Cabin Part 2
It was with severe restraint Shego didn't slam the door closed as she entered the hallway. She'd hastily pulled her untidy hair back and grabbed the baggiest clothes she could find. Drakken's clothes happened to be the best option as she hadn't really packed for other company. That factor had only made her ensnarement fade to anger as she walked down the hallway to where she could hear loud arguing. The heat from her face felt as if it faded to palms of her hands and she mentally wondered how far she could physically throw Ed if she really gave it her all.
When she rounded into the living room, the fireplace was lit once more and the kitchen light was on where the yanked open door showed Drakken and Ed arguing. She took a step towards the kitchen before she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She glanced at the couch to where Ed's clear company sat in agitated boredom.
Cleopatra sat with her legs crossed and looking the most casual Shego had ever seen the typically golden clad villain. Wild curly hair pulled back and metallic gold pants replaced her normal Egyptian themed wardrobe, that only found home in the golden embellishments on her dark red coat. Shego found her aggression turning towards the women if only for being present... it fell slightly as Cleopatra spoke.
"Looks like no one's evening is as planned," sighed Cleopatra.
Shego's anger lessened as the arguing picked up louder in the kitchen. She wanted nothing more than to go blast Ed but as she adjusted the baggy shirt, she was in no mood to hear Ed make a wise crack about her previous wardrobe.
Let them scream it out and then blast...
Shego sat on the couch a little ways from Cleopatra. Both fell into silence as the fire glow flickered around them. Her mind wondered the the fire going on in the room she'd left to come back out here and she found her remaining anger twisting into pure agitation. Glancing at the women next to her, Shego rolled her eyes and scoffed. While it would be easy to join her in solidarity at a ruined evening, Shego didn't feel like bonding in the slightest.
"What are you even doing here?" snapped Shego.
Cleopatra glanced up, but the bored expression barely shifted to annoyance across her face.
"You do know they both own this so called family escape," her voice sour.
"Interesting we're here the same week," Shego raised a brow. The image of the box laden room flickered through her mind, "Motor Ed find out Drakken was here?"
It was Cleopatra's turn to scoff.
"I could be in the warm sun on a balcony in Egypt right now... why would I want to be in a dusty old cabin in a snow storm... with additional company?" Cleopatra glared.
Shego pursed her lips and could have argued further, but reminded herself Mama Lipsky had been the one insistent they'd come. With a snort, Shego crossed her arms and looked at the fire.
"Did he get a call from his mother?" asked Shego. He glanced at Cleopatra's scrunched up expression, "I take that as an unwelcome yes."
"The women's a nightmare," grumbled Cleopatra, "We we're having a nice weekend and she called constantly... badgering him that he had to go this week."
"Probably hoping Motor Ed would beat Drakken here to riffle through things," sighed Shego. Cleopatra's expression still remained sour, "Not a fan of the other Mama Lipsky?"
"She called me a hussy and that I only want Eddie for his money?" glared Cleopatra.
Shego stared at her with a raised brow, her lips forming a smirk. She watched as Cleopatra's furrowed brow loosened and she gave a faint smirk.
"Money is only a perk," she chuckled. Her body relaxing as she leaned on her arm.
Shego found her attention falling towards where she could see Drakken and Motor Ed still arguing, tho quieter this time. Her anger and agitation softening as she saw Drakken pointing to the door. She knew that regardless if the two intruders left or stayed, the evening had shifted... and a glanced outside made it clear no one was going anywhere tonight,
"How long does it take to argue?" asked Cleopatra in a bored tone, "Yes or no... whose staying or going?"
"We don't have to worry until someone tries to slap another-" Shego trailed off as she something thrown in the kitchen, "Alright, time to intervene."
Shego stood up and made a few steps before pausing and looking to where Cleopatra had been looking at her nails. Cleopatra gave her a questioning look before sighing and getting to her feet to follow her into the kitchen. When they cleared the short distance, it was in time for Shego to dodge an apple being thrown by Motor Ed. Her hand ignited and she watched as both the arguing party tossed various fruits aside from a turned over fruit bowl that she was sure was fake.
"Whoa Green, chill... Seriously, Drew started it," stated Ed with raised defensive hands.
"Prove it!" snapped Drakken.
Shego crossed her arms.
"I think he just did," Shego rolled her eyes.
The men looked at one another and then too where Cleopatra and Shego stood around the doorway.
"We're just here to make sure no one murders each other," said Shego. Cleopatra shrugged, "Or watch if someone does."
