a reason as he moved out the door.
"Pfft, some things never change do they," he heard Chen say.
"Yup. Even after all these years Drew is still as dramatic as ever," James chuckled.
"And still can't get a date," he heard Ramesh snicker. Chen laughing with him.
Drakken froze with his hand still on the door frame as he reached the hall. He felt the racing of emotions fighting for dominance inside him. He could feel the ticks of his nerves in various parts of his face as this happened. The mature and rational thoughts in his head won over. Telling himself that he was accomplished, praised, his work proved such, and that he had achieved more than either Chen or Ramesh were known for.
Their not key note speakers... are they? They didn't save the world.
The logic and reason made him finish rounding the doorway, but only a foot.
The snickers of the two and James telling them to knock it off while clearly amused erased all his work mentally. In that moment he felt no more than the college student whose friends had turned on him, months of snickers and jokes flying to mind as if it was yesterday. He wasn't Dr. Drakken. He was Drew Lipsky again... his shoulder's slumped as he could hear them still talking about the 'unnecessary' work he'd done on the armor.
"The work is good-" he heard James say, a small note of praise.
"No one said he can't build... he just always has to redo everything to change one bolt and make it seem reasonable," said Chen.
"Didn't you once say those Destruction Robots took weeks longer than they should because he'd tear it apart in the middle of the night because he thought the wire was the wrong color," added Rajesh.
"Probably why he didn't build his date in time," Chen replied.
"Guys-" James began.
Drakken turned around, every tiny internal praise and pep talk he'd ever given himself fading away as he rounded the corner.
"My work is not unnecessary," snapped Drakken, "The design was simplistic at best when I received it... a design that was mathematically unsound. Which to be clear, was given to me because the team working on it had run into a wall trying to complete it."
He watched James expression shift to one of anger from what had looked like concern.
"My team's math was perfectly sound! The only reason they gave it to you was because..." James stopped his own rant and gave a frustrated sigh, "Because it needed some minor adjustments and we had more important things to work on."
Drakken would have paid closer attention to James' mannerism changes if not for Chen and Ramesh.
"No need to get huffy," said Ramesh, making a calming hand gesture, "We we're simply stating that you are still... you."
"Mhmm," nodded Chen, "I mean even after all the blue looks and the villainous history... its nice to know you're still the same Drew from college-"
"I am not Drew from college," hissed Drakken, "Some simpleminded, weak, pathetic push over who was too blind to realize his so called posse we're just a bunch of posers. I'm Dr. Drakken."
The wide eyes on their face made him feel intimidating until Chen raised a brow.
"Right... Dr. Drakken. Forgot," nodded Chen. Drakken took a step back at the lack care on the man's face, "Dr. Drakken or Drew... you will always be the over-the-top, egotistical, dateless guy... no matter the robots and title... still not that intimidating."
"You also got beat up by a teenage girl a lot," nodded Ramesh, "But the intimidation was better than when you kidnapped us all."
"Well I think this class reunion has reached it's limit," said James, finally speaking up, "I think we've all grown over the years-"
Drakken waved him off.
"Mock me all you want, I don't see either of you with key-note speaking positions and a growing list of offers who appreciate my genius," Drakken smirked.
"Yeah, but at least we have legitimate doctorates," Chen whispered to Ramesh.
"And dates," nodded Ramesh.
"Or you all can ignore me," muttered James under his breath.
"Your mother's do not count!" snapped Drakken.
"Oh, sure! Now it doesn't count, but for the Freshman Fling it was okay," Ramesh argued.
"Before this turns into a series of ill placed 'Yo, Mama' comments," James cut in, "Can we all remember we are well respected scientists-"
"And Drew," said Chen.
"And Drew- No wait, no," James held up a defensive gesture at Drakken, "Please don't send a letter to Kim."
"About what?" whispered Ramesh, "The explosion thing-"
"Shh!" hissed James.
Drakken surveyed the three men in front of him as he felt the tingle up his spine. The sudden feeling pulled him from the anger that was threatening to boil over. A small reminder of what he could actually do if he wanted was all he needed to calm down. The image of Flower attacking them on his behalf followed by what would be a very dark fall from the grace her currently had was enough.
I wouldn't let them have the satisfaction.
For all he knew... it was James Possible's plan. He glared at the man in question, who looked taken aback slightly.
"I have more important things to do," Drakken grumbled as he headed out the door yet again.
