A/N: SURVEY!
Hey whats preferred this length of chapter or longer chapters?
Cabin 5
The sound of the crackling fire engulfing the last of the fire wood was the only sound besides his voice. Drakken had been talking for more then thirty minutes without interruption, and at one point he realized he'd repeated himself... but still no interruption. He glanced at Shego as she looked at he and Ed's sketches for a self piloting flight stabilizer to attach to Or-Ion. It was no where near figured out, but he had been excited to share it with Shego when they'd got back into the cabin and off the ice. He let his own words stop, giving Shego a moment to interrupt, question, or dismiss the topic, but she switched to a different paper.
"Shego?" he finally asked as her nose squinted as she looked at a few rough doodles, "Well?"
"How much reconstructing will this cause?" asked Shego as she handed him the doodles and grabbed her cocoa.
"Well, Eddie said he could make the prototype for the flight stabilizer... then it's just attaching it and hoping it works," shrugged Drakken. He watched Shego's expression closely.
"I just don't get what was wrong with yours?" asked Shego. She had a sour look skate across her features.
"I was planning on using the same method as the hover fleet," said Drakken, "But Eddie unintentionally pointed out that the device might fail because of the changing of the magnetization of the ozone."
Shego raised a brow at him.
"The earth's magnetization is effected by-" She cut him off.
"I know how that works," sighed Shego. She rolled her eyes and snatched the paper again, "How long is this going to take?"
"A week or two," shrugged Drakken as he drank his now cold cocoa.
"That including your other little projects, ability to focus and not get bored, and conference calls about Or-Ion and the rest?" asked Shego.
Drakken glared.
"I am capable of multi-tasking, Shego," he stated.
Shego snorted into her cocoa and broke into a coughing fit.
Drakken's glare deepened.
"You joke, but you know I am a master multi-tasker and you're just mocking me," he pouted. Shego continued to cough through her cocoa situations, "That's what you get for doing so."
He glared out the frosty window and ignored Shego's coughing as he crossed his arms. There was finally silence and then a snicker from Shego before he felt her chin on his shoulder and her fingers playing with his hair.
"Are you really going to pout the rest of time we're alone?" she hummed.
Drakken rolled his eyes. He let out of grumble of words stating he was pouting but her words spurred another shift in his thoughts.
"They have been gone a while," said Drakken as he looked out the window closer, "Not sure if this should be a worry or a relief."
"Depends," shrugged Shego. He looked back at her.
"On what?" he raised his brow at the smirk on her lips.
"Are we putting this reconstruction topic on hold or continuing?" she gestured casually to the papers again.
Drakken looked at them and for a second wondered if there was a motive to her question. He looked back at her smirk but her expression was one of casual now and it spurred his choice cautiously.
"I would like to choose pause..." answered Drakken.
Her smirk became devious and she moved closer to him.
That was the correct choice.
Her lips found his, solidifying his thought. Her arms sliding around his neck was a radiation of warmth he hadn't known he'd been craving. There had still been a slight chill through him from outside, even with the fire going, but he'd ignored it. But the shiver of chill leaving him must have been noticeable as Shego moved to wrap herself around him closer. Any thought outside of the very moment faded away as Shego's legs slid over his and his arms wrapped around her her. His fingers tight against the fabric of her sweater and the thick silk of her hair. When her lips pulled away, the smirk she'd had earlier had intensified and he found his own mirroring hers.
"This isn't a ploy to think about more counterpoints to the argument, is it?" he teased.
She let out a faint tiny laugh and her smirk softened.
"If it is?" she teased.
"Well played," he grinned before resuming their kiss.
The moment of peace, only filled with the sounds of their breath and the crackle of the fire... was ended by the loud opening of the front door. In a split second, Shego had jumped off his lap and her soft expression was one of agitation and alarm. Drakken didn't even bother looking, knowing that it was the return of his cousin before he heard his booming voice.
"Man, its getting frosty out there," Ed led out a dramatized shiver as he and Cleopatra entered and closed the door, "Seriously time for a major warm up before catching some grub."
Drakken glared as his cousin flopped down next to him. He looked up at Shego who was now standing with her arms crossed and glancing at the door. When he followed her glaze to Cleopatra, he saw no animosity in the other women's face... only a casual expression on her cold touched face. Drakken raised a brow at Shego, who looked slightly confused as she grabbed the glasses.
"I think I'm done with this," was all Shego stated as she vanished to the kitchen.
Drakken glared at Ed who casually sprawled out on the couch next to him.
"You have deplorable timing," stated Drakken. Ed snorted.