"The fire grew boring... continue," yawned Cleopatra.
There was barely a breath before it in fact, resumed.
"I was here first!" snapped Drakken.
"Yeah, well... I was born first! You leave," countered Ed.
Shego raised a brow as Drakken paused.
"You we're not," yelled Drakken, "I am older than you!"
"Then as the baby... you should leave," smirked Ed.
Drakken rolled his eyes.
"Lydia is the baby," Drakken shook his head.
"Who?" asked Ed. Shego rolled her eyes.
"I... nghn... There is no reason why I should leave over you!" stated Drakken.
"I brought my babe here, seriously," said Ed smugly.
"So did I!" Drakken paused and then hurriedly whispered to Shego, "I am not using that term to describe you just so-"
"Just argue your point," sighed Shego, shoving him to turn back around.
"Seriously... well I have been with mine... longer," stated Ed, "So, I win, Drew."
"You do not, Eddie," glared Drakken.
"How do you know how long we've been together," aided Shego.
"Seriously?" asked Ed, "Drew told everyone when you got together."
Shego looked at Drakken, who looked uneasy.
"You said I could," her hastened. Shego rolled her eyes.
"He sent out a mass text about it," added Ed. Shego glared.
"I did not," sputtered Drakken.
"He's right," Cleopatra's tired voice interrupted, "Duff Killigan did."
"Killigan did what?" asked Drakken in shock.
"He had a lot of bets running he wanted to collect on," shrugged Cleopatra.
Drakken and Shego spoke in tandem.
"The nerve of Killigan-"
"How much did he get-"
The two looked at each other.
"I'm saying... we should get a cut," shrugged Shego. Drakken held a thoughtful look on his face before nodding.
"We will call him in the morning... after these two leave," resumed Drakken.
"We are not-" Ed began.
"Can we just get some sleep and continue this in the morning?" asked Cleopatra, "It is two in the bloody morning and we flew from Cairo."
Shego looked at Drakken who looked to still have enough energy to keep arguing, but he was looking at her instead. Shego shrugged and Drakken groaned and practically pouted in response.
"Fine! But you can clean your own room, we were already in bed," whined Drakken as she crossed his arms.
"I saw that," smirked Ed.
Shego lit her hand again.
"Seriously Green, you need to unwind," scoffed Ed as he backed out of the kitchen, "Drew, you need to do a better job with that, seriously."
Shego's eyes shot open and she was about to fire a blast at Ed, but he hastily darted down the hall.
"How much do you really like your cousin?" asked Shego as her hand extinguished.
"At the moment or in general?" grumbled Drakken as he hit the kitchen light.
"In general?" asked Shego. Watching Drakken headed to turn out the fire.
"I'm torn between familial bond and wanting to see how long it takes for him to freeze if I shoved him in a frozen pond," said Drakken. He paused as he looked at her, "Are those my clothes?"
Shego looked down at herself and shrugged.
"I didn't exactly pack for a surprise visit in the middle of the night," Shego remarked, "And your little plants kept digging through my clothes so I clearly forgot a few things.
"Okay," was all Drakken said as he fumbled to turn out the fire.
A part of her wanted to meet him in the room, but instead she lingered in the entrance to the hall. Before she could light her hand to give better light, his hand found hers in the dim light given off by the windows. His fingers laced with her as they walked down the hallway towards their room. She fought making a crack about resuming where they left off, but dismissed it until the door was closed and locked behind them. She had not expected for Drakken to kiss her the moment the click of the door was echoed through the room. Not that she was complaining as she was pulled tightly against him, his hand kneading into the fabric of the clothes she wore. She smirked into the kiss realizing that he wasn't upset about her choice in hasty attire, quite the opposite it seemed. For a brief moment as Drakken's hand slid beneath the shirt fabric and onto to silk of the nightgown still on her waist... Shego pondered if they were going to resume where they left off.
A knock came at the door and Shego groaned as Drakken angrily pulled away from there embrace.
"Hey, Cuz," came Ed's voice, "Where's the broom?"
"In the cleaning closet, Eddie," hissed Drakken.
"It wasn't there-"
"Look again!" snapped Drakken, not opening the door.
There was silence and Drakken let out a sigh. It was Shego's turn to pull him back into a kiss, which was given zero hesitation.
Another knock.
"Uhg," Shego pushed away, the mood officially slipping away, "Just go help them so we can sleep."