The nerve... who are they to even... wait till I tell Shego this-
Drakken turned back around and stormed back through the doorway. His abrupt return ended the start of a conversation that James was trying.
"Just to be clear, I do not need to build a date," Drakken announced, "I have a girlfriend, unlike you lot."
"James has a wife-" Ramesh began.
"I wasn't talking about Possible!" yelled Drakken.
"By the way, is Anne in surgery?" asked Chen. James nodded.
"I just wanted that to be known," Drakken crossed his arms, "I have a girlfriend. You two do not... and Ramesh brought his mother... so there."
"No raspberry to continue the maturity level then?" asked Chen. Drakken glared, "So where is your 'girlfriend' then?"
"Don't air quote that word," grumbled Drakken, "She is otherwise engaged."
"She's on the charger," whispered Ramesh.
Drakken slapped the back of his neck where he could feel Flower wanting to emerge.
"Shego is not a robot," stated Drakken.
"Shego?" asked James, "You and Shego... huh... well the color palette makes sense. You always had a thing for blue and green together."
"I never got that yellow and orange thing," nodded Ramesh.
"It doesn't belong- No... I am not dignifying you with that conversation again... you're incapable of comprehension," Drakken sighed, "Now that I've corrected this ill-gotten image... I hope you fall down a flight of stairs."
"At least my mother came," muttered Ramesh.
He heard James sigh.
"And its a wonder we drifted apart senior year," James whispered to himself.
"When you fall down the stairs... I hope you break something," said Drakken confidently, "Like you did to your mother's heart when she first saw your face."
"And we're here..." James trailed off.
Drakken was not proud of starting the maternal insults, but he was of the fact he won. Or rather Ramesh and Chen had turned on each other enough that Drakken had managed to smugly walk out. Unfortunately, the time spent arguing and yelling had caused him to miss one of the speakers he'd actually been interested in, well enough that going would be pointless. His emotions were still on a high and the settling of the words had started.
"There you are!" came the cheerful voice of DNAmy behind him.
Drakken stopped his walking, planning on politely declining the conversation she had been intending.
"Amy, I can't stop to talk-"
"Oh don't worry, I was just wondering if you'd be interested in a car pool... or rather your nifty flying car," giggled DNAmy, "I was hoping on avoiding an actual flight."
"What?" asked Drakken.
"To the party... aren't you going?" asked DNAmy, "Junior's party, remember?"
"Ah yes... Shego invited me, but what with the conference... I was planning on sneaking away tomorrow," said Drakken.
"But tomorrow's your last speaking... isn't she coming for it?" DNAmy raised a brow.
"I don't think so," Drakken grumbled. Agitated this topic was continuing, "This isn't really something she is interested in."
"... you didn't ask her, did you?" asked DNAmy. Drakken sighed, "Do you like beach parties?"
"Not really," Drakken shrugged.
"But you are going tomorrow?" DNAmy shrugged, "Because she asked?"
Drakken glared.
"Now you could go tonight and ask her to come tomorrow," suggested DNAmy.
Drakken stared at DNAmy and mulled it over in his head. He could sneak away for a few hours... maybe even simply ditch the whole thing on James for the demonstration later this evening, as there was very few new attendees for it. He also wasn't keen on trying to give his speech with Ramesh and Chen probably sitting a few feet from him... and DNAmy not even there to make him feel less like he was being conspired against.
"Are you actually trying to be helpful or just don't want to ride coach?" asked Drakken.
"It can be both," smiled DNAmy. Drakken smirked.
"Maybe," muttered Drakken.
Maybe.
The sound of the music pumping along the beach was almost muffled by the sounds of screams, laughs, and chatter. All of which, Shego was growing tired of rather quickly. The day had been nothing more than a migraine inducing series of events, including almost being run over by a jet ski getting a simple drink that morning. Courtesy of Lucre and Adrena's race and Lucre's lack of knowledge on how to drive the thing. This followed by a series of Junior's 'friends' hitting on her as they pooled in... as flattering as it had been, by the third one attempting to hit on she, Adrena, and Camille at the same time... she was over it. The peak of the annoyance had come by a little after lunch when while trying to eat she had become aware that the only eating most patrons were into... was each other's faces.
Yuck.