"Ain't my fault you two took too long on foreplay," stated Ed, "forty five minutes, and seriously, you two were still in the living room. Pfft."
Drakken glared at his cousin but the response was a garbled mess of words out of embarrassment and outrage. Ed glared at him.
"Seriously Cuz, no need for insults," said Ed.
"You understood that?" asked Cleopatra.
"No," scoffed Ed, "But the implication was in the tone."
Drakken took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes further at his cousin. Shego walked back into the room and looked at him with alarm.
"Were those sounds or words?" asked Shego.
"Sounds," stated Cleopatra.
Shego glared at Ed.
"What did you say to him?" she snapped. Ed shrugged rather wisely.
"He made a joke about giving you two forty five minutes and you only made it to the living room," yawned Cleopatra, "Anyone know if the water in the shower is actually hot?"
"Boiler works babe," said Ed. He jumped up and darted passed Shego, "I'll show you."
Drakken had expected Shego to snap at Ed, but instead she looked calm. That was until she shot a blast down the hall and a series of expletives coming from his cousin. It made him feel a little better as Shego flopped down next to him. Her head resting on his shoulder and looking at the fire as she yanked his arm around her.
"Shego?" he asked and she hushed him.
"Hold on," she held up her hand and shot a blast through the hallways doorway just as Ed darted passed.
"Ow! Seriously!" snapped Ed, "Watch it Green!"
The sound of a door slamming signified Ed had retreated temporarily to he and Cleopatra's room.
"You were saying?" asked Shego.
The strange calm she held took Drakken by surprise.
"Shocking you didn't fire more blasts at him," smirked Drakken. Shego rolled her eyes.
"Let's say I did... that gives however long those two are going to be here... to continue to harass and interrupt us," said Shego, "And covering up a murder wasn't really in my weeks plans."
Drakken smirked and nodded.
"Technically there would be no need to hide it up until we left," he added.
Shego snorted.
"Are you trying to egg me into murdering your cousin?" she snuggled up closer to him.
"I mean..." he trailed off. There was a playful nudge into his side, "I supposed not... my aunt would be unbearable and my mother wouldn't stop being dramatic about it."
"Besides. Didn't he say something about catching dinner? Maybe we'll be able to loose them for a few hours," smiled Shego.
"Ah, about that-" Drakken was cut off as Ed came back into the living room. Holding up a metal tray, "What are you doing?"
"Using a makeup tray as a shield," stated Ed as he held it towards Shego, "Seriously Green."
"I'm not doing anything," said Shego innocently. Drakken saw her amused smile, "I mean... not that it would do much?"
"This is military grade steel and silver," he said casually, "Seriously, it's not tungsten, but it's a good enough shield."
Shego looked towards Drakken.
"Why does he have that?" she whispered.
"Probably stolen it from my Aunt," sighed Drakken.
"No," glared Ed, "Chloe stolen it last Christmas."
"I'd ask why it's made of that... but it actually adds us give your family," smirked Shego. She held up her hands in defense, "I come in peace."
Ed hesitantly put down the shield. Drakken covered the smile on his face by leaning into his palm. He could feel the heat in Shego's hand in between them and in a split second she shot a blast passed Ed. His cousin jumped and he held up the shield in reflect before glaring at Shego.
"Seriously, Green!" he snapped.
"Did I hit you?" asked Shego, "This time?"
Drakken couldn't contain the snicker as Ed's glare was held on Shego as he walked around the couch towards the door. Though it ended when his look fell to Drakken.
"Alright Cuz, gear up. It's fishing time," stated Ed as he tossed Drakken's coat at him.
Drakken sighed and looked at Shego.
"Part of the agreement to work on the flight stabilizers included... ice fishing," Drakken grumbled. Shego's eye roll looked like it hurt as they both stood.
"Have fun," sighed Shego as she went and grabbed her discarded book off the end table and sat in the large chair.
Drakken was about to continue the conversation when his scarf smacked him in the face.
"Gear up, seriously. I'm not listening to you gripe about the cold," said Ed as he yanked open the door.
Drakken grumbled under his breath and grabbed his scarf and coat.
I hope he falls in.
The book had worn out it's temporary distraction not too long after Ed and Drakken had left. Torn between taking a late afternoon nap and casually slipping more of the books Drakken so adamant needed into hidden places in their room... Shego had chosen the last one. This had some how resolved into organizing a few of the still open boxes, wondering what the point of all the sorting was leading too if not all moving to more storage space somewhere else. Subconsciously she'd began placing things she found interesting or she'd seen Drakken favor into a specific box she would place in the trunk of the hovercar without anyone noticing.