She heard Drakken grumble something before yanking open the door. The closing of it signaling a an angry argument between cousins as they walked down the hallway. Barely giving much thought she put out the fire and fell into bed. The bitterness and aggravation she was feeling slowly turned to sleepiness. The last drifting solace being that in the morning she knew they would see to it that Motor Ed and Cleopatra would leave.
She gave a tired smirk as she closed her eyelids.
I'm sure a little green heat will be enough incentive.
It was with more aggression then necessary that Drakken shoved cleaning supplies back in the closet. He let out a growl as he kicked a bucket in and shoved the door closed, not caring how haphazard it was stacked inside. He glared around the now spotless kitchen and smacked the light switch as he left to the dust-free living room.
There was not a room left unclean save for the storage now, having decided to finish doing such rather than sleep. Not that he hadn't intended to sleep, but when he'd returned to his room, Shego was already turned in. He hadn't wanted to wake her up and attempted to sleep in the chair in the room, which had not worked out. Somewhere between falling out of it and trying to find paper quietly to work on some projects floating around his head, and failing. Finishing cleaning had been the only thing he could come up with to occupy his time. Flower had stopped assisting him somewhere around deep cleaning the shared bathroom, which he knew was his own desire to call it quits.
He looked at the couch and found himself drifting towards it, not bothering to turn out the living room lights. Sleep didn't come despite him wishing for it.
This couch is very uncomfortable.
Drakken sat up and looked out the window against the back wall, watching the snow accumulate on the sill outside. His chin leaned on the back of the couch and he looked around the room, letting memories lull him to sleep... his eyes fell back to the window.
That's a lot of snow on the window...
He pushed off the couch and made his way to the door, the sound of the wind clearly being heard as he reached the handle. The door practically swung into him as he turned the handle, snow flurries heavily swirling past him in an icy swirl. Drakken squinted to look outside but all he saw was white... lots of white. Snow made a wall obscuring the landscape and a varied feet of snow had accumulated aiding in the nearly completely white void in front of him. With a slight struggle he finally managed the close the door and sigh.
"No one's leaving," he whined under his breath.
Shego fought the tug of waking up as long as she could. Her mind had been a blissful swirl of what might have been the previous evening if not for intruders. Drakken's voice called her name in a soft echo as she pulled the blankets tighter around her. She could feel the bed shift and a hand on her shoulder. Her name being called was louder, almost like it was a scream to finish pulling her from her slumber. A growl of annoyance escaped out her mouth as she threw the blankets off her and went to sit up. She felt Drakken's hand remove from her shoulder and the bed shift again as she looked up to see Drakken standing on the other side of the bed and holding up his hands.
"I was sleeping," said Shego as she glared at him.
"Ah, well I saw that," Drakken responded as he sat at the edge of the bed.
"And yet... decided to wake me up?" asked Shego. She could hear the sour tone to her voice, "Is there a reason?"
"It snowed," said Drakken cautiously.
"Thank you for the weather report... I think it could have waited," Shego glanced at Drakken and the side of the bed that looked untouched, "Did you sleep yet?"
"I stayed up cleaning," Drakken said casually, "There's a lot of snow. I don't think anyone is leaving."
Shego stared at Drakken closer in the dim light and noticed the apologetic expression on his face. A part of her wanted to argue this, explain that Motor Ed had made it up here, going down the mountain should be more possible. Even debating them leaving, but given Drakken's expression, it might still be snowing too hard to do so. She felt her own shoulders slump before pulling the blankets back over herself.
"Wake me up when it melts away," she grumbled, "Or when the weeks over."
She knew she wasn't about to drift off, but she was going to will it. The idea of spending a week trapped in a cabin with Motor Ed needing an instant escape for her own sanity. Forcing sleep was better than blowing up at Drakken for something outside of his control... but it was still tempting. She felt Drakken shift to stand up and off the bed and sighed.
"What time is it?" she asked into her pillow.
"Four-"
"Go to bed," ordered Shego.
"Ohm," she heard him.
She looked up at him to see him looking at the chairs in the corner. Shego rolled her eyes and reached out to yank him in bed by the sleeve of his pajamas. A smirk spread across her face as he yelped in surprise before falling into the mattress. Waiting for a whine or argument all she got was a grumbled before he slid under the covers to join her. She didn't give him much time to get comfortable before pulling the same arm around her. He took the hint and snuggled up next to her, the scent of pine taking over his normal natural musk, made her nose crinkle. Shego ignored it and nestled into her pillow, willing sleep to come in order to fight the moods still threatening to demand attention.