The memory made her shutter and more than a little angry. The majority of the people engaging in that activity she'd watched meet that morning... something about that fact made her... well she didn't know what the feeling was exactly... a mixture of unease and anger... and wishing Drakken was there or someone sane so she could simply have someone to judge them all with. She had Lucre for a few minutes before the Volleyball game started... which she had chosen to not participate in. Mostly because Lucre, Adrena, and Midas against Camille, Bonnie, and Junior had seemed perfectly matched. Junior insistence she join, while genuine, felt more like pity.
She sighed and watched Bonnie and Junior's nauseating flirting and then to where Lucre and Adrena had apparently become far too into the game in Shego's opinion. She felt that squirming feeling again inside her as she looked from them to where she could see a few couples dancing.
Wait? Am I jealous?...No.
She heard her phone buzz and gave a lazy smile before taking the call.
"Done dazzling people and tossing Possible into a crowd?" asked Shego.
"Again, is it my fault he cause me to mis-instruct him?" snickered Drakken.
"Uh huh, sure," snorted Shego, "Uhg, you would not believe the idiocy I witnessed today."
"Ah, then we both have tales to tell," Drakken sighed, "Does yours involve terrible fake island music?"
Shego snickered at the fact he could hear it over the phone.
"It becomes white noise after a while. What does yours involve?" she stretched and closed her eyes to take in the last of the sunlight for the day.
"There might have been arguments equating to 'Yo, Mama' at one point," muttered Drakken. Shego smirked.
"This ought to be enlightening. Go for it," she waited in interest.
"It will have to wait till later I'm afraid... I have to take care of something," Drakken muttered again, "I'll call you back."
"Fine," sighed Shego as the call ended. She groaned and carelessly tossed the phone on the towel a little ways off.
She listened to the sound of the volleyball game and chatter as she closed her eyes again. Trying to vaguely shut it all out as she wondered what Drakken was doing and if she could get away with deflating a volleyball and make it look like an accident. The dimming light was blocked and she heard someone sit on the empty lawn chair next to her.
She frowned and held up a glowing hand.
"Not interested so shove off before things get heated," she threatened.
"Little concerning that you have a clear response," came a chuckle, "How many times have you been harassed today?"
Shego's eyes shot open and she quickly looked to see Drakken lounging in the chair next to her.
"What are you doing here?" asked Shego quickly, "You said tomorrow."
She saw the unease wash over his eyes behind the amused smirk he'd had.
"Ohm, perhaps I should have asked first before changing the plan," Drakken sat up slightly, "To be fair, Amy asked for a lift and..."
"No, it's fine," said Shego hastily, "I just... I wasn't planning on you being here... or threatening you with violence so early in your arrival. I thought today was a busy day?"
He leaned over the arm of the chair towards her.
"It was," he paused before sitting back in his chair, "But... I really wanted a day at the beach- Oh look Volleyball. Is that Lucre?"
"Yeah, turns out he's very competitive and he will injure anyone in his way," shrugged Shego as Lucre spiked the ball at Camille who shrieked and ran from it.
"Hmm... slightly surprising," mused Drakken as he looked back at Shego, "Not your thing?"
"Pfft, no thanks. I have no interest in being some sort of third wheel. Had enough of that already, " scoffed Shego, "Try eating lunch with everyone practically dry humping. Idiocy at its finest."
"Well that sounds... horrible," Drakken cringed, "What's been happening here exactly?"
Shego watched Drakken look around in disgust. Clearly imagining more than had actually happened based on her words. Shego rolled her eyes.
"I'm elaborating there Genius," teased Shego as she nudged him, "Everyone's PDA to the extreme around here."
"Oh? Hmm," Drakken looked around, "I'm sure its no different than at a random New Years party or a club you've been too in the past."
Shego blinked at Drakken's statement and looked around. She hadn't compared it to those locations or events, but he was right... in certain cases this whole week had been more than mild.
Then why does it bother me?
She looked at Drakken who was staring at the Volleyball game and felt warmth across her cheeks. All week it had been slightly annoying, but the conversation from last night was clearly still effecting her.
Okay, so you are a little jealous of everyone just... not caring.
"Well if you do want to play volleyball... I and Flower would be more than happy to make it an even team," Drakken suggested.
Shego raised a brow at the way he picked at the arm of the chair. He'd been there less than five minutes and he seemed on edge. She wondered if there was more reason he was here than just a surprise. Perhaps the conference had taken a turn like her day had. She watched his fingers tap the wood at a rapid speed.
Nerves? Why?
Shego slid her hand over his and she raised a brow as she smiled at him.