She became aware the warm air from the hallway shifted and the smell of dampness and something scented made Shego close the box as she looked up to see Cleopatra in the doorway.
"Pilfering more books?" she asked.
"Not just books," shrugged Shego. She looked at the women's damp hair, "Water okay?"
Cleopatra shrugged as she headed into the room and began picking up a few left out items.
"It could be worse," she sighed and held up a broken wiring system, "Do you know what half these things are?"
"Nope," snorted Shego, "But it's going to join clutter at the lair I'm sure."
"Ed has three rooms dedicated to different clutter... well one is parts... but the others are debatable," smirked Cleopatra, "He's also began turning one of the empty tombs at my lair into various clutters he finds while visiting."
"Drakken has narrowed it down to six, not including potential needed items for work," stated Shego. She looked at the room, "Safe to say its inheritable."
"Clearly," said Cleopatra as she pulled out burnt children's skates, "Though given my own collection now takes over several tombs... can't really argue over the cutter of one at the lair."
Shego glanced at Cleopatra and at the items. She was waiting for an angry or annoyed topic shift to being left in the woods, but it wasn't coming. Cleopatra had began doing as Shego had and sorting out a few loose items and seemed to be a simple and casual conversation. Not really sure if this was a game play by the women or an actual attempt at having a friendly conversation... she chose to keep it casual as well.
"More gran thefts?" Shego asked, "How many cursed items could their be?"
She saw annoyance skate across Cleopatra's face as she opened a box of trinkets in the corner.
"It's not simply a matter or cursed or not... while cursed items are alluring. It becomes a fixation point that erases the significant behind the item... sometimes making them more valuable than its worth," Cleopatra held up a glass statue of a Victorian woman, "An example would be the Hope Diamond. Many simply hear of its cursed but not the reason why it might be. The lives of innocents lost simply finding the chunk of rock harvested to make it... people care about the lore and not the history."
"So the cursed motif is blending into shiny preservation," smirked Shego, "Got it. You're simply making your own museum... not stealing because of value."
Cleopatra smirked.
"I mean some have value and no history and those are a very fun find. If Brotherson doesn't bite there's always another idiot willing to pay for something useless," snickered Cleopatra, her face fell, "Killigan's rather gifted at that. He managed to swipe some of my Grecian collection when he was at my lair. Unfortunately, some of those items were very important and not easy to relocate."
There was a pause of silence as they went through items, Cleopatra making her own box Shego was certain. After a solid minute passed, Shego was the one to break it.
"About the woods-" Shego was cut off.
"I appreciated it," smirked Cleopatra, "Even if giving us some personal time was merely a ploy for your own alone time."
Shego blinked and then snorted.
"No problem," she gave a nervous chuckle and decided not to dwell on what had kept the two out there so long.
Future mail problem avoided.
Looking at what appeared to be a crayon diagram of something involving a missile, she noticed Cleopatra was still looking at her. A glance showed a look of deep contemplation on the woman's face as Shego snuck the diagram in her personal box.
"I'm sorry," came Cleopatra's voice.
Shego raised a brow at her.
"For being here or..." Shego trailed off.
"For what happened at the beach," said Cleopatra. She looked pained as she spoke, "We've never had a one on one conversation about it."
Shego snorted. Though she felt a shift of discomfort.
"Eh, double crossing is always in a villain's back pocket," said Shego dismissively.
"True," smirked Cleopatra, but she continued, "But given things I know more now... I want it cleared up that... I was simply framing you for the painting... I didn't know... everything else."
Shego had a flash of the lair crumbling down in Botox's Tibetan lab and felt a shiver rush through her. The fact that she should have been more on edge around Cleopatra suddenly began circling back. This had in fact been an unresolved conversation and issue and for all she knew... Cleopatra's allegiances might be as skewed as Sweets.
Her silence must have been a signal to spur on Cleopatra.
"I know it might sound as if I'm just making a cover story," said Cleopatra, "But when we ran into each other when Taxley hired you, I didn't expect to see you there... and given the disaster that had transpired with you two and Carmella... I thought framing you fit much better than framing Pandora. It was a coincidence that there was so many double-crossing plans afoot at once."
Shego snorted.
"There's no such thing as coincidence," said Shego dryly as she stood up to grab another box, "Hard to believe that a person I had no idea knew about me... would happen to meet and work with you the same time you were working with someone else that had a vendetta against me... all at the same time."
Cleopatra's eyes narrowed.
"Believe me or not, but I was only trying to screw you over not have you kidnapped," huffed Cleopatra, "Carmella introduced me to Taxley because of their particular collection. I had planned to simply steal the painting with Pandora. Then you showed up and it was a perfect time to weave a new plan. It had been a simple double-cross. Given your acquaintance Misty had just worked for Carmella, it was an easy quick pay for her to take them blame if you had caught on. They'd collect the insurance, I'd get the painting, and you'd take the fall."