There was silence and Shego wasn't drifting off like she wanted. Somehow it began thinking over the change in their trip and why both cousins had ended up here of all places the same week. It was easy to assume Motor Ed's mother wanted him to rummage through things as well, which given what she knew of the women... implied there was more than just their grandmother's things in that storage room. While Drakken indicated the Motor Ed would never break into his grandmother's belongings due to instilled fear... if Motor Ed had truly wanted it, she doubted childhood tales of terror would have stopped the villain from finding a way in.
So what's in there...
"Drakken?" she asked. There was no response, "Drakken?"
She listened to his breathing, noting the shift in rhythm signifying he was asleep. Though as she shifted to glance at him, his arms pulled her tighter against him and his head buried into her neck. The hold was akin to a sleepy child snuggling their teddy bear. Shego sighed and shifted slightly to be more comfortable, knowing she wasn't going anywhere for awhile.
Drakken's shot up out of bed to the sound of a metal clanging in the distance. The sound of a thump to his left and a growl temporarily pulled his attention the mysterious metal sound he'd heard. He looked to see Shego glaring up at him from where he'd apparently knocked her to the floor. It took a few seconds to register this as she blew her bangs out of her face and shook her head at him.
"Nghn! Shego," he moved quickly to offer her hand. Which she took rather aggressively, "I didn't mean too- Ow your nails are sharp."
"I know," she snapped as she stood up rather than going back on the bed.
"You really are not a morning person," Drakken exclaimed as he slid out of bed as well.
He watched Shego give him a puzzled look.
"You just threw me to the floor-"
"Earlier-" he was cut off.
"You woke me up at four in the morning," he watched her brows narrow before another loud sound caught there attention, "Let's just go see what those two are doing."
She shoved passed him and practically closed the door in his face. If he hadn't just accidentally tossed her off a bed, he would have protested against her attitude... but given the circumstances... he would let it go... for now.
The first official morning at this so called tearaway was not what Shego had in mind. From being woken up at ridiculous hours, landing on the floor, and a serious lack of the romantic atmosphere she'd wanted at least a glimpse of. Walking into the kitchen to Motor Ed in a pair of boxers making breakfast was the last thing she'd envisioned on this trip.
"Uhg," groaned Shego as she turned directly around and walked into Drakken.
"What- Eddie!" snapped Drakken as he side stepped Shego, "Have some decency!"
"I am," Shego heard Ed respond, "Seriously? Do you see the briefs?"
"A pair of pants and a shirt would be appreciated!" argued Drakken.
"And deny this visual," Ed snickered. Shego glanced at him just in time for him to wink at her.
Shego rolled her eyes and looked at Drakken.
"Didn't you mention something about testing ice outside," grumbled Shego.
"Eddie," growled Drakken.
"Whoa, chill," scoffed Ed as he walked out of the kitchen, "Just make sure the sausages don't burn."
Shego rolled her eyes and watched as Drakken went into the kitchen to tend to the food.
"How did you put up with him for years?" asked Shego, leaning against the fridge.
"He annoyed my mother enough that his visits were limited to weekends by the time I was in Middle School... unfortunately high school he skipped grades like I did so he ended up a year behind me," Drakken's frown turned into a smirk, "Apart from him taking credit for all of my would be cred, it wasn't too bad. After the boiler room incident at college... successfully avoided him apart from family functions I scarcely attended for decades."
Shego raised a brow and Drakken looked thoughtful for a moment.
"On an over length scale... I have seen Eddie more these last few years than I have since I dropped out of college," shrugged Drakken.
"Good to know villainy incited bonding events," snorted Shego.
Drakken chuckled.
"Strange how that happened," he flipped a few sausages on a plate, "Do these look burnt?"
"Yes," replied Shego as she looked over Drakken's shoulder.
The sound of bare feet hitting the ground announced the return of Ed. Shego reluctantly looked to see that he'd at least put on proper pants but had avoided a shirt. Rolling her eyes she moved away from where Drakken was attempting to hide the burnt sausages under others before handing the spatula to Ed and moving aside.
"I put on pants, so your delicate eyes aren't seriously harmed," Ed mocked.
Drakken looked at Shego and smirked.
"No shirt-" Drakken was cut off.
"Seriously, Drew! What is your deal-" Ed began and then paused, "Did you burn the sausages?"
"How bad is the snow?" asked Drakken, navigating towards a window and avoiding answering.