"I don't think they could handle myself and Flower," she stated. Drakken rolled his eyes, "Well since you came tonight, there's some food on the grill, apparently dancing, music, and fireworks later."
"Sounds like an exciting evening," smirked Drakken, "Ohm... Shego?"
"Hmm?" asked Shego as she pulled her hand from his to tip up her sunglasses.
"I... are you sure I'm not imposing?" he asked.
"Junior invited everyone," snorted Shego, "Well I mean Bonnie send out invites to everyone in Junior's phone. Trust me, you are not imposing."
"Good to know," Drakken as back to fidgeting and staring between the armrest and Shego.
"What?" asked Shego.
"Nothing... so ohm... you look lovely," he cleared his throat, "New swimsuit?"
"No," said Shego. She smirked, "But it got your attention, did it?"
She watched his eyes dart over her for a second before the nervous smirk appeared on his face.
"I ohm, see why you've had to react with threats for your personal space," he offered before relaxing back in the chair.
Shego stared at him, a mixture of confusion and mild flattery. Drakken seemed so uncomfortable in what she assumed was flirting... awkward was more the term really. While he had his moments, normally he was more fluid in his comments. Shego relaxed back in her hair, not even sure if she should bring up her day or ask about his. Her mind fell back on their late night conversation and then her unease at all the couples today.
He didn't even kiss me.
She felt suddenly tense at that fact surfacing, especially as she looked in the distance to see two people doing just that.
Did last night do something?
She felt uneasy at the idea that their flirtatious conversation might have somehow upset Drakken upon actually seeing her. It was clear it had done something to her as she found herself glaring at the couple in the distance.
Okay. So yes... I'm jealous.
But it was slowly turning to anger at Drakken more than anything. He'd been the one to start their conversation the night prior and now he was acting off.
"I think their starting a new game," muttered Drakken.
Shego shook it from her head and watched as Camille and Midas had moved away from the others while the other four seemed to be deciding who to start the next game.
Shego stood and walked around the back of the chair, deciding that if Drakken was fixated on it so much they might as well play a round. Just in time to see Bonnie and Junior giving each other cute peck like kisses. That boil of jealousy and what she now knew might be longing came back.. That irritation began to itch in her mind of why those who weren't even in a relationship could have that and she hadn't even gotten a kiss. Her concern about the previous evening conversation took another turn... trying to fins a moment where Drakken had ever mentioned public affections. It might be logical Drakken only hadn't because he didn't want to overstep boundaries especially with her outing group... they'd not been in a setting like this to discuss.
There's the problem.
For most of the week it was clear all she had ever had to do was ask Drakken to come. She'd assumed he would not want to and feel uncomfortable or that he preferred the conference. Which she knew she should have just left the first night and met him there. But she'd wanted him to ask her the same way she'd been failing to ask him. She snorted and rolled her eyes as her hand gripped the back of Drakken's beach chair.
Pushing those thoughts aside, she focused on the one thing that was in her control. She looked at Drakken who had sat up in anticipation of them joining the game, but hadn't made much effort to actually get up. She didn't need him to express his hesitation and discomfort via words, she could see it on his face because he didn't know she was looking at him. When she turned her whole body around she saw the emotions shift as he smiled at her.
He only came here for me. He doesn't like beaches...
The flicker of him almost kissing her but sitting down instead a second prior swept into vision and her own smirk fell to a smile before she leaned down to kiss him. Her hand on the side of his face to make it very clear of her intent.
Words.
"As much as I want to show them all up over there... I still didn't get a kiss-"
Confirmation that they were clearly lacking this communication tool in their current relationship status came with Drakken's arms sliding around her waist to pull her down into a kiss. She slid onto the lawn chair with him as the kiss broke slightly. She could tell all the unease he'd had seconds ago was no longer in sight. She wanted to snort and make a comment about how easy that was, but she didn't. She would put that aside for later, because that concern had now gone for herself. She was more inclined to the swirls of tension through her body as Drakken's arms pulled her slightly closer to him.
Just as she went to kiss Drakken again, they were interrupted by the rogue volleyball smacking right into the back of her head and making her face smack into Drakken's. She pulled away with her hand aglow to glare at the others on instinct. Ignoring the slight pain in her jaw and back of head from the impact. Her eyes fell on where Junior covering his face with Bonnie fretting over him. The cringed expression of Camille as she and Midas moved away at seeing her green glowing hand. To where Adrena was side stepping away from Lucre who had frozen from spiking the ball... Clearly the ball had bounced off Junior's face and into she and Drakken. Before she could fully react, the volley ball went swirling at a high speed back towards Lucre and hit him hard.