Her argument continued, but Shego's listening had paused as she took in the words. The reminder that the very mind control tonic Sweets used was from a variant of the serums used to make Botox's Hench-people... and what Dollmaker had tried to use in his own work... the swirl of people and connections sent a nausea wave through her. The memory of running into Misty after her mission with Sweets, apparently... where it had led her to work for Taxley... the whole thing seemed like a game of chess but all the chess pieces seemed to be pawns.
She looked at Cleopatra, who had stopped talking and was looking at her with concern. Realizing her face was clearly portraying the panic and nausea racing through her, she stood up and shook her head.
"Shego?" asked Cleopatra as she walked passed her.
"I got it," said Shego quickly, "Just feeling a little off."
She didn't listen to whatever Cleopatra had said, simply closed and locked the door to she and Drakken's room. Her skin was crawling with nerves and her stomach swirled in unease. A part of her was fighting with herself to march out onto the ice and get Drakken, but the other part was telling her to not share the theories and concerns in her head. It was the part of her that despite everything she could tell Drakken and shared... that fear driven side that told her to keep somethings held back. Especially with the sudden paranoia of who might be listening in their current company.
I'm overreacting...
She took a deep breath and looked towards the bathroom door. Deciding that taking a hot shower to try and calm her nerves, was the easiest choice at the moment.
Water dripped along the wood floor and rug as Drakken sprinted into the house, Ed not far behind him. It was like ice radiating through him as he hastily tried to reach the bedroom to change out of his wet and freezing clothes. Hissing in annoyance at the locked door, he heard it turn into a whine.
"S-Shego?" he stuttered.
There was no response, but before he could knock the ice in his back shifted painfully and a shivering flowerless vine sprout darted out to wiggle through the door latch. A rewarding click signified it's opening and the plant vanished as suddenly as it appeared. He would have marveled at this, but his mind was elsewhere as he quickly closed the door behind him and tossed his layers into a dampened pile. The dampness still lingered despite this and he glanced at the closed bathroom door. The sound of the shower was almost beckoning him to wash away the chill, but he wasn't about to interrupt Shego. Hastily, he turned to open the drawer where his clothes were, if only to find a thick sweater and warm pants in loo of the hot water.
Mentally he cursed his hopes of Ed falling in the water. It in fact, had happened. Unfortunately for Drakken, his cousin has grabbed his arm in his fall, taking him along for the icy dip. Breathing hot breath on his hands he began to make do with the fire wood pieces in igniting the fireplace. He could have easily gotten more but he didn't feel like going back outside to grab any from the porch. Instead he huddled in front of it, using one of his shirts as a makeshift towel for his hair as he lingered there.
The cold didn't leave him.
Even with the fire inches from him, there was no warmth sinking into his skin, and the icy feeling had become painful down his spine. His fingers reached to touch his back under his sweater and it was little difference from his cold touch to another cold part of his skin. Pondering if he himself had become more intolerant to the cold because of his mutation, he moved to the bed. Hoping that the warmth of the mattress against his spine might be more effective.
He shifted and tossed a he desperately tried to find a position that didn't make him feel like he was being stabbed with frosty knives through him. Eventually he sat up as he heard the shower cut off in the bathroom, hoping to see if there was any hot water remaining when Shego emerged. He leaned back against the bed frame and waited. His eyes lingered on the door and onto what appeared to be some of his clothes folded on the nightstand near the door.
The door opened and Drakken sighed in relief, sitting up further.
"Shego- Ahk!" Drakken screamed as a green blast flew passed him.
He hit his head against the wall, adding to the throbbing already coursing through his body.
"Drakken?" gasped Shego.
Rubbing his head, he looked towards Shego rubbing her elbow as she leaned out the doorway. Her eyes were wide, her face flushed, and judging by how she held her arm. There was possibly a second he'd missed in her smacking into the doorway mid blast. She stepped out, her other hand clutching the towel she wore, but Drakken didn't factor all this in before he let out a whine.
"That could have hit me!" he sputtered.
Shego's flustered face fell into narrowed eyes.
"Well, who just silently lingers in someone's room while their coming out of a shower," she snapped.
Drakken thought for a moment, his mind fighting over what to choose in retort before it clicked.
"You've literally done it to me on several occasions," he argued.
Her jaw tightened, but he watched the tint to her face darken. It would have been easy to egg on and even win the blooming argument, but a painful tightening through his body delayed that. Hissing in pain, he pulled the blankets closer despite their lack of help. His body was reacting so drastically that he felt he'd never be warm again.