Shego snorted and followed Drakken as he looked at a complete white out. While the snow appeared to have settled, one could only make faint thin blue lines through what had once been a dense forest the day before, but now looked like white cut outs. They both chose to ignore Ed's grumbling and look at each other and then back outside. It was clear, that Drakken's statement earlier seemed true. There was no way that they could hasten Ed and Cleopatra to leave the cabin... and while they could easily leave via hovercar. The shared expression on one another's faces, made it clear neither wanted to give up their vacation space to Ed and Cleopatra.
As if to clarify, Drakken lowered his voice and whispered to Shego.
"We aren't leaving, are we?" asked Drakken. Shego narrowed her brows.
"Not a chance, we were here first," stated Shego. The glint in Drakken's eyes made it clear he was on the same mind set.
A sigh from the entrance from the hall noted Cleopatra had joined them.
"Is the arguing back on?" she asked.
Shego rolled her eyes.
"What tipped you off? The peaceful dialogue or the soft tones?" asked Shego.
"Now there ragging on me for not wearing a shirt," scoffed Ed.
"You could just get dressed," suggested Shego, "Makes it easier to leave."
Cleopatra glared and pointed to the window.
"There's a bloody blizzard... I mean at least you could fly out of here," she scoffed.
Shego glared.
"We aren't going anywhere," Shego snapped.
"Neither, are we," countered Cleopatra. Shego narrowed her eyes further.
Shego heard Ed whisper to Drakken.
"If we egg this on, we might get a seriously rad morning with a cat fight," snickered Ed. Shego turned to see the man wink and then try and look innocent.
"Uhg," Shego scoffed and gestured to Cleopatra. "Really?"
"I didn't hear Drakken say anything against it," said Cleopatra.
Shego looked towards Drakken, which was followed by both Ed and Cleopatra. It was clear he'd barely paid attention or at least pretended he had been... now suddenly looking concerned by all eyes on him.
"I- What?- Just- Isn't there food burning," said Drakken quickly.
Crossing her arms, Shego followed Drakken and avoided eye contact with Cleopatra. Though she was more than a little annoyed by Drakken's panicked reaction.
Be talking about that later.
Somewhere the afternoon went from hostile to an almost calm. Drakken had seemed thankful to have help as he and Ed moved boxes around in the storage room. For a few pleasant hours, it had appeared that they might all settle into a neutral week and get a lot of sorting done. Shego had even accepted the company of Cleopatra, if only to kill time while their significant others created a mess of while so called cleaning.
That was until dinner.
"We're not divvying up what's in there!" snapped Drakken, "We're organizing-"
Ed cut him off.
"What is the big deal! Seriously, so I take a few things... you take a few things-"
Drakken returned the favor and cut Ed off.
"You are not getting all the books!"
Ed glared and crossed his arms.
"I just want the engineering one-"
"The exact same ones I want!" Drakken yelled.
Shego put down her drink and looked at Cleopatra. Who indicated to the salt.
"See, this is why there should be a one mad scientist per family limit," said Shego as she passed Cleopatra the salt.
"Or at least a separation of fields," Cleopatra added, "One should be mechanical and the other medical... less fighting."
"There were some interesting medical books int that box," added Shego, "Whose getting those?"
"We are not separating them-" Drakken was cut off, again.
"Isn't your brother a doctor?" asked Ed.
He looked at Shego.
"No the mad kind, it would be a waste," grumbled Shego.
Drakken looked at her with wide eyes, apparently hoping for assistance.
"Flip a coin," suggested Shego. Drakken glared at her, "Why don't you guys just finish sorting it and then fight over it."
"Fine!" said Ed, "I'll take a box and you take a box... finders keepers."
"That's not what- You just want to lay claims to everything! This place is both of ours," argued Drakken.
"Which I have maintained for years," Ed scoffed, "Seriously, thanks for the cash drops, but I've been taking care of this place!"
"Then if these things were so important to you, why didn't you go through them sooner!" snapped Drakken, "You would have found a way in despite any fears."
"I wasn't afraid-" Ed growled, "I didn't mess with it because we were supposed to do it together. Seriously, I suggested it over a year ago and you blew me off. Then I come here to see you didn't even bother to call me up?"
Shego raised a brow at the conversation turn. She watched Drakken's face remain stoic, but she could see the slight twitch of his features as he chose whatever direction he felt needed. Thinking about Ed's statement, she wondered if it was an accident that Ed and Cleopatra had joined them. Like she'd wondered prior herself, the timing was suspicious.
"So that's why you're here," scoffed Drakken, "You knew we were going to be here."
So we're on the same page.