Shego blinked in confusion as Lucre doubled over clutching the ball where Junior mocked him with glee, and then back to Drakken. Drakken was rubbing his mouth and glaring in Lucre's direction. Flower vanishing behind Drakken's head as the clear revenge instigator in the ball return. Drakken's eyes fell back to Shego and she could see the deviousness in them before the devilish expression found his features.
"You know, what about two on all?" the cocky tone earned an eyeroll from her as she pushed away, "What?"
"Nothing," she crossed her arms as he stood up with her, "Just... that cocky attitude better deliver... Last thing I want is to loose to a bunch of... losers."
"Oh... we will," Drakken declared as he walked towards the volleyball court.
"I don't know... I'm getting caper flashbacks," she teased.
When he doubled back around she waited for a whine to be the response, but his expression looked unphased as he simple grabbed her hand. Any further teasing comments fell away as she followed him towards the netted area. The focus turning towards the winning or what would most likely be an underhanded game of volleyball.
The sound of the crickets and yells from the large campfire filled with various invites of Junior were a muffled tone to the waves hitting the shore. The sun had completely set and all that lit most of the island resort were torches and the stars from the clear night above. The sound of music could be heard in a low hum from where Shego and Drakken had wondered towards the parking area. Where they'd headed towards in gleeful amusement at their competitive fun.
Drakken's arm still hurt from the several games of volleyball he and Shego had gone two against four on, but he could only blame himself. At one point the game had been simply to impress Shego and get mild annoyed revenge at being interrupted from their peaceful moment. It had quickly turned into a rather competitive game where he'd half forgotten Flower was a viable team member, which had earned several falls and including one collision into Shego as it seemed to have gotten to her as well. The last game had been easier as powers may have heavily taken over on their end, which had made another round denied by the others.
He wasn't even sure if they'd won, but he felt like they had.
Or at least he did as he kissed Shego in the shadows of the trees near the hover car. It had meant to have been a quick kiss farewell so he could make it back to the conference and get sleep before the morning, but it seemed neither of them had chosen an end point. He moved closer towards her only to realize he'd accidentally moved them into a tree. He pulled away in concern.
"Sorry-"
"Did I complain?" she asked quickly. Her arms still on his shoulder's unmoving, "I have spent three days with people I barely tolerate on their own... them making kissy faces at each other didn't help... so I would like to erase that with some actual enjoyable 'kissy' face replacement."
Drakken smirked.
"I wasn't apologizing for the kiss... only the tree," nodded Drakken before kissing her again, "You know... I didn't get a goodbye kiss Sunday?"
She muttered into his kiss.
"You could have joined me for lunch and got one," was her only response as they kissed again before she broke away, "I..."
She stopped talking and Drakken pulled away from her, worried he'd upset her by bringing up what he now wondered was a fight.
"I was in a mood," he sighed. Shego rolled her eyes and he went to pull away but her arms remained firm on his shoulders.
"I'm over that," Shego scoffed, "I was just going to say... I... I don't mind when you kiss me like this... for future reference."
Drakken felt his face grow warm for a split second as he watched Shego give him what was becoming a less rare smile. He knew he was overthinking what she meant as he wasn't kissing her any different than he normally would. He couldn't think much further into it as the alarm he'd set for himself went off and he felt her arms slid off his shoulders as he reached to pull it out of his pocket to turn off. When he looked back at Shego, she was looking at the hover car with a shifting expression on her face he couldn't place.
He looked back towards the sound of the party in the distance and then back to his phone where the time showed how long he'd been here. He played over flying the three hours to where his conference was and debated if he should delay rest and stay longer. He was feeling the least stressed he'd had all week and he knew his sleep would be restless either way, knowing that he'd left James Possible to do a demonstration on his own. No doubt that the large demonstration and speech in the morning would keep him up anyway.
A loud eruption of noise pulled both he and Shego's focus towards where fireworks were now going off. He looked back at Shego to see her seemingly analyzing him but dismissed it.
"I should get going," he sighed, "Something tells me that I'm going to have to fight Possible for giving the presentation in the morning."
"Need any assistance?" asked Shego. Drakken watched her shift her stance and look back at the hover car.
"Flower can always cause a distraction and make Possible mess up... again," smirked Drakken.
Shego didn't smirk as her eyes narrowed at the hover car.