"What's wrong with you?" came Shego's voice. He could hear the agitation still, but the concern betrayed the snap it usually had.
"Fell in the water- Don't think Flower's fond of it," shuttered Drakken. He closed his eyes at the pain, tilling it away, "Any hot water left?"
"I'd give it a bit," she said softly.
"Maybe you should have hit me with that blast," snickered Drakken. He was only half teasing if he was honest.
Might have actually helped.
It was silent for a second and Drakken imagined Shego had chosen this time to get dressed.
"Come here," her voice broke the silence.
He opened his eyes to see she hadn't left at all. There was a sour look on her face, but her eyes darted over him with an almost assessing look. He saw her indicate to the edge of the bed and he wanted to argue about needing his nest he had started to make. She made a gesture sharply to the edge as her free hand held her towel tightly. There were so many things he could say or argue to avoid listening to her, but the painful twinge ran through him again and he reluctantly listened to her.
"Is it just Flower?" asked Shego as he let out a shiver.
"I don't think cold is my friend any longer," he grumbled, "At least not as long as I was out there... It's- I can't- I can't get warm."
His mind swarmed with possible tests he'd missed in his mutation, elements had never occurred to him to- The list he was making in his head faded as he felt Shego's hand ghosting along his face. There was a slight warmth, but it didn't stay. Glancing, he could see the green familiar light swirling along her hand, but he could barely feel it.
"Well?" she asked. Drakken shook his head and she let out a deep sigh, "Take your shirt off."
Drakken narrowed his eyes.
"I'd rather not... helping or not its better than nothing," he whined. Shego rolled her eyes.
"Can you not argue with me about it and do it?" she scoffed.
"But-"
"Drakken," she growled. He muttered under his breath as he yanked off his warm sweater, "Thank you."
He opened his mouth to state that she hadn't sounded sincere, but he fell into silence as she leaned over him. The feel of the towel against his face as she leaned over his shoulder took him by surprise. Not nearly as much as her shifting against him and then the ice feeling down his spine started to fade and heat began slowly climbing through him. The minutes rolled by and he felt himself relax into Shego's middle as her hands loomed along his back as if thawing him from the inside out. It appeared that Flower had in fact been the cause of the pain, as he felt his limbs begin to warm up even before Shego's fingers lingered down his arms and them to his back again.
He could feel the the soft dampness of the towel against his cheek radiating warmth from behind it. Though, not as powerful as the radiating of heat down his spine as Shego's fingers danced across his skin as she retraced her starting points. Her iris scented shampoo permeated as a few strands of damp hair fell to his cheek. Hands warmly slid up his neck to weave into his hair and scalp. Her body straightened as her one hand slid across his cheek before returning to the towel part she'd been holding previously, but the other hand lingered in his hair as he looked up at her.
"How's that?" she smirked confidently.
"Heavenly," he hummed. His chin still against her stomach as she looked down at her.
A lazy and soft smile was on her face as there eyes locked on one another. There was a shift in the atmosphere as her fingers moved slowly through his hair. She had began leaning down towards him, but Drakken had stood, his lips finding hers first. His hands wrapped tightly around her waist as her arm snaked around his neck; her hand kneading into his shoulder. There was something different about her grasp on him... she kept pulling him closer was different than her typical embrace. A part of him wanted to pause their moment to ask, but he didn't. His heart raced as the tango of their kiss became more fervent and his fingers slid over where Shego held her towel grasped.
A loud knock came at the door.
"Don't think your getting out cleaning the fish, Drew," came Ed's voice, "Seriously, Chloe won't help me."
Drakken let out and audible growl of agitation.
"I should have held him under," said Drakken, "Go away!"
"Just go," sighed Shego.
Drakken's glare fell as he looked back at her. She wasn't making eye contact and something was off about her expression as she pulled away from him.
"Shego... did I miss something?" he asked.
Another knock at the door.
"In a minute!" snapped Drakken. He heard Ed skulk off as he turned his attention back to Shego, "Shego?"
"You know he's just going to come back," stated Shego as she grabbed the folded clothes of the nightstand, "I'll be out in a bit."
Drakken watched as the bathroom door closed with a deep frown on his face. There was something clearly bothering Shego, and the way she'd been off even when they'd been kissing... it was clear something had transpired since he'd been forced to partake in Ed's fishing plan. His immediate through was that something had happened between she and Cleopatra in his absence. Narrowing his eyes, he headed towards the kitchen, intent on under-cooking someone's specific fish.
Fish FRY!