"No we didn't," said Cleopatra. She looked at Ed, "Eddie?"
Ed fell back in his seat and stabbed at his food in silence.
"I didn't exactly plan on getting stuck here," grumbled Ed, "Seriously, real lame."
"At least my romantic weekend was real," smirked Shego. Cleopatra glared at her.
"I don't think anyone's having a romantic, anything," sighed Cleopatra.
Shego frowned towards Drakken who glanced at her with the statement. In truth, she doubted that would happen now. Considering the hostility, she was certain neither cousin would make this stay hospitable if this was the energy. She noticed something shift in Drakken's expression, it relaxed and he picked up his water calmly.
"Are you really stuck here?" asked Drakken. Ed rolled his eyes.
"Seriously, Cuz," scoffed Ed. He gestured out a window.
"I'd think that your truck out there would be able to get out of the mountains it managed to climb up," smirked Drakken, "No faith in your work there... Cuz?"
Shego looked at Drakken's smug look and then back to where she saw Ed's eye practically twitch.
"You just want me to leave," he scoffed, "Nice try, Drew."
Drakken shrugged and took a sip of his water. Silence fell over the group as they continued to eat dinner. The smug look still lingering on Drakken's face as Shego nudged him. There was a knowing glint in his eyes and it peaked her curiosity further. The silence was officially broken by Cleopatra with a sigh.
"So, since we've come to a crossroads-" She was cut off.
"Come on babe," Ed stood up, "Seriously, Drew... That's low, questioning my mechanic skills. We'll make that hill, Cuz, just you wait."
"What's happening?" asked Cleopatra.
"We're leaving," glared Ed at Drakken, "Seriously."
Cleopatra looked ready to argue logic but instead rolled her eyes and got up to follow Ed towards the room. Shego looked at Drakken, who smugly sat back in his chair and grinned further.
"Look at you, using psychology to get your way," snickered Shego. She leaned on his shoulder.
"Well, Shego, evil may be on the back burn... but a mad genius never lets his talents go to waste," he said with confidence.
The snicker Shego fought, faded away as she looked at Drakken closely. His relaxed demeanor and well deserved confidence at openly duping his cousin, was a welcome sight. She gave him a devious smirk before pinching his cheeks and pulling his lips against hers for a brief moment. It only increased the smug expression he had into matching her devious expression. As they heard the returning couple, Drakken and Shego both resumed eating casually.
"So, you're really leaving?" asked Shego. Attempting not to grin, "Shame."
"Yeah, well, seriously, blame Drew," glared Ed. Cleopatra stared at Ed for a moment before Ed looked angrily at Shego, "Not cool, Green. You'll wish we we're here when you realize its just you and my cuz, seriously. He'll eventually annoy you."
Shego opened her mouth to make a comment but Drakken beat her too it.
"I haven't yet, so nighn," Drakken stuck his tongue out at Ed.
"Oh real mature, Cuz," glared Ed as he began following Cleopatra out the door. He stuck his tongue out back at Drew.
Drakken responded in kind by putting his thumbs in his ears and waving his hands in a childish taunt.
"Oh yeah-" Ed tossed the bags outside and mimicked him.
Cleopatra leaned against the doorway with what Shego was sure the same expression she held. Somewhere between disturbed and mildly depressed of the company they had chosen to keep.
"If the slap fest begins, I'm leaving," stated Shego.
"I am desperately trying to find this charming, but I am also wondering how well I can drive the monstrous vehicle of Eddie... on my own," stated Cleopatra in a concerned tone. She cleared her throat and raised her voice, "Eddie! Do I hit the gas and then release the clutch or-"
"Whoa, Babe, no!" Ed looked horrified and grabbed his discarded bags, "We talked about this... I drive... you just look like the babe you are, seriously."
Shego watched Ed stumble through the snow, giving a lecture of mechanics while Cleopatra held one small bag and remained in the doorway.
She smirked at Shego.
"I know perfectly well how to drive it, but it's amusing to make him all flustered," stated Cleopatra as she walked through the cleared path Ed had left.
The moment the engine started, Shego closed the door and let out a sigh of relief. If there had been a lock on the door, she would have turned it just to make sure they wouldn't return. She crossed her arms and fell back against the frame as she heard Drakken gleefully singing to himself as he picked up dishes.
"I got them to leave..." he laughed, "All thanks to my genius thinking."
"And childish face pulling," snorted Shego as she pushed off the wall and headed back to the dining area where Drakken could be heard picking up more dishes.