"So you don't want me to come with?" she asked.
Drakken felt all the discomfort at coming come swarming back as he watched her expression.
Yes.
"I don't want to keep you from your fun little vacation," he cleared his throat and shrugged. Choosing to look towards the sound of the party. "It's unnecessary-"
"Drakken."
He looked at her just as her hands pulled his face to hers for a strong and firm kiss. It ended before he could fully register it.
"Will you just... ask me?" she sighed. Though a smile played across her lips.
Drakken tried to read her features, wondering if she wanted to go like he'd briefly thought or if she was simply feeling obligated to return the favor and visit him. His mind began racing, trying to decipher every motive and word... determine if this would end up causing a fight or argument once she got bored... why her eyes seemed so focused on his.
Just ask her!
"Despite the Protonia incident... the whole things rather boring-"
"Drakken... just," she let out an exasperated sigh, "Do you want me to come?"
Drakken felt a swell of concern that somehow this would backfire, but the fact he wanted nothing more than for Shego to be there for his speech at the conference... finally won over.
"Yes, I do," he sighed.
"Okay," was her only response. It was airy and casual even, "I'll go grab my things."
"What?" asked Drakken in confusion but mostly her demeanor.
"I never even unpacked," she smirked over her shoulder as she walked towards the resort, "It's about time you opened your big mouth."
"Excuse me?" Drakken's brow furrowed as she moved further away.
"I mean honestly. How many hints do I have to drop that I was waiting for an invite," snickered Shego, "I think going forward... we should try things called... words. It's apparently a vital communication tool."
"Wait. What?" Drakken sputtered and then glared, "Nghn! Shego... were... and then... I- You could have said something sooner!"
She backed around a corner with an amused smirk.
"Meet you in a few," was her only words before vanishing.
Drakken opened and closed his mouth wanting to argue or say more towards her words and attitude, but nothing came. He grumbled incoherent words under his breath as he stormed towards the hover car and pouted as he waited. His mind whirling with her words about communicating. The very thing he'd asked about months ago, but neither had made an effort to follow through... clearly. He found himself becoming slightly angry at the fact he had dismissed all of her signs that she'd been fishing for an invite... which he crossed his arms at realizing he'd done the same thing.
He jumped as Shego's bag flew into the hover car and she jumped in swiftly.
"What are you waiting for... didn't your alarm go off?" asked Shego as she gestured to the hover car still being off.
Drakken sighed as the hovercar took off back towards his conference. His thoughts shifted slightly at Shego's insistence at using words more clearly when it clicked.
"Shego... I asked for clarification on these things months ago," he whined.
"Mmhmm, sure you did," he saw the smirk across her face, "Funny though how I wasn't the only one not doing it then."
Drakken grumbled under his breath, aware she had in fact made a valid point. He glanced at Shego as his mind was torn between her, the conference yet to continue, their conversation, and the fact she'd rested her head on his shoulder. The company awaiting him at the conference muffling the contentment he should have had in this moment.
"Shego... would it be off the table for you to do me a favor?" asked Drakken nervously.
"I am not making a contract," she sighed.
"No! I wasn't... actually that might be a good idea-"
"Drakken."
"Ahem," Drakken focused, "Well you see... among the attendees of the conference... you know my college posse who betrayed me-"
"Do you want me to put on a little green dress and dote on you?" Shego rolled her eyes.
"... it doesn't have to be green," muttered Drakken, "Nevermind... I shouldn't have asked."
"Did you hear me say no?" scoffed Shego. Drakken perked up, "I mean I could just set their pants on fire like I did James Possible... This isn't the reason you wanted me to come is it?"
"I wanted you to come well before I even knew Possible was there... this is just an added incentive," clarified Drakken. He bit his lip wondering if this might have made her annoyed.
Her expression was unreadable before she shrugged, the smirk returning to her face.
"Never thought a plot on revenge would involve a public display of affection at a nerd party," she snorted, "Next caper a date?"
"Been there, done that, Shego," said Drakken. She raised a brow, "More than you will guess."
Shego gave no response but simply resumed her position of using his shoulder as a pillow. Drakken finding a small sense of calm in the peaceful moment as they drove over the tops of trees and towards the endless sky of stars and small cloud patches. Silence and calm were interrupted by his own mental recap of the conversation.
"What did you say about setting James Possible on fire?!"
Well perhaps there was PDA... Perhaps a fire... Who knows..