"Childish it may have been," hummed Drakken, "But now its just us."
Drakken leaned through the door-frame as Shego began walking through. His expression was reminiscent of when an invention had worked out accidentally. He pursed his lips for a kiss and she pushed his face away from hers with a snort as she grabbed glasses.
"Hey," he pouted.
"Do you really think pouting is a good way to recover from the previous childish antics," stated Shego as she moved passed him with the last of the glasses, "Effective... not attractive."
She watched his pout deepen into an annoyed frown as he finished putting his own dishes in the sink. Watching with amusement as he began rinsing off the dishes with his fixed expression. Hopping up on the counter to further watch him and slide more dishes his way made her smirk grow with the deepening of his frown.
"You could dry them," he added as she pushed the cutlery in the water.
"Nah," she shrugged.
"Now, whose being childish," he grumbled.
"Difference is, mine's still attractive," she smirked.
Drakken glared at her and she raised a brow waiting for a comeback. He had paused to look at her in his dish-washing, as if deciding to give a retort or not. Her expression turned smug as she realized by his crinkled nose, he couldn't find a comeback worth attempting. She expected a grumble or a lame single word filler, what she hadn't expected was for bubbles to hit her in the face and him resuming cleaning.
"Did you just throw soap at me?" asked Shego in shock.
Drakken remained silent. Shego glared and quickly reached to splash soap on him in return.
"You started this... remember that," stated Drakken. Shego raised a brow just as he grabbed the spray nozzle.
"Drakken..." she warned. He turned on the water, "Drew Theodore—Pfft!"
The water spritzed her and after a breath of her shock and his horror at his own action... the struggle for the nozzle began.
The last of the now damp rags found their way to the bin with the others as Drakken stretched. The cleaning up from the mess he and Shego had caused through the kitchen had taken less time then he had thought with the help of Flower, but it was done. He was glad he'd opted to change into dry clothes before cleaning, as the chill in the air would not have been welcome. He hit the lights and decided to take care of the remaining mess later as he headed towards the living area. Shego sat in now dry clothes with her still damp hair pulled into a loose braid as she flipped through a plant magazine. The fire giving off a warm glow as he headed to join her.
"Kitchen dry?" she asked not looking up from the magazine.
"As good as it will be," he sighed and leaned over the back of the couch, "I still don't see why I was the only one cleaning up."
"Flower poured a pitcher of water on me," she stated as she flipped a page.
"It barely had water in it," he began, but stopped himself, "What are you reading?"
He watched Shego's lip curve into a smirk at his subject change.
"Hybrid flowers," she sighed, "Did you know there's a chance that the flowers can reproduce with other flowers?"
"You're reading about the reproduction of flowers?" asked Drakken.
He watched Shego's face flush and her eyes widen. The reaction confused him but he shrugged it off as Shego began flipping pages quickly.
"I hadn't thought about that," Drakken continued the conversation, "It's an interesting concept, but I doubt any hybridizing would result in sentient behavior... I imagine it might not be a dominant trait."
Shego scrunched her face and Drakken couldn't decide is it was annoyance at his lack of answers for the subject she brought up or not. He hastened in case it was the reason for her tinted face leading him to believe it was no agitation.
"I suppose I could test that further when we get back to Greece," said Drakken, "Probably a good thing to look into before spring at least-"
"Yeah, let's just move on from that until later," Shego tossed the magazine onto the table, "So what evening plans do you have?"
Drakken fought a small protest at the topic change, seeing as he was mildly curious now. He shrugged, in truth not knowing what they could do this evening. Drakken's mind pushed away the current concerns on his flowers to the pile of boxes beyond a door that desperately needed to be taken care of. He'd lost a day with fighting with his cousin and Shego's moods he still couldn't pinpoint.
"I was hoping for something a little more woo worthy than a shrug," sighed Shego, "Unless that's code for wanting to go dig through memory lane now that Motor Ed's gone."
"No," said Drakken. He gave out a slight chuckle as he rounded the couch "I was just leaving it up to you- Don't want to assume."
"Mmhmm," she hummed. But there was a smile on her face despite the raised brow.
Drakken looked at the seat next to her and made a slight move to fill it, when he found himself instead moving to sit behind her. The smile on Shego's face turned into a content smirk as she moved to let him sit and barely gave him time to shift before leaning back against him. He had made the correct spontaneous choice to sit. She let out a soft sigh as he wrapped his arms around her and sunk against the old couch and let himself relax.
"Realistically, you want to get working on that room, don't you?" asked Shego after a few seconds. Her arms resting over his.
"There is a lot to do... and if Eddie wasn't such an annoyance... his help would have been appreciated," sighed Drakken.
"Did you want them to stay?" asked Shego. Leaning back on his shoulder to look at him, "You seemed more annoyed than me-"
"It would have been helpful," shrugged Drakken, "But I do prefer the company I have now much better."
He watched her cheeks tint again and grinned.
"I do find myself to be excellent company," she grinned back at him. He blinked at her words, something was familiar about them, "Don't you?"
He intentionally hesitated and shrugged. This earned him a playful shove of the face and a scoff.
"I'm only joking, Shego," he chuckled, "Despite your snarky nature, I do find your company excellent."
This earned him an eyeroll.
"Not feeling the romance on that," said Shego.
"We both know you find me tedious and obnoxious at times... and yet," he shrugged.
"Exhausting is the word I'm going with today," she replied. Drakken pouted, "Like that."
Shego moved forward and Drakken wondered if he'd shifted the mood completely. He had assumed they were doing their typical teasing, but he found his hands being pulled away from her waist.
"Shego-"
"This other magazine was showing how a larger lattice might help calm the aggravation in the plants," said Shego as she snatched up a magazine, "It also show how to make hair care products out of them... so a new threat to keep them in line if the lattice doesn't work."
Drakken relaxed as Shego snuggled back against him and opened up a magazine.
"You sure have a lot of those," he hummed.
"They didn't have much for any decent news or gossip magazines at the store we stropped at before here," shrugged Shego, "And I can only read about Camille making a comeback to social graces so much, before I want to gag."
Shego leaned back against him further and sighed in relaxation before she found the place in the magazine she wanted to reference. While he knew the storage room would take more time than he assumed Shego thought, he made no effort to pursue the project. Instead he found himself burying his face into her neck as she showed him a trellis, He simply enjoyed the peace and contentment of the moment. The snow dancing lightly passed the darkening window, the fire giving off warmth in the old cabin. Despite the days annoyances, Drakken wasn't going to worry about them as he began to drift off.
The door to the cabin opened with a loud booming laugh as Ed and Cleopatra made their way in. The cold wind disrupting the silence and the warmth as they slammed the door.
Drakken glared and he heard Shego groan.
"Yeah, roads are a no go, seriously," stated Ed as he blocked the fire and began shaking off snow, "We got a few miles before mother nature gave us a serious middle finger. We barely made it back up."
"Looks like were here to stay," smirked Cleopatra as she tossed her coat on the rack, "How sad."
Drakken didn't think Cleopatra's statement was an honest decree by her lazy smirk.
"We're going to unpack," Ed stretched and tossed his coat on the couch which was kicked off by Shego, "Chill Green, seriously I was going to grab it."
"You were going to do a lot of things... like leave," glared Shego, "And yet..."
"Seriously, I don't control the weather," glared Ed.
"Wish I had that weather machine now," grumbled Drakken as Shego slid away from him, "Eddie, couldn't you see we were busy."
Ed looked at them and then around the room and then back.
"With what?" he raised a brow.
"Uhg," Shego rolled her eyes and got off the couch, "I'm going to pour myself a drink and risk the ancient liquor cabinet."
"We did bring fresh stuff," said Cleopatra as she indicated to one of the bags.
Drakken frowned as he leaned over the back of the couch.
"I don't feel alcohol is a good introduction based on what happened earlier," he argued.
"Lighten up, Drew," sighed Ed as he patted his shoulder, "You two are so tightly wound its unreal. No ones getting out of here, might as well have some fun, seriously."
Drakken looked at his cousin a long minute before letting out a defeated sigh.
"We should play a game!" yelled Cleopatra as Shego opened the lock and raised a brow, "It'll be fun!"
"Doubtful," said Shego.
Drakken and Shego exchanged a look of annoyance before Drakken gave her a shrug. He watched her face shift through emotions before registering on defeat. Drakken sat back on the couch as Ed flopped in the arm chair with a jovial expression. What little reserve he had at spending this weekend with more than just Shego, there was a part of him that was looking forward to bonding over childhood memories with his cousin while digging through their grandmother's things.
This might actually be fun-
"Hey you babes want to hear about the time Drew got stuck in the chimney?" beamed Ed, "I like to call is, 'How long he could hold his bladder!' Serious spoilers... not that long."
I may test how deep that pond's ice really is.
AND Day One isn't even Over!